John Leech and other papers

140 Horce Stibsecivcz.
TULLIALLAN.
I went with Lord Gillies and Mrs. Gillies to spend
the Christmas holidays at Tulliallan. We met Ad-
miral and Mrs. Fleming, Mr. and Mrs. Keay of
Snaigo, Mr. John Murray (afterwards Lord Murray),
Mr. and Mrs. Russell, Mr. Thomas Thomson, etc. —
a very pleasant party.
Lady Keith wished me to take in Count Flahault,
but no feasible means could be devised till one day
that a robbery had been committed in the neighbour-
hood. Two boys were accused, named John Murray
and Alexander Jamieson ; the former had escaped,
but the other was taken up, and brought to be ex-
amined before the justices of the peace assembled
at the castle.
It was suggested that I should come in the form
of the mother of one of these lads. Accordingly,
a costume was borrowed from the dairymaid, and I
was speedily transformed into the character of Mrs.
Jamieson, who desired to speak with some of the
gentlemen that were taking the precognition.
I cannot say that I felt altogether comfortable when
I was ushered into an apartment among a motley
group of witnesses, and was desired to wait until I
was called up-stairs ; but Lady Keith arranged that I
should not have long to wait, and desired the servant