INFALLIBILITY.

To my Old Friends the Catholics, to whose votes I owed my Election as a Civic Councillor of Edinburgh.

You say that the Pope is infallible. This notion is more injurious to him than it is to his Cardinals and Bishops. They are not responsible for any one of the evil things which they do. Yet all the obloquy necessarily falls on the Pope's head. He is thus held responsible for every evil which is done under the sun. Is this fair or just? Certainly not; who then should. be held responsible for every crime? Is it not the instigators and perpetrators of the same? Every pious Catholic must admit that I have hit the nail upon the head. Hence it is your bounden duty to ignore every priest who utters or proclaims a priestly curse. "Bless and curse not," thus saith the Lord. Again it is written, "Thou shalt not kill; ye know that no murderer hath eternal life." Hence abominate all secret societies. Let not your hands be stained with blood!

I have shewn you that a constitutional king or queen is far better even than a Pope. The Pope you say is infallible, and yet he often in olden times made many and great mistakes. You surely cannot justify the burning of Jerome, Huss, Hamilton, and Wishart! You cannot justify the massacre on St Bartholomew's Eve. Neither can I, as a Protestant, justify the murder of Cardinal Beaton, Servetus, and Archbishop Sharpe, or justify the tortures the bishops inflicted with thumbikins and iron boots! The truth is, that the Jesuits of every age, whether they were Protestant or Catholic, have been the enemies of all true religion. When the Jesuits were banished from France, the Pope expelled them from his shores, and even suppressed the "Society of Jesus" as being the disturbers of the public peace. They are the secret enemies of the Church of Rome, in the same way as our city clergy are enemies of the Scottish Kirk. Hence let us all unite.

Our loving Queen Victoria is by our glorious constitution more infallible even than the Pope! That is, she "can do no wrong." Her councillors, her bishops, and her ministers, are respectively responsible for every evil that we suffer from maladministration. Hence let us all act constitutionally. Those who represent us in parliament, or in the city council, who shall refuse to pledge, must instantly be turned out. For my part, I ignore all foreign domination. "Non-intervention" is now a Catholic term." Hence each city and each church must be left free to manage its own concerns.

το

THE QUEEN.

Would that all foreign Absolutists would learn a lesson from our beloved Queen. Would that they beheld her even in mourning weeds attired, and yet not more humble nor more modest than she was wont to be, when wending her way on foot along the skirts of her sweet Balmoral hills-to her sad memory ever dear-and entering with solemn step her lowly Scottish House of Prayer, that she might cast her Royal Crown before her loving Saviour's feet! Her sweetest notes of praise commingle with those of the humblest of the poor. It is the Scottish Sabbath morn―their hallowed day of rest! Who can deny that we see in Her that humble piety which is the best test of faith, as well as the best ground for "assured confidence and hope?" Her highest expectation is to obtain a better, yea, a crown that never more shall fade ! "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of the just." Her works? These are her labours of never-ceasing love. Her faith? Her wisely bestowed charity-fruits of grace-praise her in all our gates. But she, too, mourns and weeps! Yet the beloved of her soul is not dead-he only sleepeth in his silent bed of rest. He died in hope that they who sleep shall wake to "live and reign with their victorious Head."* What consolation this for our widowed Queen! What consolation this for even the poorest of her bereaved poor, who have been left forlorn to mourn and weep alone!

APPENDIX.

The following is a copy of what Mr Combe referred to in his second letter :

