Summary of the Speech:

Sir Maxwell MacLeod gave a deeply personal and humorous speech. He admitted he had not always appreciated Scott’s work, finding it difficult in youth and opposing Scott’s perceived political conservatism. This changed when he inherited a mysterious family artefact—a locked box thought to belong to William Laidlaw, Scott’s amanuensis and close friend.

After his mother's death, Sir Maxwell forced open the box and discovered a treasure trove of original, unpublished letters and poems by Sir Walter Scott, James Hogg, and others. He has since donated the collection to the National Library of Scotland. These documents are largely unknown to current scholars and represent a significant archival discovery.

Sir Maxwell reflected on the friendships among Scott, Hogg, Laidlaw, and others at Abbotsford, illustrating their warmth, humour, and camaraderie. This insight into Scott’s personality—his playfulness and egalitarianism—reshaped MacLeod’s view of the author. He also connected these themes of friendship and shared cultural memory with discussions he recently had in Tibet on climate change and community resilience.

Key Highlights and Interesting Points

• Archival Discovery: The opening of the Laidlaw box revealed dozens of unpublished letters and poems, possibly by Scott and Hogg, that had never been studied or published.
• William Laidlaw Reappraisal: The speech underscored Laidlaw’s pivotal role in Scott’s creative life and argued he deserves greater recognition in Scott studies.
• Personal Transformation: MacLeod’s journey from Scott-sceptic to passionate advocate, spurred by personal history, shows Scott’s enduring power to connect across generations.
• Scott as Playful and Inclusive: The letters suggest a jovial and inclusive personality often obscured by the stern public image of Scott (e.g., in the Raeburn portrait).
• Tibet Parallel: A surprising and thoughtful comparison between the community spirit at Abbotsford and modern Tibetan efforts to preserve culture amid climate crisis.

Subsidiary Toasts

After the toast to The Queen had been honoured the Chairman proposed "The City of Edinburgh" to which Lord Provost Frank Ross replied and spoke warmly of Scott’s legacy and Edinburgh’s continuing literary prominence, referencing tourism, UNESCO recognition, and cultural events.

Royal Celtic Society Toast: Honoured Scott’s involvement in the Royal Celtic Society, noting its origins, contribution to Highland dress, and current cultural work.