332 MEMOIR OF JOHN WILSON. 



" It was a delightful day as to weather, and we enjoyed ourselves 

 considerably. 



" At Ambleside, where we arrived about half-past six, we dined 

 in great strength. The Carr surgeon, the Costelloe ditto, John 

 Harden, Fletcher Fleming, another person, I think, and ourselves 

 five. I got home about twelve, all steady. Sunday, that is yester- 

 day, was one of the most complete things of the kind I remember 

 to have seen ; and I presume the floods in Morayshire were in high 

 health and spirits. We lay on sofas all day. To-day, Monday, is 

 stormy and showery, and I never left the dining-room great chair. 

 Tell Mary to write to me the night she gets this, and that, I think, 

 will be to-morrow, and I shall get it on Thursday. Write you oia 

 Thursday night, and I shall get it on Saturday, on which day I 

 shall probably leave Elleray, but I will fix the day as soon as Maggy 

 comes. I shall, on my arrival, have plenty to do to get ready for 

 November 4th ; so shall not most probably go to Chiefswood at 

 all. Hartley Coleridge came here on Saturday, and is looking well 

 and steady. He sends his kindest regards to you, Mary, and Umbs. 

 Do you wish me to bring Maggy with me ? Yours, most affec- 

 tionately, J- Wilson. 



" I got your kind letter duly this morning." 



" Dearest Moll : — Write me a long letter, and on Wednesday 

 night, if you have not time on Tuesday. Give my love to your 

 Mamma and Umbs. Your affectionate father, J. W." 



Next year he paid another visit to Westmoreland, from which he 



writes to his wife : — 



"Penny Bridge, Sunday, 26th Sept., 1831. 



" My deae Jane : — I delayed visiting this place with Mary till I 

 could leave Elleray, without interruption, for a couple of days. T. 

 Hamilton stayed with us a fortnight, and, as he came a week later, 

 and stayed a week longer than he intended, so has my return to 

 Edinburgh been inevitably prevented. Mary and I came here on 

 Thursday, since which hour it has never ceased raining one minute, 

 nor has one of the family been out of doors. They are all well, in- 

 cluding Mrs. and Miss Hervey, who have been staying about a 

 month. It now threatens to be fair, and I purpose setting off by 

 and by on foot to Elleray, a walk of fifteen miles, which perhaps 

 may do me good ; but if I feel tired at Newby Bridge, I will take 



