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houses are built of marble； and the rocks on this part of the coast or sea…
side are marble。 But； my dear Boys； unless marble be polished and
dressed； it is a very coarse…looking stone； and has no more beauty than
common rock。 As a proof of this； ask the favour of your mother to take
you to Thomson's Marble Works in South Leith； and you will see marble
in all its stages； and perhaps you may there find Portsoy marble！ The use
I wish to make of this is to tell you that； without education； a man is just
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like a block of rough； unpolished marble。 Notice； in proof of this； how
much Mr。 Neill and Mr。 M'Gregor ＇the tutor＇ know； and observe how little
a man knows who is not a good scholar。 On my way to Fochabers I
passed through many thousand acres of Fir timber； and saw many deer
running in these woods。'
＇TO MRS。 STEVENSON。＇
‘INVERNESS； JULY 21ST。
‘I propose going to church in the afternoon； and as I have breakfasted
late； I shall afterwards take a walk； and dine about six o'clock。 I do not
know who is the clergyman here； but I shall think of you all。 I travelled
in the mail… coach ＇from Banff＇ almost alone。 While it was daylight I
kept the top； and the passing along a country I had never before seen was a
considerable amusement。 But； my dear； you are all much in my thoughts；
and many are the objects which recall the recollection of our tender and
engaging children we have so recently lost。 We must not； however；
repine。 I could not for a moment wish any change of circumstances in
their case； and in every comparative view of their state； I see the Lord's
goodness in removing them from an evil world to an abode of bliss； and I
must earnestly hope that you may be enabled to take such a view of this
affliction as to live in the happy prospect of our all meeting again to part
no more … and that under such considerations you are getting up your
spirits。 I wish you would walk about； and by all means go to town； and
do not sit much at home。'
‘INVERNESS； JULY 23RD。
‘I am duly favoured with your much…valued letter； and I am happy to
find that you are so much with my mother； because that sort of variety has
a tendency to occupy the mind； and to keep it from brooding too much
upon one subject。 Sensibility and tenderness are certainly two of the
most interesting and pleasing qualities of the mind。 These qualities are
also none of the least of the many endearingments of the female character。
But if that kind of sympathy and pleasing melancholy； which is familiar to
us under distress； be much indulged； it becomes habitual； and takes such a
hold of the mind as to absorb all the other affections； and unfit us for the
duties and proper enjoyments of life。 Resignation sinks into a kind of
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peevish discontent。 I am far； however； from thinking there is the least
danger of this in your case； my dear； for you have been on all occasions
enabled to look upon the fortunes of this life as under the direction of a
higher power； and have always preserved that propriety and consistency of
conduct in all circumstances which endears your example to your family
in particular； and to your friends。 I am therefore； my dear； for you to go
out much； and to go to the house up…stairs ＇he means to go up…stairs in the
house； to visit the place of the dead children＇； and to put yourself in the
way of the visits of your friends。 I wish you would call on the Miss
Grays； and it would be a good thing upon a Saturday to dine with my
mother； and take Meggy and all the family with you； and let them have
their strawberries in town。 The tickets of one of the OLD…FASHIONED
COACHES would take you all up； and if the evening were good； they
could all walk down； excepting Meggy and little David。'
‘INVERNESS； JULY 25TH； 11 P。M。
‘Captain Wemyss； of Wemyss； has come to Inverness to go the voyage
with me； and as we are sleeping in a double…bedded room； I must no
longer transgress。 You must remember me the best way you can to the
children。'
‘ON BOARD OF THE LIGHTHOUSE YACHT； JULY 29TH。
‘I got to Cromarty yesterday about mid…day； and went to church。 It
happened to be the sacrament there； and I heard a Mr。 Smith at that place
conclude the service with a very suitable exhortation。 There seemed a
great concourse of people； but they had rather an unfortunate day for them
at the tent； as it rained a good deal。 After drinking tea at the inn； Captain
Wemyss accompanied me on board； and we sailed about eight last night。
The wind at present being rather a beating one； I think I shall have an
opportunity of standing into the bay of Wick； and leaving this letter to let
you know my progress and that I am well。'
‘LIGHTHOUSE YACHT； STORNOWAY； AUGUST 4TH。
‘To…day we had prayers on deck as usual when at sea。 I read the 14th
chapter； I think； of Job。 Captain Wemyss has been in the habit of doing
this on board his own ship； agreeably to the Articles of War。 Our passage
round the Cape ＇Cape Wrath＇ was rather a cross one； and as the wind was
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northerly； we had a pretty heavy sea； but upon the whole have made a
good passage； leaving many vessels behind us in Orkney。 I am quite well；
my dear； and Captain Wemyss； who has much spirit； and who is much
given to observation； and a perfect enthusiast in his profession； enlivens
the voyage greatly。 Let me entreat you to move about much； and take a
walk with the boys to Leith。 I think they have still many places to see
there； and I wish you would indulge them in this respect。 Mr。 Scales is
the best person I know for showing them the sailcloth…weaving； etc。； and
he would have great pleasure in undertaking this。 My dear； I trust soon
to be with you； and that through the goodness of God we shall meet all
well。'
'There are two vessels lying here with emigrant