Ossian Collection > Journal of a tour in Scotland in

14 JOURNAL OF A TOUR IN SCOTLAND
would only be called good-looking, and that
rather by courtesy than by right. The
pictures of the Duchess of Portsmouth and
Nell Gwynne show that Charles II. had a
good taste in female physiognomy, both, but
especially the latter, being full of intelligence
and good nature. The stain of David Rizzio's
blood is still visible in two places ; and the
partition is shown which is said to have been
put up by Mary's order, for the purpose of
putting out of her sight a scene that was
never out of her mind till she had taken full
vengeance for it upon the prime mover. We
could not discover the profile of Nelson under
his monument which is said to be seen from
Holyrood House ; and what seems very odd,
the Housekeeper there had never heard of it.
Mr Hope, however, tells us we looked for it
from the wrong spot.
How can the Edinburghers boast of their
High Street ? It is odd and characteristic,
therefore interesting ; but on the whole it
bears comparison better with St Giles's than
with the fine streets of Oxford, Antwerp,
and Madrid. The Windes, down which an
English eye may look, but into which no
English nose would willingly venture, for
stinks older than the Union are to be