Reflecting with intense feeling on the charms and hospitalities of the romantic district to which they were now bidding adieu, the Queen and Prince Albert passed under a triumphal arch, and leaving the village of Killin to the right, they proceeded up the wide but sterile valley of the Dochart. There is a great degree of wildness in the tumbling river, and the general outlines of the mountains have an air of grandeur, but the most imposing feature in the scene is the huge Benmore, which the traveller has full in front for some miles whilst going up Glen-Dochart. When the road leaves that glen and turns southwards up a long dull hill, the whole mass of the mountain is seen to the right, and when the eye is thrown back, from the summit, towards the left, it embraces the distant scenery of Killin, Auchmore, Benlawers, and a long stretch of the lovely Loch Tay.

Passing a small nameless Loch, the traveller immediately afterwards begins to go down a rapid descent into Glen-Ogil, a very wild scene, with an angry boisterous stream tumbling down by the side of the steep, narrow, and winding road, and with lofty and most picturesque cliffs shooting up overhead. This romantic glen at length opens out on the upper part of Locherne, backed by a very grand group of hills, finely broken and massed, aud surmounted by the lofty summits of Stuck-a-chrom and Benvoirlich. The slopes rising immediately out of the lake are enriched with the woods and cultivated grounds around the old castle of Edinample, and the place of Ardvoirlich. At the mouth of Glen-Ogil the Queen passed under a triumphal arch, and arrived at the small Inn of Locherne-Head, where fresh horses were in readiness. Her Majesty’s journey from Killin thus far was solitary enough, but here the whole natives of the adjacent glens had assembled, and whilst they were blessed by enjoying a full view of the Queen and the Prince during the few minutes they staid here, the Royal pair were gratified by their loyal demonstrations.

Being again en route, the Royal carriage proceeded by the road leading down the northern side of Locherne, its sheet of water stretching from the inn of Locherne-Head nearly due cast for eight miles, with a width of one mile. At Tyncdalloch a stream comes down from the pastoral Glenbeck, opening to the left, where a triumphal arch indicated to the Queen that she was about to leave the extensive territories of the Marquess of Breadalbane. His Lordship here took leave of the Royal pair, but before doing so, Mr. James Robertson, a native of Locherne-Head, and factor tor his Lordship at Easdale, was put into the rumble of the Royal carriage, at Her Majesty’s desire, that he might furnish her with information by. the way.

The drive along Locherne is extremely beautiful, the road winding along its sloping shores, now buried in the thick oak copsewoods which have taller trees shooting up among them—now and then crossing little ravines, down which brawling burns and brooks find their way to the lake,—whilst ever and anon the eye catches a momentary glimpse of some little waterfall, glittering among the foliage, creating in the traveller a longing desire to explore their fairy intricacies. The mountain tops on this side are chiefly those of the large ridge of Craigeaeh, “the Eagle’s craig.” The scenery along the southern shore is of the same captivating character. The mountain faces are loftier and more abrupt in slope, those rising immediately out of the lake being Benour, Mealfuarcoish, and Biron, whilst between the first two of these, a long and very grand glen is seen stretching from Ardvoirlich, up among lofty steeps, till it is shut in by the mighty Benvoirlich itself.

On the northern side of the lake, the scenery improves as the traveller advances, and between the burn of Glentarken and the small village of Portmore, at the end of the lake, it is in many parts so truly magnificent, that the Queen and Prince Albert stood up in the carriage to admire it. Huge, bare, isolated rocks heave up their picturesque and giant forms from among the woods, every moment producing most interesting pictures. Mr. Robertson pointed out Ardvoirlicli to the Queen, and informed the Prince that Lady Willoughby de Eresby’s deer forest of Glenartney lay behind the mountains on the southern side of Loch-erne. This led to many questions from the Prince regarding deer and the forest, and Mr. Robertson took the liberty of recommending it highly as a place for that sport, and His Royal Highness seemed to be pleased with the information. At the foot of Locherne Mr. Robertson drew the Royal attention to the view thence enjoyed up the whole stretch of the lake, on which the carriage was ordered to halt, and the Queen and the Prince sat for some time in the fixed contemplation of the beautiful prospect, bounded by the western hills. The royal pair were much interested in learning that the grave of the celebrated Rob Roy is in the vale of Balquhidder among those hills, about five miles to the westwrard of Locherne-Head.

