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their case； and in every comparative view of their state； I see the Lord's
goodness in removing them from an evil world to an abode of bliss； and I
must earnestly hope that you may be enabled to take such a view of this
affliction as to live in the happy prospect of our all meeting again to part
no more … and that under such considerations you are getting up your
spirits。 I wish you would walk about； and by all means go to town； and
do not sit much at home。'
‘INVERNESS； JULY 23RD。
‘I am duly favoured with your much…valued letter； and I am happy to
find that you are so much with my mother； because that sort of variety has
a tendency to occupy the mind； and to keep it from brooding too much
upon one subject。 Sensibility and tenderness are certainly two of the
most interesting and pleasing qualities of the mind。 These qualities are
also none of the least of the many endearingments of the female character。
But if that kind of sympathy and pleasing melancholy； which is familiar to
us under distress； be much indulged； it becomes habitual； and takes such a
hold of the mind as to absorb all the other affections； and unfit us for the
duties and proper enjoyments of life。 Resignation sinks into a kind of
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peevish discontent。 I am far； however； from thinking there is the least
danger of this in your case； my dear； for you have been on all occasions
enabled to look upon the fortunes of this life as under the direction of a
higher power； and have always preserved that propriety and consistency of
conduct in all circumstances which endears your example to your family
in particular； and to your friends。 I am therefore； my dear； for you to go
out much； and to go to the house up…stairs ＇he means to go up…stairs in the
house； to visit the place of the dead children＇； and to put yourself in the
way of the visits of your friends。 I wish you would call on the Miss
Grays； and it would be a good thing upon a Saturday to dine with my
mother； and take Meggy and all the family with you； and let them have
their strawberries in town。 The tickets of one of the OLD…FASHIONED
COACHES would take you all up； and if the evening were good； they
could all walk down； excepting Meggy and little David。'
‘INVERNESS； JULY 25TH； 11 P。M。
‘Captain Wemyss； of Wemyss； has come to Inverness to go the voyage
with me； and as we are sleeping in a double…bedded room； I must no
longer transgress。 You must remember me the best way you can to the
children。'
‘ON BOARD OF THE LIGHTHOUSE YACHT； JULY 29TH。
‘I got to Cromarty yesterday about mid…day； and went to church。 It
happened to be the sacrament there； and I heard a Mr。 Smith at that place
conclude the service with a very suitable exhortation。 There seemed a
great concourse of people； but they had rather an unfortunate day for them
at the tent； as it rained a good deal。 After drinking tea at the inn； Captain
Wemyss accompanied me on board； and we sailed about eight last night。
The wind at present being rather a beating one； I think I shall have an
opportunity of standing into the bay of Wick； and leaving this letter to let
you know my progress and that I am well。'
‘LIGHTHOUSE YACHT； STORNOWAY； AUGUST 4TH。
‘To…day we had prayers on deck as usual when at sea。 I read the 14th
chapter； I think； of Job。 Captain Wemyss has been in the habit of doing
this on board his own ship； agreeably to the Articles of War。 Our passage
round the Cape ＇Cape Wrath＇ was rather a cross one； and as the wind was
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RECORDS OF A FAMILY OF ENGINEERS
northerly； we had a pretty heavy sea； but upon the whole have made a
good passage； leaving many vessels behind us in Orkney。 I am quite well；
my dear； and Captain Wemyss； who has much spirit； and who is much
given to observation； and a perfect enthusiast in his profession； enlivens
the voyage greatly。 Let me entreat you to move about much； and take a
walk with the boys to Leith。 I think they have still many places to see
there； and I wish you would indulge them in this respect。 Mr。 Scales is
the best person I know for showing them the sailcloth…weaving； etc。； and
he would have great pleasure in undertaking this。 My dear； I trust soon
to be with you； and that through the goodness of God we shall meet all
well。'
'There are two vessels lying here with emigrants for America； each
with eighty people on board； at all ages； from a few days to upwards of
sixty！ Their prospects must be very forlorn to go with a slender purse for
distant and unknown countries。'
‘LIGHTHOUSE YACHT； OFF GREENOCK； AUG。 18TH。
‘It was after CHURCH…TIME before we got here； but we had prayers
upon deck on the way up the Clyde。 This has； upon the whole； been a
very good voyage； and Captain Wemyss； who enjoys it much； has been an
excellent companion； we met with pleasure； and shall part with regret。'
Strange that； after his long experience； my grandfather should have
learned so little of the attitude and even the dialect of the spiritually…
minded； that after forty…four years in a most religious circle； he could drop
without sense of incongruity from a period of accepted phrases to ‘trust his
wife was GETTING UP HER SPIRITS；' or think to reassure her as to the
character of Captain Wemyss by mentioning that he had read prayers on
the deck of his frigate ‘AGREEABLY TO THE ARTICLES OF WAR'！
Yet there is no doubt … and it is one of the most agreeable features of the
kindly series … that he was doing his best to please； and there is little doubt
that he succeeded。 Almost all my grandfather's private letters have been
destroyed。 This correspondence has not only been preserved entire； but
stitched up in the same covers with the works of the godly women； the
Reverend John Campbell； and the painful Mrs。 Ogle。 I did not think to
mention the good dame； but she comes in usefully as an example。
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Amongst the treasures of the ladies of my family； her letters have been
honoured with a volume to themselves。 I read about a half of them
myself； then handed over the task to one of stauncher resolution； with
orders to communicate any fact that should be found to illuminate these
pages。 Not one was found； it was her only art to communicate by post
second…rate sermons at second…hand； and such； I take it； was the
correspondence in which my grandmother delighted。 If I am right； that
of Robert Stevenson； with his quaint smack of the contemporary
‘Sandford and Merton；' his interest in the whole page of experience； his
perpetual quest； and fine scent of all that seems romantic to a boy； his
needless pomp of language； his excellent good sense； his unfeigned；
unstained；