374 MEMOIR OF JOHN WILSON. 



house, and there is one delightful walk, the avenue, which is the 

 approach, and which, from one lodge to the other, is rather more 

 than a mile of nice dry gravel, and quite level, or nearly so, which 

 suits me vastly well ; there is a beautiful flower-garden close to the 

 house aud a very pretty brawling stream, which reminds one of 

 Stockgill at Ambleside ; there is a very good waterfall likewise in 

 the grounds, about a mile from the house, which I have not yet 

 seen, the path being very steep, and, owing to the rains, very wet ; 

 it is called the Black Spout. The boys have abundance of amuse- 

 ment in fishing and shooting, there being plenty of game — hares 

 and rabbits. John has the Duke of Buccleuch's permission to 



shoot, and therefore we expect to have plenty of grouse 



. . . Our neighbors, who are few and far between, consist of re- 

 spectable farmers, who have showed us great attention, indeed, Mr. 

 Wilson was known to all the neighborhood long ago, in his pedes- 

 trian perambulations. The church is about a mile and a half from 

 us, a neat little building, wdth a comfortable manse attached. Mr. 

 Smith, the minister, is a very favorable specimen of a Scotch cler- 

 gyman, with a modest, hospitable wife, and two children. 



" Mr. Wilson was obliged to go to Edinburgh last Saturday, but 

 I hope he will be here again on Wednesday. He is staying at the 

 Bank. Poor Mr. Blackwood is very ill ; iudeed, I fear dangerously 

 so. It is a surgical case, and though his general health has not as 

 yet suffered, should that give way there is no chance for him. He 

 would be an irreparable loss to his family, and a serious one to 

 Edinburgh, being an excellent citizen, a magistrate, and highly 

 respected even by his enemies." 



My father's spirits were at this time very much disturbed at the 

 prospect of soon losing his kind and long-tried friend, the gradual 

 increase of whose illness he writes of with much feeling to his 

 wife: — 



" Gloucester Place, Thursday Night. 



" My dear Jane : — I found Mr. Blackwood apparently near his 

 dissolution, but entirely sensible, and well aware of his state, which 

 indeed he had been for a long time, though, till lately, he had never 

 said so, not wishing to disturb his family. He was very cheerful, 

 and we spoke cheerfully of various matters ; this was on Monday, 

 on my arrival from Peebles in a chaise, the coach being full. Tuesday 

 was a day of rain, and being very ill, I lay all the day in bed. I did 



