[1] Ballad, by Sir Walter Scott.
[2] For the benefit of our fair readers, we venture to translate the Latin chorus to the Dirge; it means, "We have been, and are not!"
[3] "The stupendous rock of Ailsa rises almost perpendicularly to the height of 940 feet. The circumference of this singular rock at its base is about two miles; its shape is somewhat conical, and it is on all sides extremely precipitous. The only landing-place is on the north-east, where there is a small beach, formed by fragments which have fallen from the neighbouring rocks. The cliffs of Ailsa are in several places distinctly columnar; and the whole isle appears to be composed of rocks belonging to the newest Flœtz formation, the individual members of which resemble those that occur in the island of Arran. This rock is inhabited by immense flocks of birds, particularly gannets, or Solan geese; and is rented from the Earl of Cassilis at £33 a year."—Description of Ayrshire.
[4] The Hebrides.
[5] This, by the way, seems too like a bold anachronism of the Reverend Gentleman's, but it has been correctly transcribed from the M'Kenzie MSS. at least omnia quæ extant. However, for our own part we must say, that we are strongly inclined to acquit the Reverend Gentleman and scholar upon this score, inasmuch as he has high authority to plead in self-defence the Bard of Mantua having thought proper to make Æneas and Dido cotemporaries; and yet the former flourished ONLY two hundred years before the building of Carthage! with which anachronism to compare the Doctor's little historical lapse, were indeed merely to match
"A mole-hill with Olympus!"
[6] Since the above was written Dr. Herschell has paid the debt of nature. The other celebrated astronomer lives, and it is hoped providence will yet grant him many years to preside over the noble science which his powerful mind so ably illustrates and adorns.
[7] Histoire d'Irlande, par L'Abbe Ma-Geoghegan, tome 1.
[8] This castle now belongs to the Marquis of Conyngham.
[9] Silk stockings first became usual in the reign of Elizabeth. These articles of finery "were curiously knit with open seam down the legge, with quirks and clokes about the ancles, and sometimes (haply) interlaced with gold or silver threads, as it is wonderful to behold."—Beaumont and Fletcher, vol. v. Note, p. 353.
[10] "Shining shoes" are often noticed by Massinger, Jonson, and other old dramatists.