July 13th
Saturday 13th July 1822
Went twice to the mound, and once to Mr Scott's in Parliament Close, up eight pair of stairs, to get some small views of places in Scotland. the last time, I met Mr Hazlitt, at the foot of my stairs. coming to me. he said that Mr Gray was to have the money out of what he had paid Mr Prentice. that he had called, but Mr P. was not at home; though he had explained the matter to his clerk, who would see every thing properly done, and give me due notice of it. that Mr Gray, had merely sent to me, as a matter of form that the money should come through my hands, as he had been told all along that he was to pay it. I said, then Mr Prentice had better send it to me: but he replied there was no occasion; Mr Gray would not care a damn who paid him the money, but that I was always starting off, and turning short round at something or other. Said he had also notice to appear at 11 o'clock on Wednesday. and that the more he had tried to hurry them the more they had delayed. and he wanted very much to be off. I told him, he need not be uneasy about meeting me in the steam boat, for I did not intend to go that way. asked him if he thought it a good collection of pictures at Dalkeith house. he said no, very poor. there were but two, tolerable. one a female figure, floating on the water in an historical picture, which he thought a copy of some good picture. I told him I had remarked it; and thought that figure exceedingly good. The other was a Claude, but in a very dirty condition. Indeed it was so very dingy, that I did not recognize it to be one of that Master's, though I remember the picture, which hangs in the hall. In the afternoon walked to Gilmerton, and saw the subterraneous house, cut out of the solid rock by George Paterson, a blacksmith, and finished, after five years incessant labour, in 1724. The water was up, in the bottom, so that I could not go through it, but the rooms and arched door ways seemed neatly finished, though small. And the aperture would not lead you to suspect that it was any thing more than the mouth of a well. for it is level with the garden in which it stands. but on peeping in you perceive the stairs to descend; it is a strange fancy, to live excluded from the light of day, in a damp cave. Continued my walk to Musselburgh, on the coast of the Frith of Forth. through Portobello and Leith. this long walk by the water with the shipping, boats, and great number of bathing machines—which at Leith are drawn into the water by horses, was a diversified and pleasing prospect. more especially, as the day was exceedingly clear and beautiful. I think this walk was about fifteen miles, which I enjoyed much, although I wore a pair of light shoes which nearly crippled me, but I have worn out all the rest, and do not like to buy more here.