After examining the mine, we returned through a very uncouth district, full of sand hills; down which, though apparent precipices, our horses carried us with safety, the sand always gently sliding away from their feet.  Vestiges of houses were pointed out to us, which Col, and two others who had joined us, asserted had been overwhelmed with sand blown over them.  But, on going close to one of them, Dr. Johnson shewed the absurdity of the notion, by remarking, that ’it was evidently only a house abandoned, the stones of which had been taken away for other purposes; for the large stones, which form the lower part of the walls, were still standing higher than the sand.  If they were not blown over, it was clear nothing higher than they could be blown over.’  This was quite convincing to me; but it made not the least impression on Col and the others, who were not to be argued out of a Highland tradition.

We did not sit down to dinner till between six and seven.  We lived plentifully here, and had a true welcome.  In such a season good firing was of no small importance.  The peats were excellent, and burned cheerfully.  Those at Dunvegan, which were damp, Dr. Johnson called ’a sullen fuel.’  Here a Scottish phrase was singularly applied to him.  One of the company having remarked that he had gone out on a stormy evening, and brought in a supply of peats from the stack, old Mr. M’Sweyn said, ‘that was main honest[818]!’

Blenheim being occasionally mentioned, he told me he had never seen it[819]:  he had not gone formerly; and he would not go now, just as a common spectator, for his money:  he would not put it in the power of some man about the Duke of Marlborough to say, ’Johnson was here; I knew him, but I took no notice of him[820].’  He said, he should be very glad to see it, if properly invited, which in all probability would never be the case, as it was not worth his while to seek for it.  I observed, that he might be easily introduced there by a common friend of ours, nearly related to the duke[821].  He answered, with an uncommon attention to delicacy of feeling, ’I doubt whether our friend be on such a footing with the duke as to carry any body there; and I would not give him the uneasiness of seeing that I knew he was not, or even of being himself reminded of it.’

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 10.

There was this day the most terrible storm of wind and rain that I ever remember[822].  It made such an awful impression on us all, as to produce, for some time, a kind of dismal quietness in the house.  The day was passed without much conversation:  only, upon my observing that there must be something bad in a man’s mind, who does not like to give leases to his tenants, but wishes to keep them in a perpetual wretched dependance on his will, Dr. Johnson said, ’You are right:  it is a man’s duty to extend comfort and security among as many people as he can.  He should not wish to have his tenants