Page:A Companion and Useful Guide to the Beauties of Scotland.djvu/139

Rh For the accommodation of the Comte d'Artois, Government has wonderfully improved the Abbey, both external and internal. The long gallery is new floored, and painted white; and the suite of rooms on the same story with it, are all new sashed, painted, papered, and fitted up and furnished in the modern taste, and in the neatest manner. Amongst the French of fashion in Holyroodhouse in 1796, the venerable and most respectable appearance of the unfortunate Duc de Serrent, struck me the most: all that is good and amiable is strongly marked in his countenance, rendered more interesting by his flowing grey hairs, and the sweet though melancholy tone of his voice; and a manner that must be a magnet to every heart susceptible of affection, or conversant with the feelings of paternal suffering; for, poor man, he was, when I saw him, still weeping for his murdered sons, his only children; who, I have been informed, were both very amiable and accomplished.

I was told, during my visit at the Abbey, that the first day of every month the Bank of Scotland, by order of Government, sent down to Monsieur one thousand guineas for his maintenance. How far it is true, I cannot say. His Royal Highness