In the valley, not far from the end of the lake, is the holy well of St. Fillan, the ancient Popish saint of Breadalbane, around which sick people were wont to be carried three times, in order to be cured. It wras also common to drink of its water, and bathe in it for sanatory purposes. The rock on the summit of the hill above it, is said to have “formed of itself” a chair for the saint to sit in.

The ceremony employed to cure lumbago is curious. The patient— for patient he must certainly be—ascends the hill, sits in the chair, and then, having lain down on his back, he is pulled by the legs to the bottom. The village here had its decorations and arches, and a crowd of people was assembled, who received the Queen with enthusiastic loyalty.

Soon after the river Erne bursts from the lake, it runs through a circular part of the valley, surrounded by most picturesque mountains, of every form, varied by deep glens, and richly wooded— whilst the vast area within the circle is diversified by numerous isolated rocks, some of them towering to a great height, and all of them of the most fantastic shapes. The valley continues of the same character, the woods extending till the house and grounds of Dunira open upon the left. This was the seat of the late Lord Viscount Mehille, to whose memory a monument is erected on a neighbouring hill. Here were triumphal arches; and Sir David Dundas, Baronet, the present proprietor of this fine place, met the Queen at the boundary of his estate, accompanied by his tenantry, well mounted, and rode with Her Majesty throughout the remainder of this day’s journey. The Royal carriages changed horses at Comrie, and as Mr. Robertson was there modestly retiring among the crowd, the royal couple called him back, and desired him to repeat to Lord Breadalbane how sensible they were of his kindness.

Comrie has its name from Combruidh, signifying “the confluence of the streams,” the rivers Lednock and Ruchill here joining the Erne. The village was decorated with three triumphal arches, and many of the houses were hung with evergreens. The valley widens towards the south, opposite to the village, and on the plain in that direction, there are the distinct remains of two Roman camps, joined together by an digger. One of these is 402 paces long, and 392 broad. This is supposed to have been the plain on which the great battle was fought between Agrieola and Galgaeus. The Ruehill has its origin in the wild, bare, and savage deer-forest of Glenartney, belonging to Lady Willoughby de Eresby. Comrie, and the large district around it, has always heen remarkable for the numerous earthquakes by which it is affected, not a year passing without several instances of these occurring.

This upper part of Stratherne is thickly planted with gentlemen’s residences. After passing the bridge over the Lednock, the Queen was received at the western boundary of the estate of Lawers, by the tenantry of Mrs. Williamson, the proprietrix, well-mounted, who escorted her Majesty so far as her road lay through the property. Triumphal arches were erected at the western and eastern lodges. As the Queen passed the mansion-house, flags were hoisted, and a royal salute was fired from two pieces of ordnance. The first gun was discharged by Mrs. Williamson herself. Lawers house is a large building to the left of the road, delightfully situated amidst extensive woods of very fine growth, in the widest part of the rich and romantic valley between Locherne and Crieff. It is elevated on an extensive terrace, from which the ground falls gently toward the river Erne, here a clear and rapid stream. Beyond the terrace, and running at a right angle from it, there is a wide and noble vista, lined on each side by magnificent old oaks, extending quite across the valley to its southern hills, where the Crag of Dunlarvic presents a fine object as it rises covered with wood, backed by the hills of Strowan. To the north of the house the grounds swell gradually into the hills, which are covered to the top with trees, except in some places, where the naked rocks are seen partially rising above them, and the sombre green of a great number of very venerable Scottish firs contrast finely with the lighter foliage. Beyond this, the monument crowning the hill of Tom-a-Chastel, once the ancient seat of the Earls of Stratherne, was an object of interest to the Royal pair as being that erected to the memory of the gallant Sir David Baird. At Clathick, Mr. Colquhoun’s; and at Strowan, Mr. Graham Stirling’s, there were triumphal arches. The Queen next received a royal salute from Sir William Keith Murray, Bart., whose beautiful residence, the classic Ochtertyre, was the next fine place in Iler Majesty’s route. Here a small stream running through the valley, is happily expanded into a noble sheet of artificial water. The extensive park, superbly wooded, slopes towards this on every side. The house stands on a fine terrace, on the more abrupt northern face, behind which the hills tower out of the wood. Sir William Keith Murray received the Queen, at the head of his tenantry, and accompanied Her Majesty onward, and Mr. Graham Stirling also increased the escort.

