How could the castes be distinguished or _told off_ in a populous nation? Dr. Marshman was an old friend of poor John Leyden. _January_ 30.--Blank day at Court, being the Martyrdom. Wrought hard at _Bon._ all day, though I had settled otherwise. I ought to have been at an article for John Lockhart, and one for poor Gillies; but there is something irresistible in contradiction, even when it consists in doing a thing equally laborious, but not the thing you are especially called upon to do. It is a kind of cheating the devil, which a self-willed monster like me is particularly addicted to. Not to make myself worse than I am though, I was full of information about the Russian campaign, which might evaporate unless used, like lime, as soon after it was wrought up as possible. About three, Pitfoddels called. A bauld crack that auld papist body, and well informed. We got on religion. He is very angry with the Irish demagogues, and a sound well-thinking man.[458] Heard of Walter and Jane; all well, God be praised! By a letter from Gibson I see the gross proceeds of _Bonaparte_, at eight volumes, are £12,600 0 0 Discount, five months, 210 0 0 ----------- £12,390 0 0 =========== I question if more was ever made by a single work, or by a single author's labours, in the same time. But whether it is deserved or not is the question. _January_ 31.--Young Murray, son of Mr. M., in Albemarle Street, breakfasted with me. English boys have this advantage, that they are well-bred, and can converse when ours are regular-built cubs. I am not sure if it is an advantage in the long-run. It is a temptation to premature display. Wet to the skin coming from the Court. Called on Skene, to give him, for the Antiquarian Society, a heart, human apparently, stuck full of pins. It was found lying opposite to the threshold of an old tenement, in [Dalkeith], a little below the surface; it is in perfect preservation. Dined at the Bannatyne Club, where I am chairman. We admitted a batch of new members, chiefly noblemen and men connected with the public offices and records in London, such as Palgrave, Petrie, etc. We drank to our old Scottish heroes, poets, historians, and printers, and were funny enough, though, like Shylock, I had no will to go abroad. I was supported by Lord Minto and Lord Eldin. FOOTNOTES: [438] "A half-crazy sentimental person."--_Edin. Rev_. No. xxiii. p. 135.--J.G.L. [439] Mme. de Boufflers's saying to the author of _Julie_. [440] _Merry Wives of Windsor_, Act I. Sc. 1.--J.G.L. [441] Mr. Sharpe was doing what he could by voice and pen to prevent the destruction of many historic buildings in Edinburgh, which the craze for "improvements" caused at this time. St. Giles' Church was unfortunately left to its fate. Witness its external condition at the present day!