May 13.—­Attended the Court, which took up a good deal of time.  On my return saw Sir Robert Dundas, who is better—­and expects to be out on Tuesday.  I went to the Highland Society to present Miss Grahame Stirling’s book, being a translation of Gelieu’s work on bees,[312] which was well received.  Went with the girls to dine at Dalhousie Castle, where we were very kindly received.  I saw the Edgewell Tree,[313] too fatal, says Allan Ramsay, to the family from which he was himself descended.  I also saw the fatal Coalston Pear,[314] said to have been preserved many hundred years.  It is certainly a pear either petrified or turned into wood, with a bit out of one side of it.

It is a pity to see my old school-companion, this fine true-hearted nobleman of such an ancient and noble descent, after having followed the British flag through all quarters of the world, again obliged to resume his wanderings at a time of life equal, I suppose, to my own.  He has not, however, a grey hair in his head.

May 14.—­Left Dalhousie at eight to return here to breakfast, where we received cold tidings.  Walter has had an inflammatory attack, and I fear it will be necessary to him to return without delay to the Continent.  I have letters from Sophia and Sir Andrew Halliday.  The last has been of the utmost service, by bleeding and advising active measures.  How little one knows to whom they are to be obliged!  I wrote to him and to Jane, recommending the Ionian Islands, where Sir Frederick Adam would, I am sure, give Walter a post on his staff.  The kind old Chief Commissioner at once interested himself in the matter.  It makes me inexpressibly anxious, yet I have kept up my determination not to let the chances of fate overcome me like a summer’s-cloud.[315] I wrote four or five pages of the History to-day, notwithstanding the agitation of my feelings.

May 15.—­Attended the Court, where Mr. Rolland and I had the duty of the First Division; Sir Robert and Hamilton being both laid up.  Dined at Granton and met Lord and Lady Dalhousie, Sir John Hope, etc.  I have spelled out some work this day, though I have been rather knocked about.

May 16.—­After the Court this day I went to vote at the Archers’ Hall, where some of the members had become restive.  They were outvoted two to one.  There had been no division in the Royal Body Guard since its commencement, but these times make divisions everywhere.  A letter from Lockhart brings better news of Walter, but my heart is heavy on the subject.  I went on with my History, however, for the point in this world is to do what we ought, and bear what we must.

Dined at home and wrote in the evening.