Beyond Ochtertyre the pretty stream of the Turret, coming down from the left, is crossed by a bridge. Here Lord Willouohby de Eresby met the Queen at the head of a party of his tenantry, and people of his name, all mounted, and attired in waistcoats and plaids of Drummond tartan, and prepared to escort her Majesty to Drummond Castle. These bold yeomen were fine looking men, and their horses and attire were such, that any peer might have been proud to have ridden at their head. Many of them had come great distances, from remote properties belonging to their noble landlord. One venerable man, of between seventy and eighty years, who sat erect as a rod upon his horse, upon being complimented for his zeal in having ridden so far in obedience to Lord Willoughby's invitation, replied—“I’m far prouder to come than his Lordship could be to ask me—for summer and winter may pass for many generations, before we are again called out to guard the Queen in Stratherne.”

The town of Crieff consists of a number of streets, hanging on the side of a hill, and commanding a most extensive view both up into the narrower portion of Stratherne, and across that wider part which may be called a plain—with the extensive woods of Drummond Castle rising out of it, and the fine old tower of the village church of Muthill. In this latter place, as well as in Crieff—and indeed throughout the whole country and hamlets around—labour had been for that day altogether suspended. The Sunday apparel was donned—and whilst the full blown beauties of the village were eagerly intent upon “busking themselves brawly” within doors, the younger nymphs were seen beneath every tree or bush where ran a rivulet or rill, performing their ablutions, and “kaming their raven or gowden locks” with the help of mirrors of nature’s own providing.

Three beautiful triumphal arches were erected. That at the west end of the town, where the Queen was first to enter, bearing the motto, “Queen of our Highland hearts! welcome Victoria.” The second was at the Bridge of Erne ; and the third at the entrance of that beautiful and stately avenue, through which the great public road leads in one straight line for three miles to Muthill. These were constructed of wooden frame work, covered with heather, adorned with flowers, and surmounted by crowns. Every farm-stead and cottage which could possibly be seen from the road, had something on it to show the loyalty and zeal of the inmates; and many were the banners that floated on the breeze. By ten o’clock carriages were seen hurrying to and fro in all directions. Immense crowds of people, from all quarters, had flocked into the village of Crieff; and a body of Special Constables were placed for the purpose of keeping Burrell-street clear, that being in the direct line of the Queen’s route; and some troopers of the 6th Dragoons were placed at the bridge to prevent any vehicles from passing after a certain hour. Lady Baird Preston, widow of the gallant Sir David Baird, assembled about eighty well mounted tenants round a banner bearing the motto, “The Queen and Prince Albert, God bless them!” and took up a position with her carriage in a field to the south of the bridge, where she waited at their head in readiness to receive the Queen. The girls of her Ladyship’s school at Madderty, were also there, all neatly dressed. After expectation had been stretched to the utmost, the sound of the guns firing the royal salute at Ochtertyre announced Her Majesty’s approach to the immense assemblage of people at Crieff. The day, which had been hitherto so beautiful, now seemed to threaten to close unfavourably. It was a quarter past six o’clock, and the rain began to descend somewhat heavily, and consequently the alarm spread that the Queen would have her carriage closed; but Her Majesty, anticipating the wishes of the people, resolved to keep it open, and was contented with such shelter from the wet as could be afforded by a parasol. On came the Queen, and the cheering was tumultuously enthusiastic. These loyal demonstrations were graciously acknowledged—the carriage stopped on the bridge, and again Her Majesty bowed around. But the rain fell heavily—the carriage was necessarily closed—and the fair vision, for which the people had so long waited, swept quickly onwards to the gate of Drummond Castle, leaving these honest hearts glowing with affection and delight.

