John Fryer, Esq., delivered the first of a course of lectures, under the auspices of the above Association on Wednesday night in the Temperance Hall. The Ven. Archdeacon Moule, Hon, President of the Association, occupied the chair, and in introducing the lecturer, mentioned the object to which the proceeds of the lecture were to be devoted.
Mr. Fryer began his lecture on 'A Tour through the Highlands of Scotland," saying how impossible it was to accomplish what he had undertaken except in a most limited and general manner. The world renamed Highlands could not be visited by proxy, nor could their lovely scenery be cap-Fired snd arsled offtraphotopraphisoamers, as the only way to understand and appreciate them, is for every one to go and visit them in person. Nothing else can give niore than a mere fractional idea of their manifold and peculiar beauties and attractions. Referring to the impossible task of the poet and artist to catch all the spirit of the Highlands' unequalled grandeur, Mr. Fryer showed that there is that mysterious something about these romantic and picturesque localities, which can only be felt, not described. They lift up the soul, as it were, towards the infinite, and fill it with an inexpressible solemnity, so that the most loquacious: members of a tourist patty will stand and whisper at some intervals of the sublime and overpowering leur which fascinates them into silence. After depicting some of this grandeur and beauty, the lecture confessed that the genii of the mountain, the loch, the pen, and the burn, jealously refuse to let the secrets of their mysterious spell leave their native haunts. In leaving this portion of the sub-just Mr. Fryer, held that Scutchmen have something more than the material beauties of their native country to fire their patriotism. Associated with these natural beauties they call to remembrance the ages of storm and strife, of heroic endurance and noble sacrifice which their forefathers passed through while contending st The heaviest odds to maintain their distinct: tive national life. Reference was then made to the rapid increasing number of visitors to the High] nds of Scotland, with the increased facilities afforded to tourists, and said that people would do well to know all at about their own land before seeking their enjoyment in visiting others. Speaking with reference to the fact that a tion of the tourists the lecturer met in the Highlands were American, he said they seemed to take a much keener and more lively interest in this portion of their old mother country thin did the English tourists. It was plain that they deeply enjoyed and admired the grandeur ofthe scenery, -and realised most, dations with which each' district abounds. Whenreferring to the works of Robert Burns' Sir Walter Scott, and others, the lecture anti the descriptions of views were griced With, Apt quotations, illustrative of the subject the lecture was now illustrated by a series of magic lantern Views shown by means of the lime light Kindy. prepared by the Rev. S.C. Partridge. The ratite taken vas its follows: Entering Scotland by rail from the South, passing Moffat, Jedburgh, anti Melrose. the audience Were brought. th Edinburgh, then across to Glasgow, Views of the. principal buildings in. each city being shown. In sailing down the Clyde views were show of Dumbarton, Newark Castle, Greenock: The Holy Loch, the Kyles of Bute, two scenes in Arran &. From Oban excursions were taken to Stafli, Lena, Glencoe and Inverness., Areturn was made from Oban past Loch Awe down Glenfalloch to Loch Lomond. The beauties of Loch Katrine and' the Trossachs were shown, then starting northwards views were of Loch Leven, St. Andrews, Dunkeld, Perth and Aberdeen, finally bu the Queen's Highland home a The enjoyment of the lecture was_gron enhanced by pianoforte selections of Scotch niusic, skilfully performed by Mrs. Donovan. The stirring strains of the bagpipes also tended to bring. to Scotchnen, pleni sant memories of auld long syne. On the motion of the Chairman, hearty thanks were accorded to the lecturer and all who had taken part in the entertainment.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.