deal of company in his own house, whom I do not think it necessary to particularise, though they were generally of distinction for talent or rank, or both together.  He heard C. Kemble read Henry VIII., which “I did much enjoy.  Will.  Shakspeare when most known is most admired.”  On 19th January he preached a sermon, but his note upon it is not like the last.  “I liked it, but it did not seem to take as I had expected.  Have been much meditating this week on many matters, Church especially:  find myself unsettled, I fear, but I think I have the remedy, which is to keep my attention fixed rather on practical than on speculative points.  We cannot agree on the one; on the other we may, and good men do.”  March 2, 1845:  “I confess that the Romanising tendencies so openly avowed in the Church of England alarm me.  The question occurs, Is not this a necessary, or at least a natural tendency of High Churchism?” Speaking of meetings of his Synod, he says “it is wretched work, which ended, indeed, in doing nothing.”  One member had spoken with much bitterness, which he says, “thank God, I do not feel.” 3d April 1845:  “We are in a nice mess about this Old Town business.  Two different communion offices in one day in the same chapel.  Is it possible that this could ever have been contemplated by the canon?  I do fear the extreme and Romanising party, and they hurt us here.  The Scotch office is supposed to identify us with them, and certainly the comments upon it make it speak a language very different from the English.”

June 19.—­“Left home in the ‘Engineer’ coach at seven, travelled through to London without stop, and arrived there at one o’clock:  wonderful the shortening of this journey; went with a party to Handel’s Athalia at Exeter Hall; tired, fagged, and sleepy as I was, I yet felt deeply the power of the mighty master in this his mighty work.  Yes, Handel is the greatest musician the world ever saw.”

July 18, 1845.—­“Returned to London:  did little more there:  arrived in Edinburgh for Mr. Sandiland’s marriage, a great stretch of friendship in me, for it has discomposed all our summer plans.”  On 15th August there is an entry too characteristic to be omitted:—­“Have been thinking a great deal about the state of matters at present, and the sort of demeanour I should exhibit to the world.  I should be very cautious—­hardly give an opinion if conflicting statements, and certainly not gossip about them—­certainly not speak harshly or severely of any.  Keep my own course, work hard, and endeavour to conciliate; rather lean to high than low side.”  November 10, 1845:  “at a meeting to hear Dr. Simpson, Mr. Macfarlane, and Norman Macleod give an account of their mission to North America:  interesting.  Macleod a real clever fellow.”

26th November 1845.—­“The consecration of Dalkeith Chapel:  we went out and stayed the day; all good and well managed:  Sermon preached by Rev. E. B. R:  approved:  three bishops, twenty clergy.  It is really a fine thing for a man to have done; a beautiful chapel; hope it won’t be extreme.”