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guide； his horse had knocked up； and he himself must have
perished； if he had not been providentially relieved by a return
post…chaise。 He moreover gave us to understand； that his scheme
of settling in his own country having miscarried； he was so far
on his way to London； with a view to embark for North…America；
where he intended to pass the rest of his days among his old
friends the Miamis； and amuse himself in finishing the education
of the son he had by his beloved Squinkinacoosta。
This project was by no means agreeable to our good aunt； who
expatiated upon the fatigues and dangers that would attend such a
long voyage by sea； and afterwards such a tedious journey by
land She enlarged particularly on the risque he would run； with
respect to the concerns of his precious soul； among savages who
had not yet received the glad tidings of salvation； and she
hinted that his abandoning Great…Britain might； perhaps； prove
fatal to the inclinations of some deserving person； whom he was
qualified to make happy for life。 My uncle； who is really a Don
Quixote in generosity； understanding that Lismahago's real reason
for leaving Scotland was the impossibility of subsisting in it
with any decency upon the wretched provision of a subaltern's
half…pay； began to be warmly interested on the side of
compassion。 He thought it very hard； that a gentleman who had
served his country with honour； should be driven by necessity to
spend his old age； among the refuse of mankind； in such a remote
part of the world。 He discoursed with me upon the subject；
observing； that he would willingly offer the lieutenant an asylum
at Brambleton…hall； if he did not foresee that his singularities
and humour of contradiction would render him an intolerable
housemate； though his conversation at some times might be both
instructive and entertaining： but； as there seemed to be
something particular in his attention to Mrs Tabitha； he and I
agreed in opinion； that this intercourse should be encouraged and
improved； if possible； into a matrimonial union； in which case
there would be a comfortable provision for both； and they might
be settled in a house of their own； so that Mr Bramble should
have no more of their company than he desired。
In pursuance of this design； Lismahago has been invited to pass
the winter at Brambleton…hall； as it will be time enough to
execute his American project in the spring。 He has taken time to
consider of this proposal； mean while； he will keep us company as
far as we travel in the road to Bristol； where he has hopes of
getting a passage for America。 I make no doubt but that he will
postpone his voyage； and prosecute his addresses to a happy
consummation； and sure； if it produces any fruit； it must be of a
very peculiar flavour。 As the weather continues favourable； I
believe； we shall take the Peak of Derbyshire and Buxton Wells in
our way。 At any rate； from the first place where we make any
stay； you shall hear again from
Yours always；
J。 MELFORD
CARLISLE； Sep。 12。
To Dr LEWIS。
DEAR DOCTOR；
The peasantry of Scotland are certainly on a poor footing all
over the kingdom； and yet they look better； and are better
cloathed than those of the same rank in Burgundy； and many other
places of France and Italy； nay； I will venture to say they are
better fed； notwithstanding the boasted wine of these foreign
countries。 The country people of North…Britain live chiefly on
oat…meal； and milk； cheese； butter； and some garden…stuff； with
now and then a pickled…herring； by way of delicacy； but flesh…meat
they seldom or never taste； nor any kind of strong liquor；
except two…penny； at times of uncommon festivity Their breakfast
is a kind of hasty pudding； of oat…meal or pease…meal； eaten with
milk。 They have commonly pottage for dinner； composed of cale or
cole； leeks； barley or big； and butter； and this is reinforced
with bread and cheese； made of skimmed…milk At night they sup on
sowens or flummery of oat…meal In a scarcity of oats； they use
the meal of barley and pease； which is both nourishing and
palatable。 Some of them have potatoes； and you find parsnips in
every peasant's garden They are cloathed with a coarse kind of
russet of their own making； which is both decent and warm They
dwell in poor huts； built of loose stones and turf； without any
mortar； having a fireplace or hearth in the middle； generally
made of an old mill…stone； and a hole at top to let out the
smoke。
These people； however； are content； and wonderfully sagacious
All of them read the Bible； and are even qualified to dispute
upon the articles of their faith； which in those parts I have
seen； is entirely Presbyterian。 I am told； that the inhabitants
of Aberdeenshire are still more acute。 I once knew a Scotch
gentleman at London； who had declared war against this part of
his countrymen； and swore that the impudence and knavery of the
Scots； in that quarter； had brought a reproach upon the whole
nation。
The river Clyde； above Glasgow； is quite pastoral； and the banks
of it are every where adorned with fine villas。 From the sea to
its source； we may reckon the seats of many families of the first
rank； such as the duke of Argyle at Roseneath； the earl of Bute
in the isle of that name； the earl of Glencairn at Finlayston；
lord Blantyre at Areskine； the dutchess of Douglas at Bothwell；
duke Hamilton at Hamilton； the duke of Douglas at Douglas； and
the earl of Hyndford at Carmichael。 Hamilton is a noble palace；
magnificently furnished； and hard by is the village of that name；
one of the neatest little towns I have seen in any country。 The
old castle of Douglas being burned to the ground by accident； the
late duke resolved； as head of the first family of Scotland； to
have the largest house in the kingdom； and ordered a plan for
this purpose； but there was only one wing of it finished when he
died。 It is to be hoped that his nephew； who is now in possession
of his great fortune； will complete the design of his
predecessor Clydesdale is in general populous and rich；
containing a great number of gentlemen； who are independent in
their fortune； but it produces more cattle than corn This is
also the case with Tweedale； through part of which we passed； and
Nithsdale； which is generally rough； wild； and mountainous These
hills are covered with sheep； and this is the small delicious
mutton； so much preferable to that of the London…market。 As their
feeding costs so little； the sheep are not killed till five years
old； when their flesh； juices； and flavour are in perfection； but
their fleeces are much damaged by the tar； with which they are
smeared to preserve them from the rot in winter； during which
they run wild night and day； and thousands are lost under huge
wreaths of snow 'Tis pity the farmers cannot contrive some means
to shelter this useful animal from the inclemencies of a rigorous
climate； especially from the perpetual rains； which are more
prejudicial than the greatest extremity of cold weather。
On the little river Nid； is situated the castle of Drumlanrig；
one of the noblest seats in Great…Britain； belonging to the duke
of Queensberry； one of th