New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-01-08
SHELLEY IN EDINBURGH.
SOME INCIDENTS OF HIS ELOPEMENr.

SOME INCIDENTS OF HIS ELOPEMENT.
From The Scotsman.
Among the names of famous men aSs1ci ,.e
! with Edinburgh that of Shelley shouiu na -,
place To Edinburgh he came Twice ~ nio VI
| lifetime though only for short period OH eacH
occasion His first visit was at a niolieI IVY
crisis in his life. In the end OF Ausus. ioli;
! Shelley elOped with Harriet WestDrook' any
/ came north TO avail himself of the facilities OF
! the Scots marriage laws one may sun see III
! the Edinburgh Register House DOCKS an ems,y
i'm writing yellowed by time, August -, oil
I Percy Bysshe Shelley farmer, sussex ana Mlss
1 Harriet Westbtook St Andrews Church PARISH.
daughter OF Mr.. John Wcstbrook. London.
Shelley and his young bride resided III Il hVusc
on the south side Of GeOrge-st, "a spacious,
noble we'll built street; but deserted street. OF
rather a street which people had not yet conie
fully To inhabit." Unfortunately. the number Oh
the house is not recorded The rooms were
taken under a strange condition. Like all ro-
mantle couples, the Shelleys were not ricn. Ihes
/ expected money in a short time, but n2d none III
! hand They laid their case before the landlord
in George-st.. who-noble soul.-rose to the oc-
casion. He consented not only to take mem III,
but also to advance money. For one thlhS oniy
he stimulated: Shelley must treat HIM ana MS
friends to marriage supper. The bargain was
at once struck. The Shelleys took up their
/ abode there, and the landlord ana MS irlehds
had their supper 1t seems To have been a sue
cess At any rate. toward the close or the
evening the landlord intruded on the young
couple, explaining that it was the inVarlaple
custom in Scotland to anoint the brlde win
whiskey and proposing 70 do so 20 Harriet
This generous proposal awoke no sympathy ~ III
Shelley's bosom. Il Immediately says Sneiiey,
caught up my brace OF pistols. and, pointing
them both at him, said to him. 1 have had
enough Of your impertinence; II you give me
any more of it | will blow your brains OUT.
But the landlord was quite eclipsed by his ser
want girl "a dirty little nymph by name
Christie" Sheliey's friend Hogg, who Joined
them in Edinburgh. has left vivid sketch OF
this parsonage Christie spoke the broadest
Scots and her unmuscal accent tortured the
poet Shelley was always an incessant tea
drnker Christie soon discovered. so inn
pressed was she with the fact that whenever
the bell rang she darted into the room, exclam
ing, "Oh, the kttle" At the sound Of the
dreaded accent Shelley incOntinently fed into D
corner Of the room and covered his ears with his
hands Send her away, Harriet" he would
groan; ooh, send her away; for Gods sake, send
her away" This of course. was a source of
unbounded amusement 20 Harriet and HOgg
They schemed and planned to entice Christie
into conversation. Have you had your dinner
to-day. Christie?" was common question
yes" "And what did you get?" a question
usually eYoking the reply "Sengt heed and
bonnocks." Apart from Christie, what inn
pressed the party most was the Scots Sabbath
They noted with curiosity the grave Presby-
terians with downcast looks. like conscience
stricken sinners slowly crawling toward their
place Of gathering" Only once did Shelley
venture to church. The sermon had not an
exhilarating effect on him Il never Shelley
so detected. so responding. so despairing." says
his friend. The poet never returned to church.
save on one occasion. One Sunday evening their
landlord announced: They are drawing nigh
unto the catechist-chdren and domestics must
attend" For some strange reason Shelley
obeyed this summon and followed the children
and domestcs to a building hard by Here they
found the catechist standing in the middle Of the
floor, with children grouped round him. "Wha
Adam" shouted the catechist. There was
no answer. Again the question was urged.
"Wha ADAM Still response came.
Indignant at this silence the catechist raising
his voice TO higher pitch. shouted, "Wha's the
De-il?" At this point Sheey's gravity gave
way, and with wild burst of laughter he made
for the door AS regards the city, the Shelleys
seem not to have fallen under its spell They
observed that II q city OF extremes,
adorned with "triumphs OF art and nature"
but. at the same time. Astounding with many
"odous and revolving objects" Hollywood House
appeared to them "a beggarly palace" and the
pictures they considered, perhaps with truth
"the production Of some very inferior artist
who could not get employment asa signpainter"
Beyond this visit to HolyrOod and AN excursion
to Arthur's Seat, they went little abroad. At
the end OF five weeks the Shelleys tired OF the
Scots capital, and made their way south. Three
years later-in October 1S13--the poet again
found his way north. In the mean time his
first child had been born This time the party
lodged at No 3G Frederck-st Mr.. Rossetti |
says that Sheley's first act to marry Har-
riet over again" in ar Episcopal chapel. This
statement has been called In question by Pro- |
lessor Dowden. and, 1t would seem with good
reason. What IL certain Is that Shelley here !
made the acquaintance Of gentleman named !
Baptista- Baptlsta a young Brazilian, |
studying medicine at Edinburgh University. A !