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rags。 Habbie's How； and the nooks in the Pentlands； were always full of interest； and Burns； with his brilliant and humorous conversation； made the miles very short as they strode along。 Lockhart says； in his Life of Burns； that 〃the magnificent scenery of the Scottish capital filled the poet with extraordinary delight。 In the spring mornings he walked very often to the top of Arthur's Seat； and； lying prostrate on the turf； surveyed the rising of the sun out of the sea in silent admiration； his chosen companion on such occasions being that learned artist and ardent lover of nature； Alexander Nasmyth。〃
A visit which the two paid to Roslin Castle is worthy of commemoration。 On one occasion my father and a few choice spirits had been spending a 〃nicht wi' Burns。〃 The place of resort was a tavern in the High Street； Edinburgh。 As Burns was a brilliant talker； full of spirit and humour； time fled until the 〃wee sma' hours ayont the twal'〃 arrived。 The party broke up about three o'clock。 At that time of the year （the 13th of June） the night is very short； and morning comes early。 Burns； on reaching the street； looked up to the sky。 It was perfectly clear； and the rising sun was beginning to brighten the mural crown of St。 Giles's Cathedral。
Burns was so much struck with the beauty of the morning that he put his hand on my father's arm and said； 〃It'll never do to go to bed in such a lovely morning as this！ Let's awa' to Roslin Castle。〃 No sooner said than done。 The poet and the painter set out。 Nature lay bright and lovely before them in that delicious summer morning。 After an eight…miles walk they reached the castle at Roslin。 Burns went down under the great Norman arch； where he stood rapt in speechless admiration of the scene。 The thought of the eternal renewal of youth and freshness of nature； contrasted with the crumbling decay of man's efforts to perpetuate his work； even when founded upon a rock； as Roslin Castle is； seemed greatly to affect him。
My father was so much impressed with the scene that； while Burns was standing under the arch； he took out his pencil and a scrap of paper and made a hasty sketch of the subject。 This sketch was highly treasured by my father； in remembrance of what must have been one of the most memorable days of his life。
Talking of clubs reminds me that there was a good deal of club life in Edinburgh in those days。 The most notable were those in which the members were drawn together by occupations； habits； or tastes。 They met in the evenings； and conversed upon congenial subjects。 The clubs were generally held in one or other of the taverns situated in or near the High Street。 Every one will remember the Lawyers' Club； held in an Edinburgh close； presided over by Pleydell； so well described by Scott in Guy Mannering。
In my father's early days he was a member of a very jovial club； called the Poker Club。 It was so…called because the first chairman； immediately on his election； in a spirit of drollery； laid hold of the poker at the fireplace； and adopted it as his insignia of office。 He made a humorous address from the chair； or 〃the throne；〃 as he called it； with sceptre or poker in hand； and the club was thereupon styled by acclamation 〃The Poker Club。〃 I have seen my father's diploma of membership； it was tastefully drawn on parchment； with the poker duly emblazoned on it as the regalia of the club。
In my own time； the club that he was most connected with was the Dilettanti Club。 Its meetings were held every fortnight； on Thursday evenings； in a commodious tavern in the High Street。 The members were chiefly artists； or men known for their love of art。 Among then were Henry Raeburn； Hugh Williams （the Grecian）； Andrew Geddes； William Thomson； John Shetkay； William Nicholson； William Allan； Alexander Nasmyth； the Rev。 John Thomson of Duddingston； George Thomson； Sir Walter Scott； John Lockhart； Dr。 Brewster； David Wilkie； Henry Cockburn； Francis Jeffrey； John A。 Murray； Professor Wilson； John Ballantyne； James Ballantyne； James Hogg （the Ettrick Shepherd）； and David Bridges； the secretary。* ＇footnote。。。 Davie Bridges was a character。 In my early days he was a cloth merchant in the High Street。 His shop was very near that gigantic lounge； the old Parliament House； and was often resorted to by non…business visitors。 Bridges had a good taste for pictures。 He had a small but choice collection by the Old Masters； which he kept arranged in the warehouse under his shop。 He took great pride in exhibiting them to his visitors； and expatiating upon their excellence。 I remember being present in his warehouse with my father when a very beautiful small picture by Richard Wilson was under review。 Davie burst out emphatically with； 〃Eh； man； did ye ever see such glorious buttery touches as on these clouds！〃 His joking friends clubbed him 〃Director…General of the Fine Arts for Scotland；〃 a title which he complacently accepted。 Besides showing off his pictures； Davie was an art critic； and wrote articles for the newspapers and magazines。 Unfortunately； however； his attention to pictures prevented him from attending to his shop； and his customers （who were not artists） forsook him； and bought their clothes elsewhere。 He accordingly shut up his shop； and devoted himself to art criticism； in which； for a time； he possessed a monopoly。 。。。＇
The drinks were restricted to Edinburgh ale and whisky toddy。
An admirable picture of the club in full meeting was painted by William Allan； in which characteristic portraits of all the leading members were introduced in full social converse。 Among the more prominent portraits is one of my father； who is represented as illustrating some subject he is describing； by drawing it on the part of the table before him； with his finger dipped in toddy。 Other marked and well…known characteristics of the members are skilfully introduced in the picture。 The artist afterwards sold it to Mr。 Horrocks of Preston； in Lancashire。
Besides portrait painting； my father was much employed in assisting the noblemen and landed gentry of Scotland in improving the landscape appearance of their estates； especially when seen from their mansion windows。 His fine taste； and his love of natural scenery； gave him great advantages in this respect。 He selected the finest sites for the new mansions； when they were erected in lieu of the old towers and crenellated castles。 Or； he designed alterations of the old buildings so as to preserve their romantic features； and at the same time to fit them for the requirements of modern domestic life。
In those early days of art…knowledge； there scarcely existed any artistic feeling for the landscape beauty of nature。 There was an utter want of appreciation of the dignified beauty of the old castles and mansions； the remnants of which were in too many instances carted away as material for now buildings。 There was also at that time an utter ignorance of the beauty and majesty of old trees。 A forest of venerable oaks or beeches was a thing to be done away with。 They were merely cut down as useless timber； even when they so finely embellished the landscape。 My father exerted himself successfully to preserve these