eartspiants. FROM OUR SPECIAL EUROPEAN CORREB- PONDENT. MELROSE, Aug. 27, 1867 DRAB. EDITOR.: A ride- of thirty-seven miles southeast from Edinburgh, brings us to this grand ruin, rendered famous by the writings of Walter Scott, for whose memory all Scotland has a rever ence almost religious. Be little knew, when writing his enchanting peeing . and novels, that his labors would be the means of . bringing mil lions of dollars into his beloved country, as well by the tens of thousands of tourists who flock to see the spots he has rendered famous, as by the publication and sale of his worki. We meet tourists from England, France, and Germany, as well -as from our own land, in troops, wherever we go.. MELROSE ABAIAY Is a beautiful ruin of the finest Gothio architect ure. It was built in the days of David 1., A. D. 1136. Many fine arches are, standing in perfect preservation, while some of, the windows are as well preserved akthey aye beautiful, Ivy.covers much of the walls, outside and in, while the tombs that still remain are of great antiquity. Around the building we can trace where the altars stood in the different chapels. The old brown stone basins for holy water are still in a ruined state here and there in the wall. Around the capitals of the Gothic columns the carving of flowers and leaves is wonderfully' perfect. Neat: where the high altar stood, we. find the tomb of Alexander 1., of Scotland, who died in 1249; also, a little slab a foot square, said to cover the, heart of Robert Bruce. Near by is the tomb of the Black Douglas. In one corner of this nave is the tomb of Michael Scott, which William of Deloraine, in the Lay of the Last Minstrel, rode so far and so hard to reach. The door, in the side of, the Abbey, is shown through which the aged monk led William. The monk and Delo raine together pried up the slab over the tomb with a bar, and as a crack was opened, the light streamed from the tomb so as to light up all the old roof overhead and show the beams and the dust-covered carved heads, corbels, and other or nament's in the walls and roof. The slab has a cress a yard long carved on it, and some old letters so dim that we could not decipher them; but the slab is cracked across it just as if it were, true that the knight had pried it up and broken it in his attempt to get the magic missal buried with Michael Scott. The whole ruin is far more perfect than we had expected. The carvings and fine tracery, the few images that remain here and there in the numerous niches, the delicate beauty of the high columns and graceful arches surmounting them, 4.1. e numerous, finely-proportioned, flying buttresses supporting the higher portions of the nave, all bespeak a perfection in architecture, a taste and skill in ornamentation wonderful indeed for the old days when David I. and Robert Bruce were the ruling spirits in . Scotland. Some very grotesque animals and human figures jut out from the walls close to the roof, which were the gurglets through which the rain from the roof ran off. In one place we noticed the grinning lizee of a negro—curly head, thick lips, broad mouth, all revealing an intimate acquaintance with the colored race in the old days when the artists were working upon the stately pile. A lonely clock struck the hour on a lonely bell high up on an old gable, which.startled us as we wandered around the quiet old grave-yard. We learned that, 200 years ago, the Presbyterians worshipped in the best preserved corner of the ruin, in one of the aisles of whieh:the stone roof still remains. The clock and bell which they put up have been kept in order ever .since they abandoned the building at the beginning of this century, by the Duke of Buccleugh, who owns the rain. From the grave-yard outside, the view of the ruin is charming. The gable of the grand nave with its glorious old window in fine preservation ; ivy on the wall and through the window; ivy again on the inside archeii on the top of the wall, over the window, grass and yellow flowers, the growth of undisturbed centuries; oh what a picture! We could sit here, spell-bound, all day and wait for "the fair moonlight" so that we might see it in the height of its moat romantic lights and weird shadows. Pethaps light would stream from old Michael Scott's tomb again if we should go and pry it up at midnight. ABBOTSFORD A drive of two miles brings us to thelast home of Walter Scott, and with eager steps we fulfil the desire of a life-time and, enter its almost holy precincts. We find it a beautiful villa of the most tasty architecture, with towers and . battlements, and