Additional Notes
10. The visit to Prestonpans, pp. 676-7. We reached Preston Pans precisely at 2 o'clock. Francis was in waiting at the Distillery, we alighted at the east end of the Distillery nearly opposite to a house possessed by Mr and Mrs Warroch when Sir Walter came to Preston Pans for Sea bathing some 53 years ago - we adjourned to the sea-side below a kind of arch or pend and stood on the bullwork for some time. there was thunder at this moment, when some of us proposed to take shelter from the impending rain but Sir Walter objected to any other shelter than a cotters house by the road - after cracking for some time at this spot & looking over a plan of the battle of Preston Pans which Francis had in his pocket we set out for our visit to the field. Sir Walter agreeing to go by the Village of Preston, Bankton &c - I forgot to mention, that on alighting from the carriage I introduced Francis to Sir Walter, strange to say they had not met before -1 introduced Francis as Sir Walters veiled publisher for three years - Sir Walter was very pleasing in his reply & said he expected to meet to day a very old friend in my mother -We all trudged up Preston loan - the rain becoming heavy. Sir Walter mentioned a thunder storm which broke almost over his head one day this last spring when walking out at Abbotsford. it was so near as to make him start - it did some damage at Melrose - Sir Walter stated that his dogs which were with him ran off home - The rain becoming heavier, Francis got the gate of Preston Tower garden opened where we retreated under cover of the ruin, which Sir Walter admired very much, as well as the old cross at Preston, on mentioning the annual meeting of packmen, he stated that for many years Scotch packmen travelled all over the continent of Europe and were more esteemed than those of any other country on account of the probity & resolution. While Francis showed Ballantyne up the Tower, Sir Walter and I had a confab on business matters, principally about the proposed dividend on his affairs in autumn. I could not help saying that these gentlemen might get over their difficulties if I as the Publisher was so willing to stretch a point to meet whatever call they chose to make on me. Francis & Ballantyne joined us after this when we walked up the narrow road to Bankton gate - at this spot Sir Walter repeated to Francis the entire Ballad of Johny Cope - on Francis telling a story of Skirving the author of the song and the Lieutenant Smith who is named in it Sir Walter told one where Skirving was going to be challenged by Smith - 'Skirving was threshing corn when he received the message, he replied that he should like to see this Smith for if he thought he could fight him he would do it, if not he would follow Mr Smiths example and run away'. Francis's story was that Smith being quartered at Haddington had Skirving pointed out to him on market day with straw ropes
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