Read an Excerpt

CHAPTER 1

JOURNAL FROM THE TIME OF MY LEAVING SCOTLAND 15 NOVR. 1762.

INTRODUCTION

The ancient Philosopher certainly gave a wise counsel when he said "Know thyself." For surely this knowledge is of all the most important. I might enlarge upon this. But grave & serious declamation is not what I intend at present. A man cannot know himself better than by attending to the feelings of his heart and to his external Actions from which he may with tollerable certainty judge "what manner of person he is". I have therefore determined to keep a dayly journal in which I shall set down my various sentiments and my various conduct which will be not only usefull; but very agreable. It will give me a habit of application and improve me in expression and knowing that I am to record my transactions will make me more carefull to do well. Or if I should go wrong, it will assist me in resolutions of doing better. I shall here put down my thoughts on different subjects at different times, the whims that may seize me and the sallies of my luxuriant Imagination. I shall mark the Anecdotes and the stories that I hear, the instructive or amusing conversations that I am present at, and the various adventures that I may have. I was observing to my friend Erskine that a Plan of this kind was dangerous as a Man might in the openess of his heart say many things & discover many facts that might do him great harm if the Journal should fall into the hands of my Ennemies. Against which there is no perfect security. Indeed said he I hope there is no danger at all; for I fancy you will not set down your robberies on the Highway, or the Murders that you commit. As to other things there can be no harm. I laughed heartily at my friend's Observation which was so far true. I shall be upon my guard to mention nothing that can do harm. Truth shall ever be observed and these things (if there should be any such) that require the gloss of falshood shall be past by in silence. At the same time I may relate things under borrowed names with safety that would do much mischief if particularly known. In this way I shall preserve many things that would otherwise be lost in oblivion. I shall find dayly Employment for myself, which will save me from Indolence & help to keep off the Spleen and I shall lay up a store of entertainment for my after life. Very often we have more pleasure in reflecting on agreable scenes that we have been in, than we had from the scenes themselves. I shall regularly record the business or rather the pleasure of every day. I shall not study much correctness lest the labour of it should make me lay it aside all-together. I hope it will be of use to my worthy friend Johnstone and that while he laments my personal absence, this Journal may in some measure supply that defect & make him happy.

MONDAY 15 NOVEMBER

Elated with the thoughts of my journey to London, I got up.

I called upon my friend Johnstone, but found he was not come from the country[,] which vexed me a little, as I wished to bid him cordialy adieu. However I excused him to myself, and as Cairnie told me that People never took leave in France, I made the thing sit pretty easy. I had a long serious conversation with my Father and Mother. They were very kind to me. I felt parental affection was very strong towards me; and I felt a very warm filial regard for them. The scene of being a Son setting out from home for the wide world and the idea of being my own Master, pleased me much. I parted with my Brother Davie leaving him my best advices to be diligent at his Business as a Banker and to make rich and be happy. At ten I got into my chaise & away I went. As I past the cross the Cadies and the Chairmen bowed & seemed to say God prosper long our noble Boswell. I rattled down the high-street in high elevation of spirits[,] bowed & smiled to Acquaintances, & took up my partner at Boyd's Close. He was a Mr. Stewart eldest son to Ardshiel who was forfeited in the year 1746. He had made four voyages to the east indies & was now going out first Mate. I made the chaise stop at the foot of the Cannongate; asked pardon of Mr. Stewart for a minute: walked to the Abbey of Holyroodhouse, went round the Piazas[,] bowed thrice, once to the Palace itself, once to the crown of Scotland above the Gate in front, and once to the venerable old Chapel. I next stood in the court before the Palace, and bowed thrice to Arthur-Seat, that lofty romantic Mountain on which I have so often strayed in my days of youth, indulged Meditation & felt the raptures of a soul filled with ideas of the Magnificence of God and his Creation. Having thus gratified my agreable whim and superstitious humour I felt a warm glow of satisfaction. Indeed I have a strong turn to what the cool part of Mankind have named Superstition. But this proceeds from my genius for Poetry, which ascribes many fancifull properties to every thing. This I have great pleasure from; as I have now by experience and reflection gained the command of it so far, that I can keep it within just bounds by the power of reason, without losing the agreable feeling & play to the Imagination, which it bestows. I am surely much happier in this way, than if I just considered Holyroodhouse as so much Stone and lime which has been put together in a certain way; and Arthur Seat as so much earth & rock raised above the neighbouring Plains. We then pursued our Journey. I found my Companion a jolly honest plain fellow. I set out with a determined resolution against shaving, that is to say playing upon people, and therefore I talked sensibly & roughly. We did very well till we past Old Cambus, when one of the wheels of our chaise was so much broke that it was of no use. The driver proposed that we should mount the horses, & ride to Berwick; But this I would by no means agree to, & as my Partner let me be the principal Man and take the Direction of our Journey, I made the chaise be drag'd on to Aytoun, where we waited till the Driver rode to Berwick and brought us a chaise. Never did I pass three hours more unhappily. We were set down in a cold Alehouse in a little dirty village. We had a Beef-stake ill-drest & had nothing to drink but thick muddy Beer. We were both out of humour so that we could not speak. We tried to sleep but in vain. We only got a drowsy headach. We were scorched by the fire on the one hand and shiv'ring with frost on the other. At last our chaise came & we got to Berwick about twelve at night. We had a slice of hard dry toast, a bowl of warm negoes & went comfortable to bed.

