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FROM   THE    liSTATE    OF 


JAMES  BRADSTREET  GREENOUGH 

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1883-1901 


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SIR   WALTER   SCOTT; 

HORATIO  N  JOY 


WITH 


A  BIOGRAPHY, 


AND    HIS    LAST 


ADDITIONS  AND  ILLUSTRATIONS. 


VOL.  V. 


PHILADELPHIA: 

CARET   &   HART. 

1847. 


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MEMOIRS 


o^roM 


LIFE  OF  SIR  WALTER  SCOTT,  Ba«t. 


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PREFACE.. 


In  obedience  to  the  instructions  of  Sir  Walter 
Scott's  last  will,  I  bad  made  some  progress  in  a 
narrative  of  his  personal  history,  before  there  was 
discovered,  in  an  old  cabinet  at  Abbotsford,  ah 
autobiographical  fragment,  compo^  by  him  in 
1808,  shortly  af^r  the  publication  of  his  Marmion. 

This  fortunate  acciaen(  rendered  it  necessary 
that  I  should  altogether  remodel  the  work  which 
I  had  commenced.  The  first  chapter  of  the  fol- 
iowii>g  Memoirs  Consists  of  the  Ashestiel  frajg- 
ment,  which  gives  a  clear  outline  of  his  early  life 
down  to  the  period  of  his  call  to  the  bar — July, 
1792.  All  the  notes  appended  to  this  chapter  are 
alio  by  himself.  They  are  in  a  hand  writing  very 
difierent  from  the  text,  and  seem,  from  various  cir- 
cumstances, to  have  been  added  in  1826. 

It  appeared  to  me,  hbwever,  that  the  author's 
modesty  had  prevented  him  from  tMling  the  story 
of  his  youth  with  that  fulness  of  detail  which 
would  now  satisfy  the  public.  I  have  therefore  re- 
cast my  own  collections  as  to  the  period  in  Question, 
and  presented  the  substance  of  them,  in  five  suc- 
ceeamg  chapters,  as  illustrations  of  his  too  brief 
autobiograpny.  This  procedure  has  been  attend- 
ed with  many  obvious  disadvantages ;  but  I  greats 
ly  preferred  it  to  printing  the  precious  fragment 
iman  appendix. 

I  foresee  that  some  readers  maybe  apt  to  accuse 
me  of  trenchine  upon  delicacy  in  beitain  details 
of  the  sixth  and  seventh  chapters  in  this  volume. 
Though  the  circumstances  there  treated  of  had  no 
.  irivialinfluence  on  Sir  Walter  Scott's  history  and 
character,  I  should  have  been  inclined,  for  many 
reasons,  to  omit  them;  but  the  choice  was,  in  fact, 
not  left  to  me, — for  they  had  been  mentioned,  and 
misrepresented,  in  various  preceding  sketches  of 
the  Life  which  I  had  undertaken  to  illustrate. 
Suc)i  being  the  case,  I  considered  it  as  my  duty  to 
tell  the  story  truly  and  intelligibly :  but  I  trust  I 
have  avoided  any  unnecessary  disclosures ;  and, 
after  all,  there  was  nothing  to  disclose  that  could 
have  attached  any  sort  of  blame  to  any  of  the  par- 
ties concerned. 

For  the^copious  materials  which  the  friends  of 
Sir  Walter  have  placed  at  my  disposal,  I  feel  just 
gratitude.  Several  of  them  are  named  itf  the 
course  of  the  present  volume ;  but  I  must  take  this 
opportunity  of  expressing  my  sense  of  the  deep 
ODlieations  under  which  I  have  been  laid  by  the 
frame  communications,  in  particular,  of  William 
Clerk,  Esq.,  of  Eldin,— John  Irvii^,  Esq.,  W.  S.. 
— Sir  Adam  Ferffuson, — ^James  Skene,  Es(i.,  of 
Rubislaw, — Patridc  Murray,  Esq.,  of  Simprim, — 
J.  B.  S.  Morritt,  Esq.,  of  Rokeby,— William 
Wordsworth,  Esq.,— Robert  Southey^  Esq.,  Poet 
Laureate, — Samuel  Rogers,Eisa^William  Stew- 
art Rose,  Esq., — Sir  Alexander  Wood, — ^ihe  Right 
Hon.  the  Lord  Chief  Commissioner  Adam, — the 
Right  Hon.  Sir  Williiim  Rae.  Bart,— the  late 
Right  Hon.  Sir  William  Knighton,  Bart.,— the 
Right  Hon.  J.  W.  Croker,— Lord  Jeffrey,— Sir 
Henry  Halford,  Bart.,  G.  C.  H,,— the  late  Major- 
General  Sir  John  Malcolm,  G.  C.  B., — Sir  Fran- 
cis Chantrey,  R.  A.^Sir  David  Wilkie,  R.  A., — 
Thomas  Thomson,  Esq.,  P.  C.  S.,— Charles  Kirk- 


Patrick  Sharpe,  Esq.,— William  Scott,  of  Raebum, 
Esq., — John  Scott,  of  Gala,   Esq., — Alexctzider 
Pringle,of  Whytbank,  Esq.,  M.  P.,— John  Sw^in- 
ton,  of  Inverleith-pUce,  Esq.. — ^John  Richardson, 
Esq.,  of  Fludyer  Street, — ^John  Murray,  E5<}^.,  of 
Albemaile  Street,— Robert  Bruce,  Esq.,  ShenfT  of 
Araprle,— Robert  Ferguson,  Esq.,  M.  D., — G.  P* 
R.  James,  E8q.,-«-Waiiam  Laidlaw,  Esih, — Ro- 
bert Cadell,  Esq.,— John  Elliot  Shortreed,  Eso ., — 
Allan  Cunningham,  Esq.,— Claud  Russell,  Esq., 
— James  Clarkson,  Esq.,  of  Melrose^ — the    late 
James  Ballantyne,  Esq., — Joseph  Train,  Esq., — 
Adolphus  Ross,  Esq.,  M.  D.,— William  Allan, 
Esq.,  R.  A.,— Charles  Dumergfue,  Esq., — Stephen 
Nicholson  Barber,  Esq.,— James  Slade,  Elsq^ — 
Mrs.  Joahna  Baillie,— Mrs.  George  Ellis, — Mrs. 
Thomas  Bcotx^ — Mrs.  Charles  Carpenter, — Miss 

Russell  of  Ashestiel, — Mrs.  Sarah  Nicholson, 

Mrs.  Duncan,  Mertoun-Manse, — the  Right  Hon. 
the  Lady  Polwarth, — and  her  sons,  Henry,  Mas- 
ter of  Polwarth,  the  Hon.  and  Rev.  William,  and 
the  Hon.  Francis  Scott.  • 

I  beg  leave  to  acknowledge  with  equal  thankful- 
ness the  courtesy  of  the  Rev.  Dr.  Harwood,  Tho- 
mas White,  •  Eisq.,  Mrs.  Thomson,  and  the  Rev. 
Richani  Garniatt,*  all  of  Lichfield,  and  the  Rev. 
Thomas  Henry  White,  of  Glasgow,  in  forward- 
ing to  me  Sir  Walter  Scott's  eany  letters  to  Miss 
Seward :  that  of  the  Lord  Seafora,  in  intrusting 
me  with  those  addressed  to  his  late  cousin,  Gteorge 
Ellis,  Esq. :  and  the  kind  readiness  with  which 
whatever  papers  in  their  possession  could  be  ser- 
viceable to  my  undertaking  were  supplied  by  the 
Duke  and  Duchess  of  Buccleuch,  and  the  Lord 
Montagu ;— the  Countess^Duchesa  of  Sutherland, 
and  thCgLord  Francis  'Egerton ; — the  Lord  Vis- 
count Sidmouth, — the  Lord  Bishop  of  Llandafif, —  • 
the  Right  Hon.  Sir  Robert  Peel,  Bart.,— the  IMy 
Louisa  Stuart— the  Hon.  Mrs.  Warrender,  'and 
the  Hon.  Catharine  Arden, — Lady  Davy, — Miss 
Edffeworth— Mrs.  Maclean  Clepnane^  of  TOr- 
loisk, — Mrs.  Huffhes,  of  Uffington, — Mrs.Charles 
Richardson, — Mrs.  Bartley ;-— Sir  (Jeor^  Mac> 
kenzie  of  Coul,  Bart.,— the  late  Sir  Frantfis  Freel- 
ing,  Bart.,— Captam  Sir  Hugh  Pigott,  R.  N.,— 
the  late  Sir  William  Gell,— Sir  Cuthbert  Sharp, 
—the  Very  Rev.  Principal  Baird,— the  Rev.  Wil- 
liam Steven,  of  Rotterdam, — the  late  Rev.  James 
Mitchell,ofWooler,— Robert  William  HAr,  Es^.. 
lately  Under  Secretary  of  State  for  the  Colomal 
Department,— John  Borthwick,  of  Crookstone, 
Esq., — John  Cay,  Esq.,  Sheriff  of  Linlitheow, — 
Captain  Basil  Hall,  R.  N.,— Thomas  Crofton 
Croker,  Esq., — Henry  Cheney,  Esq^- Alexander 
Young,  Esq.,  of  Harbum,- A.  J.  Valpy,  Eaq»— 
James  Maiament,  Esq.,  Advocate,— th^  late  Do- 
nald Gregory,  Esq.,— Robert  Johnston,  Esq.,  of 
Edinbur^,- J.  J.  Masquerier,  Esq.,  of  Brigh-    - 
ton, — Owen  Recs,  Esq.,  of  Paternoster  Row, — 
William  Miller   Esq.,  formerly  of  Albemarle 
Street,— David  Laing,  Esq.,  of  Edinbip"^,- and 
John  Smith  the  Youngest,  Esq.,  of  Glasgow. 

J.  G.  LOCKHART. 

London,  Dee.  20, 1836. 


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MEMOIRS 

OF  THE 


LIFE  OF   SIR  WALTER  SCOTT. 


CHAPTER  L 

MfiifOU   or  THE   EAILY   LJPE   Or  sm  WALTER  SCOTT, 
WttlTTtS  tv  HiMe^LF. 

nie  present  age  has  discovered  a  deeirtj.  or  ralher 
a  rage,  for  literary  anecidoie  and  private  hiscory,  that 

^hliTl  Lvf &  "^^^  '^^^  fli"eiiuor»  of  the  public 

Snll  m!  Hnn(f  VH^^  '*'*  '^^^'^^'*^*^  '^^^  excVjed,  aoi 
di^?^  iVi'''*"  r  ^  P<?riTmted  without  an  ei  rBor- 
recordm;?  n  fcw  leadmg  circumfitancefi   ihtvda  not 

iqfm  life-ihai,  should  my  hteniry  reputatton  sur- 
vive my  temporal  edslcncA  the  puhlfe  may  Uow 
fmm  Bood  amhonty  ail  thai  il,Jy  are  mltl^d  to 

From  the  lives  of  some  poetSL  a  most  ijnmi-tanr 
moral  lea.o«  may  doubUeas  b4erivS?aiidTl  s^r 
mooi*  can  bo  read  w,th  ao  much  proki  a*  the  M^ 
nioir^  .>f  Burns,  of  Clmtle^ton.ar  oi^Sav^  We^ 
I  conacioua  of  any  ifuna  pticuW  in  my  o!«n  muraJ 
Character  which  couid^ndbr  »udi  developmeni  nJ^ 

Iwourd  bequeath  my  body  to  dff^Bection.  if  the 
^wro  I  ion  could  tend  topomtout  iht  nature  and  ihe 
h^U^  f  A""^"?^  ""''^  peculiar  jualftdv.  B,ii  a«  |„y 
habits  rjfthinkifiij  and  act  n«,  a.s  weU  a«  mvrank 

or  cyen  pretended  to,  any  poetical  rcpuratiotr.*  anj 
8e  It  prfjduc*4  when  acquired,  no  reiinirkahle 
diaiigti  upon  tiiher,  it  jb  hardiy  h.  \m  expt^r^tcd  thai 
much  tn/orniatfin  can  be  derived  ir.)in  minutely  in- 
veatu^aimft  fradtica,  folhcs,  or  vic^^^,  nyt  v,  ry  differ- 
en  I  in  mimbcr  or  d^ee  from  thos(M^f  other  men 
{L''V«^^nrj'"'?ft^"^  havo  notbe^t;  h\e.^,,i  with 
the  taknia  of  Burna  or  Chatttnon,  I  have  been 
htippdy  exeiupied  froin  the  iaflucnot^  of  ihnr  vioient 
pa^ftoDs,  exasperated  by  the  siruaale  of  f**IineH 

quis 


t.  althonsh  I  canno:  tdi  of  a^fficul(i«gi  van- 
Humlred.  and  di^^tancc  of  rank  annihiJEiicd  by  the 
fhI!S  M-ri""^  ihoajwho  ahaJI  hertalieT  rej^d 
thia  littre  Menioir  may  rind  jn  it  ^nne  bints  tu  be 
mipmvpd,  tor  Lhe  rwulaiioti  of  thnrown  mmda,  or 
the  training:  those  of  others.  *"t"<i*,  yr 

EVery  Seoitl&hmaa  has  h  pfidisre^i.    It  i&  a  nation- 
al prct^Kative  as  unalitiiabf^  aa  bi^  pn  !e  "nd  b^^ 

£SHid''A??^.^'^  ^T  '^^'^^^^^  cli.t/n,m.h.di>or 
sordid.   According  to  tbo  prejudices  of  my  country, 

wj^^ma!  |.«'reimoiiB.  ^i„^^  |  hnv,'  tjeen  fi-ailMy  rcS'vr^l  in  the 
?i.**r.7*l^  lit7^1il«^h  fiMwt  hflJ}-^^i,^aTPd  Pffjrrhi™,  ,r?  rarlv 

Iwik  2f"*  anr,*ifl3n)l  chang,.  fn  JiluiKiufi,  b*  the  Pi«n«rt 
A* 


U  waa  eatrsmcd  gmtte^nM  I  was  connflcted,  thoush 
reiwotdy,  with  ancwnt  famdiea  both  by  mv  fa  the?  a 
and  motWs  atdc  My  father's  graifdfaihei  Zl 
Walter  Scott,   well  known   m  Teviotdale    by  the 

Walter  iscott^^rm  Latrd  of  Raebuin,  who  was  tha 
third  son  of  Sir  Wilbam  Scott,  and  the  grandson 
li'  ilf  ^^rif*^".*^  commonly  called  in  tradilton  Autd 
yfatt,  of  Harden.  I  am  therefore  linealJy  de&cendcd 
trom  (bat  ancjent  chieftain,   i/i-hoac  name  I  havo 
made  to  nn^  m  mon^  a  ditty,  and  from  hia  fair 
cfftine  the  J;  lower  or\  orrow-^no  bfid  j^enc^a Wy  for 
a  Kurder  mmaire  ,    Bt^rdii,  my  Mreai-^andTatbar 
alortwaiiL  denveii  bis  twnomen  from  a  venerablo 
heard,  which  hi'  wore  unbTemiahcd  by  raztiror  scia- 
tfora,  in  t^kfln  of  hia  n^^n-et  for  Ih^  baniahed  dy- 
nasty of  Stuart-    It  would  have  been  well  that  \\m 
ze5l  had  stopped  there.    But  he  took  arms,  »nd  in- 
ingut'd  in  their  cauws,  until  he  iost  all  he  had  in  the 
worfd,  and,  a**  I  have  heard,  run  a  narrow  ruk  of 
bemK  handed,  hod  il  not  be*n  fonhe  intorferenoe 
ot  An  tie,  Dpche&ft  of  Bncdtuch  and  Monmouih. 
Ifeardie  s  elder  brother,  WiHiam  Scott  of  Rat  burn 
my  great-^randuridpt  was  killed  about  ttie  ai?e  of 
(wt3t^ty-one»  in   a  duel   wuh   Pringle  of  C^richton, 
ffrandfather  of  tbu  i>resent  Mark  Prinirle  of  Chf- 
ton       They    foup;hi    with    swords,    aa   was    the 
fashion  of  the  time,  in  a  fidd  near  Selkirk,  called 
irom   the  einastn>pbc  the  Rarbum  Afmdint-jipot 
Fnneic  flod  from  Scotland  to  Spain,  and  was  lai\g 
a  captive  and  slave*  in  Barbary.     BeardU  becalne. 
*jf  course    fW  qf  Haehurrt,  as  the  old  Scottish 
piirafid  eall^  him,  that  la,  f»unrdian  to  his  infant 
fieplitw,  futht^r  of  the  present  Walter  Scott  of  Rae- 
buni-   H  e  aJ  eo  ma  na  «ed  the  es  \  a  t«s  of  M  ak  t-rflt  nu  n 
being,  nearly  rcinted  to  that  family  by  hifi  mother. 
I^firbara  Mac  Oou«al     1  suppo5«  be  had  some  al- 
io wonoe  for  hjs  earn  m  ntbcr  ca^se,  and  Bub^iatod 
upon  that  and  the  l^riitne  whi^h  he  had  by  his  wifc;^ 
a  Jliij^  Campbell  of  fciilvercrai^js,  intheiveat,  throiih 
wnidi  conniiuon  my  faiht^r  ii;scd  to  call  «m^\^,  as 
they^^ay,    wuh    the  Campbdls   of   Blythswood. 
f  Si    n^^"^  s  man  of  isome  learmnp,  and  a  friend 
pi  Uf.  fucfJirn,  to  whom  his  poHtica  p  fob  ably  nj^dc 
I"'"  JFJtptiible.    Th(;y  had  a  Tory  or  Jac/dJitt  chib 
ii\  Ldmburf^bT  m  which   iht^  converitalion  is  said  to 
havt!  been  maminined  jn  I^siifi.    OM  Bearthe  died 
1(1  a  hou*e,  still  s»[andjfjg  at  the  northeast  tntrant^? 
to  the  C.htircb\  nrd  ui  Keltso,  about  .  .  , 

He  Icfi  three  s-ms.  The  ddcsi.  Waller,  bad  a 
fnrndy,  of  which  any  that  now  remain  have  htfin 
tons  set  ib^  ui  America;— the  male  btira  arp  lona 
sjnce  L^*lmcL  Th%!  third  waa  William,  fath«T  of 
Jarrifls  Scott,  well  knowfi  iu  India  ns<  fine  of  the 
omuial  ivnilers  of  Prince  of  Wak^s'a  island  f- he 
had,  btsidecj  a  nutnerous  latndy  both  of  son  a  and 
dau^httrs,  bikJ  died  at  Las&wade,  m  Mid-Lolhian. 
abndt  ....  ' 

The  socoml,  RoW.rt  Seott,  wa^s  niy  ^grandfather. 
Ho  was  oriKmoily  br<?d  tn  the  aea;  but,  biinif  uUip- 
u  rcjck^d  near  Dun  dee  in  his  trial  voyaeo,  h«  look 
such  a  Bin ct re  dislike  to  that  clemtnt,  that  he  couM 
not  tie  persuaded  to  a  second  aitcmft-  Thia  occa* 
filmed  a  quarrd  betwton  him  and  his  father,  who 
left  htm  to  fthift  for  him^t  If  Robert  wns  ooi^  nf 
those  active  gtpirits  to  whom  thi^  wti?^  ^  fm^^vt^ 
ttine.  He  turned  Whi^-tt?^m  fbr  nrr^t.  najfl  fairly 
abjured  tuiittbw'ipoitttc^  and  htelearaod  poverty- 


LIFE  OP  Snt  WALTER  SCOTT. 


HiB  chief  and  relatiTe,  Mr.  Soott  of  Harden,  save 
him  a  lease  of  the  farm  of  Sandy-Knowe^^m- 
pr^ending  the  rocks  in  Uie  centre  of  ^((hid^  9ntfi^- 
holm  or  Sandy-Knowe  Tower  is  situafed.  tl6  tbok 
for  his  shepherd  an  old  man,  called  Hogg,  who 
willingly  lent  him.  out  of  resp^t  to  his  famuy,  his 
whole  savings,  about  iSSO,  to  stodk  the  new  ftttn. 
With  this  sum,  which  it  seems  was  at  the  tmie 
sufficient  for  the  purpose,  the  master  and  servant  set 
off  to  purchase  tat^ck  of  sheep  at  WhitS^-Try/te, 
a  fairnejdon  srhifl  neiarWoOler  In  WofihumBer- 
land.  The  old  shepherd  went  carefully  from  drove 
to  drove,  till  he  found  a  hirsel  likely  to  answer  their 
purpose,  and  then  returned  to  tell  his  master  to  come 
up  and  conclude  the  bargain.  But  what  was  liis 
surprise  to  see  him  galloping  a  mettled  hunter  about 
the  race-course,  asm  to  find  he  had  expended  the 
whole  stock  in  this  extraordinary  purchase  I-'Mo- 
ses's  bargain  of  green  spectacles  did  not  strike  more 
dismay  into  the  Vicar  of  Wakefield's  family,  than 
my  grandfather's  rashness  into  tho  >p<x>r  old  shep- 
herd. The  thm^,  however,  was  irretrievuble,  otid 
they  returned  without  the  sheep.  In  the  course  of 
a  lew  da^  however,  my  fi^randfather,  who  was 
one  of  the  nest  horsemen  of  his  time,  attended  John 
Scott  of  Harden' s  hounds  on  this  same  horse,  asd 
displayed  him  to  such  advantage,  that  he  sola  him 
for  doable  the  <>riginal  price;  The  faito  ^as  now 
stiKked.  in  earnest:  vhd  the  rest  of  my  grand- 
fether's-career  was  that  of  snccessftil  mdustry-  He 
was  one  of  the  first  who  were  active  in  the  cattle 
Cradi^  afterwaFds  carried  to  such  exteht  between 
(he  Hifiiilands  of  Scotland  and  the  laadin^  coun- 
ties in  KnglanfL  and  by  his  droving  transactions  ae- 
qvired  ^a  consicierable  snm  of  roonefy.  He  was  a 
man  of  middle  stature,  extremely  active.  <iuick, 
Keen,  and  fien^in  hiatemperf  stubbornly  honest,  and . 
•0  distingttisfied  for  his  skill  in:  ootmtry  matters,  r 
that  he  was  the  general  referee  in  all  pomts  of  dis- 
pute which  Dciorrsd  in  the  neighboorhood.  His 
birth  being  admitted  as  gtntUy  gave  him 'accessto 
the  best  society  in  the  oomty,  and  his  dexterity  1h 
country  sports,  partieularlv  hunting,  made  him  an 
acceptable  companion  in  the  field  as  well  as  at  the 
table.* 

Robert  Soott  of  Sandy-Kriowe^jnafried^  1T88, 
Bfibara  Halibarton,  daughter  of  Tliomas  Hahbnr- 
ton  of  Newmisins.  an  ancient  and  resr^ectatpe 
iamily  in  Berwickshire.  Anumg  other  patrimomai 
possessions,  they  teioyed  the  part  of  Drybnrgh, 
now  the  property  of  the  Earl  of  Buehan,  compre- 
hending the  ruins  of  the  Abbey.  My  granduncle, 
Robert  Haldnarton,  having  no  male  neirs,  this 
estate,  as  well  as  th/s  representatwn  of  the  fam- 
ily, would  have  devolved  upon  my  Iktber,  and 
hraeed  Old  Newmains  had  settied  it  upon  him  \ 
but  this  was  prevented  by  the  misfortunes  of  my 
grandnncle,  a  weak,  silly  man,  who  engaged  in 
trade,  for  which  he  had  neither  stock  nor  talents, 
and  became  bankrupt.  |1ie  ancient  patrimony 
was  sold  for  a  trifle,  (about  jBSOOo,)  and  my  fathe^ 
who  might  have  purehased  it  with  ease,  was  dis- 
suaded by  my  grandfather,  who  at  that  time  believed 
a  more  advantageous  jnirchase  might  have  been 
made  of  some  lands  which  Raebum  thought  of  8<^11- 
ing.  And  thns  we  have  nothing  left  of  Dryburgh, 
although  my  father's  maternal  inheritance,  out  the 
right  of  stretching  our  bones  where  mine  may,  per- 
haps, be  laid  ere  any  eye  but  my  own  glances  over 
these  pages. 

Walter  Scott,  my  father,  was  bom  in  1729,  and 
educated  to  the  profession  of  a  Writer  to  the  3«rnet. 
He  was  the  eldest  of  a  large  family,  several  of  whom 
I  shall  have  occasion  to  mention  with  a  tribute  of 
sincere  gratitude.  My  fother  was  a  singular  in- 
stance of  a  man  rising  to  eminence  in  a  profession 
for  which  nature  had  in  some  degree  unfitted  him. 
He  had  indeed  a  tnrn  for  labour,  and  a  pleasure  in 
analyzing  the  abstruse  feudal  doctrines  connected 
with  conveyancing,  which  would   probably  have 

»  The  PTOMut  Lord  Hftddtoffton,  and  other  ffentl«mefn  eonwr- 
•ant  with  the  Muth  ooutrr,  remember  my  fWidfafber  well. 
He  wat  a  fine  alort  tffoe,  otid  woro  a  jockoy  «ap  over  liie  fiajr 
htir.—llWi.l 


rendered  him  unrivalled  in  the  line  of  a  _ 

6 leader,  1^  th^e  been  such  a  profeesbn  ia  Sopft* 
Irrd^  liitm  the  actual  business  of  the  profession 
whidfa  he  embraced,  in  that  sharp  and  intuitrre  per^ 
ception  which  is  necessary  in  driving  bargains  for 
himself  and  others,  in  availing  himseuof  the  inrmnts. 
Necessities,  caprices,  and  folhes  of  some,  and  guard- 
ing against  Hhe  knavery  and  malice  of    others* 
uncle^by  himself  com4  not  have  conducted  litni' 
selfwaiRioresfcnphcity'thfltnmyfother.    Most  at- 
torneys nave  been  suspected,  more  or  less  justly',  of 
making  their  own  fortune  at  the  expense  of  t  near 
clients— my  father's  fate  was  to  vindicate  hia  calling 
from  the  stain  in  one  instance,  for  in  many  cases  Ixis 
clients  contrived  to  ease  him  of  considerable  sums. 
Many  worshipful  and  be-knighted  names  occur  to 
my  memory,  who  did  him'  the  honour  to  run  in  tus 
deot  to  the  amount  of  thousands,  and  to  pay  Iiini 
I  with  a  lawsuit,  or  a  commission  of  banlcruptcy',  ss 
the  cast  happened.    But  thev  are  gone  lo  a  difFeren  c 
accounnng,  and  it  would  Se  ungenerous  to  visit 
their  disgrace  upon  their  descendants.    My  father 
was  wont  also  to  give  openings,  to  those  wno  were 
pleased  to  take  them^  to  pick  a  quarrel  with  liina- 
He  had  a  leal  for  hischents  whicih  was  almost 
ludicrous :  fitf  from  coldly  dischargihg  the  duties  of 
his  employment  towards  them,  he  thought  for  ^ecz% 
fek  for  thdr  hdnournsfor  his  p^Vn,  and  rather  naked 
diaoblighiirthem  than  neglecting;  any  tbmg  to  which 
he  c<mceiv6d  rh^  duty  bound  them.    If  there  was 
an  ola  mother  or  aunt  to  be  maintained,  he  tvas,   X 
am  afhiidi  too  apt  to  administer  to  their  necessities 
ftom  what  ttveyottn^heir  had  destined  exclusively  to 
his  pleasttt^    This  refady,  discharge  of  obligation sw 
which  the  CivflianbteH  us  are  only  natural  and  not 
legal,  did  not,  I  fear,  irecommenu  him  to  his  ekn- 
eioyers.    Yet  nis  practice  was,  at  one  period  of  His 
life,  very  extensive.     He  understood  his  businees 
theoretically,  and  was  early  introdu^  to  it  by  a 
pifftnerrtiip  with  George  Chalmers,  writer  to  the 
Signet,  tmder  whom  he  hsd  served  his  appren- 
ti^hip. 

His  person  and  face  if%tt  uncomthonly  handsome 
With  an  exprdsiAon  Of  sWc^ess  of  temper,  whidn 
was  not  fallacious  j  h!s  manners  were  rather  formill, 
but  full  of  genuine  Idndness,  espei;ially  when  exerpii- 
sing  the  dtftles  of  hospitality.  His  general  habitii 
were  not  only  temperate,  but  severely  abstemioua  ; 
but  upon  a  festival  occasion,  there  were  few  whom  * 
a  moderate  glass  of  wine  exhilarated  to  such  amrely 
degree.  His  religvon,  in  which  he  was  devoutly  sia- 
oere,  was  Oalvanism  of  the  strictest  kind,  and  hia 
fiivourite  study  related  to  church  history.  I  suspect 
the  |?ood  old  man  was  often  engaged  with  Knox  and 
8pottiswoode*s  folios,'wh^n,  immured  in  his  solitary 
room,  he  was  supposed  to  be  immersed  in  profbs- 
sional  re^searches.  In  hrs  political  principles  he  was 
a  steady  friend  to  freedom,  with  ia  oias,  however,  to 
the  monarchical  part  of  oor  constitution,  which  he 
considered  as  peculiarly  exposed  to  danger  during 
the  later  years  of  his  life.  .  He  had  much  of  ancient 
Scottish  prejudice  respecting  the  forpis  of  marriages^ 
funerals,  christenings,  and  so  forth,  and  was  alw  ays 
vexed  at  any  neglect  of  etiquette  upon  such  occa- 
sions. As  his  education  had  not  been  upon  an  en« 
larged  platu  it  could  not  be  expected  that  he  should 
be  an  enlightened  scholar,  but  he  had  not  passed  - 
through  a  Dusy  life  without  observation ;  and  nis  re- 
marics  upon  times  and  manners  often  exhibited 
strong  traits  of  practical  though  untaught  philoso- 
phy. Let  me  conclude  this  sketch,  which  I  am  .un- 
conscious of  having  overcharged,  vnth  a  few  lines 
written  by  ihe  late  Mrs.Cockbum*  ujJDn  the  subject. 
They  made  one  among  a  set  of  poetipal  characters 
which  were  given  as  toasts  among  a  few  friends, 
and  we  must  hold  them  to  contain  a  striking  hke- 
ness,  since  the  original  was  recognised  so  soon  as 
they  were  read  aloud. 


•*To  a  thrta  that's  uncomoKm— 
A  yoath  of  discretioB,  ^ 

Mrs.  Coekbam  (botp  Mifi  Rutl 
antborea  of  the  beoutif 

>  I  have  aMB  Uw  sBilltBC 
or  fertuoe  lMraiHi>f."-f I8SS-] 


••  I  have  aMB  Uw  sBilltBC  O 


lth» 


3smi>wimBmiijBX»^iS(m. 


B^axlDf  aflecUoQ, 
a  qiBT  haar  the  Jast'tmmp 
hont  dread  of  detecttdn." 
JnJlpnl,  175^1  ray  ffillitr  inajTjCid  Anjia  Etuihur- 
Sir^tfidedt  Jaugh:ef  o(  Dr.  John  RuihtirlurJt  pro(o»- 

Sir  ct  mtJicliie  ia  the  UuiForpity  of  EtiuiLur^^h. 
e  was  one  af  those  pujiila  of  KoerhaaTS  to  \^  \^<jffi 
tha school  of  uieiiicuiirm  our  norihei-i)  soetro'.'hB 
owea^itAV0e^  and  a  man  distirif^uiisheJ  for  i<i<»M8- 
sional  lulant,  lor  Uvvly  w'li,  and  ror  littrury  a.  -jmrfir 
menu.  Dr.  Ruditrkfrd  v^is  iwici:  marriLd.  Jiis 
first  VI  [f£,  «f  ihlioEii  TEi^  ntrtiliL^jr  iti  ihf  9<ik  fiurvivijig 
rfiil  ci,  w  03  a  d  ai J  j:jh  ti- r  of  ^  If  J  u  U  n  S  Win  I  o  a  nf  S  u  J  n- 
lon,  /I  family  lAnick  pruiliKCii  Tiiaiiy  niii^iifiii^iji^lied 
wacncrs  diJiiniij  ihc^  uuJdlo  ugt-i*,  and  w/iith,  fi^r  ;  iiii- 
9uiiy^ajidhonuurabLB  iilEiLHiceJ^,  may  riitik  hl[U  lay 
la  Britaui.  My  ^niiiit^theH^  ^cond  viifd  wat  Mias 
Mackfl>\  by  whtim  fie  haJ  a  dCiamtl  faiiuJ>%  of  w  N..m 
are  n«w  (iao6)  hUvl,  Dr,  Dank  J  Uuthrrfoni  ^rulos- 
0or  oi  VoUQy  iti  the  University  of  EdLnbur^li,  und 
Hi^ae^  JaoelanU  Christian  Rutborfurd,  aiiiijsble  uad 
^ccorapliflbM  women. 

My  ikclief  ^d  mother  had  a  very  numerous  fami* 
ly.  DO  iewer,  I  bcUere,  than  twelve  children,  of 
^hommaay  were  nighJiy  promising,  though  only 
£re  wnvcati  very  early  youth.  My  eldest  oroiher 
(fhac  is,  the  eldest  whom  I  remember  to  hiive  seen) 
waa  Aobert  Scott,  so  called  after  my  uncle,  of  whom 
1  shall  haTe  much  to  sey  hereafter.  He  was  bred  in 
theKii^s  6ervice,4mder  Admiral,  then  Captain  Wit- 
fiajn  Dickson,  and  was  in  most  of  Rodney's  batU^s. 
His  temper  .was  bold  and  haughty,  and  to  me  was 
olleQ  cfackpkered  with  what  I  felt  to  be  capricious 
In  other  respects  I  loved  him  much,  for 


^lig  d]0«&(rtyy«^*«9&id,  while  her 


ttste- 

which „ „,       -^r-^. -^ 

Witness  the.  following  elegy  upon^the 

tHPI>ftsed  lo#s  of  the  vessel  composed  tqe  night  be- 
ifmtMnev'a  celebrated  battle  of  Apnl  the  12th, 
tna.    It  aUudas  io  the  various  amusements  oft  his 


*^  jiior4  -chs  geese  AaU  sacJcIs  4hi  (he  fosp,^ 

Mo  moss  ths^Wpipe  throqgh  the  or}op  sound, 
BO  jQtore  Ihe  midshipmeo.  a  jovial  (frouft 

Shall  toast  ^i^ta,  ««d  push  the  bottle  round. 
laAsath's  do-k  road  at  anchor  fttat  they  stay, 
'  vni  Heaten's  Icmd  signal  shaD  in  thunder  roar, 
Then  stertiog  ap,  all  hands  shall  qajck  obey, 
4hset  luxaa  the  topnil,  and  with  apeed  vttaioor." 

Rofb^  fxmg  agreeably— (a  virtue  wl^ch  was  never 
seen  m  me)-^nder9tood  the  mechanical  arts,  and 
when  ID  good  humour,  could  regale  uBwith  many  a 
tale  of  bold  adventure  and  narrow  escapes.  When 
in  bad  fatunonr,  however,  he  gave  us  a  practical 
taste  of  what  was  then  man-of' war's  discipline,  and 
Jacked  and  cuffed  without  mercy.  I  have  often 
thoimht  bow  he  might  have  distinguislmd  himseli; 
had  ne  continued  in  the  navy  until  the  present 
times,  90  glorious  fbj*  nautical  exploit.  But  the 
peace  of  Paris  cut  off  all  hopes  or  promotion  for 
those  who  had  not  figreat  interest ;  and  some  disgust 
which  his  proud  ^rit  had  taken  at  harsh  usage 
from  a  superior  omcer,  combined  to  throw  poor 
Robert  into  the  East  India  Company's  service,  for 
whtdi  his  habitt  were  ill  adapted.  He  made  two 
voyiBg^  to  the  East,  and  tlied  a  victim  to  the  di* 
mate  ra , . . , 

John  Scott,  my  second  broth^n  is  about  three 
years  older  than  me.  He  adoicted  himself  to  the 
mifitary  service,  and  is  now  brevet-major  in  the 
73d  reflment.* 

I  had  an  only  sister,  Anne  Scott,  who  seemed  to 
be  from  her  cradle  the  butt  for  mischance  to  shoot 
arrows  at.  Her  childhood  was  marked  by  perilous 
escapes  from  the  most  extraordinary  accidents. 
Among  others,  I  remember  an  iron-raited  door  lead- 


*  Bb  was  tWs  narayu^B 


t^nhMeawid  battalion,  by  the 
r  at  the  War  Office- 18Q0.— Ho 

.^^~. tL  •«"?•  *«*  *iV^  b"!^  ^^  ^y  mothet.    Hit 

bMlth  was  totattr  btuwn,  aod  be  dieii,  y«t  a  younc  mSb,  on  8Ui 

Mar,  tsM.'itm] 


indkral  hoiU 


tiJiLtiiiiu 

^9a|ffarqi 

b&tiKat  We  hiiiipand^  s^  ~  H«f  fiand"wa^ SS 
lociked  in.  and  muwt  have  been  smashed  to  piebes, 
hFadVfot  the  boneti  of  her  fingers  been  remarkably 
wighi  and  Ihm.  A«  it  was,  the  hand  was  cruelly 
ijianglttl.  On  anothpr  orcaBion,  she  iri?:  nmrlv 
drown rd  ill  a  pwid.  or  oid  qiJArrV'holt',  in  wh^x  was 
then^allt'd  Browii^s  Park,  on  the  south  eidt!  of  thft 
squart-  Bur  iht  moat  unfortunntt  arddtntj  and 
which,  thoufrh  it  happened  whik  she  wns  only  six: 
years  old,  proved  tlit  rcftnotc  cause  of  her  dmrh, 
was  lier  crip  a  cd  den  rally  lakiiis  fire  Tht'  child 
was  a!'>n!r'  \i\  tlieroom,  and  befifre  asaistonce  cauld 
be  obt  I J  ri  id,  h^t  hf  ad  was  dreadfully  Mconrhed.  Af- 
ter a  hiiKL Tiitfi  QJird  dangeruiiA  iilnc^s,  she  recovch?il, 
but  nevi?r  to  trnjny  perfect  health.  The  alighleai 
cold  occasioned  swdlit)^  in  htr  fact\  and  other  id- 
dicationt»  of  a  dt"  lien  re  eonstifiilLon.  At  length,  in 
[1801],  V'wr  Anne  ivfis  taken  ill,  and  died  'ni\^T  a 
very  phort  interval.  Her  temper,  like  that  of  her 
brothi  TH.  w  as  p''**^"  I  jar.  attd  in  her.jperhapfi,  it  show- 
ed mo  r^-  oddi  from  the  habits  of  ind!th?cnce  whieh 
her  nervm*  tllnesfles  had  foTmed.  But  she  was  at 
heart  an  affociioriaie  and  kind  ij^irl,  m^ith^sr  i-oid  of 
talent  nrif  of  ft?t' ling,  thotijijh  iivinpin  an  ideal  world 
which  sht'  had  framed  to  herself  h>'  the  force  of  ima- 
gination. Anne  was  my  junior  by  about  iv  year. 
)  A  year  luwcr  in  the  list  waa  nty  brother  Thomas 
I  Scott,  who  is  still  alive.* 

Ltist,  and  most  unfortunate  of  our  famOy,  was 
ihy  youngest  brother  Daniel.    With  the  same  aver- 
sion to  labour,  or  rather,  I  should  say.  the  same  de- 
termined indolence  that  marked  us  all,  he  had  nei- 
ther the  vivacity  of  intellect,  which  supphes  the  wdnt 
of  diligence,  nor  the  pride  which  renders  the  most  de- 
tested tabour  better  than  dependence  or  contempt. 
His  career  was  as  unfortunate  as  might  be  augured 
,  from  soeh  an  unhappy  combination,  and  after  vari- 
<  0118  unsuccessful  attempts  to  establish  himself  In 
I  life,  he  died  on  his  return  from  the  West  Indies,  in 
[/uhr,  1806.] 

Having -premised  eo  much  of  my  family,  I  return 
to  toy  own  story.    I  was  born,  as  I  beUeve,  on  the 
16th  August,  1771,  in  a  house  beloi^ging  to  my  fa- 
ther,* at  the  head  of  the  College  Wynd.   It  was  pull- 
ed down,  with  others,  to  make  room  for  the  north- 
ern front  of  the  new  College.  I  was  an  uncommonl/ 
healtl^  child,  but  had  nearly  died  in  consequence 
of  my  first  nurse  being  ill  of  a  ceuiumption,  a  cir- 
ouHlstanee  which  she  chose  to  conceal,  though  to 
do  80  was  murder  to  both  herself  and  me.    She 
want  privately  to  consult  Dr.  Black,  the  celebrated, 
professor  of  chemistry,  who  imt  my  father  on  his 
^ard.  The  woman  was  dismissed,  and  I  was  con- 
.  signed  to  a  healthy  peasant,  who  is  still  alive  to 
boaflt  of  her  laddie  being  what  she  calls  a  grand 
gmtlemaritf    I  showed  every  sign  of  health  and 
i  8tieng;th  until  I  was  about  eighteen  months  old. 
One  night,  I  have  been  often  told,  I  showed  great 
reluctance  to  be  eaught  and  put  to  bed,  and  after 
beiR^  chased  about  the  room,  was  apprehended,  and 
conasned  to  my  dormitory  vrith  some  difficulty.  It 
was  tne  last  time  I  was  to  show  such  personal  agil- 
ity. In  the  momm^  I  was  discovered  to  be  affected  . 
,  with  the  fever,  which  often  accompanies  thecutting 
of  large  teeth.     It  held  me  three  days.    On  the 
<'  fonrth,  when  they  Went  to  bathe  me  as  usual,  they 
discovered  that  1  had  lost  the  power  of  my  right 
leg.    My  grandfather,  an  excellent  anatomist  as 
I  well  as  physician,  the  late  worthy  Alexander  Wood, 
)  and  many  others  of  the  most  respectable  of  the  fa- 
I  c)]dty,  were  consulted.    There  appeared  to  be  no 
I  dislocation  or  sprain ;  blisters  and  other  topical 

I     *  Poor  Tom,  a  man  of  infinite  humour  and  excellent  parta, 
I  porsuedfor  iome  tine  my  iather'a  profetaioa  \  but  he  wai  anior 
I  tunate,  from  ennfinff  in  ipeculations  mpocUnf  faitns  and  mat- 
ters out  of  the  line  of  hia,  proper  biuinem.    He  alterwanu  be- 
came pannaater  of  the  70th  reghnent.  and  died  in  Canada.  Tom 
manied  Elizabeth,  a  dauffater  of  the  family  of  M'Culbch  of  Ard- 
well,  an  ancient  Galweffan  atock,  by  whom  he  lef\  a  aon,  Wal- 
ter SiQott,  now  aecood  Keutoaant  of  »o«ineera  in  the  Eaat  India 
*  Compony'a  aervice,  Bombay,  and  three  daugfateia— Jeaaie,  mar* 
I  riod  to  Lieutenant- Colonel  Huxley ;  9,  Anoe ;  a,  Eliza— toe  tw» 

laat8tillunmarTied.-[1898.I  . 

i    t  She  died  fai  I810.-iin8]  ^ 


jpov  OF  Bm  wAunn  600R. 


tfimediev  w^re  applied  In  ¥  nia .    When  Um.  tfhftBcf 

Te^kr  pbysidana  had  b^Ei  e;ch«utteai  withoat  the 
a^Kbti^fft  ffuccesB,  my  ntixioufi  parants,  aariog  the 
ctmr&e.  of  raaay  vcara,  ^iiiprW  grasped  at  nvrrg 
pro^p^ct  of  cute  wiiicL  wo&lielJ  out  l»y  tlio  prrjriijse 
of  eijipific^  or  of  indent  Udiea  or  fjeniiciiiLii,  who 
CQjicoived  lb  em  selves  eniiUed  to  recomriit;rid  vnii- 
oue  rerxiediesj  aome  of  which  were  ctf  a  naturt  i^ufli- 
ciotitlyuinfiiilar^.  Bunhendvioeofmysrandfalhpr, 
Dr»  Ruiherfordi  that  1  should  bp  «?ni  to  rei^idc  in 
lh«  douniry,  lo  ^ivc  the  dnim*£  of  rraturnl  exr— t-o, 
cxdt4jd  by  free  aif  and  lihiif  ly,  was  iirsr  Te&>r  9, 
and  before  T  have  the  recollectioii  of  ihe  tL^^^Jt 
event,  I  was,  agrconbly  to  thi^  friendly  counsel, 
inmate  In  the  farm -boose  of  Sindy-Knowe. 

An  odd  ineident  ia  iv»rth  T^eordiog.  It  seems  my 
inoiher  had  sent  a  maid  tu  take  chaiKO  of  me,  that 
I  might  he  no  ih convenience  in  the  family.  But  the 
damat'l  Bent  an  that  Importam  mission  had  left  her 
b^art  behind  beT|  in  the  keeping  of  some  Mrild  fel- 
low, it  is  likely,  who  had  done  and  said  more  to  her 
tbanhewa?  like  to  make  gfiod.  She  became  ex- 
tremely desirou!^  to  return  to  Edinbui^gh,  and  as  my 
Jnolhcr  madr  ri  pdrit  of  h?r  rf^rnaimng  wheie  she 
v/ai,  «iw  v;ori:raciixI  a.  auti  of  iiaiiAid  at  poor  me,  as 
the  cause  of  her  heing  detained  at  Sandy-Knowe. 
This  rose,  I  suppose,  to  a  sort  of  delirious  affection, 
for  she  confessed  to  old  Alison  Wilson,  the  house- 
keeper, that  she  had  carried  me  up  to  the  Craigs, 
meaning,  under  a  strong  temptation  of  the  devil,  to 
cut  my  throat  with  her  scissors,  and  biiry  me  in 
the  moss.  Alison  instantly  took  possession  of  my 
person,  and  took  care  that  ner  confidant  should  not 
be  subject  to  any  farther  temptation,  so  far  as  I  was 
concerned.  She  was  dismissed,  of  course,  and,  1 
have  heard,  became  afterwards  a  lunatic 

It  is  here,  at  Sandy-Knowe,  in  the  residence  of 
my  paternal  grandfather,  already  mentioned,  that  I 
h&ve  the  first  consciousness  of  existence ;  and  I  re- 
collect distinctly  that  my  Bituatk>n  and  appearanoe 
were  a  little  whimsical  Among  the  odd  remedies 
recurred  to,  to  aid  my  lameness,  some  one  had  re- 
commended, that  so  often  as  a  sheep  was  killed  for 
the  119C  of  the  fiimily,  1  should  be  atnpped,  and 
swathed  i]p  m  ih^  akin  wtirrn  ss  it  was  ilayedfrom 
thf?  corcasa  fif  tbe  animal.  In  ihh  Tnrtar-lik^  ha- 
IdUnient^  I  well  inc member  Iving  upon  tlie  fioorof 
the  Little  parlour  in  the  farm -IjOMsts  whiir  my  grand- 
fa  ih<;r,  B  veniciruble  old  tivati  with  v,\uui  hair,  used 
every  ejtcitt  men t  to  make  me  try  ti>  eravvl.  1  also 
diitinetly  remember  the  Ute  SirGoome  MacDoiigal 
of  Mflketstoutii  fatber  of  the  pre  sen*  Sir  Henry  Hay 
MacDougal  Jottiing  in  ihw  kindly  tkxtempx.  He  was, 
CjikI  knows  how^*  a  relation  of  tiyri^  and  1  still  ro- 
i:oltt4^^t  hiru  m  liis  old  faEhtonBl  military  habit,  (he 
had  been  coluneJ  tit  the  Gmy^)  with  n  r^mall, cocked 
hatj  deeply  taefrd^an  embfoiderfd  &c;arli  1  waistcoat, 
tind  a  bRiit  coiourerj  coal,  with  milk-white  locks, 
tied  in  a  mil  i  ta  ry  f aehio  n ,  kne*  I  m  e  o  n  1 1 1  ^  ground  be- 
fore me^  anddraijRmghis  watch  along  ;] in  carpet,  to 
iniiuefi  me  to  fiillow  it.  The  benevokni  dd  soldier, 
nnd  the  infant  wrapped  in  hia  eheepskin,  would 
have  aflbtded  an  odd  group  tji>  nninierei^ied  specta- 
lora.  This  must  buve  hnppanid  about  my  third 
year,  for  Sir  George  BlacDotJgal  and  niy  grandfa- 
ther both  died  shortly  after  that  period. 

My  Krjmdtiiolher  contmued  for  some  vears  to  take 
chtiKir  of  the  farm,  aE^iaied  by  my  father's  second 
Jtfothtr,  Mr,  Thomas  Seott,  who  reside  d  at  Crail- 
mg,  lis  factor,  ur  land-aleward,  for  Mi  Scott  of 
nriUL'sfix'ld.   llii-i  [>ioi>TO(^M-  i>t  thnl  c^iule.t    This 

_*  He  waa  a  Moond  oouain  of  my  nantlftxher*!.  bnbel  Mac* 
Dooeal.  wife  of  WaJter.  the  fint  Latrd  of  Raebum,  and  mother 
of  wdt««r  Scott,  called  Beardie,  waa  grandaunt.  I  uko  it,  to  the 
late  Sir  Ckiorge  MacI>ou<ai.  There  waa  always  groat  fricndahip 
twtween  us  and  tlie  Makentoan  fhmily.  It  singularly  happened 
that  at  the  burial  of  the  late  Sir  Henry  MacOougal,  my  cousin, 
WUbam  Scott  younger  of  Raebam.  and  I  myself,  were  tbo  near- 
est blood-relations  present,  although  our  connexion  was  of  to  old 
a  date,  and  ranked  as  pallbearers  accordingly.— [1826.] 

t  My  uncle  arterwards  resided  at  Bllinton,  and  then  took  fhwn 
Mr.  Comefaus  Elliot  the  estate  of  WooUee.  Finally,  he  retired 
to  Monklaw.  In  the  neighbourhood  of  Jedbureh,  where  he  died. 
iwo,  at  the  advanced  age  of  ninety  years,  and  in  full  jpoasesskio 
of  Ms  AMwltMs.  It  waa  a  line  thing  to  hear  him  talk  over  the 
ohonge  of  ibe  cotsitry  |ych  he  bad  witncned.-Cl»0.1 


waa  during  lh«  but  cf  th«  Atnofetn  #&r.  and  I  m- 
in<;ml>er  beine  as  (iniiouB  on  my  uncIe^H  wiaekly 
V»]ts  (for  we  hpard  news  at  no  other  time)  tohasr 
of  i\u  defeat  of  Waahin^ton,  as  if  I  had  had  ■oma 
detrp  and  pt't'sonal  cauBO  of  Antipathy  to  hinL  I 
know  not  how  this  was  eomhined  with  a  v«ry  ^ troW 
prejudi(  e  in  favour  of  the  Sfuart  family,  wbifehX 
had  originally  imbibed  from  th<j  aon^s  and  tkles  of 
the  Jaeobitea.  This  latter  ffobticftl  jjropenaity  was 
deeply  confirtned  by  the  b Tories  told  in  my  htmiag, 
of  the  cniehit'S  fcxerdsed  in  the  eJteeutions  nt  Gar- 
lisii ,  and  in  the  Highlands,  afU*r  Ihe  KaKle  of  Cul- 
lotun.  Om*  orTwr>  of  eiiroMTi  djatant  relniionihad 
falJt  '  llmt  i-ccft!Jii!iTf,  nnd  T  Tciifember  detesting 
the  name  of  Cumberland  with  more  than  infant  ha- 
tred. Mr.  Curie,  farmer  at  Yetbyre,  husband  of  one 
of  my  aunts,  had  been  present  at  their  execotion  : 
and  It  was  probablv  firom  him  that  I  first  heard 
these  tragic  tales,  which  made  so  great  an  impres- 
sion on  me.  The  local  information,  which,  I  con- 
ceive, had  some  share  in  ibrming  my  ftiture  taste 
and  pursuits,  I  derived  from  the  old  songs  and  tales 
which  then  formed  the  amusement, of  a  retired 
country  family.  My  grandmother,  in  whose  youth 
the  old  Border  depredations  were  matter  of  recent 
tradition,  used  to  tell  me  many  a  tale  of  Watt  of 
Harden,  Wight  Willie  of  Aikwood,  Jamie  Tellf^ 
of  the  ftir  Dodhead,  and  other  heroes— merrymen, 
all  of  the  persuasion  and  calling  of  Robin  Hood  and 
Little  John.  A  more  recent  hero,  but  not  <^  less 
note,  Mras  the  celebrated  Did  qf  LattlecUan,  whom 
she  well  remembered,  as  he  had  married  her  mo- 
ther's sister.  Of  this  extraordinary  person  I  learned 
many  a  story,  grave  and  gay,  comic  and  warlike. 
Two  or  three  old  books,  which  lay  in  the  window 
seat,  were  explored  for  my  amusement  in  the  tedi- 
ous winter  days.  Aotomathes  and  Ramsay's  Tea- 
table  Miscellany  were  my  favourites,  although,  at  a 
later  period,  an  odd  volume  of  Joscphas's  Wars  of 
the  Jews  divided  my  partiality. 

My  kind  and  affectionate  aunt,  Miss  Janet  Scott, 
whose  memory  will  ever  be  dear  to  me,  used  to  read 
these  works  to  me  with  admirable  patience,  until  I 
could  repeat  long  passages  by  heart  The  ballad 
of  Hardyknute  I  was  early  master  of;  to  the  great 
annoyance  of  almost  our  only  visiter,  the  worthy 
clergyman  of  the  parish,  Dr.  Duncan,  who  had  not 
patience  to  have  a  sober  chat  interrupted  by  my 
shouting  forth  this  ditty.  Methinks  I  now  see  his 
tall,  thin,  emaciated  figure,  his  \m  cased  in  clasped 
gambadoes,  and  his  lace  of  a  length  that  would 
have  rivalled  the  Knight  of  La  Mancha's,  and  hear 
him  exclaimmg.  One  may  as  well  speak  in  the 
mouth  of  a  cannon  as  where  that  child  is."  Witn 
this  little  acidity,  which  was  natural  to  him,  he  Waa 
a  most  excellent  and  benevolent  man,  a  gentleman 
'in  every  feeling,  and  altogether  different  urom  those 
of  his  order  who  cringe  at  the  tables  of  the  gentrv, . 
or  ffnTT'ir^r  ipi*.  r-v*  -^t  fhr\^r  r>^  thf  •'—• --.-.n-t-.  fn 
h     ...■■.      .  .■      ,■•■    :   ■!    ,  ■,     '.  i.jrd 

Mirehinonl-^bud  attn  Poiie— imd  cunU  laik  luanl- 
iotly  of  many  charaelera  who  had  survived  tij^  Au- 
giipfnn  aRe  of  Q^ueen  Anne.  Though  valttuditinry, 
b  iived  to  be  nearly  ninety »  and  to  weloonic  to 
S<  itland  hia  sotJj  Col  end  William  Duncan,  who, 
Hi'h  the  titrrhcstcniLracter  for  iiiilitarj  and  etyil  tne- 
rif,  hnd  niad<::  a  conaidenible  fortune  in  India.  In 
[lro:>]*  a  few  day.^  hefore  hifl  dt^alh,  1  pmd  him  a 
vi-^(,  to  inquire  nfier  his  health,  I  found  him  cma- 
ciijrid  to  im  tasi  dceret^  wrapped  in  a  tartan  night* 
gcjwn,  and  employed  with  nil  the  jjctiviry  of  health 
anrf  voath  in  corrtciing  n  hifttory  of  the  R^voluijon, 
whlHf  hf  intended  should  be  Kiven  to  the  paMic 
whfn  he  wrasnoniore.  He  read  me  ecvcraf  P»«— 
Sfi-*:^  wi'li  0  voiee  namrally  strong,  and  whioh  rhe 
fes  l;ri^'^  uf  an  author  then  riistd  alcove  the  de^srea- 
sJMrt  of  F,i;e  and  deehninp  hctilth.  I  be*i|red  hioi  to 
SI  nrf  til  is  fattguo,  whit^h  could  nof  hnt  tnuire  his 
hf  alili  Hrs  nnBwer  wtia  reniarkable.  '*  I  kuuWj" 
hi  !iaid,  ''Oiiit  1  eannot  snmve  a  fortnight— and 
what  sjginfitij  mi  tiJceition  tUnt  canal  worst  only 

8ni  tlenitJf'  my  dealh  n  few  daffr^"    1  rmirvflled  at 
ti?  cofiiposnfp  of  J|(i*^|ig^  IsTilCl  Bfttrltiituc  snf- 
fieitotly  vouchee!  the  I  ruth  of  his  pTopWyi  ut^d  rode 


iaPB>QF.fl&  ma^raERaoovr. 


them  ooulif  b*  te  the  apiru  of  aathonhipithftt  conU 
iai|iii«  ifii  yotaries  with  the  canraKe  of  martyrs. 
Be  Aed  within  lees  than  tbe  period  he  asaiffned^ 
'With  which  event  I  ckMn  my  di^eeaion. 

I  was  in  my  fourth  year^  when  my  father  waa  adr 
Tbed  th«t  the  Bath  wmters  might  be  of  some  ad- 
vantage to  my  lamenesa  My  afieotionate  aunt, 
although  sach  a  journey  promised,  to  a  person  of  her 
letiied  habits,  any  thiliK  out  plsaaore  or  amusement, 
mdertook  as  readily  to  acoompapy  me  to  tbe  wells 
of  Bladud,  as  if  she  had  eipected  all  the  delight 
that  ever  thejirospect  of  a  watering-place  held  out 
to  its  most  mipatient  ? isitants.  M?  health  was 
by  this  time  ajgood  deal  confirmed  by  the  country 
aiTf  and  the  infloence  of  that  imperceptible  and  un- 
frogoing  exercise  to  which  the  good  sense  of  my 
grand£sther  had  subjected  me;  for  when  the  day 
was  fine  I  was  tisuaity  carried  out  and  laid  down 
beside  the  old  shepherd,  among  the  crags  or  rocks 
round  which  he  fed  his  sheep.  The  impatience  of  a 
child  soon  inclined  me  to  struggle  with  my  infirmity, 
and  I  began  by  degree  t^  [<i  ^tmd,  to  walk,  nml  to 
run.  AltEoogh  the  lim  b  u.  Hl^  r  1 1,^  J  w  aa  ititi  i:  li  si  k  fu  (ik 
and  contracted,  my-gen<:rHi  htrnlth.  wUich  wa^of 
more  impqrtancer  was  n  i  u  i:  h  a  iren  gth  e  n  id  by  h  ( i  ng 
frequently  in  the  open  atr,  md,  in  a  wortli  f.  wlw  in 
a  atr  had  probably  been  condeiimc^  io  ficip<  loss 
and  oeipiess  decrepitude,  vvn^  nuw  n  henlthyi  hi^'h- 
spirited,  an5i,  my  lamenf^^  nynTt.  •.,  .tninlv  ^j!  M— 
nan  ^ne  diis  animoaua  infajia. 

We  wont  to  London  by  sea,  and  it  may  gratify  the 
eonoaiiy  of  minute  biographers  to  learn  diat  our 
wjyage  was  performed  in  the  Duchess  of  Buccleuch, 
Cqitain  Beatsoii,  master.  At  London  we  made  a 
short  slay,  and  saw  some  of  the  common  shows 
cshibited  to  strangers.  When,  twenty-five  years 
afterwards,  I  visited  the  Tower  of  London  and 
Westnuaater  Abbey,  I  was  astoni^ed  to  find  how 
accnrate  my  recollection  of  these  celebrated  places 
of  visitation  proved  to  be,  and  I  have  ever  since 
tnisted  more  implicitly  to  my  juvetiile  reminiscen- 
Abs.  At  Bath,  where  I  lived  about  a  year,  I  went 
through  all  the  usnal  discipline  of  the  pump-room 
and  baths,  out  I  believe  without  the  least  advantage 
to  my  lameness.  During  my  residence  at  Bath,  I 
ao^uned  the  rudiments  of  reading  at  a  day-school 
kept  by  an  old  dame,  near  our  lodgings,  and  I  had 
never  a  more  regular  teacher,  altnouglrl  think  I 
did  BOt  attend  her  a  quarter  of  a  year.  An  ocoa- 
aonal  lesson  from  my  aunt  supplied  the  refit  Af- 
terwards, when  grown  a  big  bov,  I  had  a  few  les- 
sons from  Mr.  Stalker  of  Edinburgh,  and  finally 
from  the  Rev.  Mr.  Clure.  But  I  never  acquired  a 
last  pronunciation,  nor  could  I  read  with  much  pro- 
pnety. 

In  other  respecter  my  residence  at  Bath  is  marked 
by  very  pleasing  recollections.  The  venerable  John 
Home,  author  of  Douglas,  was  then  at  the  water- 
ing-place, and  paid  nerach  attention  to  my  aunt  and 
to  me.  His  wife,  who  has  survived  him,  was  then 
an  invalid,  and  used  to  take  the  air  in  her  carriage 
on  the  Downs,  when  1  was  often  invited  to  accom- 
ranv  her.  But  the  most  delii^htfid  recollections  of 
atkin  are  dated  efter  the  arrival  of  my  uncle.  Gap- 
tain  Robert  Scott,  who  introduced  me  to  all  tne  ht- 
tie  amusements  which  suited  my  age,  and,  above 
all,  to  the  theatre.  The  play  was  As  You  Like  It ; 
and  the  witchery  of  the  whole  scene  is  alive  in  my 
mind  at  this  moment.  I  made,  1  believe,  noise 
more  than  enough,  and  remember  being  so  much 
scandalized  at  the  quarrel  between  Orlando  and  his 
brother,  in  the  first  scene,  that  I  screamed  out, 
"  A' n't  they  brothers  f  -  A  few  weeks'  residence  at 
hom«  convinced  me,  who  had  till  then  been  an  only 
child  in  the  house  of  my  grandfether,  that  a  quarrel 
between  brothers  was  a  very  natural  event. 

The  other  circumstances  I  recollect  of  rov  resi- 
(knce  in  Bath  are  but  trifling,  yet  I  nevei^ecall  them 
without  a  feeling  of  pleasure.  The  beauties  of  the 
parade,  (which  of  them  I  know  not,)  with  the  river 
Avon  winding  around  it.  and  tbe  lowing  of  the  cat- 
tle from  the  opposite  hills,  are  warm  in  my  recoUeo- 
tkxi,  and  are  only  rivalled  by  the  splendoni^  of  a 
2 


toy*ahOp aomfiwlMm near th« Oraoi^Osefye.  I ]|ad 
acquired,  I  know  not  by  what  means,  a  kind  pf^su- 
peratitioas  terror  for  statuary  of  all  kmds.  No  an- 
cient leonodast,  or  modem  Calvinist,  comd  hav^ 
looked  on  the  outside  of  the  abbey  church  (if  I  mis- 
take not,  the  principal  church  at  Bath  is  so  called) 
with  more  horror  than  the  linage  of  Jacob's  Ladder, 
with  all  its  angels,  pre9ented  to  my  infant  ey^.  My 
uncle  efifectually  combated  my  terrors,  and  formally 
introduced  me  to  a  statue  ot  Neptune,  which  per- 
haps still  keeps  guard.ai  the  skie  of  the  Avon,  where 
a  pleasure  boat  crosses  to  Spring  Oardeas. 
^  -  After  bang  a  year  at  Bath,  I  returned  first  to  Ed- 
inburgh, and  afterwards,  for  a  season,  to  Sandy- 
Knowe  ;~and  thus  the  time  whilea  away  till  about 
my  eighth  year,  when  it  was  thought  that  sea-bath- 
ing might  be  of  service  to  my  lameness.         • 

For  this  purpose,  still  under  my  aunt's  protection, 
I  remained  some  weeks  at  Prestonpans,  a  circum- 
stance not  worth  mentioning,  excepting  to  record  mjr 
juvanile  intimacy  with  an  old  military  veteran,  Dal- 

S9tty  by  name,  who  had  pitched  his  tent  in  that  Ut- 
e  villi^e,  after  all  his  campaigns  subsisting  upon 
an  ensign's  half-pav,  though  called  by  oourtesy,a 
cwtain.  As  this  old  gentleman,  who  had  been  in 
all  the  German  wars,  found,  very  few  to  listen  to  his 
tales  of  mihtary  feats,  ha  formed  a  aort  of  alliance 
with  me,  and  I  used  invariably  to  attend  him  for 
the  pleasure  of  hearing  those  communications. 
Sometimes  our  conversation  turned  on  the  Ameri- 
can war,  which  was  then  raging.  It  was  about  the 
time  of  Burgoyne's  unfortunate  expedition,  to  whic)^ 
mF  captain  and  I  augured  difi*erent  conclusions. 
Somebody  had  showed  me  a  map  of  North  Ame^i^ 
ca,  and,  struck  with  the  rugged  appeara.nce  of  tW 
country,  and  the  quantity  of  lakes»  1  expressed  some 
doubts  on  the  subject  of  the  geiieral's  arriving  safe- 
ly at  the  end  of  his  journey,  which  wers  very  mdig- 
nantly  refuted  by  the  captain.  The  news  of  the 
Saratoga  disaster,  while  it  gave  me  a  little  triumph, 
rather  shook  my  intimacy  with  the  veteran.* 

*  BciLlut  tfrii  rEftpr&n,  1  (mind  finjotlu>r  aj)^  at  Pcnt^oDDans,  k 

odiffTfltyrt  ti)  t^n)  Ittnf,  buL  rt?Ur^  utton  bii  ilKleiwnrtent  praiiuftjr, 
ADii  f  crterftlhf  rfltidinf  n^Ar  DuikJon.  Ha  liuil  irujr  of  Lhow  pq- 
CUNAnUeitf  orttimtJiL^r  wbitcfa  luuij  flfterwunl*  f  trip.^f  lu  d? vtlop  ib 
thi5  thanjcUircf  Jurnthftfl  OlriSufk.  It  im  ^trr  otl''r  (hfli  rhocitrh 
[  mm  unDDOjeinui  4if  aiiF  Ojinc  in  wlijrh  I  iinfiJv  f*^i^*^A  Van 
mawtrrv  of  niT  okl  (ti»:uH-  tbe  re««nyat»oi!  wm  n^ivnhclos*  dv 
tecietl  luj^  G^^uri^Cli^lntk^n,  Eflft ,  «alii:Ll.ur,  UiiHtuD.  ftmuliiJ  fncDd, 
bdil]  uTinv  falhnr  tinJ  Mr.  Ccwtftt»(h>,  *nd  who  antrmed  t^%  mi 
lib'  iVii'ruf,  lifird  H  rnf;di^!f ,  thut  I  rriuil  m-r-A*  lie  the  amhorf)! 
thi'  Aiiitiqi>B]7,  cjni^  h«  rf'eDgniaiHl  Jhe  port/aiit  (if  Gwtjje  Cod- 
cM^ble.  fiui  mf  fririni  ti-^orB*  wa*  m\  tt*  cbtiid^d  ud  efi-^tnjr  to 
^ftiuiaciXini:!  itf  hu  nuin'Hjiili&tJ^^  ^oiikbama.  On  the  contriir), 
r rather  iiiiiv»?t  ih^E  he  had  n.ien>i'-rA»€  f«nny  Auni  J^^ony.  w&j 
e*vri  rh*>n  wii  h  nio»cli^nurilij|  wn^tri.  thdufli  Hou^Hbat  iwJ- 
virii/i'vl  in  ^tn>-  To  \^im  nU^^v  iit'  kipr  Ijlif^ibfi  hnt1  Ihc  Grmle^^t 
mn>'t  T^>i1^l  I  isvat  iAw,  ojhl  ihaniihiU-  wjuUl  Ikj  mjincitfiiUir  itharp 
\s\»'i\  «Ik^  \\nA  «  tuindr  Is^r  Gi'ni'ral  Udmvkiur  wn^  j^uiiltf  I  aud 
!fl[h  Irkiv  Hni<fitvTT  thiv  tiiichf  \i^y  1  ilrrh\ij  pv  En-nt  ^H\  of  cua- 
fHti»  irirt^firviition  tK*™  ^mit^  Cuosl/itiJiv  VrjlS  rit  lliiii  «iHf  tw- 
■iu- 1 .  ri  I  hi  ai}j  T>vn  rdi^  VI  k  wit)  ronitn  n  t  ly )  <bilHud«rLar  elUiuI  my 
aui  r,  (trfd  tjf  i^tmr-i:  inrj^  kind  U*  inc.  Jit  wfls  Vim  fifit  r^n^on 
vi\»\  ti*k!  TTifl  aJdmi  rnl^ta-ffacid  Hoipjittr,  anri  othesTrhnjupfi-fs  tq 
f¥H  Lr:  ^imurt^.  WIjaE  uIpq  T  arinM^i^  kithahi  L  fcnOW  miL  lint  t  imwit 
baii:  :iriii'iMi.>j  (rori]t>.  fnr  f  r<*ni«nbenaite  Well  Uijnu  icit'j'irvitiMl 
«n  L|«!  *iito^'i  f  Imlefd,  t  mthai  tiwwc^t  Ihai  fJiiddrt2«  jinnv*'  im- 
pu^^t'^  ufji  jj^i^^crfkil  aiid  imiNJitiinl  kiud  In  bcttrtnir  ibinpi  \^hJrJi 
thfv  ^^aTino(  cijiEin'I.F  cflrtiprehK-mJ  ^  nftd,  l>ipfi?fiirt?.  ijait  to  i*TilO 
dcfiFn  to  ^'.tiitdrvtt'B  tiiidr-rttjinihh?  ii  a  miitahf  k  a*  i  liirxii  on  ih« 

E fit,  anil  ^i  ih«ni  cueaia  it  uul,  T<r  mtum  Lq  Urfs/itn  Htxmti- 
,  ]  kn'^w  hiiti  wpII  al  a.  m(j,rb  laua-  vvfiiy^  Il«  tuiNf  dway»  to 
e  at  my  Jlkibi-^'ji  Jioum  m  ft  i4un<lar.  and  wnf  aal]1(lrlIl^d  lo 
(Sin  tlio  conWiMtlofi  wit  frf"  tba  aiuU^ra  #iml  CatvtuSKw  (uflif, 
whirh  ri  qirinllf  fiiajqtaiued  (ill  lliMtdBf  rtri^xi  «utfl*fcuc.f  haiiofr. 
w  mikl  9ai«?yoiA  Ba  njin^hibenvt  lUt'  foptir  fivt^  oud  Hukl  oitojr 
tjcfi'^llpnt  qtrvrii'fir  all  wItJi  a  Atrrjuf  iTa»h  of  a  v>^i^Jjliai  anuliP 

hrl'i"'Uf. 

■fdi  Uun  Ki'pfiMif  the  Sriffiei;  srid  I  wmmilmr  (ii*  flBUKTina 
iind  4'.  ,riH"  I  JJtg  TOO  U  tfo  indiicw  llirse-  A  wtiIi  i  a  upijitriiUc^q  witli 
ibe  Kntifj(?r  oftliy  9\^^i.  w Jsu^'  liAst  oEni?c!T  k^ii  m  iiitjn3<^rE— 
rt  Vfi*  an  Tivrfril  ewnt.  ThitliiTr,  hoM^<?vr^  J  wi-iti  Aillt  wnii!  ■','- 
etvt'«]irtctatii3Autfttrjiti.tJmtfnf{:orhlH;in?t.  Mr.  Zi.  liMctAitm 
wtv>M^  tAAta  int'-UiH-'i]  Itim  to  Uw  anojr,  to  ^•htr'h  bis  l^ibcr.  wbo 
bail  deilrDod  him  ibr  tfan  Laj,  laic  tt  mow^  UEt^v|]Iin«  fmaenL 
He  ifiLb  at  thit  tima a  jcjun^ omr^iri  4ii'l  Ij4*  nn^l  t  Inrtinf  the  twQ 
Hsititra  to  iifof^ed  hi  Uieir  otiai  aa  thi>f  Hea**;;dn  m**v  onw 
OliF'ruvl  oLir  iTJOuthdi  eilVn^T  lo  tJwm  tir  porb  ollior.  Thu  Pf»innhTit: 
&[|M  ijon  hr^r^^aud  unfuminntely  to  tmconK}  rbe  Usenw  oi'  Uicjf 
cQijivmnuon,  wlinn  PqanTailih  aufd  in  jc»(.  *'  NojWt  Jnftn,  i^l  itad 
jtti  a  piMk  Ihit  oDilbi^r  of  ttt«ie  t*t]  lnd*ifei^  bcfurt*  <^  iJjg 
Pnura^iiUe  iSftficli&n."-'^  ^ot  heii)i^i>ti*[i>l?0!fl)m«rHiii!i*J<afr 
Haid  John  Darifbufi ;    '  T  w«i)d  lite  18  ••»  n»iti'^  flind  ivith  « 


to 


issf^omwBJWiXBmRiBaocr. 


tiom  Pfe0tofep«iii  I  Wis  fMnspottMl  iNMikKnnr 

filtber's  house  in  Oeorffcrf  Souare,  Whieh  (xnitinBed 
to  bd  fay  most  establisned  plaoo  of  ramdened,  anti 
>  ray  mamage  in  1797.  1  Mt  the  change  from  beinK 
a  aingle  indulged  brat,  to  becoming  a  member  of  a 
large  family,  very  aererely;  fbr  under  the  gentie 
government  of  my  kind  grandmother,  who  was 
meekness  itself;  and  of  my  aunt^  who,  tboagh  of  a 
higher  temper,  was  excecwlingly  attached  to  me.  1 
had  acquired  a  degree  of  license  which  could  mjtibe 

Eermitted  in  a  large  family ;  1  had  sense  enoofith, 
owever,  to  bend  my  temper  to  my  new  circum- 
stances ;  but  sQch  waa  the  agony  which  1  internaHy 
experienced,  that  I  have  guarded  against  nothing 
more  in  the  education  of.  my  o#n  fiimily,  than 
.  against  their  acquiring  habits  of  self-willed  caprice 
and  domination.  I  found  much  consolation  during 
this  period  of  mortification  in  the  partiaUty  of  my 
mother.  She  joined,  to  a  light  and  happy  tem- 
per of  mind,  a  strong  turn  to  study  poetry  and 
works  of  imagination.  She  was  sincerety  ^vout, 
but  hdr  religion  was,  as  became  her  sex,  of  a  cast 
fsss  austere  than  ray  father's.  Still,  the  discipline 
of  the  Presbyteinan  Sabbath  was  severely  strict, 
and  I  think  mjudicionsly  so.  Although  Banyan's 
Pilgrim,  Gtesner's  Death  of  Abel.  Rowe's  Letters, 
ana  one  or  two  other  books,  whkm,  for  that  reason, 
I  still  have  a  favour  fiYr,  were  admitted  to  relieve  cne 
gloom  of  one  dull  sermon  succeeding  to  another- 
ttiere  was  far  too  much  tedium  annexed  to  the  du- 
ties of  the  day;  and,  in  the  end,  it  did  none  of  us' 
any  good. 

My  week-day  ta»ks  were  more  agrseaUe.  My 
fineness  and  roysolrtarv  habits  had  made  me  a 
tMerable  reader,  and  my  hours  of  leisure  were  usu- 
ally spent  in  reading  aloud  to  my  mocker  Pops^s 
transtalion  of  Homer,  which,  exx^ting  a  few  tra- 
ditionary ballads,  and  the  songs  in  Allan  Ramsay's 
Evergreen,  was  the  first  poetry  which  1  penised. 
My  mother  had  a  good  natural  taate,  and  great  feel- 
ing:  she  ttsed  to  maks  me  pause  upon  those  passages 
which  expressed  generous  and  worthy  sentiments, 
and  if  ahe  could  not  divert  me  from  those  which 
wore  descriptive  of  battle  and  tumult,  she  contrived 
at  least  to  divide  my  attention,  between  ^nL    My 

2wh  enthusiasm,  however,  was  chiefly  awakened 
y  the  wonderfuL  and  the  terrible— the  common 
taste  of  children,  but  in  wfaidi  I  have  remained  a 
child  f'T^'iri  -  ■  t  .  t! '.  ' ,,.  T got  by  heArl,  not  as  a 
tnak,  biii  u  I  .     ,    fending  it,  the  passages 

wiih  wiiich  I  )^'uA  iTiJi^t  pli.used,  ana  used  to  recita 
thi*m  n  loud  I  boih  whfn  aUine  and  to  others — more 
Willi n;?Ij',  howev^er,  in  my  hi>iirs  of  solitude,  for  I  had 
oWrvi'J  ugme  nudjtofi^  »rmUu  and  I  dreaded  ridicule 
at  th  tu  Li  mn  of  liffi  «inre  ihn  r  I  have  ever  done  since. 
In  [1775]  i  wa*i  nmt  I*?  tlie  second  class  of  the 
Gruiumiir  School,  or  Hii^h  School  of  Edinburgh, 
Ihtw  taujLjht  by  Mr.  Luk*'  Praser,  a  good  Latin 
scholurT  and  a  vpry  worthy  iiian.  Though  I  had  re- 
cijivtKl  wjTb  aiylirofht're.in  firivatc,  lessons  of  Latin 
frriiji  Mr  Jhuik^^  Fr^DcU,  now  a  miniater  of  the 
Kirkof  Srwilmid,  I  wns,  ^nevertheless,  rather  behind 
^  the  1 1. IBS  in  which  !  wn.i  pfaced  both  in  years  and 
111!  ^^if^Ttj^i.  Thit?  •vi.fi.^  :i  Ti:ii\  dissdvantagG,  and  one 
to  which  a  boy  of  lively  temper  and  talents  Ought 
to  be  as  little  exposed  as  one  who  might  he  less  ex- 
pected to  make  up  his  lee-way,  as  it  is  called.  The 
situation  has  the  unfortunate  effect  of  reconciling  a 
boy  of  the  former  character  (which,  in  a  posthu- 
mous work,  I  may  claim  for  my  own)  to  holding  a 
subordinate  station  among  his  class-fellows— to 
which  he  would  otherwise  affix  disgrace.  There  is, 
also,  from  the  consiimtion  of  the  High  School,  a 
certain  danger  not  sufficiently  attended  to.  The 
boys  take  precedence  in  their  places,  as  they  are 
called,  according  to  their  merit,  and  it  requires  a 
jonff  while,  in  general,  before  even  a  clever  bov,  if 
he  falls  behind  the  cla^s,  or  is  put  into  one  for  which 
he  is  not  quite  ready,  can  force  his  way  to  the  situa- 

voice  of  thofider,  he  aaked  hk  son  the  fatal  quettion.  A»  yoang 
p.  modeitlj  miowed  be  knew  notbiof  about  it.  bii  Iktbcr  droto 
km  fhim  tbo  table  tn  a  rafo.  and  I  abeoonded  during  the  eonfu- 
aioo:  aw  couid  Conitable  over  bnof  me  back  afoin  to  bit  friond 


ffinr^vAidlr|^fc'ihai^i^  iiuillf^qititb  sbipa  to  MiT 
c,  iifeilM  meuriffW^'ho  i»  nmK»$vnfM  to  wpm- 
ifaa  ttMOci&ie  and'CoiiuianiDi»x>f  ihoae  inferior  i|^- 
rilS'with  whom  ho  is  pkcod ;  fcr  the nyBtom  of  pnei- 
cedenoe,  thon|(h  itiddes  noi  limit  jifae  gofioral  intei^- 
oourso  among  the  boya^  has,  neverth^Ms,  the  eflbcC 
of  throwing  tkem  into  efaiba'end  coteries,  ftccotdioor 
to  the  vkmiCy  of  the  seats  they  hold.   Aooyofgootf. 
talents,  thesefore,  placed,  erc^  for  a  time,  amofttf^ 
Me  inferiors,  especiaily  if  they  be  also  his  oldera| 
learns  to  participate  in  their  i^rsuils  and  objecta  oF 
ambition,  wkkn  are  usually  very  distinct  from,  tho 
acquisidon  of  leaninig ;  and  it  wiU  be  well  if  he  doaoi 
not  also  imitate  thsm  in  that  indifference  which  im 
contented  with  bustluwc  over  a  lesson<  so  as  to  avoicl. 
punishment,  witfaomamctingaupoiiority,  oraiininiK 
at  reward.    It  was  probably  owing  to  this  otrcum*- 
stance  that,  although  at  a  more  advanced  period  oT 
life  I  hav«  eoiovied  considerabla  laciUty  in  acqiiilios 
languues,  I  did  not  nmke  any  great  figure  aft  the 
High  School—or,  at  least^  any  exertions  which  JL 
made  vrere  desultory,  and  tittle  to  be  depended  on. 

Our  class  contained  some  very  excellent  scholara. 
The  first  Dux  was  James  Buohan,  who  retained 
his  honoured  place  afanost  without  a  day's  interval, 
all  the  while  we  were  at  the  High  School*   Ha  ^i 


1  giaDoea  hkc  a  meteor  from  one  ena  ot 
the  other,  and  commonly  di(Kttsted  najr 
r  as  nmeh  by  negligence  and  filvolity,  mm 
ily  pleased  iutn  by  flaahos  of  intellact  and 


afterwards  at  the  head  of  the  medical  staff  in  Eg^^ 
atid  in  expoaing  himself  to  the  plague  infectiom,  hgr 
attending  the  hosDitals  there,  displayed  the  same 
well-regiilated  ana  gentle,  yet  determined  perse> 
verance,  which  placed  him  most  worthily  at  th« 
head  of  his  school^fellows,  while  many  kds  of  Uve- 
het  parts  and  dispositions  held  an  inferior  statioa. 
The  BSKt  best  scfaolara  ised  lomgo  mUrtaUoi  weiw 
mv' friend  David  Douglas,  the  hair  and  i(h»  of  the 
celebrated  Adam  Smath,  and  James  Hopei  n^w  a, 
Writer  to  the*  Simiat,  both  since  wall  known  ajid 
distinguished  in  Oieir  departments  of  •  the  biw.  Am 
fbr  myself,  I  glaneed  kke  a  meteor  from  one  end  Oif 
the  class  to  the  other,  and  commonly  di( 
kind  maeter  as  nmCh  ' 

I  occasionaily  pleased  ^ 

talent.  Among  nty  companions,  my  gobd  fiatnn^ 
and  a  flow  of  ready  insagmation,  mnderpd  me  venr 
Mopular.  Boya  are  tmcdmraonlv  Just  in  their  feei^ 
mgs,  and  at  least  equally  gencroua.  My  lameaeaai, 
and  the  efibrts  which  I  made  to  supply  that  diMid<> 
vaniaj^  by  making  up  m  addveas  what  I  warned 
in  acQvtty,  engaged  the  latter  principle  in  mv-fii^ 
vours  and  in  tlie  winter  play  hours,  wnen  hani  ex- 
ercise was  impoBsihle,  my  mles  used  to  assemble 
an  admiring  aadience  round  Luckie  Brown's  fire- 
tide,  and  happy  waa  he  that  could  sit  next  the  inez- 
hanstihle  narrator,  i  was,  also,  though  Often  negli* 
gent  of  my  own  task,  always  ready  to  assisl  mj 
friends,  and  hence  I  had  a  little  party  of  stannoQ 
partisans  snd  adherents,  stout  of  nana  and  heart, 
though  somewhat  dull  of  head,  the  very  tools  for 
raising  a  hero  to  eminence,  so,  on  the  whole.  I 
made  a  brighter  figure  in  the  farda  than  in  the 
claw*        ^ 

My  father  did  not  trust  our  education  solely  to  omr 
High  School  lessons.  We  had  a  tutor  at  home, 
S  young  man  of  an  excellent  disposition,  and  a  la* 
borious  student.  He  was  bred  to  the  Kirk,  but  un- 
fortunately took  such  a  very  strong  torn  to  fanati- 
cism, that  he  afterwards  resigned  an  excellent  living 
in  a  seaport  town,  merely  because  he  could  not  per- 
suade the  mariners  of  the  guilt  of  setting  sail  of  a 
Sabbath,— in  which,  by  the  by,  he  was  less  likely  to 
be  successful,  oa,  cmtcria  parwust  sailors,  from  an 
opinion  that  it  is  a  fortunate  omtm,  always  choose 
to  weigh  anchor  on  that  day.  The  cnlibrs  of  this 
young  man's  understanding  may  be  judged  of  by 
this  anecdote ;  but  in  other  respects,  he  was  a  faith- 
ftUand  active  instructor;  and  from  him  chiefly  I 

•  I  read,  not  long  «mee.  in  that  autheotjc  record  called  the 
Percy  Anecdotes,  that  I  had  been  educated  at  Miuaettmrih 
aehona.  where  I  had  beendittincuished  aa  a»ahM>lulediaaoe«ool]r  ' 
Dr.  Bjair,  Msauff  fkrUicr  tnio  the  milbtoae,  bad  pronouooed  theiv 
wa«  Ore  10  It.  I  never  was  at  MusMlbarah  eqiiool  in  mr  Uie. 
and  thoufffa  I  have  met  Dr.  Blair  at  mr  Atner*i  and  ebewbero.  1 

B never  had  the  geod  furtone  to  attract  Kb  notiee.  to  mrknowledgew 
7,1  waa  oever  a  duooe.  nor  thoaafat  to  be  ao,  bat  an  iaoar 


XrtPiS  h^itB,  WALTfeR  SCbtt" . 


a 


l^anied  writiBg  tnd  tnthmetic.  I  repeated  to  him 
my  Froncli  lessont,  tnd  studied  wiih  lum  my 
theiqeaiii  the  claMics,  but  not  elasaically.  I  tUBo 
acquired,  by  disputing  with  him,  for  this  he  readily 
Mrvittedy  some  knowledge  of  school-divinity  and 
qhurch-history,  and  a  great  a<»vaintanee^  in  partica* 
lar,  with  the  old  books  desonbing  the  early  history 
of  the  Church  of  Scotland,  the  wars  and. sufferings 
of  the  Covenanters,  and  so  forth.  I,  with  a  head 
on  i&re  for  chivalry,  was  a  Cavalier :  my  friend  was 
a  Roundhead;  I  was  a  Tbr7,  and  he  was  a  Whig. 
I  hated  Presbyterians,  and  admired*  Montrose  with 
his  victorious  Highlanders  I  he.  liked  the  Presbyte- 
rian Ulysses,  the  dark  and  politic  Argvle  \  so  that 


Adnm,  enf^oiimW  a  snviif^e  fcUo w^  called  NicoL  one 
of  (ill?  ur]dermaB(er^  iii  int»itlliiiii  ma  person  and  au- 
ihontv.  This  uinn  whji  an  exdJuUcnt  cla^'tdcal  acho- 
lar^  ami  an  admirable  coiwivin]  humourist  i  t which 
\fiiUr  qualiiy  recomriuniJed  him  lo  tho  frietidnb5p 
at  Burn  1:4 1]  but  'nunhk^fi,  dnmkori,  atid  inhuman* 
\y  c  rufil  to  the  boys  unrJer  bis  charge.  Hij  carried 
my  frud  agmnflt  the  Ht^cior  whhin  an  itirh  yl  &^ 
i*(\jf^\n^i\i}n,  for  he  way  Ian  J  apdi  kufickc-'d  litai  dawn 
tij  ih^  dark.  The  favour  whirh  thja  >vorUiiesB  nval 
iiliiaMiefJ  m  Ihe  lowu-eouncii  led  to  mher  conw- 
ijijr  jK'oe.^  which  for  soim^  time  tloijjjed  poor  aid  am' a 
hii[i[»inff*(H  eimi  loir  fame.  Whtin  the  French  Ri^yo- 
liiLiftii  lin>keoLit,  and  pariied  ran  hi^b  in  approvinif 


we  never  wanted  subjects  of  dispute,  out  our  dis-  ,  orcundt inning  it,  the  doctor  mcauti*ualif  jmnqi  ihe 


putes  were  always  amicable.  In  aU  these  tenets* 
.there  was  no  real  conviction  on  my  part,  arising  out 
of  acquaintance  with  the  views  or  principVes  of  either 
party :  nor  had  ray  antagonist  address  enough  to 
turn  the  debate  on  such  topics.  I  took  ud  my  poli- 
tics at  that  period  as  King  Charles  II.  did  his  reli* 


forn^^r  "rhU  was  Vtriy  PHtuml;  fpt  as  uU  lua  idtaa 
Lif  exisiin^  (invef  nuientd  were  derived  from  hia  lx- 
pgritincu  uf  the  to^'Ji-cu until  oJ  Edinburgh,  it  must 
bo  adirtUtwi  they  ecarce  brooked  compitrijinn  wi(h 
the  frtie  stattfl  uf  Ij^me  and  Greetje,  from  winch 
he  bnrrowed    bis  opinionE^  c(iiicerpiii«    rppubhcd. 


gion,  from  an  idea  that  the  Cavalier  creed  was  the    His  wani  of  caution  tn  apcakmit  on  ibt  pohiical 
more  gentlemanlike  persuasion  of  the  two.  lopirs  of  the  day,  lost  huii  the  respect  of  the  boy^ 

After  having  been  three  years  under  Mr.  Fraser,  :  most  *jf  wh^jm  were  oceuatomerJ  lo  hear  very  dif- 
our  class  was^  the  usual  routine  of  the  school,  I  fertnt  ofMnjonson  im^a  mntttra  m  (hf  bosom  of 
turned  over  toDr.  Adam,  the  Rector.  It  was  from  rhtir  fonniirs.  Thjs.  bow'^JvL-ri  {which  wne  lotig  af. 
this  respectable  man  thall  first  learned  the  value  <  ter  my  time,)  paaaed  away  with  oibtHT  heata  oi  tho 
of  the  knowledge  I  had  hitherto  considered  only  as' p^^rbd,  and  the  doctor  conimncd  his  labour?  ttil 
a  burdensome  task.  It  was  ihe  fashion  to  remain  |  ahtnit  a  year  sinL-e,  when  be  was  struck  with  |iiil#y 
two  years  at  his  class,  where  we  read  Cesar,  and  v\hde  tcachmg  bi»  dass.  He  sun^ivert  a  few  day^ 
livy,  and  Sallust,  in  prose ;  Virgil,  Horace,  and  '  but  bt^iTotiiinK  dthnounbtrbite  his  dia»oluhon,  con- 
Terence,  in  verse.    I  hatj  by  this  time  mastered,  in    - '-  "' ''  ""■^  ■*'"  "  -"^"'"''^  ""''  ^^*'"'  """""  -'"r«»- 


,  _  ^  jadby ^ ,  __ 

some  degree,  the  difficulties  of  the  language,  and 
began  to  be  sensible  of  its  beauties.  This  was  real- 
ly gathering  grapes  from  thistles;  nor  shall  I ! soon 
forget  the  swelnng  of  my  little  pnde  when  the  Roc- 
tor  pronounced,  that  though  many  of  my  school- 
fellows understood  the  Latm  better,  ChmUfrua 
Scott  was  behind  few  in  following  and  enjoying  the 

Sthor's  meaning.  Thus  encouraged,  I  distinguish- 
myself  by  some  attempts  at  poetical  versieps 
from  Horace  and  Virgil.  Dr.  Adam  used  to  invite 
his  scholars  to  such  essays,  but  never  made  them 
tasks.  I  gained  some  distmction  upon  these  occa- 
sions, and  the  Rector  in  future  took  much  notice 
of  me,  and  his  judicious  mixture  of  censure  and 

{»raise  went  far  to  counterbalance  my  habits  of  indo- 
ence  and  inattention.  I  saw  I  was  expected  to  do 
well,  and  I  was  piqued  in  honour  to  vindicate  my 
master's  favourable  opinion.  I  climbed,  therefore, 
to  the  first  form ;  ana  though  I  never  m^de  a  first- 
rate  Latinist,  my  schoolfellows,. and  what  was  of 
more  QpnsiMuenee,  I  myself,  considered  that  I  had  a 
character  for  learning  to  maintain.  Dr.  Adam,  to 
whom  I  owed^  so  much,  never  failed  to  remind  me 
pf  my  obligations  when  1  had  made  some  fig;ure 
in  the  Uterary  worid.  He  was,  indeed,  deeply  im- 
bued with  that  fortunate  vanity  which  alone  could 
induce  a  man,  who  has  arms  to  pare  and  bum  a 
muir,  to  submit  to  the  yet  more  toilsome  task  of 
cultivating  youth.  As  Uatholics  confide  in  the  im- 
puted righteousness  of  their  saints,  so  did  the  goond 
old  doctor  plume  himself  upon  the  success  of  his 
scholars  in  life,  all  of  which  he  never  failed  (and 
often  justly)  to  claim  as  the  creation,  or  at  least 
the  fruits,  of  his  early  instructions.  He  remember- 
ed the  fate  of  every  boy  at  his  school  during  the 
fiftv  Years  he  had  superintended  it,  and  always  tra- 
ced their  success  or  misfortunes  entirely  to  their  at- 
tention or  negligence  when  under  his  care.  His 
"  noisy  mansion,^^  which  to  others  would  have  been 
a  mefancholy  bedlam,  was  the  pride  of  his  heari ; 
and  the  only  fatigues  he  felt,  amidst  din  and  tumult, 
and  the  necessity  of  reading  themes,  hearing  les- 
sons, and  maintaining  some  degree  of  order  at  the 
same  timft  were  relieved  by  comparing  himself  to 
Caesar,  who  could  dictate  to  three  secretaries  at 
once  J— so  ready  is  vanity  to  lighten  the  labours  of 
duty. 

It  is  a  pity  that  a  roan  so  learned,  so  admirably 
adapted  ibr  his  station,  so  useful,  so  simple,  so  easi- 
ly contented,  should  have  had  other  subjects  of 
mortification.  But  the  magistrates  Qf  Edlnbunb, 
not  knowhig  the  treasure  they  podi^^ssed  in  Dr. 


ceived  he  was  stid  m  school,  and  after  forae  eiprea- 
8ions  of  applause  or  censure,  he  iaid^  ",  Bui  it  i?rowa 
dark— ihe  boy«  may  dtBtiiiiis"— and  m&tantly  e*- 

From  Dr.  Adiim'»  class  I  should,  aocordinfitfjtba 
usiial  roittinej  have  T?roceeded  imtiioditttdy  to  col- 
lege. But.  fortunately.  1  was  not  yet  to  lomf,  by  a 
to  La  I  disrjnsaion  from  cotii*traiiit,  me  aCTQuauitaiice 
with  the  Latin  which  I  had  BL'quir^^d.  My  heahk 
had  bt^ome  rather  dtllcate  from  r Jtpvd  ^towih,  afjd 
tny  father  was  ea^dy  persuaded  lo  -illow  metii  sptind 
half  a  year  nt  Kelso  with  my  kind  aunt.  Miss  J**"^^ 
Scott,  wbo^  inmaU]  1  a^sm  beciitne.  It  was  hard* 
ly  worth  mLniionini?  ihut  I  had  frequently  visited 
her  du rill*!  our  short  vatta lion  9-  .         _, 

At  ihiy*  time  i*he  resided  in  a  small  bouse,  situated 
very  ph'ftftJintlv  iti  a  lar^e  garden,  to  the  eastward 
Lif  xhe  chnrchvard  of  Kdeo,  which  extended  down  lo 
ill  c  Tweed .  1 1  w  as  then  m  y  fa  th  e  r*  ■  property,  fro  tn 
whom  it  WHS  afterwards  piirchojae^  by  niy  nncic* 
My p'indmother  waa  now  dead*  nud  my  aunt  s  only 
com|jatiioii,  besides  an  oldi  itiaid-Ber^'anti  waa.jisy 
conavn,  Mje^  Barbara  Scalt,  now  5ff"^  Meil^^  My 
lijvie  was  here  Ipfl  entirely  to  mv  own  disDoaol,  eJt- 
ceptm{^  for  about  four  hours  in  the  da?,  when  1  was 
f  ipected  to  attend  tb«  grajnuiar-Echool  of  the  ul- 
lage. The  luaeher  ut  that  imw  was  Mr  Lonttlot 
\N^ilftv  nn  excellent  ciaBeicnl  scholar,  a  humouriat, 
nod  a  worthy  man.  Ho  had  u  snprtmy  aiiiipaihy 
to  tlie  piuie  which  his  very  unconimitn  namti  iVe- 
queritly  save  risQ  lo ;  ineonmch,  thai  he  roade  his 
flon  spell  I  he  word  WWe,  whieh  only  f>ccosioneri  tho 
voung  man  beiuH  mckustncd  tht;  Ptinrt  ttf  JVijJen 
by  (lie  military  mess  to  which  he  bt longed.  As  for 
Whale,  ajnior,  the  kaflt  allusion  Jlo  Jonah,  ot  ijia 
lerndnR  him  on  odd  fish*  or  any  Hiiiiiar  quibbitj 
WEii?  sure  1 0  put  hini  bfeidt;*  him^^i'lf*  In  poitii:  oi 
knowlcilyc  and  la^te,  he  was  far  ^wi^uod  mrtlu^  si- 
tn^iiion  he  hehii.  which  on\y  required  that  he  should 
^ive  his  scholars  a  rou^h  foimdation  in  the  Laiin 
lantjungp.  My  lime  wiili  hirn^  Iheugb  flhorl,  was 
spent  Krt^ntly  to  my  advantage  and  his  gratification. 
He  was  4^1  ad  toeacape  to  Pcrsius  and  TQcitus  frorn 
the  eternal  Rudiments  and  CorndiuB  Ncpos  ^  and 
na  pcirusmg  these  authorj>)  wjih  one  who  began  to 
imdcr^land  them  was  lohirn  a  labour  of  love>  Im^do 
coiisidLTfthiL'  pr  ogre  we  under  iiia  inBiructi&na.  I 
^ti^pectf  indeed,  that  eome  of  the  time  dedicated  lo 
me  wa>«  withdrawn  from  the  lutttruction  of  bis  more 
rcjfular  *t(  hokr^  :  bul  1  was  os^^ateful  a  a  I  could* 
I  Rctfid  ai^  utfther,  and  heard  Urn  in^cnor cbiisf ft,  and 
I  spontttl  the  speech  of  Gali^tricu^i  nt  lUn  jiuMje  irx- 
aminaiJon,  which  did  no  I  make  tlic  less  iniprussioa 


IS 

01)  the  audience,  llidt  f^w  of  them  prabubly  undtr- 
vtood  one  woTiJ  of  iL 

In  ibe  mean  wbiU  dit  actjaaliitance  witb  Engiliah 
titeratLi/«  was  Rradui»l1y  «xt<?Tidinf;  if  self.  In  (h4 
iniervaJs  <)f  my  school  howra  I  had  alway*  r«ruw?ti 
KFJth  avidity  suph  books  of  history  or  poetry,  or 
voya^t*  and  travcK  as  chance  pre*? o tea  to  mc— 
not  fofgettmif  ih^  vimaL  or  r^Jhor  ren  tiiri^^  tbe 
uauaJn  qaantiiyof  fjiiry  laks,  easternstorieri,  roin :i ri- 
ce r.  ^v.  Tbei»L*  aluiiioB  were  totaJEy  unregiilaud 
and  nn directed*  My  tutor  thonf,'hi  ir  almoin  a  sin 
loopooa  profftjiftphry  or  poem;  nnd  my  moibtT, 
btisidea  thai  she  nn^ht  be  in  eom^  df^rt^  irammel- 
led  by  the  reltmous  ^cttipiys  whic?4i  he  flug^e^toti, 
hinJ  no  longer  flit'  onponuniiy  to  hfjjir  mi-  tt^d  pof^t- 
ry  as  forijitrlv.  1  foandi  howcTer,  in  h*^r  dressing?- 
rmmi  (wbcT*  I  slept  a  I  one  timi')  some  odd  vohmicj 
of  Shftk^eorc,  nor  cun  I  easdy  forget  the  rap?  tire 
wiib  which  I  sate  np  in  itiy  ahirt  reaudinfi  ibem  Uf 
thebght  of  a  fij-e  in  her  opni-lm^'nt,  unid  the  hu?^tle 
of  the  fstitily  risiiiis  from  Buimcr  wflnn?d  nj€  it  wyj 
Urii**  to  crnacp  back  lo  iiiy  hi^^,  ubere  I  was  suppos- 
ed to  have  been  safely  depopiiL'd  pince  nine  o'cloijk. 
Chance,  however,  threw  m  my  way  a  rM>crical  pttt- 
<;eptor.  This  was  no  otlier  than  the  eJtccHent  aod 
benevolent  Dr.  Blackloek,  wcU-knowti  ttt  tbnt 
time  as  a  Uierary  chttra**tef*  I  know  not  how  I 
attracted  h\s  attention,  and  that  of  aonte  of  the 
^ouol;  men  who  boarded  in  hia  family  \  but  »o  it 
wan,  that  I  hecamo  »  frequent  and  favoured  (niesi. 
The  kind  old  raan  opi^ned  to  me  the  Riores  of  his 
librliry,  and  throHsih  his  recommendaiii'jn  I  berntne 
in  lim  a(c  with  Opsian  and  Spenser,  I  wri?  deliRht'.  d 
with  botb»  yet  I  think  chiefly  with  the  latter  pf  <  t. 
Tlie  tawdry  repetition  a  of  the  Oseianic  pbras^otn-y 
dt»^9ted  me  ralher  sooner  ih^n  miijhl  have  ht-^-n 
eatpccted  from  my  »rc.  But  Spenser  I  could  h,'iv6 
read  forever.  Too  young  to  troubto  myself  ab'^it 
the  allegory,  1  ooneider«rfJ  all  the  knight*?  Mnd  lodiee^ 
and  draRo^H  and  jmanis^  in  their  outward  end  tx- 
oterHe  sen^o,  and  &od  only  knows  how  dfhehied  I 
was  to  fifid  myself  in  anen  socitty.  Aa  I  had  aJ- 
wayn  a  wonderful  facility  in  retaining  in  my  memory 
wbJit<f;ver  vera«5  pltjasefl  rne,  the  quantity  of  Spcn- 
mif'b  stanzas  which  I  rotdd  repeat  was  really  mar- 
velloua.  Bui,  this  memory  of  mine  was  a  very 
fickle  nOvt  and  has  through  my  whole  Ufe  acit'ii 
merely  upon  ita  own  capridovis  moiitiDt  and  mijrbt 
have  enabled  me  to  adopt  old  Beat  tie  of  M^.ikle- 
daJe'sBHiSWer,  when  eomplimf>nted  by  a  certain  tf\f^ 
rend  diviue  o(i  th«  atreneth  of  ibe  enuit^  furuky  :— 
*'Noi  air,"  anawered  the  otd  Borderer,  "  I  have  no 
command  of  my  memorjf*  It  only  retains  what 
hitB  my  fancy,  and  probably,  eir,  if  you  were  to 
preach  to  me  for  two  hours,  I  would  nol  be  ahtij 
witon  yon  finit<hf^d  tn  remember  a  word  yoti  had 
be<!n  saying. '^  My  memory  waa  prtjdsely  of  the 
Biimtfkind  ;  it  seldom  failed^  to  preBerve  most  tena- 
ciously a  fa  vol]  lite  paa^iaii^  of  poetry,  a  niayhoupe 
duly,  or,  above  all,  a  Border- raid  ballnd ;  but 
names,  dales,  and  the  other  teehnicalJtiea  of  hisufr\', 
escaped  me  in  a  moat  melancholy  de|i,T^i\  Tiie 
phdoaophy  of  bi*lory,  m  rnni^h  more  iinpnrtani  ^uh- 
}pct,  wi^  also  a  seaTed  hunk  84  this  period  of  njy 
life  i  but  1  gradually  a? ambled  mtich  of  what  was 
8(hkin^  and  pictufeaqiu  in  hiaturical  narrative;  and 
when  in  rtrjer  yvar?,  1  attended  more  Eo  the  dcdnc- 
tion  of  pncral  principles',  I  was  fumi*hi'd  with  a 

fownrfwl  host  of  e:snmple?  in  illtt^tratlon  of  ibem. 
ft'aa,  in   short.   like  nn  igiLorant  pamtfiter,   who 
kept  up  a  Rood  hand  unitf  he  knew  how  to  play  tt. 
I  left  the  Hi^h  School,  ther'^ore,  with  a  urtut 
qaantitv  of  ^reneralinformaiion,  ill  arrafri^edT  ir^'^ 


UFE  OF  SIR  WALTER  ^COTT. 


ing  my  way,  unleM  by  groping  for  it.    My  appetivi  * 
for  books  wta  as  ample  and  m<tiflcrimmatnig  as  tt 
was  indefatigable,  and  I  since  have  had  too  fine- 
quently  reason  to  repen\Uiat  few  ever  read  so  much, 
and  to  so  little  purpose. 

Among  the  Taluable  aeeinisitions  1  made  about 
this  time,  was  an  acquaintance  with  Tasso's  Jem- 
saiem  Delivered^  through  the  flat  medhmi  of  Mr. 
Boole's  translation.  But  abovtf  all,  I  then  first 
became  acquainted  with  Bishop  Perqrs  Reliques  of 
Ancient  Poetry.  As  I  had  been  from  mfancy  devot- 
ed to  legendary  lore  of  this  nature,  and  only  reluct- 
antly withdrew  my  attention,  from  the  scarcity 
of  materials  and  the  rudeness  of  those  which  I 
possessed,  it  may  be.  imagined,  but  cannot  be  des- 
cribed, with  what  delight  1  saw  pieces  of  the  same 
kind  which  had  amused  my  childhood,  and  still 
continued  in  secret  the  Delilahs  of  my  imasinatiofi, 
considered  as  the  subject  of  sober  research,  grave 
commentary,  and  apt  illustration,  by  an  editor  who 
showed  bis  poetical  genius  was  capable  of  emulat- 
ing the  best  qnaUties  of  what  hii  pious  labour  pre- 
served. 1  remember  well  the  spot  where  I  read 
these  volumes  for  the  first  time.  It  was  beneath  a 
huge  platanns-tree,  in  the  ruins  of  what  had  been 
intended  for  an  old-fashioned  arbour  in  the  gardUn  I 
have  mentioned.  The  siunmer  dav  sped  onward  so 
fast,  that  notwithstanding  the  snarp  appetite  of 
thirteen,  I  forgot  the  hour  of  dinnen  was  sought 
for  with  aniiety,  and  vras  still  foundf  entranced  in 
my  mtdlectual  banquet  To  read  and  to  remember 
was  in  this  instance  theliame  thing,  and  hence- 
forth I  overwhelmed  my  schoolfellows,  aind  all  who 
would  hearken  to  me.  with  tragical  recitations 
firom  the  ballads  of  Bishop  Percy.  The  first  thne, 
too^  I  could  scrape  a  few  shillings  together,  which 
were  not  common  occurrences  with  m&  I  bought 
unto  myself  a  copy  of  these  beloved  volumes,  nor 
do  I  believe  J  ever  read  a  book  half  so  fVequently, 
or  with  half  the  enthusiasm.  About  this  period 
also,  I  became  acquainted  with  the  works  of  Ri- 
chardson, and  those  of  Mackenzie— (whom  in 
later  years  I  became  entitled  to  call  my  ftiend) — 
with  Fielding,  Smollet,  and  some  others  of  our  best 
novelists. 

To  this  period  also  I  can  trace  distinctly  ^e 
awaking  of  that  deliehtfiil  feehng  for  the  beauties 
of  natural  objects  which  has  never  since  deserted 
me.  The  neighbourhood  of  Kelso,  the  most  beau- 
tiful, if  not  the  most  romantic  village  in  Scotland, 
is  eminently  calculated  to  awaken  these  ideas.  It 
presents  omects  not  only  grand  in  themselves,  but 
venerable  from  their  association.  The  meeting  of 
two  superb  rivers,  the  Twe«l  and  the  Teviot.  both 
renowned  in  song— the  ruins  of  an  ancient  Abbey 
—the  more  distant  veatiges  of  Roxburgh  Castle — 
the  modem  mansion  of  Fleurs,  which  is  so  situat- 
ed as  to  combine  the  ideas  of  ancient  baronial 
grandeur  with  those  of  modem  taste— are  in  them- 
selves objects  of  the  first  class ;  yet  are  so  mixed, 
united,  and  melted  among  a  thousand  other  beau- 
ties ot  a  less  prominent  description,  that  they  har- 
monize into  one  general  picture,  and  please  rather 
by  unison  than  by  concord.  I  believe  I  have  writ- 
ten unintelligibly  upon  this  subject,  but  it  is  fitter 
for  the  pencifthan  the  pf  n.  The  romantic  feelings 
which  I  have  describea  as  predominating  in  my 
mind,  naturally  rested  upon  and  associated  them- 
selves nnth  these  grand  features  of  the  landscape 
around  me ;  and  fhe  historical  incidents,  or  traai- 
tional  legends,  connected  with  many  of  tnem,  gave 
to  my  admiration  a  sort  of  intense  impression  of 
ijuiiiiL«i.v  «j  iK,i94Jcrai  iiiiiririiaiinip,  iii  urr^ifi^^i^^  anri.  -i.  rcvercncc,  which  Bt  tinics  made  my  heart  feel  too 
and  eoflected  without  svateni,  yrt  deeply  imrTre='^i  d  '  big  for  its  bosom.  From  this  time  the  love  of  nn- 
Bpon  my  mind^  readily  assorted  by  my  p^jwcr  of  i  tural  beauty,  more  especially  when  combined  with 
eoiincxion  and  memoVyt  and  plded,  if  J  may  be,'  ancient  rums,  or  remains  of  our  fathers'  piety  or 
P*;rmitted  to  say  so^  by  a  vivid  and  active  imnirinn-  •  splendour,  became  with  me  an  insatiable  passion, 
lion.  If  my  Biuditii w*ere  not  under  onV  dint' fi..iM  which,  if  circumstances  had  permitted,  I  would 
ai  Edinbuffib,m  the  country,  ii  may  be  will  IniH^rir^-  willinply  have  gratified  by  traveUing  over  half  the 
ed,  rhey  were  le^K  BO.     A  respectable  liuhs^i'rriritMi  I  globe, 


hbrary,  a  eirculathift  libmry  of  aneii^ni  piandj  . 
and  some  rrivftTf  book- shelves,  were  open  to  u\i 
ramtom  perusal,  and  I  wttd<sj  into  the  at  ream  like  a 
blind  man  into  a  &td,  withotit  the  power  of  B«arch- 


I  was  recalled  to  Edinburgh  about  the  time  when 
the  College  meets,  and  put  at  once  to  the  Huma- 
nity class,  under  Mr.  Hill,  and  the  first  Greek  class, 
taught  by  Mr.  Dalzell.    The  former  held  the  reina 


LIFE  oV  SIR  WALTER  SCOTT. 


I 


of  diadplin^  wry  looael/t  and  though  beloved  by 
his  studenta,  lor  he  was  a  sood-natured  mao  as 
well  us  a  good  scholar,  he  had  not  the  art  of  azcil- 
ing  our  attenlioaas  well  as  Ukiug.  ThU  wa^  ki  dan- 
gerous character  with  whom  to  iniit  oiii;  wh(>  ri..Utili> 
ed  labour  as  little  as  I  did.  aud  apiu'l  tlw^  nut  o(  bjs 
class,  I  speedily  lost  much  of  wikii  I  had  Iturnt  d 
under  Aoam  and  Whale.  At  tiie  Circt4  uUk3.  I 
might  have  made  a  better  li«ur^  ii>r  Profesaor 
Dalzell  maintained  a  sreat  di^A  of  adtbMriiy,  aud 
was  not  only  bimwlf  o^  afltnirubic  scholar, 
but  was  always  deeply  intc  r^  :^t(.'d  in  ibe  pro- 
gress  of    his    students.     But    litre    hy    the   vil^ 

lany.     Almost  all  my  corapa' -    v^;-   ' -^  "  h 

the  High  School  at  the  sanie  uuic  wuu  luyovii, 
had  acquired  a  smattering  of  Greek  tbeibre  they 
came  to  College.  I,  alasT  had  none;  and  findins 
myself  far  inferior  to  a|l  my  fellow- students,  I 
oonld  hit  upon  no  better  mode  of  vindicating  my 
equality,  than  by  proleasin^  my  contempt  for  the 
language,  and  my  resolution  not  to  learn  it.  A 
youth  who  died  early,  himself  an  excellent  Greek 
scholar,  saw  my  negligence  and  folly  with  pain, 
mstead  of  contempt.  He  came  to  call  on  me  in 
.George's  Square,  and  pointed  out  in  the  strongest 
terms  the  silliness  of  the  conduct  I  had  adopted, 
told  me  I  was  distinguished  bv  the  name  of  the 
Greek  Blockhead^  and  exhorted  me  to  redeem  my 
reputation  while  it  was  called  to-day.  M^r  stub- 
born pride  received  this  advice  with  sulky  civihty ; 
the  birth  of  my  Mentor  (whose  name  was  Archi- 
bald, the  son  of  an  inn-keeper)  did  not,  as  1  thought 
in  my  folly,  authorize  him  to  intrude  upon  me  nis 
advice.  The  other  was  not  sharp-sightod,  or  his 
consciousness  of  a  generous  intention  overcame 
his  re^ntraent.  He  onered  me  his  daily  and  night- 
ly assistance,  and  pledged  himself  to  brins  me  for- 
ward with  the  foremost  of  mv  class.  I  felt  some 
twing^es  of  conscience,  but  tney  were  unable  to 
prevaiL  over  my  pride  and  self-conceiu  The  poor 
lad  left  me  more  m  sorrow  than  in  anger,  nor  did 
we  ever  meet  again.  All  hopes  of  my  progress  in 
the  Greek  w«re  now  over;  insomuch  that  when 
we  were  reauired  to  write  essays  on  the  authors  we 
had  studieci,  I  had  the  audacity  to  produce  a  com- 
position, in  which  I  weighexi  Homer  against  Arios- 
to,  and  pronounced  him  wanting  in  the  balance. 
I  supported  tnis  heresy  by  a  profusion  of  bad  read- 
ing and  flimsy  argument.  The  wrath  of  the  Pro- 
fessor was  extremes  while  at  the  same  time  he 
could  not  suppress  his  surprise  at  the  quantity  of 
ou^-of-the-way  knowledge  which  I  displayed.    He 

Sronounced  upon  me  the  severe  sentence — that 
unce  I  was,  and  dunce  was  to  remain— which, 
however,  my  excellent  and  learned  friend  lived  to 
revoke  over  a  bottle  of  Burgundy,  at  our  literary 
club  at  Fortune's,  of  which  he  was  a  dislingiushed 
member. 

Meanwhile,  as  if  to  erac^cate  my  sljghtest  tinc- 
ture of  Greek,  I  fell  ill  during  the  middle  of  Mr. 
Dalzell's  second  class,  and  migrated  a  second  time 
to  Kelso— where  I  again  continued  a  long  time,  read- 
ing what  and  how  rpleased,  and  of  course  reading 
nothing  but  what  afiorded  me  immediate  entertain* 
ment.  The  only  thing  which  saved  my  mind  from 
utter  dissipation,  was  that  turn  for  historical  pursuit, 
which  never  abandoned  me  even  at  the  idlest  pe- 
riod. I  had  forsworn  the  Latin  classics  for  no 
reason  I  know  of,  unless  because  they  were  akin  to 
the  Greek,  but  the  occasional  perusal  of  Bucha- 
nan's hit^tory,  that  of  Mathew  Paris,  and  other 
monkish  chronicles,  kept  up  a  kind  of  familiarity 
with  the  language  even  in  its  rudest  state.  But  I 
forgot  the  very  letters  of  the  Greek  alphabet ;  a 
lo0s  never  to  be  repaired,  considering  what  that  lan- 
guage is,  and  who  they  were  who  employed  it  in 
their  compositions. 

About  this  period— or  soon  afterwards— my  father 
judged  it  proper  1  should  study  mathematics,  a 
study  upon  which  I  entered  with  all  the  ardour  of 
novelty.  My  tutor  was  an  aged  person.  Dr.  Mac- 
Fair,  who  had  in  his  time  been  distinguished  as  a 
teacher  of  this  science^  Age,  however,  and  some 
domestic  inconvenienoes,  had  diminished  his  pupils^ 
B 


18^ 

audi  lessened  his  authority  amongst  the  few  wfa» 
remained.  I  think  that  had  1  been  more  fortanai^* 
ly  idaced  for  instruction,  or  had  I  had  the  spur  of 
emulation,  I  might  have  made  some  progress  in 
this  science!  of  which  under  the  oircumtftancea  I 
have  mentioned  I  only  acquired  a  very'  superficial 
■smattering.  ' 

In  other  studies  I  was  rather  more  fortunate ;  I  ' 
made  some  progreee  in  Ethic^  under  Professor 
John  Bruce,  and  was  selected  aaone  of  his  students 
whose  progress  he  approved,  to  read  an  essajr  be- 
fore PrindMil  Rpbertson.  I  was  farther  instructed 
in  Moral  Philosophy  at  the  class  of  Mr.  Dugald 
Stewart,  whose  striking  and  impressive  eloquence 
riveted  the  attentbn  even  of  the  most  volatile  stu- 
dent. To  sum  up  my  academical  studies,  I  attend- 
ed the  cUias  of  History,  then  taught  by  the  present 
Iiord  Woodhouselee,  and,  as  far  as  I  remember,  no 
others,  excepting  those  of  the  civil  and  municipal ' 
law.  So  that  if  my  learning  be  flimsy  and  inaccu- 
rate, the  reader  mu%  have  some  compassion  even 
for  an  idle  workman,  who  had  so  narrow  a  foun- 
dation, to  build  upon.  If,  however,  it  should  ever 
fall  to  the  lot  of  youth  to  peruse  these  pages— let 
such  a  reader  remember,  that  it  is  with  the  deepest 
regret  that  1  recollect  in  my  manhood  the  opportu- 
nities of  learning  which  I  neglected  in  n|y  youth; 
that  through  every  part  of  my  literary  career!  have 
felt  pinched  and  hami>ered  bf  my  own  ignorance  i 
and  that  I  wotUd  at  this  moment  give  nsHf  the  repu- 
tation 1  have  had  the  good  fortune  to  acquire,  if  by 
doing  so  1  could  rest  the  remaining  part  upon  « 
sound  foundation  of  learmng  and  science. 

I  imagine  my  father's  season  for  sending  me  to  so 
few  classes  in  the  College,  was  a  desire  that  I 
should  apply  myself  ^arti(rUarly  to  my  legal  studies. 
He  had  not  detemunAi  whether  1  shoiud  fill  the 
situation  of  an  Advocate  or  a  Writer  t  but  judicious- 
ly considering  the  technical  knowledge  of  the  latter 
to  be  useful  at  least,  if  not  essential,  to  a  barrister, 
he  resolved  I  should  serve  the  ordinary  apprentice- 
shin  of  five  years  to  his  (vwn  profession.  I  accord- 
ingly entered  into  indentures  with  myiather  aboiit 
178&-6,  and  entered  upon  the  dry  and  barren  wil- 
derness of  forms  ah4  conteyances. 

I  cannot  reproach  myself  with  being  endrely  an 
idle  apprentice— far  less,  as  the  reader  might  rea- 
sonably have  expected, 

"  A  clerk  foredoom'd  iny  fathcr^s  toul  to  cross." 

The  drudgery,  indeed,  of  the  office  I  disliked,  and 
the  confinement  I  altogethef  detested}  but  I  loved 
my  fatherji  and  I  felt  the  rational  pride  and  pleasure 
of  rendenng  myself  useful  to  him.  1  was  ambi- 
tious also ;  and  among  my  companions  in  labouri 
the  only  way  to  gratify  ambition  was  to  labour 
hard  and  well.  Other  circumstances  reconciled 
me  in  some  measure  to  the  confinement  The  al* 
lowance  for  copy-money  furnished  a  little  fund  for 
the  menus  plaisirs  of  the  circulating  library  and- 
the  Theatre ;  and  this  was  no  trifling  incentive  to 
labour.  When  actually  at  the  oar,  no  man  could 
pull  it  harder  than  1,  and  I  reiuMnber  writing  up- 
wards of  120  folio  pages  jvith  nMiterval  either  fqr 
food  or  rest.  Again,  th7  hours  of  attendance  on 
the  office  were  lightened  by  the  power  of  choosing 
my  own  books,  and  reading  them  in  my  own  wav, 
which  often  consisted  in  beginning  at  the  middle 
or  the  end  of  a  volume.  ,  A  deceased  friend,  who 
was  a  fellow  apprentice  with  me,  used  often  to  ez- 

C Dress  his  surpnse  that,  after  sucWe  hop-step-and- 
imp  perusal,  I  knew  as  much  or  the  book  as  he 
ad  been  able  to  acquire  from  reading  it  in  the  usual 
manner.^    My  desk  usually  contained  a  store  of  * 
most  miscellaneous  volumes,  especially  works  of 
fiction  of  every  kind,  which  were  my  supreme  der 
light.    I  might  except  novels,  unless  those  of  the 
better  and  higher  class,  for  though  1  read  many  of 
them,  yet  it  was  with  more  selection  than  might  t 
have  been  expected.    The  whole  Jemmy  and  Jennv 
Jessamy  tribe  I  abhofred,  and  it  reciuired  the  art  ot 
Bumey,  or  the  reeling  of  Mackenzie,  to  fix  my  at- 
tention upon  a  domestic  tale.    But  all  that  was  ad-   , 
venturous  and  romantic  I  devoured  without  uiucSk 


H 


LIFE  OP  SIE  WALTER  fllCOTT. 


^iecfiTTiiiiatioTi,  and  I  really  believe  I  ho?e  Tend  ns 
niMnh  noH3«iiae  of  ifaiA  dfisa  aa  niiy  man  now  liv- 
ifig,  Kvery  tiling  which  touched  on  knight-errant- 
ry wan  particularly  accent ablt^  to  tne^  and  I  «ocin 
aitcmpted  m  imitate  what  I  m  gneaily  udmired. 
My  eUbriB,  howtiv^ri  wer*^  m  tbe  mannor  of  ih« 
tafe-teJkr,  not  of  the  bard. 

My  greatest  inEiiiiaie^  from  the  days  of  myftchooU 
tid^,  wtiH  Mr.  John  Irvmg^  now  a  Writer  lo  the  Sip- 
nut*  We  lived  nenr  each  othcrf  and  by  joint  ^ree- 
ment  w^tare  wont,  each  of  us,  to  compose  a  romance 
for  tho  other'*  amu&emen:.  These  legends,  m 
which  the  martial  and  the  iniraculou]?  alwaifa  pre- 
dorninatfld,  we  rehearsed  tu  eAcJi  other  dunng  our 
walks,  which  were  usually  directed  to  the  most 
eoliiary  npota  abont  Arthurs  Seat  and  i^aliabury 
Crags,  Wc  naturally  sought  sodu^iotK  for  w© 
were  con»cioua  no  ^riiall  degree  of  ridicule  would 
hav*r  attended  our  amusomcnt,  if  the  nature  of  it 
had  twcomo  known.  Whofc  holidnye  were  ^eut 
m  tfii«  ■ingulflr  paftiime,  which  cimtmued  for  two 
or  three  years*  and  had,  1  b<]|ief^n  rio  small  etfwt  in 
dinietinff  the  turn  of  my  imagmation  to  the  chivol* 
ro«s  and  romantie  in  poetry  and  proa& 

Mean  whilei  the  trsinBlaiions  of  Mr.  Hook  hav- 
ini^  made  me  acquainted  with  Tnsso  nnd  Aho^to, 
Ilearnttt  from  hi*  notee  on  the  loiter*  that  the  Ita- 
lian lan^itaKe  coniamcd  a  fund  of  romantic  lore. 
A  part  of  my  earnings  waa  dedicated  to  an  Iialjati 
claps  which  1  attended  twice  a- week,  and  rapidly 
acquired  some  proficiency.  I  had  previou&ly  renew- 
ed tind  eitendod  my  knowledge  of  tho  French  lan- 
Ruaga,  from  the  aame  principle  of  romantic  re- 
sea  rch.  TVes?a!]'ft  romaticcB,  the  Biblioth^ue 
Bleue,  and  Bibhoth^quo  de  Rom  ana,  were  alrtatly 
'  fapuliaf  to  m^  and  I  now  acquired  eiiriilar  iniimac  y 
with  the  worka  of  Dante,  boiardo,  Pnlci,  and  other 
inaiDaai  inlian  ayihprs,  I  f)i«ti^ned  alflo,  like  a 
ligert  tipOEi  evory  eollection  of  old  §on;^  or  roman- 
ces which  chance  threw  in  my  way,  or  which  my 
fecruriuy  wna  able  to  discover  oti  the  dusty  i^helvF's 
of  John  Sibbald^a  ciTcolating  library  m  tho  Par- 
liament Squiire.  This  eoHectaon,  now  dismsntkd 
nnd  dtsjiiertedT  contajoed  ut  that  time  many  rare 
and  cunouB  worka,  Foldgm  found  in  such  a  coUec- 
^  tion»  Mr.  Sjbbald  himaelfl  a  man  of  roup^li  n*8n- 
Jiera,  but  of  aome  tasip  and  judgment  cultivatid 
XnUBic  and  puelrvt  and  m  hie  shop  1  had  a  distant 
^iew  of  some  litefary  characlers»  beaitlt's  the  privi- 
le-Re  of  ran  a  ao  king  the  ii  tores  of  old  French  and 
Itahaiv books,  which  were  in  Tittle  demand  imiong 
the  bulk  of  ht I?  ^FuhKetibers.  Here  1  paw  the  untbr- 
tuJaaie  Andrew  Macdonaldi  atJthor  of  Virnondji : 
and  iief«,  too,  I  ^aw  at  a  distanea  the  honst  of 
Scotland,  Rnbert  Hurnfl,  Of  the  Utter  I  ^baLl 
I>roaeitjt]y  have  occasion  to  speak  more  fulij. 

1  »tn  inadvertently  led'  to  confottnd  datcfl  whtk  I 
taJk  of  this  r^motiH  period,  for,  as  1  havt?  no  notes, 
it  ia  impossible  for  me  to  remember  ^\ith  ncniracy 
th»  pfogrrsftof  sTudies,  if  they  deserve  the  ri^uic^  so 
irfa^tiUr  and  mi^tellHueoHn,  But  about  the  ^ccond 
year  of  my  apf^reritiecEhipT  niy  health,  which,  from 
rftfid  growth  and  other  eatipe^,  had  (tefln  liitKcrto 
xather  uncertsm  oM  dell eatt  was  aflcctf-d  by  the 
hr»akin{f  of  a  blo4^j^i(i>es3e|^  The  resfiTiien  I  had  to 
nnderjfo  on  thin  oceaaion  was  far  from  a^^rteabk'. 
It  wtj»  Sprini?,  and  the  ivt^athier  raw  und  cold,  yet 
I  wjia  confined  to  bed  with  a  ain^h''  blanket,  and 
hl«i  andibhslerod  till  I  scarcely  had  a  nulso  left,  1 
had  all  the  qippetit^or  a  Krowin«  hoy,  but  s^n^  rm- 
lubited  any  sudtenpLnce  beyond  what  waa  absoluJf- 
".'  ly  neccftsary  for^  stippori  of  HHiiire-i  und  that  in 
vceetfiblis  alone.  Above  all,  with  n  eon  side  rabte 
fli^jjo^iTiiiu  to  talk,  J  waa  not  ivermitted  to  oj^n  my 
Ilii.S  witbotjt  one  nr  two  old  laditft  who  waicht*d 
iriy  couch  being  ready  at  once  to  aousf!  upon  tne, 
"irripoain^  silence  witn  a  stUly  aonnd*"  My  only 
n  fij^e  was  reading?  nnd  play  me  at  t^h^m.  To  the 
romanrtrs  and  poriry,  which  I  ehietly  dclishted  in, 
I  hud  fitway*  added  the  etudy  of  history,  especially 
as  conruNjii?d  with  militisry  evunts.  I  was  eacon- 
I  ra^ed  in  thi»  latter  atudy  by  a  tolerable  acquaint 
ance  with  eeoBra!phy,  and  by  the  opiiort unities  1 
hnd  enjoyed  whil*  wi'h  Mr,  Mae  Fait  to  learn  the 


meaning,  of  the  mor^  ordinary  temiB  of  fi>ctifte%; 
tioQ.  While,  therefore,  I  lay  In  tUpb  dreary  and 
silent  solitude,  I  fell  upon  the  resouroe  of  iUnstrat- 
\ng  the  battles  I  read  of  bv  the  childish  expedient 
of^arranging  shells,  and  seeds,  and  pebbles,  so  as  to 
represent  encountering  armiea.  Duninutive  croda^ 
bows  were  contrived  (o  mimic  artillery,  and  with 
the  assistance  of  a  friendly  carpenter,  I  oontriyed 
to  model  a  fortress,  which,  like  that  of  Utacle  Toby, 
represented  whatever  place  happened  to  be  upper- 
most in  my  imagination.  I  /ought  my  way  tbii« 
through  Vertot's  Kniglss  of  Malta— a  book  which, 
as  it  hovered  between  history  and  romance,  waa 
exceedingly  dear  to  me;  and  Orme's  interesting 
and  beautmil  Histo^  of  Indostan,  whose  copious 
plans,  aided  by  the  clear  and  luminous  explanations 
of  the  author,  rendered  my  imitative  amusement 
pecuharly  easy.  Other  moments  of  these  weary 
weeks  were  spent  in  looking  at  the  Meadow  Walks, 
by  assistance  of  a  combination  of  mirrors  so  ar- 
ranged that,  while  lying  in  bed,  I  could  ^see  the 
troops  marcn  out  to  exercise,  or  any  other  incident 
which  occurred  on  that  promenade. 

After  one  or  two  relapses,  my  constitution  recover- 
ed the  infury  it  had  sustamed,  thoiXgh  for  several 
months  aifterwardsl  was  restricted  to  a  severe  ve- 

Setable  diet.  And  1  roust  say,  in  passing,  that 
[tough  I  gained  health  under  this  necessary  restric- 
tion, yet  it  was  far  from  being  agreeable  to  me^  and 
1  was  aflfected  whilst  under  its  influence,  with  a 
nervousness  which  I  never  fell  before  or  since.  A 
disposition  to  start  upon  slight  alarms— a  want 
of  decision  in  feeling  and  acting,  which  has  no\ 
usually  been  my  failing— an  acute  sensibility  to  tri- 
fling inconveniences— and  an  unnecessary  apprehen- 
sion of  contingent  misfortunes,  rise  to  my  memorv 
as  connected  with  my  vegetable  diet,  allhougn 
they  may  very  possibly  nave  been  entirely  the  reaiilc 
of  the  disorder  and  not  of  the  cure.  Be  this  aa  it 
may,  with  this  illness  I  bade  farewell  both  to  di^- 
ease  and  medicine,  for  since  that  time,  till  tha 
hour  I  am  now  writings  I  have  enjoyed  a  state  of 
the  most  robust  health,  having  only  had  to  com- 
plain of  occasional  headaches  or  stomachic  afiec- 
tions,  when  I  have  been  lonfi  without  taking  exer- 
cise, or  have  lived  too  convivially— the  latter  hav- 
ing been  occasionally,  ihoiieh  not  habitually,  the 
error  of  my  youth,  as  the  former  has  been  of  mjr 
advaQced  lue. 

My  frame  gradually  became  hardened  with  my 
constitution,  and  being  both  tall  and  muscidarf  1 
was  rather  disfigured  than  disabled  by  my  lameness. 
This  personal  disadvantage  did  not  prevent  me  from 
takinjs  much  exercise  on  horseback,  and  making 
long  journeys  on  foot,  in  the  course  oi  which  I  often 
walked  from  twenty  to  thirty  miles  a-day.  A  dis- 
tinct instance  occurs  to  me.  I  remember  walking: 
with  poor  James  Ramsay,  my  fellow  apprentice, 
now  no  more,  and  two  other  fnends,  to  breakfast  at 
Prestonpans.  Wc  spent  the  forenoon  in  visiting  the 
ruins  at  Scton,  and  the  field  of  battle  at  Preston — 
dined  atPrestonoans  on  tiled  haddocks^  very  sump 
tuously— drank  naif  a  botilc  of  port  each,  and  re- 
turned in  the  evening.  This  could  not  be  less  than 
thirty  miles,  nor  do  I  remember  being  at  all  fatigued 
upon  the  occasion. 

These  excursions  on  foot  or  horseback,  formed  by 
far  my  most  favourite  amusement.  I  have  all  my 
life  delighted  in  travelling,  though  I  have  never  en* 
joyed  that  pleasiu'e  upon  a  lar^e  scale.  It  was  a 
propensity  which  1  sometimes  indidged  ao  unduly, 
as  to  alarm  and  vex  my  parents.  Wood,  water, 
wilderness  itself,  had  an  inexpressible  charm  ibr  me^ 
and  I  had  a  dreamy  way  of  going  much  further  than , 
I  intended,  so  that  unconsciously  my  return  waa 
protracted,  and  my  parents  had  sometimes  serioua 
cause  of  uneasiness.  For  example,  I  once  set  put 
with  Mr.  George  Abercromby,^  (the  son  of  the  im- 
mortal General,)  Mr.  William  Clerk,  and  some 
others,  to  fish  in  the  lake  above  Howpte,  and  the 
stream  which  descends  from  it  into  the  Eek.  Wa 
breakfasted  at  Howgate,  and  fished  the  whole  day « 


*  MowLofdAbarciomlqF.-Hl 


laa^le 


tA»)£op^  mi  WAi-rtil'  sdoW-. 


«M|wfiiT>?  W6.  wwrt  ott  <yw  Pefurn  neit  mornmtL  1 
ymtiifiiy  seduced  by  WHliam  Ciprk,  tht-Q  a  gfcat 
wamftitH  ti>  visit  P^^nnytink  Hoii&(\  the  seat  of  his 
wMiIf.  Here  he  and  John  Irvinjf,  und  1  for  thtir 
8^&  wojfti  over w hi  till *i<i  wirh  kindnea*  by  the  late 
»  /*H-!?  Y^'*"L?*^^  ^'*  *'*^^>^  ^^«  pr«ieiit  Dowflijer 
i**dy  tiefk.  The  pkflmire  of  lookiug  at  fine  pir- 
torea  ihe  beaut j^  of  Lbe  plaeo,  and  the  flat  tering  hoK- 
pitalitvof  the  owner?,  dfowued  all  rccoljecuoti  of 
Home  tot  A  day  or  two.  M»--afiwhiip  our  compan- 
wnB,  who  liad  wfllkt>d  on  without  ttcirjK  aware  of 
ourdjgrcjes.km,  retgrued  t<i  Edinburgh  without  us, 
MideiaK-d  no  HmaJI  alarm  m  my  farher**  bou9.> 
noKl.  At  kncih,  however,  ihey  became  accustomi^i 
to  my  tampaifes.  My  fn  I  her  used  to  protest  tome 
on  Bucli  occR«ipn9,  that  he  thought  I  was?  bom  to  be 
a  etrollmg  ptdlar,  and  though  the  prediction  was 
mtetiHH  to  limtttiv  nijrtJoneeK,  I  am  nut  sure  that  l 
altmctier  dishltt^ii.  J  waff  now  familinr  ^ith 
onat aptan*,  and  though  t  of  An  t  oly  c  ua*  a  aonij— 

»*  Jog  oQ,  j^  on,  th«»  foot.p4th  way,  . 

Aiw  lafliTijf  b£i]G  the  iMi:l«-)i : 
A  iwerry  h»r:g(»a  «Il  the  day. 

loar  Bad  urchin  a  flUic-a."  , 

My  priiicq>«r  obpjsct  in  these  ejieuf«ions  wfl#  the 
pjAaButv  ol  setim;^  romantic  aceijciy,  or  what  afibrd- 
ed  hjc  at  feiwt  eijual  pleast^r^  the  places  which  bad 

fA®-^T^!?^  ^'^^^  .ivfueh  I  re^mied  the  former  of 


Iw^rj- V         i^ T'l* '^"""^T  ine places  wmcn  nad 

i?.tj  W^  ''''^'  "fiieh  I  reffaniod  the  former  of 
coiuw?  hfid  general  opprobati6n,  btit  I  often  foimrt  it 
$u  ?Jr  I  '^ '"^^*^"'V*'"'P**^^  *i^  ^^  tntereai  I 
5k  i^^ij  ^n  '^^'  X^^  ^*^  ^^  ^^«  wandt^rinff  over 
xae  neld  of  Ban  nock  horn  woa  the  ftotirce  of  more  en- 
?21l5f*'  ^''^^/^^*^  ^i^^"?  ^a^ing  upon  liw.  cdcbrat^d 
Undflcape  from  the  battiftmenta  of  Stirling  <ro«tIe 
J  do  not  by  awy  means  infer  that  1  waa  dead  to  the 
5S;3?***f^^'^^"''*'^"*'^^"^n'?  ^"  the  contrary,  few 

Sintl  nthTI*;'  '"  ^^^P^hcnd  how  tha  one  bore 
yp#n  thcH  other,  lo  t^anmat^  the  effect  which  irarjous 

Kjneral  elToct.       hav*  never,  mdo.5,  been  capiibl« 

^I'lf/^-'^^T.^'^'^''  '^  f'**'  '°  amend  ana  aYranse 
HJ  SSS^""'  ideas  uDon  the  aubjeet.  Even  tlu^  hum^ 
«il#!^E*'''^T^i'*'^'^n  '  ^'^^P  cheriflhed,  of  m,ikin<r 
?f  fit*  f  '^'''^^  P^^r**  ^^'""^  tnteroaied  me,  from 
a  defect  of  eye  or  of  hand,  waa  fotatJy  mu/TecmaL 
i^i1!;lu"''  f"^^^'  and  many  .fTorta,  I  w-a«  unableto 
apply  IbejefementEi  of  pcrspp^jtive  or  of  shade  to  the 
S08neM<>^^  me  andwa«  Dbh^od  to  fehnqniah  in 
dejiair  an  art  which  I  waa  racjit  anxiona  to  prac^ 
twe-    Biit  show  im^  an  old  cnBtle  err  a  field  of  b^ttk 

ffrli.T^^  ,f  -  ^''''*^  ^^  ""'^'  ^'^  ^1  «'if»»  ita  com- 
«fi  w  1^  proper  costume,  ami  ov^-whrtlmed 

my  heartra  by  %le  enthnaiasm  of  my  deaf  ription 
In^CTosam^  Ma^u.  Moor,  near  St  iiidf^wr?he 

tu>n  of  th.  Archbishop  of  St,  Andrew.,  to  »nme  fel- 

i»  Ji?'^'  Pf^  t^tad  mf  narratjye  had  frmhtened 
djfl^nction   between  a  senM  of  (he  pi«fiij«Mue  in 

t£^l7tii?/  rr  "^"'^^  ''^^^""cceBathepnntipleaof 
i^il'.H  l^frS^T^^f  ^^  '"'^'?  r^ferer.r^  to  ita 
^  m-Jl«l  f  r  "^  featnn^,  or  under  aoine  alliance 
wth  moral  f,M,Jjnc  J  «r>d  ev»^n  thia  profifnenoy  has 
coat  me  ^ludy,  ivft:anwhr[e  I  tmdeavcitred  tS  maki 
?2Si^^/j"  il'^^  i|?norancoof  drawing,  by  adopting 

Dttekj  and  I  intended  to  have  a  if.n  of  ehfw/men 
outjof  them,  each  baying  referenee  to  hTphc" 
gbere^t  waaeut-aa  the  kmga  fh>m  pSlkinrnnd 

^atCKiofeatoDi  ihe  bishops  froitt  abbf  JorLS- 
^I  paJHcc^;  the  knrsbia  from  baronial  resi/e^ 
c^tf  the io<jk# 6^^  royal forti-aimw  r  tind  ihepa wni^ 


If 

eenerally  from  placee  worthy  of  hiatorical  not*.  But 
^hmwhnnsKal  desifen  I  never  carried  mto  eieciitioB 
y^  tth  niusic  it  waa  e^en  worae  than  wilh  pamuoff" 
My  mother  was  aujtioufi  we  ahould  nt  leaat  Isaro 
I'SBfmody ;  but  the  mcurabJe  defflcia  of  my  voice 
jDd  ear  fioon  drove,  my  teacher  lo  di^apan:,*    It  ia 
by  lox\g  practice  that  I  have  acquirod  the  p^jwer  of 
stlocime  or  diaiin cubbing  mdijdiea  j  and  aJthou^ 
now  few  ihinga  debght  or  afftjci  me  mort  thnTa 
pimpbuune  mam  with  feeling,  yet  I  am  sensible  that 
'Ti*         ^^^^^  of  musical  taste  haaonly  besn  gaiii- 
f  d  by  aueiUion   and  baMt^  and,  aa  \i  were,  by  aw 
feeling  of  tho  words  being  aejociaied  with  the  umt. 
1  have,  therefore,  b*?en  usually  unsuccceediij  in  com- 
po^itjg  woHa  to  a  lune^  aJthtjugh  my  friend,  Dr. 
Ularke.  at^d  other  muitiL:nl  compo&tr^  have  Bom<j- 
tifnee  been  able  lo  make  a  happy  union  btitw«en 
In ej r  mtme  and  mv  poe try- 
In  mhej  pointa,  howt:vHf,  I  b<^an  to  make  aome 
amende  for  the  :rregu[arity  of  my  educatioti.    It  is 
wdl  known  that  in   Edinburgh  one  gr*at  mux  to 
etnulaijon  among  youthful  sstcidcinis,  ia  in  ih<j*^  bj»- 
aociutions  trailed  Hterar^  ^otve/tM,  fortned  not  only 
gf    ibc    puriioae   of  di.bate,   but  of  curnpofcirjon. 
These  undoubtedly  hnveaoniediaadvrmtagoftj  wlieie 
a  bold,  pelylatit.  and  disputatious  temper,  bappeitl 
to  be  combi  ncd  wit  h  co  n  side  ra  bh^  infomia  ti  on  and 
laleiit,    StilL  however,  in  ord*  to  such  »  paraon 
being  jctimlly  spoiled  by  hiji  mixing  in  such  da- 
L**^V^**   takntfl  muai  be  of  a  very  rare  natum  or 
ftBcmnti^y  must  be  proof  to  every  Bpecie«  of  aa- 
^Bult  I  for  there  ja  getierally,  irt  a  wtl^aak^cted  ao- 
cioty  of  ihia  nature,  talent  auflkient  to  mtt>l  th« 
forwarde.^t,  and  sutire  enough  to  penetf  ate  the  most 
"?  (  k^f      '  I  am  porticdarlv  obliged  lo  tbiii  sort 
of  club  for  m trod ucmg  me,  a&oui  my  seventeenth 
f.*^^h  ipto  iJie  society  which  at  one  tune  I  hadeti- 
tireiy  dropped  ?  for,  from  the  time  of  my  iiln^ea  at 
college,  I  had  had  little  or  no  iottrcriurse  with  anjt 
of  my  cJasf-compaaianei,  one  or  two  only  exctpieo; 
I\ow,  \iowQver,  about  1786, 1  began  tofc*  I  and  take 
my  ground  tn  aociety,    A  ready  wit,  a  good  de*I  of 
enibuaiaamT  and  a  perception   that  9000l  riponad 
into  tact  and  observation  of  character,  renderod 
me   nn  acceptable  companion  to  niany  young  men 
whose  actjtJiBitiatia  in  philosophy  and  scienoe  wefe 
infinitely  superior  to  any  thing  I  cduld  botiist. 

Ill  the  business  of  thaae  aoeieii©*— for  1  waa  a 
member  of  niore  thou  one  aBccej^siFely— J  cannot 
Doanf  of  having  tnade  any  Kreat  figure*  I  iwvsr 
WBa  a  good  PpeakerT  unkas  upon  soma  eabject  which 
«frongly  ammftted  my  feehuga;  iind,  ai  I  was  foioi- 
Jy  unaccnatomed  to  oompoaittoti,  a*  weU  ea  to  the 
art  of  generahssmg  wv  ideaa  upon  any  aribject.  tn*. 
JtfOTar>'  t&i>Qis  were  but  very  poor  work.  I  nevfr 
tttr^opttd  thtm  unless  when  comjielled  to  do  u» 
YZ  *"?  i;egulslion»  of  the  aocieiy,  and  then  I  was 
bke  the  Uirdof  CaatltJ  Rackrcnt,  who  waa  obbged 
to  cut  down  a  tree  lo  get  a  few  faggots  to  boil  tha 
kettle  1  for  thf  quantity  of  ponderona  and  miscella- 
neouaknowledgt,  which  I  really  poaaeaetd  on  ma- 
ny aubjecte^  waa  not  easily  condenaed,  <u  brought 
to  htarupcin  the  objetit  I  wislud  periiculariyio  be- 
rqme  master  at    Yet  there  ocr^-    ' 


^\  :.  ";i?~ " '  J  J  "i  ' ." "  ""V' "  ^^'OMtt  d  opport  u  nitieg 
when  IbiB  odd  lumber  ot^iy  biB^  cFpeoailly  thmt 
wnich  was  Lonnectwl  with  iht  recondite  parts  of 
hisloTy,  did  mt,  aa  Hamlet  says,  "ycoman'a  ser- 
vice     My  memory  of  events  waa  like  otie  of  tha, 

^tt^^^  i^*^^  CftmitkH.  fl  wBjm  h<?ort*ii  msi,,  »wi  art 
SZStJ^^^^  ^'^.  ini|.<«PtJ  on  hiB,      Hi.  ^t\*  <i  wan  n/ 


lMw*?,^-«i  alTsurin  StuBtlmiiJ^  tt^ 

tianix*,  wnUrJt  I  l»d  tlm  ptefltuio  of  ft !*ffV[|if .  if  1  oiiirki  not  rt- 

I   nf  ■mtlltliln  una    vnn-it  k ■»■-.«     ^..^J  _l ^J    ii 


(  ™*  r«W  iwYttrthPlfMis  into  rfiPlnwti^i  cirnim' 


-dfodiJInnonc  rcswcL    Jit,  ijomW  nsvi^r  ^Iln:*  ti»i  J  hid  a 


,,i  "  i" -'-^   .^-H^^,^,     J  If.  fr^Ejpij  THivn^r  aiimv  umi 


^  *V^^SSzL.  "^  f**^  '^li^K.jti?  TO  T(-am  it      fiin  when  lie  ftttwuM 
,  tl»  m  GMm  M  ^^j«p  miT  n^nifbtwiir.  1  jidr  Cummffif ,  i^at  to 
»h*  fKit  he  ntl  Hoeti-d  T»rvci»fly  ftt  itw!  nji»  hantt  ' 

DJgitized  by  VjOOQIC 


l4Ffi  OF'  mS,  IfUJnPE^  SOQfT. 


large,  old-fashioned  Btcoe-caQQOiM  of  the  Turks— 
'  imy  dM6n\t  to  Uma  well  ana  diicharge,  but  making  | 
•t  powerftil  effect  when  bjr  good  chance  any  object 
dw  come  within  range  of  its  shot.  Such  fortunate  | 
opportnnities  of  exploding  with  effect  maintained  > 
mj  hterary  character  among  my  companions,  with  > 
whom  I  soon  met  with  great  mdulgence  and  re- . 

H.    The  persons  with  whom  I  chiefly  lived  at  ] 
period  of  my  youth,  were  William  Clerk,  alrea- 1 
lentioned ;  James  Edmonstqune,  of  Newton ; 
C^rge  Abercromby  ;  Adam  Ferguson,  son  of  the 
oetebrated  Professor  Ferguson,  and  who  combined  . 
the  lightest  and  most  airy  temper  with  the  best  and  ' 
kindest  disposition  ;  John  Irvmg,  already  mention-  i 
edi  the  Honourable  Thomas  Douglas,  now  Earl  of 
Selkirk  j  David  Boyle,*— and  two  or  three  others,  I 
-who  sometimes  plunged   deeply  into  politics  an4 
metaphysics,   and   not  unfrequentiy      doffed   the  I 
world  aside,  and  bid  it  pass."  I 

Looking  back  on  these  times,  I  cannot  applaud 
in  all  respects  the  way  in  which  our  davs  were 
R)eni  There  was  too  much  idleness,  and  some- 
fixam  too  much  conviviality :  but  our  hearts  were 
Warm,  our  minds  bonourahly  bent  on  knowledge 
and  literary  dbiinction;  and  if  I,  certainly  the 
iMtt  informed  of  the  party,  may  be  permitted  to 
lAMT  witness,  we  were  not  without  the  fair  and  cre- 
ditable means  of  attaining  the  distinction  to  which 
we  ^aspired.  In  this  society  I  was  naturally  led  to 
com»ct  my  former  useless  course  of  reading ;  for— 
fisetifig  myself  greatly  inferior  to  my  companions 
in  nietapfaysical  philosophy,  and  other  branches  of 
r^SUlai*  study— I  laboured,  not  without  some  suc- 
aOis,  to  aoqmre  at  least  such  a  portion  of  know- 
ledge as  might  enable  me  to  mkintain  my  rank  in 
eonversation.  In  this  I  succeeded  pretty  well ;  but 
liniortunately  then,  as  often  since  throiigh  my  life, 
I  incnrred  the  deserved  ridicule  of  my  friends,  from 
the"  superficial  nature  of  my  acquisitions,  which 
ieokgi  m  the  mercantile  phrase,  got  up  for  society, 
v«ry  pften  proved  flimsy  in  the  texture  ;  and  thus 
tha  gifts  of  an  uncommonly  retentive  memory,  and 
acute  powers  of  perception,  were  sometimes  detri- 
mental to  their  possessor,  by  encouraging  him  to  a 
ardaamptuonsTeliance  upon  them. 

Amidst  these  studies,  and  in  this  society,  the  time 
of  myapprenticeship  elapsed;  and  in  1790,  or  there- 
abouts, it  became  necessary  that  I  should  serious- 
ly consider  to  which  department  of  the  law  I  was 
to  attach  nivself  My  father  behaved  with  the 
most  parental  kindness.  He  offered,  if  I  preferred 
his  own  profession,  immediately  to  take  me  into 
partnership  with  him,  which,  though  his  business 
w«8  much  diminished,  still  ajffbrdea  me  an  imme- 
diate prospect  of  a  handsome  independence.  But 
he  did  not  disguise  his  wish  that  I  should  relinquish 
this  situation  to  my  younger  brother,  and  embrace 
the  more  ambitious  profession  of  tl^e  bar.  I  had 
little  hesitation  in  making  my  choice— for  I  was 
nflVor  very  fond  or  vu^nry  ;  nnd  in  no  other  par- 
tioubr  do  tile  proiVsriiMri.  n'limi  of  a  tumpuriFon. 
Betidn,  I  kn^w  ftiul  kb  ihe  nironvenii^nccs  aUoth- 
ed  to  that  of  a  writer  j  and  I  thotishi  (like  a  young 
man)  Tainy  of  them  were  "'  inRt-nio  baud  FJubeiirida 
meo.  The  nppuincu  of  pFfttonni  dpi>enfjf?nce 
which  ibet  protcMsn  rc^uuroa  was  disngri^eablt?  lo 
mo  J  I  he  sort  of  r^onriexbn  be!  ween  the  eliciii  nnd 
the  att^jmey  se*?rntN|  to  render  the  latfer  more  sub- 
servient than  yrijfl  quite  s^i.'euble  to  my  nature; 
and,  bositle*^  i  had  se^^n  nmny  sad  e;iample»  wiiile 
overioakmg  my  faiher's  bustnes**  thai  ih*^  utmost 
^jct^rtions,  and  the  beat  tni^fini  B«TV)cvat  du  not  !»e- 
curo  iho  man  q$  husine^M^  uft  hp  ii  tailed ,  from 
gieal  Irts*^  and  mo^i  ongrBciouB  treniroeyt  cm  the 
part  of  his  <*mp[i»y^r#.  The  bur,  thciugh  I  was 
cot^Bcioue  of  my  doficienriea  as  n,  public  ^rpcEiker, 
WJistfte  line  of  ambstioti  snd  liberty;  it  was  ihat 
also  for  which  most  of  mj^  con  tempo  rsiry  friends 
wercdefllinedK,  Ami  liU)tl>%  nkbuuKh  J  winAd  wil- 
linpi>'  have  rLliavcd  my  ftitlwr  oi  ctio  bhouTB  of  his 
busir^sis,  yet  I  saw  pJninly  wo  eoiilJ  not  have 
agft^  on  eome  partictilars,  if  wc  Ltid  aittmpted  to 

•Now Laid Jutiee-Ckirk.   [lU^.I 


.t^odttct  ix  tosethtfi  and .  that  I  sboiild  ^  . 

his  expectations  if  1  ^  not  uirn  to  the  baf . 

that  object  my  studies  were  directed  with  Kreaft 
acdoiu:  and  perseverance  during  the  years  178S^  1790^ 
1791,  1792. 

In  the  usual  course  of  study,  the  Roman  or  civil 
law  was  the  first  object  of  my  attention — the  ao- 
cond,  the  Mimicipal  Law  of  Scotland.  In  th« 
course  of  reading  on  both  subjects,  I  had  the  ad- 
vantage of  siudying  in  coi\junction  with  my  friend 
WilUam  Clerk,  a  man  of  the  most'  acute  intellecu 
and  powerful  apprehension,  and  who,  should  he 
ever  shake  loose  the  fetters  of  indolence  by  which 
he  has  been  hitherto  trammelled,  cannot  fail  to  be 
distinguished  in  the  highest  degree.  We  attended 
the  regular  classes  of  both  laws  in  the  University 
of  Edmbumh.  The  civil  law  chair,  now  worthilr 
filled  by  Mr.  Alexander  Irving,  might  at  that  tuna 
be  considered  as  in  abeyance^  since  the  persoA  by 
whom  it  was  occupied  bad  never  been  fit  for  tna 
situauon,  and  was  then  almost  in  a  state  of  dotage. 
But  the  Scotch  law  lee  lures  were  those  of  Mr.  Da- 
vid Hume,  who  still  continues  to  occepy  that  situa- 
tion with  as  much  honour  to  himself  as  advantage 
to  bis  country.  I  copied  over  his  lectures  twice 
with  my  own  hand,  from  notes  taken  in  the  daaa, 
and  when  I  have  had  occasion  to  consult  then),  I 
can  never  sufficientlf  admire  the  penetradon  and 
clearness  of  concmtion  which  were  necessary  te 
the  arrangement  of  the  fabric  of  law,  formed  origi- 
nally under  the  strictest  influence  of  feudal  princi* 
pies,  and  innovated,  altered,  and  broken  in  upon  by 
the  change  of  times,  of  habits,  and  of  mannered 
until  it  resembles  some  ancient  castle,  partly  entire, 
partly  ruinous,  partly  dilapidated,  patched  and  al- 
tered during  the  succession  of  a^s  bv  a  thousand 
additions  and  combinations,  yet  still  exhibiting,  with 
the  marks  of  its  antiquity,  symptoms  of  the  skill 
and  wisdom  of  its  founders,  and  capable  of  being 
analysed  and  made  ^e  subject  of  a  methodical  plan, 
by  an  architect  who  can  understand  the  varions 
styles  of  the  different  ages  in  which  it  was  subiected 
to  alteration.  Such  an  architect  has  Mr.  Hume 
been  to  the  law  of  Scotland,  iidther  wandering' 
into  fancifiil  and  abstruse  disquisitions,  which  are 
the  more  proper  subject  of  the  antiquary,  nor  satis- 
fied with  presenting  to  his  pupils  a  dry  and  undi- 
gested detail  of  the  laws  in  their  present  state,  but 
combining  the  past  state  of  our  legal  enactments 
with  the  present,  and  traomg  clearly  and  mdicioua- 
ly  the  changes  which  took  place,  and  the  causes 
which  led  to  them. 

Under  these  auspices,  I  commenced  my ,  legal 
studies.  A  Uttle  parloui^  was  assigned  me  in  my 
father's  house,  which  was  spacious  and  convenient, 
and  I  took  the  exclusive  possession  of  my  new 
realms  with  all  the  feelings x>f  novelty  and  libertv. 
Let  me  do  justice  to  the  only  years  of  my  life  in 
which  I  applied  to  learning  with  stern,  steady,  and 
undeviating  industry.  The  rule  of  my  friend  Clerk 
and  myseu  wa&  that  we  should  mutually  qualify 
ourselves  for  undergoing  an  examination  upon  cer- 
tain points  of  law  every  morning  in  the  week, 
Sundays  excepted.  This  was  at  first  to  have  taken 
place  alternately  at  each  other's  houses,  but  we 
soon  discovered  that  my  friend's  resolution  was 
inadequate  to  severing  him  from  his  couch  at  the 
early  hour  fixed  for  tms  exercitation.  Accordintrlv, 
I  agreed  lo  go  every  morning  to  his  honse,  which, 
being  at  the  extremity  of  Prince's  Street,  New 
Town*  was  a  walk  of  two  miles.  With  great  punc- 
tuality, however,  1  beat  him  up  to  his  task  eviBry 
morning  before  seven  o^clock,  and  in  the  course  of 
two  summers,  we  went,  by  wayof question  and  an- 
swer, through  the  whole  of  Heineccius's  Analysis 
of  the  Institutes  and  Pandects,  as  wel^  hn  through 
the  smaller  copy  of  Erskine's  Institntesof  the  Law 
of  Scotland.  This  course  of  study  enibled  us  to 
pass  with  credit  the  usual  trials,  which,  by  the  re- 
gulations of^'the  Faculty  of  Advocates^  must  be 
undergone  by  every  candidate  for  admission  into 
their  bodv.  My  friend  William  Clerk  and  I  passed 
these  ordeals  on  the  same  days— namely,  the  civil 
law  trial  on  the  [30th  Jtme^  1791  Kand  the  Scots 
Digitized  by  VjOOQ  l€ 


UPE  OF  SIR  WALTER  SCOTT. 


IT 


Uw  tnai  on  the  l6ih  July.  1792].  On  the  [lith 
Jofy,  I7ft1,  we  bom  •smuned  the  ffown,  with  all  Ite 
dnties  and  honours. 

My  prooreae  m  life  during  these  two  or  three 
Tears  had  been  gradually  enlarging  my  acquaint- 
ance, and  facilitating  my  entrance  into  good  com- 
pany. My  father  and  mother,  abeady  advanced  in 
ii&,  #aw  little  society  at  home,  excepting  th^t  of 
near  relations,  or  upon  particular  occasions^  so  that 
I  was  left  to  form  connexions  in  a  great  measure 
fiu-  myselt  It  ia  not  difficult  for  a  you  th  with  a  real 
atmre  to  please  and  be  pleased,  to  make  his  way  into 
gbod  society  in  Edinburgh— or  indeed  any  where— 
and  my  family  connejdons,  if  ihey  did  not  greatlv 
fiirtiier,  had  nothing  to  embarrass  my  progress.  I 
waa  a  gentleman,  and  so  welcome  any  where,  if 
lo'be  1  could  benave  myself,  as  Tony  Lumpkin 
WKfs,  "in  a  dmcatenation  accordingly." 
♦       «       «       ♦       t 


CHAPTER  II. 

iLLsnmAnotn  or  tm  AtrroaiOGaAPBicAL  raAo 
MKn^iDmBuacH— 8ANp?-KN0WiB— Bath—  pubs- 
TOWTAJfS— 1771-1778. 

Sia  Waltbb  Scott  opens  his  J^rief  account  of 
\da  ancestry  with  a  plav^  allusion  to  a  trait  of 
national  character,  which  has,  time  out  of  mind,  fur- 
jamd  merriinent  to  the  neighbours  of  the  Scotch : 
InC  the  zeal  of  pedigrise  was  deeply  rooted  in  him- 
aei(  and  he  would' have  been  the  laat  to  treat  k  with 
aenous  dispan^ement  It  has  often  been  exhibit- 
ed under  circumstancas  sufficiently  grotestnie ;  but 
It  has  lentatrength^to  maqy  agooa  impiusej^sUB- 
'     idei 


J.  hope  and  setf-Mspect  under  many  adimcul- 

ty  and  distreaa.  armed  heart  and  nerve  to  many  a 
^M  and  reaolute  struggle  for  independence ;  and 
jvoBipted  aUo  many  a  generous  act  of  assistance, 
which  under  its  influence  alone  could  have  been  ac- 
cepted without  anv  feeling  of  def{radation. 

He  9eak8  modestly  of  his  own  descent :  for, 
wlnie  Bone  of  his  predecessors  had  ever  sunk  below 
the  Btuation  and  character  o^  a  gentleman,  he  had 
Mt  to  go  three  or  four  generanons  back,  ana  thence, 
as  Imr  as  they  could  be  followed,  either  on  the  pater- 
nal or  maternal  side,  they  were  to  be  found  moving 
ta  the  highest  ranks  of  ourbaropage.  When  he  fitted 
up  IB  his  later  vears  the  beaunml  ball  of  Abbotsfoir], 
be  was  careful  to  have  the  armorial  bearings  of  his 
-fbreftthers  blazoned  in  due  order  on  the  compart- 
ments of  its  roof :  and  there  are  few  in  Scotland, 
aader  the  titled  nobility,  who  could  trace  their  blood 
to  so  many  stocks  of  historical  distinction. 

lb  the  flCnstrelsy  of  the  Scottish  Border,  and 
Notes  to  the  Lay  of  the  Last  MinstreU  the  reader 
will  find  sundry  notices  of  the  *'  Bauld  Rutherfbrds 
that  were  ssie  stout,''  and  the  Swintonsof  Swinton 
in  Berwickshire,  the  two  nearest  houses  on  the  ma- 
ternal side.  An  illustrious  old  warrior  of  the  latter 
IkmHy,  Sir  John  Swinton,  extolled  by  Proissart  is 
the  hero  of  the  dramatic  sketch,  "  Bfalidon  Hill;*' 
and* it  is  not  to  be  omitted,  that. tnrough  the  Swin- 
tona  Sir  Walter  Scott  could  trace  himsclr  to  Wil- 
Ham  Alexander,  Earl  of  Stirling,  the  poet  and  dra- 
matist.* His  respect  for  the  worthy  barons  of 
Newmains  and  Dryburgh,  of  whom,  in  right  of 
h»  Cither's  mother,  he  was  the  representative, 
and  in  whose  venerable  sepulchre  his  remains  now 
rest,  was  testified  by  his  Memorials  of  the  Hali- 
bortons,"  a  small  volume  printed  (for  private  circu- 

•  On  flir Walter*!  o0||)y  of'*  RecreatloQi  with  the  Miom,  by 
yrmmmJM  of^tiHinr,  MIT.**  tbera  to  the  fbUowinrMB.  note : 
-^SirWiDiaai  AlezaiMier,  nztii  Bnon  vt  MmUiB,  aod  iint 
KolofSUrtuMr,  the  fHend  of  Pnimmomi  of  Hawthofodea  and 
Bn  Jooaon,  dKd  io  ItM.  Bb  aldect  ion,  WIIttafD.  Visoount  Ca- 
■atla.  dedb«9ire  his  Author.  letTinc  ono  too  aad  three  daachten 
wb  wSk,  La2hr  MarssRt  Douflai^  eldeat  daShter  of  Wilbua. 
&a  Maiw7fDqMlaj.^.Ma«a»8l.  |ho  ieeondV'tbeM  daiiffb- 
In.  mamed  EUr  Rooert  Sindav  of  Lonffonnaeaa  in  the  Mene. 
tevwafsbebMetwodaaichteio,  Anoeaod  Jean.  Jean  Sinclair, 
i«r  daoghter,  maivitd  Sir  Joha  SwiBfoooTSwiotoaj 
iSwi^^her^M daaghter. wa«  the  paaAaathcr ef 


lation  onlv)  in  the  vear  1820.  His  own  male  ance»* 
tors  of  the  fami)/  of  Harden,  whose  nneage  it 
traced  bv  Douglas  in  his  Baronage  of  Scotland 
back  to  tne  middle  of  the  fourteenth  century,  when 
they  branched  off  from  the  ^^at  blood  of  Buo- 
cleuch,  have  been  so  largely  celebrated  in  his  va* 
nous  writings,  that  1  might  perhaps  content  myself 
with  a  general  reference  to  those  pages,  their  oidy 
imperishable  monument.  The  antiijue  splendoilr 
of  the  ducal  house  itself  has  been  dignified  to  all 
jEurope  by  the  pen  of  its  remote  descendant:  but 
u  may  be  doubted  whether  his  genius  could  nava 
been  adequately  developed,  had  he  not  attracted,  a< 
an  early  and  critical  period,  the  kindly  recognitioa 
aud  support  of  the  Buccleuchs. 

The  race  had  been  celebrated,  however,  long  b^ 
fore  his  day,  by  a  minstrel  of  its  own  mor  did  he 
conceal  his  belief  that  he  owed  much  to  the  influ  ' 
ence  exerted  over  his  juvenile  mind  by  the  rude  but 
enthusiastic  clan-poetry  of  old  SaUhelU^  who  dea- 
scribes  himself  o/i  his  titU-page  as 

"  Oapcain  Walter  Soot,  m  old  Bouldier  and  ao  Schoatr, 
And  one  that  can  write  nana, ' 
But  just  the  Letters  of  hia  Name." 

Hia  *'  Tree  History  of  several  honourable  FamilSet 
of  the  Right  Honourable  mme  of  Scot,  in  fb6 
Shkea  of  Roxburgh  and  Selkirk,  and  others  adja* 
cent,  gflihered  out  of  Ancient  ChronicW  Histonea^ 
and  Traditions  of  our  Fatheva,"  includes,  among 
other  things,  a  string  of  oompUmentary  rhrmea 
addresaed  to  the  first  Laird  of  Raeburn  s  and  the 
copy  which  had  belonged  to  that  gentleman,  was  in 
aU  fikehhood  about  the  first  book  of  veraea  that  fell 
into  th^  poet's  hand.*  How  cootinufilty  its  vriki 
and  uncouth  dog^rel  was  on  his  lips  to  his  latest 


day,  all  hia  fiimiliaiv  can  teatify  |  and  the  passagea 
which  he  quoted  with  the  greatest  zest,  were  thoaa 
commemoraijve  of  two  ancient  wortlidiBa;  both  ol 
wh^tn  had  to  contend'  against  pfaysieal  xnisforton^ 
similar  to  his  own.  Tha  former  of  these,  accord- 
ing to  Satchella,  was  the  immediate  founder  of  ^a 
branch  originaUy  designed  of  Smton,  afterward  of 
Harden. 

*'  It  is  four  hundred  winters  past  in  order 

Sloce  that  Buccleachwas  Warden  in  the  Border; 

A  «on  he  had  at  that  same  tide, 

Which  was  ao  lame  cotild  neither  ran  aor  irlde» 

John,  thia  hune  soi^  if  my  author  apeaks  tgo». 

He  sent  him  to  St.  Muago'a  in  Olasgut 

Where  he  remained  a  acholar'a  tiroe^ 

Then  married  a  wife  according  to  his  mind. . . . 

And  betwixt  them  twa  was  procreat 

Headahaw,  Askirk,  Snrroii,  and  Olack." 

But  if  the  scholarship  of  John  the  LamiUr  ftir- 
nished  his  descendant  wit^  many  a  minhfii]  alld- 
sion,  a  far  greater  favounte  was  the  memory  of 
WlUiam  the  Boltfooty  who  followed  him  in  the 
sixth  generation. 

*"  Rbr  fkfiii\f  mil  remnfi^  the  dalifhl  whifii  he  oxinetH^  on 
pee'-i^  viMl.  in  lr»ia.  a  rorj  ai  thii  fli«t  Ntitt«in.  a  jtnall  dark  quar- 
to "r  \ii^,  U^m  km  IfieDd  CoiMtabfo^  Ha  ir«t  bnafcfutJTif 
wi'  II  \ht*  Hfuipnt  woj^  (li'1rv«»t],  fixni  taii^i  '^Ttiis  ii  IikUthI  the 
Tei'jnf-^tliiii  nfftii  i-W  iltr— I  riIukI  i>jp«(Nfv  thc«e  Jim*,'^  tta 
iMd  ol-'ml  ih"  jiiHjflii"K  eini*tkiB  [tw  owaa»*t  aigat-pTan^JChUwit. 
wMrH.  Jikc  tJtL^  ii^i  c^iicluda  witli  a  uhoadlwtil  tbar.  «■  the 
an;ij4»r  bad  rrt^lnir  Ijnd*  uof  Ooelufe-^' aocilila  JeA  fiuru^lu* 
ee)rii:n!itic»M"-9a'  sndrc  fDriupato  kinftnan  wIki   emu,     '     '" 

ingHM  ntiAi\.  n  ffcfr  ibare  i\\'/{€tttM,  mWiT  m  vnntelbii^ . 

OQ  h^m  AoiTH?  H.^  Kjim  Jjtuiiii'*  hrv^pint^My  On  riijnf  fvata 
tal  I"  Sir  ^Vjtlitjr  imnNtiAtL>lf  wroreoi  fullj/m  oo  Uie  bJu^  leaf 
opi  MHjt  SfLtchcTlh   honoit  tilki-tnf  (J— 

In  Um  (tjrle  of  ny  oaiiMMke  and  kimaMin  do  fecrtVr  dUMVtr.  (ovtf  x 
That  I  have  writun  tha  ivaniy-foar  Utien  iwenty-foar  milUon  tlaiea 
And  U  cvcrjr  trut-bern  Bcolt  I  do  vfih  «■  tnanr  go^laa  pitoea. 
As  CT«r  were  haira  in  Jaaon'a  and  Madaa'a  f  oldta  fltaaca." 


Thofaritjrof  theocigioal  ediiMm  of  SateheHa  bjoeh.  dfttths 
copy  now  at  Abbotitbrd  waa  the  oohr  one  Mr.  Comtable  had 
ever  leeiH-and  no  wonder,  for  the  inthor'a  awoy  k  in  Ifoaa 
words  :— 
••  Bacooa,  mj  book,  atreleh  forth  thy  viags  and  fly 
AonoDgBt  the  noble*  a|id  fentlllty  ; 
Tboo'rt  BOC  to  aall  lo  ae^^ongara  mmd  dowaa, 
Bat  given  to  varthr  paraoaia  of  rcaevn. 
Tha  onnbar'a  few  I've  priaMd,  injtfuiA 

My  oharfeBh«vabce»fTnt,anailiwtrt«artf; 

I  eatiaHl  not  ariat  aaany  alert  tvatrtWro,       ^^^  T 

Aad  ifca  prlaim  an  tagaffad  that  thay  Aall  priat  aa 


18 


LIFE  OP  SIR  WALTER  SCOTT. 


"  The  Laird  and  Lady  of  Harden 

Betwixt  then  procreat  waa  a  son 

CaUed  William  Boltfoot  of  Harden"— 
TbeemphaaiB  with  which  this  next  Une  was  quot^ 
ed  I  can  never  forget— 

"  He  did  turvive  to  be  a  man." 
He  was,  in  fact,  one  of  the  "prowest  knights"  of 
the  whble  genealogy— a  fearless  horseman  and  ex- 
pert spearman,  renowned  and  dreaded ;  and  I 
suppose  I  have  heard  Sir  Walter  repeat  a  dozen 
thnes,  as  he  was  dashing  into  the  Tvveed  or  Et- 
trick,  "rolling  red  from  orae  to  brae,"  a  stanza 
^from  what  he  called  an  old  ballad^  though  it  was 
most  hkeiy  one  of  his  own  early  imitations. 
*'To  tak  the  foord  he  aye  was  first, 

Unless  the  English  loons  were  near; 
Plunffe  vassal  than,  plunge  horse  and  man, 

Auld  Boltfoot  rides  into  the  rear." 

'*Ih^m  childhood's  eartiest  hour,"  says  the  poet  in 
one  of  hia  last  Joomals.  **  I  have  rebelled  against 
eoiCemal  drcurostances."  How  largely  the  tradi- 
tional famousness  of  the  stalwart  Boltfoot  may 
have  helped  to  develops  this  element  of  hia  charac- 
ter! I  do  npt  pretend  to  say  {  but  I  canaot  avoid 
X^gretting  that  Lord  Byron  bad  not  discovered  such 
another  "  Deforn\ad  Tranuorraed"  among  hie  own 
chivahrons  progenitors.  ^ 

So  long  as  Sir  Walter  retained  his  vigorous  oamts, 
lie  used  to  make  an  autumnal  excursion,  with  what- 
ever  mend  happened  to  be  his  guest  at  the  time,  to 
the  towe^  of  Harden,  the  incwnahulu  of  his  race. 
A  more  picturesque  scene  for  the  fiutness  of  a  line- 
age of  border  maraudea  could  not, be  conceived; 
imcL  00  much  di4  he  delif^ht  in  it,  remote  and  ihm- 
—nble  as  its  situation  is.  that^  in  the  earUer  part 
jie  life,  lie  had  nearly  availed  himMlf  of  hia 
isman's  permission  to  ni  up  the  xulapidated  ptd 
•IMS  summer  reeidenoe;  Harden  Athe  ravine  of 
res)  is  a  deep,  dark^  and  narrow  gles;  along 
ich  a  .liul^  mountain  brook  flows  to  join  the 
er  Boftfawick,  itself  a  tributary  of  the  Teviot 
_  je  castle  is  perched  on  the  brink  of  the.  precipi- 
tous bank(  ana  from  the  ruinous  windows  you  look 
down  into  the  crows'  nests  on  the  summits  of  the 
old  mouldering  elmsi  that  have  their  roots  on  the 
margin  .pf  the  i^,^«am  iar  below,— 

"Where  B6rtha  hoarse,  that  loads  theineada  with  sand. 

Rolls  her  red  tide  to  Teviot's  western  strend. 

Throogh  slaty  hills,  whose  sides  are  shaded  with  thorn, 

Where  sprlnM  In  scattered  tufts  the  dark-green  com, 

Towers  wood-gin  Harden  far  above  the  vale. 

And  clouds  of  ravens  o'er  the  turrets  sail. 

iuhardjr  race  who  «iever  shrunk  Hnoin  war, 

T)ie  Scott,  to  rival  realms  a  mighty  bar, 

Bere  fixed  his  motuitaiii  home ,— a  wide  domahi, 

And  ricli  the  soil,  had  pufple  hsath  been  grain ; 

But  what  the  higgard  ground  of  wealth  denied, 

From  fields  more  bless'd  his  fearless  arm  supplied.''* 

It  was  to  this  wild  retreat  that  the  Harden  of  the 
Lay  of  the  Last  Minstrel,  the  Auld  Wat  of  a  him- 
dred  Border  ditties,  brought  home,  in   1567,  his 
beautiful  brido,  Mary  Scott,  "  the  Flower  of  Yar- 
Mw,"  whose  grraoe  and  gentleness  have  lived  in 
•ong.  along  with  the  stern   virtues  of  her  lord. 
She  is  said  to  have  chiefly  owed  hef  celebrity  to 
the  gratitude  of-  an  English  captive,  a  beautifnl 
child^whom  she  rescued  from  the  tender  mercies 
of  Wat's  moss-troopers,  on  their  return  from  a 
foray  into  Cumberland.    The  youth  grew  up  under 
her  protection,  and  is  believed  to  have  been  the 
composer  both  ofthe  words  and  the  music  of  many 
of  the  best  old  songs  of  the  Border.    As  Ley  den 
says, 
**VR»  are  the  strains  whose  wanderlog  echoes  thrtll 
The  shepherd  Uneerlns  on  the  twilight  hHI, 
When  evening  brings  the  merry  fokllng  hours. 
And  sun^eved  daisies  close  their  ixfinkins  flowers. 
He  lived  o^er  Yarrow's  Flower  to  8be<]The  tear, 
To  strew  the  hoUy  leaves  o'er  Harden's  bier  j 

the  Lay  of  the  Last] 
primithis  sallies- 


% 


i  sjitbac  of  these  besotiflii  Uses,  bos  bnrn>we4f  as 
Last  IliDstcel  m.  also,  from  one  of  SatcbtUs' 


*  If  hpaihrr-top*  hkd  bc«n  corn  of  tb«  bett, 
Hwa  fiaccltofh  mill  k«d  f«uca  a  aoMe  grlit.'* 


But  nene  was  frond  above  the  niastreVa  tombi 
Emblem  of  peace,  to  bid  the  daisy  blooin. 
He,  na,mele8sas  the  race  fromwhi^h  he  sprung, 
fisved  other  names,  and  left  his  own  unsung." 

We  are  told,  that  when  the  last  bullock  which 
Auld  Wat  had  provided  from  the  English  pasiares 
was  consumed,  the  Flower  of  Yarrow  placed  oh 
her  table  a  dish  containing  a  pair  of  clean  sours; 
a  hint  to  the  companv  that  they  must  bestir  tiiem- 
sdves  for  their  hext  dinner.  Sir  Waller  adds,  in 
a  note  to  the  Minstrelsy,  *'Upon  one  occasion  when 
the  village  herd  was  driving  out  the  cattle  to  pas- 
tare,  the  old  laird  heard  him  call  loudly  to  drive  oi^t 
Harden's  cow.  *Harden's  cowt  echoed  the  ai- 
f^onied  chief;  'Is  it  come  to  that  pass  1  by  my  fiuth 
they  shall  soon  say  Harden's  kyt  (co^).*  Accord* 
ingly,  he  sounded  his  ^ugle,  set  ou|  with  his  firii- 
lowers,  and  next  day  returned  with  a  bcw  of  kye^ 
and  aoasatrCd  (brindled)  huU.  On  his  return  with 
this  gallant  prey,  he  passed  a  very  large  haystack. 
It  occufred  to  the  provident  Uird  that  this  would 
be  extremely  convenient  to  fodder  his  new  stock  of 
cattle ;  but  as  no  n^eans  of  traaaporting  it  wi^re 
obvious,  he  was  mn  to  take  leave  of  it  with  the 
apostrophe,  now  become  proverbial,  Bv  my  9aul, 
had  yc  but  four  feei  ye  khould  not  stand  lang  there. 
In  foprt,  aa  ^roisaart  says  of  a  similar  cra98.^of 
feudal  robbers,  nothing  came  amiss  to  them  that 
was  not  too  heavy  or  too  hoL^* 

Another  striking  chapter  in  the  genealogical  fai^ 


tory  belongs  to  the  marriage  of  Aiud  Wat's  son  a|id 
heir,  afierwarda  Sir  Wiluam  Scott  of  Harden,  dUi- 
tingujshed  bV  the  early  favour  of  James  VL,  and 
severely  fined  for  his  loyalty  und^  the  pauxpation 
of  Cromwell.  The  period  of  this  gentleman' » 
youth  was  a  very  wild  one  jn  that  dtstrict.  The  ^ 
Border  clans  stiH  made  war  on.  each  other  occa- 
sionally, much  in  ,the  fashion  of  their  foreEsthera ; 
and  (be  young  and  handsome  heir  of  Hardeii|eii- 
gaging  in  a  foray  upon  the  t&nds  of  Sir  Gideoi^  miiir* 
ray  of  Elihank,  treasurer-depute  of  Sootlano,  waa 
overpowered  by  that  baron's  retainers,  and  carried 
in  shackles  to  ^his  castle,  now  a  heap  of  raina»aii 
the  banks  of  the  Tweed.  Elibank's  "dodratser' 
extended  its  broad  arms  clos^,  to  the  gates  of  hia 
fortressi  and  the  indignant  laird  was  on  the  point 
of  desinpg  his  prisoner  to  say  a  last  prayef,  when 
his  more  considerate  dame  interposed  nulder  ceun- 
s^  suggest^  that  the  culprit  was  born  to  a  good 
estate,  and  that  they  had  three  unn\amed  daiightera. 
Toung  Harden,  not,  it  ia  said,  without  hemtation, 
agreed  to  save  his  life  by  uking  the  plainest  of  the 
three  off  their  bands,  and  the  contract  of  marriage, 
executed  instantly  on  the  parchment  of  a  druniy 
is  still  in  the  charter-chest  of  his  nobJe  repreaea- 
tadve.  ' 

Walter  Soott,  the  third  son  of  this  couple,  waa 
the, first  Laird  of  Raebum,  already  alluded  to  aa 
one  of  fhe  patrons  of  Satchells.  He  married  Isa- 
bel Macdougal,  daughter  of  Jttacdougal  of  Makers- 
toun— a  family  of  great  antiquity  and  distinction  «. 
in  B4Cixburgh8hire,  01  whose  blood,  through  varipua 
alliances,  the  poet  had  a  larse  share  in  nis  veins.  ' 
Raeburn,  though  the  son  ana  brother  of  two  steady 
cavaliers,  and  married  into  a  family  of  the  same 
political  oreed,  became  a  Whig,  and  at  last  a  Qua- 
ker: and  the  reader  will  find,  in  one  of  the  notea 
to  The  Heart  of  Mid-Lothian,  a  siorailar  account 
of  tl^e  persecution  to  which  this  backsliding  expos- 
ed him  at  the  hands  of  both  his  own  and  hia  wife's 
relations.  He  was  incarcerated  (a.  p.  1M5)  first  at 
Edinburph  and  then  ni  Jcdburi^,  by  order  of  the 
Privy  Council— his  children  were  forcibly  ^aken 
froin  iiiiHt  Hiid  a  heavy  earn  wa^  levied  on  maestale^ 
yi'nrty,  fnr  ihfi  purposes  of  their  education  beyond 
the  reach  M  hii*  pfriloue  in  flu '^3  ice.  "It  appears," 
ants  £5 ir  Walter,  in  a  MS.  Thnnorandum  now  be* 
ftire  mc.  ''ihitt  the  Lair^I  of  >1iiki!r8t0ttn,  hisbro- 
thi^rHft-lRw,  jomfd  with  Rflnburn'^  own  elder  brjK 
thtT,  HuTtlcTit  in  rhiaairi^ljLrptT^ecution,  asitvnll 
now  ho  ttrmtjd  by  ChneiLmna  of  all  persuasions. 
It  was  obeservi^  by  lhepef»pT«r  thsi  the  male  line  of 
tilt' second  Sir  Williain  of  Ilsirdsn  became  extiittt 
in  iliQt  and  ihat  the  reprc^Dtad^n  of  MakenWui 


LIFE  OP  SIR  WALTER  SCOTT. 


If 


ms  n  i^%Qiie^  ma[  when  the  wlft^  of  ttadtkurii  kiund 
iiera^f if  deprived  (*f  her  buflbaiiri^  ead  rsAised  per- 
fiiias34jn  evtn  lo  &««  htr  chikbt:'!],  ihe  tironoQiictcL  a 
maltKlictJou  on  Ki^T  busbiuid's  brulhijr^  as  wvll  aa  on 
htr  own*   and  prayed   tUflt  9.  raak  of  Lheir  ba<iy 

Tlw  MS.  aJdi*,  ''  of  the  tirst  Rn^JiiroV  iwo  sons, 
itJB*y^>t^  ubsened,  tkat  thaiiks  to  liu  disd^/Iiae  xjf 
ikt  Privy  Council*  ibty  wlti*  fa«th  good  «ebolar»." 
Of  Ihost  Bon*,  VVftiler*  ilie  St^oinl,  was  the  poet's 
lETcsat'jcraitdCifttheir,  iho  t^QtbusiasLic  Jncubtte  c^f  tkf 
autobtographical  fr4gmepii--^ba  t^  mir<Hlu{:^ 
"  With  ftri>bt;r  befl^rd  nod  fl>^cii  liAiTt 

ID  theepi^tU*  prefixed  to  tbe  si*th  ratito  of  Mar- 
mwn.  A  pood  ptjrtrmii  of  Benrded  Wat,  pain  fed 
ibr  hia  friend  Pitcairn,  ^m  preitjoti?d  by  tW  doc- 
tar"*  Rr»»dfion.  the  BftJ-t  of  Kellie,  to  the  ft  (her  of 
Si/  Walur  It  ia  now  ai  AblioisfL:»rd  ;  and  tbowt* 
Q  ^ontidtmUe  t-eeemblAiict  to  the  pi^eu  Some 
veraes  nddfc«*d  t«)  the  onKinal  by  Kj,e  kinainad, 
iVailt*?  Stsott  of  Harden,  are  giTi^  m  ono  of  ibe 
nolts  lo  Moratioii,  Tht*  old  geDiiymftA  bamwlf  is 
Boid  to  bflva  wtittuo  vvTvva  occosiOR*Uy,  both  Bne- 
liah  and  Latin ;  but  I  aevai  liGurd  motv  thati  th^ 
bufdon  of  a  drinkiiiH-soiiji— 

Ikinec  urduot  njTirBaexL" 

Scan  til  5^  as  the  worthy  Jaeoblie  aeoiiis  to  Mve 
jfcecn  provided  with  this  world*?  goods,  ht  niarrie^i 
the  dauRbtet  of  a  ffetitkman  of  good  eoTiditioti, 
'*' through  wboin,'^  nays  tbo  MS.  Memomfidum 
already  quotpd,  **hia  ticficfndanta  huve- iphentf^d  a 
45ofinexiOD  with  iome  bODournbk  brrtHchcA  of  the 
SHoeh  nan  Diarmid,  or  Clan  of  Campbell.  *  To 
thia  connexion  Sif  Walter  owed,  sa  wc  ahalr  e*e 
hercftfier,  many  of  those  early  opnprtiinitn?8  ibf 
Biutiyinfi  tho  manners  of  ibc  HiKhltmiors,  to  which 
the  world  are  irtdebtfti  for  Wa verify,  Rob  lUiy,  and 
the  Lfldy  of  the  Lakp. 

Robert  Scott  J  the  aon  of  Brtittire*  formed  aiao  an 
tionourablo  alliance  Hia  father-in-law,  Thomas 
'HaJihtirton,*  the  last  bm  one  of  \\w  **Mood  lairda 
ijf  New  lit  am  Rt"  eoter«d  h»  marriage  ta  foilowM  In 
the  donir^riiC  record,  which  Sir  Walter' a  piouc  re«- 
pi^ct  indiic^sl  hi  til  to  have  printed  tMtiff  a  century 
aflcrwnMlftj— *' My  *eeond  dftaffliw  Barbara  la 
marn.-I  t.»  R.-bert  Seoit,  aon  toWaK«r  SflOtt,  oticle 
"to  KrL'.iiurji.  ii|K/n  ihia  »ixreen  day  of  July,  1712&,  at 
my  tuaisf  <»t  l^ryburgh^by  Mr.  James  Inries^  nnnis- 
S(jr  of  Mertiiun,  their  motberB  beinj?  fonsinga  ;  may 
the  bJewtllil  of  the  Lord  rest  ui>on  them,  and  make 
ibein  comfy rtifi  10  each  otheir  and  to  nil  their  reln- 
'tiOna ;"  to  which  the  editor  of  the  MemoKnla  adds 
thU^fiotet  ^'  May  Ond  erant  that  theprayr^rs  of  the 
eKi%l|ent  perwna  who  navo  iiaasod  away  mav  avad 
il>t  the  benefit  «f  those  who  miceeed  thoml—Aitboi^- 
/f/rtl,Nov,  ie!i4." 

1  nfteii  scarcflty  remind  the  T«ftd?r  of  iht  e^qw- 
bHc  doseripttois  of  ;hc  poet's  i^ndffither,  in  tbeW 
irodurtioti  III  the  third  Canto  of  Mirmion-^ 

—^  tlielbttchtd  maiwtlon'Jgraylwir'd  ilre^ 

Wtae  wliJmot  learnlon,  pTaln  mkI  «iod, 

And  ifjrunji  of  0eutUnij*s  |entler  bluod  ^ 

WhoK'  eye,  in  Rgeq'iklt,  rJrar,  aoiltrcD, 

fW^Bli  that  f ho   ffilitHHtoni  of  N«wiiihldii  w«p  drwSfmJiyl  rm»i 

I  ha  tighiwnth  Miitiir^ .  Tb».*  iimt  df  thia  litter  r*oi»  jr  |»i«n  iwd 
I  th-i  (ffaiW  aiKl  barurt^  fn  Metiinin  Ijf  t  cTwuttT  (frai;ii«^l  m  An^tii- 
tmklr  EittflCftouflw  iftd  Tjjnlof  tjuSdwar.  (Viftcnf  Ctiti#p1ri.iiiw*- 
«jaw*  So^ii  wIhh  ci»nHi<(^tJ  euuntfirimDi^l  tliii  t^jitish  rn>wnj  ki 
<  H«nfr  tb  HfcttUtftun,  wt^isa  bu  4iJ«icnAtai  M  hi*  >u»,{ula.rL]  be&r 
w,  nfl   nr'criuoi  yf  bu  WTvico  ^o  thenHU*  w  Enfltod    On  tttw 

■     — '^  ^  -   of  Dwhftoe  (il» 


» laf  tha  HKUbufion  of  I 


thawed  what  in  realb  lit  |laiice  bod  betiu; 

In  th<5  pr^^face  to  Guy  Mannering,  wehriTe  an  an^- 
dote  of  Robert  Scott  m  his  earber  days:  *'My 
erjjnd  fill  her,  while  ridina;  over  Cbarterhouie  Moor, 
ibf^  a  vtfryci tensive  cijmmon,  feU  sutidenlj^  ainon^ 
a  large  band  of  fcipaiefl,  who  wvia  oaTonajnjf  in  a 
h rtllo w  mi rT< m nded  b y  buohea,  Th ev  itiat ani  1  y  seii- 
ed  on  his  Ijridle  with  shoiita  of  welcome,  eic  I  aim- 
ing that  they  bad  often  dincid  at  hii  exp^so,  and 
he  myftf  now  atny  i*nJ  share  their  ebeer.  My  an- 
wfltor  was  a  little  ahrmed,  for  be  had  more  money 
about  hiii  p<'r9on  t bat  be  certd  to  risk  in  aoch  aooie- 
iv.  Hf:rwt'ver,  bciiiR  niiturally  a  bold  Uvt  ly  ^panted 
man,  he  tniert'4  into  the  humonr  of  the  thine,  and 
lat  down  to  the  ft nat*  whitjh  eon&i«ted  of  all  the  va- 
riptiea  of  f^anre,  poultry,  pigs,  and  ^o  fortht  that 
eould  be  eolleeied  hv  a  wide  oivd  iiirt^scrimmate  ays- 
tCKJ  of  plwfideT'.  Tnti  dirmer  wae  ■  vtry  merry  one, 
but  my  rdatiT**  got  a  bmt  from  somt-  of  the  older 
iiipaie*,  jupt  when  *  the  mirth  and  fun  en*w  faat  and 
ft!  no  us/  nnd  f  noun  ting  his  horac  acfordinwly.  he 
took  a  Frnnch  \eaw  (^(  bis  entertPiin*irfi.  Hia 
grandson  might  have  rtviorted  11  in  re  than  one  ioene 
of  the  like  sorun  which  he  wa»  bim*e.lf  engaged, 
while  huntmijr  the  iianio  dimriet,  not  in  guest  of 
foxea  or  of  caitle  sale*,  like  the  gpodman  of  Sandy- 
knowe,  but  of  bnUada  for  the  MiiHtwlw.  Qipay 
atoriea,  ia  we  anj  told  in  (be  aama  promi^Te*  were 
fineqnently  in  the  mouth  of  the  old  mim  when  hi» 
face  *'  brightened  ai  the  ffVetiiM  ftre,"  n  the  day  a  of 
ihfi  port's  childhood.  And  he  adds,  that  ai  Or, 
Johnson  had  a  ehadowv  n  collect  ton  of  Qneen  Anne 
aaaiiaiely  lady  in  blacky  adorned  with  diamoodat 
so  hia  own  memofv  was  bnunted  with  '^  a  aolemn 
remembrance  of  a  woman  of  more  then  feme  I  a 
height,  drcaacd  in  a  long  r«jd  clonk,  who  once  made 
her  appearance  beneath  the  thatched  roof  of  Sandy- 
KnowCt  commenced  acquaintanCi^  by  i?riTin|f  Inm 
an  apple,  and  whom  be  looked  on.  nevertbeh^aa, 
with  aa  much  awe  aa  the  fumre  doctor^  Hifeh 
Churc}i  and  Tory  aa  he  waa  doomed  to  be,  could 
lotfk  iir'on  the  Q.uecn^'  This  waa  Madge  Gordon, 
granddfiwahter  of  Jean  Gordon,  the  ptoioiypc  of 
Mp<?  Mcrnleca. 

Of  Robert  of  Sandy-KnoMfP  also  there  la  av«ry 
tolerable  portrait  at  AHKitaford,  nivdibe  hkeneai  of 
the  pott  to  liisgrandfaihtT  niu^t  have  ^^rciblyitruek 
every  on  v  who  has  seen  i  t.  Ind  <.*ed,  bu  t  ior  its  want  - 
ing  soran  mehoB  in  el**vtttion  of  furehoad,  (a  cotieid- 
erabl*^  wan  I,  it  must  be  0  Ho  wed,)  th*  picture  niin^ht 
be  m  i  ■  takan  &r  *DB  of  Sir  Waher  Seo  tt.  Tlie  keen 
shrewd  etptwUioti  of  the  eye,  and  thtr  remarilabU 
ienglh  and  compt^sston  of  the  uji^r  lip+  brwlg  him 
ejiflctly  hpftirH  me  aa  he  appeared  when  eoU'rlng 
with  all  the  z-al  of  a  profrn^ionaj  ftjtru'uUunBt  into 
the  mem 9  of  a  pit  of  marlu  discovered  at  Abbota- 
ford*  Had  tiie  old  man  btien  repre^icnted  wmi  hia 
cap  on  bi»  htad,  the  rteemblance  to  one  parucular 
phnpii»of  the  most  changeful  of  coontenaacea  would 
have  been  perfect.  , 

Kobert  Scott  had  a  numerous  progeny,  and  bir 
Wftlter  baa  mtimalfd  his  inteiuion  of  re<ordiUjtt  sev- 
eral of  ihiitn  *' with  s  aincere  tnbtji*-  of  gratilude 
in  the  contemplated  ptofitcutjon  of  bis  autobiogra' 
phy.  Two  of  the  y<3ungcr  urns  w^e  bred  to  the 
naval  aervicf  of  the  Eaai  India  Company  (  one  of 
wh<tm  died  early  and  umnatried  ?  the  other  wft»  the 
cKirelknt  Captain  Roliert  Scot  I,  of  whoae  kmdnesa 
to  his  nr^jhew  some  pnrtii-ulars  are  gjven  in  the 
Asliesuel  Fragment,  and  more  will  occur  hereafter. 
Another  aon.  Tbornaa,  followed  the  profoBSitm  of  hii 
father  with  abihty,  and  redred  in  old  age  imon  a 
handaojiic  indetwndefice,  acquired  by  hia  mduatrt- 
ous  eiertions.  He  waa  tvi*ice  mamedj  firiJt  lo  lua 
near  Tela hon.  a  dauKhler  of  Raebum ;  and  asecondljTj 


bol  t^  WM»  mil  fcf*J  iwworfW  tmi  nuw  ilinL*^    near  Tela  hon.  a  (lauKnier  01  tifleourn ;  nuu  e^vuijttijn 
fMUQ^ru,  Of.  oa  &  titinl  iLf ufr.  rhn*  iiio.*rk<  «f  j  ta  jrti*B  Rutherford  Of  Know-South^  the  ^ tat©  of 


la  He  «M#ri  of  M*hisia  nnd  DrFlKirfti,  ■■  wM  n^  un 

n  ftt  tir^wih,  wtik-b  wm  ftuilt  m  ism"— Jf.V,  Wmw- 

(WO.     fi4T  W«|t*f  wu  PEfT^if  hnr  Ut  tti««  Mahbar 

*Mm  Kkin  «fl«^ttiQ  lint?  of  tfaii  HeiAoranaom,  ma  thwift^sMih 

Jaaaii<y. 


which  rejtrjcc table  family  is  now  poaaessed  by, hia 
60 n,  Chnrle-i  Soott^  an  ammbk  and  htub-apinted 
genilcmftii,  who  waft  alwaya  a  special Jfavounto  with 
his  em  mem  kmflman.  The  death  of  Thomaa  bcotl 
is  ibua  recorded  in  one  ^^the  MS^  nam  mm  n*- 
phew^B  own  copy  of  the  Hahourtoti  MeoapiaSJi*-- 


LIFE  OP  SIR  WALTER  SCOTT. 


"  The  said  Thomaa  Scott  died  at  Monklaw,  near 
Jledburgh.  at  two  of  the  clock,'  27th  January,  1823, 
in  the  90tn  year  of  hie  life,  and  fullv  possessed  of  all 
his  facalties.  He  read  till  nearly  the  year  before  bis 
death  {  and  being  a  great  musician  on  the  Scotch 
pipes,  hadL  when  on  his  deathbed,  a  favourite 
tune  played  over  to  him  by  his  son  James,,  that  he 
might  be  sure  he  left  him  in  full  possession  of  it. 
After  hearing  it,  he  hummed  it  over  himself  and 
corrected  it  m  several  of  the  notes.  The  air  was 
that  called  Sour  Plumbs  in  GalaakieU.  When 
barks  and  other  tonics  were  given  him  during  his 
last  illness,  he  privately  soat  them  into  his  band- 
kerchief)  saying,  as  he  had  lived  all  his  life  without 
taking  doctor's  drugs,  he  wished  to  die  without  do- 
ins  so." 

1  visited  this  old  man  two  years  before  hit  death, 
in  company  with  Sir  Walter,  and  thought  him  about 
.  the  moat  venerable  figure  I  had  ever  set  luy  eyes  on 
•— taU  and  erect,  witn  long  flowing  tresses  of  the 
most  silvery  whiteness,  and  stockings  rolled  up 
-.over  his  knees,  after  the  mshion  oPthfse  genera tioBS 
back.  He  sat  reading  his  Bible  without  specuclss, 
«nd  did  not,  for  a  roonient,  perceive  that  any  one 
'  bad  entered  his  room,  but  on  recognising  his  ne- 
phew he  rose^  with  cordial  alacrity.  Kissing  him  on 
both  cheeks,  and  exclaiming,  "  God  bless  thee,  Wal- 
ter, my  man,  thou  hast  risen  to  be  great,  but  thou 
wast  always  good*'.'  His  rjimnrkg  wrw  livply  and 
'^ag&cious,  and  deliver!  li  with  a  touch  of  ihni  iur 
-manz  which  seems  tu  Liavt  been  shared  by  moat  of 
the  family.  He  had  tho  mt  nnd  matinpr  of^  aii  aa- 
dent gentleman,  imU  mum  in  hi»  dny  have  [mm  crrii- 
.nent^  haadeoine.  ]  s^iw  more  than  onc^  about  cbe 
same  period,  this  reeipcctabifl  man^a  amcr^  who  hid 
nuurried  her  couaia  Walter  Laxtd  of  Ra<?burn— tlius 
iBdding  a  new  link,  lo  the  clost^iK^aa  uf  tho  f&niily 
tonnexioni  She  also  must  havL^  boeit,  m  her  yuv-m, 
femarkablefbr  psrsi^nai  attmcttone  ;  ftfl  it  was,  she 
4weUs  on  mytnemory  asUic  perfect  piatiire  of  an 
old  Seotch  Isidy,  wiih  a  ainm  di?n\  oi^imvhy  rJTSjnity 
.in  bar  bearing,  but  wi.ih  tli^'  arjfir:^.t  cyis  nh.'  'be 
sweetest  voice,  and  a  charm  oi  meekftesa  sjid  Mto- 
Ittsfiess  about  svery  look  and  eipyesiion ;  all  which 
oontrasted  strikingly  enough  with. the  stem  dry  as- 
pect and  OMinners  of  her  husband,  a  tiii^t  descend- 
ant of  the  moss-troopers  of  Harden,  who  neiver 
•semed  iat  his  ease  but  on  horseback,  and  oonimned 
40  te  the  boldest  Mfoz^huiiter  of  the  district,  even  to 
tlM  verge  of  eighty.  The  poet^s  aunt  spoke  her  na- 
tivs  language  pure  and  undiluted,  but  without  the 
sUgbtest  tinetore  of  that  vulgarity  which  nowtseems 
almost  unavoidable  in  the  oral  use  of  a  dialect  ao 
kmi^  banished  fh>m  courts,  and  which  has  not  been 
^ikvtided  by  any  modem  writer  who  has  ventnred  to 
introihios  it,  with  the  exception  of  Scott,  and  I  may 
add,  speaking  genorallv,  oNf  Burns.  Lady  Raeburo, 
as  she  was  nniversaUy  styled,  may  be  numbered 
-with  those  friends  of  earbr  days  whom  her  nephew 
Ims  alluded  to  in  one  of  his  prefaoea,  as  preserving 
what  we  may  fancy  to  have  boen  the  oM  Scotch  of 
^Holyrood. 

The  particulars  which  I  have  been  setting  down, 
may  help  English  readers  to  ibmli  some  notk)n  or 
.the  structure  of  society  in  those  soathem  districts 
of  Scotland.  Whon  Satchells  wrote,  he  boasted 
that  Bucoleuch  could  summon  to  his  banner  one 
hundred  lairds,  ail  of  his  own  name,  with  ten  thou- 
band  mor^-landless  men,  but  still  of  the  same 
Mood.  The  vounger  sons  of  these  various  lairds 
'  were,  through  many  successive  ftenorations,  poiv 
tioned  Off  with  fragments  of  the  mheritance,  until 
such  subdivision  could  be  carried  no  farther,  and 
then  the  cadet,  of  necessity,  either  adopted  the  pro- 
fession of  arms,  in  some  foreign  service  very  fre- 
^ently,  or  became  a  cultivator  on  the  esute  of  his 
own  elaet  brother,  of  the  chieftain  of  his  branch,  or 
of  the  great  chief  and  patriarchal  protector  of  the 
whole  clan.  Until  the  commerce  of  Bnglaiid,  and 
above  all,  the  military  and  civil  services  of  the  Eng- 
Kah  colonies  were  thrown  open  to  the  enterprise  of 
the  Scotch,  fhis  system  of  things  oontioned  entire. 
It  still  remained  in  force  to  a  oonsklerabie  extent  at 
the  time  when  the  Goodmtn  of  Sandy-Koowe  was 


establishing  his  childrin  in  the  worid-and  |  am  hap* 
py  to  say,  that  it  is  far  from  being  abolished  even  -ml 
the  present  day.  It  was  a  system  which  bound  to- 
gether the  vanous  classes  or  the  rural  population  in  , 
bonds  of  mutual  love  and  confidence ;  the  original 
community  of  lineage  was  equally  remembered  on 
all  sides }  the  landlord  could  count  for  more  thsA 
his  rent  on  the  tenant,  who  Vegarded  him  rather  as  a 
father,  or  an  elder  brother,  than  as  one  who  owed  his 
superiority  to  mere  wealth ;  and  the  farmer  who,^n 
fit  occasions,  partook  on  equal  terms  of  the  chaae 
and  the  hospitality  of  his  landlord,  went  back  with 
content  and  satisfaction  to  the  dftily  labours  of  a 
vocation  which  he  found  no  one  disposed  to  con- 
sider as  derogating  ft-om  his  gentle  blood.  Such 
delusions,  if  delusions  they  were,  hAd  the  natural 
anoganoe  of  riches  in  check,  taught  the  poor  man 
to  believe  that  in  virtuous  poverty  he  had  nolhins 
to  blu^h  for,  aad  spread  aver  the  whole  being  of  the 
community  the  gracioits  spirit  of  a  priiaitave  ho- 
mani^. 

Walter  Soott,  the  eldest  son  of  Robert  of  Sandy- 
Knowe,  appears  to  have  been  the  first  of  the  iiuniiy 
that  ever  adopted  a  town  lifo^  of  any  thin^  clamwng 
to  be  classed  among  the  learned  profossioBs.  Hia 
braaofaof  the  law,  however,  ooold  not  in  tkoesdaya 
beadvaatageousiyprosecvtedwithouteatteneive  eon- 
nexions  in  the  country }  his  own  were  too  respeatnr 
ble  not  to  be  of  much  service  to  him  in  hiacallinft 
and  they  were  cultivated  aeeordiagly.  His  profes- 
sional viaits  to  Bozburghshire  and  Ettrick  f*ofest 


were,  in  his  vigorous  li^  very  fr^uent ;  and  thoug^ 
he  was  never  supposed  to  have  any  tincturo  either 
of  romance  nr  nootr^m  ^i==^  mmTmeition,  he  retained 
to  Ehc^  lu.4i  i-i  wiLi  f  -.'^ '  '.  'II  Ufi  ]w^  native  district, 
wirh  a  certain  n  iLtt^taiLL  llavrjur  uj  che  o]d  feelinffS  ' 
arni  prfljudu^es  of  ili  i^  Bordi  rer.  I  haw  little  to  aqd 
to  Sir  Walter* a  !^hor(  and  rc^tjcifut  notice  of  hia 
^(Ker,  (?Jtc«pt  that  1  h&v£i  hoard  it  cotifirmed  by  the 
te^  [  i  II  ]  on  y  u  r  mail  y  I  ess  parti  jii  ob  HO  rt»ers.  Accord- 
lE  ■  Ui  evcsry  arciiuni,  he  waa  a  roo^t  just,  honoura- 
1)1  li  ri[]  conceit  n  liouB  man  \  otily  too  high  of  spirit 
fc  -ome  parts  uf  Ijia  buBii>t-«».  "  Fte  j^assed  from 
ih (■  cindh  w  the  grave,'*  m  '■ '  iviM  reUtioii, 

"  wiiliom  making  nn  cneni  ^Jimend.   He 

was  a  mo^t  affectionate  f  i'    *  if  he  discour- 

aged, raihc^r  than  titht-rwiiie.  hia  ^.an^a  early  devo- 
tion tij  ^hu  pifrsiuits  which  kd  him  to  the  hdght  of 
lilcr»ry  en  unlace,  it  was  only  LjH$cnrtise  he  did  not 
uiid^rtpiand  what  such  ibmf|s  meant,  and  consider- 
ed it  hia  duty  u*  kee[>  hia  young  man  to  that  path  in 
which  gooti  9«nft>  and  indmiry  might,  humanly 
ilpeAkins^t  bu  tb ought  sure  of  sitccess. " 

Sir  Walt  ^f»  moihef  was  fih'yrt  ofRtature,  and  hy 
n  I  .■  i.^'  ■  '■>i  ''■■.  -K  I  ■■•  ■■•fh-T  t lie  days  of  her 
etiiiy  i-j^...  --jc  ;iau  i-.i- .-fti,  as  became  the 
daughter  of  an  eminently  learned  physician,  the 
bee|  sort  of  education  then  bestowed  on  young  gea- 
tbwomen  in  .ScotlandL  The  poet,  spedung  of  Rra. 
Euphemia  Sinclau',  the  mistress  of  the  school  a  t 
which  h^  mother  wasDeoced.  to  the  ingenious  local 
aatiqpaary,  Mr.  Robert  Chambers,  said,  that  "  she 
must  have  been  possessed  of  tmcommon  talents  for 
education,  aa  all  her  young  ladies  were,  in  after  lifo, 
fond  of  reading,  wrote  and  spoiled  admirablv,  were 
well  acquainted  with  history  and  the  belles  lettree, 
without  neglecting  the  more  homely  duties  of  the 
needle  and  Mcompt  book;  and, perfectly  well-bred 
in  society.'^  Mr.  Chambers  adds,  "  Sir  W.  further 
communicated  that  his  mother,  and  many  others  of 
Mrs.  Sinclair's  pupils,  were  sent  afterwards  to  1% 
Jinished  qfby  the  Honourable  Mrs.  Ogilvie,  a  lady  | 
who  trained  bier  young  friends  to  a  ftyleof  mtnne^ 
which  would  now  be  considered  mtolerably  sfiti. 
Such  was  the  cflcct  of  this  eariy  training  upon  the 
mind  of  Mrs.  Scott,  that  even  when  she  approach- 
ed her  eightieth  year,  she  took  as  much  care  to 
avoid  touching  her  chahr  with  her  back,  as  if  she 
had  still  been  under  the  stem  eye  of  Mrs.  Ogilvjie."^ 

*  See  CJuunbea*f  'fnidiUont  oC  BiUnbinth.  v»L  il  pp.  \Sh-m. 

a.    -At 1    -    -  .,  ^iinil  tri  TIffiM    /)«il«Li  mavBAnMirtAitwwbMd 


'^^srSasWiS?^]^^ 


w«re  not  ttAfiomeign  in  thoM  4ayi  i 
wiUi  whom  iHie  eoavaned  is  m; 


Digitized  by  V^OOQlC 


UPE  OP  SIR  WALTER  SCOTT. 


21 


tliaphyaiogiioBiy  of  the  poet  borai  if  iheir  poi-Lmlta 
may  06  trostod,  no  rsaemblin^ 


Tents. 


A^ncii  ui  cLthei  oi  his  ps- 

^  .  Mr.  Scott  was  nearlv  thirty  year^  of  age  when 
A8  manied,  and  six  child  rc^.  Born  to  hi  en  between 

i759  and  176d,  all  perishi^i  m  infancy.*  A  nugpicion 
bat  the  close  situation  uf  llie  CoUet^e  Wyiid  had 
been  unfavourable  to  th^  heahh  of  hi^  family,  was 
themotive  that  induced  him  to  remove?  tu  the  house 
*  which  be  ever  afterwanJs  oocupifxl  in  George's 
Square.  This  removal  took  place  shorilv  after  the 
poet's  birth;  and  the  child rtrn  barn  tuop^queiitly 
were,  in  general^  healthy^  Of  a  tumUy  of  twelve^ 
of  whom  six  hvdd  to  maturity,  tiot  one  now  sut^ 
vives:  nor  have  any  of  thtim  kit  dostendants,  <ti- 
eept  Sir  Walter  himself;  and  hm  next  and  dtiEiieai 
brother,  Thomas  Scott. 

fie  says  that  his  coasciousoj^sa  of  oxiatenca  dated 
from  Sandy-Knowe :  and  how  deep  and  mdelible 
was  the  impression  wnich  iu  romanuc  localities  had 
left  on  his  imagination,  I  need  not  remind  the  read- 
\ers  of  Marmion  and  the  Eve  of  St.  John.  On  the 
Mmimjt  of  the  Cra^  which  ov^rhaD;^;  the  farm- 
house, stands  the  nuned  tower  of  Smntlholmet  the 
scene  of  that  fine  ballad ;  and  the  view  from  chance 
takes  in  a  wide  expanse  i>f  the  dii^trLct  in  which,  as 
hits  been  truly  said,  every  field  has  its  battle,  and 
every  rivulet  its  song  ;— 

"The  lady  kioked  in  mournful  owtd, 

Looked  over  hill  and  njiim. 
O'er  Mertoon'f  wood,  and  Tweed's  Mr  flood, 

And  all  down  TeviotdaEc. ' ' 

Mertoun,  the  prmcipal  seat  of  the  Harden  family, 
wh  its  noble  groves;  nearly  in  frortt  of  it,  acroaa 
tiM9 Tweed,  Lessudden,  tha  comparntiv^Jy  smalt  but 
gill  venerable  and  stately  abode  of  the  Lairds  of 
Rael^rn;  and  the  hoary  Ali  bey  of  Dry  burgh,  aur- 
roimded  with  yew-trees  as  aneieni  us  itself,  Mfjem  to 
he  almost  below  the  feet  of  th  e  ep  e  ct  at  or.  pp  posi  te 
.ftim  nses  the  purplepeaks  of  Eitdon,  the  traditional 

Seoene  of  Thomas  the  Rynver'a  interview  with  the 
neen  of  Faene :  behind  are  tlie  blasted  puel  whieh 
e  seer  of  Eroeldoun  himself  inhnbiied,  **  the  Broom  i 
of  the  Co wdenknowes,"  tJid  pnaioral  valley  cif  the 
Leader,-  and   the  bleak  wilder ofait  of  Larnmer-i 
moor.    To  the  evtward^  the  desolate  g^anri^  ur  of 
Hume  Castle  breaks  the  horizon,  as  the  ey«  Ernv^lt ' 
towards  the  range  of  the  Cheviot.    A  few  mdea 
westward,  Meiroae,  'Mik*    ^jome  mil  rock  with  li- 
chens gray,"  appears  cli i  ^j . i -d  a mida i  ih*^  wind mga 
of  th*  Tweed;  and  the  iij.^iaMoe  prceoiriiji  diti  ^r~  I 
rated  moun tarns  of  the  Clala,  t\m  Kttfick,  and  ih^ 
Yarrow,  all  famous  in  syng.    Such  wur^  the  ob- 
jects that  had  paint€!d  tliP:  ttarh^^t  imagLa  on  the 
C3Fe  of  the  last  and  great  si  of  the  BtmW  Minstrels. 
As  his  memory  reach i  I  io  an  earlier  feriod  of 
childhood  than  that  of  eirsKjat  any  other  person,  ao  • 
assuredly  no  poet  has  -ivru  to  thii  i^orld  a  pic^' 
ture  of  the  dawninglfeelinf^^  of  Ida  nnd  gtinioa,  at ! 
once  so  simple,  so  beau tiAiL  and  so  complete,  as 
that  of  his  epistle  to  WilUarn  Erekine,  the  chief  lite- 
rary confidant  and  counaellorof  hi^  prime  of  man- ! 
hood. 

"Whether,  an  impulse  J  hut  hu  birth 

Soon  as  the  infant  wakes  on  earth, 

One  with  our  feelings  and  our  powers, 

And  rather  part  of  ua  than  ours ; 

Or  whether  fitlier  termM  the  sway 

Of  habit,  formed  in  early  day, 

Howe'cr  derived,  its  force  eonfest. 

Bales  with  despotic  sway  the  breast, 

And  drsfs  us  on  by  viewless  chain, 

While  taste  and  reasoo  plead  in  vain.    .    .    . 

BanfuraVe  Mtt.  MaUUmd,  who  praetisei  the  obstetric  art  in 
theCow^te. 

♦  In  9ir  Walter  Scott '«  desk,  after  his  death,  there  was  fUind 
a  little  pockot  oontaiwnK  nix  loelcs  of  hair,  with  this  inMriptioo, 
in  the  baadwntiog  of  hu  inothor  .— 

••  I.  Anne  8c«»tt.  bom  March  10, 175S. 

I,  Robert  Scott,  bom  Au«i»t  82,  I7«a 

3.  John  Scott,  bora  November  38. 1761. 

i.  R^Vbert  Scott,  bora  June  T,  1768. 

6.  leap  Soott,  iiorD  March  ST,  IT65. 
.„   ,  «•  Waiter  Scott,  bom  Aifnut  80, 1766. 

An  these  are  dead,  aad  none  of  my  pieient  fiuiilf  was  bon  till 
sone  tune  sAerwanlt." 


Thu«,  yfhile  T  >pe  tiic  measure  wild 

Of  [Wqa  ihat  tliarin'd  ma  yst  achild, 

Rude  th^ogli  they  tje,  arill  with  the  chime 

H'?t«ri3  ihc  thonithi-  i>f  aarly  time. 

And  fec-lin]{d  rDu«\l  in  tile's  first  cuiy, 

Ijluw  In  fh«?  flT>i«'Ariii1  prmnpt  the  lay. 

Tlirn  rifir-  ihuii^  rrw+,  t^iai  mountain  tower, 

^^IljlJi  elLitrtu*f]i  my  lory's  wakeAiof  hour. 

11  was  a  barren  acea*i  and  wild 

Wli'?re  Kiaked  ctiA  mtfK  rudely  piled;  < 

Hut  over  BiidsnQn  between 

I'ty  velvet  tuilt*  oT  IdtpI Lest  green ; 

Atvi  w*  ]l  tXic  Itmaly  inlBatknew 

E^cL-!iii':a.  wiier*^  tht:  i^atl  flower  crew. 

Anil  hfjatiy-nKtrkie  loxtA  to  crawl 

IJ]?  ifiiN  low  cnf  Hiid  ruWd  wall. 

1  ik':f  m'd  ^uch  n«oks  fhe  sweetest  shade 

The  Kiju  in  nt]  itr*  refund  surveyed; 

And  fiUll  1  thoLtf  j^iT  Wiai  splattered tower 

Thf.  itiU>tiiQ0i  work  of  haman  power, 

And  fji^rv^eUcJ,  aa  Lite  Hiced  bind,  • 

Willi  *t»n(?  ffiDintf^  fJiic  tlewitch'd  my  mind} 

Of  frjjriLjr  4ar«  wE>o.  vsttU  lieadloBf  f^rce, 

l>(iwft  frniii  ihai  <jtri^nEtii  had  spnrr'd  thetr horse, ,      ' 

The  ir  »niTti]erri,  ranine  xo  renew, 

Fat  m  the  i^fTftiiJii  Chi*vi4its  Olue, 

Anrl  liajmr^  rtlurninpf  filled  the  nail 

t\  jth  Ttwl  WMi^i  r&ni,  snd  brswL 

Mf'thrju^t  thu  «tiU  DrtLh  trump  and  elanf  ' 

Thtr  piieway'a  broken  arches  rang ;  .y 

MeUKKi^iu  rrini  feat u rex,  seam'd  with  scars, 

Olartid  ill  f o' tbt;  wjniJLrws' rusty  bars. 

An  j  t:vcr,  by  \he  winter  hearth, 

Qiii  taJeii  I  lieird  af  wn  of  mUth, 

Of  kii^nirR'  aliglsm,  of  Ikijies'  charms, 

Or  irJtf*t>F.^ei*  Kpeltx,  oT  warriors'  arms—  "- 

Q{  mtrkn  intni^n  vftm  vf  old 

By  VValFace  Wtftht  and  Itmce  the  Bdld~ 

or  liiEer  fivkU  uf  feud  and  ^^t,      ^ 

Whfn,  pHJLirInf  from  tbtk  Highland  helfb^ 

The  ^cDttttitj  cltna,  in  IiHScJUong  sway, 

Had  swppL  the:  seafle t  ranks  away. 

WhUe  itretthed  fti  Itnifh  upon  the  floor, 

A^  I1 1  n  I  Toof  ht  f  ^c  h  c^j  m  bat  o'er, 

Pt'libles  anrl  8hell«,  in  order  laid, 

The  mind t;  rinks  of  war  displayed,  ' 

Ani:tnitujd.rd  siiHific  Scr^itiah  Lion  Dore, 

A  lid  feLii:  iho  »r£iiered  iteuthron  fled  before."  ^ 

There  aft?  BtilllmnR  in  that  neighbourhood  two 
old  iflronien,  who  were  in  the  domestic  service  of 
Sandy-Knuwci  wJn  tv  tlie  lame  child  was  brought* 
1  hither  in  the  third  y ear  of  his  age.  Oneof  thenii 
Tibbv  lluiittri  renit)nil>t*t^*  his  coming  well ;  ana ' 
that  '  \w  waj  &  ewet^t-trmpered  bairn,  a  darling 
with  all  ohciut  the  house.''  The  yoimg  ewemilkera 
deEifllited,  she  ^ays^  to  carry  hira  abput  on  theur 
hacks  afi]L>ng  (he  crags;  and  be  was  '*  very  gleg 
(qujck)  at  the?  uptake,  aod  aoon  kenned  every  sheep - 
(lud  I  an  I  h  by  hendniark  aa  well  as  any  of  them.'' 
iri»  pent  pfeaaur^^  however,  was  in  the  society  of 
the  '  agtid  limd ''  retordtd  in  the  epistle  to  Erakine. 
'Auld  ^aridy  Ormistoun,'*  called,  from  the  moat 
dkuifit!iJt'Eirt  of  111  B  runciioB,  "the  Cow-bailie,"  had 
thti  t:UiuJ^uptjriiiti:ndrnr«  uf  the  flocks  that  browsed 
upon  "  the  veLvtit  tufta  ot  loveliest  greeiL"  If  the 
child  mw  him  m  thE>  iijurning,  he  could  not  be  aa- 
tJ^Sed  unifies  tlit^  idd  man  would  act  him  astride  on 
his  nhuuldier,  ttnd  takti  him  to  keep  liiro  company  as 
he  lay  watching;  his  ch^rige. 


'*  Here  was  poetic  impnlse  given 

By  the  green  hiU  and  cleat;  blue  heaven." 

The  Cow-bailie  blew  a  parUcular  note  on  his  whistle^  ^ 
.which  signified  to  the  maid-servants  in  the  house 
below  when  the  little  hoy  wished  to  be  carried  home 
again.  He  told  his  friend,  Mr.  Skene  of  Rubislaw, 
when  spendmg  a  munmer  day  in  hia  old  age  among 
these  well-retnembercd  cra^s,  that  he  ddighted  to 
roll  about  on  the  grass  all  day  long  in  the  midat  of 
the  flock,  and  that  "  the  sort  of  fellowshi;)  he  thus 
formed  with  the  sheep  and  lambs,  had  impressed 
his  mind  with  a  degree  of  aflectionate  feeling  to-  j 
wards  them  which  had  lasted  throughout  life." 
There  is  a  storv  of  his  having  been  forgotten  one. 
day  among  the  knolls  when  a  thunder-storm  came 
on;  and  his  aiini,  suddenly  recollecting  hie  situa- 
Uon,  and  running  out  to  bring  him  home,  is  said 
to  have  found  him  lying  on  his  back,  clappihg  his  ' 


LIFE  OP  SIR  WALTEE  SCOTT. 


bfndB  at  the  Sghtning,  and  crying  out,  "  Bonny, 
bonny  r   at  erenr  flam. 
^  I  find  the  following  marginal  note  on'  his  cop/  of 

Allan  RamsaVs  Tea-Table  Miscellany  (edition 
1724 ;)  "This  hook  beloMed  to  my  grandfather, 
Robert  ScotL  and  out  of  it  Iwas  toughtilardiknute 
by  heart  hwae  I  could  read  the  baiJad  myself.  It 
was  the  first  poem  I  ever  learnt— the  last  I  shall 
ever  forget,'*  Accordiiw  to  Tibby  Hnnter,  he  was 
not  particularly  fond  of  his  book/ embracing  every 
pretext  for  joinmg  his  friend  the  Cow-bailie  oat  of 
doors ;  but  "  Miss  Jenny  was  a  grand  hand  at  keep^ 
ing  him  to  the  bit,  and  by  degrees  he  came  to  read 
brawly."*  An  early  acquaintance  of  a  higher  class, 
Mrs.  Duncan,  the  wile  of  the  present  excellent 
minister  of  Mortoun.  informs  me,  that  though  she 
was  younger  than  sir  Walter,  she  has  a  dim  re- 
memSrance  of  the  interior  of  Sandy-Knowe  :— 
**01d  Mrs.  Scott  sitting,  with  her  spinning-wheel, 
at  one  side  of  the  fire,  in  a  dean  clean  parlour ; 
th6,grandfiither,  a  good  deal  failed,  in  his  elbow- 
ehair  opposite ;  and  the  little  boy  lying  on  a  carpet, 
at  the^old  man's  iaet.  listening  to  the  Bible,  or 
whatever  good  book  Miss  Jenny  was  reading  to 
them." 

^bert  Scott  died  before  his  grandson  was  four 
years  of  age^  and  I  beard  him  mention  when  he 
was  an  oldman.  that  he  distinotly  remembered  the 
writing  and  sealmg  of  the  funeral  letters,  and  all 
the  ceremonial  of  the  melancholy  procession  as  it 
'left  Sandy-Knowe.  I  shall  conclude  my  notices  of 
the  residence  at  Sandy-Knowe  '^ith  observing,  that 
in  Sir  Walter's  account  of  the  fnendly  clergvraan 
who  so  often  sat  at  his  grandfather's  fireside,  we 
cannot  foil  to  trace  many  features  of  the  secluded 
divine  in  the  novel  of  Saint  Ronan's  Well. 

I  have  nothing  to  add  to  what  he  has  told  us  of 
that  excursion  to  England,  which  interrupted  his 
residence  at  Sandy-ltnowe  for  about  a  twelve- 
month, except  that  I  had  often  been  astonished, 
long  before  I  read  his  autobiographic  fragment,  with 
the  minute  recollection  he  seemed  to  possess  of  all 
the  strikuig  fiMtures  oi  the  city  of  Bath,  which  he 
bad  never  seen  again  since  he  Quitted  it  before  he 
was  six  years  of  age.  He  has  himself  alluded,  in 
his  Memoir,  to  the  lively  recollection  he  retained 
c^his  first  visit  to  the  theatre,  to  which  his  uncle 
Robert  carried  him  to  witness  a  representation  of 
As  Yon  Like  'It  In  his  Reviewai  of  the  Life  of 
John  Kemble,  written  in  1826,  he  has  recorded  that 
impression  morafiilly,  and  in  terms  so  striking,  that, 
I  must  copy  them  in  this  place  :— 

*^  There  are  few  things  which  those  gifted  with 
any  degree  of  imagination  recollect  with  a  sense  of 
more  anxious  and  niysterious  delight,  than  the  first 
dramatic  representation  which  they  have  witnessed. 
The  tmusual  form  of  the  house,  filled  with  such 
groups  of  crowded  spectators,  themselves  forming 
an  extraordinary  spectacle  to  the  eye  which  has 
n^ver  witnessed  it  before  ;  yet  all  intent  upon  that 
wide  and  mystic  curtain,  whose  dusky  undulations 
pennit  us  now  and  then  to  discern  the  momentary 
glitter  of  some  gaudy  form,  or  the  spaneles  of  some 
sandaled  foot,  which  trips  lightly  within:  Then 
the  littht,  brilliant  as  that  of  day ;  then  the  music, 
which,  in  itself  a  treat  sufficient  in  every  other 
situation,  our  inexperience  mistakes  for  the  very 
play  we  came  to  witness ;  then  the  slow  rise  of  the 
shadowy  curtain,  dfsclosing,  as  if  by  actual  magic, 
a  new  land,  with  woods,  and  mountains,  and  lakes, 
lighted,  it  seems  to  us,  by  another  sun,  and  inha- 
bited by  a  race  of  beings  different  from  ourselves, 
whose  language  is  poetry,— whose  dress,  demean- 
our, and  sentiments,  seem  something  supernatural, 
— and  whose  whole  actions  and  discourse  are 
calculate  not  for  the  ordinary  tone  of  every-day 
life,  but  to  excite  the  stronger  and  more  powerful 
ftculties— to  melt  with  sorrow,  overpower  wth 
terror,  astonish  with  the  marvellous,  or  convulse 

t  TWi  oU  womra  ttin  powen  *'  the  Aones"  (biinei)— that  fa  to 

■ar.  tbe  bowd»-t>f  a  Ptataa-baok.  which  Matter  Walter  ga^  her 

at  aaody-knowe-  **  He  choae  itt"  »he  Myt, "  ofa  verr  iiiic  print. 

#       that  I  mifffat  be  able  to  read  it  when  I  was  very  auid— forty 

yeMrattUi  hot  the  baim  puQed  the  leavee  out  laogsroe." 


with 
stami 


h  irresistible  laoii^ter  :^-aU  these  wontem 
np  inddible  hnpiwsMns  on  me  memory.  Those 
mixei  feeliiigs  also,  which  perplex  ns  between  a 
seifse  that  the  scene  is  but  a  plaything,  and  an  in-> 
terest  which  ever  and  anon  euipns^  us  into  outran* 
sient  beUef  that  that  which  so  strongly  afTects  um 
cannot  be  fictitious;  those  mixed  and  puxzlin^ 
fieeKnga,  also,  are  exciting  in  the  highest  degree. 
Then  there  are  the  bursts  of  applause,  like  distant 
thunder,  and  the  permiestoa  aflorded  to  c3ap  our 
Uttle  hands,  and  add  our  own  scream  of  delight  to 
a  sound  so  commandiiig.  All  this,  and  much, 
much  more,  is  ft'esh  in  our  memory,  although,  when 
we  felt  these  sensations,  we  looked  on  the  staice 
which  Garrick  had  not  yet  left  It  is  now  a  Ions 
whilemnce]  yet  we  have  not  passed  many  hours 
of  such  unmixed  delight,  and  we  still  remember 
the  sinking  lights,  the  dispersing  crowd,  with  the 
vain  Ipnginss  which  we  felt  that  the  mtisic  would  . 
again  soiAid,  the  magic  curtain  once  more  arisen 
and  the  enchanting  dream  recommence  ;  and  the 
astonishment  with  which  we  looked  upon  the  apa-, 
thy  of  the  elder  part  of  our  company,  who,  havuis 
the  means,  did  not  spend  ^very  evening  in  the 
theatre."* 

Probably  it  was  this  performance  that  first  tenmt- 
ed  him  to  open  the  pace  of  Shakspeare.  Ben^ 
he  retiimed  to  Sandy-Knowe,  assuredly,  notwith- 
standing the  modest  language  of  his  autobiogra- 
phy,  the  progress  which  had  been  made  in  his  intel- 
lectual education  was  extraordinary i  and  it  is 
impossible  to  doubt  that  his  hitherto  almost  sote 
tutoress.  Miss  Jenny  Scott,  must  have  been  a  wo- 
man of  tastes  and  aoquirBments  very  far  above  whsc 
could  have  been  often  umnd  among  Scotch  ladie% 
of  any  but  the  highest  class  at  least,  in  that  dajr. 
In  the  winter  of  1777.  she  and, her  cbarae  4>ent 
some  few  weeks— not  happy  week&  the  "  lleoioir'* 
hints  them  to  have  been--in  Qeorge's  Square,  £dui« 
burgh ;  imd  it  so  happened,  that  during  tmis  little 
interval,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Scott  received  m  their  do- 
mestic circle  a  guest  capable  of  appreciating,  and, 
fortunately  for  us,  of  recording  in  a  very  atrikins 
manner,  the  remarkable'  development  of  younn. 
Walter's  fiaculties.  Mrs.  uockburo,  mentioned  by 
him  in  bis  Memoir  as  the  authoress  of  the  modern^ 
"  Flowery  of  the  Forest,"  bom  ^  Ruth^ford,  of 
FaimaUe,  in  Selkirkshire,  was  distantly  related  to 
the  poet's  mother,  with  whom  she  had  through  lile 
been  in  habits  of  mtimate  friendship.  T)iis  accom- 
plished woman  was  staying  at  Ravelstone,  in  tbe 
vicinity  of  Edinburfdi,  a  seat  of  the  Keiths  of  Dun- 
notar,  nearly  related  to  Mrs.  Scott,  and  to  herself 
With  some  of  that  family  she  spent  an  evening  in 
George's  Square.  •  She  chanced  to  be  writing  next 
day  to  Dr.  Douglas,  the  well-known  and  much  res* 
peoted  minister  of  her  native  parish,  Galashiels; 
and  her  letter,  of  which  the  doctor's  son  has  kind- 
In  given  me  a  copy,  contains  the  following  pas- 
sage :—  • 

*^Edinbarfh,  Saturday  night,  16th  of  the  gkxmiy  month 
when  the  people  of  Eoglaod  hang  and  drown  tbesa> 
selves. 

•  *  •  *  ''  Hast  night  supped  in  Mr.  Walter 
Scott's.  He  has  the  most  extraordinary  genhis  of 
a  boy  I  ever  •  saw.  He  was  reading  a  poem  to  his 
mother  when  I  went  in.  I  made  him  read  on; 
it  was  the  description  of  a  shipwreck.  His  passion 
rose  with  the  storm.  He  lifted  his  eyes  and  hands. 
.'There's  the  mast  gone.'  says  he;  ^ crash  it  goes ! 
—they  will  all  perish  1'  After  his  agitation,  he  turns 
to  me.  '  That  is  too  melancboly,^says  hei  '  I  had 
better  read,  you  something  more  amusing.'  I  pte- 
ferred  a  little  chat,  and  asked  his  opinion  of  Milton 
and  other  books  he  was  reading,  which  he  gave  me 
wonderfully.  One  of  his  observations  wai^  *How 
strange  it  is  that  Adam,  just  new  come  mto  the 
world,  should  know  every  thhig— that  roust  be  the  . 
poet's  fancy,'  says  be.  Bat  when  he  was  told  he 
was  created  perfect  by  God,  be  instantly  yielded. 
When  taken  to  bed  last  night,  he  told  his  aunt  he 
liked  that  lady.    *  What  lady  T  says  she.    *  Why' 

•  IfifosDiBaottt  Pnsa  Waifca,  voLxt.  P.Ji|l^ 


Ura  OF  ^  WAI-XEB  SCOTT. 


^ 


Mn.  Cockburo ;  for  I  think  fihe  is  a  Tirtuoao,  like 
.«y«^.*  •  D«IW  Wilter/  rtijrs lailnt  Jenrijr,  'what 
it  avtrjuoso?*  *Don*l'ye  knoi^rl  Why,  11*8006 
iiho  wishes  and  will  know  erer^  thing.' •—Now, 
air,  you  will  think«thi8  a  very  ailly  storY.  Pray 
-what  age  do  you  suppose  this  boy  to  be  7  Wame  it 
now,  before  I  tell  you.  Why,  twelte  or  fourteen, 
JSo  such  thing;  he  is  not  qufte  tn  years  old.t  Ha 
'has  a  lame  leg,  for  which  he  was  a  year  at  Bath, 
and  has  acquired  the  perfect  English  accent,  which 
he  has  not  lost  since  he  came,  and  he  reads  like 
a  Garrick.  Vou  will  allow  this  an  uncommon 
exotic." 

Some  particulars  in  Mrs.  Cockbvm's  account  ap- 
pear considerably  at  variance,  with  what  Sir  Wal- 
ter has  told  us  respecting  his  ovm  boyish  profi- 
ciency--especially  in  the  article  of  pronunciation. 
On  that  last  head,  however,  Mrs.  Cockbum  was 
not  i>robably,  a  vary  accurate  jud^e :  all  that  can 
be  said  is,  that  if  at  this  earlv  penod  he  had  ac- 
quired any  thing  which  could  be  justly  described 
as  an  Enghsh  acoent,  he  s^^nn  'o-t  huA  n  ^^  ju 

Tecoverad^  what  hehad  tlnj!^  ^fiiL^:  ;..M..  „,  .  nt 
vesideDce  at  Bath.  In  afl^  r  Life  hi»  pronufnEi^Mon 
•ofwords,  considered  aeptraielv,  was  sekiom  much 
dmarentfrom  that  of  a  WtiUoduciitad  En^ltBhinan 
of  hiatime;  but  he  used  muny  vrord^  in  a  vtate 
which  belonged  to  Scotlind  not  10  En^jand,  nod 
tke  tone  ana  acttnt  tern^incd  broadly  K^^ihCrh, 
thongn.  unleaa  in  the^nrr.  which  no  dtniln  nsnhc)f 
«d  of  the  country  bordeiin^  on  NurrhiimL*prUi[id4 
therowaa  no  protineial  r^'C^uliiirity  about  httF  ut* 
teraneeu  He  had  atrong  i^n  ^v'ui  s  tjf  mur  1  i  rry —en  uld 
talk  with  a  peasant  quite  in  hie  own  aiyle^  and  fra- 
HiDently  in  general  aooiety  miroiiuoed  rustic  p^i^otr, 
IiorilMnii,  aouthern,  or  n^dland*  with  K^eat  tmth 
and  eneot ;  but  these  thini^m  w^t^  inlDid  drvniatiea^ 
ly,  or  planully,  upon  hia  nnrrativ^!.  Hm  t:xqiimie 
taste  in  this  matter  wns  Di>e  tc?;^  rt^mnrkriblr-  m  Itis 
eonveraation  than  in  the  p:  la. 

Another  lady,  nearly  ooimuLivu  t-.^  -^-  ^ lie 

of  Ravelalone,  haa  a  lively  recollection  of  young 
Walter,  when  paying  a  fiait  much  abont  the  same 
period  to  his  kind  ralation^t  the  miatreaa  of  that 
ptetureeqne  old  mansion,  which  furnished  him  in 
aiter  daya  with  many  or  the  featans  of  his  Tully- 
Veolan,  and  whoso  venerable  gardens,  with  their 
maaaive  hodgea  of  vew  and  hculy,  he  always  oon^ 
aidered  as  the  ideal  of  the  art  The  lady,  whoae 
*etter  1  have  now  before  me»  saya  she  distinctly 

C»member8  the  sickly  boy  sitting  at  the  gate  of  the 
ouae  with  hia  attendant,  when  a  poor  mendkant 
«|7i>roached,  old  and  wobegone,  to  claim  the  cha- 
nty which  none  asked  for  in  vain  at  Ravelstone. 
When  the  man  was  retiring,  the  servant  remarked 
to  Walter  that  he  ought  to  be  thankful  to  Pr6vi- 
dence  for  having  placed  him  above  the  want  and 
miaery  he'«had  been  contemplating.    "The  child 
looked  up  with  a  half  wiatful,  half  incf  ednloua  ex- 
pression,"—and  aaid,  ffovmr  wu  a  beggar!    How 
do  you  know  thati  said  the  other— Why,  don't  you 
femember,  anawered  the  little  virtuoso,— that 
,     "fleven  Aoman  cities  strove  for  Homer  <iea(^ 
Tbroufh  which  the  Uvkis  Homer  begfed  Us  breed)" 
Tbe  lady  smiled  at  the  **Roman  cities,"— but  already 
**  Each  blank  ia  faithless  memory  void. 
The  poet's  glowiog  thought  suppfied." 
.  It  was  in  this  same  year,  1777,  that  he  spent  some 
time  at  Preatonpana;  ihade  his  first  acquaintance 
with  George  Constable,  the  original  of  his  Monk- 


ISB  bf  a  dflMTiptim  of  the  Aatborof  Wavwkef  :- 
**B»  liMVite  vttrkMu  ai^dM  of  ••ettut  tiag>, 
TMr  iru  ind  fa>hioi»  of  ••eh  vkrioai  nht ; 
TMr  wMKUut,  f«»«nU«,  puoUhotMiU  orerinw  : 
n|%dr«(nnca,  tbtir  Itaminf  ek«,  and  rartUes. 
Of  old  habillmeiit,  aaciSMrt  and  liza, 
M«l«,  famrte,  Mfh  aad  low,  to  bloi  ««•  kmnro ;      . 
,     KMb  |ladl«tor'a  draaa,  and  ataca^diwaiat, 

Witk  Utf oad  clerkly  phnm  km  eonld  ki«va  abewB." 

♦Hewaatfa  lk«<.roc  yMn and thrae moatiN old baftre  this 
■enwwaa  wnttM. 


bams ;  explored  the  field  where  Colonel  Gardiner 
recdyed'^ma  death^^oond.'nMfr  the  learned  tanW- 
ance  of  I>algetty ;  and  marked  the  spot  "  whelto 
the  graffs  grew  long  and  green,  dlstingnishin^  it 
from  the  rest  of  the  field,^*  above  the  grave  df  po6r 
Balmawhapple. 

Hisnncie  Thomas,  whom  I  have  described  as  I 
saw  him  in  extreme  old  age  at  Monklaw,  had  tfato 
management  of  the  farm  afikirs  at  Sandy-Knowa, 
when  Walter  returned  thither  from  Preatonpana  t 
he  waa  a  kindhearted  man,  and  very  fond  of  the 
child  Appearing  on  his  return  somewhat  strength- 
ened, his  Ufde  promoted  him  from  the  C^W* 
bailie's  shoulder  to  a  dwarf  of  the  Shethind  raoa, 
not  BO  large  aa  many  a  Newfoundland  dog.  Thb 
creature  walked  freeiy  into  the  house,  and  Waa 
regularly  red  fipom  the  boy's  hand.  He  ioon  learn- 
ed to  sit  her  well,  and  often  alarmed  aunt  Jeniiy, 
by  cantering  over  the  rough  places  about  tni 
tower.  In  the  evening  of  his  life,  when  he  had  n 
grandchild  atfficted  with  an  infirmity  akin  to  hb 
own,  he  provided  him  with  a  Kttle  mare  of  ths  y 
aame  breed,  and  -gave  her  the  name  of  Maric%  ift 
memory  of  this  early  favonriteii 


CHAPTER  III. 

IU.17aTBATI0Na  OF  THX  AXTTOBlOSRAFinr  OOSAmUM^— 

HI0H  SCHOOL  OF  BoiiiBiraoa~-anaiDBiGn  at  mmiMf 

--1778-I783.  .  ^ 

Thx  report  of  Walter^s  progreaa  in  horaemanahip 
probablv  reminded  his  father  that  it  was  time  M 
alionld  be  learning  other  things  beyond  the  depart* 
mant  either  of  aunt  Jenny  or  uncle  Thomas^  and 
titet  a  few  raontha  he  waa  recalled  to  Edinburgh 
But  extraordinary  as  watf  tha  pro^p^eaa  he  had  by 
tlna  tmie  made  in  that  aelf-adncation,  which  alone 
18  of  primary  consequence  to  spirits  of  his  order,  he 
waa  found  too  deficient  in  lesser  matters  tq  be  at 
once  entered  in  the  High  School.  Probably  his  hkh 
ther  dreaded,  and  deferred  aa  long  as  she  could,  the 
day  when  he  ahould  be  expoaed  to  the  rude  coK 
liaion  of  a  crowd  of  boya.  At  all  events,  he  wai 
placed  firat  in  a  liule  private  achool  kept  by  one 
Leechman  in  Briato-port ;  and  then,  that  experi- 
ment not  anawaring  expectation,  under  the  domes- 
tic tutorage  of  Mr.  James  French,  afterwards  minis- 
ter of  Eaat  Kilbride  in  Lanarkshire.  This  respect- 
able man  grounded  him  in  the  Latin  grammar, 
and  conaidered  him  fit  to  join  Luke  Frasers  second 
class  in  October,  1779. 

His  own  account  of  his  progress  at  this  excellent 
aeminvy  is,  on  the  whole,  Wsry  shnilar  to  what  I 
hav%  received  from  aome  of  his  surviving  achool- 
followa.  His  quick  apprehension  and  powerfiil 
memory  enabled  him,  at  little  coat  of  labour,  to 
perform  the  uBual  routine  of  taaks,  in  such  a  man- 
ner 4a  tokeep  him  generally ''in  a  decent  plactL** 
(bo  he  once  expressed  it  to  Mr.  Skene,)  "about  the 
middle  of  the  dass;  with  which,"  he  continued, 
*'I  waa  the  better  contented,  that  it  chanced  to  be 
near  the  flre."t  Mr.  Praserwas,  I  believe,  more 
xeaiona  in  enforcing  attention  to  the  technicahtiee 
of  grammar,  than  to  excite  eurioBity  about  histori'- 
cal  facta,  or  imagination  to  strain  af^er  the  fiighta  < 
of  a  poet.  There  is  no  evidence  that  Scott,  though 
he  apeaka  of  himlia  his  *'  kind  maater,"  in  remem- 
brance probably  of  sympathy  for  hia  physical  in'> 
fimiities,  ever  attracted  his  special  notice  with  rc^ 
forence  to  acholansthip;  but  Adam,  the  rector,  into 
whose  dasa  he  paaaed  in  October,  1782,  was,  aa  hia 
situation  demanded,  a  teacher  of  a  more  liberal 
cast  and  though  never,  even  under  his  guidance, 
did  Walter  fix  and  concentrate  his  ambition  so  aa 
to  maintain  an  eminent  place,  still  the  vivacitvof  hie' 
talents  waa  observed,  and  the  readineas  of  nis  me" 
mory  in  particular  waa  ao  often  displayed,  that  (aa 
Mr.  irvmg,  hia  choeetf  friend  of  that  daj,  infomm 

•  Waveriar,  vol.  H.  p.  1T5. 

'^  AeconHDc  to  Mr.  Inrhiff's  raeollce 

he  mit  winter,  waa  unuJIy  between 

the  Wp  of  Jbe  rlsju.  He  apdst "  Dr.  Jamei  Buchan  waa  alwa; 


the  Wp  or  the  rJaas.  He  adds.  "  Dr.  Jamei  Buchan  waa  i 
the  dtjjr:  David  Doojilaa  (Lord  Reatoo)  tecond;  and  theii 


Digitized  by ' 


u 


LIFE  OP  SIR  WALTER  SCOTO. 


TIM,)  thfi  doctor  "  would  corvetamly  rtftr  lo  tiini  Tnr 
4a tea,  ihe  parEicuiarj  of  bntdt-P,  and  oOnar  retnnrk- 
fflble  ovc'iit?  alUidtd  it*  iti  Horncfe  c^r  whatcvtrr 
auilior  thfl  bays  were  reading.  &tid  used  to  call 
Mm  the  fiisloriaii  of  the  class.  No  onu  who  hus 
read,  a*  fewhav*?  noi,  Dr.  AHani's  JnlorcHtrng  work' 
ca  EoiTian  Atitiqvutic^,  will  doubi  th^  author's 
capndty  for  aumuluiing  eudi  a  Tnmd   as  young 

Hci  ^onks  of  himai'Lf  aa  occasionally  *'  glancing 
like  a  nietwr  from  the  boilom  to  ihc  lop  of  tJio 
form,"  Hifl  B^hool-ftUow,  Mr.  Claud  Ru sat  11,  re- 
members that  b(j  nnce  inatk'  a  Kreai  leap  in  eonso- 
fiiienco  of  tha  fitupidity  of  some  lau^rflrd  on  what  ia 
caUisd  the  tiiJ/*j  (do  11*0)  bEnch^  who  b^ing  afikod, 
on  bo^sling  atctijit,  ''  wbal  piiFt  of  spc&ch  is  iritlt/" 
aaaworfHl,  '^  a  fuiwfidniiris,"  The  rector,  after  a 
inainent'a  pau^^  though i  ii  worth  whlk  lo  a^k  his 
duJ^—'^  U  with  ever  a  Bufeatamive  T'  but  all  wt^re 
iUenl  until  the  query  roachtd  Soott,  ihon  neiir  the 
boUpm  of  th©  dasy,  who  iiiBiatiElv  rtspondod  by 
wuoUQM  ■  verao  of  the  book  of  Judgtt^ :— ^'  And 
Sampson  said  imto  Ddilah,  If  they  hmd  mo  wiih 
seYtn  green  with*  that  were  nevt^r  tiriod,  ihtn  shall 
I  be  weak,  and  as  nnotber  mrin^''*  Another  up- 
wnrd  tnovpmeni,  accomph^hed  in  a  Itss  laudable 
mannt^r^  but  huM  one  Brrikingly  illustrntivu  of  his 
ingiBnioua  nesonrcas;,  I  am  enabled  to  pre&erve 
throuf^h  I  he  kindnetsn  of  a  brother  poet  und  ce  teem- 
ed fnt'nd^  to  whom  Sir  Walter  him*(flf  cotnmubi- 
Saied  it  la  tho  mdanclioly  twilight  of  hia  brigbt 

MT.  Rogara  aaya™"  Silting  otiedrty  alonfr  with 
km  m  voyr  house,  in  the  Repent'^  Park -(it  w^a 
tJwdRy  oaf  one  before  lin  kft  it  to  einbitrk  nt  Pons- 
mouth  for  MultaJ— 1  led  hmu  amoitg  oiher  thJiiufs 
^  (dU  mc  oncti  again  a  atory  of  himsetf^  which  he 
liid  formerly  told  mo,  and  whjdi  I  hrid  olttjn  wiihtd 
Ui  roco^ur.  When  I  returned  hoinu>  1  wrotf  it 
down,  ae  aearly  as  1  could,  m  his  own  words  5  and 
here  they  are-  The  atibjeci  is  an  acbievomf-Tit 
worthy  of  Ulysiica  hiraeelf,  and  such  oa  nianv  of  his 
•chciol-fellowa  could,  no  doubt,  have  related  of 
hiiri  J  but  I  fear  I  havo  done  tl  no  jus  tie*,  ihotidi 
the  Blory  la  »o  very  diaracteri^lto  that  i(  should  not 
^  loat.  *rhe  inimitablo  manner  in  whit'h  ho  told 
ll— the  glance  of  ihn  eypf  thtJ  turn  of  the  bead,  and 
the  hfflii  that  filaytid  Cjvtr  hia  faded  ft^aturea  aa,  one 
by  one,  thw  circnm*mnte9  cinm  buck  to  lum,  ac- 
companied by  a  Ihoueond  boyish  l^^hiags,  that  hud 
elept  perhapB  for  ycare— tbtire  ia  no  language,  not 
«von  hia  own,  eouid  tjonvey  \o  you ;  but  yuu  CJin 
BUpply  them.  Would  thai  othera  coutd  do  no,  who 
had  oot  the  good  fortune  to  krtow  him  I— The  me- 
luorandum  (Pridayj  October  lilj  1531)  ts  aa  fol^ 
Jowa  :— 

"There  waa  a  hay  m  my  clasa  at  uchool,  who 
■tood  always  at  tb«  lop.t  nor  could  I  with  all  my 
efforts  iwppUut  him.  Day  came  after  dav,  and 
Btdl  lie  kepi  hie  placu,  do  what  I  wonldj'lilJ  at 
length  I  objifurved  that  when  h  (jtieE^tion  waa  askixj 
bim.  ho  dlway^  fu  nib  ted  with  his  fm^trs  ni  d  par- 
ticulaT  button  in  th4t^  lower  part  of  hiB  waiatcoaL 
To  rtjjnove  it»  therefore,  beeame  t?jtpedient  in  my 
^  eyes}  and  in  an  evil  iwoment  >t  was  removed  with 
a  knife.  Great  waa  my  anxieiy  lo  know  ths  sue- 
c*^ea  of  my  njeasuFC  j  and  it  ^nfcet^ded  too  well. 
Whtm  iho  boy  waa  again  Qkiesuoned,  his  iuiger« 
aousbt  actaui  for  tho  button,  bul  it  wa^  not  to  be 
Ibundp  In  hia  ihaireitJ?  he  k>oke#l  down  for  it ;  it 
-fpsa  to  h&  liffien  no  m^ro  thuu  10  he  felt.  He 
fUiCid  coiifountiodj  a  nil  1  look  poaaeaaion  of  hia 
place ;  nor  did  ha  ever  recov^^r  it.  or  trwr,  I  belieYc^ 
•U£p{?ct  who  wjifi  thu  author  of  im  wron#f*  Ofien 
m  after- l;fu  has  Uio  aigfit  of  him  amoie  mti  un  I 
traasyd  by  him ;  ^nd  ofien  ha  to  1  reaolvt  d  to  make 
uiin  flome  reparation  i  tniL  n  ondtd  in  gotid  reso- 
IuUon«.    Though  1  tKrer  rantfwed  my  ucotuuntani^ 


+Wf  tn^riJ  ifsc'iHEi  to  thiafc  that  ihii  isiPidsfit  1 


:        fcfl^ll 


«eFUrrpf3  fjfjHri.^  SratVt  iiiin^iic.>  otj  Lutr  F™«lt,  not  aiur  l« 
lit  tkip^  tipp  Hut  tot^D  citfi.  bQi  of  ieou'ft  QwnJMKfatir  illvi- 


clEtm ;  tind 
noo  af  u%  etur«. 


with  him,  I  often  saw  liim,  ^or  hf  ttled '  sonie  infe- 
rior office  io  one  of  the  courts  oC  law  at  Edinbuvs^ 
S'oor  fellow  1  I  believe  he  it  dead ;  he  took  early  lo 
rinkinff.'* 

The  autobiography  tells  us  tnat  bis  transUtions  in 
verse  from  Horace  and  Virgil  were  often  approved 
by  Dr.  Adam.    One  of  theae  little  pieces,  written  in 
a  weak  bovish  scri^wl  within  penciUea  marks  atiil 
visible,  had  been  carefully  preserved  by  his  mother ; 
it  was  found  folded  up  in  a  cover  inscribed  by  the 
old  lady—"  Jkfy  WaUer^sJirat  liru$,  1782." 
'*  In  awful  ruins  iEtna  thunders  nigh. 
And  sends  in  |Ntchy  whirlwimls  to  tno  aky 
Black  ck>udB  of  smoke,  which,  still  as  tb^y  an>ire. 
Prom  their  dark  aides  there  bursts  the  alowiog  fire> 
At  other  times  huge  balls  of  fire  ar^  tossMJ, 
That  lick  the  stars,  and  in  the  smoke  arc  lost : 
Sometimes  the  mount,  with  vast  convalsioDS  torn, 
Emits  huge  rocln,  which  instantly  ar^  borne 
With  kNid  explosions  to  the  starry  skies, 
The  stones  made  liqaid  as  the  huge  mass  ilea. 
Then  back  again  with  greater  weight  recoils, 
While  JStitt  thundering  from  the  bottom  boils." 
1  gather  from  Mr.  Irving  that  theee  lilies  wem 
considered  as  the  second  TOst  set  of  those  produced 
on  the  ocoasien—CoKn  Mackentie  of  PortRrore, 
throng  hfe  Scott's  dear  fHend,  carrying  olT  the 
premium. 

In  his  introduction  to  the  "  Lay,"  he  alludes  to 
an  original  eflfbsion  of  these  '^schoolboy  daya^*' 
prompted  by  a  thunder-storm,  which,  he  says,  ''was 
much  approved  of,  until  a  malevolent  critic  «pn]nfc 
up  in  the  shape  of  an  apothecary's  blue-boekined 
wifet  who  affirmed  that  my  most  sweet  poetiy  wsi 
copied  from  an  old  magazme.    I  never"  <he  «ont»- 
nnes)  "  foigave  the  impntatk>iv  and  even  now  I 
acknowledge  some  resentment  against  the  poor 
woman's  memory.    She  indeed  accused  me  unjust- 
ly, when  she  said  I  had  stolen  my  poem  ready 
made;  but  as  I  had,  Uke  roost  premature  poets^ 
copied  all  the  words  and  ideas  of  whidi  my  verses 
consisted,  she  was  so  far  nghtw    1  made  one  or  two 
faint  attempts  at  verse  afCer  I  had  undefgone  this 
sort  of  daw-plucking  at  the  hands  of  the  hpothe- 
cary's  wife,  but  some  fhend  or  other  always  advised 
me  to  put  my  verses  into  the  fire ;  and,  like  Doraz 
in  the  play,  I  submitted,  though  with  a'  swelling 
heart"    These  lines,  ana  another  short  piece  "on 
the  Setting  Son,"  were  lately  found  wrapped  up  in 
a  cover,  inscribed  by  Dr.  Adam,  "  Walter  S4>Dtt, 
July,  1783,"  and  have  been  kindly  transmitted  to 
me  by  the  gentleman  who  discovered  them. 
*'  Ona  Thunderstorm. 
"Loud  o'er  my  head  thoush  awful  thunders  rolj^ 
And  Tlvld  lightnings  fiaph  n'om  pole  to  pole, 
Tet  His  thy  voice,  my  God,  that  bids  them  fly, 
Thy  arm  directs  those  lightnings  through  the  sky. 
Then  let  the  good  thy  m^hty  name  reveie, 
And  hardened  sinners  thy  Just  Tengeance  fear.*' 

«  On  the  Setting  &un. 
"Those  evening  clouds,  that  setting  ray. 
And  beauteous  tints,  serve  to  display 
Their  great  Creator's  praise  ;  , 

Then  let  the  short*Uvcd  chtng  eaU'dnan, 
Whose  life's  comprised  wUma  a  spsa, 
To  Him  his  homage  raise. 

"  We  often  praise  the  evening  ctouds, 

And  tints  so  gat  and  bold, 
But  seldom  UiinK  upon  our  God, 
Who  tinged  these  clouds  with  gold  !*** 
It  must,  I    think,  be  allowed  that  these  lines, 
though  of  the  olass  to  which  the  poet  himself  mo- 
destly ascilbes  them,  and  not  to  be  compared  with 
the  enorts  of  Pope,  still  less  of  Cowley,  at  the  sarae* 
period,  show,  nevertheless,  praiseworthy  dextenty 
for  a  boy  of  twelve. 
The  fragment  tells  us,  that,  on  the  whole,  he  was 

*  I  am  obliged  for  these  little  memorial*  to  the  Rev-  W.  Steven 
of  Rottordam.  author  4>f' an  inleree^Jnf  book  on  the  hiclory  of  the 
branch  of  the  Seotcb  Ckirrch  lone  eataliNsbed  in  Holland,  ahd 
»UI1  floinwbiiw  under  the  jMptvction  of  the  enUfhtensd  KoMm- 
ment  of  that  eountir.  Mr.  Steven  rmuid  them  jo  tha  oooise  ^ '. 
his  iDoent  nM6«rch«s,  twcleftsliea  vnlh  a  view  to  1 

aflho  High  School  of T 

own  early  education. 


Digitized  by 


tvilh  a  view.to  aonentemc 


LIFE  OF  SIR  WALTER  SCOTT. 


26 


**iiiore  diBtiagaisbed  in  tlu  Yards  (as  the  High 
School  play-ground  was  called)  than  in  the  class  ;^^ 
and  this,  notToBa  than  the  intellectual  advancement 
whichyears before  had  excited  the  admiration  of 
Mrs.  Cockbnm,  was  the  natural  reeult  of  his  life- 
long 'I  rebellion  against  external  circumsianoes." 
He  might  now,  with  very  slender  exertion,  have 
been  the  dux  oi  his  form«  but  if  there  was  more  dif- 
ficulty, there  was  also  more  to  whet  his  ambition^ 
in  the  attempt  to  overcome  the  disadvantages  of  his 
physical  misfortune,  and  in  spite  of  them  assert 
equality  with  the  best  of  his  compeers  on  the  ground, 
which  they  considered  as  the  true  arena  of  honour. 
He  toki  me,  in  walking  through  these  same  yards 
forty  years  aCterwarda^that  he  had  scarcely  made  his 
fifcat  appearance  there,,  before  some  dispute  ariaing, 
hie  opponent  remark^,  that  ^'  there  waano  use  to 
huKle-bargle  witha  cnpple ;"  upon  which  he  replied, 
that  if  he  might  fight  movnttd^  he  would  try  his 
hand  with-  any  on^  of  his  inches.  "  An  elder  ooy," 
(said  be,)  *' woo  hsd  perhape  been  chuckling  over 
ow  friend  Roderick  Random,  when  his  mother  sup- 
posed him  to  be  in  full  ^ry  after  Pyrrhus.  or  Poms, 
suggested  that  the  two  little  tinklers  might  be  lash- 
ed Irani  to  front  upon  a  deal  board—andr-'  O  gran 
bootade'  cavalier  antichip-ihe  proDosal  being  forth- 
with agreed  to,  I  received  my  first  bloody  nose  in  an 
aitiiude  whioh  would  hfive  elktitled  me,  in  the  blessed 
days  of  personal  cognizances,  to  assume  that  of  a 
VMncd  se^mU  guUs,  'Hy  pugihstic  trophies  herob" 
(ke  contuiued,)  **  were  all  the  results  of  such  siiUngs 
in  bmneor  Considering  his  utter  ignorance  of  fear, 
'  the  strength  of  his  chest  and  upper  limbs,  and  that 
W  scientific  part  of  pugilism  never  flourished  in 
.  Scoiland,  I  dare  say  ciiese  trophies  were  not  few. 

The  mettle  of  the  High  School  boys^  however, 
waa  principally  displMred  elsewhere  than  in  their 
own  yards;  and  Sir  Walter  has  nimiahed  us  with 
ample  indications  of  the  delight  with  which  he 
found  hunaelf  at  length  capable  of  rivalUng  others 
in  such  achievements  as  required  the  exertion  of  ac- 
tive locomotive  powers.  Speaking  of  some  scene 
of  hit  iofiuicy.  m  one  of  his  latest  tales,  he  says : 
"  Every  step  of  the  way,  after  I  have  passed  through 
the  green  already  mentioned,"  (probably  the  Med- 
e  daws  behind  Oeocge's  Square,)  '^  has  for  me  some- 
thiniK  of  an  early  remembrtfnoe.  JThere  is  the  stile 
at  which  I  can  recollect  a  cipss  ehild's-maid  up- 
braiding me  with  my  infirnmy,  as  she  lifted  me 
hoarsely  and  careiesaly  over  the  flinty  steps  whioh 
my  brothers  traversed  with  shout  and  bound.  I  re- 
member the  suppressed  Utienuss  of  ihf  r-;-rr.-^% 
and  conscious  of  my  own  infirmity,  iho  envj  wiih 
which  I  regarded  the  easy  movemenc^  ami  ola,*»iic 
steps  of  my  more  hsppily  furmed  bret li  ren.  Al ti s  T' 
(headd&>  "these goodly  barks  have  all  perished  m 
life's  wide  ocean,  and  only  that  vrhieh  Jn.(^m^iL  ns 
the  naval  phrase  goes,  so  little  ae» -worthy,  Ims 
reached  the  port  when  the  toapeet  i^  owt:^  How 
touching  to  compare  with  this  passage,  that  in 
whieh  he  records  his  pride  in  being  found,  before  he 
left  the  High  School,  ope  of  the  boldest  and  nim- 
bbet  climbers  of  "  the  kittle  nine  stanes,"  a  passage 
of  difficulty  which  might  puzzle  a  chamois  hunter 
of  the  Alps,  Us  steps  "few  and  fer  between,"  pro- 
jected high  m  aurfrom  the  precipitous  black  granite 
of  tho  Castle  rock.  But  climbing  and  fighting 
coBld  sometimes  be  combmed,  and  he  has  in  aUnost 
the  same  pace  dwelt  upon,  perhaps,  the  most  fa- 
voonte  of  allthesejuvenile  exploits—namely,  "the 
nanning  of  the  Cowgate  Port,"— in  the  season 
when  snowballs  could  be  employed  by  the  young 
seorners  of  discipline  for  the  annoyance  of  the 
Town-guard.  To  understand  fully  the  feelings  of  a 
/Higb* School  boy  of  that  day,  with  resard  to  those 
UKftfentwi^^landers,  who  then  formed  (be  only  po- 
lice of  the  city  of  Edinburgh,  the  reader  mu«t  consult 
the  poetry  of  the  scanegrace  Ferguson.  It  was  in 
dafiance  of  their  Lochaber  axes  that  the  Cowgate 
Port  was  manned — and  many  were  the  occasions  on 
tthieh  its  defence  presented  at  least  a  foraydabLB 
immicry  of  warfare.  "The  gateway,"  Sir  Walter 
adds,  "is  now  demolished,  and  probably  most  ^iu 
garrison  lie  as  low  as  the  fortress !  To  recollect  diat 
4  9 


1 1,  however  naturally  disqualified,  was  one  of  these 
juvenile  dreadnoughts,  is  a  aad  refiectwn  for  one 
who  cannot  now  step  over  a  brook  without  assist- 
ance. 

1  am  unwilling  to  swell  this  narrative  by  cxtrai>u 
from  Scott's  published  works,  but  there  is  one  ju- 
venile exploit  told  in  the  general  preface  to  the  Wa- 
verly  Novels,  which  I  must  crave  leave  to  introduce 
here  in  his  own  language^  because  it  is  essentially 
necessary  to  complete  our  notion  of  his  schoolboy 
life  and  cnaracter.  "  It  is  well  known,"  (he  saya,) 
"  that  there  is  little  boxing  at  the  Scottish  schools. 
About  forty  or  fifty  years  ago^  however,  a  far  more 
dangerous  mode  of  fighting,  in  oarties  or  fections, 
was  permitted  in  the  streeu  ot  Kdinblirgh,  to  the 
great  disgrace  of  th&poUoe,  and  danger  or  the  par-* 
ties  concerned.  These  parties  were  generally  form* 
ed  from  the  quarters  of  the  town  in  whioh  the  corfi' 
batantsjesidedf  those  of  a  particular  square  or  die* 
triot  fighting  ^gainst  those  of  an  adjoining  ona 
Hence  it  happened,  that  the  children  of  the  nigher- 
claases  were  often  pitted  against  those  of  the  lowen 
each  taking  their  sidoi  according  to  the  residence  of 
their  friends.  So  fer  as  I  recollect,  however,  it  wae 
unmingled  either  with  feehngs  of  democracy  or  aris» 
tocracy,  or,  indeedi  with  malice  or  ill-will  of  any 
kind  towards  the  opposite  party.  In  fact,  it  was  . 
only  a  rough  mode  of  play.  Such  contests  were, 
however,  maintained  with  great  vigour  with  stones,, 
and  stickflk  and  fiaticuffe,  when  one  party  dared  to 
charge  and  the  other  stood  their  ground.  Of  course* 
mtschief  sometimes  happened ;  boys  are  said  to  have 
been  killed  at  these  Bickers^  as  they  were  called* 
and  serious  aceidents  cerfeialy  took  place,  as  many 
contemporariea  can  bear  witness. 

"  The  author's  father  jwaiding  in  George's  Square, 
in  the  southern  side  of  £dinbursi;hi  the  boys  beleng* 
ing  to  that  family,  with  others,  m  the  square,  were 
arranned  into  a  sort  of  company,  to  which  a  lady 
of  distmction  presented  a  haiidaQme  set  of  colours.^ 
Now,  this  company  or  regiment,  as  a  matter  of  , 
course,  was  engaged  in  weekly  warfare  with  the 
boys  inhabiting  the  Croascauseway,  Bristo- Street, 
the  Potterrow,—  in  short,  the  neighbouring  suburbs. 
These  last  were  chiefly  of  the  lower  rank,  out  hardy 
loons,  who  threw  stones  to  a  hair's-breadthi  and 
were  very  rugged  antagonists  at  close  quarters. 
Ther  skirmish  sometimes  lasted  for  a  whole  even.- 
ing,  until  one  party  or  the  other  was  victorious, 
when^  if  ours  were  successful,  we  drove  the  enemy 
to  their  quarters,  and  were  jisually  chased  back  by 
the  re-enforesment  of  bigger  lads,  who  came  to 
their  assistance.  If,  on  the  conirarv,  we  were  pu> 
sued,  as  was  often  the  case,  into  the  prednets  of 
our  square,  we  were  in  our  turn  supported  by  our 
elder  brothers,  domestic  servants,  and  similar  aux- 
iliaries. It  followed,  from  our  frequent  opposition 
to  each  other,  that,  though  not  knowing  the  namee. 
of  our  enemies,  we  were  yet  well  acquainted  with 
their  appearance,  and  had  nicknames  for  the  most 
remarkable  of  them.  One  very  active  and  spirited 
boy  might  be  considered  as  the  principal  leader  in 
the  cohort  of  the  suburbs.  He  was,  I  suppose, 
thirteen  or  fourteen  years  old.  finely  made,  tall, 
Hue-eyed,  with  long  fair  hair,  the  very  picture  of  a  ^ 
yonthml  Goth.  This  lad  was  alwaya  first  in  the 
charge,  and  last  in  the  retreat— the  Achilles  atonce 
and  Aiax  of  the  Croascauseway.  He  was  too  for- 
midable tb  us  not  to  have  a  cognomen,  and,  like 
that  of  a  knight  of  old,  it  was  taken  from  the  most 
remarkable  part  of  his  dress,  being  a  pair  of  old 
green  livery  breeches,  which  was  the  principal  part 
of  his  clothing;  for,  like  Pentapolin,  according  to 
Don  Quixote's  account,  Green-breeks,  as  we  called 
him,  always  entered  the  battle  with  hsire  arms,  legs, 
and  feet. 

"  It  fell,  that  once  upon  a  time,  when  the  combat 
was  at  the  thickest,  this  plebeian  champion  headed  ^ 
a  charge  so  rapid  and  furious,  that  all  fled  before' 
him.    He  was  several  paces  before  his  comrades, 
and  had  actually  laid  his  hands  upon  the  patrician 
standard,  when  one  of  our  party,  whom  some  mia- 

•  Tfate  jtsmg  patrowtt  was  tlM  praient  Coontast-Docfami  of 
SntherUod.  ^ 


LIFE  OF  SIR  WALTER  SCOTT. 


judmg  fnend  had  intrusted  with  a  couteau  dt  chane^ 
or  hanger,  inspired  with  a  teal  for  the  honour  of  the 
corps,  worthy  of  Major  Sturgeon  himseU;  struck 
poor  Oreen-breeks  over  the  head,  with  strength  sitf- 

ficient  to  cut  him  down.  When  this  wai  if*n,  the 
i!S![untly  wad  so  iar  Utiyond  whnt  hnd  ef^r  tnkrri 
T4ace  befwe^  thai  t*oih  purtiL^i  flc^  liitTerfliit  ways 
leavinp  poar  Orven-hredts,  wiih  It  is  bright  h.iir 
H^tiful%  dabbled  in  btood,  tg  tht^  eare  of  ttie 
watchnian,  wh<j  ^h^npftt  man^  took  cnfp  not  to 
know  who  had  done  Tho  jiiischjef.  Tho  blot>dy 
hanger  was?  thrown  into  omi  of  ihe  Meadow  duch;?*, 
and  stiltmn  st^T^^  was  swof n  iM!  all  hantj* ;  hut 
thf!  TeTnorp5i:<  ^nd  terror  <t(  the  acioir  wt^re  bey  1.1  mi  all 
bounds  ajid  hifi  appro^en anions  of  the  fnoit  dmnclfiil 
characier.  The  wounded  hero  was  for  a  few  d-nys 
in  rhc  lufirniarjr,  ihij  caie  lnjifwf  only  a  mfltn^  om^. 
J]iit  though  intqairy  was  strt>nflrly  pn^eised  on  him.  no 
aiptjmc?nt  eofutd  make  hiTn  indicaic  the  pi^reon  froia 
wKoin  he  bad  neceived  tht;  wounds  tliough  he  mui^ 
have  hcen  perfecily  wpII  known  to  hini.  When  he 
recovCTedi  and  was  dii5tnTj<s*?di  tb*.-  author  and  hss 
hrol bera  dponed  aconnTumieatioTj  wjch  him,  throuizh 
the  nifdium  of  a  popular  (^inK^rhrend  hftker,  of 
whom  both  parM<'^  were  cu stonier*,  in  ord^'T  to  tt^n- 
der  a  stibfiidy  in  tho  name  of  afiiiLr(*Tiioney.  The 
sum  would  excite  ridicule  wert^  I  to  natno  it;  hut 
Bure  1  am,  that  the  potkefp  of  the  noted  QrccM- 
brei-kft  never  held  ai  much  mioney  of  bis  own.  He 
declined  the  remittance,  eaying  ibrtt  hf*  woidd  n')t 
Bell  his  blood  ;  but  at  the  i^ame  timt?  reprobated  the 
idi^a  of  being  an  informer,  whf^b  hv  aaid  WAti  ftom^ 
I.  e,  boaeor  mean.  With  iinirh  urgency^  he  ftr^^pt- 
ed  a  pound  of  (muff  for  the  ^>f^  of  Honri6  old  wnmiti 
—aunt*  ^rrandmotbtT,  or  the  like — vnih  whom  lie 
livoil.  We  did  noi  become  friends,  for  the  birktrt 
were  more  af^reeable  to  hoth  pDriii^  tl>an  iny  more 
pacific  a  muniment ;  hut  we  conducted  them  t*vir 
aO»r^  under  mutunl  assurances  tJf  the  highest  con- 
«idcT*tion  for  each  oiber/'  Sir  Walter  adUa  r— "'Of 
live  brothtra.  all  healthy  and  promt^ng,  in  a  de^rt-e 
far  beyond  ono  whose  infancy  wa»  visitKl  by  p+r- 
Bonal  infiTmitVt  and  whose  hmhh  after  tbirt  period 
seemed  long  Yerytirs^carioii*,  1  am,  n  even  be  I  est,  the 
otdff  flurviv{ir.  The  heat  loved,  and  ih#  bt«t  Hr- 
serving  to  iie  lovcd^  who  bad  d^eUncd  this  iticidpnt 
t6  be  tne  found ation  of  i^  litomry  oompoii^itifir;.  died 
*  before  bia  day,'  in  a  diacani  and  foffii^n  land; 
and  trifles  ae^ine  an  impcf|-taii(ft*  not  (Heir  own. 
when  connected  with  those  who  have  been  loved 
and  loBi.^' 

During  acme  part  of  bis  attendance  on  the  Htp;li 
S*;bool,  young  Wfiiter  spent  one  hour  daily  at  a 
small  separate  seminary  of  writtni;  and  itrithinctic, 
kept  by  one  HoHon,  wnerc^  fi^  wa**  and  I  Himf^f^ne 
continues  to  beii  tbecuMotni>rEdinbirreh,  young  mrls 
came  fotinflrrttniion  tts  wc-M  ti»  bov* :  ^nd  futfl  of  Mr. 
Mbrfon'fl  frmntr'  ptipil*  has  hpt^n  kind  cnotmh  to  set 
dowti  tomf"  litrle  reniiniat-^inces  of  J^^oft,  who  bap* 
pened  to  sit  at  the  mim>y  desk  with  bernelf.  Tht^^ 
appear  to  me  the  more  interesting,  becauAe  tbt?  lod/ 
hm  no  aL^uointanee  with  Kim  ii^  the  course  of  hi* 
subsapiont  life.  Hcf  nt'pbcWf  Mr*  James,  (the  at- 
compbibed  nnthor  of  Ricbdicu,)  to  whose  frienii- 
ship  I  owe  hci  corntnunit'ntion,  a&^urew  me,  tou; 
thai  be  had  constanily  hrard  her  (fll  the  fforu'l 
things  m  the  v*^  *onie  wuy,  os  fsr  buck  an  bia  o^^ri 
memory  reaches  fimny  years^  before  he  hud  evpr 
seen  ^ir  Walter,  or  biu  aunt  could  have  dreamt  nf 
ettrvivjnis  to  af^sist  in  the  biography  of  hi^  earh; 
davfc 

"  He  nttrftcti]d/*  Mrs.  ChuroBide  says,  "  the  re- 
gard and  fopdneasof  all  hie  compamoni,  for  be  woa 
Git&t  rational,  fanci&ii  livt^ly^  and  poaiieesed  of  that 
urhantfgcntieneBa  of  manner^  which  makes  its  way 
to  the  heart.  His  imaf^ination  was  conHtandy  nl 
work,  and  he  often  so  t?ngTo^s?ed  the  flElcniion  ot* 
those  who  learnt  with  bim,  tl*st  little  ^-ould  bcdcn^j 
—Mr.  Mortot)  liinv*iilf  being  forced  to  laogh  as  much 
aa  the  tittle  gcholars  nx  Ihe  odd  funia  and  ^tvice^  he 
fall  upijn  J  forbc  did  ntHbing  in  the  ordioMry  way,  but, 
forexntnpk'p  even  when  be  wanted  ink  lo  ht^pr.ri, 
would  ge^  up  flonit?  ludicroiiR  etorr  about  sending  hiA 
doggif  to  tli£  mill  agaiQ.    He  used  also  to  intercut  ui 


in  a  more  serious  wa^,  by  telling  us  his  pUum»t  as  ha 
called  them,  which  he  had  lying  akrne  on  mfHon^ 
or  sofa,  when  kept  fVom  going  to  chnreh  on  a  Sunday^ 
by  ill  health.  Child  as  I  was,  I  oould  not  help  beiuff 
htghly  delighted  with  his  description  of  the  glories 
he  had  seen— bis  misty  and  sublime  sketches  of  tbs 
regions  above,  which  he  had  visited  in  his  iranoe. 
Recollecting  theae  descriptions,  radiant,  and  not 
gloomy,  as  they  were,  I  have  often  thouf^hc  sinos, 
that  there  must  have  been  a  bias  in  bis  mmd  to  so* 
peretition— the  marvellous  seemed  to  have  such 
power  over  him,  though  the  mere  offspring  of  his 
own  imagination,  that  the  expression  of  his  faosL 
habitually  tliat  of  genuine  benevolence,  mingM 
"with  a  shrewd  innocent  humour^  changed  grestly 
while  he  was  speaking  of  these  thmgs,  and  snowed 
a  deeo  intenseneas  of  feeling,  asif  ne  vr^  aw<sd 
even  oy  his  own  recital.  ...  I  may  add,  that  m 
walking  he  used  alwaya  to  kee|^  hie  eyes  turned 
downwards,  as  if  thinking,  but  with  a  pleasing  sz- 
preasion  of  countenance,  aa  if  enjoying  niaihoughtsv 
Having  once  known  bin,  it  waa  impossible  ever  10 
forget  him.  In  this  manner,  after  all  the  ehangss 
of  a  k>ng  life,  he  constantly  appears  as  fresh  as  ys»- 
terday  to  my  mind^a  eye." 

This  beautiful  exnract  needs  no  commentanr.  I 
may  as  well,  however,  bear  witness,  that  exactly  ns. 
the  achoolboy  still  walks  before  "her  mind's  eye,^' 
his  image  rises  fimiliajrly  to  mine,  who  never  saw 
him  untd  he  was  ^ast  the  middle  01  lilb :  that  I  trace 
in  every  feature  of  her  delineation,  the  sane  gentle- 
ness 01  aspect  and  demean9ur  which  the  presenee 
of  the  female  sex.  whether  m  sdk  or  in  russet,  ever 
c6mmanded  in  the  man ;  and  that  her  desciiptk>n 
of  the  change  on  his  countenance,  when  passing 
from  the  '*  doggie  of  the  mill,"  to  the  dream  of  Parn-  • 
disc,  is  a  perfect  pwture  of  what  no  one  that  hen 
heard  him  recite  a  Iragment  of  high  postnr,  in  the 
course  of  table-talk,  can  ever  forget  Strengeis 
may  catch  some  notion  of  what  fondly  dweUn 
on  the  memory  of  every  friend,  by  glancing  firom 
the  conversational  bust  of  Chantrey,  to  the  first 
portrait  by  Raebum,  which  repivsents  the  Last 
Mmstrel  as  musing  in  his  prine  within  sight  of  Her- 
mitage.* 

I  believe  it  was  about  tliis  time-  that,  as  he  ex- 
presses it  in  one  of  hm  latest  work^  "the  first  • 
ima^aof  hurror  from  (fir  scenes  of  real  life  were 
stanipt^  upon  hts  mind,'  by  the  tragical  death  of 
his  gr*at-ouoi,  Mr3.  MArj.:r£ret  Swinton.  This  old 
larty,  whow*  fJttfBOrdrnnry  fierve  of  character  he  il-  ' 
lu^irntci^  hir^lv  in  the  in  r  reduction  to  the  story  of 
Aimr  Mnrj^^nin's  MiiTT>n  was  now  living  with  one 
female  ntteiidant,  in  a  ,>^riMdl  house,  not  far  from 
Mr.  Scott's  r#:sulflncc  ni  ^3reorge's  Square.  The 
maid-.>u>rvani,  in  ft  s^udden  ..ccessof  insanity,  stmek 
her  mMEre?«i  to  (iinth  win  a  coal-axe,  and  thea 
rushed  fuhot»fy  inio  tb«  street  with  the  bh>odr 
weapon  in  her  hand,  proclaiming  aloud  the  horref 
she  had  perpetrated.  I  need  not  dwell  on  the  efiects 
which  must  have  been  produced  in  a  virtuona  and 
af&cuonate  circle  by  this  shookinff  incident.  The 
old  Utdy  had  been  tenderly  atuchea  to  her  nephew. 
"She  was"  (he  says)  "our  constant  reiource  m 
sickness,  or  when  we  tired  of  noisy  play,  tnd  closed 
around  her  to  listen  to  her  talea.'* 

It  was  at  this  same  period  that  Mr.  and  Mis. 
Scott  received  into  their  hbuse,  as  tutor  for  their 
children,  Mr.  James  Mitchell,  of  whom  the  Ashes- 
tiel  Memoir  gives  us  a  description,  such  as  I  ooidd 
not  have  presented  had  he  been  atill  elite.  Mr. 
Mitchell  was  still  living,  however,  at  thetimeof  • 
his  pupil's  death,  and  I  am  now  not  only  at  liberty 
to  present  Scott's  unmulilated  account  of  their  in- 
tercourse, but  enabled  to  give  also  the  most  simple 
and  xharaoteristic  narrative  of  the  other  party.  I  '« 
am  sure  no  one,  however  nearly  related  te  Mr. 
Mitchell,  will  now  complain  of  seeing  his  keen- 
sighted  pupil's  sketch  placed  by  the  aide,  aa  it  wers^ 
of  the  fuller  portraiture  drawn  by  the  unconscions 
hand  of  the  amiable  and  worthy  man  himsell   The 

*  The  Doke  of  Buecleuch,  who  now  poMctiei  thii  admifable 
rait,  hu  kindly  permRted  it  to  be  re-«ii|*ved  Ibr  the  flliMlra- 

Digitized  by  VjOOQ  IC 


UPE  OP  SIR  WALTER  SCOTT. 


'  fi>nowinK  is  an  extract  from  Mr.  Mitchell^B  MS., 
MilitleB,^  MemorMlt  oi  the  moflt  nmarkaMe  ocoai^ 
ttntoB  and  tnnaaetiona  bf  my  life,  drawn  op  in  the 
bape  that,  when  I  ahali  be  no  mot«,  tbey  niay  be 
laad  with  iirulU  and  pleaanre  by  my  children."  The 
flood  man  waa  ao  kind  as-  to  copy  out  pne  (^apter 
B>r  my  use,  as  soon  aa  he  heaxxi  of  Sir*  Walter  Scott'a 
death.  He  waa  then,  and  had  for  many  years  been, 
minister  of  a  Presbyterian  chapel  at  Wooler;  in 
NorUramberland,  to  which  situation  he  bad  retired 
on  loainjK  his  benefice  at  Montroae,  in  conseqnence 
of  the  Sabbatarian  scruples  alluded  to  in  Scott' a 
Antbbio^raphy. 

'^In  1782?'  says  Mr.  Mitchell/*  I  became  a  tutor 
in  Mr.  Walter  Scott*s  family.  He  was  a  Writer  to 
the  Signet,  in  Oeorae*s  Square,  Edinburgh.  Mr. 
Soott  waa  a  fine  looking  man,  then  a  little  past  the 
meridian  of  life,  of  digm^ed,  yet  agreeable  manners. 
His  business  waa  extensive.  He  waa  a  man  of  tried 
intearity,  of  strict  morals,  and  had  a  respect  for  re- 
ligion an#  its  ordinances.  The  ehm'ch  the  fsmily 
attended  was  the  Old  Gray  Friars,  of  which  the 
oeleonited  Dociora  Robertson  and  Rrakine  were  the 
Boiniatera.  Tluther  went  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Scott  eveiy 
Siibbath,  when  well  and  at  home,  attended  by  theur 
fine  young  (amily  of  children,  and  their  domeedc 
■ervanta—a  ai^t  ao  amiable  and  exemplary,  aa  often 
to  excite  in  m/  breast  a  glow  of  heartfelt  satisfkc- 
tbn.  Aecorduig  to  an  eatabliahed  and  laudable 
prhctice  in  the  femily,  the  heada  of  it,  the  children, 
and  aenranta,  were  aaaembled  on  Sondar  ereninin 
in  the  drawing-room,  and  examined  on  the  Churcn 
catechism  and  aermona  they,  had  h^ard  deliTcred 
during  the  courae  of  the  day :  on  which  occasions, 
I  had  to  perform  the  part  or  chaplain,  and  conclude 
with  prayer.  From  Bfn»  Scott  I  learned  that  Mr. 
Scott  was  one  that  had  not  been  aeduced  from  the 
patha  of  virtue ;  but-  had  been  enabled  to  venerate 
good  morale  from  his  youth.  When  he  first  came 
to  Edinburgh  to  follow  out  his  profession,  some  of 
Ina  schooU^owi,  who,  like  him,  had  come  to  reside 
in  Edinburgh,  attempted  to  tmhinge  his  principles, 
and  corrupt  his  morals  {  bu^  when  they  round  him 
nsokite^  and  unahaken  m  his  virtuoua  dispositions, 
they  gave  up  the  attempt :  but,  instead  of  abandon- 
ing bun  altogether,  they  thought  the  more  of  him, 
•  ana  honoured  him  with  their  confidence  and  patron- 
age ;  which  is  certainly  a  great  inducemeitt  to  young 
men  in  the  outset  of  life  to  act' a  dmilar  part. 

**  Alter  having  heard  of  hia  inflexible  adherence  to 
the  cause  of  virtue  in  his  youth,  and  hia  regular  at- 
tendance on  the  ordinances  of  religion  in  after-life, 
we  will  not  be  surorised  to  be  told  that  he  bore  a 
aacred  regard  for  the  Sabbath,  nor  at  the  foUoif- 
ing  anecdtote  illustrative  of  it.  An  opulent  form- 
er of  East  Lothian  had  employed  Mr.  Scott  as  his 
f  agent,  in  a  cause  depending  before  the  Court  of  Ses- 
sion. Having  a  curiosity  to  see  somethiog  in  the 
papers  relative  to  the  proceas,  which  were  deposited 
m  Mr.  Scott's  hands,  this  worldly  roan  came  into 
Edinburgh  on  a  ^adny  to  have  an  inspection  of 
them.  As  there  was  no  immediate  necessity  for  this 
meaam-e,  Mr.  Scott  aaked  the  farmer  if  an  ordinary 
we^-day  would  not  answer  equally  well.  I^he 
farmer  was  not  willing  to  take  this  advice^  but  m- 
aiaied  on  the  producuon  of  his  papers.  Mr.  Scott 
t^n  delivered,  ihem  up  to  him,  sayinjs^  it  was  not 
his  practice  to  engage  in  secular  business  on  Sab- 
bath, and  that  he  would  have  na  difficulty  in  Edin- 
buigh  to  find  some  of  hia  profession  wno  would 
have  none  of  his  scruples.  No  wonder  such  a  jnan 
was  confided  in,  and  greatly  honoured  in  his  pro- 
fessional line.  All  the  poor  services  I  did  to  his 
family  were  more  than,  reoaid  by  the  comfort  and 
honour  I  had  by  being  in  the  family,  the  pecuniary 
'  remunaranon  1  received,  and  partici^arly  by  his 
KconHftendation  of  me,  some  tunes  afterwards,  to 
the  Magistrates  and  Town-Council  of  Montrose, 
,  when  there  was  a  vacancy,  and  this  brought  me  on 
the  carpet,  which,  aa  he  aaidi  was  all  he  could  do, 
as  the  settlement  would  ultimately  hinge  on  a  popu- 
lar election. 

"  Mre.  Scott  was  a  wife  in  every  respect  worthy 
ofauch  a  husband.    Like  her  partner,  she  was  then 


a  little  past  the  meridian  of  life,  of  a  nrepossessing 
appearance,  amiable  manners,  of  a  cunwated  under-  . 
standing,  afiectionate  disposition,  and  fine  taste. 
She  was  both  able  and  disposed  to  soothe  her  hus- 
band's mind  under  the  asperities  of  business,  and  to 
be  a  rich  blessing  to  her  numerous  progeny.  But 
what  constituted  her  distinguishing  ornament  was, 
that  she  was  sincerely  rehgious.  Some  yeara  pre- 
vious to  my  entrance  into  the  family,  I  understood 
from  one  of  the  servanta  she  had  been  under  deep 
rehgious  concern  about  her  soul's  salvatiop,  which 
had  ultimately  issued  in  a  conviction  of  the 
truth  of  Christianity,  and  in  the  enjoyment  of 
its  divine  consolations.  She  liked  Dr.  Erskine's 
sermons,  but  was  not  fond  of  the  Principal's,  how- 
ever rational,  eloquent,  and  well  composea,  and  ^ 
would,  if  other  things  had  answered,  nave  gone,  ^ 
when  he  preached,  to  have  heard  Dr.  Davidson. 
Mra.  Scott  was  a  descendant  of  Dr.  Daniel  Ruther- 
ford, a  professor  in  the  Medical  School  of  Edin- 
burgh, and  one  of  those  eminent  men,  who,  by 
learning  and  professional  skill,  brought  it  to  the 
high  pitch  of  celebrity  to  which  it  has  attained..  H6» 
was  an  excellent  linguist,  and,  according  to  the  cus- 
tom of  the  times,  delivered  his  prelections  to  the. 
students  in  LatiiL  Mrs.  Scott  told  me,  that,  when 
preacribing  to  his  patients,  it  .waa  his  custom  to  oner  - 
ur  nt  tho  «nme  time  a  prayer  for  the  Dccompanying 
bl<.^:^iLi)4  ^tf  lat.svtiji;  a  \itin\s^U\r  [^raciim^  in  which, 
Ilerirt  Kit  hes  j\oi  ln^n  (?ffierally  imitintid  by  those 
of  Ills  profession* 

'"  Mr.  Scot  t'lii  Taindy  ctm^i^u-d  of  sijt  ch  i  Idren,  all  of 
which  were  nt  liamc  oxcf'pt  (hfi!  diJest,  who  was  an 
officer  in  I  ho  aruiy  ;  ami  iia  (hpy  w*  re  ul  :i  a  age  fit  for 
iOs^E rue tiofi,  till' y  wirr^  oil  eoDimitied  U\  my  superin-- 
teniknct\whteb,  m  depend atit:^  on  Ckni.  I  exercised 
with  stiR»meat  and  fauhful  reRnrd  lo  liicir  temporal 
and  spiritual  good.  As  ihfi  ma«t  of  tltern  were  un- 
der piitilic  tcfldierm,  ihe  duty  aMipoed  dk^  was  main- 
ly no  Q^mat  ihem  in  thf  prosecution  of  I iteir  studies. 
In  uH  th*i  eicelk'ijriej^,  wtn  ihcr  fi?i  u*  tamper,  con- 
diu'f,  taJLrNB  naiLiTiil  ot  cici^ijTri!i],  wliieli  anyof  the  ' 
cbilaron  iiidivulualty  pq^iBiv^^^iiJ,  '<>  !M.i--cer  WalteTi 
ailing  the  cclpbrnkd  &l]r  Wall,  r,  n  m  i  i  lecided  pre- 
fettncc  be  aficribiJcL  ThuuKilv,  lik'  ifi'  rest  of  the 
childf(.ii,  pIecckI  under  my  tuitiot],  ib';  conducting  " 
of  Li]£  (.'ducrilian  €i>mparsitvc>|y  coat  me  but  little 
trouble,  beme,  by  ilit  iiuickntiis  of  luS  intellect, 
tensdiy  of  UK^nio-ry,  and  diliitfiLnt  apj^li^  ilion  to  his 
studies,  fsencTnity  t^iual  of  hiiiim  If  io  tU^.  acquisition 
of  iiiJL^i.  iq^hs  I  or  {'tImt'*  pTf"'rri^'^<l  !■►  him.  So 
th.^Jii^i^^ccW^ier  might  beitguidcd  uui  aomuchaa 
a  pupil  of  mine,  but  as  a  friend  and  companion,  and 
I  may  add.  as  an  assistant  also;  for,  by  his  exam- 
ple and  admonitions,  he  greatly  strengthened,  my 
hands,  and  stiniulated  my  other  pupils  to  industry 
and  good  behaviour^  I  seldom  had  occasion  all  the 
time  I  was  in  the  family  to  find  feuU  with  him  even 
for  trifiesL  and  only  once  to  threaten  serious  casti-  | 

gation,  oi  which  He  was  no  sooner  aware  than  he 
suddenly  sprung  up^  threw  his  arms  about  my  neck, 
and  kissed  me.  It  is  hardly  needful 'to  state,  that 
now  the  intended  castiga lion  was  no  longer  thought' 
of.  By  such  generous  and  nob][e  conduct  my  dis- 
pleasure was  m  a  moment  converted  into  esteem 
ar^  admiration;  my  soul  melted  into  tenderness, 
and  I  was  ready  to  mingle  pny  tears  with  his.  Some 
incidents  in  reference  to  him  in  that  early  period, 
and  some  interesting  and  useful  converaations  I 
had  with  him,  then*deeply  impressed  on  my  mind, 
and  which  the  lapse  of  near  half  a  century  has  not 
yet  obliterated,  anbrded  no  doubtful  presage  of  his 
future  greatness  and  celebrity.  On  my  going  into 
the  family,  as  far  as  I  can  judge,  he  might  be  in  hia 
twelfth  or  thirteenth  year,  a  boy  in  the  Rectoif^ 
class.  However  elevated  above  the  other  boys  in 
genius,  though  generally  in  the  list  of  the  duxes,  be 
was  seldom,  as  tar  as  I  recollect,  the  leader  of  the 
school :  nor  need  this  be  deemed  surprising;  as  it . 
ha9  often  been  observed,  that  boys  of  origin  aigeniua 
have  been  outstripped  by  those  that  were  far  infe- 
rior to  themselves,  in  the  acquisition  of  the  dead 
languages.  Dr.  Adani^  the  rector,  celebrated  far 
his  knowledge  of  the  Latin  language,  was  dM^- 
Digitized  by  VjOOQ  IC 


LU^E  OF  SIR  WALTER  SCOTT. 


.  ediy  held  by  Mr.  Walter  in  high  aij miration  and  re^ 
sard :'  of  which  the  foUowing  anecdote  may  be  ad- 
,  duoeo  as  a  proof.  In  the  High  School  as  is  well 
known,  there  are  four  masters  and  a  rector.  The 
classes  of  those  masters  the  rector  in  rotation  in- 
spects, and  in  the  mean  time  the  master,  whose 
Bchooi  is  examined,  goes  in  to  take  care  of  the  rec- 
tors.   One  of  the  mastersi  on  account  of  some 

^  grudge,  had  rudely  assaulted  and  injured  the  ven^ 
rable  rector  one  mght  in  the  High  School  Wynd. 
The  rector's  scholars,  exasperated  at  the  outrage, 
at  the  instigation  of  Master  Waller,  determined  on 
revenue,  ana  which  was  to  be  executed  when  this 
(^noxious  master  should  again  come  to  teach  the 

^  class.    When  thi^  occurred,  the  task  the  class  had 

^  prescribed  to  them  was  that  passage  in  the  iEneid 
of  Virgil,  wl^re  the  Queen  of  Carthage  interrogates 
the  court  as  to  the  stranger  that  hadf  come  lo  her 
babitation— 

.  'Quia  noms  hie  hospes  successit  sedibus  nostrisl** 

MtiBter  Walter  having  taken  a  v^ece  of  paper,  in- 
scribed upon  it  these  words,  substituting  vasvus  for 
noifu3t  and  pinned,  it  to  the  tail  of  the  master's  coat, 
and  turned  him  into  ridicule  by  raising  the  laufi[h  or 
the  whole  school  against  him.  Though  this  juve- 
nile action  conld  not  be  justified  on  the  footing  of 
Christian  principles,  yet  certainly  it  was  so  far  no- 
nourable,  tlUc  it  was  not  a  dictate  of  personal  re- 
venue ;  but  that  it  originated  in  respect  for  a  worthy 
and  injured  man,  and  detestation  of  one  whom  he 
lookea  upon  as  a  bad  character. 

"  One  forenoon,  on  coming  from  the  High  School, 
he  said  he  wished  to  know  my  opinion  as  to  his 
conduct  in  a  matter  he  should  state  to  me.  When 
passing  through  the  High  School  Yards,  he  found 
^  a  half-guinea  piece  on  the  ground.    Instead  of  Ap- 

propriating this  to  his  own  use,  aeenseof  honesty 
led  nim  to  look  around,  and  on  doing  so  he  espied 
a  oountryman,  whom  he  suspected  to  be  the  pro- 
prietor. Having  asked  the  man  if  he  had  lost  anv 
thing,  he  searched  his  pockets,  and  then  replied, 
that  he  had  lost  half-a-^uinea.  Master  Walter 
with  pleasure  presented  him  with  his  losv treasure. 
^B  this  transaction,  his  ingenuity  in  finding  out  the 
proper  owner,  and  his  integrity  in  restoring  the  pro- 
perty, met  my  most  cordial  aTOrobaiion.* 

"  When  in  church,  Master  Walter  had  more  of  a 
soporific  tendency  than  the  rest  of  my  young 
charge.  This  seemed  to  be  constitutional.  He 
needed  one  or  other  of  the  family  to  arouse  him, 
and  from  this  it  might  be  inferred  that  he  would  cut 
a  poor  figure  on  the  Sabbath  evening  when  exa- 
mined about  the  sermons.  But  what  excited  the  ad- 
miration of  the  family  was,  that  none  of  the  child- 
ren, however  wakeful,  could  answer  as  he  did. 
The  only  way  that  I  could  account  for  this  was, 
1  I  that  when  he  heard  the  text,  and  divisions  of  the 
subject,  his  good  sense,  memory,  and  genius,  suppli- 
ed the  thoughts  which  would  occur  to  the  preacher. 

"On  one'oceaslon,  in  the  dining-room,  when,  ac- 
cording to  custom,  he  was  reading  some  author  in 
the  time  of  relaxation  from  study,  I  asked  him  how 
he  account^  for  the  superiority  of  knowledge  he 
possessed  above  the  rest  of  the  family.  His  reply 
was— Some  years*  ago  he  had  been  attacked  by  a 
swelling  in  one  of  his  ankles,  which  confined  him 
to  the  house,  and  prevented  hiiiL taking  amusement 
and  exercise,  and  which  was  the  cause  of  his  lame- 
ness; as  under  this  ailment  he  could  not  i-^i^p 
witl\hi8  brothers  and  the  other  young  people  rn  ihe 
green  in  Greofge's  Square,  he  found  himself  lmiii[. ti- 
led to  have  recourse  to  some  subsiitute  for  tIlo  ju- 
venile amusements  of  his  comrades,  and  iLiH  wps 

reading.    So  that,  to  what  he  no  doubt  ac  i^  d 

a  pHinful  dispensation  of  Providence,  het^lnl'jr 
stood  indebted  for  his  future  celebrity.^  iVh,  r*  t 
was  understood  1  was  to  leave  the  family,  M   ■^rr 

•  Tba<  tmnnposition  of  AM/**  and  ndttrU  sufficipntlr  oonftrmt 
hiipupil'ttUiteawntrUiat  Mr.  Mitchell  **  superintended  his  clami- 
fsal  themes,  bat  not  cJassicatlf."    The  "ubnoxi 
luded  to  was  lluros's  friend  Nicoll,  the  hero 

."  ^  illie  brewed  i|  pecit  o*  maut. 
Ami  Uob  and  Allan  cunt  to  see,"  fto. 


ibnoxioua  master*' 
a  of  the  ufrng— 


Walter  told  me  that  he  had  a  small  present  lb  m^ 
m&  to  be  kept  as .  a  memorandum  ot  his  friandabipa 
and  that  it  was  of  little  value :  *'  But  you  know, 
Mr.  Miichell,'v  said  he,  Uhat  preaeafii  are  not  to 
he  estimated,  according  to  their  intrinsic  vidii#,  but 
accordmg  to  the  intenuon  of  the  donor.'  This  wmfl 
his  Adanvd  grammar,  which  had  seen  bard  servioe 
in  its  day,  and  had  many  animala  and  insdriptions 
on  its  margins.  This^  to  my  regret,  is  no  longer  to 
be  found  in  ray  collection  of  books,  nor  do  i  fiuio  w 
what  has  become  of  it. 

"  Since  leaving  the  family,  although  no  atrsoffer 
to  the  widely  spreading  fame  of  Sir  Walter,  I  hk^e 
had  few  oppof tonities  of  personal  iBtefcoorse  with 
him.  When  minister  in  the  second  charge  of  the 
Established  Church  at  Montrose,  he  pud  me  a  visit, 
and  spent  a  nighi  with  me ;  few  visits  have  heea 
more  gratifying,  He  was  then  on  hia  return  from 
Aberdeen,  where  he,  as  an  advocate,  had  atteaded 
the  Court  of  JnsCieiary  in  ita^  northern  ciriliit.  Ner 
was  his  attendance  m  this  court  his  sole  ofafect  f 
another,  and  perhaps  the  principal,  was,  as  h/ata^ 
ted  bo  me,  to  collect  in  his  excursion  ancient  heads' 
and  traditional  stories  abmit  furies,  witches,  aad' 
ghosts.  Such  intelligence  proved  to  me  as  an  ele€^» 
trtcal  shock ;  and  as  I  llieQ  sinoerely  ngrettedr  wo- 
do  I  still,  that  Sir  Waller's  precious  time  was  aa 
much  devoted  to  the  doled,  rather  than  the  util€  of 
composition,  and  that  his  ^reat  talent  should  ha4r« 
been  wasted  on  such  subjeotsi  At  the  same  titne 
I  feel  happy  to  qualify  this  eensure,  as  I  am  genisral** 
ly  given  to  understand  that  his  Novels  are  of  « 
more  pure  and  unexceptionable  nature  than  ch^no- 
terizes. writings  of  a  simil ar description ^  while  at 
the  same  time  his  pen  has  been  oocunied  m  the  ]Mro* 
duction  of  works  of  a  better  and  aohler  order.  Im*- 
pressed  with  the  conviction  that  he  would  one  day 
arrive  at  honour  and  influence  in  Ids  native  coun^ 
try^  I  endeavoured  to  improve  the  occasion  of  his 
visit  to  secure  his  patronage  in  behalf  of  the  strict 
and  evangelical  party  in  the  Church  of  Scothnd,-  in 
exerting  himselt  to  induce  patrons  to  grant  to  tho 
Christian  people  liberty  to  elect  their  own  pastors 
in  cases  of  vacancy.  His  answer  struck  me  much 
—it  was  :  *Nay,  nau^Mr.  Mitchell.  I'll  not  do  thati 
for  if  that  were  to  be  done,  I  ana  the  Uke  of  me 
would  have  no  life  with  such  as  you ;'  from  whi<^ 
I  inferred  he  thought  that,  were  the  evangelical 
clergy  to  obtain  the  sttpenority,  they  would  intro- 
duce such  smctness  of  discipline  as  would  not 
quadrate  with  the  ideas  of  that  party  called  th^ 
moderate  in  the  Church  of  Scotland,  whose  vievFSi 
I  l^resume,  Sir  Walter  bad  now  adopted.  Some, 
however,  to  whom  1  have  mentioned  Sir  Walter's 
reply,  have  suggested  that  I  had  misunderstood  his 
meaning,  and  that  what  he  said  was  not  is  earnest, 
hut  in  joeularity  and  good- humour.  This  may  be 
true,  and  certainly  is  a  candid  interpretation.  As  to 
the  ideal  beings  alreadjr  mentioned  as  the  subject  of 
his  inquiries,  mf  materials  were  too  scanty  to  afford 
him  much  information." 

Notwithstanding  the  rijjidly  Presbyterian  habits 
which  this  chronicle  describes  with  so  much  mor» 
sarisfaction  than  the  corresponding  page  in  the 
Ashestiel  Memoir,  I  am  reminded,  oy  a  cortimuni- 
cation^lready  quoted  fh>m  a  lildy  of  the  Ravelstone 
family,  that  Mrs.  Seott,  who  had,  she  says.  *'  a  turn' 
for  literature  Quite  uncommon  among  the  ladies  of 
the  time,"  eneouraged  her  son  in  fiis  passion  for 
Shakspeare— that,  his  plays,  and  the  Arabian 
Nights,  w^e  often  read  aloud  in  the  family  circle 
by  Walter,  "and  served  to  spend  many  a  happy 
evening  hour"— noy,  that,  however  good  Mitcneff 
may  have  frowned  at  such  a  suggestion,  even  Mr. 
Scott  made  little  objection  to  nis  children  and 
some  of  their  young  friends,  getting  up  priva#thea-'^ 
tricnls  occasionally  in  the  dioinar-room,  after  the 
lessons  of  the  day  were  over.  The  lady  adds,  that 
Walter  was  always  the  manager,  and  had  the  whole 
charge  of  the  afihir,  and  that  the  favourite  biece  uf»ed 
to  be  Jane  Shore,  in  which  he  was  the  Hastings, 
liib  sistpr  the  Alicia.  I  have  beard  from  another 
frii^nd  of  the  family,  that  Richard  HI.  also  was  m* 
tempted,  and  that  Walter  took  the  part  of  the  Dl^ike 


UFE  OF  SIR  WALTER  SCOTT. 


of  (Mo^cester,  observing,  that  *'  the  limp  Would  do 
well  enou^  to  represent  the  bump." 

A  story  which  |  have  seen  in  print,  about  his  par- 
taking in  the  dancing  lessons  nf  his  brothers.  I  do 
•  not  believe.  But  it  was  during  Mr.  IV^itchell  s  re- 
sidence in  the  family  that  they  all  made  their  unsuc- 
cessful attempts  in  the  art  of  music,  under  the 
auspices  of  poor  Elahender  Campbell—the  Editor 
of  *^  Albvn's  Anthology." 

Mr.  Mitchell  appears  to  have  terminated  his 
■saperintendence  before  Walter  left  Dr.  Adam  j  and 
in  the  interval  between  this  and  his  entrance  at 
College,  he  spent  some  time  with  his  aunt,  who 
now  mhabited  a  cottage  at  Kelso ;  but  the  Memoir, 
I  suspect,  ffives  too  much  extension  to  that  resi- 
dence—which  maybe  accounted  for  by  his  blending 
with  it  a  similar  visit  which  he  paid  to  the  same 
place  during  bis  College  vacation  of  the  next  year. 

Some  or  the  features  of  Miss  Jenny's  abode  at 
Keho  are^lluded  to  in  the  Memoir,  but  the  fiillest 
description  of  it  occurs- in  his  "  Essay  on  Lands- 
cape Oardenino."  (I8i8,)  where,  talking  of  pounds 
laid  out  in  the  Dutch,  iaate^  he  says  r— **  Their  rarity 
Tiow  entitles  them  to  some  care  as  a  species  of  an- 
tiqaes,  and  unquestionably  they  gjye  character  to 
aome  snuK,  quiet,  and  ^ueslered  situations,  Which 
Would  otherwise  have  no  marked  feature  of  any 
Kind.  I  retain  an  early  and  pleasing  recollection 
of  the  seclusion  of  such  a  scene.  A  small  cottage, 
adjacent  to  a  beautiful  village,  the  habitation  of  an 

fnefent  maiden  lady,  wtis  for  $cmc  time  my  abode, 
t  was  situated  in  a  garden  of  sRven  or  eijirrii  at' res, 
planted  cbour  ihc  beginning  of  the  oighicenih  cen- 
tury, by  oti6of  the  Millars  felot^d  to  the  author  of 
the  *Gnrri*?ners'  Diciioniiry/  or,  for  aupht  1  know, 
by  himsHf,  It  was  full  nf  "lonfi  Btrni^ht  wdlks,  be- 
.tween  hciJst^iS  of  p^w  and  hornbeamj  whieh  rose 
tall  and  c!ijete  on  every  mde.  There  were  thickets 
of  flowKry  ishroba^  a  hnwer,  and  an  arbour,  to  which 
Access  wna  obialnini  through  a  little  maze  of  con- 
torted wjjlks,  calling  iiaeir  a  labyrinlh.  In  the 
centre  of  the  bower  was  a  ^lendid  PlatnnnSi  or 
Oriental  plane-— a  hujBe  hjll  of  teaVL^s— one  of  the 
nobles E  specimens  of  that  regularly  benutiful  tree 
which  I  rememher  !»  have  aetn.  in  diffcre-nt  parts 
of  the  garflen  wers  fine  ornamental  trtea,  which 
hadattainE-d  sxreat  #ijif,  and  the  orchard  was  filled 
witn  fruit  trS'  a  of  tht?  btat  description.  There  m^are 
seats  an'i  hilly  walkj?,  and  n  bnnqueting  hmi^ee  I 
visited  this  3ef?ije  laiety,  after  an  absence  of  many 
years,  fis  nir  of  retreat,  lb?  neduaion  which  its 
^eys  afford^],  was  tut^rely  gone;  the  htigp  Pla- 
tanus  had  died,  Lite  moat  of  its  kiad^  in  th«  bc^m- 
ning  of  thw  i^i^ntury ;  the  ii&dee»  were  cut  down, 
the  trees  ^luhbedup,  and  the  whole  character  of  the 

{dace  so  destroyed,  that  I  was  glad  when  I  eould 
eave  it."  It  was  tinder  this  Plaiajiu^  ihnt  Scott 
first  devnured  Perc/s  Reliquta.  I  remember  ^'ell 
bemg  ^ith  hlia,  in  1^20  or  1^2 1  p  when  he  rci  ed 
the  lavourire  3cene|  and  the  sadne^a  of  bi^^  '  ks 
whdlk  he  discoteted  that  "  the  hnH*^  hill  of  1^ ,.  s" 
was  no  more. 

To  keep  up  his  scholarship  while  iilhabrting  the 
'  gdrderii  no  attended  daily,  as  he  informs  us,  the 
public  school  of  Kelso,  and  here  be  made  his  first 
acquaintance  with  a  famflv,  two  members  of  which 
were  intimately  connected  with  the  most  important 
literary  transactions  of  his  after  life— James  Bal- 
lantyne.  the  printer  of  almost  all  his  works,  and 
his  brother  Jonn,  who  had  a  share  in  the  pubUca" 
tion  of  many  of  them.  Their  fathei^  was  a  respect- 
able tradesman  in  this  pretty  town.  The  elder  of 
the  brothers,  who  did  not  long  siirvive  his  illus- 
trious friend,  was  kind  enough  to  make  an  exertion 
on  behalf  of  this  work,  while  stretched  on  the  bed 
fipm  which  he  never  rose)  and  dictated  a  valuable 
paper  ot  memoranda^  fiom  which  I  shall  here  in- 
troduce my  first  extract  :— 

**I  thmk,'*  (says  James  Ballantyne,)  ^  it  was  in 
tl^e  year  17^3,  that  I  first  became  acquainted  with 
Sur  Walter  Scott  then  a  bov  about  my  own  age,  at 
the  Gramtnar  School  of  K!eLM>,t>f  which  Mr.  Lan- 
celot Whale  was  the  Rector.  The  impression  left 
by  his  nMMM^ora  wait  f^J^Q  M  tbai  ea4f  Pfnod,  cal* 


be  deep,  and  I  cannot  recall  any  other 
1  which  the  man  and  the  boy  continued 


culated  .to  be  do 

instance  in  whicF      .  _  , 

to  resemble  each  other  so  much  and  so  long.  Wal- 
ter Scott  was  not  a  constant  sohool-fellow  at  this 
seminarv;  he  only  attended  it  for  a  few  weeks 
durinc  the  vacation  of  the  Edinburgh  High  School 
He  was  then,  as  he  continued  diuing  all  his  after 
life  to  be,  devoted  to  antiquarian  lore,  and  was  cer- 
tainly the,  best  story-teller  I  had  ever  heard,  either 
then  or  since.  He  soon  discovered  that  I  was  as 
fond  of  listening  as  he  himself  was  of  relating ; 
and  I  remember  it  was  a  thine  of  daily  occurrence, 
that  aften  he  had  made  himself  master  of  his  own 
lesson,  I,  alas!  being  still  sadly  to  seek  in  mine,  he 
used  to  whisper  to  me,  'Come,  slink  over  beside 
me,  Jami&  and  I'll  tell  you  a  story.'  I  well  recol-  * 
lect  that  he  had  a  form,  or  seat,  appropriated  to 
himself,  the  particular  reason  of  which  I  cannot 
tell,  but  he  was  always  treated  with  a  peculiar  • 
degree  of  respect,  not  bv  the  boys  of  the  different 
classes  merely,  but  by  tne  venerable  Master  Lan- 
celot himself,  who,  an  absent,  grotesque  being, 
betwixt  six  and  seven  feet  high,  was  nevertheless 
an  admirable  scholar,  and  sure  to  be  delighted  to 
find  any  one  so  well  quahfied  to  sympathize  with 
him  as  young  Walter  Scott ;  and  the  affectionate 
gratitude  of  the  young  ptipil  was  never  intermitted, 
so  long  as  his  veneraofe  master  continued  to  live. 
I  may  mention,  m  passing,  that  old  Whale  bore^  in 
many  particulars,  a  strong  resemblance  to  Dommie 
Sampson,  though,  it  must  be  admitted,  combining 
more  gentlemanly  manners  with  equal  classical 
lore^  and,  on  the  whole,  being  a  much  superior  sort 
of  person.  In  the  intervals  of  school  hours,  it 
was  our  constant  practice  to  walk  together  by  the 
banks  of  the  Tweed*  our  employment  continuing 
exactly  the  0am&  for  his  stories  seemed  to  be  quite 
inexhaustible.  This  intercourse  continued  durine 
thafnin^n^rr-^  rtfthf-  'jcnrr- 1.7*^-- -1,  Viiit  wfis  hrnt;rn  off 


in  i"r^i'ti,  when  1  WdEi^hitu  BUmhurtih  to  CoWumb/' 
Ferhapa    the  aeparati^   Beat  a9siji;|u;d   to  Walter 
Seott^  by  the  KjcIso  !*i:hoo]  master,  was  consider^ 


due  to  him  as  a  tenipiorary  visiter  frucn  the  great 
Eiiinliureh  at' nnn ft ry.  Very  poaaiblv,  Uorcver,  the 
wortliy  Ml-.  Whale  ihoiighlof  n&thiup  but  protaot- 
ing  hia  solitary  aiitdent  of  PtTsius  and  Tueittid  from 
th^chanceaof  being  jositkil  ajumng  tbt:  adbercnia 
of  Buddinian  and  rfrinii  lii]£i  Ncpoa. 

Another  of  ha^^  Kil^^i  ^e huc.r|fL!l to ws  wn^i}  Robert 
Waklii-T  (stJii  of  Mr.  Wnhiu  of  HendersiJeJ  and  to 
this  conne;iioii  hy  ow*jd»  hath.  whJTe  quartered  iti  the 
Gariieu,  otid  ufttrward^  nt  Ro'iebank,  nmn^-  kind 
attentions,  of  whioh  he  ^nt  pTtifiirviri\  a  grateful 
recollection,  and  which  hava  (e/i  at  rung  lra<:t!a  on 
every  pa j^^  a(  his  worke  m  which  h(^  bos  occasion  fo 
in  I  rod  u  ce  t  he  Societ  y  of  Pric  n  d  sl  TI  *ip  youn^  com  - 
panion^a  mother,  Enoueh  plwaya  called  m  the  . 
ntiiihbourhnod  '^  Lady  Waldicj'*  btthnigcd  to  that 
cc  nnmiiiiiv  j  ^fid  the  at>ie  [)f  Ijie  and  manners  de- 
pi  <  i  in  tht.'  houitidii>ld  of  Josht^a  Ged^Jea  of  Mount 
S  'Tim  nnd  hia  ami'ible  tfi^ier,  in  aoirm  of  the 
sivfL'iesi  chuptertt  nf  Rf?tl^auntlcri  ij*  a  sliphily  de* 
comiiod  ediljon  of  what  ht^  witn^^ascd  imtier  her  hos- 
pi[rit>le  roof.  He  record  a,  in  a  note  to  the  iVovd, 
th>!  'Mib^rality  and  benevolf^mce"  of  ihiM^'kind  old 
la<]''i"  in  allowitiK  him  to  ^'^ruinmag^:^  at  pleti6tjj'\ 
arjd  ^^nrry  hi^mc,  any  vokune^r  he  cbua*-  of  her  ti|i)aN 
bijr  \:sl(friK|+  librnrv',"— anqe3ting  only  iht  condition 
thn!  f"-,' -liiHilil"  !a1%p  nt  ihfl  ?fiin(M5mi^ 'Ofpif' of  the 
tr.     -    •     ■(■■  '   't  .  .=      .    •■/:.  '  .  ■■■_''  .       '.i^ 

docLf, jx  0^ ...  i iuu  '—ii  iai_'      L_  ■-i--lJ?s 

"  even  exact  any  assurance  that  1  would  read  these 
performances,  being  too  justly  afraid  of  involving 
me  in  a  breach  of  promise,  but  was  merely  desirous ' 
that  1  should  have  the  chance  of  instruction  within 
my  reach,  i^  case  whim,  curiosity,  or  accident, 
might  induce  me  to  have  recourse  to  it."  1  remem- 
ber the  l^easure  w?lh  which  he  read,  late  in  life, 
"Rome  m  the  Nineteenth  Century,"  an  ingenious  * 
work  produced  by  one  of  Mrs.  Waldie's  grand- 
daughters, and  how  comically  he  pictured  the  alarm 
with  which  his  ancient  fiiend  would  have  perused 
some  of  its  delineationB  of  the  high  places  of  Po 


.  Digitized  by  V^OO'QlC 


so 


LIFE  OP  SIR  T>^ ALTER  SCOTT. 


s: 


I  shall  be  pardoned  for  adding  in  this  place  a 
larginal  note  written' apparently  late  in  Scott's 
iJe.  on  Kis  copy  of  a  little  forgotten  volume^  enti- 
tled, " Trifles  in  Verse,  by  a  V'oung  Soldier."  "In 
1783,"  (lie  ^ys,)  "or  about  that  time,!  remember 
John  Marjonbanks,  a  smart  recruiting  officer  in  the 
village  of  Kelso,  the  Weekly  Chipnicle  of  which  he 
filleawiih  his  love  verses.  His  Delia  was  a  Miss 
Dickson,  daughter  of  a  shopkeeper  in  the  same  vil- 
lage—his  Gloridna  a  certain  prudish  old  maiden 
lady,  benempt  Miss  Goldie :  I  think  I  see  her  still, 
with  her  thin  arms  sheathed  in  scarlet  gloves,  and 
crosstxi  like  two  lobsters  in  a  fishmonger's  stand. 
Poor  Delia  was  a  very  beautiful  girl,  and  not  more 
conceited  than  a  be-rnymed  miss  oimht  to  be.  Ma- 
ny years  afterwards  I  found  the  Kelso  belU  thin 
and  pale,  her  good  looks  gone,  and  her  smart  dress 
neglected,  governess  to  the  brats  of  a  Paisley  man- 
ufacturer. I  dught  to  say  there  was  not  an  atom 
of  scandal  in  her  fbrtation  with  the  voung  military 
poet.  The  bard's  fate  was  not  much  better  ;  after 
.  some  service  in  India,  and  elsewhere,  he  led  a  half- 
pay  life  about  Edinburgh,  and  died  there.  There 
18  a  tenuity  of  thought  in  what  be  has  written,  but 
his  versos  are  usually  easy*  atnd  I  Uke  them  because 
they  recall  my  school  boy  days,  when  I  thought 
him  a  Horace,  and  his  Deha  a  goddess." 

CHAPTER  IV. 

ILLUBTBATIOira  OF  THl  BIOGRAPHY   CO VTIM I7BD— AV- 
•CDOTX8  OF  scott's  COLLBOB  ufb— 1783-1786. 

On  ret  timing  to  Edirilurrth*  and  lmUh  rni;^  tlu  <  ol- 
le^,  in  Nuvembi^rj  ITS^,  Scoii  found  himself  ^iice 
tnore  in  ihc  fcilbwship  of  all  his  iatimaies  of  ihe 
Hi£h  School  I  (if  whomr  be^des  Ihovc  men  leaned 
in  his  mitobiogTDphicftl  ^agm^ni,  ha  speak  it  in  his 
dmries  with  particular  afFection  of  Sir  WilHrmi 
Rae,  Bart.*  David  Monytsenny^  nfterwunls  l^'^d 
Pitmilly,  Thomas  Tod,  W.  S  ,  Sir  Arehibdd  Cnnp- 
belf  of  Succolh,  BarL,  nll^  familmr  friends  of  lis 
through  manhood,— and  the  present  KaH  of  hdl- 
hotwif,  whomi,  on  mfjelins  with  htm  sfitr  a  l-ha 
adoration  in  the  evf:niO^  of  life,  hi:  Tticord!*  as  still 
htinfTtSnil  having  alwavs  been,  "  the  sarno  mcinly 
and  generous  eharacter  that  all  about  hi  in  loved  as 
the  I^niit  Ramvay  of  ihe  VufHs/'  His  chop^n 
intimarft  how^'ver.  continued  to  be  for  some  nine 
Mr  John  Irving— his  aabuHmn  wAlks  with  whom 
hmve  been  r^colUcted  so  tenderly,  both  in  the  Me- 
moir of  ISOtS  and  in  the  t>T¥fnce  to  WaverJoy  of  t^29. 
It  will  inuirtjst  the  reiier  to  comfj^T*-,  with  ihose 
b«flulini]  dcacFiptionsi  the  folio  win|?  ciirtint  ffi>fn  a 
lettef  with  which  Mn  Irving  has  fttvourt?d  mc  r  - 

"■^Ev^ry  9  a  turd  oy.  and  more  frf^]tl<?rHly  durint?  iRe 
vicaijotip,  wt'  use*]  to  rt^tirf,  wiih  thrct?  or  four 
b^^okc  frarn  the  drciifaiinL?  Iibrarv,  to  BDitaljiity 
Ongs^  Arthur's  Seal,  or  Blnt^kford  Hill,  tmd  n  ad 
tiiem  logt^thcr.  He  read  iavier  than  1,  and  hud  on 
this  account  to  wait  a  little  at  finishing  every  two 
pages,  before  turning  the  leaf.  The  books  we  most 
delighted  in  were  romances  of  knight-errantry— 
the  Castle  of  Otranto,  Spenser,  Ariosto,  and  Boiar- 
do,  were  great  favouYites.  'We  used  to  climb  up  ih^ 
rocks  in  search  of  places  where  we  might  sit  shel- 
tered from  the  wind  j  and  the  more  inaccessible 
they  were,  the  better  we  liked  them.  He  was  very 
expert  at  cUmbin^  Sometimes  we  got  into  places 
where  we  found  it  difficult  to^move  either  up  or 
down,  and  I  recollect  it  being  proposed,  on  Beverat 
occasions,  that  I  should  go  for  a  ladder  to  see  and 
extricate  him,  but  1  never  had  any  need  really  to 
do  so,  for  he  always  managed  somehow  either  to 
gel  down  or  ascend  to  the  top.  The  number  of 
books  we  thus  devoured  was  very  great.  I  forgot 
great  part  of  what  I  read,  but  my  friend,  notwith- 
standing he  read  with  such  rapidity,  remained,  to 
my  surprise,  master  of  it  all,  and  could  even,  weeks 
or  months  anerwards,  rej^ni  a  whole  pajge  in 
which  any  thing  had  parncutarly  struck  him  at 
the  moment  After  we  had  continued  this  practice 
of  reading  for  two  veafs  or  more  toi^ether.  he  pro- 
roaed  that  we  should  recite  to  etch  other  alternate- 


ly such  adventures  of  knight-errants  as  we  ooold 
ourselves  contrive;  and  we  continued  to  do 00  ft 
long  while.  He  found  no  difficulty  in  it,  and  used 
to  recite  for  half  an  hour  or  more  at  a  time,  while 
I  seldom  (Continued  half  that  space.  The  stories 
we  told  were,  as  Sir  Walter  has  said,  interminable 
—for  we  were  unwilling  to  have  any  of  our  favour- 
ite knights  killed!  Our  passion  for  romance  led 
us  to  learn  Itqlian  together;  after  a  time  we  oould 
both  read  it  with  fluency,  and  we  then  copied  such 
tales  as  we  had  met  with  in  that  language,  being  a 
continued  Succession  of  battles  and  enchantments. 
He  began  early  to  collect  old  ballads,  and  as  my 
mother  could  repeat  &  great  many,  he  used  to  come 
and  learn  those  she  could  recite  to  him.  He  used 
to  get  all  the  copies  of  theise  ballads  he  could,  aad 
s^t  the  best.*' 

These,  no  doubt,  were  among  the  germs  of  the 
collection  of  ballads  in  six  little  volumes,  which, 
from  the  handwriting,  had  been  begun  Itt  this  earlv 
period,  and  which  is  still  preserved  at  Abbotaforp. 
And  it  appears,  that  at  least  as  early  a  date,  must 
be  ascribed  to  imoiher  collection  of  httle  humorous 
stories  in  prose,  the  Penny  ChajhbookA,  as  they  are 
called,  still  in  hi^h  iavour  among  the  lower  daises 
in  Scotland,  whicli  stands  on  toe  same  shelf.  |n 
a  *  '  '  '      tatea'  that  he  ba(Lbouii4  31P 

thi]ii;sHji  liii?  kina  e  <  Ae  extent  of  several  volanioi^ 
beftiri!  he  was  ttn  \^m'%  old. 

Although  the  A^hestiel . Meinoir  mentions  so 
v«'  '  ;2l)ijy  hjs  boyish  addiction  to  verae,  and  the 
rei  .'  which  his  vein  received  from  the  ApotkM^s* 
ry  uti'buakmcd  ^  ife  aa  haTing  been  followed  bjr 
811  r  treatment  on  the  part  of  others,  I  am  in- 
cli  :  to  believe  that  while  thus  devourmi^  aioiiK 
wi^ii  U\9  young  friend,  the  atorea  of  Italian  romanoei 
he  cssayvd,  from  time  to  time,  to  weave  some  <ft 
thF'if  uiQierials  into  rhymer— nax>  that  he  Biost 
hfl  iiiado  at  kaat  one  rather  aenous  efiort  of  this 
kii  L^  t^arly  as  the  date  of  these  xambles  to  the 
Si  .iry  Cmgd.  I  h  rxve  found  among  his  motheii's 
paLuTs  i  cupy  of  verses  headed,  "  lAntt  to  Mr. 
Walier  ScoU-ron  reaiding  his  poem,  of  Guiscarti 
and  MoHldOi  inscribed  to  fitiss  Keith,  qf  R^el- 
stont."  There  is  no  date ;  hut  I  conceive  the  tfoes 
bear  internal  evidence  of  having  been  written  when 
he  was  very  young— not,  I  should  si^pose,  above 
fourteen  or  fifteen  at  most.  I  think  it  also  certain 
that  the  writer  was  a  woman ;  and  have  alinoat  as 
little  doabt  that  they  came  from  the  pen  of  his  old 
admirer,  BIrs.  Cockbum.    They  are  as  follows : — 

^If  sueh  Che  aeoentsof  thy  aarly  youth, 
When  playful  limey  hdlds  the  place  of  tnitb ; 
If  to  dfvioely  sweet  thy  n)imb«ra  llowi 
Aai)  thy  youag  heart  melts  wUh  such  tender  moy 
What  praise,  what  admincion  shall  he  thine, 
When  sense  niature  with  science  sb^l  combine 
To  raise  thy  genius  and  thy  taste  refine  1 

"  Go  on.  dear  yoalb,  the  gtoriouapath  partna 
Which  Dooateous  Nature  klodly  amoolhs  fbr.yoa; 
Go,  bid  the  seeds  her  hand  hath  sownariasi 
Bf  timely  culture,  ^>  their  nathre  sktea; 
/  Go,  and  employ  the  poet's  heavenly  art,  • 

INot  merely  (0  delight,  but  mend  the  heart. 
Than  other  poets  happier  maystfhou  prove, 
More  blest  in  frien(»nip,  fbrtunate  in  love, 
Whilst  Fame,  who  longs  to  make  tnia  merit  known,^ 
Impatient  waits,  to  claim  thee  aa  her  owo. 

"  Scorning  the  ^oke  of  prejudice  and  pride, 
Thy  tender  mind  let  truth  and  reason  guide- 
Let  meek  humility  thy  steps  attend, 
And  firm  integrity,  youth's  surest  friend. 
80  peace  and  honour  all  thy  iK>ufa  shall  bless, 
And  conscioUB  reoiitude  each  joy  iaereaae ; 
A  nobler  meed  be  thine  than  empty  praise— 
Heaven  shall  approve  thy  life,  and  Keith  thy  lays." 

At  the  period  to  which  I  refer  these  verses^ 
Scott's  parents  still  continued  to  ha^e  some  eij>ec- 
tations  of  curing  his  lameness,  and  Afr.  Irving 
remembers  to  have  oflen  nested  in  applymg  the 
electrical  apparatu^.  on  which  for  a  considerable 
t£me  they  principally  rested  their  hopes.    There  is 

»  8se  ftMBff%  Ctensftoy  is  Mt,  val.  r.,11.  Ma 


LIFE  OF  SIK,  WALTER  6C0TT. 


31 


an  alTifton  to  these  e^cpen'ments  in  Scott*a  autobio- 
grtphicaJ  frsRinen^  but  I  have  found  a  fuller  noiice 
on  the  margin  of  his  copy  of  the  "  Guide  to  Health, 
Beftuty,  Bicnee,  and  Longevity."  as  Captain  Grose 
chofle  to  entitle  an  amusing  collection  of  quack  ad- 
Tertisements.  •  "       ^ 

"The  celebrated  Dr.  Graham"  (says  the  anpo- 
utor)  "was  an  empiric  of  «oine  eenius  and  great 


denied  bie  the  correctness  of  eye  and  neatness  of 
hand.  Yet  I  was  very  desirous  to  be  a  draughts- 
roan  at  least— and  laboured  harder  to  attain  that 
point,  than  at  any  other  in  my  recollection  to  which 
I  did  not  make  some  approaches.  Burrell  was  not 
useless  to  me  altogether  neither.  He  was  a  Prus- 
sian, and  I  sot  from  him  many  a  loog  story  of  the 
baitles  of  Frederick^  in  whose  armies  his  father 


assoraoce^  ^  In  fact.  He  had  a  dash  of  madness  in  had  been  a  commissary,  or  perhaps  a  spy.  I  re- 
hi?  composition.  He  had  a  fine  electrical  appara-  member  his  picturesque  account  of  seeing  a  party 
tas^  and  used  it  with  skill.  I  mvself^  amotiget  I  of  the  6/acifc  «zwar«  hringing  in  some  forage  carts 
others,  was  subjected  to  a  course  of  electricity  under  I  which  they  had  token  firpm  a  body  of  the  Cossacks, 
ha  charge,  1  remember  seeing  the  old  Earl  of  whom  he  described  as  lying  on  the  top  of  the  carts 
Hopetoun  seated  in  a  large  arm-chair,  and  hung  of  hay  mortally  wounded,  and  like  the  dying  gladi- 
round  with  a  collar,  and  a  belt  of  magnets,  like  an  |  ator,  eyeing  their  own  blood  as  it  ran  down  through 
Indian  chief.  .After  this,  growing  *^  «        -i 


.  ;^,  ng  quite  wild,  Gra- 
ham set  up  bis  Temple  qf  Health,  and  lectured  op 
the  ceUsiud  bed.  He  attempted  a  course  of  these 
lectures  at  Edinburgh,  and  as  the  ^Magistrates  re- 
iosed  to  let  ban  do  so,  he  libelled  them  in  a  series 
of  ad?ertisements,  the  flights  of  which  werjs  infi- 
nitely more  absurd  and  exalted  than  those  which 
Grose  baa  dollected.  In  one  tirade  (long  in  my 
possession")  he  declared  that  he  looked  down 
upon  them'  (the  Magistrates)  *as  the  sun  in  his 


the  straw. 

A  year  or  two  later  Scott  renewed  his  attempt. 
*  I  aiterwards"  (he  sa|^  "  took  lessons  from  Wal- 
ked, whom  we  used  to  call  Blut  Bttxrd.  He  was 
ofie  of  the  most  conceited  .persons  in  the  world, 
but  a  good  teacher— one  of  the  ugliest  countenan- 
ces he  had  that  need  be  exhibiteo— enough,  as  wit 
say,  to  apean  weana.  The  man  was  always  ex 
tremely  precise  in  (he  quality  of  every  thing  about 

-^-^ -_- ^ ,         . ,_:  him ;  nis  dress,  accoQvnodatioDS.  and  every  thing 

meridian  dory  looks  down  on  the  poor,  feeble,    else.  ^He  became^  iusojvent,  root  man,  and  for 


^_nkmg^diQ)mer  of  a&  expiring  farthing  candle,  or   someVeason  or  other,  I  ^l .^  -^ 

as  6— himseU  in  the  plenitude  of  his  omnipotence,  '  thofie  concerned  in  his  affairs.  Instead  of  ordmary 
may  regard  the  insolent  bouncinj^s  of  a  £ew  refrac- 1  ac(x>inmodation8,  for  writing,  each  of  the  piorsona 
tj>rymagsots  in  a  rotten  cheese.*  Graham  was  a  '  present  was  equipped  with  a  Targe  sheet  o^drawin|[- 
*  ioo&uig  man;  he  used  \q  come  to  the  Gray-   paper,  and  a  swan's  qhill. 

culous  enough.    Skirvrngmai  .  ^ 

ness  of  Walker ;  iK>t  a  single  scar  or  mark  of  tpe 


l^-ioo^g  man  i  he  used  \q  come  to  th^  Gray- 
ihira'  Church  in  a  suit  of  white  and  s'dveri  with  a 
dbapean-bras,  and  his  hair  marvellouslv  dressed 
into  a  sort  of  double  toupee,  which  divided  upon  his 
head  like  the  two  tops  of  Parnasjius.  Mn,  Ma- 
caoOL  the  hislorianess,  married  his  brother.  Lady 
Hai^ton  ia  said  to  have  first  enacted  his  GJoddess 
of  Health,  being  at  this  time  aJUlt  aejoU  of  great 
oddnity.*  The  Temple  of  Health  dwindled  into 
a  sort  of  obscene 'A^Z/,  or  gambling  house.  In  a 
ipiarrel  whjch  took  place  there,  a  poor  young  man 
vasnin  into  the  boweW  with  a' red-hot  poker,  of 
vbtch  injury  he  died^  The  ri^ob  vented  their  uury 
00  the  house,  and \the  Maj^trales,  soinewhat  ,of 
<be  lalest,  nipt  up  the  exhibmon»,  Aquaiitiiy  of  glasa 
4aci  crystal  trumpery,  the  cemams  of  the  splendid 
ipparatos,  was  sold  on  the  South  Bridge  for  next 
to  nothini;.  Graham's  next  receipt  was  the  earth- 
haUi,  with  which  he  wrout^hi  i<ime  cures,  but  that 
also  foiling,  he  was^  I  believe,  literally  starved  to 
feth.** 

Cfraham^s  eartti^bath  top  ^as^I  understand^  tried 
apoo  Scott,  bat  his  wa^  not  one  of  the  cases,  if  any 
floeh  there  were,  in  which  it  worked  a  cure/  He, 
iwwoscn  improvad  about  this  time  gr«atly  in  his 
aneral  qeaju  and  attwngth,  and  Mr.  Irviptt  in  ac- 
cordance with  the  statsment  in  the  Memoir,  assures 
m.  that  while  attending  the  early  classes  at  the 
CoUcfie,  the  yooflg  fri^s  exteooed  their .  walks, 
BO  as  to  visit  in  sucoeasten  all  the  old  castles  within 
eight  or  ten  miles  of  Edinburgh^  '  Sir  Walter"  (he 
Ji^)  **  wffa  «MciaUy  fond  of  HossliTn.  We  Ire- 
ttentiy  walkad  ,  thilbor  before  .  breakfastr-after 
fcfaakwitinK  thare  walked  aU  down  the  ri^er  side 
to  Lasewade— and  thence  homo  to  town  before 
dtfiQ^.  He  asedgemcraUy  to  vest  one  hand  oa  my 
shootdbr  Mrh^  wa  walked  together,  and  leaned 
wi^  the  other  on  a  etout  aiick.''^ 

Tbe  love  of  j>iqttirefl(|ue  aosnery,  ^despecUHy  of 
feudal  castlodi  wit^  which  the  vioimty  of  Kdmbrnwh 
m  plentifully  gaitu^bed,  awokc^  as  the  Memoir  tells 
OS,  tha  desire  of  being  able  io  i|se  the  pencil.  Mr. 
IrviiiK  tays^— "  I  atiendad  one  summer  a  class  of 
dnwittg  along  with  hinif  hut  alth^gh  both  fond 
of  it,  we  found  it  took  up  so  muMtune  that  we 

Sve  tbia  up  helwe  we  had  made  B^oh  progress." 
<^m  of  his  later  wies,  Scott  fajinself  gives  the 
lowing  .iBpro«4rtieQlar  acootmt  ipf  ihia  ^natter  :-r 
"I, took  laasOBS  of  ttl-paimiiig  in  yoaUtftom  a 
little  jew  fnimalculo— ii  siRoach  oalled  SnrreU-ra 
eWar  aeiMvHe  creptuiie.th^igb^  But  |  could  make 
BO  progress  ather  m  paintmg  or  drawmg.    Natiu-e 

Lend  IfciKM's  flOODMibo  with  tlblidrwiUiiroNrvf  her  ce- 


^ttended  the  meeting  of 


^  ^ Jt  was  mournfully  |im- 

Skirvmg  made  an  admirable  lik^ 


smallpox,  which  aeamed  his  countenance,  but  the 
too  accurate  brother  of  the  brush  had  taithfully 
laid  it  down  i^  longitude  aiui  latitude.   Pqor  Wai- 

*  _  J, J  .  /!...-_  jn  crayons)  rather  (hen  lot 

.Jmess  appear  at-  the.aalf  of 
m  myseir  to  take  some  vile 
views  from  nature.  When  Will  Clerk  and  I  livw 
very  much  together,  I  used  sometim.es  to  make 
them  under  his  instmction.  He  tq  whom,  as  to  all 
his  uunily.  art  is  a  familiar  attribute,  wondered  at 
ni«  as  a  Newfoundland  dog  would  at  a  greyhound 
^ich  showed  ffear  of  the  water." 

Notwithstanding  all  that  Scott  s^ys  about  the 
total  failure  of  his  attempts  in  the  art  of  the  pencil, 
i  presuixie  few  win  doubt  that  they  proved  v^ 
useml  to  hjm  afterwards ;  from  them  it  is  natujral 
to  Suppbae  he  catight  ^le  habit  of  analyzing,  with 
some  Bppfo&ch  at  least  to  accuracy,  the  scenes  over 
which  his  eye  might  liave  continued  to  wander  with 
the  vE^e  sense  of  delight.  1  ^ay  add,  that  a  longer 
ai)d  more  successful  practice  of  the  c^rayon  might,. 
I  cannot  hut  think,  have  proved  the  reverse  of  ser- 
viceable to  him  aa  a  future  painter  with  the  pen. 
He  might  have  contracted  the  habit  of  copying 
frotn  pictures  rather  than  fr6m  nature  itself;  and 
we  should  thus  have  lost  that  which  constuutee 
the  very  highest  chartn  io  his  delineations  of  scene- 
ry, namely,  that  the  effect  is  produced  by  the  selec- 
tion of  a  few  striking  featurefe,  arranged  with  a 
light  unconsdous  grace,  neither  too  much  nor  too 
little— eqtially  remote  fi-om  the  barren  generaliza- 
tions of  a  wrmerage,  and  the  ^  dull  servile  fidelity 
with  which  so  many  inferior  writers  of  our  time  fill 
in  both  backgpund  ismd  foreground,  having  no  moro 
notion  of  the  perspective  of  genhis  than  Chinese 
i)aperstainers  nave  or  that  of  the  atmosphere,  aiid 
producing  m  fact  not  descriptions  but  inventories. 
The  ilmess,  which  he  alludes  to  in  his  Memoir 
as  interrupting  for  a  considerable  period  his  atten- 
dance on  the  Latin  and  Greek  classes  in  Edinbnreh 
College,  is  spoken  of  more  largely  m  one  of  ms 
prdaoes.*  It  arose  fron^  the  bursting  of  a  blood- 
vessel in  the  lower  bowers ;  and  1  have  heard  him 
say  that  his  unde,  Dr.  Rutherford,  considered  hia 
Recovery  ft'omit  as  little  less  thaji  miraculous.  His 
sweet  temper  and  calm  courage  were  no  doubt  ■ 
important  elements  of  safety.  He  submitted 
without  a  murmur  to  the  severe  diedpHne  prescrib- 
ed by  hi*  dfi'ectionatQ  physician,  and  found  consO- 
iaiiaa  in,  poetry,  romance,  and  ifao  etitfausiasm  of 
•  8m  PM&oe  to  WavdWir,  1880. 


LIFE  OF  SIR  WALTER  SCOTT. 


young  friendship.  Day  after  day  John  Irving  re- 
ueved  hia  mother  and  aisiter  in  their  attendance  npon 
hinL  The  bed  on  which  he  lay  was  pUed  with  a 
constant  aucceseion  of  works  of  imagination,  and 
sad  realiiiea  were  forgotten  amidst  the  brilliant  day- 
dreams of  genius,  drinking  unwearied  from  the 
eternal  fountain^  of  Spenser  and  Shakspeare. 
Chess  was  recommended  as  a  relief  to  these  imin- 
termitte^  though  desultory  studies ;  and  he  engaged 
eagerly  m  the  game  which  had  found  favour  with 
«o  many  of  his  Paladins.  Mr.  Irving  remembers 
playing  it  with  him  hour  after  hour,  in  very  cold 
weather,  when,  the  windows  beiti^  kept  open  as  a 
pnrt  of  thr  medical  — — :r— -n:,  nQlhirip;hm  yniiih-^ 
ftil  ntTvp?^  flirtd  ppint  c<iiild  hn.vc  perse VLTeiK  H«l 
Scan  did  nut  pursue  the  science  of  chsRa  oflcr  hjs 
bayhood.  He  uaod  to  t^ay  ibni  it  wfia  o  ^hame  to 
throw  BWfty  upon  ma^k™^  a  mrre  ^omc,  howe- 
ver iiiijmions,  the  riruo  vrmth  would  »aflit;c  for  the 
ftCfluisidoii  of  II  new  iun^^iasc  "  Surelv  "  he  said, 
"  cl I efs- playing  la  a  sJid  wbsIb  of  brains, ' 

Hia  recovery  was  compieii^  by  another  Wait  to 
Woiburifh shire.  Captain  Robert  Scott,  who  bad 
b«^n  m  kind  to  the  eickly  inffirtt  nt  Balh,  finflUy 
TE^fired  about  this  lime  fn>ni  hia  profujipsnont  anrl  pur- 
chaiod  the  eie«nrit  vilU  of  RiiHebank,  on  the  Twet^, 
ft  Littb  belovv  Kd&o.  Ht^re  Walter  now  look,  up  his 
doarterg.  anil  here^  durina  all  the  re«t  of  hia  youih, 
nefbuna,  whenever  be  cIiobOt,  a  second  bnmp,  in 
many  respecis  mori!  anreedble  ihan  his  own.  Hia 
uncle,  Bi  letters  to  be  mibsequently  quoted  wiU 
show,  had  norhing  of  his  rather' a  cold nei*&  for  po- 
lite leitprs,  but  entered  info  all  hia  favourite  tuir- 
»yit«  with  keeo  sympathy^  and  wiis  ronsullod,  irom 
this  ddie  forth,  upon  all  bia  jiiveaile  eJiSQy<ri  both  in 
prOie  nnd  verae. 

He  docs  not  seem  to  have  resumed  atttMidance  at 
CuRi';!^  dwnnf^  the  ec&sion  of  I7j?5-fr  ;  ihi  thtit  the 
Latin  and  Gt&^k  cUwe**  wilh  that  of  Lo^c,  were 
the  only  ones  Hta  hjid  paa»?d  through  pjvvinus  to 
ihe  aiijiiiriK  of  his  indmitiirea  aa  an  oppKntit*e  to 
bin  father  Tho  Metnoir  meniione  the  crhical 
course  of  Dngald  f^tcwart^  as  if  he  had  ffoof  iinme- 
diaitly  from  the  logical  professor  (Mr.  Bruce)  to 
that  eminent  leclureri  but  he.  in  frvct,  attended  Mr. 
Stewart  four  yeara  aftern-anls,  when  begin niu^  lo 
conildAr  himself  as  finally  deBliucd  for  the  bar. 

1  shall  oply  add  to  wfi^it  he  mu  down  on  the 
Ml^eet  of  hi**  enrl^  at^adeTnical  studies,  that  in  this^ 
at  in  almost  every  eaat^  he  appcnrs  lo  have  under- 
rated  hia  own  attainment.^.  He  had,  indeed,  no 
pretcnsdone  to  ih*?  name  of  an  eii^^nsive,  far  Icsa  of 
an  accurate*  Lniin  acholar  \  but  h^  CLruld  read,  I 
bolicve,  auyjiaiin  author^  o^any  a^e.  so  a5  to  cstch 
without  ij[ffiriilty  hiB  tuflanin^t  and  although  his 
favourite  Latin  pott,  as  ^veli  a^  hijtorian,  in  later 
day#i,  was  Buchanan,  he  had  oreserved,  or  subai^ 
gently  acquired,  a  stjrong  relisn  for  some  other  or 
more  ancient  date.  I  may  mention,  in  partictilar, 
'  Lucan  and  Clatidian.  Of  Greek,  he  does  not  ez- 
aftgerate  hi  saving  that  he  had  forgotten  even  the 
alphabet;  for  he  was  puzzled  with  the  words  ioiSog 
and  irottir!iSt  which  he  had  occasion  to  introdace, 
ft-onvsome  Imthorityon  his  tjibV,  into  m&" Tut ro- 
ductipn  to  Popular  Poetry,"  written  m  A^>ril,  l^^^y^ 
and  happening  to  be  in  the  housu  with  him  ai  tlie 
tome,  he  sent  for  me  to  insert  thtm  for  Lim  in  fiis 
MS.  Mr.  Irving  has  informed  ue  of  (he  early  [a^nad 
at  which  he  enjoyed  the  real  TaiMso  and  Ariosto  I 
p^ume  he  had  at  least  aa  soon  as  this  ennbl^jd 
himself  to  read  Gd  Bias  in  the  ori^nal  >  and,  io  all 
probability,  wa  may  refer  to  the  same  time  of  his 
liie,  or  one  not  much  later,  hia  aeijuisitioti  of  as 
much  Spanish  as  served  for  the  Gutrras  Civile n  de 
Granada,  Lazahllode  Torme«,  and  Fibove  all.  Dm 
Quixote.  He  road  all  tUbse  laneuag^B  in  rifltr  Jiie 
y>th  about  the  same  faaUty.  1  uMver  but  oiiee 
Hoard  hinv  attempt  to  speak  any  of  iheint  and  that 
J^«»  when  aonae  of  the  courtiers  of  Chnrtt^s  X.  cfiiiic 
to  AbbotsfoR),  soon  after  that  unfummsi^  rrin^ 
took  up  his  rendence  for  the  stuoud  iimc  ai  il^.f- 
roodhouse,  Kmding  that  one  or  two  of  these  gan- 
tlenMj^  GOQJd  speak  no  Englisbiat  ail,  he  inadeaome 


efforts  to  amuse  them  in  their  own  h 


alter 


ettorts  to  amuse  tnem  m  tneir  own  langUKe  after 
the  bhampagne  had  been  passing  briskly  rdund  Ihe 
table;  and  I  was  amused  next  rooming  with  tho 
expression  of  one  of  the  party,  who,  alluding  to  the 
sort  of  reading  in  which  Sir  Walter  seemed  to 
have  cl)iefly  occupied  himself,  said,  "  Mon  Dieu  f 
comme  U  estropiaCit,  entre  deux  vins,  le  Fran^aia  dix 
bon  sire  de  Joinvilte  1"  Of  all  these  tonguee,  Its  of 
German  somewhat  later,  he  acquired  as  much  as 
was  needful  for  his  own  purposes,  of  which  a  cri- 
tical smdy  of  any  foreign  language  made  at  no  tims 
any  pan.  In  them  he  sought  for  incidents,  and  ha 
found  images;  but  for  tho  treasures  of  diction  he 
was  content  to  dig  on  British  soil.  He  had  all  he 
wanted  in  the  old  wells  of  English  undefiled,** 
and  the  still  living,  though  £ist  shrinking,  waters 
of  that  sister  idiom  which  had  not  always,  as  ha 
flattered  himself,  deserved  the  name  of  a  dialect. 

As  may  be  said,  I  believe,  with  perfect  trtith  of 
every  really  great  man.  Scott  was  Self-educated  in 
every  branch  of  knowle(^e  which,  he  ever  turned 
to  account  in  the  works  of  his  genius ;  and  he  haa 
himaelf  told  ns.  that  his  real  studies  were  fhoae 
lonely  and  desultory  onesk  of  which  he  haf  given  a 
copy  m  the  first  chapter  of  Waverley.  where  the  hero 
is  represented  as  "driving  through  the  sea  of  booka^ 
tike  a  vdlssel  without  pilot  or  rudder ;"  that  is  to 
say,  obeying  nothine  but  the  strong  breath  of  na- 
tive inehnation;— "He  had  read,  and  stored  in  a 
memory  of  uncommon  tenacity,  much  curigne. 
though  Ul  arranged  and  roisi^Uaneous  informaaon. 
In  English  literature,  he  was  master  of  Shakapearo 
and  Mdton,  of  our  earlier  dramatic  authors,  of  ma- 
nv  prcturesque  and  interesdng  passages  from  our 
Old  nistoriciu  chronicles,  and  was  particularly  well 
acquainted  with  Spenser,  Drayton,  and  oth^r  poets, 
who  have  exercised  themselves  on  romandc  ficdon. 
— <l/  aU  Ihema  the  moat  fascinating  to  a  youtlkfui 
ifnaginatioHt  h^ort  pu  patsiona  have  routed  ^m'- 
96lve»^  and  demand  poetry  qf  a  more  aetUim^ntaZ 
deacrtptioTu"*  I  need  not  repeat  his  enumeration 
of  other  favourites,  Pulci,  the  Decameron,  Froissart, 
Brantome,  Delanoue,  and  die  chivahrous  and  ro- 
mantic lore  of  Spain.  I  have  quoted  a  ptasage  so 
well  known,  only  for  the  sake  of  the  striking  circum- 
stance by  which  it  marks  the  very  early  date  of 
these  multifarious  studies. 

CHAPTER  V. 

iLLuarsATiONs   ooMTiNOBD— Scott's  AFPasimca- 
SHir  to  Bxa  rATBsa—sxcirBsiQiHi  to  thbhior- 

LAFDS,     dbc— SXBAT1190    SOCIBT»S— BARLT    OOB* 
SS8?02n>BMCK,  dtc  &c.— 1766-1790. 

Iir  the  Minute-books  of  the  Society  of  WritefS 
to  the  Signet  appears  the  following  entry  :-***Bd- 
inburgh,  I6th  May,  1786:  Compeared  Walter  Sootti 
and  presented  an  indenture,  dated  31st  March  Iss^ 
entered  into  between  him  and  Walter  Soott,  his  son. 
for  five  years  from  the  date  thereof  onder  a  mutual 
penalty  of  iC40  sterting." 

An  inauspicioas  step  this  might  st  first  sight  ap- 
pear, in  the  etcAy  history  of  one  so  strongly  prsdis- 
posed  fot  pursmts  wkle  as  the  antipodes  asunder 
from  the  dnr  technicalities  of  convevanotng;  but  he 
himself  I  believe,  was  never  heard,  in  ms  mattira 
age,  to  express  any  reg[ret  that  it  should  have  been 
taken ;  and  I  am  convmced  for  mv  part  that  it  was 
a  fortunate  one.  It  prevented  him,  indeed,  from 
passing  with  the  usual  regolarity  through  a  long 
course  of  Scotch  metaph/siosi  bat  I  extremely 
doubt  whether  any  disciphne  could  ever  have  le^ 
him  to  derive  either  pleasure  or  profit  from  studies 
of  diat  order^  His  spprendceiRUp  left  him  time 
enough,  aa  w Ahall  find,  for  continittng  his  appli- 
cation to  the  stores  of  poetry  and  romance,  and 
those  old  dfaroniclers,  who  to  tlie  end  ware  his  darl- 
ing historiana  Indsisd,  if  he  had  wanted  any  new 
atimnhis,  the  neossaity  of  devotiiw  certain  houfs  of 
every  dsf  to  a  rontme  of  dmdiery,  however  it 
might  have  opented  on  a  spirit  men  prone  to  etrth| 

Dfgitized  by  v5vjOvl€ 


UFfi  OP  SIR  WALTER  SCOTT. 


must  h&TO  tended  to  qioicken  his  appetite  for  "  the 
sweet  bread  eaten  in  secret."  Bat  the  dnties  which 
he  had  now  to  fdfil  were,  in  Tsrions  ways,  directly 
and  positively  beneficial  to  the  developinent  both 
of  his  genius  and  hia  character.  It  was  in  the  dis- 
charge of  his  functions  as  a  Writer's  Apprentice 
that  ne  first  penetrated  into  the  Highlands,  and 
formed  those  friendships  among  the  surviving  he- 
roes of  1745,  which  laid  the  foundation  for  one  great 
class  of  his  works.  Even  the  less  attractive  parts  of 
his  new  vocation  were  calculated  to  give  him  a  more 
complete  insight  into  the  smaller  workings  of  poor 
human  nature,  than  can  ever  perhaps  be  gathered 
from  the  experience  of  the  legal  profession  in  its 
higher  walk ;— the  etiquette  of  the  bar  in  Scotland, 
as  in  England,  being  averse  to  personal  intercourse 
between  the  advocate  and  his  client.  But,  finall:f, 
and  I  will  say  chiefly,  it  was  to  this  prosaic  disci- 

Sline  that  he  owed  those  habits  of  steady,  sober 
iligence,  which  few  imaginative  authors  had  ever 
before  exemplified— and  which,  unless  thus  beaten 
.into  his  composition  at  a  ductile  Ptr  r^  71  h-,  in 
all  probability,  could  never  havfi  carr^tud  ii^to  ih^ 
almost  professional  exercise  of  sotne  ^if  the  highf!gt 
and  most  deUcate  faculties  of  the  hum  on  mimJ 
^e  speaks,  in  not  the  least  remarkjjble  pai^iago  (A' 
the  preceding  Memoir,  as  if  cuEi^timtioDii]  mdo- 
lenoe  had  been  his  portion  in  common  wiih  all  ihfi 
members  of  his  father's  family.  When  Giff^r^i.  in 
a  dispnte  veith  Soame  Jenyns,  quoted  Doctor  John- 
son's  own-confession  that  he  '  kn^  w  Ijirk-  Gn^k," 
Jenyns  answered,  "  Yes,  youn^  ni;in  j  bus  haw  shnW 
we  Know  what  Johnson  .wouid  have  called  much 
Greek  7"  and  GKffbrd  has  recorded  the  deen  impres- 
sion which  this  hint  left  on  his  own  mind.  What 
Soott  would  have  called  c9nstitutional  diligence, 
I  know  not:  but  sorely  if  mdolence  of  any  kind 
had  been  ihherent  in  his  nature,  even  the  triumph 
of  Socrates  was  not  more  signal  than  his. 

It  will  be,  by  some  of  my  friends,  considered  as 
ttivial  to  remaik  on  such  a  circumstance— but  the 
reader  who  is  unacquainted  with  the  professional 
habits  of  the  Scotch  lawyers,  may  as  well  be  told 
that  the  Writer's  Apprentice  receives  a  certain 
allowance  in  money  for  every  page  he  transcribes; 
and  that,  as  in  those  days  the  greater  pan  of  the 
business,  even  of  the  supreme  courts,  was  carried 
on  by  means  of  written  papers,  a  ready  penman, 
in  a  well-employed  chamber,  could  earn  in  this  way 
enough,  at  all  events,  to  make  a  handsome  addition 
to  the  pocket-money  which  was  likelv  to  be  thougbt 
suitable  for  a  youth  of  fifteen  by  such  a  man  as  the 
elder  Scott.  The  allowance  being,  I  believe,  three- 
pence for  every  page  containing  a  certain  fixed 
number  of  words,  when  Walter  had  finished,  as  he 
tells  us  he  occasionally  did,  120  pages  within  twen- 
ty-four hours,  his  fee  would  amount  to  thirty  shil- 
lings ;  and  in  his  early  letters  1  find  him  more  than 
once  congratulating  himself  on  having  been,  by 
some  such  exertion,  enabled  to  purchase  a  book, 
or  a  coin,  otherwise  beyond  his  reach.  A  school- 
fellow, who  was  now,  like  himself  a  writer's  ap- 
prentice, recollects  the  eagerness  with  which  he  thus 
made  himself  master  of  Evans's  Ballads,"  short- 
ly after  their  publication;  and  another  of  them, 
already  often  referred  to,  remembers,  in  particular, 
his  rapture  with  Meikle's  Cumnor  Hall,"  which 
first  appeared  in  that  collection.  "  After  the  la- 
bours 01  the  day  were  over,"  says  Mr,  Irving,  "we 
often  walked  in  the  MeadoiM"  (a  large  field  inter- 
sected by  formal  alleys  of  old  trees,  adjoining 
C^eorge^s  Square,)  "especially  in  the  moonlight 
nights:  and  he  seemea  never  weary  of  repeating 
the  first  stanza— 

'The  dews  of  nimmer  li^  did  ftl^ 

The  Moon,  sweet  regent  of  the  sky. 
Silvered  the  walls  of  Cumnor  Hall, 

And  many  an  oak  that  grew  thereby.' " 

I  have  thought  it  worth  while  to  pieserve  these 
reminiscences  of  his  companions  at  the  time, 
though  he  hi\js  himself  staled  the  circumstance  in 
'  his  preface  to  Kenilworth.  ''There  is  a  period  in 
yooth/'^he  there  says,  "when  the  mere  power  of 


numbers  has  a  more  strong  effect  on  ear  and  imagi- 
nation than  in  after  Kfe.  At  this  season  of  imma- 
ture taste,  the  author  was  greatly  delighted  with  the 
poems  of.  Meikle  and  Langhome.  The  first  stanza 
of  Cumnor  Hall  especially  had  a  t»eculiar  enchant- 
ment for  his  youlhtul  ear— the  force  of  which  is  not 
yet  (1829)  entirely  spent."— 

,Thus  that  favourite  elegy,  after  having  dwelt  on 
his  memory  and  imagination  for  forty  years,  sug- 
gested the  subject  of  one  of  his  noblest  romances. 

It  is  afiirmed  by  a  preceding  biographer,  on  the 
authority  of  one  of  these  brother-apprentices,  that 
about  this  period  Scott  showed  him  a  MS.  poem  on 
"  the  Conquest  of  Granada,"  in  four  books,  each 
amounting  to  about  400  lines,  which  soon  after  it 
was  finished,  he  committed  to  the  flames.*  As  he 
states  in  his  Essay  on  the  Imitation  of  Popular 
Poetry,  that,  for  ten  years  previous  to  1796,  when 
his  first  translation  from  the  Ck;rman  was  executed, 
he  had  written  no  verses  "except  an  occasional 
sonnet  to  his  mistress's  eyebrow,"  I  presume  this 
Conquest  of  Granada,  the  fruit  of  his  study  of  the 
Ouerras  Civiles^  must  be  assigned  to  the  summer 
of  1786— or,  making  allowance  for  trivial  inaccura- 
cy, to  the  next  year  at  latest.  It  was  probably 
composed  in  imitation  of  Meikle's  Lusiad :— at  all 
events,,  we  have  a  very  distinct  statement,  that  he 
made  no  attempts  in  the  manner  of  the  old  mins- 
trels, early  as  his  admiration  for  them  had  been, 
unt^  the  period  of  his  aqaaintance  with  BUrger. 
Thus  with  him,  as  with  most  others,  genius  had 
hazarded  many  a  random  effort  ere  it  discovered 
the  tme  key-note.    Long  had 

"  Amid  the  striogs  hia  fingers  straY'd, 
And  an  uncertain  warbling  made," 

before  "  the  measure  wild"  was  caught,  and 

"  In  varyinc  cadence,  soft  or  strong. 
He  swept  ue  sounding  chords  along." 

His  youthful  admiration  of  Langhome  has  been 
rendered  memorable  by  his  own  record  of  his  first 
and  only  interview  with  his  great  predecessor,  Ro- 
bert Bums.  Although  the  letter,  m  which  he  nar- 
rates this  incident,  addressed  to  myself  in  1827, 
when  I  was  writing  a  short  biography  of  that  poet, 
has  been  often  repnnted,  it  is  too  important  for  my 
present  purpose  to  be  omitted  here. 

"As  for  Bums,"  (he  writes,)  "I  may  trcdy  saV, 
VtrgiHum  vidi  tarUum,  I  was  a  lad  of  fineen  m 
1786-7,  when  he  came  first  to  Edinburgh,  but  had 
sense  and  feeling  enough  to  be  much  interested  in 
his  poetry,  and  would  have  given  the  world  to  know 
him ;  but  I  had  very  little  acquaintance  vrith  any 
literary  people,  and  still  less  vrith  the  gentry  .of  the 
west  country,  the  two  sets  that  he  most  frequented. 
Mr.  Thomas  Grierson  was  at  that  time  a  clerk  of 
my  fiither's.  He  knew  Bums,  and  promised  to  ask 
him  to  his  lodgings  to  dinner,  but  had  no  opportu- 
nity to  keep  his  word)  otherwise  I  might  have  seen 
more  of  tms  distinguished  man.  As  it  was,  I  saw 
him  one  day  at  the  late  venerable  Professor  Fergus- 
son's,  where  there  were  several  gentlemen  of  litera- 
ry reputation,  among  whom  I  remember  the  cele- 
brated Mr.  Dugald  Stewart.  Of  course  we  young- 
sters sate  silent,  looked  and  listened.  The  only 
thing  I  remember  which  was  remarkable  in  Burns' 
manner,  was  the  effect  produced  upon  him  by  a 

Srint  of  Bunbur/s,  representing  a  soldier  lying 
ead  on  the  snow,  his  dog  sitting  in  misery  on  the 
one  side,  on  the  other  his  widow,  with  a  child  in 
her  arms.    These  lines  were  written  beneath— 

<  Cold  on  Canadian  hills,  or  Minden's  plain. 
Perhaps  that  parent  wept  her  soldier  uain ; 
Bent  o'er  her  babe,  her  eye  dissolved  in  dew, 
The  big  drops  mingling  with  the  milk  be  drew, 
Gave  the  sad  presage  of  his  foture  years, 
The  child  of  misery  baptised  in  tears.' 

Burns  seemed  much  affected  by  the  print,  or  rather 
the  ideas  which  it  suggested  tt>  his  mind.  He  ac- 
tually shed  teare.  He  asked  whose  the  lines  were^ 
and  it  chanced  that  nobody  but  myself  remember- 

•  UA  of  Soott,  b7  Mr.  Alkn.  pAdtO  Q IC 


LIFE  OP  SIR  WALTER  SCOTT. 


«d  tbnt  ihey  occur  in  a  liAlf'forigoEten  wem  o( 
Lani^harii^^'ja,  called  by  thu  im promising  lula  of 
*Thi:  Jastiee  of  the  Puaoe.*  I  wlnspert^d  my  in  form- 
al tion  to  Q  friend  prcdf^nt,  who  m^niioned  it  to 
Burne,  who  nenardLKi  m^  with  a  look  i^nd  a  word. 
which,  tKough  of  mtre  dvilily.  I  tbta  recti  vtd  a  ad 
fiUll  ncolkci  with  vury  grtial  plea»urti* 

'*  HU  pcrmm  wat  strong  and  robust  i  hi*  axann^re 
ruitic,  noi  clowfnisb  ^  q  sorl  of  dignified  plainness 
audAmiplicili?,  wbicb  received  pan  of  ujs  eflkt  pL*r- 
haps  frym  one's  knawltHJife  <if  his  t^x  Ira  ordinary 
tait^m?-  Hia  fealurea  aro  represented  in  Mr.  Nas- 
Tnyib'i*  picture^  but  to  mo  it  conveys  ib^  idea  tbat 
thi^-y  afp  dtnitnidhcd  a^  if  seen  in  ptTsptcttve*  I 
tbink  bra  counUi nance  was  icorii  maesive  tiinn  it 
looka  m  any  of  the  portraits,  I  woo  Id  have  Lakea 
the  poet,  bad  I  not  known  what  he  was^  for  a  very 
sa^acioua  country  far»jer  of  Iho  old  Scotch  sdiool 
-^L  *;  none  of  your  modern  oKricuUorists,  who  keep 
luboiirurs  for  tbtw  dnid^crys  but  tbc  doMc^  g-udimaa 
who  held  his  own  plough.  Thero  was  a  attxjng  cjc- 
pressioQ  of  sense  nnd  sarewdncas  in  ail  his  hnea- 
tncnta ;  the  eye  alone,  I  think*  indicated  the  poet- 
ical cbjiracTcr  and  teniporametit.  It  was  lame, 
aad  of  a  dark,  cast^  and  plowM  U  say  bterally  ffh^t- 
€d)  when  iic  apokc  with  fechTigor  Lnicreat.  I  never 
saw  such  ftnother  eye  in  a  human  htadj  though  [ 
have  Been  the  molt  distin^ushed  men  in  ni^  titne. 
Hh  conversation  e^iprieftat^  perfect  self  conMunco, 
without  the  aligbtest  prcsumpiIoFi.  Atnong  the 
men  who  were  the  nio^t  learned  of  ibeir  time  and 
c^juntry.  be  eiprcDsed  himself  wiih  perfect  firmpea^ 
but  wirbotit  thf*  ]va.i?i  intrusive  forwardness;  and 
when  he  differ^^  in  otiinioT>i  bf  did  not  beaitate  to 
express  it  firmly,  yet  at  the  same  time  with  modes- 
ty, I  do  not  remember  any  par t  of  h^s  converftalsoa 
,  distinctly  enough  to  be  quoted,  noniid  1  ever  see 
bim  agam  escepi  in  the  airtic^  where  be  did  not 
reeoi^nase  me,  as  I  could  not  expect  be  should.  He 
wai  much  aureued  in  EJmburKh,  but  (couaidprins 
what  bt«nry  etnotuments  have  boen  aincc  hia  day) 
the*flbri*  rawje  for  bis  relief  wereextr«!JTie|y  trifling. 

'*  I  remomber  on  I  hia  occAanon  I  monfion,  1 
tboup;hi  Burns'sacJiuAinrBncti  with  Eoi^lish  pot'try 
was  ralhcj  Umitjed,  and  also,  that  havm^  i  wen  if 
tim^a  ibe  alnliti^fi  of  Allan  Ramaay  and  of  Fi^rt^n- 
■on,  hf  talkid  of  ijiem  wilb  loo  nuiclti  bumdity  as 
hia  models  I  iJ]ere  was  doubt lesa  national  predilec- 
tion inhifl  e?timai(i." 

I  nfw.^l  not  romark  on  tb*  osiient  of  knowledge, 
and  joBtic^j  of  taat^  exemplified  in  this  early  mea- 
auftiiient  of  Burnik  bo»h  ae  aatiident  of  Kni^bab  hi^^ 
laiwfrt?,  and  ns  a  Scottiib  poet.  The  print*  over  which 
^Cotl  f aw  Burns  $h«id  ttflrs,  vs  stili  in  ibe  noseea- 
SKjn  of  Dr.  FerKuasi^n's  fain  1 1  y*  and  1  bad  often 
heard  birij  rell  the  »t&ry^  m  the  ri>om  where  llio 
P|iDdoU!)rclic  baupa,  before  1  fequtat*d  Inni  to  ^t  it 
tlown  in  writini;— liow  little  anticipating?  the  use  to 
>vhicli  I  should  111  lima td IT  apply  H! 

ilif*  indin'iry  with  Adam  (now  Sir  Adam  Fwrsnis- 
floii)  WAR  thus  hia  first  rnftuni  of  iniroductioM  to  ibe 
hifiber  lite  rurv  society  of  Edinbunfib,  and  U  svas 
very  probably  to  that  connexion  timt  he  owfd. 
ainoniT  Um  rest,  his  acquaintanec  with  tba  bbmi 
poet  Blacklock^  ^vhoni  Johnson,  twelve  years  ear- 
Uer,  "  be:bcld  with  reverence.**  vVe  bave  st*n,  b^nv- 
ever,  that  the  venerabbi  author  of  DeuKhs  wa^s  r\ 
frietifl  of  his  own  parent^  a  ad  had  noticiS  htm  evr  n 
m  bifl  infancy  al  Bath,  jubn  Hume  now  inhabiiJ  d 
a  villa  at  no  gr^at  distance  from  Edinburtjh,  nnd 
there  nil  through  hia  younaf  day?,  Scott  mas  a  fre- 
quent jrueM.  Nor  must  it  he  TTrgotTcn  that  bis  un^ 
cle»  Dr  Rt)therf«|rd,  inhcrifed  much  of  the  gcm»- 
ral  accrjinpliabni^ntfi,  a  a  well  as  the  profession  n  I 
reputation  of  hh  father— and  that  u  waa  beneath 
that  mof  hu  saw,  several  years  b(*fore  ibia,  Ur 
Cartwrighr,  ihtn  in  the  enjoyment  nf  s^rttie  fame  as 
a  pocL  In  this  family^  indeed^  be  htd  more  than 
one  ktnd  and  atrenuons  efjcoura^er  nf  his  earl^  lite- 
rai7  ta^Ecs,  as  will  be  shown  nbondiintly  when  we 
reach  cpttnin  relic^P  f?f  bis  corrcsiorvb  nre  wilb  bb 
JjothcHs  ai?E?r,  Miss  Christ  inn  Rtxtherfonf.  Dr 
Rutherford's  good  natyrcd  reraonairancaa  with  htm^ 
as  a  boy,  for  reading  at  brcakfaaij  are  well  remem- 


bered, aod  will  remind  my  reader  of  a  similar  trail 
in  the  juvenile  manners  both  of  Boms  and  Byron  i 
nor  was  this  habit  entirely  laid  aside  even  in  Scott's- 
advanced  age. 

If  he  is  quite  accurate  in  referring  hia  first  ac- . 
quaintance  with  the  Highlands  lo  his  fifteenth  year, 
tliis  incident  also  belongs  to  the  first  season  of  hia 
apprenticeship.  His  father  had,  among  a  rather 
numerous  list  of  Highland  clients,  Alexander  Stew- 
art of  Invemahyle,  an  enthusiastic  Jacobite,  who 
had  survived  to  recount,  in  secure  and  vi£[^orous  old 
age,  his  active  experiences  in  the  insurrections  both 
of  1716  and  1745.  He  had,  it  appears,  attracted  Wal- 
ters attention  and  admiration  at  a  very  early  date : 
for  he  si>eak8  of  having  "  seen  him  in  arms^*'  and 
heard  bim  "  exult  in  the  prospect  of  drawing  hia 
claymore  once  more  before  he  died."  when  Paul 
Jones  threatened  a  descent  on  Edinburgh ;  which 
transaction  occurred  in  September,  1779.  Invemar 
hvle,  as  Scott  adds,  was  the  only  person  who  seem- 
ed to  have  retained  possessioi^  oif  hia  cool  senses  at 
the  period  of  that  disgraceftd  alarm,  and  offersd  the 
mamstratea  to  collect  as  many  Highlandeia  as 
would  suffice  for  cutting  ofi'any  part  of  the  pirate*  s 
crew  that  might  venture  in  quest  of  plunder  into  a 
city  fiill  of  nigh  houses  and  narrow  lanes^  and 
every  way  welTcalculated  for  defence.    The  i 


deHgnt  with  which  tlM  young  apprentice  now  hat* 
ened  to  the  tales  of  this  fine  old  man's  early  days, 
produced  an  invitation  to  his  residence  among  the 
mountains,  and  to  this  excursion  he  probably  de- 
voted the  few  weeks  of  an  autumnal  vaeation — 
whether  in  1786  or  1787,  it  is  6f  no  great  coBsequance 
to  aseertain. 

In  the  Introduction  to  one  of  his  novels,  he  ha» 
preserved  a  vivid  picture  of  his-aensationa  whea  the 
vale  of  Perth  firat  burst  on  his  view,  in  the  coune 
of  his  progresa  to  Invemahyl&  and  the  deecriptioa 
has  made  classical  gtound  of  taeWick»  of  BokgUtt 
the  apot  from  which  that  beautifiu  lancfacape  waa 
surveyed.  "Childish  wonder,  indeed,"  he  saya, 
"was  an  ingredient  in  my  delight,  for  I  was  not 
above  fifteen  years  old,  and  as  this  had  been  the 
first  excursion  which  I  was  permitted  to  .make  on  a 
pony  of  my  own,  I  also  experienced  the  glow  of  in- 
depeifdence,  mingled  vdth  that  degree  of  anxiety 
which  the  most  conceited  boy  feels  when  he  is  firat 
abandoned  to  his  own  undirected  coonsels.  I  re- 
collect pulling  up  the  reins,  without  meaning  to  do 
so,  and  gazing  on  the  scene  before  me,  as  if  I  had 
been  afraid  it  would  shift,  like  those  in  a  theatre,, 
before  I  could  distinctly  observe  its  different  parta» 
or  convince  myself  that  what  I  saw  was  real. 
Since  that  hour,  the  recollection  of  that  inimitable 
landscape  has  possessed  the  strongest  influence 
over  my  mind,  and  retained  its  place  as  a  memorable 
thing,  while  much  that  was  influential  on  my  own 
fortunes  has  fled  from  my  recollection."  So  speaks 
the  poet;  and  who  will  not  recognise  his  habitual 
modesty,  in  thus  undervaluing,  as  uninfluential  in 
comparison  with  some  aflair  of  worldly  business, 
the  inefTaceable  impression  thus  stamped  on  the 
glowing  imagination  of  his  boyhood  7 

I  need  not  ^uote  the  numerous  passages  scattered 
over  his  writings,  both  early  and  late,  m  which  he 
dwells  with  fond  aflection  on  the  chivalrous  cha- 
racter of  Invemahyle— the  delight  with  which  he 
heard  the  veteran  describe  his  broadsword  duel 
with  Rob  Roy— bis  campaigns  with  Mar  and 
Charles  Edward— and  his  lone  seclusion  (as  pic- 
tured in  the  story  of  Bradwardine)  within  a  rocky 
cave,  situated  not  far  from  bis  own  house,  while  it 
was  garrisoned  bv  a  party  of  English  soldiers,  after 
the  battle  of  Culloden.  Her&  too,  still  survived  ' 
the  trusty  henchman  who  had  attended  the  chief- 
tain in  many  a  bloody  field  and  perilous  eacape,  the 
same  "  grim-looking  old  Highlander"  who  was  in 
the  act  of  cutting  down  Colonel  Whitefoord  with 
hia  LochabeuLxe  at  Prestonpans,  when  bis  master 
arrested  the  nlow— an  incident  to  which  Invema- 
hyle owed  his  liff,  and  we  are  indebted  for  another 
of  the  most  strikinir  pages  in  Waveriey. 

I  have  often  heard  Scott  mention  aoma  euriona 
particulars  of  his  first  visit  to  the  remote  faatneae 


UFE  OF  SIR  WALTER  SCOTT. 


of  one  of  these  Highland  friende;  but  whether  he 
told  the  story  of  Invemahyle,  or  of  one  of  hie  own 
relations  of  the  Clan  Campbell,  I  do  not  recol- 
lect :  I  rather  think  the  latter  was  the  case.  On 
reaching  the  brow  of  a  bleak  eminence  overhang- 
ing the  primitive  tower  and  its  tiny  patch  of  culti- 
vated ground,  be  found  his  host  and  three  sons,  &nd 
perhaps  half-a-dozen  attendant  gillies,  all  stretched 
half  asleep  in  their  tartans  upon  the  heath,  with 
guns  and  dojss,  and  a  profumon  of  game  aboul 
them ;  while  m  the  courtyard,  far  below^  aopearea 
a  companv  of  women,  actively  engaged  m  loading 
a  cart  with  manure.  The  stranger  was  not  a  little 
astonished  when  he  discovered,  on  descending 
from  the  heic^t.  that  among  these  industrious  fe- 
males were  the  laird's  own  lady,  and  two  or  three 
of  her  daughters ;  but  they  seemed  quite  uncon- 
scious of  having  been  detected  in  an  occupation  un- 
suitable to  tbeur  rank— retired  presently  to  their 
"bowers,"  and  when  they  reappeared  in  other 
dresses,  retained  no  traces  of  their  mornings  work, 
except  complexions  glowing  with  a  radiant  fresh- 
ness, for  one  evening  of  wnieh  many  a  high-bred 
beauty  would  have  bartered  half  her  diamonds.  He 
found  the  young  ladies  notiJi  inforoHxl,  and  exceed- 
ingly agreeable;  and  the  song  and  the  dance  seem- 
ed to  form  the  invariable  termination  of  their  busy 
days.  I  must  not  forget  his  admiration  at  the  prin- 
qittl  article  of  this  lainTs  first  course;  namely,  a 

figantio  haggisi  borne  into  the  hall  in  a  wicker  has- 
et  by  two  half-naked  Cdts,  while  the  piper  strut- 
ted fiercely  behind  them,  blowing  a  teoqpest  of  dis- 
sonance. 

These  Hi^iland  visits  were  repeated  almost  every 
summer  for  several  successive  years,  and  perhaps 
eten.the  first  of  them  was  in  some  degree  connect- 
ed ^th  his  pTofossional  business.  At  all  event^  it 
was  to  his  allotted  task  of  enforcing  the  execution 
of  a  legal  instrument  against  some  Madarens,  re^ 
fractory  tenants  of  Stewart  of  Appin,  brother-in-law 
t&Invemahyle,  that  Scott  owed  nis  introduction  to 
the  scenenr  of  the  Lady  of  the  Lake.  **  An  escort 
of  a  sergeant  and  six  men,"  he  says,  "  was  obtain- 
ed from  a  Highland  regiment  lying  in  Stirling,  and 
the  author,  then  a  writer's  apprenuce,  equivalent  to 
the  honourable  situation  of  an  attorney's  clerk^  was 
invested  with  the  superintendence  of  the  expedition, 
with  directions  to  see  that  the  messenger  discharged 
his  duty  folly,  and  that  the  gallant  sergeant  did  not 
exceed  nis  pajt  by  committmg  violence  or  plunder. 
And  thus  it  happened,  oddly  enough,  that  the  au- 
thor first  entered  the  romantic  scenerV  of  Loch  Ka- 
trine, of  which  he  may  perhaps  say  he  has  some- 
what extended  the  reputation,  riding  in  all  the  dig- 
nity of  danger,  with  a  front  and  rear  guard,  and 
loaded  arms.  The  sergeant  was  absolutely  a  High- 
land Sergeant  Kite,  foil  of  stories  of  Rob  Roy  and 
of  himself  and  a  very  good  companion.  We  expe^ 
rienced  no  interruption  whatever,  and  when  we 
came  to  Inverneniy,  foun^l  '  ^  house  deserted* 
We  took  up  our  quarters^  ft>r  tlitj  nichL  and  used 
some  of  the  victuals  which  wc  Tuund  there.  The 
Madarens,-  who  prctuihiy  had  never  :hu Light  of  any 
serious  opposition,  wi^nt  to  Amenca,  vbhtfre,  having 
had  some  slight  sharp  m  removing  ibcin  from  their 
paupera  regnOt  I  since  r!"  ^*  '     'Vv  pmj^pered,"* 

That  he  entered  wit]  I  .  ■.ii.iv  /.  l1  -il'  .  ;-i.i'ih  p^fes- 
sional  business  as  mferred  Higbland  expeditions 
with  comrades  who  had  known  Rob  Rojr,  no  one 
vrill  think  strange;  but  more  than  one  of  ms  biogra- 
phers allege,  that  m  the  ordinary  indoor  fagging  of. 
the  chamber  in  George's  Souare,  he  was  always  an 
unwilling,  and  rarely  an  efficient  assistant.  Thdr 
addition,  that  he  often  played  chess  with  one  of  his 
oompamons  in  the  oflice,  and  had  to  conceal  the 
board  with  precbitation  when  the  old  gentleman's 
footsteps  were  heard  on  the  staircase  is,  I  do  not 
doabtftroe;  and  we  may  remember  along  vrrth  it 
his  own  insinuation,  that  his  fother  was  sometimes 
poring  in  his  secret  nook  ovir  Spottiswoode  or 
Wodraw,  when  his  mpprentices  supposed  him  to  be 
deep  Jn  Dirleton's  Doubts,  or  Stair's  Decisioifs. 
Bttf  the' Memoir  of  1808,  so  candid— indeed,  more 
*  iDtnidnetioa  to  Rob  Roy,  p,  bam.,  noM. 


than  candid— as  to  many  juvenile  irregularities, 
contains  no  confession  that  supports  the  oroad  as- 
sertion to  which  I  have  alluded ;  nor  can  I  easily 
believe,  that  with  his  afiection  for  his  father,  ana 
that  sense  of  duty  which  seems  to  have  been  inhe- 
rent in  his  character,  and,  lastly,  with  the  evidence 
of  a  most  severe  training  in  industry  which  the  hab- 
its pf  his  after-hfe  presented,  it  is  at  all  deserving  of 
«erious  accmtation.  His  mere  handwriting,  indeed, 
continued,  during  the  whole  of  his  prime,  to  afford 
most  striking  and  irresistible  proof  how  completely 
he  must  have  submitted  himself  for  some  very  con- 
siderable period  to  the  mechanical  disdpline  of  his 
fother's  office.  It  spoke  to  months  after  months 
of  this  humble  toU,  as  distinctly  as  the  illegible 
scrawl  of  Lord  Byron  did  to  his  self-mastership 
from  the  hour  that  he  left  Harrow.  There  are  some 
Uttle  technical  tricksy  such  as  no  gentleman  who 
has  not  been  subjected  to  a  similar  regimen  ever 
can  fall  into,  vvhich  he  practised  invariably  while 
coniposinff  his  poetry,  which  appear  not  imfrcquent- 
ly  on  the  jaSS.  of  ms  beet  novels,  and  which  now 
and  then  dropt  instinctively  from  bis  pen,  even  in 
the  private  letters  and  diaries  of  his  closing:  years. 
I  alnide  particularly  to  a  sort  of  flourish  at  the  bot- 


torn  of  the  page^  coriginally,  1  presume  adopted  ia 
agamst  the  in  (rusion  of  a 


96t  originally, 

engrossing,  as  a  safeguard  ag^-. 

footed  hne  between  thie  legiiunafo  text  and  the  at^ 
testing  signatures.  He  was  quite  sensible  that  this 
om^ent  might  acf  well  be  dispensed  with :  and  his 
fomdy  often  heard  him  mutter^  aiter  involuntarily 
pecformiiig  it,  "There goes  the olq  shop  again  I" 

I  dwell  on  this  matter,  because  it  was  always  his 
fiivourite  tenet,  in  coolrailietioQ  to  what  he  called 
the  cant  of  sonmstteen^  that  there  i0  no  necessary 
connexion  between  genius  and  an  aver^on  or  con- 
tempt for  any  of  the  common,  duties  of  life;  he 
thought,  Oil  the  corUrary»  that  to  spend  some  fair 
portKHi  of  every<day  in  any  nratter  of  facjt  occupfH 
tion,  is  good  for  the  hwher  faculties  themselves  in . 
the  upshou  In  a  word  tfom  begiqning  to  end,  he 
piqued  himself  on  heAngamatKirbuaiiusa;  and  did 
—with  one  sad  and  memorable  exception— whatever 
the  ordinary  course  of  things  threw  in  his  way,  in 
exactly  the  business-like  fashion  which  might  have 
been  expected  froip  the  son  of  a  thoroughbred  old 
Clerk  to  the  Si^aet,  who  had  never  deserted  his  fo- 
thef's  profession* 

In  the  winter  of  I788t  howeveri  his  appeentioe 
habits  were  ex|y>scri  to  a  new  danger;  and  jQrc»n 
that  date  I  belwve  them  to  have  undergooe  a  com-r . 
siderable  change;    He  was  {hj^n  seii;^«to  fUtendthB 
lecture^  of  the  Professor  el  Civil  Lnwjn\lm  Univerr 
sity,  this  course  forming  part  of  tl^eiufusl  piofoe«>/, 
sional  education  of  Writers  to  the  SjgOet*  asiweUaa. 
of  Advocates.    For  some  time  his'  oempanioaag,' 
when  in  Edinburgh^  had  been  chiefly,  alemt  soleln 
hie  brother  apprentices  and  the  clena  in  his  fattier  s 


^axative&y  Uttle . 
School  friends, 


office.     He  had  latterly 

even  of  the  better  of  his  old  Hi      

such  as  Fergussott  and  Irving— for  thoagh  both  of 
these  also  were  writers  apprentioee.  th^  had  beeoa 
indentured  to  other  masters,  and  each  had  natuiallf 
formed  new  intimades  within  his  own  chamber. 
The  dvil  law  class  brought  him  again  into  daily 
contact  with  both  Irving  and  Fergusson,  as  well  as 
others  of  his  earlier  acquaintance  of  the  higher 
ranks ;  but  it  also  led  him  into  the  society  of  some 
young  gentlemen  previously  unknown  to  nim,  who 
had  from  the  outset  been  destined  for  the  bar,  and 
whose  conversation^  tinctored  vrith  certain  preju- 
dices natural  to  scions  of  what  he  calls  in  Red- 
gauntlet  ttie  Swititk  nobU999  de  ia  robe^  soon  ban« 
ished  from  his  mind  every  thought  of  ultmiatdy  ad* 
hering  to  the  secondary  branch  of  the  law.  He 
found  these  future  barristers  cultivating  general 
Uterature,  without  any  apprehension  that  suoh  de- 
gant  pursuits  could  be  regarded  by  any  one  as  inter- 
fering with  the  proper  studies  of  theur  professional 
career:  juptly  believing,  on  the  contrary,  that  for 
the  higher  class  of.  forensic  exertion  some  acquaint- 
ance with  almost  every  branch  of  sdence  and  let* 
ters  is  a  necessary  pneparative.  *  He  contrasted  their 
liberal  aspirations,  and  the  encouragement  which 


36 


LIFE  OP  SIR  WALTER  SCOTT. 


these  received  in  their  domestic  circles,  with  the 
narrower  vjews  which  predominated  in  his  own 
home,  and  resolved  to  gratify  his  ambition  by  adoot- 
mff  a  most  precarious  walk  m  life,  instead  of  adhe- 
ring to  that  in  which  he  might  have  counted  with 
perfect  security  on  the  early  attoinmentof  pecuniary 
independence.  This  resolution  appears  to  have 
been  foreseen  by' his  father,  long  before  it  was  an- 
nounced in  terms ;  and  the  handsome  manner  in 
which  the  old  gentleman  conducted  himself  upon 
the  occasion^  is  remembered  with  dutiful  gratitude 
in  the  precedmg  autobiography. 

The  most  important  of  inese  new  alliances  was 
the  intimate  friendship  which  he  now  formed  with 
William  Clerk  of  Eldin,  of  whose  powerful  talents 
and  extensive  accomplishments  we  shall  hereafter 
meet  with  many  entnusiastic  notices.  It  was  in 
company  with  this  gentleman  that  he  entered  the 
debating  societies  described  in  his  Memoir ;  through 
him  he  soon  became  linked  in  the  closest  intimacy 
with  George  Cranstoun  (now  Lord  Corehousej) 
George  Aljiircromby,  (now  Lord  Abercromby.)  Sir 
Patrick  Murray  of  Ochtertyre,  John  James  Edmon- 
stone  of  Newton,  Patrick  Murray  of  Simprim,  and 
a  group  of  other  young  men,  all  high  in  birth  and 
connexion,  and  all  remarkable  in  early  life  for  the 
(i^ualities  which  afterwards  led  them  to  eminent  sta- 
tion, or  adorned  it.  The  introduction  to  their  several 
families  is  alluded  to  by  Scott  as  having  opened  to 
him  abundantly  certain  advantages,  which  no  one 
coukl  have  been  more  qualified  to  improve,  but  from 
which  he  bad  hitherto  been  in  {^reat  measure  de- 
barred in  consequence  of  the  retired  habits  of  his 

hit.  Clctk  inyii^  (bat  he  had  b<?en  ermck  from  the 
fust  dsir  he  enlertMJ  iho  civi!  lawf  cIsfiB  rootni  with 
something;  odd  and  remtirkabk  in  Scati'a  appear- 
unc*^?  wlini  ihtfl  60in<:ihin«  wne  he  caiin(»T  now  ft>- 
cttll,  but  ho  rem**mb£Ta  t«Uinf?  his  companion  some 
time  afterwards,  ihst  he  though i  he  looked  like  a 
kauthof-playtr.  Scoli  was  &mn^cd  with  ihJa  no- 
fjon,  as  be  bad  rtever  toachcd  any  musical  insrru- 
m<5niof  suy  kind;  but  I  fancy  hie  friend  hud  tn-^n 
watehing  a  certain  noticeable  bti[  alto^mher  iiide- 
Bcribablejjlay  of  (he  upwr  lip  when  in  an  absiraiited 
mood.  Be  raMit^l  Walter,  m  nAys,  during  one  of 
their  flrut  evening  watks  tORether,  on  ihe  slovcn- 
iin^a  of  his  dreeikj  he  wore  n  r^aif  of  corduroy 
breeches,  much  j^la^  by  die  ruhoiiia  of  hid  slan, 
which  he  immwliatdjr  flooripbed— and  said,  "  they 
be  gt>od  etiouffh  for  drinking  in-  let  o?  ^q  and  have 
•omeoiXitefa  in  the  Covenant  CloftoJ' 

Convivial  habita  we  re  theij  induleed  aniona  the 
young  men  of  KdiTibursEh,  whether  fikuienia  of  Inw, 
wriiert,  Of  bamsiera,  io  an  ejEi<?nt  now  hayjily 
unknown  i  and  thJH  »ric*dc»tc  recalls  some  sirmmff 
htnl»  ofi  that  subject  which  occur  in  Si^tt's  brief 
autobiogrJiphy.  That  he  partook  profusely  in  the 
juvenile  boechanalia  of  ihqt  day,  and  contittued  to 
take  a  pleotifui  ehare  in  such  jol)uii?fci  dowu  to  the 
timeof  hi»  mflrTiatfi\  arufs>et<i  worthy  nf  being  dis- 
tincMy  MatDfJ— for  no  man  in  mature  \ih  was  more 
(j  abi  t  ual  ly  a  versa  ta  *'v  cry  son  of  m  te  rripcro  net?.  He 
cou  Id,  ^  1 1  c  n  J  fi  r  (« I  k  n  e  w  i  M I  n ,  s w  al  low  n  p;rc  n  i  qu  an- 
niy  y\i  v,tni  wieIk'i.m  htiii*;  at  all  visibly  di^ordt red 
by  ii  J  but  nothui^  short  oisomc  verypanicular  oc- 
casion could  ever  induce  him  to  put  this  strength  of 
head  to  a  trial ;  and  I  have  heard  him  many  times 
utter  words  which  no  one  in  the  days  of  his  youthful 
temptation  can  be  the  worse  for  remembering:— 
**  Depend  upon  it.  of  all  vices,  drinking  is  the  most 
incompatible  with  greatness/' 

The  hveiiness  of  his  conversation— the  strange 
variety  of  his  knowledge— and  above  all,  perhaps, 
the  portentous  tenacity  of  his  memory-  riveted  more 
and  more  Clerk's  attention,  and  commanded  the 
wonder  of  all  his  new  allies;  but  of  these  extra- 
ordinary gifts  Scott  himself  appeared  to  be  Uttle 
coMoioos ;  or  at  least  he  impreMed  them  all  as  at- 
taching infinitely  greater  consequence  (exactly  as 
uad  been  the  case  with  him  in  the  days  of  the  Cow- 
gate  Port  and  the  kitUe  nine  »Up§)  to  feats  of  ner- 
sonal  agUity  and  prowess.  Wilhara  Clerk's  brother, 
James,  a  midshipman  in  the  navy,  happened  to 


come  home  from  a  croise  in  the  Mediterranean 
shortly  afler  this  acquaintance  began,  and  Scott  and 
the  sador  became  almost  at  sight  sworn  brothers." 
In  order  to  complete  his  time  under  the  late  Sir 
Alexander  Cochrane,  who  was  then  on  the  Leith 
station,  James  Clerk  obtained  the  command  of  a 
Iui;g$r,  and  the  young  friends  often  made  Uttle  ex- 
cursions to  sea  with  him.  "The  first  time  Scott 
dined  onboard,"  says  William  Clerk,  "we  met  be- 
fore embarking  at  a  tavern  in  Leiih— it  was  a  large 
party,  mostly  midshipmen^  and  strangers  to  him, 
and  our  host  introducing  his  landsmen  guests,  said, 
'  my  brother  you  know,  gentlemen ;  as  for  Mr.  Soott, 
mayhaps  vou  may  take  him  for  a  poor  lamiter.  but 
he  IS  the  first  to  begin  a  row,  and  the  last  to  end  it ;' 
which  eulosdum  he  confirmed  with  some  of  the  ex- 
pletives of  Tom  Pipes."*  when,  many  years  after- 
wards, Clerk  read  The  Pirate,  he  was  startled  bv 
the  resurrection  of  a  hundred  traits  of  the  table  talk 
of  this  lugger :  but  the  author  has  since  traced  some 
of  the  most  striking  passages  in  that  novel  to  hia 
recollection  of  the  almost  childish  period  when  he 
hung  on  his  own  brother  Robert's  stories  about  Rod- 
neyfa  battles  and  the  haunted  keyt  of  the  West 
Indies. 

One  morning  Scott  called  on  Clerk,  and  exhibit- 
ing his  stick  all  cut  and  marked,  told  him  he  had 
been  attacked  in  the  streets  the  night  before  by  three 
fellows^  against  whom  he  had  defended  himself  for 
an  hour.  "  By  Shrewsbury  clock  1"  said  his  friend. 
"No,"  says  Scott  smiling,  "by  the  Tron."  But 
thenceforth,  adds  Mr.  Clerk,  and  for  twepty  yeara 
after,  he  called  his  walking  stick  by  the  name  t>f 
"Shrewsbury."    * 

With  these  comrades  Scott  now  resumed^  and 
pushed  to  a  much  greater  extent,  his  early  habits  of  ' 
wandering  over  the  country  in  quest  of  castles  and 
other  remains  of  antiquity,  his  passion  for  which  de- 
rived a  new  impulse  from  the  conversation  of  the 
celebrated  John  Clerk  of  Eldin,t  the  father  of  his 
fHend.  William  Clerk  well  remembers  his  father 
telling  a  story  which  was  introduced  in  due  time  in 
The  Antiquary.  While  he  was  visiting  his  grand- 
fiither.  Sir  John  Clerk,  at  Dumcriefii  m  Dumfries- 
shire, many  years  before  this  time,  the  old  Baronet 
carried  some  English  Virtuosos  to  see  a  supposed 
Roman  camp ;  and  on  his  exclaiming  at  a  particu- 
lar spot«  "  this  I  take  to  have  been  the  Pretorium," 
a  herdsman,  who  stood  by,  answered,  "  Prteiorium 
hera  Prstorium  there,  I  made  it  wi'  a  flaughter 
8pade."t  Many  traits  of  the  elder  Clerk  were,  his 
son  has  no  doubt,  embroidered  on  the  character  of 
Greoi[ge  Constable  in  the  composition  of  Jonathan 
Oldbuck.  The  old  gentleman  s  enthusiasm  for  an- 
tiquities was  often  played  on  by  these  young  friends, 
but  more  effectually  by  bis  eldest  son,  John  Clerk, 
(Lord  Eldin,)  who,  having  a  great  genius  for  art, 
used  to  amuse  himself  with  manufacturing  muti- 
lated heads,  which,  after  being  buried  for  a  conve- 
nient time  in  the  ground,  were  accidentally  dis- 
cdvered  in  some  fortunate  noiu'.  and  received  By  the 
laird  with  great  honour,  as  valuable  accessions  to 
his  museum.! 

On  a  fishing  excursion  to  a  loch  near  Howgat& 
among  the  Moorfoot  Hills,  Scott,  Clerk,  Irving,  and 
Abercromby,  spent  the  night  at  a  little  pubUc-nouse 
kept  by  one  Mrs.  Margaret  Dods.  When  St.  Ro- 
nan's  Well  was  published,  Clerk  meeting  Scott  in 
the  street,  observed)  "That's  an  odd  name;  surely 
I  have  met  Mrith  it  somewhere  before."  Scott 
smiled,  said,  "Don't  you  remember  Howgate?" 
and  passed  on.  The  name  alone,  however,  was 
taken  from  the  Howgate  hostess. 

At  one  of  their  drinking  bouts  of  those  days,  Wil- 

*  "  Diooa  vteer  him,"  layi  Hobfa«  EUiot ;  "  ye  may  think 
Elslne'i  but  a  lamiter.  but  I  wanmnt  je.  criDpie  for  nipfxe.  be'O 
gar  the  blue  Mood  ipin  frae  jroor  iiail»--Mi  band'i  like  a  imftli^ 
rfoe."— Btacfc  Dwirf^  Wavertey  Noteit,  voL  is.  p.  SOL 

t  Antbor  of  the  fmam  Ettay  on  dhidiiic  the  Una  in  Sea 
fi^ita. 

1  Compare  " The  Antiqaarri'*  vol  i.  p.  «.  ^, . . 

I  The  moat  remarkable  of  tbcM  onri^fM  AmA  waa  ao  hUhb 
appRciated  bf  another  diaUnrab^ed  oanDotaaenr.  tba  kta  Bail  or 
RuJkn,  that  he  carried  it  offfiom  Mr.  Clerli'i  maMom,  and  jm- 
aented  it  to  the  Soottiih  Bodetr  of  Antigaariee-ia  whose  eoBae* 

tk«.  no  doubt  Jl  mnr  ■tIflbraanp^^;;7V  lOOqle 


LIFE  OP  SIR  WALTER  SCOTT.. 


87 


Aam  CSerk^  Sir  P.  Humy,  Edmonstone,  and  Aber- 
cromby,  being  of  the  party,  the  aittins  was  prolonged 
to  a  Tenr  late  hour,  and  Scott  fell  asleep.  *  When  he 

•  awoke,  nia  friends  succeeded  in  convincing  him  that 
be  had  sung  a  song  in  the  course  of  the  evening,  and 
song  it  extremely  well.  How  must  these  gentlemen 
have  chuckled  when  they  read  Prank  Osbaldistone's 
acooont  of  his  revels  in  the  old  hall !— "  It  has  even 
been  reported  by  maligners  that  I  sung  a  sons  while 
under  this  vinous  influence;  but  as  1  rememoer  no- 
thing of  it,  and  never  attempted  to  turn  a  tune  in  all 
my  life,  either  before  or  since,  I  would  willingly  hope 
there  is  no  actual  foundation  for  the  calumny."* 

On  one  of  his  first  long  walks  with  Clerk  and 
others  of  the  same  set,  their  pace,  being  about  four 
iiiles  %n  boor,  was  found  rather  too  much  for  Scott, 
and  he  oflfered  to  contract  for  three,  which  measure 
was  thenceforth  considered  as  the  legal  one.  At 
this  ntA  thejr  often  continued  to  wander  from  five 
IB  the  mormng  till  eight  in  the  evening,  halting  for 
such  relreshment  at  niid-day  as  any  village  alehouse 
nught.afTord.  On  many  occasions,  however,  they 
haq  stretched  so  far  into  the  country,  that  they  were 
obhgiDd  to  be  absent  fiwm  home  all  night;  and 
though  great  was  the  alarm  which  the  first  occur- 
reoee  of  this  sort  created  in  George's  Square,  the 
luuly  soon  got  accustomed  to  such  things,  and 
k'ttJe  notice  was  taken,  even  though  Walter  remain- 
ed away  for  the  better  part  of  a  week.  I  have 
heard  him  laugl^  heartily  over  the  recollections  of 
one  protracted  excursion,  towards  the  closle  of 
whicn  the  party  found  themselves  a  long  day's 
walk— thirty  miles,  I  think— f^om  Eldinburg^  with- 
out a  single  sinenc^  left  among  them.  ^  **  We  were 
put  to  our  shirts,"  said  he ;  **  out  we  asked  every 
DOW  and  then  at  a  cottage-door  for  a  drink  of  wa- 
ter ;  and  one  or  two  of  the  goodwives^  observing 
our  worn-out  looks,  brought  forth  milk  m  place  oi 
water — so  with  that,  and  hips  and  haws^  we  came 
in  httle  the  worse."  His  father  met  him  with  some 
impatientquestionsas  to  what  he  had  been  living 
on  so  long,  for  the  old  man  well  knew  how  scanti- 
ly hia  pocket  was  supplied.  "  Pretty  much  like  the 
vicrang  ravens,"  answered  he ;  *'  I  only  wished  I  had 
been  as  good  a  pllyer  on  the  flute  as  poor  George 
Primrose  in  The  Vicar  of  Wakefield.    If  I  had  his 

I  art,  1  should  like  nothing  better  than  to  tramp  like 
him  firom  cottage  to  cottage  over  the  world." — "  I 
doubt,"  said  the  grave  Clerk  to  the  Signet,  "  I  great- 
ly doubt,  sir,  you  were  born  for  nae  better  than  a 
gangrel  scrape- frui."  Some  allusions  to  reproaches 
of  this  kind  occur  in  the  "  Memoir :"  and  we  shall 
find  others  in  letters  subsequent  to  his  admission  at 
the  bar. 

The  debating  club  formed  among  theseyoung 
friendaat  thiseraof  their  studies  was  called  TluLt- 
terary  Society ;  and  is  not  to  be  confounded  with 
the  more  celebrated  Speculative  Society,  which 
Soott  did  not  join  for  two  years  later.  At  the  LUt- 
rery  he  spoke  frequently,  and  verv  amusingly  and 
sensibly,  but  was  not  at  all  numbered  among  the 
most  brilliant  members.  He  had  a  world  of  know- 
ledge to  produce ;  but  he  had  not  acquired  the  art 
of  arranging  it  to  the  best  advantage  in  a  continu- 
ed address ;  nor,  indeed,  did  he  ever,  I  think,  except 
iMider  the  influence  of  strung  personal  feeling,  even 
when  years  and  fame  had  given  him  full  conndence 
in  himself,  exhibit  upon  any  occasion  the  powers  of 
oral  eloquence.  His  antiquarian  information,  how- 
ever, supplied  many  an  interesting  feature  in  these 
evenings  of  discussion.  He  had  already  dabbled  in 
Anglo-Saxon  and  the  Norse  Sagas :  in  his  Essay 
OD  Imitations  of  Popular  Poetry,  he  alludes  to  these 
stodiee  as  having  facilitated  his  acquisition  of  Ger- 
man :— But  he  was  deep  especially  in  Fordun  and 
Wyntoun,  and  all  the  Scotch  chronicles;  and  his 
friends  rewarded  him  by  the  honourable  title  of 
Dun»  Scottts. 

A  smaller  society,  formed  with  less  ambitious 
views,  originated  in  n  ride  to  Pennycuik,  the  seat  of 
the  head  of  Mr.  Clerk's  fannlv,,  whose  elegant 
hcMpitahties  are  recorded  in  the  Jnemoir.    This  was 

•  ••  Rob  Rof ."  Waverley  Novel*,  vd.  m  p.  itt. 
D 


called,  by  way  of  excellence^  The  Club^  and  I  be- 
lieve it  is  continued  under  the  same  name  to  this 
day.  Here,  too,  Walter  had  his  sobriquet ;  and— 
his  corduroy  breeches,  I  presume,  not  Ming  as  yet 
worn  out— It  was  Colonel  Chrogg.* 

Meantime  he  had  not  broken  up  his  connexion 
with  Roaebank ;  he  appears  to  have  spent  several 
weeks  in  the  autumn,  both  of  1788  and  1789^  under 
his  uncle's  roof;  nnd  it  wr^s,  I  think,  of  his  loiiTney 
thither  in  ihe  \mi  namod  year,  that  bti  usc'd  to  \v\i 
an  anet.'doti',  which  1  s^hnlS  hire  JWl  down— how 
ahom,  alna  J  of  ail  tha  a ccr dearies  thai  gnve  it  life 
when  he  fedii?d  \i.  CaUinj?,  liefore  ho  »pi  our,  ott' 
one  of  the  suL^ieni  ^itietpfa  of  his  fati^ily,  to  in- 
quire ii  -r^W  bod  anv  mf9»agr  for  KtlsOj  9h*3  relirpd, 
andpri  -njt!y  nlat-ed  in  hia  iianda  a  packet  of  ftome 
bulk  atiit  vvti^hr,  which  rtquir^d,  phc  sftid,  vtrfy  par- 
ticular atu.nuon.  We  tcHtk  it  without  eacamming 
the  addr^  is.^f  and  carried  it  in  his  pock**t  nvxx  dny, 
not  at  till  lo  ihe  Lightcrunfiof  a  fortymiles'  ride  in 
August.  On  his  srhval,  )t  lurnffd  <^Tit  la  contain 
one  of  the  aid  UAy's  pat  ten  h,  amled  yp  for  a  pufti- 
cular  cobhitr  \n  Kelso,  and  actrjiiipani^d  wiih  four- 
pence  lo  1-1  a v  tor  TTjendinf;  it,  and  special  dirociionB 
that  it  mijEht  bt  bruu^bt  bn,:k  to  hor  bv  (he  «ariie 
economical  conveyance. 

It  will  be  Been  m>m  the  following  letter,  the  ear- 
liest of  Scott's  writing  that  has  fallen  into  my 
hands,  that  professional  business  had  some  share 
in  this  excursion  to  Kelso ;  but  I  consider  with 
more  intereift  the  brief  allusion  to  a  day  at  Sandy- 
Knowe. 

'  To  Mr:  Seott^  George  Sguaref  Edinburgh. 

"^^With  a  parcel.) 

^'Roeebank,  5th  Sept,  1788. 
"  Dear  Mother, 

*'  I  was  favoured  with  your  letter,  and  send  you  Anne's 
stockings  along  with  this  :  I  would  have  sent  them  last 
week,  but  had  some  expectations  of  a  private  opportuni- 
ty. I  have  been  very  happy  for  this  fortnight ;  we  have 
aome  plan  or  other  for  every  day.  Last  week  uiy  uncle, 
my  cousin  WilUam,t  and  I,  rode  to  Smaiiholm,  and  Aom 
thence  walked  to  Sandy-knowe  Craigs,  where  we  sftent ' 
the  whole  day,  and  made  a  very  hear^  dinner  bv  the 
side  of  the  Orderlaw  Well,  on  some  cokf  beef  and  bread 
and  cheese:  we  had' also  a  small  case-bottle  of  rum  to 
make  grog  with,  which  we  drank  to  the  Sandy-knowe 
baima,  and  all  their  connexions.  This  jaunt  gave  me 
much  pleasure^  and  had  I  time,  I  wonkl  give  you  a  more 
full  account  of  iL 

"The  fishing  has  been  hitherto  but  indifferent,  and  I 
fear  I  shall  not  be  able  to  acompliah  my  promise  with 
regard  to  the  wild-ducks.  I  yna  out  on  Friday  and  only 
saw  three.  I  may  probably,  however,  send  you  a  hare, 
as  my  uncle  has  got  a  present  of  two  greyhounds  from 
Sir  H.  MacDongall,  and  as  he  has  a  license,  only  waits 
till  the  com  is  off  the  ground  to  commence  coursing* 
Be  it  Imown  to  you,  however,  I  am  not  altogether  em- 

Eloyed  in  amusements,  for  1  have  aot  two  or  three  clients 
eaides  my  uncle,  and  am  busy  drawing  tacks  and  con- 
tract9,-^not,  hoWever,  of  marriage.    I  am  in  a  fair  way 
of  making  money,  if  1 8t«y  here  k>ng. 
'*  Here  I  have  wriuen  a  pretty  long  letter,  and  nothing 

*  "  Tlw  m'*tiilwr»  fyt  Th*.  Club  iuchI  ii*  mijpt  (mj  Tri'lar  f*QO- 
in;.-!'!^  Fiif*m  in  CRirntib^'fl  Giixiv  frttm  wticfh  pomi!' tjrik>m 

u»'i'ii|v  RHj*«irnMi  t0Riip«i  M]ioj\ff(j>f  invom  in  tbe  woim*  nvifjr- 
bci  jiI^-hkI.  in  iifltf  Uit  thttip  'tf  tkm  'whc  cNiw*^<l  iw  \y^  ia 
£-;jiii*i>fifh  iJFth>0  loffothri  It* ici?  pVTTy  yt'm,  st  r)i''  ^■^^-'f  '-^f 'lin 
Vii.'iT  nfid  iMrnt]i€'iM7«nuiii'4)f  fho  Ijjw  r.itutu  i  i   .  i   '      i     ■   r- 

tj  .   .if>*.  Bit  Walt^  w**  ^rj  nuvU  aWi'ni  ti ^ 

II  ■-■••'ii  uUu  n  hiIuk  that  ^[va  ^uy  laniilH-r  rrvtivi  ■. :    -i  iV 

lu.  ■I'  *ir  |ifntiir>Lkiii.  Iiu  JifiN»iJd  fitwji  Jinrif^r  to  Jiji  itlA  nri^  h  iut*«  j 
ai.'i  Mvfj'  JujlI  ar-'-iinlir^RJj^  <H'o  '-inh  Ltmrfon  t'ntm  iiriit-uFip  vhtn 
n  i^c-i.riic  fc^ltfnff  of  s..(^jrk»h,irn,  Jiii4  liunih  t  vtiwn  Im  van 
n[iii.(.J  f  Ink  ofFiiuiifjH  Tln!  rHT4!ii44il  irwrHln-i^  vnn',  in  OJira- 
brr.  niotlo^'it— v« .  ^ir  l»'a//?r  Sattf.  Mr  Wilhrttfi  Ckrlt,  3it 
A.  F^rEUHtia,  Mi.  Jnirin  FidiTtf^n^TrMLf^  >Ir.  GuMpt  A^i^rcjmiTihf 
(t^inl  A^KtzTitmbyA  Mr  1^  B- ►,>!(*  (now  Ijf»rO  Jm^iiw  tlt^rfc,!  Mr 

»■■"  Mr  HaviJ  M[inv[i.?riiiv  it^.rcf  Mi  fin  lib  '  >lr  ihJitn  PnviiJ- 
•I  I  i  r.iT'ni*i-iof  Lii»  It!  MiuxfwJ  £^ir  Wdl'ini  fUi  .  Hurt  ,  HtF 
P.i'r  I,  MuTTnir,  Birl.,  D'irid  D^tUiifitM  (I^jM  H^<iL>]U  Mr  AJur- 
ra,  <  r  i^m^ifiiiii,  Mr  Maffbr^lli  n?  Ctowlrtjm,  ih  Jrffubaid 
td.'.)  (ion  i>rPr»<iw«ir  MH^.i  BarVft  R/^fm,  «  thiituttrttun  ►  , 
ih.  H-iriwimtH*  TAvmst  Btturt^t,  (i(li^w*ttli  Enri  nX  e»!knt,--' 
and  Jr^hri  \n\nt  F.Xf^pi  tltt  flws  ythfmt  rjan>»  ur  iiit^or iliMtf. 
Ibr^F  cm* mil  meir^b^Tt  iir  all  iM\  aliw  ''-L*f|«r  fUm  tif* 


*  The  preset  Laird  of  RaefgMDQlC 


38 


LIFE  OP  SIR  WALTER  SCOTT. 


faH;  bat  you  know  writinf  to  one»B  friends  ia  th^  ner: 
thlof  to  seeloK  them.  My  love  to  my  fiither  anA  ihe  bojB, 
.  irom,  dear  mother,  your  dotifal  and  atffectifiEUU^  wirt, 

It  appears  from  James  Ballanlyne's  vu^oranda, 
that  havmffbeen  very  early  bound  apprentice  (o  a 
•ouator  in  Kelso,  he  had  no  uitercoue><]  w^ith  Scoit 
,  during  the  three  or  four  years  that  followed  their 
companionship  at  the  school  of  Lancelot  Whale  ; 
but  Ballantync  was  now  sent  to  spend  a  winifir  in 
^inburgh  for  the  completion  of  his  profession  iil 
eduction,  and  m  the  course  of  his  atiendanoe  on 
the  Scots-law  class,  became  a  member  of  a  younir 
Teviotdale  club,  where  Walter  Scott  t^^M^in  fajlt^d 
to  make  his  appearance.  They  supped  tog^tlie^ 
It  seems,  once  a-month ;  and  here,  ai^  ui  ilio  asao- 
ciations  above  mentioned,  good  feltifii-.^hip  wae 
often  pushed  beyond  the  limits  of  niorioni  iadal- 

SBnce.  The  strict  intimacy  between  ;Scoit  aiKJ 
allantyne  was  not  at  this  time  renewed— iheir 
Avocations  prevented  it— but  the  Utier  was  no 
nmnterested  observer  of  his  old  comradti's  bearine 
on  this  new  scene.  "Upon  all  these  occaaionB^" 
he  says,  one  of  the  pnncipal  features  of  hie  charac- 
ter was  displayed  as  consoicuously  as  i  bellfri-e  it 
ever  was  at  any  later  period.  This  wae  thr  re  ma  rk- 
able  ascendency  he  never  failed  to  exhihh  amang 
^is  youn^  companions,  and  which  appeared  lo  arise 
ftoin  their  involuntary  and  unconscious  BubmUaion 
to  the  same  firmness  of  understanding,  and  ^eptJe 
exercise  of  it,  which  produced  the  same  effecrs 
Ihroughout  his  after  life.  Where  there  was  always 
a  good  deal  of  dnnking,  there  was  of  course  now 
and  then  a  araod  deal  of  quarrelling.  But  thtve 
words  from  Walter  Scott  never  failed  to  put  all 
such  propensities  to  quietness." 

Mr.  Ballantyne's  account  of  his  fricnd^s  c^ace- 
making  exeruons  at  this  club  may  seem  n  imle  at 
Yjmwice  with  same  preceding  details.  There  is  a 
ditterence,  however,  l)etween  enoouraginK  quarrels 
m  the  bosom  of  a  convivial  party,  and  taking  a  fair 
part  m  a  row  between  pne*sown  party  mid  another. 
But  Ballantyne  adds,  that  at  7%e  Teviotdale,  Scott 
was  always  remarkable  for  being  the  moHt  tempe- 
rate of  the  aet  I  and  if  the  club  consistctl  chiefly  of 
persons,  like  Ballantyne  himself;  somewhat  inft^rior 
to  Scott  m  birth  and  station,  his  careful ncsa  boib  of 
Bobnety  and  decorum  at  their  meetings  was  bat 
another  feature  of  his  unchanged  and  uncho  ngcable 
cnaracter--yii<ut«  ab  tmo. 

wiu°J*a  •KT"^.?®^  Buppers  of  this  time. 
Walter  Scott  had  said  aomethmg,  of  which,  on 
recollepting  himself  next  morning,  he  was  eenaiblo 
that  ms  fneod  Clerk  might  have  reason  to  com- 
plain. He  sent  him  accordingly  a  note  apoloceticaL 
which  has  by  some  accident  been  preserved,  ancl 
which  I  am.  sure  every  reader  will  agree  wfih  ine 
•m  considenng  well  worthy  of  preservation.  In  it 
Scott  contnvea  to  make  use  of  both  Wis  own  clwb 
designations,  and  addresses  his  friend  Uy  another 
of  the  same  order,  which  Clerk  had  receivi=d  in  con- 
sequence of  comparing  himself  on  some  foreot  ten 
occaaipn  to  Sir  John  Brute  in  the  play.  Th5  cha- 
ractenstic  document  is  as  follows  :— 

To  WiUiam  Clerk,  Esq. 
"  Dear  Baronet 
"lam  sorry  to  find  that  our  friend  Colonpl  Grwg  hfti 

Su^T"*  S?***  T^'T^  .""u*^"®  ***«**«  of  vehemen?irin  a 
depute  with  you  1««  night,  occasioned  by  whai  I  ftm  con- 
rrJhJT^l^^^Jf'TK'  ™i«^onj;fP«<on  of  your  erpreasions. 
At  the  Co  onel,  though  a  miUtary  man,  is  not  uh*  iiamrhly 
to  acknowledge  an  error,  he  has  comml»!-ifti»ecl  mi  lo 
make  his  apoogy  as  a  mutual  friend,  whieh  I  uu  con. 
vioced  you  will  accept  from  yours,  ever. 

„-,.„        .  ^- .,    _  DuHS  Scorns/' 

"  Given  at  Oaatle-Duns, 
Monday." 

I  should  perhaps  have  mentioned  sooner,  that 
when  first  r^un^Slco/tt*  became  f^  Baronet's  th\- 
ly  companion— this  new  alliance  was  oh?,  rv^rl  with 
considerable  jealousy  by  some  of  his  forinr  r  insvpo- 
^WeB  of  the  wnting  office.  At  the  mxi  annual 
■apper  of  the  clerks  and  apprentices,  the  g^rndy  of 


the  chamlioT.  this  feeling  snowed  hself  in  varioOB 
ways,  and  when  the  clout  was  drawn,  Walter  rose 
and  aaked  what  was  tneant,  "  WeU/'  said  one  of 
the  lada^  "  §mce  you  will  have  it  ont^  yon  are  a*/- 
ting  your  old  friend  a  for  the  sake  of  Clerk,  atid 
^nio  moT^  of  tbeec  done,  thfit  look  do^n  on  the 
liko  q(  liB."  "  Gentlemen,"  aTjBwertui  Scott,  *'  I 
will  never  rui  any  innn  unices  1  detect  him  in. 
econndrdieni ;  but  1  know  not  what  ni?bt  any  of 
you  have  to  interferu  with  niy  thoice  oi  my  com- 
pany. If  any  one  f bought  I  had  injured  him,  he 
would  have  duno  well  to  SJik  an  i^xplanittion  in  a 
more  private  matmer  As  it  is,  1  fau^ly  own  that 
thous^h  I  like  many  of  you  very  much,  and  hare 
lonff  done  so,  I  think  WiUiam  Ch  rk  ^'ell  worth 
yo  61  all  p  u  t  toge !  h  e  r . "  Th  e  se  ni  or  in  th  e  chair  wae 
wise  enough  to  laugh,  ami  the  evening  passed  BflT 
wjThotit  further  iJieturbance. 

Ab  one  t-iTcct  of  his  oSSus^  r-ducntion,  Scotf  aoon 
benm  to  prc^rvc  in  re^lar  Bles  ihi-  IctterjaddreBS- 
m  to  him  I  ond  from  the  style  and  toti^  of  sgeh 
letters,  as  Mr.  Southey  observes  in  his  LifeofCow^ 
.per,  a  man'ii  character  may  oft^n  he  giihsredevni 
more  (suruly  than  from  those  written  by  himaiuC 
The  firfit  series  of  any  con^ldershlu  cxtrmt  in  )hs 
euliection,  include*  letters  dated  as  far  back  as  1786, 
and   proce*?dB,  with  not  many  ini^rruutiuns,  down 
b*^vona   the  perii^  when  iila  fame  hnd  b^^nest^- 
IhihtrJ.    I  re^ei,  that  from  the  delicnte  nature  of 
the  transactions  chmfty  dwelt  upon  in  ilie  eaiiiar 
of  these  coniinunicaiions,  I  dare  not  make  a  firee 
usfl  of  chum ;  but  I  feel  it  toy  duty  to  rscord  the 
s irons  impri.flsion  they  have  left  on  my  own  miiid 
of  hjgh  generosity  qT  afft^ctioti,  coupled  'ftith  calm 
judgment,  and  petet^v^mnce  in  well-doing^  on  the 
part  of  ihestiiphng  Scott,    To  these  nidiied  evefy 
line  in  the  collection  bears  pregnant  tc^tiiaony.    A 
yciunK  s<.nHeinatT,  horn  of  good  futnik^  and  heir  to 
a  t alterable  fortujie.  In  sent   lo  Edioburgb  College, 
md  IS  M^n  pA Making,  ulonc  with  ScoU,  thi>Mlgh 
several  apparently  hftppy  and  cweieiw  years,  of  t£e 
slud[cs  and  llmusement^  of  which  the  readisr  may 
by  thia  time  have  fonned  an  adequate  notion.    By 
degrees,  from  the  ugu^i  license  of  hta  ^ml  com- 
radea^  he  ainka  mm  habits  of  a  looser  desoription— 
bLi:tiiiic«  rcickkfa,  contracts  dcWls,  jrritatL*s  his  own 
family  almost  beyond  hope  of  reconciliatnTH,  is  vir- 
tuftlly  cast  off  hy  them,  runs  away  from  -Scotland,* 
forma  a  mDrriage  far  below  his  condition  in  a  re- 
nio(c  part  ol  the  sister  kinedonv-nnJ,  when   the 
poorgFfl  has.ine^lt!  him  a  father,  thcji  first  begins 
to  opsQ  hi|  eye*  to  the  full  cons^xjuoncta  of  his  mad 
cnrcr-T.    Ho  appeaje  lo  Scott,  by   this  time  in  bis 
[;jgbteenth    year,  '*  as    the   tru*?ei    and  noblest  of 
fn-nda/'  who  had  given  him  "*ihe  i^arlie stand  the 
pirotiwest  warning^,''  had  assisted  him  ''  ihe  most 
KtfiiLToiisly  ihroughoiil  all  his  wanderings  and  dis- 
r^cafi^^^,     end   will   not  now  abaiidnn  biTn  in  his 
'penitent  luwlmess  of  misery/' the  rfsuii  ufhis  see- 
I  riK     vir tue  and  I n  n 0 eentP  I n ? ol veci  in  th (i  punish- 
nicnt  of  bis  errora,"    I   find  Scoit  obtaining  the 
plow  and  muciant  assist ance  of  his  own  carefiil 
Jatherj— who  had  long  t»efore  obaerptxi  thid  youth's 
wii>*ward  diapositionj  and  often  cautiont^i  his  soil  n 
asntns»t  the  connection,— to  iniercpde  witti  the  un- 
ibritinatc  wanderer's  family,  and  pmcaro,  if  pos- 
31  hie,  some  mitigftiion i3f  their  uenttnce.    ThereslUt 
is,  that  he  is  fuj nished  with  the  scanty  means  of 
rt'inoymg  himaijlf  to  a  distant  a>lony,  where  he 
spi  nda  several    yaa/e  in  tb<j  drudgery  of  a  very 
hrjnihTe  occupation,  but  hy  depr^jca  esiabliahes  for 
hii>r>»elf  a   uew  character,    winch    commnnds  the 
anxirtu?  intereBf  of  atraitj^ers  j-and  I  fmd  these 
sjTBngers,  parNcularly  a  benevolent  and  venerable 
cTrr^yntan,  nddrcaam^,  on  \m  behalf,  without  hia 
pnvflcj',  (he  young  pHf son,  as  yei  unknown  to  eh« 
wortd,  whom  the;  oh|ect  of  their  euncern  h^  paint- 
ed to  tbi^ni  aa  "  iimtrng  the  warm  fcelinRs  of  youth 
WLth  the jH  nap^f )  parw^-^bo^e  hair  he  had,  *^from 
tlae  day  he  left  Fngknd,  worn  next  his  heart^'    Jnst 
at  ihc  time  wlun  this  appeal  reachefj  yootf,  ha 
heap  that  his  e^ded  friend'a  fath.ir  has  died  sod- 


denly,  nnd  afuf  all  int*sT&Tc  i  hn  haii  flctajJly  bam 
takmg  steps  to  ascortain  the  tntch  of  the  case  at 
Digitized  by  V^OOQ IC' 


UFE  OF  am  WALTSa  SCOTT. 


the  jnoment  when  the  American  despatch  is  laid 
'  oi^  Mb  table.  I  leave  the  reader  to  guess  with  what 
pleasure  Scott  has  to  communicate  the  intalhgence 
that  his  repentant  and  reformed  friend  may  return 
to  take  possession  of  his  inheritance.  The  letters 
before  me  contain  touching  picmres  of  their  meet- 
in8--of  Walter's  first  visit  to  the  ancient  hall. 
where  a  happy  family  are  now  aseembled*-and  ox 
the  affectionately  respectful  sense  which  his  friend 
retained  ever  aflerwards  of  all  that  he  had  doue  for 
him  in  the  season  of  his  strufi^les.    But  what  a 

Fievous  loss  is  Scott's  part  of  tms  correspondence ! 
find  this  correspondent  over  and  over  again  ex- 
Sressing  his  admiration  of  the  letters  in  which  Scott 
escribed  to  him  his  early  tours  both  in  the  High- 
lands and  the  Border  dales ;  I  find  him  prophesyinof 
from  them,  as  early  as  1789,  **  one  day  your  pen  will 
make  you  famous,"— and  already,  in  1790,  urging 
him  to  concentrate  his  ambition  on  a  "history  of 
the  clans."* 

This  young  gentleman  appears  to  have  had  a  de- 
cided turn  for  literature ;  an4«  though  in  his  earlier 
epistles  he  makes  no  allusion  to  Scott  as  ever 
dabbling  in  rhyme,  be  often  inserts  verses  of  his 
own.  some  of  which  are  not  without  merit.    There 
.  is  a  long  letter  in  doorel,  dated  1788,  descriptive  of 
a  ramble  from  Edinourgh  to  Carlisle— of  which  1 
may  quote  the  opening  Iine^  as  a  sample  of  the 
simple  habits  of  tnese  young  people. 
*'  At  four  in  the  momiof ,  I  won't  be  too  sure, 
Yet,  if  right  1  remember  me,  that  was  the  boor, 
When  wiUi  FenuMoo,  Raoisay.  and  Jones,  sir,  and  yon, 
From  Auld  Reekie  I  aonthward  my  route  did  poraue. 
But  two  of  the  dogs  (yet  God  blem  them,  I  aaid) 
Grew  tired,  and  but  set  me  halfway  to  Laaawade, 
While  Jones,  you  and  I,  Wat,  went  on  without  llulter, 
And  at  Srmonds's  feasted  on  good  tnread  and  butter ; 
Where  I,  wanting  a  aineace,  you  Ingged  out  a  shilling, 
And  paid  for  me  too,  though  iwaa  mom.  unwUliag. 
We  parted— be  aural  was  ready  to  snivel- 
Jones  and  joa  to  go  home— I  to  go  to  the  devU.'' 

In  a  letter  of  later  date,  describing  the  adventu- 
rer's captivation  with  the  cottage  maiden  whom  he 
aflerwards  married,  there  are  some  lines  of  a  very 
diifierent  stamp.  This  couplet  at  least  seems  to  me 
exquisite  .— 

"  LowIt  beauty,  dear  fiiend,  beams  with  primitive  grace, 
And  'tis  innocence  self  plays  the  rogue  in  her  iace." 

I  find  in  another  letter  of  this  collection— and  it 
ia  among  the  first  of  the  series— the  following 
passage :—"  Your  Quixotism,  dear  Walter,  was 
Highly  characteristic.  From  the  description  of  the 
blooming  fair,  as  she  sppeared  when  «he  lowered 
her  tnanicau  vtrt,  I  am  hopeful  you  have  not  dropt 
the  acquaintance.  At  least  I  am  certain  some  of  our 
more  rakish  friends  would  have  been  glad  enough 
of  si|ch  an  introduction."  This  hint  I  cannot  help 
connecting  with  the  first  scene  of  TJu  Lady  Green 
Mantle  in  Redgauntlet :  but  indeed  1  could  easily 
trace  many  more  coincidences  between  these  letters 
and  that  novel,  though  at  the  same  time  I  have  no 
sort  of  doubt  that  mlliam  Clerk  was,  in  the  main, 
Darsic  Latimer^  while  Scott  himself  unquestion- 
ably sat  for  his  own  picUire  in  youn^  Alan  Pairfprd. 

The  allusion  to  our  mote  rakish  friends"^  is  in 
keeping  with  the  whole  strain  of  this  juvenile  corres- 
pondence. Throughout  there  occurs  no  coarse  or 
.  even  jocular  suggestion  as  to  the  conduct  of  Scott 
in  that  particular,  as  to  which  most  youths  of  bis 
then  age  are  so  apt  to  lay  up  stores  of  self-reoroach. 
In  this  season  of  hot  and  inmetuous  blood,  he  may 
not  have  escaped  quite  blanleless,  but  I  have  the 
•  concurrent  testimony  of  all  the  most  intimate 
amouih  is  surviving  associates,  that  be  was  remark- 
ably free  from  such  indiscretions ;  that  while  his 
high  sense  of  honour'^shielded  him  from  the  remo- 
test dream  of  tampering  with  female  innocence,  he 
had  an  instinctive  delicacy  about  him,  which  made 
him  recoil  with  utter  disgust  from  low  and  vulgar 
debaucheries.  His  friends.  I  have  heard  more  than 
one  of  them  confess,  used  often  to  rally  him  on 
the  eoldness  of  his  nature.    By  degrees  they  disco- 

•  AB  Seott'f  letten  to  the  Mend  here  aflucM  to  ais  Midto 
tefe  pviibed  in  an  scdilaital  OR. 


vered  that  he  had,  bom  almost  the  dawn  Mihe 
passions,  cherished  a  secret  attachment,  whicn  con- 
tinued, through  all,  the  most  perilous  stage  of  m^ 
to  act  as  a  romantic  charm  in  ssfeguard  of  virtue. 
This— (however  he  may  have  disguised  the  story 
by  mixing  it  up  with  the  Quixotic  adventure  of  the 
damsel  in  the  Green  Mantle)— this  was  the  e^ly 
and  innocent  affection  to  which  we  owe  the  tender- 
est  pages,  not  only  of  Redgauntlet,  but  of  the  Lay 
of  the  Last  Minstrel,  and  of  BokebyH  In  all  ot 
these  works  the  heroine  has  certain  di^inctive 
features,  drawh  from  one  and  the  same  haunting 
dream  of  his  manly  adolescence. 

It  was  about  1790,  according  to  Mr.  William  Clerk, 
that  Scott  was  observed  to  lay  aside  that  careless- 
ness, not  to  say  slovenHoess^  as  to  dress,  wbaoh 
used  to  furnish  matter  for  joking  at  the  beginning 
of  their  acquaintance.  He  now  did  himself  more 
justice  in  these  little  matters,  became  fond  of  mix- 
ing in  general  female  society,  and,  as  his  friend  ex- 
presses it,  "  began  to  set  up  for  a  sguirjs  of  daraes."  . 

His  personal  appearance  at  this  time'  was  not 
unengaging.  A  fsily  -' Iji;;!i  ninli,  who  woll-re- 
meinbers  him  in  ihe  ^m  Afleembly  Roomiv  aay& 
"Young  Walter  Scod  wnh  a  Ciinidv  creature." 
He  had  outgrown  the  vallowncei^is  oft^arly  ill  health, 
and  had  a  fresh  brilliuiU  coin;)li'iion.  His  ^yes 
were  clear,  open,  und  well  st^i,  fviih  a  changnhl 
radiance,  to  which  teeth  of  the  most  perfect  regu- 
larity and  whitenes  Itnt  their  assistance^  while  the 
noble  expanse  and  elevntmu  of  the  brow  gave  to 
the  whole  aspect  a  dighity  fnr  sboire  the  charm  of 
mere  features.  His  smile  was  always  iJi.]iMhtluIj 
and  I  can  easily  fancy  the  neciilinr  intetmixtureot 
tenderness  and  graricy^  witli  playful  ioaoc«nt  hila- 
rity and  humour  in  the  cxproseion,  as  b«in£  well 
calculated  to  fix , a  fun  tady  s  eye.  His  figure,  ex- 
cepting the  blemish  lh  out]  Unib,  muvv  in  tlu>^  days, 
have  been  eminently  handsoiue;  tail,  much  above 
the  usual  standard,  it  was  castm  the  very. mould 
of  a  young  Hercules,  the  head  set  on  with  singular 
grace,  the  throat  and  chest  after  the  truest  model 
of  the  antique,  the  hands  d^oately  finished,  the 
whole  outline  that  of  extraordinary  vigour,  without 
as  yet  a  touch  of  clumsiness.  When  he  had  acquir- 
ed a  Uttle  facility  of  manner,  his  convrfsation  must 
have  been  such  as  could  have  didrn  n^pd  with  any 
exterior  advantages,  and  certainK  t. rough!  swift 
foiY^eness  for  the  one  unkindu-^^  'f  nature.^  I 
have  heard  him,  in  talking  of  thi^  pnrc  of  bis  life, 
say,  with  an  arch  simplicity  of  Ion k  and  lune  which 
those  who  were  familiar  with  hiio  e^in  fill  in  for 
themselves. —"  It  was  a  proud  night  with  me;,  when 
I  first  found  that  a  pretty  young  woman  could  think 
it  worth  her  while  to  sit  and  talk  with  me,  hour 
after  hour,  in  a  comer  of  the  ball-room,  while  all 
the  world  were  capering  in  our  view." 

1  befieve,  however,  that  the  "pretty  young  woman" 
h<  . ' .?'    rsn<«rt'  .1  t.\  had  occupied  his  attention 

io:/.  iiifi^r-.-  Ji-- 'jv<.r  JH'i"  !ircd  in  ihf  Eilinhiirgh  As- 
seniUly  RooiTii,  or  nny  of  his  fntndij  <ook  note  of 
him  ns  -"scttinff  up  for  a  &quire  of  damfs.**  I  have 
b«^!i  tr>{d  I  hot  rlieii  BCqaiiinrance  bf  can  i;i  iheGray- 
fr;Ltr^-'  Church yard^  w la  ere  rmn  beginning  [^j  fall  one 
SijimNi^4)h  tki  e^ngregjition  wi^rv  dif^j^erhjitg,  Soott 
hut  fi'iied  Lo  offer  his  umbrt-lla,  and  the  tencler  being 
acr-Etedt  1*0  eneoried  her  to  her  re^jdenre,  which 
prtjvrtJ!  lo  lie  nt  no  RPeaT  dtsinnee  from  his  own. 
To  rtiMirn  from  ehiirnli  tomnhcr  hft<i*  it  seems, 
grown  into  something  !ike  a  custom,  before  they  met 
m  society,  Mrs.  Scott  being  of  the  party.  It  then 
appeareci  that  she  and  the  Tedy's  mother  had  been 
companions  in  their  youth,  though  both  living  sedu- 
dedly,  they  had  scarcely  Men  each  other  for  man/ 
years;  and  the  two  matrons  now  renewed  theu: 
fijrmer  intercourse.  But  no  acquaintance  appears 
to  have  existed  between  the  fathers  of  the  yoofig 
people,  until  things  had  advanced  in  appearance  fur- 
ther than  met  the  approbation  of  the  good  Clerk  to 
the  Signet  . 

Being  aware  that  the  young  lady,  who  was  vexy 
highly  connected,  had  prospects  offortune  far  above 
his  son's,  the  upright  and  honourable  man  concei- 
ved  it  his  duly  to  give  her  parenu  warning  that  he 


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*40 


LIFE  OP  &m  WALTER  SCOTT. 


oBienred  a  degree  of  inthnac^r  which,  if  allowed  to 
go  on,  might  inYolve  the  paities  in  future  pain  and 
disappointnient.  He  had  heard  his  son  talk  of  a 
contemplated  excuraion  to  the  part  of  the  country 
in  yfinch.  his  neighbour's  esta^  lay,  and  not  doubt- 
ing that  Walter's  real  object  was  different  from 
that  which  he  announced,  mtroduced  himself  with 
a  frank  statement,  that  tie  wished  no  such  affair 
to  prtM^ed,  without  the  express  sanction  of  those 
most  interestCMi  in  the  happmess  of  persons  as  yet 
too  young  to  calculate  consequences  tor  themselves. 
The  northern  Baronet  had  heard,  nothing  of  the 
yotmg  apprentice's  intended  exciu'sion,  and  appear- 
ed to  treat  the  whole  business  very  lightly.  He 
thanked  Mr.  Scott  for  his  scrupulous  attention- 
hut  added,  that  he  believed  he  was*  mistaken  :  and 
this  paternal  interference,  which  Walter  did  not 
hear  of  till  long  afterwards,  produced  no  change  in 
his  relations  with  the  object  of  his  gfowing  at- 
tachment 

I  have  neither  the  power  nor  the  wish  to  give  in 
detail  the  sequel  of  this  story.  It  b  sufficient  to  say, 
that  after  he  had  through  severaUong  years  nourish- 
ed the  dream  of  an  ultimate  union  with  this  lady, 
his  hopes  terminated  in  her  being  married  to  a  gen- 
tleman of  the  highest  character,  to  whom  some 
affectionate  allusions  occur  in  one  of  the  greatest 
of  his  works,  and  who  lived  to  act  the  part  of  a 
most  generous  friend  to  his  early  rival  throughout 
the  anxieties  and  distresses  of  1826  and  1837.  I 
have  said^  enough  for  my  purpose— which  was  only 
to  render  intelligible  a  &w  allurions  in  the  letters 
which  I  raall  bv  and  by  have  to  introduce ;  but  I 
may  add.  that  I  have  no  doubt  this  unfortunate 
passion,  besides  one  good  effect  already  adverted 
to,  had  a  powerful  miluence  in  nerving  Scott's 
mmd  for  the  sedulous  diligence  with  which  he  pur- 
sued his  proper  legal  studies,  as  described  in  bis 
Memoir,  during  the  two  or  three  years  that  preceded 
his  call  to  the  bar. 


CHAPTERVI. 

1LLU8TKATI0N8  COKTZNUXD— STUDIES  FOB  THE  BAB— 
XXGUBSIOMS  TO  N0BTHI7MBB  BLAND— LETTBB  ON 
FLODDBN  FIELD— CALL  TO  THE  BAB— 1790-1792. 

The  two  following  letters  may  sufficiently  illus- 
trate the  writer's  every  day  existence  in  the  autumn 
of  1790.  The  first,  addressed  to  his  Jidus  Achates, 
has  not  a  few  indications  of  the  .vein  of  humour 
from  which  he  afterwards  drew  so  largely  in  his 
novels ;  and  indeed,  even  in  his  last  dayfi,  he  de- 
lighted to  tell  the  story  of  the  Jedburgh  bailies' 
boots. 

To  Wtttiam  CUrk.  Esq.,  at  John  Oerk'o,  Bsq.,qf  Eldin, 
Prince t-Mtreet,  Edinburgh.  ^ 

"  Rosebank,  6(h  Aqfust,  1790. 

"Here  am  I,  the  weather,  according  to  your  phraae, 
moBt  bOchiferous:  the  Tweed  within  twenty  yards  of  the 
window  at  which  I  am  wrttlnir,  swelled  from  bank  to  bra^ 
and  roaring  like  thunder.  It  is  payhig  you  but  a  poor 
compliment  to  tell  you  I  waited  fbr  toch  a  day  to  perK>rm 
my  promise  of  writing,  but  you  muat  consider  that  it  Is  the 
point  here  to  reserve  tach  within-doors'  employment  as 
we  think  most  agreeable  for  bad  weather,  which  in  the 
country  always  wants  something  to  help  it  away.  In>  fair 
weather  we  are  far  from  wanung  amusemem,  which  at 
present  is  my  business ;  on  the  conurary,  erery  fiiir  day 
has  some  plan  of  pleasure  annexed  to  it,  in  so  much  that 
I  can  hardly  believe  I  have  been  hero  above  two  daya,  so 
swiftly  docs  the  time  pads  away.  You  will  ask  how  It  is 
employed.  Why,  negatively,  I  read  no  civil  law.  Hei- 
neocins  and  his  fellow  worthies  have  ample  time  to  gather 
a  venerable  coat  of  dust,  which  they  merit  by  their  dul- 
Bess.  As  to  my  positive  amusements,  besides  riding, 
fishing,  and  the  other  usual  sports  of  the  country,  I  often 
spend  an  hour  or  two  in  the  evening  in  shooting  herons, 
which  are  numerous  on  this  part  of  the  river,  l^i  do  this, 
1  have  no  fartiier  to  go  than  the  bottom  of  our  garden, 
which  literally  hangs  over  the  river.  When  you  fire  at 
a  bird  she  always  crosses  the  river,  and  when  again  shot  at 
with  ball,  usually  returns  to  your  side,  and  will  cross  in 
this  way  several  times  before  she  takes  wing.  This  fnr- 
nish^s  floe  sport;  nor  arc  Hisy  easily  shot,  as  you  never 


can  set  very  near  them.  The  intervals  between  fhehr  a^ 
pearing  is  spent  very  agreeably  in  eating  gooseberries. 

"Yesterday  was  Bt.  James's  Fair,  a  day  of  great  busi- 
nesp.  There  was  a  great  shqw  of  black  cattle — I  meaa 
of  ministers;  the  narrowness  of  their  stipends  here  obli- 
ges Doany  of  them  to  enlarss  their  tncomea  by  taktog 
farms  and  graxing  cattle.  Thk  in  my  opinion,  dimioislies 
their  respectability,  nor  can  the  farmer  be  soopoaed  to 
entertain  any  great  reverence  for  the  shostly  aavice  of  a 
pastor,  (they  literally  deserve  the  epithet,)  who  parhsps 
the  day  before  overreached  him  in  a  bargain.  I  would 
not  have  you  to  suppose  there  are  no  exceptions  to  this 
character,  bnt  it  would  serve  most  of  them.  1  had  beea 
fishing  with  my  ancle,  Captain  8cott,  on  the  Teriot.  sAd 
returned  through  the  ground  where  the  Fair  Is  kept. 
Hie  servant  was  waiting  there  with  our  horses,  as  we 
were  to  ride  the  water.  Lucky  it  was  that  it  wtts  so ;  for 
just  about  that  time  the  msgistcstes  of  Jedbaigh,  who 
preside  there,  b^fan  their  solemn  procession  tbroagfa  the 
Fair.  For  the  greater  dignity  upon  this  occasion,  they 
had  a  pair  of  boots  among  three  men— t.  e.,  as  they  ride 
three  in  a  rank,  the  outer  legs  of  t^ose  personages  who 
formed  the  outside,  as  they  may  be  called,  of  the  proees- 
sloa,  were  each  clothed  in  a  boot.  This  and  several 
other  incongruous  sppearances,  were  thrown  in  the  teeth 
of  those  eavaUers  by  the  Kelso  populace,  and,  by  the  as- 
sistance of  whbkey,  parties  were  soon  inflamed  to  a  very 
tight  battle,  one  of  thsC  kind  which,  for  distinction  sake, 
is  called  royal  It  was  not  without  great  difficulty  that  we 
extricated  ourselves  from  the  confusion;  and  had  we 
been  on  foot,  we  misht  have  been  trampled  down  by 
these  fierce  Jedburgnian^  who  charged  tike  so  many 
troopers.  We  were  spectators  of  the  combat  flrom  an 
eminence,  but  peace  was  soon  after  restored,  which  made 
the  older  warriors  regret  the  effeminacy  or  the  age,  as, 
regularly,  it  ought  to  have  lasted  till  n^ht  Two  lives 
were  lost,  I  mean  of  horses ;  Indeed,  had  yon  seen  them, 
you  would  rat  her  have  wondered  that  they  were  able  to 
bear  their  masters  to  the  scene  of  action,  than  thsTtbey 
could  not  carry  them  off. 

"  I  am  ashamed  to  read  over  this  sheet  of  nonsense,  so 
excuse  Inaccuracies.  Remember  me  to  the  lads  of  the  -  * 
Literary,  those  of  the  eiub  in  par^cular.  I  vrrote  Trriof . 
Rememser  my  most  respectml  compliments  to  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Clerk  and  &mily,  particularly  James;  when  yon 
write,  let  me  know  how  he  did  when  you  heard  of  him.  } 
Imitate  me  hi  writing  a  long  letter,  bnt  not  in  being  long  in 
writing  it.  Direct  to  me  at  Miss  Scott's  Garden,  Kelso. 
My  leUera  lie  there  for  me,  as  It  saves  their  being  sent 
dowm  to  Rosebank.  The  carrier  puts  up  at  the  Grass- 
market,  and  goes  away  on  Wednesday  forenoon. 

"Yours,  YfAvrm.  awn." 

The  next  letter  is  dated  from  a  house  at  which  I 
have  often  seen  the  writer  in  his  latter  days.  Kippi- 
law,  situated  about  five  or  six  miles  behind  Abbots- 
ford,  on  the  high  ground  between  the  Tweed  and  the 
Water  of  Ayle,  is  the  seat  of  an  ancient  lahtl  of  the 
clan  Kerr,  but  was  at  this  time  tenanted  by  the 
family  of  Waller's  brother-apprentice,  James  Ram- 
say, who  afterwards  realized  a  fortune  in  the  civil  t 
service  of  the  East  India  Company  at  Ceylon. 
••  To  WiUiam  Clerk,  Esq. 

"KippiUw.8ept3,1790. 
"Dear  Clerk, 

"I  am  now  writing  from  the  country  habitation  of  our 
friend  Ramsay,  where  I  have  been  spendhig  a  week  as 
pleasantly  as  ever  I  spent  one  in  my  lite.  Imagine  a  com- 
modious old  house,  pleasantly  situated  amongst  a  knot  of 
venerable  ehns,  in  a  fine  8|k>rting,  open  country,  and  only 
two  miles  from  an  excellent  water  for  trouts,  inhabited 
by  two  of  the,best  old  ladies,  (Ramsay's  aunts,)  and  three 
as  pleasant  young  ones,  (his  sisters,)  as  any  person  would 
wish  to  converse  with— and  yo<iwiU  have  some  idea  of 
Kippilaw.  James  and  I  wander  about,  fish,  or  look  for 
hares,  the  whole  (^y,  and  at  night  laugh,  chat,  and  play 
round  games  at  cards.  Such  is  the  fatherland  In  wriich 
I  have  been  living  for  some  days  past«  and  which  1  leave 
to-night  or  to-morrow.  This  day  is  very  bad;  notwith  . 
standmg  which,  James  has  sallied  out  to  make  some  calls, 
as  he  soon  leaves  the  country.  I  have  a  great  mind  to 
trouble  him  with  the  care  of  this. 

"And  now  for  your  letter,  the  receipt  of  which  I  have 
not,  I  tl)tnk,  yet  acknowle<lged,  though  I  am  much  obliged 
to  you  for  it.  I  dare  say  you  would  relish  your  jaunt  to 
Pennycuick  very  much,  especially  considering  the  eollta- 
-  r  desert  of  Edinburgh,  from  which  It  relieved  you.    By 

le  by,  know,  O  thou  dcvourer  of  grapes,  who  contemn* 
est  the  vulgar  gooseberry,  that  thou  art  not  singular  in  thy 
devouring— ner  tarn  avereus  equos  »ol  jungit  ab  uroe 
{KHsomand.  gciNeety^mj  uncle  being  the  lawful  posses* 
or  of  a  vinery,  measuring  no  lois  thuitwenty-four  ftSC 
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Z 


UFBOP  SIR  WALTE»«COTT. 


41 


^  liiitlig»Jh€  eooCmti  of  whieh  come  often  In  my  w»j ; 
■■d.  accordiDff  to  the  provorh,  tlwt  enoof  h  is  as  good  as  a 
flaw,  m  m|imU^  acceptable  as  if  they  came  out  of  the 
OMMt  ejoenrtve  Tineyard  In  France.  1  cannot,  however^ 
equal  your  boast  of  brealcfastiog,  dining,  and  supping  on 
ii!^an.JiM  for  the  civiUans*— peace  be  Mrith  them,  and 
may  tm  dost  lie  Ii|ht  upon  their  heads— they  deserve  this 
prayer  in  return  for  tnose  sweet  slumbers  which  their 
Deolfn  toUnence  infuses  into  their  readers.  I  fear  I  shall 
too  aooo  be  forced  to  distuirb  them,  for  some  of  our  (amny 
BOW  at  Kelso,  I  am  under  the  agonies  lest  1  he 
d  10  escort  them  into  town.  The  only  pleasure  I 
I  rasp  by  this,  is  ttiat  of  ^Unf  you  how  yon  do,  and, 
pertm,  the  solid  advanii^ e  of  completing  our  studies  be- 
for*  the  CoUese  sits  down.  Employ,  therefore,  your 
'  i|rs  in  slumber  while  you  can,  ior  soon  it  will  be 
.  i  from  your  eyes.  I  plume  myself  on  my  sagacity 
regard  to  C.  J.  Poz.t  I  always  foretold  you  would 
tti^  of  him — a  Tile  brute.  I  have  not  yet  forgot  the  nar 
row  escape  of  my  fingers.  I  rejoice  at  James'sl  intimacv 
wttb  Miss  Menzies.  dhe  promised  to  turn  out  a  fine  gir^ 
has  a  fine  fonune,  and  could  James  get  her,  he  might  sing, 
*  FQ  go  no  more  to  sea,  to  sea.'  Give  my  love  to  him 
whea  Toti  write. — '  God  preserve  us,  what  a  scrawl !'  says 
one  Of  the  ladies  just  now,  in  admiration  at  the  ex- 
pecfitioo  with  which  I  scribble.  Well— I  was  never  able 
In  my  life  to  do  any  thing  with  what  is  called  gravity  and 
de6t>ermtioo.  A 

**  I  dined  two  dm  aso  fele  ft  tite  wKh  Lord  Bnchan 
Heard  a  history  of  all  nis  ancestors  wl|||p  he  has  hung 
TOVod  his  chiaraey* piece.  From  couni^v  of  pedigrees, 
CBod  hoed  deliver  us !  He  is  thinking  oMrectmg  a  roon- 
uneot  to  Thomsoo.  He'  freouented  Drvburgh  much  In 
my  gnuidiitf  her'ji  time.  It  will  be  a  handsome  thing.  Aa 
lo  your  scamp  of  a  boy,  I  saw  nothing  of  him ;  but  the  iac*^ 
is  eooi^h  to  condemn  there.  1  have  seen  a  man  flogged 
for  stealing  spirits  on  the  sole  information  of  his  nose. 
Remember  me  respectfully  to  all  vour  family. 
"Believe  me  yours,  affecUonatety, 

Waltbb  Scott." 
After  bis  return  from  the  scene  of  these  merry  do- 
ing^ he  writes  aa  follows  to  his  kind  uncle.  The 
r«uler>ill  isee  that,  in  the  course  of  the  preceding 
year,  he  had  announced  his  early  views  of  the  on- 
gin  of  what  is  called,  the  feudal  system,  in  a  paper 
read  before  tht  Literary  Society,  He,  in  the  suc- 
ceeding winter^hose  the  same  subject  for  an  essay, 
nbmitted  to  Mr.  Dugald  Stewart,  whose  prelec- 
tions on  ethics  he  was  then  attending. .  Some  time 
later  he  again  illustrated  the  same  opinions  more  at 
length,  in  a  disquisition  before  the  Speculative  Soci- 
ety :  and,  indeed,  he  always  adhered  to  them.  One 
(/the  last  historical  books  he  read,  before  leaving 
Abbotaford  for  Malta  in  1831.  was  Colonel  Tod'a 
interesting  account  of  Rajasthan;  and  I  well  re* 
member  the  delight  he  expressed  on  finding  his 
views  confirmed^  as  they  certainly  are  in  a  very 
striking  manner,  by  the  philosophical  soldier's  de- 
tails of  the  structure  of  society  in  that  remote  region 
oi  the  East. 

**  To  Captain  Robert  Seoitf  Rooebank,  KeUo. 

«  Edinburgh,  September,  1790. 
**Dear  Uncle, 

*'We  arrived  here  without  any  accident  about  five 
o'clock  on  Monday  evening.  The  good  weather  made  our 
ioamey  pleasant  I  have  been  attending  to  your  com- 
missions here,  and  find  that  the  last  volume  or  Dodsley's 
Annoal  Register  published  is  that  for  1787,  which  1  waj$ 
abool  to  send  you ;  but  the  bookseller  T  frequent  had  not 
floe  lo  boards,  though  he  expects  to  procure  one  for  me. 
'  There  is  a  new  work  of  the  same  title  and  size,  on  the 
sme  plan,  which,  being  published  every  year  regularly, 
lias  aimoat  cat  out  Dodaley'&  so  that  this  last  is  expecterl 
o  atop  altogether.  You  will  let  me  luiow  if*  yon  would 
wish  to  tkave  the  new  work,  which  is  a  good  one,  will  join 
very  wen  with  those  volumes  of  Dodsley's  which  you 
already  have,  and  is  published  up  to  the  present  year. 
Byron'k  Narrative  is  not  yet  published,  but  you  shall  have 
itwbenever  it  comes  out. 

"Agreeable  to  your  permission,  I  send  you  the  scroll 
copy  of  an  essay  on  the  origin  of  the  feudal  system,  writtct^ 
fsr  the  LHerary  Society  last  year.  As  you  are  kind 
saeogh  to  interest  yourself  in  my  style  and  manner  of 
writing,  I  thought  yon  wight  like  better  to  see  It  in  itn 
\  orighial  slate,  than  one  on  the  polishing  of  which  mon^ 
'  time  had  been  bestowed.  You  will  see  that  the  intention 
*nd  anempt  of  the  essay  is  principally  to  controvert  two 

•  Books  on  Civil  Law.    , 

*  A  tame  fox  of  Mr  Clerk's,  which  ba  sooo 
Ilb.iaiBesClerk.R.N. 

6  D» 


1  r,.' aijrUWns  ?4i(tdowD  by  the  writers  on  the  subject  t— 
'  ^rilCtrt  uBitlnv^ntrd  by  th«  Lnmbftrda  i  and, 

roUndiUk'n  dppendiui  an  the  king'*  being  &&- 
.  .  \  .^,  J  ihe  va\c  lord  of  aU  I  lie  iBJida  in  ihe  country, 
v¥t<icli  iiii  tt (Iter war iti  f{j»lribmtd  to  be  held  by  military 
t  emu  res.  J  iiave  ^O'leaVDred  to  A3Kij;n  it  a  ixtorv  jfeuioTul 
■Trlgtuif  and  to  prgive  Ml«i  M  piorecitA  upon  prm^ipl^A  ct>aj- 
mon  10  All  natioins  wh(<ci  pjaci^d  In  a  ccxlain  luti/ution.  I 
dfu  4rm1ii  Ihe  inattvr  ftjll  bul  poorly  rewaN  iIiq  (rem- 
J4i*  jk-m  witi  flntt  iri  rt'Mltng  somn  pdrle.  I  liope^  Ijuiv* 
'^ejt  ?fifi  wi^J  wiakfl  tiut  CDOUftFi  Mi  (?aabJo  ynu  to  favour 
iij:^  with  Tt^tjr  BcdUmenis  iiitan  \\a  (iiih*,  Th*?f*  \a  Dona 
whflBe  oiivice  I  prim  w  higiiT  for  ihrro  is  nont?  In  wHojib 
judgment  f  can  so  oi itch  ron£de,  orwbo  has  abimn  ma 
HO  uiuclj  kjnrlnesR, 

^*  I  abso  s<f  [id,  u  ariiuiieni«nt  for  an  idJe  half  hour;  a  wpy 
of  (hi!  rfffuJiiLouM  nf  our  Boci^iy,  some  of  which  will,  t 
thifjkt  be  fttTuiiroil  wtLh  your  approbailoQ. 

"  f\y  ranthrr  oiiila^Aier  >>irt  jn  compliments  lo  aunt  and 
>i>u,  andul^t  inthiuok^  Tor  Lh^  att^Eitifjns  fuid  hospllility 
wliirti  ifjej  frpdrlenced  wX  Roaebfink.  And  I  am  ever 
y^iijr  afTcc^tooaitc  nejilicw.  Walt^h  ttcOtT. 

*'P.  B— If  you  coutiniJE!  to  want  h  [as^tKT^  J  iltink  I  cui 
procure  you  one  of  a  food  bteed^  and  KtiKt  bim  by  th« 
currier."'^ 

White  HitendiiiK  Mr*  Dugald  Stewart 'a  clsiSi  in 
the  mnler  of  I79(t-1)  ScoU  product'd,  in  ^i^oynptituce 
with  tine  ii^inl  custom  of  etbicftl  studcnin,  Bevmil 
essay*  btwdefi  ihit  to  which  I  have  alreidy  mjtdo 
on  nil  11  "lion,  and  which  wns  1  believe,  en  titled  ^  "  On 
The  M^innufs  niirl  Cueloma  of  the  Nnnhern  Na- 
tkins.'*  Bui  this  essay  it  wfi*  ihat  6r»l  nUracted, 
in  anv  nnrlkufar  nmnner.  hte  profeisof'*  Btfeofion. 
Mr.  Robert  Ainsli^  wdl  known  na  the  frit?nd  and 
fellow  traveller  uf  Burns,  happened  to  attend  Slew- 
Jirt  the  same  *t»fFsion.  anrl  rem  em  be  ra  hb  sayiiit;  ex 
tathidrk^  **  Ttia  author  t/f  ihia  paper  shows  much. 
knowIetlKB  of  his  subject,  and  a  if  real  to  etc  for  such 
rr  *o  a  re  hc3. "  Scott  ht  ca  m^^  before  I  h  <.^  c  I  o  Pe  of  the 
Stftsiort,  n  frtcjuctit  visiter  in  Mr.  Stewart's  fauiilyj 
find  an  afft?ciipfiflie  int/TCOurac  was  mainLained  he- 
twe^^n  ihem  through  iheir  after-livtie. 

Let  iim  here  set  down  Ei  httle  atorv  which  moit 
of  his  friends  masi  h.ive  hi^ard  him  tell  of  the  nme 
pt-riod.  VVhde  at  lending  Dusaki  Stewart's  lectnrea 
on  moral  |ihiIo^phy,  Scoil  happeiifid  in  sit  fro-' 
quetilly  beside  0  modest  atuJ  ddigent  youth,  conaid* 
(TiiUy  his  ectiior,  and  obviously  of  very  hiimble  con- 
dition. Their  acquaintance  wjon  became  raiher  in- 
(imatjPj  Dud  he  occnisiynntly  made  ihta  new  friend 
ilie  companion  of  hia  conntiv  w^lks,  but  as  to  hia 
parent  ti^e  Jind  pld€e  of  rtsjidence  h«  atwoys  pre- 
Sf^rvtd  tKtaJ  sitcact^.  One  day,  lo  wards  il>c  end  of 
the  seaaion^  as  Scult  was  n^turninp  [a  EJinbuTKh 
from  a  solitary  ramble,  his  eye  was  arrested  by  q 
minify  if  I  fly  venertible  Blutgown^  ik  beggar  of  tha 
Kdie  Ochiltree  orders  who  stood  propped  on  hm 


stick,  with  ilia  hat  in  hia  hand,  but  silent  and  mo- 
tionless, at  one  of  the  out  skirls  of  tho  city.  Scolt 
gave  tbe  oJd  man  what  tntlc  he  had  in  his  pocket, 
and  passed  on  his  way*  Two  or  three  times  after- 
wurdn  ihe  same  thing  liappened,  and  \w  hud  b^guti 
to  consider  the  Bl ucKown  as  one  who  had  cstab- 
h^hed  a  claim  on  hii$  bounty  :  when  one  day  he  felt 
iri  with  Uini  as  he  was  walking  with  hia  itumble 
St ude n L.  Obfto rvin g  eom e  con f u&io n  in  his  com ti a n- 
Eou'a  niann<;r  a^  he  ^aUittd  his  penisijoncr)  and  b<^ 
Slowed' the  uauol  betiefaetiot!,  he  coutd  not  heip 
s.i^jnp,  after  ihey  had  proceeded  a  (pw  yards  fur- 
ther. Do  you  know  any  thing  to  the  old  man's  dJa- 
er'dit 7"  Lpon  which  the  youth  burst  inlo  t*;ars;, 
and  cried,  O  oo,  sir,  God  fiirbid— but  lama  poor 
wrttch  to  be  aahomcd  lo  speak  to  him—he  i»  mjr 
c3wn  father.  He  has  enough  loid  by  to  Fervo  for  hi« 
own  old  dttVEs  but  he  s^tande  bleacbing  hia  head  in 
the  windt  (hat  hii  may  git  the  means  of  pay log  fur 
m  y  eiJ  ij  c  Ji  1  it  1 1> . "  Co  iripa  s  ?ianatm^  I  he  yoan  k  rna  n^a 
ailuaiioo,  Scott  ?oolhed  bia  weaknesF,  and  kept  his 
jwcrel,  but  by  no  m«!ans  brnkeofftheacqUDitiianc^j!, 
j^dme  DMjnEhs  hod  eUpecd  tufurc  he  n^i^mn  mei  iho 
OIueRown— It  was  in  a  retired  place,  ond  the  old 
man  bei^petl  to  speak  a  word  wtih  him^  'VI  findj 
^ir,''  he  said^  "  thsit  you  hnve  been  vtry  kind  to  my 
Wdlie.  He  hnd  often  spoke  of  r1  bef^pre  I  saw  you 
toKciher*  Will  fm  pardon  nix^h  a  lij^e^iy,  and  givo 
me  ^ij  boauui  utd  pl«ani^^|  |^X  you  unwff^ 


LIFE4V  SIR  WALTER  QOOTf. 


12        « 

poor  roof  7  To-monrow  ia  Saturday,  will  you  come 
at  two  o'clock  1  Willie  has  not  been  very  well,  and 
it  would  do  him  meikle  good  to  see  your  face."  His 
curiosity,  besides  better  feelings,  was  touched,  and 
he  accepted  this  strange  invitation.  The  appointed 
hour  found  him  within  sight  c^  a  sequestered  little 
cottage,  near  St.  Leonaixi's^the  hamlet  where  he 
has  placed  the  residence  of  his  David  Dean's.  His 
fellow-student,  pale  and  emaciated  from  recent  sick- 
bess,  was  seated  on  a  stone  bench  by  the  door, 
lookmg  out  for  his  commg,  and  introduced  him  into 
a  not  untidy  cabin,  where  the  old  man,  divested  of  his 
professional  garb,  was  directing  the  last  vibrations 
of  a  leg  of  mutton  that  hung  by  a  hempen  cord1>e- 
fore  the  fire.  The  mutton  was  excellent— so  were 
the  potatoes  and  whiskey:  and  Scott  returned 
fhi'  '  ''  in  (^ntt^rtainmg  ponversation,  in  which, 
UL-.j.j.t  i,  u  i.iijg  many  q\nxt  storiee  of  his  own  life — 
and  he  had  seen  service  in  his  youth— the  old  man 
more  than  once  used  an  c^Eprcftsion,  which  was 
long  aflerwftrds  put  jnti>  the  mouth  of  Dominie. 
Samp  son' 3  mothiir  :— **  Pteaift  God,  I  may  live  to 
iee  iJiy  bairn  wji^f  hi3  head  in  u  pulpit  yet." 

Walter  couUl  n<it  ht^lp  i tiling  rill  this  the  same 
night  ta  hia  mo  [her,  and  added,  that  he  would  fain 
sec  his  poor  fnendohtuin  a  moor's  place  in  some 
gentlem&n'i  family.  ""Dinnfl  speak  to  your  father 
about  it,"  Enid  the  good  ^adv;  *'if  it  had  been  a 
t^QUIderhe  migh  I  have  ihought  Jess,  but  he  will  say 
ik&jigot  watf  a  3in  VW  see  what  [  can  do."  Mrs. 
SciiLi  miide  itiquirifs  in  her  own  way  among  the 
profcsBors,  emd  having  satiB^cd  herself  as  to  the 
young  nian's  charncit^r,  applied  to  her  favourite 
miniaLort  Dr.  Erakme^  what<ie  iriffuence  soon  pro- 
en  red  sti{!h  a  situaiion  oa  had  been  suggested  for 
him,  in  the  north  of  Scotland.  *'  And  thenceforth," 
said  Sir  Walter.  "  I  lost  sight  of  my  friend— ^ut  let 
ue  hope  he  made  ooi  his  curriculum  at  Aberdeen, 
and  IB  now  wagging;  his  ht^ad  where  the  fine  old 
carle  wi?htNi1  to  «t*^  liipn.^'* 

On  tl)o  4th  of  Jauuary.  1791,  Scott  was  admitted 
a  member  of  The  Speculative  Socieiy^  where  it  had, 
long  before,  been  the  custom  of  those  about  to  be 
y  called  to  the  bar,  and  those  who.  after  assuming  the 
gown  were  left  in  possession  of  leisure  by  the  solici- 
tors, to  train  or  exercise  themselves  in  the  arts  of 
elocution  and  debate.  From  tinie  to  time,  each 
member  produces  an  essay,  and  his  treatment  of  his 
subject  is  then  discussed  oy  the  conclave.  Scott's 
essays  were,  for  November,  1791,  "On  the  Origin  of 
the  Feudal  Syatem:"  for  the  Uf  h  February,  1792,  "On 
the  Authenticity  of  Ossian's  Poems ;"  and,  on  the 
llth  December,  of  the  same  year,  he  read  one  "On 
the  Origin  of  the  Scandinavian  Mythology."  The 
selection  of  these  subjects  shows  the  course  of  his 
private  studies  and  predilections;  but  he  appears, 
from  the  minutes,  to  have  taken  a  fair  share  m  the 
ordinary  debates  of  the  Society,— and  spoke,  in  the 
spring  of  1791,  on  these  questions,  which  all  belong  to 
the  established  text- book  for  juvevile  speculation  in 
Edinbumh  :— "  Ought  any  permanent  support  to  be 
provideofor  the  poor  1"  "Ought  there  to  be  an  estab- 
lished religion  1"  "  Is  attainder  and  corruption  of 
blood  ever  a  proper  punishment  ?"  "  Ought  the  pub- 
lic expenses  to  be  defrayed  by;  levying  the  amount  di- 
rectly upon  the  people,  or  is  it  expedient  to  contract 
national  debt  for  that  purpose  7"  "  Was  the  execu- 
tion of  Charles  I.  justifiable?"  "  Should  the  slave- 
trade  be  abolished  ?"  In  the  next  session,  previous  to 
his  call  to  the  bar,  he  spoke  in  the  debates,  of  which 
these  were  the  theses :— "  Has  the  belief  m  a  future 
state  been  of  advantage  to  mankind,  or  is  it  ever 
likely  to  be  so  T  "  Is  it  for  the  interest  of  Britain  to 
maintain  what  is  called  the  balance  of  Europe?" 

Snd  again,  on  the  eternal  question  as  to  the  fate  of 
'jne  Charles  I.,  which,  by  the  way,  was  thus  set 
up  for  re-discussion,  on  a  motion  by  Walter  Scott. 
He  took,  for  several  winters,  an  ardent  interest  in 

*  Tin  reader  wiU  ibid  a  itoiT  Dot  anlikbUua  in  tholatroducti^ 
Ip  tlie  ••  Antwuaiy,"  1830.  When  I  fint  read  that  note,  I  aaked 
hm  why  he  had  altered  ao  many  cifcamstanoe«  from  ihe  luual 
ml  edition  of  htt  aneodote.  "  Nay."  taid  he. "  both  atories  may 
be  trae,  and  why  ahould  I  be  alwaya  laUing  in  myaeir,  when  what 
happened  to  aooUier  ofour  class  would  serve  oqitally  well  lor  U» 
mipoaalbadnTiewr'   I  regretted  the /c^oTmuKon., 


this  flociety.  Very  floon  after  hit  admiiBioii*  (IMIl 
January,  1791,)  he  waa  elected  their  Ubrarian ;  sod 
in  the  I^ovember  following,  he  became  alao  their 
secretary  and  treasurer;  all  which  appointments  in- 
dicate the  reliance  placed  on  his  careful  habits  of 
business  the  fruit  of  his  chamoer  educaUoB.  'Hie 
minutes  kept  in  his  handwnting  attest  the  strict 
regularity  of  his  attention  to  the  small  afiairs,  lite- 
rary and  financial,  of  the  club ;  but  they  show,  also, 
as  do  all  his  early  letters,  a  strange  carelessness  in 
spelhng.  His  constant  good  temper  softened  the 
asperities  of  debate  ^wh||e  his  mulufarious  lore,  and 
the  quaint  bumour  with  which  he  enlivened  its  dis- 
play, made  him  more  a  ftivourite  as  a  speaker  than 
some  whose  powers  of  rhetoric  were  far  above  Us. 

Lord  Jefirey  remembers  being  struck,  the  wH 
night  he  spent  at  the  Speculative,  with  the  singuMr 
appearance  of  the  secretary,  who  sat  gravely  at  the 
bottom  of  the  table  in  a  huge  woollen  nignt-oap ; 
and  when  the  president  took  the  chair,  pleadsd  a 
bad  toothadie  as  his  apologv  for  coming  into  that 
worshipful  assembly  in  sucn  a  "portentous  ma- 
chine." He  read  that  night  an  essay  on  ballads, 
which  so  much  interested  the  new  member;  that  be 
requested  to  t^introduced  to  him.  Mr.  Jeffrey  call- 
ed on  him  neif evening,  and  fpund  him  "in  a  small 
den,  on  the  sunk  floor  of  his  father's  house,  ia 
George's  S«ire,  surrounded  with  dingy  books." 
from  which  Ifley  adjourned  to  a  tavern,  and  supped 
together.  Such  Was  the  oommeiiMment  of  an  ao- 
quainianoe,  which  by  degrees  ripftied  mto  friend* 
ship,  between  the  two  most  disunguished  meA  of 
letters  whom  Edinburgh  produced  m  their  time.  I 
may  add  here  the  description  of  that  early  den,  with 
which  I  am  flavoured  by  a  lady  of  Scott's  £unily. 
"  Walter  had  soon  begun  to  collect  out-of-the-way 
things  of  all  sorts.  He  h{id  more  books  than 
shelves  ;  a  small  painted  cabinet,  with  Scotch  and 
Roman  coins  in  it,  and  so  forth.  A  claymore  and 
Lochaber  axe,  given  him  by  old  Invernahrle, 
mounted  guard  on  a  little  print  of  Prince  Charlie ; 
and  Broughton^s  Saucer  was  hooked  up  minst  the 
wall  below  it."  Such  was  the  germ  of  the  magni- 
ficent library  and  museum  of  Abbotsford ;  and  such 
were  the  "  new  realms"  in  which  he,  on  taking  pos- 
session, had  arranged  his  little  paraphernalia  aSont 
him  "  with  all  the  feelings  of  novelty  and  liberty." 
Since  those  days  the  habits  of  life  in  Edinburgh,  as 
elsewhere,  have  undergone  many  changes ;  and  the 
"convenient  parlour.'  in  which  Scott  first  show- 
ed Jefirey  his  collections  of  minstrelsy,  is  now,  in 
all  probability,  thought  hardly  good  enough  for  a 
mental's  sleeping-room.    ' 

But  I  have  forgotten  to  explain  BrcughiorC* 
Saucer.  We  reaa  of  Mr.  Saunders  Fairfbra,  that 
though  "  an  elder  of  the  kirk,  and  of  course  zealous 
for  King  George  and  the  Grovernment,"  yet,  having 
"  many  clients  and  connexions  of  business  amon^ 
families  of  opposite  political  -  tenets,  he  was  particu- 
larly cautious  to  use  all  the  conventional  pnrases 
which  the  civility  of  the  time  had  devised  as  an  ad- 
missible mode  of  language  betwixt  the  two  parties : 
Thus  he  spoke  sometimes  of  the  Chevalier,  but 
never  either  of  the  Prince,  which  would  have  been 
sacrificing  his  own  principles,  or  of  the  Pretender^ 
which  would  have  been  ofifensive  to  those  of  others: 
Again,  he  usually  designated  the  Rebellion  as  the 
ajfair  of  1746.  and  spoke  of  any  one  engaged  in  it 
as  a  person  who  had  oeen  ott/  at  a  certain  period — 
so  that,  on  the  whole,  he  was  much  liked  and  res- 
pected on  all  sides."*  All  this  was  true  of  Mr.  Wal- 
ter Scott,  W.  S. ;  but  I  have  often  heard  his  son 
tell  an  anecdote  of  him  which  he  dwelt  on  with  par- 
ticular satisfaction,  as  illustrative  of  the  man,  and 
of  the  difficult  time  through  which  he  had  lived. 

Mrs.  Scott's  curiosity  was  strongly  excit^  eoa 
autumn  by  the  regular  appearance,  at  a  certain  hear 
every  evening,  of  a  sedan  chair,  to  deposit  a  person, 
carenilliT  muffled  up  in  a  mantle,  who  was  imme- 
diately ushered  in  toner  husband's  private  room,  and 
commonly  remained  with  him  there  until  long  after 
the  usual  bed-time  of  this  orderly  family.   Mr.  Scott 


Digitized  by 


t,'-(5»gie 


LIFE  OF  Sm  WALTER  SqQTT. 


^^'z^n 


^,  .  .  .  — j-^-T-r .— ll-^ —  "^^^^  avagnenesi 
wUca  imtatad  tne  ladr  s  feelings  more  ana  more ; 
uta,  at  laflt,  she  could  bear  tne  thing  no  longer; 
bat  ooe  erenin^  just  as  she  heard  thvbell  ring  as 
for  the  strangers  chair  to  carrv  him  of!;  she  made 
her  appearance  within  the  forbidden  parlour  with 
a  salver  in  her  hand,  observing,  that  she  thought 
the  sanUamen  had  sat  so  long  they  would  be  the 
becicr  of  a  dish  of  tea.  and  had  ventured  according- 
]f  to  brin^  some  for  their  acceptance.  The  stran- 
fitf.  a  pe^an  of  distinguished  appearance,  and  rich- 
nr  dresaed,  bowed  to  tne  lady,  and  accepted  a  cup ; 
but  her  busbaod  knit  his  brows,  and  refused  very 

■""to  partake  the  refreshment.  A  moment  at- 
is  the  visiter  withdrew— and  Mr.  Scott,  lift- 
the  window-sask  took  the  cup,  which  he 

,_  t  empty  on  the  table,  and  tossed  it  out  upon 
ihe^KTeznent.  The  lady  exclaimed  for  herchma, 
but  was  pat  to  silence  by  her  husband's  saying,  "  I 
eaa  forgive  your  Uttle  curiosity,  madam,  but  you 
aiBSI  pay  the  penalty.  I  may  admit  into  my  house, 
on  a  piece  of  bttsiness,  persons  wholly  unworthy  to 
he  tzaaisd  as  guests  by  my  wife.  Neither  liv  of  me 
Borof  miBe  oomes  after  Mr.  Murray  of  Broughton's." 

Tins  was  the  unhappy  man  who,  after  attending 
Pxiiice  Charles  Stuart  as  hiq  secretary  throus^out 
the  greater  part  of  his  expeditidn,  condescended  to 
redeem  his  own  life  and  fortune  by  bearing  evidence 
'the  noblest  of  his  late  master's  adherentSi 


against 
vbeii. 


*■  med  by  lentje  hearts  Kilmarnock  died— 
The  bnre,  Bslmerino,  we^e  on  thy  side." 

WboBfiise  conlronted  with  the  last  named  peer  be- 
fore the  Prhrv  Gooncilm  St.  James's,  the  prisoner 
was  asked,  do  you  know  this  witness,  my  lord  1" 
*Not  I,"  answered  Balmerino;  "I  once  knew  a 
psrsoB  who  bore  the  designation  of  Murray  of 
Bro^^hton — ^but  that  was  a  gentleman  ^d  a  man 
of  honour,  and  one  that  could  hold  up  his  head  f 

T%e  asooer  belongiM  to  Broughton's  teacup  had 
beea  ptteerved ;  and  Walter,  at  a  very  early  period, 
Bade  prise  of  it.  One  can  umcv  youn^  Alan  Fair* 
fard  ppinting  significandy  to  the  relic  when  Mr. 
Saoaders  was  vouchsafing  him  ooe  of  his  custom- 
aiy  leetuies  about  listening  with  unseemly  Bym< 
fuhy  to  **  the  Mawing,  bleeaing  stories  which  the 
tMand  oentlemen  told  of  those  troublous  times."* 

The  fiiBowini^  letter  is  the  only  one  of  the  autumn 
«f  1791  that  has  reached  my  hands.  It  must  be 
nad  with  partieolar  interest,  for  its  account  of  Scott's 
trst  Tistt  to  Flodden  field,  destined  to  be  celebrated 
ssveateen  shears  afterwards  in  the  very  noblest  spe- 
isiisii  oi  WB  numbers. 

Tb  WSUam  Gerk^  Esq.  Prinee'a  Street,  Edinburgh. 

"Northumberland,  26th  August,  1791. 
''DeerOerk. 

°  Bebeld  a  letter  from  the  moontain»,  (nr  I  am  very 
aBOffy  settled  here,  in  a  fiurmer's  house,  about  six  miles 
twa  Wooles,  in  the  very  centre  of  the  Cheviot  liills,  in 
oae  at  the  wildest  and  oiost  romantic  situations  which 
yoor  inuifiostiup,  fertile  upon  the  subject  of  cottages, 
ever  aoggejtcd.  And  what  the  deuce  anre  you  about 
ffacn  1  meOatokM  I  hear  you  say.  Why,  sir,  of  all  things 
ta  the  woild-ilrlnking  goat's  whey— not  that  I  stand  To 


:  one  army  posiea  upon  loe  lace  oi  a  nm,  ana 
by  high  grounds  projecting  on  each  flank,  with 

ir  Till  in  front,  a  deep  and  sUll  river,  winding 
a  very  extensive  vauey  called  Milfield  Plain, 


Oat  least  need  of  it,  but  my  unele  having  a  slight  cold,  and 
beiag  a  little  tired  of  home,  asked  me  last  Sunday  even- 
h^ir  Iwoald  like  to  90  with  him  to  Wooler,  and  I 


_  in  the  sArmative,  n«A  moraing's  sun  beheld 
M  eo  our  joomey,  through  a  pass  In  the  Cheviots,  upon 
lae  bnclE  of  two  special  nogs*  and  man  Thomas  behind 
vfelin  portoiantean,  and  two  fishing  rods  fastened  across 
feis  baek,  Doch  In  the  style  of  8t  Andrew's  Cross.  Upon 
rcncbing  Wooler,  we  found  the  aceommodadons  so  bad 
ttwt  we  were  forced  to  use  some  interest  to  get  lodgings 

1  indeM. 


delightfully  appointed 
To  «dd  to  my  astlsfactioa,  we  are  amidst  places  renown- 
ed hy  the  ibats  of  former  days ;  each  hlU  la  crowned  with 
a  (swer,  or  camp,  or  cairn,  and  in  no  situation  can  you 
be  ttcar  onyre  ftcMs  of  battle :  Flodden,  Otterbom,  Che- 
vyChME^  Ford  Castle,  Chillingham  Castle,  Copland  Cas- 
cte,  ai^  many  another  scene  of  blood,  are  within  the 
I  of  a  forenoon's  ride.  Out  of  the'  brooks  with 
I  hills  are  intersected  we  pull  trouts  of  half  a 

voLLp.  tm 


yard  in  leagtbk  as  ftst  as  we  did  the  perches  from  the 
pond  at  Pennyculek,  end  we  are  in  Uie  very  country  of 
muirfowL 

•  *' Often  as  I  have  wished  for  your  company,  I  never 
did  it  more  earnestly  than  when  I  rode  over  Flodden 
Edge.  I  Icnow  your  taste  for  these  things,  and  -coi^d 
have  undertaken  to  demonstrate,  that  never  was  an  afUr 
more  completely  bungled  than  that  day's  work  was. 
Suppose  one  army  posted  upon  the  fece  of  a  hill,  and 

secured  by  ^*-*'  — — -* *' *-  "■— • '•'- 

the  river' 
through 

and  the  only  passace  over  it  by  a  narrow  bridge,  whicli 
the  Scots  artiUeiT.  from  the  hilL  could  in  a  moment  havo 
demolished.  Add  that  the  English  must  have  hazarded 
a  battle  while  their  troops,  which  were  tumultuously : 
levied,  renoatned  together;  and  that  the  Scota,  behhid 
whom  the  country  was  open  to  Scotland,  had  nothing  to 
do  but  to  wait  for  the  attack  aa  they  were  posted.  Yet 
did  two  thirds  of  the  army,  actuated  by  the  perfervidum 
ingenium  Scotorum^  rush  down  and  give  an  opporttmity 
to  Stanley  to  occupy  the  ground  they  had  quitted,  by 
coming  over  the  shoulder  of  the  hill,  while  the  other 
third,  under  Lord  Home,  kept  their  ground,  and  having 
seen  their  King  and  about  10,000  of  their  countrymen  ' 
cut  to  pieces,  retired  into  Scotland  without  loss.  For  the 
reason  of  the  bridge  not  beins  destroyed  while  the  Bog- 
lish  passed,  I  refer  you  to  Fitscottie,  who  narrates  at 
large,  and  to  whom  I  give  credit  for  a  most  accurate  and 
clear  description,  agreeing  perfectly  with  the  ground. 

"  My  uncle  drinks  the  whey  here,  as  I  do  ever  since  I 
understood  it  was  brought  to  his  bedside  every  morning 
at  aiz,  by  a  very  pretty  dsiry-maid.  So  much  for  my  reai- 
dence ;  all  the  day  we  shoot,  fish,  walk,  and  ride ;  dine  and 
sup  upon  fish  struggling  from  the  stream,  and  the  moM 
delicious  heaths  fed  mutton,  barn-door  fowl^  poys,*  milk- 
cheese,  Ao.,  all  In  perfedfon ;  and  ao  much  simplicity 
resides  among  these  hills,  that  arpen,  which  could  write 
at  least,  was  not  to  be  found  about  the  house,  though 
belongtng  to  a  considerable  farmer,  till  1  shot  the  crow 
with  whose  quill  I  write  this  epistle.  I  wrote  to  Irving 
before  leaving  Kelso.  Poor  fellow,  I  am  sure  his  sister's 
death  must  have  hurt  him  much  ;  though  he  makes  no 
noise  about  feelings,  yet  still  streams  iJways  nm  deepest. 
I  sent  a  message  by  him  to  Edle,t  poor  devil,  adding 
my  mite  of  conaolation  Jo  Mm  in  his  affliction.    I  pity 

poor ',  who  Is  more  deserving  of  conq)aaslan, 

being  his  first  offence.  Write  soon,  and  as  long  as  the 
last ;  you  vrill  have  Perthshire  news  I  suppose  soon. 
Jamie's  adventure  diverted  me  much.  I  rejui  it  to  my 
uncle,  who  being  long  in  the  India  service,  was  afih)ntea. 
Remember  to  James  when  you  write,  and  to  all  vour 
family  and  friends  in  general.  I  send  this  to  Kelso— 
you  may  address  as  usual  ,*  my  letters  will  be  forwarded 
—adieu— au  revoir, 

Waltbs  Soott." 
With  the  exception  of  this  Uttle  excursion,  Scott 
appears  to  have  been  nsiled  to  EdinburRh  during 
this  autumn,  by  that  course  of  leRsl  study,  in  com- 
'Pany  with  Glerk,  on  which  he  dwells  in  his  Memoir 
with  more  satisisction  than  on  any  other  passage 
in  his  early  Ufe.  He  copied  out  twice,  as  the  Frag- 
ment tells  us,  his  notes  of  those  lectures  of  the 
eminent  Scotch  law  professor,  (afterwards  Mr.  Ba- 
ron Hume,)  which  he  spesks  of  m  such  a  high  strain 
of  eulo^ ;  and  Mr.  Irving  adds^tbat  the  second 
copy,  being  fairly  finished  end  bound  into  volumes, 
was  presented  to  his  father.  The  old  gentleman 
was  highly  gratified  with  this  performance^  not  only 
as  a  satisfactory  proof  of  his  son's  aasidoous  at- 
tention to  the  Law  Professor,  but  inasmuch  as  the 
lectures  afibrded  himself  **  very  pleasant  reading 
for  leisure  hours." 

Mr.  Clerk  assures  me,  that  nothing  could  be  more 
exact  (excepting  as  to  a  few  petty  circutnstances 
introduced  for  obvious  reasons)  than  the  resem- 
blance of  the  Mr.  Saunders  Fsirford  of  Redgauntlet 
to  his  friend's  father  •— "  He  was  a  man  of  business 
of  the  old  school,  moderate  in  his  charges,  econo- 
mical, and  even  niggardly  in  his  expenditure ;  strict- 
ly honest  in  conducting  his  own  affairs  and  those 
of  his  clients;  but  taught  by  long  experience  to  be 
wary  and  suspicious  in  observing  the  motions  of 
others.  Punctual  as  the  clock  of  St.  Giles  tolled 
nine,''  (the  bout-  at  which  the  Court  of  Session 
meets,)  **  the  dapper  form  of  the  hale  old  gentleman 
was  seen  at  the  threshold  of  the  court  ball,  or  at 
farthest,  at  the  head  of  the  Back  Stairs,"  (the  most 


•Pirn. 


^^D^t^fS^bTt-oogie 


LTPE  OP  SIR  WALTER  SCOTT. 


convenient  access  to  the  Parliament  Hoase  from 
George's  Sauare,)  "  trimly  dressed  in  a  complete 
suit  of  snun-coloured  brown,  with  stockiiu^s  of 
silk  or  woollen,  as  suited  the  weather;  a  bob  wig, 
tnd  a  small  cocked  hat ;  shoes  blacked  as  Warren 
would  have  blacked  them ;  silver  shoebuckles,  and  a 

fold  stock-buckle.  His  manners  corresponded  with 
is  attire,  for  they  were  scrupulously  civil,  and  not 

a  little  tbrmal On  the  whole,  he  was  a  man 

much  liked  and  respected,  though  his  friends  would 
iiot  have  been  sorry  if  be  had  given  a  dinner  more 
irequeutly,  as  bis  Uttle  cellar  contained  some  choice 
old  wine,  of  which,  on  such  rare  occasions,  he  was 
no  niggard.  The  whole  pleasure  of  this  good  old- 
fashioned  man  of  method,  besides  that  which  he 
really  felt  in  the  discharge  of  his  own  daily  busi- 
ness, was  the  hope  to  see  his  son  attain  what  in  the 
father's  eyes  was  the  proudest  of  all  distinctions— 
the  rank  and  fame  of  a  well-employed  lawyer.  Eve- 
ry profession  has  its  peculiar  honours,  ana  his  mind 
was  constructed  upon  so  limited  and  exclusive  a 
plan^  that  he  valued  nothing  save  the  objects  of 
ambition  which  his  own  presented.  He  would  have 
shuddered  at  his  son's  acquiring  the  renown  of  a 
hero,  and  laughed  with  scorn  at  the  equally  barren 
laurels  of  literature  :  it  was  by  the  path  of  the  law 
alone  that  he  was  desirous  to  see  him  rise  to  emi- 
nence ;  and  the  probabilities  of  success  or  disap- 
pointment, were  the  thoughts  of  his  father  by  day, 
and  bis  dream  by  ni|ght."* 

It  is  easy  to  imagine  the  original  of  this  portrait, 
writing  to,  one  of  his  friends,  aoout  the  end  of  June, 
1792,—"  I  nave  the  pleasure  to  tell  you  that  my  son 
has  passed  his  private  Scots  law  examinations  with 
good  approbation— a  great  relief  to  my  mind,  espe- 
cially as  worthy  Mr.  Pest  told  me  in  my  ear,  there 
was  no  fear  of  the  *  callantJ  as  he  familiarly  called 
hini,  which  gives  me  great  heart.  His  public  trials, 
which  are  nothing  in  comparison  save  a  mere  form, 
are  to  take  place,  by  order  of  the  Honourable  Dean 
of  Faculty,t  on  Wednesday  first,  and  on  Friday  he 
puts  on  the  gown,  and  gives  a  bit  chack  of  dinner 
to  his  friends  and  acanaintances,  as  is  the  custom. 
Your  company  will  be  wished  for  there  by  more 
than  him.— P.  S.— His  thesis  is,  on  the  title,  '  De 
ptriculo  et  commodo  rei  vtnditcB^*  and  is  a  very 
pretty  piece  of  Latinity."t 

And  all  things  passed  in  due  order,  even  as  they 
are  figured.  The  real  Daraie  was  present  at  the 
real  Alan  Fairford's  "  bit  chack  of  dinner,"  and  the 
old  clerk  of  the  Signet  was  very  joyous  on  the  oc- 
casion. Scott's  thesis  was.  in  fact,  on  the  Title  of 
the  Pandects,  concerning  the  disposal  of  the  dead 
bodies  of  criminals.  It  was  dedicated,  1  doubt  not 
by,  the  careful  father's  advice,  to  his  friend  and 
neighbour  in  Greorge's  Square,  the  coarsely  humo- 
rous, but  acute  and  able,  and  still  well-remembered, 
Ma(»ueen  of  Braxfield,  then  Lord  Justice-Clerk 
(or  President  of  the  Supreme  Criminal  Court)  of 
Scotland.         ^ 

I  have  often  neard  both  Alan  and  Darne  laugh 
over  their  reminiscences  of  the  important  day  when 
they  "  put  rm  ih©  ffown."  Aflpr  thft  CrTpmony  wns 
crjinplet^i.  and  tJuyhad  iiiinabdlW  s-jitic  llnl^►  wirfi 
the  cruwd  of  barnaiers^  in  tiit,*  omer  Court,  Scut 
said  to  hia  cumrad^,  mimicking  the  lur  and  tone 
of  a  HixhkiifJ  Ifi-is  u ailing  m  the  crops  of  Kdin- 
burgh  ii>  he  hired  for  tht  Imrvest  work^— *' Wt've 
Hood  here  an  hgur  by  tlii?  TroTTj  hinny,  and  ditl  a 
line  haa  sjiu^rwd  our  price  J*  SoDie  muudly  «oh- 
cjtar.  ho^vever,  ijsve  him  a  mjiiiea  fra  before  the 
Court  rope:  »ind  as  ihey  walktsti  df>wn  the  Hj-h 
Street  (oge^lier,  he  ^aid  to  Mr*  Clerk,  in  nnsiiinp  a 
hosier' a  fihop— '' This  is  a  surt  of  a  wccidinK-ibsr, 
Wdlje  I  1  Ihmk  I  inuttt  go  in  and  bny  rno  a  naw 
n;«hi-eaij/'  Hr  iha  ao  aix^ordingly ;  pcrhnfis  iEhs 
wa^  LonJ  J l ffrev ' tt ' *  po rten t q u.%  mo t4i ne."  1 1  \v  first 
fwtof  ouy  confliquence,  however,  wasrxpcnded  on  a 
fhvet  tapt^r-stjDind  for  hia  mo  I  her,  \vhitrh  *hfl  <>ld 
lady  ueed  to  pom:  to  ^  ith  great  saflafacNon,  as  it 

*  Redgauntlet,  vol.  i.  p.  S43-5 
..^  The  situation  of  Daan  of  Faculty  was  6I)ed  in  1793  by  the 
Honourable  Henry  Erfkioo.  of  >nuy  and  beoevoloDt  momory. 

I  Rcdgauiitlet,  vol.  L  p.  144. 


Stood  on  h^  chimney-piece  five-aad- twenty  yet 

afterwards. 


CHAPTER  VII. 

FIBST  EXPEDITION  INTO  UDDBSDALB— 8TUDT  O^  GB 
MAN— POUTICAL    TRIALS,  &C— SPSCIMXN  OF"    LJI 

PAPSB3— BUSGEe's    LBNOBB     TEANBLATED DIBA 

POINTBfBNT  IN  LOVE— 1792-1796. 

Scott  was  called  to  the  bar  only  the  day  befc 
the  closing  of  the  session,  and  he  appears  to  ha 
almost  immediately  escaped  to  the  country.  ( 
the  2d  of  August  I  find  his  father  writing,  **  1  ha 
sent  the  copies  of  your  theais^  as  deairea  ;*'  and  < 
the  15th  he  addressed  to  him  at  Rosebank  a  letu 
in  which  there  is  this  paragraph,  an  undoubt 
autograph  of  Mr.  Saunders  Fairfbrd,  anno  €stai 
sixiy-three. 

"  Dear  Walter,      / 

"  .  .  .  I  am  glad  that  your  expedition  to  the  w« 
proved  afteeable.  You  do  well  to  wara  joar  nx>ch 
against  AahesUeL  AUhouch  I  said  little,  yet  I  new 
thought  that  road  could  bo  ^reeable ;  besideaa  H 
talcing  too  wide  a  circle.  Lord  Justice-Clerk  is  in  to^ 
atlending  the  Bills.'  He  called  here  yesterday,  and  j 
quired  very  panicularly  for  you.  I  told  him  where  yi 
was,  and  he  expects  to  see  you  at  Jedburgh  upon  rl 
21tt.  He  is  to  be  at  Mellerstaint  on  the  20ch,  and  w^ 
be  there  all  night.  His  Lordship  said,  in  a  rerr  plel 
sant  manner,  that  something  might  cast  up  at  Jeabun 
to  ^ive  you  an  opportunity  of  appearing,  and  that  1 
would  insist  upon  it,  and  that  in  future  he  meant  to  gii 
you  a  share  of  the  criminal  business  in  this  Ooart,  i 
which  is  very  Icind.  I  told  his  LordstUp  that  I  had  di 
suaded  you  from  appearing  at  Jeilburgh,  but  he  m 
I  was  wrong  in  doing  so,  and  1  therefore  leave  the  ma 
ter  to  you  and  him.  /  think  it  it  probable  he  tetfl  brea\ 
fast  with  Sir  H.  H.  MaeDousaU  <m  the  2)8t.  on  his  t«ci 
to  Jedburgh."    •    *    * 

This  last  quiet  hint,  that  the  young  Uwyw  migli 
as  well  be  at  Makerstoun  (the  seat  of  a  relatioil 
when  His  Lordship  breakfasted  there,  and  of  coun 
swell  the  train  of  His  Lordship's  little  processMM 
into  the  county  town,  seems  delightfully  charactef 
istic.  I  think  I  hear  Sir  Walter  himself  lecturii^ 
me,  when  in  the  9ame  sort  of  sdmation.  thirty  year 
afterwards.  He  declined,  as  one  of  the  followiri^ 
letters  will  show,  the  opportunity  of  makiu^  hi 
first  appearance  on  this  occasion  at  Jedburgh.  H 
was  present,  indeed,  at  the  Court  during  the  assizea 
but  durst  not  veiiture."  His  accounts  to  WiUiao 
Clerk  of  his  vacation  amusements,  and  more  pap 
ticularly  of  his  second  excursion  to  Northumoe^ 
land,  will,  1  am  sure,  interest  every  reader. 

To  William  Clerks  Esq.  Advocate^  Princess  Street^  £din 
burgh, 

"  Rosebank,  10th  Sept.  1792. 
"Dcar.Wimam, 

"Taking  the  advantage  of  a  very  indifferent  day. 
which  is  likely  to  float  away  a  good  deal  of  com,  and  or 
my  Other's  leaving  this  place,  who  will  take  chane  o( 
this  scrawl,  1  sit  down  to  answer  your  Avour.  I  fimi 
you  have  been,  like  myself^  taking  advantage  of  tbi 
good  weather,  to  look  around  you  a  uttle,  and  oongratu- 
late  you  upon  tlie  pleasure  you  must  have  received 
from  yonr  jaunt  with  Mr.  Russell.}  I  apprehend, 
though  yoyi  are  silenl  on  the  subject,  that  your  conver< 
sation  was  enlivened  by  many  curious  disquisitions  of 
the  nature  of  undulating  exhalations.  1  should  have 
bowed  before  the  venerable  frrove  of  oaks  at  Hamilton, 
with  as  much  respect  as  if  1  had  been  a  Druid  about  to 
gather  the  sacred  mistletoe.  I  should  hardly  have  sus- 
pected your  host  Sir  Williaroi  of  liaving  been  the  occa- 
sion of  the  srandal  brought  upon  the  library  and  Mr. 
Gibb.l  by  the  introduction  of  the  Cabinet  des  F6es,  o< 
which  I  have  a  volume  or  two  here.  I  am  happy  to  think 
there  is  an  admirer  of  snug  things  in  the  administration 

*  The  Jadgei  tlien  attenrled  in  Edinljaisfa  in  rotation  dorior  the 
intervals  of  term,  to  tnke  care  of  various  sorts  of  trasisess  Wnioh 
could  not  brook  delay,  bills  of  injunction,  itc. 

\  The  jjeautinii  seat  uf  j^he  Balllies  of  Jerviswood,  in  Berwick- 

rjr  at  lidinburgb.      ~  ^ 

'SirWUIia- 
Blx.  Gilib 


shire,  a  few  miles  t^clow  DrvbarKli. 
t  Mr,  Russell,  itargeon,  afterwards  Professor  of  Clinieal 
'  at  Eklinburgb. 
^SirWUItamMiUerd 
iBlx.  GilibwastiwI 
Digitize! 


FacnhyorAdfoeates. 


UFE  OP  SIR  WALTER  SCOTT. 

9{  tile  fibmy.  Poor  Linton'a*  misfortuae,  thoufh  I 
••T°*.??  ^  ^^^^^  y«' heartily  grievei  me.  Ibave 
fe>  duobt  he  wiU  have  maoy  advisers  and  animadverters 
li^  the  naugbiiaess  of  his  ways,  whose  admooitiODS 
mil  be  forgot  upon  the  next  opportunity. 

*  I  ajii  loanging  about  the  country  here,  to  speak  sin- 
rerelj,  ai  td]e  u  the  day  is  long.  Two  old  companions 
■f  imne,  brothers  of  Mr.  Walker  of  Wooden,  having 
toae  io  this  country,  we  have  renewed  a  great  intimacy. 
ks  ^ey  live  (irectly  upon  the  opposite  bank  of  the  river, 
mn  ^je  stgosls  ai^reed  upon  by  which  we  concert  a 
pte  ef  operatioas  for  the  day.  They  are  both  officers, 
mi  xery  intelligent  young  follows,  and  what  is  of  some 
^»sr^Qcace,  have  a  brace  of  fine  greyhounds.    YesteV 

flaw  Ui^i  1  m^^  l.:1l^^  ^. I T  ^   ' 


them!  Upon  the  Tyn^,  about  Heiham,  the  cotmtrr 
has  a  different  aspect,  presenting  much  of  the  beautiful 
•though  less  of  the  subhme.  I  was  particularly  charmed 
with  the  situation  of  Beaufront,  a  house  belonging  to  a 


^tenocn  we  killed  seven  hares, so  you  uay  see  how 
pii^vne  game  is  with  us.  I  have  turned  a  keen  duck 
B«t^  though  my  success  is  not  very  great ;  and  when 
wjlg  through  the  mosses  upon  this  errand,  accoutred 
"^hihe  kmg  ^un,  a  jacket,  musquito  trowsers,  and  a 
nawi  cap,  I  might  weU"  pass  for  one  of  my  redoubled 

tsrs^j^s^c^Z"'"  «-••*»—■» «  "• 

*  Per  aboat-doors*  aaiosement,  I  have  constructed  a 
■s:  m  a  lane  tree  which  spreads  it  branches  horizontal- 

t Offer  the  Tweed.  This  la  a  fcvourite  6ituatk>n  of  mine 
r  reading,  especiaUv  in  adav  like  this,  when  the  west 
»d  roeka  the  bnochet  on  which  I  am  perched,  and  the 
wer  roOs  tts  waves  below  me  of  a  turbid  blood  colour. 
I  have,*  moreover,  cut  an  embrasure,  through  which 
icaefire  opon  the  goUa,  berona,  and  cormorant  as  they 
ff  screamiqg  past  my  nest.  To  crown  the  whole,  I  have 
ami  an  asehption  upon  it  in  the  ancient  Romant  taste. 
beSe^lsittO  hardly  return  into  town,  barring  accidents, 
MBer  tbso  the  ^|iddle  of  next  month,  perhaps  not  till 
lovnnber.  Next  week,  weather  permitting,  is  destUied 
»  a  Northumberland  expedition,  in  which  I  shall  visit 
cac  pans  of  that  country  which  I  have  not  yet  seen, 
■njcohrly  about  Hexham. '  Borne  days  ago  1  had  nearly 
Mt  wish  a  wone  accident  than  the  trampi  took  at  Moor- 
wt  ;i  for  having  bewUdered  myself  among  the  Cheviot 
f^  it  w«B  oeaxly  night&n  before  I  got  to  the  village  of 
msB,  and  the  passes  with  which  I  was  acqoataited. 
[«do  Boc  apeak  of  being  in  Perthshire  this  season, 
Mgh  I  simpoae  you  intend  it  I  suppose  we,  that  is, 
ISM  aafrss,Tare  at  present  completely  dispersed. 

CuBpiiraenta  to  all  who  are  in  town,  and  best  respects 
» wa  own  family,  both  In  Prince's  Street  and  at  Eldin.— 
t^ve  me  ever  most  sincerely  yours, 

Waltib  Scorr." 
"7\»  William  Qer*.  Eaq. 
•D«rWiai.m,  "Ro.eb«»k,  30th  Sept,  17112. 


[  have  told  you 
foble 


mad  sort  of  genius,  whom,  I  am  sure,  '. 

some  stories  about  He  used  to  call  himself  the  N<A)L 
Errington,  but  of  late  has  assumed  the  title  of  Duke  of 
Hexham.  .  Hard  by  the  town  is  the  field  of  battle  where 
the  forces  of  Queen  Margaret  were  defeated  by  those  of 
the  House  of  York,  a  blow  which  the  Red  Rose  never 
recovered  during  the  civil  wars.  The  spot  where  the 
Duke  of  Somerset  and  fhr  nnrthrrn  nobitity  of  ttu^  Iasi- 
CBStrian    ficLion  wctp-  -  ?  i!,r  Ljiulir.  Lb  silU 

called  J  Hike srit'ld    "ni.  j  linAcouiury  fiiieak 

an  odd    Ijdil^cl  of  ibe  fr...   ..,  .., ,  ,^..,  fin.ji  uiaarU  tliat  of 
ChaucM,  md   ha^e  rLUinL-tJi  n^^atv  i  m     .ms  [-oultJir  to 
•„    TJiey  arc  the  deSfernLinr.  ..i    rl..;   arjuleiit 
■j-utE  III L^.  (he-  r;i-[jih^*5es  of  .V.-'crJiUUibuiliritl  by 
'  .H]M[ti('ror.    Tiic'ii  igTjbrojicc 
h{s  ccminon  for  th?  tn 
'  -^  i«  tftrried  on  to  a  ftrat  ex- 
— ^  ..  ,_ri>    ciJJ  JtLECf*  luttiverJ  ifi  ct^urjaf*  of  Irfed^  to 
the  parish  f>niTch,  where  the  clerk  rfrsdm  [heiuatoudaf^er 
service,  and  anfwerstri<?in  acconJini^  to  circuinstaiicflf. 

"We  iiHcnrJed  lo  ?JBlt  the  k lien  in  CumhcTtiiidt  bwl 
our  jaient  W4£  cut  ttbun  by  tlie  bad  wetUjer.  J  w«Dt 
to  the  circuit  ot  Jedbtif^lk  to  mske  my  bow  to  tord  J. 
Clerk,  and  mijflJl  bave  had  cniiitoynieot,  but  durst  not 
venture.  Sim  of  ilie  Uund^  rloltTs  were  condirimrd 
to  baniut latent,  btJi  the  rermeiiit  continues  violent  in  Oie 
Merse.  KcI»o  races  afforded  bttJ^  jjKirt— Wifthaw*  last 
a  hotse. which  cost  Mm  SdtJO,  and  foundered  Irrecovpr- 
ably  ort  the  course.  At  another  time  1  febuuld  quote 
Geoiige  Biichanan's  sdA|re  of  *a  fool  and  hiii  uiooey,' 
but  at  ptcsL'Eil  hinmt  undur  a  fliioilar  injafortunei  mf 
Gallowoy  having  y^iit^niiy  ihoufht  preiter  (N.  B^ 
without  i]  lEdar)  to  feap  over  a  pttc*  Mjfl  bcliig  lamed  for 


themsf  I 
Danes,  < 
the  se^ 
issurp 
dersin 
tent,  III 


the  pre  -in.  This  is  uoi  bia  fi  r  ft  fuvipti*,  for  b  e  j  n  nj  pc  c\ 
into  a  v^MoT  with  dk»  on  bis  i^atk  whipn  in  >iortliucub(.-r' 
land,  to  the  tmuiln^Tit  tluijrcr  of  cuy  Itfc  II f;  ijg,  tUvfe- 
fore,  to  he  sold,  (wii^n  rscov^Ted^)  and  in  Etcher  pttrchaaed. 
This  accidi-tii  baa  ocf^Monftl  you  Hie  trtmble  of  readjni 
80  long  jt El  tpJstJf,  tite  day  bdtij|  i^unday^  and  o^yunde^ 
the  ca^^Jil^  busily  etigH^ed  witli  your  fftJher*«  naval 
tactics,  ii  tfjo  bcrioualy  employ <^d  to  be  an  aitireeatilo 
companion  Apri^prni  (flr^  b*>Ut«>— I  am  vincerely  torry 
to  hear  iti^jii:  Jimca  it  sUU  unefnpioyed,  but  ba^e  no  doubt 
a  time  imU  cqijdc  rt-iind  when  hia  talpflia  will  h*Te  an  op- 
portunity of  beln^  displaycii  lo  hit  idvtUitaac  I  have 
no  proapcer  of  aeeing^  my  diirr  odnr^lf  tm  winter,  if 
then.  Alt  for  you,  1  pity^jou  inn.  fece^lni?  la  how  yotj  have 
so  good  4  aiiccedancHiiii  In  M.  G,  ;  aiirt  dh  ihe  coniraty, 
Ki»»..w..^.i.-.  ^n«  ^         ^     _i  »-.       »,._  hope,  nut  only  thai  Ed SBotitf lone  may  rwHt  yo!i,  but  tbat 

w.ji?*'^  '"■  .  t  ^^"  5°"?*?P«  like  a  green  Cupid  vmy  agaiii  (!w%  erat)  /ry  yntj  on  Uic  gridirnn  of  joa- 
2J!L?*  r**n  .T"?*^°*  ®^  Perthshire,  and  in  full  lousy  for  your  itifideliry:  C^amiimcnts  Aut  hghE  irua^ 
^acni  of  an  the  pleasures  of  the  country.    AU  that    ty.  and  wiHl  beloVL-d  Union  ^fi  Jean  Jarquti.t    If  you 


leary  yon  Is  the  9u»eres  cenaqut  deunt,  whicn,  I  take  It 
ff  irsnted,  yoa  three  merry  men  will  be  spending  to- 
wer, whOe  I  am  poring  over  BarthoUne  in  the  long 
"niaa,  solitary  enough ;  for,  as  for  the  lobsters,  as 
^csU  ibem,  I  am  separsted  firom  them  by  the  Tweed, 
•wA  jpredades  evening  meetings,  unless  in  fine  weather 
M  m  nKwna.  I  have  had  an  expedition  through  Hex- 
■ffi  »od  the  higher  narts  of  Northumberland,  which 
swa  kave  defignted  the  very  cockles  of  your  heart,  not 
B  tsQcii  on  account  of  the  beautiful  romantic  appear- 
Ke  of  the  country,  though  that  would  have  charmed 
«i  abo,  as  because  you  would  have  seen  more  Roman 
>*tfip(iooa  boiU  into  gate-post,  bams,  Ac.,  than  per- 
>l«  Kfs  to  be  Ibaod  in  anv  other  part  of  BriUin.  These 
^  been  aJl  dog  up  from  the  xieighbonring  Roman 
'w.  whfch  Id  still  in  many  places  tery  entire,  and  gives 
'SapeBdoue  idea  of  the  perseverance  of  its  founders, 
'"^carried  such  an  erection  from  sea  to  sea,  over  rocks, 
^oataina,  rivers,  and  morasses.  There  are  several 
«•«  among  the  mountains  above  Hexham,  well  worth 
i^  many  miles  to  see,  though  their  fame  is  eclipsed 
^'iicjr  neighboarhood  to  those  of  Cumberland.  They 
f«  airrcMmded  by  old  lowers  and  casUes,  hi  situations 
»aoit  esTagelv romantic;  what  would  I  have  given 
^  ^ave  been  abb  to  take  effect-piecea  from  some  of 

'Ouk,  AbaatjabT,  Soott,  FntussoD,  and  others,  had  occa- 
^  trntnc  escamoos  Irom  Leith  toJochcoIm.  loehkeith.  &c. : 
■«e of  theat  their  boat  was  neared  by  a  Newhaven  ooe-Pe^ 
m  at  the  moment,  w^  standinff  up  talking ;  oneof  the  New- 
•«  Mmbkb,  takmf  faun,fi>r  a  brother  of  h»  own  craft,  bawl- 
■«fl,"  Uoloa,  ftm  lang  bitch,  i»Uiat  you?"  Prom  that  day 
^•}  rergawoo's  oognomen  smong  his  fiienda  of  The  Club 

Jjr&ber  8ei)Ct  ef  Synliw  (elder  brother  of  Bolt-Foot,  the  first 
S^ of Ha^sp)  was Uas  designated.   He grnOy djstii«aished 


"^■^^^S^^-"- 


•''^alMss  to 


CfM». 


iisMng  axeunrion. 


write,  w]iii:h,  by  rlirS.  way,  J  hiirdiy  have  Hie  conaciepce 
to  expect,  direct  to  iii;?  faTher'*  tare,  viiio  will  forwani 
your  lettpr.  I  have  cjuire  pvni  up  diictc-BliooUnj;  for 
the  season,  tlie  birds  being:  loo  old  and  tht  irio»»es  too 
deep  and  cold.  ]  iiavo  no  reatun  to  hoimt  i>f  my  eipe- 
rience  or  aurn'^n  iu  the  irpori,  and  for  tny  own  jiart,  should 
fire  at  any  ch^iiCance  under  i^lpbry  or  fvsr  ninoty  paten, 
though  abuve  furty-five  1  would  reckon  it  a  csup  dish- 
periy  and  as  the  bird  is  beyond  measure  shy,  you  may 
be  sure  I  was  not  very  bloody.  Believe  me,  deferrmg, 
ao  itaual^  our  dispute  till  another  opportunity,  alwaya 
sincerely  yours, 

Walter  Scott. 

"P.  6.— I  believe  If  my  ponv  does  not  soon  recover, 
that  misfortune,  with  the  bad  weather,  may  send  me 
soon  to  town." 

It  was  within  a  few  days  after  Scott's  return  from 
his  excursion  to  Hexham,  that,  while  attending  the 
Michaelmas  head-court,  as  an  annual  counly-meet- 
mg  is  called,  at  Jedburgh,  he  was  introduced,  by 
an  old  companion,  Charles  Kerr  of  Abbotrule,  to 
Mr.  Robert  Sbortreed,  that  gentleman's  near  rela- 
tion,  who  spent  the  greater  part  of  his  life  in  the 
enjoyment  of  much  respect  as  Sheriff-subslitute  of 
Roxburghshire.  Scott  had  been  expressing  his 
wish  to  visit  the  then  wild  and  inaccessible  district 
of  Liddesdale,  particularly  with  a  view  io  examine 
the  ruins  of  the  famous  castle  of  Hermitage,  and  to 
pick  up  some  of  the  ancient  riding  ballctdSf  said  to 
be  still  preserved  among  the  descendants  of  the 
moss-troopers,  who  had  followed  the  banner  of  the 

»  William  Hamilton  of  Wishaw.-wbo  aftscwaids, 


Maolaimto  the 
^  John  James 


pceraieorw 
BdnoostoMb 


of  Belhavea 


Digitized  by 


it 


LIFE  OP  SIR  WALTER  SCOTT. 


Douglasses,  when  lords  of  th^t  grim  and  remote 
fastness.  Mr.  Shortreed  had  many  connezionfrin 
Liddesdale,  and  knew  its  passes  well,  and  he  was 
pointed  out  as  the  very  guide  the  young  advocate 
wanted.  They  started  accordingly,  in  a  aay  or  two 
afterwards,  from  AbbotroUij  and  the  lajrd  meant  to 
have  been  of  the  party ;  but  "  it  was  well  for  him," 
said  Shortreed,  "  that  he  chaneed  his  mind— for  be 
could  never  have  dorie  as  we  aid."* 

Durins  seven  successive  years,  Scott  made  a  raid. 
as  he  called  it,  into  Liddesiiale,  with  Mr.  Shortreed 
for  his  guide ;  exploring  every  rivulet  to  its  source, 
and  every  rained  peel  from  foundation  to  battlement. 
At  this  time  no  wheeled  carriage  had  ever  been  seen 
in  the  district— the  first,  indeed,  that  ever  appeared 
there  was  a  gig,  driven  by  Scott  himself  for  a  part 
of  his  way,  when  on  the  laBl  of  these  3f»v<-n  pxciir- 
eipji-!,    Tnero  was  no  iiiii  nor  puMic  !i  ly 

kind  ill  the  m^  hole  vallt^y  j  tii(j  irttVtU-T^  i  m 

the  »bep herd's  but  to  trie  m mister' m  lutitiH,  uiid 
ae^D  iroin  thechecrfsil  hfiBpUsliiy  of  tl>«  iiioJi>«  to 
the  rough  and  juHy  weiconie  of  the  home^tc^Ld ; 
gathering,  wherever  tlity  woiiti  ^oitss  and  luru^s, 
and  occasionally  more  laiL^blri  relks  of  aniiimity 
— even  euch  "  a.  rowlli  of  nald  nkknackets  as 
Burns  a^crihca  to  Cap  la  in  Grose.  To  tht^e  ram- 
bk^  ScoU  owed  much  of  th^  matorin^lsi  oT  his 
'*  Mistre I fty  of  the  Scottish  Btjrders"  and  not  lew 
of  that  inimiflte  Eicqufuutanct?  with  the  liviag  mnti- 
neirs  of  tlieae  unsonhidticated  rej^onei,  whitli  cun- 
seiiutes  thechi<3f  charm  of  on«  ot  the  most  charm- 
ing of  his  pr&se  workfl.  But  how  soon  hv  had  any 
definite  ob/#et  before  him  m  his  researchess  imems 
very  doubtful.  *'H€  was  makin*  him^iU"  a'  the 
tLide,"  said  Mr.  Shortreed :  ''  but  he  dtdna  ken  may- 
be what  ho  wa&  about  till  years  had  passed  x  At 
first  he  thought  o'  little,  I  dare  say,  but  the  tiuet-r- 
neua  and  tlie  fun." 

"io  those  day»,"  says  the  Mcinorandum  hr-r*ire 
ma  ^^  adwicates  were  not  sopJenty— at  h'FJst  rj^nmt 
Liade^dale  j"  and  the  worthy  Shcrtff-i^obJititnrt-  sjm^ 
on  to  de^cnbo  the  sort  of  bustle,  not  unmixeii  wiih 
aJaifm,  produced  at  the  first  farm- ho u bo  they  vikj^lJ, 
(Willie  Klliol'A  at  Millbumholm,)  when  ihthLHivst 
man  wq^  mformed  of  ihu  cju^tty  of  nnc  of  his 
gue»ta,  Wh^ri  t  hey  dtsm  o  u  n  ted,  acrordi  tigl  y*  h  o  re- 
cmved  Mr.  Scott  with  grrat  cereniouy,  and  in  stilt- 
ed upoii  himself  L'adini?  his  horse  to  the  §iahte. 
Shoriret«i  acconipfltjti?rl  WiiUi?,  howev**r,  nnrf  liie 
latter,  after  taking  a  deliberate*  Dfwn  at  S  t- 

bf  the  edge  of  the  door-cheek  '    wnisji'  jl, 

Robirt.  I  Bav,  de'il  hae  me  if  Ts  he  a  h.i  3r 

him  now;  Fie>  justa  chield  tike ourselvni,  I  ihis.;^." 
Half>a-doten  do^  of  nU  dei^reeft  had  nUemty  giithcr- 
ed  round  "  the  advtJcate,^'  atid  his  way  of  returning 
their  coinpUiucnts  had  set  Will  lb  Rlliot  at  attti^  at 
his  ease. 

According  to  Mr.  Shortreed,  this  gootl-tnan  of 
MHllnirnhoTm  was  tho  grent  origtntii  (%f  Diindie 
IWnnTonL  Ashe  seems  to  have  been  the  fi^rs?!  of 
these  upland  flht'^-ranncT^  that  Scott  ever  vieittd, 
there  f:^an  he  little  dnubt  thnt  ht^  t+at  for  sooif  pnrts 
of  that  inimitnh!?!  twrtfailnte ;  arid  it  is  certain  ihat 
the  Jnnie?  Davidson^  who  carried  the  name  of 
Danilif  to  h)8  mve  with  him,  and  whctse  thoroui^h- 
bred  deatlibcjj  seene  ie*  told  in  ihti  Notes  to  fitly 
M*nfierinir,  was  firit  pointed  out  to  Seoit  by  Mr. 
Shortreed  iiini«clf,  saveml  ynara  after  the  novL-l  had 
eatahlished  thi  man's  ci?lebrity  all  over  the  Border; 
some  acicideotAl  repurt  about  hi^  lernere,  and  their 
,  odd  names*  having  nlone  hi«n  ivrnied  to  aeeount  in 
tha  oriKitial  eompoeitioii  of  the  tale.  But  I  have  the 
best  reason  to  helieve  that  the  ktftd  nnd  manly  eha- 
Ttifiterot  Dandio,  the  gentle  and  dchcious  otio  of  his 
wj&  arid  some  at  lenat  uf  iho  mnuff  pjcturu#<[ue 
jMSemtaritiea  of  the  inenag£  at  CharhEi'sJiOpi^f  were 

*  I  amoblued  to  Hr.  John  Elliot  Shortreed.  a  toaof  SooU's 
Mdy  friend,  tar  aonoe  memoriMda  of  hiM  father's  coovefwitjon*  on 
thi*  Bufarioet,  whid)  are  the  more  iotercatinx  ^lat  tbc7  reprpsent 
the  wo|thy  dhDrifriubttitute'ii  dialect  exactir  as  it  wm.  Theee 
notot  were  vrritten  in  1834  ;  and  I  shall  make  several  quotati^ms 
trpm  them.  I  had.  hoMwver,  many  opportonltics  of  hewtac  Mr. 
Shortreed's  stories  from  his  owa  lipa,  haviof  often  been  imder 
his  huspitablo  roof  m  company  with  Sir  Walter,  who  to  the  last 
aJwaji  lodliad  tbeia  wbea  any  bunncn  took  tiim  to  Jedburgh. 


filled  up  frooi  Scott's  observation,  years  after 
period,  of  a  flimily,  with  one  of  whose  membeffi 
hsd,  through  the  best  part  of  his  life,  a  close 
affectionate  connexion.  To  those  who  iwere  fa 
liar  with  him,  I  have  perhaps  already  sufficiei 
indicated  the  early  home  of  his  dear  fhend,  WHL 
Laidlaw.  among     the  braes  of  Yarrow." 

They  dined  at  Millbumholm,  and  after  having 
gered  over  Willie  Elliot's  punch-bowl,  until,  in 
Shortreed's  phrase,  thejr  were  "half  f^lowr 
mounted  their  steeds  again,  and  proceeded  to 
Eiliott's  at  Clenghhead,  where  ("  fort"  says  iny  i 
morandum,  '*  folk  were  na  very  nice  in  those  daj 
the  two  travellers  slept  in  one  and  the'  saTpe  be 
as,  indeed,  seems  to  have  been  the  case  M;ith  th 
throughout  most  of  their  excursions  in  this  ori 
tive  district.  Dr.  Elliot  (a  clergyman)  bad  aire 
a  large  MS.  collection  of  the  ballads  Scott  wad 
guest  of;  and  finding  how  much  his  guest  adzni 
his  acquisitions,  tbenceibrth  exerted  himself,  for  se 
ral  vears,  with  redoubled  diligence,  in  seeking 
the  living  depositaries  of  sneh  lore  among  the  da 
er recesses  of  the  mountains.  "The  doctor.**  » 
Mr.  Shortreed,  "  would  have  gane  through  fire  i 
water  for  Sir  Walter,  when  he  ance  kenned  him 

Next  morning  they  seem  to  hfive  ridden  a  k 
way,  for  the  express  purpose  of  visiting  one  "  ai 
Thomas  o'  Tuzzilehope,"  another  Ellioi  I  soppo 
wtio  was  celebK»ted  for  nis  skill  on  the  Border  pk 
and  in  pattieular  for  being  in  possession  of  the  r 
liit  of  Diek  o'  the  Cow.  Before  starting,  that  is, 
six  o'clock,  the  baUad-honters  had,  **  just  to  lay  i 
stomach,  a  devilled  duck  or  twae.  and  some  Z^cnd 
porter."  Auld  Tiiomas  fotmd  them,  neverthelee 
well  disposed  for  "brea^tfast"  on  their  arrival 
Tuzzilehope ;  and  this  bebg  over,  he  delighted  tiu 
with  one  of  tbe  most  hideous  and  unearthly  of  ^ 
the  specimens  of  "  riding  niusit^"  and,  moreoin 
with  considerable  libations  of  whttket-'poiich,  vat 
ufactured  in  a  certain  wooden  vessef,  resemblinA 
very  small  milk-pail,  which  he  called  "  Wisdom 
because  it  "  made"  only  a  few  spoonfuls  of  spirits 
thou^  he  had  the  art  of  replenishing  it  so  adroiti 
that  It  had  been  celebrated  for  fifty  years  as  mo 
fatal  to  sobriety  than  any  bowl  in  the  parif 
Having  done  due  honour  to  '*  Wisdom,"  they  a^ 
mounted,  and  proceeded  over  moss  and  moor 
some  other  equally  hospitable  master  of  the  pip 
"  Ah  me,**  says  Shortreed,  "  sic  an  endless  fund 
humour  and  drollery  as  he  then  had  wi'  him !  Nev 
ten  yards  but  we  were  cither  laughing  or  roarir 
and  singing.  Wherever  we  stopped,  now  brawl 
he  suited  hunsell  to  every  bodv  1  He  aye  did  as  tl 
lave  did;  never  made  himaeu  the  great  man,  < 
took  ony  tan  in  the  company.  I've  seeii  htm  m 
moods  m  these  iaimts.  grave  and  gay,  daft  ar 
serious,  sober  and  drunk— (this,  however,  even  ) 
our  wildest  rambles,  was  but  rare)— but  drunk  • 
sober,  lie  was  ay^  the  gentleman.  He  lookit  e; 
cessively  heavy  and  stupid  when  he  was/ou,  but  b 
was  never  out  o'  gude-humour." 

