e thoroughfare, the
paucity of perambulators in _some_ of the streets of Edinburgh
appears rather peculiar. _Others_ I found at particular periods to
be thickly inhabited. My first course was to direct my course
through the rain to G.B.'s dwelling, where I found him reading a
large Bible. He appears to have carried fanaticism to a ridiculous
pitch, unworthy of his education and station in life. He put into
my hands a tract (composed I am afraid by himself), with
injunctions to read it. I intend to send it to you as a curiosity.
His brother Charles, whom I best knew, used to be a clever and
sensible boy, very well informed; I hope he, too, is not also among
the prophets. How few steer a middle course! G.B. cannot do the
most trifling act without connecting it with religion. It is a mere
disease. Others never think of it at all. I think it is Dr Johnson
who says something to this effect: '----was mad, and showed it by
kneeling down and saying his prayers on the street. Now there are
many men who are not mad, yet I am afraid are worse than poor ----,
for they never pray at all.' But to return--I inquired at Mr B. if
he could recommend me to any cheap and respectable lodging. After
applying some thought to the subject, he began to recollect that he
did know of one or two. With regard to one the address was rather
imperfect, as he knew neither the name nor the number, but had a
guess of the street. The other I discovered, and now occupy,
although he gave me both a wrong name and wrong number.

"Immediately on leaving B.'s I went to Dauney, who appeared glad to
see me, and kindly asked me to dine with him. He has a very
handsome house. Mrs Dauney is a very agreeable person, and they
have two children. He would not hear of my leaving him till I had
got accommodated with good lodgings. The rooms I now occupy I did
not enter till yesterday. They were inhabited by a person just
about to leave them, and I had no recommendation to others so well
situated. The person who keeps the lodgings is named M'Gregor. I
have a room and closet, neat enough, for which I pay 8s. a-week,
which includes coals. I could not have a place nearly so cheap in
the New Town. The situation is delightful. It is behind the Old
Town, and the windows look across towards it and the Castle,