The Owosso times., 1881-09-02
L. p. Gould In Scotland.
VISIT TO EDINBURGH.

the noted and beautiful monument to
Sir Walter Scott, large gothic
shaped structure made of Scotch
granite, Standing two-hundred and
twenty-five high and about forty CT
fifty feet square at the base. In
side is finely carved statue of Sir
Walter sitting and evidently wrapt
in deep meditation tthis is considered
very fine) while on the outside, from
base to spire of gilt, is statuary re-
presenting various characters of his
works. Ascending it, you get
view over the whole city except
portion lying beyond and between
Gallon Hill and Edinburgh Castle. In
the far distant east you may see the
shipping going at Leith, where Mary,
Queen Of Scots, landed when she
came from France the first time, and
Queen Elizabeth attempted to hinder
her from landing; and in the distant
south, you can discern bold crag or
promintory called "Arthur's Seat"
1.-THE derivation of its meaning was
not successful in discovering from
native or guide book, } where the Kings
and Queens of Scotland were - to
drive, and there take their "consti-
tutional" every pleasant, and political
ly propitious morning ; and to the
north and east, Edinburgh and its
picturesque and beautiful suburbs can
be distinctly seen from this elevated
position. 1t is said by good authority
that from this position, or from the
Cation Hill promintory, can be seen
the finest panoramic view to be seen
any where in Europe. Certainly it is
very strikingly beautiful in my estima-
ton.
Next we visited the National Gal
lery Of paintings, and saw a great
many and very fine paintings, espec.
tally some by Titan and Raphael
and Rubens and various other noted
painters. could never describe
to you what ! saw there, and leave
much room. Some. of them impressed
me with the realization of what
mighty geniuses those men were
who painted them, and that they must
have had some aid from a higher
power, to accomplish their undertak-
ings in the manner they have. From
here we went to the National Muse.
um, and saw great many relics Of
ancient times, pre-. historic times, and
mummies, etc., till you couldn't see
any more; whole room 400 feet long
full of them. Mummies OF men, cats,
dogs, fish, everything almost that once
lived and breathed, and of the same
species which live now; a collection
of relics from the excavated cities of
Pompeii and Herculaneum, consisting
of everything in the way of household
utensils. was surprised at the
many things for convenience and
comfort, almost surprising in work.
manship, ETC., ours of to-day, and
very similar in construction to ours,
such as knives and forks, plates and
cups, earthen jugs and specimens of
silken cloth framed, representing va
rious scenes in rural life, and every
day Occurrences among those ancient
people. But i must stop and 60 some
where else. Among the relics of the
later ages, and connected with history,
| saw the very guillotine on which the
whole noble family of the Duke OF
Argyle and of Melrose were executed,
and called the "Maiden." And near
it John Knox's pulpit which he often
used in Edinburgh, and from which
he preached so unfearingly to "Mary
Queen of Scots" and her court of
schemers and plotters. Near it the
very stool which Jennie Geddes hurl-
ed at the head of Catholic priest,
while he was preaching and exhort-
ing some Scotch congregation of
"ohn Knox's belief to become good
Catholics. and who had been sent
among them by the government and
Catholic church. 1t is queer look.
ing black leather.covered affair, and
being pretty heavy, would have been
felt had it hit the "divine," as l be-
lieve it did not. There were a great
many other things of interest, but l
cannot describe them for must make
a atop someyhers, I cannot enumer.
ate 1t all. We went from here to the
Castle, Edinburgh Castle) a grand
old place full of historical connec.
tons. and particularly noted as the
last Scottish stronghold to surrender
to the English. 1t stands on a high
cliff overlooking the city and seems
at first sight to be almost impregna-
bic, as it is and has always been the
strongest fertilization in Scotland.
There is first the ascent of the hill
itself by a long and tedious stone
stairway, and then we come upon the
outer edge of the wide moat with the
Red-coats pacing to and fro, and cross
ing the draw-bridge enter within the
first wall, pass another guard and en-
ter the second court, and under a
great arch-way enter again within the
third great wall and find ourselves in
the great court yard. Before us
are the great palace and castle build
ings showing on their exterior their
great age, although some portions
look much newer than others. There
are some portions Of the wall said to
have been built by the Romans in the
time of Christ, and still farther back
than that. / saw the room where
Mary Queen of Scots was confined
for so long time, and a hole made