American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1873-09-20
Foreign Correspondence.

A friend has placed in our hands
Il private letter from a relative in
London, giving an account of her
travels in Scotland, to be used as
we may see proper, and for which
she has our cordial thanks. The
letter is well written, and we take
pleasure in placing a portion OF it
before our readers, being fully sat
isfied that they will find it both in
teresting and instructive.
The writer, it seems. landed at
Glasgow, from whence she visited
al! the most noted LOchs and noun
tains of that famous country, and
which she has painted with consum-
mate grace and skill. There is
much in her descriptions to please
and interest, and did our space
permit, we would gladly give the
letter entire. After reveIlng amid
the beauties of the most lovely and
romantic portions of Scotland, the
author brings us to Castle Sterling,
at which point we take up the let
ter:
"At Sterling We were shown the
room in which Mary was imprison-
ed. This Castle is very high, and
commands splendid views on all
sides. But what Interested ME
most was the old tournament
ground, kept exactly as it was
used by the Scottish Kings.
with Edinburgh we were de-
lighted, it is SO beautiful by loca-
ton, so rich in historic association,
and in grandeur of hoary age, sur
passing, in the estimation Of trav-
elers, anything of the kind on the
continent, 1t would require sever
al letters to describe all we saw in
Edinburgh. In one ride we passed
the grand old Castle, Hollywood
Palace, (both of which places we
afterwards visited.) King Arthur's
seat, a tall mountain. Jennie Deans
cottage, st. Giles, the oldest church
in which John Nnox preached,
knoX's house, just as it was. old
Talbootl, or, rather, where it stood,
Grass Market, where people were be-
headed, and weekly market has
been held for the past five hundred
y ears; many houses which had been
occupied by the most noble and no.
ted Of Scottish families, queer, tall
gabled houses, looking very much
worn and wOrm-eaten. The people
live so crowded together in the old
part of the city, the streets are ever
full, aud the windows seldom with
out occupants. At Hollywood we
were shown Queen Mary's room, in
which RiZZiO was murdered, Oar
ley's room, sc.
"From Edinburgh we went to
MelrOse, visited the Cathedral, one
of the oldest in Scotland, and saw
where the heart of Bruce was bur
led; near by, Black Douglas, the
friend of Bruce, is buried, also the
grave of Nyard of the Lay of the
last minstrel.
s'The plcasantest of all visits was
to Abbotsford, three miles distant
from Melrose. 1t was a delightful
drive thence. Scott's house IS very
handsome, and situated in lovely
grounds. 1t is said he had a per-
feet passion for architecture, and
built his house by degrees, just as
his taste dictated. Only four rooms
are Kept open to the public. We
must have been shown something
connected with every novel Scott
wrote. First was the sHalp con
tanning flags. crests, coats-of mail,
in a glass case, suit of clothes
worn by Scott, very handsome
clock, once owned by Marie Antoi-
nette, the immense iron keys to the
old TalhOoth. or Heart of NTidlo-
THAN, &C., &c. The Hall led into
the Armory. This of course, was
most interesting to the gentlemen
Here were collected almost every
description of ancient as well as
modern arms, among which was
Rob ROy's gun, and those Of differ
ent Kings. Then came the draw
ing room, with large windows open
ing upon the Tweed, and adorned
with many family pictures. several
portraits of Scott. One picture
possessed a perfect fascination for
me, though it produced, and has
left nightmare horror. 1t was
the head of Mary in a charger. said
to be the most reliable likeness ex-
tant, taken Just after she was be-
headed. The features were beautl-
full, with the saddest and sweetest
but Enthusiastically that
of death. 1t looked younger than l
should have supposed, remember
ing her sad life. After having seen
so many touching mementoes of her
all through Scotland, it was enough
to make one weep TO look on this
CHASTITY picture, the finale of life
so varied. From the drawing room
we went into the Library, the lar
gest room, and containing twenty
thousand volumes collected by its
distinguished owner. The ceiling
is copied from Melrose Abbey, also
the ornaments, giving a quaint ap-
pearance. Here were collected the
number of presents to
Scott, among them a very hand
some and deliberately carved cabi.
net from George ". One ebony and
tOrtois shell, belonging to Queen
Hr,r- 20 Scotland twn ovnu;S;t.Ix,