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THE GENIUS OF SCOTLAND;

Or

Sketches of Scottish Scenery, Literature and Religion.

by

REV. ROBERT TURNBULL

FOURTH EDITION.







New York:
Robert Carter, 58 Canal Street
1848.

Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1847,
by Robert Carter,
In the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the United States
for the Southern District of New York.

Stereotyped by Thomas B. Smith,
216 William Street, New York




PREFACE.


Having been born and educated in Scotland, and possessing a tolerable
acquaintance with its History and Literature, the Author of the
following Work felt that he had some facilities for giving to the people
of this country a just idea of his native Land. The plan of his work is
somewhat new, combining in a larger degree, than he has hitherto seen
attempted, descriptions of Scenery, with Literary and Biographical
Sketches, portraitures of character social and religious, incidents of
travel, and reflections on matters of local or general interest. Hence
he has omitted many things which a mere tourist would not fail to
notice, and supplied their place with sketches of more enduring
interest. He would particularly invite attention to the sketches of
Knox, Burns, Wilson, Chalmers, Bruce, 'The Ettrick Shepherd,' and Sir
Walter Scott. His rambles through fair or classic scenes are thus
enlivened with useful information. In a word, it has been his endeavor,
in an easy natural way, to give his readers an adequate conception of
the Scenery, Literature, and Religion of Scotland.

HARTFORD, CONN.




CONTENTS


                                                                      PAGE

 Preface                                                                 1


CHAPTER I.

 Beauty an Element of the Mind--Our Native Land--Auld Lang Syne--General
 Description of Scotland--Extent of Population--Spirit of the People--The
 Highlands--The Lowlands--Burns's 'Genius of Scotland'--Natural and Moral
 Aspects of the Country--'The Cotter's Saturday Night'--Sources of
 Prosperity                                                             11


CHAPTER II.

 The city of Edinburgh--Views from Arthur's Seat--The Poems of
 Richard Gall--'Farewell to Ayrshire'--'Arthur's Seat, a
 Poem'--Extracts--Craigmillar Castle--The Forth, Roslin Castle
 and the Pentland Hills--Liberty                                        32


CHAPTER III.

 Walk to the Castle--The Old Wynds and their Occupants--Regalia of
 Scotland--Storming of the Castle--Views from its Summit--Heriot's
 Hospital--Other Hospitals--St. Giles's Cathedral--Changes--The
 Spirit of Protestantism                                                42


CHAPTER IV.

 John Knox's House--History of the Reformer--His Character--Carlyle's
 View--Testimony of John Milton                                         53


CHAPTER V.

 Edinburgh University--Professor Wilson--His Life and Writings, Genius
 and Character                                                          62


CHAPTER VI.

 The Calton Hill--Burns's Monument--Character and Writings of 'the
 Peasant Poet'--His Religious Views--Monument of Professor Dugald
 Stewart--Scottish Metaphysics--Thomas Carlyle                          77


CHAPTER VII.

 Preaching in Edinburgh--The Free Church--Dr. Chalmers--A Specimen
 of his Preaching--The Secret of his Eloquence                          99


CHAPTER VIII.

 Biographical Sketch of Dr. Chalmers                                   113


CHAPTER IX.

 Dr. John Brown of Edinburgh--Rev. John Brown of Whiteburn--Professor
 John Brown of Haddington--Rev. Dr. Candlish--Specimen of his
 Preaching                                                             126


CHAPTER X.

 Ride into the Country--The Skylark--Poems on the Skylark by
 Shelley and the 'Ettrick Shepherd'--Newhall--'The Gentle
 Shepherd'--Localities and Outlines of the