tricken silence of a grief
too deep for words, and scarcely seeing even his own nearest
relatives. Only at the call of duty did he ever emerge from
his [retirement," as when he proved so stanch a friend to
Scott in the darkest days of 1826 and 1827.

A charming portrait, after a miniature by Cosway, accompanies
Miss Skene's sketch of Lady Stuart-Forbes,--a pleasing
contrast to the picture, without merit, either as a work of
art or as a likeness, which was engraved for the Memoir of
her youngest son, James David Forbes.)]

CHAPTER VI {p.149}

Illustrations Continued. -- Studies for the Bar. --
Excursion to Northumberland. -- Letter on Flodden Field. --
Call to the Bar.

1790-1792.

The two following letters may sufficiently illustrate the writer's
every-day existence in the autumn of 1790. The first, addressed to his
_fidus Achates_, has not a few indications of the vein of humor from
which he afterwards drew so largely in his novels; and indeed, even in
his last days, he delighted to tell the story of the Jedburgh bailies'
_boots_.

TO WILLIAM CLERK, ESQ., AT JOHN CLERK'S, ESQ., OF ELDIN,
PRINCE'S STREET, EDINBURGH.

ROSEBANK, 6th August, 1790.

DEAR WILLIAM,--Here am I, the weather, according to your phrase,
most bitchiferous; the Tweed, within twenty yards of the window
at which I am writing, swelled from bank to brae, and roaring
like thunder. It is paying you but a poor compliment to tell you
I waited for such a day to perform my promise of writing, but you
must consider that it is the point here to reserve such
within-doors employment as we think most agreeable for bad
weather, which in the country always wants something to help it
away. In fair weather we are far from wanting amusement, which at
present is my business; on the contrary, every fair day has some
plan of pleasure annexed to it, in so much that I can hardly
believe I have been here above two days, so swiftly does the time
pass {p.150} away. You will ask how it is employed? Why,
negatively, I read _no_ civil law. Heineccius and his
fellow-worthies have ample time to gather a venerable coat of
dust, which they merit by their dulness. As to my positive
amusements, besides riding, fishing, and the other usual s