SCOTLAND 



577 



residence of a fugitive prince, ttere is much elegance, taste, and refinement in the town. In 

 the London circles, he who has the highest title has the greatest consideration. In Edinburgh, 

 the society of Scott, Jeffrey, and Wilson is more esteemed than that of mere dukes and mar- 

 quisses. 



once; and, that no one could appear with less than 12. 

 It is said to have been a remark of his majesty, that since 

 his accession to *,he tlirone, he had not seen so many un- 

 soiled dresses, unrouged faces, and white white plumes, 

 as were displayed in his Scottish drawing-room. 



The eventful morning arrived ; and we will venture to 

 say, that a more sleepless night than that which preceded 

 it was seldom passed by the inhabitants of a great city. 

 The provost and the baillies rubbed their hands with an 

 important air, looked at each other's solemn faces, and 

 hoped that all would go off well. By 6 in the morning, 

 there was a universal stir, although the drawing-room 

 was not to take place till 11. It would be difficult to 

 compute with any degree of certainty how many eyes 

 were at the same moment fixed upon the mirror. The 

 gentlemen had one advantage over the ladies. They had 

 already kissed hands at the levee ; on which occasion an 

 amusing mistake was made by a deputation of Edinburgh 

 lawyers, who being desired to kiss hands, instead of kneel- 

 ing to salute the royal fingers, kissed their own familiarly 

 and passed on. The hair-dressers might have had the 

 hundred arms of Briareus, and yet found them insutB- 

 cient for the various operations of curling and frizzing 

 and tastefully arranging jewels and plumes. The court- 

 dress of a lady consists of a gown of some rich material, 

 perhaps white satin, embroidered in gold; the train, 

 which is several yards in length, is composed of velvet, 

 silk, or satin, either white or colored, and embroidered to 

 suit the dress. The sleeves are short, with lace ruffles. 

 Lappets of Brussels lace are fastened to the top of the 

 head, and depend as low as the waist. The head-dress is 

 a lofty plume of ostrich feathers, usually mingled with 

 aigrettes of diamonds, and other rich ornaments, such as 

 necklaces, earrings, bracelets, belts, and stomachers of 

 diamonds are worn in the greatest profusion. The gen- 

 tleman's court-dress is infinitely less graceful and becom- 

 ing. A coat, cut in a peculiar antique fashion, usually 

 composed of claret-colored cloth, and embroidered at the 

 pockets, collar, and wristbands ; point lace ruffles ; an 

 embroidered waistcoat; white silk stockings, and knee- 

 breeches of white casimir ; shoes with silver or diamond 

 buckles ; a long sword, and a chapeau de bras, form a 

 costume which may be suited to an elderly and courtly- 

 looking person, giving him the air of a Sir Charles Grand- 

 ison, but which is very apt to bestow upon a young gen- 

 tleman the appearance of having stepped into a suit of his 

 grandfather's clothes. By 10 o'clock the streets were 

 covered with carriages hastening towards Ilolyrood. 

 Probably at no period had such a scene of varied magnifi- 

 cence been displayed in Edinburgh. Bodies of cavalry 

 and infantry ; the Lancers, with their gay scarlet uni- 

 forms ; the Scotch Greys, with their heavy helmets and 

 handsome horses ; the Highland regiments in blue bon- 

 net and philabeg ; the Royal Archers in their suits of 

 Lincoln green ; the Earl-mareschal with his pages in 

 black velvet and silver; these, together with the tasteful 

 and splendid equipages, the innumerable foot passengers, 

 the windows and balconies crowded with heads, all com- 

 bined to form a prospect which almost fatigued the eye 

 by its variety and magnificence. 



Both the court-yard of the palace, and the streets in its 

 vicinity were covered with an endless file of chariots and 

 coaches; from the windows of which innumerable plum- 

 ed heads were bending, and eyes anxiously watching the 

 moment when their turn to enter was likely to arrive. It 

 came at last; and through long files of gus'-ds, and pages, 

 and ushers, bespeaking all the mingled bustle and eti- 

 quette of a royal mansion, the company passed on to the 

 gallery allotted for their reception. And again old Holy- 

 rood echoed to the tread of light and joyous footsteps. And 

 again bright eyes, and sparkling jewels lit up her desolate 

 chambers. And her raoss-grown court-yard rang to the 

 tramp of (he war-linr.';o, and the neighing of the proud 



steed was mingled with the loud notes of martial music. 

