Receive my warm acknowledgments for your kind congratulations on my becoming a Benedick. I can now speak from experience, in which you have long participated. I am convinced that the natural state of domestic society is the best fitted for man, whether he be devoted to philosophy, or to active life. I shall have much pleasure in presenting my wife to you and to Mrs. Purkis, on my return. We have had a delightful tour through the Highlands. We are at the extreme point of our journey. The pleasures of a refined society--that of Lord and Lady Stafford's family--have induced us to make a long pause here. We think we shall be in London the beginning of December. I have spent some days such as we passed together in Wales. We have had all the varieties of river, mountain, and wood scenery. The Lakes of Scotland are infinitely finer than those of Wales; but the glens of the Principality may fairly stand in competition with those of the Highlands. I hope I shall find you and your family in good health, and that you will have spent a very pleasant summer. I am, my dear Purkis, Very sincerely and affectionately yours, H. DAVY. TO JOHN GEORGE CHILDREN, ESQ. Dunkeld, Sept. 27, 1812. MY DEAR FRIEND, I have received your two kind letters. I hope your quiet life, and reasonable medical discipline, will entirely restore your health. We are now on our return, and probably shall arrive in London before the middle of November: our time, however, is uncertain, as the Election may hasten, or keep us back for want of horses. I can do nothing respecting the licence till my return; I will then see Mr. Wharton, or Mr. Vansittart. I have another subject of conversation in which they are interested, and I can easily introduce that of gunpowder. I have been tolerably successful as a shot lately. I have not fished. My last adventure was at the Spey, near Gordon Castle, where I killed some noble salmon. At Blair Athol I shot some ptarmigans and a stag. I am now at Dunkeld, which I think the most beautiful habitable spot in the Highlands. The Tay, a noble river, rolls with a majestic stream through lofty woods seated upon cliffs and rounded hills; and in the background are the Mountains of Benyglor and the hills of Killycrankie. My wife desires her kind remembrances. Pray offer mine to your father and daughter, and believe me to be always most affectionately yours, H. DAVY. TO THE SAME. Edinburgh, October 14. MY DEAR FRIEND, We are on our return: I am well, but I am sorry to say that Lady D. is very much indisposed, and anxiety for her hastens my journey to town. * * * * *