TUESDAY 16 NOVEMBER

We set off at six; breakfasted at Alnwick where we had with us a Captain Elliot of the East indies & were hearty. Stewart & I began now to be acquainted and to talk about the Peace & Voyages and ways of living. We had a safe day, & got at night to Durham.

WEDNESDAY 17 NOVEMBER

We had a very good day of it, and got at night to Doncaster.

THURSDAY 18 NOVEMBER

We chatted a good deal. Stewart told me that some Blacks in India were attacking their boat in order to plunder it, and that he shot two with his own hand. In the afternoon between Stamford & Stilton there was a young unruly horse in the chaise, which run away with the driver, & jumping to one side of the road, we were overturned. We got a pretty severe rap. Stewart's head and my arm were somewhat hurt. However we got up & pursued our way. During our two last stages this night which we travelled in the dark, I was a good deal affraid of Robbers. A great many horrid Ideas filled my mind. There is no passion so distressing as fear, which gives us great pain and makes us appear contemptible in our own eyes to the last degree. However, I affected resolution and [as] each of us carried a loaded Pistol in his hand we were pretty secure. We got at night to Biggleswade.

FRIDAY 19 NOVEMBER

It was very cold. Stewart was as effeminate as I. I asked him how he who shivered if a pane of glass was broke in a Post-Chaise could bear the severe hardships of a sea life. He gave me to understand that Necessity made any thing be endured. Indeed this is very true: For when the mind knows that it cannot help itself by strugling, it quietly & patiently submits to whatever load is laid upon it. When we came upon Highgate hill, & had a view of London I was all life & Joy. I repeated Cato's Soliloquy on the immortality of the Soul and my Soul bounded forth to a certain prospect of happy futurity. I sung all manner of Songs & began to make one about an amorous meeting with a pretty girl; the burthen of which was as follows.

She gave me this, I gave her that And tell me had she not tit for tat.

I gave three huzzas & we went briskly in. I got from Digges a list of the best houses on the road and also a direction to a good Inn at London. I therefore made the Boy drive me to Mr. Hayward's at the black Lyon, water-lane fleetstreet. The noise, the crowd the glare of shops & signs agreably confused me. I was rather more wildly struck than when I first came to London. My Companion could not understand my feelings: He considered London just as a Place where he was to receive orders from the east india Company. We now parted with saying that we had agreed well & been happy & that we should keep up the acquaintance. I then had a bit of dinner, got myself shaved & cleaned, & had my landlord a civil jolly man to take a glass of wine with me. I was all in a flutter at having at last got to the place which I was so madly fond of, & being restrained, had formed so many wild schemes to get back to. I had recourse to Philosophy & so rendered myself calm. I immediatly went to my friend Douglasse's[,] Surgeon in Pallmall[,] a kind-hearted plain sensible man; where I was cordialy received. His Wife is a good humoured woman & is that sort of character which is often met with in England[,] very lively without much wit. Her fault is speaking too much which often tires people. He was my great Adviser as to every thing; & in the mean time insisted that I should have a bed in his house till I got a lodging to my mind. I agreed to come there next day. I went to Covent Garden — Every Man in his Humour. Woodward played Bobadil finely. He entertained me much. It was fine after the fatigues of my journey, to find myself snug in a Theatre[,] my body warm, & my mind elegantly amused. I went to my Inn had some negoes & went comfortably to bed.

SATURDAY 20 NOVEMBER

I got into a hackney-coach with my baggage, & drove to Douglasse's. We calculated my Expenses, & I found that to live would require great oeconomy. However, I was upon honour to do my best. I strolled about all the forenoon calling for different People; but found nobody in. I went & saw a Collection of wild beasts. I felt myself bold[,] easy & happy. Only I had a kind of uneasiness from feeling no amazing difference between my existence now & at Edinburgh. I dined at Douglasse's [&] sat in all the afternoon & wrote letters.