 Forests of white plumes were waving through the ancient 

 galleries. To a fanciful mind, it seemed like the invasion 

 of a sanctuary, and like treading upon the ashes of the 

 dead. All eyes were anxiously turned towards the win- 

 dows which commanded a view of the Dalkeith road, by 

 which the royal carriage was expected to arrive. Now 

 was the moment of expectation. Some grew pale ; and 

 some grew red ; some talked of their fears ; and some 

 bravely tried to laugh them off. Various officers of the 

 household, ushers, and pages, passed and re-passed through 

 the apartments, re-assuring the ladies, and observing, in a 

 consequential whisper, that his majesty would speedily ar- 

 rive. The approach of a carriage and six, occasioned a 

 general rush to the windows, and as general an e.xpression 

 of disappointment. It was the equipage of the first Lord 

 of the Bedchamber, the Earl of F. ; and was, perhaps, one 

 of the most remarkable specimens of an outre taste, exhib- 

 ited during his majesty's visit. The carriage itself was 

 green, covered with gilding, the F e arms emblazon- 

 ed on the panels. It was drawn by G grey horses, with 

 their postilions dressed in tartan. A fat English coach- 

 man looked uneasy upon his box, in the novel acquisition 

 of a kilt. Beside him, sat a foreign chasseur, with a plum- 

 ed cap. Two footmen, in kilts, stood behind the carriage. 

 Four out-riders, in tartan trews, galloped beside it. Four 

 runners, in tartan kilts, exerted all the speed of their long 

 Highland legs, to keep up with the prancing greys. The 

 Earl himself, in full Highland costume, with kilt, dirk, 

 and bonnet, completed the incongruous appearance of the 

 whole. At last, the royal carriages were seen approaching 

 at full speed ; the King in a crimson colored coach, drawn 



by six white horses, the Dukes of M e and A e 



on either side of him, and the Lords of the Bedchamber 

 in separate carriages, with the royal liveries. In a few 

 minutes, the doors of the gallery were thrown open, and Sir 

 Hussey Vivian, a tall and fine-looking person, in a com- 

 plete dress of black sable, and holding a white stafii'in his 

 hand, announced, that his majesty requested the honor of 

 the ladies' company in the presence-chamber. 



Now came the rustling of trains, and the movement of 

 plumes ; and for once, even ladies of rank were disposed 

 to yield precedence to each other. The company passed 

 along through two files of guards, stationed in the ante- 

 chamber. The utmost silence prevailed, broken only by 

 a few anxious whispers, either of inquiry or information. 

 Among the first who entered the presence-chamber, was 



the young and lovely Countess of G y, attired in 



all her bridal splendor, yet pale and shrinking, like a white 

 rose half concealed in its silver leaves. 



At the door of the royal apartment, the lady relinquishes 

 the arm of the gentleman who escorts her, gives her card 

 to an usher of the white rod, stationed for the purpose of 

 receiving it, pulls off her left glove, and lets dovim her 

 train. Her name is then called out by the usher, together 

 with that of the Lady, under whose auspices she is pre- 

 sented. "Miss or Mrs , by the Countess of " 



She then proceeds up the room, and it must be confessed, 

 that she requires some courage to advance alone, through 

 a large apartment, with the eyes of the King and his suite 

 fixed upon her. His majesty stands in full dress, surround- 

 ed by the officers of his household, and by several ladies of 

 rank, who have the privilege of the entree. Having ad- 

 vanced up to the King, the lady gives another card to the 

 Lord in waiting, who stands benind him. Her name is 

 again read out, upon which his majesty comes forward, 

 takes her hand, salutes her on the left cheek, says a few 

 words to her, either of compliment or inquiry, and makes 

 a low bow ; a sign that the conference is ended. The lady 

 curtseys very low, and retires backward towards the door. 

 As this operation is somewhat difficult to perform with a 

 long train, the ushers of the white rod are in attendance to 

 beat it back, and resrue the wearer from the inevitable 