fine bay windows looking out upon a lovely lawn bounded by the Tweed a few rods distant Behind its wooded shore rise the rolling hills of Ettrick and Yarrow. The house and grounds are in the finest, state of repair—all neat, tidy, bright and new-looking. We are first shown into the private study of the great author. There is his desk with drawers, his large old chair, cushioned in the easiest and fullest manner, cov ered with black leather. We sit down in the chair and lean upon the desk. Perhaps we may catch an inspiration. Around the room are cases of books covering all the walls, just as he left them. Here hangs an old purse containing coins THE AMERICAN PRESBYTERIAN, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 1867. be collected. Over the fire-place is his bell-pull; we grasp the wooden handle he had often jerked. In one of the cases lie his canes and pipes, some of the former rough, as he cut them himself, and worn smooth as he used them in his rambles. He lived before the days of loco-foco matches, for on his mantle stands the old-fashioned appa ratus for making hydrogen gas and throwing a jet upon a piece of spongy platinum, thus " stri king a light." In a small tower room, adjoining, is the bust taken from his face in plaster as he lay dead. It ii in bronwg, and as it lies calm and silent, with eyes closed, you think you are looking upon his corps., His mighty forehead, his immense height of head above the. line of the eyebrows and the top of the ears, are' too prominent to es cape notice. We next enter the library, a large„re t em feet long and nearly as broad. Here are 20,000 volumes, many of which are rare and valuable. A fine portrait of Scott's oldest son is over the fire-place. Also Chantrey's bust of Scott taken from like, a copy of the bust of Shakspeare from the tomb, at Stratford on Avon - arm-chairs presented by, the Pope, and a desk presented by George 111. This rogin,is just as the owner left it--as in fact they ail are. . In the drawinu- room antique furniture pre, sented by George. IV., also a case, containing, among other precious relics, the r tulabler Robert Burns used, a snuff-box set with dia.urnicts pre-' sented by Maria Edgeworth,,a handsome album.' in green and gold with the ,letters N.B. on the cover,kit once belonged to Napoleori,) Rob Boy's money purse, a piece of Robert Brace's coffin', a silver seal that belonged to. Mary Queen of - Scotts, and other rare relics which Scott used to Value highly, The dining.room contains a number of paint ingot his own portrait,, his mother's, Mary. Queen of Scotts' head painted the ,day after her execution, portraits of Dryden, Cromwell and Hogarth. Here is Rob Roy's gun, Tipp° Satil:p's sabre, a pistol of Claverhouse; the ,pistols found in Napoleon's carriage after Waterloo; the iron mask worn by the martyr Wishart to prevent his addressing the people. The last room shown is , the great hall, the walls of which are covered with armor, shields, arms and trophies. Huge antlers - are placed at each end of the room. Here are full suits of armor, as worn in different periods; one large sword, which was used on Bosworth field, fully seven feet long, the handle alone being eighteen inches at least, and the cross bar separating it from the blade, rather longer, forming a very perfect cross ; two swords from Culloden,- wii4, other similar relics in great variety. Close to the window is a ease in which lie the last clothes worn by Sir Walter, Here is his white silk hat, his : heavy, honest-looking shoes, his pantaloons.of small white and black plaid, striped vest, narrow stripes of black and white, black cloth coat with well-worn steel buttons, one button gone. You feel, as you look at them, as though he had just put them off and was wearing a better suit some where about the house. High up near the ceiling, is hung a long row of shields each bearinc , the name of one of Scot land's old chiefs:—Beff, Johnson, Rutherford, Stewart, Douglass, Jardine, Ker, Scott, - Irvine, fprris, and others; while over them we' read in a long line from one end of the room to the other " Theas be the coot armories of ye olannis and men of name quha kepit the Scottish march in ye days of auld." We leave this delightful room and go,out upon the terrace. From this point the whole front, 160 feet long, presents a fine, variety of gables, mjecting windows, turrets, bnlconies, and . g,roups of chimneys. It has been called "a perfect_rev elry of Gcthic exuberance, which it would be impossible to reduce to order, method, or consec utiveness." The whole effect is