July 1.—­This morning wrote letters and sent them off by Charles.  It was Teind Wednesday, so I was at home to witness the departure of my family, which was depressing.  My two daughters, with the poor boy Johnnie, went off at ten o’clock, my son Charles, with my niece, about twelve.  The house, filled with a little bustle attendant on such a removal, then became silent as the grave.  The voices of the children, which had lately been so clamorous with their joyous shouts, are now hushed and still.  A blank of this kind is somewhat depressing, and I find it impossible to resume my general tone of spirits.  A lethargy has crept on me which no efforts can dispel; and as the day is rainy, I cannot take exercise.  I have read therefore the whole morning, and have endeavoured to collect ideas instead of expending them.  I have not been very successful.  In short, diem perdidi.

Localities at Blair-Adam:—­

    Lochornie and Lochornie Moss,
    The Loutingstane and Dodgell’s Cross,
    Craigen Cat and Craigen Crow,
    Craiggaveral, the King’s Cross, and Dunglow.

July 2.—­I made up for my deficiencies yesterday, and besides attending the Court wrote five close pages, which I think is very near double task.  I was alone the whole day and without interruption.  I have little doubt I will make my solitude tell upon my labours, especially since they promise to prove so efficient.  I was so languid yesterday that I did not record that J. Ballantyne, his brother Sandy, and Mr. Cadell dined here on a beef-steak, and smoked a cigar, and took a view of our El Dorado.

July 3.—­Laboured at Court, where I was kept late, and wrought on my return home, finishing about five pages.  I had the great pleasure to learn that the party with the infantry got safe to Abbotsford.

July 4.—­After Court I came home and set to work, still on the Tales.  When I had finished my bit of dinner, and was in a quiet way smoking my cigar over a glass of negus, Adam Ferguson comes with a summons to attend him to the Justice-Clerk’s, where, it seems, I was engaged.  I was totally out of case to attend his summons, redolent as I was of tobacco.  But I am vexed at the circumstance.  It looks careless, and, what is worse, affected; and the Justice is an old friend moreover.[351] I rather think I have been guilty towards him in this respect before.  Devil take my stupidity!  I will call on Monday and say, Here is my sabre and here is my heart.

July 5.—­Sir Adam came to breakfast, and with him Mr. and Mrs. Johnstone of Bordeaux, the lady his cousin.  I could not give them a right Scottish breakfast, being on a Sunday morning.  Laboured on the Tales the whole morning.