Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1877-07-18
Letter from Scotland.

PERTH, Scotland, June 9th, II.
Eatfor Ndtert0tcn Republican:
write you according to promise 10 let
You know that am ''still in the land of
the llvlng and place of hope" Ny health
is better than when | LETT Watertown. and
am beginning to hope that a new lease of
lite Tor few years more has teen granted
me. | promised to give you condensed
description of our peregrinations through
Scotland, but must say that, so far as
descriptive correspondence is concerned. |
ain somew hat like Rob't Burns with the
praying "baith dead sweer and wretched
III OF, but you shall have it lust as it
comes 'clean If loof.''
AS our steamer was advertised to sail
from New lork at noon on the 3lst ult..
she was under way promptly, almost to the
minute, ana was soon out OF sight of the
great suspension bridge which is being
constructed between New York and Brook
lyn. The first five days we were at sea
were really delightful, and we were all
congfatulatirg ourselves on our pleasant
voyage, and thinking that it was tun
10 cross the Atlantic Ocean; but a diff
erent kind of fun was in store for US. On
TIE sixth day out the wind commenced 10
blow from the northeast, which was soon
followed by rain and sleet, the storm in
creasing In violence for three days, during
which time most of the passengers were
sea-slck and confined to their staterooms
but on the whole we were considered to
have had favorable passage, although not
speedy one, as We were eleven DAYS and a
halt between New York and Glasgow. At
the commencement of our storm your
humble servant was oDe Of the many who
felt as though they would die, but later in
the drama were afraid they would not die :;
and may say that did not get entirely
rid OF sea-sickness until I got my feet on
terra hrma." | am some like the Irishman
who crossed the Atlantic Ocean, who, when
ne got on shore, said that be "would not
give one foot on dry land for all Gods
waterpowers."
AS we passed the northwestern coast of
the Emerald Isle" in the night, we did not
nave the pleasure OF teasting our eyes on
Iorrle island, which is the first land to be
seen; and the first place of real interest
we saw was the "Giants Causeway,"
which, suffice it to say, was certainly grand
beyond description.
The first point of land in Scotland that
meets the eye is the island of Islay. which
seems to be bleak, dreary and rugged
mountainous coast, with scarcely human
habitation to be seen. AS we sailed ND the
north channel, between Scotland and Ire
land. we had very good opportunity of
discriminating between the general aspect
OF the two islands, rs far as we could see
inland, and | must certainly give the pref
erence to the Gland of Erin" so far rs apri
culture and fertility are concerned: but
then, you know, my being "sawney,n
born and raised among the heathery hills of
Scotland, know you will excuse nv par
TALLY for "Auld Scotia
We called at Larne, Ireland, and landed
some thirty passengers, which delayed US
about three hours About an hour and
bali after leaving Larne we passed "Ailsa
| craig, known more commonly by the
name of "Paddy's milestone" a huge conical
rock, rising | should judge, over one hun
dred feet above the water, and equidstant
from the Scotch and Irish coasts. On the
east side Firth of Clyde is Ayrshire, the
land Of Scotland's immortal poet, and l
cannot express my feelings as | came in
sight OF "Auld Ayre, wham meier toon
surpasses, for honest men and bonny lasses 1"
On the OPP osite bank of the Firth is the
lsland OF Arran, which, so far as | could
discover or learn, is remarkable for nothing
except the Goat Fell'' steep. rugged and
snrrated chain of mountains, but certainly
grand and imposing to behold.
The town of Wemyss, costly nestled in
Wemyss Bay is handsome town, built of
red sandstone, and little to the north Of it
is the Castle OF Wemyss, splendid edifice
built also of red sandstone and the residence
OF John Burns, the sole proprietor of the
Cunard line OF ocean steamers The banks
of the Clyde are almost lined from here
to Greenock with towns and villages of
more or less note, but found it difficult
even to obtain the names and other infor.
nation of the largest and most prominent
The next place of importance which we sa W
was Dunoon, on the west bank of the Clyde,
and is one OF the most fashionable watering
places on the west coast of Scotland On a
conicai shaped mound near Dunoon pier
may be seen the remains of the old castle OF
Dunoon, said to be once a roval residence