In the neighbourhood of Haddington, there is a gentleman's house,
in the building of which, and the improvements about it, he is
said to have expended forty thousand pounds: but I cannot say I
was much pleased with either the architecture or the situation;
though it has in front a pastoral stream, the banks of which are
laid out in a very agreeable manner. I intended to pay my
respects to Lord Elibank, whom I had the honour to know at London
many years ago. He lives in this part of Lothian; but was gone to
the North, on a visit -- You have often heard me mention this
nobleman, whom I have long revered for his humanity and universal
intelligence, over and above the entertainment arising from
originality of his character -- At Musselburgh, however, I had the
good-fortune to drink tea with my old friend Mr Cardonel; and at
his house I met with Dr C--, the parson of the parish, whose
humour and conversation inflamed me with a desire of being better
acquainted with his person -- I am not at all surprised that these
Scots make their way in every quarter of the globe.
This place is but four miles from Edinburgh, towards which we
proceeded along the sea-shore, upon a firm bottom of smooth sand,
which the tide had left uncovered in its retreat -- Edinburgh, from
this avenue, is not seen to much advantage -- We had only an
imperfect view of the Castle and upper parts of the town, which
varied incessantly according to the inflexions of the road, and
exhibited the appearance of detached spires and turrets,
belonging to some magnificent edifice in ruins.
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