THE KIJJg's drawing ROOM. 129 



It was an interesting feature in tlie scene to observe here and there a 

 Scottish noble earnestly explaining to his daughter some one of the many royal 

 portraits with which the walls of the picture-gallery were covered, and empha- 

 tically reciting the passage of history in which his family was associated with the 

 ancient kings of Scotland. What a fund for reflection did not these portraits of the 

 " Scottish kings" supply, as their descendants, moving in procession before them, 

 halted here and there as if to present then- homage ! With the noblest of their 

 ancient lieges witliin, and the highland pibroch pealing from without, it appeared 

 as if theij too held their levee, and still lived in the hearts of their subjects. 



One individual, in particular, appeared in the retiring circle as " the observed 

 of all observers." At every step he was delayed by some fresh salutation — the 

 familiar greeting of friends, or the formal recognition of less privileged acquaint- 

 ances. Wherever he halted, though but for an instant, a circle was formed 

 round liim, and his simplest phrase caught and repeated as an oracle. Strangers 

 pressed forward ; and as the whispered name passed from lip to lip, a smile of 

 congratulation brightened every countenance, and those who had knelt to the 

 king turned, with a diflferent, but no less hearty homage, to Walter Scott. 

 He was in high spirits ; and, in the scene which surrounded him, perfectly at 

 home. The " beauty and chivalry" which here met his eye seemed to 

 realise the visions of his own brilliant imagination. Of the national characters 

 which had received the master touches from his hand, many of the originals might 

 here have been pointed out, and the truth of the resemblance verified by an 

 appeal to nature. The marked attention shown to this gentleman by the king, 

 was at once a proof of good taste and a flattering compliment to native talent. 

 Much of the arrangement for the reception and entertainment of his Majesty 

 had been delegated to Sir Walter ; and to his genius, zeal, and discrimination, 

 the visit was indebted for some of its most brilliant features. Eminently con- 

 versant with all the ancient usages of court, the national partialities, the natural 

 facihties of the place, and the eflect that must result from certain combinations, 

 he cheerfully undertook to see his "own romantic town" arrayed in her loyal 

 uniform. Whatever he recommended was adopted, and what was adopted did 

 honour to the recommendation. 



But we proceed with the days of gala — days which converted the city into a 

 continued scene of festivity. On Thursday, preparations for a public procession 

 having been made on a grand scale, the king proceeded in state through the 

 principal streets of the capital. The High-street — the most remarkable of its 

 kind in Europe, and the classic ground of Scottish history — was lined by a full 

 n.ucter of the various corporations in their uniform. No similar display had 



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