Maria Kiddell, the Friend of Blrns. 45 



" Sund. 9th July [1797]- Wrote to Levvis^o . . . Since 

 1 wrote last all has passed here in the same tasteless 

 monotony as what I probably mentioned then, in the course 

 of my letter. It is not the dearth of society, I complain of, 

 that I seldom find necessary, but it is the want of liberty 

 for the enjoyment of one's own. There is no cultivation 

 for the mind, no epanchement for the heart. One inhabits 

 neither the Woods of Eg"eria or the Groves of Cyprus. . . . 

 How do I reg'ret .Scotland ! its bold energy of landscape, 

 the singular, romantic, and almost unique aspect of its 

 Mountains, Glens, and Muirlands ! there I disposed of my 

 time on the only system calculated to exclude ennui or 

 satiety. I qualified my domestic with my social engage- 

 ments, I never involved myself in a discontinuous run of 

 either for a sufficient length of time to find the one insipid 

 or the other wearisome. I enjoy 'd society with double 

 zest after passing eight or ten days in solitude, and 

 return'd to that again with additional relish after I had 

 been engaged for any time in occasional dissipation." 



" Mond. 7th [August, 1797]. • • • W'alked on the 

 Esplanade [Weymouth] and to the Pier to see the Royal 

 Family embark on board the St. Fiorenzo. Were again 

 spoken to and took our leave of the King and Queen, "^i 



" Thursd. loth [August, 1797]- Wrote to Gen. 

 Eustace^2 . . , . I quite acquiesce in yr. monition as to 

 the imprudence of too much precipitancy in forming a 

 judgment of co-temporary public characters; yet Kos- 

 cuisko's^ political and martial career may }ioiv be said to 

 be closed, consequently he shd. seem exempt from the 

 diffident suspension of approbation you so prudently 

 recommend. The fact is I am only a philosopher by 



80 Lewis: Matthew Gregory; b. 1775; author of the "Monk."' 

 1795; his writings are memorable on account of their influence on 

 Sir Walter Scott's early poetical efforts ; d. 1818. 



81 King George III. and Queen Charlotte. 



82 The identity of this correspondent is unknown. 



83 Koscuiszko : Thaddeus ; b. 1746; Pohsh general and states- 

 man ; d. 1817. 



