And Scotland's- 



SERVICE IN THE HIGH CHURCH. 132 



" Capital had gathered then 

 Her beauty and her chivalry, and bright 

 The lamps shone o'er fair women and brave men ; 

 A thousand hearts beat happily ; and when 

 Music arose with its voluptuous swell — ■ 

 Soft eyes looked love to eyes that spake again, 

 And all went merry as a marriage-bell !" 



On the forenoon of Saturday, the Regaha of Scotland were conveyed in 

 great ceremony from the palace and deposited in the crown-room of the castle. 

 The procession was composed of the Macgregors, who, as indicated by their 

 armorial bearings — a sword displayed, supporting an antique crown — had been 

 connected with that important trust from time immemorial. On the same day, 

 a splendid banquet was given to his Majesty by the Lord Provost, Magistrates, 

 and Town Council of Edinburgh, in the Parliament-house, the antique grandeur 

 of which gave ample effect to the modern splendour with which it had been 

 prepared for the occasion.* Seats were prepared for about three hundred guests, 

 all of which were occupied. The appearance which the company presented 

 was deeply interesting, and brought under the eye the whole dignity of the 

 state— the sovereign, the public functionaries, judges, and magistrates, in their 

 official robes — and naval and military officers, in their various uniforms.f 



Under the impression that, while we continue the observations on the king's 

 ^dsit, we describe the character of Edinburgh and its enlightened population 

 better than we should otherwise do, we continue a few more particulars illus- 

 trative of the subject. On the 25th of August, the king attended divine sei-vice 

 in the metropolitan church of St. Giles, which was, probably, the first time he 

 had ever been present at a Presbyterian form of worship. When he set out 

 from the palace, and till he reached the church, the appearance of the street 

 was most imposing and characteristic of a Scottish Sabbath. As he proceeded, 

 the people reverently took off their hats, but not a voice was raised to hail 

 his appearance. Great as their exultation tmdoubtedly was thus to behold 



• One of the candelabras alone cost 2000/. The tables were literally covered with massive plate. 



+ During dinner, the wine-glasses, furnished for his Majesty's use by Sir Walter Scott, were two centuries 

 old, and of a massive antique form. During, and immediately after dinner, the band struck up several 

 favourite Scotch airs, as " Roy's Wife"—" I'll gang nae mair to yon town"—" The Camp'oells are coming" 

 — " Scots wha hae wi' Vv'allace bled." The king beat time with great emphasis ; but the " Cameronian's 

 rant" amused him most.— An anecdote related by Sir Walter of the origin of the Howisons of Braehead, 

 in which one of the kings of Scotland was rescued from the effects of a gallant adventure, afforded much 

 amusement. — See the Historical Account, p. 2'ii. 



M M 



