Though Dr Johnson was lazy, and averse to move, I insisted that he
should go with me, and pay a visit to the Countess of Eglintoune,
mother of the late and present earl. I assured him, he would find
himself amply recompensed for the trouble; and he yielded to my
solicitations, though with some unwillingness. We were well mounted,
and had not many miles to ride. He talked of the attention that is
necessary in order to distribute our charity judiciously. 'If
thoughtlessly done, we may neglect the most deserving objects; and, as
every man has but a certain proportion to give, if it is lavished upon
those who first present themselves, there may be nothing left for such
as have a better claim. A man should first relieve those who are
nearly connected with him, by whatever tie; and then, if he has any
thing to spare, may extend his bounty to a wider circle.'
As we passed very near the castle of Dundonald, which was one of the
many residencies of the kings of Scotland, and in which Robert the
Second lived and died, Dr Johnson wished to survey it particularly. It
stands on a beautiful rising ground, which is seen at a great distance
on several quarters, and from whence there is an extensive prospect of
the rich district of Cuninghame, the western sea, the isle of Arran,
and a part of the northern coast of Ireland. It has long been
unroofed; and, though of considerable size, we could not, by any power
of imagination, figure it as having been a suitable habitation for
majesty. Dr Johnson, to irritate my old Scottish enthusiasm, was very
jocular on the homely accommodation of 'King Bob', and roared and
laughed till the ruins echoed.
Lady Eglintoune, though she was now in her eighty-fifth year, and had
lived in the retirement of the country for almost half a century, was
still a very agreeable woman. She was of the noble house of Kennedy,
and had all the elevation which the consciousness of such birth
inspires. Her figure was majestick, her manners high-bred, her reading
extensive, and her conversation elegant. She had been the admiration
of the gay circles of life, and the patroness of poets. Dr Johnson was
delighted with his reception here. Her principles in Church and state
were congenial with his. She knew all his merit, and had heard much of
him from her son, Earl Alexander, who loved to cultivate the
acquaintance of men of talents, in every department.
All who knew his lordship, will allow that his understanding and
accomplishments were of no ordinary rate. From the gay habits which he
had early acquired, he spent too much of his time with men, and in
pursuits far beneath such a mind as his. He afterwards became sensible
of it, and turned his thoughts to objects of importance; but was cut
off in the prime of his life. I cannot speak, but with emotions of the
most affectionate regret, of one, in whose company many of my early
days were passed, and to whose kindness I was much indebted.
Often must I have occasion to upbraid myself, that soon after our
return to the main land, I allowed indolence to prevail over me so
much, as to shrink from the labour of continuing my Journal with the
same minuteness as before; sheltering myself in the thought, that we
had done with the Hebrides; and not considering, that Dr Johnson's
Memorabilia were likely to be more valuable when we were restored to a
more polished society. Much has thus been irrecoverably lost.
In the course of our conversation this day, it came out, that Lady
Eglintoune was married the year before Dr Johnson was born; upon which
she graciously said to him, that she might have been his mother; and
that she now adopted him; and when we were going away, she embraced
him, saying, 'My dear son, farewell!' My friend was much pleased with
this day's entertainment, and owned that I had done well to force him
out.