INJUDICIOUS KINDNESS

ent of any kind took place. Only one incident formed a speck on the glory of this joyous celebration. A precaution taken by the police was to forbid persons crossing North Bridge from using the pavement, lest a surging crowd might push over the balustrade and cause a catastrophe. To prevent risk of this rule being broken, a number of dragoons from Piershill were used to patrol the pavements and keep them clear. Alas! the goodhumour of the crowd, combined with the propensity of the people to carry whisky bottles, led to constant kindly [?] offers of drink to the soldiers, and as I saw them when going back to barracks several were reeling in their saddles, and, more painful still, a cab followed with some who could not keep their seats at all. This was not to be wondered at, when what is called "refreshment" was forced upon the troopers every few minutes. The officer in command said afterwards that he himself was urged to accept a dram several dozens of times during the hours he was on duty. It is not a very pleasing incident to speak of, but it ought to be recorded as a warning to people not so inconsiderately to put temptation in the way of men on duty.

Nothing could exceed the enthusiasm that day. Even had the people of Edinburgh seen the Princess before her wedding, and come to know her charm of person and of character, they could not have been stimulated to any higher expres

sion of their good wishes than was shewn. Those who were present will never forget the scenes they witnessed.

When the first part of the Scottish Museum, now the Royal Scottish, was built, it was opened by the late Duke of Edinburgh. The Museum has since been completed, and is worthy of Scotland, and the building is worthy of the city.

I witnessed a most amusing scene on the occasion. There was a dais set at the end of the great hall for His Royal Highness, the usual red baize cloth being laid down the building for a long distance. Rows of chairs were placed on each side, to which the bailies' and town councillors' wives and other ladies were brought forward, the gentlemen with them retiring and standing behind. Lady Ruthven, an old dowager who was very deaf, was seated in one of the chairs among the municipal ladies, and while we waited a gentleman who knew her came up and shook hands and said into her ear, "I hope your ladyship is comfortable," to which she replied in the loud tones so common from deaf people, "Oh yes, I'm all right-don't think very much of my surroundings, though." She was an amusing and lively old lady. Once in an English hotel she came down in the morning, and accosting the landlord in loud tones, drawing the attention of those standing by, declared she

FENIANISM

must leave as she had been so troubled by fleas during the night. "Oh, I assure you, my lady," was the reply of the landlord, rubbing his hands one over the other, "it must be a mistake; there is not a single one in the house." "Quite right, quite right," shouted she, "not a single one, all married and with large families."

In the course of the Sixties of last century a movement of serious import to the peace of Great Britain developed itself. Fenianism in Ireland, aided from the United States, where the Irish Press preached violence and even assassination, eruptions of which were seen in the Manchester murder, the Clerkenwell outrage, the attempt to blow up the Glasgow great gasometer, and the explosions in Westminster Hall and at London Bridge, caused a considerable development of alarm in the community. The secret information possessed by the Government led to encouragement being given to local authorities to form corps of special constables. The Lord Provost and magistrates of Edinburgh did me the honour to grant their commission to me to take the command of the special constables enrolled in Edinburgh, whose numbers within a very few days. rose to 4500, and for a time nightly drill was carried on to give these citizens the training necessary for compact working in dealing with mobs.