E-text prepared by Juliet Sutherland, Mary Meehan, and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team (http://www.pgdp.net) THE GENIUS OF SCOTLAND; Or Sketches of Scottish Scenery, Literature and Religion. by REV. ROBERT TURNBULL FOURTH EDITION. New York: Robert Carter, 58 Canal Street 1848. Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1847, by Robert Carter, In the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the United States for the Southern District of New York. Stereotyped by Thomas B. Smith, 216 William Street, New York PREFACE. Having been born and educated in Scotland, and possessing a tolerable acquaintance with its History and Literature, the Author of the following Work felt that he had some facilities for giving to the people of this country a just idea of his native Land. The plan of his work is somewhat new, combining in a larger degree, than he has hitherto seen attempted, descriptions of Scenery, with Literary and Biographical Sketches, portraitures of character social and religious, incidents of travel, and reflections on matters of local or general interest. Hence he has omitted many things which a mere tourist would not fail to notice, and supplied their place with sketches of more enduring interest. He would particularly invite attention to the sketches of Knox, Burns, Wilson, Chalmers, Bruce, 'The Ettrick Shepherd,' and Sir Walter Scott. His rambles through fair or classic scenes are thus enlivened with useful information. In a word, it has been his endeavor, in an easy natural way, to give his readers an adequate conception of the Scenery, Literature, and Religion of Scotland. HARTFORD, CONN. CONTENTS PAGE Preface 1 CHAPTER I. Beauty an Element of the Mind--Our Native Land--Auld Lang Syne--General Description of Scotland--Extent of Population--Spirit of the People--The Highlands--The Lowlands--Burns's 'Genius of Scotland'--Natural and Moral Aspects of the Country--'The Cotter's Saturday Night'--Sources of Prosperity 11 CHAPTER II. The city of Edinburgh--Views from Arthur's Seat--The Poems of Richard Gall--'Farewell to Ayrshire'--'Arthur's Seat, a Poem'--Extracts--Craigmillar Castle--The Forth, Roslin Castle and the Pentland Hills--Liberty 32 CHAPTER III. Walk to the Castle--The Old Wynds and their Occupants--Regalia of Scotland--Storming of the Castle--Views from its Summit--Heriot's Hospital--Other Hospitals--St. Giles's Cathedral--Changes--The Spirit of Protestantism 42 CHAPTER IV. John Knox's House--History of the Reformer--His Character--Carlyle's View--Testimony of John Milton 53 CHAPTER V.