Scotch Notes.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XVI, Issue 30, 16 November 1888, Page 3

Scotch Notes.

The Parnell defence fund has been Uken up spiritedly in Scotland The Liberal Associations of the country, beginning with that at Bridgton, are showing themselves particularly active in the matter. Nothing more than this proves the sincerity of the sympathy so generally expressed towards the Home Rule movement, and the conviction that prevails ai to the falsehood of the accusations brought against the Irish National leaders.

The Franciscan Fathers have opened a fine new school in Glasgow, where tbey bnve for some years bad a flourishing community and contributed much towards the advanepment of religion in the city. Indeed the state of Catholic education in the diocese generally is in a very sound and satisfactory condition, reflecting great credit on the Archbishop and the clergy, by whom it is directed, and on the Catholic people by whom it is sustained. In 152 schools 28,030 children were lately examined with most encouraging result?.

A minister of Stonehaven has come forward in a very striking manner to rebuke the back-sliding of the times. He classes together and denounces as the twofold evil of the Kirk," whisky and moderation. His special object of horror is what he calls "'the kirk-going child of the devil," and, what is worse, he seems to thiDk the whole class of regular attendants at the kirk are represented by this illfavoured individual. The spirit of the Free Church he declares, with an engaging alliteration, to be " Bly, sleeky, and slimy," and nothing, he cays. can be looked forward to but night, " dark, dense, starless, eternal." Is this the progress made in righteousness by a country nourished for over three hundred years on the pure milk of the Word ? Either the Rev. John Robertsoo, for so is this minister named, speaks at random, or the milk has become sour in the course of time, having ?whaps had some element of corruption in it from the beginniug. he Rev. John's remarkable utterance, however, has given rise to a good deal of argument, and caused something of a sensation.

The reports of tbe Scotch fisheries for the year show a decided improvement on last year. During the eight months just ended, the balance in favour of this year has been a sum of £72,035 — tbe total value of the take on both East and West coasts amounting to £1.094,574. From the lakes and rivers the returns have been of a similsr kind. The total catch of trout in Loch Loven, for example, was 23,516, or a weight rf 21,0741 b; as against 17,892, with a weight of 17,4641 b, last year. The salmon fisheries, again, owned by the town of Abeideen produce 1 this year a sum of £7,554. as against £5,706 last year. The number of salmon taken in nets on the Tweed, meantime, was less than that taken last year, but the average weight was much higher. — The returns from the moois have also been encouraging to those interested in them. Sir Charles Mordaunt, for example, shot sixteen stags in two days at Glenfeahie Forest, Inverness-shire. The Comtesse de Pari«, however, eclipses by tbe fame of her shot all the sportsmen who have appeared either on moor or in forest. The gillies who were in attendance on her do not cease to sound her praises and their own astonishment. It would be interesting to see how a successful course of grouse-shooting in Scotland would fit a Queen of France to encounter a revolution in Paris. Would she also slink away as plain Mrs. Smith ?— Meantime. the strictness with which the gamp laws are maintained has had an exemplification in the cas° of two unfortunate wights sentenced the other day each to sixty daj a 1 imprisonment for killing a rabbit. This is hardly likely to recommend ihe sports of the moors and forests to those who have no part in them — but who have still a right to a voice in making the laws, and, perhaps, also some claim to aid in deciding as to the disposal of the soil.

The Scottish Liberal Association has inaugurated a serifs of addresses on the Irish question, to be delivered in every patt cf the country. The undertaking, which has aheady met with an abundant promise of success, is looked upon as certain to complete whatever is wanting in winning over the sympathy of Scotland. The speakers, including two members of the Irish Parliamentary party, have been well recehed wherever they made their appearance.