SIR WALTER SCOTT AND THE ROYAL PHYSICAL SOCIETY

This Society, in 1828, having resolved to elect Sir Walter an honorary member, deputed two of their presidents to present the diploma. Dr Cohin and I accordingly arranged a meeting with Sir Walter at his house in Shandwick Place. When we arrived at the house we found everything in disorder. At the door were several ancient pieces of armour, and the furniture was ready for removal. After waiting a few minutes we saw Sir Walter hasting along Princes Street, with his grey hazel stick in hand, and after the usual introduction, we were conducted into the dining-room. Dr Cohin, being an Englishman, had requested the honour of delivering the address. He said:"Scotland can boast of many illustrious names, renowned in science and art, but in the galaxy of literature there is one star whose brilliancy outshines all others that star is Sir Walter Scott." Sir Walter bowed, smiling. My friend continued, and after expressing some very appropriate sentiments, presented the diploma. Sir Walter received it, and, holding the roll in his right hand, replied,-" When I got your letter at first, I was at a loss to understand what connection I had with physic, but when I fonnd that the discussions in your society are not confined to medical science, but embrace all the range of science-physics in general, at once saw that I might have some little claim to the honour which has been conferred," and in a lower and more solemn tone of voice, he said," If I have been able by my writings to soothe one friend overwhelmed with melancholy, to which, alas! all are more or less subject, or if I have been able to make one sick man for a moment forget his pain, or if I have but furnished light entertainment to beguile the otherwise idle hour, I have been amply rewarded for my labour. And, gentlemen (pressing the diploma to his breast), I highly prize this honour conferred on me, for it is not a small honour to be a member of a society which can boast of having on its roll of members the illustrious names of a Brougham and a MacIntosh. I accept this diploma with much regard, and shall lay it up in my repositories as a memorial of this honour sent me."

Sir Walter then apologised for the awkward reception he had given us, as everything in the room was in disorder, but he said, "I have just hobbled down from the Parliament House to meet you, and to arrange for my instant departure from town, for I could not brook that a single blade of grass should wither during my absence from Abbotsford." Sir Walter then entered into familiar conversation, and took leave of us in so kindly a manner, that the memory of it can never be effaced from my mind.

The above is valuable, in so far as it gives Sir Walter's estimate of his writings, and the delicate allusion to his own misfortunes is truly pathetic. Sir Walter's love for Abbotsford, so beautifully expressed in his own

words, shews how deeply he was impressed with the taste and feelings of the ancient masters. Sic Horace

"I often wished I had a farm,

A decent dwelling snug and warm ;
A garden, and a spring as pure
As crystal, running by my door;
Besides, a little ancient grove
Where at my leisure I might rove.
The gracious gods, to crown my bliss
Hath granted this, and more than this.
I have enough in my possessing,
"Tis well I ask no greater blessing,
O Hermes! than remote from strife
I have and hold them for my life."
Are you with tranquil easy pleasure bless'd,

Or after sunrise love an hour of rest

If dusty streets, the rolling chariot's noise
Or if the neighbouring tavern's midnight joys
Delight thee not, by my advice retreat

To the calm raptures of a rural seat."

The great Roman orator had his Tusculan villa, and Pliny frequently expresses the pleasure he enjoyed in rural retirement. Thus, writing to Tacitus, he says, "Certainly you will laugh (and laugh you may) when 1 tell you that your old acquaintance has turned sportsman, and has taken three noble boars. What! (methinks I hear you say with astonishment) Pliny! Even he. However, I indulge, at the same time, my beloved activity, and whilst I sat at my nets, you would have found me, not with my spear, but my pen, by my side. 1 mused and wrote, being resolved if I returned with my hands empty, at least to come home with my papers full. Believe me, this mode of studying is not to be despised; you cannot conceive how greatly exercise contributes to enliven the imagination. There is, besides, something in the solemnity of the venerable woods with which one is surrounded, together with that awful silence (how true) which is observed on these cccasions, that strongly inclines the mind to meditation. For the future, therefore, let me advise you when you hunt to take along with you your pen and paper, as well as your basket and bottle, for be assured you will find Minerva as fond of traversing the hills as Diana. Farewell." Again writing to Babius, whose friend, Tranquillus, was seeking to purchase a farm, he says,—“There are several circumstances attending this little villa which are extremely suitable to his taste, the convenient distance from Rome, and the very few acres of land around it, which is just enough to amuse, but not employ him. To a man of the studious turn that Tranquillus is, it is sufficient if he has but a small spot to relieve the mind and divert the eye, where he may saunter round his grounds, traverse his single walk, grow familiar with his two or three vines, and count his little plantations. I mention these particulars to let you see how much he will be obliged to me, as I shall to you if you can help him to the purchase of his little box, so agreeable to his taste, upon terms which he shall have no occasion to repent." Again, to Pomponius Bassus," I had the pleasure to hear from our common friends that you support the dignity of ease in your agreeable retirement as becomes a man of your distinguished wisdom, that you mix exercise with contemplation, and learned conferences with much reading; in a word, that you are daily increasing that glorious fund of knowledge you already possess. Our youth and manhood we owe to our country, but our declining years is due to ourselves; as the laws, therefore, seem to suggest, which resign us up to retirement, when we are

