feeling with which this poor Scot sang this beautiful production of nature's poet, the peculiar situation, and the accompaniment of a flute, pleased me more than at any other time I ever heard it. Having now reached the landing, we had to walk two miles to the Stewart's Inn, at the Trossachs, and fortunately found a good dinner, which after our fast and long journey, was a thing to be highly appreciated. As this is a favorite route for tourists between Glasgow and Edinburgh, the hotel was well filled. We made several excursions to the loch and surrounding mountains. My time being limited, I was obliged to leave my friends, and posted on to Callender on the borders of Sterlingshire. The route was very delightful, around mountains, and then through verdant plains, with now and then some old feudal castle rising abruptly in front of you. The distance was sixteen miles. Intending to stay all night, we drove to the McGregor Arms Hotel. Old and antiquated, it had once been a baronial hail, belonging to that clan. The waiter shewed me into a large room with fine oak roof, richly carved. Tapestry hung all round the walls, the windows were almost hid with heavy, dingy, crimson drapery, giving the place a most gloomy appearance. Not being of a superstitious turn, my slumbers were not disturbed by dreams, but I found myself in the morning much refreshed. A coach leaving for Sterling, I bade farewell to the mountain scenery, and entered a rich corn country. Farm houses were interspersed along the road, while numbers of peasantry were busily employed cutting and binding the wheat. The town of Stirling is built on the side of a hill. At the extreme point of the rock, is built the castle, which on one side, rises almost perpendicularly. The view from the castle is most extensive, on a clear day. Edinborough can be plainly seen. The castle is used as a military barrack, and was occupied by the 42d Highlanders. They have upward of 10,000 stand of arms, also a variety of curious weapons and pikes, that were taken during the struggles of the Pretender. Stirling is an irregularly built town, of little interest. The village of Allan, a few miles from Stirling, celebrated for a mineral spring, is becoming quite a place of resort. The scenery on the Frith of Forth is in some parts very grand. I made a very short stay in Stirling, being anxious to receive my letters at Edinburgh.

A coach running daily, I procured a place, and soon lost sight of Stirling. Our coachman pointed out to me the field of Bannockburn; we also had a fine view of the Grampian Hills. In four hours, we came in sight of Edinburgh. We entered at Princes street, which certainly stands almost unrivaled for its regularity and beauty, and drove up to McQueen's Hotel, where I passed the night.

Rising early, I was resolved to make the best of my time, in viewing this classic city and strolling towards Carlton Hill, purposing to take an early view of the city and county. A column is erected to commemorate the victories of Nelson, and having

ascended it, one of the finest panoramas I ever beheld, arose before me. Leith with its numerous shipping, riding at anchor; that masterpiece of skill, Granton pier stretching itself far into the sea, Arthur's seat far above; the Castle and the old town, with its brick houses, rising twelve or fourteen stories high, in contrast with the magnificent files of buildings in Princes st., and noble squares beneath me. Few cities can show such variety of aspect as Edinborough. On one portion of Carlton Hill, are standing fifteen pillars of pure Doric designed for the support of a building for the reception of works of art, similar to the Louvre in Paris, but unfortunately, the building could not be finished, from want of funds to carry on the work. The columns now stand to show the decline of this great city, but add much to the beauty of the modern Athens. A fine monument is erected to Burns by the corporation of the city. I was much shocked with the deserted appearance of the new town; the regularity and beauty of the buildings, the absence of all kinds of bustle in the streets are noteable. Numbers of princely mansions are unoccupied and grass and weeds are running wild in many of the principal squares. The absence of the Scotch aristocracy, residing in London, is the chief cause of this.

Being desirous of going over Holyrood Palace, in the morning, I crossed an elegant bridge in Princes st. into the Old Town. High street is the principal avenue. Numerous old houses are still standing. I noticed in front of one, the figure of John Knox. Many singularly carved fronts still remain. There are several old churches standing in this city.

Holyrood Palace stands in a low, unhealthy situation, and is one of the most gloomy-looking edifices I ever beheld. It has more the appearance of a prison than of a palace. Soldiers were keeping guard, who allowed me to pass. A female guide then conducted me over that part of the palace which was unoccupied and alone allowed to be seen by visitors. After passing through a number of small rooms, I was usherd into the grand ball-room. On each side were hung full length likenesses of the Scottish Kings and Queens. The room was so dark as to prevent my passing an opinion on the merits of the paintings. The floor was highly polished and of finely grained oak. We now were shown a suit of rooms, occupied by the ex-king of France, Charles the Tenth. The furniture was very antiquated, the walls were covered with tapestry. Passing on, I came to a fine room, elegantly furnished, and the one in which George the Fourth, when regent, held a levee. A fine full length figure of he late prince, in royal Stuart costume, painted by Sir Joshua Reynolds, is much admired, and considered very correct.

The apartments of Mary, Queen of Scots, remain precisely the same as when she occupied them. They consist of a drawingroom, bed-room and dressing-room. The bed is fast decaying, as also the furniture. The spot in which Rizzio was so brutally

murdered, is still indicated by dark spots on the floor. Our guide said that it was impossible to erase them. Whether artificial means are not resorted to, to retain the spots, I cannot give au opinion. A private stair-case from this spot, leads to the chapel. Many writers are very severe in condemning her; whether justly or not, it is difficult to say.

