Morning journal and courier., 1886-09-18
CORRESPONDENTS.

| | KROX's HOuse-Abbottsford and Sir Waiter Scott-M elrose Abbey-Glas- gOW-Ship ID uild1nG on the Clyde-The Land O'BurRs and Tam O'Shanter, Etc., Etc.
 GLASGOW, Scotland, August 16. To the Editor of the JOURNAL AND COURIER:
 Before departing from Edinburgh the great exhibition, still in progress, and other centers of interest were duly visited. Vast | crowds attracted by the mammoth fair surged through the streets and thronged the wide corridors of the Exhibition buildings. Every train increased the mass of humanity | to uncomfortable proportions. The hotels | were more than full, while landlords and l walters were, if possible, more independent and brusque than ever. "Shake downs" and l improvised beds of every description were placed in the parlors, dining rooms and odd corners and hooks of the cheaper hotels es- pecially to accommodate the influx of guests. The display of goods at the Exhibition
 was highly respectable, though few novelties l were discovered. Having just seen the Co., lonial and Indian Exhibition at London and l the great Liverpool fair, besides our gigantic Exposition at Philadelphia in 1876, the ex-
 hibits obviously could not produce startling effects. At Holyrood Palace ample prepara-
 tions were making for the expected visit of the Queen, which occurred 8 week later.
 The process of lithographic printing was
 shown at the fair, also the composition and
 presswork required on established journals, some of which are regularly issued from the grounds. Scarfs for the ladies, manufac- tured on the spot of flexible glass thread in
 variegated hues, were quite attractive, non breakable and as pliable as cloth. They
 were sold at prices ranging from sixty to eighty-six cents of our currency. We saw them also at the Liverpool buildings.
 The old manse or parsonage of John Knox on High street, Edinburgh, is still visited by tourists. The building has recently been put in thorough repair, though the antique aspect is preserved Old fashioned furniture of by-gone centuries is found in each room, | but one or two articles, however, are posi-
 lively known to have been used by the stur dy reformer study chair and possibly q writing desk. From side window opening on the busy street Knox frequently preached to an immense congregation of eager listen CTS that stood without. Adjoining the ven erable structure stands the church bearing his name. It is modern building, though the descendants of the families to whom he formerly preached still worship there. A Sabbath morning was proftably spent in listening to the present incumbent-a man of deep thought, excellent voice and presence. Strangely enough, though the day was excep- tionalIy fine, the entire audience consisted of but fifty-three persons. Contributions for current expenses were deposited on 8 large silver plate which was conspicuousiy dis played in the vestibule at the front door, guarded by two officers of the church. The
 same custom prevailed at "Dr. Guthrie's Il Ill r to plain, practical discourse by his success sor on the same afternoon. In Roman Cath olic churches in some portions of Europe the collection boxes are extended to the people as they assemble before the services by young men standing on the sidewalk.
 The following inscriptions were found on the windows of the John Knox church near l the pulpit: 'John Knox, born 1909; died 1572." sThornas Chalmers, born 1780; died 1S47."
 ssThe Castle" occupies commanding site, several angles and sides being nearly as diff cult of access as Gibraltar itself. A view of surpassing beauty greets one from the fortif- cation. The silver waters of the Firth and Forth sparkled beneath the rays of the af- ternoon sun, which was fast sinking beyond the western hilltops. Edinburgh, with the broad and beautiful Princess street, George street, parks and buildings stretched like a panorama before me. A beautiful perspeo- tive ot distant and highly cultivated nefos, with wealth of well kept hedgerows and Scottish mountains in the background, lent an additional charm to the scene. A wild
 and rocky ravine, once an syesore, running
 through Edinburgh, has been transformed | into lovely park. The crown jewels of the early sovereigns of Scotland and those now worn on State occasions are deposited at the
 castle and guarded with the utmost vigilance. Sir William Kirkoldy grayely defended the
 Castle for Mary Queen of Scots for period
 of thirty y-three days, with an inferior force, against the united armies of both England l and Scotland The immense cannon, twenty | inches in diameter, which did excellent ser vice at the siege of Norman castle in 1514, is exhibited as one of the curiosities of the | spot. For one hundred and fifty years it was | on exhibition at the Tower of London, but | by the command of George ". it was re-
 turned to the castle in 1899. It was forged at Mons in 1486. The garrison in their neat
 and picturesque Highland costume presented l an attractive appearance especially to the