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and castles； of which there is a great number in that part of
Scotland。 Yesterday we took boat again on our return to Leith；
with fair wind and agreeable weather； but we had not advanced
half…way when the； sky was suddenly overcast； and the wind
changing； blew directly in our teeth so that we were obliged to
turn； or tack the rest of the way。 In a word； the gale increased
to a storm of wind and rain； attended with such a fog； that we
could not see the town of Leith； to which we were bound； nor even
the castle of Edinburgh； notwithstanding its high situation。 It
is not to be doubted but that we were all alarmed on this
occasion。 And at the same time； most of the passengers were
seized with a nausea that produced violent retchings。 My aunt
desired her brother to order the boatmen； to put back to
Kinghorn； and this expedient he actually proposed； but they
assured him there was no danger。 Mrs Tabitha finding them
obstinate； began to scold； and insisted upon my uncle's exerting
his authority as a justice of the peace。 Sick and peevish as he
was； he could not help laughing at this wise proposal； telling
her； that his commission did not extend so far； and； if it did；
he should let the people take their own way； for he thought it
would be great presumption in him to direct them in the exercise
of their own profession。 Mrs Winifred Jenkins made a general
clearance with the assistance of Mr Humphry Clinker； who joined
her both in prayer and ejaculation。 As he took it for granted
that we should not be long in this world； he offered some
spiritual consolation to Mrs Tabitha； who rejected it with great
disgust； bidding him keep his sermons for those who had leisure
to hear such nonsense。 My uncle sat； collected in himself；
without speaking； my man Archy had recourse to a brandy…bottle；
with which he made so free； that I imagined he had sworn to die
of drinking any thing rather than sea…water： but the brandy had
no more effect upon him in the way of intoxication； than if it
had been sea…water in good earnest。 As for myself； I was too
much engrossed by the sickness at my stomach； to think of any
thing else。 Meanwhile the sea swelled mountains high； the boat
pitched with such violence； as if it had been going to pieces；
the cordage rattled； the wind roared； the lightning flashed； the
thunder bellowed； and the rain descended in a deluge Every time
the vessel was put about； we ship'd a sea that drenched us all to
the skin。 When； by dint of turning； we thought to have cleared
the pier head； we were driven to leeward； and then the boatmen
themselves began to fear that the tide would fail before we
should fetch up our lee…way： the next trip； however； brought us
into smooth water； and we were safely landed on the quay； about
one o'clock in the afternoon。 'To be sure （cried Tabby； when she
found herself on terra firma）； we must all have perished； if we
had not been the particular care of Providence。' 'Yes （replied my
uncle）； but I am much of the honest highlander's mind after he
had made such a passage as this： his friend told him he was much
indebted to Providence； 〃Certainly （said Donald）； but； by my
saul； mon； I'se ne'er trouble Providence again； so long as the
brig of Stirling stands。〃' You must know the brig； or bridge of
Stirling； stands above twenty miles up the river Forth； of which
this is the outlet I don't find that our 'squire has suffered in
his health from this adventure； but poor Liddy is in a peaking
way I'm afraid this unfortunate girl is uneasy in her mind； and
this apprehension distracts me； for she is really an amiable
creature。
We shall set out to…morrow or next day for Stirling and Glasgow；
and we propose to penetrate a little way into the Highlands；
before we turn our course to the southward In the mean time；
commend me to all our friends round Carfax； and believe me to be；
ever yours；
EDINBURGH； Aug。 8。
J。 MELFORD
To Dr LEWIS。
I should be very ungrateful； dear Lewis； if I did not find myself
disposed to think and speak favourably of this people； among whom
I have met with more kindness； hospitality； and rational
entertainment； in a few weeks； than ever I received in any other
country during the whole course of my life。 Perhaps； the
gratitude excited by these benefits may interfere with the
impartiality of my remarks； for a man is as apt to be
prepossessed by particular favours as to be prejudiced by private
motives of disgust。 If I am partial； there is； at least； some
merit in my conversion from illiberal prejudices which had grown
up with my constitution。
The first impressions which an Englishman receives in this
country； will not contribute to the removal of his prejudices；
because he refers every thing he sees to a comparison with the
same articles in his own country； and this comparison is
unfavourable to Scotland in all its exteriors； such as the face
of the country in respect to cultivation； the appearance of the
bulk of the people； and the language of conversation in general。
I am not so far convinced by Mr Lismahago's arguments； but that
I think the Scots would do well； for their own sakes； to adopt
the English idioms and pronunciation； those of them especially；
who are resolved to push their fortunes in South…Britain I know；
by experience； how easily an Englishman is influenced by the ear；
and how apt he is to laugh； when he hears his own language spoken
with a foreign or provincial accent I have known a member of the
house of commons speak with great energy and precision； without
being able to engage attention； because his observations were
made in the Scotch dialect； which （no offence to lieutenant
Lismahago） certainly gives a clownish air even to sentiments of
the greatest dignity and decorum。 I have declared my opinion on
this head to some of the most sensible men of this country；
observing； at the same time； that if they would employ a few
natives of England to teach the pronunciation of our vernacular
tongue； in twenty years there would be no difference； in point of
dialect； between the youth of Edinburgh and of London。
The civil regulations of this kingdom and metropolis are taken
from very different models from those of England； except in a few
particular establishments； the necessary consequences of the
union。 Their college of justice is a bench of great dignity；
filled with judges of character and ability。 I have heard some
causes tried before this venerable tribunal； and was very much
pleased with the pleadings of their advocates； who are by no
means deficient either in argument or elocution。 The Scottish
legislation is founded； in a great measure； on the civil law；
consequently； their proceedings vary from those of the English
tribunals； but； I think； they have the advantage of us in their
method of examining witnesses apart； and in the constitution of
their jury； by which they certainly avoid the evil which I
mentioned in my last from Lismahago's observation。
The university of Edinburgh is supplied with excellent professors
in all the sciences； and the medical school； in particular； is
famous all over Europe。 The students of this art have the best
opportu