DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.53553#0366
330
Tranquillity, however, being restored, and the cloth re-
moved, the bottle was put in circulation with a health to
“ General Breezo;” and, to entertain my friend in a suit-
able manner, the doctor, who, as caterer, presided at table,
sent for M’Murdoch the bagpiper. The Eolus of harmony
appeared forthwith, and, having duly prepared himself by
the donative of a glass of strong grog, began his performance
with “ The flowers of Edinburgh,” in which the treble pipes
went with rapid execution over a number of notes, while the
uninterrupted monotonous snorting of one or two larger
tubes formed a sostenuto bass-accompaniment of peculiar
elegance. Here I had an opportunity of observing how
vague and various taste is, and how little it is to be reduced
to one standard. The doctor’s eyes glistened with joy at the
sound of his national air delivered by a countryman of his
on his national instrument; while the Neapolitan’s frequent
yawnings and contortions proclaimed to me at least, the
little entertainment he derived from this Highland music.
Indeed, on being proudly asked how he liked the tune, he
by no means minced his opinion, but broadly declared, that
he was glad to see the company so well amused by it, and,
on that account, could not but approve of what afforded plea-
sure to his friends, even at the expence of his own taste; to
follow the dictates of which, he was bound to say, that he
would as soon hear the squallings of half a dozen of famished
brats, as the grating sounds of so barbarous an instrument.
Upon this unexpected remark, our hosts were civil enough
to put an end to the first act of the concert by dismissing
Mr. M’Murdoch with his bagpipes. “ Aye,” said the first
lieutenant, on hearing my friend’s opinion, “ these Neapo-
litan Signors are all for the vocal, so let’s be on t’other tack
We’ll give him a song every bit as good, and better may-
hap, as any he has heard from the best of his what d’ye call
'ems. Start ahead, Jem !”
This
Tranquillity, however, being restored, and the cloth re-
moved, the bottle was put in circulation with a health to
“ General Breezo;” and, to entertain my friend in a suit-
able manner, the doctor, who, as caterer, presided at table,
sent for M’Murdoch the bagpiper. The Eolus of harmony
appeared forthwith, and, having duly prepared himself by
the donative of a glass of strong grog, began his performance
with “ The flowers of Edinburgh,” in which the treble pipes
went with rapid execution over a number of notes, while the
uninterrupted monotonous snorting of one or two larger
tubes formed a sostenuto bass-accompaniment of peculiar
elegance. Here I had an opportunity of observing how
vague and various taste is, and how little it is to be reduced
to one standard. The doctor’s eyes glistened with joy at the
sound of his national air delivered by a countryman of his
on his national instrument; while the Neapolitan’s frequent
yawnings and contortions proclaimed to me at least, the
little entertainment he derived from this Highland music.
Indeed, on being proudly asked how he liked the tune, he
by no means minced his opinion, but broadly declared, that
he was glad to see the company so well amused by it, and,
on that account, could not but approve of what afforded plea-
sure to his friends, even at the expence of his own taste; to
follow the dictates of which, he was bound to say, that he
would as soon hear the squallings of half a dozen of famished
brats, as the grating sounds of so barbarous an instrument.
Upon this unexpected remark, our hosts were civil enough
to put an end to the first act of the concert by dismissing
Mr. M’Murdoch with his bagpipes. “ Aye,” said the first
lieutenant, on hearing my friend’s opinion, “ these Neapo-
litan Signors are all for the vocal, so let’s be on t’other tack
We’ll give him a song every bit as good, and better may-
hap, as any he has heard from the best of his what d’ye call
'ems. Start ahead, Jem !”
This