to let him know his grace’s invitation.  As I was going away, the Duke said, ‘Mr. Boswell, won’t you have some tea ?’ I thought it best to get over the meeting with the duchess this night; so respectfully agreed.  I was conducted to the drawing room by the Duke, who announced my name; but the duchess, who was sitting with her daughter, Lady Betty Hamilton[948], and some other ladies, took not the least notice of me.  I should have been mortified at being thus coldly received by a lady of whom I, with the rest of the world, have always entertained a very high admiration, had I not been consoled by the obliging attention of the Duke.

When I returned to the inn, I informed Dr. Johnson of the Duke of Argyle’s invitation, with which he was much pleased, and readily accepted of it.  We talked of a violent contest which was then carrying on, with a view to the next general election for Ayrshire; where one of the candidates, in order to undermine the old and established interest, had artfully held himself out as a champion for the independency of the county against aristocratick influence, and had persuaded several gentlemen into a resolution to oppose every candidate who was supported by peers[949].  ’Foolish fellows! (said Dr. Johnson), don’t they see that they are as much dependent upon the Peers one way as the other.  The Peers have but to oppose a candidate to ensure him success.  It is said the only way to make a pig go forward, is to pull him back by the tail.  These people must be treated like pigs.’

MONDAY, OCTOBER 25.

My acquaintance, the Reverend Mr. John M’Aulay[950], one of the Ministers of Inverary, and brother to our good friend at Calder[951], came to us this morning, and accompanied us to the castle, where I presented Dr. Johnson to the Duke of Argyle.  We were shewn through the house; and I never shall forget the impression made upon my fancy by some of the ladies’ maids tripping about in neat morning dresses.  After seeing for a long time little but rusticity, their lively manner, and gay inviting appearance, pleased me so much, that I thought, for the moment, I could have been a knight-errant for them[952].

We then got into a low one-horse chair, ordered for us by the Duke, in which we drove about the place.  Dr. Johnson was much struck by the grandeur and elegance of this princely seat.  He thought, however, the castle too low, and wished it had been a story higher.  He said, ’What I admire here, is the total defiance of expence.’  I had a particular pride in shewing him a great number of fine old trees, to compensate for the nakedness which had made such an impression on him on the eastern coast of Scotland.