Mr. Balfour, although he is not exactly a Cincinnatup. still varies his invaluable services to bis country, by taking part also in bucolic pursuits. In this connection, tne right hon. gentleman has just obtained the highest price given for a ram at the Lothian annual sale. Meantime, a fellow countryman of his, speakiDg cf the combined tanner, philosopher, and statesman at Edinburgh the other day, stigmatised him as the Curse of Ireland— an appropriite title, he said, for a relative, as Mr. Balfour it,, of that Lauderdale ramily, one of whose members had been known of old as the Curso of Scotland. Mr. Balfour, meantime, gives evidence of occupying no very blesßed position, as well in Scotland as in Ireland. In walking through Peebles, for example, the other day, he is described as guarded by two strong, stalwart, constables. Such are the bhts and bravery of this bucolic philosopher.

An indignation meeting has been held atLaing, Sutherlandehire, to denounce the impiety of some unfoitunato sinners who dared to break the Sabbath by taking a sail on 1 och Shin. It may be doubted, therefore, as to whether the Rev. John Robertson, of Stcnehaven 19 quite correct in coupliug whisky and moderation together as the comb-

ined curse of the Kirk. — The whi6ky may be there, perhaps but the where-abouts cf the moderation seems doubtful. The superstition of the Scotch Sabbath, however, after the fashioa of superstitions, is one that will probably survive all other vestigeß of the religion of the country.

The crofters of Kkye are rejoicing at the change in the ownership of two estates, which is attended with a promise of better things for tbe tenantry. The one is that of Kilmuir, which has been purchased by Mr. Baird, of Btict.ell ; the other that of Strathaird, whose pur* chaser is Mr. McKinnon, of Ballinakill— both purchasers enjoy the reputation of being humane and liberal landlords, and the crofters look forward to an ameliorated condition, much needed, under their control. Indeed reductions have already been made in the case of the Kilmuir tenant?.

The fashionable world has been allascog becansa of the wedding, at long last, of Miss Hamilton Nisbet, of Riel, an heiress «f twentyfive years standing, and who is reported t^ have refused suitors almost of royal standing. She ha^ now married a younger son, and a relative of her own— that is Henry, son of Sir John Ogilvy, who, however, is suitable in years to be her husband. The devotees of Jenny Geddes have been horrified at the celebration of the marriage, which was, bo far as possible, an imitation Mass, conducted in accordance with tba proceedings of extreme Ritualism. The Angl ; can Bishop of Edinburgh, who officiated, attended by acolytes, and vested in Episcopal robes that might have edified King Edward VI. himself, by tbe practices of whose reign such garments are nnderstood to bo authorised, made use in the ceremony of the prayer-book used by Archbishop Seeker at the marriage of King George 111. We are left to surmise, however, what that paternal and No-Popery monarch would have Baid could he have foreseen the accompaniments among which the book, after whose text he had repeated his vows to his sober little Lutheran Charlotte — not a3 yet, we may believe, to be viewed in a snuffy light — was made use of on this occasion. King George most probably would have put in his claim to be head of the Church in some practical manner. It need not be added that the dress of the bride was magnificent in the highest degree. It was all that could be expected, even for a lady who had waited for so many years for the great eveat of her life, and whose powers of tasteful adornment had been allowed fully to mature. The Seeker prayer-book, it may ba added, has been the medium of tying up several royal couples, beginning with King Georga 111. and Queen Charlotte, and ending with H.R.H. the Duke of Connaught. But let us hope that if royalty does not prore infectious, matrimonial happiness may at least do so. The royal couples, of course, are all continually delighted with one another, and so may Mr. and Mrs. Ogilvy be also.

Those who are interested in the preservation of historical monuments are congratulating themselves on the restoration now completed at Doune Castle by Lord Moray. Tbe restoration of ancient buildings is always a dilncult matter, as in carrying it out tbee is danger of destroying ancient associations, and thus doing more barm than good. That alluded to, however, has brca very carefully performed, and it is said to be in every respect successful. The castle IB one of tbe most interesting monuments of by -gone ages remaining in Scotland — aud is celebrated as well in romance as in history.