On  reaching,  one  evening,  some  Charlit^hope  i 
other  (1  forget  the  name)  among  those  wildemesse 
thev  ff^iin^l  A  kindlv  Tra  ptton  aauaucil :  bur,  to  thi 
aglr»  I  tjlili-  ^Mrij'ii-'-,  i^OrT  Hume  dnys  of  liard  liimiTi 
meflr^Ljrr.ii  uiul  ^irdL-rly  hrpsipitolitv  a«  respected  KqiW 
Soon  afier  aupptT,  at  which  a  bottle  of  elderbep 
wine  alone  had  Lfen  produced ^  a  young  student  ( 
divinityn  who  impi>eri^  to  be  io  the  house,  was  cal 
ed  upon  to  \jikii  tht?  "  big  Im'  BihW'  m  tlie  guc 
old  fnfilLLon  of  Burns' »  Samrduy  Ni^nt ;  and  ton 
proMf«ns  iiud  bt**ti  slrtody  made  in  the  stn-icc,  wh4 
the  K^iodmnn  of  tJit:  farm,  who^e  "  tcnuiajcv/'  • 
Mr,  Miiclif  II  P!iy»,  ''  wna  eoporifie/'  scant  [a  Jim 
his  w^fr  and  tbi*  dointliie  by  ^tantiip  auddetily  fro* 
his  kuees^  arul  rubbini;  his  ey^s,  with  h  stsntoHl 

exdnmauoti  of  "By ,  hero  4  the  keg  at  Ual  I 

and  m  lurnbl«d,  da  \m  spnke  the  word,  a  eoiitiki  0 
sturrJv  herdamen,  *%'hom,  on  hearinfi  a  dav  Wufuo 
the  aJvocaie'fl  Bpprf>acb>iiff  vi*ii,  he  haddoffjaiAhs 
toa4?crtniu  Bmujii^kr's  haunt,  at  lotne  ctJiisidc'n 


LIFE  OP  Sm,  WALTER  SCOTT. 


a  Aoosand  spoloKies.for  his  hitherto  shabbv  enter- 
tmmient,  this  joTly  EtHot,  or  Armstrong,  had  the 
vflfcome  keg  mounted  on  the  table  without  a  mo- 
meat's  delay,  and  gentle  and  simple,  not  forgetting 
tbc  dominie,  continued  carousing  about  it  until  day- 
l^t  streamed  in  upon  the  party.  Sir  Walter  Scott 
seldom  failedi  when  1  saw  him  in  company  with 
his  Liddesdflle  companion,  to  mimic,  with  infinite 
kumour,  th«  sudden  outburst  of  his  old  host,  on 
bearing  the  clatter  of  horses*  feet,  which  he  knew 
to  indicate  the  arriiral  of  the  keg— the  consternation 
d'lhe  dame— and  the  rueful  despair  with  which  the 
yoong  clergyman  closed  the  book. 

"Ii  was  that  same  season,  I  think,"  says  Mr.' 
Sbortreed,  "that  Sir  Walter  got  from  Dr.  Elliot, 
eke  large  old  border  war  horn,  which  ye  may  still 
see  hanging  in  the  armoury  at  Abbotsford.  How 
rrtai  he  was  when  he  was  made  master  o'  ihxit!  I 
bebere  it  had  been  found  in  Hermitage  Castle— and 
one  of  the  doctor's  servants  had  usecl  it  many  a  day 
aj  a  grease-horn  for  his  scythe,  before  they  dis- 
corered  its  histor>'.  When  cleaned  out,  it  was  never 
a  hair  the  worse— the  original  chain,  hoop,  and 
mouthpiece  of  steel,  were  allentire.  just  as  you  now 
fee  them.  Sir  Walter  carried  it  home  all  the  way 
from  Liddesdale  to  Jedburgh,  slung  about  his  neck 
like  Johnily  Gilpin's  bottU,  while  I  was  intrusted 
«idi  an  ancient  bridlebit,  which  we  had  likewise 
picked  op. 

*  The  feint  o' pride— oamide  had  he  .  .  . 
A  Un;  ^aflguDy  hong  down  by  hia  side, 
ksri  a  greu  melkle  oomhorn  to  rout  on  had  he,' 

And  meikle  abd  sair  we  routed  on%  and  '  botched 
and  blew,  wi'  micht  and  main.'  O  what  pleasant 
days!  and  then  a*  the  nonsense  we  had  cost  us 
HasfkiBg  We  never  put  hand  in  pocket  for  a  week 
en  eod.  Toll-bars  there  were  none— and  indeed  I 
ikiak  our  badl  charj^  were  a  feed  o'  com  to  our 
borsaa  ia  the  gtii0a*  anil  comin'  at  Riccartoun 

It  V  a  pity  that  we  have  na  letters  of  Seott*s,  de- 
•enboig  this  first  raid  into  Liddesdale ;  but  as  he 
Bw(  have  left  Kelso  for  Edinburgh  very  soon  after 
ii«  eoocluflion,  he  probably  chose  to  be  the  bearer 
«f  has  own  tictaDgs.  At  anv  rate«  the  wonder  per- 
b^e  ie  not  that  we  shoqia  have  so  few  letters  of 
m  period,  aa  that  any  have  been  recovered.  *'  I 
teethe  the  preservation  of  my  little  handfuj,"  says 
Mr.  CUik,  "  ta  a  eort  of  instinctive  prophetic  sense 
irf  bw  ^turegieatness." 

I_  have  _{Qundi    however,  two  note-bo(^  in- 


Kftbeil  "Walter  Scott,  1792,' 

of  scraps  ana  bints  which  may  help  us  to  fiU  up  our 

action  of  bis  private  studies  during  that  year.    He 


, .    containmg  a  variety 

I  bints  which  may  help  us  to  fiU  up 

I  private  studies  during  that  year.    — . 

,^ to  have  used  them  indiscriminately.    We 

hai«  BOW  an  extraet  from  the  author  he  happened 
to  be  reading ;  now  a  memorandum  of  something 
thai  had  struck  him  in  conversation  s  a  fragment 
«f  aa  essays  transcripts  of  favotffite  poems;  re- 
carke  on  curious  cases  in  the  old  records  of  the  Jus- 
ticiary Court ;  in  shorty  a  roost  miscellaneous  col- 
teetiMt,  in  which  there  is  whatever  might  have  been 
k>oked  for,  with  perhaps  the  single  exception  of 
vngiaal  verse.  One  of  the  books  opens  with  "  Veg- 
ua's  £vi(h8.  w  the  Descent  of  Odm,  with  the  Latin 
of  Thomas  Bartholine,  and  the  English  poetical 
version  of  Blr.  Orav^  with  some  account  of  the 
dtsib  of  Balder,  both  as  narrated  in  the  Edda,  and 
to  beaded  down  to  us  by  the  Northern  histi>rian8^ 
AMd^rt.  GuaUero  ScotL^  The  Norse  originaK  and 
the  two  versions,  are  then^  transcri^ }  ana  the 


ng  i 

Mines  a  pai^  headed  '*  Pecuniary  distr^  of 
Claries  the  First,''  and  containing  a  trfinscnpt  of  a 
iceaiiii  f^r  somt  plate  lent  to  the  Kjng  in  1643.  He 
ti»e<L  copies  the  Owen  of  Cijrron,"  of  Langhomer 
tke  varase  of  Canute,  on  passmg  Ely  t  the  lines  to  a 
(QokMS  given  by  Warton  as  the  oldest  specimen  of 
F't«Iian  verse t  a  translation,  '*by,a  gentlemsn  hi 
pcrooskire,'^  of  the  ^th  song  of  "  JbUgner  Lod- 
^ ;    and.  the  beaiaifiil  quatrain  otnittedTin  Gray' s 


"There  scattered  ott,  tbt  earliest  of  the  year,"  Ac. 
After  this  we  have  an,  Italian  canzonet,  on  the 
praises  of  blue  eyes,  (which  were  much  in  favour  at 
this  time ;)  several  pages  of  etymologies  from  Du- 
cange ;  some  more  of  notes  on  the  Morte  Arthur; 
extracts  from  the  books  of  Adjournal,  about  Dame 
Janet  Beaton,  the  Lady  of  Branxome  of  the  Lay  of 
the  Last  Minstrel,  and  her  husband,  "  Sir  Walter 
Scott  of  Buccleucn,  c^led  Wicked  Watt ;"  other 
extracts  about  witcuesand  fairies;  various  couplets 
from  Hall's  Satires;  a  passage  from  Albania j 
notes  on  the  Second  Sight,  with  exUnctsfrom  Au- 
bry  and  Glanville;  a  '^^List  of  b^juids  to  be  dis- 
covered or  recovered ;"  extracts  Aom  Guerin  de 
Montglatef  and  after  many  more  similar  entries,  a 
table  of  the  Mceso-Gothic,  An^lo-Saxon,  and  Runic 
alphabets— with  a  fourth  section,  headed  German^ 
but  left  blank.    But  enough  perhaps  of  this  record. 

In  November,  1792,  Scott  and  Clerk  Ix^an  their 
regular  attendance  at  the  Parliament  House,  and 
Scott,  to  use  Mr.  Clerk's  word&  "  by  and  by  cra>t 
into  a  tolerable  share  of  such  business  as  may  be 
expected  from  a  writer's  connexion."  By  this  we 
are  to  understand  that  ne  was  employed  from  time 
to  time  by  his  father,  and  probably  a  few  other  so- 
Ucitors,  in  that  dreary  every-day  task-work,  chiefly 
of  long  written  tr^ormo/toiw,  and  other  papers  for 
the  court,  on  which  young  counsellors  of  the  Scotch 
bar  were  then  expected  to  bestow  a  great  deal  of 
trouble  for  very  scanty  pecuniary  remuneration,  and 
with  scarcely  a  chance  of  finding  reserved  for  their 
hands  any  matter  that  could  elicit  the  display  of 
superior  knowledge  or  understanding.  He  had  also 
hia  part  in  the  cases  of  persons  suing  in  forma  pou- 

£erta  /  but  how  Uttle  important  those  that  came  to 
is  #i«re  were,  and  how  slender  was  the  impression 
they,  had  left  on  his  mind,  we  may  cath^  from  a 
note  on  Redgauntlet,  wherein  he  signines  his  doubt* 
whether  he  really  had  ever  been  engaged  in  what  he 
has  certainly  made  the  ^atwe  cSUbre  of  Poor  PtUr 
PttbUt, 

But  he  soon  became  as  famous  for  his  powers  of 
stonr^telfing  among  the  lawyers  of  the  Oater-Housew 
as  he  had  been  among  the  c<Rnpamons  of  his  High 
School  days.  The  place  where  these  idlers  mostly 
congregated  was  called,  it  seems,  by  a  name  which 
sufficiently  marks  the  date— it  was  the  Mountain. 
Here,  asRog?r  North  says  of  the  Court  of  JCing'a 
Bench  in  his  early  dajr,  '*  there  was  moreNefv  than/ 
Law;"— here  boor  sifter  hoiir  paeaed  away,  week 
after  week,  month  after  month,  and  year  after  year, 
in  the  int^change  of  light-hearted  merriment, 
among  a  cupole  oi  young  men,  more  than  one  or 
whom,  in  after  times,  attained  the  highest  honours 
of  the  profeesion.  Among  the  most  intimate  of 
Scott's  daily  associates  from  this  time,  and  during 
all  his  subsequent  attendance  at  the  bar,  wer&  be- 
sides various  since  eminent  persons  that  have  been 
already  named,  the  first  legal  antiquary  of  our  time 
in  Scotland,  Mr.  Thomas ^liomson,  and  William 
Erskine,  afterwards  Lord  Kinedder.  Mr.  Clerk  re- 
memoers  complaining  one  morning  on  finding  the 
group  convulsed  with  laughter,  that  Duns  ^ottts 
had  been  forestalling  him  in  a  good  story,  which  he 
hadcommnnicat^  privately  the  day  before— adding, 
moreover,  that  his  friend  had  not  only  stplen,  but 
disguised  it.  "  Whv,"  answered  he,  skilfijlly  waving 
the  main  charge,  this  is  always  the  way  with  tho 
Baronet.  He  is  continually  saying  that  I  change 
his  stories,  whereas  in  fact  I  only  put  a  cocked  hat 
on  their  heads,  pftid  stick  a  cane  imo  their  hands— 


to  make  them  ^t  for  going  into  company." 

The  German  class,  of  which  we  have  an  account 
in  one  of  the  Prefaces  of  1830,  was  formed  before  the  ' 
Christmas  of  1792,  and  it  included  almost  all  these 
loungers  of  the  Mountain.  In  the  essay  now  re- 
ferred to,  Scott  traces  the  interest  excited  in  Scot- 
land on  the  subject  of  Germaniiterature  to  a  paper 
read  before  the  Royal  Society  of  Edinburgh,  on  the 
21st  of  April,  1768,  by  the  author  of  the  Man  of  Feel- 
ing. "The  literary  persons  of  Edinburgli,"  he 
says,  "  were  then  first  made  aware  of  the  existence 
of  workeof  geniue  in  a  langnage  cognate  with  th* 
English,  and  possessed  of  the  same  manly  force  of 


tiPE  OP  SIR  WALTER  SCOTT. 


4a 

expression ;  they  learned  at  the  same  time,  that  the 
taste  which  dictated  the  German  compositions  was 
of  a  kind  as  nearly  allied  to  the  English  as  their 
language;  those  who  were  from  their  youth  accus- 
tomed to  admire  Shak8i>eare  and  Milton,  became 
acquainted  for  the  first  time  with  a  race  of  poets, 
who  had  the  same  lofty  ambition  to  spurn  the 
flaming  boundaries  of  tlie  universe,  apd  investigate 
the  realms  of  Chaos  and  Old  Night ;  and  of  drama- 
tists, who,  disclaiming  the  pedantry  of  the  unities, 
sought,  at  the  expense  of  occasional  improbabilities 
and  extravagance,  to  present  life  on  the  stage  in  its 
scenes  of  wildest  contrast,  and  in  all  its  boundless 
variety  of  character.  .  .  .  Their  fictitious  narra- 
tives, their  ballad  poetry,  and  other  branches  of  their 
literature,  which  are  particularly  apt  to  bear  the 
stamp  of  the  extravagant  and  the  supemamral,  be- 
gan also  to  occupy  the  attention  of  the  British  lite- 
rati. In  Edinburgh,  where  the  remarkable  coinci- 
dence between  the  German  language  and  the  Low- 
land Scottish,  encouraged  young  men  to  approacb 
this  newly  discovered  spring  otliterature,  a  class 
was  formed  of  six  or  seven  intimate  friends,  who 
proposed  to  make  themselves  acquainted  with  the 
German  language.*  They  were  in  the  habit  of  being 
much  together,  and  the  time  they  spent  in  this  new 
study  was  felt  as  a  period  of  great  amusement. 
One  source  of  this  diversion  was  the  laziness  of  one 
of  their  number,  the  present  author,  who,  averse  to 
the  necessary  toil  of  ^ammar,  ana  the  rules,  was 
in  the  practice  of  fighung  his  way  to  the  knowledge 
of  the  German  by  his  a^aintance  with  the  Scot- 
tish and  Anglo-Saxon  dialects,  and  of  course  fre- 
quently committed  blunders  which  were  not  lost  on 
nis  more  accurate  and  more  studious-companions." 
The  teacher,  Dr.  Willich,  a  medical  man,  is  then 
described  as  striving  with  httle  success  to  make  liis 
pupils  sympathize  in  his  own  passion  for  the  "  sickly 
monotony*'  and  **  affected  ecstacies"  of  Gessner's 
Death  of  Abel ;  and  the  young  students,  having  at 
length  acquired  enough  of  the  language  for  their 
respective  purposes,  as  selecting  for  their  private 
pursuits,  some  the  philosophical  treatises  of^  Kant, 
others  the  dramas  of  Schiller  and  Gk>ethe.  The 
chie^  if  not  the  only  KantisC  of  the  party,  was,  I 
beUeve,  John  Macfarlan  of  Kirkton :  among  those 
who  turned  zealously  to  the  popular  BelUa  jLttUrea 
of  Germany  were,  with  Scott,  his  most  intimate 
fiiends  «f  the  period,  Wilham  Clerk,  William  Ers- 
kin^  afm  Thomas  Thomson. 

These  Mudies  were  much  encouraged  by  the  ex- 
ample, and  assisted  bv  the  advice,  of  an  accom- 
plished person,  considerably  Scott*s  superior  in 
standing,  Alexander  Praser  Tytler,  afterwards  a 
Judge  of  the  Court  of  Session  by  the  title  of  Lord 
Woodhouselee.  His  version  of  Schiller's  Robbers, 
was  one  of  the  earhest  from  the  Gtorman  theatre, 
and  no  doubt  stimulated  his  young  friend  to  his  first 
experiments  in  the  same  walk. 

The  contemporary  famihars  of  those  ^ays  almost 
all  survive ;  but  one,  and  afterwards  the  most  inti- 
mate of  them  all^  went  before  him;  and  I  may 
therefore  hazard  m  this  place  a  few  words  on  the 
influence  which  he  exercised  at  this  critical  period 
on  Scott's  literary  tastes  and  studies.  WiUiam 
Erskine  was  the  son  of  an  Episcopalian  clergyman 
in  Perthshire,  of  a  good  fanuly,  but  far  from  weal- 
thy. He  had  received  his  early  education  at  Glas- 
gow, where,  while  attending  the  college  lectures, 
he  was  boarded  under  the  roof  of  Andrew  Mac- 
donald,  the  author  of  Vimonda,  who  then  oflAdated 
as  niinister  to  a  small  congregation  bf  Episcopalian 
nonconformists.  From  this  unfortunate  but  very 
ingenious  man,  Erskine  had  derived,  in  boyhood,  a 
stronfi;  passion  for  old  English  Uterature,  more 
especialiv  the  Elizabethan  dramatists ;  which,  how- 
ever, h'  r  45  J  nil  ;  w]ili  a  far  liveUer  relish  tor  the 
claHs^tf's  \,\  [iTuiiiUM  \'  than  either  Scott  or  his  master 
ever  j  j  >  s^-rs  f  <-(  I .  F* rom  the  beginning,  accordingly, 
Scou  \i.:'\  iiL  t'r^kinea  monitor  who— entering  most 
warittly  into  bi^  ta-^te  for  national  lore,  the  life  of  the 
pasi-rmd  ibe  bold  a  uA  picturesquestyleof  the  origin- 
al Enghsh  sch  oo  I— wo  b  instantly  urging  the  advan- 
tages to  be  derivt<l  from  combining  witn  its  varied 


and  masculine  breadth  of  deUneation,  snclittleBtion 
to  the  minor  graces  of  arrangement  and  diction  as- 
might  conciliate  the  fastidiousness  of  modern  tastc^ 
Deterring  what  I  may  have  to  say  as  to  Erskine^ 
general  character  and  manners,  until  1  shall  have 
approached  the  period  when  I  myself  had  the  plea- 
sure of  sharing  his  acouaintance,  I  introduce  the 
general  bearing  of  his  literary  opinions  thus  early, 
because  I  conceive  there  is  no  doubt  that  his  com- 
panionship was,  even  in  those  days,  highly  service- 
able to  Scott  as  a  student  of  the  German  drama 
and  romance.  Directed,  as  he  mainly  was,  in  the 
ultimate  determination  of  his  literary  ambition,  by 
the  example  of  their  great  founders,  be  appears  to 
have  run  at  first  no  trivial  hazard  of  adopting  the 
extravagances,  both  of  thought  and  language,  which 
he  found  blended  in  their  works,  with  such  a  capti- 
vating display  of  genius,  and  genius  employed  on 
subjects  so  much  in  unison  with  the  deepest  of  his 
own  juvenile  predilections.  His  fnendly  critic  was 
just  as  well  as  delicate;  and  unmerciful  severity  as 
to  the  mingled  absurdities  and  vulgarities  of  Ger- 
man detail  commanded  deliberate  attention  from 
one,  who  admired  not  less  enthusiastically  than 
himself  the  genuine  subUmity  and  pathos  of  his 
new  favourites.  I  could,  I  beheve.  name  one  other 
at  least  among  Scott's  fellow-students  of  the  same 
time,  whose  influence  was  combined  in  this  matter 
withErskine's:  but  his  was  that  which  continued 
to  be  exerted  the  longest,  and  always  in  the  same 
direction.  That  it  was  not  •accompanied  with  en- 
the  succescL  the  readers  of  the  Doom  of  Devorgoil, 
to  say  nothing  of  minor  blemishes  in  hi  b#tter 
works,  must  acknowledge. 

These  German  studies  divided  Scott's  attention 
with  the  business  of  the  courts  of  law,  on  whidi  he 
was  at  least  a  regular  attendant,  during  the  winter 
of  1792-3.  J 

If  the  preceding  autumn  forms  a  remarkable  point 
in  Scotrs  history,  as  first  introducing  him  to  the 
manners  of  the  wilder  Border  country,  the  summer 
which  followed  left  traces  of  equal  importance.  He 
gave  the  greater  part  of  it  to  an  excursion  which 
much  extended  his  knowledge  of  Highland  sceneir 
and  character ;  and  in  particular  furnished  him  with 
the  richest  stores  which  he  afterwards  turned  to  ac- 
ooant  in  one  of  the  roost  beautiful  of  his  creat 
poems,  and  in  several,  including  the  first,  of  his 
prose  romances. 

Accompanied  by  Adam  Fergusson,  he  visited  on 
this  occasion  some  of  the  finest  districts  of  Stirling- 
shire and  Perthshire ;  and  not  in  the  percursory 
manner  of  his  more  boyish  expeditions,  but  taking 
up  his  residence  for  a  week  or  ten  dsys  in  succession 
at  the  family  residences  of  several  of  his  young  al- 
lies of  ihe  Mmn/atn,  and  from  thence  familiartzins 
himself  at  leisure  with  the  country  and  the  people 
round  about  In  this  way,  he  lingered  some  time  at 
Tullibody,  the  seat  of  the  father  of  Sir  Ralph  Aber- 
cromby,  and  grandfather  of  his  fnend  Bfr.  Gieorxe 
Abercromby,  (now  Lord  Abercromby;)  and  heard 
from  the  old  gentleman's  own  lips  his  narrative  of 
a  journey  which  he  had  been  obliged  to  maka  short- 
ly after  he  first  settled  in  Stirlingshire,  to  the  wild 
retreat  of  Rob  Roy.  The  venerable  laird  told  how  be 
V. '"  ^■■cciVrfThytnei'-^.-nrk  "with  much  courtesy," 
in  u  t avtrn  cx^ciU'  ^^^'X^  ^At  that  of  Btan  Lean} dined 
Oil  collope  cut  from  ponie  of  hj.s  own  cattle,  which 
hf  r^xigmat'J  hnngitip  by  Hicir  iK^eln  frnm  the  rocky 
roof  b«!>'and  \  und  returned  in  all  sair  ry,  after  con- 
eluding  n  bareain  of  blask-tnaii—ifi  viriue  of  which 
an n  oaf  pa xm em,  Rob  Roy  guarantetxl  the  future  we- 
cuniy  of  hia  hi?rda  agaiimt,  not  hia  own  followers 
mcrt'Vj  bill  nil  freebooters  wlmtev^r.  Scott  next 
visitfia  hip  friend  EdniotiBtont^T  ^^  Nt  wton,  a  beau- 
tiful seat  close  to  ihe*rumK  of  the  ofk:c  magnificent 
Casit^  of  Dourifc  and  b^urd  anotlu  r  ugta  gentle- 
ma  u'f  vivid  recollef!ikms  of  all  thar  hippenea  there 
\f\\m  John  Hornet  ihe  author  of  Dou-fr^s,  end  other 
Hanuvf^rtan  prisoaorB,  oBcaf>cd  from  ihe  Highland 
gHrriaon  in  17(5**  Proceorfiuf  towards  the  sources 
of  the  Teith.  he  was  rw^ved  tot  ilio  first  time  under 
e  roof  which,  in  aubsequcntyi^a/^  he  rt^tuluT  revisit- 
•  WtfcricTi  voL  it  p.  tt. 


LIFE  OP  8nt  WAI^TER  800TT. 
•d,  tbi^of  CBDtlitr  of  ilia  miiMiat«8,  BuphttNtfl,  tha  Jamas  tba  Saeoncfa  briif  huanitf*   Baidg  invilaA 


into  the  manae  after  dinner  to  take  a  glaaa  of  whi»<' 
kv  punch,  "  to  which  he  wai  auppoaed  to.baTo  no 
obW 


youoiniutl  oCQnnbiiaiiHvre.  I^yraa  thus  that  the 
loenerY  of  Loch  Katrine  came  t9  bo  so  aaaociated 
with  "  the  MGollectton  of  many  a  dear  friend  aad 
merry  expedition  of  former  daya,"  thai  to  compoae 
the  Lady  of  the  Lake  waa  "  a  labour  of  loye,  and 

no  ieaa  80  to  recall  the  manners  and  incidenta  intro-  . ^ 

duoed.*'*  It  waa  atarting  from  the  aame  houae,  hearing,  in  a  certaif^berdooian  kirk,  ifae  paalmodf 
when  tba  foam  itielf  h^d  made  aome  progress,  that  directeia  by  a  pitclHMpe,  or  some  similar  instnimenL 
he  put  to  the  test  the  practicability  of*ndiaa  from :  which  was  to  Old  Mortality  the  abomination  of 
the  banka  of  LocbTeimachar  to  the  Caat]p  of  Stirl-    abominaliona." 

ing  within  the  brief  apace  which  he  had  aaainied  to  i  It  was  alio  while  he  had  his  head-qtiartera  at 
Pin-Jamea'a  Oray  Bayard,  after  the   duel   with    Meigle  at  thia  time,  that  Scott  visited  for  the  first  time 


objections.'^  he  joined  the  minister'a  party  accord* 
ingty.  but  ^*  he  waa  in  a  bad  humour,''  says  Scoti, 
"  and,  to  use  his  own  phrasa  had  no  free(K)m  tor 
conversation.    His  apint  had  been  sorely  vexed  by 


Roderick  Dfau;  and  the  pnaeipal  landmarka  in  the 
deaeriptkm  of  thai  Iiery  progress  are  ao  many  ho*-  j 
pitable  mansieiM  all  familiar  to  him  at  the  same  | 
period— Blaildntrnmond,  the  reaidenoe  of  Lcnrd  i 
Kaimea;  Ochtertyre,  that  of  John  Ramaay,  the{ 
scholar  and  antiquanan,  (now  beat  remembered  for ; 
hiB  kind  and  ssgacioos  aavioe  to  Bornai)  and  **  the  i 
lofty  brow  of  ancient  Kier,"  the  splendid  seal  of  the 
chief  fkmiljr  ofjjlie  name  of  StirUng;  fW)m  \yiiich, , 
to  Bay  nothing  df  remoter  objects,  the  prospect  has, 
on  om  hand,  thoTock  of  '*  Snowdon,''  ami  in  front 
the  field  of  Bannockbom. 

Another  sestingplace  waa  Graighall,  in  Perthshioe, 
the  aeat  of  the  Rattraya,  a  family  lelated  to  Mr. 
CMc,  who  aooompan^  him.  From  the  poailion 
of  thiaatriking  place,  as  Mr.  Clerk  at  onoe  percaived, 
and  as  the  author  afterwards  oonfeaaed  to  hira^  that 
of  the  TitUf'Vtolan  waa  very  iuthlblly  copied; 
thaagh  in  the  deacriptioo  of  the  hooae  itself;  and  iia 
nrdens.  many  fieanu-ea  were  adopted  from  BrentB* 
fiekiandRa¥€litone.t  Me.  Clerk  has  told  ma  Ihat 
heirent  through  the  firat  diaptenof  Waverlsy  %viih* 
oat  more  than  a-irague  anapicion  of  the  new  niotel*> 
iat ;  hot  that  when  be  read  the  anhrai  atToUy^Veo- 
Ian,  hia  suapieion  waa  at  onoe  couYertsd  into  cer- 
tainty, and  he  handed  the  book  to  a  mutotl  friend 
of  hia  and  the  authot^a.  aaying,  '"Iliis  ia  Scott' »— 
afkd  I'll  lay  k  bat  wm'U  find  aiidi  and  such  tbiogain 
Ihe  next  chapter.'^  I  hope  Mr.  Clerk  will  forgive  me 
for  mentioning  i^partionlartarcnmatance  that  first 
fiaabed  the  eonviction  on  his  ndnd.  In  the  course 
ef  nridefrora  Graigball,  they  had  both  bebomeoon* 
aadsrably  ftgged  and  heated,  and  Cleik  aeeinf  the 
eaadba  of  a  clackan  a  htde  way  before  them^  ejaoa- 
lated,  "How  agreeable  if  we  ahould  here  fall  in' 
wi^  one  of  those  signpoau  where  a  red  lion  pre- 
doninates  over  a  punchbowl."  The  phrase  hap- 
^efred  to  tickle  Scott's  £iney— he  often  introduoed 
It  on  similar  occasions  aflerwardfr^-«nd  at  the  dia- 
tsnce  of  twenty  yeara,  Mr.  Cl^k  wma  at  no  Waa  to 
lecogniae  an  old  acquaintance  m  the  "  huge  bear" 
which  "  predominates"  over  the  atone  basm  in  the 
eonrt-yard  of  the  Baron  of  Bradwardine. 

I  believe  the  longeat  sta^  he  made  this  antnmn 
waa  at  Meigles  in  Forfarshire,  the  seat  of  Patfiek 
Mnrray  of  Simprim,  a  f^ntleroan  whoae  enthaaias- 
tic  passMn  for  antiquitisa,  and  eapeciidly  military 
antiquities,  had  peculiarly  endeared  him  both  to 
Soott  and  Clerk.  Here  Adam  FecguaeoiL  too,  Waa 
of  the  partv ;  and  1  have  often  heard  them  each 
and  all  dwell  on  the  thonsand  eoeaes  of  adventure 
and  merriment  which  diversified  that  visit.  In  the 
village  churchyard,  close  beneath  Mr.  Murray'a 


Olamviis,  the  reaidence  of  the  &trls  of  Strathmoreb 
by  far  the  nobleat  apecimen  <lflHi>real  feaaal  caatle 
entire  and  perfect,  that  had  fPflt  come  ander  hia 
inspection.  What  its  aapeci  was  when  he  fi^  aaw 
it,  and  how  giievooaly  he  lamented  the  change  it  niid 
uiidergon»when<  he  revisited  it  some  years  after- 
warda,  he  haa  recorded  in  one  of  the  most  stiiking* 
passajges  that  I  tbink  ever  came  from  hia  pen.  Com- 
mendng,  in  his  Essay  on  Landacape  Gardening; 
(1828.)  on  the  proper  domeatic  ornaments  of  the 
Caatle  PZeasoimes,  he  haa  thia  beautiful  burst  tif 
lamentation  over  the  barbarona  tnnovatioM  ef  ihs 
CaptUnUi^  men : — ^  Down  went  many  a  trophy  of  . 
old  magmfioenoe,  eourtiyard,  ornamented  eiicl»- 
sare^  foase^  *  avenne*  barbican,  and  Cvety  external 
raoniment  ef  battled  wnil  ana  fianking  tower,  ont 
of  the  midst  of  which  the  ancient  dome^  rising  high 
above  all  its  charactensfie  accdmpanimenta,  and 
aoamingiy  girt  round  by  ila  anprofiriate  defended 
which  again  encireled  Ckch  other  m  their  dimaitt 
gradationa,  looked,  aa.it  ak«dd,  thd  qaeen  aad  mi»« 
tress  of  the  snrroimding  amntry.  It  waa  thna  thai 
the  huge  ohi  tow^  of  Qlammii,  *  whoae  birth  lia-^ 
ditiop  notes  not,'  onoe  sl^pwed  its  lordly  head  above: 
aeven  drdea  (if  I  lemcoaber  arightV  of  defensive 
bonndariea^  through  which  the  fhendlygueat  wac^ 
admitted,  and  at  each  ef  which  a  euspicioaa  peraon^ 
VM  unquestionably  put  to  hia  anawsr.  Adiaoipla. 
•of  Kent  had  the  cruelty  to  render  thia  aplendid  old. 
manak>n  (th^  more  modem  part  of  whiah  wna  the 
wo|^  of  Inigo  Jonea)  more  pomkiih,  aa  he  waa 
pleased  to  call  it)  to  rase  all  ifaoae  ekierior  defencesi 
and  bring  hia  mei^n  and  paltry  craveKwalk  up  to 
the  Very  door  from  whielu  deuioed  by  the  aamsb 
one  might  have  imagined  Lady  Macbeth  (with  the 
foim  and  fiaaturea  of  Siddons)  issuing  forth  to  re* 
oeive  King  Dunean.  It  ia  thirty  yeara  and  upwaida 
since  I  have  seen  Glammisi  b^t  I  have  not  vet  feiv 
gotten  or  forgiven  the  atrocity  which,  under  pr»> 
tence  of  improvement,  defwiyedthat  lordly  place  of 
iia  appropriate  aoeompammentsv 

*  LesTins  an  soclent  dome  tad  tomtn  like  tbsse 
Brggsr'a  and  oatrai^ed.' '" 

The  night  he  spent  at  the  yet  unprofaned  Glam- 
mis  in  1798  was,  as  he  elsewhere  says,  one  of  the 
*^pu>o  periods,  distant  from  each  other,"  at  which  he 
ooidd  recollect  experiencing  '*  that  degree  of  super- 
stitioDs  awe  which  his  countrymen  call  em«." 
"The  heavy  pile,"  he  writea,  *'  contains  much  in  its 
appearance,  and  in  the  traditions  connected  with 
it.  impressive  to  the  imagination.  It  waa  the  aoene 
or  die  murder  of  a  Scottish  King  of  great  antiqui* 
'      not  indeed  the  gracious  Duncan,  with  whom 


gatdens,  tradition  stillnoints  out  the  tomb  of. Qneenty,  not  indeed  the  gracious  Duncan,  with  whom 
Chienever;  and  the  whale  diifrrt  nlmrtrifls  in  o>>-  ihe  name  naturally  associates  itself,  but  Malcolm 
jeefs  of  historical  interest.  Am -l(^t  tin  r^  rhtv  spipnt  U-  It  contains  also  a  cunous  monument  of  toe 
their  wandering  days,  while  ihtir  ivtimnts  uasiwd  l^ril  t>f  feudal  times,  being  a  secret  chanaber,  the 
in  the  joyous  festivity  of  a  wc^UJiy  yonnj^  Kacjie- ,  t-n trance  of  which,  by  the  law  or  custom  of  the  fa- 
lor*.s  est^lishment,  or  sometim^^  iiodtr  the  roflf^M  mily,  lonst  only  be  known  to  three  persons  at  once, 
neighboura  less  refined  than  di  nr  host,  the  Bairns  ]  aanu  lif,  the.Earl  of  Strathmoro,  his  heir-apoarent, 
vkapplm  of  the  Braes  of  Aiti^i^.  From  MeiffUi  ^^^  any  third  person  whom  they  may  take  into 
thaymade  a  trip  to  Dunottar  Ca^do,  rhp  nime  dW  l^eiJ;  canfidenoe.  Theextreme  antiquity  of  the  build-, 
the  huge  old  fortress  of  the  Earld  Mjirtschnll,  andlf]  inJ?  ^»Tj  -.^^Jr^-  L  _„®®?  ?i  T*  ^"^^i?" 
vraa  iir the  churchyard  of  that  i>l  ai^r^  that  SuD[  I  ihfD 
aaw  for  the  first  and  last  time  P^ior  P^icr^orii  th^ 
living  (Hd  Mrrtaiity*  He  ami  Mr.  WAlkl^^.  the 
mimnter  of  the  paiisn.  found  the  pnor  in  on  Tefrc^h- 
iiig  theepitsphs  on  the  tombs  of  ci?rt^ifi  CEimcro- 
niana  who  had  fallen  under  xhfi  ovvrcs^Git^  of 


the  YtM  straggling  arrangement  of  the  accommo- 
dutHii  within  cioors.  As  me  late  earl  seldom  resid- 
ed nt  Glammia,  !t  was  when  I  was  there  but  half 
furrti^^iied.  and  that  wltMpfveables  of  great  anti- 
qnitv,  which,  with  the-^Mft  of  chivalne  amonr 
haniringon  the  walliL  gMljr  contributed  to  thene- 
iieml  eftect  or  the  whole.    After  a  very  hospitable 


••*TfgTz?^^f^5fl9tegie 


M 


LIPK  OF  SIR  WAL7RR  SCOTT. 


rtespdon  from  tbe  late  P«ler  Proctor,  Bencschal  of 
the  otfitle,  I  WAi  conducted  to  my  apartnoent  in  a 
(fifltant  part  of  the  building.  1  must  own  that 
whea  I  neard  door  after  door  shut,  after  my  con- 
ductor had  retired,  I  began  to  consider  myself  as 
too  far  from  the  living,  and  somewhat  too  near  iAte 
dead.  We  had  passed  through  what  is  called  the 
King's  Roorn^  a  vaulted  apartnupt,  garniahed  with 
8tag^3  antlers  and  other  trophiet  of  the  chase,  and 
said  by  tradition  to  bo  the  spot  of  Malcolm's  mur- 
der, and  I  had  an  idea  of  the  vicinity  of  the  castle 
chapel.  In  t^ite  of  the  truth  of  history,  the  whole 
night  scene  m  Macbeth's  Castle  rusned  at  once 
upon  me,  and  struck  my  mind  more  forcibly  than 
eren  when  I  have  seen  its  terrors  ifepresented  by 
John  Eemble  and  his  inimitable  sister.  In  a  word, 
I  experienced  sensntions  wlucn,  though  not  remark- 
able for  timidity  or  superstition,  did  not  foil  to  af- 
fect me  to  the  point  of  being  disagreeable,  wHile 
they  were  minsled  at  the  same  time  with  a  strange 
ana  indescribable  sort  of  pleasure,  the  recollectioB 
of  which  affords  me  ratification  at  this  moment."* 
He  alludes  here  to  Bie  hospitable  reception  which 
had  preceded  the  mingled  sensatioiia  of  this  eerie 
m^hti  but  one  of  his  notes  qn  Waverley  touches 
this  not  unimportant  part  of  the  story  more  dis- 
tinctly ;  for  we  are  tbeire  informed,  that  the  Mper 
hsar  0f  Tully-Veolan^  *'  thepoeulumpotatorium  d 
the  valiant  Imvon,''  had  its  srototype  at  Glammis— 
a  maaiive  beaker  of  silver,  double  gilt,  moulded  into 
the  form  of  a  Hon,  the  name  and  bearing  of  the  Earls 
oi  Stratkmore,  and  containhng  about  an  EUighsh  pint 
of  win&  "The  author."  he  says,  "  ought  perhaps 
ta  be  asbamed  of  reoorohig  that  He  had  the  honour 
of  i«^allowing  the  contents  of  t^tfen,  and  the 
recollection  of  the  font  suggested  the  story  of  the 
Bnr  of  Bradwardine.*'     ^ 

Fiom  this  plenaant  Unt,  to  rich  in  its  results, 
Seott  returned  in  time  to  attend  the  October  aaaixes 
St  Jedburgh,  on  whidi  occasion  he  made  his  firii 
appearance  aa  eoimsel  in  a  crindnal  oourti  and 
had  the  amisfiiotion  of  helping  a  veteran  poacher 
nod  iheepflealer  to  escape  through  some  of  the 
meshes  of  the  law.  '*  You're  a  licky  sooundr^'^ 
Steou  whispered  to  his  client  when  the  vermct 
was  pronounced.  ^I'midst  o^  your  mind,"  quoth 
thsMperado,  ^*and  rii  send  ye  a  roaukint  the 
mom,  Buia."  I  lUn  not  sure  idiether  it  was  «i 
these  aseizet,  or  the  next,  in  the  same  town,  that  he 
had  lesa  snooess  in  the  case  ef  a  tetttkk  notorknis 
housebreaker.  The  tnan.  however,  was  well  awara- 
that  no  skill  oonki  have  baffled  the  clear  evidence 
a|$axnet  him,  and  was,  after  Ms  fashion,  gratefol  for 
such  exertions  as  had  been  made  in  his  behalf.  He 
requested  the  yovuM  advocate  to  visit  him  once 
more  before  he  left  the  place^  Scott's  curjosity  in- 
duced him  to  accept  this  invitation,  and  his  fnend, 
as  soon  as  they  wiere  alone  together  in  the  tondemn- 
ed  cell^  said,  ^*I  am  very  sorry,  sir,  that  1  have  no 
fe^  to  oflTer  vou— so  let  me  beg  yom*  acceptance  of 
tWQ  bits  of  advice,  which  may  be  useful  perhaps 
wiicn  yuu  cuiiio  tu  tiave  a  house  of  your  own.  I 
em  done  ^ii h  praouce,  yon  see,  and  here  is  my  lega- 
ef.  Nt^ver  kenp  n  large  watchdog  out  of  doors— 
we  can  aiivays  fi'nnce  them  cheaply—indeed  if  it 
be  n  doe\  *ii»  eani-  r  than  whislling^but  tie  a  little 
within  J  and  secondly,  put  no 
{imcrack  locks— the  only  thing 
lUge  old  heavy  one,  no  matter 
struction,— and  the  nider  and 
rufltJCT  tht  ki'>p  Jk!  mueh  the  better  for  the  house- 
heepf^r.'  I  rEmeimber  hearing  him  tell  this  story 
'  -       -      Jud^'  dinner  at  Jed- 

ir^t,  Bim  "K  oummcu  ii  liD  with  a  rhvme— "  Ay, 
-OT,  my  lord,"  tT  t!)ink  he  adressed  bis  friend  Lord 


Uf?ht  ye] pin;:;  N  n- 
tmai  irt  nifN , 
thai  boiJif  r: 
ll<>w  flimpb 


somi^tltiriy  yturt  after  at  a  . 

hurgtt,  arid  !ifl  summed  it  up  with  a  rhyme 

"  Yelpios  terrier,  rusty  key» 

Was  Walter  Scott'a  best  Jeddart  fee." 

Atihese^  or  perhaps^^ext  assizes,  he  wos  also 
epuneel  ia  an  appeal  oMMiacb'tng  a  cow  which  his 
cbeni  had  sold  as  souodtft  which  the  court  below 

«  t^ettcn  on  Oemonoloiy  and  Wttcberafl,  p.  8B8. 
ti.caAe» 


(the  Sheriff)  had  pronooneed  to  bavis  «Mt  ia  edlilA 
the  eliet^^B.  disease  anijogous  to  •^landeife  in  a 
horse.  In  opening  his  case  before  Svt  David  Bae» 
Lord  Eskgrove,  Scott  stoutly  maintained  the  heal- 
thiness of  the  cow,  who,  as  he  said^  had  merely  a 
cough.  "  SlOD  ther^"  quoth  the  judge,  "I  have  bad 
plenty  of  healthy  ky^  in  my  time,  but  I  never  heard 
of  ane  of  them  oouj^bing.  A  cous^in'  Cow ! — that 
wiii  never  do— sustam  the  Siierifrs  judgmint,  and 
decern." 

A  day  or  iwo  after  this  Scott  and  his  old  compa- 
nion were  again  on  their  way  into  Liddesdale,  and* 
"just,"  says  the  Bhortreed  Memorandum.  "  as  we 
were  [passing  by  Singdon,  we  saw  a  grand  faerdoT 
cattle  a'  feeding  by  the  roadside,  and  a  fine  young 
buHock,  the  best  in  the  whole  lot,  was  in  the  midst 
of  them,  coughing  lustily.  "  Ah,"  said  Scot,  "  what 
a  pity  for  my  client  that  old  Eskgrove  had  not  lakea 
Smgdon  on  his  way  to  the  town.  That  bonny 
creature  ^ould  have  saved  us— 

'  A  Daniel  come  to  Judgment,  vea  a  Daniel ; 
O  wise  yoang  judge,  h^  I  do  nonour  thee  f  *' 

The  winter  of  1793-4  appears  to  have  been  paaaed 
like  the  preceding  one  ;  the  Gterman  class  resttmed 
their  sittings ;  Scott  spoke  in  his  debating  chih  on 
the  questions  of  Parliamentary  Reform  and  the  In*- 
vielabitity  of  the  Person  of  the  Ftrat  Mafpstrate, 
which  the  drourastances  of  the  time  had  mvesiea 
with  extraordmary  iij^ereaiv  and  in  both  of  which  h» 
no  dooht  to<^4he  side  adverse  to  the  prindplea  of 
the  EiigUsh,  and  the  practiee  of  the  FVench  Libe- 
rale,  fiia  love  amir  continued  on  exactly-  the  same 
footing  as  before— and  for' (he  rant.  Uke  did  fotatg 
hckoes  in  Redgauntlet,  he  *'8vct>t  the  boards  of  tha 
Parliament  House  with  the  alurts  of  his  gown^ 
langhed,  afid  madei  others  iough  i  drank  daret  at 
Beyle's.  Poftune'a,  and  Walkers,  and  eat  oysters 
in  the  Covenant  Ctose.^'  On  his  desk*' the  near 
novel  most  in  repute  lay  snugly  intrenobed  beneath 
Stair's  Inatitnte,  or  an  o^  Tohune  ef  Deoisionaf" 
and  hiadrs^iing-table  was  htteied^*  with  M  play- 
bills, lettera  respecting  a  meeting  of  the  Ftealty. 
Rttlea  of  Ihe  Speeolative,  Syllabus  of  Lectttrea— idt 
the  miseeUaneOtts  contents  of  a  yonng  advocate's 
pocket,  which  cdritaina  every  thing  but  brieft  and 
baok-noAea."  Hie  own  profoasumal  occapaliaii» 
though  gradually  increasing,  was  stiU  of  the  meat 
bumble  sort ;  but  he  took  a  lively  interest  in  the 
proceedings  of  the  criminal  court,  aiid  more  eepedal^ 
ly  ia  those  arising  out  of  the  troaoled  sute  of  thus 
public  foehng  as  to  politics. 

In  the  spring  of  1794  I  -find  him  writing  to  hie 
friends  in  Roxburghshire  with  ^[reat  exultation 
about  the  "  good  spint"  manifesting  ttsdf  among  the 
upper  classes  of  the  dtizens  of  Edinburgh,  and 
above  all,  the  organisation  of  a  togihient  of  volun- 
teers, in  which  hia  brother  Thomas,  now  a  fine  ao* 
tiveyouns  man,  equally  hsndsome  and  high-spirited, 
wasemroiled  as  a  grenadier;  wfailoi  as  he  remarks, 
his  own  "  unfortunate  infirtmtv"  condemned  him  to 
be  "  a  mere  spectator  of  the  cfrills.''  In  the.  course 
of  the  same  year  the  plan  of  a  corps  of  volunteer 
light  horse  was  staned  ;  and,  if  the  recollection  of 
Bur.  Skene  be  accurate,  the  soegeetion  origini^lly 
proceeded  from  Soott  himself,  who  certainly  had  a 
principal  share  in  its  subsequent  success.  He  writes 
to  his  uncle  at  Rosebank,  requesting  him  to  be  «n 
the  look  out  for  a  *'  strong  gelding,  such  as  would 
suit  a  stalwart  dragoon ;"  and  inumating  his  mten- 
tioo  to  part  with  his  ooUeetion  of  Scottish  coins, 
er  than  not  be  mounted  to  his  mind.  The  oon>s, 

_  ever,  was  not  organised  for  some  time  f  and  in 
t]|e  mean  while  he  had  an  opportimity  of  di^^laying 
)m  teal  in  a  manner  which  Captain  Soott  by  no 
Iheaoe  considered  as  eo  respectable. 

A  party  of  Irish  medical  studente  began,  towards 
the  end  of  April,  to  make  themselves  remarkable 
in  the  Edmhurgh  Theatre^  where  they  moecsred  in 
a  particular  comer  of  the  pit,  and  lost  no  opportu- 
nity of  insulting  the  loyalista  of  the  boxes,  bycall* 
ing  for  revolutionaiqr  tunes,  epplaudiag  every  speech 
that  could  bear  a  seditious  tneaning.  and  drowning 
the  national  anthem  in  hdwmandlUKyimgi.  The 
Digitized  by  VjOOQ  It 


LIFE  OP  SIR  WALTER  SCOIT. 


61 


hi 


young  totiea  of  the  Parllanient  House  resented  j 
this  license  warmlv,  and  after  a  succession  of  mi- ! 
nor  disturbances,  theouarrel  was  put  to  the  issue  of 
a  reffuhir  trial  by  corooat  Scott  was^consptcuous 
amon/^  the  juvenile  advocates  and  solicitors  who 
on  this  grand  night  assembbd  in  the  front  of  the 
nit  armed  with  stout  cudgels,  and  determined  to 
lave  Opd  save  the  King  not  only  played  without  in- 
terruption, but  sung  in  full  chorus  by  both  company 
and  audience.  The  Irishmen  were  readj  at  the  first 
note  of  the  anthem.  They  rose,  clapped  on  their 
hats,  and  brandiahed  their  shilelahs ;  a  stem  battle 
ensued,  and  after  many  a  head  had  been  cracked, 
the  loyalists  at  length  found  themselves  in  posses- 
sion of  the  field.  pJext  morning  the  more  promi- 
nent rioters  on  both  sides  were  bound  over  to  keep 
the  peace,  and  Scott  was,  of  course,  among  the 
number.  One  of  the  party.  Sir  Alexander  Wood, 
whose  notes  lie  before  ma  says,—''  Walter  was  cer- 
tainly our  Goriphasus,  and  signalized  himself  splen- 
didly in  this  desperate  fray ;  and  nothing  used  af- 
terwards to  afford  him  more  delight  than  drama- 
tizing; its  incidents.  Some  of  the  most  efficient  of 
our  allies  were  persons  previouslv  unknown  to  him, 
and  of  several  of  these  whom  he  nad  particularly  ob- 
served, he  never  lost  sight  afterwards./  There  were, 
I  believe,  cases  in  which  they  owed  piost  valuable 
assistance  in  life  to  his  recollection  of  the  playhouft 
ro%D.**  To  this  last  part  of  Sir  Alexander's  testimo- 
ny I  can  also  add  mine;  and  I  am  sure  my  worthy 
friend,  Mr.  Donald  M'Lean,  W.  S.,  will  gratefully 
oottflrm  it.  When  that  gentleman  became  candi- 
date for  some  office  in  the  Ezcheqoer,  about  1898  or 
18218,  and  Sir  Walter's  interest  was  reqneated  on  his 
behalf;—"  To  be  sure  f  said  he,  **  did  not  he  sound 
the  chaise  upon  Paddy  t  Can  I  ever  forget  Donald's 
•  Sticks,  bv  G— tr  "On  the  9th  May.  1T94,  Charles 
Kerr  oi  Abbotrule  writes  to  him,— "1  was  last 
night  at  Roaebank,  and  your  uncle  told  me  he  had 
been  givmg  you  a  very  long  and  very  sage  lecture 
upon  the  occasbn  of  these  Edinburgh  smiabbles. 
I  •htii  happy  to  hear  they  are  now  at  an  and.  They 
were  rather  of  the  serious  cast,  and  thonch  yoiisn- 
oountered  them  with  sphit  and  oommendable  reso- 
lution, I,  with  ^our  uncle,  should  wish  to  see  your 
abilities  conspicuous  on  another  theatre."  The 
name  gentleman,  in  his  next  letter.  (June  3d,V  con- 
sratulaies  Scott  on  having  "  seen  hit  name  m  Ou 
ntw9paj9&rJ*  vis.  as  eouosel  for  another  Roxburgh^ 
■hire  land,  by  designation  i9<A^«/B.  Such,  no  doubt, 
was  Abbotmle's  *^other  theatre." 

Scott  Bpent  the  long  vacation  of  this  year  chiefly 
iti  Roxburghshire,  but  again  visited  Keir,  Ckmbus- 
more,  ana  others  of  his  friends  in  Perthshire,  and 
came  to  Edinburgh,  early  in  September,  to  be  pre- 
aent  at  the  trials  or  Watt  and  Downie,  on  a  charge 
of  high  treason.  Watt  seems  to  have  tendered  his 
services  to  government  as  a  spy  upon  the  Society 
of  the  Friends  of  the  People  in  Edinburah,  but  ul- 
timately, considering  himself  as  underpaid,  to  ha.ve 
embraced,  to  their  wildest  extent,  the  schemes  he 
had  become  acquainted  with  in  the  course  of  this 
worthy  occupation  ;  and  he  and  one  Downie,  a  me- 
chaoic,  were  now  arraigned  as  having  taken  a  pro- 
muieot  part  in  the  organizing  of  a  plot  for  a  general 
rising  in  ^nburgh,  to  seize  the  castle,  the  bank, 
the  persons  of  the  Judgeai  and  proclaim  a  provision* 

al  Republican  Government;  all  whie^i  w- -p- 

pp^  to  have  been  arranged  in  cone  :  le 

Hardies.  Thelwalli^  Holcrofts,  and  so  ii»r  ix,  vuio 
were  a  lew  weeks  later  brought  to  trial  in  r^odtrn, 
for  an  all^iied  conspiracy  to  **  summon  iJL)ci;'ot4?s  to 
a  National  Convention,  with  a  view  to  i^ubvcri  ilie 
Gove^rnment,  and  levy  war  upon  theKitiiir /'  Tje 
Engliah  prisoners  were  acquitted,  but  Wzit  ^id 
Downie  were  not  so  fortunate.  Scott  Mrrites  as  fol- 
lows to  his  aunt,  Miss  Christian  Rutherfbfd,  then 
at  Ashesliel,  in  SeUdrkshinB  r*-^ 

••  Advocates'  Library,  5(b  Sept.  1794. 


Ify  dear  Miu  Chriity  will  perceive  from  the  date 

L.       ._.,     ^-^^  •  ^\9ne  accomplished 

— , , -J  preaeot  at  the  tri 

bargh  trailers.    I  antved  b«re  on  Monday  eveaing  from 


of  this  episUa,  thst  I  have  accomplish* 
coaunf  to  town  lo  be 


my  purpose  of 
tot  at'  the  trial  of  the  Edin- 


Kelso,  and  was  present  at  Watt's  trial  on  Wednesday, 


which  displayed  to  th,e  pubUc  the  most  atrocious  and 
deliberate  plan  of  villanj  which  has  occurred,  perhaps, 
in  the  annals  of  Great  Briuin.  1  refer  vou  for  particu* 
Iar«  to  the  papem,  and  shall  only  add,  that  the  eqnivo< 
cations  and  perjury  of  the  witnesses  (most  of  them  baing 
accomplices  in  wliat  they  called  the  great  plan)  set  tkie 
abilities  of  Mr.  Anstnitner,  the  King'js  counsel,  in  the 
most  striicing  poio^of  view.  The  patience  and  temper 
with  which  he  tvM  them  on  every  side,  and  screwed 
out  of  theai  the  evidence  they  were  so  anaious  to  con- 
ceal, showed  much  Icnuwledge  of  human  nature;  and 
the  art  with  which  he  arranged  the  information  he  receiv- 
ed, made  the  trial,  upon  the  whole,  the  most  interesting  1 
ever  was  present  at.  Downie's  (rial  is  jost  now  going 
forwards  over  my  head  ;  but  as  the  evidence  Is  jast  the 
same  as  formerly  brought  aggtost  Watt,  is  not  so  inte- 
resting. You  will  easily  believe  that  on  Wedneadav  my 
curiosity  was  too  much  excited  ro  retire  at  an  early  hour, 
and,  indeed,  I  sat  in  the  Court  from  seven  in  the  morn- 
ing liU  two  the  next  morning  :  but  as  I  had  provided  my- 
self with  some  cold  meat  and  a  bottle  of  wine,  I  contriv- 
ed to  support  the  fatigue  pretty  well.  It  strikes  me,  upon 
the  whole,  thst  the  plan  of  these  miscreants  might,  from 
its  very  diMperate  and  improbable  nature,  have  had  do 
snuJl  chaiice  of  BucceedioA  at  least  as  (ar  as  concerned 
c-Qtting  off  the  soldiersi  ana  obtaining  iwssossioQ  of  the 
banks,  besides  shedding  the  blood  or  the  most  distin* 
guished  inhabitants.  There,  I  think,  tlie  evil  must  have 
stopped,  unless  they  hod  further  support  than  has  yet 
appsared,  fltooka  was  the  prime  mover  of  the  whole, 
aad  the  person  who  supplied  the  money,  and  our  thea- 
trioal  dlMttrbaaces  are  found  to  have  formed  one  link  of 
the  chain.  80,  1  have  no  doubt,  Messrs.  fitooks,  Burk, 
Ae^  would  have  found  out  a  new  way  of  paying  old 
debts.  The  ptt^  are  perfectly  quiescent  upon  this 
grand  occasion,  and  seem  to  interest  themselves  very 
Itotle  In  the  fate  of  their  soiditant  friendt.  The  Edin- 
burgh vdontsers  make  a  reapectable  and  formidable 
appearance  already.  They  are  exercised  four  hours 
aioioat  every  day,  with  all  the  rigoor  of  military  disci- 
pliae.  The  grenadier  company  consists  entirely  of  men 
above  siz  feet.  *  80  much  for  public  news. 

"  As  to  home  intelligence— anow  that  my  mother  and 
Anne  had  projected  a  jaunt  to  Inverleithing ;  iiite,  how- 
ever, has  aeatined  otherwise^  The  Intended  dav  of  de- 
parture was  ushered  in  by  a  most  complete  deloge,  to 
which,  and  the  consequent  disappolntmeni,  onr  proposed 
travellers  did  not  submit  with  that  Chrisoan  meekoeas 
which  might  have  beseemed.  In  ebort,  both  wfthtai  and 
without  doors.  It  was  a  de«M  of  a  day.  The  second  wsa 
like  unto  it.  The  third  day  came  a  poet,  a  kiUli«  dobI^  and 
in  the  shape  of  a  lener  flrom  this  fountain  or  health, 
informed  us  no  lodgings  were  to  be  had  there,  so  what^ 
ever  be  its  virtues,  or  tne  grandeur  atieadteg  a  jonraey 
to  its  streamy  we  might  as  well  have  proposed  to  visit 
the  river  Jordan,  or  Uie  waDs  of  JertehOb  Not  so  our* 
heroic  John ;  he  has  been  arrived  here  for  some  tinMut 
(much  the  same  as  when  he  went  way/)  and  has  formeA* 
the  desperate  resohition  of  riding  om^wfch  tsetoKelSit 
to-morow  momitig.  I  have  stayed  a  <day  footer,  waic^' 
ing  for  the  arrival  of  a  pair  of  new  heels  and  truekskin 
4»;s.,^  in  which  the  soldier  is  to  be  equipt.  I  vedturetf 
to  hint  the  convenience  of  a  roll  ordkaoalum  plaister,> 
and  a  box  of  the  mostspproved  horsemao-sahre,  in  which 
recommendation  our  doctor*  warmly  joined,  ws  impa- 
tience for  the  journey  has, been  somewhat  cooled  by  some 
Incnnatfon  yesterday  displayed  by  his  charger  (a  pony 
belonging  to  Anne)  to  lay  his  warlike  rider  in  the  dust 
—a  purpose  he  had  nearly  effected.  He  next  nfountel 
Queen  Mab.  who  treated  him  with  little  more  complai- 
aanee,  and,  m  carters'  phrase,  would  neither  kap  nor 
vyndf  tiU  she  got  rid  of  hinii  Seriously,  however,  if 
Jack  nas  not  returned  covered  with  laurels,  a  crop  which 
the  Rockt  no  longer  produces,  he  has  brought  back  all 
his  own  good-nature,  and  a  manner  considerabty  im- 
proved, so  that  he  Is  at  times  very  agreeable  company. 
Best  love  to  Miss  R.,  Jean,  and  Anne,  (I  hope  they  are 
improved  at  the -battledore,)  and  the  boys,  not  forgottfng 
my  friend  Archy,  though  least  not  last  In  my  remem- 
brance. Best  compliments  to  the  Cofoael.!  I  shall 
remember  with  pleasure  Ashestiel  hospitality,  and  not 
without  a  desire  tojput  it  to  the  proof  next  year.  Adieu, 
ma  ch^re  amie.  When  you  write,  direct  to  Roaebank, 
and  I  shall  be  a  good  boy,  and  write  you  another  sheet 
of  noiuiense  soon.  All  friends  here  welL  Bver  yours 
affectionately,  Waltib  Sootv." 

The  letter,  of  which  the  following  is  an  extract, 


•  Dr.  RetheifonL 

t  OaplaiB  ioki  fScaCt  had  been  for  • 


» time  with  fate  NgfaMot 


"-"  •'*t!^ed'^t5a§fe^ 


^ 


LIFE  OP  SIR  WALTER  SCOTT. 


miut  h&ye  been  written  in  October  or  November- 
Scott  haying  been  in  Liddesdale,  and  again  in 
Perthshire,  oiinng  the  interval.  It  is  worth  quoting 
for  the  httle  domestic  allusions  with  which  it  con- 
cludes^ and  which  every  one  who  has  witnessed  the 
disciplme  of  a  Presbytepan  family  of  the  old  school 
at  the  time  of  preparation  for  the  Communion^  will 
perfectly  nnderstand.  Scott's  father,  thoagh  on 
particular  occasions  he  could  permit  himself,  like 
Saunders  Fairford.  to  play  the  part  of  a  good  Am- 
phytrion,  was  babituaUy  ascetic  in  his  nabiis.  I 
have  heard  his  son  tell,  that  it  was  ciiminon  with 
hiin,  if  any  one  observed  that  the  soup  was  ||[ot>d, 
to  taste  it  again,  and  say,  *'  Yes,  h  is  too  ^chkI, 
bairns,"  and  dash  a  tumbler  of  coH  waLef  mio  his 
plate.  It  is  easy,  therefore,  to  iiiia^in*?  wjth  what 
rigidity  he  must  have  enforced  xht'  ultra 'Catholic 
severities  which  marked,  in  those  days,  the  yearly 
or  half-yearly  retreat  of  the  descendants  of  J  vim 
Knox. 

To  Miat  Ckrutian  Rutherford^  AjthmtieL 
**  Previous  to  my  nmble,  I  stayed  a  sinf le  day  in 
town  to  witness  the  exit  of  the  ei'-devonf  Jacobin.  Mr. 
WatL  It  ^nM  a  very  solemn  scene,  bat  the  puilUani- 
mity  of  the  unibrtunate  victim  was  aStonishinff,  consider- 
lOff  the  boldness  of  his  nefkrioos  plans.  It  is  mstCer 
or  general  regret  that  his  associate  ikrwnie  should  hare 
received  a  reprieve,  which,  I  understand,  is  now  pro- 
longed for  a  second  month,  I  suppose  to  wait  the  Issua 
of  the  I^ndon  trials.  Oor  volunteers  ore  now  com- 
pletely embodied,  and  notwithstanding  the  heaviness  of 
cheir  dress,  hsve  a  martial  and  strildng  appearance. 
Their  accorocv  in  firing  and  manmuvring  excites  the 
surprise  of  railltarv  gentlemen,  who  are  the  best  judges 
of  their  merit  in  that  way.  Tom  Is  very  proud  of  the 
grenadier  company,  to  whieh  lie  belongs,  which  has 
fndispuubly  carried  off  the  palm  upon  all  public  ocea* 
sions.  And  now,  give  me  leave  to  ask  you  wheUier  the 
approaching  winter  does  not  remind  you  of  your  snvg 
parlour  in  OeorgeH  Street  1  Do  you  not  feel  a  little  un- 
comfortable when  you  see 

*  how  bleak  and  bare 
ne  wanders  o'er  thel^eights  of  Yair  7* 
Aoiidst  all  tlUs  regard  for  your  accommodation,  don't  sup- 
pose I  am  devoid  of  a  little  self-interest  when  I  press  your 
S|Medy  reiuxn  to  Aukl  Reeliie,  lor  J  am  really  tiring  ez- 
oaasively  to  see  the  said  parlour  again  inhabited.  Besides 
thai.  I  want  the  aasistanee  of  your  eloquence  to  conrioce 
my  honoured  lather  that  nature  did  not  mean  me  either 
rare  vagabond  or  travtlUng  msrcAaiil,wheb  she  honoured 
me  with  the  wandering  propensity  lately  so  conspicuous- 
ly displayed.  I  saw  Dr.  yesterday,  who  is  well.  I  did 
not  chooae  to  intrude  upon  the  little  Isdv,  this  beiiv  ser- 
OKm  week ;  for  the  same  reason  we  are  looking  very  reli- 
gloas  and  very  aoor  at  home.  HoweTcr,  it  istrith  eome 
lUK  aaton  lea  lUgles,  that  hi  proportion  as  they  ore  pure 
thamselves,  they  are  entiUed  to  render  uncomfonable 
I  whom  theyeoasider  as  less  perfect  Best  love  to 
I IL,  eoaabM,  and  friends  In  general  and  believe  me 
ever  moat  ainoerely  yoiir%  WALTia  Soott." 

In  March,  1796,  when  the  court  rose,  he  proceeded 
mto  Galloway,  where  he  had  not  before  been,  in 
order  to  make  himself  aot^uainted  with  the  persons 
and  localities  mixed  up  with  the  case  of  a  certain 
Rav.  Bfr.  M'Naughu  miniBter  of  Girthon,  whose 
trisi  on  charges  ofnaoitual  drankenness,  singing  of 
lewd  and  profane  songs,  dancing  and  tovins;  at  a 
penny- wedding  with  a  **8weetie  wife,"  (that  is,  an 
Itinerant  vender  of  gingerbread,  dbe.,)  and  moreover 
of  promoting  irregular  marriages  as  a  justice  of  the 
peace,  was  about  to  take  place  before  the  General 
Assembly  of  the  Kiik. 

As  his  "Case  for  M*Naught,"  dated  May  22, 
179&,  is  the  first  of  his  legal  papers  that  I  have  dia- 
covwed,  and  contains  several  characteristic  enough 
roma,  I  make  no  apology  for  introducing  a  few 
•xtracta  :— 

**  At  the  head  of  the  first  class  of  offences  stands  the 
extrsordUiary  assertioo,  that,  being  a  minister  of  the  gos- 
pel, the  respoadenC  bed  illegally  undertaken  the  office  of 
a  justice  of  peace.  It  is,  the  reapeodent  l>eUeves,  the  first 
time  that  ever  the  undertakittfW'OfllGeof  such  extensive 
utility  was  stated  as  a  crime  Hbr  he  humbly  apprehends, 
that  by  conferring  the  office  of  a  Justice  of  toe  peace  upon 
elenymea,  their  ioflaeoce  n^ay,  in  the  general  caae,  be 
rendered  more  extepsive  among  their  parishioiieTS,  and 
many  trffiiog  causes  be  settled  by  them,  whieh  inight 


lead  the  tttifants  to  enormous  expenses,  and  become  the 
subject  of  much  contention  before  other  courts.  Tbm 
duty  being  only  occasional,  and  not  daily,  cannot  be  aaid 
to  interfere  with  those  of  their  function ;  and  their  edu- 
cation and  presumed  character,  render  them  most  proper 
for  the  office.  It  is  indeed  alleged,  tiiai  the  act  15&1,  chap. 
133,  excludes  clergy  men  lirom  acting  under  ^  commisaioa 
of  the  peace.  This  act,  'howerer,  was  passed  at  a  time 
when  it  was  of  the  highest  importance  to  the  Crown  to 
wrench  from  the  iumds  of  the  clergy  the  power  of  ad- 
mlDisterinc  iusticc  in  civil  cases,  which  had,  from  the  Ig- 
norance or  the  laity,  been  enjoyed  by  them  almost  exclo- 
siveiy.  During  the  whole  reign  of  James  VL,  aa  is  well 
known  to  the  Reverend  Court,  such  a  iealousj  subsisted 
betwixt  the  Church  and  the  State,  that  tiiose' who  were  sL 
the  head  of  the  latter  endeavoured,  by  every  meana  ia 
their  power,  to  diminish  the  influence  oi  the  former.  At 
present,  when  these  dissentions  happily  no  longer  sub- 
sist, the  law,  as  far  as  respects  the  office  of  justice  of  the 
peace,  appears  to  have  fallen  into  disuse ;  and  the  re- 
spondent concetres,  that  any  minister  is  capal>le  of  aetfang 
in  that,  or  any  other  judicial  capacity,  provided  it  is  of 
such  a  nature  aa  not'm  withdraw  much  of  his  ttne-firma 
what  the  statute  calls  the  comfort  and  edifieatlea  of- the 
flock  committed  to  him.  Further,  the  act  of  1581  is  vir- 
tually repealed  by  the  statute  6ih  Anne,  c.  &  sec  2,  which 
piakes  the  Scots  law  on  the  subject  of  justices  of  the 
peace  the  some  with  that  ef  England,  wher^  the  office  Is 
publicly  exercised  by  the  clergy  of  all  descriptions. 

'  '  *  *  **Another  branch  of  the  accusation  aaainst  the 
defender  as  a  justice  of  the  peace,  is  the  ratlficatioo  of 
irreguUr  marriages.  The  defender  must  here  also  calt 
the  attention  of  his  reverend  brethren  and  judges  to  th« 
expediency  of  his  conduct  The  girls  were  usuaHy  witb 
child  at  the  Ume  the  appUcatlon  was  made  to  the  defender 
In  this  siluadoa,  the  children  born  out  of  matrinsooy, 
though  begot  under  promise  of  marriage,  must  havebeeo 
thrown  upon  ihe  parish,  or  pertiape  murdered  in  inlaucy, 
had  not  the  men  been  persuaded  to  consent  to  a  soleoui 
declaration  of  betrothm^ot,  or  private'  marriage,  emitted 
before  the  defender  as  a  justice  of  peace.  The  defender 
himself  commisserating  the  situation  of  such  women, 
often  endeavoured  to  persuade  their  sedoeersto  dothem 
justice ;  and  men  frequently  acquiesced  in  this  sort  of 
marriage,  when  they  could  by  no  means  have  been^ire* 
vailed  upon  to  go  through  the  eeremoniea  of  proclamation 
of  bannsL  or  the  ejgtense  and  trouble  of  a  puoUc  weddii^ 
The  deelaratioo  of  a  previous  marriage  was  sometimes 
literlily  true ;  sometimes  a  fiction  voluntarily  emitted  by 
the  parties  themselves,  under  the  belief  that  it  waa  th^ 
most  aafe  way  of  constituting  a  private  marriage  d$  pr^- 
eenti,  IThe  defender  had  been  induced,  flnom  the  prac- 
tice ofother  justices,  to  consider  the  receiving  these  de- 
clarations, whether  true  or  idsc,  as  a  part  of  his  duty 
which  he  could  not  declhie,  even  had  he  been  vrilling  to 
do  so.  Finally,  the  delisilder  must  remind  the  VenerMla 
Assembly  that  he  acted  upon  these  occasions  as  a  justice 
of  peace,  wiiich  briugs  him  back  to  the  point  from  which 
he  set  odt,  via.,  that  the  Reverend  Court  are  utterly  in- 
competent to  take  cognizance  of  his  conduct  in  that  char- 
acter, which  no  sentence  that  they  can  pronounce  eoukt 
give  or  take  away. 

"The  second  grand  division  of  the  libel  asoinst  the  de- 
fender refers  to  bis  conduct  as  a  clergyman  and  a  Chris- 
tian. He  was  charged  in  the  libel  vrith  the  most  groea 
and  vulgar  behaviour,  vrith  drunkenness,  blasphemy,  and 
impiety :  yet  all  the  evidence  which  the  appellants  have 
been  able  to  bring  forward,  tends  only  to  convict  him  of 
three  acts  of  drunkenness  during  the  course  of  fourteen 

J  ears  f  for  even  the  Presbytery,  severe  as  they  have 
een,  acquit  him  quoad  ultra.  But  the  attention  of  the 
Reverend  Court  is  earnestly  entreated  to  the  situation  of 
the  defender  at  the  time,  the  circumstances  which  con-  . 
duced  to  his  Imprudence,  and  the  share  which  some  ot 
those  had  in  occairioninit  his  guilt,  who  have  since  been 
most  active  in  persecuting  and  distreastaig  him  on  ao- 
count  of  it. 

"  The  defender  must  premise,  by  observing,  that  the 
crime  of  dnmkenness  consists  not  in  a  man's  having 
been  m  that  situation  twice  or  thrice  in  his  life,  but  in  the 
constant  and  habitual  practice  of  the  vice ;  the  distinc- 
tion between  ebriua  and  ebrioeua  being  founded  in  com- 
mon sense,  and  recognised  by  law.  A  thousand  cases 
may  be  supposed,  in  which  a  man,  vrithoot  being  aware 
of  what  he  is  about,  may  be  idsensiblv  led  on  to  intoxi- 
cation, especially  in  a  country  where  the  vice  is  unfortu- 
nately so  common,  tliat  upon  some  occasions  a  pian  mtj 
go  to  excess  from  a  lalse  sense  of  modesty,  or  a  fear  of 
disobliging  his  entertainer.  The  defender  will  not  den](. 
that  after  losing  his  senses  upon  the  oecaaiona,  and  in  the 
manner  to  be  afterwards  stated,  he  may  have  oommltted 
improprieties  which  fill  him  vrlth  sorrow  and  regret ;  boc 
he  hopes,  that  in  case  he  vhall  be  able  to  show  eireum- 


UPE  OP  Sm  WALTER  SCOTT.  ft 

ilMem  wMch  abridie  and  palliate  the  ram  of  Ms  tm- 1  dopgbt  shelter  iq  a  natghbouriag  tavern,  where  they 
sradMt  •«««,  Oie  Venerattc  Court  wUTconrtdcr  there  j  hoped  he  would  join  ihera.    He  complied  with  the 
faproprietiM  aa  the  eflfecta  of  that  excess  only,  and  not  \  invitation,  but  seemed  for  a  long  while  incepable  . 
Z^^^t^J'^U^^r^^  in  Ills  t^'gPer  or  diapo.   ^^  enjoying-  the  merriment  of  his  friends*    "  Come, 

WaaSd  to  be  morally  culpable,  tn  proportion  to  the  im-  fiil  ^^°^*H™  »  h  aJ%?  u  jl  ^°^*^  lo  give 
pn»pTlety  of  the  exceea  he  has  cominlttcd,  and  not  in  ^0  The  Taxlorr—  Ah!'  he  *iswered,  with  a 
proportioa  to  the  maanitude  of  its  eril  consequences.  !  groan,  the  tailov  was  a  better  mou  than  me,  sira: 
b  a  legal  view,  indeed,  a  man  must  be  held  as  answer-  |  for  he  didna  venture  ben  until  he  kenned  Ou  waf»" 
able  and  punishable  for  such  a  crimen  1)recisely  as  if  he  A  certain  comical  old  song,  which  had.  perhaps, 
had  Uem  in  a  state  of  sobriety ;  but  his  crime  is,  in  a  been  a  favourite  with  the  Mmiatetof  Girthon— 
moral  light,  comprised  In  the  <trtfo  mAb\  the  drmilcen-  „_.  ^ ,  ..  ^ .     ^,^  .^  #rt„«« 

«-  ~'y-    Hi.  «n«.  Uii,  on«  ,.ne,  Ke  i.  no  mo«  aIS  wwY'he'Tlen'l^d'th^^Pi"  *«- 

was,  however,  sung  and  chofftissed  t  and  the  even- 
ing ended  in  the  full  jolHty  of  High  Jinks. 

Mr.  M'Naught  was  deposed  from  the  ministry, 
and  hid  young  advocate  has  written  out  at  the  end 
of  the  printed  papers  on  the  case  two  of  the  wngM 
which  had  been  alleged  in  the  evidence.  They  are 
both  grossly  indecent  It  is  to  be  observed,  that 
the  research  he  had  made  with  a  view  to  pleadinc 
this  man's  cause,  carried  him  for  the  first,  and  I 
believe  for  the  last  time,  into  the  scenery  of  his  Qnf 
Mannering;  and  Fmay  add,  that  Sevenl  of  the 
names  of  ifae  minor  characters  of  the  novel,  (that 
of  MCeuffog^  for  example),  appear  in  the  list  of 
witnesses  for  and  against  his  client. 

In  the  following  July,  a  young  lad,  who  had  sery» 
ed  for  some  time  with  ezcellent  character  on  board 
a  ship  of  war.  and  been  dischMwed  in  ooBaequenpt 
of  a  wound  wnich  disabled  one  of  hie  hands,  had  the 
misfortune,  in  iring  off  a  toy  cannon  in  one  of  the 
narrow  wynds  of  Edinburgh,  to  kill  on  the  spot  one 
of  the  doorkeepers  of  the  Advocate's  Library ;  a 
button,  or  some  other  hard  substance,  having  been 
accidentally  inserted  with  his  cartridge.  Scott  waa 
one  of  his  counsel  when  he  was  arraigned  for  mur- 
der, and  had  occasion  to  draw  up .  a  written  am- 
meat  or  injomxaium  for  th^  prisoner,  itom  which 
also  I  shall  make  a  short  quotation.  Considered 
as  a  whole,  the  production  seems  both  erode  and 
cluossi',  but  the  following  passages  have,  1  think, 
seveml  traces  of  the  style  of  thought  and  language 
•which  he  afterwards  made  familiar  to  the  world. 

"Murder," he  writes,*" or  the  premeditated  aknghter 
of  a  citizen,  is  a  critnc  of  so  deep  and  scarlet  a  dye,  that 
there  is  scarce  a  nation  lo  be  found  in  which  it  has  no^ 
from  the  earliest  period,  been  deemed  worthy  of  a  capi- 
tal punishment.  ^  He  who  sheddeth  man's  blood,  by  man 
shall  his  blood  be  shed,'  is  a  general  maxim,  which  has 
received  the  assent  of  all  times  and  countries.  But  it  is 
equally  certain,  that  even  the  rude  lesislatprs  of  former 
days  soon  perceived,  that  (be  death  of  one  man  may  be 
occasioned  by  another,  wHhoot  the  slayer  himself  being 
(he  proper  ooject  of  the  Itx  talionis.  ISuch  an  accident 
may  happen  either  by  the  carelessness  of  the  killer,  or 
through  that  excess  and  vehemence  of  passion  to  which 
humanity  is  incident  In  either  case,  though  blameable, 
he  ought  not  to  be  confounded  with  the  cool  and  dellbe- 


thao  a  homaQ  noachine,  as  insenaibTe  0/  misconduct.  I 
speacb  and  action,  aa  a  parrot  or  an  automaton.  This  is 
Bore  paiticolarly  the  case  with  respect  to  indecorums, 
anch  as  the  defender  is  accused  of;  for  a  man  can  no 
more  be  held  a  common  swearer,  or  a  habitual  talicer  of 
obsceafcy,  because  he  has  been  guihy  of  using  such  ex- 
pceaaions  when  intoxicated,  than  he  can  be  termed  an 
iiSot,  because,  when  intoxicated,  he  has  spoken  non- 
Mguu.  H,  tlierefore.  the  defender  can  extenuate  the  guilt 
«/  his  Intoxication,  lie  hopes  that  its  consequences  will 
be  aombered  rather  among  his  mislbriunes  than  feults ; 
and  bia  Reverend  Brethren  will  consider  him,  while  in 
Itaatetate,  as  acthig-from  a  mechanical  impulse,  and  as 
lBcai|iable  of  distinguishing  between  right  and  wrong. 
For  the  scandal  which  his  behaTiour  may  have  occasion- 
ed, be  feels  the  most  heartfelt  sorrow,  and  will  snbmit 
widi  peoitenee  and  contrition,  to  the  severe  rebuke 
wMeh  the  Presbvtery  have  decreed  against  him.  But 
1m  caniKrt  think  that  his  unfortunate  misdemeanour,  cir- 
eooMtMiced  as  he  was,  merits  a  severer  puoishment 
Bm  oaa  show,  thai  pains  were  at  these  times  taken  to 
kftd  him  en,  When  bereft  of  his  senses,  to  subjects  which 
~  likely  fe  call  forth  improper  or  indecent  expres- 
The  defender  must  mrther  urge,  ihat  not  being 
"  r  educeted  for  the  church,  he  may,  before  he 
tite  sscred  character,  have  occasionally  por- 
. I  himself  freedoms  of  expression  wlilch  are  reckon- 
ed leaa  cohnble  among  the  laity.  Thus,  he  may,  during 
thtf  time,  have  learned  the  songs  which  he  is  accused 
of  anmog,  though  rather  inconsistent  with  his  clerical 
ehara&er.  what  then  was  more  natural  than  that, 
vrh«n  thrown  off  his  guard  by  the  assumed  conviviality 
and  artful  solicitations  of  those  about  him,  former  im- 
prof»er  habits,  though  renounced  during  his  thinking  mo- 
nentfe^  mij^ht  assume  the  reins  of  his  imagination,  when 
Ims  situation  rendered  him  utterly  insensible  of  their 
kimroprfetv  1" 

^  •  >  •  «xhe  Venerable  Court  wiU  nowconaider  how 
tkr  three  instances  of  ebriety,  and  their  consequences, 
should  ruin  at  once  the  character  and  the  peace  of  mind 
ef  the  unfortunate  defeudei^  and  reduce  nim,  at  hia  ad- 
vanced time  of  life,  aiiout  sixty  years,  together  with  his 
•fed  parent,  to  a  state  of  beegary.  He  hopes  his  severe 
wdEBrmcs  may  be  considerea  aa  some  atonement  for  the 
li^iropneties  of  which  he  may  have  l>een  guilty ;  and 
tbat  ttie  Venerable  Court  will,  in  their  judgment,  remem- 
bairmeFey. 

"  Id  respect  whereof,  dec. 

Waltsr  Scott." 

This  argument  (for  which  he  received  five  gui- 
neas) waa  sustained  by  Scott  in  a  speech  of  consi- 
derable length  at  the  bar  of  the  Assembly.  It  was 
fu  the  most  important  business  in  which  any  soli- 
citor had  as  yet  employed  him,  and  Tlu  Club  mas- 
tered strong  in  the  gallery.  He  began  m  a  low 
voice)  but  by  degrees  gathered  more  confidence ; 
and  when  it  became  necessary  for  him  to  analyze 
the  evidence  touching  a  certain  a|nny- wedding, 
iMeated  some  very  coarse  specimc^of  his  client's 
alleged  cooversauon  in  a  tone  so  bold  and  free, 
that  he  was  called  to  order  with  great  austerity  by 
one  of  the  leading  members  of  the  Venerable  Court. 
This  seemed  to  confuse  htm  not  a  little ;  so  wlieii, 
bj  and  by.  he  had  to  recite  a  stanza  of  one  of 
M'Naught  B  convivial  ditties,  he  breathed  it  out  in 
a  faint  and  hesitating  style:  whereupon,  thinksng 
he  needed  encouragement,  the  allies  m  the  gallery 
aatounded  the  Assembly  by  cordial  shouts  of  hear ! 
hear !— encore  1  encore!  They  were  immediately 
torned  out,  and  Scott  got  through  the  rest  o(  hia 
harangue  very  Iktle  to  his  own  satisfaction. 

He  believed,  \n  a  word,  that  he  had  made  a  ct)m- 
plete  fiiilure,  and  issued  fro'tn  the  Court  in  a  melan- 
choly mood.  At  the  door  he  found  Adam  Fer- 
gOMoo  waiting  to  inform  hkn  that  the  brethren  so 
oncoramoniously  extruded  from   the  gallery  had 


rate  assassin ;  and  the  species  of  criminality  attaching  it- 
self to  those  acts  has  been  distinguished  by  the  term 
db/cis,  in  opposition  to  the  milder  term  culpa.  Again, 
there  may  Be  a  third  species  of  homicide,  in  which  the 
perpetrator  being  the  innocent  and  unfortunate  ^ause  of 
casual  misfortune,  becomes  rather  an  object  of  compas- 
sion titan  punishment.  '  ^ 

"  Admitting  there  mav  have  been  ai certain  degree  of 
culpability  in  the  panel's  conduct,  still  there  is  oue  .cir- 
cumstance which  pleads  strongly  in  his  favour,  so  as  to 
preclude  all  presumption  of  dote.  This  is  the  frequent 
practice,  whether  proper  or  Improper,  of  usinff  this  amuse- 
ment in  the  streets.  It  is  a  matter  of  public  notoriety, 
that  boys  of  all  agea  and  descriptions  are,  or,  at  least  till 
tile  late  very  proper  proclamation  of  the  magistrBte& 
were  to  be  seen  eyery  evening  in  almost  every  corner  01 
this  city  amusing  themselves  vrith  firearms  and  sinail 
cannuus.  and  tiiat  without  being  checked  or  interfered 
with.  When  the  panel,  a  poor  Ignoraul  raw  lad,  lately 
dlschargetl  from  a  ship  oi"  war,  certainly  not  the  most 
proper  scliool  to  ieara  a  prudent  aversion  to  unlucky  or 
mischievous  practices,  observed  the  sons  of  gentlemen 
of  tite  fi£St  respectability  engaged  in  such  amusenient% 
unchecked  by  their  parents  or.by  the  magistrates,  sure- 
ly it  can  hardly  be  expected  that  he  should  discover  that 
in  imitating  Uiem.in  ao  common  a  practice,  he  was  consti- 
tuting himself  hoeli*  humam  geneHet  aifreteb  the  peat 
and  scourge  of  mankhuk 


UFB  OF  SIR  WALTER  SOOTT. 


le; 


"lliere  is,  no  donbtf  attached  to  evenr,  even  the  most 
iBBoceot  of  cMQsl  twif  titer,  a  certain  degree  of  blame, 
laasnuch  as  ahnost  eivery  thiof  of  the  kind  might  have 
been  avoided,  bad  the  siaver  exhibited  the  strictest  de- 

:ee  of  diligence.    A»well>knowo  and  anthentic  story  will 

iustiate  the  proposition.  A  voung  gentleman  just  nuurried 
to  a  voung  lady  of  wliich  he  was  passionately  fond,  in 
aflTectiooate  triflinppresented  at  tier  a  pistol,  of  which  lie 
had  drawn  the  charge  some  days  before.  The  lady,  en- 
tering into  the  joke,  desired  him  to  Hre :  he  did  so,  and 
allot  her  dead ;  the  pistol  havlnf  been  a^n  ctiarged  by 
his  servant  wittiout  ma  knowledge.  Cau  anv  one  read 
this  story,  and  feitl  any  emotion  but  that  of  sympathy 
towards  the  unliappy  husband  7  Can  they  ever  connect 
the  case  with  an  idea  of  punishment  1  Yet,  divesting  it 
of  these  Uiteresting  circumstances  which  act  upon  tlie 
Imagination,  it  is  jNTOciiely  that  of  ttie  panel  at  yom*  Lord- 
atiips'  bar  :  and  tlioagb  no  one  will  pretend  to  say  ttiat 
such  a  tiotnicide  is  other  than  casual,  yet  there  is  not  the 
slightest  question  but  it  might  tiave  been  avoided  tiad  the 
killer  taken  the  precaution  of  examining  tils  piece.  But 
tills  is  not  the  degree  of  culpa  which  can  raise  a  mis- 
lilrtvoe  to  the  pitch  of  a  crime.  It  is  only  an  instance 
ttiac  no  accident  can  take  place  without  Its  afterwards 
being  discovered  that  the  chief  actor  might  have  avoided 
conunitting  it.  tiad  he  tieen  gifted  with  the  spirit  of  pro- 
Bhecy,  or  jvith  such  an  extreme  dexree  of  prudence  as  is 
ilmost  eqfially  rare.  ^ 

"In  ttie  instance  of  sliooting  at  butts,  or  at  a  bird,  the 
person  killed  must  tiave  l>een  somewtiat  in  the  line  pre- 
vious to  the  discharge  of  the  shot,  otherways  it  could 
never  tiave  come  near  him.  The  shooter  must  therefore 
have  been  guilty  cumhs  levis  aeu  leviMimae  in  firing  while 
the  deceased  was  in  svch  a  aitoation.  In  like  manner, 
It  is  dUBenittD  eoneehre  how  death  shoidd  happen  in  con- 
Mqueuee  of  a  lx>xh)g  or  wrestUng  match,  without  some 
•xceas  npou  the  part  of  tlie  killer.  Nay,  In  the  exercise 
of  tlie  martial  amusements  of  our  fore&thers.  even  by 
rojal  couimlsaion,  sliould  a  ctiampion  be  alain  in  running 
his  barriers,  or  peribrming  his  tournament,  it  couM 
scarcely  tiappen  without  some  culpa  teu  levta  aeu  levi- 
aima  on  the  part  of  his  antagonist  Yet  all  these  are 
enomersted  m  the  BngBah  law-t>ooks  as  instances  of 
easoal  tiomicMe  only ;  and  we  may  therefore  safelv  con- 
elude,  ttiat  by  the  law  of  the  sister  country  a  stignt  de* 
tree  of  blame  will  not  subject  the  slayer  per  infartumaim 
to  the  penalties  of  culpable  homicide. 

'*  Gtult,  as  an  object  of  punishment,  has  Its  origin  In  the 
mind  and  intention  of  the  actor ;  and  therefore,  where 
that  b  wanting,  there  is  no  proper  object  of  chastisement 
A  madman,  for  example,  can  no  more  properly  be  said  to 
be  guilty  01  murder,  than, the  sword  with  which  he  com- 
fflits  it  both  being  equally  incapable  of  intending  iniury. 
In  the  present  case,  in  hke  manner,  although  it  ought  no 
doubt  to  be  mauer  of  deep  sorrow  and  contrition  to  the 
panel,  ttut  Ills  folly  slioula  have  occasioned  the  loss  of 
life  to  a  fellow-creature ;  yet,  as  that  foUy  can  neither  be 
termed  malice,  nor  yet  dk>th  amoimt  to  a  gross  nesligence, 
be  ought  rather  to  be  piUcd  than  condemned.  The  lact 
done  can  never  be  recalled,  and  it  rests  with  your  Lord- 
ships to  consider  tlie  case  of  this  unfortunate  young  man, 
who  lias  served  his  countir  in  an  humble  thoujih  useful 
station, — deserved  such  a  character  as  is  given  bini  in  the 
letter  of  his  officers,— and  been  disabled  in  that  service. 
You  will  best  jud^e  how  (considering  he  has  suflfered  a 
confinement  of  six  monttis)  he  can  in  humaoity  be  the 
object  of  further  or  severer  punistiment,  for  a  deed  of 
which  his  mind  at  least  if  not  his  hand,  is  guiltless. 
When  a  case  is  attended  with  some  nicety,  your  Lord- 
ships will  allow  mercy  to  incline  the  balance  of  justice, 
well  considering,  with  the  legislator  of  ttie  east, '  It  is  bet* 
ter  ten  guilty  should  escape,  than  that  one  innocent  man 
should  perish  In  his  innocence.'  " 

The  young  sailor  was  acquitted. 

To  return  for  a  moment  to  Scott's  love-afiair.  I 
find  him  writing  as  follows,  in  March,  1795,  to  his 
cousin,  William  Scott,  now  Laird  of  Riiebum,  who 
was  then  in  the  East  Indies: /'The  lady  you  al- 
lude to  has  lieen  in  town  all  this  winter^  and  i?oinf? 
a  good  deal  into  public,  which  has  not  m  the  least 
altered  the  meekness  of  her  manners:  Matters, 
you  sec,  sund  just  as  they  did." 

To  another  friend  he  writes  thus,  from  Rosebank, 
on  the  23d  of  August,  1795  .— 

^'It  gave  me  the  highest  sstlsfaction  to  find,  by  the 
reeeipt  of  your  letter  of  the  Wfa  current  that  vou  hsve 
formed  precisely  the  same  dpnion  with  mo,  both  with 

regard  to  the  IntcrpretaMon  of 'e  leUcr  as 

highly  flattering  and  fiivourable,  and,  to  the  mode  of 
ooQdnot  1  OQght  to  pursue— for,  after  all,  wliat  she  has 
pointed  oof  is  fikt  most  prudent  line  of  conduct  for  us 


both,  at  least  tUl  better  d^a,  which  1  Chink  WMtii  nov 
entitled  lo  suppose,  she,  as  well  as  I  mysel£  will  look,  tat- 
ward  to  with  pleasure.  If  you  were  aorprised  at  reading 
the  important  billet,  yon  may  guess  how  agreeably  I  w»s 
so  at  receiving  it ;  for  Ihad,  to  anticipate  disuipoiJitinent. 
—struggled  to  suppress  every  rising  gleam  oi  hope, — and 
it  would  be  very  difficult  to  describe  the  mixed  faelingi 
her  leuer  occasioned,  whicli,  enlre  nous,  terminated  la 
a  very  hearty  fit  of  crying.  1  read  over  her  epIstJe  aboat 
ten  times  a-day,  and  always  with  new  admiratioD  of  tier 
generosity  and  candour— and  as  often  take  sliaoe  lo 
myself  for  the  mean  suspicions,  whioti,  after  knowing 
her  80  long,  I  could  listen  to,  wtiile  endeavoarUig  la 
guess  how  she  would  conduct  herself.  To  tell  you  the 
truth,  I  cannot  but  confess,  thai  my  amour  vr&pre,  which 
one  would  expect  should  have  been  exalted,  lias  suffered 
not  a  little  upon  this  occasion,  throuxh  a  sense  of  my 
own  unttorthinegSt  pretty  similar  to  that  whieh  afflicted 
Linton  upon  sitting  down  at  Keir's  table.  I  ought  per- 
haps to  tell  you,  what,  kideed,  you  will  perceive  firocn  near 
letter,  tiiat  I  was  always  attentive,  wtiile  consulting  with 
vou  upon  the  subject  of  my  declaration,  nuher  to  under 
ttian  over-rate  the  extent  of  our  intimacy.  By  the  waj, 
I  must  not  omit  mentioning  the  respect  in  which  I 
liold  your  knowledge  of  the  (air  sex,  and  yonr  capaoi^ 
of  advising  in  these  matters,  since  it  certainly  Is  to  voor 
encoorsxement  ttiat  I  owe  the  present  situation  or  my 
affairs.  I  wish  to  God,  that,  since  you  tiave  acted  aa 
so  useful  an  auxiliary  during  my  attack,  wtitoh  tiaa  aoc- 
ceedcd  In  bringing  the  enemy  to  teroMu  you  would  naat 
sit  down  before  some  fortress  yourseK  and  were  it  aa 
impregnable  aa  the  rock  of  Gibraltar,  I  aliould,  notwilih* 
standing,  have  the  highest  expectations  of  yonr  final 
success.  Not  a  line  from  poor  Jack— WtuU  can  he  be 
doing  7  Hoping.  I  auppose,  about  some  watering'PlaoOy 
and  delugink  his  guts  with  apecifica  of  every  kind— or 
lowering'  and  snorting  in  one  corner  of  a  post-ctMdae, 
with  Kennedy,  as  upright  and  cold  aaa  poker,  stuck  Into 
the  other.  As  for  Linton,  and  Cral>,*  1  anticipale  witk 
pleasure  their  marvellous  adventures,  in  the  coorse  of 
which  Dr.  lUack's  »e\f'dtnying  ordinance  will  run  a 
shrewd  chance  of  behig  neglected.  They  will  tie  a  source 
of  fun  for  the  winter  evening  conversations.  Metbinks 
I  see  the  pair  upon  the  mountains  of  Tipnerary— John 
whh  a  beard  of  three  Inches,  united  and  blended  witk 
his  ahany  black  locks,  an  eUwand-looktng  cane,  with  a 
gilt  head,  in  his  tiand,  and  a  bundle  In  a  tiandkereliief 
over  his  stioulder,  exciting  the  cuplditv  of  every  Irish 
rappareewho  passes  tUm,  bv  his  resemblance  to  a  Jew 
pedlar  who  tias  sent  forward  his  pack— Linton,  tired  of 
trailing  his  long  legs,  exalted  in  state  upon  an  Irish  garooni 
without  stirrups,  i^id  a  tialter  on  Its  head,  tempting  every 
one  to  ask, 

'  Wlio  Is  ttiat  upon  the  pony, 

So  long,  80  lean,  so  raw,  so  bony  7 1 

—calculating,  as  he  moves  sJong,  the  eniensea  of  the 
salt  horse— and  grinning  a  ghastly  smile,  when  the  hollow 
voice  of  his  fellow-traveller  observes,  "God!  Adam,  If 
ye  gang  on  at  this  rnte,  the  eight  shillings  and  seven- 
pence  halfpennv  will  never  carry  us  forward  to  my  ancle's 
at  Li^burn."    Enough  of  a  thorough  Irish  expedition. 

"  We  tiave  a  great  marriage  towards  here — Scott  of 
Harden,  and  a  daughter  of  Count  Bruht,  the  fomoas' 
chosi^plsyer,  a  lady  of  sixteen  quarters,  half-sister  to 
the  WyndlNuns.  I  wish  they  may  come  down  soon,  as 
we  shall  have  fine  racketting,  of  which  I  wiH,  nrobably, 
get  my  share.  I  think  of  being  in  town  some  time  next 
month,  but  whether  for  good  and  all,  or  only  for  a  vlslc, 
I  am  not  certain.  Q,  for  November !  Our  meeting  will 
be  a  little  f>nibarrassing  one.  How  will  she  look,  Ac 
dec.  dtc.,  are  the  important  subjects  of  my  present  coe- 
jectures— how  different  from  what  tlioy  were  three  weeks 
ago !  I  give  you|Mlve  to  laugh,  when  I  tell  you  seriously, 
Ihad  brfrun  lo  Vkvindle,  peak,  and  pine,'  upon  the  sub- 
ject—but now,  alfer  the  charge  I  tiave  received,  it  were 
a  shatne  to  reeemble  Pharaoh's  loan  kine.  If  good  Uvf  nf 
and  plenty  of  exercise  can  avert  that  calamity.  I  am 
in  little  danger  of  disobedience,  and  so,  to  conclude  das* 
sicaRy. 

Dicite  lo  paean,  et  lo  bis  dirlte  p<Ban  !— 
Jubeo  te  bene  valere, 

GuALTsnvs  Soon." 

I  have  had  much  hesitation  about  inserting  th^ 
preceding  letter,  but  could  not  make  up  my  mind  to 

*  Crab  was  the  nfckname  of  a  friend  win  liad  aeeompanM 
FpTfusvnn  ttut  sommor  on  an  Irish  tour.    Dr.  Blaok.  oelebialed 
for  bis  discoveries  in  cticnnsriT,  was  Adam  Foiviisson's 
and  had,  it  seems,  given  die  fOMnc  tiareHera  a  strooff 
tion  tooching  the  dangeis  of  friah  Itospitality. 

f  Tliese  lines  are  port  of  a  sons  on  the  Parlium^itarr  i 
Littleton.  They  are  quoted  hi  Bosws|l's  lift  of  Mmson* 
nalljr  published  mlWl.   Digitized  by 


«  on  the  Pariiunentary 
ewsU's  Lift  of  JqIuimc 
IbTCiOOgle 


UFB  Q9t  SIR  W  JLTKr  SCKXTT. 


^nii  mh9/L  MMM  to  ID*  %  VIO0I  6X^««it4  reflation 
<^  the  whole  oharacter  m  Scott  al  tjbia  oridcal  po- 
nod  |0f  his  history,  both  literary  and  peiaonal  j— 
more  especially  of  hia  habitiial  ^rt  to  auiipress, 
as  far  as  words  ware  ooocemed.  the  more  tender 
feelings,  which  were  in  no  heart  deeper  tkan  in  his. 

It  must,  I  think,  have  been,  while  he  was  indalK- 
ing  his  vag(^ondv^nt  during  the  auUioin  of  irfM. 
that  Miss  Aikin  (afterwarda  Mra.  Barbanld)  paid 
her  visit  to  Edinburgh,  and  entenained  a  parnr  at 
Mr.  DugahL  Stewarra  by  reading  Mr.  William  Tay- 
lor's then  unpubhshed  version  of  Burger's  Lenore. 
In  the  fi^aay  on  Imitation^ of  Popular  Poetry  the 
reader  has  a  fall  aecount  of  the  interest  with  which 
Scott  heard,  some  weeki  afterwards,  a  friend's  im- 
perfect recollection  of  this  nerformance ;  the  anzie- 
•ty  with  which  he  sought  after  a  copy  of  the  origiiial 
German ;  the  delight  with  which  he  at  length  pe- 
rused ii ;  and  how.  having  juai  been  reading  the 
apecimena  of  ballad  poetry  introduced  into  Lewis's 
romance  of  The  Monk,  he  colled  to  mind  the  eariy 
facility  of  veraifioation  which  had  Iain  so  long  in 
abeyance,  and  ventured  to  peomiae  hia  friend  a 
vhymed  tranalation  of  "  Lenore"  from  hia  own  pen. 
The  friend  in  <]ueation  waa  Miss  Cranstoun,  after- 
nt^rda  Oounteas  of  PnrgatalL  the  sister  of  his  friend 
Oeoige  Cranatoun,  now  Lord  Corehouse.  He 
began  the  task,  he  tells  us,  after  supper,  and  did  not 
xetire  to  bed  until  he  had  finished  it,  having  by  that 
^  time  worked  himself  into  a  state  of  ezdtament 
which  set  sleep  at  defiance. 

Next  mommg,  before  breakfrMt,  be  carried  his 

as.  to  Miss  Cranatoun,  who  was  not  only  delight- 
bttt  aatoniahed  at  it ;  for  I  have  aeea  a  letter  of 

hera  to  a  ^"♦■nl  frifrirl  ir  ♦' ^■■TnTTy^in  which  ahe 

aaya— "Ui    ■  ••  ,    s--  .\'rr  ."Scoit  is  kuuiu  to 

turn  out  u  ]:iJ,^tL— sjjujLlidiiju  of  a  ^lons  I  Hurik 
between  Buriif  aud  Gray."  The  same  day  hu  r*  Jid 
it  also  to  luH  friend  Sir  AWxiii rider  Wixhit  whoietaias 
a  vivid  re^'ollMcuuni^f  the  hiuh  eiraiti  uf  utiibt^sia^m 
into  which  \\u  hnd  be*ii  malted  by  dwelUrjp  rm  ihe 
wild  uneart-hly  imoittry  it[%h&  Clermnn  bar^X  "  He 
read  it  ov&t  to  luc,^^  tasys  Sir  AlnatidcA  '*  i»  .a 
very  alow  und  soI<?ma  Lon(\  and  after  we  had  uiiid 
a  few  words  tihont  lis  nierii^  continued  10  look  at 
the  fire  ail r[i[  nnd  m nixing  for  (H>u)iti  minutes,  uniil  be 
at  length  Imri^t  out  v^iiU  'J  wish  to  Heavpp  t  ocild 

St  a  skill  E  and  twu  rrij«ss-!xui':i!^,' "  Wood  anid 
at  if  hf^  would  accoinpany  htm  Id  ihe  hou.'^i^  of 
John  Bell,  tbd  celebmLed  aurgeoti,  he  hod  no  cEuLibt 
tkis  wish  might  be  easily  gratified.  They  went 
thither  accordingly  on  the  instant ;— -Mr.  Bell  (who 
waa  a  great  humourist)  smiled  on  hearing  the  object 
of  their  visit,  and  pointing  to  a  eioset,  at  the  comer 
of  Ilia  library,  bade  Walter  enter  and  choose.  From 
a  well-furniehed  museum  of  mortality,  he  selected 
^rtbwith  what  seemed  to  him  the  handsomest 
aknll  and  pair  of  cross-bones  it  contained,  and 
wrapprag  them  in  his  handkerchief  carried  the  for- 
midable bundle  home  to  George's  Square.  The 
trophies  were  immediately  nwunted  on  th^  top  of 
hia  little  bookcaaei  and  when  Wood  visited  him, 
after  many  years  of  absence  from  this  country,  he 
found,  them  in  possession  of  a  similar  position  in 
hia  dreaaingroom  at  AbbotsfonL 

All  this  occurred  in  the  beginning  of  April,  1796. 
A  few  days  afterwards,  Scott  went  |0i  pay  a  visit  at 
a  country  house,  where  he  expected  to  meet  the 
*'  lady  of  hia  love."  Jane  Anne  Cranatoun  wsa  in 
the  aecret  of  his  attachment,  and  knew,  that  how- 
ever doubtful  might  be  Miss 's  feeling  on 

that  suhieot  she  bad  a  high  admiration  of  Scott's 
abihties,  ana  often  corresponded  mih  him  on  litera- 
ry matters ;  so,  after  he  had  left  Bdinburgh,  it  oc- 
curred to  her  that  ahe  might  perhapa  forward  his 
views  in  this  quarter,  by  presenting  him  in  the  cha- 
racter of  a  pnnted  author.  William  Erskine  being 
called  into  her  counaels,  a  few  copies  of  the  ballad 
were  forthwith  thrown  offin  the  most  elegant  style, 
and  one  richly  bound  and  blasoned  followed  Scott 
in  the  course  of  a  few  days  to  the  country*  The 
verses  were  read  and  approved  of,  and  Miss  Cran- 
atonn  at  least  flattered  herself  that  he  had  not 


made  hia  firat  appaaranae  in  tvpaa  Id  no  patponk^ 
I  ought  to  have  mentioned  before,  that  in  Jirte, 
1796,  he  wap  appointed  one  of  the  curators  of  the 
Advooate^a  Library,  an  office  always  reserved  for 
those  members  of  the  faculty  who  have  the  reputa- 
tion of  aoperior  seal  in  literary  affairs.  He  had  for 
colleagues  David  Hume,  the  Professor  of  Scbta 
Law,  and  Malcolm  Laing,  the  historian ;  and  hia 
diacharge  of  his  functions  roost  have  given  satis- 
fsction,  fori  find  him  fUrther  nominatMTin  March, 
ir""  ^  •  r  with  Mr.  Robert  Hodgson  Cav,  an 
ai  i.i':^  .  }  gentleman,  afterwards  Judge  of  the 
A  JhnruSry  ( 'airt  in  Scotland,  to  '*  put  the  Pacolty'B 
oiKiri' t  -ft  ni'^als  in  proper  srranifement,** 

On  (Ih<  4th  of  June.  1795,  (thebirth-davof  Geotge 
Ul,)  rlu  ri^  «eems  to  have  been  a  formidable  liot  m 
Edjntiumh,  ond  Scott  is  found  again  in  the  front. 
On  [fiv  Tirht  he  writes  as  follows  to  his  aunt,  Cfiris- 
tinn  HrHlifrford,  who  was  then  in  the  north df  Scot- 
land, nrid  hnd  meant  to  visit,  among  other  plao^ 
thr  rt'?id<"nf't-of  the  "chdre  adorable.^' 

"  Edinburgh,  6ih  Juaa,  1796^^ 
**  tfa  Chftre  Amie, 

"  Nothing  doubting  that  your  ourioeity  will  be  upon  the 
tenters  to  hear  th«  wolkderful  •veotB  of  the  loDf.«jipeeied 
4th  of  June,  I  take  the  pen  to  UUbrm  you  thst  not  obe 
worth  mentJkiniDg  haa  takeo  place.  Were  I  ineliasdito 
probzity.  I  might,  indeed,  narrate  at  length  hmp  near  a 
thousand  gentlemen  (myself  among  the  aumbar)  ofisrad 
their  •emces  to  the  magietrates  to  act  as  cotutabim  f>r 
the  preservation  of  the  pesce^how  thehr  servipea  were 
accepted— wliat  fine  tpaechcs  were  made  upon  the  eooa- 
sioo— A<m>  they  were  furnished  with  pretty  painted  bratvn 
batons— how  they  were  aasembled  In  the  aisle  of  tHe 
New  Church,  and  treated  with  claret  and  sweetmssfsi 
how  Sir  John  Whlteibrd  was  chased  by  the  mobj  sad 
how  Tom,  Sandy  Wood  and  I,  rescued  bisn,  and  die-, 
parsed  his  tormentors  a  bemus  otwps  <U  batm»  Mm 


tlie  Juatice-Clerk's  windows  were  broke  by  a  few  bo|«f 
and  how  a  large  body  of  eonstablas  and  a  prsaa|gBnf  or 
near  two  hundred  men  arrived,  and  were  much  dissp- 


pointed  at  Ending  the  coast  eoclrely  dear;  with  msiy 
other  matters  of  equad  importance,  but  of  wlkieh  yon 
must  be  conleotedto  remaiq  In  igooran^e  till  you  ralkitti 
to  your  castle.  Berknialr^  every  thing,  with  the  axcep- 
tion  of  the  very  trifling  cireumsiancea  above  memlonM], 
was  perfectly  quiet— much  mors  so  than  during  aqj 
King's  binh'day  I  can  recollect  That  very  stiflnesa, 
however,  shows  chat  something  ia  brewinc  among  our 
frieode  the  IXemocrats,  which  they  will  take  their  own 
time  of  bringing  forward.  By  the  wise  precautiona  of  the 
maglMtFotes,  or  rather  of  Uia  provost,  and  the  spirited 
conduct  of  the  gentlemen,  I  hope  their  •designs  will  be 
frustrated.  Our  association  meets  to>nlgbt,  wnen  we  are, 
to  be  divided  into  diitrictiH  according  to  the  place  of  oar 
abode,  places  of  rendexvousv  sod  captains  named ;  mi 
that,  upon  the  hoisting  of  a  flag  on  the  Tron^eqpls, 
and  ringing  out  all  the  large  bells;  we  can  be  on  dtuy  In 
less  than  five  minutes.  I  am  sorry  to  aay  that  the  com* 
plfixioo  of  the  town  seems  to  justify  all  precautions  of  this 
Kind.  T  hope  we  fhall  demean  ourselves  as  quiet  and 
peaceable  ma^ietratea;  and  Intend,  for  the  purpose  of 
leamintf  the  duUes  of  my  new  office,  to  coo  diligently  tha 
lascnictiunB  delivered  to  the  watch  by  our  brother  DCf- 
berry,  of  facetious  memory.  So  mnch  for  infonnalioi. 
By  way  of  inoulry,  nrsy  let  me  taow^hat  i^wben.7S« 
find  any  idle  hour—now  you  s^comphshed  tse  perilous 
passage  of  her  Majestie's  Ferry  without  the  assistance 
and  escort  of  your  preux-chevalisr,  and  whether  you 
will  receive  them  on  your  return— haw  Miss  R.  and  you 
are  spending  yonr  lime,  whether  sta(Tt>narY  or  otherwise 
—above  ali,  whether  jou  have  been  at  •*•••••,  and  all 
the  Acs.  decs,  which  the  question  involves.  Having 
made  out  a  pretty  long  scratch,  which,  as  Win  Jenkins 
says,  will  take  you  some  time  to  decipher.  I  ahaH  only  in- 
form you  fiuiher  thst  I  shall  tirs  excessively  UU  you  re- 
turn to  your  shop.  I  beg  to  be  remembered  to  Miss 
Kerr,  and  in  particular  to  La  Belle  Jeanne.  Best  love  to 
Miss  Butheriord ;  and  believe  me  ever,  my  dear  Miss 
Christy,  sincerely  and  aflfectlonately  your 

WaLTBS  flCOTT." 

During  the  autumn  of  1798,  he  visited  agfun  hia 
favourite  haunts  in  Perthahire  and  Forfarshire.  It 
was  in  the  course  of  this  tour  that  he  spent  a  day  or 
two  at  Montrose  with  \m  old  tutor  Mitchell,  and 
astonished  and  grieved  tiiat  worthy  Presbyienaa 

*T1ifaftQnrwastoldby  tbeCounteaiof  Parptanonberdestb  • 
hed  to  Captain  BaaaHajL    See  his  i^o^  fisfn^bU^.  SS3. 

Digitized  by  VjOOQIC 


UFR  OF  smwiiiTBR  scxn*r. 


t  by  bi»  *^a\  »bout  witehetjt  ind  fairiet.   The  unlr  let- 
.  i«r  of  hia  writieri  during  this  ri petition,  tKiii  E  nave 

J  covered,  wai^  nddreo?^  to  anotlu'r  of  hij§  clerical 
ne  net  i^Kin  e  by  na  in  eti  pi  »  o  f  M  i  tch  siir  »  e  t  o  mi>— Mr. 
Walker,  tht!^  mini^rt!^  of  Dunfioiar,  and  it  in  chiefly 
0CCLiiMtid  wiiih  ui  fliCLCKint  of  his  rfeanrtrUee  at  a 
.  vitnfied  forij  in  Kiucaptiineshire^  coruxnonty  called 
ZfVif  Pin^Ua^*  CiiJttU^  and,,  nccordin;:;  ti>  trEidition, 
the94xtt|t;  of  die  tviutder  oi  Kftinelh  IL  hy  liii  mis- 
Ues9.  W^jiife  in  Lhi^  north,  be  visited  nim  tbe  resi- 
^ODGO  Qtf  I  be  lady  who  hftd  tiow*  for  ao  many  years, 
been  Oie  objeci  of  iiii  atiAchjnent  ,•  nnd  tba[  bis  re- 

§  Lotion  wAfi  Dot  adequate  to  hi«  L'^xj^KcLaLionti  may 
<?  guiheK4il  prt^uy  L'ltsarly  from  sonic  t^sproRhbnp  in 
•  lifUtxT  nddreiiW  to  bim  when  at  MniUrosf'  by*  hia 

n  Walter  Scott,  £§q^  Pott-Qffiei,  Montrot. 
•*  Dear  Bcott,— 

"  Far  be  it  from  roe  to  afflrm  that  there  are  no  dirioera 
In  the  land.  Hie  voice  of  the  people  and  the  voice  of 
God  are  loud  in  their  tesUoioay.  Two  years  afo,  when  I 
was  in  the  neighbourhood  of  Montrose,  we  had  recourse 
te*  ammeuient  one  evening  to  cblrooiancy,  or^  as 
the  vulgar  say,  having  our  fortunes  read :  and  read  mine 
ivare  in  such  a  sort,  that  efiher  my  letters  must  have  been 
teapeeted,  or  the  devil  was  by  in  nit  own  proper  person. 
I  never  mentioned  the  chreumstance  since,  for  obvious 
Taaaons ;  bm  now  that  yon  are  on  the  spo^  I  feel  it  my 
bounden  duty  to  conjure  you  not  to  put  your  shoes  rash- 
ly iW>m  off  yonr  feet,  for  yoo  are  not  standing  on  holy 
fround. 

■  ■  **!  bless  the  gods  for  condacting  your  poor  dear  soul 
■al^ly  to  Perth.    When  I  conaider  the  wilds,  the  forests, 

( the  lakes,  the  rocks— and  the  ^irlts  In  which  yoo  must 
have  whliq>ered  to  their  startled  echoes,  it  aroazeth  me 
bow  you  escaped.  Had  you  but  dismissed  your  little 
■quire  and  Earwig,*  and  spent  a  few  days  as  Orlando 
^•ottki  iiave  dones  aD  posterity  might  have  profited  by  it ; 
bm  to  trot  qofetly  away  wlthoot  so  mach  as  one  stanza  to 

,  despair— never  talk  lo  me  of  love  again— never,  never, 
neveri    1  am  dying  for  your  collection  of  ejqtioits.  When 
Witt  yon  return  1    In  the  ntean  time,  Heaven  speed  you  f 
Be  aober,  and  hope  to  the  end. 

"  William  Taylor^  translation  ^f  your  ballad  is  pub- 
llsbed,  and  so  inferior,  that  I  wonder  we  could  tolerate  it. 
Dufald  Stewart  read  yours  to  ••••••••••  the  other  day. 

When  he  came  to  the  fetter  dancct  he  looked  up,  and 

Kor  ••«♦♦••••*  was  altting  with  his  hands  nailed  to  hU 
ees,  and  the  big  tears  rolling  down  his  innocent  nose 
iO'SO  piteous  a  manner,  that  Mr.  Stewart  could  not  help 
borating  out  a  laoghing.  An  ansry  man  was  •*•**•— ^. 
I  have  seen  another  edition  too.  but  it  is  bek>w  contempt. 
60  many  copies  make  the  ballad  fiimous,  so  that  every 
dav  adda  to  your  renown. 

^This  here  place  is  very,  very  dull.  Ersklne  Is  In 
London  :  ny  dear  Thomson  at  Dally ;  Macfarlan  hatching 
Kapt— and  Geoigel  Foutitainliall.f  I  have  nothing  more 
to  tell  you,  but  that  I  am  most  affectionately  yours.  Many 
an  anxkras  thought  I  have  about  you.    Farewell. 

J.  A.  C.»' 

The  affair  in  which  thb  romantic  creature  took  so 
Hvely  an  interest,  was  now  approaching  its  end.  It 
WBA  known,  before  this  autumn  closed,  that  the 
lady  of  his  vows  had  finally  promised  her  hand  to 
his  amiable  rival ;  and,  when  the  fact  was  announ- 
ced, aoma  of  thase  who  knew  Scott  the  best,  appear 
10  have  totertained  very  serious  apprehensions  as 

•  A  Sffrmat  twj'  and  pmijr. 
t  ••  *  D«l  fturt  i^Ht  Ik'HT^—Thp  mr^jo  aliinea  dear  ;— 
I>ntt  ftflr  trt  f^rt^  mth  im  1 
Burmli  r  ^niTnli  f  ih>^  ilend  wui  ridii'"— 

'  Oh,  WdUnflk  let  thpB)  \f^r 
**  *  Stv  tKrf*? .  ti^  tiif  tt:  *    Wlim (  yonder  iwbgi 

CiblhEi  nifA  *ff<i-l  1>K'  Bfpjinod  Ti*^!; 

A  murd  iw  in  ima  dwn. 
'*  •  Halloo  t  thoa  lekm.  follow  hero. 

lb  bridal  bed  we  rkle; 
And  thou  ^halt  prance  a  fetter  dance 

Before  me  and  my  bride.' 
"  And  huny,  Itiirry  I  clash,  clanh,  clash  I 

The  waited  fonn  deacendf  ; 
And  (laK  as  wind,  throaeh  hazle-boah, 

The  wild  career  ^tteedi. 
"  Trnmn.  trnroD  I  along  the  land  they,  rsds  s 

fiplavb.  tplacb  l  along  t|»  tea ; 
The  looerse  is  rvd.  the  utter  drops  blood. 

Tiie  aiuihinf  pebbln  flee." 
t  Qaorfe  Cramtoon,  Lord  Oorohoose.         * 
I  Dednoaa  bj»  Lord  FeuntainhalL 


to  the  afiect  which  the  diaappohitment  inighf  hi^ 
upon  his  feelikias.  For  etample,  one  of  those  br^ 
tners  of  the  Jmuntain  wrote  as  follows  to  another  • 

of  them,  on  the  12th  October,  1796:— **». 

marries  Miss .    This  is  not  «ood  newa.     I 

always  dreaded  there  was  some  self-deception  on 
the  part  of  our  romantic  friend,  and  I  now  shudder 
at  the  violence  of  his  most  irritable  and  ungovern- 
able mind.  Who  is  it  that  says,  *  Men  have  died, 
and  worms  have  eaten  them,  but  not  for  lovb  V  1 
hope  aincerely  it  may  be  verined  on  this  occasion."  • 
Scott  had,  however^  in  all  likelihood,  digested  hia 
daipag  the  sohtary  nde  in  the  Hiffhlaads^ 


lo 


agonv  c    ,   _  , 

which  Miss  Granstoun's  last  letter  alludes. 

Talking  of  this  story  with  Lord  Kinedder,  I  once 
asked  him  whether  Scott  nev«r  made  it  the  su^aet 
of  verses  at  the  period.  His  own  confeseion.  that, 
even  during  the  time  when  he  had  laid  iLside  the 
habit  of  versifieation.  be  did  sometimes  commit  **  a 
sonnet  on  a  raistresrs  eyebrow/'  had  not  then  ap- 
peared. Lord  Kinedder  answered,  **Oye&hemaae 
many  Uttle  stantas  about  the  lady,  and  be  some- 
times showed  them  to  Cranstotm,  Clerk,  and  my- 
self—but we  really  thought  them  in  general  very 
poor.  Two  thinga  of  the  kind,  however,  have  been 
preserved— and  one  of  them  was  done  just  afler  the 
conclusion  of  the  business."  He  then  took  a  voluma 
of  the  English  Minstrelsy^  and  pointed  out  fo  me ' 
some  lines  on  a  vieUt,  which  had' not  at  that  time 
been  included  in  Scott's  collected  works.  Loni 
Kinedder  read  them  over  in  his  usual  iropreseivei 
though  not  quite  unaflected,  manner,  and  said,  "  I 
remember  well  that,  when  1  first  saw  these,  1  teld 
him  they  were  his  best ;  but  he  had  touched  thena 
up  afterwards." 

"  The  violet  in  iur  greenwood  bower, 
Where  birchen  boughs  with  hazels  mingle, 

May  boast  itself  tl)e  fairest  flower 
In  glen  or  copso  or  forest  dingle. 

"  Though  fair  her  gems  of  azure  hue 
Beneath  the  dcwdrop's  weight  reciluing, 

I've  seen  an  eye  of  loveMer  blue 
Bfore  sweet  through  watery  lustre  shfnlog. 

"  The  summer  sun  that  dew  shall  dry, 

Ere  yet  the  sun  be  past  its  morrow, 
Nor  longer  in  my  false  love's  eye 

ilemamed  the  tear  of  pSrthig  aorrow !" 

In  turning  over  a  volume  of  MS.  papers,  I  have 
found  a  copy  of  verses,  which,  from  the  hand,  SeoU 
had  evidently  written  down  within  the  last  ten 
years  of  hie  life.  They  are  headed.  "  To  Time-^by 
a  Lady'*— but  certain  initials  on  the  back  satiai^ 
me.  that  the  authoress  was  no  other  than  the  objecc 
of  his  first  passion.  I  think  1  must  be  pardoned  for 
transcribing  the  lines  which  had  dwelt  so  long  ob 
his  memory— leaving  it  to  the  reader's,  fancy  to 
picture  the  mood  of  mind  in  which  the  fingers  of  a 
gray-haired  man  may  have  traced  such  a  relic  of  hia- 
youthful  dreams. 

•*  Filend  of  the  wretch  oppreas*d  with  grfei; 

Whose  lenient  hand,  though  slow,  aappUea 
The  balm  that  leads  to  care  relief, 

Tbal  wipes  her  teaia— that  chscks  her  sigbs  J 

"  »Tls  thine  the  wounded  sool  to  heal 
That  hopeless  bleeds  for  sorrow's  smart, 

Frr>m  sterdniBfortune's  shaft  to  steal 
The  barblhat  rankles  tai  the  heart. 

••  What  though  with  thee  the  roses  fly. 

And  iocund  youth's  gay  reign  is  o'er ; 
Though  dimm'd  the  lustre  of  the  eye, 

And  hope's  vain  dreams  enchant  no  more : 
**  Yet  in  thy  train  come  soft  eyed  peace, 

Indifference  with  her  heart  of  snow ; 
At  her  cold  touch,  lo ! .  sorrows  cease. 

No  thorns  beneath  her  roses  grow. 
"  O  haste  to  grant  the  suppliant's  prayer, 

Tb  me  thy  torpid  calm  impart ; 
Rend  from  my  brow  youth's  garland  fiUr, 

But  Uke  the  thorn  that's  in  my  heart. 
"  Ah,  why  do  fabling  poets  tell, 

That  thy  fleet  wlnir<  ootmrln  tho  wlodl 
Why  feign  thy  cpurse  of  joy  tne  knei^ 


iinc'OrsiR  yfAUTsit^oom. 


.»!¥« 


Cbam  IvHti  wftb  Um  veighior  year* ; 
WHb  ^h9 1  vkw  morn's  bliwbiog  laccL 
▲ad  Aail  mUU  evemnc  with  my  lean." 


CHAPTER  VIII. 

mUCATION  or  ballads  AfTKR  BfthOBS-- SCOTT 
4I9ABTBB-MA8TZB  OP  THB  BMlfBUBOH  LIOTIT-ilOBSS 
— CaCCUBSmr  TO  COMBBBLA2n>— CriLBLAND  WBLLS— 
MISS  CABFBirrBfh—BfABBIAOE.— 1796-1 79T. 

Rebbujng,  aa  usuaU  against  circumstances,  Scott 
seems  to  have  turned  with  renewed  ardour  to  his 
literary  pursuits ;  and  in  that  same  October,  1796, 
he  was  prevailed  on,"  as  hepkyfully  expresses  it, 
by  the  requ^cst  o/frunds,  to  indulge  his  own  va- 
nity, bv  puotishintc  the  translation  of  Lenore,  with 
that  of  Ine  Wild  Huntsman,  also  from  B'ureer,  in  a 
thin  quarto."  The  Uttle  volume,  which  has  no 
Author's  nanue  on  the  titleDage.  was  printed  for 
Manners  and  Millrr  of  Edinburgh.  The  first  nam- 
ed of  these  respectable  publishers  had  been  a  fellow- 
student  in  the  German  class  of  Dr.  Willich;  and 
this  circumstance  orobably  suggested  the  negotia- 
tion. It  was  condocted  by  William  Erskine,  as 
appears  from  his  postscript  to  a  letter  addressed  to 
3bott  by  his  sister,  who,  oefbre  it  ivwhed  its  deso- 
satiofi,  had  become  the  wife  of  Mr.  Campbell  (Ool- 
oahouh)  of  Clathick  (and  KelIermont)--in  after- 
€11^  Lord*Advocate  of  Scotland,  This  was  ano- 
ther of  Scott's  dearest  female  friends— the  hmnble 
home  which  she  shared  with  her  brother  during  his 
early  struggles  at  the  bar,  had  been'the  scene  of  ma- 
s  ny  of  his  nappiest  hours ;  and  her  letter  affords 
■uch  a  j;>leasiDg  idea  of  the  warm  affeciionateness 
of  th«  mtie  oircle,  that  1  eannot  forbear  inserting  it. 

To  Walter  Scott^  Etq.  Rottbank^  KeUo. 

'<  AbDday  Brsning. 
*'ir  it  were  not  that  stiquvtiCe  and  I  were  constantly 
at  war,  T  should  think  myself  very  blameable  in  thus  tres- 


psssivg  agalBst  one  of  its  law* ;  bat  as  it  Is  loof  smee  I 
mreswore  its  dominion,  I  have  aequlred  a  presorlpilve 
Tight  to  act  as  ,1  wiU— «nd  I  shall  accordlnf  ly  anticipate 


the  station  of  a  matron  in  addresshig  a  young  man. 

**I  eaii  axpress  bat  a  very,  verv  little,  of  what  I  feel, 
ao4  stiaU  ever  feel,  for  your  bnintermitcing  friendship 
and  attention.  I  have  ever  odnsidered  you  as  a  brother, 
and  ahall  now  thinic  myself  entitled  to  make  even  larj^er 
elalma  on  your  ccmfldenee.  WeH  do  I  remember  the 
dmh  conference  vre  huety  held  together !  The  tntendon 
of  imfbldiJiff  my  own  future  ftte  was  often  at  ray  tips. 

**lcaiHiot  t«llyon  my  distress  at  leaving  this  house, 
wherein  I  have  oojoyed  so  much  real  happiness,  and 
ilvlBf  up  the  service  of  so  gentle  a  owster,  whose  yoke 
vits  Indeed  easy.  1  will  therefore  only  commend  him 
to  your  care  as  the  last  bequest  of  Mary  Anne  Erskine. 
and  conjure  yon  to  continue  to  each  other  throngh  all 
vour  jpllgrimage  as  you  have  oommenoed  it.  May  every 
m^piBess  attend  yon.    Adieu  i 

**  Your  most  ^ncere  friend  and  sisrer, 

M.  A.  E." 

Mr.  Erskine  writes  on  the  other  page*-"  The 
pqemj  m«  gorgeous,  but  I  have  made  no  bargain 
with  any  bookseller.  I  have  told  M.  and  M.  that 
I  won't  be  Baiisfied  with  ^ndemnit^,  but  an  ofier 
ranst  be  made.  They  will  be  out  before  the  end  of 
tbe  week.V  On  what  terms  the  publiition  raally 
took  place,  I  know  not. 

It  hms  alrendy  been  mentioned,  that  Scott  owed 
his  copy  of  Biurger's  works  to  the  young  lady  of 
Harden,  whose  marriage  occurred  in  the  autumn  of 
17M.  She  WBS  daughter  of  Count  Brtkhl  of  Mart- 
kirchen,  long  Salon  ambassador  at  the  court  of 
St.  James's,  by  his  second  wi£9  the  Countess-Dow- 
ager of  Egremont  i  and  though  I  believe  she  had 
ntyer  at  this  time  been  out 'of  England,  spoke  her 
father's  language  perfectly,  corresponded  regularly 
with  mi^ny  of  her  relations  on  the  Cohtinent,  nnd 
was  Very  fond  of  the  rising  literature  of  the  Grer- 
mauB.  The  youn^  kinsman  was  introduced  to  her 
soon  after  her  arrival  at  Mertonn.  and  his  attach- 
ment to  Grerman  studies  excited  ner  attention  and 
interest  Mrs.  Scott  supplied  him  with  many 
standard  Grerman  books,  besides  BUrgerf  and  the 
8 


,  nA  of  an  AMwig's  dioti^iwry  ktim  his  oM  allf, 
^George  Constable,  (Jonathan  Otdblick.)  enabled 
I  him  to  master  their  contents  sufficiently  for  the 

furpoeea  of  translation.  The  ballad  of  the  Wild 
[untsman  appears  to  have  been  executed,  under 
Mrs.  Scott's  eye,  during  the  month  that  preceded 
his  flrst  publication ;  and  he  was  thenceforth  en- 
gajB^d  m  a  succession  of  versions  from  the  dramas 
of  Meier  and  Il8end,  several  of  which  are  still  ex- 
tant in  his  MS.,  marked  1796  and  1797.  These  are 
all  in  prose  like  their  originals ;  but  be  also  versified 
«t  the  same  time  some  Ivrical  fragmenu  of  Goethf , 
as,  for  examplci  the  Moriachtan  Ballad, 

"  What  yonder  gKmmers  so  white  on  ihemountalB*" 

and  the  song  from  Claudina  von  Villa  Bella.  He 
consulted  his  friend  at  Mertoun  on  all  these  essays ; 
and  1  have  often  heard  him  say.  that  among  those 
many  "  obligations  of  a  distant  dBte  which  remain- 
ed impressed  on  his  memory,  after  a  life  spent  in  a 
constant  interchange  of  frieudship  and  kmdness," 
he  counted  not  as  the  least  the  lady's  frankness 
in  correcting  his  Scotticisms,  ai^  more  eapecially^ 
his  Scottish  rhymea. 

His  obligations  to  this  lady  were  indeed  various*- 
but  I  doubt,  after  all,  whether  these  were  the  moat 
importuAt.  He  used  to  say,  that  she  was  the  first 
^poman  of  real  fashion  that  took  him  up ;  th^t  she 
used  the  privileges  of  her  sex  aiid  station  in  the 
truest  spint  of  kmdness ;  set  him  right  as  to  a  thou- 
sand little  trifles,  which  no  one  else  would  have 
ventured  to  nouce;  and,  in  short,  did  for  him  what 
no  one  but  an  elegant  woman  can  do  for  a  yotujg 
man,  whose  early  days  have  been  spent  in  narrow 
and  provioical  circles.  "When  I  first  saw  Sir 
Walter,"  she  writes  to  nae,  "he  waa  about  four  or 
fivie-and-twanty,  but  looked  nauch  younger.  He 
seemed  bashful  and  awkward ;  hut  there  were  from 
the  first  such  gleams  of  superior  sense  and  spirit  la 
his  conversation,  that  I  was  hardly  surprised  when, 
after  our  acquaintance  had  ripened  a  Httle,  I  felt 
myself  to  be  talking  with  a  man  of  genius.  He 
was  most  modest  about  himBelf,  and  showed  his 
little  pieces  apparently  without  any  consciomnesB 
that  they^MMild  possess  any  claim  on  particular  at- 
tention. Nothing  so  easy  and  good-humoured  bb 
the  way  in  which  he  received  any  l^nls  I  might 
oflferr  when  he  seemed  to  be  tampenng  with  the 
King's  English.  I  remember  particularly  how  he 
laughed  at  himself  when  I  maide  him  take  notice 
that '  the  little  two  dogs,'  in  some  of  his  lines,  did 
not  please  an  Enghsh  ear  accustomed  to  *  the  two 
Uttle  dogs.' " 

Nor  was  this  the  onlyr  person  at  Mertoon  who 
took  a  hvdy  interest  in  ms  porsuita.  Harden  ente^* 
ed  into  all  the  foelings  of  his  beautiful  bride  on  this 
subject;  and  his  mother,  the  Lady  Diana  Scott* 
daughter  of  the  last  Earl  of  Marchmont,  did  so  jno 
leas.  She  had  conversedi  in  her  early  daya.  with 
the  brightest  ornaments  of  the  cycle  of  Queen 
Ann&  and  preserved  rich  stores  of  anecdote,  well 
calculated  to  gratify  the  curiosity  and  excite  tha 
ambition  of  a  young  enthustast  in  literature.  Lady 
Diana  soon  appreaated  the  min8tr|Lof  the  dan  i 
and,  surviving  to  a  remarkable  BfMphe  had  the 
satisfactipn  oi  ^ing  him  at  the  hei|nt  of  his  emi- 
nence— the  sohtary  person  who  could  give  the 
autnor  of  Marmion  personal  reminisconces  of  Pope.* 

On  turning  to  James  Ballaiuyne's  Memorandum^ 
(already  quoted,)  I  find  an  account  of  Scott's  jour- 
ney fi-om  Rosebank  to  Edinburgh,  in  the  November 
after  the  Ballade  firom,  Biirger  were  published, 
which  gives  an  interesting  notion  of  his  literary 
zeal  ana  openingambition  at  this  remarkable  epoch 
of  his  life.  Mr.  Ballantyne  had  settled  in  Kelso  as 
a  solicitor  in  1795;  but  not  immediately  obtainiM 
much  professional  prsctice,  time  hung  heavy  on  hia 
handSk  add  he  willingly  listened,  in  the  summer  of 
1796,  to  a  proposal  of  somp  of  the  neighbouring 
nobility  ana  gtntry  respecting  the  establiahmenl 


«  Mr.  Scottof  Hargep'fl  ligfat  to  tho  , 
representing,  through  hia  nujther,  the  line 
lowed  by  the  House  of  Locd*  to  issp^ized  by 


Polwarth,  i 


LIF&  OF  SIR  WAI.TER  SCOTir. 


of  a  weeklf  newipapeK^  in  oppOMdon  to  one  of  a 
democratic  tendency,  then  widelf  circulated  in 
Roxburghshire  and  the  o iher  Border  countiea.  He 
undertook  the  printing  and  editing  of  this  new  jour- 
nal, and  proceieded  to  London,  m  order  to  engage 
correspondents  and  make  other  necessary  prepa- 
rations. While  thus  for  the  first  time  in  the  metro- 
poiis,  he  happened  to  meet  with  two  authors,  whose 
reputations  were  then  in  full  bloom-^namely,  Tho- 
mas Holcroft  and  William  Godwin— the  former  a 
popular  dramatist  and  novelist ;  the  latter,  a  novel- 
ist of  far  greater  merit,  but  *'  still  more  important- 
Iv  distinguished,"  says  the  Memorandum  before  me, 

by  those  moral,  legal,  poliiical.  and  religious  hete- 
fodoxies,  which  his  talents  enabled  him  to  present 
to  the  world  in  a  very  captivating  manner.  His 
Caleb  Williams  had  then  just  come  out,  and  occupi- 
ed as  much  public  attent^n  as  any  work  has  done 
before  or  since."  "  Both  these  eminent  persons," 
Baltantyne  continues,  "I  saw  pretty  frequently: 
and  being  anxious  to  hear  whatever  I  could  tell 
about  the  literary  men  in  Scotland,  they  both  treat- 
ed me  with  remarkable  freedom  of  communication. 
They  were  both  distinguished  by  the  clearness  of 
their  elocution,  and  very  full  of  triumphant  confi- 
dence in  the  truth  of  their  systems.  They  were  as 
willing  to  speak,  therefore,  as  I  could  be  to  hear; 
and  as  I  put  my  questions  with  all  the  fearlessness 
of  a  very  yroung  man^  the  result  was,  that  I  carried 
away  copious  and  mteresting  stores  of  thought 
and  mformation ;  that  the  greater  part  of  what  I 
hoard  was  fiill  of  error,  never  entered  into  my  con- 
templation. Holcroft  at  this  time  was  a  fine-look- 
ing, lively  man,  of  green  old  age,  somewhere  about 
sixty,  (iodwin,  some  twenty  years  younger,  was 
more  shy  and  reserved.  As  to  me,  my  delight  and 
enthusiasm  were  boundless." 

After  retttffitng  bomci  Beillantync  mado  another 
journey  :o  Gtasfffm^  for  the  pufcha^  of  iyiiGsi  tind 
on  tjisiering  ihn  Kebo  ounck  for  this  purpoae — "  It 
wouhl  not  be  eaaif,"  aaya  he,  "  lo  express  my  joy  on 
fiwiing  ih^it  Mr  Scott  wise  lo  be  one  of  my  pnrt- 
nersii)  the  tamas^s  the  onljr  c>tliK»r  paflson^fr  being 
a  finc^  stout,  ntiiBcular  old  QuakiT.  A  very  faw 
TDJlei  roL^stahEisfied  na  on  our  anrienl  foatinj^. 
TVavellmi?  not  imfi^  hatf  ao  apped^  then  us  ii  is 
now,  ihcri^  wn*?  plenty  of  l^i^or^  for  talk,  aotl  Mr. 
ctl]      ' 


8<>ott  Mas  vx^ctly  what  is  called  [lie  old  man. 
atM>urtdi^,a^in  thE^  drivs  of  boyhoodi  in  !tsf 


He 


of  life;  but,  wearied  ••  til  iush  iMdm  bad  Iml._ 
with  that  succession  of  feeble,  flimsy,  lackadaincal 
trash  which  followed  the  appearance  of  the  Re- 
liques  by  Bishop  Percy,  the  opening  o(  soch  a  new 
vein  of  popular  poetrv  as  these  verses  revealed 
would  have  been  enougn  to  produce  lenient  critics 
for  far  inferior  translations.  Many,  aa  we  haw 
seen,  sent  forth  copies  of  the  Lenore  about  tii« 
aame  time ;  and  some  of  these  might  be  thounfat 
better  than  Scott's  in  particular  paaaagiea ;  but,  on 
the  whole,  itaeems  to  nave  been  ielt  and  acknow- 
ledged by  those  best  entitled  to  judge,  that  he  de- 
served the  palm.  Meantime,  we  inust  not  forget 
that  Scotland  had  lost  that  very  year  the  great  poet 
Bums,  her  glory  and  her  shame.  It  b  at  least  to 
be  hoped  that  a  general  sentiment  of  self-reproaofa, 
as  well  as  of  sorrow,  had  been  excited  by  the  pr^ 
mature  extinction  of  such  a  light;  and,  at  all  eveota 
it  is  agreeable  to  know  that  they  who  had  watched 
his  career  with  the  most  afiectionate  concern,  were 
among  the  first  to  hail  the  promise  of  a  more  for- 
tunate successor.  Scott  found  on  his  table,  when 
he  reached  Edinburgh,  the  following  letters  &om 
two  of  Burns's  kindest  and  wisest  friends  :— 

To  Walter  Scgtl^  B*q.  Advpcate^  Oeorg^t  Sqitare, 
«MyI>ear8ir, 

"  I  beg  yoQ  wiO  accept  of  my  bea  tbaiUcs  for  the  1k^ 
vour  you  have  done  me  by  sendinx  me  four  copies  of 
your  beautiful  translations.  I  shall  retain  two  ot  thesm, 
aa  Mrs.  Stewajrt  and  I  both  aet  a  high  vaJue  on  them  aa 
giAs  from  the  author.  The  other  two  I  shall  take  tba 
earliest  opportunity  of  transmitting  to  a  friend  in  Eng- 
land, who,  1  hope,  may  bo  instrumental  in  making  their 
merits  more  generally  known  at  the  time  of  their  first 
appearance.  In  a  few  weeks,  I  am  ftilly  persuaded,  tihey 
will  engage  pabKc  attention  to  the  utmost  extent  of  y 


wisher  wraiout  the  aid  of  any 


lorp,  and  had  ntiw  added  to  tlio  stock,  as  \m  r^ci- 
tat40f^s  iihowed^  trnniny  of  tho^e  fine  ballsda  which 
afiisrwardu  cortipoeml  thv  Minstrelsy.  Indfrix^  I 
was  more  delishipd  with  hiiti  thnn  ever;  nnd,  by 
way  of  rcijrisal,  I  oppncd  on  hini  rnv  London  bud- 
l^t  vo\hcied  frfjm  Holcrofl  and  Ooawio  t  doubt 
if  Boswrlj  rvrr  j'li  »w:  d  hjnt^iif  ti  tiiorc  b-kdfid  /dc- 
parttr  ilij...  I  did  oil  liiis  ouca^joo.  Hour  ofier  huur 
passed  away,  and  found  my  borrowed  eloquence 
still  flowing,  and  my  companion  still  hanging  on 
my  lipa  with  unwearied  interest.  It  was  customa- 
ry in  those  days  to  break  the  journey  (only  forty 
miles)  by^  dining  on  the  road,  the  consequence  of 
which  was  that  we  both  became  rather  oblivious ; 
and  after  we  had  re-entered  the  coach,  the  worthy 
Quaker  felt  q/ke  vexed  and  disconcerted  with  the 
silence  whicMbd  succeeded  so  much  conversation. 
*  I  wish,*  sanrhe,  *  nriy  young  friends,  that  you 
would  cheer  up,  and  go  on  with  your-  pleaiant 
songs  and  tales  as  before :  they  entertamad  me 
much/  And  so,"  says  Ballantyne,  "it  went  on 
again  until  the  evening  found  us  in  Edinbur^ ; 
and  from  that  day,  until  within  a  verv  short  time 
of  his  death— apenod  of  not  less  than  nve-and- thir- 
ty years— I  may  venture  to  say  that  our  intercourse 
never  flagged." 

The  reception  of  the  two  ballads  had,  in  the  mean 
timei,  been  favourable,  in  his  own  circle  at  least.  The  | 
manv  inaccuracies  and  awkwardnesses  of  rhyme 
and  diction  to  which  he  alludes  in  republishing  them 
towards  the  close  of  his  life,  did  not  prevent  real 
loTsrs  of  poetry  from  seeing  that  no  one  but  a  poet 
could  have  transfused  the  daring  imagery  of  the 
<lerinan  in  a  style  so  fi^e,  bold,  masculine,  and  full 
•  The  Kebo  Mail 


Dffcmr 

Trtiata 
ver.    i  ever  am,  Dear  Sir,  yours  most  truly, 

**  DOOALD  STSWAKT. 

"  Canongate»  Wednesday  evening.*' 
To  tht  BhuM. 
"  Dear  Sir, 

"  On  my  return  from  Gardross,  where  I  had  been  lor 
a  week,  I  found  yours  of  the  14th,  which  had  surely  loi- 
tered by  the  way.  I  thank  you  most  cordiaHy  for  yonr 
present.  I  meet  with  little  poetry  now*a-dajs  that  toochac 
my  heart ;  but  your  translations  ezehe  mingled  emotkMis 
or  pity  and  terror,  insomuch,  that  1  would  not  wish  an|r 
person  of  weaker  nerves  to  read  TfiZlt'ofn  and  Beteia 
before  going  to  bed.  Great  must  be  the  original,  if  it 
equals  the  translation  in  enercy  and  pathos.  One  wonJil 
almost  suspect  you  have  used  as  mnch  liberty  wMh  B&r- 

5;er  as  Macpherson  was  suspected  of  doing  with  Oasis n 
t  is,  however,  easier  to  btukapeir  you.  Sober  reastm 
rejects  the  machinery  as  unnatural;  it  reminds  ma» 
iiowever,  of  the  magic  of  Shakspcare.  Nothing  has  a, 
finer  effect  than  the  repetition  of  certain  words,  that  am 
echoes  to  the  sense,  aa  much  as  the  celebrated  lines  in 
Homer  about  the  rolling  up  and  &lling  down  of  the 
stone  i—Trampf  tramp^  eplas/t,  sptosA,  is  to  me  perfectly 
new;— and  much  of  the  imagery  is  nature.  I  abould 
consider  this  same  muse  of  yours  (if  you  carry  the  in> 
trigue  fiur)  more  likely  to  steal  your  heart  from  the  law 
than  even  a  wife.  I  am,  Deaf  Sir,  your  most  obedient, 
humble  servant, 

"  Jo.  RaasAT. 
"  Ochtertyre,  30th  Nov.  1796." 

Among  other  Uterary  persons  at  a  distance^  I 
may  mention  George  uhalmera,  the  odebrated  an* 
tiquary,  witit  whom  he  had  been  in  correspondenoa 
from  the  beginning  of  this  year,  supplying  hhn  wkh 
Border  ballads  for  the  illustration  of  bis  researches 
into  Scotch  history.  This  gentleman  had  been 
made  acquainted  with  Scott's  large  collections  in 
that  way,  by  a  mutual  friend,  Dr.  Somerville,  ra^ 
nister  of  Jedburgh,  au^or  of  the  History  of  Qiieen 
Anne,*  and  the  numerous  MS.  copies  commnni- 

•  Some  extracts  from  this  vfnenible  penon's  ufinobliilied  Me- 
moire  of  bis  own  Life,  have  btmi  kindly  sent  tome  by  his  son,  the 
weH-koown  phrsician  of  Cbeliea  CoUcfe;  from  which  it  aposm 
thai  the  reverend  doctor,  and  more  particularly  itjll  hb  \nh,  a 
\ndj  of  remarliable  talmt  and  humour,  had  Ibrmed  a  Idch  nottpa 
of  Scott's  futore'enrinence  at  a  my  early  period  of  hunre.  vr. 
8.  suiriyed  to  aitreat  old  age.  prasenrinir  his  faculties  quite  en* 
tire,  and  1  have  ipeot  manypleasant  holm  under  his  boapitiMa 
roof  in  company  with  8|r  waiter  Scott  We  beard  him  praadb 
an  exceflont  circuit  ■ermon  when  he  was  upwarrh  of  ninety-two. 
and  at  the  Judses'  dinner  afterwsnb,  he wsa  amooff  the  fsyest  of 
theoooipaDf. 


Digitized  by  V^OOQlC 


UFE  OF  SIR  WALTBR  SCOTT. 


I  to  him  in  ooaaequ6n6e»  were  recdldd  in  the 
le  of  1799,  when  the  plan  of  the  *' BlinetrelBy'* 


cited 

course ^ - 

began  lo  uke  ihape.  Chalmers  writes  in  great 
transports  about  Scott's  versionB:  but  weightier 
encouragement  came  from  Mr.  Taylor  of  Norwich, 
himself  the  first  translator  of  the  LenoriB. 

**  I  need  oat  teU  yon,  sir,"  (he  writes,)  "  with  how  much 
esffemeas  I  opened  jour  volume— with  how  tnneh  glow  I 
followed  the  Cheue— or  with  how  oiach  alarm  1  came  to 
Witiiam  and  Helen.  Of  the  latter  I  will  nj  nothing ; 
praise  might  seem  hypocrisy — criticism  envy.  The  ghost 
nowhere  makes  his  appearance  so  well  as  with  yoa,  or 
his  exit  so  well  as  with  Mr.  Spenser.  1  like  very  much 
the  recurrence  of 

*  The  scourge  is  red,  the  spar  dxops  Uood, 
The  flashing  pebbles  Hee ;' 

but  of  Wiliiam  and  Helen  1  had  resolved  to  say  nothing. 
Let  me  retom  to  the  CAottf,  of  which  the  metric  stanxa 
atyle  pleases  me  entirety— yet  I  think  a  few  paiwages 
written  in  too  elevated  a  atratai  for  the  seneral  spirit  of 
the  poeoL  This  age  leans  too  much  to  the  Darwin  style. 
Mr.  PercT'e  Lenore  owes  its  cokbiess  to  the  adoption  of 
this  ,*  and  it  seems  peculiarly  incongruous  in  the  ballad— 
where  habit  has  tought  ns  to  expect  simolicitT.  Among 
the  passages  too  stately  and  pompous,  I  ahoala  reckon- 

*  The  mountain  echoes  startling  vrake— 
And  for  devotion's  choral  swell 
Bzetiange  the  rude  discordant  noise — 
Fen  fiunine  marks  the  maddening  throng 
With  cold  Despair's  averted  eye'— 

and  perhaps  one  or  two  more.  In  the  twenty-first  stanza  I 
prefer  Burger's  trampling  the  com  into  eiu^and  duet,  to 
your  more  metaphorical,  and  therefore  less  picturesque, 
*  destructive  sweep  the  field  along.'  In  the  thirtietli, 
'On  whhrlwind's  pinions  swiftly  borne,'  to  me  seems 
less  striking  than  the  still  dlsapparition  of  the  tumult  and 
bustle — the  earth  has  opened,  and  he  is  sinking  with  his 
evil  genius  to  the  nether  worla— as  he  approaches,  dump/ 
rauaeht  ee  teie  ein/emermeer— it  should  be  rendered, 
therefore,  not  by  *8ave  what  a  distant  torrent  gave/ 
but  by  some  somids  which  shall  necessarily  excite  the 
idea  of  being  h^leprunr—Oxe  sound  of  simmeriiur  seas 
of  fire — ^pinings  or  gohlins  damned— or  some  analogous 
noise.  The  forty-seventh  sumza  is  a  very  great  im- 
provement of  the  original.  The  proianest  blasphemous 
speeches  need  not  have  been  softened  down,  as  in  pro- 
portion to  the  impiety  of  the  provocation  increases  the 
poetical  probability  of  the  final  punishment.  I  should 
not  have  ventured  upon  these  oriucisms,  if  did  not  think 
it  required  a  microscopic  eye  to  make  any,  and  if  I  did 
not  on  the  whole  consider  the  Chase  as  a  most  spirited 
and  beautiful  translation.  I  remain  (to  borrow  in  an- 
other sense  a  concluding  phrase  from  the  Spectator,) 
your  consiant  admirer, 

"W.  Taylor,  Jew. 
«  Norwich,  14fh  Dec.  1796. " 

The  anticipations  of  these  gentlemen,  that  Scott's 
versionB  would  attract  general  attention  in  the 
south,  were  not  fulfilled.  He  himself  attributes 
this  to  the  contemporaneous  appearance  of  so  many 
other  translations  from  Lenore.  "  In  a  word,"  he 
says,  "  my  adventure,  where  so  many  pushed  oflT  to 
sea,  proved  a  dead  loss,  and  a  great  part  of  the  edi- 
tion was  condemned  to  the  service  of  the  trunk- 
maker.  This  failure  did  not  operate  in  any  unplea- 
sant degree  either  on  my  feelings  or  spirits.  I  was 
eotdly  received  by  strangers,  but  my  reputation 
bogrni  rather  to  increase  among  my  own  friends, 
and  on  the  whole  I  was  more  bent  to  show  the 
world  that  it  had  neglected  something  worth  notice, 
•  than  to  be  affronted  by  its  indiflTerence ;  or  rather, 
to  speak  candidly,  I  found  pleasure  in  the  literary 
labours  in  which  I  had  almost  by  accident  become 
engaged,  and  laboured  less  in  the  hope  of  pleasing 
others,  though  certainly  without  despair  of  doing 
so,  than  in  a  pursuit  of  a  new  and  agreeable  amuse- 
ment to  myself."* 

On  the  1 2th  of  Decemben  Scott  had  the  curiosity 
to  witness  the  trial  of  one  James  Mackean,  a  shoe- 
inaker,  for  the  murder  of  Buchanan,  a  carrier,  em- 
ployed to  convey  money  weeklv  from  the  Glasgow 
bank  to  a  manufacturing  establishment  auLanark. 
Mackean  invited  the  carrier  to  Q>end  the  evening  in 
his  house ;  conducted  family  worship  in  a  style  of 
mncli  seeming  fervour ;  and  then,  while  his  friend 

•  ReatsriuonPopolarPoetiT.    1830. 


was  occopied,  came  behind  hifUt  and  aknoatMvarad 
his  head  from  his  body  by  one  stroke,  of  a  raxor. 
I  have  heard  Scoft  describe  the  sanctimonious  air 
which  the  murderer  maintained  during  his  trial- 
preserving  ihroughout  the  aspect  of  a  devout  person^' 
who  believed  himself  to  have  been  hurried  into  his 
accumulation  of  crime  by  an  uncontrollable  exertion 
of  diabolical  influence;  and  on  his  copy  of  the 
"  Life  of  James  Mackean,  executed  26th  January, 
1797,"  I  find  the  following  marginal  note':— 

^'T  \icx\\  \Q  ^•t^  LhJH  wrtLched  ninn  when  under 
seuk:aoe  of  di^ath,  aluDg  with  my  frirntj,  Mr.  ^Vil- 
liam  CU'rJi,  stlvucat^.  Hi*f  great  anjEteiy  wm  lo 
conviiieo  U!!i  liiHl  hja  dialjol^cal  murder  was  com mk- 
lg  J  ^-.  r .  i  "iiddyri  iinpulsL  of  fevcni^fsful  and  violent 
pi  :  IfOin  dtljbirateiksigoof  plundoT.     But 

til  \  vi%&  \i\Hm{'^^i  fram  thf  accurate  pi^e'tta- 

rai;  II  ijt  i\w.  dc'adjy  in!4trum«ni,  a  r»^r  strongly 
larsi'H  <j  to  a»  iron  U<ilu  and  al*u  Uom  ibe  evuitnce 
Oh  [lir  trial,  from  which  U  soemflhu  had  invited  his 
vi<  Lim  to  drink  Ihr  wiih  Liim  on  the  A^y  he  pt^rpulra' 
te  I  ili"j  nuirdcrt  and  ^hat  rhis  was  a  reirtrated  in  vi- 
ta u<<n.  Macktfui  was  n  Rood -look  in  ji^,  elderly  man, 
hiiviii!^  a  dim  fa^je  and  clear i^ay  eyt; ;  sm.b  a  man 
ail  iLfeiiy  be  ordiftarily  eieen  bffidea  collfic;Li£in-pliie 
at  u  si'e(>iiinR  rai'^iing-hrtuEj^^  a  post  which  the  said 
MiM  kL'SJin  had  oe^cuptd  ni  lu^  day.  All  Mackt^an's 
at  I  -  M]  ri  t  of  ihe  murder  Js  apnorrtibjil,  Hui h^nan  wos 
a  i'jwyrfui  [uaM,Hnd  Macki,ar!  sbodtr.  It  appear- 
ed ilmL  ihe  [atUT  had  euKii^ti^  Biichaiiafi  m  writing. 
thi  II  til  kid  c  lily  clftppeil  noti  liand  on  hi*  f^ycs,  and 
Btrt.!<.k  die  rnEoi  blow  with  tUt^otW.  Thc)  throat  of 
tb'^  'lix'tflHod  was  cut  through  hie  handkerchief  to 
thu  back  brtnc  «il  the  neck,  aisainut  which  ihc  mror 
Was  hacked  in  Severn]  places/' 

1(»  bi«  purf'iiil  of  hisGcrriiaii  studies  Scoti  acquired, 
al  '  '  time*  a  very  important  aasia tan t  m  Blr. 
Si  :  M  )ji«(a  w^  in  Aberdeen  shirts  i  a  gentkntan 

cc  V  his  junitrr,  who  had  just  retkirncd  lo 

Si  Jil  jjid  Iroiii  a  rcaideiicc  of  several  years  in  Sajt- 
011  y,  whiTi3  hi^  had  obtamt.^  a  thorough  kuowhidge 
oi  ilu'  inii^in^i^  and  accumulated  a  better  eollec^ 
tiou  4>f  CVrma^k  hook$  than  any  to  which  Scult  bad, 
af'  yri,  ffMiiKl  Qcet'ss.  Shortly  iifter  Mr  Skene's  ar- 
rivw!  m  Edinburgh^  Scott  rc<)Ue*ncd  to  be  in  Produced 
lohim  bf  a  rriutualfriuod,  Mr,  Edmonsione  of  New- 
tor*^  puif  thti^irfondiu'ss  for  the  aame  hterature,  with 
S'  i-imefts  to    profit  by  his  new  acquaint- 

ai  i\m  nitainnLent  m  it,  thus  op^tiod  art  in- 

t€  V  bich  ^(iKTal  ^miilflrity  of  taateai  and  I 

vrntiitv  bj  add,  in  mftny  of  iht;  moat  impoilant  fea- 
XxitQs  of  t  Siaracter^  soon  ripened  iMo  the  fami lianty 

sa^s,  lo  a  paper  beiorc  uiu,  "  of  ^vhiLli  1  ^l^Al  ever 
thmk  with  so  much  pride— a  friendship  so  oure  and 
cordial  as  to  have  been  able  to  withstand  all  the  vi- 
cissitudes of  nearly  forty  years,  without  ever  having 
sustained  even  a  casual  chill  from  unkind  thought 
or  word."  Mr.  Skene  adds :  '*  Duiin^  the  whole 
progress  of  his  varied  Ufe,  to  that  emment  station 
which  he  could  not  but  feel  he  at  length  held  in  the 
estimation,  not  of  his  countrymen  alone,  but  of  the 
whole  world^  I  never  could  perceive  the  aUghtest 
st^ade  of  vanance  from  that  simplicity  of  character 
with  which  he  impressed  me  on  tne  fiiit  hour  of  our 
meeting."  \ 

Among  the  common  tastes  which  served  to  knit 
these  friends  together,  was  their  love  of  horseman- 
ship, in  whwh,  as  in  all  other  manly  exercises,  Skene 
highly  excelled ;  and  the  fears  of  a  French  invasion 
becoming  every  day  more  serious,  their  thoug^hts 
were  turned  with  corresponding  zeal  to  the  project 
of  organizing  a  force  of  mounted  volunteers  in  Scot- 
land* "  TheXondon  Light-horse  had  set  the  exam- 
ple"—(says  Mr.  Skene)—"  but  in  truth  it  was  Xo 
Scott's  ardour  that  this  force  in  the  North  owed  its 
origin.  Unable,  by  reason  of  his  lameness,  to  serve 
amongst  his  friends  on  foot,  he  had  nothing  for  it  but 
to  rouse  the  ^irit  of  the  moss-trooper,  with  which 
he  readily  inspired  all  who  possessed  the  means  of 
substitutmg  the  sabre  for  the  musket." 

On  the  14th  February,  1797,  these  friends  and 
many  more  met,  and  drew  up  an  oner  to  serve  as  a 
body  of  volunteer  cavalry  in  Scotland ;  which  ofiert 


eo 


LIFE  OP  Sm  WALTER  900TT. 


bans  transmicted  through  th«  Duke  of  ^ccleach, 
Lora-Lieuten)int  of  Mid-Lothian,  wan  accepted  by 
government.  The  organization  of  the  corps  proceed- 
ofi  rapidly  ;  they  extended  their  offer  to  perve  in  any 
part  of  the  island  in  case  of  actual  invasion  ;  and 
this  also  being  accepted,  the  whole  arrangement 
was  shortly  completed ;  when  Charles  Maitland, 
Esq.  ofRankeillor,  was  elected  Major-Comman- 
dant ;  (Sir)  William  Rae  of  St.  Catharine's,  Cap- 
tain ;  panics  Grordon  of  Craig,  and  Oeorge  Robinson 
.  of  Clermiston,  Lieutenants  ;  (Sir)  Wilham  Forbes 
^  of  Pitsligo,  and  James  Skene  of  Rubislaw,  Cornets : 
Walter  Scoit,  Paymaster,  Quartermaster,  and  Sec- 
retary ;  John  Adams,  Adjutant.  But  the  treble  duties 
thus  devolved  on  Scott  were  found  to  interfere  too 
severely  with  his  other  avocations,  and  Colin  Mac- 
kenzie of  Portmore  relieved  him  soon  afterwards 
from  those  of  paymaster. 

"The  part  of  quartermaster,"  says  Mr.  Skene, 
"was  properly  selected  for  him,  that  he  might  be  spa- 
red the  rou|<h  usage  of  the  ranks ;  but,  notwithstand- 
ing his  innrmity,  he  had  a  remarkably  firm  seat  on 
horseback,  and  in  all  situations  a  fearless  one  :  no 
fatigue  ever  seemed  too  much  for  him,  and  his  zeal 
ana  animation  served  to  sustain  the  enthusiasm  of 
the  whole  corps,  while  his  ready  *  mot  irire,*  kept 
up,  in  all,  a  degree  of  good  humour  and  relish  for  the 
service,  without  which,  the  toil  and  privations  of 
long  cfat/y  drills  would  not  easily  have  been  submit^ 
led  to  by  such  a  body  of  gentlemen.  At  every  inter- 
val of  exercise,  the  order,  sii  at  ease^  was  the  signal 
for  the  quartermaster  to  lead  the  squadron  to  merri- 
ment ;  everv  eye  was  intuitively  turned  on  *  Earl 
Walter,'  as  he  was. familiarly  called  by  his  associ- 
ates of  that  date,  and  his  ready  joke  seldom  failed  to 
raise  the  ready  laugh.  He  took  his  full  t^hare  in 
all  the  labours  and  duties  of  the  corps,  had  the 
highest  pride  in  its  progress  and  prohciency,  and 
was  such  a  trooper  hmiself|  as  only  a  very  powerful 
frdme  of  body  and  the  warmest  zeal  in  the  cause 
eould  have  enabled  any  one  to  be.  But  his  h^>bit- 
ual  good  humour  was  the  great  charm  :  and  a'  the 
daily  mess  ^for  we  all  dined  together  when  in  quar- 
ters) that  reigned  supreme." 

Earl  Walter's  first  charger,  by  the  way,  was  a  tall 
and  powerful  animal  named  Lenore.  These  daily 
drills  appear  to  have  been  persisted  in  during  the 
spring  and  summer  of  1797;  the  corps  spending 
moreover  some  weeks  in  quarters  at  Musselburgh. 
The  majority  of  the  troop  having  professional  duties 
to  attend  to,  the  ordinaiy  hour  for  drill  was  five  in 
the  morning  :  and  when  we  reflect,  that  after  some 
hours  of  hard  work  in  this  way.  Scoli  had  to  pro- 
duce himself  regularly  in  the  Parliament  House  with 
gown  and  wig,  for  the  space  of  four  or  five  hours  at 
least,  while  his  chamber  practice,  though  still  hum- 
ble, was  on  the  increase — and  that  he  had  found  a 
plentiful  source  of  new  social  engagements  in  his 
troop  connexions— it  certainly' could  have  excited 
no  surprise  had  his  literary  studies  been  found  suffer- 
ing total  intermission  during  this  busy  period.  That 
such  was  not  the  case,  however,  his  correspondence 
and  note-books  aflbrd  ample  evidence. 

He  had  no  turn,  at  this  time  of  his  life,  for  early 
rising;  ^^^^  ^^®  regular  attendance  at  the  morn- 
ing dnlU  inw  of  itself' a  strong  evidence  of  his  mili- 
tary zeal ;  but  he  must  have,  in  spite  of  them,  and  of 
all  other  circumstances,  persisted  in  what  was  the 
usual  custom  of  all  his  earlier  life,  namely,  thtf  devo- 
tion of  the  best  hours  of  the  night  to  solitary  study. 
In  general,  both  as  a  young  man,  and  in  moreadvon- 
ced  age,  his  constitution  required  a  good  allowance 
of  sleep,  and  ho,  on  principle,  indulged  in  it.  saying, 
**he  was  but  half  a  man  if  he  had  not  full  seven 
hours  of  litter  unconsciousness  ;"  but  his  whole 
mind  nnd  t em jy»jr anient  were,  at  this  period,  in  a 
state  of  most  fervent  exaltation,  ond  spirit  tri- 
nmphed  over  matter.  His  translation  of  Steinberg's 
Oiho  of  Witteliihach,  is  marked  "  1796-7;"  from 
which,  I  conclude^  it  was  finished  in  the  latter  year. 
The  volume  containing  that  of  Meier's  "  Wolfred  of 
Dromberg,  a  drama  or  chivalry,"  is  dated  1797  j  and 
I  think  the  reader  will  preseniry  see  cause  to  suspect 
that  though  not  alliidea  to  in  his  imperfect  note-book 


these  tasks  mwH  have  been  acoonplirfiMl  in  Am 

very  season  of  the  daily  drille. 


The  letters  addressed  to  him  in  March.  AprQ,  and 

ine,  bv  Kerr  of  Abbotrule^  Oeorge  Chalmers,  and 

his  uncle  at  Rosebank,  indicate  his  unabated  inter^ 


est  in  the  collection  of  coins  and  ballads  ;  sikI  I 
shall  now  make  a  few  extiactefrom  his  private  aote> 
book,  some  of  which  will  at  all  events  amuae  the 
survivors  of  the  Edinburgh  Light-Horse  : 

"  March  15, 1797.-<Read  Btaufielcf  s  trial  and  the  coo- 
victiou  appears  very  doubtful  indeed.  Surely  no  one 
could  seriously  believe,  in  1688,  that  the  body  of  the  mur- 
dered bleeds  at  the  touch  of  the  murderer,  and  I  aee  little 
else  that  directly  touches  Philip  Suiifield.  He  was  a 
very  bad  chtiracter,  however;  and  tradition  says,  thM 
having  insulted  Welsh,  the  wild  preacher,  one  day  in  hi* 
early  Ufs,  the  saint  called  from  the  palpit  that  God  ImuI 
revealed  to  hitn  that  thia  bia^hemous  youth  would  dm  in 
the  aif  ht  of  aa  many  as  were  then  assembled,  h  was  be- 
lieved, at  the  time,  that  Lady  Scanfiekl  had  a  hand  in  the 
assassinattoo,  or  was  at  least  privy  to  her  son's  pfauaa; 
but  I  see  nothing  inconsistent  with  the  oU  gentleawii'is 
having  committed  suicide.'  The  ordeal  of  toochlng  tbe 
corpse  was  observed  in  Crermany.  They  call  it  tamek$. 
"^  March  21. — 

•The  friers  of  FaU 
Gat  never  owre  hard  eggs,  or  owre  thin  kale  ; 
For  they  ouule  their  eggs  thin  wi'  buUer, 
And  their  kale  thick  wF  bread. 
And  the  friers  of  Fail  they  made  gode  kale 
On  Fridays  when  they  fasted ; 
They  never  i^ante.d  £ear  enough 
As  lang  as  their  neighboars'  lasted' 
"Fairy-rings.^N.  B.  Delriussaya,  the  same  a|)pearaoc« 
occurs  wherever  the  witches  have  held  tlieir  dabbaih. 
**  For  the  ballad  of  '  Willie's  La<rly,'  compare  ApuleinsL 

Ub.  i.p.a? ,~       r-    — * 

"  Ajtril  20.— The  portmanteau  to  contain  the  followlQf 
articles:  2  shiru;  1  black  handkerchief;  1  ni|(ht-c«pt 
woollen ;  1  pair  pantaloons,  blue ;  1  flannel  shut  with 
sleeves;  1  pair  flannel  drawers;  1  waistcoat;  1  pair 
worsted  stockings  or  socks. 

"  In  the  slip,  in  cover  of  portmanteau,  a  case  with 
shaving-things,  combs,  and  a  knife,  fork,  and  spoon:  a 
German  pipe  and  tobarco-bag,  flint,  and  steel;  pipe-clay 
and  oil,  with  brush  for  laying  it  on ;  a  shoe-brusli ;  a  pair 
of  shoes  or  hussar  boots ;  a  hor^e-picker,  and  other  looee 
articles. 

"  Delt  with  the  flap  and  portmanteau,  curry coml>^  brosl^ 
and  manecomb,  with  s|N)ngc. 

**Ovnr  the  portmanteau  iho  blue  overalls,  and  a  spare 
jacket  for  stable ;  a  small  horse- sheet,  to  cover  the 
horse's  back  with,  and  a  spare  girth  or  two. 

"In  the  cartouche- box,  screwdriver  and  picker  for 
pistol,  with  three  or  four  spare  flints. 

"The  horse-sheet  may  be  conveniently  folded  bek>w 
the  saddle,  and  will  save  the  back  in  a  long  march  or  bad 
weather.    Beside  the  holster,  two  fore-feel  shoes,  t 

"  May  22.— Apulelus,  lib.  il Anthony-e^ 

Wood Mr.  Jenkinson's  name  (now  Lord  Uve^ 

pool)  beinf[  proposed  aa  a  difficuUjme  to  rhyme  to,  a  lady 
present  hK  off*  this  verse  extempore.    N.  H.  Both  father 
and  son  (Lord  Hawkesburv)  have  a  peculiarity  of  vision. 
*  Happy  Mr.  Jenkinson, 
Happy  Mr.  Jenkinson, 
,  I'm  sure  to  you 

Your  lady's  true. 
For  you  have  got  a  winking  son.' 
"23.-Dehrlua.  .  .  . 

"IM.^'  I,  John  Bell,  of  Brackenbrig,*Uea  ander  this  alaiie  { 
Four  of  my  sons  laid  it  on  my  wame. 
I  was  man  of  my  meat,  and  master  of  my  wife, 
And  lived  in  my  ain  house  without  meikle  strife. 

'    -^■-    1..:;.   -.. : ...    L I :.*irtM'» 

Gli'1 J^4i4J->iL  ,\4^lv-i>4'  -S^i-Jiili»h  My^i**,   vbh^'iiin,  f^Uietl  bf  §Ht 


:i: 


bv    n,. 

5  ■■'■■ 

»'M|I 

hi  -    ri 

d 


ftf  ficnu-f  rm^-t  iiittniritf  rrt^'wtf  «t  Uii.  liar,  imrilf^m 

,.  .    '■     .  'iii,. ».  ti3(ji>i4'M»q  Mf  inMftJip;r  t'ltflt  utin 

<:  "i.<  In  -r  ^  ,11  fi  iltw  cii'TriUfTttrntl^  m 

■  .  HI.   ;i  ■■  initi  ir[  Li^ftf^^r  llwLt  ciri-r  vtm.* 


I  ' 


d,,, 

tK, .3   i 

L-  I'll  ^^ 


>  Lruil  in  ti  hjiy  |ni\.  ffpt  r 
,,J  1.Fi  fifv  ilnr  hdi  tfiA  «n  HllwlnnMaaMi 
111'  Uvd  Cawiky— *  drtLW 
if  tTiKtii— bi  Ibi  Wll  irL_^ 
'  iri<  atRiiM  \rhN'U  updotttiiii 
1 1,  urthe  ICin^  nf  felewMofi 
ihri.ii^»:  111!  Hi  liiiyt' iiuin.  I  saw  thf'm  fiMlit  (A 
n  r  n  .'in*  nfo,  EtfMl  J  f^u  anfeFT  fuu  tt«ii#n|  |  ~ 
■   '     TEi-rh  ,iA^  1  arn  c>ntimral><f   '"     ' 


..i:  Ik  i 


■nixiifvmiirr  'ti:<*A\ltim  in  iih\t 


1.  viXir 


I,  lit.i<io^e(ltj 


£.t!^ltelri^: 


'4j|it>d? 


LIFE  OP  am  WALTER  SCOTT. 


61 


Gf  Oiou  bc'st  %  b«tter  nMn  Iq  thy  Ume  than  1  was 

In  oifo^, 
T»k  cbia  aune  offmjr  wamo,  and  laj  H  apon  thhM.* 
*SL~Merie  €3aa«oboa  on  Hpiilts.  .... 
^X.— ^Tbere  n«r  we  learned  Blaroe's  foldea  tombe ; 
The  vmj  he  cat  an  Eoxlish  mile  in  length 
TlM»row  a  rock  of  lOooe  in  one  nifht'a  apace.' 
"  QiriMopber  Marlowe'a  Traxieall  History  of  Dr.  Fans- 
vexy     remarkable   ibiog.     Grand   subject— md 


fra^ 
Oerk'ft  MS 


Copied  '  Prophecy  of  Merlin,'  firom  Mr. 


•*2r.— Read  Evervbody's  Business  is  Nobody's  Busl- 
B«o,  tnr  Andrew  Moreton.    This  was  one  or  Defoe's 

aaay  ofloaee— like  his  pen,  in  parts 

'76  Cuthbert,  Car,  and  Collingwood,  to  Shafto  and  to  Ilall ; 
IV  ererr  ^Bant  generous  heart  that  (br  King  James  did 

•38.— AnthooT-a  Wood.  .....   Plain  Proof 

sTthe  Tra«  Father  and  Mother  of  the  Pretended  Prince 
fffWale^  by  W.  Fan«r.  This  follow  waa  pilloried  for  a 
farvery  some  yean  later Began  Nathan  dtr 


*Jm»e  99.— Read  lotrodQctfon  lo  a  Compendiam  on 
ihtf  r.Taminarinn,  by  W.  B.— ris.  William  Btaflbrd— 
tbMi^  to  was  Ibr  a  ome  given  to  no  less  a  W.  8.  than 
WUbam  Shakspeare.  A  eorlous  treatlae— the  F>Utical 
lewsumy  of  the  EUabaihan  Day— worth  reprinting 

•"JtOf  1.— Read  Dteeoorae  of  MlUtary  Diacipline,  by 
Gkpialo  Barry—a  tmt  carious  account  of  the  lunona  Low 
QsoDtrlea'  armiea— full  of  mtUtary  hinti  worth  note. 
Jwrtswy  llWdagste. 

**ay— jrfjgw  dar  WtiM.  ....  Dtkim 

**&— Geotenberf'a  Braut  begun. 

«&^11ie  Bride  again.    Dehrius." 

*ni0  note-book  from  wbicfa  I  have  beep  Copying  is 
^le^y  filled  with  extracts  from  Apuleuis  aiid  An- 
tkoBf-a- Wood—most  of  them  beariDg,  in  some  way, 
•Q  the  subject  of  popular  superstitions.  It  is  a  pity 
\  mamy  leaves  hare  been  torn  out;  for  if  unmu- 
* ,  tlie  record  would  probably  hare  enabled  one 
•sgDCHi  whether  he  had  already  planned  his  ^'Es- 
iav  on  Paines." 

1  hare  mentioned  hie  bnsineas  at  the  bar  as  in- 
dcasiog  at  the  same  time.  His  ft^hook  is  now 
before  me,  and  it  shows  that  he  made  by  bis  first 
Ten's  inractice  .£24,  3s. ;  by  the  second,  j557,  15b.  ; 
If  the  third,  £H^  4s. :  by  the  fourth,  £Vi\  and  in 
ha  fifth  year  at  the  oar— that  is.  from  November, 
17M,  to  July,  1797— .£l44t  lOe.  \  of  which  X50  were 
fea  firom  his  father's  chamber. 

Hk  friaod,  C^iarles  Kerr  of  Abbotnile,  had  been 
readu  a  good  deal  about  this  time  tn  Cumberland : 
isdeedThe  wae  so  enraptured  with  the  scenery  of  the 
takes,  as  to  take  a  house  in  Keswick,  with  the  inten- 
tion of  spendinK  half  of  all  future  years  there.  His 
ktters  to  Scott  (March,  April,  1797)  abound  in  ex- 
(ffessbns  of  wonder  that  he  should  continue  to  de- 
voie  so  much  of  his  vacations  to  the  Highlands  of 
Seotbod*  **  with  every  crag  and  precipice  of  which," 
nyaiia*  '*I  should  imagine  you  woiyd  be  famitiar 
bv  this  time ;  nay,  that  the  goats  themselves  might 
aiiMm  claim  you  pt  an  acquaintance  $"  while  an- 
•diCTfhctrict  lav  so  near  him,  at  least  as  well  qualified 
"to  give  a  swell  to  the  fancy." 

After  the  rismg  of  the  Court  of  Session  in  July, 
Scott  accordingly  set  out  on  a  tour  to  the  Knglish 
iakes,  accompanied  bv  his  brother  John,  and  Adam 
FergDsson.  Their  first  stage  was  Halyards,  in 
Tweeddale,  then  inhabited  by  his  friend's  father,  the 
philosopher  and  historian;  and  they  staid  therefor 
a  day  or  two,  in  the  course  of  which  Scott  had  his 
first  and  oahr  interview  with  David  Ritchie»  the  ori- 

Kal  of  his  Black  Dwarf.*  Proceeding  southwards, 
tourists  visited  Carlisle,  Penrith,— ^he  vale  of  the 
^mont,  includhig  Maybnigh  and  Brougham  Cas- 
tle,—Ulswater  and  Windermere,  and  at  length 
filed  their  headquarters  at  the  theiipeaceful  and  se- 
fMenred  little  watering  place  of  Ghlsland,  making 
ooiraions  from  theiice  to  the  various  scenes  of  ro- 
■aatie  interest  which  are  eommemorated  in  The 
Bridal  of  Trierraain,  and  otherwise  leading  very 
mch  tbe  sort  of  life  depicted  among  the  loungers  of 
9t.  Ronan's  Well.  Scott  was,  on  his  first  arrival 
ii  Oasland,  not  a  little  engaged  with  the  beauty  of 
«t  of  die  young  ladies  lodged  uuder  the  same  roof 

*  an  tbs  loiiDdMftion  to  tWs  Novel  in  the  editkNi  ofusb. 


I  with  him ;  and  it  was  on  occasion  of  a  visit  in  \ux 
;  comply  to  some  part  of  the  Roman  Wall,  that  ne 
I  indited  his  Unes— 

I 

I  "  Take  these  flowers,  which,  purple  wsvin;, 

On  the  ruined  rampart  ^ew,"  ^bc* 

\  But  this  was  only  a  passing  glimpse  of  flirtation.  A    * 
week  or  so  afterwards  commenced  a  more  serious 
affair. 

Riding  one  day  with  Fergusson,  they  met,  some 
miles  from  Gilsland,  a  young  lady  taking  the  air  on 
,  horseback,  whom  neither  of  them  had  previoual v 
'  remarked,  and  whose  appearance  instantly  struck 
both  so  much,  that  they  ka>i  her  in  view  until  they 
j  had  satisfied  themselves  that  she  also  was  one  of 
'  the  Dsrty  at  Giilslan^.    The  same  evening  there  was 
'  a  ball,  at  which  Captain  Scott  produced  himself  in 
his  regimentals,  and  Fergusson  also  thought  proper 
to  be  equipped  in  the  uniform  of  the  Edinburgh 
!  Volunteers.    There  was  no  little  rivalry  amons  the 
yoimg  travellers  as  to  who  should  first  get  preaonted 
to  the  unknown  beauty  of  the  morning's  ride ;  but 
though  both  the  gentlemen  in  scarlet  had  the  ad- 
vantage of  bdn/(  dancing  partners,  their  fiieml  suc- 
ceeded in  handing  the  fair  stranger  to  siipper— and 
such  was  his  first  introduction  to  Charlotte  Mar- 
garet Carpenter. 

Without  the  features  of  a  regular  beauty,  she  was 
rich  in  personal  attractions:  **a  form  that  waa 
fashioned  aa  ligiit  as  a  fay's ;''  a  oomplenon  of  the 
clearest  and  lightest  oUve;  eyes  larger  deep-set,  and 
dazzUng.  of  the  finest  Italian  brown ;  and  a  pro- 
fiision  of  silken  tresse^  black  as  the  raven's  wing— 
her  address  hovering  between  the  reserve  of  a  pretty  « 
young  Englishwoman  who  has  not  mingled  largely 
in  seneral  society,  and  a  certain  natural  archness 
ana  gayety  that  suited  well  with  the  accompaniment 
of  a  French  accent.  A  lovelier  visionu  as  all  who 
remember  her  in  the  bloom  of  her  daya  have  assured- 
me,  could  hafdly  have  been  imagined;  and  Axmi 
that  hour  the  fate  of  the  youii^  poet  was  fixed. 

She  was  the  daughter  orjcan  Charpcntier,  of 
Lyons,  a  devoted  royolist,  who  held  on  onice  under 
government.t  and  Charlotte  Volere,  his  wife.  She 
and  her  only  brother,  Charles  Charpentier.  had 
been  educated  in  the  Protestant  religion  of  their 
mother ;  and  when  their  father  died^  which  ooeur- 
red  in  the  beginning  of  the  Revolution,.  Madame 
Charpentier  made  her  escape  with  her  childreti,  first 
to  Paris,  and  then  to  England,  where  they  found 
a  warm  friend  and  protector  in  the  late  Marquis  of 
Downshire,  who  had,  in  the  course  of  his  travels 
jn  France,  ibri^jed  an  intimate  acquaintance  with 
the  family,  and,  mdeed,  spent  some  time  under  their 
roof.  M.  Charpentier  had,  in  his  first  alarm  as  to 
the  coming  Revolution,  invested  £4000  in  EngUsh 
securities— part  in  A  mortgage  upon  Lord  Down- 
shire's  estates.  On  the  mother's  death,  which  oc- 
curred soon  after  her  arrival  in  London,  this  noble- 
man took  on  himself  the  character  of  sole  guardian 
to  her  children ;  and  Charles  Charpentier  received 
in  due  time,  through  bis  interest,  an  appointment  in 
the  service  of  the  East  India  Company,  in  which  he 
had  by  this  time  risen  to  the  lucrative  sitBatioiK  of 
xximmercial  resident  at  Salem.  His  sist*  was  now 
making  a  little  excursion,  under  the  oare  of  the  la- 
dy who  had  superintended  her  education,  Miss  Jane 
Nicolson,  a  daiighter  of  Dr.  Nicolson,  Dean  of  Ex- 
eter, and  granddauffhter  of  William  Nicolson,  Bi- 
shop of  Carlisle,  well  known  as  the  editor  of  "  The 
English  Historical  Library."  To  some  connexions 
which  the  learned  prelate's  family  had  ever  since 
his  time  kept  up  in  the  diocese  of  Carlisle,  Miss 
Carpenter  owed  the  direction  of  her  summer  tour. 

Scott's  father  was  now  in  a  very  feeble  state  of 
health,  which  accounts  for  his  first  announcement 
of  this  affah*  being  made  in  a  letter  to  his  mother: 
it  is  undated  ;— but  by  this  time  the  y^g  lady  had 

•  I  owe  tliis  cjietreutance  to  the  reooUectian  of  Mr.  Clavde 
Ruswl,  aocoontant  in  Edinborffa.  who  Kras  one  of  the  iiartr. 
Pievioaslr  1  had  always  supposed  these  vsrses  to  have  bean  in* 
spirea  br  Miss  Carpeolsr. 

t  In  several  deedi  %rMekI  bare  seen,  M.  Cbaipentieris  desin- 
ed  "  Ecnyw  da  roi."   Whatthepost  hebsldwaslnsver  bsara- 


C4 


UFB  OF  SIR  W^OiTER  8C0TT. 


lived  in  good  repvte  aad  io  very  good  otjfle.  I  had  the 
miiilbrtuoe  of  loaiog  taj  AUher  Sefbre  I  could  know  the 
▼alne  of  such  a  parent  At  his  death  we  were  left  to  the 
care  of  Lord  D.,  who  waa  his  very  irreat  friend,  and 
▼ery  soon  after  I  had  the  aflllotfon  ,of  losiof  my  mother. 
Onr  taking  the  name  of  Carpenter  was  on  ray  brother's 

King  to  India,  to  prevent  any  little  difficulties  that  might 
ve  occurred.  I  hope  now  you  are  pleased.  Lord  D. 
could  have  given  you  every  informatioo,  as  he  has  been 
,  acquainted  with  all  my  ftunily.  You  say  you  almost  love 
Afffi,  but  until  your  almoot  comes  to  a  quUt^  I  cannot  love 
you.  Before  I  conclude  this  fajnous  epistle,  I  will  give 
vou  a  little  hint — that  is^  not  to-  put  so  many  nmot  in  your 
letters— it  Is  begittningralAer  <^toon ;  and  another  tninx 
is,  that  I  take  the  liberty  not  to  mind  them  much,  but  I 
expect  you  to  mind  me.  You  muMt  take  care  of  yonrvelf ; 
you  muot  think  of  me,  and  believe  me  yours  sincerely. 

C.  C." 
To  the  Same. 

*'  CarMale,  Oct  S6. 
**^  1  have  only  a  minute  before  the  post  goes,  to  assure 
ymi,  my  dear  sir,  of  the  welcoipe  reception  oi  the  atnn- 
ger.*  The  very  great  Ukeness  to  a  friend  of  mine  will  en- 
dear him  to  me  ;  he  shall  be  my  constant  companion,  bat 
I  wtidi  he  could  ghre  me  an  answer  to  a  thousand  ques- 
dons  I  have  to  make— one  in  particular,  what  reason  nave 
you  for  so  many  fears  as  you  express  t  Have  your  friends 
changed  1  Pray  let  me  know  tlie  truth— <ney  perhaps 
don't  like  ma  being  fVench.  Do  write  immediately— let 
It  be  In  better  apirits.  Bt  croyez-moi  toi^urs  voure 
staeere 

C.  C." 
To  the  Same. 

•«  October  3tst 
**...,  AXi  your  apprehensions  about  yoar  friends 
make  me  very  uneasy.  At  your  flaher's  age,  prejudices 
are  not  easily  overcome— old  people  have,  you  know,  so 
much  more  wisdom  and  experience,  that  we  must  be 
guided  bv  them.  If  he  has  an  objection  on  my  being 
rVench,  I  excuse  him  with  all  my  heart,  as  I  don't  love 
them  myself.  O  how  all  these  things  plague  me— when 
¥rill  it  end  1  And  to  complete  the  matter,  you  talk  of 
going  to  the  West  Indies.  I  am  certain  your  (ather 
and  uncle  aay  you  are  a  hot  hecufy  young  man,  quite 
mad,  and  1  assure  you  T  Join  with  them ;  and  I  must 
believe,  that,  when  you  have  such  an  ldea»  yoo  have 
then  determined  to  think  no  more  of  me.  f  begin  to 
repent  of  having  accepted  tour  picture.  I  wiU  send  it 
back  again,  if  yoo  ever  think  again  about  the  West  In- 
dies. Your  fkintly  then  would  lots  me  very  much— to 
forsake  them  lor  a  s(r<tn^er.  a  person  who  does  not 
1  half  the  charma  and  good  qualities  that  yoa 
e.  I  think  I  hear  yonr  uode  calMng  yoa  a  hot 
man.  I  am  certain  of  It,  and  I  am  gemoraUf 
conjectur«s.    What  does  your  nster  aay 


yoa  not  to  think  for  aome  time  of  a  hoaae.   1 1 

can  convince  you  of  tl»e  propriety  and  pmdeoce  of  i 

Ing  until  your  father  will  aettle  things  more  to  yoar  a 

fiu^Uon.  and  until  I  have  heard  from  my  brotner.    limm 
mutt  be  of  mv  way -of  ttiinJcing.— Adleo. 

*  C  C** 

Scott  obeyed  this  sammpns,  and  I  suppose  re* 
mained  in  Carlielo  until  the  Court  of  Sestion  met, 
which  is  always  on  the  t2th  of  November. 

To  W.  Scott^  Eog.t  Advocate,  Edinburgh. 

"Carlisle^  Nov.  UOk. 
**  Tour  letter  never  could  hare  come  in  a  more  fovoor- 
able  moment  Any  thine  you  could  have  said  would  bare 
been  well  received.    You  surprise  roe  much  at  the  re^rec 

Sou  express  ynu  had  of  leaving  Carlisle.  Indeed  I  c«n^ 
elieve  it  was  on  my  account,  I  Was  so  uneommoolj 
stupid.  I  don't  know  what  could  be  the  matter  with  otie, 
I  was  80  very  low,  and  felt  really  ill :  it  was  even  a  trouble 
to  speak.  The  setfling  of  our  little  plans^-aJl  looked  so 
much  in  earnest— that  I  began  reflecting  more  serfooftlj 
than  1  feoeraUy  do,  or  approve  of.  1  don't  think  duk 
very  thougbtftii  people  ever  can  be  happy.  As  thl«  is 
m^  maxim,  adieu  to  all  thoughts.  I  have  made  a  deCer* 
nunation  of  being  pleased  wim  every  thing,  aad  with  ere- 
ry  bodr  in  Edinburgh  ;  a  wise  system  for  happhieaa,  is  le 
not  t  I  enclose  the  lock.  I  have  had  almost  all  my  hmir 
cut  off.  Mias  NIcoIson  has  taken  some,  which  ahe  sends 
to  London  to  be  made  to  something,  bat  this  you  are  noC 
to  know  o(  aa  she  Intoitds  to  present  it  to  you.  •  •  •  •  i 
am  happy  to  hear  of  your  fatner's  being  better  sle« 


aa  to  OMoer  matters ;  It  will  come  at  m ;  don't  let  ttall 
trifle  df Btorb  you.  Adieu,  Monsieur,  J'ai  I'bonneor  d'etre 
votre  trtehomble  et  trfts 

ObeSetmnte 

C.  C.w 

"Csffisle,  Nor.  Snh. 
"You  have  made  me  very  triote  all  day.  Praf  n^/rtr 
more  complain  of  being  poor.  Are  yoa  not  ten  tloKs 
richer  than  I  am  t  Depend  on  youieelf  aad  yoar  pro- 
fesaion.  I  have  no  doubt  yoa  will  rise  very  nigh,  sod 
be  a  great  rich  man,  bat  we  should  look  down  to  oe  cmi- 
tented  with  our  let,  and  banish  all  disagreeable  tboogtata. 
We  shaU  do  very  vaeO.  I  am  very  sorry  to  hear  yxm. 
have  aaeh  a  baa  head.  I  hope  1  shall  narse  owsr  sA 
your  aebea.  I  think  you  write  too  mooh.  Whes  I  am 
ffitercse,  1  ahall  not  allow  it    Hqw  very  angry  I  shoirid 


be  with  yoa  if  you  were  to  part  with 


l>o 


possess 
tmoMine. 


hea^  young  man.  I  am  certain  of  It,  and  I  am  gemeraUf 
right  in  my  conjectures.  What  does  your  nster  aay 
about  it  1    I  suspect  that  she  thinks  on  the  matter  as 


I  should  do.  with  fears  and  anxieties  for  the  happiness 
of  her  broiher.  If  it  be  proper,  and  yoa  think  it  would 
be  aeceptabU,  present  my  l>est  compliments  to  yoar 
mother;  and  to  my  old  avequaintance  Captain  Scoli  I 
beg  to  be  remembered.  This  evening  is  tne  first  ball— 
don't  you  wish  to  be  of  our  party  1  I  guees  your  answer 
— 4t  would  give  me  infinite  pleasure.  En  attendant  le 
plaisir  de  voas  revoiri  je  sule  fiM^urs  votre  eonsiante 

«  Cbablorb.'* 

TbCAs  Amm. 

"The  Castle,  Hartford,  October  2^  1797. 
"Or, 

"  J  received  the  favour  of  your  letter.  It  was  so 
manly,  honourable,  cancHd,  and  ao  ftill  of  good  sense, 
that  I  think  Miss  Carpenter^  (Viends  cannot  In  any  way 
object  to  the  union  you  propose.  Its  taking  place,  v^en 
or  where,  win  depend  upon  hersel(  as  I  ahall  write  to 
her  by  this  night's  post  Any  provision  that  may  be 
given  to  her  by  her  brother,  you  will  have  settled  upon 
her  and  her  children ;  and  I  hope,  with  all  my  heart 
that  everv  earthly  happlaesa  may  attend  you  DOlb.  I 
shall  be  always  hapny  to  hear  it,  and  to  subscribe  myself 
yoar  fiUthflil  ftiend  and  obedient  humble  servant, 


COmtheeameokeeL) 

"  Carlisle,  Nor.  4. 

**La8t  night  I  received  the  enclosed  for  you  from 

I/>rd  Downriiire.    If  It  has  your  approbation,  I  shaU  be 

very  ^lad  to  see  yoa  as  soon  as  wul  be  convenlenL    I 

have  a  flMtoaand  thlnga  to  tell  you;  but  1st  me  bsf  of 

•  A 


really  beneve  I  sboold  think  it  an«sw<css>ary  erpsiies, 
where  yoar  health  aad  pleasure  can  be  oonoerned  1  I 
have  a  better  opinio*  of  you,  and  I  am  v«ry  jglad  you  dont 
1^  up  the  eavalry,  aa  I  lovv  asy  tMog  that  is  efyJML 
Don't  foiget  to  find  a  stand  for  the  oU  earriaffe,  as  l  stmR 
nke  Io  keep  it,  la  ease  we  should  have  to  go  any  ioaney : 
it  is  so  OMich  more  convenient  than  the  post  chalaeS|Soa 
1  do  very  well  UU  we  can  keep  our  carriage.  What 
idea  of  yoors  was  that  to  mentioa  where  yoo  vrMi  Io 
have  yoar  6snes  Mdf  If  yoa  were  marrlal,  I  eboold 
think  yoa  were  tired  of  me.  A  very  pretty  eompHiBsat 
btfore  marriage.  I  hope  sinoerely  that  I  shall  not  Jive 
to  see  that  day.  If  you  al%vays  have  thoee  ehaexM 
thoughts,  bow  very  pleasant  and  uy  you  must  be. 

"  Adieu,  my  dearest  friend,  take  care  of  yooraelf  If 
yoa  love  me,  as  I  have  no  leieh  that  yoa  shook!  vioU 
that  beautiful  and  romantic  scene,  the  bunrlng-pteoe. 
Adieu,  once  more,  and  believe  that  you  are  loved  very 
sincerely  by  C.  C* 

"  Dec.  10th. 
"  If  I  could  but  really  believe  that  my  letter  gave  yoa 
only  half  thepleasore  yoa  exnress,  I  should  almost  thmk, 
my  dou-est  Scott,  that  I  ahould  get  very  food  of  writiDg, 
merely  for  the  pleasure  to  indulge  you— that  is  saying 
a  great  deal  I  nope  you  are  sensible  of  the  compliment 
I  pay  you,  and  donH  expect  I  shall  aboajfo  be  so  prettr 
behaved.  You  may  depend  ea  me,  my  deareat  meB(\ 
forfixtasaaearfy  aday  aslposalbly  can;  and  if  it  hap- 
pens to  be  not  qalte  so  soon  as  yoa  vriah,  yoa  moat  not 
be  angry  with  me.  It  is  very  unlucky  you  are  sooh  s 
bad  houaekeeper— as  I  sm  no  oetter.  I  shall  try.  I  hope 
to  have  very  soon  the  pleasure  of  seeing  you,  cad  to  tefl 
you  how  much  I  tove  you ;  but  I  virish  the  first  fortnkbt 
was  over.  With^  my  love,  and  those  sort  of  pretty 
things— adieo. 

Chabmtm. 

"P.  8.  Studies  votre  fYaneaie.  Remember  yoa  are 
to  teach  me  Italian  in  return,  but  I  ahall  be  b«t  astopid 
scholar.    Aimex  Charlotte." 

*«Carilsle,I>ee«I4tb. 

*<Ibaard  lasiaiihtfinBiB  my  ftiends  IbLba- 


LIFE  OF  SIR  WALTER  SCOTT. 


66 


dm,  And  1  •baU  e^rtalnlj  hare  tbe  d«ed  this  week.  I 
iHD  MQd  it  to  Ton  direefly ;  but  not  to  loie  so  much  time, 
•a  jroQ  hare  been  reekoninf,  I  will  prevent  any  lii;^e 
delay  tbafc  mif  ht  hai>pen  by  tbo  poat,  by  fizina  already 
next  Wednesday  for  your  comlnf  bore^  and  on  Thursday 
the  21st,  Ob,  my  dear  8cotb«-on  that  day  I  shall  be  yours 
for  ever.  ' 

C.  C. 
"  P,  A— Arrance  it  so  that  we  sball  see  none  of  your 
family  the  nif  ht  of  our  arriral.    I  shall  ce  so  tired,  and 
such  a  fright,  I  should  not  be  seen  to  adrantage." 

To  theaeeitracis  I  may  add  the  following  from  tbe 
firet  leaf  of  an  old  black-letter  Bible  at  Abbotsford  : 

"  Secundttm  morent  majorum  hoc  de  famiUA  GuaJUeri 
Stott^  JurUcQHtuUi  Edinentitf  in  Ubrum  hunc  aacrum 
manu  tuA  eoH$cripta  9unt. 

*'  GualteruB  Scottt  fiUtu  Oudlttri  Scott  €t  Antut  Ru- 
ikerford.nalu9  erat  apud  Edkuun  l^mo  dU  Augusti, 

"  Socius  Faeultatia  JuridtuB  Edinnma  reeeptu*  erat 
llmo  dUB  Julii,  A.  D.  1792 

"  In  menam  Saneta  Maria  apud  Carlisle^  usorem 
dmxit  MargaretafA  Ckartottam  Carpenter,  fiiiam  quom- 
dam  Joannie  Charpentier  et  Ckarlotta  Vwere,  Lugdu' 
neneem^  ^Uto  die  Decembrie,  1797." 


CHAPTER  IX.      ' 

SA«LT  MABRIXD  LIFS— LAfiSWADS  COTTAaS— XONK 
LXWI8— TKAySLATlON  OF  GO£T%  VON  BXRUCHIICOXN, 
PUVaiSHXD— Vfart*  TO  LONDON— house  OrABFBW— 
DKAtH  OP  SCOTT^S  rATHXS— PI18T  OEIOIITAL  BAL- 
LADt—OLBimNLAB,  Ac.— UKPUBLISHSD  PXAOMSSm 
— APPOIirrMSNT  TO  THX  SRIUfTfRIP  OP  8XLKIBK- 

'»Rimx-rl798-1799. 

9cOTT  carried  hia  bride  to  a  LoclmnR:  m  George 
Street,  Edinburgh  i  a  hou^  which  no  had  taken  iq 
South  Castles  tree  t  not  beina  quite  prcjifl  red  fur  tier 
reoeption.  The  frst  fortnight,  to  which  she  hsd 
looked  wiib  auch  anxiety,  waa,  1  believe,  more  than 
fluAciaDt  to  convince  htr  husbatid^s  family  that, 
however  rn^hfy  he  had  lbnni?d  the  connection,  fvbe 
had  the  tc^^rlin^  qm^litiet  of  a  £0od  wJe.  Not  with- 
•Unding  tNe  littlt^  li^nniim  to  the  pomp*  and  vaniLies 
of  me  wurtd.  which  her  let  ten  hive  not  cfinct^ii-jd, 
she  bad  mnde  up  hor  mlad  w  find  her  hapv  as 
in  better  thiDss  \  and  so  U^dr  aa  their  circum^  n- 
ceacontinuecf  narrow^  no  woman  cotild  havi  ■  n- 
fonnea  herseif  to  them  with  mc>fe  of  jE^ood  f<.>  ng 
and  gopcj  ^tmse*  Somt^  habil«i  new  in  the  ,  let 
domestic  circlea  of  E<Jinbur^h  citi^t^na^  did  nor  js- 
cape  critic neim  j  and  in  puriicTiiar,  I  have  heord  hur- 
seUI  in htr  inaet  pro^^i^rous  dny^i  trtugh  henrtdy at 
the  remon  St  ranees  of  her  Offorae  Street  1  find  In  dy, 
when  it  wna  diaooverni  that  the  t&utkr&n  lodger 
chbse  t9  sit  u»l^ally,  eind  not  on  hi^h  oecmj^ions 
merely,  in  her  dra  winp-fooni,— oo  whsch  subject  the 
mother-in-law  was  djspoeied  to  take  the  tbnfty  utd- 
faahioned  dame's  side. 

I  cannot  fancy  that  Lady  Scott's  manners  or 
ideas  oould  evpr  have  amalgamated  very  wall  with 
those  of  her  hasband's  parents  i  but  the  feeble  state 
of  the  old  gentleman's  health  prevented  her  from 
seeing  them  constantly :  and  without  any  aifecta- 
tion  of  strict  intimacy,  they  soon  were,  and  always 
continued  to  be,  very  good  friends.  Anne  Scott, 
the  delicate  sister  to  whom  the  Ashestiel  Memoir 
alhides  so  tenderly,  speedily  formed  a  warm  and 
.  sincere  attachment  for  the  stranger;  but  death,  in 
a  abort  time,  carried  off  that  interesting  creature, 
who  seems  to  have  had  much  of  her  brother's  ima- 
ginative and  romantic  temperament,  without  his 
power  of  controUing  it. 

Mrs.  Scott's  arrival  was  welcomed  wiih  nnming- 
led  delist  bv  the  brothers  of  the  MouiUain*  The 
two  ladies  who  had  formerlj  raven  life  and  grace  to 
their  aociety  were  both  reMntly  ittarried.  We  hive 
seen  Bliss  Erskine'p  letter  of  farewell ;  and  I  have 
Wore  me  another  not  less  afTectioqate,  written 
when  Miss  Cranstoun  gave  her  hand  (a  few  months 
later)  to  Godfrey  Wenceilaus,  Count  of  Purgstall, 
a  nobleman  of  large  possessions  in  Styria,  who 
had  been  spending  some  time  in  Edinburgh.  Scott's 
*^       I  in  So^th  Castle    treet«--(soon  after ezchang- 


ed  for  one  of  thasame  sort  in  North  Castle  Street, 
which  be  purchased,  and  inhabited  down  to  1820— 
became  now  to  (he  Mountain  what  Cranstotth's 
and  Erskine's  had  been  while  their  accomplished 
sisters  remained  with  them.  The  officers  of  ihe 
Light  Horse,  too,  established  a  club  among  them- 
selves, suppinjz  once  a-week  at  each  other's  houses 
in  rotation.    The  young  lady  thus  found  tyvo  some- 


what different,  but  boln  highly  agreeable,  circles 
ready  to  receive  her  with  cordial  kindness ;  aid  the 
evening  hours  passed  in  a  round  of  innocent  gayetVj 
all  the  arrangements  being  conducted  in  a  simple 
and  inexpensive  fashion,  suitable  to  voung  people 
who^  days  were  mostly  laborious,  and  very  few  of 
their  purses  heavy.  Scott  and  Erskine  had  always 
been  fond  of  the  theatre ;  the  pretty  bride  was  pas- 
sionately so— and  I  doubt  if  they  ever  spent  a  week 
in  Edinburgh  without  indulpng  themselves  in  this 
amusement.  But  regular  dinners  and  crowded  as- 
semblies were  in  those  years  quite  unthought  o£ 
Perhaps  nowhere  could  have  been  found  a  society 
on  so  small  a  scale,  including  more  of  vigoroup  in- 
tellect, varied  information,  degant  tastes,  and  real 
virtue,  affection,  and  mutual  confidence.  How  often 
have  I  heard  ita  members^  in  the  midst  of  the  wealth 
and  honours  which  most  of  them  in  due  season 
attained,  sigh  over  the  recollection  of  those  humbler 
days,  when  love  and  ambition  were  young  and  bnoy- 
ant— and  .no  difference  of  opinion  was  able  to 
bring  even  a  momentary  chill  over  the  warmth  of 
friendship. 

'^  Yoti  vrUt  ^miflQC^"  wrltei  the  C(>imU««  Purgitid)  W 
8cr>it.  frfiin  ttnv  of  h^r  fityrfftjQ  eastlcK,  "  how  mj  bemt 
bi  :  1]  Hie,  iiijr^l^i'ii  fi*^^  rn^fl'^i  wM!f  I  read  jrmr 

th  •m^  |i?ucr-    Had  ill  tlic^  ccd«  amS  ^oddf'^'sc^ 

fr  ii  to  IjtLibifsrt^,  laid  (heir  h^'flfls  tn^^pther,  tlle^r 

C01L:L1  rinr  nave  ^retepl.cd  ia«  witti  any  tliJD^  IhAt  «o  tc- 
cordnl  with  my  f^indpvl  wiphei.  T'j  ha^c  k  coQTlcLiua 
that  Uioie  I  love  art  happy,  «nd  dbnU  itirg»t  mo— I  liara 
DO  way  re  expf  efti  wf  re«]in|t«^lh«|  cotn«  In  a  ftuod  afid 
destroy  me.  Ojuld  my  G&orgc  hut  litfhi  on  anoUier  Cb»r- 
lone,  theft?  would  be  but  one  eroolc  left  io  piy  lot— to  wit, 
thrd  Rtf^crshurf  dnca  aol  ««2TD  oa  a  ^iita  for  tbe  FarUa^ 
iDMiit  ^tiare.*  Would  ■nrnp  ^attlLquakr?  anf  ulf  tbe  t|:1« 
tnn't  t^etw^eot  nr  tbe  trpirll  of  our  #ock  loiMduce  mt  to 
Jh  '"^  tlijo  GbDl  Qo*."Uer'ii  Bho^tttatt^T:  I^rd,  Ijord,  how 
de  LfUl  ^  Coultl  I  cliooae^  I  xbrnilil  Jujiv  for  thrpr e«f!iU 
pt  llLt<^  thfi  shoeroaicPT,  and  then  Ihe  tii^mritit  I  got  yotl 
■I  iii<  h)  thia  ofd  halt  Meal  tho  ahoFK  and  Uk  k  tlifrn>  away 
til  ■  iU'lijfnalkin  of  tise  Ijard  pmbm  bt  f*or  OM  Eoif. 
hi  Earl  Walter  would  ptay  ths  dirvil  vrKh  ro€,   but 

bl  I  liarbtti^'a  trnilra  tvould  4pea)c  tbankn  ineOable,  and 
the  arifrp  clouda  pail*  nn  before  the  accu  \n  bla  Btrtofftbi' 
Httw  litv'in^lj  yortr  aftecLre  a«eoea  would  «oraiP  tn  bcre^ 
Sijf'.-fy  Ihrfi?  in  uo  vanity  In  aajiof  thai  tiirtb  baa  oo 
OiiHintyiia  like  ourri-  f\  bow  deiklstfiil  to  see  ihe  lady 
tb.ii  ifl  l>lo9soct  wiih  Ear)  ^ Volte r'ff  Io?c,aod  that  barl  mii^d 
eii'iMJiflj  tft  6\K^Yf!T  Tbff  b|pBa|Tig.  Somn  Itihd  jtDRt,  1  iltipe, 
win  soon  tell  uie  thftt  yo'ir  hrippin^^s.  i?*  cxdant^di 
in  iLc  only  w»y  it  caa  be  entufedt  for  you  hxvc  ao 
chance  now  I  think  of  taking  Buonsparte  prisoner. 
Wbatiort  of  afrenius  will  be  be  it  a  very  anxioua  tpeea- 
ladoD  Indeed  ;  whether  tbe  philoaopber,  tbe  lawyer,  tbe 
antiquary,  tbe  poet,  or  tbe  bero,  will  prevail— the  spirit 
wbiM>er8  unto  me  a  bappy  melange  or  tbe  two  last^he 
win  usp  in  numbers  and  kick  at  la  Nourrice.  On  his  ar-  . 
rival  present  my  fondest  wishes  to  bis  honour,  and  don't, 
pray,  give  him  a  name  out  of  your  Ust  of  round-table  , 
knights,  but  some  simple  Christian  appellation  from  t>e 
House  of  Harden.  And  is  it  then  true,  my  Ood,  that 
Earl  Walter  Is  a  Benedick,  and  that  1  am  in  Styria  1  Well, 
bless  tts  all,  prays  the  separated  from  her  brethren. 

J.  A.  P." 

'*Hainfeld,JaIy20,17%.» 

Another  extract  from  the  Family  Bible  may 
cloM  this  letter— "M.  C.  Scott  puerum  edidtt  18to 
die  Dctobris,  1778,  qni  postero  die  obiit  apud  Edinam." 

In  the  summer  of  this  yesr  Soott  had  hired  a  pret« 

g'  cottage  at  Lasswade,  on  the  Esk,  about  six  miles 
om  Edinburgh,  and  there,  as  the  back  of  Madame 


*  The  ancient  castls  of  Rej 

trusted,  one  of  tb«  most  masni^ — ^,.,  - — 

■eatof  thie  Purntalk.    In. situation  and  extent  it  aeenu  tore: 


..,.-««.  (if  engraringt  naajr  te 
loent  in  Oeraiany)  was  the  duer 


aembie  the  castle  of  BtirKnr.  Tbe  Countaaa  writea  thui,  about 
the  aame  Ume,  to  another  of  l*<  Jf«mii/««i»  .—"As  fcr  Scott  an* 
his  tweet  little  wile,  I  oooaider  tbom  as  a  sort  of  Mpa  and  mam- 
isa  to  you  all,  and  am  bappy  the  gods  have  oid«ed  it  so." 


LIFE  OP  SIR  WALTER  SCOW. 


dflP/s  letter  *1iowa,  lit  necdvedit  frutti  uio  hands 
of  ^ofi?99or  StewarL  It  is  a  amall  house,  bm  wjtli 
ono  room  of  good  diiuonBionsSi  which  Mrii,  Scolt^s 
tftflt^  «;t  oflT  to  ad  If  an  rage  at  TEry  Uumble  cost— n 
paddoL^it  or  two— ar^d  a  garden  i com  manning  a 
Bjoftt  LeAUtifut  view)  m  which  Scott  delighted  tu 
Irftin  his  flow  era  add  creepers*  N^iveA  I  hnvc?  beard 
htm  say, '  was  he  prouder  of  hi  a  hand^'wurk  than 
when  he  bdd  compktcd  the  fash Icimn^  of  a  ruettc 
archil  Ft  now  ov*?rKtt)wn  with  hoary  ivy^  by  wav 
of  ornnment  to  the  entrance  from  lhi3  Edinmirgli 
roisd.  In  this  retreat  ihcy  apent  some  happy  sutn- 
mere,  receiving  the  Ttbits  of  their  few  ch<)S©ii  ftiengB 
frora  the  neiKl^houring  city,  Eiiid  w^tindering  aC  will 
amidst  sonie  of  the  moet  romantic  Hcenery;  Ih^t 
SeotlfLitd  can  boast— Scoit'a  de  Eire  at  haunt  m  the 
days  of  hia  boyiah  rambhnss*  They  had  ni^ighf 
hiitiT^t  too>  who  wer^  nf>t  alow  lo  cuUivare  tfieir 
•acqu  ain  lance.  With  the  Clerkg  of  Pen  ny cuickt  wi  th 
Mackenzie,  the  Man  of  Ferhng,  who  then  occupied 
the  charmiriR  vU!a  of  Auchendinnyi  and  wnih  Lord 
"Wowdhou^tltje,  Scott  had  from  an  eariier  dale  been 
fttiailnir  1  ond  it  yvaa  while  m  Laaswade  that  he 
formtid  intimacioSj  even  more  important  in  iheir 
resuiifii,  With  the  noble  fnmilieB  of  Melville  ar^d 
Bucdeucb,  both  of  whom  have  cavtlea  in  the  aatnc 

"  gweBt  we  ih  t  p»lha,  O  paanlni  qw«etf 

By  l^tt^a  fair  itrcaQis  tria;  run, 
0>r  ftiry  *iieep,  ihro'  copse  wood  deep, 

Ijupervtgiua  to  iiiA  Aon  \ 

"  froDi  ihai  Mr  domB  whsrs  stitt  ^i  piid 

By  biKJt  of  boglo  free,' 
To  AucheHdina/"a  lu^cl  ^hade, 

Anil  bauoted  >Voodhou5ke-       ' 

«  Who  fcutfflfff  not  Melvitlfi'fl  bti^chy  Sfw^ 

And  Roatiu'S  rocky  gl^n  ; 
DoJtcith,  wtdnh  hII  the  tiitaet  lore, 

Aad  clatnic  Hawthomdcn  1" 

Another  verso  remindi  U9  that 

*  There, thfl  rapt,  poet's  rtep  (ttay  re^  i" 

and  it  wsfi  amidst  lirae  d^licioua  swlitudea  'Hal  ho 
did  produce  the  pieces  which  laid  the  impen^hablo 
foundations  of  nil  hia  fame.  It  was  here  that  when 
W  Wftfin  heAri  was  ben  ting  with  yotiftR  and  happy 
love,  andbia  whole  nttnd  and  BpiriL  were  nerved  by 
new  tmottTca  for  exertion ;  it  wafl  h«re,  that  m  tho 
ripened  glow  of  manhood  he  seems  to  have  ftret 
felt  Bomei-hincof  hiP  rc-al  strengih,  andiMiurtid  him- 
Hcif  out  in  tboae  apktidid  original  ballada  whjcn 
were  at  once  to  fbt  ni:*  nanit*^  .        , 

1  moatr  however-  approach  theie  more  leisiareiy. 
When  VViUlam  ET»kine  was^  in  London  in  the  wpnm 
of  this  year,  Iw  happened  to  nuei  in  society  vn,ih 
Matthew  Grrporr  Lewis,  M.  P.  for  *^"^on,  who^ 
romance  of  "  'VUa  Monk,"  with  the  ballEids  which 
it  ioi*h»iled:  Imd  made  for  bim,  in  thoR^  barren  day*, 
»  brilliant  reputation.  This  , good-natured  fopling, 
ihe  pet  and  pUything  of  ocrtain  fiifbiontihle  circleB, 
wa*^  then  biiay  with  thai  misceliany- which  at  englh 
^amc  out  m  ISOI,  tinder  the  name  of  Talea  of 
Wonder,''  and  wna  betiting  up  m  all  qtiGrtera  lor 
eonlfibntions.  Erpkine  febowtd  Lewis  Scott  »  ver- 
sions of  'Xenore^'  and  ibe '* Wild  Huntsman; 
and  when  he  niffnlioned  that  thiN  fnend  had  other 
Bp430ii1iena  of  th^!?  Gcn\inndmbterie  in  hiaporlfolha, 
the  collect  or  anxionaly  r  emus  led  that  Scott  nughi 
be  enliated  in  hia  cjinae.  Tm  brushwood  aplendour 
ijf  *'  The  Monk' a"  fame, 

"  Tlic  falie  onrl  fooliBh  fire  thai',*  vrhlikt  ah^mt 
Bj  popular  tit,  and  jcl*toii  Jinil  ttiesi^ftest  <»nt,''i 

had  a  dafiling influence  among  the  unknown  aspi- 
rant 8  of  Edinbursih  :  and  Sc^tt,  who  wtis  perhnpa 
at  all  times  raiher  diBpo^^ed  to  hold  popular  favour 
as  theatirttst  r*'^i  of  tjttrary  rnenr,  and  who  ceriain- 
\y  continued  through  life  to  tjTer-cRUmalu  all  t  went  a 
except  hIa  own,  cop»id«rod  thiB  invitation  ae  a  very 
flAtteiiniC  eottipUjncnu  Ha  iintiiedmtely  wrote  to 
Lewis,  placing  whatever  pi&cea  ho  bad  tranalatcd 


arid  ntinatiii  iroTo  the  German  "  VoUmH<d^r'\  »t 
liisdispoaaL  The  following  ia  the  first  of  LeiA^i*  a 
letters  to  bim  that  has  been  preaervcd— it  U  withaui 
date,  but  markodby  Scott*'  iTftS." 


'*Slr, 

'*  1  cannot  deby  cjtpreftfiini  to  toil  how  moch  t  fe«l 
obl3ff>rt  to  yo«,  ixrfh  Uit  the  periBiialoa  to  fubwh  Cha 
t*AUnd«  I  rcquesied,  and  Tot  tUe  h6jjil*fliiis  maoncr  Iti 
«<hl(Ji  llsnt  pqrmtt«l&ti  wa*  pnotedr  Tlin  plan  1  bana 
propntsd  to  ntyscJij  ie  to  coUett  all  the  marreSaum  bal" 
fftfuli  wlJkti  1  C4in  Jay  Juinda  Dpon.  Anc3*-m  a»  well  aj 
tmpdcro  wtJi  bft  c*niprlaed  in  mf  dp^ipft  ;  and  1  a^aU 
etnn  jilkjw  tL  place  to^iir  Gn^june's  Foul  Ladj^e^  and  two 
(^Ik^fat  ihat  cfttae  to  Mitrffarer*  diwrmif!  [tdpcl  at  the  pin. 
Out  ait  aj^hoat  or  a  witch  le  m.  wine  qua  thiw  fnpcrt^enl  m 
all  the  disli'-s  uf  which  I  ifieati  to  compose  my  ItobgofeBn 
repiu{,  I  sti^  iifralci  ttitj  '  Lied  voo  TVeue*  dooa  aec  ^isa 
wttfiin  tlje  plan.  With  reic«rd  to  (he  romuicetii  *CTBa- 
cllna  TOfi  vflta  DeUa.'  if  I  aiu  not  mtitalien.  It  !■  OOffj  a 
frasuHfiitin  the  original ;  but,  ihooH  you  havr?  flnlMied 
It,  you  will  obUce  rae  mnc)i  bt  l*triri^  mfr  tiave  a  eopj  of 
it,B^  ««]l  aa  of  ihe  other  jnarvellmtM  irndlLkmary  b^lk^ 
yoq  wtre  eo|[ood  f^  (o  offtr  mft. 

"  Should  you  b<?  in  EtUnburjth  when  I  arrif  e  tbar^  I 
vhaU  request  Ereltibe  to  contrtve  an  oppgrtuoity  Scir  my 
reiuroin^  myperBao4i  thanki.  Mpfulwmlet  1  beg;  yoix  la 
belicvp  cne  your  moet  obedieut  andobltged 

M.  a,  la wfA** 

Wken  Lewis  reached  EdinbumK  he  niei  Scott 
accordingly,  and  the  latter  told  Allan  Cannrnghmini 
thirty  years  after worda,  that  he  thought  ha  h«4 .ne- 
ver 4ll  fluch  elation  aa  whce  the  '*  Monr  mTiU*i 
him  to  dine  with  him  for  the  first  ttm«  at  hia  ham* 
Since  he  gazed  on  Burna  in  his  ?«;veniecnih  year,^©^ 
had  seen  no  one  enioyinff^  by  general  cOfkAent^  ttio 
fameof  apoetj  and  Lewis,  whatever  Scott  mjRht, 
on  maturer  conaideration,  ibink  of  hia  title  to  auch 
fame,  bad  certainly  done  him  no  email  ftervlc* ; 
for  the  balladB  of  *'  Alopao  the  Brave  and  tb«  Fair 
Iraogine^"  and  "  Thirandarte^*'  hfld  tekmdiea  fnee- 
tunlfy  in  his  bre^aai  the  spark  of  poetical  ambiti^Q' 
Lady  Charlotte  Campb+?Tf/(now  Bur^,)  always -"^ 
tinguiabcd  by  berpasfioti  for  elf^ganl  lettara, ' 
ready,  ''  in  prtdo  of  rank,  in  beauty's  bloom/' I 
rhehonouraof  Scodnndto  ihft  "Lion  of  Mayfairr 
and  I  believe  Scott*t  firat  introduction  to  Lewi* 
took  place  at  one  of  her  Lndyihip'a  pfiXilm^  Biit 
ibeyniet  frequenilyi  and,  amonp^  other  plaoee^  At 
Disfkcith— as  witness  one  of  ticolt'a  rnArglntl 
notes,  written  in  isafi,  on  Lord  Byion*a  Dtafy. — 
"Poor  fellow,"  »ay«  Byron,  /he  di<?d  a  martyr  li? 
hia  new  riches--^ f  a  at'cond  visit  to  Jamaica 

'  Vt\  dve  the  Lan^Jfi  ot  DelorftinA 
D«rk^MieriLve  wer«  altve  o^iiln  / 


*'Uiatja, 

'  I  would  fi*-*  many  a  auffir-cMi* 
Monk  U;wia  #ef «  aJlve  a|aiiL^  ^' 

To  which  Scott  adds:— "1  wotild  pay  my  sttatv.f 
how  few  fnend*  one  has  whoie  fault  a  are  otily  n- 
diculour?.  His  viait  was  one  of  bumaniiy  to  ame- 
liorate  (he  condition  of  his  slavea.  Ho  did  much 
good  by  steal tb,  and  was  a  most  generoua  ereatiiro 
.  .  ,  ,  Lewis  waa  fonder  of  ^reat  people  than  bo 
oTi^ht  to  have  been,  either  as  a  man  of  talent  or  as 
a  ma  n  of  faahio  n.  He  h  ad  al  w  a  y  s  duk  ea  and  dudif^ 
espfis  in  his  mouth,  and  w^aa  pa  then  cm  I  y  fawi  of 
any  one  that  had  a  title.  You  would  have  (Wpfii 
ho  bad  been  a  parr mu  of  yesterday,  yet  he  had 
lived  all  his  life  in  good  soorety  .  ,  ,  Mat  had 
quecrieh  eyeti^— they  projected  like  those  of  aotiie  in- 
tecte,  and  w^rc  flattis^h  on  ihe  orbit.  Hb  p*r»on 
wa*  citremely  am  all  and  boyish -he  w»b  indeed  the 
leas  I  man  I  ever  aaw,  w  be  strict]  v  well  and  wr 
made.  I  rememhfcr  a  rtf  lure  of  him  by  Sauii 
being  handed  routid  at  Ualkeiib  Houpe,  The  i_ .. 
had  ingfniou|ly  rtung  n  dark  folding^mantle  arocnil 
ihc  form,  under  which  was  half-nid  a  daggisr,  n 
dark  lanlcTn,  or  some  pich  cut- throat  appurtenance; 
with  all  this  the  features  were  prpaerved  and  enno- 
bletl  It  pasBod  from  hand  to  hand  mto  that  of 
Henry,  Duka  ofc^s*s^^(h«*m8  ib«  r'" 


leoQinQ 

tuii^H 
le  sraii 


LIFB  OF  SIR  WALTER  SCOTT. 


ftl  yt>we  Mnn  tbtt  it  was  very  lOie,  »aid  aloud, 
Xike  M»t  Lewis  I  Why  that  picture'*  like  a  Mam  !' 
Ha  looked*  and  lo,  Mat  Lewi;** a  head  waa  at  hin 
elbow,  Tiiis  hoyjihnesa  went  throtigh  [ife  with 
hjni,  H<^  waj  a  childi  md  n  spoiled  ehiJd|  but  a 
cbifdol  bjgh  uuaRHiati'jn  ;  and  so  h&  w&sted  him«etf 
ca  g^lMb^tOffleff  find  G^riufln  roitianc^.  He  had 
tEiA  inetl  ear  for  rhythm  !  ev^r  rat-t  with— fintr 
than  Bymti'B." 

During  Lewis's  i|ay  in  Scotland  thfa  ymti  he 
irp^fEti  a  tlay  or  two  with  Seott  at  Mu^velbmi^hi 
whefe  tbeyHomanry  cori.^9  wore  in  tiuartora*  Seott 
received  him  in  hid  Mginaa.  under  the  roof  of  nn 
AUdent  datnts  who  jlITI ji-dfia  him  mut^h  amuBematit 
bv  her  dedly  colWuitfS  with  the  fishwomen-^Uie 
mtickht.ukds  of  the  place  Hi*  dth^hl  in  study- 
ing ihtj  dialect  of  tKcs^  p^plo  is  well  remembered 
by  the  suntvor*  of  thu  cavalry,  and  niusL  have  aa-- 
loiiished  the  stranger  dandy.  White  walking  about 
before  dinner  on  one  of  these  dny%  Mr.  Skene's  f«- 
citnti^^n  of  ibtj  Germari  firic^iiitd,  '*  Der  Abachi- 
i^'9  Tag  i^t  dft|^'  ^tbe  <Jar  nf  departure  is  coine,)  de^ 
Ulted  Both  LtiWLH  and  Scott ;  and  the  latter  pm- 
dnofld  nett  moraLnR  that  (rpiriieil  little  pieces  tn  tba 
lame  tn^awarti,  wnieh^  embodying  tm  voJunteor 
ardour  of  the  timd«  was  fi^nhwith  adopted  m  the 
tfoap*song  of  tbe  Edinburgh  Li^ht  Hurae. 

^  JftQumry,  17^1,  Mr.  Lewiii  Appears  negoiiadng 
VM^  boofa««lleri  natn^d  Bell,  for  the  publicatt<iii  of 
Seott^i  Tarsioii  of  Goetbe^s  Tragedy.  '*  froeti  Ton 
B^riichingeti  of  the  I  ma  Hand**'  Bi^jil  aeemi  tin  al- 
ly to  have  purchased  the  copyright  for  tii-enty^fife 
ipjjutEaA,  and  t won ty -live  more  to  be  paid  in  case 
^4  a.  second  edition— whieh  waa  never  called  for 
until  long  after  the  copyright  bad  eipired,  Lew^ 
^7rit<t9,  ^'  I  have  mode  biru  diAttactly  undetatandt 
Uiftt,  if  y<ira  a<:capt  mi  email  a  aum,  it  will  bo  0|ilr 
ItiecauAe  ihia  ia  your  firsi  pLLbiicaticm."  The  editkui 
of  '^L^ooie^'  and  the  "Yieer,"  ifi  179^.  had  bwn 
completely  forgotten ;  and  L^^wia  thouKiit  of  thoae 
batl«4i  euctly  a^  if  ihey  had  been  M8.  contribu^ 
MOfia  to  hia  own  ''*  Tnlea  nf  Wonder,"  itill  lingering 
tJii  the  threBhoI[i  of  tho  ptrca^.  The  Gi^niz  fi^ipeared 
accordingly  J  with  Scott  s  aame  t>n  ihe  utlepage,  in 
ibe  following  Februarjr* 

In  March,  I7§9t  he  carried  hia  wife  to  London^ 
thia  baiHA  the  &r«t  time  ihal  he  had  aeen  tht^  metro- 
poXiB  ainc^  the  days  of  bia  infancy*  The  aoquar tit- 
an ce  of  Lewis  served  to  introduce  him  lo  some  Ute- 
Tfixy  nnd  fashionable  society,  with  which  be  was 
iiiiuch  amused;  hui  hi?*  great  nn^tieiy  was  to  ei- 
;l  mine  the  antiquiiiefl  c>f  th^  Tower  and  Wi^flirninH^r 
Abb^t  and  to  make  Eionie  re^^nrchei  amon^  the 
MSSC  of  ihe  Briiiah  Museum,  He  fonnd  bis  Goetjt 
tipoketi  ol  favourablyT  on  the  wbolp,  by  ihe  entsca 
I'C  the  tjuK> ;  but  it  doea  not  appear  to  have  attract- 
I  d  ^en^al  attention.  The  tnith  i&  that^  to  have 
(jiven  (ioethe  any  thing  like  a  fair  chance  with  the 
Kt^Kltab  public,  biN  Urat  drama  ought  m  have  been 
:  ran  slated  at  Ictit  ten  yeara  before.  The  fmiiatora 
had  been  more  fortunate  than  the  maRters,  and  this 
-work,  wliich  eonatiiiitea  one  of  the  most  importatjt 
jaodmnrkiiiu  the  history  of  German  litfraEurer  had 
mot  came  even  into  Scott's  haiuJ9>  until  he  had 
jVimiUanxed  himMf  with  the  nlvas  winch  it  firSJt 
opened,  in  the  feebJe  and  pntiy  rtiimicries  of  writtira 
slread  y  forgot  te  n.  He  raaoiiy  diai^ ver ed  ih  f  vn?  t  teiAf 
which  separated  Goethe  from  the  German  drama- 
tiete  on  whom  he  had  heretofore  bean  employing 
hifuself ;  but  the  pub  he  in  genera}  drew  no  auch  aiti' 
tint^tionB,  and  the  Engh^h  Goeti  was  eoon  after - 
wartla  condemned  to  obhvion  through  tb^  up^par^ 
iOK  ridicale  abowenrd  on  whatevtT  bore  the  namr-  of 
G^r-rnan  p/oy,  by  the  tniinitahle  caricature  of  The 
Hovers.  ,      .         , 

The  tragedy  of  Goetba  however,  has  in  truth  no- 
tbtn^  in  coinrztoa  with  the  wild  abaurditloa  againi^t 
whicli  Canning  and  EUia  bad  iGVellkl  the  airow^ 
of  their  wit  n  ia  a  broad>  bold,  free,  and  moat  pK- 
tUJ^sqiie  delineotion  of  real  characters,  mannera, 
and  ©vent9  ^  the  first  fruits^  in  a  word,  of  that  pae- 
noiante  Admiration  for  dhakapeare,  to  which  all  that 
ie  excellent  in  the  rectnt  imaginative  Uterature  of 
Oenn^nymtiat  be  traced,    With  what  delight  must 


Scott  have  found  i^ie  scope  and  manner  of  onr  Eli- 
zabethan drama  revived  on  a  fortigo  ataj^  at  thji 
call  of  a  real  maater  t  with  what  double  dtjlu^t 
mnat  he  have  aeen  Goethe  ?eii;ina,  for  the  Qobleat 
purposes  of  art,  men  and  (nodes  of  life,  acene>a^  inci- 
dents, and  transaction  A.  all  claiming  near  kiridreo 
w  i  t  h  tho  pp  th  a  t  bad  fro  ni  boy  h  ood  formed  t  he  cho- 
seti  themf.'  of  his  own  sympathy  and  rtiHectioD.  I  a 
the  baronial  robbers  of  the  Rbine,  ai'-^rn,  bbody,  i 
and  rap  ac  to  Lift,  but  frank,  gen  erou*,  and,  nftcr  thtir 
fashion,  couriocpufi ;  in  thtir  foray**  ripon  each  other's 
fJomainsj  the  besieged  castky!!,  me  plimdered  hard  a. 
ibe  captivp.^  knighr^,  the  browbi  alen  bishop,  and 
the  baOled  liege- lord,  who  vainly  strovti  to  qnell  all 
theae  ttii|»ti]«icet,  Scott  had  before  him  a  vivid 
imaj^  of  the  Hfe  of  hja  own  and  th<?  rival  Bordar 
ctaD%  fatpiliarizt^d  to  hitn  by  a  hundred  namcle&a 
minstrels.  If  it  be  douiitful  whether,  hut  for  ^*  Fer- 
ey^e  Reliqiics,^' he  wouJd  ever  have  thought  of  ctlit- 
ing  their  ball ada.  1  thick  it  not  U'.^^  so  wlicther,  but 
for  the  Ironhanatd  Gottsf,  it  would  ever  have  de^h- 
ed  upon  his  miud,  that  in  the  wiJd  traditions  which 
these  recorded,,  he  had  been  uncodsciously  asaem- 
bling  materials  for  more  work  a  of  high  art  than  the 
longeat  life  cdufd  serve  him  to  elaborate, 

A*  the  veraion  of  lh«  Qamt  hn«  at  length  beea 
included  in  Scott' a  poeCit;nl  works^  1  need  not  mak^ 
it  the  eubject  of  more  detait^  observation  here. 
The  reader  who  turns  to  il  for  the  first  cime  wdl  h& 
no  lePB  struck  than  1  ^as  under  Himilar  circtim-  . 
stances  a  dozen  years  ago^  with  the  mat) y  points  of 
reaemblanco  between  tbe  tone  and  spirit  of  Goethe' a 
delineation,  and  that  afterwards  adopted  by  the 
translator  in  s^m^  of  the  moet  remarkable  of  bat 
origin  a!  works*  One  ei  ample,  ho  we  vert  may  bo 
forgiven, 

"Al&vd  aH&rm^  wiih  th^U  awl  Jtring-^^ijn&^  it  titmt  ' 

StihUt.    L«ttT«  me  hare,  and  h^Bfen  ta  6oet& 

]tt  TVaopgf.    Let  tia  slay^ytju  nevd  ottr  ^. 

Stl    Get  one  of  you  on  ttie  WKtehrtowari,  ud  tall  ma 


thfl  rtilue^l  pan. 


Ui  Traifp.    Hew  atuU  I  gel  nnP 


2d  Tftifp. 


r  i  joa  caa  (b«a  itac^h 


Sst,     what  ifeeifE  tUtm  ^ 

Troop.    Y!>ut  ca^ro-llcra  (Ij  to  the  hill. 

^l  BetliAh  cownrflrtE  I  wnuld  Ibnf  thi!;'  ■tnod^  aatt 
thm^I  hat)  ^  b«U  ihroti|h  my  tieaA  !  Elde  doe  of  you  at 
fiilJ  ipeCLl--(!^uriQ  nod  tbcmdeir  Ltieoi  back  to  the  flaldf 
Bee 'M  thou  Goet£l 

TVcjcjf/.  1  s€e  tlie  three  black  1o9thKi%  in  tha  mfdat  oft 
I2ie  ri.uui]l£. 

Sel    gttiiu,  bra^e  Hwinmier— I  Zie  Imt^- 

7\o<^.    A  whUe  fituuie  I    WlioH  Jb  tliit  t 

S*L     Tb«  Cafilalti. 

yVw£7>.  Ooctu  paUop*  E»pon  hiffl— Craab^-itowiihegoea. 

^tL    Tlae  C'npiaiii  I 

TVtiop.    Yp(L 

Stl    Btnvti  ^_br*to  ? 

Trnap,    Aliia  \  sUb  \  I  flee  0<oetz  no  aiotO- 

Set    ThflQ  die,  iSeUiiiP ! 

TV  AMU  A  4lie«[lful  iuuiult  wliore  he  fto»d.  Georfe'a 
blue  phixiio  vatii^Liea  too.  / 

Sd.    Cittj  lb  Jiitfb  ef — 9*e'sl  tJiou  Le  fm  I 

7Voo|j»    No— <rvery  thloffJa  im  ^onfuiJofl. 

StL     So  tfurther^ctjm*  down— tcU  uw  no  JJKtfe- 
I    Troop.    I  camiot— brmfffl !  I  see  Goat*. 

Stt.    On  honti^back  1 

TViJi^.  Ay,  ajf— tiigh  on  hontfbRek— vktory  I— (hey 
dy  t 

S^,    Tli  e  1  inp6riali*l»  ^ 

Tro&p:  eiandard  ojid  til— Oo&iat  behind  iham— lie  haa 
tt— he  tiJ^ilV 

The  first  hint  of  thia  Us  of  what  not  in  p<»etry  T> 
may  be  (bund  in  the  iHad— where  Helen  pomts  out 
the  peraona  of  ihe  Grei-k  heroes  in  the  fight  jM^Jig 
below,  to  old  Priam  seated  on  the  walla  of  Trijm^  j,. 
Find  Suakapeare  makes  some  nee  of  the  same  mea  ■ 
in  hia  Julius  Coiiar,  But  who  does  not  recognise 
m  Goethe* In  dratna  the  true  original  of  the  doath- 
acene  of  Marn^ion*  and  the  storm  in  Ivatiho«  7 

Scott  executed  about  the  same  time  hia  '*  House 
of  Aspen,^*  rather  a  ri/airimmt^  tbari  a  trttoalttioa 
from  one  of  the  minor  diraSrtiiit*  thst  had  erowdr 


f8 

ed  to  partake  the  popolarity  of  Goetz  of  the  Iron- 
band.  It  also  was  sent  to  Lewi^  in  London,  where, 
having  first  been  read  and  much  recommended  by 
the  celebrated  actress,  Mrs.  Easton,  it  was  taken 
np  by  Kemble,  and  I  believe  actually  put  in  rehear- 
sal for  the  stage.  K  so.  the  trial  did  not  encouragje 
further  preparation,  and  the  notion  was  abandoned. 
Discovering  the  play  thirty  years  after  among  his 
papers,  Scott  sent  u  ,to  one  of  the  hterary  alma- 
nacks (the  Keepsake  of  1829.)  In  the  advertise- 
ment, he  says,  "  ne  had  lately  chanced  to  look  over 
these  scenes  with  feelings  very  different  from  those 
of  the  adventurous  period  of  his  Uterary  life  during 
which  they  were  written,  and  yet  with  such,  per- 
kaps,  as  a  reformed  liberune  might  regard  the  ille- 
gitimate production  of  an^arty  amour."  He  adds, 
there  is  something  to  be  ashamed  of  certainly: 
but,lifter  all,  paternal  vanity  whispers  that  the  chud 
has  some  resemblance  to  the  father."  This  piece 
being  also  now  included  in  the  general  edition  of  his 
works,  I  shall  not  dwell  upon  it  here.  It  owes  its 
most  effective  scenes  to  the  Seerei  Tribunal,  which 
fountain  of  terror  had  first  been  disclosed  by 
Qoethe,  and  had  by  this  time  lost  much  of  its  effect 
through  the  **  clumsy  alacrity"  of  a  hundred  follow- 
era.  Scott's  scenes  are  interspersed  with  some 
lyrics,  the  numbers  of  which,  at  least,  are  worthy 
of  attention.  One  has  the  metre— and  not  a  little 
of  the  spirit—of  the  boat-song  of  Roderick  Dhu  and 
Clan  Alpin. 

*'  Joy  ta  the  victors,  the  sons  of  old  Aspen, 
Joy  to  the  nee  of  the  battle  and  scar ; 
Glory's  proud  garland  triumpbaaUy  firaspinf, 
Generooa  lo  peace,  and  victorkuia  In  war. 

Honour  acaotrinf , 

^aloor  ioapiring, 
Borstiuir  reaistleat  throi^b  foemen  they  go, 
^ar  axes  wielding,  ^ 

Broken  ranks  yielding, 
TQl  firom  the  batde  proud  Roderick  retiriag, 
Yields  in  wild  rout  tbe  fidr  palm  to  bis  foeJ' 

Another  is  the  first^raft  of  **  the  Maid  of  Toro ;" 
and  perhaps  he  had^gotttfo  Ae  more  perfect  copy 
of  that  aong  when  he  sent  the  original  to  the  Keep- 

I  incline  to  believe  that  the  **  House  of  Aspen" 
was  written  after  Scott's  return  from  London :  but 
it  haa  been  mentioned  in  the  same  page  with  the 

Goetz,"  |o  avoki  any  recorrence  to  either  the  Ger- 
man or  the  Germanised  dramas.  His  return  was 
apcelerated  by  the  domestic  oalamity  which  forms 
tte  anbjeot  of  the  following  letter  ^- 

2>  Jf^  Oom,  Oeorge^9  ^Stptare,  Edinburgh. 

"London,  1901  April,  1799. 
''Vy  dear  Mother, 

**  I  cannot  express  the  feelings  with  which  I  alt  down 
to  the  discharge  of  my  present  melancholy  daty,  nor 
how  much  I  regret  the  accident  which  has  removed  me 
from  Edinbungh.  at  a  time,  of  all  others,  when  I  should 
have  wished  lo  administer  tojronr  distress  all  the  consola- 
tion which  sympathy  and  affection  could  have  afforded. 
Your  own  principles  of  virtue  and  rel^on  will  however, 
1  well  know,  be  your  best  support  in  this  heaviest  of  hu- 
man aflUctions.  The  removal  of  my  regretted  parent 
from  this  earthly  scene,  Is  to  him,  donbtless,  the  happiest 
change,  if  the  firmest  integrity  and  the  best  spent  life 
can  entitle  us  to  judge  of  the  state  of  our  departed  friends. 
¥rheB  we  reflect  upon  this,  we  ought  almost  to  suppress 
the  selfish  feelings  of  regret  that  he  was  not  spared  to  us 
a  tittle  longer,  especially  when  we  consider  that  it  was 
not  the  will  of  Heaven  that  he  should  ahare  the  most  in- 
estimable of  its  earthly  blessings—such  a  portion  of  health 
as  misht  have  enabled  him  to  enjoy  his  family.  To  my 
dear  athen  then,  the  putting  off  this  mortal  mask  was  hap- 
piness, and  to  us  who  remain,  a  lesson  so  to  live  that  we 
akM  DMv  have  hope  in  our  latter  end  ;  and  with  you,  my 
dearest  Mother,  remain  many  blessings  and  some  duties, 
agratefiil  recollection  of  which  will  lam  sore,  coatri- 
bole  to  calm  the  eurreoc  of  your  affliction.  The  affec- 
.  tion  and  attention  which  you  have  a  right  to  expect  from 
your  children,  4md  which  I  consider  as  the  best  tribute 
we  can  pay  to  the  memory  of  the  parent  we  have  lost, 
wni also,  lam  sure,  contribute  iu  fyH  share  to  the  alle- 


LIFE  OF  SOL  WALTER  SCffTT. 


viation  of  your  (fiatress.  The  situation  of  Charlotte's 
health,  in  its  present  delicate  state,  prevented  me  from 
setting  off  directly  for  Scotland,  when  I  heard  that  imme* 
diate  danger  was  apprehended.  I  am  now  dad  I  did  not  iJo 
so,  as  I  could  not  with  the  utmost  expediuon  have  reach 
ed  Edinburgh  before  the  lamented  event  had  taken  place. 
The  ^tuation  of  my  affidra  must  detain  me  here  for  a  few 
days  more ;  the  instant  1  can,  I  will  set  off  for  Bcotkuul. 
I  need  not  tell  you  not  even  to  attempt  to  answer  tbto 
letter— such  an  exertion  woold  be  both  unneeeasary  aod 
imoroper.  John  or  Tom  will  let  me  know  how  my  sister 
and  you  do.  I  am,  ever,  dear  Mother,  your  dutiful  and 
afl^ctlonate  son, 

W.  8." 
"  P.  S.— Permit  me,  my  dear  Madam,  to  a^  a  line  to 
8cott*s  letter,  to  express  to  you  how  sincerely  I  feel  for 
your  loss,  and  how  much  I  regret  that  I  am  not  near  yoa, 
totrjjfj  the  most  tender  care  to  soften  the  pain  that  so 
great  a  misfortune  must  inflict  on  you,  and  on  all  thoee 
who  ^lad  the  happiness  of  being  coimected  with  him.  I 
hope  soon  to  have  the  pleasure  of  returning  to  you.  aod 
to  convince  you  of  the  sincere  affection  of  your  danpiter, 

M.  cTb." 

The  death  of  thia  worthy  man,  in  his  roih  year, 
after  a  long  series  of  feeble  health  and  suffering,  was 
an  event  which  could  only  be  regarded  as  a  jcreac 
dehverance  to  himaeUl  He  had  had  a  aocCiesBioB  of 
paralytic  attacks,  under  which,  mind  as  well  as  body 
had  by  degrees  been  laid  quite  prostrate.  When  th« 
first  Chronicles  of  the  Canongate  appeared,  a  near 
relation  of  the  family  said  to  me-^'*  I  had  been  out 
of  Scotland  for  some  time,  and  did  not  know  of  my 
good  friend's  illness^  until  I  reached  Edinbotgh,  a 
tew  months  before  his  death.  Walter  carried  me  to 
visit  him,  and  warned  roe  that  I  ahould  see  a  ^reac 
change.  I  saw  the  Tery  scene  that  is  here  pamted 
of  the  elder  Crofrangrys  sickroom— not  a  feature 
difierent— poor  Anne  Scott,  the  gentlest  of  ^Teatureai, 
was  treated  by  the  fretful  patient  precisely  hke  thi^ 
niece."  ♦  ^ 

I  hare  Uved  to  see  the  curtain  rise  and  fall  once 
more  on  a  like  scene. 

Mr.  Thomas  Scott  continued  to  manage  his  fa- 
ther's business. '  He  married  early  t  he  was  in  hie 
circle, of  society  extremely  popular ;  and  iofi  proe- 
1)ects  seemed  (air  in  all  thmgs.  The  property  left  br 
the  old  gentleman  was  less  than  had  been  expected, 
but  snflScient  to  make  ample  provision  for  hits  wid- 
ow, and  a  not  inconsiderable  addition  to  the  resour- 
ces of  those  among  whom  the  remainder  was  divi- 
ded. 

Scott's  mother  and  sister,  both  mnch  exhausted 
vrith  their  attendance  on  a  protracted  eickbed,  and 
the  latter  already  in  the  firat  stage  of  the  malady 
which  in  two  yeara  more  carried  her  also  to  her 
grave,  spent  the  greater  part  of  the  foltowing  siun- 
mer  ana  autumn  m  his  cottage  at  Lasswade. 

There  he  was  now  again  labouring  asaidnooslyin 
the  service  of  Lewis's  "  hobgobUn  repast,",  and  the 
q>ecimens  of  his  friend's  letten  on  his  contributions, 
as  they  were  successively  forwarded  to  London, 
which  wereprinted  by  way  of  appeadix  to  his  Essay 
on  Popular  Poetry,  in  1830,  may  perhaps  be  sufficient 
for  the  reader's  curiosity.  The  versions  from  BQr- 
ger  were,  in  consequence  of  Lewis's  remarks,  some- 
what corrected :  and  indeed,  althongh^eott  speaks 
of  himself  as  having  paid  no  attention,  "at  the  time," 
to  the  lectures  of  his  "  martinet  in  rhymes  and  nnm- 
bers"—("  lectures  which  were."  he  adds,  "severe 
enough,  but  useful  eventually/'  as  "  forcing  on  a 
young  and  careless  versifier  criticisms  absolutely  ne* 
cessary  to  his  future  succes8")~it  is  certain  that  his 
memory  had  in  some  degree  deceived  him  when  he 
used  this  language,  for,  of  all  the  false  rhymes  and 
Scotticisms  which  Lewis  had  pointed  out  in  these 
"lectures,"  hardly  one  appears  in  the  printed  co- 
pies of  the  ballads  contributed  by  Scott  to  the  Tales 
of  Wonder. 

As  to  his  imperfect  rhymu  of  this  period,  I  have 
no  doubt  he  owed  them  to  his  recimt  seal  abon^ 
collecting  the  ballads  of  the  Border.  He  had,  in  hia 
familiarity  with  compositions  so  remarkable  for 
merits  of  a  higher  order,  ceased  to  be  offemkd,  as  in 
the  days  of  his  devotion  to  Langhome  and  Meikle 

•  8ee  Cfaraoiciei,  Wavcriey  Novili«ieL  aliip.  l& 


LIPROP  SIR  WALTER  SCOTT. 


2m  would  probtUy  have  been,  with  theb  loose  tod 
TagQO  asMoancesf  which  are  often,  in  fact,  not 
rfajmea  at  all ;  a  hcenae  pardonable  enough  in  real 
mmatrelsy,  meant  to  be  chanted  to  mosa-troopcra 
with  the  accompanyinjf;  tones  of  the  warpipe,  but 
eertainly  not  worthy  of  imitation  in  verses  written 
for  the  eye  of  a  polished  age.  Of  this  carelessness 
as  to  rhjrroe,  we  see  Uttle  or  nothing  in  our  few  spe- 
cimens of  his  borish  verse ;  and  it  does  not  occvT;  to 
any  extent  that  has  ever  been  thought  worth  notice, 
in  his  great  works. 

Bat  Lewis's  collection  did  n^Lengross  the  leisure 
<^thi8  sammer.  It  prodncefl  uso  w^at  Scott  just- 
ly calls  his  "  first  senous  attempts  in  verse  -"  and  of 
thefe  the  earliest  appears  to  have  been  the  Glenfin- , 
las..  Here  the  scene  is  laid  m  the  most  favourite 
dtstrict  of  his  favourite  Perthshire  Highlands  ;  and 
the  Gaelic  trmdition  on  which  it  is  founded  was  far 
more  likely  to  draw  out  the  secret  strength  of  his  ge- 
nms,  as  well  as  to  arrest  the  feelings  of  nis  eountry- 
men*  than  any  subject  with  which  the  stores  of  Ger- 
man ditUderie  ^uld  have  supplied  him .  It  has  been 
alleged,  however,  thatthepoet  makes  a  German  use 
of  hiB  Scottish  materials:  that  the  legend,  as  briefly 
told  in  the  simple  proseof  his  preface,  is  more  qfecting 
than  the  lofty  and  sonorous  sunzas  themselves  that 
the  va^ne  t^ror  of  the  original  dream  loses,  instead 
of  gaining  by  the  expanded  elaboration  of  the  detail. 
Ttoe  may  oe  something  in  these  objections  :  but 
DO  man  can  pretend  to  be, an  impartial  critic  of  the 
piece  which  first  awoke  his  own  childish  ear  to  the 
power  of  poetry  and  the  melody  of  verse. 

Tlie  nextof  tnese  compositions  was,  1  believe,  the 
^Eveof  St.  John,  in  which  Scott  repeoples  the  tower 
of  Smailholm,  the  awe-inspiring  haunt  of  his  in- 
£uicy;  and  here  he  touches,  for  the  first  time,  the 
one  superstition  which  can  still  be  appealed  to  with 
ftill  and  perfect  effect ;  the  only  one  which  Ungers 
in  minds  long  since  weaned  from  all  sympathy  with 
the  machinery  o^  witches  and  goblins.  And  surely 
this  mystery  was  never  toudied  with  more  thriHin^ 
riiill  than  in  that  noble  ballad.  It  is  the  first  of  his 
original  pieces,  too,  in  which  he  uses  the  measure  of 
lus  own  favourite  Minstfels ;  a  measure  whidi  the 
monotony  of  mediocrity  had  lonj^  and  successful- 
ly l^en  labouring  to  degrade,  but  in  itself  adequate 
to  the  expression  of  the  highest  thoughts  as  well 
as  the  gentlest  emotions,  and  capable,  m  fit  hands, 
oi  as  nch  a  variety  of  music  as  any  other  of  mo- 
dem times.  This  was  written  at  Mertoun-house  in 
the  autumn  of  1799.  Some  dilapidations  had  taken 
place  in  the  tower  of  Smailholm,  and  Harden,  he- 
rnia informed  of  the  fact,  and  entreated  with  need- 
less earnestness  by  his  kinsman  to  arrest  the  hand 
(k  the  spoiler,  reauested  playfully  a  ballad,  of  which 
SmaOholm  should  be  the  scene,  as  the  price  of  his 
assent.  The  stanza  in  which  the  groves  of  Mer- 
toon  are  alluded  to  has  been  quoted  m  a  preceding 

Then  came  The  Gray  Brother,  founded  on  ano- 
ther snj>erstition,  which  seems  to  have  been  almost 
as  ancient  as  the  belief  in  ghosts ;  namely,  that  the 
holiest  service  of  tha  altar  cannot  go  on  in  the  prei- 
aence  of  an  unclean  person—a  hemons  sinner  un- 
confessed  and  unabsolved.  The  fragmentary  form 
of  this  poem  greatly  heightens  the  awfulness  of  its 
impression:  and  m  construction  and  metre,  the 
verses  which  really  belong  to  the  storv  apoear  to  me 
the  happiest  that  have  ever  been  prooucea  expressly 
in  imitation  of  the  ballad  of  the  middle  age.  In  the 
stanzas,  previously  quoted,  on  the  scenery  of  the 
Esk,  however  beautiful  in  themselves,  and  how- 
ever mteresting  now  as  marking  the  locality  of  the 
eompontion,  he  must  be  allowed  to  have  lapsed  in- 
to another  strain,  and  produced  nvannus purpureus 
which  interferes  with  and  mars  the  general  texture. 

He  wrote  at  the  same  period  the  fine  chivalrous 
ballad,  entitled  The  Fit^-King,  in  which  there  is 
more  than  enough  to  make  us  forgive  the  machine- 
ry. It  was  also  m  the  course  of  this  autumn  that 
be  first  visited  Bothwell  Castle,  the  seat  of  Archi- 
bald Lord  Douglas,  who  had  married  the. Lady 
Frances  Scott,  sister  to  Henry.  Duke  of  Buccleuch ; 
a  woman  whose  many  amiable  virtues  were  com- 


bined with  extraordinary  stieng^th  of  mind*  and  who 
had.  from  the  fhat  rotrodnction  of  the  young  poet  at 
Dalkeith,  formed  high  anticipations  of  his  future 
career.  Lady  Douglas  was  one  of  his  dearest  frien^Ji 
through  life ;  and  now,  under  her  roof,  he  mM  with 
one  whose  abiUties  and  accomplishments  not  less 
quaUfied  her  to  estimate  him,  and  who  still  survives 
to  lament  the  only  event  that  could  have  intemit)!- 
ed  their  cordial  confidence— the  Lady  Louisa  Stuart, 
daughter  of  the  celebrated  John,  Earl  of  Bute. 
These  ladies,  who  were  sisters  in  mind,  feeling,  and 
affection,  he  visited  among  scenes  the  nobles  and 
most  interesting  that  all  Scotland  can  show— alike 
famqus  in  history  and  romance ;  and  he  was  not 
unwilling  to  make  Bothwell  and  Blantyre  the  sub- 
ject of  another  balled.  His  purpoae  was  nevter 
completed.  1  think,  however,  the  reader  wtU  not 
complaih  of  my  introducing,  the  fragment  whiah  I 
have  foun(J  among  his  pajjers. 

**  When  firuHlh]  Clydeidsle's  apple-bowers 
Are  menowin;  in  the  noon ;  r 

HVhen  aifbs  round  Pembroke's  minM  towers 
The  sultry  breath  of  June ; 

"  When  Clyde,  despite  his  sheltering  woo<l^ 

Most  leave  his  channel  dnr ; 
And  vainly  o'er  the  limpid  ffood  ( 

The  angler  guides  his  fly  ; 

V  I%chaiiee,  by  Bothwell's  lovely  braes  i 

A  wanderer  thoa  hast  been, 
Or  bid  thee  from  the  summer's  blaze 

In  Bbntyre's  bowers  of  green, 

.    "  Full  where  the  eopsewood  opens  wild 
Thy  pilgrim  step  bath  staid, 
Where  Bothwell's  towers  in  ruin  piled  • ' 

O'erlook  the  verdaht  glade ;  '. 

"  And  many  a  tale  of  lote  and  fear 

Hath  mingled  iHth  the  seene^ 
Of  BothwelTs  banks  thst  bloom'd  so  deaz^ 

And  Bothwell's  bonny  Jean. 

"  a  if  with  rugged  mbistrel  lays  ,    ' 

unsated  be  thy  ear. 

And  thou  of  deeds  or  other  4ajs  . 

Another  tale  wilt  hear,         ^  ' 

"  Then  all  beneath  the  spreading  beech 

Flung  careless  on  the  lea. 
The  Gottiic  muse  the  tale  shall  teach  ,^J^ 

Of  Bothwell's  sisters  three.  -^ 

*<  Wight  Wallace  stood  on  Deckmont  head, 

He  blew  his  bugle  round. 
Till  the  wild  bull  in  Cadyow  wood 

Has  started  at  the  aound. 

"  8t  George's  cross,  o'er  Bothwell  hung^ 

Was  waving  fur  and  wide, 
And  from  the  lofty  turret  flung 

Its  crimsoD  blaze  on  Clyde ; 

**  And  risfaig  at  the  bogle  blast 
-    That  mark'd  thtf^cottish  foe, 
Old  England's  yeomen  muster'd  hat, 
And  bent  the  Norman  bow. 

"  Tall  in  #e  midst  Sir  Aylmerrose,  ^ 

Proud  Pembroke's  Barl  was  he- 
While" 

One  morning,  during  his  visit  to  Bothwell,  waa 

S«nt  on  an  excursion  to  the  ruins  of  Craignethan 
astle,  the  seat,  in  former  day^  of  the  great  Evan- 
dale  branch  of  the  house  or  Hamilton,  but  now 
the  property  of  Lord  Douglas ;  and  the  poet  ez- 

Rressed  such  rapture  with  the  scenery,  that  his 
osts  urged  nim  to  accept,  for  his  lifetime,  the  use  of 
a  small  habitable  house,  enclosed  within  the  circuit 
of  the  ancient  walls.  This  ofler  was  not  at  once 
declined ;  but  circumstances  occurred  before  the 
end  of  the  year,  which  rendered  it  impossible  for 
him  to  establish  his  summer  residence  in  Lanark-  . 
shire.  The  castle  uf  Craignethan  is  the  original  of  * 
his  "  Tillietudlem." 

Another  imperfect  ballad,  in  which  he  had  meant 
to  blend  together  two  legends  familiar  to  every 
reader  of  Scottish  historv  and  romance,  has  been 
found  in  the  same  portfolio,  and  the  handwriting 
proves  it  to  be  of  the  same  e^ly  date.    Thougn 


UFEiWSm,  WAIfTBR  SCOTT. 


loBC  md  very  iinfinwiM,  it   oofUains  to  auutf 
foiiches  of  his  oeet  manner  that  I  cannot  withfaoUT 

THE  SHEPHBRD^  TALK. 

And  ne'er  bat  once,  mj  son,  he  atji, 
Was  jron  sed  cavern  trod, 
I  In  persecution's  iron  days, 

When  the  land  was  left  bj  God. 

Fk^n  BewU4  bof,  wkh  slaaghter  red, 

A  wanderer  hither  drew. 
And  oft  he  stopc  and  turned  his  head, 

As'b7  fiu  the  night  wind  blew ; 

For  trampling:  round  by  Cheviot  edge 

Were  beard  the  troopers  keen, 
And  frequent  from  the  Whitelaw  ridge 

~  edSathr  ^ ^ 


Thee 


I'Shot  Hashed  betweeiL 


Hie  moonbeams  through  the  misty  shower 

On  you  dark  caTem  rail ; 
Through  the  doody  night,  the  snow  gleamed  white, . 

Which  sunbeam  ne'er  could  quefl. 

*f  Ten  efttem  dark  is  rough  and  rudt, 

And  cold  its  jaws  of  snow ; 
Bnt  more  rough  andvude  are  the  men  of  blood, 

That  hdhc  my  life  below ; 

*t  Yon  spell'bound  den,  as  the  sged  tell, 

Was  hewn  by  demon's  hands  ,- 
Bnt  I  had  kxira*  melle  with  the  fiends  of  he^ 

Than  with  Oarers  and  his  band." 

He  heard  the  deep-mouthed  bloodhound  bark, 

He  heard  the  horses  neigh, 
Be  plunged  him  in  the  ca»em  dark, 

And  down%vard  sped  his  way. 

How  faintly  down  the  winding  path 

Came  the  cry  of  the  faulting  hound, 
And  the  muttered  oath  of  baiuked  wrath 

Was  lost  in  hoUow  sound. 

He  threw  him  on  the  flinted  floor, 

And  held  his  breath  for  fear : 
He  rose,  and  bitter  cursed  his  n>es, 

AS  the  sounds  died  on  his  ear. 

"O  bare  thine  arm,  thou  battling  Lord, 

For  Scotland's  wandering  band ; 
Dash  from  the  oppresaor's  grasp  the  sword, 

And  sweep  him  from  the  laod  1 

**  Forget  not  thou  (hy  people's  groaas 

Frwn  dark  Dunnotter's  tower, 
Mix'd  with  the  seefowl's  shriDy  moans, 

And  ocean's  bursting  roar  I 

**  O  in  fell  Clavers'  hour  of  pride. 

Even  in  his  mightiest  day, 
As  bold  he  strides  throuth  conquest's  tide, 

•O  stretch  him  on  the  day  1 

*<  His  widow  and  his  little  ones, 

O  may  their  toweiwf  trust 
Remove  its  strong  foundation  stones, 

And  crush  themi  in  the  dust  \"^ 

"  Sweet  prayers  to  me,"  a  voice  replied, 
**  Thrice  welcome,  Kjjen  of  mine  !"— 

And  glimmering  on  the  cavern  side  ^ 
Alight  was  seen  to  shine. 

An  sged  man,  in  amice  brown. 

Stood  by  the  wanderer's  side, 
ByjpowerAil  charm,  a  dead  man's  arm 

Tne  torch's  light  supplied. 

From  each  stiflT  finger  stretched  upright, 

Arose  a  ghastly  name. 
That  waved  not  m  the  blast  of  night 

Which  through  the  cavern  came. 

O  deadly  blue  was  that  taper's  hue. 

That  flamed  the  cavern  o'er. 
But  more  deadly  blue  was  the  ghastly  hue 

Of  his  eyes  who  the  taper  bore. 

.  He  laid  on  his  head  a  band  Uke  lead, 
As  heavy,  pale,  and  cold  :— 
"Vengeance  be  thine,  thou  guest  of  mine. 
If  thy  heart  be  firm  and  bold. 

'But  if  Unt  thy  heart,  and  caitUT  fe&r 
Thy  Rcreant  sinews  know, 

•  Lowrct;  i.  •.,  iJeftr-ratlNr. 


The  mooataln  erne  th9  oeart  ahdl  taii^ 
Thy  nerves  the  hooded  crow." 

The  wanderer  raised  him  hndlsnity'd : 

"  Mv  soul,  by  dangers  steeled. 
Is  stubborn  as  my  border  blad^ 

Which  never  knew  to  yidd. 

«  And  If  thy  power  can  speed  the  hour 
Of  vengeance  on  my  foes,  i 

Theirs  be  the  fote,  from  bridge  and  gtce 
To  feed  the  hooded  crows." 

The  Brownie  looked  him  In  the  &ce, 

And  his  colour^ed  irith  speed— 
"I  fear  me,"  quOth  he,  **uneath  it  wUl  be' 

To  match  thy  word  and  deed. 

"  In  ancient  days  when  English  bands 

Sore  ravaged  Scotland  fair. 
The  sword  and  shield  of  Scottish  land 

Was  valiant  Halbert  Kerr. 

"  A  wark>ck  loved  tlie  warrior  wellj 

Sir  Michael  Scott  by  name. 
And  he  sought  for  his  sake  a  spell  to  make, 

Should  the  Southern  fpefnen  tan\ji^ 

«  <  Look  thou,'  he  said) '  from  Oestfordbewl, 

As  the  July  sua  sinks  low. 
And  when  ghmmeiing  white  on  Oheviot'a  h«%hft 

Thou  Shalt  spy  a  wresth  of  snow, 

^  'The  spell  is  complete  which  shall  briiig  to  thy  iMt 

The  haughty  Saxon  foe.' 
For  many  a  year  wrought  the  wiiardhere, 

In  Cheviot's  bosom  low, 

(*  Till  the  spell  was  complete,  and  in  Joly'a  haet 
Appeared  December's  snow ;  « 

But  Cessford's  Halbert  never  came 
The  wondrous  cause  to  know. 

<'  For  years  before  in  Bowden  tiale 

The  warrior's  booes  had  lain. 
And  after  short  while,  by  female  guile, 

Sir  Michael  Scott  was  slain. 

"  But  me  and  my  brethren  tat  this  cell 

His  mighty  charms  retain,— 
And  he  that  can  quell  the  powerful  speU 

.Shall  o'er  broad  Scotlaaa  reign." 

He  led  him  through  an  froadoor 

And  up  a  winding  stair,  ^ 

And  in  wild  amaze  did  the  wanderer  gnse 

On  the  sight  which  opened  there. 

Through  the  gloomy  night  flashed  ruddy  Bgllt— 

A  thousand  torches'  glow ; 
mie  cave  rose  high,  like  the  vaulted  sky, 

O'er  stalls  in  <£rable  row. 

In  every  stall  of  that  endless  hall 

Stood  a  steed  id  barbing  bright ; 
At  the  foot  of  each  steed,  all  armed  save  thahead^ 

Lay  stretched  a  stalwart  knight 

In  each  mailed  hand  was  a  naked  branch  . 

.  As  they  lay  on  the  black  bull's  hide ; 
Each  visage  stem  did  upwards  turn. 
With  eyeballs  fixed  and  wide. 

A  launcegay  Strong,  full  twelve  eUs  long^  , 

By  every  warrior  huns ;      • 
At  each  pommel  there,  for  battle  yare, 

A  Jedwood  axe  was  slnng. 

The  casque  hung  near  each  cavalier; 

The  plumes  waved  mournfully 
At  every  tread  which  the  wanderer  made 

Through  the  hall  of  Oramarye ; 

.  The  ruddy  beam  of  the  torches'  gleam 

That  glared  the  warriors  on, 
Reflected  light  from  armour  bright, 

In  noontide  splendour  shone. 

And  onward  seen  In  lustre  sheen, 

Still  lenstheiifng  on  the  sight, 
Through  the  boundless  ball,  stood  steeds  la  stall, 

Andby  each  lay  a  aable  knight 

Still  OS  the  dead  lay  each  horseman  dreed, 

And  moved  nor  limb  nor  tongue ; 
Each  steed  stood  stiff  as  an  earthfaSt  dU^        ^ 

Nor  hoof  nor  bridle  rung. 

No  sounds  through  all  the  apedotis  taO 
The  d«dl7  %d|rtdjby  ^^OOglC 


UFKOF  Sm  WALTBR  SCOTT. 


♦^      To  Ao  mndefer^i  amp  r*pU  CcL 

On   AAlTDb  f'llUlfiJl  iKHTtlr, 

App<r*r'i3  a  «wr>Ttl  snd  barn. 

**  £fov  cboo^A  thee  here.''  qui:itb  jyi  leatler, 
^  "Thjf  tfi^iititruiii  rortumt  uy  ; 
^fihy  WD  tnil  wvil,  (hj  Ircrut  utd  IhH 
Iq  jdp  bnjid  And  bugle  lt«/* 

^  Ttttbe  fkttJ  brand  ho  moi^Qted  ^f »  h&Qi^ 
Bgt  hi*  «oi&ld)d  quiver  Mid  guiUl; 
The  lift  bki^l  dkl  dtHrt  to  His  tfliudd^rlnf  h^flrt^ 
A^iid  leii  hlTD  wvi  ind  p&k- 

Th4  brtod  lie  jorpoc^lc*  udd  thi?  tiofu  h6  tei^ 

To  'Af  K  l^fnlit!  ROtUKl  - 

But  ID  ttUd  s  blA«4  Dtqui  the  bu£l«  brut, 
Thju  the  Clief  k^  tock'd  ^rtnuud. 

Pmcn  Forth  to  Test,  Ik>m  eem  to  hs% 

Tbc  iwful  bu0«  ra&c « 
On  €44*11  Alio  w&U,  mnd  Btrrwick  «)Ulil| 

To  uiiOAtlie  wvdera  aprujac^ 

^      WUi  etukand  crimf  tlwe«v«mTmiE, 

Tb  A  lUQdB  Jdid  flCUDp  Bttd  ttftlgh ; 

And  kn>d  «ui  thi^  f  «ll  m  tnch  mrrk^r  iali 
Stett4  Oft  wllh  tlwp  find  cry, 

"  Wo.  wn,"  thfij  trierlj  ""tlioii  ceiiUT  eowur^ 

Ttiii  eTfT  thou  wfrrt  Nirn  ! 
Why  df^w  f?  RfJt  the  kniflttif  vwntd 

BoFore  jf  t  bkw  thr  Jaorti  T' 

Thfl  nKam  liii  ori  Lbo  moiijilain  ibonc, 

And  Bti  thf.  hiooiiy  froruid 
Bailed  fr<iiti  the  C4^e  with  ih)<ftr^d  boii«i 

Tbi^  !uifi|led  wrote h  wu  founds 

AnJitiU  b*E).FBlh  the  ctverti  drewlt 

Ajnou  tbe  f  Udt^eifi  £I'bj^ 
A  sbapelfiH  vtonr.  wiihlirhei 

Mftfke  where  iht'  wmdertrkj^ 

Th«  reader  may  b^  jnttteated  bjr  comoAhng  with 
ilik  bdJad  tiib  KuLhoT^«  proeti  v«raion  01  p^ri  of  iift 
Lpead,  b#  giveii  in  one  of  thcla^L  workc  of  bia  pen- 
Hi  i&jA,  in  the  |jette<T«  on  Demotiology  and  Witcb- 
•or«^  1630:—'*  Tl^omas  of  ErfJildownej  daring  hia 
fetir^meat,  bfts  bwn  fupoowxl,  from  time  t^  limf, 
t<j  be  levying  forcGB  to  takii  the  field  in  some  crisis 
of  hifl  countrf'fl  fnte.  Th*^  story  hai*  often  Wn  loid, 
til  n  darmg  horae  jockey  having  auld  a  black  borsc 


rtii.^ir.  u  eiL'|#u^r»  to  mc  the  bolter  eoyrtu  tOOputOO' 
tbini?  by  wiiu:h  it  ia  m  my  |>aw«Lr  Lo  tlm)W  HgKl  Oil 
tbia  exporimi^ntd  penod. 

^'  Go  iji  old  CberLod  cr««(  bc^kw,  * 

And  pensiTe  mark  the  liuK^^tif  «fiow  ' 

1b  bI]  hU  af  anre  tUld^, 
And  alo*  dlsxilviii^  froifi  thif  bfit 
Id  lUAtiy  A  i^tf  httf'iui  SFimidtiiag  rtUr 

Ft«d  apatklini  fiavnioat'a  tld«« 

"  Fidr  Rhii>#R  tb4<  f tTfWD  Vf  tltHk  and  |H« 

Ajwiniplhut  to  the  «r«COT«  •«* 

ibva««&kTiU'i  frulleti  b^di 
f ade^litf  drsp  th«  taUl  plaJiFi^ 
WbinS^otknd'a  iif]i blent.  htMt  In  vaI^ 

Armiod  lh<ir  rftonitx^h  blod. 
"  Afi^i  ^evlwmrd  btlbi  no  liMtf  yoy  M^i 
JEt en  MA  ftld  Oceania  DOiif htlAit  ««a 

[|e4Tnitht(!U  h?r  wsvpiof  twn, 
UuEk  JUiil  annjn-ridced  HhMn  Caft«uM*a  wflld 


To  tJift  pfijgd  fcKjC  of  Cheviot  r^U 


FiirdT 

*        •        •       *        *  «    I 

Notwiihstonduif  all  the«e  VAri^  ^Mayji,  tnd!  tlife 
charms  oT  ihtj  ili^^tinf^uiBk^d  eociiUy  iDlo  whiab  bia 
rflputntj^jn  bad  already    m troduL'Ml   him.    Scott*» 
Ihcttds  do  not  tipiK^or  to  Lave  at  yet  enlrrtaincd  ihe 
aligUteat  notion  that  litter atiare  waa  10  be  Lh»  mam 
bUflio^Ka  of  hJ€  Ur«~    A  ktict  of  Ken  of  Abbotmle 
congnttvilaiaa  him  on  bin  banng  bad  more  to  do  at  tXe 
aulumrial  a^ttizo^  uf  Jedburgh  this  year  than  on  out 
former  j^iccai^ion,  which  mt^lligimcebe  seemibtniMiIf 
to  ha 90  oon^Enttnicfttod  with  no  f em: hie  expresdoni  ^ 
of  sattilftctLon.    '^  I  ir«atly  <^rijoy  this"  »^y*  ^^1 
^'  RO  on :  and  whh  your  sitronK  aenae  and  hotirliy 
riponing  kfmwlfd^ty  ibat  yan  muet  riu*  to  the  top  ik 
the  tree  iii  the  Parhamenl  Housv  m  due  ee&aon,  I 
bold  oeof!rtain  aa  ibai  Murray  cik?d  Lord  ManabekL 
But  don't  kt  many  an  Ovid, 'or  miber  many  a 
Burns,  {which  la  betterj  be  lost  in  you.    I  rather 
think  men  of  btieinesa  hav«  produced  as  Kood  poetry 
in  their  by- hours  aa  the  profuesffd  regiilara  ;  and  I 
d^n't  M^e  ftny  aulEcient  roa»oa  why  a  Lord  Praei^ 
dcirit  ScotC  should  not  bd  a  ramotta  po«t^  (in  l]t«  Wr 
cation  time,)  when  we  have  Men  a  President  M^n* 
tesctuieu   Atep  10  nobly  beyond  the  trammcU  in  tbf 
Etprit  dt^  Lftix.    I  ttHipoct   Drydtin  would  have 
been  a  happier  man  bad  ht?  b^d  your  proft^rasion. 
The  reaaunm^?  mkntft  visibU  in  hia  vertfess  asEur^ 
VI  u  ur»»>M»  iM/*=rL;  ji^,.«.^j  .jun,,,^^^ — »  ..„^„  „......-    me  that  htf  w>tuld  have  mleJ  bi  Weatminater  HalJ 

to  a  man  of  Vf^norabk  and  antique  oppc-arance,  who  as  easily  u^hi'  did  at  Button'?,  and  he  might  have 
appoiiilcd  the  remarkable  billoi^k  upon  Kil^ioa  hjiK  |  found  time  tmiu^li  b^^sidea  for  eyerjMJiine  thal_  one 
cau^    the  Luckon-bare.  ai*  the   placo  whtre,   at         "    '  '  i-     ..    ^^       .-       . 

twelve  o'clock  £it  nij^bt^  m  should  n^ceivu  th«  price 
He  eamej  hia  motley  wa«  paid  in  ancient  coin^  and 
he  was  mvited  by  his  cuatomer  to  view  hie  resi- 
dence- The  trader  in  hordes  followed  hit^  guide  in 
the  deepest  nan/niibmeni  through  aeveral  lonif 
rani^es  of  itaUs,  in  each  of  which  a  horee  aiood  mo- 
tionlees,  whik  on  armed  warrior  lav  e<yiaUy  huU  at 
the  cbarscr^sfefrt.  '  All  ibeat?  men.  eaid  the  wisard 
in  a  whimper,  *  wiU  awaktn  nt  tho  battle  of  Shenff- 
tvuif.'  At  the  eiitemiiy  of  this  fLXiraordinary  dep*Tft 
hung  a  sword  and  a  bom^  whkh  the  prophet  point- 
ed out  to  t\\^  boFwi-deskr  us  containmg  the  me  ana 
of  diflaoWinc  the  fiK?ll  The  man  in  confusion  took 
the  horn  and  attempiKsd  to  wind  it.  The  horse.?  in- 
stantly ptnrtod  m  their  stBlls^  Rtamp^d.  and  ihook 
%heir  bridlea,  the  men  arose  and  clashed  their  ar- 
mour, and  tht^  mortal*  terrified  at  tin'  tumult  he  bad 
ei<:aed,  dropr*d  the  horn  from  hia  hand  A  voioe 
like  that  of  a  giant,  louder  ev^n  than  tbe  tumult 
aiound,  pronounced  theac  worda  :— 


*  'W'&io  the  coward  thai  e^tjr  be  wa*  bo^l^ 

T\wi.  did  not  draw  tbe  iword  before  lie  blew  the  horn.' 

A  whirlwind  expelled  th*i  horafr-dcaleT  from  tbe  c?i- 
vctOt  the  entrance  to  which  he  could  never  again 
find .  A  mo ral  miah t  be  perh  up s  fx  tra c ted  fro m  the 
leK«^Tid,  namely,  that  it  is  bs^K  to  be  armed  afioinst 
dunger  before  hiddinR  it  defiance.'* 

One  mon^  fraement,  in  anotb^T  style,  and  I  almll 
have  exbauftte<r  tbiis  budeet,  I  ani  wtiii  awanf*  lb  at 
ibe  10 trod uet ton  of  ftucti  thin^^  ^iU  be  conaid^red 
by  many  aa  of  i^ticationabb  propriety  ^  but  on  tbe 


K-J 


really  hoTioura  his  niemoiy  for/'  This  fhend  ap- 
pear* in  have  enttrlained,  in  October*  U69,  tb<f  very 
opmsoD  05  to  thti  ptoftasion  qf  iiUralure  on  which 
Scott  acted  tlirou^b  life. 
Havmu^  a^ain  givrn  a  week  to  Liddiadale,  ineotn^^ 
ny  wim  Mr/Shortreed*  be  apeni  aftiwdaya  at 
..oaebank,  and  was  preparing  to  r«ium  lo  Editi^ 
burgh  f'jr  the  winter,  when  James  Eallaniyne  called 
on  hjm  one  morning,  and  be*a?<?d  hini  10  auoply  a 
few  ^jftraffraphi*  on  aome  kgal  qeesiion  of  tbe  day 
for  bis  newwiapcr^  Stoti  cinn plied  ^  ond  carry inc 
his  article  nfiuaeU  to  thp  printinR-ofiice,  loiik  with 
luni  nleo  some  of  hia  recent  pifcct^,  designed  to  np- 
peor  in  Lcwia'«  collection.  With  tbeBe*  eaptnialfy, 
as  bis  Mi^morandmn  aayzji,  the  "  MorEacbian  fraji?- 
ment  after  Goethe/^  Ballaniyoc  was  diArmeii,  and 
he  expressed  hia  recret  that  Ltwii's  book  wof  hq 
long  in  appearing.  Scott  talked  of  I^ewia  with  rajo^ 
mre ;  and  aftor  red  ling  some  of  bia  stanJtaa,  8aid| 
**lou^ht  to  BpoloRiai]  to  you  for  bavins  troypJed 
you  wiib  any  thing  of  my  own,  when  ]  bad  thinafl 
like  tbia  for  your  ear."—  I  felt  at  once/'  aays  Bal- 
lantytie,  "  that  his  own  versea  were  far  above  what 
LewiB  could  ever  do,  and  ihoiigh,  when  1  said  ll*J^  be 
di»aented,  yet  he  scouted  pi eas^>d  with  the  wamub  of 
my  approbmion"  AtparlioB,  Scott  threw  mt  a  ca- 
sual ooaervationt  that  lie  wondered  hiftold  fnend  did 
not  try  to  ^et  mme  little  booksellers'  work,  *  t6  keep 
hia  types  m  play  dunnK  ihe  rest  of  the  week/'  Bal* 
lantynE  an  a  wi^  red,  that  iueh  an  idea  bad  not  heforo 
occtirred  to  him— that  hu  bad  no  acquaio lance  with 


*  Uvw  martT  BQ  OtiiLwai  in 

Digitized 


:pe-5c^c 


LIFE  OP  SIR  WALTER  SCOTT. 


^e  Edinbur^  '*  trade ;"  bat,  if  he  had,  his  types 
were  good,  and  he  thought  he  could  afford  to  work 
more  cheaply  than  town-printers.  Scott,  ^with 
his  good-humoured  smile,"  said,  "  You  had  better 
try  what  you  can  do.  You  haye  been  praising  my 
little  ballads ;  suppose  Tou  print  off  a  dozen  copies 
or  so  of  as  many  as  will  make  a  pamphlet,  sufficient 
to  let  my  Edinhiirgh  acQuaintances  judge  of  your 
skill  for  (hcnisf  ives."  Ballantyne  assented  ;  and  I 
believe  exactly  iwelye  copiea  of  William  and  EUlen, 
The  Fire- Ki  IK,  The  Chase,  and  a  few  more  of  those 
pieces,  were  tlirowri  niV  accordin^y,  with  the  title 
(alludmg  to  th(*  lon;^  cltlay  of  Lewis's  collection)  of 
"  Apology  for  Tales  of  Terroi— 1799."  This  first  spe- 
eimen  of  a  press,  afterwards  so  celebrated,  pleased 
Scott ;  and  he  said  to  Ballantvne,  "  I  have  been  for 
years  coUeciingold^rderballads,andI  think  I  could 
with  little  trouble  put  together  such  a  selection  from 
them  as'might  make  i  neat  little  volume,  to  sell  for 
four  or  five  shillings.  I  will  talk  to  some  of  the 
booksellers  about  it  when  I  get  to  Edinburgh,  and 
if  the  thinjs  goes  on.  you  shall  be  the  printer."  Bal- 
lantyne higmy  relisned  the  proposal ;  and  the  result 
of  tnis  littk  CTperiment  changed  wholly  the  course 
of  his  worldly  fortunes,  as  well  as  of  his  friend's. 

Shortly  after  the  commencement  of  the  Winter 
Seasitn,  the  office  off*  Sberifi'-depute  of  Selkirkshire 
became  vacant  bv  the  death  of  an  early  ally  of 
Scott^s^  Andrew  Plummer  of  Middlestead,  a  scholar 
«Bd  antiquary,  who  had  entered  with  zeal  into  his 
ballad-researches,  and  whose  name  occurs  accord- 
ingly more  than  once  in  thi  notes  to  the  Border 
Minstrelsy.  Perl^aps  the  community  of  their  tastes 
may  have  had  some  part  in  suggesting  to  the  Duke 
of  Bncclench.  that  Scott  might  fitly  succeed  Mr. 
Plummer  in  tne  msgistrature.  Be  that  as  it  might. 
his  Grace's  influence  was  used  with  the  late  Lord 
Melville,  who,  in  those  days,  had  the  general  con- 
I  trol  of  the  crown  patronage  in  Scotland,  and  his 
Lordship  was  prepared  to  look  favourably  on  Scott's 
pretensions  to  some  office  of  this  description. 
Though  nether  the  Duke  nor  this  able  minister  were 
at  all  addicted  to  hterature,  they  bad  both  seen  Scott 
fiequently  under  their  own  roois^  and  been  pleased 
witn  his  manners -and  conversation  ;  and  henad  by 
thistimecome  to  be  on  terms  of  aflfectionate  intima- 
cy with  some  of  the  vounger  members  of  either  fami- 
ly. The  Earl  of  Dalkeith,  (afterwards  Duke  Charles 
of  Buccleuch,)  and  his  brother  Lord  /ames  Scott, 

inow  Lord  Montagu,)  had  been  participating,  with 
[indred  ardour,  in  the  military  patriotism  of  the  pe- 
riod, and  had  been  thrown  into  Scott's  society  uu: 
der  circumstances  well  qualified  to  ripen  acquaint- 
ance into  confidence.  The  Honourable  Robert 
Dundas,  eldest  son  of  the  statesman  whose  title  he 
has  inherited*,  had  been  one  of  Scott's  companions 
in  the  High  school ;  and,  he,  too,  had  been  of  late 
a  lively  partaker  in  the  business  of  the  yeomanry 
eavalry }  and,  last,  not  least,  Scott  always  remem- 
bered with  gratitude  the  strong  interccssirm  on  this 
occasion  of  Lord  Melville's  nephew,  the  Right  Hon- 
ourable William  Dundas,  then  Secstary  to  the 
Board  of  Control,  and  now  Lord  Clerk  Register  for 
Scotland. 

His  appointment  to  the  ShtriJJ^kip  bears  date 
Itfth  December,  1799.  It  secured  him  an  annual 
salary  of  iS300 ;  an  addition  to  his  resources  which 
at  once  relieved  his  mind  from  whatever  degree  of 
anxiety  he  might  have  felt  in  considering  the  pros- 
pect of  an  increa^ng  family,  along  with  the  ever 
precarious  chances  of  a  profession,  in  the  daily 
drudgery  of  which  it  is  impoefsible  to  suppose  that  he 
ever  could  have  found  much  pleasure.*  The  duties 
of  the  office  were  far  from  heavy ;  the  district,  small, 
peaceful,  and  pastoral,  was  in  great  part  the  proper- 
ty of  the  Duke  of  Buccleuch  ;  and  he  turned  with 
redoubled  zeal  to  his  project  of  editing  the  ballads, 
many  of  the  best  of  which  belonged  to  this  very 

*  "  Mr  profetuan  and  I  came  to  itand  nearly  xspaa  tbe  footioc 
wUcbhooett  Slender  conaqled  himself  on  bavmf  'established 


district  of  his   favouriU  Bordei^those 
which,  as  the  dedication  of  the  Mmstrelsy  ezpreaMS 
it  had  "  in  elder  times  celebrated  the  prowess  and 
cheered  the  halls"  of  his  noble  patron's  anceaKna. 

CHAPT.ERX. 

THB  BOBOSa  MINSTBELST  Uf  PBKPABATlON^miGAABD 
HBBBB—JOlUt  LBVDBa—WUXIAM  LUSfLKW—iAMMm 
HOOO — COBBKSPOVBBNCB  WITH  OBOBOB  BLUB— 
PCBUCATION  OF  THB  TWO  FIBST  VOLUMES  OP  THB 
BOBDBBJIINSTBBIJBY.— 1800-1802.    * 

Jambs  BALLAmrKB,  in  his  Memorandum^  after 
mentioning  his  ready  acceptance  of  Scott's  proix>- 
skl  to  print  the  Minstrelsy,  adds--"  I  do  not  believe, 
that  even  at  this  time,  ne  seriously  contemplated 
giving  himself  much  to  titers  ture."  I  confer  how- 
ler, that  a  letter  of  his^  addressed  to  Bailantyna 
in  the  spring  of  1800,  inclines  me  to  question  the  ac- 
curacy of  this  impression.  After  alfuding  to  an  in- 
tention which  he  had  entertained,  in  consequence 
of  the  delay^  Lewis's  collection,  to  publiA,  an  edi- 
tion of  the  ballads  contained  in  his  own  little  vo- 
lume, entitled  *'  Apology  for  Tales  of  Terror,"  be 
goes  on  to  detail  plans  &t  the  future  direction  of  his 
printer's  career,  which  were,  no  doubt,  primarily 
suggested  by  the  friendly  interest  he  took  in  Ballan- 
tyne's  fortunes ;  but  there  are  some  hints  wbich. 
considering  what  afterwards  did  take  place,  lead 
me  to  suspect  that  even  thus  early  the  writer  con- 
templated the  possibility  at  lea^t  of  being  himself 
very  intimately  connected  with  the  result  of  th«M 
airdrawn  schemes.    The  letter  is  as  follows  t 

To  Mr.  J.  BnUantyneyKeUoMaU  Qfice,  JTcIm. 

<'  Castle  Street,  22d  April  ISDO. 
"Dear  Or, 

"  I  have  your  ftvour,  aince  the  receipt  of  which  sonw 
things  have  occurred  which  induce  me  to  postpone  my 
intention  of  publishing  my  balladiL  particularhr  a  letter 
from  a  friend,  aasaring  me  diat  *  The  Talea  or  Wonder* 
are  actually  in  the  printer's  hand.  In  this  sUuation  I  eil- 
deavonr  to  atrengtnea  my  small  atock  of  patleoee,  which 
has  been  nearly  exhauated  by  the  delay  of  this  work,  to 
wliioh  (though  for  that  reason  ak>ne)I  almost  regret  hav- 
ing promiaed  aaaistance.  1  am  slill  reaoived  to  have  re- 
course to  your  press  for  the  Ballads  of  the  Border,  which 
are  in  some  forwardness. 

"  I  have  now  to  request  vour  forgiveneas  for  mention, 
ing  apian  which  your  friend  Gillon  and  I  haveialkeil  over 
together,  with  a  view  aa  well  to  the  public  advantage  aa  to 
your  individual  interest.  It  ia  nothing  short  of  a  migra* 
tion  from  Kelso  to  thia  place,  which  I  think  might  be  ef 
fected  upon  a  prospect  of  a  tery  flattering  nature. 

**  Ttiree  branches  of  printing  are  quite  open  in  Edin- 
burgh, all  of  which  I  am  well  convinced  yon  have  both 
the  ability  and  inclination  to  unite  in  your  person.  The 
first  ia  thiat  or  an  editor  of  a  newspaper,  which  shall  con- 
tain something  of  an  uniform  historical  deduction  of 
events,  distinct  from  the  forrngo  of  detached  and  uncoo> 
nected  plafiariams  from  the  London  paragraphe  of  *  Hie 
Sun.'  Perhaps  it  might  be  possible  (and  Gillon  has  pro- 
mised to  make  hiouiry  about  it)  to  treat  with  the  profule- 
tora  of  soma  eatabliahed  paper— suppose  the  Caledoola& 


Mercury— and  we  would  all  atruasie  to  obtain  for  it  i 

celebrity.  To  this  might  be  added  a  *  Monthly  Alacazine,* 
and  '  Caledonian  Annual  Register,'  If  you  will ;  for  bock 
of  which,  with  the  excellent  literary  aasistance  which 
Edinburgh  at  present  aflTords,  there  ia  a  (air  openii^ 
The  next  object  would  naturally  be,  the  execution  of  Ses- 
sion papers,  the  best  paid  work  which  a  printer  under- 
takes, and  of  which,  I  dare  say,  you  would  aoon  have  m 
considerable  ahare  ;  for  as  you  make  it  your  busineas  . 
to  superintend  the  proofs  yourself^  your  edacadon  and  * 
abilitlea  would  insure  your  employers  against  the  gross 
and  provoking  blunders  wiiich  the  poor  composers  are 
often  oblised  to  submit  to.  The  publication  of  works, 
either  ancient  .or  modem,  opens  a  thml  lair  field  for  aa- 
bition.  The  only  genileniau  who  attempts  any  tbinK  ia 
that  way  is  in  very  bad  health ;  nor  can  I,  at  any  rato^ 
compliment  cither  the  accuraoy  or  the  execution  of  hta 
press.  I  believe  It  is  well  understood,  that  with  equal  at- 
tention an.  Edinburgh  press  would  have  superior  advan- 
tages even  to  those  of  the  metropolia;  and  though  I 
would  not  advise  laonching  Into  that  line  at  once,  yet  it 
would  be  easy  to  feel  your  way  by  occupying  your  pre«i 
in  this  manner  oa  vacant  daya  only* 
"  It  appears  to  me  that  such  a  plan,  judiciously  adopted 


LIFE  OP  SIR  WALTER  ^COTT, 


ad  WgeoUt  panned,  opens  a  hkr  road  to  an  ample 
fatne.  In  Che  mean  wbtie,  the  *  Kelso  Mail'  might  be 
Kunoged  as  to  be  atUI  a  source  of  some  advantace  to 
70a;  ud  I  dare  say,  if  wanted,  pecuniarj  assistance 
Bight  be  procured  to  assist  you  at  the  outset,  either  upon 
lenos  of  a  share  or  otherwise;  but  I  refef  you  for  par* 
tkidars  to  Joseph,  in  whose  room  I  a'm  »ow  assuming  the 
pra,  for  reasoDs  loo  distressing  to  be  declared,  but  at 
wlikh  JWL  will  readiW  guess.  I  hope,  91  all  events,  you 
vffi  impute  my  interference  to  any  thtrig  rather  than  an 
kip^seot  intermeddling  with  ypur  concerns,  on  the 
yuiof,  dear  sir,  your  obedient  servant, 

Walter  Scott." 

The  Joseph  Gillon  here  named  was  a  Writer  to 
the  Signet  of  some  eminence :  a  man  of  strong 
ibiliiiM  and  senuine  wit  and  humour,  for  whom 
Scott,  19  well  as  Ballantyne,  had  a  warm  regard.^ 
Th»  intemperate  habits  alluded  to  at  the  close  of 
Scott's  letter  gradually  undermined  his  business,  his 
bealtk,  and  hts  character;  and  he  was  glad,  on 
leading  Edinburgh,  which  became  qiu'te  necessary 
Nine  years  afterwards,  to  obtain  the  situation  of  a 
doorkeroer  in  the  House  of  Lords— in  which  he 
diei  The  answer  of  Ballantyne  has  not  been  pre- 
swred. 

To  return  lo  the  "  Minstrelsy.' —Scott  found  nble 
assistants  in  the  completion  of  his  destRn.  Richord 
Heber  (long  Member  of  Parliament  for  the  Univinr- 
aty  of  Oxford)  happened  to  spend  tltis  winter  in 
E<iinbi]T^,  and  was  welcomed,  as  hi 9  tnlentB  nod 
accomplishments  entitled  him  to  be,  by  the  culti- 
TStdsociety  of  the  place.  With  Scoti,  hti^  nml f ]fa- 
lioM  learning,  particularly  his  profoun  d  k  n  v  w  I  c  d  ge 
oftbeliiervy  monuments  of  the  midi  lio  agcj,  soon 
drew  him  into  habits  of  close  alliance;  the  stores 
of  his  library,  even  then  extensive,  were  freely  laid 
open,  and  his  own  oral  commentaries  were  not  less 
niaable.  But  through  him  Scott  made  acqnaint- 
SMe  with  a  person  still  more  <iuahfied  to  give  him 
jiectoal  aid  in  this  undertaking^a  native  of  the 
power— from  infancy^  like  himself,  an  enthusiastic 
"irer  of  its  legends,  and  who  had  already  saturated 
to  Bund  with  every  species  of  lore  that  could  throw 
«ght  upon  these  relics. 

Few  who  read  these  pages  can  be  unacauainted 
with  the  leading  facts  in  the  history  of  John  Leyden. 
-Few  can  need  to  be  reminded  that  this  extraor- 
towy  man,  born  in  a  shepherd's  cottage  in  one  of 
'M  wildest  valleys  of  Roxourehshire,  and  of  course 
«most  entirely  self-educated,  had,  before  he  attain- 
«  his  nineteenth  year,  confounded  the  doctors  of 
"mborgh  by  the  portentous  mass  of  his  acquisi- 
Jons  in  almost  every  department  of  learning.  He 
"Mset  the  eitremest  penury  at  utter  defiance,  ^r 
wther  he  had  never  been  conscious  that  it  could 
jPOTite  as  a  bar ;  for  bread  and  water,  and  access  to 
MOM  and  lectures,  comprised  all  within  the  bound 
«  his  wishes ;  andf  thus  he  toiled  and  battled  at  the 
gttt  of  science  after  science,  until  his  unconquer- 
"Wf  perseverance  carried  every  thing  before  it; 
^yet,  with  his  monastic  abstemiousness  and  iron 
iwdneas  of  will,  perplexin^i;  those  about  him  by 
^nen  and  habits  in  which  it  was  hard  to  say 
*h€therthe  moss-trooper  or  the  schoolman  of  for- 
^  Mja  most  prevailed,  he  was  at  heart  a  poet 

Ai^hjbald  Constable,  in  after  life  one  of  the  most 
jaMnem  of  British  pubHshersL  was  at  this  period 
[™  Meper  of  a  small  book-shop,  into  which  few, 
o'litheDoor  students  of  Lcyden's  order,  had  hither- 
jo  wand  their  way.  Heber^  in  the  course  of  his 
wblwinaniacal  prowlings,  discovered  that  it  con- 
**«ie<l8omeof 

"TbeiioaU  old  volnmes  dark  with  tamish'd  gold," 

I  ^ch  were  alrtady  the  Delilahs  of  his  imagina- 
J?°»  and,  moreover,  that  the  young  bookseller  had 
^nwelf  a  strong  taste  for  such  charmers.  Freqpent- 

,  Hm  place  accordingly,  he  observed  with  some 
?2°5^y  the  barbarous  aspect  and  gestures  of  ano- 
•rf  oaily  visitant,  who  came  not  to  puchase  evi- 
'^^  bnt  to  pore  over  the  more  recondite  articles 
"•he  collection— often  balanced  for  hotu-s  on  a 

1      l1S%  on.lrim  one  day  in  hn  writing  office.  Scott  said. ""  Why, 
J*W.  t^  place  is  av  hot  as  an  oven. "    "  Well,"  quoth  Gillon, 
!       ""wrtifhert  that  I  moke  my  bread)" 
I  *  10    G 


73 

ladder  with  a  Jblio  in  hit  hand^  like  Domini^^Banipr 
son.  The  English  virtuoso  was  on  the  look-out  for 
any  books  or  MSS.  that  might  be  of  use  to  the  edi- 
tor of  the  projected  "  Minstrelsy,'*  and  some  casual 
colloquy  led  to  the  discovery  that  this  unshorn 
stranger  was,  amidst  the  endless  labyrinth  of  his 
lore,  a  master  of  legend  and  tradition— an  enthusi- 
astic collector  and  most  skilful  expounder  of  these 
very  Border  ballads  in  particular.  Scott  heard  with 
much  interest  Heber's  account  of  his  odd  acquaint- 
ance, BX\d  found,  when  introduced^  the  person 
whose  initials,  affixed  to  a  series  of  pieces  in  verse, 
chiefly  translations  from  Greek^  Latin,  and  the  nor- 
thern languages,  scattered,  during  the  last  three  or 
four  years,  over  the  pages  of  the  Eklinburgh  Ma-< 
gazine,"  bad  often  much  excited  his  cnriosity,  as 
various  indications  pointed  out  the  Scotch  Border 
forthe  native  district  of  this  unknown  "  J.  L." 

These  new  friendships  led  to  a  great  change  in 
Leyden' s  position,  purposes,  and  prospects.  He< 
was  presently  received  into  the  best  society  of 
Edinburgh,  where  his  strange,  wild  uncouthness  of 
demeanour  does  not  seem  to  have  at  all  interfered 
with  the  general  appreciation  of  his  gjenius,  his  gi- 

f antic  endowments,  and  really  amiable  virtues, 
'ixing  his  ambition  on  the  East  where  be  hoped  to 
rival  the  achievements  of  Sir  William  Jones,  he  at 
length,  about  the  beginning  of  1802,  obtained  the 

fromise  of  some  literary  appointment  in  the  East 
ndia  Company's  service  ;  but  when  tbe  time  drew, 
near,  it  was  discovered  that  the  patronage  of  the 
season  had  been  exhausted,  with  the  exception  of 
one  surgeon-aaaiatan^a  commission— which  had 
been  with  difficulty  secured  for  him  by  Mr.  William 
Ehindas;  who,  moreover,  was  obliged  to  inform 
him  that,  if  he  accepted  it,  he  must  be  qualified  to 
pass  his  medical  trials  within  six  months.  This 
news,  which  would  have  crushed  any  other  man's 
hopes  to  the  dust,  was  only  a  welcome  fillip  to  the 
ardour  of  Leyden.  He  that  same  hour  grappled 
with  a  new  science,  in  fiiU  confidence  that  whatever 
ordinary  men  could  do  in  three,  or  four  years,  his 
energy  coidd  accomplish  in  as  many  n^onths ;  took 
bis  (^gree  ac«)rdingly  in  the  besinnmg  of  1803,  hav- 
ing just  before  published  his  beautiml  poem,  the 
"  Scenes  of  Infancy;"  sailed  to  India;  raised  for 
himself,  within  seven  short  years,  the  reputation  of 
the  most  marvellous  of  Oneritalists ;  and  died,  in 
the  midst  of  the  proudest  hopes,  at  the  same  age 
with  Bums  and  Byron,  in  1811. 

But  to  return :— Leyden  was  enhsted  by  Scott  ia 
the  service  of  Lewis,  and  immediately  contributed 
a  balhid.  called  The  Elf-King,  to  the  Tales  of  Terror.  ♦ 
Those  hidily  spirited  pieces.  The  Cout  of  Keildar, 
Lord  Soulis,  and  The  Mermaid,  were  fiirnished  for 
the  original  department  of  Scott's  own  coUecdon  t  f 
and  the  Dissertation  on  Fairies,  prefixed  to  its  se- 
cond volume,  "  although  arranged  and  digested  by 
the  editor,  abounds  with  instances  of  such  curious 
reading  as  Leyden  only  had  read,  and  was  original- 
ly compiled  by  him ;  but  not  the  least  of  his  labours 
was  innhe  collection  of  the  old  ballads  themselves. 
When  he  first  conversed  with  Ballantyne  on  the 
subject  of  the  proposed  worki  and  the  pnnter  signi- 
fied his  belief  that  a  single  volume  of  moderate  iize 
would  be  sufficient  for  the  materials,  Leyden  ex- 
claimed, "  Dash  it,  does  Mr.  Scott  mean  another  ' 
thin  thing  like  Qoetz  of  Berlichitigen  7  I  have 
more  than  that  in  my  head  myself:  we  shall  turn  • 
out  three  or  four  such  volumes  at  least."  ^  He  went 
to  work  stoutly  in  the  realization  of  these  wider 
views.  "In  this  labour,"  says  Scott,  "he  was 
equally  interested  by  friendship  forthe  editor,  and' 
by  his  own  patriotic  zeal  for  the  honotir  of  the 
Scottish  borders ;  and  both  may  be  judged  of  firom 
the  following  circumstance.  An  interesting  fi-ag- 
ment  had  been  obtained  of  an  ancient  histoncal 
ballad  ;  but -the  remainder,  to  the  great  disturbance 
of  the  editor  and  his  coadjutor,  was  not  to  bp  reco- 
vered. Two  days  afterwards,  while  the  editor  was 
sitting  with  some  company '  after  dintier,  a  sound 
was  heard  at  a  distance  like  that  of  the  whisthng 
of  a  tempest  through  the  torn  rigging  of  the  vessel 
which  scuds  befbie  it.    The  sounds  mcreased  as 


•4 

tlMsr  approached  more  neart  and  Lejrden  (to  the 
•  sreat  astonishinent  of  euah  of  the  guests  as  did  not 
l^iow  him)  burst  into  the  room,  chanting  the  de- 
siderated ballad  with  the  roost  enthusiastic  gesture, 
and  all  the  energy  of  what  he  used  to  call  the  bow- 
^  ioru9  of  his  voice.  It  turned  out  that  he  walked  be- 
tween forty  and  fifty  miles,  and  back  again,  for  the 
sole  purpose  of  visiting  an  old  person  who  possess- 
ed this  precious  remnant  of  antiquity."* 

Various  allusions  to  the  progress  of  Leyden's  for^ 
tunes  will  occur  in  letters  to  be  quoted  hereafter.  I 
may  refer  the  reader,  for  farther  particulars,  to  the 
biographical  sketch  by  Scott,  fron|  which  the  pre- 
cecUng  anecdote  is  taken.  Many  tributes  to  his  me- 
mory are  scattered  over  his  friend's  other  works, 
both  prose  and  verse ;  and  above  all,  Scott  did  not 
forget  him  when  exploring,  three  years  after  his 
death,  the  scenery  of  his  "  Mermaid  r'— 

**Bcarba'iitle,  whose  tortured  shore 
Still  TlngB  to  Corrievreksn's  roar, 

And  lonely  OoIooMy  ;— 
fleenes  song  by  him  who  stags  no  inore : 
His  bright  and  brief  career  ia  o'er. 

And  mute  his  tuneful  slraioa : 
Queoch'd  is  hia  lamp  of  tarled  lore, 
That  loved  the  light  of  song  to  pour ;     • 
A  distant  and  a  deadly  shore 

Has  Leyden'8  cola  remains  !"t 

Dtmng  the  years  I5*iw  and  iSfll,  the  MinstTdsy 
fornipd  jtei  e^litor^a  cliir-l  oc<JUpanoii— a  labour  ot 
loveiruly,  if  ever  siich  them  wns :  but  ncifht^r  tliis 
nor  his  shenJlkkip  intorf^T'ed  mih  nis  rc^Jar  atten- 
dance ai  ih«  bar,  the  abandonnient  of  which  was 
all  this  while  &»  far  ss  it  ever  bud  hcvu  from  his 
imaginatiorii  Qt  that  of  &ny  of  hiit  fnciida.  He  con- 
|inu«d  to  have  his  ^iimm«^T  h^ndquart^s  aiLs^ 
wad&:  and  Mr.  (now  Sir  ioKn)  ^tod^tart,  wbo  vi- 
lli t«d  oim  thcr«  in  the  course  of  h^  SE^tiitish  tQur,t 
dwells  OQ  *^  ihfi.  simple  unomontatiou^  de^nnce  of 
tbo  cottttKc,  and  tht^Hoiijes  tie  picture  which  he  ihore 
GOiitenipJaied^a  nion  uf  nativB  kinijnesifk  and  culti- 
vated tmlcfnU  pa^iiiTi^  l\w  itMffrvnU  of  a  learned  pro- 
^fiion  amiciH  »c*ncfs  hichjv  fsvournhftf  to  hispofctic 
ififlptratiori^  not  iit  churu^ih  and  ru^tje  soJitudri  but 
in  thc!  daily  oxerciee  of  tJio  most  prifcioua  eympaihies 
Wi  a  husband,  a  father  and  a  fricnd,"  His  means 
of  ho^italitr  wer&  now  much  enUrg^^  and  t lie  cot- 
tage, on  a  ^Saturday  and  Sunday  at  hmU  w^s  eei- 
dnm  without  vtaitora. 

Amonf^  other  indication B  of  tfTeat^  e&s^  in  Iub 
4Qircum«ri3nci'8,  wlaoh  J  ^nd  ld  his  k^ner-book,  he 
vriles  tu  Htlur,  iiu-r  Kii^feiufn  to  London  in  May, 
i@f)0f  to  rt^qijtst  Jiih  gijH^i  officios  on  Lhehall  of  Mrs, 
Soolt,  who  had  ''  set  her  honrt  nna  [^hiFton,  at  once 
•trotiHi  nnd  LoWf  and  hand  no  mc,  and  noi  to  cost 
I  mofe  than  thirty  guineas  ;*'  wbi^^h  combtnatmn  of 
advBntsK<fs  Heb^r  aeomE  to  have  ^und  by  no  means 
'  easy  of  attainment.  Tb&  pheeion  wasT  however, 
4iaoovered ;  and  ue  fci)rinj?§  mu^t  sciou  hare  buen 
{)Bt  10  a  samcient  maf,  fuf  ibis  was  ^*  the  firBt whtel- 
ed  eairia^e  that  ever  p^netrntid  into  Liddesdale'^— 
naraelvt  in  Auguat^  IBOO.  The  friendship  of  the 
Buccleuch  fjimuy  now  placni  belter  rncan't  of  re- 
Bearch  at  hincLispoeal  and  Lord  Dalkeith  had  taktfn 
ipiocial  care  thai  there  phoiild  be  a  band  of  pioneers 
in  waiting  for  his  grdt^rs  uhen  he  reached  Hcr- 
Fiitaii^. 

Though  he  had  not  |;iv'en  up  Lasswade^  bis  ^lie- 
rijifship  now  in^de  it  neee^aary  fi>r  hitn  that  be 
ahgnla  be  frequently  in  Et trick  Forest.  On  titich 
ocea^ns  ha  took  up  )ii«  lodging b  in  th^  htiLiiin 
at  CJovenfbrd,  a  fa  von  rite  fiwiine  Biaiion  on  The 
tt^ad  from  RdtnburjEh  tu  Splkirk-  From  ihi«i  |Jace 
he  could  ride  to  the  county  tovvn  whenever  buiinjiss 
Ceauired  his  pfeftcnce,  and  he  wan  ale*!  within  u  low 
miles  of  the  valrei  of  Yarrow  and  Ettnok,  where  he 
f)btain«<l  l^^rgt  accession i  to  hia  »toro  of  balleiis. 
It  was  in  one  of  theoej  excursions  thai,  )>etie£t'aung 
beyond  St,  Mary's  lake,  he  found  a  hospitable  recai>- 
tion  at*  th«  farm  of  Biaf^khmifit^  sitaaled  on  the 

•  Eamj  on  the  Life  of  Lejrden— 8cott*t  MiMenaneoua  Proie 
Woriu,  ^.  i?.,  p.  165. 
^  Lord  of  the  bin,  Canto  tr.  tt  11. 
X  The  aeeount  of  this  Tear  was  pilUiahed  in  180L 


UFE  OF  sot  WALTER  SOO^. 


Donglaa-buro,  then  tenaoted  by  a,  reamfii^hle  i^ 
mily,  to  which  I  have  alraady  made  aDonon — that 
of  willism  Laidlaw.  He  was  theo  a  Tery  yoma^ 
mair,  bnt  the  extent  of  hia  acquirements  was  alraa- 
dy. as  noticeable  as  the  vigour  and  ohginalitr  of  hk 
mind ;  and  their  correspondence,  where  *'  Sir"  pas- 
sets,  at  a  few  bounds,  through  *'  Dear  Sir,"  and 
"  Dear  Mr.  Laidlaw,"  to  **  Dear  Wilhej''  shows  hov 
speedily  this  new  acquaintance  had  warmed  into  t 
verv  tender  affection.  LaidlaVs  leal  aboat  tkc 
ballads  was  repaid  oy  Scott's  anxious  esdeavoon 
to  get  him  removed  from  a  sphere  for  which,  be 
writes,  **it  is  no  flattery  to  say  tha^you  are  mock 
too  good."  It  was  then,  and  always  continued  is 
be,  his  opinion,  that  his  mend  was  particularly  quali- 
fied for  entering  with  advantage  on' the  study  of  the 
medical  profession :  but  such  designs,  if  Laidlav 
himself  ever  took  them  up  seriously,  were  not  ulti- 
mately persevered  in :  and  I  Question  whether  ani 
worldly  success-  could,  after  all,  have  overbalanced 
the  retrospect  of  an  honourable  life  spent  hai^j 
in  the  open  air  of  nature,  amidst  scenes  the  most 
csptivaung  to  the^yeof  genius,  and  in  the  intimate 
confidence  of;  perhaps,  the  greatest  of  con temporaiy 
minds. 

James  Hogg  had  spent  ten  years  of  his  life  in  cbe 
service  of  Mr.  Laidlaw's  fathen  but  althou^  Ui 
own  various  accoimts  of  his  early  days  are  not  to  be 
reconciled  with  each  other  as  to  minute  particiiian 
of  dale  and  locality,  he  seems  to  have  paaaed  into 
that  of  another  sheep-fsrmer  in  a  neighbouring  val- 
ley, before  Scott  first  visited  Blackhouae.  Be  that 
as  It  may,  William  Laidlaw  and  Hogg  had  been  for 
years  the  most  intimate  of  friendf,  and  the  former 
took  care  that  Scott  should  see,  without  delay,  ona 
whose  enthusiasm  about  the  minstrelsy  of  the  Fo- 
rest was  equal  to  his  own,  and  whose  iqother,  theo 
an  aged  woman,  though  she  lived  many  years  after- 
wards, was  celebrated  for  having  by  heart  several 
ballads  in  a  more  perfect  form  than  any  other  inha- 
bitant of  the  vale  of  Ettrick.  The  personal  hiatorj 
of  James  Hogg  must  have  intereated  Scott  eve^ 
more  than  any  acgaisition  of  that  sort  which  be 
owed  to  this  acquaintance  with,  perhaps,  the  noost 
remarkable  man  that  ever  wore  the  maud  of  a 
shepherd.  But  1  need  not  hem  repeat  a  tale  which 
his  own  language  will  convey  to  the  latest  posterity. 
Under  the  garb,  aspect,  and  bearing  of  a  rude  pea- 
sant—and rude  enough  he  was  in  most  of  these 
things,  even  after  no  inconsiderable  experience  of 
society— Scott  found  a  brother  poet,  a  true  son  of 
nature  and  genius,  hardly  conscious  of  his  powers. 
He  had  tau^t  himself  to  write  by  copying  the  let- 
ters of  a  printed  book  as  he  lay  watching  ois  flock 
on  the  bill-side,  and  had  probably  reached  the  ut- 
most pitch  of  his  ambition  when  he  first  found  that 
his  artless  rhymes  could  touch  the  heart  of  the  ewe- 
milker  who  partook  the  shelter  of  his  mantle  dur- 
ing the  passing  storm.  As  yet  his  naturally  kind 
and  simple  character  had  not  been  exposed  to  any 
of  the  dangerous  flatteries  of  the  worla ;  his  heart 
was  pure— his  enthusiasm  buoyant  as  that  oX  a 
happy  child ;  and  well  as  Soott  knew  that  reflec- 
tion, sagacity,  wit,  and  wisdom  were  scattered  abun- 
dantly among  the  humblest  rangers  o(  these  pas- 
UYral  soUtudes,  there  was  here  a  depth  and  srl>right- 
ue^  that  filled  him  with  wonderi  combined  with  a 
quaintnesB  of  humour,  and  a  thousand  Utile  touches 
of  absurdity,  which  afiforded  him  more  entertain- 
ment, as  I  have  often  heard  him  say,  than  the  best 
comedy  that  ever  set  the  pit  in  a  roar. 

Scott  opened  in  the  same  year  a  correspondence 
with  the  venerable  BiBhop  of  Dremore,  who  aeems, 
however,  to  have  done  little  more  than  express  a 
warm  interest  in  an  undertaking  so  nearly  reaein* 
bhng  that  which  will  ever  keep  his  own  name  ia 
remembrance.  He  had  more  success  in  his  appli- 
cations to  a  more  unpromising  quarter— namelj, 
with  Joseph  Ritson,  the  ancient  and  virulent  assail* 
ant  of  Bishop  Percy's  editorial  character.  This 
narrow-minded,  sour,  and  <logmatical  little  word- 
catcher,  had  hated  the  very  name  of  a  Scotsman, 
and  was  utterl;f  incapable  of  sympathizing  with  any 
of  the  higher  viewa  of  his  new  correspondent.    Tet 


UFB  OF  sot  WAL^fER  SCOTT. 


^Wiml^wi  hm$  of  Scott  dutiiMcl  •v«ii  thit  litlf- 
cmrpddmiit}  •od  he  c6iiimtiiucated  tbt  stores  of 
tvieuly  ▼alnable  lemung  in  a  manner  that  seems 


tehave  i^eatly  smprised  all  who  hftd  hitherto  held 
anr  mtcrcoorae  with  him  on  antiquarian  topics.  It 
astonkhed.  aboye  all,  theiate  amiable  and  elegant 
George  EuiBi  whose  aoqoaintance  was  about  the 
i  opened  to  Scott  through  their  common 
r.  Mr.  Ellis  was  now  busil/  engaged 
B  eoUeecnig  the  materials  for  his  charmmg  works. 
cotaled  Specimens  of  Ancient  English  Poetry,  and 
SjpeeiiBeiis  of  Ancient  English  Romance.  The  cor- 
R^ondence  between  him  and  Scott  soon  came  to 
be  constant.  They  met  personklly.  not  long  after 
the  eocnqxMideoce  had  commenced,  conceived  for 
each  othtf  a  oordial  respect  and  aflection,  and  conti- 
Med  on  a  footinc  of  almost  brotherly  intimaoy  ever 
dbv.  To  ths  Taniahle  alliance  Scott  o wed^  among 
other  adranCaites,  his  early  and  ready  admission  to 
dbe  ■eqmntanoe  and  familiarity  of  Ellis's  bosom 
ftnid,  his  coadjutor  m  the  Antijacobin,  and  the  con- 
Adam  of  an  his  literary  schemes^  the  late  illustrious 
stitennan,  Mr.  Canning:* 

Tbe  &r8t  letter  of  Scott  to  Elfis  is  dated  March 
S7, 1801.  and  becins  thus:—"  Sir,  as  I  feel  myself 
m^j  nntiersd  oy  your  inqniriea,  I  lose  no  time  in 
answenn^  them  to  the  heist  of  my  al^ty.  Tour 
eanneiioem  the  literary  world,  and  the  warm  prai- 
saa  of  ov  mntnal  firiend  Heber,  had  made  me  long 
wish  hr  an  opportimity  of  being:  known  to  you.  I 
•aolose  tho  first  sheet  of  Sir  Tristfem,  that  vou 
■ay  sot  80  maeh  rely  upon  my  opinbn,  as  upon  that 
—^  *!  a  spednien  of  the  style  and  yersifieation  may 
>  yomr  better  judgment  to  form  for  itaelf.  .  .  . 
pages  are  transcribed  by  Leyden,  an  excellent 
yvBOff  man,  of  uncommon  talents,  patronised  by 
Hd»r,  and  who  is  of  the  utmost  assistance  to  my 
Etttanr  nnderti^unga." 

As  Scott's  edition  of  Sir  Tristxem  did  not  appear 
ottl  May,  lfi04^  and  he  and  Leyden  were  busy  with 
tht  Batder  MmatrslsT  when  his  correspondence 
aith  Bfis  aoBimenoea,  this  early  indication  of  his 
labovs  oathi  fimnerwork  minr  require  ezpl|ina- 
tion.  "Hie  truth  is,  that  both  Scott  and  Leyden, 
hafing  eagerly  amved  at  the  belief  from  which 


aother  ofthem  erer  permitted  himself  to  falter, 
that  the  ''Sir  Tristrem"  of  the  Auchinleck  MS., 
was  Tirtually,  if  not  literalljN  the  production  of 
TVomaa  the  nfaymer,  lahrd  ot  Ercfldoune,  in  Ber- 
viokahire,  who  flourished  at  the  close  of  thethir- 
leeadh.  century— the'Original  intention  had  been  to 
eve  it,  not  only  a  plac^  but  a  very  prominent  ofle, 
mdie  "  Minstrelsy  of  the  Scottish  Border.*  The 
doidits  and  difficuldes  which  EUis  suggested,  how- 
ever, though  they  did  not  shake  Scott  m  his  opinion 
ss  to  the  parentage  of  the  romance,  induced  re- 
searebea  wnich  occupied  ao  mudi  time,  and  gave 
b«^  to  notes  so  bulky,  that  he  eventually  found  it 
eipedient  first  to  pass  it  over  in  the  two  volumes  of 
the  Mmstrelsr,  which  appeared  in  1802,  and  theb 
eren  in  the  thnrd,  which  followed  a  vear  later ;  thus 
nmu  ving  Tnstrem  for  a  separate  publication,  which 
^  not  take  place  until  after  L^aen  had  sailed  for 

I  nust  not  sweli  these  nages  by  transcribing  the 
'  n  corrrapondence  of  Scott  and  Ellis,  the  greats 
of  which  consists  *of  minute  antkiuarian  dts- 
which  coold  hlrdly  interest  the  general 


part  I 


reader:  but  I  shall  give  such  extracts  as  seem  to 
throw  U^t  on  Scotrs  personal  history  during  this 
penod. 
I  T9  George  EUht  Eeq. 

"  Usswade  CottMe.  ^Oth  April,  1801. 
"ITydearfiir, 

"IshocOd  loof  tffohaTeackDowledfedyoarfnttnie- 
flte  lekler,i>iiK  I  have  been  wuuterliif  aboiu  in  the  wiMs 
•rUddewteleaiKl  Bttrick  Forest,  in  teareh  of  addltloaal 
I  for  the  Border  BUnstrelsy.    I  cannot,  however, 


boMt  Qoeh  of  my  saceeea.  One  of  our  beet  reciters 
Wm  mrned  reticfous  in  hie  lauer  days,  and  finds  out  that 
old  KMfS  are  unlawful.  If  eo,  then,  ai  Falstaff  aayt,  is 
aaiy  an  acooaintaQce  of  mine  damned.  I  now  tend  you 
ID  accunte  aiialTtis  of  Sir  Trtstrem.     Philo-Tomu, 


whoever  he  ipas,  miisl surely  hwe  been  saBodlahBaai 
when  bis  hero  joins  bailie  with  Horanot,  he  eacttiins, 

*  God  help  Tristrem  the  Khifht, 
He  fought  for  Ingland.* 

This  strain  of  national  attachoient  woold  hardlr  have 
proceeded  from  a  ilcottiah  author,  even  thouf  h  he  had 
laid  hii  scene  in  the  sister  country.  In  other  respects 
the  lanffuafe  appears  to  be  Sconini,  and  certainly  coo- 
tains  the  eaaence  of  Tomas's  worlc You 

shall  have  Sir  Ocnel  in  a  week  or  two,  and  I  shall  be  happy 
to  compare  your  Romance  of  Merlin  with  our  Arthur  and 
Meriin,  which  is  a  very  goodpoeso,  and  may  sapply  you 
with  some  valuable  additions.  .  .  .  l  woold  very 
UJsB  lend  your  elephant*  a  Kft^  but  I  fear  I  can  be  of  Utde 
nee  to  jroa.  I  hate  been  rather  an  observer  of  detached 
(acta  respeetinc  antlquitiea,  than  a  resnlar  student.  At 
the  Sane  time,  1  may  mention  one  or  two  circumatancea, 
were  it  bat  to  place  your  elephant  upon  a  tortoise.  From 
Selldrkshlre  toCumberland,  we  have  a  ditch  and  bulwark 
of  great  strencth,  called  the  OatraiL  running  nordi  and 
south,  and  obinously  calculated  to  deKud  the  western  aide 
of  the  Island  agalnsi  the  inhabitams  of  the  eastern  half. 
Within  this  bulwark,  at  DmmmelsieT,  near  Peebles,  if  e 
find  the  srave  of  Merlin,  the  account  of  w^se  madness 
and  death  you  will  find  in  Fordun-  The  same  author  says, 
he  was  seized  with  his  madness  during  a  dreadful  battle 
on  the  Liddle,  which  divides  Cumberland  firom  Bcotlawi 
All  this  sssms  to  Ikvour  your  ingenious  hypothesis,  that 
the  sway  of  the  British  Champion  [ ArthniJ  extended  orer 
Cnmberlaiid  and  gtrathchiyd,  as  well  as  Wales.  Erell- 
douoe  is  hardly  five  miles  mm  the  CatraiL  .... 
*'  Leyden  has  taken  up  a  most  absurd  resolutioa  tofo 
10  Afrkaoa  ajoumey  of  discovery.  WlU  you  have  toe 
goodness  to  beg  Heber  to  write  to  him  seriously  on  so 
ridiculons  a  plan,  which  can  promise  nothing  either  plea- 
sant or  profiuble.  I  am  certain  he  would  get  a  chur^ 
in  Scotland  with  a  little  patience  and  prudence,  and  it 
gives  me  great  p^n  to  see  a  valuable  young  man.  of  un* 
common  genius  and  aquirftments,  &irly  throw  himself 
away.    Yours  truly,  ^  «        ,. 

•  W.  SOOTT." 

7*0  the  Same. 

**  Musselburgh,  llthBIay,  1801.  . 

.  .  .  <<  I  congratulate  you  upon  the  health  of  your 
elephants— as  an  additional  mouthful  of  provender  for 
them,  pray  observe,  that  tbe  tale  of  Sir  Gawain'a  Foul 
La^iie,  m  Percy's  Reuques,  is  oricinally  Scaidic,  as  you 
win  see  in  the  history  of  HrolfeKraka,  edited  by  Tor^ 
(leua  from  the  ancient  Sagas  regarding  that  prince.  I 
think  I  could  give  vou  some  more  crumbs  of  information 
were  I  at  home ;  bat  I  am  at  present  discharging  tbe  du> 
ties  of  quartermaster  to  a  reghnent  of  Toluuteer  cavalry 
—an  office  altogether  inconsisteot  with  romance ;  for ' 
where  do  you  read  that  Sir  Tristrem  welched  out  hay 
and  com ;  that  Sir  Launcelot  du  Lac  dtstriouted  billets ; 
or  that  any  Knight  of  the  Round  Tabic  condescended  to 
higgle  about  a  truss  of  straw  1  Such  thhigs  were  left  for 
our  degenerate  days,  wtien  no  warder  sounds  his  horn 
from  the  barbican  as  the  vreux  chevalier  approaches  to 
claim  hospitality.  Bogles  indeed  we  have  ;  but  it  is  only 
to  scream  us  out  of  bed  at  five  in  the  morning— hospita- 
lity such  as  the  seneschals  of  Don  Quixote's  castles  were 
wont  to  offer  hioi— and  all  to  troopers,  to  whom,  for  valour 
eke  and  courtesy,  Maior  Sturgeon  himself  might  yield 
the  palm.  In  the  midst  of  this  scene  of  motley  confu- 
sion, I  long,  like  the  hart  for  water- brooks,  for  tbe  arrival 
of  your  grande  opus.  The  nature  of  your  researches 
animates  me  to  proceed  in  mine,  (though  of  a  much  more 
limited  and  locsj  nature,)  even  as  iron  sliarpeneth  iron.  I 
am  in  utter  despair  about  some  of  the  huntins  terms  in 
'  Sir  Tristrem.'  There  is  no  copy  of  Lady  Juliana  Ber- 
ners'  work  in  Scotland,  and  I  would  move  heaven  and 
earth  to  get  a  sight  of  it.  But  as  I  fear  this  is  utterly  \ia- 
possible,  I  must  nave  recourse  to  your  friendly  assistance, 
and  communicate  a  set  of  doubts  and  queries,  which,  it 
any  man  in  England  can  satisfy,  I  am  well  assured  it  must 
be  you.  You  may  therefore  expect,  in  a  few  days,  an- 
other epistle.  Mean  time  I  must  invoke  the  spirit  of 
Nimrod." 

"  Edinburgh,  lOth  June,  180L 
(« My  dear  Sir, 

**  A  heavy  family  misfortune,  the  loss  of  an  on\%  sis- 
ter in  the  prime  or  Ufe,  has  prevented,  for  some  time, 
my  proposed  communication  regarding  the  hunting  terms 
of  '^Sir  IVistrem.'    I  now  enclose  the  passage,  aeon- 

*  1  believe  it  was  Mr.  Canninf  that  had,  on  some  ooiaiiOD. 
when  EUii  talked  of  his  antiouBrian  bot)l>r-hoae,  MukkaedL 
••  Botibr.  tiuly  t  yours  is  an  elepbant'ltjzed  by  VjOOQ  IL 


re 


LIFE  OP  SIR  WALTER  SCOTT. 


fBtely  conkd,  with  such  explanations  as  oecur  to  myseU; 
sabject  uways  to  your  correction  and  better  jodgtnent. . . 
...  I  have  as  yjt  had  only  a  glance  of  TTte  Specimen: 
Thomson,  to  wm>m  Ileber  intrusted  them,  had  left  them 
to  foUow  him  from  London  in  aceitain  trunk,  which  has 
never  yet  arrived.  I  should  have  quarrelled  with  him 
excessively  for  making  so  litU^  allowance  for  mv  impa- 
tience, had  it  not  been  that  a  violent  epidemic  lever,  to 
which  I  owe  the  loss  alreadjr  mentioned,  lias  threatened 
also  to  deprive  me,  in  his  person,  of  one  of  my  dearest 
friends,  and  the  Scottish  literary  world  of  One  of  its  most 
'proniising^  members. 

*'  Some  prospect  seems  to  open  for  getting  Leyden  out 
to  India,  under  the  patronage  of  MacUntosh,  who  goes 
as  chief  of  the*  intended  academical  establishment  at 
Calcutta.  That  he  is  highly  qualified  for  acting  a  distin- 
guished part  in  any  literary  undertaking  will  be  readilv 
granted ;  nor  do  I  think  Mr.  Mackintosh  will  meet  with 
•  many  half  so  likely  to  be  useful  bi  the  ipiroposed  histitu- 
tion.  The  extent  and  versatility  of  hu  talents  would 
soon  raise  him  to  his  level,  even  although  be  were  at 
first  to  go  outh)  a  subordinate  tlepartment.  If  it  be  in 
your  power  to  second  his  applicauoo,  I  rely  i^o  He- 
Dor's  interest  with,  you  to  induce  yon  to  do  so." 

"Edinburgh.  13tb  July,  1801, 
.  .  .  "  I  am  infinitely  obliged  to  you,  indeed,  for 
your  interference  in  behalf  of  our  Leyden,  who,  I  am 
rare,  will  do  credit  to  your  patronage,  and  may  be  of  es- 
sential service  to  the  pro(K>sed  mission.  What  a  dif^ 
ference  from  broiling  himseiC  or  getting  himself  literally 
broiled,  in  Africa.  '  Que  diable  vonloit-U  fiiire  dans  eeue 
galore  1'  .  .  .  His  brother  is  a  fine  lad,  and  is  likely 
to  enjoy  some  advantages  which  he  wanted~I  mean  by 
being  more  early  introduced  into  society.  I  have  inter- 
mitted his  transcript  of  'Merlin,'  and  eet  him  to  work  on 
'Otael,' of  which!  send  a  specimen."    ... 

"  Edinburgh,  7th  December,  1801. 

"My  literary  amusementa  have  of  late  been 

much  retarded  and  interru^ed.  partly  by  professional 
avocadons,  and  partly  by  removing  to  a  house  newly  fur- 
nished, where  It  will  be  some  time  before  I  can  get  my 
'few  boolcs  put  into  order,  or  clear  the  premises  of  pain- 
ters and  workmen ;  not  to  mention  that  these  worthies 
do  not  nowa-days  proceed  upon  the  plan  of  Solomon's 
architects,  whose  saws  and  hammers  were  not  heard, 
but  rather  upon  the  more  ancient  system  of  the  builders 
of  Babel  To  augment  this  confusion,  my  wife  has  fixed 
upon  this  time  as  proper  to  present  me  with  a  fine  chop- 


ping boy,  whose  pipe,  being  of  the  shrillest,  it  heard 
amul  the  storm,  like  a  boatswain's  whistle  in  a  gale  of 
wind.  These  various  causes  of  confusion  have  also  in- 
terrupted the  labours  of  young  Leyden  on  your  behalf; 
but  he  has  again  resumed  the  task  of  transcribing  '  Ar- 
thour,'  of  which  I  once  again  transmit  a  part.  I  have  to 
acknowledge,  with  the  deepest  sense  of  gratitude,  the 
beautiful  analvsts  of  Mr.  Douce's  FragmenUi,  which 
throws  great  light  upon  the  romance  or  Sir  Tristrem. 
In  arranging  th^  I  have  anticipated  your  Judicious  hini, 
by  dividing  it  into  three  parts,  where  the  story  seems  na- 
turally to  pause,  and  prefixing  an  accurate  argument,  re- 
ferring to  the  stanzas  as  numbered. 

"  I  am  glad  that  Mrs.  BUia  and  you  have  derived  any 
amusement  from  the  House  of  Aspen.  It  is  a  very  liur- 
rled  dramatic  sketch;  and  the  fifth  act,  as  you  remark, 
would  require  a  total  revis^  previous  to  representation 
or  publication.  At  one  time  I  certainly  thought,  with  my 
Trlends,  that  it  might  have  ranked  well  enough  by  the 
side  of  the  Castle  Speiftre,  Bluebeard,  and  the  other  drum 
and  trumpet  exhibitions  of  the  day ;  but  the  '  Plays  of 
the  Passions'*  have  put  me  entirely  out  of  conceit  vrith 
my  Germanized  brat ;  and  should  I  ever  again  attempt 
dramatic  composition,  I  would  endeavour  after  the  ge- 
nuine old  English  model The  publication  of 

» The  Cojnplaynt't  is  delayed.  It  is  a  work  of  mtiltUarious 
lore.  I  am  truly  anxious  about  Leyden's  Indian  Journey, 
wtiich  seems  to  hang  fire.  Mr.  William  Dundaa  was  so 
good  as  to  promise  me  his  interest  to  get  him  appointed 
secretary  to  the  Institution ;!  but  whether  he  has  succeed- 
ed or  not,  I  have  not  yet  learned.  The  various  kinds  of 
distress  under  which  literary  men,  I  mean  such  as  have 
no  other  profcs^on  than  letters,  must  labour,  in  a  com- 
mercial country,  Is  a  great  disgrace  to  society.  I  own  to 
you  I  always  tremble  for  the  rate  of  genius  when  left  to 
its  own  exertions,  which,  however  powerful,  are  usually, 

*  The  fint  voltune  of  Joanna  Baillie't  "  Plays  of  the  PaniooB" 


appeared  io  179S.    VoL  II.  fnllowed  in  t802. 


"  The  Complaynt  of  Scotland,  written  in  1W8  ;  with  n  Pre- 
HmiDary  DuwertatioD  and  QVmmxj,  by  John  Leyden,"  was  pub- 
Bslied  by  Coniitabte  in  January,  1903. 
'  I A  proposed  Intitation  for  purposes  of  ^oatioo  at  Calcutta. 


by  lome  binrre  <ttip«niatl<m  of  natvart,  wefbl  to  e«My 
tme  but  themselves.  If  Heber  could  learn  byMvckta- 
tosh,  whether  any  thing  could  be  done  to  fix  I.ejden'B 
situation,  and  what  sort  of  interest  would  be  moat  likely 
to  succeed,  his  friends  here  might  unite  every  exertion 

in  his  favour Direct  CasUo  Street,  as 

usual ;  my  new  hoiue  being  in  the  same  street  with  my 
old  dwelling." 

"  Edinburgh,  8th  January,  180Q. 

..."  Your  favour  arrived  just  as  I  was  s^ltizix  down 
to  write  to  you,  with  a  sheet  or  two  of  'King'  Axtnor.'  I 
fear,  from  a  leUer  which  I  have  received  from  Mr.  Wil- 
liam Dundaa,  that  the  Indian  establishment  is  tottering^ 
and  will  probably  fcU.  Leyden  has  therefore  been  .'a- 
duced  to  turn  bis  mind  to  some  other  mode  of  makiog 
hisuvay  to  the  East ;  and  proposes  taking  his  de^ee  as 
a  physician  and  surgeon,  with  the  hope  of  getffn^  an  ap- 
pointment in  the  Compaiiy's  service  as  surgeon.  If  the 
Institution  goes  forward,  his  hating  secured  tht#step  wiil 
not  prevent  his  being  attached  to  it ;  at  the  mmstke  time 
that  it  will  afl9rd  him  a  provision  independent  of  what 
seems  to  be  a  very  precarious  establishment.  Mr.  Don- 
das  has  promised  to  exert  himself  ....  I  ha^e  juot  re* 
turned  firom  the  hospitable  halls  of  Hamilton,  where  I 

have  spent  the  Christmas." • 

"  14th  February,  1802. 

"  I  have  been  silent  but  not  idle.  The  Tramcrfpt  of 
King  Arthur  is  at  length  finished,  being  a  fragment  of 
about  7000  lines.    Let  me  know  how  I  shall  transmit  a 

Krcel  containing  it,  with  the  CrmtpZaynf  and  the^  Border 
Hads,  of  which  I  expect  every  day  to  receive  some 
copies.  I  thhik  you  will  be  disappointed  in  the  Baxlada. 
I  have  as  yet  touched  very  little  on  the  more  remote 
antiquities  of  the  Border,  which,  indeed,  my  sonMr  *B 
comparatively  modem,  did  not  lead  me  to  mscuas.  Some 
scattered  herbage,  however,  the  elephants  may  perhaps 
find.  By  the  wav,  you  will  not  forget  to  notice  the  moim* 
tain  called  Arthur* a  Seat,  which  overhangs  this  city. 
When  I  was  at  school,  the  tradition  ran  that  King  Arthur 
occupied  aa  his  throne  a  huge  rock  upon  its  summit, 
and  tnat  he  beheld  from  thence  some  naval  engagement 
Upon  the  Frith  of  Forth.  I  am  pleasantly  interrupted 
by  the  post;  he  brings  me  a  letter  from  William  Dundaj^i 
fixing  Leyden's  appoinUnent  %s  an  assistant  surgeon  to  one 
of  the  India  settlements— which  is  not  yet  determined  ; 
and  another  from  mv  pilnter,  a  very*  ingenious  young 
man^  telling  me,  that  no  means  to  escort  the  '  Minstrelsy' 
tip  to  London  in  person.  I  shall,  therefore,  direct  him  to 
transmit  my  parcel  to  Mr.  NicoL" 

*<2dBIarch,19Q2. 

I  Aope  that  long  ere  this  yon  have  received  the  Bal- 
I  that  they  have  afforded  you  some  amusement  ; 
also,  that  the  threatenea  third  volume  will  be 


lads,  and  that  they  have  afforded  you  some  amusement  ; 
I  hope,  also,  that  the  threatenea  third  volume  will  be 
more  interesting  to  Mrs.  Ellis  than  the  dry  antiquarian 


dgLail  of  the  two  first  could  prove.  I  hope,  ntoreover, 
tnat  I  shall  have  the  pleasure  of  seeing  you  soon,  as  some 
circumstances  seem  not  so  much  tp  call  me  to  London, 
as  to  furnish  me  with  a  decent  q>olog7  for  coming  up 
sometime  this  spriiw ;  and  I  long  particularly  to  say,  that 
I  know  my  friend  Mr.  Ellis  by  tight  as  well  as  intimately. 
I  am  glad  you  have  seen  the  Marquess  of  Lorn,  whom  I 
have  met  frequently  at  the  house  of  his  charming  sister, 
Lady  Charlotte  Campbell,  whom,  I  am  sure,  if  yoo  are 
acquainted  with  her.  you  must  admire  as  much  aa  I  do. 
Her  Grace  of  Ooraon,  a  great  admirer  of  yours,  spent 
some  days  here  Utely,  and,  Uke  Lord  LornI  was  highly 
entertiiined  with  an  account  of  our  friendship  h  la  di»-  • 
tanae.  I  do  not,  nor  did  I  ever,  intend  to  fob  yoo  off 
with  twenty  or  thirty  Unes  of  the  second  part  of  Sir 
Guy.  Young  Leyden  has  been  muck  engaged  with  bis 
studies,  otherwise  yon  would  have  long  dnce  reeeived 
what  I  now  send,  namely,  the  combat  between  Guy  and 
Colbronde,  which  I  take  to  bo  the  cream  of  the  romance. 
.  .  .  .  If  I  do  not  come  to  London  this  spring,  I  wOl 
find  a  safe  opportunity  of  retuiming  Lady  JuUana  Bemers, 
with  my  venr  best  thanks  for  tlie  use  of  her  reverence's 
work." 

'  The  preceding  extracts  are  jncked  out  of  letter, 
moHtly  veiy  long  ones,  in  which  Scott  discueeee 
quealions  of  antiquarian  interest,  suggested  some- 
nmes  by  Ellis,  and  sometimes  by  the  course  of  his 
own  researches  among  the  MSS.  of  the  Advocates' 
Library.  /The  passages  which  I  have  transcribed 
appear  sufficient  to  give  the  reader  a  distinct  notion 
of  the  tenour  of  Scott's  life  while  his  fira(  consider- 
able  work  was  in  progress  through  the  press.  In 
fact,  they  place  before  us  in  a  vivid  h'ght  tlje  chie^ 
features  of  a  character  which,  by  this  time,  was 
completely  formed  and  settled—which  had  passed 


>  Digitized  byCjOOQlC 


UPE  OF  SIR  WALTER  SOOTT. 


i  through  the  firsi  blandishments  of  world- 
ly auplanse,  and  which  no  subaec^ent  trials  of  that 
scvt could  ever  shake  from  its  early  balance: — His 
caim  delight  in  his  own  pursuits— the  patriotic  en- 
thsaasm  which  mingled  with  aU  the  best  of  his  li- 
tenu-y  e£brts }  his  modesty  as  to  his  own  general 
moita,  comomed  with  a  certain  dogged  resolution 
to  maintain  his  own  first  view  of  9  subject,  how- 
e^rer  assailed ;  his  readiness  to  interrupt  his  own 
tasks  b^  any  dmdgery  by  which  he  could  assfet 
tiiose  of  a  friend:  bis  steady  and  determined 
watchfulness  oyer  the  struggling  fortunes  of  young 
genms  and  worth. 

The  reader  has  seen  that  he  spent  the  Christmas 
of  1301  ikt  Hamilton  Palace,  in  Lanarkshire.  To  Lady 
Anae  Hamilton  he  had  been  mtroduced  by  his  half- 
■sttr.  Lady  Charlotte  Campbell,  and  both  the  la^ 
and  the  present  Dukes  of  Hamilton  appear  to  have 
partaken  of  Lady  Ahne's  admiration  for  Glenfinlas, 
and  the  Eve  of  St.  John.  A  rooming's  ramble  to 
the  majestic  ruins  of  the  old  baronial  castle  on  the 
|a«3pitifii8  banks  of  the  Evan,  and  among  the  ad- 
joining remains  of  the  primeval  Caledonian  forest, 
nggeated  to  him  a  ballad,  not  inferior  in  execution 
to  any  that  ha  had  hitherto  produced,  and  especially 
intevaating  as  the  first  in  which  he  srapples  with 
the  woxla  of  picturesque  incident  mifolded  in  the 
anthentic  annals  of  Scotland.  With  the  magnifi- 
cent loealitiea  before  him,  he  skilfully  interwove  the 
daring  assassination  of  the  Regent  Murray  by  one 
of  the  clansmen  of  "  the  princely  Hamilton."  Had 
Che  subject  been  taken  up  in  after  years,  we  might 
hafe  had  another  Marmion,  or  Heart  of  Mid-Lo- 
ihiao ;  Ibr  in  Cadyow  Castle  we  have  the  materials 
and  onthne  of  more  than  one  of  the  noblest  of  ballads. 

Not  long  before  this  piece  began  to  be  handed  ab^ 
oat  in  Edinburgh,  Thomas  Campbell  had  made  his 
upsarance  ther&  and  at  once  seized  a  high  place  in 
weBterary  world  by  his 'Pleasures  of  Hope.'  Among 
the  roost  eagier  to  welcome  him  had  been  Scott: 
aad  I  find  the  brother-bard  thus  expressing  himself 
coQceaaing  the  MS.  of  Cadyow  :— 

,  "The  verses  of  Cadyow  Castle  are  perpetually 
nnging  in  my  imaginauon— 

*  Where  mightiest  of  the  beasts  sf  chase 

That  roam  in  woody  Caledon, 
Oraahiogthe  Ibrest  in  his  race, 

The  loouatain  bull  comes  thaQderlngon— ' 

ind  the  arrival  of  Hamilton,  when 

'  Reeking  fi-om  the  f  ecent  deed, 
He  dashed  his  carbine  on  the  (round.* 

I  have  rei>eated  these  lines  so  often  oh  the  North 
Bridge,  that  the  whole  fraternity  of  coachmen  know 
me  by  tongue  as  I  pass.  To  be  sure,  to  a  mind  in 
sober,  serious  street- walking  humour,  it  must  bear 
an  appearance  of  lunacy,  when  one  stamps  with  the 
kamed  pace  and  fervent  shake  of  the  hesd,  which 
strcHQg^  pithy  poetry  excites." 

Scott  finished  his  Cadyow  Castle  before  the  last 
sheets  of  the  second  volume  of  his  "Minstrelsy" 
hsd  passed  through  the  press ;  but  "  the  two  vo- 
hunea,"  as  Ballantyne  says,  "  were-  already  full  to 
oywflowingj"  |^  it  was  reserved  for  fhe  "  threaten- 
ed third."  The  two  volimies  appeared  in  the  course 
of  Janaary,  1802^  from  the  respectable  house  of 
Cadell  and  Davies,  in  the  Strand ;  endowing  to 
the  cold  reception  of  Lewis's  "  Tales  of  Wonder," 
which  had  come  forth  a  yeair  earlier,  these  mdf  be 
said  to  have  first  introduced  Scott  as  an  original 
writer  to  the  English  public 

In  his  Remarks  on  thelmitadon  of  Popular  Poet- 
ry, he  says :  "  Ovnng  to  the  failure  of  the  vehicle  I 
litd  chosen,  my  first  effort  to  present  myself  before 
the  pubhc  as  an  original  writer,  proved  as  vain  as 
those  by  which  I hadpreviously  endeavoured  to  dis- 
tingoisn  myself  as  a  translator.  Like  Lord  Home, 
however,  at  the  Battle  of  Flodden,  I  did  so  far  well 
thit  I  was  able  to  stand  and  saye  myself;  and 
anudst  the  general  depreciation  of  the  Tales  of 
Wonder,'  my  small  share  of  the  obnoxious  publi- 
natioa  was  dismiss^  vrithout  censure,  and  in  some 
cases  obtained  praise  from  the  critics.    The  conse- 


n 

qiienccjs  of  my  fiSQa^  niade  tne  l^ntxirally  more 
ilariii;^,  anvl  I  aUempied,  iu  my  own  ziaini^f  a  c^oU^* 
tiiin  of  tkUaiift  of  vorioua  kindfe,  both  (inafnr  and 
.tiiL>dern,  to  be  connect^  by  ib*.'  i:t>mmoti  tie  of  nela' 
lion  i*j  the  Border  dieirict^  in  which  I  had  coU(*eied 
them.  Thif  fdiiioD  waa  curious,  u?  buin^  the  Brat 
c  sample  of  a  vroik  printed  by  my  friend  and  school- 
frjllow,  Mr.  JamcB  Balkntyni^  who  ai  thnl  period 
Ai  as  editor  of  a  pnivirvcifli  t>»lHT.  IVheii  thr  book 
'cama  out,  the  imprintH  Kclso^  wab  rcniJ  ^I'ith  wander 
t»y  aiiiaienre  of  typoMtnijhyt  whfj  boJ  ni^ifcr  bt;«rd  of 
siuch  a  place,  and  were  aaioniBhed  ni  the  example  of 
handsome  phnnnfc  ubich  eo  obscure  a  town  had 
produced.  Ab  for  ibeixiitcnal  pari  of  the  laBk*  my 
Dilcmpt  to  imiiattf  the  plan  and  style  of  Biphop  Per- 
cy, obscr^'tnR  onlv  more  strict  fidelity  coneerninir 
my  Ofifijnalp,  waii  favourably  recaivcdby  iherut^lic 

Tb4^  ft  tit  edition  of  Tolumee  1.  and  U,  of  the  Min- 
Blrelsy  ton ms ted  of  ei/^hi  hundred  copitps,  fitly  of 
VI  hich  ifrere  on  Iflrgo  paper*  One  of  the  embElusii*  , 
ni€nt5  w&i  a  viuw  of  Hermitage  caBtlf,  the  hifntury 
of  whiL^h  in  rath^T  v^uhoui^*  Sco»t  executed  a  rou^h 
Elk  etch  of  It  during  tbe  loM  of  his  ^*  Liddttadale  rajds^' 
uith  Shortf&ed,  standing  fof  thnt  pyrj*o^  for  an 
huuf  dr  more  up  to  his  middle  in  the  enow.  Nothing 
cati  be  ruder  uian  the  t^Tformnnce^  *hich  1  have 
ijrjw  before  me  (  bdl  hia  friwud  William  Clerk  made 
n  bt^ttE^r  dj-awinR  from  it^  and  fro tn  his  a  third  and 
funhtir  improved  copy  was  done  by  Bui^h  WkUiams, 
the  elegant  artiat^  aft^arwatxis  known  as  *'  Greek 
VVilIiania,^'  SttJtl  uat^  to  S3y  the  oddest  thiog  of 
nil  WBB^  that  the to^^ravi  11)^4  fi^undcd  on  the  labours 
of  thre«  drnugbtiimcn*  omiftX  whom  could  not  draw 
n  Birai^ht  Une^  and  the  two  others  hnd  rtever  Been 
the  place  meant  to  be  rt^preBent^,  waa  nevortbele«s 
pronounced  by  the  nativcB  of  Liddcedale  to  give  a 
vety  fjijr  notion  of  rheruinfi  of  llernraiage. 

1  he  edition  waa  exhausted  in  the  course  of  the 
year^  and  the  terms  of  pubhcation  having  been  that 
Hcau  should  have  hau  the  clear  profitB^  im  share 
was  exactly  £7^  lOs.— a  sum  whkh  cortainly  csouid 
not  have  repaid  him  for  the  actual  ejtpendiiuri^in- 
currt^d  in  the  collection  of  his  mstcriala^  MesariL 
CniEell  and  Davit'ijt,  howevtr,  toniploined,  and  i>ro- 
bably  ^viiheood  ri^aaon,  that  ft  premature  advertise' 
ment  of  a  aeeoiid  and  improveti  edition^*  had  ren- 
dered sonic  copies  of  the  firpt  unsaleable. 

1  ahall  tranacribc  the  letter  in  which  Btr.  G«orae 
Elba  acknowledges  the  ret^pt  of  his  copy  of  the 
book, 

Edinburgh. 

"  eunfllng  Hill,  March  ^  1802. 
"  My  door  Sir, 

"  The  vulumei  are  aril^fid,  and  t  have  been  dcToup. 
bic;  thcfn,  not  bj  a  pi^  duL^n  a  parct^l  of  gTKJn*,  fby  whieh 
tiuiile  yi>ii  wiEl  judge  thai  I  laoat  be  brew(i!|r,  as  iadeud  J 
am,)  putting  in  ita  inout,  sbLittinf  \U  ^ye^  and  gwAlJuwtna 
bd  raiil  03  k  cau  vrkthout  runiidc ration— but  u  ti  Kh.*m- 
^jiiy  di3{?9  &  pleco  of  gini^crbreAd  ;  nibblinjf  aUttlc-  ha.1  here, 
»[iii  B  liiLlh  bit  tbcrp,  sniBcynic  hb  Hp^,  ert^rvcylnn  tb^ 
iiijiiib'^r  of  ^^|U1l^c  Ificbce  w}itt:b  siiil  rvwaia.  fpir  hit  |rra- 
[iHi-iiiLant  eode^v-iiurUi^  Ui  look:  \t  mtu  ki^er  dim^^xj'FiDRe, 
ipul  cnnbiJii^  at  BVury  nifniltiful  a  tueli  tuw  to  pratract  hia 
^njoytiiacit  by  rent  raining  hliA  appiiitttG'  ^iiw,  tberelbre 
—but  no  r  I  moit  jUrit  aiuiur^  yi>u  on  the  p»ri  of  Mrir  £L| 
tliLat  If  yen  CJUirbOt,  at  will  not  vtme  to  Eii^bl&^d  idon,  abe 
noiBt  gr&dfy  her  curbodUy  and  gifAitude,  by  l^ttilnjz  otT  f^r 
Pcodaiid J  though  at  the  nsk  of  being  tciopr^d  tg  pull  capa 
with  Mrt,  Scnit  wheo  ihe  arrives  ai  tbe  end  of  ber  jintir- 
iipy,  Nrjt»|  must  requeit  yuu  to  convey  ii>  Mr-  Leydea 
my  vory  Bkntierf>  acktinvrlednmrni  f'-T  b!a  isnrl  of  ttie  pr*' 
cirjui  p^rrelt  Hovt  tf oly  V^f  xatjnua  [bat  aucb  a  luau  ^borild 
Frnbarh,  ^Qi  firr  the  '  fiuria  AUkSn'  but  for  thosn  ofAsbi ; 
ttiiii  tb(?  GeniuiDf  l^otbindt  instead  of  a  ^o^r  C^mptainU 
Arirl  An  atk1r£Ka  in  Ihu  sTyli?  of  ^  NHVin>«  fjosG  iibi  cff^ititurH 
c[,  Ij^h  VjrjflUufi-i — rcdda*  jncoluiiTeiiii  procor,'  abound  oot 
ill'  rt'  ri.'  ii>  pre\cm  blfi  loss-  I  wjeb  fo  hupo  ibnt  wo 
si  ■!:>),  ne  Pleroo  tays,  'mano^p  Thf#e  maltflT^  h«ter'  ra 
EjLj^liu^d  ;  bmt  nnir,  si  re^et  \a  unaTaillag^  to  tlie  tiuiA 
[KJifiF  of  i|]y  IcUdr. 

"  Von  wlu  nflt,  of  coutmc,  ciprr.t  Ibat  I  kbould  as  jet 
Uke  ycjo  any  thiojr  lllfc  a"  opinifini,  rw  n  fnVfc,  of  your 
YuluuiFS  ;  first,  btjcauni  yn«  ^av^e  tlirown  Into  my  tbjwii 
1  rat*-  of  BUr.b  tnndniturlc  thai  CirrberuB,  wlio  hud  tbreo 
tliroaLs,  could  not  nave  ivfaUrjwed  a  third  EOfC  q(  it  wl(^ 
Digitized  by  V^OOQIC 


T8' 

out  iliatdDK  bis  eyes  j  Bad  secondly,  beeaose,  althoush 
I  bsve  gone  a  litue  urtber  than  George  Nicol  the  book- 
seller, who  cannot  cease  exclaiming,  '  What  »  beautlfuj 
book  \"  and  is  dstracied  with  jealousy  of  your  Kelso  Bui- 
mer,  yet,  as  I  raid  before.  I  have  not  lieen  ableiyet  to 
'  digest  a  great  deal  of  your  ^  Border  Minstrelsy.'  1  tutve, 
bowever,  taken  such  a  survey  as  satisfies  me  that  your 
j^lao  is  neither  too  comprehensive  nor  too  contracted  ; 
that  the  parts  are  properly  distinct ;  and  tiuu  they  are 
(to  preserve  the  painter's  metaphor)  nuuie  oiiMust  as 
they  ought  to  be.  Your  introductory  chapter  is.  I  think,' 
particularly  good  ;  and  I  was  much  pleased,  ai^hoogh-a 
tinne  surprised,  at  finding  that  it  was  made  to  serve  as  a 
TtcueU  ae$piiceJt  juttificativtM  to  your  view  of  the  state 
of  manners  among  your  Borderers,  which  I  venture  to 
say  will  be  more  thumbed  than  any  part  of  the  volume. 

^  You  will  easily  believe  that  I  cast  many  an  anxious 
look  for  (he  annunciation  of  '  Sir  Trislrem,'  and  will  not 
be  surprised  that  I  was  at  first  rather  disappointed  at  not 
finding  any  thing  like  a  solenm  ensagemeut  to  produce 
him  to  the  world  within  some  fixedf  and  limited  period, 
rpon  reflectton,  however,  I  really  think  you  have  judged 
wisely,  and  that  you  have  bett  promoted  the  interests  of 
lUersiure,  by  sending,  as  the  harbinger  c(  the '  Knight  of 
Leonais,'  s  collection  which  most  form  a  p^riou  window 
book  in  every  ho«se  in  Britsin  whi£h  contains  a  partour 
and  a  window.  I  am  happy  to  find  my  old/ttvourUe»  in 
Iheir  natural  situation— Indeed  in  the  only  situation  which 
can  enable  a  Southern  reader  to  estimate  their  merits. 
Tou  remember  what  somebody  nAd  of  the  Prince  de  Con- 
di's army  during  the  wars  ot  the  Fronde,  vis.—**  that  it 
would  be  a  very  fine  army  whenever  ft  came  of  age."  Of 
the  Morris  and  Armitroacs  of  your  Border  wUads,  it 
■igfat  be  sakl  tbat  thsy  might  grow,  when  the  age  of  good 
t^ite  sboold  arrive^  to  a  Gl^nfiiilas  or  an  Ere  of  8l  John. 
Lisydea's  addiliooal  poems  are  also  very  beautiful.  I 
meant,  at  setting  out,  a  few  simple  words  of  thanks,  and 
behokl  I  have  written  a  letter,  but  no  maUer ;  I  shall  re' 
turn  to  the  chane  aftsr  a  more  attentive  porus^  Ever 
yoon  very  fUthiully,  • 

G.  Ellis.'' 

I  might  fill  masy  pMes  by  trauoribing  naibir 
letters  from  persons  of  acknowledKed  diacernmeDt 
in  this  bnmoh  of  literature  i  John,  Duke  of  Rox- 
httrgh,  is  among  the  nimiber,  and  he  conveys  also  a 
oonq(MimeDtary  message  from  the  lite  Earl  Speo* 
oer  i  Pinkerton  issues  his  decree  of  approbation  as 
«r  tatkedH;  Chalmers  overflows  with  heartier 
piaise ;  and  even  Joseph  Ritson  extols  his  present 
tation  copy  as  "  the  most  valuable  Uterary  treasum 

a  his  possession."  There  follows  enough  of  female 
Duration  to  have  beei^dangerous  for  another  roan ; 
a  score  of  find  ladies  contend  who  shall  be  the  most 
extravagant  in  encomium— and  as  many  professed 
blue  stockings  come  after  t  among,  or  rather  above 
the  rest,  Anna  Seward,  the  Swan  of  Lichfield," 
who  laments  that  her  bright  luminary,"  Darwin, 
does  not  survive  to  partake  her  raptures  t^-^bserves. 
that  **in  the  Border  Ballads  the  first  strong  rays  oi 
the  Delphic  orb  illuminate  Jellon  Oraeme ;"  and 
condndes  with  a  fact  indispuuble,  but  strangely 
expressed,  viz.  that  '*  the  Lady  Anne  Bothwell^'s 
Lament,  CJowdenknowes,  &c.  Ac,  climatically  pre- 
ceded the  treasures  of  Burns,  and  the  consummate 
.Glenfinlas  and  Eve  of  St.  John."  Scott  felt  as 
acutely  as  any  malevolent  critic  the  pedantic  affec- 
tations of  Miss  Seward's  epistolary  slyle^  but  in  her 
case  soimd  sense  as  well  as  vigorous  ability  had  un- 
fortunately condesoenAded  to  an  absurd  disguise ;  he 
looked  below  it,  and  was  far  from  confounding  her 
honest  praise  with  the  flat  superlativeB  either  of 
worldly  parrots  or  weak  enthumasts. 


LIFE  OF  SIR  WALT^  SCOTT. 


•    CHAPTER  XI. 

PSBPABATIOIV  or  VOLtnU  111.  OP  THB  XINSTESLST— 
Aim  OF  SIK  TllISTRlM— COflaBel>OKDKyCB  WITH 
MISS  6XWABD  AND  MR.  KLLIB—fiALLAD  OP  T^B  BBl- 
VBb's  WBDDINO — COMMBNCEBfBNT  OP  THB  LAY  OF 
THB  LAST  MIN8TBBL— VISIT  TO  LONDON  AND  OXFORD 
— COMPLXTION  or  THB  MIN8TBBL8V  OF  THB  SCOT- 
TISH BOBDEB— IS02-1803. 

Thb  approbation  with  which  the  first  two  volumes 
of  the  Minstrelsy  were  received,  stimulaied  Spott 
to  fresh  diligence  in  the  preparation  of  a  third; 
while  "Sir  Tristrem"— it  being  now  settled  that 
this  romance  should  form  a  separate  volume— was 


transmitted,  vrithout  delay,  to  the  printer  at  KelsOL 
As  early  as  March  80th.  1602,  Ballantyne,  iprho  hai 
just  returned  from  London,  writes  thus  :— 

7\»  Walter  Seott^  E$q.t  Ca$tU  Street,  Edinhem-gk, 
"Dear  Sir, 

''By  to-morrow's  Fly  I  stMll  send  tbe  remain ing  mftte* 
rials  for  Minslseley.  togetber  wiib  tbree  sheets  of  mt 
Tristrem.  ...  1  siiall  ever  thiolctbe  priotiof  tlie  0co4tisli 
Minstrelsy  one  of  tbe  most  fortunate  circumftanoes  of 
my  life.  I  have  gained,  not  lost  by  it,  in  a  pecuniary 
light ;  and  the  prospects  it  has  been  tbe  means  of  c^penuif 
to  me,  may  advanCRgeously  influence  njy  future  destin;. 
I  can  never  be  sufficiently  grateful  for  the  interest  joa 
unceasingly  take  in  my  welrare.  Your  query  respecting 
Edinburgh^  I  am  yet  at  a  lost  to  answer.  To  iky  trUb, 
tbe  ejcpensea  I  have  iocorred  in  my  resotatioo  to  aeqoire 
a  character  for  ele^t  printing)  whatever  might  be  tbe 
result,  cramp  considerably  my  present  esertioos.  A 
short  time,  I  trust,  will  make  me  easier,  and  I  abaU  iluui 
contempUte  tbe  road  before  me  with  a  steady  eye.  One 
thing  alone  is  clear— that  Kelso  cannot  be  my  abtdrng 
place  for  aye;  sooner  or  later  emigrate  I  must  abdwlll: 
but,  at  all  events,  I  must  wait  till  my  plumes  are  grown.  I 
am,  dear  sir,  yonr  liiitbAil  and  obliged,  J.  B." 

On  learning  that  a  third  vdume  of  (he  Minsfrelsy 
wss  in  progress,  Miss  Seward  forwarded  to  me 
Editor  '^BZh  Auld  WUtie's  FarewelV  a  Scotch 
ballad  of  her  own  manufacture,  meaning,  no  doubt, 
to  plac^it  athis  disposal  for  the  section  of  *'lnuta- 
tions.**^  His  answer,  (dated  Edinburgh,  June  79, 
1802.)  after  manv  compliments  to  the  Auld  WUHc, 
of  which  he  made  the  use  that  had  beoi  inteoded^ 
proceeds  as  follows  :— 

*'I  have  some  thougbts  of  sttemptfng  a  Boitdbr  JMM 
in  tbe  cofBieJoaoner;  ouL  I  almost  de^)alr  of  brioi^  it 
well  ooL  A  certaJn  Sir  WUliam  Scott, from  wboan  lam 
descended,  was  iU'Sdviaed  enough  to  plunder  the  estate 
ofSir  Gideon  Murray  ofEUbank,  ancestor  to  the  prestfnl 
Lord  Bllbank.  The  marauder  was  defeated,  seiziBd,  aod 
brou|iit  in  tetters  to  the  castle  of  EHbank,  upon  the  Tweea 
The  Lady  Munray  (sgreeable  to  the  custom  of  attladlefl 
In  ancient  tales)  was  seated  on  the  battlenents,  and  4es- 
cried  the  return  of  her  hnsbsod  with  his  prisooeBs.  0hs 
iinmediatelv  inquired  what  be  meant  to  do  with  the  fonng 
Kn^ht  of  Harden,  wbicb  was  tbe  petit  titre  of  Sir  WUBam 
Scott.  '  Hang  the  robber,  assuredly.'  was  the  answer  of 
Sir  Gideon.  *What!'  answered  the  lady,  *Umg  the 
handsome  young  knight  of  Harden,  when  I  have  thfee  10- 
favoured  daughters  unmarried  I  No,  no,  Sir  Gideon, 
we'll  foroe  him  to  marry  our  Meg.'  Now  tradkion  says, 
that  Meg  Murray  was  the  ugliest  woman  in  tbe  four  coon* 
ties,  and  tlua  she  was  oslied*  in  the  homebf  diafect  of  ihs 
time,  meikle-numihed  Meg  (I  wi^not  affront  you.  by  an 
explanation.*)  Sir  Gideon,  like  a  good  husband  and  ten- 
der father,  entered  into  lits  wife's  sentiments,  and  pre> 
lerreil  \o  Sir  WiUisoi  the  alternative  of  becomiog  his  so» 
in-law,  or  decorating  with  his  carcase  the  kinafy  jwBowi 
of  Blibank.  The  lady  was  so  very  ugly,  that  Sir  WOAam, 
the  handsomest  man  of  his  time,  putdtivelv  refiised  the 
honour  of  her  hand  Three  days  were  allowed  him  to 
make  up  his  mind ;  and  it  was  not  antil  he  fonnd  ooc  end 
of  a  rope  made  6st  to  his  necki  and  the  other  knitted  to 
a  sturdy  oak  bough,  that  his  resotatioa  gave  way,  and  he 
preferred  an  ugly  wife  to  the  Hteral  ooose.  It  is  «ald,  Ihey 
were  afterwards  «  very  hapny  couple..  She  had  a  ourkNM 
hand  at  pickling  the  beef  which  he  stole ;  and,  marauder 
as  he  was,  ha  had  little  reason  to  dread  being  twitted  by 
the  pawky  fowk.  This,  either  by  its  being  perpetually 
told  to  roe  when  young,  or  by  a  i»erveile6  taste  (or  suen 
anecdotes,  has  always  struck  me  as  a  good  8ubjec4  for  a 
comic  ballad,  and  bow  happy  shotild  1  l)e  were  Miss  Se- 
ward to  agree  in  opinion  with  me. 

**Thls  little  t«de  may  serve  for  aa  iatrodoctkMi  to  socns 
observatioos  I  hove  to  offer  upoQ  our  popular  poetry.  II 
will  at  least  so  &r  disclose  your  correspondent's  weak 
side,  as  to  induce  you  to  make  allowance  for  my  fuode  of 
argoiag.  Much  of  its  peculiar  charm  is  indeed,  I  believe, 
to  be  attributed  solely  to  its  locality,  A  vcry.comaooa- 
place  aiidobvioua  epithet,  when  applied  to  a  scene  which 
we  have  been  accustomed  to  view  vrith  pleasure,  recalls 
to  us  not  merely  the  local  scenery,  but  a  thousand  little 
nameless  associations,  which  we  are  unable  to  aeparaleor 
to  define.  In  some  verses  of  that  eccentric  but  admirable 
poet,  Coleridge,  he  talks  of 

*  An  old  rode  tale  that  suited  well 
The  ruins  wild  and  hoary.* 

*  ltiseoimDonlTnidlhatanMsc*idcsemduitshaveiDberitsd 


UFE  OF  SOR  WALTER  SCOTT. 


I  think  there  are  Um  who  hate  not  beeo  ta  pone  defree 
touched  with  thi«  local  sympathy.    Tell  a  Decant  aa  or- 
dinvr  tale  of  robbeir  and  murder,  and  peth^w  yoi  may 
fail  to  interest  him ;  but  to  excite  his  terrors,  you  assure 
him  it  happened  on  the  very  heath  he  usually  crosses,  or 
to  a  man  whose  family  he  has  known,  and  you  rarely  meet 
such  a  mere  image  of  Humanity  as  remains  entirely  un- 
moved.   I  suspect  It  is  pretty  much  the  same  with  myself, 
and  many  of  my  coantrymen,  who  are  charmed  by  the 
effect  of  local  deacriptioo,  and  sometimes  Impute  that 
effect  to  ibe  poet  whicn  is  produced  by  the  recoMections 
and  associations  which  his  verses  excite.    Why  else  did 
Sir  Philip  Sydney  feel  that  the  tale  of  Percy  and  Douglas 
moved  hun  like  the  sound  of  a  trumpet  I  or  nhy  is  it  that 
a  Swiss  sickens  at  hearing  the  famous  Ranz  des  Vacbe.^, 
to  which  the  native  of  any  other  country  would  have  lis- 
tened (5r  a  hundred  days,  without  any  other  sensation 
than  ennai  t    I  fear  our  poetical  taste  is  in  general  much 
more  linked  vtith  our  prejudices  of  birth,  of  education, 
and  of  hld)ittal  thinUng,  than  our  vanity  will  aUow  us  to 
supposa  ;  and  thit,  let  the  point  of  the  poet'»  dart  be  as 
sharp  aa  that  of  Cupid,  k  is  the  wings  lent  it  by  the  fancy 
and  Breposseaaions  of  the  gentle  reader  whicti  carry  it  to 
the  mark.    It  may  appear  hke  great  egotism  to  pretend  to 
illastrate  my  position  from  the  reception  which  the  pro- 
ductions  of  8o  mere  a  balhd-monger  as  qiyself  have  met 
with  from  the  pobUc  ;  but  Lcannot  help  observing  that  aH 
Scotchmen  prefer  the  Bve  of  St.  John  to  GlenfimaB,  and 
moat  of  my  Eogliah  fHends  eatertain  precisely  an  oppo- 
sita  opinion.  ...  I  baYe  been  wrtUnc  Uis  letter  by  a  pa- 
ra^raph  at  ^  time  foraboat  a  month,  ttda  being  tha  seasoa 
when  wa  are  moat  devoted  to  tha 

*  Drowsy  bench  and  babblhig  hall.'  ^ 

I  have  the  hooour,"  dec.  Ac 

Miss  Seward,  in  her  next  letter,  offers  an  apology 
for  not  paving  sooner  b^ed  Sc^tt  to  place  her 
name  amon^  the  mbscrioers  to  bia  third  volume. 
His  answer  is  in  these  words:— 

^LaMwade,  July,  1802. 
**  I  am  rery  sorry  to  ftave  left  yoa  under  a  mistake  about 
my  third  volume.  The  truth  Is^  that  highly  as  I  should 
feel  myself  flattered  by  the  encoungement  of  Miss  Se- 
ward's Dame,  lcannot,  in  the^resentinalance.  avail  my- 
self  of  it,  as  the  Ballads  are  not  published  by  subscilpttoo. 
ProTidsnce  having,  I  suppose,  (breaaeo  that  my  literary 
qioiiflcadcais,  like  those  of  many  more  dtatinanfahed  par- 
aotta»  miebt  not,  por  Aoaord,  sappmt  mt  exactly  aal  would 
like,  allotted  me  a  smaU  palrimoay,  which,  joined  to  nif 
proieasional  income,  and  my  appolatmenis  in  cbe  eharae* 
r  eristic  office  of  Sheriff  of  Ettnck  Forest,  serves  to  render 
my  literary  parsulta  more  a  matter  of  amusement  than  an 
object  of  emolument  With  this  explanation,  I  hope  you 
win  hohooT  me  bf  accepting  the  third  volume  as  soon  at 
pabUahed,  which  wOt  be  te  the  beghmlog  of  next  year, 
aad  1  als0  hope,  that  aoder  the  cirenmstances.  you  wilt 
hold  me  acquitted  af  the  silly  vanky  of  wishing^  to  be 
tbouaht  a  Mil/emafi^nthar. 

^«lC©  bfilad ofThe Reiver's  Weddisg la nec y el wriiun, 
btjUl  have  finished  one  of  a  tragic  cast,  foanded  apoa  the 


bte  chief  and  his  kinsmen  :- 


<  With  haakbat  bent»'  4to.  Ac. 


**'niis  9»thwelB)aagh  has  occupied  such  an  nnwar- 
nmtabto  portion  of  my  letter,  that  I  have  hardly  time  to 
teU  you  bow  jauoh  I  join  in  yonr  admiration  of  Tam  o' 
Bbanter,  which  I  veiily  believe  to  be  iaimltable,  both  in 
the  aerioua  and  ludicrous  parts,  aaweU  as  the  ahuularly 
hnppy  combioalioo  of  both.  I  request  Mias  Seward  to  bo> 
lieve,"  Sec. 

Th«  •'  Reiver's  Wedding"  never  was  compleledi 
but  I  hsTe  found  two  copies  of  its  aominencenient. 
ami  I  fihall  make  no  apologies  for  insertinK  here 
what  aeems  to  have  been  the  second  one.  It  will 
be  seeii  that  he  had  meant  to  mingle  with  Sir  Wil- 
liaai'if  capture,  Auld  Wat's  Foray  of  ^  Bassened 
BiUl,  ana  tlie  Pea^t  of  Spurs ;  and  tl)at,  I  know  not 
for  what  reason,  Lochwood,  the  ancient  fortress  of 
the  J^natones  in  Annandale,  has  been  snbstituted 
for  the  resU  locality  of  his  anoestoi's  Drumhead 
Weddiiiff  Contract:— 

"THE  REIVER'S  WEDDING. 

•  O  wrfll  ye  hear  a  mirthful  bourdi       i 
Or  will  T*  hetf  of  coartetie  ? 


Or  will  ye  hear  how  a  tkUnt  lord 
Was  wedded  to  a  gay  ladye  ? 

•  Ca'  out  the  kye^'  qiK)'  the  village  herd, 

As  he  stood  on  the  knowe, 
<  Ca'  this  ane's  nine,  and  that  aoe'a  ten, 
And  bauld  Lord  William's  cow.'        ^^  ..        ' 

•Ah!  by  my  sobth,'  quoth  William  then, 

'  And  stands  U  that  way  now. 
When  the  knave  and  churl  have  nine  and  ten, 

That  the  Lord  has  but  his  cow  7  ^ 

*  I  swear  b^  the  light  of  the  Michaelmas  moon 

And  the  mieht  of  Mary  high, 
And  by  the  edge  of  my  braidaword  brown, 
They  shall  soon  say  Harden's  kye.' 

Ufi  took  a  bugle  firae  his  side, 

With  names  carved  o'er  and  o'er— 
Pull  many  a  chief  of  meikle  pride, 

That  Border  bugle  bore—* 

He  blew  a  note  baith  sharp  and  hie, 

Till  rock  and  water  rang  around— 
Three  score  of  mosstroopers  and  three 

Have  mounted  at  that  bugle  sound. 

The  Ifichaelmas  nxwn  had  entered  then, 

And  ere  she  wan  the  full, 
Ta  might  see  by  herllsht  in  Harden  glea 

A  bow  o*  kye  aad  a  basaenad  bull. 

Andtoud,  andkiQ(L  in  Harden  tower 
The  qualgh  gaed  round  wi'  meikle  flee  ; 

For  the  BncHsh  beef  was  brought  in  bowery 
And  the  EngUah  ale  flowed  merrilie. 

And  inony  a  guest  l^om  Teviotside 

And  farrow's  Braes  were  there ; 
Waa  never  a  lord  hi  Scotland  wkle 

That  made  more  dainty  fare. 

They  ate,  they  laugh'd,  they  sang  andqoaifl^* 

Tin  nought  on  board  was  seen, 
When  knight  and  squire  were  boane  to  dlae, 

But  a  spur  of  sliver  sheen. 
Lord  WiUfaun  has  ta'en  bia  berry  brown  itead* 

A  sore  sheet  man  was  he  : 

•  Watt  ye.  my  guest,  a  Uljle  speadr- 

Weei  feasted  ye  shall  be.' 

He  rode  him  down  by  Falaahopa  Dum, 

BiSGoaaindearioaee, 
With  him  to  take  a  riding  turn— 

YCat-draw-the-sword  was  be. 

^Attl  when  he  caaie  to  Fkbabope  glen, 
beneath  4he  tryatiog  tnee,  .  .  ^ 
On  tha  smooth  green  waa  carved  plain,t 

'  To  Loch  wood  bound  are  we.' 
'  O  if  they  be  cane  to  dark  Loehwoed 

To  drive  die  warden's  gear, 
Betwixt  oar  namea,  I  ween,  there's  fend ; 

ru  go  and  have  my  ahare : 

*  For  tittle  reek  I  for  Johnstone's  fend, 

The  Warden  though  he  be.' 
•o  Lord  WUHaa  la  away  ta  dark  Loehwood, 

With  riders  barely  three. 
The  Warden's  daughters  in  Lochwood  sate, 

Were  all  both  feir  and  gay, 
All  save  the  Lady  Margaret, 

And  she.  was  waa  and  wae. 

The  sister,  Jean,  had  a  AiU  Wr  sUn, 

And  Grace  was  bauld  and  braw ; 
But  the  leal- fast  heart  her  breast  withm 

Itweel  was  worth  them  a*. 

Her  father's  planked  her  alsUrs  twa 

With  meikle  joy  and  pride ; 
Bat  Margaret  maun  seek  Dundrennan's  wa'— 

Bhe  ne'er  can  be  a  bride. 

On  spear  and  casque  by  gallants  gent 
Her  sisters'  scarfs  were  borne, 
*  But  never  at  tilt  or  tournament  ^ 

Were  Margaret's  colours  worn. 

•  TWi  eekltated  hom  Is  stfi  in  the  possession  of  Loid  Pd- 
t  "  At  LiotoB.  ia  Roidwirtaliire, t^ere  is^  ckdeof  stonssjnr- 


„.  Linton,  ia  Roidwi^aliiret  there  is  ai ^ — --^ — 

ntnndiog  a  smooth  plat  of  mrTadWthe^  Trwt,oi  P^of  ap- 
TT-r-^..^  wWch  traOilon  avert  to  have  been  tl»  rendeKvous  ca 


k^tbe 


'*t*y*  p<  isB> 


waniors.  'fte  nanie  of  theM<ter  was  cut  in 
anwDsement  of  the  tetters  aonounped  to  hu  fo^ 
«wlbKb  be  bad  take&."-&iir(Sl6«f<M  »  tff 

Digitized  by  V^OOQlC 


.ft 


UPE  OP  SIR  WALTER  SCOTT. 


Her  Bill  ens  rode  1»  Tlilrkiliitlc  l 
Bui  qiif!  wuh  \b^  &(  htmct 

And  bI^Ii  young  QUirdeQ^fl  mians. 

'  Of  all  ihn  knlgbtfl,  tbe  tciliht  nao Jt  PUr, 
From  Yiirmw  t^  the  Triie,' 

6ut  ne^er  cui  ha  bo  mine ; 

*  pr  ftiU  (h«i  malilm  itiii  fouleit  oitid 
'  From  T€Vioi  to  the  D%*( 

*  Cm  u.^er  forifiE  lUnluei^ii  be*— 

She  kdokfrd  ii[i  the  bd«ty  ((Uq, 

And  Ufi  tl)i(i  iTiDjiJi^  bnipf 
Ajid  »ho  saw  a  acoro  of  hor  faiher's  Oiet 

VcLud  Jfi  ttiQ  JohQBtdine  kta^'h 

O  fMt  and  iul  tbf'f  c){»wQWiif cKb  «p«<] 

And  In  the  tTLldsj  Uie  iroopp»  iej 
A  BhAc^lUed  )m3ghr  ■lorjg" 


Absood  as  the  auttimn  viLcatiop  sat  Scott  at  liber- 
tff  he  pruceeded  lu  the  Borders  with  Leyden.  ^'We 
havis  ju$l  ^ancludi'dj^'  he  telln  ELlis,  on  nia  return  to 
Edinburgh^  *  ftn  excursion  of  two  or  ihree  wtoks 
through  my  jurisdiciiot]  of  St'IkirkBhire,  where,  in 
defies  nee  m  mountains^  rivera,  STjd  bogi  J?uiip  flnd 
dtYi  we  hav«  penetrated  the  very  reeee^aof  Ettiiek 
Foreai>  to  which  d is tricu  if  I  ever  have  the  happiii4^«fi 
of  wdcoming  you,  yau  wiU  be  convineed  that  I  ain 
truly  the;  eherjff  of' the  '  c&irn  itttd  the  ei^aur.'  In 
the  courae  of  our  cranti  tour,  btisidt'B  the  tnkE  of 
Bwatnpmj;  and  hreaktn^  our  n^ks,  we,  encountered 
the  farmiaabie  hardehipB  of  sh'cpiug  upon  peat- 
■tacks,  and  eatinp  mutton  sloin  by  no  common 
butc^b^Tr  liut  deprived  of  life  by  ihc  juJgniertt  of 
Grtd^  aa  a  coraner'e  inquest  would  ex|jre*s  ih*5nj- 
seUefl.  I  haye,  however,  nbt  only  es^Cfipcd  safe  'per 
v&rioi  caAua  per  tot  dincTimina  remm,'  bpi  returned 
t^mdcd  with  the  treaAureB  of  oral  tradition.  The 
I^rincipal  result  of  our  tntiuirieB  hae  been  a  cotupjet^ 

'  and  perfeci  copy  of  '  Mai t land  with  hia  Auld  Bcrd 
Graie/  referred  to  by  Douglas  in  hia  ^  Pa  Lice  of 
IIc^Dour,'  alcing  with  John  ine  Reef  and  "oiher  po- 
pular eharaeterp^  nnd  eelebratt^  also  in  tho  poenia 
from  the  Mail  I  and  MS,  You  mov  gue^si  the  sur- 
priae  of  Leyrleo  and  my^U  when  this  waa  present- 
ed to  u^  copied  down  from  the  recitation  of  an  old 
ihepherd.  by  a  country  farmefi  ar^d  with  no  greater 
corruptiona  than  tuight  be  jiiipno&ed  lo  he  in  trod  o- 
ced  hy  the  Upee  of  time,  and  the  ignorance  of  reci- 
tera.  I  don* I  anppafie  it  waa  oriffinailv  composed 
later  than  the  daya  of  BUnd  Barry.  Mao^  of  the 
old  words  are  retained,  which  ndihtsrihertfciter  nor 
the  copii^T  undefntood.    Such  are  ihe  nulit^ry  4?n^ 

,  fdnes  noif^ct,  springvtulht  t^T^rinijalds;)  and  many 
olhera<  Though  cho  poetical  inerii  of  ilus  i-urjosity 
is  not  fithkingf  yt^t  it  haa  an  odd  ^n^rgy  and  drama* 
tic  effect," 

A  few  weeka  later,  he  thus  anawera  KIJi«V  in- 
quiriea  ai  lo  the  pro^^reaa  of  ihe  Sir  Triatrem  t— 
*'  The  worthy  knijjhi  la  eiill  in  embryo,  though  the 
whole  poetrv  is.  pnnted.  The  fact  is,  that  a  second 
editioii  of  the  MiiiBtrel ay  has  been  demanded  mor^ 
naddenly  than  1  oxpecied,  and  has  occupied  my 
immediate  aifenli(jii,  I  have  aldo  my  third  volume 
10  eumpde  and  airanpe ;  fiir  the  Min»trclBy  is  now 
to  hecompli.ted  ailoeethcr  independent  of  the  pr^ux 
dirtoHfTt  who  might  hang  heavy  upon  its  skirts 
Xaa^reyou  my  Oyniinuaihn  ia  mere  dogp^ei,  not 
pociry-^it  is  urfrucjJ  in  the  same  dieimofi  with  Tho- 
rn aa'jS  own  produDUon,  atid  thercfori?  not  worth 
sending.  Ho^ever^  you  inay  depend  on  ha¥ni« 
toQ  whole  lonjE^  before  public alion,  1  have  derived 
inueh  information  from  Turner:  he  combines  the 
kaowled^  of  the  WeUh  and  northern  authi]rit;t'u, 
andj  iii  ueApiteof  a  moat  detestable  GibhunitTn^  his 
h&cik  m  inlereetme.*  J  Lnlond  to  atudy  the  weleh 
triadtt  b^ore  I  finally  conunic  myadf  on  the  subject 
of  BotdCT  poetry As  for  Mister  Riteoo,  he 


Btid  I  still  aontinoe  on  decent  terms;  aftdm  tmtfi. 
he  makaa  fKilt  dt  relottrs  ;  hut  I  dread  I  shall  «ee  *  a 
whiskirr  first  and  then  a  claw'  stretched  out  agminst 
ray  unforiuuato  lucuhralion^.  Ballantjrne,  the 
KcJbo  printer,  who  has  a  hook  pf  his  in  nana, 
groans  m  spirit  over  the  peculiarities  of  hia  ortho- 
graphy, which,  acpoth  to  say.  hath  seldom  been  e<^aal- 
led  sinci^  ihe  daya  of  t^lphiniitone,  the  ingentcms 
author  of  the  mode  of  spt^lling  according  to  the 
pronuncintion,  which  ht^  aptly  termed,  "Prop nety 
Bicertained  in  her  Pielurp."  I  fear  the  remark  of 
Fcstus  to  St.  Pool  mifthl  be  niore  justly  appUed  to 
this  curioys  investigator  of  antiquity,  and  it  is  a  pity 
euch  reaearch  should  be  rendered  useless  by  the 
infirmities  of  his  lemper.  I  have  lately  had  from 
him  a  copic  of  '  Ye  lUel  wee  Mon,'  of  which  I 
think  lean  make  some  use.  Id  return,  I  hai^e  aent 
him  a  si^ht  of  Auld  Maitknd,  the  original  MS.  If 
you  are  cunona,  I  dare  *tty  you  ma^  easily  see  it. 
Indeed,  I  miaht  easily  aend  yoa  a  transcribed  coPXi 
— bul  I  wish  him  to  see  it  in  piiris  jiaturaUbus.    i  ^ 

Ritson  hod  visited  T.naswade  in  the  course  of  this 
auiuniOt  and  hiu  eon  duel  had  been  such  as  to  render 
the  precaution  here  alluded  to  very  proper,  in  the 
eaao  of  one  who,  lLk*j  Scott,  was  resolved  to  steer 
cbar  of  the  feuds  and  heartburnings  that  gave  nse 
to  such  scandalous  scenes  aniong^  the  other  anti- 
qiiancs  of  the  day.  Ley  den  met  R4tson  ai  the  cot- 
tage, and,  far  from  tmitalinR  his  host's  foroearance, 
took  a  pleai^ure  of  tormenting  the  half-road  pedant 
by  every  means  in  his  power.  Among  other  cir- 
cum  stances,  Scott  dulighiod  to  detail  the  scene  that 
occurrLHi  when  his  two  imcotith  aUies  first  met  at 
dinner.  Well  knoi^'inj^  RJtsoa*8  holy  horror  of  all 
animal  food,  Leyden  complained  that  the  joint  on 
the  table  was  overdone*  '* Indeed,  for  that  mat- 
ter,'* cried  he,  "  meat  can  never  be  too  little  done, 
and  raw  is  beat  of  all  "  He  t^ent  to  the  kitchen  ac- 
cordingly for  a  plaie  of  llierally  raw  bee^  and  man- 
fully eat  It  up,  with  no  sance  but  theezqmsite  raeful- 
neas  of  the  Fyihngorcan^s  glances. 

Mr.  Robert  Pierc^e  Gillies?,  a  gentleman  of  the 
Scotch  bar.  well  known^  among  other  thingBi  for 
some  ejteeiletit  translations  from  the  Overman,  ' 


pre^nt  at  the  cottage  another  dav,  when  Btitson 
was  in  Scotland,  He  hns  described  the  whole 
scene  in  the  aecond  ieetion  of  his  "Recollections  of 
Sir  Walter  Sooi»,"^a  set  of  papers  in  which  many 
inaccurate  statements  occur,  but  which  convey,  on 
the  whole,  a  lively  impreaaion  of  the  persona  intro- 
duced.* In  approaching  the  cottage,"  he  says, 
*'  I  was  struck  with  the  exceeding  air  of  neatness 
that  prevailed  around.  The  hana  of  tasteful  cnlti- 
vatioti  had  been  there,  and  all  methods  employed  to 
convert  an  ordinary  thatched  cottage  into  a  hadd- 
some  and  co  mfo  r  t  a h  1  e  ah  ode.  The  doorway  was  in 
an  angle  fi^rmed  by  ihc^  oricmal  old  cabin  and  the  ^ 
additional  rooms  which  had  been  built  to  iL  In  a 
moment  I  had  passed  through  the  lobby,  and  found 
myself  in  the  preaenci;  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Scott,  and 
Mr.  William  Erskine^  At  this  early  period,  Scott 
wa?  more  like  the  nortraitj  by  Saxon,  engraved  for 
the  &rst  edition  of  'The  Ladv  of  the  Lake,'  than 
to  any  subseqiitent  picture,  ite  retained  in  testures 
and  /orm  an  impress  of  Ihnt  elasticity  and  youthful 
vivacity,  which  he  ustd  to  complain  wore  off  after 
he  was  forty,  und  by  hk  own  account  was  exchang- 
ed for  ihe  plodding  hesvinc^TtE  i)f  an  operose  student 
He  had  now,  indeed^  aorne^vhat  of  a  boyish  gayety 
of  iook,  and  in  person  was  tall,  slim,  and  extreme- 
ly aci  i ve.  On  ni  y  en  i  ran  ce,  ho  was  seated  at  a  table 
near  the  window,  and  occunii^din  transcribing  fh>m 
an  old  MS.  volume  into  hii^  commonplace  book. 
As  to  costume,  he  was  carelessly  attired  m  a  widely- 
madoshooting-dreaa,  with  a  coloured  handkerchief 
rotund  hiri  neck  ;  the  very  antithesis  of  style  usually 
adopted  eiihtr  by  itiident  <T  barrister.  *Hahr 
hi)  exclaimed,  ^welcome,  thrice  welcome!  ibr  we 
are  juat  proposing  to  haii^  hrnch,  and  then  a  long; 
long  w^alk  tnrouKO  wood  and  wold,  in  which  I  am 
sure  yoLt  ^sill  Join  us.  But  no  man  can  thoroughly 
appreciate  the  pl^sure  of  such  a  hfe  who  has  not 


•  Tf*  fiat  P»rt  (jf  Ml  ebwrtj  ^TnroM'i  MktaiT  of  the  AtnV       •  Thtv  papftrw  dptwcrvd  in  Prawrt  Mtfttiino  Ibr  thptmhm, 
gs^uns  wp  E<uMiiM  in  l?l»  i  tli»  t^oond  m  tHoi.  NaVHBbfr»  vut  DcCMnbot,  vsm.  ^faA  Janovr,  ISM. 

Digitized  by  VijOOQlC 


LIF^  OF  Sm  WALTER  SCOTT. 


81 


loown  what  it  it  to  rise  roiritlesB  in  amorning,  and 
'  "  ■"  >  out  half  the  dsjr  in  the  Parliament  Houee, 
J  we  must  all  compear  within  another  fort- 
_ht ;  then  to  apend  the  rest  of  one's  time  in  ap- 
plying proofs  to  conde8c€ndeneeSi  and  hauling  out 
papers  to  bamboozle  judgest  most  of  whom  are 
daniMd  enough  already.  What  say  you,  Counsellor 
Enkine?  Come — cUla  ^erra— rouse,  and  say  whe- 
ther you  are  for  a  walk  to-day.'— *  Certainly,  in 
such  fine  weather  I  don't  see  what  we  can  propose 
better.  It  is  the  last  I  shall  see  of  the  countrv  this 
vacation.'—*  Nay,  say  not  so,  man ;  we  shall  all 
be  merry  twice  and  once  yet  before  the  evil  days 
anrre.'— *ril  tell  you  what  I  have  thought  of  tins 
baif^boor :  it  is  a  plan  of  mine  to  rant  a  cottage  and 
acabhage-garden— not  here,  but  somewhere  farther 
oet  of  town,  and  never  again,  after  this  one  session, 
to  mter  the  Parliament  House.'—*  And  you'll  ask 
Rtt^n,  perhaps,'  said  Scott,  *  to  stay  with  you,  and 
help  to  consame  the  cabbages.  Risst  assured  we 
shall  both  tit  on  the  bench  one  day ;  but,  heigho  ! 
#a  shall  both  have  become  very  old  andpbiloSophi- 
cai  by  that  timei'— *  Did  you  not  expect  Lewis  here 
this  morning  T—*  Lewis,  1  venture  to  say,  is  not  up 
yet,  for  he  dined  at  Dtikeith  yesterday,  and  of 
oeiarae  found  the  wine  very  f(ood.  Besides,  you 
know,  I  have  intrusted  hin^  with  FintUa  till  his 
own  steed  gets  well  of  a  sprain,  and  he  could  not 
join  our  walking  excursion.— I  see  you  are  admiring 
that  broken  sword.'  he  added,  addressing  me,  *  and 
voar  interest  would  increase  if  3^0  knew  how  much 
laboor  was  required  to  bring  it  into  my  possession. 
Ib  erdtr  to  grasp  that  moiudering  weapon.  I  was 
oU^^  to  drain  the  well  at  the  Castle  of  Dunnot- 
tar.  Bat  it  is  time  to  set  out:  and  here  is  one* 
/HtfMP  (addressing  himself  to  a  larve  dog)  *  who  is 
vary  impatient  to  be  in  the  field.  He  teUs  me  he 
luowt  where  to  find  a  hare  in' the  woods  of  Mavis- 
bank.  And  here  is  another,'  (^caressing  a  terrier,) 
*  whft  longs  to  have  a  battle  with  the  welizels  and 
Vatef-rat^  and  the  foamart  that  wms  naar  the 
eaves  of  Gorthy  :  so  let  us  be  off.'  " 

ISx,  Odlies  tells  us,  that  in  the  course  of  their 
waQi  to  Rosslyn,  Scott's  foot  slipped,  at  he  was 
tcramblins  towards  a  cave  on  the  edge  of  a  preci- 
phooB  bank,  and  that,  **  had  there  been  no  trees  in 
the  way,  he  must  have  been  killed,  but  midway  he 
was  ttopped  by  a  large  root  of  hazel,  when,  instead 
ol  itmggling,  which  would  have  made  matters 
gready  worse,  he  seemed  perfectly  resigned  to  his 
ute,  and  slipped  through  the  tangled  thicket  till  he 
lay  flat  on  the  river's  brink.  He  rose  in  an  instant 
from  his  recumbent  attitude,  and  with  a  hearty  laugh 
called  out,  *  Now,  let  me  see  who  else  will  do  the 
like.'  He  scrambled  up  the  cliff  with  alacrity,  and 
entered  the  cave,  where  we  had  a  long  dialogue." 

Even  after  he  was  an  old  and  hoary  man,  he 
continually  encountered  such  risks  with  the  same 
recklessness.  The  extraordinary  strength  of  his 
bands  and  arms  was  his  great  reliance  in  all  such 
difficnltioB,  and  if  he  coula  see  any  thing  to  lay  hold 
<rf;  he  was  afraid  of  no  leap,  or  rather  hop,  that  came 
in  h»  way.  Mr.  Gillies  says,  that  when  they  drew 
near  the  famous  chapel  of  Rosslyn,  Erskine  ex- 
prened  a  hope  that  they  might,  as  habitual  visitors, 
*escape  hearing  the  usual  endless  story  of  the  silly 
old  woman  that  showed  the  ruins  ;  but  Scott  an- 
svered,  **  IJiere  is  a  pleasure  in  the  sons  which 
none  hut  the  songstress  knows,  and  by  teUing  her 
we  know  it  all  aiieadyi  we  ahould  make  the  poor 
devil  unhappy." 

On  their  remm  to  the  cottage,  Scott  inquired  for 
the  learned  cahbage-emUTy  meaning  Ritton,  who  had 
been  expected  to  dinner.  *Undeed,"  answered  his 
wife,  **you  may  be  happy  he  is  not  here,  he  is  so 
very  dnagreeable.  Mr.  Lcyden,  I  beljive,  frighten- 
ed him  away."  It  turned  out  that  it  was  oven  so. 
When  Ritson  appeared,  a  round  of  cold  beef  was 
on  the  luncheon-table,  and  Mrs.  Scott,  forgetting 
his  peculiar  creed,  offered  him  a  sjice.      The  anti- 


turn,  till  at  last  he  threatened,  that  if  he  were  not 
sOent,  he  would  Ihraw  his  neck.  Scott  shook  his 
head  at  this  recital,  which  Leyden  observing^  grew 
vehement  in  his  own  justification.  Scott  said  not 
a  word  in  reply,  but  took  up  a  large  bunch  of  fea- 
thers fastened  to  a  stick,  denominated  a  dusttr^  and 
shook  it  about  the  student's  ears  till  he  laughed- 
then  changed  the  subject" 

All  this  is  very  cnaracteriatic  of  the  parties. 
Scott's  playful  iiversion  to  dispute  was  a  trait  in  his 
mind  and  manners,  that  could  alone  have  enabled 
him  to  make  use  at  one  and  the  same  time,  and  for 
the  same  purpose,  of  two  such  persons  as  Ritson 
and  Leyden. 

To  return  to  Ellis.  In  answer  to  Scott's  letter 
last  quoted,  he  urged  him  to  make  Sir  Tristrem  t^ 
lume  fourth  of  the  Minstrelsy.  **  As  to  his  hanging 
heavy  on  hand,"  (says  he,)  v  1  adroit,  that  as  a  se- 
parate publication  he  may  do  so,  but  the  Minstrelsy 
IB  now  estabUshed  as  a  library  book,  and  in  this 
bibliomaniac  age,  no  one  would  think  it  perfect 
without  the  preux  theoalitr^  if  you  avow  the  said 
chevalier  as  your  adopted  son.  Let  him.  at  least,  be 
printed  in  the  same  size  and  paper,  and  then  1  am 
persuaded  our  booksellers  will  do  the  rest  fast 
enoygh,  upon  the  credit  of  your  reputation."  Scott 
rephes,  (November,)  that  it  is  now  too  late  to  alter 
the  fate  of  Sir  Tnttrem.  **  Longman,  of  Pater- 
noster Row.  has  been  down  here  m  summer,  and 
pnrchasi^  the  copyright  of  the  Minstrelsy.  Sur 
Tristrem  is  a  separate  property,  but  will  be  on  the 
same  scale  in  point  of  size." 

The  next  letter  introduces  to  Ellis's  personal  ac- 
quaintance Leyden,  who  had  by^his  time  comple- 
ted his  medical  studies,  and  takmi  his  degree  as  a 
physician.  In  it  Scott  says :  **  At  length  I  write  to 
you  per  favour  of  John  Leyden.  I  presume  Heber 
has  made  yot^  sufficiently  acqiainted  with  this  ori- 
ginal, \for  he  IS  a  true  one,)  and  therefore  I  will  trust 
to  your  own  kihdness,  shoi\ld  an  opportunity  occur 
of  doing  him  aiiv  service  in  furthering  his  Indian 
plans.  You  will  readily  judge,  from  conversing 
with  him,  that  with  a  very  uncommon  stock  of  ac- 
quired knowledge,  he  wants  a  good  deal  of  another 
sort  of  knowledge,  which  is  only  to  be  gleaned  from 
an  early  intercourse  with  pohsned  society.  But  he 
dances  his  bear  with  a  good  confidence,  and  the 
bear  itself  is  a  yery  good-natured  and  well-condi- 
tioned animal.  Allms  friends  are  much  interested 
about  him,  as  the  qualities  both  of  his  heart  and . 
head  are  very  uncommon."  He  adds :  **  My  ihhd 
volmne  will  appear  as  soon  after  the  others  as  the 
despatch  of  the  printers  will  admit.  Some  partt 
will,  1  think,  interest  you;  particularly  the  preserva- 
tion of  the  entire  *  Auld  Maitland'  by  oral  tradition, 
probably  from  the  reign  of  Edward  II.  or  III.  As  f 
have  never  met  with  such  an  instance,  I  must  re- 
quest you  to  inquire  all  about  it  of  Leyden,  who  was 
with  me  when  I  received  my  first  copy.  In  the 
third  volume  I  intend  to  publish  Cadyow  CaeUe,  a 
historical  sort  of  a  ballad  upon  the  death  of  the  Re- 
gent Murray,  and  besides  this,  a  long  poem  of  my 
own.  It  will  be  a  kind  of  romance  of  Border  chi- 
valry, in  a  light-horseman  sort  of  stanza." 

He  appears  to  have  sent  a  copy  of  CadyotD  Cattle 
bv  Leyden,  whose  reception  at  Mr.  Ellis's  villa;  near 
Windsor,  is  thus  described  in  the  next  letter  of  the 
correspondence.  **Let  me  thank  you,**  says  Ellis, 
**  for  your  poem,  which  Mrs.  E.  has  not  received, 
and  which,  indeed,  I  could  not  help  feeling  glad,  in 
the  first  instance,  (though  we  now  begin  to  wow 
very  impatient  font,)  that  she  did  not  receive.  Xey- 
den  would  not  have  been  your  Leyden  if  he  had  ar- 
rived like  a  careful  citizen,  with  all  his  packages 
carefully  docketed  in  his  portmanteau,  if  on  the 
point  of  leaving  for  many  years,  perhaps  for  ever, 
his  country  and  the  friends  of  his  youth,  he  had  not 
deferred  to  the  last,  and  till  it  was  too  late,  all  that 
could  be  easily  done,  and  that  stupid  people  find 
time  to  do— if  he  had  not  arrived  with  all  his  ideas 


quary,  in  his  indignation.^xpre09ed  himself  in  such  1  perfectly  bewildered— and  tir^  to  death,  and  sick— 
outrageous  terms  to  the  lady,  that  Leyden  first  tried  and  without  any  settled  plans  for  futurity,  or  any 
to  correct  him  by  ridieule,  and  then,  on  the  mad-  [  accurate  recollection  of  the  past- we  should  have 
man  growing  mors  violent,  became  angry  in  hit .  Celt  much  more  disappointed  ^^f.'^^rf^m^p^ 


non-arnrAl  of  y6\Xf  poemt  which  he  n^mtcd  usliB 
remembef^sd  to  havtj  left  eomewhero  or  olhet,  «nd 
•  ihtTcfojT  felt  vcrjr  confident  of  recovering.  Ita 
diciru  ht»  vihoh  air  aod  toiintenatice  told  nsk,  *  I  am 
'  come  to  be  one  of  your  fiiL^ads,'  and  we  im media lely 
nxjk  him  at  hia  WkJtd-^' 

By  ihf?  **  romanci?of  B^rd^r  ChivBlpy/^  which  wa& 
dcsifitiod  to  form  pen  of  the  third  volumt-  of  ibe 
BEnfiireUy,  tba  reader  is  to  midt^ralfltid  the  firet 
draught  uf  The  Lay  uf  thu  Lnst  Blinsird  :  and  ike 
ainhor'e  de$crifitiou  of  ii  a*  U4n£;  '"in  ahghi-borsc- 
maii  fiott  of  eiajuii,"  wag  probabl^^  9ug^t;^ted  by' 
the  circumatanoL'fl  undi^r  which  ihv  greater  part  <>i 
that  ori^^nal  drRu^ht  wns  composed.  Hi:  btti»  frjld 
ua,  in  his  IntTinliJciKHi  uf  r^,%,  thnt  flie  jiopm  on  fi- 
liated in  a  re<iui  -T  if  tfiL  yomigand  lavdv  CuuiUt:^fi 
of  Oalktith^  thai  he  would  wfile  n  ballad  on  the 
legend  of  Gilpin  Horner :  that  be  be^an  it  ut  Ln4&- 
w&de,  and  read  the  opening  sEaniai;,  &»  iwon  aa 
they  were  wniten,  lo  hia  friends,  Ersikint  and  Cren- 
alouii;  that  their  reception  of  thesi'  inast  apparently 
HO  cold  aa  to  disoowragt^  hitn,  and  (liafius't  hun  w  ith 
what  hiii  had  donci  bnl  that  Bnditi|?^  a  few  days 
afierward^i  that  }he  sianj.as  had  iitycrtheleas  eJt- 
citf^d  their  curiossiiy,  and  hauntcxi  ihfir  mt^moryj^  he 
was  eneou raided  to  rtsume  ibt' undertaking.  The 
scene  and  date  of  this  resumption  I  owe  to  \\w  n:.- 
coLItciion  of  the  then  Cornet  of  ihc  Edinburgh  hghi- 
horec.  Whila  the  troop  were  or^  p^>rmancni  diUy 
^t  Mimselbnrgh.ln  the  autumnal  recess  of  isoa^  the 
quartermaster*  during  a  chprKe  *>u  Poftobello  sands, 
ri^cciived  a  kifk  of  a  nor^e,  which  conEm^d  him  for 
three  days  to  his  lodsdngs.  Mr.  Skcoe  fotind  him 
buay  with  his  pen ;  And  he  produced  before  these  thr^"^ 
dm  eipirod  the  first  canto  of  the  Lay,  very  neurly, 
if  hvi  friend' a  memory  may  be  irustwl,  in  the  state 
in  which  it  was  ulUmoEuly  published.  That  tho 
whek  poem  wait  sketched  and  filled  in  with  i^tra- 
ordiatiiy  rapidity,  there  e^n  ba  no  difBotdty  in  be* 
l>eving.  He  hitnstelf  snys,  (in  the  Introduction  of 
l&30»>  that  after  he  had  once  aoi  fairly  into  the  vein, 
it  proceeded  at  the  rate  of  about  a  c^nto  in  a  week» 
The  Layi  how ev^jT,  like  the  Tnifttrcm,  soon  outsrew 
the  dimensioQa  which  b^:*  hod  original] i'  cantcmpla- 
ifsd :  the  ilesign  of  includioi?  il  in  tht?  Third  votumo 
of  the  jVlinstrelsy  was  of  coufse  abjitKhmtd:  and  it 
did  not  appear  utitrl  nt^rly  three,  yea r»  after  ifi at  for- 
tunate mishap  on  the  bench  of  Portubello- 

To  return  lo  S^ colt* a  correupoiidL'ac4;  ;~it  ahows 
that  EElis  had,  shhoy^h  jm  solved  at  the  iim&  in  se- 
rious  family  a fHictionsL  exLTtcd  him^tilf  strenuously 
and  etiiCiively  in  ^fthnlf  of  Lctydeti ;  a  service  which 
ScoEl    acWnowkdgt^a    most  warmly,      Hij;    frictid 
writesj  too,  nt  gri^at  length  about  the  completion  of  i 
tl^  Min^relsy,  urging  in  particular,  the  propriety  of 
prefiKJug  to  il  a  good  map  of  the  ScoliIhIi  Border—  | 
for  J  in  iTutb,^*  Fie  says,  **  I  htive  never  been  able  to  i 
find  even  Erciidoun^  on  any  map  in  my  po*^&ee- 
i^iom"    The  poet  aaswers  t  Jahuary  30,  I&03  0  *'  The 
idea  of  a  Til  a  ^  pleaae^  mc  much,  hitt  there  are  two 
strung  objectiopJi  lo  its  l^^inp^  prcfixei:!  to  this  eiiirion, 
I^rfif  WG  shall  be  out  in  a  months  within  which  | 
time  It  would  be  ditTieuU+  I  apprelien<i,  for  Mr,  Ar- 1 
rowsmitht  labo^irtne  tmdar  the  disadvantages  which 
I  am. about  to  mentkm,  to  complete  the  map.    Se- ' 
^ondiy^  you  are  ib  knqw  that  I  am  an  utter  stranger  [ 
to  ffuonwiry.  SLjTvtyingt  and  all  aiich  injlainmaivrj/ 
br&nchea  of  study,  ss  Mm.  Malaprop  cJilla  thern.  | 
My  pihicntiofi  wa**  wnfT>r*(mg(t'ly  niterrupttd  by  a< 

JUIJj^     llJlilCi- oiiL-^- 1^,        *ii  liil_J.J       UL  _^^i-_iliu._      iiJi'      JLZ-J-liji- 

for  about  two  vears  in  the  country  with  a  good 
maiden  aunt,  who  permitted  and  encouraged  me  to 
run  about  the  fields  as  wild  as  any  buck  that  ever 
11^  from  the  face  of  man.  Hence  my  geographical 
knowledge  is  merely  p/actical,  and  inougn  I  think 
that  in  the  South  country  '  1  could  be  a  guide  worth 
ony  twa^  that  may  in  Liddosdale  bo  found,'  yet  I 
bdTieve  Hobby  Noble,  or  Kinmont  Willie,  would 
beat  roe  at  laying  down  a  map.  I  have,  however, 
sense  enough  to  see  that  our  mode  of  executing 
maps  in  general  is  any  thing  but  perfect.  The 
country  i«  most  inaccurately  defined,  and  had  your 
General  (Wade)  marched  through  Scotland  by  the 
aanstance  of  Ainstie'a  map,  his   flying  artillery 


UFE  OP  SIR  WALTER  SCOW. 

would  soon  hm  8tuc]f  faat  among  our,  moraaaeiy. 
and  his  horae  broke theirkneea  among  our  caimau 
Tour  system  of  a  bird's  eye  view  Is  certainly  mm 
true  principle."  He  goes  on  to  mention  some  better 
maps  than  Ellis  seemed  to  have  eonsulted,  and  to 
inform  him  where  he  may  discover  Ercildoime,  un« 
derits  modern  form  of  Earlston,  upon  the  river  Lead- 
er ;  and  concludes.  "  the  map  then  must  be  deferred 
until  the  third  edition,  about  which,  I  suppose, 
Longman  thinks  courageously."  He  then  adds; 
"  I  am  almost  glad  Caayow  Castle  ia  miscarried, 
as  1  have  rather  lost  conceit  of  it  at  present,  being 


bard,  who  is  supposed  to  have  survived  all  his  bre- 
thren, and  to  have  Uved  down  to  169a  The  thing 
itself  will  be  very  long^  but  I  would  williiigly  have 
sent  you  the  Iniroductwn,  had  you  been  atiU  m  pos- 
session of  your  senatorial  privilege ;— but  double 
postage  would  be  a  strange  innovation  on  the  es- 
tablished price  of  ballads,  which  h^ye  always  sold 
at  the  easy  rate  of  one  hal^enny.*' 

I  must  now  (;tve  part  of  a  letter  in  which  Leydea 
rectus  to  the  kmdness,  and  sketches  the  person  and 
manners  of  George  Ellis,  in  a  highly  characteristic 
fashion.  He  says  to  Scott,  (January  2&,  180aA 
*'  You  were,  no  doubt,  suiprised,  my  dear  sir,  that  I 

fave  you  so  little  information  about  ray  movementa| 
ut  it  is  only  thill  day  I  have  been  able  to  soemk  of 
them  with  any  precision.  Such  is  the  tardineMitt 
every  thing  connected  with  the  India  House,  that  a 
person  who  is  present  in  the  character  of  spectator 
18  qiiite  amazeg ;  but  if  w^ consider  it  aa  the  oentrs 
of  ft  vast  commercial  oonoem,  in  conaparisoa  of 
which  Tyre  and  Sidon,  and  the  Great  CarthMie  it- 
self, must  inevitably  dwindle  into  huckster  mbop^ 
we  are  induced  to  think  of  them  with  m0ra  patience. 
Even  yet  I  cannot  answer  you  ezeotly— being  veqf 
uncertain  whether  I  am  to  sail  on  the  18th  of  next 
month,  or  the  28th. 

**  Now  shal  1  teleu  to  ye.  i  wis, 
Of  ttiat  kind  Squeyere  Ellis, 

That  woonen  la  this  cite  $  ■ 
Courtess  he  is,  by  Qotf  almiit  t 
That  henls  noQgfat  jaiaked  knist 

It  is  the  more  pltie. 

8. 
*'  He  konnen  better  eche  glewe 
Tlian  I  konnen  to  ye  shewe, 

Baith  roaist  and  least 
Bo  wet  be  wirketh  in  eche  thewe, 
That  where  he  coaiinen,  I  tel  ye  trewa,  \ 

He  Is  ane  welcome  guest. 

3. 
"  His  eyea  ffrave  aa  glas  ben, 
Aod  hit  looks  ben  alto  kene, 

Lovettche  to  paramour. 
Brown  as  acorn  ben  his  faxe, 
His  face  is  thin  as  bettel  axe 

That  deaieth  diotis  doure. 


**  His  wit  ben  both  keeneand  sharps, 
To  knizt  or  dame  that  car  11  can  carpa 

Either  in  haD  or  bower ; 
And  had  I  not  this  squeyere  yfonde,     < 
I  had  been  at  the  se-gronde, 

Which  had  been  great  dolonre. 


"  In  him  Ich  findeo  non  other  eoiL 
Save  that  his  nostril  so  doth  snivel. 

It  is  not  myche  my  choice. 
But  than^is  wit  ben  so  p< 

haflvho  can  liis  carpyngi 

Thai  thynke  not  of  his  voice. 


That  thaflvho  can  liis  carpyn^e  here 


**  To  speake  not  of  his  gentel  dame 
Ich  wis  ft  war  bothe  sin  and  ahams 

Lede  is  not  to  Inrna ; 
She  is  a  ladye  of  sleh  pi^ee, 
To  leven  hi  that  dame's  service 

Henlwerlta^li^^yt^OOgle 


UfE  OP  SIR  WALTER  SCOTT. 


7. 


■*  Hir  wit  is  ftal  kene  ind  quejnt, 
Aad  hir  iOMBra  unale  and  gent, 

Semdeebe  to  be  seene ; 
Armea,  hondei,  and  flninres  amale,  ^ 

or  pearl  beth  eche  fiof  re  nale ; 

She  mist  be  ferya  Qaeoe. 

"That  lady  ahe  wit  civ  a  acarf 
lb  him  that  would  ykiUen  a  dwarf 

Churl  of  pajnio)  kinde ; 
That  dwarf  be  ia  ao  fell  of  mode 
The  je  ahold  drynk  hia  hert  blode. 

Gbde  wold  ze  never  flnde. 

9. 
**  Thtt  dwarf  he  ben  beardleaa  and  bare 
And  weazelblowen  ben  al  hia  hair, 

^ke  ao  yrape  or  elCe ; 
And  in  this  world  beth  al  and  hale 
Bm  Dothynge  that  be  loveth  an  dele 

Saie  nla  owen  aelfe."    .... 

Tbe  fourth  of  these  verses  refers  to  the  loss  of  the 
ffiadostaxL  in  which  ship  Leyden,  but  for  Mr.  FA- 
lams  iniefnsrcfQce.  must  have  sailed,  «nd  which 
fooodaedia  the  ChatmeL  The  dwan  is,  of  rour^ 
RkaoiL 

After Tarious  kttars  of  the  same  kind,  I  find  one, 
daie^iaie  of  W^bt,  April  the  1st,  (1803,)  the  mani' 
iof  lefcfre  Leydeii  .finally  sailed.  *  I  have  b^^r  n  t wo 
dmoD  boara,"  n6  writes, "  and  yon  may  coriciivc 
vbat  an  excelleat  change  I  made  fi^om  tbi'  |icilit«it 
aodenr  of  London  to  the  0hitish  akippera  of  Porta- 
BBOoth.  Oar  crew  consists  of  a  very  motley  party  ; 
bat  there  are  some  of  them  very  ingenious,  vtnd  Ro- 
bert 8mith«  Sidney's  broiheir,  is  himself  a  hoi^L  He 
isainKMt  toa  most  powerfbl  man  I  have mti  with. 
IN  monev  eoRceme  I  shall  consiaer  you  a^rrusfsf^ 
of;  and  aiu  remittances,  as  well  as  dividends,  from 
L(mgmAn,  will  be  to  vour  direction.  These,  I  hone, 
we  shall  soon  be  able  to  adjust  very  accurately. 
Koney  mty  be  paid,  but  kindness  never.  Assure 
yoor  ezceli^t  Charlotte,  whom  |  shall  ever  re^;oLkct 
with  affection  and  esteem,  how  much  I  regret  that  I 
jdid  not  tee  her  before  my  departure,  aud  say  a  thou- 
sand pretty  things,  for  which  my  mind  is  too  much 
agitated,  being  in  the  situation  of  Coleridjzr>  devil 
aodys  graimam,  *  expecting  and  hoping  the  trum- 
pet to  blow.'  And  now,  my  dear  Scott,  adipfi. 
Think  of  me  with  indulgence,  and  be  certain,  that 
wherever,  ai^  in  whatever  situation,  John  Leyden 
is,  his  heart  is  unchanged  by  place,  and  his  poul  by 
tJHie," 

This  letter  wa»jwseived  by  Scott,  not  m  Edin- 
bargh,  but  in  London.  He  had  hurried  up  to  town 
as  soon  as  the  Court  of  Session  rose  for  the  ^prir^g 
vacation,  in  hopes  of  seeing  his  frietui  oncre  morti 
bdbfe  he  left  England ;  but  he  came  too  laif.'^  He 
ha^  however,  done  his  part :  he  had  sent  Leaden 
£50.  through  Messrs. 'Longman,  a  week  beibrc! ;  and 
on  the  back  of  that  bill  there  is  the  following  rtte- 
merandnm :— "  Dr.  Leyden's  total  debt  to  mt  £  aO  ; 
he  also  owes  J06O  to  my  uncle.*' 

He  thus  writes  to  Ballantyne,  on  theSlet  April, 
1803 :-. 

"I  have  to  thank  you  for  the  accuracy  with  which  the 
Hxoatrelay  ia  thrown  oflT.  Longman  and  Reea  are  Oi^Iij^ht- 
ed  with  the  printing.  Be  ao  good  aa  to  diaper^e  ibe  fnl 
lowing  preaentatlon  copiea,  with  ^From  the  Ik)  i  tor*  c-n 
each'.— 
Janea  Hogg,  Ettrick  Hoaae,  care  of  Mr.  Olhrer,  Hiwiek 

—by  the  carrier— a  complete  aet. 
ThooaaSoott  (my  biiother,)  diuo. 
Calin  Mackenzie,  Baq.,  Prince'a  Street,  third  volume  only. 
Un,  Scott,  George  Street,  ditto. 
Br.  Rutherford.  York  Place,  ditto. 
Captain  Scott,  Kosebank,  ditto. 

•  1  mean  mD  these  to  be  ordinary  paper.  S^nd  on^  sn  riii« 
paper  to  Dalkeith  Hcase,  addfeaeed  to  the  Boeht^M  ;  an- 
other, hy  the  Inverary  earrter,  to  Lady  Chartotti-  Cmmji- 
bell;  the  remaioioi  ten^  fine  pap«r,  with  aoy  of  Vu|.  [IL, 
which  may  be  on  fine  paper,  to  be  aeot  to  me  by  mtn.  1 
think  they  will  give  you  aome  etlat  here,  where  ftrintlrti; 
la  so  much  valued,  i  have  aeUled  about  prhilitig  ^n  cdi 
tkm  of  the  Layi^  8vo^  with  vignettM,  provided  I  cim  r^  a 


flriQ^^Mman  wlioinl think  wen  oST  we  may  thii/w  vfT  a  i  ver bcb  on  Solomtui' 5  T 


few  anp^rb  in  qnsfto.  To  the  Mfnatrelayl  mean  tlUa 
not'p  Tq  hp  iHrlrflj  b^  Wij-  of  a'lvnTfl-icmrijr  ?— "  |n  th(5 
priest-,  and  will  t^ffif^iij  bc  rubli^TiH,  T^?  ^ij*>f  ih^  l^aat 
MiEi^iir^i,  hy  \VaJ[tr  Hcott*  K"'!  ,  Rlirorof  TTiO  Mifi^tiplsj 
(if  the  i^;oiti«h  B(irdt^r.  AImt,,  Hu  T|-i»Lreni,  a  hleirical 
Rom^ice^  Uy  Ttioixw  a(  Ere iUiqiin(!»  culled  tLo  Rhymer. 
edLleJ  fTDiii  s.a  attclt'Ul  M^.,  wilh  ^n  Introiiuiit^ia  matJ 
Nr»{e5,  hj  Walter  Hcufl^  Eaq  *  Will  ];ou  tms«  lUdh  a 
thinjf  to  be  ippcndetj  in  jaiir  own  way  ifni  f&atiioa  V* 

This  k^tier  IS  dal(?«l  **No.  IB,  PiociidjlJr  Wtat^"— 
hB  and  Mrs,  ScoU  hmtxz  there  domMitcaicd  under 
the  ro«f  of  tht:  InU'  M.  ChaHeB  Dunicrpue,  ti  man  of 
very  »upeT;or  abJlitka  and  of  exccUrTU  edueatipn, 
well  known  a»  aurifton-dfcititisi  lo  iht?  ruyai  fnmily, 
*who  bnd  bei!ninLliiiatoly  aoquainred  ^^ith  the  Char- 
pen  ut-rs  in  hii*  own  Early  life  in  Franct?,  and  bad 
woTDity  befriendtid  Mrt^-  ^Sf^ou^a  mother  on  bcT  firs  I 
arrival  m  EnKlanii-  M.  DLiin*'Tfcn.''jJ  bone*  whk^ 
thremghoiu  the  whrjlepriotl  i>f  ibt  iniigraijotit  lih&- 
rally  apcntd  \o  ihi^^Jiues  of  hm  rtaiLvi^jcnurViry  ;  ixor 
did  some  of  the  nob! eat  of  thfj«f  unfuTimiate  refii- 
Rfci?B  Bcmple  to  maka  the  frti'?i  tife  of  his  ptirwe,  is 
weM  AS  of  hi9  hospitaliiv.  Hcrt^  i>cott  met  inuch 
hiehly  inltr^ating  Freneti  society,  and  until  a  child 
of  his  own  was  e^labliabL-d  in  London,  ho  never 
thotijsht  af  takLuiK  up  hi^  abode  nay  whiTc  flae,  aa 
often  as  he  had  0€caatiin  to  be  m  luwn. 

The  klier  ift  addreared  lo  ^*  Mr  Jamea  Ballan- 
tyne^ printer.  Abbpv-hilti  Kdinbtirgh  T  wii"^h  shows, 
that  befara  the  thir^  vol  unit  of  the  MinstrcUy  pass- 
pd  thrutigh  the  preas,  the  migration  ft^cornmetid^ 
two  years  earlier  had  at  length  taken  plBCtv  '*  It 
w^  ab^tii  the  end  of  lS(^i,"  aaya  Ballantyue  in  his 
Memorandum,  "that  I  du?c-d  with  a  plan  tfo  con- 
genial to  my  wialiee.  I  removtd,  hag  and  bagf^Ke, 
to  Edmbur^hf  fiodinKac4Xinii modal  ion  for  two  prea- 
ec*t  and  a  proof  one,  in  the  protinctp  of  Holyrood* 
hou&R,  then  dt^nvine  new  lodttt^  and  intcreat  front 
the  rec^ni  arrival  of  tbp  royal  enrleaof  Frurtce.  In 
the«^  nbsctire  pfetniwa  some  of  the  moat  beautiful 
productfcns  of  what  we  called  Thr  BoTder  Prun 
were  printed/*  The  Memorandum  ataiea.  that 
Strott  having  ri^newed  his  hint  aa  lo  pecuniary  as- 
eiatance^  flo  soon  as  the  pnnlei  found  hie  finance* 
atraitencdf  "  a  litreral  loan  i*'a»  advanced  according- 
ly." Of  eourae  Scott' a  inter^at  wsb  conBtautly  ex- 
ert ei  in  prrH^unng  cm  ploy  men  i,  Woih  Icttal  and  hie* 
rarv,  for  his  friend' i*  types;— and  the  concern  grew 
ancl  pro^ppred.  ,     ,       .        ,.  i_- 

Hcbcrrr  and  Mackinfosh  then  at  thi?  htiffht  of  n» 
n-putation  a<i  *  convorsiitiomm,  and  daily  advanc- 
ing also  at  the  Bar,  hod  betn  ready  to  welcome 
Scott  in  town  as  old  fcenda^  and  Rogers  Hdliatn 
Stewart  Ro«e«  artd  a^veial  other  nmh  of  lUcrarv 
emincnce>  wore  at  the  same  time  odtled!  to  the  hat  of 
hia  acquaintance,  Hia  principal  object  however— 
ha-nng  ehi&^M  Leyffen— *vBa  la  pertiao  and  make 
cjttrarr^  fmm  aome  MS 8*  in  the  hl'fary  of  John, 
Diike  of  RoxbuTi^he,  for  th<>  dfnatrfltion  of  the  Tris- 
trem  ;  and  he  denvetli  no  am  all  nt'siBiance  in  other 
reacarchfiB  of  the  hkc  kind  from  the  colkciiona 
which  the  indefatignhle  and  obhRUig  Douce  placiid 
at  hitf  diafM^aal  llaving  compkied^  theete  labours, 
ha  and  Blrsn  Seoti  went,  with  Helper  and  Doucct  lo 
Sunmnfihilk  where  they  spent  a  happy  week,  and 
Mr.  and  Mrs,  El  ha  henrd  ihti  first  iwo  or  three  c*n- 
toa  of  (he  I.ay  of  the  Last  Mmstrel  read  under  an 
old  oak  in  Wmdnor  Forest. 

I  should  not  omit  to  aay^  thai  Scott  wae  attended 
on  ihia  trip  by  a  very  larpe  and  fine  bnlJ-Urrier,  by 
name  Camp,  and  ihat  Camp' a  master,  and  miatrca* 
toOj  were  dehghied  by  finding  that  the  Klhsee  cor- 
dmlly  aympnima*!'!  in  their  fondue^ie  for  ihte  ammoJ, 
and  mdeed  for  all  hii  race.  At  partm*?,  Spit  pro- 
tiiiwfwl  to  Bend  one  of  Campus  proRcny^  m  the  caurae 
of  thft  reason,  to  Sun oingndL 

F>otn  thence  iht'y  procc*>ded  to  Oxford,  accom- 
panied by  Heher  5  and  it  was  on  ihia  occaau^n^  as  I 
b*^Itevet  that  S<!Oti  first  saw  hia  f no  no's  brotner, 
liEfginald,  in  afterdays  the  apoaioltc  Bifhop  of  Cal- 
cutta* H^  had  ju5t  bf^^n  declared  the  swcctiaBful 
rompetitor  for  that  ytar'apt^eiRfll  iinze,  and  rend  to 
Sioit  at  br^akfasi,  m  Braarn  Noat  Cgllege,  the  MS, 


V84 


UPE  OF  SIR  WALTER  SCOTf. 


stance  had  escapeid  him,  namely,  that  no  io9ia  were 
used  in  its  erecuon.    Reginald  retired  for  a  few  mi- 
nutes to  the  corner  of  the  room,  and  returned  with 
V  the  beautifal  lines,— 

"  No  hammer  fell,  do  ponderoos  axes  rung, 
Like  some  tall  palm  the  myotic  febric  sprung. 
.  Majestic  siletice,'*  ice.* 

•  After  inspecting  the  University  and  Bleiiheim, 
under  the  guidance  of  the  Hebers,  Scott  returned 
to  London,  as  appears  from  the  following  letter  to 
^  DUBS  Seward,  wno  had  been  writing  to  him  on  the 
BUbJGCt  of  her  projected  biography  of  Dr.  Darwin. 
The  conclasion  and  date  are  lost. 
'*  I  have  been  fof  about  a  fortnight  in  this  huge  and  bust 


*  Romance '  is  not  yet  finished.    I  pref(^  it  modi  to  any 
thing  I  have  done  of  the  kind."    .... 

He  was  in  Edinburgh  by  the  middle  of  ^ay;  and 
thus  returns  to  his  view  of  Oxford  in  a  letter  to  his 
fhetid  at  Sunninghill  :— 

7b  George  EUu,  Etq.,  4^.  4%. 

"  Bdinborgh,  25ch  May,  I80QL 
"My  dear  Elba, 

'^  .  .  .  I  was  equally  delighted  with  that  venerable 
•eat  of  learning,  and  flattered  by  the  polite  attention  of 
Heber'8  ihends.  I  should  have  been  enchanted  to  have 
spent  a  couple  of  months  among  the  curious  Ubrariee. 
What  stores  must  be  reserved  for  some  painful  student 
to  bring  forward  to  the  public !    Under  the  guidance  and 


ling  metropolis,  When   I  am  a|reeably  su;?rlsed  by  a  '  ^^"SL^^^r'^n^^iV-^hi^    «.„  ^.      «r.h.  k.--. 
packet  froi  Edinburgh,  contalSng  Misi  Bewkrd's  lettir.  ^JSn  °fT.  Alm/iS^r  .nH*J^  ?J/*^S«£'^;^ 

Vioi  truly  hanpy  at  the  information*  it  communicates  ree-  '  "Si J^J^  ^t.^  d^rt^S?  thSS  i^hTJSS^'^^.SS^ 
pecUngihe  kfe  of  Dr.  Darwin,  who  could  not  have  wish-  )  S£L''!f°ft!^'^7,tXnS5  hnS^^ 
bd  hUfame  and  character  intrusted  to  a  pen  more  capable  I  y!!.SfL/*£*^Si?Il"l®1  ?^®'  °^^  ^  **"  **f  *"  cM^f 


?f  dS;iu^".r;:i;s?:::£;b;ve  dTcT^^^  sait^'S?JS^^!feTS/L?a"^^^^ 

Biography,  the  most  interesUng  perhaps  of  every  speciee  i  1°  Jf^'*??3,*ll'^i5f?!^?®  *."l4*-i^^^^^ 


I 

;i^^e;;Tnd7ih'i;Tf  me  nri^^^^^  I  -s^.iEf„j£j.  ^^.^-^^^ 


?fr$2Crs:VSS^r4?r^rmT^ht^^^^  i  hoj;;T;haii-Rs'S;rTmom^^^^^^^ 


estimation  frbin  its  pleasing  you.  How  often  do  Charlotce 
and  I  think  of  the  little  i^radise  at  Sunninghill,  and  Its 
kind  inhabitants ;  and  how  do  we  regret,  lilie  Div^.  the 
ffulf  which  Is  placed  betwixt  uii  and  fHends,  with  wboai 
it  would  give  us  sufch  pleasure  to  spend  much  of  oor 
time.    ItiB(         "-      • •■  —       '  •     •         -  - 


one  of  ti^e  vilest  attribotes  of  the  beet  of  oU 
rids,  that  It  oontrives  to  spUl^  and  sAoaraiA. 
and  subdivide  every  thing  like  congenial  pursi 


curalely  and  faithfully  detailed ;  nor  have  I  much  pa- 

:ience  with  such  exaggerated  daubing  as  Mr.  Hayley  has 

bestowed  upon  poor  Ckiwper.    1  can  no  more  sympathize 

with  a  mere  eulogist  than  I  can  with  a  ranting  rw&ro  upon 

Jie  stage  ;  and  it  unfortunately  happens  that  sotaie  of  our 

Jisreapect  Is  apt,  rather  unjustly,  to  be  transferred  to  the 

lubjeetof  the  panegyric  in  the  one  ease  and  to  poor  Oeto 

in  tSe  other.    Unapprehensive  that  even  ftiendehip  can 

bias  Miss  Seward's  duty  to  the  public,  I  shaU  wait  most 

uudouslv  for  the  volume  lier  kindness  has  promised  me. 
'*  As  lor  mx  tlilrd  volume,  U  wss  verv  neatly  printed 

when  I  left  Edinburgh,  and  must  I  thinx,  be  ready  for    t     -u  ^     w         j    i  >.*  .         '^     -  xi. 

publlcaHon  In  about  a  ibrtnighTwhen  it  will  have  the  f  beeches,  and  ashes  and  elms,  not  to  mention  eablMigea 

r  -         ...  -.  .  :p.*?     .   .     .  r"^  .  and  turnipa,  are  usually  arrayed  en  motM;  but  where 

do  we  meet  a  town  of  antiqnanea,  a  village  of  poets,  or  a 
hamlM  of  philosophers  t  Bbt,  instead  offraidess  lanea- 
tatioos,  we  sincerely  liope  Blrs.  Bills  and  you  will  nnrivet 
vourselves  from  your  ibrest,  and  see  now  the  hardy 
blasts  of  our  mountains  will  suit  you  for  a  change  of 
climate The  new  edition  of 'BOnstrelsy' is  pub- 
lished here,  but  not  in  Londbn  as  yet,  owing  ip  the  em- 


habits,  for  the  paltry  purpose,  one  would  think,  of  diversi- 
fying every  little  spot  with  a  share  of  its  various  produc- 
tions. I  don't  know  why  th6  human  and  vegetu>le  de- 
partments   should   differ   so   excessively.      Oaks  and 


nigl 
hfi« 


honour  of  traveUlog  to  Liehfie^).  I  doube  yi>n  ui[|  imd 
but  little  amusement  la  it,  as  thfre  arfi  a  gr>n<]  umn/  okl 
baQads,  particularly  those  of  <lho  CoT^iiuitcns^  writ-^h) 

'  Inpolntofcbmposition,  are  mer^r  drivtUmjc  Lra4h,  TJiey 
are,  however,  curious  in  an  hifSt»>TicAl  poinx  uf  thw,  md 
have  enabled  me  to  slide  In  a  oamber  ai  qoiea  aJjora  ihai. 

pdark  and  bloody  period  of  ScottUb  Ifl^U^ry.  Tharr  is  a 
t  oonvenlence  to  an  editor  In  .i  tal«  upou  wfiicb,  ia  ith 


out  the  formality  of  adapting  thr  uoiei  tery  jii^cisffv  to  *  Sf*^.®"  ^^l  shipping.  An  invasion  is  expected  from 
the  shape  and  form  ofthTbalte-J.  b*  may  bln^  nr,  ^  Mt :  Flushinx.  and  no  measures  of  any  kind  take*  to  prevent 
like  a  herald's  coat  without  sU^-»c^,  fiiTfo;?  him**  If  ihe  i  ^^  "P©*  «•    "urs  ever  fclthfully. 


trouble  of  taking  measure,  and  fcnrfJnc  fiiri  th  i\\^  LiU^of  I 
ancient  time,  ready  equipped  tn>m  ib«>  Mcnmouih  tHireet  j 
warehouse  ofaooounonplaoe  book.  C^dyow  Cuiik  i    to  { 


W.  SOOTT.' 

The  letter  endoeed  a  sheet  of  extracts  firom  For- 
dun,  in  Scott's  handwriting ;  the  subject  being  the 


appear  In  volame  third.  I  ***»"* '."  »wn.  v  uanuwunuB j  m^  fV^iP^''  »*«••»  ;•*» 

chronicler  accounts  for  all  the  crimes  and  miafbr* 
tunes  of  the  English  Plantagenets. 

Messrs.  Longman's  new  edition  of  the  first  two 
volumes  of  the  Minstrelsy  consisted  of  1000  conies— 
of  volume  third  there  were  1500.  A  complete  editioa 
pf  1260  copies  followed  in  1806 ;  a  fourth,  also  of 
1260,  in  1810:  a  fifth  of  1600  in  1812  ^  a  sixth  of  600 
in  1820 ;  and  since  then  it  has  been  mcorporated  in 
various  successive  editions  of  Scott's  Collected  Po- 
etry—to the  extent  of  at  least  16,000  copies  more.  Of 
the  Continental  and  American  editions,  I  can  say 
nothing,  except  that  they  have  been  verv  numerous. 
The  book  was  soon  translated  mto  Gferman,  Da- 
nish, and  Swedish;  and  the  slmctureof  those  lan- 
guaees  being  very  favourable  to  the  undertaking 
tne  Minstrelsy  of  the  Scottish  Border  has  thus  be- 
come widely  naturalized  among  nations  themselves 
rich  in  similar  treasures  of  legendary  lore.  Of  the 
extraordinary  accuracy  and  felicity  of  the  Oerman 
version  of  Schubart,  Scott  has  given  some  speci- 
mens in  the  last  edition  which  ne  himself  super- 
intended—that  of  1830.  , 

He  speaks  in  the  Essay  to  which  I  have  referred, 
as  if  the  first  reception  of  the  Minstrelsy  on  the 


totetf,  have  left  my  epistle  unflnlahedeversinne;  yetlhave 
not  been  wholly  idle,  about  a  fonnigUt  of  that  period  hav- 
ing been  employed  as  much  to  mj  satisfaction  as  any 
siiniUr  space  of  time  during  piy  life.  I  was,  the  first 
week  of  that  Ibrtnlght,  with  my  iivaluable  friend  George 
KDIs,  and  spent  tlie  second  week  at  Oxford,  which  I 
vlrited  for  the  first  time.  I  was  peculiarly  fortunate  In 
Jiavlag,  for  my  patron  at  Oxford,  Mr.  Ileber,  a  particular 
IHendf  of  mine,  who  is  Intimately  acquainted  with  ail, 
both  animate  aad  inanimate,  that  is  w6rth  knowing  at 
Oxford.  "Die  time,  though  as  much  as  I  could  posMbly 
spare,  has«  I  find,  been  too  short  to  convey  to  me  sepa> 
ra|e  and  distinct  ideas  of  all  the  variety  of  wonders  which 
I  saw.  My  memory  jonly  at  present  IVirnishes  a  grand 
but  Indistinct  mr.tore  of  towera^  and  chapels,  and  oriels, 
and  vaulted  halls,  and  libraries,  and  paintings.  I  hope,  in 
a  little  time,  my  Ideas  will  develope  themselvoe  a  littie 
more  distlnefly,  otherwise  I  shall  have  profited  little  by 
my  tour.  1  was  much  flattered  bv  the  kind  reception 
and  notice  I  met  with  from  mJtae  of  tne  most  distinguished 
inhabitants  of  the  halls  of  bis,  which  was  more  thau  such 
a  fruam  to  the  classic  page  as  myself  was  entiUed  to  ex- 
pect at  the  aource  of  classic  learning. 

"On  my  return,  I  find  an  apologetic  letter  from  my 
printer,  ssying  the  third  volume  wiu  be  despatched  in  a 
day  or  two.    There  has  been,  it  seema,  a  meeting  among  | 
thr  printers'  devils ;   also  among  the  papep-makers.    I 

never  heard  of  authors  ttriJdng  vdrk,  as  the  mechanics  i  "  "l  ~r  ,u.  rr^„^'u.  j  w»^  ««M 
caH  h,  until  their  masters  the  booksellers  should  increase  i  ^^^t*^  o^  **?«  >>yeed  had  been  cold, 
their  pay ;  but  if  such  a  combination  could  ti ' 
the  revolt  would  now  be  general  io  all  branches 
labour.    How  much  sincere  satisfaction  would  it  give 
could  1  ooeclode  this  letter  (as  I  once  hoped)  by  saying 
I  should  tisit  Lichfield,  and  pay  my  peraonol  respects  to 
my  intaluable  correapondenlj  in  uiy  war  northwards ;  but 
as  circumstances  render  this  imposslMe,  I  shall  depute 
the  poetry  of  the  olden  time  In  the  editor's  stead.    My 


"The  curiosity 


take  place    of  the  English/'  he  says,  *' was  not  much  awakened 
8  of  literary    by  poems  in  the  rude  garb  of  antiquity,  accompanied 
1  It  give  me    witJi  notes  referring  to  the  obscure  feuds  of  barba- 
rous clans,  of  whose  very  names  dvilizal  history 
was  ignorant."    In  writing  those  beautifol  Intro- 
ductions of  1^  however,  Scott,  as  I  have  alfeadjr 
had  occasion  to  hint,  trusted  entirely  to  his  recof- 
lection  of  days  long  since  gone  by,  and  he  has  ac- 
•  cfe.  •*  ijfii  iiT  nsAknn  ujtu^  h*  hi.  wua»  ••  «^tinn  itM   coMingly  Ict  fall  many  statements,  which  we  must 
J  tS.  ••."*  ^  ®*^  ^^^'  '  ^  ^^^'  ^      "^  J  take  With  some  allowanct .   His  impressions  as  to 


LIFE  OP  SHE  WALfER  SCOTT. 


the  reception  of  the  Minstrels^/  were  difTerent,  when, 
writing  to  hia  brother-in-law,  Charles  Carpenter, 
<iai  ihe  3d  March,  1803.  for  the  purpose  of  introducing 
Leyden,  be  s^,  "  I  nave  contrived  to  turn  a  very 
^nd^  portion  of  Uterary  talents  to  some  account, 
bv  a  pubiication  of  the  noetical  antiquities  of  the 
»»rder,  where  the  old  people  had  preserved  many 
ballads  descriptive  of  tne  manners  of  the  country 
during  the  wars  with  Eneland.  This  trifliog  col- 
lection  was  so  well  received  by  a  discerning  publict 
that,  after  receiving  about  jCIOO  profit  for  the. first 
e^tion,  which  mir  vanity  cannot  omit  informing  you 
went  offta  six  months,  1  have  sold  the  copyright  for 
Ssoa  more."  This  is  not  the  language  of  disap- 
poiotmefit ;  and  thous^h  the  edition  of  1803  did  not 
more  off  quite  so  rapidly  as  the  first,  and  the  work 
did  not  perhaps  attract  much  notice  beyond  the 
more  cultivated  students  of  literature,  unul  the  edi- 
tor's own  genius  blazed  out  in  full  splendour  in  the 
Lay,  and  thus  lent  general  interest  to  whatever  was 
connected  with  his  name,  I  suspect  there  never  was 
moch  grouBd  for  accusing  the  English  public  of  re- 
niding  the  Minstrelsy  with  more  coldness  than  the 
8ooten--the  population  of  the  Border  districts  them- 
selves being,  of  course,  excepted.  Had  the  sale  of 
the  original  edition  been  chiefiv  Scotch,  I  doubt 
whether  Messrs.  Longman  would  have  so  readily 
o£&red  XSOO,  in  those  days  of  the  trade  a  large  sum, 
for  the  second.  Scott  had  become  habituated,  long 
befon  1830,  to  a  scale  of  bookselhng  transactions 
measured  by  which  the  largest  editions  and  copy- 
monies  of  his  own  early  days  appeared  insignificant : 
bot  the  evidence  seems  complete  that  he  was  well 
contented  at  the  time.  " 

He  certainly  had  every  reason  to  be  so  as  to  the 
impresaioa  which   the   Minstrelsy   made  on   the 
minds  of  those  entitled  to  think  for  themselves  upon 
mch  a  subject.    The  ancient  ballads  in  his  collec- 
lioQ,  which  had  never  been  printed  at  all  before, 
were  in  number  forty- three;  and  of  the  others- 
most  of  w]iich«were  in  fact  all  but  new  to  the  mod- 
em reader— it  is  little  to  say  that  hie  editions  were 
superior  in  all  respects  to  those  that  had  preceded 
them.    He  had,  I  firmly  believe,  interpolated  hardly 
a  One  or  even  an  epithet  of  his  own ;  but  his  diligent 
leal  had  pot  him  in  possession  of  a  variety  of  copies 
in  different  stages  of  preservation;  and  to  the  task 
of  selecting  a  standard  text  among  such  a  diversity 
of  materials,  he  brought  a  knowledge  of  old  man- 
ners and  phraseology,  and  a  manly  simplicity  of 
UKte,  sach  as  had  never  before  been  united  in  the 
person  of  a  poetical  antiquary.  Prom  among  a  hun- 
dred corruptions  he  seized,  with  instinctive  tact,  the 
primitive  diction  and  imagery ;  and  produced  strains 
m  which  the  unbroken  energy  of  half-civilized  ages, 
then-  stem  and  deep  passions,  their  daring  adven- 
tures and  cruel  tragedies,  and  even  their  rude  wild 
humour,  are  reflected  with  almost  the  brightness  of 
a  Homeric  mirror,  interrupted  by  hardly  a  blot  of 
what  deserves  to  be  called  vulgarity,  and  totally 
tee  from  any  admixture   of  artificial  sentimen 
talism..  As  a  picture  of  ma  ntiers.  the  Scottish  Min- 
strelsy is  not  surpassed,  if  equalled,  by  any  similar 
i»dy  of  poetry  preserved  in  any  other  country  j  and 
it  unquestionably  owes  its  superiority  in  this  respect 
over  Percy's  Reliques,  to  the  Editor's  conscientious 
tideUty,  on  the  one  hand,  which  prevented  the  in- 
troduction of  anv  thing  new  —  to  nis  pure  taste,  on 
the  other,  on  the  oalancing  of  discordant  recitations. 
His  mtroductory  essavs  and  notes  teemed  with  cu- 
rious knowledge,  not* hastily  grasped  for  the  occa- 
sion, but  gradually  glaaaed  and  sifted  by  the  patient 
labour  of  years,  and  presented  with  an  easy,  unaf- 
fiectcd  propriety  and  elegance  of  arrangement  and 
expression,  which  it  may  be  doubted  if  he  ev^r  ma- 
terially surpassed  in  the  happiest  of  his  imaginative 
narrations.    I  well  remember,  when  Waverley  was 
anew  book,  and  *ll  the  world  were  puzzling  them- 
selves about  its  nuihorBhip,  to  have  neard  the  Poet 
•  sf  *•  the  Isle  of  Palms"  exclaim  impatiently :  "  I 
wonderwhai  all  these  people  are  perplexing  them- 
selves with  r  nave  they  forgotten  the  prose  of  the 
Minstrelsy  1"    Even  had  the  Editor  inserted  iione 
of  lus  own  verse,  the  work  would  have  contamed 
H 


enoughr  and  more  than  enough,  to  found  a  lasting 
and  gracefiil  reputation. 

It  IS  not  to  be  denied,  however,  that  The  Minstrel- 
sy of  the  Scottish  Border  has  derived  a  very  large 
accession  of  interest  from  the  subsequent  career  of 
its  Editor.  One  of  the  critics  of  that  day  said,  that 
the  book  contained  '*  the  elements  of  a  hundred  his- 
torical romances ;"— anfl  this  critic  was  a  prophetic 
one.  No  person  who  has  not  gone  through  its  vo- 
lumes for  the  express  purpose  of  comparing  their 
contents  with  his  great  original  works,  can  have 
formed  a  conception  of  the  endless  variety  of  in- 
cidents and  images  npw  ^expanded  and  emblazoned 
by  his  mature  art,  of  which  th^  first  hints  may  be 
found  either  in  the  text  of  those  primitive  ballads, 
or  in  the  notes,  which  the  happy  rambles  of  his 
youth  had  gathered  together  for  their  illustratio#. 
In  the  edition  of  the  Minstrelsy  published  since  his 
death,  not  a  few  such  instances  are  pointed  outt 
but  the  list  might  have  been  extended  far  beyond 
the  hmits  which  such  an  edition  allowed.  The 
taste  and  fancy  of  Scott  appear  to  have  been  form- 
ed as  early  ashis  moral  character }  and  he  had,  be- 
fore he  passed  the  threshold  of  authorship,  asseni<* 
bled  about  him.  in  theuncalculatin;; delight  of  native 
enthusiasm,  almost  all  the  matenalaon  which  his 
genius  was  destined  to  be  employed  for  the  gratifi- 
cation and  instructipn  of  the  world. 


CHAPTER  XH. 

CONTBIBUT10198    TO    THE    XOIKSUBOH    RBVIEW^— PHO- 
GEBM  OF  THB   TBISTllBM— AKD  OF  THE  LAY  OF  THE 

LAST  MiNsraBL— visrr  of  wordswohth— pubu- 

CATIONOF  "  SIB  TRISTRBM."— 1803-1804. 

Shobtly  after  the  complete  "  Minstrelsy"  issued 
from  the  press,  Scott  made  his  first  appearance  as 
a  reviewer.  Tne  Edinburgh'Review  had  been  com- 
m^  n .^  !  in  October,  1802,  under  the  superintendence 
of  d>  K<  V.  Sidney  Smith,  with  whom,  during  his 
shur:  r.  Mlencein  Scotland,  he  had  lived  on  terms 
of  kJi  i'  kindness  and  familiaritv.  Mr.  Smith  soon 
resi.-^ni  i  rhe  editorship  to  Mr.  Jeffrey,  who  had  by 
thL^  I: MM  been  for  several  years  among  the  most 
vshii  i  ^'1  Scott's  friends  and  companions  at  the 
bar ;  jr>H,  the  new  journal  being  far  fh)m  commit- 
thm  Mil  I  to  violent  poUtics  at  the  outset,  be  appre- 
ciiiiol  ili^}  brilliant  talents  regularly  engaged  m  it 
far  loo  h.ghly,  hot  to  be  well  pleasc^i  with  the  op- 
portunity of  occasionally  exercising  his  pen  in  its 
service.  His  first  contribution  was.  I  believeL  an  ar- 
ticle on  Southey's  Amadis  of  Gaol,  included  in  the 
number  for  October,  1803.  Another,  on  Sibbald's 
Chronicle  of  Scottish  Poetry,  appeared  in  the  same 
number;— a  third,  on  Godwin's  Life  of  Chaucer; 
a  fourth,  on  Ellis's  Specimens  of  Ancient  English 
Poetry ;  and  a  fifth,  on  the  Life  and  Works  of  Chat- 
terton.  folloNyed  in  the  course  of  1804.* 

Dunne  the  summer  of  1803,  however,  his  chief 
literary  labour  was  still  on  the  "Tristrem :"  and  I 
shall  presently  give  some  further  extracts  from  his 
letters  to  Ellis,  which  will  amply  illustrate  the  roirit 
in  which  he  continued  his  researches  about  the  Seer 
of  Erdldoune,  and  the  interruptions  which  these 
owed  to  the  prevalent  alarm  of  French  invasion. 
Both  as  Quartermaster  of  the  Edinburgh  Light- 
horse,  and  as  Sheriff  of  The  Forest,  he  had  a  full 
share  of  responsibility  in  the  wariike  arrangements 
to  which  the  authorities  of  Scotland  had  at  length 
been  roused  ;  nor  were  the  duties  of  his  two  offices 
considered  as  strictly  compatible  by  Francis,  Lord 
Napier,  then  Lord- Lieutenant  of  Selkirkshire ;  for 
I  find  several  letters  in  which  his  Lordship  com- 
plains, that  the  incessant  drills  and  musters  of  Mus- 
selbufKh  and  Portobello,  prevented  the  Sheriff  from 
attending  count^  meetings  held  at  Selkirk  in  the 
course  of  this  summer  and  autumn,  for  the  purpose 
of  organizing  the  trained  bands  of  the  Forest,  on  a 
scale  hitherto  unaitei?ipted.  Lord  Napier  strongly 
urges  the  propriety  of  his  resigning  his  Qonnexion 

*  Scott's  contributions  to  our  DeHodicd  Utemture  have  been, 
with  some  trivial  exceptions,  included  in  the  leqaiit^oQUciptipn  of 
bit  MiiceUaneoua  Prose  Writingiiitized  by  ^ 


LIFE  OP  SIR  WALTER  SCOTT. 


with  the  Edinburgh  trooa  and  fixing  hi*  summer 
rMidence  somewhero  within  the  limits  of  his  proper 
Jurisdiction ;  nay;  he  goes  so  far  as  to  hint,  that  if 
Ihese  sugg^tions  should  be  neglected,  It  must  be 
his  duty  to  state  the  case  to  the  Oovemment  Scott 
could  not  be  induced,  (least  of  all  by  a  threat^)  while 
the  fears  of  invasion  still  prevailed,  to  resign  his 
place  among  his  old  companions  of  the  voluntary 
band ;"  but  he  seems  to  have  presently  acquiesced 
in  the  propriety  of  the  Lord-Lieutenant's  advice 
respecting  a  removal  from  Lasswade  to  Ettrick 
Forest. 

.  The  following  extract  is  from  a  letter  written  at 
Musselburgh,  duqng  this  summer  or  autumn  :— 

<*  Mlse  Seward's  scoeptable  lavoor  reaches  me  in  a 

J>lBce,  and  at  a  time,  of  great  busUe,  as  the  corpa  of  vo- 
uoiary  catalrr  to  which  i  belong  ia  quartered  for  a  short 
time  in  this  village,  for  the  sake  of  drilling  and  discii^ine. 
Nevertheless,  had  your  letter  announced  the  name  of 
the  gentleman  who  took  the  trouble  of  forwarding  it,  I 
would  hate  made  It  mv  bosineas  to  find  hiro  out,  and  to 

Erevailon  him.  if  poftslole,  to  spend  a  day  or  two  with  ua 
I  qoarters.  We  are  here  assuming  a  very  militanr  ap> 
pearance.  Three  regiments  of  miUUQ.  with  a  formUable 
park  of  artQlery,  are  encamped  Just  by  us.  The  Edin- 
batgh  troop,  to  which  I  have  the  honour  to  be  quartmr- 
master,  consists  entirely  of  young  gentlemen  of  fiunlly, 
nd  is,  of  cotarse;  admirably  well  mounted  and  armed. 
l%ere  are  other  four  troops  in  the  regiment,  consisting  of 
yeomanrv,  whose  hron  mces  and  muscular  forms  an- 
aoince  the  hardness  of  the  climate  asainst  which  they 
wrestle,  and  the  powers  which  nature  has  given  them  to 
contend  with  sad  subdae  it.  These  corpa  have  been 
saaiy  raised  In  Seotkad,  the  ftrmers  being  in  ceoeral  a 
JUgh'Spiiiled  race  of  men.  fond  of  active  exerciaea,  and 
patient  of  hardship  and  tatigne.  For  myself,  I  must  own 
that  to  one  who  has,  like  myseli;  la  tiu  «n  p%u  esaltee, 
the  pomp  and  circumstance  of  war  gives,  lor  a  time,  a 
very  ptriimai  and  pleasing  sensation.  The  imposing  ap- 
pearance of  cavalry,  in  particular,  and  the  rush  which 
marks  their  onset,  appear  to  me  to  partake  highly  of  the 
sublime.  Perhaps  I  am  the  more  attached  to  this  sort 
of  sport  of  swords,  because  my  health  requires  much 
aotlve  exercise,  and  a  lameness  contracted  In  childhood 
renders  it  inconvenient  for  me  to  take  it  otherwise  than 
en  horseback.  I  have,  too,  a  hereditary  atUu:hment  to 
the  animal— not,  I  flatter  myselt;  of  the  common  jo^tey 
east,  but  beoaose  I  regard  nim  as  the  kindest  and  most 
generoos  of  the  snbordlnato  tribes.  I  hardly  even  ex- 
oept  the  dogs  ;  at  least  they  are  usually  so  much  better 
treated,  that  compaaslon  for  the  steed  should  bo  thrown 
Into  the  scale  when  we  weigh  their  comparatire  merits. 
My  wife  (a  foreigner)  never  sees  a  horse  ill-used  without 
asking  what  that  poor  horse  has  done  in  his  state  of  prc- 
exisience  1 1  would  fain  hope  they  have  been  carters  or 
hackney-coachmen,  and  are  only  experlencinc  a  retort  of 
the  ill  uaage  they  have  formerly  InHicted.  What  think 
your* 

It  appears  that  Miss  Seward  had  sent  Scott  some 
obscure  magazine  criticism  on  his  "  Minstrelsy,"  in 
which  the  censor  had  condemned  some  phrase  as 
naturally  suggesting  a  low  idea.  The  lady's  letter 
not  bavins  been  preserved.  I  cannot  explain  farther 
the  sequel  of  that  from  which  I  have  been  quoting. 
Scott  says,  however : 

**  I  am  infinitely  amused  with  your  sagacious  critic. 
C^m)  wo(1  have  ofu^n  admired  the  vulsar  subttetj  of  sucli 
Blinds  as  can,  with  a  depraved  ingenuity,  attach  a  mean  or 
disgusting  sense  tq  an  epithet  capable  of  being  otherwise 
tmderstood,  and  more  frequently,  perhaps,  used  to  ex- 
press an  elevated  idea.  In  manjr  parts  of  Scotland  the 
word  virtue  is  limited  entirely  to  inauatry  ;  and  a  young 
divine  who  preached  upon  the  moral  beauties  of  virtue, 
was  considerably  surprised  at  learning  that  the  whole 
discourse  was  supposed  to  be  a  paiiegjric  upon  a  parti- 
cular damsel  who  could  spin  fourteen  spindles  of  yam 
In  the  coarse  of  a  week.'  This  was  natural ;  but  your 
literary  critic  has  the  tnerit  of  going  very  lar  a-fleu  to 
fetch  home  his  degrading  association." 

1iV>  return  to  the  correspondence  with  Ellis— Scott 
wnies  thus  to  him  in  July  : 

**!  cannet  pretend,  immediately  to  enter  upon  the  saf 
rioiis  discussioo  which  you  propose  respecung  the  age 
of  '  Sir  Tristrem  ;'  but  yet.  as  it  seems  likely  to  strip 
Thomas  the  Prophet  of  the  honours  due  to  the  author  o( 
the  English  'Trisuem,'  I  cannot  help  hesitating  before  I 
«sn  agree  to  your  theory  ;--and  here  my  doubt  lies. 


Thomas  of  Ercildoune,  called  the  Bhymer,  li  t  Am^UX 
mentioned  by  ahnost  every  Scottish  historian,  and  the  ^mJtm- 
of  whose  existence  is  almost  as  well  knovm  is  If  we  't^^ 
the  parish  rejister.  Now^  his  great  reputation,  and-Bia 
destination  oiRymmr^  coukl  only  be  derived  from  biw 
poeUcsl  performances ;  and  in  what  did  these  cotosisl  ex- 
cepting in  the  romance  of  '  Sir  Tristrem,'  mentioDed  bv 
Robert  de  Braime  1  I  hardly  think,  therefore,  we  absdl 
be  justified  hi  assuihing  the  existence  of  an  earlier  T^m^ 
mat,  who  would  be,  in  fact,  merely  the  creature  of  oar 
system.  I  own  I  am  not  preptred  to  take  this  step.  If  1 
can  escape  otherwise  firom  you  and  M.  de  la  Ravailiere — 
and  thus  I  will  try  it.  M.  de  la  R.  barely  informs  us  Una 
the  history  of  Sir  Tristrem  waa  knewn  to  Chretfen  de 
Troyes  in  the  end  of  the  twelAh  century,  and  to  the  BJo^ 
of  Navarre  in  the  beginning  of  the  thirteenth.  Tbas  &r 
his  evidence  goes,  and  I  think  not  one  fanch  forther — lor 
it  does  not  establish  tlie  existence  either  of  the  UBetriesd 
romance,  as  you  suppose,  or  of  the  prose  romaace,  mm 
M.  de  la  R.  much  more  erroneously  supposes,  at  tbat 
very  early  period.  If  the  ttory  of  *8lr  Trlsirera*  was 
founded  in  net,  and  it;  which  I  have  tSk  along  thought,  a 
person  of  this  name  really  svrallewed  a  dose  of  cantba* 
rides  hitended  to  stimulate  the  exertions  of  his  uacle,  a 
petty  monarch  of  Cornwall,  sod  involy«d  himself  ef 
course  in  an  intrigue  with  his  aunt,  these  tacts  must  hacre 
taken  place  durUig  a  very  early  period  of  English  biato- 
ry.  perBaps  a^nt  the  time  of  the  Heptarchy.  Now,  it 
tnis  be  once  admitted,  it  is  clear  that  the  raw  material 
from  which  Thomas  wove  hia  web  roust  have  been  cur- 
rent long  before  his  day,  and  I  am  inclined  to  think  that 
Chretien  and  the  King  of  Navarre  refer  not  to  the  spe« 
eial  meulcal  romance  contalhed  in  Mr.  Deuce's  fragmeoCs, 
but  to  the  general  story  of  *  Sir  Tristrem,'  whose  Is've 
and  mlsfortonea  were  handed  down  by  traduion  as  a  lita- 
tnrical  feet.  There  is  no  difilculty  in  supposing  a  tale 
of  this  kind  to  have  passed  from  the  Armoricans^  or 
otherwise,  Into  the  rouutha  of  the  French,  as,  oa  thie 
other  hand,  it  seems  to  have  been  preserved  among  the 
Celdc  tribes  of  the  Border,  from  whom,  in  aU  probablli- 


Jf ,  it  was  taken  by  their  neighbour,  Thonus  of  Bfcildoone. 
f  we  suppose,  therefore,  that  Chretien  and  the  Kios  al- 
lude only  to  the  general  and  weU>known  Hotm  of  'nls- 


trem,  and  not  to  tms  particu^  edltkm  of  wliich  Mr.  Dauce 
has  some  fracments— (and  I  see  po  evidence  that  anr 
such  special  allusion  to  these  fragment^  is  made>-4twiu 


follow  that  tAewjnay  be  as  late  as  the  emi  of  the  tmrte^ntli 
century,  and  thu  the  Thomas  mentioned  in  them  may  ba 
the  Thomas  of  whose  existence  we  have  hiptorical  evi- 
dence. In  short,  the  question  Is,  shall  Thomas  be  eooaU 
dered  as  a  landmark  by  which  to  ascertain  the  antlonity 
of  the  fragmenta,  or  snail  the  $%ippo9ed  antiquity  of  the 
fragments  be  held  a  sufficient  reason  for  tuppoting  an 
earlier  Thomas  1  For  aught  yet  seen,  I  incline  to  my  for- 
mer opinion,  that  thoae  fragments  are  coeval  with  tha 
iptitsimva  Tkomaa.  I  acltnowledge  the  internal  evi- 
dence, of  which  you  are  so  accurate  a  judge,  weighs 
more  with  me  than  the  reference  to  the  King  of  Navarre  ; 
but  after  aU,  the  extreme  difficulty  of  judging  of  styl^  so 
as  to  bring  us  within  sixty  or  seventy  years,  must  be  folly 
considered.  Take  notice,  I  have  never  pleaded  the  mat- 
ter so  high  as  to  saj,  that  the  Auehinleck  MS.  contaJos 
the  very  words  devised  by  Thomas  the  Rhymer.  On  Che 
contrary,  I  have  always  thought  it  one  of  the  spurious 
copies  in  gueint  inghe^  of  which  Robert  de  Bruone  ao 
heavily  complains.  But  this  will  take  little  from  the  cu- 
riosity, perhaps  little  from  the  antiquity,  of  the  romance. 
Coough  of  Sir  T.  for  the  present— How  happy  It  will 
make  us  If  you  can  fulfil  the  ^pectation  you  hold  out  of 
a  northern  expedition,  whether  in  the  cottage  or  at 
Edinburgh,  we  will  be*  equally  happy  to  receive  yoo,  and 
show  you  all  the  lions  of  our  vicinity.  Charlotte  is  bunt- 
ing out  music  for  Mrs.  E.,  but  I  ii)tend  to  add  /oAfisen'a 
collection,  which,  though  the  tunes  are  simple,  and  oftea 
bad  sets,  cootaina  much  more  original  Bcotcli  music  thaa 
any  other."  ♦ 

About  this  time,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Ellis,  and  their 
friend  Douce,  were  preparing  for  a  tour  into  the 
North  of  England ;  and  Scott  was  invited  and  strong 
ly  tempted  to  join  them  at  various  points  of  thetr 
progress  parncularly  at  the  Grange,  near  Rother- 
ham,  in  Yorkshire,  a  seat  of  the  Earl  of  Effingham. 
But  he  found  it  impossible  to  escape  again  from 
Scotland,  owing  to  the  agitated  state  of  the  count- 
ry.—On  returning  to  the  Cottage  from  an  excursion 
to  his  Sheriffship,  be  thus  resumed  :— 


'Dear  Ellis, 


To  OtB/rgt  Bin*,  Esq. 

**  Lasswade,  August  2r,  »». 


"  Hy  conscience  has  been  thumping  me  as  hsrd  ss  if 

Digitized  by  V^OOQlC 


.  UFE  OF  SIR  WA^jTER  SCOTT.. 


It  had  fltodSed  onder  Mendoa,  for  letting  roar  klni  farom 
ramaia  ao  iDOf  onanawMred.  NevertheleM.  Ib  this  it  ii 
Ukm  iMoneekt  Gobbo's,  hot  a  hard  kind  of  conacience^ 
as  it  uiuat  know  how  much  I  have  been  occupied  with 
Araaiea  of  Recerre,  and  Mililia,  and  PikemeiL  and  Sharp- 
aboocera,  wlio  are  to  descend  from  Eltrick  Forest  (otba 
«anfuaion  of  all  invaders.  The  truth  is,  that  this  country 
has  for  once  experienced  that  the  pressure  of  external 
duBfer  oiBT  posaiblj  produce  interniU  unanimii^  :  and 
ae  great  is  th«  present  military  zeaL  that  I  really  wish  our 
mlera  would  devise  some  way  of  calling  it  into  action, 
were  U  only  on  the  economical  principle  of  saving  so 
much  good  courage  from  idle  evaporation.— I  am  inter* 
ropted  by  an  extraordinary  accident  nothing  less  than  a 
W3Uey  of  small  shot  fired  through  the  window,  at  which 
my  wife  fiaa  five  minutes  before  arranginx  her  flowera. 
By  Camp'a  assistance,  who  run  the  culprit's  foot  like  a 
Ltddeadale  bloodhound,  we  detected  an  unlucky  sports- 
man,  woose  awkwardness  and  rashness  might  nave  oc« 
eaaioned  rery  serious  mischief— so  much  for  interruption. 
— Tb  return  to  Sir  Tristrem.  As  for  Thdmas's  TUime, 
respecting  which  you  state  some  doubts,*  I  request  you 
to  attend  to  the  following  particulars :— In  the  first  place, 
sanaines  were  of  very  late  introduction  Into  Scotland, 
and  it  would  be  difllcutt  to  show  that  they  became  in  ge- 
nersl  a  hereditary  distinction,  until  after  the  time  of 
Thomaa  the  Rhymer  ;  prfviously  they  were  mere  per- 
aooal  ^iatinctions  peculiar  to  the  person  by  whom  tiiey 
were  borne,  and  dying  along  with  him.  This  the  children 
«f  Alan  Ihtn»ard  were  not  called  Durwardi  because 
tb^  were  not  Ottiarii,  the  circumstance  from  which  he 
dmvcd  the  name,  when  the  surname  waa  derived 
finam  property,  it  became  naturally  hereditary  at  a  more 
early  period,  because  the  distincdoQ  applied  equally  to 
Ibe  luiier  and  the  son.    The  same  happened  wiUi|>a/r»- 

eat^es,  both  becauae  the  name  of  the  fathet  is  usually 
ren  to  the  son ;  so  that  Walter  Fitswalter  would  have 
en  my  aon'a  name  hi  those  times  aa  wellaa  my  own ; 
and  alao  becauae  a  clan  oll^  takes  a  sqrt  of  general  patro- 
nyaoie  from  one  common  ancestor,  as  Macdonala,,4bc 
•fte.  But  though  these  classes  of  surnames  become  he- 
reditary  st  an  early  period,  yet.  in  the  natural  course  of 
thinxa,  epitheta  merely  personal  are  much  longer  of  be- 
coming a  family  diatinctlon.t  But  I  do  not  trust,  by  any 
meaiiB.  to  this  ceneral  argument;  becauae  (he  charier 
ouoted  in  the  Minstrelsy  contains  written  evidence,  that 
the  epithat  of  Rynuntr  waa  peculiar  to  our  Thomas,  and 
waa  dropped  by  his  aon,  who  designs  himself  sumply, 
2%om4U  of  Ereeldoune,  §on  of  Thomat  the  Rymour  of 
Brtetdoune  ;  which  I  think  is  conclusive  upon  the  subject 
Jb  au  thia  dlacasaion,  I  have  scorned  to  avail  myaelf  or  the 
tncfition  of  the  country,  aa  well  aa  the  suspicioua  testi- 
mony of  Boece,  Dempster,  dec.,  grounded  probably  upon 
that  traditioiL  which  uniformly  affirms  the  name  of  Tbo- 
maa  to  have  been.Learmont  or  Leirmont,  and  that  of  the 
Rhymer  a  personal  epithet  This  circumstance  may 
faMfaice  OS,  however,  to  conclude  that  aome  of  his  descen- 
duits  had  taken  that  name— certain  it  is  that  his  caatle 
la  called  Leirmont'a  Tower,  and  that  he  is  as  well  known 
to  the  country  people  by  that  name,  aa  by  the  appellatioo 
«f  the  Rhymer. 

"  Having  cleared  up  thia  matter,  aa  I  think,  to  every 
ooe'a  aatis&ction,  unless  to  those  resembUng  not  Thomas 
Umseli;  but  his  nameaake  the  Apostle,  I  have,  aecondly, 
to  ahow  that  mv  Thomas  is  the  Toma*  of  Donee's  MS. 
Here  I  mast  again  refer  to  the  high  and  general  reverence 
la  which  Thooias  appears  to  have  been  held,  aa  ia  pro- 
ved by  Roberi  de  Brunne  ;  but  above  all,  aa  you  observe, 
to  the  extreme  similarity  betwixt  the  Frenclr  and  English 
poama,  with  this  strong  circumstance,  that  the  mom  of 

h  ia^t^i/f  mi  urtoni  jux't.  tFinn  Ihr  nrtnn'  iA'  Tuvt^  *i<x*  in  mi> 
41911  l]fiic4  ttfi  nrf^^l  fliifht  >3f  thrlhimt^f^." 
<  it*  mim^  oT  Uii*  «tJCj>^i  tuii  drrivH  nuirli  itlUiiriitirjn  fmm 
ni  edition  oft^  "■  ItAttitin'*  H^iJ.'^  a  i^:niiitnli<ritKi'^  h*  rhe 
ti«  CUh  of  EliiiilHifrjrh  hy  i  wo  ^jf  i^ir  Wnltf  r  ^?c<}U'i  m*^9^ 

loHdWaro  L.  ihhuji  liU  Sn^pf ri)  u* rjrpnLjof>K  ftrrnikk'id  nitlm^L  v^ 
c€mf\TTmitiiHi  tti  l^«  vj^v™  vihith  tho  tdJlor  of  ' '  ^t 
'  hfid  thiji  fftrly  ttiM't"*!  c<irTremin,r  Ow  'mipiij  «jf  uv^ 
_i  jfl  Scwt.liii  »l  The  I  an'  t+"J  rvr\  ii^f ,  nt^r  mrwif  nf  t  he*  r^tLinLry, 
Vfeb  fittvp  b?«Ti  tl^H  ffr'nrrmJljf  dtltUl^ihmf  LiJV  tJkMHirftQJrii'.'fl 
tq^lMr  U*Twft?npiirtf*— jl  ia  womlnrrui  \vm  hvtk*  rfie 
t  In  tiavf}  p^HLDK^vi  ti&itdj  ui  tlH>  «n4jiHt  nf  au  cntmjr  Ch-n^ 
Ait  Ibetolm^  propJe  JwVo.  Avith  fenr  eio^ifkint,  'I^^^i^l-ti  i- 
t*M  KipftrHiilr  tod^Uf^c  th4  ai^Tual  inails  oft^tci  iji<]iri<j.r>il  : 
•airiLnmianr  iiisNimm,  thpiv  ii  'iistinci  pvidcfu^  thmt  tlie  [Ann  nf 
tnasHiittiaf  meh  iwmci  liaij  wjt  ttocn  nd^Ai;^  \  fur  fi.miM<\^, 
TtaaaalbB  TtuJbr  »  dfiARrilw/]  &i  ion  uf  TtH?nmiilir  SihiI'Jl,  or 
neff%inML  Tl^  cmprmaEiitntiMRriho  Imiiltf  (nthpnisr.  hci".!-?- 
Titff,  IQ  liavfi  he^ti,,  kn  mq^t  rjud,  yuiiKifVF  ran*  of  fix-  rifu^hilpkur 
5w  epnln^r  ^sA  b*v«  of  fjnnt^e  ttwir  htiivdJiAiT  riniifnntKHiJ, 
Tbti  Hiutiur  ir1ri.':(mir.Fii .  rd  otli^-n  f^iisif'iJ  mtd  rctvmd  to■^  ^vhm 
new  won  prtnit'd  m  ^ifftm. 


tellfaig  the  atory  approved  by  the  French  minstrel  aqdar 
the  authority  of  falvTbmaa,  n  the  very  mode  in  which  mj 
Thomaa  has  told  it  Would  you  desire  better  sympathy  T 
"  I  lately  met  by  accident  a  Cornish  gentleman,  wno  bad 
taken  up  his  abode  in  Selkirkshire  for  the  sake  of  fishing 
—and  what  should  hia  name  be  but  Caerlion  7  You  vriO 
not  doubt  that  thia  interested  me  very  much.  Be  teOa 
me  that  there  is  but  one  family  of  the  name  in  Cornwall, 
or  aa  far  as  ever  he  heard  any  where  els^  and  that  they 
are  of  great  antiquity.  Does  not  this  circumstance  seem 
to  prove  that  there  existed  in  Cornwall  a  place  called 
Caerlion,  giving  name  to  that  Hunilvl  Caerlion  would 
probably  be  Caatrum  Leontnae^  the  chief  town  of  Lionea, 
which  in  every  romance  la  stated  to  have  been  Tristrem'a 
country,  and  from  which  he  derived  his  surname  of 
Tristrem  de  JUome*.  Tliia  diatrict,  aa  you  notice  in  the 
notes  on  the  JbMioux,  was  swallowed  up  by  the  aea.  I 
need  not  remind  you  that  all  thia  tends  to  ulnatrate  the 
Caerlioun  mentioned  by  Tomaa.  which  I  always  suspect- 
ed Ut  be  a  very  different  place  from  Caerlion  on  Uake— 
which  is  no  seaport  How  I  regret  the  number  of  league*, 
which  prevented  my  joining  you  and  the  aaplent  Douce, 
and  how  much  ancient  lore  1  have  lost  Wliere  1  have 
been,  the  people  talked  more  of  the  praises  of  Ryno  and 
Fillan  (not  Ossian's  heroes  but  two  Foreat  greyhoanda 
which  1  got  in  a  preaent)  than,  I  verily  believe,  they  would 
liave  done  of  the  prowaaaea  of  Sir  Triiirem,  or  of  Ea- 
plandian,  had  either  of  them  appeared  to  laad  on  the  levy 
en  sfuuee.    Yours  ever, 

W.  Sooiv.'* 

Ellis  says  in  reply  :— 

**  My  dear  Scott,  I  must  begin  br  congratulating  yon  on 
Mra.  Scott'a  eacape ;  Oamp,  If  he  nad  no  prevloua  title  to 
hnmortality,  would  deserve  it,  forliis  xeal  and  addrea* 
in  detecting  the  stupid  markamaa,  who,  virile  he  took 
aim  at  a  bird  oo  a  tree,  ^raa  so  near  shooting  your  fair 
'bird  hi  bower.'  If  there  were  many  such  shooters,  It 
would  become  then  a  snflloient  exenae  for  the  reluctance 
of  government  to  fhmlsh  arma  Indiflbrently  to  aU  Volun- 
teers. In  the  next  place,  I  am  glad  Id  hear  that  you  are 
disposed  to  adopt  my  channel  for  transmitting  the  tale  of 
Tnatrem  to  Chretien  de  Troye.  The  more  I  have 
thought  oo  the  subject  the  more  I  am  convinced  that  the 
Normana,  long  before  tne  Conquest,  had  acquired  from  the 
Britona  of  Armorica  a  considerable  knowledge  of  our  old 
Britiab  fkbles,  and  that  thia  led  them,  after  the  Conquest,  ta 
inquire  after  auch  accounta  as  were  to  be  found  in  the 
country  where  the  events  are  supposed  to  have  taken 
place.  I  am  satisfied,  from  the  Internal  evidence  of 
GeoflTrey  of  Monmouth's  History,  that  it  muat  have  been 
fobricated  in  Bretagne,  and  that  he  did,  as  he  asserts,  only 
tranaiate  it.  Now,"^  Marie,  who  lived  about  a  century 
later,  certainly  translated  also  from  the  Breton  a  series 
of  lays  rehttlng  to  Arthur  and  his  knights,  it  vrill  follow 
that  the  first  poets  who. wrote  in  Franee,  such  aa  ClAre- 
tlen^  Ac.,  must  have  acquired  their  knowledge  of  our  tra- 
ditions from  Bretagne.  Observe,  that  the  pseudo-Turpin. 
who  is  supposed  to  have  been  anterior  to  Geoffry,  ana 
who,  on  that  supposiiion,  cannot  have  borrowed  from 
him,  mentions,  among  Charlemagne's  heroes,  Hoel,  (the 
hero  of  CRiofflrey  also.) '  de  quo  canitur  cantilena  usqua  ad 
hodiernum  diem.'  Now,  if  Thomas  was  able  to  establish 
his  story  as  the  most  authentic,  even  by  the  avowal  of 
the  French  themselves,  and  if  the  eketch  of  that  story 
was  previously  known,  it  must  have  been  because  he 
wrote  in  the  country  which  his  hero  waa  supposed  to 
have  inhabited ;  and  an  the  same  grounds  the  Nonsan 
minstrels  here,  and  even  their  English  successors,  ware 
allowed  to  fill  up  with  as  manv  circumstancea  aa  they 
thought  proper  the  tales  of  whicn  the  Armoricaa  Bretons 
probably  furnished  the  first  imperfect  outline 

"  What  you  tell  nie  about  your  Oimish  fisherman  is 
very  curious  ;  and  I  think  with  you  that  little  reliance  it 
to  be  placed  on  our  Welsh  geogruihy— and  that  CaerUon 
on-Uske  is  by  no  means  the  Caerlion  of  Tristrem.  Few 
writejTs  or  readers  have  hitherto  considered  sufficiently 
that  from  the  moment  whdn  Uengist  first  obtained  a  set- 
tlement in  the  Isle  of  Thanet,  that  settlement  became 
England,  and  all  the  rest  of  the  country  became  Wale*  ; 
that  these  divisions  continued  to  represent  difTerent  pro- 
portions of  the  island  at  difTerent  periods ;  but  that  Walaa, 
during  tlie  whole  Heptarchy,  and  for  a  long  time  after, 
coroprehenderl  the  whole  western  coaat  very  nearly  from 
Cornwall  to  Dunbretton ;  and  that  this  whole  tract,  of 
wliich  the  eastern  frontier  may  be  easily  traced  for  each 
pariicnlar  period,  preserved  qiost  probably  to  the  age  of 
Thomaa, a  community  of  language,  of  mannera,  and  tra- 
ditions. 

"  As  your  laat  volume  announces  your  Lay,  as  well  as 

iS^V  TVu/rem,  as  in  the  press,  I  begin,  in  common  with 

all  your  friends,  to  be  uneasy  about  the  future  disporal 

of  your  time.    Having  nothing  but  a  very  active  nrofae- 

Digitized  by  VjOOQIC 


sa 


LIFE  OP  SIR  WALlBR  SCOTT. 


■loo,  U)d  your  mDitarj  purtuita,  and  your  domestio  oc- 
eopaUons  to  think  ot,  and  Leyden  having  monopolised 
Ariatic  lore,  you  will  presently  be  quite  an  idle  man  I 
Ton  are,  boweTer,  ftllf  in  time  to  leaili  Erse,  and  it  is, 
I  am  a£rud,  very  necessary  that  you  should  do  so,  In  order 
to  stimulate  my  laziness,  which  has  hitherto  made  no  pto* 
fress  whatever  in  Welsn.  Your  ever  fiuthful,  ^  O.  E. 
*♦  P.  8.  it  Camp  married  yet  7" 

Ellis  had  prolected  some  time  before  this  an  edi- 
tion of  the  Welsh  Mahinogion^  in  which  he  was  to 
be  assisted  by  Mr.  Owen,  the  author  of  the  "  Welsh 
and  Englisn  Dictionary,"  "  Carabriaa  Biogra- 
phy," &C.  V 


'I  am  very  sorry,"  Scott  says,  (September  11)  "that 

a  fia£  over  those  wild  and  hiteresting  tales.    I  hope,  if 

you  will  not  work  yourself,  (for  which  you  have  so  Uttle 


ezense,  having  both  the  golden  talents  and  th^  golden 
<lelsure  necessary  for  study,)  you  will  at  least  keep  Owen 
to  something  that  is  rational^I  mean  to  iron  hor»e*f  and 
magic  eaulivonsy  and  Bran  the  Bleeeedj  with  the  music 
of  his  whole  army  upon  his  shoulders,  and,  in  short,  to 
something  more  pleasing  and  profitable  than  old  apoph- 
thegms, triads,  and  '  blessed  burdens  of  the  womb  of  the 
isle  of  Briuin.'  Talking  of  such  burdens,  CJamp  has 
been  regulaily  wedded  to  a  fair  dame  In  the  neighbour- 
bood,  but  notwithstanding  the  Italian  policy  of  locking  the 
lady  in  a  stable,  she  is  suspected  of  some  inaccuracy  ; 
but  we  suspend  judgment,*  as  Othello  oncht  in  all  reason 
to  have  done,  till  we  see  the  produce  or  the  union.  As 
lor  my  own  employment  I  nave  yet  much  before  me, 
and  aa  the  beginning  of  letting  out  ink  is  like  the  letting 
oat  of  water,  I  daresay  I  shall  go  on  scribbling  one  non- 
sense or  another  to  the  end  of  the  chapter.  People  may 
say  tills  and  that  of  the  pleasure  of  fame  or  of  pro^t  as  a 
motive  of  writiog.  I  ihink  the  only  pleasure  is  in  the 
actual  exertion  and  research,  and  I  would  no  more  write 
upon  any  other  terms  than  I  would  hunt  merely  to  dine 
npon  hare- soup.  At  th^  same  time,  if  credit  and  profit 
came  unlooked  for,  I  would  no  more  quarrel  with  them 
than  wuh  the  soup.  I  hope  this  will  find  you  and  Bfrs. 
Ellis  safely  and  pleasantly  settled 

In  Yorkshire,  near  fair  Rotherham.' 

"—By  the  way,  while  you  are  in  his  neighbourhood, 
1  hope  you  will  not  fail  to  inquire  into  the  history  of  the 
valiant^  Moor  of  Moorhall  and  the  Dragon  of  Wantley.' 
As  a  noted  burlesque  upon  the  popular  romance,  the  bal- 
lad has  sdme  curiosity  and  merit.    Ever  yours,  W.  8." 

Mr.  Ellis  received  this  letter  where  Scott  hooed  it 
would  reach  him,  at  the  seat  of  Lord  Effingnam ; 
and  he  answers,  on  the  3d  of  October,— 

**Thc  beauty  of  this  part  of  the  country  Is  such  as  to 
indemnify  the  traveller  lor  a  few  miles  of  very  IndiflTerent 
road,  and  the  tedious  process  of  creeping  up  and  almost 
sliding  down  a  succession  of  high  hills ;  and  in  the  num- 
ber of  picturesque  landscapes  by  which  we  are  encom- 
passed, the  den  of  the  dragon  which  you  recommended 
to  our  attention  is  the  most  superlatively  beautiful  and  ro- 
mantic. You  are,  I  suppose,  aware  that  this  vame  den  Is 
the  very  spot  from  whence  Lady  Mary  Wortley  Montague 
wrote  many  of  her  early  letters :  and  it  seems  that  an  old 
housekeeper,  who  livetl  there  till  last  year,  remembered 
u>  have  seen  her,  and  dwelt  with  great  pleasure  on  the 
various  charms  of  her  celebrated  mistress  ;  so  that  its 
wild  scenes  have  an  equal  claim  to  veneration  from  the 
admirers  of  wit  and  gallantry,  and  the  fiu'iaraed  inves- 
tigators of  remote  antiqoity.  With  regard  to  the  orighial 
Imqpn,  I  have  met  with  two  different  traditions.  One 
of  these  (which  I  think  is  preserved  by  Percy)  states  him 
to  have  been  a  wicked  attorney,  a  relentless  persecutor 
of  the  poor,  who  was  at  length,  fortunately  for  his  neigh- 
bours, ruined  by  a  law-suit  which  he  had  undertaken 
against  his  trorthy  and  powerful  antagonist,  Moor  of  Moor- 
hall. The  other  legend,  which  is  current  In  the  Wortley 
iiimily,  states  him  to  have  been  a  most  formidable  drin- 
ker, whose  powers  of  inglutitidn.  strength  of  stomach, 
and  stability  of  head,  had  procured  him  a  long  series  of 
triumphs  over  common  vifitants,  but  who  was  at  length 
fUrly  drnnk  dead  by  the  chieftain  of  the  opposite  moors. 
It  must  be  confessed  that  the  form  of  the  den,  a  cavern 
cntin  the  rork,  and  very  nearly  resembling  a  wine  or  ale 
cellar,  tends  to  corroborate  this  tradition ;  but  I  am  ra- 
ther tempted  to  believe  tliat  both  the  stories  were  invent- 
ed apres  coup,  and  that  the  supposed  dragnn  was  some 
wou  or  other  destructive  animal,  who  was  finally  hunted 
down  by  Moor  of  Moorhall.  after  doing  conulderable 
mischief  to  the  flocks  and  nerds  of  his  superstitious 
neiehbours.  , 

"  The  present  house  appears  to  have  grown  to  its  even 
Bo^  moaerale  size  by  successive  additiona  to  a  yery  amall 


loege.  (k>dge,)  built  by  *a  gentle  knight,  Bir  Tbomas 
Wortley,'  in  the  thne  of  Henry  VI|L.  for  the  pleasare,  mm 
an  old  inscription  in  the  present  scoUery  teailnes,  of  *  U*- 
teuing  to  the  Hartes  belL'  Its  site  is  on  the  side  ol  a  vaiy 
liigh  rocky  hill,  covered  with  oaks,. (the  weod  of  the  coua* 
try.)  and  overlumging  the  river  Don,  which  in  this  placa 
is  little  more  than  a  mountain  torrent,  though  it  becocDes 
navigable  a  few  miles  lower  at  Bhefilald.  A  great  pan  of 
the  road  from  hence  (which  Is  seven  miles  distant)  rwam 
t|)rough  forest  ground,  and  I  have  no  doubt  that  the  whole 
was  at  no  distant  period  covered  with  wood,  because  tbe 
modern  improvements  of  the  country,  the  result  of  lloQ- 
rishing  manu factories,  have  been  carried  at  almost  with- 
in our  own  time  in  consequence  of  the  abundance  of  coal 
whicJi  here  breaks  out  in  many  places  even  on  the  aur- 
fiice.  On  the  opposite  side  ot  the  river  be^n  almost  im* 
mediately  the  extensive  moors  which  stnke  along  the 
highest  land  of  Yorkshiraand  Derbyshire,  and  following 
the  chain  of  hills,  probabiv  communicated  not  many  cea-- 
turies  ago  with  wose  of  Northumberland,  Cumberland, 
and.  Scotland.  I  therefore  doubt  whether  the  geoeiv 
&ce  of  the  country  is  not  better  evidence  as  to  the  nature 
of  the  monster  than  the  particular  appearanoe  of  the 
cavern ;  and  am  inclined  to  believe  that  Moor  of  Moorhall 
was  a  hunter  of  wild* beasts,  rather  than  of  attorneys  or 
hard  drinkers. 

"  You  are  unjust  in  saying  that  I  flag  over  the  Mabioo- 
gion— I  have  been  very  constantly  employed  upon  mjr 
preface,  and  was  proceeding  to  the  lut  section  when  I  set 
off  for  this  place— so  you  see  I  am  perfectly  exculpated, 
and  all  over  as  white  as  snow.  Anne  being  a  true  aristo- 
crat, and  considering  purity  of  blood  as  essential  to  lay 
the  foundation  o(  all  the  virtues  she  expects  to  call  out 
by  a  laborious  education  of  a  true  son  of  Camp— -she 
highly  approves  the  strict  and  even  prudish  severity  with 
which  you  watch  over  the  morals  of  his  bride,  and  ex- 
pects you,  inasmuch  as  all  the  good  knights  alie  has  read 
of  have  been  remarkable  for  their  incomparable  beauty, 
not  to  neglect  that  imporiftit  requisite  in  selecting  her 
future  guardian.  We  possess  a  vulgar  dog,  (a  pointer,)  to 
whom  it  Is  intehded  to  commit  the  charge  of  our  house 
during  our  absence,  and  to  whom  I  mean  to  gi>e  orders 
to  repel  by  forco  anv  attempts  of  our  neighbours  during 
the  times  that  I  shall  be  occupied  In  preparing  karetoup  ; 
but  Fiiz-Camp  will  be  Aer  companion,  and  she  trusts  that 
you  will  strictly  examine  him  while  yet  a  varlet,  and  only 
send  him  un  when  you  think  him  likely  to  become  a  true 
knight.    Adieu — mtUe  choee$t 

G.  E." 

Scott  tells  Ellis  inrepiv  (October  14,)  that  he  was 
"  infinitely  gratified  wiin  hie  accoont  of  Wortley 
Lodge  and  the  Dragon,"*and  refers  him  to  the  ar- 
ticle '*  Kempion,'*  in  the  Minstrelsy,  for  a  similar 
tradition  respecting  an  ancestor  of  the  noble  house 
of  Somerville.  The  reader  oan  hardly  need  to  be 
reminded  that  the  gentle  knight,  Sir  Thomas  Wort- 
ley's,  lore  of  hearing  the  deer  beU  was  often  alladed 
to  in  Scott's  subsequent  writings.  He  goes  on  to 
express  his  hope,  that  next  summer  will  be  **  a  more 
propitious  season  for  a  visit  to  Scotland." 

^'  The  necessity  of  the  present  occasion." ,  he  says, 
"  has  kept  almost  every  inmvidual,  however  insigniflcaac, 
m  his  post  God  has  left  us  entirely  to  our  own  means 
of  defence,  for  we  have  not  above  one  regiment  of  the 
lino  in  all  our  ancient  kingdom.  In  the  mean  whHe,  we 
are  doing  the  best  we  can  to  prepare  ourselves  for  a  con- 
te^  which,-  perhaps,  is  not  iar  distant  A  beacon  Ut bt, 
coDununicating  witli  that  of  Edinburgh  Castle,  is  Just 
erecting  in  front  of  our  quiet  cottage.  My  field  equipage 
is  ready,  and  I  want  nothing  but  a  pipe  and  a  edtnttr" 
bartchen  to  convert  me  into  a  complete  hussar.*  Char- 
lotte, witli  the  inftmtry,  (of  the  household  troops,  I  mean,> 
is  to  beat  her  retreat  into  Ettrick  Forest,  where,  if  the 
Tweed  is  in  his  usual  wintry  state  of  flood,  she  may  wee* 
ther  out  a  descent  from  (>8tend.  Next  year  I  hope  all 
this  will  be  over,  and  that  not  only  I  shall  have  the  plea> 
sure  of  receiving  you  In  peace  and  quiet,  but  also  of  |o-  ^ 
ing  with  you  through  every  part  of  C^edonia,  In  which  ' 
you  can  possibly  be  interested.  Friday  se'ennight  oar 
corps  takes  the  field  lor  ten  dajfw— ft>r  the  second  time 
withh»*  three  months— which  may  explain  the  miUtaiy 
turn  of  my  eplatlc. 

*•  Poor  RItson  Is  no  more.  All  hlfTvegeiable  soups  and 
puddings  have  not  been  able  to  avert  the  evil  day,  which, 

*  SchnurhartcheH  ii  Oemian  for  mustachio.  It  appean  from 
a  pace  of  an  early  note-book,  previoutlj  tranM:rA}ed,  that  Soptt 
had  been  sometimes  a  nnokcr  of  tobacco  in  the  first  days  of  Us 
lifht  bor«eman«hip.  He  had  laid  aside  the  habit  at  the  tisM 
when  this  letter  was  wtHten :  bat  be  twice  again  rtsnmed  it, 
tbough  bo  never  eanied  the  iwhdgcncp  to  any  taeesik  « 

Digitized  by  VjOOQIC 


UPE  OP,  SIR  WALTER  SCOTT. 


I  TiBd«rsean4%  wu  preeedod  by  madneta.  '  It  must  be 
wmh  while  to  inqofre  who  has  sot  his  MS8.~I  mean  his 
mn  Botes  and  writings.  The  '^Life  of  Arthur,'  for  ei- 
aofflle;  must  contain  many  curious  facts  and  quotation^ 
whkb  the  poor  defunct  had  the  power  of  assembling  to 
10  astoaishing  degree,  without  being  able  to  combine 
asT  thing  fike  a  narrative,  or  even  to  deduce  one  useful 
fatwreoce— witness  his.  'Essav  on  Romance  and  Minstrel- 
AT,'  whkh  reminds  one  of  a  heap  of  rubbish,  which  had 
ettJier  turned  out  unfit  for  the  architect's  purpose,  or  be- 
VQod  his  skill  ti^  malte  use  of.  The  ballads  he  Iiad  coh 
Kfted  Id  Cumberland  and  Northumberland,  too,  wouid 
greatly  interest  me.  If  they  have  lUlon  into  the  hands 
of  any  liberal  coUfector.  I  dare  say  I  might  be  Indulged 
«th  a  siffat  of  them.    Pray  inquire  about  this  natter. 

*  Tcsierdar  CharkHte  and  I  had  s  risit  which  we  owe 
to  Mn.  £.  A  rosy  lass,  the  sister  of  a  bold  yeoman  In 
•or  neigfaboarhood,  entered  our  cottage,  towing  in  a  mon- 
•troQs  sort  of  bulldog,  called  emphatically  Cerbcras, 
«bom  she  came  on  the  part  of  her  nrother  to  beg  our  ac- 
ceptance oi,  understanding  we  were  anxious  to  have  a 
•M  of  Camp.  Cerberus  was  no  sooner  loose  (a  pleasure 
which,  I  soenect,  he  had  rarely  enjoyed)  than  his  lather 
tm^mi)  and  he  encsged  in  a  battie,  which  might  have 
been  cetebeated  by  the  author  of  the  '  Unnatural  Combat,* 
■id  which,  lor  aught  I  know,  might  have  turned  ont  a 
combat  i  foaclrance.  if  I  had  not  interfered  with  a  horse- 
wtitpt  instead  of  a  baton,  as  ju^e  de  Camp.  The  odds 
wsre  indeed  greatly  against  the  stranger  knight— two 
fierce  ToresC  geryhounds  bavins:  arrived,  and,  contrary 
to  the  law  of  arms,  stoutiv  assailed  iiim.  I  hope  to  send 
you  a  poppy  instead  o(  this  redoubtable  Cerberus.  Love 
to  MrsTi-W.  8." 

AAer  giving  Scotlsome  information  about  Ritspn'a 
Ctavy  ti-easurea,  most  of  which,  as  it  turned  out, 
kad  been  disposed  of  by  auction  shortly  before  his 
deathk  Mr.  Kllis  (lOth  NoTemberKretums  to  the 
chiTKe  about  Tristrem  and  True  Thomas.  "  Tou 
qnear,"  he  says,  **  to  have  been  for  some  time  so 
muitary,  that  I  am  afraid  the  most  difficult  and  im- 
portant part  of  your  original  plan,  viz.,  your  History 
of  Scottish  poetry,  will  again  bo  postponed,  and  roust 
be  kept  for  some  future  publication.  I  am  at  this 
moment  much  in  want  of  two  such  assistants  as 
roQ  and  Levden.  It  seems  to  me  that  if  1  had  some 
local  knowledge  of  that  wicked  Ettrick  Forest,  I 
cooJd  extricate  myself  tolerably— but  as  it  is,  al- 
tkooffh  1  am  convinced  that  my  general  idea  is  tol- 
erably just,  I  am  unable  to  guide  my  elephants  in 
that  quiet  and  decorous  step-by-step  march  which 
the  nature  of  such  animals  requires,  through  a  coun- 
try of  which  I  don't.know  any  ot  the  roads.  My 
comfort  is,  that  you  cannot  publish  Tristrem  with- 
out a  preface, — that  you  can't  write  one  without  g[iv- 
ing  me  soma  assistance,— and  that  you  must  finish 
the  said  preface  long  befc^e  I  go  to  press  with  my 
Introduction." 

This  was  the  Introduction  to  Ellis's, "  Specimens 
of  Ancient  English  Romances,"  in  which  he  intend- 
ed to  prove,  that  as  Valentia  was,  during  several 
Msa,  the  exposed  frontier  of  Roman  Britain  towards 
theoBsubdued  tribes pf  the  North,  and  as  two  whole 
leoons  were  accordingly  usually  quartered  there, 
VBiJe  one  besides  sufficed  for  the  whole  southern  part 
of  die  island,  the  manners  of  Valentia,  whioh  inclu- 
M  the  district  of  Ettrick  Forest,  must  have  been 
greatly  favoured  by  the  continued  residence  of  so 
many  Romdn  troops.  "  It  is  probable,  therefore," 
be  saj^s,  in  another  letter,  "that  the  civilization  of 
the  northern  part  became  gradually  the  most  perfect. 
That  country  gave  birth,  as  you  nave  observed,  to 
Merfin.  and  to  Aneurin— who  was  probably  the  same 
as  the  biatorian  Gildas.  It  seems  to  have  given  edu- 
catioa  to  Taliessin— it  was  the  country  of  Bede  and 
Adonnan." 

I  shall  not  quote  more  on  this  subject,  as  the  read- 
er may  turn  to  the  published  essay  for  Mr.  Ellis's 
matured  opinions  respecting  it.  To  return  to  his  let- 
ter of  November  10th,  1803,  he  proceeds— * 'And  now 
Jet  roe  ask  jou  about  the  Lay  of  the  Last  Minstrel. 
That,  I  think,  may  go  on  as  well  in  your  tent, 
amidst  the  clangof  trumpet  and  the  dust  of  the  field, 
as  in' your  quiet  cottage— perhaps  indeed  still  better 
—nay,  I  am  not  sure  whether  a  real  invasion  would 
Dot  be.  as  far  as  your  poetry  is  concerned,  a  thing  to 
be  wished." 

It  was  in  the  September  of  this  year  that  Scott 
12    H* 


81 

first  saw  Wordsworth.  Their  mutual  acqunintoncei, 
Stoddart,  had  so  often  talked  of  them  to  each  other, 
that  they  met  as  if  they  had  not  been  strapgers ;  and 
they  parted  friends. 

Mr.  and  Miss  Wordsworth  had  just  completed 
that  tour  in  the  Highlands,  of  which  so  many  inci- 
dents have  since  been  immortalized,  both  m  the 
poet's  verse  and  in  the  hardly  less  poetical  prose  of 
his  sister's  Diary.  On  the  morning  of  the  17th  of 
September,  having  left  their  carriagb  at  Rosslyn, 
they  walked  down  the  valley  to  Lasswade,  and  arri 
ved  there  before  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Scott  had  risen.  "  We 
were  received,"  Mr.  Wordsworth  has  told  me,  **  with 
that  fraiik  cordiality  which,  under  whatever  circum- 
stances 1  afterwards  met  him,  always  marked  his 
manners ;  and,  indeed  I  found  him  then  in  every  re- 
spect—except, perhaps,  that  his  animal  spirits  were 
^omewhat  higher— precisely  the  same  man  that  you 
Knew  him  in  later  life :  the  same  Ihrely,  entertainmg 
conversation,  full  of  anecdote;  and  averse  from  dis- . 
quisition  ;  the  same  nnaffected  modesty  about  him- 
self; the  same  cheerfhl  and  benevolent  and  hopeful 
views  of  man  and  the  world.  He  partly  read  and 
partly  recited,  sometimes  in  an  enthusiastic  style  of 
chant,  the  first  four  cantos  of  the  Lay  of  the  Last 
Minstrel ;  and  the  novelty  of  the  manners,  the  clear 
picturesque  descriptions,  and  the  easy  glowing  en- 
ergy of  much  or  the  verse,  greatly  delighted  me." 

After  this  h^  walked  with  the  tourists  to  Rosslyn, 
and  promised  to  meet  them  in  two  days  at  Melrose* 
The  night  before  they  reached  Melrose  they  slei)tat 
the  little  quiet  inn  of  Clovenford.  where,  on  mention- 
ing his  name,  they  were  received  with  all  sorts  of  at- 
tention and  kindness,— the  landlady  observing  that 
Mr.  Scott, "  who  was  a  very  clever  gendemfln,"  was 
an  old  friend  of  the  house,  and  usually  spent  a  good 
deal  of  time  there  during  the  fishing  season  ;  but  in- 
deed," says  Mr.  Wordsworth.  "  wherever  we  named 
him,  welound  the  word  acted  as  an  open  sesamum  / 
and  I  believe,  that  in  the  character  of  the  Sheriff* 
friends,  we  might  have  counted  on  a  hearty  welcome 
under  any  roof  in  the  Border  country." 

He  met  them  at  Melrose  on  the  19th,  and  escorted 
them  through  the  Abbey,  pointing  out  all  its  beau- 
ties, and  pouring  out  his  nch  stores  of  history  and 
tradition.  They  then  dined  and  spent  the  evening 
together  at  the  inn ;  but  Miss  Wordsworth  observed 
that  there  was  some  difficulty  about  arranging  mat- 
ters for  the  night,  "  the  landlady  refusing  to  settle 
any  thing  until  she  had  ascertained  from  the  Sherif 
himaelf  that  he  had  no  objection  to  sleep  in  the  same 
room  with  William.^*  Scott  was  thus  far  on  his 
way  to  the  Circuit  Court  at  Jedburgh,  in  his  capa- 
city of  Sheriff,  and  there  his  new  friends  again  join- 
ed him  ;  but  he  begged  that  they  would  not  enter 
the  court,  "  for,"  said  he,  "  I  really  would  not  like 
you  to  see  the  sort  of  figure  I  cut  there."  They  did 
see  him  casually,  however,  in  his  cocked  hat  and 
sword,  marching  in  the  Judge's  procession  to  the 
sound  of  one  cracked  trumpet,  and  where  then  not 
surprised  that  he  should  have  been  a  tittle  ashamed 
of  the  whole  ceremonial.  He  introduced  to  them 
his  fnend  WilUam  Laidlaw.  who  was  attending  the 
court  as  a  juryman,  and  who,  having  read  some  of 
Wordsworth's  verses  in  a  newspaper,  was  exceedr 
riout  to  be  of  the  party,  when  they  explor- 


mgly  anxious  to  be  of  the  party,  when  tbey  explor- 
ea  at  leisure,  all  the  law-husmesa  being  oven  the 
beautif\il  valley  of  the  Jed,  and  the  rums  of^  the 
Castle  of  Fernicherst,  the  original  ^fastness  of  the 
noble  family  of  Lothian.  The  grove  of  stately  an- 
cient elms  about  and  below  the  ruin  was  seen  to 
great  advantase  in  a  fine,  gray,  breezy  autumnal 
afternoon ;  ana  Mr.  Wordsworth  happened  to  say. 
*'  What  life  there  is  in  trees  I"—"  How  diflferent,*' 
said  Scott,  "  wras  the  feeling  of  a  very  intelligent 
young  lady,  born  and  bred  m  the  Orkney  Islands, 
who  lately  came  to  spend  a  season  in  this  neigh- 
bourhood I  She  told  me  nothing  in  the  mainlaiui 
scenery  had  so  much  disappointed  her  as  woods 
and  trees.  She  found  them  so  dead  and  lifeless, 
that  she  could  never  help  pining  after  the  eternal 
motion  and  variety  of  the  ocean.  And  so  baek  she 
has  gone,  and  I  believe  nothing  will  ever  tempt  her 
from  thtv^nd^pt  OrcaAg a^^.'^^ *^OOgle 


w 


UFE  OF  SIR  WALl!ER  SCOTT. 


.Next  day  they  all  proceeded  together  up  the  Te- 
▼lot  to  Hawick,  Scott  entertainiog  his  frieQds  with 
some  legend  or  ballad  connected  with  every  tower 
or' rock  tliey  passed.  He  made  them  sttop  for  a  little 
to  admire  particularly  a  scene  of  deep  and  solemn 
n^tiremeot,  called  Uonu^a  Pooh  from  its  having 
been  the  daily  haun^  of  a  contemplative  schoolmas- 
ter, known  to  him  m  his  youth :  and  at  Kirktonlie 
pomted  out  the  Utile  village  scnoolhouse  to  which 
his  friend  Leyden  has  walked  six  or  eight  miles  eve- 
ry day  across  the  moors  "  when  a  poor  barefooted 
boy."^  From  Hawick,  where  they  spent  the  night, 
.  he  led  them  next  morning  to  the  brow  of  a  hill, 
irom  which  (hey  could  see  a  wide  range  of  the  Bor- 
der mountains,  Ruberslaw,  ihe  Carter,  and  the  Che- 
viots ;  and  lamented  that  neither  their  engagements 
nor  liis  own  would  permit  them  to  make  at  this 
time  an  excursion  into  the  wilder  glens  of  Liddis- 
dale,  **  where^"  said  he,  "  I  have  strolled  so  often 
and  so  long,  that  I  may  say  I  hav^  a  home  in  every 
farm-house."  "And,  indeed,"  adds  Mr.  Words- 
worth, "  wherever  we  went  with  him,  he  seemed  to 
know  efery  body,  and  everv  body  to  know  and  like 
him."  Here  they  parted— the  Wordsworths  to  pur- 
toe  their  Joumev  homeward  by  E^kdale— he  to  re- 
turn to  Lasswaoe. 

The  impression  on  Mr.  Wordsworth's  mind  was, 
that  on  the  whole  he  attached  much  less  import- 
ance to  his  literary  labours  or  reputation  than  to  his 
bodily  sports,  exercises,  and  social  amusements; 
and  yet  he  spoke  of  his  profession  as  if  he  had  al- 
ready given  up  almost  all  hope  of  rising  by  it ;  and 
some  allusion  being  made  to  its  profits,  observed 
that  "  he^  was  sure  he  could,  if  he  chose,  get  more 
money  than  he  should  ever  wish  to  have  irom  the 
booksellers.'** 

This  confidence  in  his  own  literary  resources  ap- 
peared to  Mr. Wordsworth  remarkable— the  noore  so, 
from  the  careless  way  in  which  its  expression  dropt 
from  him.'  As  to  his  despondence  concerning  the 
bar,  I  confess  his  ftt-book  indicates  much  less 
ground  for  such  a  feeling  than  I  should  have  ex- 
pected to  discover  there.  His  practice  brought  him, 
fs  we  have  seen,  in  the  session  of  1796-7,  .£144,  lOs. : 
Its  proceeds  fell  down,  in  the  first  year  of  his  mar- 
ried life,  to  .£79,  I7s. ;  but  they  rose  again,  in  1798-9, 
to  .£136^  9s. ;  amounted  in  1799-1800,  to  jei29,  13s.— 
in  1800-1,  to  X170— in  1801-2,  to  X202,  12s.— and  in 
the  session  that  had  just  elapsed,  (which  is  the  last 
included  in  the  record  before  me,)  to  .£228,  iSs. 

On  reaching  his  cottage  in  Westmoreland,  Words- 
worth addressed  a  letter  to  Scott  from  which  I 
must  quote  a  few  sentences.  .It  is  dated  Orasmere, 
October  16,  1803. 

**We  had  adeUghtfal  journey  home,  deliftitful  weather, 
aad  a  sweet  coantry  to  travel  through.  We  reached  our 
KUle  couafre  in  high  spirits,  and  thankful  to  God  for  all  his 
bounties.  My  wife  and  child  were  both  welt,  and  as  I 
need  not  sar,  we  had  all  of  us  a  hi^ipv  meeting 

,We  passed  Braoxholme—your  Braoxnolme,  we  supposed 
—about  four  miles  on  this  side  of  Hawick.  It  looks  better 
in  your  poem  than  ih  its  present  realities.  The  situation, 
howerer,  is  <l6lightfnl,  and  makes  amends  for  an  ordinary 
mansion.  The  whole  of  the  Teviot  and  the  pastoral 
steeps  about  Mosspaol  pleased  os  exeeedin^y.  The  Esk 
below  Langholm  is  a  delicious  river,  and  we  saw  It  to 
great  advantage.  We  did  not  omit  noticing  Johnnie  Arm- 
strong's keep ;  but  his  hanging  place,  to  our  great  regret, 
lire  nussod.  We  were,  indeed,  most  trulr  sorry  that  we 
eould  not  have  you  along  with  us  into  Westmoreland. 
The  country  was  in  its  full  glory— the  verdure  oftlie  val- 
leys, in  which  we  are  so  much  superior  to  you  in  Scot- 
land, but  little  tarnished  by  the  weather,  and  the  trees 
putting  on  their  most  beautiful  looks  My'  slater  was 
qnhe  enchanted,  and  we  oAen  said  to  each  other,  What  a 

pity  Mr.  Scott  is  not  with  us ! I  had  the  pleasure 

of  seeing  Coleridge  and  Souttiey  at  Keswick,  last  Sunday. 
Sovtbey,  whom  I  never  saw  much  of  before,  I  liked 
much :  he  is  verv  plaaaant  in  his  manner,  and  a  man  of 
great  reading  in  old  books,  noetrv.  chronicles,  memoirs, 

'  4x.  4rc.,  panic ularlr  Spanisn  and  Portuguese My 

sister  ana  I  oHen  talk  of  the  happy  days  that  we  spent  in 

*  1  have  drawn  up  theaoeount  of  this  meeting  fWm  mr  mxJ- 
lection  psitiv  of  Mr.  Wofdtwortb'i  convenwtton— partly  fiom 
that  of  his  iter's  ebaraiinf  "  Mary."  which  he  was  so  kind  as 
*uul  over  to  me  00  ths  itth  Mar,  1886. 


vour  company.  Such  things  do  not  occur  often  ha  Bis. 
If  we  live  we  shall  meet  again ;  that  is  my  conaolatiMi 
when  1  think  of  these  things.  Scotland  and  En^bad 
sound  like  division,  do  what  ye  can ;  but  we  really  are 
"but  neighbours,  and  if  you  were  no  further  off,  and  in 
Yorkshire,  we  should  think  so.  Farewell,  pod  prosper 
you.  and  all  tltot  belonn  to  you.  Your  sincere  Dien<^  lor 
such  I  will  call  myseli,  though  slow  to  use  a  word  of  sack 
solemn  meaning  to  any  one, 

W.  WoitoswoaTB." 

The  poet  then  transcribes  his  noble  sonnet  on 
Neidpath  Castle,  of  which  Scott  had,  it  seems,  re- 

auested  a  copy.  In  the  MS.  it  stands  somewhat 
inerently  from  the  printed  edition:  but  ia  that 
original  shspe  Scott  always  recited  it,  and  few 
lines  in  the  language  were  more  frequently  in  hk 
mouth. 

I  have  already  said  something  of  t^e  beginning  of 
Scott's  acquaintance  with  "  the  Ettnck  Shepherd." 
Shortly  after  their  first  meeting,  Hogg,  coming  into 
Eldinburgh  with  a  fiock  of  sheep,  was  feized  with  a 
sudden  ambition  of  seeing  himself  in  print,  and  he 
wrote  out  that  same  night  *'  Willie  and  Katiai"  and 
a  few  other  ballads,  already  famous  in  the  Forest, 
which  some  obscure  bookseller  gratified  him  by 
putting  forth  accordingly ;  but  they  appear  to  have 
attracted  no  notice  beyond  their  original  «phere. 
jEIogg  then  made  an  excursion  into  the  Highlands, 
in  quest  of  employment  as  overseer  of  some  cizten- 
sive  sheep-farm ;  but,  though  Scott  had  fumiahad 
him  with  strong  recommendations  to  Tanoot 
friends,  he  returned  without  success.  He  printed 
an  account  of  his  travels,  however,  in  a  set  or  Stten 
io  the  Scots  Magazine,  which,  though  exceedingl) 
rugged  and  uncouth,  had  abundant  traces  of  the 
nauve  shrewdness  and  fl»nuine  poetical  feeling  0; 
this  remarkable  man.  These  also  feiled  to  excit< 
attention :  but,  undeterred  by  such  disappointments 
the  Shepherd  no  sooner  n»d  the  tbira  volume  o 
the  **  Mmstrelsy,"  than  he  made  up  his  mind  tha 
the  Editor's  "  Imitations  of  the  Ancients'*  wer^  b; 
no  means  what  they  should  have  been.  "  Inamedi 
ately."  he  says,  in  one  of  his  many  Memoirs  of  him 
self,  "  I  chose  a  number  of  traditional  fects,  and  se 
about  imitating  the  manner  of  the  Ancients  my 
self.  These  imitations  he  transmitted  to  Scott 
who  warmly  praised  the  many  striking  beautiei 
scattered  over  their  rough  surface.  The  next  tim 
that  Hogg*  s  business  carried  him  t»  Edinbui^,  h 
waited  upon  Scott,  who  iiiyited  him  to  dinner  11 
Castle  Street,  in  company  with  WilKam  Lcndlaw 
who  happened  also  to  be  m  town,  and  some  othe 
admirers  of  the  rustic  genius.  When  Hogg  entered 
the  drawing-room,  Mrs.  Scott,  being  at  the  time  in  1 
deUcate  state  of  health,  was  rechning  on  a  sofe 
The  Shepherd,  after  being  presented,  and  roakini 
his  best  bow,  forthwith  took  possession  of  anolhe 
sofa  opposite  to  hers,  and  stretched  himself  therf 
upon  at  his  length;  for.  as  he  said  afterwards,  " 
thought  I  couldnever  po  wrong  to  copy  the  lady  c 
the  house.'^  As  his  dress  at  this  period  was  precise) 
that  in  which  any  ordinary  herdsman  attends  catti 
to  the  market,  and  as  his  hands,  moreover,  bore  raoi 
l^ble  marks  of  a  recent  sheep- smearing,  the  lad 
of  the  house  did  not  observe  with  perfect  equanimit 
the  novel  usage  to  which  her  chintz  was  exposec 
The  Shepherd,  however,  remarked  nothing  of  a 
this— dined  neartily  and  drank  freely,  nnd^  by  jes 
anecdote,  and  song,  aflforded  plentifiil  memraent  1 
the  more  civilized  part  of  the  company.  As  th 
liquor  operated,  his  familiarity  increased  an 
strengthened:  from  "Mr.  Scott,"  he  advanced  \ 
"Sherra,"  and  thence  to  "Scott,"  "Walter,"  an 
*♦  Wattie,"— until,  at  supper,  he  fafrly  convulsed  ti 
whole  party  by  addressing  Mrs.  Scott  as  **Cha' 
lotte." 

The  collection  entitled  "The  Mountaha  Bard 
was  eventually  published  by  Constable,  in  cons 
Quence  of  Scott's  recommendation,  and  this  <wor 
did  at  last  afford  Hogg  no  slender  share  of  tli 
popular  reputation  for  which  he  had  so  long  thirs 
ed.  It  is  not  my  business,  however,  to  pursue  x\ 
details  of  his  story.  What  I  have  written  waa  oh] 
to  render  intelligible  the  following  letter:— 
Digitized  by  V^OOQlC 


UFE  OF  SIR  WALTER  SCOTT. 


•1 


Tf  WaUer  Skott,  J^.,  Advocate  Coiik  Street, 

"  BUrkk  Hooae,  December  M,  1803. 
•*  Dew  BCr.  Scott, 

"1  have  been  ve^  Impatient  to  hear  from  too. 
There  it  a  certain  aflUr  of  which  yoo  and  I  talked  a  liltle 
in  priTate,  and  whioh  moat  now  be  ooodnded,  that  natu- 
rallT  iocreaaetb  tbb. 

**  lam  aftiid  that  I  was  at  leaat  halliiieas  oTer  the  nicht 
I  wa»  with  you,  for  \  cannot,  for  my  iife,  recollect  what 
paaaed  when  it  waa  late :  and,  there  being  certainly  a 
.amall  racaom  in  my  brain,  which,  when  emnty,  is  quite 
emptjt  but  is  sometimes  supplied  with  a  small  distillation 
of  mtoUectoal  matter— (his  must  have  been  empty  that 
Digbt,  or  it  never  could  have  been  taken  poitsesslon  of  by 
the  fames  of  the  liquor  so  easily.  Tf  I  was  in  the  state 
Uk  which  I  aoapeot  that  I  was,  I  must  have  spoke  a  very 
cr«ai  deal  of  noneeose,  for  which  I  beg  ten  thousand  par* 
doQs.  I  have  the  consolation,  however,  of  remembering 
that  Mrs.  Scott  kept  in  company  all  or  most  of  the  time, 
which  she  certainly  could  not  have  done,  had  I  been  very 
rude.  I  remember,  too,  of  the  flflal  fa^unction  you. gave 
at  parting,  caotlooing  me  against  being  enanared  by  the 
looM  women  in  town.  1  am  sure  I  had  not  reason  enough 
left  at  that  time  to  express  either  the  half  of  mv  gratitude 
for  the  kind  hint,  or  the  utter  abhorrence  I  inherit  at 
those  seminaries  of  lewdness. 

**  Von  once  promised  me  yonr  beat  advke  in  the  flrst 
lawrait  In  which  I  had  the  particular  happiness  of  being 
engaged.  1  am  now  goiiig  to  ask  it  seriously  in  an  afflthr, 
la  which,  I  am  sure,  we  will  both  take  as  ^oeb  pleaanre. 
It  is  this :— I  have'ta  many  songs  beside  me,  irblch  are 
certainly  the  toofs<  of  my  productions,  aa  will  make 
about  one  hundred  pagea  close  printed,  and  about  two 
hundred  printied  as'  the  Minstrelsy  is.  Now,  although  I 
will  not  proceed  without  your  consent  and  advice,  vet  I 
would  have  you  to  understand  that  I  expect  it,  and  have 
the  scheme  much  at  heart  at  present.  The  first  thing 
that  suggested  it  was  their  extraordinary  repute  in  Bt< 


trick  and  itil  neighbourhood,  and  being  everlastinglv 

flagiMd  with  writing  copies,  and  promising  scores  whton 
never  meant  to  perform.    As  my  last  pamphlet  was 


[  never  known,  save  to  a  few  friends,  I  wish  your  advice 
rwhat  plecesofit  are  worth  preserving.  The  'Psstoral '  lam 
resolved  to  inaert,  as  I  am  '  Bandy  Tod.'  Ae  to  my  manu- 
scripts^ they  are  endless ;  and  as  I  doubt  you  wiu  disap- 
prove of  publishing  them  wholesale,  and  letting  the  good 
help  off  the  bad,  1  itiink  you  must  trust  to  my  discretion 
In  tne  selection  of  a  few.  I  wish  likewise  to  Know  if  you 
think  agraven  image  on  the  first  leaf  is  any  recommenda- 
tion ;  and  if  we  mbpit  flront  the  songs  with  a  letter  to  you, 
giving  an  impartial  account  of  my  manner  of  life  and  edn- 
catkm,  and,  which  if  you  pleased  to  transcribe,  putting 
Be  for  L  ijeahi,  there  is  no  publishing  a  book  without  a 
patron,  and  I  have  one  or  two  in  my  eye,  and  of  which  I 
will,  with  my  wonted  assurance  to  you,  give  you  the  most 
free  choice.  The  first  is  Walter  Scot^  Esq.,  Advocate, 
Bberifl'-depute  of  BUrick  Forest,  which,  if  permitted,  I 
win  address  you  in  a  dedication  singular  enough.  The 
next  is  Lady  Dalkeith,  which,  if  yon  approved  ol)  you 


mast  become  the  Editor  yourself;  and  I  shall  give  you 

.......    .....      ^^^^^^ 

be  most  delicate  ear.    You  will  not  be  in  th 
iealouB,  i(  alongst  with  my  services  to  you,  I  present  my 
kindest ^ '   '       "       ' 


nv  word  for  it,  that  neithet  word  nor  sentiment  in 
offend  the  most  delicate  ear.    You  will  no  ' 
ouB,  i(  alongst  with  mv  services  to  yo^ 
dest  compliments  to  the  sweet  little  ladv 
call  Charlotte.    As  for  Camp  and  Walter  (I  beg  par^n 


for  thia  pre-eminenceX  they  will  not  mind  them  If  I 
should  exhaust  my  eloquence  in  compliments.  Believe 
me,  dear  Walter,  your  most  devoted  servant, 

Jajus  Hooa'l 

The  reader  will,  I  doubt  not,  be  particularly 
aimued  by  one  of  the  sofKestions  in  this  letter; 
namely,  that  Scott  should  transcribe  the  Shepherd's 
narrative  in  /ore  of  his  life  and  education,  and 
nwrely  putting  "  He"  for  "  I,"  adopt  it  aa  hi«r  own 
ooDipomtion.  James,  however,  would  have  had  no 
heeitttion  about  ofienng  a  similar  sugRestion  either 
to  Scott,  or  Wordsworth,,  or  Byron,  at  any  period 
of  their  renoWn.  To  say  nothing  about  modeatv, 
his  notions  of  literary  honesty  were  always  exceed- 
ingly loose ;  but,  at  the  same  time,  we  must  take 
4nto  account  his  peculiar  notions,  or  rather  no  no- 
tioiia,  as  to  the  proper  Umiis  of  a  joke. 

Literanire,  like  misery,  makes  men  acquainted 
^ih  strange  bed-fellows.  Let  us  return  from  the 
worthy  Shepherd  of  Cttrick  to  the  courtly  wit  and 
scholar  of  SunninghilL  In  the  ^t  quoted  of  his 
letters,  he  expresses  his  fear  that  Scott's  military 
avocations  might  cause  him  to  publish  theTristrem 


unaccompanied  by  his  '*  Essay  on  the  History  of 
Scottish  Poetry."  It  is  needless  to  add  that  no 
such  Essay  ever  was  completed ;  but  I  have  heard 
Scott  sav  that  his  plan  had  been  to  begin  with  the 
age  of  Tnomas  of  Ercildoune,  and  bring  the  subject 
down  to  his  own,  illustrating  each  stage  of  his  pro- 
gress by  a  specimen  of  verse  imitating  every  /q-eat 
master's  style,  as  he  had  done  that  of  the  original 
Sir  Tristrem  in  his  "  Conclusion**  Such  a  series 
of  pieces  from  his  hand  would  have  been  invaluable, 
merely  as  brinjpng  out  in  a  clear  manner  iheeradual 
diYsrication  of  the  two  great  dialects  of  the  English 
tongue ;  but  seeing  by  bis  "  Verses  on  a  Poacher," 
written  many  years  after  this,  in  pcofiaased  imitation 
of  CrabbcL  with  what  happy  art  he  could  pour  the 
p^try  of  nis  own  mind  into  the  mould  of  another 
anist,  it  is  impossible  to  doubt  that  we  have  lost 
better  things  than  antiquarian  illumination)  by  the 
non-completion  of  a  design  in  which  he  should 
nave  embraced  successively  the  tone  and  measure  ^ 
of  Douglas,  Dunbar,  Lindesay,  Montgomerie,  Ham- 
ilton, Kamaay,  Fergusson,  and  Bums. 

The  "  Tristrem"  was  now  far  advanced  at  press. 
He  says  to  Ellis,  on  the  ISth  March,  1804. 

"  Aa  I  hada  world  of  tbings  to  say  to  yoo,  I  have  been 
eolpably,  but  most  BatoraUy  sUeat  When  yoo  torn  a 
bottle  wUh  its  head  dowomoat.  you  must  have  raoMrkad 

that  th(?  — ' ' ^ — ^  nf  The  contents  to  get  out  all 

at    ri.  ^  ettingoutat  all.    I  hav& 

hi'V^  r.  ^  H  J-  t.cf!!!  ibf  iiiuk^  ihc  r\^:jolution  of  sending  a  grand 
ps^k't  With  ^st  Trial  real,  wIki  wi)l  kiss  your  nsnds  la 
atHH:[  a  fi^vittilfEhL  I  intend  un^iastrated  copiea  hr  ja% 
H'  !m  r,  afid  Mr,  Dduc^,  wba,  I  am  willing  to  nope,  will  ac- 
c<  pi  [h(»  [datIi  (tf  my  frtiU  r respect  and  warm  remem* 
bi  'tri<  <■  L>r  hj«  )ctndnr>u  wbj^'  in  London.  Pray  send  me 
WicIimiu  riflay  th#  pas0B|E[c  rererring  to  7%omae  in  the 
FT'  LM  b  *  llorneh^trl/  Far  (zom  beinc  daunted  with  the 
pci^t^EtK^n  Qi'  thfr  en^fnr,  I  sm  resohred  to  carry  it  at  the 
poiiiL  of  tlw  imfonGt,  Anil,  iike  tn  abl^  general,  to  attack 
whf>re  it  wtTuld  bs  didlc  utt  Ut  (Jo fend.  WUhoot  metaphor 
or  purihtr.  [  aoL  detrrmibcd  put  only  that  my  Tomaa  ehalt 
b(  r  of  '  TrUntm,'  but  that  he  shall  be  the 

an  .  i  njchild '  aUo.    I  must,  however,  read  over 

th  \>efiij:*^  I  can  mtikG  my  arrangements.  Hold- 

in^'  V.I'!.  tui  on,  ibm  tri^?cug'>  In  Ai»  collection  is  trans* 
laiuJ  liuLu  (ittt  Ff  eucli,  1  do  doI  see  why  we  should  not 
suppose  that  the  French  had  been  originally  a  version 
flrom  our  Thomaa.  The  date  does  not  greaUy  frighten 
me,  as  I  have  extended  Thomas  of  Erolldoune'sUfe  to  the 
three-score  and  ten  years  of  the  Psalmist,  and  conse- 
quentiy  removed  back  the  date  of  '  Sir  Tristrem '  to  12S0. 
The  French  translation  might  be  written  for  that  matter 
within  a  few  days  after  Thomas's  work  was  completed— 
and  I  can  allow  a  few  yeais.  He  lived  on  the  Border, 
already  possessed  by  Norman  &milies,  and  in  the  vicinity 
of  Northumberland,  where  there  were  many  more.  Do 
vou  think  the  ^nstrels  of  the  Fercies,  the  Vesetea,  the 
Morells,  the  Onis,  and  the  De  Vaux,  where  not  acquaint- 
ed with  honest  Thomas,  their  next  door  neighbour,  who 
was  a  poet,  and  wrote  excellent  tales— and.  moreover,  a 
laird,  and  gave,  I  dare  be  sworn,  good  dinners  1  And 
would  they  not  anxiouriy  translate,  lor  the  amusement  of 
their  masters,  a  story  like  'Homchild,'  so  intimately  con* 
nected  with  the  lands  in  which  they  had  settled  7  And  do 
vou  not  think,  from  the  whole  structure  of 'Homchild,' 
however  often  translated  and  retranslated,  that  it  must 
have  been  originally  of  northern  extraction  1  I  have  not 
time  to  tell  you  certain  suspicions  I  entertain  tliat  Mr. 
Donee's  fragments  are  the  work  of  one  Raoull  de  Bean* 
vaia,  who  flouriahed  about  the  middle  of  the  tlUrteenCh 
century,  and  for  whose  accommodatk>n,  principally,  I 
have  made  Thomaa,  to  use  a  military  phrase,  dreee  back- 
toarde  for  ten  years." 