SUNDAY 21 NOVEMBER

I got up well & enjoyed my good Situation. I had a handsom dining-room & Bed-chamber, just in Pail-Mall, the finest part of the town. I was in pursuit of my Commission, which I was vastly fond of; and I had money enough to live like a Gentleman. I went to May-fair Chapel & heard prayers & an excellent sermon from the Book of Job, on the comforts of Piety. I was in a fine frame. And I thought that God realy designed us to be happy. I shall certainly be a religious old Man. I was much so in youth. I have now & then flashes of devotion, & it will one day burn with a steady flame. I waited on Mr. George Lewis Scott who was very kind & polite to me, & on the Laird of Macfarlane, with whom I was a good deal diverted. He was keenly interested in the reigning contests between Scots & English. He talked much against the Union. He said we were perfect Underlings[;] that our riches were carried out of the country[;] that no town but Glasgow had any advantage of trade by it; and that many others were hurt by it. I dined with Doctor Pringle where were Mr. Murdoch the Publisher or rather the Editor of Thomson, Mr. Seymours a travelling Governour & some more all Scotch. I found the Doctor in the way of discouraging me; which as from my Father's friend I took patiently & intended to get the better of. The conversation was on indifferent common topics. The Peace. Lord Bute. Footmen & Cookery. I went to Douglasse's & drank tea. I next went & called in Southampton Street Strand, for Miss Sally Forrester my first love. Who lived at the blue Periwig. I found that the People of the house were broke & dead & could hear nothing of her. I also called for Miss Jeany Wells in Barrack Street Soho, but found that she was fled they knew not whither, & had been ruined with extravagance. Good heaven thought I what an amazing change in two years! I saw in the year 1760 these young Ladies in all the glow of Beauty & Admiration; and now they are utterly erased or worse. I then called on Love & saw him & Mrs. Love & Billy. I eat a tart there. He showed me a Pantomime called the Witches of his.

Since I came up I have begun to acquire a composed genteel character very different from a rattling uncultivated one which for sometime past I have been fond of. I have discovered that we may be in some degree whatever character we chuse. Besides, practice forms a man to any thing. I was now happy to find myself cool easy and serene.

MONDAY 22 NOVEMBER

I strolled about all day looking for lodgings. At night I went to Drury lane and saw Garrick play Scrub & the Farmer returned; and Love play Bonniface; which brought the Cannongate full in my head. I was exceedingly well entertained.

TUESDAY 23 NOVEMBER

I went into the City & called for George Home, Lord Karnes's Son. As Lord Eglintoune had used me neglectfully, and as I considered him as not to be depended upon I determined to keep clear of him as a Patron; but to like him as a Companion; and if he offered to do me any service good & well; But I should ask no assistance from him. I called thrice, but he was out. This day, I received a formal card of invitation to dine with him; I went & was warmly received. Finding myself with him in the very dining room where in my days of youthfull fire I had been so happy, melted me much. Millne the Architect dined with us. We talked on a rude & on a polished state of Society. I kept up a retenue & spoke only when I was sure that I was right. I drank tea. I parted from him on a very good footing.

WEDNESDAY 24 NOVEMBER

I called on Dodsley & found that altho' he had refused to take the hazard of publishing my Cub, that it had sold well, & that there was 13 Shillings of proffit, which I made him pay me down. Never did I set so high a value on a Sum. I was much in spirits. I still went about seeking lodgings; but could find none that would answer. At night I called on Pringle. He was sour. Indeed he is a good deal so; altho' a sensible learned man: A good Philosopher & an excellent Physician. By the chearfull ease of my address I made him smile & be very kind to me. I consulted him about all my plans. I began to find that £200 a year was very little. I left him before 12. I began to tire much of Mrs. Douglas. She spoke so much. And I was rather somewhat lowspirited.

THURSDAY 25 NOVEMBER

I had been in a bad situation during the night: for I dreamt that Johnstone did not care for me. That he came to see me sett off on a long journey, & that he seemed dissipated & tired, & left me before I got away. I lay abed very gloomy. I thought London did me no good. I rather disliked it; & I thought of going back to Edinburgh, immediatly. In short I was most miserable. I got up & breakfasted. I got a card from Lord Eglintoune asking me to the house of Lords. I accordingly went & heard the King make his Speech. It was a very noble thing. I here beheld the King of Great Brittain on his throne with the crown on his head addressing both the Lords & the Commons. His Majesty spoke better than any man I ever heard. With dignity[,] delicacy & ease. I admired him. I wished much to be acquainted with him. I went to Love's & drank tea. I had now been sometime in town without female sport. I determined to have nothing to do with Whores as my health was of great consequence to me. I went to a Girl, with whom I had an intrigue at Edinburgh but my affection cooling, I had left her. I knew she was come up. I waited on her & tried to obtain my former favours; but in vain. She would by no means listen. I was realy unhappy for want of women. I thought it hard to be in such a place without them. I picked up a girl in the Strand [&] went into a court with intention to enjoy her in armour. But she had none. I toyed with her. She wondered at my size, & said If I ever took a Girl's Maidenhead, I would make her squeak. I gave her a shilling; & had command enough of myself to go without touching her. I afterwards trembled at the danger I had escaped. I resolved to wait chearfully, till I got some safe girl or was liked by some woman of fashion. I went to Lord Eglintoune's[.] John Ross Mckye was there. We had a little bit of supper, & I was easy. I have never yet mentioned General Douglas whom I found to be a plain civil man. I learnt that the Duke of Queensberry was not to be in town till Sunday so that till then, I could know nothing certain of my Commission.

---

Excerpted from "London Journal"
by .
Copyright © 2018 Dover Publications, Inc..
Excerpted by permission of Dover Publications, Inc..
All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.
Excerpts are provided by Dial-A-Book Inc. solely for the personal use of visitors to this web site.

---