which they
are ruled, he could not, of course, have sought to discover, since the
principle on which he set out predicated the non-existence of such laws.
The advantage of the peep enjoyed into his private note-book is, that we
have his incompleted inquiries containing the stories as to which even
he--a very poor adept at scepticism--required some confirmation. It is
quite evident that we thus have something more valuable to philosophy,
and infinitely more amusing, than his completed labours would have been.
Here, for instance, is one of his break-downs--an interesting
phenomenon, but not irrefragably proved.

"This day I have an accompt from Marion Stevenson, who says she had it
from one who was witness to it, that near Dunglass there was a child
found upon the highway by some shearers, to their uptaking lately born;
and they brought it to the next house, where the woman putting on the
pan to make some meat for it, the pan filled full of corn; and when she
turned it out and put it on the second time, it filled full of bear; and
when put on the third time, it filled full of blood; and upon this the
child began to alter its shapes some way, and to speak, and told them
this year should have great plenty, and the next year also, but the
third the land should be filled with blood and fire and sword! and the
child desired it might be taken to the place where it was found, and
left there. I hear not yet what was done with it. This is so incredible,
that I set it down only for after trial and inquiry about it--no
confirmation."

His wife tells him a story which in her youth she had heard narrated by
Mr Andrew Reid, minister of Kirkbean. It is a case of true love crossed
by the interference of cruel relations. The swain leaves the country
for several years--gets on--remembers the old love, and returns to
fulfil his vows. It happens that on the day of his return the loved one
dies. He is on his way to her house in the dusk of eve when he meets an
old man, who tells him that he is going on a bootless errand--he will
find a dead corpse for the warm living heart he expected. The stranger,
however, pitying his distress, tells him there is a remedy--hands to the
lover certain pills, and says, "If you will give her these, she will
recover." So it turned out, and they were happily married. A certain
visitor at the house, however, "a very eminent Christian," refused to
salute the lady with the usual courtesies. He takes the husband asi