The Royal Volunteer Review At Edinburgh, 25th August, 1881.

THE ROYAL VOLUNTEER REVIEW AT EDINBURGH , 25 TH AUGUST , 1881 .

A T any time a visit to Edinburgh well repays the traveller in search of the - £ - » - pleasures to be derived from varied and picturesque scenery . Its favoured site and surroundings , its quaint old buildings , its imposing citadel and its venerable palace , hallowed as these are by traditions of and associations with the most exciting periods of the nation ' s history , give to the capital of Scotland attractions of unique and abiding character .

It need hardl y be said that a royal visit to the ancient Palace of Holyrood was an important occasion for the city , while a review by the Queen of her Scottish Volunteers was an event in its history that not Scotchmen only would wish to share the glory of , if even as but humble spectators . Insuch capacity then we visited Edinburgh in August , 1881 , among the many hundred thousand of loyal subjects who desired to see and greet their gracious Sovereignand to

, witness the gathering of her northern army of 40 , 000 volunteers . What a grand success the review was , in spite of the most unpropitious weather , is already known to all . The Queen herself , H . R . H . the Commander-in-chief , and military and civilian spectators of the highest capacity , have united in praising the admirable arrangements of those responsible for moving the troops , and testifying to the magnificent appearance and behaviour of the

volunteer soldiers under the most trying conditions . The weather was indeed deplorable , ancl will probably be remembered by those who took part in the review as the most prominent feature of the clay . The previous day had been very wet , ancl when we arrived in Edinburgh in the afternoon it was raining heavily . Already thousands of visitors were pouring into the town , fondl y hoping , as we did , to avoid the bustle and crowd of the next day . The hotels and lod ging-houses were able to put on an exceptional tariff , which , if it did not " protect" them from overcrowding , at least made a handsome

recompense for the extra trouble and worry . A friend hacl secured for us comfortable quarters near " The Meadows , " two large public parks on the south side of the city , which had been chosen for the " rendezvous " of twothirds of the volunteer army . The other division was to assemble in the "Queen ' s Park , " nearer the review ground , but at no great distance from our lodgings . After dinner the rain gave over somewhat , ancl though it was nearl y dusk

we strolled to the park to inspect the scene of the morrow ' s show . Towering over the houses in this part of the cit y the rocky escarpment of Salisbury Crags arrests the eye , and above , the lion-like mass of " Arthur ' s Seat " dominates , and yet does not detract from the bold outline of the cliffs below . This Royal " park " is unlike anything else of the name , and is one of the most attractive features of Edinburgh scenery . Ling on the east side of the old

y town it stretches from Holyrood Palace southwards to the village and Loch of Dnddingston , a distance of nearly two miles , ancl of nearly circular shape extends east and west for a similar distance . Arthur ' s Seat is the hi ghest point in it , and from the summit ( 800 feet high ) there is a magnificent view of the city and its environs , as well as of the opposite shores of the Frith of Forth . There is every variety of hill scenery in the compass of this

park" crags , knolls , ancl mounds , confusedly hurled "—ancl the Lochs of Dunsappie and St . Margaret add further charms to this wonderful bit of pure nature that keeps so close company with the busy haunts of' man . A broad carriage-way , known as the " Queen ' s Drive , " encircles the park , offering at various points enchanting views of town and country . The Parade-ground , as used b y the garrison and by the Edinburgh volunteers for battaliou drill , is a tolerabl y smooth piece of ground lying to the east of the Palace , with a few trees ( the