pleasing and beautiful in the extreme. - We had expected to find .A.bbotsforil a ,quiet, home-like, place, old-fiehioned and country-look ing; but when we were shown' almost a palace', we could understand why good Sir Walter was so driven and harassed for money in his later years. It is true he was badly involved by the failure of his publishers • but to, build an Abbots ford would of itself take a fortune. DRYBURGH ABBEY A drive of :five miles takes us to this fine old ruin containing the tomb of Sir Walter Scott. It lies on the banks of the Tweed on the opposite side to that on which we _were driving. We come to the ferry and call, for the, boat to, take us over. The river runs rapid—its waters black, as all the streams are here, discolored. by the roots of the bog vegetation among which they . take their rise. On the opposite bank is a cliff of brown stone, apparently a quarry, doubtless the same spot from which the builders of the abbey in the 12th century took their material. The brown cliff is there, the rapid rapping stream, too, just as they appeared when the builders looked upon them in those old days, though they have been sleeping a long sleep through these seven centuries. Let us see what their work looks like. A winding path brings rtS to the ruin. A large abbey, with old gables standing, completely covered with ivy—a few arches in good preservation; but more ,ruined and desolate looking than Melrose. Among the cloisters ad joining, we trace out the dining hall, 100 feet long, the library', 'and cellar-where ihe stores of eatables and drinkables were kept by those old monks. One corner of the abbey is better -pre served than the rest, the stone roof over the arches is in perfect preservation, and it is here, that Sir Walter lies. His tomb lea plain, oblong block ofpclishsl browaish Scotch granite. His name icent, on the top. Near him are the tombs of his wife and son, and at a little distance seve ral of his ancestors. An iron railing, eight or nine . fdet high, separates the tomb from the rest of the abbey. It is a strange place to he buried in, we thought —this old ruin. Had it been Melrose, we slidhld riot have felt' it to be so ;' but to doubt - the - old ruin had a charm for; the poet; and many hours he had spent in examining ite ancient tablets, jts baptismal font, the ,place where its altars.- had stood, and where the monks had lived and wor shipped. Then, as the, tombs grandparents were there, no. .d mbt be had selected thaf:elas.sical corner as the place.of his long, quiet sicep., - From Melrose, we make our rapid ; ,way back, to Liverpool ; through a -country but, thinly, in habited, We pass, : now mad, then, i a manufactur ing town; but ,the country looks f very desolate, Rolling bills skirt.the road, sonaetinies_quite. high, with a lonely cottage here and there,_ built. of stone, one story high, witkAlate roof, ri A, square enclosure, afew yards irk.eteut, with stone and rude gate, fornas_A. place Of, safety, for,. the sheep in the night, and ; sometimes for, miles this little: stone, mall is, the ~only. improvement that meets the We , rode many miles, .without : seeing a -fence, a tree, or a, bosh ,of any kind. Stunted grass covered the hills, upon which a • very few sheep, here and there, were feeding. We were soon in ,the. border country, where, every acre was, the scene of foray and strife in the' olden days;' .. tat as night dr4'ian the country facles from, view, and we endeavor in vain to sleep our way to Liverpool. )But._ sleep won't come. . We,have, seect„ our last-sight; ~consulted. , our guide-book for, the last time; our European trip is over; there. 4 no., tension of the mind plan ' ning for the next,excur,sion ; no more of that-in ' describable luxury of , waiting for a glimpse ~.of some citror town,-sonie ruin, or tower, or castle that we have read about in boyhood days and been wanting to see ever since.. The whole of our journey passes in rapid panorama before our minds. Mighty London; Paris, its Exposition; the Alps; the plains of Tuscany; Rome and its' .ruins; the muddy Tiber and the Castle St. ,An gelo and St. Peter's; Florence and its vine-cover ed hills, its picture galleries and its statuary; Venice, decaying Venice, with its black gondolas —how quietly they glide. among those, palaces of marble; the glorious lake of Garda, certainly one ___niaturesin o,ll3u rope; Milan, with its brisk, bright streets and its cathedral, the very glory of :architecture ; the luscious vineyards of Lombardy; the Alps, with snow patches far above the pines ; the chalets, perel;ed up amen