The Queen At Edinburgh.

THE QUEEN AT EDINBURGH .

Though the Hig hlands are Her Majesty ' s favourite resort , the Scottish capital has not enjoyed an undue share 0 f Royal visits . Since 1842 , when the Queen stayed for some days at Dalkeith , the seat of the Duke of Buccleuch , Her Majesty has only on three occasions visited Edinburgh , and only on one of these occasions , the memorable Review

0 [ Scottish Volunteers in i 860 , could the visit be looked upon as one of State . The citizens , therefore , by no means regard a Royal pageant as a thing of course , and the event of Thursdayproves that it has for them a keen interest . They have welcomed their Sovereign with the same affectionate loyalty as is shown throughout the realm when the Queen comes among her people . The Magistrates had

recommended a half holiday , thus preserving the frugal mind while bent on pleasure -, but in the principal thoroughfares many of the shops were not opened at all , and Edinburgh , as a whole , seemed resolved to make a day of it . Unluckily , the day was not as the previous one , or as any other recent days of almost tropical brightness and brilliance . No ray of sunshine fell on the city the whole day

long . Had this been the worst , sight-seers might have been thankful ; but in place of scorching heat the day began with a fine penetrating rain , which continued for some hours . The Queen ' s habitual good fortune , however , awaited her . By 2 o'clock the mist , which hid the Old Town from the New , cleared well away . From Princesstreet , and looking across the ravine , crag and tower ,

battlement and spire , could be seen once more , and from other points there came into view those near surroundings of sea and mountain which have made Edinburgh our ideal city . The Memorial to the Prince Consort is erected in Charlotte-square , at the west end of George-street , a broad and handsome street running parallel with Prince ' s-street and

just behind it . From Holyrood the Royal cortege entered George-street at St . Andrew ' s-square , which at the east end corresponds with Charlotte-square at the west end , forming a roadway in every way worthy of the city . In St . Andrew ' s-square is the monumental column built in honour of the first Lord Melville . Scotland is not chary of honours to her worthies . Edinburgh can point to some

five and twenty statues ; but it should be added that the statues are not entirely those of Scotchmen . The Melville column was gay with banners , and lines of streamers hanging from it were connected with tall Venetian masts in the gardens surrounding it . These masts , some of them 30 feet high , were repeated along the edge of the footway , and the street was as bright as it well coullbe

made by banners , bannerets , shields , flowers , evergreens , and bands of crimson cloth , which form the simplest and also the most effective of house decorations . Down this fine street , too broad to need barricading , came the Royal party , driving in three open carriages , in time to reach the square punctually at four o ' clock . The Queen looked in excellent health and spirits . In the carriage with

her were Princess Beatrice and Prince Leopold , who was in Highland costume . Lord Elphinstone was the Ixrd-in-Waiting . The Home Secretary , Mr . Cross , was in one of the State carriages . The suite in attendance were the Dowager Lady Waterpark , the Hon . Horatio Stopford , Miss Bauer , Sir William Jenner , Major-General Ponsonby , Colonel Gardiner , and the Hon . A . Yorke . The

Duke of Connaught was in command of the escort of the 7 th Queen's Hussars , and rode by the side of his mother's carriage . At Holyrood a guard of honour was furnished by the 79 th Highlanders , and the band of the 26 th Cameronians played in front of the Palace . Before Her Majesty ' s departure part of the roadway was lined by Royal Artillerymen and 3000 Volunteers belonging to the Artillery

Rifle Corps . Edinburgh possesses several smart and efficient corps , and those who turned out this day were most sturdy and soldierlike in look and bearing . A hundred blue jackets from Her Majesty ' s ship Favourite were stationed near Charlotte-square . George-strect was lined by the 29 th Cameronians , but the " thin red line " here and elsewhere was more than sufficient to restrain the crowd ,

who were as orderly and well-behaved as they were fervent in their loyalty . The chief pressure occurred at the entrance into Charlotte-square , where the Hussars with their well-trained horses were keeping back the crowd ; but a well-arranged system of barriers prevented much of the usual surging and confusion . Before the Queen arrived the people had fallen or had been shaken into their

places . Inside the square is a green enclosure within iron railings , about half as large as Lincoln's-inn-fields . The trees are not high enough or numerous enough to hide the memorial , which is thus admirably placed on green sward , with ample space around it , as an equestrian should have . At one side of the square is a church—St .

