 remnants of rarities, rendered his conversation desirable, in spite of
his pedantry and ungracious address. - I have often met with a crab-apple in a
hedge, which I have been tempted to eat for its flavour, even while I was
disgusted by its austerity. The spirit of contradiction is naturally so strong
in Lismahago, that I believe in my conscience he has rummaged, and read, and
studied with indefatigable attention, in order to qualify himself to refute
established maxims, and thus raise trophies for the gratification of polemical
pride. - Such is the asperity of his self-conceit, that he will not even
acquiesce in a transient compliment made to his own individual in particular, or
to his country in general.
    When I observed, that he must have read a vast number of books to be able to
discourse on such a variety of subjects, he declared he had read little or
nothing, and asked how he should find books among the woods of America, where he
had spent the greatest part of his life. My nephew remarking that the Scots in
general were famous for their learning, he denied the imputation, and defied him
to prove it from their works. - »The Scots (said he) have a slight tincture of
letters, with which they make a parade among people who are more illiterate than
themselves; but they may be said to float on the surface of science, and they
have made very small advances in the useful arts.« »At least, (cried Tabby) all
the world allows that the Scots behaved gloriously in fighting and conquering
the savages of America.« »I can assure you, madam, you have been misinformed;
(replied the lieutenant) in that continent the Scots did nothing more than their
duty, nor was there one corps in his majesty's service that distinguished itself
more than another. - Those who affected to extol the Scots for superior merit,
were no friends to that nation.«
    Though he himself made free with his countrymen, he would not suffer any
other person to glance a sarcasm at them with impunity. One of the company
chancing to mention lord B--'s inglorious peace, the lieutenant immediately took
up the cudgels in his lordship's favour, and argued very strenuously to prove
that it was the most honourable and advantageous peace that England had ever
made since the foundation of the monarchy. - Nay, between friends, he offered
such reasons on this subject, that I was really confounded, if not convinced. -
He would not allow that the Scots abounded above their proportion in the army
and
