Scotch Notes.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XVII, Issue 24, 4 October 1889, Page 5

Scotch Notes.

THB visit of the Shah to Scotland, where he was the guest respectively of the Duke of Montrose and the Earl of Hopetoun has been among the events of the times. His Majesty appeared to appreciate the efforts made for bis entertainment, and the sights the country had to show him. The new bridge over the Forth, however, which is now nearly completed, seemed moat of all to evoke his interest and wonder — and, indeed, the constructiou is one well calculated to excite astonishment in minds better versed in the works of civilisation than the Shah's. His Majesty expressed himself unable to conceive how so great a work could be carried out without a numerous sacrifice of human life. This, perhaps, may throw some light on the manner in which public works are performed in Eastern lands. In those countries, however, som« remnants of the ancient world generally are ■till to be found.

The eood people of Ross-shire are in a flutter of expectation. Tbe exciting cause is a report that her Majesty the Queen will this year spend some weeks at Strathpeffer, a place among them notable, for its baths. Bhould her Majesty derive any benefit from her visit' the reputation of the place will be at once es'ablished, and as a fashionable resort, it will become of something more than local fame. A distinctive feature of the sanatorium is its mud baths, which are described as especially beneicial. The idea of a queen, however, wallowing in the mire, even in search of health, seems somewhat incongruous. People of nice susceptibilities will hope that her Majesty may draw a line at the mud baths. Royalty and any ditch or boghole should certainly stand far apart*

Some annoyance has lately been caused among Catholics by an accusation brought against the management of St. Joseph's school, Blantyre, of hating diverted money derived from public grants to purposes other than those authorised. The matter has been investigated by the Educational Department, and the result is a complete refutation of the charge. Certain mischief makers, therefore, have had their trouble all for nothing.

The coming month of October is to witness a great effort in Scotland on behalf of Unionism. Mr. Balfonr, representing the Government and the Tories, is to speak at Edinburgh, and Lord Hartington, representing the Dissentient- Liberals, is to vißit Aberdeen The united visits are intended as a set-off against Mr. Parnell's late success. We may expect a prodigious beatingjof drums and a blowing of trumpets almost unequalled since the fall of Jerhico. The disposition of (Scotland, however, is pretty well known, and when once the Scotch people have made up their minds it is not easy to change them. Tory and Dissentient Liberal will both declaim in vain. Lord Hartington will be the guest of the Marquis of Huntly, at Aboyne Castle, Deeside.

Great rejoicings have accompanied the visit of the Duke and Duchess of Portland, the first paid since their marriage, to Troon. ic Ayrshire. This town, which owes to the Duke of Portland its importance as a port and its trade by sea, was placed in gala array for the tccasion. The town of Kilmarnock also, which is the headquarters of the Duke's agent, bhared notably in the festivities, and, among the rest, the Farmers' Society of the district presented her Grace with a beautiful diamond rose. It is to be hoped the token may be taken as speaking genuinely of the Duke's character as a landlord .

Much alarm still continues as to the spiritual condition of the Free Church. The spread of heterodoxy and the discrediting of the Scriptures within its limits are very severely exercising the minds of many pious people. Among the preventive or curative measures that have been set on foot, tbe Church members of Inverne9S-shire, Ross-shire, and Butherlandshire, have formed an association called the •• Highland Association for the defence of tbe integrity of Holy Bcripture, and the principles of the Free Church." A committee has been appointed by this society for the purpose of enlightening the people as 10 the dangers besetting the cause of truth within the Free Church, watch ng over current opinion in the Church, preparing Statements of assanlts made on the infallibility and Divine authority of Holy Scripture, and other interesting and important matters of the kind. It would seem evident, meantime, that whatever may be the preventive or curative effect produced by this committee among the people, their investigations and denunciations must prove an object of supreme terror to tripping ministers and elders. But how fortunate is a Church in which a self-elected and collective Pope can arise at any moment and rebuke error, and insist upon orthodoxy. The danger is lest collective Pope may meet with collective antiPope and confusion may result. The waters on which the bark of the Free Church iloats are evidently somewhat troubled.

Argyleßhire has been suffering from a severe drought.. The scarcity of water has not only been felt with inconvenience by the human inhabitants, but the fish also have had a hard time of it — The salmon, for instance, have been unable, owing to the dryness of the river-bed, to ascend the Awe, and have been confined to Loch Btive. The contents of the Loch again, which owing to the abundant supply brought down at ordinary seasons by the mountain streams have been aa a rule almost fresh, are now nearly as salt as the sea itself. Fortunately, nevertheless, the crops in the county have a fair appearance, looking much better than might have been expected,

Sportsmen interested in the moors of Perthshire have been thrown into low spirits regarding the prospects of the shooting season. Desease is rife among the grouse, and is causing such havoc as has not been heard of eince the exceptionally disastrous season of 1872. It might, by the way, form a question for the mind of a philosophic humanitarian, as to whether it would be preferable for a grouse to die at once of disease or remain alive a week or two to be shot.

Things have not yet quite settled down in the Lewis. For over twelve months Galston farm has been watched by constables, owing to the levelling of fences which took place there. Notwithstanding tbis, however, a night raid has lately been made, with the result that 400 yards more of the marsh dyke separating the farm from the township of South Dell, has been thrown down. The construction was of turf, and very solid, and its destruction must have given employment to several men using spades and shovels, The spirit that was evoked, then, has not as yet been completely laid Whether further proofs of its activity are to be given time alone can reveal.

By the death of Mr. Charles Trotter, of Wood-hill, Perthshire has lost a good and useful resident who Btood well in the esteem of his neighbours. Mr. Trotter, who was noted also for his literary attainments, was a member of the Catholic Church, to which he had been converted many years ago.

Primrosery in Scotland also is as gay as a lark, and keeps up its reputation as a system strictly in accordance with fashionable life. As a reward for tbe disgust caused to them by Mr. Parnell's reception in Edinburgh, and the goings-on connected with hie visit generally, as we may suppose, Sir James and Lady Gibson-Craig gave a garden party to the habitation formed by her Ladyship at Riccarton. The affair was very brilliant, and dancing and amusements were the order of the evening. There may, it is true, have been a few guests— or even, comparatively speaking, a good many who were not quite up to the ordinary requirements of the fashionable world. But must not the Primrose dame sacrifice herself, as represented at least by taste and elegance, on the altar of duty. The garden party is a very precious invention by which the sacrifice can be effected with as much ease as possible. Toeotertain such a mob in-doors would form a much more painful strain for the aristocratic mind.