interesting stories,' and the blow and the blank were the more
sensible.

Early the next month Robert Stevenson must proceed upon his voyage
of inspection, part by land, part by sea. He left his wife plunged
in low spirits; the thought of his loss, and still more of her
concern, was continually present in his mind, and he draws in his
letters home an interesting picture of his family relations:

'Windygates Inn, Monday (Postmark July 16th)

'MY DEAREST JEANNIE,--While the people of the inn are getting me a
little bit of something to eat, I sit down to tell you that I had a
most excellent passage across the water, and got to Wemyss at mid-
day. I hope the children will be very good, and that Robert will
take a course with you to learn his Latin lessons daily; he may,
however, read English in company. Let them have strawberries on
Saturdays.'

'Westhaven, 17th July.

'I have been occupied to-day at the harbour of Newport, opposite
Dundee, and am this far on my way to Arbroath. You may tell the
boys that I slept last night in Mr. Steadman's tent. I found my
bed rather hard, but the lodgings were otherwise extremely
comfortable. The encampment is on the Fife side of the Tay,
immediately opposite to Dundee. From the door of the tent you
command the most beautiful view of the Firth, both up and down, to
a great extent. At night all was serene and still, the sky
presented the most beautiful appearance of bright stars, and the