arrived beyond our sixtieth year. How do I long for the time when I shall enjoy that happy privilege! When my years will justify my following the example of your honourable retreat! When my retirement shall not be deemed indolence but repose." But the most beautiful description of Pliny's retreat, its locality, and picturesque appearance is to be found in his long letter to Apollinaris, and which would incline us to think that on drawing out the plan of Abbotsford, Sir Walter had had in his eye Plinys magnificent Tusculan Villa as the pattern. Pliny's taste for hearing old stories seems very much like that of Sir Walter,-"If, says Pliny, you were to come here and see the numbers of old men who have lived to be grandfathers and great grandfathers, and hear the stories they can entertain you with, of their ancestors, you would fancy yourself born in some former age." Then there was the Tiber and the surrounding hills, and the villa itself with its porch and terrace embellished with various figures. The "grand dining-room" must have been magnificent, and the whole of the structure, with its baths and heating apparatus, seems to have been so splendid that it must have been more like a palace than a country seat. It was built or finished by its owner, who says,-"I here enjoy a more profound retirement. All is calm and composed; which contributes no less than its clear air and unclouded sky, to that health of body and cheerfulness of mind which I particularly enjoy here. And may the gods continue that happiness to me and that honour to my villa." (Hence I called my sweet villa, because of its beautiful locality, "Jordan Cottage." Jordan burn runs betwixt my garden and Canaan.)

SIR WALTER SCOTT AND THE "SCOTTISH UNION" INSURANCE COMPANY.

I afterwards had both social and private intercourse with Sir Walter Scott. On the first social occasion, forty of the elite of our city sat down to dinner. The company consisted of Admiral Milne, Mr Henderson, then Lord Provost, Mr Spittal, afterwards Sir James, the Aitchisons and Allans, Mr Hotchkis, W.S., Mr Black, now M.P., Mr F. Howden, Mr R. B. Blyth, Dr M'Lagan, &c. Sir Walter was in high glee, and filled the chair. He entertained us with so many old saws and modern instances, that he set the table on a continual “roar," until high twelve had struck. He seemed to delight in stating paradoxes. He did not utter one unseemly joke. “I will now, if you please, said he, state a paradox, strange but true. The Tweed lately set fire to Abbotsford; solve it if you can.' All were silent for a time. Gentlemen, said he, "di'e ye gi'e in?" Yes, yes, was our reply. Then, said he, I must solve my own riddle myself. The truth is, that I was lately making an addition to Abbotsford. A quantity of limeshells had been stored in an outhouse. The Tweed overflowed its banks and rose higher than it was known to have ever done before. The water slaked the lime, and strange to relate, it thus set the outhouse on fire, and it was with difficulty that Abbotsford was saved! Gentlemen, this circumstance teaches a very plain lesson. See to it that your own houses are insured. Sir Walter proposed the health of many, adding always something amusing and appropriate. For example, after speaking at some length of the medical profession, and the medical school of Edinburgh, he proposed the health of Dr M'Lagan, adding emphatically, "now no day light," gentlemen. The doctor, after returning thanks, said, during an earlier part of the evening, Sir Walter stated to us a paradox which none of us could solve. On reflecting over it, it now appeared to him no paradox at all; it was a thing in itself most natural. It was an act of pure revenge as justified by the law, I mean the lex talionis. The Tweed had set fire to Abbotsford, seeing Sir Walter had set fire to all the rivers in Scotland.