Page:Account of the royal visit of George the IVth to Scotland (2).pdf/10

 his landing, the King remained at Dalkeith-house, and resigned himself to the simple recreations of rural retirement. The reception which he had met with upon his landing, and the orderly and decorous appearance of his Scottish subjects; the intellectual dignity of their manner, which regulated, and, at the same time, gave a deeper tone to their enthusiasm, were the frequent themes of his Majesty's conversation. The same evening, the citizens of Edinburgh did honour to his Majesty's arrival by a most brilliant and even gorgeous illumination.. The streets were crowded to excess, but nothing could exceed the orderly demeanour of the people, who moved about with the same serenity, and nearly the same ease, as if in the enjoyment of an ordinary promenade. The High Street presented a most joyous appearance. Bands of boys paraded about with flaming torches; and groupes of sailors were observed dancing reels to the sound of the bagpipe. In the course of the evening, numberless rockets were discharged from every quarter. About ten o'clock, salvos of cannon were discharged from the Castle, Calton hill, and Salisbury Crags, Leith Battery, and the ships of war in the roads; the solemn pauses between which were interrupted by foux de joie from the 13th and 66th regiments, drawn up in front of the Crags.

On Saturday, the 17th of August, his Majesty, according to previous announcement, held his first levee in Holyrood Palace, the attendance upon which was most numerous and splendid. The King arrived at the Palace at a quarter before two o'clock, having been only nineteen minutes on the road between Dalkeith and Holyrood-house. In