Travel
Diary of Mrs. R.P. Eaton:
Europe,
Egypt, and Palestine, ca. 1857
The Pass of Glencoe is grandly wild. We look sadly upon the Pette ruins that mark the spot of a terrible massacre.
We reached Edinburgh by rail the same day, stopping two hours at Sterling. - - - Edinburgh is a wonderful unique and picturesque city containing much to interest the traveler. We visited Holyrood Palace and Abbey - - - We made a delightful excursion the Melrose Abbey, wonderful, though in ruins, for the exquisite beauty and finish of its architecture, as well as its grand perfections.
We drove to Abbortsford, the splendid residence of Sir Walter Scott, and to Irgburgh Abbey, where he was buried.
On our way to England we stopped awhile in Glasgow, a great commercial city, visiting its grand Cathedrals and other objects of interest.
(England)
In passing from Glasgow to Liverpool we had a fine view of the country.
We visited St. George’s Hall and other public buildings in Liverpool.
We went to the house of worship, a large and substantial one, which occupied
the site of that in which Bunyan preached.
A pleasant drive brought us to Elstow, and to the cottage in which the
glorious tinker was born. - - Another short drive brought us to Cardington,
the beautiful residence of the immortal John Howard.
Our next pilgrimage was to Olney, the residence of William Cowper, we
found access to his dwelling and to the little summer house in his garden
where he wrote “The Clash” and many of his hymns. - - Here
too the excellent John Newton preached and wrote his portion of the “Olney
Hymns”. Thomas Scott, the commentator labored here also. We entered
the Old Church that had often echoed to their voices.
No place interested me more than Bunhill Fields Cemetery. There is the
tomb of John Bunyan. I hastened to it. No path is so well trodden as that
which leads to the grave of the Tinker of Elstow. O it is a sacred spot!