George ' s , and there are handsome public buildings and private residences at other sides . The site , therefore , is in every way a fitting one . Within the enclosure to-day some thousands of privileged spectators were admitted . Here , of course , the chief interest centred . The Body Cuard of the Royal Company of Archers lined the en'ranee , standing at two paces intervaleach man bow in

, hand , with three arrows in his quiver and a short gilt banded sword in his belt . The Duke of Buccleuch , who was in command , wore a handsome uniform of green and gold , with the blue riband of the Garter . Before the Archers were borne the old colours of the Corps , and among other officers who took command were the Duke

° f Roxburgh , Sir W . Gibson Craig , the Earls of Dalkeith and Stair , Sir J . S . Richardson , and the Earl of Rose"ety . Soon after the Body Guard had been placed the members of the Edinburgh Town Council came in procession , headed by Lord Provost Falshaw , and preceded by " -ur halberdiers in mediaeval dresses , and by Mace and •word-bearers . The Lord Provost was in scarlet and

The Queen At Edinburgh.

ermine -, the Bailies wore scarlet robes and ermine tippe's , the Town Councillors scarves only . This procession introduced a blaze of colour , the only objection to which was that when massed it hindered the view of several hundred somewhat indignant spectators in the rear . It is hardly possible to supply a list of the many distinguished persons who were present , but among them , either in

uniform or Court dress , were the Lord Justice-General , the Lord Justice Clerk , and the Lord Advocate , in his Court wig and robes ; the Earl of Lau lerdale , Hereditary , Standard Bearer , and the Earl of Selkirk , Keeper of the Great Seal ; and Mr . Wedderburne , Hereditary Royal Standard Bearer . On Her Majesty ' s arrival she was met by members of the Executive Committee , the Duke of

Buccleuch , Sir John McNeill , Sir W . Gibson Craig , and Dr . Lyon Playfair , M . P ., and a procesion was formed to the dais erected in front of the memorial . In this procession besides the nobltman and gentlemen already mentioned , the following took part : —The Marquis of Lothian , Lord Keeper of the Privy Seal ; Sir H . J . Seton-Steuart , Hereditary Armour Bearer , Mr . Walker , of Bowland ; Mr .

J . Steell , the sculptor of the memorial ; the Lord Provost and Sheriff Davidson . Chairs of State had been prepared under the dais , butHer Majesty , with the Princess Beatrice and Prince Leopold , remained standing throughout the ceremony , and thus remained well in sight of most ofthe spectators . The formal proceedings then began . A prayer was offered by Dr .

Milligan one ofthe D ; ans of the Chapel Royal , who wore a black gown and bands , with a doctor ' s hood . At the conclusion of the prayer the band of the 79 th Highlanders began the chorale " Gotha , " composed by the late Prince Consort , and it was then sung by a choir of two hundred voices , led by Dr . Oakeley , Professor of Music in the University of Edinburgh . The piece was admirably given , and the Queen listened to it with the utmost interest . Mr .

Cross then presented the members ofthe Executive Committee , and the Duke of Buccleuch , as their chairman , read the address to Her Majesty as follows : — "The Executive Committee for the erection of the Scottish National Memorial to His Royal Highness the Prince Consort have to-day the high honour and gratification of presenting ihe Memorial in its completed form to your

