Grampian Club > Boswelliana

MEMOIR OF JAMES BOSWELL. 91
" Piety," he writes, " afforded me comfort ; yet I was disturbed
by the objections that have been made against a particular
Providence, and by the arguments of those who maintain that
it is in vain to hope that the petitions of an individual, or even
of congregations, can have any influence with the Deity; objec-
tions which have been often made, and which Dr. Hawkesworth
has lately revived in his preface to the ' Voyages to the South
Seas ; ' but Dr. Ogden's excellent doctrines on the efficacy of
intercession prevailed."
At Col the travellers enjoyed the hospitality of Donald
INIaclean, the young laird who some time previously was a com-
panion of their journey. Owing to unfavourable winds they
remained at Col till Wednesday, the 13th October, when they
sailed for Tobermory, in Mull. From thence they proceeded to
Ulva and Inchkenneth, enjoying on both islands the hospitality
of the owners, Mr. M'Quane and Sir Allan Maclean. Sir Allan
accompanied them in their voyage round Mull to the island of
lona. They reached the island at nightfall, and procured beds
in a barn among hay. Boswell records that he was much im-
pressed with the solemnity of the scene ; while Sir Allan and
Dr. Johnson were at breakfast he quietly left his companions
and returned to the cathedral. In these words he records his
reflections : —
"While contemplating the venerable ruins I reflected with
much satisfaction that the solemn scenes of piety never lose
their sanctity and influence, though the cares and follies of life
may prevent us from visiting them, or may even make us fancy
that their effects are only as yesterday when it is past, and
never again to be perceived. I hoped that ever after having
been in this holy place I should maintain an exemplary conduct.
One has a strong propensity to fix upon some point of time from
whence a better course of life may begin."
Accompanied by Sir Allan Maclean the travellers returned to
MuU. After enjoying a series of hospitalities they sailed for