They dance here every night.  The queen of our ball was the eldest Miss Macleod, of Rasay, an elegant well-bred woman, and celebrated for her beauty over all those regions, by the name of Miss Flora Rasay[524].  There seemed to be no jealousy, no discontent among them; and the gaiety of the scene was such, that I for a moment doubted whether unhappiness had any place in Rasay.  But my delusion was soon dispelled, by recollecting the following lines of my fellow-traveller:—­

     ’Yet hope not life from pain or danger free,
      Or think the doom of man revers’d for thee[525]!’

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 12.

It was a beautiful day, and although we did not approve of travelling on Sunday, we resolved to set out, as we were in an island from whence one must take occasion as it serves.  Macleod and Talisker sailed in a boat of Rasay’s for Sconser, to take the shortest way to Dunvegan.  M’Cruslick went with them to Sconser, from whence he was to go to Slate, and so to the main land.  We were resolved to pay a visit at Kingsburgh, and see the celebrated Miss Flora Macdonald, who is married to the present Mr. Macdonald of Kingsburgh; so took that road, though not so near.  All the family, but Lady Rasay, walked down to the shore to see us depart.  Rasay himself went with us in a large boat, with eight oars, built in his island[526]; as did Mr. Malcolm M’Cleod, Mr. Donald M’Queen, Dr. Macleod, and some others.  We had a most pleasant sail between Rasay and Sky; and passed by a cave, where Martin says fowls were caught by lighting fire in the mouth of it.  Malcolm remembers this.  But it is not now practised, as few fowls come into it.

We spoke of Death.  Dr. Johnson on this subject observed, that the boastings of some men, as to dying easily, were idle talk[527], proceeding from partial views.  I mentioned Hawthornden’s Cypress-grove, where it is said that the world is a mere show; and that it is unreasonable for a man to wish to continue in the show-room, after he has seen it.  Let him go cheerfully out, and give place to other spectators[528].  JOHNSON.  ’Yes, Sir, if he is sure he is to be well, after he goes out of it.  But if he is to grow blind after he goes out of the show-room, and never to see any thing again; or if he does not know whither he is to go next, a man will not go cheerfully out of a show-room.  No wise man will be contented to die, if he thinks he is to go into a state of punishment.  Nay, no wise man will be contented to die, if he thinks he is to fall into annihilation:  for however unhappy any man’s existence may be, he yet would rather have it, than not exist at all[529].  No; there is no rational principle by which a man can die contented, but a trust in the mercy of GOD, through the merits of Jesus Christ.’  This short sermon, delivered with an earnest tone, in a boat upon the sea, which was perfectly calm, on a day appropriated to religious worship, while every one listened with an air of satisfaction, had a most pleasing effect upon my mind.