Majesty and to the people of Scotland . The subscribers to the Memorial numbered very many thousands of your Majesty ' s Scottish subjects . Contributions were received from every county and nearly every parish in Scotland . All classes of society , from the highest and wealthiest to the lowest and poorest , willingly combined according to their respective ability to render this Memorial a monument worthy of the occasion . It will be in your Majesty ' s

recollection that the subscribers humbly submitted the design and the site to your Majesty ' s selection , and that the design furnished by Mr . John Steell ( Royal Scottish Academician ) and this site ( which was loyally offered by the proprietors of Charlotte-square ) received your Majesty ' s gracious approval . The labour intrusted to the Executive Committee is now concluded , and the finished work of the sculptor is before your Majesty . The Executive Committee trust and believe that it will be found to be a not

unfitting tribute of a nation ' s affection and admiration of the Consott and an acceptable token of their love and loyalty to your Majesty ' s person and family . It is an auspicious coincidence that this day , the 17 th of August , is the anniversary cf the birth of Her Royal Highness the Duchess of Kent , your Majesty ' s beloved mother . The memory of Her Royal Highness will ever be revered by the people of

this country for the conspicuous virtues of Her Royal Highness ' s life , and especially for her admirable nature of their future Sovereign . The Executive Committee humbly request your Majesty to be graciously pleased to unveil the Memorial in the sight of the present assembly . —Edinburgh , Aug , 17 , 1876 . " The Queen made the following gracious reply : —

" I receive with pleasure your loyal address . I am well aware of the feeling in Scotland which promoted the raising of this National Memorial , ar . d I assure you that I heartily appreciate the affection and admiration manifested in this country for my dear husband , as well as the loyalty and attachment to me which has ever been the characteristic of my Scotch subjects . I thank you heartily

for the allusion you have made to my beloved mother on this day , the anniversary of her birth . Her frequent residence in this Royal city and its neighbourhood proved how much she loved the Scottish nation . " Neither the address nor the reply could bc heard , of course , even by people in the enclosure , much less by the thousands of people who lined the square or were crowding every and

balcony housetop , but when Her Majesty , after handing her reply to the Duke of Buccleuch , spoke a few words to the iHomc Secretary , Mr . Cross , in his loudest voice , succeeded t n making himself heard : " I have much pleasure in sayng by Her Majesty ' s command that it is her desire the statue be now unveiled . " The canvas covering which till now had concealed the statue was at once cleverly and

quickly removed , amid cheers which were loud and long . 'I'he long delayed memorial was exposed to ' view , while the band played the " Coburgh March , " and a Royal salute , fired by signal from the Castle , proclaimed t ; i all Edinburgh that the ceremony was complete . The choir here sung another choral , the words of which were written by the Rev . Gregory Smith , Vicar of Malvern , the music

being by Professor Oakeley . Finally the Queen walked round the statue upon a wooden platform carpeted with crimson cloth . Her Majesty , , vho was escorted by the Duke of Buccleuch and the Lord Provost , was thus able to see the statue from every point of view , and to whom

she expressed her entire satisfaction with the work . It is , indeed , a worthy addiiion to the art memorials in which , as I have said , the city is already so rich , and many of which are the work of the same venerable sculptor . On completing the circuit ofthe memorial the Queen was escorted to her carriage and returned to Holyrood . Along

The Queen At Edinburgh.

the whole length of Princes-street tbe crowds were as numerous and as warm in their greetings as they had been in George-street , and the decorations were hardly less elabcrate and effective , but in its beauty unadorned Princesstreet stands in little need of decoration . Later in the day Her Majesty drove through the Queen ' s Park by what is known as the Queen ' s Drive , and visited

Craigmillar Castle . It is only just to the authorities of Edinburgh to add that the arrangements made for the comfort and safety of the spectators who thronged the city were excellent , and the day passed off without serious accident . Her Majesty has shown in a marked manner her appreciation of what has been done and her desire to

honour her faithful city . It is understood that the Lord Provost has received an intimation that he will be created a baronet . At Holyrood , during the day , the chief sculptor of the memorial , Mr . J . Steell , and Professor Oakeley were knighted . Thus , as a popular spectacle and in the honour rendered to sculpture and music , the Queen ' s visit herewill long bc remembered in the civic annals .

