Grampian Club > Boswelliana

92 MEMOIR OF JAMES BOSWELL.
Oban, on the mainland. Next day they posted to luverary.
Boswell reported their arrival to the Duke of Argyll, who cor-
dially invited them to dinner. To Dr. Johnson the Duke and
Duchess were extremely courteous, but Bos well's presence was
by the Duchess studiously ignored. As widow of the late Duke
of Hamilton she directed her displeasure at Boswell's zeal on
behalf of Mr. Archibald Douglas in claiming the Douglas estates,
which she believed to belong lawfully to her former husband.
Boswell took her Grace's displeasure as a compliment to his
talents, and has in his "Journey" playfully remarked that, his
"punishment being inflicted by so dignified a beauty,* he had
the consolation which a man would feel who is strangled by a
silken cord."
Arriving on the shores of Lochlomond, the travellers visited
Sir James Colquhoun, Bart., at Kossdhu, and Mr, Commissary
Smollett, cousin of Dr. Tobias Smollett. They posted for Glasgow,
inspecting en route the ancient castle of Dumbarton. At Glas-
gow they visited the university, and two of the professors dined
with them at their inn. Proceeding to Ayrshire, they dined with
the Earl of Loudoun, and visited the aged Countess of Eglinton.
During the journey Boswell received a letter from his father,
permitting him to bring his friend to Auchinleck. They arrived
there on Sunday, the 2nd November, and remained a week.
Lord Auchinleck and Dr. Johnson contended keenly on various
points, but the social current moved more smoothly than
Boswell had anticipated. Lord Auchinleck regarded Dr. John-
son's politics with aversion, and had denounced him as a
" Jacobite." Illustrative of his dislike, an anecdote has been
preserved by Sir Walter Scott. When Boswell left Edinburgh
* John, fifth Duke of Argyll, married Elizabeth, relict of James,
sixth Duke of Hamilton, and daughter of Jolm Gunning, Esq., of
Castle Coote, co. Eoscommon. The Duchess was a celebrated beauty.