Wesley Corpus

a solemn parting, as we could hardly expect to meet again in the present world. Wed. 12. I dined once more at Sir Lodowick Grant's, whom likewise I scarce expect to see any more. His Lady is lately gone to rest, andhe seems to be swiftlyfollowing her. Achurch being offered me at Elgin, in the evening I had a multitude of hearers, whom I strongly exhorted to " seek the Lord while he may be found." Thursday, 13. We took a view of the poor remains of the once-magnificent cathedral. By what ruins are left, the workmanship appears to havebeen exquisitely fine. What barbarians must they have been, who hastened the destruction of this beautiful pile,by taking the lead off the roof ! [May, 1784. The church was again well filled inthe evening, by those who seemed to feel much more than the night before. In conse- quence, the morning congregation was more than doubled; and deep attention sat on every face. I do not despair of good being done even here, provided the Preachers be " sons of thunder." Fri. 14. We saw, at a distance, the Duke of Gordon's new house, six hundred and fifty feet in front. Well might the Indian ask, " Are you white men no bigger than we redmen? Then why do you build such lofty houses ?" The country between this and Banff is well cultivated, and extremely plea- sant. About two I read Prayers andpreachedin the Episcopal chapel at Banff, one of the neatest towns in the kingdom. About ten I preached in Lady Banff's dining-room, at Fort-Glen, to a very serious, though genteel, congregation ; and afterwards spent a most agreeable evening with the lovely family. Sat. 15. We set out early, and dined at Aberdeen. On the road I read Ewen Cameron's Translation of Fingal. I think hehasproved the authenticity ofit beyondall reasonablecontra- diction : But what a poet was Ossian ! Little inferior to either Homer or Virgil ; in some respects superior to both. Andwhat an hero was Fingal ! Far more humane than Hector himself, whom we cannot excuse for murdering one that lay upon the ground; and with whom Achilles, or even pious Æneas, is not worthy to be named. Butwho is this excellent translator, Ewen Cameron ? Is not his other name Hugh Blair ? Sun. 16. I went to Newburgh, a small fishing-town, fifteen