Star.
London, England, 1831-01-26 00:00:00

IVINDHAM AND SURER-

lkons the " Correspondence and Reminiscences" of Sir Jolts Sonsats,
But. a work which, when it appears, will be devoured by the
literary and political world.
My acquaintance with Mr. Windham led to a train of
circumstances, which, taken together, form part of the most
singular series of adventures that ever occurred in real life,
and resemble more a fictitious romance than an authentic
history.
At a late hour one evening, I received a few lines from
my friend, Dr. Adam Smith, (the particular time I do not
!collect ) requesting my company ac dinner next day, to
meet the celebrated Edmund Burke and Mr. Windham,
who had arrived at Edinburgh, with an intention of making
a short tour through the Highlands. The Doctor apolo-
gised for the shortness of this notice, stating, that the tra-
vellers had arrived only that morning, and proposed remain-
ing one day more in Edinburgh. I went accordingly, and
passed some hours as might be-expected in the company of
such men, in the most gratifying manner. I gave them my
advice as to the plan they ought to adopt in making their
intended tour ; and, in particular, dwelt on the beauty of the
road between Dunkeld and Blair ; adding, that instead of
being cooped up in a post •chaise, they had better get out,
and walk through the delightful woods and beautiful scenes
they would pass through, the more especially some miles
beyond Dunkeld.
I had almost forgotten these circumstances, when about
three years after, Mr. Windham very unexpectedly came to
me in the House of Commons, and requested to speak to me
for a few moments behind the Speaker's chair. "Do you
recollect," said he, " our meeting together at Adam Smith's
at dinner ?" " Most certainly I do."
" Do you rembember having given us directions for our
Highland tour, and more especially to stroll through the
woods between Dunkeld and Blair?" " I do."
He then added—" An event took place in consequence of
our adopting that advice, of which I must now inform you.
Burke and I were strolling through the woods, about ten
miles from Dunkeld, when we saw a young female sitting
under a tree reading. Burke immediately exelaimed, "let
us have a little conversation with this solitary damsel,
and see what she is about." We accosted her
accordingly, and found that she was reading a
recent novel front the London press. We asked
her how she came to read novels! How she got
such books at so great a distance from the metropolis ; and
more especially one so recently published ? She answered
that she had been educated at a boarding-school at Perth,
where novels might be had from the circulating library, and
that she had procured them through the same channel. We
carried on the conversation for some time, in the course of
hich she displayed a great deal of smartness and talent:
and at last we were obliged, very reluctantly, to leave her,
and proceed on our journey. We afterwards found that she
was the daughter of a proprietor of that neighbourhood,
who was known under the name of " the Baron Maclaren."
" I have never been able," continued Mr. Windham, " to
get this beautiful mountain nymph out of my head, and I
wish you to ascertain whether she is married or single!"
He begged me to clear this point as soon as possible, as
much of his future happiness depended upon the result of
the inquiry.
I lost no time in attending to this request, and applied
for information to a most respectable clergyman in the neigh-
bourhood where Miss Maclaren lived (the Rev. Dr. Stewart,
Minister of Moulin), who informed me, in course of post,
that she was married to a medical gentleman, of the name
of Dick, who had gone to the East Indies. Upon commu-
nicating this to Mr. Windham' he seemed very much agi-
tated. He was soon afterwards married to the daughter of
a half-pay officer. I have no doubt, however, that had Miss
Maclaren continued single, he would have paid her his ad-
dresses.
Some years afterwards, I happened to be spending some
days at Duncarn, in Perthshire, with the late Lord Mel-
ville, and, in the course of our conversation, mentioned the
above anecdote of Mr. Windham; upon which the Noble
Lord said, " I am more interested in this matter than you
imagine. You must know that, in company with some
friends, I was riding down from Blair to Dunkeld, when we
called at Baron Maclaren's, where a most beautiful young
woman desired to speak with me. We went accordingly to
the bank of a river near her father's house, when she said,
" Mr. Dundas, I hear that you are a very great man, and,
what is much better, a very good man. I will venture,
therefore, to tell you a secret. There is a young man
in this neighbourhood, who has a strong attachment
to me, and to confess the truth, I have a great regard for
him. His name is William Dick ; he has been bred to the
medical profession • and he says, that if he could get to be
a surgeon in the East Indies, he would soon make his for.
tune there, and would send for me to marry him. Now,
I apply to you, Mr. Dundas, as a great and a good man, in
hopes that you can do something for us ; and be assured
that we shall be over grateful, if you will procure him an
appointment.' " Lord Melville was so much struck with
the impassive manner of her address, that he took her by
the hand and said, " My good girl, be assured, that if an
opportunity offers, I shall not forget your application."
Lord MeLv ILL,. then added, that some time afterwards
be received a summons to attend his duty in Parliament,
and in his way, happened to visit a friend who was an East
India Director. After dinner, his friend said to him, "By
the bye; Mr. Dundee, politicians like you, have many appli-
cations in favor of young men, in various lines of life. 1
think it right, therefore, to tell you, that I have, at present
et my disposal an appointment of surgeon in the service of
the East India Company, and that it is much at your

vice.ser"
Lord Melville was so much surprised at the singularity of
this circumstance, that he struck hie hand forcibly against
the table where the sat, and exclaimed with great vehe-
mence, "The very thing I most anxiously wished for!" He
then related his adventure at Baron Maclaren's, greatly to
the amusement of the India Director. Mr. Dick was im-
mediately appointed surgeon, and having gone to the East
Indies, was soon placed in a situation which enabled him to
send for Miss Maclaren, to whom he was married, and Mr.
Windham was thus disappointed of his northern alliance. In
the course of the voyage, and after her arrival in the East,
she had several offers, but she refused to hear of any one but
Mr. Dick.
Nor was this all. Dr. Dick having made a handsome
fawns in the East Indies, came home and purchased an
west*, called Tullimet, in the neighbourhood of where be
was born. There he lived in a most hospitable manner,
and Mrs. Dick and he were highly and deservedly re-
spected.. He also had a house in London, where he resided
during the winter season, and acquired a great reputation
for his skill in the management of liver complaints; be was
greatly confided in by his Indian friends respecting that
disorder. It seems that Sir Walter Scott was afilicted with
a complaint in his liver, which was likely to prove fatal to
him. Hearing of Dr. Dick's fame, Sir Walter was induced
tcesarilly to him for advice, and by his means the life of that
e
ted.author was preserved.
emesemmeminst
We cannot deny ourselves the pleasure of congratulating
theeitisens of London on the triumphant state of the poll
teethe election of Chamberlain, in favour of Sir James Shaw
—a getstleman whose n bole life has been a series of loyalty
and patriotism, and whose private character has in all relations
commanded and obtained universal respect.

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