The long and magnificent avenue forming the public road to Muthil, passes the grand entrance gate to Drummond Castle, at rather more than two miles from Crieff. There the Queen turned into the grounds at a right angle, and thence a straight avenue of nearly two miles long, and bordered on either side with rows of old trees, runs directly westward up a gently rising ridge, terminating in the rock upon which the ancient castle was built, and where its remains, together with the mansion of later date, now stand. This site is extremely grand, overlooking the greater part of the low country of Stratherne, and commanding fine views of the whole park and grounds, everywhere thickly clothed and sheltered with wood, as well as of the minor hills that bound it, and the more distant mountains. The grounds slope away from it on both sides, particularly to the north, where they run far down into a broad valley, having a large and magnificent artificial sheet of water in it, so constructed as to accommodate itself to the elevations, rocks, and woods beyond it, and all the other surrounding features of nature so perfectly, that no one unacquainted with its history, could believe that it owed its existence to the art of man. It is full of animated nature, too, for swans, and all kinds of waterfowl, are seen sporting over its surface. The surrounding park is well stocked with deer.

The old “Keep” of Drummond, still remaining, was built by the first Lord Drummond, in the reign of James IV. He was Lord Justice-General of Scotland in 1489, and his robes of office still exist in Drummond Castle. He was father of William Drummond, beheaded in Stirling Castle, for burning the church of Monyvaird. That the lords of the castle of Drummond wrerc sufficiently powerful for life and death, is shown by a curious extract from the Council-Book of Ferth, dated 29th April 1706.—“ Whilk day the provost represented to the council, that the town is at anc loss by the want of ane executioner, and that he has caused apply ane noble lord, James Lord Drummond, for Donald M'Caric, his lordship’s executioner at Crieff. And that he is informed that his lordship is pleased to allow the town the use of his executioner, upon the magistrats and council their orantinfj of the oblidgement underwritten. Therefore the magistrats and council Doe hereby bind and oblidge them and their successors in office, that the said noble lord, James Lord Drummond, shall have the use of the said Donald M‘Carie upon all occasions when required, for serving his lops or his friends within Perthshire. And if it shall please the said noble lord to have the said Donald M‘Carie back again from the town of Perth at any time during the sd Donald his lifetime, then and in that the magistrats and council Doe hereby bind and oblidge them and their successors in office, to deliver back the sd Donald M‘Carie to the said James Lord Drummond upon Demand.”

The castle was nearly demolished during Cromwell’s campaign; but its remains were strengthened, and it was garrisoned in 1715 by the King’s troops. One of the most interesting passages in its history, is that of Jane Gordon, Duchess of Perth, who, in 1745, had the greater part of the old walls nearly levelled to the foundation, by King her mason, to prevent its being seized upon and garrisoned by the government, against the cause which she espoused. William King, who is the fourth generation of the same family of masons to the Drummonds, is master mason to Lord and Lady Willoughby de Eresby at this moment.

The entrance to the castle, as it presently stands, turns suddenly up to the left from the approach; it then passes through an arch into an outer court, and thence by an archway, underneath the ancient part of the castle, into an inner court, the eastern side of which is occupied by the more modern edifice. The whole breadth of the summit of the rock, therefore, is thus occupied by the area of the buildings and court-yards. The steep bank to the north is thickly wooded, and that to the south is formed into architectural terraces, with flights of steps communicating between them, and leading down to a lovely valley, where the most beautiful Italian garden that can possibly be imagined is spread out under the eye, like a piece of rich embroidery. Sheltered on its northern side by the rock, and the terraces and buildings of the castle, it is defended from the winds blowing from every other quarter by lofty trees. To the south there is a brook, beyond which a wide avenue runs up the grounds, there rising gently into the park. This exquisitely beautiful spot is of an oblong form, and contains about ten acres, exclusive of the shrubbery walks. Like the villa gardens of Italy, it is adorned with statues and vases. Two broad walks of fine turf run diagonally across it from the north-west to the south-east angle, and from the north-east to the south-west angle, intersecting one another in the centre of the garden, and thus throwing the general plan of it into a Saint Andrew’s cross. There are walks running along its four sides, and three arc carried across its breadth, one of them passing through its centre. Besides these, there are many other smaller walks, and the varied parterres are laid out with all that mystical ingenuity which constitutes the perfection of this quaint architectural style. There are few more pleasing objects than this garden, when all its flowers and plants are in their richest bloom, and the alleys and wider portions of shaven turf are carpeted with their brightest green, and the whole is surveyed at a glance from one of the upper terraces. It was originally made by John, second Earl of Perth, who joined the association in behalf of Chaides I. at Cumbernauld, in 1641— was fined in the sum of £5000 by Cromwell’s act of grace and pardon—and died on the 11th June 1662. His arms, and that of his Countess, are on the old dial, together with a long Latin inscription. When the estate was restored to Lady Willoughby de Eresby’s father, the late Lord Perth, the gardens were in a most dilapidated state. His lordship unfortunately cut down all the fine old yews, but the present noble proprietors restored the terraces and balustrades, and made the green walks according to the plan of the Saint Andrew’s cross, and Lord Willoughby put up all the marbles as they now appear.

