San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1880-01-03


and could have spent pleasurably,
much longer time. Ialso visited The
Museum of the College Of Surgeons,
which is only interesting however, to
medical men. 1t consists Of vast
collection of pathological specimens,
instruments, etc.
OF the antiquities, perhaps the most
interesting is the abbey and palace Of
Holyrood. The abbey is in ruins, but
is exceedingly interesting on account
of the tombs of the illustrious aud
historical characters who lie within its
crumbled walls. I walked through
the abbey. and in reading over the in
scriptions, I recognized many names,
familiar to the readers Of Scottish his
tory; but I have not time to run over
them. The abbey of Holyrood was
founded by King David the first about
the middle of the twelfth century, and
the palace which is adjoining, and part
| " surrounding the abbey was founded
not long afterwards. The palace was
twice partly destroyed by 6re-6rst, /
believe, ty the English army under the
earl of Hertford, in the year 1543-and
aagin not long afterward by Sir Wal
tor Bonham. who was also an English
commander. Its destruction was not
complete, and great portion of the
walls now standing, are supposed to
be the same which have stood since
the foundation of the palace.
The building consists mainly of four
great towers, with large quadrangle
lar space within, paved with large
smooth stones.
All that portion Of the palace lying
South and South West, of the quad
rangle is kept fitted up, and furnished
for residence of queen Victoria when
she visits Edinburgh. The North West
Tower is by far the most ancient as
we'll as the most interesting, on account
of its historical associations. Here
lived MARY Queen Of Scots from the
10th of August 1861, to some time in
June 1867. About the latter period
this beautiful but unhappy woman was
forced to bid adieu to Holyrood, the
palacc of her fathers, whose halls were
never again to be frightened by the
lustre of her presence, though destined
in after ages to be lit by the twilight
of her memory, and visited by pilgrims
from every cline, the votaries of her
beauty and her sufferings. History
relates her subsequent course in few
words, In the rude tower Of Lochle-
ven, on a small is!et where she could
scarcely walk fifty yards in one direc'
ton, she was detained for nearly
year.
On the End of May, 1868, she escap
ed from this prision and was received
on the opposite shore by powerful
band of faithful frieDds who conduct
her to a place of safety. Multitudes
rushed to arms at the news of her de-
liverance. Her beauty and the gentle
ness of her manners were fresh in the
memories of all, and her errors are
almost obliterated by the severity OF
the punishment, by which they had
been followed. Her army however
was quickly defeated, chiefly by its
own rashness on the field of Langside
on the 18th of May 1868, and she was
compelled once more to be a fugitive
At this moment of peril she might
easily have escaped to France. the land
of her happicst hours and fondest re-
collections, where she was assured OF
cordial reception. Unhappily how.
ever she chose to throw herself upon
the generosity of queen Elizabeth and
fed to England, against the entrea:ie'
Of her kneeling followers, there to b'
the unhappy victim of long train o
dissimulation and vindictiveness, ant
at length after q weary Imprisonment
of more than eighteen years, to perlsl
on the block, by the cruel and unjusti
) fable mandate of "that false woman
her sister and her foe." The suit o
rooms occupied by queen Mary. ar
, seen By the visitor almost exactly a
she left them more than three centu
ries ago. The antique furniture !
5 still there, even the bed with it
. moth eaten curtains and faded cover
e is shown to the traveller. Lord Darn
lev's rooms are similarly furnished
{ But the profound impression mad
upon one by the sight Of these object
e has led me into this rather length
= recital.
e The Scots in the days Of Guee
e Mary. as exempli6sd in the history 0
= Holyrood palace, were a semi-barbar
. ous bIoOdthirsfy u,eople. What won