Its being thought that she was indirectly concerned in the murder of Lord Darnley, may in a measure account for their severity. Few woman are to be more pitied, brought up as she was, amid the gaieties and follies of a French court, where the tone of morality was so far below that of Scotland. How can we wonder at the events that characterize her reign and life? Ill-treated and neglected as she was by Darnley, and he, a man so little calculated to fulfil the part of a husband to a lady of such refined taste, such elegance of manners, such a votary to poetry and music, how then can we wonder that after Rizzio's introduction at court and his warm impassioned strains so in sympathy with her own feelings, it led, on both sides, to those results of which we every day have proofs before us? As a scholar and a gentleman, as a musician and a poet, Rizzio was allowed to be unsurpassed, while Darnly was cold, reserved and haughty, so opposite to the gentleman of the continent. The cruelty with which she was treated, her long confinement at various castles, her uniform kindness to all her domestics, and her unfortunate end must always render her a subject of pity, and cause us to lament the prejudices of that age. As she fell a victim to the jealousy and revenge of her cousin Elizabeth, her death is a blot upon the reign of that Queen, which nothing can efface.

I now descended the stairs leading to the chapel, which is quite in ruins. Sufficient, however, remains to indicate its former beauty. I returned to my hotel in a serious mood; the gloomy and dark appearance of the whole place, the thoughts of the sufferings and death of that unfortunate Queen, all had a depressing effect on my mind. How thankful should we be, that such prejudices and cruelties are no longer tolerated!

387

LITERARY NOTICES.

WORKS OF GEORGE WASHINGTON, with a Life of the Author. By Jared
Sparks. In 12 vols. New York: Harper & Brothers.

We have noticed several of these volumes as they have been issued, and we are now happy to announce that the work is complete, and that the price of it ́ withal is so much reduced from that of the former edition, that it can hardly fail to make its way among all classes of the community. While it is to be regarded as the most authentic record of those events which are immediately connected with our country's independence, it may also be viewed as a repository of the most grave maxims of political wisdom, and as a most trustworthy guide to national prosperity and virtue. It is due to the patriotism of the age as well as to the memory of Washington and his illustrious coadjutors in the revolutionary struggle, that special efforts should be made to give to this work the circulation to which its extraordinary character entitles it. It is not too much to say that so long as it is suitably appreciated and cherished, our country's liberties will remain secure; for the mind of the nation cannot be in intimate communion with the mind of Washington, without having within itself a principle of self-preservation.

POSTHUMOUS WORKS OF THOMAS CHALMERS, D. D. Harper & Brothers.

It is impossible but that every thing that Dr. Chalmers has written should be carefully treasured by his own generation and transmitted by them to posterity. His posthumous works we believe will extend to some eight or ten volumes. The first three only have yet appeared; and they consist of his observations in connection with his private readings of scripture. We have heard it questioned whether he ever intended them for publication; but be that as it may, the world will be the better for their being published. If there are fewer corruscations of genius than in some of his other works, we know of no other in which there are more striking demonstrations of an earnest and elevated piety. It is not a work of profound criticism, but it illustrates the mind of the Spirit with great beauty, richness and power.

LOITERINGS IN EUROPE OR SKETCHES OF TRAVEL, &c. By John W. Corson,
M. D. Harper & Brothers.

This is the production of a highly intelligent traveller, without the semblance of affectation or parade, and with many positive qualities that are fitted to render it popular with all classes. The observations in the appendix on European charities and medical institutions, form an important part of the work, and contain much that will be new at least to most American readers. The style is

simple and natural, and the book altogether takes a high rank among kindred publications.

THE WANDERINGS AND FORTUNES OF GERMAN EMIGRANTS. By Frederick Gerstæker. Translated by David Black. New York: D. Appleton & Co.

We are not quite sure how much of this book is truth and how much fiction, or how the authorship as it is set forth on the title page is to be regarded; but be that as it may, it carries with it an air of great probability, and for aught we can see, may be true to the letter; or if the author has drawn from fancy rather than fact, we have no doubt that he has furnished a fair illustration of what actually exists in real life. It is full of interesting incident, and the man who can read ten pages of it without wishing to keep on, must have the organs of both curiosity and sympathy but very imperfectly developed.

A PILGRIMAGE TO THE HOLY LAND. By Alphonse de Lamartine. D. Appleton & Co.

This book made a great noise in the world when it was first published some ten or twelve years ago, and it has recently gathered much additional attraction from the unexpected elevation and conspicuity of its author, in connection with the latest revolution in France. The work is in itself a somewhat remarkable one. It breathes the spirit of poetry and the spirit of religion in beautiful combination; and both are cherished and quickened by the hallowed associations which the author's "pilgrimage" gathers around him. It is á la mode Francaise throughout; it contains a great amount of splendid imagery and beautiful thought, and valuable information withal, though by no means free from extravagance.

CESAR'S COMMENTARIES ON THE GALLIC WAR. By Rev. J. A. Spencer, A. M. D. Appleton & Co.

We have in this book, besides the text according to the most approved authorities, a sketch of the author's life, extended notes critical and explanatory, a Latin-English Lexicon, and a general index. We can hardly imagine any thing in the way of apparatus that a student of Cæsar could desire, that is not here supplied. The high character of the editor as an accomplished scholar, is itself presumptive evidence that the present work is destined to gain an extensive circulation and meet with high approval.

THE GERMANICA AND AGRICOLA OF TACITUS; with notes for Colleges. By W. S. Tyler, Professor at Amherst College. D. Appleton & Co.

This work has been before the public long enough to acquire a verdict in its favor; as is evidenced by the fact that the present is a "new edition." More than half of the work consists of notes, which appear to have been the result of profound study and extensive research. The life and character of Tacitus are very happily sketched at the beginning.