46 



LETTER V. 



f oij i""" -.,*., 



MertonHall, August 15, 1813. 



JL O notice the trifling mischances that befall 

 us, is but to perpetuate vexation. I omitted 

 telling you that on our return to Closeburn last 

 night, after dinner from home, \ve had a narrow 

 escape of being overturned. 



The coachman had miscalculated the strength 

 of his head, or that of the whisky, or both. 

 We were nearly victims to the mistake. Great 

 as had been our danger, yet, as it was passed, I 

 was- disposed to find an apology for what ought 

 never to be overlooked. It costs but little to 

 philosophize in the concerns of others ! 



I saw the occurrence this morning in a very 

 different point of light ; the soporific effects 

 of whisky on my servant detained us three hours 

 after the time fixed for our departure. This at 

 any time would have been a severe trial of tem- 

 per ; but, circumstanced as our engagements 

 were, it was mortifying in the extreme. 

 1 



