134 SCOTLAND ILLUSTRATED. 



their sovereign in the midst of them, still the sentiment of piety predominated ; 

 and of the great multitude assembled, not one for a moment forgot the divine 

 command—" To keep holy the Sabbath-day." " There did not reign in the 

 most sequestered glen of Scotland a more profound silence than was now 

 observed in the heart of the capital. Once, and only once, a few boys, as the 

 king approached, took off their hats as if to cheer him; but some old men 

 waved their hands in disapprobation, and the signal was instantly obeyed." 

 This trait was much noticed by the king, and no part of the behaviour of his 

 Scottish subjects was more admired than their conduct on this solemn occasion. 

 On his return to the palace, after an admirable sermon by the Rev. Dr. Lamont, 

 the same reverential silence was observed, and now perfectly understood ; but 

 at first setting off in the morning, it was said, the " voiceless " welcome was 

 rather embarrassing. 



On Monday the 26th, the king made a private visit to the palace, and, 

 attended by the housekeeper, went over all the apartments, listening with 

 great attention to all the " legendary lore" with which the good old lady 

 illustrated each room. In the apartment of Queen Mary he lingered for some 

 time, expressing the deepest interest in every thing around him; but the mono- 

 tonous harangue with which the several objects were described occasioned no 

 little amusement. In the evening, the gi-and ball given by the Caledonian 

 Hunt afforded his Majesty another opportunity of witnessing the national 

 loyalty and taste as manifested in the arrangements for its advantageous display. 

 In accepting the invitation to the Hunt ball, his Majesty had stipulated for 

 " an abundance of Scotch reels and strathspeys;" " I dislike seeing any thing 

 in Scotland," said he, " that is not purely national and characteristic." The 

 stipnlation was most strictly observed ; and, vrith music that put " life and 

 mettle in their heels," the dancers elicited from their sovereign the most 

 flattering testimonies of the pleasure the scene afforded him. 



The following day, Tuesday, the 27th, a most imposing ceremony was 

 performed in laying the foundation-stone of the great National Monument 

 on the Calton-hill, at which all the masonic lodges, preceded by the Grand 

 Master, the Duke of Hamilton, assisted. In the procession, all the rank and 

 talent then assembled in the capital were united ; and with the numerous badges 

 displayed on the occasion, produced an effect, as it moved slowly along the 

 verge of the hill, at once solemn and picturesque. " This ground," observed 

 the Grand Master, " was broken on the King's birth-day : and the foundation 

 laid by commissioners acting in the name and on behalf of his Majesty, on the 

 anniversary of the day when christian slavery was abolished, the captive's 



