iew. She then ordered a couch to be spread for her in the open
air; and charged the pilot, that, if in the morning the land were still
in sight, he should awake her, and afford her one parting view of that
country in which all her affections were centred. The weather proved
calm, so that the ship made little way in the night-time; and Mary had
once more an opportunity of seeing the French coast. She sat up on her
couch, and still looking towards the land, often repeated these words:
"Farewell, France, farewell, I shall never see thee more."[*] The first
aspect, however, of things in Scotland was more favorable, if not to her
pleasure and happiness, at least to her repose and security, than she
had reason to apprehend. No sooner did the French galleys appear off
Leith, than people of all ranks, who had long expected their arrival,
flocked towards the shore with an earnest impatience to behold and
receive their young sovereign. Some were led by duty, some by interest,
some by curiosity; and all combined to express their attachment to her,
and to insinuate themselves into her confidence on the commencement of
her administration. She had now reached her nineteenth year; and
the bloom of her youth and amiable beauty of her person were further
recommended by the affability of her address, the politeness of her
manners, and the elegance of her genius. Well accomplished in all the
superficial but engaging graces of a court, she afforded, when better
known, still more promising indications of her character; and men
prognosticated both humanity from her soft and obliging deportment, and
penetration from her taste in all the refined arts of music, eloquence,
and poetry.[**] And as the Scots had long been deprived of the presence
of their sovereign, whom they once despaired ever more to behold among
them, her arrival seemed to give universal satisfaction; and nothing
appeared about the court but symptoms of affection, joy, and festivity.

* Keith, p. 179. Jebb, vol. ii. p. 483.

** Buchan. lib. xvii. c. 9. Spotswood, p. 178, 179. Keith,
p. 180. Thuan. lib xxix. c. 2.

The first measures which Mary embraced confirmed all the prepossessions
entertained in her favor. She followed the advice given her in France
by D'Oisel and the bishop of Amiens, as well as her uncles; and she
bestowed her confidence entirely on the leaders of the reformed party,
who had greatest influence over the people, and who, she found, were
alo