I conclude that the Quarterly Review and Miss Williams’ account of France, which I have lately
received from the Foreign Office, are from you. I assure you that both are most
acceptable in this retired place; between which and the nearest court of Modern
Literature lie the two formidable waters which keep this corner of Angus at
least a century behind other places in the known civilized world. It is true
that the ruins of Cardinal
Beatoun’s tower, and the Cathedral and College of St.
Andrews, are visible from our windows; but they carry one back only to times of
violence and civil war, and make one expect to hear more particulars of
Huntley’s conspiracy, or of
Mary’s weakness, and Knox’s hard justice, while you are
listening to tales from Paris of oppressed people and king, and spoiled
galleries and humbled conquerors, and imprisoned Emperors, and things just, and
but just, remembered here, where a weekly paper at most connects us with the
news of the southern world. But we have books and a garden, and, like all poor
people, plenty of occupation for our hands, and even heads, that we may live
and not lose caste, which in this poor, proud country, where Montrose and Dundee are still in the mouths of the people, is even more
difficult than in most parts of the southern portion of the Island. Our
establishment here consists of our two selves, a sister of Graham’s, two women, two dogs, and some
poultry; and our cottage is large enough to entertain a friend; so that in
spite of peace and half pay we are far better off than most of our brother
officers. The dogs and gun furnish an excuse for a great deal of walking to the
Captain, and the garden for a good deal of exercise to me; but as to a party,
either for a dinner, or an evening, or a morning visit, they are things quite
unknown and un-
| 320 | MEMOIRS OF JOHN MURRAY |
