July 10th
Wednesday 10th
Called on Mr Ritchie to ask if he thought I should finish the business on Monday, and told him that I had met Mr Hazlitt at Dalkeith house by accident, and that he understood it was to be settled on Monday. showed him Mr Gray's note. He said I must stay till called on, but he could not tell when that would be. I asked him what I was to do if Mr Gray sent in any bill to me, as I did not wish to look as if I ran away to avoid it; but that both he and Mr Hazlitt, knew I had not the money for it. He said he supposed Mr H. would be provided for that, I said the law as well as his own engagement made him answerable for it, but I did not know how I was to get it of him. and that he had told me that he had already paid Mr Prentice forty pounds on account of it. He seemed much surprised at that, and said he could not conceive how it could amount to any such sum, unless it was to pay Mr Gray also. I told him that was what I wanted to know. and also what was to be done about my own payment, as Mr Hazlitt now seemed to demur to the one quarter, that he had all along agreed to. and there was also the £20. that I was to have in a present. He said that he was at present very much engaged in some business, which would end in two days more, and that then, if I was at all apprehensive about it, he would write to, or see Mr Hazlitt on the subject, but that he had very little intercourse with him now; indeed he had not seen him since his return. from London. I said that though I was sorry to trouble him, I wished he would do so, as it was not thought right for me to go to him myself. and I wished to return to England as soon as possible, and that he also was desirous that I should, because he wanted to go himself, and thought it would be awkward if we should meet in the same boat. which made him laugh. The wind was so high at the corners that it broke two of the whalebones of my new parasol; and some person rubbed against it with butter so that I got it quite spoiled, to my great vexation. Took a short walk in the evening and found it very cold.