Page:Narratives of the mission of George Bogle to Tibet.djvu/159

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Intr.]
LETTER OF HASTINGS TO DR. JOHNSON.
cli

Dr. Thomas Brown, the eldest son by this marriage (a physician in Glasgow), was of Langside in Eenfrewshire, where Mary Queen of Scots was defeated, and of Lanfine in Ayrshire. He married Marion, sister of Lord Jeffrey. Their son, Thomas Brown of Waterhaughs and Lanfine, was the author of 'Borgia, a Tragedy,' and other poems, and was a man of ability and literary attainments. At one time he contemplated the preparation of the Bogle manuscripts for publication, and consulted his uncle. Lord Jeffrey, on the subject. But he never found time to carry out his intention. He died in 1873, and was succeeded by his sister, Miss Martha Brown, now of Lanfine.

George Bogle, if he had been spared, had fully intended to publish the journal of his mission to Tibet; and the letter from Warren Hastings, already quoted,[1] shows that the Governor-General considered that this interesting narrative should be given to the world. In another letter, to Dr. Samuel Johnson, dated the 7th of August, 1775, Mr. Hastings referred to the same subject, and enclosed a copy of Bogle's journal. "When I read the account of your visit to the Hebrides," he continues, "I could not help wishing that a portion of that spirit which could draw so much entertainment and instruction from a region so little befriended by nature, or improved by the arts of society, could have animated Mr. Bogle, the author of this journal, but I flatter myself that you will find it not unworthy of perusal. I confess I received great pleasure from it, and I assure myself, that whatever originality you may discover in the description of the countries and inhabitants of which it treats, you will at least be pleased with the amiable character of the Lama. I am afraid it may look like an ill compliment, after having desired your acceptance of this production, to tell you that I have endeavoured to prevail on the writer to put it into a more connected form, and to send it, with some additiolial materials, to England for publication. If it would not be assuming too

  1. See p. cxli.