14–20 August 1876

Beloved Mama's birthday. How often she came to Edinburgh for a few days on her way to and from Abergcldie, and how much she always liked it ! We arrived yesterday morning at Edinburgh at eiirht o'clock. Had had a o-ood night. Unfortu- nately the weather was misty, and even a little rain fell. No distance could well be seen. Dear Arthur came to breakfast (always in uniform).* At eleven o'clock went and sat out till half-past twelve, under an umbrella and with screens, on the side of the Abbey facing Arthur s Seat. Wrote and signed, Brown always helping to dry die signatures. Read also in the papers a very nice account given in the " Courant " of what passed yesterday. Many interruptions. The day improving. Crowds flocking into the town, troops marching, bands playing — just as when any great event takes place in London. The last time that my dearest Albert ever ap- peared in public was in Edinburgh on October 23 [1861], only six weeks before the end of all, when he laid the first stone of the new Post Office, and I looked out of the window to see him drive off in state, or rather in dress, London carriages, and the children went to see the ceremony. It was in Edinburgh, too, that dearest Mama appeared for the last time in public — being with me at the Volunteer Review in i860, which was the first time she had driven with me in public for twenty years !