too well. And I am certain that in such a state of anxiety as I myself
at present feel, an absolute denial would be a much preferable state.

[Footnote 1: The original MS. of the foregoing letter is the property
of John Adam, Esquire, Greenock, and the letter was first published
in 1878. If it is a genuine love-letter, and not a mere exercise in
love-letter writing, it was probably the first of the short series to
Alison Begbie, who is supposed to have been the daughter of a small
farmer, and who has been identified with the Mary Morison of the
well-known lyric. The sentiment of the last paragraph of the letter
agrees with the sentiment of the last stanza of the song.]

* * * * *

II.-To ELLISON BEGBIE.

[LOCHLIE, 1780.]

MY DEAR E.,--I do not remember, in the course of your acquaintance and
mine, ever to have heard your opinion on the ordinary way of falling in
love, amongst people in our station in life; I do not mean the persons
who proceed in the way of bargain, but those whose affection is really
placed on the person.

Though I be, as you know very well, but a very awkward lover myself,
yet, as I have some opportunities of observing the conduct of others who
are much better skilled in the affair of courtship than I am, I often
think it is owing to lucky chance, more than to good management, that
there are not more unhappy marriages than usually are.