O wise young judge, how I do honor thee!"'"

TO PATRICK MURRAY OF SIMPRIM, ESQ., MEIGLE.

ROSEBANK, near Kelso, September 13, 1793.

DEAR MURRAY,--I would have let fly an epistle at you long ere
this, had I not known I should have some difficulty in hitting so
active a traveller, who may in that respect be likened unto a
bird of passage. Were you to follow the simile throughout, I
might soon expect to see you winging your way to the southern
climes, instead of remaining to wait the approach of winter in
the colder regions of the north. Seriously, I have been in weekly
hopes of hearing of your arrival in the Merse, and have been
qualifying myself by constant excursions to be your Border
_Cicerone_.

As the facetious Linton will no doubt make one of your party, I
have got by heart for his amusement a reasonable number of Border
ballads, most of them a little longer than Chevy Chase, which I
intend to throw in at intervals, just by way of securing my share
in the conversation. {p.201} As for _you_, as I know your
picturesque turn, I can be in this country at no loss how to
cater for your entertainment, especially if you would think of
moving before the fall of the leaf. I believe with respect to the
real _To Kalon_, few villages can surpass that near which I am
now writing; and as to your rivers, it is part of my creed that
the Tweed and Teviot yield to none in the world, nor do I fear
that even in your eyes, which have been feasted on classic
ground, they will greatly sink in comparison with the Tiber or
Po. Then for antiquities, it is true we have got no temples or
heathenish fanes to show; but if substantial old castles and
ruined abbeys will serve in their stead, they are to be found in
abundance. So much for Linton and you. As for Mr. Robertson,[112]
I don't know quite so well how to bribe him. We had indeed lately
a party of strollers here, who might in some degree have
entertained him, _i. e._, in case he felt no compassion for the
horrid and tragical murders which they nightly committed,--but
now, _Alas, Sir! the players be gone_.

I am at present very uncertain as to my own motions, but I still
hope to be northwards again before the commencement of the
session, which (d--n it) is beginning t