Lord Rosebery has the following letter in the "Scotsman" of July 22 on the Edinburgh Castle war memorial movement Sir,—I am reluctant to trouble you once more on the subject of the Edinburgh war memorial, as it is called—that is, the transformation of our ancient stronghold into a committee castle. But I have lately seen (though not received) a circular card with a large thistle stamped on the outside urging our citizens to buy cotton thistles in order to increase the funds at the disposal of the committee. Inside there is a magnificent row of figures "showing the contributions to the fund. But on examination these turn out to be shillings, whereas it is pounds that are wanted. Nothing could more show how little this is a Scottish national movement.
Every device has been tried to raise the wind. Summonses to regimental officers, august influ. ence, the more ordinary mechanism of bazaars—all have been tried. I hear that the mania for adapting ancient buildings to modern requirements is spreading, and that the mausoleum in which the Dukes of Hamilton were buried (before they were carted into a hole in the churchyard) is likely to become the war memorial of a neighbouring town, but I shall not believe that the contagion really prevails until the Tower of London is converted into a war memorial.
That would be an exact parallel to what is proposed in Edinburgh, but I do not see that any: leaders of opinion in England are disposed to recommend such a course. J believe that: the great majority of local opinion is entirely hostile to the project, and the same may be said of Scottish opinion at large.
Do not all these devices prove that there is nothing like a spontaneous wish in Scotland for the transformation of our ancient castle? How much longer is this organized mendicancy to continue? Many years ago there was another attempt to tamper with Edinburgh Castle. But Sir Walter Scott then stepped forth as its defender and defeated the plan. We have now a_ similar menace, but alas no Sir Waiter Scott. together. That would be asking too much but we can all work together to avert a repetition of the great calamity through which we have all so recently passed.
I want to work se that we may never be in danger of such an experience again.
My great' ambition, and T say it with all humility, is that I may obtain a small niche somewhere in the world for having served, not a party, but a whole nation. (Leud and prolonged cheers.)
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.