Mr. M’Aulay and I laid the map of Scotland before us; and he pointed out a route for us from Inverness, by Fort Augustus, to Glenelg, Sky, Mull, Icolmkill, Lorn, and Inverary, which I wrote down.  As my father was to begin the northern circuit about the 18th of September, it was necessary for us either to make our tour with great expedition, so as to get to Auchinleck before he set out, or to protract it, so as not to be there till his return, which would be about the 10th of October.  By M’Aulay’s calculation, we were not to land in Lorn till the 2Oth of September.  I thought that the interruptions by bad days, or by occasional excursions, might make it ten days later; and I thought too, that we might perhaps go to Benbecula, and visit Clanranald, which would take a week of itself.

Dr. Johnson went up with Mr. Grant to the library, which consisted of a tolerable collection; but the Doctor thought it rather a lady’s library, with some Latin books in it by chance, than the library of a clergyman.  It had only two of the Latin fathers, and one of the Greek fathers in Latin.  I doubted whether Dr. Johnson would be present at a Presbyterian prayer.  I told Mr. M’Aulay so, and said that the Doctor might sit in the library while we were at family worship.  Mr. M’Aulay said, he would omit it, rather than give Dr. Johnson offence:  but I would by no means agree that an excess of politeness, even to so great a man, should prevent what I esteem as one of the best pious regulations.  I know nothing more beneficial, more comfortable, more agreeable, than that the little societies of each family should regularly assemble, and unite in praise and prayer to our heavenly Father, from whom we daily receive so much good, and may hope for more in a higher state of existence.  I mentioned to Dr. Johnson the over-delicate scrupulosity of our host.  He said, he had no objection to hear the prayer.  This was a pleasing surprise to me; for he refused to go and hear Principal Robertson[377] preach.  ’I will hear him, (said he,) if he will get up into a tree and preach; but I will not give a sanction, by my presence, to a Presbyterian assembly[378].’

Mr. Grant having prayed, Dr. Johnson said, his prayer was a very good one; but objected to his not having introduced the Lord’s Prayer[379].  He told us, that an Italian of some note in London said once to him, ’We have in our service a prayer called the Pater Noster, which is a very fine composition.  I wonder who is the author of it.’  A singular instance of ignorance in a man of some literature and general inquiry[380]!

SATURDAY, AUGUST 28.

Dr. Johnson had brought a Sallust with him in his pocket from Edinburgh.  He gave it last night to Mr. M’Aulay’s son, a smart young lad about eleven years old.  Dr. Johnson had given an account of the education at Oxford, in all its gradations.  The advantage of being a servitor to a youth of little fortune struck Mrs. M’Aulay much[381].  I observed it aloud.  Dr. Johnson very handsomely and kindly said, that, if they would send their boy to him, when he was ready for the university, he would get him made a servitor, and perhaps would do more for him.  He could not promise to do more; but would undertake for the servitorship[382].