[JB's journal broke off with his entry, in London, for 23 February 1766, eleven days after his return to London from his European travels, and would not be resumed until January 1767. He returned to Edinburgh about 7 March. The Court of Session's 1766 summer session ended on 11 August. The following day, JB and his father travelled from Edinburgh to Auchinleck for the autumn vacation. It seems likely that it was at Auchinleck that JB started to compile the following memoranda, notes and jottings.]

I remember I once maintained that the pleasure of mere pure Idleness was now & then very great. I was laughed at for this thought; & I began to think it absurd. However several years after I now find it authorised by Cicero lib: 2. De. Orat. ‘Mihi liber non videtur, qui non aliquando nihil agit: in qua permaneo sententia, meque cum huc veni, hoc ipsum nihil agere & plane cessare delectat.’

A man of refined taste and feelings is not to wonder when dull Common sense Mortals laugh at his qualitys. They do so as a clown would laugh at a picture of Raphael's or an air of Sassone’s, from mere ignorance.

[p. 2]

Voi erate felice di non say more foolishly e di veder poco female part &c. Vedete sta mattina Mr. Logan &c —

Pomfret Cakes to Mr Hugh —

Stanley's Switzerland

J. Tonson 1714.

[p. 3]

I am allways an Advocate in behalf of men who have a great deal of fancy; for I have experienced the advantages & the inconveniencies of it. Often when I was reading, inordinate Fancy has forced into my mind so many ideas, that when I closed the Book, I could not absolutely say what was in the Book & what not. Just so after having seen anything or heard any story a Man of fancy instantaneously sees many circumstances which would be an improvement. He rolls them in his mind & imperceptibly they are so mixed with the reality that He cannot distinguish which is which. I would therefore be cautious in receiving the relations of a Man of fancy; not because He wishes to tell a lie, but because He may very probably be mistaken.