The grounds near Drummond Castle were planted by James, fourth Earl of Perth, in the quaint old style of landscape gardening, so as to form a dial, the castle being the central point. This was the nobleman who was made Chancellor of Scotland after the fall of the Duke of Lauderdale, and who, after various vicissitudes, went abroad, and was created Duke of Perth by tbe exiled James VII., when he was living at St. Germains. He had very grand ideas; for, not contented with these extensive operations within his park, he contemplated carrying out his plans for miles over the surrounding country. He actually began an avenue of four rows of trees to reach from Drummond Castle to Perth, a distance of nearly twenty miles. Having sketched out this magnificent idea entirely upon the map, and without stooping to inquire into the paltry consideration as to whether any other person’s property might interfere with his plan, he carried it out in the same noble spirit, and planted his trees straight forward without asking any of those vulgar questions which never are, and never ought to be considered by those who have to do with matters of taste. Some of his neighbours, who viewed the thing in a much more common-place and matter-of-fact way, demurred considerably to his “aye stickin’ in a tree” in their land, and consequently they so worried him with their senseless interference, that he was compelled at last, by utter disgust, to give up his mighty scheme. The comparatively little which he was allowed to execute, has so beautified the face of the country, that it is probable some of the descendants of those who interrupted him, may now wish that he had never been interfered with. The present grandeur of the grounds of Drummond Castle very much depends on the gigantic, though perhaps formal skeleton of ancient gardening, which extends from the rock on which the castle stands, two miles in every direction, from the centre to the extremity of the park, which has been converted, by the addition of more modern plantations, into those wild, and intricate grounds, now so charming, and so much animated by groups of cattle and herds of deer; whilst the site of the castle itself—overlooked by the Grampians, and commanding far and wide all the rural richness of Stratherne and Strathallan—is rarely to be paralleled in any country.

It has been already said, that the eastern side of the inner courtyard of the castle is occupied by the modern edifice. The other front, looking to the east, is an irregular range of building, erected in patches, and at distant intervals, and enclosing two sides of a square, tastefully laid out as a lawn, with shrubberies and flowerbeds, over which a prospect of singular variety and loveliness is to be enjoyed towards the east. As the accommodations of this part of the castle are extremely limited, a temporary pavilion, 80 feet long by 35 wide, was erected for a banquetting hall, on the fourth side of the square. This was fitted up in a style of great splendour. The walls were hung with red and yellow drapery ; and the roof was blue, thickly covered with golden stars. It was supported by twenty columns, supporting a deep and massy cornice, all painted in most successful imitation of a richly grained marble. The walls were embellished with a variety of devices, among which the most conspicuous were the armorial bearings of Drummond—three bars wavy, gules, with the baton bearing savages, as supporters, standing on a green hill of caltrops—with the motto "gang wearily" and the arms of the Willoughby—or, fretty azure. Among the many other ornaments, the imperial crown, executed in brilliant dahlias, and the letters V. and A. w^ere prominent objects.

It was much to be regretted that the evening wras so far advanced before the Queen approached the castle. The avenue was lined bv 500 of the tenantry mounted, and an immense number on foot. Those belonging to the house of Perth flanked the north side of the road, whilst those of Lord Viscount Strathallan, and the other members of the clan Drummond, were drawn up in the same wav on its southern side. Farther on, the line of approach was crowded with the families of the numerous inhabitants on the estates. But owing to the carriage being shut against the rain, those who were assembled could not see their Queen; and although many of them were even doubtful as to which carriage Her Majesty occupied, their anxious curiosity was accompanied by loud and loyal demonstrations.

