This day proving wet, we should have passed our time very
uncomfortably, had we not found in the house two chests of books,
which we eagerly ransacked. After dinner, when I alone was left at
table with the few Highland gentlemen who were of the company, having
talked with very high respect of Sir James Macdonald, they were all so
much affected as to shed tears. One of them was Mr Donald Macdonald,
who had been lieutenant of grenadiers in the Highland regiment, raised
by Colonel Montgomery, now Earl of Eglintoune, in the war before last;
one of those regiments which the late Lord Chatham prided himself in
having brought from 'the mountains of the north': by doing which he
contributed to extinguish in the Highlands the remains of disaffection
to the present Royal Family. From this gentleman's conversation, I
first learnt how very popular his Colonel was among the Highlanders;
of which I had such continued proofs, during the whole course of my
tour, that on my return I could not help telling the noble Earl
himself, that I did not before know how great a man he was.
We were advised by some persons here to visit Rasay, in our way to
Dunvegan, the seat of the Laird of Macleod. Being informed that the
Rev. Mr Donald M'Queen was the most intelligent man in Sky, and having
been favoured with a letter of introduction to him, by the learned Sir
James Foulis, I sent it to him by an express, and requested he would
meet us at Rasay; and at the same time enclosed a letter to the Laird
of Macleod, informing him that we intended in a few days to have the
honour of waiting on him at Dunvegan.
Dr Johnson this day endeavoured to obtain some knowledge of the state
of the country; but complained that he could get no distinct
information about any thing, from those with whom he conversed.