it wadna hae been amiss to hae gaen
the preference to a nation whare his ancestors held sway during sae mony
centuries, and whare, in the castle of Edinburgh, is still preserved the
sacred regalia, with which it migh no hae been unapropos to hae graced
his royal head and hand amidst the gratifying pageantry o' a Scotch
coronation. Sure I am that North Britain has never been honored publicly
wi' a royal visit.--Whether ony branch o' the present reigning family
hae been there incognita they best ken themselves."

"You seem to have forgot," observed Tallyho, "the visit of the Duke of
Cumberland to Scotland in the year 1745."

"Begging your pardon for setting you right in that particular," answered
the cynic, with a most significant expression of countenance, "that,
Sir, was not a visit, but a visitation!"

"Appropriate enough," whispered Dashall to Tallyho.

"Augh, boderation to nice distinctions!" exclaimed O'Shaughnessy; "here,
Mister Suttler be after tipping over anoder half quartern of the cratur,
wid which to drink success to the royal visitant."

"And that the company may participate in the gratifying expression of
attachment to their Sovereign, Landlord," said Dashall, "let the glass
go round."

"Testifying our regard for the Sovereign," resumed the Northern, "it
canna be understood that we include a' the underlings o' Government. We
ought, as in duty bound, to venerate and obey the maister o' the house;
bat it is ~337~~ by no means necessary that we should pay a similar
respect to his ox and his ass, his man-servant and his maid-servant.
May be, had he been at hame on a late occasion o' melancholy solemnity,
blood wadna hae been spilt, and mickle dool and sorrow wad hae been
avoided."

"We perfectly understand your allusion," said one from the group of
Life-guardsmen: "Of us now present there were none implicated in the
unfortunate occurrences either of that day or a subsequent one: yet we
must not silently hear our comrades traduced--perhaps then it may be as
well to drop the subject."

"I canna think o' relinquishing a topic 0' discourse," answered the
Northern, "replete wi' mickle interest, merely at your suggestion; it
may be ye did your duty in obeying the commands, on that lamentable
occasion, O' your superior officers, and it is to be hoped that the duty
O' the country, towards those with whom originated the mischief, will
not be forgotten; there is already on record against the honour 0' your
corp