CHAP, in.] "OLD 31" EDINBURGH ACADEMY. 59 



"Old 31," 28th March 1844. 



MY DEAR FATHER On /Saturday last we went to the 

 Marine VillA ; 1 it had a very strong Marine scent, but I sup- 

 pose it is all the better /or that. I found out where shell- 

 fish breed; they breed in sea fyke; there were muscles, 

 codes, and oysters no bt'gger than these O O O O fastned 

 to the fyke by filaments. Nell and Frolic were immersed 

 in the serene bosom of NePtune, from which with still 

 quivering limbs theY came out, but with very different 

 feeliNGs ; but Nell exited the compAssioN of Meddum, 2 and 

 was carried by her. I have flitted up to the little garret. 

 WAat Kke is the new taDPole ? and how is Ma^gy getting on 

 with /mmm ; 3 how much more is to be done conceRniNg 

 fye, says the pie. John's house is not finished yeT, I sup- 

 pose. There have been betters from uncle EoberT, dated 

 Gibber Altar, but I have not seen or Aeard what is in 

 them FarTHEr than that he was to be at Suez on Monday 

 last. Lizzy says that when you come back it woulo not bE 

 dispLeasin^ to her iF you -would braig a bawl of gray 

 worsted, wAich lAst word I suppose meaNS woolen threAd. 

 I have cast three seaLs of Lead from the life, or rather from 

 the death ; one of a cockle and two of muscles, one of which 

 is, or raTher will be, on this letter J. If you want to 

 know more look along from the beginning of the letter to 

 the mark J for the red and blue letters 4 in order. 



How are all the bodies and beasts, Praecipue, Nanny, 

 Maggy, Fanny, Bobby, Toby, and Marco. Your obt. servt,, 



JAS. ALEX. M'MERKWELL. 



1 Silverknowe, near Granton, which was being prepared as a resi- 

 dence for Mr. and Mrs. Mackenzie (Isabella Wedderburn). 



2 Mrs. Wedderburn. 3 The sound of the " trump." 



4 Here represented by italics and small capitals respectively. The 

 italics spell Sea fyke is a good thing for polishing with. The small 

 capitals spell i AM COPYING AN OLD PRINT OUT OP THE DELFIAN (i.e. 

 Delphin) SALLUST. It need not be observed that the capricious spell- 

 ing in these letters is merely a piece of " daftness." The spelling of 

 the letters of 1841 (JBt. 9-10) is faultless. 



