History of the Johnstones, 1191-1909, with ... - Electric Scotland

2i6 YOUNG JAMES'S LETTERS
London vessels at Leith in a few days. There are but two there, both of which
are lading for their return.
" Messrs Wallace and Billingsley had been looking out for lodgings for
me before I came, and showed me several from the prices of 2s. 6d. a week to
6s. The one I have taken will cost me 4s. a week. There is a dinner provided
in the same house for a set of eight or nine at 5s. a week, and I find my own
breakfast, supper, fire, candles, etc. I have a tolerably good room with a small
closet for my books, and a bureau. The person I take them from is a widow,
and seems a good sort of woman.
he is an Irish physician.
One other person lodges in the house, and
"I came here about 4 p.m. on Tuesday, and went to Dr Henry's soon
after, but he was not returned from London. I called again this morning, and
found him. I shall dine with him to-morrow. I went to Dryden on Thursday
and met with a very polite reception from both the General and Mrs Lockhart,
who desired me to make an apology to you for her not writing. She told me
that she had begun to write twice, but was called
very soon.
away, and will write to you
" I have seen but little of Edinburgh yet, though by the appearance of it,
and what I have been told, there must have been great alterations and enlargement
since your time. They have been repairing that part of the bridge that
fell. The three arches standing are the largest I have ever seen. Give my
duty to my mother, love to brothers and sister, and respects to all friends, etc.
"P.S.—Direct to me, if you please, at Mrs Gilchrist's, in the College Wynd,
Edinburgh."
" Edinburgh, Dec. 4, 1770.
" Hon. Sir,— I am ashamed to acknowledge the receipt of your two letters,
the last of which I ought to have answered almost a week ago. I should have
writ to you on Sunday, but I went to Dryden on Saturday and was detained
there longer than I intended, so that I did not come home time enough for
the post. I spoke of your friend Mr Rae more than once, though I did not
mention him to the General with any reference to a living, but I desired Mrs
Lockhart privately to use her influence with him, and if she does as she
promised, no doubt she will succeed, for the General does not seem disposed
to deny her anything she asks. They behave extremely kindly to me, and
desire me to come sans ceremonie as often as is convenient to myself. I have
never said a word to any of them concerning the ^"200.
" Your objections to my lodging occurred to me when I first came to it,
and for that reason I took it for only a week at a time, but now I have had
between five and six weeks' trial of it, I do not find it liable to those inconveniences.
The dinner in the house is not open to anybody, but a set who
constantly come to it, and stay no longer than just while they are eating, for
it is a constant rule to drink nothing but small beer. There are indeed some
of the company not very agreeable, but these I have no connection with in the
least, and I do not find any place where, upon the whole, I should do better ;
at least I am sure any of the public ordinaries are infinitely worse. I have