We spoke of Fingal. Dr. Johnson said calmly, "If the poems were really translated, they were certainly first written down. Let Mr. Macpherson deposit the manuscript in one of the colleges at Dum quærit medicus febris causamque, modumque, Qui tardos potuit morbos, artusque trementes, Sic faber exesos fulsit tibicine muros ; Dum trahit antiquas lenta ruina domos. Fit fuga, tectonicas nemo tunc invocat artes, Nec fictus, febres qui fovet, humor erit. Jam secura suas foveant præcordia flammas, Nec solum faciles compescit sanguinis æstus, Dum dubia este inter spemque metumque salus; Extorsit Lachesi cultros, petisque venenum Quis tandem arte nova domitam mi escere pestem J. LOCKE, A. M. Ex. Ede, Christi Oxen. ÆTAT. 64. OSSIAN. 235 Aberdeen, where there are people who can judge; and, if the professors certify the authenticity, then there will be an end of the controversy. If he does not take this obvious and easy method, he gives the best reason to doubt; considering, too, how much is against it à priori. We sauntered after dinner in Sir Alexander's garden, and saw his little grotto, which is hung with pieces of poetry written in a fair hand. It was agreeable to observe the contentment and kindness of this quiet, benevolent man. Professor Macleod was brother to Macleod of Talisker, and brother-in-law to the Laird of Col. He gave me a letter to young Col. I was weary of this day, and began to think wishfully of being again in motion. I was uneasy to think myself too fastidious, whilst I fancied Dr. Johnson quite satisfied. But he owned to me, that he was fatigued and teased by Sir Alexander's doing too much to entertain him. I said, it was all kindness. JOHNSON. "True, Sir; but sensation is sensation." Bos'It is so we feel pain equally from the surgeon's probe, as from the sword of the foe." We visited two booksellers' shops, and could not find Arthur Johnson's Poems. We went and sat near an hour at Mr. Riddoch's. He could not tell distinctly how much education at the college here costs, which disgusted Dr. Johnson. I had pledged myself, that we should go to the inn, and not stay supper. They pressed us, but he was resolute. I saw Mr. Riddoch did not please him. He said to me, afterwards, "Sir, he has no vigour in his talk." But my friend. should have considered, that he himself was not in good humour : so that it was not easy to talk to his satisfaction. We sat contentedly at our inn. He then became merry, and observed how little we had either heard or said at Aberdeen; that the Aberdonians had not start a single mawkin (the Scottish word for hare) for us to pursue. CHAPTER XIII. 1773. Ellon-"The Great Doctor "-Goldsmith and Graham-Slains Castle -Lady Errol- Euca tion of Children-Buller and Buchan-Entails-House of Peers-Sir Joshua Rey: 10. ds~ Earl of Errol-Feudal Times-Strichen-Life of Country Gentlemen-Cullen-Lord fon boddo-Use and Importance of Wealth-Elgin-Scenery of Macbeth-Fores-LeonidasPaul Whitehead-Derrick-Origin of Evil-Nairn-Calder Castle-Calder Manse-Kenneth M'Auley-Ecclesiastical Subscription-Family Worship. ; Tuesday, August 24.-WE set out about eight in the morning, and breakfasted at Ellon. The landlady said to me," Is not this the great doctor that is going about through the country?" I said, "Yes." "Ay," said she, we heard of him ; I made an errand inte the room on purpose to see him. There's something great in his appearance it is a pleasure to have such a man in one's house; a man who does so much good. If I had thought of it, I would have shown him a child of mine, who has had a lump on his throat for some time." 'But," said I," he is not a doctor of physic." “Is he an oculist ?" said the landlord. "No," said I; "he is only a very learned man." LANDLORD. "They say he is the greatest man in England, except Lord Mansfield." Dr. Johnson was highly enter tained with this, and I do think he was pleased too. He said, like the exception. To have called me the greatest man in England, would have been an unmeaning compliment; but the exception marked that the praise was in earnest, and, in Scotland, the excep tion must be Lord Mansfield, or-Sir John Pringle." He told me a good story of Dr. Goldsmith. Graham, who wrote "Telemachus, a Masque," was sitting one night with him and Dr. Johnson, and was half drunk. He rattled away to Dr. Johnson. "You are a clever fellow, to be sure; but you cannot write an essay like Addison, or verses like the Rape of the Lock." At last he said, "Doctor, I should be happy to see you at Eton." 1 Graham was one of the masters at Fton.-C. "I shall be glad ETAT. 64. SLAINS CASTLE. 