THE KING AT HOPETOUN HOUSE. 



IS7 



Charles II. by Archibald Primrose, who was created Viscount Primrose in 

 1700, and tliree years later, earl of Roseberry. The Queensferry sent forth its 

 joyous acclamations as the king approached, and the vessels composing the 

 royal squadron at anchor off the pier, exhibited their masts gaily festooned 

 with flags of every nation and colour. The cavalcade as it entered and winded 

 along the great avenue, assumed a still more royal appearance; and now, 

 augmented by an additional escort, presented a picture of the most novel and 

 imposing features. Never, perhaps, did sovereign meet with a reception more 

 worthy of the royal dignity, more honourable to his noble host, or more 

 creditable to the loyalty of his subjects. But as our limits do not permit 

 us to indulge in minute description, we shall conclude the subject with a very 

 few remarks. 



Early in the afternoon, the king took leave of the Hopetoun fete*— the 

 most strikingly novel and impressive, probably, of any that had yet hailed his 

 arrival. Attended by a retinue of nobles, he entered his barge manned with 

 eighteen rowers ; while a royal salute, fired by all the ships of the squadron, and 

 answered from the opposite shore by the guns at Broom-hall, the seat of 

 Lord Elgin, announced the king's departure from Caledonia. His embarkation 

 on board the royal yacht was similar in many respects to the gorgeous scene 

 already displayed on his first landing at Leith. The yacht was soon under 

 weigh, and, followed by the rest of the squadron, bore down for Leith " roads." 

 At six o'clock, a third salute was given from Leith Battery, the Castle, Calton- 

 hiU, and Sahsbury Crags, announcing that the royal squadron was fairly at sea, 

 and the national pageant concluded. 



' Then sons of the mountain and sons of the vale 

 Return to the roar of the forest and flood ; 

 And whether tlie tartan be purple or pale, 

 Be brothers in spirit, as brothers in blood !" 



The official expression of the King's sentiments towards Scotland and its 

 inhabitants, as pubhshed the same day, concludes in these terms : — " His Majesty's 

 residence in Scotland has proved to him a source of unalloyed satisfaction. It 

 has confirmed every favourable impression which he had previously entertained 

 of the character and habits of the people; and it has afforded to him that 



• While at Hopetoun-house the king gave a flattering proof of his esteem for native merit, and of his 

 zealous desire to encourage the fine arts, of which he had always been an ardent admirer and a generous 

 patron, by conferring the honour of knighthood upon Mr. Henry Raeburn and Captain Adam Ferguson- 

 names too well known to the public to call for any notice in this place. 



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