All  thi»  phtyiiil  language  is  exquisitely  character- 
istic of  Scott's  indomitable  adherence  to  his  own 
yiews.  But  his  making  Thomas  dress  backwards, 
—and"  resolving  that,  tf  necessary,  he  shall  be  the  . 
author  of  Homchild,  as  well  as  Sir  Tristrem— may 
perhaps  remind  the  reader  of  Don  Quixote's  method 
of  repairing  the  headpiece,  which,  as  originally  con- 
structed, one  blow  had  sufficed  to  oiemohsh:— 
"Not  aitoj^ether  approving  of  his  having  broken  it 
to  pieces  with  so  much  ease,  to  secure  himself  from 
the  like  danger  for  the  future,  he  made  it  over  again, 
fencing  it  with  small  bars  of  iron  within,  in  such 
a  manner— that  he  rested  satisjied  qf  iis  strength— 
and,  ioiihout  caring  to  make  a  fresh  experimsnt  on 


Digitized  by  V^OOQ IC 


d2 


LIFE  OP  SIR  WALTER  SCOTT. 


i(,  he  approved  and  looked  upon  it  as  a  most  excel- 
Unt  helmet" 

Ellis  having  made  some  observations  on  Scott's 
article  upon  Godwin's  Life  of  Chaucer,  which  im- 
"plied  a  notion  that  he  had  formed  a  regular  con- 
nexion with  the  Edinburgh  Review,  he  in  the  same 
letter  says  :— 

"  I  quite  a^ee  with  you  as  to  the  general  conduct  of 
the  Reviei*,  which  savours  more  of  a  wish  to  dlsiplay  than 


to  instruct ;  but  as  essays,  many  of  the  articles  are  in 
valuable,  and  the  principal  conductor  is  a  man  of  velrj 
acute  and  universal  talent    I  am  not  regularly  connected 


with  the  work,  nor  have  I  cither  inclination  or  talents  to 
use  the  critical  scalping  knife,  unleu,  as  in  the  case  oT 
Godwin,  where  flesh  and  blood  succumbed  under  the 
temptation.  I  don't  know  if  you  have  looked  into#)is 
tomes,  of  which  a  whole  edition  has  vanished,  I  waa  at  a 
losM  to  know  how,  till  I  conjectured  that,  as  the  heaviest 
materials  to  be  come  at,  they  have  been  sent  on  the  secret 
expedition  planned  by  Mr.  Phillips,  and  adopted  by  our 
sapient  Government,  for  blocking  up  the  mouth  of  our 
enemy's  harbours.  They  should  have  had  my  free  con- 
sent to  take  Phillips  and  Gwlwin,  and  all  our  other  lumber, 
Uterary  and  political,  for  the  same  beneficial  puniose. 
But,  in  general,  I  tliink  it  ungeutlemaoly  to  wound  any 
person's  feelings,  through  an  anonymous  publication, 
unless  where  conceit  or  false  doctrine  strongly  calls  foe 
reprobation.  Where  praise  can  be  conscientiously 
nifngled  in  a  larger  proportior»  than  blame,  there  is  al- 
ways some  ainusement  in  throwing  together  our  Ideas 
upon  the  works  of  our  feNowlab«urers,  and  no  injustice 
in  publishinc  them.  On  spch  occasions,  and  in  our  way. 
I  may  possibly,  once. or  twice ayear,  ftimish  ray  critical 
friends  with  an  article."  « 

"  Sir  Tristrem"  waa  at  length  published  on  the 
2d  of  May^  1804,  by  Constable,  who,  however,  cx- 
Piected  so  Utile  popularity  for  the  work,  that  the  edi- 
tion consisted  only  of  150' copies.  These  were  sold 
at  a  high  price,  (two  guineas,)  otherwise  they  would 
not  have'been  onoujiifa  to  cover  the  expenses  of  pa- 
per  and  printing.  Mr.  Ellis,  and  Scott's  other  an- 
tiquarian friends,  were  much  dissatisfied  with  these 
arrangements  ;  but  I  doubt  not  that  Constable  was 
a  better  judge  than  any  of  them.  The  work,  how- 
ever, partook  in  due  lime  of  the  favour  attending 
itseditor'a  name.  In  1806,  750  copies  were .  called 
for ;  and  1000  in  1811.  After  that  time  Sir  Tristrem 
was  included  in  the  collective  editions  of  Scott's 
poetrv;  but  he  bad  never  parted  with^  the  copyright, 
merely  allowing  his  general  publishers  to  msert  it 
among  his  other  works,  whenever  they  chose  to  do 
so,  as  a  matter  of  courtesy.  It  was  not  a  nerform- 
ance  from  which  he  had  ever  anticipatea  any  pe- 
cuniary profit,  but  it  maintained  at  least,  if  it  did 
not  raise,  his  reputation  in  the  circle  of  his  fellow 
antiquaries;  and  his  own  Conclusimf^,  in  the  man- 
ner of  the  orif^inal  romance,  must  always  be  admir- 
ed as  a  remarkable  specimen  of  skill  and  dexterity. 

As  to  the  arguments  of  the  Introduction,  I  shall 
'  not  in  this  place  attempt  any  discussion.*  Whether 
the  story  or  Tristfem  was  first  told  in  Welsh,  Armo- 
rican,  French,  or  English  verse,  there  can,  I  think, 
be  no  doubt  that  it  had  been  told  in  verse,  with  such 
success  as  to  obtain  very  general  renown,  by  Tho- 
mas of  Ercildoune,  and  that  the  copy  edited  by 
Scott  was  either  the  composition  of  one  who  had 
heard  the  old  Rhymer  recite  his  lay,  or  the  identical 
lay  itself.  The  introduction  of  Thomas's  name  in 
the  third  person,  as  not  the  author,  but  the  author's 
authority,  appears  to  have  had  a  great  share  in  con- 
vincing dcptt  that  the  Auchinleck  MS.  contained 
not  the  original,  but  the  copy  of  an  English  admirer 
and  contemporary.  This  point  seems  to  have  been 
rendered  more  doubtful  bv  some  quotations  id  the 
recent  edition  of  Wnrton's  History  of  Engliah  Poetry  j 
but  the  argument  derived  from  the  eninusiostic  ex- 
clamation "  God  help  Sir  Tristrem  the  knight— ho 
fought  for  England,"  still  remains;  and  stronger  per- 
haps even  than  that,  in  the  opinion  of  modern  philo- 
logists, is  the  total  absencc'of  any  Scottish  or  even 
Northumbrian  pecuharities  in  the  diction. 

•  The  critical  reader  will  find  all  the  learning  on  iho-jnihjert 
bnjufht  togetlier  \vi(h  much  otNJity  in  the  Prpfiic^  to  "  Tiie  Pix^i- 
cal  Romances  of  T/istan,  in  French,  in  An^loNonnan,  and  in 
Greek,  eompoied  in  the  TwelAhond  Thirteenth  Ceaturiu— Edit- 
ed b7  Fnmciique  Michel,"  3  vols.  London,  1S33.  i  accomp^wd  i 


All  this  controversy  may  be  wahred  here.  Scott's 
object  and  delight  was  to  revive  the  fame  of  the 
Rhymer,  whose  traditional  history  he  had  listened 
to  while  yet  an  infant  among  the  crags  of  Snaiil- 
holme.  He  had  already  celebrated  him  in  a  noble 
ballad ;'"  he  now  devoted  a  volume  to  elucidate  a 
fragment  supposed  to  be  substantially  his  work ; 
and  we  shall  find  that  thirty  years  after,  when  the 
lamp  of  his  own  genius  was  all  but  spent,  it  could 
still  revive  and  throw  out  at  least  some  glimrner- 
ings  of  its  original  brightness  at  the  name  of  Tho- 
mas of  Ercildoune. 


CHAPTEH  XIII. 

aiMOVAL  TO  ABB  BSTISL— DEATH  OF  CAPTAIK  BOISBT 
SCOTT— MUHQO  PABK — COMPLETlOlf  AND  PVBUCA- 
TION  or  Tire   LAV  OF  THE    UlST  IflNSTEEL— 1804- 

1805. 

It  has  been  mentioned  that  in  the  course  of  the 
preceding  summer,  the  Lord-Lieutenant  of  Selkirk- 
shire complained  of  Scott's  military  zeal  as  inter- 
fering sometimes  with  the  discharge  of  his  shrieral 
functions,  and  took  occasion  to  remind  him,  that 
the  law,  requiring  everv  Sherifi*  to  reside  at  least  four 
months  in  the  year  within  his  own  jurisdiction,  had 
not  hitherto  been  oompUed  with.  It  tmpears  that 
Scott  received  this  communication  with  some  dis- 
pleasure, being  conscious  that  Wo  duty  of  any  im- 
portance had  ever  been  neglected  by  him ;  well 
knowing  that  the  law  of  residence  was  not  enforced* 
in  the  cases  of  many  of  his  brother  shcrifis ;  and,  in 
fact,  ascribing  his  Lord- Lieu  ten  ant's  complaint  to 
nothing  but  a  certain  nervous  fidget  as  to  all  points 
of  form,  .for  which  that  respectable  nobleman  was 
notorious,  as  well  became,  perhaps,  an  old  Lord  of 
the  Bedchamber,  and  High  Commissioner  to  the 
General  Assembly  of  the  Kirk.t  Scott,  howevca-, 
must  have  been  found  so  clearly  in  the  wrony[^  had 
the  case  been  submitted  to  the  Secreiary  of  state, 
and  Lord  Napier  conducted  the  correspondence 
with  such  courtesy,  never  failing  to  allege  as  a  chief 
argument  the  pleasure  which  it  would  afford  himself 
and  the  other  gentlemen  of  Seikirkshire  to  have 
more  of  their  Sheriflf's  society,  that,  while  it  would 
have  been  highly  imprudent  to  persist,  there  could 
be  no  mortification  in  yielding.  He  flattered  him- 
self that  his  active  habits  would  enable  him  to 
maintain  his  connexion  with  the  Edinburgh  Cavalry 
as  usual:  and,  perhaps,  he  also  flattered  himself, 
that  residing  for  the  summer  in  Selkirkshire  would 
not  interfere  more  seriously  with  his  business  as  a 
barrister,  than  the  occupation  of  the  cottage  at  Lass- 
wade  had  hitherto  done.  '' 

While  he  was  seeking  about,  accordingly,  for 
some  'Modge  in  theForest,"  his  kinsman  of  Harden 
suggested  that  the  tower  of  Auld  Wat  might  be  re- 
fitted so  as  to  serve  his  j^urpose ;  and  he  received 
the  proposal  with  enthusiastic  delight.  On  a  more 
careful  inspection  of  the  localities,  Jiowever,  he  be- 
came sensible  that  he  would  be  practicaMv  at  a 
greater  distance  from  county  business  of  all  kinds 
at  Harden,  than  if  he  were  to  continue  at  Lass- 
wade.  Just  at  this  time^  the  house  of  Ashestiel, 
situated  on  the  southern  bank  of  the  Tweed,  a  few 
miles  from  Selkirk,  became  vacant  by  the  death  of 
its  proprietor,  Colonel  Russel.  who  had  married  a 
sister  of  Scott's  mother,  and  the  consequent  disper- 
sion of  the  family.  The  younff  laird  of  Ashestie], 
his  cousin,  was  then  in  India,  and  the  SherifT  Cook 
a  lease  of  the  house  and  grounds,  with  a  small  fiann 
adjoining.    On  the  4th  May,  two,  days  after  the 

•  fiiwili^  nihi4irr4v^,  i>»ifiiitt  iMJtp  wpI  rv  p   uo. 

r  I  ri'iijvniS'r  if.iiii  mwh  mnuuiij  with  w,  n.^ii^iice  of  Lord 

>  .|  II T^  iiii>4.'ijuir4  111  miif/M  ttiaUc^.  miTiT '1  111  I  lie  late  Lady 

I-        Lhr  ii\  r^.tiiii^iJiTTo  tiniAjtijrn-.    J .  -      ...     ^ndy  Napiar 

I     ' ' -nio' 'iM  iMtViuikt  wnbliiF  irit<^tiii4'i'    I     ■.  irw  a  wocJt  I 

I  -  I.I  Ll  iiixriiniiT  l^(  wA*4AanitncMl  ihht  ii  «  ul  _  ..  <i    r)ca  hod   qc- 

(  '■''.  w  huh  It  n^iitjr'nitl  jT  j*iJhi'i  n*4iMn^  J!}^r  LiHJii  Vf  II  'urn  without 

I  rib  i^H'ij  <»^iT  w  TPi  x^  ikirkikthM^"     II  WJL.  I  I  poaaftile  for 

)  -'  -,-r*  *:r.-,*^H  nr^  fii-'i,.  r  r  ^i  1  .n  .Ti.  n  .lf  i  be  moment. 


ncckcluUHi 
ihirta  they 


uigiiizea  oy  'v^jv>'v>''^ 


LIFE  OP  SIR  WALTER  SCOTT. 


93 


TVisCiem  had  been  published,  he  savs  to  EUU:  "l 
have  been  engaged  in  tfiivelling  Seckwards  ana 
forwards  to  Selkirkshire  upon  little  pieces  of  busi- 
ness, just  important  enough  to  prevent  my  doing 
anyiHingto  purpose.  One  great  matter,  however, 
I  have  achieved,  which  is,  procuring  myself  a  place 
oi  residence,  which  will  save  me  these  teasing  mi- 
grations in  future,  so  that  though  I  part  with  my 
jigM  lillje  coUasjc  on  tiie  banka  &f  ihc  Esk,  y  111 
^^^tadatA  this  samm^r  in  the  very  eantr^"  of  il  e 
dHMit Be^lpe^  in  a  decern  farnihLiLik!  ov(  rh  1  ri  ■  he 
6«Tv«ed,  and  SLtuni^i  m  n  wild  paNUirnt  *■ 
Aj]^  i^^nin,  on  ih«  l^th,  \k'  ihus  apoiogizi-  t 

b*iui4  answered  a  leLtijr  of  the  lorh  : — ''  Kur  urie 
dttn  a  miH^Ui  luy  hand  was  fairly  it.'n^ntcfi  by 
limuk  which,  though  strictly  uastoral  and  rurtiL 
m^Iieilh^  liicrar>^  noi  poetic jjI.  Ij*jtit^  ukr-tp,  and 
j4prf  ^44p,  And  fNp^,  anii  ^imTfua-^^  and  ^j^jt^,  i^od 

**  had  maae  a  pt^rffCt  aheopfold  of  my  un- 

,  which  is  hardly  yet  cU-flrt-d  of  therii.* 

_  ^^-e.EiUa  will  t:Iap  a  Lridio  on  her  imagiji- 

Bttiick  FortiBi  boaata  findy  shaped  hillB 
J  cfeftf  romantic  mrcam^;  but,  alaa!  tht^y  are 
'btfe  to  wa!jdn«»^  and  denudtHl  of  the  beaurLlLd 
mninl  Wflod  with  which  they  wera  foniiej-Iy  shtideii. 
Jt  }»  ittortilying  to  nee  ihatt  though  w[Lt:ri'vt.T  ihe 
^te^  an  excluded,  tht?  copse  naa  iuimcdiaiily 
in  abundance^  so  tlt^t  ineIo^uri:d  mdy 
ig  i*>  restore  the  wood  wherever  it  micbt 

lot  ornamental,  ret  hardly  a  proprietor  I109 
.._  .ad  to  givt  it  fair  play  for  a  rfHurrection.  * 
VovMC  we  reckan  jjO!»itivdy  on  yoti— the  njore  Ijl- 
tmm  0m  ATch-tritic  JefTrey  tf^Hs  mG  that  he  met 
Tm  m  LoiiiJon»  and  faund  you  5ti11  inchned  for  a 
^vaeditm  irip.  AU  our  wise  men  in  the  north  are 
■I'jMiinril  At  tne  pros^pcct  of  acem;^  George  Elliot,  If 
Toode^af  your  journey  till  July,  I  ah  all  then  be  tt-Q 
4(ih6  Courts  of  Law,  and  will  m^et  you  upon  rhe 
Bip^  St  whati'^ver  iidv  you  enter." 
^bemidnes^  pan  oCihi^9eh\tA;n  refers  to  Scott's 
bfOllut  Daniel,  who^  as  he  enpresHeft  it,  "havmg 
^bsbfttHl  to  the  inercantiEe  liriE^t  had  bi^n  ohligt-J, 
)if  HMiw  uniowarJ  circumslanteaj  parUrularly  an 
MQQldbrac  conn<.^xii>n  with  an  artful  woman,  10 
IHjiJTiUIIIiTmiiiiIi  for  Liverpool,  and  m\v  to  be  ca^^- 
|lft1v  tT^  towards  Janiaua.'^  Seutt  re^^UK^^'S 
Mm  10  ))Hp  hint  if  hv.  usn«  by  intrnduciti;?  him  to 
■BBiaf  hj»  own  friend  a  or  q  gents  in  that  iabnJ: 
miEmBtattiUBhed  him  accordingly  with  kttcrf  to 
Xb  Blukburne.  a  fnLnd  nrrd  hro titer  t^oprielor, 
wlfltppfftfv  to  havf^  paid  Dan  id  Scoit  every  {.>uFih:t- 
%|fnMlliaai  and  soon  proviJod  him  with  vmUlAe 

mm  on  a  h^soLth^pQi't  of  hia  f'»tat6jt.     F^rt 

r  low  tastes  and  Ifabit^  which  hnd  reduet  \ 
_  .  rtymie  y^utig  nitin  to  ihs  neciiasity  of  tx- 
mtiajg.  hitnsclr^  r^urred  afier  a  brief  season  uf 

liw^Bft  Bcd  order,  and  contiouod  tmiil  ho  had  ai> 

tiiililni  il  xreat  ntlliction  upon  all  hi3  famiEy, 
Jm  the  10th  of  June,  1804,  died,  at  hii^  geat  u( 
Hi»«nk,  Captain  Robtirt  Scott,  the  aff(^ciio;un.) 
Vl^itho^  name  has  ofti^n  occurred  in  this  nartii- 
iiifct    "H«  Wfls.^*  sayi*  hia  nephew  to  Ellits,  on  ttirj 


wiLb  ScuU  in  tW  <umTnor  ot  i«mi, 

_     .  _  tlw  iocialiptf  pf  ttji^  irvuttirif!,  lIw  (!*'• 

^ w*  ltl»  diflrsreat  biivdt  uF  tltuvih  tltit  c^ir-.j 

.  brirof  ajwnj^i  fnllfd  ^Ad*ftc>rt  iittep,  and  ih*;  r-hi-^t't 

Jmi^  ^lef^.  tbo  tI}VFiul*v  ut  tbAt  i>fno4l  run  i^»  ry  fi,>.'ii 

— ^-"^IjJr  iwjfiU  oiVaf  N     jMr.  Hwlt,  vrJiN  hM  ^.m.? 

itutjici  [d  [iirrM.Ti:K  what  rmfitn^nL'*  iivi)>eii^i<^J  "t 

WW  nitJier  tciTr^*!  wini  p^imji^tirir  qiiii<itj*'iri.'  nf 

"  8i?n.     So  fii  lonfth.  rmUJns  on  Un  m>  n-t 

_  .  fce  uirnpti  ten  Sir   wolU*!  HifjfTu  tLtHl 

Hi  ■  I'm  rrfEirdj/>f^  Hi*'  iniTtU  af  iJua  r^r\f  mi- 

tio'iv  tMt|r  ini33i!  a  h<]i4*i'''ri  unuulliF  ni<'a-<'iJF^'  *'i 

—  "BikiitiDn  of  n  If^fiff  *hf*p  f     Mf.  litji\''\,- 

, ^  of  bit  hrtJl,  rjcitbiT  fMT7t:ivt<l  ijy;  qrn'  n  .f 

_  to  AMtWifr  wiUi  fn^t  *iPiCA>rity^.     "ll'i  (]j«  n^H.  , 

Uurt  vtni\\  tmJ  the  tl^jj-t  ■ftrtii  hn's  rhr^  lanf, 
DTf*  Jmt  ktrirt  (t'  nQrn'4  n'l'  jfiV  itM^m  U^n:'  Mr. 
^jfraerrc  tiM  iTTiivfrfBia?  of  mn^'i  r4i^i"tji4.it4»i:i -.  It 


'  Ffi'iAtnJtiiit  oi'  ihi) 


S«oC«  IHmijjih*  w  tliM  A]iiiit>i  T  find  -  — 


18th,  "  a  man  of  universal  benevolence,  aod  great 
kindness  towards  his  friends,  and  to  me  individually. 
His  manners  were  so  much  tinged  with  theniabits 
of  ceUbacy  as  to  render  them  peculiar,  though  by  no 
means  implcasingly  so,  and  his  profession  (that  of 
a  seaman)  gave  a  high  colouring  to  the  whole.  The 
loss  is  one  which,  though  the  course  of  nature  led 
me  to  expect  it,  did  not  take  place  at  last  without 
considerable  pain  to  my  feelings.  The  arrangement  m 
of  his  affau's,  and  the  distribution  of  his^small  for- 
tune among  his  relations,  will  devolve  in  a  great 
measure  upon  me.  He  has  distinguished  me  by 
leaving  me  a  betutiftd  Httle  villa  on  the  banks  of 
the  Tweed,  with  every  possible  convenienoe  an- 
nexed to  it,  and  about  thirty  acr^s  of  the  finest  land 
in*  Scotland!  Nptwithstandin^,  however,  the 
temptation  that  this  bequest  oflers^I  continue  to 
pursue  my  Reged  plan,  and  expect  vo  be  settled  At 
Ashestiel  in  the  course  of  a  month.  Rosebank  ia 
situated  so  near  the  village  of  Kelso  as  hardly  to  b« 
sufficiently  a  coimtry  residence ;  besides,  it  is  hem 
med  in  by  hedges  and  ditches,  not  to  mentioii 
Dukes  and  Lady  Dowagers,  which  are  bad  things 
for  Uttle  people.  It  is  expected  to  sell  to  great  ad 
vantage.  I  shall  buy  a  moan  tarn  farm  with  th# 
purchase-money,  and  be  quite  the  Laird  of  the  Caim 
and  the  Scaur." 

Scott  sold  Rosebank  in  the  eourse  of  the  year  for 
.£5000 ;  hp  share  (being  a  ninth)  of  his  uncle'a 
other  property,  amounted,  1  believe,  to  about  X600; 
and  he  had  besidea  a  legacy  of  ^100  in  his  auaUty 
of  trusts  This  bequest  made  an  important  change 
in  his  pecuniary  position,  and  influenced  accord- 
inglv,  the  arrangements  of  his  future  life.  Inde- 
pendently of  practice  at  ^he  bar.  and  of  hterary 
profits,  he  was  now,  with  his  little  patrimony,  hia 
Shetinship.  and  about  X20O  per  annum  arising  nropi 
the  stock  ultimately  settled  on  his  wife,  in  ijossesaion 
of  a  fixed  revenue  of  nearly,  if  not  quite,  .£1000 
a-year. 

Dn  the  ist  of  August  he  writes  to  ElUs  from 
Ashestiel— 

"  Having  had  only  about  a  hundred  and  fifty  things  t« 
do,  I  have  scarcely  done  any  thins,  and  yet  coiud  not  giva 
myself  leave  to  suppose  that  I  baa  leisure  to  write  letters. 
1st,  I  had  this  farm-house  to  furnish  from  sales,  from 
broker's  stibns,  and  from  all  manner  of  hospitals  for  in 
curable  furniture.  2dly,  I  had  to  M  ray  cottage  on  the 
banlcs  of  the  Esk.  3dly,  I  had  to  arrange  matters  for  the 
sale  of  Rosebanic.  4thly,  I  had  to  go  into  quarters  with 
our  cavalry,  which  made  a  very  idle  fortnight  in  the  midst 
of  all  this  business.  Last  of  alL  I  had  to  superintend  a 
rMDOvai,  or  what  we  call  Vijlittm§^  which,  of  all  bores 
under  the  cope  of  Heaven,  is  bore  the  moat  tremendous. 
After  all  these  storms,  we  are  now  most  comfortably 
settled,  and  have  only  to  regret  deeply  our  disappoint- 
ment at  finding  your  northern  march  blown  up.  Mr  e  had 
been  projecting  about  twenty  expeditions,  and  were 
pleasing  ourselves  at  Mrs.  Ellis's  expected  surprise  on 
finding  herself  so  touilly  built  in  by  mountains^  as  I  am 
at  the  present  writing  hereof.  We  are  seven  miles  firom 
kirk  and  market.  We  rectify  the  last  inconvenience, by 
killing  our  own  mutton  and  poultry ;  and  as  to  the  former, 
finding  there  was  some  chance  of  my  family  turning 
pagans,  I  hate  adopted  the  goodly  practice  of  reading 
prayers  eveir  Sunday,  to  the  areat  edification  of  my 
nousetiold.  Think  of  this,  vou  that  have  the  happiness 
to  be  within  two  steps  of  the  church,  and  commiserate 
those  who  dwell  io  the  wilderness.  I  Sliowed  Charlotte 
yesterday  the  Catrail,  and  told  her  that  to  inspect  that 
venerable  monument  was  one  main  object  oryour  In- 
tended journey  to  Scotland.  Bhe  is  of  opinion  that  ditches 
muat  l>e  more  scarce  in  the  neighbourhood  of  Windsor 
Forest  than  she  had  hitherto  had  the  least  idea  of." 

Ashestiel  will  be  visited  by  many  for  his  sake,  as 
long  as  Waverley  and  Marmion  are  remembered.  A 
more  beautiful  situation  for  the  residence  of  a  poet 
could  not  be  conceived.  The  house  was  then  a 
small  one,  but,  compared  with  the  cottage  at  Lass- 
wade,  its  accommodations  were  amply  sufficient. 
You  approached  it  through  an  old-fashioned  garden, 
with  holly  hedges,  and  broad,  green,  terrace  walks. 
On  one  side,  close  under  the  windows,  is  a  deep 
ravine,  clothed  with  venerable  trees,  down  which  & 

fentieman  ^vhoae  life afibrded  an  unifeftn  ezaiQpfe of ODosteatalp 
tioui  chaittr  and  extcoaive  benevokooe."  ^  ^-^ 


94 


LIFE  OP  SIR  WALTER  SCOTT. 


mountain  rivtilet  is  heard,  more  than  seen,  in  its 
progretf  to  the  Tweed.  The  river  itself  is  separa- 
ted from  the  high  hank  on  which  the  house  stands 
only  by  a  narrow  meadow  of  the  richest  verdure. 
Opposite,  and  all  around,  are  the  green  hills.  The 
valley  there  is  narrow,  and  the  aspect  in  every  di- 
rection is  that -of  perfect  pastoral  repose.  The 
heights  immediately  behind  are  those  which  divide 
*  the  Tweed  from  tqe  Yarrow ;  and  the  latter  cele- 
brated stream  .lies  within  an  easy  ride,  in  the  course 
of  which  the  traveller  passes  throu^  a  variety  of 
the  finest  mountain  scenery  in  the  south  of  Scot- 
land. No  town  is  within  seven  miles,  but  Selkirk, 
which  Vas  then  still  smaller  and  quieter  than  it  is 
now;  there  was  hardly  even  a  gentleman's  family 
xwithm  visiting  distance,  except  at  Yair,  a  few  miles 
lower  on  the  Tweed,  the  ancient  seat  of  the  Pringlcs 
of  Wbyibank,  and  at  BowhilL  between  the  Yarrow 
and  the  Eitrick,  where  the  Earl  of  Dalkeith  used 
occasionally  to  inhabit  a  small  shooting  lodge, 
which  has  since  grown  to  be  a  magnificent  ducal 
residence.  The  country  all  around,  with  here  and 
there  an  insignificant  exception,  belongs  to  the  Buc- 
cleuch  estate ;  so  that,  wnichever  way  he  chose  to 
torn,  the  bard  of  the  clan  had  ample  room  and  verge 
enoiigh,  and  all  appliances  to  boot,  for  every  variety 
of  field  sport  that  might  happen  to  please  his  fancv; 
and  being  then  in  the  prime  vigour  of  manhood,  he 
was  not  slow  to  profit  by  these  advantagdi.    Mean 


and  be  had  long,  solitary  evenings  for  the  uninter- 
rupted exercise  of  his  pen  ;  pernapa  on  the  whole, 
better  opportunitiea  ot  study  than  he  had  ever  en- 
joyed before,  or*  was  to  meet  with  elsewhere  in  later 

wihen  he  first  examined  Asbestiel,  with  a  view  to 
being  his  cousin's  tenant,  he  thought  of  taking 
home  James  Hogg  to  superintend  the  sheep  farm, 
and  keep  watch  over  the  house  also  during  the  win- 
ter. I  am  not  able  to  tell  exactly  in  what  raannfer 
this  proposal  fell  to  the  around.  In  January,  1804, 
the  Shepherd  writes  to  him  :— '^  I  have  no  mten- 
tion  of  waiting  for  lo  distant  a  prospect  as  that  of 
being  manager  of  your  farm,  though  I  have  no 
doubt  of  our  joint  endeavour  proving  successful, 
nor  yet  of  your  willingness  to  employ  me  in  that 
capacity.  His  Grace  the  Duke  of  Bucdeuch  hath 
at  present  a  farm  vacant  in  Eskdale,  and  I  have 
been  importuned  by  friends  to  get  a  letter  from  you 
and  apply  for  it.  You  can  hardly  be  conscious  wnat 
importance  your  protection  hath  given  me  already, 
not  only  in  mine  own  eyes,  but  even  in  those  oi 
others.  You  might  write  to  him,  or  to  any  of  the 
family  you  are  best  acquainted  with,  stating  that 
such  and  such  a  character  was  about' leaving  his 
native  country  for  wiittt  of  a  residence  in  the  farm- 
ins  Hne.''  I  am  very  doubtful  if  Scott— however 
willing  to  encounter  the  risk  of  employing  Hogg  as 
his  own  grieve^  or  bailiff— would  have  felt  himself 
justified  at  this,  or,  indeed,  at  any  time,  in  recom- 
mending him  as  the  tenant  of  a  considerable  farm' 
on  the  Duke  of  Buccleuch's  estate.    But  I  am  also 

Suite  at  a  loss  to  comprehend  how  Hogg  should 
ave  conceived  k  possible,  at  this  period,  when  he 
certainly  had  no  capital  whatever,  that  the  Duke's 
Chamberlain  should  agree  to  accept  him  for  a  te- 
nant, on  any  attestation,  however  strong,  as  to  the 
exo^ence  of  his  character  and  intentions.  Be  that 
as  it  may,  if  Scott  made  the  application  which  the 
Shepherd  suggestf  d,  it  failed.  So  did  a  negotiation- 
which  he  certainly  did'entcr  upon  .about  the  same 
time  with  the  late  Earl  of  Caernarvon,  (then  Lord 
Porchesterp  through  that  nobleman's  aunt,  Mrs. 
Scott  of  Harden,  with  the  view  of  obtaininjg  for 
Hogg-  the  situation  of  oailiff  on  one  of  his  Lord- 
ship's estates  in  the  west  of  England ;  and  such,  I 
believe,  was  the  result  of  severafotber  attempts  of 
the  same  kind  with  landed  proprietors  nearer  home. 
Perhaps  the  Shepherd  had  already  set  his  heart  eo 
much  on  taking  rank  as  a  farmer  in  hid  own  district, 
thai  he  witnessed  the  failure  of  any  such  negotia- 
tions w>th  indifference.    As  regards  the  manage- 


ment of  Ashestid,  I  find  no  trace  of  that  proposal 
having  ever  been  renewed. 

In  truth,  Scott  had  hardly  been  a  weekm  posses- 
sion of  his  new  domains,  before  he  made  acquaint- 
ance with  a  character  much  better  suited  to  hu 
purpose  than  James  Hogg  ever  could  have  been.  1 
mean  honest  Thomas  Purdie,  his  faithful  servant- 
his  affectionately  devoted  humble  friend  from  thu 
time  until  deatn  parted  ihem.  Tom  was  firs 
brought  before  him,  in  his  capacity  of  Shenfi,  on  i 
charge  of  poaching,  when  the  poor  fellow  gav< 
such  a  touching  account  of  his  circumstances— i 
wifft  and  I  know  not  how  many  children  dependinj 
on  his  exertions— work  scarce  and  grouse  abundant 
—and  all  this  with  a  mixture  of  odd  sly  humour,- 
that  the  Sheriff's  heart  was  moved.  Tom  escaped 
thepenaltyof  thelaw— was  taken  intoemploymcn 
as  shepherd,  and  showed  such  zeal,  activity,^  aiw 
shrewdness  in  that  capacity,  that  Scott  never  ha< 
any  occasion  to  repent  of  the  step  he  soon  after 
wards  took,  in  promoting  him  to  the  position  whicl 
had  been  originally  offered  to  James  Hojgg.        . 

It  was  also  about  the  same  time  that  he  took  mt 
his  service  as  coachman  Peter  Matbieson.  brothet 
in-law  to  Thomas  Purdie,  another  faithful  servani 
who  never  afterwards  left  hkn,  and  still  survives  hi 
kind  master.  Scott^s  awkward  conduct  of  the  littl 
phaeton  had  exposed  his  wife  to  more  than  one  peri 
lous  overturn,  before  he  agreed  to  set  up  a  close  car 
riage,  and  call  in  the  assistance  of  this  steady  cha 
rioteer. 

During  this  autumn  Scott  formed  the  personal  ac 
quaintance  of  Mungo  Park,  the  celebrated  victim  c 
Athcan  discovery.  On  his  return  from  his  first  en 
pedition,  Paric  endeavoured  to  establish  himaelf  a 
a  medical  practitioner  in  the  town  of  Hawick,  btj 
the  drudgeries  of  that  calHng  in  sa^h  a  disthet  soo 
exhausted  hia  ardent  tamper,  and  he  was  now  Hvir^ 
in  seclusion  m  his  natrve  cottage  at  Fowlsheils  a 
the  Yarrow,  nearly  opposite  Newark  Castle.  Hi 
brother,  Archibald  Park,  a  man  remarkable  ro 
strength  both  of  mind  and  body,  was  the  sherifP^ 
officer  of  that  district,  and  introduced  the  travellc 
to  his  principal.  Tbey  efoon  became  much  attache 
to  each  other ;  and  Scott  supptied  qome  interestin 
anecdotes  of  their  brief  intercourse,  to  the  late  Mi 
Wishaw,  the  editor  of  Parkas  posthumous  Jouma 
with  which  I  shall  blend  a  few  minor  circumstar 
ces  which  Igathered  from  him  in  conversauon  Ion 
afterwards.  "  On  one  occasion,"  he  says,  "  ih 
traveller  communicated  to  him  some  very  remark 
able  adventures,  which  had  b^llen  him  in  Africi 
but  which  he  had  not  reGanW  in  his  book."  O 
Scott's  asking  the  cause  of  tms  silence,  Mungo  an 
swered,  "  that  in  all  cases  where  he  had  informatio 
to  communicate  which  he  thought  of  importanc 
to  the  public,  he  had  stated  the  facts  boldly,  leavin 
it  to  his  readers  to  givesach  credit  lohisstatemeni 
as  they  might  appear  justly  to  deserve ;  but  that  h 
would  not  shock  their  faiih.  or  render  his  travel 
mntfi  marvelloifs,  by  introducing  circpmstancei 
whi<:h,  however  (nie,  witc^  of  litilf^or  no  momen 
as  ihcy  rilfiTtT^i  solely  to  his  u\xn  pi.  nsonal  adventure 
and  psfnpte/'  This  rtply  sHuck  ScoU  aa  hi^hl 
chnraricn&lic  nT  tha  man;  und  thouf;h  atrOn^ 
tenipird  10  act  d(?wn  some  of  ihtyf  niarvela  for  wL 
Wi><ljaw'!ni8«i  hcon  reflt^^tmn  nb;^ ruined fix>m  doin 
so,  holding  it  unfair  lo  reconi  wh:jt_theadventun 
hftfi  <ji4ihemkly  cho&Eu  lo  atifprt  t-.H  in  his  own  nai 
radvc,  !to  confirms  the  Bccouni  given  by  Park' 
bioLTiiphtir  of  his  cold  flftd  rt-^erved  manners  I 
stniiisrcrp;  and  in  rfiJ'ii<^ii^«*"i  of  In  ^disgust  with  tfc 
in  di  red  (jm^BiJonp  nhich  i.nirioiis  visitors  would  ofte 
put  to  htm  upon  the  Biibjeci  of  hi^  travels.  "  Th, 
praciim^*  said  Mungo,  *  exposes  me  to  two  riaki 
either  tnat  I  may  not  utidt^rstand  the  questior 
meant  to  hu  put^  or  that  my  aoauers  to  tliem  ma 
bt  Tiu?:f  onfiSrutiJ  ;'*  and  be  contrasied  such  condw 
with  the  frankness  of  Scoit's  revered  friend,  D 
Adam  FeiTRUSon,  whojthe  very  first  day  the  trave 
ler  dined  with  him  at  Halhrard&  spread  a  largo  ma 
of  Africa  on  the  table,  and  made  nim  trace  out  h 
progren  thereupon,  inch  by  inch,  questioninft  hii 
minutely  as  to  every  step  he  had  taken.    "  Her 


LIFE  OF  SIR  WALTER  SCOTT. 


95 


•  says  Scott,  "  Dr.  P.  was  umng  a  privi- 
lege to  which  he  was  well  entitled  by  his  venerable 
age  and  hi^h  literary  character,  but  which  could 
sot  have  been  exerdsed  with  propriety  by  any  com- 
QDO  stranger." 

CalltnA:  one  day  at  Fowlsbeils,  and  not  finding 
Park  at  home,  Scott  walked  in  search  of  him  along 
the  banks  of  the  Yarrow,  which  in  that  neighbour- 
hood  passes  over  various  ledges  of  rock,  forming 
(kfp  pools  and  eddies  between  them.  Presently  he 
discover^  his  friend  standing  alone  on  the  bank, 
phmghag  one  stone  after  another  into  the  water, 
aiKi  watching  anxiously  the  bubblds  as  ihey  r#se  to 
thesur&ce.  "This,"  said  Scott,  "appears  but  an 
idb  amusement  for  one  who  has  seen  so  much  stir- 
ring adventure."  "  Not  so  idle,  perhaps,  as  you 
si^jpose,"  answered  Mungo.  "  This  was  the  man- 
ner in  which  I  used  to  ascertain  the  depth  of  a  river 
m  Africa  brfbre  1  ventured  to  cross  it— judging  whe- 
Vixt  the  attenrot  would  be  safe,  by  the  time  the  bub- 
bles of  air  took  to  ascend.".  At  this  time  Park*8 
rateation  of  a  second  expedition  had  never  been 
nrrealed  to  Scott ;  but  he  mstantly  formed  the  opi- 
ajoa  that  these  experiments  on  Yarrow  were  con- 
narted  with  some  such  purpose. 

Hu  thcMu^tshad  always  continued  to  be  haunt- 
ed with  Afoca.  He  told  Scott  that  whenever  he 
awoke  mddenly  in  the  night,  owing  to  a  nervous 
disorder  with  which  he  was  troubled.,  he  fancied 
himsel/  stfl!  a  prisoner  in  the  tent  of  Ali ;  but  when 
the  poet  expressed  some  surprise  that  he  should 
design  again  to  revisit  those  scenes,  he*  answered, 
that  be  would  rather  brave  Africa  and.  all  (ts  hor- 
rors, than  wear  out  his  life  in  long  and  toilsome 
ndei  over  the  hills  of  Scotland,  for  which  the  re- 
BHineration  was  hardly  jenough  to  keep  soul  and 
body  leather. 

Tffwards  the  end  of  the  autumni  when  about  to 
jm  his  country  for  the  last  time.  Park  paid  Scott  a 
unwell  Tint,  and  slept  at  Ashestiel.  Next  morning 
^!u»%  aocotnpaniea  him  homewards  over  the  wild 
cImb  of  hills  between  the  Tweed  and  the  Yarrow. 
Pift  talked  much  of  his  new  scheme,  and  mention- 
etf  bis  determinatbn  to  tell  his  familV  that  he  had 
tme  business  for  a  day  or  two  in  Edinburgh,  and 
Kodtheni  hia  blessing  from  thence  without  return- 
i^  t)D  take  leave.  He  had  married,  not  long  before, 
t  pictty  and  amiable  woman ;  and  when  they 
t«4cbed  the  WtlUamhope  RidgU,  '*  the  autumnal 
BBst  floating  heavily  and  slowly  down  the  valley 
cf  the  Yarrow,**  presented  to  Scott's  imagination 
'  a  soikms  emblem  of  the  troubled  and  uncertain 
pTMpect  which  his  un^taking  afforded."  He  re- 
maiaeiL  howeve^,  unmaken,  and  at  length  they 
reached  the  spot  at  which  they  had  agreed  to  sepa- 
rate.  A  small  ditch  divided  the  moor  from  the  road. 

abled,  and 
1  the  She- 

^  _— . answered, 

Esulins,  "  F'rtiis  (omens)  follow  those  who  look  to 
thcm.*'^  With  this  expression  Mungo  struck  the 
spurs  mto  his  hors&  and  Scott  never  saw  him  again. 
H» parting  proverb,  by  the  way,  was  probablv  sug- 
gested by  one  of  the  Border  ballads,  m  which  spe- 
aes  of  lore  he  was  almost  as  great  a  proficient  as 
ihe  Sheriff  himself ;  for  we  read  m  "Edbm  &  Gor- 
don,"— 

"  Tbem  took  to  fireitt*  my  niaiter  dear, 
Thea  freits  will  feOow  tbem." 

I  must  not  omit  that  George  Scott,  the  unfbrtu- 
t»cs  fadrapaDioa  of  ^Park's  second  journey,  was  the 
son  of  a  tenant  on  the  Buccleuch  estate,  whose  skill 
.n  drawing  having  casually  attracted  the  Sheriff's 
itienton,  be  was  recommended  by  him  to  the  pro- 
f^siion  of  the  famils^  and  by  this  means  established 
is  a  respectable  situation  in  the  Ordnance  depart- 
iDflot  or  the  Tower  of  London  ;  but  the  stories  of 
hm  M  acquatntanoe  Mungo  Park's  discoveries, 
Mntade  such  an  hnpression  on  his  fancy,  that  no- 
tkiBtf  conld  preterit  his  accompanying  him  on  the 
SitSsxpedition  of  1806.    ^    ^  .     , .    « 

1^  brocfaer  of  Mungo  Park  remainea  m  Seoirs 
en^>toTm«nt  for  qiany  years,  and  was  freqtMfitly  hia 


rate.  A  small  mtcn  aiviaea  me  moor  irom  i 
tad,  in  goins  over  it,  Park's  horse  stninb 
a-arlr  fell.  I  am  afraid,  Mungo,"  said  t 
T)S,  ^\h9t  is  a  ha<J  omen."    To  which  he  ai 


companion  m  his  moi^ntain  rides.  Though  a  man 
of  the  most  dauntless  temperament,  he  was  often 
alarmed  at  Scott's  reckless  horsemanship.  "The 
de'il's  in  ye,  Sherra,"  he  would  say,  *'  ye'll  never 
halt  till  they  bring  you  hame  with  your  feet  fore- 
most." He  rose  greatly  in  favour,  in  consequence 
of  the  gallantry  with  which  he  seized  a  gipsy,  ac- 
cused of  murder,  from  amidst  a  group  of  similar 
desperadoes,  on  whom  the  Sheriff  and  ne  had  come 
unexpectedly  in  a  desolate  part  of  the  country. 

To  return  to^the  Lay  of  the  Last  Minstrel :— Ellis, 
understanding  it  to  be  now  nearly  ready  for  ine 
press,  writes  to  Scott,  urging  him  to  set  it  forth  with 
some  engraved  illustrations— if  possible,  after  Flax- 
man,  whose  splendid  designs  from  Homer  had 
shortly  before  made  their  appearance.  He  answers, 
August  21— 

**I  should  hare  liked  very  ranch  to  have  had  ^pro- 
prtate  embelUahmentd.  Indeed,  we  made  aome  attempts 
of  the  kind,  but  they  did  not  succeed.  I  ■honld  fear 
Flazman's  genius  is  too  classic  to  Aoop  to  body  forth  my 
Gothic  Boraerert.  Would  there  not  be  some  risk  of 
their  resembling  the  antique  of  Homer's  heroes  rather  • 
than  the  iron  race  of  Salvatorl  After  all,  perhaps,  no* 
thing  is  more  difficult  than  for  a  painter  to  adopt  the 
author's  ideas  of  on  imaginary  character,  especially  when 
it  Is  founded  on  traditions  to  which  the  artist  is  a  stranger. 
I  should  like  at  least  to  be  at  his  elbow  when  at  work. 
I  wish  very  much  I  could  have  sent  you  the  taj  wliile 
in  M8.,  to  have  had  the  advantage  or  your  optnion  and 
corrections.  But  Baltantvne  galled  my  kibes  so  severely 
during  an  unusual  fit  ot  activity,  that  I  gave  him  the 
whole  srory  in  a  sort  of  pet  both  with  him  and  with  It.  • 

.  .  I  have  lighted  upon  a  very  good  amanuensis  for  , 
copying  such  matters  as  the  Lay  le  Frain,  Ac.  He  was 
sent  down  here  by  some  of  the  London  bookseUers  in  a 
half-starved  state,  but  begins  (o  pick  up  a  little.  .  .  I  am 
just  aboiif  to  set  out  on  a  grana  expedition  of  great  im- 
portance to  my  comfort  in  this  place.  Yon  must  know 
thrflMr.  Ptntnmer^  my  predecessor  In  this  county,  was  ^ 
good  antiquary,  and  left  a  valuable  coHectkm  or  books^ 
which  he  entailed  with  the  estate,  the  first  succesaohi 
being  iliree  of  his  sisters,  at  least  as  old  and  musty  aa 
any  Cazti«  or  Wynkyn  de  Worde  in  his  library.  Now  I 
must  contrive  to  coax  those  watchful  dragons  to  gIVe  roe 
admittance  into  this  garden  of  the  Hesperidea.  1  sup- 
pose they  trouble  the  volumes  as  little  as  the  dragon  did 
the  golden  pippins;  but  they  may  not  be  the  more  easily 
aootned  on  that  account.  However,  I  set  out  on  my  guetti 
like  aj^eujr  ehivaUer^  taking  care  to  leave  Camp,  for  dir- 
tying the  carpet,  and  to  carry  tho  greyhounds  with  me, 
whose  arosaranee  will  Indicate  that  liare-soup  may*  be 
forthcoming  ia  due  season.  By  the  way,  did  I  tell  you 
that  FitzCaiaip  is  dead,  and  another  on  the  stocks  1  As 
our  stupid  postman  might  mistake  Regedy  address,  as 
per  date,  Aslieatlel,  Selkirk,  by  Berwick." 

.  I  believe  the  spinsters  of  Sunderland  hall  proved 
very  generous  dragons ;  and  Scott  Hved  to  see  them' 
succeeded  in  the  guardianship  of  Mr.  Plummer's 
Uterary  treasures  by  an  amiable  young  gentleman  of 
his  own  name  andf  family.  The  halr^starved  ama- 
nuensis of  this  letter  was  Henry  Weber,  a  laborious 
German,  of  whom  we  shall  hear  more  hereafter. 
With  regard  to  the  pictorial  embellishments  con- 
templated for  the  first  edition  of  the  Lay  of  the  Last 
Minstrel,  I  believe  the  artist  in  whose  designs  the 
poet  took  the  greatest  interest  was  Mr.  Masquerier, 
now  of  Brighton,  with  whom  he  corresponded  at 
some  length  on  the  subject :  but  his  distance  from 
that  ingenious  gentleman's  residence  was  inconve- 
nient, and  the  Dook sellers  were  probably  impatient 
of  delay,  wjien  the  MS.  was  once  known  to  be  in 
the  hands  of  the  printer. 

There  is  a  circumstance  which  must  already  have 
struck  such  of  my  readers  as  knew  the  author  in  his 
latter  days,  namely,  the  readiness  with  which  he 
seems  to  havo  communicated  this  poem,  in  its  pro- 
gress, not  only  to  his  own  familiar  friends,  but  to 
new  and  casual  acquaintances.  We  shall  find  him 
following  the  same  course  with  his  MarmioB— but 
not,  I  think,  with  any  of  his  subsequent  works.  His 
determination  to  consult  the  movements  of  his  own 
mind  alone  in  the  conduct  of  his  pieces  was  proba- 
bly taken  before  he  began  the  Lay)  and  he  soon  re: 
solved  to  trust  for  the  detection  of  minor  inaccura- 
ciet  to  two  persons  only— James  Ballantyne  and 


LIFE  OP  SIR  WALTER  SCOTT. 


William  Erskine.  The  printer  was  himself  a  man 
of  considerabe  literary  talents ;  his  own  style  |iad 
the  incurable  faults  of  pomposity  and  aflfe'ctation. 
but  his  eye  for  more  venial  errors  m  the  writings  or 
others  was  quick,  and,  though  his  personal  address 
was  apt  to  give  a  stranger  the  impression  of  insince- 
*rity,  he  was  in  reality  an  honest  man,  and  conveyed' 
his  mind  on  such  matters  with  eaual  candour  and 
delicacy  during  the  whole  of  Scott  s  brilliant  career. 
In  the  vast  majority  of  instances  he  found  his  friend 
.  acquiesce  at  once  in  the  propriety  of  his  suggestions; 
nay,  there  certainly  were  cases,  though  rare,  in 
which  his  advice  to  alter  things  of  much  more  con- 
sequence than  a  word  or  a  rhyme,  was  frankly  ten- 
dered, and  on  deliberation  adopted  by  Scott  Mr. 
Erskine  was  the  referee  whenever  the  poet  hesitated 
about  taking  the  hints  of  the  zealous  typographer, 
and  his  refined  taste  and  gentle  manners  rendered 
his  critical  alliance  highly  valuable.  With  two  such 
faithful  friends  within  his  reach,  the  author  of  the 
Lay  might  safely  dispense  with  sending  his  MS.  ,to' 
be  revised  even  By  George  Ellis. 

Before  he  left  Ashestiel  for  the  winter  session^  the 
printing  of  the  poem  had  made  considerable  pro- 
gress. Ellis  writes  to  him  on  the  10th  Novemoer. 
complaining  of  bad  health,  and  adds,  "  Tu  quid 
agisT  I  suppose  you  are  still  an  inhabitant  of  Ke- 
ged,  and  being  there  it  is  impossible  that  your  head 
should  have  been  solely  ocpipied  by  the  ten  thou- 
sand cares  which  vou  are  likely  to  have  in  common 
with  oilier  mortals,  or  even  by  the  Lay^  which 
must  have  been  long  since  completed,  but  must  have 
started  during  the  summer  new  projects  sufficient 
to  emplov  the  lives  of  half-a-dozen  patriarchs.  P^ay 
tell  me  all  about  it,  for  as  the  present  state  of  my 
frame  precludes  me  from  mucn  activity,  I  want  to 
enjov  that  of  my  friends."  Scott  answers  from  Edin- 
burgn :  "  I  fear  you  fall  too  much  into  the  sedentary 
habits  incident  to  a  literary  life,  like  my  poor  friend 
Plummer,  who  used  to  say  that  a  walk  from  the 
parlour  to  the  garden  once  a  day  was  sufficient  ex- 
ercise for  any  rational  being,  and  that  no  one  but  a 
fool  or  a  fox-hunter  would  take  more.  I  wish  you 
could  have  had  a  seat  on  Hassan's  tapestry  to  have 
brought  Mrs.  Ellis  and  you  soft  and  fair  to  Ashestiel, 
where  with  farm  mutton  at  four  p.  m.,  and  goats 
whey  at  6  a.  m.,  I  think  we  could  have  re-establirii- 
ed  as  much  tmhonpoint  as  oughrto  satisfy  a  poeti- 
cal antiquary.  As  for  my  country  amusements,  I 
have  finished  the  Lay,  with  which  and  its  accom- 
panying notes  the  press  now  groans :  but  I  have 
started  nothing  except  some  scores  of  naresi  many 
of  which  my  gallant  greyhounds  brought  to  the 
ground." 

Ellis  had  also  touched  upon  a  hterary  feud  then 
raging  between  Scott's  allies  of  the  Edinburgh  Re- 
view, and  the  Iste  Dr.  Thomas  Voung,  illustrious 
for  inventive,  genius,  displayed  equally  in  physical 
science  and  in  philoloracal  literature.  A  northern 
critic,  whoever  he  was,  had  treated  with  merry  con- 
tempt certain  discovenes  in  natural  philosophy  and 
the  mechanical  arts,  more  especially  that  of  the  un- 
dulating theory  of  light,  which  ultimately  conferred 
on  Young's  name  one  of  its  highest  distinctions. 
"  He  had  oeen  for  some  time,"  says  Ellis,  "  lp<^urer 
at  the  Royal  Institudon;  and  having  datermmed  to 
pubUsh  his  lectures,  he  had  received  from  one  of  the 


.booksellers  the  offer  of  JGlOOO  for  the  copyright.  He 
was  actually  preparing  for  the  press,  when  the  book- 
seller came  to  him.  and  told  nim  that  the  ridicule 


Dviioi    uaujo  %.\t   uiiu,  cuju    tutu   uiui    Miai  uii>  iiui«^uic 

thrown  by  the  Edinburgh  Review,  on  some  papers  of 
his  in  the  Philosophical  Transactions,  had  so  fright- 
ened the  whole  trade^  that  he  must  request  to  be 
released  from  his  bargain.  This  consequence,  it  is 
true,  could  not  have  been  foreseen  by  the  reviewer, 
who,  however,  appears  to  have  written  from  feelings 
of  private  animosity;  and  I  still  continue  to  think, 
though  I  greatly  admire  the  good  taste  of  the  litera- 
ry essays,  and  the  perspicuity  of  the  dissertations 
on  poUtical  economy,  that  an  apparent  want  of 
candour  is  too  generally  the  character  of  a  «^ork 
which,  from  its  independence  on  the  interests  of 
booksellers,  might  have  been  expected  to  be  parti- 
cularly free  fr'vin  this  defect."    Scott  rejoins  :  "1 1 


am  sorry  for  fhe  very  pitiful  catastrophe  of  Di 
Young's  publication,  because,  although  I  am  alto 
gethcr  unacquainted  with  the  merits  of  the  contro 
versy,  one  must  always  regret  so  very  serious  a  con 
sequence  of  a  diatribe.  The  truth  is,  that  thea 
gentlemen  reviewers  Mjght  often  to  read  over  thi 
fable  of  the  boys  and  frogs,  and  should  also  remem 
her  it  is  much  more  easy  to  destroy  than  to  build 
to  criticise  than  to  compose.  While  on  this  subject 
I  kiss  the  rod  of  my  cniic  in  the  Edinburgh,  on  thi 
subiect  of  the  price  of  Sir  Tristrem;  it  was  not  mi 
fault,  however,  that  the  public  had  it  not  cbeaj 
enough,  as  I  decHned  taking  any  copy-money,  o 
share  in  the  profits,  and  nothing  surely  was  as  rea 
son  able  a  pharge  as  I  could  make." 

On  the  30tb  December  he  resumes :  "  The  Ltay  i 
now  ready,  and  will  probably  be  in  Longman  an< 
Rees's  hands  shortly  after  this  comes  to  yours,  i 
have  charged  them  to  send  you  a  copy  by  the  firs 
conveyance,  and  shall  be  impatient  to  know  wbethe 
you  think  the  entire  piece  corresponds  to  that  whici 
you  have, already  seen.  I  would  also  fain  send  \ 
copy  to  Gifford,  by  way  of  introduction.— My  reasoi 
i&  that  I  understand  he  is  about  to  publish  an  editioi 
of  Beaumont  and  Fletcher,'  and  I  think  I  could  oflfe 
him  the  use  of  some  miscellaneous  notes,  which  J 
made  long  since  on  the  margin  of  their  works.^ 
•Besides,  I  nave  a  good  esteem  of  Mr.  GifTord  as  i 
manly  EngUsh  poet,  very  different  from  most  of  oui 
modern  versifiers.— We  are  so  fond  of  Reged  tha 
we  are  just  going  to  set  out  for  our  farm  in  th^ 
middle  of  a  snow  storm ;  all  that  we  have  to  comfor 
ourselves  with  is,  that  our  march  has  been  ohlere^ 
with  great  military  talent— a  detachment  of  mincer 
pies  and  brandy  having  preceded  us.  In  case  mv\ 
are  not  buried  m  a  snow-wreath,  our  stay  will  b 
but  short.  Should  that  event  happen,  we  muat  'wai 
the  thaw." 

Ellis,  not  having  aii  yet  received  the  new  poem 
answers  on  the  9tn  January,  1805,  "  I  look  daily  ant 
with  the  greatest  anxiety  for  the  Last  Minstrel — o 
which  I  still  hope  to  see  a  futlu-e  edition  decoratet 
with  designs  h  la  Flaxman.  as  the  Lays  of  Hom^ 
have  already  been.  I  think  you  told  me  that  St 
Tristrem  had  not  excited  much  sensation  in  Edin 
burgh.  As  I  have  not  been  in  London  this  age,  ] 
can  t  produce  the  contrary  testimony  of  our  metro 
polls.  But  I  can  produce  one  person,  and  that  on^ 
worth  a  considerable  number,  who  speaks  of  it  wiU 
rapture,  and  says,  *  I  am  only  sorry  that  Scott  haj 
not  (and  I  am  sure  he  has  not}  tola  us  the  Airhole  o 
his  creed  on  the  subject  of  Tomas,  and  the  othei 
early  Scotch  minstrels.  I  sinpose  he  wa^  afraid  o 
the  critics,  and  determined  W  say  very  httle  men 
than  he  was  able  to  establish  by  inconteftabh 

E roofs.  I  feel  infinitely  obliged  to  him  for  what  h< 
as  told  us,  and  I  have  no  hesitation  in  saying,  thai 
I  consider  Sir  T.  as  by  far  the  most  interesting  worl 
that  has  as  yet  been  published  on  the  subject  of  oul 
earliest  poets,  and,  indeed,  such  a  piece  of  literary 
antiquity  as  no  one  could  have,  d  priori^  supposec 
to  exist.'  This  is  Frere— our  ex-ambassador  foi 
Spain,  wl)om  you  would  delight  to  know,  and  wh< 
would  delight  to  know  you.  It  is  remarkable  tha 
you  were,  I  believe,  the  most  ardent  of  all  the  ad- 
mirers  of  his  old  English  version  of  the  Saxon  Ode  ;i 
and  he  is,  per  contra^  the  warmest  panegyrist  o; 


Ti  irathii  Ktfi*ringer  Vtat  GiJIbril  imA  nl  th«  trme  fa  huid 


Kit  FVn  J(^»n  fiiJh^iv^I,  avfl  thru  bb  t^oid.    fit]in«  1 


k^chett  And  m 
lilcnme*  <wi 


tii.ikatNbA.rOj   but  w  the  gnavoiu  mkiAHtaiw  is^  Ii1cn{jjin«  * 

Vthit  l'H^^l^]f^fl^j3L''Cli1^■l  ^tytm  i^  Fwumoni  uid  FJddbdr. 

^  "  1  h4vt:  mh  nbL'i,  11]  mt  Km.*nrht!t  inio  thcma  jto-nen/"  vtStji^ 
£■  i.'i  in  1  *:.!>, "'  with  otw  pDitm,  ^liicli,*if  ii  hmi  brmi  pRtaici^  k4 
•  '  il'^  not  bwe  Ii«m  d«tccMlon  inlcfoiJ  artdiBga.    14 

ii  -'ffig  upoD  ih»  yjetoo  At  BnumBpfaansli.  InaalftlMJ 

lUfi.  i'ofirtf.  vol.  1.  p.  91  The  mrj>jriij>1ithed  ffdiTw  leljit  oa,  limi 
thl^i  liKrr  mmpiUiT  vt^ta  wqj  iiiti^r]«c}  sj  m  i^ltntiim  tif  lib*  >tf  id 
and  IvFiruttiro  <tfw  ibiutii-nth  <^<-fiiurj,  and  WM  wnUvn  «Iuna4 
thi'^  nKktmruny  DC€iJiionp43  bf  tbi?  pooim  aitTibulcd  Ui  Row  ley  i 
Mr.  l^tlia  ad^,  *  thm  n»i<k>r  wllj  p^oMilr  ^ftr  wttlt  khm  saqp«l*« 
Ukj(  thij  finfuUr  intaDce  ^  enUcal  Unicnuilj  wiam  IM  MoinT^ 
■Tj<jii  nf  ftu  £1011  AdKMttie^/ '  VJlMW  m  M^iem  ^fh*  Jn^ 
cum  Biniad^v.  ^gitized  by  V^DOgrC 


EivsiOP  81B  wALnm  aocfrr. 


fmm  Cki^dmtim,  whkih  ho  , _  ._^._.,,  _ 

uAms  to  be  tfi«  ¥ary  best  imi&doii  of  old 
at  present  ezistiog.  J  tmnk  I  can  trust  you  for 
having  concluded  the  Last  Minstrel  with  as  much 
spirit  as  it  was  begun-4f  you  have  been  capable  of 
any  thiogiuiworthy  of  your  fame  amidst  the  high- 
est mountains  of  JS^ged,  there  is  an>end  of  all 
inmiration." 

Scott  answers—**  Frere  is  so  perfect  a  master  of 
the  ancient  style  of  composition,  that  I  would  rather 
have  his  surniigo  than  that  of  a  whole  synod  of 
your  vulgar  antiquaries.  The  more  I  think  on  our 
systedl  of  the  origm  of  romance,  the  more  simptidty 
and  uniformity  it  sefems  to  possess:  and  though  1 
adopted  it  late  and  with  hesitation,  I  believe  1  shall 
never  see  cause  to  abandon  it.    Yet  I  am  aware  of 


qusries  have  considerably  injured  their  claims  to 
confidence,  bv  attempting  to  detail  very  remote 
events  with  all  the  accuracy  belonmng  to  the  facts  of 
yesterday.  You  wiy  bear  one  of  them  describe  you 
the  cut  of  Llywarch  Hen's  beard,  or  the  whittle  of 
Urien  Reged,  as  if  he  had  trimmed  the  one,  or  cut 
Mb  cheese  with  the  other.    These  hkh  pretensions 


sih  the  wheat  froni  the  chaff,  and  give  us  a  good  ac- 
oount  of  their  MSS.  and  traditions.  Pray,  what  is 
become  of  the  Mabinogion?  It  is  a  proverb,  that 
children  and  fools  talk  tnith^  and  I  am  mistaken 4f 
Bven  the  same  valuable  quahty  may  not  sometimes 
be  extracted  out  of  the  tales  made  to  entertain  both. 
I  presume,  while  we  talk  of  childish  and  foolish 
lafes,  that  the  Lay  b  already  with  you,  although,  in 
hese  pointa^XiOn^-manum  ut  errare.  Pray  inquire 
or  your  copy." 

In  tbe.nrat  week  in  January,  1805;  **The  Lay" 
vas  publiahed :  and  its  success  at  once  decided  that 
iterature  should  form  the  main  business  of  Scott's 
ife. 

In  his  modest  Introdudian  of  1830,  he  had  him- 
lelf  told  us  all  that  he  thou^t  the  world  would 
irer  desire  tq  know  of  the  origin  and  progress  of 
his  his  first  great  original  production.  The  present 
Hemoir,  however,  has  already  included  many  minor 
particulars,  for  which  I  believe  no  student  of  htera- 
ure  will  reproach  the  compiler.  I  shall  not  mock 
he  reader  with  many  words  as  to  the  merits  ef  a 
toem  which  has  now  kept  its  place  for  nearly  a 
hird  of  a  century  i  but  one  or  two  additionid  re- 
narks  on  the  history  of  the  composition  may  be 
tardoned. 

It  is  carious  to  trace  the  small  beginninga  and 
rradual  development  of  his  design.  The  lovely 
^ountess  of  Dalkeith  hears  a  wild  rude  legend  oif 
Sorder  duibttrie^  and  sportivelv  asks  him  to  make 
t  the  subject  of  a  ^allad.  Ho  had  been  alreadv 
abouring  in  the  elucidation  of  the  *'  quaint  Inglis 
scribed  to  an  ancient  seer  and  bard  of  the  same 
iistnct,  and  perhaps  completed  his  own  sequel,  in- 
ending  the  whole  to  be  included  in  the  third  volume 
f  the  Minstrelsy.  He  assents  to  Lady  Dalkeith's 
equest,  and  casts  about  for  some  new  variety  of 
liction  and  rhyme,  which  might  be  adopted  without 
mproprietr  in  a  closing  strain  for  the  same  collec- 
ion.  Sir  John  Stoddart's  casual  ^citation,  a  year 
»r  two  befor^  of  Coleridge's  unpublished  Christ* 
ibel,  had  fixed  the  music  of  that  noble  fragment  in 
lis  memory;  and  it  occurs  to  him,  that  bv  throw- 
3^^  the  story  of  Qilpin  Homer  into  somewhat  of  a 
imilar  cadence,  he  might  produce  such  an  echo  of 


be  later  metrical  romance,  as  would  serve  to  con-  ^.  . 

eel  hJB  Canehuian  of  the  primitive  Sir  Tristrem  ^inrii.tendernpBs.  and  beau  ly, 
rith  hu  imitations  of  the  common  popular  ballad  In  ^'it-  closine  htiea— 
I  the  Gray  Brother  and  Eve  of  St.  John.  A  single 
cene  of  feudal  festivity  in  the  Hkll  of  Branksome, 
isturbed  by  some  pranks  of  a  nondescript  goblin, 
ras  probably  all  that  he  contemolated ;  but  his  ac- 
idental  confinement  in  the  midst  of  a  volunteer 
amp  gave^nm  leisure  to  meditate  his  theme  to  the 
ound  of  the  bugle  ;-^«nd  suddenly  there  flashes  on 
13  I 


him  \h(-  lat^n  ot  f^xt^ndmg  hk  limpid  outline,  to  ^  i 
lo  PTnbrti«#  a  vivid  ptinarqmH  of  That  dd  Border  Ufe 
of  war  and  nmuiit,  and  all  tinnuHt  pMJ*ion8,  with 
whjch  hid  researches  nn  (he  ''  Mirieirelsy^'  iiad  by 
degr«i-»  fi^d  hifl  imadnatton,  uniil  t^rtry  tbc  mitiacasc 
fen tu re  bad  been  rakcn  hcm^  and  realized  with  un- 
eon«4!ioys  mteaaeness  of  »fnipath/i  eki  that  W 
had  won  for  himself  in  thei  f»it»t  anoiber  world, 
hardly  lesa  compleic  or  faimhar  ihan  the  present* 
flr^ktn^  or  Cranatiiuri  «iigg{.e[0  that  he  would  do 
wirii  to>  divide  the  poem  into  e^iULfA,  aiid  prefix  to 
o^ch  uf  tht^m  a  mono  explanatory  of  the  action ^  ■ 
rifuT  tj^jij  fashjoa  of  Sjitiitter  in  the  Faery  Queeti. 
He  \muM.B  for  a  momoDi— and  the  happiesL  codc^- 
uun  of  ibe  framework  of  n  picturesque  narrative 
thjtt  f^ver  occurred  to  any  poot—ont^  (bat  Homer 
might  have  envied— the  isrealJon  of  the  ancient 
hafP4?r  aiartK  to  hfe.  By  ^uch  stii^pa  did  ihe  ''  Lay 
of  Lhe  Lost  MinatrcF^  ^jow  out  of  the  "  M  ins  ire  ley 
4>f  the  Scotlbh  Border 

A  word  more  of  jia  felicitoua  tnachinery*  It  was 
at  Eowhill  that  the  Cotuitefta  of  Dalkeith  rEqucrsted 
jj  ballad  on  Gilpin  ptirner.  The  ruintd  castle  of 
Newark  clowly  adjoine  that  w^^t,  and  ia  now  mdi^ed 
]Tiduded  wirhin  its  pha^ance.  Newark  had  be«n 
ihfj  chosen  rei^idenee  of  ihe  firflt  Ducheaa  of  Buc 
cieuch,  anc|  he  accord  itigly  ahadows  mil  his  own 
l>e4»uliiiil  friend  in  the  person  of  her  lord's  ances- 
(re«a,  the  laat  of  the  oriii^nal  stock  of  ihai  gr^st 
hoLisG ;  hirnaelf  the  favoured  in  male  of  Bow  hill,  in> 
trodiicad  i^'rtainty  to  the  fi&inilianiy  of  ka  circle  to 
consequanoe  of  hia  devotion  to  the  poeirv  of  a  by- 
past  aga,  in  that  of  aa  8^t?d  iiiinMret^  ^'  the  last  of 
aJl  the  racei'*  seekioR  shefier  at  the  eate  of  Newark, 
m  dnys  when  many  an  adberent  of  ihe  fallen  cnuae 
of  Stuart  —  his  own  bearded  ancestor,  irAo  had 
/mt^hX  at  KiliitJcr^nku^  Among  the  reatt^^Wed 
Ebeir  safety  to  her  who 

"In  prJde  efpfiw^r^  In  beauty '9  bloomy 
Umi  iv«pt  o'«r  MonmDUth^i  bloody  tocabr" 

The  itch  allutftona  which  run  through  all  these 
JniroductiojiK^  v^'ithout  in  the  least  LnieiTiiptlnR  the 
ifUth  and  graceful  pathos  of  thdr  piain  irnpTe«Hmn, 
aeem  loitie  ex^ui»it<;ly  cbaracterisiic  of  ScoU^  whose 
iJniliKht  and  pnde  was  to  play  with  the  gemuj  which 
ii(.venlielesis  tnaatererj  hiiii  at  will.  For,  in  truth, 
what  ia  it  that  gives  to  all  his  works  their  unii^ut 
and  marking  chftnn,  cJtci:pi  ibe  niaichleaa  efltcts 
whicli  Eudden  efTuaiong  of  the  purest  heart  hlood  of 
nature  derive  from  their  beiiiff  pour  id  out,  to  all  ajl- 
l^ea ranee  involuntmily^  a^iiast  diction  and  aenti- 
nifAXt  cnat  equally  in  the  mould  of  the  bwsy  woHd« 
jirid  rhtj  ijeentinfsly  babituoJ  desire  to  dwell  on 
frothing  but  what  nii^ht  be  Ukely  to  exejt4?  eurioaitj, 
uubuul  too  mucli  diaiurbing  deeper  feeltngs  in  the 
eaJoona  of  f«)hshed  life?  Such  out  burst*  come 
fcirth  dratnaticolly  in  all  his  wrjiint^s;  but  in  the 
interludea  and  ptiwfflonaie  porenthes^a  of  the  "  Lay 
of  the  Lnet  Mtnatrel,"  we  nave  the  poeTsown  itinef 
pi  ml  jiml  lempetuiutii!  hid  b^re  and  throbhiog  b^ore 
tuH :— eveo  hc^re,  itideod,  he  haa  a  ninak,  and  he  trusts 
it  -hut  fortutjtttely  it  ia  a  trancpareiit  uj*e. 

Many  minor  periMinal  alluaione  huve  bet^n  explain- 
ed in  the  notes  lo  the  laftf  edititin  of  tho  "  Lay,"  It 
uaa  httrdly  nLiceaeary  even  then  to  say  that  tho 
choice  of  the  hero  had  been  diet n tod  by  llie  poct^s 
affection  for  the  hving  dest^undants  of  the  Baron  of 
( 'mnstoun  t  and  tiow— none  who  have  perused  ths 

Iirceedinj?  pdit^  can  doubts  that  he  had  drc«sed  out 
if-*  Margaret  of  Branksome  in  the  fortn  nnd  fea- 
tures of  hifl  own  first  love.  This  poem  may  be  ooti- 
M<li  rtd  na  the  "  hrif^ht  eonsurnnmte  flfi'wtr,"  in 
U'hieh  all  the  dearest  dreams  of  hi^  youthful  fancf 
hiid  nt  length  found  ejcpnrisioti  for  tht'jr  stivngthj 


IlDshSlift  thdharp — the  Minntr^l  f<3iie ; 
And  (t»(t  h<^  wijinipr  Tonh  alonu  1  ^ 

A  tun  L',  liii  iijidjif''ncp  a.i;«]  o^e.  %> 

TnlJUf^erauthlaj  vilf  ri  rr«  a^Q  ^ 
No  1 — c1q9>i3  hen  Pith  pmuct  KfWmrk's  tfnfif 
Arote  tile  Sfinwirel'i  tlumble  bower,"  At— 

ih€se  charminff  lin^  ^i^^f^^^fO^^ 


Lfim  or  rat  wiLvai  scxm*. 


I  Ifil)  at  t^e  tlnM  wltmi  he j»«ntied  them,  xht  chkf 
da/drpam  of  Aihif^UfL  Ffosri  ihe  niombnit  that 
flisundt:'?  dealh  ^ilaeeJ  a  comsidcmblo  turn  of  teM- 
dy  moocy  ti  his  commcLnd,  hta  pleaAed  hiniaolf,  119 
««MTe  f#en,  wiih  (he  idea  of  buvin^  a  moim(4iii 
fim^  and  hetiominR  noi  only  tho  ^'fllu^nfl,*'  U^  Ue 
k$d  m  former  day  a  dehj^htt^  Co  call  him«eln  but 
'*the  taird  of  ihn  cairri  nnd  ihe  scintr,"  While  he 
W6M  *''  labounng  dcNicemtfnf  al  the  Lay.^'  (aj  in  one 
^  hk  i^i&n  h^  ax^ffitsc*  iu  during  (ha  r«ce«a  of 
18^  Ctreumfiia»cc0  rencltir^l  it  next  la  cf^tain  tbnt 
tb«  small  i^tate  of  /iraac/»if(uL->uy,  pituau^  jiii^t 
o^et  Hf^invL  the  nmiH  of  Newark,  on  iht;  tiOTth^ni 
bank  of  lb*5  Varraw^  ^ould>>i^[i  be  psjiOfied  losalf ; 
and  many  a  lime  <lid  ht!  rid^«?  round  it  in  compunf 
viib  Lord  and  Lady  D^^Ike^iih. 

'  Wficn  BUininrr  midUclJ  on  swept  BowhtU," 
anrvL'^ing  ihe  heautillit  little  domain  Mriih  wistTnl 
eyea,  and  antidpaiing  thai 
^  ^  '*  T^f  rf  wo [)ld  he  lirif  ac  hi <: wemen t  liJitk 

I  _         AufI  ci  re  maaiaoi:  ^  of  t:  hivntf^^ 
T»  Tfll  ttiH  'npl  tfav filer  wautcj  iuyf, 

I  ^orgtifUl  of  thp  ctnnkigcJa^t ; 

Aud  noble  ^TAuthri,  ihe  itrruu  in  haaTf 

F(v%et  rHo  hunUnc  of  the  fletr  ^ 

Ana  VuTOw^ia  h*'  rftJNKi  atooc, 

fiotr  bai^n  to  ihi?  Kin^iri^Va  fn^nf/^ 
I  conHidtir  it  as,  in  one  point  of  vioWt  thefirDateEt 
iDlafiorianti  of  bin  life  that  thi»  viaion  was  not  tv^lit- 
ed ;  but  the^  snecess  of  th«  poem  itself  changed 
**  the  spirit  of  hb  draam  '^  The  favour  which  it  at 
0i}Da  attained,  had  not  been  eQualkd  in  the  oase  of 
inf  doe  po«m  of  fonfiderabfti  length  diinng  nt  ba^t 
iwo^ent'tatioiifl :  it  ciertainEjr  had  not  berjo.  approach - 
od  in  the  dhm  of  any  narrative  poent  since  tno  days 
of  Dry  den.  Befon.-  H  wai  »uat  t^  tha  preai^  it  had 
rftceivf^J  wartii  commendation  from  the  ahlegi  and 
moit  inHutntial  critic  of  the  time;  but  when  Mr. 
JeffrK^y'a  reviowal  appeal cd,  a  monili  aftt>r  rublica- 
tion,  laudatory  as  itilEinguase  waa,  it:  scarcely  came 
tip  to  thfl  opinii/n  which  had  already  lakiim  root  in 
Ihe  pubhi^  mind^  It,  however,  quite  satiBfiwl  the  au- 
thoft  and  Wert  1  at  liberty  to  in  pert  froine  letters 
Trhith  pasBed  between  them  \n  thycouTse  of  iheaum- 
mer  of  IROlj,  it  would  be  eet^n  that  their  feelines  to* 
Tvards  each  othnr  were  thoae  of  mutusi  confidence 
and  craiitude.  Indeed,  a  §ovi*rG  domes  tic  afHicibn, 
^hich  about  this  time  beft'}!  Mr /efTrov,  called  out 
the  eipresjion  of  eucb  wentimonls  on  00 ih  sidcfl  in 
a  vury  touohiiK?  manner, 

r  nbptain  from  irsn^cnbrnp  the  better*  which 
convey ed  to  ii^cott  the  private  opinions  of  per- 
sons them»ch-c0  cmincnuy  destinpitiilui!  in  poet< 
Tfi  bat  I  think  it  just  to  state;  l^at  I  tinve 
i^ot  discovered  in  any  of  them— no,  not  even 
in  those  of  Words  worth  or  Compbdl^a  if  train  of 
approbation  hif^her  on  the  whole  than  that  of  the 
chief  proR'^^aaional  reriewef  of  the  period.  When 
the  happy  day^  of  )fotnh  arc  over,  evtn  the  tnost  ge- 
nial Slid  gfntrrons  of  mindi*  are  seldom  able  10  cnt^r 
kito  the  strains  of  a  tit w  pf«?t  wiih  (hat  full  unci 
vpen  ddijisbt  wliicb  he  awakens  in  the  bosoms  of  the 
nainf;  eeneration  al>oiTt  him*  Tin  ir  d«*p  nnd  eaj^ir 
tyTapatniee  have  alreftd)  bet^n  drawn  upon  to  an  ejc- 
tent  of  which  the  i^ro^aic  part  of  the  i^ccies  can 
never  hj^fe  any  conception  ?  and  when  the  fit  of 
creative  mspifntion  haa  sub^fidedf  they  are  a^t  to  be 
rath«r<5dd  critics^  even  of  iheirown  noblest  appeals 
tn  the  fimple  pnmary  fwlin^  of  their  kind.  Mi^s 
S«W!*rd*e  Jaf  tcTi  on  this  occasiton,  has  been  since  in- 
rlifdfd  in  tbe  printed  eollaclion  of  hot  correvpon- 
dencf ;  but  peniaps  the  reader  may  form  0  sufii- 
cieni  notion  of  ita  tenor  frf>id  the  po<?t-|  anawoi^- 
ifbich.  at  oil  evenly  he  vtill  be  amused  to  compare 
Wttit  tm  Introduetjon  of  1  &30 1— 

TV  Mitw  Sf«^afdy  Lkf^d.  * 

'^£dtahar«h,  ^Irtt  Manh,  18U&. 
*  My  detr  7H*^  Seward, 

"  lam  truly  huppy  thai  won  (aqtid  mf  ifiiui«in«tit  in 
tb«  1^7  «f  tUti  LMt  MioarreJ.  It  bat  arGiii  Ali  i  lt<  of  wt  1  i  c  ii 
■o  tine  tan  4mi  lAora  aimflible  tima  J  uii  mx't'lt:  Ab^iV'i 
all,  it  k  dcJIcknt  in  tbnt  sort  of  eotnlnuU;  wlikb  a  »Lurt 
M#it  to  bkf ^  and  i^kiht  mn  It  is  wdie  ofudn^  I  wewl^ 


it   B*l 


Itl'lMflBAIld 

tntii%  f  ^c(fpg  ti 
CtM  bottom  of 


likeoiiflUimpl«s«satoo«i(r7,g^C(fiif  to0iatop«f  f 

to  BOO  a  prosi»eet,  and  to  ctM  boHom  of  aooUier  10  tn^j  m 
shada,  aod  what  wonder  If  017  coarse  haa  been  de«loa» 
and  desuliory,  and  many  of  my  excursions  altosetber  tili- 
mrofltable  tf)  the  advance  of  mr  Joamey.  The  Dwarf 
race  Is  dso  an  ezcrescencejana  I  plead  guilty  to  ail  tbe 
censures  coocemtng  bidt  The  truth  is,  be  has  a  Mstory, 
sad  It  is  this :  The  story  of  Gilpin  Horner  was  told  bj  SB 
old/entfemsn  to  Lady  Dalkettn,  snd  she,  much  dlvftxted 


with  his  sotusllyv  belieTiflg  so  sroCss<|ue  a  tale,  insisted  tbal 
I  should  make  il  into  a  Border  oaUsd.  I  don't  know  if  ev«r 
you  saw  my  lovely  chieftainess—ifyou  have,  you  musl  b« 
aware  tbat  it  is  impotsibU  for  any  one  to  reAis»ber  re- 

auest,  as  she  has  more  of  the  aogel  in  iace  and  temper 
lan^my  one  alive ;  so  thaf  if  she  liad  asked  me  to  wrii e 
a  ballad  on  a  broomstick  I  must  hsve  attempted  It    t  be- 

EiD  a  few  versSB,  to  be  called  the  Goblin  Pitfe ;  and  thmj 
y  long  by  ma,  till  the  applause  of  some  frieods  whoBs 
Judsment  I  vslued  induced  me  to  resume  the  poem  ; 
on  1  wroto,  knowing  no  more  than  the  man  in  the  aao< 
how  I  was  to  end.  At  iensih  the  story  sf^ared  so  on- 
couth,  that  I  was  lain  to  put  It  into  the  mouth  of  my  old  miD- 
strel— lest  the  nature  of  it  should  be  misunfierstood,  and 
1  should  be  suspected  of  setting  up  s  new  school^  of  poe- 
try, instesdof  a  feeble  attempt  to  imitate  the  oM.  In  tb« 
^ocess  of  the  romance  the  page,  intended  to  be  a  firto- 
eipal  person  in  the  work,  contrived  (from  the  bsseaeaw 
01  his  nstuzal  propensides  I  suj^se)  to  sliok  dowD  stairs 
into  the  kttohsn,  snd  now  he  must  e'en  abide  there. 

I  mention  these  eircnmstances  to  you,  and  to  any  oma 
whose  applause  I  value,  becauae  I  am  unwilUnf  yoo 
should  suspect  me  of  trifling  with  the  public  In  wuUice 
prtperue.  As  to  the  herd  of  critics,  it  is  impossible  fbx 
me  to  pay  much  attention  to  them ;  for,  as  fbey  do  not  nli* 
derstand  what  I  call  poeti7,  we  taft  in  a  foreign  laogojif  e 
to  each  other.  Indeed,  many  of  these  gentlemen  appear 
10  me  to  be  a  son  of  tinkers,  who,  unable  to  wiakg  poca 
snd  psns,  set  up  for  msaders  of  tbsm,  sod  God  kno^na, 
often  maks two  oolss  Inpatehiag one.  The  sixth  canto  to 
altogether  redundant :  tor  the  poem  should  certainly  hn^a 
closed  with  the  uoioo  of  the  bvera,  when  tha  interest,  if 
any,  waa  Stan  end.  But  what  could  I  dot  1  had  my  book 
and  my  page  still  on  my  hands,  and  must  get  rid  or  tliem 
at  all  eventa.  Manage  them  as  I  would,  their  cslsstropha 
must  have  been  hmufltcient  to  oceupy  an  entire  eaato ; 
so  I  wss  Ikin  to  eke  It  out  with  the  songs  of  ibe  minaQrela. 
I  will  now  deacend  from  the  confessional,  which  I  thlak 
I  have  occupied  kmg  enough  for  the  pntisBce  oT  my  ^ir 
confoasor.  lam  huppy  you  are  disposed  Is  g^9iiMslM»> 
lotiooj  notwithstanding  all  my  >ina. 

'*  We  havs  a  i^w  poet  come  lorth  amongst  ua— Jaosen 
Graham,  author  of  a  poem  called  the  SaoDath*  whieli  1 
admire  very  much.    If  1  can  find  aa  opportunky,  I  vrlli 
aend  you  a  copy.    Tour  aflfectiooate  bumble  aenranc, 
Wai/mn  Scort.'* 

Mr.  EUia  does  not  saeia  to  have  writtan  at  na^ 
length  on  the  aubjeet  of  the  Lay,  until  ha  ba4  p^ 
maed  the  article  in  the  Bdwbnigh  Re!¥iew.  Hetbea 
saya, 

**  Tboogh  I  had  previously  made  ap  my  minii  or  rather 
perhaps  because  1  had  done  so,  I  was  verv  anxtoua  «• 
compare  my  sentiments  with  those  of  the  Bdinburgh  cri- 
tic, aod  I  found  that  in  general  ws  were  perfectly  agreedi 
though  there  are  parts  of  the  subject  which  we  conaidnr 
from  very  dUbrent  points  of  view.  Frere,  with  wbooi  I 
had  not  any  previous  communicstion  about  it,  agrees 
with  me ;  and  trusting  very  much  to  the  justice  of  his  po- 
etical feelings,  I  feel  some  degree  of  confidence  In  my 
own  judgment— though  in  opposldon  toBfr.  Jefl^y,  wbon« 
critloisra  I  admire  upon  the  whole  extremely,  as  belQg 
equslly  souls  snd  impartisl,  snd  as  exhibiting  the  folrcsa 
judgment  respecting  the  WOTk  thst  could  be  formed  by 
the  mere  assistance  of  good  sense  and  general  taste,  wUh> 
out  that  particular  sort  of  tsste  which  arises  from  the 
study  of  romantic  compositions. 

**  What  Frere  and  myself  think,  must  be  stated  la  th« 
dispc  of  a  Aypir-cn'n'cism— that  is  to  say,  of  a  review  of 
the  reviewer.  We  say  that  the  Lay  of  the  Last  lOnalrel 
Is  a  work  nd  gentria^  written  with  the  mfsntisw  of  ex- 
hibiiing  what  our  old  romances  do  hideed.exhibk  \n  point 
of  foct,  but  isddentally.  and  often  without  the  wiah,  or 
rather  cootrsry  to  the  wish  of  the  author ;— via.  the  man- 
ners of  a  particular  sge ;  snd  that  therefore,  if  K  does 
this  truly,  and  Is  at  the  same  time  capable  of  keephigtha 
steady  attention  of  the  reader,  it  is  so  *far  perfect  This 
is  also  a  poem,  and  ouriit  therefore  to  contain  a  greatderi 
of  poetical  merit  This  indeed  it  does  by  the  sdmisslon  of 
the  reviewer,  and  it  must  be  sdmltted  tnst  he  has  ahosm 
much  real  taste  hi  esthnsting  the  most  beautiful  nsamgiip ; 
but  he  finds  Ihok  wkh  msnj  of  tha  Unea  as  cawiasi^  with 


hOfk  dt^  iiift  WiuMR  uo9t¥. 


PdRWMJ 


lyf  the  M|in«tTel  cl'Iqpl>flulinul^  U  vould  Uvr^ 


i«r«uiki'n.  At.  Ac.    To 


Cfi  Ojiy  ktc«  ftf  the.  M|in«tTel  cl'Iq[h>flulinul^ 

17  ft*  fh*rfitcL,  ia'J  u(hrr.krLD  ui  tlv>  work*  lu lull y  v^tjNiutT    I 

*r  *i'i7  Jjuli?  wtiutd  tpc  lost,  ihoiidli  the  lurrt'l.^ 

pvri  finitMiaf  fntlYrt  wert  in  p]iliiptt)a?^  Ltic  n- 1^  ir  r  r  1  ii 

Jadml.  «l)At»  iRi  nnoNntwl  **  Dry  (Seal  It  nmy  b<'  »J4l  (hu  I 
IM  wu  Aut  JntpiukMiaOy  act — build  be  r^y  «n«M>/A  la  very  ^ 
oAitt.  [b  hv  Jain«  ;   mn^l  tJii:'U(;b  this  ahogld  tn;  utiKttl?d  tu 

dtrii  poorik,  thoff  iUi  L^-  do  dr^uSt  w^iTk  retpect  to  the 
A<4««ii(f  of  lubfe^iLaf  yoafitifl'y  tliv  \9itP-T  jkiili  (If  ft  i« 
0«e>  tn  iLTj  luiiCDLllrJii  or«n«r>c1i?AE  modtL  %|,  Tbn«l|ti  It  )< 
bitufllhr  tiji  titi  4ri:]H'cu^l  E^at  mitiy  rcaitrrv  will  <j  xpi^ct  tn 
^'  lAHi  liiAnlte<  Kt:ilniHJflftr>q  nf  lot^itifnir  In  ■  runion^?, 
Iltfinly  bvcAUt^  TiHil«r4  tn  grptm^ml  barL'  Acqijifoii  all 

nid  ■  ft/TB(g  of  m«Lrical  «ioiri««      TJ^^r; 


fNptbtnf  #Hefi4i4fto  ftroiitwico  w&a,  tliut  u  utioLjM  t.ia 


tl' -,...:'  'ii^4'e']itecuqiiilnIedk[i«oai«oCi>uriLuc:ienlfi:! utuj- 
c>  s.i  ..'   trwlLiJad  liad  of  noariK  njiK^rib'itd  to  fvury 

pn-'s:  '  .T.  ,!jr\rnr  n  pi'M  nomh^T  inf  ccmqusirl^  inrj  tli* 
micj'^tri'^i  wuuLd  h%t*^  bp^^nthr^nit^Uftellclml  if,  In  a  varUk^ 
i«fl»  h*  Jmrl  omlU<?i:t  unir  iciitjFiiry  evemr  ftirt  iti  ii(ti*?r  tm- 
p«eta  a  papirlcif  of  iticffleai  Id  Ih«  |frt)«nftl  rhtractvrlii^c 
of  Dur  iw^irjiLrnl  funnik.  'Mj  WUh  rasfwct  10  the  Oublin 
IWe^  it  i»hj  no  mfsiQ#iiec«HU7  thit  tti(»  liuperftltttifi  gn 
which  tii\a  U  rododed  iboukl  b«  univorMdly  dt  areu  «- 
uenllj  cttsreaL  U  teqtitte  «u(!ici«at  fhAL  It  ilmnld  0JiJ4C 
•OKiewTiete  ir«  Hit  nei^lilkonrlior'^tH^f  (hm  cuallc  vh^TC  tt1.tr 
tclhae  i£  plucntl ;  &nr):  it  caniicit  fiiirlv  Ijh.'  rcLjmrcii  tti&t  bC' 
riin<»(<i   th4?  gobltTi  la  mljC^Jiif'TEiOi.,  afl  tiin  inrl(B»  Ahnnld  br 

Af  K^'^'^i^'^''*  wiiM""  ta^aT4}  bffti,  tlial  Ihi-r  weru  <?trt*rotiftU» 
acU*c,  ijiil  ua-eleBH  about  th'^  mlflclilirf  the^  pnvkic^dt 
jnoher  tb«ipmTl4pQlMll)r  ouJjritiUA. 

**  We  thfTtflhre  it  i,  Frere  •n-d  rnj*i>[()  <$i4Knt  fpooi  tJ] 
t)i«  reviciwctr'fl  objectiODfi  to  tXieif^  ^'.ir&uuiJtti^ccs  in  the 
HAT  rati  Vft  ;  but  w<^  «rtl<^rt&l]j  «tjdk'  Jokibte  liw^ut  the  pri> 

frl^ty  of  4wi^tlln{«o  Vth$  oa  th'^  MlihEtid  arjnge  in  Vftc.  lui 
.^*n(o.  t  fa.j  Wf?  fSmtbi^  b'T'tuu**?  *£  Jiif  tjoI  awnrc  of 
y^mr  >iavjn|jf  fttiniVnt/  n.^i^'Aori/'y  for  Burha  irrar.tlre;  hijl 
f  hOTiJth  I  lie  tittEiipt  itrsjo  k  hol^f  vn^^  itmsi^nti^h  4)t  |1  Is  not 
^uitiAL  to  alSJ  n  wIkfIc  r4iitn  10  4  tfory  whtch  t«  alrcALfy 
fiatitth«(l,  vv  &re  far  ffEim  nlaiiltv  ihiit  y&a  had  Jf^fl  ft  un- 
Kttf[iii>ti?d<  t  uinifl  fell  you  the  •bswat  of  a  (thilosophcir 
(^r  IJrury  £o((leti«i<J)  to  b  frifl4»1  <if  hla  wl»a  Vhm  criti- 
cising thi!  obacLLiiL^  uf  the  lB]i4^UB|f<?  ui«d  in  tfie  MuMnre^b 
■*!  rtid  Unlc  poetry,  an^i  ofttEj  wii  jn  dJouM  whether  I 
ei*ctJj  <jB(lcr#t4n^f  Uio  iKict'*  m^^^ing  ;  but  I  fotiincl, 
4Avr  riF4ifTini;  tfi^  Ml n Href  thrp<^  tlni^i^  thai  (  iini?rr9toi:»r{ 
k  tU  pf.'rrfrtW  •  "  Three  (Iiihe^h  V  rfprkd  hb  fHend. 
'  Yni^  corialnly^  fhr  firsit  tjmff^  I  ilJNcavf'rt^tf  that  iherr 
'«!■■  a  vrem  licAL  of  mpunioR'  In  U  ;  a  a^conil  w^kiM  hnv^f* 
4lMr*d  it  allufh  btttthat  t  wu  run  awray  wth  brtlie  tmu- 
ltf«|  pwi^tea,  wliicU  iJI«trBJC(6d:  my  simnlloik;  Xhe  l^iirJ 
tlitial  akippcU  avei  ibeaQn  aa<1  only  itEf  ocfer!  t<»  tFir*  iit,^h0ai« 
4li4  •{iiiotuni  of  the  p^ieoi,  with  wlikl)  t  Jun  dtlifrbt^.' 
1,1  m}[a  eoDYfTMl'^n  !  wim  prciriciit,  %i\t\  t^ou^bt  ruuMuut 
%«'lp  Huinti^  A\  ^Ir  n^ni^*^  mod9  of  rt^aiirnspoflr^t  wu 
pl«a*F«|  to  ftru  Ihe  d«f;rt«  of  lR[«re«t  ivhicl^  he  tmk  In 

I  fancy  irioal  of  mv  reaftere  will  iprw^  with  mp  in 
tbinking  tUnt  Sir  Hatify  Enfllofit'lrl's  irtethod  of 
'jig  and  enjoy^fi^t  pooiry  was  Jiion?  to  be  titivied 
_  flmiJ^  nt  ^  and  Id  dmibtirig  wJu'iher  ;>(<rfiicnty 
-_1  «»OT  diapuitr  obot]f  ibti:  '*  vrnprielv''  of  I  he  Cfinio 
wh'icii  icieluiit'<i  the  Ballad  oi  Koaabcil<!  unA  the  Re- 
guiem  of  Mflroeiv  The  fiietKlIy  ^vfj^rm^irt  B«4?mt 
I  coiifeBs,  to  havo  j  lidded  ihe  poieui  on  prjocipleit 

*  Mfc  Mnhritt  bK^KM  utk  tbtt  hs  wfH  iMn^mIv<n  tli«  dfamnr 
«tort  w  e«ivi>iHUun  oofUVPtd.  mnA  ttdftlo  Mr  BIM«  hfr>  cmlt^ 
tad  w  y^  lerMtl  tbf  Iv^  thiiur  that  Sif  Hvrr  Ervlefiehl  mif,  in 
r  ta  QAf!  flf  <b«  DJt  ifindrum  Dentium^  wlioaiidc  hiin^c-ir 
the  f<7v«^tT  of  liij  <Aiunir«  aa  th«  fierliat  irMP^Aum 


fiOOHiauiw  tvT  th 


_  ,      -Mr 4 

1  U^viMK  M  feoJubiiTT 


wtiirh  M 


!ica»fi4       

■hortlj  after  MOipbtirv  vhi*  fnr.»Ji  I 
rrian  ttax\tz  or  Cint  FtfPT,  t»^«  il  Pi-tiinbiffr.  He 
«ul>jc-ct  **ir  rtffFbralficf  Ikst^  ttf  Marcut  AuirlUi  In 


,  "  WW  mnvmL  1 
I  avlmfH  at  K<Hn4^  ihartij 
_   «<i^i«triQn  itatije  of  k^jEdr  FftPT>  t»o^  il  Pi-tunbiff^.    He 


fkr  il^4i*ir4t1.  wd  ra£nt«d  ovt  a>  mimr  AiuHji  in  U  am  qwt  t  Jncker 

"  I  01  an  aruRi^  no  wi*  abwjt  to  [UrvhiuKn    Bui  taini«lignt  caftK 

or  Kmr  nin  «  kn  t*rij«^  h  hnn  be  «raj  about.  Ui  o<iocliidt  lim 


lH>uf  ivwM  of  ttulff'-  and  ep 
•jfeWnv^^ttii  «»"  ' 
tUiatr  in7&t££r  gnc  ceite  vilaint-  bSit  ti  ivt  viwtit,  t 


qT  tatffn  and  eroiuf  hia  own 
beit  ti  ivt  v<  wtM^  ti  fu£  Eg 


not  tp!!s;ied)intic,  iHjough  of  another  ktnd  pf  pf^4rt- 
xjy.  Than  thoM  irhjcb  mdnrerf  (he  rHtic  m  jjro- 
notincc'  that  ito  tpeat  pT«vaiiin|{  biot  oiij^nnti^d  in 
ibaiitf?  '*  local  paittRlmea  of  rbir  author^"  whj<^hhnd 
it^ditced  him  totupcci  j^fncral  intcrt?i1  And  oyniipafbY 
fr'f  )*ii(  h  iwrBoTfim  ts  bis  **  Jobetfm''3,  EUti^ia,  ano 
ArriL-^tronj^*."  Mr.  Scolf,"  said  J^ffrry  "  imi^t 
riihr-T  unmHtie  hU  Borddr  oTftJndW^,  m  tmvud  iiis 
rriidtTH  in  the  i>tHer  pirts  of  tbp  ffmpiirp.'^    It  mie^ht 

Border  ctani?  flftt^red  after  all  on  b  BCi^n*:?  at  It^ani  ni 
wideaa  the  Troadj  and  chat  tUtir  chiefa  were  not 
perbopa  mfHfioij  wihtsr  in  mnk  or  pow^pr^  to  the  mn*  , 
jorit^  of  'he  Hottirtic  kings;  but  ty^n  iho  mosl 
teoloua  of  iia  «dtairari  amonR  the  pro(«i?(n?H  litert- 
101*  C)f  the  day  Wf>uld  hardly  nnv^  venriiTwi  to  aua- 
P<*cl  that  the  \a^  of  th^  Laat  Minstwl  might  h«ve 

30  T^^reiiidirfs  lo  enroll otcT  but  thdr  own.    It  waa 
*'Stiiifi(l  10  nhftrni  tJOi  only  th<*  Bnlish  etnpire,  biit 
th^  wholo  dvilixed  world  \  ftiid  Kndt  m  fnet,  mhi-    / 
bi*<?d  ti  TT>o™  H<rmerie  |^«nm9  tban  anjf  reffula/  «^io 
wnte  the  days  of  Homer, 

**li  would  be  ffrt?at  niteciaiLori/'  mvh  (be  Intro- 
d^Ption  of  ISWI,  ^'  not  to  own  ihat  tbe  author  v%- 
pecietl  *omp  Buccoaa  froni  the  Lay  f»f  ihe  Laat  Mm- 
»trdi.  TliJ9  attempt  to  rcttjm  to  d  ti^ure  ^ttiitdi*  and 
Diiiural  etyJe  of  pot  try  wa«  likelj^  t*>  be  welcomnJ, 
at  a  liina  whsn  tbppt.tblic  had  bi!icome  iiretl  of  heroic 
hetanwlan^  with  aU  ibe  bnrkr^tu  and  binditt^  that 
belcmff  to  them  in  modern  dayn.  Hut  wtiaitiver 
mtftht  haYebMinlri£ioKi:%''Ciationi)T  wht^tb^r  niodecratB 
or  nDrciaonnbta,  Iho  r^rault  left  ihem  far  behind  1 
for  amotiR  those  who  snuUd  on  ilu?  adventurona 
tnmetrdT  wen?  nvnjbi^rod  the  Hrint  naiiic^^^of  William 
Pitt  and  Charles  Fox.  PfdtWwaa  iht  extt^ni  of 
the  Bale  jnfer*or  to  th«?  character  of  the  judata  who 
rvoHved  Iha  putiiti  wilb  approbation.  Upward  a  of 
3t\000  copies  warvi  dispose*!  of  by  the  trad*^  j  and 
(be  author  had  lA  porfrjrm  a  taak  oifTicult  to  human 
vanity^  wJion  callfKl  upon  to  niak^  ib«  n«ee«aary  00-  \ 
(Juctiona  from  hiu  ownm^^tHf  in  a  calm  ai^teaipt  to 
account  for  ti«  poptilarity." 

Thruuitb  what  channel  or  in  what  terma  Iiqi 
made  known  hja  opin^ti  of  the  Lay,  I  have  failed  to 
nacertain^  Piu'8  praiae,  a  a  eiprctfsi>d  t4>  hia  nichtx'i 
Lady  Htster  Stanhope^  wlilurt  afuw  wt^cka  afitr  the 
po*>f n  app^'fi  red  H  w  a  s  r ori ta  t  txl  b  y  h  ^  r  to  M  r,  W  i  1 1  lain 
Stewart  Rjom,  who,  of  course.,  oommunicatec  it 
forthwith  to  tbo  author;  *iid  not  long  altcT^  th« 
Miniakr,  in  conversation  with  Stotf'a  early  frieiid^ 
the  RiKht  Hon.  William  Dundasii  ajgntfiril  that  k 
would  fcivf*  him  p] ensure  to  fiiid  aotma  ofi^portojiin 
ot  adyancitTR  the  forturtea  of  weii  a  wriier.  "  I 
remember/' wrttiM  thia  B<nt!einap^  **flt  Mr.  Pt«*# 
table  m  ^80^  the  CharK>ellor  aisk^d  tof;  about  rOf 
and  yoxir  then  Bitualmn^  and  after  1  bad  anvw«»a 
liitti,  Mr*  Pitt  obcfirved,— '  be  can't  remain  a»  bMo,' 
and  dtajred  me  to  ^  l<tok  to  h,'  He  then  repnt«d 
adilie  lines  from  the  Lay  deaoribinp  the  old  harptr'a 
embarraaamvnt  when  aaited  to  play,  and  ewd, — 
'Tbia  ia  a  sort  of  thing  whirb  1  mif^ht  have  tOEpeot- 
od  in  painttoRt  hot  e^niTd  never  have  fancicid  capahl? 
of  being;  fiivon  in  poetry.'  "• 

It  la  agreeable  to  know  that  thia  fs^eai  atateaman 
and  aecomphshed  acbolar  awoke  atlenat  once  from 
hia  «uppo»iid  apathy  aa  to  the  elegant  literature  of  ^ 
bja  own  titne^ 

The  poet  baa utidor-eptimated  even  the  patetttanci 
tanfpbl^  evident;e  of  hi«  atincaiM.  Tbo  6r»t  edit  ion 
of  tlif?  Lay  waa  a  maenificent  quarto,  T60  copiifa  i 
but  thia  was  mioxi  oinausttHJ.  ai^d  thi;re  followed 
an  ot^iavo  impreiaior*  of  li-OOj  m  I'^W,  two  tnore, 
on«  of  ^2000  copi(f?v  another  of  L^tiO  \  in  1307,  a  fifui 
edition  of  sfKXi,  and  a  atitb  ui  ^Otx)  \  m  vm^  s&eot 
in  ISOQ^  3000^a  am  alt  edition  in  quarto  Cthe  batlada 
anil  lyrical  pitN^a  being  then  onneied  to  it^)— and 
another  octavo  (*diuon  of  32S0]  in  l€il,  3000;  in 
IS12,  3000 J  in  1*516^  3000  I  in  \^2Z^  lOOOi  A  fonr* 
teenth  JAwreaaion  of  2000  foolscap  appearvd  tn  l^afr  * 
and  beffldas  all  lhi«i.  before  the  end  of  iti3fi,  tl,fidOoo- 
PKB  had  gone  furtn  in  the  coUecieii  edhiona  of  hia 


*  Letter  dflied  April  viIih  tail    _ 


Xe^^'mgi!^. 


m 


UFfi  OF  SIR  W/ILraa  aOQTT. 


/  I 


ptieiiqal  work*.    Thul^  nemrly  htiy-faut  iJn 


and 


copies  had  bc^en  di:fi posted  of  in  tbi«  countrj:',  nnil  hv 
tbe  UjpLimDte  trade  aJont^  ber<;tr(?  Jib  supcnfiiLmiiea 
ihe  coition  of  i630,  lo  which  his  biofifnphkal  iniro- 
dtictiona  were  pre^Jt^'d-  In  th^  history  of  Uritiab 
Poetry  norhing  had  evc-r  eimalied  Ihe  demaiid  fjf 
lh«  Lay  of  ibe  Last  Min«LrJl. 

ThE  publifthera  of  Lhti  first  edition  wctc  Loagtnan 
Am  Co,  of  London,  And  ArchibaJd  Constable;  nnd' 
C&.  &£  Giiinburgh;  whidi  In^t  house,  howi^vcr,  hail 
but  »  smalJ  share  in  the  adv^iiiarc*  The  profiis 
w^jru  t<»  b^  dividiMj  «iLi^Uy  between  the  auibor  and 
Hi#  publiahtrs ;  ami  Scoti'a  moiety  was  i^lfiS,  ds. 
Me^mrft.  Ltin^nian,  when  q  sf^cond  ediEiop  wa^  called 
for,  o^i-TLtl  JE^oOf}  for  the  copyright ;  this  wiu  HCcn>t- 
tdf  but  they  Qfterwarde,  a&  the  Ititroductjon  ijayis, 
^'  addt^  £  LOO  in  tbeir  own  uneofieited  kiaJne^s^  Jt 
waa  hand^omdy  ^v&n  in  iupply  the  loss  of  a  fine 
horaii  whictt  broke  dawn  suddenly  whila  the  author 
wa3  ridmfl  with  ooe  of  rhe  worthy  pubhahtr^" 
This  worthy  publisher  was  Mr.  Owen  Rees,  uud  the 
gallant  Htoed,  to  whom  a  dt.'flperate  leap  in  tbo 
cowrfliriK-fif  Id  provi^  fatal  waa,  I  belie ve*  Capt<ttnt 
the  imrnc^diaie  i^ucct'ei^or  of  J^tnort^  as  Seott'd  char- 
ger in  the  voluntc^T  eavaLry  i  Captain  was  rtJi] laced 
by  Liiii^eno/i/.  The  sumoi^a  whole  aharet  lhen» 
in  the  profit  a  uf  the  Lay^  came  to  S7tt%^  Bn. 

Mr.  Reea^  viaii  (d  AahesticI  occurred  in  the  ati turn  n* 
The  ««cceaa  of  fbe  poem  had  ulready  b^eii  detiBive; 
and  fbeib  negotiaiioaa  of  mofe  kinds  than  one  w^re 
at  this  time  in  proKt^sa  between  Sc«tr  and  variona 
book  sellers*  housev^  both  of  Ethnburgh  and  London. 

CHAPTER  XIV. 

rAftTNlMHIP  WITH  lAinU  BALLAin'TNB—LinRAST 
VaOJSCTt— XDITIOV  OF  TH«  BEITX8B  POBW— »DI- 
TIOK  OF  THS  ANClXSrr  XN0LI8H  CHSONICLXS,  &C 
dbc. — BDITION  OF  DB7DBN  trnDBBtAXSN— BABL 
tfOISA  COMMAIf DXB  OF  THE  FOltCBB  IN  SCOTLAIVD— 
'  SHAX  BATTLBS—ABTIOLU  IN  THX  XDIKBUBOH  BB- 
YZBW— COMMXNCXMXirr  OF  WATXBLBT— LBTTXB  OW 
086lAir—MB.  8KBVB*8  BBMINISCXNCteS  OF  A8HBS- 
TIBL — KXOUBSlOSr  TO  CVHBEBLAND — ^ALABM  OF  IN- 
▼A8I0N— VI8IT0FMB.  80UTHXT~C0BBX8P0NDXNCX 
ON  DBTDXN  WITB  fLLU  AND  WOftI>aWOBTB~1805. 

Mb^  BAtLANTTNB,  io  kls  Memorandum,  says, 
•  that  veiy  shortly  after  thfe  publicacion  of  the  Lay,  he 
fcnmd  humdf  obtiged  to  apply  to  Mr.  Scott  for  an 
advance  of  money;  his  bwn  capital  being  inade- 
«Dftta  for  the  bnaineBa  which  had  been  accumulated 
m  his  prea%  in  eonaequenoe  of  the  reputation  it  had 
■oqmred  for  bcHUity  and  coneotneas  of  execution. 
Already,  aa  we  haTeaeen.  Ballantyne  had  received 
*a  liberal  loan;"  '•and  now/'  aaya  he,  "being 
compelled,  mangre  all  delicacy,  to  renew  my  apph- 
oanoni  he  candidly  answered  that  he  waa  not  quire 
aure  that  it  would  be  i^radent  for  him  to  comply, 
hut  m  order  to  evince  ma  entire  confidence  in  me, 
he  waa  wtHm^  to  make  a  suitable  advance  to  be  ad- 
mitted aa  a  Uwrd-sharer  of  my  busineaa."  In  troth, 
o....  I    L   ..   «  1.     .      .  lalmost 


j;j 

which  he  had  a  few  months  before  designed  lo  in- 
vest m  the  purchase  of  Broadmeadows.    DisaUter 


I  have,  many  pn^As  bark,  hinted  my  8u?i«icion 
that  he  had  formed  ^mo  di^rant  n&tion  of  such  nn 
alfaanee,  as  early  oi^  the  date  r>f  Knllj^ntyrie'd  pro- 
jected remoyal  frtfni  Kai^o  to  Edinburgh ;  ancf  his 
MtroducnoB  to  the  Lay,  in  l^rm,  Dppi?ars  to  I  en  re 
little  doubt  that  thf  hope  of  u Mima ttly  succet'dirig 
at  the  Bar  had  wn^Sf^dvcry  faint,  bcforo  the  rhtrt 
^o|uimeof  the  Min-trday  wa?  bronffht  out  in  iai3. 
When  that  hopeu]ii;nateIy  vauishtd  oUogetheri  pcrr- 
haps  he  himself  wiKjld  not  havt  fuund  it  onsy  to  tdl. 
Tve most  important  of  nun* a  opinion«t  views,  and 
proieeta,  are  sometifnea  taken  up  m  so  vet-y  grndual 
•  mmner,  and  afttT  «o  many  p^tt^i;^  of  hesitanon 
and  of  inward  retriictaNon,  that  they  them  selves 
an. at  a  lossm  uaco  in  reiroapcet  all  the  BtaRea 
tnrcmgh  which  thdr  rmnda  have  paaacd.    We  nte 


plainly  that  Sfott  1^  wvm  bean  fond  of  hit  pio- 
£b88iod,  but  that,  consdaua  of  hia  own  partevenn^ 
dili^Cence,  he  aaoiibed  his  aoanty  aocoeaa  m  ic 
nkamly  to  the  prc^ices  of  the  Sicotch  aoKeiton 
against  employinfL  m  weighty  caasea  at  least^^any 
barrister  supposed  to  be  strongly  imbued  with  the 
love  of  literature ;  instancing  the  career  of  his  firiend 
Jeffrey  as  almost  the  solitary  instance*  within  his 
experience  of  such  prcjiuaices  being  entirely  over- 
come. Had  Scott,  to  nis  strong  sense  ana  dexte^ 
roua  ingenuity,  hia  well-grouadea  knowledge  of  the 
jurisprudence  of  his  country,  and  hia  admnabie  in- 
dustry, added  a  brisk  and  ready  talent  for  drimte 
and  declamation,  I  can  have  no  doubt  that  hia 
^umphover  the  prejudices  alluded  to  would  have 
been  aa  complete  as  Mr.  Jeffrey's :  nor  in  truth  do 
I  much  question  that,  had  one  really  great  and  inte- 
resting case  been  submitted  to  his  sole  care  and 
management*  the  result  would  have  bejBn  to  pleoa 
hia  profesaional  character,  for  akiil  and  judgment, 
and  variety  of  reaource,  on  so  firm  a  basis,  that  eveo 
his  rising  celebrity  as  a  man  of  letters  could  not 
have  senously  disturbed  it.  Nayi  I  think  it  quite 
pK>Bsible,  that  had  he  been  intrusted  with  one  aoch 
caae  aftiBr  his  reputation  waa  established,  and  he 
had  been  compelled  to  do  hia  abilities  some  measme 
of  justice  in  his  own  secret  estimate,  he  might  have 
displayed  very  considerable  powera  even  aa  a  fo- 
rensic speaker.  But  no  opportimities  of  this  eoan- 
ging  kind  haviiig  ever  been  presented  to  him — Biler 
he  had  persistea  for  more  than  ten  yeara  in  a  weep- 
ing the  floor  of  the  Parliament  House,  without 
meeting  with  any  employment  but  what  would  have 
suited  the  dullest  drudge,  and  seen  himself  lerinly 
and  yearly  more  and  more  distaneed  by  eontempo- 
rariea  for  whose  general  capacity  he  eonld  have  had 
little  respect— while,  at  the  aame  time,  he  already 
felt  his  own  position  in  the  eyes  of  society  at  larna 
to  have  been  signally  elevatea  in  consequence  of  Km 
extra-professional  exertiona-rit  is  not  wonderfid 
that  disgust  should  have  gradually  gained  upon  him, 
and  that  the  sudden  blaze  and  tumult  oU  renown 
which  surrounded  the  author  of  the  Lay  should  have 
at  last  determined  him  lo  concentrate  all  his  ambi- 
tion on  the  pnrsuits  which  had  alone  brought  hira 
diatinction.  It  ought  to  be  mentioned^  that  the  bu- 
siness in  Geor^s  Square,  once  extensive  and  lucra- 
tive, had  dwindled  away  m  the  bands  of  hisbrodier 
Thomas,  whose  variea  and  powerful  talents  were 
unforttmately  combined  with  some  tastes  by  no 
means  favourable  to  the  successful  prosecution  of 
his  prudent  father's  vocation ;  so  that  very  posaibly 
even  the  humble  employment  of  which,  during  bs 
fvst  years  at  the  bar,  Scott  had  at  least  a  sure  and* 
respectable  allowance,  was  by  this  time  much  re- 
duced. I  have  not  his  fee-booKs  of  later  date  than 
1803 :  it  is.  however,  ray  impression,  from  the  whole 
tenourof  his  conversation  and  correspondence,  that 
aifter  that  period  he  had  not  only  not  advancea  as  a 

{professional  man,  but  had  been  retrograding  in  near- 
y  the  same  proportion  that  his  literary  repuution 
advanced. 

We  have  seen  that,  before  he  formed  his  contract 
with  Ballantyne,  he  was  in  possession  of  such  a  fix- 
ed income  as  might  have  satisfied  all  his  deairea, 
had  he  not  found  nis  family  increasing  rapidly  about 
him.  Even  as  that  was,  with  nearly  if  not  oniie 
£1000  per  annum,  he  might  perhaps  have  retired  not 
only  ftom  the  Bar,  but  fi'om  Edinburgh,  and  settled 
entirely  at  Aaheitiel  or  Broadmeadows,  without  en- 
counierirtK  whai  imv  man  of  hjs  elation  nnd  habit* 
ou^zbt  to  have  com»FUt^red  an  an  nnprudeot  riak.  He 
had,  however,  no  wish  to  c«t  hrmwlf  off  from  the 
busy  and  inieibgient  aodety  to  which  he  had  been 
hitherto  ace ur^iomc^J  ;  and  rt^'jkcd  noi  Eo  leave  the 
bar  uniij  hf  shouhi  Un\^.  at  lensr  n^ed  bis  best  efR>rts 
for  obtaimrikft  in  nddition  ro  his  ShneviJty,  oneof 
thoste  clurkah!(»B  of  the  ptiprctnr  court  at  Kdinbui]gb,^ 
#hich  are  usually  considfefcd  as  honourahle  letira- 
ments  hiff  advocated  who,  at  a  cttttain  standing^ 
fiualjy*  i^ve  up  all  hopes  of  reachinE  ihy  dignity  of 
the  bencli.  *^  i  dclermined/'  he  aay.%  "  tliat  litera- 
ture should  be  my  staff  but  niit  imr /eru^eik  and  that 
the  profits  of  my  lii«ei!^tyt!k>teiWi^*#l«r^nvembt 


LfM  OP  SlU  WAEiTKR  fiC&TT. 


'  m 


.  ^hosld  n^  if  I  could  help  it,  becoma 

OMessary  to  my  ordinary  expenses.  Upon  such  a 
^ott  an  author  might  hope  to  retreat,  without  any 
perceptible  alteration  of  circumataneea,  whenefer 
die  time  should  arrive  that  the  public  grew  weary  of 
hia  eodeavoim  to  please,  or  he  himseli  should  tire 
of  the  pen.  \  possessed  so  many  friends  capable  of 
aansting:  me  in  this  object  of  ambition,  that  I  could 
l^idly  over- rate  my  own  prospects  of  obtaining  the 
Dreferment  to  which  I  limited  my  wishes ;  and,  in 
ttct,  I  obtained,  in  no  lone  period,  the  reversion  of 
a  Btaation  which  completely  met  them."* 

The  first  notice  of  this  affair  that  occurs  in  his 
fionespondenoe,  is  in  a  note  of  Lord  Dalkeith's,  Feb. 
ibeSd,  1B0&,  in  which  his  noble  friend  says,  '*My 
btber  deitires  me  to  tell  you,  that  he  has  had  a  com- 
raunication  with  Lord  Melville  within  these  few 
days,  and  that  he  thinks  your  business  is  in  a  good 
tram,  iiumgh  not  certain"  1  consider  it  as  clear, 
then,  that  ne  began  his  ne;;oliations  concerning  a 
seat  at  the  clerk^  table  immediately  after  the  Lay 
was  pobUshed  ;  and  that  their  commencement  had 
been  resolved  upon  in  the  strictest  connexion  with 
his  embarltation  in  the  printing  concern  of  James 
Ballamyne  and  Company.  Such  matters  are  sel- 
dom speedily  arranj^ed ;  but  we  shall  find  him  in 
poaaesiion  of  his  object  before  twelve  months  had 
elapsed. 

^Mcan  while,  his  design  of  quitting  the  bar  was 
£viilged  to  none  but  those  immediately  nteessary 
for  tte  purposes  of  his  n^oiiation  with  the  govem- 
BKOt;  and  the  nature  of  his  connexion  with  the 

E'nting  company  remained,  I  believe,  not  only  un- 
own.  but  tor  some  years  wholly  unsuspected,  by 
any  of  nis  daily  companions  except  Mr.  Erskineu 

Hie  forming  of  this  commercial  connexion  was 
one  df  the  most  important  steps  in  Scott's  life.  He 
eoDtinuad  boudd  by  it  during  twenty  years,  and  its 
JDflaence  on  his  Hterary  exertions  and  his  worldly 
fortunes  was  productive  of  much  good  and  not  a 
Iktle  evil.  Its  effects  were  in  truth  so  mixed  aryl 
b^anced  during  the  vicissitudes  of  a  long  and  vigo- 
rous career,  that  I  at  this  moment  doubt  whether  it 
OQ^t,  on  the  whole,  to  be  considered  with  morft  of 
•au^ction  or  of  regret. 

With  what  zeal  he  proceeded  in  advancimg  the 
views  of  the  new  copartnership,  his  correspondence 
bean  ample  evidence.'  The  brilliant  and  captivat- 
ing genius,  now  acknowledged  universally,  was 
soon  discovered  by  the  leading  booksellers  of  the 
time  to  be  united  with  sush  abundance  of  matured 
information  in  many  departments,  and,  above  all, 
with  such  indefatigable  habits,  as  to  mark  him  out 
for  the  most  valuable  workman  they  could  engage 
for  the  furtherance  of  their  schemes.  He  had,  long 
balbre  this,  casta  shrewd  and  penetrating  eye  over 
the  field  of  literary  enterprise,  and  developea  in  his 
own  mind  the  outlines  of  many  extensive  plans, 
which  wanted  nothing  but  the  comiiiand  of  a  suffi- 
eient  body  of  able  Bubalterns  to  be  carried  into  ex- 
ecution with  splendid  success.  Such  of  these  as  he 
ffrai>pled  within  his  own  person  were,  with  rare  ex- 
ceptions, carried  to  a  triumphant  conclusion  ;  but 
the  alliance  with  Ballantyne  soon  infected  him  with 
the  proverbial  rashness  of  mere  mercantile  adven- 
tare— while,  at  me  same  time,  his  generous  feelings 
for  other  men^f  letters,  and  his  characteristic  pro- 
pRisity  to  over-rate  their  talents,  combined  to  hur- 
ry lum  and  his  friends  into  a  multitude  of  arrange- 
ments, the  results  of  which  were  ^en  extremely 
embarrassing,  and  ultimately,  in  the  aggregate,  all 
hot  disastrous.  It  is  an  old  saying,  that  wherever 
there  is  a  secret  there  must  be  something  wrong ; 
and  dearly  did  he  pay  the  penalty  for  the  mystery 
in  which  he  had  chosen  to  involve  this  transagtion. 
It  was  his  rula  from  the  beginning,  that  whatever 
be  wrote  or  edited  mast  be  printed  at  that  press ; 
%od  had  he  catered  for  it  only  as  author  ana  sole 
editor,  all  had  been  well ;  but  had  the  booksellers 
known  his  direct  pecuniary  interest  in  keeping  up 
and  extending  the  ^occupation  of  those  types,  toey 
would  have  tMen  into  account  his  lively  imagina- 

•imwduutkiotetheLyofthiLMtaiiiMtitl-lsai^ 


Th 


tion  and  sanguine  temperament,  as  well  4s  hia 
taste  and  judgment,  and  considered,  far  more  deli* 
berately  than  they  too  often  did,  his  roulti£irioua 
recommendations  of  new  hterary  schemes,  coupled 
though  these  were  with  some  dim  understandiajg 
that,  if  the  Ballantyne  press  were  employed,  hie 
own  literary  skill  would  be  at  his  friend's  disposal 
for  the  general  superintendence  of  the  undertaking. 
On  the  other  hand,  Scott's  suggestions  were,  m 
many  cases,  perhaps  in  the  majority  of  them,  con- 
veyed through  Ballantyne,  whose  haoitual  deference 
to  his  opinion  induced  him  to  advocate  them  with 
enthusiastic  zeal  {  and  the  printer,  who  had  thus 
pledged  his  personal  authority  for  the  merits  of  the 
proposed  schema  must  have  felt  himself  commit- 
t£d  to  the  bookseller,  and  could  hardly  refuse  with 
decency  to  take  a  certain  share  of  the  peeuoiary 
risk,  by  allowing  the  time  and  methpd  of  his  own 
payment  to  be  regulated  according  to  the  employ- 
er's convenience.  Hence,  by  degrees,  wins  woven 
a  web  of  entanglement  from  which  neither  Ballan- 
tyne nor  bis  adviser  had  any  means  of  escape,  ex* 
cept  only  in  that  indomitable  spirit,  the  mainmriog 
of  personal  industry  altogether  unparalleled  to 
which,^  thus  set  in  motion,  the  world  owes  iu  most 
antic  monument  of  literary  genius. 
The  following  is  the  first  letter  I  have  found  of 
Scott  to  bis  f  ABTNBa.  The  Mr.  Foster  mentioned 
in  the  beginning  of  it  was  a  literary  gentleman  who 
had  proposed  to  take  on  himself  a  considerable 
share  in  the  annotation  of  some  of  the  new  editionM 
then  on  the' carpel^among  others,  one  of  Dryden. 
Tb  Mr.  James  BaUantjfnef  Prinler,  Edinburgh. 
"  Ashestiel,  April  12tb,  1906^ 
**  Dear  Ballantyne, 

"I  have  duly  received  your  two. fiivours— also  FW 
ter*8.  He  still  howls  about  ths  expense  of  prioUDf ,  bat 
I  think  we  shall  fiosUy  seUle.  His  argameat  Is  that  yon 
print  too  fine,  aUas  too  dear.  I  intend  to  stick  to  toy 
answer,  that  I  iraow  nothing  of  the  matter ;  but  that  setUe 
It  how  you  sod  he  wlH,  it  must  be  printed  by  you,  or  can 
be  Qo  coucem  of  mine.  This  gives  you  an  advantage  in 
driviaa  the  borfsin.  As  to  every  thing  else,  I  think  we 
shall  do,  and  1  will  endeavour  to  set  a  few  volumes  acolag 
on  the  plan  you  propose. 

**  I  liave  imagined  a  ^Nsry  superb  work.  What  think 
you  of  a  complete  edition  of  British  Poets,  ancient  and 
modern  1  Johnson's  is  imperfect  and  out  of  print ;  so  Is 
Bell's,  which  is  a  Lilliputian  thihg ;  and  Anderson's,  the 
most  complete  in  point  of  number,  is  most  contemptible 
in  execution  both  of  the  editor  and  printer.  There  is  a 
scheme  for  yon  I  At  least  a  hundred  volumes,  io  be 
published  at  tho  rate  of  ten  a-year.  I  cannot,  however, 
be  ready  till  midsummer.  If  the  booksellers  will  give 
me  a  decent  allowance  per  volume,  say  thhrty  guineas, 
I  shall  hold  myself  well  paid  on  the  teriting  hand.  This 
is  a  dead  secret. 

^  1  think  it  quite  right  to  let  Doing*  have  a  share  of 
Thomson  ;t  but  he  is  hard  and  slippery,  so  settle  vour 
bargain  fast  and  firm— no  loop-holes '  I  am  glad  you  nave 
got  some  elbow-room  at  last.  CTowan  will  come  to,  or 
we  will  find  some  fit  place  in  time.  If  not,  we  must 
build— necessity  has  no  law.  I  see  nothing  to  hinder  you 
from  doing  Tacitus  with  vour  correctness  of  eye,  and  I 
congratulate  you  on  the  fair  prospect  before  us.  When 
you  have  time  yon  will  make  out  a  litit  of  the  debts  to  be 
dischargedLat  Whitsunday,  that  we  may  see  what  cash  we 
shall  have  in  bank.  Our  book-keeping  may  be  very 
simple — an  accurate  cash  book  andlegerisall  that  is  ne- 
cessary ;  and  I  think  I  know  enough  of  the  maUer  to  as- 
sist at  making  the  balance  slieet. 

"  In  short,  with  the  assistance  of  a  little  cash, 'I  have 
no  doubt  things  will  go  on  d  merveille.  If  you  could  take 
a  little  plessuiing,  I  wish  yon  could  come  here  and  see 
us  in  all  the  glories  of  a  Scouiib  spring.    Tours  truly, 

W.   SOOTT." 

Scott  opened  forthwith  his  gigantic  scheme  of  the 
British  Poets  to  Constable^  who  entered  into  it  with 
eagerness.  They  found  presently  that  Messrs.  Ca- 
deil  and  Davies,  and  some  of  the  other  London 
publishers,  had  a  similar  plan  on  fuot^  and  after  an 
unsuccessful  negotiation  with  Mackintosh,  were 
now  actually  treating  with  Campbell  for  the  Bio- 
graphical prefaces.    Scott  proposed  that  the  Edin-< 


m 


Lov  or  msL  vfAJum  scmr. 


borgh  And  London  lig^aaa  should  joit^  m  Uie  ni:;vi  rt- 
ture,  ftnd  ihnt  (be  odiroriul  tusk  should  he  sliari'*.! 
in^iweeJi  hfm  self  (Mid  his  broth  tT[kx*£.  To  I  his  both 
Bfj'^sta.  Cadel!  iidd  Mr,  Cainpbi.ll  warmly  asienkd  ; 
but  tht'de^iflrn  uhimatefy  lAl  to  thf  pToiind  ui  cofi,-'!  - 
q,UJ!ince  of  lliebo'iks^^ilerv  rofuauic  lo  adrmt  ctiriajn 
wudlf  which  bjih  Sc*>tt  uo<i  Camftheli  in^isit^l 
\jpcin.  Sucht  a  fid  from  a.nalo^ue>  cau**.*?.  huh  btun 
the  fme  of  vannus  similar  ^chornea  bolh  beJFore  and 
Since-  But  the;  piibha  hndnatnTisl  catiipi'tis^aLjcjii 
upori  the  preamt  (H?Ci^au»r^,  einee  the  fa! km  of  lU^. 
gri-:inNt  projef!t  Ifd  Mr.  CaiijpbLll  ifiirrifp&re  for  ihf 
prtsa  ihrMtt^'  SpedmHisuf  EnijViKh  PoLHrj'/*  wbis;h 
he  iltusi  rated  wiih  ski^trhcH  of  birjgjTupby  and  vriu- 
€:al  (*»ftyi,  alike  hc*DOutabltj  lo  hi9  jo^irmri^  nml 
tHNt*;  whue  Sc*)1t,  Mr*  Fuster  ultinmitly  atandirif; 
ori^  tflNik  on  hitnstlf  the.  whol*!  btirdeo  ijf  ft  new  odl 
twn,  as  wwll  as  btography,  of  DrydtTi.  Tht^  Ihj  1 
of  book^lkrB  mcjiTi  vvhite  ccimbintd  in  whiii  th 


Bdl)  eaU|t)  a  funeral  f^jViim  of  tUa  Knglish  Pne  s. 
under  tnl  vupenntejideace  of  onii  i^f  iheir  j w  j  i  <  i  r  t'  < 
»t»et  TBSUiBi  Mr.  Aieistirk't  C  halm  or?. 


Pftrcisoly  ai  the  litne  whwi  Sc^iit'?  ^i. 


.l|  :im- 


mv  .  _  _  .  _ 
bitbn  had  been  ntitiiulafed  by  the  firM 
ujijTcrtftJ  Bprlaufpj  ami  when  hi? Vis*  tunit.ii-  rin-r 
en^a^enieillR  witll  BQllnntync  which  involved  ^o 
lur^'p  nn  accei*Bii>n  of  litflftiry  l^ibnnrs,  as  \i'<*ll  aaof 
prjcuniary  carea  and  repnonBihihtipa,  a  frr?ih  impf- 
tiia  wnn  gt^etj  lo  iht*.  vomnlepr  rnani'i  in  Scotland, 
by  tho  appomimt'ni  of  the  late  Knrl  of  MflimtidFtPt- 
ward.}  Marquts  of  H astini?^)  to  th^  4?hief  mititary 
csommaad  in  that  part  of  the  empiR^,  Thi*  Earl  hau 
martuid,  the  year  before,  a  Scotti^  P6ere(i!|,  the 
CoiuittMdi  of  LotJiion,  and  t^nttfred  with  f^^at  ■li.a.i 
mio  llir  sympathy  wtih  the  pntriotic  cnihip»i»9m  oe' 
h^ooontryinon.     Edmbtireh  was  convertt^d  into  [l 

,  catttp}  independenily  of  a  \nrf^>^  garrii^otiof  rpf^iihir 
troopHi  TV^fly  lOLOOO  fpncibli^  and  voJuiiteLrB  w^rTe 
alma»t  constantly  undr-r  artrvs.  The  lawyer  watc 
hi  14  unifonil  tindcir  hia  ^own  i  the  ahoplteepcT  mea- 
Btir^d  out  hb  w*re»  in  scarlet;  in  Hhurtf  the  ddzcn^ 
of  all  ilaaspa  made  mare  itu  for  i^cveral  t^ioniha  of 
th*.  mihmry  than  t^f  any  oiher  ^re^a  \  a  ad  t  ho  new 

.  coniinindor' in-chief  consuUftd!  «qu«Uy  hii  own  gra- 
liGdalion  and  thpirsy  by  drviainc  a  »u€e(>:$sion  of 
mancsiivrc^s  whi^-h  prfseiit^rd  a  vjvjd  itnn^to  of  the 
art  of  war  nondTirtpfi  vm  n  hr^'pnTrff  !!f»tpfifffT<**rnb' 
In  ih''  .-■'■■      '    '  '  •    '     .     ■  -  -  —    r,    ;  . 

other  formidable  positions  in  the  neighbourhood  of 
Edinburgh,  were  the  scenes  of  many  a^dashing  as- 
sault and  resolute  defence ;  and  occasionally  the 
spirits  of  the  mock  combatants— EuKlish  and 
Scotch,  or  Lowland  and  Highland— brcame  no 
much  excited,  that  there  was  some  difficulty  in  pre- 
venting thorough  mockery  of  warfare  from  passing 
into  its  realities.  The  Highlanders,  in  particular, 
were  very  hard  lo  be  dealt  with ;  and  once,  at  least, 
Lord  Moira  was  forced  to  alter  at  the  eleventh  hour 
hi**  orogramme  of  batlle,  because  a  battalion  of  kilt- 
.ed  fencibles  could  not  or  would  not  understand  that 
it  was  their  duty  to  be  beat.^  Such  days  as  these 
must  have  been  more  nobly  spirit-stirring  than  even 
the  best  specimens  of  the  fox-chase.  To  the  end 
of  his  life,  Scott  delighted  to  recall  the  detoils  of 
their  conntermorches,  ambuscades,  charges,  and 
pursuits,  and  in  all  of  these  his  a^«sociatcs  of  the 
Light-Horse  agree  that  none  figured  more  advan- 
tageously than  himself.  Yet  these  military  inter- 
ludes ^eem  only  to  have  whetted  his  appetite  for 
closet  work.  Indeed,  nothing  but  a  complete  pub- 
lication of  hia  letters  could  give  an  adequate  notion 
of  the  facility  with  which  he  already  combined  the 
conscientious  magistrate,  the  martinet  quartermas- 
ter, the  speculative  printer,  and  the  ardent  lover  of 
literature  for  its  own  sake.  A  few  specimens  must 
suffice. 

7\>  Oeorgt  EUit^  Esq. 

•«  Edlnbdrgh,  May  26, 1605. 

•Myd«rE«lis 

**  Your  sUence  baa  been  so  nrxg  and  or-inionative^ 
that  r  am  quite  authorised,  as  a  Border  ballad-monrrr, 
to  addr'isa  you  with  a—'  Sleep  you,  or  wake  you  V  What 


has  bacome  of  the  Bowancea,  whiot^I  have  t,,,.^ 

anxfously  a^  my  netghbourb  arouad  me  have  vstched  lot 
the  rain,  which  waa  to  bring  the  grass,  which  was  to  fieed 
the  hew-cahred  cowi,  and  to  as  Uttle  purpose,  for  both 
Heaven  and  yoa  have  otMtfnately  delayed  your  frvoara 
After  idling  away  the  apring  months  at  Aahastiel,  f  aa 
iust  returned  to  tcDe  away  the  .aammer  here,  and  I  hate 
latf^ly  lighted  upon  rather  an  intereating  article  m  yow 
way.  If  you  will  iurn  to  Barbour's  Bruce,  (PiakeTtoa*t 
edition,  p.  66,)  youVrill  find  that  the  Lord  of  Lorn,  seeini 
Bruce  c<yverine  the  retreat  of  his  followera,  compel^ 
him  to  Oow  InacMorn,  (Macpherson's  Gaul  the  eon  of 
Moml.)  This  vimilitude  appears  to  Barbour  a  disparage- 
ment, and  lie  saya,  the  Lord  of  Larn  mi^ht  more  man- 
nerly have  coinnared  the  Kina  to  Oadefeir  de  L^wrraa 
who  waa  with  the  mighty  Duke  Betys  when  he  asaalled 
the  forayers  in  Oadderia,  and  who  in  the  retreat  did  maeJi 
execution  among  the  pursuent.  ovenhrowiag  Alexander 
and  Thelomier  and  Danklin.  altlMagh  he  waa  at  lecu^ 
slain;  and  hero,  saya  Barboar,  the  resemblance  faus. 
Now,  by  one  of  those  chances  wliich  favour  the  antiquary 
once  in  an  age,  a  single  copy  of  the  romance  alluded  io 
haa  been  diacovered,  containing  the  whole  history  of  this 
Oadefeir,  who  had  hitherto  been  a  stnmblinc- block  to  the 
critics.  The  book  was  printed  by  Arbuthnot,  who  flour- 
ished at  Edinburgh  in  the  aeventeenth  century.  It  is  a 
metri<;al  romance,  called  'TheBuik  of  the  Moat  Nobis 
and  VauUant  Comiuerour,  Alexander  the  GriL'  Tbe  firK 
part  is  cAlled  the  Foray  of  Gadderia,  an  incident  suppo- 
sed to  have  taken  place  while  Alexander  waa  besieging 
Tvre  ;  Gadefeir  is  one  of  the  principal  championa,  and 
after  exerting  himself  in  tile  manner  mentioned  by  Biar- 
hour,  unlioraina  the  persons  whom  he  named,  he  is  at 
length  slain  by  Emynediis,  the  Earl-Marabal  of  the  Bffc»- 
donlan  conqueror.  The  second  part  is  called  the  Avovte 
of  Alexander,  because  it  introduces  the  oaths,  which  kc 
and  others  made  to  the  peacock  in  the  ^chalmer  of  Venus,' 
and  gives  an  account  of  the  mode  in  which  they  acco<i»- 
pHahed  them.  The  third  is  the  Gy:at  BaUell  of  Elfeaoum 
m  which  Porus  makes  a  distinguished  figure.  This  von 
are  to  understand  ia  not  the  Porns  of  India,  but  one  or  his 
sons.  The  work  is  in  decided  Scotch,  and  adds  semetliiiif 
to  our  ancient  poetry,  being  by  no  means  despicable  im 
point  of  compoaiiion.  The  author  says  he  translated  it 
from  the  JFVancA,  or  JZomoncs,  and  tliat  he  arcompUalasd 
his  work  in  143d-9.  Barbour  muat  therefore  have  0180* 
ted  f^om  tbe  French  Alexander,  and  perhaps  hia  rraiscs 
of  the  work  excited  the  Scottish  translator.  wiU  yoo 
tell  me  what  you  think  of  all  this,  and  whether  any  iraa- 
acrfpts  will  be  oi  use  to  you  7  I  am  pleased  with  the  ac- 
cident of  ita  casting  up,  and  hope  it  may  prove  the  fbrr- 
runner  of  more  discoveries  in  the  dusty  and  ill-arranged 
libraries  of  our  country  gentlemen. 

"  I  hope  you  continue  to  Ulce  the  Lay.  I  have  had  a 
flattering  assurance  of  Mr.  Fox's  approbation,  mixed  wiih 
a  censure  of  my  eulogj  on  tbe  Viscount  of  Dundee 
Although  my  Tory  principles  prevent  my  coinciding  with 
hfs  political  opinions,  I  am  very  proud  of  bis  approbatioQ 
in  a  Mlerary  sense. 

"  Charlotte  joins  me,  Ac.  Ac.  W.  &" 

In  his  answer,  Ellis  aaye— 

"  I/>nenian  lately  informed  me  that  you  have  projet^sd 
a  General  fldiiion  of  our  Poets.    1  expressed  to  him  my 
anxiety  that  the  bookKellers,  who  certainly  can  ultimately 
sell  wfmt  they  nicase,  tsbould  for  once  undertake  some- 
thing CHlculatcti  lo  please  intelligent  readers  and  ibst 
they  should  confine  themselves  lo  Ihe  selection  of  paper. 
types,    Ac.  (whirli  they  possibly  may  understand,)  imd 
by  no  means  interfere  with  the  fiterory  part  of  the  burf. 
ness,  which,  if  popularity  be  the  object,  they  must  leave 
exclusively  to  you.    I  am  talking,  as  you  perceive,  abooi 
I  yuur  plan,  witiiout  knowing  its  pxtanl,  or  any  of  tts  de- 
laiU  ;  for  these,  therefore,  I  will  wait— 'after  confeaatsg 
that,  much  as  I  wish  for  a  cor ptu  poet  arum,  edited  as  yon 
would  edit  it,  I  should  like  aiill  hcuer  another  Minstrel 
'  Lny  by  the  last  and  best  Minstrel;  and  the  general  de- 
I  nmnd'ibr  the  oocm  seems  to  pfove  that  the  public  are  of 
my  opinion.    If,  #)wever,  you  don't  feel  dispNfised  to  take 
*  a  second  ride  on  Pegasus,  why  not  undcrtaJce  somethinf^ 
j  fir  less  infra  die.  tluin  a  mere  edition  of  our  poets  7  Why 
'  not  undertake  what  Gibbon  once  undertook— an  editioa. 
I  of  our  historians  1    I  have  never  been  able  to  look  at  a 
I  vulutne  of  the  Benedictine  edition  of  the  early  French 
historians  without  envy." 

Mr.  Ellis  appears  to  have  communicated  all  hm 
notions  on  this  subject  to  Meaars.  Longman,  for 
Scott  writer  to  Ballantyne,  (Ashealiel,  Septembers^) 
"  I  have  had  a  visit  from  Reoa  yesterday.  He  is 
anx  ous  about  a  corpus  hiMtoria/iim^  or  full  edition 
of  the  Chronicles  of  England,  an  iaimenae  work. 
I  proposed  tobim  b^nnin^j^^^pahed,  aod 


um  0»  am  WiOinM  lOiTr. 


f  Aiak  theworiiwiU  baateand  fi>rfOBrvtMfeM.  I 
wngfafnHte  you  on  Cbrendoiif  whicht  under  Tliom- 
joiri  diracdoiit  will  fa|(  a  glorioni  publication/'* 

The  printing'office  in  tne  Ganongate  waa  by  thia 
time  in  veiy  great  request ;  and  tne  letter  I  have 
been  quoting  contains  evidence  that  the  partners 
had  afreadyiband  it  neceasary  to  borrow  fresh  ca- 
pital—on the  personal  security,  it  need  not  befidded, 
of  Scott  himaeif.  He  says,  As  I  haw  fi\ll  confi* 
4nee  in  your  applying  the  accommodation  deceived 
6offl  Sir  William  Forbes  in  the  most  convenient  and 
I  pradent  manner,  I  have  no  hesitation  to  return  the 
bonds  aubscribecJ,  as  you  desire.  ThiswiU  put  you 
in  cash  for  great  matters." 

Bat  to  return.  To  Ellis  himself  he  says,  "1  have 
bad  booksellers  here  in  the  plural  number.  You 
have  set  little  Rees*s  head  agog  about  the  Chroni- 
dea,  wliich^  would  be  an  admirable  work,  but 
sboold,  I»  think,  be  edited  by  an  Em;lisbman  who 
can  have  acoeea  to  the  MSS.  of  Oxford  and  Cam- 
bridge, aa  one  cannot  trust  much  to  the  correctness 
of  printed  copiea.  I  will,  however,  consider  the 
matter,  so  far  as  a  decent  edition  of  Hollinshed  is 
concerned,  in  case,  my  time  is  not  otherwise  taken 
op.  As  for  the  Bntiah  Poets,  my  plan  was  greatly 
too  liberal  to  stand  the  least  chance  of  being  adopt- 
ed by  the  trade  at  larae^  aa  I  wiahed  them  to  begin 
with  Chaucer.  The  fact  is,  I  never  expected  they 
would  agree  to  it.  The  Benedictines  had  an  infinite 
advantage  over  us,  in  that  ctprit  du  corps  which  led 
them  to  aet  labour  and  eicpense  at  defiance,  when 
the  honour  of  the  order  was  at  stake.  Would  to 
God  your  English  Universities,  with  their  huge  en- 
dowments, and  the  number  of  learned  men  to  whom 
they  give  competence  and'  leisure,  would  but  imitate 
die  monka  in  their  literary  plans.  Bfv  present  em- 
plofment  ie  an  edition  of  John  Dryoen'a  Works, 
which  is  already  gone  to  press.  As  for  riding  on 
Pegaaos,  depend  upon  it,  1  will  never  again  cross 
him  in  a  serious  way,  unless  I  ahoulabv  some 
strange  accident  reside  so  long  in  the  Highlands, 
and  make  myself  master  of  their  ancient  mannera, 
80  aa  to  paint  them  with  aome  de^ee  of  accuracy 
b  a  kind  of  companion  to  the  Minstrel  Lay.  .  .  . 
.  .  I  am  interrupted  by  the  arrival  of  two  gerttU 
haefulcrM^  whom,  Kke  tne  Count  of  Artois,  1  must 
despatch  upon  some  adventure  till  dinner  time. 
Thank  Heaven,  that  will  not  be  difficult,  for  aU 
though  there  are  neither  dragons  nor  boars  in  the  vi- 
doity,  and  men  above  six  foet  are  not  only  scsrce, 
bat  pacific  in  their  habits,  yet  wa  have  a  curious 
brMd  of  wild-catSy  who  have  eaten  ail  Charlotte's 
chickens,  and  against  whom  I  have  declared  a  war 
at  ouiroTUT,  in  which  the  assistance  of  these  if  ents 
demoiseaux  will  he  fully  as  valuable  as  that  ot  Don 
(huxote  to  Pentalopin  with  the  naked  arm.  So, 
if  Mrs.  Ellia  takes  a  fancy  for  cat-skin  fur,  now  is 
the  time."  ^  ^        ^ 

Already,  then,  he  was  seriously  at  work  on  Dry- 
den.  During  the  same  summer,  he  drew  up  for  the 
Edinburgh  Review  an  admirable  article  on  Todd's 
Edition  of  Spenser ;  another,  on  Godwin's  Fleet- 
wood ;  a  third,  on  the  Highland  Society's  Report 
concerning  the  Poems  of  Ossian  j  a  fourth,  on 
Johnea's  Translation  of  Froissart ;  a  fifth,  on  Col. 
Tltom ton's  Sporting  Tour— and  a  sixth,  on  some 
cookery  books— the  two  last  being  e:xcellent  speci- 
mens of  his  humour.  He  had,  besides,  a  constant 
auccession  of  minor  cares  in  the  superintendence  of 
multifarious  works  passing  through  the  Ballantyne 
press.  Put  there  is  yet  another  important  item  to 
Se  indnded  in  the  list  of  his  literary  labours  of  this 
period.  The  General  Preface  to  his  Novels  informs 
as,  that  "  about  1805"  he  wrote  the  opening  chap- 
ters of  Waverley ;  and  the  second  title, '  Tu  SUty 
Yean  since,  selected^  as  he  says,  *'  that  the  actual 
date  of  pnbhcation  might  correspond  with  the  period 
in  whicn  the  scene  was  laid,"  leavea  no  doubt  that 
he  had  begun  the  work  so  early  in  1805  as  to  con- 
template publishing  it  before  Christmas.t    He  adda, 

•  AneditkxiofClanodonhadbeemil  nemt,  oootemplated  bjr 
flMtf*  ftfend.  Mr.  Thooiaa  Thammm.  ^      ,,.  . 

1 1  ha««  Meerumed  iioee  this  pAffe  waf  written,  that  a  imall 
Mt  of  th0  Bia  of  Wavfflef  i*  oa  paper  bearifif  tba  watennark 
^rw»--tbe  leat  oa  paper  of  1819L 


■I  tha  attne  pt^  tkat  he  waa  ithltloecL  by  tha  £i*     •    ' 
▼onrable  receptionof  the  Ladrof  the  Lu&^fo  think  ^ 

of  giving  aome  of  his  recoUectiona  of  Highland 
scenery  and  customs  iux  prose ;  but  thb  is  onlV  one 
instance  of  the  inaccuracy  aa  to  mattera  o/  date 
which  pervadea  all  thoae  delightful  PreAicea.    The  # 

Lady  ot  the  Lake  waa  not  published  until  five  jeaia 
after  the  firat  chaplera  of  Waverley  were  written ; 
its  success,  therefore,  could  have  had  no  share  in 
suggesting  the  original  design  of  a  Highland  novel, 
though  no  doubt  it  principally  influenced  him  to 
take  up  that  design  after  it  had  Seen  long  suspendod, 
and  almost  forgotten.  Thus  early,  then,  had  Scott 
meditated  dee^y  such  a  portraiture  of  Highland 
mannera  as  mkht  "  make  a  Sort  of  companion"  to 
that  of  the  old  Border  life  in  the  "Minstrel  Lay;"  . 
and  he  had  probably  begun  and  sospended  his  Wa- 
verley, before  he  expressed  to  Ellia  his  feeling  that 
he  ought  to  reside  for  some  considerable  time  m  the 
cpuntry  to  be  delineated,  before  seriously  oammilting 
himself  in  the  execution  of  .such  a  task. 

"  Having  proceeded,"  he  aava,  "  as  far  as  I  think 
the  seventh  chapter,  I  showed  my  work  to  a  critical 
friend,  whose  Opinion  waa  unfavourable ;  and  hav- 
ing then  some  poetical  reputation,  I  was  unwilling 
to  risk  the  loss  of  it  by  attempting  a  new  style  of 
composition.  I  therefore  then  threw  aside  the 
work  I  had  commenced,  without  either  reluctance 
or  remonstrance.  I  ought  to  add,  that  thoogk  my 
ingenuous  friend's  sentence  was  afterwarda  reveia- 
eoTon  appeal  to  the  public,  it  cannot  be  consideved 
aa  any  imputation  on  hia  good  taste ;  for  the  speci- 
men subjected  to  his  cnticism  did  not, extend  be- 
yond the  departure  of  the  hero  for  Scotland,  and 
consequently  had  not  entered  upon  the  paft  of  the 
atory  which  was  finally  found  most  interesting."  A 
letter  to  be  quoted  under  the  year  1810  will,  I  believe^ 
aatiafy  the  reader  that  the  firat  critic  of  the  opening 
chaptera  of  Waverley  waa  William  Erakine. 

The  following  letter  nraat  have  been  written  in 
the  course  of  thia  autumn.  It  is  in  every  respect  a 
very  interesting  one  I  but  I  introduce  it  here  as  illus- 
trating the  courae  of  hia  refiections  on  Highland 
aubjecta  in  fwneral,  at  the  time  when  the  first  out- 
lines both  of  the  Lady  of  the  Lake  and  Waverley 
must  have  been  floating  about  in  his  mindt — 
To  Mi99  Sevard^  Lid\fUld, 

**AshesUel  [18(».) 
"  My  dear  Mita  Seward,  , 

"  You  recall  to  me  some  very  nlcasant  feelinfa  of 
my  boyhood,  when  you  ask  ray  opinion  of  Oaslan.  His 
works  were  first  put  into  my  hands  by  old  Dr.  Blacklock^ 
a  blind  poet,  of  whom  you  may  have  heard  ;  he  waa  the 
worthiest  and  kindest  of  human  beinfs,  and  particularly 
delighted  in  encouraging  the  pursuits,  and  opening  (m 
minds,  of  the  younf  people  by  whom  he  was  surround* 
ed.  I,  though  at  the  periotl  of  our  mtimaey  a  very  youiw 
b<^,  waa  fortunate  enough  to  attract  his  notice  and  kind- 
ness ;  and  if  1  have  been  at  all  soccessful  iri  the  paths  of 
literary  pursuit,  I  am  sure  I  owe  much  of  that  success  to 
the  books  with  which  he  supplied  rac,  and  hfs  own  hi- 
8tructk>n8.  Ossian  and  Spenser  were  two  books  which 
the  good  old  banl  put  into  my  hands,  and  which  I  devour- 
ed rather  than  perused.  Tlieic  tales  were  for  a  tong  time 
so  much  my  delight,  that  1  co6ld  repeat  without  remorse 
whole  cantos  of  the  one  and  duans  of  the  other ;  and  wo 
to  the  unlucky  wigRt  who  undertook  to  be  my  auditor, 
ftirin  the  height  of  my  enthusiasm  I  was  apt  to  disregard 
all  hinta  that  my  recitations  became  tedious.  It  wa^  a  na- 
tural consequence  of  progress  In  taste  that  my  fondness 
for  these  amnors  should  experience  some  abatement.  Os- 
slan's  poems,  in  particular,  have  more  charms  for  yonth 
than  for  a  more  advanced  stage.  The  eternal  repetition 
of  the  same  Ideas  and  Imagery,  however  beautiful  in 
themselves,  la  apt  to  pall  upon  a  reader  whose  taate  haS 
become  somewhat  feati'Iious ;  and,  although  I  agree  entire- 
ly with  you  that  the  question  of  their  authenticity  ought 
not  to  be  confounded  with  that  of  their  literary  merit,  jet 
scepticism  on  that  head  lakes  away  their  clalna  for  Indul- 
gence aa  the  productions  of  a  barbarous  and  remote  a^e : 
and,  what  la  perhaps  more  natural,  it  deslrpys  that  feefc 
inf  of  reality  which  we  should  otherwise  combine  with  < 
our  sentiments  of  adtifiratlon.  As  for  the  great  dispute.  I 
should  be  no  Scottishman  If  I  had  not  very  aiienilvelv 
considered  it  at  some  period  of  my  studies ;  and,  indee<^ 

1  h.T.  r«.  -m.  •"•^D^l^ld'brCSl^gl^" 


Um  OP  SK  WALTflSr  8009T. 


bailde  mo  tmulatioDS  of  pome  twenCj  or  Chirty  of  Che 
nnqaeotlofted  orlflnalt  of  Oflgion's  poems.  After  mldng 
erery  allowance  for  the  disadTantages  of  a  literal  tranda- 
tkm,  and  the  poeiible  debasement  which  those  now  col- 
lected raaj  have  suffered  in  the  ^reat  and  violent  change 
which  the  Highlands  have  undergone  since  the  researches 
of  Maephersoo,  I  am  compelled  to  admit  that  incalculably 
the  greater  part  of  the  English  Osrian  must  be  ascribed 
to  Maepherson  himseIC  andthat  his  whole  introductions, 
notes,  dec  Sec.  are  an  absolute  tissue  of  forgeries. 

"  In  all  the  ballads  I  ever  saw  or  could  hear  of,  Fin  and 
Ossio  are  described  as  natives  of  Ireland,  although  it  is 
not  unusual  for  the  reciters  sturdily  to  maintain  that  this 
Is  a  corruption  of  the  text.  In  point  of  merit  I  do  not  think 
these  Gaelic  poems  unich  better  than  lliose  of  the  Scan- 
dinavian Scalds :  they  are  very  unequal,  often  very  vigo- 
rous and  pointed,  often  drivelling  and  arawlingin  the  very 
e^remity  of  tenuity.  The  manners  of  the  heroes  are 
those  or  Celtic  savages ;  and  I  could  point  out  twenty  in- 
stances in  which  Maepherson  has  very  cunningly  adopted 
the  beginning,  the  names,  and  the  leading  hicidents,  4x. 
of  an  old  lale,  and  dressed  it  op  with  all  those  ornaments 
of  sentiment  and  sentimental  manners,  which  Arst  excite 
our  surprise,  and  afterwards  our  doubt  of  its  authenticity. 
The  Higlilanders  themselves,  recognising  the  leading  fea- 
tures of  tales  they  had  heard  in  infancy,  with  here  and 
there  a  tirade  really  taken  from  an  old  poem,  were  readily 
seduced  into  becoming  champions  for  the  authenticity  of 
the  poems.  How  many  people,  not  particularly  addicted  to 
poetry,  who  may  have  heard  Chevy-Chase  in  the  nursery 
or  aiVdhool,  and  never  since  met  with  the  ballad,  might 
be  Imposed  upon  by  a  new  Chevy-Chaae,  bearloc  no 
resemblance  to  the  old  one,  save  in  here  and  there 
a  stanza  or  an  incident ) '  Besides,  there  is  sometliiog 
in  the  severe  judgment  passed  on  ray  country  men— '  that 

.  if  they  do  not  prefer  Scotland  to  truth,  they  will  always 
prefer  it  to  inquiry.'  When  ooce  the  Highlanders  had 
adopted  the  poems  of  Ossian  as  an  article  of  national  faith, 
you  would  far  sooner  have  got  them  to  disavow  the  Scrip- 
ture than  to  abandon  a  line  of  the  contested  tales.     Chuy 

'  thev  all  allow  tliat  Maepherson's  translation  is  very  un- 
ikitnful,  and  some  pretend  to  say  inferior  to  the  original ; 
by  which  they  can  only  mean,  if  they  mean  any  thing, 
that  they  miss  the  charms  of  the  rhythm  and  vernacular 
idiom,  which  pleases  the  Gaelic  natives ;  for  in  the  real 
attributes  of  poetry,  Macpherson's  version  isiar  superior 
to  any  1  ever  saw  of  the  fragments  which  he  seems  to 
have  used. 
"  The  Highland  Society  have  lately  set  about  invest!- 

Ettng,  or  rather,  I  should  say,  collecting  materials  to  de- 
nd,  the  aothenticity  of  Osstan.  Those  researches  iMtve 
only  proved  that  there  were  no  real  originaUh— using  that 
word  as  is  commonly  understood— to  |l>e  found  for  them. 
The  oldest  tsle  they  nave  found  seems  to  be  that  of  Dar- 
thula ;  but  it  is  perfectly  different,  both  in  diction  knd 
story,  from  that  of  Maepherson.  It  is,  however,  a  bean- 
tiftil  specimen  of  Celtic  poetry,  and  shows  that  it  obtains 
much  which  is  worthy  of  preservation.  Indeeo,  how 
should  it  be  otherwise,  when  we  know  that,  till  about  fifty 
years  ago,  the  Highlands  contained  a  race  of  hereditary 
poets  1  Is  it  possible  to  think,  that,  among  perhaps  many 
hundreds,  who  for  such  a  course  of  centuries  have  found- 
ed their  reputation  and  rank  on  practising  the  ari  of  poet- 
ry in  a  country  where  the  scenery  and  manners  gave 
such  effect  and  interest  and  imagery  to  their  prodoctiona, 

t  there  should  not  have  been  some  who  attained  excel- 
lence 1  In  searching  out  those  genuine  records  of  the 
X^eltic  Muse,  and  preserving  them  from  oblivion,  with  all 
the  curious  information  which  they  must  doubtless  con- 
tain, I  humbly^ink  our  Highland  antiquaries  would  merit 
better  of  their  country,  than  by  confining  their  researches 
to  the  fantastic  pursuit  of  s  chimera. 

"I  am  not  to  deny  that  Macphenion's  inferiority  in 
other  compositions  is  a  presompUoo  that  he  did  not  ac* 
tU4l3j  *>pjjij.iu.-,i'  L:i='it  ^!.Hji,i=.  But  we  are  to  consider  his 
Adirania^e  wb«n  tin  im  ovtu  jjound.  Blacpherson  was  a 
ni|liCaiLdur^  feficl  liAi)  ittJi  UiiajT  I  nation  fired  with  the  charms 
of  Gel  lie  p^irtry  fruia  hU  *i  ^y  infancy.  We  know,  from 
cnoHCAiii,  ^vprrir^uciit  tW  ti>'ist  Highlanders,  sfter  they 
hav?  h4^ciMin}  coiT3fpU:[n  tfiBMiers  of  English,  continue  to 
thitiJt  ill  ittf  i(  ovtn  laiifliiAitr ,  And  it  is  to  me  aemonstrable 
th4t  Afact^hfir^oa  thwtAt  a.hi.o%t  every  word  of  Os^n  in 
Oadie,  ilit^fitjptb  he  istrntu  ii  iiown  in  English.  The  speci- 
mtdjr  itf  IM  rntiy  imfftry  wti:ch  remain  are  also  deeply 
ttQ£i?d  with  ih^  iirfruLiVUki  of  the  Coltic  diction  and 
charaiJl^r  }  no  tEia,r,  in  Crict.  tni  might  be  considered  as  a 
UiRKJAiiJ  jptTct,  «vcn  if  Ite  '*>.id  not  left  us  some  Earse 
tran^lAUmna  (or  orlf  1daJ>a  of  O.  ilan)  unquestionably  written 
Dj  NoiiLrf  Thr^e  cirruu^tt  ^nccsgave  a  groat  sdvanUige 
ta  b\m  Iq  ^>rrnin£  the  *1,vk  uf  Ossian,  which,  though  ex- 

•  AlWti  sihI  moiljll^:''^  acc'iniiin^  In  Macpherson's  own  ideas 
of  iniKfrrn  trtsie^  i«  tni^reQi  part^ut  upon  the  model  of  the 
talra  f^r  th«r  Senoacliies  and  Bards.    In  the  translation  of 


HooMr,  he  not  only  lost  tboM  advactafM,  but  Hhe  istrenia- 
■taocea  on  which  they  were  founded  were  agrset  detf«- 
^ent  to  )Us  undertaking ;  for  altliougb  such  a  dreea  wwm 
appropriate  and  becommg  for  Ossiso.  few  people  cared  Co 
see  their  old  Grecian  friend  disguised  in  a  tartan  pldd  mmmI 
phllabeg.  In  a  word,'  the  style  which  Maephersoo  had 
formed,  however  admirable  fn  a  Highland  tale,  ifas  not 
cslcutated  for  translating  Homer :  and  it  was  a  great  nila> 
take  in  him,  excited,  however,  by  the  general  applauae 
his  first  work  received,  to  suppose  that  there  was  any 
thing  homogeneous  betwixt  his  own  ideas  snd  those  of 
Homer.  Maephersoo,  in  his  way,  was  certainly  a  man  of 
high  talents,  and  his  poetic  powers  ss  honourable  to  hia  % 
country,  as  the  use  which  ne  made  of  them,  and  1  fesur  | 
his  personal  character,  in  other  respects,  was  a  discredit 
to  it 

"  Thus  I  have  given  you  with  the  utmost  sincerhy  my  , 
ereed  on  the  great  national  question  of  Ossian ;  it  hsus 
been  formed  after  much  deliberation  and  inqulrv.<  I 
have  had  for  some  time  thoughts  of  writing  a  Uigttland 
noeni,  somewhat  in  the  style  of  the  Lay,  giving  as  Ikr  aa 
I  can  a  real  picture  of  what  that  enthusiastic  race  adoally 
were  before  the  destruction  of  their  patriarchal  govern- 
ment. It  is  true,  I  have  not  quite  the  some  facilities  as  la 
describing  Border  manners,  where  I  am,  as  they  say, 
more  at  home.  But  to  balance  my  comparative  defi- 
ciency fn  knowledge  of  Celtic  manners,  you  are  to  consi- 
der that  I  have  from  my  youth  delichted  in  all  the  High- 
land tradidons  which  I  could  pick  froof  the  old  Jacobaea 
who  used  to  frequent  my  ftuher's  house  ;  and  this  win,  I 
hope,  make  some  amends  for  my  having  less  immedisite 
opportuniiics  of  research  than  in- the  Border  tales. 

"  Agreeably  to  your  advice,  I  have  actually  read  over 
Madoc  a  second  time,  and  I  confess  have  seen  much 
beauty  which  escaped  me  in  the  first  perusal.  Yef  (Which 
vet,  by  the  way,  is  almost  as  vile  a  inonosylUble  as  ImO 
I  cannot  feel  quite  the  interest  I  would  wish  to  do.  The 
difference  of  character  which  you  notice,  reminds  me  of 
what  by  Ben  Jonson  and  other  old  comedians  were  call- 
ed humourgf  which  consisted  rather  in  the  personifipa-> 
lion  of  some  individual  passioB  or  propensity  than  oTaa 
actual  individual  man.  Almo,  I  cannot  give  up  my  objec- 
tion, that  what  was  strictly  true  of  Columbus,  becomes  aa 
nnpleasant  falsehood  when  Urid  of  some  one  else.  Suppose 
I  was  to  write  a  fictitious  book  of  travels,  I  should  cer- 
tainly, do  III  to  copy  exactly  the  incidents  which  bcfd 
Mungo  Park  or  Bruce  of  Kinnaird.  What  was  true  of 
them  would  inconteatably  prove  at  once  the  falsehood  and 
plagiarism  of  my  supposed  journal  It  Is  not  but  what 
the  incidents  are  natural— but  it  Is  their  haring  already 
happened,  which  strikes  us  when  they  are  transferred  to 
imagina/y  persons.  Could  any  one  bear  the  story  of  a 
second  city  beins  taken  by  a  wooden  horso  1 

"  Believe  me,  I  shall  not  be  within  many  miles  of  Lich- 
field without  paying  my  personal  respects  to  you ;  and  ' 
yet  I  should  not  do  it  in  prudence,  bei:aTue  I  am  afraid 
you  have  formed  a  higher  opinion  of  me  than  I  deserve ; 
you  would  expect  to  see  a  person  who  had  dedicated  him- 
self much  to  literary  pursuits^  and  you  would  find  me  a 
rattle-sculled  half-lawyer,  hali-sportsman,  through  whose 
head  a  regiment  of  horse  has  been  exercising  since  he 
was  five  years  old  :  half-educated,  halPcrazy,  as  1«l» 
friends  sometimes  tell  him ;  half  every  thin&  but  entirely 
Miss  Seward's  much  obliged,  affecuonate,  and  &lthfid 
servant, 

Waltib  Scott." 

His  correspondenoe  shows  how  largely  be  was  ex- 
erting himself  all  this  while  in  the  service  of  authors 
less  fortunnte  than  himself.  James  Hogg,  amonfC 
others,  continued  to  occupy  from  time  to  time  hia 
attention ;  and  he  assisted  regularly  and  assiduoua- 
ly  throughout  this  andth^  succeeding  year  Mr.  Ro- 
bert Jameson,  an  industnous  and  intelligent  anti- 
quary, who  had  engaged  in  editing  a  coUection  of 
ancient  popular  ballads  before  the  third  volume  of 
the  Minstrelsy  appeared^  and  who  at  length  publish- 
ed his  very  curious  work  m  1807.  Mean  lime,  Ashes- 
tiel,  in  place  of  being  less  resorted  to  by  literary 
p'-^T-PT?  thnn  Lasswade  cottage  bad  been,  shared' 
iilMjiuiduiFy  in  the  fresh  attractions  of  the  Lay,  and 
•'  booksi'llcrp  in  the  plural  number"  were  preceded 
riiii  folio wf^(i  by  an  endless  variety  of  entnusiastio 
"  scntii  biiclirlors,**  whose  main  temptation  from 
\\yv  simtW  h-^l  been  the  hope  of  seeing  the  Borders 
lit  compony  \Mth  their  Minstrel.  He  still  writes  of 
liuns<liiis  *'  ill  ling  away  hia  hours  f*  he  had  alrea- 
ih'  teiirim]  to  appear  as  if  ho  were  doing  so,  to  all 
wfii»  \ini\  nri  PLirticular  right  to  confidence  respecting 
tb    flK'ifiiiiiHi  oT  his  privacy. 

Btii  the  most  agreeable  of  all  bis  viaitantB  were  his. 
Digitized  by  VjOOQIC 


r 


UilB  OF  SOL  WM.TBBI  aOdR. 


M 


o«t«liifiuiiifiir  fmaia,  and  one  of  Umm  kts  fiir^ 
■lied  me  with  •  fketeh  of  the  TOtomn  life  of  Aihee- 
iid,  qC  which  1  ihall  now  aTiil  nnreelf.  Scott'e  in- 
-^*-*^'^  -'-I  in  theee  terms  :— 


7>  Jamet  Skme,  B*q,  qf  Mubi$taw. 

"  AtbMtiel,  18th  Aqi«M,'1806. 
"Dwr  Skene, 

■IhaTe  prepared  another  edition  of  ihe  Lay,  1500 
enag.  oioTed  thereunto  by  the  &ith,  hope,  and  charity 

«f  the  London  bookeellera If  you  conld,  in  the 

taceriffl,  find  a  fnoment  to  spend  here,  you  know  the  way, 
tad  the  ford  ia  where  it  wa^ ;  which,  by  the  way,  to  more 
ibao  1  expected  after  Baturday  laat,  the  moat  dreadful 
«om  of  thunder  and  lightninx  I  erer  witneaaed.  The 
iftuntnf  broJie  repeatedly  in  our  immediate  vicinity,  t.  e. 
bereijrt  us  and  the  Peel  wood.  Charlotte  resolved  to  die 
IB  bed  like  a  food  Christian.    The  servants  said  it  was  the 

Skce  to  the  end  of  the  world,  and  I  waa  the  only  person 
t  maintained  my  character  for  stoicism,  which  I  asaure 
jua  had  aome  merit,  aa  1  had  no  doubt  that  we  were  in 
real  du^er.  It  was  accompanied  wHh  a  flood  so  tremen- 
dsos,  that  I  would  have  aiven  five  pounds  yon  bad  been 
i  a  aketeh  of  it    The  little  Glenkinnon  brook 


hereto 

«M  iflopaaaable  for  all  the  next  day,  and  indeed  I  have 
been  ^tt(ed  to  send  aU  hands  to  repair  the  ford,  .which 
was  coQverted  Into  e  deep  pooL  Believe  me  ever  yours 
•flectranatdy, 

i         W.  a" 

Mr.  Skene  says,  **  I  well  remember  the  ravagei  of 
the  atom  end  flood  described  in  this  letter.  The 
fi>rd  of  Aehestiel  was  never  a  good  one,  and  for 
seme  time  after  this  it  remained  not  a  little  perilous. 
%  was  himself  the  first  to  attempt  the  passage  on 
Us  ftvoufite  black  horse  Captoiri,  who  had  scarce- 
bantered  the  river  when  be  pronged  beyond  his 
«ptb,  and  had  to  swim  to  the  other  side  with  his 
mden.  It  reqaires  a  good  horseman  to  swim  a 
itep  and  rapid  stream,  but  he  trusted  to  the  vigour 
of  Ats  steady -trooper,  and  in  spite  of  his  lameness 
kept  his  seat  manfully.  A  cart  bringing  a  new  kit- 
chn  range  (as  I  belteve  the  grate  tor  that  service 
ntechnimlr  called)  was  shortly  after  upset  in  this 
tq^ford.  The  horse  and  cart  were  with  difficulty 
fMcmt,  but  the  grate  remained  for  some  time-in  the 
oiiddle  of  the  stream  to  do  duty  as  a  horse-trap, 
taA  famish  subject  for  many  a  good  joke  when  Mrs. 
Scott  happened  to  complain  of  the  imperfection  of 
ber  kit(»ien  appointments." 

Mr.  Skene  soon  discovered  an  important  chanf2[e 
itkieh  had  recently  been  made  in  his  friend's  distn- 
faotion  of  his  time.  Previously  it  had  been  bis  cus- 
tom, whenever  professional  business  or  social  en- 
gagements occupied  the  middlepartdf  hisday,  to  seize 
some  hoars  for  study  after  he  was  supposed  to  have 
letirsd  to  bed.  His  physician  suggested  that  this  was 
TCfy  likely  to  aggravate  \t'n  nervous  headaches,  the 
only  malady  he  was  subject  to  in  the  prime  of  bis 
maabood ;  and,  contemplating  with  steady  eye  a 
eoone  not  only  of  unremitting  ^t  of  increasing 
isdottry,  he  resolved'  to  reverse  his  plan,  and  earn- 
ed hie  purpose  into  exect^tion  with  unflinching  en- 
eny.  In  short,  he  had  now  adopted  the  habits  in 
wfateh,  with  very  slender  variation,  he  ever  after 
persevered  when  in  the  country.  He  rose  by  five 
o'eieck,  Ut  his  own  fire  when  the  season  required 
one,  and  shaved  and  dressed  with  great  deliberation 
-^r  he  was  a  very  martinet  as  to  all  but  the  mere 
^coxcombries  of  the  toilet,  not  abhorring,  efleminate 
dandyism  itself  so  coraially  as  the  slightest  ap- 
proach lo  personal  slovenliness,  or  even  those  **  bed- 
gown and  slipper  tricks,"  as  he  .called  them,  in 
which  hterary  men  are  so  spt  to  indulge.  Arrayed 
in  his  shooting- jacket,  or  whatever  dress  he  meant 
to  n^  till  dinner  time,  he  was  seated  at  hi?  desk  by 
■X  o'clock,  all  his  papers  arranged  before  him  in  the 
Biost  accurate  order,  and  his  books  of  reference  mar- 
shalled around  him  on  the  floor,  while  at  least  one 
£ivoQrite  dog  lay  watching  his  eye  juBt  beyond  the 
hi»  of  circumvallation.  Thus,  by  the  time  the  fami- 
ly a««enibled  for  breakfast  between  nine  and  ten,  he 
md  done  enoo(;h  (in  bin  own  language)  '*  to  break 
tk*  narJtr  of  the  day's  workr  After  hfeakfast  a 
coaple  of  hours  more  were  piven  to  bis  solitary 

tasks,  and  by  noon  he  was,  as  he  used  to  say,  **  his  i 


own  man."  When  the  wMther  waa  had  he  wotiU 
laboor  incessantly  all  the  morning;  but  the  general 
mle  waa  to  be  out  and  on  horseback  by  one  o'clodL 
at  the  latest;  while,  if  any  more  distant  excursion 
had  been  proposed  over  night/he  was  readv  to  start 
on  it  by  ten;  his  occasional  rainy  days  of  nninter- 
mitted  study  forming,  as  he  said,  a  fiind  in  hi^  fa- 
vour, out  01  which  be  was  entitled  to  draw  for  ac- 
commodation whenever  the  aim  shone  with  specj^^ 
brightness. 

It  was  another  rule,  that  every  letter  he  received 
should  be  answered  that  same  day.  Nothing  ^<*e 
could  have  enabled  him  to  keep  abreast  with  tho 
flood  of  communications  that  in  the  sequel  put  his 
good  nature  to  the  severest  test— but  already  the  de- 
mands on  him  in  this  way  also  were  numerous ;  and 
he  included  attention  to  them  among  the  necessary 
business  which  must  be  despatched  before  he  had  a 
right.to  close  his  wridng-box.  or,  as  he  phrased  it, 
**  to  say  oui  damned  spot,  and  be  a  gentleman."  In 
turning  over  his  enormous  mass  of  correspondence, 
I  have  almost  invariably  found  sonae  indication  that, 
when  a  letter  had  remained  more  than  a  day  or  two 
unanswered,  it  had  been  so  because  he  found  occa- 
sion for  inquiry  or  deliberate  /consideration. 

I  ought  not  to  omit  that  in  those  days  Scott  was  • 
far  too  zealous  a  dragoon  not  to  take  a  nrincipal 
share  in  the  stable  duty.  Before  beginning  nis  desk- 
work  in  the  morning^  he  uniformly  visited  his  fa- 
vourite steed,  and  neither  Captain  nor  Lieutenant^ 
nor  the  lieutenant's  succeBsor,Broim  Adam^iso  call- 
ed after  one  of  the  heroes  of  the  Minstrelsy,)  liked 
to  be  fed  except  by  him.  The  latter  charger  was 
indeed  altog^her  intractable  in  other  hands,  though 
in  his  the  most  submissive  of  faithful  allies.  'The 
moment  he  washridled  and  saddled,  it  was  the  cus- 
tom to  open  the  stAble  door  as  a  signal  that  his  mas- 
ter expected  him,  when  he  immeotately  trotted  to 
the  side  of  the  teaping-on-stone^  of  which  Scott 
from  his  lameness  found  it  convenient  to  make  u^e, 
and  stood  there,  silent  and  motionless  as  a  rock, 
until  he  was  fairly  in  his  seat,  after  which  he  display- 
ed his  joy  by  neighing  triuniphantly  through  a  bril- 
liant succession  of  curvettings.  Brown  Adam  ne- 
ver suffered  himself  to  be  backed  but  by  his  master. 
He  broke,  I  believe,  one  groom's  arm  and  another's 
leg  in  the  rash  attempt  to  tamper  with  his  dignity. 

Camp  was  at  this  time  the  constant  pai'lour  dog. 
He  was  venr  handsome,  very  intelligent,  and  natu- 
rally very  fierce,  but  gentle  as  a  lamb  among  the 
children.  As  for  the  more  locomotive  Douglas  and 
Percy,  he  kept  one  window  of  his  study  open,  what- 
ever might  be  the  state  of  the  weather,  that  they 
might  leap  out  and  in  as  the  fiancy  moved  them.  He 
always  talked  to  Camp  as  if  he  understood  what  was 
said — and  the  animal  certainly  did  understand  not  a 
little  of  it ;  in  particular,  it  seemed  as  if  he  perfectly 
comprehended  on  all  occasions  that  his  master  con- 
sidered him  as  a  sensible  ar^d  steady  friend,  thegrev- 
hounds  as  volatile  young  creatures  whose  &eaf» 
must  be  borne  with. 

**  Everyday,"  says  Mr.  Skene,  "we  had  some  hoars 
of  coursmg  with  the  greyhounds,  6r  riding  at  random 
over  the  hills,  or  of  spearing  salmon  in  the  Tweed 
hy  sunlight ;  which  last  sport,  moreover,  we  often 
renewed  at  night  by  the  help  of  torches.  This 
amusement  of  Intrninff  the  tcater^  as  it  is  called,  was 
not -without  some,  hazard,  for  the  large  salmon 
generally  lie  in  the  pools,  the  depths  of  which  it  is 
not  easy  to  estimate  with  precision  bv  torqhlight, — 
60  that  not  unfrequently,  when  tne  sportsman 
makes  a  determined  thrust  at  a  fish  apparently 
within  reach,  his  eye  has  grossly  deceived  hWn,  and. 
instead  of  the  point  of  the  weapon  encountering 
the  prey,  he  finds  himself  launched  with  correspond- 
ing vehemence  heels  over  head  into  the  pool,  both 
spear  and  salmon  gone,  the  torch  thrown  out  by 
tne  concussion  of  iho  noat.  and  quenched  m  the 
etmam,  while  the  boat  itself  has  of^  course  receded 
to  some  distance.  I  remember  the  first  time  I  ac- 
companied our  frirnd  he  went  right  over  the  gun- 
wale in  this  manner,  and  had  I  not  accidentally 
been  close  at  his  sid&  and  made  a  successful  grasp 
at  the  skirt  of  hip  jacket  as  he  plunged  overboard,' 


UFE  or  I 


WMLTtti  SCOffK. 


y 


W  wast  ftt  least  have  liad  an  awkward  dhne  for  it 
wish  are  the  contmganciea  of  bttmiHg  the  water. 
Tie  pleasures  consist  in  being  penetrated  with  cold 
and  wet,  hating  your  shins  brol^en  against  the 
stones  in  the  dark,  an4  perhaps  mastering  one  fish 
out  of  every  twenty  you  take  aim  at." 

In  all  these  amusements,  but  particularly  in  the 
burning  qf  the  tpater^  Scott's  most  regular  com- 
panion at  this  time  was  John,  Lord  Somerville,  who 
united  with  many  higher  qualities  a  most  enthusi- 
astic love  for  such  sports,  and  consummate  address 
in  the  prosecution  of  them.  This  amiable  nobleman 
then  passed  his  autumns  at  his  pretty  seat  oi  All- 
wyn,  or  the  Pavilion,  situated  on  the  Tweed,  some 
eight  or  nine  miles  below  Ashestiel.  They  inter- 
changed visits  almost  every  week ;  and  Scott  did 
not  fail  to  proflt  largely  by  his  friend's  matured  and 
well-known  skill  in  every  department  of  the  science 
of  rural  economy.  He  always  talked  of  him,  in 
particular,  as  his  master  in  the  art  of  planting. 

The  laird  of  Rubislaw  seldom  failed  to  spend  a 

f>art  of  the  summer  and  autumn  at  Ashestiel,  as 
ong  as  Scott  remained  there,  and  during  these  visits 
they  often  gave  a  wider  scop6  to  their  expeditions. 
"  Indeed,"  says  Mr.  Skene,    there  are  few  scenes  at 

,  all  celebrated  either  in  the  history,  tradition,  or  ro- 
mance of  the  Border  counties,  which  we  did  not  ex- 
plore together  in  the  course  of  our  rambles.  We  tra- 
versed the  entire  vales  of  the  Yarrow  and  Ettrick, 
with  all  their  sweet  tributary  glens,  and  never  failed 
to*  find  a  hearty  welcome  from  the  farmers  at  whose 
houses  we  stopped,  either  for  dinner  or  for  the  night. 
He  was  their  chief-magistrate,  extremely  popuhir  in 
that  official  capacity,  and  nothing  could  be  more  gra- 
tifying than  the  frana  and  hearty  reception  which  eve- 
ry where  greeted  our  arrival,  however  unexpected. 
The  exhilarating  air  of  the  mountains,  and  the  heal- 
thy exercise  of  the  day,  secured  our  relishing  home- 
ly fare,  and  we  found  inexhaustible  entertainment 
in  the  varied  display  of  character  which  the  affabili- 
ty df  the  Sheriff  drew  forth  on  all  occasions  in  ge- 
nuine breadth  and  purity.  The  beauty  of  the  sce- 
nery gave  full  employment  to  my  pencil,  with  the. 
free  and  frequent  exercise  of  which  he  never  seem<Ml 
to  feel  impatient.  He  was  at  all  times  ready  and 
willing  to  alight  when  any  object  attracted  my  no- 
tice, and  used  to  Seat  himself  beside  me  on  the  brae 
to  con  over  some  ballad  appropriate  to  theoceasion, 
or  narrate  the  tradition  of  the  glen— sometimes, 
perhaps,  to  note  a  passing  idea  in  his  pocket-book  ; 
but  this  was  rare,  lor  in  general  he  relied  with  con- 
fidence on  the  great  storehouse  of  his  memory.  And 
much  amusement  we  had,  as  you  may  suppose,  in 
talking  over  the  different  incidents,  conversahons, 
and  traits  of  manners  that  had  occurred  at  the  last 
hospitable  fireside  where  we  had  mingled  with  the 
natives.  Thus  the  minutes  glided  away  until  my 
sketch  was  complete,  and  then  we  mounted  again 
with  fresh  alacrity. 
"  These  excursions  derived  an  additional  zest  from 

}  the  uncertainty  that  often  attended  the  issue  of  our 
proceedings  ;  for,  following  the  game  started  by  the 
dogs,  our  unfailing  comrades,  we  frequently  got 
entangled  and  bewildered  among  the  hiils,  until  we 
had  to  trust  to  mere  chance  for  the  lodging  of  the 

« night.  Adventures  of  this  sort  were  quite  to  his 
taste,  and  the  more  for  the  perplexities  which  on 
such  occasions  befell  our  attendant  squires,  mine  a 
lanky  Savoyard,  his  a  portly  Scotch  butler,  both  of 
them  uncommonly  bad  horsemen^  and  both  equally 
sensitive  about  their  personal  dignity,  which  the 
niggedncss  of  the  ground  often  made  it  a  matter  of 
some  di^culty  for  either  of  them  to  maintain,  but 
more  especially  for  my  poor  foreigner^  whose  seat 
resembled  that  of  a  pair  compasses  astride.  Scott's 
heavy  lumbering  heauffetier  had  provided  himself 
against  the  mountain  showers  with  a  huge  cloak, 
vehich,  when  the  cavalcade  were  at  gallop,  streamed 
at  full  stretch  from  his  shoulders,  and  kept  flapping 
in  the  other's  face,  who,  having  more  than  enougli 
to  do  in  preserving  his  own  equilibrium,  could  not 
think  of  attempting  at  any  time  to-  control  the  pace 
of  his  steed,  and  had  no  relief  but  fuming  and  peet- 
ine  at  the  tacri  mante^Ut  in'  language  happily  un- 


imaUiefalatottaweanr.  JfewandtbaiMlii»litflK 
or  torf  fence  rendered  it  uraiapenaable  to  adirouians 
on  a  leap,  and  no  farce  conld  nave  been  more  amus- 
ing than  the  display  of  politeness  which  then  oo- 
curred  between  these  worthy  eoi^strians,  each  cour- 
teously declining  in  favour  of  his  friend  the  honour 
of  the  first  experiment,  the  horses  fretting  impatient 
beneath  them,  and  the  dogs  clamouring  encourage- 
ment. The  horses  generally  terminated  the  dispute 
bjr  renoiincing  allegiance,  and  springing  forward 
without  waiting  the  pleasure  of  the  ridenK  who  bad 
to  settle  the  matter  with  their  saddles  as  they  be«t 
could. 

"  One  of  onr  earliest .expedi^ona  was  to  visit  the 
wild  scenery  of  the  mountainous  tract  above  Mo0at. 
inchiding  the  cascade  of  the  *  Gray  Mare's  Tdl,'  aiMi 
the  dark  tarn  called  '  Loch  Skene.'  In  our  ascent 
to  the  lake  we.  got  completely  bewildered  in  the 
thick  fog  which  generally  envelopes  the  rugged  fea- 
tures of  that  k>nely  region ;  and,  as  we  were  grop- 
ing through  the  maae  of  boss,  the  ground  gave  way, 
and  down  went  horse  and  norseraen  pell-mell  into 
a  slough  of  peaty  mud  and  black  water,  out  of 
which,  entangled  as  we  were  with  our  plaids  and 
floundering  nags,  it  was  no  eas^  matter  to  get  ex- 
tricated. Indeed,  unless  we  had  prudently  left  onr 
gallant  steeds  at  a  farm-house  below,  and  borrowed 
hill  ponies  for  the  occasion,  the  result  might  have 
been  worse  than  laughable. ,  As  it  was,  we  roae 
like  the  spirits  of  the  oog,  covered  cap-d-ota  whh 
sUme,  to  free  themselves  Rom  which  out  wily  ponies 
took  to  rolling  about  on  the  heather,  and  we  had 
nothing  fat  it  but  following  their  exailiple.  At 
length  as  we  approached  the  gloomy  loch,  a  huge 
eagle  heaved  himself  from  the  margin,  and 


right  over  us,  screaming  his  scorn  of  the  ininidera  ; 
and  altogether  it  would  be  impossible  to  picture  anr 
thing  more  desolatelv  savage  than  the  scene  whioa 
opened,  as  if  raised  oy  enchantment  on  pnrpoae  ta 
gratify  the  poet's  eye  ;  thick  folds  of  fog  rolling  in- 
cessantly over  the  nee  of  the  inky  waters,  but  rent 
asunder  now  in  one  direction,  ana  then  in  another— 
so  as  to  aflferd  us  a  glimpse  of  some  projecting  rock 
or  naked  point  of  land,  or  island  bearing  a  few 
scraggy  stumps  of  pine — and  then  closing  again  in 
universal  darkness  upon  the  cheerless  waste.  Mock 
of  the  scenery  of  Old  Mortality  was  drawn  from 
that  day's  ride. 

**  It  was  also  in  the  course  of  this,  excursion  that 
we  encountered  that  amusing  personage  introduced 
into  Guy  Mannering  as  'Tod  Gabbie,'  though  the 
appellation  by  which  he  was  known  in  the  neigh* 
bourhood  was  *  Tod  Willie.'  He  was  one  of  ihoae 
itinerants  who  gain  a  subsistence  among  the  moor- 
land fanners  by  relieving  them  of  foxes,  polecatBb 
and  the  hke  depredators — a  half-witted,  stuttering^ 
and  most  ori^nai  creature. 

"  Having  explored  all  the  wonders  of  MofTatdala,  . 
we  turned  ourselves  towards  Blarkhousc  Tower, 
to  visit  Scott's  worthy  acquaintances , the  Loidlaw^ 
and  reached  it  after  a  long  and  intricate  ride,  having 
been  again  led  off  our  course  by  the-  greyhounda. 
who  had  been  seduced  by  a  strange  dog  that  joined 
company,  to  engage  in  full  pursuit  upon  the  track  of 
what  V  e  presumed  to  be  either  a  fox  or  a  roe-deer. 
The  chase  was  protracted  and  perplexing,  from  the 
mist  that  skirted  the  hill  tops ;  but  at  length  we 
reachcxl  the  scene  of  slaughter,  and  were  much  dia- 
treseea  to  find  that  a  stately  old  he-goat  had  been 
the  victim.  He  seemed  to  have  louftht  a  stout 
battle  for  his  life,  but  now  lay  mangled  m  the  midst 
of  his  panting  enemies,  who  betraVed,  on  our  ap- 
proach, strong  consciousness  of  delinauency  and 
apprehension  of  the  lash,  which  was  administered 
accordingly  to  soothe  the  manes  of  ine  lucklese 
Capricorn — though,  after  all.  the  dogs  were  not  ao 
much  to  blame  io  mistaking  his  game  fli^vour.  since 
the  fogs  must  have  kept  him  out  of  view  till  the  last 
moment  Our  visit  to  Blackhouse  was  hi>!hly  inte-  • 
resting  ;— the  excellent  old  tenant  being  still  in  life, 
and  the  whole  family  grpup  presenting  a  perfect  pic- 
ture of  inno<>ent  and  simple  happiness,  while  the 
animated,  intelligent,  and  original  conversation  of 
our  friend  William  waa  quite  ohfu-ar' — 
Digitized  by  VjVJt 


un  OF  SIR  Walter  sootf. 


*  9fAdM^  Fenmna  and  tha  Ettnik  Shapherd 
vmofthe  partf  that  explored  Loch  Skene  and 
baotHl  the  aofoitiinate  be-goaU 

"  I  need  not  tell  you  that  Saint  Mary^e  Loch,  and 
(iieLoehof  the  T^wea,  were  among  the  moat  fii* 
iMriia  MeDes  of  our  excoruonf,  aa  bia  fondneM  for 
th«meontinued  to  his  last  da va,  and  we  have  both 
Viatel  tbem  many  times  together  in  his  company.   1 , 
mar  say  thesameof  theTeviot,  and  the  Ailf,  Borth-  j 
wid-water,  and  the  lonely  towers  of  Buccleuch  j 
m  Hanleo,  Minto,  Roxburgh,  Gilnockie,  Ac.    1 
thiokit  was  either  in  1805  or  1806  that  I  first  explored  > 
tbeBorthwick  with  him.  wfen  on  our  way  to  pass  : 
ifeikat  Langholm  with  Cord  and  Lady  Dalkeith, 
apoB  iriuch  oecaaion  the  otterhunt,  so  well  des- 
enbed  in  Ony  Hannerinff,  was  ffot  up  by  our  noble 
host;  audi  can  never  forget  the  delight  with  which  i 
Scott  observed  the  enthnsiasm  of  the  hish-spirittd  j 
reomen,  who  had  assembled  in  multitudes  to  par-  t 
tike  the  sport  of  their  dear  young  chief,  well  mount- 1 
ed,Md  dashing  about  fVom  rock  to  rock  with  a  reck- 1 
le»  ardoor,  which  recalled  the   alacrity  of  their  | 
ibiefitherf  in  following  the  Buccleuchs  of  former  I 
dart  ibroagh  adventures  of  a  more  serious  order. 

Whateter  the  banks  of  the  Tweed,  from  its ! 
loaice  to  its  termination,  presented  of  interest,  we 
freqaeqtlf  visited  j  and  I  do  verily  believe  there  is 
not  a  mile  ford  m  the  whole  course  of  that  river 
which  «e  have  not  traversed  together.  He  had  an 
amasagfoadoess  for  fords,  and  was  not  a  little  ad- 
TefituoBsinpIunmng  throu^,  whatever  might  be 
UM  state  of  the  flood,  and  this  even  though  there 
uppoied  lo  be  a  bridge  in  view.  If  it  seemed  pos- 
me  to  acramble  through,  he  scorned  to  go  ten 
yndi  aboat,  and  in  fact  preferred  the  ford ;  and  it 

■  to  be  remarked,  that  most  of  the  heroes  of  his 
tabaoem  tohavebeeq  endued  with  similar  pro- 
peaatied-eTen  the  White  Lady  of  Avenel  delights 

■  the  ford.  He  sometimes  even  attempted  them  on 
VOL  though  his  lameness  interfered  considerably 
*uh  hia  progress  among  the  BlippeTj  stones.  UpOn 
JMoccanon  of  this  sort  I  was  assisting  him  through 
the  Etthck,  and  we  had  both  got  upon  the  same  tot- 
Ming  itooe  in  the  middle  of  the  stream,  when  some 
^  abobt  a  kelpie  occurring  to  him,  he  must 
««« atop  and  tell  it  with  all  his  usual  vivacity— 
«J  1^1,  laughing  heartily  at  his  own  jokcL  he  slip- 
pw  hia  foot,  or  the  stone  shuffled  beneath  him,  and 
w»nhe  went  headlong  into  the  pool,  pulling  me 
war  him.  We  escaped,  however,  with  no  worse 
^  a  thorough  drencbin/^  and  the  loss  of  bis  stick, 
•hid  floateddown  the  nver ;  and  he  was  as  ready 
ai  em  for  a  similar  exploit  before  his  clothes  were 
i^  dried  upon  his  back." 

Ahout  thiatime  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Scott  made  a  short 
<*«»aon  to  the  Lakes  of  Cumberland  and  West- 
"Boreland,  and  visited  some  of  their  finest  scenery, 
a  wmpany  with  Mr.  Wordsworth.  1  have  found 
JJ*"J^'i  narraiive  of  this  little  tour,  but  I  have 
Jn«  heard  Scott  speak  with  entlhisiastic  delight  of 
^.foeption  he  met  with  in  the  humble  cottage 
yjjh  his  brother  poet  theq  inhabited  on  the  banks 
J«JTasniere ;  and  at  least  one  of  the  days  they 
yot  together  was  destined  to  furnish  a  theme  for 
JlJ^erae  of  each,  namely,  that  which  they  gave  to 
J^^ntof  Helvellyn,  where,  in  the  course  of  the 
rfw»tig  apring,  a  youm?  gentleman  having  lost 
J»wiy,  and  perished  by  lalfingover  a  precipice,  his 
™J»ms  were  discovered,  three  months  afterwards, 
"Wij^tcbed  by  "^  a  faithful  terrier-bitch,  his  con- 
Jn'Wtfiijdani  during  frequent  rambles  among  the 
yPJf/*  This  day  they  were  accompanied  oy  an 
W^S  Pbilosopher,  who  was  abo  a  true  ooet— 
rj  iJWil  have  been  one  of  the  greatest  of  poets 
Jr.*  chosen  i  and  I  have  heard  Mr-  Words- 
vonn  tij,  that  it  would  be  difficult  to  express  the 

*  ^  aotfeie  pceflzed  to  the  aoof— 

k  c-i****  **  '^^  ^'^^  '^  ^  »lft>«r  Helrtllyn,"  tc, 
yg^'i  Poeiicbl  Wodu,  sdiL  1184,  toL  i..  870 ;  and 


'MUie  «f  ■  monntnln  dwlllng, 

-Jboi  iw,t  •lomb  aWfl,  and  ncM, 

"fB  tbc  vateh-tovcn  of  UdWilm, 

^    **»1,  dtllcbtcd,  and  ainaiad,"  *c 

'"oawfltxHJi  PottitttiWwk$» 


8to.  BdiL  Vol  Ui  p  ai. 


with  which  he^  whj>  io  often  hjid  dimbtd 
...veliyn  alone,  found  hknaelf  atanding  on  it* 
summi^  with  two  such  men  as  Scott  am  Davy. 

After  leaving  Mr.  Wordaworth,  Scott  carried  his 
wife  to  spend  a  few  days  at  CKlsIand,  among  the 
scenes  where  they  had  first  met ;  and  his  reception 
by  the  company  at  the  wells  was  such  as  to  make  him 
look  back  with  something  of  regret,  as  well  as  of  sa- 
tisfaction, to  the  change  that  had  occurred  in  his  cir* 
cumstances  since  1797.  They  wfeje,  however,  enjoy* 
ing  themselves  much  there,  when  he  received  intel- 
ligence which  induced  him  to  believe  that  a  French 
force  was  about  to  land  in  Soctland  :~the  alarm 
indeed  had  spread  far  and  wide;  and  a  mighty  ga- 
thering of  volunteersi  horse  and  foot,  frorn  the  Lo- 
thian and  the  Border  conntry,  took  place  in  conse- 
quence at  Dalkeith.  He  was  not  slow  to  obey' 
the  summons.  He  had  luckily  chosen  to  ac- 
company on  horseback  the  carriage  in  which  Mrs. 
Scott  travelled.  His  good  steed  carried  him  to  the- 
spot  of  rendezvous,  full  a  hundred  miles  from  Gils- 
land,  within  twenty-four  hours ;  and  on  reaching  it, 
though  no  doubt  to  Iiis  disappointment,  the  alarm 
had  already  blown  over,  he  was  delighted  with  the 
general  enthusiasm,  that  bad  thus  been  put  to  the 
test— and,  above  all,  ny  the  rapidity  with  wh^ch  the 
yeomen  of  Ettrick  forest  had  poured  down  from 
their  glens,  under  the  guidance  of  his  good  friend  and 
neighbour,  Mr.  PringTe  of  Torwoodlee.  These  fine 
fellows  were  quartered  along  with  the  Edinborvh 
troop  when  he  reached  Dalkeith  ajid  Museelburgn ; 
and  after  some  sham  battling,  and  a  few  evenings 
of  high  jollity,  had  crowned  the  needless  muster  of 
the  beacon  fire&-*  he  immediately  turned  his  horse 
again  towards  the  south,  and  rejomed  Mrs.  Scott 'at 
Carlisle.  j 

By  the  way,  it  was  during  his  fiery  ride  from  Gils- 
lana  to  Dalkaith,  on  the  occasion  above  mentioned, 
that  he  composed  his  Bard's  Incantation,  first  pub- 
lished six  yeara  afterwards  in  the  Edinborgh  An- 
mial  Register  :— 

"The  foreat  of  Glenmors  is  drear. 

It  is  all  of  black  pine  sod  the  dark  oak'tn^a,"  &c.~ 

and  the  verses  bear  the  full  stamp  of  the  feeliags 
of  the  moment. 

Shortly  after  he  was  re-established  at  Aahestiel, 
he  was  visited  there  by  Mr.  Southev ;  this  being:  I 
believe,  their  first  meeting.  It  is  alluded  to  in  the 
following  letter;  a  letter  highly  characteristic  in 
more  respects  than  one. 

7b  Gecrgt  BUi*^  Esq.  Simningkitl 

«•  Aahealiel,  17th  October,  1806. 
"Dear  Ellis, 

"  More  than  a  month  has  glided  awaj  in  this  busy 
solitude,  and  yet  I  have  never  sat  down  lu  answer  jrour 
kind  letter.  I  have  only  lo  plead  a  horror  of  pen  and 
ink  with  which  this  country,  in  fine  weather,  (and  ours 
has  been  most  beautiful,)  regularly  affects  mo.  In  recom> 
pense,  I  ride,  walk,  fish,  course,  eat  and  drink,  with  might 
and  main,  from  morning  lo  night.  *  1  could  have  wished 
sincerely  you  had  come  to  Reged  this  year  to  partake  her 
rural  amusements  ;^thb'only  comfort  I  have  is,  thai  ysur 
visit  would  have  been  over,  and  now  1  look,  forwanl  to  it 
as  a  pleasure  to  coChe.  1  shall  be  infinitely  obliged  to  vou 
for  your  advine  and  assistance  in  the  course  of  Dryden. 
1  fear  liule  can  be  procured  for  a  Life  be>ond  what  Ma^ 
lone  has  compiled,  but  certainly  bis  facta  may  be  rather 
better  told  and  arranged.  1  am  at  present  busy  with  the 
dramatic  department.  This  undertaking  will  make  my 
being  in  London  in  spring  a  matter  of  absolute  necessity. 

"And  now  let  me  tell  you  of  a  discovery  which  I  have 
made,  or  rather  which  Robert  Jameson  has  made,  in 
copying  the  MS.  of  '  True  Thomas  and  the  Queen  of  Elf* 
laud,'  in  the  Lincoln  cathedral  The  queen,  at  parting^ 
bestows  the  gifts  of  harping  and  carping  upon  the  propheti 
and  mark  his  reply— 

'To  harp  and  carp,  Tomaa,  where  ao  ever  ye  gen— 

Tomaa,  lake  thou  these  with  thee.' — 

'Harping,'  he  said,  »kenl  nane. 

For  Tong  is  chefe  of  mynstrelsie.' 

If  poor  Rltson  could  contradict  his  own  system  of  ii^U- 
rialism  by  rising  from  the  grave  to  peep  into  tola  MS., 


•See  Note' 


'  Alana  of  bvasjoo,**  Anti^iary, 

Digitized  by 


^ytJ;6Sgie 


loe 


UFE  OP  atR  WALTOR  SCOTT. 


hewoiddttiaklMekaAalntaidodfeoiiaiiddismaf.  TMere 
certaioly  cioqoc  be  mora  respectable  teMimoDf  thtn  (htf 
of  True  Thomaa.  and  you  tee  he  deacribes  the  tongue 
or  recitation  aa  the  principal,  or  at  leaat  the  moat  diffnifi- 
e(L  part  of  a  minstrel's  profession. 

"  Another  curiosity  was  brought  here  a  few  days  ago 
by  Mr.  Southey  tlie  poet,  who  ftvoured  me  with  a  visit 
on  his  way  to  Edinburgh.  It  was  a  MS.  containing  sundry 
metrical  romances,  and  other  poetical  composTtions,  in 

»e  northern  dialect,  apparently  written  about  the  middle 
the  15(h  century.*  1  had  not  time  to  nialce  an  anaWsis 
of  its  contents,  but  eome  of  them  seam  highlr  valuable. 
Therails  a  tale  of  Sir  Gowther,  said  to  be  a  Breton  Lay, 
which  parfly  resembles  the  history  of  Robert  the  DeTtL 
the  hero  bein^  begot  in  the  same  way;  and  partly  that  oi 
Robert  of  Sicily,  the  penance  imposed  on  Sir  Gowther 
being  the  same,  as  he  Icept  table  with  the  hounds,  and  was 
discovered  by  a  dumb  lady  to  be  the  stranger  Icnight  who 
had  assisted  her  father  the  emperor  in  his  wars.  There 
is  also  a  MS.  of  Sir  Isanbras ;  ilemj  a  poem  called  Sir  Ama* 
das — not  Amadis  of  Gaul,  but  a  courteous  knight  who 
being  reduced  to  poverty,  travels  to  ^^nceal  his  distress, 
and  gives  the  wreck  of  his  fortune  to  purchase  the  rites 
of  burial  for  a  deceased  knight,  who  had  been  refused 
them  by  the  obduracv  of  his  creditors.  The  rest  of  the 
story  is  the  same  with  that  of  Jean  de  Calais,  in  the  Bib* 
liothdque  Bleue,  and  with  a  vulgar  ballad  called  the  Fac- 
tor's Garland.  Moreover  there  is  a  merry  tale  of  hunting 
a  hare,  as  performed  by  a  set  of  country  clowns,  with 
their  mastlflb,  and  curs  with  'short  legs  and  never  a  tail.' 
The  disgraces  and  blunders  of  these  Ignorant  sportsmen 
must  have  aflforded  infinife  mirth  at  the  table  or  a  IVudal 
baron,  prising  hiuiself  on  his  knowledge  of  the  myMeries 
of  the  chase  performed  by  these  unauthorized  intruders. 
There  is  also  a  biirleMie  sermon,  which  informs  us  of 
Peter  and  Adam  journeying  together  to  Babylon,  and  how 
Peter  asked  Adam  a  fuU  great  doubtful  quutum^  saying, 
'Adam,  Adam,  why  did'st  thou  eat  the  apple  unpared?' 
This  book  belongs  to  a  lady.  I  would  have  given  some- 
thin|  valuable  to  have  had  a  week  of  it.  Southey  com- 
missioned me  to  say  that  he  intended  to  take  extraats 
from  it,  and  should  be  happy  to  copy,  or  cause  to  be  co- 
pied, any  part  that  you  might  wish  to  be  possessed  ef ;  an 
offer  which  I  heartily  recommend  to  your  early  conside- 
ration. Where  dwelleth  Heber  the  magnificent,  whose 
library  and  cellar'  are  so  superior  to  all  others  in  the 
world  1  I  wish  to  write  to  him  about  Dryden.  Any  word 
lately  from  Jamaica  1    Yours  truly, 

W.  8." 
Mr.  Ellis,  in  hia  answer,  says, 

"  Ifeber  will,  I  dare  say,  be  of  service  to  you  In  your 
present  undertaking,  if  indeed  you  want  any  assistance, 
which  I  very  much  doubt;  because  it  appears  to  me  that 
Che  best  edition  which  could  now  be  given  of  Dryden, 
would  be  one  which  should  unite  accuracy  of  text  and  a 
handsome  appearance,  with  good  critical  notes.  Quoad 
Malone.— I  should  think  .R&son  himself;  could  he  rise 
^rom.the  dead,  would  be  puzzled  to  sift  out  a  aingle  ad- 
ditions! anecdote  of  the  poet's  life ;  but'tn  abridge  Malone, 
—and  to  render  his  narrative  terse,  elegant,  and  intelligi- 
ble,— Would  be  a  great  obligation  conferred  on  the  pur- 
chasers, (I  will  not  sav  the  readers,  because  I  have  doubts 
whether  they  east  in  the  plural  number)  of  his  very 
laborious  CA)mpilation.  The  late  Dr.  Warton.  you  may 
have  heard,  had  a  project  of  editing  Dryden  i  la  Uuid  ; 
that  is  to  say,  upon  the  same  principle  as  the  castrated 
editkNi  of  Cowley.  His  reason  was  that  Dryden,  having 
written  for  bread,  became  of  necessity  a  most  vnlamr 
now  author,  and  poured  forth  more  nonsense  of  indecen- 
cy, particularly  in  his  theatrical  compositions,  than  abnost 
any  scribblerin  that  scribblinc  age.  Hence,  although  his 
transcendent  genius  frequently  breaks  out,  and  marks 
the  hand  of  the  master,  his  comedies  seem,  by  a  tacit  but 
general  consent  to  have  been  condemned  to  obUvion  ; 
and  his  tragedies,  being  "printed  in  such  bad  company, 
have  shared  the  same  fate.  But  Dr.  W.  conceived  that  by 
a  judicious  selection  of  these,  together  with  his  fables 
ahd  prose  works,  it  would  be  possible  to  exhibit  him  in  a 
much  more  advantageous  light  than  by  a  republication  of 
the  whole  mass  of  his  writings.  Whether  the  Doctor 
(who.  b^  the  way,  was  by  no  means  scrupulously  chaste 
and  delicate,  as  you  will  be  aware  from  his  edition  of 
Pope)  had  taken  a  just  view  of  the  subject,  you  know  bet* 
ter  than  I ;  but  I  must  own  that  the  announcement  of  a  gfh 
nerat  edflJon  of  Dry -Jeu  gave  me  >8ome  little  alarm-  How- 
evrr,  if  you  can  stie^est  the  sort  of  assistance  you  are 
desirous  of  receirins,  I  shall  be  happy  to  do  what  I  can 

to  promote  your  views And  bo  you  are  not 

lUspoaed  to  nibble  at  the  bait  I  throw  out  I    Nothing  but '  a 

•  Ellti  had  mentioned,  in  a  recent  letter,  Heber'sbajrinf  wmei  to 
usvakie  of  .£1100,  at  tome  sale  be  happened  to  attood  ihisau- 


decSDt  etfltton  of  HblBDihedr  I  emfbn  that  my  |»qM 
chiefly  related  to  the  later  historical  works  rcgpect*s| 
this  country— to  the  union  of  Gall,  Twisden,  Camdei^ 
Leibnitz,  Ac.  ftc.,  leaving  the  Chronicles,  property '■o  cafr 

ed,  to  shUl  for  themselves.     , 1  am  ifB«raa( 

when  you  are  to  be  in  Edinburgh,  and  in  that  icooranca 
have  not  desired  Blackburn,  wtio  is  now  atGtaiafo^>  M 
call  on  you.  He  has  the  best  practical  understaodiog  I 
have  ever  met  with,  and  1  vouch  that  you  would  be  miuit 
pleased  with  Ids  acquainUnce.  And  so  for  the  preaeat, 
God  bless  you. 

G.  E-- 

Scott*s  letter  in  reply  opens  thus  :— 

'*!  will  not  castrate  John  Dryderi.  I  woukl  m  son 
castrate  my  own  father,  as  I  believe  Jupiter  did  of  yon. 
What  would  you  say  to  any  man  who  would  casmK 
Sbakspeare,  or  Massinger,  or  Beaumont  and  Fletcher  "i  1 
don't  say  but  that  it  may  be  'verr  proper  to  select  correct 
passages  for  the  use  of  boarding-schools  and  colleger 
being  sensible  no  improper  ideas  can  be  siixsested  k^ 
these  seminaries,  unless  they  sre  inuuded  or  suinggle^ 
under  the  beards  and  rufls  of  our  old  dramatists.  But  m 
making  an  edition  of  a  man  of  genius's  works  for  Hbrar.«« 
ahd  collections,  and  such  1  conceive  a  complete  edUkw  ol 
Dryden  to  be,  1  must  give  my  amhor  as  1  find  hint,  oai 
will  not  tear  out  the  page,  even  to  get  rid  of  (he  bI«L  liii> 
as  I  like  It.  Are  not  the  pages  of  Swift,  and  even  of  Pope, 
Ian  led  with  indecency,  and  often  of  the  most  disgustaig 
kind,  and  do  we  not  see  them  upon  all  shelves  and  dre»^ 
ing-lables,  and  in  all  boudoirs  7  Is  not  Prior  the  most  io- 
decent  of  tale-tellers,  not  even  excepting  I.a  Fontaine,  aei 
how  often  do  we  see  his  works  in  female  hands  1  In  Cut 
it  is  not  passages  of  ludicrous  indelicacy  that  corrupt  the 
maimers  of  a  people— it  is  the  sontwts  which  a  pruneai 
genius  like  Master  Little  sings  virginibus  pvertsgwe— tl  it 
the  senlimenud  slang,  half  lewd,  half  methodistic,  ite 
debauches  the  understanding,  inllaines  the  sleepinc  ps«- 
sions,  and  preiMures  the  reader  to  give  way  as  sooa  as  t 
tempter  appears.  At  the  same  time,  I  am  not  at  all  bapi? 
when  1  peruse  some  of  Dryden's  comedies :  they  are  ^^ 
ry  stupid,  as  well  as  indelicate ;  sometimes,  however, 
there  is  a  considerable  vehi  of  liveliness  and  humour,  ao4 
nil  of  them  present  extraordinary  pictures  of  the  age  a 
which  he  lived.  My  critical  note's  will  not  be  very  noiM- 
rous,  but  1  hope  to  illustrate  the  political  poena,  as  Absa- 
lom and  Achitophel,  the  Hind  and  Panther,  Ac.  with  motat 
curious  annotations.  I  have  already  made  a  comelets 
search  among  some  hundred  pamphlets  of  thafpampolti- 
writing  age,  and  with  considerable  succeaa,  as  I  bava 
found  seveial  which  throw  light  on  my  author.  I  am 
told  that  I  am  to  be  formidably  opposed  by  Mr.  Crowe, 
the?  Professor  of  Poetry  at  Oxford,  who  is  also  threatett- 
ingan  edition  of  Dryden.  1  don't  know  whether  to  be 
most  vexed  that  some  one  had  not  undertaken  the  task 
sooner,  or  that  Mr.  Crowe  is  disfiosed  to  attempt  it  at  tba 
same  time  with  roe  .-—however,  I  now  staiKl  cootmiaed, 
and  will  not  be  crowed  over,  if  I  can  help  it  The  third 
edition  of  the  Lay  is  now  in  the  press,  of  which  i  hope 
you  will  accept  a  copy,  as  it  contains  some  trifling  im- 
provements or  additlona  They  are,  however,  very  tnflfaig. 

"I  have  written  a  long  letter  to  Rees,  recounnendiag 
an  edition  of  our  historians,  both  Latin  and  English  ;  bot 
I  have  great  hesiuitlon  whether  to  undertake  much  of  fe 
myself.  What  I  ^n  I  certainly  will  do ;  but  I  ahoaM 
feel  particularly  delated  If  you  would  join  forces  wfth 
me,  when  1  think  we  might  do  the  business  to  purpose. 
Do,  Lord  lore  you,  think  of  this  grande  cpu». 

"  1  have  not  been  so  fortunate  as  to  hear  of  Mr.  Black- 
burn. I  am  afraid  poor  DaiilBl  has  been  very  idly  em- 
ployed—C^etem  non  animum.  I  am  glad  you  still  retam 
the  purpose  of  visiting  Rogcd.  If  you  live  on  muuon  and 
game,  we  can  feast  you  ;  for,  as  one  wittily  said,  1  am  oat 
the  hare  with  many  (fiends,  but  the  friend  with  mafty 
hares.- W.  8." 

Mr.  Ellis,  in  his  next  letter,  says  :— 

"  I  wOl  not  disturb  you  by  contesting  any  pan  of  yow 
ingenious  apology  for  your  intended  eompUte  editkla  of 
Dryden,  whose  genius  1  venerate  as  much  as  you  do.  aad 
whose  negligences,  as  he  was  not  Hah  enough  to  doom 
them  to  oblivion  in  his  own  lifetime,  it  is  perhaps  incum- 
bent on  his  editor  to  transmit  to  the  latest  ptisterity.  Most 
certainly  I  am  not  so  squeamish  as  to  quarrel  with  him 
for  hi/*  immodesty  on  any  moral  pretence.  Liceotiooa- 
nesis  in  writin£,  when  arcnm|)anied  by  wit,  as  in  the  case 
of  Prior,  la  Fontaine,  Ac,  is  never  Hkely  to  excite  aiiy 
poMion.  because  every  pasftion  is  serious ;  and  the  grav.* 
epistle  of  Eloisa  is  more  likely  to  do  moral  inisuliief  and 
convey  infection  to  luve-sick  damsels,  than  five  huudred 
stories  of  Hans  Carvel  and  Paulo  Purgante  ;  b»«  «ha^ 
ever  is  in  point  of  expression  vulgar— whatever  Ui.'^piMa 
the  taste— whstever  might  have  been  written  by  any  fooL 


UFB  OF  SOL  WALTER  ^SOQIT. 


mik  dMrefor*  imwortlur  of  J>rfdMk-~mbaiUfvw  might 
bm  been  •apprMKd,  withooC  dxckinf  a  motnent's  re- 
pdlnthe  mind  of  any  ofhia  admirer^-roif^Ai,  In  mj  opi- 
rioa,  to  b«  tuppresstfd  bjr  an j  editor  wno  ■boold  b«  (fi«> 
potedto  make  an  appeal  to  the  public  taatt  apofi  the  wib^ 
»ct ;  becaoM  a  man  who  waa  perhaps  the  beat  noet  and 

bol  prose  writer  in  the  language but  it  ia  foolish  to 

ny  IB  maeht  after  promising  to  sav  nothing.  Indeed  I 
•«n  mj/f^f  ruil^  or  posseaJng  all  his  woris  in  a  very 
iDdiiireot  edition,  and  I  shall  certainly  purchase  a  better 
one  wbeoerer  you  put  it  in  my  power.  With  regard  to 
jDor  competitors,  I  feel  perfectly  at  my  ease,  because  I 
la  eaoTioced  that  though  yon  should  feneronsly  ftimlsh 
itaea  with  sU  the  material^  they  would  not  know  how  to 
BMtfaem.fum  euir£«  Aomsnton  omifn^  lo write  critical 
MM  thst  any  o*e  wiU  read." 

AlIadioK  to  tbe  regret  whicli  Scott  hwd  expressed 
mne  tioie  before  st  the  shorineas  of  his  Tiait  to  the 
inrieiof  Oxford,  Ellis  says,  in  another  of  these 
kttert- 

"Afibnry  is  like  a  batcher's  shop ;  it  oonlaina  plenty 
ctamt,  but  it  is  aU  raw ;  no  person  liTiof—CLeydeik^ 
btittrt  was  only  a  lotir  de  ybrot  to  astonish  Rltaoii}  and 
lueepc  the  ikbysainiaos,  whom  I  never  saw)— can  find  a 
Bmlinittfll  some  good  cook  (mippoae  yourself)  comet 
in  and  atjt,  *  Sii^  I  see  by  your  looks  that  you  are  hungry : 
ikaowyoonsfte  be  patient  for  a  moment,  and  you  shall 
ke  Miikd  that  you  have  an  ejueUent  appetite.' " 

I  iinll  not  transcribe  the  mass  of  letters  which 
Soott  rmnred  from  various  other  literary  friends 
wow  mittance  he  invoked  in  the  preparation  of 
huofitio&of  Bryden;  but  among  them  there  oc- 
^  Qoe  80  adnurabWi  that  I  cannot  refuse  myself 
w  plnsore  of  in  troducing  it,  more  especially  as  the 
^Kvi  wliieh  it  opens  harmonise  as  remarkably  with 
Mnc^  u  thev  difier  from  others,  of  those  which 
Scon  huDselt  ultimately  expressed  respecting  the 
mm  character  of  his  illustrious  author. 

"  Fi^nkle,  Nov.  7, 1805, 

' ' .  '^Iwaa  much  plaased  to  hear  of  yourengage- 
^«iUi  Dryden :  not  that  he  is,  s«  a  poet,  any  great 
mite  of  Dane :  I  admire  his  talenu  and  genlua  buhly, 
Mt  M  if  not  a  poetical  geoias.  The  only  qoaUtiea  I  can 
yaDryden  that  are  csscn/totfy  poetical,  are  a  certain 
f^  Md  impetuosity  of  mind,  with  an  excellent  ear. 
■^  teem  strange  that  1  do  not  add4o  thia,  great  com- 
BMioriufuage:  T%4U  be  certainly  has,  and  of  snch 
"CBife,  too,  ss  it  is  most  desirable  that  a  poet  should 
("MM.  or  rather  that  he  should  not  be  without.  But  it 
^  ■anage  that  to,  in  the  highest  sense  of  the  word, 
meO.  bekig  neither  of  the  imagination  nor  of  the  pas- 
*°«i'  ">«<»  the  amiaUe,  the  ennobilng,  or  the  Intense 
S"***  I  do  not  mean  to  sav  ttiat  there  is  nothing  of 
^Pnrdeo,  bulaa  little,  I  think,  aa  la  possible,  coast* 
«»ai  kov  moch  he  has  wftaenTYao  will  easily  under- 
when  I  refor  to  his  veratficadon  of 


aning, 
f^^uMAiclte,  aa  contrasted  with  the  language  of 
^'^'"^^  Dryden  had  neither  a  tender  heart  nor  a  lofty 
•M*of  Qoral  dignity,  Whenever  bis  hnguage  la  poe- 
^  ioiPMsioned,  it  ia  mostly  upon  nnpleaaing  subjects, 
^  M  the  jollies,  vices,  and  crimes  4r  claesea  of  man  or 
rtmhiais.  That  hia  cannot  be  the  langnage  of  irasgi- 
™|OnMt  have  necessarUy  Mlowedfro^  thia,-<hat 
^i^B^iingle  imsge  fromnatnre  in  the  whole  body 
ISIIK" ;  wd  in  his  tranalatlon  from  Vhiil,  where 


•^ 


ilcanbe  talrly  aaidto  have  had  his  eye  upon  his 


j,^--yden  always  spoils  the  passage. 
BQt  too  moch  or  this  ;  I  am  glad  that  you  are  to  be 
hS!^  Uia  political  and  satirical  ptocea  may  be  great- 
'7  »tt«iited  by  Uluslration,  and  even  absolutely  require 
jLi^'^fwct  teit  to  the  first  object  of  an  editor-(then 
iMk  wS.*"  ^^^f>^'^  diificolt  or  obscure  passages ;  and 
!JJJ|;*Weh  is  much  less  important,  notes  pointing  out 
!J^  10  whom  the  poet  has  been  lndebte<l^  not  tn  the 
SSfk?*^  of  phrase  liere  and  phrase-  there— which  Is 
SSSS*?*  »  general  practice)--bnt  where  he  has  had 
^rSrr  f^taoma  either  aa  to  matter  or  manner, 
at  A^  M  of  any  use  to  you,  do  not  fUl  to  apply  to 
^  use  thiol  I  may  take  the  liberty  to  suggest,  wMch 
kLT^*V°u  com&to  the  tiri>les,  might  tt  not  be  advlsa- 
ZrJ*w  the  whole  of  the  tales  of  Boccace  in  a  smaUer 
^">  ^original  language  1 1f  thto  should  look  too  much 
g|JL!*f'''i|  »  book,  I  should  eenainly  make  sfich  ex- 
^^^  woifld  show  where  Bryden  has  most  strikingly 
ggyppoB.  or  fUleo  betow.  his  original  I  think  hb 
rjSfSv"  Boeeace  are  the  best,  at  least  the  most 
r^^hls  poems.  It  to  many  years  since  1  saw 
C\?^»at  I  remember  that  aigismuwla  to  ilot  married 
"^*ntoGtiisclrd-<ibe  n^esare  different  in  Boceaee 


hi  both  tales,  I  beBeve-^rtakily  In  Theodare,  *e.)  I 
thtok  Dryden  has  moch  injqred  the  story  by  the  mar* 
riage,  and  degraded  Sigismunda's  character  by  It.  He 
haa  also,  to  the  best  of  my  remembrance,  degnded  her 
still  more  by  making  her  love  absolute  aensualuy  and  ap* 
petite ;  Dryden  had  no  other  notion  of  the  passion.  With 
all  these  defects,  and  they  are  very  gross  ones,  It  to  a 
noble  poem.  Qoisoard's  answer,  when  first  reproached 
by  Tancred,  to  nobte  in  Bqccacer-oothing  but  this  :  Amor 
pud  motto  Did  dbe  ne  eot  »e  io  po»$iamo.  Thia,  Drrdeli 
has  spoiled.  He  sajra  fiivt  very  well,  Hhe  fauhs  of  love 
by  love  are  Justified,'  and  thea  come  fbnr  Itaiea  of  mise- 
rable rant,  quite  k  la  Masimin.  Farewell,  and  believe 
me  ever  youf  affectionate  friend, 

William  WoaoswoanL** 


CHAPTER  XV. 

AlTAia  or  THS  CLSRKSHIP  OF  SKSSIOIT— LlTTiaS  TO 
KLLIS    AMD   LOaO    DALXXITH— YISFT  TO   LOMpON— 
KABL  SPKfCaa  AMD  MB.  POX— GABOUMB,  PBIMCXS 
OP   WAUM  — JOAMMA   BAILLIX  —  APP0IMTJ9MT  A' 
CLBBK  OP  BBSeiOM— LOBD  MBLYILLB's  TBIAL-'^a 
OWHie  ACQUTTTAt.— i8<l6. 

While  the  first  Yohimes  of  his  Dryden  ^  .e  j^iaa- 
ing  through  the  press,  the  affair  concerning  the 
clerkship  m  the  Court  of  Sesnon,  or^ned  about  nine 
or  ten  months  before,  had  a^  «een  neglected  by 
the  friends  on  whose  cotmsr  «nd  asstounce  Scott 
had  relied.  In  one  of  his  ^  ^  «ee  of  1830,  hebriefly 
tells  the  issue  of  this  nsf^.uation,  which  he  justly 
describes  as  "  an  importk«it  circumstance  in  his  Uik 
of  a  nature  to  relieve  him  from  the  anxiety  which 
he  must  otherwise  have  felt  as  one  upon  the  pre- 
carious tenor  of  whose  own  life  rested  the  principal 
Erospects  of  his  fiimily,  and  especially  as  one  who 
ad  necessarily  some  dependenps  on  the  proverbi- 
ally eaprioiotts  favour  of  the  public"  Whether  Mr. 
Pitt's  bint  to  Mr.  WilUara  Dundee,  that  he  wonld 
willingly  find  an  opportunity  to  promote  the  into^ 
rests  of  the  author  of  the  Lay,  or  some  conTersation 
between  the  Duke  of  Buecleudi  and  Lord  Melville, 
nrst  encouraged  him  to  this  direction  of  his  views^ 
I  am  not  able  to  state  distinctly ;  but  I  believe  that 
the  desire  to  see  his  fortimes  placed  on  some  more 
substantial  baids,  was  at  this  time  partaken  pretty 
equally  by  the  three  peraons  who  bad  the  principd 
influence  in  the  distnoution  of  ^e  crown  patronagei 
in  Scotland ;  and  ae  his  object  was  rather  to  secure 
a  future  than  an  immediate  increase  of  official  m- 
come,  it  was  comparatively  easy  to  make  such  an 
arrangement  as  would  satisfy  his  ambition.  George 
Home  of  Wedderburn,  in  Berwickshire,  a  gentleman 
of  considerable  literary  acquirements,  imd  an  old 
friend  of  Scott's  family,  had  now  served  as  Clerk  of 
Sesnon  fi>r  upwards  of  thirty  years.  In  those  dars  , 
there  was  no  system  of  retiring  pensions  for  the 
worn«qut  ftinctionary  of  this  claas,  and  the  usual 
method  was,  either  that  he  should  resign  in  Ihvour 
of  a  succeseor,  who  advanced  a  sum  of  money  ao* 
cording  to  the  circumstances  of  his  a^e  aiid  health, 
or  for  a  coadjutor  to  be  associated  with  him  in  his 

5 stent,  who  undertook  the  duty  on  copdition  of  a 
ivision  of  salary.  Soott  oi&red  to  relieve  Mr. 
Home  of  all  the  labours  of  his  office,  and  to  allow 
him,  nevertheless^  to  retain  its  emoluments  entire 
during  his  life  time ;  and  the  aged  clerk  of  course 
joined  his  exertione  to  procure  a  conjoint-patent  on 
these  very  advantageous  terms.  Mr.  Home  resigned, 
aud  a  new  patent  was  drawn  out  accordingly ;  but, 
by  a  clerical  inadvertency,  it  was  drawn  out  solely 
in  Scott'e  favour,  no  mention  of  Mr.  Home  being 
inserted  in  the  mstrument.  Although,  therefore, 
the  sign-manual  had  been  affixed,  and  there  re- 
mained nothing  but  to  pay  the  £ees  and  take  out  the 
commission,  Scott,  on  discovering  this  omission, 
could  nol  of  course  proceed  in  the  DusinesB}  since, 
in  the  event  of  his  dying  before  Mr.  Home,  that 

gentleman  would  have  lost  the  vested  interest  which 
e  bad  atiptdated  to  retain.  A  pending  chaftfe  of 
pecuniary  corruption  had  compeUed  Lord  Melville 
to  retire  from  office  some  time  before  Mr.  Pitt's 
death ;  and  the  cloud  of  popular  obloquy  undo- 
which  he  now  labomed,  rendered  it  intposiible  that 


no 


unw  sut  wavt&c  soon. 


Sooif  dHHild  «spett  Mtifltanet  from  d^  mrter  to 
whiek,  imd«r  toy  other  drcutnstances,  he  would 
naturally  htre  turned  for  extrication  from  this  diffi- 
culty. He  therefore,  as  soon  as  the  Pox  and  Gren- 
yille  Cabinet  had  been  nominated,  proceeded  to 
London,  to  m^ke  in  his  own  person  sach  repre- 
sentations as  nu^ht  be  necessary  to  secure  the  issu* 
ing  of  the  patent  m  the  shape  onginaUv  intended, 
•  It'  seems  wonderful  that  he  should  ever  have 
doubted  for  a 'single  moment  of  the  result;  since, 
had  the  new  Cabinet  been  purely  whig,  and  had  he 
been  the  most  notorious  and  violent  of  Tory  parti- 
zans,  neither  of  which  was  the  case,  the  arrange* 
meat  had  been  not  only  virtually,  but  with  the  ex- 
ception of  an  evident  official  blunder,  formally 
completA ;  and  no  Secretary  of  State,  as  I  must 
think,  could  have  refused  to  rectify  the  paltry  mis- 
take m  question,  without  a  derelicuon  of  every  piin- 
ciple  of  hqnour.  The  seals  of  the  Home  Office  had 
b^eif  placed  in  the  hands  of  a  nobleman  of  the 
highest  character— moreover  an  ardent  lover  of 
Uterature; — while  the  chief  of  the  new  ministry 
was  one  of  the  most  generous  as  well  as  tasteful  of 
mankind :  and  accordingly,  when  the  circumstances 
ware  expiained,  there  occurred  no  hesitation  what- 
•ver  on  their  parts.  "  I  had."  says  Soott,  "  the 
honour  of  an  interview  with  Barl  Spencer^  and  he, 
in  the  most  handsome  manner,  gave  directions  that 
the  commission  should  issue  &s  originally  intended : 
adding,  that  the  matter  having  received  the  roval 
assent,  he  raoarded  only  as  a  claim  of  justice  what 
be  would  wimngly  have  done  as  an  act  of  fisivour.*' 
He  adds,  "  I  never  saw  Mr.  Fox  on  this  or  any 
other  occasion,  and  never  made  any  application  to 
him,  oonoeiving,  that  in  doing  so,  I  might  have 
been  supposed  to  express  political  opinions  difisrent 
nom  those  which  I  had  always  professed    in  his 

Eite  capacity,  thOre  is  no  man  to  whom  I  would 
•  been  more  proud  to  owe  an  obligatioik— had  I 
so  diatinguisbed."* 
In  January,  1808,  however,  Scott  had  by  no 
meaof^measiffed  either  th«  charaeter,  the  Meungs, 
or  the  arraogemcDta  oi  ^reat  public  lunctioiMiMs, 
by  the  sGandiard  ^th  which  observation  and  expo- 
neoce  snbse«uently  fumisbed  him.  He  had  breathed 
Utherto,  as  fi^  as  political  qoeetidns  of  all  sorts 
wave  concerned,  the  not  atmosphere  of  a  very  nar- 
row eeeoe,— and  seems  to  have  pictured  to  himself 
Whttehall  and  Dowmng  Street,  as  oalf  a  wider 
ata^pe  ibr  the  exhibition  of  the  bitter  bm  fanatical 
Ncjadioea  that  tormented  the  petty  circles  of  the 
Parhameat  Honae  at  Edinburgh  i  the  true  bearing 
and  scope  of  which  no  man  in  aner  days  more 
thorongnlgr  undttsUHKl^or  moss  sineefenr  pitied. 
The  variation  of  his  ieetingSi  wkile  his  hasiness 
atiU  remained  undetermtned,  wtU,  however,  be  best 
collected  fiou  the  correspondence  abooc  to  be 
quoted.  It  was,  moseover,  when  these  letters  were 
written,  that  he  vras  tasting,  for  the  first  timb,  the 
foil  cap  of  (hshionable  blandirimient  as  a  London 
Iiisn?  nor  will  the  reader  £ul  to  observe  how  deep- 
ly, while  he  supposed  his  own  most  important 
worldly  interests  to  be  in  peril  on  the  one  hand,  aB4 
was  surrounded  with  so  many  captivating  flatteries 
on  the  other,  he  continued  to  mipathize  with  the 
misfortunes  of  his  early  friend  and  patron,  now 
harled  fh>m  power,  and  subjected  to  a  series  of  de- 
grading peraecations,  from  the  conaequenoes  of 
which  that  lofty  spirit  vras  never  entirely  to  recover. 

To  Oeorge  EUu^  Baq-t  Sutminghm. 

**  Bdiahoffgh,  Jaaoavy  2itb,  1886. 
^MydesrEllis, 

"  I  b*ve  been  too  long  In  l^thkf  yon  hear  of  m^  tnd 
my  present  letter  is  going  to  be  a  Terr  telfiah  one,  since 
it  wUl  be  chiefly  oceapled  by  sn  alnlr  of  my  own.  In 
which,  prolNibly,  yoo  raaor  find  rery  Hide  eatertainment. 
I  re\y,  lu>wever,  iqton  yoar  cordial  good  withes  and  sood 
advice,  thougli,  perhaps,  you  may  Mf  unable  to  afford  me 
soy  direct  aiaistance  Without  more  trouble  than  I  would 
with  you  to  take  on  my  account  Tou  must  Icnow.  then,  that 
wkh  a  iriew  of  withdnwtng  enUrely  ttom  the  W,  I  had 
antered  into  a  transaction  wHh  an  elderly  and  infirm  gen- 


deman,  Mr.  Qeorge  Houie,  to  be  associated  with  bim  k 
the  office  which  he  holds  as  one  of  th^  principal  dcrka 
to  oureupreme  Cofut  of  Session ;  I  being  to  disdMrgs 
the  duty  gratuitouslr  during  IiLs  life,  and  tu  succeed  hun 
arhis  decease.  This  could  only  be  carried  into  elK^t  by 
a  new  commission  firom  the  crown  to  him  and  me  ioint^. 
which  has  been  issued  In  similar  cases  very  lately,  aoa 
is  hi  point  of  Ibrm  quite  correct.  By  the  interest  of  my 
Und  and  noble  friend  and  chie(  the  DuIk  of  Baccleudii 
the  countenance  of  g<ivenimcnt  was  obiaiaed  to  this  ar- 
rangement, and  the  affair,  as  I  liave  every  reason  to  be- 
lieve, is  now  in  the  Treasury.  I  have  writtea  to  my 
solicUor»  Alexander  Mundell,  Ffudjer  Street,  to  use  c^erj 
despatch  in  hurrying  through  the  commission  ;  but  the 
news  of  to-day  giving  us  every  reason  to  apprehend  Pitt's 
death,  if  that  lamentable  event  has  not  aAready  happene<l,* 
maJtes  me  get  nervous  on  a  subieet  so  ioterestins  to  my 
little  fortune.  My  political  sentiments  have  betsn  si  ways 
constitutional  and  open,  and  although  they  were  never 
rancorous,  yet  I  cannot  expect  that  the  Scottish  Oppo- 
sition party,  ahould  circumstances  bring  them  into  power, 
would  consider  me  as  an  object  of  ftvoor;  nor  would  I 
ask  it  U  their  hands,  llieir  leaders  cannot  regard  mi- 
with  malevolence,  for  I  am  intimate  with  many  oftliem ; 
but  they  must  provide  for  the  Whi^^lsh  children  before 
they  throw  their  bread  to  the  Tory  dogs ;  and  I  shall  not 
fawn  on  them  because  they  have  In  their  turn  the  aoper- 
intendence  of  the  larder.  At  the  same  time,  if  Fox's 
friends  come  lolo  power,  it  must  be  with  Windham's 
party,  to  whom  my  politics  can  be  ne  exoeptioo,— i/  the 
politics  of  a  private  individual  ought  at  any  ti«ne  u>  be 
Qiade  the  excuse  Ibr  intetcepting  me  bounty  of  hiM  sove- 
reign, when  it  is  in  the  vjsry  course  of  being  bestowed. 

''The  situation  is  roost  desirable.  bein|  £300  a^resr, 
besides  being  consistent  with  holdlnK  my  sberifloom; 
and  I  contdaflbrd  very  well  te  waM  tUiTt  opened  to  me  by 
tike  death  of  nnr  oolleafoe,^withouc  wishing  a  mo«  wortt>y 
and  req>eclab|e  roan  to  die  a  moment  sooner  ilian  rip« 
nature  demanded.  Tl^  duly  consists  In  a  few  iMCMra* 
labour  in  the  forenoons  when  the  Conrt  sits,  leaviiig  tite 
evenings  and  whole  vacation  dpen  for  literary  pursuitsu 
I  wlO  not  relfhquish^e  hope  of  such  an  ettabUshivent 
without  an  eflbit,  if  it  is  possible,  wlthoot/lerelictian  of 
my  prineiplel,  to  attain  the  aeeooipllehaneat  of  it.  As  I 
have  aufliered  in  iqy  professional  tine  by  addictiuc  myself 
lo  the  profiMie  and  anprofltable  art  of  poem-malcing,  I  mm 
very  destooos  to  indemnity  myself  by  availing  lay  self  of 
any  prepossession  wldch  my  literary  repwtatian  may, 
however  unraeritedly,  have  created  in  my  faveor.  I  hare 
C»and  it  asefol  when  I  applied  for  bthers,  and  I  see  no 
reason  why  I  ahoold  not  try  if  It  can  do  any  Oiiaf  Ibr 

OMTSelf. 


Ferhaos,  after  alL  my  eocnmiaeion  vmf  be  fol 

i>re  a  change  of  Mlaistry,  if  su  •■ ^^  "  ^ 

place,  as  it  seems  not  tar  distant 


before  a  change  of  luaistry,  if  soeh  an  event  slMdl  lake 


If  itisoclMTwIse.  wiH 
yoa  ne  so  good  as  to  think  and  devise  sons  mede  la 
which  my  case  magr  he  staled  lo  Wladliaro  or  Lord  Greo- 
vilitt,  soppoaing  Ihem  to  cone  Inl  If  It  is  not  deemed 
worthy  or  atteuion,  I  am  sore  1  shall  be  eonlenied;  boc 
His  one  thing  to  have  a  right  to  ask  a  thvowr,  and  another 
to  hope  that  a  transnetlon,  already  ftiUy  completed  by  the 
private  parttea,  and  approved  of  by  an  ejdwng  admlnis- 
traUon,  shall  be  penaUled  to  lUcp  etfeet  lo  ikvoor  ^f  an 
uaoflfendinff  iadhridual.  1  believe  I  shall  see  you  Tery 
•hA(t)y,  oniess  I  n|^  from  Mnadell  that  the  business  can 
be  done  for  certain  without  nqr  oomlng  up.  1  wiB  not,  it 
I  can  hch>  it.  be  flayed  bke  a  aheen  for  the  Veneflf  of  some 
pettifogging  lawyer  or  atloraey.  I  have  stated  the  matter 
to  you  y/wf  bluntly ;  Indeed,  I  am  aot  asking  a  favour, 
but,  oaleas  my  sel^partiaUty  blinds  ne.  merefy  tair  piny. 
Youzsever,  WALnaBcorr." 

T^  WaUtr  BeoU^Etq^  BdMurgh. 

*>  0Mh,  6lh  February,  1806. 
"My  dear  Scott, 

"  Tou  roust  have  seen  by  the  lists  of  the  new  Miniatry 
already  published  in  aU  the  pspers,  thai,  aMboairh  the 
death  of  our  excellent  Miniater  has  been  certainhr  a  moat 
unfortunate  event,  in  as  for  as  It  must  tend  to  delay  me 
object  of  your  present  wishes,  thdre  is  no  cause  for  your 
alarm  on  account  of  the  change,  eseepting  as  for  as  that 
change  is  very  extensive,  and  thos,  perhapa,  much  tioie 
may  elapae,  before  the  business  of  every  kind  which  was 
in  arrears  can  be  expeditied  by  ibe  lUfw  AdminiatratJoo. 
There  is  no  change  of  principle  (as  for  as  we  can  yet 
iudge)  in  the  new  Cabinet— or  rather,  the  new  Cabinet 
has  no  general  poBtioal  oreed.  Lord  OrenviHe,  Fox. 
Lord  Lansdowne,  and  Addlngten,  were  the  four  norolnai 
heads  of  four  distinct  parties,  which  most  now  by  soma 
chemical  process  be  amalgamaied;  all  mast  forgei^  4f  thej 


nm  dr  SKB  wji/nsR  fumr. 


lit 


nils  Md  oMlod%  Mdmlto  In  dM 

„ , I  «fa!J«et   'Bo«1kr  this  to  i^oMlble, 

Iniaiboiriiowliii  d«fre«-lhto  modef  Mioikrjr  omi, 
if  Mr  joint  todnanc«,  comnuid  a  lOAJoritj  tn  the 
IMK  of  Commoiu ;  how  (ar  they  will,  m§  a  whaU^  be 
UMUd  b^  tlie  teccat  influence  aad  power  of  the  Crown : 
•lM(fa«r,  if  ooC  «>  iecooded,  tbejr  will  be  able  to  appeal 
tome  tme  hence  to  the  people,  ami  disaolye  the  Fkrlia* 
mtr-ai  (heee,  and  manj  other  queationa,  wiU  receive 
wy<ifer«ot  answers  from  diffisreat  epeculatort.  Bat 
k  tltt  meanlime  it  it  ael^evidenl,  that  every  individual 
vi  be  eztremdy  jealoua  of  the  patronage  of  hie  indi> 
tidflal  depaitmeni;  that  individually,  aa  well  aa  coo* 
j«ieaj,  they  will  >e  cautious  of  provokinf  enmity ;  and 
Uil  a  meuare  patronised  by  the  Duke  of  Buccleoeh 
it  •«  very  likely  to  be  opposed  by  any  member  of  such  a 
Cibi»eL 

"I^iodeod,  the  object  of  your  wishes  were  a  sinecure, 
uiiat  Uie  disposal  of  the  Chancellor  (KtakineX  or  of  the 
fnoAoAofthe  Board  of  Control  (Lord  MinmX  you  miftht 
ton  suooi  cause,  perhaps,  for  apprehension ;  but  what 
jw  ukootdd  soil  lew  candidates,  and  there  furobably  is 
M  doe  whom  the  Cabinet,  or  any  person  in  it,  would 
ied  aaj  MioDg  tnleret/  inobii(iiui  to  your  disadvantaac. 
Bb  (tfthei;  ve  know  that  Lord  Hidmouih  is  Uk  the  Cthi- 
act,  10  is  Lord  Erienboroush,  and  ihoae  two  are  notori- 
08&;  Uk  Sin^$  Ministers.  Now  wc  raav  be  very  sure  that 
i^,  or  sofBeolher  uf  the  King's  friencu,  will  possess  one 
^paruaesi,  whkb  has  im>  name,  but  is  not  the  less  real ; 
Bttod?,  ik  soperviaion  of  the  King's  influence  both 
ikert  sBd  io  flcoUaod.  I  therefore  much  doubt  wltefher 
ibere  if  tajman  in  the  Cabinet,  who,  as  Minister,  has  it 
is  kuLjmf  to  preveiH  your  aciJainmeot  of  your  object. 
Urdldfiiie,  we  know,  teas  in  a  gre^  measure  the  re> 
prweaMtie  of  the  King^s  peraunaTiofluaiiee  in  Scotland, 
aad  Iks  by  DO  means  sure  that  he  is  no  longer  ao ;  but 
b«ilaluitinay,  it  will,  I  am  well  persuaded,  continue  hi 
ifae  hiodsof  eouMoue  who  has  not  been  forced  upon  his 
aijNQF  Si  one  of  his  confidential  servants. 

''OMQthe  whole,  then,  the  only  consolation  that  I  can 
Mwatly  give  you  Ls,  that  what  you  represent  as  a 
fnatifd  difficulty  to  quite  tmaginar^^  and  that  your 
•a  pwitical  principles  are  exactly  those  which  are  most 
wiy  lobe  ssrrioeableto  Tou.  1  need  not  say  how  happy 
im  Md  wyssll  vouM  be  to  see  you,  (we  shall  tBena 
tteuQik  of  Mureh  in  lioodon,)  nor  that,  if  you  should  be 
m  to  pokst  out  any  means  by  which  1  can  be  of  the 
jywwt  ose  in  advaoclng  your  interests,  you  may  em- 
PfoM  without  reserve.  I  must  go  to  the  Pump-room 
■r  ay  gkni  of  watnr-«e  QoA  btons  yen.    Ever  truly 

7^  Qetrse  Ettit^  Eaq.,  Bath, 

"LomiQn,Peb.20;l801 

'Vf  tear  BBS, 

"Ibars  your  kind  lettar,  and  am  InAnHety  ebUaed  lo 
I^  br  TOOT  sdicUude  m  my  behaU  I  have  Indeed  been 
Otter  tutuoate,  for  the  nie  which  has  thatterad  so 
Oi&riDodly  aisoaies,  haa  bfown  my  little  bark  into  the 
v^  4u  whkh  she  was  bound,  and  left  me  only  to 
^«nt  the  misfortooea  of  mj  nienda.  To  vary  the 
n>I«.  while  the  huge  frigate^  the  Moira  and  Lauderdale, 
^fiarcslv  comMUiDg  for  the  dominkm  of  the  Calcdo- 
tifi  Hain,  I  was  fortunate  enough  t^et  on  board  the 
*f)  aNp  flpencer,and  lenve  them  Joflttle  their  dlipntes 
MleiiaM.  U  is  said  to  be  a  violent  ground  nf  controversy 
■tMSwlCkktetcy,  which  of  those  two  noble  hards  is  to 
be  St.  Andrew  for  Scotland.  I  own  I  tremble  for  the 
2*«9o«»ce»  of  »  vtolent  a  temper  as  I^uderd^Ie's, 
^wd  hy  long  disappointed  amblnon  and  ancient  feud 
*^  aU  bis  brother  nobles.  It  to  ft  certain  trnth  that 
J^  Maha  toslsit  upon  hit  claim,  backed  by  all  the 
ineodftof  the  late  administration  \a  Scotland,  to  have  a 
i;^  weight  h)  that  canntry ;  and  it  to  equally  cenAin 
ikittkalUaittons  awl  iMderdalea  have  struck  eat.  Bn 
wre  in  paofila  who  have  atoed  In  the  nin  wkhont  doora 
nr  K  naay  years,  quarreUiog  for  th^  nearest  place  to 
[°^re,  u  soon  as  they  have  set  their  feet  on  the  floor. 
*1[u  VoUi,  as  he'alwaya  has  been,  was  highly  kind  and 
"^U^wi  to  me  on  thto  occasion. 

li«ber  it  jnst  come  in,  with  yonr  letter  waving  In  his 
■J*'  I  •»  ashamed  of  all  the  trouble  1  have  given  yon, 
"^  *  th<  stme  time  flattered  to  find  your  niendahip 
^  «qml  to  that  greatest  and  naost  disagreeable  of  all 
2^  the  task  orsoUotMion.  BIrs.  8oo€t  Is  not  widi  me, 
^}*^  trafy  concerned  to  think  we  ahould  be  so  near, 
?|^the  prospect  of  meeting.  Truth  is,  I  had  half  a 
Qjad  to  tatkt  a  run  up  to  Bath,  merely  to  break  the  spell 
JJ^Jhas  prevented  our  meetlnl  for  these  two  vcars. 
■w  Kndley,  the  collector,  has  lent  me  a  parcel  of  books, 
5>ie^b«  tostots  m  tm  oensoltktr  ^Htl|hi  the  Ubertie*  of 
1  which  I  cannot  find  elsewhere,  ae  that 


the  fovteMt  I  propone  ifr 

aammtnallon  and  extraeHng. 


Wm  he  Wny 
'w  long  I  may  be 


here  to  very  nnceitafo,  but  I  wish  to  leave  London  on 
Satnrday  se*ennight.  fihoald  I  be  so  dekyed  as  to  brtef 
my  ttme  of  departure  any  thing  near  that  of  vour  arrival^ 
fwUl  stretch  my  furlough  to  the  utmost,  that  I  may  have  a 
chance  of  seeing  you.  Nothing  to  mhided  here  but  do* 
mestic  politics,  and  if  we  are  not  clean  swept,  there  Is  xuy 
want  of  new  brooms  to  perform  that  operation.  I  have 
heard  v«ry  bad  news  of  Leyden'a  health  since  my  arrival 
here — such,  indeed,  as  to  give  room  to  apprehend  the 
very  worst.  I  fear  he  hat  neglected  the  precautions  which 
the  'Climate  renders  necessary,  and  which  no  man  depart* 
from  with  Impunity.  Remember  me  kindly  and  respect 
fully  to  Mrs.  Ellis ;  and  believe  me  everyours  iaitl^fully, 

WlLTin  SOOTT. 

**P.  8.  Poor  Lord  MelviUe  !  How  does  he  lookl  We 
have  had  mi^terable  accounts  of  hia  health  in  London.  He 
was  the  architect  of  my  little  fortune,  fh>m  oirciuastancss 
of  personal,  regard  merely  ;  for  any  of  my  trifling  litera* 
ry  acquisitions  were  out  of  hto  way.  My  heart  bltfedt 
when  t  think  on  his  situation— 

'  Even  when  the  lege  of  battle  ceased, 
The  Victor's  soul  was  not  appeased.'  "* 

To  the  Earl  of  Dalkeith. 

**  London,  lUh  Feb.  1800. 

"  My  dear  Lord, 

"  I  cannot  help  flattering  myaelf-for  perhaps  it  to 
flauering  myself— that  the  nobto  architect  of  the  Border 
Minstrel's  Uttto  fortune  has  been  sometimes  anxious  for 
the  security  of  Chst  lowly  e^fice,  during  the  tempest 
which  has  overturned  so  many  palaces  and  tf»wers.  If  1 
am  r^ht  in  my  soppoaitlon,  it  will  give  you  pleasure  tq 
learn  that,  notwithstanding  some  little  rubs,  I  have  been, 
able  to  carry  through  the  tranaaction  which  your  lordship 
sanctioned  by  yovtr  influence  and  approbation,  and  that  la 
a  way  very  pleaahy  to  my  own  feeuoca.  Lord  Spencer, 
upon  the  i^mre  of  the  tranaaction  bemg  explained  In  an 
audience  with  which  he  fkvoored  nie,  was  pleased  to^ 
direct  the  commisaion  to  be  Issued,  as  an  act  of  Justice, 
regretting,  he  aaid,  it  had  not  been  from  the  beginning  hit 
own  de^  Thto  waa  dohigthe  thing  handsomely^  and  Qke 
an  Engltoh  nobleman.  I  hava  been- verv  much  ftted  Kf9 
oareaaed  here,  ahnoat  Indeed  to  suflbcatton,  but  have  been 
made  amends  by  meetinc  some  oU  firlenda.  One  of  th« 
hkndest  waaLordfionMTvQle,  wbb  volunteered  hitroducing- 
me  Ao  LMtl  Spencer,  as  nmcb,  I  am  convinced,  from  res- 
pect'le  yonr  tordaliip's  pratection  and  wtahea,  as  from  a 
desire  to  serve  roe  rarsonaUy.  Be  aeemed  very  anxloun 
tade  anv  thing  in  nis  power  whtob  might  evince  a  wish 
to  be  oi^use*  to  yoor  prategfl.  Lerd  Innlo  waa  aha  In- 
finitely kind  and  native,  and  hto  toflaence  with  Lord  Spen- 
cer wottld^  1  am  convincec^  bsive  been  sdretched  to  the 
utmost  in*  my  frvoor,  had  net  Lord  Spencer'a  own  view 
of  the  subicct  been  perfaetly  snflloient. 

*  After  an,  a  little  literary  repotatlon  to  of  seme  nse  here. 
I  suppose  Sotomon,  when  he  compared  a  food  name  lo  n 
pot  of  ointment,  meant  that  it  oiled  the  hhiges  of^e  hall* 
doors  into  which  the  posseasors  of  thai  hiestimable  trea* 
sure  wished  to  penetrate,  what  a  good  name  waa  in  Je* 
rusalem,  a  Anoma  name  seems  to  be  in  London.  If  yon 
are  celebrated,  for  writing  varies  or  for  slicing  cucum 
hers,  for  being  two  feet  taller  or  two  feet  less  than  any 
other  biped,  for  acting  ptoys  when  you  should  be  wUpped 
at  school,  or  for  attending  schooto  and  institutlona  when 
you  should  be  preparing  for  your  grave,  your  notoriety 
becomes  a  tallsmau— an  'Open  Seaame*  before  which 
every  thing  gives  way— tiU  you  are  voted  a  bore,  and  dia- 
carded  for  a  new  plaything.  As  this  to  a  oonanmmation  of 
noteriety  which  I  ao^  b v  no  means  ambitfous  of  experi- 
enciikg,  I  hope  I  shall  be  very  soon  able  to  shape  my 
course  northward,  to  cnioy  my  good  fortune  at  ny  laienre^ 
and  snap  my  fingers  at  the  bar  and  all  ito  weeks. 

"  There  is,  it  Iji  believed,  a  rude  scuffle  betwixt  our  tot» 
coumiander-in-chief  and  Lord  Laudfrdale,  for  the  patron- 
age of  Scotland.  If  there  is  to  be  an  exclusive  admlnia- 
tration.  I  hope  it  wiH  not  be  in  the  hsnds  of  the  latter. 
Indeed,  when  one  considers  that,  bv  meane  ef  Lorda 
Sidmoutb  and  Elleaborough,  the  Kin^  poasessaa  th«>  • 
actual  power  of  casting  the  balanee  betwixt  the  five  Gren* 
viUites  and  four  Foxiies  who  compose  tho  Cabinet,  I  can- 
not thhik  they  will  find  It  an  eaay  matter,  to  force  nnoa 
his  Majesty  any  one  to  whom  he  has  a  persohal  dialike. 
I  should  therefore  suppose  that  the  disposal  of  St  An- 
drew's Cross  Wm  be  delayed  tiU  the  new  Mhilatry  to  n< 

••-■•' Therein 

one  wpuk 


litUe  consolidated,  if  that  time  ehall  ever  cone. 
much  leose  gunpowder  amongst  thami  and 


•'^*»— *— ^D^efb^^^Obgie 


.     \ 


lis 

VDvldiiMktafii^eaploikMi.  FirdontheMpoUticaleflb- 
stoM ;  lam  infoetad  By  the  atmosphere  which  I  iireathe^ 
and  canoot  reatrain  my  pen  from  diacuatiog  at^  aflaira. 
I  hope  ttie  yovmg  ladiea  aod  my  dear  little  chief  are  now 
itocorerinf  ftt>m  the  hoopiof-coug h,  if  it  haa  eo  tamed 
out  to  be.  If  I  can  do  any  tiling  knt  any  of  the  frmfly 
here,  you  luiow  your  right  to  command,  and  the  pleaaure 
it  will  alTonl  me  to  obe^  Will  your  lordahip  be  so  kind 
aato  acquaint  the  Buke,  with  erery  grateful  and  respect* 
lUl  acknowledgment  on  my  part,  that  I  haTe  this  day  got 
my  cummiseion  from  the  Secretary's  office  1  I  diae  to* 
day  at  IloUand-houae :  I  refuaed  to  go  before,  lest  it  should 
be  thought  I  was  aolioiting  interest  in, that  quarter,  as  I 
abhor  even  the  shadow  of  changing  or  tumbg  with  the 
tida     _ 

"  lam  ever,  with  grateflil  acknowledgment,  your  Lord- 
ship's  much  indebted,  faithful  humble  servant, 

WALtsa  BCOTT." 

To  George  BUie,  Eeq. 

**  London,  Saturday,  Blarch  3;  1806. 

•*  My  dear  EUs, 

**I  have  waited  in  vain  for  4he  happy  dissolution  of 
the  spell  which  has  kept  us  aaunder  at  a  distance  less  by 
one  quarter  than  in  general  divides  us ;  and  sioce  I  am 
finaUy  obliged  to  depart  for  the  north  to-morrow^  I  have 
onl^  to  comfort  myself  with  the  hope  that  Bladud  will  in- 
« fuae  a  double  influence  into  his  tepid  mrings,  sod  that 
you  will  feel  emboldened,  bv  the  quantity  of  reinforce* 
mem  which  the  radical  heatahall  have  received,  to  under- 
take your  expedition  to  the  tramontane  region  of  Reged 
this  season.  My  time  haa  been  spent  very  gayly  here, 
and  I  should  have  liked  very  well  to  have  remained  till 
▼ou  came  up  to  town,  had  it  not  been  for  the  wife  and 
Daims  St  home,  whom  I  confess!  am  nowanxtous  to  see. 
AcconUngly  I  set  oflT  early  to-morrow  moniing— -indeed 
I  expected  to  have  done  so  to-day,  but  my  companion, 
Hillantyne,  our  Scottish  Bodoni.  waa  afflicted  with  a  vio- 
lent diarrhcea,  which,  though  hts  physician  asaured  him 
It  would  serve  his  health  In  general  would  ceitainly  have 
contributed  little  to  his  sccomplishments  as  an  agreeable 
companion  in  a  post-chaise,  which  are  otherwise  very 
respectable.  1  own  Lord  Melville's  misfortunes  affect  me 
deeply.  He,  at  least  his  nephew,  was  my  early  patxtm, 
and  gave  me  countenance  ana  assistance  when  I  had  but 
few  friends.  I  have  seen  when  the  streets  of  Edinburgh 
vrere  thought  by  the  Inhabitants  almost  too  vulgar  for 
Lord  Melville  to  walk  upon ;  and  now  I  fear  that,  witti  hia 
power  aqd  influence  gone,  his  presence  would  be  account* 
6d  by  many,  from  whom  ne  has  deserved  other  thoughts, 
an  erobarraasment,  if  not  something  worse.  AU  this  is 
very  vile— it  is  one  of  the  oceaaions  when  Providence,  aa 
it  were,  industrioasly  turns  the  tapestry,  to  let  us  see  the 
>ratted  enda  of  the  worsted  which  compose  Its  moat  bean* 
tUul  fimea.  Ood  grant  your  prophecies  may  be  true, 
which \fear  are  rather  dictated  by  your  kind  heart  than 
your  experience  of  political  enmltlea  and  the  fate  of  fkllen 
statearoen.  Kindest  complimenta  to  Mrs.  EQis.  Your 
next  will  find  me  In  Edkiburgh. 
^  •  Waltbr  Soott." 

7b  Oeorge  BOio,  Eoq. 

••Ashestlel,  April  7, 1806. 

<*MydearEUia, 

**  Were  I  to  begin  by  telling  you  all  the  regret  I  had 
at  not  finding  you  in  London,  and  at  being  obliged  to  leave 
it  before  vour  return,  thla  very  handsome  sheet  of  paper, 
which  1  intend  to  cover  with  more  importaot  aod  biterest- 

/  ins  matters,  would  be  entirelv  occupied  by  such  a  Jere- 
imade  as  could  only  be  equalled  by  Jeremiah  himself.  I 
will  therefore  waive  that  subject,  only  assuring  you  that 
I  hope  to  be  in  London  next  dpring,  but  have  much  warm- 

.  er  hopea  of  seeing  you  here  in  summer.  I  hope  Bath 
has  been  of  service ;  if  not  so  much  as  you  expected,  try 
easy  exercise  in  a  northward  direction,  and  make  proof 
of  the  virtues  of  the  Iweed  and  Yarrow.  We  have  been 
here  theae  two  days,  and  I  have  been  quite  rejoiced  to 
find  all  my  dogs,  and  horses,  and  sheep,  and  cows,  and 
two  cottages  full  of  peasants  and  their  children,  and  all 
my  oilier  stock,  human  and  animal,  in  great  good  health 
—we  want  nothing  but  Mrs.  Ellis  and  you  to  be  the  stran* 
gers  within  our  gates,  and  our  eatablishbiem  would  be 
complete  on  the  patriarchal  plan.  I  took  poasession  of 
my  new  ofllce  on  my  return.  The  duty  is  very  simple, 
consisting  chiefly  in  signing  my  nsmtf ;  and  as  I  have  five 
ooUeagoes,  I  am  not  obliged  to  do  doty  except  Ui  turn,  so 
my  task  is  a  very  essy  one,  as  my  name  is  very  khort. 
^  My  prlnoiiNtt  companion  In  this  solitude  is  John  Dry- 
4en*  After  all.  there  are  some  passsges  in  his  transla* 
tioM  from  Ovid  and  Juvenal  Chat  wlQ  hardly  bear  reprint- 


LBW  or  SIB  WALTBR  SCQATT. 


faub  unleaa  I  woohl  hsEV«  the  Blihop  ^  Londsa  and  i^ 

whole  eorps  of  Methodists  about  my  eara.  I  wials  y^f^ 
would  look  at  the  paassges  I  maao.  One  ia  finoaca  Cffe4 
fburth  book  of  Lucretius  ,*  the  other  fh>ra  Ovid's  InnCr  ac 
tions  to*^  his  Mistress.  They  are  not  only  dooble-««^esi 
drea,  but  good  plain  sinde-entendrea— not  only  broad,b«i 
long,  and  aa  coarse  aa  tne  mainsail  of  a  firs^rBie.  ^W^ia 
to  make  of  them  I  know  not.  bat  I  fear  that,  without  ml: 
lutely  gelding  the  bard,  it  will  be  iodiapenmble  to  r.hrc  < 
clae  him  a  nttle,  by  leaving  out  aome  of  the  mo«c  ot» 
noxious  lines.  Do  pray  look  at  the  poems  and  decide  foi 
roe.  Have  your  seen  my  friend  Tom  Thomson,  wbo  ii 
iust  now  in  London  1  He  has,  1  believe,  tite  advantai^e  o 
Knowing  you,  aod  I  hope  you  will  meet,  as  he  nnderatmn«fi 
more  of  old  books,  old  lawn,  and  old  history,  than  an^  cnma 
hi  Scotland.  He  has  latenr  received  an  appointment  xix^ 
der  the  Lord  Register  of^  Scotland,  which  puta  all  oiaa 
records  under  his  immediate  inspection  aod  contix^  mixi 
I  expect  many  valuable  discoveries  to  be  the  coosequeasoc 
of  his  hivesiigation,  if  he  escapes  betaig  smothered  in  cl»« 


cloud  of  dust  which  his  researchea  will  certainly  i 
about  his  eara.  I  sent  your  card  instantly  to  Jefflrey,  from 
whom  vou  had  doubtless  a  suitable  answer.*  I  saw  tlie 
venerable  economist  and  antiquary,  Maepherson,  wheti  In 
London^  and  Waa  quite  delighted  with  the  slmpUcJij  nad 
kindness  of  his  manners.  Be  is  exactly  like  one  of  t)»e 
old  Scotchmen  whom  I  remember  twenty  years  aeo,  l>e» 
fore  so  dose  a  imion  had  taken  place  between  Edinborvti 
and  London.  The  mail-cosch  and  the  Berwick  ^rr^rm** 
have  done  more  than  the  Union  In  altering  tfur  national 
character,  sometimes  for  the  better  and  sometimen  for 
the  worse. 

*'  I  met  with  your  friend,  Mr.  Osnning,  In  town,  nxKl 
claimed  bia  acquaintance  as  a  friend  ofyoArs,  and  twd 
my  claim  allowed ;  alao  Mr.  Frere, — both  delightful  cofn- 
panions,  for  toojood  for  poUtica,  and  for  wionuig  and  lo> 
sing  placea.  when  I  say  I  waa  more  pleaaed  with  their 
socletv  than  I  thought  had  been  poaaible  on  so  short  &b 
acquaintance,  I  pay  them  a  venr  trilling  compliment,  and 
myself  a  very  great  one.  1  had  alao  the  honour  of  dinins 
with  a  foir  friend  of  youra  at  Blackheath,  an  honour  whicfi 


i  shall  very  lone  remember.  She  Is  an  enchantinf  prin< 
caaa,  who  dweUs  Ui  an  enchanted  palace,  and  I  canooC 
help  thinl|Uig  that  her  prince  must  labour  under  aome 
malignant  spell  when  he  denies  himself  her  society*  The 
very  Prince  of  the  Bkck  Isles,  whose  bottom  was  marble, 
woiild  have  made  an  effort  to  transport  himself  to  Mo«ita> 

Sie  House.    From  all  this  you  wi\l  understsnd  I  w^  at 
ontsgue  House. 

'*  I  am  quite  delighted  at  the  faHerest  you  take  in  poor 
Lord  Melville*  I  suppose  they  are  determined  to  nnnt 
him  down.  Indeed,  the  result  of  his  trial  muat  be  ruin 
firom  the  expense,  even  supposing  him  to  be  hononrahlj 
acquitted.  WiU  you,  when  you  have  time  to  write,  let  me 
know  how  that  matter  is  likely  to  turn.  I  am  daefdf  In- 
terested in  it ;  and  the  reports  here  are  so  various,  that 
one  knows  not  what  to  trust  to.  Even  thtf  common  ru- 
mour of  London  is  generally  more  authentic  than  the  *■  from 
good  authority'  or  Edinburgh.  Besides.  I  am  now  fa  the 
wilds,  (slas  I  I  cahnot  my  wooda  and  wilds,)  and  hear  little 
of  what  passes.  Charlotte  Joioa  me  in  a  thousand  kind 
remembrances  to  Mrs.  Ellla ;  and  I  am  ever  youra  moat 
truly. 

Waltib  8c««7.»» 

I  j^hiiU  not  dv^  at  pre«>eni  upon  Scoit's  rneihod 
af  cr»itiiuct  in  I  he  circtimfitanceB  of  an  eniinet]il>r 
popnbr  nulhor,  belea^^Ti^l  by  tbcimnortunitiei*  ttf 
fasluxinble  ftdmirerp:  hip  bearing.  wWn  first  e^- 

thr  ond,  Mtid  I  nhdl  tiHW  tti'cri.i-ii»ii  m  iKe  w-quel  i  > 
produce  ihe  tvidtncii  i^l  more  than  one  tkltberat  i 
obecirver* 

Cftptlin^,  Prineesa  of  Wflka,  was  in  those  day^ 
ccm^iiiKTid  mi\*>n%  tlu*  Toriesv  wboBp  poUeir^  h^ 
hU'tHind  h:vJ  iintFjrmly  opposixiL  a»  the  viciim  of 
unirieniod  miisforlunej  cast  aNidc,  from  ihe  mere 
wnntcmnesa  of  cft price,  by  n  Rny  ami  dis^iolut^  v^- 
ItJrtuBFFj  wliilfl  tne  Pnac<?*B  Whifr  nSBociatea  bill 
efpoiiB*?d  hifl  riimrrel  and  wt re  almady.  as  tbeei^etil 
sVii.nv^iJ,  prepured  to  ae:i  pubhclv  as  wdl  is  plivM^ 
ly,  HB  if  ihi'y  bK^lievifd  hef  m  be  amonfi  the  moK 
abnndDriLxi  cif  her  sex«  1  know  not  by  whom  3e«i>lt 
WftA  fiftit  inirodni^d  to  h^  little  Court  at  Black'^ 
heath;  bm  I  thmk  it  was  pTobabJjr  ilirotigh  Mi^ 
Hay  man,  a  Jady  of  her  bedchamber^  severtL  or 
whofte  notei  and  letters  oc^ur  about  this  time  in  xh% 


Tbfoarelenlflyi 


I  olIufO<MTMpond0IIC6i ,, 

tr  tf  the  Prinoeis'i  manner  wai  obaenred  by  him, 
■I  htTe  hfiird  him  sa^.  with  much  regret,  as  hke- 
(lo  bring  the  purity  of  heart  aad  mind,  for  which 
fa  gsTe  her  credit,  into  sutpioion.  For  example, 
whn, in  tfaeooone  of  the  avening,  ahe  ooodacted 
im  vf  himaelf  to  admire  some  flowers  in  a  conser- 
ntonr,  and,  the  nlace  being  rather  dark,  his  lame- 
Mwoocasioned  nim  to  hesitate  for  a  moment  in  fol- 
lowmg  her  down  some  steps  which  she  had  taken  at 
aAip,  she  turned  round,  and  aaidi  with  mock  indig- 
BtiiML  "Ahl  Alae  and  faint-heart  troubadour  I 
roBwill  not  trust  yourself  with  me  for  fear  of  your 
Beck!" 

I  find  from  one  of  Mrs.  Hayman's  letter^^  that  on 
bong  aaked,  at  Montague  House,  to  reoitti  some 
veneiof  his^own.  he  replied  that  he  had  none  un- 
poblidied  which  he  thought  worthy  of  her  Royal 
Hjghoese's  attention,  but  introduced  a  short  ac- 
cNBt  of  the  Ettrick  Shepherd,  and  repeated  one  of 
the  ballads  of  the  Afountain  Bard^  for  which  he 
WIS  then  endeavouring  to  procure  subscribers.  The 
Pnnoesa  appears  to  haYe  been  interested  by  the  sto- 
ry, and  ahe  affected,  at  all  events,  to  be  pleased 
vith  the  lines ;  she  desired  that  her  name  nngfat  be 
weed  on  the  Shepherd's  fist,  and  thus  he  had  at 
kaat  one  fleam  of  royal  patronage. 

It  wai  ffiuing  the  same  visit  to  London  that  Scott 
first  aav  Joanna  Baillie,  of  whose  Plays  on  the  Pas- 
Bonate  had  been,  from  their  first  appearance,  an 
eotkaiastic  admirer.  Ttie  late  Mr.  Sotheby,  the 
ffomtor  of  Oberon,  Ac,  Ac,  was  the  mutual 
nieod  who  introduced  him  to  the  poetess  of  Hamp- 
um.  Being  asked  very  lately  what  impression  he 
malBTipon  her  at  this  mterview— "  I  was  at  first," 
Be  anawered,  "  a  little  disappointed,  for  I  was  fresh 
vonihe  liav;  and  had  pictured  to  myself  an  ideal 
aeguioe  and  refinement  of  feature :  but  I  said  to 
wtLlfl  bad  been  in  a  crowd,  and  at  a  loss  what 
{do,  I  abonld  have  fixed  upon  that  face  among  a 
uoofind,  as  the  sure  index  of  the  benevolence  and 
toe  ihrewdness  that  would  and  could  help  me  in 
Q[strait  We  had  not  talked  lon^  however,  be- 
snl  law  in  the  expressive  play  of  mia  countenance 
V  more  even  of  elegance  and  refinement  than  I 
udmiaaedin  its  mere  lines."  The  acanaintance 
taoa  begun,  soon  ripened  into  a  most  aSfectionate 
^^OMcj  between  him  and  this  remariiable  woman ; 
j^uenceforUi  she  and  her  distinguished  t>rother, 
%  Matthew  Baillie,  were  among  the  friends  to 
voosB  intercourse  he  looked  forward  with  the  great- 
^  pteasnre  when  about  to  visit  the  metropolis. 

loQgfat  to  have  mentioned  before,  that  he  had 
uowQ  Mr.  Sotheby  at  a  very  early  period  of  life, 
tbat  amiable  and  excellent  man  havmg  been  sta> 
jooed  for  some  time  at  Edinburgh  while  serving  his 
J^esty  aa  a  captain  of  dragoons.  Scott  ever  re- 
^oed  for  him  a  sincere  regard ;  he  was  always, 
*o^  in  London,  a  frequent  guesyfaat  his  hospitable 
^jvd.  and  owea  to  him  the  personal  acquaintance 
«  Qoi  a  few  of  their  most  eminent  contemporaries 
a  micas  departments  of  literature  and  art 

When  the  Court  opened  after  the  spring  recess, 
^U  entered  upon  his  new  duties  as  one  of  the 
f'ljcipal  Cleriis  of  Session ;  and  as  he  continued 
l^aucharge  them  withexemplaiy  regularity,  and  to 
i£f  ^^  satisfaction  both  of  the  Judges  and  the 
w.  dniing  the  long  period  of  twenty-five  years,  I 
iflinx  It  proper  to  tell  precisely  in  what  they  consist- 
^  tnemore  so  because,  in  his  letter  to  Bllis  of  the 
25tti  Jannary,  he  has  himself  (characteristically 
lH'^londerstated  them. 


,^.  - -^urt  of  Session  sits  at  Edmbur^h  from  the 
i2k  *8*y  to  the  12th  of  July»  and  agam  from  the 
**w  w  November,  with  a  short  interval  at  Christ- 
J«.  to  the  12th  of  March.  The  Judges  of  t^ie  In- 
J^  Court  took  iheir  places  on  the  Bench,  ui  his 
^.  every  morning  not  later  than  ten  o'clock,  and 
{^''fuied  according  to  the  amount  of  busiaess  ready 
y  despatch,  but  seldom  fCr  less  than  four  or  more 
HJn  «i  hours  daily  ;  during  which  space  the  Prin- 
^Clerks  continued  seated  at  a  table  below  the 
^^  to  watch  the  progreas  of  the  suits,  and  re- 
*^  the  deoiaona— the  cases,  of  all  classes,  being 
15  K» 


III 

equally  apportioned  among  their  numbar.  Tha 
Oouit  of  Session,  boweiverr  does  «uM  ait  on  MondaiL 
that  day  being  reserved  for  the  orhninal  bunnesa  af 
the  High  Court  of  Justiciary  i  and  there  ia  ala» 
another  blank  day  every  other  weeL—the  7\tu%d 
Wtdn^eday^  as  it  is  called,  inien  the  Judges  are  as- 
aambled  for  the  hearing  of  tithe  questions,  whi<^ 
belong  to  a  separate  jurisdiction,  oif  comparatively 
modem  creation,  and  having  its  own  separate  eatab- 
Ushment  of  officers.  On  the  whole,  then,  Scott's 
attendance  in  Court  may  be  taken  to  nave  amount- 
ed, on  the  averaga  to  from  four  to  six  hours  daily 
during  rather  less  than  aix  montha  out  of  the  twelve. 
Not  a  Uttle  of  the  Clerk's  business  in  Court  is 
merely  formal,  and  indeed  mechanical;  but  there 
are  few  days  in  which  be  is  not  called  upon  for  the 
exertion  of  his  higher  feculties,  in  reducing  the  de- 
cisions of  the  Beinch,  orally  pronounced,  to  techni- 
cal ahape;  which,  in  a  new,  complex^  or  difficult 
case,  cannot  be  satisfactorily  done,  without  close 
attention  to  all  the  previoua  proceedings  and  writ- 
ten documents,  an  accurate  understanding  of  the 
principles  or  precedents  on  which  it  has  been  deter- 
ipined,  and  a  thorough  command  of  the  whole  vo- 
cabulary of  legal  forma.  Dull  or  indolent  men. 
promoted  through  the  mere  wantonness  of  political 

a)nage,  miont,  no  doubt,  contrive  to  devolve  the 
er  part  oi  their  duty  upon  humbler  assistants: 
but,  in  general,  the  office  had  been  held  by  gentle- 
men of  nigh  character  and  attainments ;  and  more 
than  one  among  Scott'a  own  colleagues  enjoyed 
the  reputation  of  legal  science  that  would  have  done 
honour  to  the  Bench.  Such  men,  of  oourae,  prided 
themselves  on  doing  well,  whatever  it  waa  theur  pro- 
per function  tp  do ;  and  it  was  by  their  example, 
not  that  of  the  drones  who  condescended  to  lean 
upon  unseen  and  irreaponaible  infeaora,  that  Scott 
uniformly  modelled  his  own  conduct  aa  a  Clerk  of 
Seesion.  To  do  this  required,  of  necessity,  con- 
stant atudy  of  \%m-v^9tst%  and  authorities  at  home. 
There  vras  also  a  great  deal  of  really  base  drudge- 
ry, such  as  the  authenticating  of  registered  deeds, 
by  signature,  which  he  had  to  go  through  out  of 
dourt ;  he  had,  too,  a  Shrievalty,  thoufi^  not  a  hea- 
vy one,  all  the  while  upon  his  hands  t---and,  on  the 
whole,  it  forms  one  of  the  most  remarkable  features 
in  his  history,  that,  throughout  the  most  active  pe- 
riod of  his  hterary  career,  he  muat  have  devoted  a 
large  {proportion  a(  his  hoors^  during  half  at  least  of 
every  year,  to  the  conscientious  discharge  of  pro- 
fessional duties.  • 

Henceforth,  then*  ^hen  in  Edinburgh,  his  litera- 
ry woric  was  performed  chiefly  before  breakfast*- 
with  the  aasistance  of  such  evening  hours  aa  he 
could  contrive  toreacue  from  the  consideration  of 
Court  papers,  and  from  those  social  engagements 
in  which,  year  after  year,  aa  hia  celebrity  advanced, 
he  was  of  necessity  more  and  more  largely  involv- 
ed s  and  of  those  entire  days  during  which  the  Court 
of  Session  did  not  sit^ays  which,  by  most  of  those 
holding  the  same  official  station,  were  given  to  re- 
laxation and  amusement.  So  long  aa  he  continued 
Saartermaster  of  the  Volunteer  Cavalry,  of  course 
e  had^  even  while  in  Edinburgh,  some  occasional 
horse  exercise }  but  in  general,  nis  town  life  henoe«> 
forth  ¥018  in  that  respect  as  inactive  as  hia  country 
life  ever  was  the  reverse.  He  scorned  for  along 
while  to  attach  any  consequence  to  this  complete 
alternation  of  habits ;  but  we  shall  find  him  con- 
fessing in  the  sequel,  that  it  proved  highly  injurioua 
to  his  bodily  health. 

I  may  here  observe,  that  the  duties  of  his  clerkship 
brought  him  into  close  daily  connexion  with  a  set 
of  gentlemen,  most  of  whom  were  soon  regarded 
by  him  with  the  most  cordial  afiection  and  confi- 
dence. Among  his  feUow-clerks  were  David  Hume, 
(the  nephew  of  the  historian,)  whose  lectures  on  the 
Law  or  Scotland  are  characterized  with  just  eulogy 
in  the  Ashestiel  Memoir,  and  who  subsequently  bch 
came  a  Baron  of  the  Exchequer  {  a  man  as  virtuous 
and  amiaUe  aa  conspicuous  for  masculine  ingour  of 
intellect  and  variety  of  knowledge.  Another  was 
Hector  Macdonald  Buchanan  of  Drummakiln,  t 
frank-hearted  and  generous  gentleman,  not  the  less 


tiPE  OP  SIR  wALtfik  fi'doirtr. 


lit 
u 

wkicli  hi  mbcritcd  with  tho  hkh  hlood  of  C[anrA-  | 
ukd  I  At  who^  bi^autilul  fl««t  of  R4m«  PKory,  on  the 
•hoTMiirLochiornond,  hb  wft»  b&ncdbrth  almont  «n- 
onallr  a  v biter— a  cifcamstiinco  whioh  inu  ld"t  ina- 
Dv  b-Hcoa  ^11  I  he  W  A  verify  Nort^ls.  A  tliird,  (thotj^h 
jWlievu  q{  Inter  appdrirmt'in,)  with  wlioin  hU  in- 
iTOnacy  was  nut  leJa  strkt,  waa  itie  laic  exceUtni 
Sir  liabert  Duiidftf,  oi  Beech wciod,  Bart^ ;  and  a 
fourth,  wfljj  iliB  fnoml  i>f  hi  a  l*oy|i(>o4,  'niu  of  the 
d<»art>Bt  be  t^vt^r  bnd^  Co  Lin  MackirniKj  of  Porlmoi^ 
Wtlb  ihe»t;  MXiitiemt^itfii  ftuniiiet^i  ht^  end  6i«  li'red  in 
»ueh*iort^-taTit  faiiiiliRrity  of  kindnsas,  lUgi  the  ehil- 
df^n  all  c-alicd  tbi^ir  fatiiera'  cfjlltna^u^a  ntibciati  And 
the  rootb^ra  of  their  tittL«:  frit'^id^  Qunts  >  und  in 
trutli^  the  flatablishmeni  was  a  brotht^diood- 

Scdtt^a  rvojftinatLon  as  Qlerk  oi  ise^eiotJt  ^pi>c:ared 
in  lUft  aiinifl  G[iKi?lle,  (Mnfch  fi,  iiiOfi,)  Hhii^ti  an- 
nounced IhcmatnlfiJuntut  the  Hon.  Hetjry  ErakiNf 
And  Jotm  Ck-rk  of  Eldm  d»  Lard  Advoeitt^  and  ^^- 
licitortjptnerfll  for  St-oUattd.  The  pmmotiim  at 
Bucb  a  inorHtriitt  of  a  diaurKjuialit^i  Tury.  miuht  Wtll 
excite  iht^  won4or  of  the  ParLiatnent  H<»n»e.  und 
«f«fi  irbeii  the  cir<;umst!^nceB  werv  estplaincdt  tlie 
In^or  locral  adbarenta  yf  tho  tnumpbunt  cBune 
werf  far  from  coQaid«riuff  I  be  conduiJt  of  ttit'ir  sttJ^O' 
licira  iu  ihb  matt«M  with  fbi&luiK^  of  aatiafai;; lion.  T lie 
indication  of  such  humoyr^  wtifl  dei^ply  rwtentcd  by^ 
jiia  biiup;t{tf  $pnt ;  and  ho  m  tua  torn  ibowed  ms 
irrit&lion  m  a  manner  wc[l  calculaied  to  ex  lead  to 
higher  qimrtfara  the  apleen  Wklh  which  hbi  advance- 
ment had  been  regarded  by  (>ersona  whoLly  unwor* 
thy  of  hia  attention.  Jn  shorty  it  waa  alnioat  im- 
jatdiAldf  after  a  Whic  Mitiisiry  had  gt^ued  hU 
appointment  to  art  ofBce  which  had  for  twelve 
moathi  formed  a  principal  abject  of  hi^  ambition, 
tll»t,  Miellift^  aj^aiQit  ihv  itnpLifd  auapicion  of  kia 
having  aoeeptcd  iKimetliing  hko  a  perdottuli  olih^a- 
tiitm  at  the  kanda  of  Bdv6r»»  paliticmnsK  h<?  for  ihe 
fint  time  put  himaolf  forward  as  a  decided  Tory 
pATiiaan. 

Hie  impeach  nocni  of  Lord  Mtlvdlc  waa  aniirtK 
tiKr  ifitst  JYteaaurea  of  the  iil^w  govern  men  e  ;  Qiid 
nnoiia]  afTection  and  itfatitudc  grueed  aa  wd)  aa 
heigh  fen  td  tli^  t^jiI  with  which  scuii  watched  the 
jui^ua  of  (bia,  in  bia  eyoa,  VLTidiciive  proceeding  i  but, 
itbonarb  the  ei-miniattiir'a  tiltmiatc  ocKjtiaial  was,  aa 
to  all  ibtj  chargifs  involviAJV  his  personal  honouf-, 
OOmpleie,  it  ninat  now  be  ftllowiHJi  that  the  iuftjiJ  li- 
gation broLij^ht  out  marjy  drouiri!?lance4»hy  no  meaga 
croiJitablt!  tu  hi*  diacrHtbn ;  and  thtj  rtooKiuge  of 
hiaifiend^  ounht  nou  iherrjfone,  to  have:  b^tcxi  HXjrn- 
JbHyjubdant^  Svuh  thi^y  were,  liowyver^nt  Ic^avt 
in  IHdinbuTKh;  and  S^tt  took  hi^  share  in  them 
hf  indhit}Ra  aoni?>  wbi^h  waa  sung  by  j a  rati*  Bui* 
lancyn^and  received  with  cLatnorQut»  appU uses,  at 
a  pubbe  dmt>^T  giwn  ui  honour  of  the  «vetu  on  tba 
aith  af  iuntv  l^0<s.  I  r^ret  that  ihia  pioce  was  in- 
tdfencntlyorniltcHi  in  the  litlu  ooUeetive  tdition  of 
bit  fMMMical  vrofka;  hut  liui^e  such  i»  t^m  case,  I 
Donaidef  my 9rJf  bound  tainaert  it  here-  Howc^v^r 
be  may  htiYe  regretted  it  aAer^itarda^  du  authorised 


ita  publicat40U  in  the  j)e%9tpap«M  of  the  tLen«,  and 
my  narrative  would  fad  to  cijnrcy  a  couiriete  viow 
of  tlianmn^  if  I  i^bould  draw  a  veil  oircr  the  e^tpri^^ 


■iorTf  IhitB  deUberai<ei,  of  m>w^  of  tl|e  atrongif^t  pot- 
»onal  feebnga  that  aver  animated  hia  verae. 

*'  BBALTH  TO  LORD  MSLTtLLB. 

At»—Carrickferfu». 
**  8loc«  here  we  are  aet  in  array  round  the  table, 

Five  hundred  good  fellows  well  met  ia  a  haU, 
Come  lUiten,  brave  boys*  and  I'll  siofr  as  I'm  able 
How  innocence  triumphed  and  pride  got  a  fall 
But  push  round  the  claret— 
Gome,  stewards,  don't  spare  fl— 
'  'With  rspture  you'll  drink  to  the  loast  that  I  gtre : 
Here,  boys, 
,       Off  with  it  nerrily— 
MmLnuM  for  ever,  and  long  may  be  live  I 

•*  What  were  the  Whigs  domg  when,  boldly  puraaing, 
Prrr  banished  Rebellion,  gave  Treason  a  string  t 

Why,  chey  swore,  on  their  honouri  Ibr  AAnnra  O'- 

ooKiioa,  [king. 

And  fought  bard,  for  DuriaD  tgaioat  coimury  and 


Wall»  tbeiv  we  kAe^  boyi^    , 

Pitt  and  Jul vtLLi  were  tnia  bot&       , 
And  the  teoopeit  was  raised  by  the  friends  «f  V«  Am^ 

Ah,  wo! 

Weep  to  his  mwa&ry , 
Low  Hiss  tile  pflbtttias  weathered  the  stotm  I 

*<  And  pray,  don't  you  mind  when  the  Bhie^  fietC  vfren 
raising, 
And  we  scarcely  could  thhik  the  house  safe  o'er 
our  heads  t 
When  vfHaina  and  coxcombs,  French  political  nraWng^ 
'    Drore  peac«  from  our  tables  and  sleep  m>fa  oar 
beds? 

Our  hearts  they  grew  bolder 
When,  musket  oa  shoulder, 
Stepp'd  forth  our  old  Statesman  example  to  gire. 
Come,  boys,  never  fear. 
Drink  the  Blue  grenadier— 
Here's  to  old  Babrt,  endlong  may  he  live  ! 

"  They  would  turn  us  adrift ;  though  rely,  sir,  upon  it. 

Our  own  faithful  chronicler  warrant  us  that 
The  free  mountaineer  and  his  bonny  blue  bonneC 
Have  oft  srone  as  far  as  the  regular's  hat. 

We  laugh  at  their  taunting, 

For  aJI  we  are  wanting 
Is  Iteense  our  life  ibr  our  country  to  give. 

Off  vrith  it  merrily, 

Horse,  foot,  aed  artillery j— 
Each  loyal  Volunteer,  long  may  he  live. 

**  'TIS  not  ns  alone,  boys— the  Army  sod  Nacvr       * 

Have  each  goc  a  slap  'mki  their  politle  prsaia  ; 
OonrwAUoa  cashier'd,  that  watched  wintisra  to  mttf  y^ 
And  the  Cape  called  a  bauble,  unworthy  of  thnnlrt 

But  vain  is  their  Uunt, 

No  soldier  shall  want 
The  thanks  that  his  country  to  valonr  can  give  : 

Come,  boys, 

Drink  it  off  merrtlr,— 
flnt  Darm  snd  PonuLX,  and  long  may  Oiey  Ttf  I 

''And  then  our   revenue— Lord  knows  how  ihtij 
viewed  it  ^ 

Whtte  each  petty  Btat^smsn  talked  lofty  and  Wmi 
Biit  the  beertax  was  WtfalF,  as  if  Whitbripad  ttul 
brewed  it, 
And  the  pig^ron  dnty  a  ahama  fo  a  pig. 
rn  vain  la  tbelrvamtlog^ 
Too  surely  theM*»W»iiHnf 
What  Judgment,  experiebee,  and  ateadineaa  fflre  ; 
Come»  boya. 
Drink  about  merrily. 
Health  to  sage  Mslviuji,  and  long  may  he  Vtwe  1 
»  Our  King,  too— our  Princess— I  dara  not  aaj  nKMne, 
siri— 
May  Providence  watch  them  vrith  mercy  and  might  t 
While  there's  one  ficottiah  hand  that  can  wag  a  clay- 
more, sir, 
They  shall  ne'er  want  a  friend  to  stand  up  Ibr  Chcfr 
tight 

Btt  dsmn'd  he  that  dan  Aot^^ 
For  my  part,  rn  spare  not 
To  baaoty  alBieled  a  tiibnte  lo  give : 
FULUupsteadtty. 
Drmk  it  off  reaoily,— 
Here's  to  the  Princess,  and  fong  may  she  Uve. 
"  And  since  we  must  not  set  Auld  Reikle  in  glory. 

And  make  her  brown  visage  as  light  as  her  heart  ;* 
nil  each  man  illumine  his  own  upper  story. 
Nor  law-book  nor  lawyer  shall  force  us  to  part. 
In  Gmntvnxa  and  Spbncbb, 
And  some  tew  good  men,  sir, 
High  tslsints  we  honour,  uight  difference  foffire  ; 
But  the  Brewer  we'll  hoax, 
TaUyho  to  the  Fox, 
And  drink  Milvilui  for  ever,  as  long  as  we  Ihre  P' 

This  song  gave  great  offence  to  the  maity  sincere 
personal  fhenda  whom  Scott  numbered  aitionjg  the 
itpper  ranks  of  the  Whigs ;  and,  in  particular,  it 
created  a  marked  coldness  towarda  him  on  the  part 
of  the  accomplished  and  amiable  Ck>iintess  of  Ross- 
lyn,  (a  very  mtimate  friend  of  his  favourite  patron- 
ess, Lady  Dalkeith,)  which,  as  his  letters  show* 
wounded  Ibis  feelings  severely,— the  more  so,  I  have 
no  doubt,  becaase  a  little  refieotion  must  have  made 
him  repent  not  a  few  of  its  allusions.  He  was  con- 
soled, however,  by  abundant  testimonies  of  Torr 

*  Ills  Iffsgirtratea  of  Edkibvcfa  had  rqeoted  aa  appHnnfioa  torn 
flaminatioa  of  the  town,  sa  lbs  airival  ef  the  ntws  oTtMi  Mel- 
ville's seqnittaL 


ISLFB  OFIdlK  *Wil/fER  ISCOrt*. 


tpprobaiion  :  and^  amofiit  <itb«Si&,  by  the  ibllowiiig 
DOl0  torn  Ml*  Cmning  .— 

TV  Waiitr  Stmt,  Btq.  £dinkmrgh. 

"  LimtS<Hk,  JiUf  14, 1806, 
«  Bear  Sir, 

**l  phoutrt  oM  tlitnk  It  neeemry  totrmibtt!  foq  wHh 
adtreel  ackwTWliJdBitwTitorthe  rrry  acc^pt^ble  liferent 
whkh  j-ou  ipefe  9r3  |o*>il  u  ro  B«id  mo  thrvuf  b  Mr.  Wit 
Inn  lM>««r  '^  I  ^^  n^Jt  )4ipf  «npil  lo  tii^tr  tlAt  lume  of 
CbOM  p<r*uii»  who  eutilil  mrf  imkieil  hu  ^pM^jeet^  lo  hie< 
pteaMd  wilh  ynat  coui^ihiLlrkU,  tAtc  tUorijiht  iiniift-r  tt»  t^ 

.  nil  K>r  yciur  ex«nton«  oi  t  i^u.4i!  whKh.  (h^y  bjtvL*  luur.i'^ 
al  heu(j  ow«   It  lo  ihuuL«^-hej^  «J  «'^n  t-"^  «^  y^^'^J.  ^bat 

Teach  fitu  In  m  lUt^**;  *  iiiftmi^?r  n*  irj'>^.»Ilile.  1  ImpetlHU, 
tn  the  r:<Jtii"**  tif  R^it  r**^!  ti><i  iirc  KJt^ij  to  liTonJ  ymiT- 
frieodfl  In  lliiH  pmfi  bf  lJi«i  world  ad  I'yfHirtunirr  or  rcprj^t- 
lOf  tb««f^  v<^n-fl««kin«  i»  fjfrtx  in  pumm  ;  uin]  I  have  rU« 
hMOur  til  bf ,  4k-«r  aiif  nith  gnfH  Lrith,  j'^our  vitTx  feiiic^^re 
■Ml  obfidic^at  KHvat, 

Scoit'^3  TiiTy  fpilinsjs  npprnr  to  hjive  bwrni  kept  in 
a  very  pxcitod  sdiTf*  duritit;  ihe  whu!*^  of  (bis  ahyrt 
Teign  of  [bt?  Whig».  Hf  then,  lor  the  flret  ume^ 
mingled  k^enij  m  thy  detniU  of  coartty  pohiicjK— 
caOTttaAfd  cla^xor*"]ianirigii<^  meciin^ ;  ftndn  in  a 
word,  madif-'hTniB^lf  ^onsptcuoiiaaiit  a  Ipiajdin^  ineimi- 
ment  of  hla  pBrTy^mott*  eaii^'iiilly  as  eti  indi5fati' 
gsble  locftJ  trmnftijer,  wht^rcvt^r  \hv  parliarTwntary 
mtercat  i.*f  ilve  Bucclrwdi  farn^Jy  was  m  ptTiln  But 
hfi  wna,  in  truth,  ear  neat  and  »crnoii^  iti  hif  h^litf 
that  th?  new  niters^  of  the  cotiniTy  werti  disfioBtd  to 
abolish  many  of  u«  mast  raluahk  itiaiitmjotii ;  and 
he  tei^rtU'iJ  wuh  ipedal  jealouiy  c<?Ttain  ichWea 
of  innoTqiiiQn  with  mspcct  lo  the  e^mrta  of  liw  and 
the  ad riiim»t ration  of  iusiic*^  which  wer^Mlon  fool 
br  Ae  crown  olficera  for  St^oilarrd,    At  *  debate  of 


m 

piece  of  liumotir^  hia  afiictf^  on  the  MiieHei  of  Hu* 
mAJi  Lifij,  tu  whicU  Mr.  Jalfroy  added  Mrne,  if  not 
aU,  of  the  Rtfuwtr**  Groanjt  with  which  it  coO' 
dad«e.  It  wa^in  Strpienilx^r,  ii^CMS^  toii,  that  Mcstfti, 
t^ngman  put  fort h^  in  a  separate  voltim^  thosts  of 
hifl  liWn  BaiUc]^  whkcli,  iia^uig  buen  induaed  in  iU» 
Mniitrulay,  wflroalfiojiythtfir  property,  lOfteTherwith 
a  collectiPii  ol  hut  '*  Lyrscai  Pitcc*  j  for  which  ho 
rtiCii  ¥*id  £  1 00.  Thia  pub!ica  tio  n^  ob  viausi  y  ira  ggttft- 
ud  by  ih«  cQQtinutsd  populariiy  of  tLe  Lav»  was 
highly  i^kiCctiifisfult  h^vdo  ihukiGatid  ci:^:}!^^  having 
ticiin  iiiipobwi  of  btfore  the  first  colUcnvc  udiiion  or 
Ii  is  pot  ti  c  a  I  w  0  rk  »  a  ppt'and .  H  f  h  ad  ala  o  proi  *oecd 
to  itK'lude  the  H4JU90  af  Aapt'U  in  the  name  voliunei 
but  on  rfflectiuii  oocb  more  laid  hi^  pro^  t mired y 
ftaidc.  About  ibt  «Miie  lima  h«  tsetipd,  though  with* 
out  hi 9  ni^mCf  a  imtH!d]Dn4M>ti3  volume,  c^ntitlisd. 
'*  Onf^inal  MemOLfa  written  dtirinn  the  flreat  Civil 
Wars ;  haim  the  Life  uf  S'ir  Heno^  Slinks  by,  nnd 
Mt^iUQira  of  Captain  Hodes^on,  >^ith  Notes"  &c?, 
Scyii'a  pTtfiice  consisti  of  a  brief  but  eles*nt  nnd 
'mltrvsUiig  hioKT^phy  of  Umi  galJatUcavnliti  wlinp*- 
by  J  Uifi  notes  arc  faw  aod  uiumpoTtant.  TUu«i  vo- 
lume (by  wliich  h(?  Eninml  nothing  a»  rdiior)  was 
put  iiSttU  la  October  oy  Meears.  tkiiijilfthie;  and  iti 
Nov«uib«r,  ItilitJ,  htt  btgab  Marmion^  tbe  publica- 
tion of  which  wa*  the  firist  iniportanl  hunnep*  Of  lua 
In  which  ihu  enEtjrpnsit^g  Unn  had  a  priinsry  par!. 
Hi;  wa»  i^t  this  tiiuo  in  frequent  commumcati^Jn 
^iih  acveiai  kadioj^  bchikst^QcrSi  each  ef  whom 
would  wdJingly  havf  ongro^seiJ  hiH  labours  j  but 
from  ihe  niomtot  that  his  literary  UiidfrrakiriR*  be- 
kau  ta  be  aeriuuA,  he  acenis  m  have  resolved  BRainat 
forming  ao  atnct  a  coniieJiioQ  with  an^  oue  pttbli&h- 
I  er,  as  might  at  oU  iuterfcrc  Wirb  the  freedom  of  nia 
traiisaotioaa.  I  ibink  it  not  improhablo  that  his  in- 
'  tt^reata  aa  ihe  partner  of  Ballanlvn?  tnay  have  had 
aorae  inMatrtice  in  (hU  part  of  hii  conduct;  al  all 
eYt<ntii,  th^re  can  b«  little  doubt  that  the  hope  of 


tne  r^cuhy  of  Advocatea  on  »cmieof  theao  propoai-  dUarin^  more  and  more  in  the  profita  of  ScotVa  ori- 
tions,  he  made  rt  mM»ech  much  bnger  thnn  any  he  ,  ginal  woiks^  mductd  Ib^  compcfing  boakwilkrB  to 
had   ever  bt?fure  dcliTered  in  ihni  as*MmWy ;   and    conUnut;  ^lOd  t^ilend   tbtir  pnironaKc  of  the  Edin 


aevetal  who  hfard  k  have  asffiwred  rne,  ibat  it  had  r 
flow  and  r^nergy  of  eloquence  for  whjch  ihoeie  who 
knew  him  beat  nod  bc?cn  quite  unpreparwi.  Wht*n  the 
ineeting  broke  up,  b*;  walked  acroi*?  the  Mounds  on 
his  way  to  Cagtie  Street,  between  Mr.  Jeffrey  and 
another  of  his  r^'furmin^  frictida  who  compJimeflte*! 
him  on  the  rhf^toricaJ  powers  ho  had  been  dj^layins^ 
and  wonld  willingly  haV9  treat«l  the  subject  matter 
of  the  dismission  phyfully.  But  hie  feehnga  had 
been  myved  uj  an  e.itrmtfar  beyond  thyir  apprehcn- 
^n:  he  c^tclaJTTned^.  '^No,,  no — tta  no  lauf!;b]nK  mut- 
ter: liitlc  by  lulle^  whatever  your  wii^hi's  mny  be, 
you  will  deiitroy  and  un  derm  me,  until  nothing  of 
what  makt'S  kiooiUod  shall  rv*main."  And  lo  my- 
inK,  he  tortii?d  roLtnd  to  conceal  his  aj^tatioti — btjt 
notuniil  >lr,  Jiflrry  saw  toara^gusbin^t  down  hi* 
cheek— read ng  his  bend  until  he  recovered  hini^s^lf 
on  th^  wall  of  the  Moand.  Seldom,  if  etcr,  iti  hia 
more  advanced  ag^  did  any  feelings  obtain  fuch 
tttaatery. 


CHAPTER  XVI. 

Danm* — caiTicAL  piKcrEa^EDmoTf  or  aLL?roaav^s 
UiaoiBa,.  i&c.— MAfmt^H  aaocN— vi^it  to  LO^DO^f 
—muw—ftOfli— C-*sNiMo— Hii^e  eiwARtJr-^cort 
noKarjilT  to  the  cuMMi&AmH  on  scortH  jvats- 

PBOOCWC£ — LETIfiftfi    TO    F0L*ri(1£Y,   At,— rCPLlCA- 

TioM  or   siAjijitg:!— AN^CDuTM— rna  ■iusjbl^^gh 
BCvtfw  o?(  HAaMmx.  — I^ft—l^B. 

Diraix'i  i'  '  '  .r  T==in£;  .Trid  r-  ^  T'  ••">  > 
nned  tootcm  .  ;:  ^  iier  ahare  < .  its  .  u  rrv 
hours ;  but  in  the  course  of  the  former  year  he  found 
time,  and.  notwithstanding  all  these  p^tical  bicker- 
inn,  inclination,  to  draw  up  three  papers  tot  the 
Eainburgh  Review,  vis.  one  on  the  poems  and  trans- 
ktions  of  ibe  Hon.  WiDiam  Herbert ;  a  second, 
more  valuable  and  elaborate,  in  which  he  compared 
the  '*  .Specimens  of  Early  EnpiKsh  Romanees"  by  El* 
lis,  with  tbe  **  Selection  of-  Ancient  EogiiBh  Metrical 
Romance*"  by  Ritson }  and,  lastly,  that  exquisite 


burgh  prinlert  who  hiwl  been  introduced  to  their  no^ 
lice  as  iho  person aJ  friend  of  thn  moat  riaing  auihor 
tjf  tbi^  ihy,  Bui.  nevertheit^sa,  1  can  have  no  doubt 
iHsE  Bf-ott  waa  mainly  guided  by  his  lovt  of  mde- 
ptindtince^  It  waa  alwsya  his  nv^mm,  that  tio  au^ 
ihor  ahould  over  kl  anv  onO  houie  fancv  that  they 
had  obiaintd  a  right  of  mfmoiioly  over  hh  works— 
or*  as  Jie  uJfpr^Sfted  it,  in  the  language  of  the  Seotch 
fcudfltjfttii,  that  they  bad  eompIeteTy  thirled  him  to 
thtiif  mill  s"  ai>d  through  hfi\  aa  we  aballffce,  the  in- 
stant he  Mr^stjived  thii  least  trace  of  ihU  feeling,  ha 
asaijrtoi!  liin  frecilon:i,  not  by  word,  but  by  soriif^  dc- 
cidtd  ticked,  on  whatcvor  conifidt  ratio ntj  fjf  pectin iaty 
convenionce  the  it«j  nuj^ht  make  U  nrc^&sary  fbr 
him  to  trample.  Of  the  conduct  of  Mtssra.  LbtW- 
nian,  who  hfld  been  c>rmclpa]ly  concerned  in  Iha 
tsuhiit  ation  of  the  Minstrelsy,  the  Lay,  Hit  TriattetOt 
and  the  Balladftt  he  oertauily  cuuid  have  had  no  rea- 
boo  to  complain  \  on  tlie  contrary^  ho  has  in  vsKoiM 
places  attested  ehitt  it  waa  liberal  and  bandnoiT^ 
btvurid  hisestot'Ctatjori?  b»it,  neverthdesa,  a  negoii- 
ari.ji[i  w  K  rh  Uit^y  now  opened  provefl  frmtless,  and 
nltiTriflU  ly  they  had  no  iharc  whatever  m  the  sticond 
of  hia  on^nal  works* 

Coo  stable  olTcrcd  a  thousand  guineas  for  the  poem 
very  shortly  after  U  was  bei^uii^  and  withisut  having 
Mj^a  one  hne  of  it  t  and  Scott,  without  heeitatiorit 
accepted  thia  propo«aL  It  may  bo  gatliered  bom. 
the  Introduction  of  1&30.  that  private  drcum stances 
\  of  a  dehcate  nature  renoered  it  highly  dosirnhlv  for 
him  to  obtain  the  immediate  command  of  such  a 
i<)!iiii  i  liir  pn-.T  wTs  riehiiilfv  iiuid  h^u^  IkTotv  thu 
poem  was  pubiishLd  j  and  ii  slut!*  very  well  wish 
Constable's  character,  to  suppose  that  >is.readiness 
to  advance  the  money  may  have  outstripped  the  cal- 
culations of  more  established  dealers,  and  thus  cast 
the  balance  in  his  favour.  He  was  not,  bpweven 
so  unwise  as  tn  keep  the  whole  adventure  to  faimseUl  * 
His  barsain  being  fairly  concluded^^he  teii4eted  < 


fourth  oT  the  copyright  to  Mr.  Miller  of  Afbemarle 
Street,  and  another  to  Mr.  MurraXi  then  of  Fleet 
Street,  London ;  tnd  both  tbesd  booksellers  appstf 


?)U 


,WFE,OF  ^a  WALTKtt  sqoTir. 


irt  have  embraced  hii  prot>opiin>ii  with  ^agemeas. 
**  I  am/^  Marrav  wrote  lo  Constable,  on  the  6th 
Pebrusnj  IWTt  ^f^^V  senajble  of  the  kind  renieiTi' 
branceof  me  m  ^ourlibt-ral  piirchnse.  You  have 
rendered  Mr  MiUer  no  kss  happy  by  your  admi^Hion 
0?  hiin  i  anil  we  both  view  ii  as  honourabfe.  pronta- 
Me,  anfj  storious  to  he  cont^rned  in  the  publication 
of  a  fie w  pc»em  by  Walter  Srott*"  The  nt^wa  that 
a  thouaapciiTuineaahad  hecnpald  for  an  unBeen  and 
unfinUhf^d  SIS.  aiJp^arcd  in  thost^dnys  portetitous: 
and  It  muat  be  allowed  that  the  wri^er  who  received 
euch  a  eum  for  a  perforrnanec  in  embryo,  had  made 
a  grfcat  arep  in  the  hazards,  as  weli  aa  In  thehunour^, 
orauihorBliip. 

Tlio  private  circumatantea  whith  he  allLtdi^f  to  aa 
ha\^np  precipiiatfti  hi*re-appuarance  as  a  tioetj  w^ra 
connected  with  his  brother  Thomas's  final  with- 
drawal fiom  the  profession  of  a  Writer  to  tlu;  Signet* 
which  arranaeuiefit  acema  to  have  become  quite  i\e- 
caatjary  towards  the  end  of  ISO& ;  but  it  is  extrt'ii\ely 
iiriprobnblfi  that^  in  the  absence  of  any  such  occtir- 
remej  a  young,  energetic,  aod  auihitiousTnan,  would 
have  long  reaiated  the  cheering  atimulua  of  »uch 
^cceas  aa  had  attended  the  Lay  of  the  Laat  Min- 

**I  had  fornxed^^'  he  says*  "the  prudent  resolution 
la  bestow  a  little  more  labour  than  1  had  yet  done 
on  iTiy  prod  actions,  and  to  he  in  no  hurry  a^ain  to 
antiunnce  myself  as  a  i;andidate  for  hterary  fame. 

'  Accordinely*  particular  paaaagcs  of  a  poem  w^uch 
was  finally  called  '  I^Iarmian*  were  iaboured  with  a 
jRood  deal  of  eart>  by  one  by  whom  mudi  Cftrc  was 
»cldom  beatiJWtKJ,  Whether  the  work  waa  worth 
the  labour  or  not*  I  am  no  competent  judj^e  j  but  I 
may  be  permitted  to  aay,  that  the  period  of  its  com* 

'  poaitism  was  a  very  happy  on<J  in  my  life  s  ao  much 
fcj,  that  1  remember  with  pleasure  at  this  momeni 
(l53&>  tome  of  the  apoia  in  which  particular  passa- 
ges were  composed.  It  is  probably  <i^'ittf?  to  thia 
tbat  the  in  trod  uct  ions  to  the  several  cantos  asBiimed 
the  form  of  faniiliar  ept^itles  to  my  intimate  frtenda, 
IQ  which  I  alluded,  perhapa  more  than  was  xieces- 
aary  or  graceful,  to  my  doinrstic  occupations  and 

,  amusemeuTs— alocuacity  whiehmayba  eictlsed  by 

■  tho«  who  remonvber  that  I  waa  atiu  yonoff,  light- 
headed, and  happy,  and  that  ifui  ^  iha  ahundanct 
of  thf.  hiiirl  the  TATuth  st^ttiketh"* 
The  first  four  af  the  Introductory  Em  sties  ate  da- 

'  led  Ashestielt  and  they  point  out  very  utstinetly  some 
of  tbe  "  spots*'  which,  after  the  lapiJc  of  an  many 
years*  be  reineml>ered  wnth  plcasurr^,  for  their  con- 

'  pexio n  with partic u1  af  paaiaK<?s  of  M a rm ion ■  Th era 
in  a  knoll  with  eome  tall  old  ashes  on  the  adjoining 
farm  et  the  Peel^  wbrre  he  waa  very  faud  of  sitting 
bv  himatlf,  and  it  still  bears  the  name  of  the  Sh^.- 
p^*  ft'nauffiv  Another  favourite  Fcai  waa  bcncAth  a 
nug^e  oak  hard  by  the  Tweed,  at  ibeejctiemity  of  ihe 
haufh  of  AsheatieL  It  was  here;  tlvit  while  ineth- 
tating  hia  veraca,  he  uaed 

**  ti>  Btrayt 
A4id  ^nate  the  iolitar^  ^>y 
ij  pltKklnf  from  5  on  ftn  tha  rwi, 
And  watcti  It  tlu^^oa  d^wfi  ih«  Twoed  i 
Of  MIy  list  iheihTilliRf  lay 
,  With  wlikb  the  LaUtmaiiJ  ehcc-rs  her  way. 

Marking  itciLjkac4:^rSBit!  and  falL, 
An  firoca  the  Acid,  b^eieoih  her  pill, 
ffhe  trfpf  H  down  the  uneven  dule.** 

He  fTt!qaently  tvandrt^ed  far  from  boTuei  howt^vcr^ 

ilteaded  (>nly  by  his  doi%  and  would  return  late  in 

•  xTiQ  evening,  navintr  let  hours  after  hottrs  slip  nway 

among  the  soft  und  melnncholy  wildernaasea  where 

farrow  treepa  from  her  foumainfl.    The  hnes, 

<'  on  t(]  my  miniJ  such  Jhouahu  awake^ 
By  Itjrti?  Saint  M^fy^*  aUent  lalCff,"  ACf 

paim  a  acena  not  U-sa  impreasive  than  what  Byron 
found  anddat  the  gigantic  pinea  of  the  forest  of  Ru* 
venna  j  and  hoiv  cotnpk'toly  doea  he  set  himself  be- 
fore us  in  the  momiint  of  his  gentler  and  more  ao- 
\  hmB  uiapuation,  by  the  cJoiiinj;  cotjptetf 

*  IntigductioQ  ta  Humioo,  tS». 


"Tour  horie's  hoof-tread  toiuidi  too  rade, 
doadlly  UthBMlltu4a.'» 

But  when  the  theme  was  of  a  more  stirring  order,  hi 
enjoyed  mmoing  itoYdr^rakeand  fell  at  the  Ml 
8Med  of  hit  LUuUaurU.  I  well  remember  his  nj' 
ing,  as  I  rode  with  him  across  the  hills  from  Ana- 
ti^  to  Newark  one  day  in  his  declining  yearsy  Oh, 
man,  I  had  many  a  grand  sallop  among  these bnwi 
when  I  was  thinking  or  lllarmion,  but  a  trotbu 
canny  pony  muat  senre  me  now."  His  fnenOi  Mr. 
Skene,  however,  informs  me  that  many  of  the  mm 
energetic  descriptions,  and  particularly  that  of  the 
battle  of  Flodden,  were  struck  out  whde  he  wy  a 
quarters  again  with  his  caTalry,  ip  t™*"^? 
1807.  "  In  the  intervals  of  dnllmg/'  be  wysi,  w»5 
used  to  delight  in  walking  his  nowerful  black  stea 
up  and  down  by  himself  upon  thePoriobelTo  sanft 
within  the  beaungof  the  surge;  and  now  and  tpei 
you  would  see  him  plunge  m  his  spurs  «nd  go  on  m 
if  at  the  chaMe,  with  the  spm  dashing  about  hui 
As  we  rode  back  to  Biusaelburgh,  he  often  came 
and  placed  himself  beside  me  to  repeat  thevaw 
that  he  had  been  composing  during  these  paoaesa 
our  exercise."  ,  ,  ,   _^    .   r  .u. 

He  seems  to  have  commumcated  fragments  oi  toe 
poem  very  freely  during  the  whole  rf  i^J?"'??'' 
As  early  as  lhe22d  February,  1807, 1  fin? 3^.^ 
man  acknowledging,  in  the  name  of  the  mic» 
of  Wales,  the  receipt  of  a  copy  of  the  Introducg* 
to  Canto  III.,  in  which  occurs  the  uibute  to  Hff 
Royal  Highnesses  heroic  father,  mortally  foafldflj 
the  year  before  at  Jena-a  tribute  80  iratefullohj 
feelings,  that  she  herself  shortly  after  sent  the  pg 
an  el^ant  silver  vase  as  a  memorial  of  ber  tpaM 
fulness.  And  about  the  same  tiine  the  MarduoMj 
of  Abercorn  expresses  the  delight  with  whica  m 
she  ril  iirlvro  Lrsd  read  the  generous  vewMg 
Pii!  ,  ,     r  .^jtr  of  1  hose  epistles.   d\iiw 

conutixjon  v^th  il\\<  noble  family  was  no  new oM' 
for  his  father,  and  afterwarda  his  brother  TnomMi 
had  been  the  auditors  of  tbtir  Scotch  rental. 

In  Mirch  ilia  reat^archca  c^neemmg  Drydcno^- 
ricd  him  again  to  tbe  sou  tli.  During  several  wg| 
ht  gave  Tib  day  pretty  recularly  to  ibepamp^ 
and  MS S.  of  the  British  Museum,  And  tbeevenfflg 
to  I hp  hrsl] i hm  ^iri^tJes  that  now  courtsdhun  wnen 
^M  ■  V  ::■''  ■■>.  ^'i- -h.ro.    Hjs  receat  poj- 

fii  .!  brief  reign  of  d^ 

Whigs,  Mem  to  U.YC  i'i^vicar^  for  him  jn  J^g 
casipn  a  welcome  of  redoubled  warmth  anaoDg »» 
leaders  of  his  own  now  onc^  more  victonous  jwnj. 
"As  I  had,"  he  writes  to  his  brother-in-law,  mij; 
dia,  "  contrary  to  many  who  avowed  the  same  »f 
nions  in  sunshine,  held  fast  nay  mjegniy  dunnjiw 
Foxites'  interval  of  povror,  1  found  mMo}^ 
very  well  with  Oie  new  admmistraoon.'j  But  he  u^ 
formly  reserved  his  Saturday  and  Sunday  athtfW^ 
Mr.  filli,  at  Snnniiwhill,  or  Lord  and  Lady  Aberoom 
at  their  beautiful  villa  near  Stanmorej  and^einw 
copy  of  Cantos  L  and  U.  of  Marmion  aUests  tD»| 
moat  of  it  reached  Ballantyne  in  sheets,  ^^^. 
theMarmiis,  or  his  son-m-Iaw,  Lord  Aberdeen,  a» 
ring  April,  1807.      .  ,       u>»^*i«t 

fefore  he  turned  homeward,  ne  made  a  snon  j» 
to  his  friend  WiUiam  Stewart/ Rowk  at  bis  ^o^*?; 
of  Gundimore,  in  Hampshire,  and  enmi^^r 
company  various  long  rides  m^be  NewFow 
day  m  the  dockyard  of  Portsmouth,  *n<Mwo  w 
three  more  in  the  Isle  of  witit.*  Several  A«2w 
the  MS.,  and  corrected  prooiii  of  Canto  III.,  aw  v^ 

•  I  am  «ure  I shaO  gratify  ewy  reader  oy «*«!5!J*|l2» or 
aOuding  to  Scott't  visit  at  Mr  Row'i  Manos  VilJaJW" -^jj^ 
pobUAedpoem,  enUl4od'*GttDdnnQre,    «ndor  placed  ai  w 
potal  by  MS  host 


•  Htre  Walter  Scoit  imtwdo'd  ih«  n 
Btre  he  with  mm  ha*  Jojr'd  to  walk  or  anuw '  .  ^  ,^ 
Aad  h«8oaba«i»ri«ked  throaab  Yua'a  bolt,  phot  wa 
Hava  called  to  mlod  how  ooder  treen«rood  cre«, 
Piarcad  by  the  partner  of  hfa  •  woodland  araft/ 
King  Ru6ufeU  bjTrmlPa  random  abaft. 
Heiusa  ba««  wa  ranged  br  Celtio  aampa  aud  b*J»2!i- 
Or  clln*«J  the  eipectanl  bark,  to  thread  ib»Vvr99* 
Of  Rural,  booad  weMward  to  «ll»S'««?»y^?**. . 
Whara  Ciarle*  WM  iirtoimad  In  r«m  Id»ad  iwr« » 
Of  f<om  a  loacer  flifhi  ftUg ht«d  where   ^  p 
0«r  tiaTia*  ttTecruIl  ih«!r  etraof  th  repay^V- 


LirE  OP  SIR  WALTER  iSCOTT. 


IIT 


HBdereoven  frtnked  from  Gandimore  by  Mr.  Rose ; 
gni  I  think  I  roust  quote  the  note  which  accompa- 
nied one  of  these  detachments,  as  showing;  the  good- 
natured  buoyancv  of  mind  and  temi>er  with  which 
the  Poet  received  in  every  stage  of  nis  progress  the 
hints  and  suggestions  of  his  watchful  friends,  Er- 
skineand  B^lantyne.  The  latter  having  animad- 
verted on  the  first  draught  of  the  song,  "  Where 
shall  the  Lovprrest,"  and  sketched  what  he  thought 
would  be  a  better  arrangement  of  fhe  stanza— Scott 
answers  as  follows  ;— 

"  Dear  Jkmet, 

"  I  am  much  obliged  to  you  for  the  rhymes.  1  pre- 
same  it  can  make  no  a  fferepce  as  to  the  air  if  the  first 
three  Unes  rhyme ;  and  I  wish  to  know,  with  your  leisure, 
if  It  is  abaotutely  necesuxy  that  the  fourth  should  be  out 
of  poetie  rhythm,  as  'the  deserted  (air  one*  certainly  is. 
—ror  example,  woold  this  do  1 

*  (Should  my  heart  from  thee  falter, 
To  aaother  love  alter, 
(For  the  rhyme  we'll  say  Walter) 
Desening  my  lover.' 

There  is  here  the  same  number  of  syllables,  but  arrang 
ed  io  cadence.  I  return  the  proof,  and  send  more  copy. 
There  will  be  six  Cantos.    Yours  truly, 

\V.  8." 

In  the  first  week  of  May  we  find  him  at  Lichfield, 
having  diverged  from  the  great  road  to  Scotland  for 
the  purpose  of  visiting  Miss  Seward.  Her  account 
of  her  old  correspondent,  whom  till  now  she  had 
never  seen,  was  addressed  to  Mr.  Car>',  the  transla- 
tor of  Dante ;  and  it  may  interest  the  reader  to 
conmue  it  with  other  similar  sketches  of  earlier 
and  later  date.  "  On  Friday  last,"  she  says,  "  the 
poetically  great  Walter  Scott  came  '  like  a  sunbeam 
to  ray  dwelling.*  This  proudest  boast  of  the  Cale- 
donian muse  18  tall,  and  rathei  robust  than  slender, 
but  lame  in  the  same  manner  as  Mr.  Hay  ley,  and  in 
a  gretiier  measure.  Neither  the  contour  ot  his  foce 
nor  yet  hia  features  are  elegant;  his  completion 
healthy,  and  somewhat  fair,  without  bloom.  We 
find  the  aingularity  of  brown  hair  and  eyelashes^ 
with  flaxen  eyebrows,  and  a  countenance  open,  in- 
genuous, and  benevolent.  When  seriously  conver- 
sing or  earnestly  atteutive,  though  his  eyes  are  ra- 
ther of  a  lightish  grey,  deep  thought  is  on  their  Uds : 
he  contracts  his  brow,  and  the  rays  of  geniua  gleam 
aslant  from  the  orbs  beneath  them.  An  upper  lip 
too  long  prevents  his  mouth  from  being  decidedly 
handsome,  but  the  sweetest  emanations  of  temper 
and  heart  play  about  it  when  he  talks  cheerfully  or 
smiles ;  and  m  company  he  is  much  oftener  gay 
than  contemplative.  His  conversation—an  oyer- 
flowing  fountain  of  brilliant  wit,  apposite  allusion, 
and  playfiii  archness— while  on  senoiis  themes  it  is 
nervous  and  eloquent :  the  accent  decidedly  Scotch, 
yet  by  no  means  broad.  On  the  whole,  no  expecta- 
tion IS  disappointed  which  his  poetry  must  excite  in 
all  who'fipel  the  power  and  graces  of  human  inspi- 

Aad  ibere  hav«  m«ii  tb«  ready  ahot  and  fun  ; 

8e«n  iu  nd  ateam  the  onoUen  eopp«r  run ; 

Aod  BwaatTe  anchor  forgad.  whoM  iron  teeth 

Sboold  bold  Um  tbree-daekad  thio  wb«n  bill  ova  teethe  ; 

And  whMB  the  araeoal'adftxk  •tithy  riuiff 

Witk  Um  Ioa-1  haromara  of  the  Cjrdop-ganr, 

twallovinf  ih«  darknaaa  ap,  have  lecn  with  wonder, 

The  flaahinf  fire,  aod  heard  faat-followiog  thunder. 

Hew,  witched  from  aumroer  tea  aitd  lofter  relf  n, 

Foaaelo  eoortad  Maaa  of  milder  strain. 

Oa  thaaa  lihbcd  aan4«  waa  Coleridge  pleaaed  Uf  pace, 

While  ebbiu^  aeaa  bare  humroed  a  rolling  baae 

To  his  n»pt  talk.     Ala«  !  alt  theie  are  gooe, 

*  And  I  and  other  ereeplnr  thing*  life  on' 
The  flaak  no  mon,  dear  Walter,  ihan  I  qvafT 
With  lh««.  no  mote  eujar  thf  hearty  laugh. 
No  more  ahalt  thou  to  me  extend  thy  hand, 
A  velcx>in«  pilgrim  to  my  father'*  land  I 

Alone  »ach  friend*  and  comrade*  1  deplore, 
And  peopled  bat  with  pnantoro*  i*  the  ehore  : 
JReace  Imvo  I  Sad  my  haunted  l>each  ;  yet  oo 
Would  not  aJiko  a  *yWan  home  forego. 
Thongh  wakening  foiirl  regrtU  it*  •ere  nnd  yellow 
Loaves,  and  aweet  Inland  murmur,  serve  to  mellow 
And  aootho  the  aobered  eorrow  they  recall. 
When  mantled  In  the  fade«i  irarb  of  fall  ;— 
Bat  wind  and  wate— unlike  the  fighing  •e<lge 
Aad  mnrmwring  leaf— gave  (frief  a  eoarver  eiige  : 
And  In  each  howliag  bfaal  my  fancy  heara 

*  Tke  Toicee  of  the  dead,  anU  (oog*  of  other  yean.'  " 


ration Not  less  astonishing  than  was 

Johnson's  memory  is  that  of  Mr.  Scott ;  like  John* 
son,  also,  his  recitation  is  too  monotonous  and  vio- 
lent to  do  justice  either  to  his  own  writings  or  those 
of  others.  The  stranger  guest  delighted  us  all  by 
the  unaffected  charms  of  nis  mind  and  manners. 
Such  visits  are  among  the  most  high-prized  honoura 
which  my  writings  nave  procured  lor  me."  Miss  m^ 
Seward  adds,  that  she  showed  him  the  passage  in 
Gary's  Dante  where  Michael  Scott  occurs,  and  that 
though  he  admired  the  spirit  srud  skill  of  the  version, 
he  confessed  his  inability  to  find  pleasure  in  the  Di- 
vina  Comedis.  "  The  plan,"  he  said,  "  appeared  to 
him  unhappy ;  the  personal  malignity  and  strange 
mode  of  revenge  nresumptuous  and  unintereating. 

By  the  12ih  of  May  he  was  at  Edinburgh  for  the 
commeDcenient  of  the  summer  session,  and  the 
printing  seems  thenceforth  to  have  gone  on  at  timet 
with  great  rapidity,  at  others  slowly  and  irregularly ; 
the  latter  Cantos  having  no  doubt  been  merely  block- 
ed out  when  the  first  went  to  press,  and  his  profes- 
sional avocation?,  but  above  all,  his  Dryden,  occa 
eionirtg  frequent  interuptions.  Just  a  year  had 
elapsed  from  his  beginning  the  poem  when  he  pen- 
ned th^Ipiatle  for  Canto  IV.  at  Ashestiel;  who  that 
considers  how  busily  his  various  pursuits  ^nd  la- 
bours had  been  crowding  the  interval,  can  wonder 
to  be  told  that 

"  Even  now,  It  scarcely  seems  a  day 

Since  flrat  1  tuned  this  UWc  lay— 

A  task  80  often  laid  aside 

When  leisure  graver  cares  denied— 

That  now  November's  dreary  tale, 

Whose  voice  inspired  my  opening  tale, 
,      That  same  November  gale  once  more 

Whirls  the  dry  leaves  on  Yarrow  stiore." 
The  fifili  Intro.fuction  was  written  in  Edinburgll 
in  ibt?  month  foili>wingj  ihiit  to  (he  last  Cent^j 
during  the  Chnstniaa  festtvitte?  of  Hertcin-hotise^ 
where,  from  ihv  fir^i  dsyi  of  h^a  ballad  rhymjnft 
down  to  the  dose  of  hii'  life,  he^  hkp  ms  beafiled 
anr^^ior*  ujually  apenf  that  8eaiM>n  with  the  inm*e- 
dij  ^  ]icad  of  the  race.  The  bulky  ap(Jtindix  of 
no^  H.  LiicTi'kding  a  mass  of  cumus  ftntuiaanan  qiKita* 
tioiM.  fnusT  (rjvt:  inovt^  socncwhai  slowly  (Jiruugh 
th  jiTiQitrii"  Uand??  biU  Marmw>ft  wa»  at  1«iRih 
re^nJy  forpuhln^otion  by  th«mitldli.'orFtbniiiT^.  i&OS* 
Amung  'he  '*  grjiv<;r  cortis'*  whjcii  lie  alludes  to 
as  having  in Temip ted  hidiirope^a  in  tha  ii*>cuu  the 
chief  weri\  as  has  been  already  hmteiJt  ihoae  anmng 
frc^ni  the  pecuniarv  cnibarraiarnonta  of  his  hrothtT- 
These  art^  mentirmtd  in  a  kutr  to  MisiH  SewnTd* 
da  fed  in  August,  IW7.  The  lady  b^idj  among  other 
th  1!^^  announced  he?  pkasuro  m  the  proup^ct  of  a  , 
viHT  frorji  the  auihoT  of  "  Madoc,'*  expr^-Bstd  h€;r 
adnursiMn  of  '*  Master  Betty,  the  youn^  R<jsdiis,'' 
an  J  IftTihiiTrd  the  fnt  her '»  design  of  plnci^jg  that 
"  niir tied 0 LIS*  boy"  for  three  yeara  under  a  ceritiin 
"  school  iija»(er  of  eminence  at  Shrewsbuty.'**  Scott 
says  in  ana^\  cr  : — 

"  Since  I  was  favoured  with  your  letter,  my  dear  Miss 
Baward,  I  have  brought  the  unpleasant  transactions  to 
w^ich  my  last  leUer  alluded  preuy  near  to  a  conclusion, 
much  more  fortunate  than  1  had  ventured  to  hope.  Of  my 
brother's  creditors,  those  connected  with  him  by  blood  or 
friendship,  showed  oil  the  kindness  which  those  ties  are 
in  Scotland  peculiarly  calculated  to  pro<Juce ;  and  what  is 
here  much  more  uncomnmn,  thoB«  who  bad  no  personal 
connexion  with  him  or  his  family,  showed  a  liberality 
which  would  not  have  misbecome  the  generosity  of  the 
English.  Upon  llie  whole,  hisaflairs  are  put  in  a  course 
of  management  which  I  hope  will  cnablo  him  to  begin 
life  anew  with  renovated  hopes,  nnd  not  entirely  destitute 
of  the  means  of  recommencing  business. 

"  I  am  very  happv— althouch  a  little  jealous  withal — 
that  you  are  to  have  the  satisfiictlon  of  »^outh*iy's  personal 
acquaintance*.  1  am  certain  you  will  like  the  Epic  bard 
exceedingly.  Although  he  does  not  deiffn  to  enter  into  the 
mere  irirfing  intercourse  of  soriely,  yet  when  a  sympa- 
thetic  spirit  calls  him  forth,  oo  man  talks  with  more  ani- 
mation on  ]it»^rary  topics ;  and  perhaps  no  man  in  Englanil 
has  read  and  studied  so  much,  with  the  same  powers  of 
making  use  of  the  information  which  he  is  so  indefati- 
gable in  acquiring.    I  despair  of  reconciling  you  to  my 

•  See  Miss  Seward's  E^tfee(*iBy  ll^.ttDg  IC 


lis 


UKS  OP.  Sm  WILTER  8C0TT. 


Bttto  frteiid  Jeffrey,  attboogh  I  tblnk  I  conld  trutt  to  hie 
«ftUn9eeaieiflipreniono«9mirpnpoeeeeelon,  wer«90tt 
toeonreree  with  hhn.  I  ttjak  Soothej  doee  hiaeeir  In- 
juetice  in  suppoeiiM;  (he  EdiatHirah  Review,  or  any  other, 
coald  have  euok  Madoc;^  even  (or  a  time.  But  the  aiae 
and  orice  or  the  worlc,  joined  to  the  frivolity  of  an  age 
which  mast  be  treated  bm  nurses  humour  children,  are 
■affleient  reaaons  why  a  poem,  on  so  chaste  a  model, 
iliould  not  have  taken  immediately.  We  know  the  simi- 
lar fate  of  Milton's  immortai  work,  in  the  witty  are  of 
Charles  IL,  at  a  time  wheo  poetry  was  maeh  more  faehlon- 
abie  than  at  present.  As  to  the  division  of  the  profits,  1 
only  think  (hat  &6utbey  does  not  understand  the  gentle- 
men of  the  trade,  emphatically  so  called,  as  well  as  I  do. 
Without  any  greater  degree  of  fourberie  tiian  they  con- 
ceive the  long  practice  of  their  brethren  lias  rendered 
matter  of  prescriptive  rkht,  they  contrive  to  clip  the  au- 
thor's proportion  of  profits  down  to  a  mere  trifle.  It  is 
the  tale  or  Uie  fox  that  went  a  hnnting  with  the  lion,  upon 
oooditioQ  of  equal  division  of  the  epoU ;  and  yet  1  do  not 
q«ite  blame  the  booksellere,  when  I  consider  the  very 
sinmlar  nature  of  their  myeterj.  A  batcher  generally 
understands  something  of  black  cattle,  and  wo  betide  the 
jockey  who  should  presume  to  exercise  his  profession 
without  a  competent  knowledge  of  horse-Hesh.  But  who 
erer  heard  of  a  bookseller  pretending  to  understand  the 
commodity  in  which  he  dealt?  Tliey  are  the  only  trades- 
men In  the  world  who  professedly,  and  by  choice,  deal  in 
what  is  osAled  'a  pig  in  a  poke.'  When  you  consWor  the 
ahomlnablo  trash  which,  by  their  sheer  ignorance,  is  pub- 
Ufbcd  every  year,  rou  will  readily  exeose  them  for  the 
indemnification  which  they  must  necessarily  obtain  at  tJba 
expense  of  authors  of  some  ^ue.  In  &ct,  though  the  ac- 
count between  all  indiridual  bookseller  and  such  a  man  as 
Boather  may  be  iniquitoas  enough,  yet  I  apprehend  that 
upon  the  whole  the  account  between  the  trade  and  the 
authors  of  Britain  at  large  is  pretty  Ikirly  balanced ;  and 
what  these  gentlemen  gain  at  the  ej^nse  of  one  class  of 
writers,  is  lavished.  In  many  ca^es,  in  bringing  forward 
other  works  of  little  value.  I  do  not  know  but  this,  upon 
the  whole,  is  frfourable  to  the  cause  of  literature.  A 
bookseller  pubUshes  twenty  books,  in  hopes  of  hitting 
upon  one  good  speculation,  as  a  parson  buys  a  parcel  of 
shares  in  a  k)t(e^y,  in  hopea  of  gaioing  a  prize.  Thus  (he 
rbad  is  open  to  alL  and  if  the  successAil  candidate  is  a 
JjlUe  fleeced,  in  order  to  form  petty  prizes  to  console  the 
kiting  adventaren,  still  the  cause  of  bleratare  is  benefited, 
■jncenone  is  excluded  from  the  privilege  of  competition. 
This  does  not  apologize  for  Southey's  carelessness  about 
hia  lotevese— for, 

^ *  his  name  ie  up,  and  may  go 

From  Toledo  to  Madrid.' 
"Pray,  don't  trust  Soathey  too  long  with  Mr.  Whitf . 
Be  is  even  more  determined  in  his  admiration  of  old  ruift* 
than  I  am.  Yon  see  I  am  glad  to  pick  a  hole  in  his 
wcket,  being  more  jealoiw  of  his  personal  favour  in  Miss 
Seward's  eyes  than  of  liis  poetical  reputation. 

"  I  quite  agree  witliyuu  ai»om  tlie  plan  of  young  Betty's 
education,  and  am  no  great  iiiolator  of  the  learned  Ian- 
goajjos,  excepting  for  whax  tliey  contain.  We  spend  in 
youth  that  tinip  iu  aJmlritig  the  wards  of  the  key,  which 
we  should  employ  in  opening  tlic  cabint>t  and  oxamininK 
its  treasures.  A  prudent  and  Qi-complislir«k  friend,  who 
wnuld  make  in-stniclion  acceptable  to  him  for  the  sake  of 
the  amusement  it  conveys,  would  be  worth  an  htmdred 
schools.  How  can  so  wonderfully  premature  a  genius, 
accustomed  to  excite  interest  in  thousands,  be  made  a 
member  of  a  class  with  other  l-oyn  !" 

To  retnrn  to  Scott's  own  "  grnvcr  cares'*  while 
Marmion  wasin  projjress— nmong  them  were  those 
of  preparing  himself  for  an  office  to  whicii  lie  wa& 
formally  appointed  soon  afterwards,  namely,  that 
of  Secretary  to  a  Parliamentary  Commission  for 
the  improvement  of  Scottish  Jurisprudence.  This 
Commission,  at  the  head  of  whicn  was  Sir  Islay 
Campbell,  Lord  President  of  the  Court  of  Session, 
continued  in  operation  for  two  or  three  years. 
Scoft^B  salary,  as  secretary,  was  a  mere  trifle ;  but 
he  had  been  led  to  expert  that  his  exertions  in  this 
capacity  would  lead  to  heifer  lhiti;^'s.    In  giving  a 

feneral  view  of  his  affairs  to  his  broiher-in-law  in 
udia,  be  says :  '*  The  Clerk  of  Session  who  retired 
to  4nake  way  for  me,  retains  the  appointments, 
Mobile  1  do  the  duty.  This  was  rather  a  hard  bar- 
gain, but  it  was  made  when  the  Administration  was 
going  to  pieces,  and  I  was  glad  to  swim  asliore  on 
a  plank  of  the  wreck ;  or,  in  a  word,  to  be  provided 
for  any  how,  before  the  new  people  came  in.  To  be 
•urc,  nobody  could  have  foreseen  that  in  a  year's 
time  my  friends  were  all  to  be  in  again.    ...    I 


ain  pnncipally  pleased  inth  mjr  new  ■npointimnt, «» 
beitig  conferi^  on  me  by  our  cmefTaw  idnls  aad- 
Cnra  counsel,  ancf  consequently  an  honoonMo 
professional  distinction.  The  employment  will  be 
but  temporary,  but  may  have  conscauences  impor* 
tant  to  iny  future  lot  in  life,  if  I  give  due  satisfaction 
in  the  discharge  of  it."  He  appears  accordingly  to 
have  aabmitted  to  a  great  deal  of  miserable  drudge- 
ry in  mastering  beforehand  (he  details  of  the  tech* 
nical  controversies  which  bad  called  for  legislatorial 
interference :  and  he  discharged  his  functions,  as 
usual,  with  the  warm  approbauon  of  his  superiors ; 
but  no  result  followed.  This  is  alluded  to,  axnonfr 
other  things,  in  his  correspondence  with  Mr.  Sou- 
thev,  during  the  printing  ot  Marmion.  I  shall  now  - 
go  back  to  extract  some  of  these  letters ;  they  will 
not  only  enable  the  reader  to  fill  up  the  outline  of  the 
precediiig  narrative,  as  regards  Scott's  own  vahcma 
occupations  at  this  period,  but  illustrate  very  s(Hk- 
ingly  the  readiness  with  which,  howdi^r  occupieci, 
he  would  turn  aside,  whenever  he  saw  any  opportu- 
nity of  forwarding  the  pursuits  and  interests  of 
other  literary  men. 

'!.  r^ju)h<;y  had  written  to  Scott,  on  the  S7th 
SopremUr.  1^7,  informing  him  that  he  had  desired 
hi^i  hnok»t^lltrs  to  forward  a  copy  of  "Palmeria  of 
E.-eluiiu,' '  ilicn  on  the  eve  of  publication^annonn- 
cing  also  his  "  Chronicle  of  the  Cid  ;"  and  addina, 
"  I  rmoice  to  hear  that  we  are  to  have  another  Lay. 
anjd  nope  we  may  have  as  many  Last  Lays  of  the 
Minstrel,  as  our  ancestors  had  Last  Words  of  Mr. 
Baxter."    Scott's  answer  was  this  :-* 

T9  Robert  Southey,  Eeq. 

"*  Aahestiel,  lat  October,  1807: 
"  My  dear  Itouthey, 

"  It  win  give  me  the  most  sincere  pleasure  to  receive 
any  token  of  your  friendly  remembrance,  more  especial- 
ly in  the  shape  of  a  romance  of  kn^ht-errantry.  Too 
know  so  well  how  to  furbish  the  anns  of  a  preux  ehev»> 
ner,  without  converting  him  h  la  TVetaon  hito  a  modam 
light  dragoon,  thai  my  expectations  fn>m  Palmerln  ana 
very  high,  and  I  have  given  directions  to  have  hia  aeot 
to  this  retreat  so  soon  as  he  reaches  Mioburgh.  The 
half-guinea  for  Hogg's  poems  was  dniy  received.  The 
uncertainty  of  your  resfdence  prevented  the  book  being, 
sent  at  the  time  proposed— it  shall  be  forwarded  ftwn 
Edinburgh  to  the  bookseller  at  Carlisle,  who  will  proba- 
bly know  how  to  send  It  safe.  I  hope  very  soon  to  aeod 
you  my  Life  of  Dryden,  and  eke  my  toet  Uy.—Cby  the 
way,  the  former  ditiy  was  only  proi>osed  as  the  lay  of  the 
last  Minstrel,  not  his  last  dtt.)  I  grieve  that  you  have  rc-> 
nounced  the  harp;  but  still  I  confide,  that,  having  often 
touched  it  BO  much  to  the  delight  of  the  hearers,  you  wUJ 
return  to  it  again  after  a  short  interval.  As  I  don't  much 
aduiire  complhncnf «,  you  may  believe  me  sincere  when  I 
tell  you,  that  I  have  read  Madoc  three  times  sinre  my  first 
cursory  perusal,  and  each  time  with  increased  admiration 
of  tJje  poetry.  But  a  poem  whose  merits  are  of  that 
higher  tone  does  not  immediately  take  with  the  public  at 
large.  It  is  even  poasible  tliat  during  your  own  life— and 
may  it  be  as  lon«  as  every  real  lover  of  literature  cao 
wish— you.  must  l)e  contented  with  the  applause  of  the. 
few  whom  nature  has  gifted  with  the  rare  taste  for  tlia. 
criminaring  in  jwetry.  But  the  mere  rtad^$  of  verge 
mu&i  one  (lay  rorae  In.  and  then  Mndoc  will  nspume  his 
real  place  at  the  feet  of  Milton.  Now  this  opinion  of 
mine  wa»  not  thai  (lo  speak  frankly)  which  I  formed  on 
reading  the  poem  at  first,  though  I  then  felt  mnch  of  Iu 
merit.  I  hope  you  have  not  and  don't  mean  to  part  with 
the  copyright.  I  do  not  think  Wordsworth  and  you 
tmderwiand  the  bookselling  animal  well  enough,  and  wish 
you  would  one  day  try  my  friend  Conatable,  who  would 
give  any  terms  for  a  connexion  with  you.  I  am  cooat 
anxious  to  i^ee  the  Cid.  Do  yon  know  I  committed  a  theft 
upon  you,  (neither  of  gait,  kjne,  nor  horse,  nor  outside 
nor  insirie  plenixhing.  such  as  my  forefathers  sooght  in 
Cumbf-rland,)  but  of  many  verses  of  the  Queen  Aara- 
gua,  •  or  howsoever  you  spell  her  name  7  I  repeated  them 
to  a  verv  Kreat  lady,  (the  Princess  of  Wales,)  who  was  so 
much  delichtcd  with  ihem,  that  I  think  sho  got  them 
by  heart  also.     She  asked  a  copy,  bia  that  I  declined  to 

f:ive.  under  pretence  I  could  not  give  an  accurate  one  ; 
nit  I  promised  to  prefer  herrequett  to  you.  If  you  wiah 
toobhae  herR.  If,  I  will  get  the  verses  transmitted  to 
her ;  if  not,  the  thing  may  be  i>as8ed  over. 


.  *  The  ballad  of  Qoceo  Orraea  v 
borgfa  Annual  Register  toe  1S09. 


Digitized  by  V^OOQlC 


UPK  OP  SIR  WAI.TER  SCJQTT. 


Uf 


"Muqr  thuikt  fbr  joar  InTitiUkm  to  Kefwtck,  which  I 
kfptl»ieMpl,tliMandMMoapmnlitla£.  Uromrkao' 
<her  with  yoa  1  if  in,  remember  me  kindly.  Where  ii 
JVovdtw»iti||  sod  w(iat  doUi  he  do  1  I  wrote  him  a  few 
ilnefl  some  weeki  ago,  which  I  suspect  never  came  to 
hand.  I  suppose  yon  are  poMesaed  of  all  relatirn{  to  the 
Cid,  otherwise  I  would  mention  an  old  rooMOC^,  chiefly 
relating  to  bis  baitithmem,  which  is  in  John  Frere's  nos> 
session,  and  fiom  wtiich  lie  made  some  lively  translations 
in  a  tripping  Alexandrine  stanza.  I  dare  say  he  would 
comiuunicaie  the  orifinaL,  if  it  could  be  of  the  least  use.* 
]  am  an  humble  petitioner  that  vour  interesting  Spanish 
ballads  be  in  some  shape  appended  to  the  Cid.  Ue  aiisur- 
ed  they  will  give  hlra  wings.  Thefe  is  a  .lonsr  letter,  writ- 
ten  with  a  pen  Uke  a/  stick.  1  beg  my  respects  to  Mrs 
8oulivey,  in  which  Mrs.  ScoU  joins ;  and  I  am,  very  tniJy 
and  affectiooalely,  youra, 

Waltss  Scott." 

To  thu  Same. 

"  Edinbargh,  November,  IWT. 
*<Mydear6oathey, 

"  1  received  your  letter  some  lime,  but  had  then  no 
opportunity  to  see  Conf  table,  as  I  was  residing  at  some 
fiwfance  from  Edinbnnth.  Since  I  came  to  town  I  spoke 
to  Constable,  whom  I  find  anxious  to  be  connected  with 
you.  It  occurs  to  me  that  the  only  difference  between 
nirn  and  our  fathers  in  the  Row  is  on  the  nrinciple  con- 
tained in  the  old  prowerb  i^  I fe  that  would  thrive — mtut 
rite  by  ftte  ;—He  that  hat  thriven— may  lie  till  teren. 
Consuble  teould  thrive,  and  therefose  bestoMr^  more  pains 
than  our  ftthers  who  have  thriven.  I  do  not  speak  this 
without  book,  becanse  I  know  he  has  pushed  ulT  several 
books  whic|i  had  got  sground  In  the  Row.  But,  to  say 
the  truth,  I  have  always  found  advantage  in  keeping  on 
good  terms  with  several  of  the  trade,  but  never  suffering 
any  one  of  them  to  consider  me  as  a  monopoly.  Tliey 
are  very  like  fkrmers,  who  thrive  best  at  a  high  rent ; 
and.  hi  general,  take  most  pains  to  sell  a  bonk  that  has 
cost  them  money  to  purchase.  The  bad  sale  of  Thalaba 
is  truly  astonishing  ;  it  should  have  sold  off  in  a  twelve* 
month  at  farthest. 

**  As  you  occasionally  review,  wfll  you  forgive  my  sug- 
gesting a  circumstance  for  your  consideration,  to  whicn 
you  will  give  exactly  the  degree  of  weight  you  please.    I 
am  perfectly  ccruin  that  Jeffrey  would  Uiink  himself  both 
happy  and  honoured  in  receiving  any  communications 
which  you  might  send  him,  chooHing  your  books  and  ex- 
pressing your  own  opinions.    The  terms  of  the  Edin- 
burgh Review  aro  ten  snineas  a-shcct,  and  will  shortly 
bo  adx'anced  considerably.    1  question  If  the  same  un- 
pleasant sort  of  work  is  any  where  else  so  well  com- 
pensated.   The  only  reaaon  which  occurs  to  mo  as  likely 
to  prevent  your  affording  Uie  Edinburgh  some  critical  as- 
Jitstancc,  is  the  severity  of  the  criticisms  upon  Madocand 
Thalaba.    1  do  not  know  if  this  will  be^  a!l  removed  by 
assuring  you,  as  I  can  do  upon  my  honour,  that  Jeffney 
has,  notwithstanding  the  flippancy  of  these  articles,  the 
inost  sincere  respect  both  for  your  person  and  talents. 
Tha-other  day  I  desijjnedly  led  the  conversation  on  tluU 
subject,  and  had  tlie  sairie  reason  I  always  have  had,  to 
consider  ins  attack  as  arising  (irofu  a  radical  difTurcnce  in 
point  of  laftr,  or  rather  feeling  of  [yocKxy.  but  by  no  means 
from  any  tiling  approarliinj  eiibcr  to  onniity  or  a  faNc 
conception  of  your  talenl.s.    l»lo  not  think  that  ailiffer- 
etice  of  this  8ori  should  prevent  you,  If  you  arc  other- 
wise diiposed  to  do  so,  from  carryiug  a  proiiorlion  at 
least  of  your  critical  labours  to  a  much  better  market 
than  the  Annual  t    Pray  think  of  this,  and  if  you  are 
(iisposed  to  give  your  assistance,  I  am  positively  certain 
tliatfcan  transact  the  matter  with  the  utmost  delicacy 
towards  both  my  friends.  I  am  certain  yoo  may  add  jBUlO 
ayear,  or  double  the  sum,  to  your  iucome  in  (his  way 
with  almost  no  trouble,  and,  as  times  go,  that  is  no  trifle. 

•^Thavc  to  thank  you  for  Palmerin,  which  has  been  my 
aflemoon  reading  for  some  days.  I  like  it  very  much, 
although  it  is,  1  think,  confiderably  Inferior  to  the  Aniadis. 
But  I  wait  with  double  anxiety  for  the  tTid,  in  which  I  ex- 
pect  tufiod  very  much  Infonnation  as  well  as  amusement. 
One  discovery  I  have  made  is,  that  we  understand  little  or 
notliingof  Don  Quixote  except  by  tlie  Spanish  minances. 
The  Eogtish  and  French  romances  throw  very  lltrte  light 
OD  the  subject  of  the  (tou^hly  cavalier  of  La  Mancha.  I 
&tti  Ihinking  of  publishing  a  siitall  edition  of  the  Morte 
Arthur,  merely  to  preser\-e  that  ancient  record  of  English 
chivalry  ;  but  my  copy  is  so  late  as  1B37,  so  I  must  louk 
<"»t  for  earlier  editions  to  collate.    That  of  Caxtun  Is,  I 

*  Mr  Southejr  introduced,  in  the  appendix  to  his  Chronicle  of 
Jfe  Cw.  some  spccimcnn  of  Mr.  Frere's  ailmiralile  translation  of 
w  andMUPooMtt  4el  Cid,  to  wliieh  flcoft  liere  allude*. 
V_'w  Annual  Review,  con<lurte<l  bjr  Dr.  Artliur  Aikin,  com 
«««d  ia  taog,  and  was  disooatioued  in  itOB. 


believe,  ^nfroMvo^^.    WQl  yon  j 


mjeet Y  I  have  wrltMn  t» Mr.  WHn  aboiiC^«flj»- 
booka,  bat  I  do  not  vary  well  know  if  my  letter  nas 
him.  I  eaq>ect  to  bHut  Constable  to  a  point  re»> 
peetiAg  the  poem  of  llinck>o'Mythok)gy.*  1  •lK>iild  e«> 
teem  myself  rery  fortunate  in  being  aesistinf  In  brtfiflnf 
forth  a  twin  brother  of  Thalaba.  Wordsworth  (e  harshly 
treated  in  the  Edinburgh  Review,  bat  Jeffrey  gives  the 
aonneta  as  much  praise  as  he  ttsually  does  to  any  body. 
I  made  him  admire  the  song  of  I<o/d  Cliflbrd's  minstrel, 
which  I  Hka  exeeediogty  myself.  But  many  of  Words- 
worth's leseer  poems  are  eov^are,  not  only  to  the  multi- 
tad«,  but  to  all  who  judge  of  poetry  by  the  established 
rules  of  criticism.  Some  of  them,  1  can  safely  say,  I  like 
the  better  for  these  aberrations ;  in  others  they  get  be- 
yond me— at  sny  rate,  they  ought  to  have  been  more  cao* 
tkMiely  hazarded.  I  hope  soon  to  send  you  a  life  of  Dry- 
den  and  aiay  of  former  times.  The  letter  I  would  wtt* 
liniily  have  bestowed  more  time  upon :  but  what  can  I 
do? — my  supposed  poetical  turn  ruined  me  in  my  prof^» 
aion,  and  the  least  it  can  do  is  to  give  me  some  occasional 
assistance  instead  of  it.  Mrs  Scott  begs  kind  compH* 
mentsto  Mrs.  Southey,  and  I  am  always  kindly  yours, 
Walter  Scow." 

Nr.  Southey,  in  reply  to  this  letter,  slated  at 
length  certain  considers tiooa,  political,  moral,  and 
critical,  which  rendered  it  impossible  for  him  to  en* 
list  himself  on  any  terms  in  ihe  corps  of  tho  Edin» 
burgh  Reviewers.  In  speaking  of  his  ftiend  Words* 
worth's  last  work,  which  had  been  rather  8e?erelf 
handled  in  this  Review,  he  expresses  nis  regret  that 
the  poet,  in  his  magnificent  sonnet  on  Kiiliecrankie, 
should  have  introduced  the  Viseoimt  of  Dundee 
without  appaient  censure  of  hia  character ;  and, 
passing  to  ncmt's  own  affairs,  he  says.  *'  Marmion 
IS  expected  as  impatiently  by  me  as  he  is  by  ten 
thevsand  others.  Believe  me,  Scott,  no  man  of  real 
genius  was  ever  «  puritanical  stickler  for  correct- 
ness, or  fastidious  about  any  faulta  except  his  own. 
The  best  artista,  both  in  poetry  and  DaintingL  have 
pi^uced  the  moat  €Hve  us  more  lay  a,  and  ,cor* 
rect  them  at  leisure  for  after  editions,— not  labonous^ 
ly,  but  when  the  amendment  comes  naturally  and 
nnaonght  for.  It  never  doea  to  sit  down  doggedly  to 
correct."  Th6  rest,  Scott's  answer  will  stifficient* 
ly  explain. 

7%  Robert  Southey^  Etq. 

"Edinburgh,  lOth  December,  1807. 
**  Dear  Southey, 

"  I  yesterday  received  your  leUer,  and  can  perfectly 
enter  into  your  ideas  on  the  subject  of  the  Review  :-• 
indeed,  I  dishke  most  extremely  tlte  late  stream  of  poU< 
tics  which  they  have  adopted,  as  it  seems,  even  on  their 
own  showihK.  to  bo  cruelly  imprudent.  Who  ever 
thought  he  did  a  service  to  a  person  engaged  in  an  ardu- 
ous conflict,  by  |irovinj;  to  him,  or  attempiioff  tp  prove  to 
him,  that  he  must necchmrily  be  beaten;  and  what  elTrct 
can  such  language  have  but  to  accelerate  the  accouifilish* 
yicrr  if  the  propliocy  which  it  contains?  And  as  for 
Ca  •  '  I  aiauciiuKion— I  a4n  not,  Cod  knows,  a  bigot  in 
rel  :  fttters,  nor  a  friend  to  persecution;  but  if « 

l>ai  I  leci  of  religionists  are  ipso  facto  connected 
wil  i'  :  ■  ipoliticH— and  placed  under  the  spiritual  direc* 
tiui,    !    .  >    <»»  o(  prietiis,  whose  unrivalled  dexterity  and 

ac4.. increased  by  the  rules  wiiich  detach  them 

fm . ,.  . .  .  St  of  tlie  world— I  humbly  think  that  we  may 
be  excuscil  from  intruHiing  to  them  tliose  places  in  the 
state  where  the  infliienco  of  such  a  clergy,  who  act  under 
tlie  direction  of  a  passive  tool  of  our  worst  (oe^  is  likely 
to  be  attended  with  the  most  fatal  consequesces.  If  • 
gentleman  chooses  to  walk  about  with  a  couple  of  pounds 
of  gunpowder  in  his  |K>ckel,  if  I  give  him  tlie  shelter  of 
my  rr>of,  1  may  at  least  be  permitted  to  exclude  him  from 
tlie  seat  next  to  the  fire.  So  thinking,  I  have  felt  your 
scruples  in  doing  any  thing  for  the  Review  of  late. 

"  As  for  my  good  friend  Dundee,  I  cannot  admit  hia 
culpability  in  the  extent  you  allege ;  and  it  is  scandak>ua 
of  the  Sunday  bard  to  join  in  your  condemnation,  'and 
yet  coino  of  a  noblo  Grsmc  I'  I  admit  he  was  tant  $oii 
peu  savage,  but  he  was  a  noble  savage ;  and  the  beastly. 
Covenanters  against  whom  he  acted.  Iiardly  had  any  claim 
to  be  called  men,  unless  what  was  founded  on  their  walk- 
ing upon  tlicir  hind  feet.  You  can  hardly  conceive  tha 
perfitlv,  cruelty,  and  stupidity  of  these  people,  accordinc 
to  the' accounts  they  have  themselves  preserved.  But! 
admit  I  had  many  cavalier  prejudices  instilled  into  me,  aS 
my  ancestor  was  a  Killiccrankic  man. 

•TtwCuiseofKehaBa  was'peMsbcd  far  Lonfoas  sod  Co. 

"""••  ■•''   ■^*  Digitized  by  ^OOgle 


ld6 


UPE  OF  Sm  WALTER  SCOTT. 


"I  am  Tery  gkd  the  Morte  Arthur  Is  In  your  haodi ;  It 
hu  beenloof  «  frvoorite  of  mine,  and  I  intended  to  have 
BMde  it  a  bandaome  book,  Inthe  8nq>e  of  a  aoudl  andqae- 
looldnf  Quarto,  with  wooden  Tifnettea  of  coatome  Iwiah 
yon  wonid  not  degrade  him  into  aaouat  ISmo;  bat  admit 
the  temptation  yon  will  probably  fee]  to  pot  it  into  the 
name  ahaoe  with  Palmenn  and  Amadia.  If  on  tliia,  or 
any  occaaion.  yon  can  caat  a  Job  in  the  way  of  my  Driend 
Ballantyne,  I  should  tonaider  it  aa  a  particular  peraonal 
fiivour,  and  the  eonrenieoce  wonld  ne  pretty  near  the 
name  to  you,  aa  all  your  prooft  must  come  by  post  at  any 
rate.  If  I  can  assiM  you  about  this  matter,  command  my 
services.  The  late  Dulce  of  Roxburghe  once  atK>wed 
me  some  carious  remarks  of  his  own  upon  the  genealogy 
of  the  Knights  of  the  Round  Table.  He  waa  a  curioua 
and  unwearied  reader  of  romaAce,  and  made  manyob' 
jerrations  in  writing ;  whether  they  are  now  accessible 
or  no  I  am  doubtful  Do  you  follow  the  metrical  or  the 
printed  books  in  your  account  of  the  Round  Table,  and 
would  your  task  be  at  all  lacililated  by  the  use  of  a  copy 
of  Sir  Lancelot,  from  the  press  of  Jehan  Dennia,  which 
1  have  by  me  1 

**  As  to  literary  envy,  I  wree  with  you.  dear  Southey, 
tn  believing  it  was  never  felt  by  men  wh6  had  any  powers 
of  their  own  to  employ  to  better  purpose  than  in  cross- 
ing or  Jostling  their  companions ;  and  I  can  say  vHih  a 
■are  conscience,  that  I  am  most  delighted  with  praise 
Aom  those  who  convince  me  of  their  good  taste  by  admir- 
lag  the  genius  of  my  contemporaries.  BeUeve  roe  ever, 
dear  Bouthey,  ^ith  best  complhnents  to  Blrs.-S.,  yours 
affectionately, 

Waltsr  Soott." 

The  following  letter  to  another  accomplished  and 
attached  friend,  will  bring  us  back  to^he  completion 
of  Marmion. 


To  the  Right  Hon.  the  Lady  LtnUea  Stuart, 

"Edinburgh,  19th  January,  180a 
^'*  I  am  much  flattered,  dear  Lady  Louisa,  by  your  kind 
and  enconraging  remembrance.  Marmion  is,  at  this  bi« 
slant,  gasping  open  Pledden  field,  and  there  I  have  been 
obliged  to  leave  him  for  these  few  days  in  the  death  pangs. 
I  hope  I  sliall  find  time  enougb  this  morning  to  knock  him 

fi  the  head  with  two  or  three  thumping  stanzas.  I  thought 
should  have  seen  Lady  Douglas  while  ahe  was  at  Dal* 
keith,  but  an  the  Clerks  of  Session,  (excepting  myseli; 
who  have  at  present  no  salarr,)  are  subject  to  the  gout, 
and  one  of  tliem  was  unluckily  visited  with  a  fit  on  the 
day  I  should  have  been  at  the  Duke'a,  so  I  had  his  dutv 
and  my  own  to  discharge.  Flay,  Lady  Louies,  don't  look 
for  Uarmion  in  Uawthomden  or  any  where  else,  except- 
ing in  the  too  thick  quarto  which  bears  his  name.    As  to 

the  feir  • ^.  I  bee  her  pardon  wiih  all  my  heart 

and  spirit ;  but  I  rather  think  that  the  habit  of  writing 
novels  or  romancea,  whether  in  prose  or  verse,  is  unfa- 
▼onrable  to  rapid  credulity ;  at  least  these  sort  of  foUcs 
know  tliat  they  can  easily  make  fine  atories  themselves, 
•nd  will  be  therefore  aa  curious  in  examining  those  of 
other  folks,  as  a  cunning  vintoer  in  detecting  the  sophisti' 
cation  of  his  neighbour's  claret  by  the  help  of  his  own 
experience.  Talking  of  fair  ladies  and  fables  reminds 
me  of  Mr.  dharpe's  baliada,'  which  I  suppose  Lady  Doug- 
laa  carried  with  her  to  BothwelL  They  exhibit,  I  think,  a 
▼ery  considerable  portion  of  imagination,  and  occasion- 
•By,  though  not  uniformly,  great  flow  of  versification. 
There  is  one  verve,  or  rather  the  whole  description  of  a 
musical  ghoM  lady  aijting  among  the  ruina  of  her  lather's 
tower,  t&t  pleased  me  very  much.  But  his  language  la 
too  flowery  and  even  tawdry,  and  1  qoarrelled  vrith  a  lady 
In  the  flrat  poem  who  yielded  up  her  affection  upon  her 
lover  ahowing  his  white  teeth  White  teeth  ouffht  to  be 
taken  great  care  of,  and  aet  great  store  by,  but  I  cannot 
allow  them  to  be  an  object  oipaasionate  admiration— it  is 
too  like  subduing  a  lady's  heart  by  grinning.  Grieved 
am  I  for  Lady  Douglas's  Indisposition,  which  I  hope  will 
be  short,  ana  I  am  aure  wHl  be  tolerable  with  such  stores 
of  amusement  around  her.  Last  night  I  saw  all  the  Dal- 
keith tamily  nresiding  in  that  happy  scene  of  mixed  com- 
pany and  Babylonian  confusion,  tne  Queen's  Assembly. 
I  also  saw  Mr.  Alison  there.  1  hope  your  ladyship  has  not 
renounced  your  intention  of  coming  to  Edinboi^h  for  a 
dky  or  two,  and  that  1  shall  have  the  honour  to  aee  you. 
We  have  here  a  very  diverting  Hon  and  sundry  wild 
beasts ;  but  the  roost  meritorious  is  Miss  Lydia  white, 
who  is  what  Oxoniana  call  a  lioness  of  the  first  order,  with 
fltocldngs  nineteen  times  nine  dyed  blue,  very  lively,  very 
iood'humoured,  and  extremely  absurd.  It  is  very  divert- 
ing to  see  the  sober  Scotch  ladies  staring  at  this  pheno- 


*  A  Rnall  volume,  cntillsdi  ".Metiieal  L^end*.  and  Other 
FoeoM,'' was  pabKabed  in  1807  by  Scott's  fiiend,  Charles  Kidt* 
pabkk  Shsipe^  Emi. 


I  am.  with  great  raspaet,  jomr  Indyihlp^s  1» 
Donred  and  obUged 

WAL^aSooiv.^'i^ 

Marmion  waa  piibliahed  on  the  23d  of  Febnnry. 
The  letter  which  accompanied  the  presentation  copy 
to  Sonninghill,  had  be^  preceded  a  few  weeks  b»> 
fore  by  one  containing  an  abstract  of  some  of  We- 
ber's German  researches,  which  were  tamed  to  a^ 
count  in  the  third  edition  of  Sir  Tristrem  ;  but  Mr. 
Ellis  was  ar  this  time  in  a  Tery  feeble  state  of  health, 
imd  that  communication  had  elicited  no  reply. 

7b  Oeorge  ElUs,  Eeg. 

*<  Edhiburgh,  February  23, 180S 
'  Sleepest  thou,  wakest  thou,  Oeorge  EUis  1' 

"  Be  it  known  that  this  letter  is  little  beUer  tbsn  t 
fehde  britf^—u  to  the  meaning  of  which,  is  it  not  written 
in  Wachier's  Thesaurus  and  the  Lexicon  of  Adelaof  1 
To  expound  more  vernacularly,  I  wricKe  you,  I  know  not 
iiow  long  ago,  a  SMdnging  epistle  of  and  concerning  0<r- 
man  Romances,  with  some  discoveries  not  of  my  omi 
discovering,  and  other  matter  not  furiously  to  the  preseat 
purpose.  And  this  I  caused  to  be  conveyed  to  you  o; 
ane  gentU  knixt,  Sir  William  Forbee^  knixt,  who  assuref 
me  -he  left  it  as  directed,  at  Sir  Peter  Parker's.  •  Since,' 
to  vary  my  style  to  that  of  the  leger,  *  none  of  yours.' 
To  avenge  myself  of  this  unusual  aUence,  which  ia  ama^ 
nifest  usurpation  of  my  privileges,  (bejog  the  worst  coi> 
respondent  in  the  world,  Heber  excepted,)  I  have  indited 
to  you  an  epistle  in  verse,  and  that  I  may  be  sure  ofiti 
reaching  your  hands,  1  have  caused  to  be  thrown  off  90w 
copies  thereof;  that  you  may  not  plead  ignorance. 

^'  This  is  oracular,  but  will  be  explained  by  perusing 
the  Introduction  to  the  Cth  canto  of  a  certain  dumpy 

?uarto,  entitled  Marmion,  a  Talc  of  Flodden-field,  of  which 
have  to  beg  your  acceptance  of  a  copy.  •  So  aronder  on 
tiU  Ume  makea  all  things  plahi.'  One  thinxl  am  sure 
you  win  admit,  and  that  is,  that—*  the  hobby-horse  la  not 
forgot  ;*  'nay.  you  will  see  I  have  paraded  in  my  introduc- 
tions a  plurality  of  hobbyhorses — a  whole  stud,  on  each  of 
which  Ihave,  in  my  day,  been  accustomed  to  take  an  air* 
bg.  This  circumstance  will  also  gratify  our  friend  Dooc^ 
whose  lucubrations  have  been  my  study  for  some  days 
They  will,  I  fekr,  be  cavfare  to  the  multitude,  and  even  to 
the  eoidieant  connoisseurs,  who  have  never  found  by  ex- 
perience what  length  of  time,  of  reading,  and  of  reflection. 
IS  necessary  to  collect  the  archaeological  knowledge  or 
which  he  has  displayed  such  pro(\ision.  The  style  wouM 
also,  In  our  Scotch  phrase,  thole  a  mertdt,  i.  e.  admit  oi 
improvement.  But  his  extensive  and  curious  fcsearches 
place  him  at  the  head  of  the  class  of  black-letter  antlqua^ 
ries :  and  his  knowledge  is  communicated  without  lbs 
manifest  irritation— which  his  contemporaries  have  too 
often  displayed  Wt  mattere  of  controversy.— without  os* 
teotation,  and  without  selfsufflciency.  1  hope  the  suc- 
cess of  his  work  will  encourage  this  modest  and  learned 
antiquary  to  give  us  noore  collectanea.  There  are  few 
things  I  read  with  more  pleasure.  Charlotte  joioi  in 
kindest  respects  to  Mra.  Ellis.  I  have  some  hopes  of 
being  in  town  this  spring,  but  I  fear  you  will  be  at  Batb. 
When  you  have  run  over  Marmion,  I  hope  you  will  re- 
member how  impatient  I  shall  be  to  hear  your  opmioa 
aane  phraee.  1  am  sensible  I  run  some  risk  of  beiojE 
thought  to  fiall  below  my  former  level,  but  those  that  wiU 
play  for  the  gammon  most  take  their  chance  of  thia  ^1 
am  also  anxious  to  have  particular  news  of  your  heattn. 
Ever  youra  &ithfully,  «,  a»» 

W.  8. 

The  letter  reached  Elhs  beforo  the  book ;  bat  how 
well  he  anticipated  the  immediate  current  of  cna- 
cism,  his  answer  will  show.  "  Before  I  have  seen 
the  stranger,*'  be  says,  **  and  while  my  judgment  is 
unwarped  by  her  seduction,  I  Uiink  I  can  veolure, 
from  what  I  remember  of  the  Lay,  to  anticipate  the 
fluctuations  of  public  opinion  concerning  her.  The 
first  decision  respecting  the  Last  Minstrel  was,  that 
he  was  evidently  the  production  of  a  strong  and  vi* 
vid  mind,  and  not  quite  unworthy  the  author  of 
Glenfinlas  and  the  Eve  of  St  John ;  but  that  it 
was  difficult  to  eke  out  so  long  a  poem  with  uniform 
spirit ;  that  success  generally  emboldens  writers  to 
become  more  careless  in  a  second  production ;  that 

in  short,  months  elapsed,  before  one  tenth  of 

our  wise  critics  had  discovered  that  a  long  po«n>i 
which  no  one  reader  could  bring  himself  to  lay  dop^ 
till  he  had  arrived  at  the  last  Tme,  was  a  compoft* 

.  *  Mr.  Dooce's  IDustiatioos  of  fihakman  wars  j 
in  1S07.  Digitized  by  VjOVJQIL 


LIFE  OP  Sm  WALTER  SCOTT. 


m 


tioB  destined  perhaps  to  suggest  new  rules  of  criti- 
,  bat  oerteinly  not  amenable  to  the  tribunal  of 


■laste  fiomied  on  the  previous  examination  of  mo- 
Qcis  of  a  perfectlr  different  nature.  That  Minstrel  is 
sow  in  its  turn  become  a  standard ;  Marmion  will 
therefore  be  compared  with  this  metre^  and  will 
toost  probably  be  in  the  first  instance  pronounced 
too  long,  or  too  abort,  or  improperly  divided,  or  &c. 
kc  ^kc,  till  the  sage  and  candid  cntics  are  compel- 
led, a  second  time,  by  the  united  voice  of  all  who 
can  read  at  all,  to  confess  that  ^aiU  prodesse  aut 
dtUdare*  is  the  only  real  standard  of  poetical  merit. 
Oae  of  my  reasons  for  Uking  your  Minstrel  wss, 
tbat  the  subject  was  purely  and  necessarily  poe^ico/  ; 
whereas  my  sincere  ana  sober  opinion  of  all  the 
epic  poems  I  have  ever  read,  the  Odyssey  i>erhaps 
excepted,  is,  that  they  ought  to  have  been  written  m 
prose ;  and  hence,  though  I  think  with  Mackintosh, 
that  /ofTte  epoa  acer  ut  nemo  Varius  scribit,*  I  re- 
joice m  your  choice  of  a  subject  which  cannot  be 
eonsidered  as  epic,  or  conjureup  in  the  memory  a 
nomber  of  fantastic  rules,  which,  like  Harpies, 
wonid  spoil  4he  banquet  offered  to  the  imagination. 
A  few  days,  however,  will,  I  hope,  enable  me  to 
write  aeee  eonnaissance  de  cause. 

1  have,  1  believe,  alluded,  in  a  former  chapter  of 
tins  narrative,  to  a  remark  which  occurs  in  Mr.  Sou- 
they'sLife  of  Cowper,  namely,  that  a  man's  charac- 
ter may  be  judged  of  even  more  surely  by  the  letters 
which  his  friends  addressed  to  him,  than  by  those 
which  he  himself  penned ;  and  I  cannot  but  think 
that—freely^  Scott's  own  feelings  and  opinions 
wire  poured^from  his  head  and  heart  to  all  whom 
he  considered  as  worthy  of  a  wise  and  good  man's 
confidence—the  openness  and  candour  with  which 
the  best  and  most  sagacious  of  his  friends  wrote 
to  him  about  his  own  Uterary  productions,  will  be 
considered  hereafter,  (when  all  the  glories  of  this 
age  shall,  like  him,  have  passed  away,)  as  affordmg 
•sciiking  confirmation  of  the  truth  of  the  biogra- 
pher's ooaervation.  It  was  thus,  for  example,  that 
Mr.  Soatbey  himself,  who  happened  to  be  m  Lon- 
don when  Marmion  came  out,  expressed  himself  to 
the  author,  on  his  return  to  Keswick—"  Half  the 
poem  I  had  read  at  Heber's  before  my  own  copy  ar- 
rived. I  went  punctually  to  breakfast  with  him,  and 
he  was  long  enough  dressing  to  let  roe  dew)ur  so 
mach  of  it  The  story  is  made  of  better  materials 
than  the  Lay.  yet  they  are  not  so  well  fitted  toge- 
ther. As  a  whole,  it  has  not  pleased  roe  so  much— 
in  parts,  it  has  pleased  me  more.  There  js  nothing 
•0  finely  conceived  in  your  former  poem  as  the  death 
of  Marmion :  there  is  nothing  finer  in  its  conception 
any  where.  The  introductory  epistles  I  did  not  wish 
away,  because,  as  poems,  they  gave  me  great  plea- 
sse ;  but  1  wished  them  ait  the  end  of  the  volume, 
or  at  the  beginning— afty  where  except  where  thev 
yen.  My  taste  is  perhaps  pecnUar  in  disliking  all 
iatermptions  in  narrative  poetry.  When  the  poet  lets 
his  story  sleep,  and  talks  in  his  own  person,  it  has 
to  me  the  same  sort  of  unpleasant  effect  that  is 
ptodoced  at  the  end  of  an  act.  You  are  aUve  to 
know  what  follows,  and  lo— down  comes  the  cor- 
taai,  and  the  fiddles  begin  with  their  abominations. 
The  general  opinion,  however,  is  with  me,  in  this 

particular  instance '*    I  have  no  right  to 

quote  the  rest  of  Mr.  Southey's  letter,  which  is  filled 
chiefly  with  business  of  his  own ;  but  towards  its 
close,  immediately  after  mentioning  a  princely  in- 
stance of  generosity  on  the  part  of  bis  friend  Mr. 
Waller  Savage  Landor  to  a  brother  poet,  he  has  a 
noble  sentence,  which  I  hope  to  be  pardoned  for  ex- 
tracting, as  equally  applicable  to  his  own  character 
and  that  of  the  man  he  was  addressing—"  Great 
poeta,"  says  the  author  of  Thalaba,  "have  no  envy; 
ottle  ones  axe  foil  of  it  1  1  doubt  whether  any  man 
ever  criticised  a  good  poem  maliciously,  who  had 
Bot  written  a  bad  one  himself."  I  must  not  omit  to 
BKntion,  tbat  on  his  way  from  London  down  to 
Keswick,  Mr.  Southey  had  visited  at  Stamford  the 
late  industrious  antiquary  Octavius  Qilchrist,  who 
«ru  also  nt  this  time  one  of  Scott's  frequent  corres- 
poflKlents.    Mr.  Gilchrist  writes  (May  21)  to  Scott, 

*  Southey  pointed  out  to  me  a  passage  in  Marmion, 
10  L 


which  he  thought  finer  than  any  thing  he  remem- 
bered." 

Mr.  Wordsworth  knew  Scott  too  well  not  to  list 
the  same  mascuhne  fireedom. 

"  Thank  you,"  he  says  '•  for  MarmioD.  I  think  your  end 
has  been  attained.  That  it  is  not  the  end  which  I  should 
wish  you  to  propose  to  vourseU;  you  will  be  well  aware, 
from  what  you  know  or  my  notions  of  composition,  both 
as  to  matter  and  nianner.  In  the  circle  oi  my  acquaint- 
ance, it  seems  as  well  Uked  as  the  Iat,  though  i  have 
heard  that  hi  the  world  it  is  not  so.  Had  the  poem  been 
much  better  than  the  Lay,  it  could  scarcely  have  satisfied 
the  pablic,  which  has  too  much  of  the  monster,  the  moral 
msnater,  in  its  composition.  The  spring  has  burst  out 
upon  us  all  at  once,  and  the  vale  is  now  in  exquisite  beau* 
tv ;  a  gentle  shower  has  &Uen  this  morning,  and  I  hear 
the  thrush,  who  has  built  in  my  orchard,  ainging  amain. 
How  happy  ws  should  be  to  see  you  here  sgain  I  Ever, 
my  dear  Scott,  your  dncere  frisna 

W.  W." 

I  pass  over  a  multitude  of  the  congratulatory  ef- 
fiisions  of  inferior  names,  but  must  not  withhold 
part  of  a  letter  on  a  foUo  sheet,  written  not  in  the 
first  hurry  of  excitement,  but  on  the  2d  of  Mav,  two 
months  after  Marmion  had  reached  ^unningniU. 

"  I  have,"  says  Ellis,  "  been  endeavouring  to  divest 
tnyself  of  those  prejudices  to  which  the  impression  on 
my  own  palate  would  naturalir  give  rise,  and  to  discover 
the  sentiments  of  those  who  nave  only  tasted  the  general 
compound,  after  seeing  the  sweetmeats  picked  out  by  my 
comrades  and  myself.  I  have  severely  questioned  all  my 
friends  whose  critical  discemmedt  I  could  hixfy  trust, 
and  mean  to  give  your  the  honest  resnlt  of  their  collective 
opinions  ;  for  whicii  reason,  hiasmuch  as  I  shall  have  a 
good  deal  to  sav,  besides  which,  there  seems  to  be  a  natu- 
ral  connexion  Between  foolscap  and  criticism,  I  have  ven> 
tured  on  this  expanse  of  paper.  In  the  first  place,  then, 
all  the  world  are  agreed  that  yon  are  Uke  tne  elephant 
mentioned  in  the  Spectator,  who  was  the  greatest  ele* 
phant  in  the  world  except  himself;  and  conseouently,  that 
the  only  questk>n  at  issue  is,  whether  the  Lay  or  Mar- 
mion shall  be  reputed  the  most  pleasinx  poem  in  our  lan- 
gOage— save  and  except  one  or  two  of  Dryden's  fables. 
But,  with  respect  to  the  two  rivals,  I  think  the  Lav  is,  on 
the  whole,  the  greater  favourite.  It  is  admitted  Uiat  the 
fable  of  Marmion  is  greatly  superior— that  it  contains  a 
greater  diveiaity  of  character— that  it  inures  more  in* 
terest — and  that  it  is  by  no  means  inferior  in  point  of  poet* 
icai  expression ;  but  it  is  contended  that  the  incident  of 
Deloralne's  journey  to  Melrose  surpasses  any  thins  in 
Marmion,  and  that  the^  person^  appearance  of  the  Min- 
strel, who,  though  the  last,  is  by  lar  the  most  charming  of 
all  minstrels,  is  by  no  means  compensated  by  the  idea  of 
an  author  shorn  of  his  picturesque  beard,  deprived  of  his 
harp,  and  writing  letters  to  his  intimate  friends.  These 
introductory  eoistles,  indeed,  though  excellent  in  thera. 
selves,  are  m  fact  onlv  interruptions  to  the  fable ;  and  ac- 
cordingly, nine  out  or  ten  have  pernsed  them  separately, 
either  after  or  before  the  poem— and  It  is  obvious  that 
they  cannot  have  produced,  in  either  case,  the  effect  which 
was  proposed — viz.,  of  relieving  the  readers'  attention) 
and  givinjg  variety  to  the  whole.  Perhaps,  C4)ntinue  these 
critics,  it  would  be  fair  to  aay  that  Marmion  delights  us  ia 
spite  of  its  introductory  epistles— while  the  Lay  owes  its 
principal  charms  to  ttie  venerable  old  minstrel  .—the  two 
poen>8  may  be  considered  as' equally  respectable  to  the 
talents  of  the  author;  but  the  first,  being  a  more  perfect 
whole,  will  be  more  constantly  preferred.  Now,  aU  this 
may  be  very  true— but  it  is  no  less  true  that  every  body 
has  already  read  Marmion  more  than  once— that  it  is  the 
subject  of  general  conversation- that  it  delights  all  ages 
and  all  tastes,  and  that  it  is  universalty  allowed  to  improve 
upon  a  second  reading.  My  own  opinion  is,  that  both  the 
productions  are  equally  good  in  their  different  ways ;  yet, 
upon  the  whole,  1  had  rather  be  the  author  of  Marmion 
than  of  the  Lay,  because  I  think  i(s  species  of  excellence 
of  much  more  difficult  attainment.  What  degree  of  bulk 
may  be  essentially  necessary  to  the  corporeal  part  of  an 
Epic  poem,  I  know  not ;  but  sure  1  am  that  the  story  of 
Marmion  might  have  furnished  twelve  books  as  easily  as 
six— that  the  masterly  character  of  Constance  would  not 
have  been  less  bewitching  had  it  been  much  more  ml- 
nutel  J  painted— and  that  De  Wilton  might  have  been  dilat- 
ed with  great  ease,  and  even  to  considerable  advantage  ; 
— in  short,  that  had  it  been  your  intention  merely  lo  ex- 
hibit a  spirited  romantic  story,  instead  of  making  that 
story  subservient  to  the  delineation  of  the  manners  which 
prevailed  at  a  certain  period  of  our  history,  the  number 
and  variety  of  your  cnaracters  would  liave  suited  any 
scale  of  painting.  Marmion  is  to  Deloraine  what  Tom 
Jones  is  to  Joseph  Andrews— the  varnish  of  high  brevi* 


«> 


UFS^  OF  SIR  WALTSBiS(;mT. 


.Of  nowhere  dimfofahes  t>ie  prominence  of  the  features 
—Mid  the  minkm  of  a  kiof  la  aa  light  and  afnewy  a  cava- 
:ler  as  the  Hurderer, — rather  lesa  ferocious,  mure  wictc- 
ec^  Icse  fit.for  the  hero  of  a  baUad,  and  (kr  more  for  the 
hero  of  a  regular  poem.  On  the  whole,  I  can  eincereljr 
a^eure  you,  *sana  phrcuet'  that,  had  I  seen  Marmion 
without  knowing  the  author,  I  should  have  ranked  it  with 
Tlieodnre  and  Honoiia,— that  la  to  say,  on  the  very  top 
shelf  of  English  poetry.    Now  for  faults." 

Mr.  Ellis  proceeds  to  notice  some  minor  blemishes, 
which  he  hoped  to  see  erased  in  a  future  copy:  but 
as  most,  if  not  all^  of  these  were  sufficiently  dwelt 
on  by  the  professionnl  critics,  whose  strictures  are 
affixed  to  tlie  poem  in  the  last  collective  editiop, 
and  as^  moreover,  Scott  did  not  avail  himself  of  any 
of  the  flints  thus  publicly,  as  well  as  privately,  ten- 
dered for  bis  guidance,  I  shall  not  swell  my  page  by 
transcribing  more  of  this  elegant  letter.  Tne  part 
I  have  given  may  no  doubt  be  considered  as  an  epi- 
tome of  the  very  highest  and  most  refined  of  Lon- 
don table-talk  on  the  subject  of  MarmioQ,  during 
the  first  frcsbneasof  its  popularitv,  and  before  tne 
Edinburgh  Review,  the  only  critical  journal  of  which 
any  one  in  those  days  thought  very  seriously,  had 
pronounced  its  verdict. 

When  we  consider  some  parts  of  that  judgmenJ, 
together  with  the  author's  personal  intimacy  with 
the  editor,  and  the  aid  which  he  had  of  late  been  af- 
.fordingto  the  Journal  itself,  it  mUst  be  allowed  that 
Mr.  Jenrey  acquitted  himself  on  this  occasion  in  a 
manner  highly  creditable  to  his  courageous  sense  of 
duty ;  and  that  he  relied  on  being  considered  aa  do- 
ing so  by  the  Poet  himself,  illustrttes  equally  his  sa- 
gacity, and  me  manly  candour  and  strength  of 
mind,  for  which  Scott  had  all  along  been  esteemed 
and  honouredi  the  most  by  those  who  knew  him  the 
best.  The  number  of  the  Edinburgh  Review  con- 
taining the  article  on  Marmion*  was  accompanied 
by  this  note  :— 

To  Walttr  Seottt  Esq.,  CatUe  Street. 

"  Queen  Street,  Taesday. 
"  Dear  Scott— ff  I  did  not  gite  you  credit  for  more 
magnanimity  than  any  other  of  your  irritable  tribe,  I 
should  scarcely  venture  to  put  this  into  Your  hands.  As 
it  is,  I  do  it  with  no  liule  solicitude,  and  earnestly  hope 
that  it  will  make  no  difference  in  the  friendship  which  has 
hitherto  subsisted  between  us.  I  have  s|)oken  of  your 
poem  exactly  as  I  think,  and  though  I  cannot  reasonably 
soppose  that  you  will  be  pleased  with  every  thing  I  have 
said,  it  would  mortify  me  very  severely  to  believe  I  had 
given  you  pain.  If  you  have  any  amity  left  for  me,  you 
will  net  delay  very  long  to  tell  mo  so.  In  the  mean  time, 
lamvery  sincerely  youn^ 

F.  Jbfpjuit." 

The  reader  who  has  the  Edinburgh  Review  for 
April,  1808,  will  I  hope  pause  here  and  read  the  ar- 
ticle as  it  Btands ;  endeavouring  to  put  himself  into 
the  situation  of  Scott  when  it  was  laid  upon  his 
desk,  together  with  tliia  ominous  billet  from  the  cri- 
tic, who,  as  it  happened,  had  been  for  some  time 
engaged  to  dine  that  same  Tuesday  at  his  table  in 
Castle  Street  I  have  not  room  to  trnnscribe  the 
whole;  but  no  unfair  notion  of  its  spirit  and  tenor 
may  be  gathered  from  one  or  two  of  the  principal 
paragraphs.  After  an  ingeniou.s  little  dissertation 
on  epic  poetry  in  general,  the  reviewer  says— 

"  We  are  inclined  to  suspect  that  the  success  of  the 
work  now  before  us  will  be  less  brilliant  than  that  of  the 
author's  former  publication,  though  we  are  ourselves  of 
opinion  that  its  intrinsic  merits  are  nearly,  if  Mt  aUoge- 
ther  equal ;  and  that,  if  it  liad  the  fate  to  bo  the  elder 
born,  It  would  have  inherited  as  fair  a  portion  of  renown 
•s  has  fallen  to  the  lot  of  its  predecessor.  It  is  a  good  deal 
longer,  indeed,  and  somewlMit  more  ambitious ;  and  it  is 
rather  clearer,  that  it  has  greater  faults  than  tiiat  it  has 
greater  beauties— though,  for  our  own  parts,  we  are  in- 
clined to  believe  in  both  propositions.  It  has  more  Aat 
and  tedious  passages,  and  more  ostentation  of  liistorical 
and  antiauarian  lore ;  but  it  has  also  greater  richness  and 
variety,  both  of  characterand  incident ;  and  if  it  Itas  less 
sweetocss  and  pathos  m  the  softer  passages,  it  has  cer- 
tainly more  vehemence  and  force  of  colouring  in  the 
loftier  and  busier  representations  of  action  and  emotion. 
The  place  of  the  prologuising  minstrel  is  but  111  supplied, 
indeed,  by  the  epuiiokuy  dissertations  wlilch  are  prefixed 


to  each  book  of  the  present  poem  ;  and  the  balbd-plecM 
and  mere  episodes  which  It  e6nCains  h«ve  lets  Sflltt  Had 
poetical  beauty  ;  but  there  is  more  ahiaeas  and  spirll  la 
the  higher  delioeattons :  and  th«  story.  If  not  more  aAci« 
fully  conducted,  Is  at  least  h^tsr  complieaied,  and  eji> 
tended  through  a  wkicr  field  of  adventure.  The  cbaise- 
teristicu  of  both,  however,  are  evidently  the  same  ;  a  bro- 
ken narrative— A  redundancy  of  minute  description- 
bursts  of  unequal  and  energetic  poetry— and  a  general 
tone  of  spirit  and  animation,  unchecked  dt  timidity  or  af^ 
fectation,  and  unchastened  by  any  great  delicacy  of  taMe 
or  elegance  of  fency." 

"  But  though  we  think  this  last  romance  of  Mr.  flcntt*8 
about  as  good  aa  the  former,  and  allbw  that  it  affords  greet 
iodicatioos  of  poetical  talent,  we  must  remind  our  readers 
that  we  never  entertained  much  partiaUiy  for  lhi»  son  of 
compositiou,  and  ventured  on  a  former  occaaioo  to  ex- 

{tress  our  regret  that  an  author  endowed  with  such  t»- 
ents  should  consume  them  in  imitations  of  obsolete  ex- 
travagance, and  in  the  representation  of  manners  and 
sentiments  in  which  none  of  his  readers  can  be  supposed 
to  take  much  interest,  except  the  tlw  who  can  judj^e  of 
their  exactness.  To  write  a  nwdem  romance  of  chml- 
ry,  seems  to  be  much  such  a  phantasy  as  to  botid  a  mo- 
dern abbey  or  an  £agliah  pagoda.  For  onee,  however, 
it  may  be  excused  as  a  pretty  caprice  of  geniiu ;  bat  a 
second  production  of  the  same  sort  is  entitled  lo  less  is* 
dulgence,  and .  imposes  a  sort  of  duty  to  drive  the  author 
from  so  idle  a  task,  by  a  fair  exposition  of  the  taiiks 
which  are,  in  a  manner,  insejiarabie  from  Its  exeeutioo. 
His  genius,  seconded  by  the  omnipotence  of  fashion,  has 
brotight  chivalry  again  into  temporary  favour.  Fine  ladies 
and  gentlemen  now  talk  indeed  of  donjons,  keeps,  tabards, 
scutcheons,  treasures,  caps  of  maintenance,  |wrtr  uOieeSj 
wimples,  and  we  know  not  what  besides  ;  just  as  they  <m 
in  the  days  of  Dr.  Darwin's  popularity  of  ^oitnesi,  aywK 
oxygen,  gossameri  polygynia,  and  polyandrU.  Tbai 
fashion,  however,  passed  rapidly  away,  and  Bfr.  Scoa 
should  take  care  that  a  different  soft  of  pedantry  does  not 
produce  the  same  effects." 

The  detailed  exposition  of  faults  fellows ;  and  it 
is,  1  am  sure,  done  in  a  style  on  which  the  crick 
cannot  now  reflect  with  perfect  equanimity,  any 
more  tbim  on  the  lofty  and  decisive  tone  of  ib« 
sweeping  paragraphs  by  which  it  was  introduced. 
All  this;  however,  I  can  suppose  Scott  to  bars 
gone  through  with  great  composure :  but  he  must.  I 
think,  have  wondered,  to  say  the  least,  wbtti  m 
found  himself  accused  of  havmg  **  ihronghout  ni^ 
Iccted  Scottish  feelings  and  Scotfish  characters  T 
—He  who  had  just  poured  out  all  the  patriotic  en- 
thusiasm of  his  soul  in  so  many  passages  of  Har- 
mion,  which  every  Scotchman  to  the  end  of  time 
will  have  by  heart;  painted  the  capital,  the  court, 
the  camp,  the  heroic  old  chieftains  of  Scotland  in 
colours  instinct  with  a  fervour  that  can  never  die ; 
and  dignified  the  most  fatal  of  her  national  miafnr- 
tunes  by  a  celebration  aa  loftily  pathetic  as  ever 
blended  pride  with  sorrow,— a  battle-piece  wbidi 
even  his  critic  had  pronounced  to  be  the  noblest 
save  in  Homer!  But  not  even  this  injustice  was 
likely  to  wound  him  very  deeply.  Coming  from  one 
of  the  recent  witnesses  of  his  passionate  agitation 
on  the  Mound,  perhaps  he  would  only  smile  at  iL 

At  all  events,  Scott  could  make  allowance  for  the 
petulancies  into  which  men  the  least  disposed  to  in- 
jure the  feelings  of  others  will  sometimes  be  betray- 
ed, whrn  the  critical  rod  is  in  their  hands.  He  as- 
sured Mr.  Jeffrey  that  the  article  had  notdiatorbed 
his  digestion,  though  he  hoped  neither  bis  booksel- 
lers nor  the  public  would  agree  witb  the  opinions 
it  expressed  ;  and  begged  he  would  come  to  dinner 
at  the  hour  previously  appointed.  Mr.  Jeffrey  a^ 
peared  -accordingly,  ana  was  received  by  his  host 
with  the  frankest  cordiality;  but  had  the  mortifica- 
tion to  observe  that  the  mistress  of  thehouae,  though 
perfectly  polite,  was  not  auite  so  easy  with  him  as 
usual.  She,  too,  behaved  herself  with  exemplary 
civility  during  the  dinner:  but  could  not  help  aayioA 
in  her  broken  English  when  her  guest  was  depart* 
ing,  "  Well,  good  night,  Mr.  Jefl'rey— dejr  tell  me  voa 
have  abused  Scott  in  de  Review,  and  1  hope  Mr. 
Constable  has  paid  you  very  well  for  writing  it." 
This  anecdote  was  not  perhaps  wonh  giving ;  but  it 
has  been  printed  already  in  an  exaggerated  ahapei 
80  I  thought  it  B»  well  to  present  the  edition  which 


Digitized  by  V^OOQlC 


14WR  OF  SIR  W^TER  aCOTT. 


191 


I  htndeoiiedipoin  the  lipi  of  all  th«  tbne  pert  > 
coooeroed.  No  one,  I  am  sure,  will  tnink  the  w( 
of  iny  of  them  for  it,— least  of  all  of  Mrs.  Sc 
Sin  might  well  be  pardoned,  if  she  took  to  ben  < ' ! 
more  than  her  own  share  in  the  misadventure.'-  ii 
well  as  the  successes  of  the  most  affectionate  of  r  r"- 
tectorsL   It  was,  I  believe,  about  this  time  when ,  ii^. 
Scott  bas  confessed,  "the  popularity  of  MarnioiL 
me  him  such  a  heexe  he  had  for  a  moment  ala^<  .^t 
Ut  his  footine,"  that  a  shrewd  and  sly  observe r, 
Mrs.  Gnot  ofLafi^an,  said  wittily  enough,  u^kin 
letTiog  a  brilliant  assembly  where  the  poet  had  t' '  ri 
somxuuied  by  all  the  buzz  and  glare  of  fashionnM'i 
fcstafy,— "  Mr..  Scott  always  seems  to  me  lik^  u 
fdass,  ihroug[h  which  the  rays  of  admiration  ]<  is^ 
viiboai  sensibly  affecting  it  i  but  the  bit  of  pnir.  r 
ihitlies  beside  it  will  presently  be  in  a  blaze— :uii1 
M  wonder." 

1  ehallnot,  after  so  much  of  and  about  criticiRnu 
^y  any  thing  more  of  Marmion  in  this  place,  thnri 
^uatl  bsTe  always  considered  it  as,  on  the  wh  1. 
•itf  greatest  of  Scott's  poems.  There  is  a  cerii  cs 
light,  easy,  virgin  charm  about  the  Lay,  which  ^v  t 
look  for  in  vain  through  the  subsequent  volumen  of 
bis  verse;  but  the  superior  strength,  and  bread rh, 
ud  boldness  both  of  conception  and  execution  i^ 
the  Harmion  appear  to  me  indisputable.  The  gr  i  ^ 
blotj  tbe  Gombmation  o(  mean  felony  with  so  m^r.  v 
noble  qualities  in  the  character  of  the  hero,  was,  a? 
theDoeisaya,  severely  commented  on  at  the  Inn f 
by  tbe  most  ardent  of  his  early  friends,  Leyd'  n  ; 
but  tboo/Hi  he  admitted  the  justice  of  that  critici^rn , 
beciioN^'  to  let  the  tree  lie  as  it  had  fallen."  H^i 
WIS  al*o  aeosible  that  many  of  the  subordinate  ■  ' 
f^Mcting  parts  of  the  narrative  are  flat,  harsh, 
obKore-bot  would  never  make  any  serious  atte 
mo  away  with  these  imperfections  i  and  perb  i  -^ 
t«T, afler  all,  heighten  by  contrast  the  eflect  of  tin- 
pn^n  of  high- wrought  enthusiasm  which  alioi^^ 
Mconaidfered,  m  after  days,  with  satisfaction.  A^^ 
wthe  "epistolary  dissertations,"  it  must,  I  tak-  if. 
willowed  that  they  interfered  with  the  flow  of  ih^i 
•wry.  when  readers  were  turning  the  leaves  vicU 
Jacfiitl  ardour  of  curiosity;  and  they  were  not,  an 
««,  originally  intended  to  be  interwoven  in  i-^iv 
juhion  with  the  romance  of  Marmion.  Thoi'j-^ 
'Miatbor  himself  does  not  allude  to,  and  had  v(i^ 
Jtps  forgotten  the  circumstance,  when  writing  i  i*^ 
latrodnctory  Essay  of  1830— they  were  announ'  f  ;l, 
{ran  advertisement  early  in  1807,  as  "Six  Epi^r'.  ■< 
•^mEltnck  Forest,"  to  be  published  in  a  separ-^ro 
JJiome,  Bimilarto  tnat  of  the  Ballads  and  Lyr :  in] 
Tiecw;  and  perhaps  it  mieht  have  been  better  t],:i\ 
Ibis  first  plan  had  been  adhered  to.  But  how  \  f 
"latmavbe,  are  there  any  pages,  among  rII  he^^  i  r 
JTote,  that  one  would  be  more  sorry  he  should  i  i  ? 
MTc  written  *?  The^  are  among  the  most  dcHci  m  ■* 
J'unraitures  that  genms  ever  painted  of  itself,— bin  m 
^t,mtiou8,  happy  genius— exulting  in  its  own  1 1> 
^'SP'  >'fit  POSi^essed  and  mastered  by  a  clear,  cnlrn^ 
"^wlesi  mind,  and  happy  only  in  difTusing  happiiif  i^a 
around  it. 

.  ^ith  what  gratification  those  Epistles  were  in  ■  I 
fy  the  friends  to  whom  they  were  addressed  it  w«  »■  i  l.j 
JJ  superfluous  to  show.  He  had,  in  fact,  paipr  I 
"^^'J  alraost  as  fully  as  himself;  and  who  m-^hr 
Jioiliue  been  proud  to  find  a  place  in  such  a  gr^!'  - 
JJ  Tw  tastes  and  habits  of  six  of  those  men,  n 
JJ^wiercourse  Scott  found  the  greatest  plea-.T^j 
jwnhttfame  was  approaching  its  meridian  spl-  n- 
oror,  ire  tijQg p^ggg^,pjl  for  posterity  ;  and  wh-n  f 
»k!a  ^^^  ^^^^  avidity  we  catch  at  the  least  Inrii 
'JJ*  Beemg  to  afford  us  a  glimpse  of  the  intirrui  u' 
JJf'e  of  any  great  poet  of  former  ages,  I  cannot  i  ■  1 1  r 
r^^  'bat  posterity  would  have  held  this  re«  *  ri 
prenoDj,  even  had  the  individuals  been  in  themsci  vt  s 
.Jfw  remarkable  than  a  Rose,  an  Ellis,  aHtilier^ 
'  ?,wne,  a  Marriott,  and  an  Erskine. 
;-5.*°y  <l'^er  friends,  however,  have  found  a  pnrt 
,-"**«« affectionate  sketches;  and  I  doubt  whethtT 
"^manifestation  of  public  applause  afforded  tht* 
5J*l>0{nuch  pleasure  as  the  letter  in  which  one  of 
j^  alluded  to  in  the  fourth  Epistle  ns  then  abarni 
•^  Scotland  by  reason  of  hw  feeble  health,  ac- 


k|i»wlad8ed  tks  amotioBS  that  bad  b««i  ttimdip 
bim  when  he  came  upon  that  unexpected  page. 
This  was  Colin  Mackenzie  of  Portmore,  the  same 
who  beat  him  in  a  competition  of  rhymes  at  the 
High  School  and  whose  ballad  of  ElLandonnan 
Castle  had  been  introduced  into  the  third  volume 
of  the  Mrostrelsy.  This  accomplished  and  singu- 
larly modest  man.  now  no  more,  received  Marmion 
at  Lympstone.  "My  dear  Walter,"  he  savs,  "'amidst 
the  greetings  that  will  crowd  on  you,  1  know  that 
those  of  a  bearty,  sincere,  admiring  old  friend,  will 
not  be  coldly  taken»  I  am  not  going  to  attempt  an 
enumeration  of  beauties,  but  I  must  thank  you  for 
the  elegant  and  delicate  allusion  in  which  you  ex- 
press your  friendship  for  myself— Forbes— and  above 
all,  that  sweet  memorial  of  his  late  excellent  fa- 
ther.* I  find  1  have  ^ot  the  mal  du  pay«,  and  mast 
return  to  enjoy  the  sight  and  society  of  -a  few  cho- 
sen friends.  Vou  are  not  unaware  of  the  place  you 
hold  on  my  Hslv  and  your  description  of  our  cem- 
miiUetf  has  inspired  me  with  tenfold  ardour  to  re- 
new a  pleasure  so  highly  enjoyed,  and  remembered 
with  such  enthusiasm.  Adieu,  my  dear  friend.  Ever 
yours,  C.  M."- 

His  next-door  neighbour  at  Ashestiel,  Mr.  Pringle 
of  Whytbank,  "  the  long-descended  lord  of  Yair," 
writes  not  less  touchingly  on  the  verses  in  the  2d 
Epistle,  where  his  beautiful  place  is  mentioned,  and 
the  poet  introduces 

"tbose  spartlve  boys, 
Companioos  of  his  mountain  joys''— 

and  paints  the  rapture  with  which  they  had  heard 
bim  ^  call  Wallace*  rampart  holy  ground."  "  Your 
own  benevoleni  heart,"  says  the  good  laird,  "would 
have  enjoyed  the  scene,  could  you  have  witnessed 
the  countenances  of  my  little  flock  grouped  round 
your  book ;  and  perhaps  you  would  have  discovered 
that  the  father,  though  the  least  audible  at  that 
moment^  was  not  the  most  insensible  to  the  honour  , 
bestow^  upon  his  children  and  his  parent  stream, 
both  ahke  dear  to  his  heart.  May  my  boys  feel  an 
additional  motive  to  act  well,  that  they  may  cast 
no  discredit  upon  their  early  fhend !" 

But  there  was  one  personal  allusion  which,  almost 
before  his  ink  was  dry,  the  poet  would  fain  have  can- 
celled. Lord  Scott,  the  young  heir  of  Buccleuch. 
whose  casusl  absence  from  **  Yarrow's  bowera^' 
was  regretted  in  that  same  epistle  (addressed  to  bia 
tutor,  Mr.  Marriott)— 

"  No  Touthful  baron's  left  to  grace 

The  forest  stieriff's  lonely  chase, 

And  ape  In  raanlv  step  and  tone 

The  majesty  of  Oberon." 

—this  promising  boy  had  left  Yarrow  to  revisit  it  no 
more.  He  died  a  few  days  after  Marmion  was  pub- 
lis?hed,  and  Scott,  in  writmgon  the  event  to  his  uncle 
Lord  Montagu,  (to  whom  the  poem  was  inscribed,) 
signified  a  fear  that  these  verses  might  now  serve  but 
to  quicken  the  sorrows  of  the  mother.  Lord  Monta- 
gu answers,-"  I  have  been  able  to  ascertain  Lady 
Dalkeith's  feelings  in  a  manner  that  will,  I  think,  be 
satisfactory  to  you,  particularly  as  it  came  from 
herself,  without  my  giving  her  the  pain  of  being  ask- 
ed. In  a  letter  I  received  yesterday,  giving  directions 
about  some  books,  she  writes  as  follows :— '  And 
pray  send  me  Marmion  too— this  may  seem  odd  to 
you,  but  at  some  moments  I  am  soothed  bv  tniiigs 
which  at  other  times  drive  me  almost  mad.  On 
the  7th  of  April.  Scott  says  to  Lady  Louisa  Stuart— 
"The  death  of  poor  dear  Lord  Scott  was  such  a 
stunning  blow  to  me.  that  I  really  felt  for  some  time* 
totally  indifferent  to  the  labours  of  literary  correction. 
I  had  very  great  hopes  from  that  boy,  who  was  of  an 
age  to  form,  on  theprinciplesof  his  father  and  grand- 
father, bis  feelings  towards  the  numerous  families 
who  depend  on  them.  Bnt  God's  \\  ill  be  done.  I  in- 
tpndqd  to  have  omitted  the  lines  referring  to  him  m 
Marmion  in  the  second  edition ;  for  as  to  adding  any. 
I  could  as  soon  write  the  lUad.  But  I  am  now  glad  1 

•  Mr.  Mackenzie  had  mamed  a  daafbter  of  Sir  Wimun  Foibes 
of  Pitiligo,  Bart.,  the  Wofmnher  of  BcnMie;  

♦  The  supper  meelinpi  or  the  Cavalry  Clab.    Bee  Marmun,  ^ 


♦  The  supper  meetings  c 
Introduction  to  Canto  IT. 


Digitized  by 


jU 


LIFK  OP  Sm  WALTER  SCOTT. 


aHered  my  intention,  as  Lady  Dalkdth  has  sent  for 
the  book,  and  dwells  with  melancholy  pleasure  on 
whatever  recalls  the  memory  of  the  poor  boy.  She 
has  borne  her  distress  like  an  angel,  as  she  is,  and 
alwavs  has  been ;  but  God  only  can  cure  the  wounds 
he  inflicts." 

One  word  more  as  to  these  personal  allusions. 
While  he  was  correcting  a  second  proof  of  the  pas- 
sage where  Pitt  and  Fox  are  mentioned  together,  at 
St  an  more  Priory,  in  April,  1807,  Lord  Abercorn 
suggested  that  the  compliment  to  the  Whig  states- 
man ought  to  be  still  further  heightened,  and  several 
lines— 

"  For  talents  mourn  untimely  lost; 

When  best  employed,  and  wanted  most,"  4bc.* — 

were  added  accordingly.  I  have  heard,  indeed,  that 
they  came  from  the  accomplished  Marquis's  own 
pen.  Ballan  tvne,  however,  from  some  inadvertence, 
had  put  the  sheet  to  press  before  tlie  revUt^  as  it  is 
called,  arrived  in  Edmburgh,  and  some  few  copies 
got  abroad  in  which  the  additional  couplets  were 
omitted.  A  London  Journal  (the  Morning  Chronicle) 
was  stupid  and  malignant  enough  to  insmuate  that 
the  author  had  his  presentation  copies  struck  off 
with,  or  without,  them— according  as  they  were  for 
Whig  or  Tory  hands.  I  mention  the  circumstance 
now,  only  because  I  see  bv  a  letter  of  Heber's  that 
Scott  had  thought  it  wortTi  his  while  to  contradict 
the  absurd  charge  in  the  newspapers  of  the  day. 

The  feelings  of  poUtical  partisanship  find  no  place 
in  this  poem  ;  but  though  the  Edinburgh  reviewers 
chose  to  complain  of  its  manifest  neglect  of  Scot- 
tish feeUngs,*^  I  take  leave  to  suspect  that  the  bold- 
ness and  energy  of  British  patriotism  which 
breathes  in  so  nia^y  passages,  may  have  had  more 
share  than  that  alleged  omission  in  pointing  the  pen 
that  criticised  Marmion.  Scott  had  sternly  andin- 
,dignantly  rebuked  and  denounced  the  then  too  pre- 
valent spiot  of  anti-national  despondence;  he  had 
put  the  trumpet  to  his  lips,  and  done  his  part,  at  least, 
to  sustain  the  hope  and  resolution  of  his  countrymen 
in  that  struggle  from  which  it  was  the  doctrine  of  the 
Edinburgh  Review  that  no  sane  observer  of  the  times 
could  anticipate  any  thing  but  ruin  and  degradation. 
He  must  ever  be  considered  as  the  "  mighty  min- 
strel" of  the  Antigallican  war ;  audit  was  Marmion 
that  first  announced  him  in  that  character. 

Be  all  this  as  it  may,  Scott's  connexion  with  the 
Edinburgh  Review  was  now  broken  pfi';  and  indeed 
it  was  never  renewed,  except  in  one  instance,  many 
years  after,  when  the  strong  wish  to  serve  poor 
Maturin  shook  him  for  a  moment  from  his  purpose. 
The  loftiest  and  purest  of  human  beings  seldom  act 
but  under  a  mixture  of  motives^  and  I  shall  not  at- 
tempt to  guess  in  what  proportions  he  was  swayed 
by  aversion  to  the  political  doctrines  which  the  jour- 
nal had  lately  been  avowing;  with  increased  openness 
—by  dissatisfaction  with  us  judgments  of  his  own 
works— or,  lastly,  by  the  feeling  that,  whether  those 

^'udgmen)e  were  or  were  not  iust,  it  was  but  an  idle 
)usmess  for  him  to  assist  by  his  own  pen  (he  popu- 
larity of  the  vehicle  that  oifllused  them.  That  he 
was  influenced  more  or  less  by  all  of  these  consi- 
derations, appears  highly  probable ;  and  I  fancy  I 
can  trace  some  indications  of  each  of  them  in  a  fet- 
ter with  which  I  am  favoured  by  an  old  friend  of 
mine,— a  warm  lover  of  literature,  and  a  sincere  ad- 
mirer both  of  Scott  and  JefTrev,  and  though  num- 
bered among  the  Tories  in  the  House  of  Commons, 
yet  one  of  the  most  liberal  section  of  his  party,— 
who  happened  to  visit  Scotland  shortly  after  the  ar- 
ticle on  Marmion  appeared,  and  has  set  down  his 
recollections  of  the  course  of  table-talk  at  a  dinner 
where  he  for  the  first  time  met  Scott  in  company 
with  the  brilliant  editor  of  the  Edinburgh  Review. 
'  There  were,"  he  says,  "only  a  few  people  besides 

*  In  place  of  thia  couplet,  and  tb«?  ten  linen  which  follow  it,  the 
wifgiiial  MS.  of  Marmion  baa  only  the  following  .— 

"  ir  genius  hiffh,  an  !  Judsfment  tonnd, 
And  wit  that  ioVed  loplajr,  not  «oand, 
And  all  the  reaaoninf  powen  divine, 
To  pcntiratt,  rrsolre,  oombiae, 
Coald  aave  one  mortal  of  the  benl 
>  From  error— Fox  bad  oavftr  err'd.*' 


the  two  lions— and  assuredly  I  have  seldonn  parsed 
a  more  agreeable  day.  A  thousand  subjects  of  lite- 
rature, antiquities^  and  manners,  were  started  ;  and 
much  was  I  struck,  as  you  may  well  suppose,  by  the 
extent,  correctness,  discrimination,  and  accuracy  of 
Jeflfrey's  information;  equally  so  with  his  taste,  acute- 
ness,  and  wit,  in  dissecting  e^rv  book,  author,  and 
story,  that  came  in  our  way.  Nothing  could  sur- 
pass the  variety  of  bis  knowledge,  but  the  easy  ra- 
pidity of  his  manner  of  producing  it.  He  was  then 
m  his  meridian.  Scott,  delighted  to  draw  him  out, 
delighted  also  to  talk  himself,  and  displayed,  I  think, 
even  a  larger  range  of  anecdote  and  illustration  ;  re- 
membering every  thin^,  whether  true  or  false,  that 
was  characteristic  or  impressive;  every  thing  that 
was  good,  or  loveU',  or  hvely.  It  struck  me  that  there 
was  this  great  difference- Jeffrey,  for  the  most  part, 
entertained  us,  when  books  were  under  discussion, 
with  the  detection  of  faults,  blunders,  absurdities,  or 
plagiarisms :  Scott  took  up  the  matter  where  he  left 

it,  recalled  some  compensating  beauty  or  excellence 
or  which  no  credit  had  been  allowed,  and  by  the  re- 
citation, perhaps,  of  one  fine  stanza,  set  the  poor  Vic- 
tim on  his  legs  again.  I  bcUeve  it  was  iust  about 
this  time  that  Scott  had  abandoned  his  place  in  Mr. 
JeiTrey's  corps.  The  journal  had  been  started  amonz 
the  clever  young  society  with  which  Eldinburgh 
abounded  when  they  were  both  entering  life  as  bar- 
risters ;  and  Jeffreys  principal  coadjutors  for  some  * 
time>\*'ere  Sydney  Smith,  Brougham,  Horner,  Scott 
himself— and  on  scientific  subjects,  Playfair;  but 
clever  contributors  were  sought  for  in  all  quarters. 
Wit  and  fun  were  the  first  desiderata,  and  joined 
with  general  talent  and  literature,  carried  all  oefore 
them.  Neutrality,  or  something  of  the  kind,  as  to 
party  poUtics.  seems  to  have  been  originally  assert- 
ed—the  plan  beipg,  as  Scott  understood,  not  to  avoid 
such  questions  altogether  but  to  let  them  be  hand- 
led by  Whig  or  Tory  indifferently,  if  only  the  writer 
could  make  his  article  cap tivatii|g  in  point  of  infor- 
mation and  good  writing.  But  it  was  not  long  be- 
fore Brougham  dipped  the  concern  deep  in  witty 
Whiggery;  and  it  was  thought  at  the  time  that 
some  very  foolish  neglects  on  the  part  of  Pitt  had  a 
principal  share  in  making  several  of  these  brilliant  , 
young  men  decide  on  carrying  over  their  weapons  to 
the  enemy's  camp.  Scott  was  a  strong  Tory,  nay, 
by  faniily  recollections  and  poetical  feelings  of  as- 
sociation, a  Jacobite.  Jeffrey,  however,  was  an 
early  friend— and  thus  there  was  a  conniction  of 
feehngs  on  both  sides.  Scot  t^  as  I  was  told,  re- 
monstrated against  the  deepemn/5  Whiggery— Jef- 
frey alleged  that  he  could  not  resist  the  wit.  Scott 
offered  to  try  his  hand  at  a  witty  bk  of  Toryism— 
but  the  editor  pleaded  off,  upon  the  danger  of^incon- 
sistcncy.  These  differences  first  cooled— and  soon 
dissolved  their  federation.— To  return  to  #ur  gay  din- 
ner. As  the  claret  was  taking  its  rounds,  Jeffrey  in- 
troduced ?  ~7iid-natured  eulogy  of  his  old  sup- 
port trti~Sydn*jy  hirrtith.  Brougham^  and  Horner. 
tUimtV  snys  Scoit,  *you  can't  say  loo  much  abont 
Sydney  or  Broiigtinm,  but  1  will  not  admire  your 
Hortier:  he  alwav^  put  me  in  mind  of  Obadiah's 
bull,  who,  alihuuiih,  as  Father  Shandy  observed, 
hf  nevr^r  prcjductjd  a  calf,  went  through  his  business 
with  M/oh  a  gmvc  tU  meanour,  that  he  always  main- 
tamt:d  lira  credit  m  ihe  parish  !'  The  fun  of  the  il- 
lufiriimm  tcm^vted  liim  to  this  sally,  I  believe;  but 
Horner' fl  ta  It  n  is  did  not  lie  in  humour,  and  his  eco- 
nomic: a  I  labours  ^vore  totally  uncongenial  to  the 
mind  uf  Scoii/' 

I  flhuil  conclude  this  chapter  vnth  a  summary  of 
book$tUt*f&^  accDUTTts.  Marmion  was  first  printed 
in  a  splendid  quurh»^  price  one  guinea  and  a  half 
Th^^  ^omi  itypif^n  of  I  ins  edition  were  all  disposed  of 
in  '        '     ■  ■;  ,  when  a  second  of  300O  copies, 

in8vo,  was  scnttopr^ss.  There  followed  a  third 
and  a  fourth  edition,  each  of  3000,  in  1S09  ;  a  fifth 
of  2000,  early  in  1810  ;  and  a  sixth  of  3000,  in  two 
volumes,  crown  Svo,  with  twelve  designs  by  Sin- 
gleton, before  the  end  of  that  year;  a  seventh  of 
4000.  and  an  eighth  of  5000  copies  8vo,  in  1811 ;  a 
ninth  of  3000  in  1815;  a  tenth  of  500,  in  lt<20;  an 
eleventh  of  500,  and  a  twelfth  of  2ppp  copies,  in 
Digitized  by  VjOOQ  l(^ 


LIFE  OP  S A  WAI^TBR  SGOfT. 


IM 


f^dteiis   bol^Lflie^.    Hie  l^ffitimatd  ^Ic  in  thia 
c-jsiauy-    cherelbrt;^  clo^rn  lo  tnu  lime  of  Ub  bti"-^ 


^vmik^  anic^untDd  lo  ii.QOO :  and  the  oagr^^^aie  of 
(to  M«  fkiwn  ta  the  t'C'TJi^a  ai  which  I  am  writing 
[M.af«  1^3^)  ttisy  bi^  &L<ud  at  C^^WX)  cQpk'S.  1  pT^- 
mm»  it  i»  right  Tmt  m&  to  facilitate  the  task  oi  fu- 
i^n  biatonaafi  of  our  Uterature  b^  preBcrvinf^  these 
kiails  fL9  ofi^  aa  1  cun*  Sucli  ptt^rtiuuliLrB  feapect- 
..j^  many  of  itiasA^t  wiJTkscvefi  ^itihe  bst£<;!Uu- 
ry^  Lrc  lufeady  *aught  for  wuh  vam  regret j  and  1 
^Xtifijpttld  mt  day  wbeti  the  AtuJ^nt  af  Eii;i;;h^h 
4|ff|Kfttioii  wiU  pass  witJi^jut  ctatiuaitv  the  cont^m- 
pMiiy  rvoepdon  of  the  Tale  of  Flodd^n  Field. 

CHAPTER  XVII. 
liiMTiO^  or  DAVDKsi  pufltienaD — ai?i>  cEiiticieEJD  dt 

Mt~  ttALLAM— WEBER^fi  aOMAN€K«^EI^lTJ0SS  OF 
«e|«3IJIC»0'llALL--CAFTAlX  CAALSTOK'b  M£A10tll£ 
;  MMMOtB6  or  aOSEsr  CABITt  EAKL  OFjt^OK- 
fiADtlB    FAP£Be— AND  THE    eOMEfig' 

TPACr* EDITlOrf    OP    *W1PT    BEOUW— LETTER B    TO 

JQiAjrVA  AAIXLEC  ASTD  OEOJtCE  ELUS  ON  TKE  A-TFAtJ^S 
<tP  THE  PES^tSBCLA— JOHN  STAUTHEHfl— JAMES  HOGO 

^-TtMTOr  fi*m,  woEajTT— if»,  aioaHiTr's  rekinip- 

CBJffCW  OF  A»tiL«TlRl.— flCOTT^H  iJOMEfitlC    LIFE.— 


Bdbw  If annioii  was  pubhfihed,  a  heavy  task,  be- 
^'-  --'T-cT  than  the  poem,  and  continued  l  h  rough - 

<  -n:^^3,  had  h&^n  nearly  completefl ;  anrJ 
1  .  .  rt-d  in  the  Inst  week  nf  April  If^O^,  "  Tlio 
'Vijf^  4>1  John  Drydon^  now  first  colkct<?ilj  illus- 
T^led  wilh  noi^*  hiaioncni,  cfitical,  andexpljiriftto- 
ir,  ftud  a  Life  of  tht^  Author.— Bv  Walifr  Seoit, 
llarj.  Ej^htc«n  volamcs.  8vo.'*  Tbie  w»a  the  bold 
I  iTCtilation  of  WiJiiam  Milkrof  Alhemarle  Street, 
t>o4otii  *Eiii  ihe  i'ilitor'a  fi^^  at  forty  erijiitieas  th^' 
'  jluiTiei  was  £756.  The  bulk  of  the  collection,  the 
r.^^Jeei  into  which  a  majortty  of  thepkce*  included 
i  t  Lt  haiil  fallen,  the  obftoletL^nesa  of  the  piirtv  poli- 
t  1:3  which  hadK)  iargply  exem54ni  iht?  aiuhora  mn, 
jifi^  the  indecorum,  not  etldom  running  into  flag- 
hint  indeconcy,  by  which  trail  ace  ndunt  gi^niua  had 
M{]kii»t<i:T€MJ    to  Lhc  appetiies  of  a  licentious  ;ige,  all 

<  >inbuied  to  tttake  the  warmest  of  Scoit'a  frit-nda 
jiJSili'^'rurera  doubt  wbeth^^r  oven  hisakiU  and  ropu- 
^  a4ion  would  be  found  aulSciont  to  ensure  the  ^c- 
4t^^tbi^  tladertaking.  It  vra^  ho  we  vert  bettor 
t'<«ifed  than  any  one,  eiL'si^t  pi^rhaps  ibecoura- 
P^<KM  bciokpelleT  himsehi  had  aniieipfited.  The  en- 
"ijfrwark  was  reprinted  in  lB2l  \  and  more  latdy 
t/je  Ltfe  of  Drydtin  has  been  twiee  rcpubliahed  iti 
^  aZlective  editions  of  Scott' 9  proBc  miaotillanie^ ;  nor^ 
\,^6aitA,  do^0  that  doaa  of  nui  wri lings  include  any 
|:i«Pfta  CdnsideraJble  exteot  tliat  haa,  on  the  wbolc, 
oUiioed  hi^Eicir  estimation. 

This  cdihon  of  Dry  den  waa  ch  ticiscd  in  the  Editi- 
iHtjah  Ra view  for  October^  ISOd,  with  great  abiliiy, 
;  :!ijcU  on  the  whole,  with  admirable  candour.  The 
i^idLiHry  and  preppicncity  wiiitt''  >^iieh  Sc;otl  had 
<:.ifn«^j  throuf^h  bis  editorkl  researchcji  and  annu- 
udons  were  acknowledged  iti  lonna  which,  had  he 
iknflwti  th*-  name  of  hia  reviewer,  must  have  been 
^oittbiy  gTHtifyniH  to  hilfetihn;i£s  ;  and  il  was  con  fee- 
Sid  ibm  \sx  the  l^h  of  hia  author,  be  had  correcto^l 
*uh  patient  honfi9i|\  and  filled  uii  with  lucid  and 
toiaiiiif  c  detail,  th^dometimea  earek  a^i  and  <»ften 
iiu«d  outline  of  Johufion^a  muaterly  Ea^iay  on  the 
Jsau  Miibjeel  It  would  he  ^uoor throne  to  quote  in 
thjAfdace  a  Hpecinien  of  critical  ekUl  which  haa  ol- 
J"<mdy  enjoytd  such  Hide  cin'iolation,  and  which  will 
lixt^i^t^  no  drtubt,  be  incttiib^d  in  the  miacellancoiid 
^^^m^  workii  of  Ha  TLA  Iff.  Tlic  p^ntA  of  polidcfd 
aihh  on  which  that,  groni^  ^vritcrdi^^euts  from  ihv 
wa»t  of  Drydcit,  would,  eveti  if  I  had  the  inclina- 
li»ll  to  pursue  such  a  ilipcussion,  had  me  Dxr  astray 
%Oia  the  jmniediDte  <^bject  of  thot^  ^'agiie;  thcv 
^nbirtee  iTu£atione  on  which  the  beat  and  wisest  of 
jQur  cf^untrymun  will  proluibly  continue  lo  take  op- 
f^W  iid^  as  long  as  our  pant  hiitory  axcitea  a 
lif  inss  iniereat,  and  our  Hl^^rature  w  that  tu  an  active 
fiatioD^  On  the  poetical  ofaafac^^r  of  Dryd^n  I 
I*  * 


think  the  editor  and  his  oiitie  will  be  (bund  to  here 
expreaaed  aubstantiaUy  madi  the  same  iodgment ; 
when  they  appear  to  diB^,  the  battle  stnket  me  as 
being  about  words  rather  than  thinssL  as  is  likely 
to  be  the  case  when  men  of  such  aoilities  and  at- 
tainments approach  a  subiect  remote  from  their 
personal  passions.  As  mi^t  have  been  expected, 
the  terse  and  dexterous  reviewer  has  often  the  bet- 
ter in  this  logomachy ;  but  when  the  balance  is 
stnicki  we  dis(M)ver  here,  as  elsewhere,  that  Scott's 
broad  and  masculine  understanding  had,  by  what- 
ever happy  hardihood;  grasped  the  very  result  to 
which  otners  win  tbeu*  way  by  the  more  cautious  ' 
processes  of  logical  investigation.  While  nothin/; 
has  been  found  easier  than  to  attack  his  details,  hlB 
general  views  on  critical  questions  have  seldom,  if 
ever,  been  successfully  impugned. 

I  wish  I  could  believe  that  Scott's  labours  had 
been  sufficient  to  recall  Dryden  to  his  rightful  sta- 
tion, not  in  the  opinion  or  those  who  make  litera- 
ture the  business  or  chief  solace  of  their  Uvea— for 
with  them  he  bad  never  forfeited  it  —but  in  the  ge- 
neral favour  of  th^  intelligent  public.  That  such 
has  been  the  case,  however,  the  not  rapid  sale  of 
two  editions,  aided  as  they  were  by  the  greatest  of 
livyag  names,  can  be  no  proof;  nor  have  I  observed 
among  the  numberless  recent  speculations  of  the 
English  booksellers^  a  single  reprint  of  even  those 
tales,  satires,  and  cntical  essays,  not  to  be  familiar 
with  which  would  in  the  last  age,  have  been  consi- 
dered as  disgraceful  in  any  one  making  the  least 
pretension  to  letters.  In  the  hope  of  exciting  the 
curiosity,  at  least,  of  some  of  tne  thousands  of 
young  persons  who  seem  to  be  growing  up  in  con- 
tented Ignorance  of  one  of  the  greatest  of  our  mas- 
ters, I  snail  transcribe  what  George  ElUs,  whose 
misgivings  about  Scott's  edition,  when  first  under- 
taken, had  been  so  serious,  was  pleased  to  write 
some  months  afteir  its  completion. 

"  CUurenioBt,  23d  September,  180a 

**  I  mast  c^ofess  that  I  took  up  the  book  with  some 
decree  of  trepidation,  considering  an  odition  of  Such  a 
writer  as  on  every  account  perieulota  plenum  oput  tUea ; 
but  as  soon  as  I  became  acquainted  with  your  plan  I  pro- 
ceeded boldly,  and  really  feel  at  this  momaot  sincerely 
grateful  to  you  for  much  exquisite  aAusement  It  now 
seems  to  me  that  vour  critical  remarks  oushr  to  have  oc- 
curred to  myself.  Such  a  passionate  aouiirer  of  Dry- 
den's  fables,  the  noblest  specimen  of  ^versification  (in  mj 
mind)  that  is  to  be  found  in  any  mo«]em  language,  ought  to 
have  perused  his  theatrical  pieces  with  more  candour 
than  Idid,  and  to  have  attributed  to  the  bad  taste  of  the 
age.  rather  than  to  his  own,  the  numerous  defedts  bv 
wtiich  those  hasty  compositions  are  certainly  deformed. 
I  ought  Co  have  considered  that  whatever  Dryden  wrote 
mast,  for  some  reason  or  other,  be  worth  reading ;  that 
his  bombast  and  his  indelicacy,  however  disgusting,  were 
nolt^without  their  use  to  any  one  who  took  an  interest  in 
our  literary  history  :  that— in  short,  there  are  a  thousand 
reflections  which  I  ought  to  have  made  and  never  did 
make,  and  the  result  was  that  your  Dryden  was  to  me  a 
perfectly  new  book.  It  is  certainly  painful  to  see  a  race- 
horse In  a  hackney-chaise,  hot  when  one  considers  that 
ha  will  Boflfor  Infinitely  less  fh)m  the  vtolent  exertion  to 
which  he  is  condemoed,  than  a  creature  of  inferior  race 
— «nd  that  the  wretched  cock-tail  on  whom  the  same  task 
is  nsually  Imposed,  must  shortly  become  a  martyr  in  the 
service,  one's  conscience  becomes  more  at  ease,  and  we 
are  enabled  to  enjoy  Dr.  Johnson's  favourite  pleasure  of 
rapid  motion  without  much  remorse  on  ttie  score  of  its 
cruelty.  Since,  then,  your  hackneyman  is  not  furnished 
with  a  whip,  and  you  can  so  easily  canter  from  post  to 
post,  go  on  and  prosper  !*' 

To  return  for  a  moment  to  Scott's  Biography  of 
Dryden— the  only  life  of  a  great  poet  which  he  has  left 
us,  and  also  his  only  detailed  work  on  the  personal 
fortunes  of  one  to  whom  literature  was  a  profession 
—it  was  penned  just  when  he  had  be^un  to  appre- 
hend his  own  destmy.  On  this  point  of  view,  for- 
bidden to  contemporary  delicacy,  we  may  now  pause 
with  blameless  curiosity  ;  and  if  I  be  not  mistaken, 
it  will  reward  our  attenUon.  Seriously  as  he  must 
have  in  those  days  been  revolving  the  hazards  of 
litersry  enterprise,  he  could  not,  it  is  probable,  have 
handled  any  subject  of  this  class  without  letting 
out  here  and  there  thoughts  and  (iBelings  proper  to 


Tiis  6Wn  biMraplifir*s  provincio  ;  hnt^  widely  as  he 
and  bis  priedi^f^^i^enjr  may  oppewr  ii>  ?tand  apart  ns 
tflKarfis  soiTif^of  the  rriuat  ttiiporrant  bolh  of  ■[jTt^l- 
lectua]  atid  rnami  chnrftCterisirc^,  ^hey  hod  never- 
thek»s  man^  featurc-i?  <jf  restimhlaiit^,  both  m  men 
ttnd  Hi  authors  J  nnd  J  driybnf  tht?  t?iitirL' i-Bn^d  «f 
our  flURalfi  ootiid  hnve  rurm^lu^l  a  theme  more  en] * 
ctjlattd  to  ke*p  Scotl*f  ficrDlirjiiSng  iiitcresl  awflke. 
ifiao  iboi  whkK  opened  oti  him  na  Le  couUinplftit d 
*tep  by  8tpp  the  career  of  Dry;derj* 

There,  are  ^a^e  le^Kinsi  uhich  thut  story  wus  not 
ni?^pd  to  enforce  upon   hia  mind  ;  hif  retail  red  no 
such  bfj^con  to  mnktihim  mvoji  from  palicrmj:!  i^iih 
rhe  diiinif  y  of  womnn,  flf  the  paBsjon?  of  youth,  or 
TTisuUitiK  by  iJplefietielfviftes  the  rehi^ioirs  eon  vie* 
tion-tof  aity  portioft  of  his  count rj'fn*?n.    Bur  Dry- 
a«n  fl  [jroiinTutkm  of  iiia  genuiB  to  the  petty  bitter- 
nesses of  poh  lien  1  warfare^  and  tht  conaei]OencLB 
both  ns  tu  the  pnrty  he  sscTVerf,  end  (he  anTai?oniei3 
be  pirovoketl,  mJi?ht  well  RUjiply  matt^T  frtr  SttnouM 
cortaidtrntion  to  tlie  author  of  the  MelviUo  isonf;* 
whefp,'    sftps  Scort/*is  rhe  expt^n  swwdsmajj 
thai  do«s  not  dHi^bl  in  the  flouH'ih  of  his  \\ertpon  } 
and  a  bns^e  mnn  wjlj  kast  of  al!  wJThtJraw  him^ilf 
ffora  his  ancitnt  fitiindurd  whm  \\u'  tide  of  b[itt]« 
beata  ttf^ainsl  it."    Bat  he  sny^  Bl5o,^and  I  ktiow 
enough  of  h la  own  then  recent  experientes,  in  hia 
vnl^t course  wtth  some  who  had  been  nmonj?  his 
earliest  arvd  dearest  a^soctatca,  not  to  apply  tht;  1an-< 
goage  to  (he  circumsFqnc^fi  that  HviRgettted  it— "  fly 
who  keenly  en^a^es  in  pohtical  conirovtrpj',  must 
not  only  enLOunter  the  vul(^jir  abuso  i/^'hieh  ho  may 
jnmy  confenmt  *>ut  ibe  altetvd  eye  of  fnen da  whose 
r*gard  ia  chiJled  ?**  nor  when  ht?  adda^  that  "  the 
pro  tec  ting  iteal  of  his  pariy  did   tiot   eompenaato 
Dryikn  for  the  losa  of  thosH?  whnm  ht  alien tt ted  m 
thetr  aeryicp,"  can  I  help  con(ie<?(in^  I  hi»  re  flection 
loo  with  hia  own  sabsequenr  abatjnerjce  from  party 
personal]  rics,  in  which,  had  the  expens^OTdBman'a 
aeihcht  iti  th^  ilourish  of  his  wenpyn  prevailtdj  he 
:mi^ht  have  nvalJed  tb*  ^uccijeii  of  either  Di-ydtn  or 
"wjft,  to  be  ropatd  like  ihfjm  by  the  aettle4  rancoiif 
of  Whi|?a*  and  the  jealous  ingratitude  of  Toriea* 

I  *^^*^^T'^^^  enough  to  compare  the  heaiiatmB 
style  of  hw  apnlogy  tor  that  iiri^e  of  e^wnescent 
auperaiition  wtflbh  soema  to  hnve  clouded  occa- 
sionally Drydcti*s  bright  and  Bohd  mitid,  with  iho 
open  avowiil  that  he  hns  '*  pride  in  rccordini*  his  ou- 
thors  decided  lidminition  of  old  Ijitllnds  and  popu- 
lar talej(  i'  ami  pcrhopa  hid  personal  ftelinga  were 
hardly  less  his  promoter  wjicre  he  dit misses  with 
brief  acorp  Iho  ains  of  nfiftliKenca  and  boat t.  which 
1?  »  L  *°  **''^"  ^Tfi^  agmnst  Dryden.  ''No- 
thing, he  iay?.  ''  la  so  easily  ot  twined  a^  the  power 
of  presenting  the  entnnsit:  quahtiea  of  fine  paintiriK, 
fine  mtiaic^  or  fine  poetry  r  the  beauty  of  colour  atjd 
out! me,  the  combination  of  notes,  the  melody  of 
vereification,  may  be  irnitatfti  by  nrtistd  of  medtocri' 
ty  i  end  many  will  vitw,  hear,  or  (nmse  their  per- 
fonnatjtcs^  without  buing  able  positively  to  discover 
why  they  ehould  not,  since  composed  accordiu^  to 
all  th«  niltJi  aff>rd  pie  Assure  wual  to  tfaosc  of  Rs- 
phaeh  Handel,  or  Dryden.  Thy  dt-fincncy  liee  in 
J  ^^^i[y'"g  spint  which,  like  at^ohoL  muy  Pe  redo- 
ged  l^>  me  same  pritifiple  in  all  the  fine  Mis.  The 
French  pre  aaid  to  po8«bb  the  best  possible  rnJea 
ror  budding  ships  of  war,  altboucb  not  equally  re- 
ma  rkable  for  t  heir  po  wtr  of  lig  b  Img  ihf i  m .  When 
Olttctsra  becames  a  pur  suit  separate  fr^kni  jTOfciry, 
liiotjc  who  follow  It  areajii  to  forget  that  the  legiti- 
mate  ends  of  the  art  for  wliich  they  lay  down  rules, 
jre  mBtrurtion  and  dt  light,  and  ihat  these  points 
Demg  attained,  by  what  road  soever,  en  till  eg  a  poet 
to  e  aim  the  prize  of  Micceaaful  meni.  Neither  did 
the  learned  authors  of  iheso  disqtiifitmn?  suffidenily 
attend  to  the  general  di&pomiion  of  monkmti  which 
ran  not  be  contented  oven  with  the  hiippiei^t  imita- 


£>n^  ^¥  Sffe  "WALTER  SOGTT. 


trtrvcrabty,  that  the c^iti^^ in  (he pletaipotential  mu- 
rhonry  which  tbi^/exerdfled,  often  aaso mad  as  fn- 
dr^PL-nsiable  requiaites  of  the  drama,  or  epopeta, 
cLrcunislaticea  which,  in  the  ^eat  authorities  they 
quoteds  wcrie  altOKether  accidental  or  indifiereut. 
These  they  creeled^  itito  hiws,  and  hand^  do^m  as 
eflseniia!^  al  though  tht  furm a  prescribed  have  eAen 
as  bttle  to  do  wjtli  the  ni^rit  and  success  of  the  ori- 
)^LOal  from  which  ihev  ire  taken,  as  the  shape  of 
thf^  rinnkmfs  ^luss  wnh  the  flavour  of  the  wine 
H  htch  w  eon  tain  6."  These  sentences  appear,  from 
the  detei*,  to  have  he*  ti  penned  immediately  after 
\hv  bui^rnpherof  Dryrh n  (who  wrote  no  epic)  had 
pi.Tnse<nlie  Edinburgli  Ik  view  on  Marmion. 

J  conclude  with  a  pdHnage,  in  writing  which  he 
seems  to  have  anticipwitd  the  only  serious  crtiical 
rjiarL'e  that  w#is  ever  brmght  against  his  edition  of 
DrytJi-n  ae  a  whole-^nnin.  ly,  the  Joose  and  irrcimlmr 
wuyift  winch  his  own  iJ  sthetical  notions  are  indi- 
cattd,  rather  than  espn^j.ided.  "While  Drj'cfcn," 
sayeScott,  "eKsmim-i.  trscussed,  admitted,  or  re- 
jected the  rules  propf:tP^|  hy  others,  he  forbore,  from 
pTudenre,  tndvUnesT  nr  o  f  egurd  /hpthefreea&m.  of 
Pa  rfl  fi  *^w J,  to  < fi fc I  b i  1 1  u- elf  into  a  legislator.  His 
ilocirine«areecaitered  wiEhout  s/stem  or  pretence 
to  iu—it  is  innpoBsible  to  read  twr  without  andias 
some  maxim  for  doinj;;,  or  forbeating,  vfhich  every 
Hiudcnt  of  poetry  will  do  well  to  engrave  upon  the 
tablets  of  his  memory;  but  the  autnor^s  mode  of 
jn^rufition  is  neither  hnrsh  nor  dictatorial." 

On  me  whole,  it  ia  impossible  to  doubt  that  the 
success  of  Dryden  in  rftjndty  reaching,  and  till  the 


end  of  a  long  life  holding  undiapntedi,  the  sQjnmit 
of  pubhc  favour  and  r*  jiatation,  in  spite  of  hia 
^^-ave  neglect"  of  iiimui^  finishing,  nanove  Iaw«i, 
prejudiced  authorities,  roust  have  had  apower- 
ifiect  m  nerving  ^Sco it's  hope  and  resohition  Ibr 


brave  nef{ 
and 

the  wide  ocean  oniUHritrT  entSrpnse  i'nlo'whichTK 
had  now  fairlv  launched  his  bark.  Like  Dryden, 
he  felt  himself  to  be  **  amply  stored  with  acquired 
knowleJtee,  much  of  it  the  fruits  of  early  reading 
arid  ttpphcation  ;"  anticiiinted  that,  thougfi,  "  whne 
enfiagcd^  in  the  hurry  of '  r)mposition,  or  overcome 


w  the  lassitude  of  cominued  Kterary  iabonr,"li« 
hould  eomeiimee  "draw  with  too  much  Iib^*aHty 


tions  of  former  excellence,  but  demands  novelty  as 
a  neccsKsry  ingredient  for  nmusement.  To  imht 
Jjnai  every  eptc  f>ocm  ishad  htive  the  plan  of  the 
lliatl,  imd  every  tragedy  be  mo^fetled  hv  the  rules  of 
Anstoilc,  risembk:^  the  principle  of  the  architect 
Tftho  ahoidrl  build  all  bra  bousea  with  the  same  nnm* 
berof  wifldowi  and  of  atorics.    It  hapi>ened,  ^QQ, 


si 

on  n  tenacious  metnori',*'  no  ''occasional  iihp^rfec> 
tiona  would  dephve  bim  of  his  praise ;"  m  short, 
made  up  his  mind  that  **  pointed  and  nicely- turned 
lines,  ftodulous  study,  end  long  and  repefttea  correc- 
tion and  reyiifiionr  would  ail  be  dispensed  vrith, 
jjrovided  their  place  were  ffupplied,  as  in  Dryden,  by 

rapid]  [y  of  conception,  a  readiness  of  expressiog 
^very  jdea,  wnthout  losing' any  ihmg  by  the  way," 

perpemfi.1  ommaiion  nn.l  elasticity  of  thought;*' 
and  langunge  ''  never  latwiired,  never  loitering, 
never  (in  DrydenV  own  phrase)  cursedly  coniinctlr 

Scott  s  (^rrcsnondenccj  about  the  time  when  his 
Dryden  was   pubhiheH,  \^  a  good  deal  occupied 
vrith  a  wild  proji'ct  of  hie  friend  Henrx  Weber— that 
of  on  ejticnwve  editjon  of  our  Annent  Metrical 
Korrianceft,  for  which,  in  their  own  original  dimen- 
sions^ the  cnthuaiastic  Ck'nnan  supposed  thepobfic 
appetite  to  have  been  Sf t  on  edge  by  the  '*Sped- 
muns^'  of  Kllis^  aod  imperfectly  gratified  by  the 
felt  of  Sjr  Tnstrcm.    8^  ^it  assured  him  thatfil- 
be  s  work  hod  been  popnJrir,  rather  in  spite  than  by 
reason  of  (be  Bntiqtjc  ver^s  introduced  here  and 
there  among  his  witty  and  sparkling  prose;  while 
Elh»  told  him,  with  e^nal  truth,  that  the  Tristreta 
had  gone  through  two  edin.ns,  simply  owing  to  the 
celebrity  of  it»  editor's  name  :  and  that,  of  a  hun- 
dred that  had  purchased  the  book,  ninety-nine  had 
f^d  onjy  the  prefare  and  notes,  but  not  one  syllable 
of  True  Thomas's  *'qitnint  Inglis."    Weber,  in  re- 
ply to  Ef  lis,  al  if  gecl    '  tt  had  not  had  leisure  to 
consmcr  his  plan  ^.              i  it  deserved  ;  that  no- 
ihmi;  could  prevent  .            BS,nrovided  Scott  would 
write  a  prelim maryc^Efijiy,  .iiid  let  his  name  appear 
in  the  title  page- alooi:  wit  fi  his  own;  and  though 
Bcolt  wholly  deelmed  this  last  proposal,  he  persist- 
ed for  some  month*  ma  111  gotiation  With  the  Lon^ 
uon  br>okeellerB,  which  Glided  as  both  his  patrons 
had  forewen. 
"  But  How  J*  ihlP^li^agilfs  wiltea>-«  Weber  fella  me 


Ll*te  t>P  SiR  WAITER  scow. 


h«lf  0Md  Hr.  ftooft-iMlf  oot  be  tble  to  do  an/  tMng  Ibr 
(he  recommendafioo  of  bit  Homamtet^  becaate  he  is  Mm* 
wlf  enfiiged  in  no  leac  than  five  different  Uterarr  enter- 
prises, some  or  (hem  ortmmeose  extent.  Five  1  why,  no 
combkiation  of  bk)od  and  bone  can  possibly  stand  this;  and 
Sir  John.  :3inclair,  how^ever  successful  in  pointlnf  out  the 
best  modes  of  feedinr  common  gladiators,  has  not  disco- 
vered the  means  of  iraminf  mind»to  such  endless  faligne. 
I  liare  not  ask  you  for  an  account  of  these  projects,  not 
even  fur  a  letter  daring  the  continuance  of  this  seven  years' 
apprenticeship,  snd  only  request  tliat  ynu  will,  after  the 
coiAplctioa  Ml  your  lai>ours,  take  measures  to  lay  my 
UoM,  which  will  inMii>ly  be  walking  before  that  lime, 
sml  suffering  »U  the  paips  of  unsatisfied  curiosity.  8eri- 
ously,  I  don't  quite  like  your  imposing  on  yourself  such 
a  s«iies  of  tasks,  fiome'ofis  is,  I  believe,  always  of  ser- 
^ice^because,  whatever  you  write  at  the  same  lime  can 
ainore.  comeA  in  as  a  relaxation,  and  is  likely  to  receive 
more  fpirit  and  gayrty  from  that  circumstauce  ;  bc&idos 
whirli,  every  species  of  study  pbrhaps  is  capable  of  fur- 
nistiiri;;  allu^ionii,  an<l  adding  vigour  andsoliduy  to  poetry. 
Too  conniant  attention  to  what  tiiey  tall  llielr  art,  and  too 
miu  h  soliritn-le  about  its  minuttie,  has  been,  I  tiiink,  the 
fault  of  every  poet  since  Pope ;  perhaps  it  was  his  too — 
perhaps  the  frequent  and  varieil  siudies  Imposed  upon  lilm 
by  his  necossttiea  eootributed,  in  some  measure,  to  Dry- 
dea's  charaeteristtc  splendour  of  style.  Yet,  surely, 
(he  bettt  poe(  of  the  age  ouxht  not  to  be  incessantly  em- 
pio>ed  in  the  drudgeries  of  literature.  I  shall  lament  if 
>uu  are  effectually  distracted  from  the  exercise  of  the 
uileiit  in  which  you  are  confessedly  williout  a  rival." 

The  poet  answem  as  follows  .— 
*'  ^y  giving  my  name  to  Weber's  Romances  ts  out  of 
the  question,  as  aasurediy  1  have  not  time  to  do  any  thing 
that  can  ^ntiUe  il  to  stand  in  his  tiUepage ;  but  1  will  do 
ail  1  can  for  him  In  the  business.  By  the  by,  I  wish  he 
would  be  either  mure  chary  in  his  communications  on 
The  subject  of  my  employments,  or  more  accurate.  I 
often  employ  his  assistance  in  making  extracts,  4u:.,  and 
I  may  say  to  him  %a  Lord  Ogleby  dpes  to  Canton,  that  he 
never  sees  me  badiner  s  IKue  with  a  subject,  but  he  sus- 
pects mischief— to  wit,  an  edition.  In  the  mean  thne, 
suflloe  it  to  say,  that  1  luve  doiM  with  poftry  Ibi*  some 
time—it  is  a  seotir^nc  erop,  and  oogbt  not  to  be  hastily 
repeated.  Editiag,  tberenre,  may  be  eonaUered  as  a 
green  crop  of  tiurnips  or  peas,  extremely  ussAil  for  ihoee 
whose  circumstances  do  not  admit  of  giving  their  farm  a 
summer  fallow.  Swift  is  my  grande  opua  at  present, 
though  I  em  under  engagemenia,  of  old  standYng,  to  write 
a  Lite  of  Thomson  from  some  original  materials,  1  have 
completed  an  edition  of  some  State  iHipers  ofSirHalph 
Ihdler,  wUch  I  believe  you  wHI  (hid  curJoos ;  I  have, 
moreoirer,  an^aged  for  repabKestlosi  the  tnors  esHy  vo- 
huMSQf  aouers^TlraaB ;  bi«  ita€«e  ars  netther  tollw>SDe 
BOff  eabsiMlinf  labonrsu  Bvill,  la  ftct, is  mj oslytssk 
of  great  iaportsscs.  My  present  4>ffieial  empbymsnt 
leaves  my  time  very  much  my  own,  even  while  the 
couru  are  sitdng— sod  entirely  so  in  Che  vacation.  My 
health  is  strong,  and  mv  mind  active ;  I  will  therefore  do 
as  much  as  I  can  with  justice  to  the  tasks  I  have  imder- 
talceo,  and  rest  when  advanced  a^e  and  more  indepen- 
dent eiretUDstances  entlde  me  to  repose." 

Tliis  letter  is  dated  Ashestiel,  Octobfir  8,  1808;  but 
it  carries  us  back  to  the  month  of  April,  when  the 
Dryden  was  completed.  His  enfcageroents  with 
London  publishers  respecting  the  aomers  and  the 
Sadler,  were,  1  believe,  entered  into  before  the  end 
of  1S07 :  but  Constable  appears  to  have  first  ascer- 
tained ffaero.  Vvhen  he  accoraparried  the  second  car- 
go of  Marmion  to  the  great  southern  market ;  and, 
ahrnied  at  the  prospect  of  losing  his  hold  on  Scott's 
industry,  he  at  once  invited  him  to  follow  up  bis 
Drjden  by  an  Edition  of  Swift  on  the  same  scale, 
-offering  rr>oreover,  to  double  the  rate  of  payment 
whtiJi  he  nad  contracted  for  with  the  London  pub- 
lisher of  the  Dryden ;  that  is  to  say.  to  give  him 
^1500  for  the  new  uiidertakitig.  This  mumficent 
tender  ¥ab  accepted  without  hemtatlon :  and  as  ear- 
ly 23  May,  I  find  Scott  writing  to  his  nterary  allies 
in  all  directions  for  books,  .pamphlets,  and  MSS. 
materials  likely  to  be  servicelible  in  complelio;;  and 
iltusirating  the  Life  and  Works  of  the  Dean  of  St. 
Patrick's.  "While  these  were  accumulating  about 
nim,  which  they  soon  did  in  greater  abundance 
than  he  had  anticipated,  he  concluded  his  labours 
on  Sadler's  State  Papers,  characteristically  under- 
valued in  his  letter  to  Ellis,  and  kept  pace,  at  the 
tame  tinie,  with  Ballantyne,  as  the  noge  collection 
of  the  Somers'  Tracts  continued  to  more  through 


tin?  prtss.  Tile  Sajltr  hmb puMirfied  in  thecouno 
of  l^f.*.  ill  tlirr.L  ln.T^'1  volumes  i:iii*irit>;  but  tht  laei 
<>f  I  he  thinceo  e^iually  (M>nc(tTuu5t  t*mics  to  i^hidi 
Homers  eit?niit?il»  was  nut  difemise^  from  ]m  desk 
linTii  :o wards  the  rondusionuf  1912. 

BtJt  these  were!  not  bis  only  ta^ks  ijuring  the  »uin- 
mer  and  oiituinii  of  1*0*^  ;  tiad  if  hf.  bftil  not  **jft£ 
cJifTcrretvt  cnrefjri^es"  Qn  his  hatid^  wb^n  Webtr 
Buid  BO  to  FJIl*.  he  had  more  1  ban  five  vi^jy  soon 
fi  hvf.  H*^  ed  i  t  ea  ( f n  a  y f  i  r*  S  ( ni  1 1 ' «  u  f i  fi  ni  ibed  ro  - 
iimnri.".  of  ^uiVEi]nif»-Na.[],  and  tiiuimH^i  thf^  f^^mth 
\ri[ttrTiLi  witU  n  TitEirhiMfm  m  the  fo^iiiun  of  iht*  on- 
}  iiinh*  but  b^jw  l\u\ti  hv  liutuf^bt  of  ihiti  matte^r 
10 ay  bt?  i^iU"*s<Nl  from  ont*  oJf  hi«  tiult^ft  ^o  MnUttniyitCi 
in  which  he  f^ay»t  *'J  wish  ycnt  wniikl  s*^  how  mi 
tlio  topy  of  Ciut'enh'xi'H'iU,  st'iii  hal  jiii^lit^  tatit'Odij, 
tbat  f  mJiy  mit  writi:  aujm  non^riJ^vihuii  ttioiif^b.' 
The  iJiifHiBJu'f  of  tUia  work  wa*John  33urrBs»  «jf 
Londiiiu  it  wh*  immediately  prvccdtv)  by  a  rwmt 
(pf  rriiitaiii  C  a  He  ton's  Minw^Lra  of  iha  Wjir  'H  tb» 
SiMiiiinh  Sut\e^«oii,  to  which  btignvt]  «  hv<^l/  tirif- 
lrii>-  FirtrJ  vatu^us  imtcs ;  {^mJ  Ibib^i'd  by  a  smiiUr 
rrii(i«ifi  of  ihf  !Het?ioif»  uf  Robert  (Jory  Karl  of  Mi*n* 
rrwMitfi.—tacU  oftb^ise  hvnxs.  a  eingk  a^JtiVo,  priultid 
by  BflJlatiiyitf,  and  publisbetl  by  U(]nin»ibli?* 

Tlic  rppiihbcatlon  of  Cadeionjt  Jobnatiire  eulogy 
<jf  whicli  fills  a  [jltssanL  pagt"  iii  Coswell^bndiJfo- 
tably  Wii  iui?E^icd  by  the  liviily  inicrtsi  wpich 
Hooll  took  irt  tk  firsioulbiir*!  of  Spauish^airiOl- 
lH.rn  constiiitit'nt  t)a  Napolton*^  jransHctions  ai 
RayLpnnin  Thtrc  is  on<?  jjas*a^M  m  the  preface, 
vvfiii  h  t  must  iiidolgf]  myself  bv  transchbing^ 
.^,'if  ykin;;  of  thi^  abnurd  rt^i^all  of  Peierb^j rough, 
ffrjiit  ilic  nuiij[i(iml  in  wluch  he  hud  i.  jthibircd  ^uch 
J  w  uij Jr  rltil  f fjuihinatiun  of  patifiic*  and  prudtnca 
\Mih  nnlittiry  duritttfi  tm  »aya:— "  One  ositufiblo 
rcn^jh  wap,  tbiit  l*fiicrVMjruygh'a  ifaris  vitre  of  loo 
bviily  mid  iitcrcuiiat  n  •jott lily,  und  that  bis  kltttrs 
tfhowt^d  more  wu  than  became  a  General :— a  com- 
loonplpce  abjection,  raisijd  by  ins  dult  m align iiy  of 
ci>nmiorjj>laee  mlnJ^,  agsirtet  thosa  whom  they  ice 
dijichririniiK  wiih  ttaaa  and  inoJnefenec^  the  tasks 
*bttrh  thPV  ihernselves  execiiia  (if  at  all)  with  the 
^tvcai  of  ihtir  brow  and  in  the  b<?arineaB  of  ihdr 
In  rirT-«.  TlK^re  m  a  ceriain  hypocrisy  m  biismotn, 
whtiluT  civil  or  mibtary^  aa  well  n$  in  reli>!ii*ii, 
win  h  ilieywill  do  wdl  to  ohseive  wbo,  not  Balis- 
iliJd  with  fiiBcbarging  ibcir  duty,  dtairo  aUo  the  good 
roputo  of  nuiii.^'  It  wn5  not  lon^s  bt fire  some  of 
tbe  dull  malign  an  Is  af  (he  Path  am  cut  Hwuae  began 
lu  insiniifltu  what  at  Jtngih  found  a  dull  and  dtgnU 
fivd  mouthpiece  in  the  UouM  of  Coin  mo  na— that  if 
?!  Clerk  of  Session  had  any  reaJ  business  to  do  J  t 
could  not  bfl  done  w^^li  by  a  man  who  found  tiiiio 
tor  more  hiemrv  entt^rp rises  than  auy  other  authur 
of  tbi'  aae  undertook—**  wro^e  mort  booka,*^  Lord 
Arcljibaid  HamJtoti  sercni^ly  addeJ,  "  than  any 
bijdy  coutd  find  leisure  lo  rtad"  — and,  moreover, 
iiiinglt^  m  HentTttl  society  a«>  much  ne  many  that 
had  no  pursuit  but  pleaaiire, 

Thf  o»K*T  ^tnifc^lbig  of  the  dilfurtinl  booktelleTS 
[,i  t'li^n^r  ^tojt  at  this  timej  ia  a  vtry  omufcing  fen- 
1 1 J  r  1^  J 1 1  [  tn^  V  ol  imi  I  noi  IS  cor  respond  ante  bq  for  e  nic. 
Had  he  poaecBHed  triibk  the  entr^  for  which  it 
w^9  lHi9lk^{i^o  to  giiVC  anv  man  credit,  he  couKi  nevfr 
\m\'P  I  ncijunttre?!  a  litlic  of  ihc  rsrojocta  lliat  the 
jhihi  bfrmaht  duv  after  day  to  him,  annotmced  wnb 
fit'Tiivfljjrint  «»nrfnJ»ia!»n>H  snd  iifjjtMl  with  all  tht^ 
art.-i  nf  ronHlintion.  t  fhall  m<*nifon  only  die  out 
'>f  or  Icai'l  a  do^en  ©gaff tin  .^rhcmca  which  wtm 
Ml  us  proposed  be  fore  ho  TiJid  well  ifcttled  him?m  to 
his  Swifi  2  and  I  do  to,  bccauiiC  pomitbing  of  mo 


kind  was  a  &w  years  later  carried  into  fcxecntion. 
Tliis  wai?  a  Gtncta!  Edition  of  Hritiffb  Js'^ovebsts, 
beginning  with  Dc  Fot?,  and  reachmg  to  the  end  of 
the  last  eenfory  ;  to  be  eei  forth  with  bioCTapmcnl 
prefaces  and  iJlmitTiiDve  notea  by  Scori,  and  p timed 

*  Bfa  Gpmytil  Piuftcc  lo  Wivwkr.  VP^  iri*-im  *^  i 

» i  IwlieTP  I*  {i  TOW  i,w4rr  r^emllt^  l^liiiffJ  fliflt  t^jriflnn^ 
^fciTMMjTi  wch'  iirrimtir  thir  miirtft^rltn  fl-tfr^njiii-wi*  if  TVfi»  s  but 
lo  rhi-  m^r  ■<  ill  that  of  liH  CavafifT.  )>f  ihp  dooirt  b4i|  M«b 
Mill  the  msic  juiinftJ  ui  «iifii«Mffic^T  wivf  tMd  p-^t*-  ""^'t  ^ 


m 


UPE  OF  SIR  WALTER  SOOFT. 


of  course  by  BiUantyne,  The  projccior  waa  Mur- 
ray, wbo  wftfl  now  coeiT  fo  smrt  oa  all  pomta  in 
the  race  wilh  ConstabJe ;  but  ihi»  was  not,  aft  we 
■hall  «&e  praaeniryj  th^  only  buaini^efl  Lhat  prompt ckI 
my  enterprising  fn^ixiri  firet  visit  lo  Aabpsiicl. 

Corjveraing  with  Scott,  muny  yi?arfl  after  ward  s^ 
about  tin?  ItirrHiltofonflageriK'nts  in  which  be  w*9 
tbua  invoUi^d,  hs  snid,  '  Ay,  it  wQi  cnuUf^b  ii>  t^ir 
m«  to  pii'cea,  hut  tlit-re  w*8  £i  wondfirfyl  exhJIarn- 
tion  iibout  it  all :  iny  bljod  way  kt^^t  at  fever -pitch 
— I  fell  HA  if  I  could  have  gmppE^d  w'itb  any  thiritj 
and  <;vtjry  ihing  j  ihen^  there  was  hardly  ouij  of  all 
my  schemes  Tnat  did  not  afford  mt^  th^  meamoi 
serving  some  poor  dei^il  of  a  hroiher  ttutbor  There 
w«?re  mwava  nuge  pLlei  of  materials  (o  be  arranged, 
Biftedt  ana  indexed— vohimea  of  cxtracta  to  bo 
transcribed-^ourtievs  to  be  made  hither  and  thitiiBr. 
for  AS<:tfriaining  lit  nil  fnctfi  and  dare^^-^in  short,  I 
could  commonly  keep  half-a-doien  of  ibe  ragged 
regini£:ni  of  Pamnsaus  iu  tolerable  caiau."  I  in  Id 
lie  musx  Uhvc.  i<-[i  ^oniHilnrn:  likr-  u!i:i(  ^i     ■  ■■. r 

engine  onaraiiuay  miKliL  bii  i^^^^^j^d  lu  Uo,  »^;^u 
a  score  of  coal  wagons  are  seen  linking  them- 
selves to  it  the  moment  it  gets  the  steam  up,  and  it 
ruihe*  on  its  coor^t;  rofiard!^^^  of  tho  burtifn. 
**Ve-Pj"  said  h^i  latjghing,  and  inakjng  a  crasliing 
cut  with  hifl  axPf  (fur  we  were  felling  larches :)  ''  but 
there  woa  a  cursed  lot  of  dung  carta  loo/'  He  iv  as 
aoldom.in  factt  without  some  of  Ehe#e  appcndnf^es; 
and  1  admirt^d  noibinjj  more  in  him  than  the  put  lent 
courtesy,  the  unwearied  jR€ntle  kindness  with  which 
*  he  always  treati3ti  ihem,  in  ^y\tv  of  their  dehya  imd 
blunders^  to  s*aynoTbinB  of  the  almost  mcrciiible 
vanity  nnd  presumption  w*hich  more  thnn^ne  of 
ihem  often  exbtbucd  in  the  mid&t  of  thtjr  fawning; 
and  f  believe,  with  all  their  fanlt&t  the  worst  and 
weakest  of  them  repaid  him  by  a  canine  fidelity  of 
affeeiion.  This  p^rt  of  Scott's  cho racier  recalls  by 
far  the  most  pleftsing  trait  in  that  of  his  Ian  prede- 
ceasor  in  the  plenitude  of  literary  authority— Dr. 
Johnson.  There  was  perhapa  noming  (ejicepi  the 
one  grt^t  bluaderl^  that  had  a  worse  cfrect  an  the 
coui»e  of  his  pecuniary  fortunei^r  than  the  readiness 
with  which  he  eiteried  nis  interest  with  the  booksdl- 
lera  on  behalf  of  itiferior  wniers  Even  from  the 
commencement  of  his  connection  with  Conatabtri  in 
particular,  1  can  trace  a  coniinual  series  of  such 
applications.  They  stimnlated  the  already  ttso  san- 
{njine  publiibf  r  to  nutiiberlefs  ri^ks  j  and  wben 
tneas  failed,  the  rssult  waa^  in  one  shape  or  another, 
some  corresponding  deduction  from  the  fair  pro6ts 
of  his  own  litcrnry  labour.  ^*  I  like  well.'^  Cons- 
table was  often  heard  to  sjiy  in  the  s^uel,  "I  like 
w*eO  Scott 'a  am  6/iirn*^btil  heaven  pret^erve  me 
from  those  of  his  fathering !" 

Every  now  and  iheni  boweverj  Jte  had  the  rich 
compensation  of  tin  dm  ^  that  bifi  mtcrferetica  had 
neally  promoict]  (he  worldly  inferesi  of  some  meri- 
torions  obscuffi.  Early  in  t  SOS  he  tasted  this  plea- 
issire,  in  ibe  case  of  a  i>octicaJ  shoemaker  of  uhis- 
gi3W^  M^T.  John  i^  truth  era,  a  man  of  rare  wortli  and 
very  considerable  gonitis,  whose  **  Poor  Man's  Sab- 
hath"  was  recommended  to  his  notice  by  Joanna 
Boilhe,  and  sborlly  after  pubNahed,  at  his  dcaire.  by 
Mr.  Constable.  He  thriB  writes  to  Misa  Bailhe  from 
Aahestiel,  on  the  9th  of  Hay,  isoe:— 

**  Totir  Letter  Tound  ine  la  this  qniet  comer,  and  while 
li  &Jwayfl  flv4Fi  mc  piideaad  pleaaora  to  hear  from  you, 
I  sni  truly  roncernnd  nt  Ck>nstable's  unaccountable  de- 
ijiy«.  t  snp^tocc  tliit,  m  the  hurry  of  his  departure  for 
LoDclun,  hlfl  pmcri^eto  write  to  Mr.  Scruthen  nad  eac^ 
ed ;  M  for  any  ii(?eke  lu  quit  hia  bargain,  it  la  out  of  the 

^u^»tlen,  If  Mr.  Btroihera  will  send  to  my  houae  in 
tBidc  Btrpf^tn,  Lh<^  nirdujBcript  designed  fnr  the  presa,  I 
wUI  EK  hki]  ti«hnn  \i\M  for  the  copy^money  the  moment 
Ciiii^tuble  T'-fs-"--'  •  lerhapa  belore  he  cornea  down. 
Ua  oaaj  rely  in  irgaln  being  defioitlTely  aettled, 

and  the  printing  wilL  I  auppoae,  be  begun  immediately 
on  the  great  blbliopoliat's  return:  on  which  occaaion  I 
shall  hare,  accordinc  to  good  old  pnraae,  <a  crow  to  pluck 
with  him,  and  a  pock  to  put  the  feathera  in.'  I  heartily 
wlah  we  could  hara  had  the  honour  to  aee  Miaa  Agnes 
and  you  at  our  littla  fiurm,  whiah  is  now  In  Ita  flory-^ 
the  twiga  burating  hito  leia£  and  all  the  lambs  akippiog 
«nth«nlUa.    I  have  been  flaning  almost  from  morning  till 


night;  and  Mrs.  fleott,  and  two  jMMas  ov  gusalB,  n 
wandering  about  on  the  banks  la  the  moat  i^xadha  fer 
ahloQ  in  the  world.  We  are  just  on  the  point  of  aeltiw 
out  on  a  pilgrimage  to  the  '  bonny  bush  aboon  Traquhair? 
which  I  DeUeve  will  occupy  us  all  the  morning.  Aifieo, 
my  dear  Miss  Baitlie.  Nothing  will  aire  me  more  pl«t> 
aure  than  to  hear  that  you  have  found  the  northern  br«- 
zes  fraught  with  inspiration.  You  are  not  entitled  to 
spare  yooraelli  and  ndhe  is  so  deeply  Interested  in  yoor 
labours  aa  your  truly  respectful  friend  and  admirer, 

WALTia  BCOTT." 

"  P.  8.  Wt  quit  our  quiet  paatures  to  return  to  E^ 
burgh  on  the  10th.  So  Mr.  Btruthera*  parrel  will  find  a« 
there,  if  he  is  pleased  to  intrust  me  with  the  care  of  1" 

BIr.  Struthers*  volume  was  unfortimate  in  bearing 
a  title  so  very  like  that  of  James  Qrahame's  Salw 
bath,  which,  though  not  written  sooner,  had  beea 
published  a  year  or  two  before.  This  much  inter- 
fer>  d  wltIi  ns  success,  yet  it  was  not  on  the  whok 
un^itir  r:iL^[i]t '  it  put  some  Xsq  or  ^40  into  the  pocket 
of  ^ood  man,  to  whom  this  was  a  conaioerable 
su]  ,  :  h  u  t  i  t  mad  <.  his  name  and  pharacter  knowa, 
an  iiLiid  Starved  Iijlu  far  more  essentiallr;  for  he 
wib4.ly  conlmueii  tn  cultivate  his  poetical  taleots 
wittioict  nf^hciin^  the  opi>ortunity,  thua  affiinkd 
hirji  Ehroti^ti  chem.  of  pursuing  his  original  calfini 
under  Ki^h  r  advantages.  It  is  said  that  the  solita- 
rv  and  inerlitAtivo  ^^cneration  of  cobblers  have  pio- 
ducfil  a  Iiu^er  ^^^t  of  murders  and  other  domestic  ' 
critne«  than  any  other  mechanical  trade,  except  the 
butchers  i  but  the  sons  of  Crispin  have,  to  buanee 
then:  account,  a  not  less  disproportionate  catalone 
of  poets  {  and  foremost  among  these  stands  me 
pious  author  of  the  Poor  Man's  Sabbath  y  one  of 
the  very  few  that  have  had  sense  and  fortitude  to 
resist  the  innumerable  temptations  to  which  any 
measure  of  celebrity  exposes  persons  of  their  class. 
I  heUeve  Mr.  Siruthers  still  survives  to  ev^oj  the  re- 
trospect of  a  long  and  virtuous  life.  His  letters  to 
Scott  are  equally  creditable  to  Jiis  taste  and  his  M- 
ings,  and  someume  after  we  shall  find  him  making 
a  pilgrimage  of  gratitude  to  Ashestiel.^ 

James  Hogg  was  by  this  time  beginning  to  be  ge- 
nerally known  and  appreciated  in  Scotland ;  ^ 
the  popularity  of  his  **  Mountain  Bard"  encouraged 
Scott  to  more  strenuous  intercession  in  bit  beliall 
I  have  before  me  a  long  array  o(  letters  on  this  sub- 
ject, which  passed  between  Scott  and  the  Eaii  of 
Dalkeith  and  his  brother  Lord  Montagu,  in  leoa. 
Hogg's  prime  ambition  at  this  period  was  to  precsva 
an  ensigncy  in  a  mihtia  regiment,  and  he  seems  to 
have  set  httle  by  Scott's  representations  that  the 

Eay  of  such  a  situation  was  very  small  and  that,  if 
e  obtained  it,  he  would  probably  find  his  relations 
with  his  brother  officers  tar  from  agreeable.  There 
was.  however,  another  objection  which  Scott  could 
not  hint  to  the  aspirant  himself;  but  which  seems 
to  have  been  duly  considered  by  those  who  were 
anxious  to  promote  his  views.  Militia  oflftcers  oC 
that  day  were  by  no  means  unlikely  to  see  their 
nerves  put  to  the  test  j  and  the  Shepherd's — thoaidi 
he  wrote  some  capital  war- songs,  especially/>onaXd 
Macdonald—were  not  heroically  sirung.  This  was 
in  truth  no  secret  smong  his  early  intimates,  though 
he  had  not  measured  himself  at  all  exactly  on  that 
scores  and  was  even  tempted,  when  he  found  there 
was  no  chance  of  the  mditia  CTaulette,  to  threaten 
that  he  would  "  Ust  for  a  soldier"  in  a  marchios 
regiment.  Notwithstanding  at  least  one  melancho- 
ly precedent,  the  excise,  which  would  have  suited 
mm  idmost  as  badly  as  *'  hugging  Brown  Bess." 
was  next  thought  of  i  and  the  Shepherd  himseli 
seems  to  have  enterea  into  that  plan  vrith  consider- 
able alacrity :  but  I  know  not  whether  he  chani^ec 
his  mind,  or  what  other  cause  prevented  such  azi 
appointment  fi-om  taking  place.  After  various  ^lift- 
ings he  at  last  obtained,  as  we  shall  see.  fix>m  tiM 
late  Duke  of  Buccleuch  a  munificence,  the  gratui< 


*Iam  bappy  to  leain,  as  this  page  pastes  tJ 
ram  my  fiieod  Mr.  Joho  Keir  ofGlallow,  that  i 
ifoMr.  Stratben  wai  aMwintcd  keeiierof  8ti 


from  my  fiiefi  Mr.  John  Keir  of  dia%ow,  that  about  three  jnmut 
ago  Mr.  Stratben  wai  aMwintcd  keeiier  of  StMiMr'a  Ubcaij'.  i 
ooUectioDofaoneoonMqtteiMe.  in  that  city.  The  sefection  of  fcin 
for  this  retpcctabte  aitnataoo  raflecca  boooor  on  the  (" 
the  inititutJgo.-tDece«Bb«r,  ISW.)  ^  ^  ^ ,  ^ 
Digitized  by  VjOOQ  Ic 


UmoW  8ttt  WAltttIt  »06W. 


m^Bknmmt^  $m^  fttm  m  the^o  of  iTarrow ; 
ilMiid  he  contented  himiel/  with  the  c&Yefgl  ma- 
■^ita^Qt  of  iifl  fields,  the  re6t  of  his  dnys  might 
ktn%  been  easy.  But  he  could  not  withstand  ttie 
afinctioiie  of  Bdinburgb,  which  carried  him  away 
from  Altrive  for  months  every  year}  and  when  at 
home,  a  worm  and  hospitable  disposition,  so  often 
stiired  bv  Tanity  less  pardonabte  than  his,  rnade  him 
oonvert  hie  cottage  into  an  unpaid  hostelrie  for  the 
reception  of  endless  troops  of  thoughtless  admirers ; 
vad  thus,  in  spile  of  much  help  and  much  forbear- 
aaee,  he  was  nerer  out  of  one  set  of  pecuniary  dif- 
fieelties,  before  he  had  began  to  weave  thd  meshes 
of  some  fresh  entanglement  hi  pace  requitBcat. 
Tbere  will  never  be  snch  «d  Ettrick  Shepbera  a^ain. 
T^  following  is  an  extnict  from  a  letter  of  Scott*s 
IS  fak  brother  ilionhas,  dated  «oth  June,  1808. 

**  EaceUent  news  lo-day  from  Spain^yet  I  wish  the 
Mrioui  had  a  leader  of  gealUfl  and  Influence.  I  fear  the 
OMRifikn  oobflUy  are  more  sunk  than  the  common  peo- 
ptejurd  tbat  U  wtU  be  ewrter  to  find  atmiet  than  generale. 
▲Waltee,  Dundee,  or  Motitrose,  would  be  (he  man  for 
%iii  ac  thia  inonient  It  fat,  hovrevar,  a  coniolalloa  that, 
dtoi^  ihm  ffaadeta  of  the  earthy  when  the  peat  of 
hwovr  becoiDM  thfc  post  of  danger,  may  be  leaa  ambi* 
tsMofeoeup^tef  ft^ibers  leagrbeapme  hidatoo  amqng 
^»  maoBlaina  of  Aatiuj|Ba  with  all  the  spirit  of  the  Cid 
%af  INa\  or  Don  "Pelajrck  or  Daa  Quixote  if  you  will, 
wtioae  aaOaDtrT  wjis  only  impeachable  from  Ihe  objects 
OB tHilrahe  exerefsed  H*  U  ttrfkef  me aavenr  riocuUir 
to  tete  all  the  i)bu:ea  mentiooed  hi  Don  Qnizotc  ana  Gil 
HIsr  BoW  Che  aeenea  of  real  and  important  cventa.  Ga- 
acea  ^$am^  nroal'<>viedo,'aQd  gorges  fbrtlfled  In  the 
«bc»'lloveoe,  aemMta  like  hMery  ie  the  land  of.  ro- 

*<  Jainee  Begg  kvia  drivsli  iUs  p^tfto  a  bad  market  Im 
eodwvoorinf ,  aa  a  pU  aUer^  to  harie  him  made  an  6a* 

l^^f^^a^fo^  AdJm 

I  awiHiaued  the  ntm^  of  Joi^ina  BnUi&  (for 
**  who,**  n  Sctottiays  hi  a  letter  of  this  time,  ''aver 
sbedke  of  Mtse  Ssppho  f 'Via  eodnetion  with  the 
la.  of  iheTMr  Man's  Sabbaih.  From  Ohu^w, 
hIm*  s6e  had  found  oat  Strathere  in  ilsnl.  she 
pwJesudud  to  Edinbiirgb,  and  took upher elKxle  for 
a  iMdL  or  two  under  Scott's  root  Their  afeqn^ntH 
mommms  thus  ksit  into  a.  !deep  and  reepectfiil  afiec* 
Mb  en  both  aides  t  end  henceforth  thev  mipiitain- 
ed »  cioee  epiatokry  correspondency  which  wUL  i 
tfainfc,  eopplf  this  corapilatwn  with  some  of  the 
meet  intemtiag  of  its  mtteiiaii.  Bnl  within  a  few 
weeks  afthrJoemiB's, departure,  he  was  to  com- 
■saee  another  intiihaey  not  less  sincere  and  oor< 
dial  $  end  when  X  name  Mi'.  Morritt  of  Rokebv,  I 
have  done  enough  to  pncpve  many  of  my  readers 
ID  ezpoet  not  infenor  gratification  finom  the  still 
■ore  abwidant  seriee  oi  lettem  in  which,  firom  this 
lime  to  the  end  of  his  life,  Scott  oommunieated  his 
^wogfats  and  feelioflB  to  one  of  the  ntost  accomplish- 
ed men  that  ever  limrad  his  confidenoa  He  had 
BOW  reached  a  period  of  life  aftor  which  real  friend- 
ibipe  are  but  seMom  fernied ;  and  it  is  fortunate 
diet  another  English  one  had  been  thorooghly  com- 
pacted before  death  cut  the  ties  between  him  and 
George  Rllie— becanae  hie  dearest  intimates  within 
Seotfand  had  of  eourae  bot  a  alender  part  in  hia 
written  correspondence. 

Several  mutual  friends  had  written  to  recommend 
Kr.  Morritt  to  his  acguainunce-^unong  others, 
Mr.  W.  S.  Rose  and  Lady  Louisa  Stnart.  His 
aaewerto  her  ladyship  I  must  insert  here,  for  the 
sake  of  the  late  ininnuble  Lydia  White,  who  ao 
long  faled  without  a  rival  in  the  soft  realm  of  hhue 


m 

wifb,  eoatad  mf  ohOdna,  add  flMifls,  by  dim  er  eale  «M' 
podding,  MBie  uBpreaaloa  even  upnn  tee  alRietlotia  of  toy' 
faTourite  dog ;— to,  when  all  the  ottcworin  Were  carried; 
the  mere  fortreta  had  no  choice  but  to  surrender  ooi  ban* 
onrmble  terms.  To  the  beat  of  my  thialuQg,  notwith* 
stuidina  the  cerulean  hue  of  her  aior.kinfi[,  and  a  moat 
pientifm  stock  of  cccemric  aflfectatlon,  she  is  really  atbot- 
torn  agood  natured  woman,  with  much  liveliness  and  some 
talent  She  is  noW  set  nut  to  the  Rifhlands,  where  she  is 
Itkely  to  encounter  many  adreniures.  Mrs.  Scott  ahd  t 
wentaa  far  as  IxMh  Catriite  with  her,  from  which  jaunt  I. 
have  j«st  returned.  We  had  most  heavenly  weather, 
whic>i  wae  ^jeeoliarly  fevcmrable  to  my  fair  compeniooa' 
aeal  for  sketchiikg  every  object  that  fell  in  their  way,  from 
a  castki  to  a  pigeon-bouse.  Did  your  Ladyship  ever 
travel  with  i^aramng  companion  1  Mine  drew  like  cart* 
horaea,  as  well  in  laborious  zeal  aa  in  tff^ci ;  for«  afier  aQ» 
I  coukl  not  help  hinting  that  the  cataracts  delineated  bora  ^ 
a  aingnlar  resefnhlance  (o  haycocks,  and  the  rocks  much 
correspondence  to  larte  oid-A»hionetl  cabinets  with  their 
foIdtRgdDOfs  open.  »o  much  for  Lydla,  whom  I  left  on 
her  ieoroey  chaoogh  the  lligtalamki^  but  by  what  rouie 
ahe  iMul  nec  reaoNed  I  gave  her  throe  phma,*  and  think 
it  likely  ahe  will  adopt  nooa  of  thefp :  mMreorer,  when  the- 
ezeeuuvsfoverumeetof  postiliooji.  landlords,  and  Highr 
land  boatmen,  derohrea  uaon  tier  Eugliah  servant  instead 
of  me,  I  am  alVaid  the  distressea  of  the  errant  damael 
wUI  tall  a  Uttle  Iteneatli  the  dtgnitr  of  romkncea.  All  tMb 
nonaease  is  enfre  fuMts,  for  Misa  White  has  been  actively 
ixtltniB  In  siptiini  uip  -I'^rn^  TrVia^  eorT^pnnrteiw*  ab^tiC 

^^  II  It  eirH  ytiiii  mf  kucikibaJLoa  i\mi  I  ia^  (nf  I  he  Itoo^eU 
leri  ;  bm  wJ^t  con  1  dcH  It  7  p<>vnT^?  *Q<1^  ^^  ^y  wift 
coniexiia.  The  incoiue  ol  tjiy  i^fEct;  itciiilv  reversk^iaryi 
anil  iny  private  tbnuue  much  limited,  my  puttkAl  suo. 
cesB  fairly  de«(|Dye«i  ni/  i^rnsiieci*  af  firoA.-*ik*fi*l  iur. 
cc^i^.  BJir/^>btl]|cJ  iTLf  tifi  TCtiro  froo'i  H^ts  Unt;  for  ltioy|t:^ 
I  hafi  a  crriii|j*'ipnt  sharp!  M  Inform^ii^o  und  li  1*111  »ITJ,  wTiOi 
woulit  truBf  rlifiT  t-aniw*  To  IliA  tUUhxr  ffihr  Lay  of  Ihff 
I^Ki  M^iiiirpt  1  Nfivr,  allliOHijfti  I  dr>  aUow  thai  an  fiiMtMi^ 
shfiuji]  tiike  tire  of  his  IlLerary  i-harRrterv  jet  1  thin  it  ch« 
lej]-<t  a.hlneit]Rt  Itta  litPTtirx  cliaTSCt(>r  osndo  In  rcturg.  14  < 
totrJ(e  iDiT>«  care  on tK  miUicirt  ^hv  if  unJonunatBlyi. 
Uk(?  Jtsr^^iiiy  in  Z*ere  ^^r  IathBj  furuifljFfl  with  a  *«t  vh 
t^LBtceaniJapptsUteswhichwouJdUo  hopourtD  the  [ncumS' 
of  CL  Duke  ir  iLti  IulI  iu  Besd^s.  1  gntu  work  wtth  SwiCl 
ton  amarr  ;-  U\t^  ilitf  Dfjilrfl,  tie  E»An  carljf  fivoiirlti*  of^ 
xninr,  Th«  M«rmion  is  rirartj  out.  auii  I  hftve  fud^  one 
or  ttivn  nTicrotfi>ns  on  ihp-  \.h\\d  ct^itinn,  with  wiikh  the 
pru^R*!  ^^  now  pttnsulht^  9ii  M^m  >»  it  ta,  ic  wiikt  jjialtv  ttiA 
n^jriKkirrof  coptf^publuhcd  within  ihn  ^{m£*t  ofsix  nM>n[fta 
auMMtut  tii  f\^\it.  tiiDusiuid, — an  IcumensD  nuxjibT  surelj^ 
andr'mmi^li  tn^  coiTit'uri  x\.\a  au^imt*J^  w^^uticlecl  re«li(Mli^  lied 
the  c1jl^«  a)  {he  revic w^'fii  been  aiildio  f each  hiiu  [l^<yUg|i 

Your  Lady- 


tbe  at'^''t  jnck  of  tru« 


Border  tndlflbreucj?. 

^ALTia  Scetr." 


"  Edinburgh,  lOth  June,  1808. 
'  'Vy  dear  lady  I^nisa, 

"  Nocbiog  will  give  us  more  pleasure  than  to  have  the 
hOooiir  of  showing  etery  attention  in  our  power  to  Mr, 
and  Mrs.  Morritt,  and  I  am  particularly  happy  In  a  circum- 
Kaace  diat  at  ooee  promiaes  me  a  great  deal  of  pleasure 
la  the  acquaintance  of  your  Ladysnip*s  fiiends,  and  af- 
fbvte  me  the  satiaActian  of  heerkig  ft-om  yoo-agafn.  Pray 
^Ba^tfimiiph  eaer aM  too  machto the  eaaaef  LyMt  I' 
«aad  a  eeiy  reapedaUe  Hege  y  bat  ahe  earessai  my 
17 


Mr.  atid  Mrs.  Morriu  reached  EdrDbtirgh  sooli 
after  this  letter  was  written.  Scott  showed  them 
the  lions  of  the  town  and  its  vicinity,  exactly  is  ft, 
he  had  nothing  else  to  attend  to  bat  their  finratiflca* 
tion ;  and  Mr.  Morritt  recollects  with  particular 
pleasure  one  long  day  spent  in  rambling  along  the 
Esk  by  Roslin  and  Hawthomden, 

"  Where  Jooson  aat  in  Drummood's  social  shade," 

down  to  the  old  haunta  of  Lasswade. 

"  When  we  approached  thet  village,"  says  the 
Memoranduiri  with  which  Mr.  Morritt  favoars  me, 
"Scott,  who  had  laid  hoM  of  my  arm,  turned  along" 
the  road  in  a  direction  not  leading  to  the  place 
where  the  carriage  was  to  meet  us.  After  wolking 
,some  minutes  towanls  Edinburgh,  I  suggested  that 
we  were  losing?  the  scenery  of  the  Esk,  and,  beeideS} 
had  Dalkeith  Palace  yet  to  see.    *  Tee,'  said  he, 

*  (one 


and  I  have  been  bringing  yon  where  there  is  little 
.nough  to  be  seen—only  that  Scotch  cottage*  (one 
by  the  road  side^  with  a  small  garth  0  'but,  though 


not  worth  looking  at,  I  could  not  pass  it.  {t  was 
our  first  country  house  when  newly  maAieo,  and 
many  a  contrivance  we  had  to  make  it  comfortable. 
!*made  a  dining-table  for  it  with  my  own  hands^ 
Look  at  these  two  miserable  willow- trees  on  either 
side  the  gate  into  the  enelostira ;  they  are  tied  to- 
gether at  the  top  to  be  an  arch,  and  a  croee  made  of 
two  sticka  over  them  is  not  yet  decayed.  To  be 
sore  it  Is  not  much  of  a  lion  to  show  a  strangers 
but  I  wanted  to  see  it  agam  myself,  for  I  assuve  yt>ii' 
that  aflM  I  iMd  osnstroeted  it,  mamma'  (Mti.  StottV 


UPE  OF  Bm  WALTER  800TT. 


ind  Ibolli  ofuA  ibooffKtit  sg  fina,  w^  tumeil  out 
to  tee  h  by  moonHebv  1^4  wnlked  backwards  from 
It  10  tna  coUagi^  voQtt  in  ndmiratioti  of  our  own 
m»ffni6ctfne<r  nod  iis  picrturesqu^  eiT^Ri.  I  did  want 
to  fteo  if  it  wna  mil  iherc— so  now  we  wiU  looM  after 
ihc  hamuchp,  a  ad  make  the  best  of  our  sv^y  to  DnU 
k^lih.-  ^ucU  were  tho  rmluml  feL^liu^.^  that  endear- 
ed the  Author  of  H&fmiori  and  ihe  La/  lo  (hoae 
Tvbo  !*aw  hiin  in  Im  hjippicr  hourp  uf  sudnl  plea- 
snr©.'  Uis  perwti  ut  mat  lime  iiuiy  h&  exactly 
kiiiiwii  iroin  Elutburn^s  first  piciijn^  which  h»tl  just 
been  tt^mnied  ibr  his  book  filler,  Constable,  and 
wbich  wia  a  most  fjiirbfiil  tikeoesa  of  bun  and  his 
dog  Campj  Tlie  literal  fidebty  of  iho  port  raj  tar'\ 
how&vftr,  n  m  principal  njerit.  The  cxprcsBion  h 
seno«3  and  contemplative,  very  unlike  (he  hilanty 
and  Yivacity  then  UaKituol  to  his  liptaking  faeCr  bm 
qujte  tru«  lo  what  it  waain  ihv  Abaencti  of  Siicli  en^ 
cite  men  L  His  fe^i  tun's  si  ruck  tnc  at  firat  as  rom- 
monpjiic?  and  heavy^—but  thev  wers  alniosl  aiwitys 
Iigh  ted  up  by  I  h  i^  fl  a  a  h  c^  o  f  tJi  ft  n  lind  within.  Thi » 
rEqtiirad  a  hand  ruoro  masterly  thim  Raebom**  j 
and  indceri,  in  my  own  opinii:>rij  Chanirey  nlone  baa 
]ti  his  bust  attained  thntj  in  his  cast\  most  diliiculE 
taak  of  noriraymg  iho  ftaitires  faii-bfully,  and  yet 
pivjli^  inc  real  aud  tranfiient  expression  of  Lbo 
ooantenntice  wbtn  amniatod. 

"  W<;  piisaed  a  wcvk  in  Editibutab,  ehiefly  in  his 
aooeiy  and  that  of  bis  friend  a  the  Mftckeniitg,  Wc 
wen;  so  far  on  our  wav  to  Bfaham  Casde,  in  Rijsa- 
ahmj,  Seott  unlocked  all  hi?  antiquarian  We,  And 
■upphed  us  with  numbtrlefs  dtita^  &iich  aa  no  guide- 
book could  li^vc  furnishtd,  and  nuchas  his  own 
Monkbarna  iniaht  have  delighted  lo  e^ve.  It  would 
bfl  tdle  to  iell  how  much  ptenaufi*  and  in  at  ruction 
nia  advice  added  to  a  tour  in  itself  so  produclive  of 
both,  IB  well  as  of  pntaia  friend  ships  ond  isitima- 
cies,  now  too  Konerallj  lerminattid  by  death,  hut 
never  ftevared  by  caprico  or  disappointment.  His 
was  added  (o  thu  number  by  our  reception  now  in 
Edin burgh,  and*  on  our  return  from  the  tJiehlarrde, 
at  Aahcsiiel— ypherche  bad  ntudtj  us  promise  lo  visit 
mm»  sayjiig  that  the  fArm- house  had  pigeon-holes 
enousb  for  attch  of  bis  frietid:?  r3  couJd  hve,  like  him, 
on  Tweed  aqlmon  and  Forest  muiton.  There  he 
was  the  eherisbed  friend  and  kind  neighbour  of  eve- 
ry middling  S<^]kirk*hire  yeoman,  just  a>  eadly  aa 
in  Edmburph  he  wtis  the  companion  of  clever  youth 
and  narrfttive  old  age  in  refined  soeietjr.  He  cant- 
ed 113  one  day  Ifi  Me) rose  Abbey  or  Newark— o no* 
ther,  to  course  with  mountain  grc^^ hounds  by  Yar- 
row brftes  or  St.  Mary^a  loeh,  rept  atidc;  every  ballad 
or  wweftdary  tule  <*oonecit'd  with  tlua  scenery— and 
Q|»«  ihtidrWe  must  ail  go  to  a  far  user's  kitii^  or  har^ 
mt^boms,  to  dnnc^  with  Border  lasspa  on  a  barn 
lto<m.dnQk, whisky  pund*,  and  ttittr  with  bim  into 
au  tlie  eo«Bi|iamt  goodfellowBhip  t^f  bis  neighboursp 
on  M  wtni^laid  ibotJngof  unrosuaincd  eoumiaJjtyf 
quality,  and  mutual  reapectn  Mis  wife  luad  happy 
yo«nc  famdy  were  duatered  round  hini,  and  the 
cordmhty  of  hin  ft^ccfition  would  have  unbent  a 
mi  Ha  nth  rope. 

"At  this  perMxl  hi»  conversation  was  mor*;  equal 
and  anmiaitd  than  any  mao^B  that  I  erer  knew, 
ll  WSi  mosi  duracten^u-d  h/ the  eitreine  fclidty 
and  fun  ijf  hia  illui^rraUoii?,  drawn  from  the  whole 
encydopasdia  of  hfs  anil  nature,  m  a  «ti  la  somt- 
iittj^  too  exuberant  for  written  nairativt.but  whith 


iii[ii|D  wv  c*m/cimji lur  wrmeii  nairanvt, (iui  wmtu  vcrcd  ea«u«llr  tnal  spena]  care  had  b«*n  itlwilio 
lotum  was  aaturol  and  tipontanei>u*.  A  hundred  V^ep  the  turf  aeat  on  the  Shirra^^  km&Kc  ill  good 
wtnnai  alwaya  appotite,  and  often  inferc^ting  the  '  ' 

mtnd  by  tiron^  pa  I  hoi^  or  eminently  ludierous,  were 
daily  loldt  wbieh^  with  many  mor*,  have  since  bf^en 

tjaDaplanted.  almost  in  the  flame  languageL  inio  the  ...„„  ,  „,,„  -i^,iya  whh  an  mr  iimi  ecrn+cu  w  «-, 
WaTsHty  (loveia  and  htaothfT  writings.  The**",  and  in  ijoitc  of  his  encknvoiirs  lo  lb(»  mntrary,  aignX6 
tiis  reeiialiona  of  poetry >  which  ean  never  Im  for- |  bp  iheusiiaJ  n?ix.^tof  LujtdNippy  of  the  Pet-L  This 
^it*n  bjf  those  who  knew  him^  made  up  theeharm  |  n&iehbour  wm*  n  di.*tant  kinsnvjti  of  hi$  deaf  frieod 


'  embodied  in  the  del^htfnl  prefacoa  tntieidl  kto  ia 
life  to  hia  poeiryand  tiovols.  Thoi^  ua  nterary 
quarrolB  and  litcraiy  jrntabiliiy  ai»  exact  I  if  what  he 
tt)en  expressed  .^  iLmnly  enjoying  liters  tuie  at  he 
did»  ana  uidulging  his  n^n  loyo  ot  t(  in  perpetual 
compoaitjon,  be  alwaf&i  maintaia&rl  the  f-ame  esti- 
mate of  it  aa  ^ubordjnato  and  auxihnry  trj»  the  pur- 
poses of  1  if*?,  and  rather  talked  of  riiL^n  and  events 
than  of  books  and  ehiK^Utiu  Lirerary  iamei  he 
nl  wQya  5»aiiJ,  waff  a  brt^^hi  feather  in  the  ivip,  but  not 
tbt:  substantial  covet  of  a  weU-pr^rteried  head. 
Tkts  ^tj^nd  and  m a niv  feeling  was  what  J  have  seen 
described  by  ^nu? of  m#  liiogmphera  ^apridtt  and 
it  wdl  always  be  thoughi  »o  by  those  ^vboae  owe 
vanity  can  only  tw  Ki'auded  by  itie  adnirralioa  d 
o  ther&  an  d  w  ho  m  i  e»  t  a  kn  sh  o  w  ^  fo  f  reaJ  i  til  i.  None 
valued  the  love  nnd  npplauHC  of  othi^rss  more  thaa 
Scott  J  but  if  was  to  the  iuv+:  u\  A  •;  )  of  thoae 

her  valued  in  retum  thai  he  r.  -r  fee^fSr- 

wjthout  reslriciinjr  the  kindiir  -.  n  who  aid 
no  I.  or  vvould  not,  understand  this,  ptrpfir.ttllyinia- 
took  him — aud^  aftcir  loading  him  with  andeaiied 
cnlogy,  pt?rhti|jii  inhm  own  h<ujse  ne^:!"-^*^'!  0oiniDOA 
attention  or  eivdity  toother  part  E  ('!  toilf.   It 

was  on  trneh  an  occasion  thae  J  !  lananif* 

mur  in  my  ear,  'Author  as  I  atn^  I  wi^ci  niemffood 
people  would  recollect  that  I  be^an  wiihbang  a 
f^^ntltman^  and  don't  tnean  tomveup  thfchanO' 
ler.'  Such  waa  all  alon^r  his  feeling,  and  Mb,  with 
a  alight  prejudice  eonimun  to  Scc^ttnmen  Minivour 
of  ancient  and  respectable  fanidy  desccnl;|COtIitH 
tutt'd  what  in  Omb  Street  in  called  bis  pride.  It 
wa«.  at  leas^  what  Johnson  would  have  juidy call- 
ed dt/rn^Vti  pride.  From  all  other,  and  vtill  more 
from  mere  vanity,  I  never  knew  any  m^  ao  re- 
mark flhiy  free/*  * 

The  farmer  at  whose  annual  kirn  ScollinddT 
his  household  were,  in  ihoasdays,   re.g:ulJ^pMit>» 
was  Mr  Laidlsw,  the  Duke  of  Buct"leueh%Temant 
on  the  land*  of  Peel,  which  ate  or*ly 
the  en fl tern  terrace  of  Aatieetid  by 
iis  brook.     Mr.  Loidlow  was  hin»s«:^lf  poav_ 
^me  landed  propertv  in  lUa  aanie  neiphboillliood^ 
and  1)01  ng  considered  as  weolthy,  nnd   fofMof  lu> 
wealth,  he  was  ueuaHy  called  annong  thf^ 
people  Laird   Nippjf  i  an  expraasive  de^ 
winch  it  would  be  didtctik  to  tranalatt^    llmiKfca 
very  dry^  demure,  and  taciturn  old  preabytetito,  he 
ct>uld  not  resist  ihe  siieritT^s  jokes  t  nay,  M  even 
j^-aduaiiy  subdued  hi«  scruples  qo  far,  as  to  become 
ajitr^tty  constant  attendant  fli  his  ''  JStiffiiAk  prinl 
cd  prayfTB*'  an  the  Sunday  |  which,  indeed,  wew 
by  thin  time  rather  mnte  popnlar  ihan  qmtt  aoiled 
thecapadty  of  iheparlour-chapcL    Mr.  LodltV* 
wife  was  a  woman  of  superior  mind  and  nMumeii 
—a  ftroai  reader,  atid  one  of  the  few  to  whoBiSoott 
hked  lendiuK  biabooka;  fortnoat  Bmct  sad  deli- 
cate w«a  he  alwaya  in  the  eare  of  them,  tod  m* 
deed,   hardly  any  trivial  oceurrence  evtr  *i[^»3»ed  to 
touch  hie  t^m^ier  at  all,  exempt  aTiy  thing  likeirrevfr* 
triUt  treatment  of  4i  hook.    The  intercourse  between 
the  family  at  A^heatiel  and  tbi^  worthy  wornan  aira 
her  child  ren,  waa  a  conatont  interchange  offcapect 
and  kindness  ;  but  I  rcmemEter  to  have  hi^atd  Scott 
say,  ihnt  the  ^^atest  tJom pi im en t  he  had  Fjfer.re- 
cwved  in  his  life  waii  from  the  rigid  old  farmer  him- 
s<;jf ;  for.  year?  after  he  hnd  left  Aahd^stiei,  liedisoo- 
jercd  ea«u«lly  that  speina)  care  had  h^n  ttkeilto 


nuct'ieuen.  ■  tenant 

inly  separalad  from 

by  ibe  ravlQetod 

n»s«:^]f  poa«Mad  ol 


repair  ;  and  ihi»  was  niach  from  Ntppv^. 

And  here  I  must  set  down  a  atory  whidli'int*t 
readera  wUl  smile  to  be  told,  was  often  rtp^itcd  of 
Scott;  and  always  wi  lb  an  air  that  seemed' <er 


that  his  bound U«Ls  tiiemory  enahkxi  him  to  cierl  lo 
the  wonder  of  tba  gsoiug  lovers  of  winders.  Rut 
equally  mipressive  ond  powerful  was  the  l^^|£^]ace 
of  hifi  warm  hearii  nnd  ^.Tjudlly  wonderful  wrfc  the 
concluHJoaa  of  bin  viiforousuuderstandiuji,  to  thos* 
who  could  return  or  appreciate  either*  Artioiig  a 
number  of  such  fbgoI lection^  T  have  seen  many  of 
the  Uiowghts  which  then  paaaed  trough  hta  mjnd 


William  Laidlaw  ;— so  distant,  that  d*ewMrem« 
■that  CO ndt lion  they  would  scarcely  h*iv.^  rfrriBlinber" 
td  anv  comtnuniiy  of  blood  :~but  tir  tr*oea 

iheir  descent,  in  tho  ninth  de^fje,  tu  Mtff* 

who,  in  I  he  daya  of  John  Knoi,  feii  ijiI'j  ilPOuble 
from  a  sufpirioQ  of  witchcraft.  In  her  ti ope  the 
Laidlaws  weri^ricb  aod  proppcroiis,  and  helil'f^tBlt 
amoufi  the  iiest  geDl^gi^^|'^i^ilttfl>vt  !*«»• 


LIPfi  OF  Sm  WALTER  SOC/t^. 


itfH  honr^  her  hntband,  the  head  of  his  Mood,  re- 
proached her  wiih  her  addicUoYi  to  the  blaqk  art, 
and  she^  in  her  anger,  cnirsed  the  name  and  lineage 
of  Laidlaw.  Her  only  son,  who  stood  by.  ixnploied 
h<r  to  revoke  the  maledicuon ;  but  in  Tain.  Next 
day,  however,  on  the  renewal  of  his  entreaties,  she 
carried  him  with  her  into  the  woods,  made  him  slay 
a  heifer,  sacrificed  it  to  the  power  of  evil  in  his  pre- 
sence, and  then,  collecting  the  ashes  in  her  aprun, 
invited  the  youth  to  see  tier  commit  them  to  the 
rvrer,  **  Follow  them,"  said  she,  **  from  stream  to 
poo),  as  long  as  they  float  visible,  and  as  many 
streams  as  you  shall  then  have  passed,  for  so  many 
generations  shall  vour  descendants  prosper.  After 
that  they  shall,  like  the  rest  of  the  name,  be  poor, 
and  take  their  part  in  mv  curse."  The  streatps  oe 
counted  were  nine;  ana  now,  Scott  would  say, 
"look  round  you  in  this  country,  and  sure  enough 
the  Laidlawa  are  one  and  all  landless  men,  with  the 
aiBgle  fzceotion  of  Auld  Nippy!"  Many  times  had 
1  beard  both  bim  and  William  iiaidUw  tell  the  sto- 
ry, heSore  any  siuipioion  got  abroad  that  Nippy  a 
wealth  rested  oa  rosecure  foundations.  Year  after 
rear,  we  never  eecorted  a  stranger  by  the  Peel«  but 
I  hsard  the  ulei-^aad  at  last  it  came  with  a  new 
eonelwBon  t—'^  and  now,  think  whatever  we  choose 
qC  it,  mv  good  friend  Nippy  is  a  baaknipt." 

Mr.  Morritt's  mention  of  the  *'  happy  yosng  fsmi- 
ly  elssleied  round  htm"  at  Laird  Nippra  Hm,  r»* 
miBds  me  that  I  ought  to  say  a  iaw  worita  on  Soott'a 
aMthod  of  treating  his  ohildren  ia  their  esrJty  days; 
He  had  bow  two  boys  and  two  gisls  }*^ai|4  ^^  never 
had  more,*  He  was  not  one  of  ihosi  who  take 
mwh  delight  m  a  aoeie  infant  {  bat  no  firther  ever 
defiMed  more  time  and  tender  cars  to  hit  efiipring 
than  ha  did  to  each  of  his,  as  ihey  sueoeasivsli 
rmched  the  a^e  when  they  could  listen  (e  htm  and 
aaderstaiid  ms  talk.    Like  theur  smte  playmates, 

at  all  ti 


Omaap  and  the  gieyhounda,  they  had  at 

free  aeoeae  to  hui  studyi  he  never  considesed  their 
tattie  aa  any  disturbanesi  they  went  sad  came  as 
pleased  their  fancy  i  he  was  always  raody  to  answer 
thdr  q[Qsatioos  :  aad  when  they,  iinconsoioua  bow 
he  was  engaged,  entreated  him  lo  lav  down  his  peo 
and  tell  them  a  atory,  he  would  take  them  en  his 
knee,  npeat  a  ballad  or  a  legend,  kiss  thenu  and  aet 
them  down  again  to  their  marbles  or  ninepins,  and 
renme  his  laboar  as  if  refreshed  by  the  intermptioa. 
Fiem  a  very  early  age  he  made  them  dine  at  table, 
tad  "  to  sit  up  to  supper*'  was  the  great  reward 
whan  thev  had  beea  "  very  good  baims."  In  short, 
he  oonsiacKd  it  sa  the  highest  duty  aa  well  a*  the 
twee^t  pleasore  of  a  parent  to  be  the  oompanien  of 
kia  cnikiren ;  he  partook  all  their  little  joys  and  aor- 
lows,  and  made  hia  kind  unformal  instnietions  to 
blead  so  easily  and  plavfiilly  with  the  current  of 
their  own  .aaytnjgs  and  domgs,  that  ao  far  from  re- 
ouding  him  with  any  distant  awe,  it  waa  never 
thought  that  any  sport  or  diversion  could  go  on  in 
the  nght  way,  unless  pefM  were  of  the  party*  or  that 
.  the  ramiest  day  could  be  dull  bo  he  were  at  nom& 

Of  the  itregularity  of  hiaown  education  he  speaks 
with  conaiderable  ny^ret,  in  the  autobiographical 
fragment  written  this  year  u  Ashestiel :  yet  his 
practice  does  not  look  as  if  that  feeling  hsid  been 
strongly  rooted  in  bis  mind  ^—Ibr  he  never  dkl  show 
much  concern  about  regulating  systematically  what 
ia  usually  called  education  in  the  case  U  his  own 

.^'(■a acwall  traaMribetacf*  Um  reit of  Um  Noord  in  Scott's 
JttdyHMe.    After  what  wu  quoted  in  a  focmerobapter  it  thiu 

^  ''siu  die  Oetebrfa.lT».<^Mar|mt>C.8eott,ffllUi  apod  Gdfa- 
bsna  «didit,  IS-.  Novemboi.  ITM.  in  CcekMsn  CIManunTO- 
capU  firit  par  baptimiam  dicta  filia,  nomeagut  d  adlBctaBi  Cbar- 
lotia  SofAia,  pa  TJnun  reTerendom  DanjeTem  SandSird  :  apoo- 
Nfimi  pnsoobili  Aithoro  Marcfafene  de  Downabire,  SopMa  Da- 

^  mamae,  al  Aaoa  Rvtharfixd  matra  raea. 

*  ''limnta  C.  fioolt  puerun  adidit  flSv*  Oetobria.  A.  D.  ISOI 
asalEdlDbarfum ;  npcnettiae  ei  adjectom  Goabania,  wan  ptr  ▼. 
Kv.  Boetorem  Duuekm  Sandibrd  baptizattu  erat 

"M.  C.  SeottlUanicdiditapQd  EdJDfauiiiun»iodlttF<ktMuf|. 
tMB,qnpioBoofeaiamreotp<afliit  perTinun  nwieadian  Doeto* 
Km  Baadfmi*  Doneaqua  Ǥ  adiMhim  Anna  SqptL 
^•^'^  BaeeSi :  18».— >L  C.  dootf  apod  Bdnbaifan 


children.  It  se^ttied,  on  the  contrary,  as  if  he  at- 
tached little  importance  to  any  thing  else,  so  he 
could  perceive  that  the  young  curiosity  was  excit^ 
—the  mtellect,  by  whatever  springs  of  interest,  set 
in  motion.  He  detested  and  despised  the  whole  ge- 
neration of  modern  children's  books,  in  which  the 
attempt  is  made  to  convey  accurate  notions  of  sci- 
entific minutis :  delighting  cordially,  on  the  other 
hand,  in  those  of  thepreceding  age,  which,  address- 
ing themseWea  chieBy  to  the  imagination,  obtain 
through  it,  as  he  believed,  the  best  chance  of  stirring 
our  graver  facultiea  also.  He  exercised  the  memo- 
ry, by  sslecting  tor  taaks  of  recitation  Aaasages  of 
pepnlai  verse  the  most  likely  to  catch  the  faney  of 
ehildifen :  and  gradually  fBmiliarixed  them  with  the 
ancient  history  of  their  own  country,  by  arresting 
attention,  in  the  course  of  his  own  oral  narrations^ 
on  incidents  and  characters  of  a  similar  description. 
N9r  did  he  neglect  to  use  the  same  means  of  ijuick- 
ening  curioaity  aa  to  the  eveivts  of  sacred  history. 
On  Bunday  he  never  rode--at  leaat  not  until,  ma 
growing  infirmity  made  hie  pony  almost  necessary 
to  hinh^or  it  waa  his  principfe  that  all  domestic  ani- 
mals have  a frdl  right  to  their  Sabbath  of  rest;  but 
after  he  had  read  the  chorch  service^  he  ustrallf 
walked  with  his  whple  famUv,  dogs  included,  to 
some  favourite  spot  at  a  consiaerable  distance  from 
the  house— moat  frequently  the  nu^ed  tower  of  EU- 
bank— and  there  dined  with  them  m  the  open  air  on 
a  basket  of  coU  provisional  mixing  his  wine  with 
the  water  of  the  brook  beside  which  they  sU  were 
grouped  around  him  on  the  turf;  and  here,  or  at 
home,  if  the  weather  kept  them  from  their  ramble, 
his  Sunday  talk  was  just  such  a  aeriefl  of  biblical 
lessons  as  that  which  we  have  pr^erved  ibr  the 
permanent  use  of  rising  generations,  m  hia  Talea  of 
a  Grandfather  on  the  early  history  of  Scotland.  I 
wish  he  had  committed  that  other  aeriea  to  writing 
too  I— hew  dioerent  that  would  have  beea  from  our 
thousand  ooropilaiiona  of  dead  epitome  and  irnbe* 
cile  eant !  He  bad  his  Bible,  the  Old  Testament  es- 
pecially, by  heart  I  and  on  these  day#  inwove  the 
simple  painos  or  sublime  enthusiaam  pf  Scripture; 
in  whatever  story  he  was  telling,  with  the  same 
pictureague  richness  as  he  did,  in  hiB  weekday  tales, 
the  quaint  Sootcn  of  Pitscottie,  or  some  nide  lo- 
nuntic  old  rhyme  from  Barhoura  Bruce  or  Blind 
Hairy's  WaUaee. 

By  many  cxtemal  ncoomplinhineiic^  either  in  girl 
or  boy,  he  set  tiiiU^  *torf .  H&  d(?H|ih(cd  <o  hear  His 
daugnters  sh r^  an  o}d  diily»  or  one  of  his  own  fratti- 
ing  :  but,  so  thy  singiT  appro  red  to  fwl  the  H^mi  of 
her  ballad,  ho  u:ia  not  ut  all  critical  of  the  technicut 
execution.  There  was  one  tKiue^  however,  on 
which  he  fix«<)  ht«  ^eari  hnrdly  teis  than  tke  an- 
cient Peraians  of  the  CyropEedia;  like  ihcni,  next 
to  love  of  trith,  ht\  held  iovp  of  hoT»t'm»tiehtp  for 
the  prime  point  of  education.  A»  soon  as  hie  fide  at 
girl  could  ait  a  pony^  she  was  uisdc;  rliKf  rei^lMr  at- 
tendant of  hi^:  inouniftin  Jide»{  sjiJ  they  all,  as  tbey 
attained  sufiieiertt  sufjigth,  had  the  like  ndvancc- 
ment.  Hetfin^^bt  thtmt^  think  tiatbitifcof  tumblo^ 
and  habitual  f'd  iln^m  to  hifi  own  reck  less  dfli^lit  in 
perilous  ford^  and  flooded  etrennisi  and  thcj^eli 
imbibed  ingrfrii  pttfecuon  his  passton  for  horscfl 
—as  well,  I  may  venture  lo  add,  as  hi*  df«p  reve- 
rence for  the  more  iinporUint  article  of  thai  Persifln 
training.  "  Without  courages ^^  be  said)  *^  there  cen- 
not  be  truth:  and  without  tnilh  ihere  can  W  na 
other  virtue."  '  ^ 

He  had  a  horror  of  boardinMohoolst  never  tl- 
k>wed  his  girls  to  learn  any  thing  out  of  his  ovm 
house ;  and  chose  their  goveme«»--<Mis8  Miller)— 
who  about  this  time  was  domesticated  with  theip, 
and  never  left  them  while  they  needed  one,— with 
far  grei^Cer  regard  to  her  kind  good  temper  and  ex- 
cellent moral  and  religiotis  pnnciplea,  than  to  the 
measctfe  of  her  attainments  m  what  ara  oalkd  fan 
shionable  accomplishmenta  The  admirable  nratam 
of  educauon  for  boys  in  Soot^and  combines  all  the 
advantaaes  of  public  and  private  instractioni  hia' 
carried  tneir  satchels  to  the  High- School  when  the 
fararlr  waa  in  Edfnbnrgh,  just  aa  he  had  done  be-  • 
fore  mem,  and  thared  of  course  the  evening  aociety 


/    m 


UFfi  OF  Sm  WALTER  SOOT1\ 


of  i(i^ir  hippK  home.  But  he  rwely,  if  evBr,  leCt 
them  in  to>Vn,  when  he  could  himself  be  in  the 
country ;  and  at  A^bestlel  he  was,  for  better  or  for 
worse,  oia  eldest  boy's  dail^ tutor  after  he  began 
Latin. 

The  followioff  letter  will  serve,  aniong  other 
things,  to  supply  a  few  more  detaila  of  the  domestic 
Ufeof  Aflhesiicl:— 

To  mst  Jnmna  BaiiUe—Ifampaie&d, 

«  Sept  aO,  1803. 
"  My  dear  Miss  BaUlie,. 

"  The  law,  yoa  knaw,  makM  the  husband  aa«w«rable 
tor  the  debia  of  bia  wife,  and  therefore  fii^a  bim  «  rifbt 
to  approach  ber  creditors  whh  an  oiler  of  payioeoi;;  w> 
(hat,  aAer  witiieMNng  laaoy  fruitleaa  and  broKen  reaolu- 
tloQs  of  my  Charlotte,  I  aia  deterroined,  rather  than  she 
and  I  Mhali  appear  longer  inseosible  of  your  f  oodneaa,  to 
hstrade  a  few  Hneg  on  you  to  answer  the  letter  you  hon^ 
oared  her  with  some  time  ago.  The  secret  reason  of  het 
procrasdnatian  is,  I  believe,  aome  terror  of  writinf  in 
JSniliah— wbkiii  frin  kiiiiw  U  not  hiT  tiatil'A  tlngtuj^o — 
lu  <>De  whn  id  Ki4  ameJi  iJHiiit^iii^lir'U  by  ti^r  L't^minaad 
of  U  %i  ity  tbf  pur^Ktiit;.«<hftubinji  a  ttt.  I  sm^U  wij  had 
ii\^  iiLJiiiiuiMitl  i*f  wh«i  in;  uM  rriL-ueJ  Pitir^Jitcie  calL«  ^a 
LUtitLcf  die  fliiu  or  a  uUip  of  tti?  whirlvftuj^l/  to  irauiitiort 

('ou  tu  iTutr  liuKliudi?  brfaric  the  froiit  has  jKiipptiil  (t  i>r  [ig 
■aVA|^-  1^  if  lint,  Lb-jirrrl^  fuvcii  I  i^auist  couiQ»ii,>  equal 
MA  BkliiTflflq^UP  brainy  m  |h(*  ^MUiti  of  Cljdfc  und  Effiia  j 
Inii  It  Is  KA  «pq^«s4t«r^)lM  to  9im{)l«.  and  to  aoUlary,  ttsat 
It  M^ediii*  JiiBt  tn  havft  beamy  f^nj^unhttt  dH^rht  ft«  inha- 
bimntkt  wtUioiiit  a  stngle  BtlTaDlhan  jbt  aA;  vnunit,  firjipi 
tboa*  wlti>  eiMtie  Ihr  ks  Inhabitant*'  SH.tw  Antt  in  «o«d 
tripiht  wl>en^V«r   1   Wat  i4efDf4«d  to  ^tivr  thti    uplciadid 


tripiht  wl>en^V«r  1  Wat  i4efDf4«d  to  ^tivr  thti  uplciadid 
li«jnF«if  thM  Jiifeiis  «»f  WcislEupf^Laiid,  lAiHray^  cadv^ 
^Kirra  ks  cure  mv  fit  of  £p<(<:eH  by;  rcculleeUiig  ibat  U\«f 
stlract  M  iiiiAy  lillf,  tneupiiJ,  aud  iniktlfnt  gazers  at  any 
c^lvhmr&d  beamf  it,  rU^  ]auA,  and  t^aI  tjur  *tene  of  pfts- 
toraJ  IidLi  anitt>Urfl  sTr^alits  U  lilteTotrrhfJOiift^s  ml^tred^ 
a  |io(jr  ihlnjf,  hui  ihtflv  i;>wn,'  I  o?grtt,  howfYpr^  tliat 
ttieii»«»t(^brat4^d  b^aUUes  »]if>4ilH:l  im*t>  fnjrwTifd,  wcpi,  t^r 
pciU^jl  upfkD  fOUf  wb^n  ji>4j  liop'jUffAd  t|i9ra  by  your 
T4aii  to  «Nxiin«r.  Dtit  MiH  \|ii«<i  Balliif  aud  yun  mefit 
wUb  >«ii4fi  4^f  ih^  put-ikttJ  inhabjtADta  af  ih^c  dJMnct— 

'  t  aura,  hkua  b^aa,  tu  ^ 
t  i  wilh  the  )i4&U4  asii 
bled, 
f  ling*- red  with  mo  from  dd^  to  Jat  Irt  e.(p<?c- 
mtlAd  fif  bfiiHt  ci&Ued  aomliwmrd ;  T  now  tstf  Itt  to  iHinV 
UkfjourDey  will  hardly  (alee  plftt«  (111  wfiiler,  £>f  etirly  in 
ipring  Ofl't  uE'  I  he  itjuit  |>li?uuuit  circurDiiAJirfls  att^n^ 
iQf  il  will  frfl  ilifl  oppurtuneij  to  paj  my  hdifiafo  to  )fua, 
and  lo  cloliu  wUK^L  ^  cttl^u  proait»c^  titRitE-ruiuf  a  car- 
Uki jplAy^  of  wbkh  yuu  wtic  m  liind  djl  1 1:1  promifle  tnsE. 


force,  and  through  them  bQth  the  aaiota  In  Maera^  In  fhm 
saccets  of  tills  roode«t  and  appareody  worthy  mah.  Lord 
Leren  haanromlsed  hiacrertions;  and  the  interest  or 
the  party,  if  exerted,  would  save  a  work  tenfold  inferior 
hi  real  merit.  Whatthink  yon  of  Snefo?  Thedaro  oc 
William  WaNaea  and  the  Cid  Hay  Diaa  de  Hvw  aoua  to  " 
be  reviriBf  there." 


CHAPTER  XVm. 

QrARBEL    WITR   MlSSaSS.  CONSTABLE   AXD   HOHTKB — 
JOHIf  BALLAyrVKB  KSTABUSklBD  AS  A  BOOKSBLUBR 

IN  BDiNBtyaoH— Scott's  litbba&v  pbojects — th« 

BDINBUBGlt  ANXUAL  BBGISTBB,  &«.— MEETING  OP 
JAMES  BALLAKTYNC  AND  JOHK  MVBBAT^Mt^BBAV^S 
VlBtT  TO  ASHEStlBl— POUTICS—THIB  PBKIM8VLAB 
WAB— PBOJECT  op  the  QtrABTBBLY  BEVlfcW— COfc- 
BB8P0NDBNCE  WITH  BULlSt  GtFPORD,  MOBBITr,  900- 
THBT,  8RABPE,  dtc.— I8Q8--1809. 

TttB  nader  does  not  need  to  be  ramiiMl^  that 
Scott  at  this  tirrt«  had  business  enovfEli  on  hii  limd 
bcsitlw  rornbitm  the  tusihi  of  Bmwr  AdaiiK  and 
twjAEJngroupl^ij  fior  Douehs  iiRdPtnvy.  HefMMdoep 
JB  Swift' and  chelluilaniynp  nras8WtaKrouii|lf(«fti 
der  a  rnultinide  of  vvorkn,  f^orii'iof  thain  aibsBiiy  iMi- 
tipm^^  with  almost  oil  of  wfiich  his  hand  iB^wwMi 
his  ht*jiii  had  t^omuThm^p  morn  or  leaa^  to  do.  B^t  ^ 
atriou^;  charif^e  wn9  zihoii;  ro  lake  plaee  in  hia  nm- 
tionEfwithihetpiHc"!  ig  house  which  fald'lli'' 

tb^  Tlo  bee  rnUe  ma  « 1  ippoileie'ef  ifat  WWi 

anfi  In?}  IcUt^rii  b^H^in  10  nc  much  OOBapisd'Withdim'*' 
cueeasfiddtspiates  wkieht  unimemsting  as  the  deiiile 
wmtJd  now  be,  miwt  have  ooet  him  many  f 


houn  in  ih^'  appnretidy  idle  eutemn «f  TMl    H 
rJanaiable  had  thenfar  hit  paitner  Mr^  AkiiMi 
Gibaon  Hunter^  atief^BTds  Laird^of  Blidioete,  to 
wbosi!  intempt^ritte  waguig^  mwA  mera  tHasi  to 


and  iMte4  of  liic  kllcr  t  Aca 


„     1  tjopa  ynu  do  uc^i  pf!!f  imt  (ndo](!i>^ 

pari  Hi  of  U^r  Utlte  flaEftr  lipofi  jfi^u  ;  \rc  canuot  aflijrd  the 


K- 


lu  ]j^  the 
t.T  iipQ{i  fifn  ;  \rc  canijQt  afltjrd  the 
Lntcrj'iip'lcn  t^iour  labgtira  whkh  ct en  that  mljrht  ocei- 
ikin.     And  ^wK*l  trr-  j/tni  dolrif  J'  ji^nt  vhAiuh^Ks  wiffl 

like  a  OPrtAin  Aneh*!ni  King,  difiinj;ii]?ih)ert  'in  Ui^  fdila, 
««bCh  wbiea  lio^  paiii  Jkjoi  a  vi^v^ 

'  Wu  twi«tlnt  of  cfsUara  his  rinf  a  tb  hobt, 
Andctmibliif  thfl  maen  of  his  courser  bnld.' 
iriMl  Idle  man' tf  e-cntfo^cnent  rvqeilir«d  any  s^Knldiy,  we 
musi  tffi^lc  it  In  Itia  dJ^Etby'  of  seskin^  fooii  to  idua  aS' 
VQury  irrresf*  for  o(ir  Knf Jtiih  euntfti  'i  inr  we.  *jre  etfbc 
iqilc'vtirotii  piurttijU  tnd  iitiiist  cnlllfi  all  th«  crtimtry  qiorts 
10  ikJ4  the  tafUer.  VVt£  |ul4  ]iDf<^,  im-a  ^y^i  wfk.*,  a  vei^ 
IcAMnt  I^QgrtiCi  fai£ti4^ ,  I  tie  MvrrittJ  at  Rdetiliv  (^k,  in 
'orksliln.'-  Tha  grjifloii^Hti  wujJtrixd  awet  %u  Greece, 
^nd  ^*2U4  Ihf  TrrmtJ,  to  Bid  id  crinAftlrgt  th**  LyLHKhesfs 
'ifftid  HfymsL  whti  c^ritpnJftd  thsii  Tmy  toflrti  was  not 
titlififi  by'llffi  tif^i*|t«.  11]^  rt^idMlmi  K  hfm-tjver,  not  of 
iin  tiTErbcarttif  khiiU  w>ii£ii  'v.nm  liirky  fdr  ui<^,  ^rho  am 
but  a  ^endef  claa«ic!.ftJ  nrhi't^  lJhiirli>Lt.p>  kJiiLlest  and 
b<ii  wialifv  tf$eQ4  lliaa  Af nM  Uaj||ir,tq  wi^jch  f  bearcUy 
and  ^tipactAjklly  fviu  'w^io  >u4i  ^^li^  ofTet*  h^t  hfi^i  spokify 
Ojf  not  wrft^DITp  ^nd  itoptiM  (i^t  fou£  k\uii  f^iffclt^tieaa.  I 
oi^fht  pcrhftf):!:  Ill  it..i]>i£'  irine  for  iikinf  Llj**  ii>#i^  off  hfir 
htwade,  tmf  wt  nm  b<>Hx  bt  vcnir  niprc^;  anil  t  a(Q  ever 

Tj'rf^^    ri,.n:^    (^lirhlril      rJi.-iC.    liT    .Midi      K  1 1  ir)  ITIH  t^'    ■^^r'^if^f^ 

Waltb*  ecOTT." 
"  P,  B.  I  have  had  a  vfsli  from  ths  author  of  the  Poor 
Blin'tf  Aibbathf  whosi*  aflkirs  with  Constable  are.  I  hope, 
aSCIM  (o  hi*  aatisfactiea.  f  got  hi^  a  few  booka  more 
thoB-  wera  ottfinally  anpulated,  and  hatie  endeerreured 
lo>  Uitaresc  LtBtt  Levee,'  and  through  hhnMr.  Wllb«r< 

Mtj  o^miYitM),  whotTnDunjtieoSi^iSiUQp  ai^%Mar(ip[tb! 


anjpanofConjtiAble*aewnoondiiet,  S^ui 

this  un fort annte  ulieoalioA  i  wlUchiJiofMv^  taaMsll  ' 
as  moi^i  of  my  frieod'e  aubeequeot  mieadvetttiiM,  I' 
am  inclini-d  to  iraoo'  in  no  amH  degrsi  lo  ihdMHi- 
enee  wbdi  a  thrrd  jpersen^  hitherto  vnotmed,  mma 
about  this  [im€  heoinniiiK  lo  exereiie-oiMr  the  con^ 
CffTtiF  of  J&nit!4>  Hallmiftfiie. 

Jj?bn  Bnlinntyns,  a  yoQfi^er  brDilier  of  Soett^a 
sehool^^Uuw.  bad  been  enjnnallrbrMtdtheh'  f^ 
Lbcr's  trado  of  n  T7»«refcttiif^<tlmt  ia  to  awi  a  detlerio 
f^very  tbin^  fmni  brbadebtii  to  ohiMren'a  topeh~ct 
Kelso ;  bin  JameVe  rise  in  the  woiidwae  not  ob- 
f^BTvvd  by  hJm  withooi  ambitiotta  loasiifra;  for  he  to# 
bad  a  Iav4^  Pind  fu^  it  ieaat  fancied' that  he  had  a  ta- 
laif.  fur  lid^raturr..  He  left  Kelaa  abriiptty  for  the 
tbano^A  of  ibc  iMiglieh  metiopolie.    Alf4!r  a  ahort 

E5«ideace  in  Lon^ion,  where^  among -other  thawa^ 
eollidsied  Ibr  n  few  montM  dedbfk  in  abankfiis 
&ti9e^  ih«  Ci>i)tiniiJidtntelli#enoeof  thetiiater^aprae- 
pt^riry  detcrrniiTCil  bimtaTetnin  to  Scotland.  Nov 
finding  an V  npp  nj  r  i  f^  at  the  momeo  t  in  Edinburgh,  h« 
a:^in  rnt  I  '  '  oBtEeiso;  buthishabitahad  AIM 
beeri  ^iii]  -  ,  hie  hrisf  eajoum  in  London^  and 

ge  boeinesa  soon  melted  Co  nothing  in  his  hands, 
ii  foods  were  diefiosed  of  by  auetieo  for  the  hene^ 
fit  of  hir  oraditoTB^the  paternal  shop  vraa  finally 
cbsed;  and  John  againqintted  hia'birth-pkee,  under 
circnmatancea  #hich,  as  I  shall  shdw  in  the  sequel, 
had  kft  a  deep  and  painful  trace  even  upon  that  vo^ 
latiie  mind. 

