Chiefs of Grant > Correspondence

464 ADDITIONAL GRANT CORRESPONDENCE. [1779.
formidable to the independent power of those around him, that he rests his own, not so much
on superior talents, which perhaps at once give birth and favour the progress of ambition, as
on a wise and equitable administration, which procures him the attachment and support of
his own subjects, and commands the admiration and respect of foreigners, who, by con-
trasting their own situations, acknowledge the rare and inestimable felicity of living under a
wise and patriotic sovereign. In the country I am next to visit I mean to alter my plan of
observation, and instead of turning my eyes to what men are, regard only what they have
been. In doing this I shall avoid the sight of distorted, mutilated nature ; and if it is true
that the deprivation of one sense heightens the acuteness of another, I shall derive addi-
tional pleasure in listening to the enchanting sounds of Italian music. While I am on this
subject, my surprise recurs to me that the Emperor should have given up so much of his time
to a study banished out of the modern system of fashionable education, as to be able to
perform like a gentleman on three different instruments, and accompany one of them, the
harpsichord, with an harmonious, manly voice. I never had the honour of hearing him, and
so very few have, that I should have doubted the fact if I had it not from the most credible
authority. That all the women of quality here, with a few exceptions, should play on the
last-mentioned instrument, is not so much a matter of wonder as that they should attain to
such proficiency, unless we are of opinion that instrumental music is as natural to the genius
of a German as vocal is to that of an Italian.
My ideas are again brought back to the termination of my journey as well as to the
propriety of finishing my letter. But before I close my correspondence with you in Europe,
allow me to repeat my best and sincerest wishes for the continuance, or, if possible, the
increase of that superior happiness which I left you and Lady Grant in the full enjoyment
of. And as the prosperity of your family is one of the great foundations of it, I flatter
myself with the hope that on some future day I may be called upon as one of the Highland
supporters to your shield ; or, if that conveys too savage an idea for modern times, that my
willing services may be required, like one of those props raised against a solid wall, less for
utility than relieving the eye and giving the mason employment, and thereby enable me to
give better testimony than words of the goodness of my inclination. The Misses Grant, not
on account of their being your sisters, but from their own personal merit, will always command
the remembrance of those who have the honour of their acquaintance ; and Mr. and Mrs.
Mackenzie's politeness and civility to me while at Edinburgh, demand my very particular
acknowledgements. But I will not trouble you with the names of any more to whom the
tribute of my respect and good wishes is due, excepting my friend and namesake, the young
parson, to whom I have often been obliged, and on this occasion will be further indebted to
him, if he will let my friends in the north and in his neighbourhood know that I have been
well, in case the dissipation of this place should interfere with so essential a part of my own
duty. I shall now take a long farewell, but I hope you will readily believe that no distance