Manage them as I would, their catastrophe must have been insufficient to occupy an entire canto; so I was fain to eke it out with the songs of the minstrels.  I will now descend from the confessional, which I think I have occupied long enough for the patience of my fair confessor.  I am happy you are disposed to give me absolution, notwithstanding all my sins.  We have a new poet come forth amongst us—­James Graham, author of a poem called The Sabbath, which I admire very much.  If I can find an opportunity I will send you a copy.

TO LADY LOUISA STUART

An amiable blue-stocking

Edinburgh, 16 June, 1808.

MY DEAR LADY LOUISA,

Nothing will give us more pleasure than to have the honour of showing every attention in our power to Mr. and Mrs. Morritt, and I am particularly happy in a circumstance that at once promises me a great deal of pleasure in the acquaintance of your Ladyship’s friends, and affords me the satisfaction of hearing from you again.  Pray don’t triumph over me too much in the case of Lydia.  I stood a very respectable siege; but she caressed my wife, coaxed my children, and made, by dint of cake and pudding, some impression even upon the affections of my favourite dog:  so, when all the outworks were carried, the mere fortress had no choice but to surrender on honourable terms.  To the best of my thinking, notwithstanding the cerulean hue of her stockings, and a most plentiful stock of eccentric affectation, she is really at bottom a good-natured woman, with much liveliness and some talent.  She is now set out to the Highlands, where she is likely to encounter many adventures.  Mrs. Scott and I went as far as Loch Catrine with her, from which jaunt I have just returned.  We had most heavenly weather, which was peculiarly favourable to my fair companions’ zeal for sketching every object that fell in their way, from a castle to a pigeon-house.  Did your Ladyship ever travel with a drawing companion?  Mine drew like cart-horses, as well in laborious zeal as in effect; for, after all, I could not help hinting that the cataracts delineated bore a singular resemblance to haycocks, and the rocks much correspondence to large old-fashioned cabinets with their folding-doors open.  So much for Lydia, whom I left on her journey through the Highlands, but by what route she had not resolved.  I gave her three plans, and think it likely she will adopt none of them:  moreover, when the executive government of postilions, landlords, and Highland boatmen devolves upon her English servant instead of me, I am afraid the distresses of the errant damsels will fall a little beneath the dignity of romances.  All this nonsense is entre nous, for Miss White has been actively zealous in getting me some Irish correspondence about Swift, and otherwise very obliging.