46 THE LIFE OF JAMES D. FORBES. [CHAP. 



than I expected, strikingly like F. Grant. He has a 

 tremendous pair of eyes, but his manners were highly 

 affable and pleasing. He began abusing the plague of 

 writing on the Greek question, and envying Dr. Brewster's 

 Life of Newton, whilst the Doctor declared he thought 

 nothing could be more delightful than to write what every- 

 body would appreciate and admire, and on such inter- 

 esting subjects. You may suppose I took Lockhart's 

 side. . . . 



' I went yesterday to leave my card at Abbotsford. I 

 saw the great man hobbling up a plantation, apparently 

 frightened at a visitor, a class which indeed he has reason 

 to fly. ... So I did not see him, but I dare say that if 

 he has time he will let me hear of him. All his family 

 nre with him just now. I met with his factotum, 

 William Laidlaw, who wrote many of the novels to his 

 dictation, and who seems a remarkable man. . . / 



The following are some additional notes written by 

 young Forbes during his visit : 



'After leaving Abbotsford, drove by the south side of 

 the Eildon Hills, where the Doctor took me to see a 

 very interesting quarry, exposing most beautiful pris- 

 matic colours of compact felspar, an uncommonly fine 

 display. Again set off with Dr. Brewster in his gig for 

 Jedburgh at half-past nine o'clock. . . . Left Dr. Brewster 

 at Dr. Sommerville's, the old minister of the place, rather 

 a remarkable man in the literary world, and now in his 

 ninetieth year. I persuaded the Doctor to let me see the 

 house in which he was born, which is near the Roman 

 bridge. I afterwards returned and sketched the house on 

 the back of a letter of his to me, dated August 1st, 1829, 

 marking the window of the room in the roof at which he 

 tried his telescope/ 



Again, ' Dr. Brewster talked very kindly and freely of 

 my prospects, and strenuously advised me to direct my 

 efforts to some specific end. He assured me that, if I 

 kept one object in view, I should soon know more ;ili.m 

 it than anyone else. I said that I had lately thought 



