I think that copy of Beard’s Judgments is the first book which I have voluntarily purchased for nearly two years.  So I am cured of one folly at least.[88]

December 7.—­Being a blank day in the rolls, I stayed at home and wrote four leaves—­not very freely or happily; I was not in the vein.  Plague on it!  Stayed at home the whole day.  There is one thing I believe peculiar to me—­I work, that is, meditate for the purpose of working, best, when I have a quasi engagement with some other book for example.  When I find myself doing ill, or like to come to a stand-still in writing, I take up some slight book, a novel or the like, and usually have not read far ere my difficulties are removed, and I am ready to write again.  There must be two currents of ideas going on in my mind at the same time,[89] or perhaps the slighter occupation serves like a woman’s wheel or stocking to ballast the mind, as it were, by preventing the thoughts from wandering, and so give the deeper current the power to flow undisturbed.  I always laugh when I hear people say, Do one thing at once.  I have done a dozen things at once all my life.  Dined with the family.  After dinner Lockhart’s proofs came in and occupied me for the evening.  I wish I have not made that article too long, and Lockhart will not snip away.

December 8.—­Went to Court and stayed there a good while.  Made some consultations in the Advocates’ Library, not furiously to the purpose.

Court in the morning.  Sent off Lockhart’s proof, which I hope will do him some good.  A precatory letter from Gillies.  I must do Moliere for him, I suppose; but it is wonderful that knowing the situation I am in, the poor fellow presses so hard.  Sure, I am pulling for life, and it is hard to ask me to pull another man’s oar as well as my own.  Yet, if I can give a little help,

    “We’ll get a blessing wi’ the lave,
    And never miss ’t."[90]

Went to John Murray’s, where were Sir John Dalrymple and Lady, Sir John Cayley, Mr. Hope Vere, and Lady Elizabeth Vere, a sister of the Marquis of Tweeddale, and a pleasant sensible woman.  Some turn for antiquity too she shows—­and spoke a good deal of the pictures at Yester.  Henderland was there too.  Mrs. John Murray made some very agreeable music.

December 9.—­I set hard to work, and had a long day with my new tale.  I did about twelve leaves.  Cadell came in, and we talked upon the great project of buying in the copyrights.  He is disposed to finesse a little about it, but I do not think it will do much good; all the fine arguments will fly off and people just bid or not bid as the report of the trade may represent the speculation as a good or bad one.  I daresay they will reach L7000; but L8000 won’t stop us, and that for books over-printed so lately and to such an extent is a pro-di-gi-ous price!