Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Scotland.
It would be , I feel , a presumptuous , as happily it is an unnecessary task , to delineate here the merits ancl character of this illustrious man—( cheers ) . He threw around his name a bri ght lustre , and his country shared in his renown ; to Scott ancl to Scotland the eyes of the civilized world were directed . Strangers from all countries visited him when living , and they still look with eager curiosity to the place of his residence . How diversified were his talents ' . Inspired with the most
enthusiastic admiration of our ancient national poetry , and of the manners and chivalry of former times , how did he create a new era in our literature , and dazzle us with the brilliancy ancl the faithfulness of his pictures of the times that had passed away ! If his life hacl been prolonged , it is not unnatural to suppose that , from some delightful sketches which he gave , he might have added to his fame that of excellence in historical composition . This was tbe birth-day of Scott—this the
anniversary of the day when a British sovereign revisited our long deserted palaces—this , an extraordinary day in the calendar , was also the birth-day of Napoleon . The Masonic body have had much satisfaction in doing honour to this day , for to his other claims he added that of a Brothel- ; he was a zealous , a true-hearted Mason ; his name was enrolled in one of our Lodges ; they had been often charmed with his society ; they counted it an honour that he had been enrolled among
them . I beg to thank the Coinmittee for the readiness with which they acceded to any proposal of the Grand Lodge ; and I rejoice to think that the whole ceremony , grand ancl imposing , has been conducted in a way worthy of the occasion . Sir WILLIAM RAE said , as a subscriber to the Scott Monument , I have
been requested by the Committee , to whom the execution of this interesting taskhas been committed , to acknowledge the appropriate and eloquent address which your Lordship has now made . I believe that your Lordship has alluded to the cause which has led to this distinction having been conferred on me . The happiness which I enjoyed in the intimacy that subsisted between us during the whole lifetime of that illustrious manan intimacy originating in our boyish years , when we were
school-fellows in the High School of Edinburgh , and continuing uninterrupted during his whole life , with a cordiality not often met with in the ordinary attachments of fife , until it pleased Providence to take him from that scene of trouble and distress , in which he willingly made himself a sacrifice , that no man might suffer injustice through him —( loud cheers . ) It is , indeed , a marked circumstance in the works of my lamented friendthatnumerous as the characters are which he
pour-, , trayed , and that hastily , as in many instances those works were compiled , not one sentiment escaped his pen—not one line occurs in his works , to which the strictest moralist could take exception . Nay , I will go farther , I will say that there is not one sentence wliich is not calculated to honour and to promote the best interests of mankind . I willingly turn from him to this testimonial—the object of which is not so much to extend and to perpetuate the memory of my friend—for that is
not required—but to show to the world the sentiments enteitained by his contemporaries , and to evince to posterity that we have not only benefited by his works , but that we are anxious to show the gratitude we entertained towards the man for the profit ancl pleasure we have derived from his genius . Such is the object of this work , and I agree with you , my Lord , that his own labours will form the truest and most lasting trophy of his fame—for his name and memory will flourish long after
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Scotland.
It would be , I feel , a presumptuous , as happily it is an unnecessary task , to delineate here the merits ancl character of this illustrious man—( cheers ) . He threw around his name a bri ght lustre , and his country shared in his renown ; to Scott ancl to Scotland the eyes of the civilized world were directed . Strangers from all countries visited him when living , and they still look with eager curiosity to the place of his residence . How diversified were his talents ' . Inspired with the most
enthusiastic admiration of our ancient national poetry , and of the manners and chivalry of former times , how did he create a new era in our literature , and dazzle us with the brilliancy ancl the faithfulness of his pictures of the times that had passed away ! If his life hacl been prolonged , it is not unnatural to suppose that , from some delightful sketches which he gave , he might have added to his fame that of excellence in historical composition . This was tbe birth-day of Scott—this the
anniversary of the day when a British sovereign revisited our long deserted palaces—this , an extraordinary day in the calendar , was also the birth-day of Napoleon . The Masonic body have had much satisfaction in doing honour to this day , for to his other claims he added that of a Brothel- ; he was a zealous , a true-hearted Mason ; his name was enrolled in one of our Lodges ; they had been often charmed with his society ; they counted it an honour that he had been enrolled among
them . I beg to thank the Coinmittee for the readiness with which they acceded to any proposal of the Grand Lodge ; and I rejoice to think that the whole ceremony , grand ancl imposing , has been conducted in a way worthy of the occasion . Sir WILLIAM RAE said , as a subscriber to the Scott Monument , I have
been requested by the Committee , to whom the execution of this interesting taskhas been committed , to acknowledge the appropriate and eloquent address which your Lordship has now made . I believe that your Lordship has alluded to the cause which has led to this distinction having been conferred on me . The happiness which I enjoyed in the intimacy that subsisted between us during the whole lifetime of that illustrious manan intimacy originating in our boyish years , when we were
school-fellows in the High School of Edinburgh , and continuing uninterrupted during his whole life , with a cordiality not often met with in the ordinary attachments of fife , until it pleased Providence to take him from that scene of trouble and distress , in which he willingly made himself a sacrifice , that no man might suffer injustice through him —( loud cheers . ) It is , indeed , a marked circumstance in the works of my lamented friendthatnumerous as the characters are which he
pour-, , trayed , and that hastily , as in many instances those works were compiled , not one sentiment escaped his pen—not one line occurs in his works , to which the strictest moralist could take exception . Nay , I will go farther , I will say that there is not one sentence wliich is not calculated to honour and to promote the best interests of mankind . I willingly turn from him to this testimonial—the object of which is not so much to extend and to perpetuate the memory of my friend—for that is
not required—but to show to the world the sentiments enteitained by his contemporaries , and to evince to posterity that we have not only benefited by his works , but that we are anxious to show the gratitude we entertained towards the man for the profit ancl pleasure we have derived from his genius . Such is the object of this work , and I agree with you , my Lord , that his own labours will form the truest and most lasting trophy of his fame—for his name and memory will flourish long after