It was seven o’clock before the Queen reached the castle, when, preceded by Lord Willoughby de Eresby on horseback, Her Majesty turned in through the outer court, and thence under the old archway into the inner court. There a semicircle was formed, composed of the clansmen of Drummond—the Highland tenantry and their sons being all dressed in the Drummond tartan, and variously accoutred. Some were armed as riflemen, some with sword and target, and some as Highland men-at-arms, with huge battle-axes. As the Drummond estates spread extensively over the Lowland as well as Highland districts in this neighbourhood, and as Ladv Willoughby was aware, that whilst in the olden time the Highlanders mustered to a man round the Earl of Perth’s standard, only one man had then turned out from the Lowland part of his estates, her ladyship upon the present occasion was resolved that the shibboleth of Gaelic should be put to every individual who proposed to wear the dress of the mountains, so as to ensure that all of them should be genuine Celts, speaking the language in its fullest purity. One part of the space on the left of the doorway was occupied by a detachment of the 42d Regiment as a Guard of Plonour. The band of the Carabineers was there also. The fine body of Drummond Highlanders was commanded by the Hon. Alberic Drummond Willoughby, Master of Drummond, dressed in a full Highland garb, the accoutrements of which were presented to his noble father by the Drummond tenantry, on the occasion of the visit of George IV. to Scotland; and the exceeding richness and splendour of the ornaments, may be conceived, when it is mentioned that they cost £1200. In his bonnet he had a button or brooch, composed of diamonds and sapphires, similarly worn by his ancestor, the Duke of Perth. With the Master of Drummond, were the Hon. William Drummond, Master of Strathallan, Major Drummond of Strageath, Mr. Harvey Drummond, and Captain Drummond of Megginch. Mr. Campbell of Monzie was also there, in a splendid Highland dress of green hunting tartan. But amongst these there were men, who, though humble in rank, must not be left unnoticed. Comrie, the landlord of the inn of the village of that name, was there, who claimed his right to be standard-bearer to Lady Willoughby, because his grandfather had rescued the banner of the Duke of Perth on the field of Culloden, which so gratified the Chief of the Drummonds, that his Lordship said, “For this your bread shall be baken, Comrie.” The venerable representative of that hero, this day wore the identical claymore with which his grandfather slew several of the enemy in defence of his master’s banner. Two of his sons attended upon him, each armed with a huge two-handed sword, to one of which was attached some interesting' traditions touching the execution it did at Bannockburn. The two pipers, who stood near the Comries, were Hamisli M‘Pherson, who had golden wings and epaulettes, and Edward Stewart, with silver wings—the latter of whom distinguished himself at the memorable action at Acre. Their pipes were gay with silken banners and many-coloured streamers. Mr. King, already mentioned as the fourth master mason of the Drummond family, stood in the full tartan dress, in the midst of a group of gentry, on the rock on which the castle is founded, looking as venerable as the building itself, and hale and hearty, as he said he was, “though only eighty-nine.” Even this party, so elevated in position, and overlooking the entrance to the castle, saw little more than the outlines of the Queen and Prince Albert as they alighted at the entrance. Her Majesty drove rapidly up to the porch, which was simply adorned with heath; —the Guard of Honour presented arms—the clan saluted—the pipes played—and the band performed “God Save the Queen!” On alighting, Her Majesty was received by Lady Willoughby de Eresby, whom she cordially embraced. Notwithstanding her long journey of fifty miles, the Queen looked remarkably well. Her Majesty and the Prince immediately proceeded to their apartments to dress for dinner.

At the Royal Banquet there were present—

The Queen and Prince Albert,
The Duke and Duchess of Buccleuch,
Lord Ossulston.
The Duchess of Norfolk,
The Duchess of Sutherland,
Lady Elizabeth Leveson Gower,
The Hon. Miss Paget,
The Earl of Morton,
The Earl of Aberdeen,
The Earl of Liverpool,
The Earl of Mansfield,
Lord and Lady Ruthven,
Sir Robert Peel,
General Wemyss,
Colonel Bouverie,
Sir James Clark,
Mr. George Edward Anson,
The Duke de Richelieu,
Lord Strathallan,
The Hon. the Master of Strathallan,
Mr. Home Drummond,
Mr. E. Drummond,
Sir George Murray,
Sir David and Lady Dundas,
Captain Dunsmure, and Lieutenant Campbell, 42d Reg., the Officers on Guard.
And the Family—consisting of—
Lord and Lady Willoughby de Eresby,
The Hon. Miss Willoughby, and The Hon. Alberic Drummond Willoughby, Lord and Lady Carington, and Mr. and the Hon. Mrs. Heathcote.

