I am not, however, so much engrossed by the gaieties of
Edinburgh, but that I find time to make parties in the family
way. We have not only seen all the villas and villages within ten
miles of the capital, but we have also crossed the Firth, which
is an arm of the sea seven miles broad, that divides Lothian from
the shire, or, as the Scots call it, the kingdom of Fife. There
is a number of large open sea-boats that ply on this passage
from Leith to Kinghorn, which is a borough on the other side.
In one of these our whole family embarked three days ago, excepting
my sister, who, being exceedingly fearful of the water, was left
to the care of Mrs Mitchelson. We had an easy and quick passage
into Fife, where we visited a number of poor towns on the sea-side,
including St Andrew's, which is the skeleton of a venerable city;
but we were much better pleased with some noble and elegant seats
and castles, of which there is a great number in that part of
Scotland. Yesterday we took boat again on our return to Leith,
with fair wind and agreeable weather; but we had not advanced
half-way when the, sky was suddenly overcast, and the wind
changing, blew directly in our teeth so that we were obliged to
turn, or tack the rest of the way.
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