It has already been mentioned that Lauder's later journals, when he came to
chronicle public affairs and legal decisions, though they are full of
graphic detail, contain little that is personal to himself. The manuscripts
here printed, besides giving a picture of a Scottish student's life in
France during the seventeenth century, include a narrative of his visits to
London and Oxford on his return from abroad, his journey by coach and post
from London to Edinburgh, and various expeditions in Fife, the Lothians,
and the Merse, Glasgow, and the Clyde district, places where he had
connections. He travelled on horseback. He kept one horse at this time,
which appears in the Accounts. Considering his evident relish for
travelling, it is remarkable that in his long life he never seems to have
left Scotland after his return in 1667, though many of his more political
brethren at the bar were constantly on the road between Edinburgh and
Whitehall.

He kept his accounts with great care. There were no banks, and his method
was to account for each sum which he received, detailing how it was spent
in dollars, merks, shillings sterling and Scots, pennies, etc. We have both
his accounts during his period of travel, which are included in the first
manuscript, and those during the years 1670 to 1675. From the latter
copious extracts are given, and they are informatory as to the prices of
commodities, and the mode of life of a young lawyer recently married. There
was settled on him by his father in his marriage contract an annuity of
1800 merks (£100), secured on land. His wife's marriage portion was 10,000
merks (about £555), half of it paid up and invested, the remainder bearing
interest at 6 per cent. His 'pension' as one of the assessors of the burgh
was £12 (sterling). His house-rent was £20 (sterling): in one place it is
stated a little higher; and he sublet the attics and basement. The wages of
a woman servant was nearly £2 (sterling). We find the prices of cows, meal,