Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Scotland.
right and left by John AAliyte Alelville , Esq ., of Mount Afelville , Substitute Grand Master ; the Hon . Captain Jocelyn ; Archdeacon AVilliams ; J . T . Gordon , Esq ., advocate ; R . Chambers , Esq . ; Dr . Schmitz ; John AVilson , Esq . ; Colonel Burns ; Air . Smith , of Crutherland ; Colonel M'Niven ; Dr . Memes ; D . Milne , Esq ., advocate ; Alexander Robertson , Esq ., of Eklin ; Dr . Robert Lee ; Le Chevalier Albert de Neuwall , Treasurer to the Emperor of Austria ; Alex . M'NeillEsq . advocate ;
, , W . Forbes , Esq ., MP . ; Air . Steele , the sculptor , & c , & c . A . Pringle , Esq ., of AVhytbank , 31 . P ., and Sir Adam Ferguson , acted as croupiers . A number of ladies occupied the seats of the orchestra , and being in full dress , their presence tended to a great extent to enhance the scene , which was one of no ordinary kind , banners ancl various devices appropriate to the occasion being displayed ; amongst others , the coat of arms
of Sir AA aIter Scott , with the motto , " Watch week" Dr . Robert Lee asked a blessing , and Archdeacon AVilliams returned thanks , after which , on the removal of the cloth , the usual loyal toasts were given in very appropriate terms from the chair . Captain Boswall , of AVardie , returned thanks for the navy , and Colonel M'Niven for the army . The CHAIRMAN then called for an especial bumper , and said—Gentlemenor I should rather sayladies and gentlemen —( laughter)—I use
, , no unmeaning hackneyed phrase , nor do I assume a mere affectation of modesty , when I assure you that I feel altogether incompetent to the task assigned me ; and sincerely clo I regret that the toast I have now to propose hacl not been placed in bands qualified to do it justice—( applause ) . In proposing the immortal memory of Sir AValter Scott , so
various and so great are the excellencies to which I should advert , that I feel bewildered in even attempting to touch slightly on topics which would give scope to the most fertile imagination . If England boasts of the mighty Shakspeare , Scotland may well be proud of Sir AA ' alter Scott ¦ —( applause ) . In the spirit which animates his poetry he stands alone in his age ; in description he was unrivalled ; whatever he saw with his mind ' s eye he depicts with a truthfulness and vividness that place it
distinctly before the eye of his reader—( continued applause ) . He reproduces the world of feudalism and chivalry , and his readers seem for the time to live ancl move in the society of knights of generous and lofty hearing , clansmen of unbounded devotedness to their chiefs , ladies arrayed in feminine loveliness —( great applause)—of unswerving fidelity , and partaking of the courage of the times . We are made witnesses of combats and tournaments , of border raids , and fierce encounters of fiery spirits fond of martial adventure , and embued with an absorbing love of country . But hiah as is the rank which Scott attained as a nnet . it . is as
a writer of romance that he acquired his widest fame . No writer ever exercised so great an influence on the public mind—no writer ever gained so extensive a reputation in the same space of time . Italy , France , ancl Germany , as well as his own country , acknowledged his power —( applause ) . At the time that Sir Walter Scott produced the first of that delightful series of romances , the public taste in works of fiction had sunk to a low ebb—( hearhear ) . The novel was a name of bad odour
, —it was vicious in style , and questionable in morality . The author of Waverley succeeded at once in raising it to the highest level , by purifying its spirit , and infusing into it a cheerful , healthful tone of feeling , brightening the path of humanity —( great applause ) . On the literature of Great Britain his writings exercised a beneficial influence , by the
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Scotland.
right and left by John AAliyte Alelville , Esq ., of Mount Afelville , Substitute Grand Master ; the Hon . Captain Jocelyn ; Archdeacon AVilliams ; J . T . Gordon , Esq ., advocate ; R . Chambers , Esq . ; Dr . Schmitz ; John AVilson , Esq . ; Colonel Burns ; Air . Smith , of Crutherland ; Colonel M'Niven ; Dr . Memes ; D . Milne , Esq ., advocate ; Alexander Robertson , Esq ., of Eklin ; Dr . Robert Lee ; Le Chevalier Albert de Neuwall , Treasurer to the Emperor of Austria ; Alex . M'NeillEsq . advocate ;
, , W . Forbes , Esq ., MP . ; Air . Steele , the sculptor , & c , & c . A . Pringle , Esq ., of AVhytbank , 31 . P ., and Sir Adam Ferguson , acted as croupiers . A number of ladies occupied the seats of the orchestra , and being in full dress , their presence tended to a great extent to enhance the scene , which was one of no ordinary kind , banners ancl various devices appropriate to the occasion being displayed ; amongst others , the coat of arms
of Sir AA aIter Scott , with the motto , " Watch week" Dr . Robert Lee asked a blessing , and Archdeacon AVilliams returned thanks , after which , on the removal of the cloth , the usual loyal toasts were given in very appropriate terms from the chair . Captain Boswall , of AVardie , returned thanks for the navy , and Colonel M'Niven for the army . The CHAIRMAN then called for an especial bumper , and said—Gentlemenor I should rather sayladies and gentlemen —( laughter)—I use
, , no unmeaning hackneyed phrase , nor do I assume a mere affectation of modesty , when I assure you that I feel altogether incompetent to the task assigned me ; and sincerely clo I regret that the toast I have now to propose hacl not been placed in bands qualified to do it justice—( applause ) . In proposing the immortal memory of Sir AValter Scott , so
various and so great are the excellencies to which I should advert , that I feel bewildered in even attempting to touch slightly on topics which would give scope to the most fertile imagination . If England boasts of the mighty Shakspeare , Scotland may well be proud of Sir AA ' alter Scott ¦ —( applause ) . In the spirit which animates his poetry he stands alone in his age ; in description he was unrivalled ; whatever he saw with his mind ' s eye he depicts with a truthfulness and vividness that place it
distinctly before the eye of his reader—( continued applause ) . He reproduces the world of feudalism and chivalry , and his readers seem for the time to live ancl move in the society of knights of generous and lofty hearing , clansmen of unbounded devotedness to their chiefs , ladies arrayed in feminine loveliness —( great applause)—of unswerving fidelity , and partaking of the courage of the times . We are made witnesses of combats and tournaments , of border raids , and fierce encounters of fiery spirits fond of martial adventure , and embued with an absorbing love of country . But hiah as is the rank which Scott attained as a nnet . it . is as
a writer of romance that he acquired his widest fame . No writer ever exercised so great an influence on the public mind—no writer ever gained so extensive a reputation in the same space of time . Italy , France , ancl Germany , as well as his own country , acknowledged his power —( applause ) . At the time that Sir Walter Scott produced the first of that delightful series of romances , the public taste in works of fiction had sunk to a low ebb—( hearhear ) . The novel was a name of bad odour
, —it was vicious in style , and questionable in morality . The author of Waverley succeeded at once in raising it to the highest level , by purifying its spirit , and infusing into it a cheerful , healthful tone of feeling , brightening the path of humanity —( great applause ) . On the literature of Great Britain his writings exercised a beneficial influence , by the