He  was  a  quick,  active,  intrepid  little  fellow  e  and  in 
society  so  very  lively  ana  amusing,  so  full  of  tiin  and 
merriment,  sneh  a  tnoreugfily  hght-hearted  dft>n,  all- 
over  qnaintncss  and  humorous  mimicry ;  and,  more-  . 
over,  BiMb  a  keen  and  akilfui  devotee  to  all  manner 
of  fie(d*«ports,  irom  foz-huntintf  to  badger-haitiner 
inchisive;  that  it  was  no  wontider  he  shtmld  have 
made  a  favourable  impreasion  on  Scott,  when  he 
appeared  in  Rdinliurgh  in  this  destitute  plight,  and 
offered  to  assist  his  brmher  in  the  management  of  a 
concern  by  which  Jameses  cothpamtivily  indolent 
habita  were  now  very  severely  tned.  /The  contraat 
between  the  two  brothers' waa  not  the  Ieaat  of  tho  * 
amuaement ;  indeed,  that  continned  to  anmae  (nm.itf 

Digitized  by  V^OOQIC 


LIFE  OF  5m  WALVm  ftCOtT. 


138 


Ai ivt    Th».M9  of  these  is  painted  to  the  life  m 

Ejy  letter  of  Leyden't,  whieh,  on  the  doctor's 
he,  though  aottl  fancy)  without  wincing-,  per- 
8co«  to  print :— "  Methiiiki  1  see  you  with 
-voir  eonfoanded  black  beard,  bull-neck,  aud  upper 
lip  toraed  ap  to  rour  nose,  while  one  of  your  eve- 
brows  is  cocked  perpendicularly,  and  the;  other 
fenns  pretty  well  the  base  of  a  right  angled  Criaof^ 
Qpeoing  your  great  Kloatijig  eyes,  and  cryias^^ui, 


LtgiUn  1 1 r  Barnes  was  %  short,  stoat,  w«m-n^ade 
fflaiL  and  would  hare  been  eonsiaered  a  handsome 
toe,  botlor  these  grotesque  frowns,  starts,  and  twist- 


lUB  of  his  features,  set  crtf  bra  certain  mock  majesty 
oMViik  and  gesture,  which  ne  had  perhaps  contract- 
ai  from  his  usual  companions,  the  emperors  aod 
ijrnnts  of  the  stage.    His  voice  in  talk  was  grave 

I  ud  8onoroa&  ana  he  sung  well,  (theatncaliy  well,) 
iaa  fine  nch  bass.  John's  tone  in  tinging  wm  a 
ahiip  treUe—iB  conversation  something  betwe^  a 
4nak  and  a  squeak.  .  Of  Austyle  of  story-telling  it  is 
laffideat  to  say.  that  the  late  Charles  Matthews's 
**«id  Scotch  lady"  was  but  an  imperfect  copy  of  the 
ofjginal,  which  the  inimitable  comedian  first  heard 
in  Sty  presence  from  his  tips.  He  was  shorter  than 
Inaes,  but  lean  aa  a  scarecrow,  and  he  rather  hopped 
thsQ  walked ;  hui^turos»  toO|  were  naturally  gocKl, 
aod  he  twisted  them  about  quite  ap  much,  ont  in  a 

»  veiy  diflafeiit  fashion.  The  elder  brother  was  a 
■wisand — the  younger  liked  his  bottle  and  his 
Dovj,  as  well  as.^  like  Johnny  Armstrong,  "  a  hawk. 

I  a  Mnd,  and  a  fair  woman.''  Scott  used  to  call 
4b  one  Aldiborontiphoscophomio,  the  other  Rig- 
(famiiiDiudoa.  They  both  entertained  himi  they 
both  loTed  and  revered  him :  and  I  believe  would 
uve  ibed  their  heart's  blood  la  hie  service;  but 
thay  both,  as  men  of  affairs,  deeply  injured  him^ 
au  above  all^  the  da V  that  brought  John  into  pccu- 
mary  connexion  with  him  was  the  blackest  m  his 
calendar.  A  more  reckless,  thoughtless,  improvident 
adventurer,  niever  rushed  into  the  serious  responsi- 
%m  of  business;  but  his  clevomesa.  his  vivacity, 
m  anaffeciad  zeal,  his  gay  fancy,  always  seeing 
■alight  side  of  every  tbinf;,*  his  imperturbable  gooa- 
* rand  buoyant  elasticity  of  spirits,  made  and 


kept  him  such  a  ravourite,  that  I  believe  Scott  would 
rate  aa  soon  ordered  his  dog  to  be  hanged,  as  bar- 
^»P^  in  his  darkest  hour  of  perplexitv,  the  least 
owughtof  discarding  "jocund  Johnny.'^ 

The  great  bookeeller  of  Edinburgh  was  a  roan  of 
cuhreinfifiitelv  beyond  these  Battantynes.  Thoagh 
aidi  a  atrong  dnsh  of  the  sanguine,  withoot  which, 
isM,  there  can  be  no  great  projector  in  any  walk 
of  ^  Arehibald  Constable  was  one  of  the  most 
Waious  persons  that  ever  followed  his  profession. 
A  brother  poet  of  Scott  says  to  him,  a  year  or  two 
^r€  diis  time,  "Our  butteracoous fnend  at  the 
Cross  tarns  out  a  deep  draw- well;"  and  another 
^usent  literatos,  still  mc^re  closely  connected  with 
^ofistahley  had  already,  J  believe,  christened  him 
Toe  Crafty."  Indeed,  his  fiair  4nd  very  handsome 
phjrsiogaoroy  carried  a  bland  astuteness  of  extrres- 
son,not  to  be  mistaken  by  any  who  could  read  the 
lUeat  of  nature's  handwriting.  He  made  no  pre- 
'^Qsi<uiato  literature — though  he  was  in  fact  a  tole- 
'^e  iudas  of  it  generally,  and  partieularly  well 
Bkaled  ui  the  depar  imeii  t  of  S  cotch  an  tiquitiea.  He 
<intni8ted  hiuiseU;  however,  in  such  matters,  being 
I^OBacisQa  that  his  early  educavion  had  been  very 
{opeifect ;  and  moreover,  he  wisely  considered  the 
baaoeis  of  a  critic  as  quite  as  much  out  of  his 
Proper  line'  as  authorehip  itself.  But  of  that "  pro- 
P^V/'aud  his  owniiaaUficaiions  for  it,  hisesti- 
nitioQ  was  ample ;  and— often  as  I  may  have  smil- 
'  ed  at  U&e  lofty  s^^reaity  of  his  self-comDlacence—l 
'  CQiUegi  I  now  doubt  whetiier  he  rated  nimself  too 
BiKBly  ai  a  master  in  the  true  science  of  the  book- 
*wer.  He  had,  indeed,  in  hie  mercantile  character, 
^  deep  and  fatal  flaw— for  he  hated  accounts, 
*^  syaleraaricaliy  refused,  during  the  most  vigo- 
Jus  years  of  his  life,  to  examine  or  sign  a  balance- 
?wet ;  but  fbr  castin:;  a  keen  eye  over  the  remotest 
Ijaiaatkms  of  popalar  taste— for  anticipating  the 
2«nce8  of  success  and  Yailure  in  any  given  variety 
«adv«Btuie-4br  ibe  plamihHi  and  iiwenlion  of  his 
M 


oaHiflg-^hewas  nbt,  in  W$  awn  tfny  al  lffl*t,  «iirpfl  se- 
ed ;  and  among  all  \i\^  mvrrri<j  nf  itndonaklnss,  I 
question  if  anv  one  thn  I  rpqfjy  tiri;?vii»T^o  with  mm- 
self,  and*coaimued  to  !h'  hi]]h  Huti  ndcd  by  his  ow,n 
oare,  e^rdid  fail.  Hi  wn?  ri.t  tioM  *ip  rfjr:*iiijil^^ 
and  hisdisDosit^  wS-  a.^  hb^ral  sii^  his  vjewa  wure 
wide.  Had  heand  Sfr  »rt  from  \\\^  h*^^^nm^  irusred 
as  thoroughly  as  they  undt-rstnod  i^ach  othtT  ?  bad 
there  been  no  third  paruc?i  U}  ^U  n  iru,  ^atic^riji^  an 
<>verweeniQg  vanity  01:  ilu-otuj  hjind  irtto  preffiimu- 
tion,  arid  on  the  other  aide  «p\irrms  the  eurciprise 
that  wanted  nothinf;  hut  a  bndle,  I  have  no  doubt 
their  jomt  career  mi^u  have  been  one  of  ujibroken 
proeperrty.  Bat  the  Ballantynes  ^ere  jealous  of  the 
superior  mind,  bearing,  and  authority  of  Constable: 
and  thoogh  he  too  had  a  liking  fbr  thenrboth  per- 
sonalty-^^^steeraed  James's  literary  tact,  aad  was 
far  too  much  of  a  himioimst  not  to  be  very  fond  of 
the  younger  brother's  company— he  could  never 
away  with  the  feeling  that' they  intervened  uttnecea- 
sarily,  and  left  him  but  the  shadow  where  he  ought 
to  have  h#d  >he  subatwtial  Jioo^'e  ahare  of  confi- 
dence./ On  liis  part,  again,  he  was  too  proud  a  man 
to  give  entire  confld^ce  where  that  was  witnl^eld 
from  himself;  and  more  especially,  I  can  well  be- 
lieve that  a  fran)LQess^  of  comvuBttoatlon  ai^^'to  the 
real  amount  of  his  capital  and  general  eilgagemenfa 
of  businesB| iwliich  wisold  havebeen  the  reverse  Of 
painful  to  him  in  habitually  conlMential  intercourse 
with  Scott,  was  out  df  the  question  where  Scott's 
proposals  and  suggestions  were  tp  b^  ^et  in  con- 
lerenrce,  not  with  nis  own  manly  simphciiy,  but  the 
buckram  pomposity  of  the  one,  or  the  hurlaeque  le- 
vity of  the  other  of  his  plenipotentiaries. 

The  diaputea  in  queeiion  seem  lo  have  begun  ^itrf 
shortly  after  the  contract  for  the  Lifis  and  Edition  m 
Swift  Bad  been  completed;  and  wefhell  presentfy 
see  reaeon  to  infer  that  Seott  to  a  aetitim  degree 
waa  inflaenced  at  the  moment  by  a  soreness  origi- 
nating in  the  r«ient  conduct  of  Mr.  Jeffrey's  Jour- 
nal—that  great  primary  source  of  the  wealth  and 
authority  of  the  house  of  Consisble.  The  then 
comparatively  little-known  booksf Her  of  London,' 
who  was  destined  to  be  ultimately  Constable's  moat 
formidable  rival  in  more  than  one  department  of 
publishing,  has  told  me,  that  when  he  read  the  or- 
ticle  on  Marnton.  and  another  on  general  politics, 
in  the  eame  number  of  the  Edinburgh  Review,  he 
said  to  himself—'*"  Walter  Scott  has  feelings  both 
as  a  gentleman  and  a  Tory,  which  these  people 
must  now  have  wounded.  The  allianoe  between 
him  and  the  whole  clique  of  the  Edinburgh  Review,^ 
its  proprietor  included,  is  shaken  :"  and,  as  far  at 
least  as  the  political  part  of  the  affair  was  concern- 
ed, John  Murray's  sagacitv  was  not  at  fault.  We 
have  seen  with  what  tnaniiful  alacritv/he  aocepled 
a  small  share  in  the  adventure  of  Alarmion— end 
with  what  brilliant  success  tha^'waa  crowned.; 
nor.  is.  it  wonderful  that  a  young  bookseller, 
conscious  of  ample  energiee,  should  now  hnve 
watched  with  eagerness  the  circumstances  which 
seemed  not  unlikely  to  j)lace  within  his  own  reach 
a  more  intimate  connexion  with  the  first  great  living 
author  in  whose  works  he  had  ever  had  any  direct 
interest.  He  forthwith  took  measures  for  improv- 
ing and  extending  his  relations  with  James  Ballan 
tyoe,  through  wnom,  as  he  guessed,  Scott  could 
best  be  approached.  His  tenders  of  empk>yTOent 
for  the  Caoongate  press  were  such,  that  the  appa- 
rent head  of  the  firm  proposed  a  conference  at  Fer- 
rybridge, in  Yorkshire ;  and  there  Murray^  after 
detailing  some  of  his  own  Hterarv  plana— particular- 
ly that  already  alluded  to,  of  a  Noveliat's  Library— 
in  his  turn  sounded  Kallantyne  so  far,  as  to  resolve 
at  once  on  pur^in^  Iiisjourney  mto  Scotland.  BaU 
lantyne  had  said  enough  to  aatiffy  him  that  the 
project  of  setting  ,up  a  new  publishing  house  in 
Edinburgh,  in  opposition  to  Constable,  was  already 
all  but  matured ;  and  he,  on  the  instant,  proposed  " 
himself  for  its  active  co-53perator  in  the  metropolis. 
Ballaniy^e  proceeded  to  open  his  budgel,  further 
mentioning,  among  other  things,  that  the  author  of 
Marraion  had  "  both  another  Scot(;h  poem  and  a 
Scotch  novtl  on  the  stocks ;"  and  had,  more^fj^ 


034 


Lira  OF  «IR  WALTER  SCOTT. 


chalked  out  the  dimi^a  of  ao  Ediubtirgh  Anwiial 

.^giBte^  to  tie  coaductcd  in  Qppoaitian  to  tb*?  paU- 
iiCB  and  trEUdsm  of  Constable's  auview,  Tli^jae 
tdmgs  might  have  be*^n  euoLigh  lo  mnke  Murray 
proceed  fartbtT  nonh^vord  j  bni  then*  was  a  atla  tne 
of  h II  own  which  had  fur  somtj  tinic  dceplr  occin^ted 

fhttmmd,  and  (lie  last  arttok  of  thia  i;<Knif)iMii.5a- 
lio n  rie le r i ri in c d  h iui  to  cii d bracft  the  oypo  r  t  u  1 1 1 1  v  of 
oppnmg  It  ]n  Mr^oQ  u  ArtbL^dti^^L  He  nn i  v<  d  e  fiure 
abfMjt  tho  roiddlL^  of  October.  Thu  2iAh  Nauil>i  r  of 
the  EtIijjLurKh  Review,  epmammK  Mr  Bruyi^liaui's 
Cdehf!it;:"d  arm  le,  entitlj  d,  "  Doa  Ctyali.^B,  oji  the 
UBurpaliofi  of  Spnin,"  bad  juit  bteo  publisln  d; 
arid  one  of  Ihi]  fir^t  thine^  Soon  moniioritsJ  in  cnn- 
verealion  was,  that  he  Bad  so  highly  reeeiiu^t  \he 

,  tofie  of  Uiflt  ftssjy,  as  lo  givts  cirders  ihat  hi*  nuiae 
misbt  be  disco nimued  on  [h«  liat  of  iub»criber^i.» 
Mr.  Miirrnv-^-ivH  not  have  wishyd  belter  ntisj^iN^e 
I     L-  ■-■■-  hudcyinc  ti;  upen;  and,  fiiiuiUy 

«fter  his  departures,  Scott  writea  as  foUows.  to  his 

jpnme  poliucal  confidaDt .—- 

7b  Qem-fe  Em,  Btq.,  Oartmmt. 

«  Aahestiel.  Nor.  2d,  1808. 
^DaarEUia, 

-I  s.*!-^*  5?4l  emily  to  our  joy  and  mirprttf,  a  flyina 
Mtiifnm  Hobar,  aboat  three  weeka  ago.  He  ataldbtn 
three  daya-but,  between  old  atories  Mdoew,  we  made 
Ihcm  very  OMrry  in  their  paaawe.  During  his  stay. 
.*hn  Murray,  the  bookaellerinf ieet  StrectT  who  \3i 
more  real  knowledge  of  what  coocernt  his  bueineaa  than 
any  of  hia  brethren-at  leaat  than  any  of  them  thei  1 
R^;^;^®  to  canvass  a  moat  Important  plan,  of  which 
il?^!'  .  ***Z?  Prtvacle,'  to  give  you  the  outline.  I 
had  most  atrongly  recommended  to  our  Lord  Advocalet 
\  £SL«  «i!E?*  **°.^*®i^  measmrea  aaainst  the  Edinburgh 
Review,  which,  pobdcally  speaking,  ia  doing  InralculaAe 
damage.  I  do  not  mean  thia  hi  a  mere  party  view;- 
the  present  ministry  are  not'aU  that  I  could  wish  them 
-for  (Cannhig  excepted)  I  doubt  there  is  among  ihem  too 
!i^^L**^***i"»^«  as  tt  was  called  in  CromwcU's  iimt> ; 
aad  what  Is  their  misfortune,  If  not  their  AuU,  there  is 
•ol  among  them  one  In  the  decided  situation  of  paramount 
authority,  both  with  respect  to  ihe  othera  and  to  the 
urown,  which  la,  I  think,  necessary,  at  least  In  dlfBcull 
Umea,  to  produce  promptitude,  regularity,  and  efficiency 
to  meaauTM  of  importance.  Bat  tlieir  pelHlcal  principles 
•re  soand  Engfash  nrineiples,  and  compared  to  the  greedy 
.  ^$?<:)«o^  horde  which  preceded  ihem,  they  are  an- 
tela  of  light  and  of  purity.  It  is  obviousTbowevcr.  that 
they  want  defenders  both  in  and  out  of  doors.    Pitt's 

— -*  Love  and  fear  glued  many  friends  fo  him  ; 
And  now  he's  fallen,  those  tough  commixtures  melt.* 

J[?f ''J^^uu"^^  ^"^  ®.^®9L*  <^*^*"8«  of  hands,  I  should  ex- 
^^  .'^^"^  i"*^"^*  indiffereocp. ;  but  I  foar  a  chanse  of 
'*I?1.  P^^f^t*  deBi|ned.  The  Edinburgh  Review  tell* you 
coolly.  We  fort*ee  a  speedy  revoluUon  in  this  couuiry 
aawen  aaMr.  Ci»bbett ;'  and,  to  say  ihe  truth,  by  degrad- 
ing the  person  of  the  Soverelgn-cxaltlnp  the  pow'er  ef 
U^e  French  armies,  and  the  wisdom  of  their  counsels- 
holding  forth  tbit  peace  (which  they  allow  tan  only  be 
purcbaBed  by  the  humiliating  prustraUon  of  our  honour) 
w  Inawpcnsablc  to  the  very  existence  of  thb  country ~-l 
think,  that  for  these  two  years  past,  they  have  done  their 
utmost  to  hasten  the  accompUsbment  of  their  own  pro- 
phecy. Of  thl«  work  9000  copies  are  printed  quarterly, 
and  no  genteel  family  can  pretend  to  be  without  it,  because. 
indepetjdent  ef  Its  politics.  It  gives  the  only  valuable  lite. 
rary  criticism  which  can  be  met  with.  Consider,  of  the 
numbers  who  read  this  work,  how  many  are  there  likely 
to  separate  the  Utcrature  from  the  poliUcs-how  muny 

youths  are  there  upon  whose  minds  the  fUi^h\  \  \.M 

character  of  the  work  is  likely  to  make  an    u.u  .m- 

preMion  j  and  think  what  the  consequence  I  ^  J.l  r  u  |.  i,e 
*•  Now,  I  think  there  is  balm  in  Gllead  for  »  i  1 1-^  ►nd 
that  the  cure  lies  In  instituiing  such  aRevit  w  iu  L».'i,Jon 
as  should  be  conducted  totally  Independent  of  bookselling 
influence,  on  a  plan  as  liberal  as  tliat  of  the  Etfinburffh, 
Its  Uterature  aa  well  supported,  and  its  principles  Engllsli 

.♦!Lu^?!i!  ^  ?^  ^'•^^^SL'PK?^-  'I*'-  Scott  wrote  to  Con- 
Btabis  in  these  tenns  :-"  The  fedmburjh  RericA»  had  become 
KtT  "v^  ^f ''  >?»W»W*  fof  ?e  to  oontimiue  a  contributor 
£h  ir  i^M^^  *^  ^^^  ^^^^  exhMXM  in  an  imlignant 


and  coDfltituUooaL  Aeeordhiciri'I  here  been  ifren  is 
understand  that  Mr.  WiUiam  Gl&rd  ia  wtUing  tohecone 
the  conductor  of  such  a  work,  and  I  have  written  to  hia, 
at  tlie  Lord  Advocate's  desire,  a  very  roluminons  letter 
on  the  subject.  Now,  should  this  plan  auccecd,  you  most 
hang  your  birdingpiece  on  ita  hook^  take  down  your  old 
Anti-jacobin  armour,  and  •  remember  your  swashiac 
blow.'  It  la  not  that  I  think  this  projected  Review  oucbt 
to  be  exclusively  or  principally  pohrical— Uils  wouljls 
my.  oplnloa,  absolutely  counteHact  ha  purpose,  which  I 
think  should  be  to  offer  tqrihese  who  love  their  o^untry, 
and  to  those  whom  we  would  wish  to  love  ft,  a  periodica! 
vnork  of  criticism,  conducted  with  equal  talent,  bat  upoa 
.sotmder  principle,  than  that  which  haa  gained  s<^higka 
station  In  the  world  of  IcUera.  Ia  not  thia  very  possible  1 
In  pomt  of  learning,  you  Englishmen  have  ten  times  our 
scholarship;  and  as  for  talent  and  geniua,  'Are  not 
Abana  and  Pharpar,  rivers  of  Damascus,  better  Uua 
any  of  the  rivers  In  Israel?*  Have  we  not  yourself  anj 
your  cousin,  the  Roses,  Makhua,  Matthias^  GlfRmJ,  He 
ber,  and  his' brother  1  Can  I  net  procure  you  a  score 
of  blue-caps  who  would  rather  write  for  us  than  for  the 
Edinburgh  Review,  If  they  got  as  much  pay  by  iti  *A 
good  plot,  good  friends,  and  full  of  expectaioo— an  eicet- 
lent  plot,  excellent  friends !' 
"  Heber*s  fear  was,  lest  we  should  fall  in  procnring  re- 

RIar  steady  contributors;  but  I  know  so  much  of  the 
erior  discijiline  of  reviewing,  aa  to  hare  no  apprehea- 
aiooof  ttiat  Provided  we  are  once  aet  a-golngby  a  few  , 
dashing  numbers,  there  would  be  no  far  or  enustliif 
regular  contrlbutora ;  but  the  amatenra  moat  beadr  the^ 
aelves  in  the  first  instance.  From  government  we  abooM 
be  entitled  to  expect  confidential  communicatioa  ss  to 
points  of  fiwt  (so  far  as  to  be  made  public)  in  oar  political 
disnulsltions.  With  this  advantage,  bur  good  cauas  sod 
8t  George  to  boot,  we  may  at  leaat  divide  the  field  witk 
our  formidable  competitors,  who.  after  aO,  sre  naich 
better  at  cutUng  than  parrying,  and  whom  nnlntemipted 
triiunph  haa  as  much  unfitted  for  resisting  a  sertoos  at 
tack,  as  it  haa  done  Buonaparte  for  the  Spaniah  war.  JeP 
frey  Is,  to  be  sure,  a  man  of  moat  uocoiuaion  varsatiUiy 
of  talent,  but  what  then  1 

*  General  Howe  is  a  gallant  eommander, 
There  are  othera  aa  gallant  aa  he.' 
Think  of  aU  this,  and  let  me  hear  from  yoo  rery  soon  oa 
the  subject.  Canning  Is,  I  have  good  reason  to  know, 
very  anxious  about  the  plan.  I  menttoaed  fc  to  Robert 
Dondas,  who  was  here  with  his  lady  for  two  dsys  en  a 
pilgrimage  to  Melrose,  and  he  approved  highly  of  k. 
Though  no  literary  man,  he  ia  judicioua,  clairvnanL 
and  uncotnmorily  sound-headed,  like  his  father,  Xoni 
Melville.  With  the  exceptions  I  have  mentioned,  the 
thing  continuea  a  secret. 

"  I  am  truly  happy  you  think  weU  of  the  Spanish  busi- 
ness :  thev  have  begun  hi  a  truly  manly  and  rounded  roso- 
ner,  and  barring  internal  dissension,  ar«,  I  tliiak,  verylike> 
ly  to  make  their  part  good.    Biionapane's  army  has  corns 


to  asBume  such  a  very  motloy  description  as  gives  good 

''"•"  "*■ .."»•':"-  -• -^    '     ^  of  advereitv  sst- 

re  desertea  bim 


hope  of  its  crumbling  down  on  the  frost  ui  au^en 
ting  in.  The  Germans  and  Italiana  have  desertea  aim 
in  troops,  and  I  greatly  doubt  liia  being  ablo  to  assemble  a 
very  hnire  force  at  the  foot  of  the  ^renees,  unless  hs 
trusts  that  the  terror  of  his  name  will  be  aafllcient  to 
keep  Germany  in  subjugation,  and  Austria  in  awe.  The 
finances  o(  your  oMJRussian  friends  sre  saidfo  be  niined 
out  and^out ;  sucliTs  the  account  we  have  from  Leith. 
' '  Enough  of  this  talk.    Ever  yours, 

WAijriaScoiT." 

The  readhicsflf  with  which  Mr.  EUii»  entered  into 
the  scheme,  thus  introduced  to  his  notice,  enconrsK* 
ed  Scott  to  write  still  more  fully;  indeed,  I  mifbt 
fill  half  a  volume  with  the  correspondence  now  be- 
fore me  coiicernine  the  Kradnal  orf^nization,  and 


uuriaiity    aiiu    saisaciiy    Ol   OCOtlS    VICWS  OH  BUCn  o 

subiect,  and  the  characteristic  mixture  of  strong 
and  playful  language  in  yvbtch  he  developed  them; 
and  I  conceive  that  this  end  will  be  suflBdently  «e- 
comphaWfed,  by  extracting  two  more  letters  of  this 
bulky  series.  Already,  as  we  have  seen,  before 
opening  the  matter  even  to  Ellis,  .he  had  been  re- 
quested to  communicate  his  sentiments  to  the  pro- 
posed editor  of  the  work,  and  he  had  (lone  so  hi 
these  terms  .— 


*•  Sir, 


To  WiUiam  O\ford,  E^q.,  London, 

"  Edinburgh,  October  SB^  180a 


"  Bv  a  latter  fhM&  the 

Digitized  by 


^(^i 


tlFB  09  StSL  WALtSR  SdOTT. 


m 


miUr.  (Midiif  oo  the  tabjeot  of  «  mw  Re^w  to  be 
ittBplad  hi  London,  I  bare  fho  plSMure  to  iroderacwid 

I  AH  jva  hart  cooMoted  lo  b«c<liim  the  editor,  a  point 
vUeh,  in  my  optnion^  foM  no  eoian  wijr  to  ennure  sue- 
<tm  10  tlie  uodenakinf .  In  othting  n  few  obet* rmtiontf 
upam  the  dttaik  of  toeb  a  plan,  I  onlT  obey  the  com- 

I  juod*  o(  our  dJBtiofDiihed  frienda,  withoat  haring  the 
mUf  to  hope  that  I  ean  point  out  any  thing  whkh  was 
M  Hkely  to  have  at  onoe  occurred  lo  a  perano  of  Mr. 
€Ard*B  KterATT  experience  and  eminence.  I  ahalL  bow- 
tnr,  beg  permlaaioa  to  ofti^on  my  eentitnentat  In  the 
iritftllineooa  way  la  which  they  occur  to  roe.  The  9X- 
imiTe  repotadoQ  and  circulation  of  the  Bdinburgh 
Beriew  i«  chiefly  owing  to  two  clrcnmatances  :  Firiti 
tkit  it  ia  entirely  qnlnlluenced  by  the  bookaeller?,  who 
hart  coQirhred  to  make  moat  of  the  other  aeviewa  mere- 
if  adrertiWog  aheeU  to  puff  off  their  own  pubUcatlona  ; 
>m,  leeetKUy,  the  Tory  handaome  reeompenae  which  the 
~^"  i»o|ooly  holda  forth  to  hia  regular  aasiatanta,  but 
y  OT«ea  upon  thoae  whoae  ohvikaataatea  and  rank 


mm  

Bike  k  a  matter  of  total  IndUTereace  to  theto.  The 
•liior,  to  my  knowledge,  makea  a  point  of  every  contri- 
bitfer  reeehing  thia  Saiuu,  aaylng.that  Car  Peter,  when 
voridQC  hi  the  treocbea,  reeehrad  pay  aa  a  common  aot- 
4ier.  Thla  general  rule  remoTea  aU  acmplea  of  delicacy, 
•Bdllxea  in  nia  aerrice  a  number  of  peraona  who  mignt 
ethemiee  have  feh  ahy  lo  Ukkig  the  price  of  their  la- 
boan,  aad  wa  the  more  ao  becaiiae  it  waa  an  object 
of  eoaraaieoea  to  them.  There  are  many  young  men  of 
tafeataad  ei|terpriae  who  are  extremely  glad  of  a  hand- 
toot  ifeiogj  to  work  for  fifteen  or  twenty  goineaa, 
^ — u.^ ,. ...._„..  ..       i„  hired 


i  they  wonM  not  wUHogly  be  eonaidered 

m  From  thia  I  deduce  two  pointa  of  doctrine : 
im  (bit  the  work  moat  be  eonaidered  aa  independent  of 
40  Mokaetting  influence ;  aeeandly,  tbaf  the  laboura  of 
at  cootrlbntora  moat  be  regulariy  and  handeoroely  re- 
OMBpenied,  and  Chat  H  must  be  arule  Uiat  each  one  ahall 
««e|il  ef  the  priee  of  hIa  labour.  John  Murray  of  Fleet 
^ftntt,  ayoooff  bookaaUer  of  capital  and  entciiHiae,  and 
Wk  more  good  aenae  and  propriety  of  aeoUmfent  than 
M  lo  the  abara  of  moat  of  the  trade,  made  me  a  Tialt  at 
Isbattiel  a  fow  weeks  ago,  and  aa  I  found  he  bad  some 
^emiannicatkwi  with  yoa  opon  the  aubject,  I  did  not  heai- 
ttt  to  eoBMDOPlcate  my.aentlmaiita  to  him  on  theae  and 
Moe  ether  poiala  of  the  plan,  and  I  thought  hia  ideaa 
vert  meat  Ubaratland  aatMaetory. 

"Tht  oflica  of  the  adHor  la  of  auch  importance,  that 
tod  900  not  been  pleaaad  to  undertake  k,  I  fear  the  plan 
^vwd  hare  follea  wholly  to  the  groirad  The  fhll  power 
of  control  maaC,  of  c^oorae,  be  reeled  In  the  editor,  for 
tolecda^  curtailina,  and  correcting  the  contribullona  to 
lb«  Review.  Bat  thia  la  not  all ;  for,  at  be  la  the  peraon 
laraediately  reaponaible  to  the  bookfeller  that  the  work 
<UM>BaUDg  to  a  certain  number  of  pagea,  more  or  leaa) 
Uall  be  before  Che  public  at  a  certain  thne,  it  win  be  the 
«S|or'tduty  to  cooaider  lb  dne  Umethe  articles  of  which 
todi  number  oocht  to  conaltt,  and  to  take  measurea  for 
pffoeurkig  them  from  the  peraona  beat  qoalified  to  write 
Bpea  sach  and  auch  aubjecta.  But  thla  ia  aometimea  eo 
hirablesome.  that  1  foreaee  with  plfaaore  you  will  be 
to«o  ehligeo  lo  abandon  your  resolution  or  writing  no- 
lUog  yourself.  At  the  taoie  time,  if  you  will  accept  of 
■TMrrfcea  aa  a  sort  of  jackal  or  lion's  proTider,  I  will 
^ill  fai  my  power  to  assist  Tn  this  troublesome  departr 
toeat  of  editorial  doty.  But  there  Is  still  something '  be> 
<>tod,  and  that  of  the  last  consequence.  One  great  re- 
towct  to  which  the  Edinburgh  editor  turns  himself,  and 
bj  which  he  gives  popularity  even  to  the  duller  articles 
of  hli  Review,  is  accepting  contribiitiooa  from  peraona  of 
■^'1(0'  powcra  of  wnling,  provided  they  understand  the 
Moki  to  which  the  critkisras  relate ;  and  aa  such  are 
«neo  of  iCnpiiVlng  mediocrity,  he  renders  them  palatable 
*f  throwing  in  a  haodlbl  of  spice— namely,  any  lively 
pngnph  or  entertaining  illustration  that  occura  to  him 
■  raaiag  them  over.  By  thla  sort  of  veneerinc,  he  con- 
^<ita  wiihom  loss  of  time,  or  hinderanoe  af  boaineas, 
■rficlea  which,  in  their  original  atate,  might  hang  in  the 
"|*rket,  hito  auch  gooda  aa  are  not  likely  to  diiyrace 
uMe  aaMoi  which  they  are  placed.  This  seema  to  be 
*  poiat  in  which  an  editor'a  assistance  la  of  the  last  con- 
toqoeoce,  for  those  who  possess  the  knowledge  necessary 
to  rertew  booka  of  research  or  abstruae  disqolsltionvaro 
^*Tj  often  unable  to  put  the  critlciam  hito  a  readable, 
BQCh  more  a  pleasant  and  ctiptlvatiog  form;  and  as 
VitiT  ictence  cannot  be  attained  'for  the  nonce,'  the  only 
rtmsdv  la  to  aupply  their  dcficiendea,  and  give  their  lo- 
^brationa  a  more  popular  torn. 

"There  Is  one  opportonity  possessed  by  yon  In  a  par- 
oeular  degree— that  of  acceas  to  the  best  sources  of  pnli- 
Ocal  bfbrmalion.  It  would  not,  certainly,  be  advfaable 
llat  the  work  should  assume,  especially  at  the  ontaet,  a 
!>rofessed  political  character.    On  the  cootrmry,  tb6  ar> 


\ 


tielaa  dn  teienea  and  mfsceVanMiis  Blert(Qr«  oo^  |o 
be  of  such  a  quality  »a  mi^ht  fofriv  challenge  compett- 
tlon  wkh  the  best  of  our  cootempdraries.  Bot  as  the 
real  reason  of  instituting  the  publication  Is  the  disgustln| 
and  deleterious  doctrine  with  which  the  most  popular  Of 
our  Reviews  disgraces  its  pegcs,  it  is  essential  to  consitlf  r 
how  this  warlkre  should  be  managed.  On  this  ground. 
I  hope  it  is  not  too  much  lo  expect  fTom  those  who  havA 
the  power  of  assletitig  us,  that  they  should  on  topics  of 
great  national  hiterest  furnish  the  reviewers,  through  the 
medium  of  their  editor,  with  sccurate  views  of  points  of 
fBC«i,  so  for  as  thev  are  fit  to  be  made  public-  This  is  the 
most  delicate,  and  yet  most  essential  pari  of  our  acheme. 
On  the  one  hand.  It  is  certainly  not  to  be  understood  that 
Wf  are  to  be  held  down  to  advocate  opon  all  occasions 
the  cause  of  administration.  Buch  a  dereliction  of  Inde- 
pendence would  render  oa  entlrelr  naeieas  for  the  pur- 
pose we  mean  to  serve.  On  the  other  hand,  nothing  wfll 
render  the  woik  more  Interesting  than  the  public  learn- 
ing, not  f)rom  any  vaant  of  ours,  but  (torn  their  own  ob- 
servation, that  we  have  access  to  early  and  accurate  lo- 
fomwtion  fai  point  of  foct    The  Edinburgh  Review  haa 

Erofited  much  by  the  paina  which  the  Opposition  party 
ave  taken  to  possess  the  writers  of  all  the  Informatioa 
they  could  give  them  oo  public  mattera.  Let  me  repeat 
that  you,  my  dear  air,  fh>m  enjoying  the  confidence  of 
Mr.  Canning  and  other  hereona  In  power,  may  eaaOy  ob- 
tain the  confidential  information  neeeaaary  to  give  credit 
to  the  work,  and  communicate  It  to  such  as  tou  may 
think  proper  to  employ  In  laying  It  before  the  public. 

*'  Concerning  the  mode  and  time  of  publication,  I  thlu 
you  will  be  of  opinion  that  mocKhly,  in  the  prekent  dearth 
of  good  subjects  of  Review,  woold  be  too  often,  and  that 
a  quarteriy  publication  woum  both  give  you  less  trouble 
and  be  amply  aufflcient  for  diacuashig  all  that  fa  likely  to 
be  worth  discussiou.  The  luune  to  be  assumed  is  of 
some  oonaequence,  though  any  one  of  little  pretensioa 
will  do.  We  might,  for  example,  revive  the  *Engliali 
Review,' which  waa  the  name  of  Gilbert  Stewari'a.  Re- 
gular correapondenta  ought  to  be  sought  after,  bot  I 
should  he  Uttle  afhdd  of  finding  auch,  were  the  repota- 
tton  of  the  Review  once  decidedly  eaubUshed  by  thret 
or  (bur  numbera  #f  the  very  firat  order.  Aa  it  would  be  ^ 
eaaenlialto  come  on  the  pobUt  by  surprise,  that  no  oorea- 
aoaabla  expaetalion  or  artificial  mlsrapreaentation  might 
prejudice  Ita  aucceaa,  the  authora  employed  In  the  firat 
number  ought  to  be  few  and  of  the  first  rate.  The  choos- 
ing of  subjects  would  also  be  a  matter  of  aoxfooa  conai- 
deratton ;  for  example,  a  good  and  diatlnct  essay  on  Spa* 
nish  aflyrs  weokl  be  sufflclent  to  cive  a  character  to  the 
work.  The  Incubnukma  of  the  Edinburgh  Review,  on 
that  subject,  have  done  the  work  great  inhiry  with  tht 
pubUc.audl  am  convinced  that  of  the  many  ihouaanda 
of  coptea  now  distrtboted  of  each  Number,  the  quantity 
might  be  reduced  one  half  at  least,  by  any  work  appear- 
log,  which,  wHh  the  same  literary  talent  and  independent 
character,  should  speak  a  political  language  more  familiar 
tn  the  British  ear  than  that  of  aubjugatkm  to  Prance.  At 
the  aame  time,  aa  1  before  hinted,  it  will  be  necessary  to 
maintain  the  respect  of  the  public  by  Impanial  disqolsl- 
don  ;  ami  I  would  not  have  it  eaid,  as  may  usuallv  bepro' 
dicated  of  other  Reviews,  that  the  senflments  of  the  cri- 
tic were  less  determined  by  the  value  of  the  work  than 
by  the  purpose  It  was  written  to  serve.  If  a  weak  bro- 
ther will  unadvisedly  put  forth  his  hand  to  suppori  even 
the  ark  of  the  constitution,  T  would  expose  his  avgumentl^ 
though  I  might  spprove  of  his  intention  and  of  his  concio' 
skms.  I  should  ttihik  an  open  and  expresa  declaration  of 
political  teneta,  or  of  oppnMtfon  to  worka  of  a  contrary 
tendency,  ought  for  the  same  reason  to  be  avoided.  I 
think,  ftrom  the  little  observatton  I  have  made,  that  the 
Whiga  aoflTer  moat  deeply  fVom  cool  aarcaatic  reaaonhig  and 
occaakroal  ridicule.  Having  fong  had  a  aort  of  command 
of  the  press,  from  the  neglect  of  all  literary  assistance 
on  the  part  of  those  who  thought  their  good  eause  should 
fight  Its  own  battle,  they  are  apt  to  foelwith  great  acute- 
neaa  any  assault  In  that  quarter ;  and  having  been  lonf 
accostom«t  to  push,  have  In  aome  degree  lost  the  power 
to  parry.  It  will  not,  therefore,  be  long  before  they  make 
aome  violent  retort,  and  1  should  not  be  snrpriaed  If  It 
were  to  come  through  the  Edinborgh  Review.  We  might 
then  come  into  close  combat  with  a  much  better  craee 
than  If  we  had  thrown  down  a  formal  defiance.  1  am,- 
therefore,  for  going  into  a  atate  of  hoatlliiy  without  any- 
formal  declarattou  of  war.  Let  our  forcea  for  a  nomber  • 
or  two  consist  of  volunteers  and  amateura,  and  when  we 
have  acquired  aome  reputatfon,  we  shall  aoon  levy  aod 
dlsclplhie  forcea  of  the  line. 

•*  After  ill,  the  matter  ia  become  very  8erions,~elgM 
or  nine  thousand  c^ypiea  of  the  Ed^pburgh  Review  are 
regubu-ly  distributed,  merely  becanae  there  la  no  other' 
reapecuble  and  h)dependf*nt  publication  of  the  kind,  la 
thia  cky,  where  there  is  not  one  Whig  ooi^of  twea 
Digitized  by ' 


^m 


f4V»«F  m^iYIAhtB^iBWa. 


bAW  long  llic  g«iH'rttliit)r  of  rc^"!'  '-  ^rfiU  continue  to  die* 
Itlt^  fM^litk^,  BO  ufcfullj    ij!  (h  information  And 

imuHijii'iiL  JB  uuiiJij  c\(  fii  denuion.    Put  it  is 

j)0(  r<'r  (iM^h  [jiir  n>  aiiuiil  iit  i.:.L;  ...  j }  tbe  Aral  number 
<fu?;i '.  11  !<  iLjIc,  ii9  bu  put  m  issiuarj,  and  if  k  can 
but  I  !  r,  .iji'iti  lilte  N.  boiu^  witNout  previous  notice, 
1  tht'  '■'^f'-ri  VeE  I  liu  friiifu  sErikiiJi.'  <i.  <hoae  who  mi|d)i  be 
ludu.'ifidti  in  iliv  iU'ni  'mifi'j([.  are  a  much  better 

Juil|i3  titan  I  ai a,    1  tt^lnk  1  taad  the  a88ia(anc« 

iit  a  Uicmi  ^r  tvio  he  rt<,  ^hlj  li  <  t^iUiara  Erskine,  the 

L^tfi)  AifTncate^t  hii>Mirr»Ju  ia^,  m.iI  my  moat  iotimale 
fflmrl  In  fAimloii  jroti  tii%f  e  M^JLhua,  George  Ellis, 
ihs  RO'iK?!!,  earn  pifiTtauj  ^tiU-  UiL-Jbtrd  Heber  waa  with 
m^  14^4.^1  Mutmy  rAuio  i.u  n:f  f^riiit  and  iinowiof  bla 
^al  t^>f  l^c  K^icf  c»u>vj,  1  tf»L  IjIeti  iiiEo  our  counaela.  In 
Mr.  Fxrrv  wt.  htYw  Hvr  linpf  n  (tf  .i  jmient  ally.  Ttie  Rev. 
RtK(i»fiJd  UrE>t]f  %tii»uia  bf  an  o^i '  tlent  coadjutor,  and 
Ttfricn  I  tunii"  In  tftwn  I  wJl  m^iiuJ  Itfattliias.  Afl  strict 
aecrtry  wimW  of  ir*i*f*e  b^  ubvi't^  jd,  the  diffidence  of 
Duuy  mljihr  i.  ..>..  ,  ,'jaiii  „^^^r  ikIi(Aju*  you  can  be  at 
nu  hm  '*  '■■  '^.i-  <i  .^Uiitlfl  vhtre  it  did,— and  I  think 
tbftre  i«J;i   H-  I  '      iM  iftucy  in  thii  fln^mtific  articles. 

Uffccf  Jiii.i^r  I  iv^vr  i(»  ftiKikgin?  Tor  intruding  on  you 
m*  hMLji  ftfiii  UHfdfpfe  LiiK,  »n>]  probably  confused 
|et|pr ;  J  tiTuxt  yuijr  icriwlrtuitj  mA\  <"«.>  use  my  expressing 
iUI  ippLjfy  fc^r  «uhmttiinjt  in  y'lur  i)Otter  judgment  ray 
ietitljueiiu  PU  n  plaii  uf  fiti^rh  enojiu  laence.  I  expect  to 
Dt'  ii^kd  t('  ]^nd(Hi  enrLy  iit  tbi;  i^^  inter,  perhapa  next 
uiontli*  If  ^im  neH  Mhtrr4.y^  aj  i  suppose  you  will, 
I  |Uf  f  um^  you  will  C4>Dininiikalc  I'i  him  such  of  mr 
l4^iUl4Ti«nt»  A«  t>hVM  Ut"   tji«>dd   fdnuLie  to  coincide  witfi 

ititir^      AriM.nr  ''  '      m  ihe  jifgt  Number,  Fox's 

l«i'  I      f-i  i  nuLibli'  aubject  foraquix- 

^T^H^  <  '.'  ^>  r  puiu.i{iM<t  that  will  giTe  an 

e&jikJ?iMi,iu  Lu  M.  I.I  <fi  LJi(  L^jgi.iiJiish  uiJT^iira,  would  be  desir- 
'Jbm  *ubjfi'(j  ul  cruic.j>«in  "1  sfri,  vriiti  great  respect,  six, 
pPBf  iQuat  giicfit^lil  ne  rv  uh  (^ 

WALTg»  SoqTTr" 

On  the  18th  of  November,  Scott  enclosed  to  Mr. 
Ellis  '*  the  rouKh  scrolf'  Uhat  now  transcribed)  of 
^   Lts  letter  to  Mr.  GWTord ;—"  this  b^g,"  he  saye, 
one  of  the  very  few  episilea  of  which  I  thought  it 
will  be  as  well  to  retain  a  copy."    H6  then  pro- 
ceeds as  follows  !— 

"  anjipnjijiijj  you  if>  \uivr  rpufl  miyi  AcmM,  y.u  roust 
kuow  luriljcf,  itiJii  U  htt*  Uni-ti  rri¥Utn\  hi  a  inrif.i  favour* 
a.bU>  nwrmtr  by  fAv,  iiitUinh  ^Ud  A|»{i^pT«Mof  jr*  kiontents 
In  all  rfffcpertAt  itn^  U^t  Mr  L'^niiiriji  him  l(n*k*'0  it  over, 
and  pr«uais«d  fii£h  sId  as  (j  tnor^iri  ivii^J't^l  I  there* 
(Qf«  wikih  ydu  Iq  be  »p^T\ti*4  fuUy  p>f  wiliai  ruj^lLi  hardly 
btf  uude  |.li<?  «ubji»l  ^T  wrkhM,.  UfileM  )ji  mLI  tie  conn- 
J«ciLe  i>f  rr]cmlAhij%  Lk  jiiv  tuuth  it  sihiijt^^J  niiich  de* 
Ucjisy— tbi;fv»]kfcAl  c:Uiijiii!i{fr  nf  titn  [iur^nw-  ti  appears 
Lo  roc!  th^  \hiB  fihould  b<i  uf  h  liiier^liuid  i^iiJHfjc^Lf  natuffe^ 
reatiej^  iiptTn  [tnnfipif.^—uitUfigt-vi  juidl  t^iiMi'Lli-.tory  as 
fu-  AA  |ia§«ib]e  u{hki  iiictf^  p^rtr  qu»U«j!Uii— ^l.itt  Stem 
in,  ^tvr-iinc  mid  txiytminj^aU  iLm^m\tiB.  bo  Mip  oni  coastio 
tutiuaal  Jhbrjc.  U*:U0.ivu  In  Anudtur  ftltpiwij  ritation ; 
h4r<>  alKu  I  wauld  crtdtrjivaur  ro  bo  u  iiih{^rNi«.i  as  the 
■ubji-^  witl  djilnuii  t>f.  Thkn  i^thurBf-Ler  r>r  hiii|4di  rMdity,  as 
well  an  tlic!  ami  lite  nance  tif  Kbigb  rt^pjitatl^ni  mi  liJiicature, 
Ut  of  44  fteii  conBcquiFaco  bi  Biitln  or  otir  If  irivl  i  as  are 
in  tbp  Miulsiry^  uaur  more  (Jifr*ct  effUrts  mr  i(n  if  fafour; 
for  Llieau  «iM  iiinly  bv  ^ii-c^Mtsrui  iii  proiwrttuh  to  the  in- 
fiiianc«  we  *h4tl\  dcqMlrM  by  uj  rs^rensiTP  f^ircuiinioo  ;  to 
ptofitir*  wlikTi,  tb/p  iLkTEiivr  quabu*-*  w^l  b*  »«x&ntially 
wewMfy,  Ndw«  tn/TA  «uu«,  wUNin^  tMir  tvliti^r  be  oc- 
«a#InoaJly  m,  Imic  wnrrn  Anil  pppprrltti  ?— ^Mif^fjiial  qua* 
Mtia#  in  Uir4u9njvfl4i,  but  wbirk  dioiiMn.ii  ijutr>«^  cuaatitute 
lb*  IcwditiK  c^jirnctef^r  »it{!ti  n  (mbllr  lUoii  Tbi^'  is  wor- 
wy  4H  amirffurt/d. 

^  Am  0ur  aXa-n  im  of  tui^ib  Iriiiiicji-if  cui]«ri;iirriLr>,  don't 
you  tblrik  Mr.  r#oiiWtf,  lJK»u»b  uiiqqi:riii<iiiab|y  ^ur  Atka, 
m\g,hl  ikkr  a  dny  Cml  m  lketii)t<»  ifo  uhauj  u*  di^^  nhre  the 
burdipfi  4r  (b«  ^iMbiv  wiidn  bt^  wriiif*  ua  b  Ti^vi^ewl  I 
kjhi>w  V(ii*t  mi  audsciutt*  r<:^.|iirii  ih^  tji  >  liui  Hupitoae  he 
chmtl^d  tti*  cr«dL[  «biifi«nhrii  hum^'iLiittiH  ib^^  ^t\f  i  political 
ftt  uC  ilitr  HHjut  iiiid  ab*ii4iii  Uiiufr4f  fruut  n  Inrifr^  tiiiniste* 
riij  djntii-f,  uiiidi  inkKbt  |;ivn  a  hiiM  m  ai^j^l  raifir*i,.H<djae 
«t  U^t^'c;  ijj)  j|  £L]Jlrk<^u  nnd  i^ifii  ftf  'iffUn^^^mni  lay  the 
itiuudnlign  *L  (nniil  *>f  ninr  finid  trdele  {  jjci  itx  init  once 
^  uj:u£|c!A^  »-knfl  ruir  biioMT  i*  i>»twui[b  [4lkind  mE:  but,  till 
■iian,  aJtljiiniJiK  luimi  'work  )iat»L 

''U  H  Fiei:4?i^Ary  h»  Mr  iliai,  1  Mf  rn-  rtiEitoli^  uith  you 
In  ti\ft  uuu'lv  of  trt»iiiiii<  rv^fi  ih-ELiitjiintitii  1  't  i.»  truth 
I*,  tij(yir*  M  ptjilitj.  *i»  w*5d  M.  mrirHJifv.  iij.  ki»<  |i.nf  onr 
JtwartU  ftJrftr  ■#  wfU  «j|  ^liAfiVHnd  not  ^ifx^itoiii:  f  1e  gen* 
tiemtn  In  ihc  crVtics.  Tdd  public  AppfiUH' in  a<<  in  gorg- 
ed wHh  arij  pftTdeukr  atyl**.  Thv  eutiunuti  Rrsri^s, 
tHforethr^pcBrKtBCoof  JliiiSdiDbufjih,  badbri  ioae  ex- 


traiMlj  nMfiUali:  and,  untaM.wkca  pmap^^bf  ^ 

malice  of  the  beokaeUer  or  reviewer,  me  a  <^— •- 


it  sort  of  apptauae  to  mwery  thing  thatreSehed  tvea 
city.     The   Edinbargb  folka  aqueesed  iolo  their 


maudliogs 

mediocrity. ^_    .    . 

sauce  plenty  of  acid,  and  ware  popular  from  aoreky  as 
well  as  from  merit.    The  mlDor  ReTiewa  and  other  peri- 
odical publications,  have  putrid  the  matter  still  fardter, 
and  given  us  all  abuse,  and  do  talent.     But  by  the  time 
the  language  of  vitupenoive  criticism  becotnas  general— 
(which  is  now  prettv  nearly  the  caae)^it  aflbcta  the  fya- 
panum  of  the  pubttc  ear  no  more  than  rogue  or  rsacal 
from  the  cage  of  a  parnof  or  bk>od<«Dd-woands  fnNB  a 
horse-banracik.    Thia,  therefore,  we  liave  to  trust  to^  that 
decent,  lively,  and  reflecting-  erlficism,  Ceaching  aiao  not 
to  abuse  books  only,  but  to  read  and  to  ^udge  them,  wlU 
have  the  effect  of  norelty  upon  a  pubbc  wearied  wffli 
universal  effbns  at  blackguaraand  lodiacrimfnatingsadre. 
1  have  a  long  and  very  aenaiki^  letter  from  John  jifarray 
the  bookseller,  in  which  he  toachea  upon  this  point  ^eiy 
neatly.    By  the  by,  liule  Weber  may   be  vMry  oseM 
upon  antiquarian  subjeota,  in  the  way  of  coUeeung  iafor- 
mation  and  loaking  remarka;  only,  you  or  I  nuat  la- 
write  his  lucobralkMis.    I  nse  bini  oflen  as  a  pair  of  eyes 
in  conaulting  boaks  and  coUathig,  and  as  a  pair  of  hAxIs 
in  makiug  extracts.    Constable,  the  great  Bdiabunrti  edi- 
tor, has  offcmded  mc  ezoeaaivelrr  by  tyrannizlnx  over 
this  poor  Teutcber,  and  being  rather  rude  when  1  later- 
fered.    It  i9  a  chance  but!  may  (each  him  that  he  should 
not  ki«k  down  the  acaflblding  before  Ma  houae  is  oolte 
built.    Another  bomb  is  about  to  break  on  him  bendes 
the  Review.    This  is  aaBdinburgh  Annual  aegister,t0 
be  conducted  under  the  auspices  of  Jaknea  BaMutya^ 
who  is  himself  no  despicable  oorapoaer,  and  has  aseared 
excelleat  assistance.    I  cannot  help  him,  of  cuvrae,  vezt 
far,  but  I  will  certainly  lend  Mm  a  IMl  aa  an  advlSer.    1 
want  all  my  frteads  to  befriend  this  work,  aad  will  seM 
you  B  protpectuM  when  It  is  publiahed.    It  will  be  ta/de 
aoti-Foxite.    This  is  a  secret  for  the  prekant. 

"  For  heaveo'a  sake  do  not  lail  Co  liold  a  meeting  as 
soon  aa  yoa  can.  OiflEord  will  be  admirable  at  service,/ 
but  wilTrequire,  or  I  mistake  him  moch,  both  a  spur  and 
a  bridle— a  apur  on  aocoutat  of  habita  of  literary  indo- 
lence induced  by  weak  haalth^aad  a  bridle,  because, 
having  reooanoed  in  aome  degree  general  aociety,  b« 
cannot  be  supposed  to  have  the  habitual  and  ktstincti^e 
feeling  enabling  hkn  to  judge  atonoe  and  decMedly  on 
the  mode  of  leuing  hia  shalu  fly  down  Uie  breesa  of  pa* 
puiar  o|iinion.  But  he  haa  worth,  wit,  leamlag,  and  ex- 
teaaive  mformation ;  lathe  friend  of  our  friends  in  power, 
aad  can  easily  correspond  with  them  ;  la  in  no  danger  ef 
havii^  private  quarreia  fixed  on  him  for  public  crkleinB; 
norvei^  likely  to  be  embarraased  by  being  thrown  into 
action  m  public  Ufe  alongtide  of  the  verj  people  he  has 
reviewed,  and  probably  olTended.  All  this  ia  of  the  last 
hnportaoce  to  the  discharge  of  hia  arduoua  doty,  ft 
would  be  cruel  to  add  a  word  to  this  mercfless  epistle, 
excepting  love  to  Mrs.  Ellis  and  sU  friends.  Leydea,  by 
the  by,  is  triumphant  at  Calcutta— a  Judgre,  of  all  thkigsr 
—and  making  money  !  He  haa  flourished  hke  a  green 
bay  tree  under  the  anspicea  of  Lord  Minto,  his  eouotry- 
man.    Ever  yours, 

WAX,nDt  IBoerr." 

Amonf;  others  whom  Scott  endeavoured  to  enlist 
in  the  service  of  the  new  Review  was  his  brother 
Thoma^  who  on  the  breaking  up  of  his  afiiuii  is 
Edinburgh,  bad  retired  to  the  Isle  of  Man,  and  who 
ihortly  afterwards  obtained  the  office  in  wbirh  be 
died,  that  of  patmaster  to  the  70fh  re^mcnL  The 
poet  had  a  high  opinion  of  his  brother's  literary 
talents,  and  thought  that  his  knowledge  of  our  an- 
cient dramatists,  and  his  vein  of  comic  narration, 
might  render  him  a  very  useful  recruit,  fie  thus 
communicates  hia  views  to  Thomas  Scott,  od  tbe 
19th  November,  and,  aa  might  be  expected,  thecom- 
munioation  is  fuller  and  franker  than  any  other  on 
the  aubject 

To  Thonuu  Scott,  Esq.^  DougUu,  hie  of  Man. 
"  Dear  Tom, 

«'  Owh>g  to  certain  pressing  business  I  have  not 
yet  had  time  to  complete  my  concction  of  ghadwell'  for 
you.  though  it  is  now  nearly  ready.— I  wl«h  you  to  bava 
all  ih*"  orurinals  to  collate  with  the  edition  in  8yo.  But 
IhaVn  a  more  pressing  pmployinenl  for  your  pen,  aoa 
to  which  I  think  it  panic nlarly  suited.  You  are  to  be 
informed,  but  under  the  seal  of  the  slricteat  secrecy,  that 

Mr.  T.  Scott  bad  meditated  an  edition  orSbadweQ'i  pl«J»i-        . 
rrh,  by  tlie  war.  bis  brother  Contidered  as  by  no  means  mcim* 


whirh,  bjr  tlie  way,  his  brother  Considered  as  by  no  means  naea 
« ult«r  iteslect  into  which  tbeif  have  &Ileo,  cbicdy  in  c 

».>  nt  Dr«diin**  flMiM. 


injf  tne  u>.u:i    hckict^  iih*»  wi 

sequence  of  Drydeo's  saiire. 


Digitized  by  V^OOQlC 


hUFB^QF  9m  W4:^TB&  3PQTr. 


IT 


a  >Q^  luktcbiog  bjr  the  g^nUaqien  who 
the  Anti)A6oDip  mper,  to  countermine 


_  btirg^  Keriew,  by  establlslung  ooe  which  shuul^ 
my  Bltnwt  Ulent  ^nd  independence,  with  a  better 
1  of  politics.  The  managcuicnt  of  this  worlc  was 
k  pressed  upoR  me  ;*  bnt  tiiough  great  prospects  of 
«aiolament  were  held  out,  I  declined  so  arduous  a  task, 
mA  R  ba«  devolved  upon  Mr.  Giffbrd,  author  of  the 
B«i1ai)»  with  whose  wit  and  learning  you  are  well  ac* 
qaalaced.  He  made  it  a  stijpulaiion,  however,  that  I 
Bioi^  ^e  all  the  asa^tance  in  my  power,  especially  at 
the  roiiimencemcQl;  to  which  I  am,  for  many  reasons, 
■oching  locb.  Now,  as  I  know  no  one  who  possesses 
Aure  power  of  humour  or  perception  of  the  ridiculous, 
than  yourself,  I  think  your  leisure  hours  might  be  most 
pfeasantly  passed  hi  this  way.  Novels,  light  poetry, 
tod  quizzical  books  of  all  kinds,  might  be  sent  you  by 
the  packet ;  you  glide  back  your  reviews  in  the  same 
««y,  and  touch,  upon  the  pnMication  of  the  number, 
(quarterlr,)  tt:n  guineas  per  printed  sheet  of  sizieea 
Mges.  If  /lyi  are  ahy  oi  communicating  directly  with 
CMbrd,  you  may,  for  some  time  at  least,  send  your  com- 
■nudcationa  through  roe,  ai)A  I  will,  revise  them.  We 
wsot  the  matter  to  oe  a  pra/ound  tecret  till  the  first  num- 
ber Is  Out.  ir  you  asrec  to  try  your  skill,  I  will  send 
yoa  a  novel  or  two.  You  must  understand,  as  Oadshill 
tela  tbe  Chamberlain,  that  you  are  to  be  leagued  with 
'Trojaftft  that  thou  dreamest  not  oi;  the  which  for  sport 
sate  are  content  to  do  the  j)rofe8sion  some  grace ;'  and 
tbus  ftr  I  aHure  you  that,  ii^by  leaving  attontion  to  your 
rtyle  and  i^ect  you  can  distinguish  yourself  creditably, 
it  nmj  pioye  a  meaas  of  finding  you  powerful  friends 
WBlfe  tiif  (hiog  opening  In  yqur  island,  l^oaslable,  or 
rather  that  Bear  his  partner,  has  behaved  to  me  of  late 
not  T«ry  civilly,  and  1  owe  JofTrey  a  flap  witli  a  fox-tail 
oQ  account  of^bJ*  review  of  Marmion,  and  thus  doUi  the 
MbUp0g  of  time  bring  about  my  revenges.  The  late 
tfticli«i  oo  Spain  have  given  general  disgust,  and  many 
teregken  up  the  ScBnburgh  Review  on  account  of  them^ 
"  mV  mother  holds  out  very  well,  and  talka  of  writing- 
bytbui  packet  Her  cask  of  hernogs,  as  well  aa  ours, 
red  aod  wbit^  have  arrived  safe,  and  prove  most  excel- 
leoL  We  have  been  both  dining  and  supping  upon  tbem 
mih  great  guato,  and  are  much  obliged  by  your  kindness 
ia  fMBeoabariiiff  lis.    Toitts  affsetlonatflly, 

W.  »." 

1  soapect,  jiotwithstanding  the  opinion  to  the  con- 
titry  ei^r^sed  in  the  followinx  extract,  that  the 
pi^rationB  for  the  new  jonmal  did  not  long  escape 
tW  notice  of  either  the  editor  or  the  publisners  of 
tke  E^nboTKh  Review.  On  receiving  the  celebrated 
Declaration  of  Westminater  on  the  subject  of  the 
SMoiah  war,  which  bears  date  the  I5tb  December, 
IIH,  Scott  rays  to  EUis— 

"I  camiot  help  writing  a  few  linea  to  congratulate  yoa 
00  the  royal  declaration.  I  suspect  by  this  tim^  the  au- 
thor is  at  Claremontjt  for,  if  I  mistake  not  egrecioualy, 
Uris  sBuited  composuion.  as  we  say  in  Scotland,  fathers 
itaelf  m  the  manliness  of  its  style.  It  has  appeared,  too, 
st  a  most  fortunate  lime,  when  neither  friend  nor  foe 
c«»iaBpote  It  to  temporary  motives.  Tell  Ur.  Canning 
thai  the  old  women  of  Scotland  will  defend  the  country 
vlth  (heir  distaiTi,  ra^er  ttian  that  troops  enough  bs  not 
seat  to  awke  good  so  noble  a  pledge.  Were  the  thoa> 
laods  thai  have  mouldered  away  in  petty  .cooqoeats  or 
l^qtutian  expeditions  united  to  those  we  now  have  in 
tlttt  country,  what  a  band  would  Moore  have  under  him  I 

Jeffrey  has  offered  terms  of  pacification, 

eofniog  that  no  psrtv  politics  should  again  appear  In 
bis  Rcsvlew.  1  tnld  mm  I  thoiifht  it  was  now  too  late, 
sadraninded  himthft  I  had  often  pointed  out  to  him 
the  consequences  oi  letting  his  work  become  a  party 
laoL  lie  said  *  be  did  not  care  for  the  consequences- 
there  wpre  but  four  men  he  feared  as  opponents.'—*  Who 
were  these  V—'  Yourself  for  one.'— 'Certainly  you  pay 
me  a  greol  compliment ;  depend  upon  it'  I  will  endea- 
vour to  deserve  ft.'—'  Why,  you  would  not  join  against 
me r— 'Yes  I  would,  if  I  saw  a  proper  opportuoitv  : 
sot  sgajost  yon  personally,  but  against  your  politico. '— 
'  Yoa  are  privileged  to  be  violent'—'  1  don't  ask  any 
prjvllefe  for  undue  violence.  But  who  are  your  other 
foemenr—' George  Ellis  and  Souihey.'  The  fourth 
be  did  not  name.    AU  this  was  in  great  good-humour; 

^Tlitt  drcumttancp  wa«  not  revealed  to  Mr.  Murrsy.    I  pre- 
■.  tliearefore«  the  iovkatiuato  9c«tt  mast  have  pMoeeded  noin 


nCsaaic 


*  BcBtr*  friend  had  aientioned  that  he  expeeted  a  visit  fnm 
Hr.  (^Dinc.  at  Clamooot,  in  Suney  ;  wiiicbb«autifViJseal  eon- 
sashf  to  the  poaMna^an  of  the  BUia  umiijr*  iiaUl  it  was  purahss- 
tllv  fke  crowd,  oo  the  msniace  of  the  rnooess  Chailotte  of 
Vahs.  b  181C. 

18        M» 


and  npxt  dajT  1  had  a  .vary  a&eila|  a^t?  (idib  hiok,  in 
answer  to  an  invitation  to  dinner.  He  has  no  aaspicioo 
of  the  Review  whatever;  but  1  thought  I  could  not 
handsomely  suffer  him  to  infer  that  I  would  be  influenced 
by  those  private  feehngs  respecting  Aim,  which,  on  more 
than  one  occasion,  he  naa  laid  aside  when  I  was  person- 
ally concerned." 

As  to  Messrs.  Condtablo  aiiU  Co.,  il  is  not  to  be 
supposed  that  the  rumours  of  the  rival  iouroal 
would  tend  to  soothe  those  disagreeable  foelines 
between  them  and  Soott,  of  which  I  can  trace  the 
existence  several  months  beyond  the  date  of  Mr. 
Murray's  arrival  at  Asbestiel.  Sometbine  seems  to 
have  occurred  before  the  end  of  180h  whirn  induced 
Scott  to  suspect  that,  taju^ts;^  uiiuT  tiiuu'i--^  *.*\  un- 
easiness, bad  been  a  repimlnm  urudge  ia  thfs  auuda 
of  those  booksellers  as  to  ihor  ba^^ain  about  ibtf 
new  edition  of  Swift;  uml  on  2ii  gf  January,  l«0*>, 
I  find  him  reaue^>ting,  ihai  i/,  tm  mlieeLLon.  tltey 
thought  they  bad  basLly  connmttLd  thecit^ulv^ei, 
the  deed  mi^t  be  forthv-  ich  enncelJed.  Oci  the  uih 
of  the  same  mo^th,  Mrs^rii.  Con^tablt^  rn^ly  a»  fol- 
lows:— 

To  WiOUr  Sbottt  £9^. 
'•Sir, 

"  We  are  anxious  to  assure  you  that  we  feel  no  diaSa^ 
tisfaction  at  any  part  of  our  bargain  about  Swift  View- 
ing it  as  a  safe  and  respectable  speculation,  we  should 
be  very  sorry  to  agree  to  vour  relinquishing  the  under- 
taking, and  Indeed  rely  with  eonfidence  on  iia  proceeding 
as  originally  arranged.  We  regret  that  you  have  not 
been  more  willing  to  overlook  the  unguarded  ezpressioa 
of  our  Mr.  Hunter  about  which  you  coa^>lain.  We  are 
very  much  concerned  that  any  circumstance  should  have 
occurred  that  should  thus  interrupt  our  friendly  inter- 
course ;  but  as  we  arc  not  willing  (o  believe  that  we  have 
done  any  thing  which  should  prevent  our  being  again 
friends,  we  may  at  least  be  permitted  to  express  a  hope 
that  msffters  may  hereafter  be  restored  to  their  old  foot- 
ing between  us,  when  the  misrepresentations  of  interest' 
edperaona  may  cease  to  be  remembered.  At  any  rate, 
you  will  always  find  «s,  what  we  trust  we  have  ever  been 
air,  your  faithful  servAnts, 

'      A.  CoKsraju  *  Co." 

Scott  answers : 

To  McMtro  ConotabJe  and  Co. 

'<  Sdinbiirgh,  12lh  Jannary,  180a 
"  Gentlemen, 

''^To  resume,  for  the  last  time,  the  disagreeable  sub- 
ject of  oar  diflfereoce,  I  must  remind  you  of  what  I  told 
Mr.  Constable  personally,  that  00  sin^  unguardod  ex- 
pression,  much  less  the  misrepresentation  of  any  per- 
son whafever,  would  have  influenced  me  U>  quarrel  with 
any  of  my  friends.  But  if  Mr.  liunter  wiU  take  the 
trouble  to  recollect  the  general  opinido  be  has  expressed 
of  my  undertakings,  and  of  my  abibty  to  execute  tliero. 

Xn  many  occasions  during  the  last  five  months,  and 
whole  conduct  in  the  banain  about  Swift,  1  think  ho 
ought  to  be  the  last  to  wish  his  interest  compromised  on 
my  account.  I  am  ohiy  happy  the  breach  has  taken 
place  before  there  was  any  real  loss  to  complain  oi;  for 
although  1  have  had  my  share  of  popularity,  I  eannot 
expect  it  to  be  more  lasting  than  that  of  those  wtv  have 
lost  it  after  deserving  it  much  better. 

"  In  the  present  circumstances,  1  have  only  a  parting 
favour  to  request  of  your  house,  which  is,  that  the  por* 
trait  for  which  I  sat  to  Raebum  shall  be  considered  as 
done  at  my  debit,  and  for  myself  It  shall  be  of  course 
forthcoming  for  the  fulfilment  of  any  engagement  ypu 
roajr  have  made  about  engraving,  If  such  exists.  Saoter 
will  now  be  soon  oyt,  when  we  will  have  a  aettlement  of 
ouraccouata.    I  am,  gentlemen,  your  obedient  servant, 

Wii^rsa  Soon." 

Mr.  Constable  declined,  m  veryfiandsome  tenns, 
to  give  up  the  picture.  Hut  for  the  present ,  the 
breach  was  complete.  Among  other  negotiations 
which  Scott  hod  patronised  twelve  months  before, 
WS9  one  concerning  the  publication  of  Mis-s  Sew- 
ard's Poems.  On  the  19th  of  March,  1809,  he  write* 
as  follows  to  that  lady :—"  Constable,  like  many 
other  folks  who  learn  to  undervalue  the  means  by 
which  they  have  tisen.  has  behaved,  or  rotbsr  suf- 
fered his  partner  to  behave,  very  uncivilly  towards 
me.  But  they  may  both  live  to  know  that  thejr 
should  not  have  kicked  dowh  the  ladder  till  they 
were  stire  of  their  footing.    The  very  last  time  I 


LIFE  OP  SIR  WALTER  SCOTT. 


■poke  t»  him  on  Inifliness  wts  about  your  poems, 
which  he  promised  faithfully  to  write  about  I  un- 
derstood him  to  decline  your  terms,  in  which  I  think 
he  acted  wrong ;  but  I  had  neither  influence  to 
change  hia  opinion,  nor  inclination  to  interfere  with 
hifl  resolution.  He  ia  a  very  enterprising,  and,  1  be- 
lieve, a  thoroughly  honest  man,  but  his  vanity  in 
Bome  cases  overpowers  his  discretion." 

One  word  as  to  the  harsh  language  in  which 
Constable's  then  partner  ia  mentioned  m  several  of 
the  preceding  letters.  This  Mr.  Htmter  was,  1  am 
told  by  friends  of  mine  who  knew  him  well,  a  man 
of  considerable  intelligence  and  accomplishments, 
to  whose  personal  connexions  and  weight  in  socie- 
ty the  house  of  Constable  and  Co.  owed  a  great 
accession  of  business  and  influence.  He  was,  how- 
ever, a  very  keen  politician  ;  regarded  Scotrs  To- 
ryism with  a  fixed  oitterness ;  and,  moreover,  could 
never  conceal  his  impression  that  Scott  ought  to 
have  embarked  in  no  other  literary  undertakings 
whatever,  until  he  had  completed  his  edition  of 
Swift.  It  is  not  wonderful  that,  not  having  been 
bred  regularly  to  the  bookselling  business,  he  should 
have  somewhat  misapprehended  the  obligation 
which  Scott  had  incurred  when  the  bargain  for 
that  work  was  made ;  and  his  feeling  of  nis  own 
station  and  consequence  was  no  doubt  such  as  to 
give  his  style  of  conversation  on  doubtful  questions 
of  business,  a  tone  for  which  Scott  had  not  been 
prepared  bv  his  previous  intercourse  with  Mr.  Con- 
stable. The  defection  of  the  poet  was,  however, 
at  once  regretted  and  resented  by  both  these  part- 
ners :  and  Constable^  I  am  told,  often  vented  his 
wrath  in  figures  as  lofty  as  Scott's  own.  "  Ay," 
he  would  sav,  stamping  on  the  ground  with  a  sa- 
vage smile,  **^  Ay,  there  is  such  a  thing  as  rearing  the 
oak  until  it  can  support  itself." 

All  this  leads  us  to  the  second  stage,  one  still 
more  unwise  and  unforranat^  than  the  first,  in  the 
history  of  Sdott's  commercial  connexion  with  the 
Ballantynea.  The  scheme  of  starting  a  new  book- 
selling house  ii^  Edinburgh,  begun  in  the  shortaight- ' 
ed  heat  of  pique,  had  now  been  matured :— I  cannot 
add,  either  with  composed  observation  or  rational 
forecast— for  it  was  ultimately  settled  that  the  os- 
tensible and  chief  managing  partner  should  be  a 
person  without  capital,  and  neither  by  training  nor 
by  temper  in  the  smallest  degree  qualified  for  such 
a  situation ;  more  especislly  where  the  field  was  to 
be  taken  against  long  experience,  consummate  skill, 
and  resources  which,  if  not  so  large  as  all  the  world 
snTirrt^pf^  thrrr  rvr^rp  xif-^]\  'm  ri^^parison  vast,  and 
{iJijiriairk^  ,.j^»rM^A,i.  lii*^  iit6h  resolution  was, 
however,  earned  into  cfftcr,  and  b  deed,  deposited, 
for  Fe-erecy's  mhe,  in  ihf  hands  of  Scott,  bound 
him  HA  one  third  nartiier,  Jamt*  Eallantyne  having 
aho  a  sharf  In  iinii  ii^m  fA  Jnhn  Ballantyne  ana 
Co<,  b(XjkHt']]er?,  iTldinbur^h.  — "  Rigdun^fttnnidos** 
wM  iafltalipd  m  Hanctver  Street  as  the  avowed  rival 
of  ''  The  Craftj/' 

The  ^xJstmg  bond  o(  condrtr^erehip  is  dated  in 
July,  \m^\  but  I  suspect  this  had  been  a  revised 
I'd H to n .  1 1  i H  <: t T 1  n i n  ih a  1  ihe  n r; w  houfe  were  open- 
ly mttf  tprini^  thvir  fon^t-a  Bortiu  weeks  before  Scott 
deain?d  to  withdraw  hja  Swift  from  the  hands  of 
the  old  one  ui  Junutirv'^  This  appears  from  aeveiBl 
of  ihv  hUt'n  that  pussr^  bft^^een  him  and  Ellis, 
whilo  GifTord  wn^  orranj;{ini^  1  fif;  matehala  for  the 
fitn  number  of  the  Uuartcrly  iU^vi^w,  and  also  i)e- 
tween  him  and  hia  friend  Southey,  to  whom,  per- 
haps, more  than  any  other  aingle  writer,  that  jour- 
nal owed  its  ultimtte  success. 

To  Ellis,  for  example,  he  saya,  on  the  13th  Decem- 
ber, 1808— 

"Now  let  me  call  joor  earnest  aUentioo  to  another 
UteraiT  underuking,  which  is,  in  lact,  a  subsidiary 
branch  of  the  same  grand  plan.  1  transmit  the  protpee- 
tn*  of  ah  Edinbargh  Annual  Register.  I  have  many 
reasons  for  favDuring  this  work  as  mucli  as  I  poMibly 
can.  Ill  the  first  place,  there  is  nothing  even  tnrely 
tolerable  of  this  nature,  though  so  obviously  necessary 
to  future  history.  Secondly,  Constsble  was  on  the  point 
of  arrsnging  one  on  the  footing  of  the  Edinburgh  Review* 
and  subsidiary  thereualo,— a  plan  which  has  been  totally 


disconcerted  by  naroceopylogtlie  vantagegroQad.  T1ibd> 
ly,  this  work  wit!  be  very  well  managed.  The  two  Msek' 
enzies,*  William  Erskine,  cum  plurtmiM  aiiia^  are  eogsf- 
ed  in  the  literary  department,  and  that  of  science  is  eon- 
ducted  by  Professor  Leslie,  a  great  philosopher,  and  u 
abominable  an  animal  as  I  ever  saw.  He  writes,  ho«. 
ever,  with  groat  eloquence,  and  is  an  enthosiast  is  ms- 
Ihciiiatjcal,  chemical,  and  mineralogical  pursuits.  1  hope 
to  draw  upon  you  in  this  matter,  particularly  in  the  Iiislo- 
rical  department,  to  which  your  critical  labours  will  na- 
turally turfi  Your  attention.  You  will  ask  what  I  propote 
to  do  my  selr  In  &et.  though  something  will  be  expected, 
I  cannot  propose  to  be  very  active,  unless  the  SwiA  ii 
abandoned,  of  which!  think  there  is  some  prospect, u I 
have  reason  to  complain  of  very  IndtlTerent  usage,  not  la- 
deed  from  Constable,  who  is  reduced  to  uner  despair  bj 
the  circumstance,  bat  from  the  stupid  impertinence  ol 
his  partner,  a  sort  of  Whig  run  mad.  I  have  some  rea- 
son to  believe  that  Ballantyne,  whose  stock  is  now  isi- 
mensely  increased,  and  who  is  likely  to  enlarge  it  by  mar- 
riage, will  commence  publisher.  Constable  threatened 
him  with  withdrawing  lira  business  from  him  as  a  pristei; 
on  account  of  his  being  a  Const  it  utiooalist.  lie  will  pro* 
bably  by  this  false  step  establish  a  fbrmldable  riral  in  hii 
own  line  of  publishing,  which  will  be  roost  just  retribu- 
tion. I  intend  to  fortify  Ballantyne  by  promlsinc  him  mj 
continued  friendship,  which  I  hope  may  be  of  maleriil 
service  to  him.    He  is  much  liked  by  the  literary  people 


here  ;    has  a  liberal  spirit,  and  understanding  Bol 
very  completely,  with  a  good  general  idea  of  Jheratore,  I 
think  he  stands  fair  for  success. 

"  But,  Oh !  Ellis,  these  cursed,  double  cursed  oewi^ 
have  sunk  my  suirlts  so  much,  that  I  am  almost  at  dto- 
believine  a  Providence.  Ood  lorgive  me  f  But  I  think 
some  evil  demon  has  been  permitted.  In  the  shape  of  thb 
tyrannical  monster,  whom  Ood  has  sent  on  the  sationi 
visited  in  his  anger.  I  am  confident  he  is  ^tWifm^lnH 
lead  and  steel,  and  have  only  hopes  that  he  maj  be  shot 
with  a  sHver  bullet,!  or  drowned  In  the  torrents  of  bkwd 
which  he  delights  to  shed.  Oh  f  for  True  Thomu  and 
Lord  Soulis's  cauldron!  Adieu,  my  dear  EUIsl  Ood 
bless  you !— I  have  been  these  three  days  writing  tUs  bj 
snatches." 

The  **  cursed  news"  hers  alluded  Co  were  those  of 
Napoleon'a  advance  by  Somoaierra,  after  the  im- 
peraion  of  the  armiea  of  Blake  and  Castanos^  On 
the  23d  of  the  same  month,  when  the  Treason  of 
Morla  and  the  fall  of  Madrid  were  known  in  JEoiD- 
burgh,  he  thus  resumes :— (Probably  while  he  wrote, 
some  cause  with  which  he  was  not  concerned  wti 
occupying  the  Court  of  Session  :)— 

*«Dear  BBls,— I  have  nothing  better  to  do  battovSDl 
my  groans.  I  cannot  but  feel  exceedingly  low.  Ids- 
trust  what  we  call  thoroughbred  soldiers  terriblj,  wbcs 
any  thing  like  the  formation  of  extensive  plans,  of  tM 
daring  and  critical  nature  which  seems  necessary  for  tbe 
emancipation  uf  8paln,  is  required  from  them.  Our  army 
is  a  poor  school  for  genius— for  the  qualities  which  ni- 
turalfy  and  deservedly  attract  the  applause  of  our  gea^ 
rals,  are  necessarily  exercised  u)^K>n  a  small  scale.  I 
would  to  God  Wellcsley  were  now  at  the  head  of  tbe 
English  in  Spaiti.  His  late  examination  shows  his  actf« 
and  decisiye  talenta  for  command  ;f  and  although  f  b^ 
lieve  in  mv  con«cience.  that  when  he  found  himself  «o- 
pemeded,  he  suffered  the  pigs  io  run  through  tbe  bu* 
ness,  when  he  might  in  some  measure  have  prevent^a 
them— 

*■  Yet  give  the  haughty  devil  his  due, 
Tliough  bold  hisqu^erings,  they  aretnis.' 

Bach  a  man,  with  an  arrev  of  40,000^  or  60,000  BHt^ 
with  the  remains  of  the  Oallician  army,  and  the  ad<|-      ^ 
tional  lorces  which  every  village  would  furnish  ineaseSi 


•  The  Man  of  Peeling,  and  Colin  MackenUe  of  PMtin«e 
t  See  note, "  Prw>f  against  abot  fiven  bf  eaUm."-r«wr<qf 
,yol.x.u40. 

"  On  ft  circU  ofstom*  lbC7  pl*c«4  Uit  p«(. 
On  ft  circle  of  •tone*  bat  burvly  nia* ; 
hejr  bMtrd  U  nd  mid  tvj  hot, 


Thejr  bMtrd  ll  red  mid  Smt  h. .. 
Till  (h«  livniiah'd  bniM  dM  Klimmtr  and  riiliM. 


Tlirj'  mll'd  hi«i  op  In  ft  A«e(  of  iMd, 

AfthMtorindbrftfi         ' 
Thejr  plnnfcd  biro  in  Uk.  -      

And  in«licd  hfn,  Itod,  and  honw,  and  aH-" 


See  the  Ballad  of  Lot4  SvuHm,  and  notes,  Borier  Wndn^ 
vol.  iv.  pp.  flB— SSI.  .  -     ll. 

«  This  Tfthn  to  Sir  Arthur  Wencaley*8  evidenee  befae  ^ 
Court  of  Inquiry  into  the  drcumitances  which  led  to  the  v<^<>^ 
tioo  (miscalled}  of  Cintya.  P>or  tbe  best  answer  to  ths  tbn  P^ 
pttlar  8iisi*ieion,  whksb  Scott  seems  to  have  partaken,  ■Pjg"! 


comluct  of  Sir  Artiiiv  wlieo  soperseded  in  dbe  moment 
at  Viaiero.  I  refcr  to  the  i 
«d  in  Colonel  Gurwood's 


at  Viaiero.  l.r^  to  tlie  eonCempotary  despatches  lalsb 
*  "*  "  I  inyaliiable  c 


UrE  OF  SIR  WALTER  SCOTT. 


m 


I  himself  of  Burfos;  open  a  com- 

wkh' AnagDii.  and  even  Navarre,  and  place 

goflaaparf  In  the  precanouB  sltnation  of  a  feneralwlth 
MC^OOO  enemiea  between  hioi  and  his  supplies ;— for  I 
pnirame  neither  Gastanoa  nor  Palafbx  are  so  broken  as 
10  be  altoaelber  disembodied.  But  a  general  who  is 
sKni^  looklos  over  bis  shoulder,  and  more  intent  on 
MTOf  his  own  arm?  than  on  doing  the  service  on  which 
be  is  sent,  wiU  liardlj,  I  fear,  be  found  capable  of  torm- 
ina orexecQting  a  plan  which  its  verr  daring  character 
oHgbt  render  auecessfiil.  What  would  we  thinlc  of  an 
adoin]  wbo  should  brinj;  back  his  fleet,  and  tell  us  old 
KefpePs  alory  of  a  lee*shore,  and  the  risk  of  his  Majes- 
tj^s  Teasels  1  Oar  sailors  hare  learned  that  his  Majesty's 
shys  were  ballt  to  be  stranded,  or  burnt,  or  annic,  or  at 
least  to  encounter  the  rislc  of  these  contingencies,  when 
kis  aerrice  requires  it ;  and  I  heartilj  wish  our  generals 
wQoid  learn  to  play  ibr  the  gammon,  and  not  to  sit  down 
eoBteated  with  a  mere  savina  game.  What,  however, 
eao  we  saj  of  Moore«  or  how  judge  of  his  actlena,  since 
tbe  aopreme  Junta  have  shown  theioaelves  so  miserably 
tacapaMe  of  the  arduous  exertions  expected  lh>m  them  1 
Tet,  nte  Ffstol,  the/  spoke  bold  words  at  the  bridge 
tea  asd  I  admired  their  firmness  in  declaring  (VParrel 
aad  the  rest  of  the  Frenchified  Spaniards  traitors.  But 
tkayaaay  have  Roman  pride,  and  want  Roman  talent  to 

.  ^.     ^Q^  Iq  abort*  nnless  God  Ahntghty  sbookl 

J  tbem  one  of  tb<Me  extraordinary  geniuses 
I  w  be  eraated  for  the  emarg eneiea  of  an  op> 
ireawd  people.  I  eooliBas  I  sliU  lacline  to  daapondence. 
If  Chmning  could  send  a  purtkm  of  his  own  spirit  with 
the  umenla  be  sends  forth,  my  hope  would  be  high  in- 
deea    The  proctamatioa  was  truly  gallant 

*'Am  to  the  Annual  Register,  1  do  agree  tlMC  the  Pros- 
pados  i*  in  too  statelgr  a  tone— yat  I  queation  if  a  purer 
|ieee  of  compoaitkMi  would  liave  attracted  the  necessary 
ttlentioo.  we  must  sonnd  a  trumpet  before  we  open  a 
dww.  Ton  win  aay  we  have  added  a  tamboorin ;  but 
Oa  Bob  wfll  the  more  readUj  stop  and  gaae ;  nor  would 
dwir  ears  be  ao  much  atrock  by  a  sonata  from  ViotU. 
Do  you  know  tba  Review  begina  to  get  wind  here  1  An 
Bttsboigh  bookseller  asked  ma  to  racommend  him  for 
flhs  sale  here,  sod  said  ba  heard  it  coofidaatially  from 
Ijodoo. — Ever  yours, 

w.  a" 

I  may  alio  introduce  fcere  a  tetter  of  tV>ut  the 
wme  date,  aad  referring  chiefly  to  the  same  sub- 
JKta,  addressed  by  Scott  to  hie  friend.  Mr.  Charlee 
Sharpen*  then  at  Oaford.  The  allusion  at  the  be- 
■aaiii^  18  to  a  drauriDg  of  Queen  Elizabeth,  as  seen 

dancioK  high  sad  disposed  ly,*'  in  her  private 
fkambfv,  by  the  Scotch  ambassador.  Sir  James 
HalviUe,  whose  description  of  the  exhibition  is  one 
of  the  most  arausins  things  in  his  Memoirs.  This 
production  of  Mr.  Sharpe's  pencil,  and  the  delight 
with  which  Scott  used  to  expatiate  on  its  merits, 
mast  be  well  remembered  by  every  one  that  ever 
visited  the  poet  at  AbbotafonL— SooMof  the  names 
BMaiioned  in  this  letter  as  counted  on  by  the  pro- 
IKtors  of  the  Quarterly  Review  will,  no  doubt, 
aumse  the  reader. 
T»CkarU»  KirkpatrUk  Sharpe^  Esg^  Christ  Church, 

•(  Edinburgh,  30th  December,  180a 
*  My  dear  Sharpe, 

**  Tba  inimitable  virago  came  aafe,  and  waa  welcomed 
kytbaioaxtlngoiahabielawiiterof  all  w1m>  kkolted  upon 
bsr  caprlolaa.  I  waa  unwrtunately  oiu  of  town  for  a 
fow  day  a,  which  prevanted  me  from  acknowledging  In- 
tfsatty  wlun  gave  me  ao  mucl^  pleaanre,  iMMh  on  accoimt 
of  Ha  intrtoaic  value,  and  aa  a  mark  of  your  Und  remeai* 
btanca.  You  have,  I  assnra  yon,  been  opmoat  io  my 
thoofhts  for  aome  time  past,  aa  I  luive  a  serious  design 
oa  your  hierary  laleata,  which  I  am  very  anxtous  to  en> 
§me  !■  oae  or  both  of  the  t#o  folfowioR  schemes.  /fit< 
fMMv  k  baa  t>aao'h>ngtha  dacl«led  resolution  of  Mr. 
QMoJaa  snd  aome  of  bis  literary  iHenrls,  particularly 
Geo.  BDiB,  Makbua,  Frera,  W.  Rose,  dec,  that  aomethlng 
of  aa  iodepeadeBt  Review  ought  to  be  atarted  in  London. 
This  piaa  is  bow  on  tiie  point  of  being  extcatedt  ^or 
noeh  eooaakatfon.  I  iiave  strongly  advised  that  poliries 
beavotded,  onleaa  io  eaaaa<of  great  national  import,  and 
Has  tbeir  lone  ba  thea  moderate  and  manly  ;  but  the  ge- 
aasal  tooe  of  the  pubUcatkn  la  to  be  literary.    William 


Mr.  SfaaipsbSgsn  wlwB  the  httor 
Bcott  when  oompjUoff  the  Mint- 
Towsref  R«peataoee,***e.  See 


tSur.  ppu  m-M. 


OMbrd  ia  edRor,  and  I^aive  prouilsedf  to  endeavour  tb 
racrdlt  for  him  a  few  apirited  young  men,  ible  and  will* 
ing  to  assist  in  such  an  undertaking.  I  confeas  you  were 
chiefly  in  my  thoughts  wheff  I  made  this  promise;  but  it 
Is  asnbiectwhich  Tor  a  thousand  reaaons  I  would  rather 
have  talked  over  than  written  aboot-^among  others  mora 
prominent,  I  may  reckon  my  great  abhorrence  of  pen 
and  ink,  for  writing  has  been  ao  long  a  mauerof  duty  with 
me,  that  it  ia  become  as  utterly  abominable  to  me  as  mat* 
tersof  duty  osuaUy  are.  Let  me  entreat  you,  therefore, 
to  lay  h(AA  of  Macneill,*  or  any  other  new  book  you  like, 
and  give  us  a  good  hacking  jrevlew  of  IL  I  retain  so  much 
the  old  habit  of  a  barrister,  that  I  cannot  help  adding  the 
fee  is  ten  guineas  a  sheet,  which  may  serve  to  boy  an 
odd  book  now  and  then— as  tobd  play  for  nothing,  you 
know,  as  work  for  nothing  ;  but  besides  this,  your  ex- 
ertions Ui  this  cause,  If  vou  shall  choose  to  make  any, 
wilt  make  yon  more  inttmately  acquainted  with  a  very 
pleasant  literary  coterie  than  introductions  of  a  more  for- 
mal kind ;  and  if  you  happen  to  know  George  Ellis  alrea* 
dv,  von  must,  I  am  sure,  be  pleased  to  take  anytronbJe 
likely  to  produce  an  intimacy  between  you.  The  He* 
bers  are  also  engaged,  ffem  Rogers,  Buuthey.  Moore 
(Anacreon,)  and  others  whose  repuiatioos  Jefmy  haa 
murdered,  and  who  are  rising  to  cry  wo  upon  him,  lilce 
the  ghosts  in  King  Ricltard  ;  for  your  acute  and  pers^ 
caciotts  Judgment  most  ere  this  have  led  yon  to  suspect 
tliat  this  same  new  Review,  which  by  the  way  is  to  ba 
called  *the  Quarterly,'  is  Intended  aa  a  rhral  to  the  Edin- 
burgh; and  if  it  contains  critlclsra  niH  very  inferior  In 
point  of  talent,  with  the  same  hidependence  on  bookael' 
lers'  influence,  (which  has  ruhied  all  the  English  Reviews,) 
1  do  not  see  why  it  should  not  divide  with  it  the  public 
fovour.  Observe  carefully,  this  plan  ia  altogether  distinct 
flrom  one  which  has  been  proposed  by  the  veteran  Cum* 
berland,  to  which  is  annexed  the  extraordinary  propoaal 
that  each  contributor  shall  place  his  name  before  hia 
article,  a  stipulation  which  must  prove  Iktal  to  the  under- 
taking. If  I  did  not  think  this  likely  to  be  a  very  well 
managed  business,  I  would  not  recommend  it  to  your 
consideration ;  but  you  aee  I  am  engaged  with  no  ^  fool 
land  rakers,  no  long  staff  aixpenny  strilb^rs,  hut  with  no- 
blllty  and  tranqoHlity,  burgoooasters,  and  great  oneyears,* 
and  so  forth. 

"  The  other  plan  refera  to  the  enclosed  prospectus, 
and  haa  long  been  a  fiivourite  scheme  of  mine,  of  Wll- 
Ram  Ersklne'a,  and  some  of  my  other  cronies  here.  Mr. 
Ballaotyne,  the  editor,  only  undertakes  for  the  inferior 
departmenta  of  the  work,  and  for  keeping  the  wImIc 
matter  in  train.  We  are  most  anxious  to  have  respect- 
able contributors,  and  the  smalleai  donation  in  any  de- 
partment, poetry,  aotinuities,  Ac.  dec,  wQl  be  most 
thankfbUy  accented  and  registered.  But  the  historical 
department  is  that  in  which  I  would  chiefly  wish  to  see 
yon  engaged.  A  lively  luminous  picture  of  the  events 
of  the  last  momentous  year,  as  a  task  for  the  pen  of  a  man 
of  genius  ;  as  for  materials,  I  could  prociu'e  you  acceaa 
to  many  of  a  valuable  kind..  The  appointments  of  our 
historian  are  £300  a-year— no  deaf  nuts.  Another  per- 
sont  haa  been  proposed,  and  vrriUen  to,  but  I  cannot  any 
longer  delay  aubmiuing  the  thing  to  your  eonsideratfon. 
Of  course,  you  are  to  rely  on  every  assistance  that  San 
be  afforded  by  your  huroole  comdnmble,  aa  Swift  say  a. 
I  hope  the  great  man  will  gite  us  his  answer  shortly— ana 
if  his  be  negative,  nray  let  youra  be  positive.  Our  poU> 
tloa  we  would  wiah  to  be  constitutiooal,  but  not  party. 
You  see,  my  good  friend,  what  it  la  to  show  your  good 
parte  before  miquestfonable  judges. 

"  I  am  forced  to  conclude  abruptly.    Thine  entirely, 

W.  Soott:" 

Mr.  Morritt  was  by  this  time  beginniiig  to  corres- 
pond with  the  poet  pretty  frequently.  The  first  of 
their  letters,  however,  that  serves  to  t)#ow  light  on 
Scott's  personal  proceedings,  is  the  following  t~ 

To  J.  B.  S.  Morriit,  JSaq.j  RokOty  Park,  YorhMn. 
"  Edinbnrgh,  Hth  January,  1900. 
"My  dear  fir,  » 

'*  For  a  long  while  I  thought  my  summons  to  London 
would  have  t>een  Immedlata,  and  that  I  should  tiava  tba 
pleasure  to  wait  upon  you  at  Rokeby  Park  in  my  way  to 
town.  But,  after  due  conaideration,  the  commiasioiMra 
on  our  Scottish  reform  of  judicial  proceedings  reaohred 
to  becin  their  alttlngs  at  Edinburgh,  and  have  been  In  Aill 
activity  ever  since  last  St.  Andrew's  day.  Too  are  nat 
ignorant  that  ia  busiuaaa  of  tbia  nature,  very  mueh  of 

*  "  The  Pastoral,  or  Lyrie  Muse  of  Scotland  :  in  thiea  Can- 
tos," 4to,  by  Hector  Macneill.  appeared  in  Deo.  1M8. 
.  *^Mr.  Soothey— who  fioaUy  undertook  OMitaak  piopoacd  to 
na.  Digitized  by  V^ 


<¥fi 


Lira  ep  am  wai^t^r  i^iqqtt* 


the  detail*  Md  of  pxef^ariog  (ha  «a«t«rial«  for  th^  vwiira$ 
meeUpjM,  Doceesariiy  deTblve*  upoa  the  clerk,  »odl  c»a- 
notaayl)ut  t^ai  my  time  haa  been  fully  occupied. 

Mean  while,  however,  I  l»ave  been  concocting,  at  the 
iflstijtaUon  of  vaiioiu  loyal  and  well  diapoacd  peraojia,  a 
mrdad  acheme  of  opposition  to  the  pruudcriiica  of  Kdin- 
pucgh.  It  is  now  matured  in  all  iu  branched,  and  con- 
•ifits  of  the  following  divisions.  A  new  review  in  Lou- 
don, to  be  called  the  Quarterly,  William  Gifford  to  be  Uie 
editor ;  George  Ellia,  Rose,  Mr.  Canning  if  poasible, 
Frere,  and  all  the  ancient  Anii^acobins  to  be  concerned. 
The  first  number  is  now  in  hand,  and  the  allies,  I  hope 
And  trust,  securely  united  to  each  other.  1  have  promis- 
ed to  get  them  such  assistance  as  1  can,  and  most  tiappy 
should  I  bo  to  prevail  upon  you  to  put  vour  hand  to  the 
ark.  You  c«u  so  easily  run  off  au  i^ticle  either  of  learn- 
ing or  of  fun,  that  it  would  be  inexcusable  oot  to  afibrd 
us  your  assistance.  Then,  sir,  to  turathe  flank  of  Messrs. 
Constable  and  Co.,  ^d  to  avenge  myself  of  certain  im- 
pertinences which,  Ui  the  vehemence  of  their  Whlggery, 
they  have  dared  to  indulge  in  towar<^  lue,  I  have  prepar- 
ed to  start  aigunst  them  at  Whitsunday  first  the  celebrat- 
ed printer,  Ballantyne,  (who  had  the  honour  of  meeting 
you  at  Ashestiel,)  in  the  shape  of  an  Edinburgh  puhlislier, 
vkh  a  long  purse  and  a  sound  political  creed,  npl  to  men- 
Uoo  an  alHanpe  offensive  ind  defensive  with  young  John 
Murray  of  Fleet  Street,  the  most  enlishlened  and  active 
af  the  lioudon  trade.  By  this  i»o«ns  1  hope  to  counter* 
•  balance  the  predominating  influence  of  Constable  and 
Cp.,  who  at  present  have  it  in  their  power  and  inclination 
to  forwarcl  or  suppress  any  bpok  as  they  approve  or  dis- 
like its  politicid  tendency.  ta«ilv,  I  have  caused  the  said 
Ballantyne  to  venture  upon  an  Eulaburgh  Annual  Regis* 
ter,  of  which  I  send  ^ou  a  prosneclits.  I  inteod  to  help 
him  ipyself  as  ikr  as  time  will  admit,  aud  hope  to  procure 
him  many  respectable  coadjutors. 

"My own  motions  southwards  remain  undetennined, 
but  I  conceive  I  may  get  to.  town  about  the  beginning  of 
March,  when  I  expect  th  find  you  en  /anutieio.  Portland 
Place.  Our  Ueber  will  then  moat  likely  be  in  town,  and 
eUogether  I  am  much  better  pleaaea  that  the  Journey  Is 
put  off  till  tlic  lively  seAson  of  gayely. 

*'  I  am  busy  with  my  edition  of  Swifi,  and  treasure  your 
kind  hints  for  my  direction  as  I  advance.  In  oummer  I 
think  of  going  to  Ireland  to  pick  up  any  thing  that  may  be 
Tet  recoverable  of  the  Deap  of  St.  Patrick's.  Mrs.  Seott 
joins  me  in  kindest  and  best  respects  to  Mrs,  Morritt.  1 
am,  with  great  regard,  dear  sir,  your  faithful  bumbla 
servant. 

VfAMBH  Scott." 

The  two  foUowing  letters  seem  to  have  been 
written  at  the  cUrk''e  table,  the  fiist  shortly  before, 
and  the  second  very  soon  after,  the  news  of  the 
battle  of  Corunna  reached  Scotland  :— 

7V>  Robert  fi'eu/Afy,  Esq.t  Kesteick. 

'•  Bdinborgh,  14th  January,  1809. 
•*  Dear  Southey, 

"  I  have  b4>en  some  time  firom  home  in  the  course 
of  rtke  holidays,  but  iosmediately  on  oiy  return  set  about 
piocurlng  the  books  von  wished  to  see.  There  ore^inly 
tliree  of  them  io  onr  librarv,  namelf— 

l)obrizzhoffer  de  Abipontbns,  3  vols, 

A  French  translation  of  Gomella's  Hirstory  of  Oronoquo. 

Ramusio  Navigazioni,  &c.  Ac. 
Of  these  I  can  onlv  lay  lay  hand  inmndiaitely  on  Do- 
brizzhoffer,  which  I  have  sent  off  by  the  Osrlide  coach, 
addressed  to  the  care  of  JolUe  the  bookseller  for  you. 
I  do  this  at  my  own  risk,  because  we  never  grant  license 
to  send  the  books  out  of  Scotland,  and  should  I  be  found 
to  liave  done  vo  I  may  be  eeneured,  and  perhaps  my  use 
oif  the  hbrary Suspended .  At  the  same  thbe,  I  think  It 
hard  you  should,  take  a  iouroey  in  ttiia  deadly  cold  wea^ 
tber,  and  trust  you  will  make  early  iqauiry  aAer  tlie 
book..  Keep  U  out  of  sight  wMIe  you  use  H,  and  return  it 
^  as  soon  as  you  have  finished.  I  suppose  these  same 
Abipones  were  a  natiM|  to  my  own  heart's  ronlent,  bel^;, 
as  tlie  titlepage  inform  me,  bnlHcosiet  eque»tres^  like  our 
oM  Border  lads.  Bhnirid  tou  think  of  eooiiog  hither, 
wMch  perhaps  might  t>e  the  means  of  procuring  fou 
'  nsere  hiitinnation  ttum  I  can  make  you  aware  of,  I  be- 
■peak  you  for  my  guest.  1  can  give  yon  a  Httle  chamber 
ia  thtt  vrall.  and  yon  shall  go  out  and  in  as  quietly  and  free- 
ly as  your  heart  can  tlewre,  without  a  tmman  creature 
saying  'why  dosat  thon  bd?'  Thalaba  is  in  paniirllion 
toos  snd  you  should  in  decent  cariosity  give  an  rye  after 
biro.  Yet  I  will  endea\'our  to  recover  the  other  books, 
(now  lent  out,)  and  send  them  to  you  in  the  same  way  ^ 
Dob.  travels,  yn1<>SJiyou  recommend  another  conveyance. 
But  I  expect  this  gciieroslty  on  my  part  will  rather  f4fr 
your  gallantry  to  make  us  a  visit  when  this  abominable 


storm  haJi|f4M  ip^r-  ^'^PnMWABficiipptioAte  Wtffc- 
ly  unpoetioal-^lotttiofff  u)  short,  and  cobbMng  our  ola  aow- 
tish  system  of  jurisprudence,  with  a  view  to  reform.  I 
am  clerk  to  acommisaiun  under  the  authority  or  Psirii*- 
meot  for  this  purpose,  which  keeps  me  more  thaA  busy 
enough. 

"  I  have  liad  a  high  quarrel  with  Constable  SLiid  Oo. 
The  Edinburgh  Review  lias  driven  them  quite  cc&ay.  aod 
its  success  led  them  to  undervalue  those  who  have  been 
of  most  use  to  them— but  they  shall  dearly  abye  it.  Tbe 
worst  is  that,  being  out  of  »  puhlishinjg  house,  I  bare  not 
interest  to  be  of  any  service  to  (^olendge'a  ii>l»nri»d  pa- 
per.*/ Jisllanlyae,  the  printer,  intends  to  open  sUop  here 
on  the  part  of^bis  brother,  and  1  am  sure  will  do  all  he 
can  to  tavour  the  work.    Does  it  positively  go  on  1 

"  1  have  read  Wordsworth's  lucubra^ons  in  the  Cou- 
rier,! and  much  agree  with  him.  Alas  !  we  %vaiu  every 
tldng  but  courage  and  virtue  in  thie  desperate  coolest, 
Bkil^  knowledge  of  mankind,  IncflMUe  unhesitattoe  xHr 
lany,  combination  of  movement  ai)d  comhinatibii  of 
means,  are  witli  our  adversary.  We  (i?an  oidy  6gjb/k  like 
mastiffs,  boldly,  blindly,  and  iulh fully.  Iain  aliooet dri- 
ven to  the  pai»s  of  the  Covenanters,  when  they  told  the 
Almighty  in  Uieir  prayers,  he  should  no  longer  be  their 
God  i  and  I  reejly  believe,  a  few  Gaswltes  more  wUl  make 
tne  turn  Turk  or  InfideL  Believe  me,  in  great  #cief  ef 
^irit,  dear  Southey,  ever  yo^rs, 

^iJJ'lR  aCOTT." 

*'  Mrs.  Scott-  bega  kind  Temennbraace  Io  Mrs.  0oattk«y. 
The  bed  ia  the  said  ebanber  in  UM.walhis  a  doable  esw;** 
7\>  the  Same. 

"  Bdinbur^h,  3lpt  Janitajy,  ISeu. 
"MydearSoutbey, 

«  Yeeterdar  I  reeehred  yofur  letter,  and  to^jhty  I  des- 
patched GoroelU  and  the  third  volmne  of  Remotio:  UTte 
other  t>vo  volumes  can  also  be  M^^tit,  If  you  shiMdd  find 
it  necesmry  to  consult  theni.  The  parcel  Is  addressed 
to  the  paternal  charge  of  yo«r  KefWtok  fearrtef .  There 
is  no  hurry  in  returning  these  volum^,  so  don't  iterange 
your  operations  bv  hurrylnc  your  ejttracts,  only  keep 
Chem  from  any  prontneeye.  1  dipped  InloClomella  "wMIe 
I  was  waiting  ibr  fRtelU|^eii<ce  trom  yt>u,  and  was  niuch 
edified  by  the  bonhomrme  with  whicbVhe  mlracle#of -Um 
Jesuits  are  introduced.  ^ 

*'  The  news  from  Spain  g^e  mf  such  a  ipin^ed  feel- 
ing, that  I  never  suffered  So* much  in  my  wholellte  from 
the  disorder  of  spirits  occasioned  bv  affecting  intelt^geoce. 
My  uind  has  naturally  a  strong  military  bent,  fhougii  ntiy 
path  in  life  has  been  eo  very  difftoeot.  •  I  h»ve  adrtioi  eod 
a  soldier  as  heuiHy  as  ever*Unde  Toby  did,  sod  betaveea 
Ihe  pride  arising  from  our  gallisit  bearii^  sud  the  deep 
regret  that  so  much  bravery  should  run  to  unste,  Tiepn»i 
a  most  disordered  and  agitated  night,  never  closiac  my 
eyes,  but  what  1  was  hairassed  with  visions  of  brvkeo 
ranks,  bleeding  soldiers,  dying  horses—'  and  all  the  cur- 
rent of  a  heady  fight.*  I  agree  with  you  that  we  Want 
energy  in  our  cabinet— or  rather  their  opinions  arc  so 
different,  that  they  Come  to  wretched  compositienc  be- 
tween them,  wUoh  are  wdrse  then  the  wor«l  tmirse 
decidedly  followed  out.  Canning  is  most  sax  bus  to  aop- 
port  the  Spaniards,  and  would  have  bad  a -second  anoj  es 
Corunna,  but  for  the  positive  demand  Of  pour  Gmtiml 
Moore  that  empty  transports  should  be  sent  thither.  ^ 
the  rphifereementa  were  disembarked.  I  f^ar  it  wtD  be 
found  (hat  Moore  was  rather  an  excellent  officer  thui  a 
general  of  those  cempreheosive  sod  daring  views  neces- 
sary in  his  dangerous  situation.  Had  Wellesley  been 
there,  the  battle  of  Corunna  would  have  been  fought  end 
woB  at  Boaoiricrra,  aad  (he  ranke  -of  the  victors  tft'ould 
have  beeo  reinforced  by  the  populailoa  of  Madtld.  Woald 
to  God  we  had  yet  lUO^OOO  men  in  Spain.  I  fmr  mm  -Buo- 
naparte's tactics.  The  art  of  fesee  may  do  a  great  dasL 
but '  a  is  •tfeccdlo,'  as  Mercntio  says,  oaonot  carry  it  sisa^ 
from astioaal valour  and))ef sonal  strength4  The Oppoel- 
tion  have  aohl  or  l>artcred  erety  feeling  of  patriotiais  ibr 
the  most  greedy  and  selfish  e^oume. 

^'Ballantyne's  brother  ii  souinf  ap  here  as  a  booksel- 
ler, chielly  for  publishing.  I  will  reeodmend  Cotorldgw^ 
paper  to  him  as  strongly  ss  lean.  I  ttopeby  tbetiinen  ta 
commenced  he  will  be  enai>led  to  send  him  a  handMonie 
ord^r.  From  my  great  regard  for  his  brothert  I  shsll  iWe 
this  youn:t  ptibHstier  what  assistance  I  can.  He  Is  umter- 
siood  to  start  against  Coustabte  and  Ihe  lUviewers,  and 
publishes  the  Quartsrly.  Indeed  he  is  in  «rrfct  allianee, 
oflSeosive  ^nd  defensive,  witii  Jobs  Murray  nf  Fleet  acrVui. 
I  have  also  been  labouring  a  linle  for  the  aaid  Quarterly, 
which  1  believe  you  will  detect    1  bear  rtry  high  Chlni^ 

*  Mr.  (>)leiidge% '' Fiknd^^was  ori||foally  isMWied  in  wec%?y 

nSr.  Wonlswartk^  Romorfctoe  thtComnaldm  ofCialts  v 
cdterwaids  collected  in  s  pamphlet  OOQ  Iv. 


fJFE  OF  SIB  WALTER  SCOTT. 


14 


of  yoar  tftiela.  About  ynatt  wmt  to  Edio- 
I  bope  it  will  be  a  month  later  than  you  now  pro- 
,  >ecau0e  m/  present  prospecta  lead  ine  to  thinlc  I 
skest  b«  io  London  the  whole  month  of  April.  Early  in 
Hay  I  cnujst  retirm,  and  will  wiillqgly  take  the  lakea  in 
ni7  'v'ayt  in  hope4  yon  win  accompany  me  to  Edinburgh, 
v^KH  jou  poaltivttly  muat  not  tiiink  of  risiling  in  my 


loorl  Advocate,  who  is  aitting  behind  me,  saya  the 
have  reiMlTed  nut  to  abandon  the  Spaniarda 


ons/e  OKI  route.  It  19  a  spiritet^  determination — but  they 
nuuc  find  a  ipenttral  who  haa,  aFtheTurka  aay,  Ut  Diabte 
cm  carpm^  and  who,  instead  of  atanding  staring  to  aee  what 
:hey  mean  to  do,  will  teach  them  to  dread  those  surpri- 
se ai>d  desperate  cnterprisei  by  which  they  have  been 
«»  often  saccessful.  Believe  me,  dear  donthey,  youra  af- 
frctkroately, 

Waltbr  Scorr. 
"  Mrs.  Scott  joins  me  in  btst  compUoMatv  to  Mra.  9ou- 
&tj.  1  bope  abe  wiB  have  a  happy  hour.  Pray,  write 
■e  word  vlten  the  booka  eome  aafe.  What  la  Worda- 
wortb  dointt  "^  where  the  devil  ia  his  Doe  7  I  am  not 
asre  if  he  will  thank  me  for  proving  that  all  the  Nortons 
aaeaped  to  Flanders,  one  excepted.  I  never  ki^ew  a  po- 
pular traditloo  so  totally  groondlesi  as  that  respecting 
(kcirexeevtimi  A  York.'' 


OHAPTfiR  XIX. 
GMmm  4ir  a  romcAi*  TAitom  coHDBionlD  to  obais 

L— mv  UBTTBMfTO  SCSOTT-fiBATH  OF 
IK  LOVDOW-^MB.  MOBUrr'a  OBtCSIP* 

Tlov  or  But  Aa  "a  lmw**  in  towh— «iinrBs  at 
m.  ouTm»f*g~oouBU>Me'a  tibb,  famibb,  ahs 

ilAIWmiBy  flit  QOABTBBLT  BBTIBW  BTABTBI)— 
PEHT  TIBIT  TO  BOKBBV-^-TOB  LADY  OT  THB  LAXM 
laonr— KatCUBBKai  TD'TIIB.TBOBBAOBa  AkCB  LAOH 
UOKOiD — LBTTBB  OK  ■TBOk's  ENGU8H  BAB08  AMD 
■MHar  BB»UBWIttW  PBAtB  OP  DAirtBL  BCOTT— 
OOUHBBPOlfDKVaB  AIOPT  MB.  CAJIinim's  DVBt  WITH 
warn  CASVLBBBABK-^UMi-  BAJLUB'*  PaMILY  iB- 
«Ba»'AOTBl>    AT  BDfBBOBOB't-TIIBATBlOAL    AKBC- 

mwB    iBMBiB    aiitinif    tumuv — lbttkb       osr 

fBB  SBATHOP  JttB»BBWABO.—l  809-^1810. 

Ik  the  end  o(  1608,  a  youns  man,  by  name  An- 
4ew  Stewart,  who  had  %ured  for  some  years  be- 
fen  as  a  poetical  contributor  to  the  Scots  Magazine| 
aad  inacffted  there,  amoiig  other  things,  a  set  of 
■tioiBa  in  honour  of  The  Last  Blinsirel,*  was  tried, 
aad  capitally  conyicted,  on  a  charge  of  burglary. 
He  addrppff^,  some  weeks  after  his  Sentence  had 
ben  pronounced,  the  foUowiag  letters  :— 

7>  WmUar  Afect,  B^q-i  OMlIt  6trt9t. 

"*  Edinborgh  ToIboot^adlh  Janoary,  1809. 

**  Ahbongh  1  am  a  atfMiffer  te  vou.  yec  I  am  not  to 
jvm  WBffkBi  wbleh  I  have  read  and  aosiired,  and  which 
v9  continue  to  be  read  aad  admired  as  long  as  there 
reaaiaa  a  taate  lor  true  excellence.  Previous  to  commit- 
Q^  the  crime  for  which  I  am  now  convicted,  I  composed 
.ttveral  poems  in  the  Scottish  dialect,  which  I  herewith 
•end  lor  ytMir  perusal,  and  hombly  'hbpe  yon  will  listen  to 
aytileof  rafeery.  I  have  been  a  tralf  unfottuuate  fol* 
bwer  of  the  Muaea.  I  was  born  in  Edinbotfrh,  of  poor, 
biB  Banest  pamBta.  Ify  tkther  la  by  trade  a  bookbUider, 
aad  ay  aaocher  dyiag  ia  1796^  he  waa  left  a  widower,  with 
ftra  ana  ebildraoi  who  hare  all  been  brooght  up  by  bis 
.  gwiUntdoatiy.  As  soon  as  I  was  fit  for  a  trade,  he  bomid 
tK  apprcnnce  to  a  tailor  in  Edinburgh,  but  owing  to  his 
itriag  me  badlr,  I  went  to  law.  The  consequence  was,  I 
e«t  lip  my  indentures  after  belnc  only  two  years  In  his 
f^rvice.  To  my  father's  trade  I  nave  to  ascribe  my  first 
Biachmeat  to  the  Muses.  I  perused  iHth  delight  the 
basks  that  eaiae  In  the  way ;  and  the  effusions  of  the 
pMtsof  any  coontri^  read  with  rapture.  I  now  formed 
dit  reaotoiioo  €f(  noT binditif  myself  te  a  trade  aaain,  as 


oydiaf  means  I  might  set  n^  propensity  for  reading  fol- 
I  acted  as  Clerk  to  different  people,  and  mv  cha- 


loved. 


ruter  was  irreproachable,   i  determioed  (o  settle  b  life, 
aad  in  that  purpoae  I  married  a  young  woman  I  formed 

*Oas«cneorfhis 


nodnetioni^fll  saHo 

KlMttvl  that  t'cr  rang 


or  vaJOT*te«  <««da  hj  SeeMa  don*. 
WtaM  vtM  nMM  vMblad  ito  dis  witf, 

D«1i«fttr«l  •Mia  I 
O'w  kia»aai  dslH,  m«  fim  ^mamm, 

ir^vahsBsas#»l^te. 


a  strong  attachment  to.  Being  out  of  employment  these 
laat  nine  months,  I  suffered  all  the  hardablps  of  want,  aad 
aaw 

'  Poverty  with  empty  hand, 

And  eager  look,  haif-niked  stand. '^/Vt^kmoii. 

Reduced  to  ih(s  miserable  situation,  with  my  wife  almost 
starving,  and  having  no  friends  to  render  me  the  smallest 
aasistance,  I  resided  in  a  furnished  room  till  I  waa  nnable 
to  pay  the  rent,  and  then  I  was  literaliy  turned  out  ot 
doors,  like  poor  Dermody,  in  poverty  and  rags.  Having  ^ 
no  kind  hand  stretched  out  to  help  me,  I  aasociated  with 
coronany  of  very  loose  manners,  till  then  strangers  to  me, 
and  by  them  I  wa.^  lad  to  coownit  the  crime  I  am  condemn- 
ed to  suffer  for.  But  uiy  mind  is  so  agitated,  I  can  scarce 
narrate  my  tale  of  miserv.  My  age  is  only  twenty-three, 
and  to  all  appearance  will  be  cut  off  in  the  prime.  I  was 
tried  along  with  my  brother,  Robert  Stewart,  and  John 
M'Intyrc,  for  breaking  Into  the  workshop  of  Peter  More, 
caiico-glaaer,  Edinburgii,  and  received  the  dreadful  sen- 
tence tu  be  executed  on  the  '22d  of  Pebrnary  next  We 
have  no  frienda  to  apply  to  for  Royal  mercy.  If  I  had  any 
kind  friend  to  mention  my  case  to  my  Lord  Justice-Clerk, 
perhaps  1  might  get  my  sentence  mitigated,  Vou  will  see 
my  poems  are  of  the  humorous  cast.  Alas  !  It  is  now 
the  contrary.,  I  remain  your  unfortunate  humble  servant, 
Andioew  Stiwakt.** 

To  the  Same, 

'*  Tolbooth,  flktnday. 

'Slf,  t  reeelsed  youf  kini I  latter  ket  i5igl>l,  Bncjoaiiw 
one  poaiid  iterURg^  for  wlilth  1  hiTo  otity  to  rcvjiicar  jolj 
will  acrept  rU«  rntiim  of  a  frati^fUi  hmrt  My  pravera, 
wl'ii^  i>n  (Nsrth,  will  be  always  fi>r  yonv  wf^Hkre-  Tour 
leiitrr  cauie  Nk<>  a  fitlni«[4?r!t]^  S(«(el  !a  m*  Thi?  id<«  of 
my  apfimfLctuni*  vnd  dlaru  tscmi^  uiy  btitiri ;  and,  na  our 
imtiiKi'iiiJ  KarUt  ilhakirp«arrT  aayn.,  'lurrrows  np  tuy  suuL' 
i3oii»4?  uji>4^  ■incp-,  iAiit![i  c]imL':e  threw  lij,  ujy  way  t§ir 
WkLdtiuxj  Porbt-s'n  Life  o(  Uc4ti^i&,  ilici  juzf^HM^  <^f  Uie  clij*^ 
ing  is-eufl  uf  principal  Cfti^pb^lL  as  Lb^Tciit.  in^ntkhned, 
mn^te  a  dc^cp  Impros&ion  on  luy  uiind-  'Ala  tunc  J  sayt 
he,  ^vrh^ti  Ctnip boil  WIS  JrifiC  ejcp^Ting.  and  had  roM  his 
wife  «nd  nl+rfft  iro,  a  cordral  happened  luieipetHnUy  Im 
givfi  an /lie  rpltef.  As  aoon  b.^  U^  wn.^  Rbli?  fd  ^tpp^Lk^  he 
uitX  it^  Votifin-rmd  fi>  srcr  I  heir  facAU  mt  nmkuichtily  4ir)it 
coTi'eri^d  wtrit  t+'itrn  iii  tJio  B!ppr<^lveti*(i>o  of  lus  d^ptnun' 
[At  fktit  ifixidnt^'  tuxd  lit:-,  '  IJeit  my  wimd  in  rwih  a  gtalt 
in  rAe  tJum^hi^qf  rnif  immtaiait;  m*9otuUun^  that  I  earn  ^ 
espTttt  niy/ttUnfftu  no  i>thtT  ifuy  Shan  if y  aaifing  Jieat 
in  a  rajiitire.^  Tbare  i«  ukmeibmf  avrql^y  ^mtimtoty 
ia  i\m  aXunt^ 

'*  I  have  to  mention,  as  a  dying  man^  that  It  was  not  the . 
greed  of  money  that  made  me  commit  the  crime,  but  the 
extreme  pressure  of  poverty  and  want. 

"  How  silent  seems  all— not  a  whiaper  is  heard, 
Save  the  guardians  of  night  when  thev  bawl ; 

How  dreary  and  wild  appears  all  around ; 
No  pitying  voice  near  my  cafl. 

"  O  li fe,  what  are  all  thy  gay  pleasures  and  eare%     # 
When  deprived  of  sweet  liberty's  amiie  1 

Not  hope  in  all  thy  gay  charms  arrayed, 
Can  one  heavy  hour  now  beguile.  ^ 

<*How  sad  la  the  poor  cx>nvlet*s  sorrofrfbl  lot, 

Condemned  in  these  walls  to  remain, 
When  torn  from  those  that  are  nearest  his  heart, 

Perhaps  ne'er  to  view  tliem  again. 

"The  beauties  of  morning  now  burst  on  my  rlew^ 

Remembrance  of  scenes  tluit  are  past, 
When  contentment  sat  smiling,  and  happy  py  lot, 

Rcenes,  alas  i  formed  not  for  to  hist 

"  Now  fled  are  the  hours  I  delighted  to  roam 

Scotia's  hilts,  dales,  and  valleys  among, 
^nd  with  rapture  would  list  to  the  songs  of  her  bards, 

And  love's  tale  as  it  flowed  from  the  tongue. 

"  Nought  but  death  now  awaiu  me,  how  dread,  but  true. 

How  ghastly  its  form  does  appear  ; 
Soon  aifent  the  muse  that  delighted  to  view 

And  sing  of  the  sweets  of  the  year. 

**  Ton  are  the  f  rst  gentleman  I  ever  sent  my  poems 
(oi,  and  I  never  corrected  any  of  them,  vay  mind  nas  been 
in  auoh  a  state.  I  remain,  sir,  your  grateful  unforttroate 
servant, 

Amdbbw  8tswa«t." 

It  appears  that  Soolt,  and  his  good-natured  old 
friend,  Mr.  Manners  the  bookseller,  who  happened  < 
at  this  time  to  be  one  of  the  bauiea  of  Eduibnitth, 
exerted  their  ioint  inflatnce  in  this  tailor«poet's  be- 


1« 


LIFE  OF  SIR  WALTER  SCOTT. 


haU;  and  with  imch  sacceM,  that  hia  sentence  was 
eommuted  for  one  of  transportation  for  life.  A  thin 
octavo  pamphlet,  entitled,  **  Poems,  chiefly  in  the 
Scottish  dialect,  by  Andrew  Stewart;  printed  for 
the  benefit  of  the  AuihoV's  Father,  and  aold  by 
Manners  and  Miller,  and  A.  Ci^istable  and  Co., 
1809."  appeared  soon  after  the  convict's  departure 
for  Botany  Bay.  But  as  to  his  fortunes  in  that  new 
world  I  possess  no  information.    There  seemed  to 

X  me  something  so  striking;  in  the  workinj^  of  his  feel- 
ings as  expressed  in  his  letters  to  Scott,  that  I 
thought  the  reader  would  forgive  this  little  episode. 
'  In  the  course  of  February,  Mr* John  Ballantyne 
had  proceeded  to  London,  for  the  purpose  of  intro- 
ducing himself  to  the  chief  publishers  there  in  his 
new  capacity,  and  especially  of  taking  Mr.  Murray's 
instructions  respecting  the  Scotch  management  of 
the  Quarterly  Review.  As  soon  as  the  spring  va- 
cation becan,  Scott  followed  him  by  sea.  He  might 
naturally  nave  wished  to  be  at  hand  while  his  new 
partner  was  forming  arrangementson  which  so  much 
must  depend  ;  but  some  circumstances  in  the  pro- 
cedure of  the  Scotch  Law  Commission  had  made  the 
Lord  Advocate  request  his  presence  at  this  time  in 
town.  There  he  and  Mrs.  Scott  took  up  their  quar- 
ters, M  usual,  under  the  roof  of  their  kind  old 
friends  the  DumerRues ;  while  their  eldest  girl  en- 
joyed the  advantage  of  being  domesticated  with  the 

«  Hiss  Baillies  at  Hampstead.  They  staid  more  than 
two  months,  and  this  being  his  first  visit  to  town 
since  his  fame  had  been  crowned  b)r  Monnion,  he 
was  of  course  more  than  ever  the  object  of  general 
cariosity  and  attention.  Mr.  Morritt  saw  moch  of 
him,  both  at  his  owa  bouse  in  Portland  Place  and 
elsewhere,  and  I  transcribe  a  few  sentences  from 
his  memoranda  of  the  period. 
*•  Scott,"  his  friend  iays^  "  more  correctly  than 

5ny  other  man  I  ever  knew,  approciated  the  vulue  of 
[lat  apparently  enlhusiafltic  frU^nvf-metit  which  the 
world  of  London  shoivii  to  i\ui  (tt^hionahU-  wonder 
of  ths  year.  Durinc  tbi«i  ffuiuurii  of  1^U9,  th^  ho- 
mage paid  him  would  hnv<;  turui^  the  htiad  of  any 
leas'  gifted  man  of  emi  nc'n  ce.  1 1  nei  t  hpr  n  I  t  c  red  his 
(jpinions,  nor  produced  iht;  iilTecutJun  nf  dc^ijising 
it;  on  the  contrary,  hereCFived  il  rultivnEed  it,  and 
repaid  it  in  its  own  coin.  *  All  this  is  very  flatter- 
ing,' he  would  say.  *  and  very  civil ;  and  if  people 
are  amused  with  hearing  me  lell  a  parcel  of  old 
stories,  or  recite  a  pack  of  ballads,  to  lovely  young 
^rl#and  gapins  matrons,  they  are  easily  pleased, 
and  a  man  would  be  very  ill-natured  who  would  not 
give  pleasure  so  cheaply  conferred.'  If  he  dined 
with  us  and  Tound  any  nfew  faces,  *  Well,  do  you 

Sant  me  to  play  lion  to-day  T  was  his  usual  question 
^*I  will  roar  if  you  like  it  to  your  heart's  content.' 
e  would,  indeed,  in  such  eases,  put  forth  all  his 
inimitable  powers  of  entertainment— and  day  after 
^day  surprised  me  by  their  unexpected  extent  and 
variety.  Then,  as  the  party  dwindled,  and  we  were 
left  alone,  he  laughed  at  himself;  quoted,  '  yet  know 
that  I  one  Snug  the  joiner  am— no  Uon  fieroe,'  dbc. 
—and  was  at  once  himself  again. 

"  He  often  lamented  the  injurious  effects  for  lite- 
rature and  genius  resulting  from  the  influence  of 
London  &,leority  on  weaker  minds,  especially  in 
the  excitement  of  ambition  for  this  subordinate  and 
ephemeral  reputation  du  salon,  '  It  may  be  a  plea- 
sant gale  to  sail  with.'  he  said,  '  but  it  never  yet  led 
to  a  port  that  I  should  like  to  anchor  in ;'  nor  did 
he  willingly  endure,  either  in  London  or  in  Edin- 
burgh, the  littloteclusive  circles  of  literary  society, 
much  less  their  occasional  fastidiousness  and  petty 
par  tiah  ties. 

"  One  story  which  I  heard  of  him  from  Dr.  How- 
ley,  now  Archbishop  of  Canterbury,  (for  I  was  not 
present,)  was  very  characteristic.  The  doctor  wa^ 
one  of  a  grand  congregation  of  lions,  where  Scott 
and  Coleridge,  cum  muUis  aHi»j  attended  at  Sothe-> 
by*B.  Poets  and  poetry  were  the  topics  of  the  table, 
and  there  was  plentiful  recitation  of  effusions  as  yet 
unpublished,  which  of  course  obtained  abundant  an- 
plaoae.  Coleridge  repeated  more  than  one^  which, 
as  Dr.  H.  thought,  were  eulogised  by  some  of  the^ 
company  with  something  like  afiection,.aiid  a  de? 


sira  to  humble  Scott  by  raising  a  poet  of  inferksr 
reputation  on  his  shoulders.  Scott,  uowerer,  Joincid 
in  the  compliments  as  cordially  as  any  body,  tintil, 
in  his  turn,  he  was  invited  to  display  some  of  Itim 
occasional  poetry,  much  of  which  he  must,  no  dQul^i, 
have  written.  Scott  said  he  had  published  eo  nioch, 
he  hid  nothing  of  his  own  left  that  he  could  thiiik 
worth  their  hearing,  but  he  would  repeat  a  little  copy 
of  verses  which  he  had  shortly  before  se^n  in  a  pro^ 
vincial  newspaper, andsvhich  seemed  to  him  almost 
a&good  as  any  thing  they  had  been  listeningr  to  ^rh 
so  much  pleasure.  He  repeated  the  stanzas  novr  90 
well  known  of '  Fire,  Famine,  and  Slaughter.'  The 
applauses  that  ensued  were  faint— then  came  slight 
criticism,  from  which  Scott  defended  the  unknowia 
author.  At  last,  a  more  bitter  antagonist  opened, 
and  faateniag  upon  one  line,  cried,  '  this  at  lesiat  ia 
absc^ute  nonsense.'  Scott  denied  the  charges — ibe 
Zoilus  persisted— until  Coleridge,  out  of  alt  patieno& 
exclaimed,  *  For  God's  sake  let  Mr.  Scott  alone — I 
wrote  the  poem.'  This  exposition  of  the  real  "worth 
of  dinner  criticism  can  hardly  be  excelled.* 

**  He  often  complained  of  the  real  dulneas  o£  par- 
ties^ where  each  guest  arrived  under  the  implied  and 
tacit  obligation  of  exhibiting  some  extraordinary' 
powere  of  talk  or  wit.  '  If^'  ^e  said, '  I  enoounter 
men  of  the  worldj  men  of  business,  odd  or  strtkm^ 
charaotera  of  prorasaional  ezcelleoce  in  any  do^mm^ 
ment,  I  am  in  my  element,  fop  <hey  eanaot  lioniaa 


me  without  my  ntumtng  the  oompliaieBt,  and  I 
ing  someiliing  from  tntn.'  He  was  moefa  mmttt 
George  EUis,  Canning,  and  Cmker,  sad  deli^iiied 
in  them,— as  hideed  who  did  not  1— but  he  knn^d  to 
stody  eaiineaceof  evety  clasataid  son,  sod  bia  nmitu^ 
fame  gate  kirn  aasf  aeoess  to  gratify  aU  his  etano- 
sity." 

The  meetiBfls  with  Canoing^  Groker,  and  KUaa, 
to  which  Mr.  Morritt  alhidss,  were,  as  may  ba  wsp- 
posed,  chiefly  occupied  vrith  the  afiairs  of  the  Qvau-- 
terly  Review.  The  fint  number  of  that  Joomal 
rapearod  while  Scott  was  in  London  s  it  coasaiood 
three  articles  from  his  pen-^naNiely,  one  on  the  Re- 
liques  of  Boras  X  another  on  the  Chronicle  of 
Cid;  and  a  third  on  Sir  John  Carr'sTour  thrc 
Scotland.  His  conferences  with  the  editor  _ 
publisher  were  A-equant;  and  (he  latter  c^rfai 
contemplated,  at  this  time,  a  most  close  and  i 
mate  connexion  with  him,  not  only  as  a  reviewer, 
but  an  author:  and,  consequently,  with  both  me 
concemsofthcmessrs.  Ballantyne.  Scott  continu- 
ed for  some  time  to  be  a  very  active  coniribtitor  to 
the  Quarterly  Review ;  nor,  mdeed  was  his  con- 
nexion with  It  ever  entirely  suspenqed.  But  John 
Ballantyne  transacted  business  in  a  fhshbn  which 
soon  cooled,  and  in  no  very  long  time  dissolved,  the 
general  "  alliance,  oflfensrve  and  defensiva,*'  with 
Murray,  which  Scott  had  announced  before  lea^hHT 
Edinburgh  to  both  Southey  and  Ellis. 

On  his  return  northwards  he  spent  a  fortnight  tn 
Yorkshire  with  Mr.  Morritt;  but  his  correspon- 
dence, from  which  I  resunie  my  extracts,  will  show, 
among  other  thinj^s,  the  livelv  impression  made  00 
him  by  his  first  view  of  Rokehy; 

The  next  of  these  letters  reminds  me,  howev>ca. 
that  I  should  have  mentioned  sooner  the  death  oc 
Camp,  the  firat  of  not  a  few  dogs  whose  natnee 
will  be  ''freshly  remembered"  as  long  as  their  mas- 
ter's works  are  popular.  This  fiivourite  began  to 
droop  early  in  1809,  and  became  incapable  of  accom- 

})anying  Scott  in  his  rides ;  but  he  preserved  hia  .af-   ^ 
ection  and  aagacity.to  the  last    At  Asheatiel,  a* 
the  servant  was  laying  the  cloth  for  dinner,    he 

*  ItBMiyamtiMtheKadn>totunitoMr.  coteridn'townstattf- 
lr  account  of  this  lkm«how  in  QrcMvenur  dtreet,  in  Um  pr«&o» 
to  hui  oelebnitfd  Eclogue,  iliero  wa«  one  nrnao  pment.  it 
t««int,  wbo  had  boon  in  th«  iierrct  of  itt  autborvba'p— 8ir  Hum- 

Ehrer  Davjr ;  and  no  one  could  have  enjojrd  the  trene  mof<p  Hwn 
e  miut  have  doM.  **  At  thp  ho«w>,"  CaHtnin  Ufm,  **  of  » 
Ccntleman  who.  bf  the  principles  and  corrMpoaaiag  rtrtiaea  of  a 
aincere  Chriatian.  eonsccmtea  a  cuUi?ated  fraiw  aiid  the  frnvana- 
abie  acctdenta  oT  birth,  ofhUence,  and  fpleodki  ooofindoM,  it  wb« 
mr  food  fortune  to  meet,  in  a  diooer  party,  with  more  men  oT 
celebrity  in  aeienoe  or  poKta  literatim  thu  are  oopuagnly  foand 
eoUeeted  around  the  Mune  table,  la  Uie  course  of  oooven  ' 
one  of  the  party  reniBded  an  iliaalhoMB  naet,'*  ae.  *c 
ri^'a  PoetUxa  N^te..  JBdiliaB.  Ii8k.  VoTl.,  p.  87L 


LiF?  OF  sm  Walter  sgott. 


7^^J*^^J^  ^  !S%?"  ^lV"\*  ^U^^  ^'^  I  ««ve  a  week  to  his  old  ficiends  at  Camhusmow,  and 
m^  K  ?'Tl  K^T^'^'^*'^K^  HlS'j^.f**^,^?  ^^-^"r  asceriained.  in  his  own  person,  tliac  a  go^hW 
m^h'i  :ie  by  the  fora-:or  by  th^hill ; '  and  the  sick  man.  well  mounted,  mi^i  «adop  from  the  show  oi 
Mmmi  .K  auld  immjHi.aiely  bestir  liimself  to  wel-    Loch  Vennacliar  to  theroc^  of  S  irlSg  wi!hhi  the 

ter.  SOinZ  out  at  the  buck  Annr  nr  iHa     annr-*  n    iWf«,l  f^,.  tU^t „-  .,.  »':._  T.?.  -_      iV    "° 


Ciuoe  his  master,  going  out  at  the  back  door  or  iho 
rroDt  door,  accordmij  to  the  direction  given,  and 
adrinc.m;  as  far  as  be  was  able,  either  towards  the 
ford  of  the  Tweed,  or  the  bridge  over  the  Glcnkin- 
non  bum  beyond  Laird  Nippy's  j»ate.  He  died  about 
January,  1^09.  and  was  bunwl  m  a  fiiie  moonlight 
nigbt,  m  ih^  httle  garden  behind  the  house  in  Cas- 
tk  Sireet,  iramodiately  opposite  to  the  window  at 
waKh  Scott  usually  sal  writins.  My  wife  tells  me 
^  remembers  the  whole  family  standing  in  tears 
about  the  Krave,  as  her  father  himself  smoothed 
Jown  the  turf  above  Catnp  with  the  saddest  expres- 
aoo  of  tace  she  had  ever  »een  in  him.  He  had  been 
eogageJ  to  dine  abroad  that  day,  but  apologized  on 
jecouni  of  "the  death  of  a  dear  oldtriend;"  and 
m.  Macdonald  Buchanan  was  not  at  all  surprised 
that  he  should  have  done  so,  when  it  came  out  next 
morQin^  that  Camp  was  no  more. 

T6  Oeorgt  Eiti*,  E$q, 

^  "Edinburgh,  July  8, 1809. 

*•  We  naehed  home  about  a  foitoif  ht  ago,  having  lin- 

E«d  a  Jitye  while  at  Rokeby  Park,  the  seat  of  our  frleod 
rria,  and  ooe  of  the  most  enviable  plaaea  I  have  ever 
4oeii,4sj|  oniMflthe  riohQ«staod  luxuriance  of  Enffliah 
Tefctatioa  with  the  romantic  variety  of  ijlen,  torrent,  and 
«mic,  which  dignifiea  oor  northern  «ceiiery .  The  Greta 
■Bd  Tees.  Cwpp  moat  bcauiiftil  and  rapid  rivers,  join  their 
cwfTwif  a  in  rhc  deraesne.  The  hanks  of  the  Tees  rcsero- 
bte,  UfKm  tb«  height  of  the  rocks,  the  glen 'of  Roalin,  so 


I  and  juaily  admhred.    The  dreta  is  ibd  scene  of  a 

e-  roroanee,'  of  which  I  think  I  rememli 

y*a  the  ooUioe.    h  coocema  the  history  of 


*  Which  woaM  in  Rokeby  wood, 
Rao  eodlaogfireta  side,' 

I  <bry  Ralph  of  Rokeby  on  the  frerea  of  Rieh- 
jmI  the  misadventures  of  the  holy  fiohera  to  their 

J  attempts  lo  catab  this  hitractable  animaL    We 

hidihe  pl«aaiirD  to  find  all  oar  litlte  folks  woll,  and  are 
sew  eaiha  point  of  shifting  quarters  to  Aahestiel.  I  have 
snoged  the  vacancy  occasioned  by  the  death  of  poor 
«  OsBOp  with  a  terrier  puppy  of  tlie  old  shafgy  Celtic 
breed.  He  is  of  hi^h  pedigree,  and  was  procured  with 
peet  AAcolty  by  the  kindness  of  Mies  Dunlop  of  Dun- 
«*;  so  Ihave  christened  him  Wallace,  as  the  donor  is 
tieseendant  of  the  Guardian  of  Scotland.    Having  0ven- 

yso  dlihis  carious  and  valnable  JnAirnwiion  alxiut  my  I  •^— ^''■•'  -y  *^»iik«y"  *"w  o*jric  m  wukjh  ocoii  aimaev 
vm  aftira.  let  me  caU  your  attention  to  the  enclosed,  I  *?  »yTOir 8  assault  in  the  preface  of  1830,  with  that 
alirh  wae  in  ftc^  the  principal  cause  of  my  immediately  of  one  of  his  contemporary  letters  on  the  subject. 
y^"  t¥^??^^§  (August  7,1809)  the  gcritleman  in  whose 


s^ace  allotted  for  that  purpose  to  Fiiz  Jaines.  From 
Cambusuiore  the  parly  proceeded  to  Ro88  Priory, 
and  under  the  i:uidanceofMr.  Macdonald  Buchanan 
explored  the  islands  of  Loch  Lomond,  Arrochar, 
Loch>Ioy,and  all  the  scenery  6f  a  hundred  desperate 
conflicts  between  the  Macfarianes,  the  Colquhouns, 
and  the  Clan  Alpine.  At  Buchanan  House,  which 
IS  very  near  Ross  Priory,  Scott's  friends,  Lady 
Douglas  and  Lady  Louisa  Stuart,  were  then  visiting 
theUukeofiMontrose;  he  joined  them  there,  a nS 
read  to  them  the  Stag  Chase,  which  he  had  just 
completed  under  the  full  influence  of  \\iq  genius  loci. 
It  was  on  this  occasion,  at  Buchanan  Hou«&  that 
he  first  saw  Lord  Byron's  "English  Bards  and 
Scotch  Renewors."  On  this  subject  he  says,  in  his 
Introducuon  to  Marmion  of  1830—"  When  Byix>n 
>yrote  his  famous  satire,  I  had  ray  share  of  flagella- 
tion among  my  betters.  My  crime  was  having  writ- 
ten a  poem  for  a  thousand  pounds,  which  was  no 
other w-iso  true,  than  that  I  sold  the  copyright  for  that 
sum.  Now,  not  to  mention  that  an  author  can  hard- 
ly be  censured  for  accepting  soch  a  sum  as  the 
bookscUers  are  wiUmg  to  give  him,  especially  as  the 

fentlemea  of  the  trade  made  uo  complaints  of  their 
argain,  I  thought  the  interference  with  my  private 
atfairB  was  rather  beyond  the  limits  of  literary  sattre. 
1  was,  moreover.  So  far  from  having  had  any  thing 
to  do  with  the  offensive  criticism  in  the  Edinborgh.. 
that  1  had  remonstrated  with  the  editor,  because  I 
thought  the    Hours  of  Idleness' urea  led  with  undue  , 
seventy.   They  were  written,  like  all  juvenile  poetry,, 
rather  from  the  recollectioft  of  what  had  pleased  tlw> 
author  m  others,  than  what  had  been  suggested  by 
his  own  imagination  ;  but  nevertheless!  thought 
they  contained  passages  of  noble  promise." 
1  need  hardly  transcribe  the  well-known  lines— 
"  Neit  view  in  state,  proud  pranchw  on  hla  roani 
ThegoUen-crcatedihaaghtyMarnifen,"— 
down  to 

"For  this  we  spbrn  Apollo's  venal  min, 
And  bid  a  lonf  •'good  night  to  Manutonr-' "  ' 
with  his  lordship's  note  oa  the  last  line—"  Good 
night  to  Marroion,  the  pathetic  and  also  prophetio 
exclamation  of  Henry  flloun^  Kequue,  on  the  death 
of  honest  Marnnon."— But  it  may  entertain  my 
reoders  to  compare  the  style  in  which  Scott  allad^ 


^""bii^  yen.  .  u  T**i'?'l"'^  V;^uKUi*i  /^,iouy;  me  gentleman  in  whose 

Tfc  endofrnre,  and  the  rest  of  the  letter,  refer  to    °®"^  "®  ,V«     l   '^  mterceding  with  Mr.  Canninf^ 

ibe  private  aflfairs  of  Mr.  Soutbey,  m  whose  fovour  I  5®  ^^y^~.   »y  1"^  way,  \s  the  ancient  •♦♦♦,  whose 

Scott h«d fur ttometf — "--'^ '       •       ''——•'-* -u -.:__,      . 


the  private  aflfairs  of  Mr.  Soutbey,  m  whose  fovour  I  ^®  ^^y^—.   By  the  w_^, ^.. ,  ^,,^^ 

"       ■    •  '  e  time  back  been  strenuously  usroc  I  decease  is  to  open  our  quest,  thinking  of  a  better 

his  friends  in  the  government.  '  world?  I  only  aak,  Y *^ ' 

^.  ..^ .«-«,  while  in  London,  read  thefeehngs 

of  some  of  those  ministers  towards  each  other,  ap- '  "c  '^y:"^»  »"  -vw_^ ,  ^ ^  «v-»m  v» 

. ( — 1_. : L- -      the  old  incumbent.    But  my  friend  has  since  taken 


;.*«.»  M.U  w.  »yM.^».M.«i7«v*uiiciioiFciiuousiyu8niB( ----rr-Ti'^ 'T  -1--^*  ""^  quesi.  uiinMing  01  a  Detter 
bis  mterest  with   his  fnends  in  the  government.  '  worW  /I  only  aak,  because  about  three  years  ago  I 
How  well  he  bad,  while  in  London,  read  tbefeehngs  |  "cep^ed  the  office  I  hold  in  the  Court  of  Session, 
me  of  those  ministers  towards  each  other,  at)-  f  ^"*  revenue  lo  accrue  to  me  only  on  the  death  of 


pears  from  vaikms  letters  written  upon  his  return  to  I  *"*'  "*"*»  "»v^"'"ciii.    uui  my  uicuu  uas  since  laKen 
^-^.1-..  J     1 .  ^,y  jj^  sufficient  to  quote  pan  of  one  I  ?''}  "  Dew  lease  of  hfe,  and  unless  1  get  some  Border 
the  distinguished  aotlior  whose  for-   P"  ^°  cut  his  throat,  may,  for  aught  I  know,  live  as 
exerting  himself  to  promote.    Tohim  '  ?*^6,.?*  ^  ^i'.'"»J~«l»ch  ooious -*  -  " 

lAtU   Tnna  ^ **  Hffi.    r««MK:»^«  ^^..>^-    i  invalids.     jMiiia  reminHa  mA  nf 


It  says,  (14th  June,)—'*  Mr.  Canning's  oppor- '  *"/?"°g-  Mine  reminds  me  of  Smdbad's  Old  Maa 
ries  to  serve  you  wit!  soon  be  numerous,  or  they  ^^  the  Sea,  and  wdl  certainly  throttle  me  if  I  can't 
sooti  be  gone  altogether,  for  he  is  of  a  different  •  »P™©h<»w  disniount  him.  If  I  were  once  in  posses- 
Id  from  some  of  his  ctfllesfi^ues,  ahd  a  decided   f^^    w^^^v^^^P  income,  I  would,  like  you,  bid 


Scotland.    If 

t^dre^sed  lo . 

hraet  be  wan  exerting 

Scott  S!         '-    ■    - 

tomiies 

will  soon  oe  gone  attoj^ner, 

roonid  from  some  of  his  c6it 

£oe  to  those  half  measures  ' 

a<  mtich  as  I  do<    It  is  not  uid  muu  uiai  i 

of  Spain  is  not  at  this  moment  triumphant,    i  ni»  i 

koov,  and  the  time  will  come  when  the  worid 

Witt  know  it  too." 

Efefore  fixinjj  himself  at  Ashcstiel  for  the  autumn, 
&e  had  undertaken  to  have  a  third  poem  ready  for 
PoWicitJon,  bv  John  Ballantyne,  by  the  end  of  the  \ 
yetr,  and  probably  made  some  progresa  in  the  com- 
postion  of  the  Lady  of  the  Lake.  On  the  rismj?  of 
the  Court  in  July,  he  went,  acconjipanied  by  Mrs 


xjme,  J   wouio,  iiKe  you,  tMd 
,  of  literature,  and  do  nothing 
lich  might  be  another  phrase 
*wi  uvtuK  v^jr  miio.    I  was  alwawp  an  admirer  of 
the  modest  wish  of  a  reuiner  in  ode  of  Beaumont 
and  Fletcher*  s  plays— 


SOTtimd  his  eldest  daughter,  to  revisit  the  tocallties 
r  to  him  m  the  days  of  his  juvenile  rambling 


**k??^  U»  iiiiM  III  fc«c   uajo  ««  uia  juTtujim  rami 

wkich  be  had  chosen  for  the  scene  i3€  his  fable. 


^trntimMim  ■sHiiteftslfaicaiaMii^iiiofBaksby 


1  would  not  be  a  serving  man 

To  carry  ihe  cloak- bag  still. 
Nor  wottJd  I  be  a  falconer. 

The  grcecfy  hawks  to  m  ; 
But  I  waukl  Uve  in  a  good  bouse^ 

And  hav  o  a  good  master  too, 
,  Aad  I  would  eat  aof  1  drink  of  the  best, 

And  no  work  would  I  do.' 

H? '  In  ^0  mean  time,  h  is  fhnny^enongh  to  sed  a  whelp 
•  of  a  yonnv  Ix»rd^yron  a^osmg  me,  of  whose  oirevnf  |  P 
stances  lie  kilowg  ntMuog,  (tit  endeavoorinii  i^ 


IM 


UFfi  OF  SIR  WALTER  SCOTT. 


scntch  but  a  litinRwith  my  pen.  God  help  the  bear  if^ 
having  little  else  to  eat,he  must  not  e^cn  suck  his  own 
•paws.  lean  assure  the  noble  imp  of  fame  it  is  not 
my  fault  that  I  was  not  born  to  a  park  and  £6000 
. 8-year,  as  it  is  not  his  lordship's  merit,  although  it 
may  be  his  fi^eat  good  fortune,  that  he  was  not  oorn 
to  live  by  his  literary  talents  or  success.  Adieu,  my 
dear  friend.  I  shall  be  impatient  to  hear  how  your 
matters  fadce."  •  .      „    ,   .      . 

This  gentleman  8  atfairs  are  agam  alluded  to  m  a 
letter  to  EUis,  dated  Ashestiel,  September  14  :— 

"  I  do  not  write  to  whet  a  purpose  that  ie  not  blunted, 
but  to  express  my  anxious  wishes  that  your  kind  endea- 
vours may  succeed  while  it  is  called  to-day^  for  by  all 
tokens,  it  will  soon  be  yeaterday  wiili,  this  Ministrj  And 
they  well  deserve  it,  for  crossing,  jostHn«.  and  hampering 
the  mftfli'or**  of  the  onJy  mi^i  a,tnftng  itiein  fit  to  be  in- 

irufeted  vrirli  the  wlvau^^^i  ui  i   ^   ntry.    The  spring- 

Uite  mmy^  t>ji  uiicht  1  knoi^,  \'i>^.-m^  m  rjiia  next  sesaloa  of 
FarlJ4Ui«iif'  Ttirrti  it  an  evit  ikie  iiiNio  us  ia  all  we  do  al 
hufitteand  abriMtl,  f1«o  iifUy  shoukl  tlia  copaueror  of  Th^ 
latEiTS  be  T4jtr^aiji49  tVon^  fb?  ^eUl  of  bisgforv  at  a  rao- 
uafaTiL  wtniiu  hy  fllJ  rciUninUit*  rnik u lition.  hesbuuld  bare 
b<!«^ii  Hn?  »^m  tttnJ  moTPr  «f  «  rt>nkl  uiea  army  of  150,000 
^fU^h,  ^f^KftnUrd^,  nml  Porfu^fiir:-.  <  And  why  should 
Qiflurd  i^inplcjx  hiiji!^(?ir  n!  h'»ine  in  n  >  tbrifUesa  exercise 
4f  rr<rr#if'tioi],  tkn  iT  Mnrtuty.  mf^t''-'-  of  stretching  to  a 
raca  tiluiA«lf.  wfTt  tuamufl*^  Mm4esr^«:lhatarUng  a  bedrid 
eiippte,  uhtl  inaiiJ'Dca  p#ir<)f  crifeU!i««  for  bim  Willi  tria 
uwn  l^nll  Milch  EolgUt  Tiir«  i^ean  <l  -le,  and  may  yet  be 
ifane  ^  but  wa  lu-a  im  yet  inrUv  i  i^L>t  way.  U  there  no 
ane  ^nonn  j^du  vbi>  con  Ihtuw  a  <^'Ui{reTe  rocket  among 
(heerrutirlx  m]  viplaei  of  thai  nr  <l«l  of  pedants,  Dr. 
PMK>patrij<  pjtrr?  I  uoct^riUuiEl  yuf  foreign  Ungos  too 
Hlil«  to  Hiientrn  it,  but  [tTfUy  thiivir^  Jtifght  Be  said  upon 
the  HDSaMrabfe  iiiret>ii  wMt^b  tir  I'eifgeu  of  Lord  Some- 
tkddfi  wtHHii  hft  aA*rwariii  wisltril  In  prove  to  be  mad. 
^  elaiBjiie,  1  wmUd  tdt^pt  tntnr  nf  ihe  leading  phfaaea  of 
Jf^4^pmi^lmt^  kiwh-mMittd,  r<^Aff  t»r^  paTVO,  and  so  foiSti, 
wM^nrblc^  halt  bt«pitit^ri^p)lN  ih^  Bdinouivh, and de- 
rWe  li  wr  fiQia^ii.  MuiU  (rutrni.,..!  l.  ihthe  three  wishes 
of  Prior's  tolti,  he  vraukj  «j up  lie  heroine  Corisca, 

'AlarflelomyaitferfHah 
IsaUIaranitiiidilvUL' 

I  did  nof  review  llias  Edgeworth,  nor  do  I  think  K  at  all 
well  done ;  at  leaat,  ft  tails  below  my  opiakm  of  thai  lady's 
merits.  Indeed,  I  have  cooiributed  nolliiof  to  tb*  'Mst 
Review,  and  am,  therefore,  according  to  au  rulea,  the 
naore-^tltled  to  criticise  It  fireety.  The  conclusion  of  (he 
amde  en  Sir  John  Moore  ta  transocNldemly  written ;  and 
I  think  I  can  venture  to  say,  *  out  iE?raaimi«.  ant  Diahotma.* 
Your  sugar<ake  ia  very  far  fh>m  being  a  heavy  ten-Aan  ; 
but  there  1  think  we  stop.  The  MJasiooariea,  though  very 
good,  ia  on  a  subject  ratiier  stale,  and  much  of  the  re«  is 
absolute  wading. 

'*  As  an  excuse  for  my  own  indolence.  1  have  been  in 
the  Uighlands  for  some  time  past ;  and  who  should  I  meet 
(ibre,  of  an  fowls  in  the  air,  bat  your  friend  Mr.  Black- 
bum,  to  whom  I  was  so  roneh  obliged  for  the  care  he  took 
of  my  late  unfortunate  relative,  at  your  friendly  retroeet. 
The  recognition  waa  unfortunately  made  Just  when  I  was 
leaving  the  country,  and  aa  he  was  in  a  gig.  and  I  on  the 
driviog-seat  of  a  carriage,  the  place  of  meeting  a  narrow 
Hlgliland  road,  which  looked  as  if  forty  patent  plougha 
had  furrowed  it,  we  had  not  time  or  space  for  so  long  a 
sreeting  as  we  could  have  wished.  He  has  a  capital  good 
nou«e  on  the  banks  of  the  I^even,  about  three  miles  below 
its  discharge  (h)m  the  lake,  and  very  near  the  classical 
spot  Where  Mauhew  Bramble  and  his  whole  family  were 
candncted  by  Smollett,  and  where  SmoUeU  himaelf  was 
bom.  There  is  a  new  inducement  for  yon  to  oome  to 
Calodon.  Your  health,  thank  God,  ia  now  no  Impediment ; 
and  I  am  told  sugar  and  rum  excel  even  whiaky,  ao  your 
purse  must  be  proportionally  distended." 

The  unfontmitfe  brother,  the  blot  of  the  fkmily, 
to  wht>m  Scott  ailadea  in  this  letter,  had  disappoint- 
ed all  the  hopes  under  which  his  friends  sent  him 
to  Jamaica.  It  may  be  remarked,  as  charaoteris^ic 
of  Scott  at  this  time^  that  in  the  varioos  letters  to 
Ellis  concerning  Daniel,  he  speaks  of  him  as  his 
rdaiipny  never  as  his  hroOur  ;  and  it  raoat  also  be 
men  tioned  as  a  cireamstanoe  suggesting  that  Daniel 
had  retained,  after  all,  aome  sense  of  pride,  that  his 
West  Indian  patron  was  allowed  by  nimsen  tore- 
main,  to  the  end  of  their  connexion,  in  ignorance  of 
what  his  diitinndflhed  broth«r  had  thaa  thought  fit 
M  mwprasa.  Bfr.  BkckburB^ia  fact,  never  knew 
that  Daniil  waa  Walter  Scoit'i  brotbtf,  amil  he 


was  applied  to  f9t  some  infbnn^tk>n  respeetiair  him 
on  my  own  behalf,  after  this  narrative  waa  beican. 
The  story  is  shortly,  that  the  adventurer's  habits  of 
dissipation  proved  incurable ;  but  he  finally  left 
Jamaica  under  a  stigma  which  Walter  Scott  ref^avd- 
ed  with  utter  severity.  Reing  employed  in  some  ser- 
vice against  a  refractory  or  insurgent  body  of  ne- 
groes, he  had  exhibited  a  lamentable  deficiency  of 
spirit  and  conduct.  He  returned  to  Scotland  a  dis- 
honoured man;  and  thpugh  he  foun4  shelter  and 
compassion  from  his  mother,  his  brother  iwoald 
never  sec  hin?  again.  Nay,  when  soon  after,  hia 
health,  shattered  dv  dissolute  indulgence,  and  pro- 
bably the  intolerable  load  of  shame,  gave  way  alto- 
gether,  and  be  died  as  yet  a  young  man,  the  poet  re- 
fused either  to  attend  nis  funeral,  or  to  wear  mour- 
ning for  him  like  the  rest  of  the  family.  Thus  stemi  v, 
when  in  the  hJghi  and  pride  of  his  blood,  oouki 
Scott,  whose  heart  was  never  hardened  asainat  the 
distress  of  an  enemy,  recoil  from  the  disgrace  of  a 
brother.  It  is  a  more  pleasing  part  of  my  doty  to 
add,  that  he  spoke  to  me,  twenty  years  af  terwarda, 
in  terras  of  great  aiid  painful  contrition  lor  the 
austerity  with  which  he  had  conducted  hin^self  on 
this  occasion.  1  must  add,  moreover,  that  he  took  a 
w  yy\  '  >Ti  Test  in  a  natural  child  whom  Daniel  had 
be  i  to  hia  raother'a  taret  and  af^  the  old 

la>iv\  ^?iih,  religiousiy  supplied  her  pftaee  as  the 
bov'^.  pro  lector. 

Aiioio  rliis  time  the  edition  of  Sff  Ralph  Sadter'a 
St  ^'  ITS,  Slc.  (3  vols,  royal  4to}  was  at  leneth 
cc  '  by  Scott,  and  puMdhed  byConataDia: 

bbi  Uiuli^iiers  which  passed  between  the  Editor  and 
the  bookseller  show  that  their  personal  epatrange» 
meat  had  aa  yet  undergone  slender  alteration.  The 
coUeotion  of  the  Sadler  papers  waa  chiefly  the  ^nnafk 
of  Mr.  Arthur  Ghflbrd— but  Soolt  drew  up  the  Me- 
moir and  Notea,  and  auperintended  the  printing.  Hw 
account  of  the  Life  of  Sadler*  eitenda  to  thirty 


leae  atfraotive  than  theperaonal  career  of  a  da 

sniahed  statesman  inlimatelv  connected  with  the 
fortunes  of  Mary  Queen  of  Scots.  Some  Tolomee 
of  the  edition  of  Somers's  Tracts  (which  he  had  un- 
dertaken for  Mr.  Mnier  and  other  bookaellers  of  LiOn- 
don  two  or  three  years  before)  were  also  published 
about  the  aamepenod  :but  that  compilation  waa  not 
finished  (13  vole,  royal  4io)  until  1812.  Hiapairt  ia 
it  (for  which  the  booksellers  paid  him  1900  auinaaa) 
was  diUaently  performed,  and  shews  ahondant 
traces  of  hia  aagadoua  understanding  and  ipaoelnl 
ezpreaaion.  His  editorial  labours  on  Dryden,  Swift, 
and  these  other  collections^  were  gradually  stooog 
his  mind  with  that  minute  and  aeeurate  knowl«* 

of  the  leading  persons  and  events  both  of  Seoi 

and  English  aistorv»  which  made  his  oonTeraatioB 
00  such  subjects  that  of  one  who  had  rather  hved 
with  than  read  about  the  departed;  while,  uxdike 
other  antiquariea,  he  always  preserved  the  keenest 
interest  in  the  transactions  ot  his  own  time. 

The  reader  has  seen  thai  durinjg  his  stay  in  London 
in  the  sprinaof  this  year,  Scott  beoame  atronclsr  uor 

greased  with  a  suspicion  that  the  Duke  of  Portia; 
afainet  could,  not  much  longer  hold  together ; 


with  a  suspicion  that  the  Duke  of  Portland's 

Id  not  much  longer  hold  together ;  and 

the  letters  which  have  been  quoted^  when  consider- 


ed along  with  the  actual  cdurae  of  subsequent  events, 
can  leave  little  doubt  that  he  had  gathwed  this  im. 
presaion  from  the  tone  of  Mr.  Canning's  private  ooo- 
versadon  aa  to  the  recent  management  of  the  War 
Department  hy  Lord  Caatlereagh.  1 1  is  now  known 
that,  as  early  as  Easter,  the  Secretary  ibf  Foreign 
Af&irs  had  mibmied  the  head  of  the  Government 
that,  unless  the  Secretary  for  War  and  the  Colonies 
were  replaced  by  a  more  competent  person,  he  him* 
self  must  withdraw  from  the  ^imstry;  that  the 
Duke  of  Portland  and  the  majority  of  the  Cabinet 
concurred  in  the  nacessitv  of  Lord  Castlereanh'a  ie> 
moval,  but  pressed  Mr.  Canning  to  allow  the  matter 
to  lie  over  until  the  conclusion  of  the  Parliamentarsr 
Session ;  that  BIr.  Canniogi  reluctantly  agietinK  ta 

WaAi.veilr. 


Lii!*  Op  s A' Walter  scorr. 


^hts  deity t  ocmthtttdd  to  sit  for  some  months  in  the 
same  cabinet  with  the  colleague  whose  eventual  dib- 
tnisBal  had  been  conceded  to  nis  representation ;  and 
that  when,  on  the  20th  of  September*  the  Dt^e  of 
Portland  at  length  informed  mm  of  Mr.  Canning's 
resolution,  with  the  date  of  its  pri^nal  communica- 
tion to  his  Grace  and  the  other  Ministers,  Lord  Cas- 
tlereafch  tendered  his  resignation,  and  vvote  the 
»ame  day  to  Mr.  Canning,  reproaching  him  with 
double  dealing.  "Having,  he  said.  "j)ronounced 
it  unfit  tha^  1  should  reniam  charged  with  the  con- 
duct of  the  war,  and  made  my  situation  as  a  Minis- 
ter of  the  Crown  dependant  on  your  will  and  plea- 
sure, you  continued  to  sit  in  the  same  Cabinet  with 
HIS,  and  leave  me  not  only  in  the  persuasion  thai  I 
Dossessed  your  confidence  and  support  as  a  coi- 
Itegue,  but  allowed  me,  in  bredch  of  every  princi|ile 
of  good  faith,  both  public  and  private,  to  originate 
and  proceed  in  the  execution  of  a  new  enterprise  of 
the  most  ardaous  and  important  nature  (the  Wal* 
dieren  Expedition)  with  your  apparent  concurrence 
and  ostensible  approbation.  .You  were  fully  aware 
that,  if  my  situation  in  the  goyernmeqt  had  heen  dis- 
elond  to  rae,  I  could,  not  nave  submitted  to  remain 
p  ^ce,  without  the  entire  abandonment  of  my  pri- 
Tate  honour  and  public  duty.  You  knew  I  was  de- 
ceived, atid  you  conUnued  to  deceive  me." 

The  result  was  a  duel  on  the  morning  of ,  the  21st, 
.  jot  vbich  Mr,  Canning  Was  alten<(ied  by  Mjt.  Charles 
dus  (now  Lord  Seaford)  aS  his  second.  M]r.  Caiji- 
Jiiqftat t^e  se(»|^d  fire,  wa^  severely  \^ouaded  m 
the  thighy  Wnuehn  antagonist  had  a  narrow  escape, 
Dtiou  on  the  lapel  oTfils  coat  having  been  shot 
In  conskmence  of  this  qu^rrsL  both  Lord  Cas* 
"^gh  and  sU.  CanmnA  retured  from  qffice;  their 
pie  was  fbllowed^oy  the  Duke  of  Portland 
.  jlf  i  and  i^ter  firumess  negotiations  with  Lords 
r  and  Qrenvule,  Mr.  Percival  became  First 
1  of  the  Treasury,  as  wall  as  .Chancellor  of  the 
beguer ;  while  the  Marquis  Wellasley  took  tl^e 
Jm  of  the  Foreign  Department,  and  Lord  Liver- 
ol  zamoved  from  tha  Home  Office  to  that  which 
1  CasUereagh  had  occupied.  There  were  some 
__r  changes,  but 'Scott's  friend,  Mr.  E.  Dundas, 
ow  Itord  Helt'ille))  remained  in  his  place  at  the 

1  of  the  Board  of  Control  j 
.  Jule  tlie  public  mind  was  occupied  with  the  duel 
and  Its  yet  uncertain  results,  Scott  wrote  as  fallows 
to  the  nearest  relation  and  most  intimate  friend  of 
Mr.  Canning's  second  :-~ 

Th  Oeofge  BIS*,  Esq. 

"Ashettiel,  Sept  26. 1809. 
"MydearEHis, 

"Tear  latter tSTe  me  oreat ptaasors,  espSelally  the 
01—1  *,  fat  Oaonloi**  fimnk  aaanred  ne  that  his  wound 
isn  at  least  not  laaleriaUy  serioHi.  8o  for  oose  the 
«avelo|>e  of  roar  letter  waa  eveq  nore  welcome  tbao  the' 
ecot«iu«.  That  bsrebraioed  Irishman's  letter  carriss  ab« 
surdity  upon  the  ftce  of  ft,  for  surely  he  would  hare  had 
mnch  more  reason  for  personal  animosity  had  Canning 
aiade  the  matter  public,  afainst  the  wishes  of  his  uncle 
lad  every  other  peraMi  r.oncemed,  than  fhr  his  consent* 
liif,  tti  (heir  reqwest,  that  It  should  remain  a  seeret,  and 
kBTiag  it  Co  tbsm  lo  make  such  eommanlcatfon  to 
Lord  C.  as  they  ahiocild  think  proper,  and  whm  they 
ehookS  tbiok  proper.  I  am  ill  aitoated  here  for  the  ezpb* 
nations  I  would  ^h  to  give,  but  I  have  forwarded  copies 
of  Che  letters  to  Lord  Dalkeith,  a  high-spirited  and  Inde- 
peodeot  young  noblemaiQ;  in  whose  opinion  Mr.  Canning 
would,  1  think,  aish  to  stand  well.  I  hare  also  taken 
some  measures  to  prevent  the  good  folks  of  Edinburgh 
from  rmming  afleraay  straw  that  may  be  thrown  into  tno 
wind.  1  wrote  a  very  hurried  note  to  Mr.  C.  Ellis  the 
Instant  I#av  the  accident  in  the  papers,  not  knowing  ex- 
aetty  wbere  yow  migbc  be,  and  tvustteg  he  would  excuse 
mr  estreme  anxiety  and  solicitude  upon  the  occasion. 

"^  I  see,  among  other  reports^  that  my  friend,  Bobert 
Bondss.  is  mentioned  as  Secretary  at  War.  I  confess  1 
^all  be  both  vexed  and  disappointed  if  he,  of  whose  tat 
Imtsand  opinions  I  think  very  highly,  shonld  be  prevallea 
pa  to  embar^c  in  so -patched  and  crazy  a  vessel  as  can 
;nwbe  Uied  mgether,  and  that  upon'a  sea  Which  pro- 
glibe  10  be  sulaoleatly  bolsteroua.  My  own  hopes  of 
etery  Idnd  are  as  low  as  the  heels  of  my  boots,  and  me> 
thinks  I  would  ai^  to  aay  frieodof  mloe  as  Tybalt  says 
Is  Besvotto— >' WIM I  art  thou  drawn^anoog  these  heart* 
19       N 


145 

less  hinds  V  I  suppose  the  Doctor  will  be  inore  the  fivt, 
and  then  the  Whigs  will  cume  in  like  a  land- flood,  and  lay 
the  country  at  the  feet  of  Buonaparte  for  peace.  This, 
if  tiis  devil  does  not  fail,  he  will  readjiy  patch  up.  aaA 
send  a  few  hundred  tliousands  among  our  coaclidnviiig 
noblesse,  and  perhaps  among  oar  Pnncea  of  the  Blood.  . 
With  the  influence  acquired  by  such  gages  ffamitil, 
and  by  ostentatious  hospitality  at  his  court  to  all  those 
idiots  wlio  will  forget  the  rat-trap  of  the  detenu^,  and 
crowd  there  for  novelty,  there  wul  be,  in  the  course  of 
iive  or  six  years,  what  we  have  never  yet  seen,  a  real 
French  party  in  this  country.  To  this  you  are  to  add  all 
the  Burdettites,  men  who,  rather  than  want  combustibles^ 
will  fetch  brimstone  from  hell.  It  is  not  these  whom  I 
fear,  however,— it  is  the  vile  and  degrading  spirit  of  tgo- 
isme  so  prevalent  among  the  higher  ranks,  c^ecidly 
among  the  highest.  God  forgive  me  if  I  do  ihem  injustice, 
but  I  thick  cbamnajp^e  duty  free  wculd  go  a.  frrca;  wav 

to  lai.Uutu  fiUJiDf)  uf  LT|4i-ai  ;  (LmUd  it  LiMl  %  f'XfcirL^  ajuiptOiJi 

wtu'ii  ]jcuj»jt,  knowing  and  Teclirig  iheir  linii  wilii^i^bs, 
win.  rn>rii  jnrrc:  iKrLfijhJies:^  amlprfde,  sudTitr  ll^it:  ^esacl  to 
drive  L»n  lite  hIigIvc;^  raLUcr  titan  dij<<  ihuulil  b.e  &av€i>d  by 
thi  niily  mlot  caijikbi*!  fjf  Xhfi  taslr?  1  will  be  inucb  riUlged 
to  yim  10  i'^;  iKC  kixiw  what  IS  lilctlj  lci  bo  dofic — w^elE^r 
any  !igh|  can  yet  be  iiiiir]?,  or  if  £ll  i«  uv^r.  Lqi-lI  Mel^ 
villu  \\h^l  be^Q  fujriDUB  for  sojiifj  lime  a^n^t  thit  A4fflin- 
islolioa— I  rhink  ht.  wtU  bsrdljf  land  a  ijand  Va  clcMr  ibe 
wietk.  !  BhauJd  tltlnlt^  if  M«iqul4  \Vj|>Ue*k'y  rtMi^na, 
he  \m^\\i  rarm  a  alcadj  a^'ImiuitJlr^iiLiEi,  btn  Cp!'.^t  wot  Jib 
mu^t  cond^^mn  mo«L  <ii  tlie  fituieuL  nAutu  pliuika  b^fart! 
lie  can  iu.y  down  iii«  ni*?w  vetwel.  aIi4jtc  di,  ki  uic  know 
hov  Cnnnlnjir's  rftcoveir  goeeoH.  "VVe  tiuist  LhifJcwhat 
is  r-u  be  i,](jnf:  altouE  titc  \\f\  \*i\\.     Evr-r  y^i^r*  uuTy, 

J^cott*s  yjewi  as  to  the  trsn^ctions  of  this  periiW, 
and  the  pnncipat  {Parties  ooncerned  in  them,  web 
considerably  altered  by  the  onservat^n  of  sul>fe- 
quenbjrears  ;  but!  have  been  much  interested  with 
watching  the  course  of  his  sentiments  and  opinions 
on  such  subjects ;  ahtf.  In  the^Deuef  that  others  may 
feel  in  the  ^ame, way  writh  .myself  I  shall  insert; 
without  comment,  some  further  extracts  from  this 
correspondence : 

"Ashestl^  Nov.  3»  1309: 
^^MydearfiUis, 

"  I  bad  your  letter  some  time  ago,  which  save  me 
less  comfort  la  the  present  public  emergency  than  your 
letters  usually  do.  Franklv,  I  see  great  doubts,  not  to  % 
say  an  impOssfbilHy,  of  OaJinlng's  attaining  that  rauk 
among  the  opposition  which  will  enable  him  to  command 
the  use  of  thenr  shotriders  to  place  him  where~you  can- 
not be  more  convinced  than  I  am— he  is  entitled  to  stand. 
The  eondotHeri  of  the  Orenvilles,>-for  they  have  no  poll- 
tieal  prMciples,  and  therefore  no  political  partv.  detached 
ftom  their  Immense  Influence  over  '  Indtvfdoals— will 
hardly  be  sednc^d  from  their  standard  to  that  of  Canning, 
by  an  ekxpienee  which  has  been  exerted  upon  them  m 
vahi,  eten  when  they  might  have  hoped  to  be  gainers  by 
Katenlnc  to  it.  The  sM'-rfisent  Whigs  stick  together  lUce 
burs.  The  ragged  regiment  of  Buraett  and  Folkstone  is 
nnder  yet  stricter  discipline,  fbr  yon  may  have  observed 
that  no  lover  was  ever  so  Jealous  of  his  mistress  as  9\t 
Francis  is  of  his  mob  popalartty— witness  the  ftte  6f 
Paoll,  Tiemey.  even  Wardle ;  in  short,  of  whomsoever 
presumed  to  rival  the  brasen  Image  whom  the  mob  Of 
Westminster  has  set  up.  That  either,  or  both  of  theSe 
parties,  will  be  del^hted  with  the  accession  of  ocu* 
nriend's  wisdom  and  eloquence,  cannot  for  a  moment  be 
disputed.  That  the  Grenvilles,  in  particular,  did  be  only 
propose  to  himself  a  slice  of  the  great  pudding,  woul» 
allow  him  to  help  hlmflelf  where  the  plums  lie  thickest, 
cannot  be  doubted  But  I  thhik  It  Is  very  doubtfhl  whe- 
ther they,  closely  banded  and  confident  of  triumph  as 
they  at  present  are,  will  accept  of  a  colleague  upon  terms 
which  would  make  him  a  master;  and  unless  Canning 
has  these,  it  appears  to  me  that  we  (the  Republic)  should 
be  no  better  tnan  if  he  had  retained  his  office  in  the  pre- 
sent, or  rather  late,  Administration.  But  how  far,  In 
throwing  himself  altogether  into  the  arms  of  Opposition 
at  this  crisis,  Canning  will  injure  himself  with  the  larse 
and  sound  i^y  who  profess  Pittitniy  is,  I  really  thralc, 
worthy  of  coosideratton.  The  influence  of  his  name  is 
at  present  as  great  as  you  or  I  could  wish  it ;  but  those 
who  wish  to  undernrine  It  want  but,  according  to  our 
Scottish  proverb,  'a  hair  to  make  i^  tether nf.>  I  admit 
his  hand  is  very  difllcolt  to  play,  and  mtich  as  1  love  and 
admire  him,  I  am  most  latsrested  because  it  isthedectd. 
cd  lateresc  of  his^coum]7,  that  he  sbould  ph|ue,  repl(^e, 
and  capot  his  antagonists.    But  you  know  much  of  the 


^       46 


UFE  QF  SIR  WALTKR  SCOTT. 


daKcaey  of  the  game  Uea  in  di»carding^-mi  I  bop«  he  wIU 
be  in  no  horrj  on  throwing  oat  his  cardt. 

**  I  am  (he  more  anxious  on  this  score,  becanse  I  feel 
an  internal  eonriction  that  neither  Marquia  Wellesley  nor 
liord  Melville  will  lend  their  names  to  bolster  out  tbia 
mmp  of  an  Administration.  Symptoms  of  this  are  said 
to  have  transpired  in  Scotland,  but  in  this  retirement  1 
cannot  learn  upon  what  authority.    Should  thiv  prove  so, 

confess  mr  best  wishes  -would  be  realized,  because  I 
cannot  see  now  Percival  eould  avoid  surrendering  at 
discretion,  and  talcing,  perhaps,  a  peerage.  We  should 
then  have  an  Administration  2k  la  Pitt^  wnich  is  a  much 
better  thing  than  an  Opposition,  howsoever  conducted  or 
headed,  which,  lilce  a  wave  of  the  aea,  forms  indeed  but 
a  single  bodv  when  it  is  rolling  towards  the  shore,  but 
(lashes  into  roam  and  dispersion  the  instant  it  reaches  ila 
object  Should  Canning  and  the  above  named  noble  peers 
come  to  understand  each  other,  joined  to  all  among  the 
present  Ministry  whom  their  dative  good  aense,  and  an 
attachment  to  good  warm  places,  will  lead  to  hear  reason, 
H  does  seem  to  me  tliat  we  might  form  a  deeper  front  to 
the  enemy  than  we  nave  presented  since  the  death  of 
Pitt,  or  rather  since  the  dissolution  of  his  first  Administrsr 
tlon.  Bat  if  this  be  a  dream,  as  it  may  very  probably  be,  I 
still  hope  Canning  wilrtake  his  own  groond  in  Parliament 
and  hoist  his  own  standard.  Sooner  or  later  it  must  be 
SQCcessfuL  So  much  for  potltir^— about  which,  after  all, 
mr  nelghboora  the  blackeocka  know  about  as  much  as  1  da 

^*  I  have  a  great  deal  to  write  you  about  a  new  poem 
which  I  have  on  the  anvil— alao,  upon  the  mehmcholy 
death  of  a  Ikvourite  greyhound  bitch— rest  her  body,  since 
I  dare  not  say  soul  I  She  was  of  high  blood  and  excellent 
promise.  Should  any  of  vour  sporting  friends  nave  a 
whelp  to  spare,  of  a  good  Idnd,  and  of  the  female  aex,  I 
would  be  grateful  beyond  measure,  eapeclally  if  ahe  haa 
bad  the  distemper.  As  I  have  quite  laid  aside  the  gun, 
eoanring  la  na  onlv  and  constant  amuaemenL  an ' 
vahiedo 


eoanring  la  my  only  and  constant  amuaement,  and  my 
"'  ^led  pdr  of  foar*legged  champlooa,  Do    '         ' "" 
I  oki  and  ui\ftary.    Ever  yours  truly, 


W.  B." 


TV  WaUw  SMt,  Etq. 

"  OlooeeMer  Lodge^  Nor.  18^  1809. 
"kly  dear  Sir, 

**  I  am  very  senaibW  gratified  by  yoar  kbid  express 
■Ions,  whether  of  coodofenea  or  congratulatioa,  and  I  ac* 
knowledge,  if  not  (with  your  Highland  writer)  the  ay* 
Donymooaneaa  of  the  two  terms,  at  leaat  the  union  of  tna 
two  aentlmenta^  aa  a|)pHed  to  my  preaent  ^rcamattDcea., 
I  am  not  ao  heroically  Ibnd  of  boiog  aatf,  (guStemu  out^)  a» 
not  to  conaider  that  a  matter  of  condolence.  But  I  am  at 
0  the  aame  time  sufficiently  convinced  of  the  desirableneaa 
of  not  being  tn,  whan  one  should  be  fo  to  no  purpose, 
either  of  public  advantsge  or  personal  credit,  to  he  aaiia> 
fled  that  on  that  ground  I  am  entitled  to  yoar  congratu* 
latlona. 

"  I  should  be  very  happy  indeed  to  look  forward,  with 
the  prospect  of  being  able  to  realize  it,  to  the  trip  to 
Scotlaod  which  you  suggest  to  me ;  and  atiU  more  to  the 
visit  included  therein,  which,  aa  you  hokl  It  out,  would 
not  be  the  leaat  part  of  my  temptation.  Of  this,  how- 
ever, 1  hope  we  shall  iMve  opportuniUea  of  talking  beibre 
the  season  arrives ;  for  I  reckon  upon  your  spring  viait 
to  I^ndon,  and  think  of  it,  I  assure  you,  with  great  plea>' 
aure,  as  likely  to  happen  at  a  period  when  I  ahall  nave 
it  more  in  my  power  than  I  have  had  on  anv  former 
occasion  to  enjoy  the  advantage  of  it.  You  will  find  me 
not  in  quite  so  romantic  a  acene  of  seclusion  and  tran* 
quillity  here  as  that  which  yoa  describe— but  verr  tran- 
quil and  secluded  nevcrtheleaa,  at  a  mile  and  a  half 's  dis- 
tance from  Uyde  Park  C«>mer— «  distance  considerable 
enough,  as  I  now  am,  to  aavo  mo  from  any  very  overwhelm- 
ing '  unda  salutantium.' 

"  Here,  or  auy  where  elae,  1  beg  you  to  believe  in  the 
verpr  sincere  satisfaction  wL-M^h  I  ahall  derive  from  your 
society,  and  which  1  do  derive  from  the  asaurance  of  your 
regard  and  good  opinion.  Sv«r,  my  dear  air,  very  truly 
and  failUfully  youre, 

Geo.  CANifiKO. 

"  P.  8.— I  expect,  in  the  course  of  this  week,  to  send 
you  a  copy  of  a  more  ample  statement  of  the  circum* 
^  stances  or  my  retirement,  which  the  misrepresentations 
.of  some  who,  I  think,  must  have  known  they  were  mis- 
representing, (though  lAoil  must  not  say,)  have  rendered 
necessary." 

I  could  not  quote  more  largely, from  these  poTitical 
letters  without  trespassing  agaii^st  the  feelings  of 
distin^ished  individuals  fitilTahve,  I  believe  the 
eitraets  which  I  have  give  are  sufficient  to  illus- 
traie  the  sagacity  with  which  Scott  had  at  that  ear- 
iy  penod  apprebeiided  the  dangers  to  which  the  po- 


litical career  of  Mr.  CaDning^  wm  expoaed,  by  tba 
jealousy  of  the  old  Tory  aristocracy  on  the  one 
band,  and  the  insidious  flatteries  of  Whig  intijicaers 
on  the  other.  Even  in  comiftunications  which  he 
must  have  known  would  pass  under  Mr.  (^annine^s 
own  eye,  1  think  we  may  trace  something  of  the 
lurking  suspicion,  that  a  propensity  to  tamper  ^^th 
intrigue  might  eventually  aeveloM  itself  in  that 
great  statesman's  otherwise  nobis  character.  In 
after  years  he  certainly  expressed  himself  concern- 
ing the  Quarrel  of  1809  as  i^  on  a  ,cooI  retrospect, 
he  considered  the  *' harebrained  Irishman*' to  have 
been  much  more  sinned  against  than  sinninf?;  but 
his  original  impressions  on  this  point  had  of  course 
been  modified  b]^  the  subsequent  lives  of  the  two 
antagonists— aA,  indeed,  his  correspondence  will  be 
found  to  confess.  I  willingly  turn  from  Scott's  po- 
litics, to  some  other  matters,  which  about  this  time 
occupied  a  large  share  of  his  thoughts. 

He  had  from  his  boyish  days  a  great  love  for  thea- 
trical representation ;  and  bo  90on  as  circumstances 
ehabled  him  to  practise  extended  hospitality,  the 
chief  actors  of  his  time,  whenever  they  happened  to 
be  in  Scotland,  were  among  the  most  acceptable  of 
his  guests.  Mr.  Charles  Young  wa^  I  believe  the 
first  of  them  of  whom  he  saw  much.  As  early  as 
1803  I  find  him  writing  of  that  gentleman  to  the 
Marchioness  of  Abercorn  as  a  valuable  addition  to 
the  soeietv  of  Edinburgh ;  and  down  to  the  end  of 
Scott's  lile,  Mr.  Young  was  never  in  the  north  with- 
out visiting  him. 

Another  graceful  and  intelligent  performer  in 
whom  he  took  a  special  interest,  and  of  whom  he 
saw  a  great  deal  in  his  private  circle,  was  Bftas 
Smith,  afterwards  Mrs.  Bartle^.  Bpt  at  die  period 
of  which  I  am  now  treating:  hu|  prmdoal  theatri- 
cal intimacy  was  with  ^hn  Philip  Keinble,  and  his 
sister  Mrs.  Siddons,  both  of  >fvhom  he  appears  to 
have  often  met  at  Lord  Abeheorn's  villa  near  Stan- 
more,  during  his  spring  visits  to  London  after  the 
first  estabUsntnent  of  his  poetical  celebrity.  Of  John 
Eemble's  personal  character  and  manner^  he  has 
recorded  his  impressions  in  a  pleasing  reviewal  of 
Mr.  Boaden's  Memoh-.*  The  $retLt  tragedian's  love 
of  black-letter  learning;  especially  of  dramatic  an- 
tiauities,  afforded  a  strong  bond  of  fellowship ;  and 
I  nave  heard  Scott  say,  that  the  only  man  whomever 
seduced  him  into  very  deep  potations  in  his  middJe 
life  was  Kemble.  He  was  freouentlv  at  Ashestael, 
and  the  "  fat  Scotch  butler,"  whom  Mr.  Skene  has 
d^cribed  to  us.  by  name  John  Mat^tth,  made  sere 
complaints  of  the  had  hours  kept  on  such  occasions 
in  one  of  the  most  regular  of  households ;  but  the 
watchings  of  the  nh^ht  were  not  more  grievous  to 
"  Cousin  Macbeth,''  as  Kemble  called  the  honest 
beauffeUtri  than  were  the  haxards  and  &tjgnes  of 
the  morning  to  the  representative  of  the  Seotoh 
usurper.  Kemble^s  miseries  during  a  rough  gallop 
were  quite  as  grotesque  as  those  of  his  namesake, 
and  it  must  be  owned  that  species  of  distress  was 
one  from  the  contemplation  ot  which  his  host  could 
never  derive  any  thing  but  amusement 

I  have  heard  Scott  chuckle  with  particular  gise 
over  the  recollection  of  an  excursion  to  the  vale  of 
the  Ettrick,  near  which  river  the  party  were  pnrsa- 
ed  by  a  bull.  "  Come,  King  ioha,"  said  he,  "  we 
must  even  take  the  water,"  and  acoordinglf  he  and 
his  daughter  plunged  into  the  stream.  But  Kin^ 
John,  bailing  on  the  bank  and  surveying  the  river, 
which  happened  to  be  full  and  turbid,  exclaimsd,  in 
his  usual  solemn  manner, 

"  The  flood  is  angry,  Shertfl^ 

Methinka  I'll  get  me  up  into  a  tree.'^t 

It  was  well  that  the  dogs  had  succeeded  indivertinff 
the  hull,  because  there  was  no  tree  at  hand  wfaicE 
could  have  sustained  King  John,  nor,  had  that  been 
otherwise^  could  so  stately  a  personage  have  dis- 

*  Mimensjieous  Prose  Works,  vol  xz. 

*  John  Kemble's  most  &iniliar  taUe-talk  dUn  ooired  into 
Uank  verse :  and  ao  indeed  did  Us  si«tcr^  Seott  (wIr>  was  a 
capital  miaDie)  oAan  refwated  her  tiatie  exelunatkn  tea  ftowv 
dwins  a  dinner  at  Ashestisl,  '    .    ^     .    ^       . 

*'  Yo«*vc  brmgtn  im  wa««.  b*f ,— I  uM  Cor  bMr.** 


UJTB  OF  31R  Wi^TER  SCOTT. 


wwinfad  and  asctnded  with  such  alacrity  as  dr- 
flamscaneefl  would  haie  required.  H^  at  length 
fallowed  hi«  friends  through  the  iiver  with  the  roe- 
fid  dij^ity  of  Don  Quixote. 

It  was  this  intercourse  which  led  Scott  to  exert 
hioiself  yery  strentiously.  when  some  change  in  the 
adxniiiistrauon  of  the  Edinburgh  stage  became  ne- 
cessary—U  believe  in  1808,V— to  prevail  on  Mr.  Hen- 
IV  Siddons,  the  nephew  of  Kemble,  to  undertake 
to*  lease  and  management.  Such  an  arrangement 
woald,  he  expected,  induce  both  Kemble  and  his 
sster  to  be  more  in  Scotland  than  hitherto;  and 
what  he  had  seen  of  youn;;  Siddons  himself  led  him 
to  prognosticate  a  great  improvement  in  the  whole 
eoodoct  of  the  northern  stage.  His  wishes  were  at 
Wngth  accomplished  in  the  summer  of  1809.  On 
this  o  casion  iie  purchased  a  share,  and  became  one 
of  the  acting  trustees  for  the  ^enseal  body  of  pro- 
prietors ;  and  thenceforth,  dunng  a  long  series  of 
ynars,  he  continued  to  take  a  very  lively  concern  in 
tlae  pffoceedin^  of  the  Edinburgh  company.  In  this 
ko  was  plentuiiUy  encouraged  oy  his  domestic  ea- 
'MmariUa  ;  for  his  wife  had  all  a  Frenchwoman's 
Mssion  for  the  metaele :  and  the  elder  of  the  two 
BaUantynes  (both  equally  devoted  to  the  company 
of  playen)  was  a  regular  newspaper  critic  of  thea- 
trical a&va,  and  in  that  capacity  had  already  at- 
tained a  measure  of  authority  supremely  gratifying 
tohimselt 

The  first  new  play  produced  by  Henry  Siddons 
was  the  Family  Legend  of  Joanna  Bauhe.  This 
waS)  I  believe,  the  first  of  her  draro/ts  that  .ever 
<  iDMMrwent  the  test  of  representation  in  her  native 
kiMaom  i  and  Scott  appears  to  have  exerted  him- 
self most  indefatigably  in  its  behalt  He  was  con- 
nltaa  about  all  the  minuHw  of  coatume,  attended 
every  rriiearsal,  and  supplied  the  prologue.  The 
play  was  better  received  than  any  other  which  the 
gifted  anchoress  has  since  subjected  to  the  same  ex- 
poriment  i  and  how  ardently  Seoit  enjoyed  its  suo- 
cass  will  appear  from  a  few  specimens  of  the  many 
letters  which  he  addressed  to  his  friend  on  the  occa- 
aaon. 

The  first  of  these  letters  is  dated  Edinburgh,  Oc- 
tober 27,  1809.  Ha  had  gone  into  town  for  the  pur- 
pose of  entering  his  eldest  boy  at  the  High  School : 

**Oii  reeetvtng  your  loaf  kind  letter  ye«terdav«  I  soacht 

•el  atddoDS,  who  was  equally  sorprlsed  and  deUclitecr«t 

joor  liberal  arranf  ement  about  the  Lady  of  the  Rock.    I 

will  pot  all  the  oamea  to  righta^  and  retain  enoogh  of  lo- 

eafity  mad  peraooality  to  p)ea»e  the  antlqoarv,  without  the 

]  risk  of  brioglnf  the  clan  Gillkm  aboat  ooT  ears.    I 

c  thraafh  the  theatre  which  lathe  most  oomplete  little 

f  of  the  kind  1  ever  saw,  elegaaUy  fitted  up.  and  large 

eooagfa  for  every  purpose.    1  truat,  with  yoo,  that  In  thw, 

as  to  ether  cases,  oar  Scotch  poverty  may  be  a  counter* 

bslaaee  to  oar  Scotch  pride,  and  that  we  shall  not  need 

Id  flsy  time  a  linger  or  more  expensive  boUding.    Siddons 

hloMelf  observes,  that  even  ior  the  parpoaes  of  show 

(BO  panuoionnt  now^a-daya)  a  moderate  stage  Is  better  flt* 

ted  than  alarge  one,  becaose  the  machinery  Is  pliable  and 

maM«eeble  in  proportion  to  its  size.    With  regard  to  the 

cqeipment  of  the  ramily  Legend,  I  have  been  much  dl- 

"verted  with  a  dieroverr  which  I  have  made.    I  had  OC' 

easkm  to  visit  oor  Lord  Provost,  (by  profeaeioo  astoddog- 

weaver,)'  and  was  sorprlsed  to  nod  the  worthy  magis- 

,  tnce  iUled  with  a  new  bom  seal  for  the  drama.    Be  spoke 

of  Mr.  SiddoBs'  merits  with  enihosiasm,  and  of  Miss 

BaBfie'e  powers  almost  with  tears  of  rapture.    Behis  a  ca- 

riona  Investigator  of  caoae  and  effect,  I  never  rested  until 

I  foood  oot  that  this  theatric  rage  which  had  seised  his 

Inrdship  of  a  sodden,  was  owing  to  a  hne  order  for  hose. 

paotaioona,  and  plaids,  for  equipping  the  rival  elans  or 

Cuopbell  and  Maclean,  and  which  Siddons  was  sensible 

eoooffh  u>  send  to  the  warehoaae  of  our  excellent  provost. 

.  .  .  The  Lairdt  Isjast  gone  to  the  High  School,  and  it  is 

*  Tliis  mafbtiale  waa  Mr.  WilUam  (Soulier,  who  died  in  oAee 
ia  Aptil,  ISIS,  and  Is  nid  to  have  beea  greatly  oomalMl  on  Ms 
dwui»cd  hf  the  piotpeot  of  so  gnna  a  funeral  at  miat  needs  oc- 
ear  in  4ie  case  of  an  aetaal  Lord  Plovott  of  Anld  Reekie.    Soott 


medio  late  him  <iir 
i^A.  tboacli<f 

SMfcie,  or  wtmpG'tfuTBt^JJnoa^^  ^ 

fata  fbr  Joinaw  Arntftrang.  wbdae  lUbied  tower  tostflJ  extant 
•rafbeekJeoBtks  Mc,  ncaHy  onioifte  If eCbeibr. 


as  MTiaff  at  KMBe  pabHe  sMetiiiff, '*  Oentle- 
toUie  trade  cf  a,stoekinrweaver,Iwas  1 

**'^'  ^iSSrSinockJeiths.lflitief  Gg. 


141  / 

with  hiezpressible  feeling  that  I  hear  hira  trying  to  babble 
the  first  words  of  Latin,  the  aignal  of  coramenclng  seri- 
ous study,  for  hia  acqukements  hitherto  have  been  under 
the  mild  dominion  of  a  governess.    1  felt  very  like  Leontea, 

Looking  on  the  lines    . 

Of  my  boj'8  face,  metliooght  I  did  recall 

Thirty  good  years— 
And  O,  my  dear  Misa  Baillie,  what  a  tale  thirty  years  can 
teU  even  in  an  uniform  and  unliazaroous  course  of  life  I 
How  much  1  have  reaped  that  I  have  never  sown,  and 
sown  that  I  have  never  reaped  I  Always,  I  shall  think  It 
one  of  the  proudest  and  happiest  circumstances  of  my 
life  that  enables  me  to  subscribe  myself  your  SUihlul 
and  affectionate  friend, 

W.  8." 

Three  months  later,  be  thus  communicatos  the 
result  of  the  experiment. 

TV  Hmv  Joamna  BailUe^  Hampettmi. 

••  Jan.  aOlh,  1810. 
My  dear  Miss  BaUlle, 

'<  You  have  only  to  imagine  all  that  you  could  wish  lo 
give  saccess  to  a  play,  and  voar  concepttona  will  still  ftV 
short  of  the  complele  and  decided  triumph  of  the  Family 
Legend.  The  house  waa  crowded  to  a  most  extfaordina* 
ry  degree  ;  many  people  had  come  fh>m  your  native  oa> 
)dtal  of  the  west ;  vt^ty  thing  that  preunded  to  distinc- 
tion, whether  from  ranfc  or  literature,  waa  In  the  boxes, 
and  in  the  pit  such  an  aggresate  mass  of  humanity  as  I 
have  seldom  If  ever  witnessed  in  the  same  space.    It 


goJte  obviooa  fhmi  the  beginning,  thai  the  caaae  was  to' 
e  very  ftirly  tried  before  the  pohlie,  and  chat  if  any 
thing  went  wrong,  no  eflbrt,  even  of  your  nonierous  and 


xeak>us  friends^  eoukl  have  hail  much  influence  la  guid- 
ing or  restraiaiDg  the  general  feeling.  Seme  good-oatur  ea 
persons  had  been  kind  enough  to  propagate  reports  of  a, 
strong  opposition,  which,  though  I  considered  them  as 
totally  groundless,  did  not  by  any  meana  leasen  the  ex- 
treme anxiety  with  which  I  waited  the  rise  of  the  curtsin. 
Bat  In  a  abort  time  I  saw  there  was  no  ground  whatever' 
for  apprehension,  and  yet  I  sat  the  whole  ttme  shaking  fcAr 
Um  a  sfMie-mhTfter^  ct  i  carpei^r^r.  or  Tmin*  of  the  sa> 
ball  err*  rictors,  shouhj  irr&rEfi  ^imt  launder,  acjJ  ititi^rriiiit 
Uiefft^Jifiii;  -jrUei-p  UiJ  ff«Atfm1  irtiortiii  wlikb  ftonii  acizccl 
on  Uie  wlk>le  pit,  box.  and  gall^rj')  cis  Mr.  H^jrt'm  bam  IL 
The  Kene  on  the  rock  A^rucSt  tht;  uloiu*)  p^«iijbt«  effect 
Into  Jihe  Qudjenre^  and  >'oii  hcniiJ  [L0tli1>n^  but  mt^  iin  all 
s[d<^£,  TIj?  binqueT^tcirnc  mix  f^c^aftEly  iirptesajve,  and 
aowasfht  coTDbai.  Of  ihft  ereaipr  pren^s,  thai  bfitwe^Qiii 
Lorn  an  si  ft^leti  In  ibf^  t^um^  nf  HAclic^d,  Ihai  hcLv«eD 
Hst^n  *ncl  b*r  J^jv^r,  aa4  The  ^^Mutilnatioo  cf  Mack'sn  lilm% 
self  in  Ar;fyle'«  rajiile,  were  apjiltULJed  ifl  llip  ***rj  fohov 
8id(ioni  annoiLtircd  ihe  plaf  \ftir  the  rtti  uj  the  w^mk^^ 
which  wju  n-ctjl'ved  not  uui^  ^vlth  aihuudcro^  afi^isuae, 
but  wiUi  L^hx:c^nrte  ni^ii  Dirovriii,^^  \m  uf  hJitaiuid  hanUltir', 
chlf-riL  Hre.  ^iddonti  AniiparibU  h^r  ptrt  liitDu>p]irAbly. 
although  jijfll  rci^ovcr'fd  fttim  ihc  iodlitEiditfrjDD  ni^.o'dloiieri 
In  my  lejr  i^iddoni  hlniielf  plajK^  l^rn  Tcryw^Hla- 
deert,  a:Fifl  macetl  tfid  Inokc^d  wH1^  grfst  t>\AnV  A  Mr. 
Terrjt  who  preimEseatn  bo  afltie  pcimraiLii,  w«til  ihrauih 
the  part  fit  vfiti  Old  Bail  vlUi  irrruL  taatv  and  efft'Ct,     ^r 


thST^ai  [  cat  J  Dot  say  much,  ^jicppurg  th^l  from  hii;he«l  to 
lowest  the^  were  tiioi^l  accutaEi^  iy  porlDci  In  (h4:1i'  parts, 
and  dJLJ  their  very  beiil,    Makuliii  M  Grtj  wim  tcilcrable 


but  *J*irJl-i>A— Moc^cJua  fame  cbfT  dt^rently— but  the  cdr- 
BpifJilnTE  wrre  jiad  hounda.  Yuu  are,  my  ckiir  Mlw  Bad- 
lie,  tr>9ciiiii:ti  of  m  di^iDor.rat  In  tour  wrinnfi ;  ysu  sHcjw 
life,  ^u1,  and  erpliit  TO  the^e  Lnfriifvr  rrcattirtn  of  the 
drainft*  and  f  spetiitiry  wiM  b<j  iht  better  of  U.  Now  U 
was  ohvlotf4  ID  m^i  that  the  poor  monsters,  wh»:tse(Douihs 
are  only  nf  ufle  to  spnut  th^vsphi  btank  ve[*«  whti&h  yoiir 
mod^R]  pluywf  JRiit  pULH  Into  tQ4?  part.  aTlhe  confidiui  and 
sutMiero  vdliiu  dT  hlit  piNct^,  did  ivnl  know  whai  to  luake 
of  Ifi^  pucrf  ctic  «Dil  |>r!eijt4il  dklloo  wlik-h  <;vfrn  die*e 
subordinotL"  di:tKirtmf?ut«  abound  wlOi  In  tb^  Lrgcnd.  As 
the  pJay  ^rtarlj  etcctdcd  the  nftuaj  Imfth,  (btiiri^  till 
half-|ijur  tt:n^)  vnf  Irrt^r^d.  whfn  it  ia  ri^prAiod  to-ni^hl, 
to  cndf  iome  ofthp  pa««egtrs  whert  I  he  wc?ifht  nfic^i#Burily 
fell  i>M  iTje  vi»ke«[  of  our  Imnt^  allbDu^h  wc  mxj  herrbv 
Injure  tike  dbJaU  of  the  pk^L  The  a/c^u^rf  waster?  good^  ' 
and  ilic!  mrk,  wHhQot  apptar^ci  of  pafitnniiai^f  Wis  so 
conihviut  u  lo  piKce  Sir.  t$idil»n4  In  i  vefy  precartous 
aitCiHtUjtt  Ift  all  appear^cicD-  The  drRuea  w«ro  more 
tawdrjr  Ihasi  I  should  hairs  jtidft-d  jiropcr^  ^ut  e^edKive 
and  aihowy.  I^t  uijr  brnEh?rJL)hn'«  rif^bkuid  r^cniklag 
party  to  rnin force  lb*;  garrlmiq  4>f  Tnt(?rary»  And  as  they 
mOftered  brnir^h  th^^  parcli  af  th^cajittv.  and  atreEncd  to 
fU  Hhe  co'iTt-y  w<l  bthintlj  iTio  CfUiabat  ji^ftne  had  r  rally 
the  ftppedmuceor  rraUijr.  it^idd'nu  bui  hQt>\i  njost  atiefl- 
tive,  an^QdSL  usiLduana,  and  d(Mrite,.€ifid  bu  ditOej  his 
troopa  m  well  Owl  Uie  pttfP(B#l^^wt3^wlw«isrr! 


lu 


Lira  OF  dm  WALTfiR  BCOPVT. 


ahid  f  ^  HOC  b4He¥e  htgv/t  tt  Bfaii^6  hint  the  Tirtiole  fSf^ ,' 
n»f  were  there  fnir  fafie  or  ridictiloiis  accents  or  teB- 
tures  eteti  among  the  uftderifnga,  thoufh  God  knows  tftejr 
fell  often  fkr  slidrt  of  the  true  tplrit  Mrs.  Mddont  spoke 
the  epilogue*  extremely  well ;  the  prologue,!  which  I  will 
send  you  In  its  revised  stale,  was  abo  v«ry  well  received. 
Mrs.  Scott  sends  her  kindest  compliments  of  congratula- 
tion ;  she  had  a  party  of  thirty  friends  in  one  small  box. 
wtiith  she  was  oblTgcd  to  watch  Hke  a  cldckine  h^h  tin 
she  had  gailicred  her  whole  flock,  for  rhe  crowd  was  in- 
soiferable.  I  Am  going  to  seetheX^gcnd  to-uight,  when 
1  shall  enioy  it  quietly,  for  last  niglit  I  was  so  much  Inter- 
cij^ted  In  its  reception,  that  I  cannot  say  I  was  at  leisure  to 
attend  to  the  fecHngs  arising  from  the  representation  It- 
•elf.  People  are  dymg  to  read  it.  If  you  thhlk  of  soflfer- 
Ing  a  iiin^e  edition  to  be  printed  to  gratify  their  curiosity, 
I  %fttl  tak«  cafe  «f  it.  J^ot  I  do  not  ulvise  this,  beca<iBe 
until  printed  no  other  theatres  can  i^ave  it  before  jrou 
give  leave.  My  kind  respects  attend  Miss  A^nes  BaluTe, 
and  believe  m^erer  youroMi|red  Mid  fcitbftu  ssrvantf 

W4LTEB  Scott. 

"  P.  8.  A  IHend  of  mine  writes  dradiuic  criticism  hdw 
aad  then.  I  iftve  begMd  him  to  send  ma  a  copy  of  the 
Bdlnburgh  pafwr  in  wo^h  ht  iBSerti  his  liicubraUoot. 
audi  vlU transmit  it  to  you :  be  ia  a  play-goins  mw,  and 
more  in  the  habit  of  ejcpreaaiiig  himaelfon  bq«9  subjecta 
than  most  paople.— In  caae  you  haye  qot  fot  a  playbiU,  I 
aodoM  one,  becanae  I  think  in  my  own  caae  I  ahotdd  Uke 
to  aae  it" 

The  FamiJy  Lc^t^nd  tiad  a  coaiinuous  run  6t 
fourteen  iii^liid,  aud  uat^  s^oon  aft«rvardfl  priuted 
ajid  pLiblishefJ  by  the  Ballaniyn^^, 

The  theatricol  ruuc  tillu M  to  in  the  h*i  of  tbeie 
letT^jf!?  wjis  the  el  tier  of  those  brothtTii  i  ihe  rrews- 
jHt^tr  u\  wtikli  hi 9  luciibrofifjii?  then  appeared  ww 
l^i^ Edinbnrgh  Ertnin^  Cmir&nt ;  niin  so  rt  rotl- 
titiucd  until  if  [7,  ^vheti  Kht}  Ediniiur^h  iVefklyfJaut' 
nai  vmti  purchu^(.^<^  by  thci'rintinfj  company  m  the 
OanoiiRfltB  i  ^WGT  aiicr  wh:ch  jtcrkd  it  wos  ciliipd 
hy  the  promin»>nt  member  of  iliaL  firn^  and  from 
timiito  time  whb  the  vehiole  of  many  fU^tive  isiece* 
by  'he  unset'Ti  pBTtnor. 

Jn  one  of  ib?^  lellCTS  th^ro  oecurp*  for  the  fimt 
tmie>  th©  nftmo  of  n  pct^m  who  soon  obtained  ii 
IjjTfiE  fthare  of  Scott'*  regard  and  confidence— the 
Ipk  mgeium^  cgmcdlan,  Mr,  Datiiel  Terry.    ItS 

t|tmd  as  asi  architect ;  but  nbaj^doned  thai  pripf^Bi 
man,  at  an  early  period  of  life,  ftyt  thi!  9tfige,  nud  was 
now  be^nnin>jttj  attract  attention  as  a  valuabtc  nnd 
fffideni  actor  in  Henry  Sidcions's  m-w  ^omrany  at 
EditiburKh.  Alrf;ady  he  and  flie  BalldrUvncs  were 
eonniant  compaiii{)nBt  nnt]  tbrou^b  his  fatniharit^" 
ifc^th  them,  S<5ott  had  abundaiJl  opporttinttics  aF  ap- 
pr(cifttin«  hi  a  many  ejicelkni  and  fltfTtM^ablo  quali- 
ti««i  Ho  had  ika  maim  era  and  iWUng  of  o  senile* 
man.  Like  John  Kenible,  ho  was  deeply  ekdleij  in 
rhe  old  liieroTUTe  of  the  dTama,  and  he  hvnlled 
Seoti'a  own  enthii^iiiani  for  the  antiquities  rtf  rf'u'. 
Thdr  ("iiistolarf  cOTteSpo!idi?net?  in  afttr    '  w 

frpqtjini,  and  i*ii!  stjpplyrim  with  many  li!  la 

Cfcf  Scotis  minor  tnstca  and  haUis.    Jls  tK  ra 

lijE!  boibfe  ine^  ihty  apf^^ar  as  IT  Lh^y  had  ait  bttHl 
pen  net!  by  the  a  a  me  band.  Terry 'h  idolatry  of  hia 
new  friend  induced  hini  t  j  imitate  Ki^  wnlinp  m 
zenlouilyt  that  Seotl  nsed  to  stkVt  if  he  nerp  calEra 
on  |T>  ewear  to  any  document,  rno  uimosi  he  could 
venture  to  BriteBt  wouti  he,  tha*  It  was  eith^in  hi« 
e^rnhatidorln  TeriV »*  T he  aeioi ,  i fer^i a P * n n con- 
•tw!insty,  mimidiEd  nim  in  othm  mnticrs  ititb  bard- 
Ty  infiirita:  ^jctbnficiiy.  Hss  gmoll  lively  fe^iiurea 
had  acqiiirtui,  Wure  1  know  liimj  n  truly  luditr.  us 
ca^j.  f>i  ^coti'a$;ravor  is^iprcesioo ;  h*^.  bad  iau;^'bt 
Kitf  tiny  cvybrow  the  vtry  irioK  of  the  i>oeVs  ni. di- 
,  latiire  frown »  and  to  crovi  n  all,  be  »o  habitually  -if- 
fected  bia  t*ne  and  a^eenij  that,  thotiprb  a  native  of 
Rfl  th  L  a  »lr  a  n  get  CO  I J  bi  h  nrrf  1  y  h  ti  V  e  doivb  red  h  e  n  1 1.1  rt 
ben  Scotchman.  Tht'&e  things  afford^  Scott  nnd 
all  their  mutual  aciinaintthtcs  much  diversion  ^  bat 
perliaiip  no  Simc  coidd  have  helped  ^beioff  secrtily 
gtaimi^  by  se^^mH  a  devtr  and  fieiiK^le  man  can- 
vtjrt  himatflf  mio  a  living  typo  aiid  ayinbcd  of  ai- 
nurati^m. 


•  Writtn  karll4niy  Madtenaia. 
t  See  8cotl/s  PoeUcal  Works.  t( 


ToL  Tiii  p.  817. 


Cburles  If  ailiewfl  arid  Tdrry  wew  ooee  tkgovm 
out  of  a  tag  together,  and  the  former  reoR¥ed  fa 
injory  whidrmade  hitn  halt  eves'  afterwards,  while 
the  latter  escaped  unhurt.  "Dooms,  DinmieL,'^ 
aaid  Mathews  when  thcry  next  met,  "  what  a  pity 
that  it  waena  your  lack  to  get  the  game  leg^  men ! 
Your  SkirT^  wad  haeheen  the  very  thing,  ve  ken. 
an'  ye  wad  hae  been  creose  t^  ye  war  coffined !" 
Terry,  though  he  <Hd  not  always  relish  banteting 
on  this  subject,  replied  readily  and  good-hnmouredly 
bv  a  quotation  from  Peter  Pirtd4r*8  Botzy  omd 
fnozii  .— 

"  When  Foote  his  leg  by  sonie  misfortune  broke, 
Says  I  to  Johnson,  all  oy  way  of  ioke. 
Saip.  sir,  hi  Pai;Bgraph  will  soon  be  clever, 
He'n  tUte  off  Peter  better  now  thau  ever." 

Mathews's  ndrthfal  eaiicature  of  Terrys  sober 
mimicry  of  Scott  was  one  of  the  richest  extrava- 
ganzas of  his  social  hours ;  but  mdeed  I  have  often 
seen  this  Proteus  dniraatiste  the  whole  BailamTiie 
group  with  equal  success— while  Rigdumfunnidoe 
screamed  with  deheht,  aadAldiborontiphosoophor- 
niofaintlf  chuckled,  andtheSh^srifi^  gently' smiling, 
pushed  round  his  deoancers. 

Miss  Seward  died  in  March,  180«.  She  bequeath- 
ed her  poetry  to  Sootc,  with  an  in}«nctkm  to  pnb* 
lish  it  epeetfily^  and  prefix  a  eketdi  of  her  W; 
while  she  made  her  letters  (of  which  she  had  ifxpi 
eopi^)  ihe  prdt>erty  6f  BCr.  Odcttteble,  in  the  ekki- 
rtni^e  rhtt  dbe  tegard  for  hie  owfa  'inteteets  iv^ld 
fbrth  wi  L  h  p  f  i^  vfi  ffie  whole  eoneetion  belore  the  ad* 
mi  rin  K  vt'  or)  d .  Scott  soperinteiikied  ao^ordinKly the  * 
ediTk^n  of  the  lady's  verses,  which  was  pubitthedia 
three  volumes  m  August,  1810,  by  Jphn  BftUcntftie 
and  Co. ;  and  Coti^able  lost  ne^dn^in  i^hnewie* 
mg  her  correspobdMoe;  which  ttprteat«d  a yeet  hRcr« 
in  «ij  volumes.  The  fbllowing  letter  alludes  to 
thcee  production^  ks  we!l  as  a  comedy  by  Mr.  He*i- 
ry  Siddonis  ^hioh  h«  had  re^nfly  broittht  otit  on 
im  EdTfibnfgh  sta|e ;  and  lastly,  to  the  Led^  of 
the  Lake,  ih^?  prinnng  of  which  had  by  this  ti^ 
made^reat  progress. 

'to  Altsa  Joanna  BaUHe, 

**  Bdlabafth.  Ittreh  18,  leiOi 

'  Jlothiof,  Ay  dear  MMflBaOUiw  tan  iotter  in  wj  hands, 
when  you  ace  camiaaKttiw  officer.  I  have  put  the  play 
ki  piDffveM  tbrougb  tne  Mresa,  and  and  mr  publlihera, 
the  BaliiDlynes,  had  prevtoualy  determined  to  make  Mr. 
LoBfrnan,  the  proprietor  of  ydvroth^rirorka,.  the  offer 
•f  tms.  AU  that  ean  be  made  or  it  in  soch  a  coarse  car- 
lalDly  shall,  aad  the  booksiBllarB  ahaU  be  eoauot  with  as 
little  pront  aa  can  in  reason  be  eapected.  I  undaralalKl 
the  trade  well,  and  wiU  take  care«f  tbia*  indeed,  I  be* 
UeveAhe  hooinar  weigba  more  wlch  the  bookaellera  hece 
than  the  profit  of  a  aihffle  pbgr.  Bo  maeh  for  buainaas. 
You  are  qaite  right  ka  the  risk  I  run  of  failure  In  a  tkird 
poem :  yet  I  think  1  understand  the  British  publ|c  well 
enom  to  aet  evary  saittowarda  the  popolar  broeae.  One 
set  of  foUca  pique  ihemaehrea  upon  aaiUng  In  the  wind^ 
ey«->aaothar  claSS  drive  riskt  before  k;  now  I  woald 
neither  do  one  or  t'other^  bat  endaifvour  to  go^  as  the 
aailoca  ekprcea  it,  vpdn  a  wind,  aad  nMka  uao  of  It  lo 
carry  me  my  own  way,  inatead  of  goftir  precisely  in  Ita 
direolioo ;  or,  to  iptak  in  a  dialect  with  which  I  am  more 
fiuniliar,  I  woold  endeavour  lo  make  my  horse  carry  me,  . 
Inatead  of  attempciag  to  carry  my  horae.  I  have  a  tain- 
gtork)U8  preaentiment  of  success  upon  this  occaaion. 
Which  may  very  well  deceive  me,  but  which  I  would 
hardly  confeas  to  any  body  but  you,  nor  perhaps  to  you 
neither,  unless  I  knew  you  wouki  nnd  It  cot  whether  I 
toklttyouorno,-^ 

'Ton  are  a  shari^  observer,  and  von  look 
Quite  through  the  eyes  of  men.'-> 

"  I  plead  guilty  to  the  charge  of  ill-breeding  to  Miss 
'  *  *,  The  despair  which  I  used  to  /eel  on  receiving  poor 
Miin  9ewaid'a  letters,  whom  I  really  liked,  gave  me  a 
naost  unsentiijiehtal  horror  for  senUmental  letters.  The 
erosscst  thing  1  ever  did  In  my  life  wma  to  poor,  dear  inaa 
Sewan);  ahe  wrote  mo  in  aaevil  iwur  (I  had  never  aeen 
her;  malic  that  t)  a  long  and  most  mtsalooate  epistle  upon 
the  death  of  a  dear  fri^td,  whom  I  had  never  seen  neftner, 
coiicNta^hj^  With  a  cKair^e  not  fo  attempt  answering  the 
said  letter,  for  ahe  was  dead  to  the  world,  &c,  ^.  d^c- 
Never  were  commands  more  luaiially  obeyed,  I. remained 
aa  silent  aa  the  grave,  till  the  lady  made  so  many  inquiries 


LIFE  OP  Sm  WALTER  SOOTT. 


149 


dtr  ae,  tbat  I  was  afirald  of  my  death  being  premd- 
nrelj  annoooced  by  a  sonnel  or  an  elegy.  "When  t  did 
MC  bcTf  boweTer,  slie  kiteretted  me  rerf  mneb,  and  I 
m  low  doing  penaace  for  mj  iU^breedtng,  by  submitting 
to«dice  her  poatbotnooa  poetry,  moat  of  which  is  abso- 
ittdy  execrable.  Thife,  however,  i«  the  least  of  my 
Mil,  for  when  ahe  propoeed  thia  bequest  to  me^  whlchl 
eoald  net  in  decency  refuse,  she  combined  it  with  ft 
miuest  that  I  woold  pubhsh  her  wiiole  Uterary  oorres- 
{nadeoee.  Thia  1  declined  on  principle,  having  a  parti- 
eulMr  aversion  at  perpetuating  ihi^  sort  of  gossip ;  but 
nbai  avaUed  it  1  Lo  t  to  ep«ur«  Uie  publicatiort,  she  left  it 
to  aa  fidjubnrfh  boolBMller  ;  and  1  anticipate  the  horror 
«f  seeing  myself  advertised  for  a  live  uoet  like  a  wIM 
beut  on  a  painted  atreatner,  for  1  onneritand  all  her 
meads  ai«  cUplcted  thoreta  in  body,  ntind,  and  manners. 
Sd  much  ibr  the  riaka  of  semhnental  coireepoiKlpnce- 

"dkMeas*  play  was  truly  flat,  bm  not  Unprofitable; 
tte  esoirhred  to  get  it  well  propped  in  the  acting,  and— 
tksaih  it  was  such  il  tbhig  as  ff  you  or  I  had  wntteh  it 
(sapposing,  that  is,  what  in  your  case,  and  I  think  even 
ii  BIT  own,  is  impoaBible)  would  have  been  damned  seven- 
tyWd,— yet  it  went  through  with  applause.  Soch  ts  the 
lioiDovr  of  thft  multitude ;  and  they  will  quarrel  with 
veaiipo  for  being  dressed  a  dav  sooner  than  fashion  re- 
qvitt^  and  batten  on  a  neck  of  mutton,  becauae,  on  the 
•Wfe,  k  is  rAiher  better  than  they  expected ;  however, 
WAiQs  ts  a  good  lad,  aiid  deserves  success,  through 
vtetner  chami«l  it  comei.  His  mother  is  nere  just  now. 
1  «ts  faiia  choelted  to  kee  her,  fnr  the  two  last  years 
^  BM4e  a  dteadfiil  inroad  both  on  voice  aod  person ; 
ibcjias,  however,  a  venr  bad  cold.  1  hope  she  will  be 
im  toact  Jane  de  MomJartt  which  w«  have  IpugplaABed. 
*«7  IriUy  yours, 

W.  9." 


CHAPTER   XX. 

AI74I8  OP  THOMAS  SCOTT's  CXT&ACTOAMUP  DIfifiUB- 
iV>  IN  THE  if  OU6B  OP  LO»Dk»— S9B£Cattf  OP  L,OBO 
UDDCRPALS — LOBV  ||«t,VIUJfi,  ^.— LOBD  UOL&AKO 
AT  TH8  PUDA V  CUT*— PUBUCATIOM  OF  TH»  I.ADY  OR 
THK  LAKE— COaRMPOKDfi99C]B  CONCEKKIMG  VBB8I' 
nCATIOK  WITH  ELU6  AVD  CA97NlK«-~TliE  POEM 
CBITICISED  BY  JSPPBBy  AND  MACKINTOaH— UBTTEBS 
TO  80UTHEY  AKD  MORBITT — AKBCDOTBS  PBOM 
iAXSS  BAIpLANTYNE's  MEMOBAIfDA--l8lO. 

I^BB  occurred,  while  the  latter  cantus  of  the 
UojMif  the  Lake  were  advaneing  through  thepreef, 
ui  aitfair  which  fnve  Scott eo  much  uneasiness,  thai 
Itamt  mt  PB88  it  in  silence.  Each  Clerk  of  See- 
"W  bad  in  tliose  days  the  cbaree  of  a  particular 
oftee  or  deportment  in  the  Great  Reffister  House  of 
^oMlind,  and  tke  aDpointment  of  the  subalterns, 
^M  therein  recorded  and  extracted  the  decrees  of 
tM  Sopreme  Court,  was  in  hia  hands.  Some  of 
ume  iiiuations,  remunerated,  according  to  a  fixed 
[tieof  feefl,  by  the  parties  concerned  in  the  suits  be- 
><jnjhe  Court,  were  valuable,  and  considered  not  at 
j^Now  the  pretensions  of  gentlemen  who  had 
w«n  regularly  trained  for  the  higher  branches  of  the 
»»■  About  the  tisne  when  ThomaB  Seott's  affairs 
JJi  Writer  to  the  Signet  fell  into  derangement,  but 
W«  they  were  yet  hopeless,  a  post  became  vacant 
10  his  brotner's  omoe,  which  yielded  an  average  in- 
come of  £40a  and  which  he  would  very  willingly 
we  acpeptca.  The  Poet,  however,  considered  a 
li^^table  maD»  who  had  grown  gray  at  an  iofeiior 
^*^iQ  the  same  department,  as  entitled  to  promo- 
'5*>o,  ud  exerted  the  right  of  patronage  in  his  fa- 
^^Jffcoordingly.  bestowmg  on  nis  broiiier  the  place 
wmch  this  person  left,  it  was  worth  about  £260  a 
W  anditsduties  bciiig  entirely  mechanical,  might 
o€  'n  peat  part,  and  often  had  been  in  former  times 
entirely,  discharged  by  deputy.  Mr.  Thomas  Scott's 
appointment  to  this  Extractorship  took  place 
w.Mi  early  sta^^  of  the  proceedings  of  that  Com- 


5"WK)n  for  inouiring  into  the  Scotch  System  of  Ju- 
<"cattire,  which  had^the  poet  for  its  secretary.  Tho- 
ytt.  very  soon  afierwardik  was  compelled  to  with- 
J^^fr^m  Edinburgh,  and  retired,  as  has  been  men- 
j«>Q€o,  to  the  Isle  of  Man,  leaving  his  otficial  duties 
10  ine  care  of  a  substitute,  who  was  to  allow  him 
A  1?"  •''®  ^^  ^^  ^^^  ^^^^  circomstances 
JMJJW  permit  his  return.  It  was  not,  however, 
waadioeasy,  as  he  and  hia  friends  had  anticioated, 
w>  wind  up  his  accountik  and  settle  with  his  creditors. 


Time  passed  on^  and  being  an  active  mt^,  !a  th^ 

Srime  vigour  of  Ufe,  h^  accepted  a  commissioh  in  the 
laox  Fencibles,  a  new  corps  raised  by  the  Lord  of 
that  ialBiid,  thrJDukeof  AtJioU  w^  wiUiogly  avail- 
ed himself  of  the  military  experieiice  which  Mr. 
I^r*n'^  u **••*«»>; .^/i  ;*<  *i,p,r.r>,ir*^  i>f  hia  JAncy  <»<^n?ii^j- 

i(,  .     '■■  Mflfijc 

mfls  ^'cuti,  now  t?ng»gpd  in  ih^  pt-riccful  ocrupi,- 
tion  of  colk»cfmg  tnatefials  for  n  History  wf  the  H\^ 
of  MriTT,  tE>  which  hi^  brothtr  hail  airoDRly  dirt'iieid 
hiB  nptvs,  Wfts  flnitously  exjftcthijj;  ft  fluaf  orraii^- 
mtriT.  v^hieii  miffht  allow  him  to  tc-uitjililish  hyuu*; 
Sfl:  Ik  iCJUibuxKc*  ttijd  ri^xBiiiuu  hie  ^luat  la  lb#  Re^ 
gib-:  r  Huue»c>  wn^-ii  hi>  r^iceivf^  i\m  imdh#ejioe  thai 
Uj4  Oicuiitii^siun  of  JuiLcnture  bdfl  roiijUfid  to  aoA' 
lisii  rhai,  njmuii^  lUJiny  uilur  tuiutar  posts-  This* 
w^t^  >i  Ht'Vi:F<' Uow  ;  but  ]t  wsEi  atm^juticed,  at  th;(|t 
sinjie  Tirnv',  that  the  Uoiumis-mtm  meai\t  to  recom? 
iTif  lid  ti>  Priii'li*m*'nt  a  tehtiuie  of  ironipjt^n^^arion  foi, 
tiu'  tunctiotjanes^'ho  wcr^  tot/e  diacbiirgt^  at  Ut^i 
8Uf;RL:flt^an,  lind  ih&X  \i\B  itwd  tJIowASCi^  would^ 
pri)tml>ty  aiiijunt  to  Jri30  tier  Qtinum* 

In  lUt  ^pjnv;  of  1  tiiy,  the  CoiUdiisBion  gave  in  its 
repurt,  and  was  diisolvcd  \  arid  a  biLI»  cmbod^'i|)^ 
the  deiiiJi»  of  au  eitfufiive  refuJ^m.  Jbundeii  on  its 
suf^yt^tioni,  was  laid  hejore  tlie  HoUPt  of  Com- 
t[u^\\^,  \(Vio  adopli^  mo^t  of  Its  pigvi^tons,  and 
airLuiii  iithcTfi  piii^,  without  hrsUaiiop,  Iul  cljiuai^i 
rt-^j' .  ■:  ting  ID  nipt  lis*  ijon  for  tht  }iuliJLTi  oi  HbuliiMfik 


baud  by  eorn^  PeiT«  of  th«  Whig  parlj^  atwl  tho'< 
cuftt'cf  rhoiiiSfl  fScoit,  iu  partktdari  waarepreBeni-  * 
edu^ti  ^0^3  and  tlAgTantjoA*  The  follow  ttig  pjc- J 
tract  iruin  Hsn sard's  Dt^bntes  wJl)  save  me  thjo^^, 
tTOuliIe  ol  fur  Til  er  detail  c:—  ,i 

"Thomas  Scott. 

"  Tub  fixBLop  LA.uD$aDALB  n)c?ed  an  ameaUoaeot^  '<ttat 
those  only  be  remonerafied  who  were  ipentioo^d  in  the 
•cheduie.'  The  apphcation  of  thia  amendment  was  to- 
wards  thseompeiMatlorthk  tended  for  Mr  Thomas  8r.otL 
the  brother  of  waiter  Scott  It  appeared  the  fokrmerwM 
appointed  to  the  office  of  aa  Extractor  at  a  time  when  it 
must  have  been  foreseen  that  those  offices  would  be  ajbo^  . 
fished.  Mr.  Thomas  Scott  had  not  been  connected  pr«* . 
Tiously  with  that  <$ort  of  situation,  but  waajrecruitwia.  ffC^ 
the  ManjK  Fencibles  in  the  Isle  of  Man  at  the  tiine,  and  hMl 
not  nerved  the  office,  but  performed  it«  duties  through 
the  mean9  of  a  deputy.  He  considered  this  transaotima  > 
a  perfect  Job.  By  the  present  bill  Mr-  T.  Scou  would  have 
£\ys  for  life  as  an  indemnity  for  an  office,  the  duties  of 
which  he  never  had  performeiL  wlule  those  clerks  who 
lad  laboured  for  twenty  years  had  no  adequate  remune- 
iatioQ.  , 

"  ViaoouNt  MsLviuB  supported  the  general  provisioiM 
of  the  bill.  With  respect  to  Mr.  U  ticott,  he  csctainly  had 
been  in  business,  had  met  with  misfortunes^  sod  on  so* 
count  of  his  circurasunces  wept  to  ilie  lale  of  Man  ;  but 
with  respect  to  his  appointment,  this  was  the  fact :  a 
situation  m  the  aame  office  [of  the  Register  House]  with 
that  of  his  brother,  of  jC400,  became  vacant,  uid  he  [Wsl* 
ter  Scott]  thought  it  his  duty  to  promote  a  person  who  liad 
tiierltortously  flUed  the  situation  whicli  was  aHerwarda  . 
granted  to  Mr.  T.  Scott  His  brother  was  therefore  so 
disinterested  as  to  have  appoh^ted  hfm  to  the  iufcrior  ip« 
stead  of  the  superior  situation.  The  noble  yiscount  saw 
no  injustice  in  the  case,  and  thpre  was  no  partiality  but 
what  was  excusable. 

"  Lord  Holland  thought  no  man  who  knew  hfm  wuuld 
suspect  that  he  was  unfavourable  to  men  of  literature; 
on  the  contrary,  he  felt  a  great  esteem  for  the  literary  cha- 
racter of  Walter  Scot^.  He  and  his  colleagues  ever  thought   t 
il  their  duty  to  reward  literary  merit  without  regard  to 
political  opinions ;  and  he  wislied  he  could  pay  the  same 
compliment  to  the  noble  and  learned  viscuunt,  for  lie  must  , 
ever  recollect  that  the  poet  Burns,  of  immortal  memory, 
had  been  shamefully  neglected.    Out  with  respect  to  Mr. 
Thomas  Scott,  the  question  was  quite  different,  for  he    , 
was  placed  in  a  situation  which  he  and  his  brother  knew 
at  the  time  would  be  abolished  ;  and  from  Parliament  he 
claimed  an  indemnity  for  what  could  not  be  proonunced 
any  loss.    It  was  unlnst  as  regarded  others,  and  improper 
as  It  respected  Parliament. 

'*The  amendment  was  then  proposed  and  negatived. 
The  bill  was  accordingly  read  the  third  tiOM  andpasaed-*' 
— Hajibaba,  Jmim,  1810. 

I  shall  now  extract  various  passages  from  Scott^a 


*»50 


LIFE  OP  SIR  WALTER  800TT. 


lettoni  to  his  brocaer  and  other  friends,  which  wiH 
show  what  his  feelings  were  while  this  afTair  conti- 
ooed  nnder  agitation. 

7b  Tkomaa  Seottf  Btq.^  Dcugtat^  JkU  of  Man. 

"  Edioburxb,  26tb  May,  1810. 
•*  Uf  clear  Tom, 

"  I  write  ooder  sofne  anxiecj  for  your  ioCerMt,  though 
I  ilncerely  hope  it  is  groundleae.  The  devil  or  James 
Gibson*  has  put  it  into  Lord  La  derdale's  hea<l  to  chal- 
lenie  your  annuity  in  the  House  of  Lords  on  account  of 
your  non-resideoce,  and  your  holding  a  commission  in 
the  militia.  His  lordship  kept  his  intention  as  secret  as 
possifotft,  bm  fortunately  it  reached  the  kind  and  friendly 
ear  of  Colin  Mackenxie.  Lord  MeWiHe  takes  the  matter 
up  stoutly,  and  I  have  little  doubt  wiH  carry  his  point,  un- 
less the  whole  bill  is  given  up  for  the  season,  which  some 
concurring  opposilioo  from  different  quarters  renders  not 
Impossible.  In  that  case,  you  must,  at  the  eipense  of  a 
little  cash  and  time,  shew  face  in  Edinburgh  for  a  week 
or  two,  and  attend  your  office.  But  I  devoutly  hope  all 
win  be  settled  by  the  bill  being  passed  as  it  now  standa 
This  is  truly  a  most  unwoi-thy  exertion  of  private  spite  and 
BMlioe,  but  I  trust  it  will  be  ui  vain.'* 


'*  Edinbuxyh,  June  12th. 
"Dear  Tom, 

"  I  have  the  pleasure  to  aequaint  you  that  I  have 
every  reason  to  believe  thst  the  bill  will  pass  this  week. 
It  has  been  eornmitied;  upon  which  occ^wion  Lord  Lau- 
derdale stated  various  objections,  all  of  which  were  re- 
pelled. He  then  adverted  to  your  case  with  some  suffl- 
ciently  biUer  observations.  Lord  Melville  advised  him 
to  reserve  his  enUhets  till  he  was  pleased  to  state  his 
eaosc,  as  he  would  ptod|ge  himself  to  show  that  they  were 
totaUy  inapplicable  to  the  traoaaetion.  The  Duke  of  Mon- 
trose also  Intimated  his  intentfcni  to  defend  it,  which  I  take 
▼err  kind  of  his  Oraee,  as  he  went  down  on  purpose,  and 
declared  bis  resolution  to  attend  whenever  the  business 
should  be  stirred.    Bo  much  for 

*The  Lord  of  Graham,  by  every  chief  adored, 
Who  boasts  his  native  phUabeg  restored.'  "f 

"  Edinburgh,  21st  June,  18ia 
"IM  dear  Tom, 

**  The  bin  was  read  a  third  time  in  the  House  of  Lords, 
OD  which  occasion  Lord  Lauderdale  made  his  attack, 
wMeh  Lord  Melville  answered.  There  was  not  much 
saM  on  either  aide:  Lord  Holland  supported  Lord  Lau- 
derdale, and  the  bill  passed  without  a  division.  So  you 
have  fairly  doubled  Cape  Laodcrdale.  I  believe  his  prin- 
cipal view  was  to  insult  my  feelings,  In  which  he  has  been 
very  unsuccessful,  for  I  thank  God  I  feel  nothing  but  tlic 
most  hearty  contempt  both  for  the  attack  and  the  sort  of 
paltry  malice  by  which  alone  It  could  be  dictated." 

The'  next  letter  is  addressed  to  an  old  friend  of 
Scott's,  who,   thoujKi  a  stout  Whii?,  hed  taken  a 
lively  interest  in  the  success  of  his  orother's  parlia- 
mentary business. 
To  Jtokn  Richardson^  Esq.,  Fludyer  Street,  Westminster. 

"  Edinburgh,  9d  July,  1810. 
"  My  dear  Richardson, 

"  I  ought  before  now  to  have  written  you  my  particu- 
lar thanks  for  your  kind  attention  to  the  interest  which  1 
cnmv^^  ^>  Klfurii^cly  iqii  [itii':!(;ji<:ciii!il]v  "O  have  in  the  natfs- 
]ng  of  the  Judie^^iUTf  Dilt.  TiTkc  ur^^  purpose  which  1 
Aiip^Bi:'  Lnnl  1^  (1(^4?  r;  Id  I?  had  in  vji  ■-'.  wsi*  to  state  cliarees 
which  contff  nf  ftht'T  bo  ^tllJl*^^rilNJ^l  nor  refuteil,  and  to 
five  uip  R  little  pam  hy  dr-i^i^in^  cuy  .'"i  other's  misfortunes 
Tiito  public  iioiirc.  If  ih^  lafti  wii^  ^is  aim,  I  am  hap- 
liy  111  nay  it  bay  in-'iii  ]|h<K)UilR!!r  n,i  Married,  for  1  luivc 
too  murtn  rriT^ifiript  tctr  the  itiuUihi'  which  dictated  his 
L4>fi]#ikip'.f  elfVTUeucr^  m  Orel  luurh  iii-  its  thunders.  My 
bcUL^pr  Imeu  br  tha  bitl  from  £l~^'y  to  j&SOO,  which  no 
power  short  of 'on  a,ri  uf  FarLbaii4''iM  could  have  taken 
m>ni  hliii,  intJ  for  fro  En  hATinft  fe^lH^y  tn  the  compen^a- 
ttcin,  Ijp  is  a  danw3clrriibl>-*  k^M'r  L>'  si.^  being  substituted 
for  ibr  nctiia]  tece'ipla  of  tn^  oSki'  I  a^isure  you  lam 
vtry  ienj^ijjlc  nf  yotir  kkirJ  imd  TrH  «i.fly  activity  and  zeal 
in  my  btuthrr'A  belioir 

•  Jamci  Oibsoo.  Esq.  W.  8.  (now  air  James  Gibion  Craig  of 
Rioearton.  Bart,)  had  always  been  rofarded  as  oiie  of  the  moat 
able  and  active  of  the  Scotch  Whigs— wliose  acknowledfed  chief 
in  those  daya  was  the  Earl  of  Lauderdale.  . 

t  TlMse  bpes  are  aliirbtlr  ahered  from  the  RoRiad,  p.  308.  The 
Duke  bad  obtained  the  repeal  of  an  sot  of  Parliament  fMiiddin« 
the  use  of  the  Highland  faib. 


"  I  received  the  Gucrras*  safe ;  it  ia  a  fine  copy,  tad  I 
think  very  cheap,  coneideriBg  how  difficult  it  is  now  to 

Procure  foreign  nooks.  I  shall  be  delighted  to  havsths 
'rait^  des  Tournoia.  1  propose,  on  the  12th,  setting  fMth 
for  the  West  Highlands,  wrth  the  desperate  purpose  of 
investigating  the  caves  of  Stafla,  Egg,  and  8kye.  Thsrs 
was  a  tmae  when  this  was  a  heroic  uixiertaking,  and  when 
the  return  of  Samuel  Johnson  from  achieving  it  was  hsil* 
ed  by  ;he  Edinburgh  literati  With  '  per  varios  casus,'  and 
other  scraps  of  classical  grstulaUon  equally  new  and  sle- 

emu  But  the  hsrvest  of  glory  has  been  entirely  resped 
y  the  early  discoverers ;  and  In  an  age  when  everv  Loo* 
don  citizen  makes  Lochlomond  his  waah-pot,  and  throwf 
his  shoe  over  Ben-Nevis,  a  man  may  endure  every  hard- 
ship and  expose  himself  to  every  daiiger  of  the  Highland 
seas,  from  seasickness  to  the  jaws  of  the  great  sessnske, 
wkhout  gaining  a  single  leaf  of  laurel  for  hispaina 

"  The  best  apology  for  bestowhig  all  this  tedieosnett 
upon  you  Is.  that  John  Burnet  Is  dinning  into  the  ears  of 
the  Court  a  botheration  about  the  pdlitics  of  the  magnifi- 
cent city  of  Culross.  But  I  will  release  you  sooner  ttass 
I  fear  I  shall  escape  myselt;  with  the  assurance  that  I  am 
ever  yours,  most  truly, 

Wja-TsaScorr." 

I  conclude  the  affair  of  Thomas  Scott  with  a  brief 
extract  from  a  letter  which  his  brother  addressed  to 
him  a  few  weeks  later :— "  Lord  Holland  has  bew 
in  Edinburgh,  and  we  met  accidentally  at  a  pubue 
partjf.  Ho  made  up  to  me,  but  I  remembered  his 
part  in  your  affair,  and  cut  him  with  as  little  remorse 
as  an  old  pen."  The  meeting  here  alluded  to  oc- 
curred at  a  dinner  of  the  F^riday  Clu\  at  Fortone's 
Tavern,  to  which  Lord  Holland  was  mtroduced  by 
Mr.  Thomas  Thomson.  Two  gentlemen  who  were 
present^  inform  me  that  they  distinctly  remember  a 
very  painful  scene,  for  which,  knowing  Scott  s  ha- 
bitual good-nature  and  urbanity,  they  bad  been 
wholly  unprepared.  One  of  them  (Lord  Jenrey) 
adds,  that  this  was  the  only  example  of  radepess 
he  ever  witnessed  in  him  in  the  coiu^se  of  a  lifelong 
familiarity.  I  have  thought  it  due  to  truth  and  jus- 
tice not  to  omit  this  disagreeable  passage  in  Scott  • 
life,  which  shows  how  even  his  mind  eouldat  tunes 
be  unhinged  and  perverted  by  the  malign  influence 
of  political  spleen.  It  is  consolatory  to  add,  that 
he  enjoyed  much  agreeable  intercourse  in  after  days 
with  Lord  Holland,  and  retained  no  feelings  of  re- 
sentment towards  anv  other  of  the  Whig  gentiemcii 
named  m  the  preceding  corre0pondence.t 

While  these  disagreeable  affairs  were  still  in  pro- 
gress, the  poem  of  the  Lady  of  the  Lake  was  com- 
pleteo.  Scott  was  at  the  aame  time  arranging  tM 
materials,  and  superintending,  the  printinfr,  of jne 
collection  entitled  "English  Minstrelsy,"  m  whidj 
several  of  his  own  minor  poems  first  appeared,  and 
which  John  Ballantyno  and  Ck>.  also  published  re 
the  summer  o£  1810.  The  Swift,  too,  (to  say  no- 
thing of  reviews  and  the  like,)  waa  going  oil ;  afid 
so  was  ilie  Somers.    A  new  edition  of  the  Minstrel- 

*  A  copy  of  the  (hierras  Oivilet  de  Qrsmada  ^. . 

f  I  subjoin  a  Utt  of  the  Members  of  The  Friday  Qv^i^'^ 
wan  instituted  in  June,  IS03.  (on  the  model.  I  beltevo.of  Johi*w» 
at  the  Turk'*  Head,)  down  to  the  pericxl  of  8cott'f  death.   TM 
otiieni  marked,  like  his  name,  bjr  an  a«temk.  are  also  dead. 
1803*$ir  Janes  Hall  1804* Alex.  Hamihon 

•Professor  Diiinild  Steusit         *Dr.  Coventn; 
♦  Professor  John  Playfiiir  *ProfeB9or  John  Robison 

Re%-.  Arch.  Alison  Qookc  Stricklaod 

Kev.  .«^idncy  HmiUi  «ProfeMor  DalzeB 

«ReT.  Peter  Elmslie  *Lord  Webb  fiernow 

«  Alex.  In'ing  (LortJ  Newton)       •Earl  of  Selkirk 
'Wm.  Er^ikine  (Lord    Kin        •Lord  Glenbrrvie 
neddpr)  1807  Her.  John  Thomson 

Gfivtge  CiuiMtoun  Oxwd    iSto  John  Jefirer 
Corvbouse)  1811  T.  F.  Keonedr      ^  ^  - 

•Walter Scott  J.  PuIkrtoQ  (Lord  Tvm 

Thofnos  Thoiason  ton) 

Dr.  John  Thornton  John  Allen 

John  A.  Murray  (Lotd  Ad-       ^Francis  Homsr 

vocate  in  ISSB)  Thnuias  Caawbdl 

Henry    Brougliam    (Lord    1 81  a^Qeorxe  Wilson 

Broii^m)  1814*  Dr.  John  Gordon 

*Heury  Mackenzie  IBM  Andrew  Ruthernrd 

H.  Mackenzie  (Lord  Mac-  1817  James  Keay 
kenrie)  isas  Leonard  Homer 

«.MalcohnLeiojr  Profewmr  Pillans 

Henry   Coekbnn    (U«l    18it  Count  M.  do  FbhaWt 
Cockbum)  «  D.  Cathcait  (Loid  kWWf 

John  Riohardaon  1937  Earl  of  Minto 

Ftancjs  JeiRey  (Lowl  Jef-^    I     William  Minrsy  ^  _, jj„ 
fmx)  itizecTbxAft-non.  Moonlstoart  Elp»» 

WilHam  Clerk  sCods. 


inm  OP  sat  wii»Ttt  sooTT. 


m 


ifof  111*  StaUmk  Bofder  w«a  tooreifver  at  pVMt, 
lid  in  it  the  aditcr  inchided  a  law  featutaa  of  norel- 
tn  partiealariy  Mr.  Morritt's  spirited  ballad  of  the 
OiTM  of  Mof.  He  gtvea  a  iively  deecripuon  of  faia 
oeeopatioDa  in  the  foOowiiix  latter  addiaaaed  to  that 
fBtleinan  ;— 

TfJ,  B.  S. Morritt,  Esq,  2i  PorOmnd  JPIom,  London,  ^ 

"  Bdlnborgh,  fid  Mareb,  18ia 
'MjdetrMorrttt, 

"  YoQ  are  rery  good  to  remember  aucb  a  Ibhte  knave 
uUm,  who  have  omiUed  so  long  to  thaofc  yo«  for  a  let- 
ter, briQ{ing  me  the  assuraoces  of  your  health  and  re- 
membrance, which  I  do  not  value  the  leta  deeply  and  sin- 
tatlf  for  my  eeeodnf  n^lect.  Troth  if,  I  do  not  eat  the 
ham  of  idteneea.  Bet  f  waa  bora  a  BeoCohman,  and  a 
fttfe  oae,  and  waa  tlwrefiire  bora  to  fight  my  way  with 
■y  let  hand  when  my  right  MIed  me,  aad  vKhmy  teeth, 
if  iley  were  both  eut  e£  This  ia  bat  a  bed  epofogy  mr 
Mtaawering  your  kindoeaa,  yet  not  so  bad  when  yon  ce»> 
ider  that  it  waa  only  admitted  aa  a  cauae  of  procraetioa- 
QoQ,  and  that  I  have  been— let  inc  see— 1  have  been  9«c- 
retm  to  the  Jtidicature  Coojmlaaioo,  which  eat  daily  dur- 
iniuithe  Chriatmaa  vacation.  1  have  been  editing  Swift, 
ladeorreetiog  the  preaa,  at  the  rate  of  alx  sheets  a-week. 
I  tMTebeen  edltiag  Somera  at  the  rate  of  four  ditto  ditto. 
I  ban  wrttteo  r«vlew»— I  have  written  eoogs—l  have 
■idi  eiteetions— I  hscf  e  soperiatended  rehearaale  and 
si  tUi  indenesdent  of  visitiiif,  and  of  av  oAcial  duty, 
viiiflkoccnpiiea  oie  |por  houre  every  working  day  except 
■oBdtja— and  independent  of  a  new  peem  with  which  I 
in  threatening  the  world.  This  last  employment  ianot 
ttie  iBost  pradent,  but  I  reallv  cannot  well  nelp  myself. 
My  offlce,  though  a  very  good  one  for  Scotland,  la  only 
held  in  reveraton ;  nor  do  I  at  preeeat  dethre  a  shilling 
tnm  it  I  moat  aspect  that  a  frcah  tavourite  of  the  pub- 
He  «iH  SQperaede  me»  and  mv  phitoaephy  betog  very 
ireat  on  the  point  of  poetical  lame,  I  would  fain,  at  the 
rttk  of  hastening  my  own  downfiUL  avail  myself  of  the 
fctooraUe  moment  to  make  aome  fbrther  provision  for 
IB7  little  people.  Moreover.  I  cannot  otherwise  honestly 
iDdake  mvself  in  some  of  the  Mxaries  which,  when  long 
paiified,  become  a  aort  of  neeudo  necessaries.  As  for 
tte  terrible  parodiea*  whion  have  come  forth,  I  can  only 
My  with  Benedict,  *A  coUege  of  such  witmongers  cannot 
not  me  oat  of  my  humour.'  Hiad  I  been  conscious  of 
oot  place  about  my  temper,  were  it  even,  metaphorically 
ipcakiag,  the  tip  of  my  heel,  vuhierable  to  this  sort  of 
SBtessfop,  I  have  that  respect  for  mine  own  ease,  that  I 
voold  have  shanned  being  a  candUate  for  pu  bile  applaose, 
M I  wooU  avoid  snatching  a  honey-comb  from  among  a 
wre  of  live  beea.  My  present  attempt  is  a  poem,  partly 
Hkblaad—the  scene  Loch  Katrine,  tempore  Jaecbi 
ftuau  If  I  lail,  as  Lady  Bfacbeth  gaUanUy  says,  I  tail, 
vaA  there  Is  only  a  story  murdered  to  no  purpose ;  and  if 
1  ucceed,  why  then,  as  the  song  says— 

*Up  with  Oie  bonnie  blue  bonnet, 
The  dirk  and  the  feather  and  a'. 
/*  I  hope  to  show  this  ditty  to  you  soon  in  Poriland  Place, 
w  it  seems  determined  I  must  go  to  London,  though  the 
HBuiis  not  fixed.  The  pleasure  of  meeting  you  and  half 
I  dozen  other  friends,  reconciles  me  to  this  change  of 
PliB,  for  had  1  answered  your  letter  the  day  I  received  ft, 
I  would  have  said  nothing  was  less  likely  than  my  iroing 
IS  town  In  spring.    I  hope  it  will  be  so  late  as  to  aflbrd  roe 


»  opportunity  of  viskinc  Rokehy  and  Greta  Side  on  my 


Charlotte  hopes  to  accompany  me,  and  is  par  tic  u 
g'ypitifled  by  the  expectation  of  meeting  Mrs.  Morritt 
w«  tWok  of  our  sunny  days  at  Rokeby  with  equal  dellghL 
Mhs  Bailtie's  plav  went  off  capitally  here,  notwlth- 
jywnf  her  fond  and  over- credulous  belief  In  a  Creator 
« the  world.  The  fact  Is  so  generally  believed  that  it  is 
po  who  makes  the  deity,  that  I  am  surprised  it  has  never 
wen  inaintained  as  a  corollary,  that  the  knife  and  fork 
owe  the  finxers.  We  wept  tin  our  hearta  were  sore, 
■M  aptJanded  till  our  hands  were  bllst  -  * 
1  crowded  theatres. 


■M  applanded  till  our  hands  were  blistered— what  coulii 
«« leore-and  this  iu  crowde  " 


1  send  a  copv  of  the  poetical  collection,  not  for  you, 
JJTfood  Mend,  because  you  would  not  pay  vour  literary 
«wcripik)n,f  but  for  Birs.  Morritt    I  thought  of  leaving 

J.V*  !??£f^S?  "J^  *""*!?«  1°  ***'*  H' «^  **»?  Seotch  m 
oL  jae  Qobbp  Oroom,"  and  some  other  prodoctjons,  like 
^*B*  noff  Mace  ibrcottea 

hlA^a^fS^^S^  tianalatloos  oTltaUannoetry  which  he 
QJg^wdferMr.Bfonritt's  pcraii«ioo to pobUOi  to  the ** £or 


It  aa  I  caaia  tlinufa  Terkablra,  Kot  aa  1  call  fsC  at  «if 
aaoAceftnakfltwillbeaafertnyoaretaane.  ^yapanqr 
of  reasoning,  yoa  will  receive  a  copy  of  the  new  edMloo 
of  the  Mineirelsy  jnst  finished,  and  aboot  to  be  ahippeiV 
enriched  with  your  Curse  of  Moy,  which  ia  very  rauoll 
admired  by  all  to  whom  I  have  shown  it.    I  am  sorry  that 

dear is  so  far  from  vou.    There  la  some* 

thing  about  her  that  makes  me  think  of  her  with  a  mU- 
tare  of  aflectton  and  anxiety— such  a  pore  and  excellent 
hean,  joined  to  such  native  and  lascinatinx  mannera,  can- 
not pase  anprotected  through  year  fiuhlonable  aeesiee 
witbottt  much  haaard  of  a  twinge  at  leaat,  if  not  a  stab. 
I  remember  we  talked  overthia  subject  once  while  riding 
on  the  banks  of  Tees,  and  somehow  (I  cannot  tell  why)  It 
falls  like  a  death-bell  on  my  ear.  She  is  too  artleaa  for 
the  people  that  she  has  to  live  amongst.  This  is  all  vila 
croaking,  so  I  will  end  it  by  begging  ten  time  love  and 
com{Himents  to  Mrs.  Morritt,  In  which  Cbariotte  hearilty 
join  a.  Believe  me  ever,  dear  Morritt,  yours  moot  foUh- 
fiUly, 

WAtTI 


Early  in  May,  the  Lady  of  the  Lake  came  out— «• 
her  two  elder  aiatcre  had  done-^in  all  the  majeaty  of 
quarto,  with  every  accompanying  grace  of  typogra- 
phy, and  with,  moreover,  an  engraved  ftonuepieot 
of  Saxon's  portrait  of  Scott ;  the  price  of  the  book* 
(wo  guineas.  For  the  copyriRbt  the  poat  had  nomiv 
Bally  received  2000  fmioeaa,  but  aa  John  Ballantyne 
and  Co.,  retained  three  fourths  of  the  property  to 
themaelvea,  (Miller  of  London  purchaaing  the  other 
fourth,)  the  author's  profits  were,  or  should  haf« 
beei^  more  than  this. 

It  ought  to  be  mentioned,  that  during  the  progreav 
of  the  poem,  his  feelings  towarda  Conatable  wereao 
much  softeiied,  that  he  authorized  John  Ballantyne 
to  ask,  in  his  name,  that  experienced  bookaeller'f 
advice  respecting  the  amount  of  the  firat  impreaaioik 
the  method  of  advertiaing,  and  other  profeaaional 
details.  Mr.  Constable  readily  gave  the  aaaiatanoe 
thus  requested,  and  would  willingly  have  taken  any 
share  they  pleased  in  the  adventure.  The  property 
had  been  disposed  of  before  these  communicationa 
occarred,  and  the  triumphant  aucceas  of  tl)p  coup 
cTetaai  of  the  new  firm  was  sufficient  to  cloaa 
Scotra  e^rs  for  a  season  against  any  propositiona  of 
the  like  kind  from  th^  house  at  the  Oroaa  \  but  from 
this  tim^there  was  no  return  of  any  thing  \Sl%  per- 
sonal ill-will  between  the  parties.  One  articia  of 
thJB  correspondence  will  be  sufficient 

7*0  Mr:  OmttahU. 

"  CaaUe  Street,  Uth  March,  1810. 
"  Dear  Sir, 

"  I  am  sure  if  Mr.  Honter  Is  really  sorry  for  the  o«- 
caalon  of  my  lone  absence  from  vour  shop,  I  shall  be 
happy  to  forget  an  disagreeable  efrcnmstances,  and  visit 
it  often  as  a  cuatomer  and  amateur.  I  think  it  neceaoary 
to  add  (before  departing  from  this  subject,  and  I  hope  for 
ever,)  that  it  is  not  in  mv  power  to  restore  our  relative  al- 
tuation  as  author  and  puulishers,  because,  opon  the  breach 
between  us,  a  large  capital  was  diverted  by  the  Ballan* 
tynes  from  another  object,  and  invested  in  their  present 
bookselling  concern,  under  an  express  assurance  fh>m 
me  of  such  support  as  my  Aiture  nubheationt  could  give 
them ;  which  is  a  pledge  not  to  be  withdrawn  wttooot 
groundr  which  I  cannot  anticipate.  But  thia  ia  not  a  coo> 
sideration  which  need  prevent  our  being  friends  and 
wellvrishers.    Yours  truly, 

W. 


Mr.  Robert  Cadell,  the  publisher  of  this  Memoir, 
who  was  then  a  young  man  in  training  for  hia  pro* 
fessipn  in  Edinburgh,  retains  a  strong  impression  of 
the  interest  whlcn  the  Lady  of  the  Lake  excited 
there  for  two  or  three  months  before  it  waa  publish- 
ed. "  James  Ballantyne,"  he  saya,  "read  the  can- 
toa  from  time  to  time  to  select  coteries,  as  they  ad- 
vanced at  press.  Common  fame  was  loud  in  theit 
favour ;  a  great  poem  was  on  all  hands  anticipated. 
I  do  not  recollect  that  any  of  nil  the  author'a.  works 
was  ever  looked  for  \vith  more  intense  anxiety,  or 
that  any  one  of  them  excited  a  more  extraordinary 
sensation  when  it  did  appear.  The  whole  couniiy 
ran^  with  the  praises  of  the  poet— crowda  set  off 
to  view  the  scenery  of  Loch  Katrine,  till  then  com- 
paratively unknown  \  and  as  the  book  came  out  jual 
before  the  season  ior  excursions,  every  houae  and 


m 


UFR  Qi^  eWOFAMBR  SCOTT. 


mu  10  Uiat  n«ift|ibourhood  wta  crammad  witk  • 
(MBAlant  succettion  of  Tiatora*  Ift  ii  a  well-a«Def« 
taioad  fact,  thai  from  the  date  of  the  piiblioanon 
of  the  Lady  <»f  the  Lake,  the  posthorse  dntr  m  Sect- 
land  rose  in  an  extraordinary  degree,  and  indeed  it 
condnned  to  do  so  re;?ularly  for  a  number  of  years, 
the  author's  succeeding  works  keeoing  \\p  toe  en- 
thusiasm Cor  our  scenery  which  he  naa  thus  origir 
Q^y  created." 

1  owe  to  the  same  cocrospondent  the  following 
details :— *'  The  quarto  edition  of  9060  copies  disap* 
pearad  ioatantly,  and  was  followed  in  the  course  of 
the  Mm*»  v^or  hf  foflr  editions  in  Mtnvo,  viit  ono  of 
3000,  H  stvjonil  fjt ''i-'i\nfni  -i  ^hird  and  a  fj'itdi  mch 
of  600i>  copies  ;  tliuH,  In  tho  space  of  a  Tew  ntijiiiUs, 
thct^ttfaortiimir)^  iiuniljtr  of  20,000  l opiiia  w€ r^:^  dia- 
ptjB«!i]  ol\  In  ihe  rjejit  yenr  ( I  ^  1 1 )  tlitir'.'  was  aU}  i  her 
Mi  ion  tif  yOCN) ;  \\wtt  was  one  of  atXTO  in  l><M  ^  ojl* 
othfff  o£  ^XK)  ill  ^§15 ;  onu  of  20€0  d^iiti  in  I »?  19 ;  and 
tw^o,  mrikin^  beuvoen  rht?m2300«  fi[>p<:arcd  in  i'^lb  : 
miico  which  rime  iha  Ludy  of  the  Lttke^  in  col!:c:t- 
i*e  **ditioftj  M  hia  poettv,  and  in  separate  j^j- ehs, 
must  havd  iih^ilsi4*d  to  (ho  ei(t«ii(  of  at  hait  'K^.ijOO 
tOfjsm  more.'*  8f>  ibat,  down  lo  the  month  of  Juiy, 
1j9B0.  tho  le^ilim'tttft  an^lo  in  Great  Britain  hofi  bi^n 
not  ie»s  f  hsn  M,noo  copies. 

I  haw  tktle  to  add  lo  whftt  the  Inifodnction  of 
S^BQif  ind  soTuc  ktt6r«  ntrondv  tfjftr acted  have  told  iis, 
AMMtiTfimJV  the  hiitfiry  of  tnti  composition  of  This 
AMtsl.  Inde^  the  coincidences  of  eipreHSLon  luid 
ulufftratiyn  in  the  Introduction,  and  thojo  private 
letters,  v^frittfR  twenty  y<^ra  hpfor«^*  are  remnrknble. 
I  ft  botli  wc  find  him  rjuonoK  Momm^e's  liires,  and  in 
both  he  qijQtes  olao  "  Up  wi'  I  lis?  bonruc  blue  bon- 
net,^' &e.  In  trnthi  tH>lh  lettera  tind  tntroduct]i:>n 
vftte  literal  ti^inscrirt*  of  his  nsual  ronversaiioo  on 
iho  BuhjecT,  '*A  lady;/*  he  Ptiyp,  "to  whom  I  was 
ne^irly  rplnted,  and  wilh  whom  I  lived  during  her 
wholt  life  on  tiie  most  brotherly  tcnns  of  aflTtcrji.iin, 
wap  f^trifttn^  « iih  mo  (at  Ashci??iel>  when  ihtj  v^  orit 
^aa  m  progress,  and  n»ed  to  ask  me  what  I  r.ii3ld 

r^flfibly  do  lo  rrae  ?o  enrty  in  ih^  mormns^  At  f^tat 
told  h«r  thp  subject  of  my  mf;drr»itJou  ;  and  1  can 
nufvet  forget  the  anxiety  and"  affection  (jjtpri?:?^!?^]  in 
her  Y^]f.  '  Do  tioi  he  so  m?h»*  she  Mid, '  my  dearest 
cptiwi.  Tou  are  aire ftdy  pojular— more  so^wjrhaps 
then  yoti  yoiiri?elf  M?ill  believe^  or  (ban  tven  I  or 
mher  partial  (nends  con  fairfv  allow  to  yoiir  itih  rit. 
You  at  and  high— do  not  rBfihly  attempt  to  <  linb 
hightr  and  incur  the  riak  of  o  Jaft ;  for,  depend  ir,itMi 
it,  a  favouiite  wil!  not  bo  pi^miitte*!  even  to  fitimible 
With  impunity.^  I  rcphud  to  this  affectionaie  ejcpos- 
rulai^u  in  ibi'  words  nf  Montrose  :-^ 

'  He  either  fears  hit  fate  too  much, 
Qr  his  deserts  are  smaU, 
Wbo  dares  not  put  it  lo  the  touch, 
To  win  or  lose  it  all.' 

•  If  I  fiiij,'  I  said— for  the  dialogue  is  strong  in  my 
recollection,  *  it  is  a  sign  that  I  ought  never  to  have 
succeeded,  and  I  will  icrUe  prose  jor  life :  you  ahall 
'  nor  will  I  eat  a  singlo 


i  no  chaage  m  my  temL„.. 
meal  the  worse.    But  if  I  su( 

•TTp  wl*  the  bonnie  blue  bonnet, 
The  dirk  and  the  feather  ao'  a' !' 

"Afterwards  I  showed  my  critic  tUo  fir* I  cnnto, 
which  rt:concd&d  her  to  rny  impri]detit'C."~Thr  ij^dy 
hrrenlhidrd  to  wfts  no  doubt  Miss  Christian  Ru- 
therford, hi?  niftther'ft  atster.  wJio^  ne  1  havt  a  heady 
mentioTif'd,  was  ao  hrite  (wove  hia  age,  that  ihey 
aenm  alwoy?  to  have  lived  ((^^efther  on  the  teroj-  o( 
er^ualirr  himcat£d  in  het  ubo  of  the  word  "  txjU'^ifi" 
in  the  ^inlogtje  before  uph  She  wa*i,  however,  about 
aa  d&TOut  a  Shakapcarioo ,  as  her  ncph(?w,  and  the 
Tj^f.  nf  '■.^^r»p>i  (ox  kinaman  in  goncral,  is  common  to 
■  il'  ■  ■■  ' '  i'-r  dramaiiitfc** 

N     -I    i.  tn  the  aamc  pseay,  "Ifenifmbpr  That 
aboiii  thf}  saiHD  lime  JJ  friend  started  in  t    '  ^  up 

my  hope/  hkfi  the  minsTrtl  m  iheold  go..  as 

beid  a  farmer,  brit  a  man  of  ijowtrfut  !■  d- 

ing,  natural  good  tastei  iknd  warm  poetie;;][  k-r  hug, 

•  TbotJUdf  Capalec  exclaims,  on  leeiaf  the  corpse  of  Tybalt, 
^  lyUli,  mj  sMtla  t  oil  I  mar  broUi«r^  oiiild  i>* 


psifiieilir  oqmpelMit  ta  sopplf  th«  wtntt  of  aa  um^ 
perfect  or  irr^^ar  edacation.  He  was  a  paaaioK^ 
ate  admirer  of  field  sports,  which  we  o£imi  pan^ 
ed  together.  As  (this  friend  happened  to  dine  wtfb 
me  at  Aahestiel  one  day,  I  took  the  opportunity  of 
reading  to  hin  the  first  canto  of  the  Lady  of  thm 
Lake,  m  order  to  ascertain  the  efiect  the  poem  was 
likely  to  piodi)Kie  upon  a  persoii  who  was  but  t6o 
favourable  a  repreaeotative  of  readers  at  large.  His 
reception  of  my  recitation,  or  prelectioii,  was  rather 
singular.  He  placed  his  nana  across  his  brow,  and 
Ustened  with  great  attentidn  through  the  whole  ac- 
count of  the  staghunt,  till  the  dogs  throw  themselves 
into  the  lake  to  follow  their  master,  who  embarks 
with  Elleti  Dou^as.  He  the^  stalled  ud  with  a 
sudden  exolamatu)^,  struck  hia  )iand  oa  ttie  tshk^ 
and  4eclared  in  a  voice  of  ceBauiia  cakulated  for  tks 
occasion^  that  the  doss  matt  have  been  totally  itiio* 
ed  by  beipg  pemittecT  to  take  the  water  alter  sueh  m 
severe  chase.  I  own  I  was  much  encouraged  by  the 
species  of  revene  which  had  possessed  so  zealons  d, 
follower  of  the  sports  of  the  ancient  Nimrod,  wno 
had  been  completely  surprised  out  of  all  doubts  or 
the  reality  of  the  tale.*'  Scott  adds^"  Another  oC 
his  remarks  gave  me  Itas  pleaaur&  He  detected  tho 
identity  of  the  king  with  the.  wandering  knight^  . 
Fitz-Jamea,  when  he  winds  hia  bugle  to  anmoMMa 
his  attendants.  He  was  prebablv  tMnlring  of  the 
Uvely  but  somewhat  Uoentieos  old  ballad  m  wIdcH 
the  dinouemtnt  of  a  roynl  intrigue**  [one  of  JanxeS 
V.  himself  by  the  wayl  "  ta.)^  pjace  as  follows  :— 

*  Hb  took  a  bofle  fr»m  his  sl4e. 

He  blew  bom  loud  and  shrili^ 
And  Icmr-siid-tweDty  heked  kalgbts 
Came  skipping  owre  the  hill. 

*  Then  he  took  oqt  a  little  koif^ 

Let  a'  his  duddles  fk', 
And  be  was  tlie  bravest gemlemsn 
That  was  amaog  them  a'. 

And  we'll  go  no  more  a  roving,'  4lc. 

"  This  discovery,  as  Mr.  Pepys  says  of  the  rent  in 
his  camblet  cloak,  ^  was  but  a  trifle^  yet  it  troubled 
me  ;*  and  I  was  at  a  good  deal  of  pams  to  efface  acv 
marks  by  which  1  thought  my  secret  oould  be  traced 
before  the  conclusion,  whep  I  relied  on  it  with  thm 
same  hope  of  nroducing  efiect  with  which  the  f  nah 
postboy  is  said  to  reserve  a  *  trot  for  the  avenue.'^** 
I  believe  the  shrewd  critic  here  introduced  was  th» 

S>et*s  excellent  cousin,  Charles  Scott,  now  laird  of 
nowe-south.    The  story  of  the  Irish  poatilion^s 
trot  he  owed.to  Mr.  Moore. 

In  their  reception  of  this  poem,  the  critics  were  for 
once  in  full  harmony  with  each  other,  and  vrith  the 
popular  voice.  The  article  in  the  Quarterly  was 
wntterrby  Gkorge  Ellis ;  but  its  eulogies,  though  less 
discriminative,  are  not  a  whit  more  emphatic  than, 
those  of  Mr.  Jeffrey  rri  the  rival  Review.  Indeed,  t 
havq  always  considered  this  last  paper  as  the  best 
specimen  of  contemporary  criticism  on  Sccjtt's  po- 
etry ;  and  I  shall  therefore  indulge  myself  with  qoot- 
ing  here  two  of  its  paragraphs  :— 

"  There  la  nothing  in  Mr.  9cott  of  the  severe  and  majes- 
tic style  of  Milton— or  of  ihe  terse  and  fine  compodtion 
of  Pope— or  of  rne  elaborate  elegaoce  and  melody  of  ^ 
Campoell— or  even  or  the  flowing  and'  redundant  dictioQ 
of  Soothe/,— but  there  Is  a  medley  of  bright  imagaa  aad 
glowing,  set  carelessly  and  loosely  together— a  diexigo 
tinged  successively  wfth  the  careless  i1chQt>ss  of  Sbaik> 
speare,  the  harshness  and  antique  simplicity  of  the  old 
romances,  the  homeiioess  of  vulgar  ballads  and  anecdote^ 
and  the  sendmental  glitter  of  tbe  most  modern  poetry — 
passing  from  (he  borders  of  the  ladicrous  ip  those  of  the 
sabHme— alternately  minute  and  energetic— sometimes  ^ 
artificial,  and  frequently  negHl^eut,  but  ^w»yd  full  of  spi* 
rit  and  rlvacity— abounding  in  images  that  nre  striking  si 
first  sight  to  minds  of  every  contcjtlure— and  never  ejfr 
pressing  a  sentiment  which  It  can  cost  the  most  ordioaiqf 
reader  any  exertion  to  couprohend.  Upon  the  whole,  we 
are  inclined  to  think  more  h\f.Wy  of  the  Lady  of  the  Lake 
than  of  either  of  its  author's  former  publications.  We  are 
more  sure,  however,  that  it  has  fewer  faults,  t)tao  that  it 
has  greater  beauties  ;  and  as  its  bcauUes  bear  a  strong  re* 
samolanca  to  i^se  with  wblch  tlie  pubUc  has  beenafree 


*  Introduction 


f^s%}S%<^f&t>^ 


LIRE'OF  SA  ¥PALTBR  600W. 


»a»to hmimin  ih§n  cilibwfdd  <tork%  w  thiild  not  famXher  pown  MMler  the  title  of  "Don  Pelvro' 
h«jinriM4if  ita  popularity  were  lets  •pleodid aad  re-  i  which  in  the  istoe  WM  exehttiged  for  thtt  of  **• 
™™i«    ^"m  11^  T"  P~rt«.  howfeTcr,  w«  are  »f  op«.  j  decick  the  Last  of  the  Golhi.'^ 
B»B»(tet  It  will  mt  oftener  read  hereafter  than  either  of  ; 


»»fc 


To  Robert  Soulheyy  E*q^  Durham, 

"  Edinburgh,  BCay  20,  1810. 


BioB»«kBt  it  will  t*i  oftener  read  hereafter  t 
them :  tod  that  if  ii  had  appeared  first  in  the  aeries,  their  i 
aeapllMi  w<iuld  hare  been  leaa  favourable  than  ttiat  which 
HIM  experienced,  h  ia  more  poUahed  inita  diction,  and  '  k  %«  /i  r  a^  ik 
BQrt  refitiar  to  iu  verMcAtion ;  the  atory  ia  eonatructed  |  "^  "**'  aouine/, 
vkliiafiQUely  wMe  skill  and  addresa ;  there  ia  a.  greater  t  "  I  am  vexy  seniible  of  the  value  of  your  kind  appro- 
;ropi'ni<«  ofplcacsin^axid  tender  piusagea,  with  much  lea$  '  bation  of  my  eiTorta,  and  trust  I  ahall,  ooder  auch  geod 
lantnmn  de^'I ;  axul,  upon  the  whole,  a  larger  varietv  \  auspices,  keep  my  ground  with  the  public.  I  have  atu- 
sfcoar&cters,  i^Qre  artfullv  and  judiclouslv  contrasted.  ,  dlea  iheif  taste  asuuch  aa  a  tiling  so  variable  can  be 
Therflsoo^irngso  fine,  perhaps,  as  the  battle  in  Marinion  calculated  upon,  and  I  hope  I  have  again  shren  them  an 
-K)r  so  pictureAjue  as  some  of  the  scattered  sketches  in    acceptable  subject  of  entertainment.    What  you  say  of  \ 

the  songt  ia  very  just,  and  also  of  the  measure.  But,  on 
the  one  hand,  I  wished  to  make  a  difference  between  my 
former  poema  and  th?^  n*""  •#»-«»«♦  \^  ^y^p  ^f>r>i°'r«if  tf  nnr 
of  versification^  and 


th^Uj;  butth«re  is  a  richness  and  a  snirit  in  the  whole 
piece  iritfeh  does  not  pervade  eitherof  those,  poems— a 
praftuioa  of  incident,  and  a  shitting  brilliancy  of  colouring, 
'i^Tfviiads  us  o(  the  witchery  gf  Ariosto— and  a  corf* 
saat  eliatkityt  ao<i  occaaional  energy,  whicli  seem  to  be- 
ioaiuore  peculiarly  to  the  author  now  before  us" 

"it  ia  honourable  to  Mr.  Scott's  goniu.^  that  he  has  been 
>ble  IB kiterest  the  puhtic  so  deeply  with  this  third  pre- 
sratiaenl  of  the  same  cnivalrous  scenes  ;  but  we  cannot 
Mp  tMnkinr,  (hat  both  l)l«  irlory  and  our  irrntification 
«nU  liSvs  been  greater,  if  he  liad  cliangod  his  hand 
wuc  eoapletely.  and  actnally  give  osa  true  Cehic  story, 
vsiiall  its  drapery  and  accompaniments,  in  acorraspond- 
ioc  i^Ieof  deeor»lion.  8iicb  a  subriect,  we  are  pcrsUa- 
«fi,hMvcngfeat  capahMities.  and  onlv  wants  to  be  intro* 
docedto  poblic  notice  by  such  a  hand  as  Mr.  Scou's,  to 
nake&itin  more  powerful  impression  than  be  has  alresr 
dtel^ttedby  the  resurrection  of  the  tales  of  romance, 
irore  are  few  peraons,  we  believe,  of  any  degree  of  poet- 
)alwicepttbilrty,  who  hsve  wandered  among  the  seclud- 
ed vilcys  of  the  Highlands,  and  contemplated  the  singular 
PMflsby  whom  they  are  still  tenanted— with  their  love  of 
Miie  sfid  of  ■QDg--tbeir  hardy  and  trregolar  UA,  so  tm- 
as  liM  Dwratying  loik  of  the  Saxon  mechanic^their 
Moa  to  their  chiefs— tb«ir  wild  and  lofty  tmdltiona^ 
(heir  oatloual  enthusiasm— the  melancholy  grandeur  of 
tb«jeeueith^intW>it— and  the  multiplied  superstltiona 
TOch  «ra  linger  among  them— without  feeling  that  there 
«  no  eiiiting  peonle  so  Well  adapted  for  the  purposes  of 
V«fTf,orse  cspsWe  of  famishing  the  occasions  of  new 
snvriUog  inventions. 

"  We  are  perauaded,  that  if  Mr.  Scott's  powerftil  and 
^ittf  s  Ksnioa  were  to  be  tnened  in  good  earnest  to  sii<^ 
«  iQkisci,  something  ssight  be  produced  still  more 
lopracuve  and  ori^nal  than  even   this  age  has  yet 


Jftc  seconti  of  these  para^aphe  is  a  strikingly 
pwphetic  one ;  and  if  ihe  details  already  given  ne- 
?atwe  the  prediction  of  the  first,— namely,  that  the 
wwMite  popularity  of  the  Lady  of  the  Lake 
pwd.be  lese  remarkable  than  that  of  the  Lay  or 
itnnion  had  been^ifs  other  prediction,  that  the 
WW  poem  would  be  "  oftener  read  hereafter  than 
5P«  of  the  former,"  has,  I  believe^  proved  just. 
W  '^  '  '"•y  venture  to  state  the  creed  n/oyr 
wwiwhed,  is,  I  should  say,  generally  considered 
**e  (host  natunil  and  original  Marmion  as  the 
"Mrtpowerfal  and  splendid,  the  Lady  of  the  Lake 
^fflsmosf  hiterestinjf,  romantic,  picturesque,  and 
PJJpral  of  his  gTBat  poems. 
W  the  pritate  opinions  expressed  at  the  time  of 
J?  pW  publication  by  his  distinguished  literary 
"*M»,  and  expressed  with  an  ease  and  candour 
jwlykopottrablc  to^them  and  to  him,  that  of  Mr. 
fJJJjet was,  as  fares  I  know,  the  only  one  which 
^^  forth  any  thmg  like  a  critical  reply  ;  and  even 
wj  more  tue,  he  seems  p[lad  to  turn  from  his  own 
r^^MCbons  to  those  of  his  correspondent.  It  will 
9«  seen  that  Mr.  Southey  had  recently  put  forth  the 
jrat  volnme  of  his  history  of  Brazil ;  thiKt  his  Ke- 
JJTJJ^as  then  in  the  Batlantyne  press  ;  and  that 
'*  D«d  mentioned  to  Scott  his  purpose  of  writing 

rl^J^  intercst  the  reader  to  compare  with  this  passafs  a 
"tCSS™  *  James  Mackintosh's  Indian  Diary  oflFlT  :- 


_2v  MW«l  of  The  Lady,"  says  he.  "  is  a  eprnmaD  Highland 
iSrA^IL*'  •  ***•*  ''h«e  the  neichboarfaood  of  the  Lowlands 
JJ3^tieft  eoota«t  of  manners— M'here  the  scenery  afibrds 

^]i«  Court,  that  t 


-, -  manners— M'hore  the  scenery  afibrds 

f  descriinion— and  where  the  wild  clan  is  so 

-^ ■"">.  ».*l  their  robbr  hes  can  be  ronnorJj^  with  the 

2?2pwem«iai  afn  diHguuedklnir.  an  exiled  lord,  and  a  hiirh- 
r™«y.  The  «rhole  oamtivt  is  very  fine  Tliere  are  not 
"«r  n^eodjd  passams  lor  qustation  as  in  the  Iwofonncr 
(Hi  ^v"?  '"■'  irtdeed  ullenr©  the  objection!  of  the  critics,  but 
JTrjortiwr  11  vill  promote  the  p^mblarity  of  the  poem.  It 
S»Sl^  ^.fP*4w  **>•  Address  to  Scotland,  or  UieJDeafh  of 

96 


ui   TcrBiucAiiifiJ,  aiiu    -    . 

benefits  derivable  ft    m  lU*-  <  ' 

no  opportunity  whicli  i-.mM  ij«|tivifitH.>r  rakro,  nf  ccuvert- 
iogmy  dog-trot  Into  b  h^^t  <tep- and  jump.  I  sjti  lEopatisi^t 
to  see  l^ehama  ;  iaxfw^  Ikllauij^Jie^  wlap  ha^  a  guuj  ^v*X 
o(  tact,  speaks  very  tn^bly  gf  the  pne'tjiral  fire  aiid  Leauly 
which  pervades  it;  jcuL  CLjEi^'KlC'r^opr  ij-i^  success  of  ^ir 
William  Joues,  I  sli"iild  iTiifjk  thu  IliD^lm  j^yikolo^y 
would  not  revolt  th-.'  cl^mnlon  readers^  fiii'  in  tlwt  lit^s 
your  only  danger.  As  for  tJon  pela*o,  it  should  ini  en- 
outsiie  under  your  iiuoinaiPiuctit ;  iho  «ulviecE  3&  iwiblff, 
the  parties  finely  conrrasicdl  lu  ^nAoners,  dre^  r^U^iiiti, 
and  all  that  the  poet  sJ^firt^s  to  i^rUijt  imt^  action  ,  aJid  y^^ur 
complete  knowledge  <r  every  hi^imriui  whc)  kaii  li^ucht^d 
upon  the  period,  pniixiiag^  lIjc  i  raJL^r  at  oucjj  itvJig^t  and 
instruction. 

Twenty  times  twenty  thanks  for  the  History  of  Bra- 
zil, which  has  been  my  amusement,  and  solace,  and  spring 
of  instruction  for  this  month  past.  1  have  always  madsi 
it  9iy  reading-book  after  dinner,  between  the  removal  of 
the  cloth  and  our  early  tea-time.  There  is  only  one  de- 
feet  I  can  point  out,  and  thai  applies  to  the  pablishers— 
I  mean  the  want  of  a  good  map.  ror,  to  tell  you  the  truth, 
with  my  imperfect  aOas  of  Boutb  America,  I  caa  hardly 
trace  these  same  Tup$  of  youjrsi  (which  in  our  Border 
dialect  signifies  rams,)  with  all  their  diviaions  and  subd^ 
visions,  throuffh  so  many  ramificationa,  without  a  carfe  cfs 
pau8.  The  history  itself  is  most  singularly  entertaining, 
and  throws  new  light  upon  a  subiect  which  we  have  hi>^ 
therto  understood  very  imperfectly.  Your  labour  must 
have  been  immense,  to  Judge  trumthe  number  of  curious 
fitcts  quoted, and  unlieardof  authorities  which  you  have 
collected.  I  have  traced  the  achievements  of  the  Portu- 
guese adventurerfi  with  greater  interest  than  I  remember 
to  have  felt  since,  when  a  achoolboy,  I  firat  perused  the 
dnodeclmo  collection  of  Voyages  and  Discoveries  called 
the  World  Displayed— a  sensation  which  I  thought  had 
been  long  dead  within  me ;  for,  to  say  the  truth,  the  phi- 
lantbropic  and  cautious  conduct  of  modem  discoverers, 
though  far  more  amiable,  ia  less  entertaining  than  that  of 
the  old  Buecaaeers,  and  Spanlanis  and  PortaffMee,  wha 
went  to  conquer  and  achieve  adventures^  mod  met  with 
strange  chances  of  fide  in  coosequeoce,  which  could 
never  have  beiallen  a  well-armed  boat's  crew,  not  trusting 
themaelves  beyond  their  watering-place,  er  trading  with 
the  natives  on  the  principles  of  mercantile  good  tuth, 

**  I  have  some  thougtits  of  a  jotirney  and  voyage  to  the 
Hebrides  this  year,  but  if  I  don't  make  that  out,  I  think 
I  shall  make  a  forav  into  your  northern  counties,  go  to 
see  inr  friend  Momu  at  Greta  Bridge,  and  certainly  cast 
myself  Keswick  wsys  either  going  or  coming.  1  have 
some  literary  projects  to  talk  over  with  you,  for  the  re- 
ediUng  some  of  our  ancient  classical  roiziances  and  poetry, 
and  so  forth.  I  have  great  command  of  our  friends  the 
Batlantynes,  and  I  think,  so  far  as  the  filthy  lucre  of  gaiu 
is  concerned,  I  could  make  a  very  advantageous  bargain 
for  the  time  which  must  necessarily  be  bestowed  in  auch 
a  labour,  besides  doing  an  agreeable  thing  for  ourselves, 
and  a  useful  service  to  literature.  What  is  become  of 
C!oleridge's  Friend?  1  hope  he  had  a  letter  from  me,  en- 
closing my  trifling  subscription.  How  does  our  fhend 
Wordsworth  1  I 'won't  write  to  him,  because  he  hatea 
letter-writing  as  much  as  I  do ;  but  I  often  think  on  him, 
and  always  with  aflbction.  If  you  make  any  stay  at  Dur- 
ham, let  me  know,  as  I  wish  you  to  know  my  friend  Sur* 
tees  of  Mainsforth.'  He  Is  an  excellent  antiquary,  some 
of  the  rust  of  which  stufiy  has  clung  to  his  tnanners ; 
but  he  is  good-hearted,  and  you  wouldmake  the  sumnier 
eve  (for  so  by  the  courtesy  of  the  kalendar.we  roust  call 
these  abominable  easterly  blighting  aflemoons)  short  be- 
tween you.    I  presume  you  are  with  my  fVlend  Dr.  Sou- 

*Tbis  amiable  rentleman,  author  of  the  Historr  AfPuriiam,  in 
three  vohnnes  folio.— one  of  the  mosl  teamerf  as  well  as  interest- 
ing  works  of  itji  class,- was  an  early  and  dear  friend  of  gcott's. 

1  F5jrusry?'l93^,  in  htt  Mth  y^.       Lfptized  ByT5^OT3gr£ 


ISA 


LIFE  OF.  SIR  WAI^TER  SOOTT. 


that,  who,  I  hope,  baa  not  qoita  forgotten  no,  in  whieh 
ftiin^  b«g  kindcomiiUoients  to  bim,  and  am  erer  f  onia 
most  truly, 

Waltbr  Scott.' 

George  Ellis  having  undertaken,  at  Oifibrd'a  re- 
quest, to  review  the  Lady  of  the  Lake,  does  not 
appear  to  have  addressed  anjr  letter  to  the  poet  upon 
the  subject,  until  after  his  article  had  appeared.  He 
then  says  simply,  that  he  had  therein  expressed  his 
pandid  sentiments,  and  hoped  his  friend,  as  great  a 
worshipper  as  himself  of  I>ryden*8  tales,  would  take 
in  good  part  his  remarks  on  the  octosyllabic  metre 
as  applied  to  serious  continued  narrative.  The  fol- 
lowing was  Scott's  reply : — 

To  G.  ElUt,  Etq. 
"My  dear  Ellis, 

*'  I  have  been  scandalously  lazy  la  answering  your 
kind  eplsf  le.  received  I  don't  know  how  long  since  ;  bat 
then  I  had  been  Iom  yodr  creditor,  and  I  fancy  corres- 
pondents, like  merchants,  are  often  glad  to  plead  their 
friends'  neglect  of  their  accoinptcnrrent  as  an  apology 
for  their  own,  especially  when  they  know  that  the  value 
of  the  pavmenta  being  adjusted,  must  leave  a  sad  balance 
against  tnero.  I  have  run  up  an  attempt  on  the  Curse 
of  Kebama  for  the  Quarterly ;  a  strange  thing  it  is— the 
Corse,  I  mean— and  the  critique  is  not,  as  the  blackguards 
say,  worth  a  damn ;  but  what  I  could  I  did,  which  was 
to  throw  as  much  weight  as  possible  upon  the  beautiful 
passages,  of  which  there  are  many,  ana  to  slur  over  the 
absurdities,  of  which  there  are  not  a  few.  It  is  infinite 
pity  of  Southey,  with  genius  almost  to  exuberance,  so 
much  learning  and  real  good  feeling  of  poetry,  that  with 
true  obstinacy  of  a' foolish  papa,  he  will  be  most  attached 
to  the  defects  of  his  poetical  oSspriqg.  This  aaid  Kebama 
aflbrds  cruel  openings  for  the  quixzers,  and  I  suppose  will 
get  it  roundly  in  the  Edinburgh  Review.  I  wouid  have 
made  a  very  different  hand  of  It  indeed,  had  the  order  of 
the  day  been  pour  dechirer.' 

**  I  told  vou  how  much  I  was  delighted  with  your  cri- 
tique on  the  l^y :  but,  very  likely  moved  by  the  same 
feeling  for  which  I  nave  just  censured  Houthey,  I  am  still 
Inclined  to  defend  the  eight-syllable  stansa,  which  I  have 
somehow  persuaded  myself  is  more  congenial  to  the  En- 

(^lish  language— more  &vourable  to  narrative  poetry  at 
east— than  that  which  has  been  commonly  termed  heroic 
verse.  If  vou  will  take  the  trouble  to  road  a  page  of 
Pope's  Iliad,  you  will  probably  find  a  good  many  lines  out 
of  which  two  syllables  may  he  struck  without  Injury  to 
the  sense.  The  first  lines  of  this  translation  have  been 
repeatedly  noticed  as  capable  of  being  cot  down  from 
ships  of  the  line  Into  frigates,  by  striking  out  the  said  two 
syllabled  words,  as— 

'  Achilles'  wrath  to  Greece,  the  dir^ul  spring 
Of  woes  unnombered,  heavenly  goddess  sing, 
That  wrath  which  sent  to  Pluto'a  gloomy  reign 
The  souls  of  mughty  chiefs  in  batile  slaui, 
Whose  bones  unburied  on  tb«  <ieserf  shore, 
Devouring  dogs  and  hungry  vnltures  lore.' 

'^Now.sUice  li  ]f  rru«  thAt  by  tlirowiog  out  the  epi- 
thets traderKoreiJl,  we  presErr^  ihe  ftrn^^e  without  dtmi- 
Titshing  rhf  f^iixe  tif  ihs  verei^tf — qjjJ  amto  it  Is  also  true 
that  tfMtcvlj  Olio  of  Th4  ^pUhdts  afc  twjto  than  merely 
expleEive^fdv  renlly  think  that  thi*  air  ucture  of  verse 
which  rvqv\rv9  tiasi  of  (h(3  sort  of  boJsterlng,  is  most 
lively  to  be  Yottihlf  and  iriiinatiriL  *rUv  case  is  different 
m  deieripltTC!  pootry,  b«?cauiei  ihorc.  cpiihets,  if  they  are 
bsjipily  Bdectetiare  ratbef  to  hn  »oii(rht  after  tlian  avoid- 
.  fcd,  Sfict  adtnll  of  htflng  fn I ed  ad  infimtu  'h.  But  if  in  nar- 
mivr  you  ifft  fr«((utn[]y  Ck>iij[>(ll0il  [u  tjgyour  substan- 
ihet  with  k'ljA4?tj,VFa,  \i  iiiusL  rri^qu4>AUr  liappen  that  you 
ai*  imvM  iiiKifi  iXik^mp  ttijii  lU-a  nmrfVr  commonplaces, 
atfrh  as  *  VavffiJu  gorliU^s*/  *4ftrrt  wlinrii,'  and  so  forth ; 
and  T  ner^cl  rxji  (mil  t riu,  (hnt  wlkJrcinTi'r  irjf  syllable  is  ob- 
vlouily  liiattrifri  iur  thi-  i^niHp|f»Uon  of  a  ^  ouplet,  the  rea- 
der ii  ilb^ioMttd  to  f|ojirr*^l  with  Ih  y<?*liJ'  a,  the  eight-srl- 
Ulfjr  aijLtir^  u  ko^^AA^  (jrct*rlRlii  vnrim^*  denied  to  the 
tipffiic.  l>oiiri1<.<  itijr]j|f>ti.  for  IfiaEiuu^^'i  fl(0  congenial  io  it, 
wbleh  nfli^n  0v<;  »  virt  urUuthk  tjcLftr^rto  its  cadences; 
yftn  1  i  yK  1'  ji  i>Mjrlrr  It  innrtf  or  kna  rjijjjiJby  retaining  or 
4i>-,- •  •  J  tvnhmjii  nylUUlp .    f Jijirljr,  naid  which  I  tbmk 

ItJ  i  "!  >  .,  \,  .:.<  rje,  \i  rnii*  hntt^r  into •r'otetices  than  any 
Ifo^LLj  ui:  hnwy  I  fenu'W.  mn  ii  fntttpi^^mA*.  (ipon  an  average 
Tjew  of  All r  piinrlMA^Iiin,  very  c^HniMitr^Jy  with  the  proper 
and  timiAl  KjiAri'  Itiiwy^rn  c-xTrLfOA  ^wti  I'.omma.  I<astly 
the  fki'tfliiil^iuLit  which  «^ii^!tt  p^Fh^p:*  h*  have  been  said 
Orst^    I  111  Ink  1  hftv^  aomt t^^v  i  better  krtiu:k  arthis '  false 

*  See  tii£i  utiefe  in  his  BfisesOaBeovs  Piose  Woifcs,  vol.  x^fi. 
pp.  801— «7. 


gaOop'of 
Ufltfmate 
of  1 


^  , ft^fbaaatjoaroNra 

fmate  haxameters ;  and  so  there  Is  the  sboif  sad  kiac 


of  my  longs  and  stiorts.    Ever  yours, 

WAtTl 

Mr.  Ellis  recurs  to  the  octosyllabic  measure  of 
the  Lady  of  the  Lake  in  his  next  letter.  "I  don't 
think,"  says  he,  "  after  all  the  eloquence  with  which 
you  plead  for  yotir  favourite  metre,  that  yon  really 
uke  It  from  any  other  motive  than  that  taintt  pa- 
rMss— that  delighiful  indolence— which  ioducea  one 
to  deliffht  in  doing  those  things  which  we  can  do 
with  the  least  fatigue.  If  you  will  take  the  trouble 
of  converting  Dryden'a  Theodore  and  Honoha  (a 
narrative,  is  it  not  1)  into  Hudibrttstic  meaaure,  and 
after  trying  thia  on  the  first  twenty  linea  you  lisel 
pleased  with  the  transformation,  I  will  srre  up  the 
argument ;— although,  in  point  of  fact,  1  believe  that 
I  regret  the  variety  of  your  own  old  atanza,  much 
more  than  the  absence  of  that  heroic  measure^ 
which  you  justly  remark  is  not,  without  great  diffi- 
culty, capable  of  being  moulded  into  aantenoea  of 
various  lengths.  When,  therefore,  you  ffive  ua  ano- 
ther poem,  pray  indulge  me  with  rathiBr  a  larger 
share  of  your  ancient  ditfayrambica." 

Canning,  too,  came  to  the  sideofElfiem  his  debate. 
After  telling  Scott  that  "  on  a  repeated  peruaaP*  he 
had  been  *'  more  and  more  delighted"  with  the  Ledy 
of  the  Lake,  he  says—"  But  1  sAmt&f  ,like  to  te* 
Bomethmg  a  little  different  when  yoi^  write  next  In 
short,  I  have  sometimes  though^  (very  preenmpta- 
ously)  that  partly  by  persuasion,  and  partly  by  shew- 
ing the  e^ect  of  a  change  of  dreaa— of  a  ftUler  and 
more  8wea>ing  atyle^upon  some  of  your  &voimt« 
paaaages,  I  could  induce  you  to  present  yooreelf  nest 
time  in  a  Drydenic  habit.  Has  this  ever  occurred  to 
you.  and  have  you  tried  it,  and  not  liked  yourself  eo 
well  V  We  shall  see  by  and  by,  what  attention  ScoU 
gave  to  these  friendly  suggeidona. 

Of  the  success  of  the  new  poem  he  speaks  as  fol- 
lows in  his  Introduction  ot  1830:— **lt  was  cer- 
tainly so  extraordinary  as  to  induce  me  for  the  mo- 
ment to  conclude  that  1  had  at  last  fixed  a  nsfl  in 
the  proverbially  moonsunt  wheel  of  Forttme  I 
had  attained,  perhapa,  that  degree  of  public  repv- 
tation  at  which  prudence,  or  certainly  timidity, 
would  have  made  a  halt,  and  diaoontinaed  eflbits  by 
which  I  was  far  more  likely  to  diminish  mvfiiaM 
than  to  increase  it  But— as  the  celebrated  John 
Wilkes  is  said  to  have  explained  to  Kins  (Seorge  tlks 
Third,  that  he  himself,  amid  his  full  ti&  of  popula- 
rity, was  never  a  Wiikite— so  I  can  with  honest 
trutn  exculpate  myself  from  having  been  at  any 
time  a  oartisan  of  my  own  poetry,  even  when  it  was 
in  the  highest  fashion  witn  the  milUon.  It  nnsC 
not  be  sunposed  that  I  was  either  ipo  ungratelnl,  or 
so  superabundantly  candid,  as  to  despise  or  soom 
the  value  of  those  whose  voice,  had  elevated  mo  so 
much  higher  than  my  own  opinion  told  me  I  deserv- 
ed. I  felt,  on  the  contrary,  the  more  grateful  to  th* 
public,  as  receiving  that  fix>m  partiality  which  I 
could  not  have  claimed  from  merit :  and  1  eo^fB^ 
voured  to  deserve  the  partiality  by  continuing  aoch 
exertions  as  I  was  capable  offer  their  amuseaienL'* 

James  Ballantyne  has  preserved  in  his  jlfsmoron- 
^um  an  anecdote  strikingly  confirmative  oi  the 
most  remarkable  statement  in  this  page  of  Soou's 
confessions.  "I remember,"  he  says,  "going  into 
his  library  ahortly  after  the  pubUcation  oftheLady 
of  the  Lake,  and  finding  Miss  Scott  (who  was  then 
a  very  young  girl)  there  by  herself— I  asked  her— 
*  Well,  Miss  Sophia,  how  do  you  like  the  Lady  of  the 
Laker  Her  answer  was  given  with  perfect  simpli- 
city-* Oh,  I  have  not  read  it ;  papa  says  there** 
nothing  so  bad  for  young  people  as  reading  bad 
poetry.' " 

In  fact,  his  children  in  those  days  had  no  ide«  of 
the  source  of  his  distinction— or  rather;  indeed,  that 
his  position  was  in  any  respect  difierent  from  that 
of  other  Advocaiea,  Shertfis,  and  Clerks  of  Session. 
The  eldest  boy  came  home  one  afternoon  about  thla. 
tinle  from  the  High  School,  with  teara  and  blood 
hardened  together  upon  his  cheeks.  "Well,  Wat," 
said  his/ather,  "  what  have  you  been  fighting  about 
to-day  f*  With  that  the  boy  blushed  and  huoR  bim 


UFB  ^  SIR  WALTER  SCOTT. 


Mid,  and  atlMtttamiiMred  Mit— that  "hehtd  betn  i 
called  a  /ame."  **  Indeed  r*  Mid  Mre.  Scott, «» this  ' 
was  a  terrible  mfachief  to  be  aure."  "You  may  say 
what  you  pleaB^  mamma/'  Wat  answered  roughly, 
**  but  I  dinna  think  there's  a  vainer  (shabbier)  thing 
,  in  the  world  than  to  be  a  lassie,  to  sit  boring  at  a 
cIouL"  Upon  further  inquiry,  it  turned  out  that  one 
or  two  of  his  companions  had  dubbed  him  The 
Ladf  of  Hkt  Lakt^  and  the  phrase  was  to  him  in- 
I  eomprahensible,  save  as  conveying  some  imputation 
on  his  prowess,  which  he  accordingly  vindicated  in 
the  usual  style  of  the  Yards.  Of  tne  poem  he  had 
never  before  heard  Shortly  after,  this  story  having 
aot  wind,  one  of  Scott's  colleagues  of  the  Clerks' 
Table  said  to  the  boy—"  Gilknockie,  my  man,  you 
cannot  surely  help  aeeing  that  great  people  make 
more  work  about  your  papa  than  thcpr  do  about  me 
or  any  other  of  your  undM— what  ia  it,  do  you  sup> 
pose,  that  oocTasiona  thisl"  The  httle  fellow  ponder- 
ed for  a  minute  or  twa  and  then  answered  v«ry 
gravely — **It*8  commonly  Aim  that  sees  the  hare 
sitting."  And  yet  this  was  the  man  that  had  his 
diikiren  all  along  so  very  much  with  him.  In  truth, 
Bowever,  young  Walter  had  guessed  pretty  shrewd- 
ly in  the  natter,  for  his  father  had  all  the  tact  of  the 
Sutherland  Highlander,  whose  detection  of  an  Irish 
rebel  up  to  the  neck  in  a  bofL  he  has  commemora- 
ted in  a  note  upon  Rokaby.  Like  him|  he  was  quick 
to  catch  the  t^arkU  of  the  future  vicum'seye ;  and 
often  said  jestingly  of  himself,  that  whatever  might 
be  thought  of  him  as  a  moJfcsr  (poet,)  he  was  an  ex- 
oeiieot  trouveur. 

Ballantyne  adds  .*^**  One  day,  about  this  aamc- 
time,  when  his  fame  was  supposed  to  have  reached 
its  acin€,  I  aaid  to  him—'  Will  you  excuse  me,  Mr. 
Scptt,  but  I  should  like  to  ask  you  what  you  think 
of  your  own  genius  as  a  jpoet.  in  compansoo  with  i 
that  of  Burns  r  He  replied—  There  is  no  compa- ' 
rison  virhatever— we  ought  not  to  be  named  in  the 
nme  day.'  '  Indeed  r  I  answered,  *  would  you 
compare  Campbell  to  Bores  T  *  No,  James,  not  at 
all-Hlf  you  wish  to  speak  of  a  real  poet,  Joanna 
Baillie  is  now  the  highest  genius  of  our  country.'— 
But,  in  fact,"  (oonunuee  Ballantyne)—*'  he  had 
often  said  to  me  that  neither  bis  own  nor  any  mo- 
dem popular  style  of  composition  was  that  from 
which  he  derived  most  pleasure.  I  asked  him  what 
it  was.  He  anawered^Jobnson's ;  and  that  he  had 
more  pleasure  in  •reading  Loruhn^  and  The  VanUy 
qfEhiman  Withes,  than  any  other  poetical  compo- 
ation  hs  could  mention ;  and  I  think  I  never  saw 
his  countenance  more  indicative  of  high  admiration, 
than  while  reciting  aloud  from  those  productions."* 


CHAPTER  XXI. 
nasT  VISIT  TO  tub  HsaaiDss— stafta— skvs— mull 

— ^lOVA,  arc— THS  LOaO  or  THS  l8LB8PaOJBCTBI>— ' 
LXTTBBS  TO  XOANNA  BAILUB— SOVTHST— ARD  MOB- 
BITT.— 1810. 

WAI.TXB  ScOTT  was  Bt  this  epoch  in  the  highest 
spirits,  and  baling  strong  reasons  of  various  kinds 
for  hie  resolution  to  avail  himself  of  the  gale  of  fa- 
vour, only  hesitated  in  which  quarter  to  explore  the 
materials  of  sotne  new  romance.  His  nrst  and 
most  earnest  desire  was  to  spend  a  few  months  with 
the  British  army  in  the  Peninsula,  but  this  he  soon 

•  In  Ui  Sketch  of  Johnnn's  Lift  (MisQellaneow  Prim  Worin. 
vol.  lii.  p.  »«>  fitaott  nyt— "  The  deep.and  (Mtbetie  BofaK^  of 


in 

rf^igaod,  fh>m  on  amUblc  motive^  whioli  i  Irttsr 
1 1  re^tiDt  \y  lo  be  quoted  will  explain .  H«i  th<7ti  tbouulit 
of  iBVirtitinti  R^lmby— for  W  bad,  rroin  tliw  fir^t  dsy 
Ihnt  he  sji^nt  fitk  iUal  mnuMfKviH  dtimam,  c^antem- 
iiUtrd  il  BJ!  the  *fit'(iftr¥  ol  a  future  itocm.  Bui  the 
i>uf*lD/'c^n[hkJ:^BBm  wui^h  fullawbd  thr  apprtranc^  * 
tit  the  Lsdy  of  t\m  Lake  Qnilly  iwtt/tNJ  hiifl  ui  im« 
diTtnk'^  it  HiiitTiii<y,  iJ*H*ii':r  tit  no  lir  Ittirl:  hh  yhI  murt^'i 
j  n  u J  r  t u  //<  I- h Uttii*^  hiiii  a  w arn i  ni v )  e  d  t lo u  Uom  thu 
LiLjcd  oE  SEtilla^*  a  hioibi^r  ot  hii  irieiid  find  c^^l- 
icn^^ui  Mf.  Mscdonald  Buchanan,  eaii^y  rnduccd  him 
lo  iidd  n  voyft^e  ta  *hp  ihhrUif^,  H^i  wnm  aiuoin* 
iiatJied  by  ran  of  \x\^  InmAy.  U\n\  fiJtffHjm^  bmdcig 
\VjilIsic»%)  drill  Isy  i«c'¥i*f(il  fnt-i\i\>  hr  •idi-a  ;  nuto^K 
uihc-re,  hisfidniiion  Mr*.  A|.ircu«t,^n^p'^  Ljdy  l*'»vyj 
v^ho  had  b^j^  Ai  b«  saye*  in  m\*'  al  hi'^i  It  rirfK,  *'i 
hr>[)«sa  of  rhc  tirnt  ri]]iKmtud<<  (it  t>iinbiir)£h/'  dur- 
Jnglii«iifte4H}iTi|C  wtiiir-r  Kfi  ttnvclli'd  nUiwly,  wirb 
but  own  horsFji,  ihri>i4|i;h  Af^ylabiri:,  a^  laf  u*  Ubaii ; 
Imt,  irijpcitt  ^^^'i  v^^^*-'^  poBi*hotaies  might  havi:*  tit^^ii 
Imrl^  thi^  wi»  the  mork  h^  iiiwavs  pr«lt>rThcl  in  \hvm 
fjimiiv  cjtf'urffionej  for  bis  tkhiL*!'*'*H  -i  'li;  hlH^iy  it 
jiFRirdtHi  btni  al  iligbtitiir  and  i  duu  ami 

ain  long  ns  he  choffc  i  arid,  in  ir^  .nu^rlurm' 

t'd  the  fitr  gieaur  part  ot  the  Jnv  s;  jourmy  mi  foot 
•  -1,'jie.amining  the  mup  iit  the  mornin|£  f-ix  n"  to  lu^lite 
liiiu^cir  maftLer  of  the  Waririgfi-^ttnd  liidowifiK' hii 
own  fa  trey  ovi;r  ftotiie  old  djumst-d  riUirii^  tmcki,  or 
uJonf!  ih^  marmn  uf  ■  nUfrntiL  vhite  iW  cR^Tiafi;l^, 
with  Its  ttrmaU  LK^ciipatiit*  adbcft'd  lo  the  v^opvft 
ronj.  At  Obiin«  wh«fe  thsy  took  to  the  mts^  Mrt^ 
Apfecfcc  tn^x  him  by  appoinmienti 


vol.  lii.  p.  »0  flcott  nyt— "  The  deef)  and  patbetie 

the  VMty^  Human  WiMhe»j  htm  oAm  estncled 

■HM  whcm  em  Mraoder  dry  over  puce*  profenedlir  fentimah 
taL**  Aod  Lord  Bjrron,  in  his  Rarenne  Diary.  (1891.)  has  the  fol 
entry  on  the  tame  BiAiecf— '  Read  4ohn«on*s  Vanity  of 

I  Wiahea,— all  the  exampiea  and  mode  of  fiving  them  tab 

i  mm  well  aa  the  ktter  paft,  with  the  exceptioa  of  an  oecaaion 


aleoopkt  Tia  a  nand  poem— and  ao  true  /  — trueaa  the  Ifth 
«r Jwfvtial  himaelr.  The  kpae  of  acea  cfaaoffee  all  tfainfi— Um»- 
hy  ae  the  earth— the  borada  of  the  aea— the  atan  of  the  sky, 
M^aviery  thinf  about,  around,  and  unfiemeath  man,  eaoept  man 
■■Heif,  who  hai  always  been,  and  always  wiR  be  an  unlucJu 

The  infinite  variety  of  Hvea  eonduet  but  to  death,  and 
nliraf  wisbna  lead  bat  to  diaappointment,"— (!.</«  and^ 

volv.  n.  M.)    Yet  it  ia  the  cant  of  oar  day.  above  all  of 


tha  infioltr  ftf  wisbna  lead  bat  to  dMappoiDtmeat,"—a</«  and 
w^Hm.  vol  V.  n.  M.)  Yet  it  is  the  cant  of  oar  day.  above  all  of 
■B  poetatter*.  that  Jobnaon  was  no  poet  To  be  sure,  tlwy  soy 
the  aaoMof  Popo-and  Unt  it  oecaiionaHy  even  of  Diydea 


Mth  its  ftrmaU  LK^ciipatiit*  adbcft'd  W  the  rrop 
i>flj.  At  Oban«  wh«fe  thsy  took  to  the  mts^  Mt 
ipfecfcc  fn^t  him  by  appoinmienti 
Ilr:  if^xmis  10  bavv  %ii^i  no  iounial  during  Uii«  vx- 
)Ji  dition ;  but  1  shall  sinitg  lof|^lh«f  aomo  letter* 
"i^hicb,  ,4itb  th^  lUHtfa  thai  he  contributed  many 
yeftrs  af^r wards  to  Mr*  Crokcr's  t-dition  of  Bon- 
well,  may  ftumiah  a  tolerable  ski^tdi  of  tbi*  maiilsr 
pnrt  (jf  his  pro^ress^  and  of  thi?  Jr^itnKt»  ^\tU  w^bich 
hi'  fiTBt  in  peeled  the  loeaUties  of  hm  l»ii  Kwni 
po^m— The  Lord  Of  lb#  Islea.  The  firii  of  tbe<s 
kit^rif  ia  datE^d  fnim  the  Hebndean  ri^sidteDcv  M  ibe  \ 
you ug  Laird  of  Sta^a,  now  8ir  Re^haid  Macdotisld 
Sieuurt  Scion  of  £jtaffii  Allan  to  n^  siid  Touch,  Ea* 

TOUCH. 

Te  Muiff  Ja€Mnna  Baitlie. 

"lhva]]Diiie,Jul|  19,  mm 
^^I<Mnrwt^  iny  dpir  MWa  Billtifi  rebiattlip  tnnpiatktn 
irjf  writinf  k>  y^n  ttoij*  acenea  whieti  71m  have  reud«r*(i 
dapaif^  ai  w^ll  a*  Immortal.  We,  \sl^lf  h  In  tk*  preaeut 
KaMt  mi^ana  atj  wlft,  m/  rtfJAnt  f  Irk  and  mjfji^t  *rt  tb«* 
far  i^n  r«nuflaitQ  atenriiplnhmtnt  ^af  a  pl^rlmaf  «i  ta  UtB 
If  r  bride  a.  Tlie  dnf  before  viJrterclAy  Vf  mmat^A  Ihfl  f^ 
[Jy'ii  Ri^ek,  Jn  the  i^miid!  of  Muli,  m  nf;Mr  thai  1  could  al<^ 
mosi  tiiiTi^  tiiiich^  il.  Thia  in^  jan  know,  Ih^e  Roeilt  of 
your  Famii^  Li!>f€7td  Thj*  ho»t,  by  my  il*^JfJf  n,  went  aa 
Hear  04  prudence  pcojiittpd  ;  ajid  Ivtithr^d  ti!  imvv  \iit.kfd 
n  relif.  from  It,  wtr*?  U  b^t  a  rr*cl«l'*  l*l^pU^  mr  n  tntiM^i'L  ut  < 
hate  ft «^nMD  1*011;  but  a  Piirinf  iu\v  wa*  runmni?  *Lih  audi 
lorte  ai]U  v<?Wkl}raa  to  luake  ilje  thkis  kfnjh^juhjff.  AIhioI 
Lwo  iitilt:<a  TiLrttipr  >*e  paaafd  Ufl'l^r  ih^  t*t*tlp  cir  Uiwtt^ 
LjiL'  iftyM  tt(  yturiemti,  roii^iaUiig  uf  imr  hugf  tlnfliped  Im- 
dienaOA^^Ljj^r*'  luwrf,  lit  liiiiiJ^  ami  iildliUinnl  lurn^fa  in^l 
ruLelLAU.i^  boiMtiLKkf  (t\}r>  vtntk,  duiiUtvaa,  uf  ll«^ii1ora^« 
^»iardiiL[i£T^ilU  ^n  Hhklrt^iP  nKti  ntlll  uioukjcrt.  Itofef* 
Nuniiii  tii«  ainki(  ch^uiiii"!  fmrn  a  bllf  reek,  wrlihauc  a 
*wfi\*-^  trte  In  Ihv  vttkntty,  anri  V4  wnrtVtntbHi  by  bt^rH  «t»d 
lArren  moumalna*  forpnhnjt  atinfivAtr  aa  wild  aari  rir#«rf 
1,  IT « nut!  as  I  eivff  bfh*?>if  tTu#rr  la  ^-nn^fntiirfl  by  Iln»  f>p* 
jHMitE.' 4Miillr«  of  Dmi»tiini>ujef<,  DtinoM;,  ArilionitnK  nml 
LtLlierfl,  ai*  vncs  tlm  alimloj  of  inrii  TrLiriril  cli^pfi^  who 
vnarrvd  lnctiMnrly  WfiLb  fscb  ttUwf-  111  tin  li  1  toiintprl 
ftpTcp  afibeJiQ  furlrpJiM'K  in  iljfht  JilqtjL*^,  Jim  I  br*nl  acvi-ti 
ciuiOA  ^i?v4^n  IcfiiiudM  M  v:nT  4nr1  nwonti^c  ci>f4iii<i:i4>il  with 
plipm.  We  Jandcd  tito^  wr^t  frml  tMd,  on  tbn  J  ■  In  ml  uf 
Miill,  QPftr  anolher  oM  c^aile  ealle**  Aro*i,  wpitTatrrL,  ifXt, 
fnim  our  clothe^,  «hk  b  viffp  \n  a  Jarje  wbrTfy,  wiilfh 
''OiiM  not  kcrp  pnurf  willi  (mi  ru^A-bEHiC'  Mr,  Mfrdnfiolil 
cjf  Stair*,  tuy  kind  inend  *nd  (fuhlo^  Ii.v1  #iiu  hU  plj^rr  [a 
ciin^iaiu  atti^niliiiTt  timrlt  Ibftifj  ro  ro«»p  4  HiahlBtMl  jien- 
fJr  m«ii'a  fam^jr  <n  ibc  ni?i|bt>risirt>t?f«i,  whrre  w  wi^ie  t?- 
I  "iiM  wjit)  a  proriisiii>n  of  kindness  and  boApiiaJlty,  Whf 
-^Muuhi  I  appid  }rju  with  ■  de^criptioD  of  imr  diJUculliea 

•  Tbrj  reader  win  find  a  wmmi  tribot*  lo  8ift«i**  churaelvr  a*  a 
HiKhlnnd  fitidtf^L  if)  ^ctAl'*  ariAcJ**  tm  Sir  JoftjLCaJr'a  Cal*^ 
Tti*c  ^fcrtchp*,— MurtllniHwia  Prose  Worlt*  vojf^H>^tfld^«<iie^ 
■  umU>d  vHws,  iii^ttti|iatl^itiAn*eb(<fz€C^iv*^^^QM0^^ 
Worki,  etktiuf)  ]«M,  vitl.  ]t„  p,  9H.  O 


LIFC  OF  am  WALTER  jBoorr. 


im 

«Bd  ^»cMe*-4io«.  CliarkiUe  kit  har  thMt,  ami  Utdf" 
8o|ihia  her  mho^  coUection  of  pfbbie»-bow  I  wm  di- 
vorced  Crom  10/  nuore,  vid  the  whole  ptrty  looked  like  a 
Jewish  8anhedrt(aJ  By  titis  ilxne  we  were  accumulated 
U  follow* :— Sir  George  Paul  the  great  pbilanlhropiBt,  Mrs. 
»Apreece,  a  dlsta,nt  relation  of  mine,  Hannah  Mackenzie, 
a  daughter  of  our  friend  H^nry,  and  Mackinnon  of  Mackifi- 
non,  a  young  gentleman  bom  and  brftd  In  England,  but 
nevertheless  a  Highland  chi«f.'  It  seems  his  ftther  had^ 
acquired  wealth,  and  this  young  roao,  who  now  visita  the 
Highlands  for  the  fir«  time^  is  anxious  to  buy  back  soma 
of  the  family  property  which  was  sokl  long  stnce.  Soois 
twenty  Mackkioons,  who  happened  to  live  within  hearing 
of  our  arrival,  (that  is.  1  suppose,  within  ten  qiiles  of  Aro*,) 
came  posting  to  see  their  ynung  chief,  who  behaved  with 
great  kindness,  and  propriety,  and  liberality.  Next  day 
we  rode  across  the  isle  on  Highland  ponies,  aUended  by  a 
nimierous  retinue  of  gillies,  and  arrived  at  the  head  of 
the  salt-water  loch  called  Loch  an  Qaoll,  where  Btaflh's 
boats  awaited  as  with  colours  Dying  and  pipes  playing. 
We  proceeded  in  state  to  this  lonely  isie.  where  our  ho- 
noured k>rd  has  a  very  comfortahls  vetioeoce,  and  were 
rscslved  by  a  discharge  of  swivels  and  musketry  from  his 

"Yesterday  we  visited  StafTa  and  lona :  The  former  is 
one  of  the  most  extraordinary  places  1  ever  beiield.  It 
exceeded,  in  my  raiod,  every  description  I  had  heard  of 
it ;  or  rather,  the  appearauce  of  the  cavern,  composed 
emireiy  of  basaltic  piTiais  as  high  as  tlie  roof  of  a  cathe- 
dral,t  and  running  fieep  Into  the  lock,  etemaUy  swept  br 
«  deep  and  swelhng  sea,  and  fiavsd  as  it  were  wMi  rud- 
dy marble,  baffles  all  deacrtpiioo.  You  can  walk  along 
the  broken  pillars,  with  aome  difficulty,  and  in  some 
plaees  with  a  little  danger,  as  iar  as  the  farthest  extre- 
mity. Boats  also  ran  come  in  below  when  the  se&  is 
placid,~which  ib  seldom  the  case.  I  had  become  a  sort 
of  favourite  with  the  Hebridean  boatmen,  1  suppose  from 
my  anxiety  about  their  old  customs,  and  they  were  much 
pleased  to  see  me  get  over  the  obstacle^  which  stopped 
some  of  tho  party.  0o  they  took  the  whim  of  solemnly 
ahristsning  a  greststotie  seat  at  the  mouth  of  the  eavsm, 
Clachsn  an  tisirdh,  or  the  Poet's  dtooe.  It  was  eonse- 
erated  with  a  pibroch,  which  the  echoes  rendered^  ti^ 
meudous,  and  a  slus  of  whisky,  not  poured  forth  in  tb& 
aocieot  mode  oflibation,^  but  turned  over  the  throats  of 
the  asslstaots-  The  head  boatman,  whose  father  had 
been  himself  a  bard,  made  me  a  speech  on  the  occasion; 
Vut  as  h  was  hi  Oaelie,  I  couki  only  receive  it  as  a  silly 
»eauty  doea  a  fine-spun  compliment,  bow,  and  say  no* 
ihhig. 

"  When  this  fun  was  over,  (in  which,  strange  as  it  may 
seem,  the  men  were  quite  serious.)  we  went  to  lona, 
where  there  are  some  ancient  aiul  curioas  meaoroents. 
Frosa  thii*  restote  inland  the  light  of  Christianity  rtione 
forth  on  Scotland  and  Ireland.  The  ruins  are  of  a  rode 
architecture,  but  curious  to  the  antiquary.  Our  retnm 
was  less  comfortable ;  wa  had  to  row  twenty  miles  against 
tn  Atlantic  tide  and  some  wind,  besides  the  pleasure  of 
seeing  occasional  aqualls  gathering  to  windwant.  The 
ladies  were  sick,  especially  poor  Hannah  Mackenxie,  aad 
Bene  of  the  gentlemen  esoaped  except  Stalla  and  myself. 
The  men,  however,  cheered  br  the  pipers,  and  by  their 
eiwA  interesting  boat*songs,  which  were  uncommonly 
wiklaod  beautiful  one  man  leading  and  the  others  answer- 
ii^  In  chorus,  kept  pulling  away  without  apparently  the 
least  sense  of  &ligue,  and  we  reached  Ulva  at  ten  at  night, 
lolcrably  wet,  and  well  dispoeed  for  bed. 

"  Our  friend  dtalb  is  himself  an  excellent  specimen  of 
Highland  chieftainship;  he  is  a  cadet  of  Claaronald,  and 
k>rd  of  a  cluster  of  iiles  on  the  western  skteof  Mull,  and 
akurge  estate  (in  extent  at  least)  on  that  island.  By  diol 
of  minute  attention  to  this  pcoperty,  and  panicalarty  to 
the  management  of  his  kelp,  he  has  at  once  trebled  his  io- 
ceme  and  doubled  his  population,  while  emigration  »  go* 

*  William  Alexander  Mackinnon.  Esq.,  now  member  of  Parlia- 
sieot  for  Lyminstom,  Hants. 

t '* ihai  wondrowa  dAine. 

Wb«re,  at  to  (haine  the  trinPle*  aeck'd 
By  »klll  of  emrthljr  architret, 
Natwr*  btfMir.  Kwefn'd,  would  TAiM 
A  minatcr  10  kmt  Mtktr**  pnia*  ! 

g*t  for  a  nieao«r  um  au;«Dd 
cr  colomni.  or  her  arcbcc  b«ad  ; 
S6t  of  ■  thcmr  Ipk*  coUmn  ttlU 
That  mifhtjr  aarge  that  abba  and  awalU, 
Aiid  aiill,  bHweci)  each  awfal  paoaa 
IVoa  the  hig b  vault  an  aoiwcr  draw*, 
la  varied  toii«  pro*or>f«d  aad  bifb, 
Tbat  rnocr*  ih«  organ*  mclodr. 
Nar  doih  h*  «>nirahe«  front  ia  vain 
To  old  luna'i  holy  fane, 
TlMt  Naiara'a  v«lot  aiaht  Maai  t«  aay, 
*  Well  ha*i  ihoo  done,  frail  ohUd  vt  clay  I 
Thy  bunbie  power*  liiat  aUtcly  ehrina 
TaakM  hifhaod  hard— 4)ui  witoeaa  mina  I'  " 

Lord  qf  th4  ItU*^  Canto  IF.,  8L  10. 


iQf  OQ  sU  arwmd  him.  B«t  Ite  is  v«f7  «UMtf«e  xo  hit 
pecDie,  who  are  distr^edly  fopd  of  bin),  aod  has  them 
unoer  auch  regulations  aa  conduce  both  to  his  own  bene- 
fit and  their  profit;  and  keeps  a  certain  %^n  of  rude  state 
and  hosnitality,  in  which  they  take  much  pride.    1  a/u 

Suite  Battsfied  that  nothing  under  the  personal  attention  of 
\«  landlord  himnelf  will  sartsfy  a  HighUmd  tenantry,  aod 
that  the  substitatioA  of  factors,  -whioh  is  now  *>ecaining 
general,  Is  one  great  cause  of  emigration-  This  mode  of 
yfe  haa,  however,  iu  evils ;  and  1  can-  see  Ihem  is  thi» 
excellent  man.  The  habit  of  soUtary  power  is  dssfferou 
even  to  tlie  best  regulated  oiinds,  «od  this  ardent  and  ea- 
thuaiastic  young  man  has  not  escaped  the  pr^sdices  is- 
cldent  to  his  situation.  But  I  think  I  have  bestowed 
enough  of  my  lediousness  upon  you.  Tto  ballast  my  leuer, 
I  put  In  one  of  the  hallowed  green  pebWes  from  the  Acre 
of  Hi.  Columba— put  it  into  your  work-basket  until  we 
meet,  when  you  wlH  give  me  sonae  aceounlof  its  virtues. 
Don't  nappose  the  lapidaries  esfi  fftre  yon  any  hiformatioa 
about  it,  %ot  in  their  pmfone  eye*  it  is  good  for  naikiD|. 
But  the  piper  is  sounding  fto  breokliMli  so  no  more  (9iM^ 
mg  love  to  Miss  Agpes,  Dv.  and  Mrs.  DaiUie,)  from  yo^r 
truly  aflfectionate,  Walt**  Boorr. 

"P.  B.^Iam  told  by  the  learned,  the  pebble  will  wiar 
its  n^  out  of  the  letter,  so  I  wHl  k#ep  it  tW  1  s«t  to 
Eriiabttigh.  I  roust  not  omil  to  mctycfon  Oak  all  Oirpagli 
a^se  is^nds  1  have  ibuod  ev^ry  pef«on  famniarbr.  a^ 
^uaiqted  with  the  Faipily  I^eod,  aod  freat  adfsi'Of^ 

It  would  be  idle  to  extract  many  of  Scott'a  notes 
on  Boewell's  Hebridean  Journal  5  but  the  fbllowin* 
specimens  appear  too  characteristic  to  be  omifted. 
Of  the  island  Indhkcnnelh.  wherft  Johi^aon  wafl  re- 
ceiTcd  by  the  head  of  the  dan  M'Lean,  he  says  .— 

"  Incbk«niisih  is  a  oiost  beaaUftiLlittte  Isk^  of  the  most 
verdaot  green,  while  all  the  oeig hhouring  ahore  9iW' 
ban,  as  well  as  the  hu-ge  Islands  of  Colo^wy  and  |ija. 
are  as  black  w  heath  and  moss  can  make  theoi.  dui 
Ulva  has  a  good  anchorage,  and  InchkennAh  is  stnTOooJ- 
ed  by  shoals.  It  is  now  unltrtiabhed.  The  mlM  of  the 
iiuts,  In  which  Dr.  Johnson  was  reeeived  by  tir  Allan 
M'Lean,  were  still  to  be  seen,  and  some  tasters  of  tta*  pa- 
per haji^gs  were  to  be  seen  oti  the  w&lls.  Bir  Geoiga 
Onesiphorus  Paul  was  at  Inchkenneth  wltii  the  sanw  jla^ 
ty  of  which  I  was  a  aaember.  Ue  seeio^  to  me  to  sitt* 
pect  many  of  the  Uiipland  uUea  which  he  heard,  hot  be 
showed  most  incredulity  on  the  subject  of  Johnson's  osv 
ing  been  entertained  in  the  wretched  huts  ot  which  w« 
saw  the  ndns.  He  to^k  me  aside,  and  conjured  me  ra 
leU  him  the  truth  of  the  matter.  '  This  Sir  Allan,'  saw 
he,  'was  he  a  re^/ar  ftsr aiiet,  or  was  his  thlo  seen  a 
UracBtienal  one  as  you  find  in  Iretendf  lasamred  ("M^ 
ceUent  acquaintance  thai,  'for  my  own  part^  I  wouWhavir 
paid  more  respect  to  a  Knight  of  KerryfOr  KoIgM^ 
Glynn  ;  yet  Sir  Allan  M*Lean  waa  a  regular  bar»nM  M 
patent ;'  and,  having  given  him  this  information,  I  took  the 
hberiy  of  asking  him,  in  return,  whether  he  would  not  la 
conscience  prefer  the  worst  cell  Ip  the  jail  at  Otoucctter, 
(which  he  had  been  very  active  in  overlooking  while  tM 
building  was  going  on,)  to  those  exposed  hovels  whwa 
Johnson  had  been  enlcrulned  by  rank  and  beauty.  H« 
looked  round  the  little  islet,  and  allowed  Sir  Allan  tad 
aome  advantage  in  exercising  greund ;  but  In  other  r«i- 
pects  be  thongbt  the  compi^wwy  tenants  of  Gioactmtt 
bad  greatly  the  advantage.  Such  was  hla  ©?>»»•** 
place,  concerning  which  Johnson  has  record^  I*"  " 
wanted  little  which  palaces  could  aflbrd.' 

""Sir  Allan  M'Lfian,like  many  iUghland cUe*^  «a^ 
barraased  in  bis  primte  aflaira,  and  e4lK)sed  to  o"|g^ 
sani  solicitations  frpm  attorneys,  called,ln  Sootlau^  P^ 
ter»,  (which,  indeed,  waa  tho  chief  motive  of  his  '*^*^ 
to  tnchkenne(b)  Upoo  one  occasion  be  made  *▼>*}' '; 
a  iHend,  then  residing  at  (Barron  lA)(\$e^  on  tho  banMft 
the  Carron,  where  the  banka  of  that  river  are  sJucWo 
vrith  pretty  vilhia.  ftlr  Allan,  admiring  the  landsoipei 
aaked  his  friend  whom  that  handsome  aeat  belonted  to. 

'M ,  the  WriteriotJbe  Signet,' waa  the  reply.    *S«*'lL 

•aid  Sir  Allan,  but  not  wHh  an  accent  of  assent,  'jJJJJ? 
ti)at  other  hoose.'    *Oh!  that  belongs  to  a  very  hO"f" 

fellow,  Jamie ,  also  a  Writer  to  the  Signet '-'UPlP"/ 

said  the  Highland  chief  of  M'Lean,  with  more  empna«« 
t^an  before— 'And  you  snuiller  hou*e  r— 'That  b©toP|* 
to  a  Stirling  man ;  1  forget  his  name,  but  I  am  sure  M  a 

a  writer  too ;  for' Sir  Allan,  who  bad  recoiled  •JJJJJj 

ter  of  a  circle  backward  at  every  responsa,  now  whiwM 
the  circle  eirthre,  and  turned  hia  bark  on  the  l»o<*fJ*r' 
saying,  *  My  good  friend,  I  muai  own  yon  have  a  pretty  «• 
tuation  here,  but  d— n  your  neighbourhood.'  "     • 

The  *followinj?  notieeH  of  BosweH  hitnself,  •"* 
his  father,  Lord  Atichinleck,  mar  be  taken  as  Uteiu 
tr^nschpUfrom  Scou's  Table-TaU^H^ 


tIPE  OP  SIR  WALTER  SCOTT. 


*kiv«fl  btfflwtr  WM  calloutto  the  eontaett  of  Dt. 
JohuoD,  snd  when  tmng  tb«m,  ahrayi  remtedt  one  of 
imkefTeceirinM  a  kick  from  the  horse  wlilch  he  is 
•howtaf  off  to  acdstomer,  and  is  grinnioff  with  pain  while 
^  t^fV^  ^^^  **"''  'Prettj  rogue— rib  vice— all  fun.' 
To  him  Johiuon's  rudeness  was  only  *  pretty  F^nny^t 
wy.'  Dr.  Robertson  had  a  eenee  of  good  breeding, 
wlwIiioeBned  him  rather  to  forego  the  benefit  of  John- 

leo  I  conrerwiion  than  awaken  his  rudeness 

''OU  Lord  Aachinlcck  was  an  able  lawyer,  a  good  scho- 
[  ljr,*ter  the  manner  of  Scotland,  and  highly  valued  his 
own  advantages  as  a  man  of  good  estate  and  ancient  fcmi- 
tl  *^  m««o*er,  he  was  a  etrict  Presbyterian  and 
Whfofthe  old  Scottish  cast.  Tlilsdid  not  prevent  his 
t««|  I  terribly  proud  aristocrat ;  and  great  was  the  con- 
"JD^  He  eotenaliied  and  expressed  for  his  son  Jamea, 
wAeMture  of  ids  Oi^ndship,  and  the  character  of  the 
jwwMfes  of  whom  he  was  engwa  otie  attrt"  another. 
Jjwesnae  hope  for  Jamie,  mon,'  be  said  to  a  friend. 
ftadeis  nne  clean  gyte.  What  do  you  think,  mon? 
fle-idoae  *!'  PaoU— he's  off  wi'  the  Und-fooping  scoun- 
^oj  aCorsirtn ;  and  whose  tail  do  you  lUnk  "he  has 
pwd  aiiDself  to  now,  monT  Here  the  old  jddge  snra- 
a«fd  ap  a  «neer  of  tDMt  sovereign  conteuipt,  *  A  do- 
w»^BK»-«n  auld  dominie!  he  beeped  a  aehule,  «id 
^knaiuaadamy.'  ProbaU^  If  this  htd  been  iteport. 
^to  Jeiuijoiu  b«  would  hate  foU  it  most  galling,  for  he 
«w noeh  lAced  to  think  of  U^  perlqd  of  hfs  Hfe:  H 
»M^lijjuimvatcd  ^  dislike  oTLord  AucWnlaoVs 
wbittttjitod  Presby^erianl^m.  Theae  the  old  Lord  ear- 
ned to  NA  an  uhuaoil  height,  that  onc^  when  a  count- 
ry QMCMle  !ti  to  state  Sbiae  tostice  buslnqs^  and  being 
I^DW^  to  mtOre  hi«  Oath,  decKned  to  do  so  before  his 
fftbWp,  because  he  wAs  dot  a  eotefMi«rednngist^ate.-> 
um  a'  TOUT  objection,  man  V  said  the  judge ;  •  come 
jwnyi  fa  hert,  and  we*ll  baiih  df  ua  tak  the  solemn 
Wt^««N»Mit  together.*  The  oath  was  aecording- 
^Veed  aod  sworn  to  by  both,  and  I  dart  ipjr  j^  was  the 
JJWMii  ever  received  such  homage.  It  may  be  aur- 
"«  w»  W  Lard  Auehlnteekt  SQch  m  he  i»  here  des- 
gWi^wtslUealytos^  «  high  1\9rT«id  BpiscOpaMan 
JJJwBMo.  A»  they  Mproaeh^d  AneMnleek,  BusweH 
3T"~*"»*>n  by  •«  the  ties  of  regard,  and  In  requital 
« «•  mces  he  hut  rendeired  him  upo*  his  tdur,  that 
2**wU8pBre  two  i«^^eeta  hi  teitdenMM  to  Ma  flaWe 
JWet ;  the  dniT^lated  t&81r  John  Prtogle,  President 
^  Koyal  Soctoty,  abdut  whom  there  was  then  aoMe 
«j«eOTrt<wH;  the  Mvood  concerned  the  general  quee- 
»•  of  WWg  and  Tory.  Sir  John  Priagle,  as  BoeweH 
W  aMped,  boc  the  controverMr  between  Tery  and 
^^■aier  raged  whh  great  ftiry,  and  ended  In  JohfMon's 
SW5!*  the  old  judge  the  question,  what  good  Orom- 
*J«*  wiiem  be  htd  saKt  eoibeching  derogatory,  had 
!J,"«f  to  bis  country  ;  when,  after  heJng  much  tortu- 
wjlordAuehlitlockW  last  spoke  out,  •  €»od  t  doeior,  he 
EiSP  ^^  ^^^  *^*7  had  a  WA  hi  their  neck'— he 
JIJtttOTthey  had  a  joint  ha  their  necki.  Jamie  th«i 
«  to  iMOatiig  between  hit  father  and  the  phUoaopher, 
J«J«iBoiWmself  of  the  judge's  sense  of  ho«)itamy 
'^'M  ptnetiiiooa,  reduced  the  debatelo  moreorder." 

JJe  following  letten,  dated  AthettH  Augu»t  ». 
Witokavebeen  written  immediately  on  Soou'i 
^^^^  irom  this  expedition. 

T^J.B.S,  MorriU,  E^q,  Ji^tby  Park. 
•■yjteirllonritt,  t 

y»!!ite  'S*^'  reached  me  lo  the  viry  centre  of  the 
Sl^?*  *°®  which  circumstance  Vou  win  perceive 
^  mo  it  wa«  for  me  evdh  to  attempt  aVaitlng  myself 
J^oor  kmd  invitation  to  Kokcby,  which  would  other- 
m5rtl&*^  usjw  much  pleasure,  ^e  deeply  re- 

.  visit 
p.- .j.~~*  "•  *"«  woi^uiww, « viv  Mvv  iwuvw  uui  wd  mey 
W  "*^f*5*«t8to  them  more  pleasantly  at  another  time. 
*rl  I  i***  some  achbic  scars  of  the  old  wourfds  whicb 
JJJ,"(»nD«r  times inflicied  upon  each  other  by  the 
hkU.^?'."'  M'l^tn  and  Macdonald,  and  my  vtvt  good 
K» »?« l%d  of  Biaflk  and  Mrs.  M'Lean  Cfephahe  are 
^\^  true  Highlaiiaera  to  be  without  the  characteristic 
Q^ficei  of  their  clans,  which,  in  their  case,  divide  two 
Wiecwnpiiihed  and  most  estimable  fkhiUies,  living 
**J»  wttWo  sight  of  each  other,  atld  on  an  islhnd  where 
*7y*Iv««wersatloB  cannot  be  supposed  to  a^and. 
-I  w«t  dfUghted,  on  the  whole,  with  my  excursion. 
j«  w«itter  wts  moit  excellent  durinij  the  whole  time 
ur  •«w.«..jj,^  J  ^j  J  ^^^^  ^^  j^jj  y^^  ^f  Highland 


*J7.  The  cavern  at  Staib,  and  indeed  the  ialam) 
t&K?"  ?•  V^  e^Mitoitet  is  one  of  the  few  ttPns 
B,?r^i;tt4y  maintahi  aa  extended  repotaUon*  I  da 
»  fc^'r****'  *l"  extreme  resemblance  to  a  work  or 
•^  ffon  the  perfect  refulartty  of  the  colunmf,  or  the 


157 

grandeur  of  Its  dimen^ona,  ftr^xceedhif  the  works  of 
human  Industrr,  jotaed  to  a  certain  ruggedness  and  mag- 
nificent Irregularity,  by  which  nature  vindicates  her  hS- 
diwork,  are  most  forcibly  Impressed  upon  my  memory. 
We  also  saw  the  fcr-fiwned  Island  of  Coltimba,  where 
there  are  many  monuments  of  singular  curiosity,  form- 
In/f  a  strange  contrast  to  the  squalid  and  dejected  poverty 
of  the  present  inhabitants  of  the  isle.  We  accomplished 
both  theae  objects  in  one  day,  but  our  return,  though  we 
had  no  alarma  to  boast  of,  was  fatiguing  to  the  ladles,  and 
the  sea  not  aflfording  us  quite  such  a  smooth  passage  as 
we  liad  upon  the  Thames,  (that  morning  we  heard  the 
voice  of  Lysona  setting  forth  the  contents  of  the  records 
in  the  White  Tower,)  did,  as  one  may  say,  excite  a  com- 
bustion in  the  stomachs  of  some  of  our  party.  Mine  being 
a  staunch  anti-revolutionist,  was  no  otherwise  trouble- 
•ome  tlian  by  demanding  frequent  supplies  of  cold  beef 
and  biscuit.    BIrs.  Apreeco  was  of  our  party.    Also 

— 6ir  George  Paul  for  prisoohouse  renowned, 
A  wandering  koight,  on  high  adventures  bound. 
—We  left  thia  celebrated  pUilanthroptst  in  a  plight  not  un- 
like aoaeef  the  miaailrentures  of  *Hlm  of  the  sorrowful 
flgare.'  The  worthy  baronet  was  mounted  on  a  quadra- 
ped,  which  the  owners  caUed  a  pony,  with  his  woflil  valet 
po  another,  and  travelUng  alowiy  along  the  coast  of  Mutt, 
in  order  to  deteot  the  point  which  approached  nearest  te 
the  oonOneal,  proteetfog  he  would  not  a«ain  put  foot  to  a 
boat,  till  he  had  dtscevered  the  ahorteat  poesible  traiect 
Our  separatkm  remhided  meof  fte  diaaatroua  tocideat 
in  ^roo'a  Shipwreck,  when  they  were  forced  to  abandon 
two  of  their  crew  on  aa  unkaosm  coast,  and  beheld  them 
at  a  dietanee  commencluf  their  solhary  peregrinaHOh 
aloaf  the  diflli 

Waitsb  Soon." 

„  The  Iqna  pebble,  mentioned  in  ISoott's  letter  from 
Uiva,  being  eet  in  a  bcooch  of  the  form  of  a  harp, 
was  iMnt  to  Joanna  BaiUie  some  raontbe  later  i  but 
II  may  bje  as  Well  to  insert  here  the  letter  witich  ac- 
companied it.  The  young  friend,  to  whose  return 
from  a  trip  to  the  s^t  of  Wir  in  the  Pen^neula  it  al- 
Ijpea,  wa$  John  Miller,  Esq;,  then  practising  at  the 
^cotch  ban  but  ndw  an  eminent  King's  counsel  ol 
Lincoln's  Inn. 

To  Min  Joanna  SaHUei  Ifampotead. 

"  Edinburgh,  Nov.  23, 1810. 
*''  I  should  not  have  been  eo  tenc  your  debtor,  my  d«ar 
Miss  BailUe,  for  yoorikiad  and  valhied  letter,  had  not  the 
Mee  knave,  at  whose  magio  touch  the  lona  pebblea  were 
tk>  assume  a  shape  in  aome  degree  appropriate  to  the  per* 
son  to  whom  they  aredeatined,  dehqred  fioishioghialliab 
I  hq>e  you  will  aet  aome  vahie  upon  this  little  tnmipery 
brooch,  because  it  Is  a  harp,  and  a  iSeotch  harp,  ana  iei 
with  looa  stonee.  Thia  last  eiretraistance  is  mere  vahia>  . 
Me,  if  ancient  tales  be  true,  than  can  be  ascertained  tntb 
the  reporta  of  dull  modem  lapidariea.  These  green 
stooe^  blessed  of  8t  Cohm>ba,  have  a  virtue,  salth  old 
Biartih,  to  gratify  each  of  them  a  alngle  wish  of  the  wear* 
er.  1  believe,  that  which  is  most  frequently  formed  by 
thoee  who  gather  tnem  upon  the  ihores  of  the  Saint,  ia 
for  a  ftir  wind  to  transport  them  firom  his  domsuis.  Now, 
after  this,  you  must  suppose  every  thing  respectiag  thia 
aaid  harp  aacred  and  haUoweiL  The  very  inacriptien  i% 
you  will  plsase  to  observe,  in  the  ancient  Celtic  language  \ 
and  character,  and  has  a  very  talismanic  look.  I  hops 
that  upon  you  It  will  have  the  elTect  of  a  eonioration,  mr 
the  words  Buaii  a^n  Tmd  aignify  Strike  the  String^ ;  and 
thus  having,  like  the  pedlars  who  deal  in  Uke  mntters  of 
vslue.  exhausted  all  my  ek>quence  hi  setting  forth  the 
ekeellem  outward  qualitiea  and  mystertous  virtues  of  my 
Httle  keepsake,  1  have  only  to  add,  hi  homely  phrase,  God 
git e  you  joy  to  wear  It.  1  am  delighted  with  the  account 
of  your  brother's  sylvan  empire  in  Cno'sterabire.  The 
planting  and  cultivation  of  trees  always  seemed  to  me 
the  most  interesting  occupation  of  the  country.  1  cannot 
enter  into  the  spirit  of  common  vulgar  farmings  though  I 
am  doomed  to  carrv  on,  m  a  small  extent,  that  loshigtrade. 
It  never  occurred  to  me  to  be  a  bH  more  happy  li^cause 
my  lumipe  were  better  than  my  nei^bours;  aad  as  for 
pietinf  my  shearers,  aa  we  very  emphatically  term  it 
in  Scotluid,  I  am  always  too  happy  to  get  out  of*  the  way, 
that  I  may  hear  them  laughing  at  a  diatance  whet*  on  the 
harvest  ngg. 

'  So  every  servant  takes  his  course, 
And  bad  at  firsts  they  all  grow  worse'-* 
I  mean  for  the  purposes  of  8griouUure,~for  my  hind  sbiU 
kill  a  salmon,  and  my  plough-boy  find  a  hare  aitting,  with 
any  man  in  the  forest  But  planting  and  pruning  trees  I 
oouM  wortt  at  fhHtt  morning  till  night ;  and  If  ever  my 
poetical  revenues  enable  me  to  haves  few  scrss  of  my 


166 


LIFE  OP  SIR  WALTER  SOOTT. 


[eaiures  I  look  forfpard  i 


owivtbat  Is  one  of  the  priBcipei  meaiuree  i  iook  lorwarti 
to.  There  ia,  too,  a  aort  oT  Relr-congratulation,  a  UiUti 
tickliflg  self-flattery  in  the  idea  that,  white  you  are  plea«-  ^ 
ing  and  amusing  yourself,  you  are  seriouely  coDtrioutiOK  i 
to  the  future  welfare  of  the  country,  and  that  your  vary 
acorn  may  eend  its  future  riba  of  oak  to  future  victories 
like  Trafalgar.  *  1 

"  You  have  now  by  my  calculation  abandoned  your  ex- 
tensive domains,  ami  returned  to  your  Hampsiead  villa, 
which,  at  Uiis  season  of  the  year,  though  the  lesser,  Will 
prove,  from  your  neighbourhood  to  foocf  society,  the  | 
more  comfortable  habitation  of  the  two.     Br.  Bailhe'ch. 
cared  are  transferred  (1  fear  for  some  time)  to  a  charge  | 
still  mure  im^iortant  than  the  poor  Princess.*    1  trust  m  | 
Ood  that  his  sIciU  and  that  of  his  brethren  luay  be  of  ad- 
vantaj{«*  to  the  poor  King ;  for  a  Regency,  from  its  unset- 
tled and  uncertain  tenure,  must  in  every  country,  but  es-  | 
pecially  where  parlies  run  so  high,  be  a  lamentable  bqsi- 
ness.    I  wonder  that  the  consequences  which  have  talcen 
place  had  not  occurred  sooner,  during  the  long  and  trying 
suspense  in  which  his  mind  roast  have  been  held  by  the 
protracted  lingering  state  of  a  beloved  child. 

**  Your  country  neighboura  hiterest  me  exceaahrely.  I 
was  delighted  with  the  laan.  who  remembered  aie,  thoqgh 
be  had  utrgqiicn  daocho  Panxa;  but  I  am  afraid  my  pre^ 
einioence  in  his  memory  wHl  not  remalo  much  longer  than 
the  worthy  tquire's  government  at  Bacalaria.  Mean* 
frbile,  Ihe  Lady  of  the  Lake  is  likely  to  come  to  prefer- 
ment in  an  unexpected  manner,  lor  two  persona  of  uo 
len  eminence  tmn  Measra.  Martin  and  Reynolds,  play 
•arpenten  in  ordinary  to  Govent  Garden,  are  employed 
in  serubbing,  careening,  and  eilttiog  her  down  Into  one  of 
Ibote  newwfaahianed  sloops  called  a  melo-dmoia,  to  be 
btnnched  at  the  theatre ;  and  my  friend,  Mr.  H.  SMdoMS 
emuhNuof  woh  a  noble  design,  is  at  work  on  the  same 
lob  here.  It  puts  me  in  mind  of  the  observation  with 
nrhieb  oar  parish  smith  aeeompanled  his  answer  to  an 
ioquiry  whom  he  had  heard  preaeh  on  fionaay.  *  Mr. 
soeh-apone— O I  sir,  he  made  neat  iMrA,'  thinking  doubt- 
less, of  turning  off  a  horse>sboe  handsomely.  I  think  nqr 
worthy  artisans  will  make  neat  work  too  before  thty  have 
done  with  my  unlock/  materials— but,  as  Durandarte 
says  in  the  cavern  of  Honteslnos— '  Patience,  cousin,  aod« 
shuffle  the  cards.'  Jefflrey  teas  the  author  or  the  crlti<|ue 
In  the  Edhnburi^ ;  he  sent  it  to  me  In  the  sheet,  with  an 
^x>logy  for  some  things  in  that  of  Marmion,  which  be  said 
contained  needless  asperities ;  and,  indaedi  whatever  I 
may  think  of  the  justice  of  some  part  of  his  criticism,  1 
think  his  general  tone  Is  much  softened  in  my  behalf. 

*'  Yon  say  nothing  about  the  drama  on  Fear,  for  which 
yon  have  chosen  so  admirable  a  soMect,  and  whieh,  I 
think,  will  be  in  your  own  most  powerful  manner.    I  hope 

em  will  have  an  eye  to  its  being  actoally  represantod. 
srbaps  of  all  passions  it  is  the  most  Qolversalfj  interest- 
ing ;  for  although  most  part  of  an  andience  may  have 
been  in  love  once  in  their  Uvea,  and  many  engaged  in  the 
pnrsuiu  of  ambition,  and  some  perhafM  have  fostered 
deadly  hate :  yet  there  will  always  be  many  in  each  case 
who  cannot  judge  of  the  operations  of  these  motives  from 
personal  ezpeneoce :  Whereaa,  I  will  bet  my  life  there 
IS  not  a  soul  of  them  but  has  felt  the  Unpotee  of  fear, 
were  it  bot,  as  the  ok)  tale  goes,  at  snuffing  a  candle  with 
bis  fingers.  I  believe  I  should  have  been  able  to  comrou* 
nicate  Mune  periioaal  anecdotes  on  the  subject,  had  I  been 
enabled  te  accomplish  a  plan  I  have  had  much  at  heart 
this  summer,  namely,  to  take  a  peep  at  Lord  Wellintton 
and  his  merry  men  in  Portugal ;  but  I  found  the  Klea 

Sve  Mrs.  Scott  more  distress  than  I  am  entitled  to  do  for 
e  mere  gratification  of  my  own  curiosity.  Not  that 
there  %vould  have  been  any  great  danger,--for  1  could 
easily,  as  a  non-combatant  Iwve  kept  out  of  the  way  of 
the  ^'grinning  honour"  of  my  namesake,  Sir  Walter 
Bhrant,  and  I  think  I  ahoold  have  been  overpaid  for  a  Uttle 
hardship  and  risk  by  the  novelty  of  the  scene.  I  could  have 
got  very  good  recommendations  to  Lord  Wellington ;  and,  I 
dare  say,  I  should  have  picked  up  some  curious  materials 
for  battle  scenery.  A  fiiend  or  mine  made  the  rerj  ex- 
pedition, and  arriving  at  Oporto  wlien  our  army  was  in 
retreat  irom  the  frontier,  he  was  told  of  the  difficulty  and 
danger  he  might  encounter  in  crossing  the  country  to 
the  southward,  so  as  to  join  them  on  the  march  ;  never- 
theless, be  travelled  on  through  a  country  lolally  desert- 
ed, unless  when  he  met  bands  of  fugitive  peasantry  fly* 
iu  they  scarce  knew  whither,  or  the  vet  wilder  groups 
or  the  Ofdlnanza,  or  ^y  en' masse,  who,  fired  with  re- 
venge or  desire  of  plunder,  had  anned  themsehres  to 
harass  the  French  detached  parties.  At  length  in  a  low 
glen  he  heard,  with  foeliogs  that  may  be  eaailv  conceived, 
the  distant  sound  nf  a  Hi|hlaod  bagpipe  playing  *The 
CMurb  of  Old  Gaul,'  and  fell  into  the  quarters  of  a  Scotch 


by  wbojishes  mahjSo 


oTKiat 


death  was  Unntediateljr  followed 


regiment,  where  he  was  most  coiifVeoasly  reeelved  by 
his  countrymen,  who.  assured  '  his  honour  he  was  jnil 
come  in  time  to  see  the  pattle.*  Accordin|iT,  bein*  a 
young  man  of  spirir,  and  a  volunteer  shtrp-mooter,  be 
got  a  rifle,  join^  the  light  corps,  and  next  day  wiinewod 
the  Battle  of  Busaco,  o?  which  he  describes  the  eamajc 
as  being  terrible.  The  narraUve  was  very  simply  told, 
and  conveyed,  better  than  any  1  have  seen,  tbe  imprei^ 
sions  which  such  scenes  are  likely  to  make  when  tl»«y 
have  the  etTect  (I  had  almost  said  the  charm)  of  owelty. 
I  don't  know  why  it  is  I  uever  found  a  soldier  could  pvc 
me  an  idea  of  a  battle.  1  believe  their  mind  is  too  nmcti 
upon  the  tactique  to  regard  the  picturesque,  just  wUie 
lawyers  care  very  little  for  an  eloquent  speech  at  ibebw, 
If  H  does  not  show  good  doctrine.  The  technical  phruw 
of  the  military  art,  loo,  are  unfiivourable  to  c<»ny«y  •***' 
cripiion  of  the  concomitant  terror  and  dcaoWion  tbjt 
aUends  an  engagement ;  but  enough  o(  this  bald  QityMX- 
ed  chaf,  from  ever  yours,  ^  ^„ 

There  appeared  in  the  I.^ndon  Courier  of  Septem- 
ber IB,  I8ia  an  article  sii^ned  S.  T.  C,  sMngf* 
Scott  with  being  a  plagiarut,  more.  espectaUy  horn 
the  works  of  the  poet  for  whose  initials  tbn  upw- 
ture  had  no  doubt  been  meant  to  paw.  On  reaamg 
this  ailly  libel,  Blr.  Souibey  fell  satisfied  thtt  St- 
muel  Taylor  Colerittec  could  have  no  concern  miw 
manufaetur« ;  but  as  Scott  was  not  so  well  ac9uaini 
ed  with  Coleridge  as  himself;  he  lost  no  thne  in  pro- 
curing his  friend's  indignant  disavow^  ana  o|- 
wardmg  it  lo  Asbesiiel.  Scott  acknowledici  thi» 
delicate  attentioa  as  follows  i— 

To  Rol^ert  Strnthey,  Et^ 

"  Asbestlfll,  Tbnrsdiy 
"MydearSottthey,  ^ 

"  Your  tettsr,  this  moroing  recelTSd,  wfS*rvK 
firom  the  very  painful  fosling,  that  a  man  ©^  »Jv  VK 
ridge's  high  talents,  whkb  I  fuid  slwavs  beena»oagtt» 
first  to  appreciate  as  they  deserve,  bad  '*»o"«*?™t.TI. 
ihj  of  the  sort  of  pabUc  attack  which  *PI»^2l"  iS 
Courier  of  the  lith.  The  initials  are  so  «n«™?kSJ 
the  uick  so  very  impoden^  that  1  was  ^Ji^^Jff. 
duped  by  it,  for  wbicVl  have  to  request  Mr.  C^^^ 
forgiveness.  I  believe  attacks  ^of  any  sort  sU  •»  WJ 
upon  me  as  tbey  can  on  any  one.  If  I  nave  had  my  »" 
of  them,  it  is  one  point,  at  least,  in  which  Ireseoibie  P^ 
er  poets-bnt  I  shoold  not  Uke  to  have  them  <««»•  J^ 
the  hand  of  contemporary  g  enJua.  A  mani  t»>ott|tw 
dMS  not  •  wear  his  besrt  upon  his  sleeve  for  daws  lo  PM» 
at,^  would  not  wiUtagiy  be  atooped  upon  bya  Wcoo.  im» 
truly  obliged  to  your  friendship  fojr  so  speedUy  ^yr* 
me  tiwn  so  painful  a  feeUng.  The  hoax  v  -  -•-»-"»  <>* 
signed  to  set  two  foUowera  of  literature 


by  the  eara  aw 


Idare  say  will  be  foUowed  up  by  something  ^^jj^^ 
dent  As  for  the  imitattona,  1  have  not  the  least  hc^JJ* 
in  saying  to  yon,  that  I  was  unconscious  at  tb«  "**'Jiiw' 
prupriatlng  the  goods  of  others,  although  1  ha^c  n«j"; 
least  doulK  that  several  of  the  passages  mast  bav«  »^» 
running  in  my  head.  Had  I  meant  to  steals  1  woald  wn 
been  more  cauUous  to  disfigure  the  sioJea  «•<>*•  *?  ^ij 
or  two  instancea  the  resemblance  seems  ite"*J**  * , 
casual,  and  in  one,  I  think,  it  was  impossible  1  could  r^V 
Use  plsgl*ri»«n»  «•  Ethwald,  one  of  the  pofOtf  4«,0"*} 
was  pubUahed  qfter  the  Uy  of  the  Last  Miostrel.  a 
witty  rogue,  the  other  day,  who  sent  roe  a  l*"ersaMcnu' 
ed  Detector,  proved  me  guilty  of  stealing  a  passage  iro'u 
one  of  Vida's  Latin  poems,  which  I  had  never  wco  or 
heard  of;  yet  there  was  so  strong  a  general  reseuiow**^*^' 
as  fairly  to  authorize  Detector's  suinicion.  / 

'*  I  renounced  my  Greta  excursiiJh  In  contciiueofe 
having  made  instead  a  tour  to  the  Highlands,  V^^^^^tI 
to  thelries.  I  wished  for  Wonlsworih  and  yon  «  hnndrea 
times.  The  scenery  is  quite  different  from  that  on  "» 
mainland,  dark,  savage,  and  horrid,  but  occasiooany  vm- 
nWcenl  in  the  highest  degree,  fiiaffa,  in  particular,  menu 
well  hs  iar-(amed  renuuuion:  It  is  a  cathedral  eras 
scooped  by  the  hand  of  nature,  enual  In  dimension*  wiu 
in  regularity  to  the  roost  magnificent  aisle  »' »£«""; 
cathedral.  The  sea  rolls  \ip  to  the  exiremliyin  i"^ '"j 
mendous  majesty,  and  wiUi  a  voice  Uke  ten  tbonsann 
giants  shouting  at  once.  I  visited  Icolmkfil  also,  wne^^ 
there  are  some  curious  monuments,  mouldering  ajwnj 
the  poorest  and  most  naked  wretches  that  I  ever  Deuetu. 
Atfectionatcly  yours,  -^^-.n 

The  •*  Unes  of  Vida"  which  "  Detector"  had  en^ 

Slos^  to  Scott  as  the  obvious  original  of  the  na 
ress  to  V  Womin"  in  Marmion,  closing  wim 


LIFE  OP  SIR  WALTER  SCOTT. 


U» 


"Wben  piia  andangolBh  wriof  the  brow, 
Amiaiaterinf  aogel  thou  1" 

ad  ts  follows ;— and  it  must  be  owned  that,  if  Vida 
m  reaJly  written  them,  a  more  eictraordinary  ex- 
ample of  casual  cinacidence  could  never  have  been 
poioted  out— 

•Com  dolor  atqae  aupercllio  gravis  immlnet  ancor, 
PoogeriK  angelico  sola  mioisierio  !" 

I  De[ector*9  reference  is  "  Vida  ad  Eranen,  El.  II.  v. 
2ir--bat  it  is  almost  needless  to  add,  there  are  no 
stth  lin»— and  no  pifece  bearing  such  a  title  in  Vi- 
hs works.  Detector  was  no  doubt  some  young 
cojjege  wag,  for  his  letter  has  a  Cambridge  poet- 
nari. 


w 

^ 


CHAPTER  XXII. 

UFl  OF  MWfl   SSWABO— WAVBBLKT    BBSUMED— BAL- 

u5TY2nr§  cmiTiQjn  on  thb  fibst  chaptbbs  of 

THl  SOVBL — WAVEBLBT    AGAIN   LAID    A8IDB— DN- 

rornwATE  speculations  op  john  ballantyne 

A»  CO,  ;  BISTOBY  OP  THE  CULDBEf  — TIXALL  POBT- 
M;  BEAITMONT  AMD  rLETCHEB— BDIKBBRGH  AN- 
IfCAL  IBQliTBB,  BTC.— SCOTt's  BS8A7  ON  JUDICIAL 
MTOtH-HIS  8CHBME  OP  OOlNO  TO  INDLA— LETTEBS 
OB  THEWAB  IK  THE  PENIKBULA— DBATH  OF  LOBO 
nBRDSNT  BLAIB — AKB  OF  LOBD  MELVILLB— PI?BLI- 
CATIOS  OP  THB  TtBlON  OP  DON  BODBBICK— THE  IN- 
WETO  0PALTE8IDOBA,  ETC.— 1810-181 1. 

hf  the  coujBe  of  thih  sutumn  appeared  ihe  Poeti- 
Mwofks of  BlieB  Seward,  m  three  volnmes  ISmo, 
3*  a  Pftfatory  Memoir  of'  her  Life  by  Scott.  Thia 
«^KH|  had,  as  we  have  seen,  been  ehjoined  by  her 
!2!J"u  J  ™"  P*'^  "^  ^}  ^««  an  ungrateful  one, 
fflfl  me  book  was  among  the  most  unfortunate  thai 
Ji^  Ballantyne  pnniei  and  his  brother  published, 
H.  ulK?^  ^  ^*  I»«o»al  feehngs  of  their  partner* 

S^tha .»     »  "  ^?\"V^'?!t  ?¥*«»<*  •'«*  flattered 
3  loe  ittennoos  of  the  Lichfield  poetess  in  the  days 
«M  early  asptrations  after  literary  distinction ; 
JWhervcraes,  which  he  had  with  his  usual  readi- 
»«  praised  to  herself  beyond  their  worth,  appeared 
^  collected  a  formidable  monument  of^medio- 
S  J3r  Correspondence,  published  at  ths  sanK 
™«i)y  Constable,  was  considered  by  him  with  siai 
!E?k*^*"*?"v  ^«  requested  the  bookseller  to 
Sni!'"  ^°  look,  over  the  MS.,  and  draw  his  pen 
2^?p  passages  la  which  her  allusions  to  letters 
"^own  might  compromise  him  as  a  critic  on  his 
fJ«£rtwnteniporanee.    To  this  request  Constable  I 
ffj»«yly  acceded,  although  it  was  evident  that  I 
Jf«M  depnved  the  collection  of  its  best  chance  of  I 
SSS'   *  ??^^S  comparing  her  letters  as  they  ' 
gns%  reached  Scott,  with  the  printed  copies, 
S  ir  »'8o.8tTuck  out  many  of  her  most  extra- 
Wai    -P*®^.*^?.*^^"^.  *wm3elf  and  his  works. 

^g^jalue;  I  have  already  drawn  from  ft  somJ 
JrJ^Jtlyipieiesiing  fragments,  as  the  biographers 
Joh!l?!°"^"l*"*V",frf  ^«  »i'«e  will  probably 
W,S^  wijlCT  the  hke  circumstances :  and, 
"^  tffectcd  and  absurd.  Miss  Seward's  prose 

J^'r  far  better  than  her  verse.  i 

BaUint^i  ^°^i  ^°  ^  l^^,  curious  letter  of  James  j 
^cuffi?:  ^^?  ^'^®J*^  ^i"*^  ^^^  *°  fi^  pretty 
WJf'y*'^®  tune  when  Scott  ir«i  resumed  the 
S;&i?\ JiSlO^  ^  Waverley.  Asin  the  iS! 
c^;^^  ^^  he  mentions  having  received  dis- 
hX^J-  *f  10  the  openmg  part  of  the  novel 
mwS  fnends,  and  as  Ballantvne  on  this  occa- 
sJODont  I  "  '^**5  H^  never  before  seen  any  por- 
atWt? '  ?>"clude  that  the  fragment  of  18^  had 

"^'  year  been  submuted  to  Erskjne  albnc. 


TV  Waiter  «mm,  £»q.,  ABhewUtl. 


"^irSIr, 


"  Bdlaburgb,  Sept  16^  1610. 


'»*k^l°l!!5T**t"i<'^W»^«'^jh»s  amused  me 
'^'H  th?li!'W^  */  ^»^■?  '^»d  It  a«  part  of  a  new 

«  Dttepmoesdsd  with  avklkjr.    8^  iBi|oh  for  iu 


general  effect ;  but  you  have  soDt  me  too  little  to  enable 
me  to  form  a  decided  opinion.  Were  I  to  say  that  I  was 
equally  struck  with  Waverley  as  I  was  with  the  much 
smaller  poruon  of  the  Lady,  whieh  you  fir«  presented 
to  ud  as  a  apecimcn,  the  truth  would  not  be  in  me  ;  but 
tlie  cases  are  different.  It  Is  impossible  that  a  small  part 
of  a  fine  novel  can  equally  impress  one  with  the  decided 
conviction  uf  splendour  and  success  as  a  small  part  of  a 
fine  poem.  I  will  state  one  or  two  things  that  strike  me. 
Coosidcring  that  *  sixty  years  since'  oijly  leads  us  back 
to  the  year  1750,  a  period  when  our  fathers  were  alive  and 
merry,  it  seems  to  me  that  the  air  of  antiquity  ditfused 
over  the  character  is  rather  too  great  to  harmonize  with 
the  time.  The  period  is  modern ;  Johnson  was  writing— 
kod  Garrick  was  acting— and  in  fact  scarcely  any  thing 
appears  to  have  altered,  more  kuportant  than  the  cut  of 
a  coat. 

"11)6  account  of  the  studies  of  Waverley  seems  unne- 
cessarilv  minute.  There  are  few  novel  readers  to  whom 
It  would  be  interesting.  I  can  see  at  pnee  the  connec- 
tion between  the  studies  of  Don  Quixote,  or  of  the 
Feipale  Quixote,  and  the  events  «»f  their  lives;  but  I 
have  not  yet  been  able  to  trace  betwixt  Waverley'^  cha- 
racter and  his  studies  such  clear  and  decided  connection. 
The  account,  in  shortt  seemed  to  me  too  particular ; 
quke  unUke  your  usual  mode  in  your  poetry,  and  Jess 
^^^Vy-  .*'  "»*y  ^  however,  that  ihs  further  progress 
of  Che  character  will  defeat  this  criticism.  The  charae- 
ter  Itself  I  think  excellent  and  InterestiDg,  and  I  was 
equally  astonished  and  dehghted  to  find  in  the  last-writ- 
ten chapter,  that  you  can  paint  to  the  eye  hi  prose  as  weU 
as  in  verse. 

"Perhaps  your  own  reflections  are  rather  too  often 
mixed  wUh  the  narrative— but  1  sute  this  with  much 
diffidence.  I  do  &ot  mean  to  object  to  a  train  of  reflec- 
tions srisinf  from  some  striUiw  event,  bat  1  don't  like 
their  so  frequent  recnrrence.  The  language  is  spirits<V 
but  perhaps  rather  careless.  The  humour  is  admirable. 
Should  you  so  onl  My  opinion  is,  dearly— ceruinly.  I 
have  no  doubt  of  success,  though  it  is  impossible  to  guess 

how  much. —Ever  respectfully, 

J.  B." 

ThKpart  of  the  letter  which  I  have  omitted,  refiers^ 

to  the  .state  of  Ballantyne's  business  at  the  time 

when  It  was  written.    He  had.  that  same  week, 

^mpleted  the  eleventh  edition  of  the  Lay:  and  the 

fifth  of  the  Lady  of  the  Lake  had  not  passed  through 

ms  press,  before  new  orders  from  London  called  for 

the  beginmng  of  a  sixth.    I  presume  the  printei^a 

exulta^on  on  this  triumphant  success,  had  a  great 

share  m  leading  him  to  copsider  with  doubt  and 

su^icion  the  propriety  of  his  friend's  interrupting 

just  then  his  career  as  the  great  caterer  for  readera 

;  of  poetry.    However  this  and  other  matters  may 

have  stood,  the  novel  appears  to  have  been  forthwith 

I  laid  aside  again. 

Some  sentences  refer  to  less  fortunate  circum- 
stances m  their  joint  affairs.  The  pubbshing  firm 
I  was  as  yet  little  more  than  a  twelvemonth  old,  and 
already  James  b^n  to  apprehend  that  some  of  i 
tbeir  mightiest  undertakings  would  wholly  disap*. 
point  Scott's  prognostications.  He  speaks  withpar- 
ticular  alarm  of  the  edition  of  Beaumont  and  Flat-* 
chers  plays,  of  which  Weber  had  now  dismissed 
several  volumes  from  his  incompetent  and  presump- 
tuous hand.  How  Scott  should  ever  have  counte- 
nanced the  project  of  an  edition  of  an  English  book 
of  this  class,  by  a  mere  drudging  Qermaru  appears, 
to  me  quite  inexplicable.  He  placed  at  Weber's  dis- 
posal bis  own  annotated  copy,  which  had  been  of- 
fered some  years  before  for  the  use  of  Gifford  ;  but 
Weber's  text  is  thoroughiy  dissracefol,  and  so  are 
all  ttie  notes,  except  those  whitfh  he  owed  to  his  pa- 
tron 8  own  pen.  James  Ballantyne  augurs,  and 
well  miRht  he  do  so,  not  less  darkly,  as  to  "  the 
Aston  speculation"— that  is,  the  bulky  collection  en- 
titled "  Tixal  poetry."  **  Over  lhiB,"^he  says,  "  the 
(Edinburgh)  Review  of  the  Sadler  has  thrown  a 
heavy  cloud— the  foci  is,  it  seems  to  me  to  have 
ruined  it.  Here  is  the  same  editor  and  the  same 
printer,  and  your  name  withdrawn.  1  hope  you 
agree  with  John  and  me,  that  this  Aston  bushiess 
ought  to  be  got  rid  of  at  almost  any  sacrifice.  Wo 
could  not  now  even  ask  a  London  bookseller  to  tako  • 


n  share,  and  a  net  outlay  of  near  JE2B00,  upon  a  worse 
than  doubtful  speculation,  is  surely  '  most  tolerable, 
and  not  to  be  endured.'  "  itized  by  VjOOQ 


Another  unpromising  adventure  of  ibis 


gle 


tea 


LIFE  OF  SIR  WALTER  SOOW. 


wia  tbo  publjctttjoh  of  the  rfistory.  of  tht  Cutdee»t 
Uhm  is,  of  tht*  clergy  of  tin;  primitive  Scoim-CtiliLc 
Church,)  by  Scott'a  warthj-  uld  ffienJ,  Dr*  Juhri  Jq* 
Tjwemat  the  ftuihijr  of  the  ci^LebraLed  DicLidiiiiry, 
Thi^  work,  tr eating  of  an  olisfiure  suhjcct^  on  Wlin:^ 
yiyry  different  opinions  were  ^nd  ore  outiertaiuwi  by 
Epjflt^opdUns  on  the  one  hand,  nnd  the  ad  Keren  tR 
m  Presbytertflni^iiti  on  ihe  oLhi!?r,  was  also  prinPwl 
and  jjubhshed  by  the  B^illj^ntjnea}  in  con^^cifnc^ 
of  the  interest  ^'hich  Sk^oit  fdit,  not  for  tht  wnie/a 
hypothessl^*,  hut  for  ih^  wriitr  ^it^r^onaDy  ;  aud  I  he 
res  till  was  a  a  other  heavy  losa  fo  himself  and  hit 
partnnr9>  But  a.  far  more  iM^rkiuf;  bu^incs^  was  the 
ctftabhihmenl  of  the  EJinhiir|;h  Anaual  H^i^ter, 
whiih,  as  wo  hnvp  soen,  was  augxtaied  by  Scoir  in 
the  very  da  w  n  of  h  in  boo  k  3d  h  n  g  f j  roJL'c  is.  T  ho  ivio 
flm  volumes  were  issued  about  ihis  lime,  and  ex- 
pectation hud  Iwjen  highly  exes  ted  by  tbp  announce- 
nieni  thai  the  hittoriciil  department  wft9  in  the 
h;inJjJor  Soutliey,  while  Scow  anil  many6thererni« 
neat  ptumns  were  to  contribute  regularly  toitsjui^- 
cellaneoua  literaturtf  find  suknce.  Mr.  Soulhey  woi 
fgrtoDau'  m  hetprmini^  his  narrnrive  with  the  wreat 
OTB  of  the  Spanish  Revolt  ag^mst  Nspolt?onf  and  it 
exhibited  bi^  n«unl  re^earchi  rt-ili^etion,  degunce, 
and  spirit.  Several  of  fh^  iniseellanies  also,  were 
adtnerable  :  Mr*  Soot  bey  jnEert{?d  in  the  2il  volaine 
for  \^0f^,  jjubliithed  in  l^JC,  pomoof  Ehe  moat  ndniir- 
cd  of  his  minor  poemij-and  Scott  did  the  likt 
He  rnoreover  drew  up  for  that  volume  an  Ee^ny  of 
considerable  extent  on  those  changes  in  the  Hcot- 
ttih  8j0tf  m  of  Judicatnre,  which  had  oocu,pi<?<J  tho 
attotition  of  the  Commission  tinder  which  he  served 
as  secretary :  and  the  saj^acity  of  this  pic^e  apr^'^ifs* 
on  the  whole,  a*  hotroumble  to  him,  af  the  clonr 
felicity  of  iia  hni^age.  Neve rlh elf »&,  the  public 
were  ttlarnu-d  by  the  prospect  of  two  volumea  annu- 
ally :  it  w  a*,  iti  short,  a  new  pthorfical  jiubliconutt 
an  a  large  scak ;  all  *uch  adventures  are  hnzSldoui 
in  the  e^lnmie  j  and  none  of  them  ever  can  euceeed, 
tif^Jeas  I  hero  be  a  skilful  bookselkT,  and  a  z»?aloui 
editor,  who  j^ive  a  very  larae  share  of  their  induarrjr 
and  intelitgenc^,  day  After  day,  to  the  condnci  of  ail 
its  arrangements.  Stich  a  bookseller  John  EalJan- 
tyne  wai  not ;  such  an  editor,  with  Scott's  multifa* 
rtoua  en;?agemeiTits,  he  could  not  he  for  an  Annual 
Reamer  j  and  who,  iwieed,  could  wish  that  this 
lind  been  otherwise  ?  The  volufnea  succeeded  eaeh 
otber  ai  irregular  imcrvata  \  there  was  soon  felt  the 
Wianl  of  one  ever  active  prewding  spirit  j  and  tfiough 
the  work  was  continued  during  a  long  series  of 
years,  it  never  was  the  gource  of  nny  ihinp  but  anii 
ciy  and  disappointuient  to  its  original  projeciors* 

I  am  tempted,  a  a  Seott's  E^^ay  on  Judicial  He- 
form  haa  never  neon  included  in  any  coUectioti  of 
his  writTTigw,  to  cje tract  here  a  few  spccimenn  of  a 
compoflition  which  appears  to  ha  as  charrtetertf^tic 
of  the  man  as  any  that  ever  proceeded  from  hi*  pen. 
His  deep  jealousy  of  the  nat tonal  honour  of  S^cot' 
Innd,  hi*  fear  I  tat  rheeonrsH]  of  innovation  ai  this 
time  threatened  shoidd  end  in  a  lotnlassiitnihtion  of 
htr  junsprudetice  to  the  system  of  the  more  prjwer- 
ful  sister  cotmtryj  and  hia  habiiunl  ami  docn^i-ooted 
dread  of  change  tn  mutters  affecting  the  whole  niii' 
chinery  of  social  eTtisicnce,  nro  expressed  in,  amotiff 
oiherSr  ^hc  folio^itii;  pas^^es  :— 

''  An  eatabli^tied  iryawnt  ii  nm  to  be  ttierl  by  tboie  testa 
^'hjch  mmy  with  porfect  correcuiABj  be  aprtlf^d  to  » [l«^<t 
tt>«oi7»  A  cmlucd  Hiailoa^  Itug  in  p^siieMioa  of  d  toda 
of  biv^  under  whkli,  wILti  olJ  ri^inr-onv^nieDced,  thej  ttave 
founni  lueaus  10  flauntlL  i»  ngt  to  be  rewnrderJas  an  Infant 
culony,  atf  whk\\  ? jcptrimenu  in  leirltlatloa  nifty,  wUhout 
tim<:hphai¥»^<JfpreHunip*ion,tjti  hsiTii-ile  rl,  A  pb  ili  i«op  tj  t^  r 
fi  not  «otitied  trr  In ^t? stipule  jiuch  \l  djet€in  by  ihoifi  itlraa 
« life! I  lie  ht*  fijtftl  Irt  hij  own  mind  m  the'  itBnrt^d  of 
IKiJkilible  nic^UpQce,  Th«  only  un«rrititf  tcM  of  #vpry  nid 
eataljliitimeiit  is.  ibfl  rjfr<ci  it  baft  utinJiy  prodloccd ;  f'T 
th%t  muBi  hti  held  ta  bb  i^ftmd  fro ui  whence  gi'^oi.tl#der1?efl. 
The  piojile  Lave,  hv  dngrec*,  moujslefl  their  habifsia  ihe 
Uw  the^y  are  c&mpelled  to  obey ;  for  mam  of  lii  imperf^c* 
tload^  r(?m£:dics  Wvq  been  fouad  ;  to  othors  they  liave 
rtKoaeUfid  tfieiaielfes;  tllL  it  Lut,  Uiej  hAwt\  fWiin  vm- 
riftoi  e^Qies,  attained  theobjefet  whkh  the  m&Pi  e«niulne 
vlflkinary  ceuld  promise  i*  bimKlf  from  his  owii  perfect 
mnffnA^diidtiftivra.    Let  nt  not  ba  uiid«r»tc)od  to  meaiL 


that  a  superslitioatrefsrd  fn  aAtiqalty  oq^  to  sUj  the 
hand  of  a  temperate  reform.  Bat  the  taaku  deUc«t«,  ao<: 
fall  of  daof  er ;  periloui  in  ita  execution,  and  extremelj 
doubtful  in  its  issue.  Is  there  not  ratioaal  ground  to  ap- 
prehend, that,  tn  attempting  tp  eracticate  the  diieaac,  the 
sound  part  of  the  constitution  may  be  essentiaHy  injured  I 
Can  we  be  quite  certain  that  less  inconvenience  will  re- 
sult from  ihat^  newly-discovered  and  unknown  reiuedy, 
than  from  the  evil,  wtiich  the  juices  and  buuiouni  with 
which  it  has  long  been  incorporated  may  have  neutrali- 
zed V-that,  after  a  thorough  reformation  has  l>een  achiev- 
ed, it  may  not  be  found  necessary  to  counter-work  the 
antidote  itself,  by  having  recourse  to  the  very  error  we 
have  incautiously  abjured  1  We  are  taught,  by  great  au- 
thority, that  'possibly  Uiey  may  espy  sometlnn^hat  may. 
in  truth,  be  mischievous  in  some  particular  case,  but 
weigh  not  how  many  inconveniences  are,  on  the  other 
side,  prevented  or  remedied  by  that  wiiich  Is  the  Mii^Ma- 
ed  vicious  Strictness  of  the  law ;  and  he  that  purchase*  a 
reformation  of  a  law  with  ^he  intioductioa  or  greater  in- 
conveniences, by  the  amotion' of  a  mischieli  makes  an  ill 
baraain.  No  human  law  can  be  absoloiely  perfeeL  U  is 
sumcieot  that  it  be  best  tttplurimtdn ;  and  as  to  ibe  mis- 
chiefs that  it  occasions,  as  they  are  accideutal  and  casual, 
so  they  may  be  oflentimei^  by  due  care,  prevented,  with- 
out an  alteration  of  the  mam/* 

"  Every  great  reform,  we  farther  conceive,  ouf  tut  to  be 
taken  at  a  point  somewhat  lower  than  the  necessity  seems 
to  require.  Montesquieu  has  a  chapter,  of  which  the  Dtle 
is,  Qu*i!  ne  /out  p6s  i«ur  ctniger.  Oar  improreiaeot 
ought  to  contain  within  itself  a  pdnctple  of  progreasivs 
improvement.  We  are  thus  enabled  to  see  oar  way  dis- 
tinctly before  os;  we  have,  at  the  suie  UbSi  ondsr  om 
eyes,  the  ancient  analady^  with  the  palliatives  bj  which 
the  hand  of  (Sine  has  controlled  its  natural  srmpcoms,  and 
the  effects  arising  firoia  the  process  Inttoded  10  ramove 
it ;  and  our  course,  wtiepier  waadfaace  or  raeada,  will 
be  safe,  and  confident,  and  honourable ;  Hfhereaa,  by  talt* 
ing  our  reform  at  tlie  utmost  possible  stretch  oftbc  wrong 
complained  of,  we  cannot  fail  to  bring  Into  disrepute  the 
order  of  things,  as  established,  without  any  cortespoDdiaJt 
certainty  that  onr  innovations  v|1U  produce  the  resutt 
which  GUI'  sanguine  hopes  haive  anticipated ;  and  wetbas 
deprive  oorselves  of  the  chaaot  of  s  seeare  racreai,  is 
the  event  of  our  iaihure." 

Kor  doea  the  following  paragraph  on  the  proppeal 
fbr  extending  to  Scotland  the  system  oiJury  VriaX 
in  civil  actions  qf  qU  doMett  appear  to  me  leaa  cba- 
racteriatic  of  Scott  :— 

"JWe  fisel  it  very  dUBcult  to  associate  with  thin  suhfsct 
any  idea  of  political  or  personal  liberty  i  both  of  which 
have  been  supposed  to  Be  secured^  and  even  to  be  ren- 
dered more  valuable,  by  means  df  the  trial  by  jury  in 
questions  of  prlvsie  right.  It  is  perhaps  owing  to  oar 
want  of  information,  or  to  the  phlegm  and  frigidity  of  our 
national  character,  that  we  csauiot  psrticlpsCe  In  thai  en- 
tbnslasm  wbieh  the  very  name  of  this  tiastitatkm  is  said 
to  excite  In  many  a  natriotis  Imsom.  We  can  Uasen  id  the 
csbaliscic  sonno  01  Ttisl  by  Jury,  which  has  prodaced 
effects  only  to  be  paralleled  by  those  of  the  mystesioas 
words  uttered  bv  the  Queen  of  the  City  of  Enchantments, 
in  the  Arabian  Tale,  and  retain  the  entire  poaaessioa  of 
our  form  and  sensea  We  understand  that  sentiment  of 
a  celebrated  author,  that  this  barrier  against  the  asurpa- 
tlon  of  power,  in  matters  where  power  nas  any  conceni, 
may  probably  avert  from  our  island  the  ihta  of  manv 
slates  that  now  exist  but  in  history ;  and  wa  fhiok  tbjs 
great  possession  is  peooUafly  valuable  hi  SeotlaBd,  where 
the  pnvllsges  of  the  public  prosecator  are  not  controlled 
by  tJiose  of  a  grand  jur^.  The  merits  of  the  aaiabliah- 
ment  we  are  now  examining  are  to  be  ascertained  by  a  (Af- 
ferent test  It  is  merely  a  contrivance  for  *"*Tning  the 
ends  of  private  Justice,  wr  developing  the  merits  of  a  civil 
question  in  which  Inamduals  are  interested  :  and  that 
contrivance  fs  the  best  which  most  speedily  and  etibctiial* 
ly  serres  the  purpose  for  vrhich  it  wm  fhuned.  In  ranses 
of  that  descrlptioa  no  shlald  is  necessary  againat  tba  in- 
vasion of  power :  the  Issne  is  to  be  iaveatigated  witbont 
leaning  or  partisJity,  for  whatever  is  ondoly  given  to  one 
party  Is  unduly  vnrested  from  the  other :  and  unleas  wa 
tslte  under  our  condderstion  those  aovsntagea  which 
time  or  accident  may  have  Introduced,  we  see  one  what 
superiority  can  In  the  abstract  be  supposed  to  belong  to 
thfs  as  a  jndicsuire  for  the  detennsMtfton  of  an  or  the 
sreater  number  of  civil  actions.  We  discover  no  ground 
for  suspeeting  that  the  Judgments  of  a  few  well-edaeated 
and  upright  men  may  be  inHuencea  by  any  undne  bias : 
that  an  interest  merely  patrimonisl  is  more  aafoly  lodged 
in  an  obscure  atid  evanescent  body  than  a  d^gnlSed,  iade- 
pendent,  and  permspeot  trtbnnal,  versed  in  flie  scieoce 


•Lord  Hale  oaths 


oTdisUsni. 


La**#  iSJ«  vKifrt«*docfW. 


Hi 


IJM^iiiillkdBlAid^l^wniible  for  thedactoiontlbej 
oonce  ;  -ud  w«  soapect  that  a  phUoaopifrr,  coaHtkt- 


praooance  . ^ . r-  -, 

■jrtiit  boch  «  ni«  doMt,  will  aiiffuir  laor*  damer  Irom  a. 
iffifim  which  defohof  oik  one  aet  of  men  the  raapooaibi* 
J|j  bi  doctrima  teught  them  bv  another,  (nan  vom  that 
■ftCeoi  which  attpchea  tothe jod^ea  aU  the  conaequencee 
d:  the  Jaw  the/  deliver." 

Sqma  thonsh  not  alt,  Of  the  ehvigei  deprecatdd 
intms  Bssay.liad  been  adopted  by  the  Legislature 
before  it  was  publiahed  ;  otoers  of  them  have  aioGe 
beea  sabmittad.to  experiment;  audi  believe  that, 
on  the  w^ole*  hia  views  may  aalely  bear  the  lest  to 
whieh  time  has  exposed  them— though  as  to  the 
■M  tic  iiiar  point  of  Mai  by  Jury  in  citil  cmtMes^  the 
draedtfd  miiovation,  beiDjg  conducted  by  wise  and 
temperate  fafsnds,  has  in  its  results  proved  satisfsc- 
toTV  to  the  people  at  laree^  as  well  as  to  the  Bench 
and  the  Bar  of  Scotland.  I  have,  however,  chief^ 
xntrodoced  the  above  extracts  as  illustrative  of  the 
^ssatiafaction  with  which  Scott  considered  the 
eommeoicement  of  aaywfem  of  jurispnidential  iono- 
vattDD ;  and  though  it  most  not  be  forgotten  that 
his  own  office  as  »  Clerk  of  Session  had  never  yet 
hrooght  him  any  thing  but  labour,  and  that  he  con- 
aequeatly  complained  nrom  time  to  time  of  the  inroads 
torn  labour  made  on  hoars  which-  might  otherwise 
have  been  more  prbfitably  bestowed,  1  suspect  hia 
antisathy  to  this  new  eystem,  as  a  system^  had  no 
•mall  share  in  producing  the  state  of  mind  indicated 
miMmafkabte  letter  addressed,  in  the  latter  part  of 
tfris  year,  to  his  brother  Thomas.  The  other  soui^ce 
4f  ttoMMmess  td  which  it  alludes  has  been  already 
MMh^  upon— arid  we  shall  have  but  too  much  of  it 
■i*ealit«r.  He  aavs  to  his  brother,  (Ashesiiel,  ist 
N^vainber,  IBio,)  *'  I  have  no  objection  to  tell  yon  m 
aaafl^nee,  that  wcnre  Btindas  to  go  out  Gtovemor- 
Oeneral  to  Ilkdia,  and  Mrere  he  wilhng  to  take  m^ 
with  bim  in  a  good  sitiiation,  I  would  n^t  h^tnte 
•9 pitch  the CouH  of  Session  and  tht  bouk^<  Nrr^  ta 
te  Devil,  and  tiy  my  fortune  in  anMli.  r  rlir:9»t<." 
Beedds,  **  but  thi0  is  strictly  en^'e  nrjtr/' -n\*r  in- 
deed was  I  aware,  until  I  found  this  leCM  r.  rfiai  he 
bede^r  entertained  such  a  design  ai*  iKnt  wh^  h  it 
eomnmiiieates.  BIr.  Ehipdas,  (now  T.of H  M'^  S  m  i ' ;,) 
lainr  di^ly  conversant  m  onrEas         ^  id 

iMMf  aeeeptable  to  the  Court  of  I  he 

dRde  of  Preeident  of  the  Board  of  zh 

fts-kad  long  filled,  was  spoken  of,  at  van^^u^  ;.  ,iu  ^  in 
the  eonrse  at  his  public  life,  as  likely  to  be  appoint- 
ed Governor-General  of  India.  He  had,  no  doubt, 
hinted  to  Scott  that  in  case  he  should  ever  assume 
tfiat  high  station,  it  would  be  very  agreeable  for  him 
to  be  aecomiHinied  by  hie  early  fnend ;  and  there 
eoald  be  little  question  of  his  capacity  Id  have  filled 
with  diininccien  the  part  either  of  an  Indian  secre^ 
tiTv  or  of  an  Indian  judge. 

Bat,  thottgh  it  is^asy  to  account  for  his  expr^s- 
iag  in  so  marked  a  manner  at  this  particular  period 
his  wSbngnesB  to  rehn<|uish  literature  as  the  main 
eectipation  of  his  time,  it  is  impossible  to  consider 
the  whole  course  of  his  correspondence  and  conver- 
sation, without  agreeing  in  the  conclusion  of  Mr. 
Xorritt,  that  he  wa%  all  along  sincere  in  the  opinion 
that  literature  ought  never  to  be  ranked  on  the 
same  scale  of  importance  with  the  conduct  of  busi- 
ness in  any  of  the  great  departments  of  public  life. 
Tfau  opinion  be  always  expressed,  and  I  have  no 
doubt  that  at  any  period  preceding  his  acquisition  of 
a  landed  property,  he  would  have  acted  on  it,  even 
tolke  extent  of  leaving  Scotland^  had  a  suitable 
op^Ktrtanity  been  sffbrded  him  to  give  that  evidence 
or  his  sincerity.  This  is  so  remarkable  a  feature  in 
his  character,  that  the  reader  will  forgive  me  should 
lirecur  to  it  in  the  sequel. 

At  the  same  time-I  have  no  notion  that  at  this  or 
«y  other  period  he  contemplated  abandoning  litera- 
tira.  9och  a  thought  would  hardly  enter  the  head 
oif  the  man,  not  yet  fbrtv  years  of  age,  whose  ca- 
reer had  been  one  of  unbroken  success,  and  whose 
third  great  work  had  just  been  received  with  a  de- 
gree of  favour,  both  critical  and  popular,  altogether* 
unpreeedented  in  the  annals  of  his  countrX'  ^^^ 
hope,  no  doubt,  was,  that  an  honourable  official  sta* 
tieB4B  the  Bast  miiht  afibrd  him  both  a  world  of 
21    0* 


itew  materials 'for  poetry,  Wn<t  whi:t  ^jrould.  in  hi# 


not  the  exertion  of  his  genius,  which  must  ever  iiwve 
been  to  him  the  sooroe  of  his  most-  exquisite  ei^y-  / 
ment,  b«t  the  daily  round  of  prosaic  and  perplexing 
totls^  in  which  his  connexion  with  the  Banantynes 
bad  involved  hlih.  Hfe  was  able  to  combine  the  re- 
gular discharge  of  such  functions  with  the  exercise 
of  the  high  powers.of  imagination,  in  a  manner  of 
which  history  anords  no  other  example;  yet  many, 
no  doubt,  were  the  weary  hours,  when  he  repented 
him  of  the  rash  engagements  which  had  imposed  • 
snob  a  burden  of  more  uskwork  on  bis  energjes. 
Bat  his  external  position,  before  the  lapse  of  another 

Scar,  underwent  a  change,  which  for  ever  fixed  hia 
estiny  to  Che  soil  of  his  best  slTections  and  happiest 
inepurations. 

The  letters  of  Scott  to  all  his  fri^ds  have  suffi- 
oientiy  shown  the  onflaMing  interest  with  which, 
amon^  all  his  personal  labours  and  anxietiaa,  be 
watched  the  progreaa  of  the  great  contest  in  the 
Penineula.  -  It  was  so  earnest  that  he  never  on  any 
journey,  not  even  in  his.  very  frequen^ passages  be- 
tween fidinbui)i(h  and  Asheatisl,  ornnted  to  take 
with  him  the  largeat  and  best  map  he  had  been  aMe 
to  procure  of  the  seat  of  war ;  upon  tins  he  irae 
peipetnelly  pormg,  tracing  the  marches  and  coim- 
termarohes  of  the  French  and  English,  by  means 
ef  black  and  white  pins;  and  not  seldom  did  Mrs. 
Scott  oomplein  of  this  constatnt  occupation  of  his 
attention  and  her  carriage.  In  the  beginning  of  1811, 
a  committee  was  formed'  in  Lendon  to  oollect  sab- 
scriptioBs  for  the  relief  of  the  Porraguese,  who  -had 
aeen  their  lands  wasted^  their  vines  torn  up,  and  tMr 
houses  burnt,  in  the  comae  of  Massena's  laat  uiifor- 
tunate  campai^ ;  and  Scott,  en  reading  the  adver- 
tisement, immediately  addressed  Mr.  Whiimorei  the 
ohairman,  begging  that  the  committee  would  allow 
him  to  contribute  to  their  fund  the  profita,  to  whaif- 
ever  they  auigbt  atnoant,''of  a  poem  wfaicn  he  pro- 
posed to  write  upon  a  subject  connedted  with  the 
localities  of  the  patriotic  strunle.  His  ofier  waa  of - 
course  accepted ;  axid  **Thb  Vision  or  Don  Rods- 
rick*'  was  begun  as  soon  as  the  Spring  vacation 
enabled  him  to  retire  to  AshestisL 

On  the  26th  of  April  he  writes  thus  to  Mr.  Moi>- 
ritt,  viFho  had  lost  a  dear  young  friend  in  the  battle 
oi  Barrosa. 

"  I  rejoioe  with  the  heart  of  a  Scotsman  ia  the  tueeess 
of  Lord  Welliogton,  and  with  all  the  pride  of  a  seer  te 
boot  I  have  been ibr  three  years  proclaiminf  him.  as 
the  only  tpaa  we  had  to  trust  to— a  man  of  talent  and 
(Ceoius-'not  deterred  by  obatacles,  not  fettered  by  prMO* 
dices,  not  immured  within  the  pedantries  of  his  prows> 
aioa— bat  playing  the  general  and  the  hero^  when  most 
of  our  military  comoianders  woold  iiave  exhibited  the 
drill  sergeant,  or  at  best  the  ac^uiaot.  These  campaigns 
will  teach  us  what  we  have  long  needed  to  know,  that 
success  depends  not  on  the  nice  drillinx  of  regiments, 
but  upon  the  grand  movements  and  combinations  of  aa 
army.  Wo  have  been  hitherto  polishing  hinges,  when  we 
should  have  studied  the  mectuuiical  union  uf  a  huge  m»> 
chioe.  Now— our  arin^  begin  to  see  tliat  the  ifvmd  se- 
ere/,  as  (he  French  call  it,  consists  only  in  union,  joini  exei>- 
tion,  and  concerted  movement.  This  will  enable  us  to 
meet  the  dogs  on  fair  terms  aa  to  numbers,  and  for  the 
rest, 'my  aoiil  and  body  on  the  action  both.' 

"  The  downfall  of  Buonaparte's  military  fame  will  be» 
the  sienal  of  hta  ruin,  and,  if  we  may  trust  the  reports 
this  day  brings  us  from  Holland,  there  is  glorioua  mis- 
chief on  foot  already.  I  hope  we  shall  be  able  to  fling 
fuel  into  the  flame  immediately.  A  country  with  so  many 
dyliet  and  ditches  must  be  fearfully  tenable  wlien  the 
peannu  are  willing  to  fight.  How  I  shonld  enjoy  the 
disconsolate  visages  of  those  Whig  dogs,  those  dwellers 
upon  the  Isthmps,  who  have  been  foretelling  the  roptand 
ruin  which  it  only  required  their  being  in  power  to  have 
achieved !  R^is  quite  plain,  from .  6ir  Rouert  Wilnoa's 
i  account,  that  they  neelected  to  feed  the  lamp  of  Russia, 
I  and  it  only  resulted  from  tbeir  want  of  onportunlty  that 
I  they  did  not  quench  the  smoking  flax  in  the  Poninsula— 
I  a  thought  so  profligate  that  those  who,  from  party  or  per> 
;  Booal  intereM,  indulged  it,  ought  to  pray  for  merty^  and 
:  raiam  thanks  for  m  prOvldenUal  imerraptlen  which 
(.obstructed  their  purpose,  as  they  would  for  a  meditated 


m  • 

M  prmoted  p«riic|df.    Bqt.enoqib  of  the  thonurfob- 
jMSofMAMei. 

-  **  t  frieTt  for  yoar  Iom  at  B^mn,  bm  irbai  more  glo* 
flotit  IJI  eoold  a  noo  select  for  bimoelf  or  ftiend,  tban 
dMof  with  bia  mrord  In  band,  and  the  crj  of  victory  In 
aboaral 

**Aa  for  my  own  operations,  tbey  are  very  trifling, 
though  aufficiently  misceUaneous.  I  have  been  writiaf 
a  sketch  of  Buoaararte's  tactics  for  the  Edinburfh  Re- 
gister, and  some  oiner  trumpery  of  the  same  kind.  Par- 
ticularly I  meditate  some  wild  stanxas  referring  to  the 
Peninsula:  if  I  can  lick  therh  into  any  shape,  I  hope  to 
tet  somethiof^  handsome  from  the  booksellers  for  the 
Portufueae  sufferers:  'Sihrer  and  irold  have  I  none,  but 
that  ¥rhieh  1  have  I  will  give  nmo  them.'  My  lyrics  are 
oaiJed  the  Vision  of  Don  Roderick  :  you  remember  the 
Btory  of  the  last  Gotliic  Kin^  of  Spain  deacendinc  Into  an 
encrianted  cavern  to  know  the  fate  of  the  Moorish  inva» 
aion^that  is  my  machinery.  Pray,  don't  mention  this, 
for  some  ^ne  will  snatch  up  the  subject  as  I  have  been 
•CTved  before :  and  I  have  not  written  a  line  yet.  1  am 
going  to  AshcsUel  for  eigiit  days,  to  fish  and  rhyme." 

The  poem  was  published,  io  4to,  in  July ;  and  the 
immediate  proceeds  were  forwarded  to  the  board  in 
London.  His  friend  the  Earl  of  Dalkeith  seems  to 
have  been  a  member  of  the  committee,  and  he  writes 
tboB  to  Scott  on  the  occasion  :— 

**  Those  with  ampie  fortunea  and  thicker  heads 
may  easily  si ve  100  guineas  to  a  subscription,  but  the 
man  is  really  to  be  envied  who  can  draw  that  sum 
from  his  own  brains,  and  apply  the  produce  so  bene- 
ficially and  to  so  exalted  a  purpose."  I  presumer 
however,  that  when  his  Lordship  thus  mentions  100 
guineas,  he  alludes  merely  to  the  first  instalment  of 
ODott  s  contribution. 

Ib  the  original  preface  to  this  i>oem,  Scott  alludes 
to  two  events  which  had  "  cruelly  interrupted  his 
taak"-'the  successive  deaths  of  his  Idnd  fnend  the 
Lord  Preskient  of  the  Court  of  Session  (Blair,)* 
and  his  early  patron,  Henry  Dundaa,  Yiseouot  BfeU 
▼iHe :  and  bis  letters  at  the  time  afibrd  additional 
evidence  of  the  shook  his  fioehngs  had  thus  sus- 
tainsd. 

^  The  ibUowiuA  to  Mrs.  Scott  of  Harden,  is  dated 
May  28th,  lau— 
••My  dear  Madam, 

**  We  are  deprived  of  the  prospect  of  vralttng  upon 

COD  the  biith-day,  by  the  conftiskm  Into  which  the 
iness  of  this  court  is  thrown,  by  the  moat  nneipeeted 
aad  tarrepamble  joss  which  it  has  aostained  in  the  death 
of  the  pctsideac— it  is  aeareely  posaible  to  oooeeifve  a 
calamity  which  is  more  universally  or  will  be  so  long 
felt  by  the  country.  Mis  integrity  and  legal  knowledge, 
jotaed  to  a  pecoliar  dignfty  of  thought,  action,  and  ejt- 
preaaion,  had  begun  to  esubKah  in  the  minds  of  the  pub- 
Uo-at  large  that  confidence  in  the  regular  and  solemn  ad- 
miaiacraiion  of  Justice,  which  ia  ao  neceasary  to  tta  use- 
Ailaesa  and  respecubility.  My  offlcial  attuatlon,  as  wen 
aa  the  private  intimacy  of  oor  fkmlUes,  makes  me  a  sln- 
eere  mourner  on  this  melancholy  occasion,  for  I  feet  a 
severe  personal  deprivation,  besides  the  general  share  of 
Borrow  common  to  all  of  every  party  or  description  who 
were  in  the  way  of  witnessing  hia  conduct 

"Ha  wan  a  rare  instance  of  a  man  whose  habits  were 
every  way  averse  4o  the  cultivation  of  popularity,  rising, 
nevertheless,  to  the  highest  point  in  the  public  opinion, 
by  the  manly  and  difnified  discharge  of  bia  duty.  I  have 
been  Teaity  so  much  shocked  ana  out  of  spirits,  yester- 
day and  I  he  day  preceding,  that  I  can  write  and  think  of 
nothing  else. 

»•  I  liave  to  aend  you  the  Vision  of  Don  Roderick,  aa 
soon  as  we  can  get  it  out— It  is  a  trifle  I  have  written  to 
eke  out  the  subscription  for  the  suffering  Portogneae. 
Believe  me,  my  dear  Mrs.  Scott,  ever  yours  moat  truly 
and  respectfully, 

Walter  Scott." 

The  next  letter  is  to  Mr.  Morritt.  who,  like  him- 
self,  had  enjoved  a  large  share  of  Lord  Melville's 
fneiidly  regard;  and  had  more  than  once  met  his 
Lordship,  after  his  fall,  at  the  Poet*8  house  in  Castle 
Street ;  where,  by  the  way,  the  old  Statesman  en- 
tered with  such  simple-heartedness  into  all  the  ways 
of  the  happy  circle,  that  it  had  come  to  be  an  estab- 
hahed  rule  for  the  children  to  sit  up  to  nipper  when- 
ever Lord  Melville  dined  there. 

^\.Ti^A^  ^^  1^0*"^  Blak  of  Awmloaa*  aoa  of  tfaa  Anibor 
Oi    Toa  Onve. 


LWB  bPmXk  WAV^XSkSOO^. 


**MydearM. 

"Ibave  this  BMment  got  your  kind  letter,  Just  as  V 
was  paekhig  up  Don  Roderick  for  you.  This  patrtotie  pop- 
pet-show has  been  finished  under  wretched  aUsplcear 
Kor  Lord  Melville's  death  so  quickly  succeeding  mat  of 
esident  Blair,  one  of  the  beat  and  wiaeat  Judges  that 
ever  diatributea  juatice,  broke  mj  spirit  sadly.  My  ofli. 
clal  aituatioo  placed  me  In  daily  contact  with  the  Prei>> 
dent,  and  his  ability  and  candour  were  the  aoorce  of  oiy 
dally  admiration.  Aa  for  poor  dear  Lord  Melville,  "TIa 
vain  to  name  him  whom  we  nioum  io  vain.'  Almost  the 
Ust  time  I  saw  him,  ha  vraa  talking  of  you  la  the  highest 
terma  of  regard,  and  expreaaing  great  hopeBtof  again 
aeeing  you  at  Dunira  thia  aummer,  where  1  propoaedeo 
auead  yon.  ffei  mihi  /*  ouid  hei  miki  7  hutnana  p$r- 
petti  tumu9.  His  loss  wilf  be  long  and  severely  felt  here, 
and  envy  is  already  paying  her  cold  tribute  of  applauaa 
to  the  worth  that  ahe  maligned  while  It  Walked  unoneailh. 
"There  is  a  very  odd  coincidence  between  the  deaths 
of  these  eminent  characters,  and  that  of  a  very  Inferior 
person,  a  dentist  of  this  city,  named  Dobisson.  He  met 
the  Preaident  the  day  before  hia  death,  who  used  a.par- 
Ucnlar  ozpreaaion  in  speaking  to  htaa ;  the  day  before 
Lord  MelviUe  died,  be  alao  met  Oobiaaon  nearly  on  iba 
aame  apot,  and  to  the  man's  surprise  used  the  PraSident^ 
very  words  in  saluting  him.  On  this  second  death)  bs 
expressed  Oocularly,  however)  an  apprebenaion  that  bs 
himself  would  be  the  third—was  taken  01,  and  died  in  aa 
hour's  space.    Was  not  this  remarkable  \    Yours  ever, 

W.  8." 

The  Vision  of  Don  Roderick  bad  fBatorss  of  no- 
velty, both  as  to  the  subject  and  the  manner  of  tbs 
composition,  which  excited   much  attention,  af* 
gave^se  to  some  sharp  controversy,.  The  main  £i[ 
was  mdeed  from  the  most  picinresQue  region  of  old 
romance;  but  it  was  made  tbrougbout  the  vehicle 
ot^feelings  directly  adverse  to  tl^ose  with  which  the 
Whiff  cntics  had  all  along  rei^arded  the  interference 
of  Britain  in  behali  of  the  nations  of  the  Peninsmai 
and  the  silence  which,  while,  celebrating  our  other 
generals  on  that  scene  of  action,  had  been  preserved 
with  respect  to  Scott's  oi^n  gaiUnt  coDntryvM* 
Sir  John  Moore,  was  considered  or  represented  by 
thein  aa  an  odious  example  of  genius  nood-wiBkes 
by  the  influence  of  party.    Nor  were  there  wAntiog 
persons  who  afiected  to  discover  tbnt  the  chumi  w 
Scott's  poetry  had,  to  a  ^at  extent,  evsporaied 
under  the  severe  test  to  wnich  he  had  eamosed  iti  Of 
adopting,  in  place  of  those  comparatively  light  and 
easy  measures  in  which  he  baa  hitherto  dealtMbe 
most  elaborate  one  that  our  literature  exhibita.  The 
producHon,  notwithstanding  the  complexity  of  the 
Spenserian  stanzai  had  been  very  rapialy  executed,; 
and  it  showiL  accordingly,  many  traces  of  nmt- 
gence.    But  the  patriotic  mspirgtion  of  it  found  an 
echo  in  the  vast  majority  of  Britiah  hearts  i  many  of 
the  Whig  oracles  themselves  acknowledged  that  the 
difficulties  of  the  metre  had  been  on  the  whole  soc- 
cessfully  overcome;  and  even  the  hardest  cntios 
were  compelled  to  express  unouaiified  admiration  of 
various  detached  pictures  and  paasages.  which,  m 
truth,  as  no  one  now  disputea,  neither  he  nor  any 
other  poet  ever  excelled*  The  whole  setting  or  frame' 
work— whatever  relates  in  short  to  the  last, of  tbs 
Goths  himself— waa,  I  think,  even  then  unsnimoitf-^ 
1/  pronounced  admirable;  and  no  party  fediagcoabl 
blind  any  man  to  the  heroic  splendour  of  such  stan- 
zas as  those  in  which  the  three  equally  gallant  ele- 
ments of  a  British  army  are  contrasted.    I  indine 
to  believe  that  the  choice  of  the  measure  had  bfen 
in  nr    r    "  decree  the  result  of  those  hints  w«cn 
Scot^  Jiud  received  on  the  subject  of  his  favoanie 
octusyllshics,  more  especially  from  Ellis  and  Ca^ 
nin^ ;  u  ndr  as  we  shall  see  presently,  he  about  tiui 
tinu  mn/jr  more  than  one  similar  experiment,  mall 
likj  libriiHl  from  the  aame  motive. 

or  rill  I <: iters  which  reached  him  in  consenneaflf 
of  1 1  LI  .1  i  I .  arance  of  The  Vision,  he  has  preserved 
sev  <.  J  .1 K  v>  ft;ch  had  no  doubt  interested  and  gratified 
hiiij  Fii  lUv  time.  One  of  these  was  from  Lady 
W>  Ilirih'ciKi,  to  whom  he  had  never  had  the  bonoof 
of  bcmg  presented,  but  who  could  not,  as  she  said, 
remain  silent  on  the  reodpt  of  such  a  tribute  to^tbe 
fame  of  "the  first  and  best  of  men."  " 
wards  she  continued  to  ooi 
Digitized  by 


Ever  after- 
tod 


LiPI^  dF  SUl  WALTfi|l  6c(ytT. 


jnimd,  moam  diA  Terjr  Itft  letttft  whicl|  the  Du- 
ehMt  of  Wemngton  appeart  to  t^ave  wntten,  waa 
a  most  a&cting  ona^  biddini;  him  farewelL  and 
thankiOR  him  for  theaokce  hit  worka  had  afforded 
her  dving  har  fatal  iUnaaa.  Another  waa  in  these 
tarma.*-- 

•'HioeUey,  JQl7«kl811. 
**M7dMr8ir,  • 

"  I  am  Teiy  ftad  that  yo«  iMife  eiMjed  k  oew  metre 
—new  I  mefto  for  70a  to  tiM.  Tlut  which  you  have  cho^ 
•taU  Mftept  atoneetiit  meet  ariifteul  mkI  ibe  moet- 
mammceni  it^  oar  baif  uace  ailbrda  ;  and  /our  aucceaa 
in  It  ou^t  to  encourage  you  to  believe,  that  for  you,  at 
leaat,  the  majestic  march  of  Dry  den  (to  my  ear  the  per- 
fetOon  of  harmony)  it  not,  aa  you  seem  10  ptonoonce  It, 
irrecoverable.  Am  I  wrong  in  imajcinin|(  that  iS^enaer 
does  DOC  UM  the  pluaqmam'Altximdrm&-4h»  verse 
whkh  in  aa  nuoh  tsnfer  chsa  an  Atosaodriiie,  aa  aa 
Alejcaodriae  ia  longer  than  ao  ordinary  heroic  measure  I 
I  have  no  books  where  I  am,  to  which  to  refer.  You  use 
this— and  in  the  first  stanza- 

'*Your  poem  h4s  been  mat  on  my  part  by  an  exchange 
somewhat  like  that  of  piomed'a  armour  Matnst  Glaucus's 
•^-braM  for  gold— a  heavy  sneerh  upon  bullion.  If  yon 
have  never  thought  upon  the  suhject— as  to  ,div  great 
eoBteatment  1  never  nad  a  twelvemonth  ayo— let  me 
eoassel  you  to  keep  clear  of  it,  and  forthwith  nnt  my 
speech  into  the  Are,  anread.  It  has  bo  one  merit  oat  tiiat 
of  sioeerity .  I  formed  my  upinioa  most  reloctsotly  1  Uav- 
-ing  formed  it*  I  could  not  but  maintain  it ;  liaving  main- 
tained it  in  Parliament,  1  wialied  to  record  it  intelligibly. 
But  it  is  one  which,  ao  lar  from  eheriahing  and  wishing 
to  make  proselytes  to,  I  would  much  rather  renounce,  if 
I  eoaldfind  a  person  to  convince  me  that  it  is  erroneous. 
Thie  is  At  lesst  an  unusual  stale  of  mind  in  controversy. 
U  is  sueh  ss  I  do  not  generally  nrofoss  on  si  aubjects^ 
sBsb  ea  yon  will  give  me  credit  Ibr  not  being  abtoto  main' 
tain,  for  instance,  when  eillker  tiM  eiqilotta  wiiicb  yoa 
celebrate  in  your  last  poem,  or  four  manner  ef  eelefaiiat- 
\ag  theatf  are  dlspoted  or  diapenged.  Believe  me,  with 
great  regard  and  esteem,  very  sincerely  yours, 

GSOBOB  CAMHIlia.'* 

«  Bttt,  of  all  the  letters  addteaaed  to  the  author  of 
the  Vision  of  Don  Roderick.  I  am  tery  aure  no  one 
waia  ao  welcome  aa  that  whVeh  reached  blm,  aom^ 
mbntha  after  his  poem  badceaaed  to  be  new  in  Eng- 
land, fW>m  a  dear  (Hand  of  his  earliest  daya,  who, 
after  Tarioiis  chaoces  and  changes  of  life,  waa  them 
aenrinff  in  Lord  Wellington's  army,  aa  a  captain  in 
the  BStb  regiment.  1  am  sure  that  Sir  Adam  P^t- 
gMon'a  good-nature  wilj  pardon  my  inaarting  here 
aome  extracts  from  a  communication,  which  hia  af- 
fectionate schoolfellow  very  often  referred  to  in  after 
fsara  with  the  higheat  appearance  of  interest  and 
pleaanre. 

TV  Walter  Seott,  JE^« 

**  lisboD,  81st  Aognst,  1811. 
"  My  dear  Waker, 

**  AAer  such  a  length  of  sUenea  between  ui^  and,  I 
grant  on  my  part,  so  unwarraatabls,  I  think  1  see  your 
Mce  of  surprise  on  recognisinc  this  MS.,  and  hear  you 
exclaim — what  otrange  wind  has  blown  a  letter  from 
lAntanI  I  mast  say,  that  sithough  both  you  and  my  good 
frisMl  Mra  8.  must  long  ago  have  set  me  dovm  as  a  noost 
indifferent,  not  to  say  ungraleAil  sort  of  gentleman,  fcr 
otherwise  has  been  the  case,  as  in  the  course  of  my  wan- 
derings through  this  country.  I  have  often  beguiled  a 
long  march,  or  watchfbl  nicht*s  doty,  by  thinking  on  the 
merry  fireside  in. North  Castle  Street  However,  the 
Irrmlar  roving  life  we  lead,  always  interfered  with  my 
resolves  of  correspondence. 

"  But  now,  quitting  self;  I  need  not  tell  you  how.  greatly 
1  was  delighted  at  the  success  of  the  Lady  of  the  Lake. 
I  dare  say  you  are  by  thia  time  win  tired  of  such  sreetlngs 
—so  1  ahaU  only  say,  that  last  spring  1  was  so  foctaaate 
as  te  get  a  reading  of  k,  when  in  the  lines  of  Toftes 
Vedras^  and  thought  1  hod  no  Ineonsideimble  right  to 
eater  into  and  judge  of  its  beauties,  liavtag  made  one  of 
the  party  on  your  first  visit  to  the  Troasachs ;  and  you  will 
allow,  that  a  liule  vaaity  on  my  part  on  this  account 
<every  thing  considered}  waa  natural  enough.  While 
the  book  was  in  my  possession,  I  had  night^  Invitatlans 
le  evening  partita  f  to  read  and  illustrate  passages  of  it ; 
and  I  most  say  that  (though  not  conscious  of  much  merit 
la  the  amy  of  Tacllstioe)  my  attempts  m  da  Justice  to  the 
graod  opening  of  the  stag-hunt,  were  always  followed 


wKh  bu^  of  kpp)ai^ae-^lb^  thU  Cln^  wm  the  fltvoortta 
amoitf  the  rough  sons  of  the  fighting  "ntrd  IMvlsioii.  At 
that  mne  supplies  of  varloas  kinds,  espeetelly  say  ikini' 
in  the  way  or  deM oadea.  were  -very  scanty ;  sad,  in  gratP 


Lady,  I  owed  tnMasy  a  nice  aUce  of-  bam,  and  rammer  of 
hec  puneb,  which,  1  assure  sou,  were  aooongst  Che  most 
waloeme  tavours  that  ene  officer  oould  beaSowoa  another 
during  the  long  rainy  nigtits  of  last  January  and  February. 
By  desire  of  my  messmates  of  the  Black-cuffs,  I  some 
time  ago  sent  a  commission  to  London  for  a  copy  of  tha 
rauAic  of  the  Boat-Song,  *  Hall  to  the  Chief,'  as  performed 
at  Covent-tTarden.  but  have  not  yet  got  it.  'If  you  can  as- 
sist In  this,  I  need  not  say  that  .on  every  performance  a 
flowing  bumper  win  go  round  to  (he  Bard.  We  have  late- 
ly  been  fortunate  lo  getting  a  good  master  to  our  band, ' 
who  Is  curious  in  old««oteh  and  Irish  airs,  and  has  harmo- 
nised JoMnwif  C^ipe,  Ac.  4c 

"  Lisbon,  6th  October. 

"  1  had  written  aU  the  foregoing  botheraUon,  intending 
to  send  it  by  a  wounded  friend  going  home  to  Scotland, 
when,  to  my  no  small  joy,  your  parcel,  encJosiog  Boa 
Roderick,  reached  me.  How  kind  I  take  it,  your  remem- 
bering oltl  Linton  in  this  way.  A  day  or  two  after  I  le- 
ceived  yours,  I  was  sent  into  the  Alentejo,  where  1  remain- 
e<l  a  ipontli,  and  only  returned  a  fow  days  ago,  much  de^ 
lirhted  with  the  trip.  You  wish  to  know  how  1  hke  Uitf 
VIbIsu;  but  aa  you  can't  kwk  for  any  learned  critique 
from  aa,  I  shali  only  cay  that  1  fully  entered  into  the 
apint  aad  beauty  of  it,  and  that  I  relished  much  the  wikft 
aad  toeiful  opeaing  of  the  introductory  part ;  yet  whai 
particularly  deMahled  me  were  the  atanxas  announcing 
the  approach  of  the  British  fleets  and  armies  to  this  count- 
ry, and  the  three  delightful  ones  descriptive  of  the  differ- 
ent troops,  EngUsh,  Scotch  "  1  Irtish:  mid  1  fan  a^aurB 
you  th^  Pats  are,  to  a  man.  ..■.  ...i:.rn.i  wJili  ilie  picitim 
drawn  of  their couQtrymen^  im'i  Ow  lutntit^ti  of  tUa  gre^t 
mam  hkaseIC  Yo«ir  swearii^rn  ^n  tht^  inir  eb^in»t«r  &r  a 
mlostrei,  ^elilver  mr  ban  aad  buf«  Hm  every  thnrd* 
amused  me  aot  a  Hiibs.  Wrma  being  well  acT'^iQ'*^  *ith 
a  great  maay  of^e  situsiXu*  deacribedi  tlk«fy  ht4  nf 
oourse  the  oKure  interest,  ami  ^tiiim  Butaco's  irari  rlJ^e^ 
most  happily  painta  the  ^^^leinmce  of  th^  merrjonBle 
fl«^.  You  must  know  tb»t  w«  hMe  gut  vtiih  u« aoiiie 
bright  geniuses,  natives  of  rtn?  tirar  ct^untr^,  inU  wt]^^  go 
fanr  the  name  of*  the  poets.'  Of  con  f  pp.  s  prnsvnt  uf  this 
iclnd  is  not  thrown  away  u^'^n  iod^fTtr^nt  subjf^ls,  but  i| 
is  read  and  repeated  with  aVI  \hv  tnihut^atm  your  itirra-' 
ceuln  desiPS.    Shr^iflcl  11  ]!>e  my  fste  10  ^urv^ve, 


I  aa  resolved  totry  my  hsn 

upArdown  the  Tweed,  somt 

sad  nq  %iiis  d^eam  many  a  <J 

"lam 


it  n  Miuir  hurln  ikrtn  either 
i^r  iiein  hbDU  rhtwdj 

.    _    ^  ,.   ilu  [builrl. 

am  most  happy  to'hea '  peii  oa  in  tlw 

old  smooth  style.  I  am  atraid,  bowever,  that  now  *  '  . 
has  hecome  a  judge,  the  delights  of  Scrogvm  aad  7^ 
7\titor  will  be  lost,  tin  revhred  perlups  by  the  old  croiv 
pier  hi  the  shape  of  a  t>attered  halt-pay  ofllcer.,,  YVmrs 
sflfeeHonatdy, 

Amui  Faaeiysotf.''  • 

Mora  than  ona  of  the  gallant  captain's  chatttmM 
en  Bwpagm  were,  «a  we 'shall  see,  raalttad  in  the  se- 
qoa).  'I  moat  not  omit  a  circttmatance  which  had 
reached  Scott  f^pm  another  source,  and  which  be 
alwaya  took  spaoal  pride  in  relating,  namely,  that  in 
the  conrae  of  the  day  when  the  Lady  of  tne  Lake 
firat  reached  Sir  Adam  Fergnaon,  he  was  poated 
with  hia  company  on  a  point  of  ground  expoaed  to 
thaeneiny'a  artillery  1  aomewhere  no  doubt  on  the 
Uoea  of  TofTea  Vedraa.  The  nrien  were  ordered  to 
lie  prostrate  on  the  ground;  white  they  kept  that  at* 
tilude,  the  Captain,  kneeling  at  their  head,  read  aknid 
the  description  of  the  battle  in  Canto  VI.,  and  the 
liatening  aoldiera  only  interrupted  himhy  a  joyoua 
huzza,  whenever  the  French  shot  aCruck  the  bank 
cloae  above  them. 

The  only  allusion  which  I  hare  foundjn  Scott's 
lettera,  to  the  Edinburgh  Review  on  hia  Viaion,  oc* 
cure  in  a  letter  to  Mr.  Morritt.  ( September  26, 1811,) 
which  also  oontaina  the  only  hint  of  hia  having  been 
about  thia  time  requested  to  undertake  the  taak  of 
readering  into  EngUah  the  Charlemagru  of  Luden- 
Buonaparte.  He  aaya— **  The  Edinburgh  Reviewen 
have  been  down  on  my  poor  Don  hand  to  fiat  ^  but, 
truly,  aa  they  are  too  fastidious  to  approve  of  thf 
campaign,  lahonld  be  very  unxaaaonable  if  I  ezpefet* 
ed  them  to  like  the  celebration  of  it.    I  agree  with 


*  Bsssnli^ 


p.  ifiy  Google 


^s 


ifjfR  OF.affi .  wy^^TBitjjpgtnr, 


il^:ss:mX'.i^^?n^ri^^  ^'^^ii^^^sisMtT'^ 


fixy.arcai  poetindead  to  prevent  the  tedium  arttdog 
from  the  recurrence  of  rhyo^eii.  Our  UnguaAajs  en- 
able to  auppori  the  expeaditufie  of  ao  roaajr  u>r  each 
aiaoza :  even  Speoaarthtmael^  with  aU  the  iioensooC 
aaing  oiMwleta  words  and  uncommon  apellioga, 
aometimee  fiitiguee  the  ear.  They  are  alao  wetj 
wroth  with  me  tor  omftHng  the  merits  of  9ir  John 
Hoore;  but  as  I  never  exactly  discovered  in  what 
these  lay,  unless  in  conducting  his  advance  and  re- 
treat upon  apian  the  most  likely  to  verify  the  de- 
sponding speculations  of  tlie  foresaid  reviewers,  1 
ftfiwlbciK]  iny'»elf excitk'd  fur ;    ,i'<niri  m    r  ir' w litre 

f  WS>^  I|il):'i^^l4"  Tj>  Hne  ih[lt   llllii-j      'I       '     <  ii,''<'.ily 

lltumry  iiowe  1  havo  ('j  >'.:!! J  yj^u  i=^  llml  Luri^ji  Buo- 
nufiSfte's  *T^c,  in  Tw>nTyf  >ur  rfi^uiJu^S^  abf*ui  lo  ap- 
pear An  m^plicaiiiin  wa?!  nindr::  to  mc  la  translate 
11,  which  ]  nppati^ed  at  c  ourswt  nfid  that  roiitiiUy  "• 
f  havi!  ^lluaeU  in  e^me  othtiir  nt'w  ?x pontile nm  in 
Vf^flBi^anon  itbirut  fhi^  rtni^  Dsprobbblvoripimting 
ih  mei  many  hjtiuof  E!H«,  Cafimn^,  amf  pmbuliv  of 
ErrtKine,  ihar,  if  ht-  wisht^d  ro  do  hmi«elf  full  juMice 
inpoeticrti  tiarrAliun,  ht;  ou^ht  lo  aii^mpi  aEkuj^i  ibe 
rhyme  of  Drydejri'ei  Fahle&  Huvm^i  tzBu^yt-l  the 
n>ofit  di0cult  of  ail  Knijliijh  inen^turcn  lu  Dun  H^Kie- 
lickf  be  (ku#  year  trie<l  aJiM>  iht  beroH^  coupk^^  and 
pmdiieed  that  imtr«itOM  itt  Crpbbe,  Tki  l*oMkir  :— 
ATI  aiieing  whicb,  Cntbhi-,  aft  hi»  aon'*  biu^upKy  U'Ua 
Hii,  <?\^'bifTTedi "'  This  i«ati,  whotv^r  be  is,  **Jin  d*>  sM 
ihai  1  cttn»  and  iumtihinji  wiorf,"  This  piprtf^to- 
gtirhcr  Wnh  acitnt  verses^  afttrwardit  workHd  up  into 
tjic  Bndiil  of  TriormsLn,  nnd  anothpt  ftaf^nctu  in 
uuiutiuu  (jf  Moort'i  Lyrics^  when  first  forwarded 
10  Hal]jinf>iuv  ^on.-  acc^jciip&nie^  wuh  a  Hule  note, 
tfi  M  hich  he  lays  <  ^'  [Ijid^raiand  I  havif^  au  idc^a  <^t 
parijtiy.  iiyi  senoiia  jmilaiion^  \i  I  can  ai^cutnplbh  It. 
Tbp  fiuhjeet  for  my  Crnbbf*  ii  n  character  in  tiin  hoe 
ifcliiftb  be  hafl  rt^ter  tcM^beid  I  Itiink  of  Wofrts- 
w  i\t\  h  J  t  trtit  Etn  ff  tieth  s  j)»  u  f^hofl  I  sr  ory  af ipr  I  .c  v^i  b»  I 
shfiuld  be  nmbitiuuisof  trytng  CflUipKcl!  j  but  hii  iie- 
cwliiidry  cousm*  *>  much  in  the  matter,  and  so  lit- 
Uti  in  the  inai]nt.r,  that  (tg  hic  praijse  be  it  &puktn)  I 
r^lhcr  ihiak  I  c^iiiioi  loui^b  hi  in.  The  tbtiL  u  li- 
isiioos  wl^icb  he  did  t-xeiittf^  appt^^rml  in  ibi'  KJin- 
biUKb  RegiAler  fur  \H¥i^  published  m  rhe  auiunin  of 
lisu.  Tticy  were  Uierp  animrJuced  by  a  letter  inti- 
t1«d  Th«!  Infsmoof  AUiirdora.  rfi  which  lie  AbiidEiwa 
oiit  tf*e  chief  tevkiwcfs  of  tW  day*  fif-pecFallv  Ilia 
frii-nda  JefTrey  atid  i^^nl,  with  a  dm  i  mole  brc'i  IHi 
vrtd  jiCt  lightEH's^of rlc8«?intTjr.    H*'  kf?pt  his  .'ii^iret 

Jn  10  thiAiireniu,  and  all  iiaappcndn^fi^  e^en  fruio 
tiu  B[iLLit<^-^tQ  whom  be  iiay^,  i^n  tbru  Dppearaucej 
lliai  -  "  tb*;  miilation  wf  Cmtfbe  hmi  struck  hiiji  as 
Kood;  ihstof  Moort^  ae  bnd  ;  and  ihui  orbiinHiEf  is 
beginning  well,  hui  f&lluij?  off  Krievousily  tu  ihe^ 
lLo#e<'^  H^  aeetiie  to  bav«  been  equally  ijiy^itiriaua* 
as  (ft  St)  Jmixstion  «>(  iha  quaint  \%f*&  vti^j^ev  of  ibe 
bet<inf)iim.(jif  the  irib  century^  v^hicb  h«d  foyiifl  ita 
way  shiaftly  b.  ftjre  intri  thi;  nVw^pnpers,  uorier  the 
|jani(j*if  The  Rr.:!N>]vr  ;+  but  L  fiRil  bun  fii!ksnu^  li'lj- 
Mlg  its  pareniaKe  ^  i)i¥  hrolbcr  Thoands,  wiwj>o  Mr 

E'  V  had  At  once  gueaee^  at  the  truth.  *'  Aa  to-tha 
lye,"  he  saysi  it  is  rojn< ;  and  it  is  not-oiL  to 
M  enigmaxtcai,  it  is  an  o(d  fragmeut,  which  I 
aao|>ered  up  into  its  present  state  with  tho  purpose 
01  qMi^tting  certain  Judged  of  poetry,  who  have  Seen 
fMMa^Iy  delighkd,  and  declare  that  no  living  poet 
4;pula  wnto  in  the.  same  extjuiaiie  taate."  These 
cntica  were  hia  frieoda  of  the  Friday  Club.  Whca 
iqdudea  in  the  Re^isier,  however,  the  Reeolve  ha^ 
his  name  afTixed  to  it.  In  that  case  his  concealment 
b«4  already  answered  its  purpose.  It  is  curious  to 
trace  the  bcgmntngs  of  the  systematic  toystiflcation 
which  he  after warde  put  in  Draotice  with  regard  to 
Ihe  most  important  aeries  o\  his  woika. 

The  quarto  edition  of  Don  Roderick,  having  rapid- 
:fy  gone  ofii  in3tead  ot.  reprinting  the. poem  aa  uaual 
n  A.aeparate  octavo,  he  inserted  it  eocirc  in  thecuK- 

'*  tlw  ponderou«  epic,  i>otitJ«d,  Ckarf«mafmt,  ou  VEfiUte 
VtHvrie,  waa  publialwHl  io  18H  ;  and  ao  En^bk  version,  by  the 
lk¥.  0.  Budflr  and  tlM^R«v    F    Roditaoo,  apt^nml  in  ISO, 

mStf  Portical  Worki.  editioa  1834.  vol'viii.  p.  S74. 


_ ^.  ^^      _j_  _  tb  raMBTs 

extfiordinary  eterti6h  6o  the  part  brita  ph>prie{on. 
Among  other  minor  tasks  of  the  same  rear,  he  M^ 
doced  an  edition  of  Wflson'a  SeereC  History  w  the 
Court  of  Xing  JameaL,  in  two  vott.  8io.  to  wfnek' 
he  supplied  a  copious  preface,  and  a  rich  body  df 
Jiotea.  He  alao  oaMtnbttiBd4Ni»x>r  three  articlea  to 
thei^aMeriylUviaw> 


CHAPT^KR  XXIII. 

NBw  ABBAifaaMsivT  c<mcm«ifnfo  mv  clswk^  or 
aasBioK— scott's  narr  ruacHASi  or  iJi^i>—ai. 

BOTSFOan  ;   TtntN-AOAI^,    arc— 70A}rNA  BAILUX'S 
0aaA«    KTU— DBATH  OF  JAMJB6  GBAHAMX:— AKD  OF 

lOKH  tavwEji,— 18U,  ■ 

Thbooohoot  I8ii,  Sfeott'aaafiQoa  labour  oantiBn- 
ed  to  be  beatowed  on  the  a^vandng  edition  of  S  wtft  • 
but  this  and  all  otbeir  literary  tasks  were  frtqnentty 
interrupted  in  eonsequenee  of  an  important  stqi 
which  he  took  early  in  the  year;  namely,  the  pur- 
chase of  the  first  portioti  of  what  became  in  the  ae> 
ouel  an  exleosive  landed  property  in  Roxburgha2ure. 
He  bad  now  the  near  prospect  of  coming  anlo  the 
beneficial  use  of  the  office  he  imd  ao  long  filled  witA> 
out  emolument  in  the  Goort  of  Sos8k>ii.  Foe,  cob- 
neetad  with  the  other  reforms  in  the  Sooteh  judiea- 
ture,  was  a  plait  for  allowiig  the  retirement  of  fbiic- 
tionariea,  who  had  served  to  an  advanee<J  period  of 
life,  upon  pensions ;  should  this  meet  the  approba- 
tion of  parliament,  there,  was  little  doubt  that  Mr. 
Georga  Home  ^ould  avail  himself  of  the  opportuni- 
ty to  resign  the  place  of  which  he  bad  now  Uxt  five 
years  executed  none  of  the  dutiea:  and  the  apaoiid 
Loni  MeWillev  who  had  now  succeeded  his  latWaa 
the  virtwal  miniatar  for  Bootland,  had  ao  mach  at 
heart  a  measure  in  itself  ohviooaly  just  and.prud^L 
that  little  doubt  could  beefltertainedof  the  reaultor 
hia,efforta  in  its  behalf.  The  Clerks  of  Seaaion,  it 
had  bc<en  already  settled,  were  henceforth  to  be  paid 
■ot  by  Um^  ^ut  by  fixed  aalaries  j  the  anv^pl  ft 
eaoh  wdary.  it  lyaa  s^on  aAer  anriit^ea,  should  ha 
xl  1300  j>er  annum  ^  and  contemplaung  a  SReemriMOr 
ceaaipn  of  professional  incooio  so  considerable  as 
thiaw^nd  a|  tbe  aame  tjme  a  vigoroua  prosecution  of 
hialiterary  career,  Scott  fixed  his  eyes  on  a  amaU 
Urm  within  a  few  niiies  of  Ashestiel,  which  it  waa 
u^df  rstood  ^ypuld  presenny  be  in  the  market,  and  re* 
solved  to  Diace  himseli;  by  its  acquisition,  in  tbe  aiui- 
aiipn  to  wniQh  he  had  probably  firoin  hia  earliest  f(aya 


iost  object  of  ambitjoo, 
-i$if  ,niihi  9td^  M^iw^ 


looked  forwards  as  , 
that  of  a  .T|iye^8>4e  l^\ 
senecta! 

And  the  place  itself;  though  not  to  the  general  ob- 
server a  very  attraetire'  ohtL  had  hong  been  one  of 
,  peoulicir  interest  for  him-  I  have  often  heard  him 
tell,  that  when  travelling  in  his  boyhood  with  Ms 

Sither,  from  Selkirk  to  Melrose,  the  old  man  aira- 
enly  desired  the  carriage  to  halt  at  the  foot  of  an 
eminence  and  said,  "we  must  get  out  here,  Walter, 
ana  see. a  tb^g  quite  in  3'our  line."  His  father  then 
conducted  him  to  a  rude  stone  on  the  edge  ptan  ac* 
clivity  about  half  a  mile  above  the  Tweed  at  Abbots* 
ford,  which  marks  the  apot— 

"  Where  gallant  Ce^sfoid's  life-blood  dear 
Reeked  on  dark  ElfioU'a  border  spear." 

This  waa  the  conclusion  of  the  battle  of  Melroae. 
fought  in  1526,  between  the  Earls  of  Angus  and . 
Home,  and  tbetwo  cb^efe  of  the  race  of  Kerr,  on  the 
one  side,  and  Buccknch  and  his  clan  on  the  other, 
in  sight  of  the  young  King  James  V.,  the  poaeosaion 
of  whose  penon  waa  the  object  (f  the  conteat. 
This  battle  is  often '  mentioned  in  the  Border  Mm- 
strelsy,  and  the  reader  will  find  a  long  note  on  it,  un- 
der the  fines  which  I  have  just  quoted  from  the  Lay 
of  the  LaM  Minstrel.  In  the  names  of  various  lo- 
calities between  Melrose  nod  Abbotsford,  such  ai 
Sf^rmish-Jicld.  Char^c-LaiDj  and  ao  forth,  thein- 
ciaoDts  of  the  nght  have  found  a  lasting  record; and 
the  spot  whaie  the  retainer  of  Boocleuch  temiiMe 
tad  tiieimtauitof  th^  viciora  by  tha  mortal  wound 


Digitized  by  V^OOQlC 


Lt^  or  ^ik  waltkh  scbrt. 


161 


irOitr  of  Cfesufordi  (tnc^tor  ot  the  Duk(»  tf  Box- 
targbe.)  has  always  been  called  Tufn-again.  In 
iaiQrwn  fauire  domaio  the  youhg  mmstrel  bad  be- 
tMvhini  the  scene  of  the  last  great  Clan-batile  of 
ibe  Borders. 

On  the  12th  May.  181 1,  he  writes  to  James  Ballan- 
yne,  apolof^zing  ibr  some  delay  about  proof-sheets, 
''Mr  attention.'' hfe  adds,  "has  been  a  little dissi- 
lAM  by  consiutrin^  a  plan  for  my  own  future  com- 
fert,  which  I^  hasten  to  mention  to  you.  Mv  lease 
sf  Ashestiel  is  out— 1  now  sit  a  tenant  at  will  under 
abeavy  rent,  and  at  all  the  inconvenience  of  one 
•hen  m  the  honse  of  another.  I  have,  therefore, 
RSoWsd  lo  purchate  a  piece  of  ground  sufficient  for 
aooftage  and  a  /ew  fields.  There  are  two  pieces, 
ekber  of  which  would  suit  me,  but  both  would  make 
a  very  desirable  property  indeed.  Thev  stretch 
■Iso^  tbeTwaed  near  half  wav  between  Melrose  and 
Selkirk,  on  tlie  opposite  side  from  Lord  tJomerville, 
ad  coald  be  had  for  between  jcmoo  and  jCBOCO, 
oriiih^  separate  for  about  half  the  sum.  I  have 
tneos  thoughts  of  one  or  both,  and  mast  have  re- 
eoaneiomv  pen  to  make  the  matter  easy.  The 
mm  is  the  dil^cuUy  which  John  mi^ht  find 
iaaivanoins  so  lai^  a  sum  as  the  eopynght  of  a 
arv  poem,  suppMing  it  to  be  made  payable  within 
ayeti  at  larthest  from  the  work  going  to  press,— 
viiek  would  be  essential  to  my  purpose.  Vet  the 
Mr  of  the  Lake  oame  soon  home.  I  have  a  letter 
tkii  Doming  girin^  me  good  hope  of  my  Treasury 
kianess  being  carried  through;  if  this  takes  place 
I  will  buy  both  the  httle  ^rms,  whioh  will*  give  me 
t  mk  of  the  beaaiifiil  torn  of  Tweed,  above  Gala 
liMt^if  flot,  i  mil  confine  myself  to  one*  As  my  in- 
cMier  io  the  event  supposed,  wiH  be  very  con- 
oderable,  it  will  afiofd  a  ainking  fund  to  clear  off 
«^I  debt  1  may  incur  in  making  tliis  purchase, 
h  IS  proper  John  and  you  shonld  be. as  soon  as 
Mtiible  apprised  of  these  my  iotentionSi  which  I 
Quiefe  you  will  ihink  reasonnble  in  my  situation 
ladat  my  age,  ^hile  I  may  yet  hope  to  sit  under 
oeWiade  of  a  ttee  of  my  own  planting.  I  shall  not. 
I  miok,  want  any  pecuniary  asstsiance  beyond 
vhatl  have  noticed,  but  of  course  my  powers  of 
rnderios^  it  will  be  considerably  limited  for  a  time. 
1  oope  thn  Register  will  give  a  start  to  its  prede- 
<:«8aor6 ;  I  assure  you  1  shall  spare  no  pains.  John 
^t  lend  bis  earnest  attention  to  clear  his  hands 
<a  the  quire  stock,  and  to  taking  in  as  little  as  he 
caa  niireaii  in  the  way  of  exchange ;  in  short,  reefing 
ou  sails,  which  are  at  present  too  much  spread  for 
«u  ballast." 

He  alludes  in  the  sivme  letter  to  a  change  in  the 
vm  of  Messrs.  Constable^  which  John  fiallantyne 
^  just  announced  to  him  j  and.  although  some  of 
(US  prognostications  on  this  business  were  not  ex- 
actly ^filled,  I  must  quote  his  expressions  for  the 
liRbt  they  ihrow  on  his  opinion  of  Constable's  tem- 
g«  and  character.  **  No  association."  be  says 
•f  the  kind  Mr.  C.  proposes,  will  stand  two  years 
vim  him  for  its  head.  His  temper  is  too  haughty 
tjbear  with  the  complaints,  and  to  answsr  all 
tOe  miouts  Inquiries,  which  partners  of  that  sort 
*ill  think  themselves  entitled  to  make,  and  expect 
joasTe  answered.  Their  first  onset,  however,  will 
^temble,  and  John  must  be  prepared  to  lie  by ... . 
*w  Qew  poem  would  help  the  presses,"  The  new 
P^tnm  to  which  he  relers,  were  Mr.  Robert  Oatb- 
W  Writer  to  the  Signet,  a  man  of  high  worth  and 
[Jjjfnty.  who  continued  to  be  connected  whh  Con- 
•2?£s  business  until  his  death  in  November,  1812, 
•WMr.KobeVt  Cadell,  who  afterwards  married  Mr. 
^stable's  eldest  daughter.* 

vf the  two  adjoining  farms,  both  of  which  ho  had 
ttthiB  time  thought  oif  purcbasiogi  be  shortly  afier- 
••rds  made  up  his  mind  that  one  would  be  s)iffi- 
52^  '9  l>cgin  with ;  and  he  selected  that  nearest  to 
Jlnwtiel,  and  compiisiog  the  sceneof  Cessford's 
"tighter.  The  person  from  whom  he  bought  it 
•M  an  old  friend  of  his  own,  whose  sterling  worth 
■•r«ncrated,  and  whose  humorous  conversation 

/TJfainlanwMdZMOhrsd  hy^  Jeathof  th»  lady  within  a 
'!"'5  tlw  tnarriafe.  Mr.  CaffeU,  not  long  a(W  the  osUitropha 
*  »••  bccuDe  lole  pubfisber  ofSoott'i  later  worki. 


rendered  him  an  utuveraal  favoorite  aittoag  thegeth 
try  of  the  Foiwfr—ike  late  Rev.  Dr.  Robert  Don*' 
giM,  minister  of  Galashiels— the  same  man  to 
whom  Mrs. Gockbum described  the  juvenilcprodigy 
of  George's  S<}uare,  in  November,  1777.  I^r-Douglaa. 
had  never  resided  on  the  property,  and  his  efforts  to 
embellish  it  had  been  hmited  to  one  stripe  of  firs,  so 
long  and  so  narrow  that  Scott  likened  tt  to  a  black 
hair-comb.  It  ran  from  the  precincts  of  the  home- 
stead towards  7Vr7faje'atn.  and  hasbeqtieathed  the 
name  of  the  Doctor's  redamg-kame  to  the  mass 
of  nobler  trees  amidst  which  its  dark  straight  line 
can  now  hardly  be  traced.  The  farm  consisted  of  a 
ri(th  meadow  or  haugh  along  the  j^j^nks  of  the  river, 
and  about  a  hundred  acres  of  undmated  ground  be- 
hind, ail  in  a  neglected  state,  undrained,  wretchedly 
enclosed,  much  of  it  covered  with  nothing  better 
than  the  native  heath.  The  farm  house  itself  was 
small  and  poor,  with  a  cbmmon  kail-yard  on  one. 
fiank,  and  a  staring  barn  of  the  doctor's  erection  on 
theother ;  while  in  front  appeared  a  filthy  pond  cover- 
ed  with  ducks  and  duckweed,  from  which  the  whoie 
tenement  had  derived  the  unharmonious  designa- 
tion of  Clarty  Hole,  But  the  Tweed  waa  every 
thing  to  him— a  beautiful  river,  flowing  broad  and 
bright  over  a  bed  of  milk-white  pebbles,  unlesa 
here  and  there  where  it  darkened  into  a  deep  pool, 
overhung  as  yet  only  by  the  birches  and  alders 
which  had  survived  the  statelier  growth  of  the  primi- 
tive forest ;  and  the  first  nout  that  he  took  posses- 
sion he  claimed  for  his  farm  the  name  of  the  adjoin* 
ing/or<i,  situated  just  above  the  influx  of  the  classi- 
cal tributary  Gala.  As  might  be  oueesed  from  tho 
name  of  Abbot^/'ord^  these  lands  nad  all  belonged 
of  old  to  the  great  abbey  of  Melrose  t  and  indeed  the 
Duke  of  Buccleuch,  as  the  territorial  representative 
of  that  religioua  brotherhood,  still  retains  soitie 
seignoriel  rights  over  them,  and  almost  all  the  sur-  , 
tomiding  distriet.  Another  feature  of  no  small  in- 
terest in  Scott's  eves  was  an  ancient  Roman  roadt 
leading  from  the  ^don  hills  to  this  ford,  the  remaina  • 
of  wbich^  however,  arc  now  mostly  sheltered  from 
view  amidst  his  numerous  plantations.  The  moat 
graceful  and  pieturesqne  of  all  the  monastic  mini 
in  Scotland,  the  Abbev  of  Melrose  itself,  is  visible 
fi'om  many  pointa  in  the  immediate  nei(;nbourhood 
of  the  house;  and  last,  not  least,  on  the nsing  ground 
full  in  view  across  the  river,  ihe  traveller  may  still 
observe  the  chief  traces  of  thai  ancient  British  bar- 
rier, the  CairaiU  oi  which  the  reader  has  seen  fre- 
quent mention  in  Scott's  early  letters  Ellis,  when 
investigating  the  antkiuitiee  of  Reged  and  Strath- 
clyde. 

Such  was  the  territory  on  which  Scott's  prophetic  ^ 
eye  already  beheld  rich  pastures,  embosomed  among  ' 
fkiurishing  groves,  where  his  children's  children 
should  thank  the  founder.  But  the  state  of  his  feel- 
ings, when  he  first  called  these  fields  his  own,  will 
be  best  illustrated  by  a  few  extracts  from  his  letters. 
To  his  brother-in-law,  Mr.  Carpenter,  he  thus  writes 
fi-ohn  Ashestiel,  on  the  5th  of  August— 

"  As  m V  lease  of  Ibis  place  is  out,  I  have  bought,  fbr 
about  XtOOO,  a  property  iu  the  npifhbourhood,  extending 
along  the  banks  of  the  river  Tweed  for  about  half  a  mile. 
It  is  very  l>lealc  at  present,'4iaviog  lltll«t  to  recommend  it 
but  the  vicinity  to  the  river ;  but  as  the  grountt  is  well 
adapted  by  nature  to  grow  wood,  and  is  considerably 
varioua  in  form  and  a|)pearanoe,  I  have  no  doubt  that  by 
judicious  plantations  it  may  be  rendered  a  very  pleasant 
s|>ot;  and  it  is  at  present  my  great  amusement  to  plan  the 
various  lines  which  may  be  necessary  for  that  purpose. 
The  (arm  cmnnreheods  about  a  hundred  acres,  of  which 
I  shall  keep  fifiy  in  pasture  and  Ullage,  and  plant  all  the 
rest,  which  will  be  a  very  valuable  possession  in  a  few 
Tears,  as  wood  bears  a  high  price  among  ua.  1  intend 
building  a  small  cottage  here  for  inr  siimnier  abode,  beiug 
ohiigerl  by  Iaw„as  wcTi  aa  induced  by  inclination,  to  make 
this  country  my  residence  for  some  muntlus  every  year. 
This  \4  the  (treatest  incident  whirh  has  lately  taken  place 
in  our  domestic  concerns,  and  I  a-ssure  yon  we  are  not  a 
little  proud  of  being  greeted  as  laird  and  lady  nf  Abbott- 
ford.  We  will  give  a  grand  gala  when  we  take  possesslos 
of  it,  and  as  we  are  very  eksnnith  ia  this  comer,  all  the 
Scotis  in  the  country,  from  the  Duke  to  the  peasant,  shall 
dance  on  the  green  ifi  the  bag|>ipes,  and  drink  whiskey 
punch.    Now  as  this  happy  feaUyal  is  to  be  deferred  wt 


more  iban  a  twelvemonth,  doriof  which  oor  coUtgk  is  to 
b*  Milt  Ac.  4£m  what  it  there  t»  hinder  brother  and 
■later  Carpenter  firoiQ  gtring  us  their  conpanT  upon  ao 
fratify.ing  an  occasion  1  Pray,  do  not  ataj  broiliiiff  youo- 
aeir  in  India,  for  a  inoinent  longer  than  you  have  secured 
comfort  and  competence.  Don't  look  forward  to  ptetca  ; 
it  Win  never  come  either  in  your  day  or  mine." 

The  same  week  he  lays  to  Joanna  Baillie— 
"  My  dreams  about  in^  cottage  go  on ;  of  about  a  hun- 
dred acfes  1  have  manlujiv  re«olved  to  plant  from  sixty 
to  seventy ;  as  ,to  niv  scale  of  dwelling,  why,  you  siiall 
see  my  plan  when  I  Dave  adjusted  it.  My  present  inten- 
tion is  to  have  onljr  two  spare  bed-rooms,  with  dressing- 
rooms,  csch  of  whicii  will  on  a  pinch  have  a  couch  bed ; 
but  1  csnnot  relinqiiJAh  my  Border  principle  of  accommo- 
dating all  the  eousips  and  duniiBottles^  who  will  raiher 
sleep  on  chairs,  anoon  tho  floor,  and  m  the  hay-loft,  than 
be  absent  when  foilcs  are  gathered  together ;  and  truly  I 
used  to  think  Asliestiel  was  very  much  hke  the  tent  of 
Paribanou,  iu  the  Arabian  Nights,  that  suited  aUke  all 
numbers  of  company  equally  i  (en  people  till  it  at  any 
time,  and  I  remember  its  lodginc  thirtv-two  without  any 
complaint.  As  for  the  fo- o^ouf  lolks,  tliey  generally  |>ay 
their  score  one  way  or  other ;  for  you  who  are  always  in 
the  way  of  seeing,  and  commanding,  and  selecting  your 
society,  are  too  fastidious  to  understand  huw  a  dearth  of 
newa  may  make  any  body  welcome  tbat  can  tell  one  tlie 
current  report  of  the  day.  U  it  is  any  pleasure  to  these 
stragglers  to  say  I  made  them  welcome  as  strangers,  I  am 
sure  that  costs  Bie  nothing— only  I  d^recate  publication, 
and  am  now  the  leas  afraid  of  it  that  1  think  scarce  any 
bookseller  will  be  desperate  enough  to  print  a  new  Scot* 
tlsh  tour.  Beitides,  one  has  the  pleasure  to  tell  over  all 
tha  stories  that  have  boied  your  friends  a  dozi^n  of  times, 
with  some  degree  of  propriety.  In  short,  1  think,  like  a 
true  Scotchman,  that  a  stranger,  unless  he  l.i  very  un- 
pleasant indeed,  usually  brings  a  title  to  a  welcome  along 
wHh  him ;  and  to  confess  the  truth,  I  do  a  little  envy  my 
old  friend  Abouhassan  his  walks  on  the  brklge  of  Bagdad, 
and  evening  conversatione  and  suppers  with  the  guests 
whom  he  was  never  to  see  again  in  his  life ;  be  never  fell 
Into  a  scrape  till  he  met  with  the  Caliph— and.  thank  Ctod, 
no  Caliphs  frequent  the  brigg  of  Melrose,  which  will  be 
mf  nearest  RiaUo  at  AbboUlord. 

**l  never  heard  of  a  stranger  that  utterly  baffled  all 
eflbrta  to  engage  him  in  con?ersatinn,  excepting  one 
wtom  an  aciiuamtanee  of  mine  met  in  a  stage  coach.  My 
frteod,*  who  piqued  hiraaelf  on  Ids  talents  for  conversa- 
tion, assailed  this  tortoise  on  all  hands,  bm  in  vain,  and  at 
length  descended  to  expostalation.  *  I  have  talked  to  you, 
my  friend,  on  all  the  ordinary  subjects— literature,  fonn* 
Inc,  merchandise — gaming,  game-lawa,  horse-races— strits 
at  law- politics,  and  swindlm^.  and  blaspbemy,  and  philo- 
•ophy — IS  tliere  any  one  subj«»ct  that  you  will  favour  me 
by  opening  upool*  The  wight  writhed  hi.s  countenance 
Into  a  grin — 'Sir."  said  he,  'can  you  nay  any  thing  clever 
about  br.nd  leather  V  There.  I  own.  I  Jiould  have  beon 
as  rnoch  noa-phis^-tod  as  my  acquaintance ;  bot  upon  any 
less  ablruse  subject,  I  think,  in  ::cii«»ral.  soui«^tlii(tg  may 
bo  made  of  a  stranger,  worU>y  of  his  clean  shells,  apfl 
bccf-Stcak,  aiMi  glass  of  poru  You,  tndeofL  my  dear 
friend,  may  suflTur  a  little  for  me,  as  I  «houl«l  lor  you, 
when  sudli  a  lortuitous  acquaiutancc  talks  of  the  inter- 
course arismst  from  our  uife'ju;,'  as  an>  thing  heyoinl  the 
etfbct  of  chaiic*^  and  tiviljty  :  but  thes»c  bmgiriuf:'*  break 
no  bone.-i,  .ind  are  always  a  conipliiiient  lo  ilio  peiton  of 
whom  the  diJicourcJe  is  hpKl,  though  the  narramr  ui(»ns 
it  to  liiuis^lf ;  for  no  one  can  8upjK>»*'  tho  affoc'ation  of 
intimacy  c-an  be  a^isumed,  unless  from  an  idea  that  it 
exalts  ihe  person  \%lio  brags  of  it.  My  little  folks  are 
well  and  i  am  pcrfuruiinf;  the  painful  duty  of  hrarine  my 
little  boy  his  Latin  loss<iq  every  morning;  painttil,  he- 
cauMc  my  know  ledge  of  the  lamjnatte  is  more  familiar  than 
grammatical,  aud  becau<:e  htilc  NValt(*r  has  a  disconsolate 
yawn  at  intervals  winch  is  quite  irresistible,  and  has 
uearly  cost  me  a  dislocation  oi  my  jaws." 

In  answerinc  the  letlcr  which  announced  the 
tcquisiiion  of  .4uboi«ford,  Joanna  Baillie  snySi  vr  ry 
prettily  i—^  Vouraelf,  and  Mrs.  Scott,  und  thp  chil- 
dren, will  fpel  sorry  at  luavinc  Ashesticl,  which  will 
long  have  a  consMjuence,  and  be  the  ohjcci  of  Kind 
feehn^  with  many,  from  havini'onccbt'en  thcplnce 
of  your  residence.  If  I  should  cvor  be  ha;>py  cnou^ih 
to  be  at  Abbotsford,  yoti  must  lake  ine  to  see  Ashcjy- 
tiel  too.  I  have  a  kind  of  tenderness  for  it,  as  one 
has  for  a  man's  first  wife,  w lien  ytm  hear  he  has 
married  a  second."  The  some  natural  sentiment 
is  expressed  in  a  maoner  characteristically  different 

•  Tfaii  tttod  was  Mr.  WiDiaai  dark. 


LIFE  OF  SIR  WAL,TEE  SCOTT. 


in  « letter  from  the  Ettrick  Shephard,  of  «^«at  tin 
same  date :—  Are  you  not  sgny  at  lesviog  mM 
AshtttielfQX  gudt  on' a',  after  having  be^ai  so 
much  trouble  and  expense  in  making  it  a  compkiis 
thini^l  Upoii  my  word  I  was,  on  seeing  it  in  t^ 
pajpera." 

That  Scott  had  many  a  pang  in  quitting  a  ^wt 
which  had  been  the  scene  of  so  many  innocent  and 
noble  pleasures,  no  one  carv  doubt;  but  the  oeiin 
of  having  a  permanent  abiding-place  of  hia,  own,  ia 
his  ancestofial  district,  had  long  been  growing  upoa 
his  mind :  and,  moreover,  he  had  laboured  in  atioro- 
ing  Ashestiel,  not  only  to  gratify  his  own  taste  asa 
landscape  gardener,  but  because  he  had  for  Yer~ 
been  looking  forward  to  the  day  when  Colonel  In 
General)  Russell  would  return  from  India  lo  ch 
possession  of  his  romantic  inheritance^  And  hewM 
overpaid  fo^  all  bis  e^iertions,  when  the  gallant  asir 
dier  sat  down  tft  length  among  the  treee  which  la 
affectionate  kinsmnn had  pruned  and  planted  in  kii 
absence.  He  retained,  however,  to  the  end  of  his  liis, 
a  certain  **  tenderness  of  feeling"  towarda  Ashestiel, 
which  could  not  perhaiiB  be  better  .shadowed  thaa 
in  Joanna  Baillie  s  similitude.  It  waa  not  hia  fint 
country  residence— nor  could  its  immediate  iaad- 
scape  be  said  to  equal  the  Vale  of-  the  Elsk,  either  ■ 
actual  picturesqueneaa,  or  (before  Marmion)  ia 
dignity  of  association.  But  it  was  while  occtipyiag 
Ashestiel  that  he  first  enjoyed  habitually  the  fires 

Kresence  of  wild  and  solitary  nature :  and  1  ehaO 
ere  quote  part  of  a  letter,  in  which  he  alludes  to 
his  favourite  wilderneaaes  between  Tweed  and 
Yarrow,  in  languagie,  to  my  mind,  strongly  iodjea- 
tive  of  the  regrets  and  misgivings  with  which  he 
must  have  taken  his  fisrewell  wanderings  over  them 
in  the  summer  and  autumn  of  1811. 

Miss  Baillie  had  then  in  the  press  a  new  yoIibbs 
of  Tragedies.,  but  had  toU  her  friend  that  the  pob- 
lication,  for  booksellers'  reasons,  would  not  take 
place  until  winter.  He  answers,  (August  24th,)— 
"  were  it  possible  lor  me  to  hasten  the  treat  I  expeei 
by  such  a  composition  with  you,  I  would  promisB 
to  read  the  volume  at  the  silence  of  noonday,  tmen 
the  top  of  Minchmuir,  or  Windlestrawlaw.  Tbe 
hour  is  allowed,  by  those  skilful  in  demonology,  to  be 
as  full  of  witching  as  midnight  itself;  and  I  assmv 
you.  I  have  felt  really  oppressed  with  a  sort  of  fear- 
ful loneliness,  when  k>oking  around  the  naked  and 
towering  ridgee  of  desolate  barrenness,  which  is  aH 
the  eye  takes  in  from  the  top  of  such  a  mountain, 
the  patches  of  cultivation  being  all  hidden  in  the 
little  plens  and  valleys— or  only  appcarin,'?  to  make 
one  sensible  how  fbeble  bnd  inffficientthc  cflforta 
of  art  have  been  to  contend  with  ihe  genius  of  tbe 
soil.  It  if*  in  snch  a  scene  that  the  unknown  author 
of  a  fii^e^  but  impqual  poim,  called  Albania^  places 
the  rt^marknble  snperstiiion  whicfi  consists  in  hear- 
in  j»  tho  noise  of  a  chase^  with  the  bs\ing  of  the 
hounds,  the  throttling  sobs  of  the  deer,  the  hbllos  of 
anuttierous  band  ofhuntpmen,  and  the  '  hoofs  thick 
heating  on  the  hollow  hill.*  I  have  often  repeated 
hia  verses  with  some  sensations  of  awe  in  snch 
a  place,  and  1  am  sure  yours  would  effect  their  pur- 
pose as  rompleiely."* 

jVliss  BailMe  sent  him,  as  soon  as  it-^vas  printed, 
the  book  to  which  this  communication  refers ;  she 
told  him  it  was  to  be  her  last  publication,  and  that 
she  WIS  trelting  her  knitting  needles  in  order— mean- 
ing to  begin  her  new  course  of  industry  with  a  purse. 
by  way  of  return  for  his  lona  brooch.  The  poetess 
mentioned,  at  the  i>ame  time,  that  she  bad  met  tbe 
evening  before  With  a  Scotch  lady,  who  boasted 
that  "  she  }»ad  once  been  Walter  Scott's  bedfellow. 
Don*t  start,"  adds  Joanna,  '*  it  is  thirty  years  aince 
the  irregularity  took  place,  and  she  describes  her  old 
berj fellow  as  the  drollest  loolung,  entertaining  little 
urchin  that  ever  wn!»  seen-  1  told  her  that  you  are 
a  great  strong  maA,  six  feet  high,  but  she  does  not 
believe  me."  In  point  of  fact,  the  assigned  ^ate 
waft  a  lady's  one,  for  the  irregularity  in  question  oc- 

*  The  rcsflpr  will  find  those  lines  from  Albania  fwhldi  ^ 
was  vary  fond  nfttpenting)  quoted  In  a  note  to  hisbalhil  of  ** 
Wdd  Hmtnmny ^Foet teat  Work:,  vol  vi  p.  Ml 


UPB  OP  Sm  WALTER  SCOTT. 


167 


opredon'boarfl  theXeith  ^macli,  whicb  conrefed 
WaJter  Scott  to  London  on  his  way  to  Bath,  when 
he  waif  only  four  years  of  age,  a.  d.  177& 

Mi9B  B^iilie's  welcome  volume  contained,  among 
others,  her  tragedy  on  the  Passion  of  Fear ;  ana 
Soott  gives  so  muchNif  himself  in  the  letter  acknow- 
ledging this  present  that  1  must  insert  it  at  length. 

7\»  Mu9  Joanna  Bailiit. 
"My  dear  Friend, 

". . . .  It  U  loo  little  1o  say  I  am  enchanted  with  the 
aid  l^ird  volume,  especially  with  the  two  flrat  pUys, 
which  in  eveiy  point  not  only  austain.  but  even  exalt  your 
repatatton  as«  ilraniaiiaL  The  wtiuio  ciiaracter  of  Orra 
U  ejcqui;»iiely  Supported  as  w>iil  as  imagined,  and  tlie  Ian- 

Cafe  distiugutahed  by  a  rich  variety  of  fancy,  which  1 
ow  no  instance  of  excepiinjt  in  Blialcfipeare.  AAer  I  had 
read  Orra  twice  to  iiiyselI,Terrjr  road  it  over  to  ua  a  third 
time,  aloud,  and  I  Itave  seldom  seen  a  little  circle  so  much 
affected  as  durmg  the  wiiule  fifth  act.  I  think  it  would 
act  channintfiy,  nmiiting.  perhaps,  the  baying  of  the 
boiwds,  wliich  could  not  oe  happily  imitated,  and  retain* 
inf  only  the  blast  of  the  horn  an({  the  halloo  of  the  hunts* 
man  at  a  distance.  Only  1  doubt  if  we  have  now  an 
actress  that  could  cany  through  the  mad  scene  in  the 
fifth  act,  which  is  certaioly  one  of  the  mos^  sablime  that 
ever  were  wriuen.  Yet  I  have  a  great  quarrel  wHh  this 
beaiitiful  drama,  for  you  ipust  know  you  have  utterly 
destroyed  a  song  of  mine,  nrccisely  in  ihe  turn  ot  your 
outlaw's  ditty,  and  sung  by  persons  in  somewhat  the 
same  situation.  I  look  out  my  unfortunate  manuscript  to 
look  at  it,  but  alas  !  it  was  the  encounter  of  the  iron  and 
the  earthen  pitchers  in  Ihe  fable.  I  was  clearly  sunk, 
and  the  potsherds  not  worth  galherinf  up.  But  only  con- 
ceive that  the  chorus  sbonld  have  mo  thus  veHtatim— 

'  Tts  mirk  midnight  with  peaceful  men, 
With  ua  tis  dawn  of  day'— 

And  again — 

*  Then  boot  and  eaddle,  comrades  bo(m, 
Nor  wait  the  dawn  of  day.'* 

*'I  think  tho  Dream  extremely  powerful  indeed,  but  I 
am  rather  glad  we  did  not  hazard  the  representation.  It 
rests  so  entirely  on  Osterloo,  that  I  am  almost  sure  we 
must  have  made  a  bad  piece  of  work  of  It.  By-thc-by ,  a 
■tory  la  told  of  an  Italian  buflhon,  who  had  contrived  to 

Siva  hla  aoaster,  a  petty  prince  of  Italy,  a  good  hearty 
ucking,  and  a  fright  to  boot,  to  cure  him  of  an  ague ;  the 
treatment  succeeded,  but  the  potentate,  by  way  of  relalia* 
tion,  had  his  audacious  physician  tried  for  treason,  and 
oondetnned  to  lose  his  head;  the  criminal  was  brought 
forth,  the  priest  heard  his  confession,  and  the  poor  jester 
knelt  down  to  the  block.  Instead  of  wieldinj;  his  axe,  the 
executioner,  as  he  had  been  inslnictod,  threw  a  iiitcher 
of  water  on  the  hare  neck  of  the  criuiiiial ;  hrro  inc  jest 
was  to  have  terininaled,  but  poor  GoinMla  wa-s  found  dtM'l 
on  the  spot-  I  b*»lieve  tlio  csrastroplie  !.«»  very  rioHsihlef 
The  latter  half  orf*  the  volume  1  have  not  peniKerl  with  the 
same  atti^ntioo,  though  I  have  devoured  ooMi  the  Come«ly 
and  the  Uejcou  in  a  l>a&ty  manner.  I  think  the  appri)hat(on 
of  the  public  will  make  you  alter  your  inlcniion  of  taking 
Qp  the  knitlin{(-necdle — and  thai  I  shall  be  ai  uinch  to 
seek  for  iny  purse  as  for  the  bank-notes  which  yow  say 
are  to  stuff  it — though  I- have  n«)  idea  whero  ihev  arc  lo 
come  from.  Bni  1  shall  think  more  of  the  purse  than  the 
noCes<  come  when  or  how  they  may. 

"To  return,  I  really  thnik  Fear  the  most  dramatic 
passion  ynu  have  hitherto  loitched,  because  capable  of 
being  drawn  to  the  inont  extreme  paroxysm  on  the  sUige. 
In  Orra  you  have  all  gradations,  from  a  timidity  excitod 
by  a  atronjc  au^l  irritablo  imagination,  to  the  extremity 
which  altogether  unhingrs  the  underslanding.  The  most 
dreadful  fright  I  ever  had  in  my  life,  (being  neithrr  con- 
atitutionally  tlinid,  nor  in  the  wny  of  beinjr  expos^^d  to 
real  danger,)  was  in  retummg  from  Hanistead  the  day 
which  1  spent  no  pleaMinily  with  you.  Although  the 
evening  was  nearly  closed.  I  footiahly  cho^e  to  take  the 
short  cat  through  the  fields,  and  in  that  enclosure,  where 
the  path  leads  close  by  a  thick  and  high  hedge— with 
several  f  aps  in  ir,  however— did  I  meet  one  of  your  very 
thorough-paced  London  ruffians,  at  leas^  judging  from  the 

^These  lines  were  acoordinflj  struck  out  of  the  outlaw'!  toog 
in  Rokeby.  The  venws  of  Orra,  to  tvluch  Scott  alladea.  are  no 
doubt  the  following  -.^ 

'  ••  The  m^ilMIr*  daners  on  die  fro, 
Th«  red  atar  «hc<i«  im  r%f. 
Up  rcNiM  7«,  ikcn,  toy  mnry  mMi, 
It  U  our  opening  A*j**  &c. 

/'/ay*  «n  tit  Pa*»iont,  toI.  UL  p.  44. 

t  Utts  Story  Is  told,  aoMOgolfaeiB.  br  Montaigne. 


sqoalM  and  jall-blrd  appearsaee  and  blaekfuard  expres- 
■kMi  of  ceantenaace.  Like  the  man  that  met  the  devil,  I 
had  nothiof  to  eay  to  him,  if  he  had  nothins  to  say  to  me, 
but  I  could  not  help  looking  back  to  watch  the  movements 
of  such  a  suspicious  figure,  and  to  my  great  uneasiness 
saw  him  creep  through  the  hedge  un  my  left  hand.  1 
instanUy  went  to  the  first  gao  to  watch  his  motlooa,  and 
saw  him  stooping,  as  I  ihougtit,  eithef  to  lift  a  bundle  or 
to  speak  to  aome  person  who  seemed  lying  in  the  ditch. 
Immediately  after,  he  came  cowering  back  up  the  oppo- 
site side  of  the  hedge,  as  reluming  towards  me  unaer 
cover  of  it.  1  saw  no  weapons  he  had,  except  a  stick,  but 
as  1  moved  on  to  gain  the  stile  which  was  to  let  me  into 
the  free  field— with  the  idea  of  a  wretch  springing  upoa 
me  from  the  cover  at  every  atep  I  took— I  assure  you  I 
wsuld  not  wish  the  worst  enemy  I  ever  had  to  imderfO 
such  a  feeling  as  I  had  for  about  five  minutes ;  my  fancy 
made  hiiu  of  that  description  which  usually  combines 
murder  with  plunder,  and  though  1  was  well  srmed  with 
a  stout  stick  and  a  very  formidable  knife,  which  wheff 
opened  becomes  a  sort  of  skenedhu,  or  dagger,  I  confess 
my  sensations,  thoogh  those  of  a  man  much  resolved  not 
te  '  -  *":e  a  sheep,  were  vilely  short  of  heroism:  samuch 
s<  A  hen  1  jumped  over  the  stile,  a  sliver  of  the  wood 

ri  ird  of  an  inch  between  my  nail  and  flesb,  without 

m>  ng  the  pain,  or  being  sensible  such  a  tiling  had 

hi.  '  d.  However;  I  saw  my  man  no  more,  and  it  is 
ai  ing  how  ipy  spirits  rose  when  I  got  into  the  open 

fi  md  when  I  reached  the  top  of  the  little  mount, 

ai.u  ...  tlie  bells  in  London  (for  aught  I  know)  began  to 
jingie  at  once,  1  thought  I  had  never  heard  any  thing  so 
delightful  in  my  life— so  rapid  sure  the  alternations  of  oar 
feelinga  This  foolish  story,  for  perhaps  I  had  no  rational 
ground  for  the  horrible  leelbig  which  possesaed  my 
mind  for  a  little  while,  came  irresistibly  to  my  pen  when 
writing  to  you  on  the  subject  of  terror. 

"  Poor  Grahaiue,  gentle,  and  amiable,  and  enthurfastic. 
deserves  all  you  can  say  q(  him  ;  his  was  really  a  hallowed 
harp,  as  he  was  himself  an  Israelite  without  gtiile.  How 
often  have  I  teased  him,  but  never  out  of  his  good  humour, 
by  praising  Dundee  and  laugblnt  at  the  Covenanters  !— 
but  1  beg  your  pardon,  you  are  a  Westland  Whig  toe,  and 
wilt  perhape  make  lese  allowance  for  a  descendant  of  tha 
persecutors.  I  think  his  works  should  be  collected  and 
published  for  the  benefit  of  his  family.  Surely  the  wife 
and  orphans  of  such  a  man  have  a  claim  on  the  gene- 
rosity of  the  public.  * 

*'  rny  make  my  remembrance  to  the  lady  who  so 
kindly  remembers  our  early  intimacy.  I  do  perfectly  re- 
member being  an  exceedingly  spoiled,  chattering  monkey, 
whom  indiOerent  health  and  the  cares  of  s  kind  Grand- 
mamma and  Aunt,  had  noade,  I  suspect,  extremely  abomi- 
nable to  every  body  who  had  not  a  great  deal  of  sympathy 
and  good-nature,  which  I  daresay  was  Ihe  case  of  my 
mtondam  bedfellow,  since  she  recollects  me  so  favoura- 
bly. Farewell,  and  believe  me,  faithfully  and  respectfully, 
your  sincere  friend. 

Waiter  8cott.*»  • 

Miss  Bnillie,  in  hrr  next  letter,  mentioned  thenam« 
of  the  "old  bedfellow,"  and  that  imniediatety  re- 
freshed Scott's rerollectioD.  '*!  do,*'  hereplie?,  **Te- 
tnember  Miss  Wris^ht  perfectly  well.  Oh,  how  I  • 
should  like  to  talk  over  with  her  our  voyage  in  the 
good  ship  the  Ducho?s  of  Buccleuch,  Captain  Beat^* 
son.'  master*,  much  of  whicb,  from  the  novelty 
doubtless  of  the  scene,  is  strongly  impressed  on  my 
memory.  A  long  voyage  it  was— of  twelve  days,  if- 
I  mistake  not,  with  the  variety  of  a  day  or  two  in 
Yarmouth  Roads.  I  believe  the  passengers  had  a 
good  deal  of  fun  with  me ;  for  I  remember  being  per- 
suaded to  shoot  one  of  tliem  with  an  air-gun,  who, 
to  my  great  terror,  lay  obstitiately  dead  on  the  deck, 
and  would  not  revive  till  I  fell  a-cryin;r,  which  pro- 
ved the  remedy  specific  upon  the  occasion." 

The  mention  ot  Mr.  Terry,  in  the  letter  about  Orra, 
reminds  me  to  observe  that  Scott's  intimacy  wim « 
that  gentleman  began  to  make  very  rapid  progress 
from  the  date  of  the  first  purchase  of  Abboisford. 
He  spent  several  weeks  of  that  autnmn  at  Ashestiel, 
riding  over  daily  to  the  new  farm,  and  assistirig  his 
frinnd  with  advice,  which  his  acquirements  as  an  ar- 
chitect and  draughtsman  rendered  exceedingly  valu- 

*  James  Qrahame,  author  of  The  Sabbath,  had  been  originally 
a  member  of  ttie  Scotch  Bar,  and  wns  an  oorlr  friend  of  6cott*a. 
Not  lueceedlng  in  the  law,  ho— <with  all  his  I(itp  for  the  Cove- 
nanters)—took  orAcn  in  the  Church  ^f  England,  obtained  a 
curacy  in  the  county  of  Durham,  and  died  there,  on  the  14th  of 
September.  181 1 ,  in  the  47th_yeftr  of  lii*  oge.  64«  a  Mpmotr  ofMa 
Lifo  and  Writingfe  in  tho  Edinbanh  Annual  RegaitcT  >».  lUti 
Pari  ix.,  pp.  3M-41*.  •  Digitized  by  VjiOOQ^lC 


m 

•ble,  as  fo  the  Aiiiire  wtograMAt*  «bant  both  hovta 
andarouflds.  fiady m  1812.  Teity  proceeded  t#Loii- 
dDD,  and  made,  on  the  SOm  May,  a  very  wioceadfnl 
a«oui  on  the  boafds  of  the  Haymarket  ae  Lord 
Oxlehy.  He  oontinued,  however,  to  visit  Scotland 
almbsi  erefrv  season,  and  no  ally  had  more  to  do 
either  with  thepliuis  ultimatelv adopted  as  to  Scott's 
new  structure,  or  with  the  collec^ioii  of  literary  and 
antiquarian  curio^ties  which  now  constitutes  its 
museum.  From  this  time  the  series  of  letters  bet  ween 
them  is  an  ample  one.  The  intelligent  zeal  with 
^bioh  the  actor  laboured  to  promote  the  gratifica- 
tion of  the  poet's  tastes  and  fancies  on  the  one  side- 
on  the  other,  Scott's  warm  anxiety  for  Terry's  pro- 
feesionnl  success,  the  sagacity  amd  hopefulness  with 
which  he  counsels  and  cheers  him  throughout,  and 
the  good-natured  confidence  with  which  he  details 
'  -his  own  projects— both  the  greatest  and  the  smallest, 
—all  this  5teems  to  me  to  make  up  a  very  interesting 
picture.  To  none  of  his  later  correspondents,  with 
the  one  exception  of  Mr.  Morritt,  does  S<^)tt  write 
with  a  more  perfect  easy-heartedness  than  to  Terry ; 
And  the  quaint  dramatic  turns  and  allusions  with 
which  these  letters  abound,  will  remind  all  who 
knew  him  of  the  instinctive  courtesy  with  which  he 
uniformly  adopted  in  conversation  a  strain  the  most 
Hkely  to  fall  in  with  the  habits  of  any  companioo. 
U  has  been  mentioned  that  his  acquaintance  with 
Terry  sprung  from  Terry's  famiUaritv  with  the  Bal- 
lantynea ;  as  it  ni>ened,  he  had,  in  fact,  learned  to 
consider  tne ingenious  comedian  as  another  brother 
of  that  race  ;and  Terry,  transplanted  to  the  south, 
was  used  ana  trusted  by  niro,  and  continued  to  serve 
and  communicate  with  him,  very  rnuch  as  if  one  of 
themselves  had  found  it  convenient  to  establish  his 
headquarters  in  LonUon. 

Among  the  letters  written  immediately  after  Scott 
had  completed  his  bargahi  with  Dr.  Doaglas,  is  one 
which  (unlike  the  rest)  I  fonnd  in^is  own  reposito- 


**'F\>r  Doctor  Leyden,  C(ileutta.''Fi»voured  bp  the  Hon. 
L€uiy  Hood. 

"Ashettiel,^h  August,  1811. 
**Jly4esrLeydeD| 

"  You  hanfly  desenre  I  should  write  to  you,  for  I 
have  written  you  two  long  letters  since  I  saw  Mr.  Pur- 
▼et,  and  received  from  him  your  valued  dajcf^er/  which 
I  preserve  carefully  tiU  Buooaptrte  shall  come  or  send 
for  IL  I  might  take  a  cruel  revenge  on  you  for  your  ai« 
lence,  by  declining  Lady  Hood's  rvauest  to  make  you 
acquainted  wiili  her ;  in  which  case,  I  assure  you,  great 
Would  be  your  loss.  Stic  is  quite  a  congenial  spirit ;  an 
ardent  Scotswoman,  and  devotedly  attached  to  those 
8ketcb«s  of  traditionary  history,  which  all  the  waters  of 
ths  Burrampooter  cannot,  I  anspACt.  altogether  wash  out 
of  TOur  honour's  memory.  This,  however,  is  the  least 
of  her  praises.  She  is  generous,  and  feeling,  and  Intel* 
Uffent,  and  has  contrived  to  keep  her  heart  and  social 
affections  broad  awake  amidst  the  chilling  and  bcniimb- 
Idf  atmosphere  of  l/Hidon  fiishion.  I  ought  perhaps  first 
to  navt  toM  y<ia,  that  Lady  H.  wa»  the  honourable  Mary 
Mackeaxie,  daughter  of  Lord  Seaforth,  and  is  the  wife 
of  0ir  flanrael  Hood,  fme  of  our  most  distinguished  naval 
b trees,  w^  goes  out  to  take  the  command  In  your  seas. 
Lastly,  she  is  a  very  intimate  friend  of  Mrs-  Scott's  and 
myself^  and  first  gained  my  heart  by  her  admiration  of 
the  Scenes  of  Infancy.  So  you  see,  any  good  friend,  what 
your  laxiness  would  have  cost  you,  \t  Ustpnini  rather  to 
the  dictates  of  revenue  Ihsn  generosity,  1  had  withheld 
my  pen  from  the  inkhorrt.  But,  to  confess  the  truth,  I 
'  rear^two  such  minds  woold  soon  have  found  eacb  other 
ear,  Uke  good  dancers  in  a  ball-rooro,  without  the  assist- 
ance of  a  master  of  ceremoniea.  So  I  may  even  play 
Sir  Clement  CoUerel  with,  a  food  grace,  since  I  cannot 
further  my  vengeance  by  withholding  my  good  olBoes. 
My  Ust  went  of  favour  of  John  Pringle,t  wlio  carried 

(rou  a  copy  of  the  J«ady  or  the  Lake,  a  poem  which  I  real- 
y  think  you  will  like  oelter  than  Marmioo  on  tl)e  whole, 
in^iigli  not  perhaps  in  particular  passages.  Pray  let  me 
know  if  it  carried  you  back  to  the  land  of  mist  and 
monntain  1 

^Lady  Hood's  departure  being  sudden,  and  your  de- 
sarU  not  extraordinary,  (speaking  as  a  correspondent,) 

«▲  Malar  oresse,  now  at  Abbolsfiifd. 
t  A Booof  Ml. Fiioffleor  Whylb^k. 


;IiJBB.<W  W^  WAI^TWQOfflT. 


I  have  not  ttoe  to  write  job  owh  Dewa  Tte^lP 
mestlb  intelBgence  is,  that  the  abarUfof  Selkirkshirs^  Cb 
lease  of  Ashestiel  being  out,  has  purchased  about  1(9 
acres,  extendhig  along  the  banks  of  the  Tweed,  Jast  above 
the  confluence  of  the  Ctola,  and  about  three  miles  from 
Melrose.  There,  saith  Ikme,  be  designs  to  bigg  hknssU' 
a  bower<^«^  «r  oimeis— and  bappy  wili  he  be  when  IiMHa 
shaU  return  you  to  a  social  meal  at  his  cottace.  *Tbs 
place  looks  at  present  very  like  '  poor  Scotland's  gear.' 
h  consists  of  a  bank  and  a  hangh  as  poor  and  bare  as  Sir 
John  Faistaff's  regiment ;  though  I  fear«  ere  you  coom 
to  see,  the  verdant  screen  1  an\  about  to  spread  over  iu 
nakedness  wlH  have  in  some  degree  removed  this  re- 
proach. But  It  has  a  wild  (wlifary  air,  and  commands  ft 
splendid  reach  of  the  Tweed  ;  and,  to  sum  all  in  the 
words  of  Touchstone,  Mt  Is  a  poor  thing,  b\it  mmc  own.' 
"Our  little  folks,  whom  you  left  infiintg,  are  now  shoot- 
ing fast  forward  to  youth,  and  show  some  blood,  as  (air  as 
aptitude  to  learning  is  concerned.  Charloftc  and  I  are 
wearing  on  as  easily  as  this  DtshioVjs  world  will  permit 
The  outside  of  my  hearl  is  waxing  grizxied,  but  f  cannot 
find  that  this  snow  has  cooled  either  my  brain  or  my  heart. 
—Adieu,  dear  Leydcn !  —  Pray,  brighten  the  chain  of 
friendsliip  by  a  letter  when  occasion  serves ;  and  believe 
me  ever  yours,  most  afl'eclionately, 

Walter  Scott." 

On  thesath  of  August,  1811,  just  three  days  after 
this  letter  wis  penned,  John  Leyden  died.  On  the 
very  day  when  Scott  wts  writinK  it,  he,  ha\ing  ac- 
companied the  Govemor-Geoeral,  Lord  Miolo,  on 
the  expedition  aj^ainst  Java,  dashed  into  the  surf, 
that  he  niight  be  the  fifst  Briton  in  the  armanient 
who  should  set  foot  on  the  island.  "  When,"  says 
Scott,  in  his  Sketch  of  Levden's  Life,  "  the  wd^ 
concerted  movements  of  toe  invaders  had  given 
them  possession  of  the  town  of  Bat^via,  he  display- 
ed the  same  ill-omened  precipitation  in  his  baste 
to  examine  a  Ubrary,  or  rather  warehouse  of  books, 
in  which  many  Indian  MSS.  of  value  were  said  to 
be  deposited.  The  apartment  h^  not  been  regulA- 
ly  ventilated,  and  either  from  tjus  circumststice,  or 
alreadv  affected  by  the  fatal  sickness  peculiar  (o  Ba- 
tavia,  Leyden.  when  he  left  the  place,  had  a  nt  <» 
shivering,  and  declared  the  atmosphere  was  enough 
to  give  any  mortal  a  fever.  The  presage  was  too 
just  He  took  to  his  bed,  and  died  in  three  days,  ob 
the  eve  of  the  battle  which  gave  Java  to  the  British 
empire— 
'  Grata  quies  patriie,  sed  ct  onmis  terra  scpulchrum."** 

The  packet  in  which  Lady  Hood,  on  herarrinll 
in  India,  announced  this  erent,  and  relumed  Scott  s 
unopen^  letter^  contained  also  a  very  touching  one 
from  the  late  Sir  John  Malcolm,  who,  although  he 
had  never  at  that  time  seen  the  poet,  assumed,  as  a 
brother  Borderer  lamenting  a  common  friend,  tba 
language  of  old  acquaintaneeship ;  and  to  this  Scott 
replied  4n  the  same  style,  which,  from  their  first 
meeting  in  the  antunm  of  the  next  year,  became  that, 
on  both  sides,  of  warm  and  respectful  attachment 
I  might  almost  speak  in  the  like  tenor  of  a  third  let- 
ter in  the  same  melancholy  packet,  from  another 
enthusiastic  admirer  of  Leyden,  Mr.  Henry  Elli>it 
who  also  communicated  to  Scott  his  spirited  Stan- 
z«s  on  that  untimely  fate ;  but  his  personal  inter- 
course with  this  distinguished  diplomanst  took  plsos 
at  a  later  period. 

Before  passing  from  the  antninnof  1811, 1  nisr 
mention,  that  the  letter  of  James  Hogg,  from  which 
I  hate  quoted  an  expression  of  regret  as  to  Ashestiel, 
was  one  of  many  from  the  Shepnerd  bearing  about 
this  date,  which  Scott  esteemed  worthy  of  preser- 
vation. Strange  as  the /act  may  appear,  Hogg,oA 
the  other  hand,  seems  to  have  preserved  none  of  the 
answers ;  but  the  half  of  thecorrt'Spondence  is  quits 
sufficient  to  show  how  constantly  snd  earnestly,  m 
the  midst  of  his  own  expanding  toils  and  interests, 
Scott  had  continued  to  watch  over  the  struggling 
fortunes  of  the  wayward  oiul  imprudent  ShepbenL 
His  letters  to  the  dinerent  members  pf  the  Buccleuch 
family  at  this  lime  arc  full  of  the  same  subject.  I 
shall  msert  one,  addressed,  on  the  24th  of  August,  to 

,  «  This  little  Hographr  of  Leyden  is  included  in  Scott's  Miacel- 
lancous  Prose  Woriia.  vd.  iv.  p.  197. 
"  Now  the  Ri«ht  Honourable  Henry  Ellis,  appointed,  In  ISS^ 
ir  fiom  tbs  Coait  of  8t  JasMsVto  t^^^sli  of  PenK- 

Digitized  by  VjVjV. 


Uro.OF  89^  WA^lWft  90OW. 


•   Mm 


BMJireaiarkable  91)06111100  U  the  ■unpl 
kmafit  '00  moie  oabiaota  iliMi  one.  t 
diiiiei  whioht  in  any  hando  but  tho  hi 


aiiy__ 

It  beeome  a  ooid  one  .*<— 


'DnrUdj  IMfc«ltb, 


.  it  aypoara  lo 

aunpleat  natorai 

couched  in  a 

^^heat,  is  apt 


'▲•besU«l»Aiif.3l.l91i' 


"The  Enrick  Dard,  wbo  compiled  tbe  enclosed  col* 
lectkN^  which  I  obsenre  is  Inscribed  to  /our  Ladyship, 
bai  made  it  hit  request  that  1  would  transmit  a  copy  Cor 
T«ir  acceptance. '  I  fear  your  Ladyship  will  And  but  little 
auaiCDKfiit  in  it ;  for  the  poor  fellow  has  just  talent  suffi- 
cieoi  to  Bpoil  iilm  fer  his  own  trailo,  witiiout  liaviog 
e&Mgb  to  support  nini  by  literature.  But  1  embrace  the 
Ksh  readily  an  opponiinity  of  intruding  upon  your 
UlTihip'a  leisure,  that  1  luigbt  thank  you  for  Uie  very 
kind  and  afTecling  letter  with  which  you  honoured  me 
tome  dmc  ago.  You  do  me  justice  m  believing  that  1 
*»nke|»|y  concerned  at  liie  irreparable  loss  you  mis- 
iaioed,  in  the  dear  and  tiopcfui  bH»y,*  to  whom  all  tlie 
biai$  oTthe  Bucclcuch  iaudly  looke<l  forward  with  so 
audi  coofidence.  I  can  safely  say,  that  since  that  inejc- 
pre^ble  misfortune,  I  almost  felt  as  if  the  presence  of 
oe,  with  whom  the  recollection  of  past  happiness  might 
Bioaiedefree  be  associated,  must  have  awakened  and 
tAitd  to  your  Ladyship's  distress,  from  a  feeling  that 
K«SM  of  which  «Be  were  not  to  sneak,  were  necessarily 
appermost  in  the  recollection  of  both.  But  your  Lady- 
«6^  kaowj  better  than  I  can  teach,  that,  wlfere  all  com- 
000  topics  of  consolation  would  be  inapplicable,  Heaven 
^vidw  for  us  the  best  and  most  effectual  lenitive  in  the 
pnifretfs  of  tiine,  and  in  the  constant  and  unremitting  dis- 
c^te  of  the  duties  incumbent  on  the  station  in  whiph 
veuepiaeed.  Those  of  your  Ladyship  are  important, 
ia  pn»portioa  to  the  elevation  of  your  rank,  and  the  pro- 
Bt^agqinliiies  of  the  young  minds  which  I  have  with  so 
ooch  pleasure  seen  you  forming  and  instructing  to  be 
wafctk  I  trust  to  yourseU;  and  an  honour  to  society. 
rwr  Udy  Rosslyot  is  gone,  with  all  the  various  talent 
is<l  \maiy  that  rendered  her  society  so  delightAil.  I 
^^  her  loss  the  ipore,  as  she  died  without  ever  mak- 
^Suptomc  unkindoess  she  luul  towards  me  for  these 
■*wi  poliiica.  It  is  another  example  of  the  great  truth. 
^  life  IS  too  short  for  the  indulgence  of  animosity.  I 
f*'t  the  hooour  to  be,  with  the  sreolest  respect,  your 
'«J«bip'a  obliged  and  very  humble  servant,  , 

Waltbr  Scott," 

.T^Oonntes$,  in  acknowledgment  of  the  dedica- 
J»  of  the  Forest  Minatrel,  sent  Hogg,  through 
Scoiishind?,  the  donatipii  of  a  hundred  guineas— 
'wni  wiiich,  to  him,  in  those  daysu  must  have 
'^f^  a  fortune  ;  btu  which  waa  only  the  pledge 
jMhirbinger of  atili  more iraportaat  benefits,  con- 
ffn  looD  after  her  Ladyifaop'a  huaband  became 
«e  head  of  his  houae. 


CHAPTER  XXIV. 

naromoPHOKKay  beqitn— cobrcspOkdcscb  with 

^JWRRITT— DEATH  OP  HKKBYDUXBOFBUCGLgUCH 

"Cloaca  ZLUS— JOHX  wilson— apfhextices  of 

*»I»<JRGH-«COTt'8  "NICK-NACKATOaiBs"— 1.BT' 
***T0  SUS8  BAlLUB  Oai  THB  PUBLICATIOai  OF  CHILDB 
■AtOUH-COaBBSPOXOCNCB   WITH     LORD    DTBON.— 

wu-iwa. 

^  <^  £mo  which  Scott  paid  for  the  original 
^  (H  .\bbot8ford,  he  borrowed  one  half  from  hia 
J*»ibrwther,  Major  John  Scott;  tho  other  moiety 
■•' rwed  by  the  Ballnntynea,  and  advanced  on  the 
rfjr'yof  the  09  vet  unwritten,  though  long  tnedi- 
pttcj  poem  of  Rokcby.  fie  immediately,  I  believe 
vJl^^  counsel,  regueatcd  Mr.  Stark  of  Kdin- 
^■J^  an  architect  of  whose  talenta  he  always 

'  2Je  warmly,  to  give  him  a  design  for  an  ornn- 
™«{»1  cottage  in  the  stylo  of  the  old  English  vicar- 
^oj«.    But  before  this  could    be  done,  Mr. 

I  5*'^«'«»  »>nd  Scoti'a  lirCters  will  show,  how,  in 
r'^^'i  his  building  plana,  trhecked  for  a  season 
^  'D18  occurrence»   gradually  expanded,— until, 

^f  ^ounteM  of  Rm^lm.  bor«  Lad*  Hairiet  Bouverio.a  very 
^rj*>«Mlofl^y  DjUketOi.riiedrthAugM  sfiehocf. 

'tW-Z?!  ?«>*»oned  t«fure,  wri»lti»  to  Scott.  n>seotinR  wmio- 
*»  winali  bit  lODf  at  the  Melville  diaoer.   See  mnte,  p.  Hi. 


twalve  yetm  nSb&rw^wk,  tba  «le  w«i  mxatmi  3iot 
by  a  cottage  but  a  caailei 

Hia  firat  Aotiona  arvakietcfaed  aa  foUowa,  in  a  let* 
tar  addreaaed  to  Mr.  Morritt;  very  ahoj-tly  after  the 
pnrchise.  *'  We  «tay  at  Asheafiel  this  season,  but 
migrate  the  next  to  our  new  settlements.  I  navr 
fyted  onty  two  points  respecting  my  intended  cottage 
—one  iau  that  u  shall  be  in  my  garden,  or  rather 
kailvard— the  oth^r,  that  tho  Uttle  arawibg-room 
shall  open  into  a  httle  conservatory,  in  which  con- 
servatory thare  ahali  be  a  foimiain.  These  are  arti- 
cles of  taate  which  1  have  loos  ainee  determined 
upon ;  but  I  hope  before  a  stone  of  my  paradise  ia 
begun,  we  ahalf  meet  and  collogue  upon  it."    . 

Three  months  laier,  (December  20th,  ISll.)  he 
opens  the  design  of  hw  new  poem  in  another  letter  ^ 
to  the  Lord  of  iiokeby,  whoschousehold,  itappeara, 
had  just  been  disturbed  by  the  unexpected  accou- 
chement of  a  fair  visitant.  The  i^llusion  to  the  Quar- 
terly Review,  towards  the  close,  refers  to  an  hu- 
morous article  on  Sir  John  Sinclair's  pamphlets 
about  the  Bullion  Question— a  joint  production  of 
Mrv  Ellis  and  Mr.  Canning. 

7Y>  J.  B.  S.  Morritt,  Etq. 
"MydearMorritt, 

"  I  received  your  kind  leUer  a  week  or  two  a^o.  The 
little  tnterlade  of  the  bantling  at  Rokeby  reinlmls  me  of 
a  lady  whose  mother  happened  to  prodace  her  upon  very 
short  notice,  between  ttie  hands  or  a  gaqie  at  whist,  and 
who,  fk'om  a  joke  of  the  celebrated  David  Hume,  who 
was  one  of  the  players,  lived  long  distingutshed  by  the 
name  of  THb  PartiUhetia.  My  wife  had  once  nearly 
made  a  similar  blunder  in  very  awkward  ehrcomstances. 
We  were  invited  to  dine  at  Melville  CasUe,  (to  which  we 
were  then  near  neighbours,)  with  the  Chief  Baron*  and 
1ms  fculT,  its  temporary  in  habitants,-- when  behold,  the 
Obadiah  whom  I  dispatched  two  twnirs  before  dinner 
from  oar  cottafre  to  summon  the  Pr.  Slop  of  Ekjinbnrgh, 
halting  at  Melville  Lodge  to  rest  his  wearied  horse,  make 
apologies,  and  so  fonh,  encountered  the  Mflville  Castle 
Ob^ah  sallying  on  the  Mentiral  errand,  lor  the  identical 
man  of  skill,  who,  like  an  active  knight- errant,  relieved 
the  two  distressed  tlames  within  three  hoursofteach  other. 
A  blessed  duet  they  would  have  made  if  Uiey  had  pat  ofT 
their  crying  bout,  as  it  is  called,  till  they  cbuld  do  It  in 
concert. 

*  "  And  now,  I  hanre  a  grayd  project  to  tell  you  of.  NO' 
thing  less  than  a  fourth  romance,  fn  vefse ;  the  theme, 
during  the  English  civil  wars  of  Charles  l.,and  th^scene, 
vour  own  dt)m8in  of  Rokeby.  1  want  to  bnlld  my  cot- 
tage a  little  better  than  my  limited  finances  will  permit  , 
nut  of  my  ordinary  income ;  and  although  it  It  very -true 
that  an  author  should  not  hsKanl^  his  reputation,  yet,  as 
Bob  Acres  says,  I  really  think  Reputation  should  take 
some  care  of  the  gentleman  in  return.  Now,  I  have  all 
your  scenery  deeply  imprinted  In  my  memory,  and  more> 
over,  be  it  known  io  yon,  I  intend  to  refresh  its  traces 
this  ensuing  summer,  and  to  so  as  fsr  as  the  borders  of 
Lancashire,  and  the  caves  of  Yorkshire,  and  so  perhaps 
on  to  Derbyshire.  I  have  sketched  a  story  which  pleases 
me,  and  I  am  only  anxious  to  keep  my  theme  quiet,  for 
its  being  piddled  upon  by  some  of  your  Readt/'(o*catck^ 
literati,  as  John  Buoyan  calls  them,  would  be  a  serious 
misfortune  to  me.  I  am  not  without  hope  of  seducing 
you  to  be  my  guide  a  Utile  way  on  my  tour.  Is  there 
not  some  bonic  (sense  or  nonsense,  I  care  not)  oq  the 
beauties  of  Tecsdale^I  mean  a  descriptive  work  1  ir 
you  can  point  it  oui,  or  lend  it  me,* you  Hill  do  me  a  great 
favour,  antl  no  less  if  yon  can  tell  me  any  traditions  of 
the  period.  By  which  (nrty  was  Barnard  Castle  occupi* 
ed?  It  strikes  me  that  it  should  be  held  for  the  Parlia- 
ment. Pray,  help  me  'in  iliis,  by  trutti,  or  fiction,  or 
tradition,— I  care  not  which,  if  it  be  picturesque.  What 
the  deuce  is  the  name  of  that  wild  glen,  where  we  had 
such  a  clamber  on  horseback  op  a  stone  staircase  1 — 
Cat's  cradle,  or  Cai»s  Castle,  I  think  it  was.  1  wish  also 
to  have  the  true  edition  of  the  traditionary  tragedy  of 
your  old  hou«e  at  Mortham,  and  the  ghost  thereunto 
a|>perraining,  and  yoo  will  do  me  yeoman's  service  in 
compiling  the  relics  of  so  valuable  a  legend.  Item— Do 
yon  know  any  thing  of  a  striking  ancient  castle  belong* 
ing,  I  think,  to  the  Duke  of  I.eod9,  railed  Coningsburghit' 
Grose  notices  it,  but  hi  a  very  IHnjsy  manner.  I  onco 
flewpawt  it  on  the  mail-coach,  whi>n  its  ronnd  tower  and 
tlyine  buttresses  had  a  most  romantic  effect  in  tho  morn- 
ing dawn. 

•  The  late  Rifht  Hooourahle  Robert  Dandn,  Chief  Baron  of 
the  Scotch  Court  of  Bxchequer.  ^  ■  ^ 

t  8ce  aoU.  hraahoe.  WA—Heif  ^bvsl«,  vol  xvtt.  pp.  p6-sml  LV^ 


m    ^ 


LUPB  09  SIR  WALTB&  dCOIT. 


"The  Qoarteriy  if  beyond  my  prelee,  sad  u  mtioh 
bejond  it  ae  I  was  beyond  that  of\Dj  poor  old  nurse 
who  died  the  other  day.  8ir  John  Sinokir  has  fotteo  the 
golden  Aeece  at  last.  Dogberry  MrouM  not  desire  a 
richer  reward  for  having  oeeo  written  down  an  ass. 
^6000  a-year  !*  Good  faith,  the  whole  reriewb  in  Britain 
should  rail  at  ine,  with  my  free  consent,  better  cheap  by 
at  least  a  cypher.  There  is  no  chance,  with  all  my  en- 
ntements,  to  L^  at  London  this  Mpring.  My  little  boy 
Walter  Is  ill  with  the  Jiieasles,  and  I  expect  the  rest  to 
catch  the  disorder,  which  appears,  thanic  God,  very  mild. 
Mrs.  8cou  joins  in  Icindest  complimenu  to  Mrs.  Morritt,— - 
many  merry  Christniases  to  you>-and  believe  me,  truly 
yours, 

WaltbrScott." 

1  insert  Mr.  Morritt's  answer,  both  for  the  light 
which  it  throws  on  various  particular  passages  in 
the  poem  as  we  have  it,  and  because  it  shows  that 
some  of  those  features  in  the  general  plan,  which 
were  unfavourably  jndged  on  its  publication,  bad 
been  early  and  very  strongly  recommended  to  the 
po«6t*s  own  consideration  by  the  person  whom,  on 
this  occasion,  he  was  most  anxious  to  please. 

To  Walter  Sccttf  E$q. 

"  Rokeby,  28th  December,  181 1. 
"  My  dear  Seou, 

**  I  begin  at  the  top  of  ray  paper,  because  your  re- 
quest mdst  be  complied  with,  snd  I  foresee  that  a  letter 
on  the  antiquiUes  of  Tcesdale  will  not  be  a  short  one. 
Tour  project  delights  me  much,  and  I  wiUinglv  contribute 
my  mite  to  its  completion.  Yet,  highly  as  1  approve  of 
the  scene  where  you  lay  the  events  of  your  romance,  I 
hftve«  I  think,  some  observations  to  make  as  to  the  period 
▼ou  have  chosen  for  it.  Of  this,  however,  you  will  be  a 
belter  judge  after  I  have  detailed  my  aniiqvarian  re- 
searches. Now,  as  to  Barnard  Castle,  it  was  built  in  Hen- 
ry l.'s  lime,  by  Barnard,  son  of  Guy  Baliol,  who  landed 
with  the  Conqueror.  |t  remained  with  the  BaUols  till 
their  atuinder  by  Edward  I.  The  tomb  of  Alan  of  Gal- 
loway was  here  in  Leiand's  time ;  and  he  gives  the  in- 
scription. Alan,  if  yon  remember,  nisrried  Maraaret  of 
Huntingdon,  David's  daughter,  and  was  'fiuher,  by  her, 
of  Devorgild.  who  married  John  Baliol,  and  from  whom 
)ier  son,  John  Baliol,  claimed  the  crown  of  Bcoilaod. 
Edward  I.  sranted  the  castle  and  hberties  to  Beauchamp, 
Earl  of  Warwick ;  it  descended  (with  that  title)  to  the 
Nevills,  andhy  Ann  Nevill  to  Richard,  Duke  of  Gbuees- 
ter,  afterwards  King  Richand  111.  It  does  not  appear  to 
Whom  Uenry  VII.  or  his  son  re-grantcd  it,  but  it  fell  soon 
into  the  hands  of  the  Nevills,  Earls  of  Westmoreland,  by 
whom  it  was  forfeited  in  the  x'vmxx^  of  (he  Nonh.  It  was 
rrantcd  by  James  L  to  the  citizens  of  London,  from  whom 
Sir  Henry  Vane  irceived  it  by  purchase.  It  does  not" 
seem  to  have  ever  been  used  as  a  place  of  strength  after 
the  rising  of  the  North  ;  and  when  tlie  Vanes  bought  it  of 
the  citixons,  it  was  probably  in  a  dismantled  state,  ft 
was,  however,  a  possession  ot  fho  Vanes  before  the  Civil 
Wars,  and,  therefore,  wilh  a  safe  conscience  yon  may 
swear  it  stood  for  the  Parliament.  The  lady  for  whose 
ghost  you  inquire  at  Uokcby^  has  been  so  buried  in  nn- 
•  certainly,  you  may  make  what  you  like  of  her.  The 
most  interest  inn  fiction  makes  her  the  hciross  of  the 
Rokebye,  murdered  In  lUo  woods  of  the  Greta  by  a 
greedy  collalcral  who  inherited  the  estate.  8h«  reached 
the  house  before  she  expired,  and  her  blood  was  extant 
In  my  younger  days  at  Moriham  tower.  Others  say  it 
was  a  lAdy  Rokeby,  llie  wife  ot  the  owner,  who  was  shot 
in  the  walks  by  robbed ;  but  she  certainly  became  a 
ghost,  and  under  the  very  poetic  nam  de  gu^ne  of  Mor- 
tham  Dobby,  she  appeared  dressed  as  a  fine  lady,  with  a 

fiiece  of  white  silk  trailing  behind  her— without  a  head, 
ndeed,  (though  no  tradition  states  how  she  \ot,i  so  material 
a  member.)  but  with  many  of  its  advantages,  for  she  had 
long  hair  on  her  shoulders — and  eyes,  nose,  and  mouth,  in 
her  breast.  The  partuin  once  by  talking  Latin  to  her, 
confined  her  nnder  the  bridge  that  crosses  the  Greia  at 
my.  dairy,  but  the  arch  being  destroyed  by  lloo<ls  in  1771, 
became  incapable  of  containing  a  ghost  any  longer,  and 
she  was  seen  after  that  time  by  some  of  the  older  pa- 
rishioners. I  oden  hoard  of  her  In  my  early  youth,  from 
a  sibyl  who  liveil  in  the  park  to  the  a^e  of  106.  but  since 
.*ier  death  I  believe  the  history  has  become  obmlete. 

"The  Rokehys  were  at  all  times  foyal,  at  least  from 
Henry  IV,  downward.     They  ll»ed  cariy  at  Moriham 

•  Shortif  after  the  appearance  of  the  artirle  alluded  to.  Bit 
Jonn  Sincuir  was  appointed  cashier  Of  Excise  for  Scotland.  "  It 
shDuU  bo  added."  aays  his  bifigrapber. "  thst  the  emoluments  of 
the  sitaatioa  were  greatly  reduced  at  the  death  of  Pir  James 
OfsnUNs  predeees»<v."-QiMr/<rlV  Journal  of  dgrtmitwre^  I 
8ept€inhtr>  iSM.  p.  las.  '  ^  I 


tower,  wnien  was.  i  Denere,  a  Deaer  unuinqf  inaa  oav 
totver  oC  Bekeby,  for  here  also  was  one  where  my  bon— 
now  stands. .  I  Imcy  they  got  Mortham  by  marriaf*.* 
Cokmel  Rokeby,  the  last  poaseasor  of  the  old  bkiod,  mrnm. 


toweir,  wlileh  was.  t  beVeta,  a  better  btdtdh^tliafi  Am 
'  "  ■  >by,  im  " 
I  li 

Rokeby, ^ 

ruined  in  the  Civil  Wara  by  his  loyalty  and  tmthfiftineas, 
and  the  estates  were  bought  by  the  Robinsons,  one  ot 
whom,  the  long  Sir  Thomas  Robmson,  so  well- known  and 
well-q«izxed  in  the  time  of  our  grandfathers,  after  layioc 
out  most  of  the  esut«  on  this  place,  sold  Che  plmc«  and 
the  estate  together  to  my  father  in  1769.  Oliver  Crom- 
wen  paid  a  visit  to  Barnard  Castle  In  his  way  frona  Scot- 
land, October,  1648.  He  does  not  seem  to  hare  been  In 
the  castle,  but  lodged  in  the  town,  whence  I  concl»«le  tlie 
castie  was  then  uninhabitAble.  Now  I  wonld  submit  lo 
you,  whether,  considering  the  course  of  events,  It  would 
not  be  expedient  to  lay  the  time  of  your  romance  as  esrty 
as  the  War  of  the  Roses.  For,  1st.  As  you  seem  to  hint 
that  there  will  be  a  ghost  or  two  in  It,  like  the  King  of 
Bohemia's  giants,  they  will  be  '  more  out  of  the  way.' 
2d.  Barnartf  Castle,  at  the  time  I  propose,  belonged  to 
Nevills  and  PlantageActs,  of  whom  soinettiing  advmata- 

?[eous  (according  lo  your  cavalier  views)  mav  be  broogrbt 
orward ;  whereas,  a  short  ti/ue  before  the  Civil  Wars  of 
the  Parliament,  the  Vanes  berame  possessors,  and  acfll 
remain  so ;  of  whom.  If  afty  Tory  bard  should  be  able 
to  say  any  thing  obllghig,  it  will  certainly  be  *  intigtte, 
recen$,  adhuc  indicium  ore  aUoJ  and  do  hononr  to  bis 
powers  of  imagination.  3d.  The  knights  of  Rokeby  itself 
were  of  high  rank  and  fair  domain  at  the  eailier  period^ 
and  were  ruining  thea;<ielves  ignobly  att  the  other.  4th. 
Civil  war  for  civil  war ;  the  first  had  two  poetical  tides, 
and  the  last  only  one  ;  for  the  roundheads,  thoogh  I  al- 
ways thought  iliem  politically  richt,  were  sad  materials  for 
poetry ;  even  Milton  cannot  maVe  much  of  them.  I  think 
no  time  suits  so  well  with  a  romance,  of  wMch  the  scens 
lies  in  this  country,  as  the  Wars  of  the  two  Roses-Sunless 
you  shig  the  rising  of  the  North ;  and  then  fOQ  will  abase 
Queen  Elizabeth,  and  be  censured  as  an  abettor  of  Pope- 
ry.  How  you  wonW  be  invohred  in  political  controversy 
—with  all  our  Whigs,  who  are  anti-Stuarts ;  and  all  our 
Tories,  who  are  ami- Papistical  ?  I  therefore  see  no  alter- 
native  but  boldly  to  venture  bsck  to  the  days  of  the  holy 
King  Harry ;  for,  God  knows,  It  is  difficult  to  say  any 
thii^  civil  of  us  since  that  period.  Consider  oniy^did  not 
Cromwell  himself  pray  that  the  Lord  would  deliver  him 
from  Sir  llarrv  Vane  T  and  what  will  you  do  with  him  Y 
— still  more,  It  you  lake  into  the  account  the  Improve- 
ments  in  and  about  the  castle,  to  which  yourself  was  wit- 
ness when  wo  visited  it  together  tf 

"  There  is  a  book  of  a  few  pages,  describing  the  rides 
through  and  about  Tcesdale ;  1  have  it  not,  but  if  1  can 
get  it  I  will  send  it.  It  Is  very  bare  of  informatkm.  but 
givos  names.  If  you  can  gel  the,  third  volume  of  Hut- 
chinson's History  of  Durham,  it  would  give  you  soma 
useful  hits  of  inlormstton,  though  very  Ul  written.    The 

K'  n  where  ue  clambered  up  to  Cat-caalle  is  itself  called 
epdalc.  1  fear  we  have  few  traditions  that  have  snr> 
viveil  the  change  of  farms,  and  property  of  all  sorts,  which 
has  long  lakt-ii  place  in  this  nrighbotrnood.  But  we  have 
some  poetical  names  remaining,  of  which  none  of  sa 
know  ihe  antiquity,  oral  least  tTie  origin.  Thus,  In  the 
scamper  we  look  from  Deepdale  and  Catcastle,  we  rods 
next,  if  vou  remember,  to  Cotlierstone,  «n  ancient  viDage 
of  the  Fitxliughs  on  the  Tee^  whence  I  simwed  voo  a 
rock  ri.<lng  over  the  crown  of  the  wood,  still  calleo  Pen- 
dragon  Casilc.  The  river  that  joins  the  Tees  at  Cother- 
slone  is  yclept  the  Balder,  I  fancy  in  honour  of  the  son  of 
Odin  ;  for  the  fsrm  contiguous  to  it  retains  the  name  of 
Woden's  Crott.  The  )Mirish  in  which  it  stands  is  Rooiald- 
kirk,  the  church  of  Sl  Roinald  the  hermit,  and  was  oooe 
a  hermitage  itself  in  Tee^dale  forest  The  parish  next  lo 
Rokeby.  on  the  Tees  below  my  house,  Is  Vvyc liflT.  wliere 
the  old  Reformer  was  bom,  snd  the  day-star  of  Relbnns- 
tion  first  rose  on  England.  The  family  of  Rokeby,  who 
were  the  proprietors  of  this  place,  were  valiant  and 
knightly.  They  seem  to  have  liad  good  posaesaions  at 
the  Conquest  (see  Doomsday  Book ;)  in  Henry  IIL'a 
reign  they  were  Sherifls  of  Yorkshire.  In  Edward  II. 'a 
reign,  FroJHsart  informs  us,  that,  when  the  Scotclr  army 
decamped  In  the  night  so  Ingeniously  from  Weardale  fhst 
nobody  knew  the  direction  of  their  march,  a  hue  and  cry 
was  ral!>cd  after  ihem.  and  a  reward  of  a  hundred  nierks 
anniuil  t  aino  In  land  was  offered  by  the  crown  for  whoever 
could  discover  them,  and  that  de  Rokeby— I  think  fltr 
Ralpl>— was  the  foitunate  knight  who  aseeruined  tbelr 

*  The  heiress  of  Afortham  married  Rokf^ir  in  tha  rHcn  of  Ed- 
ward 11.  ;  and  his  own  castle  at  Rnkeby  having  be«n  dcstrpftd 
by  tiie  Rcotch  after  the  battle  of  Bannockhuro.  ne  boilt  one  tm 
his  wife's  estate --the  same  of  which  considerabk)  ivmains  ado 
exist— on  the  northern  hank  of  the  Gicta. 

«  Mr.  Mor*itt  aOodea  tollw  mutilation  of  a  onrious  vaslled  leaf 
of  sxtreme  satiqaity.  in  the  grMt  towrrof  Bsmani  Castle,  oeee< 
tionsd  br  its  eonversion  into  a  nwnufiict^trr  of  patent  shoe  r^as 
improvemmt  at  whidi  the  Poet  had  eiivessedsoine  lodicnatioa. 


UFB  OP  aOLWAVCBR  SCOTT. 


m 


mamtt  «•  tlie  moora  mat  Sa^uhb.  Id  the  tiaie  «f 
%tarfVf.t  the  Higb^lMriifof YoKkahire,  wbo  orenhraw 
N<)ntwiiibertaiid,  and  drove  him  to  Beotliuid  aft«r  the 
kah  at  Sbrewtbonr,  was  aleo  a  Rokeby.  Traditjoa  save 
iliittlijf  therifTwaa  before  this  an  adherent  of  the  Peroy'a, 
ndvat  the  Identical  knigbl  who  oiaeuaded  Hotcpur  wook 
ihi  caterprjae,  on  whoae  letter  the  angr^  warnor  com* 
Bttttjo  freely  in  fihakapeare  Ther  are  indeed,  I 
fhiok,  meatiooed  as  adherent*  of  the  Percya  in  Chevy 
Qae«,aad  ibi^ht  under  ihetr  banner ;  I  hope,  thereibre, 
liatihtibroke  tha»  connexion  from  pare  patriotism,  and 
H(  fcwby  lucre.  Soch  are  M  the  annau  that  oecur  to 
Bi  ttfttttnt  If  you  will  cooie  here,  we  can  sommon 
I  t^Bod  of  the  oldeat  women  in  the  oonntry,  and  yon 
AH  cross-examine  thorn  m  much  as  yon  pteaae.  There 
mmaf  roolaniic  apota,  and  old  names  rather  than  re- 
■ist  of  peels  and  towers,  once  called  eastlea.  which 
MoQMd  to  Scroops,  Fitzhwha,  and  NevilU,  with  which 
m  ineuld  be  inlUtiale  be&re  yon  flniah  you  poem,— 
Md  dio  the  abbots  and  monka  of  Eggleatooe,  who  were 
fM  ud  venerable  people,  if  you  c«rry  your  story  back 
iUoRomisb  times ;  and  you  will  allow  that  the  beauty  of 
Uk  it(Btti<m  deservea  it,  if  you  recollect  the  view  from 
ud  oear  the  bridge  between  me  and  Barnard  Castle. 
Cooinsftbaii^h  Castle,  a  noble  bulkUng  as  vou  aay.  atands 
bctweeo  Doncaa^er  and  Rotherham.  I  think  it  belongs 
to  Lord  ritzwilliam,  but  an  not  sure.  You  may  easily  And 
theacewnt  of  it  in  Oroee,  or  any  of  the  other  antiqua- 
i^M.  The  bnHdlnf  is  a  noble  olrenlar  tower,  buttressed 
in  roaad,  aed  with  walls  of  immoderate  thickness.  It  is 
if  1  vaij  etriy  era,  but  1  do  not  know  Its  date. 
^I  hsve  abnoat  filled  my  letter  with  aotiqnarianism  ; 
MtaiB  oot  oonchida  without  repeating  how  much  your 
ioteaiioQ  baa  ebarmed  aa.  Tho  acenery  of  onr  rivers 
'nines  to  beeooe  classic  ground,  and  I  hope  the 
wiMne  win  induce  you  to  visit  and  revisit  it  often.  I  mtIII 
Mtrire  to  rMe  with  you  to  Wenslydale  and  the  Oaves  at 
|mt,aad  the  border  of  Lancashire,  Ac.  If  I  can ;  and  to 
l^niitte  that  trip,  I  hope  you  will  bring  lira.  Scott  here, 
woer  dames  may  not  be  impatient  of  our  absence.  ' I 
noveach  dale,  and  every  alley  green,'  betw«en  Rokeby 
lid  the  Lakes  and  Cavea,  and  have  no  scruple  in  recom- 
a»finf  ay  own  gi^dance,  under  which  you  wilt  be  for 
awe  Ukdr  to  make  discovertea  than  by  yourself;  for 
tv  people  have  numy  of  them  no  knowledge  of  their  own 
•wn^.  Siiould  I,  ita  eonaequence  of  your  celebrity,  be 
««Vd  to  leave  Rokeby  from  the  influx  of  cockney  ro- 
ancera,  artists,  illoaCrators,  and  sentimental  toorista,  I 
«fl  rttreat  to  Asbestiel,  or  to  your  new  cottage,  and 
["•Tiit  00  you  the  sine  of  your  writings.  At  all  events, 
w»wcf,l  ahaU  raise  Ihe  rent  of  my  inn  at  Greta  bridge 
«ue  ferst  notice  of  your  book,  as  I  hear  the  people  at 
2™^  have  made  a  fortune  by  you.  Pray  give  our 
^■te  aod  best  regards  to  Mrs.  dcott,  and  beUeve  me 
"«i  <le«r  Scott,  youra  very  truly, 

J.  B.  S.  MOHMTT." 

In  Jaonary,  1812,  Scott  entered  upon  the  enjoy- 
^t  of  hjs  proper  salary  aa  a  clerk  of  Session, 
J«cn,  wjih  hie  sheriflfdom,  gave  him  from  this  time 
'I'l  very  near  the  close  of  his  life,  a  professional  in- 
•^neof  JBI600  a-year.  On  the  11  th  of  the  same 
raoathhe  lost  his  kind  fViend  and  first  patron,  Henry, 
'bird  Dnkeof  Buccleuch,  and  fifth  of  Queensberry. 
»wb  these  events  aro  mentioned  in  the  following 
rl^'ojpanna  Baillie,  who,  among  other  things, 
m  tow  Scott  that  the  materials  for  his  purse  were 
Mw  on  her  table,  and  expressed  her  anxiety  to 
»ww  who  was  the  author  of  some  Ueautiful  fines 
Jwe  recent  death  of  thchr  frieird,  James  Grahame, 
"WW  of  the  Sabbath.  These  verses  had,  it 
JPMW,  found  their  way  anonymously  into  the 
^'*8p«per8.  • 

Tt  Mi»a  Joanna  Baitlie^  ffampsUad, 

•'Janoary  17th,  1812. 

■;*«rWend, 

g^"J^®PTOTnlscof  the  pursf  has  flattered  toy  imagina- 
S».Vy''*^°'7'  '*^  iMunot  help  sending  you  an  apcienl 
w^er  momhp^ecc,  to  whKih,  If  It  pfeasoB  your  taste,  you 
iTf  "^f*  yo"r  Intended  kboura ;  this,  besides,  is  a  uen- 
Z, 'Jf^' tyifig  yon  down  to  your  promise ;  and  to  bribe 
ittLTf  iSl"*^'''  I  ***ure  you  it  shall  not  be  put  to  the  pur- 
isa  Z     %  ^""'^  notes  or  vulirar  bullion,  but  ftjserved 

«  pare  of  deposit  for  some  of  my  pretty  little  medals 
dbiti  2*f,'"'*"''*'*'  ^'^«"  '  ^«  "»aKe  another  poetical 
tltel««u  J  certainly  expect  the  sum  you  mention  from 
B»hJh!r"**"®\?5  ^^^y  ''*^«  '••^  ^  Rood  bargains  of 
torn?/""'  *°^  >  ^^w"  ^«haJI  want  a  great  deal  ofmoney 
whnlkSI^  *^"*«*  ««^*'3r  what  I  ahouki  like  k.    Measr 

"^  '»«woen  onr8elve%  mt  iMoniA  has  been  very 


BMch  tecreaaed  sinee  I  wrote  to  to«,  in  a  dMtermit  tmy. 
My  predeoeaaor  In  the  office  of  Clerk  of  Bessloo  retired 
to  make  room  for  me^  on  the  amiable  condition  of  re- 
tainlM  all  the  emolomeota  during  his  life,  whidh,  from  . 
my  wiah  to  retire  from  the  bar  and  secure  •  certain 
though  dtatant  income,  I  was  louuced  to  consent  to ;  ao# 
oonaidering  his  advanced  age  and  unceriain  health,  the 
bargain  was  really  not  a  bad  one.  But  alas  I  like  Sindbad'f 
old  man  of  the  sea,  my  coadjutor'a  strength  increased, 
prodigwusly  after  he  had  fairly  aettled  himself  on  mj 
shoulders,  so  that  after  five  years'  gratuitous  labour,  < 
began  to  tire  of  my  bilrden.  Fortunately,  Mr.  Dankea' 
late  superannuation  act  provides  a  rateable  penmun  foi 
office-holders  obliged  to  retire  after  long  and  faithfu 
ser\ices ;  and  my  old  friend  very  handsomely  consented, 
to  be  transferred  from  my  galled  shoulders  to  the  broar 
back  of  the  public,  although  he  is  likely  to  %ustain  a  con- 
siderable diminution  of  Income  by  the  exchange,  tc 
wiiich  he  has  declared  himself  willing  to  submit  aa  » 
penalty  for  having  lived  longer  than  he  or  I  expected  To 
me  it  will  make  a  diffisrence  of  ^1300  a-year,  no  triflo  to 
ua  who  have  no  wish  to  increase  our  expense  In  a  ilngle 
particular,  and  who  could  support  it  on  our  former  income 
without  inconvenience.  This  I  tell  you  in  confidence, 
because  I  kiiow  you  will  be  very  well  pleased  with  any 
good  foriune  which  cornea  in  my  way.  Every  body  who 
carea  a  farthing  for  poetry  is  dehghted  with  your  volume, 
and  well  they  may.  You  will  neither  be  ahocked  nor  sur 
prised  at  hearing  that  Mr.  Jeffrey  haa  announced  himself 
of  a  contrary  opinion.  So,  at  least,  1  underatand,  for  our 
very  ideas  of  what  ia  poetry  differ  so  widely,  that  we 
rarely  talk  upon  these  subjects.  There  is  something  in 
his  mode  of  reaaoniog  that  leads  me  greatly  to  doubt 
whether,  notwithstanding  the  vivacity  of  his  imagmation, 
he  really  has  any  fettling  of  poetical  geniua,  or  whether 
he  has  worn  it  ail  off  by  perpetually  abarpening  his  wit 
on  tilt  grindstone  of  criticism. 

''  1  am  very  glad  that  you  met  my  dear  friend  George 
EUls,— a  wonderful  man,  who,  throttth  the  Ufe  of  a  statea' 
man  aiKl  politician,  converaing  with  princes,  wits,  fine 
ladies,  ana  fine  gentlemen,  and  acquainted  with  all  the 
intrigues  and  tracaaaeriea  of  the  cabinets  and  ruellm 
of  foreign  courts,  has  yet  retained  all  warm  and  kindly 
feelings  which  render  .a  man  amiable  In  society,  and  the 
darling  of  his  friends,  , 

"  The  author  of  the  elegy  upon  poor  Gralmme,  is  John 
Wilson,  a  young  man  of  very  considerable  poetical 
powers.  He  la  now  engaged  in^a  poem  called  the  I»le  ^ 
Palm$,  something  in  the  styl«  of  Soutbey.  Ue  is  an 
ecoenlric  genius,  and  has  fixed  himself  upon  the  banks  of 
Windermere,  but  ocrasionally  resides  in  Edhn burgh, 
where  he  now  is.  Perhaps  you  have  seen  him;— his 
father  was  a  wealthy  Paisley  manufacturer— his  mother 
a  sister  of  Ilobert  8ym.  lie  seems  an  excellent,  warm- 
hearted, and  enthusiastic  young  man;  something  too 
much,  perhaps,  of  ihA  latter  quidity,  places  him  amooj; 
tho  list  of  originals. 

"  Our  streets  in  Edinburgh  are  become  as  hisecure 
aa  your  houses  in  Wapoing.  Only  think  of  a  formal  as- 
sociation among  nearly  fifty  apprentices,  aged  from  twelve 
to  twenty,  to  scour  the  streets,  and  knock  down  and  rob 
all  whooi  they  fouiul  in  their  way.  This  they  executed 
on  the  last  night  of  the  year  with  such  spirit,  that  two 
men  have  died,  and  several  others  are  dctngeroosly  ill, 
fnta  the  wanton  treatment  Uiey  received.  Tl^e  uatch-  ' 
word  of  these  young  heroes  wiien  they  met  with  resist- 
ance was— jifor  Aim,  a  word  of  dire  Import ;  and  which, 
as  they  were  all  armed  wiili  bliidgeoua  loaded  with  lead, 
and  were  very 'savage,  they  certainly  used  in  the  sense 
of  Ratcliffe  Uighway.  The  worst  of  all  this  is  not  so" 
much  the  immediate  evil,  which  a  severe  example*  will 
probably  check  for  the  present,  as  that  the  foruiation  and 
existence  of  such  an  association,  holdmg  regular  meet- 
ipgs  and  keeping  legular  minutes,  argues  a  woAil  negli-  * 
gence  in  the  masters  of  these  hoys,  the  tradesmen  and 
citizeos  of  Edinburgh,  of  that  wholesome  domestic  dis- 
cipline which  they  ought,  In  justice  to  God  and  to  man, 
to  exorcise  over  the  youth  intrusted  to  their  charge;  a 
negligence  which  cannot  fail  to  be  productive  of  every 
sort  of  vice,  crime,  and  folly,  among  boys  of  that  age. 

