328 MEMOIR OF JOHN "WILSON. 



ter that was wanting his dinner, he would ha' ordered a hale table- 

 fu' wi' little mair than a waff o' his haun, and here's a' this claver 

 aboot a bit mutton nae bigger than a prin. Mr. De Quinshey 

 would male' a gran' preacher, though I'm thinking a hantle o' the 

 folk wouldna ken what he was driving at." Betty's observations 

 were made with considerable self-satisfaction, as she considered her 

 insight of Mr. De Quincey's character by no means slight, and 

 many was the quaint remark she made, sometimes hitting upon a 

 truth that entitled her to that shrewd sort of discrimination by no 

 means uncommon in the humble ranks of Scottish life. But these 

 little meals were not the only indulgences that, when not properly 

 attended to, brought trouble to Mr. De Quincey. Regularity in 

 doses of opium was even of greater consequence. An ounce of 

 laudanum per diem prostrated animal life in the early part of the 

 day. It was no unfrequent sight to find him in his room lying upon 

 the rug in front of the fire, his head resting upon a book, with his 

 arms crossed over his breast, plunged in profound slumber. For 

 several hours he would lie in this state, until the effects of the tor- 

 por had passed away. The time when he was most brilliant was 

 generally towards the early morning hours ; and then, more than 

 once, in order to show him off, my father arranged his supper par- 

 ties so that, sitting till three or four in the morning, he brought Mr. 

 De Quincey to that point at which in charm and power of conver- 

 sation he was so truly wonderful.* 



CHAPTER xm. 



LITERARY AND DOMESTIC LIFE. A CRUISE WITH 



THE EXPERIMENTAL SQUADRON. 



1830-'37. 



In 1830, we get some glimpses of home life in Gloucester Place, 

 from my mother's letters to Miss Penny. She says, in reply to an 

 invitation for her sons to Penny Bridge : — " The boys are trans- 

 ported with the idea of so much enjoyment, and I hope they will 



* Mr. De Quincey died at Edinburgh, December 8, 1859. 