237 to wait on you," answered Goldsmith. "No," said Graham, "'t is not you I mean, Dr. Minor; 't is Dr. Major, there." Goldsmith was excessively hurt by this. He afterwards spoke of it himself. Graham," said he, "is a fellow to make one commit suicide." 1 We had received a polite invitation to Slains Castle. We arrived there just at three o'clock, as the bell for dinner was ringing. Though, from its being just on the north-east ocean, no trees ·will grow here, Lord Errol has done all that can be done. He has cultivated his fields so as to bear rich crops of every kind, and he has made an excellent kitchen-garden, with a hot-house. I had never seen any of the family; but there had been a card of invitation written by the honourable Charles Boyd, the Earl's brother. We were conducted into the house, and at the dining-room door were met by that gentleman, whom both of us at first took to be Lord Errol; but he soon corrected our mistake. My lord was gone to dine in the neighbourhood, at an entertainment given by Mr. Irvine of Drum. Lady Errol' received us politely, and was very attentive to us during the time of dinner. There was nobody at table but her ladyship, Mr. Boyd, and some of the children, their governor and governess. Mr. Boyd put Dr. Johnson in mind of having dined with him at Cumming, the quaker's, along with a Mr. Hall and Miss Williams; this was a bond of connection between them. For me, Mr. Boyd's acquaintance with my father was enough. After dinner, Lady Errol favoured us with a sight of her young family, whom she made stand up in a row: there were six daughters and two sons. It was a very pleasing sight. Dr. Johnson proposed our setting out. Mr. Boyd said, he hoped we would stay all night; his brother would be at home in the eveuing, and would be very sorry if he missed us. Mr. Boyd was called out of the room. I was very desirous to stay in so comfortable a 1 I am sure I have related this story exactly as Dr. Johnson told it to me; but a friend who Has often heard him tell it, informs me, that he usually introduced a circumstance which ought not to be omitted. "At last, Sir, Graham, having now got to about the pitch of .coking at one man, and talking to another, said, Doctor, &c."" What effect," Dr. John'on used to add, "this had on Goldsmith, who was as irascible as a hornet, may be easily conceived." 2 Isabella, daughter of Sir William Carr. of Etal, in Northumberland, Bart She died in 1808.-C. house, and I wished to see Lord Errol. Dr. Johnson, however, was right in resolving to go, if we were not asked again, as it is best to err on the safe side in such cases, and to be sure that one is quite welcome. To my great joy, when Mr. Boyd returned, he told Dr. Johnson that it was Lady Errol who had called him out, and said that she would never let Dr. Johnson into the house again, if he went away that night; and that she had ordered the coach, t carry us to view a great curiosity on the coast, after which w should see the house. We cheerfully agreed. Mr. Boyd was engaged, in 1745–6, on the same side with man unfortunate mistaken noblemen and gentlemen. He escaped and lay concealed for a year in the island of Arran, the ancient terri tory of the Boyds. He then went to France, and was about twenty years on the continent. He married a French lady, and now lived very comfortably at Aberdeen, and was much at Slains Castle. He entertained us with great civility. He had a pompousness or formal plenitude in his conversation, which I did not dislike. Dr. Johnson said, "there was too much elaboration in his talk." It gave me pleasure to see him, a steady branch of the family, setting forth all its advantages with much zeal. He told us that Lady Errol was one of the most pious and sensible women in the island ; had a good head, and as good a heart. He said, she did not use force or fear in educating her children. JOHNSON. "Sir, she is wrong; I would rather have the rod to be the general terror to all, to make them learn, than tell a child, if you do thus or thus, you will be more esteemed than your brothers or sisters. The rod produces an effect which terminates in itself. A child is afraid of being whipped, and gets his task, and there's an end on't; whereas, by exciting emulation and comparisons of superiority, you lay the foundation of lasting mischief; you make brothers and sisters hate each other. During Mr. Boyd's stay in Arran, he had found a chest of medical books, left by a surgeon there, and had read them till he acquired some skill in physic, in consequence of which he is often consulted by the poor. There were several here waiting for him as patients. We walked round the house till stopped by a cut made by the |