Perthshire in bygone days

JOHN, SECOND MAKQUIS OF BKEADALBANE. 15
One incident of the royal visit to Tayrnouth although
often repeated has such a marked connection with the
general structure of these essays, that a notice of it here
must meet with approval. Lord Breadalbane had in his
pay for years, an instrumental band of a very high char-
acter, besides a full complement of pipers. Yet he desired
to bring home to Her Majesty the feeling that she
was in Scotland, and that in more tender terms than it
could be done by the unintelligible pibroch, or the brass
band's martial notes, the latter rather tending to carry her
south ; and in obedience to that feeling he engaged Mr.
Wilson to sing before his royal guests. A group of the
songs which he was in the habit of singing was laid before
the Queen in order that Her Majesty might name those she
would wish more especially to hear. The spirits of the
Scottish song writers must have hovered round that Eoyal
decision. "Within the short space of two minutes, those of
Allan Eamsay, Eobert Burns, James Hogg, Lady Nairne,
and Mrs. Cockburn were conjured up. One is still missing
and the Queen enquires for him. Willie Glen ! proud you
would have been, if you had dreamed that Queen Victoria
in the midst of her nobles would ask the minstrel of Store
Street, to sing " Wae's me for Prince Charlie," and that
he happily could do it.
Position in life does not necessarily destroy what is
intuitive, but it is apt to supersede cultivation. The
seven Scottish songs chosen by this illustrious lady show
that her taste in music is for simple pathos, and in this she
pays a spontaneous tribute to Scottish song. The current
of generous and tender feeling is so obvious in the selection
she made that if there had been a second seven, an acute
taste and ear might venture to supplement six out of those
succeeding. " Lochaber no more," "The flowers of the
forest," "The Lass o' Goxorie," "Cam ye by Athole," "John
Anderson my Jo," "The Laird o' Cockpen," and "Waes
me for Prince Charlie," clearly indicate their following.
Such an entertainment as was then laid before Her
Majesty cannot be now repeated. The bright voice is still,
and shut are many of the ardent ears that then listened
to it. Thirty-six years is the length of the poet's life, and
that term has now covered many of the pleasant accessories
to the " Queen's visit."
It is hardly possible to over estimate the benefit which
has arisen to the highlands of Scotland, from this well con-