*'  Yesterday  I  had  the  melancholy  task  of  attending  the 
fiineral  o(  tl»e  good  old  Duke  of  Buccleuch.  It  was,  by 
hia  own  direction,  very  private  ;  but  scarce  a  dry  eye 
among  the  asBistants— a  rare  tribute  to  a  praon  whose 
hijgh  rank  aod  large  possessions  removed  nim  so  far  out 
ofthe  soual  sphere  of  private  friendship.  But  tlie  Duke's 
mind  was  uiould<*d  uiton  the  kindliest  and  most  sinfflo- 
hearted  model,  and  arrested  the  affections  of  all  who  had 

•  Thiee  of  tbew  lads.oll  under  eighteen  years  of  app.  were  e3»- 
euted  »>n  the  scene  of  oni»  of  the  murders  here  dlluded  to,  April 
the  39d.  I8ts.    Their  youth  ami  peoitenoo  excited  the  deepiMt  i  r> 
eompnnfon ;  bitt  never  oertalmjr  was  a  severe  exa^aple  omm  i»  Lv^ 
oettarv.  3 


UV^eF.  SiR'WiUBBR^SOOnTt 


m 

MfeoQBMtaiwUhltta.  Hetotnilragt«stloM4oA 
kiM),  and  wtU  b«  lone  miased  and  temenled,  thdugii  the 
aaeoMaor  to  bit  raax  it  heir  aba  to  biafeoeroaa  apiric 
and  aflSactkNia.    Ue  was  injr  kind  iJneod    fiver  iroura, 

W,  Scow." 

The  next  of  bis  lettors  to  Joanoa  Baiilie  is  cuiioiM. 
as  giving  his  first  impressions  on  readimr  ChiMe 
Harold.  It  coniaina  also  a  striking  sketeh  of  the 
feelings  he  throughout  life  expressed,  as  to  what  he 
had^  observed  of  society  in  London— with  a  not  less 
characteristic  display  of  some  of  his  own  minor 
amusements. 

To  Miaa  Joanna  BaiUic. 

*'  AshesUel,  April  4th,  )S12. 

"  I  oujtht  not,  aven  in  modern  gratitude,  which  may 
be  moved  by  the  fift  of  a  pur«e,  m^cb  lesa  in  minstrel 
^mpaiby,  which  valuoa  it  more  as  your  nork.  than  if  it 
were  itimed  with  i^oioeaa,  to  have  deUyed  thanking  yon, 
iny  klhd  (jriend,  for  such  an  elegant  and'  acceptable  token 
Of  yoor  resard.  My  kindest  and  best  tltaokp  alao  attend 
the  young  Udy  who  would  not  permit  the  purse  to  travel 
untenanted.*  1  aliali  be  truly  glad  when  I  can  off^r  them 
in  peraon,  but  of  that  there  is  no  apeedy  prospect.  I  don't 
believe  I  shad  see  London  this  great  while  again,  which 
I  do  not  wry  much  regret,  were  it  not  that  it  postpones 
the  pleaaore  of  aeeing  you  ami  about  half>a-doxen  other 
friend*.  .WUhoot  having  any  of  the  cant  of  loving  retire- 
ment, and  solitude,  and  rural  pleaaurea,  and  so  forth,  I 
really  bavo  no  great  pleasure  in  the  general  society  Kii 
Londoa  ;  I  have  never  been  there  long  enough  to  attempt 
any  thhig  like  living  in  my  own  way,  and  the  iuiinense 
length  of  the  streets  separatea  the  objects  you  are  inte- 
raated  in  so  widely  from  each  other,  that  three  parts  of 
your  time  are  past  in  eudeavouring  to  dispose  of  the 
founh  to  some  advantafei  At  Bdinbnrch,  although  in  ge- 
neral society  we  are  absolute  miuUcs  or  London, 'and  Imi- 
tate them  equally  in  late  Inmrs,  and  in  the  strange  preci- 
pitation with  which  we  hunry  from  one  place  to  another. 
In  search  of  the  society  whi«rh  we  never  sit  still  to  enjoy, 
yet  still  people  may  manage  thair  own  jparties  and  motions 
their  own  way.  Bat  aU  this  is  Uinited  tn  my  own  parti- 
cular circumstances,— for  in  a  city  like  London,  the  con- 
atant  resident  has  beyond  all  other  places  the  power  of 
cboduoimg  himself  exactly  as  he  likes.  Whether  this 
Is  entirely  to  be  winhed  or  not  may  indeod  be  doubted.  I 
have  seldom  felt  myself  so  lluitidk)us  about  books,  an  in 
the  midst  of  a  large  hbrary,  where  one  is  nato rally 
tempted  to  imitate  the  egregious  epicure  who  condescenj- 
ed  to  take  only  one  bile  out  of  the  sunny  side  of  a  peach. 
1  auapeet  sometliing  of  scarcity  Is  necessary  to  make  you 
devour  the  Intellertual  banquet  with  a  good  relt«ih  and 
digestion,  as  we  know  to  be  the  case  with  respect  to  cor- 
poreal auatetiance.  But  to  quit  all  this  egotism,  which  is 
as  little  as  possible  to  the  purpose,  you  nmst  be  informed 
that  Erskine  has  enshrined  yonr  letter  among  his  house- 
hold papers  of  the  most  preciona  kind.  Among  your 
thousand  admirers  you  have  not  a  warmer  or  more  kindly 
heart ;  he  tella  me  Jeffrey  lalka  very  favomably  of  this 
volume.  1  should  be  glad,  for  his  own  sake,  that  he  took 
some  opportunKy  to  rotrace  the  paths  of  his  criticism  : 
but  alter  pledging  himself  so  deeply  as  he  haadone,i 
doubt  much  his  giving  way  oven  onto  conviction.  AH  to 
my  own  share,  I  am  labouring  «ure  enough,  bnt  I  have 
not  yet  got  on  the  right  path  where  1  can  satisfy  myself  I 
shaft  go  on  with  coursge,  for  diffidence  «:K>es  not  easily 
beset  me,  and  the  public,  still  more  than  the  tedles,  'stoop 
iothe  forward  and  the  bokl;'  but  then  in  either  cise,  I 
fancy,  the  suitor  for  favour  must  be  buoyed  up  by  some 
sense  of  deaerviag  it  whether  rrnl  or  supposed.  The 
celebrated  apology  of  Dryden  for  a  passSge  which  he 
could  not  defend,  '  that  he  knew  when  hs  wrote  it,  it  waa 
bad  enough  to  succeed,'  was,  with  all  deference  to  his 
memory,  certainly  invented  to  justify  the  fact  alter  it  was 
committed. 

"Ilave  you  aeeo  the  Pilgrimage  of  Chlldo  Harold,  by 
Lord  Byron  1  It  is,  I  think,  a  very  clever  poem,  but  gives 
no  good  symptom  of  the  writer's  heart  or  morals :  his 
bero,  notwithstanding  the  afieoted  antiquity  of  the  style  in 
%am^  parts,  is  a  modem  man  of  fiishion  and  fortune,  worn 
om  aitrl  satiated  with  ii)e  pursuits  of  dissipation  ;  and  al« 
though  ihere  is  a  caution  aj^inst  it  in  the  preface,  yon 
cannot  for  your  soul  avoid  concluding  that  the-aiithor,  as 
he  gives  an  account  of  liis  own  travels,  is  also  dn^ng  so  in 
his  own  character.  Now  really  tliifl  is  too  bad ;  vice 
ought  to  bi^  alittJe  more  modest,  and  it  must  require  impu- 
dence at  lca»*l  equal  to  the  noblaLord's  other  powers,  to 
claim  sympatliy  gravely  for  the^ ennui  arising  from  hit 

*  The  purse  eontained  an  old  coin  frdm  Joanxm  Baillic's  niece 
thsdMgMer  or  ite  Doctor. 


bdnf  tirsd  of  hte  s 

ismoionstroosdaal«fcodc«it  iatttodiibritbli  , 

Ibe  inferior  part-of  the  world  tint  thaIr  IMtie  old-(h^f«0- 
•d  acruples  sf  liwitslloa  wm  ikx  wor^  of  his  regmm* 
while  MS  fortune  and  poasesiioiis  are  nueh  aa  hscvaWM 
aU  sorts  of  gtatificatiooi  loo  DMcfa  in  liis  power  to  aflm^d 
lumsny  pleasure.  Yet  with  alLtbtsconoeitaadasmH 
Ihere  is  much  poetical  merit  in  the  book,  aad  1  wid 
voold  read  H. 

**1  AassMftRob  Roy'a  gtin,4i  long  Bpaobh-bnrrelleil 
piece,  with  his  initiala,  R.  M.  O.,  for  Robert  AUccre^pM' 
CampbelU  which  latter  name  he  asaumed  in  coiiifllm«flK 
lotiie  Argyle  family,  who  afforded  htai  a  good  deaf  of  pri- 
vate aupport,  beoanae  ha  was  a  thorn  In  the  side  of  tbeir 
old  rival  houseof  Moolrose.  1  have,  moreover,  a  veffe  of 
a  more  heroic  character  ;  it  Is  a  aword  which  wa*  gtven 
to  the  great  MaiY|Uis  of  Montrose  by  Cbarlea  1 .  ana  «!► 

Seajra  lu  have  befonged  t*  bis  lather,  our  gentle  Kin^ 
amie.  It  had  been  preserved  for  a  long  time  «c  Oart- 
more,  but  iho  present  proprietor  was  setting  his  Hbnsry, 
or  great  part  of  it,  and  Jolio  Ballantyne^  the  porch 


wishing  to  oblige  ma,  would  not  conchide  a  bargalo,  s  ^ 

the  gentleman's  nscnssity  made  him  aiuioas  abiMst,  ttt 
he  flung  the  sword  into  the  scale ;  it  is,  Indepe^ideoS  ot 
its  other  merits,  a  uost  bcaulifal  bkde.  I  tliiolt  a  dia- 
ktfue  between  ihia  aame  sword  and  Rob  Roy's  ssfeov 
might  be  composed  with  good  effecL 

"  We  are  here  in  a  most  esttaonliiiary  picUe — eooai- 
dering  that  we  hava  joat  eMered  apon  April,  Wtieov  a«»- 
cording  to  tlie  poet,  ^priaroses  paint  ths  liay  plan,*  4a* 
stead  of  which  both  hill  and  valley  are  doing  penance- tit 
a  aheet  of  aooVof  very  respeotabla  depth.  lfall'Ooadlh«» 
hava  been  stopt— ahepherda,  J  frieve  to  say,  loMt  In  clsv 
snow ;  In  short,  we  experience  all  the  bardshipa  of  a 
January  storm  at  this  late  pefkid  of  tlia  spring ;  the  saovr 
has  been  near  a  furtoightt  and  if  it  departs  win  dry  «r«a- 
ther,  we  may  do  well  enough,  but  if  «»t  weathar  sbooM 
ensue,  the  wheat  crop  through  ^otfamd  will  be  totafiy 
lost.  Mr  thoughts  are  anilously  tiRsied  tolhe-PeafnsulBf 
though  1  aiink  the  Hpanianla  have  but  one  ehBice,  and 
that  is  to  choose  Lord  Wellington  detator;  1  faaive  no 
doubt  1^  could  put  thiaga  r%ht  yet.  As  for  ddmeatio  po« 
lilies,  I  really  give  them  very  little  consideration.  Yoor 
friends,  the  Wliig8,.areaagiiy  enougli,  1  suppose,  with  tba 
Prince  Regent,  but  those  who  were  nsoat  apt  to  Hatter  fate 
foUiea,  have  little  reason  to  complain  of  the  usage  thejr 
have  met  with— and  he  may  probably  think  that  chcMo 
who  were  true  to  the  father  in  his  hour  of  calamity,  may 
liave  the  beat  title  to  ihe  oanAdence  tkf  the  son.  The  ax- 
ceUeot  private  character  of  the  old  King  nave  him  gvaat 
advantages  aa  the  head  of  a  free  government.  1  foar  Use 
Prince  will  fong  eaperienoe  the  Hicomneoiencea  of  aat 
having  attended  to  his  own.  Mrs.  lilddons,  as  fone  re- 
ports, has  taken  aiMMher  engagement  at  Oovent  Cardea  r 
surely  she  is  wrong ;  slie  should  hsfva  no  twilighi,  but  wer 
in  the  full  possession  of  her  powers.* 

"  I  hope  Campbell's  plan  of  leclurra  will  answar.f  I 
think  the  brogue  may  be  got  over,  if  he  will  not  t^^uMc 
himaelf  by  attempting  to  correct  it,  but  read  wtth  Are 
and  feeling  ;  ho  la  an  aaUnated  reciter,  bat  I  never  heard 
him  read. 

'*!  have  a  great  mind,  before  sealiag  thin' long  acrawl, 
to  send  you  a  list  of  the  contents  of  the  parse,  aathey  aft 
present  stand 

'•  Ist.  Miss  Elizabeth  BaiUie's  purse-penny,  called  by  the 
learned  a  dermriua  of  the  Empress  Faustina. 

**2d.  A  gold  brooch,  found  In  a  bog  in  Ireland,  which, 
for  aught  I  know,  fastened  the  mantle  of  an  Irish  Prin- 
cess in  the  di^s  of  Cuthollin,  or  Neat  of  the  nine  hoa- 
tagea. 

"3d.  A  toadatoae— a  cejebnted  amulet,  which  waa 
never  lent  to  any  one  unless  upon  a  bnnd  for  a  thsyasaJ^ 
merks  for  its  being  safely  restored.  It  was  sovereifa  for 
protecting  new  bom  children  and  their  mothers  fjrom  the 
power  of  the  fiUhes,  and  haa  been  repeatedly  borrowed 
from  my  mother,  on  account  of  this  virtue. 

"4th.  A  coin  of  Edwsrd  I.,  found  in  Dry  burgh  Abbey. 

••  6th.  A  funeral  ^{nf[,  with  Desn  Qwift's  hair. 
»fe  you  see  my  nicknackatory  is  well  supplied,  t 


the  purse  is  more  valuable  than  all  its  cootc'itts. 

"  Adieu,  my  dear  frietid.  Mra.  .Scott  joins  in  kind  r«- 
spects  to  your  sister,  the  Doctor,  and  Mrs.  Baiilie. 

Waltbr  Soaw.'» 

A  month  later,  the  Eldinburgh  Review  on  Lor4 
Bynm'sRomaunt  having  just  appeared,  Scoit  says 
to  Mr.  Morritt,  (3Iay  12,)  "  I  agree  very  much  in 

•  Mrs  Siddonv  made  a  forewcll  appoaianoe  at  Covont  Qardea, 
as  Lady  Macbeth,  on  the  Wth  of  June,  1SI2  ;  but  the  aAerwards 
lewmed  hw  profeiston  for  »l»ort  intcrvaU  more  Uwn  ooce,  and 
did  not  (ii)aHy  bid  adieu  tn  Ibo  rtoft  until  fb*"  9th  orjtrae,  l?i». 

4  Mr.  Thainaa  CaoipbtH  bad  nonourKcd  bis  first  course  of  be* 
tui^oi  Engl^Poetcy  akaut  ^  tiiae. 


._     ^_^   ^  to  mpraL-^ 

^  hif  fnisanthropTcmrentmi,  it  {^?efl,  ne- 
Biiodd piquancy  to  hie  descriptionB and 

Tliis  19  upon  the  whole  a  piece  of  most 


Iff 


cbaracter  firocD  any  wg» 

1  feenn|  in  the  eyes  of  a^uootcm* 

orosbip  wiU  likewise  permH 


_        „    ^  _    I  tbe  Whole  a  pieceormoat   *hit  cxphuiatioarhad  I  tiot  understood  that  the  satir 
nary  power,  and  may  irank  its  author  with  ^oded  to  had  been  suppressed,  not  to  be  reprinted. 

oornm  poets.    1  see  the  Edmburgh  R«Yie\y  oat   to  reu^oving  a  preXu(9ce  on  your  Lordship's  own  mil 

hauled  its  wind. 
Lord  Byron  was,  1  need  not  sar,  the  prime  object 

of  interest  this  season  in  the  fashionable  world  of 

Load^;  nordid  tlvs  Piioee  Regent  awe  the  subee* 

Twit  Instiluies  of  the  noble  Poet  to  any  neglect  on 

bptrt  of  the  brilliant  genius  whicb  bad  just  been 

^revealed  in  iheChilde  Harold.    Mr.  Murray, 

tlstpobisherof  the  Ronuunt,  o«  hearing  on  the 

2diliaf  Jaoe,  Lord  Byron*8  acoouot  of  his  mtrodaor 

«Q  to  his  Royal  Hignoesa,  oonoaived  that,  by  com- 

anueatinfl  it  to  Scott  he  might  afford  the  opportn- 

aiiTofiiicntipersonarezplanatiofi  between  his  two 

poetical  friends,  as  should  obfiterate  on  both  sides 

whiterer  painful  feelings  had  survived  the  ofien- 

sre  allusions  t$  Marmipn  in  the  English  Baids  and 

Scotch  Reviewers^  and  this  good-natured  step  had 

(^  deared  oonsequencesu    Mr.  Moora  say  a  that  the 

oDfn^oadeiioe     begun  in  some  ioivuries  which 

Ir.  Scon  addreeaed  to  Lord  Byioo  oa  the  aobjeec 

i  hk  intmiew  with  Royalty  :"•  but  he  would  not 

^OMJ  that  expreMion,  had  he  seen  the  fbllowing 

fc(ter^— 

hikBigklBommrQbU  Lord  Bynm,  #v.  ^—Can  of 


•»7l*nl. 


**  EdbibnrCh,  July  Sd,  181& 


*Iaa  uucertain  if  1  oufht  to  profit  by,  tbe  axwlogy 
■^Uftilbrded  me,  by  a  venr  oHUgliiff  communication 
ho  ear  acqasintauce,  John  Murray  of  Fleet  Sueet,  to 
F<  joor  Lordship  the  present  trouble.  Bfit  my  intru,* 
Hocoecems  s  lai^e  debt  of  gratitude  due  to  your  Lord^ 
^  lod  a  much  less  impoftant  one  of  «;iplauatioo^ 
«^  I  tttiok  I  owe  to  mjsei^  aa  I  disliiie  standiiu^  low 
<&t]kc  opoiott  of  say  person  whose  t^extts  rank  so  highly 
»«?oip,  Si  your  Lordship's  most  deservedly  do. 
*aetnt  cm»/,  as  our  technical  Isjiguage  expresses 
I  nhtM  to  the  hlfh  pleasure  I  have  received  from  the 
^lijnase  of  Childe  Ilaiold,  and  from  its  precursors : 
^  nrmer,  with  all  its  clasaical  aasociatibnt^  some  01 
^  t/e  lest  on  jK)  poor  a  scholar  as  1  am,  possesses  th  e 
™«alclitnu  of  vivid  and  anloiaiod  descriutJoq,  I'nin-. 
CMvift  oii^loal  senliuienf  ;^bat  besides  this  debt,  wh'idv 
loteToar  Lordship  In  cojupion  vrtth  the  rest  of  the  read- 
2Pvilic,IhaTe  to  acknowle(!|ge  my  particular  thanks 
wyo'ortaTlngdistln^ulshMby  praise,  m  the  work  which 
r^rWdship  rather  (Wi(^«^d  in  Eooeral  to  satire,  some 
^ ay uvn  literary  attempts  AncTthla" leads  me  lo'pul 
/^Ur^tp  rignt.  in  the  chrcublstances  respecting  the 
•uofMarmioQ,  which  had  reached  you  in  a  distorted 
^  oWrepregented  form,  and  which,  nerhaps,  I  have 
"w  naioQ  to  oompWfnf  were  ghreo  to  the  piUrtle  without 
»»f  ptitlcolar  inquiry.  The  piiein,  Hijr  Lord,  wa»  not 
^^^'^  Bpos  coatraet  fi>f  a  sum  of  money--  though  ft  is  too 
'^  tat  it  was  sold  and  publish^  in  a'Verv  nnflnlahed 
!Jj*>  vWeb  I  have  stoqe  regrettec^  to  enable, me  toex- 
^  layielT  from  adme  rngagetnenta  whleh  fell  sud- 
*»7  '»W>B  me,  by  the  unexpected  misfortunes  of  a  rery 
^Tfelilion.  So  that,  m  qtiote  statute  and  precedent*  I 
'*»y  wow  andoT  the  eaae  cited  by  JuveiM],  thoagh  not 
swioitetxCfanilyef  tlMclaasieaatliQrr^    ' 

borii,  intactam  Psridl  nisi  vendit  Agaven. 
Jj' »  aurh  for  a  nistake^  into  which  your  Lordship 
■W  «saUw  lui,  espe«'»ally  as  I  geuerolly  find  It  the  eaai- 
*  V27  of  stopping  Mcntlinental  compliments  on  the 
•3?!^  «t,  of  certain  poetry,  and  the  dcUghis  which  the 
J«™nonit  hsve  taken  In  the  composition,  by  assigning 
Tp*«  reason  that  will  cut  the  dis*  ootse  short,  unOn 
>"*j«<:t  where  oae  must  appeal' either  conceited,  or  af- 
^7nid,«uleynlcal» 

4.  **»f  my  stuchment  to  literature,  I  aaerifioed  ibr 
iSvS?''*'  ^  pursuing  it  very  fair  chances  of  opulence 
JTP'^Jw'MMisl  honon/8,  at  a  time  pf  IKe  when  1  fUly 
rjJJ»««f  ^oe,  and  I  am  not  ashauied  to  say,  that  in 
r^  tdvaatigas-  in  eompenaadon  fttstn  the  narttal 
TT^wthe  pobllc  t  bava  added  soma  cooKbfia  and 
!  SKt  *•  •  hare  Independence.  I  am  aure*  yo«r 
^^^*  foad  aenae  wiU  eaaUy  pot  this  untuiponaot 
y«J  to  thsv  right  account,  Ibr-^^bougb  I  do  not  know 
^  '«ctiT«  would  a>ake  ma  euter  into  controversy  with  a 

•tftaad  W«rtsrf Lotd  Jiyrop* vol.  it  p.  l»5. . 


Jrortyd^L, 


for  a  wiMi  ta  dear  myt 
of  mercenary  or  aonfid 

porary  of  genius.    Your  Lordi  .   

me  to  add,  that  ^ou  woold  have  escaped  the  trouble  oi 
'       '       ....    -       .      .^  that  the  satire  al- 

„  _      to  be  reprinted.    For    , 
.  removing  a  preju(9ce  on  your  Lordship's  own  mind*  I 
had  no  intention  of  making  any  appeal  by  or  through  you 
to  the  public,  since  my  own  habits  of  life  have  rendered 

ly  delence  aa  to  avarice  or  rapacity  rather  too  easy. 

"  Leaving  this  foolish  matter  where  U  lies,  I  have  to  re- 
ouest  your  Lordship's  acceptance  of  my  best  thanka  for 
the  AaUering  eomniunicatlon  whidi  you  took  the  trouble  '. 
to  make  Mr.  Murray  on  my  behalf,  and  which  could  not* 
Ikil  to  give  me  the  gratification,  which  I  am  aure  you  in- 
tended. I  dare  say  our  worthy  blbllopolist  overroloured 
his  reportof  your  Lordship's  conversailon  with  tl>e  Prince 
Regent,  but  I  owe  my  tuanks  to  him  neverthelesa,  for 
the  excuse  he  baa  given  me  for  intruding  these  pages  00 
your  Lordship.  Wishing  vou  health,  spirit,  and  porseve> 
ranee,  to  continue  your  pilgriuiace  through  the  intereat- 
ing  countriea  which  you  have  sUU  to  pus  with  Chjida 
HaroH  1  have  the  honour  to  be,  my  Lord,  your  Lordabiip's 
obedient  servant, 

Waltss  Soon. 

"P.  9.  wm  your  Loffdahip  pemrit  roe  a  vert^  crtti- 
oiani  on  CkUde  Harold,  ware  tc  only  to  allow  1  hate  read 
bla  nigrioaage  with  atteutkml  'Kueatra  Dama  de  la 
Paoa'  meaaa,  I  anniect,  not  our  Lady  of  Crhne  or  Punish* 
oieot,  but  our  Lacfy  of  the  Ollff;  tne  dlllta'ence  is,  I  be- 
lieve, merely  in  the  aeoentaatkm  of  *  pena.'  ** 

Lord^ByroQ*!  nnawer  was  in  tbeae  teraM  :•* 
TV  ITotter  Scotty  Bs^.  Edinburgh, 

"*  St  James's  Street,  July  6»  1812. 
"Or, 

<*  i  kave  just  been  honoured  wlih  your  letter.— I  feM 
aorry  that  you  ahould  have  ttioeght  if  wettb  while  to  no- 
ties  the  evil  works  of  my  nonaM,  aa  the  thing  is  suppress* 
ed  v9ktHtmn'lj/f  and  your  exiwanatton  la  too  kind  not  to 
give  me  pain.  The  Satire  was  wticten  when  1  was  very 
young  and  very  angry,  and  fully  bent  on  Hisplayint  my 
wrath  and  my  wit,  and  now  1  am  haunted  by  the  gnoata 
of  any  whnlesala  aaaartienai  I  oannoc  mOeiently  thanlE 
you  for  your  praise ;  and  now,  aNtiring  myaelf,  let  mO 
taHc  10  you  of  the  Prtnee  Recent.  He  ordered  meto  be 
preaented  to  him  at  a  ball ;  and  after  aame  aayftoga,  pecu* 
liarly  pleaaiiif  ftoua  rovil  Upa,  as  to  my  o«m  attempts,  he 
talked  m  ibo  ef  you  and  your  Immonahtiea ;  he  pieforred 
you  to  every  bard  past  and  present,  and  asked  which  of 
yoor  works  pleased  me  moat  It  waa  a  dilleult  qoea* 
tkm.  1  answered,  I  thought  the. Lay.  He  aaid  his  own 
opiaioo  waa  nearly  simHar.  In  speaking  ot  the  others^ 
I  told  him  that  I  thoogbt  yau  more  fiartionlarly  the  pOei 
of  Priucea,  aalA^  never  appeared  more  faechiating  than 
in  Marinion  and  the  Lady  of  the  Lake,  He  was  pleased  to 
eoioelde,  and  to  dw^ll  on  the  deaerlptlow  of  your  Jaraea«ts 
as  00  leas  royal  than  noetkal.  He  apoike  alternate* 
ly  of  Hefner  and  yourself,  and  seemed  well  acquainted 
Mritli  both  t  so  that  (with  the  exocption  of  the  Torka  aod 
your  humble  servant)  you  were  m  very  good  company. 
I  defy  Murray  to  have  exaggerated  his  Royal  llighneaa^a 
opinion  of  your  powers,  nor  can  I  pretend  to  enumerate 
an  he  said  on  the  subject ;  but  It  may  give  you  pleasure 
to  hear  that  it  waa  conveyed  in  Uuiguaffe  which  woul^ 
oaly  suffcr  by  my  attempting  to  transcribe  it ;  and  with  * 
a  toue  and  taate  which  gave  me  a  very  high  Idea  of  his 
ablkdea  and  aeoomplishments,  which  I  had  hitherm  con- 
sidered aa  confined  to.fnanners,  G«rtaioly  auperfor  to 
thoae  ef  any  living  gmtUman. 

"  Tliis  interview  waa  accidental.  1  never  went  to  the 
levee ;  for  having  seen  the  courts  of  Mussulman  and  Ca- 
tholic sovereigns,  my  curiosity  was  sufficiently  allayed  : 
and  my  politics  being  ^s  perverse  as  my  rhyuies,  I  had, 
in  fact,  no  business  There.  To  be  thus  praised  by  your 
Sovereign  must  be  gratifying  to  you ;  and  if  that  gratin* 
cation  Is  not  alk>yed  by  the  communication  betng  made 
through  roe,  the  bearer  of  It  will  consider  himself  very 
fortunately,  and  sincerely,  your  obliged  and  obedieoc 
servant, 

Braoit. 

•<p.  0. -^Excuse  this  scrawl,  sevatebed  in  a  great  hurry, 
and  juac  after  a  journey." 

Scolt  immediately  replied  as  follows  :— 
T9the  Might  Hmt.  fvrd  Byron,  ^,  ^.  4«- 
«  Abbotsford,  near  Melrose,  I6th  July,  WIB. 
"MyLord,  t 

"1  am  much  tadebted  to  yon^iilberdshlp  for  yoo^lC 


1t4 

^d  ud  frli'iidlj  lettpr ;  and  much  p^ifird  Uy  the  Prine€ 
ll^^t'i  good  npinian  &f  mj  liierary  afTrmiktiri.    I  know 

DM  Ilk  biiuni  ofT  ;hti  cftu«rt«  ^  1  $.in  nfr^iil,  oiling  to  t 
iKUfiCrtiJi  Jaqubiltc  Ipavrn  wULch  T  puckrHl  fn  utmUienu- 
mcrottii  ini4lttli]ii.arf  tal(*B  ihal  amniicd  mv  nil  lu*:/.  It  it 
m  rortiinuifr  ibkij(  fiir  thf*  Priiticd  MmvFtr  thVt  itr  Etas  a  litQ« 
tKi7  Eiinii  niann  or)tfiiii|r  cnn  bo  etTecUtiJif  r«Huva  the  eo« 
AuJ  of-fitntc?n  find  (lie  iinslBtLefi  of  jmwPF. 

■*t  hnpo  jmjf  JrfirnUhlji  kntt<i>Jd  to  glTt?  dm  more  of 
Clrclldi!  Ilitrold.  I  Wftii  cUflj*Titfi(1  thjil  ijiy  frrt  nl  .leffrcy— 
Tor  nutrli.  111  d^npit^  uf  ijiniif  a  frcul,  [UvfAfy  aij'I  political, 
I  nEwijrs  e«re€'m  hiip— hJi»  iwmia  *o  liufiil.MinQely  the 
,  fifHifitdif  AarfW^j'^Lf  fitf  flcal  lh:iviEijt{||iit^(}V«rrd  ir!  [Ii<)budthe 
iru^ni!i  at  \Uti  A\:^wcf  i  uiul  I  am  ]ta]>|7  tn  hlj  i<  i-and  that 
Ilfie  rrEfiictJon  en  fi.iij.t^«<i4»i.'t)r  ratinfj^  M,'rv«  ri'cnured  with 
eqnal  liberalitj.  These  circumstances  may  perhapa  some 
day  lead  you  to  reviMit  Scotland,  which  has  a  malernai 
claim  upon  you ;  and  I  need  not  say  what  pleasure  I  should 
havein  rettirning  my  personal  thanks  for  the  honour  you 
have  done  me.    1  am  labouring  Iiere  to  contradict  an  old 

Kroverb,  and  make  a  silk  purse  out  of  a  sow's  car,  name- 
/,  to  convert  a  bare  haugh  and  Iratt  of  about  100  acres, 
lino  a  comfortable  firm.  Now,  although  I  am  living  in  a 
rHrd<?n*»r'«»  hut,  and  n<»i»"n«h  tb^  odjacent  ruins  of  Melrose 
ii,]v»:  \\\.i\f  u*  Ti^!j|i[  iJif  \\\i-t  N'l  seen  those  of  Athens, 
yctr  ^hotild  ¥ou  take  a  t^ur  i^N^ch  la  se  (ksliiovable  at 
th^  t^mm^ii,  1  Ahould  bt  fftty  iiu\>\iy  ta  hafean  opportu* 
pitT  (if  introdiicliii  y«a  lo  «ifi^  i  iilng  aemarkable  fii  my 
JwLhnrlMa  Mj!  nriirUtwilT,  ljix>\  aofuenrille,  would,  I  am 
aurst  r«adil]^  PuppJy  ili«  flccununodauont  which  I  want« 
trnkfist  vou  nr«fcrr  b  eourb  In  m.  ili«eC,  which  iatbeutmoat 
hnnpiuhrjr  f  barch  at  pr^^Qfit  hp  ^  ffer.  The  fair,  or  shall 
I  Kif  thp  Af«^  Apr(»«ae  thai  wai,  Lady  Davy  thai  Is^  Is 
jkMn  la  Bbnw  u«  huw  nn/cU  scii-Eice  she  leads  captive  in 
flir  Humphrey  ;  »n>  your  l^r^nlriifp  tees,  as  the  citizen's 
wlf«  Myi  In  tb«  fsr^Q— -'Tliri'AHiaeedle  Street  has  some 
charini,'  «inc<^  X>ipt  pniri^rc  ui^  »ach celebrated  visitants. 
Aj  fnr  me>  I  woiiUf  railifhr  cro'*.'*  iiueation  your  Lordship 
ab&ut  aift  outiidfl  nf  ParpaBin.1,  iban  learn  the  nature  of 
the  coiiltiril^  q{  Kil  thti  nihtt  rnountaioa  io  Ui«  world. 
Ffa.y»  when  un^lw  "  Iej  c4o{id|  ^^nouy,'  did  you  hear  any 
Ibijkf  of  (.tie  ceiebrajnl  PujE^un  i  Bouit  say  he  haa  been 
bnxigMl  oQ"  wjih  oilier  c^jrioAjrjos  to  BriUkit  and  now 
cftvf^ ra  at  Tut ■:< r  Ml' «.  I  wou \i\  fai a  have  a  eroea  from  him 
out  of  my  iitTL«  niou  Lrtiop^i^r'a  (JaUoway,  and  I  thiok  your 
Ujpi«hlip  vmix  tell  m*t  tmw  tu  fi«<L  about  il,  as  I  fecoffniae 
hla  trud  pa€i59  in  %\w  higliUKittod  description  of  AU 
FacbiL^fl  jfliltiary  couri. 

"  A'  w'«;  DMii  H|«j— or,  if  r>ot,  I,  who  am  no  wisa  man, 
Ddw  43^y,  that  th«rc  la  no  tur^r  murk  of  regard,  than  when 

I'Qiir  cnrr^-tpcjudfifll  TentmreB  im  write  DonseDse  to  yoa. 
IsTiai!,  rli«r^Fjre,  likfilV^bFrr^.  bostowed all  my  tedioot* 
nafiB  upti^n  your  Ix^nii^hip,  ;on  rio  to  oonclode  that  I  have 
mivt^n  yfnu  a  eonviucinj!  jn  f>nf  thhl  I  am  very  moch  your 
LordttiHp  'e  ubJ3x<id  and  ve  ry  Taa  r  i ,  icil  aervant, 

WALTsn  Scott." 

From  this  time  the  epislolsry  iotercourse  between 

Scott  and  Ei^on  coiximued  to  be  kept  iip ;  and  it 
erc^^lon^  a»$tirru'rl  a  lone  of  fn^ndly  tonfident3e 
0ttyalty  hotiuurabL-  tn  botli  ih^se  Rrt;ni  ainipt^iitar;*, 
-withom  hvalrv,  for  t ho  favour  of  the  literary  \vot\A. 

The  date  of  the  leucr  \mK  quoted  imtiie^fiately 
ptTC(^€d  thai  of  ScotL^B  aecofid  \i\^eK\^^  with  ano 
thiff  of  the  tnoei  illuatriflu*  of  his  conietjii'>orari<'5. 
Hft  hod  met  Davv  Rt  Mf.  Wordawonh".?  when  in 
the  first  fln^  of  Kife  ci^lL^brlty  irj.  1^4,  and  bt^ci,  us 
one  of  h\i*  letters  antes,  much  <k-ii|jhiL^d  with  *  the 
■impieand  unafreetfd  fiiyleufhi«»b^iinnf;— the  mast 
ai^retablt^  chornctpristicof  high  gtinius/^  Sir  Hum- 
phrey, now  at  the  summit  of  his  fume,  had  come 
by  bja  marriage  With  Stoii'j  accomplished  relaTion, 
mtD  poHPos^iiun  of  nil  ample  forUine ;  and  he  nnd 
his  bride  were  fin  ions  tht  firstof  itw  p<K't*i  vjsiitiiiii^ 
)ti  lh€  nricinni  c^bm  at  Abhoisford. 

Thr*  follawjtis  ieirer  i»  a^i  answer  to  one  in  which 
Hr.  Sotilhey  had  besought  Siiotr*  good  olTioett  in 
bebnlfof  sn  apnUcntion  which  he  though  i  of  making 
ti*  [»e  nppoLnt<id  His  tori  0Kraph<?r  Rnya!,  in  \kn  r^^-ra 
of  Mr  Dtiu-n^  ju-it  deatT  h  wili  be  W'^ii  thflt  b^tih 
po*U  regard ttt  wuh  miirli  olarrn  iho  sympioma  of 
jM>piilar  discontent  which  appeared  in  vnnoiia  dip- 
'  irioin,   pnriiculfirly   nmonK  the  Luddit^^  qs  they 

H7  re  riUi.d.  of  Vork shire,  duntijr  the  unccrlain  con- 
di£irjn  af  pub  I  it:  ixfTjiir.'!  condeqiirnt  on  the  as4Jtii^iiin' 
tjtm  of  the  Prime  Hini^U!r#  Mr*  Percivsl,  by  Beilin^- 
ham,  in  ih*^  luhby  i>f  tht?  Hou??  of  Connnona,  on 
the  lllh  of  May.,,  1 813  ^  and  ihat  Scott  had,  in  hie 
cftpaaty  of  SheKff^  hao  !ua  ow  n  share  to  eiipj'rejB- 


Lire  OP  SIR  WALTfiR  "dCiyPf. 


fog  the  tmnults  of  the  only  inaQD&cttdnf  t^wn  o 
Sdkirksbire.    The  last  sen  tence  of  the  tetter  alludet 
to  s  hint  dropped  in  the  Edinburgh  Review,  tha 
the  author  of  the  historical  department  of  the  fxHn 
bur^h  Annual  Register,  ought  to^  be  called  to    th 
bar  of  the  Houae  of  Commons,  in  consequence  o 
the  \to\d  language  in  which  he  had  critituzed  th* 
parliamentary  hostility  of  the  Whigs  to  the  cava 
of  Spain. 

TV  Robtrt  Sbuthe^.  Euq,  Ktnriek. 

**  Bdinborfh,  4th  June,  IS12. 
*'  My  dear  Boothey, 

"It  ia  aearcely  naoesMry  to  lay  that  tlx^  fnstao 
1  had  yooi  lettar,  I  wrote'  to  the  only  frIfenA  I  have  ir 
pcmer,  Lord  MelvlHe.  (If  indeed  he  be  aow  in  power,>  be« 
ging  htm,  for  the  ailM  of  hie  own  charactat,  lor  Uie  r« 
membraace  of  hit  father  who  wished  vou  aioceroly  weii 
and  by  every  other  obiuratiofi  I  could  think  ot,  to  bmck 
your  application.    AU  I  fear,  if  admioittratioa  romain,  u 
the  influence  of  the  clergy,  who  have  a  strange  diapoM- 
tion  to  job  away  among  tt^mselvca  the  rewardji  nf  litera 
ture.    But  I  fear  they  are  all  to  pieces  above  atair^  Hn*J 
much  owing  to  rashoees  end  tnfainanegetnenr :  for  if  they 
eonld  not  fgtt  on  wiAioot  Canning  and  WeUeeley,  th^v 
certainty  ahootd  from  the  beginning  have  invited  ttmni  in 
as  coaBpaniuni^  and  not  mere  retainera.    On  Ibn  whoir, 
that  cureed  oompouna  of  madoesa  and  viliany  Jhaa  con- 
trited  to  do  hia  eonniry  mere  mlachieC  air  one  blow  Umn 
all  her  a  '  ....... 

in  our 


all  her  aaffes  and  stetesinen  wiU  beable  tdrepcJr  perlmpia 

"le  eountv^'  ia  mined  below  our  R 

nmnm  t 
weaver's  of  the  large  manafacturing  villace  of  GaJaahiela. 


You  are  quite  right  in  appiehendiar  a 
Jaenutrie]  the  eomtv^^  ia  mined  betow  our  feet.  Last 
week,  learning' tbnc  a^neeting  we»to  be  held  nnMns  the 


for  the  purpose  oi  cuuing  a  man'a  web  Iixmo  1^  Joopift  I 
apprehended  the  ringleadera,  and.diaeoncerted  the  whole 
project;  but  in  the  eourse  nf  my  inqdlrles,  imaghte  my 
surprise  at  dlacoverlng  a  bundle  of  letters  and  printed 
manifestoes,  flrdm  which  it  appeared  that  the  Hanrbester 
Weavers'  Committee  corresponds  with  every  manul^- 
tnring  town  In  the  South  apd  West  of  Scotland,  and  le^ie^ 
a  subsidy  of  2t.  6d.  per  man— (an  Immense  aum)--lbr  ibr 
ostensible  purpose  of  petitioning  Parliament  for  redresj 
of  grievenc^s,  but  doubtless  to  sustain  them  in  their  revn 
lutionary  movements.  An  energetic  administratkHi,  wMch 
had  the  confidence  *ii  the  country,  would  soon  check  ali 
this ;  but  It  Is  our  misfortune  to  foae  the  pilot  when  the 
ship  is  on  the  breakers.  But  it  Is  sickening  to  think  of 
our  situation. 

**  I  can  hardhr  think  there  could  haw  been  any  seri- 
ous Intention  of  taking  the  hint  of  the  Review,  and  yet 
Hberty  has  so  often  been  made  the  pretext  of  cro^n«  its 
own  best  supporters,  that  I  am  always  prepared  to 
expect  the  most  tyrannical  proceedings  firom  professed 
demagogues. 

*'!  am  uncertain  whether  the  Chamberlain  wlU  be  Sa- 
ble to  removal— if  not.  I  should  hope  yon  may  be  pretty 
sure  of  your  object    Believe  me  ever  yours  lalthftdly, 

WALTn  9corr. 

*'  4th  June— What  a  different  birth-day  from  thoee  i 
have  seen  3  II  la  likely  I  shall  go  to  Rpkeby  for  a  few 
days  this  summer ;  and  if  so,  I  will  certsinly  diveife  ts» 
spend  a  day  at  Keswiek." 

Mr.  Southey'a  application  was  unsuccessful— the 
office  he  wished  for  having  been  bestowed,  as  sooq^ 
as  it  fell  vacant,  on  a  person  certainly  of  vasdf , 
inferior  Ikerary  pretensions— the  late  Rev.  J.  S,\ 
Clarke,  D.D.,  private  librarian  io  the  T 


CHAPTER  XXV.  | 

TH«   "rLrrTiwo"   to  xaaoTsroaD— puijrrATioits— •] 

GXOBOB  THOMSON  —  R0KBB7  AND  TRISBXAIN  nt\ 
PBOOaESS— EXCUB8I0N  TO  FLOOD  EN— BISHOP- AOCK-J 
LAND— AND  BOKEBT  PABK— COBBBSPONOENCE  WITajl 
CBABBE— LIFE  OP  PATBICK  CAREY,  ETC.— Pt:BUCA<-|| 
TION  OF  R0KEB7— AND  OF  /THE  BBIDAI.  OF  TBIBBiHl 
MAIN.— 1812-1818.  I 

Towards  the  end  of  May,  1812,  the  Sheriff finalJ 
ly  removed  from  Aaheatiel  to  Abbotaford.  The  daff 
when  this  occurred  was  a  sad  one  for  many  a  pooq 
neighboar*-ibr  they  lost,  both  in  him  and  bis  wifcu 
iwry-  generous  protectors.  In  sueh  a  places  amonii 
the  few  evUa  which  oounterbatance  so  msny  good 
thinga  ifi  the  condition  of  the  peasantry,  the  mosq 
afflicting  la  the  want  of  seeeas  to  medical  adviceLJ 
As  far  aa  their  means  and  skill  wouk]  go,  tbey  hadl 
both  dond  their  utmost  io  aopply  this  want ;  an  J 


UFBer  am  WAj/aSR^^satytr, 


175 


Mn-tott,  in  patioiiUr,  had  iiMd« it  lo muoh  her 
hmmn  to  Tuit  the  tick  m  thair  Mattered  cuitagefl^ 
ndiMtowed  on  them  the  contents  of  her  medioine^ 
eheii  u  well  as  of  the  larder  and  cellar,  with  soeh 
nwearied  kindness,  that  her  name  is  never  men- 
tkMied  there  to  this  day-  without  some  expression  of 
teoderness.  Seott^s  children  remember  the  parting 
neoe  as  one  of  unmixed  afOiction— but  it  had,  as 
ffieehall  see,  its  lighter  features. 
Among  the  many  amiable  English  friends  whom 
be  owed  to  his  frequent  visits  at  Rokeby  Park,  there 
vis,  I  believe,  none  that  had  a  higher  place  in  his 
re^  dun  the  late  Anne,  Lady  Alva  n  ley,  the  widow 
rf  the  celebrated  Chief  Justice  of  the  Court  of  Com- 
oni  Pleas,  He  was  fond  of  female  society  in  ^e- 
oenl,  but  her  ladyship  was  a  woman  after  his 
•^i;  well  born,  and  highly  bred,  but  withoiit  the 
lightest  tinge  of  the  frivolities  of  modern  fashion  : 
•wndiy  infonned.  and  a  warm  lover  of  Uterature  and 
ue  arts,  but  holding  in  as  CTeat  horror  as  himself 
tiae  imbecile  chatter  and  affected  ecstasies  of  the 
WMstocking  generation.  Her  fadyship  had  writffen 
tobirn  early  m  May,  by  Miss  Sarah  Smith,  (now 
»«•  Bartley,)  vvhom  I  have  already  mentioned  as 
oneof  hia  theatrical  favourites ;  and  his  answer  con* 
tuns  amoiig  other  noatters,  a  sketch  of  the  **  Forest 
FliiUQg."  ^ 

ntKe  Right  honourable  Lady  AhtanUy. 

"  Ashesttel,  25th  May,  1812. 
/Iwaa  boaoured,  my  dear  Lady  Alvanley,  by  the  kind 
uer  vhi^h  jou  sent  me  witb  our  friend  Miss  Smith, 
jww  tal£Qts  are,  I  hope,  receiving  at  Edinburgh  the 
laDaieed  of  honourable  appUufle  which  they  ao  highly 
J«TB.  it  Is  tery  much  uainst  oif  will  that  I  ani  forced 
Bipeakof  them  by  report  alope,  for  ihia  bein«  the  term 
*««»»rn}(,  I  am  under  the  necessity  of  being  at  this 
^Jiioioperhitend  the  transference  of  my  goods  a«d 
«Ma«la.  a  most  miseellanebua  collection,  to  a  amall  pro- 
Peny,  iboat  fiva  milMdowa  the  Tweed,  which  I  pure  has- 
Mas  year.  The  oeighboarD  have  been  much  delighted 
J*U>e  procession  of  my  furniture,  in  which  old  swords, 
»>n.  larirptd^  and  knees,  made  a  very  coDspieooua  ahow. 
4  aauly  of  turkeys  was  accommodated  within  the  heknet 
«  ««e  pmLx  chevalier  of  ancient  Border  tame  \  and 
'w'CTy  cowf,  for  aught  I  know,  were  bearing  banner^ 
•iraQskrtt    I  assure  your  lady ahip  that  this  caravan, 

eeasant  children,  car- 
sading  poneya,  grey- 
crosaed  the  Tweed, 


by  a  dcoea  of  ragged  rosy  peaaant  children,  car- 
it   , 

subject  for  the  pencil,  and  really 


jMrttoa-roda  and  apeara,  and 
•QQdi)  aad  vpaaiela,  would,  as  it 

»«tottlsherfno  bad  subject  for  .  _  ,__  ^ , 

™w  i&e  of  one  of  the  gypsey  groupes  of  CaUot  upon 

"Bdtaburgh,28ihMay. 
Ski  SSu*"*  ***"  •*  leOffth,  and  had  the  pleasure  to  hear 
J"  powi  speak  the  Ode  dn  the  Passions  charmingly 
"?^«t.  It  was  her  benefit,  and  the  hoUae  waa  tole- 
2J'!5**«h  aot  so  good  aa  she  deserves,  being  a  very 
^  P[V  ss  wen  as  aa  ezceUent  performer. 
rJr"^,  rwd  Lf ird  Byron  with  great  pleasure,  though 
J«Jttw  is  not  qojte  the  appropriate  word.  I  should  aay 
«°^Mra--iaJied  with  regret,  that  the  author  abould 
^^r  adopted  such  an  unamiable  misanthropical  tone.— 
•nerj^cUlailon  with  Holland-house  Is  extremely  edify- 
mmSSI  "^'X  ^^**  young  authors  to  be  in  no  hurry  lo 
JJ«2<f  tt»elr  aatirtcal  vein.  I  remember  an  honest  old 
^«J!['"^  who  thought  It  right  to  speak  with  respect 
™n»  »i  the  devil  hlmaelf,  since  no  one  knew  in  what  cor- 

ZSI!?^  ^^  ***y  *»»*  »  *jf*«n<l-  8«  l^'d  Byron  la 
i3  «!I!l*^*"*^"ly  haa  great  genius,  and  has  both  time 
\{\J^n^y^  "»de  amends  for  his  errore.  I  wonder 
tuirT?J^"  ***«  Edinburgh  reviewers,  who  have  read 
•  » i|I^'*"on  of  their  former  atriotures. 
H  p^«j-  "  ^^^^  tooflTer  her  kindest  and  most  respect- 
Ib^nSS*?.^*®  y**"*"  ladyahipand  ihd  young  ladles. 
jKr  »ha^l  get  into  Yorkshire  this  season  to  see  Mor- 
ii«.  JL"li5'*  Wy  are  really  delightful  parsons.  Be- 
« mvwttb  grsat  respect,  dear  Udy  Alvanley,  your 
"•^HoaourcdandsbUged 

Waltbb  Bcott." 

th?  ISi  ^V^'  i^  answer  to  a  letter,  mentioning 
iS,vJP?J°*S*  ^f  the  celebrated  sale  of  books  in 
ioWfS!»^,?^"H5**«  ?!«*»  originated,.  Scott  says 
«»  «Twiy  ally,  Daniel  Terry  :— 

Xy  d«r  Tarry,  "  B<««>burih,  9th  June,  1812. 

"^wWi  yea  Joy  cf  your  sneeess,  which,  aithoivb  sU  ^ 


rinioKskMtto  It  sa  wtm,  IUgbl/  HattsMiig,  does  not  exeesd 
what  I  had  bopMl  «>r  yoo.  I  Utiok  I  ahaU  cto  you  a  se» 
sible  pleasure  in  requestiog  that  you  wiU  uke  a  walkover 
the  fields,  to  Hampatead  one  of  theae  fine  daya,  and  ds- 
hver  the  enclosed  to  mv  friend  Miaa  BailUe,  with  whook 
I  flatter  m/selt;  you  wiU  be  much  pleaaed,  as  alte  haa  aU 
the  simphclty  of  real  ceniua.  I  menUoncd  lo  her  aorae 
time  ago  that  1  wished  to  make  you  acquainted,  ao  that 
the  sooner  you  can  call  upon  her  the  compliment  will  be 
the  more  aracioua.  As  f  auppoae  you  will  sometimes 
look  in  at  the  Roxburj^he  aale,  a  memorandum  respect- 
ing any  remarkable  artjcles  will  )>e  a  great  favour. 

"  Abbotsford  was  looldng  charming,  when  1  was  oblig- 
ed to  mount  my  wheel  in  this  court,  too  fortunate  that  I 
have  at  length  some  sliare  in  the  roast  meal  I  am  daily 
enaaged  in  turning.  Our  flitting  and  removal  from  Aahca- 
tiel  baffled  all  description ;  we  luui  twenty-four  cartloada 
>of  the  veriest  trash  in  nature,  beaidcs  dogs,  piga,  pooeys, 
pouUrv,  cows,  calves,  bareheaded  wenchea,  and  bare- 
breeched  boys.  In  other  respecla  we  are  going  on  in  the 
old  way,  only  poor  Percy  is  dead.  I  intend  to  have  an  old 
stone  set  up  hy  his  grave,  wilh  '  Cv  gut  li  prcux  Percie,' 
and  I  hope  future  antimiaries  will  debate  which  hero  of  the 
house  of  Northumberland  haa  left  his  bonea  in  Teviot- 
dale.*    Believe  me  yours  very  truly, 

^    WAunSconr." 

Thw  was  one- of  the  busiest  summers  of  Scott's 
busy  life.  Till  the  I2th  of  July  he  was  at  his  post 
m  the  Court  of  Session  five  days  every  week  ;  but 
every  Saturday  evening  found  him  at  Aobotafordi  to 
observe  the  progress  his  labourers  had  made  within 
doors  and  without  in  his  absence;  and  on  jklonday 
night  he  returned  to  Edinburgh.  Even  before  the 
Summer  Session  commenced,  he  appears  to  have 
made  some  advance  in  his  Rokeby,  for  he  writes  to 
Mr.  Morntt,  from  Abbotsford,  on  the  4th  of  May— 

As  for  the  hguse  and  the  poem,  there  are  twelve 
masons  hammering  at  the  one  and  one  poor  noddle 
at  the  other— so  they  are  both  in  progress  ;"  and 
his  literary  labours  throughout  the  long  vacation, 
were  continued  under  the  same  sort  of  disadvantage. 
That  autumn  he  had,  in  fact,  no  room  at  all  forhim- 
self.  The  only  parlour  which  had  been  hammered 
into  any  thing  like  habitable  condition,  served  at 
once  for  dining-room,  drawing-room,  scnool-room, 
and  study.  A  window  looking  to  the  river  was  kept 
sacred  to  his  desk  ;  an  old  bed-curtain  was  nailed 
uj  \he  room  close  behind  his  chair,  and  there^ 

w  the  spade,  the  dibble,  or  the  chisel,  (for 

h«  \uuk  Jiis  full  share  in  all  the  work  on  hand,)  was 
laiH  jL>icjr',  he  pursued  his  poetTcal  tasks,  apparently 
ufh  I L^  r  iir  lu'd  and  unannoved  by  the  surrounoing  con- 
fu'^i '11  of  masons  and  carpenters,  to  say  nothing  of 
thp  hidy  .'^  small  talk,  the  Children's  babble  among 
thi  Jiii4f  ]v,  8,  or  their  repetition  of  their  lessons. 
Tin-  (nil !i  no  doubt  was,  that  when  at  his  desk  he 
did  \inlt:  ^iipre,  as  far  as  regarded  jfoetrv^  than  write 
down  the  lines  which  he  iiad  fashioned  in  his  mind 


r»»vf»**.  A    aiii  iivrr,      uc  oojrs  iu  jB<Uia, 

(Oct.  17,)  "adominf?  a  patch  of  naked  land  with 
trees, /ocftms  nepoHbus  umbramt  for  I  shall  never 
live  to  enjoy  their  shade  myself  otherwise  than  in 
the  recumbent  posture  of  Tityrus  or  Menalcas." 
But  he  did  live  to  see  the  thicket  deserve  not  only 
that  name,  but  a  nobler  one ;  and  to  fell  with  his 
own  hand  many  a  well-grown  tree  that  he  had 
planted  there. 

Another  plantation  of  the  same  date,  by  his  east- 
em  boundary,  was  less  successml.  For  this  he  had 
asked  and  received  from  his  early  friend  the  Mar- 
chioness of  Stafford,  a  supply  of  acorns  from  Tren 
tham,  audit  was  named  in  consequence  Sutherland 
bowery  but  the  fieldmice,  in  the  course  of  the  ensu- 
ing winter,  contrived  to  root  up  and  devour  tho 
whole  of  her  ladyship's  goodly  benefaction.  A  third 
space  had  been  set  apart,  and  duly  enclosed,  for  the 
reception  of  some  Spanish  chestnuts  offered  to  him 
by  an  admirer  established  in  jnciychandise  at  Se- 
ville; but  that  gentleman  hid  not  been  a  very 
knowing  ally  as  to  such  matters,  for  wheh  the 
chestnuts  arrived,  it  turned  out  that  they  had  beeti 
boiled. 

T 

*Tliecpi(apfaof  tMifWvoiirfto  greyboond  maybeieen  ontbs. 
edge  of  the  bank,  a  little  waj  below  the  boaaeof  AbbotifbnL 


^ 


lOFS'OF  aaiWiiuiwt  sosm 


iU  miMibM MtakTom  in  ^cpleoibar,  "while 
oitfflAe  saiQ  W8B  BoB  going  on  ^- 

**  I  hare  lacked  ^our,  assistance,  mj  dear  frir,  Ihr  twenty 
tHiimafcalltles  tfiiv  ^uCumn.  Abbotsfbrd.  as  you  wiU 
Mtdfljr  conceive,  hat  considerably  changed  its  face  since 
•iMainpicesof  Mother  Retford  were  exchanged  for  ours. 
We  have  got  op  a  good  garden  wall,  complete  stables  in 
the  haugh,  according  to  Stark's  ptair,  and  the  old  farm- 
jard  beiiut  enclosed  with  a  wall,  with  some  little  pictu- 
resque additions  in  front,  has  much  relieved  the  stunen- 
dous  Iieicht  of  tlie  Doctor's  barn.  The  new  plantations 
have  thriven  amazingly  well,  the  acorns  are  comiog  up 
fiwi,  and  Tom  Purrlieis  the  happiest  and  most  consequent 
Cial  person  in  the  world.  Mv  present  work  is  building  up 
the  well  with  some  debris  from  the  Abbey.  O  for  your 
assistance,  for  I  am  afraid  we  shall  make  but  a  botclied 
iob  of  it,  especially  as  our  materials  are  of  a  very  miscel- 
laneous complexion.  The  worst  of  all  is,  that  while  my 
treee  grew  and  my  fountain  fills,  my  purse,  In  an  inverse 
ratio,  sinks  to  zero.  This  last  circumstance  will,  I  fear, 
make  me  a  very  poor  guest  at  the  literary  entertainment 

{our  researches  hok)  out  for  me.  I  should,  however, 
ke  much  to  have  the  Treatise  on  Dreams,  by  the  author 
of  the  New  Jerusalem,  which,  as  John  Cutbbcrtson  the 
smith  said  of  the  minister's  sermon,  must  be  neat  work. 
The  Leyal  Poems  by  W.  T.  are  probably  by  poor  Nahum 
IWe,  who  associated  with  Beady  in  versifying  the  Psalms, 
and  more  honourably  «idU)  Dryden  in  the  second  part  of 
Absalom  and  Achitophel.  I  never  saw  them,  however, 
but  would  give  a  guinea  or  thirty  shillings  for  the  collee- 
floQ.  Our  friend  John  Ballantyne  has,  f  learn,  made  a 
sudden  sally  to  London,  and  doubtless  you  will  crush  a 
quart  with  him  or  a  pottle  not ;  he  will  satisfy  your  book- 
seller for  'The  Dreamer,'  or  any  other  little  purchase 
you  may  recommend  forme.  You  have  pleased  Miss 
BailUe  very  much  both  In  public  and  in  society,  and 
though  not  fastitUous,  she  is  not,  I  think,  particularly 
lavish  of  applause  either  way.  A  most  .valuable  person 
is  she,  and  as  warm-hearted  as  she  is  brilliant.— Mrs. 
4cott  and  aO  our  little  folks  are  well.  I  am  relieved  of 
the  labour  of  hearing  Walter's  lesson  by  a  gallant  son  of 
the  church,  who  wKh  one  leg  of  wood,  and  another  of  oak, 
walks  to  and  fro  from  Melrose  creij  day  for  that  purpose. 
Pimy  stick  to  the  dramatic  work,*  and  never  suppose 
-  either  that  yon  can  he  intru8i\'e,  or  that  I  can  be  uninte- 
rested in  whatever  coiKeins  you.    Youra^ 

W.  &•' 

The  tutor  alluded  to  at  ihc  dose  of  this  letter  was 
Mr.  George  Thomson,  son  of  the  minister  of  Mel- 
rose, who,  when  the  house  afforded  better  accommo- 
dation, was  and  continue4  lor  many  years  to  he  do- 
mcsticated  at  Abbotsford.  Scott  had  always  a  par- 
ticular tenderness  towards  peraons  afflicted  with 
any  bodily  misfortune ;  and  Thomson,  whose  leg  had 
been  amputated  in  corisoqHpncp  of  n  roiif^h  casLmlty 
of  hi*  bit.hcfoii,  liart  n  sp.cia]  shart?  in  liiit  f^uuur, 
Uitm  tho  his^h  iHfJirjt  with  whidi  he  rdiipffd  hl  the 
time  to  betray  Mie  rmmeof  ihc  compuniun  that  had 
occasioned  hi.^  mirihup,  rtrnl  coniinucd  evtr  after- 
i^attla  10  ft [ f n B j^l e  n^ti\n$X  it»  di sal v n i; t apes .  T all, 
VTS^^^'  amk  tio,  n  nuunthsu  imri^t^mtirii  niid  t^i^pert 
nt  tile  sinek^iickj  G*  liri^f  fsftntf*!  a  voUiahle  as  well 
us  pictmroaquc  addiiiurj  lotli*^  ^aiVof  thonew  luirdi 
who  Dft*?ri  Kaiil  "  In  du.  Doininir,  like  rnywlf.  acci- 
tlp^ehaBgpo^^O(l  BC'iiiital  lift  siinfi^m tin."  Hjsmany 
oddiuey  QnJpc(  cntriritjtflin  no  dccrof^  irirerfi  red  wiin 
the  rtapeci  due  to  bis  sniriblc  frelmpy,  uririghi  prin- 
ciples, and  Boumf  ktirainj^ ;  nor  did  Ihiminif  IJiom.' 
jtmt  ai  a!l  quflrrcf  in  afttr  limes  wuh  (ht*  miivfrsal 
credencL*  of  ibf'  tid^hhnuThrjotK  thai  ht  hnd  funuBh- 
t-J  lufiny  fcaiuns  for  thf  iniEnitable  pfjson is (se  whose 
dcfci^^naiion  a*:!  uculv  Ti?>tunh\c^d  his  ownj  and  if  he 
hap  Jinf  <itt '  wo^jjfd lu^  huad'  in  a  'pulpit  (/  hisain,' 
h'^  wHl  knovvi^it  ha»  1)41  been  au  for  wBJjt  of  earnest 
ufid  hnig-<'untir>ii(?d  intprtvtjisjun  on  th(}  part  of  the 
author  of  Qny  M<inn taring. 

For  many  years  iScqU  hnd  ac<?uslometi  himself  to 
prociyi'd  i[)  the  *^otiip*>*iiiioij  ofpooiry  along  with  that 
of  proK'  atffeoyB  of  varioa^  descrfpEJons ;  hut  it  ti  a  re- 
markable fact  that  he  f^hoae  thie  pcnod  of  pprptiual 
noise  itifj  bujjltiv  wheti  bo  bail  imt  fivon  a  fiiJinsner- 
lioiiac  to  hin:i6elC  f.JT  the  new  eipt^iiment  of  carrj  ing 
on  two  irfK^ma  nt  Lhc»ume  titsie— and  this  loo  witik- 
out  i^afipeadjix^  fhe  hfiiivy  labour  of  hia  edition  of 
8wil>,  itiioy  nothing  of  the  vationa  lesser  inaiiers  in 

H^ledivSfr't^^ Bdtuh  Diamatiits  had, Itelieve. bsso pra- 


mgfor  theaMieuuiteof  lus  ittdjunaBtaad  Mspsn. 
In  ike  same  leu«r  in  which  William  ffiiliini  ■<»> 


knowledites  the  reeeipl  of  the  fiist  four  pBflse  ctf  Robe- 
by,  beaoVerts  also  to  the  Bridal  of  TneriBain  as  ba^ 
ing  alraady  in  rapid  progrcM.  The  fiwKnieiit  of  this 
second  poem,  ioaerted  m  the  Register  of  the  araos^ 
ding  year,  had  attracted  considerable  notice ;  id«  •»> 
crei  of  their  Authorship  had  been  well  k«i>t;  and  by 
some  means,  even  ia  the  shrewdest  drdesof  B4in- 
burgh,  the  belief  had  become  pteraleBt  that  they 
proceeded  not  from  Soott  but  from  Erskine.  Scout 
had  no  sooner  completed  his  bargain  as  to  the  copy- 
right of  the  nnwhtten  Rokeby,  than  he  reeolved  to 
paus^  (rom  time  to  time  in  its  composition,  and 
weave  those  frwnents  into  a  shorter  and  lig;hter  ro- 
mance, execuiM  in  a  different  metre,  and  to  be  pub- 
lished anonymously,  in  a  small  pocket  voltime»  aa 
nearly  as  possible  on  the  same  day  with  the  avowed 
quarto.  He  expected  great  amusement  from  the 
oompaiisons  which  the  critics  would  no  doubt  indid^e 
themselves  in  drawing  between  himself  and  thif 
humble  candidate  i  andErBkinegoodhurooaredlr  en- 
tered into  the  echem&  undertaking  to  do  nothii^ 
which  should  effectually  suppress  the  notion  of  hie 
havioj;  set  himself  up  as  a  modest  rival  to  his  friend. 
Nay,  he  suggested  a  further  refinement,  which  in  the 
sequel  had  no  small  share  in  the  success  of  this  lit- 
tle plot  upon  the  sagacity  of  the  reviewers. .  Having 
said  that  he  much  admired  the  opening  of  the  first 
canto  of  Rokeby,  Erskine  adds,  *'  I  shsllrsqaeet  yioar 
aeoueheur  to  send  me  your  HtlU  Dugald  too  a  a  he 
gradually  makes  his  progress.  What  I  have  seen  ia 
delightful.  You  are  aware  how  difficult  it  is  to  form 
any  opinion  of  a  work,  the  general  plan  of  which  ia 
unknowiL  transmitted  merely  in  legs  and  wings  as 
they  are  formed  and  feathered.  Any  remarka  niuat 
hoof  the  most  minute  and  superficial  kind^ confined 
chiefly  to  the  laiiguage,  and  other  auoh  anbordinate 
matters.  1  shall  be  very  much  anmeed  if  the  secret 
is  kept  and  the  knowing  ones  taken  in.  To  prevent 
any  discovery  from  your  prose,  what  think  you  of  put- 
ting down  your  ideas  of  what  the  preface  ought  to 
contain,  and  allowmg  me  to  write  it  over  7  And  per- 
haps a  quizzinjg  review  might  be  concocted." 

This  last  hmt  was  wefcomef  and  among  other 
parts  of  the  preface  to  Triermain  whioh  threw  out 

the  knowing  ones,"  certain  Greek  qoutationa  in- 
terspersed in  It  are  now  accounted  for.  Scot^  on  his 
part,  appears  to  haveatudiously  intnrwoven  into  the 
piece  allusions  to  personal  feeungs  and  eirperiences 
more  akin  to  his  friend's  history  and  character  than 
to  his  own ;  and  he  did  so  stilf  more  largely,  when 
rep^^sting  this  ciperimrnt,  in  tfic  introductory  parts 
of  HaroW  iJiLvDnujilluss, 

The  name  post  which  ctJi)vt>ttl  William  Erakine's 
leit^'^r  nbovoqiiotcdt  bmu^^hl  him  ati  equally  wise  and 
kind  oDe  frotti  Mr.  M<>rri!i,  in  nn^wor  to  a  fresh  ap- 
phnatioii  fnr  Some  niinnt^  detniJA  about  thesoenery 
.and  kica!  iradi  (ions  of  t  hr  Voll^'V  of  the  T«?es.  Scott 
hnd  proini?/}d  fofpenii  part  of  thi«  autumn  at^oke- 
bv  Park  himi*flf;i  nut  now,  hu^iidaahe  was  with  his 
pinrtiin^  opcmtirmsat  homr,  and  continually  lui^ 
by  BdliE^ji  lyiic  lo  have  the  inn^i  t^ody  for  pubficatton 
b^  Cbtiiitiiia^  Uc  wutild  w illiiid  y  have  trusted  his 
frteiid's  kijawkti>^D  ni  plai:e  of  hisown  ohaervation 
fktid  Tcj^c^rch,  Mr.  Morriit  pnv^  hifO  in  reply  various 
particular*,  which  I  nped  not  here  repent,  out  added, 
'  I  am  really  <iorry,  my  dear  Seott,  at  your  abandon- 
mfnt  of  your  kind  ifitrntiontjfvmting  Rokeby— and 
ifiy  sorfiiw  IE  T301  quite  aelfiftb— fikr  seriously,  1  wish 
you  totilil  hiivocomc*  if  but  fijt  n  few  days,  in  order, 
on  the  spot,  to  settle  accurately  in  your  mind  the  lo- 
calities of  the  new  poem,  and  all  their  petty  circum- 
stances, of  which  there  are  many  that  wonkl  give 
intereat  and  ornament  to  your  descriptions.  I  atn 
too  much  flattered  by  your  proposal  ounscribinn  the 
poem  to  me,  not  to  accept  it  with  gratitude  aodpiea- 
sure.  I  shall  always  feel  your  friendship  as  an  hon- 
our—we all  wish  our  honours  to  be  pertnanent— and 
yours  promises  mine  at  least  a  fair  chance  of  im- 
mortality. I  bope»  however,  you  will  not  be  obliged 
to  write  in  a  hurry  on  account  of  the  impatience  of 
your  book^ellera.    They 'aM^  I  think,  ill  sdvissd  in 


.rJi^m.  9R,f jB^  j^4W^  ^3PTr- 


P7 


pf^^mg,  fj^f  eijrftly  iiva  book  will  In;  ibemuft; 
liflttc^MKl  from  pot  being  forced  pramatorelv 
1  en  tici  J  vrN  >r  Id.  Do  not  be  ik  miad^  Ui  risk 
abl   ■   ■]  'lie  on  LhiBliaKumAJuaexp^uiiciil. 


dycior ;,  how  do  you  K^t  oh  1'—*  Ou,  jiiiit  ex  rrair'i  i 
nar*  ^'e^l ;  tbr  your  huflb'ur  maun  ken, tnv  pr.ii'tif  i  -■■ 
vera  sure  and  orthodoi.  1  dep  cq  denial  no  ly  Mn^iii  i  ^vn 
si  tnpks /—  And  w^ib l  m ay  ihgi r  n Firneu ^  1  P f?th ppa 
jna  IV  secret  f — MTI  letl  y^jur  hoftour/  in  a  low  u»ntr 


biTegot  nd  of  your  Old  M«fi  .-f  ai«  8ea.  thut  tt  is  no  my  iwa  eimpka  are  just  Uwdam  ^jid^t^m^,- 
nwtnefit  lo  tfus^i  you,  and  1  liappeji  atlhia  mo^  ^  Simpler  wiTh  a  venKeanco!  rep  cd  Seort.  But 
"*  ""^  '       >r  whidi  Ihnve  no  eort  of    John,  do  you  nev^r  httjjptiii  lakUi  any  of  vuiirpa^ 

3e  obliRC^  10  epiir  Pegft^us  |  tieiitar-*CT  7    Ou  &y,  may  bfi  sac  r    ^hJpe  they 
ighhn  up  whenheUs£>mg   di(?,  and  whtlca  no  ;  but  its  the  %^nll  ff  Providence. 


greit.Hient  lo  tm?i  you, 
oeot  to  ha v^  five  or  six  fi 
d^oaQd--^  rather  tban  bi 

bcyondthe  power  of  pulling  hmi  up  ^-  „-    .. 

too  bit,  do  copsuli  your  own  judgimnl,  ann  celiac 
ndwyea  ©f  th«  trades  at  (t^Ganw.  Dori'i  be  scru- 
pidottBtotlic  dis.advania4^G  of  yoor  mus^j,  anUnbove 
aUWaot  odetided  a t  toe  for  a  proiKi^imti  which  u 
Mmt  in  the  mit^  ^y\rh  of  friendahip.  1  am  moje 
dnftever  anxKma  for  your  aucce*?— the  Ladv  of  the 
Ul»mOre  th^in  succeeJ^i— E  think  Don  R^Mkrickja 
tefli  popular— I  want  ihia  work  to  he  another  Lndy 
lithe  fcaai.  Sarelj^  it  would  be  wurth  your  while 
fi»8«ch&;i  ub^ct  to  ^pend  a  week  of  yoiir  tiints  and 
i^nrnonof  your  Old  Maii^e  sttl&ry,  in  a  raoil-conth 
IgfatUlber,  were  il  meidy  to  renew  youraequaint- 
locevidi  the  coojiiryt  and  to  r*ctif?  the  hiue  mii- 
couceptioni*  oi  a  cursory  view.    Ever  aiKcnonatrJy 

TliitKpfat  wn3  not  TO  be  reiifftctL  Scotlfl  beUtve. 
accepted  Mr,  Morritt'i  fiieodly  offer,  ^  far  as  to  nsk 
lusia&JiBcii  in  liflvin^  aomefif  Balbtitynea  bills 

"•  '    '     ■    '       '  ^      ■ ■  -  '  — L..: «^„=     iTMration  ihe  proud  curveitiog  oi   tm  aiumai  an 

which  hia  lordphip  pro|io#«J  lOTMycompany  hiwdu- 


Oftv  A*?if,  y^mr  honour,  U  tc^rf  hi  Iang  bifvre  it 
inaki4  up/or  Fioddin ; '  "  • 

It  was  alart  in  theooUTM  of  mi»  e^p^Uion  ihoi 
Swit  first  made  ac^iuaintance  with  the  late  cxceUeni 
and  venerable  ShuieHnrrinftto II.  Bitluip  of  Dtirham. 
The  travellers  having  reaclnd  Auckland  over  mffhi, 
were  iccing  the  public  rooni^  of  the  Ca*t)e  at  ttn 
e^rly  hour  ufxt  morning,  when  the  Bi^nop  happen- 
ed, in  passing  through  one  of  them,  to  ca,lch  a 
^linipR^  of  Scolds  ixsrijon,  and  nnrnediateiy  recog- 
nising him,  from  tbo  Idicneffs  of  t lie  en*?raying«  by 
Ihift  time  multiply  intruduc^d  hnnsclf  m  thtf  partj, 
and  msi^Jed  nport  ftcting  as  ckeror>e.  Alter  shewing 
ihem  the  piciiire-^allery  and  so  fanh,  his  Lordship 
invired  thtfm  to  joni  tht  morning  service  of  the  cha- 
pel, Rnd  when  that  was  ov^^  inaL^^ted  on  wieii  re- 
maining to  brcakJCttst.  But  Scott  and  hu  tordamp 
wure  by  I  hi  a  time  so  mui'h  pteawd  wilh  each  other, 
that  (hey  could  injipart  ao  easily.    Tho  »oc>d  Bahu^ 


Mtkontbiiek.  ius  eldest  hoy  ojid  Hirl  on  ttieir  poaeys, 
»4i3e  Mrv^  Scott  followed  th*]in  in  the  camase, 
T^littb  incidents  thaidivcnrifiod  this  ride  through 
Jffflrthttmbfrland  hare  fotiud  their  way  Into  prmt 
'  llrtldf ;  buT^  as  he  was  ftmd  of  tfllins  them  both 
MtntOth-.^  end  of  big  days^l  uiuat  fiive  them  a  place 
Benito.  Halting  at  Flodden  to  LXpound  iho  neld 
tf  OMtk  10  hi*  youn^  folka^  he  found  that  Marmion 
Md,  u  might  have  been  expected,  benefiUed  (he 
keqaoftiltf  piibli<^ln>W9e  iherc  very  Inr^lyj  and 
the tMiw  Boniface,  overrtovvins  wuh^rantude^  gx- 
pfened  hi*  snKiHy  t/j  havf  a  Scoite  Hiod  for  hie 
iipj-poit  The  pott  demurred  to  this  prop<JBnl|  and 
iwredmine  host  that  noihlng  could  be  rnOrc  appro- 
'  e  than  the  [Jortrailure  of  a  fuammg  mnkaTdt 
Il  already  surmounti^d  hi>  door- way.  WhVt 
"uler  man  has  not  nisidisan  dl  job,"  said  the 
-«-wid,  "but  I  would  fain  have  sonulhmg  niojie 
coBieoied  wuh  the  book  tiiat  has  brought  rrM>  so 
mnch  flood  custom. "  He  pro  duce^i  n  wpJ  1  -  th  umbed 
W,  aiiti  bibdiru?  it  to  the  aiUhor,  >jc«ged  he  wojdd 
M least  suggest  a  motto  fnnn  Ihe  Tale  of  Flodden 
ReH.  Stouopenetl  (be  book  st  thedcath-acenfi  of 
tlte  hero,  and  his  eva  waa  immediately  caught  by  ihe 
"inscription'^  i,0  black  hitter— 

"flrhile,  weary  pJljrrliTi,  rlrink.  itnil  praj 
For  til e  kiniJ  soul  of  »?itiyl  Cffly/^ftCn 
**Well,tny  frlEnd,''  said  he,  *'  what,  more  would  you 
htvel  Ton  need  but  stnke  out  one  Idtter  in  the  i 
first  of  Lht^eli oca,  md  make  your  pamier-nian^  Ihe 
next  time  he  cflmea  thij^  way,  print  be  iwoun  tUajoliy 
tifikard  ani^  youLr  owjr^  name, 

«DrlFilt>  wtary  pirjffkm,  drink,  arnl  fav." 

Seoti  w»a  deliflhied  to  fiini,  on  hia  return,  that 
tiiii  ittfigE^Btion  liad  bi'en  adoptedj  and  for  a  ugh*  1 
know  the  roTnanticleaend  r^ay  etdl  be  visible. 

Tkeotb^  r  ^torv  1  shall  give  in  the  worda  of  Mr. 
Gillies,  'it  hapT-ened  nt  a  small  countrv  town  that 
Scott  sadtl^nly  regiiired  medical  advice  fnr  one  of  ma 
senranis,  and,  on  inquirinK  if  1  heir e  was  any  dnctOE  at 
thcplace,  waa  i old  that  there  were  two — one  longca- 
ItbltflieQ,  and  tli^  at  her  a  new  com  or*  The  latter 
«enUettiaa,beiRt?  luckily  found  ai  home,  soon  made 
kii^ipeirancse ;— a  ^rave,  mi ^acioi is- looking  persoii- 
•|5«,  attired  in  blftek,  with  a  s  ho  vet  hat,  in  whom,  to 
Ira  utter  aatonislmietit,  *Sit;  Walter  recotjnsaed  n 
Scotch  bl^cksniilb,  who  hod  formerly  practised, 
wiA  tolerate  atiw^t'sa,  at  a  veterinarf  operator  m 
ibendabboufbood  of  Ashes  ticL—' Hew*  mall  the 
'World  !  excUimted  ht\  *Cttn  it  be  possible  that  this 
is  John  l.undio  1  '  —  'In  (roth  js  it,  your  b"5nour-"j«fli 
«?  <Wt/or  Aim'—'  Well*  b»it  Jefr^iiB  bear  i  you  were 


._^ __^_    . ,  „  ^.-„  _  WhvjyeSi  Mr 

Scot t /' *  said  the  ge ut  Ic  but  high ^ spixitcd  of 


man.  "  I 
He  was  then 


ring  the  next  stage  of  hb  progre«s*, 
'jcott/*  said  the  gentle  but  high^spi 
=tilJ  like  to  feel  my  bor&o  under  the. 
in  hto  7SHh  year-  ajjd  survivtu  to  the  aKu  of  ninetv- 
two,  tlie  motfd  m  all  things  of  a  rtjal  pnnce  of  the 
Ch  urch .  T  liey  par  led,  after  a  ride  of  t*  n ,  m  de,^  wiUi 
nmiufll  regret  \  and  on  all  aubstiqueni  ndte  in  that 
directiejn,  Biabop-Auekknd  was  one  of  me  poei  s 
rejrtilar  halting  places,       ,  j    l 

AtRokehy.on  (hisocrs^ion,  SeoU  remaioed  abouf 
a  week  1  and  J  traiistrnbethe  frjilowingbnef  accqum 
of^Kis  proceeduig^  while  th*,re  from  Mr,  Mornti  a 
/Vwnorunrfiim.— "I  had  of  course/'  he  saySv  ^  had 
many  previous  opporiuniiica  of  lesUng  the  almost 
conacicntious  fidelity  of  his  local  deacnptions  i  but  I 
could  nmhelp  being  singularly  airuck  wvih  the  hghts 
which  this  mit  threw  en  thai  characlensijc  of  taJt 
c Oft ^ positions.  The  morning  nfier  he  arrived  he  aaid. 
'  You  have  often  given  me  materials  for  romance-    . 
now  I  want  a  good  robber's  cuve  and  an  old  ehurCH 
wf  the  right  sort.'    Wo  rode  out,  and  he  found  what 
he  wanted  m  the  ancient  slaie  quarnes  of  Bngnal 
and  the  ruined  Abbey  of  Eggleatone     I  observed 
him  noting  down  even  lb?  peculiar  liule  v^'Ud  flow- 
ers and  lierbs  that  ace.ldenlally  grew  round  snd  ou 
the  Bide  of  a  bold  crag  near  hi?  ini ended  cave  of  *-'uy 
Dentil  j  and  could  not  help  sny^og,  that  ap  he  waj 
not  to  be  upon  oath  in  hia  work,  daipie.*.  vtoletsi*  and 
prim  rosea,  would  be  as  poeucal  as  any  of  the  bumble 
plant*  he  was  examining.    I  laughed,  m  ^hort,  at  hw 
finmpulousm^fis ;  but  1  underaiood  htm  when  he  re- 
pheri  '  that  in  naiure  bereelf  no  two  ^cpes  are  eit- 
netly  alike,  and  that  whof^ver  ^•opied  truly  what  was 
[Kfore  his  eyes,  would  tosbcss  the  *iame  vanety  in  hts 
diiBcriptiijns,  and  exhibit   appareniiy  m\  unaguia- 
tion  as  boundless  a»  the  range  of  nature  m  tht*  scenea 
he  recerdod;   where  a*— whoever  trusted  to  imnfr!- 
naiioOt  would  ftwrt  find  his  own  mind  ciTcumscn' 
Y^vil  and  cnntracKid  to  o  ftiW  fav«unie  tmages,  and 
the  rope  til  ion  of  these  would  aoon^^  or  later  nroctuce 
ihnl  very  moooiony  and  barene*^s  wbtcli  had  alwnys 
hfiotitLd  descriptive  pociry  in  the  band^of  sriy  but 
ihe  patient  worshippers  of  rrmb-    Besides  wiiich, 
he  ^id,  '  hicol  nam*s  and  j  tccul  ion  ties  mal^^  n  ticti- 
tious  siory  look  ao  much  better  m  thr  facfl.      Irt 
fact,  from  his  boyish  habits,  he  was  l>ut  half  sabafied 
with  the  most  beautifnl  ecenery  when  he  could  not 
connect  with  it  some  local  legend,  and  when  I  waa 
\  forced  somrtameslo  confpsa^  with  rheKmfe-ffnnder, 
'Slory  !  God  b^'  -■■  pui!  1  have  none  to  tell,  sir— be 


3it  for  feeling  as  they  outfhi. 

We  peregrinated  over  otanroore,  and  visited  the  Gas- 

of  Bowes,  Brough,  ApiplebT.  and  Broogbanii  with 

U  internee.    jLeat  our  spicit  or  eVfvalrx  thus  excited 


178 

womd  lau^  and  say,  *  theii  let  iia  make  o^e-rno- 
thing  so  easy  aa  to  make  a  tradition.* "  Mr.  Mor- 
litt  ad^a,  that  he  had  brought  with  him  about  half 
the  Bridal  ef  Triermain— told  him  that  he  meant  to 
hrinff  it  out  the  same  week  with  Rokeby— andpromi- 
aed  himself  particular  satiafoction  in  laying  a  trap 
/or  Jefrey's  who,  however,  as  We  shall  see,  escaped 
the  snare. 

^ome  of  the  following  letters  will  ahow  with  what 
rapidity,  after  having  refreshed  and  stored  his  me- 
mory with  the  localities  of  Rokeby,  he  proceeded  in 
the  composition  of  the  romance  ;-- 

7^  J.  B.  SL  MorriU^  Etq. 

"  Abbotsford,  12th  OMober,  1812. 
"My.dcarMorritt, 

"I  have  this  morning  returned  from  Dalkeith  House, 
to  which  I  was  whisked  amid  the  Airy  of  an  election  tem- 
pest, and  1  fodnd  roar  letter  on  my  table.  More  on  such 
a  subject  cannot  oe  said  among  friends  who  gire  each 
credit  for  feeling  as  they  ouj[ht. 

tie*  -.,.,- 

great  interest.  jLest  our  spidt  or  cMvalrx 
should  lack  employment,  we  found  oursdfyes,  that  is,  / 
did.  at  Carlisle,  ennged  in  the  serrice  of  two  distressed 
ladies,  being  no  otner  thaa  our  friends  Lady  Douglas  and 
Lady  Louisa  Stuart,  who  overtook  ua  there,  and  who 
would  h^^G  h»d  fffrit  troiiMc  Iri  flin^^injr  fir-r.-rt — -,  the 
lilc-tEum  hi-Miif  JQ  tult  TiLjtmr,  if  '■■  ■■  I'l'l  i"-  !■  ■  'ed 
thftW  piJ3EKle,  a.nA  ^ctntp%\  n  yw'  y-  \.-'^\-~--  •■' *.\  ■.■'■■  of 
hoklifiJ^  uiali.  turtle  iJlatreAA  ori'nr  I  "M.  1  ..^  ..':-\  i.,  ;:;:.,  ng 
(Jif  ^alttuf  daniiifilSL,  whosfi  cn^t  1  ^larj  ikin  ^i^  cjirt? fully 
cnnpidc  reJ,  for  1  lieard  a  (Ma)iJiiLi?ntal  ^xcUcniiiQii— '  Am 
]  to  fil^ef^i)  wUh  this  fri^^hoLirbdB?'  which  [  (roncivpii  to 
proceed  iroin  L^ily  tbugUa**  suwantf^  from  !'■  -*  -■  ■  Ite 
senviLillif  df  \\me  ytWh  \vlikh  it  wa«  iiUrt'  Ut 

ai  ]  bf  had  Ihc  fair  one  tks^^nd  Unju  the  -  Itn 

thren  half'brpmifl  Yotcinif^i  of  a  ntrrcL  in  her  ehuki  Not 
biTinff  it  It]  tuy  pow^r  to  illeriatn  her  wnrs,  tiy  otPring 
her  ekb«r  a  juitt  or  the  wb,ii!e  oT  my  own  couch—'  Trim- 

"  1  BUI  dellgbted  with  yditr  CtiiubfirlnJid  aiimirer,*  and 
giTe  liim  crcilii  for  hiarSfiit  lo  t?ie  vincncalor  f>f  ifoioer  : 
\t\\t  Villi  rr.i.;^**pi  i-^T-i'-  of  ^fcn"^ii*^r  (irtfl^r^phon.  wh-v  nst:^«ed 
RuS-tLi^-  \\^^  „--- ii  Tii^rtL  1  UiL-an  tlLiiural  Julm  Mztlcolm, 
the  Persian  envoy,  the  Delhi  resident,  the  poet,  the  i*ar- 
rior,  the  poHte  man,  and  the  Borderer.  He  Is  really  a 
floe  fellow.  I  met  him  at  Dalkeith,  and  we  returned  to- 
gether ;— he  has  Jast  left  me,  after  drinking  his  coff^ 
A  flne  time  we  had  of  IL  talking  of  TroT  town,  and  BabeL 
and  Peraepolis,  and  Delhi,  and  LBDcbolm,  and  Bamfeot;t 
with  all  manner  of  episodes  alK>uC  Mkendier  Rostsn,  and 
Johnnie  Armstrong.  Do  yoa  know,  that  poem  of  Per- 
dusPs  must  be  beautifliL  He  read  me  some  very  splen- 
did extracts  which  he  had  himself  translated.  Should 
you  meet  him  in  London,  1  have  given  him  charge  to  be 
acquainted  with  yon,  for  I  am  sure  vou  will  like  each 
other.  To  be  snre  I  know  htm  little,  out  I  like  his  ftrank- 
ness  and  his  sound  Ideas  of  morality  and  poller ;  and  I 
haie  observed,  that  when  I  have  had  no  great  Ukiog  to 
persons  at  Ufa  begtnnhig.  It  has  usually  pleased  Heaven, 
as  Slender  says,  to  decrease  It  on  further  acquaintance. 
Adieu,  I  most  mount  my  horse.  Our  last  journey  was  so 
delightful,  that  we  have  every  temptation  to' repeat  it 
Pray  give  our  kind  love  to  the  lady,  and  believe  me  ever 
yours,  ^ 

Waltm  Sdfo." 
Totktaamc 
"Edinburgh.  29th  November,  18121 
<«Mydearlfbrritt  ^ 

**  I  have  been,  and  am  still  working  very  hard,  fn 
hones  to  Ikce  the  public  by  Christmas,  and  1  think  1  have 
hitherto  succeeded  In  throwing  some  Interest  fcito  the 
piece.  It  is,  however,  a  darker  and  more  gloomy  Inter- 
eat  than  I  intended ;  but  Involving  one's  self  with  bad 
company,  whether  in  fiction  or  in  reality,  is  the  way  not  to 
get  out  of  it  easily ;  so  I  have  been  obliged  to  bestow 
more  pains  and  trouble  upon  Bertram,  and  one  br  two 

*  This  alladed  to  a  ridicalous  hunter  of  lions,  who.  befng  met 
bf  Mr.  Morritt  in  tJie  groands  at  Rokeby,  diaeiaimed  all  taste  ftr 
nenuesque  beauties,  but  overwheMed  their  owner  with  Homeric 
Qnek ;  of  wbtcb  he  had  told  Soolt. 

^  Bumfoot  is  the  name  of  a  fwm  bouse  on  the  Buccleaeh 
estate,  imI  far  from  Lanfbohn,  where  the  late  Sir  John  Malcobn 
sndhisdistincmsliedbrothsiBwewbnrD.  Their  gmndfather  had. 
I  believt,  fooad  rsAic*  thne  after  fbrfmtHir  a  (oed  estate  and  an 
aocisnt  baionetcjr  In  the  a^slr  of  17I5.  A  moounent  to  the 
saUant  General's  memory  has  recootijr  been  erected  near  the  spot 
oi  Ittsbirta. 


UPB  9F  Sm  WALTER  SOOTT. 


tta^kgords  whom  he  ^leka  mis  tins  Blsia«iMths,(ki 
what!  orlgtaaBy  designed.  I  am  Terr  dMUWl  to  \m 
your  opinion  of  the  three  ftrst  Cantoa,  for  which  ptenm 
so  soon  as  1  oan  get  them  coMscted,  I  wU  ssad  m 
sheeu  ondor  cover  Co  Mr.  Freeling,  whose  osnipQlal 
frank  will  transmit  them  to  Rokebv,  where.  1  prena^ 
you  hava  bsen  long  since  comfortably  settleo— 

*  So  York  shall  overk>ok  the  town  of  York.' 

"I  trust  you  will  read  It  with  some  partiality,  bscuM, 
if  I  have  not  been  so  successful  as  1  could  wish  in  de- 
scribing your  lovely  and  romantic  glens,  it  has  piith 
arisen  from  my  great  anxiety  to  do  it  well,  which  Is  olei 
attended  with  the  very  contrary  efl'ect.  There  are  tsi 
or  three  songs,  and  particularly  one  in  praise  of  Irigai 
Banks,  which  1  trust  yoo  will  hke— because,  cnfrt  ma,  I 
Hke  them  myself  One  of  them  Is  a  Unto  dasbiaf  bssdi 
son^  calledfand  entitled  AEen  a-Dale.  1  think  jos  vd 
be  able  to  lodge  for  y ouraelf  in  about  a  week.  Frtj,  hot 
shall  I  send  you  the  entire  goote,  which  will  be  too  het^u 
travel  the  same  way  with  Its  fiUeU^iot  the  Csriuit 
coach  Is  terribly  inaccurate  aboot  parcels.  I  ft^u  I  iurt 
made  one  blunder  In  mentioning  the  brooks  which  flov 
kito  the  Tees.  I  have  made  the  Balder  distinct  fron  Ik 
which  comes  down  Tborsgin->>I  hope  I  am  not  mistikia 
You  will  see  the  passage ;  and  if  they  are  the  same  rin- 
aet,  the  leaf  muat  be  cancelled. 

"  I  trust  this  will  find  Mrs.  Morritt  pretty  well ;  sad  lis 
glad  to  find  ahe  has  been  beU*  for  her  litUe  tour.  V« 
were  delighted  with  ours,  except  In  respect  of  its  iboit 
duration,  and  Sophia  and  Walter  bold  their  heads  rery 
high  among  their  untravelled  companions,  finom  the  |m- 
domhiance  acquhred  bv  thehr  visit  to  England.  Tmir 
not  perhaps  aware  ot  the  polish  which  is  supposed  to  W 
acquired  by  the  most,  transitory  totercoufse  wkhfosr 
«  refinod  side  of  the  Tweed.    There  waaan  hoois 


carter  who  once  applied  to  roe  respecting  apian  wbiekk 
had  formed  of  breeding  his  son,  a  great  hoobv  of  tmstf, 
to  the  Church.  As  the  best  way  of  evading  the  acnpt  I 
aaked  him  whether  he  thoqght  his  eon's  hupuge  vm 

guite  adapted  for  the  use  of  a  public  speaker  1  to  wtikb 
e  answered  with  great  readiness,  that  he  coukl  kap 
English  with  any  one,  having  tvrice  driven  his itther^etft 
to  Etal  coal-hm. 

*'I  luive  caUed  my  berolna  Matlkk.    I  don*t  mock  liki 
Agnea,  though  I  can't  tell  why,  unless  it  is  beeasM  k  if 


glaslikeAgaiL.  MatUdalsanameofunmaniceaUelen^; 
*  ^  It  Is  better  than  none,  and  iny  poor  dsatf 

^  ^  go  without  one  in  mv  indecision. 

"We  are  ul  hungering  and  thirsting  for  news  fros 


but  after  a&Tit  Is  better  than  none,  and  m  poor 
was  likely  to  go  without  one  in  mv  indecisloi 

"We  are  ul  hungering  and  thirsting  foi  _. 
Russia.  If  Boney's  devil  does  not  help  him, ha  Is ji« 
m>or  way.  The  Leith  letters  talk  of  the  nnanitnlty  of tK 
Roaslans  as  being  most  exemplary ;  and  troops  poors 
fhom  all  quarters  of  their  fanmense  empire.  Thstr  es» 
miosariat  la  well  manased  mider  the  Prince  Duke  of  Oid» 
burgh.    Tide  was  their  weak  polm  in  former  svars 

"  Adieu !    Mrs.  Scott  and  tlie  litUe  people  send  Vm  » 
Mrs.  Morritt  and  you.    Ever  yours, 

WALmflOWT" 

To  the  Same. 
"Edinburgh, Thursday,  10th  December,  ISA 
«' My  dear  Morritt, 

**l  have  juat  time  to  sav  that  I  have  received  jouf 
letters,  andam  delighted  that  Rokeby  pleases  the  owner. 
As  f  hope  me  whole  will  be  printed  off  before  ChristoiA 
it  will  scarce  be  worthwhile  to  send  you  the  other  shMO 
tin  it  reaches  you  altoeether.  Your  criticisms  are  (m 
best  proof  of  your  kind  attention  to  the  poem.  1  9^ 
not  say  I  will  ray  them  every  attention  In  the  next  cditioa. 
But  some  of  me  faults  are  so 'interwoven  with  the  sK^ 
that  they  must  stand.  Densil,  for  histance,  Is  esseaw  ■ 
nle,  though,  as  you  say,  not  venr  interesting ;  and  Isssv* 
yon  that,  generally  speaking,  the  poela  loquitur  hMS  dh 
eflbciiin  narrative ;  and  when  you  have  iwenQ^thinfsf 
teU,  it  is  better  to  be  sUtlernly  than  tedioua.  The  ftci  A 
that  the  tediousness  of  many  really  good  poems  ariae< 
from  an  attempt  to  support  the  same  tone  throi]^|(M^ 
which  often  occasiona  periphrasis,  and  always  stiiEa<^ 
I  am  quite  sensible  that  I  have  often  carried  the  oppoffi« 
cnstom  too  far;  but  I  am  apt  to  impute  It  partly  (o  ^ 
being  able  to  bring  out  my  own  ideas  weU,  and  partly  c 
haste-~not  to  error  hi  the  system.  This  woidd,  ho««T^< 
lead  to  a  long  discussion,  more  fit  for  the  fireside  thss  fm 
a  leUer.  I  need  not  say  that,  the  poem  being  hi  foot  jooi 
own,  you  are  at  perfect  liberty  to  dispose  of  the  sheett 
as  vou  please,  I  am  glad  my  geography  is  pretty  coftecL 
It  is  too  late  fo  Inquire  if  Rokeby  is  Insured,  for  I  hsve 
homed  it  down  In  Canto  V. ;  but  I  suspect  you  will  bear  oi 
no  greater  grndge  than  at  the  noble  Russian  who  bontf* 
Moscow.    Glorious  news  to-day  from  the  north— fsre* 


LIPK  OF  SIR  WAlWR  .SCOTT. 


m 


■entitoUra.)liDnm;  ftad  T  am,  bi  great  hatte,  eter  ftith- 

"  P.a— I  have  heard  of  Lady  Hood  bj  a  letter  flrom  her- 
nU:  8be  la  well  and  in  high  spirits  and  aenda  me  a 
prettj  topax  aeal,  with  a  taUaman  which  aecores  thfa 
letter,  md  viftiifiea,  (ft  aeema,)  which  one  would  scarce 
iMTe  expected  from  its  appearance,  mj  name." 

We  are  now  do^e  upon  the  end  of  this  busy 
twelvemonth ;  but  I  must  not  turn  the  leaf  to  ISta, 
without  noticing  one  of  its  miscellaneoue  incident*— 
his  first  intercourse  by  fetter  wilh  the  poet  Crabber 
Mr  Hatchard,  the  publisher  of  his  '^Tales,^'  for- 
warded a  copy  of  the  book  to  Scott  as  soon  as  it 
was  ready ;  and,  the  bookseller  having  communica- 
ted to  his  aathor  some  flattering  expressions  in 
States  letter  of  acknowledgment,  Mr.  Crabbe  ad- 
dressed him  as  fbUowa  ^~- 

7b  WaUer  Stott,  Siq^  EdUtkurgh.     * 
''Hcraton,  Grantham,  IBlh  Oetofcrer,  1612. 
•«r, 


"Kr.  Hatchard,  judghig  rishtiv  of  the  laUsfkctfon  it 
would  afford  noe,  has  been  ao  ooUginf^  as  to  comomnicate 
jtik  two  lettava.  In  one  g(  which  yoo  dealae  »y  ^  INilei' 
to  b«  tent ;  in  the  other,  you  acknowledge  the  receipt  of 
them;  and  in  both  you  mention  my  verses  in  auch  terma, 
tlttt  it  would  be  affected  in  me  were  I  to  deny,  and  I  think 
oajtut  if  1  were  to  conceal,  the  pleasure  you  give  me. 
I  ioi  io^ed  hishty  gratified. 

"1  have  long  entertained  a  hearty  wish  to  be  made 
kaown  to  a  poet  whose  works  are  so  greativ  and  so  tafi- 
vermUy  admired ;  and  I  cominued  to  hope  tnat  I  might  at 
ioine  time  find  a  common  frieiu\  by  whose  Intervention  I 
Blight  ot>tain  that  honour ;  but  I  am  confined  by  duties  i|ear 
my  home,  and  bv  sickness  in  IL  It  may  be  loojS  before  I 
be  b  town,  and  then  no  such  opportunitv  mCght  offer. 
Szcttse  me,  then,  sir,  if  I  gladly  aeize  this  which  now 
oeeors  to  express  my  thanaS  for  the  politeness  of  your 
fj^resaiona,  as  well  as  my  desire  of  beiog  known  to  a 
featleman  who  has  delighted  and  affected  me.  and  moived 
all  tlue  pas«K>ns  and  feelings  In,  torn,  I  beiieve^Bovy 
sordy  excepted— certainly,  If  I  know  myself,  but  in  a 
moderate  degree.  I  truly  rejoice  in  your  success :  and 
wiiile  I  am  entertainhis  in  my  way,  a  certain  set  of  readers, 
forihe  moat  paitt,  poooably  of  a  peculter  turn  and  baWt, 
1  caa  with  pleasure  see  the  effect  you  profluce  on  all, 
Mr.  Hatchard  tella  me  that  he  hopea  or  expects  that  thou- 
nnds  will  read  my  'Tales,'  and  lam  convinced  that  your 

Sbliaher  might,  m  like  manner,  so  speak  of  your  ten 
)atands ;  bat  this,  though  it  calls  to  mind  the  passsge. 
hue  true  comparison  with  the  related  prowess  of  David 
iad  flauL  beeauae  I  have  no  evil  spirit  to  arise  and  trouble 
me  oa  tne  «»ccasion  ;  though,  if  I  had,  I  know  no  David 
vtKweakill  is  so  likely  to  allay  It.  .  Once  more,  she,  accept 
my  best  thanks,  with  my  hearty  wishes  for  your  Jtoakb 
and  happLaeas,  who  wiu  with  great  eateem,  and  true 
reipect, 

Dear  air,  your  obedient  servant. 

GSOBOS  CaASBS.*' 

I.cannot  prodiice  Scott's  reply  to  this  communi- 
cation. Mr.  Crabbe  appears  to  have,  in  the  course 
of  the  year,  sent  him  a  copy  of  all  his  worksi  "ex 
done  auctoris,"  and  there  passed  between  them 
*everal  letters,  one  or  two  of  which  I  muat  ^ote. 

To  Walter  Seott,  Sag,  Edinburgh, 

''Know  you,  sir,  a  gentleman  In  Edinburgh.  A.  Bmn» 
toDi  (the  llev.,)  who  dates  8t  John  fltreet,  aii(>  who  aska 
aiy  lasistance  in  fumiahing  hymne  which  have  retattion 
,  ]^  the  Old  or  New  Testament— any  thing  which  mteht  ault 
^  PQrpose  of  those  who  are  cooking  up  a  book  of  Scotch 
JWMdyl  Who  Is  Mr.  BruntonI  what  Is  his  situation  1 
in  eoold  help  one  who  needed  help  I  woold  do  it  cheer* 
'aOy^bat  have  no  great  opinion  of  this  undertaking.  .  .  . 
«...   With  every  good  wish,  yours  sineerriy, 

Gso.  CaABsa." 

Scott's  answer  to  this  letter  expresses  the  opinions 
be  fuways  held  in  conversation  on  the  important 
ntbtect  to  which  it  refers ;  and  acting  upon  which, 
be  iumself  at  various ,  times  declined  taking  any 
part  m  the  business  ad,vocated  by  Dt,  Brunton. 

7b  the  Rev.  George  Crabbe,  JHereten^  Cfrantham. 
"My  dear  Sir, 

**!  was  favoured  with  your  kind  letter  some  time 
|io>  Of  aU  people  in  tlie  world,  I  am  lesat  entitled  to 
aemaod  regularity  of  eorreapondeoce ;  for  being,  one 


wblj  ojvii  anoihrr,  4iuH[!>iijcd  lo  a  gTt\Ml  dad  mott  writing 
LbiD  SEiJiif  uir  milolcDCD,  1  am  laaietiinef  tempted  Iff  envy 
Itie  reverftnJ  b^ruilt  of  PrajfUftt  cimfassof  It*  the  iilecc  of 
Qupcn  Qorbodiic,  who  ncv^r  ™w  either  (leu  or  itilc  Mr.  , 
Erujitoti  ta  B  very  fespPCUiliie  clcmyuiaci  of  Ediijbur)tb» 
aciil  I  telieT^*?  ibe  *urk  io  which  he  hai  wjUcitc^iS  your 
Kfrt^tAtMico  id  one  sdorled  by  the  G<>ii(>ral  Asieinbly,  t*f 
CotiTticitiof]  fif  tho  K^rt.  I  havo  pu  f^otkjii  thai  lie  lias 
Mnjr  individual  iuUiCaat  \n  it;  he  in  a  wtll  *fduc*tfti!  and 
liirei^rtti-niinEtAd  fnnni  ajiJi  gi'iie  rally  tJteemed,  I  liave  flo 
particular  iu:.qU4ititaric  e  wriih  Iihii  mjiteU^  (bnujfh  w*?  apeak 
kifietber,  Uc  \iAl  ihls  verj  uiomeut  iiliinK  an  tht  tiuU 
ji^ile  of  tliL^  bur  of  our  KupTtiine  Cunrl,  wHttln  wliicli  S  au 
faffiin^  MAclnjrk  ;  but  as  he  Ib  Ticsarinji  the  ofUnton  of  ihe 
JuilgCiS  upnri  an  acUon  for  luJjjuifritaUofi  uf  «tl|iend(o  him 
BTid  !'>  \\h  brtthun,  U  wouM  ijt>Et  1  ranctite,  be  a  very 
favmirable  idne  lo  canva*s  a  biorary  U^inv,  Bui  you  are 
qriitn  tufn  wktl»  him;  uid  hftVipjE  bcj  n>uch  comniarid  r>f 
ecflpdim)  liusguagci,  which  6i>^i*?or»  id  nic  csfscntlal  in  the 
dpiV(?Eit)tial  pociry  of  ChrfaUAni^  I  am  stir*i  you  can  aialtt 
his  tv!irj.T«jR(*  much  more  than  any  ni^ti  alKc. 

"Ithirtif  tho^c  liytnnii  which  \k>  fot  IturDodlntcly  re- 
call the  warra  ajid  eiaHed  lonsuag'*  of  the  Biblfi  are  upl 
lu  bCi  Tii^wevfr  rli^pint,  mtber  crtM  arjil  (lat  Tor  dii  por- 
poflie*  of  tle^irrtioo.  You  will  TcadU^f  belieTe  thai  t  li**  not 
apprr^Te  &f  [he  va^ue  find  IrriLftcritftinsty  ScdplVire  laij- 
j^ia^^  whk'li  t}if^  TanMif  ^  of  otrl  and  tFie  iiirMj^rn  Met  bo- 
il iatu  haTi3  a'lojjtffi,  bnt  ineicTy  that  solemntly  arul  necurt- 
tttHy  of  iSclSrin,.  wliic^i  at  once  put*  th«  rt'ailcr  and  bearer 
ujum  hi*  guard  aa  in  thfi  purpcjap  of  the  pof?iry.  Tta  my 
Goihic  ear,  lnd->etl,  Ihu  matttt  Mater,  (h?  Di>j  /re,  add 
(tomp  of  (hi?  other  hymos  of  the  t'athiiTic  Churdij  are 
mftre  snkmn  ari' I  affecting  Ih&ii  the  fin i^  claatictl  jwctry  , 
13 f  Buchanan  ;  The  nfac  haa  th?  glotun t  d jj n cry  of  a  Otjthlc 
church,  aqd  retnlrxJ*  lia  InataiitW  uf  the  wnr»hip  to  which 
it  is  dffdicari?d  ;  the  olhftf  U  mh^e  like  m  PftgMi  tpraplc, 
rfcaHif ijf  to  niirniomory  rhe  ckftalcaj  aud  fabulous d«U(c a.* 
Thia  iHj  nrobahly^  all  reftrable  to  tho  ac*ijclatltnj  of  idma, 
that  iJi,  !r  ihs  atsodation  of  Id^^aa  eontiouvB  to  be  the 
untversaJ  pick  lock  of  aJl  melxiphysJcal  difflculUca,  as 
jt  waa  whtn  1  Btndted  mnnl  philotriphy— or  Io  an^ 
other  innrp  faahlcwiablc  unlTeTwal  aojvent  which  may 
kava  iiieteeded  to  H  in  reputation.  Adi&u,  niy  dest 
aJr^— 1  hope  ycti  an^  jwf  famJly  wit!  lofi|  enjoy  aD  hap- 
plaesi!!  and  prcffiperlty,  Ne^i^r  he  discoursificd  from  Ihc 
{!r>nBtant  uaa  of  your  chaniiing  talent  -  The  oplatom  of 
rtvSewer*  ar**  r<eiit]y  ton  conifft*flctory  (n  faund  any  tJiing 
upon  thenin  whethc^r  ihay  are  faTOunb}?  or  ot}f#rwSar  ; 
for  It  \b  uflually  Ihoir  nj-intripal  objecl  to  dliplay  the  abiU- 
i](<B  of  [hr-  wntrfBof  the  f:fiiifai  lueubrationatheiudelvea. 
Vour  ■  Talff'  arc  unWetTiaily  Bd mired  here,  t  fo  hnt 
lilile  niiti  bnt  the  few  judjT^a  who^e  opimona  I  hiva  be<?ii 
Ei^taflt Dined  to  Iwik  up  to,  are  unanlinoftB.  Eref  youn« 
Liioet  trulv,  WaiTBa  FooTt.'* 

To  Walter  SeoU,  E^q.  Edinburgh. 
"  My  dear  Sir, 

'■''  l^w,  iheoj  la  yoijr  profeaston— 1  mean  a  profpsalon 
you  g\ve  your  tnind  and  iuii*3  to— bui  hflW  *  fag  &3  a  derA  V 
Clprk  iti  a  iiamB  f&r  Fi  lepUT!*td  pfirnon,  1  Icjiow,  \n,  ouf 
f'hurch  ;  bm  how  the  rboh!  hand  which  held  l^ia  pen  of 
Morrjiion,  holdfl  that  which  a  clerk  fif  a^  im^flBa  a  cl^rk 
meani  Bamethlng^  Taatij  more  than  I  nmlffTilBiid—Sa  not 
tn  b<?  cnmpT»?henHlsd.  i  wail  for  elucidation.  Know  yoff^ 
ileiT  »|ir,  1  hflTfl  ofleu  thought  1  ahould  lo^^  loread  rfporit 
—I  bat  ia,  tiritff  hl^toriea  of  f:jrtraorditiajy  cases,  wSth  the 
judprLienl*.  If  that  ii  what  ia  meant  by  nports^  mch 
r^pvdtng  foiJBt  ba  pteaaant^  but^  {irohably^  lenLartain  i«roag 
Mea^  ftnii  coold  r^ot  uoderteaiid  th«  btioka  1  think  ao  en- 
iraftinf.  Yet  I  cnoctudic  Ihtrc  are  his{€frim  qf  ctuci,  an4 
We  oftefl  Ihoui^ht  Cff  coniuUtng  Hate  hard  whether  ha 
knew  of  Biich  kind  of  readlnf^  but  hitbt?r(o  1  h^te  rasted 
in  Ipiorance,  .  .  ►  .  > Your*  truly, 

Th  th&  Rn .  GeoTgt  Crahiie. 
"M^  dear  Sir, 

"  1  haTo  toolon^  dfflajrertto  thank  you  for  the  flsoBi  kind 
and  acceptable  preaeat  of  your  three  vahinn??^  Now  am 
1  doubly  armed,  aince  Ihave  a  set  for  my  cabin  at  Abhoia* 
ford  as  well  as  in  town  ;  and,  to  any  truth ^  the  nninJiary 
copy  arrivod  in  good  time,  for  my  orf^iaal  tine  ^luScrs  as 
mMch  by  U^  general  popislar Ity  (unon^  my  ymoiig  peopli*, 
aa  TL  popular  candkints  from  tiic  hti^^  and  ombr&cea  of 
hii  dfj'mocraticat  ndrtiErers,  Th*!  deamen*  and  acruracy 
tjf  Totjr  paint ii;g^  whether  natiimt  cir  innraTr  r^ndera.  1 
have  Dfteti  ramarkefi,  yonr  workf  gtetitraUy  dehp:htrul  io 
tboae  whna«  TO^Uh  ntight  rend«>r  them  hiai^tiBiblf^  to  tlia 
oiber  beau  lifts  with  whicl>  Ihr^y  abound-  Thrrc  ere  a 
^nrl  ctf  pic mrea—fu rely  iho  un.iit  vaSualtle,  wero  H  but 


«  0a»  life  or  Drrden,  ScoU  «  M»cci 
1  P-  s"^'  Digitized 


^S;^(55§1^' 


^^L^JJ^^'^'^y'^f^^  "^T**  t^»«  «nlo»ti*ted  as  much  •• ,  eiUejOMl  into  coxiemqudttaon  jjriib  it«»ranlhoL.vho 

r«im  for  ^la  itdinlr*iS«t]      ^ndp^iJour  M't  rnrnA  \\r<ftirf:    y.Ug,  tWav^raam  .miaWt  rui^  W»^J  lJr^ilA%^«A^ 

toU\  *t>Bi*firn]r  l^*^  fmrt  tfi*  ^^ih  on  rhe  sMe  of  TiIb  Vi^nlun  i  »tftttll|r the  wntei»4l  afce'fo^j/t/^^tn.  "^CQit  IflTttod 
ff  rt'^meri  amitfM  Nflt  tf|in<1ttn^  tiifh-ndiiff  crillgami  bu!      ^f®  ^?^",tP  ^^*  )iim  111 IbjltjOUntTy,  A^TM  fiT^Uy 

r^>r)'*  Afti^raJk,  U  a  r%hiti<^ti  ptmtu  cpt^d  bp  pr^iiticcd,  I  pleasea  witQ  the  tnoaesty  brois  matmerd  and  me 
mm  niLk4i!M  k  Wff^iiTJ  hre  tijtf  ciiiirs  th^nfis^ivca,  ahiI  a/i  '  originality  of  hiscoDveraation,  and  wrote  to  JpaAoa 
Hov  ihp  wh^!c  rca*ling  ivorH  wHh  the  «pl«*n.  ,  Bauiie,  that,  "  (hough  not  orte  of  the  crimps  lor  jtbe 

♦;  Vra  miipiijj;!  ddiiibiAiUy  »jtiiatfd  In  ttie  Vati?  of  flpi-  |  mofles,''  be  ^hoaght  he  eouW  hastily  be  mfetaJten  in 
I?yr''  ^T  '*y.^""^f' '  f'V*^^^ '  '  r^*'^«*i^,'^  ^r^^  i;l  ibeUering  that  in<he  boyish  ahthor  ofl>olydorehe 

■Hjtri.liM  BorJ^ror  1  ^rn  hippy  to  ihicik  Ui»i  yaur  ^»-  He  eottOfiued  m  corre«pottd  Willi  this  yoong  genrte 
fcijii  sj  aijd*r  die  nmiiciioti  of  itie  Huiiwiii  rkiiiiiy,  of  i  "^n  vM  m«  lather,  ana  gave  Dp itt  much  advice, 
wiu^Li  tiuije  ■[icoks  jkjgbiy.    Our  tonj  of  the '  &&lru  iind  I  lOf  wfoeh  both  were  most  grateful.    Ther^  was  vi- 


sorted  in  the  flame Tohune  a: fletof  beautiful  stan- 
zas, inscribed  to  Scott  by  Mr.  Wlflbti.''^der1he 
title  of  the  *'M4BicJli|rar,'<  in  whieik'  thtt  enthusi* 


iln"  fenur/  WtuU  wj  Mi;  1 11^99  ariKJ  himiprj  blll^,  for  1(1011  J  q 
^pdjrue  JircmrnJ,  is  the  DuXi-  of  Buf  ckneX  the  head  tjf  xuy 
clui ;  !L  Itinri  ajid  hcnc^ot^^TiL  laDdbrii^  &  wnrui  ijiJ  w^kmfi 

fra'fld,  and  i]j+'  fiuniumi  of  A  Uiit— iwm*««  ii  n  aia  j>fw.   ^stio  Mrtiin|r  noet  aUo^ewa  a  loQvAnd  lasting  testl- 
Tlit? rtre  E>oai «rcfti  nJ^iiirflr*  ^fBjr.  Ctahb^'^ |>oetxy, and  I  mony to  the  gentle  kindness  wirti  which  hiscailier 
wijiild  ha  bapj]^  Lo  kn*iw  ham  shhu).    ho  ever  ciitJia  tq  j  IflrL.;-  k«!f  kiL«  Itio!^^^ 
Sciir^^Wvenmr.^  into  i he  Gothk  hills  of  n  IJ^rd«r  ^  ^«fi«5^W  be^c^^^ 

wH h  the  friendihip  oi  th^  Uta  and  jirusflnt  L-ir J  Mul^*;    on^of  h» fliandlOfC  lulea^  (h^t of     The Orett Ma* 

ecidbled  ifie,  viibie  yearfi  ivft^t  lo  «xrLmb|e  ni^  MU  n^f- 

h-^Tfiu^T,  fur  Hit;  htrmtivc  ajjii  remjiecUEiU  ^iluaUoa  of 

rjic  of  Ui«  Cl^rkv  of  f-ur  Fqprciue  Ccmrt,  which  ordy  re^ 

qiurEUA<Qrti(Q  mutjiur  of  offielalctuLy,  [ii^tiher  laijoriuuB 

tMt  cnHing  foraiiy  eiif  rUou  of  Ihc  mlfiil  i  »ii  thnl  itiy  Um'< 

id  ^liftly  «I  luy  owo  f^Jiurtiaiul,  cjtcf-ftf  whcti  latu  nltnhd' 

iujz  the  CoijJl,  wJiich  fipUlomiicuupitii  umre  tliaD  luro  huure 

i?f  the  EilortiiEUl  <juring  nitthi|.     I  WRJiku  h^'H  in  ctfrnmeji- 

damth^  Bhtr'siLUHu  of  &ETi4;t:  Forodl,  uhjch  ii  asfW  no 

!unre,  as  Dogberry  dtty&  Hwo  ioWii*ftfl4j  cVfry  iJimjt  Idiid 
iiPiii'iiiAuoMi  me." 

'  I  hVfii  ofifiQ  thought  it  U  itii'  mn^  ktrtntuait  tlHu^  for 
ba-^iU  U]i,«  yog  jj)d  rii?  tii  Uaw  jui  cfrlJihUfllieil  |>rQfi?«'P4iga» 
ind  ^it^Uynii^tntd  char^ier,  lu  rertd«?r  u^i  md^'perulcnt  of 
,  tfjiifr?  wtjrihy  K^uitleuitii,  [ha  rtiUdorVi  or,  mw  timte  hox? 
rjJUU  jiirni,  thi?  ujiiiwivop  uf  htervtuio.  who  are  so  (imch 
lAk'-M  II  t^  wi£jj  ili«  Ahontoii^  thciy  hrinfi  into  iba  worhL,  Lhu 
tut:^  jir»j  ec4(cHy  ^bLe  to  be#iow  [^ic>  ptH>|M.'r  cir»>  MpoA 
young  AH  d  fli>iij  in  hi  n^  h4liea  li  k  a  o  n  r-?.  Thai .  1  ioivev<*r,  iv 
u^iy  a  EiitrcviLik  vra;^  of  tttokinir  at  the  rnarter ;  but  <.Jid 
AiiX  of  luy  ^D^ehaw  ito^hr-ai  tah^nt,  of  which,  tu  iiiy  irrept 
^AliFftcJifni  tht'Ju  arc  no  ap|»9«Lnknii^«ii,  (J|j»  firtft  thirif  I 
k|jQuL1  tJu  M-qoirtb^^  tf>  moilcmu^  upon  hJiii  (hi;  tlutj  of  cnh 
lif4ijii|f  a?iDe  hoDOUHLLle  profcartoii,  nnd  n*iidifyiiui  hlm^ 
wpU  to  ptojr  ft  jnoj*  reifj-^ctahilr  pnn  in  socirjy  lh«Ji  Uic 
iof]r*?  popr  And  an  the  ttoit  tnhtllirT  of  my  iWETini\  I 
woiilil  muktf  iHffi  f^i  ynuTlhlr  nf  *The  Pfttrdn'  l>y  httan 
fniHi  beftinRmn  tn  end,  tt  >«  curious  4!!qonxh  UtHt  you 
^ould  Ijave  r«pubU<h«d  tho  '  Vjikf^pf  for  the  intmoft-  of 
■waling  ynur  yoojw  ntf^n  m  colkge,  und  I  ilujuld  hav*j 
vuli^n  ttu^  L*y  of  tlit;  Xjimi  Miri^trt'l  fortlic  purpoae  of 
hii,vjit«^  ft  nev  ho  fie  for  ihe  Vriluottflr  Catairy.  I  uiuirt: 
TioMf  seud  tbix  ncnvtl  lutu  lown  to  «et  a.  fhiuk,  for,  fioU  i 
Ifhowa,  H  |«  not  worthy  of  pDila^G  With  Uie  WMtiiu*!  ' 
i*1*h"S  for  fotir  hcaltJi^  proprpftntr,  junJ  locrfM^  of  lanu'  i 
— tJianitJj  ft  needi  not^l  i*ibjUi»  tiiosft  di>aerdy  *n*i  flfftc-  I 
[[■.■ii.jUi'iyyour-^  ... 

WAtTHH  Bawf.'" 

The  eafifr»«t  of  fhe  two  |>*wrB*  firiiitolafy  #ryl<^9  i^ 
JTigtily  nmii*inij ;  but  I  jiave  introduc^l  tW+^  speci-  ' 
iticns  lesa  on   that  account,  ibaii  aa  juaikiiii?  tlisn , 
oordial  contiaetict;  whieh  ^  very   litlje  iiitttcoursM^ 
wfis  ^[ifRcient  4o  e^siablish  Ijctwecn  utf^n  siidifTerent  I 
fr^fti  e«(;h  oihtu-  m  ini>sE  of  Thi:i  halnie  of  fjfo.     It 

fr,^nT^f!™^Vr?.,^  r  hwt»ry,  lliBtbfwa^Mif  ^Jg  co^rg  upon  |he  wwlui  of  human  ait  .Th«cCaiiy 
fTJcnd  of  every  grtflt  contemp.rarv  pMtt  Cl^bb^^  ,  Sreiigth  of  the  wi<yam'caaUe»»  which,  vben  raw. fiw  the 
qa.nre  Bbi^i  »^  more  Inrgdy  id  the  se^iueE,  wa>  nu  ,  hand  of  ihe  buJW«r,  isfenred  <tthr  the  ODpretsive  poww 
aaetiptton  to  Ibe  rule  i  y^t  1  caaM  hirdW  ntr^ie  ont^  r>f  the  barona  who  reared  theiik  la  nvw-bfoken  by  partul 
€^r  them  who,  msjrjJy  lithjciple*  siad  the  cnliivurmn  ruin  imo  prpper  subjects  for  the  poet  or  the  painter ;  and, 
Af  IjtereiiiTP  apiiti,  t*)Tif  iimny  pomt*  ofriiUPnihlnnet    ^  Maspn  has  beautifully  described  the  change, 

«Xini5 

Has  mouldered  into  beauty  tnanr  a  towi*r, 
Which  when  \t  froWn€*d  with  all  its  battlen»enf«> 
Was  only  t«rriWe.'^^-*-    . 
"  The  monastery,  too,  which  was  it  fli^  but  s  fanl««t*c 
monument  of  tha  suixnstitious  dev^Uosof  onosrchs,  or 
of  the  purple  pride  of  rattened  abbota,  has  gained  by  tD« 
silent  inHuence  of  antiquity,  the  power  of  impressing  s^* 
rad  devotion.    Ereh  tne  Mslns  imd  wesfhertaints  upon 
the  b*nls<nents  of  m6h  biiiMirtfs  sdd  Jike  the  acsts  or* 
veteran,  to  the  affeeiing  fwpresskm  -.  OOQ IC 


**  Onwards  i^ure  caoxe,  with  stately  brpw, 

And,  at  he  ilaoced  upon  the  rum'd  pile 
A  look  of  regal  pride,  '  Sar,  who  art  thou 
.  <His.counteiisncehrighrninf  with  a  scornful  sodle. 
He  jMemty  orled,) '  whtMe  footalens  rash  oro&ne 
The  wild  romaoU&  realm  where  I  have  wuled  to  mign  V 

<*  Boc  ere  to  these  prond  words  leoold  reply. 

How  changed  that  scorn  fUl  €ice  to  soft  a^idlBild  f 
'  A Witchh»g  frenzy  slitter»d  te  his  ^e, 

HarmleiB,  withal;  ss  thitt  of  pUtyfxil  child. 
'  And  when  once  more  the  gradous  vision  spoke, 

I  Mt the  voice  fiuniliar  to  mine  ear: 
'  While  many  a  faded,  dream  of  earth  awoke,  . 

Connected  strangety  with  that  tmknoimaeer, 
'  Who  now  strefch'd  forth  his  arm,  and  on  the  sand 
A  cfrele  round  me  traced,  as  wnh  m^clan's  wud,** 
dec.  itc. 

<Seot«*s  own  aMef  contribution  to  thiflvokiine  wse 
a  brief  aooount  of  the  Life  and  Poems  (hitherto  en- 
published)  of  Patrick  Carey,  whom  he  pronounces 
to  haye  been  not  only  as  stout  a  Cavalier,  bur  tdmp9t 
aa  good  a  poet,  as  his  contemporary  Lovelace,.  .That 
Essay  waa  expanded,  and  prefijtea  to  an  edition  of 
Corey's  "Trivial  Poems.Mid Triolets,''  Which ScoU 

euhlithed  in  1820;  but  ite  circulation  in  either  shape 
as  been  limited :  and  I  beliefve  I  shall  be  gntifVing 
the  marjorhy  of  my  readers  by  bere-'transcnouig 
3K>me  pffragniphs  of  his  besutilm  and  bighlreharac- 
leristic  introduction  of  this  forgone^  poet  of  the 
1 7th  ccintury. 

"The  present  ago  has  been  sa  Uisthifuisbed  for  r- 
^esTch  into  poetic^  antl4uftie9«  that  theCDScO^erycn^ 
imlknown  bard  la,  In  certain  chosen  Uterafy  circles,  WW 
H-is  curious  ta  an  adgmentation  of  the  nnmber  of  vxed 
rtivs  would  be  esteeOMd  by  Mtrodomers.  It  4e  tme. 
these  *  bussed  iwinklew  of  tb«  night'  are  so  ftor  rtoioved 
froSi  ua,  that  they  afibrd  no  more  liglu  thanjervea  barely 
to  evince  their  existence  to  the  curious  InveMigator;  and 
in  like  manner  the  gleMUre  derived  from  U»e  vevi^  of 
^  obscure  poet  la  rather  In  proportion  to  the  rsrity  of  bis 
volume  titan  to  its  merit;  yvt'thia  pi«sawre  iS:BOC  inceo- 
liaient  with  reaaoa  and  prinoiple.    We  ioiow  bf  ^^^, 


rf>  Ijitn;  nnd  surudy  n*>t  oitc  wit fi  had  fever  tbftn 
^rtibhe. 

tj^jrah  Aqntjal  R«^9t«r^tlie  Ui**lorioil  dei>flrlin*nt 
\A  wUieh  was  Agati^  supplied  by  Mr,  Soudiey*  Tii€? 
*ufi[icfll  nwacdlaoy  Owed  ill  ojicning  pierp,  ihe  Un\- 
Ift.l  of  Polydore,  to  the  rvadiuets  with  which  8™tt 

L^^lit  "^  1*^1  '^^'^^  Hswtnf  lrt*iii  eod^eij  in  ffnnknl  co 
H  tinahb  » iflli  tbt  tsaet  dsM  to 


LIFE  OP  SIR'WaLt^  afCd+T. 


*^  time  hs»  8ofttoe<f  what  d^  harsh  when  tew, 
And  now  the  stains  are  aH  or  sober  hue  : 
The  livha;  suins  which  nature's  hand  alone, 
Profhse  of  life,  pours  forth  upon  the  Blone.'— CVa66«. 

"Ifsoch  Is  the  efffect  of  Time  in  adding  ihtereat  to  the 
MxFora  of  the  atchitect  if  partial  deatraciion  is  compen' 
•ited  by  the  additional  interest  of  thai  wiiicb  remains, 
can  we  deny  his  exerting  a  similar  influence  upon  those, 
•objects  whicli  are  songht  after  by  il)e  bibliographer  and 
pwfical  antiquary?  The  obscure  poet,  who  is  detected 
or  ihfiir  keen  research,  may  indeed  iiave  possessed  but  a 
rieoder  portion  of  that  spirit  which  has  buoyed  up  the 
works  of  distinguished  cooteniporaries  during  the  course 
of  centaries.  yet  stfD  his  verses  shall,  in  the  lapse  of  Uine, 
aequfre  art  tnterestt  which  they  did  not  possess  in  the 

r  of  his  own  generation.  The  wrath  or  the  critic,  like 
of  the  son  of  Qssian,  flies  from  the  foe  that  is  loW. 
Eiwy,  base  as  she  is,  has  one  property  of  the  lion,  add 
cMDot  prey  on  carcasses  ;  she  must  drink  the  blood  of  a 
•emienr victim,  and  tear  the  Hrabs  that  are  yet  warm  with 
nw  life>  Paction,  if  the  ancient  has  suffered  her  perse- 
eatloD^  serres  only  to  endear  him  to  the  recollection  of 
portenty,  whose  generous  compassion  overpaya  him  for 
die  iojnries  he  sustained  while  in  life.  And  thus  freed 
from  the  operation  of  aU  unfkvourable  prepossessions,  his 
merit,  if  he  can  boast  any,  has  more  than  credit  with  bis 
Mtders.  This,  however,  is  but  part  of  his  adjantagea. 
The  mere  tribute  of  antiquity  is  of  itself  sufllcient  to  In- 
tereai  the  fancy,  by  the  lively  and  powerful  train  of  asso- 
cfciteos  which  it  awakens.  Had  the  pyramids  of  Egypt, 
eqwBy  disagreeable  in  form  and  senselc.-^s  as  touSlity, 
oeee  the  work  of  any  living  tyrant,  with  what  feelinga, 
M«<e  those  of  acorn  and  derision,  could  we  have  regarded 
«ch  t  waste  of  labour  1  But  the  sight,  nay  the  very 
oration  of  t^ese  tronderftal  monuments,  ia  associated 
wlh  the  dark  and  sublime  ideas,  which  vary  their  tinge 
•ccon&ig  to  the  favourite  hue  ofonr  studies.  The  Chrls- 
w»  dhrtns  recoHepta  the  land  of  banishment  and  of  refuge ; 
toijevyeof  the  historian's  Ifency,  they  excite  the  shades 
MPtnraoheand  of  Ptolemies.  orCheopeand  Merops,  and 
«eoMrl8 drawn  in  triomuh  by  his  sceptred  slaves;  the 
pbawopher  beholds  the  first  rays  of  moral  tjnuh  aa  they 
wwB  on  the  hieroglyphic  sculpturea  of  Thebes  and 
Memphis  J  and  the  poet  sees  the  ftres  of  magic  blajsing 
«gon  the  mystic  altars  of  a  land  of  incantation.  Nor  is 
w  grandeur  of  size  essential  to  such  feelings,  any  more 
tasa  the  properties  of  grace  and  utility.  Even  the  rudest 
remnant  of  a  feudal  tower,  even  the  obscure  and  almost 
Qndiftingiii<t1iable  vestige  of  an  altogether  unknown  cdi- 
ice,  baa  power  to«waken  auch  trafaia  of  fancy.  We  have 
a Hik>w  Interest  with  the  ••on  of  the  winged  days,*  over 
"kBMlatten  habbation  we  tread  : 

•The  masay  stones,  though  hewn  most  roughly,  show 
The  hand  of  man  had  once  at  least  been  there.' 

WORDSWORTB. 

*'8hnllar  combinations  give  a  great  part  of  the  delight 
jc  receive  from  ancient  poetry.  In  the  rude  song  of  the 
"MM,  we  recard  less  the  strained  imagery  and  extrava- 
Bttce  of  epithet*,  than  the  wild  Impressions  which  it  con- 
2J*  of  "»e  daumlesa  resolution,  savage  superstition, 
jjje  fcsthdty,  and  ceaseless  depredations  of  the  ancient 
Jronavians.  la  the  metrical  romance,  we  pardon  the 
«|,  tedk>ua,  and  bald  enomeralion  of  triflinK  particulars  j 
'  £•  Generated  sameness  of  the  eternal  combaU  between 
"Hghts  and  giarUa ;  the  overpowering  languor  of  the  love 
2*wh€»,  and  the  merciless  length  and  similarity  of  de- 
•en[xioo— when  Fancy  wlUepera  to  us,  that  such  strains 
««y  have  cheered  the  sleepless  pillow  of  the  Black  Prince 
en  the  meomrBOle  eves  of  Cressy  or  Polctiers.  There  is  a 
wrtaio  romance  of  Ferumbraa,  which  Robert  the  Bnicc 
2«a  to  hia  iew  followors  to  divert  their  thoughts  from  the 
«^>eiate  circ4unstanoes  in  whksh  they  were  placed,  attcr 
M  hotticcossfui  attempt  to  rise  against  the  English.  Is 
STiW^I**^'*^*^^"'*"  ^'^**'  ^oing*waf«  of  this  anecdote, 
J^m  be  thsposcd  to  yawn  over  the  romance  of  Fcrum- 
"Mj  Or,  on  the  contrary,  would  not  the  image  of  the 
™ue8s  hero,  inflexible  m  defeat,  beguUing  the  anxiety 
"J»  war-worn  aUendanrs  by  the  lays  of  tlie  minstrel 
g»«  to  these  rude  lays  themselves  an  interest  beyond 
«»•<*  wd  Roman  feme  ?" 

Themr  1812  had  the  usual  share  of  minor  lite- 
wy  }ab9ur8;--Buch  as  contributions  to  the  journals : 
r«  More  u  closed,  the  romance  of  Rokeby  was 
flnwhed.  Though  it  had  been  Ion;?  in  hand,  the 
' ,.  LS?"  *P  ^'^  printer  bears  abundant  evidence  of 
-15?"1W.'^  P^^^,  <^"»*«  •  three  cantos  at  least 
jetcfied  Ballantync  through  the  Melrose  post— writ- 
ten on  paper  of  various  sorts  and  sizes— full  of  blots 
«w  mtca-bn^iions— the  dosing  couplets  of  a  di«- 


f)atch  now  and  ihenencireliog  the  iMige,.an«l  muti- 
at^d^y  the  breajkiog  of  the  seal.  > 

According  to  the  recollection  of  Mf.  Cadetl,  thounh 
James-  Ballaotyiie  read  ih»^  poetBt  ae  the  abeMs 
were  advancmg  through  the  press,  to  hieusunl  ^role 
of  litei^ry  diMtanH,  their  whispers  were  tter  f^m 
excitmg  in  Edinhurjg^  such  -an  intensity  of  expecta- 
tion as  had  been  witnessed  in  the  caseiQf  The  Lady 
of  the  L.ake. ,  He  adds,  however,  that  it  was  fooked 
for  with  uodiminiahed  anxiety  in  the  South.  *^  Seqd 
me  Hokthy"  Evrpn  writes  to  Murray,  on  seeing  it 
ad¥ertised.r-"  Wbo  the  devil  is  he'i  f«p  matrar-^he 
has  good  connexions^  and  wiU  be  well  introdttced."-* 
Suon  I  suppose  was  the  general  ^ling  in  London. 
I  weH  remember,  being  ra  those -days  a  young  stu- 
dent at  Oxford,  now  the  booksellera'  shops  there' 
were  beleagured  for  the  earliest  copies,  and  haw  he 
that  had  been  so  fortunate  as  to  secure  one,  was 
followed  to  ^i»  chanbeia  by  a  tribe  of  friends,  all 
as  eu;er  toheec  it  read  aaover  horse-jockeys  were  to 
see  the  conclusion  of  a  nmt(;h  at  Newmarket;'  and 
indeed  not  a  few  of  those  eptkiaiaatio  academies 
had  beis  depeD«hng  oct  the  issae  of  the  stnMglt, 
which  tfeey  considered  the  elder  favtvdrtteae  raaRftig; 
to  kaef^  his  own  ground  against  the  fiery  rivalry  df 
Childe  Harold. 

The  poem  was  mibliBhed  a  day  or  two  before 
Scott  returned  to  mhhargh  ftota  Abboteford.  be- 
tween whieh  pUce  and  Mertoun  he  had  divided  hit 
Christmas  vacation.  On  the  9th  and  10th  of  Jan^- 
aiTt  1813.  he  thus  addresses  his  friethis  at  Sontoiitg^ 
hill  and  Hampetead  :-^  * 

To  Qeorg^  BUUy  Stq. 
"My  dear  ^Bl^, 

"  I  am  isure  you  wID  place  It  to  any  thing  rather  thkti 
want  of  kindnees,  that  1  have  been  ao  long  tlTenfr— ao  very 
lor»g.  indee<V  that  I  am  not  quite  aure  whether  the  laultls 
on  my  aide  or  yours— but  be  it  what  It  may,  It  can  nevdf, 
I  am  auret  be  laid  to  tbrgetAilnefls  In  either.  This  com^ 
to  train  yoo  en  to  the  tnerellbl  reception  of  a  Tale  of  the 
Chril  Wara ;  not  political,  however,  bot  merely  a  paeudd- 
romance  of  peeudo-chivalry.  I  iwve  otmveited  a  lusty 
buccanier  into  a  hero  with  some  efl\?ct ;  bat  the  worst  of 
all  my  nndertakinga  ia,  that  my  rogue  always,  in  despit^ 
of  me,  turna  out  my  hero.  I  know  not  how  this  should  be 
—I  am  myeel^  as  Hamlet  aaye,  'lndifl>rent  honest;'  and 
my  father,  though  an  attorney,  (as  you  will  call  him,)  waa 
one  of  the  most  honest  men,  as  well  as  gentleaianKkc.  that 
ever  breathe^.  1  am  sure  I  can  bear  witness  to  that-^ 
fnr  If  he  had  at  all  smacked,  or  grown  to,  Kite  the  son  of  Lan> 
celot  Gobbo,  he  might  have  left  us  all  as  rich  as  Croesus, 
bestdes  having  the  pleasure  of  taking  a  fine  primrose  path 
himself,  instead  of  squeezing  himself  tliron^h  a  tight  gate 
and  op  a  steep  ascent,  and  leavini*  us  the  decent,  compe* 
tence  of  an  honest  man's  children.  As  to  our  more 
ancient  i»erligrce,  I  should  be  loath  to  vouch  for  them. 
My  gnmdfather  was  a  horse-jockey  and  catdedealer,  and 
made  a  fortune;  my  greai-grandtather,  a  Jacobite  and 
trakor,  (aa  the  times  called  him,)  and  lost  one ;  and  after 
him  intervened  one  or  two  halfstarved  lairds,  who  rode  a 
lean  horse,  and  were  followed  by  leaner  greyhounds: 
gathered  with  difficultv  a  hundred  pounds  from  a  hundred 
tenants;  fought  duefs;  cocked  their  hats,— and  called 
themaelvea  gentlemen.  Then  we  come  u>  the  okl  Border 
times,  cattiPKlriving,  halter«i,  and  so  forth,  for  which,  ia 
the  matter  of  honesty,  very  little  I  Buppoae  can  be  aaid^ 
at  least  in  modern  acceotation  of  the  word.  Upon  tljo 
whole,  I  am  inclined  to  think  it  is  owing  to  the  earlier  part 
of  this  inauspicious  generation  that  I  uniformly  find  my- 
self In  the  iiame  scrape  with  my  fables,  and  that,  in  epita 
of  the  most  obstinate  determination  to  the  contrary,  the 
greatest  ronie  in  my  canva»fl  alwayc  stands  out  as  the 
most  conspicuous  and  prominent  figure.  All  this  will  be 
a  riddle  to  you.  unless  you  liave  received  a  certain  packet^ 
which  the  Ballantynes  were  to  havcaeiit  under  Freehng'a 
or  Croker's  cover,  as  soon  as  they  could  get  a  copy 
(lone  up. 

'•'And  now  let  me  grattilate  you  upon  the  renovatad 
vigour  of  you  fiue  old  friends  the  Rus'iians.  By  the  I/>rd, 
sir  I  it  is  most  famous  this  campaign  of  i heirs.  I  was  not 
one  of  the  very  sanguine  person.s  who  anticipated  th* 
actual  capture  of  Buonaparte— n  Iwpe  which  rather  pro* 
ceedcd  from  the  ignorance  of  those  wlio  cannot  conceive 
that  military  movements,  ujwO  a  largo  scale,  adtnit.  of 
such  a  force  being  accumulated  upon  any  particulac 
point  aa  may,  by  abandonment  of  other  considerattons* 
always  ensure  the  escape  of  an  indiviilual.    But  I  ha^iw 

*  Byron's  Life  and  W8^iliF^.yiiVt?fi.^S'^^/ ' 


182 


LIFE  OF  SIR  WALTER  SCOTT. 


hope,  In  my  time,  of  seelog  tba  dir  bones  of  the  Cooti- 
neat  to  warm  with  fife  asiTn,  es  tms  rerttlfieatloo  of  the 
RossiAnt  proTet  them  to  be.  I  look  anxtously  for  the 
dftct  of  these  creat  events  on  Priusbi,  and  even  upon 
Saxony :  for  I  think  Beney  will  hardly  trnst  himself  again 
.tn  Qermany,  now  that  be  has  been  plainly  shown,  both 
liV  Spiin  ana  Russia,  that  protracted  stubborn  unaccom- 
modating resistance  will  /oil  those  grand  exertions  m  the 
long  run.  All  laud  be  to  Lord  Wellington,  who  first 
taught  that  great  lesson. 

"Charlotte  is  with  me  just  now  at  this  little  scrub 
habitation,  where  we  weary  ourselves  all  day  in  looking 
at  our  projected  improvements,  and  then  slumber  over 
the  fire,  I  pretending  to  read,  and  she  to  work  trout-nets, 
or  cabbage-nets,  or  some  such  article.  What  is  Canning 
about  1  Is  there  any  chance  of  our  getting  him  in  1  Sarely 
ministers  cannot  hope  to  do  without  him.  Believe  me, 
dear  Ellis,  ever  truly  yours, 

W.  Scott." 
•  Abbotsford,  9th  January,  1813." 

Th  jifisf  Joanna  BaiUU,. 

"  Abbotsford.  January  lOlb,  1813. 
«*Your  ktnd  encouragement,   my    dear  fHend,   has 

fren  me  spirits  to  complete  the  lumbering  auarto,  Whieh 
hope  hat  reached  you  by  this  time.    1  have  gone  on 
'  with  my  story  fn-th  rights  without  troubling  myself  ex- 
ceasivefy  about  the  development  of  the  plot,  and  other 
critical  matters-— 

'  But  shall  we  go  moar»  for  that,  my  dear  1 

The  pale  moon  shines  by  night ; 
And  when  we  wander  here  and  there, 
We  then  do  go  most  right' 
1  hope  you  will  like  Bertram  tn  the  end  i  he  is  a  Caravag- 
gto  sketch,  which  1  may  acknowledge  to  you^but  tell  it 
not  in  Gath— I  rather  pique  myself  upon ;  and  he  is  within 
the  keeping  of  Nature,  though  critics  will  say  to  the  con- 
trary.   It  may  be  difficult  to  fancy  that  'any  one  shonld 
take  a  sort  of  pleasure  in  bringing  out  such  a  character, 
but  I  suppose  it  is  partly  owing  to  bad  reading,  and  ill- 
directed  reading,  when  I  was  young.    No  sooner  had  I 
corrected  the  hurt  sheet  ofRokeby,  than  I  escaped  to  this 
Patmos  as  blithe  as  bird  on  tree,  and  have  been  ever 
since  most  decidedly  idle— that  is  to  say,  with  busv  idle- 
ness.   I  have  been  bankins,  and  securing,  and  dyking 
against-  the  river,  and  planting  willows,  and  aspens,  and 
weeping-birches,  around  my  new  old  well,  which  I  think 
I  told  you  I  had  constructed  last  summer.    1  have  now 
laid  the  foundations  of  a  famous  back  ground  of  copse, 
witli  pendant  trees  in  front ;  and  I  have  only  to  beg  a  few 
years  to  see  how  my  colours  will  come  out  of  the  canvass. 
Alas!  who  can  promise  thatl    But  somebody  will  take 
my  place— and  enjov  them,  wheiher  I  do  or  no.    My  old 
mend  and  jmstor,  I'riocipal  RoberUion,  (the  historian,) 
when  he  was  not  cxpccled  to  survtve  many  week«,  sUlI 
watched  the  setting  of  the  blo8«om  upon  8ume  fruit-trees 
In  the  garden,  with  as  much  interest  as  if  it  was  possible  be 
could  nave  Ateu  the  fruit  cuaie  lo  maturity,  and  moral-  : 
Ixed  on  his  own  conduct,  by  oi>8cr%ing  that  we  act  upon  t 
the  same  inconsistent  inotivr  throughout  life.     It  is  well  | 
we  do  fco  for  llio»e  that  arc  lo  come  alter  us.    I  could  , 
almost  dislike  the  man  who  refuses  to  plant  walnut-trees,  ' 
because  they  do  not  bear  fruit  till  the  second  generation ; 
and  so— many  thanks  to  our  ancr.siora,  and  much  joy  to 
our  successors,  and  truce  to  my  fine  and  very  new  strain  | 
oftnorality.    Yours  ever,  i 

W.  8."      I 

The  follown.;  letter  leiaus  compl'-'teljr  behind  the 
scenes  at  the  publicaiion  of  Rokeby.    The  *'  horrid 
fltory^'  it  alludes  to  was  that  of  a  younq  woman  , 
found  murdered  on  New  Year's  Day  in  the  highway  , 
between  Greta  Bridge  and  Barnard  Caatle^a  crime, 
the  perpetrator  of  which  was    never  discovered. ' 
The  •ccount  of  a  pariiUel  airoeity  in  Galloway,  and  '. 
the  mode  of  it«  detection,  will  6how  the  reader  from 
what  source  Scott  drew  one  of  the  most  striking 
incidents  in  his  Guy  Mannering :—  l 

To  J.  B.  8.  Morritt^  Esq.,  Rokeby  Park. 

♦*  Edinburgh,  12ih  January,  18ia     i 
"DearMorritt, 

"Yours  1  have  just  received  in  itilne  office  at  the 
Regl8t<»r-Honse.  which  vrtll  excuse  this  nueer  sheet  of 

£per.  The  publication  of  Rokeby  was  delayed  till  Mon- 
y,  to  give  the  London  publishers  a  fair  ?*urt.  Mv  copies, 
thit  is,  my  fiiends';  were  all  to  be  got  olT about  Friday  or 
Saturday ;  but  yours  may  have  been  a  little  later,  as  it 
was  to  be  what  they  call  a  picked  one.  I  will  call  at 
Ballantyne's  as  I  return  front  this  place,  snd  close  the 
totter  with  such  news  as  I  can  get  aooot  it  there.  The 
book  bas  gone  ofl*  very  bobbishly ;  for  the  impression  of. 


ha 


3000  and  upwards  is  wHhin  two  or  three  score  of  being 
exhausted,  and  the  demand  for  these  continuing  fmater 
than' they  can  be  boarded.  I  am  heartily  glad  of  this,  for 
now  1  Mve  nothing  to  fear  but  a  bankruptcy  in  the  Ga- 
zette of  Parnassus  :  but  the  loss  of  five  or  six  thousand 

iimds  to  my  good  friends  and  school-companioos  wooU 
javo  afllicted  me  very  much.  I  wish  we  could  whlsUs 
you  here  to-day.  Ballantrne  always  gives  a  chri^eniog 
dinner,  at  which  the  Duke  of  Buccleuch,  and  a  great 
many  of  my  friends,  are  formally  feasted  Ue  hasalvrays 
the  Seat  singing  that  can  be  heard  in  Edinburgh,  and  w« 
have  usually  a  very  pleasant  party,  at  which  your  health 
as  patron  and  proprietor  of  Rokeby  will  be  i^thfully  and 
honourably  remembered. 

"Your  iiorrid  story  retfainda  me  of  one  in  Galloway, 
where  the  perpetrator  of  a  similar  enormity  on  a  poor 
idiot  girl,  was  discovered  by  means  of  the  print  of  his  fool 
which  he  left  upon  the  clay  floor  of  the  cottage  in  ibc 
death-struggle.  It  pleased  lleaven  (for  nothing  short  of 
a  miracle  could  have  done  It)  tn  enlighten  the  undersxaod- 
ing  of  ail  old  lam-headed  sheriflT,  who  was  usually  nick- 
named Leather-head.  The  steps  which  he  took  to  dis- 
cover the  murderer  were  most  sagacious.  As  the  poor 
girl  was  pregnant,  (for  it  was  not  a  case  of  violation,)  it 
was  pretf  r  clear  that  her  paramour  had  done  the  deed, 
and  equallr  so  that  he  must  be  a  native  of  the  district. 
The  .sheriff  csuscd  the  minister  to  advertise  from  the  pul- 
pit that  the  girl  would  be  buried  on  a  particular  day,  sod 
that  all  persons  in  the  neighbourhood  were  invited  to 
attend  the  funeral,  to  show  their  detestation  of  such  ss 
enormous  crime,  as  well  as  to  evince  their  own  innocence 
This  was  sure  to  bring  the  murderer  to  the  fnnexaL 
When  the  people  were  aaserabled  in  the  kirk,  the  doOTt 
were  locked  by  the  6herifi''s  order,  and  the  shoeeof  afi 
the  men  were  examined  ;  that  of  the  murderer  was  de- 
tected by  tlve  measure  of  tlie  foot,  tread,  dec.,  and  a  pace- 
liarity  in  the  mode  in  which  the  sole  of  one  of  them  kad 
been  patched.  The  remainder  of  the  curious  chain  of 
evidence  upon  which  he  was  convicted  will  suit  best 
with  twilight,  or  a  blinking  caudle,  befog  too  long  for  a 
letter.  The  fellow  bore  a  most  excellent  character,  sai 
had  committed  this  crime  for  no  other  reason  that  coiM 
bo.  alleged,  than  that,  having  been  led  accidentally  into  aa 
intrigue  with  this  poor  wretch,  his  pride  revolted  at  tiie 
ridicule  which  was  likely  to  attend  tne  discovery. 

"  On  calling  at  Oallantyne's,  I  find  as  I  had  anticipated, 
that  your  copy,  being  of  royal  size,  requires  some  par- 
ticular nicety  in  hot-pressins.  It  will  be  sent  by  the  Vv- 
Vi9W  mvAX  qudm  primum.    Ever  yours, 

Walter  Scott. 

"P.8.~lK>ve  to  Mrs.  Morritt.  John  BaUantyne  says 
he  has  just  a(>out  eighty  copies  left,  out  of  9360,  this  befog 
the  second  day  of  publication,  and  the  book  a  two  gnfoea 
one." 

It  will  surprise  no  one, to  hear  that  Mr.  Momtt 
assured  his  friend  he  considered  Rokeby  as  the  best 
of  allhis poem.  The  admirable,  perhaps  the  ttniqnd 
fidelity  ot  the  local  descriptions',  rai;iht  alone  have 
swayed,  for  I  will  not  say  it  perverted,,  the  judgmeDt 
of  the  lord  of  that  beautiful  and  theiiceforih  clasa- 
cal  domain ;  and,  indeed,  I  must  admit  that  I  tiever 
uiidt  rstood  or  appreciated  half  the  charm  of  this 
poem  until  I  had  become  familiar  with  its  scenery. 
But  Scott  himself  had  not  designed  to  rest  his 
strength  on  the^o  de!»crir)tionp.  He  said  to  James 
Hnllantyne  while!  he  work  was  in  progress,  (Septem- 
ber 2,)  I  hope  the  ihinR  will  do,  cViiefly  because 
the  world  will  not  expect  from  me  a  poetpof  which 
the  interest  iurn3  upon  charadcr  ;"  and  in  another 
leiler,  (October  28,  1812.)  '*1  think  you  will  see  the 
same  sortof  dilFerence  taken  in  all  my  former  poems, 
—of  which  1  would  say,  if  it  is  fair  for  me  to  tsy 
any  thinx«  that  the  force  in  the  Lay  is  thrown  on 
style— in  Marmion,  on  description — and  in  the  Lady 
of  the  Lake,  on  incident.'**  I  suspect  some  oi 
these  distinctions  may  have  been  matters  of  uitex- 
ihotighr ;  but  as  to  Rokeby  there  can  be  no  mistake- 
Hi-?  own  original  conceptions  of  some  of  its  principal 
character:^  have  been  explained  in  letters  already 
cit' (i :  and  I  believe  no  one  who  compares  the  poem 
with  his  novels  will  doubt  that,  had  he  undertaken 
their  portraiture  in  prose,  they  would  have  come 
forth  with  effect  hardly  inferior  to  any  of  all  the 


*  Several  letldia  to  BaUaDtjnw  on  the  game  • 
in  the  notes  to  die  but  edition  of  Rokebr-  See  Beau's  f. 
Work*,  IM4.  vol.  ix.  pp.  1—3 ;  snd  especiallj  tbenolecn  p.  ^ 
from  which  it  appears  that  the  ek»inr  stanza  was  added,  ia  dt^fif 
eooe  to  Ballantyno  and  Enkioe,  though  the  autbsr  rrtaiord  hm 
ownopiiiion  thai"tlspoiled  one  efiiMt  witlKNapcoduciBgaf»(lMK> 


LpE  OF  SIR  WiliTBR  SCOI^T. 


mmpm  he  eyer  creatodL  An  it  is,  I  guestran  who- 
tacr  eren  in  m  proM  there  is  aojr  tmng  more  ex- 
qaune\y  wnnight  oat,  as  well  as  fanciecL  than  the 
whole  contrast  of  the  two  rivals  for  the  love  of  the 
heroine  in  Rokebv;  and  that  heroine  herself,  too, 
has  a  yery  particnlar  interest  attached  to  her.  Wri- 
tins  to  'Miss  Edgeworth^ve  yean  after  thi  time, 
(10th  March,  1818.)  he  says,  '*!•  have  not  read  one 
of  my  poems  since  they  were  printed,  excepting  last 
]F«ar  the  Lady  of  the  Lake,  which  I  liked  better 
than  I  expected,  but  not  well  enough  to  induce  me 
to  go  through  the  rest,  so  I  may  truly  say  with  Mao- 

*  1  am  afraid  to  think  of  what  I've  doQ»~ 
Look  on't  again  1  dare  not/ 
"This  much  of  Matilda  I  recollect— (6>r  that  is  not 
so  easily  forgotten) — that  she  was  attempted  for  the 
flxistinK  person  oft  lady  ^ho  is  now  no  more,  so 
that  I  am  particularly  flattered  with  your  distin- 
gsiBhing  it  from  the  others,  which  are  in  general 
mere  shadows."  I  can  have  no  donbt  that  the  lady 
be  h^^  alludes  to,  was  the  object  of  bis  own  untbr- 
tmate  first  love;  and  as  little,  that  in  the  romantic 
geneiositx,  both  of  the  youthful  poet  who  fails  to 
win  her  higher  fovour,  and  of  his  chivalrous  compe- 
titor, we  have  before  us  something  moi^  than  ^*  a 
mere  shadow." 

In  s|si0  of  these  fTsoefiil  characters,  the  inimi- 
table scenery  on  which  they  are  presented,  and  the 
8plen<^  vivacity  find  thrilling  interest  oi  several 
cbapters  in  the  story— such  as  the  opeiiing  interview 
of  Bertram  and  Wycliff— the  flight  up  the  cliff" on  the 
ureta— the  first  entrance  of  the  cave  at  BrignaU— 
the  firing  of  Rokeby  Castle— and  the  catastrophe  in 
Sghstone  Abbey;— in  epite  certainly  of  exqmsitely 
happy  lipes  profuselv  scattered  throughout  the  whole 
composition,  and  or  some  detached  images— that  of 
the  setting  of  the  tropical  sun,*  for  example— which 
were  never  surpassed  by  any  poet ;  in  spite  of  all 
these  meritSi  the  immediate  success  of  Rokeby  was 
greatly  inferior  to  that  of  the  Lady  of  the  Lake  t  nor 
has  it  ever  since  been  so  much  a  favourite  with  the 
pobtic  at  large  as  any  other  of  his  poetical  romances. 
He  a8CTil>es  this  fairare,  in  his  introduction  of  1830, 
MTtly  to  the  radically  nnpoetical  character  of  the 
Soundheads ;  but  surely  their  character  has  its  poet- 
ical Bde  -also,  had  his  prejudices  allr^wed  him  to 
euter  upon  its  study  with  impartial  svippatby  :  and 
I  doubt  not,  BIr.  Morritt  suggested  toe  uifficulty  on 
this  scor^  when  the  outline  of  the  story  was  as  yet 
undetermined,  from  consideration  rather  of  the 
poet's  peculiar  feelings,  and  powers  as  hitherto  ex- 
hibited, than  of  the  suojeot  absolutely.  Partly  he 
Uames  the  satiety  of  the  public  ear,  which  had  had 
so  much  of  his  rhythm,  not  only  from  himselti  but 
from  dozens  of  mockingbirds,  male  and  female,  all 
more  or  less  applauded  in  their  day,  and  now  all 
equally  forgotten.f  This  circumstance,  too,  had  pro- 
bably no  slender  effect ;  the  more  that^  in  defiance 
of  au  the  hints  of  his  friend^  he  now,  in  his  narra- 
tife,  repeated  (with  more  nf^lisrence)  the  uniform 
detosyllabic  couplets  of  the  Lady  of  the  Lake,  in- 
stead of  recurring  to  the  more  varied  cadence  of  the 
Lay  or  Mnrmion.  It  is  fair  to  add  that,  among  the 
London  circles  at  least,  some  sarcastic  flings  in  Mr. 
Moore's  **  Twopenny  Post  Bag"  must  have  had  an 


'  Mr  noontide.  India  may  dedaw  i 
,  _ke  btr  fiara<>  ■un,  I  fired  the  air  I 
likahiin,  to  wood  and  cave  bade  Bf 


Her  natiTet,  from  mine  anfry  eye. 

And  now.  my  race  of  terror  rttn» 

Mme  be  tae  eve  of  tropic  sun  ( 

No  pole  fradatioas  quench  hit  reyt 

No  twiliaht  dews  hia  wrath  altay ; 

With  dkk  like  baUle-tarset  red, 

Horuabe*  tohi»DuminaDed. 

Crce  the  wide  wave  with  bloody  Ughi. 

TYtcn  finki  at  once— and  oU  \»  ^ight.  "-*Canw  ti.  21. 
f  **  Beott  fbond  peculiar  favour  and  imitation  avaong  the  fkir 
KS.  Them  wan  Mist  Halford,  ana  MiM  Mitibn),  and  Min 
Pranob ;  bat  with  the  greatest  respect  be  it  cpoken,  none  of  hia 
Wtatort  did  much  honour  to  the  original,  excent  Honr.  the  Et* 
tbek  Mwpherd,  until  the  appearance  of 'The  Bridal  of  Triermain' 
lad  *  Harold  the  DauotleM/  which,  in  the  opinion  of  Mrae^  equal- 
M  if  ncA  iarpatted  him ;  and,  lot  aftet  throe  or  four  yoara.tbey 
torati  out  to  bo  the  ooaater*!  owa  oompotoioiu."— Btkom,  vol. 
s*.  pi  it. 


darker  passion  of  ChUde  Harold,  the  audacity  of  its 
morbid  voluptuousness,  and  the  melancholy  mides> 
ty  of  the  numbers  in  which  it  defied  the  world,  ndd 
taken  the  general  imagination  by  storm :  and  Roke^ 
b)^with  many  beauties  and  some  sublimities,  was 
pitched,  as  a  whole,  on  a  key  which  seemed  tame  in 
the  comparison. 

I  have  already  adverted  to  the  fact  that  Bco$^  felt 
it  a  relief;  not  a  fatigue/  to  compose  the  Bridal  of 
Triermain  pan.jxuni  with  Rokeby.  In  answert 
for  example,  to  one  of  James  Ballantyne's  lettersi 
urging  accelerated  speed  with  the  weighti^  ro- 
mance, he  says,  "  I  fully  share  in  your  anxiety  to 
get  forward  the  grand  work;  but,  I  assure  you,  I 
leel  the  more  confidence  from  coquetting  with  the 
guerilla." 

The  quarto  of  Bokeby  was  followed,  within  two 
months,  by  the  small  volume  which  had  been  de- 
signed for  a  twin-birth  r-the  MS.  had  been  trans- 
cnbed  by  one  of  the  Ballantynes  themselves,  in 
order  to  guard  against 'any  indiscretion  of  the  press- 

ople ;  and  the  mystification,  aided  and  abetted  bjr 

'skine,  in  no  small  degree  heightened  the  interest 
of  its  reception.  Except  Mr.  Morritt,  Scott  had,  sa 
far  as  I  am  aware,  no  English  confidant  upon  this 
occasion.  Whether  any  or  his  daily  companions  in 
the  Parliament  House  were  in  the  secret,  I  have 
never  heard  ;  but  I  can  scarcely  believe  that  any  of  y 
tho%e  intimate  friends,  who  had  known  him  and 
Erskine  from  their  youth  upwards,  could  have  for  a 
moment  believed  the  latter  capable  either  of  the  in- 
vention or  the  execution  of  this  airy  and  fascinating 
romance  in  little.  Mr.  7efirey,  for  whom  chiefly 
*'  the  trap  had  been  set."  was  far  too  sagacious  to  be 
caught  in  it ;  but,  as  it  happened,  he  made  a  vo3rage 
that  year  to  America,  and  thus  lost  the  opportunity 
of  immediately  exi)reA8ing  his  opinion  either  of 
Rok^y  or  of  tne  Bridal  of  Triermain.  The  writer  in 
the  Quarterly  Review  seems  to  have  been  complete- 
ly deceived—**  We  have  already  spoken  of  it,'*^  says 
the  critic,  **  as  an  imitation  of  Mr.  Scott's  style  of 
composition  j  and  if  we  are  compelled  to  make  the 
general  approbation  more  precise  and  specific,  we 
should  say,  that  if  it  be  inferior  in  vigour  to  some  of 
his  productions,  it  equals  or  surpasses  them  in  ele- 
gance and  beauty;  that  it  is  more  uniformly  tender, 
and  far  less  infected  with  the  nnnatural  prodigies 
and  coarseness  of  the  earUer  romances.  In  estima- 
ting its  merits,  however,  we  should  forget  that  it  is 
ofiered  as  an  imitation.  The  diction  undoubtedly 
reminds  us  of  a  rhythm  and  cadence  we  have  heard 
before;  but  the  sentiments,  descriptions,  and  cha- 
racters, have  qualities  that  are  native  and  unbor- 
rowed. —Quar^cr/y  Review,  Juiy,  1813. 

If  this  writer  was,  as  I  suppose,  Ellis,  he  probably 
considered  it  as  a  thing  impossible  that  Soott  should 
have  engaged  in  such  a  scheme  without  giving  him 
a  hint  of  it ;  but  to  have  admitted  into^  the  secret 
any  one  who  was  likely  to  criticise  the  piece,  wopLd 
have  been  to  sacrioce  the  very  object  of  the  devtce. 
Erskine's  own  suggestion,  that  *' perhaps  aquizxipal 
review  might  be  gut  up,"  led,  I  believe,  to  nothing 
more  important  tJian  a  paragraph  in  one  of  the 
Edinburgh  newspapers.  He  may  be  pardoned  for 
having  been  not  a  httle  flattered  to  find  it  generally 
considered  as  not  impossible  that  he  should^  have 
written  such  a  poem ;  and  I  have  heard  Ballantyne 
say,  that  nothing  could  be  more  amusing  than  the 
style  of  his  coquetting  on  the  subject  while  it  was 

•  See,  for  inaUnce.  the  Epittle  oflsdy  Corke-  or  thctof  Means. 
Lackinffton,  bookiellen,  to  one  of  their  dandy  authoFB— 
*•  8Eoalu  yoa  feci  tmj  toueb  of  pottieal  |law 
We'f  t  a  sohcne  to  •as(«t— Mr.  Sootl,  yon  fauat  know, 
(Who,  we'rt  wiry  to  •*/  it,  now  worka  for  th«  /?oi*,> 
HAvfnff  qniited  Ui«  Borden  to  aet k  new  reaowo, 
U  eomliii  by  lonf  Qoarto  ilafca  to  town. 
And  bagiaiiiof  with  Rokebjr ,  (Ui«  )oV»  lur*  to  pay.) 
Mnns  to  do  all  the  gentlemen's  aeata  on  the  way- 
Now  tite  attlMme  la,  thoufh  non*  of  onr  haekneya  e«o1>tat  hfa, 
To  atart  a  new  Foai  tbroof  h  Hlf  bgaU  to  meet  him  ; 
Who  by  roeana  of  quick  proof* — no  reviaea— long  coachea 
May  do  a  few  Villas  bafore  Scott  approaohaa ; 
Indeed  if  our  Fegaaoa  be  not  aunt  ahabby.  t    ^ 

H*^  raaeb,  wtUioat  fottndnrtag,  at  iMtat  Wobtm-Abbey,*'  fte.  ta. 


Lll^  Ot  StiL  WitTEk  scdift. 


wfc ilwlli; bat whenitiii' fir$t exticetneht was  dver, 
in  n«iMr«(l  fe^R  of  what  wa^dud  t6  himself  as 
-irali  as  to  his  (heoa,  dietated  manf  a  remonstrance^ 
snd,  ttaoa^  he  nltioiately  aequieaced  in  permitting 
another  minor  voniance  to  be  put  forth  in  the  same 
Aanner,  he  did'  so  reluctantly,  and  was  far  from 
aeting  Iub  pan  eo  weU. 

Scott  says,  in  the  Introduction  to  the  Lord  of  the 
Islee,  **  As  Mr.  Erskine  was  more  than  suspected  of 
a  taste  "for  poetry,  and  as  I  took  care,  in  several 
nlao^  to  mix  something  that  might  resemble  (as 
far  as  was  in  my  power)  mv  friend's  feeling  and 
manner,  thle  t/ain  easily  caught,  and  two  lanre  edi- 
tions were  sold."  Among  the  passages  to  which  he 
here  alludefi)  are  no  doubt  those  in  which  the  charac- 
ter of  the  mmstrd  Arthur  is  shaded  with  the  colour- 
ings of  an  almost  efiemihate  gentleness.  Yet,  in 
tho  midst  of  them,  the  *'  mighty  mmstrel"  himseli; 
from  time  to  time,  escapes :  as,  for  instance,  where 
the  lover  bid^  Lucy,  m  that  exquisite  pictive  of 
crossing  a  mountain  stteam,  trust  to  his  ^*  stalwart 
arm*'— 

"  Which  could  yon  oak's  prone  trunk  uprear.^' 

Nor  can  I  pass  the  compliment  to  Scott's  own  fair 
p^roness,  where  Lucy's  admirer  is  made  to  confess, 
with  some  momentary  lapse  of  gallantry,  that  he 

"  Ne'er  won^besc  meed -to  mftirtrel  tnic— 
One  tatouriDf  smile  firom  Mr  Bucoleuch;" 

ntor  the  burst  of  genuine  Borderism,— 

"  BewcMtle  now  must  keep  the  hold, 

8oelr- Adam's  ■teeds  muBt  bide  in  stall ; 
Of  Hartley  bum  the  bowmen  bold 

Muit  only  shoot  (torn  ftatUed  whU  } 
And  Lidderaale  may  hackle.fpur. 

And  Teviot  now  may  belt  the  bnUid, 
Turas  and  Ewes  keep  nightly  stir. 

And  Bskdale  foray  Cumberland.*— 

But,  above  all,  the  choice  of  the  scenery,  both  of  the 
Introdtfctions  and  of  the  story  itself,  reveals  the 
early  and  treasured  predilections  of  the  poet.  For 
who  that  remembers  the  circumstances  of  his  first 
visit  to  the  vale  of  St.  John,  but  must  see  through- 
out the  impress  of  his  own  real  romance?  I  own  I 
am  not  without  a  suspicion  that,  in  one  passage, 
'  which  always  seemed  to  me  a  blot  upon  the  compo- 
sition—that in  which  Arthur  derides  the  miUtary 
coxcombries  of  his  rival— 

"  Who  eomealn  foreifu  tratbery 

Of  tinkJhic  ohain  and  spur— 
A  liking  haberdashery 

Of  feathers,  lace,  and  for  ;— 


In  Rowley's  antUiuated  phrase, 
Horae-mfllJner  oi  modern  days ;" 


there  is  a  sly  reference  to  the  incidents  of  a  certain 
ball,  of  August,  1797,  at  the  Gilsiand  Spa.f 

Among  the  more  prominent  Erskinisms,  are  the 
eulogistic  mention  of  Glasgow,  the  scene  of  Ers- 
kine^s  education  ;  and  the  lines  on  Collins,— a  sup- 
plement to  ^hose  Ode  on  the  Highland  Superstitions 
IS,  as  far  as  I  know,  the  only  specimen  that  ever 
was  published  of  ET8kine*s  verse.t 

As  a  whole,  the  Bridal  of  Triermain  appears  to 
ro«  as  characteristic  of  Scott  as  any  of  his  larger 
poems.  His  genius  pervades  and  animates  it  be- 
neath a  thin  and  playful  veil,  which  perhaps  adds  as 
much  of  grace  as  it  tokes  away  of  splendour.  As 
Wordsworth  says  of  the  eclipse  on  the  lake  of  Lu- 
ganb— 

"  ^Tia  simllght  aheathed  and  gently  charmed  ;" 

and  I'thtnk  tliere  is  at  once  a  lightness  and  a  polish 
of  versification  beyond  what  he  has  elsewhere  at- 
tained. If  it  be  a  miniature,  it  is  such  a  one  as  9 
Cooper  might  h^ve  hung  fearlessly  beside  the  mas- 
terpieces of  Vandyke. 

The  Introductions  contain  some  of  the  most  ex- 
qma?te  passages  he  ever  produced :  but  their  general 
oiect  has  always  struck  me  as  unfortunate.    No  art 

*  See  •!•/«,  p.  81. 
^ttjla  te(^idoOi  the  BordM  MiMUebr,  8oott*a  Poetical 


can  reconcilers  to  conten^tuous  a^e  of  tba  me- 
rest frivolitiea  of  modern  lile— some  of  them  already^ 
in  twenty  years^  grown  obsolete—interlaid  between 
such  bright  visions  of  the  old  world  of  romance^ 
when    ^ 

"  BUeagth  was  glgaotip,  Tatoar  hi^,  ' 

And  wiadom  soared  t^yood  the  sky, 
And  beauty  had  such  matchless  beam 
As  lights  not  now  a  lover's  dream." 

The  fall  iscnevous,  fh)m  the  hoaryrnjnatrel  of  Xew^ 
ark.  and  his  feverish  tears  on  IGroecrankie,  to  » 
pathetic  swain,  who  ca%  stoop  to  denounce  tkB'ob*       \ 
jects  of  his  jealousy — 

**  The  landaulet  and  four  blood  bays— 
The  Hessian  boot  and  pantaloon.'' 

Before  Triermain  came  out,  Scott  had  taken  winii 
for  Abbotsford;  and  indeed, he  seems  to  hiA'e  00 
contrived  it  in  his  earlier  period,  that  be  should  imH 
be  in  Edinburgh  when  any  unavowed  work  of  his 
was  published  I  whereas,  from  the  first  in  the  cbmo 
of  books  that  bore  his  name  on  the.  title-paoa  he 
walked  as  usual  to  the  Parliament  House,  spa  oodb 
an  the  buzz  and  tattle  of  friends  and  acquwintanne 
>vith  an  air  of  good-humoured  emianimity,  or  rather 
total  apparent  indifference.  The  followmg  lett«v 
which  contains  some  curious  matter  of  more  kiflds 
than  one,  was  written  partly  in  town  and  partly  ia 
the  country  :— 

To  MlM  Joanna  Batttie^  Bhmp&tead. 

"  £dinbuiigh,  Maroh  13lh,  1813. 
"My  dearest  Friend, 

"The  pinasters  have  arrived  safe,  and  I  can  hardly 
regret,  while  I  am  so  much  llaUered  by,  the  tfoubW  yoia 
haye  had  in  collecting  them.  I  have  got  some  wild  larch, 
trees  from  Loch  Katrine,  and  both  arc  to  be  planted  next 
w^k,  when,  God  willing,  I  shall  be  at  Abbotsford  to  su-  ' 
perintend  the  operation.  I  have  got  a  Uttle  comer  of 
cronnd  laid  oat  foranorsery,  where!  shad  rear  them  care- 
fully dll  they  are  old  enough  to  be  set  forth  to  ptreb  their 
fortune  on  the  banks  of  Twoed.— What  I  shall  finaMy 
make  of  this  villa-work  I  don't  know,  but  in  the  mean  liaB« 
it  is  very  enterta'ming.  I  shall  have  to  reaist  very  natter- 
ing invitations  this  season :  for  I  have  received  hints,  from 
more  quarters  ihap  one,  that  my  bow  would  be  accepiabl# 
at  Carlton  House  in  case  I  ahould  be  in  London,  which  is 
very  flattering,  especially  as  there  were  some  prejudices 
to  be  got  over  in  that  quarter.  I  should  be  in  some  dan- 
ger <n  giving  new  offence,  too ;  for.  although  I  ntterlj* 
disapprove  of  the  present  rash  and  ill-advised  course  of  , 
the  princess,  yet,  as  she  always  was  most  kind  aAd  civil 
to  me,  I  certainly  could  not,  as  a  gentleman,  decUoe  obey- 
ing any  commands  she  might  give  me  to  wait  tqton  her, 
especially  in  her  present  adversity.  80,  though  I  do  not 
aflect  to  say  I  should  be  sorry  to  take  an  opportunity  of 
peeping  at  the  splendoora  or  royalty,  prudence  and  eco- 
nomy will  keep  me  quietly  at  home  nil  another  day.  Mr 
great  amusement  here  this  aome  time  past  has  been  fotn^ 
ahnost  nightly  to  see  John  Kemble,  who  certainly  is  a 


great  artist.  It  Is  a  pitv  he  shows  too  much  of  his  macM- 
nery.  I  wish  he  oould  be  double* capped,  as  they  m  of 
watches ;— but  th«  feult  of  too  much  study  certainly  dotm' 


not  belong  to  many  of  his  tribe.  He  is,  I  think,  very  aratt 
in  those  parts  especially  where  character  Is  tinted  by 
some  acquired  and  systematic  habits,  like  those  of  the 
Stoic  pnilosophy  in  Cato  and  Brutus,  or  of  mlaaothropr 
in  Penruddock :  hut  sodden  turns  and  natural  bursts  of 
passion  are  not  his  forte.  I  saw  him  play  Sir  Giles  Over- 
reach (the  Richard  III.  of  middling  life)  last  night ;  but  he 
came  not  within  a  hundred  miles  of  Cooke,  whose  terrible 
visage,  and  short,  abrupt,  and  savage,  utterance,  save  a 
reality  almost  to  that  extraordinary  scene  in  which  he 
boasts  of  his  own  successful  villany  to  a  nobleman  of 
worth  and  honour,  of  whose  alliance  he  is  ambitioas. 
Cooke  contrived  somehow  to  impress  upon  the  audience 
the  idea  of  such  a  monster  of  enormity  as  had  learned  to 
pique  himself  even  upon  his  own  atroriona  character. 
But  Kemble  vras  too  handsome,  too  plausible,  and  too 
smooth,  to  sdmit  its  being  probable  that  ne  should  be  bliod 
to  the  uufkvourable  impression  which  these  extraordiaarjr 
vaunts  are  liicelv  to  make  on  the  person  whom  he  Is  a» 
anxious  to  conciliate. 

"  Abbouford,  Slsc  Blarch. 

"This  letter,  begun  in  Edmborgh,  Is  to  take  wing  firom 

Abbotsford.    John  Winnos  (now  John  Winnos  Is  the  sob> 

oracle  of  Abbotsford,  the  principal  being  Tom  Purdie>— 

John  Winnos  pronounces  that  (he  pinaster  seed  ought  to 


op^  im^Aiif&ii^Wr. 


i^ 


to  nbad^fim  nn  a  int-bH  •*(!  tb«Bce  trttu^lfeMM  to 
ftDBnery :  ao  la  •  hotbed  they  hftv«  bete  carefbUj  eo«- 
limd.  Che  upper  oraCjle  not  objecting,  in  reepect  hie 
mmt  ue«  in  e«ichinff  a  salmon,  or  finding  a  bare  sitt^— 
on  which  occasions  (being  a  very  completo  Scrub)  h&  so- 
ieranly  exchanges  his  working  jacket  lor  an  old  green  one 
of  nnn«.  and  takes  the  air  of  one  of  Robin  Hood's  follow- 
ers. His  more  serious  employments  are  piotuhlng,  har- 
rowing and  overseeing  all  oiy  premises ;  beuig  a  com- 
plete jackof-all-trades.  from  tKe  carpenter  to  the  shep- 
l^rd,  nothing  comes  strange  to  him ;  and  being  extreme- 
ly iKuiestf  and  somewhat  of  a  Immonrist,  he  is  quite  my 
qght  band.  1  cannot  help  singing  his  praises  at  this  mo- 
Ok«it,  because  I  have  so  moAr  odd  and  out-of-the-way 
thfaigs  to  do»  that  I  believe  the  alnscienee  of  many  of  our 
>c«-Uot  countrymen  would  revolt  at  being  made  my  in* 
atromem  in  sacrificinff  ^ood  corn-land  to  the  visions  of 
Mr.  Price's  theory.  Mr.  Pinkerton,  the  historian,  has  a 
pky  cooMng  out  at  E<finbur9h ;  it  is  by  no  means  bad  poet- 
ry, yet  I  thnsk  it  will  not  be  popular ;  the  people  come 
tad  go,  and  ^>eali  very  notable  things  in  good  blank 
verse,  but  there  is  no  very  strong  interest  excited :  the 
pio(  also  is  disagreeable,  and  liable  to  the  objections  (though 
ra  a  less  desree)  which  have  been  nrced  against  the  Mys- 
termus  Mother  :  it  is  to  be  acted  on  Wednesday  ;  I  will 
kt  you  know  its  &te.  P..  with  whom  I  km  in  good  ha- 
bto,  showed  me  the  Md.,  but  I  referred  him,  with  su^ 
pcaise  as  I  could  conscientiously  bestow,  to  the  players 
Md  the  public.  I  don't  know  why  one  should  take  the 
task  of  damning  a  man's  play  out  of  the  hands  of  the  pro- 
per tnboaal.  Adieu,  n^  dear  friend.  I  have  searceroom 
fi»r  iBve  to  Miss,  Mrs.  and  Dr.  B 

W.  Scott." 

Tothit  I  add  a  Tetter  to  Lady  Louisa  Stuart,  who 
had  sent  him  a  copy  of  these  lines,  found  by  Lady 
DoogUi  on  the  back  of  a  tattered  bank  note— 

•  Payewen,  roy  note,  end  where«oe*er  ye  wend, 
Shun  gandy  scenes,  and  be  the  poor  man's  friend. 
You've  left  a  poor  one,  go  to  one  as  poor. 
And  drive  despair  and  hunger  from  nis  door.** 

It  appears  that  mtm  noble  friends  had  adopted,  or 
fatfM  to  adopt,  the  beHef  that  the  Bridal  of  Tner- 
nam  was  a  production  of  Mr.  R.  P.  Gillies^who 
lad  about  this  time  published  an  imitation  of  Lord 
B^d'  s  XoMaunt,  under  the  title  of  *'  Childe  Ala- 
hqoet" 

TV  <Ae  Lttdy  Loaiaa  atuart,  ^.  ^e.  ^.  BotAteell 
Ckutte. 

"  Abhotsford,  28th  April,  1813. 
""DevUdy  Louisa, 

"Nothing  can  give  me  more  pleasure  than  to  hear  from 
joo,  because^  it  is  both  a  most  acceptable  favour  to  me, 
ttdalso  a  sign  that  your  own  spirits  are  recovering  their 
teoe.  LadtM  are,  I  tlilnk,  very  fortunate  in  having  a  re- 
Kmrce  in  work  at  a  time  when  the  mind  rejects  intellee- 
taai  amnsscnenl.  Men  have  no  resource  but  striding  up 
aad  down  the  room,  like  a  bird  thai  beats  itself  to  piecss 
ipinst  the  bars  of  its  cage ;  whereas  needle-work  is  a 
son  of  sedative,  too  mectianical  to  worry  the  mind  by 
dtacracting  it.  from  the  poirits  on  which  its  musings  turn, 
jet  gradually  assisting  it  in  regaining  steadiness  and  com> 
pMnre  ;  for  so  curiously  are  our  foodies  and  minds  linked 
together,  that  the  regular  and  cohstant  employment  of  the 
Unmiir  on  any  process,  however  dull  and  uniform,  has  tbe 
dfoct  (if  tramiplUizing,  where  it  cannot  disarm,  the  feel- 
iocs  of  the  other.  I  am  very  muolt  pleased  with  tlie  lines 
oathe  guinea  note,  an<l  if  Jjady  Douglas  does  not  object,  I 
sbokl  wiiliinfdy  mention  the  circumstance  in  the  Edin- 
bargb  Annoaf  Register.  I  think  it  will  give  the  author 
rreat  delight  to  know  that  hislines  bad  attracted  attention, 
•od  had  sent  the  paper  on  which  they  were  recorded, 
'beaveo.<lireeted,  lo  the  poor.'  Of  course  I  would  men- 
tioo  no  names.  There  was,  as  your  Ladyship  may  re- 
ttiember,  souie  years  since,  a  moat  andaeious  and  deter- 
mined murder  committed  on  a  porter  belonging  to  the 
Briti«h  liaen  Company's  Bank  at  Leiih,  who  was  stabbed 
to  the  heart  in  broad  daylight,  and  robbed  of  a  large  sum 
ill  riotes.*  If  ever  this  6riine  comes  to  light,  it  will  be 
through  tlie  circumstance  of  an  idle  young  fellow  having 
vriuen  part  of  a  playhouse  song  on  one  of  the  notes, 
wliicb,  however,  has  as  yet  never  appeared  in  circulation. 

**  1  am  very  plod  you  like  Rokeby,  which  is  nearly  out 
of  fiuhfon  and  memory  with  me.  It  has  been  wonder-> 
fiilly  popular,  about  ten  thoorand  copies  having  walked 
off  already,  in  aboyit  three  months,  ana  the  demand  con- 
tmomg  faster  than  it  can  be  supplied.    As  to  my  imitator, 

*  Hdi  Burder,-  perpetrated  in  Nokrember,  mt,  remainsa  mjrs- 

toyraiaai.   . 

24     Q» 


ttN  Katoht  ofTrleMNte/liHll^tadMto^rto  ee^eytn  ^ 
Mr.  GUSss  OatMVMe  Sfitfcs  a  «•(>  year  Ladyshfprg  ^17 
just  strictures  on  the  Introduction  to  the  seoona  CasMK 
But  if  he  takes  tbe  opUtfea  of  a  backed  old  aothor  like 
myself;  he  wiU  content  himsi^lf  with  avoiding  such  be- 
vues  in  future,  wiiliout  attempting  to  mend  those  which 
are  already  made.  There  is  ah  ominous  old  nroverb  which 
says,  confess  and  be  huneed ;  and  truly  if^^. author  a«-. 
knowledges  his  own  blunders,  I  do  not  know  who  he  cacf 
expect  to  stand  by  him  :  whereas,  let  him  confess  nothing, 
and  he  vdll  always  find  some  injudiclouB  admirers  to  vin* 
dieata  even  his  faults.  So  that  I  think  after  publication 
the  effect  of  criticisoi  should  be  prospective,  in  which 
point  of  view  I  dare  sav  Mr.  6.  wiU  take  your  ftiendly  hint, 
.especially  as  it  is  confirmed  by  that  of  the  best  judges  who 
have  read  the  poem.  Mere  is  beautiful  weather  for  April  1 
an  absolute  snowstorm  mortifying  me  to  the  core  by  re- 
tarding the  growth  of  all  my  young  trees  and  shrubs. 
Charlotte  begs  to  be  most  reroectfulty  remembered  to 
^your  Ladyship  and  Lady  D.  We  are  realizing  the  nurse- 
^rytaleof^the  man  and  his  wife  who  hved  in  a.  vinegar 
botde,  for  our  only  sitting  room  is  just  twelve  feet  square, 
and  my  £ve  sUeces  that  I  am  Coo  big  ^r  eor  panuliss.  T\o 
nukeamendft  I  have  treated  a  tolerable  garden,  oecnpy- 
ing  about  an  English  acre,  which  I  begin  to  be  very  fond 
or  When  one  passes  forty,  an  addition  to  the  quiet  occ6- 
)>ations  of  life  becomes  of  real  value,  for  I  do-not  hnnt  and 
fiAh  with  quite  the  relish  I  did  ten  years  ago.  Adieu,  n^ 
dear  Lady  Louisa,  and  all  good  attend  vou. 
W4 


ALTBK  «C<ITT." 


CHAPTER  XXV. 

AFrAIBS  OF  JOHN  BAUJINTTNB  AMD  CO.— CAtJSKB  OP' 
THBia  DCaANOBMBNT~-LBTTBB6  OF  SCOTT  TO  HIB 
PAaTMESa— mSOOTIATJOM  FOIIBBUBFWITU  MBeSB|9. 
CONSTABUt— HEW  PURCHASB  OF  UkND  AT  AABOTS* 
FOai> — EMBARBA8SMBKTS  CONTINUBD — JOHN  BAI> 
I^'nTTNb's  BXPBBS0B8 — I>AimiiANBlO  —  PEKBmii 
BTC. — BCOTt's  MBBTINO  WITH  THE  MABQUlB  OF 
ABEBOOB:?  AT  L0N6T0WN*— HIS  ArPUGATION  TO  THB 
.  DVKA  OF  BUCCLEUCH—OFFBB  OF  THB  POBT-LAUBB- 
ATESHIP— CONSIDERED — AMD  DECUNBD — ADDRESS 
OF  THE  CIT7  OF  EDINBVBCIH  TO  THE  PBIKCE-BBQBNT 
—ITS  BECEPTION— CIVIC  HONOUBS  CONFEBBBD  ON 
SCOTT — aiTBSTION  OF  TAXATION  ON  UTEBABY  IN^ 
COME— I.BTTEB3  TO  MB.  MOBBITT — MB.  SOtJTHBY-*- 
MB.  BICHARD80N—MR.  CBABBE— MIBS  BAILLIB  ANI>4 
LOBD  BYBON— 1813. 

ABoth"  a  iiionth  after  the  publicstion  of  the  Bridal 
of  Trierraain,  the  affairs  of  the  Messrs.  Ballantyne, 
which  had  never  apparently  been  in  ^i^ood  order  since 
tbe  establishment  of  thebooksellinc  firm,  became  so 
embarrassed  as  to  call  for  Scoii^s  mdst  anxious 
efforts  to  disentangle  them.  Indeed,  it  is  clear  that 
there  had  existed  ^me  very  serious  perplexity  in  the 
course  of  the  preceding  autumn ;  for  Scott  writes 
to  John  Ballantyne.  while  Rokeby  was  in  progress 
(August  11,  1812)— "I  have  a  letter  froni  James,  very 
anxious  about  your  health  and  state  uf  spiriti*.  If 
you  suffer  thp  present  inconveniences  to  depress  you 
loo  much,  you  are  wrong ;  and  if  you  conceal  any 
part  of  them,  are  very  unjust  to  us  all.  I  am  al- 
ways ready  to  make  any  sacrifices  to  do  justice  to  en- 
gagements, and  would  rather  sell  any  thing,  or  eve- 
ry thing,  than  be  less  than  true  men  to  the'world." 

I  have  already,  perhaps,  said  enough  to  account 
for  the  general  want  of  success  in  this  publishing 
adven^ture  j  but  Mr.  James  Ballantyne  sums  up  the 
case  so  briefly  in  his  death-bed  paper,  that  1  may 
here  quote  his  words.  "Jly  brother,'*  ne  says, 
"though  an  active  and  pushing,  was  not  a  cautious 
bookseller,  and  the  large  sums  received  never  form- 
ed an  addition  to  stock.  In  fact,  they  were  all  ex- 
pended by  the  partners,  who,  being  then  young  and 
sanguine  men,  not  unwillingly  adopted  my  brother's 
hasty  results.  By  May,  1813,  in  a  word,  the  abso- 
lute throwing  away  of^our  own  most  valuable  pub- 
licationS;  and^tlie  rash  adoption  of  some  injudicious 
speculations  of  Mr,  Scott,  had  introduced  such 
losses  and  embarrassments,  that  after  a  very  care- 
ful consideration,  Mr.  Scotl  determined  to  dissolve 
the  concern."*  He  adds,— "This became  a  mattei* 
of  less  difficulty,  because  time  had  in  a  great  mea- 
sure worn  away  the  differences  between  Mr.  Scott 
and  Mr.  Constable,  and  Mr.  Hunter  was  now  oijt. 


Mtee^  therefore!  wm 
i  habits  of  intercourse 


we 

of  Constable's  eonosni.*  A 
apeedily  made  up,  aild  the  old 
were  restored." 

How  reluotantly  Scott  hvd  made  up  his  mind  to 
open  such  a  negotiation  with  Constable,  as  involved 
a  complete  exposure  of  the  mismanagement  ot  John 
Ballantvne's  ousiness  as  a  publiener,  will  appear 
from  a  letter  dated  about  the  Christmas  of  1312^  in 

Shich  he  says  to  James,  who  had  proposed  asking 
onstable  to  take  a  share  both  in  Rokeby  and  in 
the  Annual  Register,  "You  must  be  aware,  that  in 
stating  the  objections  which  occur  to  me  to  taking 
in  Constable,  1  think  they  ought  to  give  way  either 
to  absolute  necessity  or  to  very  strong  grounds  of 
advantage.  But  I  am  persuaded  nothmg  ultimate- 
ly good  can  be  expected  from  any  connexion  with 
that  house,  unless  for  those  who  have  a  mind  to  be 
hewers  of  wood  and  drawers  of  water.  We  will 
talk  the  matter  coolly  overhand  in  the  mean  while, 
perhaps  you  could  see  W.  Erskine,  and  learn  what 
impression  this  odd  union  is  Uke  to  made  among 
your  friends.  Erskine  is  sound-headed,  and  quite 
tq  be  trusted  with  your  tehoU  story.  J  must  own  I 
can  hardly  think  the  purchase  of  the  Register  is  equal 
to  the  loss  of  credit  and  character  which  your  sur- 
render wUl  be  conceived  to  infer."  At  the  time 
when  be  wrote  this,  Scott  no  doubt  anticij^ated  that 
Rokeby  would  have  succ^s  not  less  decisive  than 
the  Lady  of  the  Lake ;  out  in  this  expectation— 
though  10,000  copies  in  three  n^onths  would  have 
seemed  to  any  other  author  a  tnumphant  sale— he 
had  been  disappointed.  And  meanwhile  the  diffi- 
culties of  the  firm,  accumulating  from  week  to  Week, 
had  reached,  by  the  middle  of  May,  a  point  which 
rendered  it  absolutely  necessary  for  him  to  conquer 
all  his  scruples. 

Mr.  Cadell,  then  Constable's  partner,  says  in  his 
Memoranda--^  Prior  to  this  time  the  reputation  of 
John  Ballantyne  and  Co.  had  been  decidedly  on  the 
decline.  It  was  notorious  in  the  trade  that  their 
general  specniations  had  been  unsuccessful ;  they 
were  known  to  be  grievously  in  want  of  money. 

Shese  rumours  were  reaHzed  to  the  full  by  an  a6pli- 
ition  which  Messrs.  B.  made  to  Mr.  Constable  in 
May,  1813,  for  pecuniary  aid,  accompanied  by  an 
offer' of  some  of  the  books  they  had  published  since 
1809,  as  a  purchase,  along  with  various  sharesin  Mr. 
Scott's  own  poems.  Their  difficulties  were  admit- 
ted, and  the  negotiation  was  pressed  urgently;  so 
much  so,  that  a  pledge  was  given,  that  if  the  terms 
asked  were  acceded  to,  John  Ballantyne  and  Co. 
would  endeavour  to  wind  up  their  concerns,  and 
cease,  as  soon  as  possible,  lo  be  publishers."  Mr. 
Cadell  adds:— *'I.  need  hardly  remind  vou  that  this 
was  a  period  of  very  great  general  diinculty  in  the 
money  market.  It  was  the  crisis  of  the  war.  The 
public  expenditure  had  reached  an  enormous  height; 
and  even  the  most  prosperous  rnercantile  houses 
were  often  pinched  to  sustain  their  credit.  It  may 
easily,  therefore,  be  supposed  that  the  Messrs.  Bal- 
lantyne had  during  many  months  besieged  every 
banker's  door  in  Edinburgh,  and  that  their  agents 
had  done  the  like  in  London.'* 

The  most  important  of  the  requests  which  the 
labouring  house  made  to  Constable  was.  that  he 
should  forthwith  take  enliroly  to  himself  the  stock, 
copyright,  and  future  management  of  the  Edinburgh 
Annual  Register.  Upon  examining  the  state  of  this 
book,  however,  Constable  found  that  the  loss  on  it 
had  never  been  less  than  XlOOO  per  onnnin,  and  he 
therefore  declined  that  matter  for  the  present.  He 
promised,  however,  to  consider  seriously  tlie  means 
he  might  have  of  ultimately  relieving  them  from 
•  the  pressure  of  the  Register,  and,  in  the  mean  time, 
oflfered  to  take  300  sets  of  the  stock  on  hand.  The 
other  purchases  he  finally  made  on  the  18th  of  May, 
were  considerable  portions  of  Weber's  unhappy 
Beaumont  and  Fletcher— of  an  edition  of  Defoe's 
novels,  in  twelve  volumes— of  a  collection  entitled 
Tales  of  the  East,  in  three  large  volumes,  8vo,  dou- 
ble columned—  and  of  another  in  one  volume,  called 
Popular  Tales— ^bout  800  copies  of  the  Vision  of 

*  Bfr.  Httoter  diedin  Blvcb,  1819. 


LIFE  OP  9IR  wM/rm  3C0|rr. 


DtmRodeiick— SBdafsurtlioftlierenuiai^ooy^  • 
right  of  Rokebv,  price  jBtoO.  The^  immedmte  M- 
commodation  thus  received  amounted  to  £2000 ;, 
and  Scott,  who  had  personally  conducted  the  latter 
part  of  the  negotiation,  writes  thus  to  his  janior 
partner,  who  had  gone  a  week  or  two  earlier  to  Lon- 
don in  quest  of  some  similar  assistance  there  :— 

To  Mr.  John  B&Uantynfi,  care  ^  Mestrt.  Lmgmtm 
^  Co.f  London. 

**  Printifig-ollioe,  May  IB,  1813. 
"  Dear  John, 

'*  After  many  off*  and  otm.  and  as  many  projet*  aad 
contre-proiete  as  the  treaiy  of^  Amiens,  1  have  af  lenpth 
concluded  a  treaty  witli  Constable,  in  wlUch  1  am  sensible 
he  has  nined  a  great  advaniaf  e  ;*  but  what  could  1  do 
amidst  the  disorder  and  pressure  of  bo  many  demands  t 
The  aiTivai  of  tou/  longdated  bills  decided  my  gfrlDg  in, 
for  what  could  JaAnes  or  I  do  with  them  1  I  trust  tliis  sa- 
crifice has  cleared  our  way,  but  many  rubs  remain ;  nor 
am  I,  after  theae  hard  skirmishes,  so  able  to  meet  tlicio 
by  my  proper  credit.  Constable,  however,  will  i^e  a  zea- 
lous ally ;  and  for  tlie  first  time  tneae  many  weeks  I  soall 
lay  my  head  on  a  quiet  pillow,  for  now  I  do  thiak  that,  by 
our  joint  exertions,  we  sitall  ret  wqU  through  tlie  storm, 
save  Beaumont  from  depreciation,  get  a  partner  in  oar 
heavy  concerns,  reef  our  topsails,  and  move  on  secorely 
under  an  easy  sail.  And  If,  on  the  one  hand,  I  have  sold 
my  gold  too  cheap,  I  have,  on  the  other,  turned  my  letd 
to  gold.  Brewaterf  and  Singers^  are  the  onw  heavy  thJM> 
to  which  I  have  not  given  a  blue  eye.  Hadyoar  nswiof 
Cadell's  salei  reached  us  here,  I  could  not  have  harpoon* 
ed  my  grampus  so  deeply  as  I  have  done,  as  nothiog  bot 
Rokeby  would  have  barbed  the  book. 

"  Adieu,  my  dear  John.  I  have  the  most  sincere  r^ard 
for  you,  and  you  may  depend  on  my  considering  jour  in- 
terest with  quite  oa  much  attention  as  my  own.  u  I  have 
ever  expressed  myself  with  irritation  in  spealdng  of  this 
business,  you  must  impute  it  to  the  sudden,  extensive, 
and  unexpected  embarrassmenia  in  which  1  found  myself 
involved  ail  at  once.  If  to  your  real  goodness  of  heart 
and  integrity,  and  (o  the  quickness  and  acuteoesa  of  your 
talents,  vou  added  habita  of  more  universal  circamspac-, 
tion.  and,  above  all,  the  courage  to  tell  disagreeable  trutbs 
to  those  whom  you  hold  In  reaard,  I  pronounce  that  Utc 
world  never  held  such  a  man  oi  business.  These  it  mo* 
be  your  study  tft^add  to  your  other  good  qualities.  Mean 
time,  as  some  one  says  to  Swift,  1  love  you  with  sU  7<Nir 
failings.  Pray  make  an  eflToit  and  love -me  with  all  mine. 
Yours  truly, 

"  W.  8." 

Three  days  afterwards.  Scott  resames  the  anlyecl 
as  follows  :— 

To  Mr.  John  BaOantyn^y  London. 

'    "  Edinburgh.  21at  May,  1813. 
"  Dear  John, 

"  Let  it  never  escape  yoiir  recollection,  that  shntting 
your  own  eyes,  or  blinding  Ihose  of  your  friends,  upon 
the  actual  state  of  bu9ines{^  ia  the  high  road  to  rain. 
Meanwhile,  we  have  recovered  our  lees  for  a  week  or  two. 
Constable  will,  I  think,  come  in  to  the  Register.  He  w 
most  anxious  to  maintain  the  printingK)(Dce  flie  sees  most 
truly  that  the  more  we  print  the  leas  we  publish  ;  and  lor 
the  same  reason  he  will,  I  think,  help  us  off*  with  oor 
heavy  quire-stock. 

"1  was  aware  of  the  distinction  between  ihettattwA 
the  oaUndtWy  as  to  the  latter  including  the  printing-office 
bills,  and  I  summed  and  dookcd  ihem,  (they  ar«  marked 
with  red  Ink,)  but  there  is  still  a  diflTereace  of  jWOOO  and 
upwards  on  the  calendar  against  the  business.  I  «>n»B- 
times  fear  that,  between  the  long  dates  of  your  bills,  and 
the  urdy  scttlemeDts  of  the  Edinburgh  trade,  some  diffi- 
culties will  occur  even  hi  June ;  and  July  I  always  regaro 
with  deep  anxiety.  As  for  loss,  if  I  get  out  wlilwut  pw* 
lie  exposure,  1  shall  not  greatly  regard  the  rest.  Rid* 
ciifTe  the  physician  said,  whtfn  he  lost  iB9U00  on  the  South- 
Sea  scheme,  it  was  only  going  up2000  pnyrof  alalrs ;  *y» 
it  is  only  writing  2000  couplets,  and  the  account  is  balsfi- 
ccd.    More  of  iliis  horeaner.    Tours  truly, 

»  W.  tkcvn- 

*-  These  and  after  porchases  of  books  from  the  ^tnekfljf^- 
Balkmtf  ne  and  Co.  were  resold  to  the  trade  lar  Constable  s  mm* 
at  less  than  one  half  and  one  thitd  of  tlw  i^tees  at  wMca  uer 
were  thus  obtained."— iW«/rom  Mr,  K.  CaOsU.  .   ^^ 

t  Dr.  Brewiter'i  edition  of  Ferguson's  Astrooomj,  S  «».  wfo. 
with  platci,  4to.  Edln.  1811.    868.  *^  --* 

t  Dr.  Singen'  General  View  of  the  County  of  Duminesiin*' 
Edin.  1818.    18s.  .    « 

t  A  trade  sale  of  Messrs.  Caddl  and  Davies  jp^  fi 
Digitized  by  VjOOQ  IC 


US%  OF  SIR  WALTER  SCOTT. 


p.  &  Junes  baa  behared  Tarj  well  doring  this  whole 
tadMB,  and  has  ba«n  most  steadfhr  attentive  to  bual- 
L  lun  eoDThiced  that  .the  more  he  works  the  better 
jkayb  will  be.  One  or  dthei  of  you  wlM  need  to  be 
muij  in  iha  printins-<Mffiee  hencefoiward— it  ia  the 
Waoehor." 

!%eiUonon  in  this  poaUcript  to  James  Ballan- 
ic'i  health,  reminds  roe  that  Sco(t*s  letters  to  him- 
f  ire  fiill  of  hints  on  that  subject,  even  from  a 
pearly  period  of  their  connexion ;  and  these  hints 
I  all  to  the  same  effect.  James  was  a  man  of 
vb&bits,  and  not  a  little  addicted  to  the  more 
d,  and  perhaps  more  daneerous,  part  of  the  in- 
pstcee  of  the  table.  One  fetter  (dated  Ashestiel, 
1)  will  be  a  sufficient  specimen : — 

7b  Mr.  James  BaUantynt. 

If  dear  James, 

*I  am  Terj  sorrj  for  the  state  of  your  health,  and 
^  told  b«  atin  more  so.  were  I  not  certain  that  I  can  pre- 
\K[\\>t  for  70U  as  well  as  any  physician  in  Edinburgh. 
TvJ  hare  naturally  an  athletic  constitution  and  a  hearty 
asoach,  aod  these  sfree  rery  ill  with  a  sedentary  life, 
BdilM  habits  of  indolence  which  it  brings  00.  Your 
rsmacb  thus  gets  wealc,  and  from  those  complaints  of  all 
tirx%  ariae  most  certainly  flatulence,  hypochondria,  and 
il 'Jie  train  of  nnpleasant  feelings  connected  with  indi- 
piotL  Wc  sU  know  the  horribls  sensation  of  the  night- 
Bare  aiiaes  from  the  aame  cause  which  gives  those  wak- 
H  aightnares  commonly  called  the  blue  devils.  You 
S3it  pootirely  put  yoorself  on  a  regimen  as  to  eating, 
BGt  for  a  moath  or  two,  but  for  a  year  at  least,  and  take 
!«r>kr  exercise— end  my  life  for  yours.  I  know  this  by 
3fi«i(  for  if  I  were  to  eat  aod  drink  in  town  aa  I  do  here, 
^*qqU  toon  finish  me,  aod  yet  I  am  sensible  1  live  too 
{oiaSy  in  Edinburgh  aa  it  is.  '  Yours,  very  truly, 

W.  Scott." 
f 
Among  Scott's  early  pets  at  Abbotsford  there  was 
ime raven,  whose  powers  of  speech  were  remark- 
rae,  &r  beyond  any  parrot's  that  he  had  ever  met 
^;  tpd  who  died  in  consequence  of  an  excess 
^tltekind  to  which  James  Ballantyne  was  addict- 
o.  Ilisnceforth,  Scott  often  repeated  to  his  old 
U,  Bod  occasionally  scribbled  by  way  of  post- 
^\  to  his  notes  on  btisiness— 

"  When  you  are  craving, 
ReA)«mber  the  Raven." 

SoBetimes  the  formula  is  varied  to — 

"  When  you've  dined  half, 
Think  00  poor  Ralph  !" 


M 

Tale.  To  obtain  this  lake  at  one  extremity  of  his 
estate,  as  a  contrast  to  the  Tweed  at  the  other,  was 
a  prospect  for  which  hardlv  any  sacrifice  would  have 
apjieared  too  much  ;  and  he  contrived  to  notify  his 
wishes  in  the  course  of  that  Julvi  to  which  he  had 
spoken  of  himself  in  May  as  looking  forward  "  with 
the  deepest  anxiety." 

Nor  was  he,  I  must  add,  more  able  to  control 
some  of  his  minor  tastes.  I  find  him  writing  to  Mr. 
Terry,  on  the  20th  of  June,  about  "  that  splendid  lot 
of  ancient  armour,  advertised  by  Winstanley,"  a  ce- 
lebrated auctioneer  in  London,  of  which  he  had  the 
strongest  fancy  to  make  his  spoil,  though  he  was 
at  a  loss  to  know  where  it  should  be  placed  when 
it  reached  Abbotsford ;  and  on  the  2d  of  July,  this 
acquisition  also  having  been  settled,  he  says  to  the 
same  correspondent—  I  have  written  to  Mr.  WinS- 
tanley.  My  bargain  with  Constable  was  otherwise 
arranged,  but  Little  John  is  to  find  the  needful  ar- 
ticle, and  I  shall  take  care  of  Mr.  Winstanley's  in- 
terest,  who  has  behaved  too  handsomely  in  this 
matter  to  be  trusted  to  the  mercy  of  opr  little  friend 
the  Picaroon,  who  is,  notwithstanding  his  many  ex- 
cellent qualifies,  a  little  on  the  score  of  old  Grobbo— 
doth  somewhat  smack— some ^v  hat  ^n>w  to.  We 
shall  be  at  Abbotsford  on  the  [  jch,  nt^d  hopu  aouo. 
to  see  you  there.  I  am  fitting:  up  a  smatl  room 
above  Peter^htnue^  where  an  uu'cirnionjcms  baehe^ 
lor  may  consent  to  do  penance,  rfiough  ihti  place  is 
a  cock-loft,  and  the  access  thai  which  Iifiids  maiiy  & 
bold  fellow  to  his  last  nap— a  Imider/'*  And  a  few 
weeks  later,  he  says,  in  the  Kr^ine  sort*  lo  his  si»^ 
ter-in-law.  ^rs.  Thomas  Sou,  "In  despite  of 
these  hard  times,  which  affect  my  patiut^s  the  book- 
sellers very  much,  I  am  buying  old  books  and  ohl 
armour  as  usual,  and  adding  to  wbai  youroldfriipdt 
Bums  calls — 

*  A  fouth  of  auld  nick-nackets, 
Rusty  aim  caps  and  jingling  jackets, 
Wad  haud  the  Lothiana  three  in  tackeis 

A  towmont  gude, 
And  parritch-pats  and  auld  saut-backeta, 

Afare  the  fludo.*" 

Notwithstanding  all  this,  it  must  have  been  with 
a  most  uneasy  mind  that  he  left  Edinburgh  to  esta- 
blish himse^"  at  Abbotsford  that  July.  The  assist- 
ance of  Constable  had  not  been  granted,  indeed  it 
had  not  been  asked,  to  an  extent  at  all  adequate  for 
the  difficulties  of  the  case ;  and  I  have  now  to  trans- 
cribe, with  pain  and  reluctance,  some  extracts  from 
Scott's  letters,  during  the  ensuing  autumn,  which 


.Hiipreachments  of  regularity  in  book-keeping  to  I  — v -L"i — •  ^      • y-  j    jii'    •,•    - 

Mn,  and  of  abstinence  from  good  cheer  to  James   ?Peak  the  language  of  anxious,  and  indeed  humUiat- 
°-"-  •  ••         •       •  •         •        ing  distress ;  and  give  a  most  lively  notion  of  the 

incurable  recklessness  of  his  younger  partner. 

To  Mr.  John  Ballantyne, 

"Abbotsford,  Saturday,  ^th  July 
"Dear  John, 

"I sent  you  the  order,  and  have  only  to  hope  it  ar- 
rived safe  and  in  ^ood  time.  I  waked  the  boy  at  three 
o'clock  mysein  having  slept  Utile,  less  on  account  of  the 
money  than  of  the  time.  Surely  you  should  have  writ- 
ten, three  or  four  days  before,  the  probable  amount  of 
the  deficit,  and.  as  on  former  occasions,  I  would  have  fur- 
nished you  with  means  of  meeting  it.  These  expresses, 
besides  every  other  inronvenience,  excite  surprise 
in  my  family  and  in  the  neighbourhood.  I  know  no  jus- 
tifiable occasion  for  them  but  the  unexpecUrd  return  of  a 
bill.  I  do  not  consider  you  as  answerable  for  the  success 
of  plans,  but  I  do  and  must  hold  you  responsible  for  giving, 
mp,  in  distinct  snd  plain  terms,  your  opinion  as  to  any 
difficulties  which  may  occur,  and  that  in  such  time  that 
1  may  make  arrangements  to  obviate  them  if  possible. 

"  Of  course  If  any  thing  has  gone  wrong  you  will  come 
out  here  to-morrow.    But  if,  as  1  hope  and  trust,  the  caah 

*  The  court  of  offices,  built  on  the  haugfi  at  Abbotilbrd  in  1813, 
included  a  house  for  the  fuithful  coachman,  Peter  Mathiecon. 
One  of  ScoU'f  Csntabririan  friends,  Mr.  W.  8.  Rose,  fave  the 
wHaIc  pile  soon  afienvards  the  name,  which  it  retained  to  the  end, 
of  Peter-Houae.  ,  The  loft  at  Peter  House  continued  to  be  oocu- 


Wlinijrne,  were  equally  vain ;  but  on  the  other 
J^.it  fhust  be  allowed  that  they  had  some  reason 
wdg)!easure— (the  more  felt  because  they  durst 
JJJi Jwe  him,  express  their  feelings)— when  they 
MOM  that  scarcely  had  these  **  hara  skirmishes" 
'fnninited  in  the  bargain  of  May  I8th,  before  Scott 
JJ*  preparing  fresh  embarrassments  for  himself, 
jF  commencing  a  negotiation  for  a  considerable  ad- 
Ji'jon  Id  his  property  at  Abbotsford.  As  early  as 
I  *2r '*^''"'^^' "®  writes  to  Constable  as  being 
^^  fware  of  this  matter,  and  a)lQf?es  his  anxic- 
7  to  Hose  at  once  with  a  very  capricious  person," 
Mine  only  reason  that  could  have  induced  him  to 
"JMc  ap  his  mind  to  sell  the  whole  copjmght  of  an 
wy'J.JO'^riitpn  poem,  to  be  entitled  '^The  Name- 
*«><»len."  This  copyright  he  then  offered  to  dis- 
P<^.  w  to  Constable  for  jE5000  ;  adding,  "  this  is 
wnwdenbly  less  in  proportion  than  I  have  already 
Jjy  <w  ihe  share  of  Rokeby  sold  10  yourself,  and 
"JJjMMt  is  no  unfair  admeasurement."  A  long 
J™Pondence  ensued,  in  the  course  of  which  Scot t 


Genie  and  the  Fisherman  in'  the  Arabian 


Jjy  pais  itfl  details.   The  new  properly  which  Scott 

niaoeager  to  acquire,  was  that  hillv  tract  stretch- 

•^A'^ni  the  old  Roman  road  near  Turn-again  to- 

2??  ^"*  Cauldshiels  Loch  :  a  then  desolate  and    — t--—™.^         «       .   ^       ^       ^         .  .       1  ir    . 

55^  mountain-mere,  which  he  likens,  in  a  letter..    ♦^^ThonuuScottl^^ 

Jtbsommer,  (toLady  Louisa  Stuart,)  to  the  Lak^  ^SSStTcn^^Jw^JlS'^^^^  ffioJS'i hb^Ui 


pied  in  occasional  bachelor  fueits  until  the  sxisting  mansion  was 
completed. 


neat  favourite 
lever  beaid. 


Digitized  by  V^QOQlC 


m 

nrriTed  ttti^,  j6^  MfUL^^tiU  td  me,  und^t  cdter  u>  tlte 
poke  of  Bueol^ireli)  I>i^ltnlaInrltf  Oa^tk^  IHkmfHev-fthire. 
I  •tttU  BH  out  Ibr  that  pUoe  on  fiiomlay  moraine  earlt. 

W.  8." 
7\>Mr.  Jamew  Ballantyne 

"  AbboLsford,  25lh  Jaly,  1813. 
'  Dear  Jamea, 

"  I  address  the  foUuwin;;  joDatlon  for  Jobii  to  you. 
that  you  roay  see  whether  I  do  not  well  to  be  nn^rj,  ana 
enforce  upofb  him  the  necetafty  of  constantly  wilting  his 
fears  as  welt  as  his  hopes.  You  should  rob  him  often  on 
this  point,  for  his  reooUection  becomes  maty  the  instant 
I  leave  town,  and  am  not  in  tiie  way  to  rack  him  with  coa- 
slant'  questions.  I  hope  the  presses  are  doing  well,  and 
that  you  are  quite  stuut  again.    Yours  truly, 

W.  8.»' 
Enclosure.— To  Mr.J»hn  BaUantyne, 
"  My  good  friend  John, 

"  The  post  brings  me  no  Isttcr  from  you,  which  I 
am  much  surprised  at,  as  you  most  suppose  me  anxious 
to  learn  tliai  vour  expjress arrived.  1  think  he  must  have 
reached  yqu  before  post-hours,  and  Jamas  or  you  might 
have  found  a  minute  to  say  so  in  a  single  line.  I  oooe 
more  request  that  you  win  be  a  businessUKe  correspond- 
ent, and  state  your  prorlsions  fee  errry  week  prospec- 
lirely.  I  do  not  expect  you  to  warrant  ihem,  which  you 
rather  perversely  seem  to  insist  is  my  wish,  but  I  do 
;rantto  be  awsre  of  their  natmre  and  extent,  tnat  I  may 
provide  agsinst  the  possibility  ot  miseerrlaxe  The  cat* 
endar,  to  wrtiich  you  refer  me,  tells  me  wbat  soma  are 
0ue,  but  cannot  tell  your  shlAs  to  pay  them,  which,  are 
nalurallv  altering  with  circumstances,  and  or  which  site* 
rations  i  request  to  have  due  notice.  You  say  you  could 
not  suppose  Sir  w.  Forbes  would  have  reAised  the  long 
dated  bills  :  but  that  you  had  such  an  attprchenalon  is 
dear,  both  becaase  in  the  calendar  these  bills  were  rated 
ti*o  months  lower,  snd  because,  three  days  before,  you 
wrote  me  an  enljimalical  exMresslon  of  your  appreheo* 
sions,  instead  or  saying  plainly  there  was  a  cnaace  of 
your  wanting  jC3()0,  when  I  wo.uJd  have  sent  you  an  order 
to  be  used  conditionally. 

"  AJl  1  desire  Is  unlimited  confidence  and  freqnent  cor- 
respondence, snd  that  you  wiD  give  me  wcekft  at  least 
the  fullest  antiefpatlon  of  your  resources,  and  the  proba^ 
bility  of  their  bemg  eflfectttal.  f  may  be  disappointed  in 
my  own,  of  which  yon  shall  have  equally  timeous  notice. 
Omit  no  exertions  to  procure  the  use  of  money,  even  for 
a  month  or  six  week??,  for  time  Is  most  precious.  Tlie 
large  balance  due  in  Janoary  from  the  trade,  and  Indivi- 
dual which  I  cannot  reckon  at  less  thsn  j£4000,  witf  pot 
OB  finally  to  rights  ;  and  it  will  be  a  shame  to  founder 
wiAhin  sight  of  harbour.  The  greatest  riik  we  ran  is 
fifom  such  iil-o<*osidered  despatciies  as  tliose  of  Friday. 
Suppose  that  I  luid  gone  to  Dcumlaarig— suppose  the 
poney  had  set  un— suptiose  a  thousand  tniugs>-and  we 
were  ruined  for  want  or  yonr  telHtig  your  apprehensions 
in  due  time.  Do  "not  plague  yourself  to  vindicate  this  sort 
of  management ;  nut  if  you  have  escaped  the  conse- 
quences, (as  lo  which  you  have  left  meaihcertsin,)  thank 
God,  and  act  more  cautiously  another  time.  It  was  quite 
the  same  to  me  on  what  day  I  sent  lliat  draft ;  indeed  it 
muse  Ifsve  been  so  if  I  had  the  money  in  my  cash  account, 
and  if  I  had  not,  the  more  time  given  me  to  provide  it  Ibe 
better. 

"  Now,  do  not  affect  to  suppose  that  ny  displeasure  ari* 
ses  from  your  not  having  done  your  utmost  to  realize 
funds,  and  that  utmost  having  failed.  It  is  one  mode,  (b 
be  sore«  of  exculpation,  to  suppose  one's  5)el(  accused  of 
something  they  are  not  charged  with,  and  then  lo  make  a 
querulous  or  indignant  defence,  and  complain  of  the  in- 
justice of  the  accuser.  The  head  and  front  of  your  of- 
fending is  precisely  your  not  writing  explicitly,  ami  I  re- 
quest this  mai^not  happen  again.  It  is  your  fault,  and  I 
believe  arises  either  from  an  lU-judged  idea  of  smoothing 
matters  to  me— as  If  1  were  not  behind  the  curtain— or  a 
general  reluctance  to  allow  tliat  any  danger  is  near,  until 
it  is  almost  UD^mrrial>le.  I  shall  be  very  sorry  if  any 
thing  I  have  said  gives  you  pain  ;  but  the  matter  is  too 
serious  for  all  of  us  to  be  passed  over  without  giving  you 
ray  explicit  sentiments.  To  ruorrow  I  Ret  out  for  Drum- 
lanrig.  and  shall  not  hear  from  you  till  Tuesday  or  Wed- 
nesday. Make  yourself  master  of  the  post-town— Thorn- 
hill,  probably,  or  Sanquhar.  As  Sir  W.  F.  &  Co.  have 
cash  to  meet  my  order,  nothing,  I  think,  can  liave  gi>ne 
wrons,  unless  the  boy  perished  by  the  way.  Therefore, 
In  fiiiih  and  hope,  ami— iliat  I  may  lack  none  of  the  Chris- 
tian virtues— in  charity  with  yoor  dilatory  worship,  I  re- 
main very  truly  yours, 

W.  8." 


LlPB  OF  SIR  WALTnE:R  MCrH*. 


sembl^  abotu  hiiop  oA  6nrf  taking  po^»imon  c 


Scett  proceeded,  accordingly,  to  join  a  f; 
festive  circle,  whom  ihe  Duke  of  Euccleuch  1 


iy  and 
tad  as- 


ma«„lfic.„.  C..tl.  of  CmSSiifc  a-ffiSxSia: 
the  principal  meaauaffeof  Xm  dukedom  of  Qiaeeaa* 
berry,  wbicn  bad  recently  lapsed  bto  nia  fauaaikf* 
But  poai  equitem  aedet  atra  cura— anothv  of  J«Mia 
Ballantyjie's  unwelcome  misaiveSt  rendered  ooago 
sary  by  a  n^I^t  of  preciBely  the  same  kind  &«  be* 
fori^  reacheahim  in  the  midst  of  this  scene  of  .re- 
joiong.    Oh  the  31st,  he  a^ain  writes  :— 

Ta  Mr.  Jokn  BaUamtynt,  Baoiuelkr^  Bdimkur^A^ 
"Drutnlani^  PHOaof. 
"Dear  John 

"I  enckNie  the  order.  Vn fortunately,  the  I>mfiU«x>> 
rig  post  only  goea  thriee<^we«k ;  but  the  Mart)uM  of 
Queensberry,  who  carries  this  to  Dumfries,  baa  promiaed 
that  the  guard  of  the  mall-coach  shalTdellVer  it  "by  five  to- 
morrow.  I  was  less  anxious,  aa  your  nnie  j  '  ' 
clear  this  month.    It  is  a  cruel  thing,  that  i 


Jyoa 

Stau 


„.  ate    yon 

furnish  excludes  the  arising  of  such  unexpected  ciaisxk* 
as  this  for  the  taxes  on  the  prlntlogofflce.  What  ontiap- 
py  management,  to  suffer  them  to  run  ahead  In  audi  a 
manner !— but  it  is  in  vain  to  complain.  Were  it  not  for 
your  strange  cbncealments,  I  should  anticipate  do  cfiHL 
culty  in  winding  up  these  matters.  Bnt  who  can  reckcia 
uppn  a  dtate  where  claims  are  kept  oat  of  view  onifl  iher 
are  in  the  bands  of  a  writer"!  If  you  batci  no  time  Co  aa.j 
that  this  comes  safe  to  hand,  I  suppose  James  may  fitroor 
me  so  far.    Yours  truly, 

'•'Let  the  guard  be  rewarded. 

"  Let  me  know  exactiv  what  you  can  do  and  hn^  to 
do  for  next  month  ;  for  it  signitles  nothing  raiafrtf  itioneT 
for  yon,  unless  1  see  It  is  to  be  of  real  service.  Ob»erre» 
I  make  you  responsible  Ibr  nothing  hut  a  ftir  staxemem. 
The  guard  Is  known  to  the  Marqui?,  who  hasgood-iiatcireflr 
ly  promised  to  give  him  this  letter  with  his  own  hand  ;  so 
it  must  reach  ^ou  hi  time,  though  probably  past  fiv-e  <mi 
Saturday." 

Another  simUar  application  reached  Sooti  the  ci*w 
after  the  Kuard  delivered  his  packet  He  writes 
thus,. in  reply: —  , 

To  Mr.  John  BaUantyne, 

*'  Druittkiirilf^  OodKiay. 
"DearJolin, 

"  I  trust  you  got  my  letter  yeaterday  by  live,  witH  th»» 
draft  enclosed.  I  return  rour  draft  accepted.  On  Wed* 
nesday  1  think  of  leaving  this  place,  wbere^  but  for  tbea« 
damned  aflkirs,  I  should  have  been  very  happy. 

w.  mrr 

Scott  had  been  for  aoifie  tinve  under  an  easaae. 
ment  to  meet  the  Maniuiaof  Abervorn  atCannle, 
in  the  first  week  of  August,  for  the  traoaaetioa  o7 
some  busiiiess  connected  iftiih  his  brother  *VbonkH^m 
late  administration  of  that  nobleman's  Scottisli  aj^ 
fairs,  and  he  had  designed  topasafrom  Drumlen- 
rig  to  Carlisle  for  this  purpose,  without  goin^  baek 
to  Abbptsford.  In  consequence  of  these  repe«c> 
ed  harassments,  however,  He  so  far  altered  hia  f^no 
as  to  cut  short  his  stay  at  Drumlanris,  and  t«K-a 
homewards  for  two  or  three  days,  WMre  Jama* 
BaUantyne  met  him  with  snch  a  statement  as  ia 
some  measure  reKeved  his  mind. 

He  then  proceeded  to  fulfil  hisengagemeBi  witk 
Lord  Abercorn,  whom  he  encouhtened  travelljng   iq 
a  very  peculi^  style  between  Carlisle  and  I^^ne^ 
town.    The  ladies  of  the  family  and  the  houfiefaeld 
occupied  four  or  nve  carriages,  all  drawn  by  ti^ 
Marquis's  own  horses,  while  the  noble  Lord  him* 
self  brought  up  the  rear^  mounted  on  a  small  poBy« 
but  decorated  over  his  nding  dress  with  the  nbboQ 
and  star  of  the  Garter.    On  meeting  the  cavalcade. 
Scott  turned  with  them,  and  he  was  not  a  iittW 
amused  when  they  reached  the  village  of  Loha.. 
town,  which  he  bad  ridden  through  airnour or  4«V9 
before,  with  the  preparations  which  he  found  there- 
made  fof  the  dini^  of  the  party.    The  Manjus'eB 
raajordorao  and  cook  had  arrived  thei«  at  an  eariy 
hour  in  the  morning,  and  every  thing  was  now  atw 
ranged  for  his  reception  in  the  paltry  little  pubU<>- 
house,  as  nearly  as  possible  in  the  style  usuafin 
his  own  lordly  roansimis.  The  ducks  and  geesa  thet. 
had  been  dabbling  three  or  four  hours  ago  in  tW 
tillage-pond,  were  now  ready  to  make  their  appeatu 
ance  under  numberless  disguises  aa  entriet ;  a  re* 
gular  billof-fareflatike^^h^y^arquia's  aUot- 


iWBS)t  Sm  WAlrlSE  90QTT* 


rm 


"Hb.  IMMd  to  do  aervice  as  a  napkin;  and,  that' 
Mfpjngmlgit  be  wanting  to  tb#  raimiory  of  apkn- 
daan  UM  landlady's  poor  reronanta  of  crockaiy  and 
otmruarhmd  been  fiiriMahad  up,  aad  nniatered  in  ae- 
hna,  order  m  a  «ratT  old  beaofiet,  which  was  to 
Npffieaat  a  aideboard  worthy  of  Sardanapalos.  I 
tnik  it  MTQrth  while  to  preserve  this  anecdote, 
lAaeh  Scott  delu^hted  in  telling,  ad  perhaps  the  last 
relic  of  a  style  or  manners,  now  passed  away,  and 
likely  to  be  revived  among  us. 


Havinff  dispatched  this  dinner  and  his  busiiMMa. 
SoousMtain  turned  southwards,  intending  to  spend 
t  few  days  with  Nr.  Morritt  at  Rokeby;  but  on 
ursrhing  Tenhth,  the  landlord  there,  who  was  his 
«td  aoqaamtano^'(Mr.  Buchanan,)  placed  a  letter 
n  his  kands  eece  iierum— it  was  on6e  more  a  cry  of 
dbtreaa  thrni  John  BaUantyne.  He  thus  answo-ed 
it— 

Tb  Mr.  John  BaUmMffU. 

"Feortlh.AtK,  10^1813. 
'Itearioho, 

*I  enclose  you  aa  order  lor  iBaSO.  I.  than  remain  at 
lolEcbj  onitL  Batnrday  or  flondVi  aod  be  at  Abboulbrcl 
m  Wednesday  at  latest 

"  I  iMype  the  prindnc-eAee  is  lohif  oa  weU.  I  fear  from 
^  state  oCacoMDfMP  between  (he  cmm^aniQS,  restrictloiw 
«R  Ihe  maoafainenc  aod  ezpenie  wiu  be  uaaveldabl€f 
«Meh  mBS  txeneli  open  Jaaiea'a  eomforta^  I  caaaoi  i>b- 
aare  hltlieno  that  the  printJng-offlce  is  paTing^fl;  bat 
mbereddlM  to  Its  embagaMnnsnts  \  a^dk  cannot  be 
have  either  means  or  iocUnatlon  to  support 
r  #oeceni  al  the  rate  of  iC90O  a-month.    If  James 

lixS  a  cDooied  partner,  an  active  man  who  aoder- 

staad  tfte  eowSBiercial  part  of  t)ie  business,  aqd  would 
•upeilBWud  the  coedtiel  of  the  eaah,  It  mSf^i  be  ttte  best 
Aran  psitJee  ;  for  I  really  am  not  adequate  to  (be  latigue 
of  ariad  wfoieh  these  affiura  occasion  me,'  tbouf h  1  must 
4i  the  tMst  to  eeratsle  throuah  '  them.  Bellrre  me 
yo«s,*f.  W.S." 

At  Brottgh  he  encoontercd  a  tifiessenger  who 
brooeht  fiim  ench  a  painfhl  account  of  Mrs.  Uorritt's 
bea}^  that  be  abandoned  his  intention  of  proceed-, 
tog  to  Rokeby :  and,  indeed,  it  was  mucn  better 
that  JM  ahaola  oe  at  Abbotaierd  again  as  soon  as 
posiO^  ibr  Ilia  oorrespooocnee  shows  a  continued 
WffiaMiim  Aurixtg  the  thsee  or  ibur. ensuing  weeks, 
«f  t^  flame  annojanoea  that  had  pursued  hiiA  to 
TliaiilBiiiin  and  to  Penrith.  Bt  tiis  desire,  (he 
BallaBtffiefl  bad,  it  would  seem,  before  the  middle 
ef  August,  lud  a  siateraent  of  their  afTalrs  before 
C<nMable.  Though  the  statement  was  not  so  clear 
tsd  foil  aa  Scou  aad  wished  it  to  be.  Constable,  on 
«yidamm  it,  at  oncQesaured  then,  that  to  go  on 
nisiog  money  in  driblets  would  never,  eflectually 
rebeve  them ;  that,  in  'short,  one  or  bbth  of  the 
con^aaiea  ftioat  stoa  aniess  Mr.  Scott  could  find 
means  to  lay  J^is  hand,  without  farther  delay,  on  at 
st  least  jMOOO;  and  1  gather  that,  by  way  ot  indur 
«Bg  Conetable  himself  to  come  forward  with  part 
tt  least  of  this  supply,  John  Ballantyne  again  an- 
noaa^  hia  int^tion  of  forthwith  aSandonjng  the 
bookseliinK  buamess  alt(»ether,  and  makmaf  an 
cfibrt  to  estabtish  himselP-on  a  elan  which  Oen- 
stable  had  ahortly  before  sunested— as  an  auction- 
eer in  Edinburgh.  The  foUowing  letters  need  no 
cmamentr— 

7b  Mr.  John  BaUantyne. 

'•  Abbotsford,  Anf.  18,  1318. 
**  Dear  John, 

"tarn  quite  satisfied  jt  is  impojsible  for  J.  B.  aod  Co. 
Vi  eoittiiiae  business  longer  itian  Is  absolutshr  necessary 
f^  the  sole  of  stock  and  extrication  of  tboir  aflairs.  The 
fsiA  iniary  which  the^  credit  has  sustaineti,  as  well  as 
T^nr  aioptinjE  a  profession  in  wbicb  I  sincerelv  hope  you 
^  be  more  fortunate,  renders  the  clt^sing  91  the  book- 
^ffiffif  business  Inevitable.  With  regard  .to  the  printing, 
1<  li  mr  intention  to  retire  from  that  alao  aa  soon  as  t  can 
ponlbiT  do  go  with  safety  to  roysel^apd  with  th4'  regard  I 
^98  abmys  entertain  mr  James's  interest.  Whatever 
Vi»  1  may  suji/ain  will  be  preferable  to  the  life  I  have 
^^j  letL  when  I  seem  surrounded  by  a  sert  of  magioclr- 
<:!e,  wH^  oefther  pcnulie  me  to  remain  at  home  in  pteace, 
&;r  n  .;    «^roadwj(h  pli'asure.    Year  ihrsi  exertion  aa 


an  auctioofer  may  probably  be  on/tbat  dtsttantobed, 
select,  and  Inimttat^  etuie^lon  Of  bopln^  oUUle  by  an 
aaiatear  ef  this  city  retiring  from  basiqess.'  I  do  not 
feel  either  health  or  eonfldeoce  in  my  own  powers  suffl* 
oieDttoaathorlseawteMJiealoDgprioe  for  a  new  poem,' 
until  these  aflUrs  shall,  hare  been  In  sofnenieasiire  algest> 
ed.  This  idea  has  been  long  niooinf  ia  my  heai^  but  the  laie 
fatalities  which  have  attended  this  bursas  have  quite 
decidedmy  rasoliiUoQ.  I  will  write  to  Mmes  to-morrow, 
bsing  at  preaeot  annoyed  with  a  severe  headaeh.  Yoars 
truly, 

W. 


Were  I  to  transcribe  all  the  letters  to  which  these 
troubles  gave  rise,  I  should  fill  a  volume  before  I 
had  reached  the  end  of  another  twelvemonth.  The 
two  next  I  shall  quote  are  dated  on  the  aame  day, 
(the  24th  August,)  which  may,  in  oonaeqnence  of 
the  answer  the  second  of  thom  received,  bf  set  down 
as  determining  the  eriais  of  1813. 

7b  JIfr.  Jamf  BaUantyne. 

*<  Abbotsford,  Mth  Aognst,  1813. 
"Dear  James, 

"  Mr.  Conatable's  advice  Is,  as  I  have  always  found  it, 
seoad,  sensible;  and  fiiendly-~aad  lahall  be  guided  by  tt. 
But  I  have  00  wealthy  trfeod  who  would  join  in  seoarity 
with  ne  to soeh  an  extent;  andlespplYioqaaitarswbere 
1  might  be  refussf^  would  iaaure  dtsclosare.  I  ceaclode 
John  baa  ahowa  Mr.  C.  the  state  of  the  affiOrs ;  if  not,  I 
would  wish  him  to  do  so  dbrectly.  If  the  proposed  aecem- 
modation  could  be  granted  to  the  firm  on  my  persvnally 
joining  ,in  the  security,  the  whole  matter  would  be  quite 
safo^  for  1  have  to  receive  In  the  coarse  of  the  winter  some 
large  sums  (h>m  my  father's  estate.*  Besides  which,  I 
Shall  certahUy  be  able  to  go  to  press  h)  November  wHh  a 
new  poem ;  or,  If  Mr.  Constable's  additional  securftir 
would  please  the  bankers  better,  I  codd  ensure  Mr.  C 
against  the  nossibiUty  of  loss,  by  assigning  the  copvrlghTs, 
lOfetber  with  that  or  the  new  poem,  or  even  my  librarv. 


Clerkship, 
CRieritrdom, 
Mrs.  ScoU, 
Interest, 
Bomers,  (say) 


jeaioo 


inlila  relief.  In  Aict,  if  he  looss  into  the  afiUrs,  be  will  T 
think  see  that  there  is  no  prespect  of  any  eventual  loss  to 
the  creditors,  though  I  may  be  a  toser  myself.  .  My  nro- 
IMTtv  here  Is  unlnoumbered ;  and  sols  my  house  in  Cas- 
tle Btneet;  and  1  have  no  debts  out  of  my  own  &mily,  ex- 
cepting a  part  of  the  price  of  Abbotsford,  which  I  aoi  to 
recainlbr  fear  years.  80  that,  Kterally,  I  have  no  claimj* 
opoo  me  unless  those  arlslflik  out  of  this  business ;  and 
:£l30n^  when  it  is  considered  that  my 
**2^  income  is  above  jE9000  a-year, 
even  if  the  prinUnK-o^ce  pays 
nottilhf,  I  should  liopc  no  oae 
can  poisibly  be  a  loser  by  me. 
I  am  sure  1  would  strip  myself 
to  my  shirt  rather  than  it 
shotild  be  the  case:  and  my 
oaly  reason  for  wishing  to  stop  (he  concern  was  to  do 

2ien  jnstfoe  to  all  arsons.  .  It  must  have  been  a  bitter 
Uto  life.  I  can  more  confidently  expect  some  aid  from 
r.  Constable,  or  Urom  Longman^s  house,  because  they 
ean  look  Into  the  concern  and  satisfy  themselves  how 
liUle  ohanee  there  Is  of  their  being  losers,  which  oihcr:i 
cannot  do.  Perhaps  between  tbem  they  might  menage 
to  assist  us  with  the  eredR  necessary,  and  go  on  in  wind- 
inir  t>P  Aie  cbntem  by  occasional  acceptances. 

**  An  odd  thing  has  happened.  I  have  a  letter,  by  order 
of  the  Prtnce  Regent,  onerfng  me  the  laureatesliip,  in  the 
most  Hatleriiiir  terms.  Were  I  my  own  man,  as  yon  calt 
It,  1  wouki  refuse  this  ofl^r,  (with  all  gratitude  ;)  bat  as  I 
am  aknated,  JBaOO  or  jC400  a^year  Is  not  to  be  sneezed  at 
upon  a  point  of  poetical  horiour^and  it  makes  me  a  better 
man  to  that  extent.  I  have  not  yet  written,  however.  I 
win  say  little  about  Constable's  handsome  behaviour,  bnt 
shall  not  forget  ft.  It  is  needless  to  stiy  I  shall  wish  him 
to  be  consulted  lo  every  step  that  is  taken.  If  I  should 
kMeall  I  advanced  to  this  bu^ness,  1  should  he  less  vcved 
than  I  am  at  this  moment.  I  am  very  busy  with  Pwifr 
at  present,  but  shall  certainly  come  to  town  if  it  is  thoupl  i 
necessary ;  but  I  should  fiist  wish  Mn  Constable  to  look 
into  the  aokirs  to  the  bottom  Since  I  have  personally 
superintended  them,  they  have  been  winding  up 'very  fasu 
and  we  are  now  annpfit  within  .sight  of  harbour.  I  wil! 
also  own  it  was  partiv  illhnmoar  at  John's  blimder  laac 
week  that  made  me  think  of  thi owing  thing.*^  up.  Vour^ 
truly, 

W.  S." 

After  writing  and  despatching  this  letter,  an  idea 
occurred  to  Scott  that  there  was  a  quarter,  not  hith- 
erto alluded  to  in  any  of  these  anxious  epistlee^  from 


iw 


LIFE  OF  SIR  WALTER  SCOTT. 


'  which  he  might  consider  himself  as  entitled  to  ask 
i^sistance,  not  only  with  little,  if  any,  chance  of  a 
refiisal,  but  (owing  to  particular  arcumftances) 
without  incurring  any  very  painful  sense  of  obliga- 
tion.   On  the  26th  he  says  to  John  Ballantyne— 

"After  some  meditation,  last  nifhc,  K  occurred  to  roe  I 
had  some  title  to  asY  the  Duke  or  Bucclcach's  guarantee 
tb  a  cash  account  for  ^4000.  as  Constable  proposes.  1 
have  written  to  liim  aecordlnflv,  and  hare  very  little 
doubt  he  will  be  my  surety.  If  ibis  cash  account  be  hi 
view,  Mr.  Constable  will  certainly  <uti*t  ut  until  the  ne- 
cessary writings  are  made  out— I  beg  your  pardon— 1 
daresav  I  ara  verv  stupid;  but  very  often  yon  don't  con- 
sider t^al  I  canH  follow  details  which  would  be  auile 
obvious  to  a  man  of  business— for  instance,  you  tell  me 
daily.  **  that  •/  the  sams  1  count  upon  are  fortlicoming,  the 
results  must  be  as  I  suppose.*  But— In  a  week— the  scene 
is  changed,  and  all  I  can  do,  and  more,  is  inadequate  to 
bring  abom  these  results.  I  protest  I  don't  know  if  at 
this  moment  J&4000  tciU  clear  us  out.  After  all,  you  are 
vexed,  and  so  am  I ;  and  it  Is  needless  to  wrangle  who 
has  a  right  to  be  angir.  Commend  me  to  James.  Yours 
truly,  W.  a" 

Ifavinf  explained  to  toe  Duke  of  Buccleuch  the 
position  in  which  be  stood— oblifged  either  to  procure 
some  guarantee  which  wotkld  enable  him  to  Taise 
X4000,  or  to  sell  abruptly  all  his  remaining  interest 
in  the*  copyright  of  nis  works;  and  repeated  the 
statement  of  his  p^'sonal  property  and  income,  as 
ffhren  in  the  preceding  letter  to  James  Ballantyne— 
Scott  says  to  his  noble  friend  :— 

"  I  am  not  asking  nor  desiring  any  loan  from  your  Grace, 
but  merely  the  honour  of  your  sanction  to  my  credit  as 
a  good  man  ibr  X40OO ;  and  the  motive  of  your  Graee's 
Interference  would  be  sulBciently  obvious  to  the  London 
Shylocks,  as  your  coiistant  kindness  and  protectioa  is  no 
secret  to  the  world,  will  your  Grace  consider  whether 
you  can  do  what  I  propose,  in  conscience  and  safety,  and 
nvour  jne  with  your  answer  7—1  have  a  very  flattering 
offer  from  the  Prince  Regent,  of  his  own  free  motion,  to 
make  me  poet-laiireate ;  lam  very  much  embarrassed 
by  it  I  am,  on  the  one  hand,  afraid  of  giving  ofiinice 
where  no  one  would  willingly  offend,  and  perh^M  losing 
an  opportunity  of  smoothing  the  way  to  my  youngsters 
through  life ;  on  the  other  hand,  the  office  is  a  ridiculous 
one,  somehow  or  other— they  and  I  should  be  well  ouis- 
zed,— yet  that  I  should  not  mind.  My  real  feeling  or  re- 
luctance lies  deeper— it  is,  that  flavoured  as  I  have  been 
by  the  public,  I  should  be  considered,  with  some  justice, 
I  fear,%s  engrossing  a  petty  emolument  which  inight  do 
real  service  to  some  poorer  brother  of  the  Muses.  I 
shaQ  be  oiost  anxious  to  have  your  Grace's  advice  on  this 
subject  There  seems  something  churlish,  and  perhaps 
conceited,  in  repelling  a  iavour  so  handsomely  offered  on 
the  part  of  the  Sovereign's  representative— and  on  the 
other  hand,  I  feel  much  disposed  to  shake  myself  ftree 
from  it  I  should  make  bik  a  bad  courtier,  and  an  ode- 
maker  Is  described  by  Pope  as  a  poet  out  of  his  way  or 
out  of  his  senses.  I  will  find  some  excuse  for  protract- 
ing my  reply  till  I  can  have  iho  advantage  of  your  Grace's 
ojnnion ;  and  renuUn,  in  the  mean  time,  very  tnjy, 
Tour  obliged  and  grateful 

Walter  Scott. 

"  P.B.— I  trust  your  Qntce  will  not  suppose  me  capable 
of  making  such  a  request  as  the  enclosed,  upon  any  idle 
or  unnecessary  speculation ;  but,  as  I  stand  situated,  it  is 
a  matter  of  deep  interest  to  me  to  prevent  these  copy- 
rights (h)m  being  diq>osed  of  either  hastily  or  at  under 
prices.  I  could  have  half  the  booksellers  in  London  for 
my  sureties,  on  a  hint  of  a  new  poem ;  but  bankers  do  not 
like  people  In  trade,  and  my  brains  are  not  ready  to  spbi 
another  web.  So  your  Grace  most  take  me  under  your 
princely  care,  as  in  the  days  of  laog  syne ;  snd  I  think  I 
can  say,  upon  the  sincerity  of  an  honest  man,  there  is  not 
the  most  distam  chance  or  your  having  any  tropble  or 
expense  through  my  means." 

The  Duke's  answer  was  in  all  respects  such  as 
might  have  been  looked  for  from  the  generous  kind- 
ness and  manly  sense  of  his  character. 

To  WaUer  Seott,  E9q.^  Abbottford. 

"  Drumlanrig  Castle,  August  S6th,  1813. 
"My  dear  Sir, 

«  I  received  yesterday  your  letter  of  the  JMth.  I  shall 
with  pleasure  comply  with  your  request  of  guarameeing 
the  *4000.  You  muiL  however,  furnish  me  with  the  form 
of  a  letter  to  this  effect,  as  I  am  completely  ignorant  of 
'transactions  of  this  nature. 

"  I  am  never  willing  to  qffer  advice,  but  when  my  opi- 
nioB  is  asked  by  a  friend,  I  am  ready  to  five  it.  As  to  the 
offer  of  Bis  Royal  Highness  to  appoint  you  laureate,  1 


ihaU  frankly  say  that  t  should  bemortlAedto  Me  yo«JbolS 
a  situation  which,  by  the  general  concurrence  artlM 
world,  is  stamped  rfdiculons.  There  is  no  good  reason 
why  this  ahouki  be  so ;  but  so  It  is.  WaUtr  Se^tt^  B%H 
Laureate^  ceases  to  be  the  Walter  Scott  of  the  Iajt,  Mar- 
mlon,  ^Bc.  Any  future  poem  ef  yours  vsotiki  noc  coosa 
forward  with  the  same  probability  of  a  eaccetasfui  s«c«^ 
tion.    The  poet  laureate  would  stick  to  vqu  aiui  yoiu- 

Rroductions like  a  piece  of  court  pUuter.  Your  wnuae  baa 
Itherio  been  independent— don't  put  her  into  barnes*. 
We  know  how  lightly  she  troty  sJong^rhen  left  to  her 
natural  paces,  but  do  ndt  try  driving.  1  would  write 
fraakly  and  openly  to  His  Royal  Highness,  but  ^-itfa  re- 
spectlal  gratttude,  for  he  htu  paid  you  a  compliment.  I 
would  not  fear  to  state  that  you  had  hitherto  wrfaen  whett 
in  poetic  mood,  but  feared  to  trammel  yonrselfwUli  a  fix- 
ed periodical  exertion ;  and  I  cannot  \nA  conceive  thai 
His  Royal  Highneas,  who  has  much  taste,  will  at  once  »*^ 
the  many  objections  which  jrou  must  have  to  liie  proposal, 
but  which  you  cannot  write.  Only  think  of  beln^  cbaiiat- 
ed  and  recitatived  by  a  parcel  of  hoarse  and  aqueaktng 
choristers  on  a  birthday,  for  the  edfficalion  of  the  In- 
shops,  pages,  maids  of  honour,  and  gendemen-penaionerft ! 
Oh,  tiorrtDle,  thrice  horrible !    Yours  sincerely, 

BuCOLBUOBf  ftC.*' 

The  letter  which  first  i\nnoanced,  the  Price  R^ 
giant's  proposal,  was  from  his  Royal  Highn^ss^s  Ubra- 
nan.  Dr.  James  Stanier  Clarke;  but  bcJore  Scott 
answered  it  he  had  received  a  more  formal  Boti6G»- 
tion  from  the  late  Marquis  o£  Hertford,  thcD  Vatd 
Chamberlain.  I  shall  tranfeoribe  both  tbeae  doco- 
mentSk 

To  Walitr  Scott,  B»q.,  Edinburgh, 

"  PavlUon,  Brightoo,  August  18^  1812. 
"BIy  dear  Sir, 

"  Though  I  have  never  had  the  honour  of  b«iji(  in- 
troduced to  you,  you  have  frequently  been  pla— cd  to 
convey  to  me  very  kind  and  flattering  mrwagea,"  and  f 
trust,  therefore,  yon  will  allow  me,  whheut  aar  ftuafaar 
ceremony,  to  Bay->That  I  took  an  early  opportunltj  tbfts 
morning  of  seeing  the  Prince  Regent,  who  arrired  hcra 
late  yesterday ;  and  I  then  delivered  to  his  lUhrat  H|ff b- 
uess  my  earpest  wish  and  anxioua  desire  Aat  tbe  ^racant 
situation  of  poet  laureate  might  be  conferred  on  yav. 
The  Prince  replied,  *that  you  had  ahready  been  wntirn 
to,  and  that  if  you  wished  it,  every  thing  would  be  aettled 
as  I  could  desire.' 


I  hope,  therefore,  I  may  be  aBowed  to  coogrMtdate 

I  gave  a 
to  find  that,  those  sentiments  orhigh  approbattoo  whicls 


you  on  thw  event. 

first  to  have  been  otrercd,aiidft 


Tou  are  the  man  to  whoi 


>whDto 
alBcei% 


«Qtrf«  , 


prli 


Royal  Master  had  so  eftea  expressed  toward*  j^m  in 
.  ivate,  were  now  to  openly  and  honourably  dt^pfai/ed  in 
public  Bavc  too  goodness,  dear  sir,  to  receive  thia  In- 
trusive letter  with  your  accustomed  courtesy,  and  beHava 
me,  yours  very  sincerely, 

J.  8.  Olaaxb, 
lihrartan  to  H.  R.  H.  the  Prince  KefesL* 

To  WaUer  ScoU^  Eoq,,  Edinburgh. 

*"  Ragley,  3Ut  Aufost^  I8I3L 

^I  thought  it  my  duty  to  his  Royal  Highnaea  the 
Prince  Regent,  to  express  to  him  my  bumble  opinion  that 
I  could  not  midce  so  creditable  a  choice  as  in  your  peraoo 
for  the  office,  now  vacant,  of  poet  laureate.  1  am  now 
authorised  to  oflRer  it  to  vou,  which  I  would  have  taken  an 
earlier  opportunity  of  doing,  but  diet,  till  this  morning,  I 
have  had  no  ooca^omof  seemg  Ms  Royal  Hiahness  aince 
Mr.  Pye's  death.    I  have  the  honour  to  be,  sir,  your  i 


'Sir, 


obedient,  humble  servant, 

bcoRAM  HaarpuMK*' 
The  following  letters  conclude  thia  matter. 

Toth§MootNobk  the Mar^uit  of  Hertford^  4r.  ^^^ 
RagUy,  Wanticluhire. 

"  Abbotsford^4th  Sept. 
"My  Lord,  ^^ 

"  I  am  this  day  honoured  vrith  your  Lordship's  letter 
of  the  31st  August,  tendering  for  my  acceptance  the  aita- 
atlon  of  poet  Utureate  in  the  Royal  Household.  I  aball 
always  think  it  the  highest  honour  of  my  life  to  have  been 
the  object  of  the  good  opinion  implied  in  your  Lordship* a 
recommendation,  and  In  the  gracious  acquiescence  of  hia 
Royal  Highness  the  Prince  Regent  I  humbly  trust  T 
shall  not  forfeit  sentiments  so  highly  valued,  although  T 
find  myself  under  the  necessity  of  declining,  with  ever7 

•  The  Roral  BirariaA  had  Ibrwaidtd  to  Scott  mvscntatian  co- 
pfes  of  U«  suecesfivf*  pobhcatiuns   The  PrpftPM  of  Maritime  r>ia,- 
siyverr-HPaleoner*i  Sfalpwrack,  with  a  Oft  of  tl«^  Aatbor— Nn 
tVafia— A  Uisof  Nelsoo,  in  two  <^Mrto  volumes,  4to.  &o.  ar 


LIFE  OF  SIR  WALTER  SdCnTT. 


m 


MkBwMhaBtm  «r  vM0Mt  aid  gnatndef)  a 
dbtwydogim,  ■ndomrad  to  ia«  In  •  mumer  so  ^ery 
flii.    Th*  dvdea  «ttacii«d  to  tht  office  of  poet  fani- 


reitoare  not  indeed  very  fomkUble,  If  judged  of  by  the 
ffiumer  in  which  ther  have  aometiniee  Seen  oischarged 
Bm  aa  in<fiTidual  selected  from  the  Uterarjr  characters 
^  Brtiun,  npon  the  honoorable  priociple  expressed  in 
TOOT  U>rd<ih^'f<  letter,  ought  not,  in  justice  to  your  Lord- 
pbip,to  his  own  repntitioti,  but  above  all  to  his  Royal 
Hislmess,  to  accept  of  the  office,  unless  be  were  con- 
RjDQsof  the  power  of  fiUinit  it  re«pcetablr,  and  attaining 
toexeeilence  in  the  execution,  or  the  tasks  which  tt  im- 
poiM.  This  confidence  lam  so  far  from  possessing,  that. 
on  tbc  contrary,  with  all  the  advantafes  which  do  now,  and 
I  mm  ever  will,  present  tbf^mselves  to  the  poet  whose  task 
K  cajf  be  to  rommcmorate  the  events  of  nis  Royal  High- 
n'sj'!^  admiol.otraf  ton,  I  am  certain  I  should  feel  myself  in- 
id-qu«te  to  thr  fitting  discharge  of  the  resularly  recur- 
THQ  duly  of  periodicfld  composition,  and  should  thus  at 
nc^  dimppoint  the  expectation  of  the  public,  end,  what 
maid  idve  me  still  more  pain,  discredit  the  nomination  of 
te  Rojal  Highness. 
"^  Will  your  Lordship  permit  me  to  add,  that  though  &r 
(ma  hf^iD^  wealthy,  I  already  held  two  official  situations 
hd-)  line  of  my  profession,  wtuch  aflbrd  a  resectable 
iDfonw.  Ii  becomes  me,  therefore,  to  avoid  the  appear- 
mce  of  engrossing  one  of  the  few  eppointmenta  which 
f^imis  i^clally  adapted  for  the  provision  of  thosr  whose 
Ifvei  hate  heen  dedicated  exclusively  to  literature,  and 
«ho  too  often  deritre  from  their  labours  more  credit  than 


"Notiuo;  could  give  me  greater  pain  than  being 
^hovtgin  aofratcfol  to  hln  Royal  Highness's  goodness,  or 
laseoMble  to  the  honourable  distinction  his  undeserved 
ModeKeniuon  has  been  pleased  to  bestow  upon  me.  I 
bitrto  irust  to  your  Lordship's  kindness  for  laying  at  the 
*•«  of  his  Royal  HixhocHS,  in  the  way  most  proper  and 
i*^p«tftil,  my  humble,  eraiefiii,  and  dutiful  tnanxs,  wfth 
Aeic  reasons  for  dccUnlng  a  situation  which,  though  eve* 
rrwtj  niperior  to  my  deserts,  I  should  chiefly  have  va- 
M  u  a  msrk  of  hia  Royal  BtghneflB**  approbation. 

Fvyoor  Lordahip'a  taunerited  goodnesa,  as  weU  aa  for 
tb(  trouble  yo<i  have  bad  upon  this  occasion,  I  can  only 
o&rjrou  my  rcroectful  thanks,  and  entreat  that  you  will 
b'fleased  to  believe  me,  my  Lord  Blarauis,  your  Lord- 
^s  much  obliged  and  mucn  honoured  bumble  servant, 
Waltbr  Scott." 

AOsOraee  tht  Dmke  xf  Bucdewh^  4v.,  Dntmlamrig 
CmatU, 
"  Abbolaford,  Sept.  B,  ISia 
"M;  dear  Lord  Duke, 

Cood  advice  is  eaMIr  foflowed  when  it  jumps  will  lur 
wnjenttuMints  and  tnclinatioos.  I  no  sooner  found  nunc 
fc^ed  by  ynur  Grace's  opinion,  than  I  wrote  to  Lord 
Hmibrd,  declining  the  laurel  in  the  most  civil  way  I 
^  imagine.  I  also  wrote  to  the  Prince's  Hbrarian, 
«te  bad  nude  himself  active  oathe  occasion,  dflstlngat 
■Mevbat  more  length  than  I  thought  respectiui  to  the 
[wl  Qiambarlain,  my  reaaons  fbr  declining  the  intended 
■jMiQr.  My  wife  ban  made  a  copy  of  the  lasC  letter, 
*■»!  enOMe  for  yonr  Oraee'a  perasal  there  is  no  oc- 
'^iioa  cither  to  preserve  or  return  it<~but  I  am  destroos 
T*Q  dwold  know  what  I  kuave  put  my  apology  upon,  for 
•■■T  reckon  on  tta  being  misrepresented.  I  certainty 
»o«WDever  havo  sonrfved  the  recitative  described  by 
^*vOrace~4t  is  a  pan  of  the  etiqoatte  I  was  quite  un- 
("pued  for,  and  should  have  sunk  under  it.  It  la  curious 
^oQfb  Uwt  Dnunlanrig  should  always  have  been  there* 
[2^1  bards  who  decline  court  promotion.  Gay,  1  thhik. 
p^*^  to  be  a  gentleraan-nsher,  or  some  such  post ;  and 
i>a  detenutaied  to  abide  by  my  post  of  Grand  Ecuyer 
^^^»^m.  of  the  Chateau*  varied  for  that  of  tale^eUer  of 
•*wenta|. 

S}  ^  "end  yonr  Grace  a  copy  of  the  letter  .of  gua- 
^e«  wtien  I  receive  It  from  London.  By  an  arrange* 
«'>tt«ith  Lonsnan  and  Co.,  the  great  booksellers  in  Pa> 
''"JJ^'^f  row,  I  am  about  to  be  enabled  to  place  their  se- 
r2J{j«»wellas  my  own,  between  your  Grace  and  the 
J^otttf  of  hasard  But  your  khid  readiness  to  forward 
*™»cUon  which  is  of  such  great  hnportance  both  to 
y  tortime  and  comfmrt,  can  nevey  h^  forgotten— «1- 
g'^Q  it  can  acarae  make  me  more  than  1  have  always 
2Sjy<**»''Loni,  your  Grace's  much  obliged  and  truly 

Waltbr  Scott." 
^*Wr-*actosurt.— TVMe  Rev.  J.  S.  Ctarke^  ^.  ^.  ^e. 

Pavili&n^  Brighton. 
•  ^  **  Abbotaford,  4th  September,  1813. 

Od  tDf  return  to  thii  cottage,  after  a  short  excur* 
^J* ^•M  at  once  surprised  and  deeply  interested  by  the 
'<^^  vi  7onr  letter.  ^  ahall  mlwnys  consider  H  as  the 


prondeit  incident  of  my  Bfe,  that  hla  Rcyal  BlglmMi  ttl* 
Prince  Regent,  who^e  taste  hi  literature  Is  BO  hl^y  09- 
tinguiahed,  should  have  thought  of  naming  me  to  th^ 
situation  of  poet  Uureate.  I  feel,  therefore,  no  small  em* 
barrassment  lest  I  should  mcur  the  suspicion  of  churlish 
ingratitude  in  declining  an  appointment  in  every  point  of 
view  so  fiar  above  my  deserts,  btit  which  I  shotild  chiefly 
have  valued  as  conferred  by  the  unsolicited  generosity  m 
his  Royal  Hl^mess,  and  as  entitUng  me  to  the  dlstincdon 
of  terming  myself  an  inunedlate  servant  of  his  Majesty. 
But  I  have  to  trust  to  your  goodness  In  representing  to  his 
Royal  Highness,  with  my  most  grateful,  humble,  and  du- 
tiful acknowledgments,  the  circumstances  which  compel 
me  to  decline  the  honour  which  his  undeserved  favour 
has  proposed  for  me.  The  poetical  pieces  I  have  hitherto 
composed  have  uniformly  been  the  hasty  prodootkm  of 
impulses,  which  I  must  term  Ibrttmate,  aiuce  they  have 
attracted  his  Royal  Highness's  notice  and  approbation. 
But  I  stronffly  fear,  or  rather  am  absolutclv  certain,  thst 
I  should  feel  myself  unable  to  justify,  in  the  eye  of  the 
public,  the  choice  of  his  Royal  Highness,  by  a  fitting  dls- 
chaiTje  of  the  duties  of  an  office  which  reqo^es  stated 
and  periodical  exertion.  And  although  I  am^eonacioui 
how  much  this  difficulty  is  lessened  under  the  govern* 
ment  of  his  Royal  Highness,  marked  by  paternal  wisdom 
at  home  and  successes  abroad  which  seem  to  promiaa 
the  liberation  of  Europe,  1  still  feel  that  the  necessity  of 
a  regular  comnieuioratlon  would  trammel  my  powers  of 
composition  at  the  very  time  when  it  would  be  equally 
my  pride  and  duty  to  tax  them  to  the  uttermost.  There 
is  another  circumstance  which  weighs  deeply  in  my  mind 
while  forming  my  present  resolution.  I  have  already  the 
honour  to  hold  two  appohitmenta  onder  Government,  not 
usually  conjoined,  and  which  allbrd  aa  income,  far  indeed 
from  wealth,  but  amounting  to  decent  independence.  1 
fear,  therefore,  that  in  accepting  one  of  the  tew  situatfcMui 
which  our  establishment  holds  forth  as  the  peculiar  pro< 
vision  of  literary  men,  I  might  be  justly  censured  as  avail* 
lug  myaelf  of  h'S  Royal  Highness's  partiality  to  engroas 
more  than  my  share  of  the  p«bUc  revenuci  to  the  preju-  , 
dice  of  competitors  equally  meritorious  at  leaai,  and 
otherwise  unprovided  foe;  and  as  this  calculation  will  be 
made  by  thousands  who  know  that  I  have  reaped  great 
advantages  by  the  favour  of  the  public,  without  bebif 
awareof  the  losses  which  it  has  been  my  misfortune  to 
sustain,  I  may  fairly  reckon  that  it  will  terminate  even 
more  to  my  prejudice  than  if  they  had  the  means  of  judg- 
ing accurately  of  my  real  circumstances.  I  have  thus 
far,  sir,  frankly  exposed  to  you,  for  his  Royal  Highness's 
favourable  con^deration,  the  feelings  which  ipduce  me  to 
decline  an  appeintment  offered  in  a  manner  so  highly  cal- 
culated to  graUfy,  I  will  not  say  my  vanity  only,  but  my 
sincere  feelings  of  devoted  attachment  to  the  crovrn  and 
constitution  of  my  country,  and  to  the  person  of  hia 
Royal  Highness,  by  whom  its  government  has  been  so 
worthily  administered.    No  consideration  on  earth  would 

Sve  me  so  much  pain  as  the  idea  of  my  real  feelinxa  be* 
g  misconstrued  on  this  occasion,  or  that  I  should  be 
supposed  stupid  enough  not  to  estimate  the  value  of  hin 
Royal  Highness's  favotu-,  or  so  ungrateful  as  not  to  feel 
it  as  r  onght.  And  you  will  relieve  me  fh>m  great  anxietr 
if  you  wUl  have  the  goodnesa  to  let  me  know  if  his  Royal 
Highness  is  pleased  to  receive  fevourably  my  humble  and 
gratefbl  apology. 

"  I  cannot  conclude  without  ejqpreaslng  mr  sense  of 
your  Undnees,  and  of  the  trouble  you  have  had  upon  thla 
accuimt,  and  I  request  you  will  beueve  me,  sir,  your  obli- 
ged humble  servant,  «         .. 

WAtma  Scott." 
To  Robert  Southey^  Etq.,  Keewick. 

"  Abbotaford,  4th  September,  18^ 
**  My  dear  Sonthey, 

**  On  my  return  here  I  found,  to  my  no  small  but* 
prise,  a  letter  tendering  me  (he  laurel  vacant  br  the  death 
of  the  poetical  Pye.  I  have  declined  theappolntment,  as 
behig  incompetent  to  the  task  of  annual  commemoration ; 
but  chiefly  as  being  provided  for  in  my  professional  de- 
partment, and  unwilling  to  incur  the  censure  of  engross* 
mg  the  emolument  attached  to  one  of  the  lew  appoint* 
ments  which  seems  proper  to  be  filled  by  a  man  ot  litera- 
ture who  has  no  other  views  in  life.  Win  you  forgive  me, 
my  dear  friendj  If  1  own  I  had  you  hi  my  recollection,  f 
have  given  Croker  the  hint,  and  otherwise  endeavoui^ed 
to  throw  the  office  into  your  option.    I  am  uncertain  if 

Cou  will  like  It,  for  the  laurel  has  certainly  been  tarnished' 
y  some  of  its  wearers,  and,  as  at  present  managed,  it*  . 
duties  are  Inconvenient,  and  somewhat  liable  to  ildtcnle. 
But  the  latter  matter  might  be  amended,  as  I  think  the 
Regent's  good  s<>nse  would  lead  him  to  lay  aside  these  re- 
gular commemorations ;  and  as  to  the  former  point,  it  hag 
been  worn  by  Dryden  of  old,  and  by  Wartofl  In  modem 
days.  If  you  quote  ray  own  reflisal  against  me,  I  rcriy— 
first,  I  have  been  luckier  than  you  hi  holding  ^  office* 


m 


lUpg  OT  em  WAtTKB>si30Tr. 


^y  fo^bh  lir^qaiee  agsinit  &•  flltuation,  otbexwlse  bow 
dwm  I  memioo  It  to  tou,  my  older  brother  in  the  nxuse  1 
—bat  from  a  9ort  of  Inienuu  hope  tiax  they  would  give  it 
to  you,  uppB  whom  it  would  be  so  mif  ch  more  worthily 
conferred,    ^or  I  am  not  such  an  aea  as  not  to  know  that 

J  on  are  my  better  in  poetry,  ihough  I  have  bad,  probably 
ut  for  a  time,  the  tide  of  popularity  In  my  favour.  I  have 
noc  time  to  add  ten  thousand  other  reasons,  but  I  only 
wished  to  tell  you  how  the  matter  was,  and  to  beg  you  to 
think  before  you  reject  the  offer  which  I  flatter  myself 
wHI  be  made  to  you.  If  I  ha4.not  been,  like  Dogborrv,  a 
fellow  with  two  gowns  already,  I  should  have  jumped  at 
it  like  a  cock  at  a  gooseberry.  Ever  yours  most  truly, 
,  B  ^  Walter  Scorr." 

Immfdiattly  uftLf  Mr.  (Jroker  rMfivoJ  Scntt'a  let- 
ter ]\tf^  alluiri&(l  to,  Mr.  iSoutht-y  was  invvted  to  fic- 
cept  the  vQcont  JQurtl ;  aiid^  to  the  honour  cf  the 
pTinco  Rcgtini,  when  \ie  fijETiiticd  that  Uia  nccep- 
tancc  mupt  d«?pentl  dti  tKeofiice  being  thencditrih 
#0  mo<li%d  as  to  demand  noo«  nf  ih<i  old  formal 
pdesi  leafing  il  to  the  potH-Uureaie  lo  choose  his 
own  lime  fbrcfdehrftiiagAny  ^em  public  evtiu  ihtt 
might  o^otr,  hia  liojal  Hi^htieas  liad  tlief?ood  stnM 
•nd  pood  tasio  at  once  to  acquies<'i3  in  tti«  proprii^ty 
f[  thi8  ti  1 1  eraii  on .  The  o  ffice  w  a  »  i  li  u  a  f ^1  i  eve<f  from 
The  hurdan  of  ndtcuk  which  had,  in  spite  of  bo  mnriy 
iUuatrious  nftmc^,  adherecl  tn  it ;  and  though  its 
emohutiuxts  did  not  in  fact  nmouiil  to  inure  than 
XlOO  a- year,  (inHlf  ad  of  ih**  £Am  or  £400  at  ^vbich 
Scott  rated  th**m  ivht=n  he  declinifd  it,)  ibty  foruied 
so  unacceptable  addiiion  lo  Mr*  ^uuthey^s  tncuine. 
SciJtfB  inswfij'  10  his  hroth*r  pooi^s  affectionate 
ind  ffrnteful  Letter  on  ih?  conrln^mn  of  thi»  afTair, 
is  us  folbwi^. 

To  R.  JSouthey,  Esq.^  Kenoiek. 

•"  Edlaboitsh,  November  13, 1813. 
"  I  do  not  delay,  my  dear  Southey,  to  say  my  gratulor. 
Long  mar  you  live,  as  Paddy  says,  to  rule  over  tis,  and  to 

Redeem  the  crown  of  Spcnscr'^nd  of  prrden  to  Its  pris- 
tine dignity.  I  am  onlv  discontented  with  the  extent  of 
your  royal  revenue,  which  I  thought  had  been  iB400,  or 
iSaOO  at  the  very  least.  Is  there  no  getting  rid  of  that  in!- 
quitoufl  modus,  and  requiring  the  butt  in  kind  1  I  would 
have  you  think  of  ft :  I  know  no  man  so  well  entitled  to 
Xeres  sack  as  yourself  though  many  bards  would  make 
a  better  figtMre  at  drinking  it.  I  should  thMc  that  hi  due 
time  a  memorial  might  get  some  relief  in  this  part  of  the 
appointment—it  should  be  at  least  £100  wet  and  jSlOO  dry. 
wnen  you  have  carried  your  point  of  discarding  the  ode, 
and  my  point  of  getting  the  sack,  you  will  be  exactly  in 
the  situation  of  Davy  in  the  farce,  who  stipnhUes  fb^  more 
vrages,  less  work,  and  the  key  of  the  ale-ceOar.  I  was 
greatly  delighted  with  the  circumstances  of  your  investi- 
ture. It  reminded  me  of  the  porters  at  Oafals  with  Dr. 
Smollett's  baggage,  six  of  them  seizing  upon  one  small 
portmanteau,  and  bearing  it  in  triumph  to  his  lodgings. 

'  Tou  see  what  it  Is  to  Iau)|^  at  the  superstitions  of  a  gen- 
tfemanusher,  as  I  think  you  do  somewhere.  ^  The  whir- 
Kgi^  of  time  brings  about  his  revenges.' 

"Adieu,  my  dear  Southey ;  my  best  withes  attend  all 
that  you  do,  and  my  best  com^stulations  ev<»ry  good  that 
attends  you— yea,  eventhts,  the  very  least  of  ProvMenfce's 
mercies,  as  a  poor  clergyman  Said  when  pronoimeing 
grace  over  a  herring.  1  should  like  to  know  how  the 
prince  reeelred  you ;  his  address  is  said  to  be  excellent, 
and  his  knowlei^e  of  Utcratura  far  from  despicable. 
What  a  chMnge  offortane  even  since  the  short  time  when 
•  we  met !  The  great  work  of  retribution  Is  now  rolUpg 
onward  to  consummation,  yet  am  I  not  fully  saxiafied— 
pereat  iHe^-there  wtu  be  no  permanent  peace  in  Europe 
till  Buonaparte  sleeps  with  the  tyrants  of  old.  My  beat 
compliments  attend  mrs.  Southey  and  your  famiiv.  Ever 
yours,  WAX.TBR  scorr." 

To  avoid  retarning  to  the  aflfair  of  the  lanreateship, 
I  hare  placed  together  such  lettera  coneerning  it  as 
appeared  important.    I  regret  to  say  that,  had  I  ad- 

"  her ed  to  the  chronological  order  of  Scott's  corres- 
))ondence,  ten  out  of  every  twelve  letters  between 
the  date  of  his  aoplication  to  the  Duke  of  Buccleuch, 
and  his  removal  to  Edinburgh  on  the  12th  of  No- 

,  vember,  would  have  continuea  to  tell  the  same  story 
of  pecuniary  difficulty,  urgent  and  ahnost  daily  ap- 
piicalioflA  for  new  advances  to  the  Ballantynes,  and 
endeavours,  more  or  less  successful,  but  in  no  case 
eflfectually  90,  to  reheve  the  pressure  on  the  book- 
selling firm  by  sales  of  its  heavy  stock  to  the  great 
publishing    houses  of   Edinbuigh    and  Lqndon. 


WhaMver  piM069»  .tbaM  eM^9Mromol^il^wil]leip. 
pears  to  have  been  dae  either  dtfectlrieriddiveccly  to 
Mr.  Constable  1  whe  did  a  great  deal  more  tbao  pra- 
dence  would  have  warranted,  in  tftktng  on  himself 
the  resnits  of  its  unhappy  adventures,— and,  by  his 
sagacious  advice,  enabled  the  distiessed  partners  to 
procure  similar  aasistajaqe  ^t  the  haiula  of  oihen 
who  did  not  partake  his  own  feelings  of  persooal 
kindt^esa  and  sympathy,  "  I  regret  to  learn,"  Seott 
writes  to  him  on  the  I6th  October,  "that  there  is 
great  danger  of  your  exertione  in  our  favour,  whieh 
once  promised  so  fairlv,  proving  finally  abortive,  or 
at  least  being  too  tardy  in  their  operation  to  woii 
out  our  relieT  If  any  thing  more  can  be  honourably 
and  properly  done  to  avoid  a  most  unpleannt 
shock,  I  shall  be  xnost  willing  to  do  it ;  if  not- 
God's  will  be  done !  There  will  be  enough  of  pro- 
perty, including  my  privai^e  fortune,  to  pay^every 
claim :  and  I  have  not  uaed  prosperity  so  dl,  n 
greatly  to  fear  adversity.  But  these  things  we  wiU 
talk -over  at  meeting;  mean  while  believe  me,  with 
a  sincere  sen^e  of  your  kindnee  and  friendly  views, 
very  truly  yours,  W.  8."— I  have  no  wish  to  qootc 
mor^  largely  from  the  letters  which  passed  duripg 
this  crisis  between  Scott  and  his  partners.  The 
pith  and  substance  of  his,  to  John  Ballantyne  at 
least  seems  to  be  summed  up  in  one  briel poBikript : 
— "  For  God's  sake,  treat  me  as  a  man,  and  not  u 
a  milch*oow  I"  , . 

The -difficulties  of  the  Ballantynes  wete  by  ths 
time  well  known  throughout  the  commercial  circles 
not  only  of  Edinburgh,  but  of  London ;  and  a. re- 
port of  their  actual  bankruptcy,  with  the-addihon 
that  Scott  was  engaged  as  tneir  surety  to  the  extent 
of  X20,000,  found  its  way  to  Mr.  Morritt  about  the 
b€iginmng  of  November.  This  dear  fiiend  wrote  to 
him,  in  the  ulmost  anxiety,  and  made  liberal  oflivf 
of  aasistancein  case  the  catastrophe  might  still  be 
averted  ;  but  the  term  of  Martinmas,  always  a  cn- 
tical  one  in  Scotland,  bad  paesed  before  this  letter 
reached  Edinburgh,  and  ScoU's  answer  will  show 
symptoms  of  a  clearing  horizon.  I  think  also  there 
is  one  expression  in  it  which  conld  hardly  have  fail* 
ed  to  convey  to  Mr.  Morritt  that  his  friend  waiin- 
volved,  more  deeply  than  he  had  ever  acknowledg- 
ed, in  the  coacerna  of  the  Meaars.  Ballantytae. 
Tq  J.  B,  SL  MftrriUf  E^g.^  HoMy  Park, 

*'  Bdittbnrgh,  20ih  November,  1813. 

"  I  did  not  answer  yomr  very  kind  letter,  my  dear  Vor- 
fitt,  UBta  I  coald  put  your  friendly  heart  to  rest  upon  the 
repiiwt  you  have  heard,  which  I  eould  not  do  entirely  ontu 
this  tento  of  Martinmas  was  passed.  I  have  the  pleasnrs 
to  say  that  there  is  no  truth  whatever  in'  the  BaJuntyae  s 
reported  lianluru^tcy.  They  have  bad  severe  (fitBcaKlei 
for  the  kat  four  monthato  make  their  resoureefl  om09 
the  decaands  upon  thMn,«ad  I  having  the  piica  of  Rokf- 
br.  and  other  monies  ht  their  haads,  have  had  consider- 
able reason  lor  apprehension,  and  no  sUght  degree  01 
plague  and  trouble.  They  have,  however,  been  w  weu 
supported,  that  1  have  tot  out  of  hot  water  upon  their  ac- 
count They  aire  wiadhig  np  their  bookselOng  copcero 
with  great  regolarky,  and  are  to  abide  hereaiier  by  ti\9 
printing-office,  which,  with  Its  stock,  Ac^  will  reren  to 
them  fairly. 

"  I  have  been  able  to  redeem  the  oflspring  of  my  oxw^ 
and  thev  are  like  to  pay  me  like  grateful  chfldreo-  this 
mauer  has  set  me  a  tiunUng  about  money  more  serious- 
ly tlian  ever  I  did  in  my  life,  and  I  have  be^n  by  Inaur- 
ing  my  life  ior  £40(Xk  to  secure  some  ready  cash  to  my 
family  should  I  slip  girths  suddenly.  I  think  my  other 
property,  Ubratry,  Ac.,  may  be  worth  about  £l2fiaO,  and 
1  have  not  much  debt  * 

•*  Upon  the  Whole,  1  see  no  prospect  of  any  loss  whate- 
ver. Ahhoogh  in  the  course  of  human  events  I  n»y  d« 
disappohiCed,  there  eenahily  can  be  none  to  vex  7^ 
kind  and  afiectipnate  heart  on  my  account  I  am  J<^*^ 
with  a  large  official  income,  and  if  I  tose  any  thing  no^> 
have  gained  a  great  deal  in  my  day.  I  cannot  teuyod. 
and  will  not  attempt  to  tell  you,  how  much  I  wm  a*^  , 
by  youf  ietier>r^so  much,  indeed,  that  for  several  day" » 
1  could  not  make  my  mind  up  to  express  myself  on  tne 
subject  Thank  God !  aU  re^  cbngerwas  yAterday  f^ 
over— and  1  will  write,  in  two  or  three  days,  a  funny '«' 
ter,  without  any  of  these  vile  cash  matters,  of  whlv»  » 
may  be  said  there  is  no  living  with  them  nor  without  th^;!' 
Ever  yours,  most  truly,  Wj^ltke  Scott 

All  these  annoyances  prodi^ced  no  chaiif  c  whai' 


UFA  orstaVAJUTER  SCOTT. 


:\?* 


•mber, 


sr,  moVer,  ana 
Uvityne'spreaB, 

fToiiiiMii'oCSwiff  9  works,  uidwi^  the  MS. 

^bilife  of  the  DeiB.  He  kad  alio  prooeeded  to 
MiiniB  hisowa  mind  the  pUn  of  the  Lord  of  the 
litoi,  sndflKeeated  «iich  a  portion  of  the  First  Canto 
ts  me  him  confidence  to  renew  his  negouation 
vim  Constable  for  the  sale  of  the  whole,  or  part  of 


■f-tacUei  ois  eye  ooaooed  to  iigni  onee  more  on 
S  Ashestiel  fragment  of  WaverUy.—Be  read  over 
tbossintroductorv  chapters— thotu^tthsy  had  been 
odarvalned— ttnd  determined  to  finish  the  storv. 
AH  this  while,  too^he  had  been  subjected  to  those 
iotemptions  from  idle  strangers,  wnich  from  the 
im  to  the  last,  imposed  so  heavy  a  tax  on  his  c^.le- 
Idtf ;  and  he  no  doubt  received  such  guests  with 
ifl  bis  usual  urbaohy  of  attention.  Yet  I  was  not 
anrised  to  discover,  among  his  hasty  notes  to  the 
Btfiaotrnes,  several  of  tenonr  akin  to  the  following 

^^  «  Sept  2d,  1813. 

■  Mr  tamper  is  really  worn  to  a  halr'B-'breadih.  The 
attni«T  of  yesterday  hung  on  me  till  twelve  to  day. 
When  I  bad  just  taken  my  pen,  he  was  rcUeved,  like  a 
sentry  Inring  guard,  by  two  other  lounging  visiters ;  and 
their  poit  has  now  been  supplied  by  some  people  on  real 


Agtil^ 

"  Monday  Bventag. 
'*0h  Jsmee— oh  James— Two  Irish  damea 
Oppress  me  vtty  sore ; 
..       I  froaning  send  one  sheet  I've  penned-^ 
For  hang  them  1  tticre's  no  more.*' 
A  scrap  of  nearly  the  same  date  to  his  brother 
Aomas  may  be  introduced,  as  belonging  to  the  same 
mie  of  feehng— "  Dear  Tom,  I  Aserve  what  you 
Kjr  ss  to  Mr.*  *  *  *i  and  as  youtnay  often  be  ex- 
poiedto  similar  requests,  which  it  would  be  dif&cnilt 
(optrry,  you  can  sign  such  letters  of  introduction 
IB  ndate  to  persons  whom  yon  do  not  delight  to 
mamt  short,  T:  Scott ;  by  which  abridj^ent  of 
jour  name  I  shall  understand  to  limit  my  civilities." 
It  is  proper  to  mention,  that,  in  the  very  agony  of 
thMepecpIezitieB,  the  untortuuate  Matann  received 
from  him  a  timely  succour  of  £50,  rendered  doobly 
MBMable  by  the  kind  and  judicious  letter  of  advice 
in  whieh  it  wan  enclosed  i  and  I  have  before  me 
uiple  evidence  that  his  benevolence  had  been^- 
tfioded  to  other  struggling  brothers  of  the  trade, 
evoQ  when  he  mnst  often  have  had  actual  difficulty 
to  meet  the  immediate  expenditure  of  hu  own  fomi- 
ly.  All  this,  however,  will  not  surprise  the  reader. 
.  Nor  did  his  general  correspondence  suner  much 
ioiemiption ;   and,  as  some  relief  after  so  many 
pmnfal  detaila,  I  shaQ  dose  the  narrative  of  this  anz- 
KN»  year  by  a  few  specimens  of  his  mtsoellaneoos 
^communications. 

To  Miat  Joanna  BaiUiA,  Hamp»Uo<L 

"  Abbotsford,  fiept  12, 1813. 
"Mf  dear  Miss  BaflUe, 

•  I  have  been  a  vile  la«y  eorrespondent,  having  been 
ctroObs  about  the  country,  and  hideed  a  little  way  into 
Koflaad,  for  the  greater  partof  July  and  August ;  in  short, 
*ftT«  skipping  here  and  there,'  Bke  the  Tanner  of  Tam- 
wonh'i  horse.  Since  I  returned,  I  have  had  a  gracious 
«<fer  of  the  laurel  oo  the  part  of  the  Prince  Regent.  You 
^  not  wonder  that  I  have  declined  it,  though  with  every 
^ipmrion  of  gratitude  which  such  sn  unexpected  com* 
PfiBrat  demanded.  Indeed,  it  would  be  high  imprudence 
m  one  having  literary  reputation  to  maintain,  to  accept  of 
>s  offer  which  obliged  hnn  to  produce  a  poetical  exercise 
^  a  givsn  theme  twice  a-year ;  and  besides.  Hs  my  loyalty 
to  the  royal  family  Is  very  sincere,  I  would  not  wish  to 
W«  ft  thought  mercenary.  The  public  has  done  its 
Vtn  by  me  very  well,  and  so  has  Government :  and  I 
thought  this  liule  literary  provision  ought  to  be  bestowed 
OB  one  who  has  made  literature  his  sole  profession.  If 
tbe  Resent  means  to  make  it  respectable,  he  will  abolish 
the  Coofish  custom  of  the  annual  odes,  which  is  a  drudge* 
.    .     -       ..  —  gly  encounter— or 

And  so,  peace 


'Profaned  by  Cibber  taafl  contemned  ]ij  Gray.' 
*  I  was  for  a  fortnight  at  ^^imilanrlg.  a  cnuui  Old«hl^ 
teau  whioh  has  descended,  D>  il^  d^Mh  ur  tlmlatii  PHu 
of  ^ueensbury,  to  the  Dukt  jI  ButckTic^L  E  I*  re^y 
a  most  magnlocent.  pile,  and  vih*f\\  rmiibaiMjjxiecl  iimid  th« 
wide  forest  scenery,  of  wliick  1  bjive  tkn  tiiiaciuiifi  re*ol* 
lection,  must  have  oeen  very  ■^^^'miiTf  rir  Rm  i^Kl  Q  mniti 
wild  devastation  among  the      '^  '  ^ 

fine  onea  are  aiiU  left,  and  a  q***jiiUv  '-•  i  •^-^  -;-^ jii  Jjt;;, 
in  despite  of  the  want  of  every  kind  of  anention,  rushing 
up  to  supply  theplace  of  the  lathers  of  the  forest,  U(m 
whose  stems  they  are  springing.  It  will  now,  I  trust,  be  ' 
in  better  hands,  for  the  reparation  of  the  castle  goes  hand 
in  hand  with  the  rebuilding  of  all  the  cottages,  in  whieh 
an  aged  race  of  pensioners  of  Duke  Chades,  and  bis 
pious  wife,—*  Kilty,  blooming,  young,  and  gay,'— have, 
durhig  the  last  reign,  been  pining  into  rheuiaatisins  and 
agues,  in  neglected  poverty.  ^    .   ^  ^    . 

''All  this  is  beautiful  to  wlmeaa;  the  mdoor  wow  does 
not  please  me  so  well,  though  I  am  aware  that,  to  those 
who  are  to  inhabit  an  old  canle,  it  becomea  often  a  mauer 
of  necessity  to  make  alterations,  by  which  lU  tone  and 
character  are  changed  for  the  worse.  Thus  a  noble  gat  ' 
Icry,  which  ran  the  whole  length  of  the  front.  Is  cowrert- 
ed  into  bed-rooms— very  comforuble,  indeed,  but  not 
quite  so  magnificent;  and  as  grim  a  dungeon  as  ever 
knave  or  honest  roan  was  confined  in,  is  in  some  danger 
of  being  humbled  into  a  wine-cellar.  It  Is  almost  impos- 
sible to  draw  your  breath,  when  you  recollect  that  this, 
so  many  feet  under  groimd,  and  totally  bereft  of  air  and 
Ught,  was  built  ibr  the  Imprisonment  of  human  beings, 
whether  guilty,  suspected,  or  merely  unfortunate.  Cer- 
tainlr,  if  our  Iramca  are  not  so  hardy,  our  hearts  are. soft- 
er than  those  of  our  forefathers,  although  probably  a  few 
years  of  domesti<;  wjur,  or  feudal  oppression,  would  brjupg 
US  back  to  the  same  case-liardening,  both  In  body  aid 
sentiment  «  .    .^     .  .  j 

*<I  meailt  to  have  gwae  to  Rokoby,  but  was  prevented 
by  Mrs.  Morrltt  being  unwell,  which  I  very  aweh  recret, 
as  I  know  few  people  that  deserve  better  health.  1  am 
verylSfcd  you  hwre  known  them,  and  I  pray  you  tolaeep 
up  the  aequaintattee  in  vrlnterri  am  glad  to  see  by  tjiis 
day's  paper,  that  our  firfond  Tetry  has  made  a  CKrovaWe 
tammston  on  Us  ftrst  appearaaoe  at  CoventrOarden—he 
has  gota  very  good  eqgagement  there  for  three  yeare^at 
twelve  guineas  a-wee&,  which  is  a  handsome  income. 
This  htue  place  eomes  on  as  fkst  as  can  be  reasonably 
hoped;  and  the  ptaias^ra  are  all  above  the  |w»und,  but 
cannot  be  planted  oo?  for  tw^e  monlhs.  My  ktodeet 
eompHments— in  whieh  Ifrs.  Scott  always  joais— attend 
MlssJkgnes,  the  I>octor,s]id  hla  famUy.  Ever,  my  dear 
firland,  yours,  moet  faithfully,  Wax,wa«coT.." 

To  Daniel  JVrry,  £faq.,  London. 

«  Abbotsford,  20th  October,  1813. 
"Dear  Terry,  .  ,  ,  j. 
"  You  virill  eaaUy  believe  that  I  was  greatly  pleased  te 
hear  from  you.  I  had  already  learned  from  The  Courier 
(what  I  had  anticipated  too  strongly  to  doubt  for  one  in 
slant)  your  favourable  Impression  on  the  London  public. 
I  think  nothing  can  be  more  judicious  in  the  manners 
than  to  exercise  the  various  powers  you  possess^  in  their 
various  extenU.  A  man  of  genius  is  apt  to  be  lunited  to 
one  single  style,  and  to.  become  per  force  a  mannerist, 
merelybecause  the  public  is  not  so  just  to  its  own  amuse- 
ment is  to  give   r ..._=.-  „r.V-...W«-   Utrr^^U 


ff  no  person  of  talent  could  ever  wUUngly 
t«ss  clear  off  nrom,  If  he  was  so  rash. 
<^«Hh  (he  laurel, 


_  him  an  opportunity  of  throwing  hhnselt 

into  different  Unes ;  and,  doubtless,  the  exercise  of  our  ta- 
lents in  one  unvaried  course,  by  degrees  renders  them 
Incapable  of  any  other,  as  the  otcr  use  of  any  one  limb 
of  our  body  gradually  Impoverishes  the  rest.  I  shall  be 
anxious  to  near  that  you  have  played  JfoitJofte.  which  Is. 
I  think,  one  of  your  coupt-de-mcAtre,  and  in  which  envy 
itself  cannot  affect  to  trace  an  imitation.  That  same 
charge  of  hnkaUon,  by  the  way,  is  one  of  the  tiurest 
scents  upon  which  dunces  are  certain  to  open.  Undoubt- 
edly, if  the  same  character  is  well  performed  by  two  in- 
dividuals, their  acting  must  bear  a  general  resemblance — 
it  could  not  be  well  performed  by  both  were  it  otherwise. 
But  this  general  resemblance,  which  arises  from  both 
following  nature  and  their  author,  can  as  Uttle  betermed 
imitaUon  as  the  river  in  Wales  can  be  idendfied  with  that 
of  Macedon.  Never  mind  these  dunderheads,  but  go  on 
your  own  way,  and  scorn  to  laugh  on  the  right  side  of 
your  mouth,  to  make  a  difference  from  some  ancient  co« 
median  who,  in  the  same  part,  always  laughed  on  the  left, 
sack  to  the  public— be  uniform  in  your  exertions  to  stuay 
even  those  characters  which  have  little  in  them,  and  U> 
give  a  grace  which  you  cannot  find  in  the  author.  Auffl- 
ences  are  always  grateful  for  this— or  rather— for  grap- 
tude  is  as  much  out  of  the  question  in  the  theatre,  as  Ber- 
nadotte  say  s  to  Boney  It  is  amongst  sovereigns— or  rather, 
the  audience  la  grattfied  by  receiving  P»eaetM  fr<^  a 
part  which  they  tod  no  eapectatten  wpaM  eff—  •' — 
.  Digitized  by  VJVJC 


iM 


LIFfi  OP  ktA  walteSr  scofr. 


ftBT.  tt  is  in  this  view  thatf  had  I  been  df  jrour  professkm, 
■ndpoMessed  tslents^Ithink  I  should  nave  liked  often 
those  parts  with  which  mr  brethren  quarrelled,  and  stu- 
<Bed  to  ffive  them  an  effect  which  their  intrinsic  merit  did 
not  entitle  (hem  to.  I  have  some  thoughta  of  bein^  in 
down  in  sprtiu;;  (not  resolutions,  by  anjr  means;)  and  it 
win  be  au  addiUonal  motive  to  witness  jour  success,  and 
to  find  Tou  as  comfortably  established  as  your  friends  In 
Castle  Street  earnestly  hope  and  trust  you  will  be. 

"  The  summer—en  uncommon  summer  in  beauty  and 
serenity— has  glided  away  from  us  at  Abbotsford,  amidst 
our  usual  petty  cares  and  petty  pleasures.  The  childrens' 
garden  is  In  applepie  order,  omr  own  completely  cropped 
and  stoclted,  and  all  the  trees  iHourishing  Uko  the  green 
bay  of  the  Psalmist.  I  have  been  so  busy  about  our  do- 
mestic arrangements,  that  I  have  not  killed  six  hares  this 
season.  Bemdes,  I  have  got  a  cargo  of  old  armour,  suffi- 
cient to  excite  a  suspicion  that  I  intend  to  mount  a  squad- 
ron of  cnriassiers.  I  only  want  a  place  lor  my  armoury ; 
and.  thank  God,  I  can  wait  for  that,  these  being  no  times 
for  building.  And  this  brings  me  to  the  loss  of  poor  Stark, 
with  whom  more  genius  naa  died  than  is  left  behind 
among  the  collected  universality  of  Scottish  architects. 
O,  Lord!— but  what  docs  it  signify  1— Earth  wtts  bom  to 
bear,  and  man  to  pay,  (that  is,  lords,  nabobs,  Glasgow  tra* 
ders,  and  those  who  have  where^thal)— so,  wherefore 
grumble  at  great  castles  and  cottages,  with  which  the 
taste  of  the  latter  contrives  to  loaa  the  back  of  Mother 
Terra  1—1  have  no  hobby-horsical  commissions  at  pre- 
sent, unless  if  you  meet  the  Voyages  of  Captato  Richard, 
or  Robert  Falconer,  in  one  volume— ^cowheel,  quoth  San- 
cho'— I  mark  them  for  my  own.  Mrs.  Scott,  Sophia,  Anne, 
and  the  boys,  unite  in  ktod  remembrances.  Ever  yours, 
truly,  W.  Scott." 

To  ihe  Right  Bon.  Lord  Byron^  4,  Bennet  Street,  St. 
Jame»%  London. 

**Abbotsford,  6tfa  Nov.,  1813. 
**  My  dear  Lord, 
**I  was  hononredwlth  your  Lordship's  letter  of  the 
97th  September,*  and  have  stneeraiy  to  regret  that  there 
to  rach  a  prospect  of  yoar  leaving  Britain,  witboat  my 
aohtevtag  your  personal  acquaintance.  I  heartily  wish 
▼our  Lonfahip  had  ooma  down  to  Scotland  this  seMon, 
iov  I  have  never  seea  a  finer,  and  yoa  might  have  renew- 
ed aU  your  old  associations  with  Caledonia,  and  made 
•ueh  new  ones  as  were  likely  to  suit  you.  Ldar^  promise 
you  would  have  Uked  me  well  a|K>ugh— for  I  have  many 
properties  of  a  Turic— never  trouSle  myself  about  ftttority 
—am  as  lazy  aa  the  day  It  kmg— delight  in  colleettttg  all- 
ver-mouBteid  pistols  and  atsghans,  and  go  out  of  my  own 
road  for  no  one— all  which  I  take  t»  oe  attributes  of 
your  good  Moslem.  Moreover,  I  am  somewhat  an  admirer 


of  royalty,  and  in  order  to  maintain  this  oait  of  my  creed, 
I  shall  take  care  never  to  be  connected  with  a  court,  but 
■tick  to  the  tgnotum  pro  mirabiU, 


"  The  author  of  the  Queen's  Wake  will  be  deB^hted 
with  your  approbation.  He  is  a  vronderfW  creature  tor  his 
opportunities,  which  were  far  hiferior  to  those  of  the  ge- 
nerality of  Scottish  peasants.  Bums,  for  instance— (not 
that  their  extent  of  talents  is  to  be  compared  for  an  in- 
stant)—had  an  education  not  much  worse  than  the  sons 
of  many  gentlemen  in  Scotland.  But  poor  Hogg  hteralfy 
could  neither  read  nor  write  till  a  very  late  period  of  his 
life ;  and  when  he  first  distinguished  hlmselfby  his  poeti- 
cal talent,  could  neither  spell  nor  write  grammar.  When 
I  first  knew  him,  he  used  to  send  me  his  poetry,  and  was 
both  indignant  and  horrified  when  I  pointed  out  to  him 
parallel  passages  in  authors  whoin  he  had  never  read,  but 
whom  all  the  wo  rid  would  have  sworn  he  had  copied. 
An  evil  fate  has  hitherio  attended  him.  and  bafiled  every 
attempt  that  has  been  made  to  place  him  in  a  road  to  in- 
dependence. But  I  trust  he  may  be  more  fortunate  in 
fbture. 

"  I  have  not  yet  seen  Southey  in  the  Gazette  as  Lau- 
reate. He  is  a  real  poet,  such  as  we  read  of  in  former 
times,  with  every  atom  of  his  soul,  and  every  moment  of 
his  time,  dedicated  to  literary  pursuits,  in  which  he  differs 
from  almost  all  those  who  have  divided  public  attention 
with  him.  Your  lordship's  habits  of  society,  for  example, 
and  my  own  professional  and  official  avocations,  must  ne- 
cessarily connect  us  much  more  with  our  respective 
classes  in  the  usual  routine  of  pleasure  or  business,  than 
if  we  had  not  any  other  employment  than  Tcuxtre  mutU. 
But  Southey's  ideas  are  all  poetical,  and  his  whole  soul 
dedicated  to  the  pursuit  of  literature.  In  this  respect,  as 
well  as  in  many  others,  he  is  a  most  striking  and  interest- 
ing character. 


I  very  much  hiterested  in  all  tl^t  concerns  your 
viBour,  which  is  universally  approved  of  among  our 
mountaina.    I  have  beard  no  objection,  except  by  one  or 


two  geniuMt,  who  ran  over  poetry  u  a  eat  does  orcr » 

harpalchord,  and  they  affect  to  complain  of  obtcnrity.  QMa 
the  contrary,  I  hold  every  real  lover  of  the  art  is  oVQfeA 


to  you  for  condensing  the  narrattre,  l^  givfaw  as  onlj 
thoae  striking  scenes  which  yon  have  shown  to  m  ao  otb- 
oeptible  of  poetic  omanMmt,  and  IsKr&ig  lo  the  Imiiginn 
tion  the  says  r«  and  says  he's,  and  all  the  miontl*  oi  de- 
tail, which  mi^  be  proper  in  giving  evidence  bafbm  m 
court  of  justice.  The  truth  1^  I  think  poetry  ie  moet 
striking  when  the  mirror  can  be  held  qp  to  tho  reader, 
and  the  same  kept  constantly  before  his  eyes ;  ft  requires 
most  uncommon  powers  to  support  a  direct  and  down- 
right narration ;  nor  can  I  remember  many  inatancea  of 
ita  being  successftlliy  roaintaltted  oven  by  our  greats 
bards. 

"As  to  those  whofhstve  dmie  me  Ihe  honour  to  take  V7 
rhapsodies  for  thehr  model,  I  (can  only  say  they  have  mx- 
omnlified  the  ancient  adage, '  one  fool  makea  many  ;*  nor 
"do  I  think  I  have  yet  had  much  reason  to  suppose  I  ham 
given  rise  lo  any  thing  of  distinguished  merit  The  wont 
is.  it  draws  on  me  letters  and  commendatory  verses,  to 
which  my  sad  and  sober  thanks  in  humble  prose  are 
deemed  a  most  unmeet  and  ungracious  rej^.  Of  this 
sort  of  plague  your  Lordahip  must  ere  new  hsTe  had 
more  than  your  share,  b«tt  Ithlnk  yon  can  hadly  havemnc 
with  so  original  a  request  as  concluded  a  letter  of  a  bard 
I  this  morning  received,  who  limited  his  demands  to  betnx 
placed  in  his  due  station  on  Parnassus— and  invested  with 
4  post  in  the  Edinburgh  Custom  House. 

^t  What  an  awakening  of  dry  bones  seems  to  be  taking 

Elace  on  the  Continent !  I  could  as  soon  have  believed 
1  the  resurrection  of  the  Romans  as  in  that  of  the  Prun- 
sians— yet  It  seems  a  real  and  active  renovation  of  national 
spirit  It  will  certainly  be  strange  enotigh  If  that  tm- 
mendous  pitcher,  whicn  has  travelled  to  so  i 


Tbe  jetler  in  qneatioa  has  not  been  preseiyed  fai  Soott's  eol> 
ofoonespoadenos.   I'Us  leaves  some  alhisioas  in  the  an* 


tains,  should  be  at  length  broken  on  the  banks  of  ih% 
Saale ;  but  from  the  hicnest  to  the  loweat  we  am  the  fools 
of  fortime.  Your  Lordahip  wiU  probably  reeoUect  where 
the  Oriental  tale  occurs,  of  a  Swtan  who  consnkad  SokK 
mon  on  the  proper  inscription  for  a  slgnet-rtng,  requiring 
that  the  maxim  which  it  conveyed  should  be  at  once  ino- 
per  for  moderating  the  presumption  of  prosperity  and  Cam- 
pertnc  the  preesnre  of  adversity.  The  apophthegm  sup- 
plied oy  the  Jewlrii  aage  waa,  I  think,  admirably  adapted 
for  both  purpoaes,  bemg  comprehended  In  the  wards, 
*  And  this  also  shall  pass  away/ 

"  When  your  Lordship  aeea  Refers,  will  you  remember 
me  kindly  to  himi  I  hope  to  be  in  London  next  q»rtnc, 
and  renew  my  acquaintance  with  my  friends  there,  u 
wm  be  an  additional  motive  if  I  could  flatter  myself  that 
your  Lordship's  stay  in  the  country  will  permit  me  the 
pleasure  of  waiting  upon  you.  I  am,  wHb  much  respect 
and  regard,  your  Lordship's  truly  honoured  and  obug ed 
humble  semnt, 

WaltvrSoor. 

**  I  go  to  Bdinbuith  next  week,  muUvm  ^ emens.** 
To  3fiso  Joannm  BaiUie,  Bampttead. 

*«  Edinburgh,  10th  Dec.  18131 

"Bfany  thanks,  my  dear  friend,  for  your  Idnd  bken  oi 
remembrance,  which  I  yesterday  received.  I  ought  m 
bhish,  if  I  had  grace  enough  lelVat  my  long  and  ungene- 
rous silence:  but  what  ahall  I  say?  The  habit  of  pro- 
crasunation,  which  had  always  more  or  less  a  domlnkm 
over  me,  does  not  relax  its  sway  as  I  grow  older  and  lesa 
wUUngtot^eupthepen.  I  have  not  written  to  dear  EBis 
this  age,— yet  there  is  not  a  day  I  do  not  think  of  you  and 
him,  and  one  or  two  other  friends  in  your  southern  land. 
I  am  very  glad  the  whiskey  came  safe :  do  not  stmt  so 
laudable  an  admiration  for  the  Uquor  of  Caledonia,  for  I 
have  plenty  of  right  good  and  sound  Highland  Ferintoah, 
and  I  can  alwaya  find  an  opporttmity  ofsending  you  up  a 
bottle. 

"We  are  here  almost  mad  with  the  redemption  of 
HollamL  which  haa  an  instant  and  gratifyhig  effect  on  the 
trade  of  Lcith,  and  indeed  all  along  the  east  coast  of  Scot- 
land.  About  £100,000  worth  of  various  commodUles, 
which  had  been  dormant  in  cellars  and  warehouses,  was 
sold  the  first  day  the  news  arrived,  and  Orange  rli>ands 
and  Orange  Boven  waa  the  order  of  the  day  among  all 
ranks.  It  is  a  most  miraculous  revivification  which  i^ 
has  been  our  fate  to  witness.  Though  of  a  toleraiily  san- 
guine temper,  I  had  fairly  adjourned  all  hopes  and  expec- 
tations of  the  kind  till  another  generation :  the  same  power, 
however,  that  opened  the  windows  of  heaven  and  the 
fountaina  of  the  great  deep,  has  been  pleased  to  close 
them,  and  to  cause  his  wind  to  blow  upon  the  fiu^e  of  the 
waters,  so  that  we  may  look  out  from  the  ark  of  our  pre- 
servation, and  behold  the  reappearance  of  the  moamain 
crests,  and  old,  beloved,  and  well-known  iiinrfm*rv«^ 
which  we  had  deemed  awallOwed  up  for  ever  in  tk» 
abyss :  the  dove  with  the  olive  branch  would  complete 
the  simile,  but  of  that  I  see  little  hope,  Bounaparte  la 
that  desperate  gambler,  wbawill  not  nse  frtiile  he  has  a 


LIFE  OF  SIR  WALTER  SCOTT. 


191 


mt$  toft:  and,  IndaM,  to  be  Ktaig  of  V^ruiee  would  bet 
Mor  pettHbotav  enterprtoe,  after  bavins  been  almoet 
E^ror  oToieWorld.  I  think  he  iriU  drive  tbinfton 
M  die  fickle  end  Impatient  people  over  whom  he  nilea 
gflltiredof  hiraandahake  himoutof  theaaddle.  Soaae 
eirciuDfltancea  aeem  to  intimate  hia  having  beeome  jealooa 
of  the  Senate ;  and  indeed  any  thing  like  a  repreeentative 
body,  however  imperfectly  constructed,  becomea  danger^ 
001  to  a  tottering  tyranny.  The  aword  displayed  on  both 
fhwtfera  may,  Ukc  that  brandished  across  the  road  of 
Bdaam,  terrify  even  dumb  and  irrational  eabjection  into 
tfteruice:  but  enoogh  of  politics,  though  now  a  more 
elMerful  subject  than  they  have  been  for  many  yean 
put 

"I  have  had  a  strong  temptation  to  go  to  the  Continent 
this  Chziaimaa ;  and  ahouid  certainly  have  done  so,  had  I 
bsen  sure  of  getting  from  Amsterdam  to  Frankfort,  where, 
n  I  know  Lord  Aberdeen  and  Lord  Cathcart,  1  might  ex- 
pect a  welcome.  But  notwithstanding  my  earnest  desire 
to  see  the  allied  armies  cross  the  Rhine,  which  I  suppose 
BQst  be  one  of  the  grandest  military  spectacles  tai  the 
norid,  I  should  like  to  know  that  the  roads  were  tolerably 
leeare)  and  the  means  of  getting  forvrard  attainable.  In 
fprii^,  howover,  if  no  unfortunate  change  takes  place*  I 
tnut  10  visit  the  ^amp  of  the  aUies,  and  aee  all  the  pomp 
ad  power  and  otrcumataace  of  war.  which  I  have  so  oilon 
ioiagioed.  and  0ometimea  attemptea  to  embody  in  verse. 
Johnnie  Richardson  is  a  good,  nonoorable,  idnd-hcarted 
ttule  fellow  aa  Uvea  in  the  world,  with  a  pretty  taste  fdr 
poetry,  which  he  has  wisely  kept  uijder  subjection  to  the 
occupation  of  drawing  bri«fs  and  revising  conveyances. 
It  if  I  great  good  fortune  to  him  to  be  in  your  neighbour- 
hood, IS  he  la  an  idolater  of  geniua,  and  where  could  he 
ofler  op  hia  worahip  so  justly  1  And  1  am  sure  you  will 
Ike  bim,  for  he  is  really  *  officious,  innocent,  sincere."* 
Ttfry,  I  hope,  vrill  get  on  weH;  he  is  industrious,  and 
isdoos  for  the  honour  of  hi«  ut.  Ventkllua  must  have 
been  an  excellent  part  for  him,  hovering  between  tragedy 
ad  eoasedy,  wtaleh  is  preciaely  what  will  auit  hhn.  We 
have  a  vrolbl  want  of  him  here,  both  hi  public  and  private,^ 
kr  he  waa  one  of  the  moat  easy  and  quiet  chimney- 
toner  companlona  that  I  hava  had  for  these  two  or  three 
joarspast. 

"I  am  very  glad  if  any  thing  I  have  written  to  you  could 
live  pleaaore  to  Miss  Edgewortn,  though  I  am  sure  it  wlU 
nD  very  abort  of  the  respect  whicn  1  have  for  her  brlBlant 
iilents.  I  ahraya  write  to  you  21  la  vcUe^  and  trust  im-, 
pttekly  to  your  kindneas  and  judgment  npon  all  occaalona 
where  you  mny  choose  to  communicate  any  part  of  my 
1«lten.f  Aa  to  the  ludng  man,  Imuat  battle  them  aa  1 
ea:  they  are  vrorae  than  the  great  Emathian  conqueror, 
who 

*  bade  spare 

The  hou^  of  Ptndarus,  when  temple  and  tower 

Wenttotne  ground.' 
Tonr  phiastera  are  coming  up  gallantly  in  the  nursery* 
bed  at  Abbotoford.  I  trust  to  pay  the  whole  eatabliah- 
ment  a  Christmaa  visit,  which  wiU  be,  aa  Robinson  Crusoe 
un  of  his  glasa  of  mm,  *  to  mine  exceeding  refreshment' 
AU  Edhiburgh  have  been  on  tiptoe  to  see  Madame  de 
fliael,  but  ahe  ia  now  not  likely  to  honour  ua  with  a  visit, 
It  which  I  cannot  prevail  on  myaelf  to  be  verv  aorrv;  for 
ul  tired  of  some  of  her  worka,  I  am  afraid  i  ahouid  dia> 

Kee  my  taate  by  tiring  of  the  authoress  too.  All  my 
e  people  are  very  well,  learning,  with  great  pain  and 
dDiijenee,  much  whicn  they  will  have  forgotten  altogether, 
or  nearly  so,  in  the  course  of  twelve  yeara  hence ;  but  the 
habit  of  learning  ia  something  in  itself,  even  when  the 
lesiona  are  foigouen. 

"I  must  not  omit  to  tell  you  that  a  friend  of  mine,  wrfth 
whom  that  metal  is  more  plenty  than  with  me,  has  given 
>M  Bomejold  mohurs  to  be  converted  into  a  ring  for  en* 
chaaiag  uig  Charles'  hair ;  but  this  is  not  to  be  done  until 
I  get  te  London,  and  get  a  very  handaome  pattern.  Ever, 
Bmt  truly  and  staicerely,  yours, 

W.  Scott." 

The  la«t  sentence  of  tbis  letter  refers  to  a  lock  of 
the  htir  of  Chariee  I.,  whicb,  at  Dr.  Baillie'a  request, 
Sir  Hennr  Halford  had  transmitted  to  Scott  when 
tbe  royal  martyr's  remains  were  discovered  at 
Windsor,  in  April,  1813.  Sir  John  Malcolm  had 
firen  him  some  Indian  coins  to  supply  virgin  gold 
lor  the  setting  of  this  relic ;  and  for  some  years  he 
ooutantly  wore  the  ring,  which  is  a  massive  and 
beautifttl  one,  with  the  word  Rjemxmbib  sarronnding 
It  in  highly  relieved  black-letter. 

Seott*!  o^  fiieod,  Mr.  Joan  Riehaidsoo.  bad.  dioitly  bellwe 
time  taken  a  hoaie  in  Blin  BailUe'B  neislilwuihood,  on 


SBfi%£l.*&'fiSi?.%!^ 


'  Thapoefs  alhiaion  to  "  taxmg  meii*'  may  requira 
anotner  word  of  explanation.  To  add  to  his  trou- 
bles during  this  autumn  of  1813,  a  demand  was 
made  on  him  by  the  commissioners  of  the  income- 
tax,  to  return  in  one  of  their  schedules  an  account 
of  the  profits  of  his  literary  exertions  during  the  last 
three  years.  He  demurrod  to  this,  and  took  the 
opinion  of  high  authorities  in  Scotland,  who  eon* 
finned  him  in  his  iinpression  ih^t  the  claim  was 
beyond  the  statute.  The  grounds  of  his  resdstanoe 
are  thus  briefly  stated  in  one  of  his  letters  to  hii 
legal  friend  in  London. 

7V>  John  Richardwfif  Eaq.  Fhtyder  Sftreet,  Wlutmifuter, 
"MydearRlchanlaon, 

"  I  have  owed  you  a  letter  thia  lone  time,  hot  perhaps 
my  debt  might^not  yet  be  diacharged,  had  I  not  a  UtUa 
matter  of  business  to  trouble  you  with.  1  wish  you  te 
lay  before  either  the  King's  counsel,  or  Sir  Samuel  Ro- 
QuIIy,  and  any  other  you  may  approve,  the  point  whether 
a  copyright,  being  sold  for  the  term  durin|  which  Queen 
Anne^a  act  warranted  the  property  to  ue  author,  tha 

Erice  is  liable  in  payment  of  the  property  tax.  1  contend 
isnot  ao  Uable,  far  the  foOowmg  reaaonat^lat,  It  la  a 
patent  right,  expected  to  prodnoe  an  annual,  or  at  least 
aa  incidental  profit,  during  the  currency  of  many  yeara; 
aiT*  — ;— »-  If  rr-ic  TT rrif  .-rrntrnr^frf  thnt  If  n  man  soM  a 
tL<iiLricjil'[>*ii.:.mi  or  a  iwieni  Jlif  miicliiiier/,  properLjf  Ux 
sboiilti  be  letted  in  the  first  plate  on  tho  full  price  ris  poki 
to  lb*  seller,  and  tb^n  on  ihe  pr^iAte  «<  nurcliASecl  by  Iha 
ba  yt'T  1  !Ud  tiitl  tf>ry  t  ipert  at  fi  pirps,  b  ut  I  thin  k  it  cWnr 
Ihrti:  1  dfHJl)le  fMfAilnti  Ink***!  ptace.  'M^  U  lahould  Im  ccneU 
dtrt^d  that » Inwk  may  h-i*  Ihn  worlt  not  of itnf*  year,  k>m  fifa 
numn  w^jf^if:  bfe;  and  an  It  hat  bt^rtt  fciiRiEl^  la  a  \ittt  etJm 
or  the  rtiik^'  of  Uonlon,  i^mi  a  fuU  ^f  timbirr  wme  not  eiib- 
jfi^t  io  ptoiif'tiy  Inii  h^cau^^^  ti^rciuipTehf  tidetlthe  prf>duce 
of  thirty  yi^arft,il  ifeekLi&ftC  Ioasi  fM,juaily  ^ir  ihM  mentil 
eiertiotiR  Rhuuld  not  he  aubjet^oil  to  a  Mfdtf  priiidpia 
of  meujf  u  r  cineni .  ^l,  T  he  An  mon4  ^i,  so  far  IA  1  ciot  leikm. 
totally  new  juid  uTiliejif  J  of  4lh,  §Up[K)elEic  that  1  died 
and  fell  my  aismnm-Tipiw  In  be  aoU  publicly  along  with 
the  rtflt  of  day  Ut>Tary,  if  there  any  fiwund  for  taxtof 
whnt  rnlifbt  be  received  for  the  'sfrittm  boofc.  any  mora 
tiinn  wiy  rare  j^iintpd  hook  whle^ii  fti*[M;f-ulativo  bonkBellair 
micht  jiurchEi^e  wHh  a^i»w  io  republicsJiBiil  You  wlH 
know  whether  any  of  Ujese  tlihuts  ouifiht  to  be  iujtsetttcd 
faj  1  Ur  brief.  Dm Iti  Hume,  *nd  ev^ry  liwyer  here  v^tioui 
I  h^ve  apoken  u>,  ^orisLd^r  tb  t  d  eiiiAti.d  9s  Ulei^aL  Be  Ik  ¥  e 
me  truly  yours,  ,«.  «         « 

Waltbb  Scott." 

Mr.  Rfchardsoo  havioif  prepared  a  cAse^  obtained 
TiTn'in  it  iht*  opiiiiotiB  of  Mr.  Alexander,  (nfier wards 
Sir  Williiim  Alcsand^r  and  Chief  Baron  of  r ho  Kjt- 
cheqtle^^)  antf  of  thfl  loie  Sir  Samud  Rom  illy. 
Tlies*  emititrnt  iflwyem  agreed  in  the  view  of  their 
SrtJtch  brethren  i  and  flfier  a  tedious  corre«jwii- 
dtnccj  the  Lords  of  the  Treasury  at  last  decided 
that  tile  Iticomti-TEiit  Comnajsemnera  should  nbati- 
dt>n  their  ctnim  upoti  the  produce?  of  Literary  labour* 
1  liuve  thouflht  it  worlh  whik  to  preserve  Bomer*- 
cor^  of  thiadcd&ion,  and  of  the  authonties  on  which 
it  reeled,  in  ca*<;  anch  n  d*?riiand  ahouid  evtr  be  re- 
newed hereafter.  ^        ^     ^         ^         -, 

In  the  bi^K^iifiinRof  Dccembert  the  Town-Co uacH 
of  Edinhursh  resolved  to  send  o  deputation  to  con- 
jqpratulAt«3  ine  Prince  Rci<;cnt  on  the  proaperoua 
course  of  public  events,  and  ihey  inviieo  Scott  U^ 
draw  tip  tneir  addreas,  which,  on  itu  being  tran^^ 
mitted  for  previoua  inspection  to  Mr.  William  Dun- 
dna,  then  meinher  for  the  cky,  and  throufdi  him 
shown  privately  to  tbe  Regent,  was  acknowledged 
to  the  penman,  oy  his  Royal  Highness's  command, 
as  "  the  most  elegant  congratulation  a  sovereigQ 
ever  received,  or  a  subject  offered."*  The  Lord 
Provost  of  Kdinbargb  presented  it  accordingly  at 
the  levee  of  the  M)tht  and  it  was  received  n^Mit  gr»^ 
ciously.  On  returning  to  the  north,  theMagtstratei 
expressed  tbeir  sense  of  Scott's  services  on  tbjs 
occasion  by  presenting  him  with  the  freedom  of  hit 
native  city,  and  also  with  a  piece  of  plate,— which 
the  reader  will  find  alluded  to.  among  matters  of 
more  consequence,  in  a  letter  to  be  quoteq  presently. 

At  this  time  Scott  further  expressed  his  patriotio 
exultation  in  the  rescue  of  Europe,  br  two  songa 
for  the  anniveraary  of  the  death  of  Pitti  one  ol 

•  Utter  lh»tl«lU|Mlloo.  W.  I>iiadBs.4M^tftDMf^ 

!"»•  Digitized  by  V^OOglC 


LIFE  OF  BUL  WALTER  SCOTT. 


196 

wliitih  bai  ever  dace,  I  believei  been  thj^ated  at 
fltat  colebmuon  i^  • 

^O  dread  w  ih?  time  ixid  nuat^  dr«idfut  th«  cunt^s^ 
When  ihc  brtve  qo  Mucelio  Itjr  pluif^itr'din  viln/^A^* 


CHAPTER  XXVn. 

t>lCATJOKf  or  HAPOLtOTfi  SfTC. — fUtU CATION  OP 
BCOTT**  UnS  AjtP  KDtTtOK  Or  BWlfT— EtSAYH  FOS 
THS  fUTf  LEMSffT  TO  THE  lETfCr^LOPKDlA  ^KITAN- 
WICA — COMPUCTlOS  AKD    FITBUCATION    OF    WAVSB- 

I  HATi  to  op«^n  the  year  l^H  with  a  melancholy 
•roTT'  Mfnijon  hna  bnen  madi?  more  thiin  once^  of 
Henry  Wobcf,  fl  ptxif  tlerman  echokr,  who  ^cap- 
ing  to  thi*  cottfiirjf  in  WH,  from  miafurrtines  in  his 
OWO],  tfJEcitetj  Sooit'B  cumpaBsion^  flud  waa  thcncc- 
ftrth  furoitthedj  ihrou^h  ma  means,  with  literary 
fOiplOfnient  of  Tiiioui  iort«.  Wehcr  Vka»  n  man 
ff  eoniiderttble  kArniiUEi  but  Scott,  tm  1^■\ynh\&v\l&- 
toip^  apprart  to  have  fornMd  on  eKa^^erat€4i  oouon 
ttam  capadlf^  ftnd  e^ainly  cottnTcnanci'd  himt  to 
kii  OfWO,  MVcre  fviat^in  at^vr^ral  moflt  tmforturtale 
Wmkift&ktniiji  Wh^n  not  ensn^pd  on  thin^a  of  a 
oioTfi  anibitjous  charscttjr,  he  bad  acted  for  ten 
T^ar!*  Si  big  proteirtor's  amanuDnaLa,  and  when  tho 
Qiniily  were  in  EJml^urgb,  he  very  uft^n  dined 
with  them.  There  wns  ftiimethina  very  jnteresunK 
ifi  hia  ippcurancc  and  manners ;  he  had  a  f^ir^  ppeti 
epun  ft  nance,  in  whiih  ihe  honpeiv  and  the  entnu- 
iiDsim  of  hts  nation  wer^  aUko  vieihli?  ^  his  demean-' 
mir  was  genilcnnd  modc*ei  j  and  he  had  not  onty  a 
itock  of  cinioua  untiquftriftn  knowbdge,  but  the  re- 
EniniBeencea,  ^hich  he  detailed  with  smuamg  iim- 
phciiy.  of  An  early  ^iJk^cheequcrcd  wiib  iDany  strange 
ismign  adventuroa.  He  waai,  in  abort,  tnucb  a 
favouriie  with  Scott  and  all  the  household ;  and 
W&a  Liivtt<!d  to  dine  with  them  ao  frcquentJy^  chiefly 
htcnu^Q  Kt«[  friend  wns  aware  that  he  had  an  txn-> 
bappy  prcj^i^naiiy  to  dnnkin;;,  and  vi'asi  ftnrioua  Ri 
kwp  bim  awnv  from  places  wbt  re  he  micht  bi^vo 
beta  more  likely  to  indulge  it.  This  vice,  however, 
had  bfen  growmp  on  him  j  and  of  Into  Seott  had 
found  ii  iiecessaory  to  make  »omc  rather  severe  re- 
monstrarjces  abi>ut  h&bita  which  were  ai  unco  m- 
jaiing  hi»  bealrh,  and  miernipimi?  hia  literary 
l!ida«!ry« 

Th^  hadt  howc'Vpr,  parted  kindly  when  Scott 
(oft  Edmburgh  at  Chnstmaa  iJ^i:*,— and  the  day 
after  hia  rvtura  Weber  attended  hitn  as  uaual  in  hia 
library,  bdnt  employed  in  Iranscnhm^  extracta 
dnhog  »^QCiiJ  bDUTD,  white  hia  friend  cM^ati  d  ovt^r 
•oaitiat  hnn^  Ci^atjntied  working  at  tbe  Mfc  of  Swnft, 
The  Itgbl  b«|Q]]iiing  to  fail,  Scott  threw  himf<eii 
back  in  his  chair^  and  was  abont  to  rinp  for  candle^«, 
when  ho  observed  the  Germ  an]  f>  eyea  fixed  upun 
htm  with  an  unuenal  solemnity  of  oxprea^ion. 
**  Weber/*  said  he,  **  what  i»  the  matter  ^ith  you  1" 
fMr.  Scoft/'  aajd  Wfhef,  riaing,  "you  bavo  long 
in  >u  If  fid  met»  and  I  can  bear  tt  no  tonj|£r.  T  hnvrj 
brouicbt  a  pair  of  pi*tol*  with  me^,  and  must  insist 
on  your  taking  one  of  rhem  ma(»ntly  f*  and  with 
tb«1  he  produced  the  wcaponsE.  which  hod  been  dt^- 
MMted  tmdiT  hill  cbalr,  and  bid  nne  of  them  on 
Sooti'a  mall"^flcHpt»  *' Vou  art  mismken,  I  think/* 
aaid  8c©tt,  *  in  your  way  of  setting  about  tin  a  affair 
-^btil  rjo  matter*  It  etln^  however,  be  no  port  of 
TOur  object  (o  anfiOy  Mrs^  Scett  and  the  childrrn  j 
iWrfnfc,  if  yoii  plefttiet  we  will  put  the  pistals  in  to 
Ibe  draw  till  aft eril inner,  and  tlien  arratif^e  to  go 
(rtt  t&gMher  likt  genikmen"  Weber  answered 
with  wjwal  eoftlneSH,  ^*  I  holieve  that  will  lie  better/' 
and  laid  the  second  pistol  olso  on  the  table,  Seoit 
lock«d  tbem  both  m  niK  de^k^  nnd  iaid,  ^'  I  nm  glad 
ymibivefclt  iheproprit^tyof  what  I  aLigj:!ested"iet 
iM  only  rieqnest  further,  That  nothing  may  octant 
while  we  area'  dinnir  to  pive  rny  ^vifeany  su^icion 
nf  what  hail  lieen  ri-'aifig"  Webet  ft^ain  ins«pnt«^i^ 
«nd  Scott  Withdrew  to  hta  dresting-room,  from 
which  he  rm medio ttdy  despatched  a  messsgo  to  onu 


dueed.  fifoott,  isalead  of  inviting  hia  ^ 

hhnMu;  mixed  two  moderate  tumblerac 

handed  one  of  them  to  Weber,  wfaov  upon  that. 


of  Weber'*  iatiaitie  coaiMiiioai|^^«ad  lh«i  Ammi 
WM  aerved*  and  W4>er  joiiwd  the  lamuy  cireie  a* 
He  eondvcted  himaelf  with  perfect  fnwpn 
id  every  thing  aaemed  to  ^go on  in  theoral 
nary  wa/,  vntil  whiaBef  and  hot  water  being  dto- 

lera  of  toddy,  ara 

_       tdiov  upon  tl     . 

etaried  op  with  a  Airiouacoumenanoe,  but  inatantlT 
aat  down  again,  and  when  Mra,  Scott  expreasM 
her  fear  that  he  was  ill,  anawesed  placidly  that  he 
waa  liable  to  apaama,  but  that  the  pain  waa  gone. 
He  then  took  the  glaaa,  eagerly  gulpdd  down  ita 
eontenta,  and  puahed  it  baek  to  Scott  At  thta  mo- 
mant  the  friend  who  had  been  aent  for  made  hia 
appearance,  and  Weber,  on  aeeing  hhn  enter  tha 
room,  rushed  paat  him  and  out  of  the  hooae,  with- 
out stopping  to  put  on  hia  hat.  The  friend,  who 
puraued  matantly.  came  up  with  him  at  the  end  of 
the  atreet|  and  did  all  he  could  to  aooUie  hia  agita- 
tion, but  m  vain»  The  aarae  eveniag  he  waa  obfigad 
to  be  put  in  a  atraaght  waistooati  and  tboagh,  lam 
lew  daya,  he  exhibited  each  armptama  of  reooveiy 
that  he  waa  allowed  to  go  by  nimaelf  to  pay  a  Tiaic 
m  the  North  of  England,  he  there  aoon  relapaed, 
and  continued  ever  afterwards  a  hopfsleaa  lunatic^ 
being  aupported  to  the  end  of  hia  life  in  June,  1618^ 
at  Scott'a  expense  in  an  aaylum  at  York. 

The  reader  will  now  appreciate  the  gentb  delicacy 
of  the  following  letter  :— 

Tb  J,  B.8.  MorrUt,  E»q^  JUkeby,  Oreia  Bridge. 
"  Bdinburgh,  7th  Jaooary.  1814. 

**Maiiy  happy  Naw-Tewrs  to  you  and  Mrs.  UonttL 
^BfydMrMorrltt, 

*'  I  have  postposed  writing  a  long  whi^.  In  bop«a  la 
■end  vou  the  Ufe  of  Swift.  But  I  have  been  delajed  by 
■a  odd  accident.  Poor  Weber,  wiioin  vou  may  have 
hevd  me  mention  as  asaa  of  grinder  or  mine,  whaaa- 
slfted  me  in  various  ways,  has  fallen  into  a  melsaetaoiy 
•tate.    His  habits,  Uke  those  of  most  OenDsn  s^  " 

were  always  too  convivial— this,  of  course,  I  ^ 

sgainst  whue  he  was  in  iny  house,  which  waf  always  onea 
srweak  at  least;  but  unfortunately  he  nadenoDka  king 
walk  through  tbe  Highlands  of  upwards  of  2000  mUes,  aad, 
1  nippose,  took  potattons  pottls  deepio  support  hisB  throogli 
(he  fatigue.  Hfai  mind  becsmeaocordiiigly  quite  unsealed, 
and  after  some  strange  behaviour  here,  be  was  forto- 
nately  prevailed  upon  to  go  to  •  *  •  •  who  resides  Ib 
Yorkshire.  It  is  not  luUikoly  from  something  that  dropped 
from  him,  that^  he  may  take  it  in  his  head  to  call  at  Roke- 
by,  in  which  case  you  must  parrv  any  flsit,  upon  the 
score  of  Mrs.  Morriit's  health.  If  he  were  what  he  used 
to  be,  you  would  be  much  pleased  with  him :  for  besides 
a  very  extensive  general  acquaintance  with  literature,  he 
was  particularly  deep  in  oar  old  dramatic  lore,  a  good 
modem  linguist,  a  tolerable  draughtsman  and  antitpuiry. 
and  a  most  excellent  hydrographer.  1  have  not  the  least 
doubt  that  if  be  submits  to  the  proper  resimen  of  absti- 
nence and  moderate  exercise,  he  will  be  quite  well  in  a  few 
weeks  or  days— if  not,  it  is  miserable  to  think  what  may 
happen.  The  beh»g  suddenly,  deprived  of  his  services  in 
this  mehmcholy  way,  has  flung  me  back  at  least  a  month 
with  0wiA,  and  left  me  no  time  to  write  to  my  friends,  for 
an  my  memoranda,  &c.,  Were  hi  his  hands,  and  had  to 
be  new-modell0d,  Ac.  Ac. 

"  Our  glorious  prospects  on  the  Continent  caUed  forth 
the  congratulations  of  tne  City  of  Edinburgh  among  others. 
The  Magistrates  asked  mc  to  draw  their  address,  which 
was  presented  by  the  Lord  Provost  in  pejpson,  who  hap- 
pens  to  be  a  gentleman  of  birth  and  forttme.  *  Ttre  Prince 
said  some  very  handsome  things  respecting  the  addren, 
with  which  the  magistrates  were  so  much  etoted,  that  they 
have  done  the  genteel  thing  (as  Winifred  Jenkins  say9 
by  their  literary  adviser,  and  presented  me  with  the  free- 
dom of  tbe  city,  and  a  handsome  piece  of  plate.  I  got  the 
freedom  at  the  same  time  with  Lord  Dalhonsie  and  Sir 
Thomas  Graham,  and  the  Provost  gave  a  very  brilliant 
entortaiDtnent  About  ICO  gentlemen  dined  at  his  own 
house,  all  as  well  served  as  if  there  had  been  a  dozen. 
So  if  one  strikes  a  cuflT  on  the  one  side  from  iU-wilL  there 
is  a  pat  on  the  other  from  kindness,  and  the  shnttlecock 
is  kept  flying.  To  poor  Charlocte's  gt^at  horror,  I  chose 
my  plsts  tai  the  form  of  sa  old  BngUah  tankard,  an  uteasil 
for  which  I  have  a  nartietilay  respect,  especially  wtiea 
charged  with  good  ale,  cup,  or  any  of  those  potables.  I 
hope  yott  will  soon  see  mins.t 


e  lajteSir  Jofap  MuQobutki  of  Laos.  Bait. 

Digitized  by 


(kIjSQSi  Ban. 


LIFE  OF  SIR  WALTER  SCOTT. 


m 


*^(rar  Bnle  frtonds,  Sophia  and  Walter,  w«re  at  a  maf- 
vflc«nt  party  on  Twelfth  Night  at  Dalkeith,  where  the 
Bake  aaid  IHieheM  entertained  all  Edinburgh.  J  think 
durr  h«re  draamed  of  nothing  ahice  but  Aladdin's  lamp 
md  <he  palace  of  Haroun  Alraachid.  I  am  uncertain  what 
la  do  cbM  aprinf.  I  wonld  fUn  go  on  tha  Conttnent  for 
tkrea  or  lour  weeks,  if  it  be  thenaafe  for  non^ombatants. 
If  DOC,  we  will  have  a  merry  meeting  in  London,  and,  like 
MMler  Saenee, 

Eat,  drink,  and  make  good  cheer. 
And  thank  hcaveii  for  the  merry  year.' 
1  hare  nnich  to  say  about  Triermain.  The  fourth  edition 
li  at  preas.  Tha  Empress-Dowager  of  Russia  has  ex- 
preased  auch  an  interest  in  it,  that  it  will  be  inscribed  to 
ner,  in  acme  doggrel  sonnet  or  other,  by  the  unknown 
aqtbor.  This  is  funny  enough.  Love  a  thousand  times 
to  dear  Mrs.  Morrltt,  who,  I  trust,  keeps  pretty  well. 
Priy  write  aeon— a  modest  request  from 

Walter  Scott." 

Tlie  last  of  Weber's  literary  productions  were  the 
analyas  of  the  old  Oerman  Poems  of  the  HeUUn 
Buiki  aad  the  Nihthtngtn  £Aed^  which  appeared  in 
a  masmve  quarto,  entitled  Illuatrations  of  Northern 
Antiquiiies.  published  in  the  summer  of  1814,  by  his 
and  Scott's  friend,  Mr.  Robert  Jameson.  Scott 
avowedly  contributed  to  this  collection  an  account 
of  t^  EyrbiRgia  Saga,  which  has  since  been  inclu- 
ded IB  hiA  Prose  Miscellanies  (VoL  V.,  edition  1834 :) 
hmt  any  one  who  examines  the  share  of  the  work 
wiiieh  goes  under  Weber's  name,  will  see  that  Scott 
kad  a  considerable  hand  in  that  also.  The  rhymed 
▼cnsons  from  the  Nibelungen  Lied  came,  I  can 
bmYe  no  doubt,  from  his  pen  ;  but  he  never  reclaimed 
tiieae»  or  aiiy  other  similar  benefactions,  of  which  I 
have  trace*  not  a  few ;  nor,  hif^Iy  curious  and  even 
b— ntiful  as  many  of  them  are,  could  they  be  intdli- 
aol^e,  if  aeparatea  from  the  proae  narrative  on  which 
Weber  emoroiaered  them,  in  imitation  of  the  style  of 
Ellis's  roecimens  of  Metrical  Romance. 

The  rollowing  letters,  on  the  first  abdication  of 
Napoleon,  are  too  characteristic  to  be  omitted  here. 
I  need  not  remind  the  reader  how  greatly  Scott  had 
calnMd  his  opinion  a,  and  softened  hia  feelinga,  re- 
ipecting  the  career  and  fate  of  the  most  extraordi- 
nary man  of  our  age,  before  he  undertook  to  write 
faisniscory. 

7b  Jl  B.  S.  Marritty  E»q.y  Portland  Place ^  London, 
"  Abbotaford,  30ih  April.  1814. 

***  Joy — joy  in  Lcmdon  now !' — and  in  Edinburgh,  more- 
•rer,  my  dear  Morritt ;  for  never  did  you  or  I  see,  and 
sever  again  shall  we  see,  according  to  all  human  pros- 
pects, a  consummation  ao  truly  glorious,  as  now  bids  &ir 
to  ronclnde  this  long  and  erentnil  war.  It  is  startling  to 
diixkk  that,  but  for  the  pretf^matural  presumption  and 
hardnesa  of  heart  displayed  by  thef  arcn-enemy  of  man- 
kind, we  riiould  have  had  a  hollow  and  ominous  truce 
wilb  htm,  instead  of  a  glorioaa  and  stable  peace  with  the 
eouDCry  over  which  he  tyrannized,  and  its  lawful  ruler. 
But  Providence  had  its  own  wise  purposes  to  answer— and 
inch  waa  the  deference  of  France  to  the  ruling  power — 
•0  devoutly  did  they  worslup  the  Devil  for  possession  of 
kla  burning  thupne,  that«  it  may  be,  nothing  short  of  his 
redaction  of  every  fkir  and  advantageous  oflTer  of  peace 
emikl  have  driven  them  to  those  acts  of  resistance  whi(^ 
raoaembnuace  of  former  convulsions  had  rendered  ito 
fearfnl  to  them.  Thank  God !  it  is  done  at  last :  and— 
tlthongh  I  rather  grudge  him  even  the  mouthful  of  air 
which  ha  may  draw  in  the  Isle  of  Elba— yet  I  question 
wa«iber  the  moral  lesson  would  have  bean  completed 
either  by  his  penahing  in  battle,  or  being  ton  to  piecea, 
(which  I  ahould^reatly  have  preferred,)  like  the  De 
Witts,  by  an  infariatecl  crowd  of  conscripts  and  their 
pareaia.  Ck>od  Ood!  with  what  strange  feelings  must 
that  maa  retire  from  the  most  unbounded  authority  ever 
vaetsd  in  the  handaof  one  man,  to  the  seclusion  of  privacy 
and  restrafait.  We  have  never  heard  of  one  good  action 
mhkh.  he  did,  at  least  for  which  there  was  not  some  sel- 

led  Dr.  James  Orefory ,  Profeswr  oTthe  Practice  of  Phjiie,  in 
Uiamsitr  of  Edbibu^ ;  and  I  thentbte  transolbe  it. 

OUALTBKtTM  SCOTT 

oa  AaaoTSFOBD 

VntpS  St-MMI  LNGKOTI 
SCRfPTOaRM  ELBOANTEM 

voaraaiTM  am  sacru  vacjls  raixcxnEM 

PATRLC  OaCDB 

OB  VARIA  SROA  iPSAM  MSRrrA 

IW  CIVIUM  SrOROM  KUMBRrM 

SBATA  ADSOaiPSrr  CIVTTAS  BDDfBirRGXIfSIS 

ST  BOO  CANTHABO  IKWjyiT 

A.D.  MDCCCXUI. 

R* 


fiah  or  politkal  reasan ;  and  tha  train  of  akaghter,  pesti- 
lence, and  famine  and  fire,  vrhieh  hia  ambitioa  haa  oee^ 
aioned,  would  have  outweighed  Ave  hundredfold  the  inrt- 
vate  virtues  of  a  Titua.  Theae  are  comfo.fable  refleolioas 
to  carry  with  one  to  privacy.  IfhewriiaahiBownhlBtory, 
aa  he  proposes,  we  may  gain  aomething;  but  ha  miiat 
■end  it  here  to  be  printed.  Nothhig  )ess  thananeek^nr- 
nothing  London  bookseller,  Hka  John  Dunton  of  vora, 
will  venture  to  commit  to  the  preaa  his  strange  detaiu  un- 
castrated.  I  doubt  that  he  haa  ttamina  to  undMtake 
such  a  labour;  and  yet,  in  youth,  aa  I  know  from  the 
brothers  of  Lanriston,  who  were  hia  achool-comnaniona, 
Buonaparte's  habits  were  distinctly  aad  strongly  literary. 
Spain,  the  Continental  System,  and  the  invasion  of  RuasM. 
lie  may  record  aa  his  three  leading  blunders— an  awful 
lesson  to  sovereigns  that  morality  is  not  ao  iadifferent  to 
politics  as  MachiaveUanawiQaasert  Ret  nohmtdiu  male 
adminittrari.  Why  can  we  not  meet  to  talk  over  these 
matters  over  a  f  laas  of  claret ;  and  whan  ahall  that  be  I 
Not  this  spring,  I  fear,  for  time  wears^faataway,  and  I  have 
remained  here  nailed  among  mv  future  oaka,  which  I 
Ukeaaure  daily  with  a  foot-rule.  These  which  were  plaatad 
two  yeara  ago.  begin  to  look  very  gaUy,  and  a  venerable 
plantation  of  lour  yeara  c^  looks  as  *o6Ma4aa  yoora  ag 
the  diary  by  Greta  aide.  Baaidea,  I ara  arranging  thiacafr> 
taga  a  little  more  conveniently,  t^  pot  off  the  plague  ao4 
expense  of  buildina  another  year ;  and  I  aaaurs  you,  I  ej»- 


pect  to  apare  Mrs.  Morritt  and  you  a  chamber  in  the  wiiV. 


with  a  dreaafaig-room,  and  every  thing  handaome 
you.    Yon  will  not  stipulate,  of  course,  for  ma 
feet    You  woukl  be  supriaed  to  hear  how  the 


la  awakening  from  tta  iron  aleen.  Th^  utmoat  eag emeaa 
aeema  to  prevail  about  EngUan  literature.  I  have  had 
aeveral  voluntary  e|riatlea  from  different  partsof  OennaayV 
from  men  of  letters,  who  are  eager  to  know  what  we 
hove  been  doing,  while  they  were  compelled  to  play  at 
blindman's  buff  with  the  ei-d&oamt  Bmpenutr,  The  foel* 
hig  of  tha  French  oflcera,  of  whoa  we  have  many  in  oar 
vicinity,  i«  verv  cuxtous,  and  yet  natnraL  *  Bfany  of  thesiH 
compuiiona  ot  Bnonaparte'a  victorlea,  and  who  hitherte 
have  marched  with  faun  from  conqueat  to  oonqneat,  <fi» 
believe  the  change  enthrely.  Thia  ia  all  very  atopid  te 
write  to  you,  who  are  in  the  centre  of  these  wondera; 
but  what  else  can  I  sinr,  unless  I  should  aend  you  the 
meaaure  of  the  future  mthara  of  the  foreati  Mra.  Scott 
ia  with  me  here— the  children  in  Edinburgh.  Our  kind- 
est love  attends  Bfra.  Morritt  I  hope  te  hear  aoen  thai 
her  health  continuea  to  gain  groimd. 

*'I  have  a  letter  fVom  Somhey,  in  high  spirita  on  the 
gloriouB  news.  What  a  pity  thia  laat  battlef  waa  fought 
But  I  am  glad  the  raaeala  were  beaten  once  more.  Eves 
yours, 

WALTia  Scott.** 
To  Robert  Soutkeyy  Esq.,  KeowicL 

''  Edinburgh,  17th  June,  1814. 
"My  dearSouthey, 

**  I  suspended  writing  to  thank  you  for  the  Carmen 
Triumphale— <a  happy  omen  of  what  you  can  do  to  im- 
mortalize our  public  story)— until  the  feverish  mood  of 
expectation  and  anxiety  should  be  over.  And  then,  aa 
you  truly  say,  there  followed  a  stunning  sort  of  Ustlesa 
astonishment  and  complication  of  feeling,  which  if  it  did 
not  leaaen  enjoyment,  confuaed  and  confounded  one'a 
sense  of  it.  I  remember  the  first  time  I  happened  to  see 
a  launch,  I  waa  neither  so  much  struck  with  the  deaeent 
of  the  vessel,  nor  with  its  majestic  sweep  to  its  moorinaa, 
aa  with  the  blank  which  was  suddenly  made  from  the 
withdrawing  so  largo  an  object,  and  the  prospect  which 
was  at  once  opened  to  the  opposite  side  of  the  dock 
crowded  with  spectators.  Buonaparte's  fall  strikes  me 
something  hi  the  same  way ;  the  huge  bulk  of  his  power, 
againat  which  a  thousand  arms  were  hammering,  waa 
ODvioualy  to  sink  when  tta  main  propa  were  struck  away 
—and  vet  now— when  it  haa  disappeared — the  vacancy 
which  it  leaves  in  our  mind  and  attention,  marks  its  huge 
and  preponderating  importance  more  strongly  than  even 
its  presence.  Yet  I  so  devoutly  expected  the  lerminationt 
that  in  discussing  the  matter  witn  Major  Phillips,  whe 
seemed  to  partake  of  the  doubts  which  prevailea  during 
the  feverish  period  preceding  the  capture  of  Paris,  when 
he  was  expressing  nis  apprehension  that  the  capital  of 
France  ^ou.d  be  defended  to  the  last,  I  haxarded  a  pro- 

Shecy  that  a  battle  would  be  fought  on  the  heights  of 
loot  Martre— <no  great  sagacity,  since  it  waa  the  point 
where  Marlborough  proposed  to  attack,  and  for  which 
Saxe  projected  a  scnemeof  defence)— and  that  if  the  aUiea 
were  successful,  which  I  little  doubted,  the  city  would 
surrender,  and  the  Senate  proclaim  the  dethronement  of 
Buonapane.    But  I  never  thought  nor  hnagined  that  he 

*  A  good  manr  Frencb  oflficera.  prisoaera  of  war,  had  been 
liviaf  oo  parole  in  Melnise,  and  the  adjoinina  villajRS  :  and  Bb. 
and  Mri.  Scott  had  tieen  particulariy  kmd  and  hoa^bletotlMB. 

t  Tha  battle  of  Tbodouj^  i 


UPE  OF  SIR  WALTER  SCOTT. 


would  hsTA  given  in  as  h«  hat  done.  I  always  considered 
bbn  as  poaaesatng  the  g enias  and  talenu  of  an  Eastern 
ftonqueror;  and  although  I  never  supposed  that  he  pos- 
MBsed.  aUowtng  for  some  difference  of  education,  the 
liberality  of  conduct  and  political  riewp  which  were  some- 
thnes  exhibited  by  old  Hyder  Ally,  yet  I  did  think  he 
■right  have  shown  the  same  resolred  and  dogged  spirit  of 
resolution  which  induced  Tlppoo  Saib  to  die  roanftillv  upon 
9he  breach  of  his  c^iital  city  with  his  sabre  clenched  in  his 
hand.  But  this  is  a  poor  devil,  and  cannot  play  the  tyrant 
so  rarely  as  Bottom  the  Weaver  proposed  to  do.  I  thtak 
tt  is  Strap  In  Roderick  Random,  who  seeing  ft  hijthwayman 
that  had  lately  robbed  him,  disarmed  and  bound,  lairly 
offers  to  box  him  for  a  shilling.  One  has  really  the  same 
feeling  with  reepect  to  Buonapane,  thouc h  if  he  go  ont  of 
life  after  all  in  the  usual  manner,  it  will  be  the  strongest 
proof  of  his  own  insignlflcance.  and  the  liberality  of  the 
age  we  live  in.  Were  1  a  son  of  Palm  or  HoflTer,  I  should 
be  tempted  to  take  a  long  shot  at  him  in  his  retreat  t^ 
Elba.  As  for  coaxing  the  French  by  restoring  all  our 
conquests,  it  would  be  driving  generosity  into  extrava- 
gance ;  most  of  mem  have  been  colonteed  with  British 
subjects,  and  improved  br  British  capital,  and  surely  we 
owe  no  more  to  the  Frencn  nation  than  any  well-meaning 
Individual  might  owe  to  a  madman,  whom— ^  the  expense 
of  a  hard  struggle,  black  eyes,  and  bruises—he  has  at 
length  overpowered,  k^ked  down,  and  by  the  whole- 
some disolpline  of  a  boll's  plzzle  and  straight-jacket, 
brought  to  the  handsome  enjoyment  of  his  senses.  I 
think  with  you.  what  we  return  to  them  should  be  well 
paid  for;  and  they  should  have  no  Pondicherry  to  be  a 
nest  of  smugglers,  nor  Mauritius  to  nurse  a  homet-swann 
•f  privateers.  In  short,  draw  teeth,  and  pare  claws,  and 
leave  them  to  fiute  i  themselves  In  peace  and  quiet,  when 
they  are  deprived  of  the  means  of  Indulging  their  restless 
spirit  of  enterprise. 

** ^The  above  was  vrrltten  at  Abbotsford  last  nK>nth, 

but  left  in  my  portfirflo  there  till  my  return  some  days  ago ; 
and  now,  when  I  look  over  what  I  nave  written,  I  am  con- 
Urined  in  my  opinion  that  we  have  given  the  rascals  too 
good  an  opportunity  to  boast  that  they  have  got  well  off 
An  intimate  friend  of  mine.*  just  returned  from  a  long  cap- 
tivity in  France,  witnessed  tne  entry  of  the  King,  guarded 
by  the  Imperial  Guards,  whose  countenances  betokened 
the  most  sullen  and  ferocious  discontent  The  mob,  and 
especially  the  women,  pelted  them  for  refusing  to  cry 
*  ViTe  le  Rot.'  If  Louis  is  weU  advised,  he  wiU  get  rid  of 
ttiese  fellows  gradually,  but  as  soon  as  possible.  *  Joy, 
joy  in  London  now ! '  what  a  scene  has  been  going  on 
there  i  I  think  you  may  see  the  Czar  appear  on  the  top  of 
one  of  your  atages  one  morning.  He  is  a  fine  fellow,  and 
has  fought  the  good  fight.    Yours  affectionately, 

Walteh  Scott." 

On  the  1st  of  July,  1814,  Scott's  Life  and  Edition 
of  Swift,  in  nineteen  volumes  8vo,  at  length  issued 
from  the  presa.  This  adventure,  undertaken  bv 
Constable  in  1808,  had  been  proceeded  in  during  all 
the  variety  of  their  personal  relations,  and  now 
came  forln  when  adtnor  and  publisher  fell  more 
warmly  towards  each  other  than  perhaps  they  had 
ayer  before  done.  The  impression  was  of  1250  co- 
pies; and  a  reprint  of  similar  extent  was  called  for 
in  1824.  The  Life  of  Swift  has  subsequently  been 
included  in  the  author's  Miscellanies,  and  has  ob- 
tained a  very  wide  circulation. 

By  his  industrious  inquiries,  in  which,  as  the  pre- 
face gratefully  acknowledges,  he  found  many  zeal- 
ous assistants,  e«i)ecially  among  the  Irish  hterati,t 
Scott  added  to  this  edition  many  admirable  pieces, 
bolh  in  prose  and  verse,  which  had  never  before  been 
prill  ted,  and  still  more  which  had  escaped  notice 
amidst  old  bundles  of  pamphlets  and  broaasidcs.  To 
the  illustration  of  these,  and  of  all  the  better  known 
writings  of  the  Dean,  he  brought  the  same  qualifica- 
tions which  had,  bjr  general  consent,  distinguished 
his  Dryden,  "  uniung,"  as  the  Editburgh  Review 
expresses  it,  "to  the  minute  knowledge  and  patient 
research  of  the  Malones  and  Chalmerses,  a  vigour 
ef  judgment,  and  a  vivacity  of  style,  to  which  they 
had  no  pretensions."  His  biographical  narrative, 
introductory  essays,  and  notes  on  Swift,  show,  in- 
deftdf  an  intimacy  of  acquaintance  with  the  obscurest 
details  of  the  political,  social,  and  literary  history 
of  the  period  of  Queen  Anne,  which  it  is  impossible 

*  sir  Adam  Ferffunon.  who  had  been  takm  praooer  in  the 
eenneoftbo  DokcofWrlUnftoD's  retreat  ftom  Btuffoa. 

t  The  namet  whi«*h  he  partir ulaxlr  mentionn,  are  those  of  the 
late  Matthew  Wekl  Hartitonirv.  Gki  .  of  Dublin,  Tbeophilui 
Swift.  Esq.,  Major  Tickell.  Thonruu  Steele,  Esq.,  Leonard  Mac- 1 
BSUj.  Enq..  and  tbo  Rev.  M.  Berwick.  { 


to  consider  without  feelioff  a  lively  regret  that  ba 
never  accomplished  a  long  cherished  puipoae  of  pre- 

Faring  a  Life  and  Edition  of  Pope  on  a  aimiUr  ioUa. 
t  has  been  specially  unfortunate  for  that  "true 
deacon  of  the  craft,"^  as  Scott  often  called  Pope, 
that  first  (Goldsmith,  and  then  Scott,  should  have 
taken  up,  only  to  abandon  it,  the  project  of  writing 
his  life  and  editing  his  works. 

The   Eklinburgh    Reviewer   thus    characteriset 
Scott's  Memoir  of  the  Dean  of  St.  Patrick's  :— 

^  It  is  not  every  where  extremely  well  wriuen,  In  a  Hie- 
rary  point  of  view,  but  it  is  drawn  up  in  aubgtance  wUh 


Seat  Intelligence,  liberality,  and  good  feeling.    It  ia  quite 
ir  and  moderate  in  politics ;  and  perhapa  rather  too  in- 
dulgent ^nd  tender  towards  indiriduaU  of  all  deecriptioiu 


— more  full,  at  least,  of  kindness  and  veneration  forgeniot 
and  social  virtue,  than  of  indignation  at  baseness  and  pf^ 
fligacy.  Altogether,  it  is  not  much  like  the  productioQ  of 
a  mere  man  of  letters,  or  a  fastidious  mectuator  in  teati- 
ment  and  morality ;  but  exhibiu  throughout,  and  in  a  vary 
pleaaing  form,  the  good  sense  and  large  toleration  of  ansa 
of  the  world,  with  much  of  that  generoua  altowsnce  for 
the 

'  Fears  of  the  brave  and  follies  of  the  wise,' 

which  genius  too  often  requires,  and  should  therefore 
always  be  moat  forward  to  show.  It  is  impoasible,  bow> 
ever,  to  avOld  noUcing  that  Mr.  flcott  Is  by  far  loo  ftvoor-. 
able  to  the  personal  character  of  his  author,  whon  ws 
think  it  would  really  be  injurious  to  the  cause  of  moriMtf 
to  allow  to  pass  eithei'  as  a  very  dignified,  or  a  very  aiBia> 
ble  person.*  The  truth  is,  we  think,  that  ne  was  extreme* 
Iv  ambitious,  arrt^ant,  and  selfish ;  of  a  morose,  vtodic* 
Uve,  and  haughty  temper;  and  though  capable  of  a  soft 
•  ....         . ^^f 


private  life,  appears  to  have  been  fer  f^m  exeaq)Ury ; 
destitute  of^  temper  and  magnanimity,  and  we  will  add  of 
principle,  in  the  former ;  and  la  the  lauer,  of  tenderness, 
fidelity,  or  compassion."— iE?</iM^r^A  Review,  vol  xrtt.. 
p.  9. 

I  have  no  desire  to  break  a  lance  in  this  pIsM  in 
defence  of  the  personal  character  of  Swift.  It.dJ«J 
not  appear  to  me  that  he  stands  at  all  distinguished 
among  poUticians  (least  of  all  among  the  pouticumi 
of  his  time)  for  laxity  of  principle ;  nor  can  I  consent 
to  charge  his  private  demeanour  with  the  absence 
either  of  tenaemess,  or  fidelity,  or  compawion. 
But  who  ever  dreamed— most  assuredly  not  Scott 
—of  holding  up  the  Dean  of  St.  Patrick's  as  on  the 
whole  an  "exemplary  character?"  The  biographer 
felt,  whatever  his  cntic  may  have  thought  on  the 
subject,  that  a  vein  of  morbid  humour  ran  through 
Swft's  whole  existence,  both  mental  and  physical, 
from  the  beginning.  "  He  early  adopted,'  says 
Scott,  "the  custom, of  observing  his  birth-day,  as 
a  term  not  of  ioy  but  of  sorrow,  and  of  reading, 
when  it  annaally  recurred,  the  striking  passage  of 
Scripture,  in  which  Job  laments  and  execrates  the 
day  upon  which  it  was  said  in  his  father's  hotisc 
that  a  man-child  xeaa  bom  ;*^  and  1  should  have 
expected  that  any  man  who  had  consider^  the 
black  close  of  the  carter  thus  early  clouded,  and 
rtad  the  entry  of  Swift's  diary  on  the  funeral  of 
Stella,  his  epitaph  on  hhnself;  and  the  testament  by 
which  he  disposed  of  his  fortune,  would  have  been 
willing,  like  Scott,  to  dwell  on  the  splendour  of  nis 
immortal  genius,  and  the  many  traits  of  mayjf 
generosity  "which  he  unauestionably  exhibited, 
rather  than  on  the  faults  and  foibles  efnamelees  ana 
inscrutable  disease,  which  tormented  and  embittered 
the  far  greater  part  of  his  earthly  being.  What  the 
critic  says  of  the  practical  and  business-Uke  stylo 
of  Scott's  biography,  appears  very  just— and  i 
think  the  circumstance  eminently  characteristic— 
nor,  on  the  whole,  could  his  edition,  as  an  editioii, 
have  been  better  dealt  with  than  in  the  Essay  wbictt 
I  have  quoted.  It  was,  by  the  way,  written  by  Mr. 
JefTrev,  at  Constable's  particular  request.  "  It  ^^ 
I  think,  the  first  time  I  ever  asked  such  a  thing  oi 
him,"  the  bookseller  said  to  me;  "and  I  assure 
you  the  result  was  no  encouragement  to  repeat  such 
petitions."  Mr.  Jeffrey  attacked  Swift's  whole 
character  at  great  length,  and  with  consunimaje 
dexterity;  and,  in  Constable' a vM^^^is  article 


LIFE  OF  Sm  WALTER  SCOTT. 


19f. 


threw  mch  a  cloud  on  the  Dean»  as  materially 
•checked,  fbr  a  time,  the  popularity  of  his  wntinj^s. 
Admirable,  as  the  paper  is,  in  point  of  ability,  I  thmk 
Mr.  Constable  may  have  considerably  exaggerated 
its  eifiecis;  but  in  those  days  it  must  have  been 
di£Eicult  for  him  to  form  an  impartial  opinion  upon 
cneh  a  qaestion  ;  foft  as  Johnson  said  of  Cave,  tnet 
"  he  could  not  spit  over  his  window  without  think- 
ing of  the  Gentleman's  Magazine,"  I  believe  Cbnsta- 
ble  allowed  nothing  to  interrupt  his  paternal  pride  in 
the  concerns  of  his  Review,  until  the  Waverfey  No- 
vels supplied  him  with  another  periodical  publica- 
tion still  more  important  to  his  fortunes. 

And  this  consummation  w^snot  long  delayed  ;  a 
«onfiiderable  addition  having  by  that  time  been  made 
to  the  original  fragment,  there  appeared  in  The 
Soot's  Magazine,  for  February  Ist^  1814,  an  an- 
ooancement,  that  "  Waverley ;  or,  *tis  Sixty  Years 
Since,  a  novel,  in  3  vols.  l2mo,"  would  be  publish- 
ed in  March.  And  before  Scott  came  into  Edin- 
boi^,  at  the  close  of  the  Christmas  vacation  on 
the  12th  of  January,  Mr.  Erskine  had  perused  the 
greater  part  of  the  first  volume,  and  expressed  his 
decided  opinion  that  Waverley  would  prove  the  most 
Dopalar  of  all  his  friend's  writings.  The  MS.  was 
forthwith  copied  by  John  Ballantyne,  and  sent  to 
press.  As  soon  as  a  volume  was  pnnted,  fiallan- 
tyne  conveyed  it  tp  Constable,  who  did  not  for  a 
moment  doubt  from  what  pen  it  proceeded,  but  took 
'  a  iew  days  to  consider  of  the  matter,  and  then 
ofllered  jBtOO  for  the  copyright.  When  we  recollect 
what  the  state  of  novel  literature  in  those  days  was, 
and  that  the  only  exceptions  to  its  mediocnty,  the 
Irish  Tales  of  Miss  Edgeworth.  however  appreciated 
in  refined  circles,  had  a  cireuladon  so  limited  that 
she  bad  never  realized  a  tithe  of  £700  by  the  best  of 
them — ^it  must  be  allowed  that  Constable's  offer 
was  a  liberal  one.  ^Scott's  answer,  however,  trans- 
mitted through  the  same  channel,  was,  that  ^700 
was  too  much,  in  case  the  novel  should  not  be  suc- 
cessful, and  too  little  in  case  it  should.  He  added, 
**If  our  fat  friend  had  said  ^1000,  1  should  have 
been  staggered."  John  did  not  fail  to  hint  this  last 
dzcumstance  to  Constable,  but  the  latter  did  not 
choose  to  act  upon  it ;  and  he  ultimately  published 
the  work,  on  the  footing  of  an  equal  division  of 
profits  between  himself  and  the  author.  There  was 
a  considerable  pause  between  the  finishing  of  the 
first  volume  and  the  beginning  of  the  second.  Con- 
stable had,  in  1812,  acquired  the  copyright  of  the 
Eocyclopaedia  Britannica,  and  was  now  preparing 
to  publish  the  valuable  Swpplemmt  to  that  work, 
which  has  since,  with  modifications,  been  incorpo- 
rated into  its  text.  He  earnestly  requested  Scoti 
to  undertake  a  few  articles  for  the  Supplement ;  he 

S reed— and,  anxious  to  gratify  the  generous  book- 
ler,  at  once  laid  aside  his  tale  until  he  had  finished 
two  essays— those  on  Chivalry  and  the  Dramn. 
They  appear  to  have  been  completed  in  the  course 
of  Apnl  and  May,  and  he  received  for  each  of  ihera 
—(as  he  did  subsequently  for  that  on  Romance)— 

£ioa 

The  two  next  letters  will  give  us,  in  more  exact 
4etail  than  the  author's  own  recollection  could  sup- 
ply in  1830,  the  history  of  the  completion  of  Waver- 
ley. It  was  published  on  the  7th  of  July ;  and  two 
days  afterwards  he  thus  writes :— 

7\t  J.  B.  S.  Morrittj  Esq.^  M.  P.,  London. 

"  Edinbargh,  9th  July,  1814. 
••MydearMorritt, 

"I  owe  jou  many  apologies  for  not  sooner  answering 
TOUT  verj  entertaining  leUcr  uponjoor  Parisian  journey. 
I  heartily  wish  I  had  been  of  your  imrty,  for  you  have  seen 
what  I  trust  will  not  be  seen  axaln  in  a  hurry ;  since,  to 
enjoy  the  delight  of  a  restoration,  there  is  a  necessity  for 
a  previous  bwleversement  of  every  thing  that  is  valuable 
Id  morals  and  policy,  which  seems  to  have  been  the  case 
in  Fnuice  aince  1790.*  The  Duke  of  Buccleuch  told  me 
yesteniay  of  a  very  good  reply  of  Louis  to  some  of  his 
ittendants,  who  proposed  shutting  the  doors  of  his  apart- 
'  B  to  keep  oat  the  throng  of  people.   *■  Open  the  door,' 


I  hs  said,  *to  John  Bun:  he  has  saffsred  a  great  deal  in 
keeping  the  door  open  for  me.' 

**  Now,  to  go  from  one  important  subject  to  aaother,  I 

mast  account  for  my  own  laataeas,  which  1  do  by  refonliic ' 

!  vou  to  a  small  anooyzaous  sort  of  a  novel,  ia  three  volumeSi 

i  Waverley,  which  you  vrlU  receive  by  the  mail  of  this  day. 

i  It  is  a  very  old  attempt  of  mine  to  embody  some  traits  of 

;  those  characters  ana  manners  peculiar  to  Scotland,  the 

,  last  remnants  of  which  vanished  during  my  own  youth. 

I  so  that  few  or  no  traces  now  remain.    I  had  written  great 

!  part  of  the  first  volame,  and  sketched  other  passages, 

when  I  mislaid  the  MS.,  and  only  found  it  by  the  merest 

accident  as  I  wasnunmagtng  the  draws  of  an  old  cabinet ; 

and  I  took  the  fancy  of  finishinf  it,  which  I  did  so  fast,  that 

the  last  two  volumes  were  wriUen  in  three  weeks.    1  had 

a  great  deal  of  fun  in  the  accomplishment  of  this  task, 

though  I  do  not  expect  that  it  will  be  popular  in  the  South, 

'  as  much  of  the  humour,  if  there  be  any,  is  local,  and  some 

of  it  even  professional.    You,  however,  who  are  an  adopt* 

ed  Scotchman,  will  find  some  amusement  in  it    It  has 

made  a  very  strong  impression  here,  and  the  good  people 

of  Edinburgh  are  busied  in  tracing  the  author,  ana  in 

iinding  out  originals  for  the  portraits  H  contains.    In  the 

first  case,  they  will  probably  find  it  difficult  to  convict  the 

guilty  author,  although  he  is  far  from  escaping  suspicion. 

Jeffrey  has  offered  to  make  oath  that  it  is  mhie,  and 

another  great  critic  has  tendered  his  affidavit  eseontrari; 

so  that  these  authorities  have  divided  the  Gude  Town. 

However,  the  thing  has  succeeded  very  well,  andis  thought 

highly  ofl    I  don't  know  if  it  has  got  to  London  yet    I 

Mtend  to  roafaitain  my  incognito.    Let  me  know  your 

,  opinion  about  it    I  should  be  most  happy  if  I  could  think 

it  would  amuse  a  painful  thought  at  tms  anxious  moment 

I  was  in  hopes  Mrs.  Morritt  was  getting  so  much  better, 

that  this  relapse  affects  me  very  much.     Ever  yours 

truly,  W.Scott." 

"  P.  S.— As  your  conscience  has  very  few  things  to  an- 
!  swer  for,  yon  must  still  burthen  It  with  the  secret  of  th« 


Bridal.  It  is  spreading  \ 
two  little  fairy  romances, 
lume,  and  which  I  worn 
my  name.  The  troth  is, 
amuses  me,  and  I  am  so 
seph  Surface,  who  was  <  i 
too  good  a  reputation ;  foi  i 
welTenough  anon vmously ,  ^ 


FdifiiJlf,  nnd  I  hnvf!  one  or 

.  \,  \vi]\  in^ka  a  aecotid  to* 

il.tlahfd^  but  not  with 

-•not  rndddlftif  woik 

ill  ihe  condldoiiof  Jo- 

M  fy-^cd  by  fitting  hlniielf 

riY  rhiDc*  may  please  pci>p1« 

tiirb,  if  tbcT  have  (ne  in  the 


*  Mr.  Morritt  bad,  io  the  ifnins  of  tjiis  year,  been  pmsent  at 
<hs  fiftt  levee  b^  at  the  Tuileries  hj  Monsieur,  (afterwards 
riMiili#Tr  )  as  the  represeotative  of  his  brother  Louis  XVIII. 
Hr.  llTad  not  been  in  Paris  till  that  time  sinoe  17M. 


title-page,  would  just  give  ui>^  that  «ytt  of  ill  auae  whleb 
precedes  hanging-Mmd  that  wouid  brr  in  uiany  respects 
mconvenient,  iflthought  of  ajrflJu  irrTnj  a  g^r&nih  &puf,'* 

This  statement  of  the  foregoing  letter,  (repeated 
still  more  precisely  in  a  following  one,)  as  to  the 
time  occupied  in  the  composition  of  the  second  and 
third  volumes  of  Waverley,  recalls  to  my  memory  a 
j  trifling  anecdote,  which,  as  cbnnected  with  a  dear 
'  friendof  my  youth,  whom  I  have  not  seen  for  many 
years,  and  may  very  probably  never  see  again  in  this 
world,  I  shall  here  set  down,  in  the  hope  of  afford- 
ing him  a  momentary,  though  not  an  unmixed  plea- 
sure, when  he  may  chance  to  read  this  compilation 
on  a  distant  shore— and  also  in  the  hope  that  my 
humble  record  may  impart  to  some  active  mind  in 
the  rising  generation  a  shadow  of  the  influence 
which  the  reality  certainly  exerted  upon  his.  Hap- 
pening to  pass  through  Edinburgh  m  June,  1814, 1 
dined  one  day  with  the  gentleman  in  question,  (now 
the  Honourable  William  Menzies,.  one  of  the  Su- 
preme Judges  at  the  Cape  of  Grood  Hope,)  whose 
residence  was  then  in  George  Street,  situated  very 
near  to,  and  at  right  angles  with.  North  Castle 
Street.  It  was  a  party  of  very  young  persons,  most 
of  them,  like  Menzies  and  myself,de8tined  for  the  bar 
of  Scotland,  all  gay  and  thoughtless,  enjoying  the 
first  flush  or  maiihood,  with  little  remembrance  of 
the  yesterday  or  care  of  the  morrow.  When  my  com- 
panion's worthy  father  and  uncle,  after  seeing  two 
or  three  bottles  go  round,  left  the  juveniles  to  them- 
selves, the  weather  being  hot,  we  adjourned  to  a  li- 
brary, which  had  one  large  window  looking  north- 
wards. After  carousing  here  for  an  hour  or  more,  I 
Observed  that  a  shade  had  come  over  the  aspect  of 
my  friend,  who  happened  to  be  placed  immediately 
opposite  to  myself,  and  said  somethinjj  that  inti- 
mated a  fear  of  his  being  unwell.  "]\o,"  said  he, 
"  I  shall  be  well  enough  presently,  if  you  will  only 
let  me  sit  where  you  are,  and  take  my  chair ;  for 
there  is  a  confounded  hand  in  sight  of  me  here, 
which  has  often  bothered  me  before,  and  now  it 
won*t  let  me  fill  my  glass  with  a  good^p^b^\^M 


M' 


LIFE  OP  SIR  WALTER  SCOTT. 


t6  caangB  places  widi  him  acoor^iaglyt  and  he  mnbIi 
'i  wlnck  like  the.writing  or 


^  wt  to  BM  this  iMnd,  wkchHSe  thewritmg on 
Bebhttxauir's  -will,  ifatturiied  bis  hour  of  hilBriiy. 
."Smce.we  satdown,"  hs  said,  "1  have  been  watch- 
mg  n— it  fascinates  ray  eye— it  never  stops— pa«e 
arier  page  is  finished  and  thrown  on  that  heap  of 
M8m  and  still  it  goes  on  unwearied— and  so  it  will 
be  till  candles  are  broiw;ht  in.  and  God  knows  how 
Jong  after  that.  It  is  the  same  every  night— I  caa't 
stand  the  si«^t  of  it  when  I  am  not  at  my  books."— 

Some  stnpid,  dogged,  engrossing  derk,  probably," 
ezclamied  myself  or  some  other  giddy  youth  in  onr 
society.  "I<o,  boys,"  saki,  our  host.  "1  well  know 
what  hand  It  is— 'tis  Waller  Scott's."  This  was 
the  hand  that,  in  the  evenings  of  three  summer 
weekek  wrote  the  two  last  volumes  of  Waverley. 
Would  that  all  who  that  night  watched  it.  had  pro- 
fited by  lU,  example  of  diligence  as  largely  as  Wil- 
liam  Menzies ! 

In  the  next  of  these  letters,  Scott  enclosed  to  Mr. 
Jfomtt  the  Prospectus  of  a  new  edition  of  the  old 
poems  of  ihe  Bruce  and  the  Wallace,  undertaten 
oy  the  learned  lexicographer,  Dr.  John  Jamieson ; 
and  he  announces  his  departure  on  a  sailing  excur- 
mon  round  the  north  of  Scotland.  It  will  be  ob- 
•srved.  that  when  Scott  began  his  letter,  he  bad 
oaJyhad  Mr.  Morntt's  opinion  of  the  first  volume 
of  Waverley.  and  that  before  he  closed  it,  he  had 
received  his  ftrond's  honest  criticism  on  the  work 
*if-*  ^hole,  with  the  expression  of  an  earnest  hope 
tnat  he  would  drop  his  incognito  on  the  title-T)aee 
of  a  second  edition. 

J.S.S,  Morritt,  Ikq.,  M.  P ,  Portland  Place,  London. 

"MydearMomt,  "  Abbotsfoni,  July  24. 1821. 

"  I  am  (oiDg  to  say  my  vale$  to  you  for  some  weeks, 
l)avmg  accepted  an  InTitalion  from  a  commiuee  of  the 
Commissioners  for  the  Northern  Lights,  (I  don't  mean  the 
Edinburgh  Reviewera,  but  the  bon&fide  commissioners 
for  the  beacons,)  to  accompany  them  upon  a  nautical  tour 
round  Scotland,  visiting  all  that  is  curious  on  conUnent 
ana  isle.  The  party  are  tliree  gentlemen  with  whom  I 
am  very  weU  acquainted,  WiUiam  Erslcine  behig  one.  We 
have  a  stout  cutter,  well  fiued  up  and  manned  for  the  ser- 
vice by  Government ;  and  to  make  assurance  double  sure, 
the  admiral  has  sent  a  sloop  of  war  to  cruise  in  the  dan- 
gerous points  of  our  lour,  and  sweep  the  sea  of  the  Yan- 
kee privateers,  which  sometimes  annoy  our  northern  la- 
titudes. 1  shall  visit  the  Clcphanes  in  fhcir  solitude— and 
let  vou  know  all  that  I  sec  that  Is  rare  and  entertaining, 
which,  as  we  are  masters  of  our  time  and  vessel,  should 
add  much  to  my  stock  of  knowledge. 

"As  to  Waverley.  I  wlU  ptay  Sir  Frelfhl  for  once,  and 
aarorc  you  that  I  left  the  story  to  flag  In  the  first  volume 
on  purpoae;  the  second  and  third  have  rather  more  bustle 
and  interest  I  wished  (with  what  success,  heaven  knows) 
to  avoid  the  ordinary  error  of  novel-writers,  whose  first 
volume  18  usiially  their  beat  But  since  it  has  served  to 
amuse  Mrs.  Morriu  and  you  tuque  ab  initio,  I  have  no 
doubt  you  will  tolerate  it  even  unto  the  end.  It  may  really 
boast  to  be  a  tolerably  faithful  portrait  of  Scottish  man- 
ners, and  has  been  recognUed  as  such  in  Edinburgh. 
™  first  edition  of  a  thousand  Instantly  disappeared,  and 
the  bookseller  Informt  me  ihat  the  second,  of  double  the 
quantity,  will  not  topply  the  market  for  long.  As  1  shaU 
be  very  annous  to  know  how  Mr».  Morritt  la,  I  hope  to 
liave  a  few  Unes  from  you  on  my  return,  which  wfil  be 
about  the  end  of  August,  or  beginning  of  September.  1 
should  have  mcnUoned,  that  we  have  the  celebrated  en- 
fflnecr,  Htev«nson,  along  with  us.  I  delight  in  these  pro- 
fessional men  of  talent ;  thev  always  give  you  some  new 
Ijgbts  by  the  pccullarliy  of  tholr  habits  and  studies,  so 
different  from  the  people  who  are  rounded,  and  smoothed, 
and  groand  down,  for  conversation,  and  who  can  say  all 

uxV^^  ^^^  person  says,  and-H»olhlng  more. 
What  a  miserable  thing  it  Is,  that  our  royal  family  can- 
not be  quiet  and  decent  at  least,  if  not  correct  and  moral 
III  their  deportment.  Old  farmer  George's  manly  aim- 
piiclly,  modesty  of  expense,  and  domestic  virtue,  saved 
this  cotrnti-y  at  its  most  perilous  crisis;  for  It  is  inconceiv- 
ap^  the  number  of  persons  whom  these  qualiUes  united 
5*.  .■J**^'^^'^'  ^^**  ^**"'^  ^^^®  *■«'«  but  feebly  the  abstract 

»r  <V  i!JTP^*^"*  *  crown  less  worihUy  worn. 

Mora,  rtie  would  have  sethimuVuJ^  AechfiSe?!^  |  ^JS^^i^^"^^  *****  -»-«^  Into  the  kn-XISW 


as  Count  Borowlaaki's  wife  used  (o  do  with  hliL*  I aa^ 
bad  hand  at  deplcthig  a  hero,  properly  so  called,  and  have 
an  nnfonunxte  propensity  for  the  dubious  cAaraotersof 
borderers,  buccaneers,  Highland  robbers,  and  an  others 
of  a  Robin  Hood  <lescrtption.  I  do  not  know  why  U  should 
be,  as  I  am  niyself,  like  Handet,  indifferent  honest ;  but  I 
suppose  the  blood  of  the  old  e«tUe-drtveF»of  TevtodUk 
continues  to  stir  in  my  veiaa. 

**  I  shaU  not  own  Waverley ;  ray  chief  reason  is,  thit  k 
would  prevent  me  of  the  pleamire  of  writing  egain.  Da 
Vld  Hume,  nephew  of  the  historian,  says  the  author  msst 
be  of  a  Jacobite  family  and  predilections,  a  yeomao-caval- 
ry  man,  and  a  Scottish  lawyer,  and  desires  me  to  guess 
in  whom  these  happy  atlrtbutes  are  united.  I  shaU  not 
plead  guUty,  however  rand,  as  auch  seems  to  be  the  Ik- 
shwn  of  the  day,  I  hope  charitable  people  will  believe  my 
qi«<lav»/ in  contradiction  to  all  other  evidence.  Tht  Ed- 
inburgh faith  now  Is,  that  Waverley  is  written  by  Jeflhqr, 
having  been  composed  to  lighten  tlie  tediora  of  his  late 
TransatlanUc  voyage.  So  you  eee  the  unknown  infiinl  is 
hke  to  come  to  preferment.  In  truth,  I  aia  not  fWe  it 
would  be  considered  quite  decorous  for  me.as  aClerkof 
Session,  to  write  novels.  Judges  being  monks,  Clerks 
*S^  *.,?^'^  ^^  **^  brethren,  fipm  whom  some  solfomliy 
of  walk  and  conduct  may  be  expected.  So,  whatever  I 
may  do  of  this  kind,  I  shall  whistle  it  down  the  wind  to 
prey  on  fortune.  1  wIU  take  care,  in  the  >»ext  edition,  to 
make  the  corrections  you  recommend.  The  second  ti,  I 
beheve^eariy  through  the  press.  It  will  hardly  be  prtU^ 
ed  CMter  than  It  was  written ;  for  though  tha  first  votaiM 
Was  begun  long  ago,  and  actually  lost  for  a  tine,  yellkt 
other  two  was  begun  and  finished  betweeq  the  4th  Jane 
wid  the  Ist  July,  during  all  which  I  attended  my  duty  in 
Court,  and  proceeded  without  loss  of  lime  or  undraaee 
of  business. 

"  I  wish,  for  poor  auld  Scotland's  sake,  and  for  the 
Manes  of  Bruce  and  Wallace,  Mid  for  the  Iivli«  oomfort 
of  a  very  worthy  and  ingenious  dlsaentfag  clctgyiaaa, 
who  has  collected  a  Ubimry  and  medkls  of  some  value, 
and  brought  vp,  I  believe,  sixteen  or  seventeen  chSdrsn 
<hl8  wife's  ambition  extended  to  twenty)  upon  about  JB130 
ay  ear— I  say,  I  ^sh,  for  all  these  reasons,  you  ooukl  |at 
me  among  your  wealthy  friends  a  name  or  two  for  th«  eo- 
closed  proposals.  The  price  Is,  I  think,  too  high ;  but  the 
booksellers  fixed  It  two  guineas  above  what  f  propoiad. 
I  trust  It  will  be  yet  lowered  to  five  gutaeas,  which  Is  a 
more  comeatable  sum  than  six  "Hie  poems  themielTes 
are  great  curiosities,  both  to  the  philologist  and  antiqnsiT; 
and  that  of  Bruce  is  invahiable,  even  to  the  histertM. 
They  have  been  hitherto  wretchedly  edited. 

'I  am  glad  you  are  not  to  pay  for  this  scrawl  Efsr 
yours, 

Walter  Scotr."    . 

"PS— I  do  not  see  how  my  sllenee  can  be  considered 
as  imposing  on  the  public.  If  I  give  my  name  to  a  book 
without  writing  it,  unquesUonably  that  wpnW  be  a  trick. 
But,  unless  in  the  case  of  his  averring  facts  which  he  may 
be  called  upon  to  defend  or  justify,  I  think  an  author  nay 
use  his  own  discretion  in  giving  or  withboldiitf  his  name 
Harry  Mackenzie  never  put  his  name  in  amle-page  da 
the  la«  edition  of  his  works ;  and  Swift  only  owned  one 
out  of  his  thousand  and  one  publications.  In  point 
of  emolument,  every  body  knows  that  I  sacrifice  much 
pMMiey  by  withholding  myname;  and  what  should  Iftla 
by  ft  that  any  human  being  has  a  right  to  consider  asaa 
unfair  advantage?  In  fact, only  the  freedom  of  writiaf 
trifies  with  less  personal  responaibiUtv,  and  perhaps  aw* 
frequently  than  I  otherwise  might  do. 

W-fl." 

.  I  am  not  able  to  give  the  exact  date  of  the  follow* 
itig  reply  to  one  of  John  Ballantyne'sexpoaUdaUMi* 
on  the  subject  oithe  secret:^ 

"  No.  John,  I  will  not  own  the  book— 

I  won't,  you  Picaroon. 
When  next  I  try  St.  Orubby's  bn>ok. 
The  A.  of  Wa—  shaU  baH  the  hook— 

And  flat-fish  bite  as  soon, 
As  if  before  them  they  had  got 
The  worn-out  wriggler     • 

WALTMl8C0Tt" 

♦^  Count  Borowttukiyna  a  PoUsh  dwarf,  who,  after  iMBslif 
■**?yin!S'J"^  •*'»^™"*  '^i^*  of  exhibition,  ieilled,  njairied, 
and  dawial  Durham.  Ho  was  a  wclTbred  cf«ituf<',  and.nrt* 
noftcedbjtjw  clergy  and  other  ffpntry  of  that  city.    -  •    '    — 


noacedbj  the  clergy  and  other  ffpntry  of  that  city.  lodeed,ef^ 
When  Iravellinf  the  couotrj  as  a  abow.  he  had  alwaw  maicitaiMfl 
a  aort  of  digm^^  I  lunember  hmi  aa  Mini  fiom  houie  to  hM 
when  I  waa  a  dwld.  in  a  ledan  chair.  WWi  a  servant  in  K^PT  «• 


Ut^OP  SIR  WALTCR  SOCyPT. 


9^ 


CHAPTBH  XXTIII. 
fvnM/tm  TO  TUB  wmvLASD  181^8,  kto.—soott's  dia- 

BT  KBFT  OIV  BOABD  TIU  UGHT-H0U8I  TACHT — JULY 
AKD  AUGUST,  1814. 

Tb«  gallant  oomposnre  with  which  Scott,  when 
oe  had  diMniMed  a  work  from  bis  desk,  awaited 
the  decision  of  tbapnbiic-'and  (he  healthy  elasticity 
of  spirit  with  whicn  he  could  meanwhile  tnm  his 
whole  zeal  upon  new  or  different  obiects— are  amone 
iKe  featives  in  his  character  which  will  always,  I 
befiere,  strike  the  student  of  literary  history  as 
most  remarkable.  We  have  now  seen  him  be- 
iorc  the  fate  of  Waverley  had  been  determined— 
before  he  had  heard  a  word  about  its  reception 
IB  England,  except  from  one  partial  confidant,  pre- 
parinK  to  start  on  a  voyage  to  the  nonhern  isles, 
whicfli  was  likely  to  oceupy  the  best  part  of  two 
moachsi,  and  in  the  course  of  which  he  could  hardly 
expeet  to  receive  any  intelligence  from  his  friends 
in  Bdinburgh.  The  diary  which  he  kept  during 
tkb  ezpediuon,  is— thanks  to  the  leisure  of  a  lands- 
man  on  board— a  very  full  one ;  and  written  with- 
out ^w  least  notion  probably  that  it  would  ever  be 
perused  ejtc«;>t  in  his  own  family  circle,  it  afibrds 
saeh  a  complete  and  artless  portraiture  of  the  man, 
as  fae  was  m  himseli;  and  as  he  mingled  with  his 
(heflds  and  companions,  at  one  of  the  most  interest- 
ing periods  of  his  life,  that  I  am  penuaded  every 
leiderwill  be  pleased  to  see  it  printed  in  itsorimial 
■CBCe:  A  few  extracts  from  it  were  publish^  by 
himself  in  one  of  the  Ediuburgh  Annual  Registers- 
he  also  drew  from  it  some  of  the  notes  to  his  Lord 
of  dw  Isles,  and  the  substance  of  several  others  for 
h»  romance  of  the  Pirate.  But  the  recurrence  ot 
these  detached  passages  will  not  be  complained  of— 
expounded  and  illustrated  as  the  reader  will  find 
them  by  the  personal  details  of  the  context. 

i  have  been  oflen  told  by  one  of  the  companions 
of  this  Toyage,  that  heartily  as  Scutt  entered 
throu^ont  into  their  social  enjoyments,  they  all 
percerved  him*,  when  inspecting  for  the  first  time 
scenes  of  remarkable  grandeur,  to  be  m  such  an 
aiwtracfed  and  excited  mood,  that  they  felt  it 
would  be  the  kindest  and  discreetest  plan  to  leave 
hnn  to  himself.  "  I  often,"  said  Lord  Kinnedder. 
"on  ooming  up  from  the  cabin  at  night,  founa 
Lim  pacing  the  deck  rapidly,  muttering  to  himself: 
aod  went  to  the  fDrecasde,  lest  my  presence  should 
disturb  him.  1  remember  that  at  Loch  Corriskin, 
in  partkular,  he  seemed  quite  overwhelmed  with  his 
isorngs  ;  and  we  all  saw  it,  and  retiring  unnoticed, 
Wt  htm  to  roam  and  gaze  about  by  himself,  until  it 
was  time  to  muster  the  parly  and  be  gone.  Scott 
Qsed  to  mention  the  surprise  with  which  he  himself 
sTinessed  Erskine's  emotion  on  first  entering  the 
cave  of  Slafl'a— '*  Would  you  believe  it  1"  he  said— 
"  my  poor  Willie  sat  down  and  wept  like  a  woman  I" 
Tet  bis  own  sensibilities,  though  oetrayed  in  a  more 
masculine  and  sterner  guise,  were  perhaps  as  keen 
at  well  as  deefper  than  his  amiable  mend's. 

The  Poet's  Diary,  contained  in  five  little  paper 
books,  is  as  follows  :— 

"  VACATION  1814.  . 

TOTASK    IN   THE   LIGHT- HODSB  YACHT  TO  NOVA   ZB 
BLA,   AUD  THB  LOBO  KVOWB  WBBBB. 

"July  99th,  1814.— Sailed  from  Lcith  about  one 
o'clock  on  board  the  Lighthouse  Yacht  conveying 
nx  guns,  and  ten  men,  commanded  by  Mr.  Wilson. 
The  company— Commissioners  of  the  Northern 
l^ts  :  Robert  Hamilton,  Sheriff  of  Lanarkshire; 
William  Erekine,  Sheriff*  of  Orkney  and  Zetland  ; 
Adam  Duffi  Sheriff  of  Forfarshire.  Non-commis- 
aoner*— Ipse  E.j?o;  Mr.  David  Marjoribanks,  son  to 
John  Marjoribanks,  Provost  of  Edmburgh,  a  young 
gentleman  ;  Rev.  Mr.  Tumbull,  Minister  of  Ting- 
walL  in  the  presbytery  of  Shetland.  But  the  official 
chief  of  the  expedition  is  Mr.  Stevenson,  the  Sur- 
veyor-Viceroy over  the  commissioners— a  most  gen- 
tlnnanlike  and  modest  man,  and  well  known  by 
his  scientific  skill. 

''Reached  the  Isle  of  May  in  the  evenmg ;  went 
2C 


ashore,  and  saw  the  ISgbt— an  old  tower,  and  macb' 
in  the  form  of  a  border-keen,  with  a  beacon-grate 
on  the  top.  It  is  to  be  abolished  for  an  oil  revdving- 
Ught,  the  grate-fire  only  bemg  ignited  upon  the  lee- 
ward  side  when  the  wind  is  very  high.  Quere— 
Migbt  not  the  grate  revolve  7 ,  The  isle  had  once  a 
cellor  iwcMipon  it.  The  vestiges  of  the  chapel  are 
still  visible.  Mr.  Stevenson  proposed  demolishing 
the  old  tower,  and  1  recommended  ruining  it  d  la 
picturesque — t.  e.  demolishing  it  partially.  The 
island  might  be  made  a  delightful  residence  for 
sea-bathers. 

"  On  board  ngnn  in  the  evefiing :  watched  the  pro- 
gress of  the  ship  roimd  Fifeness,  and  the  revolving 
nK>tion  of  the  now  distant  Bell-Kock  light,  until  the 
wind  grew  rough,  and  the  landsmen  sick.  To  bed 
at  eleven,  and  slept  soimd." 

**  30tk  Jti/y.— Waked  at  six  by  the  steward :  sum- 
moned to  visit  the  Bell  Rock,  where  the  beacon  is  well 
worthy  attention.  Its  dimensions  are  well  known ; 
bnt  no  description  can  give  the  idea  of  this  slight,  so- 
Utary,  round  tower,  trembling  amicl  the  billows,  and 
fifteen  miles  from  Arbroath,  the  nearest  shore.  The 
fitting  up  within  is  not  only  handsome,  but  elegant. 
All  work  of  wood  (almost)  is  wainscot ;  all  hammer- 
work  brass;  in  short,  exquisitely  fitted  up.  You  enter 
by  a  ladder  of  rope,  with  wooden  steps,  about  thirty 
leet  from  the  bottom  where  the  mason-work  ceases 
to  be  sohd,  and  admits  of  round  apartments.  The 
lowest  is  a  storehouse  for  the  people's  provisions, 
water,  dbc.;  above  that  a  storehouse  for  the  lights,  of 
oil,  dbc.;  then  the  kitchen  of  the  people,  three  in 
number ;  then  their  sleeping-chamber ;  then  the  sa- 
loon or  parlour,  a  neat  little  room ;  above  all.  the 
lighthouse;  all  communicating  by  oaken  ladders, 
with  brass  rails,  most  handsomely  and  conveniently 
executed.  Breakfasted  in  the  parlour.*  On  board 
asain  atnina  and  run  down,  through  a  rough  sea,  to 
Aberbrothock,  vulgarly  called  Arbroath.  All  sick, 
even  Mr.  Stevenson.  (5od  grant  this  occur  seldom. 
Landed  and  dined  at  Arbroath,  where  we  were 
to  take  up  Adain  Duff.  We  visited  the  appoint- 
ments of  the  lightn6use  establishment— a  handsome 
tower,  vrith  two  wings.  These  contain  the  lodg- 
ings of  the  keepers  of  the  light— very  handsome 
indeed,  and  very  clean.  They  might  be  thought 
too  handsome,  were  it  not  of  consequence  to  give  . 
those  men,  intrusted  with  a  duty  so  laborious  and 
slavish,  a  conseauence  in  the  eyes  of  the  public  and 
in  their  own.  The  Central  part  of  the  building  forms 
a  single  tower,  corresponding  with  the  lighthouse. 
As  the  keepers'  families  hve  nere,  they  are  apprised 
each  morning  by  a  signal  that  all  is  well,  u  this 
signal  be  not  made,  a  tender  sails  for  the  rock  direct- 
ly. I  visited  the  abbey  church  for  the  third  time, 
the  first  being— eAeu.t-— the  second  with  T.  Thom- 
son. Dined  at  Arbroath,  and  came  on  board  at 
nightj  where  I  made  up  this  foolish  journal,  and  now 
beg  for  wine  and  water.  So  the  vessel  is  once 
more  in  motion. 

"  2isi  •/ii/y.— Waked  at  seven ;  vessel  off  Powls- 
heugh  and  Dunnottar.  Pair  wind,  and  delightfiil 
day;  glide  enchantingly  along  the  coast  of  Kincar- 
dineshire, and  open  the  bay  of  Nigg  about  ten.  At 
eleven,  off  Aberdeen ;  the  gentlemen  go  ashore  to 
Girdle-Ness,  a  projecting  point  of  rock  to  the  east  of 
the  harbour  of  Fort- Dee.  There  the  magistrates 
of  Aberdeen  wish  to  have^  fort  and  beacon-light. 
The  Oscar,  whaler,  was  lost  here  last  year,  with  all 
her  hands,  excepting  two ;  about  forty,  perished. 
Dreadful,  to  be  wrecked  so  near  a  large  and  popu- 
lous town !  The  view  of  Old  and  New  Aberdeen 
from  the  sea  is  quite  beautiful.  About  noon,  proceed 
along  the  coast'  of  Aberdeenshire,  which,  to  the 
northwards,  changes  from  a  bold  and  rocky  to  a  low 
and  sandy  character.  Along  the  bay  of  Bclhelvie, 
a  whole  parish  was  swallowed  up  by  the  shifting 
sands,  and  is  still  a  desolate  waste.  It  belonged  to 
the  Earls  of  Errol,  and  was  rented  at  X500  a  year  at 


*  On  beinc  rMiuettpd  while  at  breakfiut  to  interibe  hk  oai 
or  Ihe  lower,  Scott  peoiied  immediatelj,  the 


which  may  be  seen  io  ihe  lait  editioo 


the  attMim  .      .._ 

"  Pbarot  Loquitur^      -  - 

Poetical  Worka,  vol.  x.  p.  8B_ 

^  This  i«,  without  doubt,  ao  alKiafcm  to  aome  hstipf  i»J*8  fBh- 
carnon  when  biMM't  iove  w^  of  the  party. 


/■' 


UPS  OF  Bia  WALTER  SOOTT. 


the  time.  When  theeeMndi  an  past,  the  land  is  all 
arable.  Not  a  tree  to  be  seen ;  nor  a  grazing  cow, 
or  sheep,  or  even  a  labour-horse  at  grass,  though 
this  be  Sunday.  The  next  remarkable  object  was  a 
fragment  of  the  old  castle  of  Slains,  on  a  precipitous 
bank,  overlooking  the  sea.  The  fortress  was  des- 
troyed when  James  VI.  marched  north  U.  o.  1594] 
after  the  battle  of  Glenlivat,  to  reduce  Huntly  and 
EiTol  to  obedience.  The  family  then  removed  to 
their  present  mean  habitation,  for  such  it  seems  a 
collection  of  low  houses  forming  a  quadrangle,  one 
side  of  which  is  built  on  the  very  verge  of  the  pre- 
C4)ice  that  overhangs  the  ocean.  What  seems  odd, 
there  are  no  stairs  down  to  the  beach.  Imprudence, 
or  ill  fortune  as  fatal  as  the  sands,  of  Belhel  vie,  has 
swallowed  up  the  estate  of  Errol,  excepting  this 
dreary  mansion-house,  and  a  farm  or  two  adjoming. 
We  took  to  the  boat,  and  running  along  the  coast,  had 
some  delightful  sea- views,  to  the  northward  of  the 
castle.  Tn^ coast  is  here  verv  rocky,  but  the  rocks 
being  rather  soft,  are  wasted  and  corroded  by  th& 
constant  action  of  the  waves,— and  the  fragments 
which  remain,  where  the  softer  parts  have  been 
washed  away,  assume  the  appearance  of  old  Grothic 
ruins.  There  are  open  arches,  towers,  steeples^nd 
so  forth.  One  part  of  this  scaur  is  called  Dun  Buy^ 
being  coloured  yellow  by  the  dung  of  the  sea-fowls 
whoDuild  there  in  the  most  surprising  numbers. 
We  caught  three  young  gulls.  But  the  most  curious 
object  was  the  celebrated  Buller  of  Buchan,  a  huge 
rocky  cauldron,  into  which  the  sea  rushes  through 
a  natural  arch  of  rock.  1  walked  round  the  top ;  in 
one  place  the  path  is  only  about  two  feet  wide,  and 
a  monstrous  precipice  on  either  side.  We  then  row- 
ed into  the  cauldron  or  buller  from  beneath,  and  saw 
nothing  around  us  but  a  regular  wall  of  black  rock, 
and  nothing  above  but  the  blue  sky.  A  fishing 
hamlet  had  sent  out  its  inhabitants,  who,  gazing 
from  the  brink,  looked  like  svlphs  looking  down 
upon  gnomes.  In  the  side  of  tne  cauldron  opens  a 
deep  black  cavern.  Johnson  says  it  might  be  a  re- 
treat from  storms,  which  is  nonsense.  In  a  high 
gale  the  waves  rush  in  with  incredible  violence.  An 
old  fisher  said  he  had  seen  them  flying  over  the  na- 
tural wall  of  the  buller,  which  cannot  be  less  than 


mto  the  frith.  Oorga)e8ooii£iilad,a|idwei»noir 
all  but  becalmed  ;  songs,  ballads,  reciutioiia,  back- 
gammon, and  pioquet,  for  tbe  rett  of  the  daf  .  NoUt 
sunset  and  moon  rising,  we  are  now  out  of  liRhtoi 
land. 

"  7d  Au^uMt,—Ax  sea  in  the  mouth  of  the  Moray 
Frith.  This  day  almost  a  blank— light  baffling  ain^ 
which  do  us  very  little  good,  most  of  the  landsmen 
sick,  more  or  less ;  picquet,  backgammon,  and  chess, 
thconlv  resources.— p.  m.  A  breeze^  and  we  begin 
to  think  we  have  passed  the  Fair  Isle,  lying  between 
Shetland  and  Orkney,  at  which  it  was  our  in- 
tention to  have  touched.  In  short,  like  one  of 
Sindbad's  adventures,  we  have  mo  on  till  neither 
captain  nor  pilot  know  exactly  where  we  are.  Tbe 
breeze  increases^weather  may  be  called  roo^; 
worse  and  worse  after  we  are  in  our  berths,  nothing 
but  booming,  trampling,  and  whizzing  of  waves 
about  our  ears,  and  ever  and  anon,  as  we  fall  isleep, 
our  ribs  come  in  contact  with  those  of  the  vessel; 
hail  Duff  and  the  Udaller  *  in  the  after-cabin,  but 
they  are  too  sick  to  answer.  Towards  moraine 
calm,  (comparative,)  and  a  nap. 

*^2d  August.— AX  sea  as  before ;  no  uppearance  of 
land ;  proposed  that  the  Sheriff  of  Zetland  do  issoe 
a  mccUiatione  fuect  warrant  against  his  temtories, 
which  seem  to  fly  from  us.  Pass  two  whalers} 
speak  the  nearest,  who  had  come  out  of  Lerwick, 
which  is  about  twenty  miles  distant ;  stand  on  with 
a  fine  breeze.  About  nine  at  night,  with  moonlight 
and  strong  twilight,  we  weather  the  point  of  Bard- 
head,  and  enter  a  channel  about  three  quarters  of  a 
mile  broad,  which  forms  the  southern  entrance  to 
the  harbour  of  Lerwick,  where  we  cast  anchor  about 
half-past  ten,  and  put  Mr.  Turnbull  on  shore. 

"  4/^  Att^*/.— Harbour  of  Lervrick.  Admire  the 
excellence  of  this  harbour  of  the  metropolis  of  Shet- 
land. It  is  a  beautifiil  place,  screened  on  all  tid^ 
from  the  wind  by  hills  of  a  gentle  elevadon.  Tw 
town,  a  fishing  village,  built  irregularly  upon  a  hiU 
ascending  from  the  shore,  has  a  picturesque  sppeai- 
once.  On  the  left  is  Fort  Charlotte,  garrisoned  w 
late  by  two  companies  of  veterans.  The  Greenland- 
men,  of  which  nine  fine  vessels  are  lying  in  the  har- 
bour, add  much  to  the  liveliness  of  the  scene. ,  Mr. 


200  feet  high.  Same  old  man  says  Slains  is  now  in- 1  Uuncan,  shcntf- substitute,  came  off  to  pay  nis  n 
habited  by  a  Mr.  Bowles,  who  comes  so  far  from  the   specis  to  his  principal ;  he  is  married  to  a  dau^ter 


Duncan,  shcrifl*- substitute,  came  off  to  pay  his  re- 

, , specis  to  his  principal;  he  is  married  to  a  di 

southward  that  naebody  kens  whare  he  comes  free,    of  my  early  acquaintance.  Waller  Scott  of  Scots- 


*  Was  hefrae  the  Indies  T— *  Na:  he  did  not  think  he 
came  that  road.  He  was  far  &ae  the  southland. 
Naebody  ever  heard  the  name  of  the  place  ;  but  he 
had  brought  more  guid  out  o'  Peterhead  than  a'  the 
Lords  he  had  seen  in  Slains,  and  he  had  seen. three.' 
About  half-past  five  sire  left  this  interesting  spot, 
and  after  a  hard  pull,  reached  the  yacht.  Weather 
falls  hazy,  and  rather  calm  ;  but  al  sea  we  observe 
vessels  enioying  more  wind.  Pass  Peterhead,  dimly 
distinguialiing  two  steeples,  and  a  good  many 
masts.  '  Mormounthill  said  to  resemble  a  coffin— a 
likeness  of  which  we  could  not  judge,  Mormount 
being  fojr  the  present  invisible.  Pass  Rattray- Head  : 
near  tljus  cape  are  dangerous  shelves,  called  the 
Bridge  of  Rattray.  Here  the  wreck  of  the  Doris 
merchant  vessel  came  on  shore,  lost  last  year  with 
a  number  of  passengers  for  Shetland.  We  lie  off  all 
night 

"  lat  Ati^Twi.— OffFrasersburg— a  neat  little  town. 
Bf  r.  Stevenson  and  the  commissioners  go  on  shore 
to  look  at  a  light  maintaindU  there  uoon  an  old  castle, 
on  a  cape  called  Kinnaird's  Head.  The  morning 
being  rainy,  and  no  object  of  curiosity  ashore,  I  re- 
main on  board,  to  make  up  my  journal,  and  write 
home. 

**  The  old  castle,  now  bearing  the  light,  is  a  pic- 
turesque object  from  the  sea.  It  was  the  baronial 
mansion  oi  the  Frasers,  now  Lords  Saltoun— an 
old  square  tower  with  a  minor  fortification  towards 
the  landing-place  on  the  sea-side.  About  eleven,  the 
Commissioners  came  of^  and  we  leave  this  town, 
the  extreme  point  of  the  Moray  Finh,  to  stretch  for 
Shetland— saluted  the  Castle  with  three  guns,  and 
stretch  out  with  a  merry  gale.  See  Mormount,  a 
long  flatlish  topped  hill  near  to  the  West  Troup- 
OMOi  and  another  bold  cliff  promontory  projecting 


hall.  We  go  a  snore.  Lerwick,  a  poor- looking  place, 
the  streets  flaggt  d  instead  of  being  causewayed,  lor 
there  are  no  wheel-carriages.  Tne  streets  hill  of 
drunken  riotous  sailors,  from  the  whale-vessels.  It 
seems  these  ships  take  about  1000  sailors  from  Zet- 
land every  year,  and  return  them  as  they  come  back 
from  the  fishery.  Each  sailor  may  gain  from  *20  to 
X30,  which  is  paid  by  the  merchantaof  Lerwick,  who 
have  agencies  from  the  owners  of  the  whalers  in 
England.  The  whole  return  may  be  between 
je25,000  and  jeso.OOO.  These  Zetlanders,  as  they 
Ret  a  part  of  this  pay  on  landing,  make  a  poi»it «. 
treating  their  English  messmates,  who  get  drunk  oi 
course,  and  are  very  riotous.  The  Zetlanders  them- 
selves do  not  get  drunk,  but  qo  straight  home  to  their 
houses,  and  reserve  their  hilarity  for  the  winter  sea- 
son, when  they  spend  their  wages  in  dancing  and 
drinking.  ErstHne  finds  employment  as  Shenn,  wr 
the  neighbourhood  of  the  fort  enables  him  to  raws 
mainforic^  and  secure  a  number  of  the'rioters.  ™« 
visit  F.  Charlotte,  which  is  a  heat  little  fort  mounting 
ten  heavy  guns  to  the  sea,  but  only  one  to  the  land. 
Major  F.  the  Governor,  snowed  us  the  fort ;  it  com- 
mands both  entranced  of  the  harbour :  the  north  <Jtt- 
trance  is  not  very  good,  but  the  south,  capital  Tje 
water  in  the  harbour  is  very  deep,  as  frigates  of  the 
smaller  class  lie  almost  close  to  the  shore.  Take  a 
walk  with  Captain  M'Diarmid,  agentlemanUkeanji 
intelligent  officer  of  the  garrison ;  we  visit  a  emtll 
fresh -water  loch  called  C/ri/f-Aim'in;  it  borders  on 
the  sea,  from  which  it  is  only  divided  by  a  sort  oi 
beach,  apparently  artificial ;  though  the  sea  lashes 
the  outsiaes  of  this  beach,  the  water  of  the  lal^e  IJ 
not  brackish.  In  this  lake  are  the  remains  of  a  Picts 
Castle,  but  ruinous.  The  people  think  the  Casus  bai 
•  Enkiiw   ihtriffofSheUanJ  sod  Orkney. 


LIF£  OP  dm  WALTER  SCOTT. 


not  been  irailt  oa  a  nitui^  island  bat  on  tn  ard- 
Aoial  one  formed  by  a  heap  of  stones.  These  Duns 
or  PicCa'  Caatlesk  are  so  small  it  is  impossible  to  con- 
irhat  eflbctaal  purpose  they  could  se 


,     .  .         1  serve,  exoept- 

inff  a  temporary  refuge  for  the  chief.— Leave  Cletk- 
him-itij  and  proceed  along  the  coast.  The  ground 
is  dreadfiiUT  encumbered  with  stones ;  the  patches, 
which  have  been  ^wn  with  oats  and  barley,  bear  very 
0Dod  dope,  but  they  are  mere  patckta,  the  cattle  and 
poniee  £e«ding  among  them  and  secured  by  tethers. 
The  houses  most  wretched,  worse  than  the  worst 
hcrd'e  house  I  ever  saw.  It  would  be  easy  to  form  a 
good  farm  bv  enclosing  the  ground  with  Gralloway 
dykes,  whicn  would  answer  the  purpose  of  clearing  >t 
at  the  same  time  of  btones ;  as  there  is  plenty  of  lime- 
flhd],  marl&  and  alga-marintL  manure  could  not  be 
wantins*  But  there  are  several  obstacles  to  i  mprove- 
menL  chiefly  the  undivided  state  of  the  properties, 
winch  lie  run'Hg ;  then  the  claims  of  Lord  Dundas, 
die  lord  of  the  country;  and  above  all,  perhaps,  the 
BUte  of  the  common  people,  who.  dividing  their  at- 
tentioii  between  the  fishery  and  the  cultivation,  are 
not  much  interested  in  the  latter,  and  are  often  ab- 
sent at  the  proper  time  of  labour.  Their  ground  is 
dueflf  d%Mff^  with  the  spade,  and  their  ploughs  are  be- 
yond descnpiion  awkwaM.  An  odd  custom  prevails 
— «nY  person,  without  exception,  (if  I  understand 
Tightly*)  who  wishes  to  raise  a  few  kail,  fixes  upon 
any  tpot  he  pleases,  encloses  it  with  a  dry  stone- wall, 
ases  It  as  a  kail-yard  till  he  works  out  the  soil,  then 
deserts  it  and  makes  another.  Some  dozen  of  these 
little  enclosures,  about  twenty* or  thirty  feet  square, 
are  in  ai^t  at  once.  They  are  called  planJy-cruivet ; 
and  the^etlanders  are  so  far  from  reckonmg  this  an 
invasion,  or  a  favour  on  the  part  of  the  proprietor, 
that  th^  roost  exaggerated  diescription  or  an  avari- 
ckms  person  is  one  who  would  refuse  liberty  for  a 
^tm^f-cruivt ;  or  to  infer  the  greatest  contempt  of 
aiilher,  they  will  say,  they  would  not  hold  a  p/on/y- 
cmivt  of  him.  It  is  needless  to  notice  how  much 
this  hcense  must  interfere  with  cultivation. 

"Leaving  the  eultivatedlnnd,  we  turn  more  inland, 
and  pass  two  or  three  small  lakes.  The  mnirs  are 
Boasy  and  sterile  in  the  highest  degree :  the  hills  are 
dad  with  stunted  heather,  intermixed  with  huge 
great  stones;  much  of  an  astringent  root  with  a 
yellow  flower,  called  TormentUt  used  by  the  island- 
ers in  dressing  leather  in  lieu  of  the  oak  bark.  We 
climbed  a  bill  about  three  miles  from  Lerwick  to  a 
cairn,  which  presents  a  fine  view  of  the  indented 
coast  of  the  island,  and  the  distant  isles  of  Mousa 
and  others.  Unfortunately  the  day  is  rather  hazy- 
return  by  a  circuitous  route,  through  the  same  stenle 
eoontry.  These  muirs  are  used  as  a  commonty  by 
the  proprietors  of  the  parishes  in  which  thev  lie,  and 
each,  without  any  regard  to  the  extent  of  nis  pecu- 
liar property,  puts  as  much  stock  upon  them  as  he 
chooses.  The  sheep  are  miaerable-looking.  hairy- 
1^[^  creatures,  of  all  colours,  even  to  sky-blue.  I 
often  wondered  where  Jacob  got  speckled  lambs;  I 
think  now  they  mtist  have  been  of  the  Shetland 
stock.  In  our  return,  pass  the  upper  end  of  the  lit- 
tle lake  of  Cleik-him-in,  which  is  divided  by  a  rude 
canieway  from  another  small  loch,  communicating 
with  it,  however,  by  a  sluice,  for  the  purpose  of  dri- 
ving a  mill.  But  such  a  mill !  The  wheel  is  hori- 
zontal, vrith  the  cogs  turned  diagonally  to  the  water ; 
the  bc^m  stands  upright,  and  is  insert^  in  a  stone- 
qnem  of  the  old-fashioncd  construction.  This  sim- 
ple machine  is  enclosed  in  a  hovel  about  the  size  of 
a  pig-stye,  and  there  is  the  mill  !•  There  are  about 
500  such  mills  in  Shetland,  each  incapable  of  grind- 
ins  more  than  a  sack  at  a  time. 

^  I  cannot  get  a  distinct  account  of  the  nature  of 
the  land  rights.  The  Udal  proprietors  have  ceased 
toexist,yet  proper  feudal  tenures  seem  ill  understood. 
Districts  of  ground  are  in  many  instances  under- 
stood to  belong  to  Townships  or  Communities,  pos- 
sessing what  may  be  arable  by  patches,  and  what  is 
nrair  as  a  commonty,  pro  inaiviso.  But  then  indi- 
viduals of  such  a  Township  often  take  it  upon  them 
to  grant  feus  of  particular  parts  of  ihe  property  thus 
possessed  pro  indivUo.  The  town  ot  Lerwick  is 
*  Halt  oocun  a  nide  icrateb  of  drmwinc 


built  opon  apart  of  the  commonty  of  Soimd,  the 
proprietors  of  the  houses  having  fen  rights  from  dif- 
ferent heritors  of  that  Township,  but  why  from  one 
rather  than  another^  or  how  even  the  whole  Town- 
ship combining  (which  has  not  yet  been  attempted) 
could  grant  such  a  right  upon  principle,  seems  alto- 
gether uncertain.  In  the  mean  time  the  chief  streas 
IS  laid  upon  occupance.  I  should  have  supposed 
upon  principle,  that  Lord  Dundas,  as  superior,  pos- 
sessed the  clominium  emtnen«,  and  ought  to  be  re- 
sorted to  as  the  source  of  land  rights?  But  it  is  not 
so.  It  has  been  found  that  the  heritors  of  each 
Township  hold  directly  of  the  Crown,  only  paying 
the  Scat^  or  Norwegian  land-tax,  and  other  duties  to 
his  lordship,  used  and  wont.  Besides,  he  has  what 
are  called  property  lands  in  every  Township,  or  in 
most,  whicn  he  lets  to  his  tenants.  Lord  Dundas  is 
now  trying  to  introduce  the  system  of  leases  and  a 
better  kind  of  agriculture.  Return  home  and  dine 
at  Sinclair's,  a  decent  inn— Captain  M'Diarmid  and 
other  gentlemen  dine  with  us.— Sleep  at  the  inn  on 
a  straw  couch. 

"  bth  August^  1814.— Hazy  disagreeable  morning— 
Erskine  trying  the  rioters— notwithstanding  which  a 
great  deal  of  rioting  still  in  the  town.  The  Green- 
landers,  however,  only  quarrelled  among  themselves, 
and  the  Zetland  sailors  seemed  to  exert  themselves 
in  keeping  peace.  They  are,  like  all  the  other  Zet- 
landersl  nave  seen,  a  strong,  clear-complexioned, 
handsome  race,  and  the  women  are  very  pretty. 
The  females  are  rather  slavishly  employed,  however, 
and  I  saw  more  than  one  carrying  home  the  heavy 
sea-chests  of  their  husbands,  brothers,  or  lovers,  dis- 
charged from  on  board  the  Greenlanders.  The  Zet- 
landers  are,  however,  so  far  provident,  that  when 
they  enter  the  navy  they  make  liberal  allowance  of 
their  pay  for  their  wives  and  families.  Not  less  than 
^£16,000  a-year  has  been  lately  paid  by  the  Admiral- 
ty on  this  account :  yet  this  influx  of  money,  with 
that  from  the  Greenland  fishery,  seems  rather  to  give 
the  means  of  procuring  useless  indulgences  than  of 
augmenting  the  stock  of  productive  labour.  Mr.  Col- 
lector Ross  tells  me  that  from  the  King's  books  it 
appears  that  the  quantity  of  spirits,  tea,  coffee,  to- 
bacco, snufl*,  and  sugar^  imported  annually  into  Ler- 
wick for  the  consumption  of  Zetland,  averages  at 
sale  price,  ^£20,000  yearly,  at  the  least  Now  the  in- 
habitants of  Zetland,  men.  women,  and  children, 
do  not  exceed  23,000  in  all,  and  the  proportion  of 
foreigh  luxuries  seems  monstrous,  unless  we  allow 
for  the  habits  contracted  by  the  seamen  in  their  fo- 
reign trips.  Tea,  in  particular,  is  used  by  all  ranks, 
ana  pomdge  quite  exploded. 

"  We  parade  Lerwick.  The  most  remarkable 
thing  is  that,  the  main  street  being  flagged,  and  all 
the  others  very  narrow  lanes  descending  the  hill  by 
steps,  any  thing  like  a  cart  of  the  most  ordinary  and 
rua^  construction,  seems  not  only  our  of  question 
when  the  town  was  built,  but  in  its  present  state 
quite  excluded.  A  road  of  five  miles  in  length,  on  the 
Ime  between  Lerwick  and  Scalloway,  has  been 
mready  made— upon  a  very  awkward  and  expensive 
plan,  and  ill-lined,  as  mav  be  supposed.  But  it  is  pro- 

Cosed  to  extend  this  roaa  by  degrees :  carts  will  then 
e  introduced,  and  by  crossing  the  breed  of  their 
ponies  judiciously,  they  will  have  Gallowava  to  draw 
them.  The  streets  of  Lerwick  ^a  one  blunder  per- 
petrates another)  will  then  be  a  bar  to  improvement, 
for  till  the  present  houses  are  greatly  altered,  no  cart 
can  approach  the  quay.  In  the  garden  of  Captain 
Nicolson^  R.N.,  which  is  rather  in  a  flourishing  state, 
he  has  tned  various  trees,  almost  all  of  which  have 
died  except  the  willow.  But  the  plants  seem  to  me 
to  be  injured  in  their  passage;  seeds  would  perhaps 
do  better.  We  are  visited  by  several  of  the  notables 
of  the  island,  particularly  Mr.  Mowat,  a  considerable 
proprietor,  who  claims  acquaintance  with  me  as  the 
friend  of  my  father,  and  remembers  me  as  a  boy. 
The  day  clearing  up.  Duff*  and  I  walk  with  this  good 
old  gentleman  to  Cleik-him-in,  and  with  some  trou- 
ble drag  a  boat  off*  the  beach  into  the  fresh- water 
loch,  and  go  to  visit  the  Picts'  castle.  It  is  of  con- 
siderable size,  and  consists  of  three  cu-cular  walls,* 
of  huge  natural  stones  admurably  combined *withoat 


LiFB  OP  SIR.  WALTEE  SOOTT. 


cwidBt  TV  (Niler  euronit  seema  to  harft  been  «ib- 
p]y,  abounding  wall  or  bulwark.  The  second  or  in- 
terior defence  contains  lodgements  aoch  as  I  shall 
describe.  This  inner  circuit  is  surrounded  by  a  wall 
of  about  sixteen  or  eighteen  fieet  thick,  ,compo8ed,,aji 
1  said,  of  huge  massive  stones  placed  in  layers  with 
great  art,  but  without  mortar  or  cement.  The  wall 
18  not  perpendicular,  but  the  circle  lessens  gradually 
towards  tne  top,  as  an  old-fashioned  pigeon-house. 
Up  the  interior  of  this  wall,  there  proceeds  a  ciirculor 
wmding  gallevy,  ascending  in  the/orm  of  an  inclined 
plane,  so  as  to  gain  the  top  by  circling  round  like  a 
cork-  screw  within  the  walls.  This  is  enlightened  by 
Httle  apertures  (about  two  feet  by  three)  mjlo  the  in- 
side, and  also,  it  is  said  by  small  slits— of  which  I 
saw  none.  It  is*  said  there  are  marks  of  galleries 
within  the  circuit,  running  parallel  to  the  horizon ; 
these  I  saw  no  remains  of;  and  the  interior  gallery, 
with  its  apertures,  Ls  so  extremely  low  and  narrow, 
being  only  about  three  feet  square,  that  it  is  difficult 
to  conceive  how  it  could  serve  the  purpose  of  com- 
•  munication.  At  anv  rate,  the  size  fully  iustifies  the 
tradition  prevalent  here,  as  well  as  in  the  south  of 
Scotland,  that  the  Piots  were  a  diminutive  race. 
More  of  this  when  we  see  the  more  perfect  speoimen 
of  a  Pict  castle  in  Mousa,  which  we  resolve  to  exa- 
mine, if  it  be  possible.  Certainly  I  am  deeply  curious 
to  6ee  what  must  be  one  of  the  most  ancient  houses 
in  the  world,  built  by  a  people  who,  while  they  seem 
to  have  bestowed  much  pains  on  their  habitations, 
knew  neither  the  art  of  cement,  of  arches,  or  of  stairs. 
The  situation  is  wild,  dreary,  and  impressive.  On 
the  land  side  are  huge  sheets  and  fragments  of  rocks, 
interspersed  with  a  stinted  vegetation  of  grass  and 
heath,  which  bears  no  proportion  to  the  rocLs  and 
stones.  From  the  top  of  his  tower  the  Pictish  Mo- 
narch might  look  out  upon  a  stormy  sea,  washing  a 
succession  of  rocky  capes,  reaches,  and  headlands, 
and  immediately  around  him  was  the  deep  fresh- 
water loch  on  which  his  fortress  was  constructed. 
It  communicates  with  the  land  by  a  sort  of  causo- 
way,  formed,  like  the  artificial  islet  itself  by  heaping 
together  stonee  till  the  pile  reached  the  surface  of 
the  water.  This  is  usuall v  passable,  but  at  present 
overilooded.— Return  ana  dine  with  Mr.  Duncan, 
Sheriflf-substitute— are  introduced  to  Dr.  Edmon- 
stone,  author  of  a  History  of  Shetland,  who  propo- 
ses to  accompanv  us  to-morrow  to  see  the  Cradle  of 
Noss.  1  should  nave  mentioned  that  Mr.. Stevenson 
sailed  this  morning  with  the  yacht  to  survey  some 
isles  to  the  northward ;  be  returns  on  Saturday,  it  is 
hoped. 

6th  Augtist.— Hire  a  six-oared  boat,  whaler- built, 
with  a  taper  point  at  each  end,  so  that  the  rudder 
can  be  hooked  on  either  at  pleasure.  These  vessels 
look  very  frail,  but  are  admirably  adapted  to  the 
stormy  seas,  where  they  live  when  a  ship's  boat  sufl- 
ly  and  compactly  built  must  necessarily  perish.  They 
owe  this  to  their  elasticity  and  lightness.  Some  of 
the  rowers  wear  a  sort  oi^  coats  of  dressed  sheep  lea- 
ther, sewed  together  with  thongs.  We  sailed  out  at 
the  southern  inlet  of  the  harbour,  rounding  succdl- 
sively  the  capes  of  the  Hammer,  Kh-kubus,  the  Ving, 
and  others,  consisting  of  bold  cliffs,  hollowed  into 
caverns,  or  divid/ed  into  pillars  and  arches  of  fantas- 
tic appearance  by  the  constant  action  of  the  waves. 
As  we  passed  the  most  northerly  of  these  capes, 
called,  1  think,  the  Ord,  ana  turned  mto  the  open  sea, 
the  scenes  became  yet  more  tremendously  sublime. 
Rocks  upwards  of^  three  or  four  hundred  feet  in 
height,  presented  themselves  in  gigantic  succession, 
sinking  perpendicularly  into  the  main,  which  is  very 
deep  even  within  a  few  fathoms  of  their  base.  One 
of  these  capes  is  called  the  Card-head ;  a  huge  pro- 
jecting arch  is  named  the  Giant's  Leg. 

'  Here  the  lone  sea.bird  wakes  his  wildest  cry.' 

Not  lone,  however,  in  one  sense,  for  their  numbers, 
and  the  variety  of  their  tribes,  are  immense,  though 
I  think  they  do  not  equal  those  of  Dunbuy.  on  the 
coast  of  Buchan.  Standing  across  a  little  hay.  we 
reached  the  Isle  of  Noss,  having  hitherto  coasted  the 
shore  of  Bressay.  Here  we  see  a  detached  and  pre- 
cipitous rock,  or  island,  being  a  portion  rent  by  a  nar- 


row aonBdfnHn  there^tof  tlwdiffMdoAlkd  Ae 
H(4m.  This  detached  rock  »  whouy  inacoesapl^ 
unless  by  a  pass  of  peril,  entitled  the  CndU  of  Nom^ 
which  is  a  sort  of  wooden  chair,  travelling  from  pr*" 
cipics  to  precipice  on  rings,  which  run  upon  two 
cables  stretched  across  over  the  gul£  We  viewed 
this  extraordinary  contrivance  from  beneath,  at  the 
distance  of  perhaps  one  hundred  fathoms  at  leasi. 
The  boatmen  made  light  of  the  risk  of  crossing  it,  but 
it  must  be  tremendous  to  a  brain  disposed  to  bemody- 
Seen  from  beneath,  a  man  in  the  basket  would  re- 
semble a  large  crow  or  raven  floating  between  rock 
and  rock.  The  purpose  of  this  strangs  contrivanoe 
is  to  give  the  tenant  the  benefit  of  putting  a  few 
sheep  upon  the  Holm,  the  top  of  wbicn  is  level,  and 
afforda  good  pasture.  The  aniraab  are  transported 
in  the  cradle  oy  one  at  a  time,  a  shepherd  holdini; 
them  upon  his  knees.  The  channel  between  thue 
Holm  and  the  isle  is  passable  by  boats  in  calm  wea- 
ther, but  not  aUthe  urae  when  we  saw  iL  Rowing 
on  through  a  heavy  tide,  and  nearer  the  breakers  than 
any  but  Zetlanders  would  have  ventured,  we  rounded 
another  immensely  high  cape,  called  by  the  isUnders 
the  Noup  of  Noss,  but  by  saiilors  Hang-CliDC  from 
its  having  a  projecting  appearance,  l^is  was  the 
highest  rock  we  had  yet  seen,  thoush  not  quite  per- 
pendicular. Its  height  has  never  peen  meagaredi 
I  should  judge  it  exceeds  600  feet ;  it  has  been  coojeo- 
tured  to  measure  800  and  upwards.  Our  steersman 
had  often  descended  this  precipitous  rock,  having 
only  the  occasional  assistance  of  a  rope,  one  end  of 
which  he  secured  from  time  to  time  round  sonie  i>ro- 
jecting  cliff.  The  collecting  sea-fowl  for  their  fea- 
thers was  the  object,  and  he  might  gain  five  or  six 
dozen,  worth  eightor  ten  shillings,  by  such  an  adven- 
ture. These  huge  precipices  aboi^nd  with  cavema^ 
many  of  which  run  much  farther  mto  the  rock  than 
any  one  has  ventured  to  explore.  We  entered  i^^b, 
much  hazard  to  oiu:  boat)  one  called  the  Ork^v- 
man's  Harbour,  because  an  Orkney  vessel  rua  m 
there  some  years  since  to  escape  a  French  privateer. 
The  entrance  was  lofty  enough  to  admit  us  without 
striking  the  mast,  but  a  sudden  turn  in  the  direction 
of  the  cave  would  have  consigned  us  to  utter  dark- 
ness if  we  had  gone  in  farther.  The  dropping  of  the 
sea- fowl  cormorants  into  the  water  from  the  sides  of 
the  cavern^  when  disturbed  by  our  approach,  had 
something  \h  it  Wild  and  terrible. 

"After  passing  the  Noup,  the  precipices  become 
lower,  and  sink  mto  a  tocky  shore  with  deep  indent- 
ations, called  by  the  natives,  Gio*.  Here  we  would 
fain  have  landed  to  visit  the  Cradle  from  the  top  of 
the  cliff,  but  the  surf  rendered  it  impossible.  We 
therefore  rowed  on  like  Thalaba  in  *  Allah's  name,' 
around  the  Isle  of  Noss,  and  landed  iipon  the(»>po* 
site  side  of  the  small  sound  which  divides  it  trom 
Bressay.  Noss  exactly  respmbles  in  shape  Salis- 
bury crags,  supposing  the  sea  to  flow  down  the  val- 
ley called  Hunter's  bog,  and  round  the  foot  of  the 
precipice.  The  eastern  part  of  the  isle  is  fine  smooth 
pasture,  the  best  I  have  seen  in  these  isles,  aloping 
upwards  to  the  verge  of  the  tremendous  rocks  which 
form  its  western  front. 

''  As  we  are  to  dine  at  Gardie-House  ((he  seat  of 
young  Mr.  Mowat),  on  the  Isle  of  Bressay,  Duff*  and 
1— who  went  togetner  on  this  occasion— reaolve  to 
walk  across  the  island,  about  three  miles,  being  by 
this  time  thoroughly  wet.  Bressay  is  a  black  and 
heathy  isle,  full  of  little  lochs  and  bogs.  Through 
storm  and  shade,  and  dense  and  dry,  we  find  our  way 
to  Gardie,  and  have  then  to  encounter  the  sublunary 
difficulties  of  wanting  the  keys  of  our  portmanteaus, 
&c.,  the  servants  having  absconded  to  see  the  Cra- 
dle. These  being  overcome,  we  are  hospitably  treat- 
ed at  Gardie.  Young  Mr.  Mowat,  ^eon  of  iny  old 
friend,  is  an  improver,  and  a  moderate  one.  tie  has 
got  a  ploughman  from  Scotland,  who  acts  as  f![rUvt^ 
but  as  yet  with  the  prejudices  and  inconveniences 
which  usually  attach  themselves  to  the  most  salu- 
tary experiments.  The  ploughman  complains  that 
the  Zetlanders  work  as  if  a  spade  or  hoc  burned  their 
fingers,  and  that  though  they  onlv  got  a  shilling  1i-day» 
yet  the  labour  of  three  of  them  does  not  exceed  what 
one  good  hand  ji;^  >^|^'ickshire  would  do  for  2s.  6d. 


UFfi  OF  BOi  WAJLOSa  GCOTT. 


TV  wf^iidem  ntart.  that  •  nun  cBii  do  no  xnoiiw  t^ 
M  cfB  i  tiuit  tbff  are  not  uaed  to  bo  taxed  to  mm 
wo#L  90  severely ;  that  they  will  work  as  their  fathers 
ffid.  and  not  otherwise ;  and  at  first  the  landlord  found 
dimcalty  in  fi^etting  hands  to  work  under  his  Gale- 
doniaa  taskmaster.  Besides  they  find  fault  with  tiis 
H  and  ^«e,  and  iro,  when  ploughing.  '  He  speaks 
to  the  horae,'  they  eay,  and  they  gang— and  there's 
•oniethiDK  no  canny  ahout  the  man.'    In  short,  be- 

1  the  prejudices  of  laziness  and  superstition,  the 

,hman  leads  a  sorry  life  of  it ;  yet  these  preju- 
I  ara  daily  abating,  under  the  steady  and  indul- 
«HU  ttianagement  of  the  pfoprietor.  Indeed,  no- 
when  luaaproTemeot  in  agriculture  more  necessary. 
Am  old-fiaaluoned  Zetland  pjongh  is  a  real  curiosity. 
It  had  but  one  handle,  or  stilt,  and  a  coulter,  but  no 
Mu  It  nnMd  tbefiirro  w,  therefore,  bat  did  not  throw 
u  aoda.  When  this  precious  machine  waa  in  mo- 
iiOB,  It  was  ^dragged  by  four  httle  bullocks  yoked 
a-braaac,  and  as  many  ponies  hameaaed,  or  rather 
atnuft  to  the  plough  by  ropea  and  thongs  of  raw 
hide.  One  naan  went  befow.  walking  backward,  with 
km  fiaoo  to  the  buUocks,  and  pullingthem  forward  by 
BMio  aueogth.  Another  held  down  thepknigh  by  its 
ma0ie  handle,  and  BMde  a  aort  of  slit  m  the  earth, 
whieii  two  women,  who  dosed  the  piooession,  con- 
verted mio  anuTOw,  by  throwing  the  earth  aside  with 
akvrela.  Anaaticmaryinightbeof  opinion  that  this 
waa  the  yery  model  of  the  original  plainb  invented 
bf  Tra>iol«nuis ;  and  it  la  but  Justice  to  Zettand  to  say, 
that  toeee  relics  of  ancient  agrioutur^  art  will  soon 
have  all  the  interset  attached  to  ramy.  We  could 
oohr  kev  af  oneof  theeepuMiiJis  wUmn  three  miles 

**  tins  and  many  other  barbaroua  habits  to  which 
the  Zetlandere  were  formerly  weddfd,  seem  only  to 
bare  snbaieied  because  their  ampmbioas  character 
«f  fiehera  and  fanners  induced  them  to  ne^Hect  agri* 
iiiMsl  arts.  A  Zetland  farmer  iooka  to  theses  to 
M^us  rentx  if  the  land  fiiuia  him  a  little  meal  and 
kail,  and  (if  he  be  a  very  clever  fellow)  a  few  pota- 
toM.  it  is  very  well.  The  more  inteUigent  part  of  die 
law^IderB  are  sensible  >of  all  th»  but  argue  like 
men  of  good  eense  and  hnmanity  en  the  subject.  To 
have  good  farming,  you  must  have  a  considerable 
€bb,  upea  which  capital  may  be  laid  out  to  advant- 
aga.  Bnt  to  introduce  thie  ohapge  suddenly  would 
tank  adrift  perhaps  twenty  families,  who  now  occu- 
py small  farmajaro  t'ndirwo,  cultivating  by  patches 
rvmdaU  and  runrtg,  what  part  of  the  property  is  ar- 
able, and  stocking  the  pasture  aa  a  common  upon 
vkicb  each  fiumly  turns  out  such  stock  as  they  can 
tear,  without  observing  a  proportion  aa  to  tbenum* 
ber  which  it  can  support.  In  this  wsy  many  town- 
skips,  aa  they  are  called,  subsist  indeed,  but  m  a  pre- 
emons  and  indigent  manner.  Fishing  villages  eeem 
the  natural  resource  for  this  exoees  of  population ; 
but,  besides  the  expense  of  erecting  them,  thehabits 
of  the  people  are  to  be  consklered,  who,  with  *one 
fiwt  on  land  and  one  on  sea,'  would  be  with  equal 
rdaeiance  confined  to  either  element.  The  remedy 
seema  to  be,  that  the  larger  proprietors  should  grad- 
ually set  the  example  of  better  cidtivation,  and  mtro- 
dooe  better  implementa.  They  will,  by  degreeat  be 
uniuted  by  the  inferior  proprietors^  and  by  theu*  te- 
iMDts ;  and,  as  tutnips  and  hay  crops  become  more 
general,  a  better  ana  heavier  class  of  stock  will  nat- 
vally  bi^  introduced. 

'*  The  ehe^  in  particular  might  be  hnproved  into 
s  valuable  stock,  and  would  no  doubt  thrive,  since 
the  winters  are  very  temperate.  But  I  should  be 
sorry  that  extensive  pasture  farms  were  introduced, 
as  it  would  tend  to  diminish  a  population  invaluable 
for  the  supply  of  our  navy.  The  improvement  of  the 
arable  land,  on  the  contrary,  would  set  them  beyond 
the  terrors  of  famine  with  which  the  islanders  are  at 
pfesent  occasionally  visited;  and,  combined  with 
isheries.  carried  on  not  by  formers,  but  by  real  fish- 
ers, would  amply  supply  the  inhabitants^  without  di- 
ngiiahing  the  export  01  a  dried  fiah.  This  separation 
ef  trades  will  in  time  take  place,  and  then  the  pros- 
perous dejra  of  Zetland  will  begin.  The  propnetors 
are  already  upon  the  alert,  studying  the  meana  of 
radual  ifloprovemeat,  and  no  humane  person  wonM 

D 


wiah  then  to  dnve  itoa  too  rapitfy,  la  the 
and  peihapa  deetniotion  of  tfae  nameieae  ^ 
who  nave  been  bred  under  a  different  aystem. 

*\1  have  gleaned  something  of  the  peculiar  i_^„ 
atitiona  of  the  Zetlandera,  which  are  numeroua  and 
potent.  Witches,  fairi^  &c,  are  as  aumeroas  as 
ever  they  were  in  Teviotdale.  The  latter  are  caU- 
ed  TVotMu  probably  from  the  Norwegian  Dtoare 
(or  dwarf)  the  D  being  readily,  converted  into  T. 
The  dwana  are  the  prime  agents  in  the  machinery  of 
Norwegian  superstition.  The  trotot  do  not  difl^Br 
from  the  foiries  of  the  Lowlands,  or  Sigiuan  of  the 
Highlandera  lliey  steal  children,  dwell  wjthin  the 
interior  of  green  hills,  and  ofren  carry  mortals  into 
their  recesses.  'Some,  yet  aliv&  pret^  to  have 
been  carried  oflTin  this  way,  and  obtain  credit  for  the 
marvels  they  tell  of  the  subterranean  habitations  of 
the  trows.  Sometimes^  when  a  person  becomes 
melancholy  and  low-spinted,  the  trows  are  supposed 
to  have  stolen  the  real  being,  and  left  a  moving 
phantom  to  represent  him.  Sometimes  they  are 
said  to  steal  only  the  he^rt— like  Lancashire 
witches.  There  are  curea  m  eath  case.  The 
party's  friends  resort  to  a  cunning  man  or  woman, 
who  hangs  about  the  neck  a  tnangular  atone  in 
the  shape  of  a  heart,  or  conmres  oack  the  lost 
individual,  by  retiring  to  the  hills  and  employing 
the  necessary  spells.  A  common  ree^t,  when  a 
child  appears  consumptive  and  puny,  is.  that  the 
conjurer  places  a  bowl  of  water  on  the  patient's 
head,  and  pours  melted  lead  into  it  through  the 
wards  qf  a  key.  The  metal  assumes  of  course  a  va- 
riety of  shapea,  from  which  he  selects  a  portioii,  after 
due  consideration,  which  ia  sewn  into  the  shirt  of 
the  patient.  Sometimes  no  pact  of  the  lead  suits 
the  seer's  foncy.  Then  the  operation  is  recom- 
menced, until  he  obtains  a  fragment  of  such  a  con- 
figuration as  suits  his  mystical  purpose.  Mr.  Dun- 
can told  us  he  had  been  treated  in  this  way  when  a 
bov. 

*^  A  worse  and  most  horrid  opmion  prevails,  or  did 
prevail,  among  the  fiahers— namely,  that  he  who 
saves  a  drowning  man  will  receive  at  his  hands 
some  deep  wrong  or  injury.  Several  instances  were 
Quoted  to-day  in  company,  in  which  the  utmost  vio- 
lence had  been  found  necessary  to  compel  the  fishers 
to  violate  ^is  inhuman  pr^udice.  It  is  conjectured 
to  have  ansen  as  an  apology  for  renderin/g  no  aasist- 
ance  to  the  mariners  as  they  escaped  from  a  ship- 
wrecked vessel,  for  these  isles  are  infamous  tor 
plundering  wrecks.  A  story  is  told  of  the  crew  of  a 
stranded  vessel  who  were  warping  themselves 
ashore  by  means  of  a  hawser  which  they  had  fiixed 
to  the  land.  The  islanders  ( of  tJnst,  as  I  believe, 
watches  their  motions  in  silence,  till  an  old  man 
reminded  them  that  if  they  sufiffed  these  sailors  to 
come  ashore,  they  would  consume  all  their  winter 
stock  of  provfeions.  A  Zetlander  cut  the  hawser, 
and  the  poor  wretches,  twenty  in  number,  were  all 
swept  away.  Iliia  is  a  tale  of  former  times— the 
cruelty  would  not  now  be  active;  but  I  fear  that  even 
yet  the  drowning  mariner  would  in  some  places 
receive  no  assistance  in  his  exertions,  and  certainly 

fie  would  in  most  be  plundered  to  the  dun  upon  his  ' 
anding.  The  gentlemen  do  their  utmost  to  prevent 
this  infamous  practice.  It  may  seem  strange  that 
the  natives  should  be  so  httle  anected  by  a  distress 
to  which  they  are  themselves  so  constantly  exposed. 
But  habitual  exposure  to  danger  hardens  the  heart 
against  its  coiisequences,  whether  to  ourselves  or 
others.  There  is  yet  living  a  man— if  he  can  be  call- 
ed so— to  whom  the  following  story  belongs :— He 
wasen^^gedin  catching  sea-fowl  upon  one  of  the 
clifls,  with  his  father  and  brother.  All  three  were 
suspended  by  a  cord,  acoordiog  to  custom,  and 
overhanging  the  ocean,  at  the  height  of  some  hun- 
dred feet.  This  man  being  uppermost  on  the  cord, 
observed  that  it  was  giving  way,  as  unable  to  sup- 
port their  united  weight  He  called  out  to  his  bro- 
ther who  was  next  to  him— '  Cut  away  a  nail  below. 
Wille,'  meanmg  he  should  cut  the  rope  beneath  and 
let  his  father  drop.  Willie  refused,  and  bid  him  cut 
hknselt  if  he  pleased.  He  did  so,  and  his  brother 
and  father  were  precipitated  into  the  sea.    He  never 


LIPE  0»  Sm  WALTER  SCOW. 


thoii||htofe«*cealingor  denyuigthe  adventure  in 
aU  itfl  parts.  We  left  dardie-House  late  ;  beiof;  on 
the  side  of  the  Isle  of  Bressay,  opposite  to  Lerwick, 
we  were  soon  rowed  across  the  bay.  A  laugh  with 
Hamilton.*  whose  gout  keeps  hitn  stationary  at 
LerwiclL  but  whose  good-humour  defies  gout  and 
e:rery  other  provocation,  concludes  the  evening. 

'*7thAu§rtut,  1814.  Being  Sunday,  Duft;  Erskine, 
and  1,  rode  to  Tingwall  upon  Zetland  ponies,  to 
breakfast  with  our  friend  Parson  TurnbnlU  who  had 
come  over  in  our  yacht.  An  ill-conducted  and 
worse-made  road  served  us  four  miles  on  our  jour- 
ney. This  Via  Ptaminia  of  Thule  terminates,  like 
its  prototype,  in  a  bog.  It  is,  however,  the  only  road 
in  these  isles,  except  about  half  a  mile  made  by  Mr. 
TurnbuU.  The  land  in  the  interior  much  resembles 
the  Peel-heights,  near  Ashestiel:  but,  as  you  ap- 
proach the  other  side  of  the  island,  becomes  better. 
Tingwall  is  rather  a  fertile  valley,  up  which  winds 
a  loch  of  about  two  miles  in  length.  The  kirk  and 
manse  stand  at  the  head  of  the  loch,  and  command 
a  view  down  the  valley  to  another  lake  beyond  the 
first,  and  thence  over  another  reach  of  land,  to  the 
ocean,  mdented  by  capes  and  studded  with  isles  : 
among  which,  that  of  St.  Ninian's,  abruptly  divided 
from  the  mamland  by  a  deep  chasm,  is  the  most 
conspicuous.  Afr.  Turnbtul  is  a  Jedburgh  man  by 
birth,  but  aZetlander  by  settlement  and  mclination. 
I  have  reason  to  be  proud  of  my  countrvman ;— be 
is  doing  his  best,  with  great  patience  ana  judgment, 
to  set  a  good  example  both  m  temporals  ana  spirit- 
uals, and  is  generally  beloved  and  respected  among 
all  classes.    His  glebe  is  in  far  the  best  order  of  an  v 

nnd  I  have  seen  in  Zetland.  It  is  enclosed  chiei- 
ith  dry-Atone,  instead  of  the  useless  turf-dikes ; 
and  he  bas^sown  grass,  and  has  a  hay-stack,  and  a 
second  crop  of  clover,  and  may  claim  well-dressed 
fields  of  potatoes,  barley,  ana  oats.  The  people 
around  him  are  obviousfv  affected  by  his  example. 
He  gave  us  an  excellent  discourse  and  remarkably 
good  prayers,  which  are  seldom  the  excellence  of 
the  Presbyterian  worship.  The  crmtnT^rntinTi  -wnre 
numerous,  decent,  clean,  and  W'.il-dre^^cd.  The 
men  have  all  the  air  of  seamen,  and  nr^^  a  ^ood-1- Mik- 
ing hardy  race.  Some  of  theolr!  ff-Hovvs  had  ijol 
laces  much  resembling  Tritons;  if  thc<y  had  had 
eonchs  to  blow,  it  would  have  i  urnplcted  tlu-m. 
After  church,  ride  down  the  loch  tu  Scalloway-  the 
country  wild  but  pleasant,  with  sl-uiinR  hills  of  ^l»od 
pasturage,  and  patcl^of  cnltivau^n  on  ihi^  lower 

Sound.  Pass  a  huge  standing  stone^  or  pillar. 
ere,  it  is  said,  the  son  of  axk  old  Earl  of  the  Ork- 
I  neys  met  his  fate.  He  had  rebelled  asainst  his  fa- 
ther, and  fortified  himself  in  Zetland.  The  Earl 
sent  a  pany  to  djflodc^e  him,  who,  not  caring  to 
proceed  to  violence  agamst  his  person,  failed  in  the 
attempt.  The  Earl  then  sent  a  stronger  force,  with 
orders  to  take  him  dead  or  alive.  The  young  Absa- 
lom's castle  was  stormed— he  himself  fled  across 
the  loch  and  was  overtaken,  and  slain  at  this  pillar. 
The  Earl  afterwards  executed  the  perpetrators  of 
the  slaughter,  though  they  bad  only  fulfilled  his  own 
mandate. 

"  We  reach  Scalloway,  and  visit  the  ruins  of  an 
old  castle,  composed  or  a  double  tower,  or  keep, 
with  turrets  at  the  comer&  It  is  the  principal,  u 
not  the  only  ruin  of  Gothic  times  in  Zetland,  and 
is  of  very  recent  date,  being  built  in  1600.  It  was 
built  by  Patrick  Stewart,  fiarl  of  Orkney,  after- 
wards deservedly  executed  at  Edinburgh  for  many 
acts  of  tyranny  and  oppression.  It  was  this  rapa- 
cious Lord  who  imposed  many  of  those  heavy  duties 
still  levied  from  the  Zetlanders  by  Lord  Dundas. 

•RnJvTl:  IfrsmllLuFi,  iptic-riiN.'f  L*nirkjihlrp.  Eiiiii  "^  i         >f 

i\v  i^T'  t)tn>[ S4'<iiflDa  wna  m.  ^rticiiluf  liiii'junla  ^vn .  '.. -t, 

ii  F]  1 1  *r'. .- 1 1  t.M  1 1 V  PI*  i  .ft  tDod  naimiii  ho  hail  En-f  n  'i  mu  l.  i(  ■  -. , . .  t  ,i, 

1                      '  inUfuil  lif^irn  tvijunElH  mrivTt^lF  ui  -  i  ricrn 

*                      >  ivfj Undo TfJbj  in  iniJiiArr  cnthnun « ri> ,  i^:! 'v  be- 

I  ii^i,!  b»«iMe  ht  ***H  In  »inT^^  fjC  Tiffi  i^jnTiit?i|r?  i:if  Uie 

\,  .,■  ,,.^  iiiiiri'.'  i:£hJ  ra»4  ■  MvnAf  TuTy.  Mt.  [LDiiijEiJ>ri  «ruL  (at 
tiF-iir  I  ^  tnii  upcHi  hiM  ileaUiptjHi  in  mi,  Aijd  iJ»?KJn  ij  Iioej  1u  chii^ue. 
n^'^ .  I  n-T  QfTM  a  p'lrttnif  tMimcklt  rnif  artirU;  be  itkcr^  m  hii  rol- 
U-;rtM\rt  ofnrm:  Bir  WiilV;r  (bv  Uint  tiiiwi»1j  ■h-Ltet-n^d  m  hw 
Dwobtmltb}  irkwt*<l  tlv  fwort  with  which  hu  fwodfthajd  had 
ana  wmui  a  Bunkis  i  lyi 


The  etactioQs  by  which  he  acconwliahad  diU  t 

tion  were  represented  as  grievoas.  He  was  to  dttad- 
ed,  that  upon  his  trial  one  2^tland  witness  reraaed 
to  say  a  word  till  he  was  assured  that  there  wa«  no 
chance  of  the  Earl  returning  to  Scalloway.  Over 
the  entrance  of  the  castle  are  his  arma,  much  defia- 
ced,  with  the  unicorns  of  Scotland  for  supponera,  the 
assumption  of  which  was  one  of  the  articles  of  in- 
dictment. There  is  a  Scriptural  inscriptioa  also 
above  the  door,  in  Latin,  now  much  defaced  : — 

'  PATRICI08  OaCHADUB  ET  ZETLANOIjB  COMBS.  ▲.  D. 
1600.  CUJU8  FUNDAMSX  6AXUM  SST,  DOltUS  tJ.M.A 
MANKBIT  6TASILI8  :  K  OOMTaA,  8I6IT  ABEM^A«  FKKTT.' 

"  This  is  said  to  have  been  furnished  to  Garl  Pa- 
trick by  a  Presbyterian  divine,  who  sliiy  couched 
under  it. an  allusion  to  the  evil  practices  by  which 
the  Earl  had  established  his  power.  He  perhaps 
trusted  that  the  language. might  disuse  tho  import 
from  the  EarL*  If  so,  the  Scottish  nobility  are 
improved  in  hterature,  for  the  Duke  of  Gordon  point- 
ed out  an  error  in  the  Latinity. 

"  Scalloway  has  a  beautiful  and  very  safe  har- 
bour, Ittit  as  it  is  somewhat  difilcnlt  of  access^  from 
a  complication  of  small  islands,  it  is  inferior  to 
Lerwick.  Hence,  though  still  nominally  the  capital 
of  Zetland,  for  all  edictal  citations  are  made  at  Scal- 
loway, it  has  sunk  into  a  small  fishing  hamlet.  The 
Norwegiana  made  their  original  settlement  in  this 
parish  of  Tingwall.  At  the  head  of  this  loch,  and 
just  below  the  manse,  is  a  small  round  islet  acces- 
sible by  stepping-stones,  whers  they  held  thor 
courts ;  hence  the  islet  is  called  Law-tiof — ^Ttn^,  or 
ThinfL  answering  to  our  word  businessi  exactly 
like  the  Latin  tugothtm.  It  seems  odd  that  in 
Dumfries-shire,  and  even  in  the  Isle  of  Mao,  where 
the  race  and  laws  were  sorely  Celtic,  we  have  this 
Gothic  word  Ting  and  Ting-wald  applied  in  the 
same  way.  We  dined  with  Mr.  Scott  of  Scallogray, 
who,  like  several  families  of  this  name  in  ShetlaDd, 
is  derived  from  the  house  of  Scotsurvet.  They  arv» 
very  clannish,  marry  mnch  among  themselvea^  and 
are  proud  or  their  descent.  Two  yoans  ladies, 
daughters  of  Mr.  Scott's,  dined  with  us— they  were 
both  Mrs.  Scotts,  having  married  brothera — the 
husband  of  one  was  lost  in  the  unfortunate  I>oris. 
They  were  pleasant,  intelligent  women,  and  exceed- 
ingly obliging.  Old  Mr.  Scott  seems  a  good  coun- 
try gentleman.  He  is  n«mtiatinff  an  exchange  with 
Loid  Dundas,  which  will  give  nim  the  Castle  of 
Scallowav  and  two  or  three  neighbounng  islands  : 
thereat  ot  the  archipelago  (seven  I  think  in  number) 
are  already  his  own.  He  will  thus  have  command 
of  the  whole  fishing  and  harbour,  for  which  he  parts 
with  an  estate  of  more  immediate  value,  lyin^  on 
the  other  side  of  the  mainland.  I  found  my  name 
made  me  very  popular  in  this  family,  and  there  were 
many  inquiries  after  the  state  of  the  Buccleueh  fa- 
mily, in  which  they  seemed  to  take  much  tnterest. 
I  found  them  possessed  of  the  remarkable  circum- 
stances attendmg  the  late  projected  sale  of  Ancrum, 
and  the  death  of  Sh-  John  Scott,  and  thought  it 
strange  that,  settled  for  three  generations  in  a  coun- 
try w  distant,  they  ahould  still  take  an  interest  in 
thitir^  niitters.  I  was  loaded  with  shells  and  litikr 
curju^UK^  for  my  young  people. 

"  I'll  erf)  was  a  report  (January  was  two  years)  of 
a  krfikt'ii  or  some  monstrous  fish  being  seen  oflT 
Seal  lo  w  ay.  The  object  was  visible  for  a  fort  niRh  t. 
but  nobcKly  dared  approach  it,  although  I  should 
have  thtyiignt  the  Zetlanders  Would  not  nave  feared 

•  In  hit  renewal  of  Piteaira'i  Triab,  (lasi,)  Soott 
erecdog  thii  Evl'i  Cutle  ofScallowBj.  sad  oUwr 


fiet,  the  Kinf '■  tonant*  were  forced  to  work  io  quanifla, 
..     ..       ...        .1...^     ^^   — oallpqa 

drill 

atli«;i&.       OUII 

afaAU  abide  and eodme?     Hedid  ooc  o 


■tone,  die,  dehe.  cUmb.  andbaild.  and  lubnait  to 
(gienrilc  ai  '      •  -    '  •  *  • 

hlfbquae.at  Suralraisli  on  the  Mod,  and  it  bM  siveo 


„_.     _.   .. imo,  BnuDHiia.iina  ■uoiuiiui  ail  iwaaiutv  Bona 

■enrile  and  oainful  labour,  wiihout  dthcv  meat,  drink,  hire,  oc 
ofa^  kind.    '  My  AKfaer,'  aaid  Earl  Patrick.  *  huJJc 


I  that  the  oppremon,  lapadty.  and  cradtj 
._ what  the  cleiijrinanreaJ- 


thif  ofmine  oothei 
would  notu  ' 

bjrmeaaaof 

IjrpointedtoinfaiiraooauiiendationofanMUa  Aoooidinslv.  tlw 
hdce  tower  lemdoi  wild  and  dcaolate— tta  ehaaibefs  ftBc^  with. 
■and,  and  iu  rifted  walk  and  diimanUed  battlement*  ffi%*inr  ua- 
reitrained  aeceM  to  the  roaring  tea  blast"— For  more  of  EaH 
Patrk!k»  aee  Scott'e  MitotUaoeooa  Proaa  Works,  vol.  ni  ppL  sn^ 
838  ;  rol.  xxiii.  pp.  W7,  SOP. 


Lira  or  na  waltbr  scorrr. 


dbedvraif  hdotiMby  #al«r.  Thejr  prstendad  that 
the  Hctioo,  whan  they  came  within  a  <iertaia  dia- 
tajiee^  was  ao  Rreat  aa  to  efidatiger  their  boata.  The 
akifect  was  deaeribed  aa  reaembung  a  Taaael  with  her 
keel  tamed  upmost  in  the  sea.  or  a  small  ridge  of 
lack  or  ialano.  Mr.  Soott  thinaa  it  might  have  oeen 
a  vesael  overset,  or  a  large  whale ;  itthe  latter,  it 
seama  odd  they  should  not  have  known  it.  as 
whalea  are  the  intimate  acquaintances  of  all  Zetland 
saflora.  Whatever  it,^'wa8,  it  disappeared  after  a 
keavjr  gale  of  wind,  which  seems  to  ravom'  the  idea 
that  It  was  the  wreck  of  a  vessel.  Mr.  Scott  seems 
to  think  Pontopiddan's  narrations  and  descriptions 
are  much  more  accurate  than  we  inland  men  sup- 
pose; and  I  find  most  Zetlanders  of  the  same  opi- 
Dion,  Mr.  Tumbull,  who  is  not  credulous  upon 
these  subjecta,  tells  me  that  this  >;ear  a  parishioner 
of  his,  a  well- informed  and  veracious  person,  saw 
an  animal,  which,  if  his  description  waa  correct, 
nitist  hare  been  of  the  species  or  sea-snake,  driven 
ashore  on  one  of  the  Orkneys  two  or  three  years 
ago.  It  was  very  long,  and  seemed  about  the  thick- 
ness of  a  Norway  log^  and  swam  on  the  top  of  the 
wavea,  occasionally  lifting  and  bending  its  head. 
Mr.  T.  savs  he  has  no  doubt  of  the  veracity  of  the 
narrator,  but  still  thinks  it  possible  it  may  have  been 
a  mere  log  or  beam  of  wood,  and  that  the  spectator 
may  have  been  deceived  by  the  motion  of  the  wavps, 
(sined  to  the  force  of  imagmation.  This  for  the 
Dake  of  Buccleuch. 

"  At  Scalloway  mr  curiosity  was  gratified  by  an 
aeeoont  of  the  sword-dance,  now  almost  lost,  but 
»tiil  practised  in  the  Island  of  Papa,  belonging  to 
Mr.  Scott.  There  arc  eight  performers,  seven  of 
whom  represent  the  Seven  Champions  of  Christen- 
dom, who  enter  one  by  one  with  their  swords  drawn, 
and  are  presented  to  the  eighth  personage,who  is 
Dot  named.  Some  rude  couplets  are  spoken,  (in 
B^UAy  not  Norse^)  containing  a  sort  of  panegy- 
rie  upon  each  champion  as  he  is  presented.  Triey 
tiien  dance  a  sort^of  cotilHon.  as  the  ladies  describ- 
ed ii,  going  through  a  number  of  evolutions  with 
their  sworda.  One  of  my  three  Mrs.  Scotts  readily 
promised  to  procure  me  the  lines,  the  rhvmes,  and 
the  form  (if  tne  dance.  I  regret  much  that  young 
Mr.  Scott  waa  absent  during  this  visit ;  he  is  des- 
cribed aa  a  reader  and  an  enthusiast  in  poatnr.  Pro- 
bably I  Qiigbt  have  interested  him  in  preserving  the 
danoe,  by  causing  young  persons  to  learn  it.  A  few 
years  since  a  party  of  Papa-men  came  to  dance  the 
fword-dance  at  Lerwick  as  a  public  exhibition  with 
txm  applause.  The  warlike  dances  of  the  north- 
mi  people,  of  which  I  conceive  this  to  be  the  only 
mnnant  in  the  British  dominions,*  are  repeatedly 
alluded  to  by  then'  poets  and  historiana.  The  intro- 
ductioQ  of  the  Seven  Champions  savours  of  a  later 
period,  and  was  probably  mi^rafted  upon  the  dance 
when  mysteries  and  TnoralUies  Cthe  first  scenic  re- 
presentations) came  into  fashion.  In  a  stall  pam- 
phlet, called  the  history  of  Buckshaven,  it  is  saia 
those  fi^era  sprung  ttom  Danes,  and  brought  with 
them  their  var-danee  or  neordrdanee,  and  a  rude 
wooden  cut  of  it  is  given.  We  resist  the  hoajJltality 
of  our  entertainers,  and  return  to  Lerwick  despite  a 
moat  dov?nrigbt  fall  of  rain.  My  ponv  stumbles 
comint?  doWn  hill ;  saddle  sways  round,  naving  but 
one  girtb,  and  that  too  lonjL  and  lays  me  on  my 
hack.  N.  B.  The  bogs  in  Zetland  as  soft  aa  those 
in  Liddisdale.  Get  to  Lerwick  about  ten  at  night 
No  yacht  baa  appeared. 

"Wft,  August.— "Sti  yacht,  and  a  rainy  morning; 
bring  up  ray  journal.  I)ay  clears  up,  and  we  ;^  to 
pay  anf  farewd!  visits  of  thanks  to  the  hospitable 
Lerwegians,  ^and  at  the  Fort.  Visit  khfid  oid  Mr. 
Howat,  and  walk  with  him  and  Collector  Ross  to 
the  point  of  Quaggers,  or  Twaggera,  which  forms 
one  arm  of  the  southern  entrance  to  the  sound  of 
Bressay.  From  the  eminence  a  delightful  sea  view, 
with  several  of  dkose  narrow  capes  and  deep  reaches 
or  inlets  of  ^e  aea,  which  indent  the  shores  of  that 

*  He  W.  8.  Row  infmnt  me  that,  when  he  waa  at  fchool  at 
WMctHter,  the  morm-dinoen  there  naedto  txhibtt  anrofd- 
'^    »wwiuMinf  thac  dewnfatdat  ChuiiMlio>  WKldiaff  ta  Don 
olvj  and  Bfc 


.  ^  ... lie  MonUt  adds. that npiUardaiiCMiaraevcQjrot 

pnooaed  m  iba  nUacef  aboat  Roaeby  tntj  Christoiai. 


land.  Oq  the  right  hand  a  narrow  hsy^  bounded  by 
thi:  kfiihnius  of  Sounds  with  a  house  vpoa  it  ret^mb- 
haj*  an  old  Gastla.  In  ihe  md«inturcof  the  baj^  and 
dtvided  from  the  sea  by  a  aliglit  caii»ewny/the  lake 
of  Cl^k-him^irtt  with  it9  Piciiah  Caaik',  Reyona 
this  th«  bay  openi  onotber  yet ;  and,  behind  alL  a 
si3CCP*Bton  of  capea^  headlanda.  and  t«hrida^  a  a  far 
git  the  cape  calf^  Sum  burgh -bend,  which  ie  Lho 
furtheai  point  of  Jutland  in  that  direct  ion.  Inland, 
cu-aggy,  and  aabla  miiin,  with  carrn^  UTiiong  which 
wfi  dianmEyJah  the  Wart  or  Ward  of  VVjckr  to  which 
wi*  walked  on  the  4th.  On  the  Jdt  ihu  island  of 
BrcftsayT  with  its  pt^aked  hill,  «alte<t  the  Wart  of 
Bfceaay,  Over  Brews  ay  sm  tht'  top  of  Ffar^gcUJT 
Adtnirti  the  Bay  of  Lerwick,  with  idsshipiimg,  widen -^ 
ina:otzt  to  thu  norihwarJs  and  then  igain  contraet- 
t^Tinut  a  nnrrow  ^ound,  ihnun^h  which  the  infa- 
moua  Boih welt  was  iJiiisued  byKirki^ldy  of  GrariKiCji 
until  he  c«cor>ed  rbrouf^h  tbc  dexterity  of  hia  piloii 
whi>  sailed  chae  along  a  sunken  rocfet  iipon  which 
Kirkaldyj  keeping  Ihe  wcathc'r^nstfef  atnick,  ajid 
s^si^mcd  dantRi^.  The  rock  ts  vi^hilo  at  low  water, 
(tnd  tP  Btill  cfllloti  thp  0mcoTOH  from  the  name  of 
Kirk  aid  y^pvrsBf^U  AdtnirieMf^  Mowai's  fiillefarm, 
of  abnut  thiriy  acres,  bought  about  twenty  f^yara 
fiiiiCtt  for  £7b,  and  redt^mtd  from  ihe  ruiacrablc 
alBtti  of  the  iffunoiindini|2:  conntr)'',  so  that  it  now 
bpT^rs  I'xcolkni  cfjm  j  here  also  was  a  hay  crop» 
Willi  Mt.  Tun  I  bull's  u  makes  two.  Vitii  Mr.  Rossi 
coi lector  of  thf*  custom 6>  who  prfsents  tne  with  the 
mo^t  aupaTt>  colN^iian  of  th«  jnone  nxes  (or  Qdtos, 
or  whatever  they  are,^  called  ffW^  The  Zetlanders 
call  them  tkund^HimiJii  and  kntp  them  in  iheir 
houses  as  h  Tficatpt  aminHt  tbundiT ;  but  the  Col  lee- 
tor  hasr  agcceeded  iTI  ootainrng  BCV<.irat.  We  are  now 
trj  dress  for  dinner  with  the  Noiablca  of  Lerwick, 
whotiiveuaan  cntenainmem  in  their  Town-halU 
Ohcil 

"  Just  as  wc  were  going  to  dinner^  the  yacht  ap- 
pearerf,  and  Mr.  Steve iiion  landed.  He  gives  a 
most  fa vfHvrable  account  of  the  ialt^a  to  the  north- 
ward,  particidurly  ITnst  1  beheve  Lerwick  ia  the 
worst  part  of  sWtland.  Are  hostiiiably  receiT^ 
and  enter tuined  by  the  Lerwick  gentlemen  They 
arc  a  quick  inlcltiiftnl  race— chiefly  of  .Sc^ttiab  birth, 
a»  appei^re  from  their  namea  Mo  wot,  Gifl^jrd)  Scott, 
an  d  3o  fortl  i .  These  app  t  he  c  h  ief  proprie  to  ra.  The 
Norwe^an  or  Danish  puroamesj  thtnigh  of  oiTuraa 
the  luoreancitjut,  Iwtong,  with  some  eJieeptiona,  to 
l\ui  lower  ranks.  The  Veleran  Corpi  ejixf^ta  to  be 
di^bflnded,  and  the  officers  aiwl  Lerwegi a ns  aecm  to 
part  with  regr<;t.  Son^c  of  the  ofllcera  talk  of  Mt- 
tling  here.  The  price  of  every  thing  is  tnoderate,  and 
the  style  of  living  unexpcnsive.  ARainet  iheBti  con* 
vcniencea  an^  to  be  placed  a  total  j^cparDljot)  from 
public  Iii(%  naWB^  atia  hiertuure ;  and  a  variable  atid 
inhoftpi table  climate.  Lerwick  wiJl  evffer  most  se- 
verely if  the  Pon  is  not  occupied  by  aonie  force  or 
other ;  forr  between  whisky  and  frohc,  tho  Green- 
land sailors  will  cettainfy  btim  the  httte  town.  We 
have  Been  a  good  deal,  and  heard  much  inore  of  th<> 
prank  SI  of  thcBc  unnjly  gneats,  A  gcnilctiian  of 
Lerwick,  who  bad  company  to  dine  with  him,  ob- 
served beneath  hie  w*iridow  a  party  yf  Bailors  eating  ^ 
a  kg  of  roaf»t  tnutton^  which  ha  witnessed  with 
tihilanthropic  satiafiiction^  Idl  he  received  the  me- 
Ifirichoty  information,  ihaL  that  individual  leg  of 
nm  rton ,  bei  na  t  he  very  4  h  act'  a  n  c  h  or  tif  h  i  ft  o  wn  e  ii* 
lertainmentj  ntid  been  viotetilly  carried  olf  from  hia 
kiicberif  fipit  and  allp  by  the^'  J^^neat  g^ntlamcnr 
who  were  now  dcvotirinsf  \l  Two  others  having 
Ciirrictl  of!"  a  elicepj  were  aj^prehended^  and  hroiLpbl 
before  a  Ju^tict'  of  Uie  Peaci^,  who  qucf^tinned  tncm 
resjf meeting  the  fad.  The  first  denied  he  had  taken 
the  shEcp,  but  said  he  bad  aeen  it  tnk*]n  away  by  a 
Mlow  with  a  refl  noac  and  a  black  wiu^— (fhia  waa 
I  he  juatic+r'a  deaertplton)— *Bon't  you  rifink  he  w'aa 
hke  hia  honour,  Tom?*  he  added^  appealing  to  his 
comrade.  'HyO— ,  Jack,*  answered  Tom,  *I  be- 
lieve it  waa  the  very  man  V  Erskine  has  been  busv 
with  these  facetious  gentlcTnen.  and  has  aent  acveral 
toprison^  but  nothing  eoidd  have  bec9.4pne  wiih^trt. 
the  Midiery,  Wc  leave  U§fM  * 
and  alecp  on  bonrd  the  yacnlj 


UFB  OF  9»  WALTBR  9P0TT. 


**  ft&  AujFitit  1314.— Wnkfid  hL  Btven,  tnd  find 
the  v^n^t  has  left  Lerwick  iiirbour,  and  \$  *.m  ihf 
pomt  of  enleriQK  ihQ  pound  wbich  divides  ihe  small 
tiland  of  MouBi^  Uir  Queen's  iainnd)  Itom  Conirtga' 
burgb,  a  ^^ery  wild  part  of  t ho  main  island  &o  called. 
Went  aahofK,  and  sea  {he  vetv  ancient  coetiij  of 
Mouaaj  which  eianda  cloBe  on  uig  Aea-ahor^,  It  is 
a  Pictish  forErees,  th^  most  entire  pjohnbly  in  the 
world,  in  form  il  reaemblea  a  dicuebox^  for  the 
tntricatetl  cone  ir  cantiaucd  only^  to  a  certain  hoigh^t 
ajfter  which  it  begins  to  riae  fjerpendicularly,  or  ra- 
th &r  with  a  tendencv  to  yjtpaiid  outwnma.  Thf 
building  ia  round,  and ha^  W>m  ^urroured«'d  with  an 
qutcf'Wail,  of  whith  hardly  the  ^lighttjst  v«>stSg^ 
now  re<najn.  U  ia  compoactl  of  a  layt^r  of  ftioiK^g, 
without  cement  j  they  are  not  of  Inx/^e  siz*,  but  ra- 
ther snwill  and  tbinn  To  give  a  vulj^ar  compdn^oa, 
U  resembles  an  old  rujnoua  pig^^n'hous^-  Mr-  Sie^ 
vonaoQ  took,  the  dimensions  of  thia  curioaa  fort, 
which  are  as  folio wa  '—Out aide  dinmeter  at  the  baft<;! 
ia  fifty -two  feetj  at  the  top  thiriy-ei^hl  feet.  The 
di&meter  of  the  mcerior  at  the  baae  is  nineteen  feet 
ejjc  inches ;  at  the  top  twenty -one  feet ;  th«  cnrvo 
m  the  inflide  hein^  ihu  reverts  of  ihe  outside^  or  near- 
ly BO-  The  thickneas  of  the  walls  at  the  baac  acvt,>n- 
tjeen  feet ;  at  the  top  eight  feet  &ix  inches  The 
height  outside  forty- two  feet  ^  the  inaide  thirty-fi^ur 
feel.  The  door  or  entrance  fac^^a  thf  nei^  and  th^f 
interior  h  partly  filled  witli  rabbi»h.  When  you  en- 
ter you  aee^L  in  the  inner  wall^  a  auccnaaion  of  small 
openings  lika  windows^  directly  one  above  another^ 
with  broad  flat  atonea,  stiviaz  ktT  liutela ;  theae  are 
about  nine  mchca  thick-  The  wholf  rcecinble^  a 
iadfJer.  There  were  four  of  iht^so  prrpendjcular 
rows  of  windnwa  or  ape rt urea,  the  siiuauotk  of 
which  coireaponda  with  the  cardinal  pointa  of  the 
compaat*.  Ton  enter  the  galleriea  a>Qyun«d  in  the 
ihickneaa  of  the  wall  by  two  of  tli«ae  apertur<^ 
which  have  l>een  broken  dowQ*  Thaae  inierior 
apace  a  are  of  two  de^riptiona:  onv  eotiaists  of  a 
winding  aaeent,  not  quite  ari  inchned  plane,  y«t  noi 
by  any  meana  a  reRular  atatr  ^  but  the  t^gts  of  the 
atones,  heinu  auUcjred  to  project  irregukrtv,  ^rve 
for  rune  ateps— or  a  kind  of  aasiutance.  ThrmEh 
tbia  narrow  etaifcaae,  which  winda  ronnd  the  buiP 


ing,  yoii  creep  up  to  the  top  of  the  castle,  which  is 
partfy  i^inoiis.  But  Seeiaes  the  ainircaa^A,  iherc 
branch  ofT  at  irregular  intorvols  homontd  galleries, 
which  go  round  the  whok  build iny,  and  rectnve  air 
frotn  tlie  holes  t  foriTietly  nitntioncd.  These  nper* 
turi^  vary  in  aizei  dimlnlahing  as  they  run.  frotn 
aibout  thh-iy  inches  la  w'idth  by  ciRbteen  in  neigh t^ 
till  tliey  are  only  about  a  foot  armare-  The  lowar 
ttallt'fiea  are  full  man  height,  but  narrow.  They 
diminiab  both  in  height  and  w^idth  as  they  ascend, 
and  aj9  tjiii  tliickaeaa  of  the  wsll  in  which  they  are 
euclusod  Jiminiihe^.  The  uppermoflt  ualkry  ra  so 
narrow  find  low,  that  il  was  with  ur^at  di^culiy  I 
crept  throuf^h  it.  The  walJs  are  budt  very  irreEular- 
ly,  the  sweep  of  the  cone  being  ditf^reut  on  the  dif* 
|!&renE  sddea.      '  f 

"  It  is  tfatd  by  TorfffiiiH  thit  thia  fort  w*b^  rctwured 
and  atrenjthened  by  Rrlind,  who^  hnvinj?  forcibly 
cAfri^  off  the  mother  of  Harold^  Eorl  of  the  Ork^ 
rwjja,  reaolvLHj  to  defend  himaelf  to  eitre^iUy  in  thia 
place  against  the  iuFuUed  Earl.  How  a  castle  could 
be  dcTf^ndcd  whieh  had  no  opening  to  the  outside  far 
shooting  arrowy  and  which  waa  of  a  capacity  to  be 
ptjlled  lo  pieces  by  the  aaaailants,  who  could  ad- 
vance without  annoyance  to  the  bottom  of  th©  wall, 
(tinleaa  it  were  battlemen  Ltd  tipoit  the  lepj  does  not 
easily  aiipear.  But  to  Etiind'a  operaifona  the  castle 
of  tibusa  possibly  owes  the  upper  and  [lerperjdicnlar, 
of  raiher  iverbsngingj  pari  of  iis  devatTon*  and 
aliA  it5  rude  ataircAae.  In  iheec  twii  psrticufars  it 
seema  to  difler  from  all  other  Pic  la'  ca^tlea,  which 
arc  ascended  by  an  incJmed  plane,  and  generally,  I 
oebevc  lerminnte  in  a  mmcaied  cone,  without  that 
stran^fc  counterpart  of  the  perpendicular  or  project- 
ing pan  of  the  upper  walL  Onpoaite  to  tho  castle 
of  Mouaa  are  the  ruins  of  another  Pictish  fort :  in- 
dt«d,  they  aUcommunicnte  with  each  other  ihrough 
the  islea.  The  island  nf  Mousn  is  the  prcmerty  of 
&  Mr*  Pipor,  who  has  improrcKt  i\  conaiderootyi  a  ad 


value?  h]^  caBtle.    i  dd^iwd  hlB  ta  <d«tr  oat 


terion  iii  he  tells  ua  there  areioroe  or  four  Kf/BU^^ 

beneath  thoae  now  acc^aeible^  and  th«  oimireiiee  ct 
height  between  the  txi/etiot  «nd  iateiior  warraBM 
hi  a  aaaertion. 

"  We  get  onboard,  an4 in tira&lbr  the  windlre«ii» 
ens,  and  becomes  contrary.  We  beat  down  to 
Sundmr^h-head,  tkrougb  ro^iflh  weather.  Inis  is 
the  extreme  flouth-oasiempointof  Zetland;  and  as 
the  Atlantie  and  German  oceans  unite  at  this  poant, 
a  frightfiil  tide  runs  here,  called  Sumborgh-rost. 
The  bteeMi,  oon Handing  with  the  tide,  flioga  tbo 
breakers  m  ujtni  style  i4>on  the  high  broken  cuffe  of 
S u m bu  rgh- lie £ul *  T h f  y  are  all  one  white  foam,  a«- 
eondin^  lo  a  great  hcjght.  We  wished  to  double 
tine  noini,  and  lie  by  in  a  bay  between  that  and  the 
northern  or  norih-we^tiim  cape,  called  FilAiI-head| 
and  which  seems  hi^hi:rthan  Sumhurgh  itaelf — sad 
tacked  repeaiedly  wuh  this  Tiew;  but  a  confounded 
iskt,  called  7'hc  JiQr>£,  always  baffled  us,  and,  aUsr 
three  bcjitsii  fairly  di^umcedus.  So  ve  ran  into  a 
roadatf^ad,  called  Qutrnial  bay,  on  the  south-eastern 
aide,  and  there  anchor  for  the  nighL  Weao  asiiofe 
with  varioua  purp*>JHi.»— Stevenson  to  see  toe  site  of 
a  proposed  hgl^t-houB^  on  this  tremendous  cape — 
Marjoribank^  to  binwi  rabbits— and  Duff  and  I  to 
loicik  aboiu  iis^  1  ascended  the, head  by  myself 
which  ia  1  oft y,  a nd  cu in  mands  a  wild  sea-Tiew.  Zet- 
land stretcbea  away*  with  all  its  projecting  capes 
and  inlets^  to  the  north-eastward,  llany  of  those 
inlets  approach  each  other  tery  nearly;  indeed,  the 
two  opposite  baya  at  Sumburgh-head  seem  on  the 
point  of  joining,  and  rendering  that  cape  an  island. 
The  two  ereoks  from  thosB  east  and  western  seas 
are  only  divided  by  a  low  isthmus  of  blowiiw  sand, 
and  similar  to  that  which  wastes  part  of  trie  east 
coast  of  Scotland  It  has  here  blown  like  the  de- 
serts of  Arabia,  and  di^troyed  some  houses,  former- 
ly the  occaeional  residences  of  the  Earls  of  Orkney. 
The  steep  and  rocky  itide  of  the  cape,  which  faCee 
the  wei^L  does  not  ae^ni  much  more  durable.  These 
lofty  elijfa  are  all  of  a  and- flag,  a  very  loose  and  pe- 
riabable  kmd  of  ruck^  w  hich  sndes  down  in  imraenas 
n>afi$it'i[,  like  ayalanehtss,  after  every  storm.  The 
rest  liea  eo  loose,  that,  on  the  very  brow  of  the  lof- 
tiest crag^  I  had  no  didi^nUty  in  sendinfidown  a  frag* 
tuent  aa  lor^e  n^  mv^^Hf :  he  thonderoa  down  in.tve> 
ntendoua  a  t  v  1  <  tting  upon  a  prqiecting  cliff 

deacendei  in:  A  like  a  shower  of  shrapnel 

fihotp    The  si  ^  <  rages  incessantly  amouR  a 

thousand  of  the  tru^iiwnu  which  have  fallen  from 
the  peaks>  and  wlneh  assume  an  hundred  strange 
ahsp«a.  h  would  have  been  a  fine  situation  to 
compose  an  ode  to  the  Genius  of  Sumborgh-bead, 
or  an  Elegy  upon  a  Cormorant— or  to  have  written 
and  spoken  ma^jness  of  any  kind  in  pGose  or  poetry. 
Dcit  I  gave  vent  to  my  excited  laeungs  in  a  more 
aim  pi  t^  way  ;  and  aittuig  gendy  down  on  the  steep 
^reen  elope  which  led  to  the  beach,  I  e'en  slid  down 
a  few  hundred  feet,  and  found  the  exercise  quite  an 
ade^iuafe  vent  to  my  en  ifansiasm.  1  recommend  this 
exercf»e  { time  and  pla^  suiting)  to  all  my  brother 
acr^hblers,  and  I  have  no  doubt  it  will  save  much 
etfuaion  of  Christian  ink.  Those  slopes  are  coverr 
ed  w  ith  beautiful  ahen  herbage.  At  the  foot  of  the 
aeoent,  and  towards  tin)  isthmus,  is  the  4d house  of 
Sumbin-gii,  in  appearance  a  most  dreary  mansion. 
I  found,  on  my  anival  at  the  beach,  that  the  hospi- 
tality of  the  inhabitants  had  entrapped  my  oomPA- 
nions.  I  walked  hack  to  meet  themi  but  escaped 
the  gin  and  wster.  On  board  about  tune  o'clock  at 
night.  A  little  schtfioner  lies  between  us  and  the 
shore^  w^hich  wo  had  ^ma  all  day  bujfeting  the  tide 
and  breeze  like  ourselvjus.  The  wind  increases,  and 
the  ahip  is  made  a^uu— a  sure  sign  the  passengers 
will  not  he  so* 

"to/A  Au^tslf  13J4.— The  omen  was  but  too  true 
—a  terrjbl(}  combustioQ  on  board,  among  plates, 
cljishos,  fdastoB,  writing-desks^  dbc.  olc  ;  not  a  wink 
of  alo^ .  Ws  wdgh  a  nd  stand  out  into  |pat  deliitht- 
ftil  current  called  Sumburgh-rwti  or  ruMt.  This 
tide  certamlv  owes  na  a  grudge^  mr  it  drove  tis  to 
I  he  esj^tward  about  thirty  miles  on  the  night  of  the 
flrmt,  and  occasioff^^mr  mi»«nK  the  Fair  Isle,  and 


US%  OP  SIR  WAfiTEft  J3CQTT. 


«»! 


BOH  ft  ha«  c«arfit.iii  on  our  retarn.  All  the  lands- 
men Bcker  tntn  sck.  and  our  Vicerojr,  Stevenson, 
qnalmiah.  This  is  the  only  time  that  I  have  felt 
more  than  temporary  inconvenience,  but  this  morn- 
ing I  have  headach  and  nausea ;  these  are  tiifles, 
and  in  a  well-found  vessel,  with  a  good  pilot,  we 
baTe^  none  of  that  mixture  of  danger  which  gives 
dig^ty  to  the  traveller.  But  he  must  have  a  stout- 
er heart  than  mine,  who  can  contemplate  without 
horror  the  situation  of  a  vessel  of  an  inferior  des- 
cription caught  amons  these  headlands  and  reefs  of 
locks,  in  the  long  and  dark  winter  nights  of  these 
regiona.  Accordimifly,  wrecks  are  freouent.  It  is 
pfopoaed  to  have  a  lunit  on  Sumburgh-nead,  which 
ts  ihe  first  land  made  by  vessels  coming  Arom  the 
caatward ;  Fitful-head  is  higher,  but  is  to  the  west, 
from  which  quarter  iisw  vessels  come. 

"We  are  now  clear  of  Zetland,  and  about  ten 
4f  clock  reach  the  Fair  Isle;*  one  of  their  boats  comes 
o^  a  atrang^looking  thing  without  an  entire  plank 
in  it,  excepting  one  on  each  side,  upon  the  strength 
of  which  the  whole  depends,  the  rest  being  patched 
and  joined.  This  trumpery  skiflf  the  men  manage 
with  the  most  aatonishmg  dexterity,  and  row  with 
Bemarkable  speed  s  they  have  two  banks,  that  is, 
two  rowera  on  each  bench^  and  use  very  short  pad- 
dlea.  The  wildness  of  their  appearance,  with  long 
elf-locks,  striped  worsted  6aps,  and  shoes  of  raw 
hide — the  fragility  of  then"  boat— and  their  extreme 
cariosity  about  us  and  our  cutter,  give  them  a  title 
to  be  distinguished  as  na^e#.  One  of  our  people 
t4^  their  steersman,  by  way  of  jeer,  that  he  must 
have  KTeat  confidence'm  Providence  to  go  to  sea  in 
wach.  a  vehicle ;  the  man  very  senaibly  replied,  that 
without  the  same  confidence  he  would  not  go  to  sea 
in  the  best  tool  in  England.  We  take  to  our  boat, 
and  row  for  about  three  miles  round  the  coast,  in 
order  to  land  at  the  inhabited  part  of  the  island. 
Thia  coaat  abounds  with  g^and  views  of  rock  and 
baya.  One  immense  portion  of  rock  is  (like  the 
Holm  of  Noss)  s^arated  by  a  chasm  from  the  main- 
land. Aait  18  covered  with  herbage  on  the  top, 
though  a  literal  precipice  all  round,  the  natives  con- 
trive to  ascend  the  rock  by  a  place  which  would 
make  a  goat  dizzy,  and  then,  drag  the  sheep  up  by 
Topea,  though  they  sometimea  carry  a  sheep  up  on 
their  shoulders.  The  captain  of  a  sloop  of  war, 
being  aahure  while  they  were  at  this  work,  tumea 
giddy  and  sick  while  looking  at  them.  This  im- 
menae  precipice  ia  several  hundred  feet  high,  and  is 
perforated  below  by  some  extraordinary  apertures, 
through  which  a  boat  might  pass ;  the  light  shines 
distinctly  through  these  hideous  chasms.  After 
pasaioff  a  square  bay  called  the  North-haven,  ten- 
anted Dy  sea-fowl  and  seals,  (the  first  we  have  yet 
seen,)  we  come  in  view  of  the  small  harbour.  Land, 
and  breakfast,  for  which,  till  mow,  none  of  us  felt 
inclination.  In  front  of  the  little  harbour  is  the 
house  of  the  tacksman,  Mr.  Strong,  and  in  view  are 
three  small  assemblages  of  miserable  huts,  where 
the  inhabitants  of  the  isle  Uve.  There  are  about 
thirty  families  and  250  inhabitants  upon  the  I^air 
JmU.  It  merits  i)s  name,  as  the  plaip  upon  which 
the  hamlets  are  situated  bears  excellent  barley,  oats, 
and  potatoes,  and  the  rest  of  the  isle  is  beantiml  pas- 
ture, excepting  to  the  eastward,  where  there  is  a  moss, 
eguati/  essential  to  the  comfort  of  the  inhabiunta, 
amce  it  supplies  them  with  peats  for  fuel.  The  Fair 
Isle  is  about  three  miles  long  and  a  mile  and  a  half 
broad.  Mr.  Strong  received  us  very  courteously. 
He  Uvea  here,  like  Robinson  Crusoe,  m  absolute  so- 
litude aa  to  society,  unless  by  a  chance  visit  from 
the  officers  of  a  man-of-war.  There  is  a  signal- 
post  maintained  on  the  island  by  Government,  un- 
der thia  gentleman's  inspection ;  when  any  ship  ap- 
pears that  cannot  answer  his  signals,  he  isends  off 
to  Lerwick  and  Kirkwall  to  give  the  alarm.  Ro- 
gcrst  was  off  here  last  year,  and  nearly  cut  off  one 
(tf  Mr.  Strong's  express  boats,  but  the  active  island- 
ers outstripped  his  people  by  speed  of  rowing.  The 
mhabitants  pay  Mr.   Strong  for  the  possessions 

fatlfwajbfCwMoOik- 


t  ^  AoMiieso  CommodoiB. 

27        8* 


which  they  QOcnQy  tmder  him  at  lubt^a^ 
cultivate  the  Isle  m  their  own  way,  t.'e.  by  f.^, 
instead  of  ploughing,  (though  the  ground  is  <,— 
open  and  free  from  rocka,  and  they  have  Several ' 
acores  of  ponies,)  and  by  raising  alternate  crops  ic^' 
barley,  oats,  and  potatoes ;  the  first  and  last  are ' 
admirably  good.  They  rather  overmanure  their 
crops  {  the  possessions  lie  nmrig,  that  is,  by  alter- 
nate ndges,  and  the  outfield  or  pasture  ground,  ia 
possessed  as  common  to  all  their  cows  and  ponies. 
The  islanders  fish  for  Mr.  Strong  at  certain  fixed 
rates,  and  the  fish  is  his  property,  which  he  senda 
to  Kirkwall,  Lerwick,  or  else  wner&  in  a  little  schoon- 
er, the  same  which  we  left  in  Quendal  bay,  and 
about  the  arrival  of  which  we  found  them  anxious. 
An  equal  space  of  rich  land  on  the  Fair  Isle,  situat- 
ed in  an  inland  county  of  Scotland^ould  rent  for 
£3000  a-year  at  the  very  least.  To  be  sure  it 
would  not  be  burdened  with  the  population  of  260 
souls^  whose  bodies  (fertile  as  it  is)  it  cannot  main- 
tain in  bread,  they  being  supplied  chieflv  fit>m  the 
mainland.  Fish  they  nave  plenty,  and  are  even 
nice  in  their  choice.  Skate  they  will  not  touch  x 
dog-fish  they  say  is  only  food  for  Orkney-men,  and 
when  thev  catch  them,  they  make  a  point  of  tor- 
menting the  poor  fish  for  eating  off  their  baits  from ' 
the  hook,  stealing  the  haddocks  from  their  Knea, 
and  other  enormities.  These  people,  being  about 
half-way  between  Shetland  and  Orkney,  have  un- 
frequent  connexion  with  either  archipelago,  and' 
live  and  marry  entirely  among  themselvea  One 
lad  told  me,  only  five  persons  had  left  the  island' 
since  his  rememorance.  and  of  those,  three  were 

I  tressed  for  the  navy.  They  seldom  go  to  Oreen- 
and ;  but  this  year  five  or  mx  of  their  young  men 
were  on  board  the  whalers.  They  seemed  extr^pie- 
ly  solicitous  about  their  return,  and  repeatralv 
questioned  us  i^ut  the^names  of  the  whalers  which 
were  at  Lerwick,  a  point  on  which  we  could  give' 
little  information. 

"The  manners  of  these  islanders  seem  primitrra 
and  simple,  and  they  are  sober  jstood-humoured,  and 
friendly— but  Hmv  honest.  Their  comforts  are, 
of  course,  nnicn  dependent  on  their  nuuter^t  plea- 
sure ;  for  so  they  call  Mr.  Strong.  But  they  gave 
him  the  highest  character  for  kindness  and  hber- 
ality,  and  prayed  to  God  he  might  long  be  their  ruler. 
After  mounting  the  signal-post  hill,  or  Malcolm'a 
Head,  which  is  faced  by  a  most  tremendous  cliC 
we  separated  on  our  different  routes.  The  Sheriff 
went  to  rectify  the  only  enormity  on  the  island, 
which  existed  in  the  person  of  a  drunken  school- 
master; Marchie*  went  lo  shoot  sea-fowl,  or  radiet 
to  frighten  them,  as  his  calumniators  allege.  Sti»* 
venson  and  Dun  went  to  inspect  the  remains  or 
vestiges  of  a  Danish  lighthouse  upon  a  distant  hill, 
called,  as  usual,  the  Ward,  or  Ward-hill,  and  re- 
turned vdth  specimens  of  copper  ore.  Hamilton 
went  down  to  cater  fish  for  our  dinner,  and  see  it 
properly  cooked— and  I  to  see  two  remarkable  in- 
dentures in  the  coast  called  Rivas^  perhaps  from 
their  being  rifted  or  riven.  They  are  exactly  like 
the  BulJer  of  Buchan,  the  sea  rolling  into  a  large 
open  basin  within  the;  land  through  a  natural  arch- 
way. These  places  are  close  to  each  other— one  is 
oblong,  and  it  is  easy  to  descend  into  it  by  a  rude 
path ;  the  other  gulf  is  inaccessible  from  the  land, 
unless  to  a  crags-man^  as  these  venturous  climbers 
call  themselves.  I  sat  for  about  an  hour  upon  the 
verge,  like  the  cormorants  around  me,  hanging  my 
legs  over  the  precipice ;  but  I  could  not  get  free  of  two 
or  three  >%'ell-meaning  islanders,  who  held  me  fast 
by  the  skirts  all  the  time— for  it  must  be  conceived, 
that  our  numbers  and  appointments  had  drawn  out 
the  whole  population  to  admire  and  attend  us. 
-After  we  separated,  each,  like, the  nucleus  of  a 
comet,  had  his  own  distinct  train  of  attendants.— 
Visit  the  capital  town^  a  wretched  assemblage  of  the 
basest  huts,  dirty  vrithout,  md  still  dirtier  within  s 
pigs,  fowls^  cows,  men.  women,  and  children,  all 
living  promiscuously  under  the  same  roof;  and  in  the 
same  room— the  brood-sow  making  (among  the 
more  ofjMlent)  A  distinguished  mha^umt^oL^ 


tio 


law  t*  8JA  WAL-PEfc  Bt&^. 


mhR^n    The  camport^  a  Itquid  masa  of  utter 
AboOtmauon,  lb  kepi  in  a  saiiBTe  pond  of  ^ven  feet 
deep  i  when  1  censured  ii^  mey  nib  wed  it  mijjhi  bn 
dangerous  U)  tbei^atrjw,-  but  ftjjpeiLred  unponscioua 
of  any  other  objection.    I  cuntiot  wonder  mey  want 
mcalj  for  aa&urt^Jl>'  tliey  waste  JU    A  great  5oiti^  or 
wooueri  ve^aet  of  porria^c  ig  made  in  the  morniTiK  : 
A  child  ct>niea  and  supa  n  few  spoonfuls ;  then  Mrs. 
Sow  tnk^^s  her  share :  then  the  reat  of  ihfi  children 
or  th^  parents,  and.  ml  ai  pleasures  then  come  the 
prmltt-y    whi^n  thr?  mess  iis  more  eool;  .ih4j  rtst  ia 
rtunu  upon  the  dun;:  hill— aod  th^3  goodwill'  wondere 
and  conipUins  when  she  wsnta  rncal  in  winter. 
They  are  a  lona- hvcd  rncc,  notwiihstandine  utlsr 
and  inconcftivjiblo  dirt  and  alutijary.    A  man  of  sixty 
totd  me  hia  fftthtr  died  only  Inst  year,  agtd  ninety- 
eight  !  nor  wna  ihia  ooasidt^rtd  ua  ver^^  unuaual 
^^  The  etttrgyinan  of  Dunro8snefls>  in  Zejiand,  vi- 
flita  th&atpoor  people  once  a-year^  for  a  week  Of  two. 
durinfj  summer.    In  winter  this  is  imposdbleT  and 
eyen  the  summer  visit  i^  oecisjionally  iniorrupicd 
ibr  t  wo  yeara,    M  nrria  ;?c3  a  nd  bap  lie  nis  are  perfo  rtn  - 
«d|  a?  one  of  the^I*lea-men  toUl  me^&y/Afi  slump, 
and  one  of  the  children  waa  old  enouKh  to  tell  thy 
elergyman  who  sprioklwd  hi (n  with  wilier,  *  Ded  be 
in  yoiir  finders.'    La  at  time,  four  couple  w^erc  mar- 
ried J  sixteen  children  baptized.    The  schtiolmaster 
reads  a  portion  of  Scripture  in  iho  church  each  Sttn- 
dayj  wjien  the  clerj^man  is  absent  j  but  the  prtsent 
maii  lA  unfit  for  ihisi  part  of  his  duty.    Thfj  women 
knit   worsted    Btockmgs,   ni^hl-cnpSt   ^nd    aimilar 
trifles>   which   they  exchange  with  any  merchant 
vessels  tliat  approach  their  lonely  Isle.    In  these 
respecia  they  greatly  regret  iho  American  war  i  and 
men  lion  with  unction  the  haupy  daya  when  ihey 
couTd  gel  freni  an  American  tradtr  a  bottle  of  pent h- 
brandy  or  rum  in  eiichange  for  a  pair  of  worsted- 
ilockingis,  or  a  dozen  of  eggs.    The  humanity  of 
their  maxtfr  interferes  much  with  the  Javourito  biit 
dangetoas  oecdpation  of  ttift  islanders^  which  is 
/ttwiing^  that  i^  ttiking  the  youn«  flijo-fowi  from 
their  ne«tfl  iimouK  tj^se  tremendous  cragi^.    About 
a  fortnight  before  we  arrivt;d,  a  fine  boy  of  fourtwjn 
Lad  dropped  from  the  chflC  whdc  in  prosecution  of 
this  amusfnienl,  into  a  roarinje  surf,  by  which  he 
watt  instantly  a  wallowed  up>    Thu  unfortiiriatc  mo- 
ther was  Ittbourinflf  at  the  peat -moss  at  a  httle  dis* 
Unce.     These   accidents  do  not,  how^even    striXe 
terror  into  *iie  survivors.    They  r*;gard  the  death  of 
an  Indian  dual  engaged  in  theae  deJiperaie  ejfploitp^ 
as  we  do  the  fate  of  n  brave  rulaiion  who  fulls  in 
bailie^  when  the  honour  of  his  deaih  fumltebes  a 
bilpi  10  our  sorrow.    1 1,  thnr^forc,  rcf]»iire»  all  the 
tafkamfln'e  authority  in  prevent  a  praeikc  so  preg- 
nant >vith  danj;<t>r.    Like  all  other  precarious  and 
danffeJouflemployrueniH,  thi*  occupation  of  tlie  crags- 
men  rendf-rs  du'm  unwillini;  to  labour  at  employ- 
men  ts  of  a  marc  stEad  y  dt  fwiriptio  n .    tlie  F  o  ir  I  el  e 
i^abttanta  ar«  a  good-looking  race^  more  IJkeZet- 
.   landerj^  than  Orkney n-ien,     Kvtn'ion,   and   oiher 
names  of  a  Norwej^ian  or  Danish  derivation,  attest 
their  Sc^andin avian  deEic^nt    Remrn  and  OMie  at 
Mr.  Strong'iif  bavins;  seat  our  cookery  ashore,  not 
10  overburthen  his  lioapitahtyK    In  l\v^  plac*^,  and 
perhaps  in  the  very  collage  naw  inhabited  by  Mr. 
Strong  the  Duke  of  Medina  Sidouia,  tvoinmander- 
in- Chief  of  the  Invineibhi  Armida^  wif|ter*:d,  after 
losing  hL*>  vessfl  to  the  eaalward  of  the  islFind.    It 
was  not  lill  he  had  apent  somt  weeks  in  thi9  miser- 
able nbodf*  that  ha  frot  off  lo  Norway*    Indepen- 
dently of  the  moral  oon  side  rat  ion,  that*  from  ihe 
pkitch  of  DOwer  in  which  he  aiood  a  fewdays  before^ 
the  proudest  peer  of  theproudfrSt  nation  in  Europe 
Ibund  hi nl9fd I  dependent  on  thtijeoJoua  and  scanty 
charity  of  ibi-se  aefluded  iatandera,  it  is  acarcc  pe&- 
gjhk  not  to  rrflcot  with  cnmpasj^ion  on  the  chanpe 
of  hituatinn  from  the  palacea  of  Estremadura  to  the 
liitiiteiof  the  F^air  liU^ 

^tloet  thou  IliJnk  f>n  tivy  rloR^rtfl^  imi  *]f  Modelrahl 
Ilodt  iiiuu  lon^t  fur  LLe  gala  «f  ArahU  V 

•  "Mr  StToiie  gave  me  a  cnrious  old  ehatr  belonc- 
tng  toQuendaie,  a  former  proprietor  of  the  Fair  Ilk, 
ai^d  which  a  moro  eealoua  antiquary  wotdd  have 


dubbed  '  iho  nuke's  chflurJ  f  v^ilT  Tia^e  iinAtM 
for  Abbotaford,  however,  Ab^ut  eight  o'cioqk  wy 
take  boat,  amid  the  cheere  of  thf?  i  n 1 1 a n i taptg,  wfaour 
minds,  subdued  by  our  aptetadoiO'i  had  been  9wared 
by  our  rnumficonce,  w^hich  conaiste-d  in  a  modflrita 
benefnedon  of  whisky  and  tobacco^  and  a  fewahU' 
hn^a  laid  out  on  their  staple  conitnoditieB.  Thjy 
agreed  no  such  day  had  been  se«n  in  the  isie.  The 
aignat-po<tE  displayed  its  Ha^i^  and  to  recompense 
these  qifltingui9h<>d  niark^  or  honour,  we  hnag  qot 
our  colours,  stood  into  Ibe  bay,  anJ  aaUited  with 
three  gan^?, 

'  Echoing  fraia  a  thouasod  cavaVf* 

and  then  bear  away  for  Orkney,  leaving^  if  otirra- 
nity  does  not  deceivi-  us,  a  very  favourable  imprw- 
Pion  on  tho  mind  of  theinhabitaniaof  the  Pair  lak. 
'Hit*  tradition  of  the  Fair  I  ale  is  unfavourable  to 
thojw  shipwceked  sirangera;,  who  ari?  saTfi  lo  haw 
committed  ftffvt?r*f  acts  of  violtsnce  io  eilort  the 
fluppliea  of  provision,  ^ven  thera  sparingly  and 
with  reluctance  ^y  the  iftlnnders,  who  w^re  proba- 
bly themselves  vfry  far  from  l*piniar  ^fl\  supplied. 

I  omitted  to  say  we  w^ere  attended  in  tJic  inprti- 
ing  by  two  very  aportive  whales,  but  of  a  kind,  as 
some  of  our  crew  who  htid  been  on  bo.'ird  Green- 
land-men aaaunsd  us^  which  ft  waa  very  dangerouB 
to  a  tt  a  ck .  Th  ero  were  two  Gra veaen  d  p  mack*  nah- 
itifi  ofifthe  isle.  Lord,  what  a  long  draught  London 
makes ! 

"  lliA  August^  1414*— After  a  sound  sleep  to  mtKe 
amends  for  fast  night,  we  fin d^  at  awaking,  ^•^J" 
ml  off  the  Start  of  San  da,  the  fi  rat  land  m  the  Ofi- 
neyg  which  we  could  make.  There  a  Irghthoatchii 
bt'eti  erected  lately  upon  the  beni  conBiruc^n. 
Landed  nnd  surveyed  it.  All  in  exc^lknt  order, 
and  the  establishment  of  the  kc<?pers  in  the  MWe 
style  of  comfort  and  reap  potability  as  eisAwhereLfltf 
better  than  the  house  of  the  masier  of  the  PjjrWe, 
and  rivalhng  my  owti  baronial  manaion  of  ^?5^ 
ford.  Go  to  the  top  of  ihe  towier  and  ffiirvejtlwiw- 
and*  which,  as  the  name  implies,  is  levejt  afUf^ 
sftndy,  quite  the  reverse  uf  those  in  Zetland :  H  Ji 
mierscuted  by  crwks  and  small  lak^.  and  tJUy8° 
it  aboundj^  w  jth  s^hell  marle^  see  ma  barren  >  il2:*U 
is  one  dreadful  inconvrnicnc4^  of  an  '*^*'^'M"*vS 
which  we  had  here  an  instance.  The  keepers  wot 
hfid  an  infant  in  her  arma— har  first-born.  <93«JJ 
which  the  poor  woman  h^d  been  debvered  withoot 
assistance^  Erakine  told  us  of  a  horrid  jn^taooeof 
tnaUce  which  had  been  practised  in  this  iw»f*d  oi 
Sanda.  A  decent  tenant,  during  the  course  of  three 
or  four  successive  years,  lost  to  the  ntjmber  ^^^' 
ty-five  cattle,  stabbed  as  they  lay  in  their  (bid  of 
s<om a  abominable  wretch,  ^vhat  made  ^'^^'^^fJJ 
siran^^fr  was.  that  the  poor  man  could  not  ^^^*^ 
any  reason  why  beahoiTld  have  had  the  ill- will  Of  • 
amRlo  bring,  on^y  that  in  taking  up  nam^  M 
the  milUia,  a  duty  imposed  upon  nim  bvihe  Jnsti- 
cea,  he  thought  he  might  possibly  have  gtvcn 
Jom*s  unknown  offence.  The  villain  was  never 
dtscovetBd*  u-fii*» 

**  The  wreck*  on  thi#  eoafll  w^ere  numetouaberore 
the  erpclion  of  the  lighthouse.  It  was  not  tlBCom- 
mon  to  see  flve  or  six  vessefa  on  shore  at  ouDe..Tne 
goods  and  chattels  of  thr  inhobiianta  are.  all  saw  to 
aavour  of  ^7o/sqwj«  and  Jcfgonif^  as  the  floatinft 
wreck  and  that  which  is  Jnven  ashore  are  ^y^UJ 
caHed-  Mr  Sievrni"on  hnppened  to  observe  'h^V"? 
boat  of  a  Sanda  farmer  had  bod  sails^*  If  ?}  "■" 
been  H is  (i.  t.  God* a)  «HI1  that  ye  badna  ^^J^** 
many  lighthouses  hereabout'— ans  we  n^i  ^S?  j2J 
dinn^  with  f^c^t  coTitposure— *  I  w<juld  havenftd  new 
sada  last  wmitTJ  Thus  do  they  talk  and  thmkypon 
the?;e  subjects ;  and  so  talking  and  thinking,  1  rear 
the  pofjr  manner  has  little  chance  of  any  vciy  ■"*' 
ious  attempt  to  Tisaisf  him.  There  is  ofj^  ^''^^l?*  * 
Danish  veasel,  now  a£rround  under  our  lee.  Tiw 
Dojae*  t fa  the  stupidest  Sfamen,  by  all  accountSi  that 
sail  the  aaa.  When  this  light  upon  tbe  ^^•^i: 
Sanda  was  eatftblinbed,  the  Commisaion«ri,  Witn 
anxiety  lo  ejiiend  ita  utiliiy,  had  ita  daBcripti^njJJ' 
bearingstranslatedintoD  a|[tih  aI  i  ISfl  *.  *^  " 
haj^en.    BuUbeyLOfiiEfGl 


UPE  OF  SIR  WALTBK  SCOTT. 


Morwegiciit  aremiMh  )Mtterlik«d,  •««  defw^hardy* 
WDoUle  people..  I  foteot  to  n^iuee  mete  w«*  n  Nor- 
wegian pme  lyinc(  m  the  3^<«nd  oi  Lerwick,  eeni  in 
r  one  of  our  crtusera    Tbia  waa  n  quaer-loolunft 


alward,  and  got  one  of  iheiz  loavea,  aad  gave  a  dread- 
fiu  aecoant  of  its  oompoaition.  1  got  and.  cut  a  cniai 
ofit;  it  waa  rye-bread,  with  a  alight  mixture  of  pine- 
fir  bark  or  aawiags  of  deaL  It  was  not  good,  out  (aa 
Charles  XII.  aaid)  mi^t  be  eaten.  But  after  all,  \i 
the  people  can  be  satisfied  with  such  bread  as  this, 
it  aeeraa  hard  to  interdict  it  to  them.  What  would  a 
Londoner  say  i^  inatead  of  his  roll  .and  nuiffina,  this 
black  bread]  relishing  of  tar  and  turpentine*  wene  pre* 
aented  for  his  breakjfast  1  I  would  to  God  tnet» 
coidd  be  a  Jehovah-jireh,  *  a  ram  caught  in  the  thick- 
et,' to  prevent  the  sacrifice  of  that  people. 

"Tl^e  jew  ixieauda.whQ  njay.aee  this  Journal  are 
much  indebled  for  these  pathetic  remarks  to  the  situ- 
ation undcfr  which  they  are  recorded ;  for  since  we 
left  the  jykhthouae  we  have  been  atruggling  with  ad- 


veiae  wmd,  (prettv  high  too,)  and  a  very  alrong  tide, 
lied  the  Rest  of  the  Start,  which,  like  Sumpu^eb 


^e( 


Boat,  bodes  no  good  la  our  roast  and  boiled.  The 
wo|at  ia  that  this  struggle  carries  us  past  a  most 
eunous  spectacle,  being  no  leas  than  the  ^^casaea 
of  two  hundred  an^  sixty-five  whalea,  which  have 
beep  drivenaahore  in  Tafisnesa  bay,  now  lying  close 
under  us.  With  all  the  inclination  in  ihe  w6rld.  it 
IB  impoaaibie  to  stand  in  close  enoui^  to  verify  this 
nasaacre  of  Leviathans  with  our  own  eyes,  as  we 


aJoopR  the  jsles.  Mr..  Stevenson  saw  upwards  of 
a  htmdred  and  fifty  whales  lying  upon  the  shore  in 
t  bay  at  Unat,  in  his  northward  trip.  They  are  not 
wge,  but  are  decided  whales,  measuring  perhaps 
froin  mteen  to  twenty-five  feet  They  are  eaaQy 
mastered,  tot  the  first  that  is  wpunded  among  ^e 
sounds  and  stcaita  so  comn^on  ih  the  isles,  usually 
roDB  ashore.  The  rest  follow  the  blood,  apd,  urged 
an  by  the  boats  behind,  run  ^shore  alao.  A  cut  with 
one  of  the  long  whaling  knives  under  the  back-fin, 
IS  usually  fatal  to  these  huge  animals.  The  two 
tnmdred  and  sixty-five  whalea^  .now  lying  within 
two  or  thrpe  milw  of  us,  weos  dnven  ashore  oy  aeven 
boats  oqly.    • 

**  JF%9e  c^clock.—'We  are  out  of  the  Roat,  (I  deteat 
that  word,)  and  driving:  fast  through  a  long  sound 
among  low  green  i|lana^  which  hJsrdly  lift  .tbem- 
Rjves  above  the  sea— not  a  ch'flfor  hill  to  be.  seen— 
what  a  coniraat  to  the  land  we  have  left  I  We  are 
itandmg  for  some  creek  or  harbour,  called  Ling- 
hobn-bay,  to  lie  to  or  anchor  for  the  night ;  for  to 
pursue  our  course  by  qight,  and  that  a  thick  one, 
among  these  islesL  and  isTets,  and  aandbanka.  ia  out 
of  the  question— clear  moonlight  might  do.  Our  sea 
vjuiw  moderate.  But  ohtfods  and  men,  what 
mnfortwiea  have  travellers  co  record  I  Just  as  the 

Siet  of  the  elements  had  reconciled  ua  to  the 
ought  of  dinner,  we  learn  that  an  unlucky  aea  baa 
found  ita  way  into  the  galley  during  the  last  ^emal 


mnepence  this  blessed  mommg,  and  would  have 
been  worth  a  couple  of  guineas  m  London,  are  sous- 
ed m  their  prhnitive  element— the  curry  is  undone— 
and  all  gone  to  the  devil.  We  all  apply  ourselves 
tocoqUbrt  o^r  Lord  Hish  idmiral  Hamilton,  whose 
oespaw  for  himself  ana  the  nnblic  miBht  edify  a  pa- 
tnot  Hia  good  humour— which  has  hitherto  defied 
every  incident,  aggravated  even  by  the  gout— sup- 
ported by  a  few  bad  puns,  and  a  great  many  fair  pro- 
mises on  the  part  of  the  steward. and  cook,  fortu- 
BatebrxeatQcee  hia  aouifibrnim. 

JBightt^tlock.—OuT  aupplemental  dinner  proved 
eatceuant,  and  we  have  cdided  into  an  admu-able 
road-siead  or  harbour^  oaJIad  Lingholm-bay,  form* 
ed  b V  the  small  island  of  Lingholm  embracing  a 
•man  basiQ  divuhng  that  ialet  from  the  larger  isle  of 


Sir 

Slfpnsay.  iBoth,  t^s  well  aa  Sanda,  Eda,  iind  othest  • 
which  we  have  pass^  are  low.  green,  and  sandy. 
I  have  seen  nothing  to-day  worth  maikiniL  except 
th^  sportiof  of  a  very  large  whale  at  some  distance^ 
and  H.'s  iaceat  Uie  newa  of  the  disaster  in  w 
cook-mom.  We  are  to  weieh  at  two  in  the  morning, 
and  hope  to  reai^h  Kirkwall,  the  capital  of  Orkney,- 
by  breakfast  to-monow.  I  trui^t  there  are  no  rusU 
or  rogtt  in  the  road.  I  shall  deteat  that  word  eve* 
when  used  to  aignify  verd-antique  or  patina  in  the 
one  sense,  or  roast  venison  in  the  other.  Orkney 
shall  begin^a  new  volume  of  these  exquisite  memo- 
randa. 

'*  OjmssxoK.^At  Lerwick  the  Dutch  fishers  had 
|kgain  appeared'  on  their  old  haunta.  A  verv  interest- 
ing meeting  took  place  between  them  ana  the  Ler« 
wegians,  most  of  them  being  old  acqQaintanccs. 
They  seemed  very  poor,  and  talked  of  having  been 
pillaged  of  every  thing  by  (he  French,  and  expected 
to  have  fbund  Lerwick  ruined  |by  the  w^r.  They 
have  all  the  carefulf  quiet,  and  economical  habits  of 
their  country,  ^d  go  on  board  their  busses  with  the 
utmost  haste  sb  soon  as  thev  see  the  Greenland 
sailors,  who  usually  insult  and  pick  ouarrels  with 
then^.  The  great  amusement  of  the  Dutch  sailors 
is  to  hire  the  little  ponies,  and  ride  up  and  down 
upon  them.  On  one  occasion,  a  good  many  yeora 
ago.  an  English  sajlor  interiupted  this  cavalcade, 
fnghtened  the  horses,  and  one  or  two  Dutchmen 
got  tumbles.  Incensed  at  this  beyond  theb*  u^ual 
moderation,  they  pur^^ed  the  cause  of  their  over- 
throw, and  wounded  him  with  one  of  their  knives. 
The  wounded .  nian  went  on  board  his  vessel,  tha 
crew  of  which,  ajpout  fifty  strong,  came  ashore  vyitii 
their  long  ^inchin^  knives  with  which  they  cut  up 
the  whales,  and  tallii^  upon  the  J^ntchoieni  thou£& 
twice  their  numberS)  drove  them  all  into  ih^.  sea. 
where  such  as  could  not  swim  were  in  some  risk  of 
being  drowned,  tlie  instance  of  aggression,  or  ra- 
ther violent  retaliation,  on  their  part,  is  almost  sou- 
tary.  In  general  they  are  extaemely  quiet,  and  em<> 
ploy  themselves  in  bartering  their  htUe  mcrchandiaa 
of  gin  and  gingerbread  for  Zetland  hoi^e  and  night- 
caps." 

CHAPTEK  XXIX. 

OlASr  OVSOtASD  Tm  pIOaTBOOSB  TACHT  OOltlUWifm 

^•nuB  o»Kwttra   mnaawAU.— hovtm  mtAmntsf 
STONna  OF  ffi'vitms,  wrc*—rMWOVwr^  IS14h 

calm  sea  vi  c  wcj^ilicd  at  iwo  in  ^^  tuortiing>  uehJ 
worked  by  titiorC  Uik^  uji  no  Kjck^all  bty,  mid  iiiia 
ourselves  in  that  tna  b^^ia  upuD  fi^ini!  jj)  Uic  mor?}^ 
mg.  The  tvnvti  loaks  well  fram  ine  ^aa^  bul  ^ 
chiefly  indebttid  to  iLt^  hns0  old  cntho^lral  ihat  riees 
out  of  the  ctnira.  Upon  landing  we  find  it  hut  a 
poor  and  dirEV  placet  espec  tally  to  ward  a  ihv  haibour. 
Farther  up  the  town  are  *t*^n  eonie  decent  old- 
fashioned  houJ4^  and  Lhe  Sheriff's  int^xrist  eacures 
US  iSPod  lod^'i  r^».  ftla  rdiie  faa^a  to  hu  n  t  for  a  point- 
er. The  mcniiDf;,  which  waa  rftlny,  cWaia  up  plea- 
santly, and  Unmdtun,  Krskine,  Dufl.  Hfu]  I,  walk  ta 
Malcolm  Lnin^*^,  wlii>  hns  a  pjcaeafit  houM  about 
half  a  mile  from  the  town^  Our  aid  actiuaintarictv 
though  an  nniiljd^  received  ui  kindly  j  ha  looks 
very -poorly,  anij  crirmot  wulk  without  n^ftijitfjnn.^, 
but  seems  to  ivi^^  all  die  i^uick,  oftrubBt,  auu  viva- 
cious intelligence  of  his  character  and  manner. 
After  this  visit  the  antjquitiea  of  the  place,  viz. :  th« 
Bishop's  palace,  the  Earl  of  Orkney's  castle,  and 
the  cathedral,  all  aituated  within  a  stonecaat  or  each 
other.  The  two  foxfner  are  ruinous.  The  most  pro- 
minent part  of  the  ruina  of  the  Bishop's  paUoe  ia 
a  large  round  tower,  simUar  to  that  of  Bo&frell  in 
architecture  but  not  equal  to  it  in  siaet    Tttii 


hwli  by  Bishop  Reid,  tempore  Jacohi  f.,  and  them 
18  a  rude  statue  of  him  in  a  niche  in  the  front.  At 
the  north-east  corner  of  the  building  ia  a  flnsani 
tower  of  greater  antkiuity,  called  the  ]£anseorjfM» 
Tower;  but,  aa  we)l  as  a  aecond  and  sm  jler  iWnd 
towttv  It  IS  quite  rumpua.  A  suite  of  apartments  of 
oitierent  sizes  fill  up  the  space  hetween  these  towers. 


lU 


UFK.  OP  SIR  WALTER  SCOTT. 


an  now  nunouA.  The  building  is  said  to  have  been 
of  gr^tlandmuty,  but  was  certainly  in  a  great  mea- 
sure renedifled  in  the  sixteenth  century.  Fronting 
this  castle  or  palace  of  the  Bishon,  and  about  a  gun- 
shot distant,  is  that  of  the  Earl  of  Orkney.  The 
Earl's  palace  was  built  by  Patrick  Stewart,  Earl  of 
Orkney,  the  same  who  erected  that  of  Scalloway, 
m,  Shetland.  It  is  an  elegant  structure,  partaking 
at  once  of  the  character  of  a  palace  and  castle.  The 
building  forms  three  sides  of  an  oblong  square  but 
one  of  the  sides  extends  considerably  beyond  the 
©ther?.  The  ^t^'it  hall  n iii-i  have  been  remarkably 
!i3n<laoitie,  opi*tiiDg  inio  twa  or  ihrt'e  hup  rnunds 
Af  turrets,  the  lower  part  of  which  ia  divsdrid  by 
siane  sh^is  into  three  windows,  Ii  has  two  itn- 
menae  chiraa^ys,  the  ,irche^  or  UnTels  of  whiL-K  are 
fonm-d  by  $  flar  arcli,  aa  a  I  Crichtort  Cnstlen  There 
13  unothEr  vcry^  hflndffome  apartment  cornmuiiicat- 
ing  with  tlio  li&ll  Tike  a  modem  tlta wing- room,  nad 
which  has,  lik«  the  former,  its  projectmg  lurreis. 
The  bail  in  lighted  by  a  fine  Gotluc  sliafted  window 
atone  end,  and  by  othars  on  the  sides.  It  la  ap- 
proached hy  a  spacious  and  elegant  alAi/eiit^e  of 
tlir&e  flighra  of  stepa.  The  dimensions  may  bt!  six- 
tv  feet  long,  twenty  brond,  and  fourtepii  hiffh,  bat 
doubtless  an  fltrchea  roof  sprtinjL;  from  ihc  side  wnlls, 
6o  thai  founepn  feel  w a*  only  The  height  from  ihe 
gr^jund  to  the  arebea,  Anjf  niodern  orcnitect,  wish- 
mg  to  cumulate  ihe  real  Gothic  srchiiceturej  and  ap- 
.  ^ly  it  to  the  purpojaes  of  mi>dern  splendour,  might 
derive  excjcllenl  hints  from  this  room.  The  exterior 
ornaments  are  also  cMrctiiely  elegant  The  riiins, 
ance  the  residence^  of  this  haughty  and  opprpBsjve 
Earl,  are  now  so  di3g:uBUngly  nasty,  thai  it  required 
all  th[;  zml  of  an  antiquary  to  prosecute  the  aWive 
inveatigaiifin.  Architecture  aeems  to  have  ben 
Earl  Patrick's  prevdlini  [aate,  BeBide*  thiscaslle 
and  thnt  of  Scalloway,  he  added  ra  or  enlar^tJ  tlie 
old  cap  Tie  of  BreBSay.  To  accomplisli  these  oUjr'^tS, 
he  oiJpre*s*ed  the  people  with  sevrriue^  unheard- of 
even  m  that  oppressive  age,  drew  down  on  hirnfielf 
a  shajneftil  tnoy^h  deserved  pumahmeni,  end  left 
these  diahonoored  mint  to  hand  down  to  posterity 
the  tale  of  }m  cTimca  and  of  his  fall,  we  may 
adopt,  though  in  another  s^^nse^  hia  own  pfesumpin- 
ou«  motto— ;?[£?  Puit,  t^st,  ei  EriL 

''  We  visit  Ihecalhodral,  dedicated  to8r.  Maiznus, 
which  greeted  ihe  sheriff'*  approach  with  u  nurry 
peai^  Like  thai  of  CiJa£eow-,  this  church  has  eBcrtp* 
ed  the  bhnd  fur^  of  Reformation  h  waa  foonded 
m  Ll35ij  by  Ronald,  Karl  of  Orknojr,  nephew  of  the 
SainL  li  is  of  Rreat  s\7a\  beJH^  1360  feet  long,  or 
thertabont,  and  eopporfed  by  twenty-eicht  Sajcon 
tjiliera^  of  good  workriianship.  The  round  arch  ^ire- 
OominfttesiTi  the  bmldin/^^but !  think  not  exclusive- 
ly. The  Bteeplfl  (once  n  Tery  high  spire)  ri«e^  upon 
Joof  pillars  of  great  Btreni^Th,  which  occupy  riiah 
angle  of  the  nave.  Being  destroyed  by  Hehtniiig, 
it  was  Tcbuilt  upon  a  low  and  curtailed  pTan.  The 
appearance  of  the  buildinj^  is  rather  mai^^siveand 
gbomy  than  elegant,  and  many  of  iht'  cxtcnor  or- 
nanienlB,  carvinK  around  the  door- ways,  dec,  ftave 
been  injured  by  time.  Wo  entered  the  cathidral, 
the  whole  of  which  is  kt  pt  ioi?ked,  s \v^pi,  mid  in 
good  order,  although  only  ihc  eastern  end  is  u^ed 
for  divine  worship.  Wp  walked  ?ornc  time  in  the 
nuve  and  wc'sicrn  end^  vrhtrli  is  l^ft  TTnoeriTpj^^d,  ;iiid 
has  ft  ver^  solemn  eiTtct  ua  ihe  avenue  to  Jie  place 
«tf  worship.  There  were  many  tombstones  on  the 
floor  and  elsewhere,  some,  doubtless,  of  high  anti- 
quity. OnB,  I  remaned,  had  the  shield  of  arms  hung 
Of  the  comer,  with  a  helmet  above  it  of  a  large  pro- 
portion, such  as  I  have  seen  on  the  most  ancient 
iieals.  But  we  had  neither  time  nor  skill  to  decipher 
what  noble  Orcadian  lay  beneath.  The  church  is 
^  at  well  fitted  up  as  could  be  expocted ;  mueh  of  the 
^  old  carved  osk  remains,  but  with  a  motley  mixture 
•f  modern  deal  pews.  All,  however,  is  neat  and 
dean,  and  does  great  honour  to  the  kirk-sesFton 
wto  maintain  its  decency.  I  remarked  particularly! 
Bart  Patrick's  seat,  adjoming  to  that  of  the  magis- 
oaites.  bat  surmounting  it  and  every  other  in  the 
dnurch;  it  is  sorrotmded  with  a  carved  screen  of 
6ak,  rather  eiegtint,  and  bears  his  arms  find  initialsi 


and  the  motto  I  have  noticed.  He  bears  the  royil 
arnis  withoat  ainr  mark  drbastardy  (his  fatlwr  was 
a  nktilral  son  or  James  V.)  quarterly,  with  a  lym- 
phad  or  gftlley,  the  aitdent  arms  of  the  coonty. 
This  circumstance  was  charged  against  him  on  fan 
trial*  I  understand  the  late  Mr.  Gilbert  LainK 
Meason  left  the  interest  of  ;£lOOO  to  ke^  up  this 
cathedral. 

"  There  are  in  the  street  facing  the  cathedral  the 
ruins  of  a  much  more  ancient  castle ;  a  proper  feudal 
fortress  belonging  to  the  Earls  of  Orkney,  but  called 
the  King's  Castle.  It  appears  to  have  been  very 
strong,  being  situated  near  the  harbour,  and  having, 
as  appears  from  the  fragments,  very  massive  walls. 
While  tbe^cked  Earl  Patrick  was  in  confinement, 
one  of  his  natural  sons  defended  this  'castle  to  extre- 
mity against  the  King's  troops,  and  only  surrendered 
when  It  was  nearly  a  heap  of  nuns,  and  then  under 
condition  he  should  not  be  brought  in  evidence 
against  his  father. 

"  We  dine  at  the  inn,  and  drink  the  Prince  Re- 
gent's health,  being  that  of  the  day— Mr.  Baikie  of 
Tankemess  dines  with  us. 

"  I3th  August^  1814.— A  bad  morning,  but  clean 
up.  No  letters  from  Edmbundi.  The  countryabout 
SLirkwall  is  fiat,  and  tolerably  cultivated.  We  see 
oxen  generally  wrought  in  the  small  country  cart& 
thouffh  they  nave  a  race  of  jponies,  like  those  of 
Shetland,  but  larger.  Marchie  goes  to  sh^ot  on  a 
hill  called  Whiteford,  which  slopes  away  about  two 
or  three  miles  from  Ku-kwall.  The  grouse  is  abun- 
dant, for  the  gentleman  who  chaperons  Marchie 
killed  thirteen  brace  and  a  hallwith  a  snipe.  There 
are  no  partridges  nor  hares.  The  soil  of  Orkney  is 
better,  and  its  air  more  genial  than  Shetland ;  but  it 
is  far  less  interesting,  and  possesses  none  of  the 
wild  and  peculiar  character  of  the  more  northern 
archipelago,  All  vegetablee  grow  here  freely  in  the 
gardens,  and  there  are  one  or  two  attempts  at  trees 
where  they  are  sheltered  by  walls.  How  ill  the? 
succeed  may  be  conjecmred  from  our  bringing  with 
us  a  quantity  of  brushwood,  commissionedf  by  Mal- 
colm Laing  from  Aberbrothock,  to  be  sticks  to 
his  pease.  This  trash  we  brought  two  himdred 
miles.  I  have  little  to  add,  except  that  the  Orkney 
people  have  some  odd  superstitions  about  a  stone  oh 
which  Ihey  take  oaths  to  Odin.  levers  often  per- 
form this  ceremony  in  pledge  of  mutual  faith,  and 
are  said  to  account  it  a  sacred  engajgemenu  It  is 
agreed  that  we  go  on  board  after  dinner,  and  sail 
with  the  next  tide.  The  maastrates  of  Kirkwall 
present  us  with  the  freedom  oitheur  ancient  burgh ; 
and  Erskine,  instead  of  being  cumbered  with  drunkeo 
sailors,  as  at  Lerwick,  or  a  drunken  schoolmaster, 
as  at  Fair  Isle,  is  annoyed  by  his  own  substitute. 
This  will  occasion  his  remaining  two  days  at 
^irkwall.  diiring  which  time  it  is  proposed  we  shall 
visit  the  ti^hthouse  upon  the  dangerous  rocks  called 
the  Skemes,  in  the  Pentland  Firth ;  and  then,  re- 
turning to  the  eastern  side  of  Pomona,  take  up  the 
counsellor  at  Stromness.  It  is  further  settled  that 
we  leave  Marchie  with  Erskine  to  get  another  day's 
shooting.  On  board  at  ten  o'clock,  after  a  little 
bustle  in  expediting  our  domestics,  washerwomen, 
&c. 

"  14«A  August^  1814.— Sail  about  four,  and  in 
rounding  the  main  land  of  Orkney,  called  Pomona, 
encotmter  a  very  heavy  sea ;  about  ten  o'clock,  get 
into  the  Sound  of  Holm  or  Ham,  a  fine  smooth^ 
current  meandering  away  between  two  low  green 
islands,  which  have  little  to  characterise  them.  On 
the  right  of  the  Sound  is  the  mainland,  and  a  deep 

*  "  Thii  noted  oppre«sot  wax  finallr  biougtA  to  trial,  and  be> 
bMided  at  the  CroM  of  Edinbivfb  [6th  F^ebnml7.  K14. 1  It  m  nid 
that  th«  Ktoc'a  mood  was  conndenbly  heated  afainrt  him  bf 
some  iU-cbown  and  wonie  wiitteo  Latio  iofcripUoas  with  wfaioa 
hif  father  and  bimMn  bad  been  unlucl^  enoufh  to  deoocale  soma 
of  tbtir  intuhir  palace*.  In  one  of  these.  Earl  Robert,  fte  father, 
had  ffiteo  hi^  own  desiniatiao  thua  :^*  Okvadna  Comce  Rts 
Jacobi  quinti  filiua.'  In  ihii  caae  he  waa  not,  periiSi 
anrjthiarv«ro|«ethaa.badLatut.    But  Jamea  VL  who 


Dgvrone 
rpozKlini 


caae  he  waa  not,  periKpa,  railtr  itf 

, ^,    . in.    But  Jamea  VL  who  had  a  keen 

rtoa«  for  puaiinr  out  tfteaoo,  and  with  whom  an  aaieuh  mad  bat- 
(eiv  urnn  Priteian  nuHied  in  n^aiiy  the  aame  degree  of  ciIbw. 
had  little  doobt  that  Uie  n*e  of  the  nominaitiva  Ker,  Uwlead  ot 


Uieaeoitlveft^f«. bade  treaaooable 
Unioui  Prose  Wortet,  vol  xn  i.  p. "" 


LIFE  OP  Sm  WALTER  SCOTT. 


