Wesley Corpus

Wed. 24.--Mr. Hopper and I took horse between three and four, and about seven came to Old Camus. Whether the country was good or bad we could not see, having a thick mist all the way. ‘The Scotch towns are like none which I ever saw, either in England, Wales, or Ireland: there is such an air of antiquity in them all, and such a peculiar oddness in their manner of building. But we were most surprised at the entertainment we met with in every place, so far different from common report. We had all things good, cheap, in great abundance, and remarkably well dressed. In the afternoon we rode by Preston Field, and saw the place of battle, and Colonel Gardiner’s house. The Scotch here affirm, that he fought on foot after he was dismounted, and refused to take quarter. Be it as it may, he is now * where the wicked cease from troubling, and where the weary are at rest.” We reached Musselburgh between four and five. I had no intention to preach in Scotland; nor did [ imagine there were any that desired | should. But I was mistaken. Curiosity (if nothing else) brought a ---- May, 1751.] REY. J. WESLEY'S JOURNAL. 518 abundance of people together in the evening. And whereas in the kirk (Mrs. G informed me) there used to be laughing and talking, and all the marks of the grossest inattention, it was [now ] far otherwise here: they remained as statues from the beginning of the sermon to the end. Thur. 25.--We rode to Edinburgh; one of the dirtiest cities I had ever seen, not eacepting Colen in Germany. We returned to Musselburgh to dinner, whither we were followed in the afternoon by a little party of gentlemen from Edinburgh. I know not why any should complain of the shyness of the Scots toward strangers. All I spoke with were as free and open with me as the people of Newcastle or Bristol ; nor did any person move any dispute of any kind, or ask me any question concerning my opinion.