asure. The war brightened us with
uniforms, and strangers, and shows.

'Over all this, there was diffused the influence of a greater number
of persons attached to literature and science, some as their calling,
and some for pleasure, than could be found, in proportion to the
population, in any other city in the empire. Within a few years,
including the period I am speaking of, the College contained Principal
Robertson, Joseph Black, his successor Hope, the second Munro, James
Gregory, John Robison, John Playfair, and Dugald Stewart; none of them
confined monastically to their books, but all--except Robison, who was
in bad health--partaking of the enjoyments of the world. Episcopacy
gave us the Rev. Archibald Alison; and in Blair, Henry, John Home, Sir
Harry Moncreiff, and others, Presbytery made an excellent
contribution, the more to be admired that it came from a church which
eschews rank, and boasts of poverty. The law, to which Edinburgh has
always been so largely indebted, sent its copious supplies; who,
instead of disturbing good company by professional matter--an offence
with which the lawyers of every place are charged--were remarkably
free of this vulgarity; and being trained to take difference of
opinion easily, and to conduct discussions with forbearance, were,
without undue obtrusion, the most cheerful people that were to be met
with. Lords Monboddo, Hailes, Glenlee, Meadowbank, and Woodhouselee,
all literary judges, and Robert Blair, Henry Erskine, and Henry
Mackenzie, senior, were at the earlier end of this file; Scott and
Jeffrey at the later--but including a variety of valuable persons
between these extremities. Sir William Forbes, Sir James Hall, and Mr
Clerk of Eldin, represented a class of country gentlemen cultivating
learning on its account. And there were several, who, like the founder
of the Huttonian theory, selected this city for their residence solely
from the consideration in which science and letters were here held,
and the facilities, or rather the temptations, presented for their
prosecution. Philosophy had become indigenous in the place, and all
classes, even in their gayest hours, were proud of the presence of its
cultivators. Thus learning was improved by society, and society by
learning. And unless when party-spirit interfered--which, at one time,
however, it did frequently and bitterly--perfect harmony, and, indeed,
lively cordiality, prevailed.

'And all this was still a Scotch scene.