Ford over to Scotland. 19 



fortunate in having some carts in our company 

 on crossing the ford ; as a tandem is not the 

 safest or the best fitted equipage for a ford. 

 When in the depth of about three or four feet 

 our leader took fright, and, coming short round, 

 the chance of our being overturned was consi- 

 derable ; and we narrowly escaped an involun- 

 tary sea-bath. This incident well dressed, and 

 introduced in a perilous form, would be suffi- 

 cient to furnish a long digression of personal 

 alarm and impending danger. We, however, 

 had the good fortune to escape free from all 

 harm, at the expense of a wet jacket to the 

 guide. 



The sun was about setting as we reached the 

 Scottish shore. Much of picturesque beauty, I 

 am persuaded, is dependant on the medium 

 through which the prospect is beheld. I have 

 often had to regret our murky atmosphere when 

 attending strangers over the lakes ; for when 

 the cheering presence of the sun has been de- 

 nied to the country for some time, the change 

 which this gloomy weather produces has fre- 

 quently raised a doubt in my mind, whether 

 the scenery before me was, really and in truth, 

 endowed with all the fascination I was desirous 

 it should inspire. This serves to explain, in 

 some measure, the contrariety of opinions and 



c 2 



