Ossian Collection > Remarks on Dr. Samuel Johnson's Journey to the Hebrides

( 3° )
firfl; guards ; to whom the firft gendarme
of France being added, they make up the
number of twenty-five, commonly called
gardes de manche (fleeve guards) who were
all Scotch by nation. The Author of the
ancient alliance fays, — " Two of them
" affift at mafs, fermon, vefpers, and or-
" dinary meals. On high holidays, ac the
*' ceremony of the royal touch, the erec-
" tion of Knights of the King's order, the
** reception of extraordinary ambafladors,
" and the public entries of cities, there
" muft be fix of their number next to the
" King's perfon, three on each fide of his
** Majefty : and the body of the king muft
" be carried by thefe only, wherefoever
" ceremony requires ; and his effigy muft
** be attended by them. They have the
*' keeping of the keys of the king's lodg-
** ing at night, the keeping of the choir
" of the chapel, the keeping of the boats
" when the king pafles the rivers ; — and
*' they