The Honours of Scotland, by Sir Walter Scott

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THE Commissioners, having read their warrant, proceeded to enter the Crown-room, and to force open the lid of the great chest, no keys to which had been any where found.

To the great joy of all present the Regalia were discovered lying in the chest, in the very state in which they had been deposited there in 1707. With the Sword of State and Sceptre was found another rod or mace of silver, with a globe at the top, which proves to be the Lord High Treasurer of Scotland’s mace of office. Upon the discovery of the regalia the royal flag was hoisted upon the castle, and greeted by the shouts of a numerous crowd assembled on the hill.

The custody of the regalia was, on the 8th of July 1818, committed to the Officers of State, by a warrant under the Great Seal, with power to them to appoint a Deputy-keeper and Yeomen-keepers of the regalia, and to establish regulations under which the regalia might be exhibited to the public.

by Sir Walter Scott 1771-1832

abridged

Abridged from ‘Description of the Regalia of Scotland’ by Sir Walter Scott (1771-1832).

Questions for Critics

1. What is the author aiming to achieve in writing this?

2. Note any words, devices or turns of phrase that strike you. How do they help the author communicate his ideas more effectively?

3. What impression does this passage make on you? How might you put that impression into words?

Based on The English Critic (1939) by NL Clay, drawing on The New Criticism: A Lecture Delivered at Columbia University, March 9, 1910, by J. E. Spingarn, Professor of Comparative Literature in Columbia University, USA.

Questions for Critics

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