NEXT morning the mist had risen sufficiently to show dimly, but yet with a certain poetic mystery, the beauties of the unrivalled position of ‘the grey Metropolis of the North’ within her cincture of hills—Salisbury Crags and Arthur’s Seat, Blackford Hill and the Braids, Corstorphine Hill and the wooded heights of Dalmeny and Hopetoun. In the midst, there was a dreamy indication of the city, with its masses of buildings following the contours of the undulating site, and relieved by outstanding spires, monuments, and tall chimneys—the whole culminating in the Castle Rock, which stood out like an aerial island from a sea of haze.
In the forenoon, a delightful trip was made in the ‘Iolanthe’ up to and under the Forth Bridge; and those who made it were rewarded with a splendid view of that wonderful structure. As every one knows, the view of the Bridge from the sea is the finest that can be obtained. You see it as a whole. You take in at a glance all its details. You see each of the cantilevers separately, as well as the connecting girders. You see the width of the great spans and the height of the ‘fair-way’; and you understand why such vast superstructures were necessary in order to secure the stability of the intermediate railway line. All this is missed by one who crosses the Bridge in a railway carriage, unless, as occurred once in the experience of the writer, the western sun casts a perfect shadow of the Bridge on the placid bosom of the Firth below.
In the course of the day, several thousands of the inhabitants of Edinburgh and Leith visited the ‘Dunottar Castle,’ on the general invitation of the Castle Company, and in steamers provided for their accommodation. The extent to which the privilege was taken advantage of showed how highly it was appreciated.
In response to special invitations, the Corporations of Edinburgh and Leith, the Merchant Company, the Chambers of Commerce, and other public bodies, paid a visit to the ship about noon, and were entertained to luncheon, to the number of 150, Sir Donald Currie presiding. The manner in which the extempore function was carried through showed that the resources of the ship, without extraneous aid, were quite equal to such an emergency. It is needless to do more than refer to the eloquent speeches in which the beauty of the ship and the enterprise of its owners were acknowledged.
Then, at length, the harmonious party, which for ten days had been at home in the great ship, was scattered promiscuously to the East and the West, the North and the South, to resume old ties of love and friendship, but not to forget the new ties that had been formed.
In the evening of the same day, the great ship left her moorings and sailed for London, there to take her appointed place in the Cape and Natal Mail Service; and no vessel ever entered on her career with more cordial good wishes from troops of friends than
‘THE DUNOTTAR CASTLE.’
The Tug in Leith Roads.
