The second day Mr. Cadell made a point of my coming to his excellent house, where I had no less excellent an apartment and the most kind treatment—–­ that is, not making a show of me, for which I was in but bad tune.[426] The physical folks, Abercrombie and Ross, bled me with cupping-glasses, purged me confoundedly, and restricted me of all creature comforts.  But they did me good, as I am sure they meant to do sincerely; and I got rid of a giddy feeling, which I have been plagued with, and have certainly returned much better.  I did not neglect my testamentary affairs.  I executed my last will, leaving Walter burdened, by his own choice, with L1000 to Sophia, and another received at her marriage, and L2000 to Anne, and the same to Charles.  He is to advance them money if they want it; if not, to pay them interest, which is his own choice, otherwise I would have sold the books and rattletraps.  I have made provisions for clearing my estate by my publications, should it be possible; and should that prove possible, from the time of such clearance being effected, to be a fund available to all my children who shall be alive or leave representatives.  My bequests must, many of them, seem hypothetical; but the thing, being uncertain, must be so stated.

Besides, during the unexpected stay in town, I employed Mr. Fortune, an ingenious artist,[427] to make a machine to assist my lame leg,—­an odd enough purchase to be made at this time of day, yet who would not purchase ease?  I dined with the Lord Chief Commissioner, with the Skenes twice, with Lord Medwyn, and was as happy as anxiety about my daughter would permit me.

The appearance of the streets was most desolate:  the hackney-coaches, with four horses, strolling about like ghosts, the foot-passengers few but the lowest of the people.

I wrote a good deal of Count Robert, yet I cannot tell why my pen stammers egregiously, and I write horridly incorrect.  I long to have friend Laidlaw’s assistance.

FOOTNOTES: 

[410] Hudibras.

[411] John Swanston, a forester at Abbotsford, who did all he could to replace Tom Purdie.—­Life, vol. x. p. 66.

[412] Dr. Ferguson, Sir Adam’s father, died in 1816.—­See Misc.  Prose Works, vol. xix. pp. 331-33.

[413] See Measure for Measure, Act II.  Sc. 1.

[414] AEneid v. 194-7:  thus rendered in English by Professor Conington:—­

’Tis not the palm that Mnestheus seeks:  No hope of Victory fires his cheeks:  Yet, O that thought!—­but conquer they To whom great Neptune wills the day:  Not to be last make that your aim, And triumph by averting shame.

[415] King Richard the Third, Act IV.  Sc. 2.

[416] Mr. G.P.R.  James, author of Richelieu, etc.  He afterwards took Maxpopple for the season.