Dined at William M’Kenzie’s to meet the Marquis and Marchioness of Stafford, who are on their road to Dunrobin.  Found them both very well.

June 19.—­Lord Stafford desires to be a member of the Bannatyne Club—­also Colin M’Kenzie.  Sent both names up accordingly.

The day furnishes a beggarly record of trumpery.  From eight o’clock till nine wrote letters, then Parliament House, where I had to wait on without anything to do till near two, when rain forced me into the Antiquarian museum.  Lounged there till a meeting of the Oil Gas Committee at three o’clock.  There remained till near five.  Home and smoked a cheroot after dinner.  Called on Thomson, who is still disabled by his sprain. Pereat inter haec.  We must do better to-morrow.

June 20.—­Kept my word, being Teind Wednesday.  Two young Frenchmen, friends of Gallois, rather interrupted me.  I had asked them to breakfast, but they stayed till twelve o’clock, which is scarce fair, and plagued me with compliments.  Their names are Remusat and Guyzard.[533] Pleasant, good-humoured young men.  Notwithstanding this interruption I finished near six pages, three being a good Session-day’s work. Allons, vogue la galere.  Dined at the Solicitor’s with Lord Hopetoun, and a Parliament House party.

June 21.—­Finished five leaves—­that is, betwixt morning and dinner-time.  The Court detained me till two o’clock.  About nine leaves will make the volume quite large enough.

By the way, the booksellers have taken courage to print up 2000 more of the first edition [of Napoleon]; which, after the second volume, they curtailed from 8000 to 6000.  This will be L1000 more in my way, at least, and that is a good help.  We dine with the Skenes to-day, Lockhart being with us.[534]

June 22.—­Wrought in the morning as usual.  Received to breakfast Dr. Bishop, a brother of Bishop the composer.  He tells me his brother was very ill when he wrote “The Chough and Crow,” and other music for Guy Mannering.  Singular! but I do think illness, if not too painful, unseals the mental eye, and renders the talents more acute, in the study of the fine arts at least.[535]

I find the difference on 2000 additional copies will be L3000 instead of L1000 in favour of the author.  My good friend Publicum is impatient.  Heaven grant his expectations be not disappointed! Coragio, andiamos!  Such another year of labour and success would do much towards making me a free man of the forest.  But I must to work since we have to dine with Lord and Lady Gray.  By the way, I forgot an engagement to my old friend, Lord Justice-Clerk.  This is shockingly ill-bred.  But the invitation was a month old, and that is some defence.