the rocks so, high that the children must fall down every few days, into the roaring torrent below; the Hospice on the Simp lon, with its landscape of glacier and mountain torrent, and meadow of lovely verdure ; the swift Rhone, emptying into that lake Of beauty, Gene va ; the .prison of Chillon, so quiet and so cold; Calvin's old city, his cathedral, and his grave ; the emerald Rhone, rushing under the bridges, with snow covered Mount Blanc looking down upon it all; Frybutt and its angel-voiced organ; Interlachen, its Jungfrau in shining silver ever present; the Rhine, its bridges of boats, its swift tide,' and its life of moving trade, its shores of vines and rocks and castles, villages, towers, cities, andfortresses; Cologne, with its cathedral, always building, never done; Belgium and its iron and coal,-busy as a Pennsylvania mining district; Paris again "with its whirl and excitement, its fascinating beauty; London; 'mighty London, its Thames, its Westminster, and its Tower ; Kenilworth, and Warwick, and Shakspeare's home arid grave ; Edinburg—beautiful for situa tion; Stirling and the Scottish lakes; Melrose, Abbotsford allpassed before me, a glorious pan orama, moving majestically and rapidly, recalling the scenes that never will wear off from memory's tablet. How could I sleep with such a busy brain rolling in luxury—rolling in such luxury ? Path Cable. WORKS OF PRESIDENT EDWARDS. THE'WORKS Or PRESIDENT EDWARDS; In four vol umes, 'with Yaluable' Additions and a Copious General Index, and -a Cotnplete Index of Scrip ture Texts. -8vo.; pp. 672, 641, 639, 710. New York : Robt. Carter '& Bros. Since the•dayi of Calvin, the world has seen no greater theologian than President Edwards. It is true he has left behind no complete system of dogmatic theology; he made no attempt to harmonize the different views of truth which from time to time he elaborated, into one whole. His fame rests on independent treatises, especial ly those upon the, Freedom of the Will, and the Doctrine of Original Sin. Yet so great was the influence of these monographs upon the theology of all the English-speaking Evangelical churches, as to constitute a turning-point in its history. Especially was his influence supreme upOn the theology, and ; .spiritual life of New England. " He that will know the workings of the mind of New England, in the middle of the last cen tury; and the throbbings of •its heart must give his days and nights to the study of Jonathan Edwards." But it would be a very imperfect view of his charamer and activity, to describe him solely as ft-theologico. Ilia speculations all had a practical motive, to, to,iNt 4..4(1 confute dan gerous errors, ae the materialism of Locke, or the Arminianism that had begun to ;prevail around him in New England. Re was a man - 4 sink lively emotions, that in his case aptly may be quoted the maxim : pectus facit theologunt—it is the heart that makes the theologian. His essays on purely practical and experimental matters; his great controversy on the half way covenant; Mi . chael. Angelo sermon on Future Punish ment-,,,exhibit the versatility•of.the power of -the prince of modern thinkers. The theological pub lic are under no small obligations to . Messrs.. Carter & Brothers for - a re-issue of this very con venient and full edition 9f the works of Ed wards. This is a reprint of , the Worcester edi tiotk,of. 1.809- which was published in . eight vol umes,. with some variation,, of the arrangement,_ ankwith, considerable additions from. other, sources.. The pieces, added are as.follows: 1. Distinguishing Marks of a Workof the Holy. Spirit. 2. God and Moral Government, or Fu r tare , State,.and the Immortality of the Soul ; 3. Necessity and Reasonableness ,of ,the . Christian Doctrine, of . Satisfaction fora Sin. .4;.P,ersever ari4e,of the. Saints._.. 0. ,Endless.Fanishment of the Impenitent., 6. Fourteen Sermons. sides this neW matter, a great'deficiency in the, Worcester edition has been supplied by a Copi ous General Index at the close. The fidelity ex r ercised in, this part,of the work, appears. from; the fact that most of. the references are in, .the. very language of Edwards him Self, thus, so far, as practicable avoiding suspicion or, partiality:- On many points, a brief , synopsis of, the authors' views,pod train of gument , is f i npaishecl.., plus .the tabor.of the student in , consulting th e,-work as,authority is greatly lightened: : No winister's, library should. be without them. t.: Mre hope: Poo gregations designiOtt , o acbi, to.their minister's ilk erary,posse.ssions Apt. to,(l,:dnk ,this very excellent edition of-Jonathan Edwards.. PRESBYTERIAN; PUBLICATION cO.IICNITTER. GILVETT. Ancient Cities and !Empires :'Their Pro • phetic Doom:,, Read in the. Light of History and. . Modern Research. ,13y E. H. dined, author of 't Life and - Pin es of - Jcilin'Huss;" . " Englarid Twb Hundred Years. Age," "History of the Presby terian Church ;," &e. ;302.. $1.75 p $2.56. Philadelphia:' Presbyterian Publication Committee: ' ' • The aim of this volume is to exhibit in the light' of modern research, the testimony of pro phecy to the truth of the Scriptures, especially as it is illustrated in the history of great cities and empires. The author truly says, that the last quarter of a century has' made large' contribu auna discussed by Newton and Keith, arid referS . to the new questions which since their day, haVe been raised in this department, and which require careful`and candid consideration. With the aim, - therefore, of giVing these results of modern in quiry, and of presenting the whole subject in a new and fresh aspect, Dr. Gillett has gone over the main points of the subject, treating of Egypt, Nineveh and Assyria, Babylon, Petra, Bashan, the cities of 'Moab and Ammon, Philis tia, Tyre, Sidon, Samaria, Damascus, Jerusalem, the Seven Churches, and adding in a final chap: ter, a general survey of Scripture Prophecy. Within the limits of '302 pages, of course this work must be far from exhaustive or minute; and it is designed :rather for popular than scien tific purposes. For such ends it is admirably ad apted. Its style is clear, terse and readable. The sentences are short. The subjects are man aged in :.a way that proves the writer to have mastered the enormous amount of material, which might easily have overwhelmed and Con fused a less practised writer. The choicest ma.terialli gleaned from the whole field of mod ern travel and placed in its, proper relations to prophecy, so that one of the most deeply inter esting and instructive treatises in the range of Biblical inquiry is the result. The illustrations are very numerous, and for the most part of great additional value. HILDEBURN. Flora Morris' Choice; or, "Be not Conformed to the World." By Mrs. Mary J. Ilildeburn, : author of "Money,"." Far Away," "Bessie Lane's Mistake," etc. 16m0., pp. 320. $1.25. Philadelphia: Presbyterian Publication Committee. G. W. M Two sisters a•. fashionable and ambitious family, are thrown into :the society of plain but sterling and, pious • people, with contrary effects upon each. Flora acquires good sense and judg ment, and chooses Mary's good.part, after some struggles. Blanche persists in despising plain people, reads novels on Sunday, (and every day,) lounges on the•bed, instead of learning to make it, goes to operas and, matinees at theatiTs, falls in with a handiome gentlemanly .fellow, who marries her secretly and deserts her in six months. •Certain forms of amusement of worse than doubt ful character•,, but which seem to be growing in popularity with respectable people, are held up to just reprobation, and a general rebuke ad ministered to " fashionable" ways of rearing a 'family. There might be more vigor in, the charac terization and of dramatic force in the narrative. The externals of the book, engravings, &c., are very attractive. BEECHES. Prayers from the Plymouth Pulpit. By Henry Ward Beecher. Phonographically Re ported. 12mo. pp. 332. New York .: Charles Scribner & Co..:Philadelphia: Smith, English & Co. This volume is equally unique as to contents and the history of its origin. Dr. John Marsh, the C. SCRIBNER it CO. venerable semtax.9 or Temperance, upon frequent atte n dance. at Plymouth Church, was so im pressed and edified by Ole weyems, that , f.x. his own privaw use and enjoyment he procured a phono4rapher, and with his aid retained these parts of the ex ercises in a permanent form. They were such a high source of spiritual gratification, that having first gained the consent of Beecher himself, he concluded to publish them. Reports of a num ber of Lecture Room Prayers furnished from another source, have been -added. These pray ers are the out-pourings of a fall heart, in child like; humble, hopeful pleadings with an Infinite Father. They are more of the nature of devo tional ,musing,s, than im.pertunate petitions for the great objects of Christian activity. They are original and striking as is all that comes from that wonderfullY gifted source, but they are not strained. It will .help a,ny one's devotional habits to read them. P.tu.otxo, Tales, of the Good Woman. By a Doubtful - Gentleman: otherwise, James J. Paul. Bvo , pp. 402.'New rork : Chas. Scribner &., Co. Philadelphia:. Smith, English it Co. $2.50. The, title of this new, volume of Paulding's *lris, is but a strict°. by which the various tales are, loosely conneeted. They include "Memoir of the Unknown Author," " The Azure Hose" —an irony of Blue Stockingism, " The Dumb Girl," aB4 tale of crime and its punishment; "Dyspepy,",a taleof .Farm Life; The Progress of the Age, Reven7e. of St. Nicholas, Cebus Yierkes,Rede of St. 