213 


bar  eaikd  jScalpa  Flow  indents  it  on  to  within  two 
\  mues  of  Kirkwall.  A  canal  through  this  neck  of 
the  island  would  he  of  great  consequence  to  the 
buTf^.  ,We  see  the  steeple  and  church  of  Kirkwall 
■cross  the  island  yery  distiqctl/.  Getting  out  of  the 
Sound  of  Holm,  we  stand  into  the  harhour  or  road- 
stead of  Widewall,  where  we  find  seven  or  eight 
foreign  vessels  hound  for  Ireland,  and  a  sloop  belong- 
ing to  the  light-house  service.  These  roads teaaa 
are  common  all  through  the  Orkneys,  and  afford 
excellent  shelter  for  small  vessels.  The  day  is  plea- 
sant and  sunny,  but  the  breeze  is  too  high  to  permit 
landing  at  the  Skerries.  Agree,  therefore^  to  stapd 
over  for  the  mainland  of  Scotland,  and  visit  Thurso. 
Enter  the  Pentland  Frith,  so  celebrated  for  the 
strength  and  fury  of  its  tides,  which  is  boiling  even 
in  this  pleasant  weather ;  we  sec  a  large  ship  bat- 
tling with  this  heavy  current,  and  though  with  all 
her  canvass  set  and  a  breeze,  getting  more  and  more 
invohed.  See  the  two  Capes  of  Dungsby  or  Dun- 
cansby,  and  Dunnet-head,  between  which  hes  the 
cdebrated  John  o'Groat's  house,  on  the  north-east- 
em  extremity  of  Scotland.  The  shores  of  Caith- 
ness rise  bold  and  rocky  before  us,  a  contrast  to  the 
Orkneys,  which  are  all  low.  excepting  the  Islond  of 
Hoy.  On  Duncansby-hcaa  appear  some  remark- 
able rocks,  hke  towers,  called  the  stacks  of  Dun- 
ctfn^y ;  near  this  shore  runs  the  remarkable  break- 
jm;  tide  called  the  Merry  Men  of  JV/cy,  whence 
Mackenzie  takes  the  scenery^  of  a  poem— 

'  Where  the  dancing  men  of  Me/. 
Speed  the  current  to  the  land.' 

Here,  according  to  his  localitjr,  the  Caithness  man 
witnessed  the  vision,  in  which  was  introduced  the 
sons  translated  bjr  Grayr,  under  the  title  of  the  Fa- 
tal Sisters.  On  this  subject,  Mr.  Baikie  told  me  the 
foUowing  remarkable  circumstance  :— A  clergymen 
toid  him  that  while  some  remnants  of  the  Norse 
were  yet  spoken  in  North  Ronaldsha,  he  carried 
thither  the  translation  of  Mr.  Gray,  then  newly  pub- 
lished, and  read  it  to  some  of  the  old  people  as  re- 
fierring  to  the  ancient  history  of  their  islands.  But 
so  soon  as  he  had  i^roceeded  a  little  way.  they  ex- 
claimed they  knew  it  very  well  in  the  original,  and 
had  often  sung  it  to  himself  when  he  asked  them 
for  an  old  Norse  song;  they  called  it  T%e  Enchant- 
ressetf.  The  breeze  dies  away  between  two  wicked 
little  islands  called  Swona  and  Stroma,  the  latter  be- 
^Dfdng  to  Caithness,  the  former  to  Orkney.  Nota 
Bene.— The  inhabitants  of  the  rest  of  the  Orcades 
despise  those  of  Swona  for  eating  limpets,  as  being 
the  last  of  human  meannesses.  Every  land  has  its 
foshions.  The  Fair-Islesmen  disdain  Orkney-men 
for  eating  dof^-fish.  Both  islands  have  dangerous 
reefo  and  whirl poohs  where,  even  in  this  fine  bay, 
the  tide  rages  furiously.  Indeed,  the  large  high  un- 
broken billows,  which  at  every  swell  hide  from  our 
deck  each  distant  object,  plainly  intimate  what  a 
dreadful  current  this  must  be  when  vexed  by  high  or 
adverse  winds.  Finding  ourselves  losing  ground  in 
the  tide,  and  unwilling  to  waste  time,  we  give  up 
Tliarso— run  back  into  the  roadstead  or  bay  of 
Long-Hope,  and  anchor  under  the  fort.  The  bay 
has  four  entrances,  and  safe  anchorage  in  most 
winds,  and  having  become  a  great  rendezvous  for 
shipping^  (there  are  nine  vessels  lying  here  at  pre- 
sent,) has  been  an  object  of  attention  with  Govern- 
ment. 

•*  Went  ashore  after  dinner,  and  visited  the  fort, 
which  is  only  partly  completed;  it  is  njleche  to  the 
s^  with  eight  gims,  twenty-four  pounders,  but 
without  any  land  defences  ;  the  guns  are  mounted 
en  barbette^  without  embrasures,  each  upon  a  kind 
of  moveable  stage,  which  stage  wheeling  upon  rf* 
pivot  in  front,  and  traversing  oy  nricans  of  wheels 
behind,  can  be  pointed  in  anv  direction  that  may  be 
thought  necessary.  Upon  this  stage,  the  gun-car- 
riage moves  forward  and  recoils,  and  the  drpih  of 
the  parapet  shelters  the  men  even  better  than  an 
embrasure :  at  a  little  distance  froni  this  battery 
mey  are  building  a  Martello  tower,  which  is  to  cross 
the  fire  of  the  battery,  and  also  that  of  another  pro- 
jected tower  upon  the  opposite  point  of  the  bay. 


The  expedience  of  these  towers  seeips  excessively 
problematical.  Supposing  them  impregnable,  ev 
nearlv  so,  a  garrison  of  fourteen  or  fifteen  men  noay 
be  always  blockaded  by  a  very  trifling  nuubec, 
while  the  enemy  dispose  of  all  in  the  vicinity  at  ihehr 
pleasure.  In  tne  case  of  Long-Hope,  for  mstancei 
a  frigate  mijght  disembark  10^  men,  take  the  fort  in 
the  rear,  where  it  is  undefended  even  by  a  palisade, 
destroy  the  magazines,  spike  and  dismount  the  can* 
non,  carry  off  or  cut  out  any  vessels  in-  the  road- 
stead, ana  accomphsh  all  the  purposes  that  could 
bring  them  to  so  remote  a  spot,  in  spile  of  a  ser- 
geant's party  in  the  Martello  tower,  and  without 
troubling  themselves  about  them  at  all.  Mean- 
while, Long'Hope  will  one  day  turn  out  a  flourish- 
ing place ;  there  will  soon  be  taverns  and  slop- 
shops, where  sailors  rendezvous  in  such  numbers  : 
then  will  come  quays,  docks,  and  warehouses  i^  and 
then  a  thriving  town.  Amen,  so  be  it.  This  is  the 
first  fine  day  we  have  enjoyed  to  an  end  since  Sun- 
day, 31st  ult.  Rainy,  cold,  and  hazy,  hive  been  our 
voyages  around  these  wild  islands ;  1  hope  the  wea- 
ther begins  to  mend,  though  Mr.  Wilson,  our  mas- 
ter, threatens  a  breeze  to-morrpw.  We  are  to  at- 
tempt the  Skerries,  if  possible ;  if  not,  wie  will,  I 
believe,  go  to  Stromness.  . 

'•  IBth  August,  1814.— Fine  morning:  we  get 
again  into  the  Pentland  Frith,  and  with  the  aid  of 
a  pilotboat  belonging  to  the  lighthouse  service,  from  * 
South  Ronaldshaw,  we  attempt  the  Skerries.  Not- 
withstanding the  fair  weather,  we  have  a  specimen 
of  the  violence  of  the  flood-tide,  which  forms  whirl- 
pools on  the  shallow  sunken  Tocks  by  the  islands 
of  Swona  and  Stroma,  and  in  the  deep  water  makes 
strange,  smooth,  whirling,  and  swelUng  eddies,  call- 
ed by  tne  sailors,  weUs.  We  run  through  the  wtU§ 
of  Tuftilt  in  particular,  which  in  the  least  stress  of 
weather,  wheel  a  large  ship  round  and  round,  with- 
out respect  either  to  nelm  ^r  sails.  Hence  the  dis- 
tinction of  wclla  and  waves  in  r^  English ;  the  well 
being  that  smooth,  glassy,  oily-looking  ed^yi  the 
force  of  which  seems  to  the  eye  almost  resistless. 
The  bursting  of  the  waves  in  foam  around  these 
strange  eddies  has  a  bewildering  and  confused  ap- 
pearance, which  it  is  impossible  to  describe.  Gel 
ofl*  the  Skerries  about  ten  o'clock,  and  land  easily : 
it  is  the  first  time  a  boat  has  got  there  for  several 
days.  The  Skerries*  is  an  island  about  CO  acres,  of 
fine  short  herbage,  belonging  to  Lord  Dundas ;  it  is 
surrounded  by  a  reef  of  precipitous  rocks  not  very 
high,  but  inaccessible,  unless  where  the  ocean  has 
made  ravines  among  them,  and  where  stairs  have 
been  cut  down  to  the  water  for  the  lighthouse  ser- 
vice. Those  inlets  Have  a  romantic  appearance,  and 
have  been  christened  by  the  sailors,  the  Parliament 
House,  the  Seals'  Lying-in-Hoepital.  &c.  The  last 
inlet,  after  rushing  through  a  deep  chasm,  which  is 
open  overhead,  is  continued  under  ground,  and  then 
again  opens  to  the  sky  in  the  middle  of  the  island  t 
in  this  hole  the  seals  bring  out  their  whelps  ^  when 
the  tide  is  high,  the  waves  rise  up  through  this  aper- 
ture in  the  middle  of  the  isle— like  the  blowing  of  a 
whale  in  noise  and-  appearance.  There  is  another 
round  cauldron  of  solid  mck,  to  which  the  waves 
have  access  through  a  natural  arch  in  the  rock,  ha- 
ving another  and  lesser  arch  rising  just  above  it ; 
in  Hard  weather,  the  waves  rush  through  both  aper- 
ttires  with  a  horrid  noise ;  the  workmen  called  it 
the  Carron  Blast,  and,  indeed,  the  variety  of  noises 
which  issued  from  the  abyss,  somewhat  reminded 
me  of  that  engine.  Take  my  rifle  and  walk  round 
the  cliffs  in  search  of  seals,  but  see  none,  and  only 
disturb  the  digestion  of  certain  aldermen-cormo- 
rants, who  were  sitting  on  the  points  of  the  crags 
after  a  good  fish  breakfast ;  only  made  one  good 
shot  out  of  four.  The  light-house  is  too  low,  %nd 
on  the  old  construction,  yet  it  is  of  the  last  impor- 
tance. Thd  keeper  is  an  old  man-of-war* s-man,  of  •  # 
whom  Mr.  Stevenson  observed  that  he  was  a  great 
swearer  when  he  first  came;  but  after  a  year  or 
two's  residence  in  the  soUtary  abode,  became  a 

*  *  A  Skcrrie  meant  a  flattwh  rock  which  theaead 
flow."-  Edmondttone'»  Vk 


lattwh  rock  which  the  aea  doea  not  oi 


su 


LIFE  OP  SIR  WALTER  SCOTT. 


changed  man.    There  are  about  fifty  head  of  cattk 
•n  tin  MflDdi  thef  mtiet  besot  in  and  off  with 

Seat  danger  and  dttRetUty.  Theie  is  no  water  upon 
e  iale  except  what  remains  after  rain  in  some 
pools }  theae  aomethnes  dry  in  summer,  and  the  cat- 
tle are  reduced  to  great  straits.  Leave  the  isle  about 
one ;  and  the  wind  and  tide  being  favourable,  crowd 
all  sail,  and  get  on  at  the  rate  or  fourteen  miles  an 
hour.  Soon  reach  our  old  anchorage  at  the  Long- 
Hope,  and  passing,  stand  to  the  north-westward,  up 
the  sound  of  Hoy  tor  Siromness. 

'*  I  should  have  mentioned,  that  in  going  down 
the  Pentland  Firth  this  morning  we  saw  Johnnie 
Oroat's  house,  or  rather  the  place  where  it  stood, 
now  occupied  by  a  storehouse.  Our  pilot  opines 
there  was  no  such  man  as  Johnnie  Qroat,  for,  he 
sa^  he  cannot  hear  that  any  body  ever  fate  fiim. 
This  reasoning  would  put  down  most  facts  of  anti- 
quity) they  gather  shelle  on  the  shore  called  John- 
nie Oroara  buckiee^  but  I  cannot  procure  any  at 
present  I  may  also  add,  that  the  interpretation 
diven  to weUeniny  apply  to  the  Wtlh of  Slain^  in 
the  fine  ballad  oi  Clerk  Colvin ;  such  eddies  in  the 
romantic  vicinity  of  Siains  Castle  would  be  a  fine 
place  for  a  mermaid. 

'*  Our  wmd  fai|a  usl  and  what  is  worse,  becomes 
westerly :  the  Soima  has  now  the  appearance  of  a 
fine  landlocked  bay,  the  passages  between  the  se- 
jrsral  islands  being  scarce  visible.  We  have  a  su- 
perb view  of  Kirkwall  Cathedral,  with  a  strong 
gleam  of  sanahtne  upon  it.  Gloomy  weather  be- 
gins to  collect  atound  ua,  particularly  on  the  island 
of  Hoy,  which,  covered  with  gloom  and  vapour, 
DOW  assumes  a  majestic  mountainous  character. 
On  Pomona  we  paas  the  Hill  of  Orphir.  which  re- 
minds me  of  the  clergyman  of  that  parish,  who  was 
called  to  socoont  for  aome  of  his  inaccuracies  to  the 
Qeneral  Assembly  s  one  charge  he  held  particularly 
cheap,  viz.,  that  of  drunkenness.  *  Reverend  Mode- 
rator,*^ said  he,  in  reply,  *!  rfo  drink,  as  other  gentle- 
men do.'  This  Orphir  of  the  north  must  not  be 
confounded  with  the  Ophir  of  the  south.  Prom  the 
latter  came  gold,  silver,  and  precious  stones ;  the 
former  seems  to  produce  little  except  peats.  Tet 
these  are  precious  commodities,  which  some  of  the 
Orkney  Isles  altogether  want,  and  lay  waste, and 
bum  the  turf  of  their  land  instead  of  importing  coal 
from  Newcastle.  The  Orcadians  seem  by  no  meaps 
an  alert  or  active  race ;  they  neglect  the  excellent 
fisheries  which  lie  under  their  very  noses,  and  in 
their  mode  of  managing  their  boat?,  as  well  as  in 
the  eeneral  tone  of  urbanity  and  intelligence,  are 
excelkHi  by  the  le»s  favoured  Zetlanders.  I  observe 
they  always  crowd  their  boat  with  4)eople  in  the 
bowe,  being  the  ready  wojr  to  send  her  down  in  any 
awkward  circumstance.  There  are  remains  of  their 
Norwegian  descent  and  lancuage  in  North  Ronald- 
shaw.  an  isle  I  regret  we  did  not  see.    A  missionary 

Ereacner  came  ashore  there  a  year  or  two  since,  but 
ding  a  very  little  bladt-beardw  iinshaved  man,  the 
seniors  of  theisle  suspected  himof  beingan  ancient 
Pecht  or  Pict,  and  no  canny,  of  course.  The  school- 
master came  down  to  entreat  our  worthy  Mr.  Steven- 
son, then  about  to  leave  the  islami,  to  come  up  and 
verify  whether  the  preacher  was  an  ancient  Pecht, 
yea  or  no.  Finding  apologies  were  in  vain,  he  rode 
up  to  the  house  where  the  unfortunate  preacher, 
after  three  nights*  watching,  had  got  to  bed, 
httJe  conceiving  under  what  odious  suspicion  he  had 
fallen.  As  Mr.  S.  declined  disturbing  him,  his  boots 
were  produced,  which  being  a  little— little — very  Ut- 
f/tfpair,  confirmed,  in  the  opinion  of  all  the  bystand- 
ers, the  suspicion  of  Pechtism.  Mr.  S,  therefore 
fonnd  it  necessary  to  go  into  the  poor  man's  sleep- 
ing apartment,  where  ne  recoffnizod  one  Campbell, 
heretofore  an  ironmonger  in  Edmburph  but  who  had 
put  his  hand  for  some  years  to  the  missionar)'  plough; 
of  course  he  warranted  his  quondam  acquaintance 
to  be  no  ancient  Pecht.  Mr.  Stevenson  darned  the 
same  schoolmaster  who  figured  in  the  adventure  of 
tha  Pecht  to  the  mainland  of  Scotland,  to  be  exa- 
mkied  for  his  office.  He  was  extpemely  desitt>u8  to 
see  a  tree ;  and,  on  seeing  one,  desired  to  know  what 
^rtt  it  was  that  grew  at  the  top  on't-*the  leaves 


appeanng  to  hiin  to  be  gxnM»*  Tbfor  attU. 
httfeNoraa,  and  tndead  I  hear  eVeiydMywoMi^ ,  _ 
language ;  fbr instance,  J<t kuX^  u>t  * Yts.sirJ  Wt 
creep  slowly  up  Hoy  Sound,  working  under  tha  Po- 
mona shore:  but  there  is  no  hope  of  reaching 
Stromncss  till  we  have  the  asaiatanoe  of  the  evening 
tide.  The  channel  now  seems  like  a  Highland  loch; 
not  the  least  ripple  on  the  waves.  The  paasage  ia 
narrowed,  and  (to  the  eye)  blocked  up  by  the  inter- 
position of  the  green  and  apparently  fertile  isle  of 
Grsmsay,  the  property  of  Lord  Armadale,  ♦  Hoy 
looks  yet  grander,  from  cooiparing  its  black  and 
steep  mountains  with  this  verdant  isle.  To  add  to 
the  beauty  of  the  Sound,  it  is  rendered  lively  by  the 
successive  appearance  of  seven  gr  eight  whahog 
vessels  from  Davies^  Straits;  large  strong  ships, 
which  pass  successively,  with  all  their  sails  set,  en- 
joying the  little  wind  that  is.  Many  oC  these  vessel* 
display  the  garland:  that  is,  a  wreath  of  ribbons 
which  the  young  fellows  on  board  have  got  from 
their  sweethearts,  or  come  by  otherwise,  and  which 
hangs  between  the  foremast  and  mainmast,  sur- 
mounted sometimes  by  a  small  model  of  the  vessel 
This  garland  is  hung  up  upon  the  ist  May,  and  re- 
mains till  they  come  into  port.  I  believe  we  shall 
dodge  here  till  the  tide  makes  about  nine^  and  thea 
get  into  Stromness  {  no  boatman  or  sailor  in  Orkner 
thinks  of  the  wind  in  comparison  of  the  tides  and 
currents.  We  must  not  complain,  though  the  night 
gets  rainy,  and  the  Hill  of  Hoy  is  now  completely  in^ 
vested  with  vapour  and  mist  In  the  forepart  of  the 
day  we  executed  very  cleverly  a  task  or  consider- 
able difficulty  and  fven  danger. 

"  ib^  Auhiety  1814.— Get  into  Stromness  ban 
ana  anchor  before  the  party  are  np.    A  most  dsdd* 
ed  rain  all  night.    The  bay  is  formed  by  a  deep  ift* 
dention  in  the  mainland,  or  Pomona ;  on  one  Aoeai 
which  stands  Stromness— a  fishing  village  and  bar* 
hour  of  call  (or  the  Davies*  Straits  whalers,  as  Let- 
wick  is  for  the  Greenlanders.    Betwixt  the  veeseU 
we  met  yesterday,  seven  or  eight  which  passed  us 
this  morning,  and  several  others  still  lying  in  the 
bay,  we  have  seen  between  twenty  and  thirty  of 
,  these  large  ships  in  this  remote  place.    The  opposita 
I  side  of  Stromness  bay  is  protected  by  Hoy,  and 
I  Graemsay  lies  between  them ;  so  that  the  bay  seems 
quite  land-locked,  and  the  contrast  between  the 
'  mountains  of  Hoy,  the  soft  verdure  of  GrsDmsay. 
and  the  swelling  hill  of  Orphir  on  the  mainland,  has 
a  beautiful  effect.    The  day  clears  up,  and  Mr.  Rae, 
I  Lord  Armadale's  factor,  comes  oif  from  his  houssi 
called  Clcstrom,  upon  the  shore  opposite  to  Sitodh 
ness,  to  breakfast  with  us.    We  go  aslnire  with  him.  ' 
'  Hfs  farm  is  well  cultivated,  and  he  hns  procured  an 
I  excellent  breed  of  horses  from   Lanarkshire,  of 
which  county  ho  is  a  native;  strong  hardy  Go Jto- 
I  wayt*,  fit  for  labour  or  hacks.    By  thia  weprofitedi 
'  as  Mr.  Rae  mounted  us  all,  and  we  set  on  to  viail 
the  Standing  Stones  of  Stenhouseor  Stennis. 

'•  At  the  upper  end  of  the  bay,  about  half  way 
between  Clostrom  and  Stromness,  there  extends  a 
loch  of  considerable  size,  of  fi-esh  water,  but  com- 
municatma  with  ilie  sea  by  apertures  left  in  a  loaf 
bridge  or  causeway  which  divides  them.  After  rid- 
ing about  two  miles  along  this  lake,  weonenano^ 
ther  called  the  Loch  of  Harray,  of  about  the  same 
dimensions,  and  communicating  with  thelowerlaka, 
as  the  former  does  with  the  sea,  by  a  stream,  over 
which  ia  constructed  a  causeway,  with  opening  to 
sufier  the  flow  and  reflux  of  the  water,  as  both  lakf* 
arc  afiected  bv  the  tide.  Upon  the  tongues  of  laud 
which,  approaching  each  other,  divide  the  lakas.of 
Sicnnjs  and  Harray,  are  situated  the  Stafidmg 
Stones.  The  isthmus  on  the  eastern  side  exbibitf  a 
s^iiicircle  of  immensely  large  upright  pillars  of  uy- 
hown  stone,  surrounded  by  a  mound  of  earth.  Af 
the  mound  is  discontinued,  it  does  not  seem  that  the 
circle  was  ever  completed.  The  flat  or  open  part  of 
the  semicircle  looks  up  a  plain,  where,  at  a  di8tanoe» 
is  seen  a  large  tumulus.  The  highest  of  these  stones 
may  be  about  sixteen  or  seventeen  f^t,  and  I  tbiok 

•  The  Ute  air  Willitm  HMenpaa,  Ba(L--«  Jadge  of  Us 
Court  of  demon  by  thotitk  of  LoM  ▲madak 


Digitized  by  V^OOQlC 


UFE  OF  SOL  WILTS^  9C0TT. 

tiMre  9ie  none  so  low  93  twelve  fleet.  At  irregular 
4lilliinrne  «ire  pointed  out  ottitr  unhewn  pltlars  of 
tii#  Mine  kind.  One,  a  Httle  to  the  westward,  is 
pedbrstod  with  a  ronnd  hpte,  peraapB  to  bind  a 


R  t  or  rather,  I  coniectttre,  for  the.  purpose  of 
solemmy  attesting  ihe  deity,  which  the  Scandina- 


dul  by  passing  their  head  through  a  nnR, 
vidlsEvrbiggia  Saga.  Several  barrows  are  scattered 
aroana  this  strange  monument.  Upon  the  opposite 
isthmus  is  a  complete  cirde,  of  ninety' five  paces  in 
diam^er,  surrounded  by  standmg  stones,  less  in 
size  than  the  others,  being  only  from  ten  or  twelve 
to  fourteen  feet  in  height,  and  four  in  breadth.  A 
deep  trench  is  drawn  around  this  circle  on  the  out- 
skie  of  the  pillars,  and  four  mmuli,  or  mounds  of 
«anh,  are  regularly  placed,  two  on  each  side. 

''Stonehenge  excels  these  monuments,  hut  I  fancy 
thcjr  are  otherwise  unparalleled  in  Britain.  The  idea 
that  such  circles  were  exclusively  Druidica!  is  now 
justly  exploded.  The  northern  nations  all  used 
such  erections  to  mark  their  places  of  meeting, 
whether  for  religious  purposes  or  civil  policy:  and 
there  is  repeated  mention  of  them  in  the  Sagas. 
Ses  the  Eyrbiggia  Sago,  for  the  establishment  ofthe 
Helga-felSi  or  holy  mount,  where  the  people  held 
their  Comttia,  and  where  sacrifices  were  onfered  to 
Thot  and  Woden.  About  the  centre  of  the  semi- 
eirde  is  a  broad  flat  stone,  probably  once  the  altar 
OB  which  human  victims  were  sacrificed.— Mr.  Rae 
Msms  to  think  the  common  people  have  no  tradition 
4>f  the  porpose  of  these  stones,  but  probably  he  has 
not  inquired  particularly.  He  admits  they  look 
upon  them  wtth  superstitious  reverence ;  and  it  is 
evident  that  those  which  have  fallen  down  (about 
half  the  original  number)  have  been  wasted  by  time, 
end  not  demolished.  The  materials  of  these  monu- 
meats  lay  near,  for  the  shores  and  bottom  of  the 
Me  are  of  the  same  kind  of  rock.  How  they  were 
raised,  transported,  and  placed  uptight,  is  a  puzzling 
^nestion.  In  our  ride  back,  noticed  a  round  en- 
trenchment or  tumulrUi  called  the  Hollow  of 
Tongtte. 

"The  hospitality  of  Mrs.  Rae  detained  us  to  an  ear- 
ly dinner  at  Clestrom.  About  four  o'clock  took  our 
longboat  androwed  down  the  bay  to  visit  the  Dwar- 
fie  Stone  of  Hoy.  We  have  all  day  been  pleased  with 
the  romantic  appearance  of  that  island,  for  though 
the  Hill  of  Hoy  is  not  very  high,  perhaps  about  1200 
feel,  yet  rising  perpendicularly  (almost)  from  the  eea, 
and  oeing  »ery  steep  and  furrowed  with  ravines,  ana 
catching  all  the  mists  from  the  western  ocean, 
it  has  a  noble  and  picturesque  effect  in  every  point 
ef  view.  We  land  upon  the  island,  and  proceed  up  a 
.long  and  very  swampy  valley  broken  into  peatbogs. 
The  one  side  of  this  valley  is  formed  by  the  Moun- 
tain of  Hoy,  the  othor  by  another  steep  hill,  having 
at  the  lop  a  circular  belt  of  rock  ;  upon  the  slope  of 
this  last  nill,  and  just  where  the  principal  mountain 
opens  into  a  wide  and  predpiious  and  circular  corrie 
or  hollow,  lies  the  Dwarfie  stone.  It  is  a  huge  sand- 
stone rock,  of  one  solid  stone,  being  about  seven  feel 
Kgh,  twenty-two  feet  long,  and  seventeen  feet  broad. 
The  tipper  end  of  this  atone  is  hewn  into  a  sort  of 
apartment  containing  two  beds  of  stone  and  a  pas- 
sage between  them.  The  uppermost  and  largest  is 
fSve  ffeet  eight  inches  long,  by  two  feet  broad,  and  is 
foi^tshed  with  a  stone  pillow.  The  lower,  supposed 
for  the  Dwarf's  Wife,  ia  shorter,  and  rounded  off, 
instead  of  being  square  at  the  corners.  The  en- 
trance may  be  about  three  feet  and  a-half  square. 
Before  it  lies  a  huge  stone,  apparently  intended  to 
serve  the  purpose  of  a  door,  and  shaped  accordingly. 
in  the  top,  over  the  passage  which  divides  the  beds, 
tnere  is  a  hole  to  serve  for  a  window  or  chimney, 
which  was  doubtless  originally  wrought  square  with 
irons,  like  the  re«t  ofthe  work,  but  has  been  broken 
out  by  violence  into  a  shapeless  l^ole.  Opposite  to 
this  stone,  and  proceeding  from  it  m  a  line  down  the 
valley,  are  several  small  borrows,  and  there  is  a  ve- 
ry large  one  on  the  same  line,  at  the  spot  where  we 
landed.  This  seems  to  indicate  that  the  monument 
ts-of  heathen  times,  and  probably  was  meant  as  the 
temple  of  some  northern  edition  of  the  Dii  Manes. 
There  are  no  symbols  of  Christian  devo.Uon— and 


the  door  is  to  the  westw^^d;  it.  there^  does  not 
seem  to  have  been  the  abode  of  a  hemMt.  as  Dr. 
Barry*  has  oonjeclured*  The.  Orcadians  nave  n» 
trachtion  on  the  subject,  excepQng  thai  they  bejieve 
it  to  be  the  work  of  a  dwarf,  to  whom,  like  their  an- 
cestors, they  attribute  supernatural  powers  and  ma- 
levolent disposition.  They  conceive  he  may  be  seen 
sometimes  sitting  at  the  door  of  his  abode,  but  be 
vanishes  on  a  nearer  approach.  Whoever  inhabited 
this  den,  certainly  enjoyed  , 

'  Pillow  cold  tnd  1 


*'Dxiffj  Stevenson,  and  1,  now  walk  along  the 
skiru  of  the  Hill  of  Hoy,,  to  rejoin  Robert  HamiU 
ton,  who  m  the  mean  wjiile  had  rode  down  to  the 
clergyman's  house,  the  wpt  and  boggy  walk  not 
suiting  his  gout.  Arrive  at  the  manse  completely 
wet,  and  driiik  tea  there.  The  clergyman  (Mr.  Ha- 
milton) has  procured  some  curious  specimens  o^ 
natural  history  for  Bullock's  Museum,  particularly 
a  pair  of  fine  eaglets.  He  has  just  got  another  of 
the  golden,  or  white  kind,  which  he  intends  to  s^n« 
him.  The  eagle,  with  everjr  other  ravenous  hini^ 
abounds  among  the  almost  inaccessible  precipices 
of  Hoy,  which  afford  them  shelter,  while  the  moora 
abounding  with  grouse,  and  the  small  uninhabited 
islands  and  holms,  where  sheep  and  lambs  are  qe* 
cessarily  left  un watched,  as  well  as  the  all-sustaiiiP 
ing  ocean,  give  these  birds  of  prey  the  means  of  aup^ 
port,    "rhe  clergyman  told  us  that  a  man  was  very  * 

lately  alive  in  the  Island  of ,  who,  when  an 

infant,  was  transported  from  thence  by  an  eagle  over 
a  broad  sound,  0^  arm  of  the  sea.  to  (be  bird's  nM 
in  Hoy.  Pursuit  being  instantly  made,  and  the 
eagle's  nest  being  known,  the  infant  was  found  there 
playing  with  the  young  eaglets.  A  more  ludicroue 
instance  of  trxisportation  he  himself  witnessed, 
Walk^g  in  the  fields  he  heard  the  squeaking  of  a  , 
pig  for  some  time,  without  being  able  to  discern 
whence  it  proceeded,  until  looking  up,  he  beheld  the 
unformnate  gruntei;  in  the  talons  of  an  eagle,  who 
soared  away  with  him  towards  the  summit  of  Hoy, 
From  this  it  may  be  conjectured,  that  the  island  is 
very  thinly  inhabited.  In  fact,  we  only  saw  two  of 
three  little  wigwams.  After  tea  we  walked  a^  mile 
farther,  to  a  point  where  the  boat  was  lying,  m  or- 
der to  secure  the  advantage  of  the  flooa-tide.  We 
rowed  with  toil  across  one  stream  of  tide,  which  set 
strongly  up  between  Grsemsay  and  Hoy;  but,  on 
turning  the  point  of  Grsemsay,  the  other  branch  of 
the  same  flood-tide  carried  us  with  great  velocity 
alongside  our  yacht,  which  we  reached  about  nine 
o'clock.  Between  nding,  walking,  and  running,  wa 
have  spent  a  very  active  and  entertaining  day. 

"  Domestic  Memoranda— The  egfjs  on  Zetland 
and  Orkney  are  very  indiflerent,  having  an  earthy 
taste  and  being  very  small.  But  the  nogs  are  an 
excellent  breetf— queer  wild-looking  creatures,  with 
heads  like  wildboars,  but  making  capital  bacon. "^ 


CHAPTER  XXX. 

DLA.aT  COWTIWUBU — TTaOMWESS — ^BCSST  MILLIX'C 
CRABM—OAPE  WBATH— CAVB  OF  8M0W»^-THH 
HBBBIOBB—SCALPA,  ETC.— 1814. 

"  Of  Stromntss,  17 th  AugtLst^  1814— Went  on* 
shore  after  breakfast,  and  found  W.  Erskine  and 
Marjoribanks  had  been  in  this  town  all  last  niebti 
without  our  hearing  of  them  or  they  of  us.  NoleW. 
lers  from  Abbotsford  or  Edinburgh.  Stromnees  m 
a  little  dirty  straggling  town,  which  cannot  be  tra- 
versed by  a  cart,  or  even  by  a  horse,  for  there  are 
stairs  up  and  down,  even  in  the  principal  streetSi. 
We  paraded  its  whole  length  like  turkeys  in  a  stringy 
I  suppose  to  satisfy  ourselves  that  there  was  a  wone 
town  in  the  Orkneys  than  the  metropolis,  KirkwalL 
We  clomb,  by  steep  and  dirty  lanes,  an  emineaoe 
rising  above  the  town,  and  commanding  a  fine  view. 
An  old  hag  lives  in  a  wretched  oabin  on  this  height, 
and  subsists  by  selhng  winds.    Each  captain  of  a 


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'fl6 


LIFE  QP  Sm  WALTER  SCOTT. 


merthantman,  between  jest  and  earaeat,  awea  the 
old  woman  sixpence  ana  she  boiU  her  kettle  to  pro- 
care  a  favoarable  gale.  She  was  a  miserable  figure ; 
upwards  of  ninety,  she  told  us,  and  dried  up  Eke  a 
mummy.  A  sort  of  clay-coloured  cloak,  folded 
over  her  head,  corresponded  in  colour  to  her  corp8«- 
hke  coYnpIexion.  Fme  Ught-blue  eyes,  and  nose 
and  chin  that  almost  met,  and  a  ghastly  expression 
of  cunning,  gave  her  quite  the  effect  of  Hecate. 
She  told  us  she  remembered  Goit  the  pirate^  who 
wnB  born  Tie^irili  '  TTmiar  of  Cleetrom,  and  after- 
ward s  CO  m !  J I  ■  I  ■  ■  <  d  I H  i  I, r  I  ■  .■!  n  ier.  He  came  to  his  na- 
tive coiiniry  ili?  1 1  n  .'\u  ii  ti  a  snow  which  he  com- 
manded, cBixitd  oir  two  vvrjmen  from  one  of  theisl- 
andflf  rvud  e4>nimUted  m  Im  r  enprmities.  At  leuj^th, 
'while  he?  was  Jiniiig  in  u  1l<  <us€  in  the  Island  of  Eda, 
the  i^lmidcrEJ,  heacTod  by  l^Ialcolm  Laing's  grand- 
father, made  him  pn^Qiii^r,  and  sent  him  to  London, 
^hcrt]  hi?  v^ad  1iiiiij?€d>  While  at  Stromness,  he 
mudtt  love  to  n  Misa  Gnrdon,  who  pledged  her  faith 
to  him  by  shnkin^^  Imtid!^,  an  engagement  which,  in 
ht!r  idca^  could  not  be  iirTolvod  without  her  going 
to  London  to  a<^fk  bfick  i^ain  her 'faith  and  troth,* 
by  shakiDj;  hnnda  ia^IIi  lii'i  again  after  execution. 
We  left  oat  Pyttiones!^,  ^^  iio  assured  us  there  was 
BothiiiR  evil  in  the  innin^ssion  sl^e  was  to  make 
ft^r  UBv  »ut  thflt  we  wt  M.  ^nly  to  have  a  fair  wind 
ibroy^h  the  beru-fii  of  ht  r  prayers.  She  repeated  a 
sort  Dt  ri^mjirolu  which  I  suppose  she  had  ready  for 
iuch  Qcciteioi}?,  and  i^^Tiicd  greatly  delighted  and 
ttimnsc-dwidi  the  aniouni  of  our  donations,  as  eve- 
ry body  gavf?  htrr  n  triflr.  our  faithful  Captain  Wilson 
makiitc  me  rr^uhir  offt^rii^  on  behalf  of  the  ship.  So 
much  for  buying  n  wind .  tJissy  MilUe*s  habitation  is 
aifT  cunuf^hl  fnt  I'l^hsr  ^n^nself,  but  if  she  li  a  spe- 
cial favour  I  vinity.  he  has  .a  strange 
tho'ice.  Ill  larked  a  quernj  or  hand- 
milL  A  ClilI  .  ^ler,  commands  a  beauti- 
ful view  of  iU^i  buy,  with  its  various  entrances  and 
Iskts.  Hum  we  found  the  vestiges  of  a  bonfire, 
lighted  in  mijmory  of  the  battle  of  Bannockburn, 
Ciuncernrng  which  every  part  of  Scotland  has  its 
^«;cti1iar  ireditioxis^  The  Orcadians  say  that  a 
•Korwh?4?ian  pnnce,  then  their  fuler,  callcu  by  them 
Harold,  broaght  HCK>  men  of  Orkney  to  the  assist- 
ance t>f  BnKrf^^  nnd  rhnt  ilie  King,  at  a  critical  pe- 
riled of  the  -lirt^o-'J^i-nt,  touched  him  with  nis 
scabbard,  saying,  *  The  day  is  against  us.'—'  I  trust,* 
returned  the  Orcadian,  'your  Grace  will  venture 
again:*  which  has  given  rise  to  their  motto,  and 
passed  into  a  proverb.  On  board  at  half-past  t^iree, 
and  find  Bessy  Millie  a  woman  9f  her  word,  for  the 
eipected  breeze  has  sprung  up,  if  it  but  last  us  till 
we  double  Cape  Wrath.  Weigh  anchor  (I  hope) 
to  bid  farewell  to  Orkney.* 

"  The  land  in  Orkney  is,  generally  speaking,  ex- 
cellent, and  what  is  not  fitted  for  the  plous^h,  is  ad- 
mirably adapted  for  pasture.  But  the  cultivation  is 
Tery  bad,  and  the  mode  of  using  these  extensive 
commons,  where  they  tear  up,  without  remofse,  the 
turf  of  the  finest  pasture,  in  order  to  make  fuel,  is 
absolutely  execrable.  The  practice  has  already 
peeled  and  exhausted  much  nne  land,  and  must  in 
the  end  ruin  the  country  entirely.     In  other  res- 

Ejcts,  their  mode  of  cultivation  is  to  manure  forbar- 
y  and  oats,  and  then  manure  again,  and  this  with- 
out the  least  idea  of  fallow  or  green  crops.  Mr.  Rae 
thinks  that  his  example— and  he  farms  very  well- 
has  had  no  effect  upon  the  natives,  except  in  the 
article  of  potatoes,  which  they  now  enltivate  a  little 
more,  but  crops  or  turnips  are  unknown.  For  this 
slovenly  labour  the  Orcadians  cannot,  like  the  Shet- 
land men,  plead  the  occupation  of  fishing,  which  is 
wholly  neglected  by  them,  excepting  that  about  this 
time  of  the  year  all  the  people  turn  out  for  the  dog- 
fish I  the  liver  of  which  affords  oil.  and  the  bodies 
area  food  as  much  valued  here  by  the  lower  classes 
as  it  id  contemned  in  Zetland.  We  saw  nineteen 
•  lAd  Teiffnmouth,  in  hn  recent "  Skctchci  of  the  Couts  and 
'— '-  of  Scotland, '  iiaya— •'  The  ptiblication  of  !ho  Pirate  gatis- 


tbe  nauvea  of  Orkney  at  to  the  authonhip  of  the  Waverley 

«to.    It  was  n'niarked  by  tho«e  who  had  accompanied  Sir 

alter  Scott  in  hia  cxctinriona  in  the»e  Iiland*.  that  tho  vivid 

'—^  which  (he  work  oontdna  Were  confined  to  thow 

eh  he  vttitcd."-VoI.  l  p.  88. 


boats  out  9f.  this  work.  But  cod,  tusk,  fing,  had- 
docks, d^.,  which  aboufid  rouiHi  tnese  isles,  ars  Co- 
tally  neglected.  Their  inieriority  in  husbandry  is 
therefore  to  be  ascribed  to  the  prejudices  of  the 
people,  who  are  all  peasants  of  the  lowest  order. 
On  Lord  Arm  ad  ale's  estate,  thentunber  of  tenantry 
amounts  to  300,  and  the  average  of  rent  is  about 
seven  pounds  each.  What  can  be  expected  from 
such  a  distribution ;  and  how  is  the  nec^sary  res- 
triction to  take  place,  without  the  greatest  immediate 
distress  and  hardship  to  these  poor  creatures?  It  is 
the  hardest  chapter  in  economicks ;  and  if  1  woe 
an  Orcadian  laird,  I  feel  1  should  shuffle  on  With  the 
old  useless  creatures,  in  contradiction  to  my  better 
judgment  Stock  is  improved  in  these  islands,  aod 
the  norses  seem  to  be  better  b/ed  than  in  Shedand: 
at  least,  I  have  seen  more  clever  animals.  The  good 
horses  find  a  ready  sale ;  Mr.  Rae  gels  twenty  gui- 
neas readily  for  a  colt  of  his  rearing — to  be  aure,  they 
are  very  good. 

**  Six  o'c/ocA:.— Our  breeze  has  carried  us  through 
the  Mouth  of  Hoy,  and  so  into  the  Atlantic.    The 
northwestern  face  of  this  island  forms  a  ledge  of 
high  perpendicular  cliffs,  which  might  have  surpris- 
ed^ us  more,  had  we  not  already  seen  the  Ord  of 
Bressa]^,  the  Noup  of  Noss,  ana  the  precipices  of 
the  Fair  Isle.    But  these  are  formidable  enough. 
One  projecting  cliff,  from  the  peculiarities  of  its  foni^ 
has  acQuired  the  name  of  the  Old  Man  of  Hoy,  and 
is  well  known  to  mariners  as  marking  the  entraocs 
to  the  Mouth.    The  other  jaw  of  this  mouth  ia  form- 
ed by  a  lower  range  of  crags,  called  the  Burgb  of 
Birsa.    The  access  through  this  strait  would  beeasy, 
were  it  not  for  the  Island  of  Grsemsay,  lying  in  the 
very  throat  of  the  passage,  and  two  otner  islands 
covering  the  entrance  to  the  harbour  of  Stromness. 
Grsmsay  is  infamous   for   shipwrecks,  and  the 
chance  of  these  God-tends^  as  tnev  were  impiously        * 
called,  is  said  sometimes  to  have  ooubled  the  value 
of  the  land.    In  Stromness,  I  saw  many  of  the  sad 
relics  of  snip  wrecked  vessels  applied  to  very  odd  pur- 
poses, and  indeed  to  all  sorts  of  occasioos.    The 
gates,  or  grinde^  as  they  are  here  called,  are  usuallvof 
ship  planks  and  timbers,  and  so  are  their  bridges,  oe. 
These  casualties  are  now  much  less  common  since 
the  lights  on  the  Skerries  and  the  Start  have  been 
established.  Enoilgh  of  memoranda  for  the  present.^ 
We  have  hitherto  kept  our  course  pretty  well ;  and 
a  King^s  ship,  about  eighteen  guns  or  so,  two  miles 
upon  our  lea-boom,  has  shortened  sail,  apparently 
to  take  us  under  her  wing,  which  may  not  be  altoge- 
ther unnecessary  in  the  latitude  of  Cape  Wratii» 
where  several  vessels  have  been  taken  by  Vankee- 
Doodle.    The  sloop-of-war  looks  as  if  she  could 
bite  hard,  and  is  supposed  by  our  folks  to  be  tbs 
Malay.    If  we  can  speak  the  captain  we  will  invite 
him  to  some  grouse,  or  send  him  some,  aa  he  hkes 
best,  for  Marchie's  campaign  was  very  successful 

"  mh  August,  18l4.-Bessy  MilUe'a  charm  has 
failed  us.  After  a  rainy  night,  the  wind  has  coma 
round  to  the  north-west,  and  is  getting  almost  con- 
trary. We  have  weadiered  Whitien-head,  howevcn 
and  Cape  Wrath,  the  north-western  extremity^oC 
Britain,  is  now  in  sight.  The  weather  gets  rtio/ 
and  squally.  Hamilton  and  Erskine  keep  thor 
berths.  Duff  and  I  sit  upon  deck,  like  two  great  besn^ 
wrapt  in  watch-cloaks,  the  sea  flying  over  us  every 
now  and  then.  At  length;  after  a  sound  buffeuo^ 
v^ath  the  rain,  the  doubling  Cape  Wrath  with  this 
wind  is  renounced  as  impracticable,  and  we  stand 
away  for  Loch  EriboL  a  lake  running  into  tho  exten-; 
sive  country  of  Lord  Reay.  No  sickness ;  we  begio  to  . 
get  hardy  sailors  in  that  particular.  The  ground 
rises  uporius  very  bold  and  mountainous,  especially 
a  very  high  steep  mountain,  calUd  Bcn-y-HopSi 
at  the  head  of  a  lake  called  Loch  Hope.  The  wea- 
ther begins  to  mitigate  as  we  get  under  the  lea  of 
the  land.  Loch  Kribol  opt^ns,  running  up  into  a 
wild  and  barren  scene  of  crags  and  hills.    The  pro- 

Ccr  anchorage  is  said  to  be  at  the  head  of  thelak&' 
ut  to  go  eight  miles  up  so  narrow  an  inlet  would 
exposeus  to  be  w^ind-bound.  A  pilot  boat  comes  on 
from  Mr.  Anderson's  house,  a  principal  tacksmaa/ 
of  Lord  Reay's.    After  some  discussion  we  anchort 


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UPE  OP  am  WALTER  i^con*. 


whbin  a  reef  of  sunken  rockf,  nearly  opponte  to 
Mr.  Anderson's  house  of  Rispan :  the  situation  is 
not,  we  are  given  to  understand,  altogether  without 
danf^er  if  the  wind  should  blow  haroT  but  it  is  now 
cairn.  Ill  front  of  our  anchorage  a .  few  shapeless 
patches  of  land,  not  exceeding  a  few  yards  in  dia- 
meter, have  been  prepared  for  corn  by  the  spade, 
and  bear  .wretched  crops.  All  the  rest  of  the  view 
ts  after  barrenness;  the  distant  hills,  we  ane  told, 
contain  plenty  of  deer,  being  part  of  a  forest  belong- 
ing to  Lord  Keay,  who  is  proprietor  of  all  the  exten- 
sve  range  of  desoladon  now  under  our  eye.  The 
water  has  been  kinder  than  the  land,  for  we  hear  of 
plenty  of  salmon,  and  haddocks,  and  lobsters,  and 
tend  oor  faithful  minister  of  t|io  interior,  John  Pe- 
ten,  the  steward,  to  procure  some  of  those  good 
things  of  this  very  indifferent  land,  and  to  invite 
Mr.  Anderson  to  dine  with  us.  Pour  o'clock,— John 
has  just  returned,  successful  in  both  commissions, 
and  the  evening  concludes  pleasantly. 

"  I9th  Augrut,  1814.  Lod%  Eriboh  near  Cape 
WraA^—Yf ent  off  before  eight  a.  m.  to  breakfast 
with  our  friend  Mr.  Anderson.  His  house,  invisible 
from  the  vessel  at  her  moorings,  and,  indeed,  from 
any  part  of  the  entrance  into  Loch  Eribol,  is  a  very 
comforuble  one,  lying  obscured  behind  a  craggy 
eminence.  A  little  creek,  winding  up  behind  the 
crag,  and  in  front  of  the  house,  forms  a  small  bar- 
bofff,  and  gives  a  romantic  air  of  concealment  and 
taagDesM.  There  we  Ibund  a  ship  upon  the  stocks, 
boUt  from  the  keel  by  a  Highland,  carpenter,  who 
had  magnanimousljr  declined  receiving  assistance 
from  any  of  the  ship-carpenters  who  happened  to 
be  here  occasionallv,  lest  it  should  be  said  he  could 
not  have  finished  bis  task  without  their  aid.  An 
ample  Highland  breakfast  of  excellent  new- taken 
berring,  eqaal  to  those  of  Lochfioe,  fresh  haddocks, 
fre^  eei;8.  and  fresh  butter,  not  forgetting  the  bot- 
tle of  vvhisky,  and  bannocks  of  barley  and  oat-cakes, , 
with  the  Lowland  luxuries  of  tea  and  coflee.  After 
breakfast,  took  the  long-boat,  and  under  Mr.  An- 
derson's pUotage,  row  to  see  a  remarkable  natural 
cariosity,  called  Uamh  Smowe,  or  the  Largest  Cave. 
Stevenson^  Marchie,  and  Dufi,  go  by  land.  Take 
the  fowUofi^-piece,  and  shoot  some  sea-fowl,  and  a 
large  hawk  of  an  imcommon  appearance.  Pire  four 
abots,  and  kill  three  times.  After  rowing  about 
duee  miles  to  the  westward  of  the  entrance  from 
the  sea  to  Loch  Eribol,  we  enter  a  creek,  between 
two  ledges  of  very  high  rocks,  and  landing,  find 
oorselves  in  front  of  the  wonder  we  came  to  see. 
The  exterior  apartment  of  the  cavern  opens  under 
a  tremendous  rock,  facing  the  creek,  and  occupies 
the  f^l  space  of  the  ravine  where.we  landed.  From 
the  top  of  the  rock  to  the  base  of  the  cavern,  as  we 
*  aHerwaids  discovered  by  plumb,  is  eighty  feet,  of 
which  the  height  of  the  arch  is  fifty-three  feet ;  the 
rest,  being  twenty- seven  feet,  is  occupied  by  thepre- 
diMtoosrock  under  which  it  opens;  the  width  is  ful- 
ly in  proportion  to  this  great  height,  beins^  110  feet. 
The  depth  of  this  exterior  cavern  is  200  feet,  and  it 
ia^Tparently  supported  by  an  intermediate  column 
of  natural  rock.  Being  open  to  daylight  and  the 
tea  air,  the  cavern  is  perfectly  clean  and  drjr,  and 
the  sides  are  incrustcu  with  stalactites.  Thisim- 
moise  cavern  is  so  well-proportioned,  that  I  was 
not  aware  of  its  extraordinary  height  and  extent, 
tiU  I  saw  our  two  friends,  who  had  somewhat  pre- 
ceded us,  having  made  the  journey  by  land,  appear- 
ing like  pigmies  among  its  recesses.  Afterwards, 
on  entennf;  the  cave,  I  climbed  up  a  sloping  rock  at 
its  extremity,  and  was  much  struck  with  the  pros- 
pect, looking  outward  from  this  magnificent  arched 
cavern  upon  our  boat  and  its  crew,  the  view  being 
otherwise  bounded  by  the  ledgo  of  rocks  which 
funned  each  side  of  the  creek.  We  now  propose  to 
uivestigate  the  farther  wonders  of  the  cave  of 
Smowe.  In  the  right  or  west  side  of  the  cave  opens 
an  intFrior  cavern  of  a  different  aspect.  The  height 
of  this  second  passage  may  be  about  twelve  or  four- 
teen feet;  and  its  breadth  about  six  or  eight,  neatly 
taned  into  a  Gothic  portal  by  the  hand  of  nature. 
The  low«rr  part  of  this  porch  is  closed  by  a  ledge  of 
lock,  rimog  to  the  height  of  between  five  and  six 
'      28       T 


tir 

feet,  and  which  I  can  compare  to  nothing  but  the 
hatch-door  of  a  shop.  Beneath  this  hatch  a  brook 
finds  its  way  out,  forms  a  black  deep  pool  before  the 
Gkithic  archway,  and  then  escapes  to  the  sea,  and 
forms  the  creek  in  which  we  landed.  It  is  some- 
what difficult  to  approach  this  strange  pass,  so  as 
to  gain  a  view  into  the  interior  of  the  cavern.  By 
clambering  along  a  broken  and  dangerous  cliff,  you 
can,  however,  look  into  it :  but  only  so  far  as  to  see 
a  twilight  space  filled  with  dark-coloured  water  in 
great  agitation,  and  representing  a  subterranean 
lake,  moved  by  some  fearful  convulsion  of  nature. 
How  this  pond  is  supplied  with  water  you  cannot 
see  from  even  this  point  of  vantage,  but  vou  ore 
made  partly  sensible  of  the  truth  by  a  sound  like  the 
dashing  of^  a  sullen  cataract  within  the  bowels  of 
the  earth.  Here  the  adventure  has  usually  been 
abandoned,  and  Mr.  Anderson  only  merttioned  two 
travellers  whose  curiosity  had  led  them  farther.  We 
were  resolved,  however,  to  see  the  adventures  of 
this  new  cave  of  Montesinos  to  an  end.  Duff  had 
already  secured  the  use  of  a  fisher's  boat  and  its 
hands,  our  own  log-boat  being  too  heavy  and  far  too 
valuable  to  be  ventured  upon  this  Cocytus.  Accord- 
ingly the  skiff  was  dragged  up  the  brook  to  ^e 
rocky  ledge,  or  hatch,  wfiich  barred  up  the  intenor 
cavern,  and  there,  by  force  of  hands,  our  boat's  crew 
and  two  or  three  fishers  first  raised  the  boat's  bow 
upon  the  ledgfe  of  rock,  then  brought  her  to  a  level, 
being  poised  upon  that  narrow  hatch,  and  lastly 
launched  her  down  into  the  dark  and  deep  anbter- 
ranean  lake  within.  The  entrance  was  so  narrow, 
and  the  boat  so  clumsy,  that  we,  who  were  all  this 
while  cUnging  to  the  rock  like  sea-fowl,  and  with 
scarce  more  secure  footing,  were  greatly  alarmed 
for  the  safety  of  our  trusty  sailors.  At  the  instant 
when  the  boat  sloped  inward  to  the  cave,  a  High- 
lander threw  himself  iri to  it  with  great  boldness  and 
dexterity,  and,  at  the  expense  of  some  bruises^ 
shared  its  precipitate  fall  into  the  waters  under  the 
earth.  This  dangerous)  exploit  was  to  prevent  the 
boat  drifting  away  from  us,  but  a  cord  at  its  stern 
would  have  been  a  safer  and  surer  expedient. 

"  When  our  ei\fant  perdu  had  recovered  breath 
and  legs,  he  brought  the  boat  back  to  the  entrance, 
and  took  us  in.  We  now  found  ourselves  embark- 
ed on  a  deep  black  pond  of  an  irregular  form,  the 
rocks  rising  like  a  dome  all  around  us,  and  nigh 
over  our  heads.  The  light,  a  sort  of  dubious  twilight, 
was  derived  from  two  chasms  in  the  roof  of  the 
vault,  for  that  offered  by  the  entrance  was  but  tri- 
fling. Down  one  of  those  rents  there  poured  from 
the  height  of  eighty  feet,  in  a  sheet  of  foam,  the 
brook,  which,  after  supplying  the  subterranean  pond 
with  water,  nnd's  its  way  out  beneath  the  ledge  of 
rock  that  blocks  its  entrance.  The  other  skylight, 
if  I  may  so  term  it,  looks  out  at  the  clear  blue  sky. 
It  is  impossible  for  description  to  explain  the  impres> 
sion  made  by  so  strange  a  place,  to  which  we  had 
been  conveyed  with  so  much  difficulty.  The  cave 
itself,  the  pool,  the  cataract,  would  have  been  each 
separate  objects  of  wonder,  but  all  united  together, 
and  af!bctin^  at  once  the  ear,  the  eye,  and  the  ima- 
gination, their  efiect  is  indescribable.  The  length 
of  this  pond,  or  loch,  as  the  people  here  call  it,  is  se- 
venty feet  over,  the  breadth  about  thirty  at  the  nar- 
rowest point,  and  it  is  of  greai  depth. 

'*  Ad  we  resolved  to  proceed,  we  directed  the  boat 
to  a  natural  arch  on  the  righ^  hand,  or  west  side  of 
the  cataract.  This  archway  was  double^  a  high  arch 
being  placed  above  a  very  low  one.  as  m  a  Roman 
aqueduct.  The  ledge  of  rock  which  forms  this 
lower  arch  is  not  above  two  feet  and  a  half  high 
above  the  water,  and  under  this  we  were  to  pass  in 
the  boat;  so  that  we  were  fain  to  pile  ourselves 
flat  u|>on  each  other  like  a  loyer  of  herrings.  By 
this  judicious  disposition  we  were  pushed  in  safety 
beneath  this  low-browed  rock  into  a  region  of  utter 
darkness.  For  this,  however,  we  were  provided,  for 
we  had  a  tinder-box  and  liKhis.  The  \iew  back 
upon  the  twilight  lake  we  had  crossed,  its  sullen 
eddies  wheeling  round  and  round,  and  its  echoes 
resounding  to  tne  ceaseless  thunder  of  the  w^er- 
fall,  seemed  dismal  enough,  and  Y^^/^^^^f^ 


M 


by  temporary  darknass,  and  m  aome  degrae  by  a 
sense  of  danger.  The  lights,  however,  dispelled 
the  tatter  sensation,  if  it  prevailed  to  iny  extent,  and 
we  now  found  ourselves  in  a  narrow  cavern,  sloping 
somewhat  upward  from  the  water.  We  got  out  of 
the  boat,  proceeded  along  some  slippery  places  upon 
shelves  of  the  rock,  and  gained  the  dry  land.  I 
cannot  say  dry,  excepting  comparatively.  We  were 
then  in  an  arched  cave,  twelve  feet  high  in  the  root, 
and  about  eight  feet  in  breadth,  which  went  wmdmg 
into  the  bowels  of  the  earth  for  about  an  hundred 
feet  The  sides,  being  (like  those  of  the. whole  ca- 
vern) of  limestone  rock,  wore  covered  with  stalac- 
tites, and  with  small  drops  of  water  like  dew,  glan- 
cing like  ten  thousand  thousand  sets  of  birth-day 
diamonds  under  the  glare  of  our  lii^hts.  In  some 
places  these  stalactites  branch  out  mto  broad  and 
curious  ramifications,  resembling  coral,  and  the  fo- 
liage of  submarine  puints. 

'*  When  we  reached  the  extremity  of  this  passage, 
we  found  it  declined  suddenly  to  a  horrible  ugly  gulf, 
or  well  fiUed  with  dark  water,  and  of  great  depth, 
over  wliich  the  rock  closed.  We  threw  in  stones, 
which*  indicated  great  profundity  by  their  sound; 
f  and  growing  more  familiar  with  the  horrors  of  this 
den,  we  sounded  with  ati  oar,  and  fimnd  about  ten 
feet  depth  at  the  entrance,  but  discovered,  in  the 
same  manner^  that  the  gulf  extended  under  the  rock, 
deepening  as  it  went,  God  knows  how  far.  Imagi- 
nation can  figure  few  deaths  more  horrible  than  to 
be  sucked  under  these  rocks  into  some  unfathom- 
able abyss,  where  your  corpse  could  never  be  found 
to  give  intimation  of  your  fate.  A  water  kelpv,  or 
an  evil  spirit  of  any  aquatic  propensities,  could  not 
choose  a  filter  abode  ;  and,  to  say  the  truth,  I  be- 
lieve at  out  first  entrance,  and  when  all  our  feehngs 
were  afloat  at  t)ie  novelty  of  the  scenoi  the  unex- 
'  pected  plashing  of  a  seal  would  have  routed  the 
whole  dozen  of  us.  The  mouth  of  this  ugly  gulf 
was  all  covered  with  slimy  alluvious  substances, 
which  led  Mr.  Stevenson  to  observe,  that  it  could 
have  no  separate  source,  but  must  be  fed  from  the 
waters  of  the  outer  lake  and  brook,  as  it  lav  upon 
the  same  levbi.  and  seemed  to  rise  and  fall  with 
them,  without  having  any  thing  to  indicate  a  sepa- 
rate current  of  its  own.  Rounding  this  perilous 
hole,  or  gul^  upon  the  aforesaid  alluvious  substan- 
ces, which  formed  its  shores,  we  reached  theextre- 
taitv  of  the  cavern,  which  there  ascends  like  a  vent, 
or  nmliel,  directly  up  a  sloping  precipice,  but  hide- 
ously block,  and  slippery  from  wet  arid  ^ea- weeds- 
One  of  our  sailors^  a  Zetlander,  climbed  up  a  good 
way,  and  by  holding  up  a  light,  we  could  plainly 
perceive  that  this  vent  closed  after  ascending  to  a 
considerable  height ;  and  here,  therefore,  closed  the 
adventure  of  the  cave  of  Smowe,  for  it  appeared 
utterly  imposj^ible  to  proceed  further  in  any  mrection 
whatever.  There  is  a  tradition,  that  the  first  Lord 
Reay  went  through  various  subterranean  abysses, 
and  at  length  returned,  after  ineffectually  endea- 
vouring to  penetrate  to  the  extremity  of  the  Smowe 
cave ;  but  this  must  be  either  fabulous,  or  an  exag- 


UFB  OF  SIR  WALTER  SOOfT*  0 

him  the  very  picture  of  Ba>o,ift  the  caid^  whan  hm 

wakes  in  Charon's  boat. 
'  When  Bibo  tbought  fit  (torn  this  world  to  utxtaU 
As  fall  of  Champagoe  as  an  eu's  faU  of  msat. 
He  waked  in  the  boat,  and  to  Charon  he  said. 
Thakho  would  be  row'd  back,  for  he  was  n«  yet  4eaa.* 

"  Descending  from  our  superior  station  •!!  the  ti|^ 
per  arch,  we  now  again  embarked,  and  spent  Boma 
time  in  rowing  abont  and  examining  this  aeorad 
cave.  We  coirid  see  cor  dusky  entrance,  m to  whjcte 
daylight  streamed  faint,  and  at  a  considerable  diiH 
tance;  and  under  tlie  arch  of  the  outer  cavern  stood 
a  sailor,  with  an  oar  in  his  hand,  lookinsu  in  the  per- 
spective like  a  fahrv  with  his  wand.  We  at  I^ifl[tk 
emergea  unwi1Ungiy  from  this  eztraordmary  oayn. 


and  again  enjoyed  ouraelvea  in  llie  Urge  «ieiior 
cave.  Our  boat  Was  hoisted  with  some  difficoltr 
over  the  ledge,  which  appears  the  natural  barrier  of 
the  interior  apartments,  and  restoipdin  safety  to  tke 
fishers,  who  were  propedy  gratified  for  the  hszam 
which  then  skift  as  well  as  one  of  ihemselvea,  had 
endured.  After  this  we  resolved  to  ascend  the  rocka, 
and  discover  the  opening  by  which  the  cascade  wtm 
discharged  from  above  mto  the  second  cave.  Kv 
skine  and  I,  by  sane  chance,  took  the  wroBf^  aoo 
of  the  rocks,  and,  after  some  scrapibhog,  flotmto 
the  face  of  a  dangeroos  precipioe,  where  Era^a. 
to  my  great  alsmi,  timied  fptldy.  and  dedaioa 
could  not  go  farther.  I  clanibered  op  without  ma 
difficulty,  and  shoudng  to  the  people  below,  go  two 
of  them  to  assist  the  Counsellor,  who  was  brought 
into,  by  the  means  which  have  sent  many  a  «ood 
fellow  out  o^  Hbe  world— I  mean  a  rope.  We  emdy 
found  the  brook,  and  traced  its  descent  tdlit  praa- 
pifates  itself  down  a  chaam  of  tfae  ro^  into  fbe 
subterranesn  apartment,  where  we  first  made  nm 
acquaintance.  Divided  by  a  natural  arch  of  stooo 
from  the  chasm  down  which  the  cascade  talla,  there 
is  another  rent,  which  aerres  as  a  skylight  to  the 
cavern,  as  I  already  noticed.  Standing  on  a  oatpm 
foot-bridge,  formed  by  the  arch  which  divides  tbeee 
two  gidfs,  you  have  a  grand  prospect  into  both.  Tba 
one  IS  deep.  Mack,  and  silent,  only  afiRirding:  at  Aa 
bottom  a  glimpse  of  the  dark  andT  sullen  pool  whicli 
occupies  the  interior  of  the  cavern.  The4ight-hajHl 
rent,  down  which  the  stream  discharges  itatSL 
seems  to  ring  and  reel  with  the  nnoeasing  roar  or 
the  cataract  which  envelopes  its  side  in  mist  and 
foam.  This  part  of  the  scene  alone  is  worth  a  dayja 
journey.  After  heavy  rains,  the  torrent  is  discfaarff- 
cd  into  this  cavern  with  astonishing  violence;  and 
the  size  of  the  chasm  being  inadequate  to  thereoe^ 
lion  of  such  a  volume  of  water,  it  is  thrown  np  in 
spouts  like  the  blowing  of  a  whale.  But  at  suek 
limes  the  entrance  of  the  cavern  is  inaccessildei 

"  Taking  leave  of  this  scene  with  regret,  we  row- 
ed back  to  Loch  Enbol.  Having  yet  an  hour  to 
spare  before  dinner,  we  rowed  across  the  mouth  of 
the  lake  to  its  shore  on  the  east  side.  Thb  rises 
into  a  steep  and  shattered  stack  of  mouldering  cal* 
careous  rock  and  stone,  called  Whiten  Head.  It  is 
pierced  with  several  caverns,  the  abode  of  seals  and 


geralcd  account  of  such  a  journey  as  we  performed.  I  cormorants.    We  entered  one.  where  our  guide  pro- 


And  under  the  latter  supnosition,  it  is  a  curious  in 
stance  how  little  the  people  in  the  neighbourhood  of 
this  curiosity  have  cared  to  examine  it 

"  In  returning,  we  endeavoured  to  familiarize  our- 
selves with  the  objects  in  detail,  which,  viewed  to- 
gether, had  strucR  us  with  so  much  wonder.  The 
stalactites,  or  limy  inchistationsf  upon  the  walls  of 
the  cavern,  are  chiefly  of  a  dark-brown  colour,  and 
in  this  respect,  Smowe  is  inferior,  according  to  Mr. 
Stevenson,  to  the  celebrated  cave  of  Macallister  in 
the  Isle  ot  Skye.  In  returning,  the  men  with  the 
Hghts,  and  the  various  groups  and  attitudes  of  the 
party,  gave  a  good  deal  of  amusement.  We  now 
^entur«i  to  clamber  along  the  side  of  the  rock  above 
the  subterranean  water,  and  thus  gained  the  upper 
arch,  and  had  the  satisfaction  to  see  our  admirable 
and  good- hunK>u red  commodore,  Hamilton,  floated 
Wieath  the  lower  arch  into  the  second  cavern.  His 
goodly  countenance  being  illumined  by  a   single 


mised  to  us  a  grand  sight,  and  so  it  certainly  wouM 
have  been  to  anv  who  had  not  just  come  from 
Smowe.  In  this  last  cave  the  sea  enters  thnmgh  a 
lofty  arch,  and  p^enetrates  to  a  great  depth ;  but  tba 
weight  of  the  tide  made  it  dangerous  to  venture 
very  far,  so  we  did  not  see  the  extremity  of  Friskin's 
Cavern,  as  it  is  called.  We  ahot  several  cormorants 
in  the  cave,  the  echoes  roaring  like  thunder  at  every 
discharge.  We  received,  however,  a  pro|>er  rebnke 
from  Hamilton,  our  commodore,  for  killing  any 
thing  which  was  not  fit  for  eating.  It  was  in  vain  I 
assured  him  that  the  Zetlanders  make  excellent 
hare-soup  out  of  these  sea-fowl.  He  wfll  listen  lo 
no  subordinate  authority,  and  rules  us  by  the  Akna- 
nach  des  Gtourmands.  Mr.  Anderson  showed  me 
the  spot  where  the  Norwegian  monarch,  Hacoh 
,  moored  his  fleet,  after  the  discomfiure  he  received 
at  Largs.  He  caused  all  The  cattle  to  be  driven  from 
the  hills,  and  houghed,  and  slain  upon  a  broad  flat 


candle,  his  recumbent  posture,  and  the  appearance   rock^  for  the  refreshment  of  his  dispirited  army. 
Of  a  hard-ftivoured  fellow  guiding  the  boat,  made  I  Mr.  Anderson  dmes  withias,^a|^Y^|/^bandBomeif 


UFB  OF  SSI  WALTOR  SCOTT. 


[iwwiiftli  qf  with  %  ttockof  aalmoau  hadd»cki»  and 
i»ibrtA|  wnion  we  nquita  by  a  small  present  oTwine 
fipHn  OBI  mem.  storm.  This  nas  been  a  fine  day  i  the 
firai  fair  d«y  here  ibr  these  eight  weeks. 

**  90ih  Augiutt  1814.' Sail  by  four  in  the  morning, 
aod  by  half*past  six,  are  oft  Cape  Wrath.  All 
hMwda  ashore  by  seven,  and  no  tune  allowed  to 
brsak£ast,  except  on  beef  and  biscuit.  On  this  dread 
CiM  so  (atal  to  mariners,  it  is  proposed  to  build  a 
BgQinoi2s«b  and  Mr.  Stevenson  has  fixed  on  an  ad- 
Taata«;eou8  situation.  It  is  a  high  promontory,  with 
Sleep  sd«fl  thatgo shoes doMEU  to  the  breakers,  which 
lash  its  teeC  There  is  no  landing,  except  in  a  small 
oeek  about  a  mile  and  a  half  to  the  eastward. 
Tliere  the  foam  of  the  sea  plays  at  long  bowls  with 
a  bi^  collection  of  large  stones,  some  of  them  a 
u>a  m  weight,  but  which  these  fearful  billows  chuck 
af>  and  down  as  a  child  tosses  a  ball.  The  walk 
from   thence  to  the  Cape  was  over  rough  boggy 

orand,  bat  good  she^pasture.   Mr. Dunlop, 

iirothef  to  the  laird  of  Dunlop,  took  from  Lord  Reay, 
•ome  feaurs  since,  a  large  track  of  sheep-land,  in- 
cia£iiX  the  territories  of  Cape  Wrath,  for  about 
£300  a-year,  for  the  period  of  two-nineteen  years 
and  a  life-rent.  It  is  needless  to  say,  that  the  tenant 
has  an  immense  profit,  for  the  value  of  pasture  is 
now  o^iderstood  here.  Lord  Reay's  estate,  con- 
taininic  lao^OOO  square  acres,  and  measuring  eighty 
miles  by  sixty,  was  before  commencement  ox  the 
lash  leasee,  rented  at  £  1.200  a-year.  It  is  now 
voftfa  £5j,000t  and  Mr.  Anderson  says  he  may  let  it 
this  eosuic^  year  (when  the  leases  expire)  for  about 
£lS,000.  fiat  then  he  must  resolve  to  part  with  his 
people,  for  these  rents  can  only  be  given  upon  the 
suDpoaition  that  sheep  are  generally  to  be  mtrodu- 
ced  on  the  property.  In  an  economical,  and  perhaps 
in  a  political  point  of  view,  it  might  be  best  that  eve* 
xy  part  of  a  country  were  dedicated  to  that  sort  of 
occupation  for  which  nature  has  best  fitted  it.  But 
ts  meet  this  reform  in  the  present  instance.  Lord 
Reay  mast  turn  out  several  himdred  families  who 
have  lived  iHiderhim  and  his  fathers  for  many  gene- 
ratk)BS,  and  the  swords  of  whose  fathers  probably 
«0D  the  lands  from  which  he  is  now  expelling  them. 
He  is  a  good-natured  man.  I  suppose,  for  Mr.  A. 
nys  he  is  hesitating  whether  he  shall  not  take  a 
more  moderate  rise,l£7000  or  £8000,)  and  keep  his 
Highland  tenantry.  This  last  war  (before  the  short 
peace,)  he  levied  a  finefencible  corps,  (the Reay  fen- 
c^ks,)  and  might  have  doubled  their  number. 
Wraith  is  no  doubt  atreng^  in  a  country,  while  all 
is  quiet  and  governed  bx  law,  but  on  any  altercation 
Of  internal  commotion,  it  ceases  to  be  strength,  and 
is  only  the  means  of  tempting  the  strong  to  plunder 
the  possessors.    Much  may  be  said  on  both  sides.* 

"'Cape  Wrath  is  a  striking  point,  both  from  the 
tfigni^  of  its  own  appearance,  and  from  the  mental 
aa^ciation  of  its  being  the  extreme  tape  of  Scol- 
Lud,  wiiKreference  to  tne  north-west.  There  is  no 
land  in  the  direct  line  between  this  point  and  Ame- 
lica.  I  saw  a  pair  of  large  eagles,  and  if  I  had  had 
the  rifle-gun  might  have  nad  a  snot,  for  the  birds, 
wben  I  first  saw  them,  were  perched  on  a  rock 
within  about  sixty  or  seventy  J^ards.  They  are,  I 
sippose,  Utile  disturbed  here,  for  they  showed  no 
ocat  alarm.  After  the  Commissioners  and  Mr. 
^evenson  had  examined  the  headland,  with  refer- 
eace  to  the  site  of  a  lighthouse,  we  strolled  to  our 
boat,  and  came  on  board  between  tea  and  eleven. 
Get  (he  boat  np  upon  deck,  and  set  sail  for  the 
Lewis  with  li^ht  winds  and  a  great  swell  of  tide. 
Pass  a  rocky  tslet  called  Oousla.  Here  a  fine  ve^ 
mh  was  lately  wrecked ;  all  her  crew  perished  but 
one.  who  got  upon  the  rocks  fi'om  the  boltsprit,  and 
was  afterwards  brooght  off.  In  front  of  Cape  Wrath 
afe  some  angry  breakers,  called  the  Stagga ;  the 
rsdts  which  occasion  them  are  visible  at  low  water. 
1^  coimtry  behind  Cape  Wrath  swells  in  high 
•vseping  elevations,  but  without  any  pictnrew]ue  or 
(fiRnifiea  mountainoiiB  scenery.  But  on  saiUng  west- 

*  Tha  whole  of  the  imoiciiM  district  called  Lord  Hemt'f  town- 
tj^HfaefaftbitatioBMivbAckaa  history  reacbcs  of  the  dan  Mac- 
kir-hw  passed,  since  Sfr  W.  Scott's  journal  was  written,  into 
tbv  fantk  of  the  mbto  &mily  of  Sotberland. 


i  w«|rd  a  Urn  milaa,  particnUrlx  alter  doubling  a  head- 
'  land  called  the  Stour  of  Aasint,  the  coast  assumes 
,  the  true  Highland  character,  bdng  skirted  with  a 
I  succesmon  6i  picturesque  mountains  of  every  variety 
of  height  and  outUne.    These  are  the  hills  of  Ross- 
shbe— a  waste  and  thinly-peopled  district  at  this 
extremity  of  the  island.    We  would  willingly  have 
learned  thenameft  of  the  most  remarkable,  but  they 
;  are  only  laid  down  in  the  charts  by  the  cant  names 
,  fnven  them  by  mariners,  from  their  appearance,  as 
,  the  Sugar-loafI  and  so  forth.    Our  breeze  now  in- 
creases, and  seems  steadily  favourable,  carrying  us 
\  on  with  exhilarating  rapidity,  at  the  rate  of  eight 
I  knots  an  hour,  with  the  romantic  outline  of  the 
,  mainland  under  our  lee-beam,  and  the  dusky  shores 
of  the  Long  Island  banning  to  appear  ahead.   We 
remain  on  deck  long  after  it  is  dark,  watching  the 
phosphoric  effects  occasibned,  or  made  visible,  by 
,  the  rapid  motion  of  the  vessel,  and  enlightening  her 
I  course  with  a  continued  succession  of  sparks  and 
I  even  flashes  of  broad  light,  mingled  with  the  foam 
:  which  she  flings  from  her  bows  and  head.    A  rizard 
\  haddock,  and  to  bed.    Charming  weather  all  day. 
I     *^2\9t  August,  1814.— Last  night  went  out  like  a 
lamb,  but  tms  morning  came  in  like  a  hon,  all  roar 
and  tumult.    The  wind  shifted  and  became  squally  t 
,  the  mingled  and  confiised  tides  that  run  among  the 
r  Hebrides  got  us  among  their  eddies,  and  gave  the 
cutter  such  concussions,  that,  besides  reeling  at  eve- 
;  ry  wave,  she  trembled  from  head  to  stem,  with  a 
sort  of  very  uncomfortable  and  ominous  vibration, 
'  Turned  out  about  three,  and  went  on  deck ;   the 
prospect  dft^nr  enough,  as  we  are  beating  up  a  naiv 
j  row  channel  between  two  dark  and  disconsolate- 
looking  islands,  in  a  gale  of  wind  and  rain,  guided 
only  by  the  twinkhng  glimmer  of  the  light  on  an  is- 
land called  Elian  Olaa— Go  to  bed  and  sleep  sound 
ly,  notwithstanding  the  rough  rocking.  Great  bust' 
about  four ;  the  light-keeper  having  eeen^our  flag 
comes  off  to  be  our  pik^t,  as  in  duty  Dound.    Asleep 
again  till  eight.    When  I  went  on  deck,  I  found  we  . 
had  anchored  in  the  little  harbour  of  Scalpa,  upon 
the  coast  of  Harris,  a  place  dignified  by  the  resi- 
dence of  Charles  Ekiward  in  his  hazardous  attempt 
to  escape  in  1746.    An  old  man,  lately  alive  here^ 
called  Donald  Madeod,  was  his  host  and  tempora- 
ry protector,  and  could  ;iot,  until  his  dying  hour, 
mention  the  distresses  of  the  Adventurer  without 
tears.    From  this  place,  Charles  attempted  to  go  to 
Stomoway ;  but  the  people  of  the  Lewis  had  taken 
arms  to  secure  him,  under  an  idea  that  he  was  eom- 
ing  to  plunder  the  country.    And  although'his  faith- 
fufattendant,  Donald  Maoleod,  induced  them  by  fair 
wordS}  to  lay  aside  their  purpose,  yet  they  insisted ' 
upon  his  leaving  the  island.    So  the  unfortunate 
Prince  was  obliged  to  return  back  to  Scalpa.    He 
afterwards  escaped  to  South  Uist,  but  was  chased 
in  the  passage  by  Captain  Fergusson's  sloop  of  war. 
The  harbour  seems  a  Httle  neat  secure  place  of  an- 
chorage.  «Within  a  small  island,  there  seems  more 
shelter  than  where  we  are  lying;  but  it  ia  crowded 
with  vessels,  part  of  those  whom  we  saw  in  the 
I^ng-Hope— so  Mr.  Wilson  chose  to  remain  outside. 
Tne  ground  looks  hilly  and  barren  in  the  extreme ; 
but  I  can  say  httle  for  it,  as  an  incessant  ram  pre- 
vents my  keeping  the  deck.    Stevenson  and  unS, 
accompanied  by  JMarchie.  go  to  examine  the  light- 
hoQSe  on  Elian  Olas.    Hamilton  and  Erskinewaep 
their  beds,  having  scarce  slept  last  night— and  I 
bring  up  my  journal.    The  day  condnues  bad,  with 
little  intermission  of  rain.    Our  party  return  with 
little  advantage  from  their  expedition,  ezcaptine 
sooae  fresh  butter  from  the  lighthouse.    The  har- 
bour of  Scalpa  is  composed  of  a  great  number  of  lit- 
tle uninhabited  islets.    The  masts  of  the  vessels  at 
anchor  behind  them  have  a  good  effect.    To  bed  ear- 
ly, to  make  amends  for  last  night,  with  the  purpose 
of  sailing  for  Dun  vegan  in  the  Isle  of  Skye  with 
daylight?' 

CHAPTER  XXXI. 

DIARY  CONTINmCD— ISLB  OP  HAiaiS— MOKUMHlTTe  OV 
THE  CRIKP8  or  MACLBOD— ISLK  OF  4KTa^pinifa7> 

Digitized  by  VJiOVJV  IC 


320 


LIFE  OF  SIR  WALTER  SCOT^. 


OAN     CASTLS— LQCH      COBRISDN— MACAtLlSTIB'B 
CAVE.— 1814. 

"^d,  August,  1814.— Sailed  early  in  the  morning 
from  ScJdpa  Harbour,  in  order  lo  cross  the  Minch, 
or  Channel,  for  Dunvegan;  but  the  breeze  being 
contrary,  we  cun  only  creep  along  the  Harns  shore, 
until  we  shall  gain  the  advantage  of  the  tide.  Tlie 
east  coast  of  Harris,  as  we  now  see  it,  is  of  a  cha- 
racter which  sets  human  industry  at  utter  defiance, 
consisting, of  high  sterile  hills,  covered  entirely  with 
stones,  with  a  very  slight  sprinkUng  of  stunted  hea- 
ther. Within,  appear  still  higher  peaks  of  moun- 
tains. 1  have  never  seen  any  thing  more  unpropi- 
lioufl,  excepting  the  southern  aide  of  Griban.  on  the 
shores  of  Loch-na-Gaoil,  in  the  Isle  of  Mull.  We 
sail  along  this  desolate  coast  (which  exhibits  no 
mark  of  human  habitation)  with  the  advantage  of 
a  pleasant  day,  and  a  brisk,  though  not  a  favourable 
gale.  Two  o  clock— l^v/  ashore  to  see  the  little 
harbour  and  village  of  Rowdill,  on  the  coast  of  Har- 
ris. There  is  a  decent  three- storied  house,  belong- 
ing to  the  laird,  Mr.  Macleod  of  the  Harris,  where 
we  yrere  ^old  two  of  his  female  relations  lived.  A 
lar^e  vessel  had  been  stranded  last  year,  and  two  or 
three  carpenters  were  about  repairing  her,  but  in 
such  a  style  of  Highland  laziness  that  I  suppose 
she  may  Aoat  next  century.  The  harbour  is  neat 
enough,  but  wants  little  more  cover  to  the  east- 
wardT  The  ground,  on  landing,  does  not  seem  al- 
together so  desolate  as  from  the  sea.  In  the  former 
pdmt  of  view,  we  overlook  all  the  retired  glens  and 
crevices  which,  by  infinite  address  and  kibour,  are 
rendered  capable  of  a  little  cultivation.  But  few  and 
evil  are  the  patches  so  cultivated  in  Harris,  as  far  as 
we  have  seen.  Above  the  house  is  situated  the  an- 
cient church  of  Rowdill.  This  pile  was  unfortu- 
nately burned  down  by  accident  someyears  since,  by 
fire  takin^tto  a  Quantity  of  wood  laid  m  for  fitting  it 
up.  It  is  a  building  in  the  form  of  a  cros^  with  a 
rude  tower  at  the  eastern  end,  likasome  old  English 
churches.  Upon  this  lower  are  certain  pieces  of 
sculpture,  of  a  kind  the  last  which  one  would  have 
expected  on  a  building  dedicated  to  religious  pur- 
poses. Some  have  lately  fallen  in  a  storm,  but 
enough  remains  to  astonish  us  at  the  grossness  of 
jthe  architect  and  the  age. 

'  "  Within  the  church  are  two  ancient  monuments. 
The  first,  on  the  right  hand  of  the  pulpit,  presents 
the  effigy  of  a  warrior  completely  armed  in  plate 
armour,  with  his  hand  on  his  two-handed  broad- 
sword. His  helmot  in  (i*?ak«<i«  with  a  porfiet  or  upper 
corslet,  which  see  1 1 1  s  to  Is 6  tji n H o  of  mm\.  H i »  Iih  i ire 
lies  flat  on  the  murnnncnL  Rtid  in  in  bo^  reli^'ri,  of  rhe 
natural  size.  Th--  Linih  v«liiie::h  iturmoimi&  thi^  mo- 
nument is  curiou;^ly  curved  with  the  flpjures  ol  [he 
apostles.  In  the  Elat  Kpsce  of  the  wuii  bL'iii'aih  the 
arch,  and  above  tin*  lombiitofio,  ^m  n  vohety  of 
compartments,  etiiihitina  ihe^  arias  of  the  IVIuc- 
leods,  being  a  gaHey  with  thLi  Eaila  ^prfmj^  a  n^de 
View  of  Diaivegaii  Ctii^tlc,  somn  eaints  atidrdi^ic  us 
emblems,  and  a  La  tin  inscription,  of  which  ^ur 
time  (or  skill)  was  inaJi quale  to  dfcipher  ilm  first 
line;  but  theothi  r.^  >tnnuuncpd  the  tenant  of  the 
monumen  t  to  be  ^  -  r  n  n  dtr^^tius  VI  - 1'  ^ :  r '  ■  - :  ,i  lic- 
Ltcod,  (U  Dunvegatty  Anno  uni  m.cccc.xxviji.  A 
much  older  monument  (said  also  to  represent  a 
Laird  of  Macleod)  lies  in  the  transept,  but  without 
any  arch  over  it.  It  represents  the  grim  figure  of 
a  Highland  chief,  not  in  feudal  armour  like  the  for- 
mer, but  dressed  in  a  plaid — (or  perhaps  a  shirt  of 
mail)— reaching  down  below  theknees,  with  abroad 
sort  of  hem  upon  its  lower  extremity.  The  figure 
wears  a  high-peaked  open  helmet,  or  8(nill-cap,  with 
a  sort  of  tippet  of  mail  attached  to  it,  which  falls 
over  the  breast  of  the  warrior,  pretty  much  as  wo- 
men wear  a  handkerchief  or  short  shawl.  Thie 
remarkable  figure  is  bearded  most  tyrannically,  and 
has  one  hand  on  his  long  two-handed  sword,  the 
other  on  his  dirk,  both  of  which  hang  at  a  broad 
bell.  Another  weapon,  probably  his  knife,  seems 
to  have  been  also  attached  to  the  baldric.  His  feet 
Tost  on  his  two  dogs  entwined  together,  and  a  simi- 
*ar  emblem  is  said  to  have  supported  his  head,  but 
IS  now  defaced,  ast indeed  the  whole  monument 


bears  marits  of  the  unfortrmate  fire.  A  lion  is  pla- 
ced at  each  end  of  the  stone.  Who  the  hero  w»« 
whom  this  martial  monument  commemorated,  ^^re 
could  not  learn.  Indeed,  our  cicerone  wis  but  im- 
perfect. He  chanced  to  be  a  poor  devil  of  an  excise- 
officer  who  had  lately  made  a  seizure  of  a  still  ui>on 
a  neighbouring  island,  after  a  desperate  resistance. 
Upon  seeing  our  cutter,  he  mistook  it.  as  has  o^en 
happened  to  us,  for  an  armed  vessel  belon^ng  ta  the 
revenue,  which  the  appearance  and  equipmenis  of 
the  yacht,  and  the  number  of  men,  make  her  re- 
semble considerably.  He  wtis  much  disappointed 
when  he  found  we  had  nothing  to  do  with  the  triboie 
to  Caesar,  and  begged  us  not  to  undeceiTC  the  na- 
tives, who  were  so  much  irritated  against  htm^  that 
he  found  it  necessary  to  wear  a  loadra  pair  ofpistola 
in  each  pocket,  which  he  showed  to  our  Master, 
Wilson,  to  convince  him  of  the  perilous  state  in 
which  nc  found  himself  while  exercising  so  obnox- 
ious a  duty  in  the  midst  of  a  fierce- tempered  people, 
and  at  many  miles  distance  from  any  possible  coun- 
tenance or  assistance.  The  village  of  RowdiH  con- 
sists of  Highland  huts  of  the  common  construction^ 
t.  c  a  low  circular  wall  of  large  stones,  without 
mortar,  deeply  sunk  in  the  ground,  surmounted  by 
a  thatched  roof  secured  bv  ropes,| without  any  chim- 
ney but  a  hole  in  the  root  There  may  be  forty  anch 
houses  in  the  village.  We  heard  that  the  laird  was 
procuring  a  -schooimasteV^— he  of  the  parish  being 
ten  miles  distant— and  there  was  a  neatness  about 
the  large  house  which  seems  to  indicate  that  things 
are  going  on  well.  Adjacent  to  the  chorchvard 
were  two  eminences,  apparently  artificial.  UpK)n 
one  was  fixed  a  stone,  seemingly  the  staff  of  a  cross ; 
upon  another  the  head  of  a  cross,  with  a  sculpture 
of  the  crucifixion.  There  monuments  (which  refer 
themselves  to  Catholic  times  ,of  course)  are  popu- 
larly called,  The  Cro«W«te— crosslets,  or  little 
crosses. 

"  Gret  on  board  at  five^  and  stand  across  the  Sound 
for  Skye  with  the  ebb-tide  in  our  favour.  The  sun- 
set being  delightful,  we  enjoy  it  upon  deck,  admirinfr 
the  Sound  on  each  side  bounded  by  islands.  That 
of  Skye  lies  in  the  east,  with  some  very  high  moun- 
tains m  the  centre,  and  a  bold  rocky  coast  in  front, 
opening  up  into  several  lochs,  or  arms^of  the  sea  : 
—that  of  Loch  Folliart,  near  the  upper  end  of  which 
Dunvegan  is  situated,  is  opposite  to  us.  but  our 
breeze  has  failed  us,  and  the  flood- dde  will  soon  set 
in^  which  is  likely  to  carry  us  to  the  northward  of 
this  object  of  our  curiosity  until  next  morning.  To 
the  west  of  us Ues  Harris,  with  its  variegatedridgeB 
of  mountains,  now  clear,  distinct,  and  free  from 
clouds.  The  sun  is  just  setting  behind  the  Island 
of  Bcrnera,  of  which  we  see  one  conical  hill.  North 
Uist  and  Benbecula  continue  from  Harris  to  tho 
southerly  line  of  what  is  called  the  Long  Island. 
They  are  as  bold  and  mountainous,  and  probably 
as  barren  as  Harris— worse  they  cannot  be.  Un- 
numbered islets  and  holms,  each  of  which  has  its 
name  audits  history,  skirt  these  larger  isles,  and  are 
visible  in  this  clear  evening?  as  distinct  and  separate 
objects,  lying  lone  and  quiet  upon  the  face  of  the 
undisturbed  and  scarce-nppling  sea.  To  our  berths 
at  ten,  after  admuing  the  scenery  for  some  time, 

"23c2  August  1814.— Wake  under  the  Castle  of 
Dunvegan,  in  the  Loch  of  Folliart.  I  had  sent  a 
card  to  the  Laird  of  Macleod  in  the  morning,  who 
came  oflf  before  we  were  dressed,  and  carriea  us  to 
bis  castle  to  breakfast.  A  pan  ol  Dunvegan  is  very 
old;  'its  birth  tradition  notes  not.'  Another  large 
tower  was  built  by  the  same  Alaster  Macleod  whose 
burial-place  and  monument  we  saw  yesterday  at 
Rowdill.  He  had  a  Gaelic  surname,  signifying  the 
Hump-backed.  Roderick  More  (knigh  led  by  James 
VI.)  erected  a  long  edifice  combining  these  two  an- 
cient towers :  andother  pieces  of  building,  form- 
ing a  square,  were  accomplished  at  diflerent  times. 
Tne  whole  castle  occupies  a  precipitous  mass  of 
rock  overhanging  the  lake,  divided  by  two  or  three 
islands  in  that  place,  which  form  a  snug  little  har- 
bour under  the  walls.  Thcr6  is  a  court-yard  looking 
out  upon  the  sea,  protected  by  a  battery,  at  least  a 
succession  of  embrasures,  for  only  two  guns  are 


ujn  oif  SIR  WAL'nsa.sooTT. 


^dint^  n.nA  thme  unlit  for  servicd.  Tbf?  an  dent 
t-:rraf]c.^  ro.g^'  up  §  fljgbtof  dk^ps  cut  in  ihe  rocki 
t  "» d  into  this  cQurtr^riJ  through  n.  poriaii  but 

1  v  dennjIUhcd.    Toil  land  under  the  castle, 

1m^,.  j-  (ilkinj^  round,  find  yoyrself  in  front  af  ii. 
JiOi  waj»oTi|CQnanf  muccessible,  for  a  brcuk  coming 
d^im  oil  the  i?ne  *id&  a  chasm  of  tht  rock«  on  thy 
o^tko^  ajid  a  ditcb  in  fmni,  muide  it  uiij.>i?rviicius-  Bui 
tbilaielCiinleod  built  a  bridji^G  over  the  mroam,  and 
If^impient  lairti  is  exijcuiinij  an  t^ntrani^e  siiitabie  lu 
tte  c}ii^r«<?ter  of  ltu»  reniurkabh^  fjrtahix^  bj'  ms^ 
1^  «poriaJ  b<lw«;ft  two  odvandd  towers  ahd  t\ti 
fli^ir  couft,  from  wliich  he  propoaea  to  throw  m  dm w- 
^^ti^&twr  to  th«  hikjh  rock  in  front  of  the  caatLe 
*T1u^  if  f»«li  e^Mufl^4  cannot  fail  to  Uii\y  a  «i>ijfi 
!ia4  ciiif^c teris lie  effect .  We  vvere  mo ^t  k in d1  y  a nd 
HpV^lably-  recdved  by  Ihe  chieftain,  hi&  lady^  pmi 
ki*  l^jl^  ;*  the  two  laat  art"  pretty  and  accoEnpUsb- 
^JNPWR  wouterit  a  sr>rt  ■>f  p*it»onA  whom  wti  havt 
fof  aome  lime  I  and  1  wa^^  quite  as  muiMi 
with  renewing  my  aL^^iinhKanee  with  thtim, 

,  iIm  lil^ht  of  a  gjod  iii?td  of  bark  >  just  cu?, 

ft^firfl  Hsfve^t  we  havf!  seen,)  not  to  m^^iuiuti  an 
live  youfij^  t>IantaTion  and  some  muldlc-agt^i 
tl»oci£h  alt  had  b^^eo^irangtra  to  mint?  eytf* 
I  leflXt^th-  In  the  i^rddn— or  riither  the  or- 
caanl  vrhich  waa  formerly  the  garden— ia  tk  pri>tty 
gad&  divided  into  two  branches^  and  railed  Rorie 
IfOR^s  Nurfee,  bc(?att»a  he  loved  to  he  lulled  to  ale'^p 
br  mt  •ooiid  of  it.  The  day  was  rainy,  or  M  least 
n£4Miift^  i4  w^  eould  not  walk  fftr  from  the  cn:^- 
ih.  BiAmt^s  the  a^aiatance  of  thi^  laird  himRclil 
^*Wir*#  iiio»i  ooliitly  and  easily  aitc'nii^'e,  wu  hmi 
ihi^iof  iLT)  ijnteHLCiiu  ^^entleriianlike  clurR>'man,  Mr 
l^uorj  miu  iJ^.ter  of  Omore,  to  oxptain  the  miUdt.- 
p^pr^  WltKi  [)  the  cai^tte  w  e  ia  w  a  rem  a  rka  b  le  d  rin  k  - 
\m  OJR  with  an  iti^criptLon  dattid  a,d,  9!}:],  wliich 
t  MVfl  neacribed  pa  rticula  rly  id  s*.'  w  here,  1  I  aa  w  a  |  n) 
1  ban^  ^*^  a  pt^imon  of  sdkt  wuh  somcthmi;  like 
rcada  nd  rowan-herrii«  wroti^ht  upon  it.  We  aUo 
ft#cbe  drinking- horn  of  Rorie  Mort\  holding  about 
tifi*  Dm  IB  English  mea^tire,  an  ox'e  horn  tipped 
villi  jUvrTi  uotT^tearly  so  Urcrc'A^  Watt  of  HarLun's 
tamk^  T^  r««t  of  t!ie  curioaitje^i  iT^  the  t^astle  are 
£ilS%  Icidism,  excepting  an  old  dirk,  and  the  fraj^- 
'  ^"^lL5  twohanded  sword.  We  learn  ih?it  moat 
a^MjshUnd  at) petit]  tion£^  even  that  of  ihe  iMi- 
^l»  i^ro  Bti^]  in  forcti^  fvruagaoh,  a  sort  of 
i£fiflt IV*  often  mt'orioned  by  Martin  m  hia 
"pf  theW<»ienj  Uland^,  h.i's  si  ill  hi.^  plact^ 
but  mfnodcrniztd  into  a  tall  man,  always 
with  a  lt>n£  coat  aod  white  wajnteoat 
FMttft  ft  '^U?  plea^ani  day.  I  should  havf  said  tke 
fiaj«||ftS  bod  thftie  proptrdes-  Produced  in  buttle, 
ndl^Letl  ihe  numhiirs  of  iIie  Mncletid 3— spread 
r%f  fib|rtiAl  b^.  it  cnsujt.'d  fertility— and  lastly^  it 
ujb  bcTring  into  the  loch.t 

*  l^_Ma^^H«i  tfom  Mr*.  np€-nncr  P4-rfl*¥nl. 

*  SaJMav  U^il  aftW  Jiii.>ir  J^ditt'i  I'oclicali  Wij-k^.  ml-  %.  :>. 


,  (wrikXHi  (n  iiiaoj  nyfrn  lo  (Ju^  nigti*  ^f  tijj*  si3c(  d!  Au. 
Bli  liil,  fl#  uivnljfu^i  thai  twiL^  in  hi*  Iru*  ti^t  baJ  ripcr'ttnc^ 
SpiapMilnQ  l*nifn  til*''  Sr^'^h  call  <^rfy«  ;  ii{!\'h'!i  d  niiefp*'|iir"^j'  nf 
IWMi^  fHtti  ^n  (hp  cJi«tV  of  <:>lii minis,  whi^'h  F^^ui  ulri'nil^  l>^  <  ' 
Wt^  (4WJF«'  [^  49-^S(l;,l  «ai[  |)n>^«i;'i'ii  thitJi;^"  AmM  ^ii''l> 
HJajf  mfigp*  [rafinivii,  I  ba(l£ri)<ni  MAckul  nni:]  hi^  idilif  rJi" 
iBin^    fl(f  Ul*  liflUnUftl   iipjirtnv^nL  nf  tJw     rtsNi',  J!fnn(t 

j^aim9Laiip^>  I  itifT^t  li^  bunfii>i«d  inffi^tbd     AnHdrdin^' 

||^  I  ^^  ivBiBwMifii  ^  it  atwm  Lb(t  wiirhitir  \vyva     LxE#fii .  [f^r 
■  inyifj^A,  hihI  tiw?  v»tn<niA  thirki';"u  nf  "-h- 

i  crn-tiuithWiirr,  TinSbtFiC  nodlid  h«lY4ir<^j  hi 

„|#  mti-rim  ol"  fti^  Biflrtrnfjit .  Imi  if  rtio  ki  ■■=  ■  i 
i  tho  Tii"tii  w:i«  ai]rlT  HI  Ni  <^( trP' vpxiitd  ^'ith  I  hi' 

ilrtTtrur  niM»l  twetiKr  il .  ?w<^H  ikiTi*  ttif  LfuulilcH;!  bilbiwt 

fibiC'rPit'vri.ii'watlj^  P(jtn>^pi1<.'pJ,  niKt  (if  flti  diarlrH^I. 

nbp^l  1^1  wiM  dJviri-lAF  F4n  111"  ^Ittjiv,  anitcof^nyjl  tvirh 

[k  T^U  nrmrkii,  ^liith,  hniiH  from  l|ip>  «i^  in  t^fm* 

ij|*Knc  iJif  Itumu)  l!ffUTif.  Jiiv**  riLil?j.inpJ  thi  tprtnw 

Iji'lfn'*.  oi^ili  in  carli  «  nirtpi.  KHH-inpil  nu  tint  n!~ 

•  of  tlw  etorm.    Thin  wni  jo(n"thinc  uf  t^v  dir 
in  iV *n?n?  >  for.  w  a  pktftfm  WrH-nih  thi^  wkn 
mr^Tpt  baitrff  or  Harmon  ^  wliif:h  hn<1'»wfit'iinT"» 
_  iKwrlrt  fSiTHliyTni  (■%>-»  af  li^a^  TPfiJ*    'I'tn'  liiilrtHl  !■    i 
Hat  ilMr  inf  1ha(  \.xif^  ufOkf^  QupII^ti  nirHinrtApnt  whirh  [UI'J  r^tli  >1 
•mbM  (ijM"'  Miw^-WidV  Dfnrnf-T&hlf**.    Tbe  ii?jw  nf  ni?  nn. 

i4«t  iMpt  fin  1^  ^iiiilrT  wui  liftirii  fliinj  tjnt^  t«)  tinic  Tnnnf lifii^  rtt 


"sob  ilimM^i  18U.— This  momiiig  reiiit  with 
difficulty  Biacleod'i  kind  and  pretaing  entreaty  to 
send  round  the  ship  and  go  to  the  cave  at  Airds  bv 
land ;  but  our  party  is  too  large  to  be  acoommodaled 
without  inconyenience,  ana  divisions  are  alwavi 
awkward.  Walk  and  see  Maoleod's  farm.  Tne 
plantations  seem  to  thrive  admirably,  although  I 
think  he  hazards  planting  his  trees  greatly  loo  talL 
Macleod  is  a  spinted  and  judicious  improver,  a^d  if 
he  does  pot  hurry  too  fast,  cannot  fail  to  be  of  ser- 
vice to  his  people.  He  seems  to  think  and  act  much 
like  a  chief;  without  the  fanfaronade  of  the  charac- 
ter. See  a  female  school  jiatronised  by  Mrs.  M. 
There  are  about  twenty  girls,  who  learn  reading, 
writing,  and  spinning :  and  being  compelled  to  ob- 
serve nabits  of  cleanuness  and  neatness  when  at 
school,  will  probably  be  the  means  of  introducing 
them  hy  degrees  at  home.  The  roads  around  the 
castle  are,  generally  speaking,  very  good ;  some  are 
old,  some  made  tmder  the  operation  of  the  late  act. 
Macleod  says  almost  all  the  contractors  for  these 
last  roads  have  failed,  being  tightly  looked  after  bv 
Government,  which  I  confess  I  think  very  right.  If 
Government  is  to  give  relief  where  a|  disadvantage- 
ous contract  has  been  engaged  in,  it  is  plain  it  can- 
not be  refused  in  similar  instances,  so  that  all  calcu- 
lations of  expenses  in  such  operations  are  at  an  end. 
The  dav  being  delightfully  fan-  and  warm,  we  walk 
up  to  the  Church  of  Kilmore.  In  a  cottage,  at  no 
great  distance,  we  heard  the  wt>men  singing  as  they 
watUked  the  cloth  by  rubbing  it  with  then:  hands 
and  feet,  and  screaming  all  the  while  in  a  sort  of 
chorus.  At  a  distance,  the  sound  was  wild  and  sweet 
enough,  but  rather  discordant  when  you  approached 
too  near  the  performers.  In  the  churchyard  (other- 
wise not  remarkable)  was  a  pyramidical  monument 
erected  to  the  father  of  the  celebrated  Simon,  Lord 
Lovat,  who  was  fostered  at  Dunvegan.  It  is  now 
nearly  ruinous,  and  the  inscription  has  fallen  down. 
Return  to  the  castle,  take  our  luncheon,  and  go 
aboard  at  three— Macleod  accompanying  us  in  proper  . 
stvle  with  his  piper.  We  take  leave  of  the  castle, 
where  we  have  been  so  kindly  entertained,  with  a 
salute  of  seven  guns.  The  chief  returns  ashore, 
with  his  piper  piling  *  the  Macleods'  gathering,' 
heard  to  advantage  along  the  calm  and  placid  loch, 
and  dying  as  it  retreated  from  us. 

"  The  towers  of  Dunvegan,  with  the  banner  which 
floated  over  them  in  honour  of  their  ^ests,  now 
ahowed  to  great  advantage.  On  the  nght  were  a 
succession  of  three  remarkable  hills^  with  round 
flat  tops,  popularly  called  Maclc^'s  Dining-Tables. 
Far  behind  these,  in  the  interior  of  Hhe  island,  arise 
the  much  higher  and  more  romantic  mountains,  call- 
ed, Q.uillen,  or  CuilUn,  a  name  which  they  have  been 
said  to  owe  to  no  less  a  person  than  Cuthullin,  or 
CuchulUn,  celebrated  by  Ossian.  I  ought.  I  believe, 
to  notide,  that  Macleod  and  Mr.  Suter  have  both 
heard  a  tacksman  of  Macleod's,  called  Grant,  recite 
the  celebrated  Address  to  the  Sun ;  and  another 
person,  whom  they  named,  Repeat  the  description  of 
CuchulUn's  car.  But  all  agree  as  to  the  gross  infi- 
delity of  Macpherson  as  a  translator  and  editor.  It 
ends  in  the  explanation  of  the  Adventures  in  the 
Cave  of  Montesinos,  afforded  to  the  Knight  of  La 
Mancha,  by  the  ape  of  Gines  de  Passa^nonte— some 
are  true  and  some  are  false.  There  is  little  poetical 
traditbn  in  this  country,  yet  there  should  be  a  great 
deal,  considering  how  lately  the  bard?  and  genea- 
logists existed  as  a  distinct  orde^.  Maclend's  here- 
dilary  piper  is  called  MacCrimmon,  but  the  present 
holder  ot  the  office  has  risen  above  his  profession. 
He  is  an  old  roan,  a  lieutenant  in  the  army,  and  a 
most  capital  piper,  possessing  about  200  tunes  and 
pibrochs,  most  of  wnicn  will  probably  die  with  him, 


and,  as  such,  iiVfnW  deferred  a  lets  «leep]r  inbtbi- 

*  ""    Johnfloo,  who  has  at«niped  hii  me- 

I  looked  aroand  nin,  and  Konderod 


at  Dunvegan:  — , , _ 

tant    In  the  langua^  of  Dr.  Johnaoo,  who  has  atanij 

mory  on  thii  remote  placp.— '  I  looked  aroand  roe,  anc 

that  I  waa  not  more  ailected  :  but  the  mind  ia  not  at  all  timee 
tally  ready  to  be  mored'    In  a  word,  kt  i»  neceamxyto  eonleM 

it.  of  an  I  beaid  or  mw,  the  rooit  eocaginf  ipeetacle  was  the 

comfiirtabie  bed  in  which  I  hoped  to  make  amend*  for  tome  lougb 
niffat*  on  shipboard,  and  where  I  slept  accordhigly  withoot  tUnk* 
ing  of  f^  or  foblin,  UU I  was  called  by  my 
inf." 


«mal 
that. 


LIFE  OP  em  WALTER  «00W. 


U  he  declifiecr  to  ha\e  any  of  Ms  »otib  infll meted  in 
hi^  4Tt.  Hti  pinys  lo  Mat'leod  and  hia  bdy,  but  oniy 
in  the  aanie  rpomj  and  m&jti  tains  hi  J*  minstrel  pn* 
Titej^e  hy  pufiine  oii  hie  tponnef  bo  suon  tifi  he  ua- 
ffm  a  to  pi  a  v.  Ttiesfl  ft  taeCri  mmo  n  &  for  inp  rl  y  krp  t  a 
eollriie  in  Skyy  Rir  tenchjoE?  ihe  pipe- music*  Mnc* 
leod's  pirfi»f'at  p\}t*^r  ia  of  ihp  natne^  hiit  scnrcrly  as 
yel  a  utarou  of  his  LTofi.  He  ployed  every  dtt>^  at 
dinner*  Afler  bsirtg  sischt  of  th<^  Castjp  of  Dunvu' 
gflo,  we  open  nuoihf^r  brunch  of  ihti  loth  on  wiuch 
IT  is  HJEuntetli  and  me  n  small  village  upon  its  diaranl 
bank.  The  mounrninfl  of  Quillcn  contSmte  to  form 
a  bat- ItcTound  to  (he  wL]  J  land^cftpt'  with  their  vn- 
rieflaspd  and  peaked  nutlins.  We  approtit-h  Duriva- 
ean-bt:ad,  a  0€>ld  bUiff  cnpe,  wherts  the  brh  joins'  the 
ocean.  The  weather,  bith<;rto  so  h^fiutiful  that  we 
had  dined  on  d^i^k  en  9ei^n€n.r^,  bectirnea  ovcreai't 
and  hasE^,  with  hst^t!  or  fjti  wind.  Laugh  and  lie 
down. 

^^2b(h  An^tst,  tRI4.— Rifl^i  about  eieht  o'doclt 
the  yaehi  gFidiriK  dtilishtrtiUy  along  ihc  coast  of 
Skye  With  a  fair  wi«d  aud  LKc^^iH^nt  day.  On  the 
opposite  sido  he  ihe  i^larid!^  of  Canna,  Rutn^  nnd 
Muick,  pOpnlarlv  Muck.  On  oi>efjiiiK  the  Sound  ho- 
iwe^n  Rum  and  Can  nSj  see  &  ateep  drcnl ar  rod^ 
firrmin^  one  aide  of  the  Jiatbour,  on  the  point  of 
whicli  we  can  dif*ccrti  the  renojiins  of  a  tower  of 
small  diinanaiona,  built,  it  b  »aid,  by  a  Kin^  of  the 
Isfes  to  *euure  a  wife  tjf  whom  ho  u'a?i  jonlouaH, 
But,  a^  we  kept  thv  Skye  3id«  of  ilio  Sonnti,  we  saw 
litlle  of  these  isUnd  but  wbut  otir  sipy-aln^ites  could 
ihow  UE\  ihc  const  tif  Skyp  j;^  highly  romantic, 
and  at  the  aametinie  diftplflVfd  n  richness  of  vogo- 
tstion  on  the  lowf^  grountf^,  to  whith  t^c  hnve  ni- 
iherto  btscn  siranfers.  We  passi^d  lhr£«  suit  water 
bcha,  OT  deep  en^hayments,  cabled  Loch  Bra<!adaEej 
Loch  Kytiortj  and  Loch  Brittn—and  about  eleven 
o'clock  open  Loch  Scavig.  We  were  now  und&r 
the  western  tcnni natron  of  thf*  hij^h  mount aina  of 
Quillen,  wlioae  wt^ather-bcaten  and  serrated  pcake 
WR  had  admired  fit  a  distance  from  Dun vc^an.  Thty 
Bunk  herf*  upon  the  sea.  but  with  thv  same  bold  and 
pi'rtimptory  ospect  which  ih^-ir  distant  apptaranre 
indicalcti*  They  sifiuincd  to  consist  of  prccipiLoua 
ah  pet  a  of  n3kt?d  rock,  down  which  lb«  tor  rents 
were  leaping  in  a  hundred  lines  of  foam*  The  tops^ 
apparent  I  jf  iuaccc^dblo  to  hmnan  foot,  wtTie  rent 
and  ep(i\h  mto  the  most  if-ernfndou?  pit3Tiadc9 1  to- 
wards th«  base  of  these  bare  and  pTecij>i:tou8  craga^ 
ihe^iraundt  t^nrtchcd  by  i  he  soil  washt^l  away  from 
them',  is  vtrdnnt  ami  pToductivc.  Havipp  pa  at 
wiihirj  iha  atnall  i^U  of  Soa.  we  entrr  Loch  Scavig 
under  ihc  shoulder  of  one  of  the?e  prisly  tuountnini*, 
Bpd  observe  r hut  the  opposite  side  of  rbe  loch  is  or 
II  milder  charaizter,  soften  fid  down  into  *'lccp  groen 
declivities.  From  the  depth  of  th^  bay  advanced  a 
beadland  of  hif;h  rock?  which  dtviii4?d  the  lake  into 
I  wo  receaaee,  from  each  of  which  a  brook  fieemed 
to  issue.  Here  Madcod  had  intiraatpd  we  ahould 
find  a  fine  romantic  lodi,  bur  wo  were  unx;criatn  tjp 
what  inlet  w*e  should  proceed  in  fiearch  of  it*  We 
chose,  against  our  better  judafmcntt  the  southerly  itv- 
ktt  where  wc  saw  a  house  whidi  mipfhl  afibrd  up 
inlbrmntion.  Oti  manning  our  boat  and  ro^^mg 
a»bor/>,  we  observed  a  hurry  amons  the  tnhabii  ants, 
owiuK  in  OUT  being  as  usual  suspected  for  king's 
mtn,  alrhough,  lltraven  koow«,  we  have  tiothm^ 
to  do  with  the  revenots  btit  to  spend  the  part  of  it 
Corre'pomlinft  to  ourecjuiprnt^nt.  Wi?find  that  there 
h  a  Iftke  adblning  to  tach  branch  of  the  bay,  and 
foohshty  walk  n  eognle  of  miles  to  aee  that  nejtt  rhe 
farm-hi:pu»e,  niefdy  bee  a  rise  (he  honest  man  seemed 
jealous  of  ihe  honour  of  his  own  fochi,  tboiiKh  we 
were  speed ily  co/ivmeed  it  wn»  not  that  whidi  we 
had  betn  recommended  to  examine,  U  had  no  pe- 
cullat  merit  eseepimg  from  it  a  noiijhbourbood  to  a 
very  Hi^rh  cliff  or  mountain  of  precipitous  graniif;  \ 
other wi.HC,  the  sheet  of  water  doea  cot  «)iqual  t^ven 
Cauidihida  l^ch,  Bemrtiod  and  re-cnibarked  in 
emr  hoar^  for  our  ifuide  ahaok  bis  brad  at  our  pro]>o- 
aat  to  climb  over  the  peninsula  which  diridee  the  two 
bays  and  the  two  lake«*  I  n  romn*!  routid  the  head- 
Irad,  Biirpn#edat  the  iiifimio  nynilier  of  tea-fowl, 
thaH  buay  apparently  with  a  ehoal  of  fieh  j  at  the 


d£pth  of  the  bay,  find  that  the  dtftchante  £rontliii 
«econd  lake  forms  a  sort  of  waterfall  or  rather  iipidi 
rotind  this  place  were  assembled  hundreds  of  trosa 
and  salmon  stru^lins  to  get  up  into  the  fresh  wner; 
with  a  net  we  mi^t  nave  had  twenty  salmon « t 
haul;  and  a  sailor,  with  no  better  hook  than  t  crock 
ed  pin.  caught  a  dish  of  treats  daring  our  absens. 
*'  AdTsncmg  up  this  hnddUng  and  riotous  bnxi 
we  found  ourselves  in  a  most  extraordinarf  soeot; 
we  were  surrounded  by  hills  of  the  boldest  and  luos 
precipitoaa  character,  and  on  the  margin  of  a  iiit 
which  seemed  to  have  sustained  the  consiaBinTi- 
fSes  of  torrents  from  these  rude  neighboati  11^ 
shores  consisted  of  hoge  layers  "of  naked  gma^ 
here  and  there  intermixed  with  bogs,  and  h«pi(s 
gravel  and  sand  marking^the  course  of  tonMi. 
Vegetation  there  was  littRPor  none,  and  the  iDt& 
tains  rose  so  perpendicularly  from  the  water's  ed?, 
that  Borrt)wdale  is  a  jest  to  them.  We  procwd 
about  one  mile  atid  a  half  up  this  deep,  dark,  la 
solitary  lake,  which  is  about  two  miles  lonft  ht^fi 
mile  broad,  apd,  as  we  learned,  of  extreme  d«i 
The  vapour  which  enveloped  the  mouniaia  rsp 
obliged  us  by  assuming  a  thousand  shapeR,  nrr^ 
its  veils  in  all  sort  of  fowis,  but  sometimes  mm 
off  altogether.  It  is  trlie  it  made  us  pay  the  pe» 
ty  by  some  heayr  and  downright  showen^  froaa 
frequency  of  which,  a  Highland  boy,  ^hoaii 
brought  nom  the  farm,  told  us  the  laJie  waspapss- 
ly  called  the  Water  Kettle.  The  proper  nt«« 
Loch  Cotriskin,  from  the  deep  corrte  orwHajn 
the  mountains  of  CuiHin,  which  aflbrds  theM* 
for  this  vronderful  aheet  or  water.  It  is  as  axm 
as  a  savage  st;ene,  as  Loch  Kainnie  is  as  a  torn 
stem  beau  ty,  After  having  penetrated  so  ^  tfj 
tinctly  to  observe  the  termination  of  the  lake,  wm 
an  immense  nrrountain  which  rises  abruptly  fiwaP* 
he^d  of  the  waters,  we  returned,  and  often »«« 
to  admire  the  ravages  which  storms  nrasi  ii 
made  in  these  recesses,  when  all  human  wtti^ 
were  driven  to  places  or  more  shelter  and  i« 
Stonesi  or  rather  laree  massive  frajBracnts  of 
of  a  compoaite  kino,  perfectly  different  frc© 
granite  barriers  of  the  lake,  lay  upon  thcrock)' 
m  the  straneest  and  n^t  preoanouf  situatiosj] 
if  abandoned  by  the  tbrrents  which  had  boroef 
down  from  above;  sbrae  lay  loose  and  tojj 
upon  the  ledges  of  the  natural  rock,  with  so  n^ 
ctmty  that  the  shghtest  push  movad  them, 
their  weight  exoe«ded  many  tons.  These d 
rocks  were  chieflx  '^^^^  are  called  phim- 
Btones.  Those  whtcfaibrmed  the  shore  wci«f 
The  opposite  side  of  me  lake  seemed  <niite  r 
as  a  husre  mountain,  ope  of  the  detached  i 
the  CtuiJlen,  sinks  in  a  profound  and  almost  p 
dicular  predpice  down  to  the  water.  Obw* 
hand  side,  which  we  traversed,  rose  a  higto*^ 
equally  inaccessible  nwuntain,  the  top  of  ^ 
seemed  to  (Contain  the  crater  of  an  ezh 
cano.  I  never  saw  a  spot  on  which  th^n  ^^JJ 
anpearance  of  vegetation  of  any  kind ;  the  e^ 
ed  on  nothing  but  brown  and  piiked  crags^*  m  (^ 


'  Barelr  liainan  ave  hu  kaown 
jeeoe  m  slem  aaihatd^d  lake, 
With  its  dark  ledte  0?  bwfen  alooe. 


Beeans  that  farimeiM)  aaithqiake^  iivAjr 
Hatb  rent  a  4tnu««  and  •hallar'd  way 


Tlirouib  the  rude  kowmaf  the  UD  i 
And  that  Melk  naked  wndtiot. 
Sable  ravine,  and  daik«btat, 

TBllaoftkaoatraMaCiU. 
Tha  wiUvl^ni,  bottim,  oaa  ihaw 
Some  louoh  of  Natuie*a«eataljimv  i 


On  high  0eano(e . 

AadfacathbeUa  tMid  indeep  OfenoBM. 

And  COM  oo  GnriBLa-Ben ; 
But  here-Hibo«et  around,  bebw. 

On  mountafa  or  in  cien, 
Nor  trw.  nor  aknib,  nor  plaot,  ac 
Mar  a«|iilol'i«ffeUlivt  power. 

The  weugr  tydroajlDen ; 
FWaUiiffoeka  at  laadein  thrown.      . 
Blaak  waveB.ban  ones,  apd  bann  oraSooe, 

AaifwcnfaerodaoM 
The  mimmcr^  ion.  tfatt  ^vlMfi  «wait  div> 
Tbatdoiha  with  many  a  spaaed  has 

The  hlwAcjt  mouauin'^ida.' 

iMiTaffMJMsfkin-' 


UTS  OF  Mt  WAIOttt  9C0VT. 


IMki  M  wtneh  w«  nybpd  ^r  thg  8bl»  ofibe  look 
«^p»  M  bcm  as  tiie  pvremmt  of  OhMMtde.  There 
••  «&e  or  two  ipouof  »kte  in  the  lo^cn  which  teem 
10  liMr  Ittfuper,  or  some  «uoh  tow  buehy  ehnib. 
'*  Uemmed  fromour  extraordinary  wslkf  and 


ott  bmtd.  Dtping  ^nner,  oar  vessel  quitted  Looh 
Sea^V^  ana  havtig  douUed  ite  southern  cape,  open- 
erf  that  bay  or  sah-waier  Loch  of  Sleapin.  Tnere 
weoc  again  on  sbete  to  visit  the  tate  discovered  and 
moch  celebrated  cavern,  called  MaealKster*s  Oafve. 
It  opens  at  the  end  of  a  deep  ravine  mnntna  upward 
from  the  sea,  and  the  pro|)neior,  Mr.  Maoallister  of 
Strath  Aird»  finding  that  visiters  injured  it,  by  break- 
mK  and  carrying  away  the  stalactites  with  which 
It  aboQiidflt  has  sectired  this  cavern  by  an  eight  or 
niae  feet  wall,  with  a  door.  Upon  inouiring  for  the 
key,  we  Cbuna  U  was  three  miles  up  toe  loch  at  the 
Itird's  house,  il  waa  now  late,  and  to  stay  until  a 
meaaen^^r  had  Rone  and  returned  three  miles,  was 
not  to  be  thought  of;  any  m6re  than  the  alternative 
of  gofng  up  the  loch  and  lying  there  all  night.  We 
thcTpfoTc,  with  regret,  resolved  to  scale  the  wall,  in 
whioh  attempt,  by  the  assistance  of  a  rope  and  some 
tncit^nt  acquaintance  with  orchard  hreakina;,  we 
es^ly  sricceeded.  The  ftrai  entrance  to  this  celebra- 
led  cave  is  rude  and  impromising,  but  the  light  of 
the  torches  with  which  we  were  provided,  is  soon 
reflected  from  roof,  floor,  and  walls,  which  seem  as 
rf  they  were  sheeted  with  marble,  pjirtly  smooth, 
pttrtfy  rough  with  frost  work  and  rustic  ornaments, 
UmI  partly  wrought  into  statuary.  The  floor  forms 
a  steep  and  diflicult  ascent,  and  might  be  fancfftdly 
compared  to  a  sheet  of  water,  which,  while  it  rashecl 
whsfeoing  and  foammg  down  a  declivity,  had  been 
•aiMenly  arrested  and  eonsolidaied  by  the  spell  of  an 
cnettanter.  Upon  attaining  the  summit  of  this  as- 
ftfftr,  tfie  cave  descends  With  e^fual  rapidity  to  Che 
Mnk  of  a  pool  of  the  toobi  Hmpid  water,  about  four 
crttve  yards  broad.  There  opens  beyond  this  pool 
sMtal  arch,  with  beautiful  white  chasing  upon  the 
MSS)  which  promises  a  continuation  or  the  cave. 
One  of  our  aailors  swam  across,  for  there  was  no 
oilier  mode  of  passing,  and  mformed  us  (as  rndsed 
weparfly  saw  by  the  light  he  carried,)  that  the  ^- 
el^ttment  of  Dfacalnster's  cave  terminated  with 
tiaa  portri,  beyond  wluch  there  was  only  a  rude 
ofifiiunT  e>tvem,  speedfly  ^^6d  with  stones  and 
ceilli.  ffctt  the  poM,  on  nie  brink  of  which  we  stood, 
sQfrtmnaed  by  the  most  fanciful  mouldings  in  a 
■^stance  legombUng  white  marble,  and  distmguish- 
ti  bflbe depth  andptirity  of  its  waters,  migm  be 
the  bathing  >7otco  of  a  Naiad.  I  think  a  statuary 
Bi^  catpb  betodful  hitits  mm  die  faneiftd  and 
ivatantic  disposition  o(  the  Btah|ctite8.  There  is 
aearee  «  form  or  group  that  an  active  fancy  may  not 
trace  among  the  grotesque  oforamentB  wnich  nave 
been  gradually  moulded  m  this  caVem  by  die  dfop- 
piai^of  the  o«eareou8  water,  and  its  hardening  into 
petniiactiona :  many  of  these  have  been  destroyed 
by  the  aenseleas  rage  of  appniprittion  among  recent 
tsonstfs  and  the  grotto  has  lost  (I  am  mformed,) 
through  the  smoke  of  torches,  much  of  that  vivid 
fldver  tint  which  was  origmally  one  of  its  chief  dis- 
omrriona.  But  enough  of  beauty  remains  to  com- 
peoffate  for  tS  that  may  be  lost.  As  the  easiest 
node  of  returti^  I  sHd  down  the  polished  sheet  of 
marble  which  form^  the  rising  aaeent,  and  thereby 
inTm^  my  pantalooirs  in  a  way  which  my  jacket  is 
ill  caTcfdated  to  conc^L  Our  wearable^  after  a 
nionth'fl  hard  service,  begin  to  be  firail,  and  there 
tre  daily  demands  for  repahv.  Our  eatables  also 
begin  to  asamne  a  rf  al  nautical  appearnnee-^o  sdft 
btwd—milk  a  tare  comtnodtty— and  those  gentle- 
laa}  most  in  fevour  with  John  Peters,  the  steward, 
who  prefifr  aah  beef  to  fresh.  To  make  amends, 
we  nerer  bear  of  sea-sickrress,  and  thegood-humeur 
and  harmony  of  the  party  oontmue  uninterrupted. 
Wbes  we  left  theeave,  wetarriedofTtwogranosona 
of  III.  Macallisfer'a,  remarkably  fine  boys;  and  Rrs- 
kine,  who  may  he  called  I/ami  de§  Bnfiin»t  treated 
t&vm  most  kintlly,  and  showed  them  all  the  oariosi- 
ties  in  the  vesael,  eaunng  even  the  gona  to  be  fired 
ior  then'  amusement,  bemdss  'fiYling  (heir  pockets 
vkb  almonds  and  rmnna.    So  that,  with  a  hand- ' 


some  lettrt*  of  tmd^t  I  iwps  w«  may*  enm  mr 
evH  hnpiasaion  Mr.  Maoailistar  may  adopt  fiom  our 
storming  the  aaierior  dafiaoea  of  hta  oavam.  After 
having  sent  them  ashore  ki  safety,  stand  oat  of  tW 
bay  with  little  or  np  wind,  for  the  opposite  islaad  af 


CHAPTER  XXXII. 

DIAAY  CONTINUBD— CAVa    OP  EGG— IONA— STAFFA— 
pUNSTAFrNAQE—DUNLUCICAaTLB— GIANTS*  CAUBI- 

WAY— isut  or  AntLxn,  btc— oiAav  conclodko.— 

AUGUST— fifiPTXMBXB,    1814. 

"^^zethAuguaL  18i4.-'At  setfen  this  moraiog  were 
in  the  Sound  which  dhrtdea  the  Isle  of  Rum  from 
thatofRra.  Rum  is  md^  barren,  and  mountainous; 
Egg,  although  hilly  and  rocky,  and  traversed  by 
one  remarkable  ridge  called  ScuirEgg,  has,  in  point 
of  soil,  a  much  more  promising  appearance.  South- 
ward of  both  lies  Muusk.  or  Muck,  a  low  and  fer^ 
island,  and  tiiough  the  least,  yet  probaUv  the  most 
valuable  oc  the  three.  Oaverns  being  stiU  the  cnrder 
of  the  day,  we  man  the  boat,  and  row  along  tha 
shore  of  Elggt  in  quest  of  that  whieh  was  the  mefno* 
raMe  scene  of  a  horrid  feudal  vengeance.  We  had 
rounded  more  than  half  the  bland,  admiring  the 
entrance  of  many  a  bold  nadtral  cave  which  its 
rooks  exhibit,  but  without  finding  that  which  we 
sought,  until  we  procured  a  guide.  This  noted  cava 
has  a  verf  naivow  entraao^  thiongh  which  one  can 
hardly  creep  on  knees  tma  hands.  It  rises  steep 
and  lofty  within,  and  runs  into  the  bowels  of  (be 
rock  to  the  depth  of  855  measured  feet.  The  haigfat 
at  the  entranoa  may  be  about  three  feet,  but  rista  to 
eighteen  or  twenty,  *aod'tha  breadth  may  vary  in 
the  same  proportion.  The  ruda  and  atony  bottom. 
of  tbis  CBVe  is  strewed  with  the  boqea  of  moi, 
wwMen,  and  children,  being  the  sad  relics  of  the 
ancient  inhabitanta  oif  the  wland,  200  in  numbei^ 
who  were  ftlain  on  the  following  occasion  :-^-The 
Maedonalds  of  the  Isle  of  Egg,  a  people  dspendant 
on  Clanranald,  had  dona  some  injury  to  tbe  Ldbd 
of  Maoleod.  The  tradition  of  the  iaia  says,  that  it 
was  by  a  personal  attack  on- tha  chieftain,  i^  which 
his  back  was  broken  $  but  that  of  the  other  iales 
bears  that  the  injury  was  ofibied  ts  two  or  throe  of 
the  ffadeoda,  mo,  landing  span  Bgg  and  nsinar 
some  fk«edom  with  the  yoang  women,  were  aeiiei 
by  tbe  ialaDrd«^  Isnnd  hand  aad  foot,  and  -turned 
adrift  in  a  beat,  vrkneb  tbe  wMs  and  waves  safely 
conducted  to  8kye.  To  avenge  the  offence  givs^ 
Macleedsa^ed  withsuoha  bodyof  menasreiideied 
resistanee  hopeleas.  The  natives,  fearing  his  ven- 
geance, concealed  themsalves  in  this  cavern,  atod 
sAer  strict  seam^  tl^  Madeods  weat  on  board  their 
galleys,  afW*  doing  what  mischief  they  conkl,  con- 
cluding the  mhabltantB  had  left  the  isle.  But  neat- 
mortiing  they  espied  from  their  vesael  a  man  upon 
the  island,  and,  imroadiataiy  Uncting  again,  tbey 
traced  his  rstreat,  by  meana  of  a  \\Ai  snow  on  tha 
gronnd,  to  this  cavern.  Maoleod  nien  summoned 
the  subterraneous  garrison,  and  demanded  that  tbe 
individuals  who  had  offended  hira  should  be  deliver- 
ed ap>  This  was  peremptorily  refused.  The  chief- 
tain thereupon  cauaed  his  people  to  divert  the  course 
of  a  rill  of  witsr.  which,  talwiar  ov«r  the  mouth  df 
the  cave,  wonld  nave  preventcil  his  purpoaed  ven- 
geance. He  then  kindled  at  the  entrance  of  the 
cavem  a  hugefire,  and  maintained  itnntil  all  within 
were  destroyed  by  safifocation.  The  date  of  this 
drsadfiil  deed  must  have  been  fecent,  if  one  can 
judge  fh>m  the  fresh  appearance  of  those  relics.  I 
brought  ofii  in  spite  of  the  prcijudices  of  our  saikors, 
a  skull,  which  seems  that  of  a  youiig  woman. 

**  Before  re-embarking,  we  visit  another  cave 
opening  to  the  sea,  but  of  a  character  widely  difier- 
ent.  beinsr  a  large  open  vatrit  tm  high  as  that  of  a 
cathedral,  and  running  back  a  great  way  into  the 
rock  at  the  same  heknt  {  the  height  and  width  ef 
the  operttng  give  Ngnt  to  the  whole.  Hera,  aflar 
1745,  when  the  Catholic  prieets  weresoaroely  tolera- 
te(),  the  priest  of  Egg  used  to  perform  the  Romish 
service.    A  huge  ledge  of  rock^Unest  hatf^way  o^ 


LIFB  OP  SIR  WALTER  SCOTT. 


ana  ade  of  theYMilt.  Mr?ed  for  altar  and  pulpit} 
and  the  a^^pearance  ot  a  priest  and  Highland  con- 
graflition  in  such  an  extraordinary  place  of  worship. 
Mii^ht  have  encased  the  pencil  of  Salvator.  Most  or 
the  inhabitants  of  Efls;  are  still  CathoUcSi  and  laughat 
their  neighbour^  of  Hum.  who^having  been  convert- 
ed by  the  cane  of  their  chieftain,  are  called  Protett- 
anUqf  tiu  yellow  atick.  The  Presbyterisn  minister 
and  Catholic  priest  bve  upon  this  little  island  on  very 
good  terms.  The  people  here  were  much  irritated 
aeainst  the  men  of  a  revenue  vessel  who  had  sei-^ed 
bH  the  stills,  dkc.,  in  the  neighbouring  Isle  of  Muck, 
with  so  much  severity  as  to  take  even  the  people's 
bedding.  We  had  been  mistaken  for  some  time  for 
this  obnoxions  vessel.  Got  on  board  about  two 
o'clock,  and  agreed  to  stand  over  for  ColL  and  to 
berated  by  the  wind  as  to  what  was  next  to  be  done. 
Bring  up  my  journal. 

"27tfc  Augu^U  1814.— The  wind,  to  which  we  re- 
signed ourselves,  proves  exceedingly  tyrannical, 
and  blows  squally  the  whole  night,  which  with  the 
swell  of  the  Atlantic,  now  unbroken  by  anyiislands 
to  windward,  proves  a  means  of  great  comoustion 
in 'the  cabin.  The  dishes  and  glasses  in  the  stew- 
ard's capboards  become  locomotive—portmanteaus 
and  writing-desks  are  more  active  than  necessary- 
it  is  scarce  possible  to  keep  one's  self  within  bed, 
and  impossible  to  stand  upright  if  you  rise.  Having 
crept  upon  deck  about  four  in  the  morning,  1  find 
we  are  beating  to  windward  off  the  Isle  or  Tyree, 
with  the  determination  on  the  part  of  Mr.  Stevenson, 
that  his  constituents  should  visit  a  reef  of  rocks 
called  Sherry  VKor^  where  he  thought  it  would  be 
essential  to  have  a  lighthouse.  Loud  remonstrances 
on  the  part  of  the  Commissioners,  who  one  and  all 
declare  they  will  subscribe  to  his  opinion,  whatever 
it  may  b^  rather  than  continue  this  infernal  buffet- 
ing. Quiet  perseverance  on  the  part  of  Mr.  S.,  and 
great  kicking,  bouncing,  and  squabbling  upon  that 
of  the  Tacht,  who  seems  to  like  the  idea  of  Skerry 
Vhor  as  httle  as  the  Commissioners.  At  length  by 
dint  of  exertion,  come  in  sight  of  this  long  ndge  of 
rocks,  (chiefly  under  water,)  on  which  the  tide 
breaks  in  a  most  tremendous  style.  There  appear 
a  few  low  broad  rocks  at  one  end  of  the  reef^  which 
ia  abont  a  mile  in  length.  These  are  never  entirely 
under  water,  though  the  surf  dashes  over  them.  To 
go  through  all  the  forms,  Hamilton,  Dnfi|  and  I,  re- 
solved to  land  upon  these  bare  rocks  in  company 
with  Mr.  Stevenson.  Pull  through  a  very  heavy 
swell  with  great  difficulty,  and  approach  a  tremend- 
ous surf  dashing  over  black  pointed  rocks.  Our 
rowers,  however,  get  the  boat  into  a  quiet  creek  be- 
tween  two  rocks,  where  we  contrive  to  land  well 
wetted.  I  saw  nothing  remarkable  in  my  way,  ex- 
cepting several  seals,  which  we  might  have  shot, 
but,  in  the  doubtful  circumstances  of  the  landing, 
we  did  not  care  to  bring  guns.  We  took  possession 
of  the  rock  in  the  name  of  the  Commissioners,  and 
generously  bestowed  our  own  great  names  on  its 
crags  and  creeks.  The  rock  was  carefully  measured 
by  Mr.  S.  It  will  be  a  most  desolate  position  for  a 
lighthouse— the  Bell  Rock  and  Eddystone  a  joke  to 
it,  for  the  nearest  land  is  the  wild  island  of  Tyree, 
at  fourteen  miles'  distance.  So  much  for  the  Skerry 
Vhor. 

"  Game  on  board  proud  of  our  uchlcvetnerit ;  nnd, 
to  the  j^it  delig^iit  of  all  pnrtitau  put  (he  ahip  befort^ 
the  wmAy  ami  run  swimtriinKiy  down  for  lona. 
See  a  lar^e  pqiiart  rigj^ed  vf?9st'L  etijipOE^  jiji  Ame- 
rican, Rtttch  lona  aTioyt  five  o  clDct,  Tht  inliabi* 
taut!*  of  thf  jflb  of  Columbia,  underf;ranctifiK  *^**3ir 
int' Ti-^t  as  wc4l  as  if  ihcy  haii  htm  Doni  bnainicn, 
chariM  iwQ  gamoas  for  pjIcKaKc,  \*hich  Cai/taiti  W. 
dbtisy^  into  fiflceu  efiillmga,  too  mnch  for  (en  mi- 
nptor  work^  We  soou  got  on  tthorf-,  :iii<l  |3ndf?d  in 
th«  bay  of  MnrTyrs.  U^neitifuL  fpr  itei  whit^"  suiidy 
beach.  Hert  nU  cicad  tiodie»  ar^  fltilJ  land^^l,  nnd  \fm 
for  B  tint*?  upon  a  flinaH  ri>cky  *-mrn<3i]cip.  entiled  the 
Swtjyne^  [)«fort>  they  art!  interred-  lofi^i^  tnoln^i  um^ 
I  law  II,  *e*;n]cd  lo  noc  locjontaiTi  lh«  most  wrcii^hed 
p*ople  ]  had  any  where  aeen^  But  eiibtr  rhey  havfl 
got  bfiitci  mnv€f  I  wn?'  hen?,  or  my  oy^^  familiari^if^ 
Wiih  the  WTtitchedniiss  qf  Zstlarid  ana  the  Hartist 


are  less  shocks  with  that  oC  lona.  Certainlr  tlMk 
houses  are  better  than  either,  and  the  appearanoe  of 
the  people  not  worse.  This  little  fertile  isle  coDtaina 
upwards  of  400  inhabitants,  all  livini^  upon  Mnail 
farms,  which  they  divide  and  subdivide  as  tbetr 
famihes  increase,  so  that  the  country  is  greatly  over- 
peopled, and  in  some  danger  of  a  tamina  in  caae  of 
a  year  of  scarcity.  Visit  the  nunnery  and  Reilifc 
pran,  or  burial-place  of  St.  Oran,  but  the  night  com- 
ing  on  we  return  on  board. 

^'  28^  AuguMt^  ieu.-Oarry  our  breakfast  aahore 
—take  that  repast  in  the  house  of  Mr.  Maclean,  the 
schoolmaster  and  cicerone  of  the  island— ana  ra- 
sume  our  investigation  of  the  ruins  of  the  cathedrmi 
and  the  cemetery.  Of  these  monuments,  more  than 
of  any  other,  it  may  be  said  with  propriety, 

'  You  never  tread  lipon  them  but  you  set 
Your  feet  upon  some  ancient  history.' 

I  do  not  mean  to  attempt  a  description  of  what  ia 
so  well  known  as  the  ruins  of  lona.    Yet  I  think  it 
has  been  as  yet  inadequately  performed,  for  the'^aat 
number  of  carved  tombs,  containing  the  reliqnea  of 
the  great,  exceeds  credibility.    In  general,  even  in 
the  most  noble  churches,  the  number  of  the  vulgar 
dead  exceed  in  all  proportion  the  few  of  eminence 
who  are  deposited  under  monuments.   lona  ia  in  all 
respects  the  reverse;  until  lately  the  inhabitants  of 
the  isle  did  not  presume  to  mix  their  vulgar  dnat 
with  that  of  chiefs,  reguU,  and  abbots.    The  nom- 
ber,  therefore,  of  carved  and  inscribed  tombstonea 
is  quite  marvellous,  and  I  can  easily  credit  the  story 
told  by  Sacheverell,  who  assures  us  that  three  hun- 
dred inscriptions  had  been  collected,  and  were  loat 
in  the  troubles  of  the  17th  century.  Even  now  many 
more  might  be  deciphered  than  have  yet  been  mada 
public,  but  the  rustic  step  of  the  peasants  and  of 
Sassenach  visitants  is  fast  destroying  these  ftint 
memorials  of  the  vaUant  of  the  isles.    A  skilful  an- 
tiquary remaining  here  a  week,  and  having  ;or  as- 
suming) the  power  of  raising  the  half-sunk  monu- 
ments, might  make  a  curious  collection.    We  could 
only  gaze  and  srieve ;  vet  had  the  day  not  been  Sun- 
day, we  would  have  brought  our  seamen  ashore, 
and  endeavoured  to  have  raised  some  of  these  monu- 
ments.   The  celebrated  ridgea  called  Jbmosre  na'a 
Righremn^  or  Graves  of  the  Kjuks,  can  now  acaroe 
be  said  to  exist,  though  their  site  is  still  pointed  out. 
Undoubtedly,  the  thirst  of  spoil,  and  the  fraioent 
custom  of  btuying  treasures  with  the  ancient  princes, 
occasioned  their  earljr  violation ;  nor  am  I  any^sturdy 
believer  in  their  being  regularly  ticketed  ofif  by  in- 
scriptions into  the  tombs  of  the  kings  of  Scotland,  ox 
Ireland,  of  Norway,  and  so  forth.    If  such  inscrip- 
tions ever  existed,  1  should  deem  them  the  work  ot 
spme  crafty  bishop  or  abbot,  for  the  credit  of  his 
diocese  or  conveoL    Macbeth  is  said  to  have  been  { 
the  last  king:  of  Scotland  here  buriedj  sixty  pre- 
ceded him,  all  doubtless  as  powerful  m  their  day, 
but  now  unknown-^-careai/  quia  vote  »aero.   A  few 
weeks'  labour  of  Shakspeare,  an  obscure  player, 
has  done  more  for  the  memory  of  Bfacbeth,  than 
all  the  gifts,  wealth,  and  monuments  of  this  ceme- 
tery of  princes,  have  been  able  to  secure  to, the  rest 
of  lis  inhabi^DnH.    T(  nl^o  or't:'niTed  to  me  in  lona. 
(jM  iL  iiHH  o[i  iijft]!!'  eiimlnr  occaj*ion5,)  ilxnt  tin;  i  [ri  ■ 
tional  rccolUt'iioni  tonreming  th^  monk*  )h( ;; 
seh'ej?  are  >^ond^rfuIly  faint,  c^nti-iiat«i  Viiiti  ki 
beautirul  and  mtcrestmja  momifnente  of  archncc' 
ture  which  th<^y  Iijjvg  hit  behind  them.    Tfi  Bo^A- 
land,  parUcnLinVt  ihe  people  hnve  frcsiu^n  tly  tradi- 
tion ii  wondtj-fiilfy  vi*tflof  the  ptTsotie  ami  achivVf- 
roentj^  of  oneicni  wnmorB,  i»vJlio#e  Lower?  have  jcui^ 
beefi  Itivtilltd  with  the  Mod.    But  of  the  monki  of 
Melrose,  Kel^t  Aberbroihock,  lona,  dtc-t  ^tc,  &^, 
thev  cati  tell  no  thing  hut  that  audi  a  raos  eiisi<4, 
and  inbattued  ihe  eiatdy  min.^  of  iheat  rooiuistf. 
ricEi     The  qui^t^  plow,  and  uniforxn  life  of  those  re- 
clui^^  beings,  slidc'd  o%  h  maybe,  like  a  dark  and 
siltnt  »)feam,  fed  from  unknown  resources^  and  ri* 
nialnng  rronii  the  eye.  without  leaving  any  ntarktd 
trace  of  iti  course.    The  iiiW  of  (he  (iliid'taiu  fvas  a 
nnountain  tonsm.  thmdwitwi  mmjp^  and  ptt6- 
piee,  whicbi  leas  deep  and  prubjujidin  itaul^  kavei 


UPE  OP  SIR  WALTER  SCOTT. 


OD  the  minds  of  the  terrified  spectators  those  deep 
hnpiessions  if  awe  and  wonder  which  are  most 
readily  haodea  down  to  posterity. 

**  Among  the  various  monuments  exhibited  at 
lona.  is  one  where  a  Maclean  lies  in  the  same  firave 
with  one  of  the  Macfies  or  Macduffies  of  Colonsay. 
with  whom  he  had  lived  in  alternate  friendshm  and 
eomitv  daring  their  lives.  *  He  lies  above  him  durinjs 
death,  said  one  of  Maclean's  followers,  as  his 
chid'  was  interred,  *  as  he  was  above  him  dariUR 
life'  There  is  a  very  ancient  monument  lying 
amonK  those  of  the  Macleans,  but  t>erhaps  more 
ancient  than  any  of  them ;  it  has  a  knight  nding  on 
horseback,  and  Sehind  him  a  minstrel  plavins  on  a 
ham;  this  is  coixjectured  to  be  Reginald  Macaonald 
of  me  Isles,  but  there  seems  no  reason  for  disjoin- 
ing him.,from  his  kindred  who  sleo)  in  the  cathe- 
mL  A  supposed  ancestor  of  the  Stewarts,  called 
Paul  Pearson,  or  Paol  the  purse-bearer,  (treasurer 
to  the  king  of  Scotland,)  is  said  to  lie  under  a  stone 
near  the  Lord  of  the  Isles.  Most  of  the  monuments 
engraved  by  Pennant  are  still  in  the  same  st^te  of 
preservation,  as  are  the  few  ancient  crosses  which 
are  left.  What  a  sight  lona  must  have  been,  when 
three  bimdred  and  sixty  crosses,  of  the  same  size 
and  beautiful  workmanship,  were  ranked  upon  the 
little  rocky  ridge  of  eminences,  which  form  the  back- 
KTOimd  to  the  cathedral !  Part  of  the  tower  of  the 
cathedral  has  fallen  since  I  was  here.  It  would  re- 
quire a  better  architect  than  I  am,  tT>  say  any  thing 
conc^Tiingthe  antiquity  of  these  ruins,  out  1  con- 
ceive those  of  the  nunnery,  and  of  the  Rdlig  nan 
Oranj  or  Oran's  chapel,  are  decidedly  the  most  an- 
cient. Upon  the  cathedral^  and  buUdings  attached  to 
it.  there  ape  marks  of  repau^  at  different  times,  some 
of  them  of  a  late  date,  being  obviously  designed  not 
to  enlarge  the  buildings,  but  to  retrench  them.  We 
take  a  reluctant  leave  of  Ions,  and  go  on  board. 

"The  haze  and  dulness  of  the  atmosphere  seem 
to  render  it  dubious  if  we  can  proceed,  as  we  intend- 
ed, to  Stafia  to-day—for  mist  among  these  islands 
it  rather  unpleasant.  Erskine  reads  prayers  on  deck 
to  all  hands,  and  introduces  a  very  a|)t  allusion  to 
oar  being  now  in  sight  of  the  first  Christian  church 
from  which  Revelation  was  difiiised  over  Scot- 
land, and  all  its  islands.  There  is  a  very  good  form 
of  prayer  for  the  Lighthouse  Service,  composed  by 
the  Rev.  Mr.  Brunton.'^  A  pleasure  vessel  lies  un- 
der our  lee  from  Belfast,  with  an  Irish  party  related 
to  Macniel  of  Colonsay.  The  haze  is  fast  degene- 
rating into  downright  rain,  and  that  right  heavy- 
verifying  the  ^ords  of  Collins— 

*  And  thither  where  beneaUi  the  thowery  teegt, 
The  mighty  kings  of  three  fair  realms  are  laid.' 

After  dinner,  the  weather  being  somewhat  clearedi 
Miled  for  StaiTa,  and  took  boat.  The  surf  running 
heavy  up  between  the  island  and  the  adjacent  rock, 
called  Booshala,  we  landed  at  a  creek  near  the  Cor- 
morant's cave.  The  mist  now  returned  so  thick 
as  to  hide  all  view  of  lona,  which  was  our  land- 
mark  J  and  although  Duff,  Stevenson,  and  I,  had 
been  formerly  on  the  isle,  we  could  nof  agree  upon 
d\e  DTOper  road  to  the  cave.  I  etigaged  mymlt  with 
Duff  and  Erskine,  in  a  clamber  of  great  toil  and 
danger,  and  which  at  length  brought  me  to  the  Can- 
Tunt'lnM,  as  they  call  a  round  granite  stone  moved 
by  the  sea  up  and  down  in  a  groove  of  rock,  which 
it  has  worn  for  itself,  with  a  noise  resembling  thun- 
der. Here  I  gave  up  my  research,  and  returned  to 
my  companions,  who  had  not  been  more  fortunate. 
As  n^t  was  now  falling,  we  resolved  to  go  aboard, 
and  postpone  the  adMture  of  the  enchanted  ca- 
vern untu  next  day.  The  yacht  came  to  an  anchor 
with  the  pmrpose  of  remaining  off  the  island  all 
nigfat,  bat  the  hardness  of  the  vound,  and  the  wea- 
ther becoming  smmlly,  obligedf  us  to  return  to  our 
mkt  mooring  at  Y-Cfolumb-KilL 

**  29f*  Augtut,  1814.— Night  squally  and  rainy- 
morning  dittoi—we  wei«h,  however,  and  retom  to- 
ward Staffii,  and,  very  happily,  the  dav  clears  as 
we  approach  the  isle    As  we  ascertained  the  sima- 

•  Tte  R«v.  Aleiasder  Bnintoo,  D.  D..  sow  (I8i6)  ProAnor  of 
nritrtil  Lngoam  in  tbt  Unitenity  of  Edinbttrgb. 
•  29 


tion  of  the  care,  I  shall  only  make  this  memoran- 
dum, that  when  the  weather  will  serve,  the  best 
landing  is  to  the  lee  of  Booshala,  a  Ifttle  conical 
islet  or  rock,  composed  of  basaltic  columns  placed 
in  an  oblique  or  sloping  position.  In  this  way,  you 
land  at  once  on  the  flat  causewav,  formed  by  the 
heads  of  the  truncated  pillars,  which  leads  to  the 
cave.  Bat  if  the  state  oi  tide  renders  it  impotsible 
to  land  under  Booshala,  then  take  one  of  the  adja- 
cent creeks;  in  which  case,  keeping  to  the  left  hand 
along  the  top  of  the  ledge  of  rocks  which  girdles  in 
thejsle,  you  find  a  dangerous  and  precipitous  de 
scent  to  the  causeway  aforesaid)  from  the  table. 
Here  we  were  under  the  necessity  of  towing  our 
commodora  Hamilton,  whose  gallant  heart  never 
fails  him,  whatever  the  tenderness  of  his  toes  may 
do.  He  waa  successfully  lowered  by  a  rope  down 
the  precipice,  and  proceeding  along  the  flat  terrace 
or  causeway  already  mentioned,  we  reached  the  ce- 
lebrated cave.  I  am  not  sure  whether  I  was  not 
more  affected  by  this  second,  than  by  the  first  view 
of  it.  .The  stupendous  columnar  side  walls— the 
depth  and  strength  of  the  ocean  with  which  the  ca- 
vern is  filled— the  variety  of  tints  formed  by  stalac- 
tites dropping  and  petrifying  between  the  pi1lar^  and 
resembhog  a  sort  of  chasing  of  yellow  or  cream- 
coloured  mari>le  filling  the  interstices  of  the  roof — 
the  corresponding  vanety  below,  where  the  ocean 
rolls  over  a  red,  and  in  some  places,  a  violet-eofour* 
ed  rock,  the  basis  of  the  basaltic  pillars— the  dread- 
ful noise  of  those  august  billows  so  well  corres- 
pond'mg  with  the  grandeur  of  the  scene— are  all  ch*- 
cumstances  elsewhere  unparalleled.  We  have  now 
seen  in  our  voyage  the  three  grandest  caverns  in 
Scotland.  Smowe,  Macallisters  cave,  and  stafifa; 
so  that,  like  the  Troglodytes  of  yore,  we  may  be 
supposed  to  know  somethmg  of  the  matter.  It  is, 
however,  impossible  to  compare  scenes  of  natures 
so  difierent ;  nor.  were  I  compelled  to  assign  a  pre- 
ference to  any  or  the  three,  could.  I  do  it  but  with 
reference  to  their  distinct  characters,  which  might 
affect  different  individuals  in  different  d^ees.  The 
characteristic  of  the  Smowe  cave  may  m  this  case 
be  called  the  terrific,  for  the  difficulties  which  oppose 
the  stranger  are  of  a  nature  so  uncommonly  wild, 
as,  for  the  first  time  at  least,  convey  an  impression 
of  terror— with  which  the  scenes  to  which  he  is  in- 
troduced fully  correspond.  On  the  other  hand,  the 
dazzling  whiteness  of  the  incrustations  in  Macal- 
lister's  cave,  the  elegance  of  the  entablature,  the 
beauty  of  its  limpid  pool,  and  the  gracefiil  dignity 
of  its  arch,  render  its  leading  features  those  of  se- 
vere and  chastened  beauty.  Staffa,  the  third  of 
these  subterraneous  wonders,  may  challenge  sub- 
limity as  its  principal  characteristic.  Without  the 
savage  gloom  of  the  Smowe  cave,  and  investigated 
with  more  i^arent  ease,  though,  perhaps,  with 
equal  real  danger,  the  stately  regularity  of  its  co- 
lumns forms  a  contrast  to  the  grotesque  imagery 
of  Macallister's  cave,  combiningjit  once  the  senti- 
ments of  grandeur  and  beauty.  The  former  is,  how^- 
ever,  predominant,  as  it  must  necessarily  be  m  any 
scene  of  the  kind. 

"We  had  scarce  left  StafTa  when  the  wind  and 
rain  returued.  It  was  Erskine's  object  and  mine,  to 
dine  at  Torloisk  on  Loch  Tua,  the  seat  of  my  valu- 
ed friend  Mrs.  Maclean  Clephane,  and  her  accom- 
plished daughters.  But  in  going  up  Loch  Tua  be- 
tween Ulva  and  Mull  with  this  purpose, 

'■  So  thick  was  the  mist  on  the  ocean  green. 
Nor  cape  nor  headland  could  be  seen.' 

It  was  late  before  we  came  to  anchor  in  a  small  bay 

C resented  by  the  little  island  of  Gometra,  which  may 
e  regarded  as  a  continuation  of  Ulva.  We  there- 
fore dine  aboard,  and  after  dinner,  Erskine  and  I 
take  the  boat  and  row  across  the  loch  under  a  hea- 
vy rain.  We  could  not  see  the  house  of  Torloisk,  so 
very  thiak  was  the  haze,  and  we  were  a  good  deal 

{>uzzled  how  and  where  to  achieve  a  landing;  at 
ength.  esp]ring  a  cartroad,  we  resolted  to  trust  to 
its  guidance,  as  we  knew  we  must  be  near  the  house. 
We  therdTore  went  ashore  with  our  servants,  d  la 
bonne  arenturc,  under  a  drizzUng  rain.    Thi(  was 


UPS  OF  SIR  WALTER  SOOTT. 


loofi  a  matter  of  ntt]«  c(>n sequin fg,  £br  ihc?  nccesBi- 
ty  of  croasmg  &  awollen  brtKik  weu«l  mo  co n eider- 
Qblr>  and  ^TskjDtH  whose  f*XJi  sUpp*;:*!,  mosi  com- 

Eleteiy^  tn  wt!t  aiirj  weajry  pJt>^tit  we  r&Qched  thf^ 
oii*e  after  ft  walk  of  a  milii,  in  dnrkriGSA,  dirt,  and 
rftiR,  and  it  is  hardly  necessary  10  say,  tbat  iho  pkci- 
iure  of  jhxiLn^  our  fncnds  isoon  tmnisnHi  all  rticolltrc- 
Hon  of  our  uripkaasiat  vayaKO  and  jotyntiy, 

"  iot^i.  Auifwtt,  1  ?U*— Thu  rosi  of  oiur  frktiida  <*cime 
asKore  by  inviiauon,  and  breakfoi^t  with  ik^  ladled, 
whose  kiiiilnus  would  ftiio  have  <iciiLytd  ui  for  a 
few  dnva,  nnd  at  la^n  candosocndcd  to  aak  for  orio 
dixy  only — but  evi-o  Lhiaooold  not  h«iOLir  time  weur- 
int?  short  Torloisk  b  finely  si  tu  a  kid  u  |>on  tjie  coi  e  [ 
of  MuHt  facifjg  .SiatTa.  It  is  a  roo*!  comfort  able 
houee^  to  vvUlcB  Mra.  CJcphaue  haa  tiisde  some  od* 
ditions.  The  grouivJ?  around  have  bocn  drcascrf,  so 
VA  10  smooth  thtjET  mseei-tnese,  wiihuui  dL^^^trij^in^ 
the  irrafftiEar  and  wild  character  peculiar  to  ih  frcoTif 
and  country*  In  this,  iinich  tasit!  has  bLCii  disipi^ii'- 
ed »  At  ,Tori  oi  >k,  as  a  t  D  u  n  v  e^a  n^  ircca  pro  w  f rmy 
and  rapidly*  and  the  exttjijscv'^  plamaiiona  fufineil  iiy 
>lrs^  C,  mrv9  to  show  that  nothing  but  a  lit  Tic  c%- 
(leow  and  patience  on  the  part  of  ilic  propr«?tora» 
witk  aitcnttOA  to  planting  in  pro$>6r  plact^s  at  trratf 
and  m  koepingup  fences  afterward,  aro  awntitin^ 
toitjuove  thor^roachof  nakedness  no  often  thrown 
upofi  tii« Weatem  1  ^le».  With  p] a n ti n^ co mes  eIicI - 
iSTi  snd  the  propter  aUotmeni  and  divii^on  ol  fialdSn 
With  ail  thia  Mrd.  Clepliario  i«  bu^itrd,  and,  1  [just, 
•ilcceiBfuUy;  I  am  sntv^  actively  and  u^efullyn  Tako 
leave  of  my  fair  fncnda,  with  ra^rct  thai  [  cannot 
proloufl  my  stay  for  ft  day  or  two.  When  we  com© 
on  boahJ,  wo  learn  thai  Stafli^^Macilunald  h  juat 
come  to  hh  housqof  Ulva ;  thi«  is  a  scjrt  of  unpka- 
earn  dilemma,  for  we  cannot  now  go  ihero  withoui 
aooM^  neglect  to  ward  a  Mra.  Maclean  Clephanc  i  and^ 
cm  the  other  hand*  from  his  habits  with  uli  of  u?^  bt 
mtty  brj  jusdy  dispkaeerJ  with  ptir  iputun^  bia  very 
ibrofftiukl  witbom  aakinc  for  him.  However,  upoii 
tiic  wboh^  maitLT,  and  U4n;t  :ilrervdy  yndcr  weigh, 
wejudjtiid  it  best  to  work  out  of  the  look  aPd  om- 
tinu'-^  our  purpoae  of  rounding  the  northern  exiremi* 
ly  of  MtiU,  and  ihijri  running  down  iht:  Sound  he- 
iv^ctrn  Mall  and  the  mainland.  Wc  had  net  long 
.pttfmed  our  voyaj^c  iM^fort?  we  fn^und  it  wa^  like  to  be 
a  very  alow  one.  The  wind  fell  away  ondrdy,  And 
AfWr  repcat«l  tacktj  we  ^ould  hardly  clear  the  i'^* 
tWQie  norili'WeaiLTn  pomt  of  Mull  by  six  i/idock— 
which  nniAl  bavo  aflordixi  amu^etnont  to  the  ladies 
whoa«  hoaiJiubk'  entreaticB  we  had  r^siioeij^  us  w^ 
were  atmo«£  all  th^!  wbiiti  visible  from  ToHoiA,  A 
fineevemngt  btii  acarce  a  breath  of  wind, 

**3uMutfM»;»  i^i4*-Went  oiJ  dt^ck  between  three 
and  lour  in  the  morning*  and  fjund  the  vr^^el  almost 
motion  l^it»  in  a  cahu  *<?.a,  scare*?  thrt*  10  ilea  ad  van* 
ced  on  her  voyaue.  Wc-  had*  howcvw^rounded  the 
nortbweatern  side  of  Mull,  and  wiwyrovaneing  be- 
tween thf",  north-eaatern  aide  and  lHWDcky  and  wild 
ebore*  of  Arfliifltnurchnn  on  the  tWifTilaml  of  Scot^ 
land*  A»t(rrn  wero  visible  in  briglit  moonhght  the 
distant  mountaina  of  Rum  ;  yt^l  ncartjr,  ihf^  re  mark- 
able  nd^ii  m  the  Ish:  of  E^g,  callc^l  Seuir-Egg ;  and 
neart'Mtof  all  the  low  15  b-  of  Muick.  After  enjoy - 
lEu;  ihia  prospect  for  sonj*?  Limf*  riitnrnfui  10  my  be  nil, 
R\*^  li^iore  ci;^ht— a  dcbtshtfui  dayn  bnl  very  calm, 
and  the  little  wnid  there  ia  decideitly  i4#;ainst  us. 
Creeping  on  alowlv,  we  ohEervc,  upon  the  abot^  of 
Aftlnamurchan,  a  largo  old  cas*tie,  called  Mingary, 
It  a|}pcara  lo  he  atirroundetl  with  a  v^ty  high  wall, 
^rmfliff  t  kind  of  poly;;on*  in  order  fo  adapt  itself 
to  the  mirk*^  of  n  predpici*  or^h anting  the  sea,  on 
which  ti»ecJi»tlo  is  founded.  Within  or  bcyonrl  the 
wall,  nnd  probably  formmgpart  s>f  aft  inniT  court,  I 
ohe*rr^fd  a  jitctp  roof  and  window**  prf^hat>iy  of  tlu; 
JMhoimtury.^  The  whole,  aa  tM>?n  with  a  sji/gliia^, 
sp^f^mfi  ruinous*  As  wa  procctd^  we  open  on  tb/  left 
hand  Loch  Stman,  running  deep  inio  the  mainland, 
trofl'SiHl  b^  dijiiant  rtdgcH  of  rocka,  and  tcrfpinatmg 
uppartnily  amrmg  thehi;;h  (liouotfllnaabove  Stron- 
tian.  0[i  ihe  riabt  hand  we  op<^i3  the  Bound  of  Moll, 
audi  paaa  the  BlKniy  Bay.  which  acquired  thaltiniric 
fioin  a  d^SP«rat£  battle  fou^sht  between  m  ancient 
Lord  Of  the  lalct  and  hia  son.    The  latter  was  ttj- 


atitbd  by  the  McLeans  of  Mull,  then  in  the  plcnltcuift 
of  timr  power*  but  waa  defe^toij.  Thia  waa  a  a^*- 
fight ;  ca]lie$  neing  umployt>d  on  4:  aeh  ^idtt.  it  ha» 
btquc-athed  a  name  to  a  famoua  pibroch- 

'  ProeowJiim  HOiahward,  we  opn  the  bcautilul 
bay  of  Tobermury^  or  Mary's  Well-  Th©  moPth  *af 
this  fine  natural  roadstead  la  cloaed  by  an  uIa  called 
Colvny*  havinj5  two  [(nesai:t*,  of  which  oiJjf  ©Ilfi^ 
the  nuriherly,  19  pasaable  for  ehipe^*  Tha  bay  ji  Bur- 
roundod  by  steep  hillflr  coven^  wii}i  c^^d«  ^urood, 
throoi^h  which  several  brnok^  seek  the  sea  tn  ft^Mx£- 
ceaaion  of  l>eautiful  caacadi:a.  The  villaee  hta  bcaa 
eatabh&ht^d  aa  a  fishing  fitatioti  by  the  Soei«ty  for 
British  Kish&rii:9.  The  bou^j»  along  the  qu^y  AVi 
two  and  thruo  ^loriea  high*  and  woll  ibuilt ;  tv  Ui^ 
ara  paying  to  the  Society  &tje- pence  per  foot  ol  Iboc 
line  01  front,  Od  the  top  of  a  aiccp  b&ftlt,  HilliK 
abovo  the  firat  town^  ruti»  another  tina  of  aiCOllll* 
rate  coua^t^  which  pay  four*penee  per  fovf  s  U|u 
behind  nre  btita  much  su^x^rior  to  th^  ordinary  ih«d> 
of  tbtt  country,  which  pay  only  two-pence  per  foo£* 
The  town  ia  all  budi  upon  a  re;jular  plan^  laid  down 
by  the  Society.  The  new  part  ta  rcJLaonablr  dbUi^ 
and  the  old  noi  tin  reasonably  dirty.  We  landtd  At 
an  eJtcellcnt  qtiay,  which  is  not  yet  finkhod*  ftitil 
found  thu  little  place  looked  thriving  and  active- 
The  Dcople  were  get  ti  tig  m  their  patcbea  of  txmt^ 
andthoibnl]  v^oicca  of  iKc  children  att*.ndinj{  ihm 
par^ants  in  ihi^  fidd,  and  loailing  the  IJttla  (loixies 
which  are  u&ed  in  tmnaporting  I  ho  Rr&in.  formed  a 
chenie  not  disagreeable  to  tbo^  whom  it  rfminda  oi' 
similar  sounds  at  huiiie.  The  praise  of  com|jaJ»- 
live  cleanlineas  doca  not  extend  to  the  lanci  afmiliii 
Tobermory,  in  ono  of  which  i  had  nearly  bc^fidlct^ 
tuaily  lH>^gi:'d.  But  the  richneaa  of  the  round  ii^t^p 
gri^n  knoll  a,  clothed  with  copse,  and  glantsing  willi 
ca»eadca,  and  a  pleasant  pcKip  at  a  small  fn^h-wnier 
locii  emboaomco  amonM  ihem— the  view  of  the  btiy, 
surrounded  cind  guarded  by  the  island  of  CoU^ir^ 
the  gliding  of  two  or  three  vessels  in  the  mufe  OM- . 
tant  Sound— and  ihc  row  of  the  giganik  ArdM- 
mtirchan  momitains  dosing  the  »cone  to  the  fionk. 
Almost  justify  ihi^  euh>i:;ium  of  Saehevemdl,  wliQ^  *' 
168?,  declared  the  hay  of^Toberniory  mi^ltl 
any  pro*pect  m  Italy.  It  is  said  ttiat  Saebc 
made  aome  moniry  by  weighing  U}t  (he  trcsaUfci  _  _  _ 
in  the  Florida,  a  vcs^tl  of  the  Si^anish  Aimtda. 
which  was  wrecked  In  the  harbour.  *^'  intMiy^ti 
aflirms,  that  though  the  use  of  divin  .ii 

first  BUCt'CBsful,  yet  the  attempt  waa  a:  .»- 

eonccrtcNi  by  bad  weather- 

''  ToUTinory  take*  iis  name  ffOtn  a  sprttia  if  all - 
ealeri  to  the  Virgin*  which  wa*  RraceJ  bv  a  cFtatJ*!  i 
but  no  vestiges  remain  of  ihe  chapcL  ami  the  9p<in^ 
rises  in  the  middle  of  a  swamp*  who9«  d^th  and 
dirt  discouraged  the  nearer  approach  uf  Protrvfa^tii 
pilgrims^  Mr.  S»e  vein  son,  whose  judgnient  i»  an- 
qucjstionahle,  thinks  that  the  vilTage  ahouU  hstvt* 
been  built  on  the  island  called  Colvay.  and  umrcLfl  u^ 
the  continent  bv  a  key,  or  causeway,  budt  aloni:  thi 
i^mthcrnmo^t  channel,  whieh  is  very  ahaUow,  Oy 
this  mcanj^  the  t^uople  wonid  have  ^^^cn  muob  ttmt^t 
thty  ftfthin«^!^  thaft  re  tired  into  the  deptlt  of  tJlc  bay, 

^'  Atx»ut  threeoVlock  W6  ^et  on  boards  anil  4bfu^ 
and  favourable  breeze  wiaesii  which  carries  ua*tno0riiF 
ly  down  the  Sound.  W<  looQ  pass  Arroa,  with  it# 
frogmen* of  a  caaUe^  bohuid  which  is  the  btitwi'  ol 
Mr.  Maxwell*  {tin  t>dd  name  for  ihis  tuiintry*)  fliain* 
be  rla  I  n  to  t  lie  D  u  k  e  of  A  r^  1 1  %  w  h  i  e  b  ren  u  no*  AM  df 
much  kind ncij-i  and  hutspitnhty  received  from  hi^i 
and  Mr*  Sic  wart,  ihe  aheritl-substituie,  whei*  I  wn* 
formerly  in  Mull.  On  the  shore  of  Morten*  ua  thv 
opposite  side,  passed  the  rmH%  of  a  nmatl  foriA^cn', 
called  Donagad,  situated  as  usual  oti  •  uMipkx! 
j:p%er hanging  the  Bea.  The  *  wnody  Morven?  tiNnp}i 
the  quantity  L»f  .Hb4xgy  diminufWa  Oopagi  wlwi 
springs  xiii  where  tt  obtaina  any  en«lifi|4  aiui  aliaw* 
thixt  at  niu fit  once  have  merited  thu  Cfiiiliei,  b  nom. 
as  visible  from  the  Sound  of  MnlK  n  bare  ooantff— 
of  which  the  hi II 3  towards  the  wa  liav«.  *f:lovi*roM©li 
irsembUng  thost'  in  Selkirkshire,  and  arominglv 
afford  cicellent  paMiore*  and  around  «wc»l  Ibtm* 
houses  well  cuUivated  and  improved  Belda.  I  think 
1  obffive  confiderable  impr<viilifQ(^^^^bAad^'* 


UPE  OP  SIR  WALTER  SCOTT. 


I 


327 


»veh  since  t  «r«8  here  last  t  tmt  there  is  a  difference 
m  coming  from  Oban  and  Cape  Wrath.    O^n  Loeh 
Aihne,  a  Deauiiful  salt-water  lake,  with  a  narrcyw 
outlet  to  the  Sound.    It  is  surrounded  by  round  bills, 
sweetly  (rmged  with  green  copse  below,  and  one  or 
which  exhibits  to  the  spy-glass  ruins  of  a  castle. , 
There  is  great  promise  of  beauty  in  its  interior,  but  i 
we  cannoLsee  every  thing.    The  land  on  the  south- 1 
€m  bank  of  the  entrance  slopes  away  into  a  sort  of ; 
promontory^  at  the  extremity  of  which  are  th^  very 
imperfect  rums  of  the  castl^  of  Ardtornish,  to  which  | 
the  Lordaof  the  Isle^  summoned  parliaments,  and  j 
fr^mt  whence  one  of  them  dated  a  treaty  with  the  • 
Oown  of  Enj^and  as  an  independent  Phnce.  These 
nans  are  seen  to  most  advantage  from  the  south, ! 
where  they  are  brou^t  into  a  fine  with  one  high 
(rmfiment  towards  the  west  predominating  over  the 
ren.    The  shore  of  the  promontory  on  the  south 
aiikr  becomes  rocky,  and  w\ien  it  slopes  round  to  the 
west  rises  into  a  very  bold  and  high  precipitous  bank^ 
skirting  the  bay  on  the  western  stde^  partly  ciiifTy, 
partly  oo?ered  with  brushwood,  with  various  streams 
dashing  over  it  from  a  great  height.    Above  the  old 
caatle  of  Ardtornish,  and  about  where  the  promon- 
tory joins  the  land,  stands  the  present  mansion,  a 
neat  white-washed  houae.  with  several  well  enclo- 
sed and  well-coltivated  fields  snrroundmg  it. 

'*  The  high  and  dignified  character  assumed  by  the 
fihoresof  Morven  after  leaving  Ardtornish,  continues 
fill  we  open  the  Loch  Linnhe,  the  commencemeni 
of  the  great  chain  of  inland  Ukes  running  up  to 
Fort- WiUiam,  and  which  it  is  proposed  to  unite  with 
Inverness  by  means  of  the  Caledonian  Canal.  The 
wisdom  of  tne  plan  adopted  in  this  national  mea- 
sure seems  very  dubious.  Had  the  canal  been  of 
more  moderate  depth,  and  the  burdens  imposed  upon 
psflsing  vessels  less  expensive,  there  can  be  no  doubt 
that  the  coasters,  sloops,  and  barks,  would  have 
carried  on  a  great  trade  by  means  of  it.  But  the 
expense  and  plague  of  locks,  &c  may  prevent  these 
humble  vessels  from  taking  this  abridged  voyage, 
while  ships  above  twenty  or  thirty  tons  will  hesitate 
fo  engage  themselves  io  the  ihtricacies  of  a  long 
lake  navigation,  exposed;  without  room  for  nianoeu* 
vriog.  to  all  the  suodeh  souallsof  the  mountainous 
4-iun  try.  Ahead  of  us,  in  the  mouth  of  Loch  Lin  nhe, 
)ie3  the  low  and  fertile  isle  of  Lismore,  formerly  the 
appanage  of  the  Bishops  of  the  Isles,  whojas  usual,) 
knew  where  to  choose  church  patrimony.  The  coast 
of  the  Mull,  on  the  n;{lit  hand  of  the  Sound,  has  a 
Mack,  rugged,  and  unimproved  character.  Above 
Scail'Sier  nay  aresjrmptoms  of  improvement.  Moon- 
birbt  ha?  risen  upon  us  as  we  pass  Duart  castle,  nt>w 
%n  indistinct  mass  upon  its  projecting  promontory. 
It  was  garrisoned  for  Government  so  late  as  17H), 
bat  \9  now  ruinous.  We  see,  at  about  a  mile's  dis- 
tance, the  fatal  shelve  on  which  Duart  exposed  the 
daughter  of  Argyle,  on  which  Miss  Baillie*s  play  of 
ihe  Family  Legend  is  founded,  but  now, 

'  Withnui  either  sound  or  sign  of  their  shock, 
The  waves  roll  over  the  Lady's  rook.' 

The  placid  state  of  the  sea  is  very  different  from 
what  I  have  seen  it,  when  six  stout  rowers  could 
scarce  frivo  a  boat  headway  through  the  conflicting 
tides.  These  fits  of  violence  so  much  surprised  ana 
offended  (|  body  of  the  Camerons,  who  were  bound 
upon  some  expedition  to  Mull,  and  had  been  accus- 
tomed to  the  quietness  of  lake-navigation,  that  they 
drew  then' dirks,  and  begaty  tu  stab  the  waves— from 
which  popular  tale  this  run  of  tide  is  called  the  Mtn 
of  Lochabtr.  The  weather  being  delightfully  mo- 
derate, we  agree  to  hover  hereabout  all  night,  or  an- 
chor nnder  the  Mull  shore,  should  it  be  necessary, 
n  order  to  see  Dunstaffnage  to-morrow  morning. 
Tli^  isle  of  Kerrera  Is  now  in  sight,  forming  the  bay 
iif  Oban.  Beyond  lie  the  varied  and  magnificent 
smnmiis  of  the  chain  of  mountains  bordering  Loch 
Luinhe,  as  well  as  those  between  Loch  Awe  and 
Loch  Etivc,  over  which  the  summit  of  Ben  Crua- 
chan  is  proudly  prominent.  Walk  on  deck,  admir- 
me  this  romantic  prospect  until  ten ;  then  below, 
and  iMTTi  in. 
•*u#  September,  \S\4.—R\9e  betwixt  six  and  seven, 


and  having  discreetly  secured  our  breakfast,  take 
boat  lor  the  old  castle  of  Dunstafihage^  lituated 
upon  a  promontory  on  the  side  of  Loch  Linnhe  and 
near  to  Loch  Etive.  Nothing  could  exceed  the  beau- 
ty of  the  day  and  of  the  prospect.  We  coasted  the 
low,  lar^e,  and  fertne  isle  of  Lismore,  where  a  Ca- 
tholic Bishop,  Chisholm,  has  established  a  seminary 
of  young  men  intended  for  priests,  and  what  is  a 
hotter  thing,  a  valuable  lime-work.  Report  speaks 
well  of  the  lime,  butvindifferently  of  the  progress  of 
the  students.  Tacking  to  the  shore  of  the  loch,  we 
land  at  Dunstaffnage,  oni^,  it  is  said,  the  seat  of 
the  Scottish  monarchy,  till  success  over  th#  Picts 
and  Saxons  transferrod  their  throne  to  Scoone, 
Dumfermline,  and  at  length  to  Edinburgh.  The 
Castle  is  Btill  the  King's  (nominally,)  and  the  Duke 
of  Argyle  (nominally  also,)  is  hereditary  keeper. 
But  the  real  right  of  property  is  in  the  family  of  the 
d^ute- keeper,  to  which  it  was  assigned  as  an  ap- 
panage, the  first  possessor  being  a  natural  son  of  an 
Earl  01  Argyle.  The  shell  of  the  castle,  for  little 
more  now  remains,  bears  marks  of  extreme  antiqui- 
ty. It  is  square  in  fonn,  with  round  towers  at  three 
of  the  angles,  and  is  situated  upon  a  bfty  precipice, . 
carefuUyscaiyod  on  all  sides  to  render  it  perpendi- 
cular: The  entrance  is  by  a  staircase,  which  con- 
ducts you  to  a  wooden  landing-place  in  front  of  the 
portal-door.  This  landing-place  Could  formerly  be 
raised  at  pleature^  being  of  the  nature  of  a  draw- 
bridge. When  raised,  the  place  was  inaccessible. 
You  pass  under  an  ancient  arch«  with  a  low  vault 
(being  the  porter's  lodge)  on^  the  right  band,  and 
flanked  by  loopholes,  for  firing  upon  any  hostile 
guest  who  might  force  his  passage  thus  far.  This 
admits  you  into  the  inner-court,  which  is  about  eigh- 
ty feet  square.  It  contains  two  mean-looking  buud- 
mgs.  about  sixty  or  seventy  vears  old ;  the  ancienx 
eastle  having  been  consumed  by  fire  in  1715.  It  is 
said  that  the  nephew  ef  the  proprietor  was  the  in- 
cendiary. We  went  into  the  apartments,  and  found 
they  did  not  exceed  the  promise  of  the  exterior }  but 
they  admitted  us  to  walk  upoa  ihe  battlements  of 
the  old  castle,  which  displayed  a  most  splendid 
prospect.  Beneath,  and  far  projected  into  the  loch, 
were  seen  the  woods  and  houses  of  Campbell  of 
Lochnell.  A  little  summer-house,  upon  an  emi- 
nence, belonging  to  this  wooded  bank,  resembles  an  - 
ancient  monument.  On  the  right.  Loch  fltive,  after 
pouring  its  waters  like  a  funous  cataract  ever  a 
strait  called  Connell-ferry,  comes  between  the  castle 
and  a  round  island  belonging  to  its  demesne,  ana 
nearly  insulates  the  situation.^  In  front  is  a  k>w 
rocky  eminence  on  the  opposite  side  of  the  arm,  ^ 
through  which  Loch  Eiive  flows  into  I^och  Linnhe.  : 
Here  was  situated  Bertgtniwm,  oncei  it  is  •aid,  a  r 
British  cs^ital  -ciu ;  and,  as  our  informant  tdki  ua^ 
the  largest  maiuet-town  in  Scotland.  Of  this 
splendour  arc  no  remains  but  a  fSew  trenches  and  ex- 
cavations, which  the  distance  did  not  allow  us  to 
examine.  The  ancient  masonry  of  Dunstaffn»e  is 
mouldering  fast  under  time  and  neglect.  The  foun- 
dations are  beginning  to  decay,  and  exhibit  gaps  be- 
tween the  rock  and  the  wall ;  and  the  battkroents 
are  become  ruinous.  The  inner  court  is  encumbered 
with  ruins.  A  hundred  pounds  or  two  would  put 
this  very  ancient  fortress  in  a  state  of  preservation 
forages,  but  I  fear  this  is  not  to  be  expected*  The 
stumps  of  large  trees,  which  had  once  shaded  ihe 
vicinity  of  the  castle,  gave  syniptoms  of  decay 
in  the  family  of  Dunstafihage.  We,  were  told  w 
some  ancient  spurs  and  other  curiosities  preeerved 
in  the  castle,  but  they  were  looked  up.  In  the  vici- 
nity of  the  castle  is  a  chapel  which  had  once  been 
elegant,  but  by  the  building  up  of  windows,  46c.,  is 
now  heavy  enough.  1  have  often  observed  that  the  « 
means  adopted  in  Scotland  for  repairing  old  build 
ings  are  generally  as  destritctive  ojf  their  ^ace  and 
beauty,  as  if  that  had  been  the  express  ooiecu  Un- 
fortunately most  churches,  particularly,  have  gone 
through  both  stages  of  destruction,  having  been  fhrst 
repaired  by  the  building-up  of  the  beautiml  siiafted 
windows,  and  then  the  roof  bein/c  suffered  to  fall  in, 
they  became  fuins  indeed,  but  without  any  touch  of 
the  picturesque  fSorthpr  than  th<»ir  mnpsive  walls  sna 


198 


UPE  OF  SIR  WALTER  SCOTT. 


017b  mns  m  »r  aflToid.  Neir  lM  chapd  of  Dim  itAlT- 
ntEE  15  ft  reniarknblc  t^eho. 

fL^-^mtjarkt-d,  and  rovvinfi  aboui  a  mde  aad  a  hdf 
or  bcu^r  along  tbo  shore  of  the  Ukc,  &Kaiii  b[idtd 
nndnT  th0  niiii!!  af  ihe  old  c&atk  of  Duhully.  Tiiis 
finrcss.  whichj  like  that  of  DuoBiafTnafit,  forma  a 
tiiarkod  feaiufc  in  ihia  oxtjuUite  landseajjt^  is  stm- 
atcd  on  a.  lm\d  arid  prcdp^tous  promdQtory  ovcrhai^p- 
itig  the  lake.  The  principal  pjitt  of  tht  mUisno^v 
rem ti nil] A  i^  a  etjuarir  tower  or^i3upof  £be{>iiUnary 
fiizc,  which  had  been  1 1 i(v  citadel  of  the  caatU?;  but 
fraginuots  of  dUier  buildinea,  ovcnsrown  with  ivy, 
thdW^tfaat  DimtiUy  had  once  tefin  a  plnce  of  coas-i- 
derable  imixirianee.  Tbt*e  had  entio9<si  9  euuri^ 
yard*  of  which  ihe  ki^'p  probably  fonued  one  ^dt:, 
t\i^  enhance  bL-me  bv  a  very  ste«p  aiCf^nt  from  the 
land  iidet  which  una  fomierly  t^cen  cut  ocro^a  by  a 
docp  moat,  and  defended  dofubtlesg  by  outwjrk^  arnl 
a  drawbriuge^  Beneath  ihc  casiit.'  standft  tht^  n^^:)- 
dfrn  br)use  of  Dunullif,  a  dticont  inaneion^  auited  !r> 
the  rt^luped  state  of  tht; MaLiDongnlb  of  Lof n.  who 
from  hemg  Bon^iis  poweiful  enough  to  141  ve  battle 
Ti>  and  defeat  Eob«ri  Bruct\  ar»  now  df^chaed  inti) 
privaie  (jtititl^mtn  of  moderate  fortube. 

''  Thj»  very  ancient  family  is  deacuadod  intm  So' 
merldd,  Thane,  orrtithcr,  under  that  name^  A'l'nj^of 
ArgylK  and  the  Hebndca.  He  had  tvpo  »an&  to  one 
of  v^'hom  hifi  left  bis  mvtilai-  paaseisiotia^-and  he  bt:* 
cam^  foundJer  of  the  d^n^t>iy  of  the  Lords  of  the  Ule^ 
who  maintain^j  a  atirnng  indopetidcnce  dttrin^  ih.3 
mtdd le  iii;e?^  The  other  waa  toundr.T  cf  the  family 
of  thf?  MaeDougalls  of  Lorn*  One  of  *  hem  bein? 
niarnel  too  nieceijf  the  R*sd  Cnmmm^H  ir  revenue- 
of  hti  slattehtef  at  Dunifriess  took  a  rtgorou4  part 
sgainal  Robert  Bruce  m  hi  a  Rtru^glea  to  liiQmiaif}  the 
lodewndence  of  Scotland.  At  length  th^  tCingt  turn  - 
tug  hia  whole  atreuKth  i:i;)wardii  MacDotigalK  cn- 
Cdttniered  him  at  a  prtaa  near  Loch  Awe;  hut  the 
Highlander*^  beitis  poa&esstdtjf  the  strung  srouni, 
compelled  fcrtice  to  tetrent,  and  aj^ain^vt;  him  btu- 
ile  at  Daln',  near  Tynedrutii^  Vhere  he  bad  conc^n- 
traiod  hja  fortes.  Here  ht  wa«  a^ain  dofeatedt  antl 
the  tradition  oft]|e  M^Dougall  family  b^Ata.  th^t 
m  the  eoafitct  the  Lord  of  Lorn  engra^  hand  c^> 
hind  WTih  lirnce.  and  waa  struck  down  bv  that  mo^i- 
Hich.  Afl  they  |frapplc^<Li  loF^ethcf  oh  (ht^.  graund, 
Urijc*?  htfine  uppermost,  a  vaAanl  of  MacD»iu£^]l, 
eallud  MacKttfjcb.  relieved  hie  tiiaeter  by  puiliTit? 
t?mce  from  him.  In  thia  close  itrii^sle  th©  lung  loft 
hi?  matule  and  brooch  Ja  the  hande  of  bi»  enemies, 
and  the  latter  trophy  was  long priG^rved  in  the  fami- 
ly, until  it  vvaa  luitin  an  accidental  Hr^.  Barbour 
tcm  Iheaame  storyT  but  1  think  with  circumuiancos 
ion^whai  djfTereni.  When  Bruce  had  p;ain«xl  ih-3 
throne  for  which  htf  JUfhi  ^'olnnp,  be  diaphycd  hi 3 

pririnK  them  of  the  ^reaiL'fff  pan  of  thejr  duinatiis 
whicfj  were  bea towed  chiefly  ttpoii  Ibff  Stewar'd  i>f 
Stat  lend.  6  ir  Crdni  Camp  tM  1 1 ,  i  he  K  n  igl  1 1  of  Loc  ^i 
Awe^  and   the  Kni;*ht  of  Glenorehy,   Sir 


Catnpbtll,  marrisd  dauj^hjers  of  the  Steward,  ntui 
TceeiVfHj  with  tht^m  ctTe'^i  ponitpn  yf  the  furfnimrt^  uf 
MacDriui^'nlt,  Bruce  even  ciitdpelled  of  persuaded 
ihe  L<JTd  of  tbff  Isles  to  jiivorce  bia  wife,  who  wa*  a 
daughter  of  MacDouErall,  and  fake  in  inarrriiire  a  tv 
lation  of  his  awn.  The  aon  of  Ihe  divorced  bdy  was 
not  [iemulled  to  ^ntreod  to  the  principality  ctf  the 
Uks,  ontceountof  hisoonnejfloB  ^riib  iheobn^*xiots3 
51  a f  Dou^l I,  Btj t  a  1  n™  apnanog© ip as  allowe  J  hi ^ n 
upon  thelf  aiTiIandT  wherie  he  f  mnded  the  family  .^f 
Glengnrry. 

"*The  family  of  ftfaeDoueall  juffertid  fnrtherr€"ini  - 
tioo  dtmnf?  the  irrent  civil  war,  in  which  rhty  tui- 
hercd  16  the  Stewaxts,  aod  m  17 1:*  they  forfeited  the 
a  man  eswtt!  of  Dunoily,  which  waf*  then  all  Th.it 
remalTted  0f  irhat  bad  onee  been  a  prircipahi,-. 
Th^thenrepre^etjtafiv'  ,.rti .  fn,.,ih  tind  ^t  Fratief-, 
and  h  i »  mtn  (ft  ihcr  tj  f  t  <  »r )  w  on  I  i 

have  hejm  ^nhont  at  ..jimrK  hui  r^r 

ihcil^iritorelaaahip,  ujin o  t:i.  .i.e.'  :>r;i:?  of  ihe  name 
in  the  homblt  tituation  orke^^Kerofa  piibhrj-hou^e 
at  thitnbarteinH  10  take  hit  youna  chsvf  to  refirk  wtth 
him,  and  he  at  the  pjtiwnst?  of  hta  ^dticatioti  and 
zDBintcti&nce  until  hi$  flfTcetith  or  eUte^nth  }'ear. 


He  proved  a  clever  and  mteUigent  man,  and  maoa 
eood  use  of  the  education  he  received.  When 
thfl  afTair  of  1746  was  in  agitatk>n,  it  was  expect- 
ed by  the  south- western  clans  that  Cbailes  Ed- 
ward would  have  landed  near  Oban,  instead  of  which 
he  disembarked  at  Loch-nan-uagh,  in  Ariaaig.  Stu- 
art of  Appin  sent  information  of  his  landing  to  Mac- 
Dougall,  who  gave  orders  to  his  brother  to  hold  the 
clan  m  readiness  to  rise,  and  went  himself  to  consult 
with  the  chamberlain  of  the  Earl  of  Breadalbane. 
who  was  also  in  the  secret.  He  found  this  person 
indisposed  to  rise,  alleang  that  'Charles  had  disap- 
pointed them  both  in  the  place  of  landing,  and  the 
support  he  had  promised.  MacDougall  then  resolv- 
ed to  plav  cautious,  aitd  went  to  visit  the  Duke  of 
Argyle^  then  residing  at  Roseneath,  probably  with- 
out any  determined  purpose  as  to  his  rature  proceed- 
ings. While  he  was  waiting  the  Duke's  leisare,  he 
saw  a  horseman  arrive  at  niU  gallop,  and  shortlr 
after,  the  Duke  entering  the  ajpartm^t  where  Mac- 
Dougall was,  ^th  a  map  in  hi6  hand,  requested  him, 
after  friendly  salutations  to  point  out  Loch-nan- 
uagh  on  that  map.  MacDougall  instantly  saw  that 
the  secret  of  Charles's  landing  had  transpbred,  and 
resolved  to  make  a  merit  of  being  the  first  who 
should  give  details.  The  pereuasiona  of  the  Duke 
determined  him  to  remain  quiet,  and  the  reward  waa 
the  restoration  of  the  httle  estate  of  Dunolly,  lost 
by  his  father  in  171S.  This  gentleman  lived  to  a 
very  advanced  stage  of  life,  and  was  succeeded  bv 
Peter  MacDougall  Esq.  now  of  Dunolly.  I  had 
these  particulars  respeqting  the  restoratk>n  of  the 
estate  from  a  near  relation  of  the  family,  whom  we 
met  at  Dunstaffnage. 

**  The  modem  house  of  Dunolly  is  <Jn  the  neck  of 
land  under  the  old  castle,  havingon  the  one  hand  the 
lake  with  its  islands  and  mountains,  on  the  other,  two 
romantic  eminences  tufted  with  copsewood,  of  which 
Ihehighcr  id  called  Barmore,  and  is  nowplanied.  I 
have  seldom  seen  a  more  romantic  and  dclightAil 
situation,  to  which  the  pecuHar  state  of  the  mmilv 
gave  a  sort  of  moral  interest.  Mrs.  MacDougall, 
observing  strangers  surveying  the  ruins,  met  us  on 
our  remrn,  and  most  politely  insisted  upon  our  ac- 
cepting fhiit  and  refreshments.  This  was  a  coni- 
phment  meant  to  absolute  strangers ;  but  when  our 
names  became  known  to  her,  thesood  lady's  en- 
treaties that  we  would  stay  till  Mr.  MacDougall  re- 
turned from  his  ride,  became  very  pressing.  Sne  wa» 
in  deep  mourning  for  the  loss  of  an  eldest  son,  who 
had  fallen  bravely;  in  Spain  and  under  Wellington,  a 
death  well  becoming  the  descendant  of  so  famed  a 
race.  The  second  son,  a  lieutenant  in  the  navy,  had, 
upon  this  family  misfortune,  obtained  leave  to  visit 
his  parents  for  the  first  time  after  many  years*  ser- 
vice, but  had  now  returned  to  his  ship.  Mrs.  M. 
spoke  with  melancholy  pride  of  the  death  of  her  eld- 
est son,  with  hope  and  animation  of  the  prospects 
of  the  survivor.  A  thmi  is  educated  for  the  law. 
Declining  the  hospitaUty  ofTered  us.  Mra  M.  had  the 
goodness  to  walk  with  us  along  the  shore  towards 
Oban,  as  far  aa  the  property  of  Dunolly  extends,  and 
showed  us  a  fine  spring,  called  Tobar  nan  G<uL  or 
the  Well  of  the  Stranger,  where  our  sailors  supplied 
themselves  with  excellent  water,  which  has  been  ra- 
ther a  scarce  article  with  us,  as  it  soon  becomes  past 
a  landsman's  use  on  board  ship.  On  the  sea-ahorc, 
about  a.quarter  of  a  mile  from  the  castle,  is  a  biisc 
fragment  of  the  rock  called  plum-pudding  stone, 
which  art  or  nature  ba^  formed  into  a  gigantic  pil- 
lar. Here  ^t  is  said  Fion  or  Fingal  tied  his  dog  Bran 
—here  also  the  celebrated  Lord  of  the  Isles  ued  up 
his  dogs  when  he  came  upon  a  visit  to  the  I^rds  of 
Lorn.  Hence  it  is  called  Clacknan  Con;  i.e.  the 
Dog's  Stone.  A  tree  grew  once  on  the  top  of  this 
bare  mass  of  composite  stone,  but  it  was  cut  down 
by  a  curious  damsel  01  the  family,  who  was  desirous 
to  sec  a  treasure  aaid  to  be  deposited  beneath  it.  En- 
jo  ved  a  pleasant  walk  of  a  mile  along  the  beach  to 
Oban,  a  town  of  some  consequence,  built  in  a  aeroi- 
circulah  form,  around  a  good  narbour  formed  by  the 
opposite  side  of  Kerrera,  on  which  Mrs.  M.  pointed 
out  the  place  where  Alexander  IL  died,  while,  at  the 
head  of  a  powerful  armament,  he  meditated  the  re- 


UFE  OF  Sm  WALTVE  SCOTT. 


229 


dactipn  <^.the  HdMes.— Tlie  field  is  sdU  called  Dal- 
iT-tb0  King's  field 

"  Having  taken  leave  of  Mrs.  MacDougall,  we  soon 
seiisfied  our  cuiioaity  concerning  Obap,  which  owed 
ite  principal  trade  to  the  industrr  oftwo  brothera. 
Messrs.  Stevenson,  who  dealt  in  snip- building.  One 
19  now  dead,  the  other  almost  retired  from  business, 
and  trade  is  dull  in  the  place.  Heard  of  an  active 
and  industrious  man,  wno  had  set  lip  a  nursery  of 
young  trees,  which  ought  to  succeed,  since  at  present 
whoever  wants  plants  must  send  to  Glasgow;  and 
iiow  much  the  plants  sufibr  during  a  voyage  of  such 
leni^.  any  one  may  conceive.  Go  on  board  after  a 
day  delightful  for  the  se^nity  and  clearness  of  the 
weather,  as  well  as  for  the  obiects  we  had  visited.  I 
forgot  to  say,  that  through  Mr.  MacDougall's  ab- 
wnce  we  lost  an  opportunity  of  seeing  a  bronze 
figure  of  one  of  his  ancestors,  called  Baccuh^  or  the 
bme,  armed  and  mounted  as  for  a  tournament.  The 
hero  flourished  in  the  twdfth  century,  ilfteragrand 
council  of  war,  we  determine,  as  we  are  so  near  the 
co«et  of  Ulster,  th«  we  wiU  stand  over  and  view  the 
celeorated  Giant's  Causeway ;  and  Captain  Wilson 
receives  directions  accordinipy. 

"  2d  Setf.  1814.— Another  most  beautiful  day.  The 
beat,  for  the  first  time  since  we  sailed  from  Leith,  is 
somewhat  incommodious ;  so  we  spread  a  handsome 
awnizw,  to  save  our  complexions.  Gk)d  wot,  and 
brMkiast  beneath  it  in  style.  The  breeie  is  gentle, 
and  qui te  favourable.  It  bas  conducted  us  from  the 
eztrenie  cape  of  MulJL  called  the  Black  Head  of  Mull, 
into  the  Sound  of  Ilay.  We  view  m  passing  that 
larKe  and  fertile  island,  the  property  of  Campbell  of 
Shavrfield,  who  has  introduced  an  admirable  style 
of  formmg  among  his  tenants.  Still  farther  behind 
us  retreats  the  island  of  Jura,  with  the  remarkable 
nKmntains  called  the  Paps  of  Jura,  which  form  a 
laodmark  at  a  great  distance.  They  are  very  high, 
but  in  oureyes,  so  much  accustomed  of  late  to  im- 
mense height,  do  not  excite  much  surpnse.  Still 
fartner  astern  is  the  small  isle  of  Scarba,  which,  as 
we  see  it,  seems  to  be  a  single  hill.  In  the  passage 
or  sound  between  Scarba  and  the  extremity  of  Jura, 
is  a  temble  run  of  tide,  which,  contending  with  the 
RUik  rocks  and  islets  of  that  fcnl  channel,  occasions 
Hke  succession  of  whirlpools,  called  the  Gulf  of  Cor- 
nerreckan.  Seen  at  this  distance  we  cannot  judge 
ojf  Its  terrors.  The  sight  of  Corrievreckan  and  of 
the  low  rocky  isle  of  Colonsay.  betwixt  which  and 
Day  we  are  now  passing,  strongly  recalls  to  my  mind 

S or  John  Leyden  and  his  tale  of  the  Mermaid  and 
acPhail  of  Colonsay.  •  Probably  the  name  of  the 
hero  should  have  been  MacFia  for  to  the  MacDuf- 
fies  (by  abridgment  MacPies)  Colonsay  of  oldper- 
tsined.  It  is  said  the  last  of  these  MacDuiRes  was 
executed  as  an  oppressor  by  order  of  the  Lord  of  the 
Isles,  and  lies  buned  in  the  adjacent  small  island  of 
Oransay,  where  there  is  an  old  chapel  with  several 
curious  monuments,  which,  to  avoid  losing  this  fk- 
vonrable breeze,  we  are  compelled  to  leave  unvisited. 
Colonsay  now  belongs  to  a  gentleman  named  Mac- 
Niel.  On  the  right  beyond  it,  opens  at  a  distance  the 
western  coast  of  Mull,  which  we  already  visited  in 
coming  from  the  nonhward.  We  see  the  pro- 
montory of  Ross,  which  is  terminated  by  Y-Columb- 
Kill,  also  now  visible.  The  shores  of  Loch  Tua  and 
Ulva  are  m  the  blue  distance,  with  the  little  archipe- 
lago which  lies  around  Staffa.  Still  farther  the  hills 
of  Rum  can  just  be  disuneuishcd  from  the  blue  sky. 
We  are  now  arrived  at  the  extreme  point  of  Ilay, 
termed,  from  the  strong  tides,  the  Runs  qf  Hay,  We 
here  only  feel  them  as  a  large  but  soft  swell  of  the 
sea,  the  weather  being  delightfully  clear  and  serene. 
In  the  course  pf  the  evening  we  lose  sight  of  the  He- 
brides, excepting  Ilay.  having  now  attained  the  west- 
em  side  of  tnat  island. 

•*  3^  StpUmhtr,  1814.— In  the  morning  early,  we 
%re  oft  Innistulhao,  an  islet  very  like  Inchkeith  in 
pe  and  appearance,  and  lil^e  Inchkeith,  displaying  a 
hghihouse.  Messrs.  Hamilton,  Duii;  and  Steven- 
son go  ashore  to  visit  the  Irish  lighthouse,  and  com- 

*  See  BtiMtreby  of  the  Border-Scott'a  Poetical  Worki,  vol.  ir. 


Sare  notes.  A  fishing-boat  comes  6flr  wit^  fbur  or 
v«  stom  lads,  without  neckkdtchiefs  or  hats,  and 
the  best  of  whose  joint  garments  selected  would 
hardly  equip  an  Edinburgh  beggar.  Buy  from  this 
specimen  of  Paddy  in  his  native  land  some  fine  John 
pones  for  threepence  each.  The  mainland  of  Ire- 
land adjoining  to  this  island  (being  part  of  the  coun- 
ty of  Donegal)  resembles  Scotland,  and  though 
huly,  seems  well  cultivated  upon  the  whole.  A 
bnsk  breeze  directly  against  as.  We  beat  to  wind- 
ward by  assistance  of  a  strong  tide-stream,  in  order 
to  weather  the  head  of  Innisnowen,  which  covers 
the  entrance  of  Lough  Fqyle,  with  the  purpose  of 
running  up  the  loch  to  see  Londonderry,  so  celebra- 
ted for  its  siege  in  16S9.  But  short  tacks  and  long 
tacks  were  in  vain,  and  at  dinner-time,  having  lost 
our  tide,  we  find  ourselves  at  all  disadvantage  botk 
against  wind  and  sea.  Much  combustion  at  our 
meal,  and  the  manceuvres  by  which  we  attempted 
to  eat  and  drink  remind  me  of  the  enchanted  drmk- 
ing-cup  in  the  old  ballad,— 

^  Some  shed  U  on  their  shoulder, 

Some  «hed  it  on  their  thigh  ; 
And  he  that  did  not  hit  his  mouth 
Wm  sure  to  hit  his  eye.' 

In  the  evening,  backgammon  and  cards  are  in 
great  request.  We  have  had  our  guns  shotted  aU 
this  day  for  fear  of  the  Yankees— a  privateer  having 
been  seen  ofTTyree  Islands,  and  taken  some  vessels 
-—an  is  reported.-— About  nine  o'clock  weather  the 
Innishowen  head,  and  enter  the  Lough,  and  fire  a 
gun  as  a  signal  for  a  pilot.  The  people  here  are 
great  smugglers ;  and  at  the  report  of  the  gun,  we 
see  several  lights  on  shore  disappear.— About  the 
middle  of  the  day  too,  our  appearance  (much  resem- 
bling a  revenue  cutter)  occasioned  a  smoke  being 
made  in  the  midst  of  a  very  rugged  clifTon  the  shore 
—a  signal  probably  to  any  of  tne  smugglers'  craft 
that  might  be  at  sea.  Come  to  anchor  in  eight 
fki  horn  wnier,  expecting  our  pilot. 

'''Aih  Stptember.  1814.— Waked  in  the  morning 
with  good  hope  of^  hearing  service  in  Derry  Cathe-. 
drjil  np  wf  had  felt  ourselves  under  weigh  since 
daylight ;   hut  these  expectations  vanished  when, 

Eck,  we  found  ourselves  only  half  way  up 
le,  and  at  least  ten  miles  from  Derry. 
Vt:;.  .  find,  and  that  against  us:  and  thpiavi- 
gatiun  b^ith  shoally  and  intricate.  Called  a  eouncil 
of  war ;  nnd  after  Considering  the  diffict^,ty  of  get- 
tirgii;'  If  J  Derry,  andthechanceof  being  wind-bound 
when  we  do  get  there,  we  resolve  to  renounce  our 
intended  visit  to  that  town.  We  had  hardly  put  the 
ship  about,  when  the  Irish  .Solus  shifted  his  trum- 
pet, and  opposed  our  exit,  as  he  had  formerly  been 
unfavourable  to  our  progress  up  the  lake.  At  length, 
we  are  compelled  to  betake  ourselves  to  towing,  the 
wind  fading  into  an  absolute  calm.  This  gives  us 
time  enough  to  admire  the  northern,  or  Donegal,  side 
of  Lough  Foyle— the  other  being  hidden  ttom  us  by 
haze  and  distance.  Nothing  can  be  more  favoura- 
ble than  this  specimen  of  Ireland.— A  beautiful  va- 
riety of  cultivated  slopes,  intermixed  with  banks  of 
wood ;  rocks  skirted  with  a  distant  ridge  of  heathy 
hills,  watered  by  various  brooks;  the  glens  or  banks 
being,  in  general,  planted  xtr  covered  with  copse ; 
and  finally,  studded  bv  a  succession  of  villas  and 
gentlemen's  seats,  sooafarm-houscs,  and  neat  white- 
washed cabins.  Some  of  the  last  are  happily  situ- 
ated upon  the  verge  of  the  sea,  with  banks  of  copso 
or  a  rock  or  two  nsing  behind  them,  and  the  white 
sand  in  front.  The  land,  in  general,  seems  well 
cultivated  and  enclosed— but  in  some  places  the  en- 
closures seem  too  small,  and  the  ridges  too  crooked, 
for  proper  farming.  We  pass  two  gentlemen's 
seat?,  called  White  Castle  and  Red  Castle;  the  last 
a  large  good-looking  mansion,  with  trees,  and  a . 
pretty  vale  sloping  upwards  from  the  sea.  As  we 
approach  the  termmation  of  the  Lough,  the  ground  ' 
becomes  more  rocky  and  barren,  and  the  cultivation,; 
interrupted  by  impracticable  patches,  which  have  - 
been  necessarily  abandoned.  Come  in  view  of  ; 
Green  Castle,  a  large  ruinous  castle,  said  to  have  ' 
belonged  to  the  Macwilliams.  The  remains  aro 
romantically  situated  upon  a  green  bank  sloping 


880 


UFE  OF  SIR  WALTER  SCOTT. 


,^wn  tp  the  sea,  ind  «n  pardjr  covered  with  iyy. 
From  thdr  extent/the  t)lace  must  have  been  a  chief- 
tain's rcaid.ence  oi  the  very  first  consequence^  Part 
of  the  hiins  appear  to  be  founded  upon  a  high  red 
rock,  which  the  eve  at  first  blends  with  the  masonry. 
To  the  east  of  the  ruins^  upon  a  cliff  overhanging 
the  sea,  are  a  modern  fortification  and  barrack-yard, 
and  beneath;  a  large  battery  for  protection  of  the 
shippmg  which  maventer  the  Lough ;  the  guns  are 
not  yet  mounted.  The  Custom-house  boat  boards 
ns,  and  confirms  the  account  that  American  cruisers 
are  upon  the  coast.  Drift  out  of  the  Lough,  and 
leave  behind  us  this  fine  countrv,  all  of  which  be- 
longs in  property  to  Lord  Donegal ;  other  possessors 
onlv  having  bng  leases,  as  sixtsr  years,  or  so  forth. 
Red  Castle,  however^  before  distinguished  as  a  very 

Sood-Iooking  housei  is  upon  a  perpetual  lease.  We 
ischarge  our  pilot— the  gentlemen  go  ashore  wirii 
im  in  the  boat,  in  order  to  put  foot  on  Irish  land. 
I  shall  defer  that  pleasure  till  I  can  promise  myself 
something  to  see.  When  our  gentlemen  return  we 
read  prayers  on  deck.  After  dinner  go  ashore  at  the 
small  fishing-village  of  Port  Rush,  pleasantly  situa- 
ted upon  a  peninsula,  which  forms  a  little  harbour. 
Here  we  are  received  by  Dr.  Richardson,  the  in- 
ventor of  the  fiorin-grass  (or  of  some  of  its  excel- 
lencies.) He  cultivates  this  celebrated  vegeuble  oa 
a  very  small  scale,  his  whole  farm  not  exceeding 
fbur  acres.  Here  I  learn  with  inexpressible  sur- 
prise and  distress,  the  death  of  one  of  the  most 
valued  pf  the  few  fViends  whom  these  memoranda 
might  interest*  She  was,  indeed,  a  rare  example 
of  the  soundest  good  sense,  and  the  most  exquisite 
puHty  of  moral  feeling,  united  with  the  utmost  grace  | 
and  elegance  of  personal  beauty,  and  with  manners 
becoming  the  most  dignifi^i  rank  in  British  society. 
There  was  a  feminine  softness  in  all  her  deportment, 
which  won  imiversal  love,  a^  her  firmness  of  mind 
and  correctness  of  principle  commanded  veneration. 
To  her  family  her  loss  is  inexpressibly  great.  I 
know  not  whether  it  was  the  purity  of  her  mind  or 
the  ethereal  cast  of  her  features  and  form,  but  I 
could  never  associate  in  my  mind  her  idea  and  that 
of  mortality :  so  that  the  shock  is  the  more  heavy,  j 
n  bein^  totally  unexpected.  God  grant  comfort  to  | 
the  afllicted  survivor  and  his  family  I 

*'  5^<Sepfem6er,  1814.— Wake,  or  rather  rise  at  six,  | 
fbr  iVave  waked  the  whole  night,  or  fallen  into 
broken  sleeps  only  to  be  hag-ridden  by  the  night- ' 
mare.    Go  ashore  with  a  heavy  heart,  to  see  sights  , 

Shich  I  had  much  rather  leave  alone;    Land  under  < 
unluce.  a  ruined  castle  built  by  the  MacGillans,  or 
MacQuillans,  but  afterwards  taken  from  them  by  < 
a  Macdonneli,  ancestor  of  the  £arl6  of  Antrim,  and 
destroyed  by  Sir  John  Perrot,  Lord-Liftutenant  in 
the  reign  of  Queen  Elizabeth.     This  Macdonneli , 
came  from  the  Hebrides  at  the  head  of  a  Scottish 
colony.     The  site  of  the  castle  much  resembles  < 
Dunnotter,  but  is  on  a  smaller  scale.    The  ruins  I 
occupy  pernaps  more  than  an  acre  of  ground,  being 
the  level  top  of  a  high  rock  advanced  into  the  sea.  { 
by  which  it  is  surrounded  on  three  sides,  and  divided 
firom  the  mainland  by  a  deep  chasm.    The  access  , 
was  by  a  narrow  bridge,  of  which  there  now  re-  - 
mains  but  a  single  rib,  or  ledge,  forming  a  doubtful 
and  a  precarious  access  to  the  ruined  castle.    On 
the  outer  side  of  the  bridge  are  large  remains  of  out- 
worksj  probably  for  securing  cattle,  and  for  domes- 
tic ofhces— and  the  vestiges  of  a  chapel.    Beyond 
the  bridge  are  an  outer  ana  inner  gateway,  with  their 
defences.    The  largo  gateway  forms  an  angle  of 
the  square  enclosure  ofthe  fortress,  and  at  the  other 
landward  angle  is  built  a  large  round  tower.    There 
are  vestiges  of  similar  towers  occupying  the  angles 
of  the  precipice  overhanging  the  aeo.    These  towers 
were  connected  by  a  curtain,  on  which  artillery 
■eems  to  have  been  mounted.    Within  this  circuit 
are  the  ruins  of  an  establishment  of  feudal  grandeur 
on  the  large  scale.    The  great  hall,  forming,  it 
would  seem,  one  side  of  the  inner  court,  is  sixty 
Mces  long,  lighted  by  windows  which  appear  to 
nave  been  shafted  with  stone,  but  are  now  rumed. 
Adjacent  are  the  great  kitchen  and  ovens,  with  a  va- 
*  Haniet,  Dvchen  of  Buocleach,  died  Auf .  S4,  iSli. 


nety  of  other  buU<iinfl9,  but  no  ioMre  tower,  or  k«cp. 
The  most  remarkable  part  of  Dunluce,  however,  is 
that  the  whole  mass  of  plum-pudding  rock  on  which 
the  fon  is  built,  is  completely  perforated  by  a  care 
sloping  downwards  from  the  inside  of  the  moat  or 
dry-ditch  beneath  the  bridge,  and  opening  to  the 
sea  on  the  other  side.  It  might  serve  the  purpose 
of  a  smalt  har^ur,  especially  if  they  had.  as  is  be- 
lieved, a  descent  to  the  cave  from  within  the  <^astle. 
It  is  difficult  to  conceiv«>  the  use  of  the  aperture  to 
the  land,  unless  it  was  in  some  way  enclosed  ana 
defended.  Above  the  niinons  castle  is  a  neat  farm- 
house. Mre.  More,  the  good- wife,  a  Scoto-Hlber- 
nian,  received  us  with  kindness  and  hospitality,  which 
did  honour  to  the  nation  of  her  birth,  ns  wdl  as  of 
her  origin,  in  a  house  whose  cleanliness  and  neat- 
ness might  have  rivalled  England.  Her  churn  wa!> 
put  into  immedtafe  motion  on  our  behalf,  and  wt; 
were  loaded  with  all  manner  of  courtesy,  as  well  a» 
good  things.  We  heard  here  of  an  armed  schoone^ 
having  been  seen  off  the  coast  yesterday,  which 
fired  on  a  boat  that  went  off  to  board  her.  and  wootd 
seem  therefore  to  be  a  orivateer,  or  armed  smuggler. 

"  Return  on  board  for  breakfast,  and  then  again 
take  boat  for  the  Giant's  Caoieway— having  first 
shotted  the  guns,  and  agreed  on  a  signal,  in  case 
this  alarming  stranger  should  again  make  hta  ap- 
pearance. Visii  two  caves,  both  worth  aeeing,  but 
not  equal  to  those  we  have  seen ;  one,  called  Port 
Coon,  opens  in  a  small  cove,  or  bay— the  outer 
reach  opens  into  an  inner  cave,  and  that  again  into 
the  sea.  The  othe^,  called  Qown  Kerry,  is  a  ae*^ 
cave,  like  that  on  the  eastern  side  of  Looh  Enboi— a 
high  arch,  up  which  the  sea  rolls :— the  weather  be- 
ing quiet,  we  sailed  in  very  nearly  to  the  tipper  end. 
We  then  rowed  on  to  the  celebrated  Causeway,  a 
platform  composed  of  basaltic  pillars,  projecting 
into  the  sea  like  the  pier  of  a  harbour.  As  I  was 
tired,  and  had  a  violent  headach,  I  did  not  land,  but 
could  easily  see  tliat  the  regularity  of  the  columns 
was  the  same  as  at  Staffa ;  out  that  island  contains 
a  much  more  extensive  and  curious  specimen  of 
this  curious  phenomenon. 

"Row  along  the  shores  of  this  celebrated  point, 
which  are  extremely  striking  as  well  as  curious. 
They  open  into  a  succession  of  little  bays,  each  of 
which  has  precipitous  banks  graced  with  long  ranges 
ofthe  basaltic  pUlars,  someUmes  placed  above  each 
other,  and  divided  by  masses  of  interweaving  strata, 
or  by  green  sloping  banks  of  earth  of  extreme  steep- 
ness. These  remarkable  ranges  of  columns  are  in 
some  places  chequered  by  horizontal  strata  of  a  red 
rock  or  earth,  of  the  appearance  6f  ochre;  so  that 
the  green  of  the  grassy  banks,  the  dark-gray  or  black 
appearance  of  the  columns^  with  those  red  seams 
and  other  varieties  of  ihc  mteiposed  strata,  have 
most  uncommon  and  striking  effects.  The  outlme 
of  theae  cHffs  is  as  singular  as  their  colouring.  In 
several  places  the  earth  nas  wasted  away  from  single 
columns,  and  left  them  standing  insulated  and  erect, 
like  the  ruined  colonnade  of  an  ancient  temple,  upon 
the  verge  of  the  precipice.  In  other  places,  the  dis- 
position of  the  basaltic  ranges  present  singular  ap- 
pearances, to  which  the  guides  give  names  agreeable 
to  the  images  which  they  are  supposed  to  represent. 
Each  of  the  little  bays  or  inlets  has  i^so  it«  appro- 
priate name.  One  is  called  the  Spanish  Bay,  from 
one  of  the  Spanish  Armadi^  having  been  wreck«Ki 
there.  Thus  our  voyage  has  repeatedly  traced  the 
memorable  remnants  of  that  celebrated  squadron. 
The  general  name  of  the  cape  adjacent  to  the  Cause- 
way, is  Bengore  Head.  To  those  who  have  seen 
Staffa,  the  peculiar  appearance  of  the  Causeway  it- 
self will  lose  much  of  its  effect:  but  the  grandeur 
of  the  neighbouring  scenery  will  still  maintain  th» 
reputation  of  Bengore  Head.  The  people  ascribe  all 
these  wonders  to  Fm  MacCoul^  whom  they  couple 
with  a  Scottish  giant  called  Ben- an  something  or 
other.  The  traveller  is  plied  by  guides,  who  make 
their  profit  by  selUng  pieces  of  crystal,  agate,  or 
chalcedony,  found  in  the  interstices  of  the  rooks. 
Our  party  brought  off  some*  curious  joints  of  the 
columns,  and,  had  I  been  quite  as  1  am  wont  to  be, 
I  would  have  selecte4t||^gr^|,fl^  capitals  of  a  ruatic 


UPE  OF  Sm,  WALTER  SCOTT. 


231 


potefaat  Abbotiferc)'  But,  aha!  alas!  I  am  much 
•ODt  of  love  with  vanity  at  thta  moment.  From 
what  we  hear  at  the  Causeway,  ^e  haveVvery  rea- 
son to  think  that  the  pretended  privateer  has  b(Ben  a 
isentkman's  pleasure- vessel.— Continue  our  voyage 
southward,  and  pass  between  the  Main  of  Ireland 
and  the  Isle  of  Rachrin,  a  rude  heathy-lookinfiisU 
aod,  once  a  place  of  refuge  to  Robert  Bruce.  This 
is  said,  in  ancient  times,  to  have  been  the  abode  of 
banditti^  who  plundered  the  neighbouring  coast.  At 
present  it  is  under  a  long  lease  to  a  Mr.  Gage,  who 
IS  said  to  maintain  excellent  order  among  the  island- 
ers. Those  of  bad  character  be  expels  to  Ireland, 
and  hence  it  is  a  phrase  among  the  people  of  Rach- 
rin«  when  they  wish  ill  to  any,  one,  *  May  Ireland  be 
kU  hiruUr  end,'  On  the  Main  we  see  the  village  of 
Ballintry,  and  a  number  of  people  collected,  the^e- 
mains  of  an  Irish  fair.  Close  by  is  a  small  isret, 
called  Sheep  Island.  We  now  take  leave  of  the 
'  Irish  coast,  having  heard  nothing  of  its  popular 
eomplaints,  excepting  that  the  soodladyatDunluce 
made  a  heavy  moan  against  the  tithes,  which  had 
compelled  her  husband  to  throw  bis  whole  farm 
into  pasture.  Stand  over  toward  Scotland,  and  see 
the  Mull  of  Cantyre  light. 

"eth  September,  1814.— Under  the  lighthouse  at 
the  Mali  of  Cantyre :  situated  on  a  desolate  spot 
among  rocks,  like  a  Chinese  pagoda  in  Indian  draw- 
inffs.  DuflT  and  Stevenson  go  ashore  ad  six.  Ha- 
milton follows,  but  is  unable  to  land,  the  sea  having 
Koc  np.  The  boat  brings  back  letters,  and  I  have 
the  great  comfort  to  learn  all  are  well  at  Abbotsford. 
About  euht^the  tide  begins  to  run  ?ery  strong^ 'and 
^e  ^wind  rising  at  the  same  time,  makes  us  some- 
^vbmt  apprehensive  for  our  boat,  which  had  returned 
to  attend  D.  and  S.  We  observe  them  set  off  along 
the  hills  on  foot,  to  walk,  as  we  understand,  to  a 
bay  GflUed  Carskey^  five  or  six  miles  oS,  but  the 
nearest  spot  at  which  they  can  hope  to  re-embark 
in  this  state  of  the  weather.  It  now  become^  very 
sqaally,  and  one  of  out*  jibsails  splits^  We  are  rather 
awkwardly  divided  into  three  parties— thepedestri- 
mau  on  shore,  with  whom  we  now  observe  Captain 
Wilson,  mounted  upon  a  pony— the  boat  with  four 
aaOors,  which  is  stealing  along  in-shore^  imable  to 
row,  and  scarce  venturing  to  carry  any  sail— and  we 
in  the  yacht,  tossing  about  most  exceedingly.  At 
leoAth  we  reach  Carskey,*a  ouiet-looking  bay,  where 
the  Doat  gets  into  shore,  and  fetches  on  our  gentle- 
men. After  this  the  coast  of  Cantyre  seems  cul- 
tivated and  arable,  but  bleak  and  unenclosed,  like 
many  other  parts  of  Scotland.  We  then  learn  that 
we  have  been  repeatedly  in  the  route  of  two  Ame- 
licaa  privateers,  who  have  made  many  captures  ii^ 
the  Irish  Channel,  particularly  at  Innistruhul,  at 
the  back  of  Islay,  and  on  the  Lewis.  They  are  the 
.Peacock,  of  twenty-two  guns,  and  16B  men,  and  a 
schooner  of  eighteen  guns,  called  the  Prince  of 
Neufchatel.  These  news,  added  to  the  increasing 
inclemency  of  the  weather,  induce  us  to  defer  a  pro- 
jected visit  to  the  coast  of  Galloway ;  and  indeed  it 
IS  time  one  of  us  was  home  on  many  accounts.  We 
therefore  resolve,  after  visiting  the  lighthouse  at 
Piadda,  to  proceed  Sox  Greenock.  About  four,  drop 
anchor  off  Piadda,  a  small  islet  lying  on  the  south 
side  of  Arran.  Go  ashore  and  visit  the  establish- 
ment. When  we  return  on  board,  the  wind  being 
nniavomrable  for  the  mouth  of  Clyde,  we  resolve  to 
weigh  anchor  and  go  into  Lamlash  Bay. 

"  7th  September,  1814.— We  had  amply  room  to 
repent  last  night's  resolution,  for  the  wmd,  with  its 
nsnal  caprice,  changed  so  soon  as  we  had  weighed 
anchor,  blew  very  hard,  and  almost  directlyAgainst 
OS,  so  that  we  were  healing  up  against  it  Vf  short 
tacks,  which  made  a  most  disameeable  «iight ;  as 
between  the  noise  of  the  wind  and  the  sea,  the  clat- 
tering of  the  ropes  and  sails  above,  and  of  the  move- 
ables below,  and,  the  eternal  'ready  about,*-  which 
was  repeated  every  ten  minutes  when  the  vessel 
was  about  to  (ack,  with  the  lurch  and  clamour  which 
succeeds,  sleep  was  much  out  of  the  question.  We 
are  "Hot  now  in  the  least  sick,  but  want  of  sleep  is 
imcomfortable,  and  I  havjs  no  agreeable  reflections 
to  aflmse  waking  hours,  excei^ting  the  hope  of  again 


r^oining  my  fiimily.  About  six  o'clcfcic  went  on 
deck  to  see  Lamlash  Bay,  which  we  have  at  length 
reached  after  a  hard  struggle.  The  morning  is  fine, 
and  the  wind  abated,  so  that  the  coast  of  Arran 
look's  extremely  well.  It  is  indented  with  two  deep 
bays.  That  called  Lamlash,  being  covered  by  an 
island  with  an  entrance  at  either  end,  makes  a  se- 
cure roadstead.  The  other  bay,  which  takes  its 
name  from  Brodick  Castle,  a  seat  of  the  Duke  of 
Hamilton,  is  open.  The  situation  of  the  castle  is 
very  fine,  among  extensive  plantations,  laid  out  with 
perhaps  too  much  formality,  but  pleasant  to  the  eye, 
as  the  first  tract  of  plantation  we  have  seen  forh  long 
time.  One  stripe,  however,  with  singular  want  of 
taste,  runs  straight  op  a  finely- roimded  hill,  and 
turning  by  an  obtuse-angle,  cuts  down  the  opposite 
side  with  equal  lack  of  remorse.  This  vile  habit  of 
opposing  the  line  of  the  plantation  to  the  nattiral 
line  and  bearing  of  the  ground,  is  one  of  the  greatest 
practical  errors  of  early  planters.  As  to  the  rest, 
the  fields  about  Brodick,  and  the  lowland  of  Arran 
in  genera],  seem  rich,  well  enclosed,  and  in  good 
cultivation.  Behmd  and  around  rise  an  amphithe- 
atre of  mountains,  the  principal  a  long  rid»B  with 
fine  swelling  serrated  tops,  called  Gk>at-Fell.  Our 
wind  now  altogether  dies  away,  while  we  want  its 
assistance  to  get.to  the  mouth  of  the  Firth  of  Clyde, 
now  opening  between  theextreroity  of  the  large  and 
fertile  Isle  of  Bute,  and  the  lesser  islands  called  the 
Cumbrays.  The  fertile  coast  of  Ayrshire  trends 
away  to  the  south-westward,  displaying  many  vil- 
lages and  much  appearance  of  bciauty  and  cultiva- 
tion. On  the  north-eastward  arises  the  bold  and 
mapfnificent  screen  formed  by  tho  monntnins  of  Ar- 
gyJtshirc  fittd  Dunbftrcofiehirt?^  fJai^iff  niiove  each 
othor  m;^ia:nntjc  gucc^^sEiciri.  Aboui  noon,  ft  favour- 
abtt>  breath  of  wind  enables  us  m  enter  the  mouth 
of  tho  Clyde^  passing  between  the  brser  Cum  bray 
and  the  c.i£tremity  of  Bute  Ab  we  advantic  boyonc 
tho  Cumbray  and  open  the  opposite  coast,  see  Largs 
reriE^wjied  for  ibo  finsl  defeat  of  the  Norwegian  in- 
va<Jor«i  by  Akxandtr  III.  [a,  d,  I26a]  The  grouoa 
of  hatite  was  a  BloprnK.  but  raihergentle  ascent 
fn^rn  the  s^^  abov^  the  modern  Kirk  of  Lar^e^ 
Had  Hacu  ffniried  the  victory,  it  would  hove  opeiieti 
all  (he  ^^iiiih-weflt  of  tScotiand  to  hm  jums.  On 
Bute,  a  t:ne  nnd  wcU-im proved  island,  we  open  the 
Marquia  of  CtiUJ^e  houbo  of  Mount  Scpwart,  neither 
apparently  iaiRd  nor  e^e^iint  in  architecture,  but 
beautifully  Hiiimied  among  wdl-grown  tr^ti,  with 
an  r/pen  nnd  fitroii^ht  avenue  to  the  aea- shore.  The 
whole  isk  is  pr(itti]y  varied  by  the  rotation  of  oropa  ; 
and  iha  ri>cky  riJ^^a  t»f  Goat- Pell  and  other  moun- 
tains in  Arran  ari^  now  seen  behind  Btile  as  a  back- 
ground.  These  ridges  reMsmble  much  the  romantic 
end  savage  outline  of  the  mouniaini  of  Cuiilliit  in 
Skye.  On  the  southward  of  Largs  is  Ktlbumt  the 
El:  at  of  Lord  Glrififcov?,  ^irh  ext^ensi^e  plan  tat  ions; 
on  the  north  wurd,  Skelmorlie.^  an  ancioni  seat  of  ibe 
Mont^onieries.  The  Firth,  etoaed  to  appear anc<? 
by  IJuie  and  the  Cumbrays,  now  resembles  a  long 
irrtj^ular  inland  lakt^  bordertd  oti  the  one  side  by  tbtr 
low  and  rich  coast  of  Renfrewshire,  studded  wtth 
vill&geaand  ^eata^and  on  the  other  bv  the  Highland 
muuntoins^  Our  breeze  diea  totally  away,  and 
leaver  us  to  admire  chiaprf^spect  till  tuniet^  1  learn 
ini/idcnlally,  that^  in  tbi>  opinion  of  hont^st  Cnpiajn 
Wilson,  1  havt!  been  mmlf  the  cauat*  of  fill  ihia 
contradictory  weather  '  It  is  all,*  Sflvs  ilie  Captain 
to  Si€vtn9on,  *  owinfi  to  the  cave  nt  the  Isle  of  tkg,' 
—from  which  I  had  alistrBctL>d  a  skulL  Under  ihs 
odium  I  m^y  labour  yet  longer^  for  oasuredly  the 
wtathtr  has  been  do^fsetily  unfavourahte.    Night 

SUiCt  anrl  gerenet  but  deed  calm — a  fitie  com  to  at  to 
be  pitt'hing,  rollinf^,  nnd  walloping  of  last  night, 
'^Sih  Septcnthe^,  —  ^^■ak^i^d  very  much  in  ibe  eimie 
flituntion— a  dendealm,  but  the  weather  very  sereiit. 
Wiih  tnudi  diHicaity,  and  by  the  assist iince  of  tho 
tidei  we  ad va need  up  the  Firth,  and  paaaiuK  the  vil- 
lage! nf  Gourock,  at  lenKth  reached  Greenock,  Took 
an  early  dinner^  nnd  embnrkerl  in  the  steajn-boat 
forGlasifjow,  We  took  le^veof  ourlitileyatcb  under 
the  repealed  cheers  of  the  eaili^TS?  who  had  been 
III u eh  pleased  with  th^gid7sd%ikQilkM)^lf@ho2 


2aB 


UFE  OF  SIR  WALTER  SCOTT. 


about,  80  di&rentfirom  the  tedium  of  a  regular  voy- 
age. Afier  we  reached  Glasjgow— a  journey  which 
we  performed  at  the  rate  of^about  eight  miles  an 
hour,  and  with  a  Smoothness  of  motion  which  prob- 
ably resembles  flyins— we  supped  together,  and  pre; 
pared  to  separate.— Erskine  and  I«ro  to* morrow  to 
the  Advocate's  at  Killirmont,  and  thence  to  Edin- 
burgh. So  closes  my  Journal.  But  1  must  not 
omit  to  say,  that  among  five  or  six  persons,  some  of 
whom  were  doubtless  dmerent  in  tastes  and  pursuits, 
there  did  not  occur,  during  the  close  communication 
of  more  than  six  weeks  aboard  a  small  vessel,  the 
slightest  difference  of  opinion.  Each  seemed  anx- 
ious to  submit  his  own  wishes  to  those  of  his  friends. 
The  consequence  was,  that  by  judicious  arrangement 
all  were  gratified  in  their  turn,  and  freauently  he 
who  made  some  sacrifices  to  the  views  of  his  com- 
panions, was  rewarded  by  some  unexpected  grati- 
fication calculated  particularly  for  his  own  amuse- 
ment. Thus  ends  my  little  excursion,  in  which, 
bating  one  circumstance,  which  must  have  made 
me  miserable  for  the  time  wherever  I  had  learned  it, 
I  have  enjoyed  as  much  pleasure  as  in  any  six  weeks 
of  my  lifie.  We  had  constant  exertion,  a  succession 
of  wild  and  uncommon  scenery,  good  humour  on 
board,  and  objects  of  animation  and  interest  when 
we  went  ashore— 

^  Sed  fugit  Intcrea— fiigit  irrevocabile  tempua.' " 


CHAPTER    XXXIII. 

LSTTSR  IN  y EasS  FBOM  ZVthJOSD  AND  ORKNTV— DBATH 
or  THS  OCCHKSS  07  BCCCLSUCH— CORRXSPONDENCS 
WITH  THE  BUKE— ALTRIVB  LAKE— NEGOTIATION 
CONCERNING  THE  LORD  OF  THE  ISLES  COMPLETED — 
SUCCESS  OF  WAVERHV— CONTEMPORANEOUS  CRITI- 
CISMS ON  TH#  NOVEL— LETTERS  TO  SCOTT  FROM  MR. 
MORRITT— lift.  LEWIS— AND  MI88  MACLEAN  CLE- 
PHANE— LETTER  FROM  JAMES  BALLANTTNE  TO  MISS 
EDGEWORTH.— 1814. 

1  QUESTION  if  any  man  ever  drew  his  own  charac- 
ter more  fully  or  more  pleasingly  than  Scott  has 
done  in  thepreceding  diary  of  a  six  weeks*  pleasure 
voyage.  We  have  before  us,  according  to  the  scene 
and  occasion,  the  poet,  the  antiquary,  the  magistrate, 
the  planter,  and  the  agricultunst ;  but  every  where 
the  warm  yet  sagadoos  philanthropist— every  where 
the  rn-rtf  1-T,  hn?rt!  on  the  unselfishness,  of  the  tho- 
xoui:}ti>ti  1  pcndemsn;— and  surely  never  was  the 
lendff  rne^B  of  a  nii.aly  heart  portrayed  more  touch- 
\ng\y  ihi4ii  in  the  ctosing  pages.  I  ought  to  mention 
thftt  F-^kin^-  received  the  news  of  the  Duchess  of 
BucL :  1 1  -^  <  i^  uh  on  the  day  when  the  party  landed 
at  Dunstaiinage ;  but,  knowing  how  it  would  afifect 
Scott,  took  means  to  prevent  its  reaching  him  until 
the  expedition  should  be  concluded.  He  heard  the 
event  casually  mentioned  by  a  stranger  during  din- 
ner at  Port  Rash,  and  was  for  the  moment  quite 
overpowered. 

Or  the  letters  which  Soott  wrote  to  his  friend  dur- 
ing those  happy  six  weeks,  I  have  recovered  only 
one,  and  it  is,  thanks  to  the  leisure  of  the  yacht  in 
verse.  The  strong  and  easy  heroics  of  the  nrst 
section  prove,  f  think,  that  Mr.. Canning  did  not  err 
when  he  told  him  that  if  he  chose  he  might  emulate 
even  Dryden*s  command  of  that  ncble  measure ; 
and  the  dancing  anapests  of  the  second  show  that 
he  could  with  equal  facility  have  rivalled  the  gay 
graces  of  Cotton,  Anstey,  or  Moore.  This  epistle 
aid  not  reach  the  Duke  of  Buccleuch  until  his  lovely 
Duchess  was  no  more ;  and  I  shall  annex  to  it  some 
commumcations  reUtmg  to  that  aflliction,  which 
afford  a  contrast,  not  less  interesting  than  melan- 
choly, to  the  light-hearted  glee  reflected  in  the 
rhymes  from  the  region  of  Magnus  Troill. 

To  his  Orace  th^  Duke  of  Buccleuch,  4t.  4^.  4*. 
^'Uglithouse  Yacht,  the  Sound  of  I^rwick,  Zetlaad, 
8th  August,  1614. 
"  Health  to  the  Chieftain  from  his  clansman  true  I 
Prom  her  true  minstrel  health  to  fair  Buccleuch! 
Health  from  the  isles,  where  dewy  Morning  weaves 
Her  chaplet  with  the  tinu  that  Twilight  leaves ; 


,   Where  late  the  son  scarce  vsBlahed  fron  tlM  sifitt, 
And  his  bright  pathway  graced  the  short-lived  iqiht» 
Tho^gh  darker  now  as  autumn's  shades  extend, 
Th9  north  winds  whistle  and  the  mists  ascend. 
Healtlrfrom  the  land  where  eddjring  w^lrlwinda  toss 
The  storm-rocked  cradle  of  the  Cape  of  Noss ; 
On  outstretched  cords  the  giddy  engine  sUdes, 
His  own  strong  arm  the  bold  adventurer  guides, 
And  he  that  Hits  such  desperate  feat  to  try, 
Bfay,  like  the  sea-mew,  skim  'twixt  surf  and  aky, 
And  feel  the  mid-air  gales  around  him  blow. 
And  see  the  billows  rage  five  hundred  feet  below. 

"  Here  by  each  stormy  peak  and  desert  shore, 
The  hardy  ialesman  tugs  tae  daring  oar. 
Practised  alike  his  venturous  course  to  keep 
Through  the  white  breakers  or  the  pathless  deep, 
By  ceaseless  peril  and  by  toil  to  gain 
A  srrecched  pittance  from  the  ninard  main. 
#  And  when  the  worn-out  drudge  ^d  ocean  leaves. 
What  comfort  greets  him,  and  what  hut  receives  ? 
.Lady !  the  worst  your  presence  ere  has  cheered 
(When  want  and  sorrow  fled  as  you  appeared) 
Were  to  a  Zetlander  as  the  high  dome 
Of  proud  Drumlanrig  to  my  htunble  home. 
Here  rise  no  groves,  and  here  no  gardens  blow. 
Here  even  the  hardy  heath  scarce  dares  to  grow ; 
But  rocks  on  rocks,  in  mist  and  storm  arrayed, 
Stretch  far  to  sea  their  giant  colonnade. 
With  many  a  cavern  seam'd,  the  dreary  haunt 
Of  the  dun  sea)  and  swarthy  cormorant 
Wild  round  their  rifted  brows  with  frequent  cry, 
As  of  lenient,  the  ndls  and  gannets  dy, 
And  from  their  sable  base,  with  sullen  sound, 
In  sheets  of  whitening  foam  the  waves  rebound. 

"  Yet  even  these  coasts  a  touch  of  envy  gain 
From  those  whose  land  has  knovm  oppresdon's  chain  ; 
For  here  the  industrious  Dutchman  comes  once  aumr^ 
To  moor  his  fishing  craft  by  Bressav's  shore ; 
Greets  every  former  mate  and  brotner  tar, 
Marvels  how  Lerwick  'scaped  the  rage  of  war, 
Telia  many  a  tale  of  Gallic  outrage  done, 
And  ends  by  blessing  God  and  Wellington. 
Here  too  the  Greenland  tar,  a  fiercer  guest, 
Claims  a  brief  hour  of  riot,  not  of  rest ; 
Pro^s  each  wild  frolic  that  in  wine  has  birth, 
And  wakes  the  land  with  brawls  and  boisterous  mirtli. 
A  sadder  sight  on  yon  poor  vessel's  praw, 
The  captive  Norse-man  sits  in  silent  wo,  # 
And  eyes  the  flags  of  Britain  as  they  flow. 
Hard  fate  of  war,  which  bade  her  terrors  sway 
TT"-  ^--'^  -(d  course,  and  seise  so  mean  a  prey ; 
A  EkiitIc  ia  ii  b  planiLB  80  H^'d  and  seams  so  riwn, 
tihc  KJtrce  might  face  the  gentlest  airs  of  hemten : 
PcrtJELve  h^  iits,  and  questions  oft  if  none 
f  iiii  Ik-i  h'm  speech  and  understand  his  moan ; 
ht  voiii— ri<>  islesman  now  can  use  the  tongue 
Or  ih(  tiMJi  Norse,  from  whom  their  lineage  qnroa^ 
N '  1 1  h  ijt4 1  if  old  the  Norse-man  hither  came, 
\^'^>n  E  V  1  tie  love  of  danger  or  of  fame ; 
r>.>  i^vf'tv  Morm-beat  cape  a  shapeless  tower 
T«;^  ^,i  Uieir  wars,  their  conquest,  and  their  pofwer ; 
For  ne'er  for  Grecla'a  valea,  nor  Latian  land, 
Was  fiercer  strife  than  for  thia  barren  sr 
A  race  severe— ihe  Isle  and  ocean  lords, 
Loved  for  its  own  delight  the  strife  of  swords— 
With  scornful  laugh  the  mortal  pang  defied^ 
And  blessed  their  gods  that  they  in  batlle  died. 

**  Such  were  the  sires  of  Zetland's  simple  race. 
And  sun  the  eye  may  faint  resemblance  trace 
In  the  blue  eye,  tall  form,  proportion  &ir, 
The  limbs  athletic,  and  the  long  Utf ht  hair~ 
(Such  was  the  mien,  as  Scald  and  Minstrel  sings. 
Of  fair-haired  Harold,  first  of  Norway'a  Kings ;) 
But  their  high  deeds  to  scale  these  crags  confined. 
Their  only  warfare  la  vrith  waves  and  wind. 

^  Why  should  I  talk  of  MoUsa's  castled  eoest  1 
Why  of^the  horrors  of  the  Somborgh  Rost  1 
Msf  not  these  bald  disjointed  lines  sofDce. 
P^'d  while  my  comrades  whirl  the  rattling  dice-* 
WhilQ  down  the  cabin  skylight  lessening  shine 
The  rays,  and  eve  is  chasedwith  mirth  and  wine  1— 
Imagined,  wMIc  down  Mous&'s  desert  bay 
Our  well-trimm'd  vessel  urged  her  nimble  way — 
WDilc  to  the  ftreshenlng  breeze  she  leaned  her  side* 
And  bade  her  bowsprit  kisB  the  foamy  tide—  7 

**  Such  are  the  lays  that  Zetland  Isles  supply ; 
I>renched  with  the  drizzly  spray  and  dropfsng  sky. 
Weary  and  wei,  a  sea-aiok  minstrel  f. 

Digitized  by  LjOO^^^-" 


LIFE  OF  SIR  WALTER  SCOTT. 


*'  PMitehptttm, 

"  KlrkwaU,  Orkney,  Aug.  13,  1814. 
"^  In  rmect  that  your  grace  haa  commissioned  a  Kraken, 
Tou  win  please  be  informed  that  ther  seldom  are  taken ; 
It  is  January  two  years,  the  Zetland  folks  say. 
Smce  they  saw  the  last  Kraken  in  Scalloway  oa?  ; 
He  lay  In  the  offlnz  a  fonnight  or  more, 
Bat  Che  deTil  a  Zeuander  put  from  the  shoro^ 
Thoush  bold  in  the  seas  of  the  North  to  assail 
The  inorse  and  the  sea-horse,  the  cranipus  and  whale. 
If  your  Grace  thinks  I'm  writing  the  thW  that  is  not, 
You  may  ask  at  a  namesake  of  ours,  Mr.  Hcott— 
(Hes  not  from  our  clan,  though  his  mcritsdeserve  it, 
But  spTiiurs,rminibnn'd,fromtheScoUsof  Scotstarvet  ;)* 
He  questioned  the  folks,  who  beheld  it  with  eyes,    . 
Bus  they  differed  confoundedly  as  to  its  size. 
For  Distance,  the  modest  and  diffident  swore 
That  U  seemed  like  the  keel  of  a  ship,  and  no  more- 
Those  of  eyesif  ht  more  clear,  or  of  fancy  more  high, 
:iteid  it  rose  like  an  island  'twist  ocean  and  sky- 
But  all  of  the  hulk  had  a  steady  opinion 
Thai  'twas  cure  a  tive  subject  of  Neptune's  dominion— 
And  1  think,  my  Lord  Duke,  vour  Grace  hardly  would  wish 
To  cumber  your  house  such  a  kettle  of  fish. 
Bad  your  onler  related  to  night-caps  or  hose, 
Or  mittens  of  worsted,  (here's  plenty  of  those. 
Or  would  you  be  pleased  but  to  fancy  a  whale  1 
And  direct  me  to  send  It— by  sea  or  by  mail  T 
The  seaaon,  I'm  told,  is  nigh  over,  but  still 
1  could  get  you  one  fit  for  the  lake  at  Bowhill. 
Indeed,  as  to  whales,  there's  no  need  to  be  thrifiy, 
iOaee  one  day  last  fortnight  two  hundred  and  fiftyr 
Pursued  by  seven  Orkneymen's  boats  and  no  more, 
Betwixt  TrufiTnessand  Lumiess  were  drawn  on  the  shore ! 
You*  II  ask  if  I  saw  this  same  wonderful  sight ; 
I  own  that  I  did  not,  hut  easily  might— 
For  this  michty  shoal  of  leviathans  lay 
On  our  iee-beara  a  mile,  ih  the  loop  of  the  bay. 
And  th«  Islesmen  of  Sanda  were  ail  at  the  spoil, 
And  JiincM'nf  (so  term  it)  the  blubber  to  boil ; 
<Ye  spirits  oi  lavender  drown  the  reflection 
Tkat  awakes  at  the  thoughts  of  this  odorous  dissection.) 
To  see  this  huge  marvel,  full  fain  would  we  go. 
But  Wilson,  the  wind,  and  ihe  current  said  no. 
We  have  now  got  to  Kirkwall,  and  needs  I  must  stare 
When  I  tliink  that  in  verse  I  have  once  called  it/air ; 
T&s  a  baae  little  borough,  both  dirty  and  mean- 
There  fa  nothing  to  hear,  and  there's  nought  to  be  seen, 
Save  a  church,  where,  of  old  times,  a  prelate  harangued, 
And  «  palace  that's  built  by  an  earl  that  was  hanged. 
Bui  Carewell  to  Kirkwall— aboard  we  are  going, 
Tike  anchor's  a-peak,  and  the  breezes  are  blowing  ; 
Our  Commodore  calls  all  his  biiud  to  their  places, 
JUkd  'tis  time  to  release  you— good  night  to  your  Graces !" 

To  ku  Orace  the  Duke  of  Buceteueh,  ^c. 

''  Glasgow,  stpx.  8, 1814. 
*•  Mr  dear  Lord  Duke, 

**  I  take  the  earliest  opportunity,  after  landing,  to  dis- 
ckane  a  ta.^k  so  distressing  to  me,  that  I  find  reluctance 
and  fear  even  in  making  the  attempt,  and  for  the  first  time 
sddresa  so  kind  and  generous  a  friend  without  either  com- 
(on  and  confidence  m  myself,  or  the  power  of  oflfering  a 
angle  word  of  consolation  to  his  affliction.  1  learned  Ae 
late  calamitous  news  (which  indeed  no  preparation  could 
b«T<»  greatly  mitigated)  quite  unexpectedly,  when  upon 
the  Irish  coast ;  nor  could  the  shock  of  an  eanhquake 
hare  atfecled  me  in  the  same  proportion.  Since  that  time 
1  have  been  dctaineti  at  sea,  thinking  of  nothing  but  what 
)MM  bappeoed,  and  of  the  painful  mity  I  am  now  to  per- 
form. If  the  deepest  interest  in  this  inexpressible  loss 
could  quaiifv  me  lor  expressing  myself  upon  a  subject  so 
•Stressing,  I  know  few  whose  attachment  and  respect  for 
the  lasi^'cited  object  of  our  sorrows  can,  or  6ught  to  ex- 
ceed my  own,  (or  never  was  more  attractive  kindnem 
and  eondesceiision  displayed  by  one  of  her  sphere,  or  re- 
turned with  deeper  nnd  more  neartfelt  gratitude  by  one 
m  ray  own.  But  selfish  rf>gret  and  sorrow,  while  they 
ctsim  a  painful  and  unavailing  ascendance,  cannot  drown 
the  rec«Mlecllon  of  the  \1rtues  lost  to  the  world.  Just  when 
tlidr  scene  of  acting  had  opened  wider,  and  to  her  family 
▼hen  the  prospect  of  their  speedy  entry  upon  Ufe  reu- 
Uered  her  precept  and  example  peculiarly  Impoftant. 
Aad  such  an  example  !  for  of  ail  whom  I  have  ever  seen, 
m  irtiaiever  rank,  sqe  possessed  most  the  power  of  render- 
iof  virtue  krrcly— combining  purity  of  feeling  and  sound- 
ae«sof  judgment  with  a  sweetness  andaflkt»ility  which  won 
the  aflection.4  of  all  who  hud  the  happiness  of  approach- 
aig  her.  And  this  is  the  partner  of  whom  it  hast  been 
God's  pleasure  to  deprive  your  Grace,  and  the  friend  for 

*  Hie  9eott0  of  Sootstarret.  and  other  familiei  of  the  name  in 
T\h  aad  etbewheie,  claini  no  kiodicd  with  the  great  clan  of  the 
Bardsr   aad  their  annonal  beanan  are  eattrely  dt^jareot. 


whom  Inow  sorrow,  and  shall  sorrow  while  I  can  re- 
member any  thing.  The  recollection  of  her  excellencies 
can  but  add  bitterness,  at  least  in  the  first  pangs  of  cala- 
mity, yet  it  is  impossible  to  forbear  the  topic  :  it  runs  to 
my  pen  as  to  mv  thuughlR.  till  I  almost  call  ifi  question, 
for  an  instant,  the  Eternal  Wisdom  which  has  so  early 
summoned  her  from  this  wretched  world,  where  pain 
and  grief  and  sorrow  is  our  portion,  to  join  those  to  whom 
lier  vinues,  while  upon  eanh,  gave  her  so  strung  a  re 
i<emblance.  Would  to  God  I  could  say,  be  ctitnjorud  ; 
but  I  feel  every  common  topic  of  consolation  must  be,  for 
the  tiiiM  at  least,  even  an  irritation  to  affliction.  Grieve, 
then,  my  depjr  Lord,  or  I  should  say  my  dear  and  much 
honoured  friend,  for  sorrow  for  tl»e  time  levels  the  highest  • 
distinctions  of  rank ;  but  do  not  gnevc  as  those  who  nave 
no  hope.  1  know  the  last  eartiily  tlioughts  of  the  depart- 
ed sharer  of  your  joys  and  sorrows  must  liave  been  for 
your  Grace  and  the  dear  pledges  she  has  left  to  your  care. 
Do  not,  for  their  sake,  suffer  grief  to  take  that  exclusive 
possession  which  disclaims  care  for  the  livinc,  and  is  not 
only  useless  to  the  dead,  hut  is  what  their  wishes  would 
have  most  earnestly  deprecated.  To  time,  and  to  God. 
whose  ar&  both  time  and  eternity,  belongs  the  office  oi 
future  coifcolaiion ;  it  Is  enough  to  require  from  the  suf- 
ferer under  such  a  dispensation  to  bear  his  burthen  of 
sonrpw  with  fortitude,  and  to  resist  those  feelings  which 
prompt  us  to  believe  that  that  which  Is  galling  and  griev- 
ous is  therefore  altogether  beyond  our  strength  to  sup- 
port. Most  bitterly  do  I  regret  some  levity  which  I  fear 
must  have  reached  you  when  your  distress  was  most 
poignant,  and  most  dearly  have  I  paid  for  venturing  to  an- 
ticipate the  time  whicii  is  not  ours,  since  I  received  these 
deplorable  news  at  the  very  moment  when  I  was  collect- 
ing some  trifles  that  I  thought  might  give  satisfaction  to 
the  person  whom  I  so  highly  honoured,  and  who,  among 
her  numerous  excellencies,  never  failed  to  seem  pleased 
with  what  she  knew  was  meant  to  aflbra  her  pleasure. 

*'  But  I  must  break  ofiT,  and  have  perhaps  already  wn't- 
ten  too  much.  I  learn  by  a  letter  from  Mrs.  Scott,  this 
day  received,  that  your  Grace  is  at  Bowhill— in  the  begin- 
ning of  next  week  I  will  be  in  the  vicinity— and  when  vour 
Grace  can  receive  tke  without  addilionaJ  pain.  I  shall  nave 
the  honour  of  wailing  upon  you.  I  rem^n,  with  the 
deepest  sympathy,  my  Lord  Duke,  your  Grace's  truly  • 
distressed  and  most  grateful  servant, 

Walter  Scott." 

The  following  letter  was  addressed  to  Scott  bv 
the  Diake  of  Euccleuch,  before  he  received  that  whica 
the  Poet  penned  on  landing  at  Glasgow.  I  present 
it  here,  because  it  will  give  a  more  exact  notion  of 
what  Scott's  relations  with  his  noble  patron  really 
were,  than  any  other  single  document  which  1  conld 
produce  i  and  to  set  that  matter  m  its  just  light  is 
essential  to  the  business  of  this  narrative.  But  I 
am  not  ashamed  to  confess,  that  I  embrace  with 
satisfaction  the  opportunity  of  thus  offering  to  the' 
readers  of  the  present  time  a  most  instructive  lesson. 
They  will  here  see  what  pure  and  simple  virtues  and 
humble  pietv  may  be  cultivated  as  the  only  sources 
of  real  comfort  in  this  world  and  consolation  in  the 
prospect  of  futurity,— among  circled  which  the  giddy 
aiid  oriviDus  tDob  are  apt  to  regard  as  intoxicated 
with  th€  prjnips  find  vanities  of  wealth  and  rank ; 
whicliftj  mntiy  of  our  popular  writers  represent  sys- 
teniaucally  ^3  sunk  in  selfisji  indulgence— as  view- 
in  k  alt  U4ow  tJicnt  with  apathy  and  indifference^ 
anJ  Ircat,  tioi  I'^ti^t,  as  upholdinkt  when  they  do  up- 
hoM,  the  reli^JLru^  uistitutionsoftheir country,  mere- 
ly iH^cau^t  tiii;y  h'iVe  been  taught  to  believe  that 
their  owii  htTctiitury  privileges  and  possessions  de- 
rive decuhiy  from  ilie  prevalence  of  Christian  max- 
ims and  feeUngs  among  the  mass  of  the  people. 

To  Walter  Scott^  Beq.^  Post  Ofiet^  Cfreenoek. 

*'  BowhiU,  Sept.  3, 1814. 
My  dear  Sir. 
*'•  It  is  not  with  the  view  of  distressing  vou  with  my 
griefs,  in  order  to  relieve  my  own  feelings,  that  I  address  • 
you  at  tills  moment.    But  'knowing  your  attachment  to 
myself,  end  more  particularly  the  real  affection  which 
you  bore  to  my  poor  wife,  I  thought  that  a  few  lines  from 
me  would  be  acceptable,  hoth  to  explain  the  state  of  my 
loind  at  present,  and  to  mention  a  few  circumstances  con- 
nected with  that  melancholy  event. 
•  "  I  am  calm  and  resigned.    The  blow  was  so  severe  that 
it  Ptunned  me.  and  I  did  not  feel  that  agony  of  mind  which 
might  Imve  been  expected.    I  now  see  the  full  extent  of 
my  misfortune ;  but  that  extended  view  of  it  has  come 
gradually  upon  me.    I  am  fully  aware  how  ImperatlTe  it 
IS  upon  me  to  exert  myself  to  ^||^^,9^^u  account  of 


834 


LIFE  OP  SIR  WALTER  SCOTT. 


mj  children.  I  muat  notdepreai  their  apirits  by  a  display 
or  my  own  melancholy  feelings.  I  have  many  new  duties 
to  perform. — or  rather,  perhaps,  I  now  feel  more  prcjs- 
ingly  the  obligation  of  duties  which  the  unceaehiz  ox*t- 
lions  of  my  poor  wife  rendered  less  necessary,  or  indu- 
ced me  to  attend  to  Avith  le^s  than  suCicient  accurary.  I 
have  been  taught  a  severe  lesson  ;  it  may  and  oa«rht  to  be 
n  useful  one.  I  feci  that  my  lot.  though  a  hard  one,  is  ar- 
companied  by  nmny  alleviations  denied  to  others.  I  have 
a  numerous  family,  thank  God,  in  health,  and  profltin::, 
ncc4irding  to  thbir  different  ages,  by  tlie  adminible  lessons 
they  liave  been  taiv^ht.  My  daughter,  Anne,  worthy  "f 
80  excellent  a  mother,  exerts  herself  to  tiie  utmost  fo 
supply  her  place,  and  has  displayed  a  fortitude  and 
strength  of  mind  beyond  her  years,  and  (as  1  had  fooli^^h- 
ly  thought)  beyond  her  powers.  I  have  most  tcind  friends*, 
willing  and  ready  to  afford  me  every  assi^ance.  Th"»e 
arc  my  worldly  comforts,  and  they  are  nimierous  and 
great 

"  Painful  as  it  may  be,  I  cannot  reconcile  it  to  myself  lo 
be  totally  silent  as  to  the  last  scene  of  this  cruel  tragedy. 
As  she  had  lived,  so  she  died— an  example  of  every  noble 
feeling — of  love,  attaclunent,  and  the  total  wan^  of  every 
thing  selfish.  Endeavouring  to  the  last  to  conceal  her 
suffering,  she  evinced  a  fortitude,  a  resignation,  a  Chris- 
tian courage,  beyond  all  power  of"  description.  Her  last 
Injunction  was  to  attend  to  her  poor  people.  It  was  a 
dreadful  but  instructive  moment.  I  have  leam«>d  that  the 
most  truly  heroic  spirit  may  be  lodged  in  the  tendcrest 
and  the  gentlest  breast.  Need  1  tell  you  that  she  expired 
in  the  Am  hope  and  expectation,  nay,  in  the.  nrmest  cer- 
tainty of  nas-^ng  to  a  better  world,  through  a  steady  lell- 
ance  on  her  Saviour.  If  ever  there  was  a  proof  of  tlie 
efficacy  of  our  religion  In  moments  of  I  he  deepest  ufllic- 
tion,  andin  the  hour  of  death,  it  was  exemplitied  in  her 
conduct.  But  I  will  no  longer  awell  upon  a  subject  which 
must  be  painful  to  y&u.  Knowing  her  sincere  friendship 
for  you,  I  have  thought  it  would  give  you  Pleasure,  though 
a  melancholy  one,  to  hear  from  me  that  ner  last  moments 
were  such  as  to  be  envied  by  every  lover  of  vinue,  piety, 
and  true  and  genuine  religion. 

"  I  will  endeavour  ,to  do  in  all  things  what  I  know  she 
would  wish.  I  have  therefore  determined  to  lay  myself 
'  open  to  all  the  comforts  my  friends  can  afford  me.  I  shall 
be  most  hanpy  to  cultivate  their  society  as  heretofore.  I 
thall  love  tnem  more  and  more  because  I  lenow  they  loved 
her.  Whenever  it  suits  your  convenience  I  sluUi  be  liap- 
py  to  see  vou  here.  I  feel  that  it  is  panic ularly  my  dutv 
not  to  make  my  hou -e  the  house  of  mourning  to  my  chil- 
dcen ;  for  I  know  it  was  her  decided  opinion,  that  it  is  most 
mischievous  to  give  an  early  impression  of  >(loom  lo  the 
mind. 

**  You  will  And  me  tranquil,  and-capable  of  going  through 
the  conmion  occupations  of  society.  Adieu  lor  the  pre- 
sent.   Yours  very  sincerely, 

BUCCLKUCH,  Ac.'* 

•       7\»  hi»  Orace  the  IhUse  of  Bnecleueh,  4r.  4-e.  l^c. 

"Edinburgh,  1 1th  8cpt.  1S14. 
•  My  dear  Lord  Duke, 

"  I  received  your  letter  (which  had  missed  me  at 
Greenock)  upon  its  being  returned  to  this  place,  and  can- 
not sufllcienUy  express  my  gratitude  foi  the  kindness 
which,  at  such  a  moment,  coidd  undertake  the  task  of 
writing  upon  such  a  subject  to  relieve  tlie  feelings  of  a 
friend.  Depend  upon  it,  I  am  so  far  worthy  of  your  Grace's 
Undnes^i  that,  among  many  proofs  of  it,  this  affecting 
and  most  distresshig  one  caiuicver  be  forgotten.  It  gives 
mc  great  though  melancholy  satisfaction,  to  find  that  yuur 
Grace  has  had  the  manly  and  Christian  fonitude  to  adopt 
that  resigned  and  patient  frame  of  spirit,  which  can  ex- 
tract from  the  most  bitter  calamity  a  wholesome  mental 
.  medicioe.  I  trust  in  God  that  as  so  many  and  such  high 
duties  are  attached  to  your  station,  and  as  he  has  blessed 
you  with  the  disposition  that  draws  pleasure  from  the  dis- 
charge of  them,  your  Orace  will  find  your  first  exertions, 
however  painfal,  rewarded  with  strength  to  persevere, 
and  finallr,  with  that  comfort  which  attends  perseverance 
in  that  which  is  right.  The  happiness  of  hundreds  de- 
pends upoi^  vour  Grace  almost  direcily,  and  the  effect  of 
your  example  In  the  country,  and  of'vour  constancy  in 
support  of  a  constitution  daily  undermmed  by  the  wicked 
and  designing,  is  almost  incalculable.  Justlv,  then,  and 
well  baa  your  Grace  resolved  to  sacrifice  all  that  \9  selfish 
tn  the  indulgence  of  grief,  to  the  duties  of  your  social 
and  public  situation.  Long  may  you  have  health  and 
strength  to  be  to  your  dear  and  hopeful  family  an  example 
and  guide  in  all  that  becomes  their  high  rank.  It  ia 
enough  that  one  light,  and  alas,  what  a  light  tliat  was !  has 
been  recalled  by  the  Divine  Will  to  another  and  a  better 
sphere. 

**  I  wrote  a  hasty  and  unconnected  letter  immediately 
..  i„^_  _     I  j^^  detained  for  two  daya  ia  this  place,  but 


shall  wait  upon  your  Orace  Umnediately  oa  mj  retan  to 
Ablioisford.  If  my  society  cannot,  in  Ihe  clrcumitan^fea, 
give  much  pleasure,  it  will,  I  trust,  impose  no  restraint. 

^-  .Mrs.  :$cott  desires  me  to  offer  her  deepest  sympathy 
upon  tliis  calamitous  occasion.  She  has  much  reason, 
fur  she  lias  lost  the  counteiumce  of  a  friend,  such  aa  &he 
cannot  expect  the  course  of  human  life  again  to  supply. 
I  Rin  ever,  witli  much  aiil  affectionate  respect,  your 
Graces  trulv  faithful  humble  ser\'ant, 

Waltbh  Scott." 
To  J.  B.  S.  Morritt,  Esq.,  3f.  P.,  Worthinf. 

"Edinburgh,  September  14, 1S14 

"  Mv  dear  Morritt. 
•'^  At  the  end  of  my  tour  on  the  523d  August !  ?  ?*  I^rd 
hflp  us !— tliis  comes  of  going  to  the  Levam  and  the  Hel- 
le>|>ont,  and  your  Eiixine,  and  so  forth.  A  poor  devil  who 
L'oes  fo  Novfi  Zembia  and  Thole  ia  treated  as  if  he  ha<l 
IxfHi  only  walkineas  far  as  Barnard  Castle  or  Cauldshiel ' » 
!.»•(' h.  *  1  would  have  you  to  know,  I  only  returned  on  tho 
!Oih  current,  and  the'  most  agreeable  thing  I  found  wms 
your  letter.  I  am  sure  you  must  know  1  had  need  of 
something  pleasant,  for  the  news  of  the  death  of  rhe 
beautiful,  the  kind,  the  affectionate,  and  generous  Due  he  s« 
(it  Uuccleuch,  gave  me  a  shock,  which,  to  speak  God'^ 
truth,  cotdd  not  liave  been  exceeded,  unless  by  my  own 
fiunily's  sustaining  n  similar  deprivation.  She  was  indeed 
a  light  set  upon  a  hill,  and  had  all  the  grace  which  the 
mo8(  accomplished  manners  and  the  most^ffiiMe  address 
could  give  to  those  viriues,  by  which  she  was  raised  Mill 
lii;;her  than  by  rank.  As  she  always  distingutebed  me  by 
her  regard  and  confidence,  and  as  1  had  many  opponuni- 
tieti  ot  Keeing  her  in  the  active  discharge  of  duties,  tn 
which  she  rather  resembled  a  descended  angel  than  an 
earthly  being,  you  will  excuse  my  saying  so  much  about 
my  own  feelings  on  an  occasion  where  sorrow  has  been 
universal.  But  I  will  drop  the  subject.  The  survivor  has 
diNplayed  a  strength  and  fimmess  of  mind  seldom  equal- 
led, where  the  afTection  haa  been  so  strong  and  mutual, 
and  amidst  the  very  high  station  and  commahding  fortune 
which  so  often  render  self-control  more  diflcuk,  because 
so  far  from  being  habitual.  I  trust,  for  hia  own  sake,  as 
well  as  for  that  of  thousands  to  whom  hia  lifb  Is  directly 
essential,  and  hundreds  of  thousands  to  whom  his  exam- 
ple is  important,  that  God,  as  he  has  given  him  fortitudi^ 
to  bear  this  inexpressible  shock,  will  add  iRrength  of 
constitution  to  support  him  in  the  struggle.  He  has  writ- 
ten to  me  on  the  occasion,  in  a  style  becoming  a  man  aad 
a  Christian,  submissive  to  the  will  of  God,  and  willing  to 
avail  himself  of  the  consolations  which  remain  amoof  hfa 
family  and  friends.  I  am  going  to  see  him,  and  bow  we 
shall  meet,  God  knows ;  but  though  *  an  iron  man  of  iron 
mould,'  upon  many  of  the  occasions  of  life  In  which  I  seo 
people  most  affected,  and  a  peculiar  contemner  of  the 
conuuonplace  sorrow  which  I  see  paid  to  the  departed, 
this  is  a  case  in  which  my  stoicism  will  not  serve  me. 
They  both  gave  roe  reason  to  think  they  loved  me,  and  I 
rem'rned  their  resard  with  the  most  sincere  attachment — 
the  distinction  of  rank  being,  I  think,  set  apart  on  all  sides. 
But  God's  will  be  done.  I  will  dwell  no  longer  upon  this 
subject.  It  is  much  to  learn  that  Mrs.  Morritt  is  so  much 
better,  and  that  if  I  have  su.stained  a  severe  wound  from  a 
quarter  so  little  expected,  I  may  promise  myself  the  hap- 
piness of  your  dear  wife's  recovery. 

"  I  will  shortly  mention  the  train  of  our  voyage,  reserv- 
ing  particulars  till  another  day.  We  sailed  from  Leiih, 
and  skirted  the  Scottish  coast,  visiting  the  BuUerof  Bu- 
chan,  and  other  remarkable  objects— went  to  Shetland— 
ihencc  to  Orkney— from  thence  round  Cape  Wrath  to  the 
Hebrides,  making  descents  every  where,  where  there 
was  any  thing  to  he  seen — thence  to  Lewis  and  the  LfWf 
Island-^to  9k~ye — fo  lona— and  so  forth,  lingering  among 
the  Hebrides  as  long  as  we  could.  Then  we  stood  over 
to  the  coast  of  Ireland,  and  visited  the  Giant's  Causeway 
and  Port  Rush,  where  Dr.  Ricliardaon,  the  hiventor  (dis- 
coverer I  w<»uld  say)  of  the  celebrated  florin  grass,  re^ 
sides.    By  the  way,  he  is  a  chattering  charlatan,  and  his 


al 
or  !  ■ 

an^i  < 

art  il 

P,.... 

Ih 

ro 

v« 


■  i1  n  nil  II 


dbii'E  kti>um  w 


'iMj«i  uiniiPiiif  kUcr  fruai  Hufrt*  lite  kUfittk  Mp- 

•  <enJ  [  t  lii  qIe  vcrr  tiiphEy  ^jf  htm  m  a  wet*  biit  am 
■  ('  .Hrntch  atirl  Luie  truutwilcnui  ir?  ifiant  bw  Mtwc 

Lirul  i^'iry  euitritj'p.     Lut^dijn  ai»i  TJie  world  m  tfat 

.  I;{M1jic<  cuoccit  <Kit  ofa  muci— m  tlw  milLmt  pfartthe 

<■  ^(,tm  tv  I  lie  OfkH'ifyt  In  n  iprile  of  ^md.  dori^kC 

'<^"?ii!i  ihf  uid  Srnn  In-  tg  furc^  m  ttuC  at  htaesM, 

Lord'  Utrrt :  pfttine  hunie^ktvpiiif  laiA- 

'  Atl4iitjc ,  <ji  rxii  ^Tri1i"-fTFiiinsri.i[iirtMliil[ 

III  a  wliitL-  i«^{— UT  ■  enlt  m  '  ikM  Qtt^^^ 

[-,r<.'.i},  'witli  oa  IBM  at  aJI— buw  il  ifwkl  Mane 

1  tx^nt  to  a  i^w  of  the  ■ematxKu  i— tu  say  ne^fifW 

T  ur  twfi  upon  t>w3w.  m  tbe  vnr  of  Emsf  ajnlie 

'Mijp]|  wtthnimpko  nmjlt^rf,  and  t^jnq.'OQDdiof  It  av 

•  <  "  H/feflnJ  It'eiiTf,  r'lr  is  ,  p.  irnt.  hm^  Bf 
J  had  njTilLdfv  ou  Jolir  tilii  to  Mr.  Mumy.  "  Wji- 
«i  atvd  moit  im<iH»siff  i»v«l  i  lnM>e  rtt  ' 

■"'[^tizmffeoogle 


n.. 


LIFE  OF  SIR  WALTER  SCOTT. 


fiorin  a  mere  homba|F  But  if  he  were  Otcero,  end  hie 
inTentioa  were  potuoes,  or  anj  thing  eqvmDy  imefhl,  I 
•bould  dete«t  the  recoHection  of  the  place  and  the  man, 
for  It  was  there  I  learned  the  death  of  my  friend.  Adieu, 
my  dear  Morritt ;  kind  compliments  to  your  lady ;  Tike 
P'jor  Torn, '  i  cannot  daub  It  larther.'  When  I  hear  where 
you  are,  and  what  you  are  doing,  I  will  write  you  a  more 
cheerful  epiHile.  Poor  Mackenzie,  too,  is  gone — the  bro- 
tl.^r  of  our  tricnd  Lady  Hood — and  another  Mackenzie, 
son  tu  the  Man  of  Feeling.  So  short  a  time  have  I  been 
absent,  and  such  lias  been  the  harvest  of  mortality  among 
those  whom  I  regarded. 

"I  will  attend  to  your  corrections  In  Wavcrley.  My 
principal  employment  for  the  autumn  will  be  reducinir  the 
knowledge  I  have  acquifed  of  the  localities  of  the  i«»land8 
mto  eeencry  and  staK^-room  for  the  ^  Lord  of  the  Isles,' 
of  which  renowned  romance  I  think  I  have  repeated  some 
portluns  to  you.  It  was  elder  bom  than  Rokeby,  though 
i:  save  place  to  it  in  publishing. 

^  After  all,  scrlbbhng  is  ah  odd  propensit?.  I  don't  bs- 
lieve  there  is  any  ointment,  even  that  of  the  Edlnburi^h 
Review,  which  can  eure  the  infected.  Once  more  yours 
encirelyt  Waltbr  Scott." 

Before  I  pass  from  the  event  which  made  August, 
1814,  so  black  a  month  in  Scott's  calendar^  I  may 
be  excused  for  once  more  noticing  (he  kind  mterest 
which  the  Duchess  of  Buccleuch  nad  always  taken 
in  the  fortunes  of  the  Et trick  Shepherd,  and  intro- 
ducing a  most  characteristic  epistle  which  she  re- 
ceived from  him  a  few  months  before  her  death. 
The  Duchess— " fearful"  (as  she  said)  "of  seeing 
herself  in  print"— did  not  answer  the  Shepherd,  but 
forwarded  his  letter  to  Scott,  begging  him  16  explain 
that  circimistances  did  not  allow  the  Duke  to  con- 
cede what  he  requested,  but  to  assure  him  that  they 
both  retained  a  strong  wish  to  serve  him  whenever 
a  suitable  opportunity  should  present  itself.  Hogg's 
letter  was  as  follows  :— 

TV  her  Grace  the  Uuchett  of  Buedeuch^  Dalkeith  Palace. 
Fctvoured  by  Meters.  Grieve  and  Scott ^  hattere^  Edin-' 

^'  "Ettrickbank,  March  17, 1814. 

*♦  Iff  ay  it  please  your  Grace, 
"  I  have  often  grieved  you  by  my  applications  for  this 
and  tiiet.  I  am  sensible  of  this,  for  I  have  had  many  in- 
atancea  of  your  wishes  to  be  of  service  to  me,  could  you 
have  known  what  to  do  for  that  purpose.  But  there  are 
some  eccentric  characters  in  the  world,  of  whom  no  per- 
son  can  jadge  or  know  what  will  prove  beneficial,  or  wliat 
may  prove  meir  bane.  I  have  again  and  a?ain  received 
cf  your  Grace's  private  bounty,  and  (hough  it  made  me 
i^>vc  and  respect  you  the  more,  I  was  nevertheless  grieved 
ai  it.  It  was  never  your  Grace's  money  that  I  wanted,  hut 
Uie  hononr  of  your  countenance ;  indeed  mv  heart  could 
never  yield  to  the  hope  of  being  patronised  by  any  house 
save  that  of  Buccleuch,  whom  1  deemed  bound  to  cherish 
e-.  ery  plant  that  Indicated  any  thing  out  of  the  common 
war  on  the  Braea  of  Ettrlck  and  Yarrow. 

•^'I  know  you  will  be  thinkingihat  this  long  prelude  Is  to 
*»nd  with  a  request.  No,  Maduh !  I  liave  taken  the  reso- 
luiion  of  never  making  another  request.  I  will,  however, 
i^ll  yon  a  story  whlrh  is,  1  believe,  founded  on  a  fact  :— 

"There  Is  a  small  farm  at  the  head  of  a  water,  called 
•  •   •  "  •,  possessed  by  a  mean  fellow  named  •  .    A 

third  of  it  has  been  taken  off  and  laid  into  another  farm— 
(he  remainder  is  as  yet  unappropriated.  Now,  there  Is  a 
certain  poor  bard,  who  has  two  q)d  parents,  each  of  them 
upwards  of  etfhty-four  years  of  age ;  and  (hat  bard  has 
no  houae  nor  nome  to  shelter  those  poor  parents  in,  or 
cheer  the  evening  of  their  lives.  A  single  line,  from  a 
certain  very  great  and  very  beautiful  lady,  to  a  certain 
Mr.  Ri(ldell,t  would  insure  that  small  pendicle  to  the  bard 
at  once.  Btit  she  will  grant  no  such  thing  ?  I  appeal  to 
yotrr  grace  If  she  is  not  a  very  bad  lady  that  t  I  am  your 
6  race*'  ever  obliged  and  grateful 

Jaxss  Hoqo, 
Thb  ErrBicK  Shjephxro.  " 

Tbotigh  the  Duke  of  Buccleuch  would  not  dismiss 
a  poor  tenant,  merely  because  Hogg  called  him  '*  a 
mean  fellow,"  he  had  told  Scott  that  if  he  could  find 
an  unappropriated  "pendicle."  such  as  this  letter  re- 
ferred to,  he  would  most  wilKngly  hestow  it  on  the 
Shepherd.  It  so  happened,  that  when  Scott  paid 
his  lirst  visit  at  Bowhill  after  the  death  of  the 
Duchess,  the  Ettrick  Shepherd  was  mentioned: 
"  My  friend,"  said  the  Duke,  "  1  must  now  consider 

•  Sttr-  Gflcve  was  a  man  of  cultivated  mind  and  jnoeroos  dispo- 
isticio.  nod  s  most  kiikd  and  coaioiw  friend  of  the  Shepherd. 

*  mrnid  Riddeil,  Uie  Duke's  Chamberlain  atBianksome  Caitle. 


this  poor  man's  oate  as  ner  lagaosri"  and  to  thia 
feeling  Hogg  owed,  very  soon  afterwards,  his  estab> 
liahment  at  Alurive,  on  his  favourite  firaes  of  Yar- 
row. 

As  Scott  passed. thrcfugh  Edinburgh,  on  his  return 
from  his  vovage.  the  negotiation  as  to  the  Lord  of 
the  Isles,  which  had  beenprotracted  through  several 
months,  was  completed— Constable  agreeing  to 
g^ivo  fifteen  hundred  guineas  for  one  half  of  the  copy- 
right, while  the  other  moiety  was  retained  by  the 
autiior.  The  sum  mentioned  had  been  olTered  by 
Constable  at  an  early  suge  of  the  affair,  but  it  was 
not  until  now  accepted,  in  consequence  of  the  ear- 
nest wish  of  Scott  and  BaJlantyne  to  saddle  the 
publisher  of  the  new  poem  with  part  of  their  old 

quire  slock,"— which,  however.  Constable  ulti- 
mately persisted  in  refusing.  It  may  easily  be  be- 
lieved, (oat  John  BaUantyne's  management  of  mo- 
ney matters  during  ScotOs  six  weeks'  absence,  had 
been  such  as  to  render  it  doubly  convenient  for  thu 
poet  to  have  this  matter  settled  on  his  arrival  in  Ed- 
mburgh— and  it  may  also  be  supposed,  that  the  pro- 
gress of  Waveriey  during  that  mterval  had  tended 
to  put  the  chief  parties  in  good  humour  with  each 
other. 

In  returning  to  Waveriey,  I  must  observe  most 
distinctly,  that  nothing  can  be  more  unfounded  than 
the  statement  which  nas  of  late  years  been  frequent- 
ly repeated  in  Memoirs  of  Scott's  Life,  that  the  sale* 
of  the  first  edition  of  this  un mortal  Tale  was  slow. 
It  appeared  on  the  7th  of  July,  and  the  whole  im- 
pression (1000  copies)  had  disappeared  within  fivn 
weeks:  an  occurrence  then  unprecedented  in  the 
case  or  an  anonvmoua  novel,  put  forth,  at  what  i» , 
called  among  publishers,  tht  dead  ttaaon,  A  second 
edition,  of  2000  copies,  was  at  least  projected  by  the 
24th  or  the  same  month,*— that  appeared  before  the 
end  of  August,  and  it,  too,  had  gone  off  so  rapidly, 
that  when  Scott  passed  through  Edinburgh,  on  his 
way  from  the  Hebrides,  he  found  Constable  eager 
to  treat,  on  the  same  terms  as  before,  for  a  third  of 
1000  copies.  This  third  edition  was  published  in  Oc- 
tober, and  when  a  fourth  of  the  like  extent  was  called 
for  in  November,  I  find  Scott  writing  to  John  Bal- 
lantyne .— "  I  suppose  Constable  won't  quarrel  with 
a  work  on  which  he  has  netted  £612  in  four  months, 
with  a  certainty  of  making  it  £1000  before  the  year 
is  out :"  and,  in  fact,  owing  to  the  diminished  ex- 
pense of  advertising,  the  profits  of  this  fourth  edi- 
tion were  to  each  party  je440.  To  avoid  recurring 
to  these  details,  I  may  as  well  state  at  once  that  a 
fifth  edition  of  1000  copies  appeared  in  Januarj', 
1815;  a  .*:.:!:  :f  l!^r!  in  Jane+  1?IC;  ti  seventh  uf 
2000  in  October.  IJ? I ?5  au  mt^inii  oi  2iKiO m  April,  Wlii 
that  in  the  collectivE  tditions,  prior  lo  i^'2%  IhOOii 
copies  wcT(?  drtniQPcd  ofj  and  ihar  the  sulo  of  the 
current  fflitjun.  wiih  notes,  biieuti  in  1^2%  has  nU 
ready  n  aoh-  d  !0/«X)^opit?5.  Well  mfiht  Consinhlt! 
regret  th.it  Kr.  hn^j  not  vunlUTCd  luolfer  £\mn  for  the 
whole  copvn^'ir  uf  Wnverki* ! 

I  musi  J]  ^H'  J*K>k  bai'k  for  a  moment  to  (he  history 
of  the  cofiipo^iuotj.— The  kiter  at  Sfptftnbcr,  l>il,., 
was  not  the  only  p'wCL'  of  diacourasonicnl  which 
Scott  had  rotT;]veil,  dunn^  ih«  ptopxtifts  ol  Wavi  r- 
ley,  from  hip  first  conficJrvni*  My  good  friend,  Jaait^ 
Ballantync^  in  hia  demth-bod  memorandum^  fcaViSf^ 
"When  Mr.  Scott  first  qiieslioned  me  as  ui  my 
hopes  of  hiTii  aa  a  novelist,  it  somchQW  or  utht-r  dnl 
chance  that  thev  were  not  very  high.  Ut  saw  this', 
and  said—'  VVi?ll,  1  don*t  seft  why  I  sliouid  noi  ^ut- 
ccHBdas  well  as  other  peoide.  At  dII  events^  faim 
heart  never  w  on  fair  I  a  d  y— '  tie  o  n  I  y  r  ryinR. '  \\b  on 
the  first  volum*"  was  completed,  I  still  could  not  gut 
myself  to  ihink  much  of  iht  WavtrU-y Honour 
scenes;  and  m  ihts  I  after ward»i  fuUTid  that  1  eym- 
pathized  with  rrinoy.  But,  lo  my  uKer  ehame  h^  it 
spoken,  whtti  I  reached  tht  i?xqiu5iie  dcHcripiions  of 
scenes  aud  mannera  at  TuUy-Vtolan,  what  riid  I  do 
but  pronounce  them  at  once  to  be  utteriy  vulgar ! 
When  the  success  of  the  work  so  entirely  knocked 
me  down  as  a  man  of  taste,  all  that  the  good-na- 
tured author  said,  was— 'Well,  I  really  thought  you 
were  wrong  about  the  Scotch.  Why,  Btums,  by  his 
•  Sw  letter  to  air.  Monitt,  ante,  j^  ^  O  O  Q IC 


2M 


LIPE  OF  SIR  WALTER  SCOTT. 


poetry,  had  already  attracted  universal  attention  to 
everything  Scottish,  and  I  confess  1  couldn't  see 
why  1  should  not  be  able  to  keep  the  flame  alive, 
merely  because  I  wrote  Scotch  in  prose,  and  he  in 
rhyme.'  "—It  is,  I  think,  veiV  amreeable  to  have  this 
manly  avowal  to  compare  with  tlie  delicate  allusion 
which  Scon  mrtkcij  !0  the  jiSkir'm  hiaPrefacie  ro  the 

Th^  gnly  otlur  irKMnii*  orifiinnlly  ii^trui^ted  wiTu  Jjis 
n^x'ft't,  aputfir  to  bavit  hct'n  Mr.  Ertkitw  end  Mr. 
MorhtL  1  know  uoi  at  what  f?tag<?  the  former  ^l- 
t^rcd  the  I'jpmiuE]  it' Inch  hu  fc^^id  on  s^ng  the 
liny  friignioiji  of  1^5,  The  Jsiter  did  nott  aa  we 
'have  s^n^  reeeive  the  book  uniilit  wo  a  txtm^tleced  ; 
but  heantjcipateil^  before  he  clodiid  the  first  vulunKs 
ihe  sialion  wtiich  public!  npitiion  would  uhunut'  1 7 
otaiffn  (o  WAVlTki^  *'How  the  story  may  Vi-..- 
timici*'  Mr.  Morriit  tVn  wrote,  "*!  am  not  able  eo  th- 
viiic  \  buu  tiatnr  as  I  have  read,  i^t^j  let  ua  tharkk 
vou  far  the  CastTeof  Tully-Vtoliin,  and  the  duliftht- 
ful  dnnkiUK-boui  at  Lucky  Mac-Lenry^^s,  for  rbe 
charactere  of  (hti  Lntrd  of  Bcdmawh apple  &ud  the 
Barun  of  Bradwanline  :  and  no  lets  lor  David  Gd- 
latly,  whom  I  take  to  bt*  a  ttaiiAcript  of  WUUam 
Rout's  motley  folEower,  co  mm  only  yckpt  Culibtn.* 
If  th(i  completion  be  equal  to  what  v,a  havejuAt  de- 
voured, it  deserves  a  plac£  anions  our  standard 
works  far  beltKr  than  ite  modtii  ft;)pearotit:e  a:id 
ttiiofiymouB  titlepapc  will  at  fitsX  gnm  u  in  th^ -.e 
d  a  ^'  s  of  p  rol  i  l\c  at  ury '  t  el  li  n  f?.  V  ciur  man  iier  ci  1  ri  ^  r- 
TMmi^mo  diffcifeiU  ffom  the  slipshod  aauntc-nn^ 
verbiage  of  cum  moo  ijovel^t,  and  frum  ihe  siilli  prt- 
cise,  and  prim  ^entetinouan-'fis  uf  »onu'  of  our  fiti^ale 
moralists,  thai  I  think  it  can't  fail  10  striko^ny  body 
who  knows  what  style  m4*anRj  but  amorjg*^  ibe 
gt^ntle  clas$,  who  swallow  every  blue^backcd  book 
m  n  circulatinc  library  for  the  soke  of  the  ^U)t}\  I 
i^bould  ftar  half  tbe  knu^^  Icd^c  of  nature  it  Gonci^Jiui, 
and  all  the  real  hunioLir,  may  hb  (h row  11  aw*ay.  Sir 
Evertirdt  Mrs.  Rathotili  aiid  thti  Boron,  ar«^.  I  thtuk, 
m  the  lirst  rank  of  roriraitg  far  naitirc  and  churati- 
tcri  and  I  could  dL'pone  to  th^ir  hkene^a  in  any 
cotirt  of  ca^te-  The  bait  ad  uf  St.  Swithiu,  ana 
scraps  of  old^ongMi  were  mi^asuris  of  d&ngef,  if  you 
meant  to  contiaue  your  coDcesliuent ;  buu  m  truth, 
you  wear  your  d^s^isd  vomethinif  afl^r  the  man- 
ner of  Bottom,  ihe  weaver:  and  in  apite  of  you 
the  truth  will  soon  peep  oat.  And  the  next  day  be 
resumes,—''  We  have  tiniahed  Waver  ley*,  and  n  f .  e 
1  to  tell  yon  all  in^  admiration,  you  would  accn-e 
me  of  to  tnplime  n  r  j  rj  K .  To  u  h  a  v  e  rju  i  te  a  t  tain  t  d  1 1 1  e 
point  which  your  posiiKript-pre/iKA  mention ^  as 
your  object— tht  dtscritnination  of  Scottish  charac- 
ter, which  h^d  hitherto  Ueen  slurred  ov^r  with  pbim- 
ay  national  daubinK/*  He  odiia,  a  wc^tk  or  later,— 
*'^Af*eT  all,  1  ni'Ld  not  m«ch  thtink  you  fur  yuiir  con- 
fidence. How'  could  yon  have  hopcj  that  T  should 
not  discover  you?  I  had  heard  you  tell  bnlf  I  he  an- 
ecdotes befgre-^H>me  turns  you  &wt  to  myself  j  and 
no  dotibr  most  of  your  friends  must  have  the  same 
■on  of  thing  to  say/* 

Monk  Lewises  letter  on  the  subject  is  so  ahon,  that 
1  miiit  gi\rtf  it  a^  it  fianda  t— 

T^  Wtiiftf  Sevn.  Bt*j  i,  AUift^iffd. 

''  Tht  MiiASij,  Am.  17.  ISM* 
"  My  (i^*r  SctjfT, 
''1  return  •ntji^  toA^»  vf  yf^kn'*  wMth  fttaicntme 
*  nrt^  ^rar$  .r/nfr'— Ami  T  hoiir  Mjpy  *^tU  rfn.fU  ttm  Mi^fr. 
vrki*-  *n  fT¥*iJiiiAt<>  i  auri  yA  T  Rm«t  trjf»ntion.  dntr  hf^ar- 
TIC*  Wavf'rier' Atfi:nl<i-t^  10  y^n,  ( ti>Aiirt4t  it.  ami  rf'4»f  it 
4jlliiLmtnfiali^v>rL\    I  eiu  uow  luH  tJi**  <i  i*  nm  rmiT*, 
^UtHVllluim&rtlita"'!!.    Ifthtt  tn  an,  iirny  t«^ll  htTn  IWhq 
UK?  thM  I  (limit  n  ffjiFrlknt  In  wvry  r«flpi?<rrTaiul  tiKU  I  be- 
Qtifft,«v«ry  n^ir^icif  »-    E^n^t  yuun^ 

M  O,  Lfiwii-** 

AnothfT  tntiMf,  (nnil  h**  had,  f  th(t*k,  nose  more 
rtfar.)  th<^  hre  AlnrM^et  ifnHeafl  CUphtne,  of  T(»r- 
ioi^,   nfierw  arffi   Mtiroliivne^e  of  NorTlianipton, 


•or  Mr  Oftmt  IJtPirN,  Mr    n**  i  frki**'^ 


ltd  AfP<rikvnvte 
m  eiytii^ti  ivK- 
lime,  bt  «eia 


an«^wlnut^  hrw  ktlitili^d  to.  tire  h.B(ii.f  ti;al  u{[ii  fi.im  imtittt  ivK- 

If  I  In'  rjr.riJtil^fKF  Iff  fvs 

Sint,  hill  n, 
VH\i,  l4HJu 


fcftkf  .  Icrt  irt  IV  IT  Iv  :i  rT>i'*<t-^i  flt  Ah^pf4t•flJ^i.  M  mf  lime,  bt  «eia- 
^  ifi  In'  r^.fiJtilrfKf  Irf  Win,  fK>r  i\\  t>»  lt/hr'^r»n  tifimhf  •«■ 
Hnt , _hii I  n.  Ltic  Lmwt  id  lu«  Mm^im,  mm fi«ii«|iii'MJi|  m feM  vwn 


writea  thna  from  Kirkness,  in  Vprosa-shire,  on  xhm 
11  th  October  :— 

''In  this  place,  I  feel  a  sort  of  plcA^ure,  not  unalJicd  to 
pain,  from  the  many  recollections  that  every  renerable 
tree,  and  every  sunny  bank,  and  every  honeysuckle  bow- 
er occasions ;  and  1  have  found  something  here  that  epea  <  s 
to  me  in  the  voice  of  a  valued  friend— irarw/ey.  Tlie 
question  tiiai  rises,  it  i£  perliapa  improper  to  rive  utter- 
ance to.  If  80,  let  it  pass  as  an  exclamation.— Is  U  possi- 
ble th:^  Mr.  Erskinfi  can  have  written  it?  The  poetry.  I 
think,  would  prove  a  different  descent  in  any  court  ia 
Christendom.  The  turn  of  the  phrases  In  many  pLaces  i« 
so  peculiarly  vours,  thai  I  fancy  I  hear  yoor  voice  repeat- 
ing them;  ana  there  wants  but  ^rsc  to  make  all  Wav^r- 
ley  an  enchauflng  poem— varying,  to  oe  sure,  from  grave 
to  gay,  but  with  so  deepening  an  interest,  aa  to  leave  an 
Impression  on  the  mind  that  fe-sv— very  few  poems — couIJ 
awaken.    But,  why  did  not  the  author  allcnv  me  to  be  h:» 

Gaelic  Dragoman  1  Oh,  Mr. ,  whoever  you  are,  yoa 

might  have  fcafely  trusted— >L  M.  C." 

There  waa  one  peraon  with  whom  it  woakU  of 
course,  have  been  more  than  vain  to  aflfect  aojr  ood- 
cealment.  On  the  pubUcation  of  the  third  edition.  I 
find  him  writing  thus  to  his  brother  Thomaa,  who 
had  by  this  time  gone  to  Canada  as  paymaster  os 
the  70th  regiment  :— 

^^Dear  Tom,  a  novel  here,  called  Waverley,  has  had 
enormous  succes*.  I  sent  you  a  copy,  and  will  aend-you 
another,  with  the  Lord  of  the  Isles,  which  will  be  out  ax 
ChrisUnas.  The  success  which  it  has  had,  witii  some 
other  circumstances,  has  induced  people 

*  To  lay  the  bantling  at  a  certain  door. 

Where  laying  store  of  faults,  they'd  rain  heap  more.' 
Vou  will  guess  for  yourself  how  far  such  a  report  has 
credibility;  but  by  no  means  give  the  weight  of  your 
opinion  to  the  transatlantic  public ;  for  ypu  ibust  know^ 
there  is  also  a  counter-report,  that  vtm  KisTe  written  the 
said  Waverley.  Send  me  a  nov^l  uitermixlng  your  ex- 
uberant and  natural  humour,  with  any  incidents  sxul  de- 
•scriptions  of  scenery  you  may  see- particularly  with  cha- 
racters and  traits  of  manners.  I  will  give  it  all  the  cobbUnf 
that  is  necessary,  and,  If  you  do  but  exert  yourself,  I  have 
not  the  least  doubt  it  will  be  worth  j£500;  and,  10  encou- 
rage you,  you  may,  when  you  send  the  MS.,  draw  on  la^ 
for  XlOO,  at  fifty  davs'  sight— so  that  your  labours  will  at  any 
rate  not  be  quite  thrown  away.  You  have  more  fun  and 
descriptive  talent  than  most  people;  and  sH  that  vou  want 
— «.  e.  the  mere  practice  of  compositional  can  supply,  or 
the  devil's  in  it.  Keep  this  matter  a  dead  secret,  and'look 
knowing  when  Waverley  is  sooken  ot  If  yon  arq  not  Sir 
John  FaustaiT,  you  are  as  eood  a  man  as  be,  and  may  the  re- 
foro  face  Colville  of  the  t)tile.  You  may  believe  I  don  t 
want  to  make  you  the  author  of  a  book  you  have  never 
seen ;  but  if  people  will,  upon  ilieir  own  judgment,  sup- 
pose so,  and  also  on  their  own  judgment  give  you  SMi  to 
try  your  hand  on  a  novel,  1  don't  see  thai  yon  are  a  pin's- 

fuint  the  worse.  Mind  that  yoiu:  MS.  aUends  the  draft 
am  aerfectly  serious  and  confident,  that  in  two  or  three 
months  you  might  clear  the  cobs.  I  beg  my  comtilimects 
to  the  hero  who  is  afraid  iDf  Jeffrey's  scalpuig-kmfe." 

In  truth,  no  one  of  Scott's  intimate  friends  ever 
had,  or  could  have  had,  the  slightest  doubt  as  to  the 
parentage  of  Waverley:  nor,  although  he  abetained 
from  .communicating  the  fact  formally  to  most  of 
them,  did  he  ever  anect  any  real  concealment  io  tha 
case  of  such  persona  \  nor,  when  any  circiimatanct 
arose  which  rendered  the  withholding  of  direct  con- 
fidence  on  the  subject  incompatible  with  perfect 
freedom  of  feeling  on  both  sides,  did  he  hesiute  to 
make  the  avowah 

Nor  do  I  beUevc  that  the  mystification  ever  an- 
swered much  purpose  among  literary  men  of  emi- 
nence, beyond  the  circle  of  nia  personal  acooaint* 
ance.  Bpt  it  would  be  difficult  to  suppose  that  he 
had  ever  wished  that  to  be  otherwise;  it  was  snfi^- 
cient  for  him  to  set  the  mob  of  readers  at  gaze,  and 
above  all,  to  escape  the  annoyance  of  having  pro- 
ductions, actually  known  to  be  his,  made  the  daily 
and  hourly  topics  of  discussion  in  his  presence. 

3Ir.  Jeffrey  had  known  Scott  from  his  youth— and, 
in  reviewing  Wifverley,  he  was  at  no  paina  to  con- 
ceal his  conviction  of  its  authorship.  He  quarreljed, 
as  usual,  with  carelessness  of  style,  and  some  inar- 
tificialities  of  plot,  but  rendered  justice  to  the  sub- 
stantial merits  of  the  work,  in  language  which  I 
shall  not  mar  by  abridgment.  The  Quarterly  was 
far  less  favourable  in  its  verdict^  ^4,;}4^E;jd,  the  articlet 


LIFE  OF  Sm  WALTER  SCOTT* 


OQ  Wa^erley;  and  afterwards  on  Guy  Hannering, 
wbicb  appeared  in  that  journal,  will  bear  tbe  teat  of 
lidmate  opinion  as  badly  as  any  critical  pieces 
which  our  time  has  produced.  They  are  written  in 
a  captious,  cavilling  strain  of  quibbleu  which  shows 
as  eoxDplete  blindness  to  the  essential  interest  of  the 
narratiire,  as  the  critic  betrays  on  the  subiect  of  the 
Scottish  dialogue,  which  torras  its  liveUest  orna-^ 
ment,  when  he  pronounces  that  to  be  **a  dark  dia-' 
Idgue  of  Anglified  Erse.'*  With  this  remarkable  ex- 
ception, the  professional  critics  were,  on  the  whole, 
■of  slow  to  confess  their  belief  that,  under  the  hack- 
neyed name  and  trivial  form,  there  had  at  last  ap- 
peared a  work  4(  original  creative  genius,  worthy 
of  betnK  placed  by  the  side  of  the  very  few  real  mas- 
leipieces  of  prose  fiction.  Loftier  romance  was 
never  blended  with  easier,  quainter  humour,  by  Cer- 
vantes hhmself.  In  his  faniiliar  delineations,  he  had 
combined  the  strength  of  Smollett  with  the  native 
«ieganoe  and  unaffected  pathos  of  Goldsmith)  in 
kk  dazker  scenes,  he  had  revived  that  real  tragedy 
which  appeared  to  have  left  our  stage  with  the  age 
of  Shaksbeare ;  and  elements  of  interest  so  diverse 
had  been  olended  and  interwoven  with  that  name- 
less grace  which,  more  surely,  perhap&  than  even 
the  lui^est  perfection  in  the  command  of  any  one 
strain  of  sentimeq\  marks  the  master-mind,  cast  in 
Nature^  most  felicitous  mould. 

Scott,  with  the  consciousness  avowed  long  after- 
wards in  hta  General  Preface,  that  he  should  never 
jB  all  likelihood  have  thought  of  a  Scotch  novel, 
bad  he  not  read  Maria  Bdgeworth's  exquisite  pieces 
of  Irish  character,  desired  James  Ballantyne  to  send 
her  a  copy  of  Waverley  on  its  first  appearance  in- 
scribed "fiiom  the  author."  Bliss  Edgeworth.  whom 
Scott  had  never  then  seeiL  tbougn  some  literary 
correspondence  had  passed  between  them,  thanked 
the  nameless  novelist,  under  cover  to  Ballantyne. 
with  the  cordial  generosity  of  kindred  genius ;  and 
the  following  answer,  not  from  Scott,  but  from 
Ballantyne-Hwho  had  kept  a  oopy,  noff  before  me) 
—is  not  to  be  omitted  :— 

7\)  3tiM  Edgeuforthj'EiigetDorthstoumj  Ireland. 
'<  Edinburgh,  Ilth  November,  1614. 

^Madam. 
« I  am  desired  by  the  Author  of  Waverley  to  acknow. 
hb^e,  in  his  name,  th«  honour  you  have  done  him  by 
fouF  most  flattering  approbatios  of  his  woi1c--a  distinc- 
tno  which  he  recclvea  as  one  of  the  highest  that  could  be 
paid  him,  and  which  he  would  have  been  proud  to  have 
kiouelf  stated  his  sense  of,  only  that  being  mpersofia/,  he 
ibotight  it  more  rcspectfid  to  require  my  assistance,  than 
to  write  an  anonymous  letter. 

**  There  are  very  few  who  have  had  the  opportunities 
ttat  b&ve  been  presented  to  me,  of  knowing  how  very  ele- 
vated is  the  admlraUon  entertained  by  the  Author  of  Wt- 
wrley  lor  the  genlos  of  Miss  Edgeworth.  From  the  in- 
tercourse that  took  place  betwixt  us,  while  the  work  was 
goinf  through  my  press,  /  knote  that  the  ezauisite  truth 
■od  power  of  your  characters  operated  on  his  mind  at 
ooc«  fo  excite  and  subdue  it  He  felt  that  the  success  of 
hit  booJc  was  to  depend  upon  the  characters,  much  more 
tlMa  upon  the  Mory ;  and  he  entertained  so  just  and  so 
high  an  opinhm  of  your  eminence  in  the  management  of 
both,  aa  to  have  strong  apprehensions  of  any  comparison 
which  might  be  instituted  betwixt  his  picture  and  story 
sadyoor?',  besides,  that  there  is  a  richness  and  naiveU 
ia  Irish  character  and  humour,  in  which  the  Scotch  are 
certainly  defective,  and  which  could  hardly  fail,  as  he 
tikOQcht,  to  render  his  delineations  cold  and  tame  by  the 
romrast.  *  If  I  could  but  hit  Miss  Edgeworth's  wonderful 
power  of  vfvi  fying  aU  her  persons,  and  makinsthem  live  as 
Mnga  in  your  mind,  I  should  not  be  afraid  •.'—-Ofieji  has  the 
Author  of  Waverlenr  uacd  such  language  to  me;  and  I 
knew  iliat  I  gratified  him  most  when  I  could  say,—'  Posi- 
tively, that  ts  equal  to  Miss  Edgeworth.'  You  will  thus 
jndre.  Madam,  how  deeply  he  must  feel  such  praise  as 
you  have  beatowed  upon  his  efforts.  1  believe  he  himself 
fhmks  the  Baron  the  best  drawn  character  in  his  book— 
I  mean  the  Bailie— hpnest  BaUie  Macwheeble.  He  pro- 
lesis  it  is  the  most  frue,  though  from  many  causes  he  did 
Dot  expect  it  to  be  the  most  popular.  It  appears  to  me, 
ttmt  BUKM^it  so  manykplentfid  portralu,  all  drawn  with 
soeh  strength  and  truth,  it  is  more  easy  to  say  which  is 
yodr  fi&vonrite  than  which  ia  best  Mr.  Henry  Mackenzie 
agrtea  wtthyou  tn  yoiur  objection  to  the  resemblance  to 
TU&ng.  He  says,  you  should  never  be  forced  to  recol- 
lect, mam§re  tU  tts  iatcmal  evidence  to  the  contrary,  that 


387 


such  a  work  la  a  work  of  fiction,  and  sU  Its  fine  erea- 
tions  but  of  air.  The  character  ot  Rose  is  less  finished 
than  the  author  had  at  one  period  intended ;  but  I  believe 
the  characters  of  humour  grew  upon  his  lilting,  to  the 
prejudice,  in  some  degree,  o(  those  of  a  more  elevated 
and  sentimental  kind.  Yet  what  can  surpass  Flora  and 
her  gallant  brother  7 

"  lam  not  authorized  to  say— but  I  vrill  not  resist  my 
impulse  to  say  to  Bfiss  Edgeworth,  that  another  novel,  de- 
scripUve  of  more  ancient  manners  still,  may  be  expected 
ere  long  from  the  Author  of  Waverley.  But  I  request 
her  to  observe,  that  I  say  tliis  in  strict  confidence— not 
certainly  meaning  to  exclude  from  the  Icnowledge  of  what 
will  give  them  pleai;ure,  her  respectable  family. 

"  Mr.  Scott's  poem,  the  Lord  of  the  Isles,  promises  lYilly 
to  equal  the  most  admired  of  his  productions.  It  is,  I 
thhik.  equally  powerful,  and  certainly  more  uniformly  pn- 
Ushea  and  sustalnod.  I  have  seen  three  Cantos.  It  will 
consist  of  six. 

*^  I  have  the  honour  to  be.  Madam,  with  the  utmost  ad- 
miratk)n  and  respect^ 

Your  most  obedient 

and  most  humble  servant, 

James  Ballantyne  " 


CHAPTER  XXXIV. 

P&0O&B8S  OF  THB  LOSn  OP'tHI  I8L11— C0HBE8P0ND- 
EMCK  WITH  MB.  JOSfiPH  TRAIN— BAPIIX  COMPLETiON 
or  THE  LOBD  OP  THB  ISLES— "  SIX  WEEKS  AT  CHRIST- 
mas"— "  REFRESHING  THB  MACHINE**— PUBLICA- 
TION OP  THE  POEM— AND  OP  GUY  MANNERINO— LET- 
TERS TO  MORRITT— TBRRy— AND  JOHN  BALLANTYNl 
—ANECDOTES  BY  JAMES  BALLANTYNE— yiSIT  TO 
LONDON— MEETING  WITH  LORD  BYBON— DINNERS  AT 
CARLTON  HOtTBE.— 1814— 1816. 

By  the  Ilth  of  November,  then,  the  Lord  of  the 
Isles  had  puule  great  progress^  and  Scott  had  also 
authorized  Ballantyne  to  negotiate  among  the  book- 
sellers for  tbe  publication  of  a  second  novel.    But 
before  I  go  further  into  these  transactions,  I  must 
introduce  the  circumstances  of  Scott's  ojnnexion 
with  an  able  an  amiable  man,  whose  services  were 
of  high  importance  to  him,  at  this  time,  and  ever 
after,  in  the  prosecution  of  his  literary  labours.  Call- 
ing at  Ballantyne*8  printing-ofl&ce  while  Waverley 
was  in  tbe  press,  he  happened  to  take  up  a  proof- 
sheet  of  a  volume,  entitled,  "  Poems,  trith  notes  i/liw- 
tratite  of  traditums  in  Galloway  and  Ayrshire^  by 
Joseph  Train,  Supervisor  of  Excise  at  Newton 
Stewart."    The  sheet  contained  a  ballad  on  the 
Ayrshire  tradition,  about  a  certain  "  Witch  of  Car- 
rick,"  whose  skill  in  the  black  art  was,  it  seems,  in- 
strumental in  the  desiruction  of  one  of  the  scattered 
vessels  of  the  Spamsh  Armada.    The  ballad  be- 
gins :— 
"  WJiy  gaUops  the  palfrev  with  Lady  Dunorel 
Who  drives  away  Turaberry's  Idne  from  the  shore  1 
Go  teU  it  to  Carrtck,  and  teU  it  in  Kyle—      ^    ^  ., . 
Although  the  proud  Dons  are  now  passing  the  Moil. 
On  this  magic  clew. 


That  in  fairyland  crew, 
1  ^clne  de  Agzart  has  taken  in  hand 
wind  up  thelrlivcs  ere  they  win  to  c 


To  windupTheiriivcs  ere  tliey  win  to  our  strand" 
Scott  immediately  wrote  to  the  author,  begging  to 
be  included  in  his  list  of  subscribers  for  a  dozen  co- 
pies, and  suggesting,  at  the  same  time,  a  verbal  alier- 
ation  in  one  of  the  stanzas  of  this  ballad.  3Ir. 
Train  acknowledged  his  letter  with  gratitude,  and 
the  little  book  reached  him  just  as  he  was  about  to 
embark  in  the  Lighthouse  yacht.  He  took  it  wm 
him  on  his  voyage,  and  on  returning  home  again, 
wrote  to  Mr.  Tram,  expressing  the  gratification  lie 
had  received  from  several  of  his  metrical  pieces,  but 
still  more  from  his  notes,  and  requesting  hnn,  as  he 
seem^  to  be  enthusiastic  about  traditions  and  le- 
gends, to  communicate  any  matters  of  that  order 
connected  with  Galloway,  which  he  might  not  him- 
self think  of  turning  to  account ;  for,''  said  Scott. 
"  nothing  interests  me  so  much  as  local  anecdotes; 
and,  as  the  Bpj)lications  for  charity  usually  conclude, 
the  smallest  donation  will  be  thankfully  accepted. 

Mr.  Train,  in  a  little  narrative  with  whwh  he  has 

favoured  me,  says,  "  that  for  some  years  before  thw 

*  TbeMunof  Cantm'.y^OOglC 


238 


LIFE  OF  SIR  WALTER  SCOTT. 


time  hohnd  been  engs;^rtJ»  in  alliance  wisis  n  Er  >  iii 
of  h!5.  Mr.  Denniaton,  iii  canceitfii;  niiuerinis  fur  a 
History  of  Gullowny^  ihty  lirtd  tircularcd  hsr?  of 

anJ  had  Uius,  and  by  their  ovvn  tuTsoiial  reAtJirclits, 
aizcuijiulatud  a  ^,Tcat  varkty  of  ^hc  mosi  escolkiii 
matcriols  for  llmtpurpoiic;'^bui  iliai,  &om  thtf  l-o^ir 
i>f  his  corrospoiuione©  with  Wal[Esr  Scatr,  he  *'  re- 
noTinci*d  every  idea  of  Buihori?liiri  ftr  btme^ilf."  re- 
eoivine^  'Shat  llienu«*fDrth  hi*  cliipf  [mrsuii  g^^nndd 
be  coUecUQR  whatever  he  lUuui^bl  wijufd  be  tmist 
mtqreEtm^  to  hinii'*  and  that  Mr.  DoQnbton  was 
tasiJv  persuaded  to  aocLidescc  in  the  obandonmcini 
of  their  onginal  deaigfi-  "Upou  rcctLving  Mr. 
fcicotls  ItrUCft*'  Uaya  Mr.  Train »)  "I  bocamt?  still 
Tiiof€  /oaloiia  in  thn  puraoit  of  anticiu  lorc^  and  bt?- 
ms  me  fifj^t  persun  who  bad  ailtrnptfld  lo  colU-et 
old  amrb»  in  that  ijgarter,  with  at^y  view  to  public 
cation,  1  b^cani'^  so  notcd^  ihai  even  beggura,  :n  cht: 
hope  of  rewardi  came  frequently  frotn  afar  tt>  N^w- 
ton-Stew  an,  lo  mdte  oid  oallads  and  rtJate  old  st&^ 
nes  to  me  J'  Ere  bng«  Mi-.  Train  visittd  Sci>tt  both 
HI  Edinburgh  and  at  Abbotsford ;  a  true  aifetion 
continued  iiver  afterward  a  to  be  maintaiiicti  betueen 
them;  and  this  srcnerous  ally  was^  as  the  prefaces 
lo  the  Waver  ley  Novels  sisnif>\  emu  uf  the  iiarbcftt 
t'linfidarjta  of  that  »ehcs  of  work?,  and  certainly 
tbii  niftat  ejljcient  of  all  ib^^  author's  friends  in  fur- 
itishinfl  hifu  with  materiaU  for  ibdr  eompaaiiion. 
Nor  aid  he  confine  himself  to  bterary  servicup; 
whatever  portabbj  abject  of  aniiquarian  curwBity 
tnei  hlB  4^yi>,  thla  good  mnn  8«cnreij  and  treasured 
up  With  the  saino  desiinotion  j  and  if  ever  a  caia- 
iuKue  of  Ibe  mu^um  at  Abbot oford  ihall  appear,  no 
Kitlglfl  cuntnbiitiir.  n\f>bt  assuro<ily,  will  fill  so  larqe 
1  gsce  in  it  a^  Mr.  Train. 

Hia  first  const ilerahk'  comniunicabon,  nfur  b*™ 
bnd  firmed  the  nn%elfijh  detemunation  ahove-men- 
lioned*  Cfjnsistcd  of  a  eoltection  of  anectioics  con- 
cerning the  Galloway  gypsies,  and  "  n  bcal  siory  of 
an  astro  loi^^Rr^  who  catbnfi  at  a  farm -bo  use  at  tbt" 
moment  when  the  t^oodwife  was  in  travail^  ha^It  it 
was  aaid,  predict  the  fmnrc  fortune  of  the  rhilj, 
almosJl  tn  the  words  placed  in  the  mouth  of  J(>hrt 
jrKtnlay,  in  the  introduction  to  Guy  Mannerini;/' 
Scon  told  himt  in  repiv,  ih^t  ibe  story  of  ilie  aa- 
frologer  remindLxl  him  *>'f  ''^ne  he  bad  heard  in  bts 
yimihi  Mhfit  ia  to  say,  as  the  fntroducdon  cKptainH, 
from  this  MXinlay?  but  Mr.  Tram  has,  stnco  bis 
fnenda  d^nth,  rfjcovert>d  a  nidi2  iJurham  hn\hd^ 
wbjdbj  in  fact,  eonuimi  a  «rcat  deal  rnore  i>f  the 
maifi  fabk'  of  fJuy  Mafitiafing,  lb  an  eitbeT  his  own 
w T»ncn,  or  5rKml*y'9  oral  edition  qf  the  GaUovi- 
thiifh  aneodotc,  bad  conveyed ;  and— possu^ffln^t  as  I 
do,  ntimbcrkifl  evidenct'it  of  the  baa  to  witlj  wbicli 
fscoti  drew  up  hia  beamiful  Preface  a  and  InirpduC' 
tione  of  iS2fl,  taan,  and  iS3i~l  am  sirf^ntfly  incliufd 
«o  tlunk,  til  at  he  mu8l  in  his  boyhood  bsvt;  rort^i  the 
l>urhEiin  Broadside  or  Chapbwk  ittcif— as  well  as 
htard  ihf>  oUt  stifdii^- man's  Scottish  v'^raion  of  lu 

However  ibia  may  have  b<icn,  Scoti's  j^nawcf  to 
Mr.  Train  pro<:eedeam  the^  worda :- 

'  I  AE]]  nniw  to  soHfit  ft  fav'uii",  wbicb  ]  H\ii\k  your  in'o- 
i>iy  In  Scoabh  anii(jiMtlc#  wiU  mrlijceynu  rcartliy  ui  mr/j. 
ply  wJtIi.  I  *iin  trry  dealfonA  to  hnrr  mm»^  riefroiujT  M  rii?' 
prp^etitMaie  of  Tm-t^he^ty  Ow^ie— whothqf  &tiy  vmiBu* 
**f  It  r^iMtaj'-wtut  Ita  rhfl  ■f>fWttmiir<>  of  rha  sffuja  ]— rbr 
iin.ifr«<i  of  rb<^  nJi:{tliTii»'iriuit  pl»cpi}<-nanrb  «J"i'>Vi>  tdt^  whsl 
«r("  ib*i  ir^Utlnrifl  o!  iij«'  [tlm^c-riif  any)  cftnc«Jiiin-^  Ixsi  mv.- 
(iiL.faJ.Jji  i(j]pinit««  tiy  lln^ecL,  ilpfln  iOfi  it^mrn  fruia  tJits 
1  **A*t  »>F  tiu^jn^l,  Jn  i\\v  riHiioK'Ofv'irtcsit  of  ilie  brUriuic 
pan  *jf  hj»  cfti etiv  Tfiii  piuj»,|p  nf  Uifj  td  Ui  runii^h 
«mr  Itlfii  n  for  ««(<<■  tsj  n  ivt>f  It  En  wlilch  I  hili  nrjiv  eainwre<K 
«ii<1 1  atfjil  iifhl  my  I  w«1l  ^i^iTi'  ETt  flt  pji^iitMTf  in  inoiiii,in' 
?ii3  iU^  mmvtie,  Trfsin  wli(i?Ti  1  (tiiHvn  tny  iniiirjrw«|f*u.  I 
h**i»  unljr  tn  !«Jr|,  «1fh  iho  iijimIuvi  bti^iciituhjty  of  ij  taiv 
vtiiTrufH^ml'itit^  i\\it  irir*  nHW^udr  ytig  ubUiti^  ihfl  wirli  i-^it  ftn- 
wrrill  you  CJin  -laH^t  nig  r*ii  t\w  Mrtniprt)  th^  lir' Mfi  r 
wdl  iti*  nhlj^.TiiiiQ  »>A  Hii  Jill',  will*  atti«lti«;vJiy  Vdnir  ubii^tf^ 


liiiiiilt(o  ic^fvnnti 


^^tx' 


The  rpcarmice  of  the  wtml  T^rrtftrri^,  in  the 
biilsid  of  Elcmi*  t\t^  Aijanrt.  liMd  of  course  tiii^^iHtofl 
tb^i  appljcatton,  wfiich  was  dat*^^]  on  tlu*  7ihof  Nm* 
Vf-mW.  '*  1  bad  often."  any;*  Mr.  Trflm,  "  whrn  a 
bor,  cUttiM  tb<?  brgwn  hilia,  njid  irfwr/ft-J  the 


1  shores  of  Carritk,  btii  I  could  noi  suf^eicndf  '(t- 
m tMnbef  f he  exact  pUce*  and  tliijiuncca  ab  to  which 
Mr^  Scot  I  in  chaired;  so,  itnni^di^tely  on  rec«pi  of 
bis  teller,  I  made  a  joomey  into  Avr&bir^  tocxMlecl 
all  the  inform  alien  1  possibly  couH  and  forwardod 
it  10  him  on  ibo  i^vh  of  the  aame  month/'  \^mnt 
the  particulars  thus  contnuimcaiedf  wae  tb«  liKal 
supers lition,  that  on  the  anniversary  of  the  night 
when  Brut^e  landed  at  Turnbcrry  from  Ar^an^  die 
same  meteoric  aleam  which  bad  nttendixi  bis  vijy- 
o?re  reappeared,  unfailingly,  in  the  same  t^uarij.'ij'  of 
liic  heavens.  Wish  this  drcuuistanre  tJcott  wis 
much  w  I  ruck.  "Your  information,"  lie  wnifi,  on 
the  22d  of  November,  "was  particrilarly  iaitTwting 
and  acceptable^  ost^eciaUy  that  whieh  relates  lu  the 
supposed  preternatural  app*?a ranee  Df  the  Ure,  dc, 
which  1  hope  to  make  some  use  of.^*  What  a«  he 
did  make  of  it,  if  any  reader  lies  forgotmn,  wit!  be 
seen  by  rcferance  to  stanzas  7— L7  of  the  I^th  Canto 
of  the  Poem;  and  the  no  tea  to  (he  same  Canto  e*n- 
body,  With  due  aeknowledi^ment,  the  inor^?  autbcn* 
tic  results  of  Mr.  Train's  pd;;nma^c  to  Camck. 

I  abnli  recur  presently  to  this  commuaiearijn 
frcm  Mr.  Train ;  but  niuar  pause  for  a  moment  lo 
inLroiince  tu  o  leitcre^  both  written  m  the  same  wrek 
with  Scott's  request  as  to  the  localiiiei  of  Turn- 
berry.  They  botTi  fEive  ua  amuidng  akcichei  ef  liit 
buoyant  spirits  at  this  petriod  of  itigantic  eJterticii; 
and  the  first  ^  them,  which  relates  chiefly  to  Ma- 
tunn's  Tragody  of  Bertram,  shows  how  he  ctmid 
still  continue  to  steal  time  for  attention  to  the  affiL'* 
of  brother  authors  less  enenzotic  than  birtiMlf. 

"  Abbot  sford,  November  10.  tail* 
'*My  dear  Terry, 
*'l  fltiQuld  haTc  Jnufi  iinte  jutswer^d  y&ar  bod  l*i- 
ter  bf  our  frSen  J  Younjf,  but  hr  would  Jfil  Jf*«  of  ray 
de]  part  ore  with  our  iruary  anr!  Wcl!  bclovi^d  Er«kme.oa9 
Borl  of  voTrttte  lo  Nfifva  2embla.  Since  uiy  reiiiitn*  I  lia'« 
fallen  undei  tbe  lyrannico}  dnniEDJon  of  a  ccrlatn  Ijjnf  0/ 
Ih^  lika,  Thnae  lortk  \fcrc  fnjnctu^  for  opprc»1«i  to 
the  days  of  ydtif,  aiid  If  1  can  juilf^Q  t>y  ihfl  pciflhiMD»iu« 
dcepin\niu  t^icrclflpd  o^cr  an?,  they  have  i>oi  ijiiprtrt'ed  by 
t Jicjr  dnttilfle.  Tbe  peine  Jhrff;  tt  ftnrt  it,  you  Jtrw*,  ri^" 
tbinff  in  comlviTivon  to  bciairobLifed!  to  jfhnct  vvrsvi  \  mi'I 
*j  dcvjliib  ri^|>uLNivc  is  iny  Hlfp^Hisiiion,  ihit  1  ran  ti*t*r 
put  fny  iv|>4^el  Into  ci^nsisfit  and  rc^ubw  itiiHlcsa.tJlt  It^lzn- 
lynp^ii  rievil  clap*  in  hm  iMDorc^,  like  tt^c  hot  <'m<J<r  viluch 

you  Daili.  folJiii  uBetj  no  cUp  m  beside  mi  Im  vt- sd 

tumtpii,  iv§  a  }jiiii  [o  be  {-x]ie<]Jliuim  in  his 


life  to  ihe  oi,i  bcnui^  of  l^ra^ii*.',  who  iiovcr  s;ivv  ;■< 


inJt— rnucb  luip|iiar  in  tliat  net^aJive  circu3U«iiacc,iJ^an^ 
iiiA  ft] bailee  wuh  the  meci:  of  Kin;;  Gorttoijiic. 

**To  talk  ujvon  n  bUtttL^r  flubf^ct,.  I  »v+*h  ynu  stwA!*- 
botsford,  which  ti^jEin^  ibiv  F^^asofi  [u  io^ik  the  wituahcjd' 
(j.iyi  urirl  calrin,  that  we  iiaiJ  ciialke^l  ouL  1  lH*e  ^l^-b 
ijbhf L'd  iQ  ri^ljmjaiilk  Jr^rnrk^i/ulsn,  which  wns  pfeady  \*<> 
tM|>L^niiJve.  So  I  ijuve  tiuidc  Uie  old  tarinboitsp  iir  *^'"J* 
fk  ^ovi'*,  wiEh  iwtne  OEUlyjnn  places  for  kjtcbcn,  launtJrT, 
aad twi> cjiart'  biifi  r^MJin*,  which  run  aloag  the  ejutwsli 
pf  the  farm- court*  not  wnhuut  boiuc  pj<iiurrff.7ue  MStfL 
A  perfiirairil  crMi^,  tUa  ejHjdji  at  the  old  htrk  of  (■*](]• 
i^hidx,  itecrorate^  an  tulvanccd  door,  and  Uwk*  Ttrj  *tiJ. 
Thiff  Utile  sly  bit  of  sacrj.li;^e  jiaa  driven  our  siflne  rortm* 
the  naiae  of  the  rJiapzL  I  Qs.rae«tTy  iitite  jfwu  t"  i  ?'*:•'' 
there,  whJch  ytui  will  Und  ju  cj:>ji|unr>dH>u4  for  J  he  purv^'* 
of  a  Uflji,  JLi  vou  ever  expeh^^cf^d  wb^-n,  uarfrr  iLc  Rdliv 
hiicy  of  ^>ld  Mr*!-  fliiaoben,  fuu  wtTu  l*-:**  iv  St  fSeflilf'^t 
EilJnbiirj{h- 

"^thtive  b^cn  reiotijfni'iKJLae  f"  Jotm  Kcaibl*' (' ^1;^* 
fuy  widiKUt  ,iuy  eh*nce  vl  an^rn^wu  tri  prn^ttn  t  tfS.  Ir*- 
jsreily  of  JIihoj-im'k,  :ui(ii.,i uf  Mi^nUirio,  u  i«  !"*<;  ->''  ^^'^! 
ihinti^  wUit^h  wid  citUiiT  '<n<*eeed  gn^oily  or  b»  <^gy^ 
sJorjously,  fnr  in  lOHrOM  jiriH  {fiuilccd,  ilecti,  Jwd  •iJPJ 
itnditM  fiuJiJ  I'f  ^n  mturi?  nbiiojci^j^bi  tt»  riilT«i?*'  B*J*^ 
nitjc  flla  frifftit*  iS^ttftn  cauui'  **f  yLuir  ^  •"  '^  *>** 

ftkrjioi  di)vdj*»  Imii  i>us  artinflefiii  liiinr.  ^  y* 

stji4*^  Jwflily     I  btlifts^e  1  l(J«c  tsorc.  '™"; 

n^M-'A.    He  f.i.l  ii--M*>i(n)piiaJs)tbT*i*i 

illvkkathr 

wot  !lK:^fi' 


fif opiiily  Ait 

auiJi4mc«  VTM^  .;,...,  ...  u.uce  in  fhr  fT 
*f4nl^rMiv.^    With  otiihip,  whkih  r 
wriUnn  ihelh^UHyMr,  ii  tn  ^taiuX  y.i, 
ftUftV  nM7ii  JUIWtiHl  «i|d  ifvin!      I 

ilwic  hod  witli  »D(|weetjijof  Vifi « r 


i  th*>  cnWtnighc  jifegg^^* 


th*!mij  iniM  a  IWi^  *-  -j^,.^^ 
nets  iasuk&d  of  ittuHiitui^ 


LIFE  OF  SIR  WALTER  SCOTT. 


9M 


Cipuifl  Richard  Fnkfloer.  *    To  your  kindness  I  owe  the  i 
two  books  In  the  world  I  most  lonjjed  to  s«»e,  no;  so  much 
for  their  intrinsic  merit,  as  because  they  briiuj  l»«ck  wiih 
vivid  ajsociaiiona  the   sendraents  of  my  childhood— I 
nuihl  almost  say  Infancy.    Nothing  over  dii*iurDed  my 
-ee:ai2«  more  than  when,  sitiin::  br  thu  old  oak  table,  my  , 
■-utu,  lidy  Raet>um,  uaed  to  read  ilie  laiueniablo  caiab-  • 
ffKphe  of  the  ship'*  departhi;;  wiihom  CAptam  Filfomr,  ' 
.n  consequence  of  the  whole  party  makiui  free  wiih  liuu-  , 
i'Unch  on  the  cvo  of  its  i>ein^  launched.    TiiiiJ  and  Cap- 
lain  BJngfield,t  I  much  wished  lo  rend  once  more,  and  I 
-j*e  the  possession  of  both  to  your  kindn.-sa.     Every 
Iwiy  that  I  see  laika  hiiehiy  of  your  ste.-wly  interest  wnli 
the  public,  wherewith,  as' I  never  doubted  ot  it,  I  am 
i'leased,  but  not  surprised.     We  are  just  now  ieavimr  (Iiia 
•>ribe  winter;  the  children  went  ycsicrday.    Tom  Pur-  i 
;if,  Finella,  and  the  greyboumla,  all  in  excniloni  health  ;  , 
;he  Utter  have  not  been  hunted  this  hco^on ! ! !    T'an  mid 
Althing  more  to  excite  your  adunratioa.   Mr.^.  Scott  »5entU  i 
ner  kiad  compUmenls.  W^  ?k;oTT."     j 

The  following,  dAled  a  day  after,  refers  to  some : 
lines  which  Mr.  Morritt  had  sent  him  from  VVorth- 1 

M-  ; 

To  J.  B.  S.  Morritt,  Esq.,  M.  P.,  Wortlan^.  i 

"Abbotsford,  Nov.  U,  1837. 
•  Mv  dear  Morritt, 

"1  had  your  kind  letter  with  the  beautiful  verses.  ! 
May  the  muto  meet  you  often  on  the  vcrec  of  the  sea,  or  [ 
2inon§  your  own  woods  of  llokeby  !  May  vou  have  spi- 
rtu  to  profit  by  her  visits,  (and  that  impUcsall^food  vriBlies 
^r  The  continuance  of  Mr^.  M.'s  convalescence.)  and ; 
!nay  1  often,  by  the  fruits  of  your  Inspiration,  have  my  ; 
^na're of  pleasure!  My  mns?  is  a  Tyranness,  and  not  a  . 
Christian  queen,  and  cosnpcls  me  to  attend  lo  lon<?s  end 
^Vrtf,  and  I  know  not  what,  when.  Cod  wor,  I  had  rather 
k  planting  cvcrzrecns  by  my  new  old  fountain.  You 
ust  know  that,  like  the  complaint  of  a  fine  vounir  boy, 
w'19  was  complimented  by  a  ftrrangor  on  hi.s  befng  a  smart 
idlow,  'I  aiu  sair  halded  down  by  tht  bubblu  jock.^  In 
'  ther  words,  the  turkey  cock,  at  the  head  of  a  family  of 
's>me  forty  or  fifty  infidels,  lays  wa.<4e  all  my  shrubs.  In 
■■yn  I  remonstrate  with  Charlotte  «|K)n  these  occasions ; 
e*j«  IS  in  league  with  the  hen-wife,  the  natural  protectress 
"f  these  pirates;  and  I  have  only  the  inhuman  consola- 
tion, tltat  I  m3y  one  day,  like  a  cannibal,  eat  up  my  enc- 
-m*.  This  Is  but  dull  ftm,  but  what  else  have  I  to  tell 
vmi  about  ?  It  would  be  worse  if,  like  Justice  Shallow's 
I>avy,  1  should  consult  you  upon  sowing  down  tlie  head- 
liuJ  with  wheat.  Mv  hterary  tonnentor  is  a  certain  Lord 
of  Uic  l3les,  famed  lor  his  tyranny  of  yore,  and  not  un- 
'inly.  I  am  bothering  some  tale  of  him  1  have  had  long 
^7  m«»  into  a  sort  of  romance.  I  think  you  will  like  It :  ft 
:<  Scoff ified  up  to  the  teeth,  and  somehow  I  feel  myself 

•  ke  the  liberated  chiefs  of  the  Rolliad,  *  who  boast  of 
ibeir  narire  philabeg  restored.'  1  believe  the  frolics  one 
can  cut  ia  this  kwse  garb  are  all  set  down  by  you  Basse- 
nachs  to  trie  real  agiUty  of  the  wearer,  and  not  the  brave, 
free,  and  independent  cltaractor  of  his  clothm;.  It  is,  in 
■-  word,  the  real  Highland  fling,  and  no  one  Is  supposed 
abl"  10  dance  it  but  a  naf  iv*;.  I  alwavs  thought  tfiat  epi- 
'-'!  of  Gallia  Braceata  implied  su&jugatio.'i,  and  was 
r.  Tcr  surprised  at  Cjpsar's  easy  conqucsu,  considering 

*"The  Voraires,  Danfcrous  Adventure*,  and  Imminent  Es- 
*:*'if^  (jf  Capi.  iUch.  Falconer.  Containing  the  Lawi,  CiistotiM, 
ai ;  .'•lainwn  of  the  InJiaiM  in  America ;  lit»  tliipwmcks  ;  hi«  tnor- 
f:ac  an  Indian  wife ;  his  narrou  escape  from  the  Island  of  Donii- 
'f<^>  *c.  intemiJTed  with  tl>o  Voyages  and  Adventure*  of  Tho- 
]■**  Randal,  of  Cork,  Pilot ;  widi  his  Shipwreck  in  the  Baltick. 

•  ;:m  Ui-;  only  man  that  escaped.   Hi*  beinjz  taken  by  the  Indians 

•  Vffflnia,  «c.  And  an  acconnt  of  hii  Pcatb.  Tnc  Fourth 
idithn.  London.  Printed  for  J.  Manhall,  at  the  Bible  in 
'iiic«<hurch  Street.    1734.*' 

'in  ibe  fij-lcaf  is  the  foltovdng  note,  in  Scott's  handwriiin?  :— 
"Tiii*  bonk  I  n*ad  in  early  yo»illi.  I  am  ifn<want  whetlitr  it  u  nl- 
'  ^Uwf  fictitious,  and  written  upon  Do  Foe's  plan,  which  it 
r  •'  auy  levcmbies.  or  whether  it  is  only  an  oxag:*eratcd  nccotint  of 

I!  Hdv«ntmp*  of  some  renl  person.  It  is  v»iry  scare*',  tor.  tr.ti.'a- 
^   'ru^f  toadd  it  to  the  other  favourite*  of  my  in&ncy,  I  ihink  I 

I'llc^-d  for  it  ten  yeois  to  no  rxirpose,  and  at  last  owed  it  to  the  ac- 
'  vf  kindness  of  Mr.  Terry.  Yet  Richard  Fukouor's  adventures 
K,4ii  <n  har« parsed  ihrouffh  scvoral  athtinns." 

'■'The  TavoI*  and  Aavunture^  of  William  Binpfcld,  E*'i., 
''  »nfaimnff  m  «urprt>ing  a  FluQfiiatifm  of  Circtinwtanc* ».  l»olh  l»y 
"^5  and  L^nd,  as  ever  bcuH  on*^  man.    With  an  A'''*iirare  AO' 


•iD?of  th«»8hBW»,  Nwture.and  Fropertte»of  Ihat  mo*t  furi<jtHand 
;  n*anc  Anim>il,th«Do$  Bird.  Frimeii  fr^tm lii«  own  .Mann'^-nnt. 
yuh  a  beautiful  FronUipiece.  2  Vol*.  I«mo.  London  :— Pnntcd 
^•fB-WHhcw.  at  theSovenatan,  in  Fleet  Street.  i:33."    Onfhv 

r  fcaf  of  the  flnt  volume,  Scott  ba*  written  a*  fcdiowa :— "  I  read 
'x<<  Acatoe  little  Voyage  tmaginaire  wk-n  I  wa*ahoui  ten  years 

c,  and  kmg  after  sought  for  a  copy  without  Iwing  abl^  to  nr>d  a 
jT«tn  who  would  so  much  as  acknowledge  iwvinp  h^ard  of  Wil- 
^m  Bin^Ui  or  U*  Dog -Bird*,  wUil  the  indefatiKftble  kindne*i 
« '.  wy  fnend.  Mr.  Terry,  of  the  Hay  Market,  made  me  muster 
'  t  th«  copy.    I  am  tberetbre  induced  to  think  the  book  m  ci'  very 

'iK  OCCURtDOe." 


that  his  L&blenm  and  all  his  roen^  inen  wore^  ■•  w«  say 

bottomless  breeks.    Ever  yours,  W.  S." . 

Well  might  he  describe  himself  as  being  hard  at 
work  with  his  Lord  of  the  Isles.  The  date  of  Bol- 
laniyite'.**  letter  tu  Miss  Edceworth,  (November  11,) 
in  which  he  mentions  the  third  Canto  as  cotnpleted ; 
that  of  the  communication  from  Mr.  Train.  (No- 
vember 18,)  on  which  so  much  of  Canto  fifth  wa9 
grounded  :  and  that  of  a  note  from  Scoit  to  Bal- 
lantyne  (December  16,  1814.)  announcing  that  he 
had  sent  the  last  stanza  of  the  poem ;  these  dates, 
taken  together,  afford  conclusive  evidence  -of  the 
llery  rapidity  with  which  the  three  last  Cantos  of  / 
the  Lord  of  the  Isles  were  composed. 

He  ^v^ite^  on  the  26ih  December,  to  Constable, 
that  ho  ''  had  corrected  the  last  p^joik  and  was  s^t- 
tinR  out  fur  Abbotsford  to  refresh  the  machine.'*  ' 
And  in  what  did  his  refreshment  of  the  machine 
consist?  Besides  bavins  written  within  this  yetur 
the  greater  part  (almost  1  believe  the  whqje)— of  the 
Life  of  Swift— Waverley— and  the  Lord  of  the  Isles 
-—he  had  given  two  essays  to  the  Encyclopaedia 
Supplement,  and  published,  with  an  Introduction 
and  notes,  one  of  the  most  curious  pieces  of  fatnily 
history  even  produced  to  the  world,  oa  which  J^e 
laboured  with  more  than  usual  zeal  and  diligeirce, 
from  hia  warm  affection  for  the  noble  representative 
of  its  author.  This  inimitable  '*  Memorit  of  the 
SomervUle^*  came  out  in  October ;  and  it  was  speed- 
ily followed  by  an  annotated  reprint  of  the  strange 
old  treatise,  entitled,  ''Rowland's  letting  off  the 
humours  of  the  blood  in  the  head  vein,  1611."  He 
had  also  kept  up  his  ^private  correspondence  on  a 
scale  which  I  believe'  never  to  have  been  eiempU- 
fied  in  the  case  of  any  other  person  who  wrote  con- 
tinually for  the  press— except,  perhaps,  Voltaire;  and, 
to  say  nothing  of  strictly  professional  duties,  he  had, 
as  a  vast  heap  of  documents  now  before  me  proves, 
superintended  from  day  to  day,  except  during  his 
Hebridean  voyage,  the  still  perplexed  concerns  of 
the  Ballantynes,  wit|i  a  watchful  assiduity  ihat 
mi^ht  have  done  credit  to  the  most  diligent  of 
tradesmen.  The  ''  machine"  might  truly  require 
"refreshment" 

It  was,  as  has  been  seen,  on  the  7th  of  November 
that  Scott  acknov^ed^  the  receipt  of  that  com- 
munication from  Mr.  Train  which  mdudcd  the  sto- 
Sf  of  the  Galloway  astrologer.  There  can  be  no 
oubt  that  this  story  recalledto  his  mind,  if  not  the 
Durham  ballad,  the  similar  but  more 'detailed  cor- 
ruption of  it  which  he  had  heard  told  by  his  father's 
servant,  John  M'Kinlay,  in  the  days  of  George's 
Square^  and  Green  Breeks,  and  which  he  has  pre- 
served in  the  introduction  to  Guy  Manncring,  as  the 
groundwork  of  that  tale.  It  has  been  shown  that 
the  three  last  Cantos  of  the  Lord  of  the  Isles  were 
written  between  the  1 1th  of  November  and  the  26th 
of  December;  and  it  is  therefore  scarcely  to  be  sup- 
posed that  any  part  of  this  novel  had  been  penned 
before  he  thus  talked  of^  *'  refreshing  the  machine." 
It  is  quite  certain  that  when  James  Ballantyne 
wrote,  to  Miss  Edgeworth  on  the  l  Ith  November, 
he  could  not  have  seen  one  page  of  Guy  Mannering. 
since  he  in  that  letter  annoancts  that  the  new  novel 
of  his  nameless  friend  would  depict  manners  more 
ancient  than  those  of  17-15.  And  yet  it  is  equally 
certain  that  before  the  Lord  of  ihe  Isles  was  pub- 
Hshed,  which  took  place  on  the  ISih  January,  isifi, 
two  volumes  of  Guy  Mannering  had  been  not  only 
written  and  copied  hy  an  amanuensis,  but  printed. 

Scott  thus  writes  to  Morritt,  in  sending  him  his 
copy  of  the  Lord  of  the  lele^.  v 

To  J.  B.  S.  Morritt,  Bsj.  M.  P.  Worthtpttr. 

'*  Edinburgh,  19Ui  January,  1815. 
"  .My  dear  Morrir, 

'"  1  hav^  been  very  fooliiddy  pulling  off  my  writin:? 
until  I  should  have  time  for  a  stood  long  epiifllc :  and  it  ia 
astonishing  what  a  number  of  trifles  havo  interfered  to 
prevent  my  coromencing  on  a  irreat  .scale.  The  last  of 
these  has  been  rather  of  an  extraordinary  kind,  for  your 
Lt;Ie  friend  Waber  haax^hoan  to  make  hiinself  the  town- 
faik,  by  takin?  what  6eeni»?<l  to  he  ihe  Fuiallpox,  desplie 
,  of  vacf"ination  in  infancy,  ami  inoculation  wiili  the  vari|^ 
i  !vu*  matter,  ihev»'^atter,  which  la>i  liSizM^\0:iO^9lC 


840 


LIFE  OP  SIR  WALTER  SCOTT. 


makiof  aifuruiee  doubte  sure.  The  medical  genUeman 
who  attended  him  is  of  opinion  that  he  htu  had  the  real 
amaU-pojc,  but  it  shall  never  be  averred  by  me— for  the 
catastrophe  of  Tom  Thumb  is  enoueh  to  deter  any  think- 
ing person  from  entering  into  a  feud" with  the  cows.  Wal- 
ter is  quite  well  again,  which  was  the  principal  matter  I 
was  interested  in.  We  had  very  nearly  been  in  a  bad 
scrape,  for  I  had  fixed  the  Monday  on  which  he  sickened, 
20  take  hina  with  me  for  the  Christmas  vacation  to  Abbots- 
ford.  It  is  probable  that  he  would  not  have  pleaded  head- 
ach  when  there  wa«  such  a  party  in  view,  especially  as 
we  were  to  shoot  wildducks  one  day  together  at  Cauld- 
shiels  Loch;  and  what  the  consequence  of  such  a  jour- 
ney might  have  been,  God  alone  knows. 

''  I  am  clear  of  the  Lord  of  the  Isles,  and  I  trust  you 
liave  your  copy.  It  closes  my  poetic  labours  upon  au 
emended  scale  :  but  I  daresay  I  shall  always  be  dabbling 
>n  r^yme  until  the  sotve  aenescentem.  I  have  directed 
»hc  cony  to  be  sent  to  Portland  Plac*.  I  wa^t  to  shake 
myself  free  of  Waverley,  and  accordingly  have  made  a 
^onsidefabic  excrUon  to  finish  an  odd  litUe  tale  within 
Bach  time  a^will  mistify  the  public,  1  trust— unless  they 
suppose  me  To  be  Driareus.  Two  volumes  are  already 
printed,  and  the  only  persons  in  my  confidence,  W.  Er- 
skine,  and  Ballantyne,  are  of  opinion  that  it  is  much  more 
mteresting  than  Waverley.  It  is  a  tale  of  private  Ufe,  and 
only  varied  by  the  perilous  exploits  of  smugglers  and  ex- 
cis^en.  The  success  of  Waverley  has  given  me  a 
spaTb  hundred  or  two,  which  I  have  resolved  to  spend  in 
London  this  spring,  brhiging  up  Charlotte  and  Sophia 
with  me.  I  do  not  forget  my  English  friends— but  I  fear 
they  Will  forget  me,  unless  I  ahow  face  now  and  then. 
Mv  correspondenco  gradually  drops,  as  must  happen 
when  people  do  not  meet ;  and  I  long  to  see  Ellis,  Heber, 
Gifford,  and  one  or  two  more.  I  do  not  include  Mrs. 
Morritt  and  prou,  because  we  are  much  nearer  neigh- 
bours, and  within  a  whoop  and  a  hoUa  In  comparison.  I 
think  we  should  come  up  by  sea,  if  I  were  not  a  litHe 
afraid  of  Charlotte  being  stanled  by  the  March  whids— 
for  our  vacation  begins  I2th  March. 

*  You  win  have  heard  of  poor  Caberfae's  death  ?  Whal 
a  pily  it  is  he  should  have  outlived  his  promising  young 
representaUve.  His  state  was  truly  pitiable— all  his  fine 
•  lacullies  lost  In  paralytic  imbecility,  and  yet  not  so  entire- 
Ij  so,/iut  that  he  perceived  his  deprivation  as  in  a  glass 
darkly.  Sometimes  he  was  fretful  and  anxious  because 
he  did  not  see  his  son  ;  sometimes  he  expostulated  and 
camplained  that  his  boy  had  been  allowed  to  die  without 
his  seeing  him  ;  and  someUmes,  in  a  less,  clouded  sute 
of  UueUect,  he  was  sensible  of,  and  lamented  his  loss  in 
*^  J  r  ,^^^"i-  .  Those,  Indeed,  are  the  *  fears  of  the  brave 
and  follies  of  the  wise,'  which  sadden  and  humiliate  the 
Ungerin^  hours  of  prolonged  exfttence.  Our  friend  Lady 
Hood  will  now  be  Caberfae  herself.  She  has  the  spirit 
of  a  chicftalness  in  every  drop  of  her  blood,  but  there  are 
few  situations  in  which  the  cleverest  women  are  so  apt 
to  be  uuposed  upon  as  in  the  management  of  landed  pro- 
perty, more  especially  of  an  Highland  estate.  I  do  fear 
the  accomplishnaent  of  the  prophecy,  that  when  there 
should  be  a  deaf  Caberfae.  the  house  was  to  faU. ' 

I  am  delighted  to  find  Mrs.  Morriit  is  recovering  health 
and  sirengih-betiet  walking  on  the  beach  at  Worthing 
than  on  the  plain^tanes  of  Prince's  Stree^  for  the  weather 
IS  very  severe  here  indeed.  I  trust  Mrs.  M.  wiU,  in  her 
milder  climate,  lay  in  such  a  stock  of  health  and  strength 
as  uwy  enable  you  to  face  the  north  in  Autumn.  I  have 
got  Uie  nicest  crib  for  you  possible,  just  about  twelve  feet 
square,  and  m  the  harmonious  \icJnity  of  a  piggery.  You 
never  saw  so  minute  an  estabHshmeni,— but  it  has  aU  that 
we  wish  for,  and  aU  our  friends  will  care  about ;  and  we 
long  to  sec  you  there.  Charlotte  sends  the  kindest  re- 
membrances to  Mrs.  Morritt. 

.k1'  it?  ?'"  P?"^C8, 1  have  thought  little  about  them  lately ; 
tne  high  and  exciting  interest  is  so  completely  subsided, 

*  ^15^  ^**?  S^/urfJi  died  nth  JojiuJirt',  lais,  id  W*  noth 

with  htbw  suit  be  wu  tuocnKiod  n  hii  Mtatn  br  hi±"  dmiifULer. 
Lady  Hiwl  am  tfaa  Hon-  Mit,  Si^wirt  MMkenL  c3' S«.J  wS 

S^nr?jlS.^'iit*^^J^^*- ^^'  ,Tb/CtUicdMWfnti«rtDr  ihe 

WMHoi  ihe  clan  WatiKinwiE^,  Ctibwfat,  iinMm  Bfaehiad   ibe 

f  or  k'  limiiJj      r\ h!  fjn>ph«: V  w hif^J*  .Scot [  aFud*^^ 


that  the  wine  is  upon  the  Ices.  As  (or  America,  we  have 
80  managed  as  to  give  her  the  appearance  of  uiumph,  and 
what  is  worse,  encoara«ement  to  resume  the  war  upon 
a  more  favourable  opportunity.  It  was  our  buainess  to 
l»ve  given  them  a  fearful  memento  that  the  babe  unborn 
should  have  remembered :  but,  having  missed  tliis  oppor- 
tunity, I  believe  that  this  country  would  submit  with  oreM 
reluctance  to  continue  a  war,  for  which  there  is  really  no 
specific  object.  As  for  the  continental  monarchs,  ihere 
is  no  guessmg  what  the  folly  of  Kjors  and  Ministeri  nuv 
do ;  but.  God  knows  !  would  any  of  them  look  at  hoiu'?. 
enough  is  to  be  done  which  might  strengthen  and  improTe 
their  dominions  in* a  different  manner  than  by  mere  ox- 
tension.  I  trust  Ministers  will  go  out  rather  ihan  be  en- 
gaged in  war  again,  upon  any  account  If  France  is  wise. 
(I  have  no  fear  that  any  superfluous  feeling  of  humanity 
will  stand  in  the  way.)  she  will  send  10,000  of  her  most  re- 
fractorv  troops  to  fight  with  Chrisiophe  and  die  yellow  ip 
ver  in  the  Island  of  St.  Domingo,  and  then  1  presume  ilicr 
may  sit  down  in  quiet  at  home. 

"  But  my  sheet  grows  to  an  end,  and  sp  does  the  plead- 
ing of  the  learned  counsel,  who  is  thumping  the  poor  bar 
as  I  write.  He  hems  twice.  Forward,  sweet  Orator  Hiis- 
gins !— at  least  till  I  sign  myself,  dear  Morritt,  youn  mort 
truly, 

Walter  Scon. ' 

Guy  Mannering  waa  published  on  the  24th  of  Fe- 
bruary—that  is,  exactly  two  months  after  the  Lord 
of  the  Isles  was  dismissed  from  the  author'sdcaki 
and— making  but  a  narrow  allowance  for  the  ope- 
rations of  the  transcriber,  printer,  bookseller,  &c,  I 
think  the  dateiS  1  have  gathered  together,  confinn 
the  accuracy  of  what  I  have  often  heard  Scott  say, 
that  his  second  novel  "  was  the  work  of  six  weeks 
at  a  Christmas."    Such  was  his  recipe  "  for  refresh- 


tKiTi;**^      .li       *  ,   ^'^/'"L^''*!!  «hif^^**^^fltt  ftirude^  Tu  in 
JoJZb^"  i,z!?!^''^T^k*  ^X^  HtnnpLfy  Davp  m  one  ot  \ii 

Si^  2S!j^*.tet2r^**JJ*^*  miwrnJlMit  one.  fijt  it«rf>ii-  «t. 
^^^trf^^  ^  «f aeafoftb  not  fiuljr  wilii  ihe  upptAmiice 

WW"  ti-  ti  .  I      I   :   .1  ,M  I  cnufDiturtQi  If*  pevmil  of  1  he  titbrt  trrvAt 
i^Srn     .'  '■    '  "^  winri]  arc  Mid--mntl  w*jfl  tTitainJy  [«- 

tuTm™'       ^^    '       '^-  t^a^jr-<o]iafo(wnm.tl>uc(^nmd  ^AJ^^lin 
VJl-lv^  '■''' J ' '  I  "  ^^  1 1  |.>mi  Kin  Owl  haji  nf ft  fui  WM*4.-<i  n  wu>     Mr. 

?!^  "^       ^™^  hMj(h-ig  thai  i\  certain] j  wa*  o^  m^dtuprU 


ine  the  machine." 

I  am  sorry  to  have  to  add,  that  this  seventy  of  la- 
bour, like  the  re^tition  of  it  which  had  such  deplor- 
able effects  at  a  later  period  of  his  life,  was  the  result 
of  his  anxiety  to  acquit  himself  of  obligations  aris- 
ing out  of  his  connexion  \^ith  the  commercial  ape- 
ciUations  of  the  Ballantynes.  The  approach  of 
Christmas,  1811.  brought  with  it  the  prospect  of  siM^h 
a  recurrence  or  difficulties  about  the  discount  of 
John's  bill&  as  to  render  it  abeolutely  necessary  that 
Scott  should  either  apply  again  for  assistance  to  bis 
private  friends,  or  task  his  hterary  powers  with  sonw 
such  extravagant  effort  as  has  now  been  recordoL 
The  great  obiect,  which  was  still  to  get  rid  of  the 
heavy  slock  that  had  been  accumulated  before  the 
storm  of  May,  1813,  at  length  determined  the  chjcf 
partner  to  break  up,  as  soon  as  possible,  the  concern 
which  his  own  sanguine  rashness,  and  the  gross  ir- 
regularities of  his  mercurial  Ueutenant,  had  00  la- 
mentably perplexed ;  but  Constable,  having  already 
enabled  the  firm  to  avoid  public  exposure  more  than 
once,  was  not  now,  any  more  than  when  he  made 
his  contract  for  the  Lord  of  the  Isles,  disposal Jo 
burden  himself  with  an  additional  load  of  Weber » 
Beaumont  and  Fletcher."  and  othrr  almost  as  un- 
saleable books.  While  they  were  still  in  hopes  of 
overcoming  his  scruples,  it  happened  that  a  worthy 
friend  of  Scott's,  the  late  Mr.  Charles  Erskina  his 
sheriff-substitute  in  Selkirkshu^  had  immediate 
occasion  for  a  sum  of  money  which  he  had  some 
lime  before  advanced,  at  Scott's  personal  request, 
to  the  firm  otJohn  Ballantyne  and  Company;  and, 
on  receiving  his  appUcation,  Scott  wrote  as  follows  - 
To  Mr.  John  Ballantyne^  Bookteller^  Edinbur§h, 
"AbboUford,Octl4,lSli 
"  Dear  John, 

"  Charles  Ersklnc  wishes  his  money,  as  he  has  iva^ 
a  purchase  of  land.  This  is  a  new  perplexity— for  paid  he 
must  be  forthwith— «s  this  advance  was  friendly  and  con- 
fidential. I  do  not  at  this  moment  see  how  It  is  to  be  ru^ 
edj  but  believe  I  shall  find  means.  In  the  mean  while,  ii 
will  be  necessary  to  propitiate  the  Leviathans  of  P»>«r 
noster-row.  My  idea  is,  that  you  or  Janes  should  wnte 
to  them  to  the  following  effect :— That  a  novel  i?  offerco 
you  by  the  Author  of  Waverley ;  that  the  author  is  desi- 
rous it  should  be  out  before  Mr.  Scott'^poera,  or  as  soon 
thereafter  as  possible :  and  that  having  resolved,  as  they 
are  aware,  to  relinquish  publishing,  you  only  wish  toif*^^ 
yourselves  of  this  offer  to  tjie  extent  of  helping  off  »nje 
ofkyoui  stock.  I  leave  It  to  you  to  consider  whether  you 
should  condescend  00  any  particular  work  to  offer  theo 
as  bread  to  their  butter— or  on  any  particular  amount-*" 


Lira  OP  8!K  WALfttL  SOOTT. 


Mt 


>Bethtaf  mttai  be  protldtd,  that€oiiiiia)1e  thans 
C»  the  OEXteni  of  U»  SeottiMi  sale— thej,  however,  muiBg* 
iBfi  Mj  reason  for  lectins  them  have  thia  aoem  of  roaat 
BiMl  is,  in  caao  it  should  be  neeeaaaiy  for  us  to  apply  to 
them  to  renew  bills  in  December.    Youra, 

W.  S." 

JJptm  TeceiTing  this  letter,  John  Ballantytie  flag- 
gestod  to  Scott  that  he  should  be  allowed  to  offer, 
not  only  the  new  novel,  but  the  next  edition  of  Wa- 
▼erlcy.  to  Longman,  Murray,  or  Blackwood— in  the 
hope  that  the  prospect  of  being  let  in  to  the  profits 
41  the  already  established  favourite,  would  overcome 
effectually  the  hesitation  of  one  or  other  of  these 
hooeet  about  venturing  on  the  encumbrance  which 
Ceantable  seemed  to  shrink  from  with  such  perti- 
■acity ;  but  upon  this  ingenious  proposition  Scott  at 
ooee  aet  his  veto.  "  Dear  John."  he  writes,  (Oct.  17, 
1B14,)  "  your  expedients  are  all  wretched,  as  far  as 
ligards  me.  I  never  will  give  Constable,  or  any 
otie.  r6om  to  say  I  have  broken  my  word  with  him 
in  the  alightest  degree.  If  I  lose  every  thing  elsa 
1  will  at  4east  keep  my  honour  unblemished ;  and  | 
do  hold  myself  bound  in  honour  to  offer  him  a  Wa- 
vterisy^  mile  he  shall  continue  to  comply  with  the 
cafiditioaa  aimexed.  I  intend  the  new  novel  to  ope- 
rate as  tfODMching  more  petmanent  than  a  mere  ac- 
commodation ;  and  if  I  can  but  bo  ptrmittcMl  to  do 
80, 1  will  print  it  befora  it  is  aokl  to  any  one,  and 
then  propose,  first,  to  Constable  and  Longman,  ae- 
ecmd,  to  Aurrayand  Blackwood,  to  take  the  whole 
at  eoch  a  rate  as  will  give  them  one  half  of  the  £air 
profits ;  minting  aeoeptanees  which,  upon  an  edi> 
lisii  of  30bo,  which  we  ahall  be  quite  authorized  to 
prist,  wUl  amount  to  an  immediate  command  of 
MUO ;  and  to  this  we  may  couple  the  condition, 
dAt  they  must  take  £600  or  £^00  gf  the  old  stock. 
I  own  I  am  not  solicitous  to  deal  with  Constable 
alone,  nor  am  I  at  all  bound  to  offer  him  the  new 
novel  on  any  terms;  but  he,  ki^owing  of  the  inten- 
tian,  roa^r  expect  to  be  treated  with  at  least,  although 
it  is  poasible  we  may  not  deal.  However,  if  Murray 
aad  Blackwood  were  to  come  forwaia  with  any 
handsome  proposal  as  to  the  stock,  I  should  certain- 
hr  have  no  objection  to  James's  giving  the  pledge  of 
the  Author  of  W.  for  his  next  work.  You  are  like 
the  crane  in  the  fisible.  when  you  boast  of  not  having 
got  any  thing  from  the  busmess ;  you  may  thank 
God  that  it  did  not  bite  your  head  off.  Would  to 
<3od  I  were  at  let-a-be  for  let-a-be  r-hut  you  have 
done  yoor  best,  and  so  must  I.    Yours  truly, 

W.  S." 

Both  Mr.  Murray,  and  Longman's  partner,  Mr. 
Bees,  were  in  Scotland  about  this  time:  and  the 
former  at  least  paid  Scott  a  visit  at  Abbotsford. 
Of  course,  however,  whatever  propositions  they 
may  have  made,  were  received  by  one  or  other  of 
the  BaUantynes.  The  result  was  that  the  house  of 
Longman  undertook  Ghry  Mannenng  on  the4erm8 
dictated  by  Scott—namely,  granting  bills  for  MboOj 
and  relieving  John  Ballantyne  and  Company  of 
stock  to  the  extent  of  £800  more ;  and  Constable's 
firat  information  of  the  transaction  was  from  Messrs. 
Longman  themselves,  when  they,  in  compliance 
•vitb  Scott's  wish  as  si^ified  in  the  let(er  last  quot- 
ed, offered  him  a  share  m  the  edition  which  they  had 
I  urchased.  With  one  or  two  exceptiona,  originating 
la  drcimistences  nearly  similar,  tne  house  of  Con- 
mable  published  all  the  subsequent  series  of  the 
Wavcrley  Novels. 

I  must  not.  however,  forget  that  Tlu  Lord  of  the 
ble»  was  published  a  month  before  Guy  Manner- 
ing.  *Vkke  poem  was  received  with  an  interest  much 
heightenea  by  the  recent  and  growing  success  of  the 
mvsterious  Waverley.  Its  appearance,  so  rapidly 
following  that  novel  and  accompanied  with  th^  an- 
nouncement of  another  prose  tale,  just  about  to  be 
published,  by  the  same  hand,  puzzled  and  confound- 
ed the  mob  of  dulaeas.*  The  more  sagacious  few 
said  to  themselves— Scott  is  making  one  serious 

*  J6ba  BallanOpe  put  forth  the  feUouin;  poiafraph  in  the 
8eo(a  Maiaxtne  of  December,  1814  :— 

•  Mr.  Beott'i  poem  of  the  Lord  of  the  Wet  will  appear  early  in 
Jaooary.  The  Author  of  WavpHc jr  is  afxmt  to  ^muae  the  public 
vili  a  new  novel  in  three  vohinier,  catitled  Our  Mannering." 

31        V 


efibrt  more  m  his  old  kne,  andbr  this  it  wiU  be  de- 
termined whether  he  does  or  does  not  altogether 
renounce  that  for  his  new  one. 

The  Edinburgh  Review  on  the  Lord  of  the  Isles 
begins  with— 

♦^  Here  ia  another  genuine  Lay  of  the  Great  Mlnatrel,  ' 
with  atl  his  characteristic  faults,  beauties,  and  irregulari- 
ties. The  same  flovr  of  colourin}?— the  same  energy  of 
narration— the  aame  ampfitude  of  description  are  conspi- 
cuous—with the  aame  atill  more  characteristic  disdain  of 
ptuiy  gracea  and  small  origlnalltiea— the  true  poetical  liar- 
dihood,  in  the  atrenfth  of  which  he  urges  on  hia  Pegaaua 
fearlessly  through  dense  and  rare,  aad  aiming  gallantly 
at  the  great  enda  of  truth  and  effect,  at  oops  but  rarely  to 
study  the  means  by  which  they  are  to  be  attained ;  avails 
himself  without  scruple  of  common  sentiments  and  com- 
mon images  wherever  thev  seem  fitted  Tor  hia  pur^iose ; 
and  is  ordinal  by  the  very  boldness  of  his  borrowing,  and 
imj^resaive  by  hia  disregard  of  epigram  and  emphasis." 

The  conclusion  of  the  contemporaneous  article  in 
the  Ciuarlerly  Review,  is  as  follows : 

^  The  many  beautiftil  passages  which  we  have  extract- 
ed from  the  poem,  combined  with  the  brief  remarks  sub- 
joined to  each  canto,  will  aufflclently  ahow,  that  although 
the  Lord  of  the  lalea  la  not  likely  to  add  very  much  to  the 
repotatlon  of  Mr.  Scott,  yet  this  muat  be  iroputed  rather 
to  the  greatneas  of  hia  previoua  reputation,  than  to  the 
absolute  inferiority  of  the  poem  itself.  Unfortunately,  iu 
merita  are  merely  incidental,  while  ita  defecta  are  mixed 
up  with  the  very  elements  of  the  poem.  But  it  is  not  in 
the  power  of  Mr.  Scoa  to  write  with  lameness  ;  be  the 
Bubject  what  it  will,  (artd  he  could  not  easily  have  chosen 
one  mori  Impracticable,)  he  impreaaea  uiion  whatever 
sCeneahe  deacribeaso  much  movement  ana  activity,— -he 
inftnea  into  hia  narrative  auch  a  flow  of  Ufe,  and,  if  we 
may  sa  nxprp*?  ouraebei,  of  anhnal  apirita,  that  without 

aa u r< ] y  I z b ■:  Li i Uu  tent,  or  moving  the  teelinga.  orelevat- 

1%;  'tie  puiiiil,  ..r  '  ^  -jn  very  greatly  imef  eating  the  curiosi- 
ty, ha  i&  ab\&  lu  ^-ise  upon,  and,  as  ii  were,  exhilarate 
th'  ;jiKaglnaUOo  of  bis  readers,  in  a  manner  which  is  often 
tr iJ y  \umic ovLntah I 'i.  This  quality  Mr.  Beou  possesses  in 
an  fj.lnilf.ihlr  iTrt'pe;  and  supposing  that  he  had  no  other 
otj^Tt  in  vu  w  thnu  to  convince  the  world  of  the  great 
p<  ii  ill  j  riu  [  -  vih  which  he  ia  gifted,  the  poem  before 
ui>  ^»»u  ..^<i  HiM*3  •ufAclent  fo/hia  puri)oae.  Bat  thia  ta 
of  very  hiferior  inqwrtance  to  the  public ;  what  they  want 
ia  agood  poem,  and,  as  experience  has  ahown,  thia  can  , 
ofUy  be  conatructed  upon  a  aolid  foundation  of  taa^  and 
JVOgment,  and  medlt^n." 

These  paaaage  appear  to  me  to  condense  the  result 
of  deliberate  and'candid  reflection,  and  I  have  there- 
fore quoted  th^m^  The  most  important  remarks 
of  either  Eaaayist  on  the  details  of  the  plot  and  exe- 
cution are  annexed  to  the  last  edition  of  the  poem ; 
and  show  such  an  exact  coincidence  of  judgment 
in  two  masters  of  their  calling,  as  had  not  hitherto 
been  exemplified  in  the  profeasional  criticism  of  his 
metrical  romances.  The  defects  which  both  point 
out,  are,  I  presume,  but  too  completely  explained  by 
the  preceding  statement  of  the  rapidity  with  which 
this,  the  last  of  those  great  performances,  had  been 
thrown  off;  nor  do  I  see  that  either  Reviewer  has 
failed  to  do  sufficient  justice  to  the  beauties  which 
redeem  the  imperfections  of  the  Lord  of  the  Isles— 
except  as  regards  the  whole  character  of  Bruce,  its 
real  hero,  and  the  picture  of  the  Battle  of  Bannock- 
bum,  which,  now  that  one  can  compare  these  works 
from,  something  like  the  same  pojnt  of  view,  does 
not  appear  to  ihe  in  the  slightest  particular  inferior 
to  the  Flodden  of  Marmion. 
'  This  poem  is  now,  I  believe,  about  as  popular  as' 
Rokeby ;  but  it  has  never  reached  the  same  station 
in  general  favour  with  the  Lay,  Marmion,  or  the  Lady 
of  the  Lake.  The  first  edition  of  1800  copies  in 
quarto,  was,  however,  rapidly  disposed  o£  and  the 
separate  editions  in  8vo,  whi6h  ensued  nefore  his 
poetical  works  were  collected,  amounted  together  to 
12,250  copies.  This,  in  the  case  of  almost  any  other 
author,  would  have  been  splendid  success ;  but  as 
compared  with  what  he  had  previously  experienced* 
even  in  his  Rokeby,  and  still  more  so,  as  compared 
with  the  enormous  circulation  at  once  attained  by 
Lord  Byron's  early  tales,  which  were  then  followiiig 
'  each  other  in  almost  breathless  succession,  the  fell 
ing  off  was  decided.  One  evening,  some  davs  after 
1  the  poem  had  been  published,  Scott  (^^^'^^(j^PM 


LIFK  OF  SIR  WALTER  SOOTT, 


BtUantyae  to  call  on  himi  and  the  Printer  found 
him  alone  in  his  library,  working  at  the  thinl  volume 
of  Guy  Mannering.  I  give  what  follows,  from  Bal- 
lantyne'a  Memoranda:— ^"^ '  Well,  James,'  he  said, 

•  I  have  given  you  a  week— what  are  people  saying 
about  the  Lord  of  the  Isles?'  I  hesitated  a  little  af- 
ter the  fkshion  of  Gil  Bias,  but  he  speedily  brought 
the  matter  to  a  point.  *  Come,'  he  said,  *  speak 
ODt,  my  good  fellow ;  what  has  put  it  into  your  head 
lo  be  on  so  much  ceremony  wUh  me  all  of  a  sudden  1 
But,  I  see  how  it  is.  the  result  is  given  in  one  word 
—Disappointment/  My  silence  admitted  his  infer- 
ence to  the  fullest  extent.  His  countenance  per- 
tainly  did  look  rather  blank  for  a  few  seconds ;  in 
truth,  he  had  been  wholly  unprepared  for  the  event ; 
for  it  is  a  singular  fact,  that  before  the  public,  or  ra- 
ther the  booksellers,  had  given  their  decision,  he  no 
more  knew  whether  he  had  written  well  or  ill,  thpn 
whether  a  die  thrown  out  of  a  box  was  to  turn  up 
a  sise  or  an  ace.  However,  he  instantly  resumed 
his  spirits,  and  expressed  his  wonder  rather  that  his 
poetical  popularity  should  have  lasted  so  long,  than 
that  it  should  have  now  at  last  given  wav.  At 
lenstlh  he  said,  with  perfect  cheeruilness,  '^Well,- 
well,  James,  so  be  it— but  you  know  we  must  not 
droop,  for  we  can't  afford  to  ^e  over.  Since  one 
line  has  failed^  we  must  just  suck  to  something  else.** 
—and  so  he  dismissed  me,  and  resumed  his  novel." 

Ballaotyne  concludes  the  anecdote  in  these  words : 
— "  He  spoke  thus,  probably  unaware  of  the  undia- 
ooTered  wonders  then  slumSering  in  his  mind.  Yet 
still  he  could  not  hot  have  felt  that  the  pr^^uction 
of  a  few  poems  was  nothing  in  oompariaon  of  what 
mast  be  m  reserve  for  him,  for  he  was  at  this  time 
aearoeJy  more  than  forty.*  An  evening  or  two  aAer, 
I  called  again  on  him,  and  found  on  the  table  a  copy 
of  the  Giaour,  which  he  seemed  to  have  been  reading. 
Having  an  enthasiastic  young  lady  in  my  houae,  I 
aaked  him  if  I  might  carry  the  book  home  with  me, 
but  chancing  to  glance  on  the  autograph  blason,  *  7\> 
ttu  Monarch  ^  PamcustUt  from  one  qfhxt  mb' 
ioctSf  inatantly  retracted  my  request,  and  said  I  had 
not  observed  Lord  Byron'a  inacnption  before.  '  What 
inscription  V  said  he;  'O  yea,  I  had  forgot,  but  in- 
scription or  no  inacription,  you  are  equally  welcome.' 
I  again  took  it  up,  and  he  continued,  *  Jamea,  Byron 
hits  the  mark  where  I  don't  even  pretend  to  fledge 
my  arrow.'  At  this  time  he  had  never  aeen  Byron, 
but  1  knew  he  ineant  soon  lo  be  in  London,  when, 
no  doubt,  the  mighty  consummation  of  the  meetioA 
of  the  two  bards  would  be  acoomphahed ;  (^d  1 
featured  to  say  that  he  must  be  looking  forward  to 
it  with  some  interest.  His  countenance  became 
fixed,  and  he  answered  impressively,  *  O,  of  courses' 
In  a  minute  or  two  afterwards  he  rose  from  his 
chair,  paced  the  room  at  a  very  rapid  rate,  which 
was  nis  practice  in  certain  moods  of  mindi  tmn 
made  a  dead  halt,  and  bnrstfng  into  an  extravaganza 
of  laughter.  *  James,'  cried  he,  '  I'll  tell  you  what 
Byron  should  say  to  me  when  wo  are. about  to  ac- 
cost each  other  ^ 

*  Art  thou  the  man  whom  men  famed  Chrizzle  call  1" 

*  And  then  how  germane  would  be  my  answer— 

"  Art  thou  the  mill  more  famed  Tom  Thumb  the 
amaUl" 

*'  This,"  says  the  printer^  "  is  a  specimen  of  his 
peculiar  humou^  :  it  kept  him  full  of  mirth  for  the 
rest  of  the  evening." 

The  whole,  of  the  scene  strikes  me  as  equally  and 
delightfully  characteristic ;  I  mav  add.  hardly  more 
so  of  Scott  than  of  his  printer;  for  Ballantyne,  with 
all  his  profound  worship  of  his  friend  and  benefac- 
tor, was  in  truth,  even  more  than  he,  an  undoubt- 
ing  acquiescer  in  *'  the  decision  of  the  public,  or  ra- 
ther of  the  booksellers ;"  and  among  tne  many  ab- 
surdities into  which  his  reverence  for  the  popedom 
of  Paternoster  Row  led  him,  I  noypr  could  but  con- 
aider,  with  special  astonishment',  the  facility  with 
which  he  seemed  to  have  adopted  the  notion  that 
Uie  Byron  of  1814  was  really  entitled  to  supplant 
Scott  as  a  popular  poet  Appreciating,  as  a  man  of 
hia  talents  could  hardly  fall  to  do,  the  splendidly 
•  Be  WW  Boi  lbrtr-fc«r  tiU  Ai«ait.  isift. 


original  glow  and  depth  of  ChOda  Harold,  lit  alwnv 
u>poarea  to  me  quite  blind  to  the  fact  that  in  tao 
Giaour^  in  the  Bride  of  Abydoa,  in  Parisma,  and,  in- 
deed, in  all  his  early  serious  narrativea,  Byron  ovrod 
at  least  half  hTs  success  to  clever,  though  perhaps 
unconscious  imitation  of  Scott,  and  no  trivial  share 
of  the  rest  to  the  lavish  use  of  materials  which  Stoott 
never  employed,  only  because  his  genius  was,  from 
the  beginning  to  the  end  of  his  career,  under  the 
guidance  of  high  and  chivalrous  feelings  of  moral 
rectitude.  All  this  Lord  Byron  himself  seems  to 
have  felt  most  completely— as  witness  the  whole 
sequence  of  his  Letters  and  diaries  ;*  and  I  think  I 
see  many  symptoms  that  both  the  deciaion  of  the 
million,  and  its  index,  "  the  decision  of  the  book- 
sellers,'' tend  the  same  way  at  present ;  but  my  bu- 
siness is  to  record,  as  far  as  my  means  mav  permit, 
the  growth  and  structure  of  one  great  mioti,  and  the 
efiect  which  it  produced  upon  the  actual  witnesses  o£ 
its  manifestations,  not  to  obtrude  the  conjectures  of 
a  partial  individual  aa  to  what  rank  poaterity  may 
assign  it  amongst  or  above  contemporary  rivals. 

The  following  letter  was  addressed  to  Lord  Byron 
on  the  receipt  of  that  copy  of  the  Giaour  to  wnick 
Mr.  Ballantyne's  Memorandum  refers:  I  briiere 
the  inscription  to  Scott  first  appeared  on  the  ninth 
edition  of  the  poem. 

To  the  flight  Bon.  Lord  Bjfron^  London. 
"MyLoTd, 

^  I  have  long  owed  vou  my  best  thanks  for  the  od- 
eonunonjdeaaure  I_hfld  In pemsing  your"*^      """    " 


Torkiah  fragmeat.  But  I  liioald  hax^y  have  veatdred  te 
offer  them,  weU<kiiowliig  how  you  mtist  be  overwhelmed 
by  volunteer  intmsfoos  of  approbation— <wliich  alweya 
look  as  if  the  writer  valued  hla  opinion  at  fullv  more  thaa 
k  may  be  worth)— unless  I  had  to-day  learned  that  I  ha:ve 
an  apology  for  entering  upon  the  subject,  from  your  bar- 
ing so  kmdly  sent  me  a  copy  of  the  poeoL  1  (fid  not  r^ 
cMve  it  Sooner,  owinc  to  my  absence'  from  Edbiburgli, 
where  it  had  been  lymg  quietly  at  ray  houae  la  Caada 
Street :  eo  that  I  moat  have  aeemed  ungratefol,  when,  fea 
truth,  I  waa  only  modest  The  last  offence  may  be  Mr- 
given,  as  not  oommon  in  a  lawyer  and  poet ;  the  ^rst  is 
said  to  be  equal  lo  the  crime  or  witchcraft,  but  maay  aa 
act  of  my  life  baa  shown  that  I  am  no  conjurer.    If  I  were, 

hO'STf TIT,  f'?!!  JUm-^S  11  --^--    -..    _    .    -    ---  -     - 

teri'tiJj''''-  .ir  \Ui-  l..,^r 

BCri|»(hiin  VV^'Mji^iiJ  <r\i<ii 
Ilnr^]||.^l|.U'.-,|.   \n\^\- 

•0[if'iriiL-j>  ..n  r;ir?ia 
tDii-n  L  L  't  t ,  fi  I  r  I  ^  1 1 1  .  e  v 

aa  I  1-1,!  i.ii.Li-.'.l.  1..1  . 


ore  modest  than  twenty  years' at- 

<  rulers  probable,  your  dattering  in- 

iji'i  of  so  unAwhionable  a  malady. 

ridivehad  a  legal  title  fo  as  much 

uri  aa  can  be  conferred  by  ssIkb- 


fliutettag  offer  of  the  laurel,  1 
<sat  many  reason8.to  decline  k,  I 

an  I  41  IT'      Mm     m:      1    .mas of  any  other  title  to  ait  high 

**  To  return  to  the  Giaour ;  I  had  lent  my  first  ediUon, 
but  the  whole  being  hnprinted  in  my  memory,  I  had  no 
difficulty  In  tracing  Uie  additions,  which  arc  great  improve- 
ments, ai  I  should  have  conjectured  aforehand  merely 
from  their  being  additiona.  I  hope  your  lordship  intends 
to  proceed  with  this  iaacinating  style  of  composiijoo.  Toa 
have  access  to  a  acream  of  sentiments,  imagery,  and  nae- 
ners,  which  are  ^>  httle  known  to  ua  aa  to  convey  ail  the 
interest  of  novelty,  yet  so  endeared  to  ua  by  the  early  pe* 
rusal  of  Eastern  iues,  that  we  are  not  embarrassed  witk 
uuer  ignorance  upon  the  aubjecL  Vathek,  bating  some 
passages,  would  have  made  a  charmlnf  subject  for  a  tale. 
The  concluaion  is  truly  grand.  I  would  give  a  great  deal 
to  kno^  thie  orixlnals  from  which  it  waa  drawn.  Excuse 
this  hasty  scrawl,  and  believe  me,  my  k>rd,  your  lordship's 
much  obliged,  very  humble  servant, 

WALTBa  SOOVT." 

If  Januarv  brought  the  writer  of  this  letter  "  disap- 
pointment,''  there  was  abundant  consolation  in  store 
tor  February,  1815.  Guy  Mannering  waa  receiTed 
with  eager  curiosity,  and  pronounced  by  acclamaoon 
fully  worthy  to  share  the  honours  of  waverley.  The 
easy  transparent  flow  of  its  style:  the  beautifift 
simplicity,  and  here  and  there  the  wild  solemn  mag- 

*E.a."  If  they  want  to  dapoae  SooO.  I  only  wish  they  would 
not  set  me  up  aa  a  eompetitor.  I  like  the  man— and  aamire  kw 
works  to  what  Mr.  Braham  calk  Bnttuvmuty.   M  such  atnff 


«ui  oaij  vex  faiai,' and  do  me  no  good."-^rifMiN,  (ISIS  J  voL  U.  pk 

»ttisoeilaioiythemostwonderfiilwritsrof  tbedajr.  His 
aie  a  new  liteiatare  in  ffiemsehrei,  and  his  poetiy  aa  food 
'—if  not  better— (onlr  on  an  enoosous  sTstemJ-^ad  oaly 
..,  .^ .-_  L the vdaar  learned  wets  tirad  o# 


esileddie  Just* anS^cott the  Best. and ailnk> 
(USl,)  vol  V.  |».7t 

■  Digitized  by  V^OOQ IC 


Soottis 

eki 
asanr- 
osaseil-. 
hNuinf ' 


LIFE  OF  sm  WALTER  SCOTT. 


Mi 


sifioence  of  itsaketcbes  of  scenery;  the  rapid,  ever- 
*^  -  htening  inlenst  of  the  narrative ;,  the  UDaiiected 


of  £9eJing,  the  manly  purity/  of  thoughtj 

erery  where  minglea  with  a  sentle  humour  and  a 
homely  sagacity ;  but  above  all,  the  rich  variety  and 
flkiiliil  contrast  of  characters  and  manners,  at  once 
fresh  in  fiction  «and  stamped  with  the  untorgeable 
seal  of  truth  and  nature :  these  were  charms  that 
spoke  to  every  heart  and  mind ;  and  the  few  mur- 
murs of  pedantic  criticism  were  lost  in  the  voice  of 
gsneral  delight,  wjiich  never  fails  to  welcome  the  in- 
vention that  introduces  to  the  sympathy  of  imagi- 
nation a  new  group  of  immortal  realities. 

The  earlier  chapters  of  the  present  narrative  have 
anticiiwrted  mucn-  of  what  I  mighty  perhaps  with 
better  judgment^  have  reserved  for  this  page.  Taken 
together  with  the  author's  introduction  and  notes, 
those  anecdotes  of  his  davs  of  youthful  wandering 
must,  however,  have  enabled  the  reader  to  trace  al- 
most as  mkiutelv  as  he  could  wish,  the  sources  from 
which  the  novelist  drew  hie  materials,  both  of  sce- 
nery and  character;  and  Mr.  Tram's  Dtgrham  €far- 
imdt  which  I  insert  at  the  close  of  this  chapter, 
exhaasts  tny  information  concerning  the  humble 
groundwork  on  which  iancy  reared  this  delicious 
romance. 

The  first  edition  was,  like  that  of  Waverley,  in 
three  httie  volumes,  with  a  humility  of  paper  and 
piinting  which  the  meanest  novelist  would  now  dis- 
dain to  imitate;  the  price  a  guinea.  TheMOe  copies 
of  which  it  consisted  were  sold  the  day  alter  the 
pdbhcation ;  and  within  three  months  came  &  se- 
esod  and  a  third  impression,  making  together  6000 
eociies  more.  The  sala  before  those  novels  bcjgan 
to  be  oolleeted,  had  reached  nearly  10,000 ;  and  smcs 
tl^cii  (to  say  nothing  of  fordgn  reprints  of  the  text. 
and  myriads  of  iraJiglaiions  hua  i.'ver\'  tannin.'  m 
EBIope)  the  da  meat  ic  ^aU-  hn^  eh  noun  led  uy  rjCuHXi. 

0n  the  rising  of  the  Coun  of  StfiSJon  in  Mjirch, 
.Hr.  sod  Mrs.  $ci>tt  vi-^ni  by  sea  to  London  with 
thrsir eldest  pirj,  whom,  hfing  ^'(^t  Uto  yvuui:  ("T  :.re- 
sersi  society,  th<]y  a^mn  deposited  with  J  il- 

ije  at  ilempflteafl.  whik  they  t htm fteh  d, 

fof  two  njoBth^t  their  usual  quiii-ters  ai  ..i;.  .  ji.wB 
On  morgue' 9,  m  PicraLclilly.  Six  years  had  tli^p»ed 
fimc^  Scoti  \a»i  appearen  in  the  metropolis ;  nad 
brilliant  as  hb  reoet^lion  bad  then  been,  ii  wna  sull 
more  HO  on  the  prest^ni  occasion  ScoHond  had 
b^cQ  visited  in  the  itiienm,  chieliy  from  iht^  int^rtst 
excitfd  hy  bifi  writirif^i*,  Ijjr  crovvdii  of  the  Eniziiih 
itohiiityt  most  of  whom  had  found  mtTOtlut-'nur]  to 
LisperMna)  ac<jnaintance— not  a  few  had  pnrtiiken 
of  his  hospitals  jf  at  A»hcatiel  or  Abboisfurd-  The 
£:<^TrcrBfiori  among  Mi'hom,  1  presumeT,  a  geniua  of 
thia  ordtr feele  hia  own  inllumice  with  the  prisudest 
and  awr>etc*t  €on5dGnce — on  whos*;  fre^^h  tiuO'iIs  ^nid 
tmre  he  has  himatlf  made  thw  first  indehbloimiirts- 
mi>nB — the  generation  with  whose  enHkat  rnrrkJiJiBe 
of  the  hc^rt  sn4  fatvcy  his  idea  had  heeji  hltnhd. 
wflfl  now  grown  tm  the  fut!  fttfjturp ;  th**  ^iirt"!-  ■  'M 
thef^  rc":con-  '  "'"■■*■  ;   i  *     .i         .     ^^ 

of  evOTy  C'jn\-  b-.'i     Mi,  i;:i:i,  '■■{':'.  ;•  ..,,,?  ■_;  ■[  not 

doubt  tneir  parentage,  fieu'nioreih^n  counterweighed 
his  declination,  dubious  after  all,  m  the  poetical  ba- 
lance :  while  the  mystery  that  hun^  over  them  quick- 
eftedtthe  coriositv  of  the  hesitatmg  and  cooiectur- 
,  ing  many— and  the  name  on  which  ever  ana  anon 
some  new  circumstance  accumidated  stronger  sus- 
nicion,  loomed  larger  through  the  haze  in  which  he 
had  thought  fit  to  envelope  it.  Moreover,  this  was^ 
period  oihigh  national  pride  and  excitement. 

**  O  wbo,  tliat  ahared  them,  ev«r  shaU  forget 
The  emodooa  of  the  ■pirit-roiulng  time, 
When  breathlen  in  the  mart  the  couriera  met, 
Eariy  and  late,  at  evening  and  at  prime ; 
When  the  loud  cannon  and  the  merrv  chime 
*     BalFd  news  on  news,  aa  field  on  field  was  won, 

When  Hope,  long  doubtful,  soared  at  length  sublime, 
And  oar  glad  eyes,  awake  as  day  begun, 
Watch'd  ioy^  broed  banner  rise,  to  meet  the  rising  son  T 

*'0  these  were  hours,  when  thrilling  loynptid  , 
A  loof,  long  coarse  oi  darkness,  douhLs,  and  fearsi 
The  h•ar^slck  faintnesa  of  the  hope  delayed, 
The  waste,  the  wo,  the  bloodshed,  aqd  the  tears. 


That  tracked  with  terror  twenty  rolling  years— 

All  was  forgot  in  that  bUthe  jubilee. 

Her  downcast  ere  even  pale  AfiUction  rears, 

To  sigh  a  thankful  prayer,  amid  the  glee 
That  hailed  the  Despot's  (all,  and  peace  and  liberty  I"* 

At  such  a  time,  Prince  luid  people  were  well -pre- 
pared to  hail  him  who,  more  perhaps  than  any  other 
master  of  the  pen,  had  contributed  to  sustain  the 
spirit  of  England  throughout  the  struggle  which 
was  as  yet  siipposed  to  have  been  terminated  on  the 
field  of  Thoufouse.  "  Thank  Heaven  you  are  com- 
ing at  last"— Joanna  BailLie  had  written  a  month  or 
two  before—"  Make  up  your  mind  to  be  stared  at 
only  a  little  less  than  the  Cxar  of  MuScovy,  or  oki 
Blucher." 

And  now  took  place  James  Ballanty^s  "  mighty 
consummation  of  the  meeting  of  the  two  bards.*^ 
Scott's  own  account  of  it,  in  a  letter  to  Mr.  Moor& 
must  be  in  the  hands  of  most  of  my  readers  $  yet  I 
think  it  ought  also  to  find  a  place  here.  "  It  was" 
(says  Scott)  "in  the  spring  of  1$15  that,  chancing 
to  be  in  London,  I  had  the  i^dvantage  of  a  personal 
introduction  to  Lord  Byron.  Report  liad  prepared 
me  to  meet  a  man  of  peculiar  habits  and  a  quick 
temner,  and  I  had  some  doubts  whetber  we  were 
likely  to  suit  each  other  in  society.  I  was  most 
agreeably  disappointed  in  this  respect.  I  found 
Lord  Byron  in  the*  highest  degree  courteous,  and 
even  kind.  We  met  for  an  hour  or  twoL  almost  dai- 
Iv,  in  Mr.  Miura/s  drawing-room,  and  round  a  great 
deal  to  say  to  each  other.  We  also  met  frequently 
in  parties  and  evening  society,  so  that  for  about  twe 
nionths  I  had  the  advantage  of  a  considerabie  inti 
macy  with  this  distinguished  individual.  Our  sentt  • 
ments  agreed  a  good  deal,  e^oept  npon  the  subject 
of  reli0(»n  and  poUtics,  upon  neither  of  which  I  Wa 
mclinea  to  befieve  that  Lord  Byron  entertained  vert 
fixed  epinions.  I  remember  saying  to  him,  that  * 
really  thought  that  if  he  fived  a  few  years  he  wonlci 
alter  his  sentiments.  He  answered,  rather  shaiply. 
*  I  soppose  yon  are  one  of  those  who  proohesy  I  shall 
tarn  Methodist.'  I  repUed.  *No-^I  don't  expect 
yonr  conversion  to  be  of  such  an  ordinary  kind.  I 
would  rather  look  to  see  you  retreat  upon  the  Oa« 
tholic  faith,  and  distinguish  yourself  bv  the  anste- 
rity  of  your  penances.  The  species  of  religion  to 
which  you  must,  or  may,  one  day  attach  yonrselC 
mtist  exercise  a  strong  power  on  the  hnagmation.' 
He  smiled  gravely,  and  seemed  to  allow  I  might  bo 
right. 

^*  On  politics,  he  used  sometimes  to  express  a  hig|i 
strain  of  what  is  now  called  Liberalism  t  but  it  ap;' 
peered  to  me  that  the  pleasure  it  afforded  him,  as  k 
vehicle  for  displaying  his  wit  and  satire  against  in- 
dividuals in  omce,  was  at  the  bottom  of  this  habit 
of  thinking^  rather  than  any  real  convjctkin  of  the  . 
political  principles  on  which  he  talked.  He  wSs 
certainly  prona  of  his  rank  and  ancient  family,  and, 
in  that  respect,  as  much  an  aristocrat  ss  was  con- 
sistent with  good  sefise  and  good  breeding.  Some 
disgusts,  how  adopted  I  know  noj^  seemed  to  me  to 
have  given  this  peculiar  (and,  as  it  appeared  to  me) 
contradictory  cast  of  roind^  but,  at  heart  I  wotdd 
have  termed  Byron  a  patrician  on  principle. 

"  Lord  Byron's  reading  did  not  seem  to  me  to 
have  been  very  extensive  either  in  poetry  or  history. 
Having  the  advantage  of  him  m  that  respect,  and 
possessing  a  good  competent  share  of  such  reading 
as  is  little  read,  1  was  sometimes  able  to  put  under 
his  eye  objects  which  had  for  him  the  interest  of 
novelty.  I  remember  particulariy  repeating  to  him 
the  fine  poem  of  Hardyknute.  an  imitation -of  the 
old  Scottish  ballad,  with  which  he  was  so  much  af- 
fected, that  some  one  who  was  in  the  same  apart- 
ment asked  me  what  I  could  possibly  have  oeen 
telling  Byron  by  which  he  was  so  much  agitated. 

I  saw  Byron  for  the  last  time  in  1816,  after  I  re- 
turned from  France.  He  dined,  or  lunched,  with 
me  at  Long's,  in  Bond  Street  l  never  saw  him  so 
fullof  gayetyandffood-humonr,  to  which  the  pre-  * 
aence  of  Mr.  Mathews,  the  comedian,  added  not  a 
httle.  Poor  Terry  was  also  present  After  one  of 
the  gayest  parties  I  ever  was  present  ^VmMff^ 


■  Loid  eTths  Isiss,  Camo  vi  L 


»Wc 


LIFE  OF  SIR  WAWEa  SCOTT. 


tfav£iU«nBIr,  Scoti  of  Gda,  and  I,  aetoff  for  Scot- 
land,  ana  I  ne\^er  saw  Lord  Byron  ^ain.  So^^ral 
ktlora  passed  balweea  as— one  perbaps  civery  Jm3/ 
/eAr.  Like  tbcold4iero&3  in  Homeft  we  cxcbau^ed 
Kifr5.  I  t^ve  flyron  a  l^c^iimifiil  dagger  mounted  with 
cold^wbicU  lifui  bcc^n  ttic^  ptopi^rty  of  ifie  rcdouhtix] 
Klfi  UcY-  Lbt  I  wiie  to  play  tlic  part  <if  Dionied  in 
the  JliajJ,  Cur  Byron  sent  mt\  so  mi?  time  nfttr>  ^i  hrae 
s^^ulchniL  vaad  <:»r  silver  It  was  full  of  dehd  men  a 
bppes,  and  hod  inscriptions  on  two  ^idtsfiofihe  Ijus^.^ 
On0  rnn  ilia^:— *The  boncfl  crjiiiajned  in  thi$  um 
vrsT^  found  in  ^finaiii  ancient  sepulchr*^^  witliin  th« 
\m\R  \*'alb  of  Athene,  in  the  niontli  of  Felvuary, 
Ibtl/  The  mher  ^cd  baa ra  the  lineaof  JuvenfU- 
^^xpfHiie — 'juot  lihrUJi  in  dace  jrummo  iM^eaicj  ? 
-^M&FB  aala  /aidur  qimni\iia  sini  hQmimtm  ij^ftr- 

^'To  tbe«(<  1  htv(3  Added  a  ihtrd  in,4criptton.  m 
xheee  words— *  Tiif  Rift  of  Lord  Hyron  to  Wfdier 
ScotL'*  Thsre  was  a  hmi  wiih  iJiia  vase,  moro 
valuabl(^  ia  m&  than  the  icd't  ii^lf,  from  tbe  kind- 
ntiss  with  wbidi  the  donor  expressed  Uiinsflf  to- 
wa^tds  me.  I  loft  it  namrally  in  th<p  urit  ^ith  tU^ 
bon^ia  J  but  it  is  now  miesmg.  As  the  theft  waa  not 
of  n  nature  to  be  prmMiaed  by  a  mtto  danii^siic,  I  am 
eornpeU^  to  anspect  ibc  innnapitatuy  of  iiome  indi-' 
vidurtfof  bigher  station,  moflt  pratuitoualy  exercised 
cQrtaint^t  ai[}«^  after  what  I  tinvii  here  i^nidi  tio  one 
Will  prubttbly  cliooBC  to  boast  of  posseesing  thia  li- 
tGrary  ciinowty. 

^*  We  had  a  f{ood  deal  of  lough ttig^  I  remf  mbetf 
on  what  the.  pubhc  mi^iii  he  auppqsed  to  thinjz,  or 
say,  concerning  ibe  gLootny  and  omjnoaa  nature  of 
ourintjtual  Rifi«, 

"I  tbinli  I  can  add  bttle  mote  to  my  reeoUections 
of  Byron..  He  woa  ohm  tn^danc ntdy  — almost 
Ktoomy*  When  1  observed  bim  in  tiiia  humoUTi  I 
ufh^  either  to  wau  tdl  it  went  olf  of itaowu  accord,  or 
till  same  natural  and  easy  mode  occurred  of  leadjng 
him  into  con  versa  tiort,  when  the  nJiadowfj  almost 
always  left  his  oountenaneei  liketbeml^t  ri^gfrotn 
a  1  a  na^ca^>e.  I  n  conversation  h  i?  w  a^  v  ery  animn  ted . 

*'  1  met  With  Jiim  very  frequintly  m  society:  our 
mutual  aoiuaintances  doixig  me  the  honour  to  think 
thut  bo  liked  li:i  meet  with  tne*  Some  very  a^ree- 
abjc  parfifis  I  t^an  rt^cotlect— panicnlarJy  one  at  Sir 
Ottirge  Beau tnont'fi-^ where  the  amiabl^^  landlord 
had  aieieciiibled  aomc  person i  distingtiisht^  for  ta- 
letJt-  Of  these  I  need  onlv  mention  the  laie  Sir 
Humpbrv  Davy,  whose  iaienta  for  litem  ture  wore 
aa  rsitiaj  kablo  as  his  empire  over  setence.  Mr*  Ri- 
chard Sharpeond  Mr»  RoEers  wore  also  presont, 

^*I  thmk  I  alaa  ramarkcd  in  Byron^s  ietnp<:f  siarta 
of  suspicion,  when  iie  etiemed  to  pause  and  consider 
wbmhtir  thero  had  not  been  a  st^ret,  and  jierbape  of- 
fensive, meaninff  in  S'UDcthin^  casually  said  to  hiiiu 
In  this  cascv  I  also  Judged  itl^est  ta  lei  bis  nuad, 
like  a  tronbted  spring,  work  itself  dear,  which  it 
did  In  a  minute  or  two.  I  wad  considerably  older, 
»  yoii  wdl  rocolleei,  rhan  my  nobla  friend,  and  had  no 
reason  to  fear  bis  raisconstruing  my  seTitimenta  to>- 
wardis  him,  nor  had  J  ever  tiie  aliabtest  roaeon  to 
doubt  that  the?y  were  kindly  rettirnfo  on  hid  part.  If 
1  bud  occasion  to  he  morti6td  by  the  di^r^l^iv  of  ^e^ 
niiifl  which  threw  into  tbi^  shade  such  pretensionsf 
a^  I  was  then  auppofcd  ti3  poE^sfSB,  I  mi^bt  console 
mvaeJf  thai,  in  my  own  cpsttci^  tko  matorials  of  men- 
tal happiness  had  b^an  mingled  m  a  greats  r  iiropur- 
tinn* 

*'•  I  fummage  ti^y  brains  in  vain  for  what  often 
nishesinto  my  hoeid  nnbjiidtju— btile  traits  and  i»ay- 
mgi  whi&h  recall  hialooka,  man  tier,  tom^  and  itfS- 
[.nies;  and  I  have  alwnvi^  continued  to  think  that  a 
crisia  nf  life  was  arrived  in  wbieii  n  nt  w  cari?tr  of 
lam^  was  opened  to  hitn^  and  that  bad  be  b(^ntH;ir- 
mitted  to  atari  tipon  it,  be  wotdd  havt^  obhtefated 

■  M^  Mum^  hnJi  ptttp  jJIam?  nfrlviikR  ihu  ywc.  V;ifcjat«d  lo 
uvd  %iDd,  th^  it  wduki  iqcmwE  tha  vetiw  uf  tl9«*  aA  ifl  »ild 
HHOD  Aiidblinw3i)^lian  ;  tiMt  tm  a^Mt  iw)i?t  nTuvveibd  muilDttljr : -' 

*'  AptiJ  9,  ms. 

iuMfiwyHif  thin  Tftw— wMfh  iir,  thtK  it  wwila  ap^eir  mTffttniiiHit , 
aiimTp4j^  ;  uclgr  o)iin«  I  mtiK  tHii  U  4*  it 


the  mi^morj  of  such  parts  nfhia  life  aa  fdaed^  would 
wish  to  forget/* 

I  bavi'  nothmg  to  add  to  thie  in^ereatinf  ^■'i^saf^c, 
except  tliat  Joanna  Baillic'ii  trnge^iy  i^i'  ^^  ■  F--  "!>' 
t^^end  being  piirform^d  at  one  of  th».  ,t  -  "* 

m;j  Scott's  5  lay  in  low  n^  Lord  Uyr  01  r  .  .4 

rlio  authoress  and  Mr,  and  Bfra»  i^coit  [ci  4'.  jtiit>^ 
(be  rei^resrjijtslion  ^  and  thai  the  v^c  with  ih^  A\- 
lie  bones  ai>peara  lo  have  been  sent  to  Scott  verv 
soon  nfier  his  arrivaJ  in  L(*iidon»  noi,  as  Mr,  Ilfoar« 
bad  gathered  from  the  baaly  dicrion  of  his  '*ll*.*iilj* 


niscfmceSi'*  at  some  "subaetjnenf  period ^oflheir  mi 
quaimanceH''    *"'  —       .. 

fowing  note  ;- 


Tliis  is  anfRc4ently  proV(Mf  by  the  tm* 

Tfj  ^hii  Hiffhi  Hvn&UToifk  Lord  Hyrou^  ^t,  f^ 

"^RccjidiRy,  Moodi/ 
"My  iltar  Lore), 

*'  I  htn  not  a  lU  il4?  Ji4tt^iu^U  of  (he  vala^  of  tht  ihltM  ' 
in  wJiidi  yuur  LordiMp  hai  «ncki««d Hia  AtHt  n^UMwr 
bill  wer«  Ll  yel  more  tc^tly,  the  circun^fltAiice  <!oiUd  jtot 
aid  VftJ'ue  1u  k  in  my  eHtirnotiL^n,  vfUen  f onsiilfiei]  am  « 
pledf«>  of  Vtfur  l^jrddhip'ii  regard  flnd  frjonilihtti-  Tim 
prlncipaj  ph^nsuri;  which  I  liavi-  ikrivtd  fnnou  mf  tueJMU 
Ion  vnih  UUralUFi^i hria  l>C4.'ii,  Uio ^u'Ctids  whkhil luLigfijI 
me  to  lba»ir  whi:  An*  ilStfUniitjL^^hi:!  J  hy  ELl(ft]i4  And  4f  cd^ 

SHflhimmtK;  ftn>l,  6e;mdiLci|;  ho  luiffti  a.-i  your  Lor«laH^|tJ 
CieysUi  that  ituik,  my  ^JtUdrficUoii  iiim^kiT^youf  «Ofl(l' 
antic  htL3  he  till  f  rouorllanally  gi^at     ft  19  f^n*  Of  |1 
w-|»h«i^  whichiaiff^rlijiTtni  hef*n  lona  »nd  eameklf  I 
tained^  I  havQ  fouad  ^oaipletcLy  4Ei^UJgi'>U  upou  t 
parMRiUly  known  lu  ytju  ;  and  [  iruti  you  wiU  | 


LO  profk  by  Lt  frequently,  during,  niy  aiay  lo  lowik    I 
dear  Lord,  your  tral;  ohUied  and  kith  ful 


ciy  ^ 


WiLTi^a  »«n ' 


It  was  akoin  the  aprin^  of  \mo  that  Si^l  had, 
for  the  first  time,  the  honour  of  belnK  prcsmicd  l4» 
the  Pnne4:  RegeiiL  His  Royal  Hi|d^fie«a  bftd  (■« 
has  been  ^^ep  frotn  a  letter  eo  Joantia  Bailltft  tlrc«- 
dy  quotud}  sif^ifiecl.  nmre  than  a  year  tit^fore  \ht$r 
timet,  hi«  wiah  that  me  poet  aht>Dld  revieii  Londori— 
and,  on  reJtdm^  his  Edinburgh  Address  in.  partioulaf,' 
he  said  to  Mr.  Dandas^  that  *'  Waitt  r  SeexfP 
cbannin^  b^bavionr  about  the  Inureaie^btp  Itid 
made  him  doubly  desirous  of  sfi'tn,!:;  him  at  CoMtMi- 
House."  Marc  Intcly^  on  recemni;  a  copy  of  ibeLord 
of  the  liless,  bis  Roy'al  Highness'a  nbrarina  had 
been  eonimanded  to  ^vrite  to  him  in  those  ferms- ; — - 

7'fi  WaltiT  ^YiiU)  i;*^.j  EdiiiiiuTg/i. 

'■'■  t^Krltfin  Hoiiae,  Jtituary  i%  U^i^- 
"  My  deaf  Sir, 

**  Vou  ni*  diiitervrdl^  so  jjfeat  a  fJiv*'  i  ii^#» 

Prtncti  Hf'i^f  at|  nim  IlIj  liLii^iiriaai  la  ncK  4Jh  iti 

rr:tum  you  Uic>  UiBnkn  of  jjii^  Eloyal  fflSLiMiK--  i  -  ■.■  \t 
tu^fic  prest'Utt  but  lo  Ukfonn  you  in*t  the  Piiiicc  Kt^^tit 
parlicijkriy  wleho*  lo  &? e  yon  whtiaevef  yon  ei^n^  l» 
L^mlon  f  aridfIi?t4rc8yoa  w]||  nKvity^,  whrn  youarrtt****. 
come  lm<fhTD  Library  wkien«vf>r  you  ple.&^.  Beflr^r  m*- 
nlwnye^  with  iincerily,  on#  ^f  fOiir  wKrmir«t  a4hiilr4>ni 
oiid  im>st  obllKc^  frlFnik. 

J,  A,  CfJ 


On  bearing  from  Mr.  Croker  ^ihan  Secretary  to 
thb  Admiraliy)  that  Scott  was  to  be  in  town  fiy  ihi* 
middle  of  March,  the  Prinee  said— '*  Lei  nif*  know 
when  be^Domea^and  V\\  ^ei  up  a  enng  htile  miinf'r 
that  will  hM  bim  j"  and,  after  he  had  b^oprenent' 
ed  find  graciously  reeeivod  at  ibe  kr€t,  he  wia  ni 
vpied  lo  dinner  accoidinglyj  ihronirfi  bl^  f3(  'll^  r»: 
friund  Mr.  Adam,  tnow  Lord  Ch!(:'fCo:^f' 
the  Jury  Court  in  Scotland, )  wh^i  at  U: 
a  coufidential  office  in  the  royal  hoti 
Recent  had  consulted  with  Mr.  Adam  ; 
conipaaiiron  nf  Ibe  pnrty.    '*  Let  ns  hi 
^*jusi  a  few  friends  of  hisown^aod  ibf  ■ 
iht-  belter  j"  and  both  ihe  Chief  Cumn 
Mr,  Oroker  a?sun^  me  that  the  party  ^ 
intcrt  siini;  and  agreeable  one  in  tlie'ir  ■  ■  i 

ItcotupriW,  ]  believe,  the  Duke  of  V  ir.  '  -  '  ife 
Duke  of  Gordon  Uhen  Maniueas  of  H m  v;  — .ii* 
MarqiieJSs  of  Hertford  (then  Lord  y&iniuuLbj— ih* 
Earl  tif  Fiti?-— and  Saott*s  earijr  frieud  Lord  M^dvdl^  - 
"The  Prince  and  Scoit,''  Siiye  Mr.  Crokcr,  "  we« 
the  two  most  brilbant  atory-t«l(er»  iti  their  iMjrcral 
^ay^  that  Iba^e  ever  happened  to  t^ie^t;  th^w^v 
botn  nware  of  fh&t/afii,  m^f^^^tifif^^  ih«9t' 


UPE  OF  SIR  WALTER  SCOTT. 


^ 


iifiil, effect:^  Ongoing 


sdTesUiatevfiiiDKwithdt^,       _    _ 

.  home,  I  really  could  not  deade  which  of  ihem  hi  ^ 
•booe  the  most.  The  Regent  was  enchanted  with 
Scott,  as  Scott  with  him  ;  and  on  all  his  sabscqaent 
visits  (0  London,  he  was  a  frequent  ^eat  ftt  the  royal 
table."  The  Lord  Chief  Commissioner  reraeaabers 
that  the  Prince  was  particularly  delighted  with  the 
poet's  anecdotes  ef  the  old  Scotch  judges  and  law- 
yers, which  his  Royal  Highness  sometimes  capped 
by  ludicrous  traits  ef  certain  ermioed  sages  of  hit 
own  acquaintance.  Scott  told,  amon^  others,  a 
;*tQr/,  which  h»  was  fond  of  teUingr  of  his  old  friend 
the  Lord  Justice-Clerk  Braxficld :  and  the  commen- 
tary of  his  Roval  Highness  on  bearing  it  amused 
Scott,  who  often  mentioned  it  afterwards.  The 
anecdote  is  this :— Brazfitld,  whenever  he  went  on 
a  particular  circuit,  was  in  the  habit  of  visiting  a 
gentleman  of  good  fortune  in  the  neighbourhood  of 
one  of  the  assize  towns,  and  staying  at  least  one 
niRht,  which,  bdng  both  of  them  ardent  chess-play* 
ers,  thev  usually  concluded  wiih  their  fiwourite 
^ame.  One  Spring  circuit  the  battle  was  noi  decid- 
ed at  daybf«ak,  so  the  Justice-Clerk  said,—"  Weel, 
Donald,  I  must  e'en  come  back  this  gate  in  the  har- 
vest, and  let  the  game  lie  ower  for  the  present ;"  and 
back  he  Mme  in  October,  but  not  to  his  old  mend's 
hospitable  house;  for  that  gentleman  had,  in  the 
interim,  been  apprehended  on  a  capital  charge,  (of 
fonsery,)  and  his  name  stood  on  the  Porteous  RoU^ 
or  list  of  those  who  were  about  to  be  tried  under  his 
former  guest's  auspices.    The  laird  was  indicted  and 


pronounced  the  sentence  of  the  law  in  the  usual 
terms— '^  To  be  hanged  by  the  neck  until  you  be 
dead :  and  may  the  Lord  have  mercy  upon  your  un-- 
happy  aoul!"  Having  concluded  this  awful  for- 
mula in  his  most  sonorous  cadence,  Braxfieid,  dis- 
mounting his  formidable  beaver,  gave  a  familiar  nod 
to  his  untortunate  aoquaintance,  and  said  to  him,  in 
a  sort  of  chuckUng  whisper—''  And  now,  Donald, 
my  man,  I  think  I've  checkmated  you  for  ance." 
The  R^ent  laughed  heartily  at  this  specimen  of 
Macqueen*8  bniial  humour;  and'Tfaith.  Waller," 
said  he,  "  this  old  big- wig  seems  to  have  taken  things 
a<i  coolly  as  my  tyrannical  self.  Don't  you  remem- 
o»-r  Toni  Moore's  description  of  me  at  breakfast— 


'  T\\t^  table  spread  with  tea  and  I 
Deathwarrants  and  the  Murning  Post  V  < 

Towards  midnight,  the  Prince  called  for  **  a  bum- 
ptr,  with  all  the  honours,  to  the  Author  of  Waver- 
ley,"  and  looked  siajnificanily,  as  he  was  charging 
his  own  glass,  to  Scott.  Scon  seemed  somewhat 
pQzxled  for  a  moment,  but  instantly  re-jovenna  him- 
self, and  6llini?  his  glass  to  the  brim,  said,  '  Your 
royal  highness  looks  as  if  you  thought  I  had  some 
claim  to  the  honours  of  this  toast.  1  have  iio  snch 
pretensions,  but  shall  take  good  care  that  the  real 
Simon  Pure  hears  of  the  high  compliment  that  has 
•now  been  paid  hira,"  He  then  drank  off  his  claret, 
and  joined  with  a  stentorian  voice  in  the  cheering, 
which  the  Prince  himself  timed.  But  before  the 
•  onipany  could  resume  their  scats,  his  Royal  High- 
nes-s  exclainied,  "  Another  of  the  same,  if  vou  please, 
to  the  Author  of  Marmion— and  now,  Walter,- my 
man,  I  have  checkmated  you  for  awe."  The  second 
wiinper  was  followed  by  cheers  still  more  proloneed  : 
and  Scott  then  rose  anH  returned  thanks  in  a  short 
address,  which  struck  the  Lord  Chief  Commisrtoner 
as  "  alike  ^use  and  graceful."  This  story  has  been 
circulated  in  a'werv  perverted  shape.  I  now  give  it 
on  the  authority  of  my  venerated  friend,  who  was— 
unlike,  perhaps,  some  others  of  the  company  at  that 
hour— abln  to  hear  accurately,  and  content  to  see 
#inW«.— He  adds,  that  having  occasion,  the  day  after, 
to  call  on  the  Duke  of  York,  his  Royal  Highness 
said  to  him— "upon  my  word,  Adam,  my  brother 
went  rather  too  near  the  wind  about  Waverley— but 
nobody  could  have  turned  the  thinp;  rnore  prettily 
than  Walter  8eotl  did— and  upon  the  whole  I  never 
had  better  fun."  ^ .  ,     .        u 

The  Regentt  as  was  his  custom  with  those  be 


most  delighiad  to  honour,  uniforaily  adAretaed  the 
poet,  even  at  their  first  dinner,  by  his  Ohfistian 
name,  "Waller." 

Before  he  left  town  he  again  dined  at  Carlton 
House,  when  the  party  ^nvs  asfill  smaller  one  than 
before,  and  the  meniment,  if  possible,  still  more  free. 
That  nothing  might  be  wanting,  the  Prince  sung 
several  capital  songs  in  the  course  of  that  evening— 
as  witness  the  lines  in  Sultnn  Serendib^ 

"  1  love  a  Prince  wlTl  bid  the  bottle  pass. 
Exchanging  with  hiK  subjects  glance  and  glass, 
In  fitting  time  can,  gayest  of  the  gay, 
Keep  up  the  jest  and  mingle  in  the  lay. 
duch  Mooarclis  best  our  frcobom  buSootir  fuit, 
But  despots  aust  be  stately,  stern,  and  mme." 

E*^fore  htf  rtrturned  to  EdiobiirBh.  on  the  2^  of 
yL^is,  I  hi!'  j^cnt^nit  wat  hini  a  f^uU  snufT-baXt  set  in 
br  lli.iUTss,  iviffi  ■  mw  I  alii  on  uf  hi^  Royal  Htghaess's 
hi'^i  J  un  the  J[}4it  ^^  ass  Eesiiiniuny''  lwrii«&  Mr.  Adain. 
in  t:flndmiltmg  it)  "of  IW.  hich  npifiton  his  Royal 
Hi^)m<iSi  entertjiiijs  of  your  ijtruu*  ami  jiierit/' 

I  irnnscnb*  what  folio w#,  from  Jnme^t  Ballan- 
tjf Ill's  Mcm\.trand<i :-^'* Ah^  Mr.  Scoit''fififM  ini^^r* 
view  wiih  lus  SovetBigTis  one  ar  twointim(vrelrit«ida 
took  the  Itberlv  of  muuinng,  what  Mpotfrtl  he  had 
fo rmcd  i»f  \ \\t  R*tfen  r s  t ak- ijts  7  He  d eel ined  pi v i ng 
any  dtfinift answer—but  rtpo^itttJt  that  * h^  wais the 
firiE  fitadL-mau  hu  \\n<\  n?en^K:trtamly  the  first 
EneU^h  trMUk mso  of  hts  diivT^ there  WM  some- 
tbinn  about  htm  which,  mi^c (Venrtitntiy  of  Ih*  prea' 
tiiic  the  "iiEvinity.*"  whieli  he4Rf»  b  King^,  mark^ 
hifu  ns  si:iin<iine.  vnirriy  b^f  himstlf;  bin  as  io  hia 
abilirseB,  epokeii  nf  as  didtinct  fmm  hw  chomting 
m  inn  ers,  how  cotiH  any  oni?  form  a  fuir  judj^'nunt 
of  that  man  who  mrTodaccd  whritever  sabji'c;t  he 
choH?t  discus  Bed  it  jiK  as  loiig  ns  he  clioe«?,  tktuS  dta- 
mi«sed  ii  wil^n  he  ehofel'  '^ 

Ballantyne  atlds,  '*  What  I  have  t^ow  to  sny  i§ 
ni'»n  iimiiiurtarn,  nt>i  orily  in  itsetf,  Lai  as  it  will  en- 
al  i.  y  lU  iri  Kivea  final  CMnlrfniiiiuon  to  an  injiiriuui 
report  which  hta  been  in  circulation;  v[%.  that  Ihe 
Regent  asked  him  as  to  the  authorship  of  Waverlev, 
and  received  a  distinct  and  solemn  denial.  I  took 
the  bold  freedom  of  requesting  to  know  from  him 
whether  his  Royal  Highness  had  questioned  him  on 
that  subject,  and  what  had  been  hia  answer.  He 
glanced  at  me  with  a  look  of  wild  surprise,  and  said, 
^  What  answer  I  might  have  made  to  such  a  ques- 
tion, put  to  me  by  my  sovereign,  perhaps  1  do  not, 
er  rather  perhaps  I  do  know ;  but  I  waa  never  ^ut 
to  the  test.  He  is  far  too  well-bred  a  man  ever  to 
put  so  ill-bred  a  question.' " 

The  account  1  have  already  given  of  the  convi- 
vial  scene  alluded  to  would  probably  have  been  suf- 
ficient ;  but  it  can  do  no  harm  to  place  Ballantyne'a, 
or  rather  Scott's  own  testimony,  also  on  record. 

I  ought  not  to  have  omitted,  that  daring  Scott's 
residence  in  London  in  April,  1815,  he  lost  one  of  the 
English  friends,  to  a  meeting  with  whom  he  had 
look^  forward  with  the  highest  pleasure.  Mr. 
George  Ellis  died  on  the  15th  of  that  month,  at  hia 
seat  of  Sunninghill.  This  threw  a  cloud  over  what 
would  otherwise  have  been  a  period  of  unmixed  en- 
joyment. Mr.  Canning  penned  the  epitaph  for  that 
dearest  of  his  friends  j  but  he  submitted  it  to  Scott's 
consideration  before  it  was  engraved. 

The  ballad  of  the  Durham  Garland,  referred  to  m 
a  ])rcv40us  part  of  this  chapter,  was  taken  down 
from  the  recitation  of  Mrs.  Young  of  Castle- Doug- 
las, who,  as  her  family  informed  Mr.  Train,  had 
long  been  in  the  habit  of  repeating  it  over  to  them 
once  in  the  year,  in  order  that  it  might  not  escape 
from  her  memory.  No  copy  of  the  printed  broad- 
side has  as  yet  been  recovered. 

THE  DURHAM  OARLAND.-IN  THREE  PARTJt 

Pabt  I. 

1.  A  worthy  Lord  of  birth  and  state. 
Who  did  in  Durham  Uve  of  late— 
But  I  will  not  declare  iihi  name. 
By  reason  of  his  birth  and  fame. 

2.  This  Lord  he  did  a  hunting  go,  . 
If  you  the  truth  of  a»ffi0,^|eS"b7l3OOgle 


UFE  OF  Sm  WALTER  SCOTT. 


'B«  had  indeed  «  noble  train, 

Qf  Lords  and  Knights  and  Oentlemtt. 

8.  This  noble  Lord  he  left  the  tratai 

Of  Lords  and  Knif  hts  and  Oentlemen; 
And  hearing  not  the  horn  to  blow, 
He  could  not  tell  whteh  ivmj  to  go. 

4.  But  he  did  wander  to  and  fro. 
Being  weacry,  likewise  AiU  of  wo : 
▲t  last  Dame  Fortune  was  so  Und, 
That  he  the  Keeper's  house  did  find. 

&  He  went  and  Icnocked  at  the  door. 
He  thought  it  was  so  late  an  hoar. 
Hie  Forester  did  let  him  iUr 
And  kindly  entertained  him. 

6.  About  the  middle  of  the  night. 

When  as  the  scars  did  shine  most  bright. 
This  Lord  was  in  a  sad  surprise, 
Being  wakened  by  a  (earful  noise. 

7.  Then  he  did  rise  and  call  with  speed,  i 
To  knew  the  reason  then,  indeed, 

Of  all  that  shrieking  and  those  cries, 
Which  did  disturb  his  wearj  eyes.   . 
8l  **rmson7, 9ir,'' the  Keeper  said— 
"lliat  you  ahould  be  so  much  afraid ; 
But  I  do  hope  all  will  be  welL 
«     For  my  Wife  she  is  in  travail." 

9.  The  noble  Lord  was  learned  and  wise, 
To  know  the  Planets  tn  the  skies. 

He  saw  one  eril  Planet  reign. 
He  called  the  Forester  agam. 

10.  He  gaTe  him  then  to  understand, 
He'd  hare-the  Blidwlfe  hold  her  hand  ; 
But  he  was  answered  by  the  maid, 

**  My  BOstress  is  deUvered." 

11.  At  ime  o'clock  that  very  mom, 
A  lorely  infant  there  was  bom ; 
It  Was  indeed  a  charming  boy, 

Which  brought  the  man  and  wife  much  Joy. 

12.  The  Lord  was  generous,  kSul,  snd  free, 
And  pToflbred  Godfather  to  be ; 

Hie  Goodman  thanked  him  heartily 
Fbr  his  good- will  and  courtesy. 

13.  A  Parson  was  sent  for  with  speed, 
For  to  bapdze  the  child  indeed ; 
And  after  that,  as  I  heard  say. 

In  mirth  and  Joy  they  spent  the  day. 

14.  This  Lord  did  noble  presents  glTe, 
Which  all  the  senrants  did  receive.        . 
They  prayed  God  to  enrich  his  store. 
For  they  never  had  so  much  before. 

15.  And  likewise  to  the  child  he  gave 
A  present  noble,  rich,  and  brave ; 
It  was  •  charming  cabinet, 

'     That  was  with  pearls  and  j  e wels  set 
Id  And  within  it  was  a  chain  of  gold,  * 

Would  dazxle  eyes  for  to  behold ; 
A  richer  gift,  as  I  owy  say. 
Was  not  beheld  this  many  a  day. 


17.  He  charged  his  father  faithfully, 
That  he  nimself  would  keep  the  key, 
Until  the  child  could  write  and  read-- 


And  then  to  give  him  it  indeed  ;— 

18.  "  Pray  do  not  open  it  at  all. 
Whatever  should  on  you  befall ; 
For  it  may  do  my  godson  good,  • 
If  it  be  rightly  understood:" 

19.  This  Lord  did  not  declare  his  name. 
Nor  yet  the  place  from  whence  he 
But  secretly,  he  did  depart. 
And  left  them  grieved  to  the  heart 

Paet  Ilf 

L  The  second  part  I  now  unfold, 
As  true  a  story  as  e'er  was  told. 
Concerning  of  a  tovely  child, 
Who  was  obedient,  sweet,  and  mild. 

I.  This  child  did  take  his  learning  so, 
If  you  the  truih  of  all  would  know. 
At  eleven  years  of  age  indeed. 
Both  Greek  and  Latin  he  could  read. 

8.  Then  thinking  of  his  cabinet, 

That  was  with  pearls  and  jewels  set, 
He  aaked  his  lather  lor  the  key. 
Which  he  gave  him  right  speedily ; 

i.  And  when  he  did  the  same  unlock, 
He  was  with  great  amazement  struck 


When  he  the  riches  did  behold, 
And  likewise  saw  Qie  chain  of  gold. 

0.  But  searching  farther  he  did  find 
A  paper  which  disturbed  his  mind, 
That  was  within  the  cabinet. 
In  Greek  and  Latin  it  was  writ 

$.  My  childy  terve  Ood  that  it  on  higK  • 
And  pray  to  him  incestanUtf  ; 
Obey  your  parent*^  hve  your  ftm^, 
7%U  nothing  may  your  cantdtnce  tting. 

7.  At  oeten  yean  hence  your  fate  vDiUbe^ 
You  muet  be  handed  upon  a  tree: 
I  T^en  pray  to  Ood  bothn^ht  and  day^ 
To  tst  that  hour  pom  auxfy. 

&  When  he  these  wofol  lines  did  read, 
He  with  a  sigh  did  say  indeed, 
**  If  hanging  be  my  deadny. 
My  parents  shall  not  see  me  die ; 

9.  ^  For  I  will  wander  to  ind  fro,  ^ 
m  go  where  I  no  one  do  know  ,* 
But  first  ril  ask  my  parents'  leave. 
In  hopes  their  blessing  to  receive." 

10.  Then  locking  up  his  cabinet 

He  went  from  his  own  chamber  straight 
Unto  his  only  parents  dear. 
Beseeching  them  with  many  a  tear 

11.  That  they  would  grant  what  he  would 
**  But  first  your  blessing  I  do  cravsi 
And  beg  you'll  let  me  go  away, 
'Twin  do  me  good  another  day." 

^:     :     :     :     : 

**  And  if  I  Dve  I  Win  return. 

When  seven  years  ai^e  past  and  goes.** 

13.  Both  man  and  wife  did  then  reply, 
'^  I  fear,  my  son,  thst  we  shall  die, 
If  we  should  yield  to  let  you  go, 

Our  sged  hearts  would  break  with  wo." 

14.  But  he  entreated  eagerlv. 

While  they  were  forced  to  comply. 
And  give  consent  to  let  him  go. 
Butwhere,alaal  they  did  not  know. 
16.  In  the  third  part  you  soon  shall  find, 
That  fortune  was  to  him  most  kind. 
And  after  many  dangers  past, 
-He  came  to  Durham  at  the  last 

pait in. ' 

1.  He  went  by  chance,  as  I  heard  say. 
To  that  ssme  house  that  very  day. 
In  which  his  Godfather  did  dwell ; 
But  mind  what  luck  to  him  befel :   ' 

2.  This  child  <fid  6nre  a  service  (here, 
(hi  which  came  out  his  Godfather, 
And  seeing  him  a  pretty  youth, 

He  took  him  for  his  Page  Ui  truth. 

3.  Then  in  thin  place  he  pleased  so  well. 
That  'bovo  the  reSt  he  bore  the  bell ; 
This  child  so  well  the  Lord  did  please. 
He  raised  him  higher  by  degrees. 

4.  He  made  him  Butler  sure  indeed, 
And  then  h\»  Steward  with  all  speed. 
Which  made  the  other  servants  spite. 
And  envy  him  both  dsy  and  night 

9.  He  was  never  false  nnto  his  trust, 
But  proved  ever  true  and  just ; 
And  to  the  Lord  did  hourly  pray 
To  guide  him  stUl  both  night  sad  day. 

6.  In  this  plsce,  plsinly  it  appears. 
He  lived  the  spaoe  of  seven  years ; 
His  parents  then  he  thought  upon, 
And  of,  his  promise  to  return. 

7.  Then  humblr  of  his  Lord  did  crave. 
That  he  his  free  cimsent  might  fasvs 
To  go  and  see  his  parents  dear. 

He  had  not  seen  this  many  a  year. 

8.  Then  having  leave  away  he  went 
Not  dreaming  of  the  false  intent 
That  was  contrived  sgainst  him  then 
By  wicked,  (alse,  deceitful  men. 


9.  They  had  in  his  portmanteau  put 
This  noble  Lord's  fine  golden  cup ; 
That  when  l^e  Lord  at  dinner  was. 
The  cup  was  missed  as  come  to  pass. 
10.  "  Where  can  it  be  7"  this  Lord  did  asf, 
•*  We  had  it  here  but  yesterday."— 


Digitized  by 


*^oogle 


UPB  OF  SIR  WALTER  SCOTT. 


ur 


The  Bader  then  replied  with  speed,  * 
*■  If  yoa  win  hear  the  truth  indeed, 

il.  **  Toor  darling  Steward  which  U  gone, 
With  feathered  nest  awaur  is  flown ; 
rn  warrant  yoa  he  has  that,  and  more 
That  doth  belong  unto  your  store."  ^ 

12:  **  No."  says  this  Lord, "  that  cannot  be, 
F<Nr  1  have  tried  hia  honesty ;" 
"  Then,"  said  tlie  Cook,  "  my  Lord,  I  die 
Upon  a  tree  full  ten  feet  high." 

1&  Then  hearing  what  these  men  did  say, 

He  sent  a  messenger  that  day, 

To  take  him  with  a  hue  and  cry. 

And  bring  him  back  immecfiately. 
14.  They  searched  his  poktmanteau  with  ipeed. 

In  which  they  founa  the  cup  indeed ; 

Then  was  he  struck  with  sad  surprise, 

He  could  not  well  believe  his  eyes. 
i&  The  assizes  then  were  drawing  nigh, 

And  he  was  tried  and  doomed  to  die ; 

And  his  injured  innocence 

Qonld  nothing  say  in  his  defence.  ' 

16L  Rat  going  to  the  gallows  tree. 


6a  whicB  he  thought  to  hanged  be, 

He  dbpped  his  hands  upon  his  bresjt, 
.  And  thus  in  tears  these  words  exprest :— 
v.  <*  Blind  Fortune  will  be  Fortune  still 

I  see,  let  man  do  what  he  wQl ; 

For  though  this  day  I  nceda  must  die. 

I  am  not  guilty— no,  not  L" 
tS.  This  noble  Lord  was  in  amaze. 

He  stood  and  did  with  wonder  gaze ; 

Then  he  spoke  out  with  words  so  mild.— 

«  What  mean  you  by  that  siying,  Child  V* 
i9L  '*  Wm  that  your  Lordship,*^  then  said  he, 

**  Grant  one  day's  fuU  repriere  forme, 

A  dismal  story  Til  relate, 

Conceniing  of  my  wretched  ftte.*' 
DOl  **  Speak  up,  my  child."  this  Lord  did  say, 

•*  I  say  you  shall  not  die  this  day— 

And  if  1  find  you  innocent, 

Fll  crown  your  days  .with  sweet  content" 

SL  He  told  him  all  his  dangers  past. 

Re  had  gone  through  from  first  to  last, 
He  fetched  the  chain  and  cabinet, 
likewise  the  paper  that  was  writ 

22.  When  that  this  noble  Lord  did  see, 
He  ran  to  him  most  eagerly. 
•And  in  his  arms  did  him  embrace, 
Repeating  of  those  words  in  haste— 

23.  **  My  ChUd,  my  Chfld,  bow  blessed  am  I, 
Thou  art  innocent,  and  shall  not  die ; 
For  I'm  indeed  thy  Godfather, 

And  thou  was't  bom  in  fair  Yorkshire. 

Sy.  "  I  have  indeed  one  daughter  dear. 
Which  is  indeed  my  only  heir ; 
And  I  will  give  her  unto  thee. 
And  crown  you  with  feliqlty." 

25*  So  then  the  Butler  and  the  Cook 

(Twaf  them  that  stole  the  goldenxup) 
Confessed  their  faults  immediately, 
And  for  it  died  deservedly. 

2S.  This  goodly  youth,  as  I  do  hear, 

Thus  raised,  sent  for  his  parents  dear. 
Who  did  rejoice  their  Child  to  i 
And  so  I  end  my  Tragedy. 


CHAPTER  XXXV. 

%ATTtM  OF  WATKBLOO—UBTTSB  OF  8IB  CHAKLES  PXLL 

— narr  to  the  cowTimBST— watsbloo— lbitbbs 

PBOM  BBUSSBUI  AKD  PABI»— ANBCDOTB8  OF'bCOTT 
AT  PABI8-;THB  DUKX  OF  WELLlKOTOir--rH«  BMPB- 
»OB  ALBXAKDBB— BLUCHBB— *LATOFP— PABTY  AT 
SBMBNOMVILLB,  ETC. — LONDOlf — PABTIHO  WTTH 
VaUD  BTBOir— 8C0TT*8  BIBMXVGHAII  BSnFB— BBTVBM 
TO  ABIOT0FOBD— Al«fBCI>OTKS  BT  MB.  SBSmB  AND 
I  BALLANT7NB.--1815. 


€k>BTRB  expressed,  I  fancy,  a  very  generBl  »enU- 
ment,  when  he  said,  that  to  him  the  great  charm  aiKl 
Value  of  my  friena's  Life  of  Buonaparte  seemed 
timtB  independent  of  the  question  of  its  accuracy  as 
to  Bmall  details ;  that  he  turned  eagerly  to  the  book, 


not  to  finddatecrstfted,  and  obontennarchefl  analy- 
zed, but  to  contemplate  what  coold  not  but  be  a  true 
record  of  the  broad  impressions  made  on  the  mind 
of  Scott  by  the  marvellous  revolutions  of  his  o^m 
time  in  their  progress..  Feeling  how  justly  in  the 
main  that  work  has  iffQserved  those  impressions, 
though  gracefully  softened  and  sobered  m  the  re- 
trospect of  peacetul  and  more  advanced  vears,  i  the 
less  regret  that  I  have  it  not  in  my  power  to  quolo 
any  letters  of  his  touching  the  reappearance  of  Na- 
poleon on  the  soil  of  Franco— the  ixnmortal  marcb 
from  Cannes— the  reign  of  the  Hundred  ^ays*  and 
the  preparations  for  another  struggle,  which  fixed 
the  gaze  of  Eorope  in  May,  1816.  ^ — 

That  he  should  nave  been  among  the  first  civilians 
who  hurried  over  to  see  the  field  of  Waterloo,  and 
hear  English  buf^les  sound  about  the  walls  of  Pans, 
could  have  surprised  none  who  knew  thehvely  con- 
cern he  hsd  always  taken  in  the  military  efforts  of 
his  countrymen,  and  the  career  of  the  illusmoiui 
captam,  who  had  taught  them  to  re-estabhsh  tha 
renown  of  Agincourt  and  Blenheim,— 

"Victor  of  AMaye»a  Eastern  plain,  ^   ^ 

Victor  of  aU  the  fields  Of  SpiOn," 
I  had  oftc-i  L!.„:  .  .  j:.  1  ■ .  :i  A .  Lf,  thftl  hL»  deter- 
mination was,  if  not  fj^ed,  iinjtii  t^Liick^Qied,  by  a 
letter  of  an  old  acquaintance  of  bis,  who  had  on  me 
arrival  of  ihe  news  of  the  I8tb  of  June,  mstantly 
repaired  to  Bnifiseb^  to  tender  his  profeas tonal  skill 
in  aid  of  l he  overburdened  medical  ataffof  the  con- 
queror's archy.  Wh*?i>,  tiiarefore,  [  fouiid  the  lett«r 
m  question  pruitcrveil  amon^  Scott^i*  paper «,  I  peru- 
sed i^  witli  a  p0<!iiltaT  intf-rtat ;  and  I  now  ventuTe, 
with  the  writer' 1*  permbsion,  to  prei«nt  ie  to  tho 
reader.  It  was  adflrf!Si<ed  by  Sir  Charlee  Bell  to  his 
brother,  an  emitietit  barriaier  in  EdifiburKbj  who 
transmitted  il  to  Scott,  "When  I  read  it,'  aaid  he, 
**  it  set  ror  o5\  fire."  The  marriage'  of  Miija  Maclean 
Clephane  of  Torluisk  with  ibe  Earl  of  Compton^ 
(now  Mar  I  iu  is  of  Northampton*)  which  HKJit  placo 
on  the  24 1 h  of  Julv,  was  m  fact  the  oaly  cauao  why 
he  did  noi  Uavc  Scotland  jnetanlly;  for  that  dear 
yotmg  frioiid  had  cho&cn  Scan  for  her  guardian, 
and  on  hi  I M  ULCordinjily  devolved  the  chjef  care  of 
the  arrangt^nienta  on  thia  occaaiou.  The  extract  / 
sent  to  hira  by  Mr*  George  Joseph  Bell  la  as  fol- 
lows r~ 

"  Bruaaela,  9d  July,  1816. 

"  This  country,  the  finest  in  the  world,  haa  been  of  lal» 
quite  out  of  our  minda.  I  did  not,  in  any  degree,  antici- 
pate the  pleasure  1  should  enjov,  the  admiration  forced 
nrom  me,  on  coming  into  one  of  these  antique  towns,  or 
In  journeying  through  this  rich  garden.  Can  you  recol-  \ 
lect  the  time  when  there  were  gentlemen  meeting  at 
the  Cross  of  Edinburgh,  or  those  whom  we  thought 
suchi  They  are  all  collected  here.  You  see  the  very 
men,  with  their  scraggy  necks  sticking  out  of  the  collsrs 
of  their  old-fashioned  aquare-skirted  coats— their  canes— 
their  cocked-hats ;  and,  when  they  meet,  the  formal  bow, 
the  hat  off  to  the  ground,  and  the  powder  flying  in  the 
wind.  I  could  divert  y^u  with  the  odd  resemblances  of 
the  Scottish  faces  among  the  peasants,  too— but  I  noted 
them  at  the  time  with  my  pencd,  and  I  write  to  you  only 
of  things  that  you  won't  find  in  my  pocket-book- 

**  I  have  just  returned  from  seeing  the  French  wounded 
received  in  their  hospital :  and  could  you  see  them  laid 
out  nakedtor  ahnost  so— 100  in  a  row  of  low  beds  on  the 
ground— though  wounded,  exhausted,  beaten,  you  would 
still  conclude  with  me  that  these  were  men  capable  of 
marchinguinopposed  from  the  west  of  Europe  to  the  east 
of  Asia.  Strong,  thickset,  hardy  veterans,  brave  spirits 
and  unsubdued,  as  they  cast  their  wild  glance  upon  you, 
—their  black  eves  and  brown  cheeks  finely  contrasted 
with  the  fresh  sheets^— vpu  would  much  admire  their  cs- 

Scity  of  adaptaUon.  These  fellows  are  brought  nrom 
e  field  after  lying  many  days  on  the  ground  ;  naany  dy- 
ing—many  in  the  agony— many  mfcerably  racMed  wtth 
piun  andii^yisms ;  and  the  next  mimicks  his  fellow,  add 
gives  it  a  tune,— Aha,  votu  ehantex  bien!  How  they  are 
wounded  you  vriU  see  in  my  notes.  But  1  must  not  have 
you  to  lose  the  present  Impression  on  me  of  the  formid- 
able nature  of  uiese  fellows  as  exemplars  of  the  breed  in 
France.  It  is  a  forced  praise ;  fpr,  from  all  I  have  seen, 
and  aU  T  have  heard  of  their  fierceneis,  cruelty,  and 
bloodthirstfaiess,  1  cannot  convey  to  von  my  detestation, 
of  this  race  of  trained  bandiiU.  By  what  means  they  are 
to  be  kept  in  subjection  until  other  habiU  come  upon 


.848 


UFE  OF  ,SIE  WALTSBQr  ^COTT* 


thenif  I^know  not;  bat  I  am  convinced  that  thepe  men 

(troupAdij^if  futntuliTici)  Utat  tht>  100*1  ivtirumttc  fuicj  toiilij 
^  itrcuu  of.    J  was  struck  vnith  the  wtrriJii  of  a  fnentl— E. : 

*  ]  taw,'  saJ4.]  bOr '  ^A^sf  ujmi  reLiifEiiEigfrLnii  Uie  tieirlan  ilic 
l^Lh/MTJU^  wu  a  Bruriitwicki'i'r  uf  thi?  Black  or  Bt%iU 
HuAAT*. ) — ^  He  wrind  wiKUidrd,  ajicl  ha^l  had  Llij  ami  ai»- 
putRtpd  on  the  field,  fif.'  wn*  (imoii^  th**  ftrat  ihat  CBime 
m.  He  ro<. !e  ^rai^hE  mi e1  stark  upon  lia »  hi ira* — t hf?  h hifli  1  f 
ciQtit<i  cibout  his  dtfiitip'-fiftio  a>ii  ilcadi,  but  upfifC^]^  "vdih  & 
flti^m^  Axed  exprtitriofi  of  fcAitirc,  an,  t(  loth  ti>  Ijh±  hii 
i«veafe.^  Ttiesi^  LrcMiipi  Are  very  rcnb^L  kablcs  Jiu  Ihcir  G.ue 
miUtary  AppLTunmeu  ;  ihctr  ^liirk  uiml  omiuoin  tlri^^a  set 4 
ofT  Lo  adrajTUtfit€i  Uictr  stnimr,  inaliiy*  nortJj^im  lealUTJ  fl 
oiir.l  wtiJto  iiiiji!-Lachii>8  ;  and  iJiKtro  i^  sooiothJug  maun  tliaa 
CQ'iiimunly  unpr?«AlTc  ahuut  iho  whole  tifcr^i. 

'*  Till*  15  ilif  i^ecoQd  auudfljf  afltr  iht;  batik,  mi rj  rnaiiy 
are  iK^t  yet  ilref^ed.  Th>*re  *re  aCi;,l»JO  wounded  jn  Una 
TOWtif  bualdf^s  thoae  In  lije  hojaplijiia.,  afid  the  many  in  th^ 
(TibtT  inisTii  ; — unly3iM.yipriBnncrB^  ttlntJUlMJi^j  vayt  IcUlcd 
aDd  wounded  on  ooili  niUeij/" 

I  think  it  nn^t  x^ontierful  thaf  thiR  ^Jttrnct  should 
hsvt'  flet  Scou'simaj^mation  tlTectuallyon  firei  ibai 
he  should  hfive  grasped  at  vhe  idea  of  seeing  prob* 
ably  tiif  bst  ^hari 01**5)  of  real  wnrfoff  tbat  hi«  own 
hkq  would  alTord  \  qr  thnt  jFame  parts^  cif  the  grc^fit 
surgeon's  9Jmt>le  phfae&^logy  are  rpprtMlucc-d,  alttiost 
veruiitimi  in  the  ^Jrst  of  PauTs  L<iLtera  to  hi3 
Km  B  folk"  J^o  sooiit?r  >^q3  Scoit'a  purpose  knowTi, 
than  Bomeof  hia  younp  T»fii:^bbQura  in  the  coimtry 
proiiospd  (0  join  nia  oxomraicn ;  atid^  in  cotupany 
with  thrw  of  them,  nanir?h;,  his  kinarnant  John 
Scoit  of  Gala— Aleiiander  Pafialfe  the  younger,  of 
Why  tbai>k,  (now  M*  P,  for  Selkirkshire)  —and  Robert 
Bruce,  advocate,  (now  Sheriff  of*  Argyle)~he  left 
Edinburgh  for  the  sonih,  at  B  a^  m.>  oa  iht^  27Lh  of 
July.' 

They  travelled  by  the  eta^-coath,  and  took  the 
route  of  Hull  and  LukoIu  to  Cainbrid^u  j  fur  Gain 
And  liltylbank,  bamg  both  members  of  that  univcr- 
6lty^  were  anitauii  to  »eijse  this  opportunity  of  ri'M- 
ajting  U  themselves,  and  ^howine:  ita  beauttful  archk- 
ttiCtnra  to  ifat^ir  friend.  After  uwa  wiah  had  Ijeoa 
giaiified*  they  proceoded  to  Harwich,  aiJiJ  thcnteT 
on  tho  3d  gf  Augnst,  took  fibip  for  UeWoetsluya. 

*'The  weather  was  beautiful/*  says  Qala,  "  »i>  we 
all  went  outside  the  coach  from  Cambridge  to  Hnr* 
wieh.  At  starting,  thDn.>was  a  ^^nernl  co^fiiplciint 
of  thirst,  the  c^naf^juenc*)  of  t^me  txrorinients 
ovcrnis^ht  on  the  Cf?U'bratwl  bishop  of  my  Ah  n't 
MfiUr  ;  OUT  friendt  however^  was  in  fir^fii  glea  ar^d 
"never  waa  a  merrier  batHi  than  he  modt  ii  aU  tbi3 
mOlming.  He  had  cautioned  ua,  on  leaving  Edit)- 
biogh,  never  to  liUmc  namoM  msuch  aiEuaiiuns,  and 
our  adherence  to  ihis  rtile  ^a^i  rewarded  by  eoinu 
amusing  incidental  For  example,  as'  we  entered 
the  town  whprip  we  were  lo  dine^  a  heavy^lookmu 
rna:i,  who  was  to  stop  there,  took  occasion  ta  tliank 
Scof  t  for  the  pleasure  hi?  aiicicdotea  had  afDjrdtid 
him ;    '  Vou  have  a  poad  nietnory,  sir '  said  \\k'  \ 

*  mayhap,  now,  yon  sometime?  write  down  what 
you  hear  or  ba  a*readin?f  about  V  He  atisswertd  very 
gravely,  thai  he  did  occaaimiQUy  put  dQ^w  a  fca^ 
nutpa,  n  any  Lhing  i^truck  him  pariicularly^  In  t\\fi 
afternoot%  ji  hapj.ieiic<i  that  he  sai  oti  the  Ik»\,  whiW 
the  real  uf  ub  were  htibind  him-  Here,  by  deffrr^GH, 
he  became  qukte  abiorbfid  in  hiss  own  rfHec^ion?. 
He  fre<iuenily  repeated  to  himself,  or  rpmpotcd  i^vt- 
hap^  for  a  i;ood  while,  and  ofEt'n  f^niiled  or  raiuad 
his  liand.  see  mine  completely  occtJtpied  and  amused. 
His  nctghbour,  a  vastly  scieutjfic  and  rather  grove 
profe^sor^  in  a  EimooLh  drn1>  Ui^njamin  and  broad - 
hrimnHid  heavi?r,eaat  mftny  a  curiMueisiddong  filancc 
at  hi tn,  evidently  auspec^u OR  that  all  was  not  ri^tii 

.  with  the  itpper  story,  but  ifreserved  pericci  polite- 
nesi*  The  pt>el  was,  however,  dtsfcovercd  by  the 
cantait*  of  the  ve^Bel  in  which  we  crnsj4ed  thfj  Chan- 
nel, and  a  pcrilouB  pas^a^c  it  was,  chiefiyin  conee- 
queues?  f)f  ihp  une^napinj;  tumblers  in  which  this 
worthy  ki;pt  drinking  hit  health.^* 

Befurc  leaving  Edmburubt  Scott  4]ad  acUlcd  m 
bia  rnbd  the  plan  of  "  Paul's  Leiiera  i'*  for  on  that 
aame  day^  hia  af^ent,  JohaBaUaQtyne.  addressed  the 
fellowinR  letterj  from  his  marine  villa  near  N<jw- 
haVttn—  * 


To  Mestr*.  OmMta^e  und  Co, 

"  Trinity,  27UiJtalf,181& 
"DearSini, 

*^  Mr.  ftcctt  left  town  to-day  for  the  Cootineat.  Re 
proposes  writing  from  thence  a  series  of  letters  00  a  pe- 
culiar plan,  varied  in  matter  and  style,  and  to  different 
sopposititious  correspondents. 

^  The  work  is  to  form  a  demy  8vo  volume  of  twentr* 
two  sheets,  to  sell  at  I2a.  It  is  to  be  begun  immeffiately 
on  hL9  arrival  in  France,  and  to  be  published,  if  poo^ble, 
the  second  week  of  September,  when  he  proposes  to  re- 
turn. 

**  We  print  3000  of  this,  and  I  am  empowered  to  offer 
you  one  third  of  the  edition,  Messrs.  Longman  and  Co. 
and  Mr.  Murrav  having  each  the  same  share :  the  terms, 
twelve  months^  acoepcance  for  paper  and  priat,  and  half 
profiu  at  six  months,  granted  now,  as  muter.    The  over 


copies  will  pay  the  charge  for  advertising.    I  am,  Sec 
John  BAU^AtfiYKM, 
"  Charge. 
22  sheets  printing,— jC3    15    0  £Si    10    0 

146  reams,  demy,—     1    10   0  217    10    0 


aOOOatSs.  X190O    0   0 
Cost,     300 .  0   0 


X3Q0     0    U 


iS900  0   0  Profit-one  half  is  ^£400." 

Before  Scott  reached  JIarwicb,  he  knew  thai  this 
ofTer  had  been  accepted  without  hesttaticvi :  and 
thenceforth,  accordingly,  he  threw  his  daily  letters 
to  hia  wife  into  the  form  of  commuoicatioaa  meant 
for  an  imaj^nary  group,  conaisting  of  a. spinster 
sister,  a  statistical  laird,  a  rural  clergyman  of  the 
Presbyterian  .Kirk,  ana  a  brother,  a  veteran  officer 
on  half-pay.  The  rank  of  this  last  personage  cor- 
responded, hoiwever,  exactly  with  that  of  msown 
elder  brother.  John  Soott,  who  also,  like  the  Major 
of  the  book,  had  served  in  the  Duke  of  Fork's  un- 
fortunate caaipaign  of  1797;  the  sister  is  only  a 
slender  disguise  for  his  aunt  Chri9tian  Rutheriord, 
already  often  mentioned;  Lord  SomerviUe,  long 
President  of  the  Board  of  Agriculture,  was  Paul's 
laird;  and  the  shrewd  and  unhigoted  Dr.  Douglas 
of  Galashiels  was  his  "minister  of  the  ffo«pel." 
These  enistles,  after  having  been  devoured  br  the 
little  circle  at  Abbotsford,  were  transmitted  to  Mi\ior 
John  Scott,  his  mother,  and  Miss  Rutheifbrd,  in 
Eldinburgh ;  from  their  hands  they  passed  10  ihoae 
of  James  Ballantyne  and  Mr.  Erskine,  both  of  whom 
assured  me  that  the  copy  ultimately  sent  to  th^  press 
consisted,  in  great  part,  of  the  identical  sheets  that 
had  successively  reached  Melrose  through  the  post. 
The  rest  had  of  course  been,  as  Ballantyne  expres- 
ses it,  "somewhat  cobbled j"  but.  on  the  wholes 
Paul's  Letters  are  to  be  considered  as  a  true  and 
faithful  journal  of  this  expedition  ;  insomuch,  that 
I  might  perhaps  content  myself,  in  this  place,  with 
a  simple  reference  to  that  delightful  volume.  He 
found  time,  however,  to  write  letters  during  his  ab- 
sence from  Britain,  4o  some  others  of  his  friends  ; 
and  a  specimen  or  two  of  these  may  interest  the 
reader.  I  have  also  gathered,  from  th^companioDS 
of  the  journey,  a  few  more  particulars,  which  Scott's 
modesty  witnhekl  iiim  from  recording ;  and  gome 
trivial  circun^stancTs  which  occur  to  me,  from  recol- 
lection of  his  own  conversation,  may  also  beaccept- 
able. 

But  I  hope  that,  if  the  reader  has  not  pemsed 
Paul's  Letters  recently,  he  will  refresh  his  memory, 
before  he  proceeds  further,  by  bestowing  an  hour  on 
that  genuine  fragment  ox  the  author's  autobiogra- 
phy. He  is  now,  unless  he  had  the  ad  vantage  ^jf 
Scott's  personal  familiarity,  mudi  better  acquaint- 
ed with  the  man  Uian  he  could  have  been  before 
he  took  up  this  compilation  of  his  private  oorves- 
pondence— ^od  especially  before  he  perused  the  ^l 
diary  of  the  lighthouse  yacht  in  1814  f  and  a  tbeu- 
sand  Uule  turns  and  circumstances^hich  may  have, 
when  he  originally  read  the  hook,  passed  Ufthtly  be- 
fore his  eye,  will  now,  1  venture  to  say,  poesees.  a 
warm  aftd  vivid  interest,  as  inimitably  characteris- 
tic of  a  departed  friend.  The  kindest  of  husbands 
and  fathers  never  po(trayed  himself  with  nooreun- 
aiSscted  truth  than  in  this  vain  effort,  if  sueh  he 
really  fancied  he  was  making,  to  sustain  the  cha- 


Digitized  by  V^OOQlC    * 


LIFE  OF^  SOL  WALTSa  SCOTT. 


nMK  of  "  a  cfOM  old  badialor."  The  whotecman, 
iiut  a»iie  w«8,  breathes  in  every  line,  with  all  hia 
compaeeioRete  and  benevolent  sympathy  of  heart, 
aU  hia^ sharpness  of  observation,  and  sober  shrewd- 
aessof  reflection  ^  all  his  enthusiasm  for  nature,  for 
country  Kfe,  for  simple  manners  and  simple  plea- 
sures, mixed  up  with  an  equally  glowing  enthusiasm, 
at  which  many  may  smile,  for  the  tiniest  relics  ox 
feudal  antiquity— and  last,  not  least,  a  pulse  of  phy- 
sical raptorefor  the  "circumstance  of  war,"  which 
bears  witness  to  the  blood  of  Bolt/oot  and  Fire  the 
Braes, 


At  Brussels,  Scott  found  the  small  Eiiglish  earri- 
soo  left  there  in  command  of  Matpr-General  Sir 
f^rederick  Adam,  the  son  of  his  highly  valued  friend, 
the  present  Lord  Chief  Commissioner  of  the  Jury 
Court  in  Scotland.  Sir  Frederick  had  been  wound- 
ed at  Waterloo,  and  could  not  as  yet  hioiint  on 
horseback ;  but  one  of  his  aiaes-de-camp.  Captain 
CanQ>bell,  escorted  Scott  and  his  party  to  the  field 
of  battle,  on  which  occasion  they  were  also  accom- 
Msied  by  another  old  acouaintance  of  his.  Major 
rryse  Gordon,  who  being  then  on  half-payjiappen- 
ed  to  be  domesticated  with  his  family  at  Brussels. 
Major  Gordon  has  since  published  two  livelv  vo- 
Uuues  of  **  Personal  Memoir^ /'  and  Gala  Bears 
witaess  to  the  fidelitv  of  certain  reminiscences  of 
Seott  at  Brussels  and  Waterloo,  which  occupy  one 
of  the  chapters  of  this  work.  I  shall,  thef«fore, 
ezimct  the  passage. 

**  Sir  Walter  Scott  accepted  my  services  to  conduct  him 
to  WsterkH) :  the  Oenenu's  aide-de-camp  was  also  of  the 
Vmttj.  He  made  no  secret  of  his  having  undertaken  to 
vTtte  apmelhing  on  (ho  battle  ;  and  perhaps  he  toolc  the 
greater  interest  on  this  account  In  every  thing  that  he 
tarn.  Besides,  he  had  never  seen  the  field  of  euch  a  con- 
Act:  and  never  having  been  before  on  the  Continent,  It 
was  all  new  to  his  comprehensive  mind.  The  day  was 
!>«ftatiful ;  and  I  hacLthe  precaution  to  send  out  a  couple 
of  saddle-toorees,  th#he  might  not  be  fatigued  In  walking 
«v«r  the  fields,  which  had  oeen  recently  ploughed  up. 
bi  oar  roands  we  fell  In  witli  Monsieur  de  Costar,  veith 
«<H»a  he  got  into  conversation.  This  man  had  attracted 
•o  unKh  nofic©  by  his  pretended  story  of  being  about  the 
peraon  of  Napoleon,  that  he  was  of  too  much  Importance 
v>  t>e  paased  by :  I  did  not,  indeed,  know  as  mucn  of  this 
iffiow's  cbarlatuiism  at  that  time  as  afterwards,  whey.  I 
mm  tnra  confronted  with  a  blacksmith  of  La  ^lle  Alii- 
MKe,  who  had  been  his  companion  in  a  hiding-place  ten 
rmles  from  the  field  during  the  whole  day ;  a  fact  which 
frc  cooM  not  deny.  But  he  had  got  up  a  tale  so  plausible 
and  so  profitsbie,  that  he  coidd  aflbrd  to  bestow  hush- 
Mooey  on  the  companion  of  his  flight,  so  that  the  uuposi- 
iton  was  but  little  known ;  and  strangers  continued  to  be 
folk^.  He  had  picked  up  a  good  deal  of  Information 
abo^  the  positions  and  details  of  the  l^attle ;  and  being 
natarally  a  sagacious  Wallon,  and  speaking  French  prot- 
ij  fluently,  he  became  ihe  favourite  cicerone^  and  every 
ae  be  told  wm  taken  for  gospel.  Year  after  year,  until 
>Ba  death  in  1884,  he  continued  his  popularity,  and  raised 
ihe  price  of  his  rounds  from  a  couple  of  fraiics  to  five  ; 
*e««ies  as  much  for  the  hire  of  a  horse,  his  own  proper- 
ty ;  for  ho  pretended  that  the  fatigue  of  walking  so  many 
tiours  was  beyond  his  powers.  It  has  been  Said  that  in 
Tbis  way  be  realized  every  summer  a  couple  of  hundred 
Xapoleons. 

"  When  Sir  Walter  had  examined  every  point  of  de- 
fiaiee  ami  attack,  we  adjourned  to  tho  'Oriarinal  Duke  of 
Wellington*  at  Waterloo,  to  lunch  after  the  ialigues  of  the 
nde.  Here  he  had  a  crowded  levee  of  peasaius,  anjl  col- 
lected a  «reat  many  trophies,  from  cuirasses  down  to  but- 
ttXMi  and  bullets.  He  picked  up  himself  many  liule  relics, 
aad  was  fortunate  In  purchasing  a  grand  cross  of  the  legion 
of  honour.  But  the  mo^  precious  memorial  was  pre- 
vented to  hUn  by  my  wife— a  French  soldier's  book,  well 
«ained  with  blood,  and  containing  some  gongs  popular  in 
tfte  French  army,  which  he  found  so  intere^tinz  that  he 
itttfwhiced versions  of  them  in  his* Paul's  Letters;'  of 
which  he  did  me  the  honour  to  send  me  a  copy,  with  a  let- 
ter, »a3rlng;*  that  he  considered  my  wife's  gift  as  tlie  most 
valuable  of  all  his  Waterloo  relics.' 

*"  On  otir  retnok  from  Ihe  field,  he  kmdiy  pa-ssed  the 
•!ve*ing  with  ns,  and  a  few  friends  whom  we  Invited  to 
-aeet  Win.  He  charmed  us  with  his  delightful  conversa- 
{«o.  and  was  in  great  spirits  from  the  agreeable  day  he 
aad  passed ;  and  with  great  good-humour  promised  to 
write  a  stanza  in  rav  wife's  album.    On  the  following 


Boming  h«  tulfilled  his  promise  by  contributing  some 
■^       UfulversesonUougoumont    ' 
32 


ttbraryio  prtTsiit  iBtsrrvpiioa* as  a  gMst. many  parson* 
bad  paraded  In  the  Pare  opposite  my  window  taget  a 
peep  of  the  celebrated  man,  many  having  di^ed  blm 
from  his  hotel. 

'*  Brussels  affords  but  little  worthy  of  the  notice  of  such 
a  traveller  as  the  Author  of  *  Waverley ;'  but  he  greatly 
adoured  the  splendid  tower  of  the  Bialson  de  VilTe,  uid 
the  ancient  sculpture  and  style  of  architecture  of  the 
buildings  which  siurround  the  Grand  Place. 

**  Ho  told  us,  with  great  humour,  a  laughable  incident 
which  had  occurred  to  him  at  Antwerp.  The  morning 
after  his  arrival  at  that  city  from  Holland,  he  started  at  an 
earlv  hour  to  visit  the  tomb  of  Rubens  in  the  Church  of 
St.  Jacques,  before  hi$  party  wore  up.  After  wandering 
about  for  someUme,  without  finding  the  object  he  had  la 
view,  he  determined  to  make  inquiry,  and  observing  a 
person .  stalkios  about,  he  addressed  him  in  his  best 
French  ;  but  the  stranger,  pulUna  oflf  his  hat,  very  re* 
spectfully  replied  in  the  pure  Higmand  accent, '  I'm  vary 
sorrv,  Sir,  but  I  canna  speak  ony  thing  besides  English.' 
—"this  is  very  unlucky  indeed,  Dondfi,'  said  Sir  Walter, 
'  but  we  must  help  one  another  :  for  to  teU  you  the  truth, 
I'm  notgood  at  anv  other  tongue  but  the  English,  orralher, 
tho  Scotch-'— '  Oh,  sir,  maybe,' replied  the  Highlander, 
'  you  are  a  countryman,  and  ken  uiy  maioer  Captain  Ca- 
meron of  the  79th,  and  o>uld  tell  me  whare  he  lo<%e8.  I'm. 
just  cum  in,  sir,  frae  a  place  they  ca'  Macblitiy'  and  ha' 
forgotten  the  name  of  tho  captain's  quarters ;  it  was  sooue- 
thing  like  the  Laaborer.^—^  I  c^ji,  I  think,  help  you  with 
this,  my  friend,'  rejoined  Sir  Waller.'  '  There  is  an  ina 
just  opposite  to  you,  (pointing  to  the  Hoteidu  Grand  La* 
boHTeur ;)  I  dare  say  tluU  will  be  the  captain's  quarters :' 
and  it  was  so.  I  cannot  do  justice  to  the  humour  with 
which  Sir  Walter  recounted  this  dialogue."  t 

The  fallowing  is  the  letter  which  Scott  addressed 
to  the  Duke  of  Buccleuch,  immediately  after  seein|)( 
ihe  field  of  Waterloo  ;  and  it  may  amuse  the  reader 
to  compare  it  with  Major  Gordon^s  chapter,  and 
with  the  writer's  own  luHer,  and  of  course,  "cob- 
bled" detail,  in  the  pagea  of  Paul  :— 

To  hi*  Orttce  the  Duke  qf  Buceieueh,  4%. 

"  My  dear  Lord  Duke, 

**  I  promised  to  let  you  hear  of  my  wanderings,  how* 
ever  unlcnportant ;  and  have  now  the  pleasure  of  inform* 
ing  your  Grace,  that  I  am  at  this  •present  time  an  inhabi* 
tnni  of  the  Premier  Hotel  de  Cambrai,  after  having  been 
about  a  week  upon  the  Continent.  We  landed  at  mlvoet, 
and  proceeded  to  Brussels,  by  Bergen-op-Zoom  and  Ant- 
werp, both  of  which  are  very  wrongly  forUfied.  The  ra- 
vages of  war  are  liule  remarked  in  a  country  so  rich  by 
nature ;  but  every  thing  seems  at  present  staUonary,  or 
rather  retrograde,  where  capital  Is  required.  The  cW 
teaux  are  deserted,  and  goliL£  to  decay ;  no  new  houses 
are  built,  and  those  of  older  date  are  passing  rapidly  into 
the  possession  of  a  class  inferior  to  those  Tot  whom  we 
must  suppose  thcifi  to  have  been  builL  "Even  the  old 
gentlewoman  of  Babylon  has  lost  much  of  her  splendour, 
and  her  robes  and  pomp  are  of  a  description  far  subordi- 
uate  to  the  costume  of  her  rooro»magnuicent  days.  The 
dresses  of  the  priests  were  worn  and^shabbv,  both  at  Ant- 
werp and  Brussels,  and  reminded  me  oi  the  decayed 
wardrobe  of  a  bankrupt  theatre :  yet,  though  the  gentry 
and  priesthood  hare  suffered,  the  eternal  oountv  of  na- 
ture has  protected  the  lower  ranks  against  much  distress. 
The  unexampled  fertility  of  the  soil  gives  them  all,  and 
more  than  they  want ;  and  could  they  but  sell  the  grain 
which  they  raise  in  the  Netherlands,  nothing  else  would 
be  wanting  to  render  them  the  richest  people  (common 
people,  that  is  to  say)  iri  the  world. 

"  On  Wednesday  last,  I  rode  over  the  field  of  Water- 
loo, now  for  ever  coniiecrated  to  immortality.  The  moro 
Khastly  tokens  of  the  carnage  are  now  removed,  tho  bodies 
both  of  men  and  horses  being  either  burned  or  buried; 
but  all  the  ground  is  still  torn  with  the  shot  and  shells, 
and  covered  with  cartridges,  old  liats,  and  shoes,  and  va>  " 
rious  relics  of  the  fray  which  the  peasants  have  not 
thought  worth  removing.  Besides,  at  Waterloo  anrl  oJl 
the  hamlets  in  the  vicinage,  there  is  a  mart  Established 


for  cuirasses  ;  for  the  eagles  worn  by  tho  imperial  suard 
on  their  caps;  for  casques,  swords, carabines, and  simila] 
arUcles.    I  have  bought  tw )  handsome  culra.sse8,  and  in< 


lend  them,  one  for  Bowhill,  tndono  for  Abbotsford,  if  I  can 
get  them  safe  over,  which  Major  Pryse  Goixlon  has  promb 
scd  to  manage  for  me.  I  have  also,  for  your  Orace,  one  of 
the  little  memorandum-books,  which  I  picked  up  on  the 

*  3lecbliD*-tlw  Hifhlandar  gave  it  the  ftmUiar  proouodatjaa 
village,  Maochline,  celebrated  is  many  of  Bunii's 


of  a  dootch 
poems. 
-.  .  w     •  .  ,:  1    I     ^**^  M«uor  Gordon's  Perwoal  Memoin.  (tl 

put  hmi  mto  my  lUUe  1  aK-m  Digitized  by 


LIFE  OF  SIR  WALTER  SOOTT. 


Md,  Ml  wtueh  emj  Fr«oeb  toMler  waa  obHged  to  eater 
his  recelptt  and  expenditare,  his  eervices,  and  even  liii 
punlahmeiits.  The  field  was  covered  with  fngmentm  of 
these  records.  I  also  got  a  good  M9.  collection  of  French 
songSf  probably  the  work  of  some  young  officer,  and  a 
orou  oT  the  Legion  of  Honour.*  I  enclose,  tinder  another 
cover,  a  sketch  of  the  battle,  made  at  Brussels.  It  ii  not, 
I  understand,  strictlr  accurate;  but  sufficiently  so  to 
give  a  good  nodon  of  what  took  place.  In  fact,  it  would 
require  twenty  separate  plans  to  give  an  idea  of  the  battle 
«t  its  various  stages.    The  front,  upon  which  the  armies 

.  engaged,  does  not  exceed  a  long  mile.  Our  line,  indeed, 
originally  extended  half  a-mile  farther  towards  the  village 
of  Brain-la-Leude ;  but  as  the  French  indicated  no  dis- 
position to  attack  in  that  direction,  the  troops  which  oc- 
cupied this  space  were  gradually  concentrated  by  Lord 
Wellington,  and  made  to  advance  till  they  had  reached 
Hoikgoumont— a  sort  of  chateau,  with  a^^rden  and  wood 
attached  to  it,  which  was  powerfully  and  effectually  main- 
tained by  the  Guards  during  the  action.  This  place  was 
particularly  interesthig.  It  was  a  quiet-Iookinc  gentle- 
man's house,  which  had  been  burnt  by  the  French  shells. 

The  defenders,  burnt  out  of  the  house  itself,  betook  them- 
selves to  the  litUe  garden,  where,  breaking  loop-holes 
through  (he  brick  walls,  they  kept  up  a  most  destructive 
lire  on  the  assailants,  who  had  possessed  tbemsehres  of  a 
Uttle  wood  which  surrounoi  the  villa  on  one  side.    In  this 

rvast  numbers  had  fallen :  and,  being  hastily  buried, 
■DseU  is  most  offensive  at  this  moment  Indeed,  I  felt 
the  same  annoyance  in  many  paris  of  the  field  ;  and,  did 
I  live  near  the  spot,  I  should  he  anxious  ahopt  the  <Us> 
eases  which  this  steaming  carnage  might  occasion.    The 


rest  of  the  ground,  excepting  this  ehateau,  and  a  farm- 
house called  La  Hay  Samte,  early  taken,  and  k>ng  held, 
by  the  French,  because  it  was  too  olosd  under  the  brow  of 


the  descent  on  which  our  artillery  wasplaccd  to  admit  of 
the  pieces  bemg  depressed  so  as  to  play  into  it,— the  rest 
of  the  ground.  I  say.  Is  quite  open,  snd  lies  between  two 
rfdges.  one  of  which  (Moat  8t  Jean)  was  constanUy  oc- 
enpied  by  the  English ;  the  other,  upon  which  is  the  farm 
of  La  Belle  AlUance,  was  the  potttion  of  the  French. 
Hie  slopes  between  are  gentle  and  varied ;  the  ground 
every  where  practicable  for  cavalry,  as  was  well  experi- 
enced on  tha(  memorable  day.  The  cuirassiers,  despite 
their  arms  of  proof,  were  quite  inferior  to  our  heavy  dra- 
goons. The  meetihg  of  the  two  bodies  occasiobed  a 
noise,  not  unaptly  compared  to  the  tinkering  and  hammer- 
ing of  a  smith's  shop  Generally  the  cuirassiers  came  on 
■toopingtheir  heads  very  low,  and  giving  point :  the  Bri- 
tish frequenUy  struck  away  their  casques  while  they  were 
In  this  position,  and  then  udd  at  the  t>are  head.  (Officers 
and  soldiers  all  fought,  hand  to  hand,  without  distinction ; 
and  many  of  the  former  owed  their  life  to  dexterity  at 
their  weapon,  and  personal  strength  of  body.  Stiaw,  the 
milling  LlfieOuards'  man,  whom  your  Grace  may  remem- 
ber amonjg  the  champions  of  The  Fancy,  maintained  the 
honour  ofthe  fist,  and  kiDed  or  dBsabled  upwards  of  twen- 
ty Frenchmen  with  his  sinirle  arm,  until  he  was  killed  by 
the  assault  of  numbers.    At  one  place,  where  there  Is  a 

Srecipitous  sand  or  gravel  pit,  the  heavy  English  cavalry 
rove  many  of  the  cuirassiers  over  pellmeU,  and  follow- 
ed over  themsclvea  like  fox- hunters.  The#:onduct  of  the 
.  infantry  and  arUUei'y  was  equally,  or.  If  possible,  more 
'  distinguished,  and  it  was  all  fully  necessary  ;  for,  be- 
sides that  our  army  was  much  outnumbered,  a  great  part 
of  the  sum-total  were  foreigners.  Of  these,  the  Bnins- 
wickers  and  Hanoverians  behaved  very  well :  the  Bel- 
gians but  sorrily  enough.  On  one  occasion,  when  a  Bel- 
Sc  regiment  fairiv  ran  off.  Lord  Wellington  rode  up  to 
lem,  and  said,  *  My  lads,  you  much  be  a  little  blown : 
come,  do  take  your  breath  for  a  moment,  and  then  we'll 
go  back,  and  try  if  we  can  do  a  litUe  better;'  and  he  ac- 
tually carried  tnem  back  to  the  charge.  He  was,  hideed, 
upon  that  day,  every  where,  and  the  soul  of  eveiy  thing  ; 
nor  could  less  than  his  personal  endeavours  have  sup- 
poried  the  spirits  of  the  men  through  a  contest  so  long, 
so  desperate,  and  so  unequal.  At  bis  last  attack,  Buona- 
parte brought  up  16^000  of  his  Guard,  who  had  never 
drawn  trigger  during  the  day.  It  was  upon  their  failure 
that  his  hopes  abandoned  him. 

**  I  spoke  long  with  a  shrewd  Flemish  peasant,  called 
John  Do  Costar,  whom  he  had  seized  upon  as  his  guide, 
and  who  remained  beside  him  the  whole  day,  and  after- 
wards accompanied  him  in  his  flight  as  far  as  Cliarleroi. 
Tour  Grace  may  be  sure  that  I  Uiterrogated  Mynheer 
very  closely  about  what  he  heard  and  saw.  He  guided 
me  to  the  spot  where  Buonaparie  remained  during  the 
latter  part  of  the  action.  It  was  In  the  highway  from 
Brussels  to  Charleroi,  where  it  runs  between  two  high 
banka,  on  each  of  which  was  a  French  battery.  He  was 
pretty  well  sheltered  from  the  English  fire ;  and,  though 
many  bullets  flew  over  his  head,  neither  he  nor  any  of 
MS  suite  were  touched.  His  other  stations,  during  that 
day,  were  still  more  remote  from  all  danger.    The  story 


of  his  haviog  an  obserfMonr  erected  Ibr  Mm  ifaaiilika. 
There  is  such  a  tblnc,  ana  he  repaired  to  ttdortof  tb* 
action ;  but  It  was  buUt  or  ereotea  some  mooibe  belbr*. 


for  the  purpose  of  a  trigonometrical  survey  of  the  countrjr, 
by  the  King  ofthe  Netherlands.  Bony'e  last  position  was 
neariy  fronting  a  tree,  where  the  Duke  of  Wellington  wm 
stationed;  there  was  not  more  than  a  quarter  of  a  mile  be- 
tween them ;  but  ^ny  was  well  sheltered,  and  the  1>ak« 
so  much  exposed,  Uiat  the  tree  is  barked  in  several  pUc«s 
bv  the  cannon-balls  leveQe^  at  him.  As  for  Bony,  De 
Costar  says  he  was  very  cool  durins  the  whole  day,  and 
even  gay.  As  the  cannon-balls  flew  over  them,  De 
Costar  ducked;  at  which  the  Emperor  laughed,  and  told 
him  they  would  hit  him  all  the  aame.  At  leiyrth,  about 
the  time  he  made  his  crand  and  last  effort,  (he  Ore  of  xJi« 
Prussian  artillery  was  heard  upon  his  right,  and  the  heeds 
of  their  columns  became  visible  pressing  out  of  the  woods. 
Aid-de-camp  after  aid-de-camp  came  with  the  tidings  of 
their  advance,  to  which  Bony  only  replied,  cUtendex^  ai^ 
lendet  un  inttant.  tmtil  he  saw  ms  troops, /snloMiMs  ei 
cavaUen,  return  in  disorder  from  the  attack.  He  thmi 
observed  hastily  to  a  general  beside  htm,  je  eroi»  fti'tis 


•onL  meie*.  The  person  to  whom  he  qxAe.  hastily  i 
the  spyglass  to  his  eye ;  but  Bony,  whrnn  the  firM  glsDce 
had  satisfied  of  their  total  discomfiture,  bent  his  uce  oa 
the  ground,  snd  shook  his  head  twiceThis  complexion  be- 
ing then  as  pale  as  death.  The  general  then  said  eome 
thing,  to  which  Buonaparie  answered,  c*e9t  trop  lord— 
9auvon9  nous.  Just  at  that  moment  the  allied  troops, 
cavalry  and  infantry,  appeared  in  fun  aavance  on  an  banaB ; 
and  the  Prussians  operating  upon  the  right  llaak  of  the 
French,  were  rapidly  gaining  their  rear.  Bony,  therefors, 
was  compelled  to  abandon  the  high-road,  which,  besides, 
was  choxed  with  dead,  with  ba^af^i  and  with  cennos ; 
and,  gaining  the  open  country,  kept  al  fiill  gaUcw,  until  be 
gained,  like  Johnnie  Cope,  the  van  of  the  flying  armj. 
The  marshals  followed  his  example :  and  it  was  the  mosK 
complete  tauve  qui  pent  that  can  well  be  imaglnad.  Ner- 
ertheless,  the  prisoners  who  were  brought  into  Bmeeels 
maintained  their  national  impudence,  and  bokUy  avowed 
their  Intention  of  sacking  the  city  with  every  sort  of  se- 
verity. At  the  same  tUne  they  had  friends  there.  .One 
msn  of  rank  and  wealth  went  over  to  Bony  during  the  ac- 
tion, and  I  saw  his  hotel  convened  into  an  hoapiial  for 
wounded  soldiers.  It  occupied  one  half  of  one  of  the 
sides  of  the  Place  Royale,  a  noble  square,  which  yoor 
Grace  has  probably  seen.  But,  in  general,  the  inbabitsnts 
of  Brussels  were  very  differentiy  disposed ;  and  their  be- 
nevolence to  our  poor  wounded  fellows  was  unbounded. 
The  difficulty  was  to  prevent  them  from  killiBg  tbeir 
guests  with  kindness,  by  giving  them  butcher's  meat  and 
wine  during  their  fever.  As  fcannot  put  my  letter  into 
post  until  we  get  to  Paris,  I  shall  continue  it  as  we  f  e( 

"  uthAugu$ty  Roye^  in  Pui(urdy.—\  imagine  your  Gnce 
about  this  time  to  be  tolerably  well  fagged  with  a  hard  da/ 
on  the  moors.  If  the  weather  has  been  as  propltiotis  as 
with  us,  it  must  be  delightful  The  countir  throqgb 
which  we  have  travelled  is  most  uncommonly  fertile,  and 
skirted  with  beautiful  woods ;  but  iu  present  poIiticaL 
situation  is  so  very  uncommon,  ^lat  I  would  give  the  world 
your  Grace  had  come  over  for  a  fbrtnight  France  umj 
be  considered  as  neither  at  peace  or  war.  Valenciennes, 
for  example,  is  in  a  state  of  blockade ;  we  passed  through 
the  posts  of  the  allies,  all  in  the  utmost  stste  of  vigilance:, 
with  patroles  of  cavalry,  and  videttes  of  infantry,  up  to  the 
very  gates,  and  two  or  tnree  batteries  were  manned  and 
moimted.  The  French  troops  were  equally  vigilant  at 
the  gates,  yet  made  no  objection  to  our  passing  through 
the  town.  Most  of  them  had  the  white  cockade,  traC 
looked  very  sulky,  and  were  in  obvious  dtsordcr  and  con- 
fusion. Tney  lisid  not  yet  made  their  terms  with  the  King^ 
nor  accepted  a  commander  appointed  by  him  ;  but  as  the/ 
obviously  feel  their  party  desperate,  the  soldiers  are  ran- 
ning  trom  the  officers,  and  the  officers  from  the  sol<fiera. 
In  feet,  the  multiplied  hosts  which  pour  into*  this  country, 
exhibiting  all  the  various  dresses  and  forms  of  war  whicli 
can  be  imagined,  must  necessarily  render  resistance  im- 
practicable. Yet,  like  Satan,  these  fellows  retain  the  on- 
conquered  propensity  to  defiance,  even  in  the  midsC  of 
defeat  and  despair.  This  morning  we  paased  a  great  nam- 
ber  of  the  disbanded  garrison  of  Coade,  and  they  were  Chs 
most  horrid-looking  cut-throats  I  ever  saw,  extremely  de- 
posed to  be  very  Uuolent.  and  only  repressed  by  the  coo- 
sciouniess  that  all  the  villages  and  towns  around  are  oc- 
cuplea  by  the  allies.  They  began  by  crying  to  us,  in  an 
ironical  tone.  Five  <e  Roi ;  then  followed,  totto  voce,  Sscre 
B )  Mute  aabU9f  and  other  graces  of  French  elo- 
quence. I  felt  very  well  pleased  that  we  were  armed, 
and  four  in  number ;  and  stall  more  so  that  it  was  daylifhc, 
for  (hey  seemed  most  mischievous  ruffians.  As  tor  lbs 
appearance  of  the  country,  It  Is,  notwithstsndiog  a  llns 
harvest,  most  melancholy.  The  windows  tff  all  the  de* 
uched  houses  on  ^e|^|i^^ai^^^niformly  shut  op;  and 


Unfi  OP  SSSL  WALTER  SCOTT. 


mi 


fM  •••  f&w  p^iplti  tiMptiof  Um 
itoy»dIndriilMUwcoolftMitton»toiMlntynthe>nnl»c 
Th»  tovDS  are  ntl«  betteTf  having  for  the  moat  put  been 
partidQr  injured  by  ahella  or  br  atoraDiaa  waa  the  caae  both 
of  Casibrai  and  Peroone.  Tne  men  k)oked  Tery  sulky ; 
asd  If  yon  speak  three  words  to  a  woman,  she  is  sure  to 
&fl  a-crytnf .  In  abort,  the  poUieue  and  food  homoor  of 
this  pe<^le  have  fled  with  the  annihilation  of  their  aelf- 
cooceit ;  and  they  look  on  yon  aa  if  they  thought  you  were 
»»»^f»g  at  them,  or  come  to  en3oT  the  triumph  of  our 
arms  over  theira.  Poatmasters  and  faindlorda  are  all  the 
ssme,  and  hardlT  to  be  propitiated  even  by  BngUah  money, 
akboogh  they  cnarge  us  about  three  timea  aa  much  aa 
they  durst  do  to  th^  countryiolka.  Aa  for  the  Pruaaiana. 
a  pirty  of  caTalrr  dined  at  our  hotel  at  Mons,  eat  and 
drank  of  the  beat  the  poor  devila  bad  left  to  aive.  called  for 
(heir  horses,  and  laughed  in  the  fiice  of  the  landlord  when 
be  offered  his  bill,  telling  hUn  they  should  pay  as  they 
came  back,  llie  English,  they  say,  have  always  paid 
kooonrably.  and  upon  these  ther  indemnify  themaelres. 
It  is  Impoeaible  Co  marchander^  lor  If  rou  object,  the  poor 
iHMfiady  boftna  lo  err,  and  telle  you  she  wiliaeeept  what- 
ever  your  urdakip  pleaaea,  but  that  ahe  la  ahnoat  ruined 
and  bankrcmL  Jdc.*  vc,  Ao. 

**ThU  Is  %  kmg  atopld  letter,  bm  I  wiU  endeaTour  to 
send  a  better  Irom  Paria.  Ever  your  Grace's  truly 
obBged,  I 

W.  8coTr.»» 

•Ttie  only  letter  whifh  Scott  tddraMod  to  Jocnna 
Bfeillie.  while  in  Pmrii,  coet  over  partly  the  same 
crooDd  t— I  trmnecnbe  the  reet. 

«ParlB,0di8epcl816. 
"Mr  dear  Friend, 

"I  owe  you  a  longletter,  but  mrkte  traTelsand  the 
date  of  this  epistle  wm  be  a  tolerable  plea  for  rour  Indul- 
fence.  The  troth  IS)  1  became  Tery  restless  after  the  bat- 
tw  of  Waterloo,  and  was  only  detained  by  the  necesaity 
ef  attending  a  friend's  marriage  ftnom  setting  ofT  instantly 
far  the  Contineiit  At  length,  howerer.  I  got  away  to 
bnasels,  and  was  on  the  memorable  field  of  oattle  aooot 
ire  weeks  after  It  had  been  fbacht 

"If  our  army  bad  l^en  all  British,  the  day  would  have 
been  soon  decided ;  but  the  Puke,  or,  aa  they  call  him 
bere,  frooti  his  detestation  of  all  manner  of  foppery,  the 
Bestf,  had  not  above  35,000  British.  AU  thia  was  to  be 
foiled  by  treble  ezertkm  on  the  part  of  our  troops.  The 
Dake  was  oTery  where  during  the  battle ;  and  it  was  the 
aarty  of  heaTen  that  protected  him,  when  all  his  staff  had 
bena  killed  or  wounded  rotmd  him.  I  asked,  among  many 
other  questiooa,  if  he  had  seen  Buonaparte ;  he  atfcL'  No ; 
bat  at  one  time,  from  the  repeated  shouts  of  Five  VEwi- 
perevr,  I  thought  he  must  be  near.'  Thia  waa  when 
John  De  Cofl«ar  placed  him  Va  the  hollow  way.  I  think, 
so  near  as  I  can  Judge,  there  may  at  that  time  hare  been 
a  (marter  of  a  mile  between  these  two  great  generals.        j 

^Th^e  fbte  of  the  French,  after  this  day  ofdeciriTe  ap- 
peal, has  been  serere  enough.  There  were  never  people 
BNne  mortifled^niore  subdued,  and  apparently  more  bro- 
ken in  apUit.  They  submit  with  aad  civiUty  to  the  ex- 
tortions of  the  Prussians  and  the  Russians*  and  avenge 
themselves  at  the  expense  of  the  English,  whom  they 
charge  three  prices  for  every  thing,  because  thev  are  the 
oniy  people  who  pay  at  alL  They  are  in  the  right,  however 
to  enwrce  dtsclpune  and  good  order,  which  not  only  main- 
tains the  national  character  hi  the  mean  time,  but  wiU  pre- 
vent the  army  from  sntTerini  by  habits  of  indulgence.  I 
question  if  the  Prussians  wifi  soon  regain  their  discipline 
and  habits  of  hacdlhood.  At  preaent,  their  powers  or  eat- 
ing and  drinking,  which  are  really  somethin|  pretematu- 
rai,  are  exerted  to  the  very  utmost  A  thin  Pnisaian  boy, 
whom  I  sometimes  see,  eats  hi  one  day  as  much  aa  three 
EngHah  ploughmen.  At  daybreak,  he  roars  for  chocolate 
andens ;  about  nine,  he  .breakfasts  more  solemnly  Ta  la 
fourehette.  when,  besides  all  the  n^ual  apparatua  of  an 
English  d^euner,  he  eats  a  world  of  cnUeta,  oysters, 
fruit,  4tc.,  and  drmks  a  glass  of  brandy  and  a  bottie  of 
champagne.  His  dinner  might  serve  Oaragaotua,  at  which 
he  gets  himself  about  three  parts  drunk— a  circumstance 
wbieb  does  not  prevent  the  clwrge  upon  coM  meat,  with 
tea  and  ebocolate,  about  six  o'clock ;  and  concluding  the 
whole  wrkh  an  immense  aupper.  PosiUvely.  the  appetfte 
of  this  ImI  reminds  one  of  the  Eastern  tale  or  a  man  taken 
out  of  the  sea  by  a  ship's  crew,  who,  hi  return,  ate  up  all 
the  provisions  of  the  vessel  He  was,  I  think,  flown  away 
wUh  by  a  roc ;  bot  fVom  what  quarter  of  the  heavens  the 
French  are  to  look  for  aeUverance  from  these  devourers, 
I  cannot  presume  to  guess. 

**The  needless  wreck  and  ruin  which  they  make  in  the 
boQsea*  Mkte  much  to  the  inconvenience  of  their  presence. 
Koet  Of  the  chJleaux.  where  the  Prusaians  ars  quartered, 
u-e  wtet  ia  technically  called  rumved^  that  Is  to  say,  plun- 
dered out  and  out    In  the  fine  cbiteau  of  Montmorency, 


Ibr  taMtanee,  the  moat  splendU  apaitmsnts,  bUily  ens* 
mented  wtth  gttdlng  and  carving,  w^re  converted  bite  bgi'- 
raclca  for  the  diniest  and  moat  aavase-looking  hussars  I 
have  yet  aee%  Imagine  the  work  these  fellows  make 
with  velvet  hangings  and  embroiderv.  I  saw  onf  bag  boil- 
ing her  camp-kettle  with  part  of  aolcture  frame ;  the  pic- 
ture ttaelf  baa  probably  gone  to  Pruasia.  With  all  this 
greediness  and  leve  oi  miachief,  the  Prussians  are  not 
Blood-thirsty ;  and  their  utmost  violence  seldom  exceeds 
a  blow  or  two  with  the  fUt  of  the  sabre.  They  are  also 
very  civil  to  the  women,  and,  in  both  respects,  behave 
much  better  than  the  French  did  in  their  countrr ;  but 
they  follow  the  bad  example  quite  cloae  enough  for  the 
sake  of  humanity  and  of  cUscipline.  As  for  our  people, 
they  live  tan  a  most  orderly  and  regular  manner.  All  the 
young  men  pique  themselves  on  imitating  the  Duke  ot 
Wemngton  in  nm  chq^nce  and  coolness  of  manner;  ao 
they  wander  about  every  where,  with  their  hands  in  the 
pocketa  of  their  long  waiatcOats,  or  canftring  upon  Cos- 
aack  ponies,  staring  and  whiatUng.  and  trotting  to  and  fh>, 
aa  if  all  Paris  was  theira  The  French  hate  them  sofB- 
ciently  for  Ifae  hauteur  of  their  manner  and  pretensiona, 
but  the  grounds  of  dialike  against  us  are  drowned  ll  the 
actual  deteatatlon  aflbrded  by  the  other  powera. 

**Thls  mor»'"g  I  saw  a  grand  military  apectaclc.— about 
20,000  Rusaiana  paaa  In  review  before  all  the  Kings  and 
Pontinationa  who  are  now  realdent  at  Paria.  The  Bmpe* 
ror.  King  of  Prussia,  Duke  of  Wellington,  with  their  nu- 
merous and  brilliant  attendance  of  generals,  stafT-ofiicers, 
Ac.,  were  in  the  centre  of  what  la  called  the  Place  Louis 
Quinze,  almost  on  the  jerj  spot  where  Louis  XVI.  was 
beheaded.  A  very  long  avenue,  which  faces  the  atatioa 
where  they  were  placed,  was  like  a  glowing  ftirnace,  so 
fiercely  were  the  sunbeams  reflected  from  the  anna  of 
the  host  by  which  it  was  filled.  A  bodv  of  Cossaclca  kept 
the  ground  with  their  pikes,  and  by  their  wQd  appearance, 
added  to  the  singularity  of  the  scene.  On  one  nand  was 
the  extended  line  of  the  TuUeries,  seen  through  the  gar- 
dens and  the  rows  of  orange  trees ;  on  the  other,  the  loag 
column  of  troops  advancing  to  the  music  Behind  was  a 
long  cdodliade,  forming  the  front  to  the  palaee,  where  the 
Chamberof  Representadves  are  to  bold  theUr  alttings; 
and  In  flront  of  4he  monarchs  waa  a  superb  row  of  build- 
ings, on  which  you  distlngnish  the  bronze  pillar  erected 
by  Napoleon  to  commemorate  hla  victories  over  Russia, 
Prusm,  and  Austria,  whoae  princes  were  now  reviewing 
their  victorious  armlea  hi  what  waa  so  lately  his  capitaT 
Tour  fancy,  my  dear  friend,  will  anticipate,  better  than  I 
can  expreaa,  the  thouaand  aenttments  which  aroae  Infmy 
mind  from  witnesdng  such  a  aplendid  scene,  in  a  spot 
connected  with  such  various  associations.  It  may  give 
you  some  idea  of  the  feeUnga  of  the  French— once  ao 
fond  of  specfoctea— io  Imow  that,  I  think,  there  were  not 
a  hundred  of  that  nation  looking  oil  Vet  this  country 
will  soon  recover  the  actual  losses  she  haa  sustained,  for 
never  waa  there  a  soil  so  blessed  by  nature,  or  ao  rich  In 
com,  wine,  and  oil,  and  in  the  animated  industry  of  Its  In- 
habitanta.  France  Is  at  preaent  the  fabled  giant,  strug- 
gling, or  rather  lying  supine,  under  the  load  of  mountains 
which  have  oeen  precipitated  on  her;  but  ahe  is  not  and 
cannot  be  cruahed.  Remove  the  incumbent  weight  ef 
600,000  or  700,000  foreigners,  and  ahe  wiB  soon  stand  up- 
right—happy, if  experience  ahall  have  taught  her  to  be 
contenteu  to  exert  her  natural  strength  only  for  her  own 

frotection,  and  not  for  the  annoyance  of  her  neighbours, 
am  cut  abort  in  my  lucubrations,  by  an  opportunity  to 
aend  thia  letter  with  Lord  Castlereagh's  despatchea ;  which 
is  of  less  consequence,  as  I  will  endeavour  to  see  you  in 
passing  through  London.  I  leave  this  dtv  for  Dieppe  on 
Satur&y,  but  1  intend  to  go  round  by  Harfleur,  if  possible. 
Bver  your  truly  obliged'and  afl'ectionate 

.WALTBaSoOTT.*' 

"Paul"  modestly  acknowledges,  in  his  last  letter, 
the  personal  attentions  which  ne  received  while  in 
Pans,  from  Lords  Cathcart,  Aberdeen,  and  Castle- 
reagh :  and  hints  that,  throiigh  their  intervention, 
he  had  witnessed  several  of  the  splendid /S/e«/dven 
by  the  Dnke  of  Wellington,  where  he  saw  half  the 
crowned  heads  of  Europe  grouped  among  the  gal- 
lant soldiers  who  had  cut  a  wav  for  them  to  the 
guilty  capital  of  France.  Scott's  reception,  how- 
ever, had  been  distinguished  to  a  degree  of  which 
Panrs  language  giYes  no  notion.  The  noble  lords 
above-named,  welcomed  him  with  cordial  satisfac- 
tion ;  and  the  Duke  of  Wellington,  to  whom  he  waa 
first  presented  by  Sir  John  fialcolin,  treated  him 
theii,  and  ever  afterwards,  with  a  kindness  atid 
confidence,  which,  I  have  often  heard  him  sar,  he 
considered  as  **  the  highest  distinction  of  his  Me.'* 
He  used  to  tell,  with  great  effect,  the  ch-cumstancea 
of  his  inttoduction  to  the  ^^Jff^or  Alegander,^|p 


7» 


LIFE  OF  SIR  WALTER  SCOTT. 


dinner  given  by  the  Barl  of  Cathcart  Seott  ap- 
1»ared,  on  that  occasion,  in  the  bhie  and  red  dress 
of  the  Selkirkshire  Lieutenancy ;  and  the  Czar's 
first  question,  glancing  at  his  famenpss,  was,  "  hi 
what  affair  were  you  wounded!"  Scott  signified 
that  he  suffered  rrom  a  natural  infirmity;  upon 
which  the  Emperor  said,  "  I  thought  Lord  Calhcart 
mentioned  ihat  you  had  served.  Scott  observed 
that  the  Earl  looked  a  Utile  embarrassed  at  this, 
and  promptly  answered,  "O,  yes;  in  a  certain  sense 
I  have  served— that  is,  m  the  yeomanry  cavalry ;  a 
home  force  resembling  the  Landwehr,  or  Land- 
srtirm."— "Under  what  commander 7"—"  Sous  M. 
le  Chevalier  Rae."— "  Were  you  ever  engaged  T*— 
*'In  some  slight  actions— such  as  the  battle  of  the 
Cross  Causeway,  and  the  afiair  of  Moredun-Mill."— 
'*  This,"  says  Mr.  Pringle  of  Whyibank,  "  was,  as 
he  saw  in  Lord  Cathcart's  face,  quite  sufficient,  so 
he  managed  to  turn  the  conversation  to  some  other 
subject."  It  was  at  the  same  dinper  that  he  first 
mefPlatoflli*  who  seemed  to  take  a  great  fancjr  to 
him,  though,  adds  my  friend,  "I  really  don't  think 
they  had  any  common  language  to  converse  in." 
Next  day,  however,  when  Pringle  and  Scoit  were 
walking  together  in  the  Rue  de  la  Paix,  the  Hetman 
happened  to  come  up,  cantering  with  some  of  his 
Cossacks;  as  soon  as  he  saw  Scott,  he  jumpecj  off 
his  horse,  leaving  it  to  the  Pulk,  apd,  running  up  to 
him,  kissed  him  on  each  side  of  the  cheek  with  ex- 
traordinary demonstrations  of  aflection— and  then 
made  him  understand,  through  an  aid-de-camp,  that 
he  wished  him  to  join  his  staff  at  the  next  great  re- 
view, when  he  would  take  care  to  mount  him  on  the 
gentlest  of  his  Ukraine  horses.  So  mounted,  ac- 
cordingly, he  witnessed  the  great  closing  ^pec/ac/e  on 
the  Champ  dc  Mart. 

It  will  seem  less^rprising  that  Soott  should  have 
been  honoured  with  much  attention  by  the  leading 
soldiers'  and  statesmen  of  Germany  then*  in  Paris. 
The  fame  of  his  poetry  had  already  fieen  established 
for  some  years  in  that  country.  Yet  it  may  be  doubl- 
ed whether  Bluohcr  had  heard  of  Marmion  any 
more  than  Platoff ;  and  old  fiiticher  struck  Scott's 
fellow  travellers  as  taking  more  interest  in  him  than 
any  foreign  general,  except  only  the  Hetman.  ^ 

A  striking  passage  in  Paul's  tenth  letter  indicates 
the  high  notion  whi-h  Scott  had  formed  of  the  pCT- 
sonal  qualities  of  the  Prince  of  Orange.  After  de- 
picting?, with  ahnost  prophetic  accuracy,  the  dan- 
fcrs  to  which  the  thou  recent  union  of  Holland  and 
lelgium  must  be  exposed,  he  concludes  with  ex- 
pressing his  hope  that  the  firmness  and  sagacity  of 
the  King  of  the  Netherlands,  and  the  admiration 
which  hisheir's  character  and  bcarin  g  excited  among 
alK  even  Belgian  observers,  might  ultimately  prove 
effective  in  redeeming  this  difficult  experiment  from 
the  usual  failure  of  '^  arrondissemtnts^  indemnities, 
and  all  the  other  terma  of  modern  date,  under  sanc- 
tion of  which  cities  and  districts,  and  even  kingdoms, 
have  been  passed  from  one  government  to  another, 
as  the  property  of  lauds  or  stock  is  trani<ferred  by  a 
bargain  between  private  parties." 

It  is  not  less  curious  to  compare  with  the  subse- 
quent course  of  affairs  in  France,  tne  following  brief 
hint  in  Paul's  sixteenth  letter.— "The  general  ral- 
lying point  of  the  Liberalistes  ia  an  avowed  dislike 
to  the  prcf'pni  monarch,  and  nis  immediate  con- 
nt'Xio.is.  They  will  sacrifice,  they  pretend,  so  much 
to  the  general  inclinations  of  Europe,  as  to  select  a 
kins;  from  the  Bourbon  race;  but  he  must  be  one  of 
their  own  c+ioosin;:,  and  the  Duke  of  Orleans  is 
most  fnmilior  in  their  mouths."  Thus,  in  its  very 
biu),  had  his^ye  dttected  the  con  juration  de  quinze 
ans! 

Among  the  gay  parties  of  this  festive  period,  Scott 
mentioned  with  special  pleasure  one  fine  day  given 

•  3cott  ackwwlcilr^.  in  a  notn  to  St.  Ronan's  Well,  (vol.  i., 
i>  25'i.)  thut  he  took  fniin  Platofl  thin  portrait  of  Mr.  Touch- 
wooil :— ••  Hu  tJicc,  which  at  tije  dittanop  of  a  yard  or  two. 
keemoil  bale  mw[  sniu>Ph.  nppoun^,  mhea  clgaely  examined,  to 
he  •enimHl  with  a  iniilion  ofwrinkW.  croasinr  each  other  in 
«%cry  djrecti»«i  poM>ft»lc,  biU  as  fine  an  if  drawn  hv  the  point  of  a 
vary  tine  nea<Jle."  Thiw  did  etery  littJe  "peculiwity  reraain  tren- 
YOreU  in  his  momury,  to  lie  itoed  in  due  time  Ibr  fivinf  the  air  of 
.Minute  reality  to  lome  irao^ory  penouacc. 


to  an  euuraon  toErmenonviUe,  andorihe  t 

of  Lady  CastierMgh.    TIm  eompany  ww  a  I 

one,  including  most  of  the  distinguisbed  personages 
whom  I  have  been  naming,  and  they  dined  a/^earo 
among  the  scenes  of  Rodsseau's  reurement,  but  in  a 
fashion  less  accordant  with  the  spirit  of  bis  rtt cries 
'dun  promeneur  solitaire^  than  with  the  sons  which 
commemorates  some  earlier  tenants  of  that  oelicioua 
valley— 

«  Ca  belle  Gabrielle 

Etoit  rlans  ces  lieiuc— 
Et  le  Rouvenir  d'ellc 

Nous  read  heureox,"  &c. 

At  some  stage  of  this  merry  day's  proceedinn,  the 
ladies  got  tired  of  walking,  and  one  of  Lord  Ca8t]e- 
reagh*s  y<^ung  diplomatists  was  despatched  into  a 
village  in  quest  of  donkeys  for  their  accommodatioii. 
The  attache  returned  by  and  by  with  a  (ace  of  <KaaD 
pointment,  complaining  that  the  charaa  the  pe 
made  wasaaextrava^nt,  he oofuid not tnink  of; 
ing  to  the  extortion.  ''Marital  Forwards"  84ud  „  _ 
thing,  botnodded  to  an  aid-de-camp.  They  bad  pass- 
ed a  Prussian  picket  a  little  while  beiorer-three  tiiiMS 
the  requisite  number  of  donkeys  appeared  preaenrty, 
driven  before  half  a  dozen  husssrs,  who  were  fol- 
lowed by  the  aemnring  popujatioikof  the  refhietory 
hamlet;  aod  '* an  angry  man  was  Bliidier,"  srtd 
Scott,  '*  when  Lord  Castlereasfa  eoiide0c«Dda4  •• 
go  among  them,  all  smiles,  ana  sent  them  back  with 
more  Nspoleons  than  perhaps  the  fee-ainple  of  tha 
whole  stud  was  worth." 

.Another  evening  of  more  peaceful  enjoyment  ham 
left  a  better  record.  But  I  need  not  quote  here  Uia 
**  Lines  on  St.  Cloud-"^  They  were  sent,  on  the  LGth 
of  August,  to  the  late  Lady  Alvanley,  with  whom 
and  her  daughters  he  spent  much  of  bis  tune  whHe 
in  Paris. 

As  yet,  t  he  Hterary  reputation  of  Scott  had  made  but 
little  way  among  the  French  nation;  but  some  few  ol 
their  eminent  men  vied  even  with  the  enthusiastic 
Germans  in  their  courteous  and  unwearied  atlentiona 
to  him.  The  venerable  Chevalier,  in  pariieular 
seemed  anxious  to  embrace  every  opportunity  </ 
acting  as  his  Cicerone;  and  many  momings^Heir 
spent  in  exploring,«nderhis  guidance^  the  most  re- 
markable scenes  and  objects  of  historical  and  aqiii 
quarian  interest,  both  in  Paris  and  its  neighfaovr 
hood.  He  several  times  nlso  entertained  Scott  and 
his  young  companions  at  dinner ;  but  the  last  of  thoae 
dinners  was  thoroughly  poisoned  by  a  prehminary 
circumstance.  The  poet,  on  entering  the  sak>on, 
was  presented  to  a  stranger,  whose  physiognomy 
struck  him  as  the  most  hideous  he  had  ever  seen  ; 
nor  was  bin  disgust  lessened,  when  he  found, -a  few 
minutes  afterwards,  that  he  had  undergone  the 
accoUade  of  David    of  the  blood-stained  brush." 

From  Paris,  Mr.  Bruce  and  Mr.  Pringle  went  on 
to  Switzerland,  leaving  the  poet  and  Gala  to  return 
h<  gcther,  which  they  di4  by  way  of  Dieppe. 

B  ,  and  London.    It  was  here,  on  the  Utti  of 

S<  er,  that  Scott  had  that  last  meeting  with 

L  x>n,  alhided  to  in  his  communication  to  Mr. 

M  Iready  quoted.    He  carried  his  yoong  friaml 

in  ..ib  liioming  to  call  on  Lord  Byron,  who  s^oed 
to  dine  with  them  at  their  hotel,  where  he  met  also 
Charles  Matthews  snd  Daniel  Terry.  The  onlj 
survivor  of  the  party  has  recorded  it  in  nisnote-booK 
as  the  most  interesting  day  he  ever  spt  nt.  **  How  I 
did  stare,''  he  says,  "at  Byron's  beautiful  pale  face» 
like  a  spirit's— good  or  evil.  But  he  was  biU€» — 
what  a  contrast  to  Scott  1  Among  other  anecdo:a# 
of  British  prowess  and  spirit,  Scott  mentioned  that 

a  young  gentleman had  been 

awfullv  shot  in  the  bead  while  conveying  an  order 
from  the  Duke,  and  yet  staggered  on.  and  delivered 
his  message  when  at  the  point  of  death.  *Ha  !'said 
Qyron,  'I  dare  ^ay  he  could  do  as  well  as  moiit  people 
without  his  head— it  was  never  of  much  use  to  him.* 
Waterloo  did  not  deliqhi  him,  probably— and  Scott 
could  talk  or  think  of  scarcely  any  thing  el»e." 

3Intihews  accompanied  them  as  far  sa  Warwick 
and  Kenilworth,  both  of  which  castles  the  poet  bed 
•  See  Poetical  Woik«,  vol ».  pi  906. 
•  Digitized  by  viiOOQlC 


UFE  OF  SIR  WALTER  SCOTT. 


SO 


Men  b^re,  hut  now  re-examined  with  particultr 
cnnosity.  They  spent  a  night  on  this  occasion  at 
Birmingham ;  and  early  next  momine  Scott  sallied 
forth  to  provide  himseli  with  a  planter  a  knife  of  the 
most  complex  contrivance  and  finished  workman- 
ship. Havhig  secured  one  to  his  mind,  and  which 
for  many  years  after  Was  his  constant  pocket-com- 
panion, he  wrote  his  name  on  a  card,  **  Walter 
Scott,  Abbotsford."  and  directed  it  to  be  en^aved  on 
the  handle.  On  his  mentionins  this  acquisition  at 
brei^diBst,  young  Gala  expressed  his  desire»to  couip 
himself  in  like  fashion,  and  was  directed  to  the  shop 
accordinsly.  When  he  had  purchased  a  similar 
knife,  ana  produced  his  name  in  turn  for  the  engraver, 
the  master  cutler  eyed  the  signature  for  a  moment, 
and  exclaimed—"  John  Scott  of  Gala !   Well,  I  hope 

Jour  ticket  may  serve  me  in  asgood  stead  as  another 
Ir.  Scott's  has  iust  done.  Upon  my  word,  one  of 
my  beat  men,  an  nohest  fellow  from  the  Nortbi  went 
out  of  his  senses  when  he  saw  it— he  qifered  me  a 
week's  work  if  I  would  let  him  keep  it  to  himself— 
and  I  took  Saunder»  at  his  word."  Scott  used  to 
talk  of  this  at  one  of  the  most  gratifying  compli- 
meate  he  ever  received  in  his  Uteranr  oapaoity. 

Their  next  hak  was  at  Rokeb? ;  but  sinoe  Soott 
had  heard  from  thence,  Bbs.  jnorrttt's  illness  had 
made  such  alarming  progress,  that  the  travellere  re- 
gretted Slaving  obtrudea  themselves  on  the  scene' 
of  affliction,  and  resumed  their  journey  early  next 
monuDK: 

Re^ohmgAbbotsford,  Seott  found  with  hiafismily 
hn  cAd  friend  Mr.  Skene  of  Rubblaw,  who  had  ex< 
peeled  him  to  come  home  sooner,  and  James  Ballan- 
tyne,  who  had  arrived  with  a  copious  budget  of  billa, 
calendars,  booksellere'  letters,  and  proof-sheets. 
From  each  of  these  visiters'  memoranda  1  now  ex- 
tract an  anecdote.  Mr.  Skene's  is  of  a  small  enough 
matter,  but  still  it  places  the  man  so  completely  be- 
fore inysel^  ^^iJ  *™  ^^  ^^  thought  it  worth  set- 
tingr  down.  .  "During  Scott's  absence,''  says  his 
friend,  *'  his  wife  had  had  the  tiny  drawing-room  of 
the  cottage  fitted  up  with  new  chintz  tumiture— 
every  thing  had  been  set  out  in  the  best  style— and 
she.  ^nd  her  jgirls  had  been  lookinf^  forward  to  the 
pleasure  which  they  supposed  the  little  surprise  of 
the  arrangements  would  give  hioL  He  was  recei- 
ved in  the  spruce  fresh  room,  set  himself  comfort- 
ablr  down  in  the  chair  prepared  for  him,  and  remain- 
ed in  the  full  enjoyment  of  his  own  fireside,  and  a 
return  to  his  famuy  circle,  without  the  least  con- 
sciousness that  any  change  had  taken  place— until, 
at  lengthj  Mrs.  Soott's  patience  could  hold  out  no 
longer,  and  his  attention  was  expressly  called  to  it. 
The  vexation  he  showed  at  having  caused  such  a 
^  disappooitment,  struck  me  as  amiably  chiiracteristic 
—ana  in  the  course  of  the  evening,  he  every  now 
and  then  threw  out  some  word  of  admiration,  to  re- 
console  mamma}* 

Ballantyne's  note  of  their  next  morning's  confer- 
ence is  in  these  terms.  **  He  had  jtist  been  reviewing 
a  pageant  of  emperore  and  kings,  which  seemed,  like 
anouier  Field  of  the  Cloth  of  Gold,  to  have  been  got 
np  to  realize  before  hb  eyes  some  of  his  own  splen- 
did descxiptions.  I  begged  him  to  tell  me  what  waa 
the  general  impressions  left  on  his  mind.  He  an- 
swered, that  he  might  now  say  he  had  seen  and  con- 
versed with  all  classea  of  society,  from  the  palace  to 
the  cottage,  and  including  every  conceivable  shade 
of  sdence  and  ignorance— out  that  be  had  never  felt 
awed  or  abashed  except  in  the  presence  of  one  man 
^tke  Duke  of  Wellington.  I  expressed  some  sur-. 
priae.  He'said  I  ought  not,  for  that  the  Duke  of  Wei- 
Dngton  possessed  every  one  mighty  quality  of  the 
mind  in  a  higher  degree  than  any  other  man  did,  or 
had  ever  done.  He  said  he  beheld  in  him  a  great  sol- 
dier and  a  great  statesman— the  m-eatest  of  each. 
When  it  was  suggested  that  the  Duke,  on  his  psrt, 
saw  before  hun  a  great  poet  and  novelist,  he  smiled, 
and  sakl,  *  What  would  the  Dake  ofWelKngton  think 
of  a  few  biU  of  novelty  which  perhaps  he  had  never 
raail,  and  for  which  the  strong  probability  is  that  he 
woaki  not  care  a  sixpence  if  he  had  f    Tou  arenot" 

^adds  Ballantype)  "  to  suppose  that  he  looked  either 

L .  __ .  L  ^  embarrassed  m  the  presence  of  the  Duke 


—indeed  you  well  know  that  he  did  not,  and  could 
not  do  so ;  but  the  feeling,  quaUfied  and  modified  as 
I  have  described  it,  unquestionably  did  exist  to  a 
certain  extent.  Its  origin  forms  a  curious  moral 
problem  ;  and  may  probably  be  traced  to  a  secret 
consciouaness,  which  he  might  not  himself  advert 
to,  that  the  Duke,  however  great  as  a  soldier  and 
statesman,  waa  so  defective  in  imagination  as  to 
be  in  capable  of  appreciating  that  which  had  form- 
ed the  cnarm  of  nis  own  life,  as  well  as  of  his 
works." 

It  is  proper  to  add  to  Mr.  Ballantvne's  solution 
of  his  "  curious  moral  problem,"  that  ne  was,  in  his 
latter  days,  a  strenuous  opponent  of  the  Duke  of 
Wellington  s  poUtics ;  to  which  circumstances  he  as- 
cribes, in  thtese  same  mtftnorancfa,  the  only  coolness 
that  ever  occurred  between  him  and  Scott.  I  seed 
hardly  repeat,  what  has  been  already  distinctly  sta- 
ted more  than  once,  that  Scott  never  considered  any 
amount  of  Uterary  distinction  as  entitled  to  be  spo- 
ken of  in  the  same  breath  with  mastery  in  the  higher 
departmenta  of  practical  life— least  of  all,  with  the 
glory  of  a  firet-rate  captain.  To  have  done  things 
worthy  to  be  written,  was  in  his  eyes  a  dignity  to 
which  no  man  mane  any  approach,  who  had  only 
written  things  worthy  to  be  read.  He  on  two  occa- 
sions, which  I  can  never  forget,  betrayed  painful 
uneasiness  when  his  works  were  alluded  to  as  rcr 
fleeting  honour  on  the  age  that  had  produced  Watt's 
improvement  of  the  steam-engine,  and  the  safety- 
lamp  of  Sir  Himiphry  Davy.  Such  was  his  modest 
creed— but  from  all  I  ever  saw  or  heard  of  his  in- 
tercourse ^ith  the  Duke  of  Wellington.  I  am  not 
disposed  to  believe  that  he  partook  it  with  the  only 
man  in  whose  presence  he  ever  felt  awe  and  abash- 

.V '■iirirrtiiTii-;  pa^hMu  l*1t.  Vi nimiii^'.ii.hri  ii  h,  iiif.  ;*  .in 
boi^J'TiI  and  Nt^w^tefid*"  atlbrdB  ua  anoiber  ante 
dc>ti'  ronncf  rcjl  wiih  thia  return  from  Paris.  Twu 
yenr>^  after  thii  nmc^  ^  hcti  tho  amfable  Amt'ricart 
vi'^iTui  Scntt,  he  \vi4kcd  with  him  to  a  quarry,  whyril 
hi^  \f' '  ipk'  wtrc  at  work.  '  Tba  face  of  x  ha  Uurublt^sL 
dcr- '"Sniir"  (heaays^)  "briahientHl  ni  hia  approach 
—all  p:\u?.p'iJ  from  tbdr  laLoiif,  to  have  iipW^ant 
•cr^'t;  v^r  rhe  loird '  Amonc  the  real  waa  a  ia!! 
St  '  !  fellow,  with  a  heaTib^U  campk'Jtion  and 

sH  .     .  aiidasmulJ  round-criiwtu'd  while  hai. 

Hi  liid  Uenflbmit  loehoulder  a  hod,  bul  patiPcd^ 
ainl  Muod  tookiiisai  Seod  wiih  a  pliuhi  api^rkUnff 
of  ins  1*1  uo  eye,  an  if  watting  hia  tura  \  far  the  old  fof- 
low  krif.w  h<?  WBS  a  favounit\  Scott  sccosted  him 
in  -Lii  affable  tone,  snd  a*ked  Tor  a  jpinftb  of  iauff 
Tb^  nld  mnrj  drew  forth  a  horn  BntirMiox.  'Hoor, 
mfin/  said  Scott,  *  not  that  old  mull.  Where's  the 
boTinie  French  one  that  J  broiJS^ht  jou  from  Paris?* 
— '  Trothj  your  honour/  replied  i  he  old  felltpw,  *  eie  a 
muU  a?  ihal  is  nae  for  wcek-daya/  On  kavios  rh© 
quarry,  Scolt  informed  mc  ihaf,  when  absent  at 
Pnr^?,  he  had  purchas«l  aovcral  trtfling  nrticUs  as 
pr:-^'nts  fur  his  deptrndi^nt*,  and,  amoni;  nibf^ti,  th*? 
gav  Tinidf'box  m  qucisiion,  which  was  a-i  rarefuHy  re- 
aerv.  rl  for  Sundays  bjriht^  veteran.  'lE  was  not  sn 
mu;b  t]ie  value  of  the  j?ifiB,'  said  he,  'that  pUflSird 
thcm^  a&Uie  idea  thaj  ihebnrd  i^hnuld  ihiJik  of  tbi  ni 
when  so  far  away.* " 

One  (nore  incident  of  this  return— it  was  told  to 
me  by  himself;  some  years  afterwards,  with  gravity, 
and  even  sadness.  '^  The  last  of  my  chargers,"  he 
said,  '*  was  a  high-spirited  and  very  nandsome  on^ 
by  name  Daisy,  all  over  white,  without  a  speck,  and  *- 
'  with  such  a  mane  as  Rubens  deligb  ted  to  paint.  He 
had,  among  other  good  qualities,  one  always  par-  < 

*  f  think  it  Tenrprobabie  that  Soott  had  hi<  own  6nt  iotcrvi(>w 
with  the  Duke  of  Wellington  in  hig  mind  when  he  described  the  m- 
troduetion  of  Roland  Gmbam  to  the  Regent  Munar.  in  tlw  novel 
of  The  Abbot :— '*  Such  waa  the  penonoffe  before  whom  Roland 


Graham  now  weKoted  himaelf  witli  a  feeling  of  brenthieM  awe. 
verr  diiftrent  ftom  the  usual  boldneaa  and  vivacity  of  hia  temper. 
In  fact  be  waa,  from'edncatioQ  and  nature,  much  more  0B»ily  con-  ^ 


tiollcd  by  the  moral  superiority  arising  from  tlie  elevated  tolenu 
and  renown  of  those  with  whom  he  conversed,  than  by  pretensiona 
founded  only  on  rank  «  external  show.  He  miaht  have  bravod 
with  indiflarenoe  the  presence  of  an  Earl  merely  distlngubbed  by 
his  belt  and  owooet ;  but  he  fbit  overawed  in  that  of  thej^inent  ^ 
soldier  and  statesman,  the  wieider  of  a  natlw'a  power,  and  the 


9M 


LIFE  OP  SIR  WALTER  SCOTT. 


ticnlarly  valuable  in  mycaae,  that  of  standing  like 
a  rock  to  be  mounted.  When  he  was  brouj^ht  to  tho 
door,  after  I  came  home  from  the  Continent,  instead 
of  signifying,  by  the  usual  tokens,  that  he  was  pleas- 
ed to  see  his  master,  he  looked  askant  at  me  like  a 
devil :  and  when  I  put  hiy  foot  in  the  stirrup,  iie 
reared  boll  upright,  and  I  fell  to  the  ground  rather 
awkwardly.  The  experiment  i^s  repeated  twiqe  or 
thrice,  always  with  the  same  result.  It  occurred  to 
me  that  he  might  have  taken  some  capricious  diHike 
to  my  dress ;  and  Tom  Purdie,  wjio  always  falls  heir 
to  the  white  hat  and  green  jacket,  and  so  forth, 
when  Mrs.  Scott  has  made  me  discard  a  set  of  gar- 
ments, wassentfor,  to  try  whether  these  habiliments 
would  produce  him  a  similar  reception  from  his  old 
friend  Daisy :  but  Daisv  allowed  Tom  to  back  him 
with  all  manner  of  gentleness.  The  thing  was  in- ' 
explicable— but  he  had  certainly  taken  some  part  of 
my  conduct  in  high  dudgeon  and  disgust ;  and  after 
trying  him  again,  at  the  interval  ofa  week,  I  was 
obliged  to  part  with  Daisy— and  wars  and  rumours 
of  wars  being  over,  I  resolved  thenpeforth  to  have 
done  with  such  dainty  blood.  I  now  stick  to  a  g:ood 
sober  cob."  Somebody  suggested,  that  Daisy  might 
have  considered  himself  as  ul-used.  by  being  left  at 
home  when  Uu  Laird  went  on  his  journey.  "  Ay," 
■aid  he,  ''  these  creatures  have  many  thoughts  of 
their  Qwn,  no  dotibt  that  we  can  never  penetrate." 
Then,  laughing,  ** Troth,"  said  he.  "maybe  some 
bird  had  whispered  Daisy  that  I  had  been  to  see  the 
r^nd  reviews  at  Paris  on  a  little  scrag  ofa  Cossack, 
while  my  own  gallant  trooper  was  left  behind  bear- 
ing Peter  and  the  post-bac  to  Melrose." 

A  few  letters,  written  shortly  aftef  this  return  to 
Abbouford,  will,  among  other  things,  show  with 
what  leal  he  at  once  resumed  his  literary  industry, 
if  indeed  that  can  be  said  to  have  been  at  all  inter- 
rupted by  a  jpumey,  in  the  coarse  of  which  a  great 
part  of  Paul's  narrative,  and  also  of  the  poem  of 
^*  the  Field  of  Waterloo,"  mnat  have  been  composed. 

To  J.  D  B.  MorrUt,B»g.  M.  f,  iUk$by  Par/k. 

**  Abbotaford,  2d  Oct  18ia 
^MvdearBConrltC 

^  Few  thUif  ■  could  hmve  given  me  more  real  pain, 
than  to  see  Mrs.  Morriu  under  such  severe  suflTcring,  ana 
the  misery  you  sustain  in  witoessins  it  Yet  let  as  trust 
in  the  goodness  of  Providence,  which  restored  the  health 
so  desecredlv  dear  to  you  fh>m  as  great  a  state  of  dcpres- 
sioo  upon  a  former  pceaslon.  Our  visit  was  indeed  a  me- 
lancholy one,  and,  I  fear,  added  to  your  distress,  when, 
Ckxl  knows,  it  required  no  addition.  The  contrast  of  this 
quiet  bird's  ne»t  of  a  place,  with  the  late  scene  of  confu- 
sion and  military  splendour  which  I  have  witnessed,  is 
somethinc  of  a  stunning  nature,  and,  for  the  first  five  or 
six  days,!  have  been  content  to  fold  my  hands,  and  saun- 
ter up  and  down  in  a  sort  of  indolent  and  stupified  tran- 
aulllity,  my  only  attempt  at  occupation  having  gone  no  fkr- 
ler  than  pruning  a  young  tree  now  and  then.  Yester- 
day, however,  and  today,  I  began,  from  necessity,  to 
prune  verses,  and  have  been  correcting  proofs  of  my>  lit- 
tle attempt  at  a  poem  on  Waterloo.  It  will  be  out  this 
week,  and  yon  shall  have  a  «opy  by  the  Carlisle  coach, 
which  pray  judge  favourablyt  and  remember  it  is  not  al- 
ways the  grandest  acUons  which  are  best  adapted  for  the 
arts  of  poetry  and  painting.  I  believe  I  shall  give  offence 
to  my  old  friends  the  Whigs,  by  not  condoling  with  Buo- 
naparte. Since  his  sentence  of  tran!«portaUon,  he  has 
begun  to  look  wonderfully  comelv  in  their  eves.  I  would 
they  had  hanged  him,  that  he  might  have  died  a  perfect 
Adsnis.  Everv  reasonable  creature  must  think  tiie  Bfi- 
oisters  would  have  deserved  the  cord  themselves,  if  t^y 
had  left  him  in  a  condition  again  to  cost  us  the  loss  of 
ip,030  of  our  best  and  bravest,  besides  thirty  millions  of 
ifood  money.  The  very  threats  and  frights  which  he  has 
given  the  wcU-meaning  people  of  this  realm,  (myself  in- 
cluded.) deserved  no  less  a  punishment  than  banishment, 
since  the  *  putting  in  bodily  fear*  makes  so  material  a  part 
of  every  criminal  indictment  But,  no  doubt,  we  shall 
see  Ministers  attacked  for  their  want  of  generosity  to  a 
fallen  enemy,  by  the  same  party  who  la^  vear,  with  bet- 


Sit  grounds,  assailed  them  for  having  left  him  in  a  situsr 
on  again  to  disturb  the  tranquillitr  or  Europe.    My  young 
friend  Gala  has  left  me,  after  a  short  visit  to  Abbotsford. 


He  is  my  nearest  (conversable)  neighbour,  and  I  promise 
myself  much  comfort  in  him,  as  he  has  a  turn  both  for 
tm  sciences  and  for  the  arts^  rather  uncommon  among 
ov  young  Soetsli  lairds.    He  was  delighted  wllb  Rokeby 


audits  ford,  though  he  saw  both  at  so  mehneholy  a  •» 
riod,  and  ondurei  not  only  vnth  good  humour  but  wilk 
ayiAathy,  the  stupidity  ol^his  fellow-travcUer,  who  was 
not  by  any  means  daru  ion  briltani  for  some  time  after 
leaving  you.  «      .      . 

\\e  visited  (3orby  CaStle  on  our  return  to  Scotland, 
which  remains,  in  point  of  situation,  as  beautiful  as  when 
its  walks  were  celebrated  by  David  Hume,  in  the  only 
rhymes  he  was  ever  known  to  be  guilty  of.  Here  they 
are,  from  a  pane  of  glass  in  an  inn  at  Cailisle  : — 

*  Here  chicks  in  eggs  for  breakfast  sprawl. 
Here  sodless  boys  God's  glories  squall. 
Here  Scotchmen's  heads  do  guard  the  walL 
But  Corby's  walks  atone  for  all.' 

Would  in  not  be  a  good  quiz  to  advertise  7%e  PoeHcai 
Workg  of  David  HutMy  with  notes,  critical,  hlstorieaL 
and  so  forth— with  an  historical  inquiry  into  the  use  of 
eggs  for  breakfast;  a  physical  discussion  on  the  causes 
oftheir  being  addled  ;  a  history  of  the  English  churcb 
music," and  of  the  choir  of  Cariisle  in  particular;  a  fad 
account  of  thoaflMr  of  1746,  with  the  trials,  last  speeches, 
and  so  forth,' of  the  poor  pkstdff  who  were  smipped  op  ac 
Carlisle;  and,  lasUy,a  full  and  particolar  deseription  of 
Corby,  with  the  geneakigy  of  every  iamlly  who  evsr 
possessed  U 1  I  think,  even  without  more  than  the  ssnsl 
waste  of  margin,  the  Poems  of  David  would  make  a  <ls- 
cent  twelve  shilling  touch.  I  shall  think  about  it,  when  I 
have  exhausted  mme  own  century  qf  invention§. 

'^  I  do  not  knew  whether  it  is  perverseness  of  taate,  or 
old  associations,  but  sn  excellent  and  very  handsome  mo- 
dem house,  which  Mr,  Howard  has  faUely  built  st  CorliT, 
does  not  in  my  mind,  assimilate  so  well  with  the  scenery 
as  the  old  irrsfular  monastic  hsU,  with  Its  weathert>sai«m 
and  antique  appeaxaace,  which  I  reoieBiber  there  sdom 
years  ago. 

**  Out  of  my  Field  of  Waterloo  has  sprqng  sn  odd  wild 
sort  of  thing,  which  I  intend  to  finish  separately,  and  call 
it  the  Dance  of  Death.  *  Those  mauers  take  up  my  tim# 
so  much,  that  I  must  bid  you  adieu  for  the  present  Be- 
sides, I  am  summoned  to  attend  a  grand  cAosae,  and  t 
see  the  children  are  all  mounted  upon  the  poniea  Bj 
tho  way,  Walter  promises  to  be  a  galfiuit  horseman.  Svcr 
nuMt  truly  yours,  ^ 

WAuns  aootr.* 

I  shill  close  this  chapter  with  a  tranacTipt  of  aoma 
NoUs  on  the  proof  sheeta  of  the  *'  Field  of  Water- 
loo." John  Ballantvne  beiniivat  Abbotaford  on  m& 
3d  of  October,  hia  brother  the  printer  addreaaed  the 
packet  containing  the  sheeta  to  him.  John  appears 
to  have  conaidered  Jamea'a  obaervationa  on  the  mar- 
gin before  Scott  aaw  them ;  and  the  record  of  thr 
stfle  in  which  th^  Poet  repelled,  or  vielded  to,  his 
cntics,  will  at  all  events  illustrate  his  habitual  good- 
nature. 

John  Ballantynowriteaon  the  fly-leaf  of  the  proofs 
to  his  confidential  clerk  :— "  Mr.  Hodgson.  1  b^ 
theae  eheeta  and  all  the  MS.  may  be  eareftilly  pre- 
served just  as  they  stand,  and  put  in  my  fatber't 
desk.    J.  B."  , 

Jamea  prefacea  hia  animadveraiona  with  thia  quo- 
tation .— 

"  Cut  deep  and  spare  not— PsnnaUoot.V 

The  NoUs  are  theae  .— 

Stamza  I.— *•  Pair  Brussels,  thou  art  lar  beMnd.»» 
James  BaUantynt.—l  do  not  like  this  line.    It  is  tame, 

and  the  phrase  "  iar  behind,"  has,  to  my  feeUng,  some  aa> 

sociatccf  vulgarity. 
Scott.-^&teU 

Btxvza  H.— "  Let  not  the  stranger  with  disdain 
The  architecture  view." 
Jbmes.— These  two  words  are  cacophonous.    Would 
notitedot 

Scott.— Th.  Is  a  bad  sound.  Ts.  a  much  worse.  Read 
their. 

Stasza  IV.—."  A  stranger  might  reply."  ' 
James.— My  objection  to  this  Ts  probably  fantastical, 
and  I  state  it  only,  because  from  the  Drst  moment  to  the 
last,  It  has  always  made  me  boggle.  I  don't  like  etrangtr 
—Query,  "The  questioned"->l%e  »  spectator**— '"gaxar," 
Ac. 

ScoU.—Stranger  to  apprepriste  It  means  strsnger  t» 
the  circumstances. 

Stamka  VI.— James.— Too  had  chsnged  **ganieMioQBS 
profound,"  which  I  think  quite  *rf»ff*r«M>,  to*  *"  camsr 


UFiC  OF  SIR  WALT^  SCOTT.  > 


groixnd,''  which  I  think  qtille  olhcrways.    I  have 

presumed  not  to  make  the  chance— must  II 

Seott.^l  acquiesce,  but  wHh  doubts ;  profound  souAds 
iSected. 

Stanza  Vin.— "  The  deadly  tug  of  war  at  length 
Must  limits  find  in  human  strength, 
And  cea»e  when  these  are  passed. 
Vain  hope!   &c." 
James. — ^I  must  needs  repeat,  that  the  deadly  tug  did 
cease  in  the  caae  supjwaea.    It  lasted  long— very  long : 
k       but.  when  the  limits  of  resistance,  of  human  strength, 
xfere  paat— that  is,  after  they  had  foug^^t  for  ten  hours, 
then  the  deadly  tug  did  cease.    Therefore  the  "  hope'* 
was  not "  vain." 

Stott. — I  answer  it  did  no/,— because  the  observation 
rrteles  to  the  strength  of  those  actually  engaged,  and 
when  their  strengili  was  exhausted  other  squadrons  were 
bnmght  up.  Suppose  you  saw  two  lawyers  scolding  at 
the  bar,  you  might  say  this  must  have  an  end— human 
Inogs  cannot  hold  out— but,  If  the  debate  were  continued 
by  the  senior  counsel,  your  well-grounded  cxpectatioos 
would  be  disappointed— '^  Cousin,  thou  wert  not  wont  to 
be  so  dull!"—  .    / 

Ibid. — "  Nor  ceased  the  intermitted  shot." 
/«n««.— Mr.  Erskiae  coihends  that  ^'  iotermitted"  is  re- 
I        <!andant.  • 

Scott.  — ^'  Nor  ceased  the  ttorm  of  shell  and  shot." 

Staicea  X.—" Never  shall  our  country  say 

We  gave  one  inch  of  ground  away, 
When  battling  for  her  right." 
James.— In  coT\fUcn 

John  B. —  Warringl  I  am  afraid  battling  must  stand. 
Seott—hM  worse  than  the  text. 

Stanza  X1.-«-"  PeaI'd  wildly  the  imperial  name." 
James.— \  submit  with  diffidence  whether  this  he  not  a 
BQotewhst  tame  conclusion  to  so.very  animated  a  stanxal 
And,  ax  any  rate,  you  will  observe,  that  as  it  stands,  you 
h«re  no  rhyme  whatever  to  "The  Cohort  eagles  fly."— 
Ywx  have  no  rhyme  to  fly.  Flew  and  /y,  also,  are  per- 
haps too  near,  considering  that  each  word  closes  p.  line  of 
the  same  sort  I  don't  well  like  **  Thus  in  a  torrent.'; 
eifher.  If  It  were,  "  In  one  broad  torrent,"  Ac,  It  strikes 
oie  that  it  would  be  more  spirited. 

