Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1885-09-17
Mutes uu foreign gands.
SKETCHES OF TRAVEL IN SCOTLAND.
Written for the Yorkville Enquirer.
BY REV. r.. LATHAM.


Written for the Yorkville Enquirer.
The chief city of Scotland is Edinburgh.
1t is not by any means the largest Glas-
Cow has more than three times as many in
Edinburgh is held in such veneration by the
Scotch, and by all civilized nations, is be-
cause of it's history. Edinburgh consists of
two towns, which are known as Old Edin-
burgh and New Edinburgh. They are sepa-
rated by narrow valley. Old Edinburgh
is not beautiful, but it is picturesque. The
site is series of rocky hills, separated by
deep ravines. The streets are irregular and
some of them very dirty. New Edinburgh,
which stretches out in q north western di-
rection toward Leith on the Firth of Forth,
is beautiful. The streets are well laid out,
clean and lined on both sides with magniti-
cent buildings. A narrow and deep valley
divides the two Edinburghs. Through this
valley asmall stream winds its way. Along
and near by the side of this stream, at an ir-
regular distance from it, on the New Eden
burg side, Princess Street extends for more
than mile. This is one of the most charm
ing places L ever beheld. The street is one
hundred feet wide. On the side nearest Old
Edinburgh there are no houses, but beauti-
full flower plats, ornamented with grand
monuments, at egularintervals. The other
side is lined with palatial structures. What
Rotten Row is to London, Princess Street is
to Edinburgh. Here the rich cOngregate
and promenade, drive or stroll about in the
enchanting parterres, which fringe the south
side of the street. 1t is perfectly charming.
Art is all on Rotten Row, but art and ma
ture combine to make Princess Street kind
of fairy spot
It will not be attempted to describe Edin-
burgh as whole. This, if possible, would
certainly be an onerous undertaking. Suf-
flee it to say that Edinburgh is situated
within less than three minutes of fifty-siN
degrees north of the equator, and is, conse-
quently, more than one thousand miles
nearer the north pole than the city of New
York. It is about the same latitude of Lab
of Edwins Burgh. The population at pres
ent is about two hundred thousand.
The Castle is that around which every
thing in Edinburgh clusters. 1t is not
meant that the Castle is the most important
feature of Edinburgh, but simply that it
ante-dates, perhaps, everything else in the
city. 1t was stronghold long before the
authentic historic period of Scotland. The
probability is, that, at some period away
back in the dim past, some leader of clan
built fort, and in time the inhabitants of
|
and built for themselves thatch-roofed dwell
lings around the fort. This, in all probabil-
ity, was the nucleus Of the present city of
Edinburgh. The site of the Castle is rock
four hundred and forty-three feet above the
level of the sea. At present the Castle con-
sists Of number of structures some militia
ry and others ecclesiastical, erected at dates
beginning during the reign of Queen Mar
garet, and ending, perhaps, prior to the
union between England and Scotland in
1907. The oldest building, it is claimed, is
Queen Margaret's chapel. This is. said to
be the smallest chapel in Scotland. 1t is
six inches wide. 1t dates back to about the
end Of the tenth century. With the eXcep-
ton Of repairs, nothing has been done to the
Castle since the fifteenth century, In some
respects one of the most interesting rooms
in Edinburgh Castle is what is called the
CrOWn-room, and about this room itself
there is nothing very interesting. That
which makes it an object of interest is the
fact that in it are deposited and exposed to
view the REGALIA OF SCOTLAND. For
some reason all men take great pleasure in
seeing great men-men high in office. For
the same reason, whatever it may be, they
take pleasure in gazing upon crowns stud
ded with glittering stones, swords of State
with keen edges, and sceptres of gold.
Among the first places visited by strangers
on arriving in Edinburgh is the Castle, John
EnoX's house and HOlyroOd Palace. Old
Greyfriar's Church and st. Giles Cathedral
come in next, as intimately and inseparably
connected in history with the Castle, KnoX'S
house and Holyrood Palace.
THE REGALIA OF SCOTLAND consists of
the GROWN, the SCEpTRE and the SWORD
OF STATE. These unitedly, have history
l. -sxl x<1l &I..sn
tiOn of each will be given first, and then
their history will he attempted.
The crown consists Of two circles or bands
of pure gold. The lower one is much broad
er than the upper one. These two circles
are firmly bound together. The under and
broader circle is adorned with twenty-five
precious stones, between each of which there
is set an oriental pearl. The stones are am
ethysts, emeralds, jacinths, rubies and to-
PAGES, all unpublished. The upper circle is
surmounted by row Of ,feWs-de-iis inter-
changed with crosses .fe~ees and with pin
nacles of gold, in the top Of which are in
adorned with small diamonds and sapphres
| inserted alternately. Such was the crown
of Scotland until the days Of James the
| Fifth. 1t was what is called an open crown.
This kind of a crown indicated that the in
| dividual entitled to wear it was dependent
and not an independent sovereign. In other
words, it is indicated that Scotland was de-
pendent upon some other kingdom, or infe-
rior to some other kingdom. James the
Fifth had made and attached to this ancient
crown two arches of gold. These are fasten-
ed to the upper part of the upper circle of
the crown with tacks or rivets Of gold. The
arches cross each other in their centres and
at the crossing there rises a mound of gold
which is SurmOunted with a large cross
Pattee, studded with pearls and on which
are inscribed the characters, j. r. W. The
crown weighs three and one-half pounds,
avoirdupoiS. ItmeasureS in diameter near
ly nine inches, and in circumference about
tWenty-seven inches. Its height, measuring
from the lower edge Of the lower circle to
| the top of the cross is six and one-half inch
es. The tiara worn with the crown is of
crimson velvet, turned up with some kind
Of fur. With respect to the value of the
crown, cannot speak. 1t has an intrinsic
value and a specific value. 1t is worth its
weight in gold, since, with the exception of
the precious stones with which it is adorned,
it is solid gold.
THE SCEpTRE is slender silver rod gilt
with gold, three feetand nearly three inches
long. 1t is ornamented with three small
figures representing the Virgin Mary, ST.
James and st. Andrew. This sceptre-rod is
not round but heXagonal, and divided by
three ornamental rings. Its termination is
globe, in the top of which there is an Ori-
entail pearl. This sceptre is supposed to
have been made for James the Fifth in 1886.
THE SWORD OF STATE is five feet long
and is said to have been presented to James
the Fourth by Pope Julius the Second in
1907 The blade proper Of the sword is only
four feet and nine inches in length, the ham
| I ,nl hfin foot flron