You remember the doge of Genoa, who being asked, what struck him most at the French court, answered, “myself.”  I cannot think many things here more likely to affect the fancy, than to see Johnson ending his sixty-fourth year in the wilderness of the Hebrides.  But now I am here, it will gratify me very little to return without seeing, or doing my best to see, what those places afford.  I have a desire to instruct myself in the whole system of pastoral life, but I know not whether I shall be able to perfect the idea.  However, I have many pictures in my mind, which I could not have had without this journey, and should have passed it with great pleasure, had you, and master, and Queeney, been in the party.  We should have excited the attention, and enlarged the observation of each other, and obtained many pleasing topicks of future conversation.  As it is, I travel with my mind too much at home, and, perhaps, miss many things worthy of observation, or pass them with transient notice; so that the images, for want of that reimpression which discussion and comparison produce, easily fade away; but I keep a book of remarks, and Boswell writes a regular journal of our travels, which, I think, contains as much of what I say and do, as of all other occurrences together; “for such a faithful chronicler as Griffith.”

I hope, dearest madam, you are equally careful to reposit proper memorials of all that happens to you and your family, and then, when we meet, we shall tell our stories.  I wish you had gone this summer, in your usual splendour, to Brighthelmstone.

Mr. Thrale probably wonders, how I live all this time without sending to him for money.  Travelling in Scotland is dear enough, dearer, in proportion to what the country affords, than in England, but residence in the isles is unexpensive.  Company is, I think, considered as a supply of pleasure, and a relief of that tediousness of life which is felt in every place, elegant or rude.  Of wine and punch they are very liberal, for they get them cheap; but as there is no custom-house on the island, they can hardly be considered as smugglers.  Their punch is made without lemons, or any substitute.

Their tables are very plentiful; but a very nice man would not be pampered.  As they have no meat but as they kill it, they are obliged to live, while it lasts, upon the same flesh.  They kill a sheep, and set mutton boiled and roast on the table together.  They have fish, both of the sea and of the brooks; but they can hardly conceive that it requires any sauce.  To sauce, in general, they are strangers:  now and then butter is melted, but I dare not always take, lest I should offend by disliking it.  Barley broth is a constant dish, and is made well in every house.  A stranger, if he is prudent, will secure his share, for it is not certain that he will be able to eat any thing else.