"The Living Lamp of Lothian, which from Winton, has so long shed its
beneficent lustre, has been extinguished, but not so will be lost the
memory of the gifted lady, for by not a few will still be cherished the
recollection of her noble nature, and of her Christian life."

Lady Ruthven prized the picture referred to. She would not, as Sir
Francis Grant relates,[D] permit him to touch the canvas after it left
the Abbotsford studio; and it remained a cherished possession which she
took pride in showing to appreciative guests, pointing out the details
of face and form which she still saw with that inner eye, which time had
not darkened.

It is now in the National Portrait Gallery of Scotland--bequeathed to
the nation with other pictures, as well as the magnificent collection of
Greek archaeological objects gathered by herself and Lord Ruthven in
their early married life. She was born in 1789, and died in 1885.

[444] Robert Dundas of Arniston, Esq., the worthy representative of an
illustrious lineage, died at his paternal seat in June 1838.--J.G.L. See
_Arniston Memoirs_--_Three Centuries of a Scottish House_, 1571-1838.
Edin. 8vo, 1887.

[D] See long and interesting letter of June 5, 1872, from Sir Francis to
Sir W.S. Maxwell.--Laing's _Catalogue_, pp. 72-81.

APRIL.

_April_ 2.--Mr. Henry Liddell, eldest son of Lord Ravensworth, arrived
here. I like him and his brother Tom very much. They are what may be
termed fine men. Young Mackenzie of Cromarty came with him, who is a
fine lad and sings very beautifully. I knew his father and mother, and
was very glad to see him. They had been at Mertoun fishing salmon, with
little sport.

_April_ 3.--A letter from the Lord Chief Commissioner, reporting Lord
Palmerston and Sir Herbert Taylor's letters in Charles's favour. Wrote a
grateful answer, and resolved, that as I have made my opinion public at
every place where I could be called on or expected to appear, I will not
throw myself forward when I have nothing to say. May the Lord have mercy
upon us and incline our hearts to keep this vow!

_April_ 4.--Mr. Liddell and Hay Mackenzie left us this morning. Liddell
showed me yesterday a very good poem, worthy of Pope or Churchill, in
old-fashioned hexameters, called the [_illegible_]. He has promised me a
copy, for it is still being printed. There are some characters very well
drawn. The force of it belies the character of a Dandie, too hastily
ascribed to the author.