to go up-stairs in the house, to visit the place of the dead children], and to put yourself in the way of the visits of your friends.  I wish you would call on the Miss Grays, and it would be a good thing upon a Saturday to dine with my mother, and take Meggy and all the family with you, and let them have their strawberries in town.  The tickets of one of the old-fashioned coaches would take you all up, and if the evening were good, they could all walk down, excepting Meggy and little David.’

’Inverness, July 25th, 11 p.m.

’Captain Wemyss, of Wemyss, has come to Inverness to go the voyage with me, and as we are sleeping in a double-bedded room, I must no longer transgress.  You must remember me the best way you can to the children.’

’On board of the Lighthouse Yacht, July 29th.

’I got to Cromarty yesterday about mid-day, and went to church.  It happened to be the sacrament there, and I heard a Mr. Smith at that place conclude the service with a very suitable exhortation.  There seemed a great concourse of people, but they had rather an unfortunate day for them at the tent, as it rained a good deal.  After drinking tea at the inn, Captain Wemyss accompanied me on board, and we sailed about eight last night.  The wind at present being rather a beating one, I think I shall have an opportunity of standing into the bay of Wick, and leaving this letter to let you know my progress and that I am well.’

’Lighthouse Yacht, Stornoway, August 4th.

’To-day we had prayers on deck as usual when at sea.  I read the 14th chapter, I think, of Job.  Captain Wemyss has been in the habit of doing this on board his own ship, agreeably to the Articles of War.  Our passage round the Cape [Cape Wrath] was rather a cross one, and as the wind was northerly, we had a pretty heavy sea, but upon the whole have made a good passage, leaving many vessels behind us in Orkney.  I am quite well, my dear; and Captain Wemyss, who has much spirit, and who is much given to observation, and a perfect enthusiast in his profession, enlivens the voyage greatly.  Let me entreat you to move about much, and take a walk with the boys to Leith.  I think they have still many places to see there, and I wish you would indulge them in this respect.  Mr. Scales is the best person I know for showing them the sailcloth-weaving, etc., and he would have great pleasure in undertaking this.  My dear, I trust soon to be with you, and that through the goodness of God we shall meet all well.’

’There are two vessels lying here with emigrants for America, each with eighty people on board, at all ages, from a few days to upwards of sixty!  Their prospects must be very forlorn to go with a slender purse for distant and unknown countries.’

’Lighthouse Yacht, off Greenock, Aug. 18th.

’It was after church-time before we got here, but we had prayers upon deck on the way up the Clyde.  This has, upon the whole, been a very good voyage, and Captain Wemyss, who enjoys it much, has been an excellent companion; we met with pleasure, and shall part with regret.’