WAR VICTIMS . —The Rev . Henry Jones , Secretary to the Turkish Missions Aid Society , writes to us from 18 , Adam-street , Strand : — " Should any of your readers prefer sending relief to the multitude of homeless families , as well as to the sick and wounded , through the medium of the American missionaries ( to whom a letter from your correspondent at Widin in your Saturday's issue justly

calls attention ) , the committee of this society , which is in direct communication with the missionaries in that unhappy region , would be glad to forward any contributions sent to its secretary , the Rev . Henry Jones , at the above address . The missionaries would , doubtless , be thankful for such means of doing good , and would administer the relief faithfully and judiciously . " The National Aid Society

has been amalgamated with the Eastern War Sick and Wounded Relief Fund . Mr . Lewis Farley has received a letter from Dr . Humphrey Sand with , dated Belgrade , Aug . 19 : — " In answer to your letter of the gth inst ., I can assure you that all boni fide surgeons who have hitherto arrived have been commissioned and sent to the front in uniform . I have lately returned from a mission to the enemy ,

with which I was entrusted by the Servian Government to arrange for the absolute neutrality of all hospital doctors , attendants , & c . I have received the fullest assurance in writing from Rifast Pasha , Governor of Widin , that all such will be treated with the greatest humanity , so I think that surgeons will have nothing to fear in future . The Turks have previously hanged Dr . Leah with the red cross

on his arm . The hospitals in Belgrade are now in want of nothing , but those in the interior are yet in a deplorable condition—i . e ., most of them . Some of them are very fair . The army in the West is in perfect health , and there arc but- few wounded there ; the army in the East is sending hundreds of wounded to the rear almost daily , and there is the place where most is needed . This morning

several English surgeons are gone to that army , Hare , Attwood , Hume , Boyd , Sandwith , MacKellar . They are all in uniform and commissioned , and are under the command of Inspector-General Baron Mundy , a first-rate man , under whom the service is being rapidly organized . The Medical Department is still in need of instruments , stores , surgeons , and dressers . I scarcely think ladies would do

here ; there are enough Russian ladies in ( Belgrade , and the interior is too rough aplace . Mr . MacCormac , principal surgeon during the Franco-German War , and Dr . Burnard Pitts , of St . Thomas ' s Hospital , have left London for the seat of war . The former , since his return to England , has been the senior surgeon at St . Thomas's Hospital . The Hyde Park Demonstration Committee formed for the

purpoie . of expressing indignation at the atrocities perpetrated by the Turks in Bulgaria , have , in answer to invitations addressed by them to Mr . Edward A . Freeman and Mr . Samuel S . Marling , M . P ., to attend a demonstration of working men , to be held in Hyde Park , received the following replies : —The former , writing from Summuleaves , Wells , says , — "I am glad , indeed , to see any class of people ,

and especially working men , stirring in such a cause . A working men's meeting on the matter is one of the things which I most wish to see , but I greatly doubt whether a Hyde Park demonstration is the best form it can take . " The latter gentlemau , writing from Staney-park , Stroud , says as follows : — " I have left London and am unable to return to render any assistance to the demonstration . The

atrocities perpetrated on the Bulgarians are an outrage on humanity , and I cannot but feel that our Government is much to blame for their indifference and want of care , because history might have taught them from the past conduct of the Turks that the utmost vigilance on their part was demanded to prevent outrages by the very circumstances of the case . I wish your meeting every success . "

Colonel Loyd Lindsay has left London for the seat of war in the East , taking surgical and medical appliances for the wounded Turks and Servians . Colonel Lindsay proceeds as Chief Commissioner of the National Society for Aid to the Sick and Wounded in War . STONEIIF . NOE . — " Druid" writes from Penzance— "On the 14 th inst . I visited Stonehenge , and was much sur .

prised at the way in which that most interesting relic has been mutilated , the lower portions of the stones being much disfigured . Upon arriving I found a party of ladies and two gentlemen (?); the latter were busy with chisel and hammer detaching portions of the ruins to keep as specimens , and regretting their inability to obtain large pieces in consequence of their being provided with a

carpenters , instead of a geological , hammer . Surely some steps might be taken to preserve this national monument from such selfish barbarism . With what feelings of indignation would the public regard the chipping off of portions of any of our cathedrals to adorn the private collections of individuals , and yet we have many cathedrals , and could better spare portions of them than of our one Stonehenge . "