Scott. — Granted  as  to  mostof  these  observations— Read, 
■to  one  dar*  torrent  broad  and  strong,"  Ac.— The  *' im- 
perial name"  is  true^  therefore  must  stand 

Stajoa  Xn.— *'  Nor  was  one  forward  footstep  stop, 
ped." 
James. — Tl^s  staggering  word  was  Intended,  I  presume, 
b«  I  don't  like  it  ,       .^  , 

Seott.—Gnnted.    Read  staid,  Ac. 
Ibid. — "  Down  were  the  eagle  banners  sent, 
IKown,  down  the  horse  and  horsemen  went." 
James.— This  is  very  spirited  and  very  fine ;  but  it  is 
vaqneslionably  liable  to  the  charge  of  being  very  nearly 
a&ect  repetition  of  yourself.    See  Lord  of  the  Isles, 
Cknto  vl.  St.  34  :— 

"Down I  down!  hi headknlg overthrow, 
Horsefnan  and  horse^  the  foremost  go^"  Ac. 
This  passage  is  at  once  so  striking  and  so  recent,  that 
its  close  slmiWity  to  the  present,  if  not  indeed  its  identi- 
ty, must  strike  every  reader :  and  reaUy,  to  borrow  from 
eoe's  solllis  hardly  much  better  than  to  borrow  ffom 
oae's  nei^bours.    And  vet  again,  a  few  lines  lower  :— 
**  A»  hammers  on  the  anvils  reel, 
Against  the  cuirass  clones  the  steel." 
Seel^y  of  the  Lake,  Canto  vl.,  Stanxa  18  :— 
**  I  heard  the  broadswords'  deadly  cton^. 
As  if  an  hundred  anvils  rang." 
Here  is  precisely  the  same  image.  In  very  nearly  the  same 
words.  '     . 

^ott. — I  have  altered  the  expression,  but  made  a  note, 
which,  I  think,  will  vtadicate  my  retaining  the  simile. 

STA2CZA   xm.— "As  their  own  Oeean-rocks  hold 
stance." 
John.— I  <lo  not  know  such  an  English  word  as  stance. 
Scott.— Then  we'll  make  it  one  for  the  nance. 

IMD.— "  And  never  standards  Hy." 
James.— I  donH  like  newer. 
Scott.— ^*'  And  other  standard.^  fly." 
Ibo*  — **  Or  can  thy  memory  fail  to  quote., 
Heard  to  thy  oo4t  the  vengeful  note." 
JovM*.— Would  to  God  you  would  alter  this  mtote  I 
j^kn.— Would  to  Qod  /could  !— I  certainly  should.-* 
^Stoff. —    "  Or  can  thy  memory  fail  to  know. 
Beard  oft  before  in  hour  of  wo." 

**  Or  dwells  not  In  thy  memory  fltin, 
'  Beard  firequent  hi  (hine  hour  of  UL" 


Stanza  XV.— «  Wrung  forth  by  pilde,  regret^  and 
shame." 
James.— I  have  ventured  to  submit  to  your  choice — 
"  Wrung  forth  by  pride,  and  rage,  and  shame." 
Regret  appearing  a  faint  epithet  amidst  such  a  combioa* 
lion  of  biuer  feeUngs 
;Sloo/f.—<3  ranted. 

Ibid.—"  So  mingle  banner,  wain,  and  gun. 
Where  in  one  tide  of  horror  rui^ 
The  warriors,"  Ac 
James.— in  the  first  place,  warriors  running  in  a  tide, 
is  a  clashing  metaphor ;  in  the  second,  tlie  warriors  run- 
ning at  allTsa  little  homely.    It  is  true,  no  doubl ;  but 
reaUy  running  Is  little  better  than  scampering.    For  these 
causes,  one  or  both,  I  think  the  lines  should  "be  altered. 

Scott.— You  are  wrong  in  one  respect.    A  tide  la  always 
said  to  run,— but  I  thought  of  the  tide  without  attending 
to  the  equivoque,  whicl^musl  be  altered.    Read,— 
"  Where  the  tumultuous  flight  rolls  on." 


Stanza.  XVI.- 


-found  gallant  grave. " 


James.- This  la  surely  a  singular  epithet  to  a  grave.  I 
thhik  the  whole  of  this  st^za  eminently  fine ;  and,  in 
particular,  the  conclusion. 

Scott.—  *' found  soldie^*s  grave." 

Stawa  XXI—"  Redoubted  Picton's  soul  of  fire." 

Jomes.— From  long  association,  this  epithet  strikes  me 
as  conveying  a  semi-ludicrous  idea. 

Scott. — It  is  here  appropriate,  and  your  objection  seems 
merely  personal  to  your  own  association. 

Ibh)?- "  Through  his  friend's  heart  to  wound  his  own."  * 

Jarne*.— Qua  re— Pierce,  or  rather  alo^—woitnd  is  faint. 

Scott. '"  Pierce." 

,     Stanza  XXI.—"  Foif  Ive,  brave  fadlen,  the  imperfect 
lav." 

J7wne«.— Don't  Uke  "  brave  fallen"  at  all ;  nor  "  appro- 
priate praise,"  three  lines  after.— The  latter  to  particular 
(s  prosaic. 

Scott.— *^  Forgive,  brave  dead." 
^'  7%e  dear  earned  praise." 


CHAPTER  XXXV. 

POEM  OP  THE  PIEU)  OF  WAfEttLOO  POBUBHED— ««VI- 
SION  OF  PAUL*8  LETTEllS,  ETC.— QUARBEI,  AWD  BB- 
COKCIUATION  WITH  HOGG — FOOTBALL  MATCH  AT 
CARtEBHAtJOH— 80H08  ON  THE  BAKVBR  OF  BUC- 
CLBtJCH— DINNER  AT  BOWH  ILL— DESIGN  FOB  A  PIBOB 
OP  PLATE  TO  THE  flUTOBS  OP  BBLKIBB— LBTTBBfl  TO 
THE  DtTKB  OF  BUCOLBtJCH — JOANNA  BAILLIB— AND 
MB.  MORBITT.'— 1815. 

The  poem' of  "  the  Field  of  Waterloo"  wm  pub- 
lished before  the  end  of  October;  the  profits  of  the 
first  edition  being  the  authors  contribution  to  the 
fund  raised  for  the  relief  of  the  widows  and  children 
of  the  soldiers  slain  in  the  battle.  This. piece  ap- 
pears to  have  disappointed  those  most  disposed  to 
sympathize  with  the  author's  views  and  feelings- 
The  descent  is  .indeed  heavy  from  his  Bannockburn 
to  his  Waterloo :  the  presence,  or  all  bat  visible  real- 
ity of  what  his  dreams  cherished,  seems  to  have  over- 
awed his  imagination,  and  lamed  it  into  a  weak 
pomposity  of  movement.  The  liurst  of  pure  naUvfr 
enthusiasm  upon  the  Scottish  heroes  that  fell  around 
the  Duke  of  Wellington's  person,  bears,  however, 
the  broadest  marks  of  "  the  mighty  Mmsirel."— 

^"  Saw  gallant  "Miller's  fading  eye 

Still  bent  where  Albyn':*  standards  fly,  ^ 

And  Cameron,  in  the  shock  of  steel. 
Die  like  the  offspring  of  Lochiel,"  Ac.  ;— 

and  this  is  far  from  being  the  only  rbdecming  pas- 
sage. There  is  one,  indeed,  in  which  he  rilusiralea 
what  he  then  thought  Buonaparte's  poorness  of  spi. 
rit  in  adversity,  which  always  struck  me  as  i)fe« 
eminently  characteristic  of  Scott's  manner  of  in* 
terweaving,  both  in  prose  and  verse,  the  moral  ener- 

fies  with  analogous  natural  descripuon,  and  com- 
ining  thought  with  imagery— 

"Or  is  thy  soul  like  mountain  tide, 
That  swelled  by  winter  storm  and  shower. 
Rolls  down  in  turbulence  of  power, 
4  A  torrent  fierce  and  wide  ; 

^        Reft  of  these  aids,  a  rill  obscure, 

Shrinking  unnoticed,  mean  and  poor^  t 

Wbote  channel  8howsdisplaj^^<^QQQ[^   * 


tM 


LIl^  OF  SIR  WALTER  SCOTT. 


'   The  wrecks  of  itt  impetuoue  coarse, 
Bat  not  one  symptom  of  the  force 
Bj  which  these  wrecks  were  made  !" 

The  poem  was  the  first  upon  a  subject  likely  to 
be  sufficiently  hackneyed ;  and,  bavins  the  advan- 
tage of  coming  out  in  a  small  cheap  fornp-(prudently 
imitated  from  Murray's  innovation  with  the  tales  of 
Byron^  which  was  the  death-blow  to  the  system  of 
verse  m  quarto)— it  attained  rapidly  a  measure  of 
circulation  above  what  had  been  reached  either  by 
Rokeby  or  the  Lord  of  the  Isles. 

Meanwhile  the  revision  of  Paul's  Letters  was  pro- 
ceeding; and  Scott  had  almost  immediately  on  his 
return  to  Abbotsford  colicluded  his  bargain  for  the 
first  edition  of  a  third  novel— The  Aiitiquary— to  be 

Sublished  also  in  the  approaching  winter.  Harold 
le  Daantleds,  too,  was  from  lime  to  time  taken  up 
as  the  amusement  of  hor<E  mbsecivee.  As  for 
Scott's  out  of  doors  occupations  of  that  autumn, 
sufficient  light  will  be  thrown  on  them  by  the  fol- 
lowing letter ;  from  which  it  is  seen  that  he  had 
now  completed  a  rather  tedious  negotiation  with  an- 
other bonnet-laird,  and  definitively  added  the  lands 
of  Kaende  to  the  original  estate  of  Abbotsford. 

To  Misi  Joanna  BaiUie^  Hamptead. 

"  November  12, 1816^  Abotsford. 
"  I  have  been  long  in  acknowledging  your  leuer,  my 
.  dear  friend,  and  yet  you  have  not  only  been  frequent  in 
my  thoughts,  as  must  always  be  the  case,  but  your  name 
has  been  oi  late  famili^  in  my  mouth  as  a  household 
word.  You  must  know  that  the  pinasters  you  had  the 
gpodnesa  to  send  me  some  time  since,  whicn  are  now  fit 
to  be  set  out  of  the  nursenr,  have  occupied  my  mind  as 
to  the  mode  of  disposing  of  them.  Now,  mark  the  event ; 
there  is  in  the  middle  of  what  wiU  soon  be  a  bank  of  fine 
young  wood,  a  certain  old  travel-pit,  which  is  the  present 
scene  of  my  operations.  I  have  caused  it  to  be  covered 
with  better  earth,  and  gently  altered  wkh  the  spade,  so  as, 
if  possible,  to  give  it  the  air  of  one  of  those  accidental 


hollows  which  the  surface  of  a  hill  frequently  presents. 
Having  arranged  my  ground,  I  intend  to  plant  it  all  round 
vrith  the  pinasters,  and  other  varieties  of  the  pine  species, 
and  in  the  interior  I  will  have  a  rustic  seat,  surrounded 
by  all  Kinds  of  evergreen  shrubs,  (laurels  in  particular,) 
and  all  varieties  of  the  holly  and  cedar,  and  so  forth,  and 
this  is  to  be  called  and  entitled  Joanna**  Botter.  We  are 
determined  In  the  choice  of  oar  ornaments  by  necessity, 
for  our  ground  fronts  (in  poetic  phrase)  the  rising  sun,  or, 
hi  common  language,  loou  to  the  east ;  and  being  also  on 
the  north  side  of  the  hill— (don't  yon  shiver  at  the 
thought  1>— why,  to  say  truth,  George  Wynnos  and  I  are 
both  of  opinion  that  nothing  but  evergreens  will  flourish 
there ;  but  I  trust  I  shall  convert  a  present  delbrmity  into 
a  very  prettv  little  hobby-horsical  sort  of  thing.  It  will 
not  bear  looking  at  for  years,  and  that  is  a  pity :  but  it 
will  so  far  resemble  the  person  from  whom  it  takes  name, 
that  it  is  planted,  as  she  has  written,  for  the  benefit  as 
well  of  posterity  as  for  the  passing  generation.  Time  and 
I,  says  the  Spaniard,  against  any  two ;  and,  fully  confiding 
in  the  proverb,  I  have  Just  undertaken  another  grand  task. 
You  must  know,  I  have  purchased  a  large  lump  of  wild 
land,  lying  adjohiing  to  this  little  property,  which  greatly 
more  than  doubles  my  domains.  Tbe  land  is  said  to  be 
reasonably  bought,  and  I  am  almost  certain  I  can  turn  it 
to  advantage  by  a  lii(lc  judicious  expenditure ;  for  this 
place  is  already  allowed  to  be  worth  tvrice  what  it  cost 
me  ;  and  our  people  here  think  so  little  of  planting,  and 
do  it  so  carelessly,  that  they  stare  with  asionlslunent  at 
the  alteration  which  well  planted  woods  make  on  the  face 
of  a  country.  Tliere  is,  besides,  a  very  great  temptation, 
from  the  land  running  to  within  a  quarter  of  a  mile  of  a 
Very  sweet  wild  sheet  of  water,  of  which  (that  is,  one  side 
of  it)  I  have  every  chance  to  become  proprietor :  this  is  a 
poetical  circumstance  not  to  be  lost  s^ht  of,  and  accord- 
mgly  I  keep  it  full  in  my  view.  Amid  these  various  avo« 
cations,        '  iL  *iirl  fo  cfttov^l  1  " njht 

muchab  ^^  ■  ■  .  ■.  ■■aJy  [ijiulnintniK  j  <•  ■  >lt 
1  might,  ii"  iJ'-"if''.,  11,1  tM  aJiird  am^y  enVjou-^  u\«  ■  i  les. 
but  Ithjjik  il^t?  piiEnphlti  kn^  ea^iUjEh  as  li^tSJi'l-,  md 
never  ht  1  -ury  i^isipn  oT  wrttlRK,  copiutjn  naUn. 

"Idoun^^i  .l.vtuiJl^  iiniK"  ti^inE  Byron  will  Biircecd  in 
hisprop^xul  ijf  luinjflnif  rmtoDfl^^f  jrcittrdrttmrut  \  ihfd  he^'Is 
your  siUi  fi  luliDin^r  i*  pnlv  synony^niMS  w\\U  Jdn  iidng 
a  man  oi  £tfiiiii-«;  and  ho  fid£,  I  a.iEi  tonvincod,  hoih  the 
power  aiiiJ  iucliiiBtkon  Ic  serve  iljr  tmbllc^  t*y  jivjiiliiig  Itlm- 
self  of  tli«i  ucj|3urcs  pyn  hsve  laitl  Lnu'fore  the  in,  Vft  I 
k)ng  for  '  fflDie  i3j«*i*ei]  sprine/  imd  ht^arrily  wjsli  you 
would  taVe  UrT4  Mv  toto  jor^r  coiia»<^l&t  sjul  luJjiiir,  from 
voiur  vet  unpablUbtd  uianorlil^i,  stimc  drtLiiia  fox  Uip  pub- 
lic.   In  f uth  1  '        '     ' 


ty  I  Wf>uldf  in  your  pUcc,  ccinircni  my 


name  till  the  issae  of  the  advsmure.  It  ti  a  Mckealiif 
thing  to  think  how  many  angry  and  evil  psMiaai  the  mere 
name  of  admitted  excellence  brings  into  full  acthrttjr.  I 
wish  you  would  consider  this  hint,  and  I  am  sore  the  re- 
sult v^ould  be  great  gratification  to  the  pabUe,  and  to 
yourself  that  sort  of  satisfaction  which  arises  fromrecciv- 
inf  proofs  of  havhig  attained  the  mark  at  which  you  aimed- 
Of  this  last,  indeed,  you  cannot  doubt,  if  you  conaxilt,only 
the  voices  of  the  intelligent  and  the  accomplished ;  bm 
the  object  of  the  dramatiBt  is  professedly  to  delight  the 
public  at  large,  and  therefore  I  think  you  should  make  the 
experiment  lairly. 

^Little  Sophia  is  much  obliged  by  your  kind  and  con 
tinned  recollection :  she  is  an  excellent  good  child,  suffi 
ciently  sensible,  very  affectionate,  not  without  perception 
of  character ;  but  the  gods  have  not  made  her  poetical, 
and  I  hope  she  will  never  attempt  to  act  a  part  wliich  na- 
ture has  not  called  her  to.  I  am  myself  a  poet,  writing  to 
a  poetess,«nd  therefore  cannot  be  suspected  of  a  wish  to 
degrade  a  talent,  to  which,  in  whatever  degree  I  may  have 
possessed  it,  I  am  indebted  for  much  happiness ;  but  this 
dependsonly  on  the  rare  coincidence  of  some  talent  falling 
in  Mrith  anoveny  in  style  and  diction  and  conduct  of  story . 
which  suited  the  popular  uute ;  and  were  my  children  to  be 
better  poets  than  me,  they  would  not  be  such  in  general 
estimation,  simply  becaose  the  sebond  cannot  be  the  flrac 
and  the  first  (I  mean  hi  foint  of  date)  is  every  thing,  while 
others  are  nothing,  even  vrith  more  intrinsic  merit.  I  mm 
therefore  particiuarly  anxious  to  store  the  heads  of  my 
young  damsels  with  something  better  than  the  tags  of 
rhymes ;  and  I  hope  Sophia  is  old  enough  (youi^  though 
she  be)  to  view  her  little  incidents  of  celeorttv,  such  as 
they  are,  in  the  rixhtlioint  of  view.  Mrs.  Scott  and  a^e 
are  at  present  hi  Edinburgh :  the  rest  of  the  children  are 
whh  me  in  this  pbice ;  my  eldest  boy  is  already  a  bohl 
horseman  and  a  fine  aho[,  though  only  •about  Iburteen 
years  old.  I  assure  you  I  was  prouder  of  the  first  blaek 
cock  he  killed,  than  I  have  been  of  any  thing  wttsKever 
since  I  first  killed  one  myself,  and  that  Is  twenty  yesrs 
ago.  This  is  alt  stupid  Kossip :  but,  as  Master  Corporal 
Nym  says,  *  things  must  be  as  they  may :'  you  cannot  eit-  , 

eect  grapes  from  thorns,  or  much  amusement  from  & 
rain  oewlldered  with  thorn  hedges  at  Kaeside,  for  such 
is  the  sonorous  title  of  my  new  possession,  in  virtae  of 
which  I  subscribe  myself, 

AssoTsvoao  A  Kassios-  ' ' 

There  is  now  to  be  mentioned  a  little  pageant  d 
December,  1815,  which  perhaps  interested  Abbots- 
ford and  KdkMty  not  very  much  less  ihao  the 
^'  Field  of  the  Cloth  of  Gold,"  as  James  Ballantyne 
calls  it.  of  the  preceding  autumn.  This  was  no 
other  than  a  football  match  got  up  imder  the  au- 
spices of  the  Duke  of  Buccleuch,  between  the  men 
of  the  Vale  of  Yarrow  and  the  Burghers  of  Selkirk, 
the  particulars  of  which  will  be  sufficiently  explain- 
ed By  an  extract  from  Ballantyne's  newspapei; 
written,  T  r —  •--'—  no  doubt,  by  the  Sheriff  of  the 
Fin  ! .  n  ■  I  [  L :  a  Diiri  liken  in  this  solemnity  by  the 
E  T  r  r  J  <  k  s !  M  1 ,  ji  f  rd  re-  in  i  nds  me  Of  an  extraordinary 
cpj.Hi]'?  ^iIu'lIi  Scott  his  J  received  from  him  some 
ror>nili^  L^eforu  thj«  tune,  and  of  the  account  given 
by  Kogf^  hirttHelf  m  one  of  his  autobiographies,  of 
th^  manrFt^r  in  whjch  Scott's  kindness  terminated 
th^  nlicnauon  n  reff^rs  I'd.  • 

The  Sh<.<{>bord,bGinf{  as  usual  in  pecuniary  straits, 
brill  projpck'd  a  work,  ti>  be  called  *  The  Poetic  Mir- 
ror, in  which  should  appear  some  piece  by  flaeh 
ptipukr  |M>et  i>f  the  tmiei,  the  whole  to  be  edited  by 
himself,  mid  publishcii  lor  his  benefit;  and  be  ao- 
dre^istKl,  DecMjftlmgly^  m  his  brother  bards,  a  circular 
pt  t  i  tion  for  t  heir  b*  s  i  n  «tsi8tance.  Scott— like  Byron 
and  moat  of  thepfiteotis  rhus  applied  to — declinea  the 
nroposaion.  The  Ifttttr  in  which  he  signified  his  re- 
fu^nt  hf^*  '^'^^  ^'"'n  preserved ;— indeed  it  is  suffi- 
ciency ,  ,^,  iljiit  of  all  the  many  letters 
which  Hogg  must  have  received  from  his  distin- 
guished contemporaries,^  he  appears  to  have  kept 
not  one ;  but  Scott's  decided  aversion  to  joint-stock 
adventures  in  authorsliip  must  have  been  well 
known  ere  now  to  Hogg— and  at  all  events  nobody 
can  suspect  that  his  note  of  refusal  was  meant  to 
be  an  unfriendly  communication.  The  Shepherd, 
however,  took  some  phrase  in  high  dudgeon,  and 
penned  an  answer  virulently  insolent  in  spirit  and 
m  language,  accusing  him  of  base  jealousy  of  his 
own  superior  natural  genius.  I  am  not  sure  whether 
it  was  on  this  or  another  occasion  of  the  like  sort, 
that  JaiDM  variwj^tlic  ujiga^  fo^^^lfMtepiatolary 


in  which 


IHnnaii  Sir,"  and 
_    wlHi'dftiKmr;  dte.1*^ 
le  pernmiiric^  was  nth  thtl  no  in- 
place  between  th^  parties  fbr  00  die 
..  japa  months,  afterwants.    Tha  leMer 
igg  at  length  aoUdts  a  renewal  of  kii^- 


HW  ^  m:'y'^^W^.  sppTT, 


tlhees,  says  nothing,  it  may  be  observed,  of  the  oir- 
^mj^tance  which,  accoroing  to  his  autobfOgrapliir, 
confirmed  by  ^e  recollection  of  two  fHends,  whom 
he  names  in  the  fetter  itself,  (Mr.  John  Grieve  and 
Mr.  WUtUm  Laidlaw,)  had  really  cansed  him  tb  re- 
pent oftm  suspicions,  and  their  oatrageona  expres- 
sion. The  fact  was,  that  hearing,  shortly  after  the 
recent  of  the  6flfbifeive  epistle,  that  Hogg  waa  con- 
ihiea  to  hia  lodgm^a,  in  an  ooscnre  alley  of  Bdtn- 
bnrgh  called  Oabners  Road,  by  adangerooafllneaa, 
Scou  oaUed  on  Mr,  Oriavo  to  snake  imiiiriea  ahput 
•  hini»  aad  to  ow  to  take  on  himself  the  expenses  of 
ihe  beat  medical  attendance.  He  had,  bpwavar, 
lika  worthy  batter  that  no  hint  of  this 

n  reach  Bogs;   and  in  conaeqpeiic^  it 

nii^t  pet4iapB  be  the  Sbephevd^s  feeUag  at  the  ume 
that  be  should  not,  in  addressing  hia  Kfe-iong  baiie- 
foctor,  betray  any  acqaaintance  with  thia  recant  in- 
terference on  hia  behalf.  Ttiere  can  be  no  donbt, 
however,  that  ha  obeved  the  genuine  dictates  of  his 
better  nature  when  ne  penned  thia  apologetic  effu- 
sion:— 

7^  TFt^ftr  S^t^  17fff.,  Ctuth  9tr9et, 

"  Gabriel's  Itoad,  February  29, 1815. 
*»Mr.8eott,  ^^ 

**!  think  It  la  ipr^at  DoHaenae  for  two  men  wbo  are 
rrienda  at  heart,  and  ^bo  ever  must  be  so— indeed  It  it 
Bot  in  Uie  nature  9f  thkiga  (bat  tbey  can  be  oUierwi«e-r 
abould  be  profeaeed  enemiea. 

"Mr.  Oneve  and  Btr.  Laidlaw,  who  were  very  severe 
90)  me,  and  to  whom  T  was  obiiged  to  show  your  letter, 
have  long  ago  coavinced  me  that  I  mistook  part  of  It,  and 
Utet  it  was  not  me  you  held  in  auch  contempt,  but  the 
opiaion  ot  the  public.  The  idea  that  you  might  mean  that 
(thoush  1  atin  think  the  reading  win  bear  either  construe^ 
tion>  oas  given  me  much  pain ;  (or  I  know  I  answered 
jrouni  intemperalely,  and  in  a  mortal  rage.  I  meant  to 
bava  enclosed  touts,  and  begged  01  you  to  return  mine, 
but  I  cannot  find  it,  and  am  sure  that  some  one  to  whom  I 
have  b^on  induced  to  show  it,  has  taken  it  away.  How* 
ever,  as  n^y  troubles  on  thai  aubjeet  were  never  like  to 
wear  to  an  end,  I  could  no  longer  resist  telling  you  that  I 
am  extremely  vexed  about  l^  I  deitfrc  not  arencwai  of 
«ur  former  intimacy,  for  haply,  after  what  I  have  writ- 
tea,  your  family  would  not  suifer  it ;  but  I  wish  it  might 
be  un()0rstood  that,  when  we  meet  by  eAanee,  We  mttht 
shaice  hands,  and  ^eali  to  one  anotlier  as  old  acqudn- 
tances,  and  likewise,  that  we  inay  exehan^  a  letter  oc- 
rasfonally,  for  1  find  there  are  many  thinflfS  which  I  yearn 
to  corooinnleate  to  yon,  and  the  tears  rusli  to  my  eyes 
when  I  consf^r  that  I  may  not. 

"  K  yon  allow  of  this,  nray  let  me  know,  and  If  yon  do 
not,  let  me  know.  Indeed,  I  am  anxious  to  near  from  yon, 
for  *^a9  the  dav  of  trofible  is  with  me,  so  shall  my  stiwigth 
bs.'  To  be  friends  >Vefn  Me  f <>^M./Wneardk  Is  common 
enough;  but  it  strikes  me  that  there  Is  something  still 
more  ludicroas  in  the  reverse  of  thepictui^,  andiso  to  be 
coemiei  — rt  why  should  I  he^frowt  ih4  tutkfvr^arda. 
Yours  sincerely, 

JAMSSHooor* 

Scott's  reply  was,  as  Hogg  sayiK  "a  brief  note; 
teiUas  bitn  to  think,  no  more  of  the  business,  and 
come  to  breakfast  th^  next  morning."  The  misun- 
derstanding bein^  thus  closed,  they  appear  to  have 
counselled  and  co-operated  loeetner  in  the  most 
cordial  liashion,  in  diaciplining  their  rural  allies  for 
the  muster  of  Carterhaugh— theDukeof  Bucclcuch*s 
brother-in-law,  the  Rarf  of  Home<ha\nng  appointed 
the  Shepherd  his  Lieutenant  t)ver  the  Yarrow  Hand, 
while  the  Sheriff  took  under  his  special  cognizance 
the  Suiars^  i.  e.  Shotmakera,  of  Selkirk— for  so  the 
burgesses  of  that  town  have  for  n^ea  stylexl  them- 
selTe*,  mud  under  that  denomination  their  warlike 
proweas  an  the  day5  of  yore  has  been  oelebrat^  in 
mafiy  an  sld  ballad,  •beaidea  the  well-known  one 
whiefa  begins  with 

^  Tis  ap  wP  theSofors  o'  delWrk, 
And  *tis  down  ivf*  the  Earl  of  Home !" 

Tn  order  to  onderstand  all  the  allusions  in  thenewa- 
?aper  recojd  of  this  important  day,  one  must  hfi  fa- 
33     W' 


^:*r 
th.  the  notes  to  the  Minatreby  of  the  Scot- 
W|  biitl ^Aiilt  11^  banlwit  sftiltfaiilmj 
eomntient  heic,  1  •    '-  .^ 

**  f ooisALi.  Hivoa.-'Oin  MomAay,  4ih  peeaa^Uer,  tWr^j 
waa.  played,  upan  the  extaaakva  finia  of  Ourt«raai|igtk> 
■oar  tha  jonaUoa  of  the  Sttrtck  aaid  \  arroiv,  the  gro^uot 
match  at  the  beU  wbioh  has  lal^en  place  for  many  yaaca^^ 
h  was  held  by  the  people  of  the  Ilala  of  Yairaw.  against 
thoss  of  the  pariah  0/  ieUdrk;  ibaionner  boing  oroiixht, 
tothe  field  by  the  iUghi  Ifan.  the  1^1  of  Home,  and  tha 
Gallant  Sutors  by  their  Chief  Magistrate,  Ebenexer  Clark- 
Mon,  Esq.  Both  sides  ware  joined  by  muiy  voluntacra 
fhan  oiher  partsbes ;  and  the  appearance  of  the  vark>ua 
pasties  narchiag  from  thetr  diiferent  gtens  to  the  place  ot 
rendesvoaa,  widi  pises  playing  and  loud  acclamaiionai 
carried  back  the  oaldest  imaginaUoa  to  the  oi<l  times  when, 
the  Foresters  assembled  wriih  Uie  less  {^aceable  purpose 
of  hivading  the  English  territory,  m*  defeodlag  their  own. 

^'  llm  Gmee  iltxi  Piiltr  of  Ducrleuch  axu;l  i^ui^fnttturrj  . 
fsaii?  upon  Lhe  Xroimil  aLwtgt  U  iycki.jls.ali*)nJc)t1>J'lt[f 
sorii.  the  youaflSiirl  of  fMlUcilbt  and  I^tnl  Juhn  ^cttt] 
Uift  Diiuiittaa  or  Homii  j  line  LiidirB  Xatit  f  lui/lon^,  ikad 
I^iAb^Ua  ^'ntt ;  Ijord  anJi  IjsJy  M^i^|iU£ti  *"U]d  fitullj  ;  the  , 
lloo.  GPHC^ra]  Sir  fiJttard  Stopfofd.  K.  D- ;  ^h  J 'fm  iSid- 
rliitl  f.f  RuytfTl ;  3ir  Alf  ^Jiuilrrllon  or  pj^^wfrni ,  Mr  Kl!k>t 
Irijcfcriarf,  nifinbf'T  tor  th**  ri>ijiitv  ;  Mr  Frinuli^  fif  Wkyn^ 
htak,  f^Tji«ftF ;  Mr.  f  rinik  i>f  Ttji-WfiMnmM? ;  Oiiiwsiin  Pnn- 
Kk'.  Rtiytl  Navf  r  Mr  It.'v*l  uf  RrnAdrnKiulowH  trnd  (uiilJj  j 
Mr  Cliisholiu  of  CUiJiljottiii  Majur  h}^^  i-ffodri|,  Mr. 
Walter  Scoit,  Sl^ciriff  uf  fltHttrk^lUr".  aiitl  fftuiJ^,— aiid  ^ 
niJtn^  ntbf  r  (fi^nlhtaeu  A!l«I  iatUt'n.  Ttir  iiflcjx)!  Danocr 
o  i  t  U  e  Hue  r.lf  1  i^.h  fm  n  1 1  >  t  *  *'  <  1  TU»t^  lU  nt  \  1*5 1  r  nbh  r^Uq  ue. 
tiTiblnJi  H*rd  inrtttk  nrir>i>r<tfit  b"am]ii;i'r  ^"^*  *i*^  ^bo  wrard 
*'  BrUjrtuiaine/'  tin*  Hiii-lfnt  unr  *:rj'  "f  llir  Ann  of  Skioir, 
wii»  ihfTi  ^iirqjlnr^id,  iw  on  lofmtjr  orcsi^otm.  wh?ji  U^io 
chlf^f  took  UiH  iitlcf  to  pi^rmm,  wlJf'^twT  (nr  ih#  purtw^e  of 
war  or  rfiwn.  Tti*^  t-Min^r  u,y,i  rJ^ltTcforl  by  fjiiJif  Kan 
tcouto  Bhiwpr  WalrorScJiit  ^xumffc r»  of  Abbowbrd^  wlio 
aftaiuied  aaltahli'  [Dotinied{)jjdanDccl<  imd  riding  iir«r  tW 
ieZdt  dli^tayliig  at  jjb  tlji?  fiOiindoniiH  wm  (^ptw.  and  UfiiS 
Cbf  accliiawna  of  l^l.e  ^^fl^mtiLed  pp^cUUjrs,  nh<i  couuf 
not  ba  few^  tifKk  3000  In  mimbf  r  TViai  tliH  *Fn|ulAr  ir^ 
ijcwal  ofan  AnelelU  tiUlitary  custom  itil^bt  n<*t  want  potti- 
t*I  celebrity,  ter»i5s  were  fU4fTfbnff<il  iinwrif  fhef[p«e^ 
torn,  cfifnnoied  for  the  oceairtwj  by  Mr  WfOt^r^oociUfi 

I  thff  JScitScM  Sniephtrd.     Mr  Juneti  Hajrjt  Jiriod  is  ildtt-^     ' 

I  c«mp  m  the  Eoit  of  Jittmc  in  the  c/jjnimnd  of  lllft  ¥*nwW 
tn*^n,  Bnrl  Mr  R/^ben  HfludprPt-ti  of  Scikirk  to  Mr,  Oark- 

I  §ftn,  tuatii  of  whom  conti1b4ifcd  not  a  lliil«t  to  ibw  good  of- 

I  tjrr  of  thr  tiny. 

'      "  Thi-  bi\H  WHS  llirown  up  befurccD  Ihp  pi^rties  by  the     * 
Diikr  c»f  Btic^^leucb.  mwI  th*^  fir^t  p*inp  VJW  gniiird,  ^tlvt 
d  scTf  r*;  confflii;c  of  j^n  Wnr  ia6  a  half  duratioii,  by  the 
^''IkiTli  Mich,    TJir  serctflil  game  ««  «tll1  tuftre  i^Terel^ 
cfniitt!*tr?d>  fiati  alter  a  closf'andidibbom  rtirngjtlflof  mra* 
than  three  Ikoora,  with  Tarkius  fertuuc,  aud  much  dlspli|r 
of  strength  and  agfUty  on  both  sides,  waa  at  length  ear^ 
riad  by  thii  Yacrow  men.     The  ball  should  then  hafo 
baen.  thrown  up  a  liiin)  time,  but  oonfiderable  di/AouIty. ' 
eeaumid  in  arranginK  the  ToliiiMary  auxiUariea  from  other 
pariahes,  so  aa  to  maxe  the  match  ruual ;  and  as  the  day 
began  to  close,  it  wiia  found  impofisible  to  bring  the  strife  % 
tq  an  Issue,  by  plarlngr  a  decisive  game. 

"Both  parnes,  tncreforc,  parted  with  cqnal  honours r 
bat,  before  they  left  the  fround,  the  fiTherilf  threw  op  hia- 
hat,  and  in  Lord  Dalkeith's  name  and  his  own,  chaDeiwed 

ae  Yarrow  men,  on  the  part  of  the  Sntors,  to  a  match  ta 
!  played  upon  the  first  coBvenient  opportunity  with  100 
picked  men  only  on  each  side.  The  challenge  waa  mu- 
tutilly  accepted  by  Lord  Home,  on  hiti  ovra  baft,  and  for 
I/)ra  John  Scott,  and  was  received  with  arriarnatlon  by 
the  plnyrrs  on  both  Bl(1e««.  .The  principal  gentlemen 
present  took  part  with  onn  side  or  other,  excepttb**  Dtike 
of  Borclench,  who  remainji  neiitrnl.  Great  play  is  ex- 
pected, and  all  bets  are  to  be  paid  by  the  losers  to  the 
poor  of  the  winning  pariah.  We  cannot  diHmiss  the  sub- 
vert, without  giving  oar  highest  commendation  to  the  Bart 
of  Home,  and  to  Mr.  GUurlciion.  for  tlte  au^ntion  whicb 
they  showed  in  promoting  the  npirit  and  good  order  of  the 
day.  For  tho  players  thcrapelves,  it  was  iiT)poss>?ble  to  see 
a  finer  set  of  aciive  and  atlilctic  yonng  fellows  than  ap- 
peared on  the  firiA  Biit  what  wa^  chloflt  admired  in  their 
conduct  was,  that  thouth  «e?cral  himdredK  in  number, 
ekceedlngly  keen  for  tbelf  respective  parties,  and  en- 
gaged in  so  rough  and  attimatedaconiest,  they  maintained 
the  most  perfect  gOod  humour,  and  :^howed  how  unnecea< 
sary  it  is  to  discourage  manly  and  athletic  exercise^ 
aoKNig  the  common  people,  under  pretext  of  maintaining 
subordination  and  ffood  order.  We  have  Only  to  rep— '^ 
that  the  great  coridourse  of  spectators  ren'  "*  ^* 
Digitized  by ' 


exi  of  maintaining 
ve  Only  to  regreL 


ii^  ^ir  skk  WjaMt  "HcMi 


.  feaUi  of  strong^  ot  a#IUji  but 

miut  not  omit  to  reeord.  that  the  fint  baB  inkMluHted 

VRin  nOi,  iSUoA  Iti  mSMt,  uKtiia  Meond  by 

B^^ftoBk  Q^MdMiM^  «poo  Jil(*tMter. 


|BMll0d 

its 

•The 


Miea  themielvM  by 
1  not  omit  Ip  re« 

8«Rlri  Mrtjti^r*  iU^oftilras  tbetr  m«rk  of 
dllitfndtkm— the  Tanrow  men,  Bprigiof  hMth. 
'  *  lUfireshmemfl  \f*re  dlMifbiifod  to  the  UlAywra  br  the 
Bake  of  Buccleueh'e  doiiie«tio0,  fti  a  booth  ereeced  Ibir 
Che  purpoiK;:  tad  no  person!  were  all^wod  td  e^  ale  or 
ilMs  on  thii  field 

**  In  the  evenfaij^  there  iru  a  dance  M  the  Duke's  hunt- 
tin  tent  at  BowhiU,  attended  by  the  nobfiltf  and'tentry 
Who btid vritdeseed the  ^rtof  thedsr;  «ndth«'    '^ 


tlon  of  Oow'e  vIoUn  and  band  detained  them  tai  the  dan- 
dlag-room  tillthe  dawn  of  the  winter  nionilttg."  > 

The  ndwapnottr  then  gives  the  songi  above  a)ludefl 
leh-vis.,  Scott*«  "  Liftinff  of  the  Banner  :".— 
*Firom  the  brown  creai  of  Newartc  tt«  smmnbne  extendiiif , 

Our  iiymal  in  waving  in  smok^  and  In  fiame, 
4nd  eaeh  rof  ester  Mythe.  (h>m  hid  motmrnin  deaeending , 

Boimdd  light  o'er  the  heather  to  join  in  the  game ; 
Then  up  with  the  Banner !  let  forest  wind  Atn  her! 
)  has  blazed  over  Ettrick  elfht  ages  and  moi^e ; 

port  we'Q  attend  her,  in  battle  defend  her, 

i  he^rt  and  wUh  hand,  like  our  Fathers  before,"  Ae.* 

~^nd  that  excellent  ditty  by  Hogg,  entitled,  "^The 
BttHck  Garland,  te  rha  Ancient  Banner  of  tbe 
Hoiise  df  Buedeuoh  :"— 

"  And  haat  thou  here,  like  hermit  my, 

Thy  mystic  characters  uftroUM, 
Cer  peacefhl  revellers  to  play, 

Thou  emblem  of  the  days  of  oh!  t 
ABJuU !  memorial  Of  (he  brave, 

The  Ueg eman'9  pride,  Che  Border's  iwe  I 
May  thy  gray  peAncm  heyer  Wave 

On  sterner  field  thkn  Carterhaogbl'*  ftc. 
I  faAve  m>  <idiibt  tke  Sheriff  of  th«  Porett  was  m 
#lrduder  man.  when  be  «iiw  bia  boy  ridh  aboni  Car- 
ttarhaugh  with  thi^  pe^inoji  of  Belleitdieii,  thin  whett 
Fihtqtt  mount^  bhnfl^  for  the  jihpeM  reVtew  of 
tbd  uhatnp  dc  UAks.  It  {»  a  pity  that  I  ahoold  have 
oeca^n  io  allude,  before  I  quit  a  tfcenb  80  char«<>> 
tvietie  of  S;cotU  to  anoihet  ouibrealt  of  Hogg'a 
jeHlOBa  btmoar*  .Hia  Antofaiogriiphy  taionna  ua^ 
llitft  wlien  tbe  mora  distinguiabeo  part  of  tke  con-, 
psnr  hMdmbied,  on  the  oottolittioo  of  the  aport^  to 
^itti  BoWbid,  hie  WiBipnyeoedmRtoplaee  hniiarif 
^t  a-particular  table-^ut  the  SherifTseiwd  his  arm^ 
tiaq  flim  tlVta  was  tea^rved  Ibr  the  nobility,  and  ^ki- 
ed  hitSo  at  an  interior  board—"  b*twe^rt  Wyactf  ahd 
the  Laird  of  Harden">-the  first  ff^nil«h)an  of  the 
elaik  Scott,  ^  Tbe  foci  is.*"  aigrs  Hogg,  "  1  aih  eOn* 
lialoed  he  waii  sore  afraid  of  my  gettuig  to  be  too 
gMat  m  fovioitriie  among  the  young  ImSoo  of  Bue* 
Ot^chf '  Who  can  k^ad  this,  and  noi  be  reraitaded 
of  SandioPanzanndtheDuchesa'?  And^  after  all, 
ne  quite  mistook  what  B6ott  had  aafd  to  himt  for 
J  certainly  there  was,  neither  on  this,  nor  OD  any  *irfri- 
lar  occasion  at  Bowhill,  any  high  t^ltforUu  no- 
kUUjf,  though  there  waa  a  fide-table  jmr  the  rJUid- 
rail,  at  which  whea  the  Shepherd  of  Ettrick  waa 
ibout  to  aeat  himself  hie  friend  prohttbly  whiaperad 
fbat  it  wa8  reserved  for  fhe  'V/r'ttie  lord*  and  ladiea, 
Itnd  their  playmates.'*  Thie  bhahder  may  seem  nn- 
<h»ervinK  of  any  expl Anatioa ;  bat  it  is  oOen  in  email 
inaiters  that  the  strongest  fe^linfes are  most  strik- 
ingly  betrayed— and  thia  story  i»,  in  exa^t  proportion 
to  lie  riUiness,  indicative  of  the  jealous  feeling  which 
mars  and  distorts  so  iDany  of  Hogg's  repreaentatiens 
«f  Scott'a  coodoot  and  demeanour. 

It  appears.  fh)m  the  account  of  this  football  match 
IQ  the  Edinburgh  Jonmal,  that  Scott  took  a  lead  in 
^i)08inp;  a  renewal  of  the  contest.  Thie,  however, 
never  occurred ;  atul  that  it  ought  not  to  do  eo,  had 
nrobably  occurred  from  the  first  to  the  Duke  of  Buc- 
eieuofa,  who  is  mentioned  as  having  alone  abstained 
Irom  laying  any  bets  on  the  final  issue. 

When  Mr.  WaAiington  Irvmg  visited  Scott  two 
^wtrs  afterwards  at  Abbotafordi  he  told  his  Ameri- 
'  dan  friend  Yhat  *'tt^eold  fetida  and  local  intereata. 
•  ml  r^t-Iries  and  animosities  of  the  Scotch,  still 
iHtipt  in  their  ashes,  and  mi^ht  eifenfy  be  roiftedv 
Ibeb  hfikeoitary  feblin'g  for  Qamea  w^s  still  great ;  ft 

?Mlieal  ▼oi^,  (Bdit.  ISSO  vol.  ix.  p.  ttt. 


^ttA&«3» 


w^  iibi  always  m&  lb 
ball  bftwMu  villages  :- 
CQoaptjto  break  ou%'^     ^ 

The  good  Duke  f 
turn  these  beats  c 

mficarit  lesson  to  L^.  -a 

more  important  acenes.  In  pursuance  of  Che  BKtoA 
peaoo^nal^ing  epirit,  he  ^appears  ,to  have  been  deM- 
roua  or  dokig  sameuitng  gratifymg  to  the  nien  of 
the  town  (»  Selkim,  who  had  on  this  occa^gui 
taken  the  field  afftfiust  his  Yarrow  tenantry.  Hui 
Uraoe  eonsulted  Scott  about  tl^e  design  of  a  piece 
or  plate  .to  be  presented  to  thelt  community;  and 
his  letter  on  ti^ia  weigh tysul^ect  must  not  be  omitr 
ted  in  toe  mei)»oirs  of  a  Shenff  of  Selkirk  :— 


To-MBeMkMthiDttktof  Buetleuthjfc^ 

**  Bdte^uzth,  1%aridasr. 

"MrdeiartoM, 

**  I  have  pmoeeded  hi  aiy  4omta!a*>n  aboet  the  c 
.^^^ ^.^^^ •i.* « 1|^ 

op  of 

„oblei 

laifbtbe  intended  to  nukt  (He  l^ber.  f  hen  I  ihoushf  t 
had  a  briUiant  idea.  Th»  anha  of  Selkirk  are  a  femaM 
seated  on  a  sarcophagua,  decbrated  with  the  arms  of  Got- 
land, which  wtU  nuLke  a  beautlM  top  to.  the  bmp.  So  1 
thought  of  putting  the  blnie  Uito  the  lady's  other  hand; 
but,  alas!  l|  looked  so  precisely  Jika  tbe  rod  af  chaatise- 
meat  uplUted  over  the  ^r  child^  that  T  laughed  at  the 


been  ehgai^ed  In  the  capacldes  of  liouaeiiliald  ^^ 
keeoer  at  oti6e,  and  fetigaed  with  her  dOtiUe  tf^y^ 
sat  down  on  the  wine-coolex:,  wtth  the  bVoom  hi  p 
apd  the  DtdtntQ  the  other.    At  lemttti,  tfter  aoAM 
enbe  wfch  thanes  dhakpe,  I  have  mt  onuplstf, 
think,  will  look  vfery  w6fl.  If  toletabl^ejcecof^^ 


to  hate  the  lady  Reacted  in  dhe  R>nh  on  the  leper  th^  I 
>k  hahdsothe,  and  ti^a  be  vrell  taKett,>«M 

rising  abov^  her  head,  and  flromthetop  of  the*  ^M^feSS 


(wbleh  Will  look  hahdsotiie,  and  WiU  be  vrell  taMh,>«M  to 
have  a  thiWle  ipreathcd  ahiond  the  aarcoph 


proceed  the  blrse.  1  ^«tt  bifa|  a  drawhig  With  me,  wa0 
mey  ahaQ  g^  th«  cap  ready  ih  the  mean  tatoe.  1  hoae^ 
be  ai  Abbotsford  on  Monday  hteht,  to  atn^  for  a  weet. 
Bty  6kut  has  eat  two  6r  three  birds,  iiWfi  re^alhigoa  the 
^Tuthbs  that  were  thfowh  for  mem.  This  Was  a  brMeh 
ef  hospitiiUty ;  but  opottelt  «itere-^aod  Mtevt  iMtt  wMim* 
—with  ^tvh  sloleti  pun,  and  my  respectful  corapUmeiitft 
to  Lord  Motiowu  and  the  tedles.  I  aiUi  "^t/tj  tnajr,  yMT 
Grsie's  most  fifthfui  and  obhgW  ^rvant;         ^^^ 

W  AiMint  raso¥r. 
<*  P.  8.— Under  another  cover,  wldoh  1  have  joat  re> 
•eived.  leend  the  two  dkawiBfi  of  the  iWnt  and  reverse 
of  the  lid  of  the  proposed  cub.  Tour  Oraca  wlU  b«  ao> 
good  as  understand  that  the  tnlstlek— the  top  of  wvxich  la 
nraiahed  with  ihe  briaa<s->ia  enUrely  deiaahed.  In  work- 
(Bgt  from  the  dgure«  and  aUpeioto  a  socket.  The  ibll»«' 
sag  fines  are  huably  suggeeled  for  a  matto,  belaaL  takea. 
frwga an asdeat Soettishcaaseaettii^— ^eas  the  yarrQw 
eemaittee  can  find  any  better  :— 

*The  ac^r  ga'e  the  «ow  a  Mss  i 

erttBDphl  qoo'  the  sow,  it's  a'  K>ra»y  biraa.'  " 

Some  weeks  before  the  year  t8i6  closed,  Mr,  Mo^ 
ritt  sustained  the  heaviest  of  domestic  SLfflictiooe  i 
and  sevieral  letters  on  that  sad  subject  had  oassed 
between  Rok^eby  and  Abbot«ford,  before  the  aate  Of 
the  following  .— 

T*  J,  B.  S.  Morritty  Sfq-,  ^P-t  iteA«6y  Park 

""BdinburghfaadVec.  1816w 
^'Mydearjfbrritt, 

"WhUe  you  know  what  satisfaction  it  woidd  have 

gvcn  me  to  haTe  seen  you  here.  1  am  very  sensibb  of  the 
ore  weighty  reasons  which  you  urge  for  pretlfirring  to 
sia*  at  Rokf'by  for  some  time.  I  only  hope  yon  wfll  re> 
member  tlut  Scotland  has  tlahns  on  you.  whenever  yoa 
shall  find  your  own  nrind  so  far  at  eaee  as  fo  peVoatt  fa^ 
to  look  aMroad  Ibr  conaolatfon :  and  If  it  «houkl  r   ~ 


that  you  thoaght  of  being  here  about  our  time  of  vae» 
don,  I  have  tey  time  flieo  endrMy  at  my  own  oemmandL 
and  I  need  not  aay,  that  aa  much  of  it  as  oouM  In  asjr 

^ ^ — ind  NawaceaA  MSB.  p.  fa 

t  A bin€, orbufMA oC baf ■  Arfoe^ &nM  m  pognixaiioa  ol 
thoSuton.    wben  a  newburfrera  »  admitted  mto  their  t  ~ 
<A«  *frM  oMMa  nmnd  with  U»  eyp«r 
■X  1^   M.iy"^  "g.  '"^  the  wine,  and  «wav 
ntualbt  beroife  n^ettniaa  the  bappyinepototik 


eiry^eifcbro^  d^  " 

nttMui.  befWe  it  feaeiiaa ^^, 

pam  it  limilar  raspect.  Digitized  by 


LIFE  OF  SIR  WALTfia  SCOTT. 


'  0<  wAy  eoiUfibuU  to  TQW  uiiiiMmMt  <«  mm 
_  jsH  jQuxu.  I  have  mrself  |it  fn«ent  ue  iQ«laiH 
5I10IT  taak  of  vatchiiif  0^  deoUnUig  lieuth  of  mjr  dd^r 
nrouicr.  M^or  Scott,  whom,  I  thinlli>ou  have  seen. 

*  Mf  menrj  occupation  it  getting  through  the  preta  the 
htfUtTM  ofFau,  of  whose  lucuhrations  I  trust  soon  to  sen^ 
jou  a  copy.    As  the  observations  of  a  bjstandor,  perh^v 
will  find  sows  amaaemeni  in  ^etn,  specially  as  1 
)  channels  of  information  not  accessible  U>  every 


^ 


JTha  recess  of  our  courts,  which  taices  place  to-mof«^ 
B]^  ample  tune  to  com- 


partlj 
Bers< 


ipw,  fbrthret  weeks,  will  give  xui^       .      

plete.thls  job,  and  also  the  secoxia  volume  of  Triennalnj 
Wfiicb.  is  nearly  fii^ished,— a  strange  rude  story,  founded 
'  rtly  On  the  ancient  northern  traditions  respecting  tha 
Tscrl(ers,  whosq  peculiar  babUs,  and  fits  of  m»r(ial 
frenzY.  malcc  such  a  figure  in  the  Sagas.  ]  shallthen  set 
mya«ii  seriously  to  the  Antiquary,  or  which  I  have  only 
a  very  general  sketch  at  present ;  but  when  once  I  gel 
■V  pea  10  the  paper,  it<^U  waUl  fast  enowh.  I  am  some- 
tfmes  lAmpttd  to  leave  it  alone,  and  try  whether  it  will  ast 
wriie  as  wen  without  tke  assistance  01 
A  hopeAil  prospect  for  the  reader. 
the  snow,  whtcn  is  now  faltiog  so  (tJft  as  to  make  ft  dubl' 
01X9  when  tfets  letter  may  reach  llokeby,  is  likely  to  for- 
ward cbese  hnponaaf  avocatiofm,  by  keeping  me  a  con- 
slant  raaidontlii  Bdinboifh,  in  lieu  of  my  plan  of  going  to 
'Afaftolalbtd,  whavs  I  had  a  numbar  of  srhsMes  in  hand 


my  bead  as  witk  il, 
In  the  mcqjD  wbile, 


i»lka  ^say  of  ptentlnf  and  inprovlDg.  I  baUera  I  told 
yvm  I  hava  made  a  eonsidarable  addltfon  to  layJItUe  -htrnt 
aad  aa$endied  my  domaina  towacds  a  vi«ild  lalaat  whioh  I 
Mr*  a  good  prosDeet  of  acquiring  also-  It  has  a  sort  of 
kigeodary  faioe ;  for  thepersuasion  of  the  aolltary  ahepr 
|ma1^  -aAw  appfoaeb  ita  banks,  is,  that  tt  Is  tenauted  by  a 
vcVy  larre  smphibious  animal,  c^^  by  tbem  a  water- 
Vn,  and  whkn  several  of  th«tB  pretend  is  liav<e  seen. 
As  bis  dimenaiona  greatly  exceed  thoae  of  anoMax,  I>aai 
leiBptad  to  ^Ink  with  Ttinsulf»  ^  TUais  the  derfi,  and  no 
■poister.'  BBt,afleraU.isltnotstraafe,ttetaa(oalJnO0t 
a^ltia  kkaa  in  Sootlaod,  botb  JUmlaad  andBigblfUidr^iaab 


ihiM^f  should  pre? all  1  and  that  the  deacriotufi  popolav. 
qr«K«n  onUbnnily  correaponds  with  that  of  <bo  nipp^por 
*  **  '  '^*    '"  '   lit  aomo  ramote  parioo,  that 

I  othars  wblch  bare  mom  dii^ 
larfi 


1 1  It  is  poMJUa,  that  alt  soma  i 

Ubia  ammal,  lika  aoma  othars  1         ^ 

-ed,  majT  hasa  baaa  an  b^utbUant  of  our 
Cartainly  ttia  vanjabing  of  the  mamanth  and  ,,,^^ 
!s  fro«  tbe  iueof  craauont  rendara  aocb^a  eoniao* 
wUdOsaalwouldotberwlaoastaoinU.    If' 


Uia  we  bava  lost  Aba  baaver,  wbose  bones  b^e 
■Mra  than  ones  found  in  our  SMjIkirksbira  bogs  and  navlr 
moaaffai  Tbo  remains  of  the  wild  bull  are  vary  unsqiMnt 
brtouad;  aodlhavandretbaaoveacuHiWkbtba  Aorm 
w  nott  formidable  dimaoaiona. 

**JUiaat  a  fortnkbtafo^  w€  bad  ajraat  foot-ball  soaK^b 
InSalkirkahics,  when  tbo  Doke  of  Boooleucb  raUadbia 
banwr  r  (a  yery  cwiouaand  aoelam  pe<anoa^  to  yaat  foraa. 
Tour  friend  Walter  was  baDoar-beareri^dreaaad  ttk^a  i 
foreatar  of  0I4  in  graen,  with  a  green  bonnat,  and  m 
aifla  fealber  to  it ;  and.  aa  he  waa  wsU.i90ttiiia4i>aad  hmm 
baadanmoly  ^w  4ba  4al4t  be  > waa  nmab  adnjlrad  by  ail 
bia  cbouDBaen. 

**  I  have  tbronai  Cbeaa  t^iflea  «Qf  ethar,  viiboHt  moab 
bt^a  Ihat  tbof  wiU  aobrd  joq  anuaeoaant ;  bat  I  Ukow 

Switt  wiab  to  knowr  what  I  am  about,  and  I  hava  but 
9B  10  aand  loiboae  frtett^  wfio  interest  tbamnalyea 
iitatriAar.  Mypns«Btaa^loyman(isiKatchlQg.<rQn 
{Uae  10  time,  tbe  pooaraaa^kf  aatupldeausa,  to  oraar  lo 
be  ready  lo  rednoe  the  santenoa  iato  wriUoc.  whan  lbs 
fDort'shatt  bava  docide^  wbatbar  Gordon  of  JKepaoora  or 
fiaaHii^aB  af  lldklafortbhead  be  the  supeiter  of  the 
knds  01  T&rachrechan  and  Palbrattle,  smd  entlUed  to  tba 
feudal  oasuslities  payable  forth  thereof,  which  may 
amount  to  twopence  sterling,  once  to  half  a-dozen  of 
yiaafs.  tisrrjr,  afer,  tbay  make  part  of  a  Ikeeliokl  qoalifl- 
entffD,  aoa  Cbardoaislon  may  witotf  a  volar,  I-4ld  not  aaod 
tba  bo«k>Qii  recoivfd  by  tba  Selkirk  caacb.  I  wiqb  I 
could  bave  ha^  sense  ci^ugh  to  send  an/  thing  which 
cotiM  afford  you  consolation.  I  tbink  our  friend  I^dy 
Loaiaa  was  Ukely  to  have  had  this  attentton ;  she  has.  God 
koowa,  bean  herself  tried  with  aflUctian,  and  Is  weU  ac- 
qualnled  .with  the  aonreaa  from  which  comfort  can  be 
drawn.  My  wife  Jotos  to  kindest  remembraocaa,  an  do 
■ophia  and  Wallar.    £vef  yoora  aSactloaalely, 

Thi0  letter  WdmedibeMd  of  I>60pnib6r.  On  the 
Iftih,  lohn  BaUantyne,  beinff  then  at  Abbotaford, 
writes  to  Metavf.  Gomteble:— '^Paul  b  nil  in 
knndi**  end  an  envelcpe,  addrMaed  to  Jainee  Bel- 
mutyne  00  the  99th,  nae  preaerred  another  Httle 
frmi^iient  of  Soott's  puyfbl  doggerel  ;— 

^Bear  Jana«-I'nl4lone,  tbank  God.  vltb  tbeknfjrvqi* 
Of  the  moat  proay  of  Apoatlea— nuil ; 


Afidaatr  a4f  ani^Of  «:iMsa|9c«ibQn  «if  VonkbaMV 

I^Cpi)Ul>aldquw<raJWIt  »JhT  ciuiAcn,wl  " 


CHAPTER   XXXVII, 

PITBLirATlON  or    FAULTS  LFTTERfl  TO    HIS  lttHSft>I-B— 

ritJT  »tANKsar?i()  "tEfta¥-n*ti" — pkathofka^o* 

HI  UN    SC^TiTT— LETTEBff    TO    TMOMAff    BTOtI — ^UfftV 

c^TK»^  (IP  THE  A:sTiaPABY— iii^TORV  vw  l*^H  ro% 

TRE     EDiKEVUgil    AKWLTaL    Ui:CitTKB-LETTEIlti    Off 

Tur*  uiHTonv  OF  stoTtrAMD  (^aojettiut-  pntucA- 

TIOAi     or    VH£    FiBMT    TA.Lt:H    fjV    MV     ULNDLOAIt    SV 

HL'RBair   AHu    mLxcKWQOii—A-%r^nnyi^ie    or   Ma. 

TBAlW  — <lSfA«TKIIL¥  REVIEW  1>N  THB  TA^LgS— tUlLn- 

iNo  AT  AiiBOTif!i'o*ijj  LlOl7^— ijrrrEats  TO  BtoBKrrt; 

TVHKV,    IftTSKilV,  ANIi  THE  flAULASTV>'»6r^-lSlfi* 

Thm  vtar  ISi&  m*iy  be  con  BiiUretl  b^  for  Seoii'a 
m'actful  lienor  of  lilt^t  Bn  i:?vei9(fiil  cmn.  That  wliii:b 
ffiikiwed  hna  loft  almoi't  ita  ftrtly  Irncus  in  fhtfijc- 
e/^^ive  Appearanr:^  uf  nmt?  volimios,  which  atleat 
(he  proflif^'il  ^enma,  and  hardly  letifi  aticnii^^inpr  in- 
d  Ui*t  r y  0  f  t  ti  e  Ti!  a  n.  Ea  rl  y  ii  1  J  n  ti  u  sry  wore  puM  la  h  - 
eJ  Pa  til' a  Leit^r^  \o  bi?  KiiHifolk,  uf  whicli  1  need 
not  now  say  luore  chMti  cbut  ihtiy  werB  r«ct;)vedi  vtilh 
l;vt.ty  rUficKHity,  ^ml  K'^neral.  lliini^^li  nut  vociferoiw 
appiauae.  The  first  (dihon  was  an  ociavo,  uf  GMO 
copies^  ntid  ii  was  folLnwtid,  in  tlu^  ejjuTiic^  of  ikie 
n^^xt  iwo  or  thr*e  years,  by  a  Heconri  and  a  ihif*!, 
amou  citing  toirethi^r  ti>  3fi00  niort.  The  p^^pul^niy 
of  the  QOvelif  t  was  at  lU  h€^l ;  and  ihls  anmilt^, 
(f  no:  avoH't'd,  j^tcimtn  of  Si^^titi's  jtio^.  mw»i  Have 
Dcpti  i\mcjoiviid^  by  all  wbo  Iiad  any  shar«  of  dia- 
crijitlnahon,  iii  flow  from  ibp  earn f^p6n< 

Mr  Ti^^rry  iJr"iluctd  in  (lie  sprint  of  iSlUii  drama- 
tic [litctf,  crniilled, '^  (juy  Mannenn^/'  which  m^ 
wiih  prat  Bucceaa  on  iq^  London  board*,  and  aul! 
roniinutjs  Ut  \yt  a  TavounEe  wiih  the  ihearrical  pub- 
lic ;  what  share  the  riovdiet  hiniwlf  had  in  tbh  first 
epecim^n  of  what  hp  used  tft  call  '*  ihe  art  of  Ter- 
TYf^Tie^*  Jaanatil  tiaciTy  aoy  ;  but  his  coiruspond- 
anc^  snuwB  that  the  preuy  aou^  of  tbb  JLuUahj/* 
was  not  hiaocily  cjifilj-jbuliAJd  to  it;  and  I  infar  that 
he  \iAd  tiiken  lao  troub^  to  tuodvf^  the  ploi,  afftl  r»- 
tittau^n^  for  aifiK^  purpoaefi,  a  conpidtTabte  (jari  of 
I h e  on« I  nal  d i a lofLnc.  Th tt  vix^mh  1  ri sk  of  d  i bc«j very, 
ilirou^^ri  tbt'  intrtHJuutwn  of  the  ^ou^  which  bad,  in 
ihe  nifan  lioifin,  U'^n  cominuntoaifMi  10  one.  of  hia 
hum  We  tkpradcniS,  i\w  1*1^  jlUsflfider  Cairaptnll^ 
(j<iruir  of  Alhyn'a  Anthology— Uommonly  knowo  ai 
Abbot&forfi  a*,  by  way  of  t»ccllencis  "  Tht  Dm-^ 

f^culty^  will  amuec  the  reader  af  l)l«?  fi>llowlii|5  l^* 

let  :— 

7*tf  D.  TcTT^,  Etq,  Alfred  Placet  Bioemtln^f,  £md^ 

^  Abhota(oird,  UStta  April,  1814- 
*^  My  ckar  Terry T 

"  I  ghe  you  joy  of  four  pnnmotEon  m  ihe  digjaky  of  an 
hfirisptioUJfT,  »nfl  fn^mHlty  wish  yrm  all  the  succi^Sfi  you  ao 
^i^M  df  aefTP^  M>  atisw^r  Lhr.  apprunchin^  ^^Tilajpcmtin  of 
vmir  donirijUc  (sKabltshHii'Ri.  Tuu  wlil  fiD<J  a  h<i»uft'*  a 
vF^ry  devour  in  |i  nn^tJBteTt  Jiful  thai  ihe  |.iurf^.vln^  R»rll  rv- 
qukr^i  &  liUl9  f>xtrtlDa,  tmcl  a  ^riifH  cleuj  oi  AoU-deiiiiil  AOd 
Arrumi'iDODt-  liai  when  Ulc^  ig  dutiiestli:  iicane  aniJ 
cnrLl^ntm^'iir,  ill  Ihat  would  bv  oEhervfiyc  dkA4i^rf«;ibh-<',4a 
rrntr^jninif  Dur  Lad rp  and  in^cupvin^  our  Tiiup^  br'£um«:p 
f?.i«iV  1  tru  9t  M  M .  Terry  uTH  I  fi?l  I j  **r  b  »  >(  nt"**  flfts  Hy  Of  er, 
rsnilthm  you  wdl  HrOfjrt '  itnudlfi  rHcHir- mn  your  kiiee.^  1 
hiivt;  tthj:«Q  ii  fhc  li pritif^  cln' u ti.  wiilch  u^v^it^  uj.f^  \a,if  in  re^ 
I- '  '.[.ri':;  ytiur  leaner,  and  (h*?rc;  1  wa?i  tniroduci'd  tcj  a.  maa 

Vsi \  hcvrmwiti  ujy  tiff"  tH'fortt  naaicly,  the  profrle- 

Tur  <<]  idl  the  Fcpporaiid  MnjiUfLl  f:i[tJily.  ixi  ulh<?r  wordri, 
LJir.i  flj'iiiumr!  Don^Ilu  IJIeiuhjdL  Dmidic  \a  Jdiiiif^ellf  inodtu, 
ajid  Hayi^ '  he  b'livi*>i  1t»  onty  tlto  duUdsiihAt  la  in  khe  buLlCi 
und  ijo  hiLiinel,*  A»  thy  flurvcyoT  of  lai^'a  wa»  r^CHHX  bin 
rjiTiinf>nA  ruiuinlff  pskiA  HyndLciL,  \*liii:h  \i  iheabudct  of  Dan- 
dit\  hi»  ^buk:  UA^'tL  ruH.1it-d  oul  on  (lit  rb&ii  of  eiecutiotv, 
iuid  l>Tindie  frtUwwi  d  iium^  <i;on*ciotm  ttul  their  nmobar 

S really  (Jitpodcd  his  T^tntaJ  i^icUiicimc;. '  the  lae  Lauf  0^ 
u*m  Lb  but  wbolpa^  tsmn/  lu  truths  I  Knew  uulhinic  of 
the  Diu-ui,  iMtept  lijs  odd  humoof  aT  btvjDe  "dy  li^o  n^iaiei 
for  twrjiiiLLy  do^^ji  Rut  t^irm  iir>i;  hue  a  4>f  r£  cue  rat  rdbeju- 
blmce  ojcHin^  all  fhppc*  hill  likcn,  ftJik-b  iluiti  Ifl  no  mts* 
inj; ;    mid  Jiimie  Davldd^u  of  Bju^ki^  ccrtauiiy  hioka 


'  Bm  Bcntf «  Piwtiu] 


jiPM?f^W>^.g.^^. 


m 


lOFJS  OF  90L  WAl^TEa  SCOTT. 


Ikadie  ^S^nyont  remrkiWy  weU.  He  U  much  flat- 
torod  ^nra  tons  c^imfAtelMR*  ted  'goes  wiflbnnly  bir  tQ6 
name  among  hit  e^miwlea,  mit  Nksuaver  rtoad  t^  McrlL 
AiUc  used  to  read  it  to  him,  but  tt  aet  hliQ  aaleep.  All  thia 
jou  will  ( hink  funny  enough.  I  am  afraid  I  am  In  a  scrape 
about,  the  song,  and  that  of  my  own  making;  for  aa  it 
liever  occurred  to  md  that  there  waa  anr  thing  odd  in  mjr 
wiUiog  twoor  three  ▼eraea  for  you,  wmch  Imto  no  eao>< 
aaajCtm  with  the  norel,  I  was  at  no  pains  to  disown  them ; 
fBd  Campbell  is  just  that  sort  of  crazy  creature,  with 
whom  there  is  no  confidence,  not  from  want  of  honour 
and  disposifion  to  oblige,  but  fV^m  his  flighty  temper. 
The  mustc  of  Cadit  gu  to  is  already  printed  In  hia  publi- 
cation, and  nothing  can  be  done  with  him,  for  fear  of  set- 
thig  his  tongue  a-soiag  Enilcine  and  you  may  consider 
whether  you  Khoiud  barely  aeknowled^r®  an  obligation  to 
an  nnknown  friend,  or  pass  the  matter  altogether  in  ai- 
tonxje.  In  my  opinion,  my  f^t  Idea  waa  preferable  to 
both,  because  I  cannot  see  what  earthly  connexloB  tkere 
is  between  the  son^  and  the  novel,  or  how  acknowledging 
the  <me  Is  (hthering  the  other  On  che  contrary,  it  seems 
CD  me  that  acknowledgment  tends  to  ezelnde  the  Idea  of 
farther  ebligatlnn  than  to  the  eAent  apecUled.  1  fotpA 
alpo  that  I  hlu)  given  a  copy  of  the  lines  to  Mrs.  Maoleed  of 
Macleod,  from  whom  i  had  the  air.  But  I  remit  tbe 
matter  entirely  to  you  and  ErslUne,  for  there  must  be 
many  points  In  it  which  I  cannot  be  aupposed  a  good 
*1udge  of.  At  any  rtic  doni  let  It  delay  your  pnbllcaiidn, 
Ind  believe  1  ahaH  be  cjuite  satitflcd  wim  What  you  thMk 

**  lh«ve  got  from  my  frtend  Oleogarry  the  poMeat  dog 


•ver  see«  mi  the  Boiler  ainee  Johnnie  Armstrbnc'a  time 
Is  beliwceta  the  wolf  and  deer  greyihownV  about  aU 


Be  li 


MAi  from  Uie  tip  of  the  Q08«  to  the  tail*  and  high  and  strong 
m  IWPPor^on:  he  Is  quile  flenll6»  and  a  great  lavourite: 
ten  WDL  Ertikine  he  wtU  eafoflrhia  pUUc  without  being  at 
(he  troubte  to  put  a  paw  on  the  table  or  chair.  1  showed 
hhn  to  Matthews,  who  dined  one  day  in  Oaatle  Street 
before  I  came  here,  where,  except  for  Mrs.  8.,  I  am  Bfce 
WHO 

'  •  The  ralrii  who  dwelleth  by  hlmitolf 

In  the  hmd  of  mist  and  ntuSM*— 

lor  It  ia  snowing  and  haOing  eternally,  and  vrtU  kiUaUtbe 
lambs  to  a  certainty,  unless  It  changes  in  a  fisw  hours*  At 

Erate,  It  will  cure  ua  of  the  embarrassments  adalng 
plenty  and  low  markets.  Muthjgdod  hickio  tour 
nutc  esertiona :  ^en  1  Can  be  of  use,  commtoa  me. 
lllra,^coct  johia  me  in  regarda  to  Mra.  Terrr,  artd  consl- 
#tfraThe  honaeaa  thecred^eet  poMlUe  bartahi :  the  skua;. 
Hon  la  aU  you  can  wish.    Adieu,  yours  tvmj^ 

WjlLtbb  Soott. 

"F:  S.— On  6onstderatioo,  and  comnaring  dlfflcoNfes,  I 
think  I  wlH  setde  wHh  CantpbcfU  to  take  my  oame  from 
Ae  Verses  aa  they  atand  fn  his  coOectloa.  The  veraea 
themseives  I  cannot  take  away  wtthmit  Imimidont  ej^la^ 
Wilnhat  and  as  they^  go  to  oUier  nuialo,Bna  stand  withont 
nior  name,  thoy  wjll  probably  not  be  noticed,  so  yon  seed 


abn  ronra^  no  wraier  trouble  on  the  score.  I  ahouW 
nke  to  see  my  eopr :  pray  send  it  to  the  poatofllce,  under 
eorer  to  Mr.  FreeUng,  whose  unlimited  privilege  is  at  my 


fiirk  in  May  ftppesred  the  novel  of  ^he  Aoti- 
guary,"  which  seems  to  have  been  begun  a  hnle 
D^re  the  close  of  1^5.  It  came  out  at  a  moment 
ofqomestic  distress.    . 

Throughout  the  year  1S16  Mijor  John  Scott  had 
Men  drooping.  He  died  on  the  f  th  of  May,  1616  { 
«id  I  extract  the  letter  in  which  this  event  was  an- 
nounced to  Mr.  Thomas  Scott  bv  his  only  surriv- 
ing  brother. 

To  i%»mA9  SkoU^  Btq.,  Pa^nuuter  qf  the  70th  Re^itneHij 
^  (kmada. 

"*  Bdtaibuvgh,  15th  May,  1816. 
•My  dear  Tom, 

♦*Thl«  brtngH  you  the  melaochnly  jip^vh  of  our  bro- 
ther John's  coticludinj;  his  Ions  end  linpprins  innen<«  hv 
'Jtea*h,  unon  Thursday  lam.  We  had  thought  It  lmi»ossl. 
tSIe  he  sfiould  survive  thr  winter,  bur,  as  the  weather  be- 
rame  milder,  he  gathered  strongtlt,  and  went  out  «Pvoral 
fhtM»8.  In  the  bpginniug  of  thf  week  he  beciune  wor-'e, 
and  on  Wednesday  kept  his  bo<l.  On  Tlmrsdny,  about 
two  o'clock,  they  itnt  mc  an  fxpr»\-»8  lo  Vbbofsfonl— th^ 
matt  rtached  me  at  nWie.  I  lilinjfdiatnlv  wt  oiu.  :ind  tra- 
ined all  night— hut  h?d  not  the  «atii«fac(lon  to  nee  inv 
brother  aliye.  He  had  died  about  four  o'clock,  without 
tefuch  paih.  being  contplet«ly  exhausted.  You  will  nar 
nirapy  fee!  most  anxious  about  my  mothej*«  atate  of 
nesHh  and  spirits.  I  am  happy  to  say,  she  has  borne  thla 
severe  shock  with  great  firmness  and  resignation,  isjker- 


fectly  wen  tai  her  heahh,  and  as  strong  in  her  oM  m 
eter  76a  knew  her.  Ae  feels  her  loss,  but  Is  else  sen^ 
ble  that  protracted  eVatence,  with  a  constitution  so  ttn- 
CrleTably  broken  up,  could  liare  been  no  blea^ng.  to* 
deed  1  muat  sar,  th^  In  many  respects,  her  sitoaiion  wA 
be  more  comTortabtle  on  account  of  thif  remoral.  whea 
the  first  shock  is  over ;  for  to  watch  an  in  valla,  and  to  ta- 
dergo  all  the^ changes  of  a  temper  fretted  by  snffertaiL 
suited  111  with  her  age  and  habits.  The  funeral,  whka 
took  place  yesterday,  was  decern  and  prtratc,  becomlsg 
our  Ather'a  eldest  son,  and  the  head  of  a  quiet  funfly. 
After  it,  I  asked  Hay  Donaldson  and  Mr.  MacCoDoch*  ts 
look  over  his  papers,  In  case  there  ahoold  be  any  te«»> 
mentary  provfaton,  but  none  auch  was  found ;  nor  do  I 
think  he  had  any  Intention  of  altering  the  desUnatiaa, 
which  divides  his  effects  between  his  aorviTtnf  brothera. 
Tour  alVectlonate 

W.B.* 

A  few  daya  afterwards^  he  hands  to  Mr.  Tfefoms 
Scott  a  formal  statement  of  pecuniary  ftfiairs ;  ths 
Insult  of  which  was,  that  the  Major  had  left  some* 
thing  not  much  under  £6000.  Major  Scott,  fh>m  ag 
I  haye  heard,  was  a  sober«  sedate  bachelor,  of  dofl 
mind  and  frugal  tastea,  who,  aAer  hia  ratiiemsat 
from  the  army,  divided  his  tune  between  hie  ae- 
ther's prinitive  fireside,  and  the  societr  of  m  fnr 
wfaiet-inayiBg  brother  omcers,  that  met  ior«B  •«»- 
ing  ruoberal  Fortune's  tavern.  But,  malpng  every 
aliowandB'  for  his  retired  and  tbrifry  habna,  i  mfer 
that  the  pajments  made  to  each  of  the  three  bro- 
thers out  of  their  father's  estate  must  have,  prior  te 
1816,  amounted  to  x60p0.  From  the  letter  con  veriog 
this  statement  (^Mh  May,)  I  extract  a  few  aentenois: 

*'  Dear  Tbin, 

** Should  the  posaeaalon  of  this  sum,  ad 

the  eertaSfltX  that  you  must,  accorditig  to  the  conrse  0f 
nattrre,  In  a  short  space  of  years  aucceed  to  a  shnllar  am 
of  £9000  betongfng  to  our  moOier,  induce  yon  to  tnta 
your  thougms  to  Seotkmd,  1  ahaM  be  moat  happy  to  fbr- 
ward  your  viewa  wRh  any  influence  I  may  poaseas  j  and  I 
have  ntde  doubt  that,  sooner  or  later,  something  may  he 
done-  But  unfortunately,  every  avenue  it  now  cheted 
Wtth  tipi^canta,  whose  tmnut  are  very  itrong;   fordM 


number  of  disbanded  officers,  and  pu6Kc  servants  db* 
iMssedIn  eense<toence  of  ParHament  tuminfr  restive  aai 
refusing  the  Income-tax,  la  gre^  and  Increashig.  Be*' 
netaiT  fa  the  order  of  the  daj-,  and  1  aaaure  you  they  en 
ahimng  properly  cloae.  It  wotild,  no  doubt,  w  comfen* 
tlvely  eaey  to  set  you  a  better  situatlafD  where  ftm  are, 
but  Uien  it  is  bidding  farewell  te  your  country,  at  least  ia 
a  kmg  time,  and  aepafaiing  tout  ehDdren  ftom  all  ktam- 
ledge  of  those  whh  whom  they  are  natumnr  eomeeted. 
I  ahf^  anxlooaly  expect  to  hear  tnto  ytm  on  your  vfe«t 
and  wishea.  I  think,  at  all  events,  yon  ought  to  get  rid  of 
tlie  drudgery  or  the  paymastershiph— but  not  wtttioai  tty* 
tng  to  exchange  It  for  something  else.  I  do  not  kn<ywhow 
H  is  with  you— but  I  do  not  feel  m>-aelf  quite  so  ymmgm 
I  was  when  we  met  last,  and  I  should  like  vr«Uto  see  mj 
onljr  brother  return  to  his  own  country  and  aettle,  vrithoui 
thoughts  of  leaving  It,  (HI  it  is  exchanged  for  one  that  ft 

dark  and  (ttstaot '  I  left  all  Jack'a  personal  triflfl 

at  my  mother's  diaposaL  l^ere  was  notlAng  of  the  aHg*  ~ 
eet  Value,  excepting  his  aoM  watch,  which  wa^  mv  i 
ter*«,  ai|Ml  a  good  om«.  My  mother  aaya  he  had  wisl 
my  son  Wsfter  should  liave  It,  as  his  male  repreaentatim 
—which  t  can  only  accept  on  coodhion  vow  ante  Watt<t 
will  accftM  a  similar  token  of  regard  from  his  i%nalniif 
uncle.— Yours  affectionately, 

W.  8." 

The  letter  in  which  Scott  communicated  his  bre* 
ther's  death  to  Mr.  Morritt,  gives  us  his  own  origi- 
nsl  opinion  of  The  Antiqtiei^'.  It  has  also  eomr  n- 
marks  on  the  «cpa ration  of  Lord  and  Lsdy  Byron— 
and  the  "domestic  >'crse8"  of  me  tu)ble  poeu 

Tb  J.  B.  S.  MvrrtV,  />«>.  H.  P.  Londtm. 

*'  Bdlnbnrghi  Kav  16, 1816. 
"  Mv  <lear  Morvltt, 

•'  1  have  been  occupied  of  late  with  acen'e»of  dome#> 
tic  dlstrevs,  my  pCK)r  biother.  Major  John  ricoti,  having 
last  week  closed  a  life  which  wasting  disease  had  \oni 
rendered  burthenaoihe.  His  demh,  nnder at)  the  clremn- 
tftaneea,  cannot  be  termed .«  subject  of  deep  aflicaon] 
aad  though  we  "verv  alwaya-onftatcnal  terma«f  natasi 
kindness  and  goodwrllL  yet  our  habita  of  lifc^  our  taaie  for 
aocieiy  aud  circles  ol  friends,  were  so  totally  dtoereoii 


•  The  late  Mr.  Mny  "Honaldaon.  V  fl.- 
bpCh  TbooMutaod  Waller  dooU.  aAd.Mr..? 
!B»VoSer5r Ml*.  Tliomaii  .Scott..  I  --( 


P.— an  intimate  frirtrfrf 
~  cbof  Aidwaft 


Lire  OF  SIR  WALtttt  hocm. 


uMOMmgaiBa  Md  r«t)  lUtliif  m  each  (Mb«r  Biicltt  bave 


Tec  U  it  a  heavf  cooMdanilaM  to  have  loet 
Jbe  kfll  tmt  one  who  waaintereafeedtD  cor  early  domeedc 
Ife.  our  habits  of  boyhood,  and  our  Aral  frienda  and  eon- 
Bezkms.  II  makes  one  look  about  and  tee  how  the  acene 
hae  changed  around  him,  and  how  ho  hun;ielf  haa  been 
changed  wtth  it  My  only  reuiainlng  brother  is  in  Caoa- 
da,  and  seems  to  have  an  Intention  of  remaining  there  ; 
•o  that  ray  wiother,  now  tipwards  of  eighty,  has  now  only 
«Q«  child'leftto  her  out  or  thirteen  whom  she  has  bo^ne. 
the  is  a  most  exceHont  woman,  possessed,  even  at  her 
adrancedage,  of  all  the  force  of  mind  and  senao  of  duty 
which  have  canted  her  throufh  ao  many  domestic  iriefs, 
MB  the  8Ucce5isiT0  death  of  eleven  children,  some  of  them 
come  to  men  and  women's  estate,  naturally  infiirs.  She 
is  the  principal  subject  of  my  attention  at  present,  and  is, 
1  am  glad  to  say,  perfectly  well  in  body  and  comi>o3ed  in 
mind. 

*  Nottikig  ean  gfTo  me  more  pleasore  than  tlie  prospect 
M  seeing  you  in  September,  wnich  will  suit  our  uiouons 
^effecdy  welL  I  tntsi  I  shall  have  an  opportunity  to  in- 
tBe«liice jroa  to  some  of  oor  c lena  which  you  have  not  r^ 
Men.  vnt  1  hope  we  shall  have  some  miJd  weather  be* 
fore  thai  time,  ior  w^  are  now  iu  the  seventh  month  of 
winter,  which  almost  leads  me  to  stipposo  that  we  shall 
aee  no  summer  this  season.  As  for  spring,  that  is  post 
praying  tor..  In  the  month  of  November  last,  people  were 
tkmag  in  the  n«^ighbourhood  of  Edinburgh;  and  now, 
ia  ile  middle  of  May,  the  snow  Is  lying  white  oa  Arthur's 
Heat,  and  on  the  mnge  of  the  Pentlaod><.  It  la  really  ffear- 
liil,  and  thh  aheep  are  perishing  by  scorea.  Jam  tmHt 
tetTA  nivi*,  fc.  laa^  wall  be  taken  upas  ^e  song  of  eigh< 
leeo  hundred  and  sixteen.  ^ 

"  So  Lord  Byron's  romance  seems  to  be  concluded  for 
$oe  while — and  it  is  surely  time,  ader  he  has  announced, 
ok-  rather  they  themselves  have  aimonnced,  half  a  dozen 
blaekjfruard  newKpaper  editors,  to  have  been  his  confl- 
JMiH  on  the  occasion.  Sorely  it  is  a  strange  thirst  of  pu b- 
Ic  tkme  that  seeks  such  a  road  (o  it.  Bot  Lord  Byron, 
with  high  fentusaad  many  points  of  a  noble  anc^generoua 
feoliag,  has  ChiUe  Baroklrd  hlmaelf.  and  outlawed  him. 
•ali;  into  too  great  a  resemblance  with  the  pictures  of  hia 
imagination.  He  has  one  excuse,  howevt;r,  and  it  is  a  sad 
one.  I  have  been  reckoned  to  make  a  good  hit  enough  at 
a  pirate,  or  an  outlaw,  or  a  »mu^Ung  bandit ;  but  I  cannot 
•BT  I  vras  ever  so  much  euclmnted  with  my  work  as  to 
thmk  of  carryiitf  off  a  drift  of  mv  neighbour's  sheep,  or 
half  a  dozen  of  his  milk  cows.  Onlv  I  remember,  in  the 
rough  times,  having  a  scheme  with  the  Duke  of  Buc- 
eleucb,  that  when  the  worst  came  to  the  worst,  we  should 
ntpair  Hermitage  Castle,  and  live,  like  Robin  Hood  and 
hts  merry  men,  at  the  expense  of  all  round  us.  But  this 
presupposed  a  grand  bauUversement  of  society.  In  the 
mean  whito,  I  think  my  noble  friend  is  something  like  my 
eld  peacock,  who  chooses  to  bivouac  apart  from  his  lady, 
and  sit  below  ray  bedroom  window,  to  keep  me  awake 
with  his  screeching  lamentation.  Only  I  own  he  is  not 
ogoal  to  melody  to  Lord  Byron,  for  F\tre-th«4'teeU—and 
^/or  ever,  &c.,  is  a  very  sweet  dirge  indeed.  After  alL 
Cw  rtmt  vuU  iogi^  and  that's  all  that  cah  be  said 
about  H 

**  I  am  quite  reconciled  to  your  opinions  on  tho  income- 
tMx,  and  am  not  at  all  in  despair  at  the  prospect  of  keep- 

&£2(J0  a  year  in  my  pockrt,  since  tno  ministers  ean 
:e  without  it.  But  their  throwing  the  helve  after  tho 
hatchet,  and  ^ving  up  the  malt  duty  because  they  had 
hat  the  other,  was  droll  enough.  After  all,  our  fat  friend ' 
moat  learn  to  live  within  compass,  and  fire  off  no  more 
craokera  in  the  Park^  for  John  Bull  Is  getting  dreadfully 
aore  on  Wl  sides  when  money  is  concerned. 

**  I  sent  you,  some  time  since,  the  Antiquary.  It  is  not 
•o  interesting  as  its  predecessors— the  period  did  not  ad- 
anh  of  so  much  romantic  eitaation.  But  it  has  been  more 
fortunate  than  any  of  them  in  the  sale,  for  GOOO  went  off 
to  the  first  six  days,  and  it  is  now  at  press  again ;  which  is 
very  flattering  to  the  unknown  author.  Another  incofpnl* 
to  proposes  immediately  to  rHsiime  the  second  volume  of 
Triermaio,  which  is  at  present  !n  tho  state  of  the  Bear 
and  Fiddle.    Adieu,  dear  Morriu.    Ever  yours, 

X  Waltbb  Soorr." 

•  Shortly  aAer  Beau  BnuameU  (iauDortaHxe^  in  Doo  Joan)  fell 
Iqto  disgrace  with  the  Prioco  Regent,  and  wa«  di^misaed  from  the 
newtf  of  Carlton  ilou^e,  he  was  riding  with  aootlier  gentlrman 
in  the  Park,  when  the  Prince  met  tiieiii.  His  Royal  HighncM 
■tope  to  speak  to  Bnnmnell's  compaiiipn— the  Beau  continued  to 
jQff  oo— and  wiien  the  other  dandy  reined  bim,  asked  witli  an 
air  of  sovereign  indiffJTtnce,  "  Who  ii  your  fat  irieDd  7"  Such, 
at  least,  was  the  alory  tliat  went  l)v'.  round  of  the  new-gnapprs  at 
ifce  lime,  and  highly  tickled  Soott'i  fiincy.  I  have  heani  that  no- 
body enjoyod  ao  much  as  tbe  Priace  of  Wales  iiimaelf  an  earlier 
sDfeciaieaof  the  Beau'g  atsurancc.  Taking  ofli*oce  at  toine  part 
of  His  Royal  lligtuteM's  conduct  or  dcineanotir,  "  Upon  my 
vMid/*  ctMerwid  Mr.  Brummell,  "  if  this  kind  of  thing  gpaa  oa.  I 
SllUoU^ed  to  eat  Wales,  aad  faring  the  old  Kingiote&sbiua." 


Spring  of  bis  third  novel  ih  a  leicer'of  the  saoie 
dntd  to  Terry,  9con  nays,  It  wants  the  romance^ 
Waverlev  and  tbe  adventure  of  Guy  Manneriog) 
and  yet  tircrc  ta  some  salvation  about  it,  for  if  a  man 
will  paint  from  na;ure,  he  will  be  likely  to  amuae 
those  who  are  daily  Ipoking  at  it."  y 

After  a  Utile  (>auso  of  heBitation,  The  Antiquary 
attained  popularity  not  inferior  to  Guy  Mannering ; 
and,  though  the  author  appears  for  a  moment  to 
have  shared  the  doubts  which  lie  read  in  the  con^i- 
tenance  of  James  Ballantyne,  it  certainly  was,  in 
the  sequel^  bis  chief  fiivotmte  among  all  hi3  noveta. 
Nor  is  it  difficult  to  account  for  this  preference,  with- 
out laying  anjr  stress  on  the  fact,  that,  during  a  few 
short  week9,jt  was.  pretty  commonly  talkeu  of  as 
a  falling  off  from  its  immediate  predecessors— and  . 
that  some  minor  critics  re-echoed  this  stupid  wbuh 
per  in  print.  In  that  view,  there  were  many  of  lU 
successors  that  had  much  stronger  daims  on  tha 
parental  instinct  of  protection.  But  the  truth  ia, 
that  although  Scott's  Introduction  of  ISSOrep^esehls 
him  as  pleased  with  fancying  that,  in  the  principal 
personage,  he  had  embalmed  a  worthy  friend  of  ma 
boyish  dayai  his  own  antiquarian  propensities,  origi- 
nating, perhaps,  in  the  kind  attentions  of  George 
Constable  of  Wallace-Cragie,  ana  fostered  not  a  ht- 
tle,  at  about  as  doctile  a  period,  by  those  of  old  Clerk 
of  Kidin,  and  John  Ramsay  of  OchtertyrC)  had  by 
degrees  ho  developed  themselves,  that  he  could  hara- 
ly,  even  when  the  Antiquary  was  published,  have 
scropled  about  recognising  a  quaint  caricature  of  tha 
founder  of  the  Abbotsford  Museum,  in  the  inimitable 
portraiture  of  the  Laird  of  Monkbarns.  The  De- 
scriptive Catalogue  of  that  collection,  which  he  begali 
towards  the  close  of  his  life,  bat,  alas !  never  finish- 
ed, is  entitled,  "  Rtliquics  TVottconanee—or  the  Ga- 
bidu of  tfu  late  Jonathan  Oldbuck^  Esq** 

But  laying  this,  which  might  have  been  little  more 
than  a  good«humoin'ed  pleasantry^  out  of  the  ques- 
tion, there  is  a^uredly  no  one  of  all  his  works  on 
which  more  of  his  own  early  associations  have  left 
their  image.  Of  those  early  associations,  as  his  full- 
grown  tastes  were  all  the  progeny,  so  his  genius,  in 
all  its  happiest  efforts,  was  the  "  Recording  Angd :" 
and  when  George  Constable  first  expoundeok  hn 
^^GFabions"  to  the  child  that  was  to  immortalize  his 
name,  they  were  either  wandering  band  in  hand  over 
the  field  where  the  grass  still  grew  rank  upon  the 
grave  of  Balmawhapple^  or  sauntering  on  the  beach 
where  the  MucktehackeU  of  Prestonpans  dried  their 
nets,  singing, 

'*  Weel  may  the  boaUe  row^  and  beUer  mtj  she  speed, 
O  weel  may  the  boai&e  rowthat  wina  tho  bairns'  bread*^-^  , 

or  telling  wild  stories  about  eUff-escapes  and  the 
funerals  of  shipwrecked  fishermen. 

Consklered  hy  itself,  without  reftrence  to  these 
sources  of  personal  interest,  this  novel  seems  to  me 
to  possess,  almost  throughout,  in  common  with  its 
two  predecessors,  a  kind  of  simple  unsouf^t  charm, 
which  the  subsequent  works  of  the  senee  hardly 
reached,  save  in  occasional  snatches  :—'like  them 
it  is,  in  all  its  humbler  and  softer  scenes,  the  tran- 
script of  actual  Scottish  life,  as  observed  by  the 
man  himself.  And  I  think  it  must  also  be  allowed, 
that  he  has  nowhere  displayed  his  highest  art,  that 
of  skHfiH  contrast,  in  greater  perfection.  Even  the 
tragic  romance  of  Waverley  does  not  set  off  its 
Macwheebles  and  Callnm  Begs  better  than  the  odd- 
ities of  Jonathan  Oldbuck  and  his  circle  are  reliev- 
ed, on  the  one  hand,  by  the  stately  gloom  of  the 
Otenallans.  on  the  other,  by  the  stem  afl^iction  of 
the  poor  fisherman^  who,  when  discovered  renairing 
the  "  auld  black  bitch  o  a  boat"  in  which  nis  boy 
had  been  lost,  and  congratulated  by  his  visiter  on 
being  capable  of  the  exertion,  makes  answer,  '*And 
what  would  you  have  mo  lo  do,  unless  I  wanted  to 
see  four  children  starve,  because  one  is  drowned  7 
t/'s  weel  wV  you  gentles,  that  ran  sit  in  the  house  wC 
handkerchers  at  your  een^  lehen  ye  lose  a  friend  / 
tntt  the  like  o'  vs  maun  to  our  work  again.  \f  our 
hearts  tpere  heating  as  hard  as  my  hammer. 

It  may  be  w^rth  noting,  that  it  was  in  correcthiA 
the  proof-iheeti  of  thii[^n<>vcl^t^a(  9i^^^\^or 


Ura^r^W  Wi^lSA^QQTT. 


htt  ehapctrt  wMh  mottoes  t»f  his  swn 
On  ODS  occasran  bd  happened  to  ask 


^tS^^f 

6^»h(iBallant3rrie,  who  Was  sitting  bsTEirauto  hunt 

5 or  a  particular  passage  in  Beaumont  and  Fletcher. 
Tohn  did  as  he  was  bid,  but  did  not  succeed  in  dis- 
eovering  the  lines.  *'  Hang  it,  Johnnie,"  cried  Stott, 
"  1  believe  I  can  make  a  motto  sooner  than  you 
Will  find  one."  He  did  so  accordingly ;  and  fi'om 
that  hour,  whenever  memsry  failed  to  susgest  an, 
appropriate  epigraph,  he  had  recourse  to  the  inex- 
haustible mines  ot  **  old  plaj^*  or  *'  old  ballad^**  to 
which  we  owe  some  of  the  most  exquisite  verses 
>  that  ever  flowed  A'om  his  pen. 

UnKke,  I  believe,  most  men,  whenever  Scott  near- 
^d  the  end  of  one  composition,  his  spirits  seem  to 
have  caught  a  new  spring  of  buoyancy,  and  before 
the  last  snecc  was  sent  from  his  desk,  he  had  crowd- 
ed his  brain  with  the  imagination  of  another  fiction. 
The  ilntiauary  Was  published,  as  we  have  seen,  in 
Hay,  hut  by  the  beginning  of  April  he  hnd  already 
Opened  to  the  Ballantynes  the  plan  of  the  first  Tales 
of  my  Landlord  ;  and— to  say  nothing  of  Harold 
tb^  Dauntlestr,  which  he  be^an  shortly  after  the 
Brktal  of  Trierroain  was  finished,  and  which  he 
seems  to  have  kept  before  him  for  two  years  as  a 
congenial  plaything,  to  be  taken  up  whenever  (he 
coach  brought  na  proof-sheets  to  jog  him  as  to  seri- 
6iis  mstters— he  had  also,  before  this  time,  under- 
fikdn  (o  write  the  historical  department  of  the  Re- 
gister for  1S14.  Mr.  Southey  had,  for  reasons  upon 
which  I  do  not  enter,  discontinued  his  services  to 
that  work ;  and  it  was  now  doubly  necessary,  af^er 
trying  for  one  year  a  less  eminent  hand,  that  if  the 
work  were  not  to  be  dropped  altogether,  some  stre- 
nuous exertion  should  be  made  to  sustain  its  cha- 
racter. Scott,  had  not  yet  collected  the  materials 
re<|uisite  for  his  historical  sketch  of  a  year  distin^ 
niished  for  the  importance  and  complexity  of  its 
events ;  but  these,  he  doubted  not,  would  soon  reach 
him,  end  he  felt  no  hesitation  about  pledging  him- 
a^f  to  complete,  not  only  that  aketch,  but  four  new 
volumes  or  prose  romances— and  his  Harold  the 
Dauntless  also,  if  Ballantyne  oould  oiake  any  suit- 
able arrangement  on  that  soore-^between  the  April 
and  the  Christmas  of  1816.% 

The  Antiquarv  bad  been  published  by  Constable, 
but  I  presume  that,  in  addition  to  the  usual  stipula- 
tions, he  had  been  again,  on  that  occasion,  solicited 
to  relieve  John  Ballantyne  and  Co.*s  stock  to  an 
extent  which  he  did  not  find  quite  oonvenieai ;  and 
at  all  events  he  had,  though  I  know  not  on  what 
ground,  shown  a  considerable  reluctance  of  late  to 
employ  James  Ballantyne  and  Co.  as  printers.  One 
or  oiherof  these  impediments  i«<  «llnde<l  to  in  a  note 
of  Scott's,  which,  though  undated,  has  been  pasted 
into  John  Ballaniyne's  private  leiier-book  among 
the  documsata  of  the  period  in  qne^tion.  It  is  in 
these  words  ."^^ 

**De«r  John, 

*•  I  have  seen  the  pr real  swab,  who  Is  Bupple  as  a  jrtore, 
and  will  do  all,  which  smn^  lat^rprct  kotuiko.  How- 
errer,  we  ahall  do  well  enoagh. 

W.  S." 

Constable  had  been  admitted,  almost  from  the  be- 
ginning, into  the  tecrU  of  the  IVovela— and  for  that, 
among  other  reasons,  it  would  have  been  desirable 
for  the  J^k)velist  to  have  him  continue  the  publisher 
without  interruption  ;  but  Scott  was  led  to  suspect, 
that  if  he  were  colled  upon  to  conclude  a  bargain 
for  a  fourth  novel  before  the  third  had  made  its  ap- 
pearance, his  scruples  as  to  the  matter  of  prinUng 
might  at  least  protract  the  treaty;  and  why  Scoit 
should  have  been  urgently  desirous  of  soeing  the 
transaction  settled  before  the  expiration  of  the  oalf- 
jrearly  term  of  Whitsunday,  is  sufficiently  explained 
by  thf*  fact,  that  while  so  much  of  the  old  unfortu- 
MW)  stock  of  John  Ballantyne  and  Co.  still  r^main- 
ei  on  hand— and  with  it  some  occasional  recurrence 
of  commercial  difiScuIty  as  to  Aoatine  bill*  wss  to 
be  expected— the  saneuine  author  had  gone  on  pur- 
chasing; one  patch  of  land  after  another,  until  his 
«aiaie  at  Abbotsford  hnd  already  grown  from  liO  lo 
Mtrly  logo  acres.    The  propsrty  all  about  huori- 


guuU  farm  had  b^io  ui  ii»biiM<i  tf  wm 
BoiderB,  (Sdotici  wclhlmrd§  i)  tbaae  pan 


^han  enough  to  undtrstand/  ere  long,  ibat  tbdr 
najgrawttr  ooold  wttb  diffiealtr  fssbt  any  tewipiii" 
tion  thf  t  might  present  itself  in  the  thape  of  an  amr 
of  more  acres ;  and  tUns  ha  proceeded  buying  up 
lot  after  lot  of  unimproved  ground,  at  extraragant 
pnc^  his  appetite  mcreasins  by  what  it  fed  o»,' 
while  the  ejected  yeomen  set  themselves  down  «ls#- 
where  to  fatten  at  their  leiaure  upon  the  profits,  nooat 
commonly  the  anticipated  profit^  of  "  The  Scoteb 
Novels." 

He  was  ever  snd  anon  polled  up  with  a  momea- 
tarjr  misgiTing,-^nd  resolved  that  the  latest  acqm* 
sitton  should  he  the  last,  until  he  could  get  rid  en- 
tirely of  "John  3allantyne  and  Co.  r  but  John 
Ballantyne  was,  from  the  titter  h'ghtness  of  his 
mind,  his  incapacity  to  look  a  day  before  him,  and 
his  eager  ioipatience  to  enioy  the  passing  hovr,  tb« 
very  last  roan  in  the  world,  who  could,  under  saek 
drcumatancee,  have  been  a  serviceable  agent  More- 
over John,  too,  had  his  professional  ambition  t  be 
was  naturally  proud  of  his  connexion,  however  «- 
condary,  with  the  publication  of  these  works — and 
this  connexion,  though  subordinate,  was  still  rerr 
profitable :  he  must  have  suspected,  that  shqald 
bis  name  disappear  altogether  from  the  list  of  btek- 
sellera^  it  would  be  a  very  difficult  matter  lor  him 
toretam  any  concern  in  them ;  and  I  <»&not.  oa 
the  whole,  but  consider  it  as  certain,  that,  the  uttt 
find  more  serious  embarrassments  being  overcomea 
he  was  far  from  continuing  to  hold  by  nis  patroo** 
anxiety  for  the  ultimate  and  total  abolition  of  theSr 
unhappy  copartnership.  He,  at  all  event^  unletM 
when  some  sudden  emergency  arose,  flatiered  Sootf  ■ 
own  gay  imagination,  oy  uniformly  repre8eiitiii|| 
every  tnim;  in  the  most  smUing  colours ;  aind  thougE 
Scott,  in  ms  replies,  seldom  failed  to  introdoee  some 
psssing  hint  or  caution— such  as  "  NuUttm  numtn 
abesi  ai  »it  prudtrUia^'—he  more  and  mors  toick, 
home  to  himself  the  agreeable  cafet  of  h\Bliigdum*9 
anticipations,  and  wrote  to  him  in  a  vein  aa  meitf 
as  his  own-T«.  ^.— '*  As  for  ouf  stock, 

**  TwOl  be  wearing  awa',  John. 

like  aoaw-wreathswhen  It'sUiaw,  John,"  4cc.  ^.  Ac. 

I  am  very  sorry,  in  a  word,  to  confess  myconrie- 
tion  that  John  Ballantyne,  however  volatile  aiKl 
light-headed,  acted  at  his  period  with  conning  sd- 
fishness,  both  by  Scott  and  bv  Constable.  He  w^ 
knew  that  it  was  to  Constable  alone  that  hia  firm 
had  more  than  once  owed  its  esoepe  from  utter 
ruin  and  dishonour^  and  be  roust  also  have  known, 
that  had  a  fair,  straightforward  efibrt  been  made  for 
that  purpose,  after  the  triumphant  career  of  the  Wa- 
verley  series  had  once  commenced,  nothing  conld 
have  been  mon-,  easy  than  to  bring  all  the  afhiirs  of 
his  "back-stock,  &c."  to  a  complete  close,  by  en* 
tering  into  a  didtinct  and  candid  treaty  on  that  sub* 
ject,  to  connexion  with  the  future  works  of  the  great 
Novtjlist,  either  with  Constable  or  with  any  othor 
first-rate  boose  in  the  trade.  But  John,  foreseeing: 
that,  were  that  unhappy  concern  qaito  out  of  the  field, 
he  must  himself  suhpide  into  a  mere  subordinate 
ineml>er  of  hie  brother's  printing  company,  seems 
to  have  parried  the  blow  by  the  only  arts  of  any  con-  ^ 
sequence  ill  which  he  ever  was  an  adept.  He  ap- 
pears  to  have  Bystematically  disguised  from  Scott 
the  extent  lo  which  the  whole  Ballantyne  concern 
had  been  sustained  by  Constable— especially  durw 
ing  his  Hebridean  tour  of  1814,  and  his  Continenral 
one  of  1815— and  prompted  and  enforced  the  idea  of 
I  trying  other  booksellers  from  time  to  time,  instead 
'  of  adhering  to  Constable,  merely  for  the  selfish  pur- 
poses:—first,  of  facilitating  the  immediate  discount 
of  bills :— secondly,  of  further  pcrplexSng  Scott*» 
afi*airs,  the  entire  disentsnglement  of  which  would 
have  been,  as  he  fancied,  prejudicial  to  his  own  per- 
sonal importance. 

It  was  resolved,  accordingly,  to  offer  the  risk  and 
half  profits  of  the  first  edition  of  another  new  novel 
—or  rather  collection  of  novels— not  to  Mesan. 
Constable  but  to  Mr.  Murray  of  Albemarle  Stream 
and  Mr.  Blackwood,  who  was  than  Mnctaf'aagaat 

Digitized  by  V^OOQlC 


WF!P  Op  fX»  WAtT^pi  flOpIT. 


"  Bear  John, 

dMVfcuatn  i 
towt>— 


<B  Stootlaod ;  but  it  was  at  the  Bame  time  resolved, 
V^stmf  beoauae  9mAt  wnbed  to  try  another  expert- 
meBt OQ the pabfie sagacity,  batpartly  also,  noipiea- 
tion,  from  the  wish  to  spare  Constable's  fBehngS] 
that  the  title-page  of  the  "Tales  of  my  Landlord*' 
ahoald  not  bear  the  ma{|[ical  words  "  by  the  Author 
of  Waverley."  The  facility  with  which  both  Mur- 
rar  and  BladfLWoed  embraced  snoh  a  proposal  as  no 
imtried  noreliat,  being  sane,  could  have  dreamt  of 
hazarding,  shows  that  neither  6f  (hem  had  anv 
doabt  as  to  the  identity  of  the  author.  They  both 
considered  tl^e  wiihhoIdinK  of  the  avowal  on  the 
forthcoming  title-page  as  likely  to  check  very  much 
th«  first  success  of  the  book  i  but  thejr  were  both 
eager  to  prevent  Constable's  acquiring  a  sort  «of 
^>r6scriptive  right  to  publish  for  the  unrivalled  novel- 
ist, and  wilUng  to  disturb  his  tenure  at  this  addi- 
tional, and '  as  they  thought  it,  wholly  unnecessary 
risk. 

How  sharply  the  unseen  parent  watched  this  first 
nesotiation  of  his  Jtdediah  CUishboiham^  will  ap-' 
pear  from  one  of  his  letters  j— 

7b  3ir.  John  BaUaniyne^  Hanover  StTut^  Edinburgh, 

"  Abbotsford,  April  29, 1818. 
r  Jolm, 

lae*  has  made  one  or  two  hnportant  mistakes  in 
dfteVziain  with  Bfurmy  and  Blackwood.    Briefly  as  fol- 

'  lallr.  Haviqf  Qnly  authority  from  me  to  promise  6080 
copies,  he  proposes  they  shall  have  the  copyrtgbt/pr  tver. 
I  will  sea  thalrnoaesxheeae  first 

**  2dly.  He  proposea  I  shall  have  twolve  months'  bills 
—I  ha:ve  always  gpt  six  However,  I  would  not  stand  on 
that. 

*•  3dlr.  He  talks  of  volumes  being  put  h»to  the  pub- 
Bifters^  bands  to  eonsider  and  decld«oa.  No  such  (wag ; 
a  bare  perusal  at  Bt  John  Street*  only. 

**  Then  ifar  omisafoos^U  ia  mot  atipulated  that  we  sup- 
sly  the  paper  and  print  of  ancoesalve  editions.  This  nraat 
be  na^ed,  and  notlait  to  im<kralanding.--8econdly,  I  will 
have  London  biUa  as  wall  as  fiUckwood'a. 

**■  If  they  axrce  to  these  conditions,  good  and  well  If 
they  demur.  Constable  must  be  instantly  tried :  giving 
tuot  to  the  Longmans,  and  toe  drawins  on  them  for  that 
^Doiety,  or  Constable  lodging  their  bHl  m  our  hands.  You 
wdl  understand  K  la  a  four  volume  touch — a  work  totally 
(fiflhcent  fa  style  and  ntrueture  from  the  othera ;  a  new 
east,  tn  siKMrt,  of  the  net  which  haa  hitherto  made  mira- 
•uloiw  draughta.  I  do  not  limit  you  to  terms,  because  I 
think  you  will  make  them  better  than  I  can  do.  But  he 
must  do  more  than  others,  since  he  will  not  or  cannot 
print  with  us.  For  every  po'mt  but  that,  1  would  rather 
deal  with  Constable  than  any  one  ;  he  has  always  shown 
hhnself  spirited,  judicious,  and  liberal-  Blackwood  must 
be  brought  to  the  iioini  inetanlly  ;  and  tehenever  he  de- 
roars.  Constable  must  be  treated  with,  for  there  is  no  use 
in  suffering  tlie  thing  to  be  blown  on.  At  the  same  time, 
you  n*»cd  not  conceal  from  him  that  there  were  some  pro- 
polis Hsewhere,  but  yon  may  add,  with  truth,  1  would 
rather  ctose  with  him.    Yours  truly, 

W.  S. 

"P.  S.— I  think  Constable  should  jump  at  thlsaflhlr; 
•wl  believe  the  work  will  be  very  popular." 

Messrs.  Murray  imd  Blackwood  agreed  to  all  the 
aaibor's  conditions  hwe  expressed.  They  also  re- 
lieved John  BailontVne  and  Co.  of  stock  to  the 
▼sine  t>f  X600;  and  at  least  M:  Murray  must, 
moreover,  have  subsequently  consented  to  anticipate 
ihe  ^riod  of  his  pnymentsi  At  all  events,  I  find, 
in  a  letter  of  Scott's,  dated  in  the  subsequent  Au- 
goat,  thia  new  echo  of  the  old  advice  :— 
7^  Mr.  John  BaUantyne. 

«  Dear  JMu,  • 

*^  I  have  the  pleasure  to  enclose  Bfarmy's  acceptan- 
cas.  I  eamoatly  reaommend  to  you  to  pasa  realhiiBg  M 
oBBch  as  yeu  can. 

•  Consider  weel,  gude  man, 
We  hae  but  borrowed  gear ; 
The  horse  ttiat  I  ride  on, 
It  Is  John  Murray's  mear.* 

Yours  truly,  W.  dcoxr.*' 

I  know  not  how  much  of  the  tale  of  the  Black 
Dwarf  had  been  aeeti  by  Blackwood,  in  St  John 

i^-hoosa  was  in  this  st«a^  a4iaJo* 


ffi  tfaa  VsaonSiw  oTEdinbuiib. 


Street,  bafore  ha  condpdad  thiB.bi 
and  h&ffiend  Mtftray ;  t^#hin  Cwdoajng  t^__ 
of  that  novel  mached  him,  be  considered  them  w» 
by  no  ^ans  sustaining  the  delightful  promise  of  the 
opening  ones.  He  was  a  ban  of  strong  taleitts. 
aiid,  though  without  any  thin^  thtt  coula  be  callfld 
learning,  of  very  respectable  information,  greatjy 
soperior  to  what  has,  m  this  age,  been  common  in 
bis  profession ;  acute,  earnest,  eminently  zealous  In 
whatever  he  put  his  hand  to  ;  upright,  honest,  sin- 
cere, and  ^umgeous.  But  as  Constable  owed  his 
first  introduction  to  the  upper  world  of  literature 
and  of  society  in  general  to  his  Edinburgh  Review, 
so  did  Blackwood  bis  to  the  Magazine,  which  has 
now  made  his  name  familiar  to  "tbe  world—and  ai 
the  period  of  which  I  write,  that  n^iscellany  was  uh 
bom ;  he  was  known  only  as  a  diligent  antiquarian 
bookseller  of  the  old  town  of  Edinburgh,  and  the 
Scotch  agent  of  the  great  London  publisncr,  Mnr- 
ray.  The  abilities,  in  short,  which  he  lived  tod(^ve- 
lop,  were  as  yet  unsuspected — unless,  perhapa, 
among  a  smalt  circle ;  and  the  knowiedga  of  tha 
world,  which  so  few  men  gather  from  any  thing  but 
painful  collision  with  various  conflicting  orderaqf ' 
their  fellow-mea,  was  not  his.    He  was  to  the  laat 

Elain  and  blunt ;  at  this  time  I  can  easily  bel^xa 
im  to  have  been  so,  to  a  degree  which  Scott  might 
lookiipon  as  **  ungracious''— I  take  the  epithet  tram 
one  of  his  letters  to  Jamee  Ballantyne.  Mr.  Black- 
wood, therefore,  upon  reading  what  aeemed  to  him 
the  lame  and  impotent  conclusion  of  a  well*beguii 
story,  did  not  search  about  for  any  glossy  periDhraa^ 
but  at  once  wrote  to  beg  that  James  Ballantytv 
wonid  inform  the  un^known  author  that  such  waa 
his  opinion.  This  might  possibly  have  been  endur- 
ed ;  but  Blackwood;  leeliiigr  I  bave  no  doubt,  a  g/^ 
nume  enthusiasm  for  the  anthoi^s  fame;  aa  welTaB 
a  jual  tradesman'a  anxiety  as  to  his  own  adventnrs, 
preceded  to  suggest  tha  outline  of  what  would,  in 
his  judgment^  be  a  better  unwinding  of  the  plot  of 
the  Black  Dwarf,  and  concluded  his  epistle,  which 
he  desired  to  be  forwarded  to  the  nameless  novelist, 
with  announcing  his  willingness,  in  case  the  pro- 
posed alteration  were  agreed  to,  that  the  whole  ex- 
pense of  cancelling  ana  reprinting  a  certain  num- 
ber of  sheets  should  be  charged  tonis  own  personal 
account  with  **  James  Bsllantyne  and  Oo."  His 
letter  appears  to  have  further  indicated  that  he  had 
taken  counsel  with  some  litersry  person,  on  whose 
taste  he  placed  great  reliance,  ana  who,  if  he  had  not 
originated,  at  least  approved  of  the  proposed  proceu 
of  recasting.  Had  Scott  never  possessed  any  such 
system  of  inter-agcncy  as  the  Ballantynes  supplied, 
be  would,  among  other  and  perhaps  greater  incon- 
veniences, have  escaped  that  of  the  want  of  per- 
sonal famiharity  with  several  persons,  with  whose 
confidence,— and  why  should  i  not  add?  with  tl^e* 
innocent  gratification  of  whose  little  vanities— his 
own  pecuniary  interests  were  often  deeply  connect' 
ed.  A  very  little  personal  contact  would  have  itv 
troduced  such  a  character  as  Blackwood's  to  the 
respect,  nay,  to  the  afi*ectionate  respect,  of  Scoti, 
who,  above  all  others,  was  ready  to  sympathize  eor- 
dially  with  honest  and  able  men,  in  whatever  co«o 
dition  of  life  he  discovered  them.  He  did  t>oth  know 
and  appreciate  Blackwood  better  in  after  times;  but 
in  1816,  when  this  plain-spoken  communication 
reached  him,  the  name  was  little  more  than  a  narae^  * 
and  his  answer  to  the  most  solemn  of  go-bet  ween% 
was  in  these  terms,  which  I  sincerely  wish  I  could 
tedl  how  Signior  Alaiboroptiphosconhornio  translat- 
ed into  any  dialect  sabmisau>le  to  Blackwood's  ao- 
prehension.  ^ 

"  DdAT  J^mas, 

"I  have  received  Blackwood's  impudent  letter.  C^— 
d—  his  soul  1  Te!l  hto  ^^  Ws  coadjutor  that  I  belong  to 
the  Black  Hussars  of  LitCiature,  wh:^  neither  give  nor 
receive  criticism.  TU  be  cursed  but  this  la  the  mC^  1& 
puUent  proposal  that  «vcr  was inada. 

Thia  and  a  few  other  doctimenta  referring  to  the 
same  business,  did  not  come  into  my  hands  until 
both  Ballantyne  and  Blackwood  were  no  more:  and. 


SiM 


ttf^  i>p  sitt  Wal^eei  siort. 


if  (wMcli  r  xDticli  doubt)  he  had  been  at  aU  conniU- 
^  about  it,  should  nof,  at  thia  distance  of  time,  pre- 
serve any  traces  of  its  details.  "I  remember  no- 
thinf^'^.he  writes  to  me,  "but  that  one  of  the  very 
proudeaf  days  of  my  liie  was  that  on  wbibh  I  pub- 
lished the  first  T^es  of  my  Landlord  ;  and  a  va^ue 
^  notion  that  I  owed  the  dropping  of  my  connexion 
with  the  Great  NoveUst  to  some  trashy  disputes  be- 
tween Blackwood  and  the  Ballantynes." 

While  these  volumes  were  in  progress,  Scott 
found  time  to  make  an  excursion  into*  Perthshire 
and  Dumbartonshire,  ,ibr  the  sake  of  showing  the 
scenery,  made  famous  in  the  Lady  of  the  Lake  and 
Waverley,  to  his  wife's  old  friends  Miss  Dumereue 
and  Mrs.  Sarah  Nicolson,*  who  had  never  before 
been  in  Scotland.  The  account  which  he  gives  of 
these  ladies'  visit  at'Abbotsford,  and  this  little  tour, 
in  a  letter  to  Mr.  Morritt,  shows  the  **  Black  Hus- 
9ar  of  Literature"  in  his  gentler  and  more  habitual 
|!nood. 

7\fJ.  B.  S.  Morritt,  Bwq.  M.  P.  Roheby  Park, 

"•  AbboUfonl,  21st  Angast,  1816. 
•*llydearIltorrift, 

"  t  have  not  had  a  moment's  kindly  leisure  to  answer 
Tour  kind  Iptter,  and  to  tell  how  delighted  I  shall  be  to  see 
^u  in  this  least  of  all  possible  dwellingis,  bat  where  we^ 
nevertheless,  can  contrive  a  oilgrim's  quarters  and  the 
Wanhest  welcome  for  yoa  ana  any  friend  of  your  jour- 
oaey ;— if  youna  Stanley,  so  much  the  better.  Now,  as  to 
:tiie  important  business  with  the  which  I  have  been  occu- 
pied, yoa  are  to  know  we  have  had  oar  kind  hostesses  of 
TiccadiUy  upon  a  two  months'  visit  to  us.  Wc  owed  them 
so  much  hospitality,  that  we  were  particularly  anxious  to 
make  Scotland  agreeable  to  the  good  cirU.  But,  alas ! 
the  wind  has  blown,  and  the  rain  has  nillcn,  in  a  style 
which  heats  all  that  ever  I  remembered.  We  accom- 
plished, with  some  difficnlty,  a  visit  to  I..och  Katrine  and 
Xoeh  Lomond,  and,  by  dtnt  of  the  hospitality  of  Cambus- 
vors  and  the  Roas,  we  defied  bad  weather,  wet  roads, 
and  long  walks.  But  the  weather  sealed  into  resnlar 
tempest,  when  we  settled  at  Abbotsford ;  and,  though  the 
natives,  accustomed  to  bad  weather,  (though  not  at  such 
a  time  of  year,)  contrived  to  brave  the  extremities  of  the 
season,  it  only  served  to  increase  the  dismay  of  our*  un- 
Iticky  visiters,  who,  accustomed  only  to  Paris  and  Lon- 
don, expected  fiacrea  at  the  Milestane  Cross,  and  a  pair  of 
ears  at  the  Headman's  Haujirii.  Add  to  this,  a  strong  dis- 
position to  eomnUrage,  when  there  was  no  possibilHy  of 
iratKying  it,  and  a  total  indisposition  to -scenery  or  rural 
amusements,  which  were  all  we  had  to  offer— and  you 
will  pity  both  hosts  and  guests.  I  have  the  gratification 
to  think  I  fully  supported  the  hospitality  of  my  country. 
1  walked  them  to  death.  I  talked  thcui  to  death.  I  show- 
ed them  landscapes  which  the  driving  rain  hardly  permit- 
ted them  to  see,  and  told  them  of  feuds  about  which  they 
eared  as  little  as  I  do  about  their  next  door  news  in  Picca- 
xUHy.  Yea,  I  even  played  at  cards,  and  as  I  h.vl  Charlotte 
for  a  partner,  so  ran  no  risk  of  being  scolded,  I  got  en 
•  pretty  well  Still  the  weather  was  so  execrable,  that,  as 
the  old  drunken  landlord  used  to  say  at  Arroquhar,  *  1  was 
^refectly  ashamed  of  it ;'  and,  to  this  moment,  1  wonder 
now  my  two  friends  fought  it  out  su  patieuly  as  they  did. 
But  the  young  people  and  the  cottages  formed  considera- 
ble resources.  Yesterday  they  lefl  us,  deeply  impressed 
with  the  conviction,  which  I  can  hardly  blame,  that  the 
son  never  shone  in  Scotland,— which  that  noble  luminary 
ftef'tns  dicpoaed  to  cnnfirio^by  m."\Vinf  thia  lYie  Arm  fiir 
d4y  viih%  iiAvv  Heen  ihiitinonth-^D  tlia!  bis  begums  \v\\\  jr^tat 
ihetn  bl  l^nfiown,  eui  If  hf*  were  dgterminird  Ut  put  .■^■.  ot^ 
land  to  litltr  «bci,inf^. 

^'  let  Tou  I  (iJipc^ct  n  ^n^M  of  a  di^ereiit  fiLlibrQ  ;  nmi  I 
th\ak  CburrEnf  downri)i(bt  rain)  I  ceui  prumtac  vqu  tsame 
■port  fjf  on^  Wfitt  fir  atlier.  Wc  Uhvft  a  $.omt  denl  of 
(ame  aboLit  \\^\  and  Walter,  to  whom  f  hare  rot^'b^cd  joy 
ran  and  Mtcnwef  will  be  an  ^^.^Dficiir  lU'r^iiHlJtfit.  lie 
broitebt  ia  «lx  bfAi^e  of  iticp>rfo^1  on  th^  ll2l}i,  «lii '.    ad 

iaijas  t*i  ift>^rj)  its  own  frftK<±t,  m  f^^tff^ma^  ih of 

our  pJOHttf  u>wurd4  LhE<><  untmp^ijr  i^lsuinee.  '  Inoih'  m- 
p4i^i^  tbjn^Si  ioolt  TUuT^n^bolj  i^CiHiif  Ijbert^'  C<}ni  i  w- 
ever,  rUJoij ;  uiid  ih*;  pcKif  h-ive  pii'm.y  nf  flf>i  nd 
Wii^c^  whlchi  Ih'jti^h  iiTfi.-itl)- lafomr  to  what  il  ad 

^bi^a  bumlsi  wrrc*carft<?,  jisiort  pprf<*cE)y  Wftl  ■ . .  f^e 
pwwnt  fitire  q{  tb*^  Tmirki^t?.  Tnixnt  folks  try  t^i  '  as 
mticli  uu  their  ftwa  prodtiro  as  ihnff  cud,  by  vtnj  i  it- 

jjig  ftJT  rt]F.[ro«»;  and  ihough  :sp9cuii^tiii^  farrriii  ><id 
IaQrJk>rd<ii  luuai  miSTf^^  I  tWmk  the  teiripormry  ii«tl.  lii  .(11. 
nn  the  whiili\  Lti  adviuitiuitNrus  to  the  ooijoiLrv.    }t   wHi 

tkfiCk  H--.'  i-.-nf.Kr......  >..,r ...^^..i;i,.T  .-rvrlr  t*f  '^iiMji.H, 

•The  sister  of  Hisi  Jane  NlcQbaD.-See  orue,  pp.  «l,  83. 


or  rather  eztravaoaace,  which  was  peisonlof  a&  « 

and  bring  us  back  to  the  sober  virtues  of  onr  anc 

It  will  also  have  the  effect  of  teachmg  the  landed  intcre^, 
that  their  connexion  with  their  farmers  should  be  orsfc. 
nature  more  intimate  than  that  of  mete  payment  and  re- 


ceipt of  rent^  and  that  the  hurgest offerer  for  a  lease  ia  oftexa 
the  person  least  entitled  to  be  preferred  as  a  tenant- 
Above  all,  It  wUl  complete  the  destruetion  of  those  |ex- 
ecrable  quacks,  terming  themselves  laad-doctors,  wlio 
professed,  from  a  ftvo  day's  scamper  over  your  estAie,  U> 
tell  you  its  constUulion,T-in  oUier  words  its  value, — mjcro 
by  acre.  These  men,  paid  according  to  the  golden  hop^a 
they  held  out,  afforded  by  their  reports  one  ptincinal 
mean.s  of  deceiving  both  landlord  and  tenant,  by  sctnni^ 
an  ideal  and  extravagant  value  upon  land,  which  seemeti 
to  entitle  the  one  Co  expect,  and  the  other  lo  ttfler,  reoi 
far  beyond  what  any  expectation  formed  by  either,  upott 
their  own  acquaintance  with  the  property,  could  rationjJ- 
ly  have  warranted.  More  than  one  landed  gentleman  hs— 
cursed,  in  my  presence,  the  day  he  ever  consulted  one  of 
those  em(>irics,  whose  prognostications  induced  him  to 
reject  the  offers  of  snbetanlial  men,  practically  acquaix^e- 
ed  with  the  locale.  Ever,  my  dear  Morrttt,  most  tralj- 
yours,  Waltkk  Scott.** 

In  October,  1816,  appeared  tbe  Edinburgh  Annaal 
Register,  containing  Scott's  historical  sketch  of  f*^ 
year  1814— a  composition  wbiclr  would  occnpf^ 
such  volomes  as  the  reader  now  has  in  his  1 
Though  executed  with  extraordinary  rapidity,  tha 
sketch  is  as  clear  aa  spirited  ;  but  I  need  sa  j  no 
more  of  it  here,  as  the  author  travels  mostly  over 
the  same  ground  again  in  his  Life  of  Napoleoo. 

Scott's  correspondence  proves,  that  during  this 
autumn  he  had  received  many  English  guests  be- 
«;des  the  good  spinsters  of  Piccadilly  and  Mr..tfor- 
ritt  I  regret  to  add,  it  also  proves  that  he  had  con- 
tinued all  the  while  to  be  annoiyed  with  calls  for  mo- 
ney from  John  Ballantyne ;  ^et  before  the  12th  of 
November  called  him  to  Edmbnrgh,  he  appears  to 
have  nearly  finished  the  first  "Tales  of  my  Land- 
lord." He  bad,  moreover,  concluded  a  negotiation 
with  Constable  and  Longman  for  a  series  of  Letters 
on  the  History  of  Scotland  :— of  which*  however, 
if  he  ever  wrote  anv  part,  the  MS.  has  not  been  dis- 
covered. It  is  proDable  that  he  may  have  worked 
some  detached  fragments  into  his  long  subsedneat 
"  Tales  of  a  Grandfather."  The  following  fetter 
shows  likewise  that  he  was  now  busy  with  phins  of 
building  at  Abbotsford,  and  deep  in  consultation  on 
that  subject  with  an  artist  eminent  for  his  skill  in 
Gothic  architecture,— iMr.  Edward  Blore,  R.A. 

7\»  Daniel  Terry,  Bag. 

"  November  12th,  181& 
"  My  dear  Terry, 

"  I  have  been  shockingly  negligent  in  acknowledging 
your  repeated  favours ;  but  it  so  nappened.  that  I  hAve 
had  very  little  to  »ay,  with  a  great  deal  to  ao ;  so  that  I 
trusted  to  your  kindness  to  forgive  my  apparent  want  of 
kindness,  and  indisputable  lack  of  punctuality.  Ton  will 
readily  suppose  that  I  have  heard  with  great  satlsfaotiM 
of  the  prosperity  of  your  household,  particularly  of  the 
good  health  of  my  Utile  namesake  and  his  mother.  G«d-  * 
mothers  of  yore  used  to  be  fairies ;  and  though  only  a 
godfather,  I  think  of  sending  you,  one  day,a/atry  f^— a 
Uttle  drama,  namely,  which,  if  the  audience  be  hidulge^ 
may  be  of  use  to  him.  Of  course,  you  will  stand  godfia* 
therto  It  yourself:  It  Is  yet  only  In  embryo— a  sort  of 
poetical  tians  in  ICelder— nor  am  1  sure  when  I  can  briM 
nim  f6rth ;  not  for  this  season,  at  any  rate.  Vou  wal 
receive,  in  the  course  of  a  few  days,  my  late  VDhertabouta 
ift  four  voUmies :  there  are  two  tales— the  last  of  which  1 
really  prefer  to  any  fictitious  narrative  I  have  yet  been 
able  to  produce— the  first  is  wislr-washy  enoQ^.  1%e 
subject  of  the  second  tale  lies  among  the  old  Scottish 
Cr-n-^rnn^iiri^  -  Tiay,  I'll  tickle  ye  off  a  Covenanter  as  rea- 
di  '  |.  kK,  ■,,„  could  do  a  young  Prince ;  and  a  rare  felt 
lo  M    II  brought  forth  in  nis  true  colours.    Were 

it  '  I  h  I  ^  n  H  V  essity  of  using  scriptural  language,  which 

is  .  hn  t  u.  (he  character,  but  improper  for  me  stage, 
it  :^  Uu-  v,  rv  drau»tic.  But  of  all  (his yoa  will  ju^e 
bj  ..J  j;  .  To  give  the  goby  to  the  public,  I  have  dou- 
bled and  leaned  into  my  form,  like  a  hare  in  snow :  thai 
is,  I  have  changed  my  publisher,  and  come  forth  likp  a 
maiden  knight's  white  shield  (there  is  a  conceit !)  Irithoul 
any  adhesion  to  fame  gained  In  former  atlventures,  (an- 
other !)  or,  in  other  words,  with  a  virgin  title-page  (an- 
other !>— I  shoold  not  be  00  light-hearted  about  all  lhiS| 
but  that  it  is  very  nearly  finished  and  out,  which  Is  alwaya 


Digitized  by  V^OOQlC 


utte  6f  BiR^itAVt^  stioW. 


tUfheiADiiitnt  fyf ib.  Aothttr.  And ttoir to oflier mat- 
farts.  The  bobkt  eOae  Mfe,  and  were  anpacked  two  dajra 
Aiee,  on  our  eomhig  to  town— moat  iuenloudj  were 
Ibmj  Mowed  in  die  legs  of  the  verr  hanataoma^atand  tor 
Load  Byroa'a  vaBe,  with  whiuh  our  niend  0«orf  e  BtiUock 
ka»  eqiMpped  me.  I  was  made  very  happy  to  receive  him 
ai  Abbotatbrd,  though  ouly  for  a  start ;  and  no  leaa  so  to 
aae  Mr.  Blore.  from  whom  I  received  your  last  letter. 
Be  fa  a  ycry  fine  young  man.  modest,  sio^ile,  and  unaf- 
fected In  hia  manners,  as  well  as  a  most  capital  artist.  1 
havA  had  the  assistance  of  both  these  gentlemen  tn  ar- 
ranging an  addidon  to  the  cottage  at  Abbotsford,  tetended 
la  connect  the  present  farm-Muae  with  the  Una  of  low 
boildincs  to  the  rl|dit  of  it.  Blr.  Bullock  wilt  show  you  the 
plu,  wbich  I  thluc  la  very  ingenious.  He  haa  protniaed 
togtve  it  hia  consideration  vmh  respect  to  the  interior ; 
tad  Mr.  Blore  haa  drawn  me  a  very  nandaoiuc  elevation, 
boib  to  the  road  and  to  the  river.  1  expect  to  get  some 
decorations  from  the  old  Tolbooth  of  Edinburgh,  particu- 
turty  the  copestonea  of  the  door-vray,orHntels,  as  we  call 
Aem,  and  a  niche  or  two'-one  verv  handsome  indeed  ! 
Better  get  a  niche  from  (bih  Tolbootn  than  a  niche  in  it, 
»  which  aoch*  buMlng  operatiods  ara  imt  to  bring  the  pro- 
iactora.  Thla  addition  will  give  me  :-^rat,— a  handsome 
WodDir,  in  vrhich  I  intend  to  place  Mr.  BuUodc'a  Shak- 
ipaare,' with  his  auperb  cabinet,  which  serves  a<*  a  pe- 
daataL  This  aptas  mto  the  little  drawing-room,  to  which 
ilaenres  as  a  chapel  of  ease :  and  on  the  other  side,  to  a 
Iniiil(^ii  diningparlour  of  27  feet  by  18.  with  three  win- 
dowaVthe  north,  and  one  to  the  south,  toe  last  to  be  Go- 
ttik^  and  filled  with  stained  glass.  Besides  these  commo- 
AtiesL  there  ti  a  amall  conservatory  or  greenbonae ;  and 
aitady  for  mfuelt,  which  we  deaign  to  fit  up  with  oraa- 
I  IVom  Melrose  Abbey.    BnUock  made  sefveral  casts 


irith  bU  own  hands-^maaka,  and  ao  forth,  delightful  for 
corniceAf  Ac. 

*"  Do  not  let  Mra.  Terry  think  of  the  whidows  tin  little 
Wat  la  dnly  cared  after. t  I  am  informed  by  Mr.  Blore 
chat  he  la  a  fine  thriving  fellow,  very  Mke  papa.  About  my 
mnorlal  bearings  :  I  will  send  you  a  correct  drawing  of 
them  as  aoon  as  I  can  get  hold  of  Blore  ;  namely— of  the 
sentcbeoiia  of  my  grandsirea  on.  each  aide,  and  my  own. 
lao^d  detail  them  In  the  jargon  of  heraklry,  but  it  is  bet- 
tor lo  ayaaic  to  your  eyea  by  translating  them  into  coloor* 
ad  dtawlof  a^  aa  the  anblime  science  of  annory  haa  tallen 
Mo  some  neglect  of  late  years,  with  all  iu  maacles,  buck- 
lea,  crescents,  and  boars  of  the  flrat,  aecond,  thhrd,  and 

Twaa  very  sorry  f  had  ho  opportunity  of  showing  atten- 
tion to  your  friend  Mr.  Abbot,  not  being  to  town  at  the 
ime.  I  grieve  to  say,  that  neither  the  genius  of  Kean, 
aar  the  chanaa  of  Mhm  O'Neill,  conld  bring  me  from  the 
Ul-ai<le  and  the  aweet  aoeiety  of  Tom  Purdie.  All  our 
terily  are  verr  weil^ Walter  as  tall  nearly  as  I  am,  fish- 
h^  aahnon  and  shooting  moor-fowl  and  blackcock,  hi  good 
«yle ;  the  fl^rla  growing  up,  and,  as  yot,  not  losing  their 
imidici^  of  character ;  lUtle  Charles  excellent  at  plav. 
and  lun  deficient  at  learning,  when  the  young  dog  wffl 
tike  pains.  Abbotsford  Is  lookhnr  pretty  at  last,  and  the 
planttni^  la  making  some  show.  I  have  now  several  hund- 
red acrea  thereof,  running  out  as  far  as  beyond  the  bdce. 
We  •ImerTc  with  great  pleasure  the  ateady  riae  which 
yea  malce  in  public  opimon,  and  fxp^ct,  one  day,  to  hall 
yea  atage- manager.  Believe  me,  my  dear  Terry,  alwaya 
vary  oauch  yours,  W.  Soorr. 

*^.  &— The  Ooonaeller,  and  both  the  BaUantynea,  are 
waft  and  hearty.'' 

On  the  first  of  Decembenthe  first  series  of  the 
Tales  of  my  Landlord  sppeiured,  and  notwithstand- 
imr  the  silence  of  the  Utlepaas,  and  the  change  of 
poblbhers,  and  tlie  attempt  wtnoh  bad  certainl/ been 
made  to  vaiir  the  style  both  of  delineation  and  of 
hnguase,  all  doubts  whether  they  were  or  were  not 
ih»ni  the  aame  hand  with  Waverby  had  worn  them- 
Silves  oat  bafore  the  lapse  of  a  week.  The  entbu- 
ammm  of  their  reception  among  the  highest  literary 
drdes  of  London  maybe  ^thered  from  the  follow- 
ing letter  :— 

7\f  Wtitet  SeoUy  Baq.^  Edinimrgh, 

^  Albemarle  Slibet,  14th  December,  1310. 
•DemrSIr, 

**  Although  I  dare  not  address  yon  aa  the  aqthor  of 
aertain  ^Tklea,'  (which,  however,  must  be  written  either 

•  A  cast  ftoii»lbe*momimental  eflterat  Stratford-upon-Avon— 
now  in  the  Kbre>r  at  Ahbotufonl  -was  the  fHi  of  Mr.  Geoi;s«  Bul- 
Iselu  kMff  di«ttn«aMied  to  Landon  as  a  eoIlecCor  of  corjotities  for 
nfe.  and  lawourablfso  byiiis  "  Mexieun  Muteumr  which  form- 
fd&nna  several  years  a  popular  exhibtttoo  thniuchout  the  coun- 
tiy.  Tnisjnffemous  man  was,  as  the  reader  will  see  in  the  sequel, 
saieatfkvwirite  with  Scott.  ,J»    ,      _.        «.  ^ 

f  Hra.TpiT7  had  offtredth^aervipasorbereleiaot  pencil  mde- 
ikaincsoroe  windows  of paintwl  glau  fbr  Sootfi  knioury,  fto. 


by  "WUter  Scott  or  the  BevlU  yet  nothing  can  resCralh  me 
(Vt)m  thinking  It  is  lo  yonr  hinuenoe  with  the  author  that  f 
am  indebted  fvt  the  esacntlal  honour  of  beii^g  one  of  ihirir 

Eublishera,  and  I  mnat  intrude  upon  yen  to  ofTor  my  moat 
earty  thanks-- not  divided,  but  douUod— alike  for  my 
worldly  gain  therehi,  and  for  the  great  acquisitioo  of  pro- 
fea^iional  reputation  which  their  publication  has  alrea- 
dy procured  ue.  I  believe  I  might,  under  any  oath  that 
could  be  proposed,  swear  that  I  never  experienced  such 
unmixed  pleasure  as  the  reading  of  this  extinislte  work 
has  aflbrdcd  me;  and  if  roiirould  «ee  me, as  th«v author's 
literary  chambefloin,  receivbig  the  unanimous  and  vehe- 
ment praises  of  every  one  who  has  read  It,  and  <he  cur- 
sea  ot  those  whose  needs  my  scanty  supply  could  not  sa- 
tisfy, you  might  judge  of  the  siiicerity  with  which  I'now 
'  entreat  you  to  assure  him  of  the  most  complete  success.  # 
Lord  Holland  said,  when  I  asked  his  opiiiiuu— 'Opinion  * 
Wo  dill  not  one  of  us  go  to  bed  Inst  nicht—  notliinir  slept 
but  my  gout.'  Frerc,  Ilallam,  Boswell,*  Ix)rd  fJlenbcrvie, 
William  Lamb, ^  all  agree  that  it  ^jurposses  all  the  other 
novels.  Giflbrd's  estimate  is  lncrraj*ed  tA  eve'ry  vf^rxx- 
sal.  Heber  aays  there  are  only  two  men  in  the  world — 
Waher  Scott  and  Lord  Byron.  Betwoe n  you,  you  hav* 
given  existenoe  to  a  tubo.     Bver  yeur  faithful  servant, 

John  Mcmur."    ' 

To  this  cordial  effusion  Scdtt  returnijd  the  follow- 
ing answer.  It  was  necessary,  since  he  had  fairly 
resolved  against  compromising  his  incognito,  that 
he  should  be  preparecf  not  only  to  repel  ine  imperti- 
nent cariosity  of  strangers,  but  to  ef  ade  the  proffer- 
ed congratulations  of  overflowing  kindness.  He 
contrived,  however,  to  do  so,  on  this  and  all  similar  » 
occasions,  in  a  style  of  equivoque  which  couM  never  ' 
be  seriously  misunderstood  :— 

To  John  Mfurray^  £2sf .« Aibom^U  Street^  London. 

*•  Edinburgh,  l^h  December,  181«. 
"My  dear  Sir, 

"  I  give  you  heartily  joy  of  the  success  of  the  Tkles, 
although  I  do  not  claim  that  paternal  hitercst  in  them 
which  my  friends  do  me  the  credit  to  assign  me.  I  assure 
you  I  have  never  read  a  volume  of  them  until  they  were 
printed,  and  can  only  loin  with  the  reat  of  the  world  In 
applauding  the  true  and  atriking  portraita  which  they  pre- 
sent of  old  Scoitiah  manners.  I  do  not  expect  implicit 
reliance  to  be  placed  oq  my  disavowal,  because  I  know 
very  well  that  he  who  is  disposed  not  to  own  a  work  muat 
necessarily  deny  IL  and  that  otherwise  his  secret  would 
bo  at  the  mercy  of  all  wl^o  choose  to  ask  the  question,  • 
shicc  silence  in  such  a  case  must  always  pass  for  consent, 
or  rwher  assent.  But  I  have  a  mode  of  convlnchig  you 
that  I  am  nert^tly  aerioua  in  my  denial— pretty  aimilar  to 
that  by  which  Solomon  distinguished  the  fictitieus  from 
the  real  mother— and  that  is,  by  reviewing  tiie  wor^ 
which  I  take  to  bo  an  operaifon  equal  to  that  of  quaxter*  , 
ing  the  child.  But  this  is  only  on  condition  I  can  have  Mr. 
Erskine's  assistance,  who  admires  the  work  greatly  more 
than  I  do,  though  I  think  the  palntina  of  the  second  tale 
both  true  and  powerful.  I  knew  Old  Mortality  very  well ; 
his  name  waaPaterson,  but  few  knew  him  otherwise  than 
by  his  nickname.  The  first  tale  ia  not  very  original  hi  its 
concoction,  and  lame  and  impotent  in  Ita  conclusion.  My 
Iov«4o  GiflR>rd.  I  have  bean  over  head  and  ears  In  vrork 
this  summer,  or  I  would  have  aent  the  Gipsies ;  Indeed  I 
was  partly  stooped  by  finding  it  impossible  to  procure  a^ 
few  words  of  tneir  language. 

"  ConMable  wrote  to  me  about  two  montha  since,  dcai- 
rotia  of  having  a  sew  edition  of  Paul ;  but  not  hearing 
firom  you,  I  conclude  you  are  atlll  on  hand.  Longman's 
people  had  then  only  aizty  copies. 

^Kind  compUmenta  to  Heber,  Whom  I  expected  at  Ab- 
botsford this  summer ;  also  to  Bfr.  Croker,  and  all  your  * 
four  o'clock  visiters.  I  am  just  gohig  to  Abbotsford  to 
mako  a  small  addition  to  my  premises  there.  I  hav»now 
about  700  acres,  thanks  to  the  bookaellers  and  the  discern* 
Ing  public.    Youra  truly, 

Walibb  Soott. 

^  P.S  .—1  have  much  to  aak  about  Lord  Byron,  if  I  had 
time.  The  third  canto  oftheChllde  is  hdmltaUe.  Ofth'e 
laat  poema,  there  are  one  or  two  which  indicate  rather  an 
irregular  play  of  Imagination.r  What  a  pity  that  a  man  of 
such  exquisite  genius  will  not  be  contented  to  be  happy^ 
on  \h4  ordinary  terms!  I  declare  my  heart  bleeds  wheiv 
I  think  of  him,  aelfbanisbed  from  the  cotmtry  to  which 
he  Is  an  honour." 


•TbtlateJt 
Bozzy. 
The 


I  BoaweO,  Esq.,  of  the  Tccnple-seoaod  son  of 


Honourable  WilHai^Lamb— now  Lord  Melboame. 

t  Parbina— the  Dreaok— aod  the  "  "    " 

leoeotlj  pablished. 


K^S0(5§lr 


Digitized 


LSK  OF  Sm  WAt-TSR  9Q0f^ 


Mr.  Itermy,  glaifly  tQibradiiff  this  offer  of  an  ar- 
1lo]9  for  bi8  joumM  on  ibe  Tale«  of  My  Landlord, 
bsKsed  Scoit  to  take  a  wider  acope,  and  dropping 
all  respect  for  tbe  idea  of  a  divided  parentage,  to 
place  together  any  materials  he  mi|(ht  have  for  the 
illustration  of  the  Waverley Novels  m  general}  he 
sazgeated,  in  particular,  that,  instead  of  drawing  up 
a  long-promised  disquisition  on  the  Gipsies  in  a  se« 
parate  shape,  whatever  he  had  to  say  concerning 
that  picturesque  generation  might  be  introduced  b^ 
way  of  comment  on  the  character  of  Meg  Merru- 
Ue9.  What  Scott*s  original  conception  had  been  I 
know  not :  he  certainly  gave  his  reviewal  all  the 
breadth  which  Murray  could  have  wished,  and  inter 
a/to,  diversified  it  wixn  a  few  anecdotes  of  the  Scot- 
^  tish  Gipsies.  But  the  late  excellent  biographer  of 
John  Knox,  Dr.  Thomas  M'Crie,  had,  in  the  mean 
time,  considered  the  representations  of  the  Cove- 
nanters in  the  story  of  Old  Mortality  as  so  unfair  ae 
to  demand  at  his  hands  a  very  serious  rebuke.  The 
Doctor  forthwith  published,  in  a  magazine  called 
'  the  Edinborgh  Christian  Instructor,  a  aet  of  papers, 
in  which  the  historical  foundations  of  that  tale  were 
attacked  with  indignant  warmth ;  and  though  Scott, 
when  he  first  heard  of  these  invectives,  expressed 
bis  resolution  never  even  to  read  them,  he  found  the 
impression  they  were  producing  so  strong,  that  he 
soon  changed  nts  purpo8e|.  and  finally  devoted  a 
very  large  part  of  his  article  for  the  Quarterly  Re- 
view to  an  elaborate  defence  of  his  own  picture  of 
the  Covenanters.* 

Before  the  first  Tales  of  my  Landlord  were  «ix 
weeks'  old.  two  editions  of  2000  copies  disappeared, 
and  a  third  of  2000  ^as  put  to  press ;  but  notwith- 
fltanding  this  rapid  success,  which  was  still  further 
continued,  and  the  friendly  relations  which  always 
subsisted  hetween  the  author  and  Mr.  Murray,  cir- 
cumstances ere  long  occurred  which  carried  the 
publication  of  the  work  into  the  hands  ol  Messrs. 
Constable. 

The  author's  answer  to  Dr.  M*Crie,  and  his  Intro- 
duction of  1830.  h«ye  Qxhausted  the  historical  ma^ 
terials  on  which  he  constructed  his  Old  Mortality ; 
and  the  origin  of  the  Black  Dwarf,  at  to  the  con- 
clusion of  which  story  he  appeats  on  reflection  to 
have  completely  adopted  the  opinion  of  honest 
Blackwood,  has  already  been  sufficiently  illustrated 
by  an  anecdote  of  his  early  wanderings  in  Tweed- 
dale.  The  latter  tale,  however  imperfect,  and  un* 
worthy  as  a  work  of  art  to  he  placed  high  m  the  c«- 
talogoeof  his  productions,  derives  a  singular  interest 
from  its  delineation  of  the  dark  feelings  so  often 
connected  with  physical  deformity ;  feelings  which 
appear  to  have  diffused  their  shadow  over  the  whole 
genius  of  Byron— and  which,  but  for  this  single  pic- 
ture, we  should  hardlv  have  conceived  ever  to  have 
passed  through  Sootrs  happier  mind.  All  the  bitter 
blasphemy  of  spirit  which,  from  infisncy  to  the  tomb, 
fiweiled  up  in  Byron  against  the  unkindncss  of  oa- 

•  Smop  t  Intn  mPciiivKinl  ihiM  ttjvutwji!.  1  m».y  M>r'*U.  In  a^  'lid 
n^r'iirn*nrii'  ttt  It,  njnM'^*  ht^vf  my  r*^m\lnk1^.  tJwt  KmlyjhL',  not 
BetAi,  wtt.t  ttji'  nullmr  uf  itp"  cr lU^ilf'iitpmrt.t^'  M^Thr  WjTivrTli  ♦;  nju  olf 
wttell  ll^«B*iniei3(-nhlrt»Htli,  im  (hr  imttuwn  nf  nnif*Nn?'.itp.»n. 


■n'^    Ar  the  wiiti*'  ii^ti 
[Scott  rt-nliy  W^n  ilv>  »allr  mr""- 

IHMiur'l  ill  ikr'   niiBU'-t 

._^ p  mu^tbiTf"  *K'^■'l^.•l''1-H■ 
4tnii)r  llw-  TFiflfi  ,  mud  ih"  V.  ii 
tjt"*!!  vfmtv\*'t'^i\  by  t*Tfnr  (^nfiMj'l 

■  ■  I Ip-  i^Hit  i i'  1^ [tK  li  k  wHtir* "  Nif  A  i; J     

9cqU  Widt  the  nui  nutJuff  -if  NVnrrTh 
*t#i,  WB4  tKfWftf  utMr«J  f  nnd  1  U^mk  ii  i 


ol  N.. 


tare;  which. aomttiipes abet/ 


oT  diabolical  maligDUy; 


black  and  desolate  traua  of  reflectiona  Aiust  1 
been  encountered  and  deliberately  subdued  fa 
manly  parent  (^  the  ^  Black  Dwari.  Old  Mor 
on  the  other  hand,  is  remarkable  as  the  now 
first  attempt  to  re-people  the  past  by  the  power  <i# 
imagination  working  on  materials  fiirnished  by 
books.  In  Waverley.  he  revived  the  fervid  dresms 
of  his  boyhood,  and  drew,  not  from  printed  records, 
but  trOm  the  artless  oral  narratives  of  his  Jntema^ 
hyltt.  In  Guy  Mannering,  he  embodied  character* 
and  manners  familiar  to  his  own  wandering  youth. 
But  whenever  his  letters .  mention  Old  Mortality  in 
its  progress,  they  rmresent  him  as  strong  in  theeoi>« 
fidence  that  the  industry  with  which  he  had  poFad 
over  a  library  of  forgotten  tracts  would  enable  him 
to  identify  himself  with  the  time  in  which  thor  \kmd 
birth,  as  completely  as  if  he  had  Hstened  with  his 
own  ears  to  the  dismal  sermons  of  Peden,  ridden 
with  Clavernouse  and  Dalsell  in  the  route  of  Both- 
well,  and  been  an  advocate  at  the  bar  of  the  Prirr 
Council,  when  Lauderdale  catechised  and  torturad 


Toreprodnoft 
likeae 


I  iU. 


ed  I 
X7 


iindMdAUi 


I.'    '^Ifl   rl4>a4<4iri)lU',.ti- 


tq  GiHKiladA  Uif  larii  iiirli.l" 

ih^rUJa  TriJi»«lUitiii" 

rtrtii*'  fn.iT  : 

m  thf  |'^l'l'■^  -I-   hn       i' 

;hii   linn   nf   I.lLllMil'.l'k'n' 
il  (V'if    ■Wt'B  M^  1 ,  1*  III 


^\hsA\   ft  f  trqq^  fn>*i,t  fi  «iii.  i]  w.  of 


„    -j^i  I 

if  inhMiJ-t,  whkJi.,  Jf  K'^PiJifMi'.  u^ifHifiJi  of 

f  TlTPtiMt-^l  \if  Cl4v*"tl^jti«<-.  m  n  JfttU'T  to 

m*  flMf  tlMt^'t,  I  iffvitpl   rjot 


but  bE  te  Alt  %  ■■0-  |rtir(r^i5i1r<l  n*  (i^  wh 


_-~^  J*  ^^''Ih'ririr^i^ili*!  n*  (ir^^  whHt'.'litTti  1  lh!H.»uirhl  II  Wcriilil  be 

n^VMI  mull  U^irivf'  Kim  *\in  trrjuM*^  ln^\n  l^{\  m?IT3i  tfcei  iTNt  i'  " 

Pfm*  WifrkMA  V9L  itL  fip,  »4. 


the  assassins  of  Archbishop  Sharp.     _ . 
a  departed  age  with  such  minute  and  life-i 
racy  as  this  tale  exhibits,  demanded  a  far  m< 

ergelic  sympathy  of  imagination  than  had  be       

ed  for  in  any  efiort  of  his  serious  verae.  It  is  maeed 
most  curiously  instructive  for  any  student  of  art  to 
compare  the  Roundheads  of  Rokeby  with  the  BIim- 
bonnets  of  Old  Mortality.  For  the  rest—tbe  atory 
is  framed  with  a  deeper  skill  than  anv  of  the  pre- 
ceding novels ;  the  canvass  is  a  broader  one;  thm 
characters  are  contrasted  and  projected  with  a  pow- 
er and  felicity  which  neither  he  nor  any  other  master 
ever  surpassed ;  and^  notwithstanding  all  that  haa 
been  urged  againat  him  as  a  disparager  of  the  Cove- 
nantcra,  it  is  to  me  very  doubtud  whether  the  inspi- 
ration of  romantic  chivalry  ersr  prompted  him  M> 
nobler  emotions  than  he  has  lavisned  on  the  rs-am- 
mation  of  their  stern  and  solemn  eothusiatm.  Tliis 
work  has  always  appeared  to  me  the  Marmioa  of 
his  novels. 

I  have  disclaimed  the  power  of  fiirther  iUnatratin^ 
its  historical  groundworks,  but  I  am  enabled  bj  Mr. 
Train's  kindness  to  give  some  interesting  additions 
to  Scott's  own  account  of  this  novel  as  a  corapott- 
tion.  The  generous  Supervisor  visited  him  in  Ed- 
inburgh in  May,  1816,  a  few  days  after  the  poblic*- 
tion  of  the  Antiquary,  carrying  with  him  serernl 
relics  which  he  wished  to  present  to  his  collection, 
among  others,  a  purse  that  had  belonged  to  Rob 
Roy ;  and  also  a  fresh  heap  of  traditionary  glean- 
ingSf  which  he  had  gathered  among  the  tale-tellers 
of  nis  district.  One  of  these  last  was  in  the  shape 
of  a  letter  to  Mr.  Train  from  a  Mr.  Broad£iM>b 
^*  schoolmaster  at  the  clachan  of  Penningharn.  aad 
author  of  the  celebrated  Fong  of  the  Hills  of  Cralio- 
way"— with  which  I  confess  myself  unacquainted. 
Broadfoot  had  facetiously  signra  his  communtra- 
tion,  Clashbottom—*^  a  professional  appellation,  dr» 
rived,"  sa jrs  Mr.  Train,  ''from  the  use  of  the  birch* 
and  by  Which  he  was  usually  addressed  among  hur 
companion s,-*^ who  assembled,  not  at  the  WaUaes 
Inn  of  Gandercleuch,  but  at  the  siim  of  the  Shoulder 
of  Mutton  in  Newton*Stewart.''  Scott  receivsd 
these  gifts  with  benignity,  and  invited  the  friendlf 
donor  to  breakfast  next  morning.  He  found  him  at 
work  in  his  library^  and  snrveyed  with  eothusiasfio 
curiosity  the  furniture  of  the  room,  esi^ially  ill 
only  picture,  a  nortfait  of  Graham  of  CUverboosa. 
Train  expressed  the  surprise  with  whicR  every  ops 
who  had  known  Dundee  only  in  the  paies  of  toe 
Presbyterian  Annalists,  must  see  for  the  first  time 
that  beautiful  and  melahrnoly  visage,  worthy  of  ths 
most  pathetic  dreams  of  romsnoe.  Scott  replied, 
'*  thai  no  character  had  (been  so  foully  tradnoed  aa 
the  Viscount  of  Dundee— that,  thanks  to  WodroW*' 
Cruikshanks,  and  such  chroniclers,  he,  who  wa 
every  inch  a  soldier  and  a  gentleman,  still  pasaeu 
among  the  Scottish  vulgar  for  a  ruffian  desperado^ 
who  rode  "  -^*'-  *- —  *       .... 

and  i 
sakil 


I,  and  such  chroniclers,  he,  who  waa 
soldier  and  a  gentleman,  still  passed 

„ Icottish  vulgar  for  a  ruffian  desperado^ 

3  rode  a  goblin  horse,  was  proof  against  shoL 

in  league  w\dk  the  Devil."    *'  Might  he  not,*' 

I  Mr.  Train,  ^'oemade,  in  good  hands,  the  beio 


Digitized  by  LjOOQIC 


I 


Mm  OP  M&  mOitiUt  flOMT. 


SfiU  boi  your  westarn  i#aloU  woald  require 
e  faithfully  pprtrmyed,  in  order  to  bring  liim  out 
i iho right efiect."  "And what," remimed Train, 
*ii  die  story  ^cere  to  be  delivered  ai  if  from  the 
outli  of  Old  Mortality  ?  Would  fu  not  do  as  well 
lihsJmnstrtl^dmiheLtyr  "Old Mortality r 
^id  Scott—"  who  was  heV^  Mr.  Train  then  told 
that  he  oould  remember  of  old  Pateraon,  and  see- 
bow  much  his  story  interested  the  hearer,  of- 
ed  to  inquire  farther  about  that  tnthnsiast  on 
i  return  lo  Qalloway.  "  Do  so,  by  all  means," 
«a^  Soott— "I  assure  you  I  shall  look  ¥nth  anxi- 
s(f  fi>r  jwr  communication."  .He  said  nothing 
at  this  tipe  of  his  own  meeting  with  Old  Mortality 
io  th«  enorchyard  of  Duaotter-^and  I  think  th^re 
can  be  no  doubt  that  that  meeting  was  thus  recallod 
lo  his  rec<^iection ;  or  that  to  this  intercourse  with 
Mr.  Train,  we  owe  the  whole  mschinery  of  the 
TaW  oi  my  Landlord,  as  well  as  the  adoption  of 
Claverboase's  period  for  the  aeeoe  of  one  of  its  first 
6etiM»B.  I  think  it  highly  probable  that  we  owe  a 
fivfhflr  obligation  to  the  worthy  Supervisoi's  pra- 
saatntion  of  Rob  Roy's  tp/sucAon. 

TbeMiginal  design  for  the  First  Series  of  Jede- 
diah  CWishbotham  was,  as  Scott  told  me,  to>  include 
km  aeparate  tales  illustrative  of  four  districts  of  the 
country,  in  the  like  numoer  of  volumes ;  but,  his 
iraa^ation  onoe  kindled  upon  any  t|ieme,  be  could 

UOQ 


taenation  onoe  Rmdlec 
d  but  pour  himself  out 
on  abandoned. 


freely— ao  that  notion  was 


OHAPTBR   XXXVIII. 

BABOIA  THS  DAtTHTLMS  PtnUSUBD— SOOTT  ASPIABS 

TO  an  ▲  BASON  OF  ma  BxcHaQuaB^-^LatTBa  to 
Tax  DOXB  or  stxxujiucH  coMcaaMiivo  poagbxbs, 

WTO, — rtaST  ATTACK  OP  CSAJir  I»  THa  STOBIACH— 

Lvrrama  to  Bfoasrrr— tbbrt— ahd  mbs.  macuea^i 
etxmAnm  htobt  &t  t^b  doom  or  dxvobooil— 
jomr  kbmblb's  BrnsBBfBxr  raoaf  the  staqb— 

WtLLEaM  LAIDLAW  BSTABUSHBD  at  KAKSlDB~3r0- 
TBL  OP  BOB  BOY  PBOJBCTBD— LBTTEB  TO  eOCTHBV 
OH  THE    BBLIBP  OF    THB    POOB,    BTC.— LBTTBB    TO 

Loan  MONTAGir  on  hogo's  qvsbn's  wab:b,  and 

OV  mn  DEATH  OP  FBANOBS  LADV  DOUGLAS.— 1617. 

WxTHiN  less  than  a  month,  the  Black  Dwarf  and 
Old  Mortality  wereifoUowed  by  "  Harold  the  Daunt- 
leas,  by  the  author  of  the  Bridal  of  Triermain." 
Has  poem  bad  been,  it  appekrs,  begun  several  years 
backi  nay,  part  of  it  had  been  actually  printed  be- 
fore me  appearance  of  Childe  Harold,  tnouifh  that 
drcnmstance  had  escaped  the  author's  remem- 
brance  when  be  penned,  in  1830,  his  Introduction  to 
the  Lord  of  the  IsIqs;  for  he  there  sava,  "I  am  still 
astonished  at  my  having  commiiied  the  Bfoss  error 
of  selecting  the  very  name  which. Lord  Bvron  had 
made  so  fomous."  The  volume  was  publi^ied  by 
Messrs.  Constable,  and  had,  in  those  bookeellerr 
phrase,  *'  considerable  eucceBs.^  It  has  never,  how- 
ever, been  placed  on  a  level  with  Triermain  j  and 
though  it  contains  many  vigorous  pictures,  and 
splendid  verses,  and  here  and  there  some  happy  hu- 
mour, the  confusion  and  harsh  transitions  of  the 
fable,  and  the  dim  rudeness  of  character  and  man> 
a«fs,  seem  sufficient  to  account  for  this  inferiority  in 
iMblic  fovour.  It  is  not  surprising  that  the  author 
llioald  have  redoubled  his  aversion  to  the  notion  of 
«By  more  serious  performance  in  verse.  '  He-  hsd 
sailed  on  an  instrument  of  wider  compass,  and 
which,  handled  with  whatever  raplditv,  secfmed  to 
rtveal  at  every  touch,  treasures  .that  had  hitherto 
flept  unconsciously  within  him.  He  had  thrown 
otf  hia  fetters,  and  michl  well  go  forth  rejoicing  in 
tbs  'native  elasticity  oi  his  strength. 

It  is  at  least  a  curious  coincidence  in  literary  his- 
tory, that,  as  Cervantes  driven  from  the  stage  of 
Maarid  by  the  success  or  Lope  de  Vega,  threw  bim- 
silf  mto  prose  romance,  and  produced,  at  th#  mo- 
jBcot  when  the  world  considered  him  as  silenced  for 
ersr,  the  Don  Quixote  which  has  outliv^  Lope's 
tvo  thousand  triimiphant  dramas— so  Scott,  aban- 


donina  .yens  to  Bmn*  ahadd  hMW  i«ba«idai.ft(rai 
hia  foil  by  the  only  proas  romanoss  which  seem  to 
be  classed  with  the  masterpieoa  of  ^psnisb  genius^ 
by  the  general  judgment  of  Europe. 

I  shall  insert  two  letters,  m  which  he  announces, 
the  pubUcation  of  Harold  the  Dauntless.  In  the 
first  of  them,  he  also  mentiona  the  light  and  hu- 
mourous little  piece,  entitled.  The  Sulian  of  Seren- 
dib,  or  the  Search  after  Happiness,  originally  pub- 
lished in  a  weekly  paper,  after  the  fa&hion  of  the  old 
filssayists,  which  about  this  time  issued  from  John 
Ballantyne's  premises,  under  the  appropriate  name 
of  *•  the  Sale-Room."  The  paper  had  slender  suc- 
cess ;  and  though  Scott  wrote  several  things  for  iL 
none  of  thero^xcept  his  metrical  essay,  attracted 
any  notice.  The  Sale^Room  was,  in  fact,  a  dull 
and  hopeless  concern ;  and  I  should  scarcely  have 
thought  it  worth  menpouing,  but  for  the  confirma- 
tion It  lends  to  my  suspicion  that  Mr.  John  Ballan- 
tyne  was  very  unwilling,  after  all  his  warnings,  ta 
retbre  completely  from  the  field  of  pubiiBhing. 

To  J.  B.  S.  »brrUt,  E^q.  M,  />.,  Roktbf  Park. 

**  Edinburgh,  Jan.  W,  1617. 

**M/desrMorritt, 
^  I  hope  to  sead  you  ia  a  couple  of  days  Harold  tiia 
DsonUeM,  wklch  has  not  turned  oat  lo  good  as  1  thought 
it  would  have  dons.  I  begin  to  get  too  old  and  stupid,  I 
ihlakf  for  poetry,  aad  will  certainlf  never  again  adventure 
on  a  grand  teale.  For  amusement,  and  to  help  a  UtUs 
poblicatfon  that  Is  going  on  here,  I  have  spun  a  doggrd 
tale  caOed  Search  after  Happiness,  of  which  I  shall  send 
a  copy  bv  post,  if  it  is  of  a  frankable  sise ;  if  not,  1  ean  p<rt 
it  up  with  the  Dauntless. ,  Among  other  mislortunes  o£ 
Harold  is  his  name,  but  the  thing  was  partly  printed  be- 
fore (Thilde  Harold  was  in  question. 

"My  great  and  good  news  at  present  is,  that  the  bog 
(that  perpeiaal  hobbyhorse)  has  produced  a  oommodily 
of  most  excellent  n^le,  and  procnises  to  be  of  the  very 
Isat  consequeace  tA  my  wild  gtound  in  the  neighbour- 
hood; for  nothing  can  equal  the  effect  of  marie  as  a  lop- 
dresdbag.  Hethinks  <tai  my  mind's  eye,  Horatio)  I  see  al 
lOtio  bkie>bank.  the  hinny-lee.  aad  the  other  provinces  of 
my  poor  kingoom,  waving  wilk  deep  rye-grass  and  clover, 
like  tke  meadows  at  Rokeby.  In  honest  trutti,  it  will  do 
me  yeoman's  service. 

**  My  nejct  food  ddings  are,  that  Jedeitiah  carries  tiie 
world  befpre  Trim.  Six  tiiousand  have  been  disposed  ot 
and  three  thousand  more  are  pressing  onward,  which  wttt 
be  worth  X2G00  to  the  worthy  pedatogne  of  Gander* 
cleuch.  Some  of  the  Scotch  Whigs,  of  the  right  old  lanatf* 
cal  leaven,  have  vraxed  wroth  with  Jedediah— 

'  But  shall  we  go  mourn  for  that,  my  deart 

The  cold  moon  shines  by  night, 
And  when  We  wander  here  and  there, 
We  then  do  go  most  right' 
After  all,  these  honest  gentlemen  arc  like  Queen  Sixs> 
beth  in  their  ideas  of  portrait-painting.    They  require  the 
pictures  of  ibelr  predecessors  to  be  Ufceoessefi,  and  at  the 
«ame  time  demand  tliat  the^  shall  be  painted  without 
shade,  being nrobably  of  opinion,  with  fhe  virsin  majesty 
of  Em;land,  liiat  there  la  no  such  thing  in  nature.  , 

*'  1  presume  yon  will  be  going  shnost  immedifttely  to 
XondoB — at  least  all  our  Scotch  members  arc  requestad 
to  be  at  their  podta,  the  meaning  of  which  I  cannot  pretend 
togoess.  The  finances  are  the  only  ticlclish  matter,  but 
there  is,  after  all,  plenlf  of  money  in  the  country,  no# 
that  our  (ever-flt  is  a  iitUo  over.  In  Britain,  when  there  is 
the  least  damp  upon  the  spirits  of  the  public,  they  arc  ex- 
actly like  people  in  a  crowd,  who  take  the  alarm,  and 
shoulder  each  other  to  and  fro,  till  some  dozen  or  two  of 
the  weakest  are  borne  down  and  trodden  lo  death ;  where- 
as, if  they  would  but  have  padence,  and  remain  quiet, 
there  would  be  a  safe  and  speedy  end  to  their  embarrass- 
ment How  we  want  BilHe  Pitt  now  lo  get  up  and  give 
the  tone  to  our  feelings  and  opinions ! 
'  "  As  I  take  up  this  letter  to  finish  the'  same,  I  hear  tho 
Priscc  Regent  has  been  attaclced  and  fired  at.  Since  he 
was  not  hurt,  (for  I  sboUld  be  sincerely  sorry  for  my  (at 
friend,)  1  see  nothing  but  good  luck  to  result  from  this  as- 
sault It  will  make  him  a  good  manageable  boy,  and,  I 
thinli,  secure  you  a  quiet  Session  of  Parliament.  Adieu, 
my  dear  Morriu.  God  bless  vou.  Let  me  know  if  the  gim*  ^ 
cracks  come  safe— I  mean  the  book,  ice.    Ever  yours, 

WALTaB800W> 

To  the  Lady  Louisa  Stuart^  Cfhmeeeter  Pfaee,  London. 
"Edinbui^h,  Jan.  31, 1817. 
•*  Mydear  Lady  Loalsaj^ 
"'This  accompanies  Hhrotd  the  Dauntleee.   T  tfieo^ 
once  I  shsuM  hsve  made  it  sonsthing  clever,  bot  It  Mm- 


±m^  0^  SIR  WALTER  SGOW. 


«d^|lidlipmint  MM|lil«flMi;  and  1  Sflitlled  ftaC  testwMh 
bunrv  /^6  Inqpatieace.  Nobody  Icnows,  that  has  not  tried 
Aie  WTerish  tradp  of  poetry,  how  mtich  ft  depends  npon 
mood  apd  whim :  I  don't  wouder,  that,  in  (finuuHslnjc  aM  the 
other  deities  of  paganisuv  the  Muse  sliould  have  been  re- 
taincd  by  common  consent ;  for,  in  (wber  reality,  writing 
xood  verses  seem  to  depend  upon  something  scpardtc 
from,  the  volition  of  the  author.  1  aometimcs  think  my 
liryfers  set  up  for  themselves,  Independent  of  my  head  ; 
fbr  twenty  times  I  have  begun  a  thing  on  a  certain  plan, 
uid  never  in  my  life  adhered  to  it(in  a  work  of  imajcination, 
that  i»)  for  half  an  boor  together.  I  would  hardly  write 
this  sort  of  r:<oti8tical  trauh  lo  any  one  but  yhursetf,  yet 
it  is  very  true  for  all  that.  W)iat  my  ktad  correspondent 
bad  anticipated  on  account  of  Jededtah's  effusions,  has 
rfbtuallr  tukoa  place  ;  and  the  author  of  a  very  good  life  of 
Knox  has,  I  underaland,  made  a  most  energetic  attack, 
upon  the  score  thai  the  old  Covenanters  are  not  tTeatcd 
wHh  decorum.  I  have  not  read  it,  ahd  ceVtiunly  never 
^hall.  I  really  think  there  is  nothiiig  In  the  book  that  is 
not  very  fair  and  logftiraate  sobjeel  ofraillerpr ;  and  I  own 
I  bav«  my  snspicions  of  that  very  susceptible  devotion 
which  so  readily  takes  offence :  such  men  should  not  read 
books  of  amusement ;  but  do  they  suppose,  because  they 
are  vbrtuons,  and  choose  to  be  thoognt  outrageously  so, 

•  there  sh^l  be  no  calces  and  ale  7'—*  Ay,  by  our  Lady, 
and  ginger  shall  be  hot  in  the  mouth,  loo.'  As  fbr  the  con- 
Mquences  to  the  aotbor,  they  cim  only  af&ct  his  fortune 
or  his  temper— the  former,  such  as  tt  Is,  has  been  long 
fixed  beyond  shot  of  these  sort  of  fowlers ;  and  for  my 
temper,  I  considered  always  that,  by  sabjeeting  myself  to 
the  irritabdity  which  much  greater  anthora  hare  felt  oa 
occasionM  of  literary  dispute,  I  should  be  laying  ia  a  plen- 
tiful stock  of  uuhappiness  for  the  rest  of  my  ttfo.  I  there- 
fore make  it  A  rule  never  to  read  the  atta^cks  piade  upon 
me.    1  remember  bemg  capable  of  somethhi^  Uke  this 

'  sort  of  self-denial  at  a  very,  early  period  of  life,  for  I  could 
not  be  six  years  old.  1  had  been  put  Into  my  bed  in  the 
nursery,  and  two  servan'  girls  sat  down  by  the  embers  of 
Ike  fire,  to  have  their  own  quiet  ehat,  and  the  one  begim 
10  tell  a  most  dismal  ghost  story,  o^  which  I  reoMinber 
the  commencement  distinctly  at  thre  moment ;  but  per- 
ceivhig.which  way  the  tale  was  tending,  and  though  ne- 
cessarily curious,  being  at  the  same  time  conscious  that, 
If  I  listened  on,  I  shmild  be  frightened  out  of  my  wits  for 
the  rent  of  the  night,  I  had  the  force  to  cover  up  my  head 
hi  the  bed'ClotheSf  so  that  I  could  not  hear  another  vrord 
that  was  said.  The  only  inconvenience  attending  a  simi- 
lar prudential  line  of  conduct  in  the  present  case,  is,  that 
Jt  may  seem  Uke  a  deficiency  of  spirit ;  but  1  am  not  much 
afraid  of  that  being  laid  to  oiy  chaise— my  fault  in  early 
Mfe  (I  hope  long  since  corrected)  liaving  lahi  rather  the 
Other  way.    And  so  I  say,  with  miiw  honest  Prior^ 

*  Sleep,  Philo,  untouched,  on  my  peaceable  shelf. 
Nor  uke  it  amiss  that  so  little  I  heed  thee  ; 

I've  no  malice  at  thae^  and  some  love  for  myself— 
Then  why  shoukl  I  sjaswer,  since  Arst  I  must  read  thee  V 

"  So,  you  are  getting  finely  on  In  London.  1  own  I  am 
very  glad  of  it.  I  am  ^hul  the  bandfui  act  like  bandtUt, 
because  tt  will  make  men  of  property  look  round  fhem  In 
Hme.  This  country  is  very  Hke  the  toys  which  folks  buy 
for  children,  and  which,  tumble  them  about  in  any  way 
the  urchhis  will,  are  always  brought  to  their  feet  agahi,  by 
the  lead  deposited  in  their  extremities.  The  mass  of  pro- 
perty has  the  same  efibct  on  our  Constitution,  and  is  a  sort 
of  ballast  which  will  always  right  the  "vessel,  to  use  a 
soikM^s  phrase,  and  briag'it  to  its  doe  equipoise. 

*'  MlnMters  have  acted  most  ainily  in  oreaking  np  the 
burgher  volunteers  in  Urge  towns.  On  the  contrary,  the 
service  should  have  been  made  coercive.  Suc^h  men 
have  a  moral  effect  upon  the  minds  of  tho  populace,  be- 
sides their  actual  force,  and  are  so  much  interested  in 
keeping  good  order,  that  you  may  always  rely  on  them, 
especially  as  a  corps,  in  which  there  b(  necessarily  a  com- 
mon spirit  of  union  and  confidence.  But'all  this  is  non- 
sense /igain,  quoth  my  Uncle  Toby  to  himself.— Adieu, 
my  dear  Lady  Louisa ;  my  sincere  good  wishes  always  at- 
tend you.  W.  S." 

Not  to  disturb  the  narrative  of  his  literary  pro* 
cecdinKB,  I  have  deferred  uixil  now  the  mentioa  of 
an  atiempl  which  Scott  made  duritig  the  winter  of 
1S16-1S17,  to  exchange  his  seat  at  the  Clerk's  tabie 
for  otie  on  the  bench  of  the  Scotch  Court  of  Exche- 
quer. It  had  often  occurred  to  me,  in  the  most 
prosperous  years  of  his  life,  that  such  a  situation 
would  have  etiited  him  belter  in  every  respect  than 
that  which  he  held,  and  that  his  never  attaining  a 
prom,oiion,  which  the  Scottish  public  would  have 
considered  so  naturally  due  to  his  chnracter  and 
•ervices,  reflected  httle  honour  on  bis  political  allies. 
Bat  at  the  period  whenl  was-onlitled  to  hint  tbii  to 


him,  hfe  itt>peai^  t»h»ve  mn^  «P  lrt»  mM  tft^t  t fc« 
rank  of  CWrk  of  Session  wasmertcafiipatiMe  «*»f5 
that  of  a  Supreme  indge  with  the  hiibltsof  a  if  tefmry 
men,  vrho  wa3  perptfiually  publisMi*,  and    ^who^e 
writings  were  generally  of  the  ifnagina«Te   order. 
I  had  also  witnessed  the  ical  with  which  he  Jcyomf- 
od  the  views  of  more  than  otie  of  his  own  rn«fK**, 
when  thehr  ambition  was  dh^cted  to  the  Exetiggijer 
bench.    1  remained,  in  short,  if^orant  that  Y*e  *wt 
had  seriouslv  thought  of  it  for  himself,  until  the  rum 
of  his  worldly  fortunes  in  1826  ;  nor  bad  I  any  in- 
formation that  his  wish  to  obtain  it  had  ever  oeen 
distinctly  stated,  until  certain  letters,  one  of  '■•usch 
I  shall  introduce  were  placed  in  my  hands,  after  htm 
death,  by  the  pre^nt  Duke  of  Bucdeueii     Tbe  late 
Duke's  answers  to  these  letters  are  also  before  vne; 
but  of  them  it  is  sufficient  to  say,  that,  wkile  tbey 
show  the  warmest  anxiety  lo  serve  Scott,  they  refer 
t^  private  matters,  which  ultimately  rendered  H    in- 
consistent with  his  Grace's  feelings  lo  interfere  ai 
the  time  in  question  with  the  disrtnbution  of  Cros«^n 
patronage.    I  incline  te  think,  on  the  wlu»ie,  that 
the  death  of  this  nobleman,  which  sooa  after  left 
the  inAuen^e  of  his  house  in  abeyance,  must  ha^ 
far  more  than  any  other  c4rcum#tance,  determined 
Scott  to  renounce  all  notions  of  alcerrne  lihipr«le&- 
sional  position. 

To  the  Duke  of  Bucclcuch^  ^.,  fl-c 

"Edinburgh,  11th Dec  ldl6. 
"  My  dear  Lord  Duke, 

"  your  Grace  has  been  so  much  my  constant  ana 
kind  friend  and  patron  throu|:h  the  coarse  of  my  Iffe,  tftac 
I  trust  I  need  no  apology  for  thrusting  upon  your  cof  i^i«i- 
eration  some  ulterior  views,  which  have  been  suggested 
to  me  by  my  friends,  and  Which  1  will  cWifir  mideavour  to 
prosecme,  time  and  place  serving,  or  lay  airidc  all  thoagb(»« 
of,  as  they  appear  to  yow  Grace  feasible,  and  nkely  to  %»« 
tbrwarded  by  your  paironajre.    It  has  been  sqcjkwuhI  to 
me,  in  a  word,  that  there  woold  boAO  Impropriety  In  mj 
beinft  put  in  nomination  as  a  ceadldato  for  tbe  mtoottoa 
pf  a  Baron  of  Excheiiuer«wh«na  vacancy  shall  take  plAC«. 
The  diflTerencc  of  the  omolumeoi  between  tlut  situation 
and  thcs*"  which  I  now  hold,  is  just  £400  a- year,  u>  tbat, 
in  that  point  of  view.  U  is  not  a  very  great  object.     But 
there  is  a  difference  In  the  rank,  and  also  in  the  icisore 
afforded  by  a  Baron's  situation  :  and  a  naan  may,  without 
condemnulOn,  endoavoor,  at  my  period,  of  Mfe,  to  obtain 
OS  much  honour  and  ease  as  he  can  handsomely  come  L^. 
My  pretensions  to  such  aa  honour  (next  to  your  Oraee  a 
countenancing  my  wishes)  would  rest  very  much  on  the 
circumstance  that  my  nomination  would  vacate  two  ttood 
otncea  (Clerk  Of  Session  and  SheriflT  of  Selkirkshire)  to 
the  amoont  of  i&lOOO  and  X300  o-year;   and,  besklea, 
would  exUnfuish  a  pension  o(  £X0  whieb  I  Iwrc  for  Itfo, 
over  and  above  my  salary  as  Clerk  of  Session,  a«  bin  if 
been  hi  office  at  the  time  whea  the  Judicature  Act  de* 
iirived  us  of  a  part  of  our  vested  fees  and  emoluuiecus. 
The  extinction  of  this  pension  would  be  ju<4t  so  much 
saved  to  the  public.    I  am  pretty  confident  al<w  that  1 
should  bo  personally  acceptable  to  our  friend  tfic  Chief 
Baron.*    But  whether  all  or  any  of  tliese  circumstances 
will  weigh  mu<ih  in  my  favour,  must  solely  and  entirelv 
rest  with  your  Grace,  without  whose  eoumenance  n 
WouM  be  folly  in  me  to  give  the  mauer  a  second  ihoubL 
With  your  patronage,  both  my  skuatkm  and  habits  of  so- 
cietv  may  place  my  hopes  as  far  as  any  wlio  are  Uke^  to 
apply ;  and  your  Interest  would  be  strengthened  by  tbe 
opportunity  to  place  some  good  friend  in  SeDurkuiire, 
besides  converting  the  Minstrel  of  the  Clan  into  a  BaroO^ 
— «  transmutation  worthy  of  so  powerfiU  and  kind  a  cbiel. 
But  If  your  Grace  thinks  I  ought  to  drop  thoughts  of  this 
preferment,  I  am  bound  to  say,  that  I  think  myself  as  wnQ 
provided  for  by  my  friends  end  the  public  as  1  have  tke 
least  tHle  to  expect,  and  that  lam  perfectly  contented  ami 
grateful  for  what  I  have  received.    Ever  your  Grose's 
liuthfbl  and  truly  obliged  servant, 

Walter  Scorr." 

The  following  letter,  to  the  same  noble  friend,  con* 
tains  a  slight  alldsion  to  tbia  afiisdrof  the  Barooy; 
but  I  insert  it  for  a  better  reason.  The  Duka  bid* 
it  seejn?,  been  much  annoyed  by  some  depredatioiis 
on  his  game  in  the  district  of  ^ttrick  Water ;  and 
more^  so  by  the  ill  use  which  soiue  boys  from  Sel* 
kirk  made  of  his  liberality,  in  allowing  the  peo- 
ple oi  that  town  free  access  to  his  beautiful  waUta 

*  The  Ittr  RJ^lit  Honourable  Robert  f)*inda«  of  Am»ton.  Chjef 
Baton  of  the  Bcololi  ExdM^iiier  ;  <Hm»  ofSeott'k  eerboit  and  ktad^ 
est  fUsnds  hi  that  dittingaisfasd  fanuhr. 

Digitized  by  V^OOQlC 


UPJB  OF  801  WAIveSB  ACmT» 


m  thebt^  of  iht  Yaoow»  adOoiniiig  Nevrark  and  { 
fewrhfll  The  Duke's  ibreater,  by  luima  Thonifts 
IwboD,  bad  ncoromended  riBorona  taeaaniM  wHh  | 
dbrenoe  to  both  thaae  claaaea  of  offendcrt,  and  the  i 
Ibtriff*  was  of  coiirae  called  into  ooondl  ?—  i 

Tc  BU  Oractktk*  Jhtkt  ^f  BuwUmk^  ^.^  ^,  4v. 
^  AbbocaftMTd,  J^Dvmry  11, 1817. 
Ify  dtar  Lord  DultA, 

''  1  tmwt  h^n%  ihftikinf  anxiooalv  about  tbe  ftiMffr«e- 
ble  aAJrof  Tom  Hachon,  aind  the  taii>ud<mt  {nnramude  I 
r  tbe  Mkirk  rMac  ipeaenaioii,  Md  1  wOl  tak0  the  usual : 
bcrtf  your  fHondahip  parmHs  me,  of  oaTinf  whaf  occurs  i 
)  me  on  each  ■objecl.    EtsMctina  the  aliootfng,  the  | 
rime  la  hlfMy  pimiahable,  ana  we  will  ouiit  no  inquiries  : 
)  (ftaeof«Hno  iodividoali  guiJtj.    Cbarlea  SraUno.  who 
1  a  food  police  oAeer,  wiUue  auAcientlj  actite.  I  know  ! 
ij  friend  and  ki^auian.  Mr.  Scott  of  Harden,  (eeb  terv 
njdons  to  obDf  0  jrour  Grace,  and  1  haTe  little  doubt  If 
ou  wiN  hare  the  KOodneaa  to  roenlion  to  him  tlda  unplea-  , 
uA  circumstance,  he  will  be  anxiooa  to  pm  his  game 
Oder  such  reculaclooa  aa  should  be  acreaable  to  jrou.  I 
at  I  beueve  Uie  pride  and  pleasure  ne  would  feel  in 
l>tl8iBX  your  Oraee,  as  headtng  one  of  tbe  most  ancient 
od  most  resectable  branches  of  your  name,  (If  1  may  | 
e  pardoned  for  aaylng  ao  much  m  our  (avoorj  would  be 
nrtaiBlr  mueb  more  gratilled  by  a  compUance  with  ▼our  * 
■rsonal  reopeat,  than  if  h  came  through  ai 
eL    Your  Qnce  knows  there  are  many  In 
I  which  the  most  effectual  way  of  conferri 
mde^cendlng  to  accept  one.    I  have  know,  i  1 1 
id  moat  intimately— a  more  respectable  n mm 
fling,  or  talent,  or  knowledge  or  human  Mr.' 
*  met  wHh.   But  he  is  rath^  indecialTe— rtquijuit;  **,jne  ' 
«ant  stimulus  In  order  to  make  him  resotre  to  do,  not ; 
ilr  what  he  knowa  to  be  right,  but  what  he  really  wiahes  ; 
do,  and  meana  to  do  one  time  or  other.    Re  is  exactly 
rior's  Earl  of  Oxford  :— 


ln• 

Ife 

It 

h  long 
'  I  fol- 
io 


ly  tidag  more  sjaaperatiiig  than  tiM 

blackgaarda.  and  It  wtU  be  easy  to 

in  example  or  the  biggcat  and  moat 


*  J^t  that  be  <kMie  which  Mat  doth  say,'-- 

*  Tea,'  «uoth  the  fiarl, '  but  not  to^daif.* 
Id  so  exit  Harden  and  enter  Salkivk. 
"  I  know  hardly  any  tIdag  more  axaapei 
odnet  of  tlie  little  b'  ^-    ^ 
cover  and  make  an  .  __ 
olent.    In  the  mean  while',  my  dear  Lard,  pardon  my 
\QC9tiag  yon  will  oke  no  fsnaral  or  aweaping  reaolu- 
I  as  to  tlM  Selkirk  folks.    Your  Grace  Uvea  near  them 
four  reaidenc^tbolh  ffiom  your  direct  benetlcance,  and 
i  indirect  a<)vantages  wacn  they  derive  from  that  real* ' 
nee,  is  of  the  utmost  consequence ;  and  they  muat  be  , 
ide  tfvraaible  that  all  these  advantages  are  endangered  I 
the  very  violent  and  brutal  conduct  of  their  childrcni 
It  1  think  your  Grace  will  be  inclined  to  follow  thl^  up  ; 
(y  for  the  purpoae  of  corredion,  not  for  that  of  requital.  \ 
ley  are  so  much  b(>neath  you,  and  so  much  In  your 
w^r,  thftt  ihia  would  be  unworthy  of  you — especially  aa  ; 

the  Inhabitants  of  the  little  country  town  roust  neces-  ' 
ily  be  included  in  the  pimlshment.  Were  your  Grace 
lUy  angry  with  them,  and  acting  accordingly,  you  m^ht : 
imately  feel  the  regret  of  my  old  aoboounaster,  vrao, ' 
ten  he  had  knocked  me  down,  apologized  by  saying  he  ! 
I  not  kpow  his  own  stranprth.    After  all,  thoae  who  look  ' 

any  thin^  better  than  ingratitude  from  the  uneducated 
i  oar^tlf*rdng  maae  of  a  corrapted  population,  muat  at' 
TK  be  deeeired ;  and  the  t>etter  the  heart  Is  that  has 
to  expanded  lowarda  them,  their  wants,  and  their 
ibes,  the  deeper  is  the  naomU  feeling  of  dIsappoUit- 
»!.  B«t  it  UMMir  duty  to  ight  on,  doing  wliat  good  we 
1  (and  surely  the  dispKi^^ition  and  the  means  were  never  , 
r«  happily  united  than  in  yoar  Grace,)  and  trusting  to 
d  \lmigliiy.  whoae  ftracc  rip<>ns  tbe  seeds  we  commit 
tbe  earth,  that  our  benefactions  shall  bear  fyuit  And 
Mr,  my  Lord,  asking  your  pardon  for  thta  discharge  of 

conaeience,flhd  aHsurim;  your  Grace  1  have  no  wish 
-xchanae  ray  worsted  govnu  or  the  remote  Pi»gmh  ex- 
uxRo  of  a  silk  one,  for  the  cloak  of  a  presbylerian  par- 
I,  even  vriih  the  certainty  of  Bucceorling  to  the  first  of 
ir  niiiaeroos  Kirk-presentationi),  1  take  the  Hbprty  lo 
i  uiy  ptvn  opinion.  Th^  elder  boys  must  be  looked  out 
i  prmiah*vl.  and  the  parents  severely  rpprimaaded,  and 
'  whplc  rr^pectable  pari  of  th<»  town  made  sensible  of  the 
f  thfT  mu^  necessarily  sustain  by  (h«*-di«4cotitinaaDce 
ytmr  pntronni^e.  And  at,  or  about  the  sanrie  time.  I 
>mW  think  H  ^>ropcr  If  vour  Grace  were  to  dlmlnzulnh 
any  litttf*  notice  such  Selkirk  people  working  with  you 
\iuve  rhmr  families  mider  good  order. 
'  1  ain  tnlciBg  le&ve  of  Abbotsford  mnit^m  f^emewt,  and 
fe  just  been  giving  directions  for  rilautlng  upon  TUrn- 
atn.  Wlicn  sliall  we  eat  a  cold  luncheon  there,  and 
k  ml  the  view,  and  root  up  the  monster  in  his  abyss  7  I 
une  you,  none  of  your  numerous  vassals  can  show  a 
^r  sncees^on  of  distant  pixjspects.    For  the  home* 


▼iew~ahMa!-7Wefliiut«aHliUlka  (veaa'cnm.   Bmt 
yevr  Grace's  trnly  foithftd 

W..8con.'» 

While  the  abortive  nagoliatioii  aa  to  the  Bzohe- 
ouer  was  ttUI  pending.  Scott  waa  viahed,  for  tbe 
nrat  time  aince  his  ehifaish  years,  with  a  painfial  iU- 
neaa,  which  proved  the  harbinger  of  a  aeries  of  at- 
tacka.  all  nckrly  of  the  same  kind,  continued  at 
short  iotervaia,  doriiig  itiore  than  two  years.  Va- 
rious letters,  already  mtrodueed,  have  indicated  how 
widely  hia  habita  oi  life  when  in  Edinburgh  difiered 
from  those  of  Aobotsford.  They  at  all  times  did  ao 
to  a  great  extent ;  but  he  had  poshed  his  ti|>erti6a 
with  a  most  robust  constitution  to  a  perilovts  ex- 
treme, while  the.a/Tairs  of  the  Ballantynea  were  la- 
bouring, and  he  was  iU)w  to  pay  the  penalty.  , 

Tbe  nrat  aerious  alarm  occurred  towards  the  close 
of  a  menry  dinner  party  in  Castle  Street,  (on  the 
6th  of  March,)  when  Soott  auddenly  auatained  auch 
exquiaite  torture  froin  cramp  in  the  etofliaeb,  that 
his  maacuiine  powers  of  endilraoee  gave  way,  and 
he  retired  from  the  room  with  a  acream  of  agony 
which  electrified  his  guests.  This  fcen'e  Was  oft^n 
renBated,  as  we  shall  aee  presently.  His  friends  m 
Edinburgh  continued  all  that  spring  in  great  anxiety 
on  his  account  Scarcely,  however,  bad  the  tint 
sympioma  yielded  to  severe  medical  troatment,  than 
he  ia  found  to  have  beguiled  the  intervals  of  hia  auf- 
fsring  bypjanniM^s'  a  ar«riiatia  piece  on  a  ehtty  sup- 
plied to  him  by  -tu  of  Ttaiti*^  oommunn  fitioriA 
which  he  desired  to  prpwiit  to  Terry  on  behalf  of 
the  actor'a  first  born  son*  who  had  bwn  cbristimed 
by  the  name  of  Waller  Scoii  Terry.*  S«ich  was 
toe  origin  of  "  the  Fortunes  uf  Devorgrtil"— a  pioca 
whiolk  though  cdnipUttd  soon  afterwards^ aud«ub- 
mitted  by  Terry  to  many  maiiiptiUtioofl,  with  n  fiew 
to  the  atrae,  was  ncv^T  received  hv  uny  manager, 
and  was  nrst  pnhlish^d,  townrdR  ine  vU*$e^  of  tfw 
atithor's  life,  under  the  iitln,  wli^htlj^  akt  r^nl  for  an 
obvious  reason,  af  "  thf!  Dotirn  of  Devof^oil,"  Ttfc 
sketch  of  the  810 rv,  which  Iia  gfvos  in  rht^  following 
letter,  will  probultly  be  tJunsHrrt-d  by  niajiy  beiidos 
myaatf  aswell  wuVtb  \b*'  diaum.  Ii  ni>\ieATf  (hat 
the  actor  had  im^nttoni'd  lo  Scott  ln^  indention  of 
T^rrff^iag  **  t  h<>  Black  D  wa  rf . " 

To  OanM  Terry^  JSag.,  London. 

"^  Edinburgh,  19th  March,  1817. 
*'  Dear  Terry, 

**  I  am  now  able  to  write  tp  you  on  your  own  aflafara, 
tbeinh  still  as  weak  as  water  lyom  the  operationa  of  the 
madKal  faculty,  who,  1  think,  treated  me  aa  a  recuaant  to 


determined  I  ahouki<ooc  base  strength  to  rebel 
hurry.    After  all,  I  beUeve  It  waa  touch  and  go 


their  authority,  and  having  me  once  at  advantage,  a 

'   '  again  tea 

hurry.  After  all,  I  beUeve  it  araa  touch  and  go :  and  eo» 
aidniniii  liow  much  I  have  to  do  for  my  o%ra  lamlly  and 
othera,  my  elegy  might  have  been  that  of  the  Anld  illaa*a 

'The  peata  and  turf  are  all  to  lead, 
What  all'd  the  beast  to  die  V 


You  don't  mention  the  nature  of  your  undertaking  m  yoUr 
last,  and  in  your  former  you  spoke  both  of  the  Black 
Dwarf  and  oiTriernuun.    I  have  some  doubts  whether  tiie 


town  will  endure  a  second  time  llie  following  up  a  well* 
known  tale  with  adram:uic  representation— and  there  is 
no  ria  comica  to  redeem  the  Black  Dwarf,  as  in  tlic  case 
of  Dominic  Sampson.  I  have  thougVit  of  two  subjects  for 
you,  if,  like  tlie  Archbiahop's  homiUos,  they  do  not  smell « 
of  the  apoplexy.  The  firHi  Ih  a  noble  and  vor;^  dnimatic 
tradition  prese'rvrd  in  Galloway,  wliich  runs  briefly  thus: 
-Tlie  Baruns  of  Plenton  (the  family  oanie,  I  think,  waa 


my  I 

ty  Jupiter,  fur^ot !}  boasted  of  great  antiquity,  and 

!rly  or  extemuve  power  and  wealth,  to  wliich  thi* 

ruiUA  ol'^their  huge  ^astle,^luatrd  ou  an  inland  loch-.  sttU 


formerli 


bear  wiinoss.  In  the  middle  of  tho  a(*entccniU  contury, 
it  tri  said,  these  ruins  were  still  inhabited  by  the  linenl  de- 
scr^ndant  of  this  powerful  family.  But  the  ruinous  halls 
and  lowers*  of  liis  ancestors  were  all  that  had  dencended 
to  him,  and  he  cultivated  the  garden  af  ilio  ra«tle,  and 
aold  Us  fruits  for  a  aubsistencc.  He  married  in  a  line 
auitable  rather  to  his  present  situation  than  the  dij^oity  of 
his  descent,  and  was  quite  sunk  into  the  rank  of  oeasantry, 
excepting  tliat  be  was  stUl  called— more  in  mockerv,orat 
least  in  lamiKarity,  than  in  respect— tbe  Baron  of  Plonton. 
A  causeway  connected  the  castle  with  the  mainland;  it 

*  Thifl  roaag  gentleman  is  now  an  oflfesr  in 
Company'i  araiy.  Digitized  by. 


'■WW  CUT  M  tiM  inl(MI»,  aid  tfte  ntoftf  01%  pMflAIe  bjr » 
drawbridge  which  jet  labiiaCMi.  and  wtdeb  tb«  poof  oM 
couple  Contrived  to  raise  evenr  night  bjr  their  joint  eflbria, 
th^ edfntry  beiac  very  miMtUfd ai  the  time.  UmoMbe 
obaorTedfthat  th»old  nMoead  hie  wUe  occupied  onl^  one 

Sartment  la  the  ejoeoeive  rulne,  a  small  one  adjolBing  to 
e  drawbridge;  the  rest  was  waste  and  dilapidated. 
A«  they  were  about  to  Retire  one  night  10  rest,  they  were 
deterred  by  a  sudden  utofm.  which,  rising  in  the  wfldesi 
manner  possible,  threatened  to  bury  them  under  the  ruitis 
df  the  castle.  While  they  listened  in  terror  to  thcf  oDin- 
pUfpated  aoonds  of  thund»r,^nd,  bAA  /Bin,  th^  were  an- 
lonished  to  hear  the  dang  of  hoofs  on  the  C4iise#ay,  am) 
the  vaices  of  people  ckunoorliig  for  admittaiioe.  This 
was  a^  request  not  rashly  to  be  granted.  T^e  couple 
looked  out,  and  dimly  discerned  tlurough  the  storm  toat 
the  causeway  was  crowded  with  riders.  '  How  many  of 
you  are  there  1*  demanded  John.— 'Not  more  than  the 
fertl  will  tiold,*  was  the  answer ;  '  but  cjien  the  gate,  lower 
tne  bridge,  and  do  not  keep  the  ladies  m  the  rain. '—John's 
heart  was  meked  for  the  ladiet^  and,  afsiast  his  wife's  ad- 
viee,  ha  nndld  the  bolts,  suBk  the  drawbridge,  and  bade 
tketQ  enter  in  the  name  of  God.  Haring  done  so>  he  io- 
Btaotly  retire^  into  his  minctum  ^anttorum  to  await  the 
tvent,  for  there  was  something  in  the  voices  and  language 
of  his  guests  that  sounded  mysterious  and  awful.  Tliey 
rushed  into  the  caitle,  and  appeared  to  know  their  waj 
throuffb  all  its  recesaei.  Grooms  were  tieard  hurrying 
their  horses  to  the  stablee-^entlnels  were  heard  moonting 
gn«rd'~a  thousand  lights  gloomed  Avm  plaea  to  place 
fpnugh  the  rulna,  till  at  length  they  seemed  all  aoneentra- 


tiW  OP  SiltWlLTRR  SOCrrt 


ted  in  the  basonial  hall^  wkose  raasa  of  broad  wtndowt 
tlurew  a  resplendeot  ilUioiinatlon  on  the  lAow-grown  codrt 
below.  Aiver  a  Bbtfrt  timsE,  a  domestic,  clad  in  a  rich  bat 
veiT'  antique  dross,  appeared  before  the  old  oouple,  and 
bofimfiand^  them  to  attend  bis  lord  and  lady  in  the  great 
hall.  They  went  with  totteriqg  steps,  and  0  their  great 
terror  found  ^etnsehreft  in  the  midst  of  a  tnoat  briniam 
nd  joyous  company;  bm  the  faarMl  part  of  tt  was,  that 
ttOMi  of  the  gnesm  resembled  tha  ancestors  of  John's 
laaHyi,  sad  ware  known  to  him  by  their  reaemblanee  ta 
piocores  wMch  mooldsrad  In  ttieeas(le,or  by  traditionarf 
Slasaripdoa.  I4  the  head,  the  founder  of  the  race,  drassed 


itfet  some  miglitjr  baron,  or  rather  seme  Qalwegian  prince, 
his  lady.    There  was  a  difference  of  opinion  be- 

. hese  ghostly  personages  concerning  our  hon^ 

John.    The  cmefwas  inclined  to  receire  hhn  gracionsly ; 


sal  with 
tween  these 


tho  lady  considered  hfm,  fVom  his  ihean  nunriitfe,  as 
Wtarly  unworthy  of  their  name  and  board.  The  opatkitfa, 
that  the  chief  discovers  lo  his  deseendsnt  tba  mesna  of 
finding  a  huge  treasure  concealed  in  the  castle :  Ae  lady 
aaaures  him  thst  tne  tncovery  shall  n«tef  avail  him.  In 
the  mhming  he  titioa  can  b«  discovered  of  the  singular 


K nonages  who  had  occupied  the  hall.  But  Jobn  spilght 
'  and  dtaoomed  the  vault  where  the  apoUs  of  the 
Muthrons  wera  cbnaesled,  voMed  swi^  tne  cmiaitag 
■toaok  and  feesied  btaefaaoaatatigaof  nuMsjrchestaof 
"iQa«  fiUed  doubtless  with  f  '     "      '^  " 


Rva*  miea  oouoiiesa  wwa  wpssptw.     As  he  oettbented 

•a  the  best  means  of  brinffhig  them  up,  and  desoendtnB 
IMO  Um  vaolt,  he  obaBrrsd  It  t»eg«n  slowly  ts  fill  with 
Water.  laMngend  pnmptng  were  reaarted  lo^and  when 
lis  bad  athaiasted  us  awn  and  hia  wife's  strength,  they 
summoned  the  assistance  of  the  neighbourhood.  But  the 
vengeance  of  the  visionary  UOy  wae.periiaatf  the  waters 
of  the  lake  had  forced  their  way  into  the  vnnit,  and  John, 
after  a  vear  or  two  spent  in  draining  and  so  forth,  died 
bfok^neartcd,  ibe  last  baron  of  Ptenton. 

**  Such  is  the  tale,  of  which  the  inctdeotsseem  new,  and 
the  hiterest  capable  of  being  rendered  striking ;  £he  stfiry 
adinUs  of  the  hij^est  degree  of  decoration,  both  by  poetry, 
Busic,  and  scenery,  and  I  propose  (fn  behalfof  my  god- 
son) to  take  some  pains  in  dramatizing  it  As  mus— 
^ou  shall  play  John,  os  you  can  speak  a  llule  Scotcti ;  I 
'  will  make  him  what  the  Baron  of  Bradwardine  would  have 
been  In  his  circum.4tanecs,  and  he  i^hall  be  alternately 
Indicrons  from  his  family  pride  and  pre^jndices,  contrasted 
widi  his  povertv,  and  respectable  from  hhj jiist  and  inde- 

Eendent  tone  of  feeling  and  character.  I  think  Scotland 
I  entitled  to  have  something  on  the  stage  to  balanc«) 
Macklin's  two  worthies.'  Ymi  nndcrstand  the  dialect 
will  be  only  tinged  with  the  national  dlrtlect-Uot  that  the 
baron  is  to  speak  broad  Scotch,  while  all  the  others  talk 
English.  His  wife  and  he  shall  have  one  chlM,  a  daughter, 
suitored  unto  by  the  conceited  young  parson  or  school- 
master of  the  village,  whose  addresses  arc  countenanced 
by  her  mofhor— and  by  Halbert  tho  hnnri»r,  a  youth  of 
imMiown  descent.  Tftjw  thN  vouth  shall  be  the  rightful 
neir  and  representative  of  tKc  Rn^fsh  owners  of  the 
treasitre,  of  which  they  had  been  robbed  Ky  the  baron's 
ancestors,  for  which  oi^ust  act  thdr  spirits  Stfll  walked 
Bm  earth.  These,  with  a  substantial  oharaeter  or  two, 
and  t|ia  «hpstljr  paraooagea,  shall  adnfle  aa  they  onay— 

^     *lirAichfltee>8aRaaiBandSirPcitinaaMaeS7copkaht 


and  flia  (n^o^wy  nf  Afl  path's  tttrtli  1  _ 

^Mtl  af  tba  traaanre-chamber.  I  wl8  aiake  the  Aok 
lalkaantffar  gfaaata  tatted  in  the  body  or  o«  af  fc^  «i 
the  -nraiie  aaay  be  aa  nnaarthly  aa  yoa  can  get  tL  Ihr 
rush  of  the  ahadowa  into  the  aasttedMil  be  sM  ' 
the  window  of  the  baron's  apartment  in  the  1 
The  ghost's  banotiet,  and  many  other  einwnaaiu.^,..^ 
giv'e  great  emrclse  lo  the  scene-painter  and  dresser, 
you  like  this  plan,  you  had  better  saspaiRl  any  ail 
(ha  presaat  In  my  opinion,  U  hsa  the  iafinka  n 
being  perfeoUy  new  in  plot  and  stmctura,  aod  I  v„. 
about  the  sketch,  as  soonaaaqr  streafth  ia^  reatocai  ii 
some  measure  bv  aig  and  eaercise.  I  aos  aura  J  caa  MM 
itln&fecinigbtthen.    Ever  fours  tnily, 

W.J 

About  the  time  when  tfaia  letter  wWSftitteii,  1 
fiew»!paper  paramph  having  excited  the  appieba- 
sionof  two— orlBhooJd  say  three— of  hia  6evm 
mends,  that  h!s  life  was  in  actual  daoicer,  Sc«Q 
wrote  to  tbem  aa  followa— 

Td  J.  B.  8.  Mbrritt;  Bsq.,  J»f  P.,  PorUand  PUtee,  Ltmdm 

c.**^       4r.^  "Kdinbuigh,aOth  March, la:. 

"MydearHorritt, 

"  I  hasten  to  acquaint  you  that  I  am  in  tbe  UwitdMe, 
and  thriving,  though  1  have  had  a  slight  a]^ake.  ua  ri£ 
feel  the  consequences  of  medical  treatmenV  1 W  bsa 
plagued  all  through  this  winter  withoramp*  ia  mf  am- 
ach^  which  1  endured  as  a  man  of  mould  oaiaKc*  aal  ^it' 
doavoured  to  combat  them  by  drinldng  acaUiM  tsMtt 
and  so  forth.  As  they  grefiv  raUiar  uapleaaantlT^MMi, 
I  had  reluctant  recourae  to  Baillia.  But  oeioiettua 
swer  arrived,  on  the  5tht  I  had  amoat  violant  attwk,  ilfck 
broke  up  asmall  party  at  my  house,  and  aaot  sae  lasi^ 
roaring  like  a  bnlf'oalt  AH  aorta  of  rcmedfoa  wm%m 
plied,  as  in  the  case  of  GTU  Bias*  pretended  colic,  batM 
waa  the  pain  of  the  real  disorder,  that  k  •ut-daaMfr 
Doctor  hollow.  Even  heated  salt,  which  svu  apulai  b 
such  a  state  that  K  burned  my  mn  to  rags.  1  hardly  te 
when  clapped  to  my  stomach.  At  lengtfi  the  avna 
became  hiflammatorf,«nd  daafetooaly  aa^  tha  aim 
Ika  diaphrMm.  Thay  OBty  flaise  wa^  to  veiy 
bla0dtaiga*rbKsterinf,whleMndarhigiMr 
saved  my  MCa,   My  reeavery  was  slow  aad  «ae_ 

♦hssisiaofevhsnrten.    icatUdnsHharaiirlbrv. 

and  giddfaiaea,  nor  read  for  daxahag  teiay  afT«««  •srlva 
lar  a  whiaaing aoond  hkmf  enn,  nor  e««n  tliink im ksk 
ofthepowarofanrangiagarideaa.  Bejtaadaiuwftn 
laeadaseofttforaboutaaroa^  B«e»ir6Cl  broaaeap 
(mA,  aa  the  eopy<book  hath  II, 

^The  II09  bold,  whfch  the  himb  doth  bold—' 
on  the  contrary,  t  an aswesfcsa  water.  Thevtailaa^t 
oourso)  I  Aust  renounce  every  crsatura  cooaibrt,  as  a^ 
friend  Jedediah  calls  iL  As  for  dinner  and  so  iMM 
cars  tUtle  ai>out  1^— but  toaatSAd  watenaad  three  glMn* 
of  >^ne,  sound  Uka  hard  kws  to  OM.  Howe^r«r,4epan^ 
the  lamentation  of  Hassan,  the  camel-drtv«r, 

^'nieiqy  health oirtvtes  the  grape's  hncten^, 
And  IHi»  ta  dearer  than  the  QsquebfiD—' 

shsUbei 
mlndii 


sroaoable  to dtodpUne.    Bat  fumy  ewnai' 


sefany 


aol 

cret  .  ^   _    

thing  else,    ^rr—  r-rnihTf  rnrrrisissii  amnffhsi 
but  nnhisklly  4tey  are  hke  a  Upted  y«ar^ca«ide4 
■ight  andonedar-    In  tiievacalMbl 
the  aeaaten  Hme  1  aeldoai  rise  up. 
belter  arranaad  in  Ihtare  c  a«dl  t 
oat  all  your  alndaess. 

''laaebUged  to  bredk  off  hastily.  ItrwetlahalW 
able  lo  gat  ever  the  Pell  in  the  end  Of  saomienwhick 
will  rejoioe  mamneh,  for  the  sowmI  ofthe  wx>oda«t  Baks^ 
by  if  tovely  ia  atrine  ear.    Brer  youra, . 


asMpeoithe 
laihsenM^, 

ly  ifaey  are  hke  a  l44)lMd 
■ight  andonedar-    In  t)ievacalMbl'iieTeraitdo>«mj 
■*!•«  thie  ON 
tlafoeUliTetov 


^       _  "E4h)bimgh,iBdMarch»iSl7. 

"My  dear  Mrs.  and  Miss  CieSaaoT 

*'  Here  cornea  to  lot  you  know  yon  had  oear|y  sesa 
thedast  sight  of  ma,  nnlass  1  had  eooie  to  visit  vo«  eea«y 
red  beam  like  one  of  Fingal's  heroea,  which,  Iriil^ir  ss 
you  are,  I  trow  you  would  rt^adUv  dispc«Me  with.  Pia 
cauae  waa  a  cramp  in  my  stomaoa.  which,  aAer  atfinas 
painfid  visits,  aa  if  it  had  been  acnt  by  Proi^ra,eadhad 
mistakesn  me  ibr  Cattbaa,  at  leagth-obose  to  oosKihtda  W 
setting  fire  to  iu  lodgioA  ttke  |hs  Vrmmtmmm  •m  thi^f  CS' 
treated  tliraugh  Busaiaiand  plaocd4oa  hi  as unopor  nsisis 
of  intfammatlon  aa  if  Ihad  hadths  wh<»ie  flpatAeUa'  oa» 
miuee  in  my  unfisrtunate  stomaeh.  Then  hlaedh«  and 
bllsterifig  was  the  word;  and4hey  Wedaiid  bU«ei»l  10 
they  Aell  me  neither  skia  aor  blopd.  fiossever,  thef  hast 
off  uie  foul  fiend,  and  lain  bound  to  pndae  the  biidiie  which 
called  me  over.  I  am  still  eiry  totterish,  and  xtrj  giddy 


iJtft  Dl^lfttt  WllLmt  WS4J¥4'. 


0t 


rt<n 


tetK  TD  pftiMft,  or  hlhilf  lb  linnrklie,  tbr  I 
oreia  slopa^  uid  Mjhtred  to  oar  ancleol  o , 
kciate.  Bat  I  Ymh  no  k(ypreW)ftibD  of  ttojr  teturh  of 
tie  MriotM  paH  df  th«  mtlidy,  and  1  am  nV9i  recoir«ril% 
u7  stf eiMth,  ihoQgb  lodkittg  lomtfwtitt  cadiiYeroaa  a^n 
he  occanon. 

"  I  much  ^prore  of  jrour  gptag  to  Italy  bjr  10a ;  tiiAevd 
;l«  th«Mlr«aT  y«a»i«ht  lAUHnkof  it.  1  am  oAly 
otiT  yootet»  gaUlf  Ut  leave  us  for  a  wliUa  {  but  Mead 
iie  iaie  f  f  MaU  nUghi  ^  Florenea.  to  ma  ia  reapecc  of 
epanuion,  and  cannot  be  qniic  Florence  to  you,  aloce 
juiy  ComptoQ  is  iM>t  therf .  1  lately  heard  her  mentioned 
1  a  company  where  tty  Interest  in  Iter  was  wJl  lufoWh,  as 
ae  ef  rbe  veiy  few  Bbf Uahiadieflnow  ia  Italy  wbem  tliehr 
cqiMreroebts,  aoadaei.  an^  moda  of  waua^ing  time,  iu- 
ucc  that  pan  nf  foreign  soaiety,  whose  apprubattori  ia 
ili|able,  to  cooalder  wUbhigb  respect  and  esteem.  This 
think  is  tcry  likely  ;  for,  whatever  foDtg  say  of  foreigners, 
!os.  of  good  educatlom  and  high  rank  ainoiijthcin.niuWl 
ivea  supreme  contempt  for  the  fiMvolo«s,<li«9fttl^*»^, 
lApty.  ^ad^boot  manners  of  many  tif  oar  madem  beile*. 
nd  w^  may  SBY  aUMmf  oordehrai,  thnt  tkqre  are  few 
pen  wbom  lif h  accompiahmaBtB  aad  informaUoo  pit 
ton  rracefuUy. 

"  John  Keiuble  in  hare  to  take  leaae,  acting  over  all  his 
rea(  charactera,  and  with  all  the  spirit  of  hii  best  year^. 
i«f  pUyed  CorJolaaus  laat  nighl,  (the  first  time  I  l^ve  ven- 
HOtl  out,)  fully  as  well  as  1  ever  saw  lilm ;  and  yoti 
inw  what  a  complHo  model  ho  Is  of  the  ftoman.  Ho 
i<  made  tt  great  reformation  In  hl«  habits;  iWen  up 
\nr.,  which  he  asad  to  aarallaw  by  prtftfuta,— and  ra»eW- 
i  M.<<  ybulh  nke  Uie  a*^ea  Ha  necaia  la  ue  ahmysCU 
ar  UmL  ttiose  dharaaku  in  which  iJiere  is  a  pn^iamtapl* 
f  tinge  of  aaina  avar-tDa^tering  paaalaa,  or  m^qiared 
ibit  of  aatiAg  and  apeaking,  calouring  the  wbojc  man. 
Ht'Dotricianpruk)  orCoriouuius,  the  atoiclam  of  Urutua 
jd  Cato^tbt  raDld  and  hurried  vehemence  of  H<H:<pur, 
atk  ihc  t\mm  or  chkracters  1  meaa.  Bat  he  ftdin  wtirrc 
retidy  and  pliable  yieldftie  to  the  etetita  and  pjiaaie**  o( 
':'  rnakefl  What  may  be  termed  a  tnare  natural  penfeflaatfa. 
:cor««^y  1  tMfik  hia  Uae^ls  VtMTi  and  aapealally  Sa 
chard.  Inferior  la  splflt  and  UNtti.  fo  Hamlet,  the  aiturai 
ted  utelaftaholy  of  the  pitoca  piiaaa'  iiiui  wilhiJI  Ram- 
f's  ra^gai— yet  Mamr  lAeteata  m4  VHMen  warntf^fpM- 
m  aUp  iUrough  Ms  ITiifera.  He  v  a  brdly  veaael, , 
odly  and  laagnificjBOt  when  itoiag  targe  before  (tie  wth4« 
A  wantiog  Ibo  £»cai|x  to  ao^  ritubf  aboHtt*  Bf*  that  he  ia 
wmliuAM  among  thebresJr^ra  before  he  esa  irear  JihiP. 
^  we  YD«re  in  him  a  mo«t  «xcelleM  crltie,  anaecompBafi- 
I  "Tlioltfrf^iHi  one  ^Tfio^  graced  dur  (bHMIa  tltama  wtk 
Mt  mita  it  liMi  lA  df  l^Kli  maab  «Mii  gislitlemaiiUka 
""      '  ■      larriaifli 


Ulag.  Aarfaoe^ha.  ffeaakdaniaarriaiaoiaaihiaa 
fpaak  whan  ke  vMliiAnNra,  and  lia  liaa  baea  ^0f  orM^ 
At  aMt  aorractfM  tl&  Ml**  *^"^  <1°^  id  Vuamibid, 
Hchhaarathavth^dne.    nlBBt truWyaura while 

WALTBk%S0ft.»* 

On  tbf  ««tii  df  ¥aKlw  mr.  Miii  Phitip  l^^mUe, 
tar  KoialB  Uuroua^  W  rdanq  of  \m  obiaf  purta,  to 
M  dobxkt  of  tjU  ^ii^rgh  ^udieiicia,  took  ^ 
nal  feMT  of  ilieii.M  Mmb^lK  and  ia  <P»  ooatviiw 
'  tbag  okanratar  (ieHv^wo  alurwwall  addfaaa.  peA- 
id  for  hiai  by  $oott.*  Kiaoaa  vdti^  witMased  that 
'^iie,  and  heard  tha  Mai  aa  then  reoilid,  oaa  «vof 
tpaoi  lo  Im  aiRiftn  MiiaraMad  to  the  )iklne  axteac  ^y 
ly  fhm«  otcttniiig  within  the  wtUt  of  a  thaatres 
If  iMi  I  ever  proeaiii  at  k\a^  ptMko  dinner  in  aliiia 
rciraiaiaiiedB  mfte  ia^yreMive  iwui  area  ihat  which 
spurred  «  few  dfya  aftei^%'ardfl,  whM  KeraUe^a 
eocch  frieBda  and  adaairera  aaeewihlMi  railed  Xim 
Prancia  Jaifre^  bei«K  ahairiMA^  'Wytar  Scoit  ami 
>ba  Wiiaon  tha^ccoa^iara. 
*  Ace  i^eOeifl  yftt^^K*.  xS.  p.  i^.  I»9«l*t  Vymien  ih^ 

f* iri the oilMduclpnr tM*,  Jamas  BajJaatjraBaay^-'.Tket-Jia- 
or  fixed «6oo.  wiUi  hanuf  pro|}ne(7.furK«nblu'aclaaiiifr scene. 
■•ir4  >^scbeth.  He  bail  bbmired  undef  a  seviDr^  cold  ror  a^M 
y^  t>4MWk.  but  ita^h^  aieiaoraMp  aillit  tke  pkyifeai  anne^aMii 
.'Ui^-d  to  thi?  i*neivi[  of  hit  oiind.  *  He  was,'^  no  said,  in  Ihc  awm" 

rlWl  apl^iten  6fm»  art  wiii«2ibe)iaJ  trer 


"S'*'*'^^ 


*»Wu ;''  «ad  Ms  tucoeaa  was  cofitt»lete.    Atlbr  ntotnetit  ofMie 

SIM'S  dsaUk  *e  oerttlh  AH  bf  UiaaalvMal  aaelisnatiMi  of  dw 
Miae-  Tbe  arttiaiaRs  wen  veheikifot  and  tirelaiited ;  dicf 
awrd-^ware  fesumfDo-HFoae  ajaia^wtTe  mtcmtail— and  acain 
^  bitabed.  In  a  IW  miniUes  (he  hurlab  aacced(^d,  and  Mr. 
<^nMe  eame  IbnhtfA  in  fbe  drHs  «if  Maebeth  (the  audieeeu  Ity  a 
axanatiaoui  aomment  fWag  to  nt^m  Mm)  to  deivcr  faia 
mm00iL*^.  .  .  .  "  Mr.  Kanble  lettvdiKl  tbe  liar<«  with  exQul- 
i«  braulr.  and  with  an  eflect  that,  wan  evid<n)oed  by  lht>  team 
Hi  wotm  vttmhr  of  Uie  aiiR^hce.  His  ovn  emotfrnn  were  rcry 
wriiaasaiB.    Wl^  Mi  fta-^eH  was  ^flagd,  he  mmti  temr  W 

ta^Hkim  ydSETtbi  iraWtof iC^pfS  MgabwSa^ 


mc^  wim  tiusforttinei.  which  tendbred  U  fitctktmtf 
ibr  him  to  cdve  tip  the  lease  of  a  fhrm,  on  which  ha 
had  been  for  aotne  foare  tettlatl,  in  lfid4^lhiM. 
Ha  woa  now  anxfoiiny  looking  aboot  him  for  soma 
new  eatablishment,  and  it  occurred  to  Scott  that  it 
might  be  mutually  advantftgeovs.  as  well  as  agreea- 
bTe.  if  his  'excellent  ftietrd  wotitd  consent  to  come 
ana  occupy  a  house  on  his  property,  and  endeSTotir, 
under  his  guidance,  to  make  such  hterary  exertions 
a&  mi/;ht  raise  his  income  to  an^  amount  adequate 
for  his  comfort.  The  prospect  of  obtaining  such  a 
neighbour  was,  no  doubt,  the  more  welcome  to 
"  Abbotsibrd  aiM  ICaeside."  from  its  opening  at  this 
period  of  fluctuating  health ;  and  Laidlaw,  who  had 
for  twenty  yeara  loved  and  revered  hun,  considered 
th'  h.  V   iJi  iar  »„..^.^c.f  ilii:^lil  th.in  iIhh  , -i^^^i 

lu<  jiijm  ri[  fiti  itnv  luibt^^  dMmaiii  m  llie 

iai  i  ive  Q forded  hiin.     Tbou^li  pn»trpKf««d 

of  r}  Jivi.'iv  iruj  .ift'firrblEm  an^Aeity  ita  i^i  ihifi^H  m 
peh^ipnln  bf*  hSf<  fllwny*.  bnin  u»  i«  lii!<owii  wuriijlf 
in*!!!  tjmii*,  mm\i>h*  iti  n  f:h)l4Ji.  H'.^  tnt>\Qf  am]  hsibitfl 
wtT«  hII  modi'Mi  i  aad  wUi  n  hv  Jo'>k"<l  iorwsitfl  kq 
f*p  iHmjr  th«  rt: jba if td't  *4  what  hm\  run  hith^frw 
bfl-n  a  aurr^tjwful  lift,  onji.r  ibp  *hfltlo*  ot  thv  t:^ 
■\iH>i,  thjii  hi' had  warah|pma|moHt  if'jTiLboyhiiudj 
atr  }t)ii4Mfi( 


his  s;>;niJc  h*j«ri  was  aiTftili^Miieic*.  Ho  »t*rveyfd 
wiih  i^hstt^nuig  ^fos  the  h^titible^  i^tiaii^e  in  which 
h'i^  frieitd  prowsed  lo  Udffv  him»  ma  wtfc  and  kli 
lildo  ones*  end  said  ta  himf^etf  that  hu  shmld  wiift* 
nci  iiiipfi?  33*4  eoDj?«im  Jh^ptt^i  Flii  i/i^*.* 

Si\^[i  ;*  ti'iu*n  III  him  ai  thiji  time  affsjrd  a  truly 
ch  ^  n r 1 1>2  pte r u ne  of  thou^ih  iU\\  and  r^jtrpec if u I  deU- 
cfli  J  m\  b'jih  Hide*,  Mr.  Laidtaw,  fwr  txnnip\t^  wp- 
p^  sra  Ic*  hsvi*  hji\led  ibal  h6  fennpd  hla  ffiend,  m 
IU  ikioa  i\w  propohfti  aft  16  the  hijune  at  Kaija>d». 
mMljt  li^vt}  pcrrlj  aoa  ift  jQtiu  d^vp^'^  averWk<d  tha 
fa.  ]iH|E«  of  '- Latrd  Moaa*     who,  tiaviait 


._ _.    __      ^_   ,        _^  ,.  ftiilJ  hi*' 

lartd  i;r«pr<)li  fDund:ia  iMfonv  k«l  ait  j*A  ooatmiind  ^ 
(Jttxjpy  liLi*  w  Id  hii  nwfftttad.     Sixil  t  a  ns*«*s  f — 
Tb  JIV-.  #:  LatdUtiff. 

*'  Edinburgh,  April  5,  lBl7. 
daarflir^ 
.  c^thlng  fVi  give  ma  jitote  ple^ifte  thsQuYha  prospect 
of  f  aar  makiog  youraadf  comfoftabfe  al  Kaoslde  tin  Mme 
good  tbiag  caata  up.  Iluve  not  pat  Iftr.  nosh  lo  any  in- 
convenience,  for  1  Only  requeued  aA  answer,  giving  him 
leave  to  alt  ii  he  had  a  onind— and  of  free  wiU  Its  leaves 
tnf  prMfciias  taidaiid  redd  at  wymmaday.  laaspaeitha 
haaad4aBattaittD4atdar,kiut  wa  ahatt  git  iLbraabad  up 
a«alb.  I^Kihaatalfaetaltai&leOairiMBa  myself  the  oMigad 
paivy  in  tbia  niattar-ar  at  any  rata  it  la  a  nainal  badeit, 
and  yoa  shaA  have  grasa  (or  a  eopr,  and  ao  forth— what- 
ever you  want.  1  am  aure  when  you  are  b6  hear  I  shall 
find  sottie  Rleiarr  labaer  ftir  yaa  MM  will  a^ke  anda 
meieL.   Yaniak  In  baaia»  y^-  Sco^." 

He  had  before  this  time  made  considefable  i^rti- 
gre«9  in  another  histdrfcal  sltetch  (that  of  the  y^ar 
1815)  for  the  Ediobui«h  Annual  Register;  ami  the 
nrist  Rterary  labour  which  he  provided  for  Laidlaw, 
appaara  to  have  been  ar|-angif)g  for  the  same  volume 
a  aft  of  neirspaper.  articles,  asually  printed  under 
the  head  of  Chronicle,  4e  which  wevu  appended  seaie 
little  extraefa  of  new  booka  of  traveliL  and  the  like 
mfseeHamf^.  Tbe  Bdinb^rgh  Mtmtht;r  May^azine, 
Mbseciuently  known  bf  the  itbtne  of  its  projecror. 
Black woodLcomrneticed  in  April  of  this  yfar;  and 
one  of  Us  editors.  Mr.  Thomas  Pringle,  being  a  Tc- 
viotdale  man  and  an  oMaoq|ttaiatance  of  Laidlaw's, 
oifettMl  n>  tile  latter  the  ear* 'af  its  Chronic' e  de- 
partment also,— not  perhaps  without  cate«ilanfi|g 
that,  in  case  LaidlaWs  cotinttuon  with  the  new 
journal 'shouM  bcfcome  at  all  a  slrict  one,  Stoll 
wooM  be  indtited  to  give  it  occasionnlly  tbe  benefit 
of  Ms  own  literary  assistance.  He  accordingly  did 
not  writ^— b()in^  unwell  at  the  time— but  dictated  to 
Pri«g\e  a  collection  of  aneo<ToleB  eoncerning  tJcot- 
lisli  gipsies,  which  attracted  a  good  deal  of  notice  it 

•  Mr-  I^Jdhw  has  ridt  pefeliiAied  muny  vcmet ;  hot  M«  song  of 
*'  Lucy's  Flminr"— a  simple  and  pathc lie  pietareof  a  poor  Ettridt 

Aialtiet.aitdUwa 


roaiiion's  ft«>lings  in  kiuring  a  scrrice 
ham  5  -tM«i1ohp1|i»en  arraYiiast  evtt  be  i 
unU^rHlaml  the  dalicaeies  ^  die  flec^tisk  t 


of  .Ibe  diiMetin  which  tbe  Mane  Is  Uid, 

♦  Those  anecdotes  were  suDseqaontlrln 

Digitized  by  VJ 


anecdotes  were  suMeqQontI|^inscrted  la  ^  Is 

to  Guy  Hannerioi. 


9m  uwwaDfvwAWJWPJWT- 

i]p  oac  OT  more  ar^.tdrt  oti  tne  sobject  of  Scotoso 


up  ^__ , _  _  _ 

supcrjiUtions,  But  ^Le  bixikscIlLir  and  Pnngle  soon 
qu&mlcd,  iindi  ihti!  I^Tii^-iitmi^  Bssjurninx,  an  the  re- 
tiremiint  of  rbc  iaEUir*  a  bi^h  Tgry  chariicter,  Laid- 
Iqw^a  Whi:^  fteling^  induced  Jiim  to  rtinnunce  its 
alliance? ',  wlulr/  So.>t(,  Iliviiir  no  kiiicluj^^^  Tor  Black- 
worHJ  pprBonaiiv,  an  J  iiii^upproTJii;:^  UtiouKll  he 
cliuckliid  overtlj  ilh'  f(<  LK--^  <  x[ravriL^rmceqf  j[uve- 
nile  saiiri",  width,  L'j  =ni  J  '    li'lii-l  his  jour- 

iiii.1,  appeam  ui  havo  lm  .  ,   .     -<  I  m^  the  pro- 

imety  of  Laidlaw*s  (^terminatioo.  1  insert  mean 
time  a  few  notes,  which  will  ahpw  with  what  care 
and  kindness  he  watchad  over  Laidlaw's  operations 
for  the  Annoal  Register. 

7b  Mr.  Laidlai^f  ai  Kaeaide, 

*•  Bdinbnrgh,  June  16, 1817. 
"Dear  Sir, 

^leocloae  you* tare  caardon,'  beuar  tha*  remonera- 
tloD2--iiainely^  ohequa  Tor  i53&,  fqr  ike  ClurMele  paxt  of 
the  lUigMter.'  The  i»cideota  selected  s^tild  bave  soiDa  re- 
feraac^  Uk  apmsemeat  aa  well  aa  informatioo,  and  may  be 
occaalonaUy  abridged  la  the  narration  \  but,  after  all, 
{Mate  and  scissors  form  your  principal  materials.  Too 
must  look  ofit  for  two  or  tnree  good  original  articles ;  and, 
if  you  would  read  antl  take  puns  to  abridge  one  or  two 
carious  books  of  travels,  I  wo^ld  send,  oat  the  volumes. 
Could  I  once  get  the  head  of  the  concern  fairly  ronnd  be* 
fore  the  wfaid'sgaia,'!  am  sure  I  could  make  it  £iQQ  a-year 
ta  yoo.  In  the  {Hresent  instance  it  vrill  be  at  least  j£60. 
Toors  truly, 

W.  8." 
r  7*0  tAe  Same. 

^'  Edinbuigb,  July  3, 1817. 
"My  dear  Sir,  •-.      .^ -» 

*'  I  send  yoo  Adam's  and  Riley's  travels.  You  will  ob- 
serve I  don't  want  a  review  or  the  books,  or  a  detail  of 
these  persons'  adventurea,  but  merely  a  short  article  ex- 
pressing the  light,  direct  or  doobtfoi,  which  they  have 
thrown  on  the  interior  of  Africa.  *  Recent  Diseovevies  in 
Africa,'  will  be  a  proper  title.  I  hope  to  find  you  mate* 
riaily  amended,  or  rather  quite  stout,  wken  I  com^  oat 
on  Saturday.  I  am  quite  wall  thia  morning.  Tours  in 
haste, 

W.  R 

*'P.  S.— I.addMariner'aTonj^  Islands  and  Oampbel!*s 
Voyage.  Pray,  take  great  care  of  them,  as  I  am  a  cox- 
comb about  my  hooks,  and  hate  specks  or  spots.  TUce 
care  of  vourself,  and  want  for  nothing  that  Abbotsford 
can  fumClh." 

'  These  aotM  have  carried  ns  ilown  to  the  middie 
of  the  year.  But  I  nmst  now  turn  to  some  others, 
which  show  that  before  Whitsuntide,  when  Laidlaw 
settled  at  Kaeside,  negotiations  were  on  foot  re- 
specting another  novel. 

TV  ilfr.  John  Balianiyn^^  Banov«r  J9tr«9i,  EdinbrngL 
''  Abbotsford,  Mondsy.    (AprfU  1817.) 
'»DearJe*», 

^  I  have  a  good  eubjeot  for  a  work  of  fiction  in  ptUo. 
What  do  you  think  (Nonstable  wOuld  give  for  a  smell  of  iti 
%You  ran  away  without  taking  leave  the  other  morning,  or  I 
wished  to  have  spoken  to  you  about  It.  1  don't  mean  a 
continuation  of  Jcdediah,  because  there  might  be  some 
delicacy  in 'putting  that  by  the  original  publishers.  Yoti 
may  write  if  any  tiling  occors  to  you  on  this  subject  It 
will  not  intemqH  my  History,  ny  the  way,  I  have  a  great 
lot  of  the  Begisier  ready  for  delivery,  and  no  man  aska  for 
.  it.  I  shall  want  to  l^ay  up  some  oaslMt  Whitsunday,  wbich 
wiQ  make  me  draw  on  my  brains.    Tours  truly, 

W.  ScotT." 
To  the  Same, 
"  Abbotoford,  Saturday,  Bfay  3, 1817. 
**  I><»r  John^ 

*'  I  abail  bd  much  obliged  to  you  to  come  here  with  Con- 
stable on  Monday,  as  he  proposes  a  viidt,  and  it  will  save 
time.  By  the  way,  you  must  aUend  that  the  usual  quan- 
tity of  stock  is  included  in  the  arrangement— that  is  jSBOO 
for  COOO  copies.  My  sum  is  £1700.  payable  la  May— a 
round  advance,  by'r  lady,  but  1  think  I  am  eniiUed  to 
it,  contidering  what  I  have  twined  olT  hitherto  on  such 
occasiona. 

*'  I  maite  a  point  on  your  coming  with  Constsble,  healUi 
aUowing.    Yours  truly,  W.  Si" 

The  resnlt  of  tl^is  meeting  is  indicated  in  a  note 
serried  by  John  Bailantyne  at  the  hottom  of  the 
foregoing  letter,  before  it  waf  seen  by  hie  brother 
the  primer-* ' 


Keep  tl 
J.  B." 


'*  lam  this  motaent  retozsed  from  Abbb(a<^rd,  with  ea* 
tire  and  full  success.  Wish  me  joy.  I  shsS  gala  wJbtnrm 
jBNp— Constable  tak^  my  share  of  st^k  also.  The  ticle 
fs  Rob  Roy— by  <As  ctulibat-  qf  Wavertey  fH  '~ 
letter  for  me. 

On  the  saikie  paoe  there  is  vnitten,  ia  ftefliier  iiik| 
which  marks^  no  doubt,  the  tinie  when  John  pmmed 
it  into  hia^  collection  of  pnvate  papen  now  be- 
fore me— 

*<N.  B.-I  did  gahi  above  X12in.-^.  R'* 

The  title  of  thiv  novel  waseoggeeted  by  Ckmatable^ 
and  he  told  me  years  afterwards  th^  difficulty  *^ 
had  to  get  it  adopted  by  the  author.  *'  What  f* 
he,  **  Mr.  Acoondieur.  most  you  be  setting  up  for 
Sponsor  tool— But  Let's  hear  it."  Constable 
the  name  or  the  real  hero  would  be  the  best  poaai- 
ble  name  for  the  book.  **  Nay,"  anewered  Scott, 
"  never  let  me  haVe  to  write  up  to  a  name.  Yoo  vrflil 
know  I  havte  seaeraUv  adopted  a  title  that  tokl  bo- 
thing."— The  Dookseller,  however,  peraevered  {  and 
after  the  tno  had.  timed,  these  scru^lea  gave  way. 

On  rising  from  the  tame,  according  to  Constable^ 
they  saNled  out  to  the  green  before  the  door  of  the 
cottacm,  and  all  Ui  the  bigheat  spirits  enjoyed  iht 
fine  May  ev^ng.  John  BaUantyne,  hoppinx  op 
and  down  in  his  glee,  ezoIaiDied  "'ia  BoVs  gaa  hen, 
Mr.  Scott  I  woiua  you  obieet  to  my  kryiiw  ^  anU 
barrel  with  a  fewdejay  r  "  Nay,  Mr.  Pdp  wtiA 
Scott,  *'  it  would  burst  and  blow  you  to  the  devil 
before  your  tima"  *^  Johnny,  my  man|^  said  Gon- 
stable,  "  what  the  mischief  putd  dramug  at  mt^i 
into  ytmr  head  V  Scott  latigbed  heartily  at  thia  in- 
nuendo ;  and  then  ohserving  ihat  the  little  man  fisit 
somewhat  sorc^  called  attention  if>  the  notes  of  a. 
bird  in  the  acnoming  fhrubberir.  "And  by  the  by»" 
said  he,  as  th^^  cantmued  listening,  "*  'tie  a  \omm 
ti^ie,  Johnny,  amoe  we  have  had  the  Cobbler  or 
Kelso."  Mr.  Puff  forthwitftjumped  up  on  a  maan 
of  atone,  and  seating  himselL  in  tile  ptoper  attttode 
of  one  working  with  his  awl,  beRao  f.  ^rorite  inter* 
lude,  mimicking  a  certain  son  of  Cnsptn,  at  whose 
stall  Soott  and  ne  had  often  lingered  when  they  vera 
schoolboys,  and  a  blacl^bird,  the  only  companiao  of 
hts  cell,  that  us^  to  nng  tp  him,  while  he  talked 
and  whisded  to  it  aU  day  long,  with  this  perform- 
ance Scott  was  always  deKfhtsd :  nothicMr  eonld 


be  richer  than  the  contrast  of  the  brnj^  will 

notes,  some  of  which  he  imitated  >#ith  woildeiftl 
skill,  and  the  accompaniment  of  the  Cobbler's  hoarse 
cracked  voice,  uttenilg  aH  manner  oiF  endearing  api- 
thet&  which  Johnnjr  multiplied  and  varied  in  a  styW 
worthy  of  the  Old  Woman  in  Rahelsis  at  thebirtli 
of  PantagrueL.  1<  often  vroadered  that  MatAevra, 
who  borrowed  so  many  good  tbiogs  from -John  Bsl- 
lantyne,  allowed  this  Cabblef,  which  was  certainly 
the  masterpiece,  to  esosbe  him. 

Scott  himself  had  probably  MOeeded  that  evening 
the  three  glasses  or  wine  saflctioaed  bv  his  Saa- 
grados.  '^I  never,"  said  Goniitable,  "bad  Amad 
nUn  so  disposed  to  be  osmmunieative  aboot  what  he 
meant  to  do.  Though  he  had  had  a*  return  of  hia 
illness  but  the  day  hafore,  he  continued  for  aa  hour 
or  more  to  walk  baekwards  and  forwards  on  the 
green,  talking  and  laughing--he  told  us  he  was  snia 
he  should  make  #  hit  m  a  Glasgow  weaver,  whom 
he  would  raxtl  up  inik  Rob  ;  and  fiairly  outshone 
the  Cobbler,  in  an  extetnpore  diaiogue  between  tbs 
bailie  and  the  cateran— sotnething  not  unlike  what 
the  book  gives  us  as  passing  in  the  GUasgow  tol« 
booth." 

Mr.  Poff  might  well  exult  in  tha  *' Aill  and  entire 
fauecess"  of  tlus  trip  to  Abbotsford  His  firjend  had 
made  it  a  nne  qua  non  in  the  bargain  wiui  Con- 
stable,  that  be  should  have  a  thira  share  in  the 
bookseller's  moiety  of  the  copvright— and  thou|;h 
Johnny  had  no  more,  trouble  a^out  the  publiahina 
or  selkn^  of  Rob  Rev  than  his^  own  Cobbler  of 
Kelso,  tbi.^  stipulation  iiad  secured  him  a  bonuB  of 
£1200,  before  two  year^  passed.  Moreover,  one 
must  admire  his  adroimess  m  iMumiadinff  Conaudilev 
during  their  journey  back  to  Edinbords,  to  reKeve 
htm  of  that  fra(Btk»n  of  his  owm«old^ stock,  witk 
Digitized  by  VjVJVJ V  IL  ' 


UFS  OP  «Q^  W^MIR  8iO0TI\ 


wftAtudeiK 


loot  ^hflra  la  the  mw  hmna 

.      trs  ktndiieu  coftUAuea,  as  loQf? 

«•  Jobs  BaUantyi^e  UTie4  ^  provide  for  hin  a  oen- 
ataot  fttoceBsioii  oit  aiauiar  aavantages  at  the  wtpnei 
rnrtfl;  aod Constable, 'from  dmreoee  to  Scott's 

Jws,  and  Irom  his  own  Ukmg  for  th^  hvmoroas 

ctfiotiaer,  appears  to  hanre  snbtnitted  with  hardlf  a 
momentary  grudge  to  this  heavy  tax  on  his  most 
important  Tentures. 

The  same  week  Scott  received  Souther's  celebrat- 
ed letter  to  Mr.  Wilhaoa  Smith,  M.  P.  for  Norwich. 
The  poet  of  Sjeawiek  had  also  forwarded  to  htm 
some^atearlisr  hts  Pilgrimage  to  WAteriod,  whieh 
fieee  contains  a  touching  allusion  to  the  affliction 
the  aa^or  had  recently  suttained  in  the  death  of  a 
Ibe  boy.  Scott's  letter  on  this  occasion  was  as 
folk>w8.-— 

To  M9Urt  Somkey^  JS;«f.,  KetmUh. 

Selkirk,  May  Ml,  iei7. 
*Mrdear8o«they, 

M  hsere  b«ea  •  straof  elf  neflUgett  eorreapoiKlem  (br 


B  momhs  oast,  moftt  especloujr  asl  have  had  joa  rare 

/  tflbugbts,  for  1  think  you  will  hardly  doabt  of 

ay  iiae«re  eyopathr  in  crenti  Whieh  have  happened 


If  eat  of  my  t 


rtiii  Tliain  iiitWrn   I  shed  tiocere  tears  over  the 
^9  lo  Wflieiloo.    But  to  the  crucible  of  tainiaii  Mf^  the 
•■reac  «oU  is  tried  by  the  atronfesi  heat,  and  I  can  enlf 
Wo^lbr  Ae  condBoance  ef>7our  preeent  ikihUy  blesslnge 
I*,  one  so  weH  fonoed  to  enjoy  the  pvre  happiness  they 
ag>ril     My  health  has,  of  late,  been  very  indiffereM.    I 
mm  very  naarlf  saceonbtiif  onder  a  violent  tntemmatorv 
ifliS  Slid  still  feel  the  eflbcta ef  the  necessary  treatinein. 
I  bellere  thvy  todk  ooe-third  of  the  blood  of  mv  eyitem, 
aMi  Miateriid  to  proportloo ;  so  that  both  my  tesb  and  my 
tieodkave  been  in  a  woAlHy  reduced  state.  Ifotonthere 
eoofl  vreeksstaee,  where,  by  dint  of  the  taeensible  exer- 
eiM  whiah  one  takes  to  the  conntry,  I  feel  myedf  gather- 
k^  afreofth  dally,  bat  am  stfll  eMiged  to  obeerve  a  eev«re 
reglaiea.   It  was  net  to  croak  about  snyself,  however,  that 
1  took  iq>  the  pan,  bat  to  wish  youjoy  of  yoor  tiHtim0hant 
■Hwer  to  that  oosree-mtoded  WfiUam  mnHh.     »e  de* 
avrted  all  he  haa  fot,  and,  to  bmt  the  truth,  you  do  not 
spare  blin,  and  have  no  cause,    llle  attack  seems  to  have 
peecieecUd  trotti  the  vnlj^ar  Insolence  of  a  low  mtod  desi- 
fsos  of  attaoUnff  genius  at  disadvantage.    It  is  the  an- 
dm!  and  eternal  strife  of  which  the  witch  speaks  to 
Thakba.    Such  a  man  as  he  feels  he  has  no  aniance  with 
saah  an  you,  and  his  evil  tostincce  lead  him  to  treat  as  hos- 
iBe  wtatevsr  be  cannot  comprehend.    I  met  Smith  once 
ditsr  his  stay  to  Bdinbufgh.'  and  had,  what  1  Beldom 
hate  wtth  ipy  one  to  society,  a  high  (jnarrel  wUh  him.  His 
BMiti  ef  tnvelltog  had  been  from  one  gentleman's  scat  to 
another,  abustag  the  well*knewn  hospitality  of  the  High- 
hod  lairds  by  iMing  possession  of  their  houses,  even  duT" 
k«  their  abe^ice,  domtoeening  to  them  when  thev  were 
present,  and  not  only  eating  the  dtonerof  to-day.  but  re- 
qniring  that  the  dtoner  of  to-morrow  should  also  be  made 
ready  and  carried  forward  vrith  him,  to  save  the  expense 
of  inns.    All  this  was  no  buamess  of  mtoe,  but  when  to 
the  middle  of  a  company  consis^g  of  those  to  whom  he 
had  owed  thishospUafity,  he  abused  the  country,  of  which 
he  knew  little— the  language,  of  which  he  knew  nothing— 
and  iCtkei  people,  who^ave  their  faults,  but  are  much  more 
harmless,  moral,  and  at  the  same  time  high-spirited  popu- 
hiioo  than,  I  venture  to  say,  he  ever  Uved  amongst— I 
thought  it  was  really  too  bad,  and  so  e'en  took  up  the  debate 
and  gave  it  him  over  the  knuckles  as  smartly  as  I  coald. 
Your   pamphlet,  therefore,  fed  fat    my  ancient  grudge 
against  htm  as  weD  as  the  modem  one,  for  you  cannot 
doubt  that  my  blood  boiled  at  reading  the  report  of  his 
speech.    Enough  of  this  gentleman,  who,  I  think,  will  not 
walk  out  of  the  round  to  a  hurry  ag^n,  to  slander  the  con- 
ihict  of  individuals. 


'^  Ukase  10  ihsi^ottfiir  the  esnitoastk»o(  ikiflMMr 
of  Braku— one  of  your  gigantic  labours;  Ute  mm  ofm 
mind  so  active,  yet  so  patient  of  labour.  I  Mb  nqt  y^  jir 
advanced  to  the  secdad  volume,  reservtog  ft  uauaUv  «ir 
my  hour'a  amuaement  to  the  evening,  as  children  seep 
their  daimtos  far  bonmt  hmtthe :  bm  asfsr  as  I  have  come. 
It  pdaaeases  dl  dM  totvrest  sf  the  coamnencement,  though 
a  more  feithless  and  wonhless  set  than  both  Dutch  aid 
rorttttuesel  have  never  read  of;  and  it  requirea  yoar 
know^dge  of  the  springs  of  human  action,  and  f  our  lix^- 
ly  description  of '  hafr-breodth  'scapes,'  to  make  one  care 
whether  the  hog  bites  the  dog,  or  the  dog  bites  the  hog. 
Both  nations  were  to  rapid  declension  from  their  short- 
lived  age  of  heroism,  and  to  the  act  of  experfenctog  all 
those  retrograde  movements  which  are  the  natural  coa- 
sequmce  of  setfisbaess  on  the  one  hand,  and  bigotry  on 
the  other. 

"  I  am  glad  to  see  you  are  turning  your  mind  to  the  stata 
of  the  poor.  Should  you  enter  toto  details  on  the  subject 
of  (he  hest  mode  of  assisting  them,  I  would  be  happy  to 
ten  vou  tho  few  observadons  I  have  made— not  on  a  very 
smafi  scale  neither,  considering  my  Ibrtune,  for  I  have 
kept  about  thirty  of  the  labourers  to  toy  aeighboai^ood 
in  constant  employmem  this  wtoter.  This  I  do  not  osU 
charity,  because  they  axecutsd  some  extensive  plsma- 
tions  and  other  work^  which  I  could  never  have  got  done 
so  cheaply,  and  vrhtoh  1  always  imeUded  one  day  to  do. 
But  neither  was  it  altogether  selfish  on  my  part,  becausa 
I  was  putting  myself  to  inconvenience  to  tocunditf  ike 
expense  of  several  ytaraat  once,  and  cerlatolr  w<)fuid  not 
have  done  so,  but  to  serve  mtoe  honest  nelghbours^hp 
were  likely  to  want  work  but  for  such  exertton.  Froan 
my  observation,  I  am  toclined  greatly  to  doubt  the  salula- 
ry  elTect  of  the  scheme  generally  adopted  to  Edlnbunhi 
and  elsewhere  for  relieving  the  poor.  At  Edtoburgh, 
they  are  employed  on  public  works  at  so  much  a-day~ 
tenpence,  I  beueve,  or  one  shilling,  with  an  advance  (o 
those  who  have  feuiUes.  TlUs  rate  is  fixed  below  that  «f 
ordinary  wages,  to  order  that  no  person  may  be  empkiyed 
but  those  who  really  cannot  find  work  elsewhere.  But  it 
is  auended  with  this  bad  effect,  that  the  people  regard  it 
partly  as  charity,  which  is  humiliattog,— and  partly  as  an 
imposition,  to  taUng  their  labour  below  iu  usual  aaleabla 
value ;  to  which  many  add  a  third  view  of  the  subjeot— 
namely,  that  this  sort  of  hall^pay  is  not  given  them  tor  tbo 

Burpose  of  working,  but  to  prevent  their  rising  to  rebel- 
on.  None  of  these  misconceptions  are  (avourable  to 
hard  labour,  and  (he  conseouence  is,  that  I  never  have 
seen  such  a  set  of  idie/ainianU  as  those  employed  on 
this  system  to  the  pubUc  works,  and  I  am  sure  that,  not- 
withstanding the  very  laudable  totention  of  those  who 
subscribed  to  form  the  fun),  and  the  yet  more  praias- 
vforthy,  because  more  dimcult,  exertiona  of  those  who 
superintend  it,  the  issue  of  the  scheme  will  occasion  fiul 
as  much  mischief  as  good  to  the  people  engaged  to  It. 
Private  genUemen,  acttog  on  something  like  a  similar  ays- 
tem,  may  make  it  answer  better,  because  they  have  not 
the  Uxy  dross  of  a  metropolis  to  contend  with-4»ecause 
they  have  fewer  hands  to  manage— and  above  all,  because 
an  individual  always  manages  his  own  concerns  better 
than  those  of  the  country  can  be  managed.  Yet  all  who 
have  employed  those  who  were  distressed  for >  want  of 
work  at  under  wages,  have  had,  Idas  or  more,  similar 
compkdnts  to  make.  I  think  I  have  avoided  this  to  my 
own  case,  by  toviiing  the  country- people  to  do  piece-work 
by  the  contract.  Two  things  only  are  necessary— one  is. 
that  the  nature  of  the  work  should  be  such  as  will  adinit 
of  its  being  ascortatocd.  when  finished,  to  have  been  sub- 
stantially executed.  All  sort  of  spade-work  and  hoe- 
work,  with  many  other  kinds  of  country  kbour,  fall  under 
this  description,  and  the  employer  can  hardly  be  cheated 
in  the  execution,  if  he  keeps  a  reasonable  look  out  The 
other  point  is  to  take  care  that  the  undertakers,  in  their 
anxiety  for  employment,  do  not  take  the  job  too  cheap. 
A  little  acquatotance  with  country  labour  will  enable  one 
to  regulate  this;  but  it  is  an  essential  potoi,  for  if  you  do 


**  1  ain  at  present  writhig  at  our  head-court  of  free-  ,  not  keep  them  to  their  bargato,  it  is  making  a  jest  of  the 
Iwlders— a  sot  of 'quif't,  unpretending,  but  sound-judginft  thing,  and  forfeiting  the  very  advantage  you  have  to  view 
eo«ntry  gentlemen,  and  whose  opinions  may  be  very  well  i  —that,  namely,  of  toduciogthe  labourer  lu  bring  his  heart 
taken  as  a  lair  specimen  of  those  men  of  sense  and  hen-  and  spirit  lo  nis  work.  But  this  he  will  do  where  he  haa 
oar,  who  are  not  likely  to  be  dazzled  by  literary  talent,  I  a  fair  bargain,  which  is  to  prove  a  good  or  bad  cme  ac- 
wtocfa  lias  oDt  of  their  beat,  and  who.  therefore,  cannot  |  cording  to  his  own  exertions.    In  this  case  you  make  the 

be  of  partial  counsel  in  the  cause;  and  I  never  heard  an  "-' ^.-    ^  ^— ... .- — r  x., ^  — 

cotoion  more  generally,  and  even  warmly  expressed,  than 


tuL  your  triumphant  vindication  brands  Smith  as  a  slan 
derer  in  aD  time  coming.  I  tlunk  you  may  not  be  displea- 
sed to  know  this,  hecaiwe  what  men  of  keen  feelings  and 
literary  pursuits  must  have  ii'lt  cannot  be  unknown'  to 
you,  ana  you  may  not  Imve  the  same  access  to  know  the 
unpression  made  upon  the  general  class  of  society. 

*  Scott's  meeting  with  tUi  Mr.  Smith  occurred  at  the  table  of  bis 
ttsnd  aad  eoUeasoe,  HMter  Macdooakl  Buchanan.  The  noin- 
19*  '"^V'iS^!^  *^^  Smith,  weia  all,  1ft*  their  hospitable  kuMi- 

35 


poor  man  his  own  friend,  for  the  profits  of  his  good  con- 
duct are  all  his  own.  It  is  astonistiing  how  partial  the 
people  are  to  this  species  of  contract,  and  how  diligently 
they  labour,  acquiring  or  matotaining  all  the  while  those 
liabits  which  renders  them  honourable  and  useful  mem- 
beM  of  society.  1  mention  this  to  you,  because  tho  rich, 
much  to  their  honour,  do  not,  to  geueral,  require  to  be  so 
much  stimulated  to  benevolence,  as  to  be  directed  to 
the  most  useful  way  to  exert  It. 

"■  I  have  sUil  a  vvord  to  say  about  the  poor  of  our  own 
parish  of  Parnassus.  1  have  been  appHsd  to  by  a  very 
worthy  friend,  Mr.  ScoU  of[^p^gj)in  behalf  of  an  anfor^ 


UFB  OF  SIR  WALT^BR  SCOTT. 


QMM  Mr.  OOmmir,  wbo,  It  mmiis,  bai  expended  a  little 
tetane  In  prlndnf,  apoalUe  own  eeootmt,  poemi  whleb, 
ftwn  the  MBple  I  mw,  seem  exactly  to  anawer  the  de* 
■eripUon  of  Dean  Swift's  eountry  hooae^ 

*Tt>o  bad  for  a  bleaatnf,  too  good  for  a  corse, 
I  wish  from  my  son!  thejr  were  better  or  worse.* 

Bat  yoo  are  the  dean  of  our  corporation,  and.  I  am  in* 
Ibrmed,  take  some  interest  in  this  poor  gentleman.  If 
yoo  can  point  out  any  way  in  wluch  lean  serve  him,  I  am 
sore  my  Inclination  is  not  wanting,  but  it  looks  like  a  rery 
hopeless  case.  I  beg  my  kindest  respects  to  Mrs.  Sou> 
they,  and  am  always  nncerely  and  affectionately  yours, 

WaLTBR  SCOTT.^ 

About  this  time  Hogs  took  possession  of  AltHve 
Lake,  and  some  of  his  friends  in  Edinburgh  set  on 
foot  a  subscription  edition  of  his  Queen's  Wake  (at 
a  guinea  each  copy.)  iu  ^e  ,hope  of  thus  raising  a 
sum  adequate  to  the  stocking  of  the  little  farm. 
The  following  letter  alludes  to  this  affair;  apd  also 
to  the  death  of  Frances  Lady  Douglas,  sister  to 
Duke  Henry  of  Buccleuch,  whose  early  kmdness  td 
Scott  has  been  more  than  once  mentioned. 

Ta  the  Right  Honourable  Lord  Montagu,  4t.  4^.  4t, 

**  Abbotsford,  June  8}  1817. 
«  My  dear  Lord,  , 

^*  I  am  hooonred  with  your  letter,  and  will  not  fail  to 
lake  tare  that  the  Shepherd  profiu  byjronr  kind  inten- 
tions, and  those  of  Lady  Montagu.  This  is  a  scheme 
which  I  did  not  devise,  for  I  fear  it  win  end  in  disappoint- 
ment, but  foi  which  I  bate  done,  and  will  do  all  I  possibly 
ean.  There  is  an  old  saying  of  the  seamen's,  *  every  man 
Is  not  bom  to  be  a  boatswain,'  and  I  think  1  have  heard  of 
men  bom  under  a  rtxpenny  planet,  and  doomed  never  to 
be  worth  «  groat.  I  fear  something  of  this  vile  sixpenny 
InHoence  had  gleamed  in  at  the  cottage  window  when 
poor  Hogg  first  came  squeaking  hito  the  world.  All  that 
be  made  dt  his  original  book  he  ventured  on  a  flock  of 
sheep  to  drive  into  the  Highlands  to  a  farm  he' had  taken 
there,  but  of  which  he  could  not  get  possession,  so  that 
all  the  stock  was  nUned  and  sold  to  disadvantage.  Then 
he  tried  another  farm,  which  proved  too  dear,  so  that  he 
fairly  broke  upon  It  Then  put  forth  divers  publications, 
which  had  liiUe  sale— and  brouxht  bhn  accordingly  few 
pence,  though  some  praise.  'Hien  came  this  Queen's 
Wake,  by  which  he  might  and  ought  to  have  made  from 
£100  to  jC2Q(Hroi\therewere,I  think,  three  editions— 
when  lo !  his  bookseller  turned  bankrupt,  and  paid  him 
never  a  penny.  The  Duke  has  now,  vritn  his  wonted  ge- 
nerosity, given  him  a  cosie  bield,  and  the  object  of  the 
Cesent  attack  upon  the  public,  is  to  get  If  possible  as 
uch  cash  together  as  will  stock  it.  But  no  one  has 
k>08e  guineas  now  to  give  to  poor  poets,  snd  I  greatly 
doubt  the  scheme  succeeding,  unless  it  is  more  sironsly 
patronised  than  can  almost  be  expected.  In  bookselling 
matters,  an  author  must  either  be  the  conjuror,  who  com- 
mands the  devil,  or  the  witch  who  serves  him— and  few 
are  they  whose  situaUon  is  sufficiently  independent  to 
enable  tnem  to  assume  the  higher  character— and  this  Is 
injurious  to  the  indigent  author  in  every  respect,  for  not 
only  is  he  obliged  to  turn  his  pen  to  every  various  kind  of 
composition,  and  so  to  injure  himself  with  the  public  by 
writing  hastily,  and  on  subjects  unfitted  for  his  genius  ; 
but  moreover,  those  honest  gentlemen,  the  booksellers, 
th>m  a  natural  a.ssociation,  consider  the  books  as  of  least 
value,  which  they  find  they  can  get  at  least  expense  of 
copv- money,  and  therefore  are  proportionally  careless  in 
pushing  the  sale  of  the  work.  Wnereas  a  good  round 
sum  out  of  their  purse,  like  a  moderate  rise  of  rent  on  a 
fiurm,  raises  the  work  thus  acquired  in  their  own  eye.^ 
and  serves  as  a  spur  to  make  them  clear  away  every 
channel,  by  which  they  can  discharge  their  quires  upon 
the  public.  So  much  for  bookselling,  the  most  ticUish 
and  unsafe,  and  hazardous  of  all  professions,  scarcely 
with  the  excrp!ion  of  horse-jockey  ship. 

"  You  cannot  doubt  the  sincere  interest  I  take  in  Lady 
Montagu's  health.  I  was  very  glad  to  loam  from  the  Duke, 
that  ihr  late  melancholy  event  had  produced  no  permal 
nent  elfpct  on  her  consmtution,  a«  I  know  how  much  her 
heart  rau.st  have  suffered.  *  I  saw  our  regretted  friend  for 
the  last  time  at  the  Theatre,  and  made  many  v hemes  to 
be  at  Bothwell  this  next  July.  But  thun  the  world  glides 
from  us,  and  those  we  most  love  and  honour  are  with- 
drawn from  the  stage  before  us.  1  Icnow  not  why  It  was 
that  among  the  few  for  whom  I  had  so  mucli  respectful 
regard.  I  nevpr  had  nHDociated  the  idea  of  early  depriva- 
tion with  Lady  Douglss.    Her  excellent  sense,  deep  in- 

*  Lady  Mootafv  wma  the  daufhCer  of  the  late  Lonl  Doufhu  by 
*"  7!5  f^^iM^^"^  ^^'^  ^^  ^shams,  daufffator  of  the  st- 
•ood  Dokt  oTMooUose. 


Ibrmatkm,  and  the  wit  wUch  she  wielded  with  so  maeUt 
good  hnmoor,  were  allied  apparently  to  a  healtliy  eooaH- 
tuHoa  which  night  have  peradtted  ns  to  enjov,  and  be  ln> 
Btmetad  by  her  society  ror  many  yearn,  /as  aUter  ^t- 
nmif  and  the  recollection  dweUing  on  all  ^s  deUftic 
which  ahe  aflbrded  to  society,  and  the  good  which  shtf  did 
tai  private  life,  is  what  now  remains  to  us  of  her  wit,  wis- 
dom, and  benevolence.  The  Duke  keeps  his  umal 
heaUh,  with  always  just  so  much  of  the  gout,  however,  as 
would  make  me  wish  that  he  had  more— a  kind  wish  for 
which  I  do  not  observe  that  he  Is  sufflciendr  grstefuL  I 
hope  to  spend  a  few  davs  at  Dramlanrig  Casue,  when  that 
ancient  mansion  ahall  nave  eo  lar  limited  its  courtesy  as 
to  stand  covered  In  the  presence  of  the  wind  and  rain, 
iwhich  1  believe  is  not  yiet  the  case.  I  am  no  friend  to  ce- 
remonv,  and  like  a  house  as  well  when  It  does  not  carry 
its  rpof  en  chapeau  bra*.  I  heartily  wish  your  Lordship 
joy  of  the  new  mansion  at  Dittnn,  and  hope  my  good  stars 
will  permit  me  to  pay  my  respects  there  one  dav.  The 
discovenr  of  the  niches  certainly  bodes  good  luck  to  the 
house  01  Montagu,  and  as  there  are  three  of  them,  I  pre- 


it  is  to  come  threefold.  From  the  care  with  whicb 
they  were  concealed,  I  presume  they  had  been  closed  in 
the  days  of  Cromwell,  or  a  Uttle  belbre.  and  that  the  arttat 
employed  (like  the  General,  who  told  his  Soldiers  to  firiit 
bravely  against  the  Pope,  since  they  were  Venetians  be- 
fore they  were  Christuns)  had  more  professiooal  tbaa 
religious  seal,  snd  did  not  even,  according  to  the  practice 
of  the  time,  think  it  necessary  to  sweep  away  P<^>ery  wtth 
the  besom  of  destruction.*  lam  here  on  a  stolen  visit  of 
two  days,  and  find  my  mansion  gradually  enlanlng. 
Thanks  to  Mr.  Atkinson,  (who  fooad  out  a  pnctieel  ose 
for  our  romantic  theory,)  it  promisee  to  make  a  comfcw 
able  stadon  for  offering  your  Lordship  and  Utdy  Mootagii 
a  pilgrim's  meal,  when  you  next  visit  Melrose  Abbey,  and 
that  without  any  risk  of  your  valet  (who  I  recollect  to  a 
aubetantial  person)  sUckmg  between  the  wall  of  the  par* 
lour  and  the  backs  of  the  chairs  placed  roond  the  table. 
Thia  literaUy  bofel  Sir  Harry  Macdougal's  (at  bntler,  wtie 
looked  like  a  ship  of  the  line  In  the  k>ch  at  Bowhill,  alto- 
gether unlike  bis  master,  who  could  glide  wherever  a 
weasel  might  make  his  way.  Mr.  Atkinson  has  indeed 
been  more  attentive  than  I  can  exnreee,  when  1  coastder 
how  valuable  his  time  nuist  be.t  We  are  attempting  ne 
castellated  conundrums  to  rival  those  Lord  Napier  used 
to  have  executed  In  sugar,  when  he  w^s  Comralsskioer, 
and  no  cottage  neither,  out  an  irregular  somewhat— tike 
an  old  EnxUsh  hall,  hi  which  vour  squire  of  X600a-year 
used  to  drink  his  ale  In 'days  of  yore. 

**  I  am  making  considerable  plantatloas,  (that  Is  cefisl> 
daring,)  bebig  gready  encouraged  by  the  progress  of 
those  I  formerly  laid  out  Read  the  veraciona  QuIUver's 
account  of  the  Windsor  Forest  of  liUiput,  and  you  wiB 
have  some  idea  of  the  solemn  gloom  of  my  DroM  si 
Your  Lorashlp's  tr^  laithlal 


**  This  is  the  8th  of  June,  and  not  an  ash  tree  In  leaf  yeL 
The  country  craellv  backward,  and  whole  fields  destroy 
ed  by  the  grub.    I  dread  this  next  season."    - 


CHAPTER  XXXIX. 

KXCUBSION  TO  THX  LENMOX— OU^OOW— AKD  DUVM 
LAKBIG— PUBCHAaS  OF  TOPTFIBLO— SSTABLISBMCirr 
OF  THB  FKBOC80M  FAMILY  AT  HI7IfTL7  BDBH — LIKKS 
WBITTKN  IK  ItXNBSa— VISITS  OF  WASHI2CGT0K  IIV- 
nCO — LADY  BYBOK— AKD  SIB  DAVID  WILKR — PBOO- 
BESS  OF  THS  BUILDING  AT  ABBOTSFOBD^ LBTTXaS  TO 
MOBBITT— TBBBY,  Ac— CONCLUSION  OP  BOS  BOY — 
1817. 

DuaiNO  the  summer  term  of  1^17,  Scott  seems 
to  have  laboured  chiefly  on  his  History  of  1815,  for 
the  Register,  which  was  publisiied  in  August ;  but  ha 
also  found  time  to  draw  up  the  Introduction  for  a 
richly  embellished  quarto,  entitled  "Border  Antiqw- 
ties,"  which  come  out  a  month  later.  This  valu- 
able essay,  containinclarfze  additions  to  the  informa- 
tion previously  embouied  in  the  Minstrelsy,  has  been 
included  in  the  late  collection  of  his  MisoeHaneoua 
Prose,  and  has  thus  obtained  a  circulation  not  to  be 
expected  for  it  in  the  original  costly  form. 

«  Loid  Montscu's  bouse  at  Dittoo  PsriCt  near  Windsor,  bad  la- 
seotly  been  dntroved  br  fiiv— and  the  nitos  revvalod  some  ntehes 
with  antiqsc  candloiticki,  Ac.  beloo«ina[%>  a  donwstie  ehspri 
tbat  hsd  beA  coaverted  to  other  purposes  nom  the  tohe,  I  believs, 
of  Henry  VIU.  i~  >~—  -^ 

t  Mr.  Atkinson,  of  8L  John's  Wood,  wss  the  aichilact  of  Loed 
Montsfu's  new  maotion  at  DitUMi.  as  well  ss  tlw  srtist  ^Jfinft^ 
Ijr  snplojediaanaagiiic  Scott's  lotsHnr  at  Abbotslbrd. 
Digitized  by  VjOOQIC 


UFK  OP  SIR  WALTER  SOOTf. 


S7S 


l^pcm  thA  ndAK  6f  the  Court  in  Jaly,  he  made  an 
•senraion  to  iheLennoz,  chiefly  that  he  might  visit 
a  cave  at  the  head  of  Loch  Lomond,  said  to  have 
been  a  favourite  retreat  of  his  hero,  Rob  Roy.  He 
was  accompanied  to  the  seal  of  his  friend,  Mr.  Mac- 
ilonald  Buchanan,  by  Captain  Adam  Ferguson— 
the  long  lAnton  of  the  days  of  his  apprenticeship; 
and  thence  to  Glaseow,  where,  under  the  auspices 
of  a  kind  and  intelligent  acquaintance,  Mr.  John 
Smith,  bookseller,  he  refreshed  his  recollection  of 
the  noble  cathedral,  and  other  localities  of  the  birth- 
place of  Bailie  Jarvie.  Mr.  Smith  took  care  also  to 
show  the  tourists  the  most  remarkable  novelties  in 
tbe^reat  manufacturing  establishments  of  his  flou- 
rishing city  ;  and  he  remembers  particularly  the  de- 
fight  which  Scott  expressed  on  seeing  the  process 
at  Mineeing  mnslin — that  is,  of  divesting  the  finish- 
ed web  of  all  superficial  knots  and  irregularities,  by 
paastng  it,  with  the  rapiditv  of  lightning,  over  a  rol- 
mig  bar  of  rod-hot  iron.  The  man  that  imagined 
thia,"  said  Seott,  "  was  tht  Shakspeare  of  the  Wah- 

*Ttaincs  out  of  hope  are  compass'd  oft  with  venturing.' " 

Hie  following  note  indicates  the  next  stagea  of  hia 
profr««8:— 

2V  JUt  (Trace  lh$  Duke  qf  BueeUueh  Drumlanrig 
Cattle, 

**  fltnquhtf,  2  o'clock,  July  30, 1817. 
"firoqi  Boas,  where  the  clouds  on  Ben-Lomondare  sleep- 


ck,  where  Clyde  to  the  Ocean  Is  sweeplnff— 
firam  Largs,  where  the  BcoCeb  gave  the  Northmen  a  dril- 

ftoMArdroassa,  whose  harbour  cost  many  a  ahflUna— 
Ttam  Old  Cumnock,  where  beds  are  as  hard  as  a,pIaok, 

Frooi  a  chop  and  green  pease^and  achlckaa  In  8Bnqnha& 
His  eve,  ptease  the  nttes,  at  Drumlanrig  we  anchor. 

W.  S." 

Tlie  Poet  and  Captain  Fergoaon  remamed  a  week 
at  Drumlanrig,  and  thence  repaired  together  to  Ah- 
botsford.  By  this  time,  the  foundations  of  that  part 
cf  the  existing  house^  which  extend  fi^m  the  ball 
westwards  to  the  orimnal  court-yard,  had  been  laid ; 
and  Scott  now  found  a  new  soui^ce  of  constant  oc- 
cnpatioQ  in  watching  the  prooeedmgs  of  hia  maaona. 
Be  had,  moreover,  no  lack  of  employment  further 
a-lield,~'lbr  he  was  now  negotiating  with  another 
neighbouring  landowner  for  the  purchase  of  an  ad- 
filMHi,  of  more  consequence  than  any  he  had  hither- 
to madeu  to  his  estate.  In  the  course  of  the  autumn 
he  concitnied  this  matter,  and  became,  for  the  price 
of  XIO,000,  proprietor  of  the  lands  of  Tq/tfieldt*  on 
which  there  had  recendy  been  erected  a  substantial 
manaion-house,  fitted,  in  all  points,  for  the  accom- 
modation of  a  genteel  family.  This  circumstance 
o0ered  a  temptation  which  much  quickened  Soott*s 
veal  for  completing  his  arrangement.  The  vener- 
able Profesaor  Ferguson  had  died  a  year  before; 
Captain  Adam  Ferguson  was  at  home  on  half-pay ; 
and  Scott  now  aaw  the  means  of  securing  for  nim- 
aelf,  henceforth,  the  immediate  neighbourhood  of 
the  companion  of  his  youth,  and  his  amiable  sbters. 
FergusoDi  who  had  written,  from  the  lines  of  Torres 
Yediras,  his  hopes  of  finding,  when  the  war  should 
be  over,  some  sheltering  cottage  upon  the  Tweed, 
within  a  walk  of  Abbotsford,  was  delighted  to  see 
his  dreams  realized ;  and  the  family  took  op  their 
reaidence  next  spring  at  the  new  house  of  Toflfield, 
on  which  Scott  then  bestowed,  at  the  ladies'  request, 
the  name  of  Huntly  Burn  :— this  more  hsrmonious 
designation  being  taken  from  the  mountain  brook 
which  passes  through  its  grounds  and  garden,— the 
same  famous  in  tradition  as  the  scene  of  Thomas 
the  Rhymer'a  interviews  with  the  Queen  of  Fairy. 
The  upper  pirt  of  the  Rkymer^e  OUn^  through 
which  this  brook  finds  its  way  from  the  Cauldshiels 


pit  will  take  me 
•Uraetioos  laat. 


thfai  purdiiM,  Scott  writes  to  Joha  Ballan- 
liT^  have  elowd  with  Usher  lor  his  beautiful 


whidimakes  me  agnat  Wird. 

me  ap  for  eoininf .   Indeed,  these  Doveb,  while  um 

'    m  imneihioffjatejt^  I  am^Terir  tlad  of  yotii 

"   "'    -  •  —     *  MM /t-Tom 


I  am  aftald  the  peo- 
*  £eir 


8liU  I  ay*  Prudence  I  Pmdenee  I 


Loch  to  TY>ftfield,  had  been  included  in  a  prevKnia 
purchase.  He  was  now  master  of  all  these  haunts 
of  "True  Thomas,"  and  of  the  whole  ground  of 
the  battlftofMelroae from  SkirmiekrPieldxo  Tamr- 
again,  Hia  enjoyment  of  the  new  territoriea  was, 
however,  interrupted  by  various  returns  of  his  cramp, 
and  the  depression  of  spirit  which  always  attended, 
in  his  case,  the  use  of  opium,— the  only  medicine 
that  seemed  to  have  power  over  the  disease. 

It  was  while  struggling  with  such  languor,  on  one 
lovely  evening  of  this  autumn,  that  he  composed 
the  following  beautiful  verses.  They  mark  the  ver> 
spot  of  their  birth,— namely,  the  then  naked  height 
overhanging  the  northern  side  of  the  Cauldshiels 
Loch,  from  which  Melrose  Abbey  to  thc^  eastward, 
and  the  hills  of  Ettrick  and  Yarrow  to  |he  west,  are 
now  viaible  over  a  wide  range  of  rich  wootiland, 
all  the  work  of  the  poet's  hand  ;— 

"  The  sun  upon  the  Weirdlaw  Hill, 

In  Ettrfck's  vale.  Is  slnktnir  sweet ; 
The  wesdaod  wind  is  hush  and  still— 

The  lake  lies  sleeping  at  my  feet    , 
Yet  not  the  landscape  to  mine  eye 

Bears  those  bright  hues  that  once  it  bore; 
Tbongh  evenins ,  with  her  richest  dye. 

Flames  o'er  the  hills  of  Ettrlck's  shore. 

**  With  listless  look  along  the  plahi 

I  see  Tweed's  silver  current  glide. 
And  coldly  mark  the  holy  fane 

Of  Melrose  rise  in  ruin'd  pride. 
The  quiet  lake,  the  balmy  air, 

The  hill,  the  stream,  the  tower,  the  tree^— 
Are  they  still  such  as  once  they  were, 

Or  is  the  dreary  change  in  mel 

'*  Alas,  the  warp*d  and  broken  board. 

How  can  it  bear  the  p«inter*s  dye  1 
The  harp  of  strain'd  and  tuneless  chon^ 

How  to  the  minatrera  skill  reply  i 
To  aching  eyes  each  landscape  lowers. 

To  feverish  pulse  each  gale  blows  cnffl ; 
AndAraby'sor  Eden's  bowers 

Were  barren  as  this  moorland  hflL" 

He  again  allodes  to  hia  illness  in  a  letter  to  Mr. 
Morritt  :— 

7\>J.B,3.M9rHtt,Beq.M.P,noke^. 

"Abbotsford,  Aug.  11, 1817. 
"My  dear  Morritt, 

^  I  am  arrived  from  a  little  tour  In  the  west  of  fleol- 
Isnd,  and  had  hoped,  to  compliance  with  your  kind  wish, 
to  have  Indulgea  myself  with  a  skip  oter  the  Border  as 
ter  as  Rokeby,  about  the  end  of  this  month.  But  my  fate 
denies  me  this  pleasure ;  for,  In  conaequence  of  one  or 
two  bhmders,  during  my  absence,  in  ezccutlni  my  new 
premises,  I  perceive  the  qfcesslty  of  remaiomg  at  the 
helm  while  they  are  going  On.  Our  masons,  though  ex- 
cellent workmen,  are  too  little  accustomed  to  the  gim* 
cracks  of  their  art,  to  be  Urusted  with  the  execution  of  a 
^avura  plan,  withom  constant  inspection.  Besides  the 
said  labourera  lay  me  under  the  neceasItT  of  labouring  a 
little  myaelf ;  and  I  find  I  can  no  longer  with  impunity  un- 
dertake to  made  one  week's  hard  work  supply  the  omis- 
sions of  a  fortnighi'a  idleness.  Like  you,  1  nave  abridged 
my  crearare-comforts— as  Old  Mortality  would  caJd  them 
—renouncing  beer  and  ale  on  all  ordinary  occasions ;  also 
pastry,  fruit,  Ac.  and  all  that  teuda  to  acidity.  These  are 
awkward  warnings ;  but  eat  eet  vixieee.  To  have  lived 
respected  and  regarded  by  some  of  the  best  men  In  our 
age,  is  enough  for  an  Individual  like  me :  the  rest  must  be 
as  God  wiUa,  and  when  he  wills. 

"•  The  poor  laws  Into  which  you  have  ventured  ibr  the 
lore  of  tne  country,  form  a  aad  quagmire.  They  are  like 
John  Bunvan'a  Slough  of  Despond,  Into  which,  as  he  ob- 
serves, millions  of  cart  loads  of  good  resfdutions  have 
been  thrown,  without  perceptibly  mending  the  way.  From 
what  you  say,  and  from  what  I  have  heard  from  othera, 
there  is  a  very  namral  deaire  to  trust  to  one  or  two  empi- 
rical remedies,  such  as  general  systems  of  education,  and 
80  forth.  But  a  man  with  a  broken  constitution  might  as 
well  put  faith  in  Spilsbury  or  Godbold.  It  is  not  the 
knowledge,  but  the  use  which  la  made  of  It,  that  la  pro- 
ducUve  of  real  benefit  TO  say  thatihe  Scottish  peasam 
is  less  likely  than  the  Englishman  tolbcomean  incumb- 
rance on  his  pariah,  la  saying,  in  other  words,  that  this 
country  is  less  populous,— that  there  are  fewer  villagea. 
and  towns,— that  the  agricultural  classes,  lh>m  the  laiMlea 
proprietor  down  to  the  cottager,  are  individually  more  knit 
and  cemented  together ;— above  all,  thaCthe  Scotch  pea- 
sant  has  harder  habita  of  life,  and  can  endure  from  hia 


hifaney aworae (kr^  and  . 


UFK  OP  am  WALTER  BOOTT. 


tktn  jrour  puith  almi^ 
lie  eril  In  EnglaAd  to  which 
we  m&^maieni—^e  ira*ber,  to-wit,«f  tippling  houses, 
«rhert  the  labo«t«r,  as  a  matter  of  eofnrse,  spends  the 
even»lus  of  his  earnfaofs.  In  Scotland  there  are  few;  and 
the  Justices  are  coramendably  toezorable  in  rejecting  all 
application  for  licenses  where  there  appears  no  public  ne> 
oessiu  for  grantiog  them.  A  man,  therefore,  cannot  easily 
spend  macb  monej  in  liquor,  since  he  must  walk  three 


or  four  miles  to  the  place  of  suction  and  back  again,  which 
infers  a  sort  of  malice  prepense  of  which  few  are  capa- 
ble ;  and  the  habitual  onportunitj  of  indulgence  not  being 


at  hand,  the  habits  of  intemperance,  and  of  waste  con- 
nected with  it.  are  not  acquired.  If  financiers  wo«ddad> 
Mtt  a  feneral  limitation  of  the  ale-houses  over  England  to 
«M  feitfth  of  the  number,  I  am  covinced  you  wonM  find 
the  money  spent  in  that  manner  Would  remain  with  the 
peasant,  as  a  source  of  self-support  end  independence. 
All  this  applies  chiefly  to  the  country ;  in  towns,  and  in 
the  manulacturing  districts,  the  evil  could  hardly  be  dimi- 
nished by  such  regidations.  There  would,  perhaos,  be 
no  means  so  efl'ectnal  as  tliat<Which  i^  never  be  listen- 
ed to)  of  taxing  the  manufacturers  according  to  (be  num- 
ber of  hands  which  they  employ  on  8n«Yerage,  and  tp- 
plying  the  produce  in  msintaii^ng  the  raanaftctoiuur  poor. 
If  it  should  be  alleged  that  this  would  ingore  the  manufac- 
turers, i  wotdd  boldly  reply,— 'And  why  not  iAiure,  or 
rather  limit,  specuiatioiiB,  the  eloessite  stretob  of  Which 
has  been  proodctite  of  so  much  damage  to  the  nrinciples 
of  the  country,  and  to  the  population,  whom  it  nas,  in  so 
many  respects,  degraded  and  demoralized  1'  For  a  great 
many  years,  manufactures,  taken  in  a  general  'point  of 
view,  have  not  partaken  of  the  chantct^r  of  a  regular  pro- 
fession, in  which  aQ  who  engft^ed  with  honest  industry 
and  a  sufllcient  capital  might  reasonably  expect  fetoms 
proportlond^to  their  advanced  and  labour— bnt  have,  on 
the  contrary,  rather  resembled  a  Idttery,  in  whfch  the 
great  majority  of  the  adventurers  are  sure  to  "be  losers, 
although  some  may  draw  considenUe  adtvantsge.  Men 
continued  for  a  groat  many  years  lo  exert  themselves, 
and  to  pay  •firavamt  wag«s,  not  In  hopes  that  there 
could  be  a  reasonable  •proq)ect  of  an  orderly  and  regular 
demand  for  the  goods  they  wrought  nprbtn  In  oniBr  that 
thegr  might  be  the  first  to  take  advantage  of  sotfie  casual 
opening  which  might  consume  thair  cargot  let  others  shift 
as  they  could.  Hence  eJKravagam  wages  on  some  occa- 
sions ;  for  these  adventurers  who  thus  played  at  hit  or 
udss,  ift>dd  *n  no  acmples  while  (he  chance  of  Micoess 
temained  open.  Hence,  also,  the  stoppage  of  woMc,  and 
the  dischane  of  the  workmen,  when  the  nieenlators  fail- 
ed of  thdr  object  All  (hlft  while  the  'cobtltry  ^ras  the 
su(|^r«r  ;'^for  whoever  gained,  the  result,  being  upon  the 
whole  a  loss,  fell  on  the  nation,  together  with  the  task  of 
mslatoteiQg  a  poor,  rendered  effontaale  and  vtekms  by 
over-wsffls  and  over-living,  and  necessarily  cast  loose 
i^pon  sodetf .  I  cannot  but  think  thai  the  necessity  of 
nuking  some  fund  beforehand,  for  the  provision  of  those 
wbom  they  dabanch,  and  render  only  fit  for  the  alms' 
bullae,  in  presecottoa  of  their  own  adventures;  ihongh  it 
operated-  as  a  eheek  on  the  increase  of  manufMUires, 
W9ald  be  a  nMasve  just  in  itself  and  beneficial  to  the 
commonky.  Bat  it  would  never  be  listened  i)o:~Cbe 
el's  bsam,  and  the  sons  of  Zemiah,  would  be  too 


aaoy  for  tho  proposers. 

**'niis  is  the  eleventh  of  August ;  Walter,  happier  than 
he  wiU  ever  be  again,  perh^a,  b  prepazing  for  the  moors. 
He  IsM  a  better  dog  man  Trout,  and  rather  less  active. 
Mra.  Seott  and  all  our  fomlly  send  kind  love.   Yonrs  ever, 

W.  8." 

Two  or  three  days  after  this  letter  was  written. 
Soott  first  saw  Washington  Irrinf^,  who  has  recorded 
bis  vtsit  in  a  delightful  Essay,  which,  however,  hay- 
ing been  penned  nearly  twenty  years  afterwarus  be- 
trays a  good  mhny  slips  of  memory  ns  to  names  and 
dates.  Mr.  Irving  says  he  arrived  at  Abbotsford  on 
•  the  27th  of  August,  1816 ;  but  he  describes  the  walls 
01  the  new  bouse  as  already  overtopomg  the  old  cot- 
tage ;  and  this  is  far  from  being  tne  only  circam- 
stance  he  mentions  which  proves  that  he  should 
haye  written  1817.*  The  picture  which  my  amiable 
friend  has  drawn  of  his  reception,  shows  to  all  who 
remember  the  Scott  and  the  Abbotsford  of  those 
days,  how  consistent  accuracy  as  to  easeniials  may 
be  with  forgetfulness  of  trifles. 

*  I  have  befole  me  two  l^tten  of  Mr.  irvimr'A  to  Soott.  both 
wi^tten  in  Heptembor,  IS17.  fitnn  fkUiibuitrh,  and  i^errinf  to  hb 
vitA  (which  ccrtaioly  was  hai  only  ooe  at  Abbotajbrd)  as  tmiaedi- 
atclr  preeedioc-  There  it  also  in  my  hhtuk  a  letter  from  Soott  to 
bdi  fifcnd  John  RichardMin,  of  Fludyer  Street,  dated  2ad  Septem 
ber,  181T,  in  whicfa  he  taja,  "  When  roo  tee  Tom  Campbell,  tell 
him,  with  my  bett  kive,  that  I  haw  to  thank  him  ibr  makinf  me 
knows  to  Mr.  Washington  Inrin?.  who  in  one  of  the  bcSt  and 
•plaaanntut  aeqaaimaneea  I  have  mads  thw  losny  a  daf." 


^Soott  had  received  "  tin  Hiptwy  «r  New  Tsik-br 

^nickerbockiBr,'^  shortly  attar  its  appaitraiiaeki  %»lf^ 
from  an  accomplished  American  traveUer,  mx*  ^^f^ 
▼oort ;  and  the  admirable  huro«ur  of  ihia  enrlar  woHl 
had  led  him  to  anticipate  the  brilliaiit  career  wkida 
its  author  has  since  run.  Mr.  Thomas  Ciitimhiii 
being  no  stranger  to  Scott*s  high  ^etimotioo  of  Ir- 
vinj^sgenius,  gave  him  a  letter  of  mtiodtictioii,  virfaielia 
halting  his  chaise  on  the  high-road  abova  AbboCalbidL 
he  modestly  sent  down  to  the  bonsc^  "^th  a  ottrdU 
on  which  he  had  writteik  that  he  was  on  hia  war  €m 
the  ruins  of  Meh'ose,  and  wished  to  know  wbetber 
it  would  be  agreeable  to  Mr.  Soott  to  receive  a  wimit 
from  him  in  the  course  of  the  monaiiuE."  dooca*» 
family  well  remember  the  delight  with  whicfa  ttm 
received  this  announcement— he  was  nt  bnmkjmmt, 
and  salUed  forth  instantly,  dogs  and  ohiMiMi  aftoer 
him  as  usual,  to  greet  the  gueat,  and  oondoct  hiaa  in 
person  from  the  nighway  to  the  door. 

**  the  noMe  of  my  chaise,'*  says  Irttag.  *had  dtonubetl 
the  quiet  of  Khe  estabHahment    Oat  noiM  the  wardar  ♦f 


the  castle,  a  black  greyhoimd.  and  leaping  mi  one  of  1 
blocks  of  stone,  .began  a  (hxioos  barl^ig.  This  alnvBa 
brooght  otit  the  whole  garrison  of  ^SiuTopen-oioitfliact 
and  vodforoas.  In  a  flitle  while,  the  lord  of  the  aaicle 
himself  made  his  u>pearance.  I  knew  him  at  aooav  bjr 
the  likenesses  tha^  had  been  pobUshed  of  him.  He  came 
limplagantiie  gravel  walk.  Udfaiff  htmsen'  by  a  stetft  <WaIk- 
ing-stan,  out  moving  rapidly  and  with  vigour.  By  his  aida 
jogged  along  a  large  iron-grey  sta^iotmd,  of  most  grave 
deiheanour,  ivho  took  no  part  in  the  olamoni  of  die  aaa*a» 
rsfohle,  but  seemed  to  consider  himself  bOondt  ibr  Che 
duEDJty  of  the  house,  to  five  ma  a<coartooaB  raeeplioB. 

'^Before  B^oott  reaoneathe  gate,  he  called  oat  in  a  naai^ 
tohe,  welcoming  me  to  Abbotsiord,  and  aiAcing  newa  or 
Campbell  Arrived  at  the  door  of  the  ohatse^  he  grasped 
me  Warmly  by  the  hand:  'Come,  dbrive  down, drive  down 
to  the  hoase,'  said  he ; '  ye're  just  in  time  for  breakfaw. 
and  ailerwards  ye  shall  soe  all  ihe  wondera  of  the  Abbav,*^ 
**!  would  have  excased  myself  on  the  plea  of  haiiTll 
already  made  my  breakfast.  *  Hut,  man,'  cried  he,  *  a  ride 
in  the  momimc  in  the  keen  air  of  the  Scotch  hills  ia  war- 
rant enough  for  a  second  breakAist' 
.  "{  was  aecordhigly  whirled  to  the  portal  of  the  cosaget 
and  in  a  few  moments  found.royself  seated  tt  the  brsefc 
fhA-table.  There  wras  no  one  presem  but  the  fjunUj, 
Which  cOhslMed  of  Mrs.  Scott ;  her  eldest  daughter,  So- 
phia, then  a  fine  girt  about  seventeen ;  Miss  Ann  Swott, 
two  or  Aree  years  yomigeT ;  Walter,  a  wcllgrown  sirfp- 
hng;  atod  Charlea,  a  Uvdy  hoy,  eleven  or  twelve  yearn 
of  age. 

I  soon  fett  myself  fpilte  at  home,  aad  my  heart  in  a  0t9w, 
with  the  cordial  welcome  I  experienced.  1  had  (hoogag  to 
make  a  mere  morning  visit,  but  found  I  waa  not  to  ba  let 
oif  so  lightly.  ^Tou  must  not  think  our  neighbourbaod 
is  to  be  read  ih  a  morning  like  a  newspap^^r,'  said  Scott ; 
'  It  takes  several  days  of  study  for  an  observant  travdUer, 
that  has  a  relish  for  auld-wond  tmmpery.  After  breakfaat 
vou  ifhaU  make  your  visit  to  Meltiofie  Abbey ;  I  shaXI  not 
be  abte  to  accompany  you,  as  I  have  some  twnsdtold 
afiUra  to  attend  to ;  but  I  wm  put  von  in  charge  of  my  aon 
CIterles.  Who  is  very  leanied  in  all  thinis  touching  the  oid 
ruin  ana  the  neighbourhood  it  stands  in ;  and  he  aad  mj 
friend  Jennie  Bower,  will  tell  you  the  whole  truth  aboat  n^ 
with  a  great  deal  more  that  you  are  not  eaQed  upon  .o  be- 
lieve, unless  you  be  a  true  and  nothing>doubting  ami- 
quftry.  When  you  come  beck,  TU  lake  you  out  on  a  ram- 
ble abont  thp  neighbourhood.  To-mortow  we  will  take 
a  loolk  at  the  Yarrow,  and  the  next  day  we  will  drive  ovei 
to  Dryburgh  Abbey,  which  Is  a  fine  Old  ruin,  well  worth 
your  seeing.'— In  a  word,  before  Scott  had  get  through 
with  his  plan,  I  found  myself  committed  for  a  visit  of  sa- 
veral  days,  and  it  seemed  as  if  a  litde  realm  of  romenea 
was  suddenly  open  before  mc." 

After  beakfast,  while  Scott,  no  doubt,  wrote  a 
chapter  of  Rob  Roy,  Mr.  Irving,  under  yoting 
Charles'sguidancc,  saw  Melrose  Abbey,  and  Johitny 
Bower  the  elder,  whose  son  long  since  inherited  his 
of&ce  as  showman  of  the  ruins,  and  all  his  enthu- 
siasm about  them  and  their  poet.  The  senior  on 
this  occasion  '*  was  loud  in  his  praises  of  the  anabi- 
lity  of  Scott.  '  He'll  come  here  sometimes,'  said  he, 
'  with  great  folks  in  his  company,  and  the  first  1*11 
know  of  it  is  hearing  his  voice  caiung  out  Johnny! 
—Johnny  Bower !— and  when  I  go  out  T  m  sure  to  be 
greeted  with  a  ioke  or  a  pleasant  wdrd.  He'll  stand 
and  crack  an*  faugh  wi*  me  just  like  an  sold  wife» 
— and  to  think  that  iff  a  man  tk^tji^jnick  on  oia-^ 
/u'  knowledge  o*  history  .6y ' 


LIFE  OP  Sm  WALTER  SCOTT. 


On  his  letom  ftom  the  Abbey,  IiririK  found  Scott 
nmif  Ibr  it  nmbla  I  eaonot  refuse  myself  the 
piessure  of  extracting  some  ptrte  of  his  deeoription 
of  tt.  ^ 

"As  we  saffled  forth,  every  dog  in  the  eaUblishment 
fumed  oat  to  attend  us.  There  was  the  old  ^itaghound, 
Kaida,  that  I  have  already  mentioned,  a  noble  animal,  and 


Hamlet,  the  black  greyhound,  a  wild  thoughtlesa  youni 


"pi: 


j«er,Dot  yet  arrived  at  the  ye^ira  of  discreilon ;  and  _„„.  „„  ^„,  .,  «„,  »„«,,.„««»  uuui,  «iu  ««™,  «ia 

::^'S?"^^^r"f;:'^l^i^  ;  «oHtary  about  it  'When  I  hav.  b^a.for   omeUmytn  the 


the  QMffic  web  of  poetry  and  romance  thrown  over  the 
whole,  that  h  had  a  greater  charm  for  me  than  the  richeH 
scenery  I  had  beheld  in  England.  I  couid  not  help  gi^img 
QUe ranee  to  my  thouxhta.  dcou  hummed  for  a  moment 
to  him.<teif,  and  looked  grave ;  he  had  no  idea  of  having 
his  muae  complimented  at  the  exponao  of  bij«  native  luU«. 
'  It  may  be  pertinacity,'  aaid  he  at  length ;  '  but  lo  my  aye 
these  gray  tiilla,  and  all  Ihidwild  border  country,  hava 
beauties  peculiar  to  themselves.  I  jii(.e  the  very  nakcfd- 
ness  of  the  land ;  it  has  somctiiing  bold,  and  stem,  and 


ears,  and  a  mild  eye,  the  parlour  favourite.  When  in  front 
of  the  house,  we  were  joined  by  a  superannuated  grey- 
hooDd,  wiu>  came  from  toe  kitchen  wagging  his  taii ;  and 
was  cheered  by  Scoit  as  an  old  friend  and  comrade.  In 
o«r  walks,  he  would  frequently  pause  in  conversation,  to 
Bodee  his  dc^s,  and  speak  to  them  as  if  rational  coropa- 
nkms ;  and,  indeed,  there  appears  to  be  a  vant  deal  of  ra- 


rich  scenery  about  Edinburgh,  which  is  like  ornamented 
garden  land,  I  begin  to  wish  myself  back  again  among  my 
own  honest  gray  hills ;  and  if  I  did  not  hpc  the  bealher, 
at  least  once  ay  ear,  /  <Ainir  I  should  die ."  Tito  last  words 
were  said  with  an  honest  warmth,  accompanied  by  a 
thump  on  the  ground  with  hi<i  hXjJC^  by  way  of  emphasis. . 
M^.is;*  i»  ;k«.^  <-.'.Kf.,i    .:•  A   \  "     j-   •  "^  v    ~  i  that  snowed  his  heart  was  in  his  speech.    He  vindicated 

JpnahtT  \n  these  faithful  lUendants  on  man,  denvod  from  1  the  Tweed,  too,  as  a  beauUful  sixciua  in  itself ;  and  ob- 
^Pir  close   nUmacy  with  hUn.    Maida  deported  lumsolf  |  serNed,  that  he  did  not  dislike  it  for  being  bare  at  trees, 


iloax  a  mtle  distance  ahead  of  us,  the  young  dogs,  would 
gambol  about  him,  leap  on  his  neck,  worry  at  his  ears, 
and  endeavour  to  tease  him  into  a  gambol.    The  old  6og 


and  line. 
"I  took  occasion  to  plead,  in  like  manner,' the  aasocia- 

_^  . , «  «„  r.,  «  i^„„  „_   -^.w  r      -.     u  ui        1     -    Uons  of  early  life  for  my  disappointment  m  respect  to  the 

would  keep  on  for  a  long  time  with  imperturbable  solem-    surrounding  scenery.    I  had  been  so  accustomed  to  see 
tfly,  now  and  then  seeming  to  rebuke  the  wantonness  of   hUls  crowned  wUh  Ibresia,  and  streams  breaking  their 


his  young  companions.  AlTength  he  would  make  a  sudden 
(urn,  sei^e  one  of  them,  and  tumble  him  in  the  dust,  then 
tiviog  a  Jrlance  at  us,  as  much  as  to  say,  *  You  see,  gen- 
demea,  I  can't  help  giving  way  to  this  nonsense,'  would 
resome  his  gravity,  and  jog  on  as  before.  Scott  amused 
Umsclf  with  these  peculiarities.  '  I  make  no  doubt,'  said 
lie,  *vrt&en  Maida  is  alone  with  these  young  dogs,  he  throws 
pavitj  a^de, and  playsthe  boy  as  much  as  any  of  them ; 
Bof  he  is  ashamed  to  do  so  in  our  company,  and  seems  to 
■y— Ha'  done  with  your  nonsense,  youngsters :  what  will 
(he  laird  and  that  other  gentleman  think  of  me  if  I  give 
war  to  auch  foolery  V  " 

''Scott  amused  himself  with  the  pcculiarlUes  of  ano- 
ther of  his  dogs,  a  little  shamefaced  terrier,  with  largo 
ghsay  eyes,  one  of  the  most  sensitive  little  bodies  to  in- 
fDlt  and  indignitv  in  the  world.  '  If  over  he  whipped  him,' 
lie  said,  Uhe  litue  feDow  would  sneak  off  and  hide  himself 
from  the  light  of  day  in  a  lumber  garret,  from  whence 
there  vras  no  drawing  him  fo  «h  but  by  the  sound  of  the 
cbopping-knife,  as  if  chopping  up  his  victuals,  when  he 
WDold  steal  forth  with  hunitliatcd  and  downcast  look,  but 
would  skulk  away  again  if  any  one  regarded  him.' 

**  While  we  were  discussing  the  humours  and  peculiar- 
lies  of  our  canine  couipanions,  some  object  provoked 
their  spleen,  and  j)roduccd  a  sharp  and  petulant  barking 
from  the  smaller  fry';  but  it  was  some  time  before  Maida 


way  through  a  wiklernesa  of  trees,  that  all  my  ideas  of 
romantic  landscape  were  apt  to  be  well  wooded.  *Ay, 
and  that's  the  great  charm  of  your  country,'  cried  Scoit. 
*  You  love  the  forest  as  I  do  the  heather ;  but  I  would  not 
have  you  tlii*"  '  -*-  -'  f-  '  '^  '  v  of  a  jfrn  ,\t  wi.fnllnnd 
prospect.    1  •■.  .:  (ikM  nii.n  iNjinTtibt* 

m  the  midst  ^M  ■hI'mu  your  j^j-lUj^?  i>mU1  ...j  i-iiji.il  \\\r**i^^ 
with  the  xdtii  caT  iiumlrcda  at  juLlf^  i.1  i.ii-m.,.l|4-ii  rnro^t 
around  me.  I  oncii  Kav«  ai  Lc^l ti  m\  \\M}\^-n-f  niir  k  i.ii  Uui- 
ber,just  lao-d:^]  Irnm  Amcika.  it  JiiU'^t  \\*.v\!  \rvti\^ak 
enormous  tT' <  whuii  it  «LooU  Eii  LMiVUlVf  i^ulI^  iil  U«  TmII 
height,  and  wk  1 1  i^Jl  iu  bfancli«4,  t  guK^d  at  \i  niiJi  «iliiii<^ 
ration  ;  it  se<  i  ^'4  [ik^^  one  oT  llit'  iixa^Ulc  ubt^UnJci  wht^h 
are  now  and !  l.-  rj  broufUt  friui  ^yt^  u>  nhtiaiii^iliti  plgniir 
monuments  ■  •  i  turope^ :  ^uU,  Ui  fi«tit,  thnHi^  vhmI  atHirtA^^ 
trees,  that  h;j  .nh^jllcri'd  tJH."  IiiUintiM  Xiviatr  \\in  JEitrUhlctii 
of  the  white  jrtuu,  art:  l^e  uiotHuuuntp  mid  uutU[nlti<'i  of 
your  country.* 

"  The  conversation  here  tiu'ned  upon  CampbeU's  poem 
of  Qertrude  o(  Wyoming,  as  illustrative  of  the  poetic 
materials  furnished  by  American  scenery.  Scott  cited 
several  paasages  of  it  with  great  delight.  '  What  a  pity  U 
I  is,'  said  he,  '  that  Campbell  does  not  write  more,  and  oA 
tcner,  and  sive  full  sweep  to  his  genius !  He  has  wings 
that  would  be.\r  him  to  the  skies ;  and  he  does,  now  and 
ds  them  up  again,  and 
ne  was  afraid  to  launch  away. 


_   ,     ,         ,  .  - — I  then,  spread  them  grandly,  but  folds  them  up  again,  and 

was  sufficienly  roused  to  ramn  forward  two  or  three    resumes  his  percl^  as  If  \ie  was  afraid  to  launch  away. 
^f^***;.^li.^!"  J^1A*1?!^5  y}^^^.?^^?:^^^^^^.^.  ,  what  a  grand  idea  is  that,'  said  he, '  about  propheUc  bodr 


It  was  but  a  transient  outbreak,  and  he  returned 
isstantly,  wagging  his  tail,  and  looking  up  dubiously  in  his 
master's  lace,  uncertain  whether  he  would  receive  cen- 
sure or  applause.  *Ay,  ay,  old  boy  I'  cried  Scott, 'you 
ha^e  done  wonders;  you  have  shaken  the  Eildon  bills 
with  your  roarins  :  you  may  now  lay  by  your  artillery  for 
fte  rest  of  the  day.  Mai(£i,'  continued  he,  *is  like  the 
flreal  gun  at  Constantinople  ;  it  takes  so  long  to  get  it  rea- 
dy, thai  the  smallea  gims  can  fire  off  a  dozen  times  first : 
Mt  wbon  it  does  go  off,  it  plays  the  very  devil  I' 
"  These  cbnnle  anecdotes  may  serve  to  show  the  de- 
'  '  play  of  Scott's  humours  and  feelings  In  private 


Bsfailbl 
life,    n 


His  domestic  animals  were  his  friends.  'Every 
Ibiof  aboat  him  seemed  to  rejoice  in  the  light  of  his  coun- 
tezksnce. 

**'Oar  ramble  took  us  on  the  hills  commanding  an  exten- 
sive prospect.  *  Now,'  said  Scott, '  I  liave  brought  vou, 
fike  the  pilgrim  in  the  Pilgrim's  Progress,  to  the  top  okhe 
Delectable  Mount&ins,  that  I  may  show  you  all  the  goodiv 
r^ons  hereabouts.  Yonder  is  Lainmermuir.  and  Smail- 
holme ;  ajid  there  you  have  Galashiels,  and  Torwoodlee, 
and  Oala  Water ;  and  in  that  direction  you  sec  Teviotdale 
and  ttic  Braes  of  Yarrow,  and  Eurlck  stream  winding 
akmglike  a  silver  thread,  to  throw  itsolf  into  the  Twoed.^ 
He  went  on  thus  to  call  over  names  celebrated  In  Scottish 
soof.  and  most  of  which  had  recently  received  a  romantic 
faicerest  from  hi^  own  pen.  In  fact,  I  saw  a  great  part  of 
the  Border  country  spread  out  before  me,  and  could 
tr»c«  the  scenes 


enea  of  those  poems  and  romances  which  had    yiQfr  gpeak  warrnlv  of 
r  bewitched  tho  world.  o^:*  ,Lg  following  nai; 

about  iiic  for  a  time  with  mute  surprise,  I  may    **"*"  '"®  loiiowmg  pafl 


Is  a  manner 

^  I  gazed  about  iiic  for  a  time  with  mute  surprise,  I  may 
afanoirt  Bay,  with  disappointment.  I  beheld  a  mere  sue- 
ceuion  of  gray  waving  hilU,  line  beyond  line,  as  &r  as 
ny  eye  could  reach,  monotonous  in  their  aspect,  and  so 
riirtifntc  of  trees,  that  one  could  almont  see  a  stout  fly 
wslking  sionx  their  profile ;  and  the  farfiuned  Tweed  ap- 
peared a  naked  stream,  flowing  between  bare  hills,  with- 
«Qt  a  tree  or  thicket  on  iu  bancs ;  and  yet  such  had  been 
Y 


ing,  or,  in  common  parlance,  second  sight — 

*  Coming  events  cast  their  shadows  before  !'— 
The  fact  is,*  added  he,  *  Campbell  is,  in  a  manner,  a  bug- 
bear to  himself    The  brightness  of  his  early  success  is  a 
detriment  to  all  his  further  efforts.    He  in  afraid  of  tht 
shadow  that  Ms  otrn/ame  easts  before  him.* 

"  We  had  not  walked  much  farther,  before  we  saw  the 
two  Miss  Scotta  advancing  along  the  hill-side  to  meet  ua 
The  morning's  studies  being  over,  tliey  had  set  off  to  take 
a  ramble  on  the  hills,  and  gather  heather  blossoms  with 
which  to  decorate  their  hair  for  dinner.  As  they  came 
bounding  lightly  like  young  fawns,  and  their  dresses  flut* 
tering  in  the  pure  sumiuer  breeze,  I  was  reminded  of 
Scott's  own  description  of  his  children,  in  his  mtroduction 
to  one  of  the  cantos  of  Marmion : — 

*  Mv  imps,  though  hardy,  bold,  and  wild. 
As  nest  befits  the  mountain  child,'  Ac. 

As  thcv  approached,  the  dogs  all  sprang  forward,  and 
gambolled  around  them.  They  joined  us  with  counte- 
nances  full  of  health  and  glee.  Sopiiia,  the  oldest,  was 
the  most  lively  and  joyous,  having  much  of  her  father's 
I  varied  spirit  in  conversation,  and  seeming  to  catch  excite* 
ment  from  his  words  and  looks ;  Ann  was  of  a  quieter 
mood,  rather  silent,  owing,  in  somo  measure,  no  doubt,  to 
her  being  some  years  younger." 

Having  often,  many  years  afterwards,  heard  Ir- 
'      '  Williatii  Laidlaw,  1  must  not 
passage:— 

**  One  of  my  pleasantest  rambles  with  ScoU  about  the 
neighbourhood  of  Abbot !?ford,  was  taken  In  company  with 
Mr.  William  I*aidlaw,  the  steward  of  his  estate.  This 
was  a  gentleman  for  whom  Scott  entertained  a  particular 
value.  Ho  had  been  born  to  a  competency,  had  been 
well  educated,  his  mind  was  richly  stored  with  varied  in- 
formation, and  he  was  a  ig^ti^cP^terling  moral  worth 


178 


UPB  OF  SIR  WALTER  SCOTT. 


'  Havtni  bMn  nJoced  bj  mltlbrtiiDe,  Scott  h«d  got  him  to 
take  enargo  of  his  estate.  He  lived  at  a  tmall  farm,  on  the 
billaide  above  Abbouford,  aod  waa  treated  by  Scott  aa  a 
cherished  and  confidential  friend,  rather  than  a  dependant 

**Tbat  day  at  dinner  we  had  Mr.  Laidlaw  and  his  wife, 
and  a  femafo  friend,  who  accompanied  them.  The  latter 
was  a  very  intelligent  respectable  person,  about  the  mid- 
dle age,  and  was  treated  with  particular  attention  and 
courtesy  by  ScotL  Our  dinner  was  a  most  agreeable  one, 
for  the  guests  were  evidently  cherished  visiters  ^o  the 
house,  and  felt  that  they  were  appreciated.  When  they 
were  gone,  Scott  spolce  of  them  In  the  most  cordial  man- 
ner. "  I  wished  to  show  you,'  said  he, '  some  of  our  real- 
.V  excellent,  plain  Scotch  people :  not  fine  gentlemen  and 
Bdies,  for  guch  you  can  meet  every  where,  and  they  are 
every  wheae  the  same.  The  character  of  a  nation  is  not 
to  be  learnt  from  its  fine  folks.'  He  then  went  on  with  a 
larticular  eulogium  on  the  lady  who  had  accompanied 
.he  I<aidlaw&  She  wu  the  daujthter,  ho  said,  of  a  poor 
country  clenryman,  wno  had  died  in  debt,  and  left  her  an 
orphan  and  destitute.  Having  had  a  good  plain  education, 
she  immediately  set  up  a  child's  school,  and  had  soon  a 
numerous  flock  under  her  care,  by  which  she  earned  a 
decent  maintenance.  That,  however.  wa4  not  her  main 
object  Her  first  care  waa  to  pay  off  her  father's  debts, 
that  no  ill  word  or  ill  will  might  rest  upon  his  memory. 
This,  by  dint  of  Scotch  economy,  backed  by  filial  reyerence 
and  pride,  she  accomplished,  though  in  the  effort  she  sub- 
jected herself  to  every  privation.  Not  content  with  this, 
she  in  certain  instances  refused  to  take  pay  for  the  tuition 
of  the  children  of  some  of  her  neighbours,  who  had  be- 
friended her  father  in  his  need,  and  had  since  fallen  into 
poverty.  *  In  a  word,'  added  Scott,  *  she's  a  fine  old 
8c<Mch  girl,  and  I  delight  in  her  more  than  in  many  a  fine 
.adv  I  have  known,  and  I  have  known  many  of  the  finest.' 

"The  evening  passed  away  delightfully  in  a  quaintlook- 
ng  apartment,  half  study,  half  drawing-room.  Scott  read 
•everal  passages  from  the  old  romance  of  Arthur,  with  a 
fine  deep  sonorous  voice, and  a  gravity  of  tone  that  seem- 
*ed  to  suit  the  antiquated  black-letter  volume.  It  was  a 
rich  treat  to  hear  such  a  work  read  by  such  a  person,  and 
n  such  a  place ;  and  his  appearance,  as  he  sat  reading, 
in  a  large  arm-chair,  with  his  favourite  hound  Maida  at  bis 
feet,  and  surrounded  by  books  and  reliques,  and  Border 
trophies,  would  have  formed  an  admirable  and  most  cha- 
racteristic picture.  When  I  retired  for  the  night,  I  found 
jt  almost  impossible  to  sleep  :  the  idea  of  being  under  the 
foof  of  Scott ;  of  being  on  the  Borders  on  the  Tweed ; 
in  the  very  centre  of  that  region  which  had,  for  some  time 
past,  been  the  favourite  scene  of  romantic  fiction ;  and, 
,  above  all,  the  recollections  of  the  ramble  I  had  taken,  the 
sompany  in  which  I  had  taken  it,  and  the  conversation 
which  had  passed,  all  fennented  in  my  mind,  and  nearly 
drove  sleep  from  my  pillow. 

**  On  the  following  morning  the  sun  darted  his  beams 
from  over  the  hillsthrouzh  the  low  lattice  of  my  window.  I 
rose  at  an  early  hour,  and  lookedout  between  the  branches 
of  eglantine  whici)  overhung  the  casement.  To  my 
surprise,  9colt  was  already  up,  and  forth,  seated  on  a  frag- 
ment of  stone,  and  chatting  with  the  workmen  employed 
in  the  new  building.  1  had  uuppo^tod,  after  the  time  he 
hod  wasted  upon  me  yesterday,  he  would  be  closely  oc- 
cupied this  mornin;?  :  but  he  appeared  like  a  man  of  lei- 
sure, who  had  nothing  to  do  btu  bask  in  the  nunshine,  and 
amuse  himself  I  soon  dressed  myself  and  joined  him. 
He  talked  about  his  proposed  plans  of  Abboisfurd ;  hap- 

Sy  would  it  have  been  for  him  could  he  have  contented 
imself  with  his  delightful  liitle  vioe-covered  cottaj;e,  and 
the  simple,  yet  hearty  and  hospitable,  style  in  which  he 
lived  at  the  time  of  my  visit !" 

Among  others  visiters  who  succeeded  the  distin- 
guished American  that  autumn  were  Lady  Byron, 
tne  Wife  of  the  poet,  and  the.  great  artist,  Mr.  now 
Sir  David  Wilkie,  who  then  executed  for  Captain 
Fergusop  that  pleasing  little  picture,  in  which  Scott 
and  nis  family  are  represented  as  a  group  of  peasants, 
while  the  gallant  soldier  himaelf  ^gures  by  them  in 
the  character  of  a  gamekeeper,  or  perhaps  poacher. 
Mr.  Irving  has  given,  in  the  little  work  from  which 
I  have  quoted  so  lihcrallv,  an  amusing  account  of 
the  delicate  scruples  of  Wilkie  about  soiiciiing  Scott 
to  devote  a  morning  to  the  requisite  sitting,  until, 
after  lingering  for  several  days,  he  at  length  became 
satisfied  that,  by  whatever  magic  his  host  might 
contrive  to  keep  Ballaniyno's  presses  in  full  play,  he 
had  always  abundance  of  leisure  for  matters  Jess 
important  than  Ferguson's  destined  heirloom.  1 
shall  now,  however,  return  to  his  correspondence; 
and  begin  with  a  letter  to  Joanna  Baiilie  on  Lady 
Byroads  fiiiu 


TV  ilCtt  JbaiMM  BaWie,  Jlnmptlmd 

,  ''  Abbotsford,  8e^  28^  197. 

''MydearMisaBaUUe, 

*'  A  series  of  little  trinketty  sort  of  busiaeas,  and  •& 
cupation,  and  idleness,  have  succeeded  to  each  other  so 
closely,  that  1  have  been  scarce  able,  for  some  three  weeks 
past,  to  call  my  time  my  own  for  half  an  hoar  together; 
but  enough  of  apologies— they  are  vile  things,  and  I  know 
you  will  impute  my  negligence  to  any  thing  rather  tbm 
forgetting  or  undervaluing  your  friendship.  You  know, 
by  this  time,  that  We  have  had  a  visit  from  Lady  Byroo, 
delightful  both  on  its  ovra  sccoimt,  and  because  it  vns  ac- 
companied with  good  news  and  a  letter  from  you.  I  re- 
gret we  could  not  keep  her  longer  than  a  day  with  us,  wluc^ 
was  spent  on  the  banks  of  the  Yarrow,  and  1  hope  sad 
believe  she  was  pleased  with  us,  because  I  am  sure  rfks 
will  bo  so  with  every  thing  that  Is  intended  to  please  her: 
meantime  her  visit  gave  me  a  most  lawyer  like  fit  of  ibe 
bile.  I  have  lived  too  long  to  be  surprised  at  any  insraate 
of  human  cknrice,  but  still  it  vexes  me.  Now,  one  vdqU 
suppose  Lady  Byron,  young,  beautiful,  vrith  birth,  aad 
rank,  and  fortune,  and  taste,  and  high  accompUshmenu, 
and  admirable  good  sense,  qualified  to  have  made  happy 
one  whose  talents  are  so  high  as  Lord  Byron's,  and  whose 
marked  propensity  It  is  to  like  those  who  are  qualified  t» 
admire  and  understand  his  talents ;  and  yet  it  has  proved 
otherwise.  I  can  safely  say,  my  heart  ached  for  her  al 
the  time  we  were  together;  there  was  so  much  patieaca 
and  decent  resignation  to  a  situation  which  moA  Ime 
pressed  on  her  thoughts,  that  she  was  to  me  ooe  of  ihs 
most  interesting  creatures  1  had  seen  for  a  score  ofjmn. 
I  am  sure  I  should  not  have  felt  such  strong  kindnf 
towards  her  had  she  been  at  the  height  of  ber  fbrttme, 
and  in  the  full  enjoyment  of  all  the  brilliant  proapectfid 
which  she  seemed  destined.  You  will  wish  (o  near  of 
my  complaint  I  think,  thank  God,  that  it  is  leaviof  me— 
not  suddenly,  however,  for  I  have  had  some  repetiaaas, 
but  thev  have  become  fainter  and  fainter,  and  I  nave  ait 
been  msturbed  bv  one  for  these  three  weeks.  I  tnat. 
by  care  and  attennon,  my  stomach  will  return  to  ita  tarn 
tone,  and  I  am  as  careful  as  I  can.  I  have  taken  hard  ex- 
ercise with  good  effect,  and  am  often  six  houra  on  fint 
without  stopping  or  sitting  down,  to  which  my  planiatk>ai 
and  enclosures  con/ribute  not  a  little.  I  have,  bowevo, 
given  up  the  gun  this  season,  finding  my^lT  unable  t» 
walk  up  to  the  dogs  ;  but  Walter  has  taken  it  in  band,  sad 
promises  to  be  a  first-rate  shot ;  he  brought  us  in  abooi 
seven  or  eight  brace  of  birds  the  evening  Lady  Bjna 
came  to  us,  which  pjLpn.  was  of  course  a  UtUe  prcrad  oC 
The  black-cocks  are  getting  very  plenty  on  our  laoor 
ground  at  Abbotsford.  but  I  as.sociate  them  so  lauch  vftk 
your  beautiful  poem,'  that  I  have  not  the  pleasure  I  tised 
to  have  in  knocking  them  down.  I  wish  I  knew  bow  t> 
send  you  a  brace.  I  get  on  with  my  labours  here ;  af 
house  is  abot  .  to  be  roofed  in,  and  a  comical  concern  a 
is.    Yours  truly, 

w.  a" 

The  next  letter  refers  to  the  Duke  of  Bucclendi'f 
preparations  for  a  cattle- show  at  Bowhill,  which  wtt 
followed  by  an  entertainment  on  a  large  scale  to  bii 
Grace's  Selkirkshire  neighbours  and  tenantry,  aod 
next  day  by  a  fox-hunt,  after  Dandie  Dinmoot't 
fashion,  among  the  rocks  of  the  Yarrow.  Tbe 
SherifT  at  tended  with  his  tail  on  ;  and  Wilkie,  too^ 
went  with  him.  It  was  there  that  Sir  David  first 
saw  Hogg^and  the  Shepherd's  greeting  was  grace- 
ful. He  eyed  the  great  painter  for  a  moment  in  «» 
lonce,  and  then  stretching  out  his  band,  said,— 
'*  Thank  God  for  iu  I  did  nt t  know  that  yon  woR 
60  young  a  man  !'* 

To  th£  Duke  qf  Buccleuch^  ^r.,  4^.,  ^'c,  DrttmloMTig 
CaUle. 
"  My  dear  Lord  Duke, 

*'l  am  just  honoured  with  your  Grace's  of  the  ZTtti- 
The  posts,  which  areas  cross  as  pie-crust,  have  occasSoa- 
od  pome  delay.  Depend  on  our  aUcnding  at  DowhiU  an 
the  tcUth,  and  staying  over  the  show.  I  have  written  to 
Adam  Ferguson,  who  will  come  with  a  whoop  and  a  boOo. 
:?o  will  the  Ballantynes'-flageolatt  and  all— for  the  feadcdl, 
and  they  shall  be  hous'-d  at  Abbotsford.  I  have  an  inistt- 
tahly  pood  songsier  in  the  person  of  Terence  Magnitl^ 
who  teaches  my  girls.    He  beats  almost  all  whom  I  have 

•  **  Good  morrow  to  thy  sable  betk. 
And  glony  pluraaee  dark  and  sleek, 
Thy  chmnon  moon,  and  aniro  eye. 


dKlhirf 


Coek  of  the  heath,  lo  wiMir  «hy !"  ftc 
t  'p^fiageoU.t  alludoi  to  Mr.  Al-xander  Ballant^tie. 

of  the  brothen— a  fine  mukiuan.  and  a  most  anliaiw  az 

man,  never  conn>!Cted  with  Scott  to  any  Utstness  mattcia,  talil 
ways  mifch  hii  favouritb in pdvide.    ^-,.,,^,^1^ 
Digitized  by  VjOOQ  IC 


LIFE  OF  Sm  WALTER  SCOTT. 


ev«r  hmr^  attempt  BCoore*i  sonft,  and  I  can  euSij  cajole 
JliB  also  out  to  Aubotafbrd  for  a  day  or  two.  In  jest  or 
earnest,  I  never  heard  a  beUer  flin^er  in  a  room,  thotieh 
his  voice  Is  not  quite  full  enough  for  a  concert ;  and  for 
an  after-supper  song,  he  almost  equals  Triah  Johnstone.* 
"Trade  qI  every  kind  is  recovering,  and  not  a  loom  idle 
in  Glasgow.  The  most  laithful  respects  of  this  family  at- 
tend the  Ladies  and  all  at  Drumlanrig.  I  ever  am  your 
Grace's  tmly  obliged  and  grateful 

Waltsb  Scott. 

**  Given  from  my.Castle  of  Orawaeky. 
this  second  day  of  the  month  called 
October.     One     Thousand.  Eight       / 
Hondrea  and  Seventeen  Years. 

**  There  is  a  <bte  nearly  as  long  as  the  letter. 
*"  I  hone  we  shall  attack  the  foxes  at  Bowhili.    I  will  har 
safdMuda." 

We  have  Bome  allusions  to  this  Bowhill  party  in 
tnotber  letter;  the  first  of  several  which  I  snail 
now  insert  according  to  their  dates,  leaving  them, 
with  a  few  marginal  notes,  to  iell  out  the  story  of 
1817:— 

To  Daniel  Terry ^  Eaq,^  London. 

<*  Abbotsford,  October  «,  1817. 
•Dear  Terry, 

"  Bullock  has  not  gone  to  Skye,  and  I  am  verv  glad  he 
has  not,  for  to  me  who  knew  the  Hebrides  well,  the  at- 
tempt seemed  very  perilous  at  this  season.  .  1  have  consi- 
derably enlarged  my  domains  since  I  wrote  to  vou,  by  the 
purchase  of  a  beautiful  farm  adjacent.  The  farm-house, 
widcb  is  new  and  excellent,  I  have  let  to  Adam  Ferguson 
and  his  sisters.  We  vdll  be  within  a  pleaaant  walk  of  each 
•tber,  and  hope  to  end  our  lives,  as  they  began,  in  each 
others  society.  There  is  a  beautiful  brook,  with  rem- 
nants of  natural  wood,  which  would  made  Toflfield  rival 
Abbotsford,  but  for  the  majestic  Tweed.  I  am  in  treaty 
for  a  field  or  two  more ;  one  of  which  contains  the  only 
specinaen  of  a  Peel-house,  or  defensive  residence  of  a 
annll  proprietor,  which  remains  in  this  neighbourhood. 
It  is  an  orchard,  in  the  hamlet  of  Damick,  to  which  it  gives 
a  most  pieturesque  effect  Blore  admires  it  very  much. 
We  are  all  well  here,  but  crowded  with  company.  I  have 
been  jnnketting  this  week  past  at  BowhilL  Mr.  Magrath 
has  been  with  us  these  two  or  three  days,  and  has  seen 
his  ward,  Hamlet,t  behave  most  prineeUke  on  Newaric 
Hill  and  elsewhere.  He  promises  to  be  a  real  treasure. 
Notwithstanding,  Mr.  Magrath  went  to  Bowhill  with  me 
one  day,  where  his  vocal  talents  gave  great  pleasure, 
and  1  hope  will  procure  him  the  notice  and  protection  of 
the  Buccleuch  family.  The  Duke  says  rav  building  en- 
grosses, as  a  common  centre,  the  thoughts  of  Mr.  Atkinson 
and  Mr.  Bullock,  and  wishes  he  could  make  them  equal- 
ly anxious  In  his  own  behalf  You  may  believe  this  flat- 
ters me  not  a  little. 

"P.  8. — I  agree  with  you  that  the  tower  will  look  rather 
rich  for  the  rest  of  the  building ;  yet  you  may  be  assured, 
tint  with  diagonal  chimneys  and  notched  gables,  it  will 
have  a  very  nne  effect,  and  is  in  Scotch  architecture  by 
DO  means  incompatible.  My  house  has  been  like  a  cried 
fair,  and  extreme  the  inconvenience  of  having  no  comer 
■acred  to  my  own  use,  and  free  from  intritsion.  Ever 
truly  yoors,  W.  S." 

To  the  Same. 

*•  Abbotsford,  29th  October,  1817. 
"My  dear  Terry, 

"  I  enclose  a  fnll  sketch  of  the  lower  story,  with  ac- 
curate measurements  of  rooms,  casements,  door-ways, 
chimneys,  ice.  that  Mr.  Atkinson's  good  will  May  not 
want  means  to  work  upon.  I  will  speak  to  the  subjects 
of  your  letter  separately,  that  I  may  omit  none  of  them. 
UU I  cannot  possibly  surrender  the  window  to  the  west 
in  the  library/ althoujjh  1  subscribe  to  all  you  urjje  about 
It  Sdll  it  is  essential  in  point  of  light  to  ray  old  eyes,  and 
the  single  northern  aspect  would  not  serve  me.  Above 
all,  it  looks  into  the  yard,  and  enables  me  to  summon  Tom 
Pordle  wltheut  the  intervention  of  a  third  party.  Indeed, 
as  I  can  have  but  a  few  books  about  me,  it  is  of  the  less 
consequence.  2d^,  I  resign  the  idea  of  coving  the  library 

*  Mr-  Magrath  has  now  been  long  establiahed  io  his  native  dty 
of  Dtiblin.  Hi«  mumcal  excellence  was  by  no  means  the  only 
neritthat  attached  ScoU  to  liis  socioty  while  he  remainad  in  EdiD> 

t^l^  fine  greyhound,  a  gift  from  Terry,  had  been  «jnt  to  Soot- 
land  under  the  care  of  Mr.  Magrath.    Terry  had  cftlled  the  dog 
U^trmton,  but  Scott  rechristened  Mm  Hamlet,  in  honour  of  his 
"  Joky  ooaf 
:  Befcre  the  second  and  larger  part  of  the  present  hoose  of  Ab- 
'  '   '         built,  the  smair  room  subae<)uontly  known  as  the 
door,  was  doriug  several  yeais  Soott^s  eanctwn. 


to  Tonr  better  iodgment,  and  I  think  (he  StirilBf  Heads* 
will  be  admirably  disposed  in  the  gtaoBs  of  the  armoary 
window.  I  have  changed  my  mind  as  to  having  doors  on 
the  book-presses,  which  is,  after  all,  a  great  oore.  Mo 
person  wiU  be  admitted  into  my  sanctum,  and  I  can  have 
the  door  locked  during^  my  absence.  3<//y,  I  expect  Mr. 
Bullock  here  eVerv  day,  and  should  be  glad  to  nave  the 
drawings  for  the  dining-room  wainscot,  as  he  could  ex* 
plain  them  to  the  artists,  who  are  to  work  them.  This 
(always  if  qnite  convenient)  would  be  the  more  desirable, 
as  I  must  leave  this  place  In  a  fortnight  at  farthest— the 
more's  the  pity— and,  consequently,  the  risk  of  blunders 
will  be  considerably  increased.  I  should  like  if  the  pan- 
nelling  of  the  wainncot  could  admit  of  a  press  on  each 
side  of  the  sideboard.  1  don't  mean  a  formal  press  with 
a  high  door,  but  some  crypt  or.  to  speak  vulgarly,  cup- 
board^ to  put  away  bottles  of  wine,  &c.  You  Itnow  I  am 
my  own  butler,  and  such  accommodation  is  very  conve* 
nlent.  We  begin  roofing  to-morrow.  Wilkie  admires 
the  whole  as  a  composition,  and  that  is  high  authority.  I 
agree  that  the  fountain  shall  be  out  of  doors  in  front  of 
the  greenhouse  ;  there  may  be  an  enclosure  for  it  with 
some  ornamented  masonAirork.  as  In  old  gardens,  and  it 
will  occupy  an'  angle,  which  I  should  be  puzzled  what  to 
do  with,  for  turf  and  gravel  would  be  rather  meagre,  and 
flowers  not  easily  kept.  I  have  the  old  fountain  beloiiging 
to  the  Cross  of  Edinburgh,  which  flowed  with  wine  at  the 
coronation  of  our  kings  and  on  other  occasions  of  publio 
rejoicing.  I  send  a  sketch  of  this  venerable  relic,  con- 
nected as  it  is  with  a  thousand  associations.  It  U  hand> 
some  In  its  forms  and  proportions— a  freestone  basin 
about  three  feet  in  diameter,  and  five  inches  and  a  half  in 
deptl),  very  handsomely  hollowed.  A  piece  has  been 
broken  off  one  edge,  but  as  we  have  the  frs^ent.  It  can 
easily  be  restored  with  cement  There  are  tour  openings 
for'pipes  in  the  circmnference — each  had  been  covered 
with  a  Gothic  masque,  now  broken  off  and  defaced,  hot 
which  may  be  easily  restored.  Through  these  the  wine 
had  fallen  into  a  larger  and  lower  reservoir.  I  intend  this 
for  the  centre  of  my  fountain.  I  do  not  believe  I  should 
save  j£100  by  retaining  Mrs.  Bedford,  by  the  time  she  was 
raised,  altered,  and  beautified,  for,  like  the  Highlandman'a 
gun,  she  wants  stock,  lock,  and  barrel,  to  put  her  into  re« 
pair.  In  the  mean  time, 'the  cabin  is  convenient'  Youn 
ever.  W.  8." 

To  Mr.  WUUam  Laidlaw,  Kaeside. 

"  Edinburgh,  Nov.  16th,  1817. 
"DearWilUe, 
"  I  have  no  intenUon  to  let  the  Whitehaugh  withonC 
y<yir  express  approbation,  and  I  wish  you  to  act  as  my  ad- 
viser and  representative  in  these  matters.  I  would  hardly 
have  ventured  to  purchase  so  much  land  without  the  eer> 

tainty  of  your  r4)unsel  and  co-operation On 

the  other  side  you  will  find  a  small  order  on  the  banker  at 
GaUiahiels,  io  be  renewed  half-yearly ;  not  by  way  of  re- 
compensing your  friendship  '  with  a  load  of  barren  mo- 
ney,' but  merely  to  ease  my  conscience  in  some  degree 
for  the  time  which  I  must  necessarily  withdraw  from  the 
labour  which  is  to  maintain  your  mmily.  Believe  me, 
dear  Willie,  yours  truly, 

Waltbb  Scott." 

7b  the  Same. 

"Edinburgh,  19th  Nov.,  1817. 
"DearWiUie, 
"  I  hope  you  wm  nm  quarrel  with  rov  last  Believe 
me,  that,  to  a  sotmd-judging  and  philosophical  pihid,  this 
same  accoimt  of  Dr.  and  Cr.,  which  fills  up  so  much  time 
in  the  world,  Is  comparatively  of  very  small  value.  When 
you  get  rich,  unless  I  thrive  in  the  same  proportion,  I  will 
request  your  assistance  for  less,  for  little,  or  for  nothingi 
as  the  case  may  require ;  but  while  I  wear  my  seven- 
league  boots  to  stride  in  triumph  over  moss  and  muir.  It 
would  be  very  silly  in  either  of  us  to  let  a  cheque  twice 
a-year  of  jC*25  make  a  difference  between  us.  But  aUthis 
we  will  tklk  over  when  we  meet.  I  meditate  one  day  a 
eoup-de-maitre,  which  will  make  my  friend's  advice  and 
exertion  essentla^-indecd  worthy  of  much  better  remu- 
neration. When  you  come,  I  hope  you  will  bring  us  in- 
formation of  all  my  run^  proceedings.  Though  so  lately 
come  to  town,  I  still  remember,  at  my  waking  hours,  that 
I  can  neither  see  Tom  Purdlc  nor  Adam  Paterson,^  and 
rise  with  the  more  unwillingness.  I  was  unwell  on  Mon- 
day and  Tuesday,  but  am  quite  recovered.    Yours  trul^, 

♦  This  alludes  to  certain  pieces  of  painted  glan,  lepretentinc 
.he  heads  of  some  of  the  old  Scotch  kings,  copied  from  the  carved 
ceiling  of  the  Divtenco  chamber  inStirfinc  Castle.  _  There  ore  co; 

Lvin^  of  them  ii  ~.  - 


1  in  a  work  called  "  Lacunar  Strevchoense.** 


mo.  fm.  1817.  ,  „  ^  ^  - 

•  Adam  Pa  tenon  was  the  intnlhgent  foreman  of  the  eompeay 
of  masons  then  eropfoyed  at  Abbotsford.      -      r^r^^tr> 

Digitized  by  VjOOQ  IC 


UFB  OF  SmWAJJTER  SCOTT. 


f^  9%tmiQ$  StotttJBtq.y  Pawiuatfr,  70th  Begim^nt^ 
SUngwton^  Canada. 

"  Ediobursb,  13th  Deo.,  1817. 
''IfrdearTpin,  ^       ^ 

^1  should  be  happf  to  attend  to  tout  commisaion 
about  ft  dominie  for  your  bor,  but  I  think  there  will  be 
much  risk  in  yoking  yourself  with  one  for  three  or  four 
j^ars.  You  know  what  sort  of  black  cattle  these  are, 
and  how  difOcuU  it  is  to  discern  their  real  character, 
though  one  may  give  a  guess  at  their  attainments.  When 
they  get  good  provender  in  their  guts,  they  are  e^t  to  turn 
out  very  diflTerent  animals  from  what  they  were  in  their 
original  lo>^  condition,  and  ^et  fnkky  and  troublesome.  I 
have  made  several  inquines,  however,  nnd  request  to 
know  what  salary  you  would  think  reasonable,  and  also 
what  acqui<)ltlons  ne  ought  to  possess.  There  is  no  combat- 
taig  the  reelings  which  you  eipress  for  the  society  of  your 
■on,  otherwise  I  reallv  think  that  a  Scottish  education 
would  be  highly  desirable ;  and  should  you  at  any  time  re- 
vert to  this  plan,  you  may  rely  on  my  bestowing  the  same 
attention  upon  him  as  upon  my  own  boys. 

**I  agree  entirely  with  you  on  tlic  necessity  of  your  re- 
mainliu  in  the  regiment  while  it  is  stationary,  and  retiring 
On  halfpay  when  it  marches ;  but  I  cannot  so  easily  ac- 
quiesce in  your  plan  of  seuiing  in  Canada.  On  the  latter 
event  taking  place,  on  the  contrary,  I  think  it  would  be 
highly  advisable  that  you  should  return  to  your  native 
country.  In  the  course  of  nature,  you  must  soon  be  pos- 
sessed of  considerable  property,  now  life-rented  by  our 
mother,  and  I  should  think  that  even  your  present  income 
would  secure  you  comfort  and  independence  here. 
Should  you  remain  in  Canada,  you  must  consider  your 
fkmilr  as  settlers  In  that  state,  and  as  I  cannot  believe 
that  ft  will  remain  yery  long  separated  from  America,  I 
should  almost  think  this  equal  to  depriving  them  of  the 
ftdvantages  of  British  subjects— at  least  of^those  which 
they  might  derive  from  their  respectable  connexions  in 
this  country.  With  respect  to  your  son.  in  particular,  I 
nave  Uttle  doubt  that  I  could'  be  of  considerable  service 
to  him  in  almost  any  line  of  life  he  nUght  chance  to  adopt 
here,  but  could,  of  course,  have  less  inlluence  on  his  for- 
tunes, were  he  to  remain  on  the  Niagara.  I  certaliUy  feel 
anxious  on  this  subject,  because  the  settlement  oi  your 
residence  in  America  would  be  saying.  In  other  words, 
that  we  two,  the  last  remains  of  a  family  once  so  nume- 
Tons,  are  never  more  to  meet  upon  this  side  of  time.  My 
own  health  Is  very  much  broken  up  by  the  periodical  re- 
onrrencc  of  violent  cramps  in  the  stomach,  which  neither 
seem  disposed  to  yield  to  medicine  nor  to  abstinence. 
The  complaint,  the  doctors  say,  is  not  dangerous  in  itself, 
but  I  oaimot  l«>ok  forward  to  its  continued  recurrence, 
wlthoat  being  certain  that  It  Is  to  break  my  health,  and  an- 
tieipaco  okl  age  In  cutting  me  short  Be  it  so,  mv  dear 
T^m—Sat  eat  vt  xisse— and  I  am  too  much  of  a  phlloso- 

8 bar  to  be  anxious  about  protracted  life,  which,  with  all 
s  Infirmities  and  deprivatioos,  I  have  never  considered 
aaa  blo^ainlr.  In  the  vears  which  may  be  before  me.  It 
voald  be  a  lively  satl6Rtcti<m  to  me  to  have  the  pleasure 
of  seeing  yon  In  this  country,  with  the  prospect  of  a  com- 
fortable settlement.  I  have  but  an  Imperfbct  account  to 
render  of  mv  doings  here.  I  have  amused  myself  wkh 
making  aa  addition  to  mv  cottage  in  the  country ;  one  little 
apartment  Is  to  be  fittecl  up  as  an  armoury  for  my  old  re- 
Ucs  and  curiosities.  On  the  wickett  I  intend  to  mount 
yomr  iirer'#  /oof  *— as  an  appropriate  knocker.  I  hope  the 
young  ladies  liked  their  watches,  and  that  all  your  books, 
slalioinary,  4cc.,  came  safe  to  hand.  1  am  told  you  have 
s«v<eral  kipds  of  the  oak  peouUar  to  America.  If  you  can 
■sod  me  a  few  good  acorns,  with  the  names  of  the  Jcinda 
ther  belong  to,  I  will  have  them  reared  vrith  great  care 
ma  attention.  The  heaviest  and  smoothest  acorns  should 
bo  selected*  as  one  would  wish  them,  sent  from  such  a 
<fistBikce.  10  succeed,  which  rarely  happens,  unless  they 
sve  panieularlv  well  ripened.  I  shall  be  as  much  obliged 
to  you  as  Sancbo  Was  to  the  Duchess,  or,  to  speak  more 
correctly,  die  Duchess  to  Sancbo,  for  a  similar  favour. 
Oar  mother  keeps  her  health  surfnrisinglv  well  now.  nor 
do  I  think  there  w  any  difference,  unless  that  her  deafness 
is  rather  increased.  My  eldest  boy  Is  upwards  of  six  fset 
high ;  therefore  bom.  as  Sergeant  Kite  says,  to  be  a  great 
man.  I  should  not  like  such  a  rapid  growth,  but  tlttt  he 
carries  strength  along  with  it ;  my  youngest  boy  is  a  very 
rtiarp  little  fellow— and  the  girls  give  us  great  satisfaclicm. 
Bver  affectionately  yours, 

Walts*  Scott." 

The  following  note  is  without  date.  It  nccompa- 
nied,  no  doubt,  the  last  proof-sheet  of  Rob  Roy,  and 
was  therefore  in  all  probability  written  about  ten 

•  Thomas  8cott  had  aent  hia  brother  the  honw  and  feet  of  a 
fifastic  Ht«f ,  ahot  by  him  in  Canada.  The  feet  were  uHimatelir 
awpenciod  to  bell-eonh  in  the  annoaiy  at  Abbotsford ;  and  the 
Asms  moanted  aa  driokiof  cups.  \ 


days  before  tho  3iit  of  DaoMsbtr,  18A7«*^b  w\mk 
day  the  bo? el  was  publisfatd. 

7^  Mr,  Jam§t  BoUant^nCt  SL  John  StneL 
"Dea^JaokeSi 

Wkh  great  ioy 
I  send  you  Roy. 
Tveas  a  tough  job. 
But  we're  done  with  Rob. 

*'  I  forget  If  I  mentioned  Terry  in  my  Bat  of  FMends. 
Pray  send  me  two  or  three  copies  as  soon  as  yoa  ean.  k 
were  pity  to  make  the  Qrindeir*  pay  carriage.  Totmi 
ever,  W.  S.** 

he  novel  had  indeed  been  a  **  tough  job"~l6r 
itly  and  airily  As  it  reads,  the  author  had^stnig- 
gled  altnost  throuj^hout  with  the  pains  of  cramp,  or 
the  lassitude  of  opiiiin.  Calling  on  hira  one  da|r  to 
dun  him  for  copy,  James  Ballantyne  fouixi  htm  with 
a  clean  pen  and  a  blank,  sheet  before  him,  aod  at- 
tered  some  rather  «olemn  exclamation  of  sorprist. 
"  Ay,  ay.  Jemmy,"  said  he,  ***ii8  easy  for  you  to  bid 
me  gft  on,  but  how  the  deuce  can  1  make  Rob  Rot's 
wife  speak  with  aiieh  a  curmurring  in  my  gutsr 

CHAPTER  XL. 

BOB  BOT  PTOLISHBD— NSGOTIATION  COKCBBKCfG  TBI 
SECOND  8XB1E8  OP  THE  TAUCS  OF  MV  LANOLOSD— 
COMMtSSION  TO  SBABCH  FOR  THE  SCOTTISH  BEOAUA 
— LBTTBB8  TO  THE  DOKB  OF  BUCCLEVCH— MB.  CBO- 
KEB— MB.  MOBBITT— MB.  MtJBBAY— MB.  mItPMB, 
du;.— COBBESPONI>ElfCB  ON  BUBAL  AFPAIBS  WITH 
MB.  LAIDLAW— AHD  OK  TH«  BlTILDINOS  AT  A*0T»- 
FOBD  WITH  MB.  TEBRT — DEATH  OF  MBS,  MtTlEAT 
KErni  AMD  MB.  OBORQE  BULLOCK.— *I818. 

Rob  Roy  and  bis  wife,  Bailie  Nicol  Jarvie  and  his 
housekeeper,  Die  Vernon  and  Rashlekfa  Osbaldis- 
tone— these  boldly  drawn  and  most  happily  con- 
trasted personages— were  welcomed  as  warmly  as 
the  most  fortunate  of  their  predecessors.  Coniis- 
ble's  resolution  to  begin  with  an  edition  of  10,000^ 
proved  to  have  heen  as  sagacious  as  bold ;  for  with- 
m  a  fortnight  a  second  impression  of  3000  was  cslisd 
for ;  and  the  subsequent  aale  of  this  novel  has  cona- 
derably  exceeded  40,000  more. 

Scott,  however,  had  not  wilted  for  thisnew  burst 
of  applause.  As  •oon  as  he  came  within  view  of 
the  completion  of  Rob  Roy,  he  desired  John  Ballan* 
tyne  to  propose  to  Constable  and  Co.  a  second  sene* 
of  the  Tales  of  my  Landlord,  to  be  comprissd,  likd 
the  firstjn  four  voluines^  and  ready  for  publicanen 
by  "  iheKinn's  birth  day ;"  that  is,  the  4th  of  June 
1818.  "I  have  htmgered  and  thirsted//  hewrot^ 
"  to  see  the  end  of  those  shabby  borrowings  smoog 
friends;  they  have  all  been  wiped  out  cxwpt  tbs 
good  Duke>  jMOOO— and  1  will  not  suffer  either  new 
offers  of  land  or  any  thing  else  to  come  in  the  way 
of  that  clearance.  I  expect  that  you  will  be  aWe 
to  arrange  this  resurrection  of  Jedediah,  so  thai 
JB6000  sl^all  be  at  my  order."  .  , . 

Mr.  Rkdum  used  to  ^lory  in  recounting  tJi.«i  iw 
acquitted  himself  on  this  occaaion  with  a  ^i^^*^^ 
dexterity  not  contemplated  in  his  oomAissioB.  nj 
well  knew  how  sorely  Constable  had  been  «g5  wS 
by  seeing  the  first  Tales  of  Jedediah  pubhsbsd  »7 
Murray  and  Blackwood— and  that  the  utmost  suc- 
cess of  Rob  Roy  would  only  double  his  •""^/JJ? 
keep  them  out  of  the  field,  when  the  hint  should  oe 
dropt  that  a  second  MS.  from  Gandercleuch  nugn^ 
shortly  be  looked  for.  He,  therefore,  took  aconvj 
nient  opportunity  to  meniieo  the  new  scheme  as  » 
casually— so  as  to  give  Constable  the  igPjJJJ*^ 
that  the  author's  pui;pose  was  to  divide  the  ^^JJJJ' 
series  also  between  his  old  rival  in  Albemarle  ^^.Jrjj 
of  whom  his  jealousy  was  al>»rays  most  {ensitiva 
and  his  neighbour  Blackwood,  whom,  if  there  nao 
been  no  other  grudge;  the  recent  conduct  and  rapw* 
ly  increasing  sale  of  bis  Magazine  would  havo  o^« 
sufficient  to  make  Constable  hate  with  a  pen?" 
hatred.    To  see  not  only  his  old  Scots  Msgawiw 

•  Tliej  called  Daniel  Terry  amooc  tbenwoltef  "  Tbe  JifJSl 
in  double  allinioa  to  the  tm^  of  Ttrru  Via  QHttdtr,  and  I©i0^ 


uwmawi 


^  WlLnR  SOOTT. 


itMu  bemed  on  Hi  own  soil  bf  th»  jnTenile  up- 
ftart,  was  to  him  g«n  and  wormwood :  and,  more- 
orer,  he  himself  had  come  in  for  his  share  m  some 
of  those  grotesque  jtux  ^ttvrit  by  which,  at  this 
period,  Blackwood's  voung  Tory  wan  delighted  td 
assail  their  elders  ana  betters  of  the  Whig  persua- 
fioB.  T6  prevent  the  proprietor  of  this  new  journal 
from  squiring  any  thing  like  a  hold  on  the  author 
of  WaTorley,  and  thos  competing  with  himself  not 
only  in  periodical  literature,  bqt  in  the  highest  of 
(he  time,  was  an  object  for  which,  as  John  Ballan- 
tyne  shrewdly  guessed,  Constable  would  haTe  made 
at  that  moment  almost  any  sacrifice.  When,  there- 
fore, the  haughty  but  trembling  bookseller— **  The 
Lord  High  Constable*'  (as  be  had  been  dubbed  by 
these  jesters)— signified  his  earnest  hope  that  the 
second  Tales  of  my  Landlord  were  destined  to  come 
oot  under  the  same  auspices  with  Rob  Roy,  the  ple> 
nipotentiary  answered  with  an  air  of  deep  renet, 
that  he  feared  it  would  be  impossible  for  tlie  antnor 
to  dispose  of  the  work  unless  to  publishers  who 
ihouid  agree  to  take  with  it  the  whole  of  the  remain- 
ing stock  of  ^  John  Ballantyne  and  Co. ;"  and  Con- 
stable, pertinacioufly  as  he  had  stood  out  against 
many  more  modest  pro|>ositions  of  this  nature,  was 
M  worked  upon  by  his  jealous  feelioga,  that  his  re- 
iolatioQ  at  otioe  gave  way.  He  agreed  on  the  ki- 
tiant  to  do  all  that  John  seemed  to  shrink  from  ask- 
ng— and  at  one  sweep  cleared  the  Aogean  stable  in 
lanover  Street  of  unsaleable  rubbish  to  the  amount 
if  X&270 1  I  am  assured  by  his  sunriYing  partner 
hat  when  he  had  finally  reoisposed  of  the  stock,  he 
Qund  hiniself  a  loser  by  fully  two  thirds  of  this  sum. 
Burthened  with  this  heavy  condition,  the  agree- 
aent  £or  the  sale  of  10,000  copies  of  the  emhryo 
eries  was  signed  before  the  end  of  November,  1817 ; 
ad  on  the  7th  of  January,  1818,  Scott  wrote  aa  fol- 
>W8  to  his  noble  friend  :— 

To  tJU  Duke  of  Bueeleuek,  ^c  4%. 
Hy  dear  Lord  Duke, 

'*  I  have  the  great  jiteasure  of  enc^Dsing  the  dlsehaiv- 
i  bond  wliich  your  Grace  stood  engated  in  for  me,  and 
1  my  account.  The  accommodation  waa  of  the  greatest 
ms«quence  to  me,  as  it  enabled  me  to  retain  possession 
r  some  valuable  literary  property,  which  I  most  other- 
iae  have  suffered  to  be  sold  at  a  lime  when  the  booksel- 
rs  had  no  money  to  buy  it  My  dear  Lord,  to  wish  that 
1  your  numerous  and  extensive  acts  of  kindness  may  be 
tended  with  similar  advantages  to  the  persons  whom  you 
>lige.  Is  wiiihing  Tou  what  to  your  mind  will  be  the  best 
>eompen»e ;  and  to  wish  that  they  may  be  felt  by  all  as 
'atefuUy  as  by  me,  though  roo  may  be  careless  to  hear 
Mot  that  part  of  the  story,  is  onit  wishing  what  ircredit- 
>le  to  htunan  nature.  I  have  this  moment  your  more 
an  kind  l<uter,  and  congratulate  your  Grace  that,  in  one 
Jise  of  the  word,  you  can  be  what  you  never  will  be  in 
ty  other,  ambidexter.  But  I  am  sornr  you  took  so  much 
ouble,  aiia  I  fear  pairu  besides,  to  diplay  your  new  ta- 
nt    Ever  your  Grace's  truly  fahhful 

Waltki  Soott." 

The  closing  sentence  of  this  letter  refers  to  m.  fit 
^  the  gout  which  bad  disabled  the  Duke's  ri^ht 
and,  but  not  cooled  bis  zeal  on  a  subject  which, 
iroughout  January,  1818,  occupied,  I  firmly  believe, 
uch  more  of  his  correspondent's  thoughts  by  day 
id  dreams  by  night,  than  any  one,  orptrhaps  than 
1  others,  besides.  The  time  now  approached^when 
Commission  to  exnmine  the  Crown-room  m  the 
astle  of  Kdinburgh,  which  had  sprung  from  one  of 
colt's  conversations  with  the  Prince  Regent  in  1816. 
as  at  len;;th  to  be  acted  upon.  The  minstrel  of 
e  **  Rough  Cian"  had  taken  care  that  the  name  of 
a  chief  should  stand  at  the  head  of  the  document ; 
tt  the  Duke's  now  precarious  health  ultimately 
evented  him  from  being  present  at  the  discovery 

the  long  buried  and  almost  forgotten  regalia  of 
Holland.  The  two  foilowinff  letters  on  this  subject 
e  of  the  same  date—Edinburgh,  14th  January, 
la 

7b  the  Duke  <if  Buccleuch^  4'C,  ^c,  Bowhia 
Ify  dear  Lord, 

*•  You  will  hear  from  the  Adrocate,  that  the  Gommis* 
m  for  oprning  the  Ucjalia  is  arrived,  and  that  the  Com- 
ta^pnera  heldthAr  first  meeting  yesterday.    They  have 
36    ¥♦ 


Dssssd  nast  We<teester  Qb  case  ypur€mse  oaa  attanA 
for  opettiog  the  laysterious  cbaal.  8o  this  qaestioA  vfB 
be  pot  to  real  for  ever. 

*M  remember  among  the  rebel  company  which  ds> 
bauched  my  youth,  there  was  a  drunken  old  Tory,  who 
used  to  sing  a  ballad  made  about  these  same  regalia  at  the 
Ume  of  the  Union,  in  which  they  were  all  destined  to  the 
basest  usss ;  the  crowa,  for  example, 

*  To  make  a  can  for  brandy  Nan 

To  puke  in  when  she's  tipsy.' 
The  rest  of  the  toog  is  in  a  tone  of  equally  pure  humour ; 
the  chorus  r 


*  Farewell,  thou  ancient  khigdom— 
Farewell,  thou  ancient  kingdom. 
Who  sold  thyself  for  English  pelf- 
Was  evor  such  a  thkag  dtmel' 
I  hope  your  Grace  feels  yourself  sufficiently  hiterested  in 
the  recovery  of  these  ancient  symbols  of  national  inde- 
pendeace,  so  fong  worn  by  your  forefathers,  and  which 
were  never  proftuaed  by  the  touch  of  a  monarch  of  a  fo- 
reign dynasty  .—Here  is  fine  planting  weather.    I  trust  it  is 
as  good  in  the  Forest  and  on  Tweedside.     Ever  youi 
Graee's  truly  UthAil 

WAi.TBa  Scott." 

T\fJ.  B.  S.  MorrUt,  Eeg.  M.  P.,  Rekebf 

**  Dear  Morrflt, 

^  Our  fat  friend  has  remembered  a  petition  which  I 
put  up  to  him,  and  has  granted  a  Commission  to  the  Offi- 
cers of  State  and  others  (my  unworthy  self  included>— 
which  trusty  and  well-beloved  persons  are  to  institute  a 
search  aAer  th7  Regalia  of  Scotland.  There  has  an  odd 
mystery  hung  about  the  fate  of  these  royal  symbols  of 
national  hideoendence.  The  spirit  of  the  Scotch  at  the 
Union  clang  fondly  to  these  emblems ;  and  to  sooth  their 
iealousT,  tt  was  speclallv  provided  by  an  article  of  the 
Union,  that  the  Regalia  should  never  be  removed,  under 
any  pretext,  from  the  kingdom  of  Scotland.  Accordingly, 
they  were  dcpoaitedi  with  much  ceremony,  as  an  authen- 
tic uistrument  bears,  hi  a  strong  chest,  secured  by  many  ^ 
locks,  and  the  chest  Itself  placed  in  a  strong  room,  which 
again  was  carefully  bolted  up  and  secured,  leaving  to  na- 
tional pride  the  satisfaction  of  pointhig  to  the  barred  wUi- 
dow,  with  rhe  consciousness  that  there  lay  the  Regalia  of 
Scotland.  But  this  gratification  was  strangely  qualified 
by  a  surmise,  which  somehow  became  generally  averred, 
stating,  that  the  Regalia  had  been  sent  to  London ;  anc^you 
may  remember  that  we  saw  at  the  Jewel  Office  a  crown, 
eaCd  to  be  the  ancient  Crown  of  Scotland.  If  this  transfer 
(by  the  way  highly  illegal)  was  ever  made,  It  must  have 
been  under  some  secret  warrant ;  for  no  authority  can  be 
traced  for  such  a  proceeding  In  the  records  of  the  Secre- 
tary of  State's  Office.  Fifteen  or  twentv  years  ago,  the 
Crown-room,  as  it  is  called,  was  opened  by  certain  Com- 
missioners, under  authority  of  a  sign-manual.  They  saw 
the  fatal  chest,  strewed  with  the  dust  of  an  hundred  years, 
about  six  inches  thick :  a  coating  of  like  thickness  lay  on 
the  floor ;  and  I  have  heard  the  late  President  Blair  say, 
that  the  uniform  and  level  appearance  of  the  dust  war- 
\ranted  them  to  believe  that  the  chest,  if  opened  at  all  after 
1707,  must  have  been  violated  within  a  short  time  of  that 
date,  since,  had  it  been  opened  at  a  later  period,  the  dust 
accnmulatf  d  on  the  lid,  and  displaced  at  opening  it.  must 
have  been  lying  around  the  chest.  But  the  Commissioners 
did  not  think  their  warrant  emitled  them  to  force  this 
chest,  for  which  no  keys  could  be  found ;  especiaDy  as 
their  warrant  only  entitled  them  to  search  for  recoros— 
not  for  crowns  and  sceptres. 

**  The  mystery,  therefore,  remained  unpenetrated ;  and 
public  curiosity  was  left  to  console  itself  with  the  nursery 
rhyme— 

'  On  TIntock  tap  there  is  a  mist, 
And  in  the  mist  there  is  a  klst' 

Our  fat  friend's  curiosity,  however,  goes  to  the  point  at 
once,  authorizing  and  enjoining  an  egpress  search  for  the 
Regalia.  Our  friend  of*^  Bucclcuch  Is  at  the  head  of  the 
commission,  and  ynW,  I  think,  be  as  keen  as  I  or  any  one 
to  see  the  issue. 

*'  I  trust  you  have  read  Rob  by  this  time.  1  think  .he 
smells  of  the  cramp.  Above  all,  I  had  too  much  flax  on 
my  distafT;  and  as  it  did  not  consist  with  my  patience  or 
my  plan  to  make  a  fourth  volume.  I  was  obliged  at  last  to 
draw  a  rough,  coarse,  and  ha-sty  thread.  Bui  the  book  is 
well  liked  here,  and  has  reeled  olT  hi  great  style.  I  have 
two  stories  on  the  anvil,  far  superior  to  Rob  Roy  in  point 
of  interest.    Ever  yours, 

Waltbi  Scott." 

TheCommissionors,  who  finally  assembled  on  the 
4th  of  Febfiiary,  were,  according  to  the  record— 
**  the  Right  Hon.  Charles  Hope,  Lord  Pre«ident  of 

Digitized  by  VjOOQIC 


LIFE  OP  SIR  WALTER  SCOTT. 


ihc  Court  or  SeM?on(  theRifffTit  Hon^  Davie)  B^He,  > 
Lord  Ju5ivc<jCkrk  s  the  RisKr  Htm,  Willinrn  A.hin, 
Lord  OhiL'f  CommLsaiuner  of  ihe  Jury  C^y ri ;  M  ^jor-  ' 
Gkneral  John  Hripe  iCmnniaricJing:  ?he  Fon-^  in 
ycoilnnih;  the  Sulieitor  C&nerEl  Uanira  Wiiier- 
burn,  Ksf|*>j  the  Lord  Provofi  of  Edinburgh  i  Kin- 
cJiid  MftckcnMe,  Ks^*)  L  WilUam  Cttrk,  K*^i ,  i'rin- 
cipftl  CJprk  of  the  Jury  Cwart  j  Henry  Jairdin^.  i  .>«q., 
Deputy  Rt'tn/JiTT  bran  cor  in  ihe  Ej(tlie<iuer ;  ThHuas 
Thompson,  Ksq.,  Deputy  Cl^rlt  Rc^tsier  of  Scot- 
land;  and  WaUur  ScutL,  Efq.,  ono  of  the  Principal 
CJprks  of  Si'^sion/'  j 

Of  the  i>ricctdin;^i  orchis  da  y^  the  reatkr  hns  a 
full  and  tmriicuiar  accouni  in  an  K^ay  which  >^'  ott 
prnTii^rl  phartT^'  nfipnwnrd.r'.  nrtd  w  hich  i^  inrhiih,  1  in 

i[^-^  I';    .:         '  !    -  ;,..;■    J       |Iij|    \    uiLl'^[    lOt 

•omit  the  contemporaneous  letters  in  which  he  an- 
nounced the  success  of  the  quest  to  his  friend  the 
Secretary  of  the  Admiralty,  and  through  him  to  the 
Hcgent—  \ 

To  J.  W.  Croker^  Esq.  M.  P.,  4*.  AdtniraUy,  London. 

"  Edinburgh,  4th  Feb.,  18ia     • 
"MjrdcarCrokcr. 

"  I  have  the  pleasure  to  assure  rnu  the  Resralla  of  Scot-  ' 
land  were  this  dav  found  in  perfect  preNcrvation.    The 
Sword  of  State  and  Sceptre  sliowed  marks  of  hard  usage  ' 
at  some  formerperiod ;  but  in  all  respects  a^ee  with  the  ' 
description  of  Thompson's  work.*  I  will  send  you  a  com-  | 
plete  account  of  the  opening  to-morrow,  as  the  official 
account  will  take  some  time  to  draw  up.    In  the  mean  ' 
time,  I  hope  you  will  remain  as  obstinate  in  your  unbelief  i 
as  St.  Thomas,  because  then  you  will  come  down  to  satis-  > 
fy  yourself.  I  know  nobody  entitled  to  earlier  information, 
save  ONB,  to  whom  you  can  perhaps  find  Uie  means  of , 
communicating  the  result  of  our  researches.   The  post  is 
Just  going  off.    Ever  yours  truly, 

WALTBft  Scott." 

To  the  tame. 

**  Edinburgh,  5th  Feb.,  18ia 
"My  dear  Croker, 

*^  I  promised  I  would  add  something  to  my  report  pf 
yesterday,  and  yet  I  find  I  have  but  little  to  say.  The 
extreme  solemnity  of  opening  sealed  doors  of  oak  and 
iron,  and  finally  breaking  open  a  chest  which  had  been 
shut  since  7lh  of  March,  1707,  about  a  hundred  and  eleven 
years,  gave  a  sort  of  interest  to  our  researches,  which  I 
can  hardly  express  to  you,  and  it  would  be  very  difficult 
to  describe  the  intense  eagerness  with  which  we  watched 
the  rising  of  the  lid  of  the  chest,  and  the  progress  of  the 
T\'or]|men  in  breaking  it  open,  which  was  neither  an  ca.sy 
nor  a  speedy  task*.  It  bounded  very  hollow  when  they 
worked  on  it  with  their  tools,  and  I  began  to  lean  to  your 
faction  of  the  Little  Faiths.  However,  I  never  could  as- 
sign any  probable  or  feasible  reason  for  withdrawing 
tlicRc  memorials  of  ancient  independence ;  and  my  doubts 
rather  arose  from  the  conviction  thai  many  absurd  things  i 
are  done  in  public  as  well  as  in  private  life  merely  out  of 
a  hasty  impression  of  passion  or  resentment  For  it  was 
evident  the  removal  of^ihe  Regalia  might  have  j^eatly  Ir- 
ritated people's  minds  here,  and  offered  a  fair  pretext  of 
breaking  Uie  Union  which,  for  thirty  years,  was  the  pie- 
dominant  wish  of  the  Scotti.9h  nation. 

"The  discovery  of  the  Regalia  has  Interested  people's 
minds  much  more  strongly  than  I  expected,  and  is  cer- 
tainly calculated  to  make  a  pleasant  and  favourable  im- 
pression upon  them  in  respect  to  the  Icingly  part  of  the 
constitution.  It  would  be  of^the  utmost  consequence  that 
they  should  be  occasionally  shown  to  them,  under  proper 
regulations,  and  for  a  small  fee.  The  Sword  of  State  is  a 
most  beautiful  piece  of  workmanship,  a  present  Irom 
Pope  Julius  II.  to  James  IV.  Thft  scabJiariJ  is  rii  hly  de- 
corated with  filigree  work  of  silVT*T,Mcrn[>li5  iriliiL'd,  re- 
presenting oak  leaves  and  aciTNA,  »^KC!(:ut'>ri  In  a  tn^-te 
worthy  that  classical  age  in  wlikH  ih*^  nrLa  r^vf  JTod.  A 
draughtsman  has  been  employed  iir>  m:ikfv  jikctclii^t  of 
these  articles,  in  order  to  be  (aid  bdfore  hln  Ry^al 
Highrtess.  The  fate  of  these  Re£a1»d,  which  h!3i  R^iyal 
Highness'  goodness  has  thus  retJiorcd  lo  1i:«*]ii  ;^nd  honoijr, 
has,  on  one  or  two  occasions  bei^u  <tiiisiiEar  oimjugli.  They 
were.  In  16ri2,  lodged  in  the  Ca*tl*!  of  OuatifHi^ir^Fltf^  *n  at 
of  the  Earl  Marcschal,  by  whou>,  ncr  online  lo  Ivit  anrknt 
pririlege,  they  were  kept.  Th'*  rattle  wj,t  ili^ff^n^jciiJ  by* 
Oeorge  Ogilvie  of  Barra,  who,  apprehensive  of  iho  pio- 
gress  which  the  English  made  in  reducing  the  strong 
places  In  Scotland,  became  anxious  for  the  safety  of  these 
valuable  memorials.    The  ingenuity  of  his  la^y  had  them 

•  ConretkNi  of  lfm>ntorie*  and  other  Roedrda  of  tl»  Roral 
VaniiQbeaiMlJewel-Uoiue,*e.   Edia. tats, 4to. 


cwiTeyed  out  of  the  eaade  to  a  baif  <m  a  wmam't  I  _ . . 
among  somc/iardr,  as  they  are  called;  of  tint.  Tliej  wera 
carried  to  tho  Kirk  of  lunncff,  and  intrusted  to  the  car* 
ol  /the  clergyman  named  Grainger,  and  his  wife,  and  bu> 
ried  under  the  pulpit.  The  Castle  of  Dunnottar.  though 
very  strong  and  faithfully  def  nded,  waa  at  length  under 
necessity  of  sunrehdering,  being  the  last  strong  place  In 
Urilain  on  which  the  royal  dag  floated  in  tlmsQ c afainhous 
times.  Ogilvie  and  lUs  lady  were  threatened  with  the  ut- 
most extremities  by  the  Republican  General  Morgan,  un- 
less the/ should  proiluce  tM  Regalia.  The  governor  stuck 
to  it  tliat  he  knew  notiiing  of  them,  as  in  fact  they  liad 
been  carried  away  without  his  knowledge.  Tlte  Lady 
maintained  slie  hail  given  them  to  John  Keith,  second  son 
of  the  Earl  Mareschal,  by  whom,  she  said,  they  had  been 
carried  to  France.  They  suffered  a  long  imprifionmeot, 
and  much  ill  u«age.  On  the  Restoration,  the  old  Countess 
Mareschal,  founding  upon  the  story  Mrs.  Ogilvi?  bad  told 
to  screen  her  husband,  obtained  for  her  own  son,  John 
Keith,  tho  earldom  of  Kintorc,  and  the  post  of  Knigbt 
Mareschal,  with  jB400  a-year,  as  if  he  had  been  in  trutb 
the  preserver  of  the  Regalia.  It  soon  proved  that  this 
reward  had  been  too  ha.stily  given,  for  Ogilvie  of  Barra 
produced  the  Regalia,  the  honest  clenyman  refuaing  to 
deliver  them  to  any  one  but  those  from  whom  he  re- 
ceived them.  Ogilvie  was  made  a  Knight  Baronet,  how- 
ever, andgot  a  new  charter  of  tho  lands  acknowledging  tha 
good  service.  Thus  it  happened  oddly  enougli,  that  KeHh, 
who  was  abroad  during  the  transaction,  and  had  nothioc 
to  do  with  it,  got  the  earldom,  pension,  &c.,  Ogihrie  only 
inferior  honours,  and  the  poor  clergyman  notnlnf  what> 
ever,  or,  as  we  say ,  <Ae  hare't/oot  to  Kck.  As  for  G^vie*a 
lady,  she  died  before  the  Restoration,  her  health  beinf 
ruined  by  the  hardships  she  endured  iron 


in  the  CrouivreP 

Han  satellites.         _     " ^       .  -      . 

rit  of  that  proud  family.  On  her  death-bed,  and  not  till 
tlien,  she  told  her  husband  where  the  honours  were  con- 
cealed, charging  him  to  suffer  death  rather  than  betraj 
them.  Popular  tradition  says,  not  very  probably,  that 
Grainger  and  his  wife  were  booted  (that  la,  tortured  with 
the  engine  called  the  boots).  I  think  the  Kniaht  Mares- 
chal's  oHice  rested  in  the  Kintore  family  until  1715,  when 
it  was  resumed  on  account  of  the  bearded  Earl's  a 


sion  to  the  Insurrection  of  that  year.  He  escaped  welL 
for  they  might  have  taken  his  estate  and  his  earldom,  i 
must  save  post,  however,  and  conclude  abruptly.  Yooxa 
ever,  ^ 

•  Waltu  Scott." 

On  the  5th,  after  the  forcing  letter  had  beoa 
written  at  the  Clerk's  table^  Scott  and  several  of  his 
brother  Commissioners  revisited  theCastle,  acooni- 
panied  by  some  of  the  ladies  of  their  famihea.  Hit 
daughter  tells  me  that  her  father's  conversation  had 
worked  her  feelings  up  to  such  a  pitch,  that  when 
the  lid  was  again  removed,  she  nearly  fainted,  and 
drew  back  from  the  circle.  As  she  was  retiring,  she 
was  startled  by  his  voice  exclaiming,  in  a  tone  of  the 
deepest  emotion  "something;  between  anger  and 
despatr,"  as  she  expresses  it,— ".By  G — 7,  Nof 
One  of  the  Commissioners,  not  quite  entering  into 
tho  solemnity  with  -which  Scott  regarded  this  buai- 
ness,  had,  it  seems,  made  a  sort  of  motion  as  if  he 
meant  to  put  the  crown  on  the  head  of  one  of  the 
yoiing  ladies  near  him,  but  the  voice  and  aspect  of 
the  Poet  were  more  than  sufficient  to  make  tho 
worthy  gentleman  understand  his  error :  and  re- 
specting the  enthusiasm  with  which  he  baa  not  be«a 
taught  to  sympathize,  he  laid  down  the  ancient  dia- 
dem with  an  air  of  painful  embarrassment  Scott 
whispered  "pray,  forgive  me;"  and  turnine  round 
at  the  moment,  observed  his  daughter  deadly  pale, 
and  leaning  by  the  door.  He  immediately  drew  her 
out  of  the  room,  and  when  the  air  had  somewhat 
recovered  her,  walked  with  her  across  the  Mound  to 
Castle  Street.  "  He  never  spoke  all  the  way  home," 
she  says,'  "  but  every  now  and  then,  I  fplt  his  arm 
tremble ;  and  from  that  time  I  fancied  he  besan  to 
treat  me  more  like  a  woman  than  a  child.  I  thought 
he  liked  me  better,  too,  than  he  had  ever  done  be- 
fore." 

These  little  incidents  may  give  some  notion  of  the 
profound  seriousness  with  which  his  imagination 
had  invested  this  matter.  I  am  obliged  to  add,  that 
in  the  society  of  Edinburgh  at  the  time,  even  in  the 
highest  Tory  circles,  it  did  not  seem  to  awakea 
much  even  of  curioeity— to  say  nothing  of  any  deeper 
feeling;  there  was,  however,  a  great  excitement 
among  the  comn^on  people  of  the  town,  and  a  still 
Digitized  by  VjOOQIC 


UFV^OF  SIR  WALTER  SCOTT. 


BTttater  among  the  peaaantrsr.  not  only  in  the  neigh- 
bonriiood,  but  all  OTor  Scotland ;  and  the  Crown- 
room,  beboniing  thenceforth  one  of  the  established 
H<9m»  of  a  city  much  resortea  to,  moreover,  by  stran- 
ger tourists,  was  likely,  on  the  most  moderate  scale 
o€  admission-fee,  to  supply  a  revenue  sufficient  for 
remunerating  responsible  and  respectable  guardian- 
aliip.     This  post  would,  as  Scott  thought/be  a  very 
suitable  one  for  his  friend.  Captain  Adam  Ferguson ; 
and  he  exerted  all  bis  zeal  for  that  purpose.    The 
Oaptain  was  appointed :  his  nomination,  however, 
did  not  take  place  for  some  months  after :  and  the 
postscripUof  a  letter  to  the  Duke  of  Buccleuch,  dated 
X^j  I4i\^  1813,  plainly  indicates  the  interest  on 
ivhich  Scott  mainly  relied  for  its  completion :— "  If 
you  happen,"  he  writes,  "  to  see  Lord  Melville,  pray 
fptve   him  a  jog  abouffFerguson's  affair;  but  be- 
tween ourselves,  I  depend  chiefly  on  the  kind  offices 
of  Willie  Adam,  who  is  an  auld  sneck-drawer." 
The  Lord  Chief  Commissioner,  at  all  times  ready  to 
lend  Scott  his  influence  with  the  Royal  Family,  bad, 
on  the  present  occasion,  the  additional  motive  of 
iMrarm  and  hereditary  personal  regard  for  Ferguson. 
I  have  placed  together  such  Tetters  as  referred 
principally  to  the  episode  of  the  Regalia;  but  shall 
now  ^v&  in  the  order  of  time,  a  few  which  will 
sufficiently  illustrate  the  usual  course  of  his  exist- 
ence, while  the  Heart  of  Mid-Lothian  was  in  pro- 
gress.  It  appears  that  he  resumed,  in  the  beginning 
of  this  year,  his  drama  of  Devorgoil ;  his  letters  to 
Terry  are  of  course  fliU  of  that  subject^  but  they 
contain^  at  the  same  time,  many  curious  mdications 
oi  his  views  and  feelings  as  to  theatrical  afl*airs  in 
general— and  mixed  up  with  these  a  most  charac- 
xeristic  record  of  the  earnestness  with  which  he  now 
watched  the  interior  fitting  up,  as  he  had  in  the  sea- 
son before  the  outward  arcnitecture,  of  the  new 
edifice  at  Abbotaford.    Mean  while  it  will  be  seen 
that  be  found  leisure  hours  for  various  contributions 
to  periodical  works;  among  others,  an  article  on 
Kirk  ton's  Church  History,  and  another  on  (of  all  sub- 
jects in  the  world)  military  bridgu,  for  the  Quarter- 
ly Review;  a  spinted  version  pf  the  old  German  bal- 
lad on  the  Battle  of  Sempach,  and  a  generous  criti- 
cism on  Mrs.  Shelly's  romance  of  Frankenstein,  for 
Blackwood's  Magazine.  This  being  the  first  winter 
and  spring  of  Laidlaw's  establishment  at  Kaeside, 
communications  as  to  the  aflairs  of  the  farm  were 
exchanged  weekly  whenever  Scotf  was  in  Edin- 
borgh,  and  they  afibrd  delightful  evidence  of  that 
paternal  solicitude  for  the  well-being  of  his  rural  de- 
pendants, which  all  along  kept  pace  with  Scott's 
lesl  as  to  th^  economical  improvement,  and  the 
picturesque  adornment,  of  his  territories. 

To  D.  Terry,  E»^.,  London. 

"  Edinburgh,  23d  Jan.,  1818. 
*  My  dear  Terry, 

*^  You  have  by  Ihls  time  the  continuation  of  the  drama, 
<V>wn  to  the  commencement  of  the  third  act,  ag  I  have 
your  leuer  on  the  subject  of  the  first.  You  will  under- 
■tuid  that  I  only  mean  them  sn  sketches ;  for  the  first  and 
second  acts  are  too  short,  and  both  want  much  to  com- 
bine them  with  the  third.  1  can  easily  add  muKic  to  Miss 
Bevorgoirs  part  As  to  Braham,  he  is  a  beast  of  an  actor, 
though  an  an;^cl  of  a  singer,  and  truly  I  do  not  see  what 
he  could  personify.  Let  me  know,  however,  vour  thoo^hts 
and  winhes,  and  all  shall  be  moulded  to  the  best  of  my 
]mw«r  to  meet  thf^m ;  the  point  is  to  make  it  /oA-e  if  we 
can ;  the  rest  is  all  leather  and  prunella.  A  great  many 
tfaUigs  oanst  occur  to  you  technically  better,  in  t^e  war  of 
alteration  and  improvement,  and  you  know  well  that, 
though  too  indolent  to  amend  things  on  my  o\vn  convlclion, 
1  am  always  ready  to  make  them  meet  my  friends'  wishes 
if  poanble.  We  shall  both  wish  it  better  than  I  can  make 
it,  but  tliere  is  no  reason  why  we  should  not  do  for  it  ail 
that  we  can.  I  advise  you  to  lake  some  sapient  friend 
into  Toor  counsels,  and  let  me  know  the  result,  returning 
the  MS.  at  the  satae  time. 

"I  am  now  anxious  to  complete  Abbotsford.  I  think  I 
told  you  I  mean  to  do  nothhig  whatever  to  the  present 
Itoose,  bat  to  take  it  away  altogether  at  some  future  time, 
so  that  I  finish  the  upper  story  without  any  communication 
with  Mrs.  Redford's.  ei-devant  mansion,  and  shall  place 
the  opening  in  the  lower  story,  wherever  It  will  be  most 
aottable  for  the  new  house,  without  regard  to  defacing 
the  temporary  drawing-room.    I  am  quite  feverish  about 


the  armoury.  I  have  two  pretty  complete  salts  of  armour, 
one  Indian  one,  and  a  cuirasaier'a,  with  boots,  casque,  itc.  \ 
many  hehnets,  corslets,  and  steel  caps,  iworda  and  pon- 
iardn  without  end,  and  about  a  dozen  of  guns,  ancient  and  •  « 
modern.  I  havo  besides  two  or  three  battle-axes  and 
maces,  pikes  and  targets,  a  Highlander's  accoutrement 
complete,  a  great  variety  of  branches  of  horns,  pikes, 
Ih>ws  and  arrows,  and  the  clubs  and  creases  ot  Indian 
tribes.  Mr.  Bullock  promised  to  give  some  hint  about  tho 
fashion  of  disposing  all  these  matters ;  and  now  our  spring 
is  approaching,  and  I  want  but  my  pland  to  get  on.  I  liave 
reason  to  be  proud  of  the  finishiM  of  my  casiUe,  for  even 
of  the  tower  for  which  I  trembled,  not  a  stone  has  been 
shaken  by  the  late  terrific  gale,  which  blew  a  roof  clear 
off  in  the  neighbourhood.  It  was  lying  in  the  voad  like  a 
saddle,  as  Tom  Purdie  expressed  it.  Neill^r  has  a  slate 
been  lided,  though  about  two  yards  of  slating  were  E^irippcd 
from  the  stables  in  the  haugh,  which  you  kno*v  were 
comparatively  less  exposed. 

"  I  am  glad  to  hear  of  Mrs.  Terry's  improved  health  and 
good  prospects.  As  for  young  Master  Mumblecrust,  I 
nave  no  doubt  he  wrtll  be  a  credit  to  us  alL  Yours  ever 
tmly, 

W.  BCOTT." 

As  the  letters  'to  Mr.  Laidlaw  did  not  travel  by 
post,  but  in  the  basket  which  had  come  laden  with 
farm-produce  for  the  use  of  the  family  in  Edinburgh, 
they  have  rarely  any  date  but  the  day  of  the  week. 
This  is,  however,  ot  no  conseqaence. 

To  Mr.  LaidlatOf  Kauide. 

"*  Wednesday.  [Jan.,  1818.] 
"DearWilUe, 

**  Should  the  vfreather  be  rough,  and  you  nevertheless 
obliged  to  come  to  town,  do  not  think  of  riding,  but  take 
Blucher.'  Remember  your  health  is  of  consequence  to 
your  family.  Pray,  talk  generally  with  the  notables  of 
Damick— I  mean  Rutherford,  and  so  forth,  concerning 
the  best  ordering  of  the  road  to  the  marie  ;  and  also  of  the 
foot-road.  It  appears  to  me  some  route  might  be  found 
more  convenient  than  the  present,  but  that  which  is  most 
agreeable  to  those  interested  shall  also  be  most  agreeable 
for  me.  As  a  patriotic  member  of  the  community  oi  Dar- 
nick,  I  consider  their  right  equally  important  as  my  own. 
"1  told  you  I  should  hxe  to  convert  the  present  steading 
at  Beechland  into  a  little  hamlet  of  labourers,  which  wo 
wiU  name  Abbotstown.  The  art  of  making  people  happy 
is  to  leave  them  much  to  their  own  guidance,  out  some 
little  regulation  is  necessary.  In  the  first  place  I  should 
like  to  have  active  and  decent  people  there  ;  then  it  is  to 
be  considered  on  what  footing  they  should  be.  I  conceive 
the  best  possible  is,  that  they  should  pay  for  their  cot- 
tages, and  cow-grass,  and  potato  ground,  and  be  paid  for 
their  labour  at  the  ordinary  rate.  I  would  give  them  some 
'  advantages  sufficient  to  balance  the  following  conditions, 
'  which,  after  all,  are  conditions  in  my  favour— 1st,  That  tlicy 
I  shall  keep  their  cottages,  and  little  gardens,  and  doors,  to- 
I  lerably  neat ;  and,  2d,  That  the  men  lihail  on  no  account 
shool,  or  tlie  boys  break  timber,  or  take  birds'  nests,  or  go 
among  the  planting.  1  do  not  know  any  other  restrictions, 
and  these  arc  easy.  I  should  think  we  mi^ht  settle  a  few 
families  very  liappily  here,  which  isanobject  I  have  mucli 
at  heart,  for  I  have  no  notion  of  the  proprietor  who  is  only 
ambitious  to  be  lord  of  the  '  beast  and  the  brute,*  and 
chases  the  human  face  from  his  vicinity.  By  the  by,  could  » 
we  notinanage  to  have  a  piper  among  the  colonists  1 

"  We  are  delighted  to  hear  that  your  little  folios  like  tho 
dells.  Pray,  in  your  walks  try  to  ascertain  the  locality  of 
St.  John's  Well,  which  cures  the  botls,  and  which  John 
Moss  claims  for  Kaeside ;  also  the  true  history  of  the  Car- 
line's  Hole.    Ever  most  truly  yours, 

W.  Scott. 

**  I  hope  Mrs.  Laidlaw  does  not  want  for  any  thing  that 
she  can  get  from  the  garden  or  elsewhere." 

To  Daniel  Terry,  Esq. 

"  8th  February,  18ia 
"  My  dear  Terry, 

"  Yours  arrived,  unluckily,  just  half  an  hour  after  my 
packet  tvas  in  the  Post-<^ce,  so  this  will  cost  you  9d.,  for         ^ 
which  I  grieve.    To  answer  yoxur  principal  questron  first, 
the  drama  is 

*  Yours,  Terry,  yours  in  every  thought* 
"  I  should  never  have  dreamed  of  making  such  an  attempt 
In  my  own  proper  person ;  and  if  I  had  such  a  visional 
should  have  been  anxious  to  have  made  it  something  of 
a  legitimate  drama,  such  as  a  literary  man,  uncalled  upon 
by  any  circumstance  to  connect  himself  with  the  stage, 
might  have  been  expected  to  produce.    Now  this  la  just 

*  A  atageeoach  so  called,  which  nins  betwatEdiDbmifa  and 
M«J«-«-  Digitized  by  Google 


M 


UFE  OP  SIR  WALTEie  SCOTT. 


bit  any  fentleman  f»  four  rituackin  might  run  off,  to  pve 
ftlittte  novelty  to  the  entertahimcnt  of  the  year,  ana  ^ 
such  will  meet  a  mitigated  degree  of  critici«m«  and  have 
^  a  better  cliance  of  that  produetire  HuccesSj  which  ia  my  * 
principal  object  in  my  godson  V behalf.  If  any  time  Bhoiild 
come  when  you  might  wish  to  disclose  tne  secret,  it  will 
oe  in  your  power,  and  our  correspondence  will  always 
8er>'C  to  sliow  that  it  was  on^y  at  mr  earnest  request,  an- 
nexed as  the  condition  of  bringing  the  play  forward,  that 
you  gave  it  your  name — a  circumstance  which,  with  all 
the  attempting  partirnlam,  will  prove  plainly  that  there  was 
no  assumption  on  your  part. 

"  A  brautiftil  drama  might  be  made  on  the  concealment 
of  the  Bcotcli  rcgulia  during  the  troubles.  But  it,  would 
interfere  with  the  democratic  spirit  of  the  times,  and 
would  probaM^jr 

'  By  party  rage. 

Or  right  or  wgrong,  be  hooted  from  the  stage.' 

"  I  will  never  forgive  you  if  you  let  any  fiUse  idea  of  my 
Imihorial  fecitngs  prevent  your  acting  in  this  affiur  as  if 
Toa  were  the  real  parent,  not  the  godfather  of  the  piece. 
Our  facetious  friend  J.  B.  Icnows  nought  of  such  a  matter 
being  en  train  ,  and  never  will  know.  1  am  delighted  to 
<  hear  ray  windows  arc  finished.    Yours  very  truly^ 

VValtbr  Scott." 
To  Mr.  Lai^ate^  Kaeaidt. 

"  Wednesday.  (Feb.,  1818.1 
•♦DcarWinie, 

**  I  am  not  desirous  to  buy  more  land  at  present,  un- 
less I  were  to  deal  with  Mr.  Rutherford  or  Hicton,  and  I 
would  rather  deal  witl»  them  next  year  than  this,  when  I 
wonld  have  all  my  payments  made  for  what  I  am  now 
buying.  Three  or  (Bur  such  years  as  the  last  would  ena- 
ble  me  with  prudence  and  propriety  to  aslc  Nicol*  himself 
to  flit  and  remove. 

"  I  Mke  the  idea  of  the  birch  hedge  much,  and  if  inter- 
mixed with  hollv  and  thorns.  I  think  it  might  make  an  im- 
penetrable thicket,  having  all  the  advantages  of  a  hedge 
without  the  formality.  I  fancy  you  will  also  need  a  great 
number  of  (black)  Italian  iwplars,  which  are  among  the 
most  useful  and  best  growers,  as  well  as  most  beautiful  of 
plants  which  love  a  wet  soil. 

**  I  am  glad  the  saws  are  going,  f  Wc  may  begin  by  and 
by  with  Wrights,  but  I  cannot  but  think  tliat  a  handy  la- 
bourer might  be  taugtft  to  work  at  them.  I  shall  insist  on 
Tom  learnmg  the  process  perfectly  himself. 

"  As  to  the  darkness  of^the  garrets,  they  are  intended 
for  the  accommo<Iation  of  travelling  geniuses,  poets,  pain- 
ters, and  so  forth,  and  a  Utile  obscurity  will  refresh  their 
•  shattered  brains.  I  daresay  l^uchie;  wil'  shave  his  knoll, 
if  it  is  required— it  may  to  the  barber's  with  the  I-aird's 
hebdomadal  beard— and  Packwood  would  have  thought  it 
the  easier  job  of  the  two. 

»♦  I  saw  Blackwood  yesterday,  and  Hogg  the  day  before, 
and  I  understand  from  thorn  you  think  oT  re.signing  the 
Chronicle  department  of  the  Magazine.  Blackwood  Ipld 
me  tliai  If  you  did  not  like  that  part  of  the  duty,  he  would 
consider  himself  accountable  for  the  same  sum  he  had 
Bpccifled  to  you  for  any  other  articles  you  might  commu- 
nicate from  time. to  time.  He  proposes  that  Hogg  should 
do  the  Chronicle :  lie  will  not  do  it  so  well  as  you,  for  he 
wants  judgment  and  caution,  and  likes  to  have  the  appear- 
ance of  eccentricity  where  eccentricity  is  least  graceful ; 
that,  however,  is  Blackwood's  aflTair.  If  you  really  do  not 
like  the  Chronicle,  there  can  be  no  harm  in  your  giving  it 
up.  What  strikes  me  is,  that  there  in  a  something  certain 
in  having  such  a  department  to  conduct,  whereas  you  may 
■ometimcs  find  yourself  at  a  loss  when  vou  have  to  cast 
about  for  a  subject  every  month.  Blackwood  ia  rather 
In  a  bad  pickle  just  now— sent  to  Coventry  by  the  tradr, 
Bs  the  booksellers  call  themselves,  and  all  about  the  pa- 
rody of  the  two  beasts.!    Surely  these  gentlemen  thmk 

-   yi*    ,^lll■J  .Vi.v  ilJi."  4*1  r  Jkbiiuii'vi''ie,      j  ici*  ii^'i 

vi^iinl  ul"  AljEfl^l^fufrl  t  nrHl  j^tult  tfjutuitifHl^  jfPQF  Hrtcf  Jfinr.  to 

di^^iit  nf  A4.ltiiiir  iL  fll«»  Id  liii  awn.  .  ■  . . 

f  A  Jiiw  mill  fiBtl  |iJ*t  \T^ty  cfTctrd  til  Tonti'^lii 
;  AiVMAIaKtl  uAimti^t  Aypcpiml-ifd  qi  i\v  tNi*tfrti  fide.    His 

Ginn  i«  imHWf\y  lj»fhhrt.Ut;   hut  m  tNr  rH'4£iiliitEtrbaMl  tie  v^us 

\\ ti4iugn.utv  trrio*  it-*ribo»  titwi,  in  la*  "'  AiilKHnfiJni»  wttli  bipo 
vLE«i«i  ^Ic  WM  n  n^nX  ah'iiinliHUfinal. 

\  An  ntiMtXt*  III  tM(f  nrrJii'  I'sdy  numlfrs  of  Rim' k»*  fir**!  *  ^Teili- 
iiiwi  pc^mM  TAi^  C-MW*!- Atij  J"  wluiJi  fhn  tltLT*U  oM  U%A:- 
mUcflsurf^l^tJii^ttir^l^  w-n.  v\n\j^Mi  tn  fwfl.^*^  ^i_■^<i5  hunAi'li  ni>wn,p 
thrj  n*t.    U  WM  Hi  ttfii  !'W'^l''>•1J^  ^►'"^  ron^rtJiUl*'  *fijr  •<!*  filoi-.  T 

(Jr.Hninir'.J   ill.  j.ijriMMh'  vAiUfuffof'-Th'^f-nnir   Ihhil*  iw 

.  fur  1.,  ^fi  m,  ul  MfL  h»f  HhV  "H-^  '>f  hi"  i^*  <1  W^'^^  i  miMi  lH  Vi  Mr  ^|1|>- 
|w,.1in.  U'ltiMttHnlf  lu'lflf'l  (lit*  «- Jiii«rh.x**Jkr|mi^iii:f<  m  wliirh 
!k.-  .trhlnh.'kwM«l  ttre'n'pr*-^rrHi'!lf|i«r»-4iii..tf;bi?  4lLt^>uKol  ^ii'J^tt 

fictaii"  In  tfii' inimr  Mh'dff.'nl  \tUv\v*  nf  ritnU'ntv^wtuin  iinliMi-r- 
»iK#.  TIhi  hl^iunptti'n  nf  Conitbli^^  vipjr  Ui  MAKiUlaro  mny  lie 
iroflh  ifjiM^LriirtUK-ftiF  *iif  l>ftvid  Wilkin,  wli>>  wiu  intrat  wi*.  n 
IpiUnail  lip  tayt  Ik*  wai  aljuuit  elu^titt  wiiiL  laNclitiSfj  and  lie 


lo  the  TiTi'iiC- 


I, 


themselves  rather  fbratedof  j ,    .  __      .  _ 

mon  pouer'sxdsr*.  l>ealinff  in  satire  a^aiaai  al  otliMS, 
their  own  dignity  BufTers  so  cruellyi-frou  aa  WLAmmgkutd 
joke !  If  B.  had  good  b«ok9  to  sell,  he  might  ael  tbem 
all  at  defiance.  HU  Hbgazine  does  weU,  and- bcau Coo- 
stable's  ;  but  we  will  talk  of  this  when  we  meet. 

^'  As  for  Whiggery  in  general,  I  can  only  say,  thai  aa  no 
man  can  be  said  to  be  utterly  overset  until  his  rump  has 
been  higher  than  his  head,  so  I  cannot  read  in  history  of 
any  free  state  which  has  been  brought  to  Klavery  until 
the  rascal  and  uninstruQted  populace  had  had  their  short 
hour  of  anarchical  govervnent,  which  natUFally  leads  to 
the  stem  repose  of  military  despotism.  Property,  mtkrala, 
education,  are  the  proper  qualifkatioRS  for  those  wh9 
should  hold  political  riglits,  and  extendin*;  ihem  \^r>' wide- 
ly greatly  lessens  the  cliance  of  these  qualifications  being 
foimd  in  electors.  Look  at  the  sort  of  persons  chosen  at 
elections  where  the  franchise  is  very  general,  and  vou 
will  find  cither  fools  who  are  content  to  flatter  the  passions 
of  the  mob  for  a  little  transient  poptflarlty,  or  knaves  #ho 
pander  to  their  follies,  that  they  may  make  their  necks  a 
Ibostool  for  their  ovm promotion.  Witli these  ronvictioos 
I  am  very  jealoos  of  Whiip[gery,  under  all  modification^ 
and  I  must  say  my  acquamtance  with  the  total  wani  of 
principle  in  some  of  its  warmest  profossora.  does  not  tend 
to  recommend  it.  Soinewliat  loo  much  of  this.  My  com- 
pliments to  the  goodwife.    Yours  truly, 

WjLiTBR  Scott." 

7\itke  Satne. 

"  Wednesday.  [Feb.  Wiaj 
"Dear  Willie, 

^  I  have  no  idea  Usher*  wHI  take  the  sheep  kind  agsii^ 
nor  would  I  press  it  on  him.  As  my  chreiimstancea  stand, 
immediate  revenue  ia  much  less  my  object  thaa  tlie 
real  huprovement  of  this  property,  which  amuses  oie 
besides;  our  wants  arc  aoiply  supplied  by  uy  X16uaa- 
year  official  income ;  nor  have  we  a  wiah  or  a  motive  to 
extend  our  expenses  beyond  that  of  the  decencies  and 
hospifality  of  our  station  m  life :  so  that  my  other  resour- 
ces remain  for  buying  land  In  lulurc,  or  improving  what 
wc  have.  No  doubt  Abbotsford,  in  maintaining  our  estab- 
lishment during  the  simimer,  may  be  reckoned  .^IfiO  or 
£'X0  pounds  saved  on  what  we  must  otherwise  buy, 
and  if  wo  could  arrange  to  have  mutton  and  beof  occa- 
sionally, it  would  be  a  still  greater  saving.  AH  tlus  you 
will  consider:  for  Tom,  tJiorouglily  honest  and  very 
clever  in  Ikis  way,  has  no  kind  of  generalixing,  and  would 
often  like  to  save  sixpence  in  his  own  department  at  the 
expense  of  my  paying  five  shillin£S  In  another.  This  U 
his  fault,  and  when  you  Join  to  it  a  Scotch  slovenKness 
which  leads  him  to  see  ttiings  half-finished  witlwut  r»ain 
or  anxiety,  I  do  not  know  any  other  he  has — but  such  as 
they  are,  these  must  be  guarded  against.  For  our  hoo^e- 
maid,  (for  housekeeper  we  mail  not  coil  her,)!  should  lilBS 
much  a  hawk  of  a  nest  so  good  aa  that  you  mention ;  but 
would  not  such  a  place  be  rather  beneath  ber  views) 
Her  duty  would  be  to  look  to  scrupulous  cleanllneKs  with- 
in doors,  and  employ  her  leisure  in  spinning,  or  plain- 
work,  as  wanted.  When  we  came  out  for  a  bNnk,  she 
would  be  expected  to  cook  a  little  in  a  plain  way,  and  play 

aflerwanlf  confessed  that  tbe  Chaldean  author  had  given  a  sufli- 
cicndy  accurate  vemion  of  what  really  passed  on  tbe  occ^uoo  .— 

"  96.  But  wlien  the  Spirits  were  gooe.  be  (The  Cnmr}  said 
unto  himself,  I  vnll  arise  and  so  unto  a  magician;  which  ij  of  mjr 
friends  .-  of  a  surety  be  will  devise  sonie  remedy,  and  Ace  me  out 
ofallmydistreases.  ,  ._.... 

"  S7.  do  he  aKwe  and  esme  onto  that  areat  masicuuujvMi 
hath  his  dwelkng  m  the  oht  fasUiess.  hud  by  the  Rmr  Jodsa. 
which  ia  by  the  Bolder.  «     -,   ,    . 

"  ».  And  the  magician  opened  his  mouth  and  Mud.  u>  t  ipy 
heart  wiaboth  thy  good,  and  let  tbe  thing  prosper  which  m  n  thr 
handii  to  do  it.  «„    -     _..  . 

"  4S.  But  thou  aeest  that  my  hands  are  ftiH  orworbng,  and  my 
labour  is  great  For,  lo.  I  have  to  i%cd  ail  the  peoi>le  of  ttiy  land, 
and  none  Itnoweth  whence  liiii  fbod  conieth ;  but  each  siss 
oricneth  hi«  mouth,  and  mj  hand  filleUi  it  with  pleasant  things. 

"  ao.  Mofspver.  thinii  udvenary  also  is  of  my  mmiluus. 

"  31.  Thc^aodis  before  tliee  :  draw  thou  up  thine  host*  for  the 
battle  on  the  mount  uf  Proclamation,  and  defy  boldly  thine  enemy, 
which  hath  his  camp  in  the  pkce  of  Princes ;  qjiit  ye  as  men,  and 
let  fiivour  lie  shown  unto  bim  wliidi  ia  moat  valiant 

"  S2.  Yet  be  thou  ailent ;  penidventure  will  i  help  thee  aooae 

•'  33.  But  the  man  which  ii  Crafty  saw  that  the  magician  k>ved 
hmi  not.  For  he  knew  bim  of  oW,  and  they  had  Sumy  dealmn  ; 
and  hi*  pcrnived  that  he  would  not  aisiat  liim  ui  the  day  oT  bis 
adveKity.  .  -,.    *  .    . 

"  34.  8o  he  turned  about,  and  went  out  of  m«  flistnera.  Ana 
lif  slwKjk  the  dust  from  his  feet,  and  said.  Behold,  I  haveiriven  this 
mapician  much  moivy,  yet  seo  now,  lie  hath  utterly  deserted  me. 
Verily,  my  fine  gold  hath  rierishetl.  "-Chap.  III. 

•  John  Ualier,  the  cxpropriptor  of  Toftfield.  was  eventually 
Scott'fl  tenant  on  port  of  those  lands  (or  many  yeors.  He  was  a 
man  of  fur  superior  rank  and  intrlligcncc  to  tbe  rest  of  the  dur 
placiid  lainis— and  came  prcaontly  to  be  one  oi  Sfcolta  tfostr 
rural  friends,  and  a  frequent  companion  of  ha  *l^^^ 


UFE  OF  sat  WALTn  MOTT. 


I  otf'  all  workf ;  «b«ii  we  were  sUtioouy,  shlk  would 
It  the  tioueeinaid  and  luperiatead  the  laundry.  Pro- 
b«U4j  TOUT  aant'e  cTBnd*dai]ffhter  will  have  preteoaione  to 
wrwrweniM  better  than  this ;  but  aa  we  are  to  be  out  on  the 
I2lh  of  March,  we  will  talk  it  over.  Assuredly  a  well- 
conneeted  steady  person  would  be  of  the  greateit  conse- 
qiuence  to  us.  I  likQ  your  plan  of  pitting  much,  and  to 
compromise  betwixt  joa  and  Tom,  do  one  half  with  8UjDe> 
rior  attenfion,  and  sUt  in  the  others  far  mere  nurses.  Bat 
I  am  no  (Hend  to  that  same  slitting. 

**  I  adhere  to  trying  a  patch  or  two  of  larches  of  a  quar- 
ter of  ui  acre  each  upon  the  Athole  pkuu  by  way  of  expe- 
Timent.  We  can  plant  them  up  if  they  do  not  thrive.  On 
tbe  wbol&  three  and  a  half  feet  is,  I  think,  the  right  dis- 
tance. I  nave  no  fear  of  the  ground  being  impoverished. 
TYees  are  not  like  aral/Ie  crops,  which  necessarily  derive 
their  sustenance  from  the  superficial  earth — the  roots  of 
tree«  go  iar  and  wide,  and,  if  bicommoded  by  a  neighbour, 
they  send  out  suckers  topro<;ure  nourishment  elsewhere. 
Tbey  never  hurt  each  other  till  their  tops  interfere,  which 
toaj  be  easily  prevented  by  timely  weeding. 

*^I  rejoice  in  the  sawmiUl  Have  you  settled  with  Har- 
per 1  and  how  does  (^g  and  Bashan*  come  on  1  I  cannot 
tell  you  how  delighted  I  am  wUh  the  account  Hogg  gives 
oaa  of  BIr.  Qrieve.  The  great  Cameron  was  chaplain  in 
tha  boose  of  my  great  somethtng  gnndfitther,  and  so  I 
tepe  Bfr.  Grieve  will  be  mine.  If,  aa  the  King  of  Pnissfa 
Msid  to  Rousseau,  *a  Httle  penecutloa  is  necessary  to 
■aaka  his  home  entftrety  to  his  tolnd,'  he  shall  have  h ; 
■Bd  wbat  perseeutovt  seldom  promise,  I  will  stop  wfaen- 
wver  he  is  tired  of  it  I  hsTe  a  iMir  of  thumbikins  also 
mmmh  at  hia  aert1e«)  If  he  legaies  their  hssistance  to 
giortfy  God  and  the  Ck)venant.  Sincerely,  like  enthusiasm 
of  every  kfaid  so  well,  eapeelally  v^hen  united  with  woVth 
of  (Aaracter,  tlMt  I  Shan  be  deHghCed  with  ttiis  okt  gentle- 


Bv«ryout«, 


W.  Soorr." 


The  last  oaraffraph  of  this  letter  refers  to  an  uncle 
^  LaidlaVs,  (the  father  of  Hogt^s  friend  John 
Otiere,)  who  at  this  time  thought  of  oceupying  a 
cottage  on  Scott's  estate.  He  waa  a  preacher  of  the 
C^meroniian  sect,  and  had  lon^mimstisred  to  a  very 
small  remnant  01  "the  hill-folk'*  scattered  among 
the  wilds  of  EtcHclt  He  was  a  very  good  man,  and 
had  a  most  venerable  and  apostoCcal  benigmty  of 
aspect ;  but  his  prejudices  were  ^9  extravagant  as 
thoae  of  Cameron  bis  patrkrch  himself  comd  have 
been.  The  project  of  his  removal  to  Tweedside  was 
never  realiied.  * 

Tlie  following  admirable  letter  was  written  at  the 
request  of  Messrs.  Constable,  who  had,  on  Scott's 
recommendation,  undertaken  the  publication  of  Mr. 
Hatunn's  novel,  "Women,  or  Pour  tt  Contre." 
The  reverend  author's  "  Bertram"  had,  it  may  be 
rememDerpd,  undergone  some  rather  rough  usage  in 
Coleridgers  "fiio|ib^phia  Literaria;"  and  he  was 
now  desirous  to  revenge  himself  by  a  preface  of  the 
srokmical  sort  :— 

7^  the  Rev.  C  R.  Maturing  Dublin. 

'*26chFebnicry,161& 
^DearSir, 

I  am  going  to  claim  the  utmost  and  best  privilege  of 


friendship  and  good«wUL  that  of  offering  a  few 
words  of  weitmeaot  advice ;  and  you  may  be  sure  that 
the  occasion  seems  important  to  induce  me  to  venture  so 
6r  upon  your  tolerance.  It  respects  the  preface  to  your 
work,  which  Constable  and  Co.  nave  sent  to  me.  It  is  as 
well  written  as  that  sort  of  thing  can  be ;  biit  will  you 
forgive  me  if  I  say— it  is  too  much  in  the  tone  of  the  of- 
fence which  gave  rise  to  it,  to  be  agreeable  either  to  good 
usie  or  to  general  feeling.  Coleridge's  work  ^a8  been 
little  read  or  heard  of,  and  has  made  no  general  impres- 
sion wliatever— ceriainly  no  impression  unfavourable  to 
you  or  your  Play.  In  the  opinion,  therefore, of  many,  you 
will  bo  resenling  an  injury  of  which  they  are  unacquaint- 
<>d  with  the  existence.  If  1  see  a  man  beating  anotJier 
unmercifully,  I  am  apt  to  condemn  him  upon  the  first 
hittti\  of  the  business,  and  hardly  excuse  him  though  I 
may  afterwards  learn  he  had  ample  provocation.  Besides, 
▼our  diatribe  is  not  hujtu  loci.  We  take  rfp  a  novel  for 
amusement,  and  this  current  of  controversy  breaks  out 
upon  us  like  a  stream  of  lava  out  of  the  side  of  a  beautiful 
green  hill ;  men  will  say  you  should  have  reserved  your 
disputes  for  reviews  or  periodical  publications,  and  thev 
will  sympathize  less  with  vour  anger,  because  they  will 
not  thtnk  the  time  proper  for  expressing  it.  We  are  bad 
judges,  bad  phyriciaBa,  and  bad  divines,  in  our  own  case ; 

*  A  yoke  of  oxen. 


bat,  abeve  all,  we  are  asldora  able,  whes  lafured  er  ia- 
suited,  to  judge  of  the  degree  of  aymoathy  wlileh  tlfs 
world  will  bear  in  our  resentment  and  our  retaliatiea. 
The  instant,  however,  that  such  degree  of  sympattiy  is 
exceeded,  we  hurt  ourselves  and  aot  our  adversary ;  I 
am  so  eonvinced  of  this,  and  so  deeply  fijted  in  the  ophijon, 
that  besides  the  uncomfortable  feelings  which  are  gene- 
rated In  the  course  of  Jlteniry  debate,  a  man  lowers  his 
estimation  in  the  publio  eye  by  engaging  in  such  contro- 
versy, that,  since  1  have  been  dipped  in  kik,  I  have  auf- 
fered  no  personal  attacks  (and  I  have  been  hooKmred  with 
them  of  all  descriptk>ns)  to  provoke  me  to  reply.  A  man 
will  certainly  be  vexed  on  such  occasions,  and  I  have 
wished  to  have  the  -knaves  trAere  the  mttirtopk  vta»  the  ' 
haiHe—or^  as  yom  would  say,  upon  the  »od  wvA  I  never' 
let  the  thing  cUng  to  my  mind,  and  always  adhered  to  my 
resolution,  that  if  my  writings  and  tenor  of  life  did  not 
confbte  such  attacks,  my  words  never  should.  Let  me 
entreat  you  to  view  Coleridge's  violence  as  a  thing  to  be 
contemned,  not  retaliated— the  opinion  of  a  British  p;oblic 
may  surely  be  set  in  honest  opposition  to  that  of  one  dis- 
appointed and  wayward  nlan.  You  should  also  consider, 
en  bon  Chr9tien^  that  Coleridge  has  had  some  rqom  to  be 
spited  at  the  World,  and  you  are,  I  trust,  to  continue  to  be 
a  favourite  with  the  pubUc— so  that  you  should  totalfy 
neglect  and  despise  criticism,  however  virulent,  which 
arise  out  of  his  bad  fonnne  and  your  good. 

"  I  have  only  to  add,  that  Messrs.  Constable  and  Co.  «re  • 
seriously  alarined  lor  the  eflects  of  the  preface  upon  the 
public  mhid  as  tmfavourable  to  the  work.  In  this  they 
must  be  tolerable  judges,  for  ihchr  experience  as  to  popu- 
lar feeling  Is  very  great;  and  as  they  have  met  your 
wishes,  in  all  the  course  en  the  transaction,  perhaps  you 
will  be  (Bsposed  to  give  some  weight  to  their  opinion  upon 
a  point  like  this.  iJpon  mr  own  pari,  I  can  only  say,  that 
I  nave  no  habits  or  friendship,  and  scarce  those  of  ac« 
qoaintance,  with  Coleridge— I  have  net  even  read  his  auto- 
biOfraphy— but  I  consider  hhn  as  a  man  of  genius,  strug- 
gling with  bad  habits  and  (fifficult  circumstances.  It  is, 
however,  entirely  upon  your  account  that  I  take  the  lib- 
erty of  stating  an  opmion  on  a  subject  of  such  delicacy,  t 
should  wish  yon  to  give  your  exVellent  talents  fair  play, 
and  to  ride  this  race  without  carrying  any  superfluous 
weight ;  and  I  am  so  well  acquahited  with  my  old  Iriend, 
the  public,  that  I  could  bet  a  thousadHpounds  to  a  shilling 
that  the  preface  (if  that  controverslarpart  of  it  Is  not  can- 
celled) will  greatly  prejudice  your  novel. 

^I  will  not  ask  your  forjdveness  for  the  freedom  I  have 
used,  for  I  am  sure  you  will  not  suspect  me  of  any  motive.s 
but  those  which  arise  from  regard  to  your  talents  and  per- 
son ;  but  I  shall  be  glad  to  hear  (whether  you  follow  my 
advice  or  no)  that  yon  are  not  angry  with  me  for  having 
volanteere<l  tooflTerlt. 

'  My  health  is,  I  think,  greatly  improved ;  1  have  had 
some  returns  of  my  spasmodic  aifection,  but  tolerable  in 
degree,  and  yielding  to  medicine.  I  hope  gentle  exercise 
and  the  air  of  my  hills  will  set  me  «p  this  summer.  I 
trust  you  will  soon  be  out  now.  I  have  delayed  readi|ag 
the  sheets  In  progress  aAer  vol.  I.,  Ihat  I  might  enjoy  them 
when  collected.    Ever  yours,  Ac,    • 

WAxna  Scorr." 

To  Mr.  Itaidlatt. 

"  Edinburgh,  Wednesday.    [March,  ISiaj 
"Dear  Willie, 

"  I  am  delighted  to  hear  the  plantinKs  get  on  so  well. 
The  weather  here  has  been  cruelly  changeable— fresh 
one  day— frost  I  he  next— snow  the  third.  T^jis  morning 
the  snow  lay  three  inches  thick,  and  before  tioon  it  wsfi 
gone,  and  blowing  a  tempest.  Many  of  the  better  ranks 
are  iU  of  the  typhus  fever,  and  some  deaths.  How  do  your 
poor  folks  come  on  1  Let  Tom  advance  you  inonf  y  wheft 
It  ia  wanted.  I  do  not  propose,  like  the  heroine  of  a  novel, 
to  convert  the  hovels  of  want  into  the  abodes  of  elei^nt 
plenty,  but  we  have  enoujph  to  spare  to  relieve  actual  dis- 
tress, and  do  not  wish  to  ecouoraixc  where  we  can  fimi 
out  (which  is  diflicuh)  where  the  assistnnre  is  in.stantly 
useful. 

"Don't  let  Tom  forget  hedgerow  trees,  which  he  is  very 
unwilling  to  remember ;  and  also  to  plant  birches,  oak^, 
elms,  and  such-like  round-headed  trees,  alonj?  the  vavck 
of  the  Kaoivide  plantations ;  they  m^e  a  beautiful  oumne, 
and  also  n  sort  of  fence,  and  were  not  plant  tnl  last  year 
because  the  earth  at  tiie  sunk  fciu-cs  was  too  newly  trav- 
ellcd.  This  should  be  mixed  with  varioux  biislies,  as 
hollies,  thorns,  so  as  lo  make  a  wild  hedge,  or  thickety 
obstruction  to  the  inroads  of  cattle.  A  few  sweetbricrs, 
alders,  honeysuckles,  laburnums,  Ac,  should  be  thrown 
in.  A  verdant  screen  may  be  made  in  this  way  of  the 
wildest  and  most  beautiful  description,  which  should  nev- 
er be  clipi,  only  pruned,  allowing  the  loose  branches  to 
drop  over  those  that  are  taken  away.  Tom  is  verv  costive 
about  trees  and  talks  only  of  .KK)  i>oplars.    I  shall  send  at 


♦; 


LIFE  OP  SIR  WALTER  SCOTT. 


least  double  tbat  number;  eleo  eome  hac-berries,  &c. 
He  think!  he  It  saving  me  moncf ,  when  he  te  stanring  my 
proiecte ;  bat  he  la  a  pearl  of  boneaty  and  good  intention, 
and  I  like  him  the  better  for  needing  driving  where  ex- 
pense ia  Ukelj.    Ever  yours, 

W.  Scott." 

ThJohn  Murray^  B^q..,  Albemarle  Street,  London. 
"*  Abbotsford,  23d  fifarch,  18ia 
"DearMnrray, 

*  Grieve  not  for  ipe,  my  dearest  dear, 

I  am  not  dead,  but  alcepeth  here* • 

"  I  iiave  little  to  plead  for  myself,  but  the  old  and  vile 
apologies  oHUxiness  and  indisposition.  I  think  1  have  been 
su  unlucky  of  late  as  to  have  always  the  will  to  work  when 
sittins  at  the  desk  hurts  me,  and  the  irresistible  propen- 
sity to  be  lazy,  when  I  mi^ht,  like  the  man  whom  lloganh 
Introduces  into  BridcwcU  with  his  hands  strapped  up 
aj^ainst  the  wall,  'better  work  than  stand  thus.'  I  Laid 
Kirkton'  aside  half  finished,  from  a  desire  to  eel  the  ori- 
ginal edition  of  the  lives  of  Cameron,  &c.,  by  Patrick 
Walker,  which  I  had  not  seen  since  a  boy,  and  now  I  have 
got  it,  atid  find,  as  I  suspected,  that  some  curious  mor- 
ceaux  have  been  cut  out  by  subsequent  editors,  t  I  will, 
without  loss  of  time,  finish  the  article,  which  1  think  you 
will  like.  Blackwood  kidnapped  an  article  for  his  Maga- 
zine on  the  Frankenstein  atory,;  which  I  intended  for  you. 
A  very  oM  friend  and  school  companion  of  mine,  and  a 
gallant  soldier,  if  ever  there  was  one,  Sir  Howard  Doug- 
us,  has  asked  me  to  review  his  work  on  Military  Bridges. 
I  must  get  a  friend's  assistance  for  the  scientific  pari,  and 
add  some  balfutm  of  mine  own  (as  printer's  devils  say)  to 
make  up  four  or  five  pages.  I  have  no  objection  to  at- 
tempt Lord  Orford  if  I  have  time,  and  find  I  can  do  it  with 
ease:  Though  far  from  admiring  his  character,  I  have 
always  had  a  hish  opinion  of  his  talents,  and  am  well  ac- 
quainted with  his  works.  The  letters  you  have  published 
are,  I  think,  his  very  best— lively,  enteri^ning,  and  unaf- 
fected, f  I  am  greatly  obliaed  to  yQU  for  these  and  other 
literary  treasures,  whjch  f  owe  to  your  goodness  from 
time  to  tUne.  Although  not  thankfully  acknowledged  as 
they  should  be  in  course,  these  things  are  never  thank- 
lessly received. 

^  I  could  have  swum  that  Beppo  was  founded  on  Whis- 
tlecraft,  as  both  ifgfk  on  Anthony  Hall,i  who,  like  Beppo, 
had  more  wit  than  grace. 

**  I  am  not,  however  in  sphits  at  present  for  treating 
either  these  worihiei,  or  my  friend  Roae,^  though  l^w 
have  warmer  wishes  to  any  of  the  trio.  But  this  con- 
founded changeable  weather  has  twice  within  this  fort- 
night brought  back  my  cramp  in  the  stomach.  Adieu. 
My  next  shall  be  with  a  packet.    Yours  truly, 

W.  Scott." 

In  the  next  letter  we  have  Scott^B  Itmentation 
over  thu  death  of  Mrs.  Murray  Keith— the  Mrs. 
Jiethune  Baliol  of  his  Chronicles  of  the  Canonji;ate. 
The  person  alluded  to  under  the  designation  of 
^'Prinpe  of  the  Black  Marble  Islands,"  was  Mr. 
George  Bullock,  already  often  mentioned  as,  with 
Terry  and  Mr.  Atkinson^  consulted  about  all  the 
arrangements  of  the  riling  house  at  Abbotaford. 
Scott  gave  him  this  title  from  the  Arabian  Nights, 
on  occasion  of  his  becoming  the  lessee  of  some 
marble  quarries  in  the  Isle  of  Anglesea. 
To  D.  Terry,  Esq.,  London. 

"AprU  30th,  1818.    Selkirk. 
••My  dear  Terry, 

;*  Your  packet  arrived  this  momln);.  1  was  much  dis- 
apnointed  not  to  find  the  Prince  of  the  Black  Islands'  plan 
in  It,  nor  have  I  heard  a  word  from  him  since  anent  it,  or 
anent  the  still  more  essential  articles  of  doors  and  win- 
dows.   I  heard  from  Hector  MacDonald  Buchanan,  that 

*  Sr^AV*  Mrtn^lu  H-i]  Ktfkr.ijfj'N  nHTi-ry  .jI:  !Jl/^^_1!.J^L'lJnf  Scotland, 
pditeil  Eir  Mr  U   K.  .'-'hurtk't  api^>ia-J  in  \\w  ^ih  nnmberof  the 
nrtHir  Jlsview.    Bm  ,Mi«erlliiiieo4»  Vmati  Wurbii,  ivL  xis.  p. 

"f  Sutt  ei|iimf  rd  c^dt  ttLiifAcliofi  qii  mr\us  ^h^  T.ires  of  the 
Cbwntitlm,— CanH'ton,  PeJiin,^  Si-Eiitik*,  '*^  <  II^jpntJ,  Carftili. 
SnMi,  F£ffiwick:ti&i~'  .  n?T^"K4i  wi'hout  n>Liin.ii.M<j  in  riie  "Diue* 
rsriiii  P(rfM«nAna.  Rilin  issi?.'*  Tin?  )*iM  Ji  r  Qfihij  ooikc- 
tinn  wHi  tbc  tith*  Mr.  J^hn  -^tifvenjifm,  kHi-f^trK-f  ^^!i.Tk  to  Jonn 
Baltaht^dWi  mM  imimUt  iifV'i  t?  Sc-iiit  '-  Tntc  Jtirk*"  in  opfio- 
t^ikm  1*1  «K  of  Ilk  nfJ  ipfttrer'/i  fn*oy  a'Jia^e^^wa^x  "  Leein* 
JoltniiM*.'* 

I  ft^a-^rfiK's  Proip  MiKwIlnnint,  vol.  KtiiiK  p-  SW* 

%  Tlu'  LfUiT*  of  Hur«C¥  Wftlpqjf!  U>  GrtMlti?  A|gii(vtie. 

'■  A»tiViff]f  Hali  ii  bttiy  kimwn  mm  fAHot  of  ants  n^  Leland's 
worlp  :  1  MTa  no  duubt  **c«it  MfSS  \lmA\tm  »f  J'^^ff  Hall  Ste- 
r'tn^rtn.mni'bnf  (if  " Cfuiy  Tsk» C  ti»o  riicnJ,  uinl  Ol  is  said)  the 
KH^rniHv  of  ^utsi#. 

^  I  ht'lim-  Mr.  Iln»e'j  '*  Court  and  Pajlinmrnl  of  Bcastt"  is 
h&tv  sUtHkt!  to. 


«li. 


the  said  doors  and  windows  wer^  packing  a  fortniflit  ahiee* 
but  there  are  no  news  of  them.  Surely  our  friend**  heart 
has  grown  as  hard  as  his  materials;  or  the  spell  of  the 
enchantress,  which  confined  itself  to  the  extremities  of 
his  predecessor,  has  extended  over  his  whole  person. 
Mr.  Atkinson  has  kept  tryste  charmingly,  and  the  cle)ifi« 
of  tiie  dining-room  wul  be  superb.  I  have  cot  I  know  noc 
how  many  casts  from  Melrose  and  other  places,  of  pure 
Gothic  antiquity.  I  must  leave  this  on  the  12lh,  and  I 
could  bet  a  trifle  the  doors,  Ac.  will  arrive  the  very  day 
I  set  out,  and  be  all  put  up  h  la  bonne  aventure.  Mean 
time  I  am  keeping  open  nouse,  not  much  (o  my  conv  e- 
nience,  and  I  am  afraid  I  shall  be  stopped  in  my  plaster- 
ing by  the  want  of  these  matters.  The  exposed  stale  of 
my  house  has  led  to  a  onysterious  disturbance.  The 
night  before  last  we  were  awakened  by  a  violent  noise, 
Uke  drawing  heavy  boards  along  the  new  part  of  the 
house.  I  fancied  something  had  fallen,  and  thought  no 
more  about  it.  This  was  about  two  In  the  rooming.  Last 
night,  at  the  same  witching  hour,  the  very  same  noise 
occurred.  Mrs.  8.,  as  you  know,  is  rather  ttmberaomt,  so 
up  got  I,  with  Beardie's  broadsword  under  my  arm, 
*So  bolt  upright, 
And  ready  to  fight." 
But  nothing  was  out  of  order,  neither  can  I  discover  what 
occasioned  the  disturbance.  However.  I  went  to  bed, 
grumbling  against  Tenterden  Street*  and  all  iu  works.  If 
tbero  was  no  entrance  but  the  key-hole,  I  should  wanraBt 
myself  against  the  ghosts.  We  have  a  set  of  idle  feOowa 
caJled  workmen  about  us,  which  is  a  better  way  oi  ae- 
counting  for  nocturnal  noises  than  any  that  is  to  be  foond 
in  Baxter  or  OUnville. 

"  When  vou  see  Mr.  Atkinson,  wiU  you  ask  him  how  Car 
he  is  satisfied  with  the  arch  between  the  amonry  and  the 
anteroom,  and  whether  it  pleases  him  aa  it  now  stands  1  I 
have  a  braveold  oaken  cabinet,  as  black  aa  ebony,  900  years 
old  at  least,  which  will  occupy  one  side  of  the  anteroom 
for  the  present.  It  is  seven  feet  and  a  half  long,  about 
eighteen  Inches  deep,  and  upwards  of  six  feet  high— a  fine 
stand  for  china,  Ac. 

**  You  will  be  sorry  to  hear  that  we  have  toil  our  ezcei- 
lent  old  friend,  Mra.  Bfurray  Keith.    She  enjoyed  aU  her 

Spirits  and  excellent  faculties  till  within  two  days  of  her 
eath,  when  she  was  seized  with  a  feverish  complabit. 
which  eighty4wo  years  were  not  calculated  to  resist. 
Much  tradition,  and  of  the  very  best  kind,  has  died  with 
this  excellent  old  lady ;  one  of  the  few  persons  whom 
spirits  and  cleanliness,  snd  freshness  of  mind  and  body, 
made  old  age  lovely  and  desirable.  In  the  general  case 
it  seems  scarce  endursble.  *  ^ 

"  It  seems  odd  to  me  that  Rob  Royt  should  have  made 

§ood  foriune ;  pray  let  me  know  somethioc  of  iu  history, 
'here  is  in  Jedediah's  present  work  a  tning  capable  o. 
being  woven  out  a  Bourgeoise  tragedy.  I  think  of  coa- 
triving  that  it  shall  be  in  yonr  hands  some  time  before  the 
public  see  It,  that  you  may  try  to  operate  upon  It  vourseiC 
This  would  not  be  difficult,  as  vof.  4,  and  part  of  3d,  con- 
tain a  different  story.  Avowedly  I  will  never  write  for 
the  stage ;  if  1  do,  ^call  me  horte.*  And  indeed  I  feel 
severely  the  want  of  knowledge  of  theatrical  business 
and  effect :  however,  something  we  will  do.  I  am  writing 
in  the  noise  and  babble  of  a  head-coun  of  freeholders, 
therefore  my  letter  is  incoherent,  and  therefore  it  is 
written  also  on  long  paper ;  but  therefore,  moreover,  ii 
vrill  move  by  frank,  aa  tne  member  Is  here,  and  stands 
upon  his  populsrity.  Kind  compliments  to  Mrs.  Terry 
and  Walter.    Yours  very  truly, 

Walter  Storr." 

On  the  morning  that  Mr.  Terry  received  the  fore- 
going letter  in  London,  Mr.  William  Erskine  was 
breakfasiing  with  him ;  and  the  chief  subject  of  their 
conversation  was  the  sudden  death  of  George  Bui- 
lock,  which  had  occurred  on  the  same  night,  and  as 
nearly  as  they  could  ascertain,  at  the  very  hour 
when  Scott  was  roused  from  his  sleep  by  the  mys- 
terious disturbance'*  here  described,  and  sallied  from 
his  chamber  with  old  Beardie's  Killiecrankie  clay- 
more iu  his  hand.  This  coincidence,  when  Scott 
received  Erskine's  minute  detail  of  what  had  hap- 
pened in  Tenterden  street,  made  a  much  stronger 
impressiofion  his  mind  than  might  be  gathered  from 
the  tone  of%n  ensuing  communication. 
To  D.  Terry,  E»q.,  London. 

^  Abbotsford,  4th  May,  1S13. 
"  Dear  Terry, 

'*  I  leceived  with  the  greatest  surprise,  and  the  most 
sincere  distress,  the  news  of  poor  George  Bullock's  death. 

*-  Bullock's  nwnufltctonr  was  to  this  ttrpet 
t  A  drama  founded  on  the  novel  of  Rob  Roy  had  be 
wilb  peat  tucoeis,  oo  tbe  London  stage. 


UPB  OP  8Bt  WALTER  800TT. 


■fe  QM  flu  omcT#f  iMBOiifMilt  iMdiHliyi   ilintinulilicd 
k^  Ma  ftneoBu^oB  tuc«  and  Ulmty— esteemed  by  all  who 
tsmaneted  biuineM  with  htaii<— and  loved  by  thoaa  who 
httd  the  pleasure  of  ills  more  intimate  acqualntanco,— I 
can  scarce  conceive  a  more  melancholy  summons.     It 
cornea  as  a  particular  shock  to  me,  because  I  had.  particu- 
Isrfy  of  late,  so  much  associated  his  idea  with  the  improve* 
nsvnts  here,  in  which  his  liind  and  enthusiastic  temper 
imd  him  to  talce  such  hiterest ;  and  in  looking  at  every  un- 
fciished  or  projected  circumstance,  I  feel  an  impression 
o€  raelaacholy  which  will  for  some  time  take  away  the 
pleasureJ  have  found  in  them.    1  liked  George  Bullock 
because  he  had  no  trumpery  selfishness  about  his  heart, 
iBflCB,  or  feclincs.    Pray  let  me  know  about  the  circum- 
stances of  his  family,  4bc.    I  feel  most  sincerely  interest- 
ed In  all  that  concerns  him.    It  must  have  beena  dreadful  i 
•orprise  to  Mr.  Atkinson  and  you  who  lived  with  him  so  ; 
BMieh.     I  need  not,  I  am  sure,  beg  you  to  be  in  no  hurry 
about  my  things.  The  conAision  must  be  cruelly  great, 
wfthoiK  any  friend  adding  to  it ;  and  in  fact,  at  this  mo- 
saeott  I  am  very  indiflTerent  on  the  subject.     The  poor 
kind  fellow !    He  took  so  much  notice  of  little  Charles.  I 
and  was  so  domesticated  with  us  all,  that  I  really  looked  ' 
wi!h  a  schoolboy's  anxiety  for  his  being  here  in  the  sea-  : 
•oo,  ro  take  his  own  quiet  Pleasures,  and  to  forward  mine,  i 
Bvt  God's  will  be  done.    All  that  surviving  friends  can  do 
opoa  such  a  loss  is.  If  possible,  to  love  each  other  still 
better.    I  bAgto  be  kindly  remembered  to  Mrs.  Terry  and 
Monsieur  Walter.    Ever  most  truly  yours, 

WALTBaScorr.". 
To  the  Same. 

**  Edinburgh,  16th  May,  18ia 
*  My  dear  Terry, 

**  Mr.  Nasmyth*  has  obNfingly  ghren  me  an  opportn- 
aily  of  writinc  to  yon  a  few  lines,  as  he  is  setting  out  for  ! 
Lniukm.    I  cannot  tell  you  how  much  I  continue  to  be  i 
nieved  for  our  kind-hearted  and  enthusiastic  friend  But-  ! 
lock.     I  trust  he  ha.s  left  his  family  comforubly  settled,  i 
thotigb  with  so  many  plans  which  required  his  active  and 
Inteltixent  mind  to  carry  them  through,  one  has  natural  ap- 
prehensions npon  that  score.    When  you  can  with  pro-  | 
priety  make  inquiry  how  my  matters  stand,  1  should  be  • 
clad  to  know.    Hector  Macdonald  tells  me  that  my  doors  ; 
aad  windows  were  ready  packed.  In  which  case,  perhaps, 
the  sooner  thoy  are  embarked  the  better,  not  only  for  safe- 
ty, bat  because  they  can  only  be  in  the  way,  and  the  money 
win  now  be  the  more  acceptable.    Poor  Bullock  had  also  1 
the  measures  for  my  chimney  pieces,  for  grates  of  differ-  ; 
ent  kinds,  and  orders  for  beds,  dining-room  tables  and 
chaira.    But  how  far  these  are  in  progress  of  being  exe-  I 
coted,  or  whether  thev  can  now  be  executed,  I  must  leave  , 
10  yoOTJudgment  snd  Inquiry.  Tonr  good  sense  and  deli-  < 
caey  wtO  understand  the  /afim  de  ^a*r9  better  thaa  I  can  ' 
paint  oot.    I  ahall  never  have  the  pleasure  in  these  things  i 
that  I  expected. 

**  I  have  just  left  Abbotsford  to  attend  the  summer  ses- 
sion— IcA  it  when  the  leaves  were  coming  out— the  most 
defightfol  season  for  a  worahipper  of  the  country  like  me. 
The  Home-bank,  which  we  saw  at  first  grcon  with  turnips,  i 
wffl  now  hide  a  man  somewhat  taller  than  Johnnie  Ballan-  { 
tyne  in  its  shades.    Infsct,  the' trees  cover  the  ground, 
«Bd  have  a  very  pretty  bosky  effect ;  from  six  years  to  ten 
•r  twelve,  I  think  wood  is  as  beaodful  as  ever  it  la  after-  i 
wards  until  it  figures  as  aged  and  magnificent.   Your  hob-  ' 
b'/!-de-boy  iree  of  twentr  or  twenty-five  years'  standing 
is  nr^i'her  so  beautiful  as  In  its  infancy,  nor  so  respectable  ! 
at  in  its  age.  1 

**  Counsellor  Eiskine  \m  returned  ronch  pleased  with  I 
vour  hospitality,  and  giving  an  excellent  account  of  you.  | 
Were  yon  not  struck  with  the  fantastical  coincidence  of 
ear  nocturnal  disturbances  at  Abbotsford  with  the  melan-  ' 
ebolv  event  that  followed  1    I  protest  to  you  the  noise  re-  ! 
srmblcd  half-adozen  men  hard  to  work  putting  up  boards 
tod  furniture,  and  nothing  can  be  more  certain  than  that 
there  wa«i  nobody  on  the  premises  at  the  time.    Wiih  a 
f-w  sdrlitional  tenches,  the  siory  wouki  figure  in  Clanvllle 
or  Aubrey's  Collection.    In  the  mean  time,  you  may  set  it 
rfnwn  with  poor  Dubis<«on's  warnings,!  as  a  remarkable 
eotnc idoncc  coming  unaer  your  own  observation.    I  trust 
w»  shall  sen  you  this  season.    I  think  we  could  hammer  a 
iiMt  fmtedit  bourgeoitt  out  of  the  Heart  of  Mid-Lothian.  , 
Mr*  Scou  and  family  join  hi  kind  compliments  to  Mrs.  j 
Terry ;  and  1  am,  ever  yours  truly,      Waltbs  Scott."     , 

It  appears  from  one  of  these  letters  to  Terry,  that,  ' 
■0  late  as  the30ih  of  Apri)^  Scott  still  designed  to  in- 
clude two  aeparate  stones  m  the  second  series  of  the 
Tales  of  my  LaDdlord.  But  be  must  have  changed  his 
plan  soon  after  that  date;  since  the  four  volumes,  , 
aotireljr  occupied 'with  the  Heart  of  Mid-Lothian^  I 

•  Mr.  Alexander  Naamrtb,  an  eaiiocnt  laadseape  pahitor  of 

B4Marrb-tlMfbtherorMis.l>ny.  i 

*£Mant«.p.  MS.  i 


were  before  the  poblie  in  tbe  eoaree  of  June.  Hie 
stprr  this  deferred,  in  oonaequenoe  of  the  eitenf  to 
which  that  of  Jeanie  Deans  fcrew  on  his  hand% 
was  the  Bride  of  Lammermoor. 


CHAPTKRXL. 

MAT,    1818— nuvlfSB    AT    MB.    HOMI    DBUMMOlfDV  • 

scorr'a  boinbvboh  nsif— dctails  or  his  domss- 

TIC  ttlFB  IN  CASTUI  trBBCT — RIS  SlTlfDAT  DINMXSS 
—HIS  XyXlflNO  OSIVB8,  STC.—HIS  CONDUCT  IN  THB 
OBMCSAL  eOCIBTT  OF  BDINBUSGH— DINKEBS  AT  JOUIT 
BALUkNTTNB's  VILLA,  AND  AT  JAMBS  BALLANTVNB's 
IN  ST.  JOHN  STBBXT  ON  TUB  APPXASANCB  OF  A  NBW 
HOYBL— ANBODOTB8  OF  TUB  BAIJ.ANTTNE8,  AND  OP 
CON8TABLB. 

On  the  12th  of  May,  as  we  have  seen,  Scott  -left 
Abbotsford,  for  the  summer  session  in  Edinburgh. 

At  this  moment,  his  position,  take  it  for  ail  in  ail, 
was,  1  am  inclined  to  believe,  what  no  other  man 
had  ever  won  for  himself  by  the  pen  alone.  His 
works  were  the  daily  food,  not  only  of  his  country- 
men, but  of  all  educated  Rurope.  Hia  socii  t y  was 
courted  by  whittever  England  could  ahow  or  emi>  • 
nence.  Station,  power,  wealiln  beauty,  and  geniua. 
strove  with  each  other  in  every  demonstration  or 
respect  and  worehip— and,  a  few  political  fonatics 
and  envious  poetaatera  apart,  wherever  he  appeared 
in  town  or  in  country,  whoever  had  Scotch  blood 
in  him,  "gentle  or  airople."  felt  it  move  more  rapidly 
through  his  veina  when  he  was  in  the  presence  or 
Soutt  To  descend  to  what  manv  looked  on  as 
big)ier  thing**,  he  considered  himselr,  and  was  con- 
sidered by  all  about  him,  as  rapidly  consoUdating  a 
large  fortune :— the  annual  profits  of  his  novels 
alone  had,  for  several  years^  been  not  less  than 
iCK>,000 :  his  domains  were  daily  increaaed— his  cas- 
tle waa  riaing— and  perhaps  few  doubted  that  ere 
long  he  might  receive  from  the  just  favour  of  his 
Prince  some  distinction  in  the  way  of  external  rank, 
such  as  had  seldom  before  been  dreamt  of  as  the 
possible  consequence  of  a  mere  literary  celebrity. 
It  was  about  this  time  that  the  compiler  of  theae 
pages  firat  had  the  opportunity  of  observing  the 
plam  eaay  modestv  which  had  survived  the  many 
temptations  of  such  a  career;  and  the  kindness  or 
heart  pervading,  in  all  drcumsttncea,  his  gentle  de- 
portment, which  made  him  the  rare,  perhapa  the , 
solitary,  example  of  a  man  aignally  elevated  from ' 
humble  begittnings,  and  loved  more  and  more  by 
his  earlie!>t  friends  and  connexions,  in  proportion  aa 
he  had  fixed  on  himself  the  homage  of  the  great, 
and  the  wonder  of  the  world 

It  was  during  the  sitting  of  the  General  Assembly 
of  the  Kirk  in  May,  1818,  that  I  first  had  the  honour 
of  meeting  him  in  private  society :  the  party  waa  not 
a  large  one,  at  thenouaeof  a  much-valved  conimoa 
friend— Mr.  Home  Dnimmond  of  Blair  Drummond, 
the  grandson  of  Lord  Karnes.  Mr.  Scott,  ever  apt 
to  consider  too  favourably  the  literary  efforts  of 
others,  and  more  especially  <if  very  young  persons, 
received  m&  when  1  was  prevented  to  him,  with  a 
cordiality  which  1  had  not  been  prepared  to  expect 
from  one  filling  a  station  so  exalted.  Thi^  however, 
is  the  same  story  that  every  individual,  who  ever  met 
him  under  similar  circumstances,  has  had  to  tell. 
When  the  ladies  retired  from  the  dinner-table,  1  hap- 
pened tosit  next  him ;  and  he,  having  heard  that  I  had 
lately  returned  from  a  tour  in  Germany,  made  that 
country  and  its  recent  hieraturethe  subject  of  some 
conversation.  In  the  course  of  it,  I  told  him  that 
when,  on  reaching  the  inn  at  Weimar,  I  asked  the 
waiter  whether  Goethe  was  then  in  the  town,  the 
roan  stared  a^^  if  he  had  not  heard  the  name  beif»re ; 
and  that  on  my  repeating  the  qucsttnn,  fiMxnv^  fSottht 
derfrrosae  dichter  (the  great  poet,)  he  shook  hia  head 
osdoubtfuUy  as  before— until  the  landlady  solved  out 
difficulties,  by  sug^^esting  that  perhaps  the  tiJivcller 
might  mean  "  the  Hf!rT  Geheimer  Rath  (Privy- 
Couneellor)  Von  Goethe."  Scott  seemed  amused 
with  this,  and  said,  "  1  hope  you  will  come  one  ol 
these  davs  and  pee  me  at  Aoboisford  ;  and  when  you 
reach  Selkirk  or  Melropo,  be  sure  vou  ask  even  the 
landlady  fur  nobody  butms  Sherijf."    He  appeared 


t^traoF  aoi  WALnnut  BOOTr. 


Mflknikdf  iat«MMdl  wlMB  I  deseribed  Oo«ih6  M  I. 
fiffSl  WW  hiai,  alifitoiK  from  »  camfta  eramraed 
with  wild  pUata  and  herb*  which  he  bad  pwMd  up 
in  the  course  of  his  mpmiiiK's  botaniiiDg  among  the 
hills  aboTe  Jena.  "  I  am  glad."  said  he,"  that  my, 
old  master  has  pursuits  somewhat  akin  to  my  own. 
1  am  no  botanist,  properly  speakmg;  and  though  a 
dweller  on  the  banks  of  the  Tweed,  shall  never  be 
kaowkig  about  Flom's  beauties;*  but  how  1  should 
like  to  have  a  talk  with  him  about  trees  I"  I  meci- 
tkmed  how  much  any  one  must  be  struck  with  the 
majestie  beauty  of  Goethe's  countenance— (the  no- 
blest certainly  by  far  that  1  have  ever  yet  seen)— 
**  Well,"  said  he,  *"  the  grandest  demigod  1  ever  saw 
was  Dr.  Carlyle,  minister  of  Musselboiii^,  commonly 
called  Jupiter  CarlyU,  from  having  sat  more  than 
once  for  the  king  of  gods  and  men  to  Qavin  Hamil- 
ton-'-and  a  shrewd,  clever  old  carle  was  he,  no  doubt, 
bnt  no  more  a  poet  than  his  precentor.  As  for  poets, 
I  have  seen,  1  believe,  ail  the  best  of  our  own  time 
and  country— and,  though  Burns  had  the  most  s^ 
rious  eyes  imaginable,  I  never  thought  any  of  them 
would  come  up  to  an  artist's  notion  of  the'  character, 
except  Byron."  A  reverend  gentleman  present.  (1 
think.  Principal  Niooll  of  St  Andrews^  expressed  his 
regtet  that  he  had  never  seen  Lord  Byron.  "  And 
theprinto,"  resumed  Scott/*  give  one  no  impression 
of  him—the  lustre  is  there,  Doctor,  but  it  is  not  Ught- 
^  up.  Byron's  countenance  is  a  thing  to  dream  of, 
A  certain  fair  lady,  whose  name  has  been  too  often 
raen^oned  in  connexion  with  his.  told  a  friend  of 
mine  that,  when  she  first  saw  Byron  it  was  in  a 
crowded  room,  and  she  did  not  know  who  it  was, 
bnt  her  eyes  were  instantly  nailed,  and  she  said  to 
herself  thai  pale  face  ie  my /ate.  And  poor  soul,  if  a 
godlike  face  and  godlike  powers  could  have  made 
any  excuse  for  devury.  to  be  sure  she  had  one."  In 
the  course  of  this  talk  an  old  fnend  and  school- 
fellow of  Scoffs  asked  him  across  the  table  if  he 
had  any  faith  in  the  antique  busts  of  Homer  1  '*  No, 
truly,"  ne  answered,  smning,  *'  for  if  there  had  been 
either  limners  or  stuccoyers  worth  their  salt  in  those 
days,  the  owner  of  such  a  headmece  would  never 
have  had  to  trail  the  poke.  They  would  have 
aUmented  the  honest  man  decently  among  them 
for  a  lay-figure." 

A  few  davB  after  this,  1  received  a  comnHroicaiion 
pom  the  Messrs.  BaUantyne,  to  the  effect  that  Mr. 
Scott's  various  avocations  had  prevented  him  from 
fiilfilling  his  agreement  vnth  them  as  to  the  histori- 
cal department  of  the  Edinburgh  Annual  Re^ster 
for  I8)6t  and  that  it  would  be  acceptable  to  him  as 
well  as  them,  if  I  could  undertake  to  supply  it  in  the 
course  of  the  autumn.  This  proposal  was  agreed  to 
on  my  part,  and  I  had  consequently  occasion  to  meet 
him  pretty  often  during  that  summer  session.  He 
told  me  that  if  the  war  nad  gone  on,  he  should  have 
liked  to  do  the  historical  summary  as  before ;  but 
that  the  prospect  of  having  no  events  to  record  bm 
radical  riots,  and  the  passing  or  rejecting  of  com  bills 
and  poor  bills,  sicke^hed  him  s  that  his  health  was  no 
longer  what  it  had  been ;  and  that  though  he  did  not 
mean  to  give  over  writing  altoj^ciher— (here  he 
.smiled  significantly,  and  glanced  his  eye  towards  a 
pile  of  Ms.  on  the  desk  by  him)— he  thought  him- 
.  self  now  entitled  to  write  nothing  but  what  would 
rather  be  an  amusement  than  a  fatigue  to  him— 
**Juniore»  ad  lahoree." 

He  at  this  time  occupied  as  his  den  a  square  small 
room,  behind  the  dimng  parlour  in  Castle  Street. 
It  had  btit  a  single  Venetian  window,  opening  on  a 
patch  of  turf  not  much  larger  than  itself  and  the  as- 
pect of  the  place  was  on  the  whole  sombrous.  The 
walls  were  entirely  clothed  with  books,  most  of  them 
folios  and  (quartos,  and  all  in  that  complete  state  of 
repair  which  at  a  glance  reveals  a  tinge  of  biblio- 
mania. A  dozen  volumes  or  so,  needful  for  immedi- 
ate purposes  of  reference,  were  placed  close  by  him 
on  a  small  moveable  frame— something  like  a  dumb 
waiter.  All  the  rest  were  in  their  proper  niches,  and 
wherever  a  volume  had  been  lent,  its  room  was 

*  '*  Wliat  bwaties  doe*  Flora  diwlote. 
How  tweec  an  mt  tmiles  opon  Tweed,**  Ac 


oeenpiedfaTawoodMiMMkafdMi _. 

a  tm  with  the  name  of  th«  bMTOvrsr  aad  date  4. 
the  loan,  tacked  on  its  from.  *I1ke  old  bmdings  had 
obviously  been  retouched  and  regiit  in  the  most  ap- 
proved manner;  the  new,  when  the  ,books  were  of 
any  mark,  were  rich  but  never  gaudy— a  large  pro- 
portion of  blue  morocco— all  stamped  with  hisfieMc* 
of  the  portcullis,  and  its  motto  daunte  tutus  era— 
being  an  anagram  of  his  name  in  Latin.  Every  cnan 
and  shelf  w$s  accuratelv  lettered,  and  the  wonts  ar- 
ranged systematically;  history  andbiography on  one 
side— poetry  and  the  drama  on  another— law  books 
and  dictionaries  behind  his  own  ohah*.  The  only 
table  Was  a  massive  piece  of  fiimiture  which  he  had 
had  conslructed  on  the  model  of  one  at  Rokebv; 
with  4  desk  and  all  its  awurtenaaoes  on  either  side,  y 
that  an  amanuensis  might  work  opposite  to  him 
when  he  chose;  and  wrth  small  tiers  of  drawera. 
reaching  all  round  to  the  floor.  The  top  displayed 
a  goodly  amy  of  session  papers^  and  on  the  desk  be- 
low were,  basides  the  MS.  at  which  he  was  working; 
sundry  parcels  of  letters,  proof-sheet^  and  so  fotiE, 
all  neatly  done  up  with  rra  tape.  His  own  writing 
apparatus  was  a  very  handsome  old  box,  richly  car- 
ved, lined  with  crimson  velvet,  and  containing  ink- 
bottles,  taper-stand,  Ac  in  silver— th«  whole  in  nnck 
order  that  it  might  have  come  from  the  ailversmith's 
window  half  an  nour  before.  Besides  his  own  hufQs 
elbow  chair,  there  weie  bnt  two  others  in  the  room, 
and  one  of  these  seemed,  from  its  positioD,  to  be  re- 
served exclusively  for  the  amamiensis.'  I  observed, 
during  the  first  evening  I  spent  with  him  in  this 
•aticli/m,  that  while  he  talked,  ht^  hands  lArere  hard- 
ly ever  idle.  Sometimes  he  folded  letter-covers — 
sometimes  he  twisted  paper  into  matches,  perform- 
ing both  tasks  with  great  mechanical  expertneas 
and  nicety;  and  when  there  was  no  loose  paper  fit  to 
besodealt  with,  he  snapped  his  fingers^  and  the  noble 
Maida  aroused  himseli  from  his  lab  on  the  hearth- 
rug, and  laid  his  head  across  his  master's  knees,  to 
be  caressed  and  fondled.  The  room  had  no  fpace 
for  pictures  except  one,  an  original  portrait  of  Claver- 
house,  which  hung  over  the  chimnev-piec&  with  a 
Highland^  target  on  either  side,  ana  broadswords 


and  dirks  (each  having  its  own  story)  disposed 
slar-fashion  round  them.  A  few  green  tin-boxes, 
such  as  soUcitors  keep  title-deeds  in,  were  pi^  over 
each  other  on  one  side  of  the  window ;  and  on Ihe  top 
of  these  lav  a  fox's  tail,  mounted  on  an  antique  niver 
handle,  wherewith,  as  often  as  he  had  occasion  to 
take  down  a  book,  he  gently  brushed  the  dust  off  the 
upper  leaves  before  opening  it.  I  think  1  have  men- 
tioned all  the  furniture  of  the  room,  except  a  aort  of 
ladder,  low.  broad,  well- carpeted,  and  strongly 
guarded  with  oaken  raili^  by  which  he  helped  hui- 
self  to  books  from  his  higher  shelves.  On  the  top 
step  of  this  convenience,  Hinseof  Hinsfeldt,— (so 
called  from  one  of  the  Qerman  Kinder-riiltrtJurQ — a 
venerable  tom-cat,  fat  and  sleek,  and  no  longer  very 
locomotive,  usually  lay  watching  the  proce^ings  of 
his  master  and  Makia  with  an  air  of  dignified  equa- 
nimity ;  but  when  Maida  chose  to  leave  tne  party,  he 
signified  his  inclinations  by  thumping  the  door  with 
his  paw,  as  violently  as  ever  a  foshionable  footman 
handled  a  knocker  in  Grosvenor  Square;  the  Sherifi 
rose  and  opened  it  for  him  with  courteous  alacrity,— 
and  then  Hinse  came  down  purring  from  his  perch, 
and  mounted  guard  by  the  foot-stool,  vice  Maida  ab- 
sent upon  furlough,  whatever  discourse  might  be 
passing  was  broken,  every  now  and  then,  by  some 
affectionate  apostrophe  to  these  four-footed  friends. 
He  said  they  underatood  every  thing  he  said  to  them, 
and  1  believe  they  did  underetand  a  great  d^  of  it. 
But  at  all  events,  dogs  and  cats^  like  children,  have 
some  infallible  tact  for  discovering  at  once  who  is. 
and  who  is  not,  really  fond  of  their  company  \  and  1 
venture  to  say,  Scoit  was  never  five  minutes  in  any 
room,  before  the  little  pets  of  the  family,  whether 
dumb  or  lisping,  had  found  out  his  kindness  for  all 
their  generation. 
I  never  thought  it  lawful  to  keep  a  journal  of  what 

Jmsses  in  private  society,  so  that  no  one  need  expect 
rom  the  sequel  of  this  narrative  any  detailed  record 
of  Scott's  familiar  talk.    What  fragments  of  it  hate 


XklPX  OR  SOUmmiBR  8Q0T9R 


hiMMMd  t0  sdlMn  Jo  a  UkstMj  iit«itif<tf  mteonTi 
lod  any  be  pot  mto  UMit  muI  wliit*  witlnmi 
vMNuiding  My  fiBelinas  wkioh  my  fiieod,  were  he 
dive,  wo^ld  hare  wiebed  to  spent  I  >hell  mtrodnce 
at  the  occesioo  raffRBSU  or  eervee  t  bat  I  dieeleim 
on  the  threabold  any  thing  more  than  thie;  and  1 
ilao  wish  to  enter  a  protest  once  for  all  against  the 
Rcnesal  fidelity  of  several  literary  ^entlssMn  who 
have  kindly  forwarded  to  me  private  luonhratioRs 
of  theirs,  deeigned  to  Bomadtix*  Soott,  and  whieh 
thty  may  probably  pnbliek  hereafter.  To  report 
oonvefsations  fairly,  it  is  a  necessary  preiequiaite 
that  we  should  be  completely  familiar  with  all  the 
ioteriocDtors,  and  understand  thoroughly  all  their 
oiiniuesl  lelationB,  and  points  of  eommen  know- 
ledge, and  common  Mmg,  vrith  each  other.  He 
who  doea  not,  niust  be  perpetually  in  danger  of  mis- 
mcerpntittc  sportive  alhisi^n  into  aerious  state- 
ment ;  ana  the  man  who  was  only  recalling,  by 
■orae  jocular  phrase  or  half^phrase,  to  an  old  eom- 
panian,  some  trivial  reniniacence  oif  their  boyhood 
Dr  youth,  may  be  remresei^ted  as  expreasiii&  upon 
lome  person  or  inddent  casually  tabled,  an  opinioa 
which  he  had  never  framed,  or  if  be  had,  would 
lever  have  given  werds  to  in  any  mixed  assemblage 
-not  even  amons  what  the  world  calls  frundt  at 
lis  own  hotfd.  in  prooortian  asa  man  is  witty  and 
Immorous,  there  will  always  be  about  him  and  his 
i  wideniflc  maae  and  wilderness  of  cuee  and  catoh- 
wordiL  wmch  the  uninitiated  will,  if  they  are  bold 
looui^  to  try  interpretatioik  oonstrue,  ever  and  anon, 
mnously  ami8S-*not  seldom  into  arrant  falsity, 
for  this  One  reason^  to  say  nothing  of  n^aay  othera, 
consider  no  man  justified  in  joumalixmg  what  he 
ess  and  hears  in  a  domestio  cirde  where  he  is  not 
hortiiighlv  at  homei  and  I  thkik  thers  are  still 
igher  ana  bettor  reasona  why  he  should  not  do  sO 
Rnero  he  la 

Before  I  ever  met  Soott  in  private,  I  had,  of  eoursfei 
sard  many  people  desoribe  and  discuss  his  stvle  of 
nnvarsation.  Every  body  seemed  to  agree  that  it 
verflowed  with  hearty  good  humour,  as  well  as 
laiaunafieoted  good  sense  and  ssgaoity  \  bi^tl  had 
eard  not  a  few  persons  of  undoubted  abihty  and 
oooiapliahment  maintain,  that  Uie  genius  of  the 
leat  poet  and  novelist  rarely*  if  ever,  revealed  itself 
1  his  talk.  It  is  needlese  to  say,  that  the  persons  I 
llnde  to  wore  all  hia  own  countrymen,  and  them- 
elvee  inibued,  more  or  les%  with  the  eonveraational 
labita  derived  from  a  syatem  of  eduaatioa  in  which 
he  Btndy  of  metaphysics  occupies  a  vei;y  large  share 
If  attention.  The  beet  table-talk  of  Edmburgh  was, 
ind  probably  st^I  -isi  in  a  very  great  measure  made 
pot  bfiHiant disquisitien— such  as  might  be  trans-; 
erred  witheutalteration  to  a  profasaors  note-book, 
r  thepaicee  of  a  ciiiical  Review— and  of  sharp  word- 
atcfatngS,  inflennus  thrusting  and  parrying  of  dia- 
Miics,  and  all  the  oiiips  and  quibblets  of  bar  plead- 
n^  It  waa  the  talk  of  a  sooieCy  to  which  lawyers 
ind  locturcrs  had,  for  at  leaat  a  hundred  yean,  given 
he  tone.  From  the  date  of  the  Union,  Edinourgh 
eased  to  be  the  headquarters  of  the  Scotch  nobihty 
-and  long  before  the  time  of  which  I  speak,  they 
tad  aU  but  entirely  abandoned  it  as  a  place  of  resh 
[ence.  I  think  I  never  knew  abovo  two  or  three  of 
he  Peerage  to  have  houses  there  at  the  same  time— 
ind  thetfe  were  usually  amoogihe  poorest  and  most 
Dsignifioant  of  their  order.  The  weslthier  gentry 
tad  fisllo  wed  their  example.  Very  fiaw  of  that  class 
ver  epent  any  coasiderable  part  of  the  year  in  Rdin- 
»are|i,  except  for  the  purposes  of  educating  their 
thildren,  or  superintending  the  progresa  of  a  law- 
uit ;  and  these  were  not  more  likely  than  a  score 
>r  two  d  comatose  and  lethargic  old  Indiana,  to 
nakc  bead  against  the  esiabtished  iafiuencesof  aea- 
lemical  and  ftn-ooaic  celebrity.  Now  Scott's  tastes 
tnd  rosoorces  bad  not  much  in  common  with  those 
rho  had  inherited  and  preserved  the  chief  authority 
or  this  provincial  hierarchy  of  rhetoric.  He  was 
lishly  amused  with  watching  theirdexteroua  logem- 
ieniea-*^><it  his  detight  in  such  displays  arose  main- 
y,  I  can  not  doubt,  from  thefaclof  tneir  being,  both 
IS  to  sobjeot- matter  and  style  and  method,  resaote 
I  Sew9oiM  ttwHU.  He  sat  by,  as  he  Would  .hate 
s.  Z7     Z 


done  ai  a  stagu-play  or  a  ftttfiUfl-matcL  .  , 
and  npp lauding  tno  akilJ  frxhihjtaif,  but  withom  feeJ« 
ii\^  much  ambitjon  to  paiadu  liimsiLtf  as  n  rival  rithc'f 
oi  ih«  foB  at  ihd  l>u«kin.  i  can  ensiiy  ht ljtvt%  ike  re- 
fbm,  Ihst  ia  the  eeriier  part  of  hm  Ur^s^— beifuris  the 
llaxeuf  cuiiversal  fauie  had  ovwnwod  local  jireja- 

thai  fatnc  from  ifieir  uifa.ncy,  bad irrawn  yp^— n  may 
have  been  the  commenly  adopt  cd  cr^ed  io  Ed  in* 
liyrgh,  that  Stottf  howevor  di»tm|^i»hed  olberwisev 
vv^  not  Lo  he  named  ea  a  tablf^comp«moii  ia  the 
sirnc  day  with  this  or  thaE  m«9tfT  of  [imimouft  dts* 
nerraliori  or  quick  tejoiiiii^T,  who  now  aleepa  iia  ior^ 
l^ottcn  as  hii  j^randniothf^r.  It  wa»  namml  et^oitgh 
that  persona  bniught  up  in  (he  some  circle  with  him, 
ifiho  tettitmbemd  ail  his  bt^nninjiss,  aiid  had  but 
fikiwly  learned  ionc^uie»ce  in  the  jiiHtiCf  of  Li«  clmm 
to  unrivalled  honour  m  ]iiteratur«'.  tihopld  Uav«  dunfi: 
ilII  the  dos<;r  for  that  late  RCt^mii^acenctj  lo  their  on- 
iimiil  ^^.ttn^Bie  of  him  us  infi^nor  to  thcmfceWea  in 
o[h4.T  uiitr.^  10  admiration.  Ii  was  nlso  nntural  that 
their  fjrt  joiiicc  on  ihat  score  iihduld  t^  readily  taken 
Li;i  hy  the  young  aapiratita  who  breathed,  u^  i!  were, 
tht^  fittiioiphere  of  their  prore«sioEiai  renown.  Per- 
haps, too,  Scotffl  steady  Toryisni*  and  the  effect  of 
his  ^rmua  and  eiamplf  m  mrHJifymK  the  LiitelWruaL 
HwBf  of  the  long  d*.'iiiiittint  Whi^te  m  the  norths  raay 
have  had  scrme  aha  re  m  ih^^  matter.  However  aII 
that  may  huve  been,  the  fuNtaiire  of  what  f  had 
bt^en  dccustotne^  lo  hear  certaiulv  uaa*  thai  Scott 
had  a  mnrvdloua  stock  of  querr  stones^  which  he 
often  told  with  htippf  efffstt,  biu  thai,  bating  ihe£ia 
drafts  (m  Tt  Tiportentoot^  memory,  aet  on  with  a  Bimple 
ctld'faahioned  naiieil  of  humoiJir  smi  plt^atautrv^ 
hip  fltrutn  of  talk  waa  remark alUe  neither  for  depih 
rit  rL^mark  nor  felicity  of  lUustration  ;  that  bis  views 
nnd  opmioni^  on  the  most  impo riant  to|uca  of  brae* 
tjcal  inicroat  weie  bopelcsaly  perverted  by  bis  bhnd 
tnthutiLaam  for  ihe  drt^atiis  of  by-f^one  a^^i  and 
that,  but  (of  the  fcrote«qtie  phenomenon  presented 
by  H  gtvtit  writer  of  ihe  lUth  century  icfa^ely  titter- 
inR  fseofimenta  worthy  of  Jus  own  Dundee*  and  In- 
vernaliyieft,  the  piain  lecture  of  hiadiaoaurae  would* 
be  pfimounced  by  anv  enhghtciied  tuember  of  mo- 
d em  iocie ty  r athpf  b*Ii!  a tid  poor  i ban  o t her wi w.  I 
thmk  the  epithet  rooat  in  vogue  wa»  atmmoffplacA, 

It  wdl  easily  bei  behcvcd,  that,  in  comtianies  such 
e^  I  have  been  alludine  lo,  madi-  up  of,  or  habitually 
liomineened  over^  by  volubie  Whi*?*  and  political  eco- 
momii^ti?,  Scott  waa  oft^n  ttmpied  to  put  forth  his 
Ti^ry  rlocLrines  and  umiquarian  preiudieefi  m  an  &x- 
eiSteraied  abape—in  Cvloura,  to  isay  the  truth,  alio* 
f;i;.tnt>r  djflerent  from  what  they  asf^urmd  under  otbor 
eircumitnacei^crr  which  Imd  any  reul  influence  upon 
his  mind  and  condticton  occa^ion^  of  practical  nio- 
inent.  But  I  fancy  it  wiU  seem  cquriHy  crvriiblci 
that  (he  most  sfaarp-aigbttid  of  ibewo  eocrai  cnncs 
may  not  aLwaya  h^ve  been  cnpablc  of  i  racing,  and 
doing  juidt ice  t^i  the  D>owera  wmch  Scott  broUKbt  to 
hvnT  upon  the  topica  which  ihey,  not  be,  had  chasen 
].3r  di:^cnii^toti.  In  pHSHinii;  from  a  ^  as- lit  hail  to  to  a 
ti}oni  with  wax  candles,  the  guc«t»  i4i  me  times  com* 
ijEai^  that  they  bo ve  left  splendour  for  ^loom  ;  buLlei 
[bttij  try  by  what  sort  of  ItKht  it  ia  most  satisfactoTy 
to  rea<i,  virriit;,  or  i^mbtoider,  or  ci^aader  at  le^etirt 
under  which  of  the  two  eiihi^r  men  ur  women  look 
their  best. 

The  siroagesLj  pufeatr  and  iesi^t  observed  of  all 
li^hm  [»^  howe^eTi  doyli^ht^  mid  his  talk  waa  com- 
munplacejust  us  aunshitio  is,  wbith  f^Mn  the  muat 
I  ndiiter cut  objects,  and  add^^  brilhacicy  to  the  brie ht- 
-;-it,  Af*  for  the  old  world  anccdores  which  ineae 
clev-T  persona  weits  condescending  (.'fioti^h  Lobofdi 
nt  aa  plous^ant  eitrBva^'ances,  eervini;  merely  le  re- 
ht  ve  and  set  afF  the  mam  «treiim  of  debate^  they 
werc«>|ten  anoaiiK  it  may  hti  frnt^s^s^d,  connected 
With  the  theme  in  band  by  hnka  not  the  ^a  apt' 


that  they  mii<ht  tie  too  isubtlh:  to  catch  their  t 
%\ci\  and  tklf'Sftiiafied  optics.  Theie might  ba  li  _  .  . 
kin>w]eHKi&  of  human  nature  than  wa«  "^^dresmtof 
ir  tbcir  philoflopbv'*— which  papsi,^  with  them  for 
nimmonpiticc^  only  because  it  was  elotbod  in  plain 
famibar  houaehold  worda,  not  dreaaed  upJo^aoitie 
Ijedansjc  mflaquernde  of  aniitheMa.  fyhmkrt^m* 


uaKesRaaLJMunuLJKsmm    * 


UMy,  menir  beciiate  tbfly  hare  Drgottao  tfa*  kn- 
Riuge  in  wmoh  tbair  fatbsrt  and  motlMn  naad  to 
talk  to  them;"  and  aural?  them  are  a  thouaand 
iMMmelf  old  proTcrba,  which  many  a  dainty  modern 
would  think  it  beneath'  hia  diffnity  to  qoote  either  in 
aiMBch  or  writing,  anj  one  of  whieh  eondenaea  more 
wit  (take  that  word  m  any  of  ita  aenaee)  than  coaU 
be  extracted  from  all  that  waa  ever  aaid  or  written 
bir  the  ciocfrtnaftret  of  the  EdinbaiiSh  aohooL  Ifany 
or  tboae  f9eatlemen  held  Soou'a  conversation  to  be 
oomroonpiace  exactly  for  the  same  reaeon  that  a 
child  thinka  a  perfectly  limpid  atream^  thoogh  per* 
hapa  fle^  enough  to  drown  it  three  timea  over,  muet 
needa  be  shallow.  But  it  will  be  easily  belieTed  that 
the  beat  and  highest  of  their  own  idols  had  better 
means  and  skillof  measurement :  I  can  never. forget 
the  pregnant  expression  of  one  of  the  ableat  of  that 
aehool  and  partv— Lord  Cockbum^whok  when 
some  glib  youth  chanced  to  echo  in  his  bearing  the 
eonsofatory  te^et  of  local  mediocrity,  answered  qui- 
etijr — "  I  have  the  misfortune  to  think  difierenty  from 
yott^jn  my  humble  opinion  Wiih4>r  Sooifa  #«Utf  is 

ludtkyl  I  have]  na  son  tA  doubt  ihaL,  lun^  beiare 
i^l^  fuh  jEi9di:«  wa»  doae  t^  S^U.  evtin  latbeae 
minor  lliin^  by  ah  thoad  of  his  ^uibiirgh  ao* 
quBintanesr  whether  ^Vhig  or  Tory,  on  whose  peiv 
Bonn  I  opinmi)  h^  t*^M  have  been  mppoBt^i  toaet 
mych  vahia  With  ffliv  ti^iceptmn^  tha  rtmlly  able 
Uwyurs  cif  hi&  own  or  n^nrly  similar  junnding  had 
'  «re  thtii  (imtj  attained  s^tfttloriiiof  judicial  di^mtyf  or 
wtti*  in  (ho  eprin^iido  of  prictice ;  and  in  ch  her  oaae 
they  wffe  likely  to  dvriKidcr  K^noral  »iKTciy  ntndlin 
his  owii  fashion,  ha  tb«  jo^oud  rtiltijiatiofi  of  ti£B.  ra- 
ther thun  tbe  cheatni  ofexprlion  and  di^jj^y.  Their 
tablciii  were  i^legantJr^  Bomti  of  th^im  inimpiuoua^ 
snretid ;  and  they  lived  m  a  pretty  c/]nvl«FU  itttw- 
charts  at  entortainnt^nta  upan  a  Ur|fC9  soale.  in 
every  circum»tnnofl  of  which,  oonveraation  included, 
it  WB9  thi^ir  ambitioct  to  imitate  ihoce  vuluptvona 
mc'trop4}htari  circles,  whtTmn  moat  of  them  li^fiom 
ijmt^  10  liifw  miis«lc<J^  and  ecverol  of  thejii  ^itkd]»> 
tinguishtHl  success.  Airiuog  such  |irtJ£pt.]Toua  gen* 
tlf^nii^o,  likt^  himecir  p^m  the  mezzo  eammin,  Scott'a 
pic(urci»iiue  An«K^doTtr«T  rich  ea&y  iipmoUTt  nod  gay 
tnvoluTiTury  i^lanoe^  of  morher-wit,  were,  it  is  not 
difficuh  to  aup|)uticv  tpprr^-iaUKl  nbov<?  contriliutiooM 
of  a  more  jimbhtoua  ai  imp;  and  no  doubt  his  Lon- 
don rvpuUiiwH  ds  Boliin  (which  hud  by  ^egmes 
liaentoft  hi^h  pitch,  akhoiu^h  hti  e«ri>i  mnhingibr 
kt)  WM  tiot  without  iia  f#ect  in  Edmbur^ii.  But 
axiti  the  oli]  prejudice  linf^erf^J  on  in  Ihi?  s^enerai 
optDion  of  the  uIulh^  effpui^mWy  unions  th»:'  amart* 
priiter»  ftC  tkt  Outtrr-H&uic,  whoi^o  KiiinpsM  of  the 
aocial  hnnbita  of  ihc^ir  «tiperH>rs  were  likL'iy  tu  lienie^ 
ADd  tiieir  gQ I U bladders  to  be  more  dts tended  than 
liieit  putsos. 

In  trnth  it  wm  inipeesiblu  to  iist^n  eo  ScoU'aoral 
narrfttjiins,  whuther  >e*v  or  fterioiis^  or  to  ibe  feUei>, 
^  loug  ftin  with  which  he  paiTi<Hl  nbaurdiiiei^  of  all 
vofi$^  wiihotLt  d^A^iovetiiife  liettar  qtiuiities  in  hia  talk 
than  i£j^— and  or  a  hi«;ber  ord^ri  I  m&iu  e«fiecially 
a  powvr  of  ririd  pa-inting-^ihi^  tfoti  ajid  primary 
wnsH  of  whui  IB  calkd  fmo^inaiioyf*  H^-  vias  like 
Jnc'i>if-fl— ihfiM'.fi  not  a  *\'tfe|nTir"hol7  JafT^ne;^;"  and 
''  iaoral::uuI"  a  coimuon  topic  ^^  iuU  a  tuouMnd  St- 
militudus."  Sliakspeare  and  the  haniahed  Duke 
would  have  found  nira  "  fiill  of  matter/'  He  dis- 
hked  mere  disqoisitiona  in  Edinburgh^  and  prepared 
impromptus  in  Londoti ;  and  pulled  the  promoters 
of  such  things  sometimei*  by  placid  silence,  some- 
times by  broad  merriment.  To  such  men  he  seemed 
•ommonp/a<:6— not  so  to  the  most  dexterous  masters 
in  what  was  to  some  of  them  almo»t  a  science;  not 
ao  to  Rose,  Hallam,  Moore,  or  Rogers,— to  Ellis, 
-  Mackititosii,  Croker,  or  Canning. 

Scott  managed  to  give  and  receive  such  great  din- 
ners MS  I  hhve  been  alluding  to  at  least  as  often  as 
any  othor  private  gentleman  in  Edinburgh  :  but  he 
▼»ry  rarely  accompanied  his  wife  and  daughters  to 
r.a  evoning  aaeembliea,  which  commonly  ensued 
<f  Jder  other  n)ol»— for  tarJy  to  rini  onleaa  in  the 
ca«e  of  apart-fed  anahorites,  takea  iof  granted  sor^ 


t9  bmL  Wim  In  hid  «o  dinar  .,.,„ 

finqoaatly  gave  afow^kMta  ta iie  thesliet  hat 
■Mre  frequently,  vrfaen  die  weather  waa  fiiia.4uid 
atill  mora,  I  believe,  mhia  own  aatiafeotiop,  he  ^roi^ 
out  with  some  of  ma  family,  or  •  aincb  friend,  m  r~ 


PeUr  waa  alwaya  <inatructed  to  keep  hia  I 
near  aa  poaaible  to  the  aea.  More  than  oooe^  c 
in  the  firat  summer  of  my  acqpiaintanee  with  nin,  1 
had  the  pleasure  of  aecompaayins  him  on  these 
ev^iung  excuraiona ;  and  never  did  ne  asem  to  ei^vf 
himself  mora  fully  than  when  placidly  aarveying^  at 
such  aunaet  or  meonlight  hbnra, -either  the  maaaivtt 
outlinaa  of  hia  "  own  romantic  town,"  or  the  tnn? 
quil  expanse  of  ita  noble  eatuary.  He  deligfaftedi 
too,  in  paaaing,  when  he  oould,  thrauf^h  aons  of  the 
quaint  wiodmga  of  the  ancient  city  itaeli;  now  de- 
serted, exeept  at  mid-day,  by  the  upper  world.  How 
often  have  I  seen  him  go  a  lon^  way  rovnd  aboutt 
rather  than  mias  the  opportanity  of  haltins  for  a 


few  minutea  on  the  vacant  eaplanade  o£  HcJbrfood, 
or  under  the  darkeat  ahadowa  of  the  Caatle  to^ 
where  it  overhangs  tiie  Oraas-market,  and  the  Jmsb 
alab  that  atifl  mairka  where  (he  /vbbet  of  Porteone 
and  thoOovenanierahaditaatstioi).  fiiaooachiiMui 
knew  him  too  well  le  nwve  at  aiehn'a  paoe  aoiidat 
ancb  aeenea  aa  theee.  Nofrmaralhearaetnptaaora 
leiaurely  than  did  fan  landaa  up  the  CaaoBoate  or 
theCowgate;  and  not  a  onear  iottaring  gable  bol 
recalled  to  fann  aome  lonflhburied  memory  of  splsii- 
dour  or  bloodabed,  wfakh,  bf-a  few  worda,  he  see 
befors  the  hearer  in  the  redity  of  life.  HiaiuMflaiA 
ao  aaaodated  in  ray  mmd  with  the  antinutiaa  of  ha* 
native  plaoa,  that  icannot  now  aaviait  them  withoal 
feeling  aaifl  were  Iraadmi  on  hia  graveaione. 

Whatever  might  happen  on  the  other  eveninsa  of 
the  week,  he  apwnya  dned  at  home  o»  8vtida|t,  and 
uaualiy  aome  few  frienda  wave  then  wHh  him,  hm 
nevetf  any  pcraon  with  whom '  be  atood  on  osraaaoAf. 
Theee  wsr&  it  Bmy  readily  be  aojmoeed,  thelaoal 
agieeable  of  hia  eatertainnanta.  Me  cama  mu  the 
room  rubbiag  his  kanda,  hia  feoe  bskht  and  giaa* 
aome,  tike  a  boy  axriving  at  home  for  tha  holjdunr^ 
hia  Peppeia  and  Mnaiania  gambolling  about  hta 
heela,  and  even  the  auiaiv  Maida  grinning  and 
wagging  his  tail  in  atranpattiy*  Amang  the  moai 
reguhur  gueate  on  theae  happy  eveninga  were^  in  mir 
tee,  asliad  long  bafoia  b6en  the  caae^  Bim.  Mao; 
lean  Otephane  of  Torloiak,  (with  whom,  he  agreed 
oaniiaUy  on  aU  aubjaeta  exeept  the  authtaticatir  Of 
Oaaian,)  and  her  daiighten^  whoee  guardiaa  he  had 
become,  at  their  own  choMO.  The  eldest  of  them 
had  been  for  aome  yeara  maivied  to  the  Bari  Camp- 
ton,  (now  Man|uia  of  Northampton.)  and  vraa  of 
courae  seldom  m  tha  north ;  bat  the  othera  had 
maoh  ot  the  aame  taatea  and  aocomphahmaota 
whieh  ao  highly  dietinguiahed  the  late  Lady  Koflh* 
araptoni  and  Scott  delighted  ei^iecially  in  their 
pioftdency  in  the  poetry  and  moaie  of  their  native 
islea  Mc  and  Mra.  Skene  of  Rubialaw  ware  fre- 
quent atiendanta«-and  ao  were  the  Maodonasd- 
Boehanans  of  Drumakiln,  wfaoae  eldest  daughter, 
laabotte,  wae  his  chitf  favourite  among  all  hist ' 


of  the  6lerk's  table--aa  waa,  among  the  n<n|ieioi^ 
'       '       h  BumcL 


my  own  dear  friend  and  companion.  Joseph  L».^^«^ 
a  singulariy  graceful  young  man,  rich  in  the  promiae 
of  hereditary  geniue,  hut,  alaa !  cut  off  in  the  early 
bloom  of  hia  days.  The  weil-J>eloved  Erakioe  waa 
seldom  absent ;  and  very  often  Terry  or  James  Bal- 
lantyno  came  with  hinr—aometimes,  though  leas 
frequently.  Constable.  Among  other  peraaoa  who 
now  and  then  appeared  at  theee  "dinners  without 
the  silver  dishee,''  as  Scott  called  them,  I  may  men* 
tion^to  aay  nothing  of  such  old  cronioB  aa  Mr. 
Clerk,  Mr.ThompaoB,  and  Mr.Xirkpatrick  Sharpen 
->Sir  Alexander  Boawell  of  Auchinleck,  who  had 
all  his  father  8<>xry't  clevemeaa^  good  humour,  aod 
joviality,  without  one  touch  of  hia  meaner  quautiea, 
—wrote  Jenny  damfi  the  W»aver^  and  aome  other 
popular  aongSL  whk:n  he  sang  capitaUy--and  was 
xsoreover  a  thorough  bibliomaniac}  the  late  Sir 
AlexandprDon  of  Newton,  m  all  conrteona  and  al*» 


uia^OF  £W  WAumLsgorm 


in^aeemi^li^imnu  Om  md^lof «  mtlMrs  and 
Git,  not  lM9t^  WiUiam  ilJMn,  IL  A^  wfao  IM  shcMa- 
Jj  before  tius  time  returoed  to  8cotlaiid  from  apteral 
yearv  of  travel  in  Ruaaia  and  Turkey.  At  one  of 
theae  plain  hearty  dinners,  however,  the  company 
raiehr  exceeded  thiee  or  ma,  beaidea  the  aa  yet  un- 
dmed  family. 

Scott  bad  a  stoiy  of  a  toppiqc  ^(oldamith  on  (he 
Bridge  who  prided  himpelf  on  hemfi;  the  nuisFor  of 
Amphitrrooe,  and  accoonCed  for  nia  auooeaa  by 
sletmg  that  it  was  hia  invariable  cuatom  to  aet  hia 
own  stomach  at  eaae,  by  t  beef-steak  and  a  pint  of 
port  in  hia  back- shop^  h^  an  hour  before  the  arrival 
of  hifl.lpieatB.  put  the  koat  of  Caatle  Street  had  no 
occasion  to  imitate  thii  prudent  arrangemeixt  ior 
his  appetite  at  dinner  was  neithejc  keen  nor  nice. 
,  Breakreat  was  hia  chief  meal.  Before  that  came  he 
had  gone  throitgh  the  severest  part  of  his  day's 

Sork,  and  be  (ben  aet  (o  v^th  the  aealof  Crabbe'a 
quire.Toyell'J^ 

"  AAd  laid  at  ooce  a  pound  opoo  his  pkle.". 
Nofozbunter  ever  prejMired  himself  fer  the  field  by 
mote  aubatantial  apphances.  His  table  was  alwaya 
provided,  in  additbn  to  the  asually  plentiful  delica- 
cies of  a  Scotch  breakfjust,  with  some  solid  article, 
oh  which  he  did  tnost-  luatv  exec^tion-^a  round  ojf 
bee»  a  paatry.  such  as  made  GKl  Blasts  eyes  water 
-*er,  moat  welcome  6t  all,  a  cokl  aheep'a  head,  ^e 
eharm^  of  which  primitive  daimy  he  haa  aoffallantly 
d^nclpd  agaiiiat  the df^rarn^Tig  ^\.^.^s  afor.  John- 
ion  and  hia  bear-leader*  A  hu^f;?  brawn  Idnf  tlankef) 
fail  elbow,  and  h  waa  ti\nc&4  upon  a  bmnd  wooden 
tiepcber,  that  he  mignr  mt  mid  t^me  A^Atn  with 
the  bolder  knilSs.  OfteiL  Hid  the  €^hrk^»  co^cfi,  cam- 
■louly  called  among  th^'m.^ Ives  the  Livdtf—wWw^h 
tRDufled  round  every  monimg  ro  pick  up  th^  hroih- 
flfhbod,  and  then  depoeiiifd  thE>rii  nt  ihft  i>ropE^r  nii- 
Iraie  in  th^  Parhakn^dt  Ciotsc^-ufti^n  diii  this  Uim- 
btfiag  hackn^  arrive  ut  his  door  hf^f^re  hf<  hud 
ftdly  aipl^sed  what  Honier  calb  ''  the  entered  rn^n 
ofMDoar}*'  and  yoci^ti:>ua  woa  tht  ruemmcni  of 
theleanied  uncles;  when  the  ^urptis^  poet  AWung 
forth lo^ioin  them,  with  an  extempimtm  sandwich. 
that  looked  like  a  pk^ni^hmAn'ft  lunche^on,  in  bis 
hand.  BUt  tide  Tobuai  empply  would  have  8orv«il 
him  in  fkct  for  -the  day.  Hta  never  r?i5ted  any  chin g 
iDom  befbra  dinner, 'Mid  at  dinni^i-  he  ato  almost  aa 
sparingly  aat  Squire  Toveir«  niec^  fatm  tha  hoard- 
ii«-aobool—  ' 

^* Who  cut  the  saofutno  drsh  In  fruttmns  line, 

And  mArvelled  much  to  fiae  thu  criL'fitures  diner/' 
The  only  dishes  he  w[i?  ql  nH  fond  of  were  th^  o)d- 
faahiOped  ones,  to  whi(  h  he  had  bc*n  nct'tisttinied 
in  the  days  of  Saunders  KaiTford  i  and  which  renlly 
Jre 'excellent  dishes,— ^urh,  in  tnnhj  as  Bf^otlnnd 
borrowed  from  Prance  litfor?  Cftthenoe  de  Medic  is 
brought  in  her  Italian  virfuotl  to  Ti'vo]niioni74t  the 
vXchkn  like  the  court.  Of  moat  of  tht^ao,  I  believe, 
he  has  in  the  course  of  bU  aovels  found  9cme  op- 
portunity to  record  hia  'Ptwni.  B<jl,  above  all,  who 
can  foi^et  that  his  ^ui:,^  Jpaiie.  aniMlet  the  apien- 
doors  Of  Whitehall,  thnik-n  hime^af  an  ill  used  nion- 
trch  unless  his  first  coum^  inc lytic?  c<wk^hfkis  ? 
'  It  is  a  fkct,  which  some  philo^opheri  nia^  thmk 
worth  setting  down,  that  Scott'fl  orpanittaiiont  as 
to  more  than  one  of  thi>  senses,  was  the  reverse  of 
exquisite.  He  had  viry  little  of  what  muarcinns 
eul  an  ear ;  his  smell  ^v  a  ^  h  sird  1  y  mo  re  (Jelic  n  <  e.  T 
nave  seen  him  stare  aboii[,  quite  uncionsciiouR  of  ihi? 
ctuse,  when  his  whole  compnny  betrayed  ihcirunea- 
iness  at  the  approach  oi  an  overkepi  hnunj^h  of 
venison  ;and  ncithefr  by  the  nnn<:  nor  thfi  painto 
could  he  distin^fuished  riirkiwl  winj?  frum  Found.  He 
wold  never  tell  Madeirn  from  Sham-— na>%  an  Ori- 
jntal  fiaend  having  sen  r  i 1 1  ni  a  butt  of  ^Scei-us,  when 
as  remembered  tKeciri'MiifHnr'-e  some  lime  after- 
wards, and  called  for  a  ^.Mtle  to  hnve  Sir  John  Mnl- 
Jwm'sopinion  of  its  qi-iliiv*,  it  Turn»^I  out  that  his 
antler,  mistaking  the  U\*f^U  had  nlrendr  served  \ip 
naif  the  binff  as  thern.  Pij7\  he  ennsi<itjn^d  as  ih\- 
•c?  he  never  willingly  gwaHoweii  tuore  than  one 

*  Sec  Croket't  BofwoEl,  icM*  IWI,}  ^ol  It!  p.  % 


of  ii^  Md  waa  auia  to  aMithaoMtiies  afisood,  if 
*  by  repeatmg  John  Home'i  epigmm^ 
**  Held  and  ereet  t)ie  CfledMiiati  staod, 
Old  Was  Ms  nnittoD,  and  hli  tlartt  f  oOd ; 
Let  bian  drink  port,  the  Eo^Uah  ■tateflum  cded- 
He  drank  tbe  poison,  and  his  spMt  died." 

In  truth,  he  hked  no  wines  except  eoarkling  Cham- 
pagne and  claret ;  but  even  aa  to  this  last  he  waa 
nocopnoiaaeur;  and  dnoerely  preferred  a  tumbler 
of  whisky-toddy  to  tho  moat  pn9ck>aa  "  lixmid  ruby*' 
that  ever  flowed  in  the  cujp  of  a  prince.  He  rarely 
took  any  other  potation  wlien  quite  alcme  with  his 
family;  biu  at  the  Sunday  board  be  cnculated  tho 
Champagne  briskly  during  dinner,  and  cooaidered 
a  pint  of  claret  each  man's  fair  share  afterwarda.  1 
shoald  not  omit,  however,  that  hia  Bourdeanx  waa 
uniformly  preeediBd  by  a  small  HbatioQ  of  the  gen- 
uine Tiiountaln  dew,  which  he  poured  with  his  own 
hand,  more  majorum,  for  each  gueat'— making  uae 
for  thepuipoeeof  auch  a  multifarious  collection  of 
ancient  Highland  qmaight  (littke  cupa  of  eurionalr 
dovetailed  wood,  inlaid  with  sihre^  aa  no  Lowland 
sideboard  but  hia  waa  aver  equipped  with— btat  com- 
monly reserved  for  hiniaelf  one  that  waa  pecaliaiir 
preciotur  in  hia  eyea,  aa  having  travelled  from  E^m* 
bingh  to  Derby  in  the  canteen  of  Prince  Charlie^ 
This  relic  had  been  presented  to  "  the  wandering 
Asoanhia*'  by  aome  very  careful  Ibllower,  ior  its 
bottom  ia  of  |daa8,'  that  he  who  quafiisd  might  keep 
his  p>-c  the  while  op^n  tho  dirte  imni  of  hia  com* 
pafiion- 

The  sound  of  mniic-;-(eveni  1  ftusntfct,  of  anv  sa- 
cred niuaii!  h(it  psAlm-singine)~would  be  eonaider^ 
jnd^orous  in  tkt)  etreDtji  of  Iviiribttrgb  on  a  Sunday 
night  i  BO,  UTOti  the  ix^cftsiona  I  am  speaking  oC  the 
baqi  wai  silenl,  and  Otitrbvrne  and  Tft^  £fonjiy 
Htftute  of  Air  tie  must  need*  be  timijeneed  with.  To 
mnke  amend !*,  after  t«a  itt  the  dramng-room,  Scott 
uiuaUy  raari  some  favounta  mibort  tt^r  ilie  omn**©^ 
inBnt  of  hifi  little  circk;  or  Erskine,  Biillnnlvne^  or 
Trrry  did  aOj  at  hiii  rtjqiN^sL  He  himsnlf  r^d  aloud 
hJeb  poetry  with  far  greater  eimplieity,  d«plhi  atvd 
eflectt  (ben  any  othrr  n*an  1  ever  beard  j  and,  m 
Macbeth  or  Juljaa  Cstian  or  tlw  lii(<^  1  doubt  if 
Kwnble  could  have  been  more  improisvev  Vet  ifce 
cbanffoa  of  inionatiori  wcfi^  ao  gunlly  maOagnl,  that 
he  conrrired  to  B«t  tbo  dilferem  inlerioculora  deailv 
before  UA,  without  the  ieaai  approach  io  th€alricai 
ornfiro.  Not  fto  tho  othcra  I  havi>  mrntionBd  :  they 
sU  read  clieiverly  and  tigrceably,  but  wilh  the  d^'cldod 
irfickery  of  styeu  red  la  lion.  To  them  he  uBuaHy 
g«ve  tlii^  bitok  nhen  it  wa*  a  comedii,  or,  indefd.  ai^y 
oibcr  drama  tban  Shak'^ie^r^'a  or  Jji>«nna  BBilhi$'& 
Dryden'«  Fftblesj  Johnson'*  two  Ha  urns,  wid  tKrfmn 
detat^btid  aeeqee  f>f  Bonumont  ajid.  Ftetebtr,  ft«pe* 
cialU  that  in  the  Lorer'M  I^ogrua^  whi^  th«  ghost 
of  ihe  musieal  mnkeener  makea  his  nppea  ranee, 
were  frequentiy  selected.  Of  the  poets,  hiscontem' 
porariee,  ho*vevCT»  there  wae  not  on«  thai  did  not 
con^e  in  for  his  part*  Id  WoTdaivonh,  bia  pet  pii'&-« 
were,  1  tbi.nk,  the  San^  fur  Broughiim  C(uth,lh& 
Ija{jdantia:t  flnd  (somrt  of  tbeenrly  sonnets ;— in  ooti- 
th^Jf.  Qut-sn  Orraca,  i'\rnandQ  Ramiret^  tbe/^trtu 
crn  thi  HoU*f  7>fle— and,  «f  hia  larser  poems,  iha 
T^£j labi\ .  Ora b l>fl  w aa p^rh ape.  n ex ( id  B b ak Ppejir?! 
the  dEnudins  resource ;  biil  ii^  tbopt'  days  fi>Ton  waa 
l>aurins;  out  his  spirit  fre«h  and  full  \  and,  if  a  new 
pic  e4}  from  bis  hand  bad  a^ipcared,  it  w^a  sure  la  be 
read  by  Saoit  ibtj  Sunday  even  it; k  afterward?,  and 
that  wTtbaLiob  dtdi^hlvd  empbaeitfi,  a»  isbowfid  how 
completely  iheflder  bard  had  kept  all  his  enthn&iaam 
for  poetry  at  the  pitch  uf  vnuihi  ond  all  bis  ad  mi  radon 
of  jifiuiuti  fr&?,  pure,  and  unfltaiuHi  bj(  ibf  icaal  drop 
of  1  i  [  ern  ry  j  e  [i  loi  is  y ,  Rare  b  n  d  be  an  tiiu  I  ck  a  nip  le  o  f 
a  itaptnJy  c:onaijtut4^d  and  virtuously  di^eiplined  mind 
nnri  cKaractFr  1 

V«ry  often  something  read  aloud  by  himatflf  or  his 
friends  eu^Rcaied  an  old  eLory  of  greater  eumpaas 
than  would  have  suited  a  dinner- table— and  be  told 
it,  wb«thi!r  ferrous  or  coni'ica],  or,  aa  more  frequent* 
]y  happened,  raft  *>f  boih.  exactly  in  every  r*jsp<?ct 
in  ilie  lor»e  und  styja  of  me  ni>iccj|nd  illuitxationB 


UFB  OP  sm  WALTiat  soorr. 


ntJvM  lijKftt  indeed,  been  preeerved  in  thoiejmning 
lucabratuoe }  «nd  not  a  few  in  hie  lettere.  Yet  rerr 
many  there  were  of  which  hie  pea  has  left  no  reoora 
-80  many,  that,  were  I  to  taak  my  memory,  I  oonld, 
I  beUeva,  recall  the  oatUnee  at  least  of  more  than 
would  be  sufficient  to  occopy  a  conple  of  these  to- 
lumee.  Possibly,  though  well  aware  how  little  jus-, 
tice  I  could  do  to  such  ihinn  rather  than  think  of 
their  perishing  for  ever,  and  leaving  not  even  a  sha- 
dow behind,  1  may  at  some  fiiture  day  hasard  the  at- 
tempt 

Let  ,nie  tort  .  : ;  l  v,  Ut  f-o  m  ^'  d  1 1-^  n  er  -  tn  h  \e8 

Very  dilfiarent  1  wn,  at  which,  from  this  tiine 

forward,  I  ofu  oil    It  la  ven'  true  of  (he 

•Dcielies  I  am  al:>oiit  to  dfi^tcnbq^  that  he  wa^  ''  amaag 
them,  notof  thf^riij*'  atid  n  is  also  raasi  ln;o  that 
this  fact  was  appart^iit  m  all  the  demean cmr  oT  liis 
bibliopolical  and  tjfpup^mphical  iillic?  tgwnrdf  him 
whenever  heviaiti.^  them  mider  their  roaGs— nctt,  a 
bit  less  so^han  wht^ti  rh^^' w^jrc  re<:eived  at  his  uvrn 
board;  but  still,  coosidoring  how  c]i>Hely  ins  must 
important  wonllv  AfTHir*  vrtre  connepie<i  with  ibe 
personal  charuertT  of  th^  BalUntynea,  t  think  Jc  a 
part,  though  Utcrhrr  a  pmud  nor  a  very  pJm^jtig 
part,  of  my  diiiv  <!«  his  bitigrrapher,  to  roponi  my 
csmmiscenoeB  of  cbem  and  cUicir  domgs  in  some 
detail. 

Jamea  Ballantvne  then  lived  in  St  John  Street, 
a  row  of  good,  old-faahioned|  and  spacious  houses, 
adjoining  the  Canongate  and  Holyrood,  and  at  no 

great  distance  from  his  printing  establishment  He 
ad  married  a  few  yearsv  before  the  daughter  of  a 
wsf  Ithy  fanner  in  Berwickshire— a  qoiet,  amiable 
woman,  of  simple  manners,  and  perfiEictly  domestic 
habits  7  a  groop  of  fine  young  cfaudren  were  grow- 
ing up  about  him  ;  and  ne  usually,  if  not  consunt- 
ly,  had  under  bis  roof  his  aged  mother,  his  and  his 

wile's  tendei^care  of  whom  it  was  mostplear 

witness.    As  far  as  a  stranger  might  judge. 


wile's  tendei^care  of  whom  it  was  most  pleasiiig  to 
witness.  As  far  as  a  stranger  might  judge,  there 
oould  not  be  a  more  exemplary  household,  or  a  ha|>- 


pier  one;  and  I  have  occasionally  met  the  poet  m 
St  John  Street  when  there  were  no  other  guest  but 
Srskina  Terry,  Oeorge  Hogarth^  and  another  in- 
timate friend  or  two,  and  when  James  Ballantyn^ 
was  content  to  appear  in  hia  own  true  and  best  co* 
kmlrSfthe  kind  head  of  kisfunily,  the  respectful  but 
honest  sohod-liBllow  of  Scott,  tnn  easy  landlord  of 
a  phun,  comfonable  table.  But  when  any  great 
event  was  about  to  take  place  in  the  business,  espe- 
cially on  the  eve  of  a  new  novel,  there  were  doings 
»f  a  higher  strain  in  St  John  Street:  and  to  be  pre- 
•snt  at  one  of  (hose  seenes  was  truly  a  rich  treat 
eten— if  not  eapedally^for  persona  who,  like  my- 
self, had  no  more  knowledge  than  the  rest  of  the 
worU  as  to  the  anthorahip  of  Waverley.  Then  were 
eongregated  about  the  printer  all  his  own  literary 
allies,  of  whom  a  considerable  number  were  by  no 
ni^ns  personally  ftimiliar  with  *'  ths  obxat  tm- 
kmown:"— who,  by  the  way,  owed  to  him  that 
widely  adopted  title  r-and  He  appeared  among  the 
rest  with  his  usual  open  aspect  of  buoyant  good^ 
humour— although  it  was  not  difficult  to  trace,  in 
the  occasional  play  of  his  features,  the  diversion  it 
afforded  him  to  watch  all  the  procedure  of  his  swell- 
I  ing  confidant  and  the  curious  neophytes  that  sur- 
rounded the  well-spread  board. 

The  feast  was,  to  use  one  of  James's  own  favour^ 
it^  epithets,  gorgeoue  ;  an  aldermanic  display  of 
turtle  and  venison,  with  the  suitable  accompani- 
ments of  iced  punch,  potent  ale,  and  generous  Ma- 
deira. When  the  cloth  was  drawn  the  biirley preses 
arose,  with  all  he  eould  muster  of  the  port  or  John 
Kemble,  and  spouted  ^with  a  sonorous  voice  the  for- 
nula  of  Macbeth— 

"FlUftUll 
I  drink  to  the  {general  joy  of  the  whole  table !" 

This  was  followed  by  "the  King,  God  bless  him!" 
ind  second  came— **  Gentlemen,  there  is  another 
toast  which  never  has  been  nor  shall  be  omitted  in 
this  house  of  mine— I  give  you  the  health  of  Mr. 

UMt  KioDOe  fpMk  hjffaly. 


Walter  Scott,  vritb  three  times  thne  f'^All  boooof 
having  been  done  to  this  health,  and  Scott  having 
briefly  thanked  the  company  with  some  ezpressionii 
of  warm  afiection  to  thenr  host  Mrs.  Ballantyne  re- 
tired ;— the  bottles  passed  round  twice  or  tlmce  in 
the  usual  way ;— and  then  James  rose  once  more, 
every  vein  on  his  brow  distended,  his  eyes  solemnly 
fixed  upon  vacancy,  to  propose,  not  as  before  in  hia 
stentonan  key,  but  with  "'bated  breath,"  in  the  sort 
of  whisper  by  which  a  stage  conspirator  thrills  the 
gallery—"  CfentUmen^  a  bumper  to  Oie  immoriai 
Author  of  Waverley  /"—The '  uproar  of  cheering, 
in  which  Scott  made  a  fashion  of  joining,  was  soc- 
ceeded  by  deep  silence,  and  then  Ballantyne  pro* 
ceeded— 

"  In  his  Lord-Burleigh-look,  asrene  and  serioas, 
A  sometlilDg  of  iii4>oalnf  and  mysterious"— 

to  lament  the  obscurity  in  which  hi^illnstriout  but 
too  modest  correspondent  still  chose  to  conceal  him- 
self fix>m  the  plaudits  of  the  world— «>  thsnk  the 
company  for  the  manner  i|i  which  the  nomMo 
umblra  had  been  received— and  to  aaaure  them  that 
the  Author  of  Waverley  would,  when  informed  of 
the  ciccumstanca^ieel  highly  delighted—"  theprood- 
est  hour  of  his  life,",  dec  Ac.  The  cool,  diemurs 
iun  of  Scott's  featurea  during  all  this  munyBery 
was  perfect;  and  Erakine^a  attempt  at  a  gay  non- 
ekalance  was  still  moi^e  ludicvousbr  mentoriouai 
Aldiborontiphosoophomio.  however,  Mirating  as  ha 
wasL  knew  too  well  to  allow  the  new  novel  to  be 
made  the  subject  of  discussioit  Its  name  wma  an- 
nounced, ana  success  to  it  crowned  another  cup ; 
but  after  that  no  more  of  Jedediah.  To  cut  the 
thread,  he  rolled  out  unbidden  some  one  of  hie 
many  theatrical  songs,  in  a  style  that  woeld  have 
done  no  dishonour  to  almost^  any  orchestra— The 
Maid  tj  ItOfiit  or,  perhapa  the  Boy  of  Bifoam.  ekt 
^-or  The  oweet  little  Cherub  UuUeiUupalqfL  Other 
toaats  followed,  interspersed  with  ditties  from  other 

Krformers;  old  George  Thomson;,  the  fnend  of 
ims.  was  rsady  for  one  with  The  iHseriond 
Weddings  or  WUli^  brewed  a  peck  ef  maut «— «nd 
ao  it  went  on,  until  Scott  and  Erakine,  with  any 
clerical  or  very  staid  personage  thetjiad  cl^anoed  to 
be  admitted,  aaw  fit  to  withdraw.  Then  the  scene 
wss  changed.  The  claret  and  ohves  made  way  lor 
broiled  bones  and  a  mighty  bowl  of  punch  i  end 
when  a  few  glasses  of  the  hot  beverage  had  reeior- 
ed  his  powers.  James  opened  ore  rotunda  on  the 
merits  of  the  forthcoming  romance.  .  "  One  chap- 
ter—one chapter  only*'— was  the  cry.  After  ney, 
ky*r  Lady  nay  f*  and  a  few  more  coy  shifts,  the 
proof-sheets  were  at  length  produced,  and  James, 
with  many  a  prefatory  nem^  read  aloud  what  he 
considered  as  the  most  striking  dialogue  they  oon- 
taineo. 

The  first  I  heard  so  read  was  the  interview  be- 
tween Jeanie  Deans,  the  Dukeof  Argyle,  and  dueen 
Caroline,  in  Richmond  Park ;  and  notwithstanding 
some  spice  of  the  pompous  tricks  to  which  he  was 
addicted,  I  must  say  ne  did  the  inimitable  scene 
great  justice.  At  all  events,  the  efiect  it  produced 
was  deep  and  memorable,  and  no  wonder  that  the 
exulting  typo;a'apher's  one  bumper  more  to  Jede- 
diah  Cfeishhotham  preceded  his  parting-stave,  which 
was  uniformly  TTu  Loot  Word*  ofMarmion,  ex- 
ecuted certainly  with  no  contemptible  rivalry  of 
Braham. 

What  a  diflierent  afiair  was  a  dinner,  although 
probably  including  many  of  the  same  guests,  at  the 
•junior  partner's.  He  in  those  days  retained,  I  think, 
no  private  apartments  attached  to  his  auction- 
rooms  in  Hanover  Street,  over  the  door  of  which 
he  still  kept  emblazoned  "John  Balltfntvpe  and 
Company,  Booksellers."  At  any  rate,  such  of  his 
entertainments  as  I  ever  saw  Scott  partake  o^  were 
given  at  his  villa  near  to  the  Frith  oi  Forth,  by  Tri- 
nity :  a  retreat  which  the  little  man  had  named 
"Harmony  Hall,"  and  invested  with  an  air  of  dain- 
ty voluptuous  finery,  contrasting  strikingly  eoough 
with  the  substantial  citizen-like  snugness  of  his 
elder  brother's  domestic  appointments.  His  house 
was  surrounded  by  gardens  so  contrived  as  to  t 


LIFE  (fP  Sm  WAUTBR  jtCOlT. 


of  eonttderaUe  extent,  having  many  a  shady  mft 
fmlKwd  alley,  and  mysterious  alcove,  interspersed 
among  their  bright  parterres.  It  was  a  fairy-like 
labyrinth,  and  there  was  no  want  of  pretty  Armi- 
daB,  such  as  they  ^i^ht  be,  to  glide  half-seen  among 
ita  mazes.  The  sitting-rooms  opened  upon  gay  and 
perfumed  conservatories,  and  John'p  professional 
excursions  lo  Paris  and  Brussels  in  quest  of  objects 
of  virtuy  had.  supplied  both  the  temptation  and  the 
means  to  set  forth  the  interior  in  a  fashion  that 
might  have  satisfied  the  most  fastidious  peliU  mai- 
tresM  of  Norw6od  or  St.  Denis.  John  too  was  a 
married  man:  he  had,  however,  erected  for  him- 
self a  private  wing,  the  accesses  to  which,  whether 
fix»m  the  main  building  or  the  bosquet,  were  so  nar- 
row that  it  was  physicnlly  imposMple  for  the  hand- 
aoxne  and  portly  lady  who  bore  his  name  to  force 
her  person  through  any  one  of  them.  His  dinners 
were  in  all  respects  Parisian,  for  his  wasted  palate 
cliadainea  such  John  Bull  luxuries  as  were  all  in  all 
with  James.  The  piquant  pasty  of  Strasburg  or 
Perigord  was  never  to  seek ;  and  even  the  jn^ce  de 
TisUtance  was  probably  a  boar's  head  from  Cob- 
leatx,  or  a  tufkey  ready  atuflfed  with  truffles  from 
the  Palais  Royal.  The  pictures  scattered  among 
John's  innumerable  mirrors,  were  chiefly  of  thea- 
tricaJ  subjects— many  of  them  portraits  of  beautiful 
actresses— the  same  Peg  Woffingtons,  Bellamy^s, 
Kitt/Clives,  and  so  forth,  that  found  their  way  in 
the  sequel  to  Charles  Matthews's  gallery  at  Hig;h- 
^te.  Hei^  that  exquisite  comedian's  own  mimic- 
ries and  parodies  were  the  life  and  soul  of  many  a 
iieatival,  and  here,  took  he  gathered  from  his  face- 
tiouabost  not  a  few  of  the  richest  materials  for  his 
ot  ham4»  and  monopolfloiptes.  But,  indeed,  what- 
ever  actor  or  singer  of  eminence  visited  Edinburgh. 
of  the  evenings  when  he  did  not  perform  several 
were  snro  to  be  reserved  for  Trinity.    Here  Braham 

Joavered,  and  here  Liston  drolled  his  best— here 
ohnstone,  and  Murrav.  and  Yates,  mixed  iest  and 
stave — here  Kean  revelled  and  rioted— and  here  the 
Roman  Kemble  often  played  the  Greek  from  sunset 
to  dawn.  Nor  did  tho  popular  cantatrict  or  e^n- 
»€me  of  the  time  disdain  to  freshen  her  rosea,  after 
a  labdrions  week,  amidst  these  Paphian  arbours  of 
Harmony  Hall. 

Johnny  had  other  tastes  that  were  equally  expen- 
sive. He  had  a  well-furnished  stable,  and  followed 
the  fox-hounds  whenever  the  cover  was  within  an 
easy  distance.  His  Worses  were  all  called  after  he- 
roes in  Scott's  poems  or  novels;  and  at  this  time  he 
usually  rode  up  to  his  auction  on  a  tall  milk-white 
hantei;  yclept  Old  Mortality^  Attended  by  a  leash  or 
two  ot  greyhounds,- Die  Vernon,  Jenny  Dennison. 
and  so  forth,  hy  name.  The  featherweight  himself 
appeared  uniformly^  hammcr-in  hand,  m  the  half- 
drMs  of  some  sporting  club— a  light  gray  frock,  with 
emblems  of  the  chase  on  its  siTver  buttons,  white 
cord  breeches,  and  jockey- boots  in  Meltonian  order. 
Tet  be  afiected  in  tne  pulpit  rather  a  grave  address ; 
and  was  really  one  of  the  most  plausible  and  impos- 
ing of  the  Puff  tribe.  Probably  Scott's  presence 
overawed  his  ludicrous  propensities ;  for  the  poet 
ivas;,  when  sales  were  Voing  on,  almost  a  dailyat- 
tendant  in  Hanover  Street,  and  himself  not  the 
least  energetic  of  the  numerous  competitors  for 
Johnny's  uncut  A/Uenerg^  Venetian  lamps,  Milanese 
eniraeses,  and  old  Dutch  cabinets.  Maida^  by  the 
#ay,  was  so  well  aware  of  his  master's  habits,  that 
•bout  the  time  when  the  Court  of  Session  was 
likely  to  break  up  for  the  day,  he  might  usually  be 
seen  couched  in  expectation  among  Johnny's  own 
taii  of  greyhounds  at  the  threshold  of  the  mart. 

It  was  at  one  of  those  Trinity  dinners  this  sum- 
mer, that  I  first  s^w  Constable.  Being  struck  with 
his  appearance,  I  asked  Scott  who  he  wasj  and  he 
told  me— expressing  some  surprise  that  any  body 
should,  have  lived  a  winter  or  two  in  Edinburgh 
without  knowing:,  by  sight  at  least,  a  citizen  who^e 
name  was  so  familiar  to  the  world.  I  happened  to 
say  that  I  had  not  been  prepared  to  find  the  great 
bookseller  a  man  of  such. gentlemanlike  and  even 
distinguished  bearing.  Scott  smiled  and  answered — 
*Ay» Constable  is  mdecd  a  grand-looking  chield. 


He  pats^ma  in  mind  of  Fielding'a  apoloay  for  Lad/ 
Booby-«to  wit,  that  Joseph  Andrews  had  ap  aar 
which,  to  thoae  who  had  not  aeen  many  noblemen, 
would  give  an  idea  of  nobility."  1  had  not  in  those 
days  been  ranch  initiated  in  the  private  jokes  of 
what  is  called,  by  way  of  excellence!  the  irade^  and 
was  puzzled  when  Soott,  in  the  course  of  the  din- 
ner, said  to  Constable,  "  Will  your  Czarish  Msjestv 
do  me  the  honour  to  take  a  glass  of  Champagne  T* 
1  asked  the  master  of  the  feast  for  an  explanatk>n. 
"Oh  !"  sakl  he,  "are  you  so  green  as  not  to  know 
that  Constable  long  since  dubbed  himself  The  Czw 
of  Mtucovy^  John  Murray  llu  Emptrox;  of  the 
WeaL  and  Longman  and  his  string  of  partners  Tht 
Divan  7"—"  And  what  title,"  I  asked,  "  has  Mr. 
John  Ballantyne  himadf  found  in  this  new  almanac 
imperial  ?"— "  Let  that  flee  stick  to  the  wa',"  quoth 
Johnny;  "when  I  set  up  for  a  bookseller.  The 
Crafty  christened  me  The  Dey  of  AUjeers— but  he 
now  considers  me  as  nexaihing  to  dethroned."  He 
added—"  His  majesty  the  autocrat  is  too  fond  of 
these  nicknames.  One  day  a  partner  of  the  house 
of  lA)ngman  was  dining  with  him  in  the  countrVf  to 
settle  an  important  piece  of  businw,  aboiu  which 
there  occurred  a  good  deal  of  difficulty.  '  What 
fine  swans  you  have  in  your  pond  there,'  said  the 
Londoner,  by  way  of  parenthesis.—'  Swans  I'  cried 
Constable—'  they  are  only  geese,  man.  There  am 
just  five  of  them,  if  you  please  to  observe,  and  their  ' 
name^are  Lonaman,  Hurat,  Rees,  Orme,  aad  . 
Brow9  This  skit  cost  The  Grafty  a  good  bar- 
gain." 

It  always  appeared  to  me  that  James  Ballantyne 
felt  his  genhis  rebuked  in  thepresenee  of  Constables 
his  manner  waa  constrained,  his  smile  servile,  hit 
hilarity  elaborate.  Not  so  with  Johnny :  the  little 
fellow  never  seehied  more  airily  frolicsome  than 
when  he  capered  for  the  amusement  of  the  Csar.* 
I  never,  however,  saw  these  two  together,  where  I 
am  told  the  humours  of  them  both  were  exhibited 
to  the  richest  advantage— I  mean  at  the  Sunday 
dinners  with  which  Constable  regaled,  amongothera 
his  own  circle  of  literary  serfs,  and  when  Jocund 
Johnny"  was  very  commonly  his  croupier.  There 
are  stories  enough  of  practical  jokes  upon  such  oc- 
casions, some  of  them  near  akin  to  those  which  the 
author  of  Humphrey  Clinker  has  thought  fit  to  re- 
cord of  his  own  suburban  villa,  in  the  most  diverting 
of  young  Melford's  lettera  to  Sir  Watkin  Philips.  I 
have  heard,  for  example,  a  luculent  description  of 
poor  EUhender  Campbell^  and  another  drudge  of 
the  same  class,  runnmg  a  race  after  dinner  for  a 
new  pair  of  breecheik  which  Mr.  David  Bridges^ 
tailor  in  ordinary  to  this  northern  potentate— him- 
self a  wit  virtuoso,  and  the  croupier  on  that  day  in 
lieu  of  Rigdum— had  been  instructed  to  brmg  with 
him,  and  display  before  the  threadbare  rivals.  But 
I  had  these  pictures  from  John  Ballantyne,  and  I 
daresay  they  might  be  overcharged.  That  Con- 
stable was  a  moat  bountiful  and  generous  patron  to 
the  ragged  tenanu  of  Grub  Street,  there  can^  how- 
ever, be  no  doubt ;  and  as  little  that  John  himself 
acted  on  all  occasions  by  them  in  the  same  spirit, 
and  this  too  to  an  extent  greatly  beyond  what  pru- 
dence (if  he  had  ever  consulted  that  guide  in  any 
thing)  would  have  dictated. 

when  1  visited  Constable,  as  I  often  did  at  a  pe- 
rkxi  somewhat  later  than  that  of  which  I  now 
speak,  and  for  the  most  part  in  company  with  Scott, 
I  found  the  bookseller  established  in  a  respectable 
country  gentleman's  seat,  some  six  or  seven  miles 
outof  Rdin burgh,  and  doing  the  honours  of  it  with  all 
the  ease  that  might  have  been  looked  for  had  he  been 
the  long-descended  owner  of  the  place.  There  was 
no  foppery,  no  show,  no  idle  luxury,  but  to  all  ap- 
pearance tne  plain  abundance  and  simple  enjoyment 
of  hereditary  wealth.  His  conversation  was  manly 
and  vigorous,  abounding  in  Scotch  anecdotes  of  the 

•  *•  Now,  John,"  cried  Conttabk>  one  owning  after  he  had  (old 
one  of  his  bemt  itorka— **  Now,  John,  n  that  true?"— His  ohifeC 
evidently  waa.  in  lago't  phrase,  to  let  doton  the  pega;  but  Rig- 
dum  answered  Mi'ly. "  True,  indeed  1  Not  one  word  of  it  I— any 
I  Uoekhead  mafPtick  to  the  truth,  my  hcutf-jbOLJtm^fa^  ham* 
i  perorofgcntu^  Digitized  byVjOUVtC 


IN 


lilFS  OP  Sm  WALTER  IBOOTT. 


did  time,  which  he  told  with  a  degree  of  wpmt  attl 
humour  only  second  to  his  ftreet  authors.  No 
inao  could  more  effectually  control,  when  be  had  a 
mind,  cither  the  extravagant  vanity  which»  on  too 
many  occasions,  made  lum  ridiculous,  or  the  des- 
potic temper,  which  habitually  held  in  fear  and  trem- 
bling all  such  as  %yers  in  any  sort  dependent  on  his 
Czariah  Majesty's  pleasure.  In  him  I  never  saw  (at 
this  period)  any  thinR  but  the  unobtrusive  sense 
and  the  calm  courtesy  of  a  well-bred  eentleman.  His 
very  equipage  kept  up  the, series  of  contrasts  be- 
tween him  and  the  two  Ballantvnes.  Constable 
went  back  and  forward  between  the  town  and  Pol- 
ton  in  a  deep-hung  and  capacidus  green  barouche, 
without  any  pretence  at  heraldic  blazonry,  drawn 
by  a  pair  of  sleek,  black,  long  tailed  horses,  and 
conducted  by  a  grave  old  coachman  in  plain  blue 
livery.  The  Printer  of  the  Cannongate  drove  him- 
self and  his  wife  about  the  streets  and  the  suburbs 
in  a  snug  machine,  which  did  not  overburthen  one 
powerful  and  steady  cob ;  while  the  gay  auctioneer, 
whenever  he  left  the  saddle  for  the  box,  mounted  a 
bright  blue  dogcart,  and  rattled  down  the  Newhaven 
road  with  two  nigh-mettled  steeds,  prancing  tandem 
before  him,  and  most  probably—edpecially  if  he  was 
on  his  wa/  to  the  races  at  Musselburgh— with  some 
"  sweet  singer  of  Israel"  flaming,  with  all  feathers, 
beside  him.  On  such  occasions,  by  the  by*  Johnny 
sometimes  had  a  French  horn  with  niip,  and  he  play- 
ed on  it  with  good  skill,  and  with  an  energy  by  no 
means  prudent  m  the  state  of  his  lungs.       # 

The  Sheriff  told  with  peculiar  unction  the  follow- 
ing anecdote  of  this  spark.  The  first  time  ho  went 
Sver  to  pick  up  curiosities  at  Paria  it  happened  that 
e  met,  in  the  course  of  his  tramckinga,  a  certain 
brother  bookseller  of  Edinburgh,  as  unlike  him  as 
one  man  could  well  be  to  anothei^a  grave,  dry 
Presbyterian,  rigid  in  all  his  notions  as  the  buckle  of 
his  wig.  This  precise  worthy  having. ascertained 
John's  address,  went  to  call  on  hio^  a  day  or  two 
afterwarda,  with  the  news  of  some  richlv  illuminat- 
ed, missal,  which  he  might  possibly  be  f^Iad  to  make 
prize  of.  On  asking  for  nis  friend,  a  smiling  laquaia 
de  place  informed  him  that  Monsieur  had  gone  out, 
but  that  Madame  was  at  home.  Not  doubting  that 
Mrs.  Ballantyne  had  accompanied  her  husband  on 
his  trip,  he  desired  lo  pay  his  respects  to  Madame^ 
and  was  ushered  in  accordingly.  "  But  oh,  Mr. 
Scott  1"  said,  or  rather  groaned  the  ausjerc  elder,  on 
hia  return  from  this  modem  Babylon— "oh,  Mr. 
Scott,  there  was  uae  Mrs.  John  yonder,  but  a  paint- 
ed Jrzabel  sittin'  up  in  her  bed,  wi'  a  whecn  impu- 
dent French  limmers  like  iicrsel',  and  twa  or  three 
whiskered  blackguards,  tnkm'  their  collation  o'  nick- 
nacks  and  champagne  wine !  I  ran  out  o'  the  house 
as  if  1  had  been  shot.  What  jud»<ment  will  this 
wicked  warld  come  lo  I  The  Lord  pity  ua  I"  Scott 
was  a  severe  enough  censor  in  the  general  of  such 
leviiiets  but  somehow,  in  ihecase  ofRigdumfunni- 
dos,  he  seemed  to  regard  them  with  much  the  same 
toleration  as  the  naui^hty  tricks  uf  a  monkey  in  the 
"Jardin  des  Plantes.^' 

Why  did  Scutt  T*t;rrtiRl  in  biixing  up  all  his  most 
intportiint  eoMt  i'(ii:»  with  ^itc)]  people  as  I  have  been 
depctibmgl  I  risked  him^<  h  that  question  too  un- 
ceremoniously ni  a  tuina  fluinequent  period,  and  in 
Am  lime  the  reader  *h  ill  s  ,  the  answer  I  received. 
Uat  It  h^L  th#  mtiin  i^^ii<.'Mi  Ml,  to  my  apprehennon, 
^sk  niiu:h  in  ihti  dnrk  Al^  ^Vr  r  I  shall  return  to  the 
sfld  frubjjr-ct  huriBLrror  ni^r.  seriously;  but  in  the 
tneantiriie  iex  m  mfhiri^  to  ?^  ;  .  thai  he  was  the  moRl 
pnitcnt.  ItjnK-aTiHc-rnirt,  atln  ionnic,  and  chnrilable 
of  mfttikind:  that  iti  f|ii^  'i^e  of  bojh  the  Ballan- 
lynt-a  he  Cfjuld  coum,  »ftcr  II,  on  a  sincerity,  nay, 
a  pfiif!ikHMte!y  *tf  vif'  H  :irt;i,  bmeni  to  his  person; 
thai,  Willi  theffrvK«>t  ,1  man  beingH.  upc  is  in 
all  but  unconquerable  power;  and  thai  he  who  so 
loftily  tossed  aside  the  seemingly  most  dangerous 
assnults  of  flattery,  the  blnndishment  of  damej>  the 
condescension  of  princes,  the  enthusiasm  of  crowds 
--had  still  his  weak  point  upon  which  two  or  three 
humble  besiegers,  and  one  unwearied,  though  most 
frivolous  underminer,  well  knew  how  ^jLdirect  their 
approaches.    It  was  a  favourite  saw  of  ms  own,  that 


the  wiaeat  of  our  race  aftaa  fMerve  Che  afetMMlock 
of  foUy  to  be  all  expended  upon  seme  ene  ligraiit 
absoraity. 


CHAPTER    XLII. 

PUBUCATIOK  or  THE  UaAST  OF  MIO-LOTHI AX— ITS  BI- 

cBPTiON  iH  soiNauaew  aho  in  ekOland— auotb- 

POSD  IN  OCTOBER— MSLSOSB  ABBKV— OlYBirBeB, 
arc— UOM-MUNTBBS  FEOM  AMBEICA — TaASKOTOr 
THB  CHEBOK£E  LOVEBB— SCOTt's  DINSTEB  TO  TW 
SELK1EK6H1BE  VEOMBN.— 1818. 

.Hopiira  to  be  forgiven  for  a  long  digression,  the 
biographer  willingly  returns  to  the  thread  of  Scott's 
stoiy.  The  Heart  of  Mid-Lothian  appeared,  as  has 
be^  mentioned,  before  the  close  of  /unc,  1818;  ud 
among  the  letters  which  he  received  soon  afierwii^ 
from  the  friends  by  this  time  in  the  secret,  there  a 
one  which  (though  1  do  not  venture  to  name  the 
writer)  I  am  tempted  to  take  the  hberty  of  quoting: 

" Now  for  ft  ....  Icanapeaktotbepormee. 

aa  I  have  iiot  only  read  it  myself,  but  am  iu  a  house  Wfaere 
every  body  is  tearing  it  ouiof  each  other's  hands,  and  lak- 
lnj(  of  nothing  else,  do  much  for  ita  attcces»— the  oion 
flattering,  because  it  overcomea  a  nrejudice.  People  wot 
beginning  to  say  the  author  would  wear  himself  ou;  it 
was  going  on  loo  long  in  (he  same  key,  and  no  isnbof 
notes  could  i>os8ibly  be  produce4<  Cfa  the  contmr,! 
think  the  interest  is  stronger  here  than  in  any  of  the  vat- 
mer  ones— (always  excepting  my  flrst-loTp,  Wavcrley)- 
and  one  may  congratulate  you  uix>n  having  eflTected  "rftat 
many  have  tried  to  do,  and  nobody  yet  succ  oeded  in,  msit- 
Ing  the  perfectly  good  character  the  most  interesting.  Of 
late  days,  especially  since  it  has  been  the  fashkm  lo  writt 
moral  and  even  religious  novels,  one  might  almost  say  oC 
some  of  the  wise  good  heroines,  wtiat  a  lively  giri  eocs 

said  to of  her  well-meaning  aunt—'  Upon  my  woni 

she  is  enough  to  make  any  body  wicked.'  And  though 
beauty  and  talents  are  heaped  on  the  right  side,  the  wnter, 
in  spite  of  himself,  is  sure  to  pnt  agreeableneKs  on  the 
wron^ ;  the  person,  from  whose  *errors  he  means  ,▼« 
should  take  warning,  runs  away  with  your  secret  partialKf 
in  the  mean  time.  Had  this  very  story  been  condactol 
by  a  common  hand,  EfBe  would  have  attracted  all  ear  . 
concern  and  sympathy,  Jeanie  only  cold  approbatioB. 
Whereas  Jeanie.  without  youtlu  beauty,  genius,  warm  fw- 
Rions.  or  anv  other  novel-perfection,  is  here  our  object 
from  Dcginning  to  end.  This  is '  enlisting  the  aCToctMitt 
in  the  cause  of  virtue'  ten  limes  more  than  e^tr  Richard- 
son did  ;  for  whose  malr  and  female  pedimts.  allexcellin[r 
as  thftv  are,  I  never  could  care  hffif  8o  mUch  as  I  foand 
myficlf  inclined  to  do  for  Jeanie  before  I  finished  the  fine 
volume. 

''  You  know  I  tell  you  my  opinion  just  as  1  8houkl<k>io 
a  third  person,  and  I  trust  tht'  freedom  is  not  unweleoaie 
I  was  a  litiie  tirod  of  your  Edinburgh  lawjers  in  tlieiatro- 
ilucdou:  English  peoule  in  general  will  be  more  so.a» 
woll  HH  iiup;Ui<mt  of  the  passages  alludii??  to  Scotch  Uw 
throiiu;h()ut.  Mr.  Haddl'^trer'  will  no*  entertain  them.  Tlie 
btter'imrt  of  the  fourth  volume  rtnavaidably  flags  tot 
certilin  degree;  afrer  Jeanie  is  happily  8<^rtled  al  B«e- 
Deaili,  we  have  no  more  to  wish  for.  But  ihr  chief  laak 
I  havi;  to  tind  relates  to  the  reappearance  and  alH>e.ictaf 
fate  of  the  boy.  I  hear  on  all  sides—'  Oh,  I  do  not  like 
that  !* — I  cannot  say  wliatl  would  have  Itad  iiMtead ;  bittl 
do  uot  like  it  either  ;  ii  is  a  lame,  huddled  conclusioa.  I 
know  you  so  well  in  It,  by  the  by  !— you  grow  liriHl  your- 
s<  If.  w;»ni  to  got  rid  of  the  story,  and  hardly  care  how 
^^i^(Jeo^ge.'^taanton  linidhes  his  career  very  fitly:  heougM 
not  to  (Me  iu  his  bed,  and  for  Jeanie's  sake  one  would  wf 
have  him  han«/ed.  It  is  unnatural,  thoui h,  that  he  shoaM 
ever  ha\  e  gone  within  twenty  miles  of  the  tolbooth,  or 
Hhowd  his  face  in  the  $tre«?t8  of  Edinburgh, or  dined  alt 
pulnic  meeting,  if  the  Lord  Cemiiiissioner  hod  been  lot 
l)r«>th.?r.  11  ere  end8  my  f>^r  con/ra  account  The  oppo- 
.«*ito  .m^c  would  inalic  my  letter  loo  long^if  I  eiUerc<I  equal- 
ly iij:o  particularH.  Carlisle  Jmd  Corby-CiistleV  in  Wwer- 
ley  .lit!  not  aflocl  iTte  more  de.nly  thau  the  prison  aiw trial 
srr-.Ms,  Tlie  end  of  poor  M.uige  WiNIfire  is  n|so  most  pa- 
ihetir.  The  mectin*  at  Musrhat's  rairn  irefteodous 
Dumbiedykesand  Rory  Bean  are  delightful.  And  I  t^hail 
own  ihalmy  prejudices  were  secretly  gratified  bv  the  hght 
iu  ultich  you  place  John  of  Argyle,  whom  Blr*  Coxe  jo 
ran  down  to  please  Lord  Orford.  You  have  drAwn  him  to 
the  very  hfe.  I  hearrj  so  much  of  him  in  my  youth,  •• 
many  anecdotes,  so  often  '  as  the  Duke  of  Argvle  used  la 
say'— that  I  really  believe  I  am  almost  as  good  a  judge  •» 

if  1  had  seen  and  lived  with  him.    The  late  Lady 

told  me,  that  when  she  married,  he  was  still  rcnnrkab^ 


UFB  OP  SOI  WiU«TBR  'MtoTT, 


thu  ihe  ever  «w  in  mt  cae  elM  *,  th«  most  apreeabM 

Serson  In  conremtion,  the  beet  teller  of  a  story.  When 
fly-seven  thus  CApdves  eighteen,  the  natural  powers  of 
pleaslnx  most  be  extraordinary.  You  h^ve  likewise  co- 
loored  Queen  Caarolinc  exactW  risht— bm  I  was  bred  up 
hi  another  ereed  about  Lady  sufTolIc,  of  whom,  as  a  very 
oM  deaf  woman,!  have  some  folni  recqUeetion.  Lady 
""**  knew  her  Intimatety,  and  never  would  allofw  she 
had  b^en  the  King^s  mtetress,  though  she  owned  it  was 
currently  believed.  She  said  be  had  just  enough  Uking 
for  her  to  make  the  Queen  very  civil  to  her,  and  very 
jealous  and  spiteful ;  the  rest  remained  always  uncertain 
at  most,  like  a  similar  scandal  in  our  days,  where  I,  for 
one,  imagine  love  of  seeininf  influence  on  one  side,  and 
loTe  of  lounsing,  of  an  easy  house  and  a  good  dinner,  on 
the  other,  to  oc  all  thi  criunnal  passions  concenned.  How- 
over,  I  confess,  Lady had  that  in  herself  whieh 

made  her  not  ready  to  think  the  wont  of  her  fellow- 
women. 

