316 THE JOURNEYMAN. 



women like Sir Thomas's, nor do they come crowding 

 round me in my solitary walks like his. The one work is 

 full of a stirring day reality, my recollections of the other 

 blend with those of my dreams. I shall, however, I 

 doubt not, relish Spenser better when my remembrance 

 of the creations of Sir Thomas wax fainter.' 



FROM MISS DUNBAR OF BOATH. 



' Torres, 15 January, 1830. 



' I was very much pleased with your letter, and 

 gratified to find I had been the means of procuring you 

 so much pleasure as you have derived from the perusal 

 of "Wolf" and the poems. 



1 Sir Thomas Dick Lauder said on seeing your letter 

 to me, " The author of the ' Wolf of Badenoch,' whoever 

 that might be, had reason to be proud of the opinion you 

 expressed of it."- I have no doubt you will read Spenser 

 with all the enthusiasm proper to a young poet when 

 you go to it with a mind dispossessed of other subjects. 



1 Miss Smith tells me you are going to Inverness to 

 work at your handicraft ; I suppose you will occasionally 

 work for Mr Carruthers ; he seems to be a clever man, 

 and I think the Courier bespeaks him a man of inde- 

 pendence. I hope he will continue to prove himself 

 such in a place distracted by low politics and a narrow 

 party spirit, too often vented in ungenerous, personal 

 reflections. I conjure you to be on your guard, and 

 preserve yourself from any share or feeling in these con- 

 tests. Do not lend your fine talent to either or any 

 side ; next to your integrity to Heaven maintain your 

 independence ; be courteous to every one, but render 

 party service to none, and you will make yourself many 

 friends and no enemies/ 



