which he formed for them.  Singular that a man whose conduct in his own personal affairs had been anything but practical should be thus able to stand by the helm of a sinking state!  Sir Frederick thinks he might have done much for them if he had lived.  The rantipole friends of liberty, who go about freeing nations with the same success which Don Quixote had in redressing wrongs, have, of course, blundered everything which they touched.  The Impeys left us to-day, and Captain Hugh Scott and his lady arrived.  Task is bang-up.

September 9.—­I begin to fear Nap. will swell to seven volumes.  I have a long letter from James B. threatening me with eight; but that is impossible.  The event of his becoming Emperor is the central point of his history.  Now I have just attained it, and it is the centre of the third volume.  Two volumes and a half may be necessary to complete the whole.  Walked with Hugh Scott up the Rhymer’s Glen, and round by the lake.  Mr. Bainbridge of Gattonside House dined, also Colonel Ferguson.  Was bang up to my task again this day.

September 10.—­Corrected proof-sheets in the morning, then immured myself to write, the more willingly that the day seemed showery; but I found myself obliged to read and study the map so much that I did not get over half a sheet written.  Walked with Hugh Scott through Haxell Cleuch.  Great pleasure to show the young wood to any who understands them well.

September 11.—­Jane and her mother go into town this morning, and Anne with them, to look out a lodging for us during the time we must pass in town.  It seems strange to have this to do, having had always my father’s house or my own to go to.  But—­Sic transit gloria mundi.

Well, it is half-past twelve o’clock, and at length having regulated all disappointments as to post-horses, and sent three or four servants three or four miles to remedy blunders, which a little forethought might have prevented, my family and guests are separated—­

    “Like youthful steers let loose, east, north, and south."[336]

Miss Miln goes to Stirling; the Scotts to Lessudden; Anne and Jane to Edinburgh; and I am left alone.  I must needs go up and see some operations about the spring which supplies us with water, though I calculate my presence is not very necessary.  So now—­to work—­to work.

But I reckoned without my host, or, I should rather say, without my guest.  Just as I had drawn in my chair, fitted a new “Bramah” on the stick, and was preparing to feague it away, I had a call from the son of an old friend, Mr. Waldie of Henderland.  As he left me, enter young Whytbank and Mr. Auriol Hay[337] of the Lyon Office, and we had a long armorial chat together, which lasted for some time—­then the library was to be looked at, etc.  So, when they went away, I had little better to do than to walk up to the spring which they are digging, and to go to my solitary dinner on my return.