186 NIMROD'S NORTHERN TOUR. 



well if accompanied with the touching eloquence of a Chalmers, but I 

 cannot help thinking, that if a clergyman can preach a tolerable sermon 

 out of book, as the saying is, he would preach a much better in one. 

 The subject this day was one I have heard discussed before — namely, 

 that poverty is better than riches, a doctrine that always reminds me 

 of Seneca, with his belly- full (no man I believe had a better cook than 

 he had), preaching against the good things of this world, and showing 

 us the distinction between precept and example. But " Credat Judseus 

 — non ego ;" nor do I imagine the incumbent of Oxenford to be exactly 

 of this opinion, as I was given to understand that if a living becomes 

 vacant within two days' journey of the mi-nis-ter's mare, a hint is given 

 to the patron, that it would not be unacceptable to this would-be Dio- 

 genes. But, as Shakespeare says, 



" Lowliness is young Ambition's ladder. 

 Whereto the climber upwards turns his face : 

 And when he once attains the upmost round. 

 He then unto the ladder turns his back. 

 Looks at the clouds, scorning the base degrees 

 By which he did ascend." 



All I can add is, if any one is inclined to swap riches for poverty, I am 

 his man for a deal. 



After the service. Captain Keith, Mr. Hay, and myself, walked 

 round the noble domains of Oxenford-castle (General Sir John Dalrym- 

 ple's then, now Earl of Stair's) and Preston-hall (Mr. Burn Callander's), 

 and on our return visited the homestead cattle stalls of a very large 

 farmer, a tenant upon the first named property. The arrangements for 

 feeding were excellent, and such as for convenience and order I had 

 not before seen excelled. There were at least a hundred head of prime 



