Clergy -- England -- Biography; Stoughton, John, 1807-1897
My old friend, and large-hearted host, the Rev. George D. Cullen,
favoured me with the company at dinner, of Dr. Goold, Moderator of the
Free Church; Dr. Hanna, son-in-law to Dr. Chalmers; Dr. Alexander, and
others—and we had earnest talk about topics of the day. Scotch and
English elements of thought, blended so as to bring diversities into
view, without any portion of the acrimony common to polemical debate.
True blue Presbyterianism rose in contrast with milder colours of
Ecclesiasticism. There was no want of thrust or repartee, but we kept
the unity of the spirit in the bond of peace. Edinburgh society is of
the choicest kind. Some of the best talkers may be found on the other
side the border; and memories of celebrities in Auld Reekie, are amongst
the most pleasant of my life. On the occasion just noticed, my friend
Mr. Cullen took me over to St. Andrews; and there Principal Tulloch did
the honours of ciceroneship to perfection. In the evening we dined at
the house of Professor Swann, where further social enjoyments of a high
university order were found to be in store.
During this visit to Scotland a curious fact was related to me by the
librarian of the University. Drummond of Hawthornden bequeathed books to
the library of that institution, and in the catalogue appeared an item of
“MSS. respecting Mary Queen of Scots.”
These MSS. were long missing, and inquiries about them were made in vain.
Not very long before my visit, the librarian received a communication
from some one who said he had, in his possession, papers belonging to the
University; and on receiving a reply to his letter, he forwarded them.
They turned out to be the missing treasure. How came this about? As
well as I can remember it appeared that a librarian of the last century
put one day into his coat pocket these very MSS., and took them home for
examination. He suddenly died. His clothes were sent to a relative, and
amongst them, the coat containing the documents now mentioned. For a
century afterwards they remained forgotten, and then came to light. The
possessor, finding they belonged to Edinburgh University, wrote to the
librarian as stated above, and restored them to their proper place. The
recovered property was shown to me. It included original papers
published some time ago, and others not previously known; but, if I may
venture to say so, after a brief inspection, they did not promise to be
of so much service as was hoped, in throwing fresh light on the mysteries
of poor Mary’s career.
The seventh General Conference of the Evangelical Alliance was held in
Basle, September 1st 1879.
There was a large gathering of delegates from Germany, France, Austria,
Italy, Spain, Holland, America and England. The president was M. C.
Sarasin, Councillor of State, who is said to have descended from a
Moorish ancestor settled in the canton. He showed himself to be
acquainted with English literature.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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