The display of plate was rich and splendid, being an assemblage resulting from the accumulation for ages by the different noble families now united in the house of Willoughby de Eresby. Many parts of it were interesting from the history connected with them; some of the most gorgeous of those were presents made at coronations to the Dukes of Ancaster, Lord Great Chamberlains of England, ancestors of the present Lord Willoughby de Eresby, who now holds the same office. But those which, in historical interest and antiquity as well as in value, far surpassed every thing else of the kind, were a gold basin and ewer, with two cups and covers, and' a salt-cellar— all of which were presented to the Drummond family by Annabella Drummond, daughter of Sir John Drummond of this family, who was married in 1357 to the eldest son of the High Steward of Scotland, afterwards in 1390 King of Scotland, as Robert III. As Queen Annabella died in 1401, we may suppose this present to have been made to her family soon after her marriage. They are of fine workmanship, but bear no inscription. The basin and ewer have the waves of the sea introduced on them, probably in reference to the arms. The cup has a man’s head engraven in the bottom of it, and in the other there is a woman’s head—these are supposed to be the portraits of Robert and Annabella. The saltcellar has a man in armour at the top. These precious relics must be now nearly five centuries old, during all which time they have been preserved in defiance of the many misfortunes that occurred, at different periods, to the Drummonds of Perth, in the course of their most eventful history. The bed in which Her Majesty Queen Victoria slept on this occasion, was the throne of Her Royal ancestor, George I., which came to the Duke of Ancaster as his right, after the coronation of that monarch ; and the apartment in which Prince Albert dressed w-as that where Prince Charles slept when he was at Drummond Castle. At the time that George IV. was in Scotland, Mr. Pepper, an old Roman Catholic priest, showed Lady Willoughby a scar on his hand, produced by a wound received from the Prince’s spur, by going too near his horse when he was reviewing the Duke of Perth’s Regiment on the Fairy Green, now forming part of the Park at Drummond Castle. It may be mentioned, that Queen Mary of Scotland was frequently at Drummond Castle, and used to hunt occasionally in Glenartney. In later times, it was visited by Monsieur, afterwards Charles X. of France, and the Due de Berri, who spent a day at Drummond Castle on their way to Blair.

Between nine and ten o’clock, on the morning of Sunday the 11th September, the Queen and Prince Albert walked for above an hour in the beautiful flower garden, with which Her Majesty was very much delighted. Whilst the Queen and Prince were standing at the old dial in the middle of the garden, Her Majesty’s terrier gave tongue. The Prince immediately turned round and asked Mr. Macdonald, the gardener, what it was the terrier was after—and on being-told that it was a rabbit,—“ha,” said the Prince, “rabbits are bad gardeners.”

About twelve o’clock, the Queen and the Prince, attended by their suite, had prayers read in the drawing-room, by the Rev. John Douglas Giles, Vicar of Swinstead, in Lincolnshire, who afterwards preached to them. The Royal party again walked in the flower garden in the afternoon. The carriage was at the door by command at three o’clock, for a drive; but the lowering state of the clouds, which soon afterwards poured out their contents pretty heavily, put a stop to all ideas of further locomotion. The party who had the honour of dining with the Queen and Prince Albert, in addition to Lord and Lady Willoughby de Eresby, and their son and daughter, consisted of—

The Duke and Duchess of Buccleuch,
The Duchess of Norfolk,
The Due de Richelieu,
The Marquess and Marchioness of Abercorn,
The Hon. Miss Paget,
The Earls of Morton, Manstield, Aberdeen, and Liverpool,
The Earl and Countess of Kinnoull, and Lady Louisa Hay,
Lord and Lady Carington,
Lord Ossulston,
Sir Robert Peel,
General Wemyss,
Colonel Bouverie,
Sir James Clark,
Mr. Anson,
Mr. and the Hon. Mrs. Heatheote,
The Hon. John Stuart,
Lieut.-Col. Jackson, Carabineers,
Major Murray,
Captain Dunsmure, 42d Regiment,
Lieut. Campbell, 42d Regiment,
The Rev. John Douglas Giles.
Major Moray Stirling of Abereairnev.

The officers of the Guard of Honour were presented to Her Majesty in the evening, and had the honour of kissing hands.