stand a shake against the wind, we resolved to go into Edinburgh in
a creditable manner. Accordingly, in conjunct with Mrs Dalrymple,
the lady of a major of that name, we hired the Irville chaise, and
we put up in Glasgow, at the Black Boy, where we stayed all night.
Next morning, by seven o'clock, we got into a fly-coach for the
capital of Scotland, which we reached after a heavy journey about
the same hour in the evening, and put up at the public where it
stopped till the next day; for really both me and Mrs Balwhidder
were worn out with the undertaking, and found a cup of tea a vast
refreshment.

Betimes, in the morning, having taken our breakfast, we got a caddy
to guide us and our wallise to Widow M'Vicar's, at the head of the
Covenanters' Close. She was a relation to my first wife, Betty
Lanshaw, my own full cousin that was, and we had advised her, by
course of post, of our coming, and intendment to lodge with her as
uncos and strangers. But Mrs M'Vicar kept a cloth shop, and sold
plaidings and flannels, besides Yorkshire superfines, and was used
to the sudden incoming of strangers, especially visitants, both from
the West and the North Highlands, and was withal a gawsy furthy
woman, taking great pleasure in hospitality, and every sort of
kindliness and discretion. She would not allow of such a thing as
our being lodgers in her house, but was so cagey to see us, and to
have it in her power to be civil to a minister, as she was pleased
to say, of such repute, that nothing less would content her but that
we must live upon her, and partake of all the best that could be
gotten for us within the walls of "the gude town."

When we found ourselves so comfortable, Mrs Balwhidder and me waited
on my patron's family that was, the young ladies, and the laird, who