820 MEMOIR OF JOHN WILSON. 



wastes among the blooming heath, by the silver spring, or swathed 

 in the delicious breeze of the wilderness. Elleray, with all its sweets, 

 could never have been my choice for a habitation, and perhaps you 

 are the only Scottish gentleman who ever made such a choice, and 

 still persists in maintaining it, in spite of every disadvantage. Happy 

 days to you, and a safe return ! Yours most respectfully, 



" James Hogg." 



The following letter, written about the same time, from my father 

 to his friend Mr. Fleming, is unfortunately torn at the conclusion, 

 but what remains of it is sufficiently interesting to be given : — 



" My dear Fleming : — I much fear that it will not be possible 

 for me to join your party on Tuesday, which I should regret under 

 any circumstances, and more especially under the present, when you 

 are kind enough to wish my presence more than usual. I have tried 

 to arrange my proceedings, in twenty different ways, with the view 

 of returning on Tuesday, but see not how I can effect my object. 

 Mr. Benjamin Penny and his wife come to us to-morrow, and leave 

 us on Friday. I cannot therefore go to Keswick till Saturday, and 

 from Keswick I have to go to Buttermere and Cromack, and, if 

 possible, Ennerdale and Wastwater. The artist who accompanies 

 me, or rather whom I accompany, is unfortunately the most helpless 

 of human beings, and incapable of finding his way alone among 

 mountains for one single hour. I am, therefore, under the absolute 

 necessity of guiding him every mile of the way, and were I to leave 

 him he might as well be lying in his bed. His stay here is limited 

 by his engagements in Edinburgh, and we shall have to return to 

 Elleray on Thursday, without having an opportunity of going again 

 into Cumberland. Were I therefore to leave him on Tuesday, great 

 part of my object in bringing him here would be defeated, and, in- 

 deed, even as it is, I have little hope of his achieving my purpose. 

 He can neither walk nor ride, nor remember the name of the lake, 

 village, vale, or house, and yet he is an excellent artist, though a 

 most incapable man. I returned from a three days' tour with him 

 on Saturday night, and would have immediately written to you, but 

 expected to have called on you on Sunday evening, to tell you how 

 matters stood. Mrs. Wilson, John, and one of the girls, or indeed 

 any part of the family you choose, will be with you on Tuesday ; and 