'Nicholas, The ; Politician. There is qpite'a semi-A.ddisonian humor and grace in. these, pieces, a sympathy, with -nature, and a contempt of, all. meanness s and purse-proud vul garity, but, they, are assuredly of no such high order . of literary merit as to promise immortality to, theirantlxor, Everything that externals can do, .tp,secure for these works ,a place in the libra ry, hal [ beertcloae by publisher and printer. TS. CI SOCIETY, BOSTON. Tie, WI*IIIORPE3 I or, Perhonal;EfFort. By the an _thor of "The Minister's, Wire." 18ma.. pp. 30-1. 13iiston Tract Society. Philadelphia. An intelligent family group consisting of min ister, Wife and two daughters) with few incidents contrive to make their discussions upon matters of, domestic arid church life, ministerial toil, trial and duty, highly interesting, suggestive and pro fitable': The Characters are marked and well sustained. A fiegree of quiet humor spices the dialogue. The typogriphy is good, the illustra tions scarcely passable. TRE STORY ,OF jAMES MORAR, By .the author of " Zadoc "'A gistek's Story," etc. 18mo., pp. 280. Bdeton : American Tract Society. Phil , adelphia. • temperance story :of -the -time just previo., to the enforcement of a Aii - iiiiitexify liquor law. The. miseries brought• upon a• worthy but poor Irish family, by the shrewd dyices of a covetous and a hard hearted dealer in drink, are told with great force and naturalness. SUNDAY AFTERNOONS WITH MARIA. A Book for very little children. 18mo., pp. 93. Boston: AmericAn Tract Society. Philadelphia: Smith, English & Co. Pleasant talks between mother and two young children on the Life of Jesus, illustrating how Sunday may be made a day of agreeable associa tions to the young, and how parents may ful fil their religious duties to their children in per son and not by proxy. The wood cuts are prin ted in glaring red. CUEESEBOROUG FL Home. Work; or, Parochial Chris tianization. By Rev. A. S. Clieeseborough. I.Bino pp. 235. Boston : American Tract Society. Phil- delphia : as above . Much of a fragmentary and empirical charac ter has been written latterly, upon the closer and more effective contact of the Church with the material up )n which she is called to work within given territorial limits. The little volume before us treats the subject in a thorough, comprehen sive and philosophical way, well calculated to give depth and permanence to the convictions on the subject which , naight otherwise prove transi tory and inefficient. Dr. Bacon, of New Haven, recommends it, in an introduction. McKEnvErt: Heavenward—Earthward. By Har riet B. McKeever. 12m0., pp. 369. Philadel phia : J. C. Garrigaes & Co. This is designed to illustrate the diverse ten dencies of three different modes of family gov ernment—the sternly and unsympathizingly re ligious, the openly indifferent, and that dictated by a. tender practical interest in the various wants and capacities of the household. The story is pervaded by an excellent spirit, but lacks move ment and vigor. It is got up in the excellent style characteristic of the publishers. 11A.UPER elk BROTHERS. MACE'S FAIRY BOOK. Home Fairy . Tales (Contes du Petit Chateau.) By Jean Mane, Editor of the Magasin d'Education ; Author of " The Story of a Mouthful of Bread," etc. Translated by •Mary L. Booth, translator of "Martin's History of France," " Laboulaye's Fairy Book," etc- With engravings. .12tn0., pp. 304. New York: Harper & Bro. Philadelphia :J. B. Lippincott & Co. • Last year, Messrs. Harper gave us an exquisite fairy book from the French of Laboulaye ; this year, the . same competent and experienced trans lator—Mary L. Rooth—has prepared for these publishers, a translation from another less widely known French author. The tales are ingenious ly constructed to feed a child's insatiable craving for the wonderful, and the best moral intentions are evident - in the mind of the writer, who is a 'warm•friend and promoter of popular education -in France, and'a great admirer of our American Frei Schools. The volume is got up in very at-
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