Pursuing the same train of serious reflection, he added that it seemed certain that happiness could not be found in this life, because so many had tried to find it, in such a variety of ways, and had not found it.

We reached the harbour of Portree, in Sky, which is a large and good one.  There was lying in it a vessel to carry off the emigrants called the Nestor.  It made a short settlement of the differences between a chief and his clan:—­

’-----Nestor componere lites
Inter Peleiden festinat & inter Atriden.’[530]

We approached her, and she hoisted her colours.  Dr. Johnson and Mr. McQueen remained in the boat:  Rasay and I, and the rest went on board of her.  She was a very pretty vessel, and, as we were told, the largest in Clyde.  Mr. Harrison, the captain, shewed her to us.  The cabin was commodious, and even elegant.  There was a little library, finely bound. Portree has its name from King James the Fifth having landed there in his tour through the Western Isles, Ree in Erse being King, as Re is in Italian; so it is Port Royal.  There was here a tolerable inn.  On our landing, I had the pleasure of finding a letter from home; and there were also letters to Dr. Johnson and me, from Lord Elibank[531], which had been sent after us from Edinburgh.  His Lordship’s letter to me was as follows:—­

’DEAR BOSWELL,

’I flew to Edinburgh the moment I heard of Mr. Johnson’s arrival; but so defective was my intelligence, that I came too late.  ’It is but justice to believe, that I could never forgive myself, nor deserve to be forgiven by others, if I was to fail in any mark of respect to that very great genius.—­I hold him in the highest veneration; for that very reason I was resolved to take no share in the merit, perhaps guilt, of inticing him to honour this country with a visit.—­I could not persuade myself there was any thing in Scotland worthy to have a Summer of Samuel Johnson bestowed on it; but since he has done us that compliment, for heaven’s sake inform me of your motions.  I will attend them most religiously; and though I should regret to let Mr. Johnson go a mile out of his way on my account, old as I am,[532] I shall be glad to go five hundred miles to enjoy a day of his company.  Have the charity to send a council-post[533] with intelligence; the post does not suit us in the country.—­At any rate write to me.  I will attend you in the north, when I shall know where to find you.

     I am,
     My dear Boswell,
     Your sincerely
     Obedient humble servant,
     ‘ELIBANK.’

‘August 21st, 1773.’

The letter to Dr. Johnson was in these words:—­

’DEAR SIR,

’I was to have kissed your hands at Edinburgh, the moment I heard of you; but you was gone.

’I hope my friend Boswell will inform me of your motions.  It will be cruel to deprive me an instant of the honour of attending you.  As I value you more than any King in Christendom, I will perform that duty with infinitely greater alacrity than any courtier.  I can contribute but little to your entertainment; but, my sincere esteem for you gives me some title to the opportunity of expressing it.