*'  Did  you  ever  hear  the  historv  of  John  Duke  of  Ar- 
fjrle's  marriage,  and  constant  attaobment,  before  and  afler, 
to  a  woman  not  handsouicr  or  much  more  elegant  than 
Jeanie  Deans,  though  very  unlike  her  in  understanding  7 
i  can  give  it  you,  if  you  wish  it,  for  it  is  at  my  finger's  ends. 
Now  I  am  ancient  myself,  I  should  be  a  great  treasure  of 
anecdote  to  any  body  who  had  the  same  humour,— but  I 
meet  vrith  few  who  have.  *rbey  read  vulgar  tales  in  books, 
Wraxal,  and  so  forth,  what  the  footmen  and  oiaids  only 
g«ve  credit  to  at  the  moment,  but  they  deaire  no  farther 
informaiion.  I  dare  swear  many  of  your  readers  never 
heard  of  the  Duke  of  Argyle  before.  '  Pray,  who  was 
Sir  Robert  Walpole,*  they  ask  me,  'and  when  did  he  live  V 
—or  perhaps— 'Was not  the  great  Lord  Chatham  in  Queen 
Anne's  daysl' 

'^  We  have,  to  help  us,  an  exemplification  on  two  legs  in 
<nf  country  apothecary,  whom  you  have  painted  over  and 
over  whhout  the  honour  of  knowing  hira ;  an  oM.  dry,  ar- 
guing, prosing,  obstinate  Scotchman,  very  shrewd,  riiher 
■arcAStio,  a  tturdy  Whig  and  Presbyterian,  ttrani  un  peu 
tmr  te  democrat.  Tour  books  are  birdlime  to  him,  how- 
ever ;  ho  hovers  about  the  house  to  obtain  a  volume  when 
others  have  done  with  it>  I  long  to  ask  bis  whether  douce 
Davie  was  any  vray  $ib  to  him.  He  acknowleckes  he 
wonid  not  now  go  to  Muschat's  Cairn  at  night  for  any 
money — he  had  such  a  horror  of  it '  sixtv  years  ago'  when 
a  laddie.  But  I  am  come  to  the  end  or  my  founh  page, 
Aod  wfU  not  tire  yon  With  any  more  scribbling." 


tkMkteondMled  wkh  the  sifeitimate  '*«ld  atook"  of 
the  Haoover  Street  Company. 

Before  he  settled  himself  to  his  work,  however, 
he  made  a  little  tour  of  the  favourite  description  with 
his  wife  and  children— halting  for  a  few  days  at 
I  Dnimlanrig,  thence  crossing  the  Border  to  Carlisle 
(  and  Rokeby,  and  returning  by  way  of  Alnwick.  On 
the  17th  August,  he  writes  thus  to  John  Ballantyne 
from    Drumlanrig:— ''This   is  heavenly  weather, 
and  I  am  making  the  most  pf  it,  as  I  shall  have  a 
laborious  autumn  before  me.    I  may  say  of  m  v  head 
I  and  fingn-s  as  the  farmer  of  his  mare,  when  he  in- 
dulged her  with  an  extra  feed— 


"P.  S.— If  I  had  known  nothing,  and  the  whole  world 
had  told  me  the  contrary,  I  should  have  found  you  out  in 
that  one  parenthesis,—*  for  the  man  was  mortal,  and  had 
been  a  schoolmaster.' " 

Tbi0  letter  was  addressed  from  a  great  country 
house  in  the  south ;  and  may,  I  presume,  be  accept- 
ed as  a  fair  index  of  the  instantaneous  English  po- 
Eularity  of  Jeania  Deans.  From  the  choice  of  ioca- 
ties,  and  the  8,'>lendid  blazoning  of  tragical  circum- 
stances that  had  left  the  strongest  impression  on  the 
memory  and  imagination  of  every  inhabitant,  the 
reception  of  this  tale  in  Edinburgh  was  a  scene  of 
all-engrossing  enthusiasm,  auch  as  I  never  witnes- 
sed there  on  the  appearance  of  any  other  literary 
novelty.  But  the  admiration  and  delight  were  the 
same  all  over  Scotland.  Never  before  had  he  seized 
such  really  noble  features  of  the  national  character 
as  were  canonized  in  the  person  of  his  homely  he- 
roine :  no  art  had  ever  devised  a  happier  running 
oontraHt  than  that  of  her  and  her  sister-Tor  inter- 
woven a  portaiture  of  lowly  manners  and  simple  vir- 
tues, with  more  graceful  delineations  of  polished 
life,  or  with  bolder  shadows  of  terror,  guilt,  crime, 
remorse,  madness,  and  all  the  agony  of  the  pas- 
sions. 

In  the  introduction  and  notes  to  the  Heart  of  Mid- 
Lothian,  drawn  up  in  1830,  we  are  presented  with 
details  concerning  the  su^estion  of  the  main  plot, 
and  the  chief  historical  mcidents  made  use  of^  to 
which  I  can  add  nothing  of  ^ny  moment 

The  12th  of  July  restored  the  author  as  usual  to 
the  supervision  of  bis  trees  and  carpenters;  but  he 
bad  already  told  the  Balls i^tynes,  that  the  story 
which  be  had  found  it  impossible  to  include  in  the 
recent  series  of  Jedediah  should  be  iorthwith  taken 
up  as  the  opening  one  of  a  third :  and  instructed 
John  to  embrace  the  first  favourable  opportunity  of 
offering  Constable  the  publication  of  this,  on  the 
footing  of  10,000  copies  again  forming  the  first  edi- 
lioQ ;.  but  BOW  at  length  without  any  more  stipula- 


'  Ye  ken  that  Maggie  wlnna  sleep 
For  that  or  Simmer.' 


I 


We  have  taken  our  own  horses  with  us,  and  I  have 
my  poney,  and  ride  when  I  find  it  convenient*' 
,  The  following  seems  to  have  been  among  the  first 
letters  he  wrote  after  his  return. 

toJ.B.  S.  MorHtt,  Boq.  M.  P.  Rokeby. 

"  AbboUford,  10th  Sept  18ia 
"  My  dear  Morriu, 

""  We  have  been  cnitehig  to  and  fro  since  we  left  your 
land  of  woods  and  streams.  LordMehille  wislied  me  to 
come  and  stay  two  days  with  hJm  at  Melville  Ca8t|e,  wlUeh 
has  broken  in  upon  my  time  a  little,  and  interrupted  my 

J  purpose  of  iclliag  you  as  how  we  arrived  safe  at  Abbots- 
brd,  without  a  drop  of  rain,  thus  completiiu  a  toUr  of  three 
weeks  in  the  same  fine  weather  in  which  we  commen* 
red  it— a  thing  which  never  f  If  1.  t  \><f<-^-i-  ^^nt^ffi 
PergQson  is  inducted  into  the  ^:.    R^- 

gaUa,  toChegreatjoy,  I  thinL.  <:  .1  V.  ..u-<-.i-±\^  ile  tiSS 
enterednponafarm(of  elev.  u  r<-..  n  .,  <<LM?n^eof 
this  advancement  for  yoii  kin  w  w  i-o  jn-  r  a  ruip,  ihit 
whenever  a  Scotsmsn  gets  hi>^  tu'.ii»J  nh^'tit  xrat^^  hx^lio^ 
mediately  turns  it  to  land,  in  bo  I^aj  alrf'^dy  UiK«a  iiU 
the  advice  of  all  the  notables  m  and  &U*mt  tUij  gncKl  vUlitge 
of  Damlelc, we  expect  to  see  iiEi  farm  l4K>k  Itte  r  ullofa 
book  of  patterns,  a  snip  of  cvfrrjr  Hincral  npinioti  which 
he  has  received  occupying  ll^  (yp[TropTlate  cfirn^fT.  He  l« 
troliBprhat  the  French  call  wi'  *iroit  dA  rftrps. 

**I  wish  yoa  would  allow  yonrrn^cbroan  lo  k>ok  out  Ifer 
aae  among  your  neighbours  a  '  <iipi<;  ijf  younj;  coIIh  uMtfg 
three  would  be  the  best  agei  \\mi  ^-onld  nmirb  fvt  a  tvh 
riage  some  two  years  hence.  I  ha?L'  plt:uiy  nf  gT<jia  ^ 
them  in  the  mean  while,  and  -iboTilil  nc^^r  iiiiuw  i\m  tJi* 

Eense  of  their  keep  at  Alpboi-d2or<i  ll«  Acrtntid  la  ttidilE 
e  could  pick  them  up  at  from  £^  £ii  £30,  wWmh  vemM 
make  an  immense  saving  hor<^  nftrr,  F^tr-r  MtLtheLinn  m\A 
he  Itad  arranged  some  sort  if  fit  in  of  this  kind  Koi'  a 
pair  of  very  ordinary  carriag  >  lior«p^  in  l^tifit^nritb  thar 
ask  X140  or  more;  so  it  is  WLfrth  wbUt;  to  b«  \  Itttip  pmi4 
dent  Even  then  you  only  get  one  good  hors*?,  the  other 
being  usually  a  brute.    Pray  you  excuse  all  tliis  palaver-* 

'  Thef;e  little  things  are  great  to  little  men.' 
Our  harvest  is  almost  all  in,  but  as  Airmeni  always  gmm* 
ble  about  something,  they  are  how  growUng  about  ths 
lighmcss  of  the  crop.  All  the  young  part  of  our  house> 
hold  are  wrapt  up  in  imcertainty  concerning  tlie  Queen's 
illnes.*— for— if  her  Majesty  paris  cable,  there  will  be  no 
Forest  Bait  and  that  is  a  terrible  prospect.  On  Wednes> 
day  (when  no  post  arrives  from  London)  Lord  Melville 
chanced  to  receive  a  leiier  with  a  black  seal  by  express, 
and  as  it  was  of  coiirse  argued  to  contain  the  expected  in* 
telligence  6f  poor  Charlotte,  it  sold  a  good  many  ells  of 
black  cloth  and  studs  before  it  was  ascertained  to  contalfei 
na  such  information.  Surely  this  came  within  the  line  of 
high  treason,  being  an  imagining  of  the  Queen's  death. 
Ever  yours  truly, 

Waltbb  Soott. 

"  P.  8.— Once  more  anent  the  colts.  I  am  (ndiflTerenC 
about  colour ;  but,  coierts  paribue^  would  prefer  black 
or  brown  to  bright  bay  or  gray.  I  mention  two  oflT— «• 
the  age  at  which  they  can  be  beat  judged  of  by  the 
buyer." 

Of  the  same  date  I  find  written  in  pencil,  on  what 
must  have  been  the  envelope  of  some  sheriflT's-prD- 
ceas,  this  note,  addressed  to  Mr.  Charles  Erskine, 
the  sheritf-'substiiute  of  Selkirkshire. — 

"  September  U),18ia 
"  Dear  CTharles, 

"Ihave  read  these  pai)er8  with  all  attention  this  mom* 
ing— but  think  you  will  agree  with  me  that  there  must  be 
an  Eke  to  the  Condescendence.  Order  itt  Eke  against 
next  day.  Tom  leaves  with  this  packet  a  blackcocic,  and 
(more's  the  pity)  a  gray  hen.    Yours, 


Digitized  by 


«^od§K 


LIFE  or  mSL  17ALTBR  3C0TTJ 


Abd  agam  h«  this  wiites  by'  post  to  James  fial- 
Iftntyne  :— 

"  Abbotsfoffd,  Septomber  10,  I81& 
**  Dear  Jaai«i, 

**  lam  quite  ntiafied  with  what  haa  been  done  aa  to  the 
London  billa.  I  am  glad  the  preasea  move.  I  have  bodn 
aitaiTapted  sadi/  since  my  return  by  tourist  gazers— this 
day  a  confounded  pair  of  Cambridge  boys  luive  robbed 
me  of  two  good  hours,  and  you  of  a  sheet  of  copy— though 
whether  a  good  sheet  or  no,  deponent  saith  not.  The  sto- 
ry Is  a  dismal  one,  and  I  doubt  sometimes  whether  it  will 
bear  working  out  to  much  length  after  alL  Queryt  if  I 
.  shall  maice  it  so  cffectiTe  in  two  volumes  as  my  mother 
does  in  her  quarter  of  an  hour's  crack  by  the  fireside. 
But  nil  dtaperandum.  You  shall  have  a  bunch  to-morrow 
o|  next  day— cmd  when  the  proofs  come  in,  my  pen  must 
and  shall  step  out  Br  the  by.  I  waqt  a  supply  of  pens— 
and  <fitto  of  ink.  Adieu  for  the  present,  for  I  must  go 
crer  to  Toflfield,  to  give  orders  anent  the  dam  and  the 
footpath,  and  see  item  as  to  what  should  be  done  antnt 
steps  at  the  Rhymer's  Waterfall,  which  I  think  may  be 
made  to  turn  out  a  decern  bit  of  a  linn,  aa  would  set  True 
Thomas  his  worth  and  dignity.    Ever  yours, 

W.  aj' 

It  maat.  I  think,  be  allowed  that  these  careless 
scraps,  when  dbmbloed.  give  a  carious  picture  of 
the  man  who  was  brooding  over  the  first  chapters 
of  the  Bride  of  Lammermoor.  One  of  his  Tisitors 
of  that  month  was  Mr.  R.  Cadell,  wH^  was  of  course 
in  all  the  secrets  of  the  house  of  Constable ;  and 
obaerring  how  his  host  was  harassed  with  lion-hun- 
ters, ana  what  a  number  of  hours  he  spent  daflv  in 
the  company  of  his  work-people,  he  cKpresaed.  dur- 
ing one  of  their  walks,  his  wonder  that  Scott  should 
STer  be  able  to  write  books  at  all  while  in  the  coun- 
try. "  I  know,"  he  said,  **  that  you  contrive  to  get 
a  few  hours  in  your  own  room,  and  that  may  do  for 
the  mere  pen- work :  but  When  is  it  that  you  think  V* 
**  O,"  said  Scott,  **^I  lie  nmmeHng  over  things  for 
an  hour  or  so  before  I  get  up — and  there's  the  time  I 
am  dressing  to  overhaul  my  half-sleeping  hall^ak- 
ing  project  de  cAapi<re~and  when  I  get  the  paper 
before  me,  it  commonlv  runs  off  pretty  eaaily.  Be- 
sides,^ I  often  take  a  dose  in  the  plantations,  and, 
while  Tom  marks  out  a  dyke  or  a  drain  aa  I  have 
directed,  one's  fancy  may  be  running  its  ain  riggs  in 
some  other  world.'^ 

It  was  in  the  month  following  that  I  first  saw 
Abbotsford.  He  invited  my  fnend  John  Wilson 
(now  Professor  of  Moral  Philosophy  at  Edinburgh) 
and  myself  to  visit  him  for  s  day  or  two  on  our  return 
from  an  excursion  to  Mr.  Wilson's  beautiful  villa  on 
the  Lake  of  Windermere,  but  named  the  particular 
day  (October  8th)  on  which  it  would  be  most  conve- 
nient for  him  to  receive  us ;  and  we  discovered  on 
onr  arrival,  that  he  had  fixed  it  from  a  good-na- 
tured motive.  We  found  him  walking  in  one  of  his 
plantations,  at  no  great  distance  from  the  house, 
with  five  or  six  young  people,  and  his  friends  Lorn 
Melville  and  Captain  Ferguson.  Having  presented 
ns  to  the  First  Lord  of  the  Admiralty,  he  feO  back  a 
I  little  and  said,  "  I  am  glad  you  came  to-day^  for  I 
thought  it  misht  be  of  use  to  you  both,  some  time  or 
other,  to  be  known  to  my  old, schoolfellow  here, 
vifho  IB,  and  I  ho^  will  long  continue  to  b^  the  great 
giver  of  good  things  in  the  Parliament  House.  I 
trust  you  have  had  enough  of  certain  pranks  with 
yom- friend  Ebony,  and  if  so,  Lord  Melville  will  have 
too  much  sense  to  remember  them."*  We  then 
walked  round  the  plantation,  as  yet  in  a  very  young 
state,  and  came  back  to  the  house  by  a  formidable 
work  which  he  was  constructing  for  the  defence  of 
his  haugh  against  the  wintry  violences  of  the  Tweed ; 
and  he  discoursed  for  some  time  with  keen  interest 
upon  the  comparative  merits  of  different  methods 
of  embankment,  but  stopped  now  and  tbon  to  give 
ns  the  advantage  of  an/  point  of  view  in  which  his 
new  building  on  the  eminence  above  pleased  his  eye. 
It  had  a  fantastic  appearance— being  but  a  fragment 
of  the  existing  edifice— and  not  at  all  harmonizing 

*  Ebony  was  Mr.  Blackwood's  own  usual  dcsiffnatiofi  in  the 
jeus  fesprit  of  bit  ycNing  Magazine,  in  man/  of  which  the  per- 
sons Unit  addressed  bjr  Soott  were  coojoint  culprits.  The/  txnb 
were  then,  as  ma/  be  inferred,  sweeping  the  boards  of  the  ParUa-  • 
mmat  HMa«  «.  '^brieOess  barristers." 


m  its  oniKne  idtfa  "Motber  Retfoid'^  origiinit  1 

ment  to  the  eaatward.  Scott,  however,  expatiated 
con  amore  on  the  rapidity  with  which,  being  chiefly 
of  darkish  granite,  it  was  assuming  a  ^  time-nooonr* 
ed"  aspect.  Ferguson,  with  a  grave  and  reapectfiil 
look,  observed,  yes,  it  really  has  much  the  air  of 
some  old  fastness  hard  bv  the  river  Jordan."  This 
allusion  to  the  Ghaldee  MS.,  already  quoted,  in  Che 
manufacture  of  which  Ferguson  fanci^  Wilson  and 
myself  to  have  had  a  ehare,  gave  rise  to  a  burst  of 
laughter  among  Scott's  merhr  young  folks  and  their 
companions,  while  he  himself  drew  in  his  nether  lip, 
and  rebuked  the  Captain  with  "  Toots.  Adam  I  toots, 
Adam !"  He  than  returned  to  his  emSankment,  and 
described  how  a  former  one  hac^heen  entirely  swept 
away  in  one  nisht'a  flood.  But  the  Capiajn  was 
ready  with  another  verse  of  the  Chaldee  MS^  and 
groaned  odt,  bv  way  of  echo—*'  Verily  mv  fine  ^oM 
oath  perish^  r  Whereupon  the  "  Great  Magician'' 
elevated  his  huge  oaken  staff*  as  if  to  lay  it  on  the 
waggish  soldiei^s  back— but  flourished  it  gaily  over 
his  own  head,  and  laughed  louder  than  the  youngest 
of  the  company.  Aa  we  walked  and  tafked,  the 
Pepper  and  Mustard  terriers  kept  snuffing  about 
among  the  bushes  and  heather  near  u&  ana  started 
every  five  minutes  a  hare,  which  acudoed  away  be- 
fore them  and  the  ponderous  staghound  Maida—the 
Sheriff*  and  all  his  tail  hollowing  and  cheering  in 
perfect  confidence  that  the  dogs  could  do  no  more 
harm  to  poor  puss  than  the  venerable  tom-cat^  Hinse 
of  Hlnsfeldt,  who  pursued  the  vain  chase  with  the 
rest. 

At  length  we  drew  near  PeUrhouae^  and  fovod 
sober  Peter  himself  and  his  brother-in-law,  the  face- 
tious factomm  Tom  Purdie,  auperin tending,  mpe  in 
mouth,  three  or  four  sturdy  labourers  busy  inlayioi^ 
down  the  turf  for  a  bowling-green.  **  I  have  plant- 
ed hollies  all  round  it,  you  see,"  said  Scott,  "  and 
laid  out  an  arbonr  on  the  right-hand  side  for  the 
laird ;  and  here  I  mean  to  have  a  game  at  bowls  after 
dinner  every  day  in  fine  weather— for  I  take  that  to 
have  been  among  the  indispensables  of  our  old  vis 
de  chateau,"  But  I  must  not  forget  the  reason  he 
gave  me  aome  time  afterwards  for  having  fixed  on 
that  spot  for  his  bowling>green.  "  In  truth,"  he  then 
said,  *  I  Mrished  to  have  a  smooth  walk  and  a  cannyL 
seat  for  myself  within  ear-shot  of  Peter's  evening 
psalm."  The  coachman  was  a  devout  Presbyterian, 
and  many  a  time  have  I  in  after-years  accompanied 
Scott  on  hia  evening  stroll,  when  the  principal  ob- 
ject waste  enjov,  from  the  bowling-green,  the  no- 
failing  melody  or  thia  good  roan's  family  worship— 
and  heard  him  ra>eat,  as  Peter's  manly  voice  led  the 
humble  choir  within,  that  beautiful  stanza  of  BQms*« 
Saturday  Night  :— 

**  Thtf  chaunt  their  artless  notes  hi  simple  guise ; 
They  tune  their  hearts,  by  (ar  the  noblest  aim,"  4tc. 

It  was  near  the  dinner-hour  before  we  reached  the 
house, land  presently  I  saw  assembled  a  larger  com- 
pany than  I  should  have  fancied  to  be  at  all  compa- 
tible with  the  existing  accommodations  of  the  place  ; 
but  it  turned  out  that  Captain  Ferguson,  and  the 
friends  whom  I  have  not  as  yet  mentioned,  were  to 
And  quarters  elsewhere  for  the  night.  His  younger 
brother.  Captain  John  Ferguson  of  the  Royal  Navy, 
(a  favonrite  lieutenant  of  Lord  Nelson's,)  had  come 
over  from  Huntly  Burn ;  there  were  ^sent  also, 
Mr.  Scott  of  Gala,  whose  residence  is  within  an 
easy  distance :  Sir  Henry  Hay  MacDougal  of  Mac- 
kerstone,  an  old  baronet,  with  gay,  hvely,  and  high- 
ly polished  manners,  related  in  the  same  degree  to 
both  Gala  and  the  Sheriff;  Sir  Alexander  Don,  the 
member  for  Roxburghshire,  whose  elegant  social 
qualitte?  have  been  alluded  to  in  the  preceding  chap- 
ter; and  Dr.  Scott  of  Darnlee,  a  modest  and  inta- 
lieent  gentleman,  who  having  realized  a  fortune  itt 
the  East  India  Company's  medical  service,  had  set- 
tled within  two  or  three  miles  of  Abbotsford.  and 
though  no  longer  practising  his  profession,  had  kind- 
Iv  employed  all  the  resources  of  his  skill  in  the  en- 
deavour to  counteract  his  neighbour's  recent  liabili- 
ty to  attacks  of  cramp.— Our  host  and  one  or  two 
othera  appeared,  as  was  in  those  days  a  comraoa 


Digitized  by  V^OOQlC 


Um  OF  SIR  WALTm  800TT. 


mr 


I  witb  comaArf  ffaollflMeii,  io  thf  lienMMney 

mufvin  of  their  ooanty.  How  fourteen  or  fifteen 
people  contrived  to  be  seated  in  the  then  dininf^-room 
of  Abbotsford  I  know  not— for  it  beemed  quite  foil 
anooi^  when  it  contained  only  eight  or  ten ;  but  ao 
it  was— nor.  as  Sir  Harry  MacdouKal's  fat  valet, 
^mramed  by  former  experience,  did  not  Join  the  train 
of  attendants,  was  there  any  perceptible  difficulty 
in  the  detail  of  the  arrangements.  Every  thing 
about  the  dinner  was,  aa  the  phrase  runs,  in  excel- 
lent stvie ;  and  in  particular,  the  potdft  it  la  Meg 
JMtrrutf^  announced  as  an  attempt  to  imitate  a  de- 
vice of  the  Duke  of  Buccleuch's  celebrated  cook- 
by  name  Monsieur  Florence— seemed,  to  those  at 
leaat  who  wera  better  acquainted  with  the  Kaim  of 
J3ernclench  than  with  the  ctdsiru  of  Bowhill,*  a 
▼«y  laudable  specimen  of  the  art.  The  champagne 
ctroilated  nimbly— and  I  never  was  present  at  a  gay- 
er dinner.  It  bad  advanced  a  little  beyond  the  soup 
"when  it  received  an  accompaniment  which  would 
not,  perhaps,  have  improved  the  satisfaction  of  9ou» 
thern  guests,  had  any  such  been  present.  A  tall  and 
stalwart  bagpiper,  in  complete  Highland  costume, 
appeared  pacing  to  and  fro  on  the  green  befbre  the 
honae,  and  the  window  being  open,  it  seemed  as  if 
he  mi^ht  as  well  nave  been  straming  his  lungs  with- 
in the  parlour.  •  At  a  pause  of  his  strenuous  per- 
Ibrmance,  Scott  took  occasion  to  explain  that  John 
qf  Skve  was  a  recent  acquisition  to  the  rising  hamlet 
Of  Ahyotstown  i  that  the  man  was  a  ca)5ital  hedger 
and  ditcher,  and  only  figured  with  the  pipe  and  phi- 


labes  on  high  occasions  in  the  after-part  of  the  day : 
*'bttt  indeed,"  he  added,  laughing,  "  I  fear  John  will 
soon  be  discovering  that  the  hooK  and  mattock  are 


unfavourable  to  his  chanter  hand."  When  the  cloth 
was  drawn,  and  the  never-faihng  salver  of  quaigha 
introduced,  John  of  Skye.  upon  some  well-kjiown 
■goal,  entered  the  room,  but  tn  mUxtoxre^  without 
reoiovinff  his  bonnet,  and  takinf  his  station  behind 
the  landlord,  received  from  his  hand  the  largest  of 
€he  Celtic  bickers  brimful  of  OlenJiveu  T"*^  <"*" 
saluted  the  company  in  his  own  dialect,  tipped  pfT 
the  contents  (probably  a  quarter  of  an  English  pint 
of  raw  aouavitffi)  at  a  gulp,  wheeled  about  as  solemn- 
ly aa  if  the  whole  ceremony  had  been  a  movement 
on  parade,  and  forthwith  recommenced  his  pibrochs 
ana  gatherings,  which  continued  until  long  after  the 
ladies  had  left  the  table,  and  the  autumnal  moon 
was  streaming  in  upon  us  so  brightly  as  to  dim  the 
caadles. 

1  bad  never  before  aeen  Scott  in  such  buoyant  spi- 
rits as  he  showed  this  evening— and  I  never  saw 
him  in  higher  afterwards ;  and  no  wonder,  for  this 
was  the  nrst  time  that  he.  Lord  Melville,  and  Adam 
Ferguson,  daily  companions  at  the  High-school  of 
Edinburgn,  and  partners  in  many  joyous  scenes  of 
the  early  volunteer  period,  had  met  since  the  com- 
mencement of  what  I  may  call  the  serious  ^^xi  of 
any  of  their  lives.  The  great  poet  and  novelist  was 
receiving  them  under  his  own  roof,  when  his  fame 
was  at  its  acmi^  and  bis  fortune  seemed  culminaiing 
to  about  a  corresponding  height— and  the  generous 
exuberance  of  his  hilanty  might  have  overflowed 
wiihout  moving  the  spleen  of  a  Cynic.  Old  stories 
of  the  Yard§  and  tk^  CroBKOUBeway  were  relieved 
by  sketches  of  real  warfare,  such  as  none  but  Fer- 
guson (or  Charles  Matthews,  had  he  been  a  soldier) 
could  ever  have  given ;  and  they  toasted  the  memory 
of  GpeenbreekB  and  the  health  of  the  Beau  with 
eqaa  I  devotion. 

When  we  rose  from  table,  Scott  proposed  that  we 
should  all  ascend  bis  western  turret,  to  enjoy  a  moon- 
light view  of  the  valley.  The  younger  part  of  his 
company  were  too  happy  to  do  so  :  some  of  the  se- 
niors, .who  had  tried  the  thing  before,  found  pretexts 
lor  hanging  back.  The  stairs  were  dark,  narrow, 
and  steep ;  but  the  Sheriff  piloted  the  way,  and  at 
length  there  were  as  many  on  the  top  as  it  could 

•  1  onderstand  that  thin  new  ccl(*mtpd  soap  was  etfemporfzed 
by  M  Vkirenee  on  f^cotV*  fint  visit  fo  Bowhill  alVr  the  publica 
don  of  Gay  Mannrrin^.  Florence  had  terved—wnd  Scolt  havioc 
«D  fonie  apnrtf tiff  party  made  hit  penioaA]  acquaintance,  he  used 
fiAan  aftervardu  to  fratify  Uic  Poet's  military  pmpen.^ites  by 
KtAngnp  mairnifkent  repreKniatJont  in  pastry  of  citadels  taken 
fcf  the  Emperor.  Ac 

X      38 


weyafibrdibolbigfiMr.  Nothing  oodd  bo  move  lo..^ 
thaa  the  panorama;  all  thaharsbersndaioieniko- 
features  being  lost  in  the  delieious  moonligbt ;  the 
Tweed  and  the  Chda  winding  and  sparkling  beneath' 
our  feet ;  and  the  distant  ruins  of  MehY>se  appearini^ 
at4f  carved  of  alabaster,  under  the  black  mass  of 
the  Eildons.  The  poet,  leaning  on  his  battlemeat, 
seemed  to  hang  over  the  beautiful  vision  as  if  he  * 
had  never  seen  it  before.  "  If  1  Uve,"  he  exclaimed, 
"I  will  build  me  a  higher  tower,  with  a  more  spa- 
cious platform,  and  a  staircase  better  fitted  for  an  old 
fellow's  scrambling."  The  piper  was  heard  return- 
ing his  instrument  below,  ana  he  called  to  him  for 
Lochaber  no  more.  John  of  Skye  obeyed,  and  aa 
the  muaic  rose,  softened  by  the  distance,  Scott  re4 
peated  in  a  low  key  the  melancholy  words  of  tho 
song  of  exile. 

On  descendina  from  the  tower,  the  whole  company 
were  assembled  in  the  new  dining-)x>om,  which  waa 
atill  under  the  hands  of  the  carpenters,  but  had  been 
brilliantly  illuminated  for  the  occasion.  Mr.  Bmca 
took  his  station,  and  old  and  young  danced  reels  to 
his  melodious  accompaniment  until  they  were  weary» 
while  Scott  and  the  Dominie  looked  on  with  glad- 
some faces,  and  beat  time  now  and  then,  the  one 
with  his  staff,  the  other  with  his  wooden  leg.  A  tray 
with  mulled  wine  and  whisky  punch  was  then  nno 
traduced,  and  Lord  Melville  proposed  a  bunaper* 
with  all  the  honours,  to  the  Roqf-trtt.  Csptaia 
Ferguson  havingsung  Johnnie  Cove^  called  on  the 
young  ladies  for  Kenmun^B  on  ana  awa^ ;  and  our 
host  then  insisted  that  the  whole  party  should  join, 
aunding  in  a  circle  hand-in-band  more  majorum,  in 
the  hearty  chorus  of 

"  Weel  may  we  V  be, 

ni  may  we  oerer  see. 

Clod  bieaa  the  king  and  the  gude  companie  !" 

—which  being  duly  performed,  all  disperse4>    Such 
yins  the  handsel^  for  Scott  protested  against  its  being 
considered  as  the  houae-hecUingt  of  the  new  Ab- 
botsford. I 
When  I  be«an  this  chapter,  I  thought  it  wocdd  bo 
a  short  one,  but  it  is  surprising  how,  when  one  diga 
into  his  memory,  the  smallest  details  of  a  scene  that 
was  interesting  at  the  times  shall  by  degrees  coma 
to  hght  again.    I  now  Recall,  as  if  I  had  seen  and 
heard  them  yesterdoy,  the  looks  and  words  of  eigh* 
teen  years  ago.    Awaking  between  aix  and  seven 
next  morning.  I  heard  Scott's  voice  close  to  me,  and 
looking  out  of  the  little  latticed  window  of  the  then 
detached  cottage  called  the  chapel,  saw  him  and  Tom 
Purdie  pacing  together  on  the  green  before  the  door, ' 
'in  earnest  deuberation  over  what  seemed  to  be  a  rude 
daub  of  a  drawing,  and  every  time  they  approached 
my  end  of  their  parade  I  was  sure  to  catch  the  worda 
Blue  Bank.    It  turned  out  in  the  course  of  the  day, 
that  a  field  of  clay  near  Toftfield  went  by  this  name, 
and  that  ithe  draining  of  it  ^asone  of  the  chief  ope- 
rations then  in  hand.  My  fnend  Wilson,  mean  while, 
I  who  lodged  also  in  the  chapel,  tapped  at  my  door,. 
j  and  aaked  me  to  rise  and  take  a  walk  with  him  bv 
i  the  river,  for  he  had  some  angling  project  in  his  head. 
{  He  went  out  and  joined  in  the  consultation  about 
I  the  Blue  Bank,  while  I  was  dressing;   nresently 
I  Scolt  hailed  me  at  the  casement,  and  said  he  had 
observed  a  volume  of  a  new  edition  of  GU)ethe  on 
my  table— would  I  lend  it  him  for  a  Uttle7  He  car- 
ried off  the  volume  accordingljr,  and  retreated  with 
it  to  his  den.    It  contained  the  Faust,  and,  I  beheve, 
in  a  more  complete  shape  than  he  had  before  seen 
that  masterpiece  of  his  old  favourite.    When  we 
met  at  breakfast  a  couple  of  hours  aftier,  he  was  full 
of  the  poem— dwelt  with  enthusiasm  on  the  ainr 
beauty  of  its  lyrics,  the  terrible  pathos  of  the  scene 
before  the  Mater  DoIotobo^  and  the  deep  skill  shown  . 
in  the  various  subtle  shadings  of  character  between 
Mephisiophiles  and  poor  Margaret.    He  remarked, 
however,  of  the  Introduction,  (which  I  suspect  was 
new  to  hint,)  that  blood  would  out- that,  consume 
j  mate  artist  as  he  was,  Goethe  was  a  German,  and 
'  that  nobody  but  a  German  would  even  have  provok- 
ed a  comparison  with  the  book  of  Job,  **  the  grand- 
est poem  that  over  was  written."    He  added,  that 
I  he  suspected  the  end  of  ;5h^.^«5.5jr  ,^jy,^j^^n 


n§ 


Lira  OF  sot  WAi/raR  socm. 


9kMmra,  from  despair  to  mdch  the  elosiig  scene  of 
^orowB  UniowifB  Doctor  Fhiutiug.  Mr.  WHson 
mentioiied  a  report  that  Coleridge  wee  engagwd  on 
a  tranelation  of  the  Faust.  **I  nope  it  is  so,  said 
Soott:  *'  Coleridge  made  Schiller's  Wallensteifi  far 
finer  than  he  found  it,  and  so  he  will  do  by  this.  No 
man  has  all  the  resources  of  poetry  in  such  proAision, 
but  he  cannot  manage  them  so  as  to  bring  out  any 
thing  of  his  own  on  a  large  scale  at  all  worthy  of  his 
genhis.  He  is  like  a  lump  of  coal  rich  with  gas, 
which  lies  expending  itself  in  puffs  and  gleams,  un- 
less some  shrewd  body  will  clap  it  into  a  cast-iron 
box,  and  compel  the  compressed  element  to  do  it- 
self justice.  His  fancy  and  diction  would  have  long 
ago  placed  him  above  all  bis  con  tempore  ricf,  had 
they  been  under  the  direction  of  a  sound  judgment 
ana  a  steady  will.^  I  don't  now  expect  a  fipreat  ori- 
ginal p^em  from  Coleridge,  but  he  might  easily  make 
a  sort  of  fiime  for  himseit  as  a  poetical  translator, 
that  would  be  a  thing  completely  unique  and  sui^^- 
nerU" 

While  this  criticism  proceeded,  Scott  was  cutting 
away  at  his  brown  loaf  and  a  plate  of  kippered  sal- 
mon in  a  style  which  strongly  reminded  me  of  Dan- 
,die  Dinmont's  luncheon  at  Hump's  Hall;  nor  was 
his  Gferman  topic  at  all  the  predominant  one.  On 
the  contrary,  the  semences  which  have  dwelt  on  my 
memory  dropt  from  him  now  and  then,  in  the  pan- 
ies,  as  It  were,  of  his  main  talk ;  for  though  he  could 
not  help  reetirring,  ever  and  anon,  to  the  subject,  it 
would  have  been  quite  out  of  his  way  to  make  any 
literary  matter  the  chief  theme  of  his  eonversation, 
when  there  was  a  single  person  present  who  was 
not  likely  to  feel  much  interested  in  its  discussion.— 
How  often  have  1  heard  him  t]Uote  on  such  occa- 
sions Mr.  Vellum's  advice  to  the  butler  in  Addison's 
excellent  play  of  the  Drummer—**  Your  conjuror, 
John,  is  indeed  a  twofold  personage— but  he  eats 
and  drvnJu  like  other  people  /" 

I  ,may,  however,  take  this  oppormnhy  of  observ- 
yig.'  that  nothing  could  have  been  more  absurdly 
unioosded  than  the  statement  which  I  ^ave  seen 
repeated  in  various  sketches  of  his  Life  and  Man- 
nerSf  that  he  habitually  abstained  from  conversation 
on  hterary  topics.  In  point  of  fact,  there  were  no 
topics  on  which  he  talked  more  openly  or  more  ear- 
nestly ;  but  he,  when  in  society,  lived  and  talked  for 
the  persons  with  whom  he  found  himself  surround- 
ed, and  if  he  did  not  always  choose  to  enlarge  upon 
the  subjects  which  his  companions  for  the  time  sug- 
gested. It  was  simply  because  he  thought  or  fancied 
that  these  had  selected,  out  of  deference  or  flattery, 
subjects  about  which  they  really  cared  little  more 
than  they  knew..  1  have  already  repeated,  over  and 
again,  my  conviction  that  Scott  considered  litera- 
ture p«r  ^e,  as  a  thing  of  far  inferior  importance  to 
the  high  concerns  of  political  or  practical  life;  but 
it  would  be  too  ridiculous  to  question  that  literature 
nevertheless  engrossed,  at  ell  times  and  seasons,  the 
greater  part  of  his  own  interest  and  reflection  :  nor 
can  it  be  doubted,  that  his  general  preference  of  the 
society  of  men  engaged  in  the  active  business  of  the 
world,  rather  than  that  of  so  called  literary  people, 
was  grounded  substantially  on  bis  feeling  that  lite- 
rature, worthy  of  the  name,  was  more  likely  to  be 
fed  and  nourished  by  theconverseof  the  former  than 
by  that  of  the  latter  class. 

Before  breakfaat  was  over  the  post-bag  arrived, 
and  its  contents  were  so  numerous,  that  Lord  Mel- 
ville asked  Soott  what  election  was  on  hand— not 
t 

*  In  the  IntmductkMi  to  The  Ucy  <if  the  Lam  Mlnttre\  1830, 
Sir  Waker  mti,  "  Were  I  ever  to  take  the  unbeoovnioff  freedom 
of  cemuiinf  a  man  of  Mr.  Colerid/ie's  extraordinary  talenU,  it 
would  be  on  account  of  the  caprice  and  indolence  with  which  he 
has  thrown  mim  Um,  an  m  n>cfp  wantonncw,  thoio  nnfinished 
•oraipa  of  poetrj,  which,  like  the  Torao  of  antimiitj-  d pfy  the  «kiil 
of  his  poetical  brethren  to  eomplete  them.  'Fho  charming  fraf 
roenta  which  the  author  abandons  to  thmr  fa(<>,  are  surely  too  %*«■ 
luable  to  be  treated  like  tlie  prooAi  of  can^lewi  exm^xen,  the 
•weopinfK  ofwhoae  studios  oftnn  mak(>  the  Tortune  or  some  pains- 
taking eolk>ctar."  And  in  a  note  to  T^  ilMo/,  alluding  to  Co- 
leridire'B  beautiful  aod  tantalixinf  frafment  of  Chmtabel.he  adds. 
**  Has  not  our  own  imncinative  poet  cause  to  fear  that  fu^1^e  a«cs 
%rill  deaiieto  summon  htm  fton  his  place  of  rest,  as  Blilton  loofed 
'  To  call  up  htm  who  left  half  told 
Ths  story  of  Camboscoa  bold.*  " 


doubdiM  that  thcnv  imtf  bv  aeMM  fjaiy  i 
reasop  for  such  a  shod  of  lettars.  Ho  sm^tm^ 
that  it  was  much  the  same  most  dnya,  nid  added, 
"  though  no  one  has  kinder  friends  in  the  ^nkin^ 
Hne,  and  though  Preeling  and  Croker  espeaally  are 
always  ready  to  stretch  the  point  of  privilege  in  my 
favour,  1  sm  nevertheless,  a  lair  eontribotor  to  the 
revenoe,  for  1  think  my  bill  for  letters  seldom  comes 
under  jSt60  a- year ;  and  as  to  coach-parcels,  they  are 
a  perfect  ruination."  He  then  toW  with  high  merri- 
ment a  disaster  that  had  lately  befallen  him.  **  One 
morning  last  spring, *?  ho  said,  "  1  opened  a  huRO 
lump  of  a  despatch,  without  looking  how  it  was  ad- 
dressed, never  doubting  that  it  had  travelled  undo- 
some  omnipotent  frank  like  the  Fitvt  Lord  of  the 
Admiralty' fC  when,  loand  behold,  theeontentspror- 
ed  to  be  a  MS.  play,  by  a  young  ladv  of  New  York, 
who  kindly  requested  me  to  read  ana  correct  it,  equip 
it  with  prologue  and  epilogue^  procure  for  it  a  favour- 
able -reception  from  the  manager  of  Dnirr  Lane, 
and  make  Minray  or  Constable  bleed  hiindsonieir 
for  the  copyright ;  and  on  inspecting  the  oover  I 
found  that  1  had  been  charged  five  poirods  odd  for 
the  postage.  Thi.^  was  bad  enough— but  there  wmB 
no  help,  so  I  groaned  and  submitted.  A  fortniefat 
or  so  after  another  packet,  of  not  less  fomudaole 
bulk,  arrived,  and  I  was  absent  enough  to  break  it4 
seal  too  without  examination.  Conceive  my  honor 
when  out  jumped  the  same  klentieal  tragedy  of  Tlu 
Cherokee  Lottrs,  with  a  sooond  epistle  nom  the  mm- 
thoress,  stating  that,  as  the  winds  bad  been  boister- 
ous, she  feared  the  vessel  intrusted  with  her  tbrmer 
communication  might  have  foimdefed,  aod  there- 
fore judged  it  prudent  to  forward  a  dvphcate." 

Scott  said  hr  must  retire  to  answer  his  letters,  btit 
that  the  sociable  and  the  ponies  would  be  at  the 
door  by  one  o'clock,  when  he  proposed  to  abow^ 
Melrose  and  Dryburgh  to  Lady  Melville  and  toy  of 
the  rest  of  the  party  that  chose  fo  accompany  them ; 
adding,  that  his  eon  Walter  would  lead  any  bod^ 
who  preferred  a  gun  to  the  likeliest  place  fora  black- 
cock, and  that  Charlie  Purdie  iTom'a  brother) 
would  attend  upon  Mr.  Wilson  and  whoever  else 
chose  to  try  a  cast  of  the  salmon-rod.  He  with- 
drew when  all  this  was  arranged,  and  appeared  mt 
the  time  sppointed,  with  perhaps  a  dozen  letters 
sealed  for  the  post,  and  a  coach-parcel  addremed  to 
James  Ballantyne,  which  he  dropt  at  the  tmnpike- 
gato  as  we  drove  to  Melrose.  Seeing  it  picked  up 
by  a  dirty  urchin,  and  carried  in  a  hedge  pothouse, 
where  half-a-dozen  nondescript  wayifarers  were 
smoking  and  tippling,  I  could  not  but  wonder  that 
it  had  not  boen  the  fate  of  some  one.of  those  innu- 
merable  packets  to  faU  into  unscrupulous  handa,  and 
betray  the  grand  secret.  That  very  morning  we  had 
seen  two  post-chaises  drawn  up  at  his  gate,  and  iha 
enthusiastic  travellers,  seemingly  decent  tradesmen 
and  their  families,  who  must  have  been  packed  in  a 
manner  worthy  of  Mrs.  Gilpin,  lounging  about  to 
catch  a  glimpse  of  him  at  his  going  forth.  But  it 
wns  impossible  in  those  days  to  pass  between  Mel- 
rose and  Abbotsford  without  encountering  some  odd 
figure,  armed  with  a  sketch-book,  evidently  bent  on 
a  peep  at  th4 Great  Unknown;  and  it  moat  be  al- 
lowed that  many  of  these  pedestrians  looked  as  if 
they  might  have  thought  it  very  excuiable  to  make 
prize,  by  hook  or  by  crook,  of  a  MS.  chapter  of  the 
Tales  er  my  Landlord. 

Scott  showed  us  the  ruins  of  Melrose  in  detail ; 
and  as  we  proceeded  to  Dryburgh,  descanted  learn- 
edly and  sagaciously  on  the  good  effects  which 
must  have  attended  the  erection  of  so  many  greet 
monastic  establishments  in  a  district  so  pecuHarljr 
exposed  to  the  inroads  of  the  English  in  the  days  of 
the  Border  wars.  "They  were  now  and  then  vio- 
lated," he  said,  "  as  their  aspect  to  this  hour  bears 
witness;  but  for  once  that  they  suflered,  any  lay 
property  similarly  situated  must  have  been  harried 
a  dozen  times.  The  bold  Dacres,  Liddella,  and 
Howards,  that  could  get  easy  absolution  at  York  or 
Ehirham  tor  any  ordinary  breach  of  a  tnioe  with  the 
Scots,  would  have  had  todreeaheatf  doiehwi  thef 
confessed  plundering  ftom  the  fat  brothers,  of  the 
same  order  perhaps,  whose  hoos-had^ka  to  them 


Digitized  by  ■ 


UFB  €^  tSOL  WilLTBR  aCOTT: 


08  tbe  wrong  aide  of  the  Okerioi.'*  He  enlftigad 
•oo  on  the  hearf  penaltv  which  the  Crown  of  Soot- 
Imad  had  paid  Im*  its  rash  acquieeoence  in  the  whole* 
mle  robbery  of  the  church  at  the  Reformation. 
**  The  proportion  of  the  Boil  in  the  hands  of  the 
d&gy  had,  he  said,  "  been  very  great— too  great  to 
be  oontiDued.  If  we  may  judge  bv  their  share  in  the 
poblic  burdens,  they  must  have  had  nearly  a  third 
of  the  land  in  their  possession.  But  this  vast  wealth 
wM  now  distributed  amon;?  a  turbulent  nobilitv,  too 
poweifiol  before ;  and  the  Stuarts  soon  found  that 
in  the  bishops  and  lord  abbots  they  had  lost  the  only 
means  of  balancing  their  factions,  so  as  to  turn  the 
scale  in  favotu:  of  law  and  order ;  and  by  and  by  the 
haoghty  barons  themselves,  who  had  scrambled  for 
the  worldly  spoil  of  the  church,  found  that  the  spi- 
limal  infloence  had  been  concentrated  in  hands  as 
haaj^hty  as  their  own,  and  connected  with  no  feel- 
inf^  Hkdy  to  buttress  their  order  any  more  than  the 
Crown — a  new  and  sterner  monkety,  under  a  differ- 
ent name,  and  essentially  plebeian.  Presently  the 
Scotch  were  on  the  verge  of  republicanism,  in  state 
as  well  as  kirk,  and,  1  nave  sometimes  thought,  it 
was  only  the  accession  of  King  Jamie  to  the  throne 
of  England  that  could  have  given  monarchy  a 
chance  of  prolonging  its  existence  here."  One  of 
his  friends  a^ed  what  he  supposed  might  have  been 
the  annual  rerenne  of  the  abbey  of  Melro^  in  its 
best  day.  He  answered  that  he  suspected,  if  all  the 
soarces  of  their  income  were  now  m  clever  hands, 
the  produce  could  hardly  be  under  jClOO,000  a-year ; 
and  added,  '*  making  every  allowance  for  modern 
improvements,  there  can  be  no  question  that  the 
sixty  brothers  of  Melrose  divided  a  princely  reotaL 
Tha  superiors  were  often  men  of  very  hign  birth, 
and  the  great  majority  of  the  rest  were  younger  bro- 
of  gen  '         .    -     - 


-  gentleman's  families,    I  fancy  they  may 

hare  been,  on  the  whole,  pretty  near  akin  to  your 
Fellows  of  AH  Souls—  who,  ac<*4)rding  to  their  sta- 
tute, must  be  beju  natLbene  vestiti^  ei  mediocriter 
doGtL  They  had  a  good  house  in  Edmburgh,  where, 
DO  doubt,  my  lord  abbot  and  his  chaplains  maintain- 
ed a  hospitable  table  during  the  sittings  of  Parlia- 
nent."  Some  one  regretted  that  we  had  no  lively 
picture  of  the  enormous  revolution  in  manners  that 
mnst  have  followed  the  downfall  of  the  ancient 
Chorch  in  Scotland.  He  observed  that  there  were, 
he  fancied,  materials  enough  for  constructing  such 
a  one^  but  that  they  were  mostly  scattered  in  records 
— "  of  which,"  said  he,  "  who  knows  any  thing  to 
the  purpose  except  Tom  Thomson  and  John  Kid- 
dein  It  is  common  to  laugh  at  such  researches, 
bat  tbev  pay  the  good  brains  that  meddle  with  them ; 
and  had  Thomson  been  as  diligent  in  setting  down 
his  discoveries  as  he  has  been  m  making  them,  he 
might,  long  before  this  time  of  day,  have  placed 
himself  on  a  level  with  Ducange  or  Camden.  The 
change  in  thecountrv-aide,"  he  continued,  "must  in- 
deed nave  been  terrific ;  but  it  docs  not  seem  to  have 
been  felt  very  severely  by  a  certain  Boniface  of  St. 
Andrews,  for  when  somebody  asked  him.  on  the 
snbddence  of  the  storm,  what  he  though  ot  all  that 
had  occurred, '  Why,'  answered  mine  host, '  it  comes 
to  this,  that  the  modereutor  sitsinmv  meikle  chair, 
where  the  dean  sat  before,  and  in  place  of  calling 
fat  the  third  stoup  of  Rourdeaux,  bids  Jenny  bring 
beo  anitfaer  bowl  of  toddy.' " 

At  I>rTba»h  Scott  pointed  out  to  us  the  sepul- 
chral aisle  of  his  Halibnrton  ancestors,  and  said  he 
hoped,  in  God's  appointed  time,  to  lav  .his  bones 
among  their  dust.  The  spot  was,  even  then,  a  suffi- 
deotly  interesting  and  impressive,  one ;  but  I  shall 
not  say  more  of  it  at  present. 

On  retummg  to  Abbotsford,  we  found  Mrs.  Scott 
snd  her  daughters  doing  penarvce  under  the  merci- 
less curiosity  of  a  couple  of  tourists  who  had  arri- 
ved from  Selkirk  soon  after  we  set  out  for  Melrose, 
■niey  were  rich  specimens— tall,  lanky  young  men, 
both  of  them  rigged  out  in  new  jackets  and  trowsers 
of  the  Macgregor  tartan  ;  the  one.  as  they  had  re- 
vealed, being  a  lawyer,  the  other  a  Unitarian  preach- 
er, from  New  England.  These  gentlemen,  when 
told  on  their  arrivafthat  Mr.  Scott  was  not  at  home, 
had  <hown  such  signs  of  impatience,  that  the  ser- 


vant took  It  for  grantqd  they  mast  have  isiioits  bu- 
ameaa,  and  asked  if  they  would  wish  to  speak  a 
word  with  his  kdv.  They  grasped  at  this,  and  so 
oonduetsd  themselves  in  the  interview,  that  Mrs. 
Scott  never  doubted  they  had  brot^t  letters  of  in- 
trodncibn  to  her  husband,  and  invited  them  accord- 
inglv  to  partake  of  her  luncheon.  They  had  beei^ 
walking  about  the  house  and  ^unds  with  her  ana 
her  daughters  ever  since  that  time,  and  appeared  at 
the  porch,  when  the  Sheriff  and  his  party  returned 
to  dmner,  as  if  they  had  been  aheady  fairly  enrolled 
on  h^s  visiting  list.  For  the  moment  he  too  was  ta- 
ken m— he  fancied  that  his  wife  must  have  received 
and  opened  their  credentials— and  shook  hands  with 
them  with  courteous  oordiaUty.  fiut  Mrs.  Scott, 
with  all  her  overflowing  good-nature,  was  a  sharp 
observer:  and  she,  before  a  minute  had  elapsed,  in- 
terropted  the  ecstatic  compHments  of  the  strangers, 
by  reminding  them  that  her  husband  would  be  glad 
to  have  the  letters  of  the  friends  who  had  been  so 
good  as  to  write  by  them.  It  then  turned  out  that 
there  were  no  letters  to  be  produced  r— and  Scf  tt, 
signifying  that  his  hour  for  dmner  approached,  add- 
ed, that  as  be  supposed  they  meant  to  walk  to  Mel-  , 
rose,  he  could  not  trespass  further  on  their  time. 
The  two  lion-hanters  seemed  quite  unprepared  for 
this  abrupt  escape;  but  there  was  about  Scott,  in 
perfection,  when  he  chose  to  exert  it,  the  power  of 
civil  repulsion  \  he  bowed  the  overwhelmed  ori^nals 
to  his  door,  and  on  re-entering  the  parlour,  found 
Mrs.  Scott  complaining  very  indignantly  that  they 
had  gone  so  far  a4  to  pull  out  their  note-book,  and 
beg  an  exact  account  not  only  of  his  age— but  of 
her  own.  Scott  already  half  refenting,  laughed  hear- 
tily at  this  misery.  He  observed,  however,  that, 
"  if  he  were  to  take  tin  all  the  world,  he  had  better 
put  up  a  sign-post  at  once— 

*  Porter,  ale,  and  British  spirits, 
Pataited  bright  between  twa  trees ;' 

and  that  no  traveller  of  respectability  could  ever  be 
at  a  loss  for  such  an  introduction  as  would  ensure  his 
best  hospitality."  Still  he  was  not  quite  pleased 
with  what  had  happened— and  as  we  were  about  tp 
pass,  half  an  hour  afterwards^  from  the  drawing- 
room  to  the  dining-room,  he  said  to  his  wife.  "  Hang 
the  Yahoos,  Charlotte-r-but  we  should  have  bid  them 
stay  dinner."  "  Devil  a  bit,"  quoth  Captain  John 
Ferguson,  who  had  again  come  over  from  Huntly 
Bum,  and  had  been  latterly  assisting  the  hdy  to 
amuse  her  Americans—"  Devil  a  bit,  my  dear,  they 
were  quite  in  a  mistake  I  could  see.  The  one  asked  * 
Madame  whether  she  deigned  to  call  her  new  house 
Tullyveolan  or  Tillytudlem— and  the  other,  when 
Maida  happened  to  lay  his  nose  against  the  window, 
exclaimed  pro-di-gi-oua!  In  short,  they  evidently 
meant  all  their  humbug  not  for  you,  but  tor  the  cul- 
prit of  Waverley,  and  thereat  of  that  there  rubbish." 

Well,  well.  Skipper,"  was  the  reply,—"  for  a'  th^t, 
the  loons  would  nae  been  nane  the  waur  o'  their 
kail." 

From  this  banter  it  may  be  inferred  that  the  young- 
er Ferguson  had  not  as  yet  been  told  the  Waverley 
secret— which  to  any  of  that  house  could  never  have 
been  any  mystery.  Probably  this,  or  some  similar 
occasion  soon  afterwards,  led  to  his  formal  initiation : 
for  during  the  many  subsequent  years  that  the  veil 
was  kept  on,  1  used  to  admire  the  tact  with  which, 
when  in  their  topmost  hichnjnks  humour,  both 
"Captain  John"  and  " The  Auld  Captain"  eschewed 
any  the  qriost  distant  allusion  to  the  affair. 

And  this  reminds  me  that,  at  the  period  of  which 
I  am  writing^,  none  of  Scott's  own  family,  except  of 
course  his  wif&  had  the  advantage  in  that  matter  of 
the  Skipper.  Some  of  them  too  were  apt,  likehiin, 
so  long  as  no  regular  confidence  had  been  reposed  in  ^ 
them,  to  avail  themselves  of  the  author's  reserve  for 
their  own  sport  among  friends.  Thus  one  morning, 
just  as  Scott  was  opening  the  door  of  the  parlour, 
the  rest  of  the  party  bein^  already  seated  at  the 
breakfast  table^  the  Dominie  was  in  the  act  of 
helping  himself  to  an  egg,  marked  with  a  peculiar 
hieroglyphic  by  Mrs.  Thomas  Purdie,  upon  which 
Anne  Scott,  tian  .  live^.  r^|U^  ^l^g^t^a. 


900 


UFB  OF  Sm  WALTER  SOOTt. 


lifped  oul^  "  That*!  a  mjrtterioiis  looking  egg,  31  r. 
ThomiKMi— what  .if  it  a hoala  have  been  meant  ror 
Ae  Great  Unknown  ?"  £re  the  Dominie  could  re- 
ply, her  fother  advanced  to  the  foot  of  the  table,  and 
having  aeated  himaelf  and  depoaited  hia  atick  on  the 
carpet  beside  him,  wiih  a  aort  of  whispered  whistle 
^— **  What's  that  Lady  Anne's*  saying,"  quoth  he  ; 
"I  thought  it  had  been  well  known  that  thektlavin- 
«i  egg  muat  be  a  soft  one  for  the  Sh&rra  ?V  And  so 
he  took  his  egg,  and  while  we  all  smiled  in  silence, 
poor  Anne  said  gayly,  in  the  midst  of  her  blushes, 
*'  Upon  my  word,  papa,  I  thought  Mr.  John  Ballan- 
tynftjnight  hove  bem.  expected."  This  allusion  to 
Johnny  8  glory  in  being  considered  as  the  accredited 
'  representative  of  Jedediah  Cleishbotham,  produced 
a  laugh— at  which  the  Sheriff  frowned— and  then 
laughed  too. 

I  remember  nothing  particular  about  our  aecond 
day's  dinner,  except  that  it  was  then  1  first  met  my 
dear  and  honoured  friend  WilUam  Laidlaw.    The 
evening  passed  rather  more  quietly  than  the  preced- 
ing one.    Instead  of  the  dance  in  the  new  dining- 
room,  we  had  a  succession  of  old  ballads  sung  to 
,    Che  harp  and  guitar  by  the  young  ladies  of  the  house ; 
and  Scott,  when  they  seemed  to  have  done  enough, 
found. some  reason  for  taking  down  a  volume  of 
Crabbe,  and  read  us  one  of  his  favourite  tales — 
**  Grave  Jonas  Kindred,  Sybil  Kindred's  sire. 
Was  six  feet  high,  and  loolied  ilx  laches  higher,"  Ac. 

But  jollity  revived  in  full  vigour  when  the  supper- 
tray  was  introduced  ;  and  to  cap  all  merriment. 
Captain  Ferguson  dismissed  us  with  the  Laird  of 
Cockpen.  Lord  and  Lady  Melville  were  to  return  to 
Melville  Castle  next  morning,  and  Mr.  Wilson  and 
I  happened  to  motion,  that  we  were  engaged  to 
dine  and  sleep  at  tnc  seat  of  my  friend  and  relation, 
Mr.  Pringleof  Torwoodlee,  on  our  way  to  Edinburgh. 
Scott  immediately  said  that  he  would  dend  word  in 
^  the  morning  to  the  Laird,-  that  he  and  Adam  Fer- 
guson meant  to  aceorapany  us— such  being  the  un- 
ceremonious style  in  which  counti^  neighbours  in 
Scotland  visit  each  other.  Next  day  accordingly 
we  all  rode  over  together  to  Mr.  Pringle's  beautiful 
acat— the  **  distant  T\jrwoodlee^*  of  the  Lay  of  the 
Last  Minstrel,  but  distant  not  above  five  or  six  miles 
from  Al^botaford— coursing  hares  as  we  proceeded, 
but  inspecting  the  antiquities  of  the  Catrail  to  the 
interruption  of  our  sport.  We  had  another  joyous 
evening  at  Torwoodlee.  Scott  and  Ferguson  return- 
ed home  at  night,  and  the  morning  after,  as  Wilson 
and  I  mounted  for  Edinburgh,  our  kind  old  host,  his 
sides  still  sore  with  laughter,  remarked,  that  *'  the 
Sheriff  and  the  Captain  together  were  too  much  for 
any  company." 

There  was  much  talk  between  the  Sheriff  and  Mr. 
Pringle  about  the  Selkirkshire  Yeomanry  Cavalry, 
of  wnich  the  latter  had  been  the  original  comman- 
dant Young  Walter  Scott  had  been  for  a  year  or 
more  Comet  m  the  corps,  and  his  father  was  con- 
sulting Torwoodlee  ahopt  an  entertainment  which 
he  meant  to  give  them  on  his  son's  approaching 
birthday.  It  was  then  that  the  new  dming-room 
was  to  oe  first  heated  in  good  earnest;  ana  Scott 
very  kindly  pressed  Wilson  and  myself  at  parting, 
to  return  for  the  occasion — which,  however,  we  found 
it  impossible  to  do.  The  reader  mast  therefore  be 
satisfied  with  what  is  said  about  it  in  one  of  the  fol- 
lowing letters  :— 

To  J.  B.  S.  Morntt,  Etq.  M.  P.  Rokeby. 

"  Abbotflford,  5^h  Nov.  ISia 
••  My  dear  Morriu, 

»*  Many  thanks  for  yonr  kind  letter  of  29th  October. 
The  matter  of  the  rolls  being  as  you  state,  1  shall  let  it  lie 
over  until  next  year,  and  than  avail  invself  of  your  being 
in  the  neljhbojirhood  fo  gel  a  good  pair  of  four-year-olds, 
stnce  it  would  be  unncccssanr  to  buy  them  aycar  yoimg- 
er,  and  incur  all  the  risks  of  diaeaee  and  accident,  unless 
Uipy  could  have  been  had  at  a  proportional  under  value. 
" leaves  us  this  morning  after  a  visit  of 

•  When  plaring.  in  childhood,  with  the  roooff  ladies  of  the  Buc- 
eleadi  fanu'ly,  nhc  hid  been  ovrrhfnrd  tajrinff  to  her  namesake 
Ladr  Anne  BcaXt.  "  Well,  I  do  wish  I  worn  L.adf  Anne  too— it  is 
so  mqch  pwttipr  than  Mi<w ;"  thenceforth  she  vras  commooljad- 
** i  io  ^  tknuly  by  the  coveted  Utk. 


about  a  week.  Re  knprotes  on  aeooaiotsnet,  and  •■••• 
ciaUy  seems  so  pleased  with  every  thina,  thst  it  wo«ld1b^ 
very  hard  to  quarrel  with  him.  Certaialv,  as  the  Fraocb* 
man  said,  il  a  un  frond  talent  pour  U  silence,  I  take  tbc 
opportunity  of  his  servantgoinf  direct  to  Rokeby  to  ctiAn^e 
him  >rith  this  letter,  and  a  plaid  which  my  dauirhlers  en- 
treat you  to  accept  of  as  a  token  of  their  tearm  good 
wishes.  Seriously,  jrou  will  find  it  a  good  bosom  fncnd 
in  an  easterly  wind,  a  black  fix>8t,  or  when  yoar  countrr 
avocations  lead  yua  to  face  a  dry  teap  of  *nme.  I  ft  nd  il 
by  far  the  Usrhtest  and  most  com ronable  Integument  wbscii 
I  can  use  upon  such  occasions. 

''  We  had  a  grand  jollification  here  last  week :  the  vbole 
troop  of  Foresi  Yeomanry  dining  with  us.  I  as«ure  yoa 
the  scene  was  gay  and  even  grand,  with  glittering  sabrea, 
waving  standards,  and  screaming  bagpipes ;  and  that  it 
might  not  lack  spectators  of  taste,  who  should  arrive  in 
the  midst  of  the  hurricane,  but  Lord  and  Lady  Comptna, 
whose  presence  {tave  a  great  zest  to  the  whole  aflhtr. 
Bvery  thing  went  otFverj  well,  and  as  cavalry  have  the  gr«aC 
advantage  over  inlantnr  that  iheir  ieg*  never  get  drunk, 
they  retired  indecent  msorder  about  ten  o'clock.  1  was 
glad  to  see  Lord  and  Lady  Cooipton  so  very  comfortable, 
and  surrounded  with  so  nne  a  family,  the  natural  bond  oi 
mutual  regard  and  affection.  She  has  go4  very  joUy,  bat 
otherwise  has  improved  on  her  travels.  I  bad  along  chat 
with  her,  and  was  happy  to  find  her  duite  contented  and 
pleased  with  the  lot  she  has  drawn  in  life.  It  Is  a  InilUanc 
one  in  many  respects  to  be  sure ;  but  still  I  have  seea  cbe 
story  T>f  the  poor  woman,  who,  afler  all  rational  subjects 
of  distress  had  been  successively  remedied,  toriQemed 
herself  abnut  the  screaming  of  a  neighbour's  peacock— 1 
say  I  have  seen  this  so  often  realized  in  actual  life,  that  I 
am  more  afraid  of  my  friends  making  themselves  uncom- 
fortable, who  have  only  imaghiary  evils  to  hidaJf  e.  than 
I  am  for  the  peace  of  those  who,  battling  niagDaniniou»> 
ly  with  real  Inconvenience  and  danger,*  6nd  a  remedy 
in  the  very  force  of  the  exertions  to  which  their  lot  eom- 
pels  them. 

*'  I  sympathize  with  you  for  the  dote  which  you  ar« 
dreeing  under  the  iaflictions  of  your  honest  prover.  Of 
all  the  boring  machines  ever  devised,  your  regular  and  de- 
termined Bt(i-y teller  is  the  most  peremptory  and  powerAil 
in  j)i9  operations.  This  is  a  rainy  day,  and  my  present  in- 
fliction is  an  idle  cousin,  a  great  amateur  of  the  pipes,  who 
is  performing  Incessantly  In  the  next  room  for  the  be»e4c 
of  a  probationary  minstrel,  whose  pipes  scream  k  la  di** 
tance,  as  the  young  hoarse  cock-chicken  imitates  the  gal- 
lant and  triumphant  screech  of  a  veteran  Sir  OtianticlMr. 
Yours  aOectiooately , 

W.  SOOTT." 


CHAPTER   XLIIl. 

DKCLntl'SB  HEALTH  OF  CHABIXS  DVKE  OF  BUCCLAITCa — 
LBTTEB  ON  THB  OSATH  OF  QUCSN  CHAauOTTB — P»0- 
VlNCIAL  ANTIQtnTlES,  ETC.— BXTKHSIVB  SALK  OF 
C0PYBIOHT8  TO  CONSTABLE  Ain>  CO.— DEATH  OPHft 
CHABLSS  CABPENTEE— SCOTT  RECBrVBS  AND  AC- 
CEPTS THE  OFFSB  OF  A  BABONBTCV— HE  DECLI2VEV 
TO  BENEW  HIS  APPUCATION  FOE  A  SEAT  ON  THE  KX- 
CHE()UEB  BENCH— LETTEBS  TO  MOBBITT — BICHABX>- 
SON— MISS  BAILLIE— THE  DUKE  OF  BUCCLKUCH — 
LORD  MONTAOO^CAPT.  ADAM  FEEOCSON— BOa  BOT 
PLATED    AT    EDINBCBOH — LETTEB    PBOM  JBDBDLAK 

CLEI8HB0THAM,  TO  MB.   CHABLES  MACKAT.— iSlS 

1819. 

I  HAVE  now  to  introdaee  a  melancholy  subject — 
one  of  the  greatest  afflictions  thatever  Scott  encoun- 
tered. The  health  or  Charles  Duke  ofBuccIeoch 
was  by  this  time  beginning  to  give  way,  and  Scou 
thought  it  hia  duty  to  intimate  nia  very  sehoua  ap- 
prehensions to  his  noble  friend's  brother. 

To  the  Right  Hon.  Lord  Monta^^  Ditton  Park^ 
Windsor. 

"^ Edinburgh,  12ih  Nov.,  IBia 
**Myd«urLord, 

'^  I  am  about  to  write  to  you  with  feelings  of  the  derpeal 
anxiety.  I  have  hesitited  for  two  or  three  days  whether 
I  should  commimlcote  to  your  I/ordshipthe  sincere  alarm 
which  I  entertain  on  account  of  the  Duko's  present  stale 
of  health,  biu  I  have  come  to  persuade  mvself,  that  It  will 
be  diwharj^ins  a  part  of  the  duty  which  I  owe  w  him  lo» 
mention  my  own  most  disrregi^nff  apprehensions.  I  waa 
atthe  caltteshow  on  the  6th,  and  executed  the  delegated 
task  of  toast  roaster,  and  so  forth.  I  was  told  by  *  *  *  that 
the  Duke  is  under  the  influence  of  the  muriailc  batl^ 
wliich  ocoaaions  a  good  deal  of  imeoainess  when  Jie  me* 


Digitized  by  V^OOQlC 


LIFS  OP  SSBL  WiLTrat  SCOIT. 


Aame  Is  fai  posMMion  ^f  th«  WftUm.  The  Didce  obMnr* 
ed  fiM  atrietest  diet,  and  remained  only  a  ahort  tiae  at 
taMe^  leaving  me  to  do  the  honours,  which  I  did  with  a 
auiiuwful  heartt  endeavourinff,  however,  to  persuade oiy* 
self  that  *  *  "a  itccount,  and  the  natural  deproasion  of 
nifte  ineldental  td  his  flndinf  himself  unable  for  the 
tune  to  dtacharge  the  duty  to  his  gueats,  which  no  man 
covM  do  with  ao  niueh  grace  and  kindness,  were  suffi* 
dettto  accoont  for  the  alteration  of  hia  manner  and  ap- 
pearaaoe.  1  spent  Monday  wHb  hfan  quietly-  and  alone, 
aad  I  moet  say  that  all  1  saw  and  heard  was  calculated  to 
fl««  aae  the  greatest  pain.  His  strength  la  much  lesa,  Us 
ipMis  lower,  and  hia  general  appearance  Ihr  more  un&p 
voorable,  than  when  fleft  him  at  Dnunlaarig  a  few  weeles 
before.  What  *  *  ',  and.  Indeed,  what  the  Duke  himself 
•ays  of  the  medicine,  may  be  true-4>ut '  *  *  is  very  aaa- 
foiae,  and  hke  all  the  personal  phyaiciana  attached  to  a 
I^rspa  of  such  consequence,  he  is  too  much  addicted  to 
tiife  ptaee6o— at  least  I  think  so— too  apt  to  fear  to  give 
eil»ee  by  contradiction,  or  by  telUng  that  aert  of  tru^h 
which  noay  controrenthe  wtahea  or  habita  of  hia  patient 
I  feel  1  am  conunnnicating  much  pain  to  your  Lordship, 
bat  I  aan  sure  that,  ezceptmg  roorself,  there  is  not  a  man 
ia  the  wwid  whose  aorrow  and  apprehension  could  exceed 
aiae  in  hsTlng  such  a  tadt  to  diachane;  ibr,  Am  your 
Lords^p  well  knows,  the  ties  which  bindme  to  your  ex- 
ceOrat  Brother  are  or  a  much  stronger  kind  than  usually 
coonaet  peraons  so  different  to  rank.  Bat  the  alteration 
ia  vnftee  and  person,  in  features,  and  in  qilrits,  all  argue 
(be  deeay  of  natural  strength,  and  the  Increase  of  aome  in* 
temaX  disorder,  which  is  gradually  trinmphing  over  the 
system.  Much  has  been  done  in  these  eases  oy  change 
•f  eMmate.  I  Mnted  this  to  the  Duke  et  Dnmilajuig,  but 
1  fmad  his  mhid  totallv  averse  la  it  But  he  made  some 
ftaqniff^s  at  Barded,  Qust  returped  from  Italy,)  which 
seemed  to  imply  that  at  least  the  Idea  of  a  winter  in  Italv 
ar  the  aooth  of  Prance  waa  not  altogether  oat  of  hia  oimah 
deratkm.  Yoar  Lordship  willconalder  whether  he  can  or 
ea^  to  be  preased  upon  this  point  He  la  partial  to  Scot- 
bad,  and  feals  the  many  high  duties  which  bind  him  to  it 
Bitt  the  ahr  of  this  country,  with  its  attematiofiB  of  mois- 
tore  anddry  frost,  although  exceUent  for  a  healthy  per- 
aoo.  Is  Teij  trying  to  a  valetudinarian. 

*  I  shouM  not  have  thought  of  vohmteerlmr  to  commu- 
tieate  such  unpleasant  news,  but  that  the  nanlly  do  not 
seem  alarm&d.  I  am  not  surprised  at  this,  because,  where 
the  decay  of  health  is  very  gradual,  it  is  more  eaailv  tra- 
ced by  a  (Head  who  8e<*9  the  patient  from  Interval  to  Inter- 
val, tmui  by  the  ^flfSectionate  eyes  which  are  daily  behold- 
ing him. 

^^Aifiea,  my  dear  Lord.  God  knows  you  will  scarce 
read  ihia  letter  with  more  pain  than  1  feel  in  writing  it 
Bu  it  seems'  in<^pensable  to  ofie  to  communicate  my 
Beotiments  of  the  uuke's  present  situation  to  his  nearest 
njatkm  and  dearest  friend.  His  life  is  iovahiable  to  hia 
cooatry  and  to  his  family,  and  bow  dear  it  ia  to  hia  friends 
can  only  be  estimated  bv  thoao  who  know  the  soundness 
of  his  understanding,  the  uprightneas  and  truth  of  his 
jiM^mem,  and  generositr  and  warmth  of  his  feelings.  I 
am  always,  my  dear  Lord,  most  truly  yours, 

'  ^*WALwa  Scott." 

Scott's  letters  of  this  and  the  two  following 
momln  are  very  much  occupied  with  the  painftii 
tobject  of  the  Duke  of  Buccleoch's  health;  but 
those  addressed  to  his  Grace  himself  are.  in  general, 
in  a  more  jocose  strain  than  usual.  His  friend's 
^tiriia  were  sinking,  and  he  exerted  faimaelf  in  this 
way,  in  the  hope  of  amusing  the  hours  of  languor 
at  BlDwhiU.  These  letters  are  headed  "  Edinburgh 
Ctesette  Extraordinary^"  No.  1,  No.  2,  and  so  on; 
bot  they  deal  so  much  in  laughable  gossip  about 
persona  stiil  living,  that  I  find  it  difficult  to  make 
any  extracth  from  them.  The  following  paragraphs, 
however,  from  the  Gazette  of  November  the  20th, 
eiva  a  little  information  as  to  his  own  mfior  Uterary 
Ubours: — 

*^Tbe  article  on  Qourgaud'a  Narrative*  w  by  a  certain 
VUmx  RouUer  of  your  Grace'a  acquaintance,  who  would 
wiSiOffly  have  some  military  hints  from  you  for  the  con- 
tinuation of  ihc  article,  if  at  any  lime  you  should  feel  dia- 
po«^  to  amuse  yourself  with  looking  at  the  General's 
BMSt  marvelkms  performance.  His  lies  are  certainly  like 
the  fotber  wtio  begot  them.  Do  not  think  that  at  any  time 
the  Dttle  trumpery  intelligence  this  place  affbr^Li  -wn  inter- 
rupt my  laboora,  while  It  amuses  your  Grace.  I  cna 
toMble  as  faat  in  the  Coart  of  Seasions  as  any  where 
efiHi,  wittont  the  least  k>se  of  time  or  hinderance  of  ba^i- 
aea«t'  AA  the  asms  time,  I  cannot  help  laughing  at  the 
totaceUaneoui  traah  I  have  been  putting  out  of  my  hand, 

•  Artideoo  General  Qoaigaad*s  Memoln,  ia  Blackwood's  Bfa- 
jtaasfbr  November.  Ifi8. 


and  the  vartooa  motfVss  wUch  made  me  undertake  the 
ioba.  An  article  for  the  Edbibmnh  Review*— thia  for  the 
love  of  JeArev,  the  editor— the  firat  for  ten  yeara.  Do.» 
being  the  article  Drama  for  the  EncycbpetHa— this  for 
the  sake  of  Mr.  Constable,  the  publisher.  Do.^  for  the 
Blackwoodlan  Bfagazine— thia  for  love  of  the  cauae  I  e8> 
noused^  Do.,  for  the  Quarterlv  Revlewt— this  for  the' 
love  of  myseU^I  believe,  or,  which  is  tUe  same  thing,  for 
the  love  of  jElOO,  which  i  wanted  for  some  odd  purpose.  , 
A^  all  these  folks  fight  like  dog  and  cat  among  themselves, 
my  situation  is  much  like  the  Stkave  mare  magnOf  and  ao 

forth. . 

"I  hope  your  Grace  vrill  never  think  of  answering  the 
Gazettes  at  all,  or  even  jeplying  to  letters  of  businem, 
until  you  find  it  quite  convenient  and  eaay .  The  Gazeue 
will  continue  to  appear  aa  materials  occur.  Indeed  I  ex- 
pect in  the  end  of  next  week,  to  look  hi  upon  BowhiU,  per 
the  Selkirk  mall,  about  ei£ht  at  nieht,  with  the  hope  of 
spendinx  a  day  there,  which  wiQ  be  more  comfortable 
than  at  Abbotsford.  where  1  ahould  feel  like  a  moose  be- 
low a  firlot  If  I  nnd  the  Couri  can  spare  so  important 
a  person  for  one  day,  I  shall  order  my  pony  up  to  meet  me 
at  Bowhill,  and,  annposUig  me  to  come  on  Friday  night,  1 
can  eaitily  return  dt  the  Blucher  on  Monday,  dining  and 
aleephig  at  Huntiy  Bum  on  the  Sunday.  So  I  ahall  rec^eive 
all  necessary  reply  in  peraon." 

Good  Queen  Charlotte  died  on  the  17th  of  this 
month :  and  in  writing  to  Mr.  Morntt  on  the  21st, 
Scott  thuB  expresses  what  was,  I  oeUeve,  the  uni- 
versal feeling  at  the  moment  :— 

"  So  we  have  lost  the  old  Queen.  She  has  only  had  the 
sad  prerogative  of  being  kept  alive  by  nurdng  for  some 
pabifhl  weeks,  whereas  perhaps  a  aubiect  mtoht  have 
closed  the  scene  earHcr.  I  fear  tlie  effect  of  thia  event 
on  public  manners— were  there  but  a  weight  at  the  back 
of  the  drawing-room  door,  which  would  slam  it  in  the  foce 

of  w B,  its  foil  ought  to  be  lamented ;  and  I  believe 

that  poor  Charlotte  really  adopted  her  rulea  of  etiquette 
upon  a  feeHng  of  duty.  If  we  should  suppose  the  Prin- 
cess of  Wales  to  have  been  at  the  head  of  the  mauronage 
of  the  hmd  for  tbeae  laat  ten  rears,  what  would  have  been 
the  difference  on  pnblic  opinion  I  No  man  of  experienca 
vriU  ever  expect  the  breath  of  a  court  to  be  fovourable  to 
correct  monUs— aed  n  non  coafe  caute  tamen.  One  half 
of  the  mischief  Is  done  by  the  publicity  of  the  eviL  which 
corrupts  those  which  are  near  Us  influence,  and  fills  wMh 
diflgust  and  apprehension  those  to  whom  it  does  not  di- 
rectly extend.  Honest  old  Evelyn's  account  of  Charles 
the  Second's  court  presses  on  one's  recollection,  and  prb- 
pares  the  mind  for  anxious  apprehensions." 

Towards  the  end  of  the  month,  Seott  received 
ttom  his  kind  friend  Lord  Sidmoath,  then  Secretary 
of  State  for  the  Home  Department,  the  formal  an- 
nouncement of  the  Prince  Rcgenrs  desire  (which 
bad  been  privately  communicated  some  months 
earlier  through  the  Lord  Chief  Commissioner  Adam) 
to  confei  on  nim  the  rank  of  Baronet  When  Scott 
first  heard  of  the  Regent's  gracious  intention,  he 
had  signified  considerable  hesitation  about  the  pn»- 
denoe  of  his  accepting  tny  such  acceaston  of  rank  i 
for  it  had  not  escaped  hie  observation,  that  Mich  airy 
sounds,  however  modestly  people  may  be  disposed 
to  estimate  them,  are  apt  to  entail  in  the  upshotjad- 
dltional  cost  upon  their  way,  of  living,  and  to  affect 
accordingly  the  plastic  fancies,  feelhigs,  and  habits 
of  their  children.  But  Lord  Sidmouth's  letter  hap- 
pened to  reach  him  a  few  days  after  he  had  licard  of 
the  sudden  death  of  his  wife's  brother,  Charles 
Carpenter,  who  had  bequeathed  the  reversion  of  his 
fortune  to  his  sister's  family;  and  this  cut:umstance 
disposed  Scott  to  waive  his  scruples,  chiefly  with  a 
view  to  the  professional  advantage  of  his  eldest  son, 
who  had  by  this  time  fixed  on  the  life  of  a  soldier. 
As  is  usuafly  the  case,  the  estimate  of  Mr.  Carpen- 
ter's property  transmitted  at  the  time  to  England 
proved  to  have  been  an  exaggerated  one ;  as  nearly 
as  my  present  infortnation  goes,  the  amount  was 
doubled.  But  ss  to  the  only  question  of  any  inte- 
restt  to  wit,  how  Scott  himself  felt  on  all  these  mat- 
ters at  the  moment,  the  following  letter  to  one  whom 
he  had  long  leiined  to  as  a  brother,  will  be  more  sa- 
tisfactory than  any  thing  else  it  is  m  my  power  to 
q^iote  :— 

*  Article  on  Matarm'a  IFomsn,  or  Psmt  u  Contre.  iMiac. 

"n.5S?5.'Mi«.Id.C««.  .V.  iW^  ?nm  W«* 
VoL  xvii.) 


Line  OF  SIB  WALTER  SCOTT. 


I 


T^J.  B.  A  Marritt^  JBtf.,  JC  P.,  ItaMff. 

"  Bdinbargh,  7tb  December,  1818. 
'  M|  dear  Marriii,  ^         ^ 

^'  t  It  fin  w  villi  are  [jidiRcretit  to  nothias  that  ccmcerns 
ui,antJ  tlif^reloro  I  Laic  an  earl^  tippommlty  to  acqnaint 
Mu  with  Itio  imiture  of  ev (laud  ^ood  wNcU  has  very 
Mflly  beMea  ms.  On  SatLirdaj  Iftsrt  wc  Ij»vjj  llie  Rdyice  of 
thp  Ltcdth  t>f  tny  wl(V:'a  broihpr  Chjj-l^^s  Cftrprolcr,  com- 
m«rciaU(*sldt'Pl  al  S*il(tin,  lo  Ihe  Midr^-t  Esii^lishment. 
Ttiis  rt  reo  t  baa  £ivenhflfgr«8UJiirtresi«  She?  h^not.  that 
yif^  ktiftwYf*  a  dingle  Lldpdr*>bi3 on  led  In  tll^^  world,  for 
hee  mil  Its  Ihij  Chy^aUer  da  la  Vultrfi,  ^il-'U' I  of  a  RUB- 
eism  rcrfiuient,  U  bd[***t'd  lo  Jiave  br-Frn  kiM  i  m  the  cam- 
PiigTi  onai3.'  Mjf  wtfp'  bM  Nenvt^rjr  li'  veil  for  two 
thy  A,  and  Is  nnlv  now  sUtlnja  up  wiid  uiL^irij,  . :  ti  us.  8h« 
kiiih^L^ymnaibjf  wMt^li  we  are  all  bouml  v^  i  ;jr,but  feels 
»hv  WAULS  tJiai  pt.'r«npal  Suiprer^t  In  W-r  >  ow  which 
r,flijld  oal/  be  groutiJdil  tm  ftpurionaUcqu:iiiitance  with 
trie  d*?cea«n(L  ,        ,  >.  , . 

"  4Mr.  Carpeiuor  hi^,  with  crcai  profirktyn  kft  his  pro- 

Eertr  iti  life-rem  to  bU  wife— th*.-  t-ariTot  »■»  m/  S^ljyf^ 
HeLHii>;  !n  aftioani  m abo^ji  -f  tO,tJ1(»,  Upwn  *-  of  X30,aX) 
In  id  aie  BrHldb  fuiiilJ,  fUi^  rflit,  lu  an  nti.^  ii  f  n  value,  m 
riidte.  1  boon  ihi*  yryept^cl  rtf  lnde|H"ii^  lu  e  will  not 
muke  my  cbildTcn  iJITreirr'nt  from  lUat  wtitcb  Uiey  have 
UstmUjr  6ei?!i— dycilfi  diitifuU  Jind  affhrbnna't*.  I  trust  It 
wUl  not.  At  I'M!!,  ibe  (Irfli  i:3is>r*i»toii  af  lIidIt  feelings 
v¥h«  hononnble,  fur  it  was  a  un«niiiJ0ii»  w  -i  to  give  UP 
nil  10  tbaiT  uiolbef.  This  I  tixp3ftint?d  td  [  1 1  n  was  out  of 
ih*-  [fiinzcclcin  :  but  ihal  if  ib^T  i*b<»il^'l  bf  J:ii  ,  -3se8«ion  at 
iirjv  iim(*  r>r  ihi^  [►r,-p,.rr7»  thcv  ouiht,  mnnn-.'  iriem,to  set- 
I  [fiau  \u<  I. cue  of  Jt^lO  <'r  JiSot^'^m  tEclr  mot  [,<  i  for  hei  life, 
lo  Hiivplv  bcr  with  a  fyiiil  at  bcromi  uiH-Miu^rlled  Oispo- 
nl,  (or  any  irubitgoncc  <ir  uiK^ful  purpos*?  i  ii  n  i.  light  be  re- 
quired, iitn.  ijcoti  will  pUini  in  no  nctd  i.J  (1  ,ls,  but  it  it 
a  pity  la  lei  kind  aUrctiuiva  run  lo  waste ;  onnl  1 1  thejr  never 
bave  it  ill  tb**ir  pflwcr  Ui  pay  audi  a  dffUt  thoir  wiUmgneM 
to  b*Te  lioiie  »t>  w  111  be  a  p  kiiSJint  r  a  rl«c  t  Io[l  I  am  Scotch- 
uuui  ennaJth  lo  bate  tho  brottking  u|^  of  family  tie9i  ana 
the  too  cIg*o  Bulherrufo  lo  perertnal  prnptnly.  For  ny- 
ielf»  lUIb  cTent  mikca  ni<j  noiiber  rtcber  nor  poorer  oi- 
Tcctiif,  by  I  indiruttlyit  wlllp**tiidl  ma  io  do  something 
tat  my  pofir  brutlu.'r  Tom*  family,  bcflidew  i>leastO|^my. 
at>1f  hi  ^ptaniin^M,  and  poUcitg^  and  Am'*"'"/«i'^  With  » 
aafe  rfniai'Jrncj.'.  _    . 

"Ttj--T- I     ••  "'  •'      ■'     .  ^^  :p^r  lo  your  Cdtb- 

ful  ear.  t.-'  n  =■  i  '-i  i  f  i-  ^  ■  1 1  -  ;i  ^ :  :  ■-.[•.  ^  .■  i.  ■  ijunourLftcrature 
in  mv  unwortliy  person,  bail  Intimated  to  me,  by  his  organ 
the  Doctor,  that,  with  coasept  ample  ai^d  unanimous  of 
all  the  potential  voices  of  all  his  ministers,  each  more  hap- 
py than  another  of  course  on  so  joyful  an  occarion,  ho 
proposes  to  dub  me  Baronet  It  would  be  easy  saying  a 
parcel  of  fine  things  about  my  contempt  of  rank,  and  so 
foith :  but  although  I  would  noc  have  gone  a  step  ou|  of 
my  way  to  have  asked,  or  bought,  or  beeped,  or  borrowed 
a  disttnetion,  which  to  me  personally  will  rather  be  incon- 
venient than  otherwise,  vet,  coming  as  It  does  directly 
from  the  source  of  feudal  honours,  and  as  an  honour,  I 
am  really  gratified  with  It ;— especially  as  U  is  intimated, 
that  it  is  Hb  Royal  Highness's  pleasure  to  heat  the  oven 
for  me  expressly,  without  waiting  UlI  he  has  some  now 
bktck  of  Baronets  ready  fa  dough.  In  plain  EagUsb,  I  am 
to  be  gassetted  per  «e.  My  poor  friondCarpentef  s  bequest 
to  my  family  has  taken  away  a  eertain  decree  of  impeeufu- 
only,  a  necessity  of  saving  cheese-parings  and  candle- 
ends,  which  always  looks  inconsistent  witn  any  little  pre- 
tension to  rank.  But  as  things  now  stand,  Advance  ban- 
ners in  the  name  of  God  and  Saint  Andrew.  Remember, 
1  anticipate  the  jest,  'Hike  not  such  grinning  honours,  as 
Sir  Walter  hath. 'J  After  all,  if  one  must  speak  for  them- 
selves, I  have  my  quarters  and  emblaionmenls,  free  of 
all  stain  but  Border  theft  add  High  Treason,  which  1  hope 
aregenllemanlike  crimes ;  and  1  hope  Sir  Walter  Scott 
will  not  sound  worse  than  Sir  Humphry  Davy,  though  my 
merits  are  as  much  under  his,  in  point  of  uttlitv,  as  can 
well  be  imagined.  But  a  name  is  something,  and  mine  Is 
the  belter  of  the  two.  Set  down  this  flourish  to  the  ac- 
coum  of  national  and  provincial  pride,  for  you  must  know 
we  have  more  Messieurs  de  SotenvilleS  m  our  Border 
counties  than  any  where  else  in  the  Lowland*— 1  cannot 
say  for  the  Illghlanda.  The  Duke  of  Buccleuoh,  greatly 
to  my  joy,  rewWes  to  Prance  for^  season.  Adam  Fergu- 
son goes  with  hbn,  to  glad  him  by  the  way.  Charloite  and 
the  young  folks  join  in  kind  compliments.    Most  truly 

^^"'"^  Waltkh  Scott." 

•  Iknow  nothinv  of  the  history  or  ftte  of  this  gpi^leman,  ex- 
"ept  (hat  he  was  an  ardent  royalist,  and  emif  rated  from  Franks 
early  in  the  RevuluUon.  , .  ^  .  .  j.      •  i_ 

1 1  believe  tfah  is  a  quetation  ftom  some  old  Sootoh  chronicler 
oo  the  character  of  KingJaines  V. 

:  fHt'  Walter  Bhmt^i  Noff  fienrr  IV.»  Aot  V.  Scene  8. 

tSee  Moliere's  "  Qoorge  Dandin." 


A  few  tdditkmal  etroomttiiioes  are  (preB  in  ll(^ 
ter  of  the  same  week  to  Jotnna  Bailbe.  To  be; 
after  mentioning  the  testamentaryprovmooiofllT. 
Carpenter,  Scott  says,— 

'■''  My  dear  Friend,  I  am  going  to  tell  yon  a  little  Mai 
I  have  clumged  my  mind,  or  nuher  exiaUng  cireoBiSBBca 
have  led  to  my  altering  my  opinions  in  a  case  of  subiaB^ 
ry  honour.  I  have  now  before  meiiord  Sidmeulti'i  iece, 
containing  the  Prince's  gracious  and  unsoMcUed  inteflim 
to  give  me  a  Baronetcy.  It  will  neither  make  ou  beoer 
nor  worse  than  I  feel  myseU^in  fiiict,  it  wiU  be  id  incca 
braace  rather  than  otherwise ;  but  it  may  l>«  of  c«a» 
qoence  to  Walter,  for  the  title  is  worth  someduof  is  \U 
army,  although  not  in  a  learned  profession.  The  Duke  !i( 
Buccleuch  and  Scott  of  Harden,  who,  as  the  bads « 
my  clan  and  the  sources  of  my  gentry,  are  foo4j<K|fes« 
what  I  ought  to  do,  have  both  given  me  their  saneat^ 
nion  to  accept  of  an  honour  directly  derived  uaa  Hf 
source  of  honour,  and  neither  begged  nor  bought,  uii 
tl  le  usual  fashion.  Several  -of  my  ancestors  t)or»  iii»  ii:k 
in  the  I7th  century  ;  and  were  it  of  conseqataee.l  Ian 
no  reason  to  be  ashamed  of  the  decent  and  iw^ecttt* 
persons  who  connect  me  with  that  period  wlieiiU»e»of 
ried  into  \ht  field,  Uke  Madoe— 

*  The  crescent,  at  whose  gleam  the  OewnWaaoa, 

Cursing  his  perilous  tenure,  wound  hishom'- 
•o  that,  as  a  gentleman,  I  may  stand  oo  as  good  &toi!i 
as  other  new  creations.  IlesnectincthereosoBspau* 
to  myself  which  have  msda  the  Pitace  sbowhare«p« 
for  general  literatuw  in  my  person.  I  cannot  l>e « |« 
judge,  and  your  frtendlf  zeal  vrtU  make  you  »  portal « 
the  purpose  is  fi^,  honoarable^  and  crediuble  tp  (ms^ 
vereign,  even  though  It  should  aanxber  bim  laxaf  "^ 
monarchs  wlm  made  bbiaders  ialiterary  patrasafe.  !«• 


know  Pope  f 
*  The  Hero  WWlsm,  and  the  Martyr  Cbartej, 
One  knighted  Blsckmore,  and  one  pensieo'd  Qsm* 
So  let  the  intcnUon  saacUfy  the  error,  if  there  BhoaljW 
one,  o»  this  great  occaaion.  The  time  of  this  «n^ 
is  uncertain;  It  is  coupled  with  an  in^ttaooa  »wi«J 
which  it  would  be  inconvenient  to  me  to  accept.  luWfi 
ahould  happen  that  I  am  called  to  come  up  by  iw  »* 
of  poor  Carpenter's  estate.  Indeed,  the  prt>sp«t*«5 
children  form  the  principal  reason  for  a  chsofcoi  i^ 
ments  upon  this  flattering  offer,  jotaed  lo  my  »>«t.ifi 
though  1  m^  still  be  a  scribbler  from  Inveterate l»»' 
shall  hardly  engage  again  in  any  work  of  consequisci, 
"  We  had  adelMul  visli  from  the  Hichaid«^« 
rather  too  sliort ;  hp  wiU  give  you  a  pi6t"rep^^bjj«f» 
but  not  as  it  exlstf  jn  my  mind's  eye,  vravbJf  «<* «fia 
ftiture  honours.  ^Tlbe  pipaslers  are  »J«WBf  "tTJ^l 
and  in  a  ycax  or  two  more  Joanna's  Bower  wj**^ 'T?, 
of  the  name.  At  present  II  Is  Mke  SU:  Roger  de  Cori^; 
portrait,  which  hovered  between  lu  re^emhlttcftw^ 
good  knight  and  to  a  Saracen.  Now  the  said  wt€t^ 
still  such  a  resemblance  to  its  original  character  oi  ij- 
vel  pit,  that  It  U  not  fit  to  be  shown  to '  bainw  ajd  w^ 
who,  according  to  our  old  canny  proverb,  "O^g^  ."ll 
see  half  donework;  but  Nature,  if  she  work* Jjw. 
works  surely,  and  your  laurels  at  Abbotsgrd  ««^. 
flourish  as-iair  as  those  yon  have  won  oii  P^fM^Ti 
rather  fear  diat  a  qnintity  of  game  which  ««  ■Jg 
awhile  sgo  st  Iweemeps  for  the  Doctor.  newM*^ 
hfm :  it  Is  raiher  n  transiiory  commodity  in  f-'f*?;^^ 
were  ptarmigan,  grouse,  and  black  game.  I  suaa  of  v 
^edirSeTlSv^Ucar^led  My  health,  thank  GoAr* 
linues  aa  st|ong  as  at  any  period  in  my  life :  o^^jr.^ 
rule  and  diet  more  than  I  used  to  do,  a^d  ob8erww0»r. 
as  in  me  lies  the  advice  of  my  friendly  I*y>*2S2, 
took  such  kind  care  of  me ;  niy  best  respects  awjo^ 
Mrs.  Bainie,  and  Mrs.  Agnes.  Ever,  my  dear  &»»»,*• 
OOthlbUy  yours,  ^  §^i 

In  the  next  of  these  letters  Scolt  tlhides,  »jg 
other  thiDjjp,  to  a  scene  of  innocent  Ple*^;*^ 
I  often  witnessed  afterwards.  The  'Joie  «  , 
ancient  ceremonial  of  the  daft  dnyt,  as  theM»^ 
ed  in  Scotland,  obttuned  respect  at  A^^/T  ^ 
He  said*  it  was  uncanrw,  and  would  cenaffli; »» 
felt  it  very  uncomfortiKfe.  not  to  ^elcoinc  t&yj^ 
year  in  the  midst  of  his  fatndy  anda  few.oldfn^ 
with  the  immemorial  libation  of  •Mp*»*'J^ti 
all  the  consecrated  ceremonies  of  the  {uneBostj  ^ 
him  euch  delight  as  the  visit  which  he  '•frj^, 
Laird  from  all  the  children  on  hia  wt.«««i  ®"i?!i  i 
morning  of  every  December—when,  m  the  woni» 
an  obscure  poet  often  quoted  by  him, 

«  ImitatioDS  oTRoraee,  B.  H  Ep.  1.  ▼.  »•• 


UBS  CMP  fiOt  WMJSBB,  aCOOT. 


**  The  eoltag*  burna  ilof  bljtbe  «Bd  gt(F, 
AiihBhMf  door  for  A«yiiMifioy." 

'*  Abbotaford,  lat  January,  1819. 
dear  Friend, 

Manx  tharfta  for  your  kind  letter :  ten  brace  of 
iiiigan  nailed  from  Inveraeae  about  the  24th.  dfredad 
...  Dr.  BaiUie ;  if  they  shonld  have  reaehed,  1  nope  you 
vroold  seize  aome  for  yourself  and  friends,  as  I  learn  the 
Doctor  is  on  doty  at  Windsor.  1  do  not  know  the  name 
•f  the  'Ceasel,  but  they  were  addressed  to  Dr.  BalUie,  Lon- 
iotLf  which  I  trust  was  enough,  for  there  are  not  ri«o. 
Tlie  Doctor  ha.^  been  exercising  his  skill  upon  my  dear 
firieDd  and  chief,  the  Duke  of  Buceleiich,  to  whom  I  am 
more  attached  than  to  any  person  beyond  the  mch  of 
Diy  own  family,  and  has  advised  him  to  do  what,  by  my 
earnest  advice,  he  ou^ht  to  have  done  three  yearb  ago — 
namely,  to  go  to  Lisbon  :  he  left  this  vicinity  with  much 
reluctance  to  go  to  Tfaoslonse,  but  if  he  will  be  advised, 
slKmM  not  stop  save  in  Portugal  or  the  south  of  Spain. 
The  Dake  is  one  of  those  retired  and  hiflrh*spirlted  men 
who  wilt  never  be  known  nntil  the  world  asks  what  be- 
came of  the  hu^^e  oak  tliat  grew  on  the  brow  of  the  hlH, 
and  sti^kered  such  an  e^ent  of  ground.  Durinf  the  late 
dfaTTcss,  though  his  own  Itnmetise  renis  remained  in  ar- 
rears and  thoujrh  I  know  he  was  pinched  for  money,  as 
aS  men  were,  but  more  especially  the  possessors  of  en- 
tailed estates,  he  absented  himself  from  London  in  order 
to  pay  with  ease  to  himself  the  labourers  employed  on  his 
v»rio*u««  es  atea.  These  amounted  (for  I  have  often  seen 
the  roll  and  helped  to  check  It)  to  nhie  hundred  and  fifty 
Bj<»n,  working  at  day  wages,  cacli  of  whom  on  a  moderate 
average  mi*ht  mamtnin  three  persons,  since  llie  single 
men  have  mothers,  sisters,  and  a^ed  or  very  younjr  rela- 
tions to  pTolect  and  assist.  Indeed  it  is  wonderftd  how 
mnch  even  a  Kmall  sum,  comparatively,  will  do  In  suoport- 
lag  the  ScotUsh  labourer,  who  is  in  his  natural  stat*;  per- 
haps one  of  the  best,  most  intelBs^ent,  and  kind-hearted  of 
human  beings ;  and  in  truth  I  have  limited  my  other  hab- 
its of  expense  very  ranch  since  1  fell  into  employing  mine 
honest  people.  1  wish  you  could  have  seen  about  a  hun- 
dred children,  being  almost  entirely  sup^iorted  by  their 
fiihers*  or  brothers*  labour,  tovcw  down  yesterday  to 
dmee  to  the  pipes,  and  get  a  piece  of  cake  and  bannock, 
and  pence  a-picce  (no  very  dfeadly  largess)  in  honour  of 
Jufaiana^.  I  declare  to  you,  my  dear  IVlend,  that  when 
I  {Sought  the  poor  fellows  who  keot  these  children  so  neat, 
and  well  taught,  and  wellbehaveu,  were  slaving  the  whole 
diy  for  eighieen-pence  or  twenty-pence  at  the  most,  I  was 

,  aabaoned  of  their  fratltude,  and  of  their  becks  and  bows. 

'  Bbt  after  all.  one  does  what  one  can,  and  it  is  better  twen- 
ty farnOIes  should  be  comfortable  according  to  their  vrtahes 
and  liabits.  than  half  that  number  should  be  raised  above 
tlVeir  Bituatlon.  B66i4es,  like  Forttmio  in  the  fairy  tale,  I 
hate  my  ^fted  men— the  best  ^vre8tler  and  cu4get-player 
—the  be^t  runner  and  leaper— the  best  shot  in  the  little 
district ;  and  as  I  om  partial  to  all  manly  and  atfil^tic  exer- 
cises, these  are  great  fayourites,  being  otherwise  decent 
persons,  and  hearing  their  fkculties  meekly.  All  this 
smells  of  sad  egotism,  but  what  can  I  write  to  you  about 
MTve  what  fk  uppemnsc  in  niy  own  thoughts  ;  sod  here 
am  I,  thimatng  ^dntantations  and  planliflg  nev^ones ;  now 
uodoiog  vrhac  has  been  done,  and  now  doing  what  I  sup- 
pose no  ooe  would  do  but  myself,  and  Ac;;«mpliflhtivi  aU 
iqy  nwigical  tran>format<ona  by  the  arms  and  legs  or  the 
aioxes^d  f  ei^i,  coi:^ured  up  to  my  aid  at  c|gntcen-penco 
a-day.  There  is  no  one  with  me  but  my  wife,  to  whom 
th^  change  of  scene  and  air,  with  the  facility  of  easy  and 
Mimcrropred  exercise,  is  of  service.  The  young  peonlo 
remain  iir  Edinburgh  to  look  after  their  lessons,  and  Wal- 
ter, though  paMionately  fond  Of  shooting,  only  8tai4  three 
ifa^B  with  IIS,  his  mind  running  ent^lyon  mathnnatics 
tad  fortificarhm,  French  and  Gerinan.  One  of  the  sx- 
ceilAncies  of  AbboUifordis  v«ryt>ad  pens  and  ink;  and 
heaves,  this  being  NewVear'a  Uay,  and  my  writiuf-room 
itiovc  the  servaitfa*  ball,  the  procreas  of  my  correapon- 
d-ace  is  a  little  interrupted  by  the  Piper  stogiug  Gaelic 
•rtn»s  to  the  servants,  and  their  applause  in  coURrqucnce.  , 
Affi^u,  my  good  and  indulgent  friend:  the  best  infwences 
of  th«  New  Vear  attend  you  and  yours,  Who  so  well  de- 
serve aU  that  they  cat  bruig.    Moat  affectionately  yours, 

Waiim  Scott." 

Before  quitiiiv5  the  year  1818, 1  ousiUt  to  have  men- 
tioned that  among  Scott's  miscellaneous  occupa- 
tiods  ia  its  autumn,  he  found  time  to  contribute 
some  curious  matenala  toward  a  new  edition  of 
Buri'a  Letters  from  the  North  of  Scotland,  which 
had  been  undertaken  by  his  old  acquaintance,  Mr. 
Rd>ert  Jameaon.  Duimg  the  winter  aessioii  he  ap- 
pears to  have  made  little  progress  with  his  novel;, 
his  painful  seizures  of  cramp  were  again  recurring 


ftcqiM«ii]r,  and  he^piobablr  thoofllutt  ketlirwaUow^ 
the  atonrof  Lanunemiow  to  lieowiititU  hit  hfaMi 
shottld  bb  re-estaUiahed.  lo  the  mean  lime  he  dbew 
itp  a  set  of  topographical  mnd  hiato^oil  easays,  whi«^ 
oruinaUy  appearea  in  the  suoceasnre  nttmberB  of  the 
splendidly  ulustiiated  work,  entitled  ProvinoiaA  Aft- 
tiquitias  of  Scotland.*  But  he  did  this  mei^y  to 
gnitify  his  own  love  of  the  subject,  and  beeauas, 
well  or  ill,  he  must  be  doing  something.  He  declin- 
ed all  pecuniary  reoompense  ;  bat  afterwards,  when 
the  Boceees  of  the  'publication  was  secure,  accepted 
from  theproprieiors  some  of  the  beantiftil  drawings 
by  Turner,  Thomson,  and  other  artists,  which  had 
been  prepared  to  accompany  bis  text.  Theee  draw- 
ings are  now  in  the  little  breakfast  room  at  Abbots- 
ford— the  same  which  had  been  constructed  for  his 
own  den,  and  which  1  found  him  occupying  as  sucli 
in  the  spring  of  1819. 

In  the  course  of  December,  1818,  he  also  opened     , 
an  importat\t  negotiation  with  Messrs.  Constable, 
which  was  completed  early  in  the  ensuing  year.  The 
coat  of  his  building  had,  as  is  usual,  exceeded  his 
calculation  ;  and  he  had  boib^  large  addition  to  it, 
;  and  some  new  purchases  of  land  in  view.    Moreo- 
I  ver,  his  eldest  son  had  now  fixed  on  the  cavalry,  in 
I  which  service  every  step  infers  very  considerable  ex- 
'  pense.    The  details  of  this  negotiation  are  remark- 
I  able ;  Scott  considered  himself  as  a  very  fortunate 
I  man  when  Constable,  who  at  first  offered  ^10,00<^ 
'  for  all  his  then  existing  copyrights,  agreed  to  give 
I  for  ihem  jC12,000.    Meeting  a  friend  in  the  street, 
'  just  after  the  deed  had  bieen  executed,  he  saici  he 
wagered  no  man  could  guess  at  how  large  a  price 
Constable  had  estimated  hia  "eild  kye"  (cows  bar- 
ren from  age.)    The  copyrights  thus  tranalbrred 
were,  aa  specified  in  the  instrument— 

"  The  said  Walter  Scott,  Bsa.^s,  present  share,  beiof  the 
entire  oopyiiirhL,  of  waverley. 

Do.  do.       Guy  Mamvertnf . 

Do.  •    do.       Atttiqnary. 

Ao.  do.       Rob  Roy. 

Do.  do.       Tales  of  my  Iisndlord,  Itt  ^eries. 

Do.  do.                     66.                2d  series. 

Do.  do.                      do.                 3d  series. 

Do.  do.       Bftdalof  TMermaln. 

Do-  do.       Harold  the  DauntH'Ss. 

Do.  do.       Sir  Tristrem. 

Do.  do.       Roderick  Collection. 

Do.  do.       Paul's  Letters. 

Do.  being  one  eighth  of  the  Lay  of  the  Last  Mh)StreL 

Do.  being  one  half  pf  the  Lady  of  the  Lake. 

Do.  being  one  half  of  Rokeby. 

Do.  being  one  half  of  the  Lord  of  the  Isles." 

The  instrument  contained  a  clause  binding  Messrs. 
Constable  never  to  divulse  the  name  of  the  Author 
of  Waverley  during  hia  liie  under  a  penalty  of  £3000. 

I  may  observe,  that  had  these  booksellers  fulfilled 
then- part  of  this  agreement,  by  paying  off  prior  to 
theirinsolvency  in  1626,  the  whole  bonds  for  JC12.000, 
which  they  signed  on  the  3d  of  February,  1819,  no 
interesi  in  the  copyrights  above  specified  could  have 
been  expected  to  revert  to  the  Author  of  Waverley^ 
but  more' of  this  in  due  aeason. 

He  alludea  to  the  progress  of  the  treaty  in  the  fol- 
lowing letter  to  Captain  Adam  Ferguson,  who  had, 
as  has  already  appeared,  left  Scotland  with  tHc  f 
Duke  of  Buccleucu.  His  Grace  hearing,  when  in 
London,  that  one  of  the  Barons  of  Exchequer  at 
Edinburgh  meant  speedMy  to  resign,  the  Captain 
hail,  by  his  deaire,  wntten  to  urge  on  Scott  the  pro- 
priety of  renewiitg  his  appHcation  for  a  seat  on  that 
beuch:  which,  however,  Scott  at  once  refused  to 
do.  liiere  were  several  reasons  for  (his  abatinence ; 
anong  others,  ho  thought  such  a  promotoin  at  thi.^ 
lime  would  interfere  with  a  protect  which  he  had 
formed  of  joining  '^  the  Chief  ond  the  Aid-de-camp" 
in  the  course  of  the  spring,  and  accomplishing  in 
their  society  the  tour  of  Portugal  and  Spain— per- 
haps of  Italy  also.  Some  such  excursion  had  been 
strongly  recommended  to  him  by  his  own  physicians,  " 
aa  the  IikeUest  means  of  interrupting  those  habits  ot 
sedulous  exertion  at  the  desk,  which  they  all  regard- 
ed as  the  true  source  of  his  recent  ailments,  and  the 


I^FE  OF  SIB  WALTER  SCOTT. 


She  came  np  to  me  with  agfeateireMkMr  of  gmlilade  for 
the  delight  and  pleasure,  and  ao  forth,  which  the  owed  lo 
me  on  account  of  theie  boolLS.  Now,  aa  ehe  knew  very 
well  that  I  had  never  owned  myeelf  the  ambor,  this  waa 
not|Mltf«  poUteneas,  and  she  had  no  right  to  force  me  up 
into  a  comer  and  compel  me  to  tell  her  a  word  more  than 
I  choae,  upon  a  subject  which  concerned  no  one  but  nijr- 
aetf-and  I  have  no  notion  of  t  ' "  *- ^^ 


being  piftnped  br  an j  old 
i  orTemale.  80 1  nve  in 
Uttioa  to  add  and  eke  ;  fioc 


4M 

•nljr  Mrious  obsUcle  to  hi»cim;  ud  his  itandisg 
M  a  CSlerk  of  Sesaioii,  contideiing  how  larReljr  he 
hnd  laboured  in  that  capacity  for  infirm  brethren, 
would  have  easily  secared  nim  a  twelvemonths 
leave  of  absence  jrbm  the  Jodgee  of  his  Court. 
But  the  principal  motive  was,  aa  we  shall  see,  his 

reluctance  to  inteifere  with  the  claims  of  the  then 

Sheriff  of  Mid-Lothian,  his  own  and  Ferguson's  \  dowager  Lady  of  Session,  male 
old  friend  and  school-fiBllo w,  Sir  William  Rae— who,  "  "     - 

however,  accepted  the  more  ambitious  post  of  Lord 
Advocate^  in  the  course  of  the  ensuing  summer. 
To  Captain  Adam  Ptrguaon,  DitUniPark,  Wind»^. 
"  ISth  January,  1819. 
"^Dear  Adam, 

"  Many  thanka  for  your  Und  letter,  thia  moment  re-    „.« ^^ — „      _    .      .  _     ^ 

-ceited.  I  would  not  for  the  world  stand  to  Jackie  (I  beg  |  ed  the  pump  with  a  sood  dose  of  naitery.  U  la  remark- 
hU  pardon,  Sir  John)  Peartree'^  way.'  He  has  merited  able,  that  among  aU  my  real  friends  to  whom  I  did  Mi 
the  cushion  en  haul,  and  besides  he  needs  it  To  me  it )  choose  to  communicate  this  matter,  not  one  ever  tbou^ 
would  make  little  difference  Ui  point  of  Income.  The  ;  it  proper  or  delicate  to  tease  me  about  it  Respecting  tj« 
otium  cum  dignitate,  if  it  ever  come,  will  come  as  weU  knighthood,  I  can  only  say,  that  coming  as  it  does,  and  I 
years  after  this  as  now.  Besides,  I  am  afraid  the  opening  I  ending  myself  and  my  famUy  in  circumstances  which  wiU 
vrill  be  aoon  made,  through  the  death  of  our  dear  friend  ,  not  render  the  petit  titre  ridiculous,  I  think  there  would 
Che  CM'-r  T«  -  ■■  'f^  ',*'*. .^--  TiHinTth  niP  ^ ----■!-*- -rr  nnfrt-  '  h.  !■■  ;■  ■  v-iVylri  .^- -*'-'-)" fbm *n  s'-r<^j>!!Tr^wh<'t  ii'^ff^r- 
V0Ur4i<L'       111  I  ^     ■i\:ifiAu\i  vvsHilfJ  be  snciJiiiCiiii  lit .  tjjHj  liit.  oy  diii  jjt^jfi-sii  •^^i.^h  o(  tiie  Stl^t'rH^  om  a  mark 

tomn,  r.i'.\\^T  u.  ,  becftUBe  I  hnvti  ilitj  deJlre,    of  favour  and  JiiiiiitUoi*.     WlU  von  be  no  kind  4»  to  *tk^ 

like  Ml  1^3  :i.  !  '  !  1  Mi>-i>  wfi  pru  it  mowde,  I  ^m  qoire  and  kt  me  kiniw  wb^t  th*  ft**,  i*^*  ors^bfcroneurjr 
begrni  i.lw  oiuit  t"rk>iu  in^v  lUorYry.  coiuiiicrcQ.     Cur-  \  Ajuouoi  lu— lor  I  niurfl  ^ruvjiie  myselt  ftccoroiOifly,  Pflj 

lIsh^H] 


dilatory  defences,  under  protesution  l 
I  trust,  In  learning  a  new  slang,  you  have  not  forgot  the 
old.  In  plafai  words,  I  denied  the  charge,  and  as  ^e  inM«- 
ed  to  know  who  else  ewld  write  these  novels,  I  suggested 
Adam  Ferguson  as  a  person  havbigaU  the  information  and 
capacity  necessary  for  that  purpose.  Bat  the  Inference 
that  he  smw  the  author  was  of^her  own  deducing ;  and 
tlius  ended  her  attempt,  notwithstandibA  her  baring  prim- 


inv  _ 

i.d  ma  XiD^tHJti  for  tkio  cop>ri«hU  of  pub- 
\,^  tilcti  haff  alr*»fl«l)r  prajiluceij  aiore  ttiau 
twice  ihv  duju.  I  imnd  cut  for  M'^.Vf)  Tell  tbia  ta  the 
Duke^  lift  kni.iW!«r  liow  J  [riEmTH;eti  10  kcijp  the  brti  tilltliti 
rainy  ^tay  ^a!4  i^iaeft.  1  wtEl  writf  two  Wnea  to  Lord  MclriUe] 
just  to  iiiak^?  iny  bcjw  ffir  the  prujwnl,  rnalgniRgJiiijf  claitns 


ki! owing  eiScUy  whru  tliis  ji^me  liile  may  dfe#cci*d  upoa 
(  am  afj  aid  1  he  an  iK  e  it>  mlh  e  r  *oi*rt-     I  tliuuld  Uka 


for  t  )iavfi  no  nUieV,  lUl  liie  iie  si  oj>p(3rtuftitj.  1  wliui 
have  bfcn  IihaIf  vej#d  if  ihc  Ihike  h»*l  tLau^hl  of  iMrlUng 
aboot  this,  1  EfonU  vTiab  to  iv^ar  ironi  \\im  till  I  tan  have 
hisaccfiunLor  th^  llni'fl  of  Torrea  Vedrii«-  1  «n?  fio  liltk 
howorwhcro  IlrttveT,  thai  J  am  not  sinre  at  nB  whether 
I  shali  mti  f^ntna  Ui  Lisl^on  &cid  auTprkne  vot],  Uiatead  &f 
going  [o  ItiUy  bv  Swiiacrknd ;  thai  ta  pru^liling  t^ie  statu 
of  Spakn  wLiuiJ  allow  riie^  wltbout  inry  unrwuHJnable  dan- 
ger  of  iijy  throat,  10  gtl  from  Uabon  Uj  Hadridj  iuid  Ui^Act 
to  OlbndtLT.  I  am  ik-terinlned  to  roU  a  liUk^  abrntu  for  1 
have  ]«il  much  t*f  my  uauol  rlews  of  aunimf  r  plfiasure 
here.  Duti  tniM  we  ahnJI  hnve  otsit.'  ilay  ttja  Maid  of  Lorn 
(recovf.rpd  of  h^r  IsincncBa.)  and  Chttrll'?  St n art  <f  ncoft* 
ciled  t<j  Imjks.)  and  Sybil  On-y  Cno  lauger  retrograde,) 
and  thr>  Puka  aei  up  by  a  ^utWm  rliuia(e„  fmd  bla  tni- 
litary  anii  tfvil  airl'/a-de^-caiiipi  wlih^ll  lh<J  rout  of  younk- 
ers  aa<l  i]ug$,  And  a  brow  a  MU  Jtidc  t  liiLrodtictf^ry  to  a 
good di liner  at  SkiwhiCl  Qf  Drunilauri|t  Jin4  a  iiiiirTy  «veQ- 
ing.  Amp  11,  and  Ood  e(?nd  iL  Aa  to  uiy  uiuuth  bPliw 
atopp^ '1  i"^!''!  rhy  froth  of  tbo  tlllp,  tliot  i*,  as  tbe  learned 
Pan  r  .  n  »>.:*«  sefitt7uf<     You   know  tho   schoal- 

bo}  ^  , .  lit  of  first  iikiEig  tnusUird  for  hi*  boef,  aod 

thetU  ^l.Yfnortla^^l     Ndw^/is  tht-y  put  thf  niiiaiard 

on  n>y  |<i.lj.  ,  <,v([h(»ut  my  a«ktn«  \U  1  atiaJI  conaidf  r  myarlf, 
time  EM II I  ]'I:lm^  ^«r%'inK,  aa  emiiled  10  iun^f,  a  sUcfj  of  heaf ; 
that  Lk  L><  >i^jv,  1  vruuhi  do  ao  if  1  caroJ  iiiucti  about  it ;  but 
as  it  if,  I  LrL]i4  H  to  Uau^  mid  ciioAci^  wf^lcl),  aa  you^  disr 
Adaip,  know,haTt'  Caddcd  to  liiv  eKdrtioniof  kirnl  frieodii) 
been  wrtiidc^rfut  ulllea  of  mine.  Pis^plp  u,iiuiliy  wish  Iholr 
letter*  to  eoiiic  to  liafiil,  bui  J  hope  ^oti  wilJ  not  fpccEv* 
tliis  In  BrIlfUn  1  Eim  Impatient  to  hear  you  tiA^e  sailed. 
All  \i^Tv  an:  well  and  b^arly.  'Tha  Patoneit  aud  I  pro- 
pose f"  Efj  np  Ifl  Die  fJa»de  to-tBorrnw  t£>  fii  oft  thfl  rooai 
oonv!  iiLi=u[  floc^rof  th*' Cmwii  iiou^e  for  your  ai&najun* 
in  lio^' ii  you  wiil  Hand  17*?^!  for  ijingTog  and  CJienhirti 
chfer-.- 1  Hi  j'jur  relink  to  reward  our  labour.  Tbo  wholy 
exjj'  Li^'  w[ll  [all  wiLlilu  iho  TrcMury  order,  and  11  la  liu- 

C»rtai  I  '■  10  ri-e  e  tl  lin y  d  Loade  c  oii  p*?o  ( tn  t-     I  wlH  wri  l«  a  lopg 
tier  to  liifi  I>uJio  to  Liiboq.    Your*  «ver, 

W.ia.TGfli  Scott. 

ii  PS  —No  n^vuM  hpre,  bTii  that  I  ho  ?*wdly  hulk  of  cfln- 
eeit  acid  [alloWt^vhlch  waa  Jelled  Mnce uUocu, of  tti4  Royal 
lloteU  l*rini:i.-'3  Street,  wa^  put  lo  bfd  deflfl- drunk  on 
WcdlJ<^l4day  bi;i^t,aadla,Hcn  '>ot  the  next  uiorninf  dead- 
by-iTPolf-dtad.    Mair  skaith  at  Sh^-rilThsuir." 

7^  J.  JtiehartUott,  £#7,,  Fiud^er  Strettt  VVetlfnintttr. 
•*  Etilnburgh,  IBih  yantmry,  lilt. 
••My  fifrar  RlchafdaoEi, 

'"■  Manr  thafika  to  yoti  l^r  ymif  kind  leiltir.    I  own  I 

did  Jji>3<dfy  Wfa,  *  '  *  *  '  a  Hide  Btbfint  the  report  you 

V  menikm  ;  and  t  am  ^ad  m  h&ai  thu  &IB4S0  aucctieded  ; 

*  J^rktF  Ftsrirf*  lud,  it  Hemt^  bwii  SIf  WUUaai  Raa'i  irick- 
nsniii  ill  i^jQ  Ki^3  Scbuol.  He  protaMf  ow«d  it  to  mne  aiiiloU 
ia  ati  <irh"iiiiin], 

t the wMcer DncDf the Edinbuith  Jadoei  it illudftl tn 


nlso  iQ  know  whil  is  to  be  dune  rcanecllnx  regl**tr»iJoia  of 
atui*,  ami  ao  forth.  Will  jr»u  make  tbe«  luquiriea  for 
iDo  *o//o  ro«?  I  ahoiilil  not  supfKH*;*  Trom  iht  ptriooa 
who  *oiuptiiut'iJ  rectivu  tliis  hoaour,  tlsat  [hi?ri!  i*  ant  in- 
qnlrv  about  dciii-eDt  or  f^piofaiogy  ;    minv  wefe  iler  r  nt 


I  have  [  tl  ST. "  u;i  h  Ih  E  tiairotiaj(<;  uriuy*iii|iieHlanJbe6itfriend,;i,_,^ _.   ^  ^  _ 

-     "'  ^         ....  .    _  ._     «  -^uuJd  ;  tyoiich  folkii,aiid  enje^ed  liiC  honour  iottie«''Te*itetiuh 

!  century,  stj  I  ahdl  not  btf  first  of  the  liMc  ;  aodji  wm* 


like  Ihit  of  a  Chriatian  kaif  ht,  a*  Sir  Sidney  I 

''  I  hadileTiff  frwuJ  ouir  luunorttij  Joanna  *«»«  I  «  --- 
alnc  e,  w  he  0  1  w  a*  tnjoyinM  my iMlf  al  A  h  boiafbrd-  NiW*r 
w  aa  ilu»rt'  such  a  neaiton,  (lower*  sprliJigiujt,  bird*  frtn|\i^i$, 
rriib  9  earuii  ili^  wb  eai-^i*  i  f  ( t  was  Ih  e  t nd  0  r  May .  After 
alU  u$Hitf^  hiMl  a  (trute^uc  and  inM(mBt£ut  appt;<i™*ce, 
sud  I  could  not  belp  LbJaking  she  re*oinbled  a  wiihiT^d 
bt^auty  who  peTdiKLs  \n  louking  youthji  aaxd  dreasinf  eom- 
form  thereto.  1  Uiaugtit  i3ie  !«<■  n  iliauld  have  had  ita  bly« 
fuitBn  surface,  and  rueset  alt  about  U,  tnstesd  of  an  uan^ 
ttirai  aayeiy  of  greea  Srj  much  arewetAie  children  of 
habit,  thai  wc  cannot  always  eiijrty  thoroU|hJy  the  a!*";*;' 
tiona  which  are  most  for  our  advimtfljti:'  They  hive  fiDea 
a]i  tbe  biitorlcid  elialr  bere.  I  owu  i  vinh  U  ^aa  ©eta 
with  our  frieiid  f4mp bell,  whose  gerUus  la  aiich  an  hot»ar 
to  his  country.  Out  he  hat  cftsl  anchor  I  auppo^e  in  Ihsi 
adiith.  Your  fiietid^  Mra.  3cim,wajiinuch  C4*t  down  wah 
her  brtitber  i  deaib.  His  btfiueil  to  my  fjiinily  ln^avea  mf 
o\ra  properly  much  al  my  own  disposal^  wlilch  is  pleaam 
enouelx  I  was  foolish  enough  somelimea  to  bi:  vejad  if 
tho  proBpect  of  my  Ubrary  being  sold  aub  hasta,  ^hJeh  It 
' '  ■  "  Ikappeti.  1  .dwaya  am^nioii  truly  yoursi, 
WaLT&a  ScpTT.'* 

1SL9,  Scott  wituewed  the 


now  lean  likely  to  Ikappeti. 
On  the  l&th  of  Fehriiftry 


firat  r<.'prHsi>Rtniion,on  tb^j  Edinburstv  board  k,  of  lb« 
moflt  meritohous  tind  siiccesaful  of  oil  th«  TVrrif- 
^cathns^  though  Terry  himself  wnf  not  the  piana- 
fnciurer.  The  drtima  of  Rob  /Joy  v^iU  never  again 
bf  got  up  ao  well  in  nil  iis  parta,  as  it  thctt  wfs  by 
VViTliam  Murray's  company  j  the  maiingora  ow-ti 
Ctipiain  Thorn t^it  wnsi  exvd lent— and  eo  was  the 
Dugald  Crtaturc  of  a  Mr,  Duff— there  vnA  ftlio  a 
KOod  Muk^e—Ktthoui  wliJ.i*c  t^nipnieoi,  by  the  by, 
Scott  felt  such  mr^.-rt'St  that  he  left  hi&  box  l>etwaen 
the  acts  to  r^tnind  Mr.  Murray  that  sha  "  maat  have 
a  mantle  with  ht-r  lanthom^'h— but  the  prre*t  aod 
unrivalled  attraction  was  I  he  personificauon  of  Bni- 
He  JdiTtV  by  Charles  Mmrkoy,  who.  beiii|!  himself  a 
native;  of  Glaegovf^  eniered  mto  the  no  mutest  i>e- 
culiahtt&a  of  ihe  eharncier  with  high  ^usto,  and  pave 
the  wefin  country  dinkct  in  tta  moat  racy  perfection* 
1 1  was  eiirenu^ly  divt+rtinK  to  watch  the  play  of 
Scott's  fenturea  duriiu;  this  admirable  realization  of 
hie  conception  j  and  l  intial  add,  that  thebehayinir 
Qf  fhe  Eamburgh  audknce  on  all  each  occ^)sio^s, 
while  the  Bocr^t  of  the  no  vela  was  pr«serv(»d,  fe- 
ftpcii^d  grt^it  hononron  their  good  taaic  and  deii<"acy 
of  feeling.  He  ieldom,  ia  those  dnya,  entetrJ  hi* 
box  wilhotit  receiving  some  mark  of  gcncTal  rcBpect 
and  odmiralionj  btJt  1  naver  heard  of  any  preieit 
being  laid  hold  of  to  connect  these  d^tnonalrations 

«-,th  the  Pi0«  fcTgfE?i^y"t«^i5^''    '"  ''""• 


UFB  OP  Sm  WALTB&  SCOTT. 


todo  or  iup  anf  thi^  Hkalf  ^jntmpt  hiB,qiii«t  en- 
j0yBi6fit  in  Ab  e^^i0Mto  in  ^w  nilofi  of  wb  ftnuf 
mi  friends.  Hie  RooR&f  had  a  continiied  nm  m 
ftrtf-ooe  nkhtSi  during  Pebniaiy  and  March ;  an(l 
H  was  played  onoe  a  week,  at  least,  for  many  years 
afterwards.*  Maekay,  oi  course,  always  sdeeted 
itfor  his  benefit  i  and  I  now  print  from  Scott's  MS. 
a  letter,  which,  no  dou^t,  reached  the  mimic  Bailie 
ia  the  handwriting  of  one  of  the  Ballantynes,  on  the 
that  of  these  occurrences. 

7%  Mr,  Chartu  Maekajf^  Thtatf-H^al,  tBdiuhurgk, 


*<  Friend  Maekay, 

*My  lawful  oecaaioni  baring  brought  me  fimm  my  re- 
lidence  at  Gandertleucb  to  this  /roat  city.  It  was  my  lot 
to  fiUl  into  eompany  witb  certain  menda,  wbo  Impetrated 
from  me  a  consent  to  bebold  the  ttace-play,  which  hath 
been  frmmed  forth  of  an  hiatery  enoiled  Rob  («ew  po- 
Mm  Robert)  Roy,  which  htatorr,  atthoogh  it  exleteth  not 
ia  mine  erudite  work,  entitled  'nlee  of  my  Laadloid,  bath 
aathlesa  a  near  relatloa  in  style  and  atructore  to  those 


ptoamnt  nan  ■tloos.  Wherefore, harinf  si 
aifumenu  whilk  were  founded  upon  the  unseemliness  of 
apereoMge  in  my  pleee  and  ptofssstoa  appeertng  In  an 
open  stage-play  bouse,  and  having  buttoned  the  termi- 
natloat  of  my  cravat  bito  my  bosom,  in  order  to  pre- 
serve mine  incognito,  and  indued  an  outer  coat  over  mlBe 
usual  nrments,  so  that  the  hue  thereof  mi^t  not  betray 
my  cafiing,  I  did  place  myself  (much  elbowed  by  those 
who  little  knew  whom  they  did  incommode)  in  that  ptece 
of  the  theatre  called  the  two-shining  gallery,  and  beheld 
the  show  with  great  delectation,  even  from  the  rising  of 
the  curtain  to  the  fall  thereof. 

**  Chiefly,  my  ftcetioua  friend,  vras  1  enamoured  of  the 
very  lively  representation  of  Baiue  NIcol  Jarvie,  insomuch 
that  I  became  desirous  to  commuoicate  to  thee  my  great 
admiration  thereof;  nothing  doubting  that  it  will  give  thee 
satisfaction  to  be  apprisedof  the  same.  Tet  further,  in 
case  thou  shouldst  be  of  that  numerous  class  of  persons 
wbo  set  less  store  by  good  words  than  good  deeds,  and 
understanding  that  there  is  assigned  unto  each  stage- 
player  a  special  night,  called  a  benefit,  (It  will  do  thee  no 
harm  to  know  that  the  phrase  cometh  from  two  Latin 
words,  bene  and/ooMiOon  which  their  friends  and  patrona 
show  forth  their  benevolence.  I  now  send  thee  mine  in 
the  form  of  a  flve-ell  web  (hoejoeoeej  to  express  a  note  for 
jS5)  as  a  meet  present  for  the  Bailie,  himself  a  weaver, 
and  the  son  of  a  worthy  deacon  of  that  eralt  The  which 
propine  I  send  thee  in  token  that  it  is  my  pturpose,  busi- 
ness and  health  permitting,  to  occupy  the  central  place  of 
the  pit  on  the  night  or  thy  said  beneficiary  or  benefU. 

*' Friend  Bfackay  I  fh>m  one,  whose  profeeslon  it  Is  to 
teach  others,  thou  must  excuse  the  freedom  of  a  caution. 
1  trust  thou  wilt  remember  that,  as  excellence  in  thine 
art  cannot  be  attained  without  much  labour,  so  neither 
can  it  be  extended,  or  even  maintained,  without  constant 
and  unremitted  exertion;  and  farther,  that  the  decorum 
of  a  performer's  private  character  (and  It  gladdeth  me  to 
liear  that  thine  is  respecuble)  addeth  not  a  little  to  the 
value  of  his  public  exertions. 

**  Finally,  in  respect  there  Is  nothing  perfect  in  this 
world^at  least  I  have  never  received  a  wholly  fkultless 
version  from  the  very  best  of  my  pupOs^I  pray  thee  not 
to  let  Rob  Roy  twirl  thee  around  m  the  ccstacy  of  thy  Joy, 
In  regard  It  oversteps  the  limits  of  nature,  which  other- 
wise thou  so  sedulously  preservest  hi  thine  admirable 
Otttiona]  portraittire  of  Bailie  Nicol  Jarvie-— I  remain  thy 
sincere  nriend  and  wellwisher, 

Jbdsdiah  CLitsasoniJUi." 


ever  since  to  torment  him  at  interrals. .  Th«,siL.w^ 
qnent  correspondence  wul  show  that  alQietions  of 
rarious  sorts  were  accumulated  on  his  head  at  the 


CHAPTER  XLIV. 

BBCUaUBNCB  OF  8COTT*8  IIXUKeB— DKATH  OF  XH* 
Dines  OF  BUCCI.SOCH — LBTTCB8  TO  CAPTAIN  FEB- 
0080N — LOBD    MOHTAOir~MB.  eOlTTHBT— AlfD    BtB. 

8HonTBBB]>— Scott's  etTFFBBuvee  whii.s  dicta- 

TIWO  mB  BBIDB  OF  LAMMBBMOOB'— ANBCDOTBS  BT 
lABffVS  BALLAHTTWB,  BTC. — APPBABANCB  OF  THB 
THIBO  SBBIBS  OF  TALES  OF  MY  LAKDLOBD — AWBC- 
DOTB  OF  THB  BABL  OF  BCCHAN.— MABCH— JtTNBj 
1819. 

It  had  been  Scott's  purpose  to  spend  the  Baster 
-vacation  iit  London,  ana  receive  his  baronetcy;  but 
this  was  prevented  by  the  serious  recuirence  of  the 
malady  which  so  much  alarmed  his  friends  m  the 
early  part  of  the  year  1817,  and  which  bad  continued 

«  *'  Betwesn  Pebfoafv  14th,  isit.  and  Maieh  lltb,  MSr,  Rob 
Hot  was  plaved  in  Ae  ThNtie-Royal,  EJIulieigb.  m  tJmss." 

99      I  A* 


To  Ike  Lord  Montagu^  IHttOn  Park,  WttuUor. 

"  Edinburgh*  4th  March,  1819. 
"My  dear  Lord, 

"The  Lord  President  tells  me  he  has  a  letter  from  his 
SOBS  Captain  Gharies  Hope,  R.  N.,  who  had  Just  taken 
leave  oi  our  Hlfh  Chief,  upon  the  deck  of  the  UiTey.  He 
bed  not  seen  the  Duke  for  a  fsrtniglu,  and  waa  pleaelngly 
sarprtsed  lo  And  his  heakh  and  general  appearance  ee 
very  n^h  improved.  For  my  part,  having  watched  him 
with  such  unremlttinc  attention,  I  feel  very  confident  ha 
the  effect  of  a  change  of  air  and  of  climate.  It  is  wit> 
great  pleasure  that  I  find  the  Duke  has  r^^ceived  an  an- 
swer irom  me  respecting  a  matter  about  which  he  was 
anxious,  aiyl  on  which  1  could  make  his  mind  quite  easv. 
His  Grace  wished  Adam  Perituson  to  asstut  him  as  bib 
oonfidentisl  secretary ;  and  with  all  the  serupulous  dsH*  , 
eaey  that  belongs  to  hU  character,  he  did  not  Uke  to  pNh 
pose  this,  except  thnx^  my  mSUum  as  a  coouQoii  Mend. 
Now,  I  can  answer  for  Adam,  as  I  can  for  n^yself.  that  he 
will  have  the  highest  pleasure  In  givitag  assistance  in  every 
poesible  way  the  Duie  can  desire :  and  if  forty  years*  in- 
rimacy  can  entbtle  one  man  to  speak  for  another,  I  believe 
the  Duke  can  find  no  where  a  person  so  highly  qualified 
for  suoh  a  coofldential  situation.  He  was  educated  for 
boslnesa,  nnderslands  it  well,  and  was  long  a  milkary  se« 
crecary— his  temper  aial  manners  your  Lordship  eaa 
jndge  as  well  aa  I  can,  and  hia  worth  and  honour  are  of 
the  wtrj  first  water.  I  congas  I  should  not  be  surprised 
If  the  Duke  should  wish  to  continue  the  connexion  even 
afterwards,  for  1  have  often  thought  that  two  hours'  letter- 
writing,  which  Is  his  Grace's  dally  allowance,  U  rather 
worse  Oum  the  duty  of  a  Clerk  of  Session,  because  there 
is  no  vacation.  Much  of  this  might  surely  be  saved  by  an 
intefligeot  friend  on  whose  style  of  expression,  prudence, 
and  secrecy,  Us  Grace  could  pot  perfect  reteace.  Two 
words  marked  oaaay  letter  by  his  own  hand,  wonld  ena- 
ble  each  a  person  to  reAise  BM^re  or  less  positively— to 
grant  directly  or  coBditfconaUy--er,  hi  short,  to  maintain 
the  exteriorformsof  the  very  troublesome  ahd  extensive 
correspondence  which  his  Grace's  hish  situation  entsUs 
upon  mm.  t  think  it  ts  nons.  Le  Duo  de  Saint  0Unon  who 
tells  us  of  one  of  Louis  XIV. 's  ministers  quCl  ovoit  Im 
oliMne— which  he  explslns,  by  saying,  H  was  his  duly  to 
hnMBte  the  Kim's  hsndwrtdnf  so  dosely,  aa  to  be  ahnoBt 
uadisthignisbable,  and  make  him  OD  all  occasione  parter 
tr^'nMtmenL  1  wonder  hew  the  Duke  gets  on  without 
su^  a  friend.  In  the  mean  time,  however,  1  am  glad  I. 
can  assure  him  of  Ferguson's  willing  and  readv  assist- 
ance whQe  abroad ;  and  I  am  happy  to  find  still  farther 
that  he  had  got  that  assurance  before  they  sailed,  for  te- 
dious hours  occur  on  board  of  ship,  when  It  wiU  serve  as 
a  relief  to  talk  over  any  of*  the  private  aflkira  which  the 
Duke  wf  ahee  to  intrust  to  him. 

**l  have  been  very  unweU  flrom  a  vtsitalfcm  ef  mv  old 
euemfthe  cranpkkmy  stomach,  which  much  resembles, 
as  I  conceive,  the  process  by  which  the  diel  would  make 
one's  Ung*o-kood  (nto  a  opSeuchan,'  according  to  the  an- 
athema of  Bums.  Unfortunately,  the  opiates  which  the 
medical  people  think  indispensable  to  relieve  spasms, 
bring  on  a  habit  of  body  which  has  to  be  counteracted  by 
medicines  of  a  dlfTerent  tenderfcy,  so  as  to  produce  a  moit 
dlss«reeable  see-saw-e  khid  of  pull-devil,  pull-baker,  tao^ 
tentloa.  the  field  of  battle  being  my  unfortunate  precM^ 
Or,  to  say  truih,k  reminds  me  of  a  certain  Indian  ktegL 
have  read  of  in  an  old  voyage,  to  whom  the  eaptaln  of  an 
European  ship  generously  presented  a  16ck  ana  key,  with 
which  the  Mble  potentate  was  so  much  delighted,  that  te 
the  great  neglect,  both  of  his  household  duties  and  his  afl 
fairs  of  state,  he  spent  a  whole  month  In  the  repeated 
operation  of  locking  and  unlocking  his  backdoor.  I  am 
better  to-day,  and  I  trust  shsll  be  able  to  dispense  with 
these  altematlona,  which  are  much  less  agreeable  in  my 
c«se  Oiaa  In  that  of  the  Sachem  aforesaid ;  and  1  still  hope 
to  be  b)  London  in  April.  ^  , 

"  I  win  write  to  the  Duke  regularly,  for  distance  of  place 
aces  in  a  contrary  ratio  on  the  mind  and  on  the  eye ;  trifles, 
instead  of  being  dimloished,  as  hi  prospect,  become  im- 
portimt  and  interesting,  and  therefore  he  shall  have  a 
DJdget  of  niem.  Boqt  is  here  busy  with  his  Jacobite 
sonrs.  I  wish  he  may  ret  ha&dsomeir  throuxh,  for  he  Is 
profoundly  Ignoram  of  history,  and  it  Is  an  awkward  ihtaf 
to  read  In  order  that  you  may  vnrtte.t    1  give  him  aU  the 

•  Kinr't-hood—'*  The  teeond  of  the  fborjtomacfcs  of  nmiioa- 
tiae  anmials."  JAMtwmi.-9ptmic^m%-'nm  Gaelic  mmm  ef 
ths  Hi^laodcr's  tobaooo-poiich.    .  , ,    ^..    «  u  u 

t  "lam  Mrs  I  produced  two  vofannes  of  JasoUte  Iteljp,  suck 
as  wmsnia  Scotland  or  EnfUof/  id  tave  laodaosdbut  aw- 
ssK^   8ossnHoff,«ji»s--seibls-H<o«<p«f»*v,l«^ 

Digitized  by  VjOOQ  Ic 


tlPlt  OP  Stk  WALTER  SCOtT. 


fili(fp  i  can,  tet  Ub  ■ometttiieii'poii^i  me.  Fpr  inBtaneo,  lie 
eitne  resterday,  open  moiith.  itlcrofflzifwtMt  freat  mjad- 
HM  cUTifmmk  had.dlsUng[bi«hed  ntmaelf  afKlllIecr^Kfe 
—not  exactly  the  ecene  where  one  would  have  expected 


liord^  your  truly  obHged  and 


WALfn  Scott.**  ' 


Be  Rare  ihi»  If!tter  reached  Lwd  MonfagHLhi* 
btmhcr  had  sailed  for  Lisbon.  Th(^  Duke  ofWel- 
Im^ton  hud  pla<?6d  his  houso  tn  thai  enpnal  (the 

diipoaai ;  and  in  tht<  affectionnte  care  and  ehecrful 
vociety  of  Captain  Fergqaon^  lIib  itwalid  Utxd  every 
ttddiuonal  source  of  ooiiifort  that  bis  fncuds  could 
have  wuhcd  fpr  him.  (Jq|  the  rnaiflciy  had  gi>ne  too 
far  to  be  nm»tst\  by  a  chan^i?  of  cliinatt ;  and  the 
letter  whicEi  he  hud  adtirpEaed  lo  JScatt,  wlicn  about 
If*  ifmhnrk  At  Poi-fdinauth,  is  efieioraed  wiih  theee 
wojds— "  l^t  fitfi  I  frer  rccfirdi  from  my  dear 
frUnd  tht  Dukt  of  Bucd^teh.^AlQM  i  alas!" 
The  piiqcipal  object  of  thiit  iciicr  was  ro  remind 
Scott  of  his  proimJ^  in  m  loRw^hnrn  for  a  portrait, 
to  he  hiin^  up  in  I  hat  faVQurile  re^ideincc  where  tha 
Duke  hart  enjo^'eel  nioal  ^if  his  aociiiity.  ^'  My  prodi* 
gioua  ufMiftrtaking^"  writes  hi«  Grace,  ^'of  a  weel 
Wmn  at  Eowhill,  is  h^im,  A  library  of  fr^rty-one 
fiset  by  iwtsnty-wnft,  in  to  be  ddded  to  iht'  present 
drawing  rtKim.  A  space  for  one  picture  ia  r-'Served 
over  the  ficc'pl8ce^  and  in  this  wartn  situation  I  in- 
tern d  to  place  the  Guardian  or  Liu^raturfi.  I  ahould 
bp  happy  to  havo  my  friend  Maida  sppoar.  It  ia  now 
altnoal  proverbial,  '  Walter  Scott  aiid  hin  IH^J 
Kaeburn  should  be  warned  that  1  aid  na  well  ti^ 

Kuftinlcd  with  mjr  frivod*a  hands  and  /irm*  as  with 
ia  noptj — and  Vandyke  wna  of  uiy  opinion.  Many 
of  R.'^  worke  arf  aham^fully  finiebcd— tlie  ftce 
f  ..j/  1  li  t'very  thing  eiae  neglected^  This  is  a 
jiui  Lj;  I  KiLiiuiy  of  producing  something  re  ally  wof- 
\kr  01  nis  slull." 

1  sl^U  insert  by  ai^d  br  Scours  answer,  which 
narer  reached  tbeDoke's  hand—with  another  letier 
of  the  sanie  date  to  Captain  Fersnsoti :  but  I  ntiat 
fil^t  introduce  one,  addreaaed  a  fortnigiiit  eailier  to 
Mr.  Southey,  who  had  been  distttsaed  by  tbe  ae- 
counls  he  received  of  Scott's  health  from  an  Ame- 
rican traveller,  Mr.  Qeorge  'HcknQV  ofBoston— a 
fneod,  and  worthy  to  be  such,  of  Mr.  Washinj^ion 
Irvinff.  The*  Poet  Laureate  by  the  way.  had  ad- 
verted also  to  an  impudent  trick  of  a  London  boofe^ 
antler,  who  shortly  before  this  time  announced  cer- 
tain volumes  of  Grub  Street  maaiifretiirei  aa  "  A 
New  Series  of  the  Talcs  of  my  Landlord^"  and  who, 
when  John  Ballantyne,  as  the  "  agpnt  for  the  Author 
of  Waverley,"  pubUshed  a  declaration  that  ihe  vo- 
lumes thus  advertised  were  not  from  the  writers  pen, 
met  Job 0^8  declaration  by  an  audacious  rejoinder— 
inii»eaching  his  authority,  and  asserting  thatnothinffi 
but  the  personal  appearance  in  the  field  of  tne  gen- 
tleman for  whom  Ballantyne  pretended  to  act.  could 
shake  his  belief  t|iat  he  was  himself  in  the  conndenoe 
of  the  true  Simon  Pure.  This  affair  gave  consider- 
able uneasiness  at  the  time,  and  for  a  moment  the 
droppinz  of  Scott's  mask  seems  to  nave  been  pro- 
nounced advisable  by  both  Ballantyne  and  Consta- 
b^.  But  he  was  not  to  be  worked  upon  by  such 
means  as  these.  He  calmly  replied,  ''The  author 
who  lends  himself  to  such  a  trick  muat  be  a  bloek- 
head— let  them  publish,  and  that  will  serve  our  pur- 

r)ae  better  than  any  thing  we  ourselves  could  do." 
havp  forgotten  the  names  of  the  "tales,"  which, 
bijing  published  accordingly,  fell  stillborn  from  the 
press.  Mr.  Soutuey  had  likewise  dropped  some  al- 
lusions to  another  iuewspaper  story  of  Scott's  bein^ 
acnously  engaged  in  a  dramatic  work ;  a  rumour 
which  probably  originated  in  the  aasistatnce  he  bad 
lent  to  Terry  in  some  of  the  recent  highly  popular 

I  never  raw  the  8bn>hen)M  elated  at  he  wm  on  the  appfamnee 
•(nirery  Kvere artwie on thw  liook inlJie Edinlmrrh  Review ;  fcr, 
t*  hfft  exqokite  ^IfMit,  the  hostile  cridn  lekicted  for  receptive 
egwmiiajn  orn  "  ohOaeoWte  strain,"  rn.  "  Donald  M'Gaiifty," 
wMch  Rom  had  fkfamated  ttie /ear  belhrv.  Scott,  too,  a^or^d 
tki  joke  aJmoataa  much  as  tbe  Shepberd. 


^Uiptatbi^aofbia  oovsia  to  th#9Ul|¥>M<if^^ttUDr 
though  It  IS  not  iropoaaibUi  that  BO190  hinioCtw^  MM" 
TorgoU  msv  have  tranaiiiied.  '  It  ia  rweria4'*  a^ijl 
the  Laureal,  **  that  yoiji  are  about  to  bring  uwtk  # 
play,  aadl  am  greatly  ip  hopea  it  may  he  tiuei  fot  I 
am  verily  nerauaded  that  in  this  coarse  yon  mi(iht 
run  as  brilliant  a  career  as  jdh  have  akaady  done  m 
ijarrative— both  in  proae  ana  rhyaae  e-^or  aa  for  be^- 
lieving  that  you  have  a  double  in  the  field--not  I  f 
Those  same  powers  wotUa  be  equallir  certain  of  auo- 
ceaa  in  the  drama,  and  wete  von  to  ^t  them  a  df^- 
matic  direction,  and  feign  tor  a  tburd  seven  yean 
upon  the  stage,  you  would  stand  alone  in  literary 
history.  Indeed  already  I  believe  that  no  man  ever 
afforded  so  much  delight  to  so  great  a  number  of  hi« 
contemporaries  in  this  or  any  other  country.  (Sod 
bless  you,  my  dear  Scott,  and  believe  tne  ever  yoiii» 
affectionately,  R.  S."  Mr.  Soathey*ft  letter  had 
forthar  announced  his  wife'a  aafe  deliyery  of  a  sod  t 
the  approach  of  the  concIusk>n  of  his  History  of 
Brazil ;  and  hia  undertaking  of  the  Lifeof  Weeley. 
To  Robert  Svuihtf^  Bag.  Kenaiek,  OumberimmtL 

*<  Abbotsford,  4th  April,  I8fl9. 
"My  dear  Southey, 

**Tidhig8  from  you  mutt  be  idwayt  acceptable,  evea 
were  the  bowl  in  the  act  of  breakug  at  the  fotrntain— 
and  mj  health  is  at  present  very  totteri»h.  I  have  cooe 
through  a  cruel  succession  of  spasms  and  sfckness,  Which 
have  terminated  in  a  special  fit  of  the  jaundice,  so  that  I 
might  sit  (br  the  image  of  Plutus,  the  god  of  specie,  so  far 
as  complexion  goes.  I  shall  like  our  American  acquaint- 
ance the  better  that  he  has  sharpened  your  remembrance 
of  me,  but  he  Is  also  a  wondrous  fellow  for  romantic  lore 
and  antiquarian  research,  considertng  his  country.  I  have 
now  seen  four  or  five  weil-Iettered  Americans,  ardent  in 

Kirsuit  of  knowledge,  and  free  from  the  ignonnce  aii<l 
rward  presumption  which  distfaiguish  many  01  thetr 
countrymen.  I  hope  they  win  inoculate  their  coimtry 
with  a  love  of  letters,  so  neaiiy  allied  to  a  desire  of  peace 
and  a  sense  of  public  justice,  virtues  to  which  the  arett 
Transatlantic  commtmity  fs  more  strange  than  coma  be 
wished.  Accept  my  best  and  most  rincere  wishes  tar  tbe 
health  and  strength  of  your  latest  pledge  of  alTection. 
When  I  think  what  you  have  ahreadr  suffered,  I  can  ima- 
gine with  what  mixture  of  feelings  this  event  must  neces- 
sarily alVbct  you ;  but  you  need  not  to  be  told  that  we  are 
fh  beitter  guidance  than  our  own.  I  trust  in  God  thirlata 
blesslngwillhe  permanent,  and  inherit  yonr  talents  and  vir- 
tues, when  I  look  arotmd  me,  and  see  howmany  men  seem 
to  make  It  their  pride  to  misuse  high  qualiflcadons,  can  I  be 
less  interested  than  t  truly  aoi,  in  tbe  fate  of  one  who  hae 
uniformly  dedicated  his  splendid  powers  to  maintaining  tbe 
best  interests  of  humanity  1    I  am  very  angry  at  the  time 

J'ou  are  to  be  in  f4ondon,  as  I  mu-st  be  there  in  about  a 
brtnlght,  or  so  soon  as  I  can  shake  ofTthls  depressing  com- 
plaint, and  it  would  add  not  a  UtUe  that  I  should  meet  yoik 
there.  My  chief  purpose  is  to  put  my  eldest  son  into  the 
army.  I  could  have  wished  he  had  chosen  another  pro- 
fession, but  have  no  Utte  to  combat  a  choice  which  would 
have  been  mr  own  had  my  lameness  permitted.  Walter 
has  apparently  the  disposlUons  and  habits  filled  ibr  the 
military  profession,  a  very  quiet  and  steaity  temper,  an  si- 
tae hment  to  mathematics  and  their  application,  good  senae 
and  uncommon  personal  strength  and  activity,  with  ad- 
dress In  most  exercises,  panicularly  horsemanship. 

"—I  had  wriuea  thus  far  last  week  when  I  was  inter- 
rupted, first  by  the  arrival  of  our  friend  Ticknor  with  Mr. 
Cogswell,  another  well-accomrplished   Yankce^by  the 

by.  we  have  them  <rf  all  sorts,  e.  g.  ooe  Mr.  * " ,  rather 

a  fine  man,  whom  the  girls  have  christened,  with  some 
humour,  the  Yankee  Doodle  Dandit.)  They  hare  had 
Tom  Drum's  entertainment,  for  I  have  been  seised  with 
one  or  two  saccesslTe  crises  of  my  cruel  maiady,  lasdng 
in  the  utmost  anindsh  lirom  elcht  to  ten  boura<  If  1  bad 
not  the  strength  of  »  team  of  horses,  I  conld  nerer  have 
fought  through  it,  and  through  the  heavy  fire  oC  medical 
artillery,  scarce  less  exhaustiag—for  bleeding,  bUstering, 
calomel,  and  ipocacuanha,  have  gone  on  without  intermis- 
sion—while, during  the  agony  01  the  spasms,  latidaiuun 
I^carae  necessary  in  the  most  liberal  doses,  though  in- 
eonstetent  with  the  general  treatment  I  dM  not  lose  my 
aansQs,  because  I  resolved  to  keep  them,  but  I  thovgoL 
once  or  twice  they  wouM  have  gone  overboard,  top  and 
top-gallant  I  should  be  a  great  fooL  and  a  most  ungrate- 
ful wretch,  to  complain  of  such  inflictions  as  these.  My 
Hfe  has  been,  in  all  its  private  and  public  relations,  as  for- 
tUM^te  perhaps  as  was  ever  lived,  un  to  this  period  ;  and 
whether  pain  or  misfortune  may  lie  behind  the  dark  cur- 
tain of  futurity,  I  am  already  a  snlllcient  debtor  lo  lile- 
bounty  of  Providence  to  be  res%ned  to  it    Fear  Is  an  evtt 


utt  or  sflt  WALfER  own. 


M 


Oat  taM  nerar  mixed  wtth  na  lutatd,  nor  bM  eren  on- 
wonted  good  fortone  rendered  my  love  of  life  teo^ooe : 
and  ao  f  cen  look  forwa^  to  the  poeelble  conchufon  or 
OieM  ecenes  of  ngonj  with  reuonable  eaoA^iimit/.  and 
miUhx  chiefly  through  the  eympatheae  dUtreea  oi  mjr 


-**  Other  ten  di^i  have  paued  away,  ibr  I  would 
Bot  send  thfa  Jeremiad  to  teaze  you,  while  lu  termination 
seemed  doubtfuL    For  the  preaent, 

*  The  game  is  done— I've  won,  I've  wen, 

Qnoth  ahe,  and  whistles  thrice.*  * 
f  am  tUsday,  for  the  first  time,  free  from  Che  relics  of  m? 
dtoorder,  and,  except  in  point  of  weakness,  perfectly  well. 
Bat  no  broken-down  boater  had  ever  so  many  sprung 
sinews,  whelks,  uid  bnzisesi  I  am  like  Sanoho  after  the 
doughty  aflkir  of  the  Tanguesian  Carriers,  and  all  through 
the  unnatural  twisting  of  the  muscles  under  the  influence 
ttf  fbat  ChuU  the  craisip.  I  must  be  swathed  in  Qoulaid 
and  Rosemary  spirits— jM-0*afiif»  ut. 

'*!  sbaU  not flne  snd  renew  a  lease  of  popularity  upon 
fhe  theatre.  To  write  for  lew,  iU-lnformed,  and  conceit- 
ed aotors,  whom  you  must  please,  for  your  success  is  ne- 
cessarily at  their  mercy,  1  cannot  away  with.  How  woukt 
you,  or  now  de  yoti<bink  I  should,  rellah  being  the  object 
of  such  a  letter  aa  Keant  wrote  t'ofher  day  to  a  poor  au- 
flior,  who,  though  a  pedantic  blockhead,  had«t  feast  the 
fight  to  be  treated  use  a  gf ntleman  by  a  eopper-koed, 
tiaopenny  tear  mouth,  rendered  mad  by  conceit  and  sue* 
eessi  Besides,  if  this  objeetiou  were  out  of  the  way,  I  do 
nsc  think  the  enjuracter  of  the  audience  ia  London  is  such 
Ibatone  couM  have  the  least  pleasure  in  pleasing  them. 
One  half  come  to  prosecpte  their  debaucheriea  ao  openly^ 
tiiatit  would  degrade  a  bagni&  Another  aet  to  sdoo«d  ofl 
their  beef-steaks  and  port  wtne ;  a  Aird  avs  eiitkaof  the 
ininh  column  of  the  newaaaper;  fashien,  wlt.orUMsa^ 
fare  there  tonot ;  and,  on  tne  whole,  I  wouU  nv  ralher 
vrrlte  vefses  for  mine  honesfc  fHend  Punch  asd  his  aod^ 
sKce.  The  only  thing  that  could  umpt  me  to  be  ao  sili|y, 
wouMbe  to  saslst  a  friend  in  such  a  degrading  laalt  wiio 
waa  to  have  the  whole  pvoAt  and  staaare  of  it. 
-  •'Have  you  aeen  de^dedly  the  most  fuU  tmA  mathodi> 
lerf  collecdon  of  Spanifeh  romances  (ballads)  pubUahed 
by  the  iadusiry  of  Depaing  (Ukltenburgh,  and  Leipaia,) 
iai7  V  It  is  quite  dcUghtluL  lleknor  had  aai  me  ^of  to 
aae  iL  without  afRndlag  ma  any  hope  it  could  ba  fiad  in 
Lmidbn,  whan  by  one  of  those  fbitunate  ohanoaa  which 
have  often  markedmy  UfiB,  a  firiead.  who  had  bee«  latalf 
on  the  Continent,  came  unaxpsotedly  to  inquire  for  ma, 
smT  pluoked  it  forth  pair  manMre  da  eadtdB,  Gk>d  pre» 
pevyou,  my  dear  Bouthey,  in  your  labours;  bot  do  not 
wotK  toe  hard  4tey«rto  crgde.  Tfala  conchisieb,  aa  wett 
astbe  confbslan  ofmy  lelter,jyie  the  Biahop  of  Grenada^ 
•sraaoB,  savours  of  the  apoplejcy.  If  y  moai  respectful 
uwBBPllmnats  attend  Mvk  8.    Yows  truly. 

WaLmnBooTC. 

**  P.  S.  I  shall  kmg  to  see  tbe  conclusion  of  the  BifaxQ 
hiatory*  which,  as  tJke  mterest  comes  nearer,  must  rise 
aasn  above  the  last  noble  volume.  Wesley  you  alone 
CM  touch;  but  will  you  not  have  the  hive  about  you t 
W^ea  I  waa  about  twelve  yeara  old,  I  heard  him  preach 
■MM'e  tl^ooce,  standing  oa  a  chair,  In  Kelso  churchyard. 
He  Was  a  most  venerable  figure,  but  his  sermons  were 
▼aaay  loo  coUoqtdal  for  the  ttste  of  Saunders.  He  told 
many  excellent  stories.  One  1  remember,  which  he  said 
hadhappsnsdtohhnatEdtehurgh.  '  A  drunken  drsgoon 
(said  Wesley)  wu  commencing  an  aaaertion  in  militarj 

foahion,  0-4  etemaQy  d n  me.  Just  as  I  was  passing- 

I  touched  the  poor  man  on  the  shoulder^  snd  when  he 
tamed  round  fiercely,  said  catan^,  you  mean  Ood  blest 
won.*  In  the  mode  of  teBing  the  story  he  foiled  not  lo 
make  us  sensible  how  much  his  patriarchal  appearance, 
and  mikl  yet  bold  rebuke,  ovenwed  the  soldier,  who 
touched  Ms  hat,  thanked  hixn,  and,  Ithlnk,  came  to  chapel 
that  evening." 

7b  lUbert  SfhtrtreedsS^.,  Sherif  SuUtituitt  4%., 

«« Abbotsford,  13th  April,  1819. 
«  Dear  Bob, 

**  I  am  very  desirous  to  procure,  and  as  aoon  as  pos- 
itble,  Mrs.  fiRuntreed's  excellent  receipt  for  making  yeast 
The  Duke  of  Buccleueh  complains  extremely  of  the  sour 
jeAsH  at  Llabon  as  dlaagreeing  wfth  hia  stomach,  and  1 
never  tasted  half  such  good  bread  as  Mrs.  Shortreed  ha8 
bakedathome.  lamsure  youwillbeasaaxioosas  laoi 
that  the  receipt  stoouki  be  forwarded  to  his  Grace  as  soon 
as  pt  asible.  I  remember  Mrs.  ahortreed  giving  a  most 
dtotlBOt  account  of  the  whole  afifUr.    It  should  be  copied 


ess  Boss  aie  flam  OoMdgeViliMlMifMsnBsr. 

eieadsr  will  find  MmoUunff  alwut  tha  aetor'a  qpuml  with 
„.  -jcke,  aathbr  of  *'  The  ltalians,"'ift  Baiff  OoaWall's  LV* 
^  Ktan^  voL  iL  p.  im 


over  in  »  v^ry  distlncl  hahdt  lest  Mo4U»  Florence  makaa 
blunders. 

'^  f  am  rccuvcting  rmin  XAj  lulfr  indispoflllou,  bul  aa 
w  If  alt  Of  woier.  To  write  th'Ffli:^  linea  Lb  k  ]Btiru<^^  1  ■caree 
ihijik  J  can  b«9  ti  Uiu  cJrcuii  at  tJl— f  ertataTy  anly  i^t  an 
htjur  i>r  two.  iiu  on  x\\\%  oiiciMPi)lWiU|iTii>MriLfilbian' 
^^«^iV}»  kill  J  bOHjjltallty  a  UUhn  tii-«alhiugtlffle.  1  juu  Lired 
'c^^ti.  wlurb  writitig  these  fiiw  Uaoh-    Youri  ever, 

Waltmk  Soott-*'* 

T^  fH%  (?rac«  ffte  i)«(it«  ^  Euxtifwh^  ^ ,  Uthon^ 

"  Abbowford,  llitli  April,  IStt 
'-  M J  d*?AJ  l^rd  Duko, 

a  ''  liow  ^trff  ftraAtft  Uspf^nifft  tliAt  HiiA  nLauldbcf  tba 
firM  Ivti^i  I  iu:l4rc»«  juur  Once,  uid  you  30  lonj  abit'nl 
frani  Scoiknd,  aiuA  kiuliing  far  all  the  n^w*  aiifJ  Doruenie 
iii  wluch  1  un  id  i^neral  f^icb  a  Cilthfu]  rep«rt«r^  Alas  I 
]mvr  br^ii  lU'-vtrj— vi^'iy  ill— onlj  Dr.  BaUlJc  Myp  Lhi'fa 
ts  iwtbiufi  of  conscqwitnce  ibyut  my  tzmUdj-  egrftpt  thif 
jiain—A  pffflty  f  jicepii-Dti— said  palo  belnif  lDt€r*pe  eaawth 
tQ  Itecp  uic  r^^&rJiniica*  Il^uU  m  yotir  Cince^acl'devaEit  John 
Hiif  Li>rii,  aiifJ  of,  ^■■ncRtllt  ^privkiJij^n,  ttom  #ij  lu  piifht  htiiirfl* 
inc^ffanE  duruiinti,  olily  VM-lod  by  Int^irvftla  of  <I**iif%  sick- 
I n-i^  Puo r  Bmjl  1I it  wav  idotie  Vtiih  iii e  f(T  Ri  1  cti  1?  t htif ,  atid 
HKi/iAfiMda  holfJlfittntied  piLtk  of  ^crvitutjj  vihh  Kpir'n^  miad 
fruriae.  afbiJ  jin^HLiicp  Qrioini-1,  far  IjcycJUcl  iter  y^arst,  flute  r 
autr^Jifli  li^r  (rrcor  nt  lictlc^  luf^  in  s.  sLstE'  so  ti^w  to  lie  f 
aiiiif!(}  aljirnjin^tn  dlvpn  her  iiL,'nd  an  tiiHUiil  ftoto  wlifll 
waj  Jli  jifld  ^iroDcr  to  ha  rJone.  Pai-iJon  thia  wide  rcmpiln. 
nli  Jic  in  y^^\.^  Grmce'i  lUtlc  Jatobitf ,  to  whom  yoti  hsTfl 
Ki  i  fl  ho  kiuii.  If  fl^iripBlhy  rmjMha^i;  curori  mo, 
!  n.jE  \i&\t-  beexi  ionf  lU.  G^Dtk  and  §1iupl(*  wrra 
,  :.]LI>  kitid  ajid  efrn  ulc)  Toin  WaiAt>ri  crepL  Jowa 
fruij.  F^iihapf;  tu  »ev  Uow  )  wui  cotnlnjf  on,  niiu  to  eja- 
fiiliice  Mf  any  iUng  ailed  tLt^  f^htrrBr  ^i  ^ouM  he  naif  on 
ihc  QukeV  Tlitf  otdv  unw<^ktnnc  returrectton  wma  tbil 
of ^ old  *  *  ',  wtiuae  fend  wjth  om  (ftr  rather  drjneBa)  1 
hi6  well  hoped  VAS  iimuorcal ;  btil  ha  cmneJiTtkini  osc£ 
tlio  mcNnr  with  daugTitrn:  tun  I  fOfliei,  and  6od  known  what, 
10  hjok  After  my  prticlons  he^hh.  1  cannot  tt'Eerite  ttutt 
umn  J  \i  sf'emA  xa  mc  m  if  [  billed  him  fur  things  nor  only. 
piLAi  aii4  preM'Dtt  but  for  couie  future  oRenci;  which  li  m 
J  e  t  i  EU  h  c  wo  LTi  b  of  faio. 

*'  I  have  had  ft*  inaiiy  f  cuiedlPit  fitral  me  far  cramp  anct 
JauiJiulJct*  {IS  would  HPl  up  a  quark  docior—ibrte  fTtJdi  Mrs- 
nuiQEft^jr*  e^rh  beUeruian  th<^  otti(*r— one  at  least  fro^ 
ii^fTf  gardcuer  in  llio  neigh boiii1iur>F:li'^he*fdea  ^^flHort  of 
reccMnmehd&Uonii  lo  i^a  to  Cheltenham,  to  !jArrDW|BjC)  to 
J<?rtcho  ioT  dujiht  I  ktow  *i*:^w  If  thrjt  \n  one  thJnf  t 
deteit  mnre  ilisn  another^  tt  i»  a  wattrine  pl*f «?,  tmVstH  a 
v*ry  ]!ik-aj^an1  partjf  bv  nfcvlomly  formed,  wh*n,  as  Ttmf 
l.Tmiplttn  tiiLj'S,  '  ftfenikmtn  mny  be  in  &  roncat^'^uftlion  * 
The  ni*J£t  eitraordlMt^  rreipc  wair  that  of  my  ni|;hLiiad 
piper*  John  Bnirf^  wtio  Bpmt  a  whotc  l^undaTin  Sfl^fct- 

with  thf'j>urp«5He  ihjit  1  itboidrl  *kr'p  iifon  (htm,  and  be 
whfjh?.  Icmj*eiJ  him  to  b«;  mid  tTmJ  the  repljtt-  rnm  inftl« 
\ih^^-,  btitthat  h  wa«  ahacitunily  nti^^nmry  ff>  is^iccen^  thst 
th^  sianea  who  aid  be  wr»pt  up  in  thi^  ttettk4>»*  of  a  WltltvW' 
who  haci  fltfcr  wii»hiHl  to  marry  n^^n,  Uj^n  wlhirh  fti* 
p^'tr  renouncr^d  alt  bnpf  of  fomplftiifNk'  (ho  fhalrni-  f 
|i:ul  ivi}ii  [jf  n  wifltT  conch  iMrt  flni<5(?  bad  d'eil'nr.t  rfie, 
fiir  ^^0  itf^ncnd  Pflis  tbo  lension  of  thf^  merif^a  nlf  iPVrrTbe 
body,  &](hnTf|th  Ihc  phJTi  of  ihe  ipnirnTiD  in  ihi^  rtom.ieli  il^d 
not  Buffer  t^rf  aihvT  ta  he  Ml,  that  my  winkle  k-ft  leg  w^ 
(^nvercil  with  tfwclllne  and  inrtautniotfon,  arcAlnr  frwin  Iha 
imnitund  nriJon  of  tlhe  miiflH7teR,  Bi]d!  1  had  ta  bfl  carrfed 
it  bo  J I  Ilk  '^  t^  c  ^1  >  M.  My  rii  I  it  li^g  ^  sr  apf^d  b  f  1 1  e  r .  t  Iip  nj  u  a- 
+^le»  th^re  havmg'  lepn'  irriulnlltjr,  owlnp  to  itJt  Jamft  frtnle. 
Yoyr  ifr&ee  nMiy  iniiai£ine  the  ifii«rsy  of  pain  in  the  nobler 
[mtiiy  viht'Ci  crimps  tn  thf?  eJtjrcniltte  1  flilflrieid  to  pro- 
duce audi  fl!*;i^(a,  were  unuoijci'it  by  me  durlnf  tnetf 
exifiir-Tiire,     But  fiDiOUjEh  of  so  dJaajtreerabla  a  siibjeci- 

"  RtrjipertlnH  Ihi^  porlrsiit,  I  *b*ii  be  equally  j.iroi]Jand 
bappy  to  ail  lor  it,  bevJ  hoiic-  U  may  bo  no  extCkiitHl  an  Le 
he  in  Aimr  iii}9(T'?t^  worliiy  of  the  pr^fcrumiiit  tu  wiilcii  it 
\-i  i1r^.'4iii)rdJ  HeU  nrllhtrr  niy  |jit«  |;olden  bue^  <ot  1  vra« 
cnrrrcsl  witb  intmdk*',  nor  my  pri?fenl  iJJiPircf>rapler|oi| 
(iLniltinft  lutirlii  ittOT*^  llkt^  a  apnclre  ihfln  *  piftn)  w(||  pr^ 
i<'nt  any  idpo  of  iny  iguondani  beef  eatlnjt  phyvlciifnoiii/. 
[  tousi  wail  till  I  be  rt^r  ttf  brUMn,  tb*?  true  jiif-L'JJcal  bronia 
'li  toy  priifeKftton,  a  bull  aKiiiii  apti«U'  im  my  fronlaJ,  I  he* 
uiuti."  A  llulii  ivbout  RaHbflni,  uukiia  yoiif  Gnicp  is  qmta 
df^rermtrieiV  He  ba*  vf^rj  in  Lie  h  in  do  j  workji  juat  ntiw 
L'blefly  for  cimht  poor  fe|k>w,  oa  be  can  bav*!  but  a  few 

*  •'  Sn  Wkll^ir  faliiot  cnly  ttiOTW*!)*'  SirmaMn|f  Irf^  fnrmitt 
--^Hif  hii<->k'iF*:  lK*fiml  !hi^  bi^l  miifk  [*f  r ulUEtf  it  ■  in  a  fkinilj  way.* 
Tilt  biKvl  bi.«r4  ■rKJ  lari^B  knifi'-mfN^  at  Abl>ut*tfjrd  ai  bn-Ainfii't^ 
Unw.  ^Tm-  ii4lr^ij<d  Iff  ."ir  Wflh*^.  after  •tv'iiif  ihpm  '  fruet  -a-rW 
iij  our  foftijff     -  M>u  by  Mt   Ani^ritr  f-'Afjrtrced 

^  T^R  pfriitKMi  iiL  liw  Lil>rarir  al  DowbiLlt,  griftfitll;  desljnaij  hf 
the  i^Xi:  Duiuuf  Hwcclruch  fw  n.  it^tfimiMiM  nevtf  w|,jfy%irjjii:4 


^ 


UFE  OF  SfK'  WALTER  SCOTT. 


Teartlo  make  woAtj ;  and  has  twice  atreadr  made  aTorr 
oliowaer-headed  penon  of  me.  I  irtionld  Hke  much  (al- 
ways with  jour  approbation)  to  try  Allan,  who  is  a  man  of 
real  genitii,  and  naa  made  one  or  two  fiortous  nortralta, 
though  his  predilection  Is  to  the  historical  branch  of  the 
art.  We  did  rather  a  handsome  thing  for  him,  consider: 
Ing  that  In  Edinburgh  we  are  neither  very  wealthy  nof 
great  amateurs.  A  hundred  persons  subscribed  ten  gui- 
neas a-piece  to  raffle  *  for  his  one  picture  of  the  Circassian 
Chief  selling  slaves  to  the  Turkish  Pacha— a  beautiful  and 
highly  poetical  picture.  There  was  another  amaU  picture 
added  by  way  of  second  prize,  and,  what  is  curious  enough, 
the  only  two  peers  on  the  list.  Lord  Wemyss  and  Lord 
.  Fife,  both  got  prizes.  Allan  has  made  a  sketch  which  T 
shall  take  to  town  with  me  when  I  can  go,  in  hopes  Lox€ 
Afford,  or  some  other  picture-buyer,  may  lancy  it.  and 
order  a  picture.  The  nubject  is  the  murder  of  Arch- 
bishop Sharp  on  Magus  Moor,  prodigiously  well  treated. 
I^e  savage  ferocity  of  the  assassins,  crowding  one  on 
another  to  strike  at  the  old  prelate  on  his  knees— contrast- 
ed with  the  old  man's  figure— and  that  of  bis  daughter 
endeavouring  to  interpose  for  Ills  protection,  and  withheld 
by  a  rulllan  of  milder  mood  than  h)f  fellowa :— the  dog- 
ged fanatical  severity  of  Rathillet's  coimtenance,  who  re- 
mained on,  horseback  witnessing,  with  stern  fanaticism, 
the  murder  he  did  not  choose  to  be  active  hi,  lest  it  should 
be  Slid  thut  he  struck  onl  of  private  revenge— are  all 
aEiui^jiijcly  wi  II  coiuI'mL'Li  in  ibf  ski  Li^h.  IquesUon  if  the 
nnimi  co^i  bring  rhcm  uui  with  equ^tl  spirit  in  the  painting 
which  he  lucflLtfttca.  Stnchos  give  a  sort  of  fire  to  the 
iini«laallf<n  of  the  spcctaTor,  who  i-i  spt  to  fancy  a  great 
dnvX  more  for  hltiiteif  thna  ihc  p<ac4I,  in  the  finished 
picture,  Fjui  po^flitilv  prpAent  t<>  Iub  ^^ye  afterwards.  Con- 
subtu  luLA  offen^ij  Allttti  three  liun<]red  pounds  to  make 
skt?tche?B  tor  an  ecUtlDu  of  the  Talea  of  Sly  Landlord,  and 
cither  navcle  of  ihi^t  cycle,  bud  »y!i  be  will  give  him  the 
tunc  fluiii  iieJtiyetr,  jin  fruui  hi*\ut  pinched  enough,  this 
very  deserving  asi\at  fiuddcniy  dnJ^  mmself  at  hia  ease. 
He  was  loi^  ai  Odeaaa  wUh  the  DuXn  of  Richelieu,  and  is 
a  very  entenolniDg  p^ra^irnH 

**lsaw  Willi  griMiL  pteR^ure  WUkie's  sketch  of  your 
Oracet  (uid  I  diiuk  when  I  ^i:[  to  luvrn  I  shall  coax  him  out 
or  a  copy,  (fi  uie  jnralti&hle.  [  hope,  however,  when  you 
retu rn,  yu  u  wi  h  sit  to  tawf  en  ee .  W o  should  have  at  least 
one  pk([irc  of  >oiir  Grace  from  Ibf?  real  good  hand.  Sooth 
to  tpealt,  I  c4niiot  aay  mueh  for  th«;  juvenile  representa- 
Udna  ai  Bo  v.  bill  aiid  in  ibti  library  nt  Dalkeith.  Return, 
how«?v«rt  wilhtheoruirial  /feature h  hi  good  health,  and  we 
Bhuil  not  worry  juii  Dbr^ut  protmitj.  The  library  at  Bow- 
hit!  wai  h^  a dellfrtLfiil  wom^  Ami  wiJrlbe  some  consolation 
to  tut  w|;o  iniiiL,  I  fear,  hyge  tut  eotne  time  the  comforts 
o(  thcj  cfiUng-rDom^  uid  fiubaUluio  (vanada  and  toast  and 
water  tor  the  bonny  hawich  ftiid  bniom  bottle  of  claret 
Truth  li,  I  must  truike  grfiat  reatneiions  on  my  creature- 
comfortd.  at  Uasi  till  luv  titouisch  roeovers  its  tone  and 
ofil rich  Ilk n  rnp&cky  of  diKeiiLloii.  Our  spring  here  Is 
Biovr,  but  not  wifavrvorable  :  tlw  country  looking  very 
well,  Aod  iny  pkaUAga  Tar  th'^  Roafion  quite  completed.  I 
hart  pittiiied  quJio  up  two  liuii^  gJ?i^  leading  from  the 
Aidr^-CuDp'd  habttJuion  up  lo  tbo  tittle  loch,  and  expect 
the  UitiMdufH  of  poitt'rity  tor  nho  *hade  and  shelter  I  shall 
kxVfl,  where,  Odd  knows,  I  n>UMi1  najne. 

"It  !■  doomed  this  ifiittrT  ie  j <  close  without  a  re- 
quest. I  ei»n:ciiid«  your  Qmc*  '  I  'eady  heard  from  fif- 
IJF  appllcaau  tfui  liae  kirk  of  MuliUebie  is  vacant,  and  I 
come  forward  as  the  fifty-first  (always  banring  prior  en- 
gagements and  better  claims)  in  behalf  of  Qeorge  Thorn- 

1  tlie  foUowioff 
-jraod  practically 
i  attend  to  the  de- 


*  Thiee  jpiotves  were  u 
note,  datedApril  the  Ut,  1819,  kw* 
Qeott,  almost  io  the  ciint  of  his  e 
tails  oTBuch  a  basinesi  :— 

To  J.  a  LoekHkrt,  £cg..  Advocate,  Edlnkurgh. 

'"  1  NiTE^  k^t'ij  ilnHi..lfij|jj'  iTlfljfkx-  J  «"..fv  u.  /.^H,  l,ut  I 

^nk  I  httvc  wvwftii  i^M  uwvf  lAJrij^.  It  w««  iiuiiif  lim^.^  li:ir  rhin  igfa 
tiir  tW*w*  ■«?  th*  dUL'Ait'  It  wA  dnn^pfoui,  yrt  I  f(Hi|t|  mA  hnve 
WKlijrLrtl  fix  tloj^  Riurfl  flLflNfij'.  I  hii¥t"  n  tuoinifMi^  t'...Mi  th.  :  ife- 
Sioui  Mt.  I>avid  fttidcH  lo  aUvOil  lolrjyinlcnfAii  i\  '  >■  txt 

eaidnk^L  tir  MjxrdjKiiuv^^^ljfiuil  jui-fiuft  to  ii^l  m  I 

j.^rctUM'^d.  arid  ut   my  mT(^  !  hdfKf  jou  wi]t  ret  (-  lid 

(hinlt  a  rartlri  niTh  dsw  \vf«H  ^jv.'  innfv  gHJpfni    ■  ui 

H  lmtji?r¥     Vol  I  \Yi  n\h  t  bt  a  f  tooLjik'^l  wha-t  uufanrN  I  m 

veil  nmr4ii*!d  anri  »muil:«lL-  piffwfi*  wUI  laJiB  i^  i  b, 

wheo  P  H>l5ftli  flxnpeljtiEin  awAleni  thci  lutftio  mi<^l  f.-'^\\  \^^vf'^\<\n» 
moat  nhtur?.  Let  mc^  tubtcrilKr  thiow  the  dnnti  in  |Jcnf4i  w  t»y 
pn)«f,  kiannM  oui  y|  iff  bo  thfljiw  umjef  a  wttuin  numb'^r  iifr!  let 
IhisBs  fB|Nal«d  till  llw  HUi»li»iaB«>  i«t  rpducocf  thii  tit/- Hiree 
wict  llttiw  Murt  !>■/  bold  tbv  tiH^i,  1  hniri^  laufth  m*  ^n;  to 
1^  Hd  dbMUvM  aian  lu  a  Jny  aliHHif  tbt^od  oi  ^.h  \'  ^^r- 1;,! 
QMhifhWmnn  toe  [WfMy  Ast^ii/t,  Alwajpi  ^mirs  alTi<iiiva- 
•Mti  W   ?^, 

TWMr  l>iinkf  Brid£m  lin^  nwiriiooad  had  aecaind  itlnoil} . — 
Wmmtu,  ft.  VK,  TIk  jifhkiitn  in  bliickwoud  nude  bim  iu[ip; .  bf 
MM^  him  '  The  PimDtgr^&Micml  c4'  tlw  I'm»  Arti  for  i^cot- 
knd..*' 


son,  a  son  of  the  miniitftr  of  Melrote,  bfioff  the  grtndir 
of  my  boys,  and  therefore  deeply  entided  to  my  gndioda 
and  my  good  offices,  m  far  as  they  can  go.  He  u  nearer 
Parson  Abraham  Aoams  than  any  living  creature  I  evir 
saw- very  learned,  very  reUgioua,  very  ilmple,  snd  ex- 
tremely absent.  His  lather,  till  very  lately,  had  but  » 
sort  of  half  stipend,  during  the  incumbency  of  a  cemiB 
notorious  Mr.  HacLagan,  to  whom  he  acted  only  as  sssi«. 
ant  The  poor  devU  was  brought  to  the  grindsUmc,  (hsr- 
ing  had  the  want  of  precaution  to  beget  a  large  nmilyj 
and  became  the  very  fifure  of  a  f^rilow  who  used  to  come 
upon  the  stsce  to  sing,^Let  us  all  be  QOh«|ipy  together.' 
This  poor  lad  Gteig  e  was  hia  saving  angel,  not  only  ed» 
eating  himaelfi  but  taking  on  him  thie  education  of  two  of 
hia  brothers,  and  maintMnlng  them  out  of  his  own  scan^ 
pittance.  He  is  a  sensible  lad,  and  by  no  means  a  bad 
preacher,  a  staunch  Anti-Gallican,  and  orthodox  in  Us 
principlea.  Should  your  Grace  find  yourself  at  liberty  to 
give  coimtenance  to  this  very  innocent  and  deservbif 
creature,  I  need  not  say  it  will  add  to  the  many  favoun 
you  have  CMiferred  on  me,  but  I  hope  the  parlshiOBen 
will  have  also  occasion  to  say. '  Weel  bobbU,  George  of 
Middlebie.'  Your  Grace's  Aide-de-camp,  who  knem 
youns  Thomson  well,  will  give  you  a  better  idea  of  bim 
thanlcaado.  He  lost  a  leg  by  an  accident  la  hia  boyhooi, 
which  spoiled  as  bold  and  fine  looking  a  grenadier  as  ever 
"-«r-»        -  It'- 


charged  bayonet  aflsinat  a  Frenchman's  throat 
your  Grace  will  not  like  him  the  worse  for  having  a  spice 
of  mlUtary  and  loyal  spirit  about  him.  If  you  knew  the 
poor  fellow,  your  Grace  would  take  uncoounon  Intersft 
in  him,  were  it  but  for  the  odd  mixture  of  sense  and  iIbi- 
pUcity,  and  spirit  and  good  morals.  Somewhal  too  ranch 
of  him. 

**  I  conclude  you  will  go  to  Mafira,  Cimra,  or  some  o( 
these  placet,  which  Baretti  describes  so  delightinlly.  to 
avoid  the  great  heats,  when  the  Palace  de  laa  NecessidadH 
must  become  rather  of^rescive.  By  the  by,  thoiwh  k 
were  only  for  the  credit  of  the  name,  I  am  biHE^py  to  leam 
it  has  that  usefhl  Engliah  comfort,  a  water  closet  I  mp- 
poM  the  armourer  of  the  LiflTey  has  already  put  it  in  eo» 
plete  repair.  Tour  Grace  seem  the  most  secret  passages 
reqtecting  great  men  cannot  be  hidden  from  their  firieoda 
There  is  but  little  nevra  here  but  death  in  the  clan.  Bar- 
den's  Bister  is  dead— «  cruel  blow  to  Lady  Die,*  who  i« 
upwards  of  eighty-five,  and  accuatomed  to  no  other  soci^ 
cy.  Again,  Mrs.  Prank  Scott,  his  uncle's  widow,  is  dead, 
unable  to  survive  the  loss  of  two  fine  yoong  men  in  India, 
her  eons,  whose  death  cloaely  followed  each  other.  AA 
this  is  sad  work ;  but  it  la  a  wicked  and  melancholy  worid 
we  live  in.  God  bless  you,  my  dear  Lord.  Take  gicsi 
oare  of  your  health,  for  the  sake  of  all  of  ua.  You  are 
the  breath  of  our  nostrils,  useful  to  thousands^  and  to 
many  of  these  thousands  indispensable.  I  vrill  write  apia 
very  soon,  when  I  can  keep  my  breast  longer  to  the  dealt 
without  pain,  for  I  am  not  yet  without  frequent  relapses, 
when  they  souse  me  into  scalding  water  without  a  mo- 
ment'a  delay,  where  I  lie,  as  my  old  grieve  Tom  Purdie 
said  last  night,  being  called  to  assist  at  the  operation,  *like 
a  haulded  aaumOH?  I  write  a  few  Unes  to  the  Aide^le- 
Camp,  but  I  am  afraid  of  putting  this  letter  beyond  the 
bounds  of  Lord  Montagu's  frank,  when  I  can  dp  aa? 
thing  for  your  Grace  here,  vou  know  I  am  mostpleBsed 
and  nappy.  Bver  respectiuUy  and  affectionateqr  yoiif 
Grace's  . 

WAtwa  Soon.* 

To  Captain  Adam  Ftrgmoon^  4t.,  ^-c,  #«. 

"  Abbouford,  April  16,  IBli 
**  My  dear  Adam, 

''  Having  only  been  able  laat  night  to  finish  a  kng  let- 
ter to  the  Chief,  I  iu»w  add  a  few  linea  for  the  Aide-de-Gunp. 
I  have  had  the  pleasure  to  hear  of  you  regularly  froa 
Jack,t  who  ia  very  regular  in  steering  thia  way  when  pock- 
ets arrive ;  and  I  observe  with  great  satisfaction  that  you 
think  our  good  Duko'a  health  la  on  the  mending  hand. 
CUmate  must  operate  as  an  alterative,  and  much  caniMt 

Eerhaps  be  expected  from  it  at  first.— Besides,  the  great 
eat  must  be  a  serious  drawback.  But  I  hope  you  will 
try^by  and  by  to  g^t  away  to  Cintra,  or  some  of  those  se- 
questered retreats  where  there  are  shades  and  cascade* 
to  cool  the  air.  I  have  an  idea  the  country  there  is  eini- 
nently  beautiAil.  I  am  afraid  the  Duke  has  not  yet  been 
able  to  visit  Torres  Vedrds,  but  yoK  must  be  meeting  wit} 
thing*  every  where  to  put  you  in  mind  of  former  sceifea 
As  lor  the  Senhoras,  1  have  little  doubt  that  the  diflereoce 
betwixt  your  military  hard  fare  and  Florence's  high  saucei 
and  jellies  will  make  them  thhik  that  time  has  rather  in* 
proved  an  old  friend  then  otherwiae.  Apropos  of  these 
tloklish  snbieeta.  I  am  a  auitor  to  the  Duke,  with  little  ei- 
pectation  of  success,  (for  I  know  his  engagements,)  ibr  the 
kirk  of  Middlebie  to  George  Thomson,  the  very  Abnbaa 


ptatn  Ji 


P.-^: 


t  Captain  John  Feriuaoa,  R.  Ni 


oogie 


LIFE  OF  SIR  y^lkLTER  SCOTH 


m 


I  of  Fresbftery.  Tf  the  Duke  mentlooi  him  Co  yoa 
Caocothenrlte)  prar  lend  him  •  lift.  With  a  kirk  and  a 
)  the  poor  feltow  might  fet  a  good  farmer's  daofh- 


ter.and  beget  grenadiers  for 


get  a 

rWal 


«at,  Di 


I  MajeetT'8  service.  But 
J  iaaid  beioreTl  daresajr  all  Ik.  Hubervs  black  pack  are 
In  full  crjr  upon  the  Uvuu,  and  that  he  has  Utue  or  jio 
chance.  It  is  something,  however,  to  have  tabled  him,  as 
better  mav  come  of  it  anotlier  day. 

**  An  31  iluntly  Bom  well  and  hearty,  and  most  kind  in 
rbeiT  attentions  during  our  late  turmoils.  Bauby' came 
«ver  to  offer  her  senrices  as  sick-nurse,  and  I  have  drunk 
iwarce  any  thing  but  delicious  ginger  beer  of  Miss  Bell's 
brewing,  since  my  troubles  commenced  They  have 
been,  to  saj  the  least,  damnable  ;  and  I  think  you  would 
bardly  know  me.  When  I  crawl  om  on  Sybil  Grey,  I  am 
the  very  image  of  Death  on  the  pale  horse,  lanthornjaw- 
ed,  decayed  in  flesh,  stooping  as  if  I  meant  to  eat  the  po- 
Bey's  ears,  and  unable  to  go  above  a  footpace.  But  al- 
tboogh  I  have  had,  and  must  expect,  frequent  relapses. 
jet  the  attacks  are  more  slight,  and  I  trust  I  shall  mend 
with  the  good  weather.  Spring  sets  in  very  pleasantly 
•ad  in  a  settled  &shion.  I  have  planted  a  number  of 
•hrubs,  Ac.  at  Huntly  Bum,  and  am  snoildiiif  up  the  drive 
of  the  old  farm  bouse,  enclosing  the  To  Afield,  and  making 
»  tood  road  from  the  pariah  road  to  your  gate.  This  1 
teU  you  to  animate  you  to  pick  up  a  few  seeds  both  of  fo- 
rest trees,  shrubs,  and  vcgcubles ;  we  will  rear  tiiem  in 
•he  hot-house,  and  divide  honourably.  Avis  au  leeteur. 
1  have  been  a  good  deal  intrusted  to  the  care  of  Sophia. 
who  is  an  admirable  sic  it-nurse.  Mamma  has  been  called 
i  by  two  important  avocations,  to  get  a  cook— no 
matter— and  to  see  Charles,  who  was  but  IndifTer- 
it  hajT  recovered.  You  m\ist  have  heard  of  the 
of  Joseph  Hume,  David's  only  son.  Christ!  what 
a  calamity— Jast  entering  life  with  the  fairest  prospects— 
fell  of  tafent,  and  the  h^r  of  an  old  and  con^derable  fa* 
uily— a  fine  career  before  him.  All  this  he  was  one  day, 
or  rather  one  hour— or  rather  in  the  course  of  five  mi- 
luites— so  sudden  was  the  death— and  then  a  heap  of  earth. 
Ks  disease  Is  unknown ;  something  about  the  heart,  I 
believe ;  but  it  bad  no  alarming  appearance,  nothing  worse 
than  a  cold  and  sore  throat^  when  convulsions  came,  and 
death  ensued.  It  is  a  complete  smash  to  poor  David,  who 
had  rust  begun  to  hold  his  head  up  after  his  wife's  death. 
Bat  he  bears  it  stoutly,  and  goes  about  his  business  as 
oaoaL  A  wofhl  case.  London  is  now  out  of  the  question 
with  me  ;  1  have  no  prospect  of  being  now  able  to  stand 
the  journey  by  sea  or  land  ;  but  the  best  is,  I  have  no 
inreMog  business  there.  The  Commiel  takes  charge  of 
kWah^s  matters— cannot,  you  know,  be  in  better  hands : 
and  Lord  Melville  talks  of  gazetting  quam  primum.  I 
will  writ')  a  long  letter  very  soon,  but  mv  back,  fingers, 
and  ejes  ache  with  these  three  pages.  All  here  send  love 
and  fraternity.    Yours  ever  most  truly, 

Walter  Scott. 

«•  p.  3.— By  the  by,  old  Kennedv,  the  tinker,  swam  for 
Us  fife  at  Jedburgh,  and  was  only,  by  the  sophisticated 
and  timid  evidence  of  a  seceding  doctor,  wpo  differed 
from  all  his  brethren,  saved  from  a  well-deserved  gibbet. 
He  mot»  to  botanize  for  fourteen  yean.  Pray  tell  this  to 
the  Duk^for  he  was 

'An  old  soldier  of  the  Duke's, 

And  the  Duke's  old  soldier.' 
8lx  of  his  brethren,  I  am  told,  were  hi  court,  and  kith  and 
kte  witfujut  end.  I  am  sorry  so  many  of  the  clan  are  left. 
The  caose  of  quarrel  with  the  murdered  man  was  an  old 
food  between  two  gipsey  chms,  the  Kennedies  and  Irvings, 
which,  about  forty  years  since,  gave  rise  to  a  desperate 
quarrel  and  baUle  on  Hawick  Green,  in  which  the  grand- 
Alhers  of  both  Kennedy,  and  Irvmg  whom  he  murdered, 
were  engaged." 

la  the  next  of  theee  letter*  there  is  alluftion  to  n 
drama  on  the  etorv  of  the  Heart  of  Mid*  Lothian,  of 
which  Mr«  Terry  nad  transmitted  the  MS,  to  Ab* 
botflford— and  which  ultimately  proved  very  suo- 
eeMfiil.  Terry  had,  shortly  before  this  time,  become 
tbe  acting  manager  of  the  Uaymarket  Theatre. 

7\)  D.  Terry ^  Etg.y  TTaymarket^  London. 

''  Abbotsfoid,  18th  April,  1819. 
••  Dear  Terry, 

**  I  am  able  (though  very  weak)  to  an.««wer  your  kind 
teqniries.  I  have  thought  of  you  oflr-n,  and  been  on  the 
point  of  writlnf  or  dictating  a  letter,  but  till  very  lately  I 
eoald  have  had  little  lo  tell  you  of  but  distress  and  agoqy, 
wtth  constant  rolapses  into  my  unhappy  malady,  so  that 
for  weeks  1  seemed  to  lose  rather  than  giain  ground,  all 
Ibod  nauseating  on  my  stomach,  and  my  cloihea  hanging 

•  Baubr-t  <.  Baibaia,  was  akiad  old  boosekeeper  of  tbe  Miss 

tVheLotdChitfeoamiiiiiaDsrAdam. 


about  me  like  a  potato- bogle,'  wUh  fhun  five  or  dx  to  ten 
hours  of  mortal  pain  everv  third  day ;  latterly  the  fits 
have  been  much  milder,  ana  have  at  last  given  way  to  the 
hot  bath  without  any  use  of  opiates ;  an  immense  point 
gained,  as  they  hurt  my  general  health  ejctremely.  Con- 
ceive my  haviag  taken;  in  the  course  of  six  or  seven  hours, 
six  grains  of  opium,  three  of  hyoscyamus,  near  200  drops 
of  laudanum,  and  all  without  any  sensible  relief  of  the 
sgony  under  which  I  laboured.    My  stomach  is  now  get* 

,  ting  confirmed,  and  I  have  great  hopes  the  bout  is  over ; 

I  it  has  been  a  dreadful  set-to.    I  am  sorry  to  hear  Mrs. 

I  Terry  is  complaininx ;  you  ought  not  to  let  her  labour, 
neither  at  Abbotsford  sketches  nor  at  any  thing  ebie,  but 
study  to  keep  her  mind  amused  as  much  as  possible.  As 
for  Waker,  he  is  a  shoot  of  an  Aik^\  and  t  have  no  fear 
of  him ;  I  hope  he  remembers  Abbotsford  and  his  soldier 
namesake.  • 

"  I  send  the  MS.— I  wish  you  had  wriuen  for  It  earlier. 
My  touching  or  even  thinlcing  of  it  Was  out  of  the  ques> 
tion^  my  corrections  would  have  amelled  as  cruelhr  of 
the  cramp,  as  the  Bishop  of  Grenada's  homilyt  did  oi  the 
apoplexy.  Indeed  I  hold  myself  iiuulequatc  to  estimate 
those  criticisms  which  rest  on  stage  enect,  having  been 
of  late  very  little  of  a  play-going  person.  Would  to  Heaven 
these  sheets  could  do  for  you  what  Rob  Roy  has  done  for 
Murray ;  he  has  absolutely  netted  upwards  of  X3000 :  to 
be  sure  the  man  who  plaved  the  BaiUe  made  a  piece  of 
acting  equal  to  whatever  has  been  seen  in  the  profession. 
For  my  own  part  t  was  actually  electrified  by  the  truth, 
spirit,  and  humour  which  he  threw  into  the  part.  It  was  ' 
the  living  Nicol  Jarvie— conceited,  pragmatical,  cautious, 
generous,  proud  of  his  connexion  with  Rob  Roy,  fright- 
ened for  him  at  the  same  time,  and  yet  extremely  desirous 
to  interfere  with  him  as  an  adviser.  The  t(me  in  which 
he  seemed  to  give  him  up  for  a  lost  man  after  having  pro- 
voked him  into  some  burtt  of  Highland  violence— ^  Ah 
Rab,  Rab  I'— was  quite  inimitable.  I  do  aasure  you  I  ne- 
ver saw  a  thing  better  plaved.  It  is  like  it  mav  be  his  only 
part,  for  no  doubt  the  mavinity  and  knowledge  of  the 

Erovincial  character  mav  have  aided  him  much  ;  but  still 
e  must  be  a  wonderful  fellow ;  and  the  bouses  he  drew 
were  tremendous. 

*♦  I  am  truly  glad  you  are  settled  hi  London— a  *rolUn| 
stone'— the  proverb  is  something  musty :  it  is  always  div 
ficult  to  begin  a  new  profession;  I  could  have  wished  you 
quartered  nearer  us,  but  we  shall  alwaya  bear  of  vou. 
The  becoming  stage-manager  at  the  Haymarket,  I  look 
upon  as  a  great  step ;  well  executed,  it  cannot  but  lesd  to 
something  of  the  same  kind  elsewhere.  You  must  be 
avrare  of  stumbling  over  a  propensity  which  easily  besets 
you  from  the  habit  of  not  having  your  time  fully  employed 
— I  mean  what  the  women  very  expressively  call  dated' 
Hng.  Your  motto  roust  be  Hoe  age.  Do  instantly  what- 
ever is  to  be  done,  and  take  the  hours  of  reflection  or 
recreation  after  bumness,  and  never  before  it  When  a 
regiment  is  under  march,  the  rear  is  often  thrown  into 
confusion  because  the  front  do  not  move  steadily  and 
without  interruption.  It  Is  the  same  thing  with  business. 
If  that  which  is  first  in  hand  is  not  instantly,  steadily,  and 
remilarly  despatched,  other  things  accumulate  behind  (111 
afiblrs  begin  to  press  all  at  once,  and  no  human  brain  can 
stand  the  confhsion ;  pray  mind  this— rit  is  one  of  your  few 
weak  points— ask  Mrs.  Terry  else.  A  habit  of  the  mind 
it  is  which  is  very  apt  to  beset  men  of  intellect  and  talent, 
especially  when  their  time  is  not  regularly  filled  up«  but 
len  at  their  own  arrangement.  But  it  is  Uke  the  ivy  round 
the  oak,  and  ends  by  limiting,  if  it  does  not  destroy,  the 
power  of  manly  and  necessary  exertion.  I  must  love  a 
man  so  well  to  whom  I  offer  such  a  word  of  advice,  that  I 
will  not  apologize  for  it,  but  expect  4o  hear  yon  are  be- 
come as  regular  as  a  Dutch  clock — ^houriL  quarters,  mi- 
nutes, all  marked  and  appropriated.  This  is  a  great  cast 
in  life,  and  must  be  played  with  all  skill  and  caution. 

"  We  wish  much  to  have  a  plan  of  the  great  bed,  that 
we  may  hang  up  the  tester.  Mr.  Atkinson  offered  to  have 
it  altered  or  exchanged ;  but  with  the  expense  of  land- 
carriage  and  risk  of  damage,  it  is  not  to  be  thought  of.  I 
enclose  a  letter  to  thank  liim  for  all  his  kindness.  1  should 
like  to  have  the  invoice  when  the  things  are  shipped.  I 
hope  they  will  send  them  to  Leith  and  not  to  Berwick. 
The  plasterer  has  broke  a  pane  in  the  armoury.  I  en- 
close a  sheet  with  the  size,  the  black  lines  being  traced 
within  the  lead,  and  1  add  a  rough  drawing  of  the  arma. 
which  are  those  of  my  mother.  I  should  Uke  it  replaced 
as  soon  as  possible,  for  I  will  set  the  e.xpense  against  the 
careless  rascal's  account. 

"  I  have  got  a  beautiful  scarlet  paper  inlnid  with  sold 
(rather  rrimson  than  scarlet)  in  a  present  from  India, 
which  will  hang  the  parlour  to  aT;  but  we  shall  want 
some  artidos  from  town  to  enable  us  to  take  possession 
of  the  parlour— namely,  a  carped— you  mentioned  a  toaiiu 
oeot  patterHj  which  would  be  delightful— item,  gratta  for 


*  ADi^ce-rScaiecrow.    t  Ditto— an  Oak.    t 


Scmion-^^ 


m 


UFjS  OF.  SIR  WALTW  3C0Tr. 


ntd  pwrlour  and  armouiy— a  plain  and  unexpfinsive  pat- 
tern, retembUng  that  to  mr  room,  (wtdeh  vents  moit  ad* 
miraolj,)  and'suited  bj  haif-iioga  for  burning  wood.  The 
Sideboard  and  chairs  you  hare  mentionea  I  see  Mr. 
Bolioclc  (George's  brother)  advertises  his  maseum  for 
sale.  I  wonder  if  a  good  set  of  real  tiUing  armour  could 
be  got  ch^p  there.  James  Ballantjrno  got  me  one  very 
handsome  oright  steel  cuirassier  of  Queen  Elizabeth's 
time,  and  two  less  peifect,  for  £20 — dog  cheap;  they 
make  a  great  figure  in  the  armoory.  Hangings,  curtains, 
dec.,  I  believe  we  shall  get  as  well  in  Edinbdrgn  as  in  Lon> 
don ;  it  is  in  vour  joiner  and  cabinet  woric  that  your  infi- 
nite superiority  lic.«». 

^  Wnte  to  me  if  1  can  do  aught  about  the  play— though 
f  fear  not :  much  will  depend  on  Dumbiedykes,  in  whom 
Liston  will  be  strong.  Sophia  lias  been  chiefly  my  nurse, 
da  an  indisposition  of  little  Charles  called  Charlotte  to 
Uown.  She  returned  yesterday  with  him.  All  beg  Idnd 
compliments  to  you  and  Mrs.  Terrv  and  little  Walter.  I 
remain  your  very  feeble  but  convalescent  to  command, 

Walter  Scott. 

♦*  P.  S.— We  must  not  forget  the  case  for  the  leaves  of 
the  table  while  out  of  use  ;  without  something  of  the  kind, 
lam  afraid  they  will  be  liable  to  injury,  which  is  a  pity, 
as  they  are  so  very  beautiful."' 

The  accounts  of  Scott's  conditioa  circulated  in 
Edinburgh  in  the  course  of  this  April  were  so  alarm- 
ing, th^t  1  should  not  have  thought  of  accepting  his 
iCTitatidn  to  revisit  Abbotsfbrd,  unless  John  Ballan- 
tyhe  had  given  me  better  tidings,  about  the  end  of 
the  month.  He  informed  me  that  his  "  illustrious 
friend"  (for  so  both  the  Ballantynes  usually  spoke 
of  him^  vr—  —  r-n^h  r^-ivered  as  to  have  resumed 
kii^  ij3iini  iLurnry  lough  with  this  difference, 

thm  he  tiaWt  f^ir  i !  ime  in  his  life,  found  it  ne- 

eeftSBfy  to  emiilov  id  of  another.   I  have  now 

btffore  me  a  luttcr  Jth  April,  in  which  Scott 

says  t^>  Con  9 1  fib  i  terday  I  began  to  dictate, 

aj)d  did  it  ensii  y  ;u  comfort.    This  is  a  great 

point— btii  I  mum  (^rmird  by  little  and  little;  last 
ni^ht  1  bad  a  slJMhl  riiturri  of  the  enemv— but  baffled 
bim  I'Vsnd  he  a^tniii  wrir^is  to  the  bookseller  on  the 
itthi— ^Mohn  HAllriTiEy]u'  is  here,  and  returns  with 
eopy,  which  my  iniTL'fising  strength  permits  me  to 
hemp  I  mriy  nnw  furnish  rgularly." 

TTiu  copy  (^9  MS.  for  I  fie  press  is  technically  call- 
eA\  whkb  Sri>vi  was  thits  dictating,  was  that  of  the 
Bnde  uf  Lammermoor ;  and  his  amanuenses  were 
WilUam  LauiUw  und  J<pKn  Ballantyne,  of  whom  he 
prtferrcd  ihf  luKi.r.  ult-  n  he  could  be  at  Abbotsford. 
<■  r  rapidity  of  his  pen ;  ana 

also  because  John  kept  his  pen  to  the  paper  without 
interruption,  and  though  with  many  an  arch  twin- 
kle in  his  eyes,  and  now  and  then  an  audible  smack 
of  his  lips,  had  resolution  to  work  on  like  a  well- 
trained  clerk ;  whereas  good  Jl.aidlaw  entered  with 
such  keen  zest  into  the  interest  of  the  story  as  it 
flowed  from  the  author's  lips,  that  he  could  not  sup- 
irees  exclamations  of  surprise  and  delight—''  Gude 
leep  ua  a' !— the  like  o'  that !— eh  sirs  1  ^h  sirs!"— 
anu  80  forth— which  did  not  promote  despatch.  I 
have  often,  however,  in  the  set^uel,  heard  both  these 
secretariea  describe  the  astonishment  with  which 
they  were  equally  affected  when  Scott  be^an  this 
experiment.  The  affectionate  Laidlaw  besreching 
him  to  stop  dictating,  when  his  audible  sufferinv; 
filled  every  pause.  Nay,  Willie,"  he  answered, 
'*  only  see  that  the  doors  are  fast.  I  would  fain  keep 
all  the  cry  as  well  as  all  the  wool  to  ourselves ;  but 
as  to  giving  over  work,  that  can  only  be  when  I  am 
in  woollen."  John  Ballantyne  told  me  that  after 
the  first  day  he  always  took  care  to  have  a  doaen  of 
pens  made. before  he  seated  himself  opposite  to  the 
sofa  on  which  Scott  lay,  and  that  though  he  often 
turned  himself  on  his  pillow  with  a  groan  of  lor- 
t  raent.  he  usually  continued  the  sentence  in  the  same 
breath.  But  when  dialogue  of  peculiar  animation 
was  in  progress,  spirit  seemed  to  triumph  altogether 
over  matter— he  arose  from  his  couch  and  walked 
up  and  down  the  room,  raising  and  lowering  bis 
voice,  and  as  it  were  acting  the  parts.  It  was  in 
this  fashion  that  Scott  produced  the  far  crcater  por- 
tion of  The  Bride  of  Lammermoor— tb^  whole  of 

•  TV  D'lke  of  Buocleuch  had  jri/fti  Srott  •ome  oW  oak-roots 
from  Drumlanriir.  out  of  which  a  very  bcatitiflil  »et  of  dinner- 
tables  bad  been  manuftctuiwi  br  Metsn.  Bullock. 


E 


the  Legend  of  M(in(ioee--aiid  almost  tbt  mM&  d 
Ivanhoe.  Yet,  when  his  health  waeftlrly  r»^tab- 
lished,  he  disdained  to  avail  himself  of  the  power  of 
diotauon,  which  be  had  thus  put  to  the  aharpeai  teat, 
but  reeamed,  and  for  many  years  resolutely  adhered 
to,  the  old  plan  of  writing  evenr  thing  with  his  om^ 
hand.  Whei^  I  once,  some  rime  aTterwards,  ex- 
pressed my  surprise  that  he  did  not  consult  his  ease, 
and  spare  his  eyesight  at  all  events,  by  occasionan]^ 
dictating,  he  answered,  "  I  should  as  soon  think  of 
getting  mto  a  sedan  chair  while  I  can  use  my  lees.'* 

On  one  of  th^  envelopes  in  which  a  chapter  of  the 
Bride  of  Lammermoor  reached  the  printer  in  the 
Canongate  about  this  time— (May  2,  181 9>— there  m 
this  note  in  the  author's  own  handwriting: — 

"  Dear  James,— These  matters  will'  nee^  moro 
than  your  usual  carefulness.  Look  sharp—douUe 
sharp— my  trust  is  constant  in  thee  :— 

'  Tarry  woo,  tarry  woo. 
Tarry  woo  is  ill  to  spin  ; 
Card  it  weel,  card  it  weel, 
Card  it  weel  ere  ye  begin. 
When  'tis  carded,  row'd,  and  spun. 
Then  the  work  is  halQIns  done ; 
But  when  woven,  drest,  and  clean, 
It  may  be  cleading  fw  a  queen.' 

Sobeit-W.S.« 

But  to  return— I  rode  out  to  Abbotsford  with  Jolu; 
Ballantyne  towards  the  end  of  the  spriiui  vacatioc, 
and  though  he  had  warned  me  of  a  saa  change  in 
Scott's  appearance,  it  was  far  beyond  what  i  baa 
been  led  to  antfcipate.  He  had  loat  a  great  deal  at 
flesh— his  clothes  hung  loose  about  him— has  couii* 
tenance  was  meagre,  haggard,  and  of  the  deadliest 
yellow  of  the  jaundice— and  his  hair,  which  a  few 
weeks  before  had  been  but  slightly  sprinkled  with 
gray,  was  now  alinost  literally  snow-white.  His 
eye,  however,  retained  its  fire  unquenched ;  indeed 
it  seemed  to  have  gained  in  brilliancy  from  the  new 
languor  of  the  other  features ;  and  he  received  ua 
with  ail  the  usual  cordiahty.  and  even  with  little 
perceptible  diminishment  in  the  sprightlineas  of  hii 
manner.  He  sat  at  table  while  we  dined,  but  par- 
took only  of  some  rice  puddipg;  and  after  the  clodi 
was  drawn,  while  sipping  bis  toast  and  water  ' 
pushed  round  the  bottles  in  his  old  style,  and  talkea 
with  easy  cheerfulness  of  the  stout  battle  he  bad 
fought,  and  which  he  now  seemed  to  consider  as 
won. 

"  One  day  there  was."  he  said.  "  when  I  certaiolf 
began  to  have  great  doubts  wnether  the  mischiei 
was  not  getting  at  my  mind— and  I'll  tell  you  how  1 
tried  to  reassure  myself  on  that  score.  I  was  quite 
unfit  for  any  thing  like  original  composition ;  hut  I 
thought  if  I  could  turn  an  old  German  bsUad  I  had 
been  reading  into  decent  rhymes,  1  misht  dismiss 
iny  worst  apprehensions — and  you  shall  see  what 
came  of  the  experiment."  He  then  desired  hia 
daughter  Sophia  to  fetch  the  MS.  of  Tfu  NobU 
Morin^er^  as  it  had  been  taken  down  from  hisdic-* 
tation,  partlv  by  her  and  partly  by  Mr.  Laidlaw, 
during  one  fbng  and  painful  day  while  he  lay  io 
bed.  He  read  it  to  us  as  it  stood,  and  seeing  that  \ 
both  Ballantyne  and  I  were  much  pleased  with  the 
verses,  he  said  he  should  copy  them  over,— make 
them  a  little  "  tighter  about  the  joints,"- and  give 
me  them  to  be  printed  in  the  l^inburgn  Annual  Kc* 
eister  for  1R16,  to  consult  him  about  which  volume 
had  partly  been  the  object  of  mv  visit;  and  this  pro- 
mise he  redeemed  before  I  left  him. 

The  reading  of  this  long  ballad,  however— (it  oon- 
sists  of  forty-three  stanzas)*— seemed  to  have  ex- 
hausted him :  he  retired  to  his  bed-room ;  and  an 
hour  or  two  after,  when  we  were  about  to  follow 
his  example,  his  family  were  distressed  by  the  welK 
known  symptoms  of  another  sharp  recurrence  oi 
his  affliction.  A  large  dose  of  opium  and  the  hot 
bath  were  immediately  put  in  requisition.  His  good 
neighbour,  Dr.  Scott  of  Darnlee,  was  sent  for,  and 
soon  attended ;  and  in  the  course  of  three  or  fimr 
hours  we  learned  that  he  was  once  more  at  eaee. 
But  I  can  never  forget  the  groans  which,  durinn  thaC 
*  Seo  SooU'B  PoeCiaal  Wovki.  (editisQ,  ISMj 
Digitized  by 


UFs  OP  Hm  yr^TEfi  3Cott. 


f||Me^liU^go0T9Ciort6d£romhuiL  Well  knowing 
mnron  strength  of  m»  resoiation.  to  find  him  con- 
weamna  its  eitremity,  hy  cries  auoible  not  only  all 
over  the  honse,  but  even  to  a  considerable  distance 
§com  it— (for  BaUantyne  and  1,  after  he  was  put  into 
ius  bath,  walked  forth  to  be  oat  of  the  wa^,  and 
heard  him  diptinctly  at  the  bowlinfi(-green>— it  may 
be  8iippo«ed  that  this  was^  sufficiently  alarming, 
even  to  my  companion— Row  mnch  more  to  me, 
who  had  never  before  listened  to  that  voicpt  except 
in  the  gentle  accents  of  kindness  and  merriment. 

I  told  BaUantyne  that  I  saw  this  was  no  time  for 
my  visit,  and  that  I  should  start  for  Edinburgh  again 
at  an  early  hour— and  begged  he  would  make  mv 
uxilogiee— in  the  propriety  of  which  he  acquieseea. 
Bat  as  I  was  dressing,  about  seven  next  nnmiing, 
Scott  himself  tat>ped  at  my  door,  and  enteredpook- 
ing  better.  I  thought,  than  at  my  arrival  the  day  be- 
fore. "pon*t  thmk  of  jEjoing,^*  said  hej  "I  feel 
hearty  this  morning,  and  if  my  devil  does  come  back 
^ain,  it  wonU  be  for  three  days  at  any  rate..  Fpr 
the  present,  I  want  nothing  to  set  me  up  except  a  ffood 
trot  in  the  open  air,  to  drive  away  the  accursed  va- 
ptnra  of  the  laudanum  I  wm  obliged  to  swallow  last 
night.  You  have  never  seen  Yarrow,  and  when  I 
have  finished  a  little  job  I  have  with  Jocund  Johnny, 
we  shall  all  take  horse  and  make  a  day  of  it."  When 
I  said  something  about  a  ride  of  twenty  miles  being 
rather  a  bold  exoeriment  after  such  a  night,  he  an- 
swered, that  be  bad  ridden  more  than  forty,  a  week 
before,  under  similar  circumstances, end  felt  nothing 
the  vrorse.  He  added  that  there  was  an  election  on 
foot,  in  eonseqaence  of  the  death  of  Sir  John  Rid- 
<fcll  of  Riddelf,  Member  of  Parliament  for  the  Sel- 
kirk district  of  Burghs,  and  that  the  bad  health  and 
absence  of  the  Duke  of  Buccleuch  rendered  it  quite 
necessary  that  he  should  make  exertions  on  this  oc- 
casion. "In  short,"  said  he,  laughing,  "  I  have  an 
errend  which  I  shaiu  perform— and  |is  I  most  pass 
Newailt,  you  had  better  not  miss  the  opportunity  of 
seeing  it  under  so  excellent  a  Cicerone  as  the  old 
minstrel,  ^ 

*  Whose  withered  cheek  and  treflses  gray 
Shall  yet  see  many  a  better  day.'  '* 

About  eleven  o'doek,  occprdingly,  he  was  mount- 
ed, by  the  help  of  Tom  Purdie,  tmoh  a  staunch,  active 
5»o,  yclept  Sifbil  G^cy,— exactly  such  a  creature  as 
IS  described  in  Mr.  Dmmont's  Z>ump/e— while  Bal- 
I«)tyne  sprung  into  the  saddle  of  noble  Old  M<yr- 
ialUsft  and  we  proceeded  to  the  town  of  Selkirk^ 
whov  Scott  halted  to  do  business  at  the  Sheriff- 
Clerk's,  and  begged  us  to  move  onward  at  a  gentle 
paee  until  he  should  overtake  us.  He  came  up  by 
and  by  at  a  canter,  and  seemed  in  high  glee  with  the 
tidings  he  had  heard  about  the  canvass.  And  so  we 
rode  oy  Philiphaugh,  Carterhaugb,  Bowhill,  and 
Newark,  he  pouring  out  all  the  way  his  picturesque 
anecdotes  of  former  tiaie«— more  especially  of  the 
f^lnl  field  where  Montrose  was  finally  overthrown 
by  LesUe.  He  described  th&  battle  es  vividjy  as  if 
he  had  witnessed  it ;  the  passing  of  the  Ettrick  at 
daybreak  by  the  Covenanting  General's  heavy  cuiras- 
siers, many  of  thtm  old  soldiers  of  Gustavus  Adol- 
phus,  and  the  wild  confusion  of  the  Highland  host 
when  exposed  to  their  charge  on  an  extensive  haugh 
as  flat  as  a  bowlung-green.  He  drew  us  aside  at 
Sktin-men^e-Ue,  to  observe  the  green  mound  that 
marks  the  resting-place  of  the  slati^htered  royalists ; 
and  pointing  to  the  apparently  preqiprtous  mountain, 
Minehraoor,  over  which  Montrose  and  hie  tew  cava- 
liers escaped,  mentioned  that,  rough  as  it  seemed, 
his  mother  remembered  passing  it  m  ner  early  days 
in  a  coach  and  six,  on  her  way  to  a  ball  ai  Peebles 
— several  footmen  marching  on  either  side  of  the 
carriage  to  prop  it  up,  or  drag  it  through  bogs,  as  the 
ease  might  require.  He  also  gave  as,  with  all  the 
dranMtic  effect  of  one  of  his  best  chapters,  the  his- 
tory of  a  worthy  family  who,  inhabiting  at  the  time 
of  the  battle  a  cottage  on  his  own  estate,  had  treated 
with  particular  kindness  a  young  officer  of  Leslie's 
army  quartered  on  them  for  a  night  or  two  before. 
When  parting  from  them  to  join  the  treops,  he  took 
^octt  a  pmst  of  gold,  and  told  the  good  woman  that  he 


'tf 


bad  a  oreaontunent  he  should  not  ^  aoother  sop 
set,^  and  in  that  case  womd  wish  Ms  money  to  re>> 
mam  in  her  kind  hands;  but,  if  he  should  survive^ 
he  had  no  doobt  she  womd  restore  ft  honestly.  The 
young  man  returned  mortally  wounded^  but  Imgerra 
awhile  under  her  roof,  and  finally  bequeathed  to  her 
and  hers  his  purse  and  his  blessing.  "Such,"  he 
said,  "  was  the  origin  of  the  respectable  lairds  CjjF 
^  now  mv  good  neighbours." 


The  prime  object  of  this  expedition  was  to  talk 
over  the  politics  of  Selkirk  with  one  of  the  Duke  of 
Buccleucn's  great  store-farmers,  who,  as  tlic  Sheriff 
had  learned^  possessed  private  influence  with  a 
doubtful  bailie  or  deacon  among  the  Soutcrs.    I  for- 

get  the  result,  if  ever  I  heard  it.  But  next  morning, 
aving,  as  he  assured  us,  enjoyed  a  good  night  m 
consequence  of  this  ride,  he  invited  us  to  accompany 
him  on  a  similar  errand  across  Bowden  Moor,  aim 
up  the  Valley  of  the  Ayle ;  and  when  we  reached  a 
particularlywleak  and  dreary  point  of  that  journey, 
he  informed  us  that  he  perceived  in  the  waste  below 
a  wreath  of  smokei^ which  ^^^  ^^®  appointed  sigiMl 
that  a  watering^  Souter  of  some  consequence  had 
agreed  to  give  him  a  personal  interview  where  no 
Whiggish  eyes  were  nkelv  to  observe  them;— and 
so,  leaving  us  on  the  road,  he  proceeded  to  thread 
his  way  westward,  across  moor  and  bog,  until  we 
lost  view  of  him.  I  think  a  Couple  of  hours  might 
have  passed  before  he  joined  us  again,  which  waa, 
as  had  been  arranged,  not  fiir  from  the  village  of 
Lilliesleaf.  In  that  place,  too,  he  had  some  nego- 
tiation of  the  same  sort  to  look  after ;  and  when  he 
had  finished  it  he  rode  with  us  all  around  the  an- 
cient woods  01  Riddel],  but  would  not  go  near  tb0 
house;  I  suppose  lest  any  of  the  afflicted  family 
might  still  be  there*  Many  were  his  lamentationfi 
over  the  catastrophe  which  had  just  befallen  thena. 
"  They  are,"  he  said,  "  one  of  the  most  venerabra 
races  in  the  south  of  SeOCland— they  were  here  lonjg 
before  these  glens  had  ever  l^eard  the  name  of  Soulia 
or  of  Douglas— to  say  nothing  of  Buccleuch :  they 
can  show  ^  Pope's  biill  of  the  tenth  century,  auth9- 
rizing  the  then  Riddell  to  marry  a  relation  withm 
the  Torbidden  degrees.  Here  they  have  been  for  a 
thousand  years  at  least :  and  now  all  the  inheritance 
is  to  pass  away,  merely  because  one  good  worthy 

gentleman  would  not  be  contented  to  enjoy  his 
orses,  his  hound^  and  his  bottle  of  claret,  like 
thirty  or  forty  predecessors,  but  must  needs  turn 
scientific  agriculturist,  take  almost  all  his  fair  estate 
into  his  own  hand,  superintend  for  hjmself  perhaps 
a  hundred  plonghs,  and  try  everv  new  nostrum  that 
has  been  tabled  by  the  quaekisn  irtiprov&n  of  the 
time.  Arid  what  makes  the  thing  ten  times  mere 
wonderful  is,  that  he  kept  a  day-book  and  legei^ 
and  all  the  rest  of  it.  as  accurately  as  if  he  bad  been 
a  cheesemonger  in  the  Grassmarket."  Some  of  the 
most  remnrKable  circumstances  in  Scott's  own  sub- 
sequent life  have  made  me  often  recall  this  converr 
saiion— with  more  wonder  than  he  expressed  about 
the  ruin  of  t he  Riddells. 

I  remember  he  told  us  a  world  of  stories,  som^ 
tragical,  some  C9mical,  about  the  old  lairds  of  this 
time-honoured  lineage ;  and  among  others,  that  ot 
the  seven  Bible^  and  the  seven  bottles  of  ale,  which 
he  afterwards  inserted  in  a  note  to  The  Bride  of 
Lammermoor.*     He  was  also  full  of  anecdotes 

*  "It  waa  onoe  the  aravenal  costom  to  place  ale,  wine,  or  some 
Btroog  liquor,  in  the  cbauiber  of  aa  honoured  guest,  to  asBUMe  Wg 
thint  tbould  he  feci  anjr.on  awakening  in  the  night,  which,  oon- 
■idering  that  the  hoapitalHy  of  Chat  period  often  reached  exeeas, 
waa  by  no  meana  unlikely.  The  author  has  met  aooie  inatancea 
of  it  in  former  dajra,  and  in  oUfashioned  fkmilies.  It  waa.  pe»> . 
faapa,  DO  po«tic  fi<^on  Uiat  records  how 

'  My  cummer  snd  I  lay  down  u>  ileep 

With  two  pint  atoupt  at  cur  bed  few  ; 

And  mje  wn«n  we  wakeii'd  we  drunk  ibem  dry  ; 

Wliat  think  jrou  o'  my  cnmmer  «nd  I  V 

"  It  ia  a  ciment  atorv  in  Tevjotdale,  that  in  the  bouae  of  an  an* 
clent  family  of  distinction,  much  addicted  to  the  Preabyterian  causa* 
a  Bible  waa  alwavs  put  uito  the  sleeping  apartment  of  the  tttetHa, 
alonf^  with  a  bottle  of  strong  ale.  On  some  occasion  Ihere  was  a 
meeting  of  clergymen  in  the  vicinity  of  the  castle,  all  of  whom 
were  invited  to  dinner  by  the  worthy  Baronet,  and  several  abode 
all  night.  According  to  the  laahlon  of  the  timea,  aeven  of  the  re« 
verend  guesu  were  alk>tted  to  onejarge  barrack-room,  which  was 
Qsed  OD  auch  occaaiooa  of  extended  boapitality.^liB  butJefLlook 
Digitized  by  VjOOQIC 


%\i 


LIFE  OP  SIR  WALTER  SCOTT. 


•bout  a  friend  of  his  fathePs,  a  miniater  of  LilUesleaf; 
who  raigned  for  two  senerations  the  moat  popular 
preacher  ia  Teviotdale;  but  1  forget  the  orator's 
naoie.  When  the  original  of  Saunders  Fairfoi;^OQn- 
gratulated  him  in  his  latter  dasrs  on  the  undiminish- 
ed authority  he  still  maintained— «very  kirk  in  the 
Seighbourhood  being  left  empty  when  it  was  known 
e  was  to  mount  the  Uni  at  anv  country  sacrament 
—:the shrewd  divine  answered,  "Indeed,  Mr.  Walter, 
I  sometimes  thinK  it's  vera  surprising.  There's  aye 
a  talk  of  this  or  that  wonderfully  gilied  young  man 
frae  the  college ;  but  whenever  Tm  to  be  at  the  same 
occasion  with  ony  o'  them,  I  e'en  mount  the  white 
horse  in  the  Revelations,  and  he  dings  them  a'." 

Thus  Scott  amused  himself  and  us  as  we  jogL__ 
homewards :  and  it  was  the  same  the  following  day, 
when  (no  election  matters  pressing)  he  rode  with  us 
to  the  western  peak  of  the  Eildon  ndls,  that  he  might 
ahow  me  the  whole  panorama  of  his  Teviotdale,  and 
expound  the  direction  of  the  various  passes  by  which 
the  ancient  forayera  made  their  way  into  England, 
and  tell  the  namea  and  the  histones  of  many  a 
iQonastic  chapel  and  baronial  peel,  now  mouldering 
,in  glens  and  dingjes  that  escape  the  eye  of  the 
traveller  on  the  high  wave.  Among  other  objects  on 
which  he  descanted  with  particular  interest  were  the 
ruins  of  the  earliest  residence  of  the  Kerrs  o(  Cess- 
ford,  so  often  opposed  in  arms  to  his  own  chieftains 
of  Branksome,  and  a  desolate  little  kirk  on  the  ad- 
Joming  moor,  where  the  Dukes  of  Rozburghe  are 
Btill  buried  in  the  same  vault  with  the  hero  who  fell 
at  Turnagaim  Turning  to  the  northward,  he  show- 
ed us  the  crags  and  tower  of  Smailholme,  and  be- 
hind it  the  shattered  fragment  of  Erceldoune—and 
repeated  some  pretty  stanzas  Ascribed  to  the  last  of 
the  real  wandering  minstrels  ox  this  district,  by  name 
Sum  .— 

"  Sins  Erceldonne,  and  Cowdeoknowes, 
Where  Homes  had  ance  comnmndlng, 
And  Drraranxe,  wi'  the  mllk'Whlte  ewes, 
TwUt  Tweed  and  Leader  standlnf . 
The  bird  that  fleet  through  Redpath  trees 
And  Gledswood  banlcs  each  morrow, 
May  chant  and  Biag—noeet  LeatUr^t  haught 
And  Bonny  homnt  of  Yarrow, 

"  But  ftDnstrel  Bum  cannot  assuage 
His  grief,  while  life  endnreth, 
To  sec  the  changes  of  this  age 
Which  fleeting  nme  procnreth ; 
For  mony  a  place  stands  in  hard  case. 
Where  blythe  folks  kent  nae  sorrow. 
With  Homes  that  dwelt  on  Leader  side, 
And  Scous  that  dwelt  on  Yarrow." 

Tliat  night  h.e  had  again  an  attack  of  his  cramp, 
but  not  so  serious  as  the  former.  Next  morning  h( 
was  again  at  work  with  Ballantyne  at  an  early 
hour ;  and  when  I  parted  from  him  afllr  breakfast, 
he  spoke  cheerfully  of  being  «oon  in  Edinburgh  for 
the  usual  business  of  his  Court.  I  left  him,  however, 
inth  dark  prognostications ;  aitd  the  circumstances 
of  this  httle  visit  to  Abbotsford  have  no  doubt  dwelt 
on  my  mind  the  more  distinctly,  from  ray  having 
obs^ed  and  listened  to  him  throughout  under  the 
painful  feeling  that  it  might  very  probably  be  my 

On  the  6tji  day  of  May  he  received  the  intelligence 
•f  the  death  of  the  Duke  of  Buccleuch,  which  had 
pccured  at  Lisbon  on  the  20th  April ;  and  next  morn- 
ing Jie  wrote  as  follows  to  his  Grace's  brother  i— 
To  the  Lord  Montagu,  ^c.  tc,  Ditlon  Park,  Wintkor, 

^^    ^      ,     ,  "Abbouford,  6th  May,  1819. 

••My  dear  Lord, 
"I  heard  from  Lord  MelTllle,  by  yesterday's  post,  the 

!5R^**^.if!*  *T*"*?*!1?«  prefenl«i,  aoqoKiiM  to  enstom.each 
with  a  Bibie  and  a  bottle  of  ale.  But  after  a  KtUe  oooMiltatJoD 
amoof  tbeimelyea.  tbejr  are  ■aid  to  ImTo  recalled  ibo  domeitie  as 
he  was  ieaviof  the  apartment  '  My  frit^od,'  said  one  of  the  vener- 
UMo  fuesta. '  yoa  muct  know,  when  we  meet  tocether  as  bretkien, 
the  younsost  inmiaCer  reads  aloud  a  portion  or  Scripture  to  the 
iwt ;— only  one  Bible.  U^etpfore,  is  ncGessary ;  take  away  the  other 
SIX.  and  In  their  place  bnnf  six  mote  bottles  of  ale.' 

This  nnhA  woald  have  suited  the  '  hermit  sa^'  of  Jobnaoo, 
Jg?  {2**i!|lA'J?B         ioquired  for  the  real  road  to  bappioesa, 

*  CoAi«,  ay  lad,  and  driak  wmm  btar  !'  " 
-•st  Waoerly  NoveU,  Edit  18M,  VoL  nr,  p.  n. 


cslamUous  news  which  vour  I^rd^p*s  very  kind  letter 
this  moment  confirmed,  had  it  required  eonfirmsdoo.  Fot 
this  formight  peat  my  hopes  have  been  very  faint  indeed, 
and  on  Wednesday,  when  I  had  eecaskm  to  so  to  Tarrow, 
and  mv  horse  turned  firom  habit  to  go  up  the  avenue  at 
BowhIU,  I  felt  deeply  impressed  that  it  was  a  road  I  ahooldl 
seldom  travel  for  a  (one  time  at  least  To  your  Lordships 
let  me  add  to  myself,  Cbia  is  an  irreparable  losa,  for  such 
a  fund  of  excellent  sense,  high  pcinciple,  and  perfect 
honour,  have  been  rarely  combmed  in  the  same  IndfridQal 
To  the  country  the  inestimable  loss  will  be  Soon  felt,  even 
by  those  who  were  insensible  to  bis  merits,  or  wished  to 
detract  from  them,  when  he  was  amongst  usJ  In  my  opi- 
nion he  never  recovered  his  domestic  calamity.  He  wrote 
to  me  a  few  days  a(ter  that  cruel  erent,  a  most  aflectkmat* 
and  remarkable  leuer,  explaining  his  own  feelings,  and 
while  he  bened  that  I  would  come  to  him,  assunng  me 
that  I  shouklnnd  him  the  same  he  would  be  for  the  future 
years  of  his  life.  He  kept  his  word  ;  but  I  could  see  e 
grief  of  that  calm  and  concentrated  kind  which  claims  the 
hours  of  solitude  and  of  night  for  its  empire,  andgraduallj 
wa«te«i  the  springs  of  life. 

**  Among  the  thousand  painfhl  feelings  wtileh  this  me- 
hmcholy  event  bad  excited,  I  have  sometimes  Ihoogta  of 
his  distance  from  home.  Yet  ^his  was  done  with  the  beat 
intention,  and  upon  the  best  advice,  and  was  perhaps  the 
sole  chance  which  remained  for  re-estabUshmeat.  It  baa 
pleased  God  that  it  has  failed,  but  the  beat  means  were 
used  under  the  best  direction,  and  mere  mortality  can  do 
no  more.  I  am  very  anxious  about  the  dear  young  ladi«a. 
whose  lives  were  so  much  devoted  to  their  father,  and 
shall  be  extremely  desirous  of  knowing  bow  they  are. 
The  Dutchess  has  so  much  llrmaess  of  mind,  and  Ladj 
M.  so  much  affectionate  prudence,  that  they  will  warn  no 
snpport  that  example  and  kindness  can  aflbrd.  To  me  the 
world  seems  a  sort  of  waste  without  him.  We  bad  tamay 
JofkH  objects,  constant  intercourse,  and  unreserved  com- 
muiiication,  so  that  through  him  and  by  him  I  took  interest 
hi  many  things  altogether  out  of  my  own  where,  and  it 
seems  to  me  as  if  the  horizon  were  narrowed  and  lowered 
around  me.  But  God's  will  be  done  :  it  is  all  that  brother 
or  friend  can  or  dare  say.  I  have  reluctance  to  oMntton 
the  trash  which  Is  goftig  on  here.  Indeed,  I  thhik  Utde  is 
altered  shice  1  wrote  your  Lordship  fully,  ezcepfing  that 
last  night  late,  Chishokn*  arrived  at  Abbotsford  from 
Lithgow,  recalled  by  the  news  which  had  somehow  reach* 
ed  Edinburah— as  I  suspect  by  some  ofllciouBnesa  of 

He  left  Lithgow  in  such  a  state  that  there  Is  no 

doubt  he  will  carry  that  burgh,  unlesa  Pringlef  gets  Sel- 
kirk. He  is  gone  off  this  monUng  lo  try  the  possible  and 
Impossible  to  get  the  single  vote  which  he  wants,  or  tc 
prevail  on  one  person  to  stand  neuter.    It  is  possible  he 

nf  succeed,  tnough  this  event,  when  it  becomes  gene* 
y  known,  will  be  greatly  against  bis  eflbrts.  I  soould 
care  little  more  about  the  matter,  were  It  not  for  yoonf 
Walter,^  and  for  the  despite  I  feel  at  the  success  of  spec  v> 
latiotui  which  were  formed  on  the  probability  of  the  ereat 

which  has  happened.    Two  sons  of came  here 

yesterday,  and  with  their  father's  pbildsophlcal  spirit  of 
self-accommodation,  established  themselves  for  the  nig bt. 
Betwixt  them  and  Chlsholm's  noise,  my  head  and  my  sto- 
mach suffered  so  mush,  (under  the  necessity  of  drownlM 
feelings  which  I  could  not  express,)  that  I  had  a  return  of 
the  spasms,  and  I  felt  as  if  a  phantasmagoria  was  going  on 
arotmd  me.  Quiet,  and  some  indulgence  of  mtnral  and 
solitary  sorrow,  have  made  me  well.  To-day  I  will  tide  tip 
to  Selkirk  and  see  the  magistfates,  or  the  chief  of  them. 
It  is  necessary  they  should  not  th^  the  cause  deserted. 
If  it  is  thought  proper  to  suspend  the  works  at  Bowhifl. 
perhaps  the  measure  may  be  delaye4  till  the  decision  of 
this  matter. 

**  I  am  sur«,  my  dear  Lord,  yon  win  command  me  hi  all 
I  can  do.  I  have  only  to  rearet  it  is  so  little.  But  to  show 
that  my  gradtnde  has  survived  my  benefactor,  vrould  be 
the  pride  and  delight  of  my  Ufe.  I  never  ihoi^ht  it  po«ai« 
ble  that  a  man  could  have  lo? ed  another  so  much  whera 
the  distance  of  rank  was  so  very  great  But  why  recur  to 
things  so  painful  7  1  pity  poor  Adam  Ferguson,  whose  af- 
fections were  so  much  engaged  by  the  Duke's  kindness, 
and  who  has  with  his  gay  temper  a  generous  and  feelinf 
heart.  The  election  we  may  lose,  but  not  our  own  credit^ 
and  that  of  the  family— that  you  may  rest  assured  of.  My 
best  respects  and  warmest  sympathy  attend  the  dear 
young  ladlea,  and  Lady  Montagu.  I  shall  be  anxkms  te 
know  l)ow  the  Duchess-Dowager  does  under  this  great 
calamity .  The  poor  boy--what  a  slippery  world  is  before 
him,  aqd  how  early  a  dangerous,  because  a  splendid,  lot, 
is  presented  to  him !  But  he  has  your  personal  protec* 
tlon.  Believe  me,  with  a  deep  participation  in  your  pre- 
sent disfrcss,  your  Lordship's  most  faithfully, 

Waltss  Soott." 

•  Mr.  CWsbolni  was  the  Tory  Candidate  for  the  Selkirk 

♦  Mr.  Prinf  la  of  ClifU*.  the  Whig  candidate. 
:  Walttf  Ffaads,  the  present  Duke  off 


may  c 

rally  1 


gie 


LIFE  OF  SIR  WALTER  SCOTT. 


srs 


Soottdrewop  for  DtlTaiitvne's  newspaper  of  that 
week  the  brief  character  of  Charles,  Duke  of  Buc- 
deach.  which  has  since  been  included  in  his  Prose 
Kacellanies  (vol.  iv.) ;  tod  the  following  letter  ac- 
companied a  copy  of  It  ta  Ditton  Park. 

7b  the  Lord  Montagu^  4«.  4^.  4^. 
"  My  dewc  Lord. 

**I.jeiid  jou  the  newspaper  article  under  a  different 
cover.  I  have  atadied  so  much  to  auppreas  my  own  feel- 
iofa,  and  to  cive  a  just,  calm,  and  temperate  view  of  the 
excellent  auBject  of  our  present  sorrow,  such  as  I  con- 
ceive might  be  drawn  by  one  less  partially  devoted  to  him, 
that  it  has  to  my  own  eye  a  cold  and  lifeless  resemblance 
of  an  original  so  dear  to  me.  But  I  was  writing  to  the  pub- 
ic, and  to  a  public  \esa  acquainted  with  him  than  a  few 
years'  experience  would  have  made  them.  Even  his  own 
tenantry  were  but  just  arrived  at  the  true  estimation  of  his 
character.  1  wrote,  therefore,  to  Insure  credit  and  belief. 
in  a  tone  greatly  under  my  own  feelings.  1  hav«  ordered 
twenty -five  copies  to  be  put  in  a  different  shape,  of  which 
I  will  aend  your  Lordship  twenty.  It  has  been  a  painful 
task,  bat  I  feel  it  was  due  from  me.  I  am  just  favoured 
with  your  letter.  I  beg  your  Lordship  will  not  write  more 
frequently  than  you  find  quite  convenient,  for  you  must 
have  now  more  than  enoueh  upon  you.  The  arrangement 
respeeUiw  Boughton*  is  what  I  expected— the  lifeless  re- 
natns  wtUbe  laid  where  the  living  thoughts  had  long  been. 
I  grieve  that  I  shall  not  see  the  last  honours,  yet  I  hardly 
now  bow  I  could  have  gone  through  the  scene. 

^^  Nothing  in  the  circumstances  could  have  given  me 
the  satisfaction  which  I  leceive  from  your  Lordship's  pur- 
pose of  visiting  Scotland,  and  bringing  down  the  dear  young 
ndiea,  who  unite  so  manv  and  such  affecting  ties  upon 
the  regard  and  affection  or  every  friend  of  the  family.  It 
wlU  biB  a  measuse  of  the  highest  necessity  for  the  poiidcal 
iaiereflts  of  the  family,  and  vour  Lordship  will  have  an  op- 
portnnity  of  hearin|  much  information  of  importance, 
which  really  could  not  be  made  aubject  of  writing.  The 
cztfaiction  of  fire  on  the  hearths  of  this  great  house  would 
be  putting  oid  a  public  light,  and  a  public  beacon  in  the 
time  of  (£urki}bss  and  storms.    Ever  your  most  faithful 

W.  B." 

On  the  nth  of  May  Scott  returned  to  Edinburgh, 
and  was  present  next  day  at  the  opening  of  the  Court 
of  Session :  when  all  who  saw  bini  were  as  much 
stnick  as  I  had  been  at  Abbotsford  with  the  lament- 
able change  his  illness  had  produced  in  his  appear- 
ance. He  was  unable  to  neraist  in  attendance  at  the 
Clerk's  table— for  several  weeks  afterwards  I  think 
he  seldom  if  ever  attempted  it ;— and  I  well  remem- 
ber that,  when  the  Third  Series  of  Tales  of  My 
Landlord  at  length  came  oat  (which  was  on  the  lOtn 
of  Jane),  he  was  known  to  be  confined  to  bed,  and 
the  book  was  received  amidst  the  deep  general  im- 
pression that  we  should  see  no  more  of  that  parent- 
age. On  the  13th  he  wrote  thus  to  Captain  Fergu- 
nwho  had  arrived  in  London  with  the  remains 
e  Dnko  of  Buccleuch  :— 
TV  Cdptain  Adam  Fer/twon,  4r.  4^.  Montagu  ITouse^ 

**  My  dear  Adam.  1  an  sorry  to  say  I  have  had  another 
•igbt  days'  visit  or  my  disorder,  which  has  confined  me 
chiefly  to  my  bed.  It  is  not  attended  with  so  much  acute 
pain  as  in  spring,  but  witli  much  siclcness  and  wealiness. 
It  will  perhaps  shade  off  into  a  mild  chronic  complaint— 
if  it  returns  frequently  wiih  the  same  violence  I  shaU 
break  up  by  degrees,  and  follow  my  dear  Chief.  1  do  not 
mean  that  there  is  the  least  .cause  for  immediate  appre- 
hension, but  only  that  the  constitution  must  he  injured  at 
kst,  as  well  by  the  modes  of  cure,  or  rather  of  relief,  as  by 
the  pahi.  My  digestion  as  well  as  my  appetite  arc  for  the 
present  quite  gone— a  chani^e  from  former  days  of  Lcith 
nd  Newhaven  parties,  I  thank  Ood  1  can  look  at  this 
possibility  without  much  anxiety,  and  without  a  shadow 
of  fear. 

"Wlil  you.  If  your  time  serves,  undertake  two  little  com- 
miffsiona  for  me  7  One  respects  a  kind  promise  of  Lord 
Monfagu  to  put  Oeorjre  Thomson's  name  on  a  list  for  kirk 
preferment.  I  don't  like  to  trouble  him  with  letters— he 
must  be  overwhelmed  with  business,  and  has  hie  dear 
brother's  punctuality  in  replying  evrn  to  those  which  re- 
quire none.  I  would  (Bin  have  that  Scottish  Abr.  Adams 
provided  for  if  possible.    My  oilier  request  is,  that  you 

*  Bqiishtnn.  fn  NorthamptonRhtre.  Thi»  leat  came  into  tiie 
ponseawoQ  of  Hwiry,  Dnke  ofBucrkMich.  by  bj^  marriajre  mlh  llie 
duifhrer  and  heiieaa  oT  John,  the  last  Duke  oTMonUea.  who  au^ 
vived  for  many  years  her  son  Duke  (*hnrlps.  At  Bouirhton,  as  the 
r«*dfY  will  9^.  Hcott's  early  friend,  tho  Dutchess  Harriet  of  Boc- 
dcoeh.  had  been  baried  in  1814. 
40        2fi 


will,  if  yon  can,  see  Terry,  and^  ask  him  tfhst  is  dolaf 
about  my  dininc-room  chairs,  and  especially  about  the 
carpet,  for  I  ahaU  not  without  them  have  the  use  of  what 
Slender  calls  'mine  own  great  parlour.'  thla  seasoiL  1 
should  write  to  him,  but  I  am  really  unaole.  I  hope  yo« 
will  soon  come  down— a  sight  ofrou  would  do  me  good  at 
the  worst  turn  I  have  yet  had.  The  Baronet*  is  very  kind, 
and  comes  and  sits  by  me.  Every  body  likes  the  Regalia, 
and  I  have  heard  ef  uo  one  grucuing  their  Ao^t— but  you 
must  get  something  better.  I  have  been  writing  to  the 
Commie*  about  this.  He  has  been  inexpressibly  kind  in^ 
Walter's  matter,  and  the  Duke  of  York  has  promised  an 
early  commission.  When  vou  see  our  friend,  you  can 
talk  over  thia,  and  may  perhaps  aave  him  the  trouble  of 
writing  particular  directions  what  further  is  to  be  done, 
logo's  rule,  I  suppose — *  put  money  in  thy  purse.'  I  wish 
in  passing  you  would  ask  how  the  ladies  are  in  Piccadilly. 
Yours  ever 

W.  Scott." 

The  Bride  of  Lammerrloor,  and  the  Legend  of 
Montrose,  would  have  been  read  vrith  indulgence, 
had  they  needed  it ;  for  the  painful  circumstances 
under  which  they  must  have  been  produced  were  •• 
known  wherever  an  English  newspaper  made  its 
way;  but  I  believe  that,  except  in  numerous  typical 
errors,  which  sprung  of  necessity  from  the  author's 
inability  Id  correct  any  proof-sheetSL  no  one  ever 
afiected  to  perceive  in  either  tale  the  slightest  symp- 
tom of  his  m  a  lad  y.  D  ugald  Dalf^tty  was  pi  aced  by 
acclamation  in  the  same  rank  wiTh  Bailie  Jarvie— a 
conception  equally  new,  just,  and  humorous,  and 
worked  out  in  all  the  details,  as  if  it  had  formed  the 
luiurious  entertainment  of  a  chair  as  easy  as  waa 
ever  ahaken  by  Rabelais ;  and  though  the  character 
of  Montrose  himself  seemed  hardly  to  have  been  ^ 
treated  so  fully  as  the  subject  merited,  the  accus- 
tomed rapidity  of  the  novelist's  execution  would 
have  been  enough  to  account  for  any  such  defect. 
Of  Caleb  Bsldt^rstcino— (the  hero  of  onfi  of  the  nnny 
ludicrous  driiiHS'iLLtjnFi  which  hr  owed  tu  [Jlc.  [n,i^ 
Lord  Haddni^^Tnn*  a  mnr*  of  rarp  pJrasnniry,  and 
one  ofthebes^L  lelkra  ol  ofd  S<:o[eh  attsriiis  tb^Jt  I 
ever  heard) — j  en n not  as /  that  the  f^c^ciGTiJiI  opinion 
was  then,  nor  do  believe  it  ever  ftinct'  hue  been,  ^ 
veryfavourabk.  tt  wa^  pronaunced  at  the  time*  bv 
morethanonc  criliCi  d  fnerecancature  ;  and^  ihough 
Scott  himsi  If  wuitM  never  in  after  days  admit  ihte 
censure  to  hr^  just,  he  allowed  thfli  '*  he  might  huve 
sprinkled racbt-r  tno  friiich  parsley  ovpr hi?  tmckcn.*' 
But  even  thia  1>li  tm^^h,  for  I  Rr^m  thai  I  think  it  a 
serious  one,  LN>i  I  tii  [i<»i  dj^ tie rb  the  prufouud  interest 
and  pathoe  of  the  Uiitlt^  of  LamnfiermrKir^to  my 
fanoy  the  mcist  pure  iind  powt^rful  of  d  lit  he  tragedies 
that  Scott  ( vnr  punned.  The  rtedef  will  he  well 
pleased,  how4'!?pr|  to  have,  in  place  of  tLny  cntii^ai 
observations  on  ibia  w^irk,  the  following  ^articulam 
of  its  compfj=iitiun  from  tli4:?  notieii  which  its  ^rinier 
dictated  when  pirttditd  on  tht*  bed  from  wUsch  he 
well  knew  he  was  never  to  rise. 

"  The  book"  (says  James  Ballantyne)  "  was  not 
only  written,  but  published,  before  Mr.  Scott  was 
able  to  rise  from  his  bed ;  and  he  assured  me,  that 
when  it  wss  first  put  into  his  hands  in  a  complete 
shape,  he  did  not  recollect  one  single  incident,  char- 
acter, or  conversation  it  contained !  He  did  not 
desire  me  to  understand,  nor  did  I  understand,  that 
his  illness  had  erased  from  his  memory  the  original 
incidents  of  the  story,  with  which  he  Had  been  ac- 
quainted from  his  boyhood.  These  remained  rooted 
where  they  Jiad  ever  been ;  or,  to  speak  more  explicit- 
ly, he  remembered  the  general  facts  of  the  existence 
of  the  father  and  mother,  of  the,  son  and  daughter,  of 
the  rival  lovers,  of  the  compulsory  marriage,  and  the  ' 
attack'  made  by  the  bride  upon  the  hapless  bride- 
groom, with  the  general  catastropheof  the  whole. 
All  thpse  lhint;s  he  recollected,  just  as  he  did  before 
he  took  to  his  bed ;  but  he  literally  recollected  nothing 
else  .—not  a  single  character  woven  by  the  roman- 
cer, not  one  of  the  many  scenes  and  points  of  hu- 
mour, nor  any  thing  with  which  he  was  connected 
as  the  writer  of  the  work.  *  For  a  long  time,'  ha 
said.  *1  felt  myself  very  uneasy  in  the  course  of  my 
reading,  lest  I  should  be  startled  by  meeting  some-^ 

^  Mr.  William  Clark.  t  A  shiOiiff. 

2  The  Lord  Chief  CommissiooerAc^^  ^y  ^QQgl^ 


UPE  OP  SIR  WALTfiR  8Q0TT. 


thins  altogethei  gUrins  and  Cmtaitie.  Ho warer,  I 
-Tocolleeted  that  you  had  been  the  printer,  ana  I  felt 
■oie  that  you  would  not  haye  permitted  amr  thin^t  of 
this  sort  to  pass.'  *  Well,'  I  said,  '  upon  the  whole, 
how  did  you  Uke  it  1*  *  Why,*  he  said,  *a8  a  whole.  I 
felt  it  monstrous  gross  ana  grotesque ;  hut  still  the 
worst  of  it  made  me  laugh,  and  I  trusted  the  good- 
natured  public  would  not  be  less  indulj^ent.'  I  do 
not  think  I  ever  ventired  to  lead  to  the  discussion  of 
this  singular  phenomenon  again  :  but  you  may  de- 
pend upon  it  tnat  what  I  have  now  said  is  as  disunct- 
ly  reported  as  if  it  had  been  taken  down  in  short- 
hand at  the  moment ;  I  should  not  otherwise  have 
^ventured  to  allude  to  the  matter  at  all.  I  believe 
Vou  will  agree  with  me  in  thinkinf?  that  the  history 
of  the  human  mind  contains  noihmg  more  wonder- 
ful." 

Soon  after  Scott  re-appeared  in  the  Parliament- 
house,  he  came  down  one  Saturday  to  the  vaulted 
diamoers  below,  where  the  Advocates'  Library  was 
then  kept,  to  attend  a  meeting  of  the  Faculty,  and 
as  the  assembly  was  breaking  up  he  asked  rae  (o 
walk  home  with  htm,  taking  Ballantyne's  printing 
office  in  our  way.  He  moved  languidly,  and  said, 
if  he  were  to  stay  in  town  many  days,  he  must  send 
for  Sybil  Grey;  but^his  conversation  i^as  heart- 
whole;  and,  m  particular,  he  laughed  till,  despite 
his  weakness,  the  stick  was  flourishing  in  his  hao^ 
over  the  followirf|g  almost  incredible  specimen  of 
that  most  absurd  personage  the  late  Earl  of  Buchan. 
Hearing  one  morning  shortly  before  this  time, 
that  Scott  was  actually  in  extrtmis.  the  Earl  pro- 
ceeded to  Castle  street,  and  found  the  knocker  tied 
up.  He  then  descended  to  the  door  in  the  area, 
and  wis  there  received  by  honest  Peter  Mathieson, 
whose  face  seemed  to  confirm  the  woful  tklings,  for 
in  truth  his  master  was  ill  enough.  Peter  told  his 
Lordship  that  he  had  the  strictest  orders  to  admit 
no  visiter;  but  the  Eari  wouki  take  no  denial,  push- 
ed the  bashful  coachman  aside,  and  elbowed  his 
way  up  stairs  to  the  door  of  Scott's  bed-chamber. 
He  had  his  fingers  upon  the  handle  before  Peter 
*  could  give  warning  to  Miss  Scott ;  and  when  she 
appeared  to  remonstrate  against  such  an  intrusion, 
he  patted  her  on  the  head  like  f^  child,  and  persisted 
in  his  purpose  of  entering  the  sick-room  so  strenu- 
ously, that  the  young  lady  found  it  necessary  to  bid 
Peter  to  see  the  Earl  down  stairs  again,  at  what- 
ever dainage  to  his  dignity.  Peter  accordingly,  after 
trying  all  his  eloouence  in  vain,  gave  the  tottering, 
bustlmg,  old,  meddlesome  coxcomb  a  single  shove, 
—as  respectful,  doubt  not,  as  a  shove  can  ever^,— 
and  he  accepted  that  hint,  and  made  a  rapid  exit. 
Scott,  mean  while,  had  heard  the  confusion,  and  at 
len«th  it  was  explained  to  him :  when,  fearing  that 
Peters  gripe  michl  have  injured  Lord  Buchan's  for- 
ble  person,  he  desired  Jame^  Ballaptyno,  who  had 
been  sitting  by  his  bed,  to  follow  ihe  old  man  home 
—make  him  comprehend,  if  he  could,  that  the  family 
were  in  such  bewilderment  of  alarm,  that  the  or- 
dinary rules  of  civility  were  out  of  the  question— 
and,  in  fine,  inquire  what  had  been  the  obieci  of  his 
Lordship's  intended  visit.  James  proceeded  forth- 
with to  the  Earl's  house  in  George  street,  and  found 
him  struttinir  about  bis  library  in  a  towerin.;  indig- 
nation. Ballantyne's  elaborate  demonstrations  of 
respect,  however,  by  degrees  softened  him,  and  he 
condescended  to  explain  himself.  "  I  wished,"  said 
he,  "  to  embrace  Walter  Scott  before  he  died,  and 
-^form  him  that  I  bad  long  considered  it  as  a  satis- 
factory circumstance  that  he  and  I  were  destinod  to 
rest  together  in  the  same  place  of  sepulture.  The 
principal  thing,  however,  was  to  relieve  his  mind  as 
to  the  arrancements  of  his  funeral— to  show  him  a 
plan  which  I  had  prepared  for  the  procesBion— and. 
m  a  word,  to  assure  him  that  I  took  upon  myself 
the  whole  conduct  of  t)ie  ceremonial  at  Dryburgh." 
He  then  exhibited  to  Ballantyne  a  formal  pro- 

Sramme,  in  which,  as  may  be  supposed,  the  pre- 
eminent feature  was  not  Walter  Scott,  but  David 
Earl  of  Buchan.  It  had  been  settled,  inter  aKa^ 
tliat  the  said  Earl  was  to  pronounre  an  euloeium 
over  the  grave,  after  the  fashion  of  French  academi- 
cians m  the  Pert  la  Chaise. 


And  this  tillieat  umI  vaiMit  of  I  .  ^.  «.. 
the  elder  brother  of  Thomas  and  Henry  Srttuwi 
But  the  story  is  w^ll  known  of  his  boastiag  one  day 
to  the  late  Duchess  of  Gordon  of  the  extraocdinasf 
talents  of  his  family— wJien  her  unscrupulous  grace 
asked  him.  very  coolly,  whether  the  wit  had  not 
come  by  the  mother,  and  bean  all  settled  on  the 
younger  branch^s  1 

Scott,  as  his  letters  to  be  quoted  presently  will 
show,  had  several  more  attacks  of  his  disorder,  and 
some  very  severe  ones,  duriiig  the  autumn  of  1819 ; 
nor,  indeed,  had  it  quite  disappeared  until  about 
Christmas.  But  from  the  time  of  bis  return  to  Ab> 
botsford  in  July,  when  he  adopted  the  system  of 
treatment  recommended  by. a  skilful  physician,  (Dr. 
Dick,)  who  had  had  large  experience  in  maladies  of 
this  kind  during  his  Indian  liie.  the  ecftxures  Krad«- 
ally  became  less  violent,  and  his  confidence  that  ho 
was  ultimately  to  baffle  the  enemy,  remained  nn- 
shaken. 

As  I  had  no  opportunity  of  seeing  him  min  ootil 
he  was  almost  Entirely  re-established,  1  shall  leave 
the  progress  of  his  restoration  to  be  collected  from 
his  correspondence.  But  1  must  not  foreet  to  set 
down  what  his  daughter  Sophia  afterwarda  told  me 
of  his  condoet  upon  one  night  in  June,  when  he  reel* 
ly  did  despair  ot  himself  He  then  called  his  ckyd- 
ren  about  his  bed,  and  took  leave  of  them  wMh 
solemn  tenderness.  After  giving  them,  one  by  one^ 
such  advice  as  suited  their  years  and  characters,  he 
added,  "  For  myself,  my  dears,  I  am  imconscious  of 
ever  having  done  any  man  an  mjury.  or  omitted  anj 
fair  opportunity  of  doing  any  man  a  henent.  I  weU 
know  that  no  human  Uh  can  appear  otherwise  th«A 
weak  and  filthy  in  the  eyes  of  God )  but  I  rely  oa 
the  merits  and  intercession  of  our  Redeemer."  He 
then  laid  his  hand  on  their  heads,  and  said,  "  Ckxt 
bless  you !  Live  so  that  you  may  all  hope  to  meet 
each  other  in  a  better  place  hereafter.  And  novr 
leave  me  that  I  may  turn  my  face  to  the  walL** 
They  obeyed  him ;  but  he  presently  fell  into  a  deep 
sleep;  and  when  he  a%voke  from  it  afier  mtay 
hours,  the  crisis  of  extreme  danger  was  felt  by  him- 
self, and  pronounced  by  hia  physician,  to  have  I 
overcome. 


CHAPTER  XLV. 

OBADUAL    BS-ESTABLISHME2fT  OP  8COTT*8  HSALTH 

rvAi«HOB  m  psoeaass- HIS  son  waltcb  joum 

THE  BIOHTEENTH  BEOIMBHT  OF  fiUSSABS— SOOTT'a 
COBRBSPONDKNCfi  WITH  HIS  SON '-MISCBLUUftOOB 
LBTTEBS  TO  MBS.  MACLEAN  CLBPHANE— M.  "W. 
HAJITSTONOK— J.O.  LOCKHABT— JOHN  BALUarrVNX — 
JOHN  RICHARDSON — MISS  EDOEWOBTH — LOBO  M03I- 
TAGU,  ETC.— ABBOTBFORD  VISITBD  BV  PBINCK  LEO- 
POLD OF  BAXE-COBUBG— DEATH  OF  MRS.  WIUXAJI 
ERSKINE. — IBIO. 

Before  Scott  left  Edinburgh,  on  the  Itth  of  Jnlr, 
he  had  not  only  concluded  his  bari^ain  with  Con- 
stable for  another  novel,  but,  as  will  appear  from 
some  of  hia  letrors,  made  considerable  progress  in 
the  dictation  of  Ivanhoe. 

That  he  already  felt  great  confidence  on  the  score 
of  his  health,  may  be  inferred  from  his  allowing  hia 
son  Walter,  about  the  middle  of  the  month,  to  Join 
the  1 8th  Regiment  of  Hussars,  in  which  be  had, 
shortly  before,  received  his  commiasion  as  ComeL 

Scott's  letters  to  his  son,  the  first  of  his  fomilr 
that  left  the  house,  will  merit  henceforth  a  good 
deal  of  the  reader's  attention.  Walter  was,  when 
he  thus  quitted  Abbotsford  to  try  his  chances  in  the 
active  world,  only  in  the  eighteerfth  year  of  his  age  s 
and  the  fashion  of  education  in  Scotland  is  such, 
that  he  had  scarcely  ever  slept  a  night  under  a  dif- 
ferent roof  from  his  parenta,  until  this  separation 
occurred.  He  had  been  treated  from  his  cradle  witk 
all  the  indulgence  that  a  man  of  sense  can  ever  per- 
mit himself  to  show  to  any  of  his  children ;  and  for 
several  years  be  had  now  been  bis  father's  daiy 
companion  in  all  of  his  out  doors  occupadom 
and  amusements.  The  parting  was  a  painfid  onei 
but  Scott's  ambiupn  centred  in  the  heir  of  his  name. 
and  instead  of  fruitless  pinings  and  lamentingSi  h» 
Digitized  by  V^OOQlC 


UPA  OF  tafc  WUJEmBCOTT. 


m 


heacefytth  nuids  it  hit  eoii«t«nt  budtfieM  to  keep 
up  Mich  a  frank  oorrespondence  with  the  yoans  man 
as  might  enable  himaelf  to  exert  over  him,  when  at 
a  distance,  the  gentle  infllence  of  kindness,  experi- 
ence^ and  wisdom.  The  series  of  his  letters  to  his 
•on  19,  in  roy  opinion,  by  far  the  most  interesting 
and  valuably  as  respects  the  personal  character 
and  temper  or  the  writer.  It  will  eaailv  be  supposed 
that,  as  the  young  officer  entered  Ailly  into  his  fa« 
ther  B  generous  views  of  what  their  correspondence 
ou^t  to  be,  and  detailed  every  little  incident  of  his 
new  career  with  the  same  easy  confidence  as  if  he 
had  been  writing  to  a  friend  or  elder  brother  pot 
Tiay  widely  difierin(^  from  hims^  in  standing,  the 
answers  abound  with  opinions  dn  subjects  with 
which  I  have  no  right  to  occupy  or  enterifun  my 
readers ;  but  I  shall  introduce,  in  the  prosecunon  of 
thtswork,  as  many  specimens  of  Scott's  paternal 
advice  as  I  can  hope  to  render  generally  intelligible 
without  indelicate  explanations— and  more  espe- 
emAir  aocfa  as  may  prove  serviceable  to  other  youn^ 
persons  when  first  embarking  under  their  own  pi- 
lota^  npon  the  sea  of  life.  Scott's  manly  kindness 
to  his  boy.  whether  he  is  expl^sing  approbation  or 
censure  of  his  conduct,  can  require  no  pomting  out ; 
and  his  practical  wisdom  was  of  that  liberal  order, 
based  on  such  comprehensive  views  of  man  and  the 
world,  that  I  am  persuaded  it  will  often  be  found 
availaUe  to  the  circumstanoes  of  theu'  own  various 
,  by  yonng  men  <Mf  whatever  station  or  pro- 


]  shall,  nevertheless,  adhere  as  usoal  to  the  chro^ 
Dobgical  order;  and  one  or  two  miscellaneous  let- 
ters mnst  aceoraingly  precede  the  first  article  of  his 
correspondence  with  the  Cornet.  He  alludes,  how- 
erer,  to  the  youth's  departure  in  the  fbllowing^— 
TV  Mrg.  Maclean  dephane  qfThn-UdBk. 

"  AbbolBford,  July  16th,  1819. 
"Dear  Mrs.  Clephaoe. 

"  Nothiog  could  fpve  mc  more  pleasiure  than  to  hear 
TOO  are  well,  and  thinking  of  looking  this  way.  You  will 
tnd  rnO  my  things  in  very  different  order  /Vom  when  you 
were  here  last,  and  plenty  of  room  for  matron  and  nu8S« 
nun  and  maid.  We  have  no  engagements,  except  to 
Newton  Don  about  the  20lh  August— if  we  bo  alive— no 
oareasonable  proviso  in  so  long  an  engagement.  My 
health,  however,  seems  in  a  fair  way  of  being  perfectly 
reotored.  It  is  a  joke  to  talk  of  any  other  remedy  than 
that  forceful  but  most  unpleasant  onc-^alomel.  1  cannot 
say  fever  felt  advantage  from  any  thing  else;  and  I  am 
perfectly  satisfied  liiat.  used  as  an  alterative,  and  taken  in 
very  small  quantitict)  for  a  long  time,  it  mu»t  correct  all 
the  inaccuracies  of  the  biliary  organs.  At  least  it  has  done 
so  in  my  c»»e  more  radically  than  I  could  have  believed 
peasible.  I  have  intermitted  the  regime  for  some  days, 
but  begin  a  new  course  next  week  for  precaotion.  Dr. 
Dick,  of  the  East  India  Company's  service,  has  put  me  on 
this  course  of  cure,  and  says  he  never  knew  it  fail  unless 
when  the  liver  was  irreparably  Injured.  I  believe  I  sliall 
go  to  Carlsbad  next  year.  If  1  must  go  to  a  watering- 
place,  I  should  nke  one  where  I  might  hope  to  see  and 
team  something  new  myself,  Insteaid  of  being  hunted 
down  by  some  of  the  confounded  lion-catchers  who  haunt 
EBg(^sh  spas.  I  have  not  the  art  of  being  savage  to  those 
people,  though  fex^are  more  annoyed  by  them.  I  alvrays 
Udak  of  9nug  the  Joiner— 

* If  I  should  as  lion  eomf  in  strife 

Into  such  place,  'twere  pity  on  my  life.' 
*  I  have  been  delared  in  answering  your  kind  letter  bv 
Walter's  departure  trom  us  to  join  bis  regiment,  the  I8th 
DrafDons.  He  has  chosen  a  profession  for  whloh  he  is 
welTiraited,  being  of  a  calm  but  remarkably  firm  temper 
—fond  of  nathematics,  engineering,  and  all  serts  ofycal* 
eolation— clear-headed,  and  good-natured.  When  you 
add  to  this  a  good  person  and  good  manners,  with  great 
4ej(tcrity  in  lK>r8emanshlp  and  all  athletic  exercises,  and 
a  strong  constitntiou,  one  htpes  you  have  the  grounds  of 
a  good  soldier.  My  own  selfi«h  wish  would  have  been  that 
be  should  have  followed  the  law  ;  bat  he  really  had  no  vo- 
cation that  way,  wanting  the  acuteneM  and  uvelioess  of 
loteUeet  indispensable  to  making  a  figure  in  that  profes- 
siofi.  8o  I  am  satisfied  all  is  for  the  best,  oqly  I  shall  miss 
wsf  famekeeper  and  companion  in  my  rides  and  walks. 
Bat  so  it  was,  Is,  and  must  be— the  young  must  pari  from 
the  neat,  and  learn  to  wing  their  own  way  against  the  storoL 
*^  I  beg  my  best  and  kindest  compliments  to  Lady  Comp- 
too.  Scoopiug  to  write  hurts  me,  or  I  would  have  sent 
b^  a  few  ilnea.    As  I  shall  be  stationary  here  for  aU  this 


J,  /  abaU  not  see  her,  perhaps,  for  kmf  enoi^ 

Mrs.  9cott  and  the  gtrls  jofai  m  ben  love,  and  i  am  ever, 
dear  Btrs.  Clephane,  your  (Uthfhl  and  most  obedient  ser- 
vant,  Waltbb  Scott.** 

1  faaTe  had  some  hesitation  about  introducing  the 
next  letter—which  refers  to  the  then  recent  publica- 
tion  of  a  sort  ef  mock-tour  in  Scotland,  entitled^ 
'*  Peter's  Letters  to  his  Kinsfolk."  JVobody  but  a 
very  young  and  a  very  thoughtless  person  could  have 
dreamt  of  putting  forth  such  a  book :  yet  the  Epis- 
tles of  the  imaginary  Dr.  Morris  have  been  so  often 
denounced  as  a  mere  string  of  libels,  that  I  think 
it  fJBur  to  show  bow  much  more  lenienti;r  Scott  jiidg- 
ed  of  them  at  the  tima  Moreover,  his  letter  is  a 
goed  epecimen  of  the  liberal  .courtesy  with  which, 
on  all  occasions,  he  treated  the  humblest  aspirants 
in  literature.  Since  I  have  alluded  to  Peters  Let- 
ters at  all,  I  may  as  well  take  the  opportunity  of  add- 
ing^ that  they  were  not  wholly  the  work  of  one  hand. 
To^jQ.  Lockhartf  Eaq.y  Cambroe  Souse^  BoUtftovn. 

"  Abbotsford,  July  19th,  1819. 
•*  My  dear  8lr, 

**  JHatinguertdum  est.  When  I  receive  a  book  es 
dono  of  the  author,  in  the  general  case  I  offer  my  thanks 
with  all  haste  before  I  cut  a  leaf,  lest  peradventure  I  should 
feel  more  awkward  in  doing  so  afterwards,  when  they 
must  not  only  be  tendered  for  the  welt  printed  votumes 
themselves,  and  the  attentjon  which  sent  them  my  way. 
but  moreover  for  the  supposed  pleasure  I  have  received 
from  the  contents.  But  with  respect  to  the  learned  Dr. 
Morris,  the  case  Is  totally  diflbrent,  and  I  formed  the  im-^ 
mediate  resolution  not  to  say  a  word  about  that  gentle* 
man's  labours  without  having  read  them  at  least  twice 
over— a  pleasant  t^k,  which  has  been  interrupted  partly 
by  my  being  obliged  to  go  down  the  country,  partly  by  an 
invasion  oitne  Southron,  in  the  persons  of  Sir  John  Shel> 
ley,  famous  on  the  turf,  and  his  lady.  I  wish  Dr.  Morria 
had  been  of  the  party,  chiefly  for  the  benefit  of  a  little 
Newmarket  man,  called  Cousins, Svhose  whole  Ideas,  si- 
miles, iUusti'ations,  dec.  were  derived  from  the  course  and 
training  suble.  He  was  perfectly  good-humoured,  and 
I  have  not  laughed  more  tlus  many  a  day. 

^  I  think  the  Doctor  has  got  over  his  ground  admirably ; 
— pnhr  the  general  turn  of  the  book  is  pertu^)s  too  favour* 
able,  both  to  the  state  of  our  public  society,  and  of  indl* 
vidual  character : 

*  His  fools  have  their  follies  so  lost  in  a  crowd 
Of  virtues  and  feelings^  that  folly  grows  proud.'* 
But  It  was.  In  every  point  of  view,  right  to  take  this  more 
favourable  tone,  and  to  throw  a  Claude  Lorraine  tint  over 
'  our  northern  landscape.  We  cannut  bear  the  actual  bare 
truth,  either  in  conversation,  or  that  which  approaches 
nearest  to  conversation,  in  a  work  like  the  Doctor's,  pub* 
lished  within  the  circle  to  which  it  refers. 

"  For  the  rest,  the  Doctor  has  fully  maintained  his  high 
character  for  force  o(  expression,  both  serious  and  comic, 
and  for  aruteness  of  observation— rem  €icu  le/i^7— and 
his  scalpel  has  not  been  Idle,  though  his  lenient  hand  haa 
cut  sharp  and  clean,  and  poured  balm  Into  the  wound. 
What  an  acquisition  it  would  have  been  to  our  general  in> 
formation  to  have  had  such  a  work  wriuen,  I  do  not  say 
fitly,  but  even  five-and-twenty  years  ago ;  and  how  much 
of  grave  and  gay  might  then  have  been  pre8ervedj.aa  it 
were,  in  amber,  which  have  now  mouldered  away.  When 
1  think  that  at  an  age  not  muchyoungcr  than  yours,  I  knew 
Black,  Ferguson,  Robertson,  Enikine,  Adam  i^muh,  Joha 
Home,  &c.  Ac.,  and  at  least  saw  Bums,  I  can  appreciate 
better  tltaoany  one  the  value  of  a  work  which,  like  this, 
would  have  handed  them  down  to  posterity  in  their  living 
colours.  Dr.  Morris  ought,  like  Nourjahad,  to  revive 
every  half  century,  to  record  the  fleeting  manners  of  the 
age,  and  the  interesting  features  of  those  who  will  be  only 
known  to  posterity  by  their  works.  If  I  am  very  partial 
to  the  Doctor,  which  I  am  not  inclined  to  deny,  remei» 
ber  I  have  been  bribed  by  his  kind  and  delicate  accl^unt 
of  his  visit  to  Abbouiford.  Like  old  Cumberland,  or  Uke 
my  own  gray  cat,  I  will  e'en  purr,  and  put  up  my  back, 
and  enjoy  his  kind  flattery,  even  when  I  knew  It  goes  be- 
yond my  merits. 

"  I  wish  you  would  come  and  spend  a  few  days  here, 
while  this  delightful  weather  lasts.  I  am  now  so  well  as 
quite  to  enjoy  the  society  of  my  friends.  Instead  of  the 
woful  pickle  in  which  I  was  in  spring,  when  you  last  ftp 
vourea  me.  It  was,  however,  dignua  vindice  nodiu^  for 
no  less  a  deity  descended  to  my  aki  than  the  potent  Mer- 
cury himself,  in  the  shape  of  calomel,  which  1  have  beea 
obl4ed  to  take  dally.  thou«h  in  small  quantities,  for  these 
two  months  past.    Notwithstanding  the  inconveniences 

•GoU«iilh'sJttsto««rto«.i      r\r\c^\(> 
Digitized  by  VjVjVjy  Ic 


816 


UPE  OP  SIR  WALTER  SCOTT. 


of  this  remedy.  I  thrive  upon  U  inoct  marvellonaly,  hav- 
faig  recovered  ooth  sleep  and  appetite  ;  so  when  you,in' 
cline  to  come  this  way,  you  wiil  find  me  looking  pretty 
bopbishlt/.— Yours  very  truly, 

yiALTER  SOOTT." 

On  the  same  day,  Scott  wrote  as  follows  to  John 
fiallantyne,  who  had  started  for  London,  on  his 
route  to  Paris- in  quest  of  articles  for  next  winter's 
auction-room— and  whose  good  offices  he  was  anx- 
ious to  engage  on  behalf  of  the  Cornet,  in  case 
they  should  happen  to  be  in  the  metropons  at  the 
same  time. 

To  Mr,  John  Ballantyne,  care  of  Messrs.  Longman 
and  Co. ^  London. 

"  Abbotsford,  July  19th,  1819. 
"  Dear  John, 

**  1  have  only  to  say,  respecting  matters  here,  that 
ihey  are  all  going  on  quietly.  The  first  volume  Is  very 
Dearly  finished,  and  the  whole  will  be  out  in  the  first  or 
second  week  of  September.  It  will  be  well  If  you  can 
report  yourself  in  Britain  by  that  time  at  farthest,  as  some- 
thini  must  be  done  on  the  back  of  this  same  Ivanhoe. 

'*  Walter  left  us  on  Wednesday  night,  and  will  be  in 
town  by  the  time  this  reaches  yoiil  looking,  I  fancy,  very 
like  a  cow  in  a  fremd  loanini.  *  He  will  be  heard  of  at 
Miss  Dumergne's.  Pray  look  after  him,  and  help  him 
about  his  purchases. 

*'  I  hope  you  will  be  so  successful  in  your  foreign  jour- 
ney as  to  diddle  the  Edinburgh  folk  out  of  some  cash  this 
winter.  But  don't  forget  September,  if  you  wish  to  par- 
'  take  the  advantagcH  thereof. 

^  1  wish  you  would  see  what  good  reprints  of  old  books 
are  come  out  this  year  at  Triphook's,  and  send  me  «  nolo 
of  them-— Yours  very  truly, 

W.  Scott.* 

John  Ballantyne  found  the  Comet  in  London,  and 
did  for  him  what  his  father  had  requested. 
To  Mr.  John  Ballantyne. 

"  AbboUford,  July  26, 1819. 
**  Dear  John, 

"  I  have  yours  vrtih  the  news  of  Walter's  rattle-traps, 
which  are  alximlnably  extravagant  But  there  is  no  help 
for  it  bat  submission.  The  things  seem  all  such  as  can- 
not well  be  wanted.  How  the  devil  they  mount  them  to 
such  a  price  the  tailors  best  know.  They  say  it  takes  n/ne 
tailors  to  make  a  man— apparently  one  is  sumcient  to  rnln 
him.  We  shall  rub  through  here  well  enough,  though 
James  is  rather  glnmpy'and  dumpy— chieflv,  I  believe, 
because  his  child  is  unwell.  If  you  can  make  any  more 
money  for  me  in  I<.ondon,  good  and  wclL  I  have  no  spare 
cash  till  Ivanhoe  comes  forth.— Tours  truly, 

W.  Scott. 
**  P.  8.    Enclosed  we  sundry  letters  of  introduction  for 
the  c»-derant  I^ird  of  Gilnockie." 

To  Mias  Edgeworth  of  Edgeworthstown. 

"  Abbotsford,  July  21, 1819. 
»» My  dear  Miss  Edceworth, 

**  When  this  shall  happen  to  reach  your  hands,  it  will  be 
accompanied  by  a  second  edition  of^  Wal^er  Scott,  a  tall 
copy,  as  soUectors  say,  and  bound  in  Turkey  leather, 
garnished  with  all  sorts  of  fur  and  frippery— not  quite  so 
well  lettered,  however,  as  the  old  and  vamped  original  edi- 
tion. In  other,  and  more  intelligible  phrase,  the  tail  comet 
of  hussars,  whom  this  wiil  introduce  to  you,  is  my  eldest 
•on,  who  Is  now  just  leaving  me  to  join  his  regiment  in 
Ireland.  I  have  charged  him,  and  he  is  himself  sufiSciem- 
ly  anxious,  to  avoid  no  opportunity  of  making  your  ao- 
guaintance,  as  to  be  known  to  the  good  and  the  wise  is  by 
nr  the  best  privilege  he  can  derive  from  my  connexion 
with  literature.  I  have  always  felt  the  value  of  having  ac- 
cess to  persons  of  talent  and  genius  to  be  the  best  part  of 
a  literary  man's  prerozative,  and  you  will  not  wonder,  I 
am  sure,  that  I  should  be  desirous  this  youngster  should 
hav^  a  share  of  the  same  benefit. 

"  I  have  had  dreadful  bad  health  for  many  months  past, 
and  have  endured  more  pain  than  I  thought  was  consistent 
with  life.  But  the  thread,  though  fraJI  in  some  respects, 
s  tough  h)  sthers ;  and  here  am  I  with  renewed  health, 
and  a  fair  prospec*  of  regaining  my  strength,  much  ex- 
hausted by  such  a  trair  of  suffering. 

"  1  do  not  know  wljen  this  will  reach  you,  my  son's  mo- 
tions being  uncertain.  But,  find  vou  where  or  when  it 
will,  it  c<^mes,  d«ar  xM«ss  Edgeworth,  from  the  sincere  ad- 
mirer of  your  ?eniuH,  and  of  the  i^riotic  and  excellent 
manner  in  which  It  has  always  been  exerted.  In  which 
character  I  subscribe  myself  ever  yours  truly, 

WaltbiSoott." 

I  believe  at  the  time  when  the  foregoing  letter  was 
«  JmtUcs -a  strange  laaew 


written,  Scott  and  Miss  Edegworth  had  never  met. 
The  next  was  addressed  to  a  gentleman,  wboa^  ac- 
qnaintance  the  poet  had  formed  when  collecting 
materials  for  his  edition  oi  Swift.  On  that  occasion 
Mr.  Hartstonge  was  of  great  service  to  Scott — and 
he  appears  to  nave  paid  him  soon  afterwards  a  Tisit 
at  Abbotsford.  Mr.  Hartstonge  was  an  amiable  and 
kind  hearted  man,  and  enthusiastically  devoted  to 
literature;  but  his  own  poetical  talents  were  un- 
doubtedly of  the  sort  that  finds  little  favour  either 
with  gods  or  columns.  He  seems  to  have  written 
shortly  before  this  time  to  inquire  about  his  old  ac- 
quaintance's healU). 

To  Matthew  Weld  TlarUtonse^  Eaq..,  Molenoorth  Street, 
Dublin. 

"Abbotsford, July  21,  1819. 
"My  dear  Sir,  » 

"Fortunately  God  Mercury  descended 

in  the  shape  of  calomel  to  relieve  me  in  this  dignus  Tin- 
dice  nodusy  and  at  present  my  srstem  is  preuy  strong.  In 
the  mean  while  my  family  are  beginning  to  get  Ibrwarda. 
Walter— <you  remember  my  wading  into  Cauldshiela  loch 
to  save  his  little  frigate  from  wrectc)— is  now  a  Comet  of 
six  feet  two  inches  in  your  Irish  l8Ui  Hussars  ;  the  regi- 
ment is  now  at  Coric,  and  will  probably  be  next  removed 
to  Dublin,  so  you  will  sec  your  old  friend  with  a  new  face ; 
be- furred,  be- feathered,  and  be- whiskered  in  the  hlchesi 
military  ton.  I  have  desired  him  to  call  upon  you^  should 
he  get  to  Dnblin  on  leave,  or  come  there  upon  duty.  I 
miss  him  here  very  much,  for  he  was  my  cooipanioa, 
gamekeeper.  Sec  4u*.,  and  when  one  loses  ooe^s  own 
health  and  strength,  there  are  few  things  so  oleasaai  as  lo 
see  a  son  enjoying  both  in  the  vigour  or  hope  and  promise. 
Think  of  this,  my  good  friend,  and  as  you  nave  kind  affile- 
fions  to  make  some  good  girl  nappv,  settle  yourself  in  life 
iruik^  you  are  young,  and  lay  up  by  so  domg,  a  stock  of 
if'Mr  fstic  happiness,  against  age  or  bodily  decay.  There 
aio  /'lany  good  thhigs  m  life,  whatever  satirists  and  mis- 
anthiupes  may  say  to  the  contrary,  but  probaUy  the  best 
of  all,  next  to  a  conscience  \;9ld  of  offence,  (without  which, 
by  the  by,  they  can  hardly  exist,)  are  the  quiet  exercise 
and  enjoyment  of  the  social  feelings,  in  which  we  are  at 
once  happy  ourselves,  and  the  cause  of  happiness  to  them 
who  are  dearest  to  us.  I  have  no  news  to  send  you  from 
hence.  The  addition  to  my  house  is  completed  with  bat- 
tlement and  bartisan,  but  the  old  cottage  remains  hidden 
among  creepers,  until  I  shall  have  leisure,  i.  e.  time,  and 
money — to  build  the  rest  of  my  mansion— which  I  wlD  not  i 
do  hastily,  as  the  present  Is  amply  sufficient  for  accommo- 
dation. Adieu,  my  dear  sir,  never  reckon  the  degree  of 
my  regard  by  the  regularity  of  my  correspondence,  for 
besides  the  vde  dfseases  of  laziness  and  procrastination, 
which  have  always  beset  me,  I  have  had  of  late  both  pain 
and  languor  sufficient  to  justify  my  ^lence.  Believe  use, 
however,  always  most  truly  yours,       Waltib  Scott." 

The  first  letter  the  young  Cornet  received  from  bis 
father  after  mounting  his  "  rattle  traps"  was  the  fol- 
lowing :— 

To  Cornet  Walter  Scott^  I8th  Hussars,  Cork. 

"  Abbotsford,  Aug.  1, 1819. 
"  Dear  Walter, 

"  I  was  glad  to  find  you  got  safe  to  the  hospitable  quait 
ters  of  Piccadilly,  and  were  put  on  the  way  of  achjevinf 
your  business  well  and  expeditiously.  You  would  re- 
ceive a  packet  of  inlroductoiy  letters  by  John  fiallamyoe, 
to  whom  I  addressed  them. 

"I  had  a  very  kind  leUer  two  divu  ago  from  your 
Colonel.*  Had  I  got  it  sooner  it  wonld  have  saved  some 
expense  in  liondon,  but  there  Is  no  help  for  it  now.  As 
you  are  very  fully  provided  with  aH  these  appointments, 
you  must  be  particular  in  taking  care  of  them,  otherwise 
the  expense  of  replacing  them  will  be  a  great  burden. 
Ckilonei  Murray  seems  disposed  to  show  you  much  atton- 
lion.  He  is,  I  am  told,  rather  a  reserved  man,  which  in- 
deed is  the  manner  of  his  family.  You  will,  therefore,  be 
the  more  attentive  to  what  he  says,  as  well  as  to  answer  all 
advances  he  msy  make  to  you  with  cordiality  and  frank- 
ness ;  for  if  you  be  shy  on  the  one  hand,  and  be  reserved 
on  the  other,  you  cannot  have  the  benefit  of  his  advice, 
which  I  hope  and  wish  you  may  gain.  1  shall  be  guided  by 
his  opinion  respecting  your  allowance :  he  stipulates  that 
you  shall  have  only  two  horses,  (not  to  be  changed  with- 
out his  consent,)  and  on  no  account  keep  a  gig.  Yon 
know  of  old  how  I  detest  that  mania  of  drivmg  wheel-bar^ 
rows  up  and  down,  when  a  man  has  atumdaomehorseand 
can  ride  him.  They  are  both  foolish  and  expensive  tbings, 
and,  in  my  opinion,  arc  only  fit  for  English  bagmen^ 
therefore  gig  it  not,  1  pray  you. 

*  The  tiipn  commandant  of  the  18th  HasrafS  was  Lieat  Colaod 
the  Hon.  Henry  Murray,  brothqr  to  ^BvUfil^tDalield 


UFE  OF  SIR  WALTER  SCOTT. 


wr 


■b  bi^taf  your  hotfMt  ron  will  btf  Terj  eanttoot. 
•ee  GolcM^  Mumj  has  deflcmcjr  about  aaflfadni  yt 
rectly  tn  this  matter— for  h^  savs  verr  truly  t£at  soma 


I 
(you  dl> 


gcfliiemeii  make  a  sort  of  lt%mc  In  horse-flesb— firom 
viiich  bis  duty  and  Inclination  equally  lead  him  to  steer 
cieMT.  Bm  he  win  take  care  that  you  don't  buy  any  that 
■re  anfit  for  sCTrice,  as  in  the  common  course  ^er  must 
tw  aupiofed  by  the  comnumdant  as  cKargera.  Besides 
vfaicn,  he  will  probably  give  you  some  pnrate  bints,  of 
wUch  aTail  yourself,  as  there  Is  erery  chance  of  your 
aeedinf  rnucn  adrico  in  this  business.  Two  things  I 
Breach  on  my  own  experience.  1st,  Never  to  buy  an  aced 
horse,  bowerer  vhowy .  He  must  have  done  work,  and,  at 
my  rmt«,  wlU  be  unserrtceable  in  a  few  rears.  9dly,  To 
\nj  rather  when  the  horse  Is  something  low  in  conrntion, 
that  Tou  may  the  bener  see  all  his  points.  Six  years  Is 
the  oldest  ml  which  I  would  purchase.  You  will  run  risk 
of  being  jockeyed  by  knowing  gentlemen  of  your  own 
corps  parting  with  their  experienced  chargers  to  oblige 
you.  l^ke  care  of  this.  Any  good  tempered  horse  learns 
the  dragoon  duty  in  wondermlTy  short  time,  and  you  are 
rider  enoogh  not  to  want  one  quite  broke  in.  Look  well 
tbool  you,  and  out  into  the  country.  Excellent  norses 
tre  bred  all  through  Munster,  and  better  hare  a  clever 

Bone  than  an  old  regimental  brute  foundered  by  re* 
1  charges  and  bolts.  If  you  see  a  brother  officer's 
that  pleases  you  much,  and  seems  reasonable,  look 
paniciilarlj  how  he  stands  on  his  forelecs,  and  for  that 
purpoee  see  him  fai  the  stable.  If  he  shiils  and  shakes  a 
Etfle  have  nothing  to  say  to  hloi.  This  is  the  best  I  can 
aArise,  not  doubting  you  wOl  be  handsomely  excised  sft^r 
tB.  The  olAcer  who  leaves  his  corps  mav  be  disposing 
of  good  horses,  and  peihsps  selling  reasonable.  One  who 
cootfnoes  will  not,  or  at  least  should  not,  part  with  a  good 
horse  witbom  some  great  advantage. 

*"  You  will  remain  at  Cork  till  rou  have  learned  your  re- 
gfaental  doty,  and  then  probably  be  dispatched  to  some 
oobiiiarter.  I  need  not  say  how  anxious  I  am  that  rou 
ahonld  keep  up  your  languages,  mathematics,  and  other 
ttodlea.  70  mtve  lost  that  which  vou  already  In  some 
degree  possess— and  thatwMch  we  don't  practice  we  soon 
farget— would  be  a  subject  of  unceadng  resret  to  you 
hereafter.  Ton  have  good  introductions,  and  don't  ne- 
|lMt  to  arail  yourself  of  them.  Something  in  this  respect 
wa  name  may  do  for  you— a  fair  advantage,  if  used  with 
oscretion  and  proprietv.  By  ths  way,  I  suspect  you  did 
not  can  on  John  Richardson. 

**The  firls  were  very  dull  after  you  left  us ;  Indeed  the 
I  Bight  you  weni  away,  Anne  had  hysterica,  which  lasted 
aome  time.  Charles  also  was  down  in  the  mouth,  and 
papa  aad  mamma  a  little  grave  and  dej  ected.  I  would  not 
have  you  think  yourself  of  too  great  importance  neither, 
far  the  greatest  personsges  are  not  always  long  missed, 
sad  to  make  a  bit  of  a  parody, 

*  Down  faUs  the  rain,  up  gets  the  sun, 
Just  as  if  Walter  were  not  gone.' 

We  comfort  ourselves  with  the  hopes  that  you  are  to  be 

kappy  in  the  occupation  you  have  chosen,  and  in  your 

^Mw  society.    Lot  me  know  if  there  are  any  well-informed 

Ben  among  them,  though  I  don't  expect  yon  to  find  out 

^uft  for  some  time.    Be  civil  to  all  till  you  can  by  degrees 

lod  out  who  are  really  best  deserving. 

**I  enclose  a  letter  from  Sophia,  which  doubtless  con* 
isfaw  all  the  news.  St  BoswefPs  Fair  rained  miserably, 
and  disappointed  the  missea  The  weather  has  since  been 
(kBgfatfui,  and  harvest  advances  fast.  All  here  goes  its 
okjl  round— the  habits  of  age  do  not  greatly  change,  though 
tlMiseofyouthdo.  Mamma  has  been  quite  well,  and  so  have 
I— but  I  still  take  calomel.  I  was  obliged  to  drink  some 
darel  with  Sir  A.  Don,  Sir  John  Shelley,  and  a  funny  little 
Kewmarkst  quizxy,  called  Cousins,  whom  they  brought 
here  with  them  the  other  day,  but  1  was  not  the  worse. 
I  wish  you  had  Sir  J.  8.  at  your  elbow  when  you  are  buy* 
iu  your  horses— be  is  a  verv  knowing  man  on  the  turf. 
1  Uke  bis  lady  very  much,  she  is  perfectly  feminine  In 
her  manners,  has  good  sense,  and  ptovs  divinely  on  the 
harp ;  besides  all  which,  she  shoots  wild  boars,  and  is  the 
boldest  horsewoman  I  ever  saw.  I  saw  her  at  Paris  ride 
tace  a  lapwing  In  the  midst  of  all  the  alde*de-camps  and 
iaiu  of  the  Duke  of  Wellington. 

*•  Write  what  your  horses  come  to,  Ac.  Your  outfit 
«fl  be  an  expensive  matter ;  but  once  settled,  it  will  be 
^irty  Umiehing  you  into  life  In  the  war  you  wished,  and 
I  trust  you  will  seethe  necessity  of  prudence  and  a  gentle- 
manlike econom/,  which  consists  chiefly  in  refusing  one- 
self trifling  indulgences  until  we  can  easilr  pay  for  them. 
Once  more,  I  beg  you  to  be  attentive  to  Colonel  Murrav 
aad  to  bis  lady.  I  near  of  a  disease  among  the  moorfowl. 
I  suppose  they  are  dying  for  grief  at  your  departure. 
IveTi  my  dear  hoy,  your  decaonats  father, 

-  *..  "  Waltm  Soott." 


«  7th  August,  1819. 
**  Dear  Walter,  i 

**....  I  shau  be  curious  to  know  how  you  Ukeyow 
brother-ofllcerB,  and  how  you  dispose  of  your  time.  The 
drills  and  riding-school  will,  of  course,  oc6upy  sauch  of 
▼our  mornings  for  some  time.  I  trust,  however,  yos  wiU 
keep  in  view  drawing,  languages,  Ac.  It  is  astonishtog 
how  far  even  half  an  hour  a-day,  regularly  bestowed  on 
one  object,  will  carry  a  man  hi  making  himself  master  of 
It  The  habit  of  dawdling  away  time  la  eaaily  acquired, 
ttDd  so  is  that  of  putftng  every  moment  either  to  use  or  to 
amusement 

**  Ton  will  not  be  hasty  in  formtog  hitimacies  with  any  of 
your  brother  officers,  until  you  observe  which  of  them 
are  most  gener^y  respected,  and  likely  to  prove  most 
creditable  mends.  It  is  seldom  that  the  people  who  put 
themselves  hastily  ibrward  to  please,  are  those  moat  wor- 
thy  of  being  known.  At  the  same  time  vou  will  take  care 
to  return  aUclvltity  which  Is  ofrered,-wlth  readtaiess  and 
ftrankneas.  The  Italians  have  a  proverb,  which  I  hope 
you  have  not  forgot  poor  Pierroul'a  lessons  so  far  as  not 
to  comprehend—*  Volte  eeioUo  e  penoieri  etretti. '  There 
is  no  occasion  to  let  any  one  aee  what  you  exactly  think  of 
him ;  and  It  is  the  less  prudent,  as  you  will  find  reason,  hi 
all  probability,  to  change  yoiur  opinion  more  than  once. 

*^I  shall  be  glad  to  hear  of  your  behig  fitted  with  a  good 
servant  Most  of  the  Irish  of  that  class  are  scapegraces 
—drink,  steal,  and  Ue  like  the  devil.  If  you  could  pick  up 
a  canny  Scot  It  would  be  well  Let  me  know  about  your 
mess.  To  (brink  hard  is  none  of  your  habits,  but  even 
drinking  what  ia  called  a  certain  quanUCjr  every  day  hurts 
the  atomach,  and  by  hereditary  descent  vours  Is  delicate. 
I  believe  the  poor  Duke  bf  Buccleuch  laid  the  foundation  , 
of  diat  disease  which  occasioned  his  premature  death  in 


the  excesses  of  ViUar's  regiment,  snd  I  am  aornr  i 
ashamed  to  say,  for  your  warning,  that  the  habit  of  dri 
(ng  vrine,  so  much  practls^  when  I  was  a  y<uing  man, 


ashamed  to  say,  for  your 

(ng  vrine,  so  much  pract-^- .    — «  — ^ 

occasioned,  I  am  convinced,  many  of  my  cruel  stouiaeh 
complainta  Tou  had  better  drink  a  bottle  of  wine  on 
any  particular  occasion,  than  sit  and  soak  and  sipple  at  an 
English  phit  every  day. 

^AU  our  bipeds  are  welL  Hamlet  had  an  inflammatory 
attack,  MMl  I  began  to  think  he  was  going  mad.  after  the 
example  of  his  great  namesake,  but  Willie  Laidlaw  bled 
him, and  he  liairecovered.  Pussy  is  very  well  Mam> 
ma,  the  girls,  and  Charlie,  join  ia  k)ve.  Tours  alTectioa- 
ately,  W.  8. 

**  P.  S.— Always  mention  what  letters  of  mine  you  have 
received,  and  write  to  me  whatever  cornea  into  your  head. 
It  is  the  privilege  of  great  bova  when  distant  that  they 
cannot  tire  papas  by  any  length  of  detaU  upon  any  sab- 
ject" 

^  the  Senne. 

""  Abbotsford,  laih  August,  1819. 
"My  dearest  Walter,  ^ 

"  I  am  very  much  obliged  to  Cokmel  Murray  for  the 
trouble  he  has  taken  on  your  behalf.  1  hope  he  baa  re- 
eelvsd  the  letter  which  I  wrote  to  him  a  fortnight  staice 
under  Mr.  Freeling's  cover.  It  enck>sed  a  parcel  of  let- 
ters to  you.  I  took  the  liberty  of  asking  his  advice  what 
allowance  you  should  have  toassist  you.  Tou  know  pret- 
ty well  my  circumstances  and  your  own,  and  that  I  wlah 
you  to  be  comfortable,  but  not  In  any  respect  extrava- 
gant ;  and  this  for  your  own  sake,  and  not  for  tiiat  of  mo- 
ney, which  I  never  valued  very  much,  perhaps  not  so 
much  as  I  ought  to  have  done.  I  think  by  speaking  to  Co- 
fonel  Murray  you  may  get  at  his  ophikm,  and  I  have  so 
much  trust  in  your  hoiiour  and  afTeetlon  as  to  confide  in 
your  ns»i»<"g  your  own  allowance.  Mean  time,  lest  the 
horse  shouM  stsrve  while  the  grass  grows,  I  enclose  a 
cheque  upon  Messrs.  Coutts  for  jCSO,  to  accompt  of  your 
first  year^  allowance.  Tour  paymaster  wiU  give  you  the 
money  for  it  I  dare  sav.  Tou  nave  to  indorse  th^  bill,  i.  e. 
write  your  name  on  the  back  of  It 

"  All  concerned  are  pleased  with  your  kind  tokens  of 
remembrance  from  London.  Mamma  and  I  like  the  ca- 
ricatures very  much.  I  thtaik,  howeves,  scarce  any  of 
them  shows  tne  fancy  and  talent  of  old  Oilray :  he  became 
taisane,  I  suppose  by  racking  lils  brain  in  search  of  extra- 
vagant ideas,  and  was  supported  In  his  helpless  condition 
by  the  woman  who  keeps  the  groat  print  shop  Id  St 
James*  Street,  who  had  the  generosity  to  remember  that 
she  had  made  thousands  by  his  labour. 

"  Every  thing  here  goes  on  hi  the  old  fashion,  and  we 
are  all  as  well  as  possible,  saring  that  Charles  rode  to 
Lawrence  fair  yesterday  in  a  private  excursion,  and  made 
himself  sick  vrith  eattng  gingerbread,  whereby  he  came 
to  disgrace. 

"  Sophia  has  your  letter  of  the  4th,  which  she  received 
yesterday.  The  enclosed  vrill  help  you  to  set  up  shop 
and  to  get  and  pay  whatever  is  neoesisry.    IwishwehM 


«8 


UPE  OP  SOI  WALTEE  SOOOT. 


a  tooeh  of  70  ir  hand  10  Biak^tlM  parties  rise  In  the  morn* 
IMU  at  wbtob  tkeT  ahow  aa  little  alertneta  aa  usual 
^^fbef  you  wUJ  keep  an  account  of  money  refidNadftiid 
IMkL  Buy  a  ytUe  book  ruled  for  the  purpose,  for  pounda, 
skfUings,  sod  pencst  ^d  keep  an  account  of  cask  recahr* 
edaiMlpzpeAdcd.  The  balance  oufht  to  be  cash  in  purse, 
if  the  Book  is  regularly  kept.  But  any  venr  amaU.  ex- 
penses you  can  enter  aa  *^sundriea,  £0:i:  6,"  which 
saves  trouble. 

**  Tou  will  find  this  most  satisfactory  and  usefuL  But, 
indeed,  arithmetic  is  indispensable  to  a  soldier  who  means 
to  rise  io  his  profession.  AU  military  movements  depend 
upon  calculation  of  time,  numbers,  and  distance., 

"  Dogs  all  well— cat  sick— supposed  wittveaiinf  birds  in 
their  feattiers.  Sisters,  brother,  and  mamma,  jom  in  love 
to  the  '  poor  wounded  hussa^rr'W  dare  say  you  have 
heard  the  song,  if  not,  we  ahall  send  it  for  the  benefit  of 
the  mess.    Yours  affectionately, 

Waltbr  Scott. 

"  P.  S.^Yesterday  tAs  I2th  would,  I  suppose,  produce 
some  longings  after  the  Peel  heights." 

In  (he  following  letter  to  Mr.  Richaidson.  we  tee 
Soott  bosied  about  certain  little  matters  of  heraldic 
importance  which  had  to  be  settled  before  his  oateitt 
of  oaronetcy  couhi  be  property  made  out  He  aleo 
alludes  to  two  little  volumes,  which  he  edited  during 
tWs  autumn—tbe  Memorials  of  the  Haliburtons,  a 
tbin  Quactp  (never  published)— and  tbe  poems  of 
Patrick  Caref ,  of  wuich  he  aad  given  specimens 
some  years  before  in  the  Annual  Ref^ster. 

TiJohn  Richardton,  Eiq.,  Ftudytr  Streetf  WsMtmintter. 

«*  Abbefsford,  SM  Aagost,  18I9i 

E  Mn  sorry  Wi^er  did  not  get  to  your  kind  domlclla. 
Bm  he  staid  but  aboat  five  or  six  days  to  London,  aMd 
greatwaahlahaate^aayoamayweU  suppose.  B^hada 
wortd  of  trinkoma  tft  get,  for  yon  know  there  goes  aa 
mnch  to  the  man-nilltnery  of  a  yoanvofflaer  of  hussara 
aa  to  that  of  an  heiress  on  her  bridal  day.  Hla  comaloie 
equipage,  horsea  notinohided.  cost  about  £360,  and  if  tou 
add  acouple  of  blood  horaes,  tt  wlU'be  jSaoOmOfre,  besMes 
the  price  of  his  commission,  for  the  privilege  of  geidag 
the  hardness  of  his  akuU  tried  by  a  bnokbai  at  the  next 
meeting  of  Radical  ReforaMTa.  I  am  netmuah  alMd  of 
these  (oiks,  however,  because  I  remember  1793  and  17M, 
when  the  aame  ideas  poaaassed  a  much  mot«  formidable 
elaas  of  the  people,  being  received  by  a  large  proportton 
of  ^srmers,  shopkeepers,  snd  others,  possessed  of  sulb- 
stsaca.  AmeremobvriUalwayaboafireofloaaeatiaw; 
but  it  is  melancholy  to  thhikof  the  individual  miachief  that 
may  be  done.  I  did  imi  find  it  qnite  advisable  to  take  so 
kmg  a  journey  as  London  tnis  summer.  I  am  quite  reco- 
vered ;  bnl  my  laat  attack  was  of  ao  dreadful  a  nature,  that 
I  wish  to  be  quite  insured  sgainst  another-^',  a.  aa  mfich 
aa  oofe  can  be  insuffed  sgSbMf  sach  a  oiromnstance— be- 
fore leaving  home  for  any  leocth  of  tiasok 

**  To  retnna  to  the  vaniaesor  tnla  weddfinom  wiaf  tteea^ 
ened  to  hurry  me  to  the  next,  I  eock>aa  a  drawing  of  n^r 
arma  wMh  the  supporters  whiah  the  heralda  here  aaaign 
ma.  Our  friend  Harden  aeeraa  to  wish  I  wo«M  adopt  one 
of  hki  Bfer^naidena,  otherwlae  they  ahookl  be  both  Moors, 
aaon  thaleft  side.  I  have  also  added  an  impresalooof 
ay  aeaL  Tou  can  fumlah  Sir  Ctoorga  Nayior  with  as 
much  of  my  genealogy  as  wU  serve  ttiejpresenc  pnrpoae. 
1  shall  lose  no  time  in  connecting  myieliby  a  generu  aer- 
viee  with  mr  graaduncle,  the  last  Halibmrton  of  Dfybunh 
Abbey,  or  Newmahi^  as  they  call  IL  '  I  spoke  to  the  Lvoii- 
oflke  people  in  Bdinbuxigh.    1  find  my  entry  there  wul  be 


rough  br^  OavaBer,  and,  1  think,  no  bad  ttrjier: 


'eofi^1ini«(ita  to  Mrs.  Richardson, 
chardion,  most  truly, 


Kind 


Waltbb  Bcott.* 


*  My  dear  Richardson, 
^  I  an 


» people  hi  Bdinbuxf  h.  1  find  my  entry 
an  easy  matter,  the  proofa  being  Fery  pregnant  and  aocea- 
aible.  I  would  not  atop  for  a  trifling  expanae  to  reglater 
my  pedigree  Ui  England,  as  far  as  you  thmk  may  be  necea- 
sary,  tiy  show  that  It  ia  a  deoent  one.  My  ancestors  were 
brave  and  honest  men,  and  1  have  no  reason  to  be  asham- 
ed of  them^  though  they  were  neither  wealthy  nor  great 
**  As  something  of  ao  antiquary  aad  genealogist,  I  shonkl 
not  like  there  were  any  mlatakts  in  tnia  matter,  ao  I  send 
you  a  small  note  of  my  deaoent  by  my  father  and  my  pa- 
ternal grandmother,  with  a  memorandum  of  the  proofo 
by  which  they  may  be  supporied,  to  which  I  might  sdd  a 
wnole  cloud  of  oral  wimesses.  1  hate  the  being  suspect- 
ed of  fishing  for  a  pedigree,  or  bolstering  one  up  with 
false  statements.  How  people  can  bring  themaelvea  to 
this  1  cannot  conceive.  )  send  you  a  copy  of  the  Halibur- 
ton  MS.,  of  which  I  have  printed  twenty  for  the  satisfac- 
tion of  a  few  friends.  You  can  have  any  part  of  them 
copied  in  London  which  t>ught  to  be  registered.  I  shookl 
like  if  Sir  George  Navlor  would  take  the  trouble  of  look- 
ing at  the  proofa«  wttich  are  chielly  extracta  from  the 
foblio  records.  I  take  this  opportanHy  to  send  you  also 
a  copy  of  a  lUile  ataatauitboefc— Carey'a  Poems-^  the- 


To  Cornet  W.  Seott,  I9th  Bu^nn,  Ow*. 

.  «'Abbotsford,  4th  8ep(^  1819. 
«  Dear  Walter, 

"  Your  very  acceptable  leuer  of  the  26tb  reached  me 
to-day.  I  had  begun  to  be  apprehensive  that  the  draft  had 
fallen  into  the  hands  of  tbe  Philistines,  but  the  very  lon$; 
calm  must  have  made  the  packeu  slow  in  their  progress, 
which  I  suppose  wss  the  occasioo  of  the  delay.  Respec  t- 
ing  the  allowanoe,  Ck>lonel  Murray  informs  me  that  irotn 
jC200  to  jB250,  in  addition  to  the  pay  of  a  Comet,  ougta  to 
make  a  voung  man  vory  comfortable.  He  adds,  which  I 
am  much  pleased  to  hean  that  your  officers  are^  many  of 
them,  men  of  moderate  foriuue,  snd  disposed  to  be  ccr>- 
nomlcal.  I  had  thought  of  jCaoO  as  what  would  auit  uj 
both,  but  when  I  sec  the  account  which  you  very  pro- 
perly keep,  I  Shan  be  better  able  to  determine.  U  muj>: 
be  considered  that  any  uncommon  expense,  as  the  ius» 
of  o  horse  or  the  like,  may  occasion  an  extra  draught  over 
and  above  the  allowance.  I  like  very  much  your  me 
thodtcal  {trrangement  as  to  expenses;  it  is  rather  a  tire 
some  thing  it  nrst  to  keep  an  accompt  of  pouiulju  abOImss 
tod  pence,  but  it  is  highly  necessary,  and  enables  one  co 
see  how  the  money  actually  goes.  It  is,  besides,  a  good 
practical  way  of  keening  up  acquaintance  vrith  arithmetic, 
and  you  w(U  soon  flod  thst  the  princtplea  on  which  all 
mUitary  movements  turn  are  arithmetical,  ahd  that  though 
one  may  no  doubt  learn  to  do  them  by  rote,  yet  to  «mJ«r 
stand  thenu  yoQ  must  have  recourse  to  nnmbers.  Your 
adjutant  will  esplsin  this  to  you.  By  the  way,  aa  he  Is  a 
foreigner*  you  will  have  an  opportunity  to  keep  up  a  Jitde 
of  your'  French  snd  German.  ^Ih  sre  hlgh^  neceasaxy 
to  you :  the  knowledge  of  the  Isat,  with  few  other  qaalifl- 
cations,  made  severar  ofllcens'  fortunes  Issrvrar. 

*•  I  observe  with  pleasure  you  are  makiDgAcquSlntsnces 
among  the  gentry,  which  I  hope  you  will  riot  drop  for 
want  of  callmg,  £t.  I  trust  you  have  dcBVcred  all  your 
recommendations,  for  it  !•  an  aflront  to  omit  doing  so. 
both  to  the  person  who  writes  them,  and  those  for  whou 
they  are  designed.  On  the  other  hand,  one  always  holds 
their  head  a  little  better  up  to  the  world  when  they  kec^ 
good  society;  Lonl  and  Lady  MehUle  are  to  give  you  rp- 
contmendationa  when  you  go  to  Dublin.  T  was  at  Mel- 
vme  Castle  for  two  days,  and  found  them  both  well.  Iwu 
also  one  day  at  Langhohn  lodge  to  meet  Lord  BContsgu. 
Possibly,  among  your  Irish  friends,  you  maj  get  some 
shoodng.  I  shall  be  glad  you  avail  yourself  of  any  such 
opportunities,  and  ajso  that,  when  you  get  your  owa 
horsea,  yon  hunt  In  the  winter,  If  you  be  wfthhi  the  reach 
of  hounda.  Nothtog  confirms  a  man  to  horsemad^p  so 
weO  aa  hunting,  though  I  do  not  reconunend  it  to  begin- 
ners, who  are  apt  toieam  to  ride  like  grooms.  Besides 
the  exercise,  fimd-sports  raSke  a  young  soldier  acquatot- 
ed  with  the  country,  and  habituate  hUn  to  have  a  good 
eye  for  distance  sAd  for  takbig  up  the  e<krfe  <te  poy*  to 
general,  vrhich  Is^ssentlal  to  all.  but  especisDy  10  oflfcers 
of  Hght  troops,  who  are  expected  to  display  both  alenoei^ 
ana  imelUgence  to  reporttog  the  nature  of  the  coomryf 
being  in  »ct  the  eyes  of  the  army.  In  every  point  of 
view,  field  sports  are  preferable  to  the  to-doors  amns^ 
ment  of  a  blBlard-labte,  which  is  too  often  the  kmnging- 
place  for  idle  young  oificers,  vrhere  there  is  nothis^  to  ht 
got  but  a  habit  ofthrowing  away  dme,  and  an  aeopatnt- 
ance  with  the  very  worst  soclety—I  mean  at  public  bll- 
Itard-rooms— forunquesdonably  the  game  itaelf  is  apretiy 
one,  when  practlsea  among  gentlemen,  snd  not  made  s 
constant  habit  of.  But  public  billiard^tables  are  abnoet 
always  the  resort  of  black-legs  and  sharpers,  and  all  tha; 
numerous  class  whom  the  «"ench  call  t%evaiiera  d^ln- 
dwtrte,  andwc  knights  of  the  whippingpott. 

"  1  am  glad  you  go  to  the  anatomical  Icctnrea.  An  sc- 
qusintance  with  our  own  very  extraordinary  frame  is  a 
useftd  branch  of  general  knowledge,  and  as  you  have 
some  turn  for  drawing,  it  will  also  enable  you  to  jtzdr*' 
of  the  proper  mode  of  disposing  the  limbs  and  mu5^ 
clcs  of  ytmr  figures,  shoold  y^ujproMcute  the  art  ao  far. 
Ita  fact,  there  Is  no  branch  of  study  can  come  much  ami«s 
to  a  young  man,  providing  he  does  study,  and  very  often 
the  precise  occupMion  ofthe  tipe  must  be  trusted  to  taste 
and  opportunity. 

"  The  Wliite  Boys  made  a  grest  noise  when  I  was  a  boy. 
Battreland  (the  more  Is  the  pity)  has  never  been  wHhom 
White  Boys,  or  Right  Boys,  or  Defenders,  or  Peep-of-day 
Boys,  or  some  vrild  association  or  another  for  dtstarbing 
the  pesce  ofthe  country.  We  shall  not  be  many  degrees 
better  if  the  Radical  reformers  be  not  checked.  Tho 
Manchester  Yeomen  behaved  very  weU,  upsetting  the 
most  immense  crowd  ever  was  seen,  aad  notwfthsisndtag 
the  Ilaa  to  the  papers,  vrithout  any  unnecessary  violence 


Lira  OF  Sm  WALTER  SCOOT. 


«IAi  aabiQi,  but  hu  no  wound  to  show  for  it.  I  am  dis- 
posed to  wish  he  had  got  such  a  one  as  once  on  a  day  I 
eoold  hare  treated  him  to.  I  am  apt  to  think  his  politic 
pate  woold  liave  broached  no  more  sedition. 

^  Mim  Rotherford  and  EHiza  Rossell  are  now  with  us. 

W«  were  abo  favoured  with  a  visit  of  the  Mina s, 

w1k>  axe  rather  empty  canisterSf  though  I  dare  say  very 
food  girls.     Anne  tired  of  them  most  inho^itably.    Mrs. 
MaeLiean  Clephsne  and  her  two  unmarried  daughters  ara 
DOW  liere  ;  being,  as  wc  say,  pears  of  another  tree.   Your^ 
^ster^  seem  very  fpnd  of  llie  young  ladies,  and  I  am  giad 

f  it^for  they  wfU  see  that  a  great  deal  of  accomplishment 
and  tnforznatlon  may  be  completely  reconciled  with  live- 
Itness,  fun,  good-humour,  and  good- breeding. 

*  An  here  send  love.  Dogs  and  cat  are  well.  I  dare 
9*7  you  have  heard  from  soiiie  other  correspondent  that 
poor  Lady  Wallace  died  of  an  inflammation,  afier  two 
daya*  Illness.  Trout*  has  returned  here  several  times— 
j«x>r  fellow— and  seems  lo  look  for  you ;  but  Henry  Scott 
IS  very  kind  to  him,  and  he  i«  a  great  favourite. 

"As  you  |Ius.sara  smoke,  I  will  give  you  one  of  my 
pipe*,  ^ut  you  must  let  me  know  how  I  cain  send  it  safely. 
k  ts  a  very  hand-some  one.  though  not  my  best.  I  will 
k^p  nij  MetT'Schaum.  until  I  make  my  continental  tour, 
aod  then  you  shall  have  that  also.  I  hops  you  will  get 
leave  fox  a  few  mouths,  and  go  >Vith  me.  Voiu"s  yery 
affectionately 

Waltbb  Soott.'* 

Abctot  tfaifl  time,  fis the  succeadin^lettere  will  show, 
Abbotsford  hnd  the  honour  of  a  short  visii  from  Prince 
Leopold  of  Saxe-Cobun?,  now  King  of  the  Belgian f«. 
Immediately  afterwards  Scott  heard  of  the  death  of 
Mra*  William  Erskine*  and  repaired  to  Edinburgh, 
to  condole  with  his  afflicted  Tnend.  His  allusions, 
m«an  while,  to  views  of  buying  more  land  on 
TweedMde,  are  numeroua.  These  speculations  are 
ttpbioed  in  a  most  charactedatic  style  to  the  Cor- 
net :  and  we  see  that  one  of  them  Was  cut  short 
by  the  tragical  death  of  a  ttnmetdaird  already  in- 
troduced to  the  reader's  notice— namely,  Laucftie 
tonglega^  the  adhtired  of  QeoflVejr  Crayon. 
Tb  Otmtl  Waltw  SeoU^  IBth  AiM«ar«,  CorA. 

*"  Abhotsford,  2rth  dtpt.,  I8t9i 
•"l^d^ur  Waker, 

*  Toor  letter  of  the  lOih  gave  ma  the  {Jleaaant  auranuice 
daf  you  ar«  wstl  aad happy,  and  attenoii^ to  yournro^Mt- 
risii.  ^Ve  have  been  jogging  on  here  in  the  ekt  fashloh,^ 
■ooMwhat  varied  by  an  unexpoeted  vtolt,  on  Friday  last, 
fran  no  less apemon  than  Prince  Leopold.  I  eoachide 
fm  WfU  have  all  the  partieulara  of  this  Important  ei^enc 
from  the  otbei^  members  of  the  fuuHy,  so  I  shall  onlf  say 
ttet  when  I  meatioaed  the  number  of  your  regiment,  the 
Pvtaee  scdd  he  had  seveval  (HeiidB  in  t«e  I8th,  and  should 
aow  tkimlk  he  had  one  more,  whfch  was  very  poltie.  By 
dM  w«y,  I  hear  an  exoeDem  character  of  your  officers  for 
rifvlaricy  al^d  gentfemanlike  masmere.    This  report  gives 

r  pleasure ;  fer  to  live  in  bad  sooiety  wiU  de^ve 
mamierS)  and  to  live  in  good  wfll  improte  the 


ihebeei  ( 


tryhig  a  sovt  of  baiaaln  wUh  neighbour  Nice! 
s  atpreeenr.  He  is  very  deittvona  of  puting  vdth  his 
e  of  Paidonslde,  and  If  he  wfH  be  contented  vrltH  a 
rea»oBable  price,  I  am  equally  desirous  to  be  the  pnr- 
thamr.  1  eoneeive  it  wW  come  to  about  £90.000  at  least 
I  wot  noc'a^ree  toa^ea  penny  more:  and  i  think  that 
•am  iji  probably  jC20O0  and  more  above  its  actual  marketer 
ble  vslne.  Bm  then  it  lies  extremely  eomrenlent  for  us, 
aod  woold,  yoinedto  Abbo(«ford|  make  a  very  gentleman- 
like  property,  worth  at  least  iSiBOO  or  JB9900  a*year.  I 
tan  commaBd~ahotit  £10,000  of  my  own,  and  if  I  be  spared 
life  aod  healftv  I  ahooUi  sot  <^ar  mbbkHf  off  the  reat  of 
the  price,  as  Nicol  is  in  no  Iwacry  for  payment  As  you 
«ni  iracceeU  me  in  my  labde^  property,  I  think  it  right  to 
commonlcate  my  views  to  you.  I  am  much  move^  by  the 
proispect  of  gettiqg  at  about  £2000  or  £3000  worth  of 
marie,  wWch  Dea  on  Milne's  side  of  the  loch,  but  which 
can  only  be  drained  on  Biy  sidi;,  so  that  he  can  make  no 
l«^ofit  This  would  make  the  lands  of  Abboisford  worth 
4Qi.  an  acre  overhead,  excepting  the  sheep  farm.  I  am 
Mnslble  I  m^ht  dispose  of  my  money  to  more  ad^ant^e, 
bat  probably  to  none  which,  in  the  long  run,  would  be 
better  for  you— certainly  to  none  which  would  be  pro- 
ductive of  so  much  pleasure  to  myself-  The  woods  are 
ihriving,  and  it  would  be  easy,  at  a  trifling  expense,  lo  rc- 
«tore  FaldoDslde  loch,  and  stock  It  with  fish-  In  fact,  it 
would  require  but  a  small  dam-head.  By  means  of  a  little 
joificlous  planting,  added  to  what  is  already  there,  the  es> 
*Laiif  IFeNocewasaDonfj  Trour  a  fknMite  pointer  wUeb 
Qm  Conwt  hsd  av«o.  at^Vwyiof  hoaie,  to  the  foui«  Laird  of 
Rankfi,  now  the  Master  of  Polwarth. 


tate  doteht  be  rendered  one  of  flie  meat  besottfhl  fa  iliia 
part  of  Bcotlaad.  Such  are  my  present  ptana,  my  dear 
boy,  h&Tbig  as  mnch  your  future  welfare  and  ontbt  to 
view  as  the  immediate  gratification  of  my  own  wishes. 

"  I  am  very  sorry  to  tell  you  that  poor  Mrs.  William  Br** 
atine  is  no  more.  She  was  sent  by  the  medical  people  on 
a  tour  to  the  lakes  of  Cumberland,  and  was  taK^n  Ul  at 
Lowood,  on  Windermere.  Nature,  much  exhausted  by 
her  previous  indispoMtion,  sunk  under  four  days'  iBnesa. 
Her  husband  was  with  her,  and  two  of  her  dii^hters — he 
is  much  to  be  pitied. 

**  Mr.  Rees,  the  bookseller,  told  me  he  had  met  you  in  • 
the  streets  of  Cork,  and  reported  well  of  the  growth  of 
your  Schnurr-bart.  I  hope  yon  know  what  thai  means. 
Pray  write  often,  as  the  post  comes  so  slow.  I  keep  alt 
your  letters,  and  am  nmch  pleased  with  the  frankness  of 
the  style.  No  word  of  your  horses  yet  7  but  It  is  belter 
not  to  be  impatipnt,  and  to  wait  for  good  ones.  I  have 
been  thtce  times  on  Newark,  and  killed  t*ix  hares  each 
time.    The  two  young  dogs  are  capital  good. 

"  I  must  not  omit  to  tell  you  our  old,  and,  1  may  add,  our 
kind  neighbour  Lauchie,  has  departed,  or,  as  Tom  ex* 
presses  It,  has  been  fairly  yfy/'en  out  o'  the  world.  Yoa 
know  the  old  quarrel  betwixt  his  brother  and  him  about 
the  wife— in  an  Ill-fated  hour  Jock  the  bi other  came  down 
to  Lochbreist  with  a  .sister  from  Edinburjrh,  who  was  de- 
termined to  have  her  share  of  the  scolding-match ;  they 
attacked  poor  old  Lauchie  like  mad  folks,  and  reviled  his 
wife  in  all  sort  of  evil  language.  At  length  his  passion 
was  wrought  up  to  a  great  pU<^,  and  he  answered,  with 

much  emotion,  that  if  she  were  the  greatest  In 

Edinburgh,  it  was  not  theU*  business,  and  as  he  uttered 
this  .«»peech,  he  fell  down  on  his  back,  and  lay  a  dead  man 
before  them.  There  is  little  doubt  tlie  violence  of  the 
agitation  had  broken  a  bloodvessel  in  the  heart  or  brain. 
A  very  few  ^s  since  he  was  runnhig  up  and  down  call- 
imi  for  a  cofnn,  and  wishing  to  God  he  was  in  one ;  to 
which  Swanston,'  who  was  present,  answered,  he  could 
not  apply  to  a  better  h,and.  and  he  would  make  him  one  If 
he  had  a  mihd.  He  has  left  a  wiU  of  his  own  making,  but 
from  some  Informality  I  think  it  will  be  set  aside.  Hl» 
land  cannot  come  into  the  market  until  his  girl  cpm^s  of 
age,  which,  by  t^e  way.  makes  me  more  able  for  the  other  , 
bargain.  His  death  took  place  at  his  own  door,  and  shock- 
ing enough  it  is  that  an  motfenslve  creature  should  have 
been  murdered  (for  in  Jbro  conacientict  it  is  little  better) 
in  such  a  way.  I  went  to  the  funeral.  Very  few  people 
would  take  noUce  of  Jfbck,  whom  they  look  on  as  a  second 
Cain.  The  bladkcocks  are  very  plenty.  I  put  up  four- 
teen cocks  aod  hens  in  walking  up  the  Ckppercleuch  to 
look  at  the  wood.  Do  vdo  not  wish  you  had  been  o^the 
outside  with  your  gun  f  Tom  has  kept  us  well  supplied 
v9hh  game ;  he  boasts  that  he  shot  fifteen  thnes  without  a 
miss.  I  shall  be  glad  to  hear  that  yon  do  the  same  on  Mr. 
Ncwenham's  grounds.  Mamma,  the  girls,  and  Charles, 
all  join  in  love  and  affection.  Believe  me  ever,  dear  Wal- 
ter, your  affectionate  father,  WALTBk  Scott." 

To  the  Lord  Mtmiagu,  4«.  4^.  4^ 

**  Abbotsford,  3d  Oct,  1819. 
"My  dear  Lord, 

•*  I  am  honoured  wHh  your  Buxton  letter.     

Anent  Prince  Leopold,  1  only  heard  of  his  approach  at 
eight  o'clock  in  the  morning,  and  he  was  to  be  at  Selkirk 
by  eleven.  The  magistrates  sent  to  ask  me  to  help  theqi 
to  receive  him.  It  occurred  to  rae  he  might  be  comhig  to 
Melrose  to  see  the  Abbey,  in  which  case  I  coukl  not  avoid 
asking  him  to  Abbotsford,  as  he  must  pass  my  very  door. 
I  mentioned  tbia  to  Mrs.  Scott,  who  was  lying  quietly  in 
bed,  and  I  wish  you  had  heard  the  soaeam  she  gave  on  the 
occasion.  *What  have  we  to  ofT^him  1'— '  Wine  and 
cake,'  said  I,  thinking  to  make  all  things  easy :  but  she 
ejaculated  In  a  tone  of  utter  despair,  *  Cake  I !  where  am  1 
to  get  cake  V  However,  being  partlv  consoled  with  the 
recullection  that  his  visit  was  a  vory  maprobable  incident, 
and  curiosity,  as  usual,  proving  too  strong  for  alarm,  she 
set  out  with  me  in  order  nut  m  miss  a  peep  of  the  great 
roan.  James  Skene  and  iiis  lady  were  with  us,  and  we 
give  our  carriages  such  adkillional  dignity  as  a  pair  of 
leaders  could  add.  and  went  to  meet  him  in  full  oufil  The 
Prince  very  klvUly  told  me.  that,  though  he  could  not  see 
Melrose  on  this  occasion,  he  wished  to  come  to  Abbots* 
ford  for  an  hour.  New  despair  on  the  part  of  Mrs.  Scott, 
who  began  to  institute  a  domiciliary  ssarch  for  cold  meat 
throuxh  the  whole  city  of  Selkirk,  which  produced  one 
shouidtr  of  cold  lamb.  lO  the  mean  while,  his  Royal 
Highness  received  the  civic  honours  of  the  Busst  very 
graciously^    I  had  hinted  to  Bailie  Laog,{  that  It  ought  only 

*  John  a«raiMtoD  had  then  the  oare  of  the  Mw-mill  at  Toflfidd  r 
he  was  one  or  Scott's  most  valued  depenoaots,  and  in  the  soqutl 
guccocded  Tom  Purdie  as  his  boncbroaA. 

r  See  onte^  p.  9S8. 

t  Scott's  gnoA  friend,  Mr.  Andrew  Lena*  Procomtar-fisori  At 
Selkirkshire,  was  then  diiermaiisiiate  of  the  county  town. 


XJFB  OF  8a  WALT£R  «0OTT. 


ltb«SelMd4irfMMiealf|roathe|»nseiktoceMkMi;  so  b« 
lloniiabed  It  three  times  before  his  mooth,  but  wlthoat 
teucliiilf  it  with  his  lips,  «nd  tlie  Prince  foCowed  his  ez- 
ample  as  directed.  Lang  made  an  excellent  nheech, 
sensible,  and  feeling,  and  well  delivered.  The  Prince 
seemed  much  surprised  at  this  great  propriety  of  expres* 
sion  and Hehaviouv  in  a  magistrate,  whose  people  seemed 
^uch  a  rabble,  and  whose  whole  band  of  music  consisted 
in  a  di%m  and  fife.  He  noticed  to  Bailie  Anderson,  that 
Selkirk  seemed  very  populous  in  proportion  to  iu  extent. 
*  On  an  occasion  like  tnis  it  seems  so,*  answered  the  BaiOe, 
neatlT  enougti,  I  thought  I  question  If  anj  magistrates  in 
the  kingdom,  lord  mayors  and  aldermen  not  excepted, 
could  have  beiiaved  with  more  decent  and  quiet  good- 
breeding.  Prince  I^opold  repeatedly  alluded  to  this  dur- 
ing the  time  he  was  at  Abtiotsford.  I  do  not  know  how 
Mrs.  Scott  ultimately  managed ;  but  with  broiled  salmon, 
and  black-cock,  ana  partridges,  she  gave  him  a  very  de- 
cent lunch ;  and  I  chanced  to  nave  some  very  fine  old 
hock,  which  was  mighty  germain  to  the  matter. 

**Tbe  Prince  seems  melancholy,  whether  naturally  or 
fh>m  habit,  I  do  not  pretend  to  say ;  but  I  do  not  remem- 
ber thinking  him  so  at  Paris,  where  I  saw  him'  frequently, 
then  a  much  poorer  man  than  myself;  yet  he  showed 
some  humour,  for,  alluding  to  the  crowds  that  followed 
him  every  where,  he  mentioned  some  place  where  he  had 
gone  out  to  shoot,  but  was  afraid  to  proceed  for  fear 
of  *  bagging  a  boy.'  He  said  he  really  thought  of  get- 
ting some  shooting-place  in  Scotland,  and  promised  me  a 
longer  visit  on  his  return.  If  I  had  had  a  day's  notice  to 
have  warned  the  watere^  we  could  have  met  him  with  a 
very  ren>ectable  number  of  the  g^ntrv ;  but  there  was 
no  Ume  for  this,  and  probably  he  fiked  It  better  as  it  was. 
There  was  only  young  Clifton  who  could  have  come,  and 
he  was  shy  and  cubbish,  and  would  not,  though  requested 
by  the  Selldrk  oeopie.  He  was  perhaps  ashamed  to 
march  through  Coventry  with  them.  It  hung  often  and 
/ntdly  on  my  mind  that  he  was  wanting  who  could  and 
would  have  received  him  like  a  Prince  indeed;  and  yet 
the  meeting  betwixt  them,  had  they  been  fated  to  meet, 
would  have  been  a  very  saa  one.  I  think  I  have  now  given 
your  Lordship  a  very  nill,  true,  and  particular  account  of 
our  ToytH  visit,  unmatched  even  by  that  of  King  Charles 
at  the  Castle  of  TfUletudlem.  That  we  did  not  speak  of  it 
for  more  than  a  week  after  it  h^>pened,  and  that  that  em- 
phatic monosyllable,  7^  Prinee^iB  not  heard  amongst  us 
more  than  ten  times  a-day.  is,  on  the  whole,  to  the  credit 
of  my  family's  understanding. '  The  piper  is  the  only  one 
whose  brain  he  seems  to  have  endangered:  for.  as  the 
Prince  said  he  preferred  him  to  any  he  had  neara  in  the 
Hlghknds— <which,  by  the  way,  shows  his  Royal  Bigh- 
nesAnows  nothing  of  the  matter,)— the  fellow  seems  to 
have  become  Incapable  of  his  ordhiary  occupation  as  a 
forester,  and  has  cut  stick  and  stem  without  remorse,  to 
the  tune  of  Ph4ul  Phranee,  i.  e.  the  Prince's  welcome. 

"  I  am  just  going  to  the  head-conit  with  Donaldson,  and 

So  a  day  sooner  to  exhume  certain  old  monumentk  of  the 
Lutherfords  at  Jedburgh-  Edxerstone*  is  to  meet  me  at 
Jedburch  for  ttiia  research,  and  then  we  shall  go  up  with 
him  to  dinner.  My  best  respects  attend  Lady  Montagu.  I 
wish  this  letter  may  reaclf^ou  on  a  more  lively  day  than 
it  is  written  in.  for  it  requires  little  to  add  to  Its  dulness. 
Tweed  is  coming  down  very  fast,  the  first  time  this  sum- 
mer.   Believe  me,  my  dear  Lord,  moat  truly  yours, 

Waltbk  Scott." 
7\»  W.  Seett^  Bag.,  ISih  Huuartj  Otrk. 

**  Abbotsford,  14th  October,  1819. 
"Dear  Walter, 

"  I  had  your  last  letter,  and  am  very  glad  you  find  plea- 
sant society.  Mrs.  ^feindas  of  Amiston  is  so  good  as  to 
send  you  some  intlWuctions,  which  you  will  deliver  as 
soon  as  possible.  You  will  be  now  in  some  degree  accus- 
tomed to  meet  with  strangers,  and  to  form  your  esthnate 
of  their  character  and  manners.  I  hope,  in  the  mean 
time,  the  French  and  German  ar6  attended  to;  please  to 
mention  hi  your  next  letter  what  yon  are  reading,  and  in 
what  languages.  The  hours  of  youth,  my  dear  Walter, 
are  too  precious  to  be  spent  all  tai  gayety.  We  must  lay 
up  in  that  period  when  our  spirit  Is  active,  and  our  me- 
mory strong,  the  stores  of  information  which  are  not  only 
to  facilitate  our  progress  through  Ufe,  but  to  amuse  and 
raterest  us  in  our  later  stage  or  existence.  I  very  often 
think  what  an  unhappy  person  I  should  have  been,  if  I 
had  not  done  something  more  or  less  towards  improving 
my  understanding  when  I  was  at  your  age ;  and  I  never 
reflect,  without  severe  self-condemnatton,  on  the  oppor- 
tunities of  acquiring  knowledge,  which  I  either  trifled 
with,  or  ahogeiher  neglected.     I  hope  you  will  be  wiser 

MT^  late  John  Rnttarford  of  Bdsentone.  lonf  Bf.  P.  fiv  Roz 


ofacooRtrr 
tnatand- 


nf&:si 


than  Ihave  besa,  and  tiin«rimr*  I— »of  ihsUilf  taanm  h 

**  Ify  last  acquahited  you  wMk  Mn.  Brgktee»i  iaSIna 
I  grieve  to  say  we  have  Jukt  received  InteOigeoeiaM  our* 
kind  neighbour  ud  good  friend  Lord'SomerviUe  is  at  tha 
very  Ust  gasp.  His  msease  Is  a  dysentery,  and  the  symp- 
toms, as  his  brother  writes  to  Mr.  Samuel  SomerviDe,  ar* 
mortal  He  is  st  Vevay.  upon  his  rotfd,  I  suppose,  to  naly « 
where  he  had  purposed  spendtaig  the  winter.  His  deaths 
for  I  understand  nothing  els^  can  be  expected,  vrlll  be  an- 
other severe  loss  to  me;  for  he  was  a  kind,  good  friend, 
and  at  my  time  of  day  men  do  not  readily  take  to  new  a»- 
Boclates.  I  must  own  this  has  been  one  of  the  moat  mel>  ■ 
ancholy  years  I  ever  past.  The  poor  Duke,  who  lovetl 
me  so  well— Mrs.  Erskine— Lord  Somerville — not  to  men- 
tion others  with  whom  I  was  less  intimate,  make  U  coo 
year  of  mourning.  I  ahould  not  forget  the  Chief  Baron, 
who,  though  from  ill  health  we  met  of  late  seldom,  wm 
always  my  dear  friend,  and  bideed  very  early  benemctor. 
I  must  look  forwards  to  seeing  in  your  success  and  re^ 
spectabliity,  and  in  the  affection  and  active  improveaaent 
of  an  of  you,  those  pleasures  which  are  narrowed  by  the 
death  of  my  contemporaries.  Men  cannot  form  new  In- 
timacies at  my  period  of  Ufe,  but  must  be  happj  or  other- 
wise according  to  the  good  fortune  and  good  coodoct  of 
those  near  relives  who  rise  around  them. 

"  I  wish  much  to  know  If  you  are  lucky  In  a  aerraat 
Trust  hhn  with  as  little  caah  as  possible,  and  keep  abort 
accounts.  Many  a  good  servant  Is  spoiled  by  neglectiqc 
this  simple  precaution.  The  man  is  tempted  to  some  ex- 
pense of  his  own.  gives  way  to  it,  and  then  has  to  make  It 
up  by  a  system  of  overchasge  and  paeulation ;  and  ihtis 
miscnlef  begtaks,  and  the  carelessness  of  the  maaiar  oaakaa 
a  rogue  om  of  an  honott  lad,  and  cheats  himseli'  Into  tlM 
barnin. 

**  I  have  a  letter  from  yon  uncle  Tom,  telliQf  mc  bis 
eldest  daughter  la  to  be  fbfthwith  married  to  a  Captain 
Huxley  of  nis  own  regiment  As  he  has  had  a  full  oppor- 
tunity of  being  acquamted  with  the  young  gentleman,  and 
approves  of  the  match,  1  have  to  hope  that  it  will  be  n 
happy  one.  Ifearthereisnogreatfortanetntha  eaaeon 
either  side,  which  is  to  be  regretted. 

"  Of  domestic  aflkirs  I  have  Uttle  to  tell  you.  The  har- 
vest has  been  excellent,  the  weather  delightful ;  but  this 
I  must  often  have  repeated.  To-day  I  was  thinnlag  out 
fir-trees  In  the  thicket  and  the  men  were  quite  exhaoat- 
ed  with  the  heat,  and  I  myseU;  though  only  marking  the 
trees,  felt  the  exercise  smficiently  warm.  The  wood  is 
thrivinf  delightfully.  On  the  2Bth  we  are  to  have  a  daaeo 
in  honour  of  your  birthday.  I  wish  you  could  look  fat 
upon  us  for  the  day  at  least— only  I  am  afraid  we  eoold 
not  part  with  you  when  it  waa  over,  and  ao  vou  would  ba 
in  the  gnise  of  Cinderella,  when  she  ootsiatd  her  Unae  ai 
the  bau,  and  all  her  finery  returned  into  its  orinaal  baaa 
materials.  TaUUng  of  balls,  ths  girls  would  teu  you  tha 
Melrose  hop,  where  mamma  praaided,  went  off  welL 

**  I  expect  poor  Erskine  sod  his  daushter  next  woek,  <x 
the  weex  after,  t  went  in  to  town  to  see  hiaH-«nd  tbond 
him  bearing  his  great  loss  with  his  natural  gentlenaaa  and 
patience.  But  he  waa  sufficiently  distressed,  aa  he  haaxrent 
'  >.  I  also  expect  Lord  and  Lady  MelviOebere 
very  soon.    Sir  William  Rae  (now  Lord  Advocate)  and  his 


reason  to  be.    I  slso  expect  Lord  and  Lady  MelviOe  bere 
very  soon.    Sir  William  Rae  (now  Lord  Advocate)  and  his 
Isdy  came  to  us  on  Saturday.    On  Sunday  Maida  walked 
with  us,  and  in  jumping  the  paling  at  the  Oreentongoe 
nark  contrived  to  hang  himself  up  by  the  hfaid  leg.    ~~ 
howled  at  first,  but  sedns  us  making  towards  him  ha  at 
ped  crying,  and  waved  his  tail  by  way  of  signal,  it  i 
>8ed,rori--' "    '- " " 


Ha 


supposed,  for  sssistsnce.    He  sustained  no  material  tejo- 
ry,  though  his  leg  waa  strangely  twisted  into  the  bars,  and 
he  waa  nearly  hanging  by  it.    He  showed  great  grailtnde, 
in  his  way,  to  his  deliverers. 
**  This  Is  a  long  letter,  and  little  in  it;  but  that  is  nochfa« 


extraordinary.    All    

Walter,  your  afiTectionate  father, 


I  ever,  dear 
Waltv  aooiT.' 


7^  Thomaa  Sett,  Be^jPawmmeter  70th  Regiment^ 

•*  Abbotsibrd,  ifith  Oct.  1819. 
"  Dear  Tom. 

•*  I  received  yesterday  your  very  acceptable  letter, 
containing  the  news  of  Jessie's  i^iproaching  marriage,  in 
which,  as  a  match  agreeable  to  her  mother  and  you,  and 
rellevmg  your  minds  from  some  of  the  anxious  prospects 
which  haunt  those  of  parents,  I  take  the  most  sincere  In- 
terest. Before  this  reaches  you,  the  event  will  probably- 
have  taken  place.  Mean  time.  I  enclose  a  letter  to  tha 
bride  or  wife,  as  the  case  may  happen  to  be.  I  have  sent 
a  small  token  of  good-will  to  ballast  my  good  wishes, 
which  you  will  please  to  value  lor  the  young  lady,  that  ahe 
may  employ  It  aa  most  convenient  or  agreeable  to  her.  A. 
little  more  fortune  would  perhaps  have  done  the  yoong 
folks  no  harm ;  but  Captain  Huxley,  being  suelk  as  you 
describe  him,  will  have  every  chance  of  getting  fbrwnud 
In  hi.  prfe-loo  ;^jM  the  ^u^^l^,|^|^  «  on« 


mB^owwR/  mAuem/Kmr. 


Wliyou  hint  at,  for  UnvB  met  over  our  hfl»dt«ne 


niTln  bow,  aiul  ehU^ren  become  marriaf eeMe  ere  Wf 
•jMMiaer  them  as  out  of  the  nureery.  my  eldest  eOBi 
Walter,  has  also  wedded  himself— but  it  is  to  a  reatment 
of  huaaan.  He  is  at  preaeot  a  eoniet  In  the  latn,  and 
qaartered  in  Cork  barracks.  He  is  cental  at  most  ezer 
I,  but  particularlf  as  a  horseman.    I  do  dot  intend  he 

remain  in  the  cavakr,  however,  but  shall  gat  him  Inte 

tlM  Hue  when  he  is  papaolo  of  promotion.  Sinoe  ha  has 
eboaan  this  profeasron,  1  shall  be,  desirous  that  he  follows 
bout  in^ood  earadbt,  end  that  can  only  be  done  bj  getthif 
iniotheinfsntry. 

^  Mf  late  severe  iUaess  has  prerented  mj  foim|  up  to 
London  to  receive  the  honour  which  ihe  Prince  Regent 
baa  aanounced  his  intention  to  inflict  upon  me.  My  pre- 
seat  isuention  is,  if  I  continue  as  well  as  I  have  been,  to 
ffo  -  op  about  Christmas  to  get  this  af&tr  over.  My  health 
was  restored  (I  trust  permanenily)  by  the  use  of  calomel, 
a  very  severe  and  palnAil  remedy,  especially  in  my  ex* 
hanated  state  of  body,  but  it  haa  proved  a  radical  one.  By 
the  way«  Ho^tco/is  a  word  in  very  bad  odour  here,  befaig 
used  to  denote  a  set  of  blackguards  a  hundred  times  more 
mlae^evous  and  absurd  than  our  old  ftiends  in  1794  and 
1796.  You  wiU  learn  enough  of  the  doinga  of  the  MtuU* 
9ml  Ref^rmer^  from  the  papers.  In  Scotumd  we  are  ouiei 
ittoucb,  ezeeptinff  in  the  manufaeturiiw  districts,  ana  i^ 
are  in  very  good  hands,  as  Sir  WiUian  Rae,  our  old  com* 
maadar,  is  Lord  Advocate.  Rae  has  been  here  two  or 
Hwee  days,  and  left  me  yesterday— he  is  the  old  man,  setH 
sfMa,  cooMieaded,  and  firm,  always  thinking  of  his  daty« 
sever  of  himself.  He  inquired  Undly  afteir  yoii,  and  I 
Ihtefc  w4U  be  dlnioaed  to  serve  yon,  sboi|ld  an  oppoztunlty 
eOer.  Poor  WflUam  BrsUne  has  lost  his  excellent  wife, 
after  a  long  end  wasting  illness.  She  died  at  Lowood  on 
madermere,  he  having  been  recommended  to  take  her 
upon  a  tour  about  tnree  weeks  before  her  death.  I  own 
1  sbouki  aearee  forghre  a  physician  who  should  contrive 
lexeme  this  addittMi  to  family  distress.  I  went  to  town 
IsK  week  to  see  him,  and  found  him,  upon  the  whole, 
mueh  better  than  I  ejcpected  I  saw  my  mother  oa  the 
ssaae  occasion,  admirably  well  indoed.  She  is  greatly 
better  than  this  time  two  years,  when  she  rather  quacked 
baraalf  a  little  too  much.  I  hfve  sent  your  letter  UM>ur 
■KKber,  and  will  not  foil  Ip  transmit  to  our  other  friends 
leeal^  news  of  yo'or  danghter'a  settlement  Our 
h,  Bir  Harry  Msedougal,  is  marrying  his  eldest  daugh* 
tar  to  Sir  Thomas  Brlsbaaay  a  very  good  match  on  both 
Mea.  I  have  been  paytng  a  viait  on  the  occasloB,  which 
suapands  my  closing  this'ietter.  I  hope  to  bear  verv  sooa 
from  you.  Respectii^  oar  silence,  I  like  a  ghost  dofy 
waitoo  to  be  spoken  to,  and  you  may  depend  on  me  «*• 
fsfvdar  oorreiq»ndetit,  when  ren  And  time  to  beone 
yeuxselll  Chariotte  and  the  girls  join  in  kind  lov«  to  Mra 
ScoCC  and  sU  the  family.  I  sbonkl  like  to  know  what  you 
mean  to  do  with  young  Walter,  and  whether  I  can  suist 
yon  in  that  matter.  Believe  me,  dear  Tom,  ever  youral^ 
sbrodkcr, 

W. 


mi 


To  Daniel  Terry,  Etq.^  London. 

^  "  Abbolsford,  Nov.  10, 1819. 

•  My  dear  Torry, 

**  I  should  be  very  sorry  If  you  thought  the  interest  I 
take  in  you  and  yours  so  slight  asjiot  to  render  your  last 
letter  extremely  interesting.  We  have  all  our  various 
combats  to  fi^ht  in  this  best  of  all  possible  worlds,  and, 
lUce  brave  fellow-soldirrs,  ouirbt  to  assist  one  another  ai 
much  as  possible.  I  have  little  doubt,  that  if  Ood  spares 
me  till  ray  Uule  namesake  be  fit  to  take  ud  his  share  of 
the  burden.  I  may  have  interest  enough  to  ne  of  great  ad- 
tantase  to  niin  in  the  entrance  of  life.  In  the  present 
state  of  your  own  profession,  you  woiild  not  wilfinglv,  I 
suppose,  clioosc  him  to  follow  it;  and,  as  it  is  very  seduc* 
tire  to  young  people  of  a  lively  temper  and'^ood  taste  for 
the  art,  you  should.  1  think,  cun^ider  early  how  you  mean 
to  dispone  of  tittle  Walter,  with  a  view,  that  is,  to  the  l\i« 
ture  line  of  life  which  you  would  wish  hlra  to  adopt  Mra 
Tcrrv  has  not  the  good  health  which  all  wlio  know  her 
amiable  disposiilon  and  fine  accomplishments  would  anx- 
loaslv  wish  her;  yet,  with  impaired  liealth  and  the  caution 
which  it  rend«*r9  necessary,  we  have  very  frequently  in- 
stances of  the  utmost  verge  of  existence  'beini  attf^ned, 
while  robust  strenj>th  is  cut  olT  in  the  middle  career.  So 
vou  must  be  of  good  heart,  and  hope  the  best  in  this  as 
In  other  cases  of  a  like  afTeclin^  nature.  I  go  to  town  on 
Monday,  and  win  forward  under  Mr.  Freeling's  cover  as 
much  of  Ivanhoc  as  is  finished  in  print  It  is  completed, 
font  in  the  hands  of  a  very  slow  transcriber;  when  I  can 
collect  it  I  will  send  yon  the  MS.,  which  you  will  please 
to  keep  seeret  from  every  eye^  I  think  this  win  give  a 
start,  IT  it  be  worth  taking,  oLabout  a  month,  for  the  work 
vfttbe •« on tbeaoih  of  Dieenbar.  II iseartaliUy  poa- 
41 


«ttilel»4dtp^U4odi««lif«,bubflU 

«nd  decomtjpn  wouW  beifett,  thie  Wing  filale  ef  _, 

rv,  not  of  character.  There  ia  a  tale  in  eaiKsiMz,  1^ 
mramallslnff  whi6h<  I  am  certain,  a  most  powi^fful  efleot 
might  be  ptoduced :  It  ts  called  Undine,  and  I  believe  hsa 
foeen  translated  into  French  by  Mademoiselle  MontoUev, 
and  into  Bi^sh  from  her  version :  do  read  H,  and  tell  mn 
your  op4aion :  In  Oermsn  the  character  of  tJncfine  to  «»• 
4|i]istte.  The  only  oMection  is  4hat  the  catastrophe  la  un^ 
hsppy ,  bat  ibia  nugfat  be  altered.  I  liope  to  b«  in  London 
for  ten  days  the  end  of  next  month ;  and  ao  good  by  for 
the  present,  being  in  great  haste,  moat  truly  yours. 


I  conoltida  this  chapter  with  a  tetter,  written  two 
or  three  daya  before  seott  quited  Abbotaford  for  the 
winter  aeasion.  It  ia  addresaed  to  hia  fHend  Harta- 
tonge,  who  bad  taken  the  opportunity  of  the  renews 
al  of  Scott'a  correapondence,  to  aolicit  hia  opinion 
and  aaaiatance  touching^  a  MS.  drama ;  and  the 
reader  wiU  be  diverted  with  the  atyle  in  which  the 
amiable  tragedian  ia  treated  to  hie  quietiu .— 
7b  Mdtthew  Weld  HarUtonfe^  Eaq.y  Duhlin, 

^  Abbottford,  Utb  Nov.,  1819. 
"My  dear  Sir, 

"  I  was  dulv  favomred  with  your  packet,  containlnf 
the  play,  as  well  as  your  very  klqd  letter.  1  will  endea- 
vour (though  extremely  unwilling  to  offer  criticism  on 
most  occanons)  to  meet  your  confidence  with  perfect 
frankness.  I  do  not  consider  the  Tragedy  as  likely  Ho 
make  that  favoorable  Impression  on  -the  public  which  I 
^rould  wlshthat^Cbe  performance  of  a  friend  should  effect 
—and  1  by  no  mesas  recommend  to  you  to  hazard'lt  upoa 
theboards.  Do  other  oompasitiontbe  neglect  of  the  wbrM 
takea  nothing  from  the  merit  Of  the  author ;  but  there  la 
aomethhig  ludicrous  in  being  ^fichi  as  the  author  of  «a 
unsuccessful  play.  Besides,  you  entail  on  yourself  the 
great  and  eternal  pfofue  of  altering  and  retrenching  te 
please  the  humours  or  performers,  who  are^  speaking  ge- 
nerally, extremely  ignorant,  and  csprlclous  m  proportion. 
These  are  not  vexationir  to  be  voluntarily  tmdcrtaken ; 
and  the  troth  Is,  that  In  the  present  day  there  is  only  pne 
reason  which  seems  to  me  adequate  for  the  anceunterhig 
the  plague  of  tryhig  to  please  a  set  of  conceAd  perfon» 
era  ana  a  very  m^ey  audience,— I  mean  the  want  of 
money,  from  which,  fortimately,  you  are  exempted.  It  is 
very  true  (hat  some  day  or  other  a  great  dramatic  gentua 
may  arise  to  strike  out  a  new  path ;  but  I  foar  tilt  this  hap- 

5 ins  no  great  effect  will  be  produced  by  treading  }n  the 
d  one.  The  reign  of  Tragedy  seems  to  be  over,  aiid 
the  very  considerable  poetical  abilities  which  have  been 
Iktely  applied  to  it  have  failed  to  revive  It.  Should  the 
public  ever  be  hidtilged  with  small  theatres  adapted  to  the 
hours  of  the  better  n^s  In  fife,  the  dramatic  art  may  re- 
cover; at  present  It  is  in  abeyance— and  I  do  therefore 
advise  you  In  an  sincerity  to  keep  the  Tragedy  (which  I 
return  under  cover)  safe  under  your  own  charge.  Pra/ 
think  of  this  aa  one  of  the  most  unpleasant  offices  of  firiend* 
ship— and  be  not  angry  with  me  for  having  been  very 
frank,  upon  an  occasion  when  frankness  may  be  mor^ 
usefhl  than  altogether  palatable. 

"I  am  much  obDgedto  you  for  your  kind  intentions 
towards  ray  young  Hussar.  We  have  not  heard  from  him 
for  three  weeks.  I  believe  he  is  making  out  a  meditated 
visit  to  Klllamey.  I  am  just  leaving  the  country  for 
Edinburgh,  to  attend  mv  dmy  In  the  courts;  but  the 
badness  of  the  weather  In  some  measure  reconciles  me 
to  the  unpleasant  change.  I  have  the  pleasure  to  continue 
the  most  satisfactory  accounts  pf  my  health ;  it  Is  to  ex- 
ternal appearance  as  strong  A  In  my  strongest  days— 
indeed,  alter  I  took  once  more  to  Sancho's  favourite  oc- 
cupations of  eating  and  sleeping,  I  recovered  my  losses 
wonderfully.    Very  truly  yours, 

Walter  Scott. 'k 


CHAPTER  XLVI. 

POLITICAL  ALABMS— THE   BADICALS— LKVIBS  OF  VpL- 
UlfTEERS— PBOJECT    OF  THE   BUCCLEUCH    LEOtON— 

DEATH  or  acorr's  motheb— hbb  bbotueb  db.  bu- 

THBBFOBD — ATM>  HER  61BTBB  CHRISTIAN — LBTTEBa 
TO  LOBD  MOKTAGt?— MB.  THOMAS  SCOTT— COBlfWr 
SCOTT— MB.  LAIDLAW— AND  LADY  LOtHBA  8TUABT— 
PUBLICATION  OF  IVANHOB.— 1819. 

Towards  the  winter  of  1819  there  prevailed  a  apirit 
of  alarminff  inanbordmation  amons  the  mining  popu- 
lation  of  Northumberland  and  the  weavers  of  the 
weat  of  Scotland ;  and  Scott  was  particularly  grati: 
fied  with  finding  that  hia  own  neighboura  At  Gala- 
ahiela  had^esc^ed  the  contagion.  'There  can  ba 


ura  OF  en.  WAUSR  aoemr. 


Utib  doubt  thirt  this  6MMpUon  wts  ^... 
■inrittR  to  tlw  personal  influfnee  and  authority  . 
the  Laird  of  Abbotsford  and  ShorifT  of  the  Forest ; 
1>ut  the  people  of  Gkilaabiela  were  alio  fbrttinate  in 
the  qualities  of  their  own  oeneficent  landlords,  Mr. 
Scott  of  Gala,  and  Mr.  Pringle  of  Torwoodlee.  The 


eioed,  were  it  hot  Anr  Ibe  aike  of  pp^prtaCf,  to  IsC  as 
know  what  von  are  abodt.  I  eannoc  wkj  lami  be  §t» 
t«r6d  hj  finaiitf  mjaelf  under  the  neeeaaltf  of  ifaln  c 


»<.»!•.  uEx^«iu,»«xu  Ml.  AtiuMcut  AVI TTuwiov;.    Y*5       "We  are  to  nave  neat  dofnfs  in  BcUDtniiim  xam 
progress  of  the  western  Reformcn  by  Aeaj^n  led    winter.    No  leaa  Umh  Prince  OoiU«ua  of  Sweden' la  to 


plabiing  of  nagfeet    To  write  once  a  week  to  one  or  ocher 
of  na  ia  no  great  aaerlflee,  and  it  ia  wtiat  I  earnestly  pt^ 
you  to  do. 
**We  are  to  have  neat  doings  In  Bdinbuiirh  tMe 


even  the  most  important  Whif  in  that  district  to 

'<\,.'    ''"'Trifl^'lv^B  m  x\\p<  ^>r;^'^nr'»ii''^'i  '■if  ^'.■.  "'!■■  .  *■ 

t'-^\ Jii-;.    biMfi    niiHjnj^'il   n-iiii  cJi^maunitii ;   muj, 

Minrj  ir  k nmi''  'jvrjorally  iiiaTHicled  (hatOtsi^fiw 

OEid  i^ii^i^-y  JEiii'ir.LiJiifL.!  a  rfFinj^emLngcjiirrcspiunfifrtto 
Wk(K  ihts  fL^rroutjarv  coljitr^  of  NonlmrnwHBrid— 
^cotf  flnd  hilt  fheria^  %he  Litmlaof  TorwDoUletf  ntid 
G/*la  tieitTmrrjed  to  avail  tlu'tnseKps  of  the  loy alt j^ 


ttie  seaacn  hero,  and  do  what  Prtneea  eali  i 
He  ia  but  half  a  Prince  either,  for  thia  IVorthorn  Star  I 
nomewhat  ahom  of  hia  beams.  Hia  lather  waa,  70a  Imow, 
dethroned  by  Buonaparte,  At  least  by  the  intliience  of  Me 
jirma*  and  one  of  hia  generala,  Bernadotte.  made  hair  of 
tho  Swedish  throne  in  his  stead.  But  this  yonngatc^,  1 
lanppoae,  haa  bit  own  d^eama  of  royalty,  for  he  ia  nephew 
10  the  Emperor  of  Rusaia,  (bythe  mother'a  aide,)  and  thai 
is  a  likely  connej^ion  to  be  01  nae  to  him,  aboold  (be  8we- 


afid  Bpint  of  the  n^^Ei  of  tltlrirJi  atifl  Tfiviutdalei  nnd  |  dish  nobles  set  rid  of  BeniadoUe,aa  it  is  said  ther  wish  to 
prijipos^d  tirat  rJ^tain^  a  t^unpany  of  sKarrehDoh'rfi  {  do.     Lord  Melville  has  recommended  the  Mdd  PriDc« 
aniun^  1  iuiT  own  imm'-'imtt!  n^^i^hbours*  find  after-    particnlarly  to  my  attention,  though  1  do  not  see  how  I  cam 
ward«"U(is  plan  roc«tV)tig  ew^y  enLOura^emtnt— a  '  do  much  for  him. 
^ffion  lu  hrigadti  ujwu  u  lar^c  SLale,  to  bti  calleJ  liM> !  ,  ■'}  *»^  J"?  achieved  my  gr^d  remoTe  from  Abbois- 

b*^r,  m%  th*^4  mrttferM  fom^cd  the  chi^f  datly  cEr<.    ^^"^  ^»»»  «"»'  aaUslaction.    We  had  the  Abbouford 
nna  oecupntioD   of   the   author  of   Ivttnhne;    nnd 
though  hi?  w^e  utill  ohjigcd  in  diciaifl  flfiosi  of  t[ 

chapters  of  his  noret,  wi?:  shall  see  thot,  in  caae  _      

shoutd  be  ncctitfsnfy  for  the  prqjected  li'vy  of  Foreftt-  |  we  wantcdyou  and  fiaUy  to  ride  and  mark  for  us. 


make  with  great  satislaction. 

hunt  last  week.    The  coropanT  was  amail,  aa  t)>e 
*  . "  r^  ,  papers  aay,  but  aelect,  and  we  had  excellent  aport,  ku 
of  mii\  e)||)t  hares.    We  coursed  on  Gala'a  ground,  and  he 
?0^  1 1    wtth  ua.    The  dinner  went  olT  with  Us  usual  alacrity, 


era  10  tnnrch  ii^ion  Tynedale,  he  was  prepared  to 
place  htmadf  ut  therr  n^ad, 

^  He  bu<i  ag^iLi)  in  tended,  na  iFoon  us  he  should  have 
^niiihod  IVFitihoe.  to  proco'd  to  London  and  rt'c*ivB 
him  bnh.>net<^y;  hut  as  that  affair  KarJ  btien  cro^se^j 
ni  EnBtcT  by  hm  own  illn**f%  «o  at  Chrtatmafl  if  was 
jkif^m  oh\\^fiA  to  be  put  off  in  eoniKtqdertee  of  a  htnvy 
evries  of  doniestir  afflituonj.  Within  one  wrek 
Scott  htflt  his  eieellent  mother,  his  undo  Dr,  Daniel 
Riitht'ffbrd,  ProfeeHor  of  Boiany  i^i  the  tJaivtmty  of 
Ed  iri  burgh— oad  their  aiaiBr^  Chrisuan  Ruth«;rford. 
already  often  nfieijiioned  us  one  of  the  Jearsei  end 
mu^t  etitf^mefl  of  all  hU  frionda  and  ixinncriciurtli. 

The  followin«  tetters  rtquin?  no  further  introduc- 
lion  Of  coatntetit. 

''  iiibotaford.  LSth  Nov.  1819. 
"Mfdearl^rft 

*  '  '  *  '  *  I  wish  I  bad  aiij  iu!Wji  to  ftund 
your  1^rd<khip,  but  Uw  htn  li  Wf^  atc  all  ti\iivi  h^Tt,  The 
Ga\n»iiiti\t  Weave  fa,  both  men  and  muif'ra,  hftve  iinnia 
thqlf  puHtkn!  creed  fenftWD  ti^^Die^an^J  have  awom  ihriii- 
■chrea  Btill-radic^     TIH.7   i^ifiiia   in  «i^|rmil   pt<ie.v**k^n. 


Willi  tib^'Ir  t4Anaef%niii<l  my  (n?n  pij^r  at  thflr  hrad,  vii£ttn 
'^ht'Y  had  hrirruwr-ii  r<jr  ilie  uunci.'-  Bm^  tit«  Twer-d  lii^hia 
in  noudt  wi"  could  only  cnmiimu^citttf  Illift  Wajbcp  aJiJ 


I  enclose  anoOier  letter  from  Mra.  Dondaa  of  Ami»> 
ton.  I  am  afraid  you  have  been  carelaaa  hi  noc  delhrer- 
ing  those  I  formerijr  forwarded,  beeause  in  one  of  thcfn. 
which  Mra.  Dimdaa  got  iW>ni  a  friend,  there  was  encloeed 
a  draught  for  aotne  monej.  I  beg  yon  will  be  particular 
In  delivering  any  lettera  intmated  to  roo,  becaose  though 
the  good-nature  of  the  wrltera  may  uduce  them  to  wrtre 
to  be  of  aervice  to  tou.  yet  it  ia  poaaible  that  they  may,  as 
hi  this  instance,  add  thUiga  whicii  are  teherwiae  of  Impor- 
tance to  their  cerreapondenta.  It  ta  probable  that  toq 
may  hatre  picked  up  among  yonr  milhary  frianda  the  Idea 
that  the  meaa  of  a  regiment  ia  all  in  all  auOcieat  to  itaelf  ; 
but  when  yon  sea  a  little  of  the  world  yon  will  be  miaAed 
that  none  but  pedant*— for  there  ia  pedantry  hi  all  pro- 
feasiona— herd  ezelnaiTely  together,  and  that  thoae  who- 
do  80  aire  lauched  at  in  real' good  conqiany.  Thia  yoo 
may  take  an  the  aufthortty  of  one  who  Kaa  aeeo  more  eC 
life  and  aociety,  in  all  Ha  various  .gradationa,  from  the 
highest  to  the  lowest,  than  a  whole  hnasar  regim«alnl 
meaa,  and  who  would  be  much  pleaied  br  knowing  lliac 
Ton  reap  the  benefit  of  an  experience  which  has  rahtod 
mm  from  being  a  neraon  of  small  conaideratioo,  to  tha- 
homar  of  being  famer  of  an  ofloer  of  huaaars.  I  therw- 
Ibn  enclose  another  letter  ftvm  the  aame  kind  friend,  of 
which  f  pray  yon  to  avail  yooraelf.  In  ihct,  thoae  olBcer* 
who  aaaociate  entirely  amonff  themaelvea  aee  and  Icnow 
no  more  of  the  worid  than  Uveir  meaaman,  and  get  con* 
ceited  and  disagreeable  by  neglecting  the  opporttwiiies 


Bnif  F  kc:tos/i  the  Carmn*  Howevert  iwu  d(5itUiLkF9  cjiuhj  oflnf«d  for  enlarging  their  underatandiag.  fevery 
thmi«h  in  thff  tfJiU,  Mul  iDtde  rtMs  Bcqiisintf  d  wiilj  Ui»!ir  tinguished  soldier  whom  I  have  known,  and  I  have  known 
Toy  III  pu  rjrtacm.  TIj  1?  etr  b  tti  t  wa*  c  rL^»-ne<  I  wi(  li  t  wm  irioAt  many,  waa  a  man  of  the  world,  and  accuatomed  to  general 
tH^tni^iiUhitd  nciji^na— H)f^  ^QAterd  ref4U[fcta^,  in  tht<  inoift    *^.^t^7- 

p«ri]itjptory  majui^r^  to  n^^cept  of  0.  rrjuuk  of  rajji^^u  to  I  T®  sweeten  my  lecture,  I  have  to  inform  you  that,  thia 
LiiY  whJjilty,  lujtl  lilt?  rmmivtnfui  J^iUn  of  fikyi*.  pinnr  in  I  being  quarter  day,  I  have  a  remittance  of  £50  to  send 
orffcntiry  it*  tlie  fjitrd  of  Khhtitsfoir^l  no  k«4  uteoJly  ri>  !  Jo"  whenever  you  are  pleaaed  to  let  me  know  it  will  be 
fuMinM  Ji  very  hand^amfl  coUortk^n.  whieh  they  uar*r*>d  i  «cceptable-tfor,  like  a  ghost,  I  will  not  speak  again  till  I 
Mill  ftjr  iiJs  inlrkhtrtd^y.     All  itila&ouuda  ^^.-ry  npiiacuaieal,    am  spoken  to. 

bm  tSif}  nt'Ofjlo  iniui  T>e  hujnoorad  natl  fouiaenjanitecj       "  I  wish  you  nor  to  avail  your.<ielf  of  your  leave  of  ab- 
tun  they  Takfi  ih*?  riicJtit  tuni,  otherwine  tJiey  wiil  he  '  acnce  this  winter,  because,  if  my  health  continues  good, 
'       *" —        mn^.    Ttic  jitcnunt*  from  iftg  West  I  ^  *"*"  endeavour  to  go  on  tho  Continent  next  summer. 


m*i  vrisii  our  |; 


vur^  tf\  take  ih 

iw(nctii[n?*  Enaki.  ^- .,,^,. .-„.„.„_„.,.,.,,.„„,.„._.  .  .  . 

flldtf,  anf!  able  roiff-t  on  tafrsoWk,     It  seeiiii  ttniiri*a4;]j-  '  fore,  I  »)ejr  you  to  look  after  your  French  and  German. 
'  -  * -" — " '  — -  We  had  a  vlfiir  from  a  very  fine  fellowindeedat  Abbotsford^ 


ing  to  the  old  tun^ 
"Coiof*  fill  iJt»  fjur  eiip^  rofnc  6J3  np  otir  cati^ 
r»«(«f'  Milillf  I  III*  hfjr^rs^  ftt*d  fM  stp  oitr  iiitn, 
piimt!>  oneij  tlic  itHost,  ,irtd  Uii  us  |o  fr^p, 
And  w*^11  vtUiivt  till' in  thi^  LKitint^is  ofhtiany  Dnnifr^  ' 
*^  I  am  mi^Hi^r  toTk  old  for  thpitworli  now,  ^tinl  T  (r-niirp"t 

l(>i>lt  Iftrw^rd  tff  It  Willi  the  tort  of  fodln^  iVirti  fi/^pinlilr  J 


llEtJc  Dnk<«  ISvcj  «r  six  yeiirs  !  "nd  should  ije  very  desirous  to  have  you  wl 
sWk,    It  seeiiii  ttpi»ri.i4;]|-    fore,  I  beg  you  to  look  after  your  French 


with  me;  there- 


dir  Thomas  Brisbane,  who  long  commanded  a  brigade  in 
the  Peninsula.  He  is  verv  scientific,  bnt  bores  no  one 
with  it,  being  at  the  same  time  a  vrell  informed  man  on  all 
sniiiccts,  and  particularly  alert  in  hia  own  profession,  and 
wilnng  to  talk  about  what  he  has  seen.  »lr  Harry  Hay 
Macdoiical,  whose  eldest  daughter  he  is  to  marry,  brought 
him  to  Abbhisfonl  on  a  sort  of  wedding  visit,  a<i  we  are 


t4fa*nfp— JM  I  dht  ^D  my  younger  *nd  ^arv  h»  akhy  iUiyA.  ^  cousins  nccordinj  fo  the  old  fashion  of  country  kin  :  Bear- 


IloWi^vrrt  T  hJivc  gni  ft  gxjoet  ^^ovtiag  licr*-,  mui  wUl  cndi 
vii  [ir  ( *>  k  *»op  r  tkf^f n  1  »?eM  l>  (*r  tli  f I  tita  1  ■  v  inr  nd .  j 

"  M»  rf**|s^t'(fid  cr^hniliiiiipnu  BUicni!  l-acly  Motn^j^ii^  and  | 
1  am  alw4Vii»  with  the  ^^att^st  rej;ni4l,  jrour  1j.ml»iih>'s 
vc'tj  raiiht'al  W*Lrfift  Hh^ott'^ 

*'  &lJntfur|L,  1  Uh  Nov.,  J^i9. 
*"  Pf'ST  Waller^ 

'^  I  igi  mni^h  nirpriiPd  and  ralhi^r  hurt  wt  not  hearing 
fronirnm  fuir  au  long  &  while.  Von  uught  to  Trtritfnibdr 
ihsti  hi>w(>vor  ^siviuiaiilly  iha  timer  tnay  be  pattiiij;  with 

EflU,  Wf  ft  hnine  lia^f  some  rigiit  lo  eicjieet  ti1.1t  a  p»n  of 
tatfrfywiiaU  pun  mil  bcjtc  the  tiimjakmild  bcdedl* 


die,  of  whom  Sir  Harry  has  a  beautiful  picture,  being  a 
son  of  an  Isabel  Macdougal,  who  was,  I  fiancy,  grand-aunt 
to  Sir  Harry. 

"  Once  iiiore,  my  dear  Walter,  tnite  mere  frequently^ 
and  do  not  allow  yourself  to  think  tlvU  the  first  neglect  in 
correspondence  I  have  ever  had  to  comphUn  of  has  beea 
on  your  part.  I  hope  you  have  received  the  MeerachaoA 
pipe.— I  remain  your  affectionate  father, 

Waltki  Scott." 
To  the  Same. 

*'  Edioburgb,  3d  December,  1819. 
"  If  y  dear  Walter,  ^ 


LIF*E  OF  SIR  WALTER  »00W. 


fni  let  me  know  this.    At  tir 

bit  further  than  70a  can  help  ft,  for  m  hujing  anf  tbioc 


do  not  tni0L  him  a 


70Q  will  get  it  mach  cheaper  yourself  than  he  wUf.  We 
are  now  settled  for  the  winter ;  that  is,  all  of  them  except- 
ing myseli:  who  must  soon  look  soathwarda.  On  Satur- 
day we  had  a  grand  visiter,  t.  a.,  the  Crown  Prince  of  Swe- 
den, under  the  name  of  Count  Iiterburg.  Hla  travelling 
companion  or  tutor  is  Baron  do  Poller,  a  Swiss  of  emi- 
nence in  literature  and  rank.  They  took  along  look  at 
King  Charles  XIl.,  who,  yon  cannot  have  foriotten,  keopi 
his  pest  over  the  dining-room<ehimney ;  and  we  were  all 
struck  with  the  resemblance  betwixt  old  Iron-head,  as 
the  janisnaries  called  him,  and  hia  descendant.  The  said 
descendant  ia  a  very  fine  lad,  with  very  soft  and  mild  a)an- 
nera.  and  we  paaaed  the  day  very  pleaaantly.  They  were 
much  diverted  with  Captain  Adam,  who  outdid  his  uaual 
outdoings,  and,  like  the  barber  of  Bagdad,  danced  the 
dance  and  aung  the  aong  of  every  person  he  spoke  of. 

*^  I  am  concerned  I  cannot  give  a  very  pleasant  account 
of  things  here.  Olaaaow  is  In  a  terrible  atate.  The  Ra- 
dicala  had  a  plan  10  aeuse  on  1000  standof  arms,  aa  wellas 
a  depOt  of  ammunitien,  which  bad  been  sent  from  Edin- 
burgh Caatle  for  the  tiae  of  the  volunteera.  The  Com- 
mander-in-Chief, Sir  Thomas  Bradford,  went  to  Glasgow 
inpeiton,  and  the  whole  city  was  occupied  with  patroles 
ef  horse  and  foot,  to  deter  them  from  the  meditated  at- 
tack on  the  barracka  The  arm  were  then  delivered  to 
the  volunteers,  who  are  aaid  to  be  40OO  on  paper  ;  how 
many  effoctive  and  trustworthy,  |  know  not.  But  it  was 
a  new  siffat  in  Scotland  on  a  Sunday  to  see  all  the  Inhabi- 
lams  In  arms,  soMiem  petroling  the  atreets,  and  the  ut- 
most precaution  of  mlUtary  service  exacted  and  observed 
hi  an  apparently  peaeeful  city. 

**■  The  CNd  Blue  Regiment  of  volunteers  was  again  sum- 
flJMmed  together  yesterday.  They  did.  not  master  very 
nomerouB,  and  looked  most  of  them  a  little  andent.  How- 
ever, they  are  getting  reeraks  (ast,  and  then  the  veterans 
may  fall  out  of  th6  rank*.  Th<^  Commander-dn-Chief  has 
touthe  President  that  he  may  soon  be  obliged  to  leave 
the  charve  of  the  caatle  to  these  armed  oiusena  This 
looks  aerloiia.  The  President*  made  one  of  the  most 
ekjqnent  addreaaea  that  ever  was  heard,  to  the  Old  Bloee. 
The  Hlahland  chiefs  have  ofTered  to  raiae  their  clana,  and 
march  them  to  any  point  hi  SooUand  Where  their  services 
shall  be  required.  To  be  sure,  the  Qiaagow  folks  woukl  be 
a  little  surprised  at  the  arrival  of  Dnrndd  Dhn, '  brogues 
an*  brochan  an*  a'.'  I  shall,  I  Chink,  bid  BaOantyne  send 
yon  a  copy  of  hla  weekly  paper,  which  often  oontalas 
thimn  you  would  Hke  to  see,  and  vrill  keep  you  In  mind 
of  Old  Scotland. 

"  They  are  embodying  a  troop  of  eavahry  In  Bdinbuifh 
—nice  yonng  men  and  good  horaea  They  have  paid  me 
the  contipliment  to  make  me  an  honorary  member  of  the 
corps,  as  my  days  of  active  servica  have  been  long  over. 
Pray  take  care,  however,  of  my  sabre,  to  ease  the  time 
comes  which  roust  turn  out  all. 

"  I  have  ahnost  settled  that,  if  thtogs  look  nodecatelv 
tnmqnll  In  Britain  in  spring  or  sammer.  1  wilt  go  abroad, 
and  take  Charles,  with  the  purpose  of  leaving  him,  for 
two  or  three  years,  at  the  famoua  hiscitulkHi  of  Fallen- 
borg,  near  Berne,  of  which  I  hear  very  highly.  Two  of 
Fraser  Ty  tier's  sons  are  there,  and  he  makea  a  very  &- 
vourable  report  of  the  whole  establishment  I  thtok  that 
such  a  r^aidence  abroad  will  not  only  make  him  well  ac- 
quainted with  French  and  German,  as  indeed  be  win  hear 
nothing  else,  but  also  prevent  hlfe  becoming  an  Edinburgh 
petit-maVre  of  fourteen  or  fifteen,  which  he  could  other- 
wise nczrce  avoid.  I  mentioned  to  you  that  I  should  be 
particularly  glad  to  get  you  leave  of  absence,  providing  It 
does  not  interfere  with  ynur  dnty,  in  order  that  you  may 
CO  with  us:  If  I  have  cash  enough  I  will  alaotake  yonr  sla- 
ter and  mamma,  and  yon,  might  return  home  with  them 
by  Paris,  In  case  I  went  on  to  Italy.  All  this  is  doubtful, 
but  1  think  it  is  almost  ceruin  that  Charles  and  I  go.  and 
hope  to  have  you  with  us.  This  will  be  probably  abont 
iulv  next,  and  1  wish  you  particularly  to  keen  it  in  view. 
If  these  dark  prospects  become  darker,  whicn  God  for- 
bid !  neither  YOU  nor  I  will  have  it  in  our  power  to  leave 
the  Dost  to  which  duty  calls  us. 

""  Mamma  and  the  giria  are  quite  well,  and  ao  Is  Master 
Charlea,  who  is  of  course  more  magnificent,  as  behng  the 
only  specimen  of  youthhead  at  home.  He  has  got  an  old 
broadsword  hanging  up  at  his  bedhead,  which,  to  be  the 
more  ready  for  service,  hnth  no  sheath.  To  this  I  under- 
stand we  are  to  trust  for  our  defence  against  the  Radicals. 
Anne  (notwithstanding  the  assurance)  is  so  much  afraid 
of  the  disaffected,  that  last  night,  retnraing  with  Sophia 
from  Portobello,  where  they  had  been  dancing  with  the 
Scotu  of  Harden,  ahe  saw  a  Radical  hi  every  man  that  the 
carriage  paaaed.  Sophia  is  of  course  wise  and  pbilo:^ 
phical,  and  mamma  has  not  yet  been  able  to  conceive 

•The  Right  HmMnraUe  Charles  Horn, Lord  PMsldnrt of  Oe 
vSS^^  8«»oiy(w»  Cokrol  ooajpna^  of  the  Okl  Blues,  or 
fast  Regiment  of  Edinbaigb  VolStoeia 


"MydearWaUer, 


SI 


whv  WB  dn  not  catch  and  hang  the  wliale  of  them,  oBtiled 
and  unconvioled.  Amidst  ail  their  various  emotions,  they 
join  to  best  love  to  you ;  and  I  alwayaam  very  tmhr  youra, 

"  P.  S.— I  shall  set  off  for  London  on  the  2Slh." 
7b  the  Samt. 
Edinburgh,  17th  December,  1819L    ^ 

have  a  train  of  most  melancholy  news  to  acquaint 
you  with.  On  Saturday  I  saw  your  grandmother  perfectly 
wen,  and  on  Stinday  the  girhi  drank  tea  with  her,  when 
the  good  old  lady  was  more  than  usually  in  spirits  ;  and, 
as  It  aho  had  wialied  to  impress  many  tlimgs  00  their  me- 
mory, told  over  a  number  of  her  old  stories  wkh  her 
usual  alertness  and  vivacity.  On  Monday  she  bad  an  in- 
disposition, which  proved  to  bo  a  paralytic  aifection,  and 
on  Tuesday  she  was  speechlesa,  and  bad  lost  the  power 
of  one  sideu  without  any  hope  of  recovery,  although  she  , 
mar  linger  Some  days.  But  what  is  ^erj  remarkable,  and 
no  less  shockiuR,  Dr.  Rotherford,  who  attended  his  sister 
in  perfect  health  upon  Tuesday,  died  himself  upon  the 
Wednesday  morning.  He  had  broakiatited  without  inti- 
mating the  leaat  Ulneaa,  and  was  dressed  to  ao  out,  and 
particularly  to  visit  my  mother,  whqn  he  sunk  backwards, 
and  died  in  hia  daughter  Anne's  arms,  almost  without  a 

'oan.    To  add  to  thia  melancholy  list,  our  poor  friend, 

iss  Christie,  is  despaired  of.  She  was  much  aflfocted  by 
my  mother's  fatal  indisposition,  but  does  not  know  as  yet 
other  brother's  death. 

*'  Dr.  Rutherford  was  a  very  ingeoioua  as  well  as  an  ex- 
cellent man,  more  of  a  gentleman  that  his  profession  too 
o/len  are,  for  he  could  not  take  the  backstairs  mode  of 
rising  in  it,  otherwise  he  might  have  been  much  more 
weaUhy.  He  ought  te  have  had  the  Chemistry  clasa,  as 
he  was  one  of  thebest  chemists  in  Europe ;  *  but  superior 
interest  asaigned  it  to  another,  who,  though  a  neat  experi- 
mentaliat,  is  not  to  be  compared  to  poor  Daniel  for  ori* 
ginality  of  genius.  Sinoe  you  knew  him  his  health  was 
broken  and  his  spirits  dejected,  which  may  be  txaced  to 
the  kMS  of  hla  Meat  Bon  on  board  an  East  Indlamsn»  and 
alao,  I  think,  to  a  alight  paralytic  touch  which  he  had  some 
years  ago.  « 

"  To  all  thIa  domestic  distress  I  have  to  add  the  fearful 
and  unsettled  state  of  the  country.  All  the  regular  troqps 
aire  gone  to  Oiufom.  The  Mid-Lothian  Yeomanry  and 
other  corps  of  volunteers  went  there  on  Monday,  and 
abont  6000  men  occupied  the  tovm.  In  the  mean  while, 
wa  were  under  oonakltraUe  apprehension  here,  the 
Castle  being  left  in  the  charge  of  the  oity  volunteers  and 
afewvetersns. 

^  AUourcortipr,  htfti  and  low,  la  loysL  Tonroodlce, 
Gala,  and  I,  hi^vo  nA'crpd  ici  t^h^  a  corpii,  to  he  cdhid  the 
Loyal Fmnaslrfi^,  jri  sci  juiy  «rLrre  mynth  nf  The  FortJi.  ,If 
matters  get  HI  r>r<i-,  1  will  uh  Ivaveof  sluieticn  (fjtfou  from 
the  Commsfliicr  Ln^cbiDlif  bcsiAu«e  your  pn^sritcg  wiU  be 
materkdly  usr'tui  to  lowy  mc^n,  opd'  you  can  only  be  Idle 
where  you  are,  anJ««i  fr*hniii  Ahorilii  b*  rHarurbrd,  V^ir 
oMcorpaof  rbe  s^Lhl^iE5>hL]'4^  Veootanry  hove  be^'d  umkr 
ordA'S,andcJip''^t  eo  br^  Acm  ^:<'ii:J'i«iriG  £HEmfHt^orrartit<!te;^ 
Berwick  isdi^iuiaud'^d,  njid  ihcy  nre  rciTJOflHg  chn  tturt  f| 
cannon,  d:e.,  rrojii  mta  of  tbt?  htrenirf-et.  places  tiare^  for  1 
defy  the  devii  10  paaa  the  bridite  at  Bmrtvlckt  if  rtaamub^y 
well  kept  by  inUmisf.  Bui  tht-rc  is  a  spirjt  of  conitartuUon 
ImpUenin  many  nf  ^h*'  nri!l»  rm.  wlnkh,  rnfr*^  tJ"!?*.  I  iPltfl 
worse  than  ^ij4ii  l  sCr  tJi  Itjio*  uT  jij,f  MrL-^iiir-tMijcj^^vii-cU 
Infer  real  danger.  For  myself,  1  am  loo  old  to  fight,  but 
nobody  is  too  old  to  die,  like  a  man  of  viitne  and  honour, 
in  defence  of  the  principles  he  basalwavs  malmahied. 

**  I  would  have  you  to  keep  yourself  ready  to  return 
here  auddenly.  In  caae  the  Duke  of  York  Should  permit 
your  temporary  aervicea  in  your  own  country,  which.  If 
things  grow  worse,  I  will  certainly  aak.  The  learfVd  thing 
Is  the  secret  and  steady  alienee  observed  by  the  Radicals 
hi  all  they  do.  Yet,  without  any  thing  Uke  eflbctlve  arms 
or  useful  discipline,  without  money  and  without  a  com- 
missariat, what  can  they  do,  but,  according  to  their  fovour- 
ite  toast,  nave  blood  and  plunder  1  Mamma  and  the  girls, 
as  wen  as  Charles,  send  Jdnd  love.  Yonr  affectionate 
fkther,  Waltbi  Soorr." 

To  Mr.  Wittiam  Laidlau),  Kauide. 

^  EdUiburgh,  Dec.  20, 1819. 
"MydearWilHe, 
"Distress  has  been  very  busy  with  me  since  I  wrote  ta 

*  "  Thesobject  of  his  The»i*  is  singnlar.  aod  entitles  Ratbe^ 
fbrd  to  rank  very  Ufh  among  the  ehemioalDhBasopheis  of  anodera 
tiroes.  Its  title  is  '^  De  Aere  Mephitioo.'*  Ac.— It  is  onhroisally 
admitled  that  Dr.  Rntbeiford  first  cHscoteied  this  gas-thc  reputa- 
tion of  hii  discovery  beina  ^tecdiljr  spread  thRNwb  Europe,  hia 
diameter  as  a  cbeinut  of  the  first  cmmeoce  was  fmnly  eetalilisb- 
ed,  aod  mueh  was  angtued  from  a  yoong  man  la  hta  twenty-se- 
cond year  havioc  diatinguished  himself  so  rem8rfcahly.'*—Bowaa'8 
HUtory  tf  tfi»  Univtrtity  qf  Edinburgh,  vol.  iil.  (isao,;  PP. 
flse— 1. 


i^«  9F.^  w^urcR  ^cprr. 


,  Tou.  I  hua  lotu  In  the  eoimif  of  one  week,  xdt  Teliied 
'  t^ooijDr.  ^indlllaa  R!^rfbrd-SA)pf  fc  mfcruw 
oMthei*  khew  of  (he  ottier*t  dissolution.  My  deer  mdther 
has  oifcred  me  deeper  subject  of  aflfeHon,  havlnf  been 
strftck  with  the  palsj,  and  being  now  in  soch  a  state  that  I 
scarce  hope  H>  aee  her  again. 

"  But  the  strange  time*  compel  jne,  under  thia  pressure 
of  domestic  distresa,  to  attend  to  public  business.  I  find 
"    ~         '     '  "    ne 


jo , , 

be  the  first  in  the  Lowlands,  so  far  as  I  hare  yet  heazd  of, 
t6  invite  our  labourers,  and  those  over  whom  circum- 
stances and  fortune  give  Us  influence,  to  rise  with  us  in 
arms,  and  share  our  fate.  You  know,  as  well  as  any  one, 
that  I  have  always  spent  twice  the  Income  of  my  property 
hi  giving  work  to  my  netshboors,  and  I  hope  they  wfD  not 
be  behind  tiie  Galashiels  people,  who  are  very  zoalooa. 
Gala  and  I  go  hand  in  hand,  and  purpose  to  raise  at  leaM  a 
,  company  each  of  men,  to  be  drilled  as  sharp-shooters  or 
infantry,  which  will  be  a  lively  and  interesting  amuse- 
ment for  the  Toung  fellows.  The  dress  we  propose  to  be 
as  simple,  and  at  the  same  dme  at  serviceable  as  possible ; 
a  jacket  and  trowsers  of  Galashiels  gray  cloth,  and  a  smkrt 
bonnet  with  a  small  feather,  or,  to  save  even  that  expense, 
•  snrlg  of  hoUy.  And  we  vrill  have  shooting  at  the  mark, 
and  prizes,  and  fun,  and  a  little  whiskey,  and  daily  pay 
when  on  duty  or  driH  I  beg  of  you,  dear  Willie,  (o  eoro- 
mnnicato  my  vrish  to  all  who  have  received  a  good  turn  at 
my  hand«  or  may  expect  one,  or  may  be  desirous  of  dobig 
me  one— (for  1  should  be  sony  Damick  and  Brigend  were 
beat)— and  to  all  other  free  and  honwt  fellows  who  will 
take  share  with  me  on  this  occasion.  I  do  not  wish  to 
take  any  Command  farther  than  such  at  shall  entitle  me 
(o  go  with  the  corps,  for  |  wish  it  to  be  distinctly  under- 
stood  thai,  in  whatever  cfpachy,  /  go  with  them^  and  take 
a  share  in  good  or  bad,  as  It  caats  up.  I  cannot  doubt  that 
I  win  IWave  your  suptport,  and  I  hope  you  will  use  all  your 
enthusiasm  In  our  Behalf.  Mornson  volimte<$rs  as  our 
etiglneer.  Thoae  who  I  think  shodld  be  spoke  to  are  the 
following,  among  the  higher  class  :— 

"John  ITsher.*  He  should  be  Heutenant,  or  his  ton 
'ensign. 

**  Sam  BomerviUe.t  I  will  speak  to  him— he  may  be 
lieutenant.  If  Usher  declines ;  bnt  I  think  In  that'  case 
Usher  shoidd  give  us  his  ien. 

"Tottng  Ntcol  Mihie:  Is  rather  yotmg,  but  I  wfU  cffttr  to 
his  father  to  take  him  in. 

**  Harpers  Is  a  4ina  TWA  wen.  TeD  him  1  depend  on  htm 
Ibr  the  honour  of  Damlek.  I  ahanld  propose  to  him  te 
take  a  gallant  halbert 

**  Adam  Ferguson  thinks  you  should  be  our  adjutant. 
JohK  Ferguson  I  propose  for  eaatoM.  He  is  steady,  right 
boldi  and  has  seen  much  fire.  TIm  anld  eaptain  wiU  help 
us  fn  oae  shape  or  other.  For  myself,  I  know  not  what 
they  propose  to  make  of  me,  biH  It  cannot  be  any  thing 
very  active.  However,  I  shouM  Uke  to  have  a  eteady, 
quiet  horse,  drilled  to  stand  lira  well,  and  if  he  baa  tlMae 
propertiea,  no  matter  how  stupid,  so  he  does  not  scumble. 
In  this  ease,  the  priee  of  such  a  horse  will  be  no  object 

**neBe,  mj  dear  Mend,  are  your  beating  ordtfhs.  I 
wnwIJ  proJMMe  to  raise  about  sixty  men,  and  not  to  take 
aid  Ban.  John  the  Tursl  will  be  a  capital  corporal ;  and 
I  hope  in  general  that  all  my  young  fellows  wlU  go  with 
me,  leavti^  the  older  men  to  go  through  neccssarrTabonr. 
Bound  Tbm  what  he  would  like,  f  think,  perhapa,  he 
vroold  prefer  managing  matters  at  home  in  your  absence 
andmineatdrllL 

M  Jbhn  of  Bkye  Is  cock-a-ho<M)  upon  the  occasion,  and  I 
suppose  haa  made  ilfty  blundsrs  about  it  by  this  time. 
Yon  must  warn  Tom  JamlMon.  Gordon  Wlnnes,  John 
Svranston,  (who  will  carry  off  all  the  prizes  at  ahootingf) 
Davidson,  and  so  forth. 

**  If  you  thkik  it  necessary,  a  little  handbiU  might  be  cir- 
eulatad.  '  But  it  may  be  beuec  to  aee  if  government  will 
aceept  our  services;  and  I  Utink,  in  the  situation  of  the 
couaby,  vrben  work  is  scarce,  and  we  offer  pay  for  tiieir 
playing  themselves,  we  should  have  choice  of  men.  -  But 
1  would  urge  no  one  to  do  what  he  did  not  like. 

**  The  very  precarious  state  of  mv  poor  mother  deiains 
me  here,  and  makes  me  devolve  t)iis  troublesome  duty 

*  Mr.  Uiher  Imm  alieailr  btm  meotioned  as JBcott'D  predeooMor 
(p  the  prDpertr  orTbtlneld.  ,  He  now  tctiMl  tevir  those  laiids, 


upon  yoo.  .All  jou  have  to  40,  however,  la  to  eoqad  CW 
men,  and  mark  down  Aoae  who  seefh  sealoua  ftHj 
vhll  perh^)8  have  .to  tMtL  with  the  ptmw>n  and  cotters  « 
Nortmimberland,  for  wTeacc  of  their  firesldea,  for  theaa 


chief  they  might  do  there.    Tours  chravs  most  truly, 

WALTOt  Scott." 

To  Thoo.  Stou,  Eoq.,  7QA  fUgimom^  SXnfoUm^  Osaa^ 

^'Bdiobutgh,  2M  December,  ltt». 
"My  dear  Tom, 

**l  wrote  you  about  ten  days  since,  stattaigthot  we  pare 
all  well  here.  In  that  vary  abort  space  a  dumge  so  sod- 
&m  and  so  univaraal  haa  taken  place  among  your  fxteaii 
here,  that  I  have  to  communicate  to  vona  most  mlsfiraMi 
oatalogoe  of  losses.  Oar  dear  mOtner  waa  on  Baodiy, 
the  12th  December,  la  «H  her  usual  strength  and  aleitnesi 
of  mind.  I  had  seen  and  conversed  vrith  her  00  the  Stfur 
day  preceding,  and  never  saw  her  better  to  my  Mo  of 
late  yeara.  My  two  daughters  drank  tea  wMi  her  oa 
lluncky,  whan  uie  waa  nncmnmonly  Mvely,  teling  t" 
number  of  atories,  and  l>eing  In  rather  nnnsaal  s 


rthena 


aadwas  8ood*fc  tenant  on  the  yreater  part  of  tlmn. 
^  ~  unuei  Somerville.  W.  S.,  (a  mn  of  tbfl  hinortan  ei  wpf*m 
}  had  a  prttty  villa  at  If>weod.  on  theTwrod.  imroemtoli 
opposite  the  seat  of  hi«  relation,  Lord  Somerville,  of  \tboao  e«- 


Aa-J^ 


tate  he  had  the  _— _^_— - 
t  NierOMikie.  Biq..  (now  advocate,)  eldest  soo  of  the  Lainl  of 


f  HMpar,  keeper  of  a  little  ion  at  Darnick,  wsa  a  KaOant  and 
•piritsd  yeoman— unifonnlir  ihe  aainer  of  the  prues  at  every  con- 
«Mt  of  iltoi«th  and  a«ility  in  littTdiiitfict 

I  One  orSooU'afbfesterv-thtM  detlgDated  as 
flT the  word,  a  g^Utmt  ftllow. 


probably  from  tha  dflftee  of  axcUatkm  vrfalch  aonynmrt 
is  romanced  to  precede  a  paralytie  afBtctisn.  In  the 
course  of  Monday  ahexecelved  thatftlfcl  sumnoaa,  vchieh 
at  first  seemed  sbght :  bat  In  the  adght  betwitt  Mondi^ 
and  Tuesday  our  mother  loat  the  use  both  of  speech  aad 
of  one  aide.  Since  tlutf  time  she  haa  lain  in  bed  cen- 
stanUy,  yet  to  sensible  aa  to  sea  ma  and  azpreaa  her  ear- 
nest blessing  on  all  of  OS.  The  power  of  speech  is  taiaHy 
lost]  nor  is  there  any  hope,  at  her  advanced  aca,  that  dbe 
scene  can  last  long.  ProDably  a  few  hours  wifl  tenoiaate 
It  At  any  mte,  Ufa  to  not  to  be  wished,  even  for  our  nesr- 
est  snd  dearest,  in  thoae  ofrcomstaneea.  Bat  this  heafj 
calamity  was  oidy  the  conmMncement  of  pur  fiunily  kmm. 
Dr.  Rutherford,  who  had  aeeaned  perfecdy  well,  and  had 
visited  my  mother  upon  Tuesday  the  Mth,  vraa  soddcalj 
afliBcted  wtth  gom  In  Ids  stomach,  or  some  disease 
equally  rapid,  on  Wedneaday  the  16th,  and  without  a  mo- 
menf  s  vraroing  or  aomplalnt,  fell  down  a  dead  man,  slamt 
without  a  shij^e  groan.  You  are  aware  of  his  fsninens 
fbr  animals;  he  was  just  atroking  his  cat  after  rating  Ms 
breaUaat,  when,  without  more  waraiag  than  a  hatf  uiteietf 
exotomatlon,  he  sank  on  the  ground,  and  died  in  the  arms 
of  Ills  daughter  Anna.  Thoi^  the  Doctor  had  no  formed 
compbiot,  yet  I  have  tbeoght  him  looUng  poorly  fbr  soa»e 
Bumths ;  and  though  there  was  ao  failure  whatever  ia  ia- 
taUect,  or  any  thtakg  whieh  approached  It,  ret  hia  memory 
was  not  so  good,  and  I  thought  he  paused  during  the  )om. 
ttma  he  attended  me,  and  had  diilcaltv  in  recoUeeting  the 
preelae  terms  of  Ms  recipe.  Certakuy  there  waa  a  great 
decay  of  outward  strength.  We  were  very  anxiaua  aboei 
the  effect  thta  fatal  aewa  was  likely  to  produce  on  the 
mind  aad  decayed  health  of  our  aunt.  Miss  0.  Rutherford, 
and  resolved,  as  her  health  had  been  cradually  faHing  of 
ever  itoea  slie  returned  from  Abbotafonttliat  she  shoald 
never  leam  any  thing  of  it  until  it  was  impoasible  to  eoa- 
ceal  it  longer.  But  God  has  so  ordered  it  that  she  waf 
never  to  know  the  loss  she  had  sustained,  and  which  she 
wouM  have  flA  BO  deeply.  On  Friday,  the  IJUi  Decembu, 
the  second  day  after  her  brother's  death,  she  expired, 
vritheiit  a  groan  and  without  suffering,  about  six  In  the 
morning.  And  so  we  lost  an  excellent  and  warm-heatt^l 
relation,  one  of  the  few  women  I  ever  knew  who»e 
strength  of  mental  facultiet*  enabled  her,  at  a  mature  pe- 
riod of  life,  to  supply  the  defects  of  an  imperfect  educa- 
tion. It  is  a  most  uncommon  and  afflicting  circumstance, 
that  a  brother  and  two  sisters  should  be  taken  ill  the  same 
da/— that  two  of  them  ithould  die,  without  any.vational  pos- 
sibUity  of  the  aurvivanoe  of  the  third— and  that  no  one  of 
the  tliree  could  be  aflectcd  by  leamtog  the  loes  of  the 
other.  The  Doctor  was  buried  on  Monday.  iXkh,  and  Miss 
Rutherford  this  day,(Wednesday,  22^)  in  the  burial  place 
adjoining  to  and  nurroundinK  one  ot^  the  new  Epiacopal 
chapels,*  where  Robert  Rutheribrdf  had  purcnasea  a 
burial  ground  of  some  extent,  and  parted  with  one  half  to 
the  RusseUA.  It  is  surrounded  with  a  very  high  wall,  and 
all  the  separate  burial  rroiindx,  five,  1  think,  in  number, 
are  separated  by  parly  walls,  going  down  to  the  depth  »>r 
twelve  feet,  so  OS  to  prevent  the  poasibility  either  of  en- 
croactiuient,  or  of  dixtiirbing  the  relics  of  the  dead.  I 
have  purcivajied  one  half  of  Miss  Russell's  interest  in  thi« 
sad  spot,  moved  by  its  extreme  seclusion,  privacy,  and 
security.  When  poor  Jack  was  buried  in  the  Gravfriar'a 
enure hyard,  where  my  father  and  Atme  Ue^  I  thought 


«*  St  iote'i  Chayi^ 
Ruths  rMidt 


EsOm  W.  &.  sob  to  the  >>ro»Mpr  of 


^Rstieit 

2  "Our  fkmibr  heretofore  buried  In  tbs  Gray  Friar's  Chweb- 
yard.  oloite  by  the  entranee  to  Hcrior'a  Hospnal.  and  on  tla 
len-hand  rfde  as  you  pass  ttom  die  thamhyaid.*— 


Digitized  by  V^OOQlC 


UPE  OF  Sm  WALtfiR  SCOTT.  '  '       825 

(Mr  gNf«»  move  encroitehed  apon  (ban  1  liked  Jo  wit- 1  armt  of  the  elder  •Uter  helpless  as  I  haTc  described  bjrs 
Mtt ;  Md  In  this  new  place  I  intedd  lo  lay  our  poor  ino-  1  and  to  separata  the  hatf .  dead  from  the  aetual  eoro»  WM 
th«r  when  the  scene  shall  eloae;  so  that  the  brother  and  ;  tRc  most  melancholy  thiM  possible.  You  can  hardly  coo- 
Se  two  sifters,  whose  fete  has  been  so  very  cloaeW  en-  t  crtve,  dear  Lady  Louisa,  the  niolancho  y  feeling  of  seeing 
twined  in  daalh,  may  not  be  divided  in  the  grate-end  this  j  the  pkce  of  hiat  repose  belonging  lo  the  ^«j^?<e^  jjnw 
rhope  Tou  will  app/oTe  ot  1  open  fear  time*  within  eo  short  a  space,  and  to  meet  the 

Thursdau,  Dtctmbtr  23A-My  mother  slUl  lingers  Hiia  same  grtmp  of  eorrowing  friends  ami  r«^»«n«  ^n  *»'«  *?™J 
morning,  and  as  her  constitution  is  so  excellent,  she  may  sorrowful  ocoaaioo.  Lookmg  back  on  those  '^^  "J^;^ 
perhaps  continue  lo  exist  some  Ume,  or  till  another  stroke,  lost,  all  weU  known  to  me  excepting  my  brother-in-law, 
iTis  a  great  conselation  that  she  Is  perfectly  eaey.  AU  whom  1  could  only  judge  of  by  the  general  report  in  Us 
horaflWrs  of  every  sort  hate  been  very  long  arranged  for  favour,  lean  scarce  conceiy«  a  group  Po«««"'J«  "«''• 
this  great  change,  and  with  the  assistance  of  Donaldson  real  wora»  and  au.lable  quahUes,  not  «« ."a^"^®"  i^J^Ji!' 
and  fiaccuUooh*  vou  may  deptond,  when  the  event  lakes  and  accompHshn*-nla.  I  have  never  felt  so  truly  wnat 
place,  that  yourinierest  wiU  beatiended  to  most  pointctfty.  '  f  ohnson  says  so  well— 
I  hope  our  civil  tumults  here  arc  like  to  be  ended  by  the  \  .  Condcmn'd  to  Hope's  delusive  mine, 

measures  of  Parliament    I  mentioned  in  my  last  that  ^  on  vre  toil  from  day  to  day, 

Kinloch  of  KinlocU  was  to  be  tried  for  sedition.    He  has  \  py  .nidden  blasts,  or  slow  docfine, 

forfeited  h^  bail,  and  was  yesterday  laid  under  outlawry  j  Our  social  comfons  drop  away." 

for  non-appearance     O^rneighboiirsin  Norihumberl^^  1     ».  j  ^^^  whether  it  wa-i  your  ladyship,  or  the 

are  In  ajieplorable  state ;  Upwards  of  50,000  ^^^^^  j  '  Duchess  of  Buccleuch,  who  met  my  mother  once. 
f!i^yj**  '^w**/**r"J^"l*^^  ''^i^:.^  ?  «5!^^n^  '  and  nattered  me  by  being  so  much  plea»e.I  with  the  good 
hMid.the9colrtAfrontl«»awsteadyandl<2al,andar^^^  loW  £S  She  had  a  mind  peculiarly  well  stored  with 
test  dcott  of  Oida  and  I  »»;'««J«'«i;'^«S^l*ff^  SScb  iqufreS  fiformation  and  naloril  tleni,  and  as  she 
strapptag  young  feUowSjand  good  «»*rkfflBOT,  wmir«  to  {  ^"JJJ-"^     M  ^  ,^        excellent  memory,  she  could 

10  any  where  with  us.  We  could  easUy  double  ^e  «"«;  |  J^v  wuUul  IhTleasl  exaggeration  or  affectation  the  nuist- 
ber.  So  the  necewity  of  the  Umea  has  made  rao  get  on  j  ^r.^  ""Xros  of  the  past  axe.  U  I  have  bt^en  able  to 
horseback  once  more.    Our  mother  has  at  different  times  ,  "^^J^^^^^^^^  he  past  Umes,  U  is 

.^!!^Ei^A^'&5^[?•!fi°.?t^fJ^!J.l^^^^^^^^  '  J^rTm'ntem  Ihe  sTu^es  J?tth  wl?fchW 


«,tWhtoUlly  unable  to  «,eal.    =*»;^  Jf  emed  to  ^e    J^^JSSineiSd'rionTp  ri^  o^^^^^ 
averv  aflSctionate  farewell  of  me  the  last  time!  ww  her,  ,  ^^^^^T^^r  she  rimembered,  and  had  often  spoken 

^^  Sf  >}S  S^^iSf*  A!:?'^'?'iL.'S**«?t  ^a  h^  I  wXr?Srson  who  perfectly  recollected  the  baSle  ot 
much  fffUatod,  Dr.  Kekh  advUwd  1  should  not  see  her  Jj^  »^  oBver  CromweU's  subsequent  entry  InUJ 
again  unlesn  ehe  seemed  to  desire  It,  which  hitherto  she  ^„u„' v  $»i«i  nrnMrved  her  faculties  to  the  vcr/  day 
hS^l  done.    She  sleeps  constancy,  and  wiU  probably  |  g^,^^"^;  ^  SKS^  fo?  Sii?  fSJL^  iff^^^^^ 

ScoU  of  Harden  visited  her  on  the  Sunday ;  and,  eomiitg 


be  no  removed.    Our  fiuniiy  sends  k>ve  to  yours.    Yours 
most  affec^onately, 

WAtTsa  Scott." 

Soott'*  excellent  mother  died  on  the24tfa  Decem- 
ber—the  day  after  be  eiosed  the  foregoing  letter  to 
hift  brother.  . 

On  the  18th,  in  the  inidet  of  these  nccumulated 
afflictions,  the  romance  of  Ivanhoe  mtide  its  appear- 
ance. Xp®  date  has  been  torn  from  the  ioHowing 
letter,  but  it  was  evidently  written  while  all  these 
eventa  were  fresh  and  reeenc« 

Jb  tJ^  Ladtf  LotUta  Stuart,  DiUon  Park,  Wintkor, 

"Dear  Lady  Louisa, 

*^  I  am  tavoaired  whh  your  letter  from  Dillon,  and  am 
gUd  yon  found  any  thing  to  erHertain  you  in  Ivanhoe. 
Novelty  is  what  this  gl^-peced  time  demands  impe- 
riously, and  I  certainly  studied  as  much  as  I  could  to  get 
out  oftnc  old  beaten  track,  leaving  those  who  like  to  keep 
the  road,  which  1  have  niUed  pretty  well.  I  have  had  a 
terrible  time  of  It  this  year,  with  the  toss  of  dear  friends 
and  near  relations ;  it  is  almost  fearful  to  count  up  my 
kMsee,  as  they  make  mc  bankrupt  In  society.  Mv  brother- 
in-law;  our  never-to-be-enough  regretted  Duke;  lord 
Chief  B«ron,t  my  early,  kind,  and  constant  friend,  who 
look  me  up  when  I  was  a  yonng  fellow  of  little  mark  or 
Ukelihood ;  the  wife  of  my  inUmate  friend  WilHam  Ers- 
kine  ;  the  only  son  of  my  friend  David  Hume,  a  youth  of 
great  promiae,  and  just  entering  hilo  Bfc,  who  haid  grown 
op  under  my  eye  from  chiltlhood;  my  excellent  mother ; 
and,  within  a  few  days,  her  surviving  brother  and  sialcr. 
My  mother  was  the  only  one  of  these  whose  death  was 
the  natural  consequence  of  very  advanced  life.  And  our 
sorrows  are  not  at  an  end.  A  sister  of  my  n»other's,  Mrs. 
RuaeoU  of  Ashestiel,  long  deceased,  had  left  (besides 
several  sons,  of  whom  only  one  now  survives  and  is  in 
India)  tliree  daughters,  who  lived  with  her  youngest 
siscer.  Miss  Rutherford,  and  were  In  the  closest  habiu  of 
intimacy  with  us.  The  eldest  of  these  girls,  and  a  most 
excellent  creature  she  is,  was  In  summer  so  much  shock- 
ed by  the  sodden  news  of  the  death  of  one  of  the  brothers 
I  hare  mentioned,  that  she  was  deprived  of  the  use  of  her 
Umba  by  an  affection  cither  nervous  or  paralytic.  She 
waa  alowly  recovering  from  tliia  afflicting  and  helpless 
situation,  when  the  sndden  iate  of  her  aunts  and  uncle, 
particularly  of  her  who  had  acted  as  a  mother  to  the  faini* 
ly,  brought  on  a  new  shock;  and  thouch  perfectly  pos- 
■eascd  of  her  mind,  she  haa  never  smce  been  able  to  utter 
a  vrord.  Her  youngest  sister,  a  girl  of  one  or  two  and 
twenty,  was  so  much  shocked  by  this  scene  of  accumu- 
lated distress,  that  she  was  taken  very  ill,  end  having  sup- 
preascd  and  concealed  her  disorder,  relief  came  too  la|e, 
and  abe  has  been  taken  frogi  us  also.    She  died  in  the 

•  This  was  a  ritTicolous  exanerated  report  of  Uiat  period  of 


to  our  house  after,  were  expressiDg  their  surprise  a;  the 
alertness  of  her  mind,  and  the  pleasure  which  ane  n*d  in 
talktogover  both  ancient  and  modem  events.  She  had 
told  them  with  great  accoracv,  the  real  story  of  the  Bnde  ^ 
of  Lammermutr,  and  pointed  out  wherein  it  differed  from 
the  novel.  She  had  aU  the  names  of  the  parties,  and 
detailed  (for  she  waa  a  great  geaealogist)  theh-  coime;^n 
with  existing  famUios.  On  the  subsequent  Monday  she 
was  struck  with  a  paralytic  affection,  suffered  little,  and 
that  with  the  utmost  patience ;  and  what  was  (Sod's  re- 
ward, and  a  great  one  to  her  iimocenl  and  benevolent  Uiti 
she  never  knew  that  her  brother  and  sister,  the  last  ihkt/ 
years  younger  than  hferself,  had  trodden  the  dark  path 
before  hef  She  was  a  strict  economist,  which  she  sal  J 
enabled  her  lo  be  liberal;  out  of  her  little  Income  of  about 
jeaOO  a-year  she  bestowed  at  least  a  thhrd  In  well  chosen 
charities,  and  with  the  rest  lived  like  a  genUewoman,  and 
even  with  hospitality  more  general  than  seemed  to  suit 
her  age ;  yet  1  could  never  prevail  on  her  lo  accept  of  any 
assistance.  You  cannot  conceive  how  affecting  it  was  to 
mc  to  see  the  little  preparations  of  presents  which  she 
had  assorted  for  the  New  Year— for  she  was  a  great  ob- 
server of  the  old  fashions  of  her  period— and  to  think  that 
the  kind  heart  waa  cold  which  delighted  In  aU  these  acts 
of  kindly  aflectton.  I  should  apologlxe.  I  believe,  for 
troubling  your  ladyship  with  these  melancholy  details,  but 
you  would  not  thank  me  for  a  letter  written  with  con- 
straint, and  my  mind  is  at  present  very  full  of  thi^  sad 
subject,  though  I  scarce »know  any  one  to  whom  I  would 
venture  to  say  so  much.  I  bear  no  good  news  of  Lady 
Anne,  though  Lord  Montagu  writes  cautiously.  The 
weather  is  now  turning  milder,  and  may,  I  hone,  be 
favourable  to  her  complaint.  After  my  own  family,  my 
thought  most  frequently  turns  to  these  orphans,  whose 
parents  1  loved  and  respected  so  much.— I  am  always, 
dear  Lady  Lousia,  your  very  respectful  and  obliged 

WALima  SoflTf." 

There  is  in  the  library  at  Abbotsford  a  fine  copy  of 
BaskerviHe*s  folk)  Bible,  two  vols.,  printed  at  Cam- 
bridge in  1763;  and  there  appears  on  the  blank  leaf, 
in  the  trembling  handwriting  of  Scott's  mother, 
this  inscription—"  To  my  dear  goru  Walter  Scott^ 
from  his  affectwnate  mother^  Anne  Ruther/ord^  Ja- 
nuary 1<  1819."  Under  these  words  her  son  haa 
written  as  follows  r— "  This  Bible  was  the  gift  of  my 
grandfather  Dr.  John  Rutherford  to  my  mother,  nnd 
present^  by  her  to  me;  being,  alas!  the  last  gift 
which  I  was  to  receive  from  that  excellent  parent,  and. 
as  I  verily  believe,  the  thing  which  she  most  loved 
in  the  world,— nol  only  in  humble  veneration  of  ibe 
sacred  contents,  but  as  the  dearest  pledge  of  her  fa- 
ther's aflection  lo  her.  As  such  she  gave  it  to  me; 
and  as  such  I  bequeath  it  to  ihoi*e  who  may  repre- 


?*•  Bight He».Rcl»tD«Sla.ofAi«iitoDdiodi7tkJttDe.|»enl  nic-charging  them  carefully  lo  pre^rve  the 
fc  ^  I  «L';ocsoothedeathof  Mr.  RobcrtLswiiJIp 


3C 


5^^ 


8S6 


UPE  OP  SIR  WALTER  SCOTT. 


tame,  m  memory  of  thoie  to  whom  it  has  belonged. 

If  literary  ■oecesfl  could  have  either  filled  Scott's 
head  or  hardened  his  heart,  we  should  have  no  such 
letters  as  those  of  December,  1819.  ■Ivanboe  was 
received  throughout  England  with  a  more  clamor- 
ous delight  than  any  of  the  Scotch  novclg  had  been. 
The  volume  (three  in  number)  were  now,  for  the 
first  time,  of  the  post  8vo  form,  with  a  finer  paper 
than  hitherto,  the  press-work  much  more  ele^^anf, 
and  the  price  accordingly  raised  from  eight  shillings 
the  volume  to  ten  ;  yet  me  copies  sold  m  this  origi- 
nal shape  were  twelve  thousand. 

I  ougnt  to  have  menii9ned  sooner,  that  the  origi- 
nal intention  was  to  bring  out  Ivanhoe  as  the  pro- 
duction of  a  new  hand,  and  that,  to  assist  this  im- 
pression, the  work  was  printed  in  a  size  and  manner 
unhke  the  preceding  ones;  but  Constable,  when  the 
day  of  publication  approached,  remonstrated  against 
this  experiment,  and  it  was  accordingly  abanaoned. 

The  reader  has  already  been  told  that  Scott  dicta- 
ted  the  greater  part  of  this  romance*  The  portion  of 
theltf  S.  which  is  his  own  appears,  however,  not  only 
asr  well  and  firmlv  executed  as  that  of  any  of  the 
Tales  of  My  Landlord,  but  distinguished  bv  having 
still  fewer  erasures  and  interlineations,  ana  also  by 
being  in  a  smaller  hand.  The  fragment  is  beautiful 
to  look  at— many  pages  together  without  one  altera- 
tion. It  is,  1  suppose,  superfiMOus  to  add,  that  in  no 
instance  did  Scott  re-write  his  prose  before  sending 
it  to  the  press.  Whatever  may  have  been  the  case 
with  his  poetry,  the  world  uniformly  received  the 
prima  cura  of  the  novelist. 

As  a  work  of  art,  Ivanhoe  is  perhaps  the  first  of 
all  Scott*8  eflbrts,  >vhether  in  prose  or  in  verse ;  nor 
have  the  strength  and  splendour  of  his  iin agination 
been  displayed  to  higher  advantage  than  in  some  of 
the  scenes  of  this  romance.  But  I  believe  that  no 
reader  who  is  capable  of  thoroughly  comprehending 
the  author's  Scotch  characters  and  Scotch  dialogue 
will  ever  place  even  Ivanhoe,  as  a  work  of  genius, 
on  the  same  level  with  Waverley  or  the  Heart  ox 
Mid-Lothian. 

There  i»,  to  me,  something  so  remarkably  charac- 
teristic of  Scott's  mind  and  manner  in  a  p^ticular 
passage  of  the  Introduction,  which  he  penned  ten 
years  afterwards  for  this  work,  that  I  must  be  par- 
doned for  extracting  it  here.  He  says : — "  The  cha- 
racter of  the  fair  Jewess  found  so  much  favour  in 
the  eyes  of  some  fair  readers,  that  the  writer  was 
censured,  because,  when  arranging  the  fatea  of  the 
characters  of  the  drama,  he  had  not  assigned  the 
hand  of  Wilfred  to  Rebeccn,  rather  than  the  less  in- 
teresting Rowena.  But  not  to  mentioned  that  the 
prejudices  of  the  age  rendered  such  an  union  almost 
impossible,  the  author  may,  in  passing,  observe,  thai 
he  thinks  a  character  of  a  highly  virtuous  and  lofiy 
stamp,  is  degraded  rather  than  exalted  by  an  ai- 
tompi  to  reward  virtue  with  temporal  prosperity. 
Such  is  not  the  recompense  which  Providence  has 
deemed  vvorihy  of  aufferins^  merit ;  and  it  is  a  dan- 
gerous and  fatal  doctrine  to  teach  young  persons, 
the  most  common  readers  of  romance,  that  rectitude 
of  conduct  and  of  principle  are  cither  naturally  alli- 
ed with,  or  adequately  rewarded  by,  thegratilicntion 
of  our  passions,  or  attainment  oCour  wishe.^.  In  a 
word,  if  a  virtuous  and  self-denied  character  is  dis- 
missed with  temporal  wealth,  greatness,  rank,  or 
the  indulgence  of  such  a  rashly  formed  or  ill  nssort- 
ed  passion  as  that  of  Rebecca  for  Ivanhoe,  the  rea- 
der will  be  apt  to  say,  verily.  Virtue  has  had  its  re- 
ward. But  a  glanf  e  on  the  great  picture  of  life  will 
show,  that  the  duties  of  sclf-deiiial.  and  theeacrifif^e 
of  passion  to  principle,  are  seldom  tnus  remunerated ; 
and  that  the  internal  consciousness  of  their  high- 
minded  discharge  of  duty,  produces  on  their  own  re- 
flections a  more  adequate  recompense,  in  the  form 
of  that  peace  which  the  world  cannot  give  or  take 
away.'l 

The  introduction  of  the  charming  Jewess  and  her 
father  originated,  I  find,  in  a  conversation  that  Scott 
held  with  his  friend  Shene  during  the  severost  season 
of  his  bodily  satferings  in  the  eariy  part  of  this  year. 

Mr.  Skene,"  says  that  gentleman's  wife,  '*  sitting 


by  hisbedsidef  and  trying  to  amuse  hipi  ai  wettss  ht 
could  in  the  intervals  of  pain,  happened  to  get  on  ttm 
subject  of  the  Jews,  as  he  had  observed  them  when 
he  spent  some  time  in  Germany  in  his  youth.  Tlieor 
situation  had  naturally  made  a  strong  impressioa  s 
for  in  those  days  they  retained  their  own  dress  ana 
mannera  entire,  and  w^e  treated  with  coostderahW 
austerity  by  then*  Christian  neighbours,  being  still 
locked  up  at  night  in  their  own  quarter  by  great 
gates ;  and  Mr.  Skene,  partly  in  seriousness,  but 
partly  from  the  mere  wish  to  turn  hismindatthemo- 
mept  upon  something  that  might  occupy  and  divert 
itr  suggested  that  a  group  of  Jews  would  be  an  in- 
teresting  feature  if  he  could  contrive  to  bring  them 
into  his  next  novel."  Upon  the  appearance  of 
Ivanho&  he  reminded  Mr.  Skene  of  this  conversa- 
tion, and  said,  *'  You  will  find  this  book  o^es  not  a 
little  to  vourperrnan  reminiscences."  Mrs.  Skene 
adds :  '  Dining  with  us  one  dav,  not  long  before 
Ivanhoe  was  begun,  something  that  was  mentioned 
led  him  to  descnbe  the  sudden  death  of  an  advocate 
of  his  acquaintance,  a  Mr.  Elphinstone,  which  oc- 
curred in  the  OuUr-houae  soon  after  he  was  called 
to  the  bar.  It  was,  he  said,  no  wonder,  that  it  had 
left  a  vivid  impression  on  his  mind,  for  it  waa  the 
first  sudden  death  he  ever  witnessed  ;  and  he  now 
related  it  so  as  to  make  us  all  feel  as  if  we  had  the 
scene  passing  before  our  eyes.  In  the  death  of  the 
Templar  in  Ivanhoe,  I  recognised  the  verv  pictur^^ 
1  behove  I  may  safely  say  the  very  words.^'* 

By  the  way,  before  Ivanhoe  made  its  appearance, 
I  had  myself  been  formally  admitted  to  the  author'a 
secret ;  but  had  be  favoured  me  with  no  such  con- 
fidence, it  would  have  been  ^impossible  for  roe  to 
doubt  that  I  had  been  present  some  montba  before 
at  the  conversation  which  suggested,  and  indeed 
supplied  all  the  materials  of.  one  of  its  moat  amu- 
sing chapters.  I-aliude  to  that  in  nhich  aur  Saxon 
terms  for  animals  in  the  field,  and  our  Norman  equi- 
valents for  them  as  they  appear  on  the  tahk.  and 
BO  on,  are  explained  and  commented  on.  All  thia 
Scott  owed  to  the  after-dinner  talk  one  day  in  Caa- 
tle-street  of  his  old  friend  Mr.  Wilham  Clerk,— who» 
among  other  elegant  pursuits,  has  cultivated  tlv  sci- 
ence of  philology  very  deeply. 

I  cannot  conclude  this  chapter  without  observing 
that  the  publication  of  Ivanhoe  marks  the  mostbrif 
liant  epoch  in  Scoti's  history  His  the  literary  favour- 
ite of  bis  contemporaries,  with  the  novel  which  he 
next  put  forth,  the  immediate  sale  of  tbeee  worka 
began  gradually  to  decline;  and  though  even  when 
that  had  reached  its  lowest  decleuBJon,  it  was  still 
far  above  the  most  ambitious  dreams  of  any  other 
novelist,  yet  the  publishers  were  afraid  theatmouoee- 
ment  of  any  thing  like  a  falHng-ofi*  mij;ht  cast  a 
damp  over  the  spirits  of  the  author.  He  was  allow- 
ed to  remam,  for  several  years,  under  the  impression 
that  whatever  novel  he  threw  olT  commanded  at 
once  the  old  triumphant  sale  of  ten  or  twelve  thou- 
saud,  and  was  afterwards,  wheri  included  in  the  col- 
lective edition,  to  be  circulated  in  that  shape  also  aa 
widely  as  Waverley  or  Ivanhoe.  In  my  opinion,  it 
would  have  been  very  unwise  in  the  booksellers  to 
^ivc  Scott  any  unfavourable  tidings  upon  such  sub- 
jt  eta  after  the  commencement  of  the  malady  which 
}i roved  fatal  to  him,— for  that  from  the  first  shook 
his  mind  ;  but  I  think  they  took  a  false  measure  of 
the  man  when  they  hesitated  to  tell  him  exactly  how 
the  niattrr  stood,  throughout  1820  and  the  three  or 
four  follow  ins  years,  when  his  intellect  was  as  vi- 
^^orous  as  it  ever  had  been,  and  his  heart  as  coura- 
geous ;  and  I  regret  their  scruples,  (among  other 
reasons,)  because  the  years  now  mentioned  were  the 
most  coAtly  ones  in  his  life  ;  and  for  every  twelve- 
months in  which  any  man  allows  himself^  or  is  en- 
couraged by  other*,  to  proceed  in  a  course  of  un- 
wise expenditure,  it  becomes  proportionably  mora 
difficult,  as  well  as  painful,  for  him  to  pull  up,  when 
the  mistake  is  at  length  detected  or  recoKnised* 

CHAPTER   XLVII. 

THE  VI8I05f  ABV— TH«  PEKL  OP  DyiRNICK— SCOTt's  8A- 
TUEOAT   BXCUK8I0N8   TO    ABBOT8POBD— A   8VMI>AT 

*  Bee  Wtverlojr  Novels,  wot.  xrii.  p.  871. 

Digitized  by  V^OOQlC 


UPB  OP  am  WAfaTBSL  Boovr. 


raatm  in  pjomuAAV— qowarAux— -johx  ballan- 

TTHB— THOMAB  PVBOn,  BTC-f-P^UVOB  eUSTAVUS 
TASA— PBOCLAMATION  OF  KING  GEOBQE  IV.— PUl- 
UCATION  OP  THE  M0NA8TBBV.— 1820* 

Ix  the  course  of  December,  1819,  tnd  January.  1820, 
Scott  drew  up  three  esaayi,  under  the  title  of  The 
Visionary,"  upon  certain  popular  doctrines  or  delu^ 
nona,  the  spread  of  which  at  this  time  filled  with 
alarm,  not  only  Tories  like  him,  but  many  persons 
who  had  been  distinguished  through  life  for  tneir  ad- 
herence to  political  liberalism.  These  papers  ap- 
peared successively  in  James  Bailantyne  s  Rdin- 
Durph  Weekly  Journal,  and  their  parentage  being 
obvious,  they  excited  much  att^ention  in  Scotland. 
Scott  collected  them  into  a  pamphlet,  which  had 
also  a  large  circulation ;  and  I  remomber  his  showing 
fery  particular  satisfaction  when  he  observed  a 
mason  reading  it  to  his  comrade?,  as  they  sat  at 
their  luncheon,  by  a  new  house  on  Leiih  Walk. 
During  January^  however,  his  thoughts  continued  to 
be  chiefly  occupied  with  the  details  of  the  proposed 
corps  of  Foresters ;  of  which,  I  believe,  it  was  at  last 
settled,  as  far  as  depended  on  the  other  gentlemen 
concerned  in  it,  that  he  should  be  the  Major.  He 
wrote  and  spoke  on  this  subject  with  undiminished 
leal,  until  tne  whole  fell  to  the  ground  in  conse- 
quence of  the  GJovernment's  ultimately  declining  to 
take  on  itself  any  part  of  the  expense ;  a  refusal 
which  must  have  been  fatal  to  any  such  project 
when  the- Duke  of  Buccleuch  was  a  minor.  He  felt 
the  disappointment  keenly ;  but^  in  the  mean  time, 
the  hearty  alacrity  with  which  his  neighbours  of  all 
classes  gave  in  their  adhesion,  had  afforded  him 
mnch  pleasure,  and,  as  regarded  his  own  immediate 
dependants,  served'to  rivet  the  bonds  of  affection  and 
eonfidence,  which  were  to  the  end  maintained  be- 
tween him  and  them.  Darnick  had  been  especially 
ardent  in  the  cause,  and  he  thenceforth  considered 
its  volunteers  as  persons  whose  individual  fortunes 
closely  concerned  him.  I  could  fill  many  a  page 
with  the  letters  which  he  wrote  at  subsequent  pe- 
riods, with  the  view  of  promoting  the  success  of  these 
spirited  young  fellows  in  their  various  departments 
of  industry :  tney  were  proud  of  their  patron,  as  may 
besopposed,  and  he  was  highly  gratified,  as  well  as 
amused,  when  he  learned  that,— while  the  rest  of  I 
the  world  were  talking  of  "The  Great  Unknown,"  [ 
—his  usual  aobri^tt  among  these  villagers  was  the 
**Duke  of  Darhick."  Already  his  possessions  al- 
most encircled  this  picturesque  and  thriving  hamlet ;  ' 
and  there  were  few  things  on  which  he  had  more  i 
strongly  fixed  his  fancy  than  acquiring  a  sort  of  i 
symbol  of  seignior\'  there,  by  becommg  thepurchasrr 
of  a  certain  then  ruinous  tower  that  predominated, 
with  a  few  coeval  trees,  over  the  farm-houses  ana 
cottajres  of  his  ducal  vassals.  A  letter  previously 
quoted,  contains  an  allusion  to  this  Peelhouse  of 
Darnick  ;  which  is  moreover  exactly  described  in  the 
novel  which  he  had  now  in  hand— the  Monastnry. 
The  interest  Scott  seemed  to  take  in  the  Pr^l 
awakenerl,  however,  ihe  pride  of  its  hereditary  pro- 
prietor: and  when  that  worthy  person,  who  nad 
made  some  money  by  trade  in  Kdinbtirgh,  resolved 
on  fitting  it  up  for  the  evening.relreat  of  his  own  life, 
hU  Grace  of  Darnick  was  tbo  happy  to  waive  his 
pretensions. 

This  was  a  winter  of  uncommon  severity  in  Scot-  : 
land ;  and  the  snow  lay  so  deep  and  so  long  as  to 
interrupt  very  seriously  all  Scott's  country  opera- 
tions. I  find,  in  his  letters  to  Laidlaw,  various  para- 
graphs expressing  the  concern  he  took  in  the  hard- 
ships which  his  poor  neighbours  must  be  suffering. 
Thus,  X)n  the  19  th  of  January,  he  says,  I 

"DearWilUe, 

"I  write  by  L.._  , , .  -. , 

or  rather  subjoined,  cheque  for  jB60  in  perfect  safety. 
'Hiis  dreadful  morning  will  probably  stop  Mercer.*  It 
ttwkes  me  shiver  In  the  midst  of  fluperfluous  comforts,  to 
tWnk  of  the  distress  of  others.  iBlO  of  the  jE60  I  wish 
yott  to  dlatribute  amon?  our  poorer  neighbours,  so  as  I 
W  bent  aid  them.  I  mean  not  onl^r  the  actoallj  indiirent,  ' 
but  those  who  are,  in  our  phrase,  tU  off.    I  am  sure  Dr.  ; 

*  The  w«eU7  Dtnuok  cwnet. 


Seott*  will  assist  JOQ  with  kU  advU*  iatiito  kWor  of  iW 

I  thioK  part  of  the  wood.money,t  too,  should  he  given 
among  the  Abbotstown  folks  If  the  storm  keeps  them  off 
work,  as  is  like.    Yours  truly, 

Walter  Bcott. 
"  Deep,  deep  snow  lyinjf  here.    How  do  the  good-wife 
and  bairns  7    The  little  bodies  will  be  half  buried  in  snow 
drift." 

And  again,  on  the  25th,  he  writes  thus  :-^ 
"  Dear  WiUie, 

*'1  have  yours  with  the  news  of  the  inundation,  which, 
it  seems,  has  done  no  damage.    I  hope  Mai  will  be  taken 
care  of.    lie  should  lia^e  a  bed  in  the  kitchen,  and  al- 
ways be  called  in  doors  after  it  is  dark,  forali  the  kind  are 
savage  at  nixtit    Please  cause  Swanston  to  knock  him  tqi 
a  box,  and  fill  it  with  straw  from  lime  to  time.    1  enek>se 
a  clioque  for  jECO  to  pair  accounu,  4&c.     Do  not  let  the  ' 
poor  bodies  want  for  a  j&5,  or  even  a  JSIO,  more  ar  less. 
'  We'll  p:et  a  blessing  wt'  the  lave. 
And  neTcr  miss*  t.';  ' 

**Yburg,  W.  a»' 

In  the  course  of  this  month,  through  the  kindness 
of  Mr.  Croker,  Scott  received  from  the  late  Earl 
Bathurst,  then  Colonial  Secretary  of  State,  the  offer 
of  an  appointment  in  the  civil  Service  of  the  East 
India  Company  for  his  second  son  :  and  this  seemed 
at  the  lime  too  good  a  thing  not  to  be  jgratefully  ac- 
cepted: though  the  apparently  increasing prosperitf 
of  his  fortunes  induced  him.  a  few  years  atterwards, 
to  indulge  his  parental  feelin£(S  by  throwing  it  up. 
He  thus  alludes  to  this  matter  m  a  letter  to  bis  good 
old  friend  at  Jedburgh. 

To  Robert  Shvrtreed,  E»q.^  Sheriff  Subttitute  of  JUM' 
burghahire^  Jedburgh. 

^  Edinbuivh,  I9th  Jan.,  18!ia 
"My  dear  Sir, 

"  I  heartily  congratulate  you  on  getting  the 'appoiatneBt 
for  your  son  William  in  a  manner  so  very  pleasant  to  your 
feelings,  and  which  is,  like  all  Whytbank  does,  conslde* 
rate,  rriendly,  and  generous. 4  I  am  not  aware  that  I  bave 
any  friends  at  Calcutta,  but  if  you  think  leUers  to  Sir  John 
Malcolm  and  Lieutenant  Colonel  Russell  would  serve  my 
young  friend,  he  shall  have  my  best  comroendadons  to 
them. 

''  It  is  very  odd  that  almost  the  same  thing  has  happened 
to  me  ;  for  about  a  week  ago  I  was  surprised  by  a  letter, 
saying,  thai  on  unknown  friend  (who  sinoo  proves  to  be 
Lord  Bathurst,  whom  I  never  saw  or  spoke  with)  would 

five  my  second  son  a  writer's  situation  lor  India.  Cliarles 
s  two  years  too  young  for  this  appointment ;  but  I  do  not 
think  I  am  at  llbeny  to  decline  an  olTer  so  advantageous,  If 
it  can  be  so  arranged  that,  by  exchange  or  otherwise,  It 
can  be  kept  open  for  him.    Ever  yours  faithfully, 

Waltbr  Boott.** 

About  the  middle  of  February— it  having  been  ere 
thnt  lirue  arrnn;?ed  that  I  should  iriarry  ms  eldest 
df»!i^'hT*>r  in  the  couri**^  vf  thti  Pprinij,  — I  mfimipankd 
hirii  qnd  psirt  of  bisfanijlyononcji^f  ihoJti  Hytnj^  Ytbits 
to  AWioT^fni'if^  wMh  whir-h  hci>ftetiini^u][3id  hiiiis^^lf, 
on  .T  Siiiunlny  duTjnK  Jerm.  Vi*mt  FUch  occasion b^ 
Sc>it  Q]ipj[»ri  <J  AT  the  usiinl  hour  in  Cmirt.  byi  wcar- 
inpr,  iiisfcred  ijf  iSit  offuMfil  snil  of  bluck,  hiscnuntry 
mornirts  dri  s.^  jjfcfjo  jncket  nnd  ^o  fnrth,  unJer  iho 
clerk!^  V*^^'f>  T  «  lict^nsc  of  which  many  geniUmua 
of  I  Ik  ]  uis^  Tohf.  bar!  bij^n  ac«-usii<tTti«d  to  ovad  ibtm* 
w  l\Ms  irt  the  day?  uf  hi»  ynijth— ii  bpiiig  i!i<?n  r^n- 
si  ^  red  os  I  he  a  n't  lien  tic  haAj;e  that  thev  wtre  tyirda 
a'^  v<c]\  an  lawyer^— bnt  whidi,  to  use  Inc  dialect  of 
thi'  plarts  hot}  faHrn  m\<)  de^uiiudc  btfore  1  ktiew 
thr  PaHiamcnl  Ktmst^*  He  Was,  I  tbinki  oni*  of  ifio 
twr^  fif  thtpf^,  nr,  ar  niasi,  ihc  half  ilozen,  who  H\\\ 
at!  I-  privilege  of  their  ordfr-  anJ  il  haa 

\\o  I  i  h  D  rH  J,  lk;co  II  i  e  qM  i  le  i)  b  Sri  1 1  [  r  J  ill  e  t  b<3 

ariLieiii,  cuoioui,  a  part  of  the  same  system,  for  all 
Scotch  barristers  to  appear  without  gowns  or  wigs, 
and  in  coloured  clothes,  when  upon  circuit.  At  poon, 
when  the  Court  broke  up,  Peter  Matheison  was  sure 


Oamlra.— Bee  ante,  p.  310.  I  rvcrpC  to  obserrs 
V,  as  thii  pafe  is  passinc  tbroufh  the  press  .4ba 
Y  amiable,  modest,  and  fnteliicent  friend  of  Sir 


•  Dr.  Scott  of  Damlee.- 
in  tlie  ncw« papers, 
death  of  this  very  a 
Walter  Scoffs.  .^        ^       .     ,»_    . 

t  Some  money  expected  from  the  sale  of  krchea. 

J  Bums.— Line*  to  a  Moute,   ,    ,  ^,    ^     . ,  .^  ,     .  . 

$  "  An  India  appointmeDt,  wit^  the  naooe  blank,  which  the  lata 
Mr.  Prinrki  ofAVhvtbnnk  sent  unsolicited,  believinc  it  roifbt  bs 
found  useful  to  a  ramiiy  where  there  wer«  seven  sons  to  piovkis 
for. "-Norr,  ftf  Mr.  A.  SHortrede.  ,      r^r^^i^ 

Digitized  by  VjOOQ  Ic 


warn  or  BiR  WALttB  hcm^. 


to  be  io  tftttiidttiee  in  thaP«rliamei|t  CIpse,  tin^  five 
minutes  nOier,  the  sown  %ad  been  tosied  on,  aniL 
Scot^  rubbing  his  hands  for  ^lee,  was  under  weigh 
for  Tweedaide.  On  this  occasion,  he  was,  of  course, 
m  mourning;  but  I  have  thought  it  worth  while  to 
preserve  the  cjrcumstance  of  nis  usual  Saturday's 
costume.  As  we  proceeded,  he  talked  without  re- 
serve of  the  novel  of  the  Monastery,  of  which  he  had 
the  first  volume  with  him ;  and  mentioned,  what  he 
had  probably  forgotten  when  he  wrote  the  Introduc- 
tion of  1830,  that  a  good  deal  of  that  volume  had 
been  composed  before  he  concluded  Ivanhoe.  "  It 
was  a  relief,"  he  said,  *'  to  interlay  the  scenery  most 
lamiliar  to  me  with  the  strange  world  for  which  I 
had  to  draw  so  much  on  imagination." 

Next  morning  there  appeared  at  breakfast  John 
BallantyBe,  who  had  at  this  time  a  shooting  or 
hunting-box  a  few  miles  off  in  the  vale  of  the  Leader, 
and  with  him  Mr.  Constable,  his  guest ;  and  it  being 
a  fine  clear  day,  as  soon  as  Scott  had  read  the 
Church  service  and  one  of  Jeremy  Taylor's  sermons, 
^e  all  sallied  out,  before  noon,  on  a  perambulation 
of  his  ppland  territories ;  Maida  and  the  rest  of  the 
favourites  accompanying  our  march.  At  startmg 
we  were  joined  by  the  constant  henchman,  Tom 
Purdie— and  I  may  save  myself  the  trouble  of  any 
attempt  to  describe  his  appearance,  for  his  mas- 
ter has  given  us  an  iniroitablv  true  one  in  intro- 
ducing a  certain  personage  or  bis  Re<)gauntlet  :— 
*•  He  was,  perhaps,  sixty  years  old ;  yet  his  brow  was 
not  much  furrowed,  and  nis  jet  black  hair  was  onlv 
grizzled,  not  whitened,  by  the  advance  of  age.  All 
M  motions  spoke  strength  unabated :  and,  though 
rather  undersized,  he  had  very  broacl  shoulders,  was 
square  made,  thin- flanked,  and  apparently  combined 
in  his  frame  muscular  strength  and  activity ;  the  last 
•omewhat  impaired,  perhaps,  by  years,  but  the  first 
remaining  in  full  vigour.  A  hard  and  harsh  coun- 
tenance ;  eyes  far  sunk  under  projecting  eyebrows, 
which  were  grizzled  like  his  hair;  a  wide  mouth, 
furnished  from  ear  to  ear  with  a  range  of  unimpaired 
teeth  of  uncommon  jMrhiteness,  and  a  size  and  breadth 
which  might  have  become  the  jaws  of  an  ogre,  com- 
pleted this  delijp^t^l  portrait."  Gquip  this  figure  in 
Scotrs  cast-off  green  jacket,  white  nai,  and  drab 
trousers;  and  imagine  that  years  of  kind  treatmenft 
comfort,  and  the  honest  consequence  of  a  confiden- 
tial grieve,  had  softened  away  much  of  the  hardness 
and  narshness  originally  impressed  on  the  visage  by 
anxious  penury  and  the  sinister  habits  of  a  black' 
fisher ;  and  the  Tom  Purdie  of  1820  stands  before  us. 

We  were  all  delighted  to  see  how  completely  Scott 
had  recovered  bis  bodily  vigour,  and  none  more  so 
than  Constable^  who,  as  he  puffed  and  panted  after 
him  up  one  ravine  and  down  another,  often  stopped 
to  wipe  his  forehead,  and  remarked  that  "it  was  not  i 
every  author  who  should  lead  him  such  a  dance." 
But  ruraie*s  face  shone  With  rapture  as  he  observed 
how  severely  the  swag-hellied  bookseller's  activitv 
•was  tasked.  Scott  exclaiming  exultingly,  though 
perhaps  for  the  tenth  time,  "  This  will  be  a  glorious 

Sjring:  for  our  trees,  Tom  J"—'*  Yoxk  may  say  that,  | 
heriff,"  quoth  Tom— and  then  lingering  a  moment  < 
for  Constable—"  My  certy,"  he  added,  scratching  j 
his  head,  "  and  I  think  it  will  be  a  grand  season  for 
our  bulk*  too."  But  indeed  Tom  always  talked  of  < 
ur  bulks  as  if  they  had  been  as  regular  products  of 
'~e  soil  as  our  aiks  and  our  birks.  Having  thread- ' 
_J,  ^st  the  Hexilcleugh  and  then  the  Rhymer's  i 
Glen,  we  arrived  at  Hunily  Burn,  where  the  hospi- 1 
tality  of  the  kind  Weird- Sisters^  as  Scott  called  the  j 
Miss  Fergusons,  reanimated  our  exhausted  Bibli-  { 
opoles,  and  gave  them  courage  to  extend  their  walk 
a  little  further  down  the  same  famous  brook.  Here  j 
there  was  a  small  cottage  in  a  very  sequestered ; 
i^tuation,  by  making  some  little  additions  to  which  t 
Scott  thoQght  it  might  be  converted  into  a  suitable  I 
aummer  residence  for  his  daughter  and  future  son- ' 
in-law.  The  details  of  that  plan  were  soon  settled 
~-il  was  agreed  on  all  hands  that  a  sweeter  scene  | 
of  seclusion  oould  not  be  fancied.  H^  repeated  some  ; 
Toraes  of  Rogers's  "  Wish,"  which  paint  the  spot  ;— 
«*  Mine  be  ft  cot  beside  the  bill— 
▲  bee-hive's  hum  shall  soothe  my  ear ; 


A  wiOewy  brook,  (hit  toTM  amiH, 
With  many  s  kM,  sbaU  liogsr  aectf,**  At. 

But  when  he  came  to  the  stanza— 

"  And  Lucy  at  her  wheel  shall  sing. 
In  russet-aowD  and  apron  blae," 

he  departed  from  the  text,  adding— 

'  "  But  if  Bhieatoc  kings  here  yon  bring, 
The  Great  Unlcnown  won't  dine  with  you." 

Johnny  Ballantyne,  a  prujecior  to  the  core,  wts 
particularly  zealous  abput  this  embryo  estabhtfh- 
ment.  Foreseeing  that  he  should  have  had  walk- 
ing enough  ere  he  reached  Hunt^  Euro,  his  dapper 
little  Newmarket  groom  had  been  ordered  to  fetch 
Old  Mortality  thither,  and  now,  mounted  on  hit  fine 
hunter,  he  capered  about  us,  looking  pallid  ami  ema- 
ciated as  a  ghost  but  as  gay  and  cheerful  as  eve^ 
and  woukl  fain  nave  been  permitted  to  ride  over 
hedge  and  ditch  to  mark  out  the propNsr  line  of  the 
future  avenue.  Scott  admoqiahed  htm  that  the 
country  people  if  they  saw  him  at  such  work^  would 
take  the  whole  party  for  heathens;  and  clapping 
spurs  to  his  horse,  he  leit  us.  "The  deil's  m  the 
body,"  quoth  Tom  Purdie,  "he'll  be  ower  every y«tt 
atween  tjiis  and  Turnagain,  though  it  be  the  Lord  s 
day.  I  wadna  wonder  if  he  were  to  be  ceeted  befina 
the  Session."  "  Be  sure,  Tam,"  ciies  Constable^ 
"  that  ye  egg  on  the  Dominie  to  blaw  up  his  father- 
I  would  na  grudge  a  hundred  miles  o'  gait  to  see  the 
ne'er-do-weel  on  the  stool,  and  neither,  I'll  be  sworn, 
would  the  Sheriff."  "  Na^  na,"  ouoth  the  Sboriff- 
"  we'll  let  sleeping  dogs  be.  Tam.^*  . 

As  we  walked  homeward,  Scott,  being  a  fittk  &- 
tigued  laid  his  left  hand  on  Tom's  shoukier,  uid 
leaned  heavily  for  support,  chattiDg  to.bir  "  Sunday 
poney,"  as  he  called  the  afectionate  fellow,  jast  as 
freely  as  with  the  rest  of  the  party,  and  Tom  put  ia 
his  word  shrewdly  and  manfully,  aiul  grinned  apd 
grunted  whenever  the  joke  chaiK^  to  be  within  his 
apprehension.  It  was  easy  to  see  that  his  heart 
swelled  within  him  from  the  moment  that  the  Shontt 
got  his  collar  in  lua  gripe. 

There  arose  a  little  dispute  between  them  about 
what  tree  or  trees  ought  to  be  cut  down  in  a  hedge- 
row that  we  passed,  and  Scott  seemed  somewhat 
ruffled  with  finding  that  some  previous  hints  of  his 
on  that  head  had  not  been  attended  to.  When  we 
got  into  motion  again,  his  hand  was  on  Conaubles 
shoulder— and  Tom  dropped  a  pace  or  two  to  the 
rear,  until  we  approached  a  gate,  when  be  Jumped 
forward  and  opened  it.  "  Give  us  a  pinch  of  your 
snuffi  Tom,"  quoth  the  Sheriff— Tom's  mull  was 
produced  and  the  hand  resumed  iu  position.  I 
was  much  diverted  with  Tom's  behaviour  when  we 
at  length  reached  Abbotsford.  There  were  some 
garden  chairs  on  the  green  in  front  of  the  cottage 
porch.  Scott  sat  down  on  one  of  them  to  enjoy  th^ 
view  of  his  new  tower  ss  it  gleamed  in  the  sunset, 
and  Constable  and  I  did  the  like.  Mr.  Purdie  re- 
n^ained  lounging  near  us  for  a  few  miout^  and  then 
asked  the  Sheriff  "  to  speak  a  word."  They  with- 
drew together  into  the  garden— and  ^cott  present^ 
rdoined  us  with  a  particularly  comical  expression 
of^face,  As  soon  as  Tom  was  out  of  sight  hevaid, 
"  Will  ye  guess  what  he  has  been  saying,  now  T— 
Well,  this  IS  a  great  satisfaction  I  Tom  asaurea  me 
that  he  has  thought  the  matter  over,  and  will  taks 
my  advice  about  the  thinning  of  that  dump  behind 
Captain  Ferguson's." 

I  must  not  forget  that,  whoever  might  be  at  Ab- 
botsford, Tom  always  sppeared  at  his  master's  el- 
bow on  Sundsy.  when  dinner  was  over,  and  drank 
long  life  to  the  Laird  aim  the  Lady  and  all  the  good 
company,  in  a  quaigh  of  whiskey,  or  a  tumbler  of 
wine,  according  to  his  fancy.  I' believe  Scott  haA 
somewhere  exprefsed  in  print  his  satiafnction  that, 
among  all  the  changes  of  our  manners,  the  ancient 
freedom  of  personal  mtercourse  may  siill  be  indulged ' 
between  a  master  and  an  otzi-^i/Wi^^jor* servant}  but 
in  truth  he  kept  by  the  old  fashion  even  with  dt- 
mestic  servants,  to  an -extent  which  I  have  hardly 
seen  practised  by  anv  other  gentleman.  He  con* 
versed  with  his  coachman  if  he  sat  by  him,  as  he 
often  did,  on  the  box— with  his  fbotmab,  if  he  hap- 


Digitized  by  V^OOQlC 


talb  dir  sik  waltAi'  scwr. 


m 


ptnud  to  b^ln  tl^eTombte ;  imd  when  therq was tpy 
wry  ToaDg  Iftd  in  the  household,  he  held  it  a  pomt 
of  duty  to  wee  that  his  employmenta  were  so  ar- 
ranged as  to  leave  time  for  advancing  his  education, 
made  him  bring  his  copy-book  once  a- week  to  the 
wrary,  and  examined  him  as  to  all  that  he  was  do- 
ing.  Indeed  he  did  not  confine  his, humanity  to  his 
own  people.  Any  steady  servant  or  a  fnend  of  his 
wad  soon  considered  as  a  sort  of  friend  loo,  and  was 
««re  to  have  a  kind  little  colloquy  to  himself  at  com- 
ms  and  going.  With  all  thisi  Scott  was  a  very  rigid 
enforcer  of  discipline — contnved  to  make  it  tno- 
Tooghly  understood  by  all  about  him,  that  they  must 
do  their  part  by  him  as  he  did  by  them ;  and  the 
result  was  happy.  I  never  knew  any  man  so  well 
served  as  he  was— so  carefully,  so  respectfully,  and 
so  «l«ntly ;  and  I  cannot  help  doubting  if^  in  any 
department  of  human  operations,  real  kindness  ever 
compromised  real  dignity. 

In  a  letter,  already  quoted,  there  occurs  some  men- 
tion of  the  Prince  uustavus  Vasa.  who  was  spend- 
ing this  winter  in  Edinburgh,  and  his  Royal  High- 
aesa*  accomplished  attendant,  the  Baron  rolier.  I 
met  liiem  frequently  jn  Castle  street,  and  remember 
as  especially  mterestmg  the  first  evening  that  they 
dined  there.  The  only  portrait  in  Scott*s  Edin- 
btti^  dining-room  was  one  of  Charles  XII.  of 
Sweden,  ami  he  was  struck,  as  indeed  every  one 
must  have  been,  with  the  remarkable  resemblance 
which  the  exiled  Prince's  air  and  features  presented 
to  the  hero  of  his  race.  Young  Gustavus,  on  his 
part,  hung  with  keen  and  m el aneboly  enthusiasm 
on  Scott's,  anecdotes  of  the  expedition  of  Charles 
Edward  Stewart.  The  Prince,  accompanied  by 
Sooit  and  myself  witnessed  the  ceremonial  of  the 
proclamation  of  King  Greorge  IV.  on  the  2d  df  Feb- 
raary  at  the  Cross  of  Edinburgh,  from  a  window 
over  Mr.  Constable's  shop  in  the  High  street ;  and 
on  that  occasion  also,  the  air  of  sadness  that  mixed 
in  his  features  With  eager  curiosity,  was  very  affect- 
ing. Scott  explained  all  the  details  to  him,  not 
wnhout  many  lamentations  over  the  barbarity  of 
the  Auld  Reekie  bailies,  who  had  removed  the  beau- 
tifiil  Gothic  cross  itself,  for  the  sake  of  widening  the 
thoroughfare.  The  weather  was  fine:  the  sun 
shone  bright ;  and  the  aUtioue  tabards  of  the  heralds, 
the  trumpet-notes  of  Ooa  save  the  King^  and  the 
hearty  cheerings  of  the  immense  uncovered  multi-^ 
tmle  that  filled  the  noble  old  street,  produced  alto- 
gether a  scene  of  great  splendour  and  solemnity. 
Tile  royal  exile  surveyed  ii  with  a  flushed  cheek  and 
a  watery  eye.  and  Scott,  observing  his  emotion, 
withdrew  with  me  to  another  window,  whispering, 
•Poor  lad !  poor  lad !  God  help  him."  Later  in  the 
season  the  Prince  spent  a  few  days  at  Abbotsforq ; 
but  I  have  said  enough  to  explain  some  allusions  in 
the  following  letter  to  Lord  Montagu,  in  which  Scott 
also  adverts  to  several  public  events  of  January  and 
February,  1820— the  assasaination  of  the  Duke  of 
Bern— the  death  and  flineral  of  King  Gleorge  HI..— 
the^ieneral  election  which  ensuied  the  royal  denaise 
—and  its  more  unhappy  consequence,  the  re-agita- 
tion of  the  old  disagreement  between  Greorge  IV. 
and  his  wife,  who,  as  soon  as  she  learned  his  acces- 
flon  to  the  ttirone,  announced  her  resolution  of  re- 
turning to  England  from  the  continent,  (where  she 
had  b«jn  leading  for  some  years  a  wandering  hfe,) 
and  asserting  her  rights  as  Queen.  The  Tory  gen- 
tleman in  whose  canvass  of  the  Selkirk  boroughs 
Scott  was  now  earnestly  concarned,  was  his  worthy 
friend,  Mr.  Henry  Monteiib,  of  Carstairs,  who  ulti- 
Btttely  carried  the  election. 

T9  Ike  Lord  MimtagUy  ifc.  4r.,  Dillon  Parky  Windsor. 
"  Edinburgh,\22d  February,  1320. 
"  My  dear  Lord, 

•*  I  ha»e  nothing  to  say,  except  that  Selkirk  has  declared 
de«!ide<ilv  for  Monteitti,"  and  that  his  calling;  and  election 
seem  tobe  sure.  Hoxhur^hshire  is  right  and  tight.  Har- 
den will  not  »tir  for  Berwickshire.  In  »horl,  within  my 
s^ere  uf  obsorvation,  there  is  notJiing  which  need  make 
yoQ  regrM  your  personal  absence ;  and  I  hope  my  dear 
young  namesake  and  chief  will  not  find  his  influence 
Abated  while  h«  is  unable  to  head  it  himself.  It  Is  but  lit- 
tl«  1  can  do,  but  it  shall  always  be  daae  whb  agood  will— 
42      3C» 


wbA  mMni  ad  thaaka^  for  I  o^  nnKh  diors  to  Mm  fluter^ 
iiieUMNeythan«verIc«Bpi9atttilso£  I  often  think  wbat 
he  would  have  said  or  wMbed.  and  withio  my  Umitad 
•phere,  UuU  will  always  ba  a  rule  to  me  while  1  have  Uia 
means  of  adt ancing  in  any  respect  the  interest  of  his  son 
—certainly  if  any  thing  could  increase  his  desire,  it  would 
be  the  banner  being  at  {Aesent  in  your  lordship's  hand. 
I  can  do  little  but  look  out  a-head,  but  that  Is  alwars  some* 
thing.  When  I  look  back  on  the  house  of  Buccleuch,  as 
I  once  knew  it,  it  is  a  sad  retrospect.  But  we  must  look 
forward,  and  hope  for  the  young  blossom  of  so  goodly  a 
tree.'  I  think  your  lordship  judged  quite  right  in  earrying 
Walter  in  his  place  to  the  luueral.  *  He  wiu  long  remem- 
ber it.  and  may  survive  many  occasions  of  the  same  kiscL 
to  alh  numan  appearaoce.  Here  is  a  horrid  business  ot^ 
the  Duke  de  Berri.  It  was  first  toW  me  yesterday  by 
Count  Itierburg,  (i.  c.  Prince  Gusiavua  of  Sweden,  sou  of 
the  ex-King,)  who  comes  to  sec  me  very  often.  No  fairy 
tale  could  match  the  extravagance  of  such  a  tale  being 
told  to  a  private  Scotch  gent)caian  by  such  a  nanator,  his 
owb  grandfather  having  perished  in  the  same  manner.  "^ 
But  our  age  has  been  one  of  complete  revolution,  baffling 
all  argument  and  expectation.  As  to  the  King  and  Queen,, 
or  to  use  the  abbreviation  of  an  old  Jacobite  of  my  ac- 
quaintance, who,  not  loving  to  hear  ilt^m  so  called  at  full 
length,  and  yet  desirous  to  have  the  newspapers  read  to 
blm,  commanded  Uiese  words  always  to  be  pronounced 
as  the  letters  K.  and  Q.— 1  say,  then,  as  to  ihe  K.  and  Q.,  1 
venture  to  think,  that  whichever  strikes  the  first  blow  will 
lose  the  battle.  The  sound,  well-judging,  and  well-prin- 
cipled body  of  the  people  will  be  much  shocked  at  the 
stirring  such  a  hateful  and  ciiscraceful  question.  If  tha> 
K.  urges  it  unprovoked,  the  puoUc  feeling  will  put  him  lA 
the  wrong ;  if  he  lets  her  alone,  her  own  imprudenoe,  Aid 
that  of  her  hotheaded  adviser,  Henry  Brougham,  will 
push  on  the  discussion ;  and,  take  a  fool's  word  for  it,  as 
Sancho  says,  the  country  will  never  bear  her  coming 
hack,  foul  Willi  the  various  kinds  of  infamy  she  has  beeu 
stained  with,  to  force  herself  into  the  tlurone.  On  the 
whole,  it  is  a  discussion  mdst  devoutly  to  be  deprecated 
by<tho8e  who  wlsti  well  to  the  royal  family. ' 

"  Now  for  a  very  difTerent  subject  I  have  a  report  , 
that  there  i*  found  on  Ihe  (armof  MeUington,ina  bag, 
the  limb  of  a  bronze  figure,  AiU  size,  with  a  spur  on  tM 
heel.  This  has  been  reported  to  Mr.  Riddeli,  as  Com- 
^saioner,  and  to  me  as  Antiquary  in  chief,  on  the  estate. 
I  wish'  your  lordship  would  permit  it  to  be  sent  provi- 
sionally to  Abbotsford)  and  also  allow  me,  if  it  shall  seem 
really  curious,  to  make  search  for  the  rest  of  the  statue. 
Clarksont  has  sent  me  a  curious  account  of  it ;  and  that 
a  Roman  statue,  for  such  it  seems,  of  that  size,  should  be 
found  in  so  wide  a  place,  has  something  yery  irritating  to 
the  curiosity.  I  do  not  of  course  desire  to  have  any  tfatng 
more  than  the  opportunity  of  examining  the  rellque.  It 
may  be  the  fountuuion  ot^a  set  of  bronzes,  if  stout  Lord 
Walter  should  turn  to  virtu.   • 

"  Always  juy  dear  Lord,  most  truly  yours. 

Walter  Scott.", 

The  novel  of  the  Monastery  was  published,  by 
Messrs.  Longman  and  Co.,  in  the  begioninR  of 
March.  It  appeared  not  in  the  post  8vo  form  of 
Ivanhoe,  but  m  3  vols.  12mo,  like  ihe  earlier  works 
of  the  series.  In  fact,  a  few  sheetl  of  the  Monastery 
had  been  printed  before  Scott  agreed  to  let  IvaBhoe 
have."  By  the  Author  of  Waverley*'  on  its  title-page : 
and  the  different  shapes  of  the  two  books  belonged 
to  the  abortive  scheme  of  pasaing  off  "  Mr.  Laurenee 
Templeton"  as  a  hitherto  unheard  of  candidate  for 
literary  success. 


CHAPTER  XLVIII. 
SCOTT   aavtsrrs    london— his  pobtbait  bt  law- 

RBNCC,  AKD  DOST  BV  CHANTBBY — AKECDOTES  BV 
ALI^N  CUNNINaHAM — LETTEBS  TO  MB^.  SCOTT— 
LAIDUIW,  ETC.— HIS  BABOKETCY  OAZETTBD— MAB- 
BIA6S  OP  HIS  DAITGHTER  SOPHIA — LETTER  TO  "  THB 
BABON  0^  OALABHIELS"— VISIT  OF  PBIIVCS  GDS- 
TXytTS  VASA  AT  ABBOTSFOBD— TENDEB8  OF  HONO* 
BAHV  DEGBEES  FBOM  OXFOBD  AKD  CAMBBIDOE— 
LETTBB  TO  MB.  THOMAS  SCOTT.— 1820. 

At  the  rising  of  his  Court  on  the  I2th  of  March, 
Scott  proceeded  to  London,  for  the  purpQpe  of  re- 
ceiving bia  baronetcy,  which  be  had  been  prevented 

•  ft*©  fVmcml  of  George  ID.  at  WiodMN-:  the  young  dnke  oT 
Bucokuch  was  at  this  lime  al  Eton.  .»...,.. 

»  Ebeoecer  ClarliBon.  Esq..  a  ■wseoo  of^diatinfuiBhcd  sluU  at 
Selkirk,  and  tbroogb  hfe  a  tnnty  frieiHl  aaiT  cronj  of  tlis 
ShwW*  Digitized  by  google   ~ 


UFE  OF  Sm  WMVTEE  SCOTT. 


from  doom  in  the  q>ring  of  the  pteosdiag  year  bf 
MM  own  iluesii.  and  again  at  Ghristraas  by  aocamu- 
lated  family  amictions.  On  his  arrival  in  town,  his 
eon  the  Comet  met  him ;  and  they  both  established 

'    themselves  at  Miss  Dumergue*s. 

One  of  his  first  visiters  was  Sir  Thomas  Law- 
^enc&  who  informed  him  that  the  King  had  resolved 
to  aJurn  the  great  gallery^  then  in  progress  at 
Windsor  Castle,  with  portraits  by  his  hand' of  his 
Majesty's  most  distinguished  contemporaries;  all 
the  reigning  monarchs  of  Europe,  and  their  chief 
ministers  and  generals  had  alresdy  sat  for  this  pur- 
pose ;  on  the  same  walls  the  King  desired  to  see 
exhibited  those  of  his  o^n  subjects  who  had  at- 
tained thehijjhest  honours  of  literature  and  science— 
and  it  was  his  pleasure  that  this  series  should  com- 

■  mencc  with  Waller  Scott.  The  portrait  was  of 
course  begun  immediately,  and  the  head  was  finish- 
ed before  Scott  left  town.  Sir  Thomas  has  caught 
and  fixed  with  admirable  skill  one  of  the  loftiest 
expressions  of  Scott's  countenance  at  the  proudest 
period  of  his  life:  to  the  perfect  truth  of  the  repre- 
sentation every  one  who  ever  surprised  him  in  the 
act  of  comfjosition  at  his  desk,  will  bear  witness. 
The  expression,  however,  w%s  one  with  which  many 
who  had  seen  the  man  often,  were  not  familiar ;  and 
it  was  extremely  unfortunate  that  Sir  Thomas  filled 
in  the  figure  from  a  separate  sketch  after  he  had 

auitted  London.  When  I  first  saw  the  head  1 
iimight  nothing;  could  be  better;  but  there  wavan 
•vIBent  charge  for  the  worse  when  the  picture  ap- 
peared in  its  finished  state— for  the  rest  of  the  person 
had  been  done  on  a  different  scale,  and  this  neglect 
of  proportion  takes  considerably  from  the  majestic 
effect  which  the  head  itself,  and  especially  the 
mighty  pile  of  forehead,  had  in  nature.  I  hope  one 
day  to  see  a  good  engraving  of  the  head  alone,  as  I 
» first  saw  it  floating  on  a  dark  sea  of  canvass. 

Lawrence  told  me,  several  years  afterwards,  that 
in  his  opinion,  the  two  greatest  men  he  had  painted 
were  the  Duke  of  Wellington  and  Sir  Walter  Scott; 
"  and  it  was  odd,"  said  he,  **  that  they  both  chose 
usually  the  same  hour  for  sitting;— seven  in  the 
morning.  They  were  both  as  patient  sitters  as  I 
ever  had.  Scott,  however,  was,  in  my  case  at  least, 
a  very  difficult  subject,  I  had  selected  what  struck 
me  as  his  noblest  look ;  but  when  he  was  in  the 
chair  before  me,  he  talked  away  on  all  sorts  of  sub- 
jects in  his  usual  style,  so  that  it  cost  me  great  pains 
to  bring  him  back  to  solemnity,  when  I  had  to 
attend  to  any  thing  beyond  the  outline  of  a  subordi- 
nate feature.  I  soon  found  that  the  surest  recipe 
was  to  say  something  that  would  lead  him  to  recite  a 
bit  of  poetry.  I  used  to  introduce,  by  hook  or  by 
crook,  a  few  lines  of  Campbell  or  Byron— he  was 
sure  to  take  up  the  passage  where  I  left  it,  or  cap  it 
by  something  better— lyid  then— when  he  was,  as 
Dryden  says  of  one  of  his  heroes— 

*Hade  np  of  three  pnrts  fire— so  full  of  Heaven 
It  sparkled  at  his  eyes'— 

then  wa»my  time— and  I  made  the  best  nse  I  could 
of  it.  The  hardest  day's-work  I  had  with  him  was 
once  when  ♦♦♦•♦t  accompanied  him  to  my  painting 
room.  ♦♦♦♦♦  was  in  particularly  gay  8pirit8,'and  noth- 
ing would  serve  him  out  keeping  both  artist  and  sitter 
m  a  perpetual  stale  of  memment  by  anecdote  upon 
anecdote  about  poor  Shendan.  The  anecdotes  were 
mostly  in  themselves  black  enough,— but  the  style 
of  the  conUur  was  irresistibly  quaint  and  comical. 
When  Scott  dame  next,  he  said  he  was  ashamed  of 
himself  for  laughing  so  much  as  he  listened  to 
them;  *for  truly,'  quoth  he,  'if  the  tithe  was  fact, 
♦♦•♦♦  might  have  said  to  Sherry— as  Lord  Braxfield 
once  said  to  an  eloquent  culprit  at  the  bar— Te're  a 
vera  clever  chiel',  man,  but  ye  wad  be  nane  the  waur 
o'  a  hanging.' " 

It  was  also  during  this  visit  to  London  that  Scott 
aat  to  Mr.  (now  Sir  Francis)  Chan  trey  for  that  bust 
which  alone  preserves  for  posterity  the  cast  of  ex- 
pression most  fondly  remembered  by  all  who  ever 
mingled  in  his  domestic  circle.  Chantrey's  request 
that  Scott  vould  sit  to  him  was  communicated 
^  A  diitiocQlilied  Whic  frieod. 


days,  when  gaining  hu  bread  as  a  atone-maaan  m 
Nithadale,  made  a  pilgrimage  on  foot  into  Edin- 
burgh, for  the  solo  purpose  of  seeing  the  author  oi 
Marmion  as  he  passed  along  the  street.    He  wan 
now  in  possession  of  a  celebrity  of  bis  own,  and 
bad  mentioned  to  his  patron  his  purpose  of  calling 
on  Scott  to  thank  him  for  some  kind  message  he 
had  received,  through  a  common  fnend,  on  the  sub- 
ject of  those  **  Remains  of  NUhsdale  and  Galloway 
Song,"  which  first  made  his  poetical  talents  known 
to  the  public.    Chantrey  embraced  this  opportunitjr 
of  conveying  to  Scott  his  own  long-cherished  amiu* 
tion  of  modelling  his  head ;  and  Scoti  at  once  a«- 
sented  to  the  flattering  proposal.    "  It  was  «hoat 
nine  in  the  morning,"  says  Mr.  Cunningham,  '*  that 
I  sent  in  my  card^io  him  at  Miss  Dumergue'a  in 
Piccadilly— -It  had  not  been  gone  a  minute  when  I 
beard  a  quick  heavy  step  coming,  and  in  he  cameu 
holding  out  both  hands,  as  was  his  custom,  and 
saying,  as  he  pressed  mine—'  Allan  Cunningham,  I 
am  glad  to  see  you.' "    "  1  said  something*'  (con* 
tinues  Mr.  C.)  *' about  the  pleasure  I  felt  in  touching 
the  band  that  had  charmed  me  so  much.   He  moved 
his  hand,  and  with  one  of  his  comic  smiles,  aaul, 
'  Ay— and  a  big  brown  hand  it  is.'    1  was  a  littla 
abashed  at  first :  Scott  saw  it  and  soon  put  me  at 
my  ease ;  he  had  the  power,  I  had  almost  called  it  , 
the  art,  but  art  it  was  not.  of  winning  one's  heart 
and  restoring  one's  confidence,  beyond  any  man  X 
ever  met."    Then  ensued  a  little  conversation,  in    ' 
which  Scott  complimented  Allan  on  his  ballada^ 
and  urged  him  to  try  some  work  of  more  cona^* 
quence,  quoting  Bums's  words,  "for  dear  auld  Scot- 
land's sake ;"  but  being  engaged  to  breakfast  in  a 
distant  part  of  the  town,  he  presently  dism'iaaed  his 
visiter,  promising  to  appear  next  day  at  an  earlf 
hour,  and  submit  himself  to  Mr.  Chantrey' a  in- 
spection. 

Cbantrey's  purpose  had  been  the  same  as  Law- 
rence's—to seize  a  poetical  phaais  of  Scott's  coonte- 
nance ;  and  he  proceeded  to  model  the  head  as 
looking  upwards,  gravely  and  solemnly.  The  talk 
that  passed,  mean  time,  had  equally  amused  and 
gratified  both,  nnd  fortunately,  at  parting,  Chantrev 
requested  that  Scott  would  come  and  bfeakfiist  with 
nim  next  morning  before  fliey  recommenced  opera- 
tions in  the  studio.  Scott  accepted  the  invitation, 
and  when  he>  arrived  again  in  Ecclcstone  street, 
found  two  or  three  acquaintances  assembled  to  meet 
him,— among  others,  bis  old  friend  Richard  Hcber. 
The  breakfast  was,  as  any  party  in  Sir  Francis 
Chantrev's  house  is  sure  to  be,  a  gay  and  joyous 
one.  and  not  having  seen  Heber  in  particufar  for 
several  years,  Scott  s  spirits  were  unusually  excited 
by  the  presence  of  an  intimate  associate  of  fiia 
youthful  days.  ]  transcribe  what  follows  from  Mr. 
(Cunningham's  Memorandum  :— 

"  Hebor  made  many  Inquiries  about  old  friends  la  ' 
Edinburgh,  and  old  books  and  old  houses,  and  reminded 
the  other  of  their  early  socialities.  ^  Ay,'  said  Mr.  8ooa, 
'- 1  remember  we  once  dined  out  to^tlier,  and  tat  m  Ibia 
that  when  we  came  away  the  night  and  day  were  so  nearly 
balanced,  that  wc  resolved  to  walk  about  tiUi  sunrise. 
The  moon  was  not  down,  however,  and  we  took  advantage 
of  her  ladyship's  lantern  and  climbed  to  the  top  of  Arthur's 
Seat ;  when  we  came  down  we  had  a  rare  appetite  for 
breakfast.'— ♦  I  remember  It  well,'  said  Heber;  *Bdlii« 
burgh  was  a  wild  placs  In' those  days,— It  abounded  ta 
c hi b»— convivial  clubs.'-*  Yes,'  replied  Mr.  Scott,  ^aod 
abounds  still ;  but  the  conTersatlon  is  calmer,  and  Iksra 
are  no  such  sallies  now  as  mif  ht  be  heard  in  other  times. 
One  rlab,  I  remember,  was  Infested  with  two  Kenra, 
father  and  son :  when  the  old  man  bad  done  speakini,  the 
younj;  one  beran,— «nd  before  he  grew  weanr,  tbe  Mbar 
was  refreshed  and  took  up  the  son)t.  John  Clerk,  durtac 
a  pause,  was  called  on  for  a  stave ;  be  immeUiatelr  stmec 
up  in  a  psalm-singing  tone,  and  electrified  the  club  wiUi  a 
verse  which  sticks  Uko  a  burr  to  my  memory — 

'  Now.  God  Almighty  juuge  Jamas  Kempi 

And  likewise  his  son  John, 
And  liang  them  over  Hell  in  hemp, 
/  And  buni  tbom  in  bfiinJtoneJT^  I  ^ 
Digitized  by  VjOOQ  l(^ 


tUTB  OF^OR  WALTSR  SOOTT. 


HI 


b  tlM  mKM  of  ibe  mirtd  whlefa  thte  ipedttDn  of  p«l. 

I:f  nisod,  John'  (^ommonlr  cmtd  Jaek^  Fuller,  the 
cab«r  for  Surrej,  and  ■tandtng  jester  of  ine  House  of 
/omiTOone,  came  in.  Heber,  who  was  well  acquainted 
mix  tlie  free  and  joyous  character  of  that  worthy,  began 
»Ve«d  him  oUt  by  relating  some  festive  anecdotes :  Fuller 
[TOwled  approbation,  and  indulged  us  with  some  of  his 
Kid  flsIUea  :  things  which,  he  assured  us,  *■  were  damned 
paod,  and  true  too,  which  was  better.'  Mr.  Scott,  who 
Was  jttaDdiug  when  Fuller  came  in,  eyed  him  at  first  with  a 
Vwk  grvfti  and  considerate :  but  as  the  stream  of  conver- 
sotkici  flowed,  his  keen  eye  twinkled  brighter  and  bright- 
tr;  his  stature  increased,  for  be  drew  himself  up,  and 
i««aftod  to  take  tiie  measure  of  the  hoary  joker,  body  and 
soul.  An  hour  or  two  of  social  chat  bad  meanwhile  in- 
duced Mr.  Chantrey  to  alter  lu»  views  as  to  the  bust,  and 
whea  Mr.  Scott  left  Us,  ho  said  to  me  privately,  'this  will 
■ever  do — I  shall  never  be  able  to  please  myself  with  a 
perfectly  serene  expression.  I  must  try  his  conversa' 
notad  look,  take  him  when  about  to  break  out  into  s6me 
sly  fanny  old  story.'  As  Chantrey  said  this,  he  took  a 
■oiB^,  cut  off  the  head  of  the  bust,  put  it  into  its  present 
positKXi,  touched  the  eyrs  and  the  mouth  sHchtly)  &Qd 
vrouf^  such  a  transformation  upon  it.  that  when  Scott 
caam  to  bis  third  silting,  he  smiled,  and  said,  'Ay,  ye'ro 
n^  like  joursel  now  I— Why,  Mr.  Chantrey,  no  witr.h  of 
old  ever  performed  such  cantrips  with  clay  as  this.' " 

These  sittings  were  seven  in  number;  but  when 
Seott  revisltea  London,  a  year  afterwards,  he  Rave 
Chaiitnpr  several  more,  the  bust  bein^  by  thai  lime 
in  Biarfoie.  Allan  Cunningham,  when  he  called  to 
bid  him  farewell,  as  he  was  about  to  leave  town  on 
the  present  occasion,  found  him  in  oourt  dress,  pre- 
paring to  kiss  hands  at  the  Levee,  on  being  ^zetted 
as  Boironet.  '*  He  seemed  any  thing  but  at  nisease,'* 
says  Cunningham,  "  in  that  strange  attire ;  he  was 
like  one  in  armour— the  stiff  cat  of  the  coat— the 
large  shining  buttons  and  buckles— the  lace  ruffles 
—toe  gncue— the  sword— and  the  cocked  hat,  form- 
ed a  picture  at  which  I  could  not  forbear  smihng. 
He  surveyed  himself  in  the  glass  for  a  moment,  and 
bust  into  a  hearty  laugh.  *  O  Allan,'  he  said,  'O 
Allan,'  what  creatures  we  must  make  of  ourselves  in 
obedience  to  Madam  Etiquette.  866*81  thou  not,  I 
sar,  what  a  deformed  thief  this  Fashion  is  7— how 
giddily  he  turns  about  all  the  hotbloods  between 
warteen  and  five-and-thirty  V  "* 

Scott's  baronetcy  was  conferred  on  htm,  not  in 
eon8e<|Qence  of  any  ministerial  suggestion,  but  by 
the  King  personally,  and  of  his  own  unsolicited  mo- 
tion -i  and  when  the  Poet  kissed  his  hand,  he  said 
to  him — "  I  shall  always  reflect  with  pleasure  on 
Sir  Walter  Scott's  having  been  the  first  creation  of 
myreisn-" 

The  Gaxette  announcing  his  new  dii^ity  was  da- 
ted March  30,  and  published  on  the  2a  •April,  1820 : 
and  the  Baronet,  al  soon  afterwards  as  Jie  could 
^t  away  from  Lawrence,  set  out  on  his  return  to 
the  Norib  :  for  he  had  such  respect  for.the  ancient 
prejudice  (a  classical  as  well  as  a  Scottish  one) 
against  marrying  in  Ma)r,  that  he  was  anxious  to 
have  the  ceremony  in  which  his  daughter  was  con- 
cerned over  before  that  unlucky  monui  should  com- 
mence. It  is  needless  to  say,  that  during  this  stay 
in  London  he  had  again  e.xperienced.  in  its  fullest 
measure,  the  enthusiasm  of  all  ranks  of  his  ac« 
qsaintance :  and  I  shall  now  transcribe  a  few  oara- 
graphs  from  domestic  letters,  which  will  snow, 
among  other  things,  how  glad  he  was  when  the 
hour  came  that  restored  him  to  his  ordinary  course 
«f  life. 

To  Mtb.  Scott,  39,  Ca»tle  Street,  Edinburgh. 

«  Piccadilly,  20th  March,  laaa 
•*  My  dear  Charlotte, 

**  I  have  f  ot  a  delightful  plan  for  the  addition  at  Abb 

.which,  I  think,  will  make  it  quite  complete,  and 

fomiah  mo  with  a  handsome  library,  and  vou  with  a  draw- 
in(t-room  and  better  bed-room,  with  good  bed-rooms  for 
company,  &c.  It  will  cost  me  a  little  hard  woric  lo  meet 
the  expense,  bnt  I  have  been  a  good  while  idle.  I 'hope 
to  leave  this  town  early  next  week4  and  shall  hasten  back 
with  treat  delight  to  my  own  household  gods. 
^  "  I  hofpc  this  will  find  you  from  under  Dr.  Ross's  charge. 
1  expect  to  see  you  quite  in  beautv  when  I  come  down, 
^r  1  asAire  you  I  have  been  coaxed  by  very  preuy  ladles 
Ikwe,  and  look  for  merry  faces  at  home.    My  picture 

•UoehMfoabootMotiiiiic.   Act  Ul/Sceos  a. 


comes  on,  andwm  be  a  gniMlthlm,  bat  the  sltthw  b  a 

Ereat  bore.  Chantrey's  boat  is  one  of  the  finest  things 
e  ever  dk).  It  is  quite  the  fashion  to  n  to  see  it— there's 
for  you.  Yours,  my  dearest  love,  with  the  most  sincere 
affection,  Waltbb  3cott." 

To  the  Same. 

"March  27,  Piccadilly. 
"  My  dear  Charlotte,  \ 

**  I  have  the  pleasure  to  say  that  Lord  Sidraouth  has 
promised  to  dismiss  me  in  all  my  honours  by  the  3Uth,  so 
ihftt  1  can  easily  be  with  you  by  the  end  of  April ;  and 
you  and  Sophia  may  easily  select  the  28ih,  29ih,  or  30ih, 
for  the  ceremony.  I  have  been  much  f£ted  here*  as  usual, 
and  had  a  very  quiet  dinner  at  Mr.  Arbuthnot's. yesterday 
with  the  Dnke  of  Wellington,  where  Walter  heard  the  great 
Lord  hi  an  bis  glorv  talk  of  war  and  Waterloo.  Here  is  a 
hellish— yes,  literally  a  hellish  boetle.  My  head  turns  round 
with  it.  The  whole  mob  of  the  Middlesex  blackguards 
pass  through  PlccadUly  twice  a  day,  and  afanost  drive  me 
madViih  their  noise  and  vociferation.*  Pray  do,  my 
dear  Charlotte,  write  soon.  You  know  those  at  a  distance 
are  always  anxious  to  hear  from  home.  I  beg  you  lo  say 
what  would  give  you  pleasure  that  I  could  bring  from  this 
place,  and  whether  you  want  any  thing  from  Mrs.  Arthur 
for  yourself.  Sophia,  or  Anne ;  also,  what  would  please  little 
Charles.  You  know  you  may  stretch  a  point  on  this  occa- 
sion. Richardson  says  your  honours  will  be  gazetted  on 
Sacurdav ;  cestainly  verv  sqon,  as  the  King,  I  believe,  has 
signed  the  warrant  When  or  how  I  shall  see  him,  is  not 
determined,  but  I  soppose  1  shall  have  to  to  to  Brighton. 
My  best  lovs  attends  the  girls,  little  Cbarlas,  and  all  the 
quadrupeds. 

"  I  conclude  that  the  marriage  will  take  place  in  Castle 
Street,  and  want  to  know  where  they  go,  Ac.  AU  this 
vou  will  have  to  settle  without  my  wise  head  ;  but  I  shall 
be  terribly  critical— so  see  you  do  all  right.  I  am  always, 
dearest  Charlotte,  mostaflbetionately  vours, 

WALTSa    SoOTT." 

C*  For  the  Lady  Scott  of  Abbotsford-to  be") 
To  Mr.  Jamee  Bailantyne,  Printer ^  St.  John  Street^ 
Hmnburgh. 

"  28th  March,  96,  Piccadilly. 
"  Dear  James, 

"  I  am  much  obliged  by  /oo  attentive  letter.  Unques- 
tionablv  Longman  and  Co.  sell  their  books  at  subscrip- 
tion price,  because  they  have  the  first  of  the  market,  and 
only  one  third  of  the  books  :  so  that,  as  they  say  with  us, 
^  let  them  care  that  come  ahini.'  This  1  knew  and  foresaw, 
and  the  racings  of  the  booksellers,  considerably  aggravat* 
ed  bv  the  displeasure  of  Constable  and  his  house,  are  ri- 
diculous enough ;  and  as  to  tltcir  hijuring  the  work,  if  it 
have  a  principle  of  locomoUon  in  U,  they  cannot  stop  it— 
if  it  has  not,  they  cannot  make  it  move.  I  care  not  a  bent 
twopence  about  their  Quarrels ;  only  I  say  now,  as  I  al* 
ways  said,  that  Constable's  management  is  best,  both  for 
hiinself  and  the  author;  and,  had  we  not  been  controlled 
by  the  narrowness  of  discount,  I  would  put  nothing  past 
him.  I  agree  with  the  public  in  thinking  the  work  not 
very  interesting  ;  but  it  was  written  with  as  much  care  as 
the  others — that  is,  with  no  care  at  all ;  and,  , 

*  If  it  is  na  well  bobblt  we'll  bobb  h  again.' 

"  On  these  poinis  I  am  Atlas.  I  cannot  write  much  in 
this  bustle  of  engagements,  with  Sir  Francis's  molaA|l- 
lowing  under  the'  vrindows.  I  find  that  even  thi ^  0)t 
composition  demands  a  certain  degree  of  silence,  auu  I 
might  as  well  live  in  a  cotton-mill.  Lord  Sidwouth  telli 
me  I  will  ol^ain  leave  to  quit  London  by  the  30th,  which 
will  be  delightful  news,  for  I  find  I  cannot  bear  late,  hours 
and  great  society  so  well  as  funuerly  ;  and  yet  it  is  a  fine 
thing  to  hear  politics  talked  of  bv  Ministers  of  Stale,  and 
war  discussed  by  the  Duke  of  Wellington. 

**  My  occasions  here  will  require  that  John  or  you  send 
me  two  notes  payable  at  Coutts'  for  JC3U0  each,  at  two  and 
three  months' date.  I  will  write  to  Constable  for  one  at 
jC350,  which  will  settle  my  affairs  here— which,  with  fees 
and  other  matters,  come,  as  you  may  think,  pretty  hravv. 
Let  the  bills  be  drawn  payable  at  Coutts',  and  sent  with* 
out  delay.  I  will  receive  them  safe  if  sonl  under  Mr. 
Freeling's  cover.  Mention  particularly  what  you  are  do- 
ing, for  now  is  your  time  to  push  miscellaneous  work. 
Pray  take  great  notice  of  inaccuracies  in  the  Novels. 
They  are  very  very  many — some  mine,  I  dare  say— but 
all  such  as  vou  may  and  ought  to  correct.  If  vou  would 
c^l  on  William  Erskine,  (who  is  your  well-wisher,  and  a 
little  mortified  he  never  sees  you,)  he  would  point  otit 
some  of  them. 

"  Do  you  ever  see  Lockhart  7  You  should  consuH  him 
on  every  doubt  where  you  would  refer  to  me  If  fresenL 
Yours  very  truly,  W.  S. 

^  You  say  nothing  of  John,  yet  I  am  anxious  about  htm.* 
*  The  iweml  eleelioQ  was  goini  Iq^  O  O  Q IC 


UmS  OP  STR^^ALVBA  SOCftT 


!l  V  JW^.  Luttttit^  jDKntkf  MKTWMt 

"  London,  AprU2, 1830. 
**  Dear  WiUie, 

"  I  had  the  great  plcasuro  of  vour  letter,  which  car- 
ries me  back  to  inj  own  braes,  which  I  love  so  dearly,  out 
of  this  place  of  bustle  and  poUtfcs.  When  I  can  see  tar 
Matter— «nd  ihank  him  for  many  acts  of  iavour— I  think 
I  will  bid  adieu  to  London  f«r  ever ;  for  neither  the  hoars 
nor  the  society  suit  me  so  well  as  a  (« w  years  since.  There 
ic  loo  much  necessity  ktr  exertion,  loo  much  briUiancy 
and  excitation  from  morning  till  night. 

"  I  am  glad  the  sheep  are  away,  though  at  a  Io<<.s.  I 
should  think ihe  weather  rather  too  dry  for  planting,  judg- 
ing by  what  we  tiave  here.  Do  not  let  Tom  go  on  sticking 
'  in  plants  to  no  purpose—  better  pm  in  firs  In  a,rainy  weotc 
in  August.  Give  my  service  to  him.  I  expect  to  be  at 
Edtnburgh  in  the  end  of  this  month,  and  to  get  a  weeJc  at 
Abbouford  before  the  Session  sits  down.  I  think  you  are 
right  to  be  in  nd  hurry  to  let  Broomielees.  There  seems 
BO  complaint  of  wanting  money  here  just  now,  so  1  bope 
tUngs  win  come  round.— Ever  yours,  truly, 

Waltsb  Scott." 

To  Mi9»  Seott^  CcutU  Strtet,  Edinburgh, 

""  London,  April  3,  IStt. 
**  Deat  Sophia, 

*^  I  have  no  letter  from  any  one  at  borne  exceptinir 
Lockhari,  and  be  only  says  you  are  all  well ;  and  I  trust  it 
fk  so.  I  have  seen  most  of  my  old  fi  tends,  who  are  a  lit^ 
tie  the  worse  for  the  wear,  like  myself  A  five  years' 
march  down  the  wrong  side  of  the  hiU  tetf  mere  than  ten 
on  the  right  side.  Our  good  friends  here  are  kind  as  kind 
can  be,  and  no  (rumps.  They  lecture  the  Cornet  a  little, 
which  he  takes  with  becomiiig  defereaco  and  good  hu- 
mour. There  is  a  certain  veil  of  Flanders  lace  doating  in 
the  wind  for  a  ceriain  occasion,  from  a  certain  godmother, 
but  that  is  more  than  a  dead  secret. 

"  We  had  a  verr  merryday  yesterday  at  Lord  Melville's, 
where  we  found  Lord  Uuntly*  and  -otlier  friend:*,  and 
had  a  bumper  to  the  new  Baronet,  whose  name  was  Oa- 
xetted  that  evening.  Lady  Huntly  phi^s  Scotch  tunes  Uke 
a  Highland  angc4,  She  ran  a  set  of  variations  on  '^Ken- 
mure's  on  and  awa','  which  I  told  her  were  enough  to 
raise  a  whole  country-side.  I  never  in  my  life  hoard  such 
fire  thrown  into  that  sort  of  music>  I  am  now  laying  an- 
chors to  windward,  as  John  Ferxuson  says,  to  get  Walter's 
leave  extended  We  saw  the  D.  of  York,  who  was  very 
civil,  but  wants  altoi^ethcr  the  courtesy  of  the  King.  I 
have  had  a  very  gracious  message  from  the  King.  lie  Is 
expected  up  very  soon,  so  I  don't  go  to  Brighton,  which  Is 
so  far  so  good.  I  fear  his  health  is  not  strong.  Mean  wlUle 
all  goes  forward  for  the  Coronation.  The  expense  of  the 
robes  for  the  peers  may  amount  to  j£4U0  a-piece.  Ail  the 
ermine  is  bought  up  at  the  most  extravagant  prices.  I 
heal'  so  moch  oi  it,  thai  I  really  think,  like  Beau  Tibbs,  I 
fhall  be  tempted  to  come  up  and  see  it,  if  possible.  In- 
deed, I  don't  sec  why  I  should  aot  stay  here,  as  I  seem  to 
be  forgotten  at  homo.  The  people  here  are  like  to  smo- 
ther me  with  kindness,  so  why  sboold  I  be  in  a  great  hur- 
ry to  leave  them  1 

**  I  ^te,  wishing  to  know  what  I  could  bring  Anne  and 
you  and  mamma  d4)wn  that  would  be  acceptable  ;  and  h 
shall  be  much  obliged  to  you  to  put  me  up  to  that  maUer. 
Ti^ittle  Charies  also  I  promised  something,  and  I  wish  to 
I^M'  what  he  would  like.  I  hope  he  pays  attention  to 
mWhompson,  to  wliom  remember  my  beat  compliments. 
I  hope  to  get  something  for  him  soon. 

**  To-dav  I  go  to  spend  my  Sabbath  quietly  with  Joanna 
Baillie  ana  John  Richardson,  at  Ilampstead.  The  long 
Gornet  goes  with  mo.  I  have  kept  him  amongst  the  se- 
biors— nevertheless  he  seems  preitty  well  amuMd  He  is 
certainly  one  of  the  best-conditioned  lads  I  ever  saw,<in 
point  of  temper. 

**  r  understand  you  and  Anne  have  gone  through  the  ce- 
remony of  confirmation.  Prav,  write  immediately,  and 
let  me  know  how  yoa  are  all  going  on,  and  what  you 
would  Hke  p  have,  all  of  vou.  You  know  how  much  I 
would  Me  it)  please  you.  Yours,  most  affectionately,  / 
'  Waltbb  Scott." 

,.  While  fecott  remained  in  London,  the  Professor- 
ship QT^Moral  Philosophy  in  the  University  of  Edin- 
burgh became  vacant  by  the  death  of  Dr.  Thomas 
Brown;  and  among  others  who  proposed  them- 
selves as  candidates  to  fill  it  wnn  the  author  of  the 
Isle  of  Palms.  He  wss  opposed  in  the  Town  Coun-  • 
oil  (who  are  the  patrons  of  moBt  of  the  Edinbm'gh  i 
chairs)  on  various  pretcncei*,  but  solely,  in  fact,  on 
party  grounds,  ceriain  humorous  political  pieces 
jatfvmg  much  exacerbated  the  Whigs  of  the  North 
mgainst  Jbim;   and  I  th^efore  wr0ce  to  Scott,  re- i 

•TbelatbbakeofGonioa.  I 


qaesnnir  bn)2.  ^  •nhnaes  the  TMrJUttistwir  is  fais 
behalf  Srt  Walter  did  so,  and  Mr  w9sDir«  tSkawmtm 
w'as  successAit.  The  answer  to  my  cotnnranication 
was  in  these  terms  ;— 

To  J.  a.  Lockhart,  jSsf .,  Oret  King  Street,  Edinburgh 

**  London,  30th  March,  ISSa 
^*  Deav  Lockhart, 

"''  I  have  yours  of  the  Stmday  momtng,  which  h«« 
been  terribly  long  of  coming.  There  needed  no  apok^fy 
for  mentioning  any  thing  in  which  I  could  be  of  .serriee  to 
Wilson ;  and,  so  far  as  good  words  and  good  wishes  A/*re 
can  do,  I  think  he  will  be  successful ;  but  the  battle  intK 
be  fought  in  Edinburgh.  You  arc  awsre  that  tbte  on  It 
poim  of  exception  to  Wilson  may  be,  thai,  with  the  fire  nf 
genius,  be  has  possessed  some  of  Its  eccentricities  ; — bir, 
did  he  ever  approach  to  those  of  Henry  Broughsjo,  wbu 
is  the  god  of  Whiggish  idolatry  1  If  the  high  and  rure 
qualities  with  which  he  is  invested  are  to  be  mrown  aside 
as  useless,  because  they  may  be  clouded  by  a  few  grafna 
of  dust  which  he  can  blow  aside  at  pleasure,  it  is  Wmm  a. 
punishment  on  Mr.  Wilson  than  on  the  country.  1  bav« 
little  doubt  he  would  consider  success  In  this  vreighry- 
matter  as  a  pledge  for  binding  down  his  acnte  and  power- 
ful mind  to  more  regular  labour  than  cireumsiancea  bmv^ 
hitherio  required  of  him  ;  for  indeed,  vrfthout  dohif  sn, 
the  appointment  could  in  no  point  of  view  answer  1^  por- 
pofe.  He  must  stretch  to  the  oar  for  his  own  credit  ks 
well  as  that  of  his  friends ;  and  if  he  docs  so  there  can 
be  no  donbt  that  his  efibris  will  be  doubly  blessed,  in  re* 
ference  both  to  himself  end  to  public  ufiHty.  He  must 
make  every  ftiend  he  can  amongst  the  council. 
Johnstone  should  not  be  omitted.  If  my  wife  canva 
him,  she  may  do  some  good.  * 

^'  You  must,  of  course,  recommend  to  Wilson  great  tem- 
per in  his  canvaas^for  wrath  will  do  no  good.  After  all, 
he  must  leave  off  sack,  purge,  and  Hve  cleanly  as  a  gentle- 
man ought  to  do ;  otherwise  people  wUl  compare  his  prn- 
sent  ambition  to  that  of  Sir  Terry  OVaf  when  he  wished 
to  become  a  judge.  *Our  pleasant  foWesare  made  tho 
whips  to  scourge  us,*  as  Lear  says  ;  for  otherwLw  what 
could  possiblv  stand  in  the  way  of  his  nomhwtkin  1  1 
trust  it  will  ttke  place,  and  give  him  the  c«naiat«iice  and 
steadiness  which  ore  all  he  wants  to  make  him  the  fir«l 
man  of  the  age. 

*'  I  am  very  angry  wi|h  Castle  Street—Not  a  soul  ha« 
written  me,  save  yourself,  since  I  came  to  London.  Yours 
very  truly, 

WaLTWR  acOTT.M. 

Sir  Walter,  aceoinitanied  Uf  the  Cornet,  reached 
Edinburgh  late  in  April,  and  on  the  29tli  of  ihrni 
month  he  gave  me  the  hand  of  his  daughter  Sophia. 
The  wedding,  more  Scotico^  took  place  in  the  eveo* 
ing ;  and>  adheritig  on  all  such  occasions  to  ancient 
modes  of  observance  with  the  same  puoculiousMae 
which  he  mentions  as  distinguishing  his  worthy  fa- 
ther, he  gave  a  jolly  supper  afterwarda  to  aU  the 
friends  and  connexions  ot  the  young  couple. 

Ui0  excursions  to  Tweedside  during  Term-time 
were,  with  verv  rare  exceptions,  of  the  eort  which  h 
have  described  in  the  preceding  chapter ;  but  be  de- 
parted from  his  rule  about  this  time,  in  honoured  the 
Swedish  Prince,  who  had  expressed  a  wish  to  see 
Abbotsfbrd  before  leaving  Scotland,  and  assembled 
a  number  of  his  friends  and  neiiihbours  to  meet  his 
Rinral  Highness.  Of  the  invitations  which  he  dis- 
tributed on  this  occasion  I  insert  one  specuneo — 
that  addressed  to  Mr.  Scott  of  Gala. 

"  7\>  lAs  Baron  qf  OaUuftielt.    7^  KnSght  ofAkbrnU, 
ford  oendt  grnting. 

^*  Trusty  and  well  beloved  —  MHiereas  GuAavns, 
Prince  Roysu  of  Sweden,  proposeth  to  honour  oar  poor 
house  of  Abbotsford  with  his  presence  en  Thursday  next, 
and  to  repose  himself  there  tor  certain  days,  we  do  hearti- 
ly pray  you^  out  of  the  love  andkindness  which  is  and  tiaSl 
abide  betwixt  us,  to  be  aiding  to  us  at  this  coQiimciur«, 
and  to  repair  to  Abbotsford  with  your  lady,  ciincr  upon 
Tbursday  or  Friday,  as  uiay  best  suit  your  convenienco 
and  pleasure,  looking  for  no  denial  at  your  hands.  Which 
loving  countenance  we  will,  with  all  thankfulneifs,  return 
to  you  at  your  numsion  of  Gala.  The  hour  of  appearance 
being  five  o'clock,  we  request  you  to  be  then  and  there 
•  Mr.  Robert  Jobnstoo/S  frocer  one  larft  seaJe  on  the  Noftk 
Brtdee  of  tdinbuivl),  and  lone  one  of  lbs  lewiinf  BaiiiM,  was 
airaat  this  time  the  prumioent  patioii  of  Miinearchitectaml  novel- 
ties  in  Auld  Kerkie,  which  htul  found  no  &vour  with  Scott  ;--* 
hence  lii«  pnenooM-n  of  Falladto— which  lie  owed,  I  briirve.  to  a 
long  in  Ulackwood't  Muszine.  The  good  Bailie  bad  be»n  at  (km 
Higb  School  with  Sir  Waller,  and  their  friondlr 
neveriatemipted but br death,  i  r\r^r^ir> 
Digitized  by  VjOOQ  Ic 


ipM  70U  lore  the  hoiiour  of  the  name  ;  and  so  ad> 
bmnen  fai  the  name  of  Oed  and  8t  Andrew. 

WALvm  Boovt. 
**  €tiYen  at  Edinburgh,   ) 
20ih  Majr,  1820."        \ 

The  visit  of  Count  Itierburg  ia  alluded  to  in  this 
letter  to  the  Cornet,  who  had  now  rejoined  )^%  retn- 
axmtjn  Ireland.    It  appeara  that  on  leachiiw  head- 
(toarters  he  had  found  a  charger  kwrt  dt  combat. 
To  Walter  Scotty  Esq.,  ISTA  Banart,  Cork. 

**  Cauda  Street,  Hay  31, 1800. 
^De«r  Walter, 

**  I  oneloae  tlie  cheque  for  the  allowance :  prar  take 
care  to  get  good  notea  hi  eachaage.  You  had  better 
^eak  to  the  gentJeman^whoa  Lo«d  Shannon  introduced 
roQ  tOi  for.  when  banka  take  arbxeaktag,  It  adUom  atopa 
wich  the  first  who  go.  I  am  very  sorry  for  yoor  loss. 
Too  niu»t  be  ocraiODiical  for  a  while,  and  bring  yourself 
nmod  again,  for  at  this  moment  I  cannot  ao  welTasaist  as  I 
wUI  do  by  and  by.    So  do  not  buy  any  thing  but  what  you 

I  was  at  Abbotsford  for  three  days  hat  week,  to  re- 
m  Goant  Ittdrbun,  who  seemed  very  happy  while  with 
aa, and  was  much  amcted  when  he  took  his  fescre.  lam 
mnj  tor  him— hia  aituation  is  a  very  partlcuhr  one,  and 
his  %«liiigri  appear  to  be  of  the  kindest  order.  When  he 
look  leave  01  me«  he  praseated  me  with  a  beautiful  seal. 
with  all  our  new  blazonries  cut  00  a  fine  amethyst;  and 
what  1  thought  the  prettiest  part,  on  one  side  of  the  setting 
te  cot  my  name,  on  the  other  the  Frinct' »—Outtaf.  He 
te  to  travel  through  Ireland,  and  will  probably  be  at  Cork. 
Toa  win,  of  course,  ask  the  Count  and  Baron  to  mesa, 
aB4  oAier  aU  olvlUdea  tn  your  power,  ih  which.  I  dare  aay, 
Ci*aiiiiit  Murray  will  readily  join.  They  hitatMt  to  inqntre 
after  you. 

*  I  have  bought  the  land  adjoiniag  to  the  Bumfoot  cot- 
'tage,  so  that  we  now  march  with  tha  Duke  of  Buccleuch 

aU  the  w%y  round  that  course,  k  cost  me  jS2300— but 
there  is  a  great  deal  of  valuable  fir  planting,  which  you 
may  remember ;  fine  roosting  for  the  black  game.  Soil  I 
think  it  is  j£200  too  dear,  but  Mr.  Laidlaw  thbiks  it  can  be 
made  worth  the  money,  and  It  rounds  the  property  off 
very  handsomely.  Yon  cannot  but  remember  thegrotmd ; 
it  las  under  (he  Bikkm,  east  of  the  Chargehw. 

*  Manama.  Anne,  and  Oharle&  are  all  weD.  Sophia  has 
beesi  complaining  of  a  return  or  her  old  sprain.  I  told  her 
Lockhart  w«uki  return  her  on  our  hands  as  not  being 
sound  w4n{)  and  Umb.  , 

**  I  beg  you  to  look  at  your  French,  and  have  it  mnch  at 
h«ait  that  you  should  study  German.  Believe  me,  always 
afl^tionately  yours, 

WAL-waSoorr." 

Id  Mmy,  1890,  Scott  received  from  both  the  English 
Uaiversitiea  the  hwheet  eoinpliment  which  it  was  in 
ihcir  power  to  offer  him.  The  Vioe-Chancellora  of 
Ozlbra  and  Can^bridge  commnnicated  to  him,  in  the 
aaoM  week,  their  requeat  that  he  would  attend  at 
the  approaching  Commemoratioi^a^  and  accept  the 
hoaorahr  ^t^pee  of  Doctor  in  Cnril  Law.  It  waa 
tupoasble  /or  him  to  leave  Scotland  again  that 
n  ;  and  on  various  subsequent  renewals  of  the 

._  flattering  proposition  from  either  body,  he  waa 

revented.  bv  similar  cireumataiMsea,  from  availing 
jnaelf  or  thehr  diatinRuished  kindness. 
In  the  course  of  a  few  months  Scott's  family  ar- 
rangements had  undergoneL  as  we  have  seen,  consi- 
derable alteration.  Meanwhile  he  continued  anxious 
to  be  allowed  to  adopt,  as  it  were,  the  only  son  of 
hia  brother  Thomas:  and  the  letter,  in  consequence 
of  which  that  hopeful  youth  was  at  last  committed 
to  bis  charge,  contains  so  much  matter  likely  to 
interest  parents  and  guardians,  that  though  long,  I 
cannot  curtail  it.* 

Tq  Thonuu  Scott,  Baq.y  Paymaster,  7(UA  Regiment, 

"  Abbotsford,  23d  July,  1820.  * 
**  Uj  Aemr  Tom, 

^Tour  letter  of  May,  this  day  received,  made  me  truly 
happy ,  being  the  first  I  have  received  from  you  since  our 
d«ar  mothers  death,  and  the  consequent  breaches  which 
Utie  has  made  In  our  family.  Mr  own  health  continues 
qnlte  firm,  at  no  ^eater  sacrifice  than  bidding  adieu  to  our 
old  and  olthful  friend  John  Barleycorn,  whose  life-blood 
haa  become  a  little  too  heavy  for  my  stomach.    1  wrote  to 

Sou  from  London  concemini?  the  very  handsome  manner 
I  which  the  King  behaved  to  me  In  conferring  mr  petit 
titrt^  and  also  of  Sophia's  Intended  marrtsM,  whieh  took 
ilace  ia  the  end  of  April,  aa  we  iniendod.  I  got  Walter's 
leave  pn>kpc*d|  thai  he  might  be  present,  and  I  assure 


LIFE  OF  8fR  W^LTEE  SOC/rr.  |I8 

you  tBat,  whan  he  attended  at  the  csrenioay  In  (UB  xtg^ 


prevem 
himsell 


mentals,  you  have  scarce  seen  a  handsomer  yom^  MiA. 
He  is  about  six  feet  and  an  inch,  and  perfectly  well  made. 
Lockhart  seems  to  be  every  thing  I  could  wish,  and  as 
they  have  enough  to  live  easily  upon  for  the  present,  sod 

8ood  expectations  for  the  future,  life  opens  well  With 
hem.  They  are  to  spend  their  vacations  in  a  nice  Ittde 
cottage,  in  a  glen  belonghig  to  this  property,  with  a  rivulet 
hi  front,  and  a  grove  of  trees  on  the  east  side  to  keep 
awav  the  cold  wind.  It  is  about  two  miles  distant  from 
this  house,  and  a  verj  pleasant  walk  reaches  to  It  through 
my  plantations,  which  now  occupy  several  hundred  acres. 
Thus  there  will  be  space  enough  betwixt  the  old  man 
of  letters  and  the  young  one.  Charles's  destination  to  India 
is  adjourned  till  he  reaches  the  proper  age— it  seems 
he  cannot  hold  a  wrltershlp  until  he  is  sixteen  years  old, 
and  then  is  admitted  to  study  for  two  yeara  at  Hertford 
College. 

^  After  my  own  sons,  my  most  earnest  and  anxious  wish 
will  be,  of  course,  for  yoursr~and  with  this  view  1  iiave 
pondered  well  what  you  say  on  the  subject  of  your  Wal- 
ter ;  and  whatever  Ime  of  life  you  may  design  him  for,  it 
is  scarce  possible  but  that  I  can  be  of  considerable  use 
to  him.  Before  fixing,  however,  on  a  point  so  very  Un- 
portaat  I  would  have  you  consult  the  nature  of  the  boy 
himself  I  do  not  mean  bv  this  that  you  should  ask  his 
opinion,  because  at  so  early  an  age  a  well  bred  up  child 
naturally  takes  up  what  is  suggested  to  him  by  his  parents ; 
but  I  think  you  should  consider,  with  as  much  impartiality 
as  a  parent  can,  his  temper,  disposition,  and  qualities  of 
mind  and  body.  It  is  not  enough  that  you  think  there  is  an 
opening  for  him  In  one  profession  rather  than  another,— 
for  it  were  better  to  sacnfiei;  the  fairest  prospecU  of  that 
kind  than  to  put  a  boy  Into  a  line  of  life  for  which  he  is 
not  calculated.  If  my  nephew  is  steady,  cautious,  fond  of 
a  sedentary  life  and  quiet  pursuits,  and  at  the  same  time  a 
proficient  m  arithmetic,  and  with  a  disposition  towards  the 

Er^secutlon  of  Its  highest  branches,  he  cannot  follow  a 
etter  lUie  than  that  of  an  accountant.  It  is  highly  res- 
peotalile— and  Is  one  in  which,  with  anention  and  skill, 
aided  by  such  opportunides  as  I  may  be  able  to  procure 
for  him,  he  must  ultimately  aucceed.  I  say  ultimately, 
because  the  harvest  Is  small  and  the  labourers  uumerous 
in  this  as  hi  other  branches  of  our  legal  practice;  and 
whoever  is  to  dedicate  himself  to  them,  must  look  for  a 
long  and  laborious  tract  of  attention  ere  he  reaches  the 
reward  of  his  labours.  If  I  live,  however,  I  will  do  all  I 
can  for  him,  and  see  him  put  under  a  proper  person,  tak- 
ing  his  prentice  fee,  Ac.,  upon  myself.  But  If,  which 
may  possibly  be  the  case,  the  lad  has  a  decided  turn  for 
active  life  and  adventure,  is  liigh-spiritcd,  and  impatient  of 
long  and  dry  labour,  with  some  of  those  feelings  not 
unlikely  to  result  from  having  lived  all  his  life  In  a  camp 
or  barrack,  do  not  deceive  youraelf,  my  dear  brother— 

Jou  will  never  make  him  an  accountant ;  you  will  pever 
e  able  to  convert  such  a  sw6rd  into  a  pruninghook 
merely  because  you  think  the  pnmingliook  the  better 
thing  of  the  two.  In  this  supposed  case  your  authori- 
ty and  my  recommendation  mixht  put  him  into  an  ac- 
countant's office ;  but  it  would  be  just  to  waste  the 
earlier  years  of  his  life  to  idleness,  with  all  the  tempta- 
tions to  dissipation  which  Idleness  gives  way  to ;  and  what 
sort  of  a  place  a  writing  chamber  is  you  cannot  but  le- 
member.  So  years  luigbt  wear  away,  and  at  last  1^ 
youth  sti^rts  off  firom  his  profession,  at|a  becomes  nikWm 
venturer  too  late  in  life,  and  with  the  disadvantnjie,  per- 
haps, of  offended  friends  and  advauced  age  standing  to 
the  way  of  his  future  prospects. 

**Thi8  is  what  I  have  judged  fittest  in  my  own  family,  for 
Walter  would  have  gone  to  the  bar  had  I  liked,  but  I  wa« 
sensible  (with  no  small  reluctance  did  I  admit  the  convic- 
tion) that  I  should  only  spoil  an  excellent  soldier  to  make 
>r  and  undistingtiisned   gownsman.    On   the   same 


a  pool 
princl 


principle  J  shall  send  Charles  10  India,  not,  God  knowt», 
with  my  will,  for  there  is  little  chance  of  my  living  to  see 
hliu  renum  i  but  merely  that,  jndciox  by  his  disposiilon,  I 
think  the  voyage  of  his  life  might  be  otherM^  lost  in 
sliallows.  He  has  excellent  parts,  but  they  are  better 
calculated  for  totercourse  with  the  world  than  for  hard  and 

gitipnt  study.  Having  thus  sent  one  son  abroad  from  my 
mily,  and  being  about  to  send  off  the  other  in  due  time, 
you  will  not,  I  am  sure,  thtok  that  I  can  mean  disregard  to 
your  parental  feelings  to  stating  what  I  can  do  for  your 
Walter.  Hhould  hia  temper  and  cbaracl;er  incline  for 
active  Ufe,  1  think  I  can  promise  to  get  him  a  cadetship  to  * 
the  East  India  Company^s  service ;  as  soon  as  he  has  had 
the  necessary  education,  1  will  be  at  the  expentiC  of  his 
equipment  and  passage-money;  and  when  he^ reaches 
India,  there  he  is  completely  provided,  secure  of  a  com- 
petence if  he  lives,  and  with  great  chance  of  a  fortune  if 
he  thrives.  I  am  aware  this  would  be  a  hard  puU  at  Mrs. 
Scott's  feelings  and  yours;  but  recollect  yoor  mrtune  is 
small,  and  the  demands  on  it  nomeroua,  and  pagodas  and 
rupeasart  no  bad  things.   I  can  get  Walter  the  nrtthitro* 


8M 


UPE  OP  SIR  WALTER  SCOtT. 


daetionSf  and  If  he  bebsvet  himself  aa  becomes  yoar  son,  i 
and  m/  nephew,  I  have  friends  enough  in  India,  and  of  the 
highest  class,  to  ensure  his  success,  even  his  rapid  sue- . 
cess— always  supposing  my  recouunendations  to  be  sec- 
onded by  his  own  conduct.  IC  fherefore,  the  youth  has 
any  thing  of  yoar  own  spirit,  for  God's  satce  do  not  con- 
demn him  to  a  drudgery  which  he  will  never  submit  to— 
and  Vemember,  to  sacnfice  his  fortune  to  your  fondness 
will  be  sadly  mistaken  affection.  As  matters  stand,  un- 
happily you  must  be  separated;  and  considering  the 
advantages  of  India,  the  mere  circumstance  of  distance 
is  completely  counterbalanced.  Health  is  what  will  na- 
turally occur  to  Mrs.  Scott ;  but  the  climate  of  India  is 
now  well  understood,  and  those  who  attend  to  ordinary 
precaution  live  as  healthy  as  in  Britain.  And  so  I  have 
said  my  say.  Most  heartily  will  I  do  my  beat  in  any  way 
you  may  ultimately  decide  for ;  and  as  the  deci.«don  really 
ought  to  turn  on  the  boy's  temper  and  disposition,  you 
must  be  a  better  judge  by  far  than  any  one  else.  But  if 
he  should  resemble  his  father  and  uncle  in  certain  indo- 
lent habits,  I  fear  he  will  make  a  better  subject  for  an 
animating  life  of  enterprise  than  for  the  lechnicnl  labour 
of  an  accountant's  desk.  There  is  no  occasion,  fortu- 
nately, for  forming  any  hasty  resolution.  ^Yhen  you  send 
him  here  I  will  do  all  that  is  in  my  power  to  stand  in  the 
place  of  a  father  to  him,  and  you  may  fully  rely  on  my 
care  and  tenderness.  If  he  should  ultimately  stay  at 
Edinburgh,  as  b  th  my  own  boys  leave  me,  I  am  sure  I 
shall  have  great  pleasure  in  having  the  nearest  in  blood 
after  them  with  rac.  Pray  send  him  as  soon  as  you  can, 
for  at  his  age,  and  under  imperfect  opportimities  of  educa- 
tion, he  must  have  a  good  deal  to  make  up.  I  wish  I  could 
be  of  the  same  use  to  you  which  I  am  sure  I  can  be  to 
your  son. 

**  Of  public  news  I  have  little  to  send.  The  papers  will 
tell  you  the  Issue  of  the  Radical  row  for  the  present,  "the 
yeomanry  behaved  most  gallantly.  There  is  in  Edinburgh 
a  souadron  as  fine  as  ours  was,  all  young  men,  and  zealous 
soldiers.  They  made  the  western  campaign  with  the 
greatest  spirit,  and  had  some  hard  and  fatiguing  duty,  long 
night-marches,  surprises  of  the  enemy,  and  so  fonh,  but 
no  fight,  for  the  whole  Radical  plot  went  to  the  devil  when 
it  came  to  gun  and  sword.  Scarce  any  blood  was  shed, 
except  in  a  triflinc  skirmish  at  Boonymulr,  near  Carron. 
The  rebels  were  Behind  a  waU,  and  fired  on  ten  hussars 
and  as  many  yeomen— the  latter  under  command  of  a  son 
of  James  IJ&vidson,  W.  S.  The  cavalnr  cleared  the  wall, 
and  made  them  prisoners  to  a  man.  "Tlic  coiimiission  of 
Over  and  Terminer  is  now  busy  trying  them  and  others. 
The  Edinburgh  young  men  showed  great  spirit ;  all  took 
arms,  and  my  daughters  say,  (1  was  in  London  at  the  time,) 
that  not  a  feasible-looking  beau  was  to  be  luul  for  love  or 
money.  Several  were  liko  old  Beardie ;  they  would  not 
shave  their  moustaches  till  the  Radicals  were  put  down, 
and  returned  with  most  awful  whiskers.  Lockhart  is  one  of 
the  cavalnr,  and  a  very  good  troop.  It  is  high  to  hear  these 
young  fellows  talk  or  the  Raid  of  Airdrie,  the  trot  of  Kil- 
marnock, and  so  on,  like  so  many  hioss-troopers.  The 
Queen  is  malUng  an  awful  bustle,  and  thougn  by  all  ac- 
counts her  conduct  has  been  most  abandoned  and  beastly, 
she  has  got  the  whole  mob  for  her  partisans,  who  call  her 
injured  innocence,  and  what  not.  She  has  courage  enough 
to  dare  the  worst,  and  a  m<»st  decided  desire  to  be  roveng- 
flAjof  Aim,  which,  by  (he  way,  can  scarce  be  wondered  at 
IWie  had  as  many  followers  of  high  as  of  low  degree, 
(In  proportion,)  and  funds  to  eaulp  them,  I  should  not  be 
surprised  to  see  her  f^  bottom  m  a  pair  of  buckskins,  and 
at  the  head  of  an  army— God  mcbd  all.  The  things  said 
of  her  are  bevond  all  usual  profligacy.  Nobody  of  any 
fashion  visits  her.  I  think  myself  monstrously  well  clear 
of  London  and  its  bitrtgues,  when  1  look  round  my  green 
fields,  and  recollect  I  have  little  to  do,  but  to 

•  make  my  grass  mow, 

And  my  apple  tree  grow.' 
"  1  beg  my  kind  love  to  Mrs.  Huxley.  I  have  a  very  ac- 
ceptable letter  from  her,  and  I  trust  to  retain  the  place  she 
promises  me  in  her  renoembrance.  Sophia  will  be  happy 
to  hear  from  uncle  Tom,  when  Uncle  Tom  has  so  much 
leisure. '  My  best  compliments  attend  your  wif^  and 
daughters,  not  forgetting  MAjor  Huxley  and  Walter.  My 
ear  Tom,  it  will  be  a  happy  moment  when  circumstances 
shall  permit  us  a  meeting  on  this  gidp  Jordan,  as  Tabitha 
■avs,  to  talk  over  old  stories,  and  lay  new  plans.  So  many 
tilings  have  fallen  out  which  I  had  set  my  heart  upon 
strongly,  that  I  trust  this  may  happen  amongst  othera— 
Believe  mo,  yours  very  affectionately, 

W^LTsn  Scott." 


CHAPTER  XLIX. 

AOTUMll    AT    ABBOTSFORD — SCOTt'b     U08PITAUT7 — 
.VIBIT  OF  SIB  HVMPHB7  DAW— HBNB7  MACKX2CSIK 
.  WOLLABTON  AND  WILLIAM  STBWABT  BOBC 


COVMVfta   ON    mEWABK   RILL— BALHOir 

THS  FESTIVAL  AT  BOLD8IOB— THE  ABBOTBFOBD  HUXT 

— THB  KjBIf,  ETC.— 18!to.  . 

Abottt  the  middle  Qf  AuRiist,  (1820,)  my  w^  and  I 
went  to  Abbotsford ;  and  we  remained  therefor  w.- 
Veral  weeks,  during  which  I  became^familiarized  to 
Sir  Walter  Scott's  mode  of  existence  in  (he  country. 
It  was  necessary  to  observe  it  day  after  day,  for  a 
considerable  period,  before  one  could  believe  that 
such  was,  during  nearly  half  the  year,  the  routine  of 
life  with  the  most  productive  author  of  bis  a^e. 
The  humblest  person  who  stayed  merely  for  a  ehort 
visit,  must  have  departed  with  the  impreaaion,  that 
what  he  witnessed  was  an  occaaional  variety;  that 
Scott's  Aurtesy  prompted  him  to  break  in  apon  hts 
habits  when  he  had  a  stranger  to  amase ;  but  that 
it  WHS  physically  impossible,  that  the  man  who  was 
writing  the  Wavcrley  romances  at  the  rate  of  near!  v 
twelve  volumes  in  the  year,  could  continue,  week 
after  week,  and  month  after  month,  to  devote  all 
but  a  hardly  perceptible  fraction  of  his  inornings  tu 
out  of  doors*  occupations,  and  the  whole  uf  his  even- 
ings to  the  entertainment  of  a  conBtaatly  varying 
circle  of  guests. 

The  hospitality  of  his  afternoons  must  a)one  have 
been  enough  to  exhaust  the  energies  of  almost  any 
man ;  for  his  visiters  did  not  mean,  like  those  ot 
country  houses  in  general,  to  enjov  th^  landlord's 
good  cheer  and  amuse  each  other ;  but  the  far  great- 
er proportion  arrived  from  a  disunce,  for  the  sole 
sake  of  the  Poet  and  Novelist  himself,  whose  peisoa 
they  had  never  before  seen,  and  whose  voice  they 
might  never  af^ain  have  any  oppoitunity  of  hearing. 
No  other  villa  m  Europe  was  ever  resorted  to  from 
the  same  motives,  and  to  any  thhig  like  the  same 
extent,  except  Ferney;  and  Voltaire  never  dreamt 
of  being  visible  to  hiB  kuntera,  excq^t  for ,  a  bhef 
space  of  the  day ;  few  of  them  even  dmed  with  hiu^ 
and  none  of  them  seem  to  have  slept  under  his  rooi 
Scott's  establisbmsnt,  on  the  oontrarf,  reaembkd 
in  every  particiUar  that  of  the  affluent  idler,  who, 
because  he  has  inherited,  or  would  fiuo  transmit, 
political  influence  tn  some  province,  keeps  open 
house—receives  as  many  as  ne  has  room  for,  and 
sees  their  apartments  occupied,  as  soon  as  theyva- 
cate  them,  by  another  troop  of  the  same  descripiion. 
r/cn  TTi  gentlemen  guiltless  of  inkshed,  the exer- 
ci^  (^r  ho^pii^iliiy  U|ji*n  this  sort  of  scale  is  fo^od  to 
imposi^  A  biiavy  tax ;  few  of  them,  nowadays,  think 
of  maiiuaining  \i  for  anv  large  portion  of  the  year: 
very  few  indeed  below  the  highest  rank  oi  the  nobil- 
hy— in  whose  case  liitsre  is  usually  a  staflTof  led-cap- 
taLn^  lecl^chapiain^  Mervile  dandier  and  semi-f»ro- 
fes^ianHl  talkert  and  jokers  from  London,  to  take 
thf?  chief  porr  i>f  the  hurden.  Now,  Sooil  hsd  often 
m  hi®  mouili  111'  -■/ verses— 

**  Conversation  is  but  carving, — 

Give  no  more  to  every  guest, 

Than  he's  able  to  difest ; 

Give  him  always  of  the  prime, 

And  but  a  little  at  a  time ; 

Carve  to  all  but  just  enough. 

Let  them  neither  starve  nor  stntT; 

And  that  you  may  have  your  dut^ 

Let  your  neighbour »  carve  for  you  ;'*— 

and  he^  in  his  own  familiar  circle  fliways,  and  in 
other  circlea  where  it  was  possible,  furnished  a  hap- 
py cxempliiication  of  these  rules  and  regulations  m 
the  Dean  of  St.  Patrick's.  But  the  same  sense  and 
benevolence  which  dictated  ad  heeion  to  them  among 
his  old  friends  and  acquaintance,  rendered  it  neoes-  ^ 
iary  to  break  them,  when  he  was  receiving  strangers 
of  the  class  I  have  described  above  at  Abbotafbra : 
he  felt  that  their  cerainft  was  the  best  homage  they 
could  pay  to  his  celebrity^  and  that  it  would  have 
been  as  uncourteous  in  him  not  to  give  them  Jneir 
fill  of  his  talk,  aa  it  would  be  in  your  everv-day  lord 
of  manors  to  make  his  casual  guests  welcome  id-  , 
deed  to  his  venison,  but  keep  ms  grouse-sbooUog 
for  his  immediate  allies  and  dependanta. 

Every  now  and  then  he  received  aome  stranger 
who  was  not  indisposed  to  iske  his  part  m  the  ear* 
ring ;  and  how  good-homouredly  he  surrendered 
the lion*B  share  to  any  one  that  seemed  t«  oorei-ii— 


UPB  OF  MR  WAimm  300VT. 


trilil  wbat  ptffeot  plaeUhf  ke  tidimittad  to  b«  twrod 
even  hy  boras  of  tbe  first  'wattr,  masc  hare  excited 
the  admintMn  of  maoT  bettdes  |he  daily  observers 
of  him  proceedings.  I  nave  heard  a  spruce  Senior 
Wr«i]|(ler  lecture  him  for  half  an  evening  on  the 
aieetiea  of  the  Greek  eyigram ;  I  have  heard  the 
pooiest  of  all  parliaroentary  blunderers  try  td  detail 
to  him  the  proa  and  cons  of  what  he  called  the 
TVtidbt  Smiemi  and  in  either  case  the  same  bland 
aye  watched  the  lips  of  the  tormentor.  But,  with 
locli  ludicrous  exceptions,  Scott  was  the  one  object 
of  the  Abbotaford  pilmims ;  and  evening  followed 
evanioK  only  to  show  him  exerting,  for  their  amuse- 
ment,  more  of  animal  spirite.  to  say  nothing  of  in- 
toUectual  vigour,  than  would  have  been  considered 
by  env  other  man  in  the  company  as  sufficient  for 
the  whole  expenditure  of  a  week's  existence.  ,  Yet 
this  was  not  the  chief  marvel ;  he  talked  of  things 
that  interested  hiraself,  because  he  knew  that  by 
doing  so  h^  should  give  most  pleasure  to  his  guests; 
but  how  vast  was  the  range  or  subjeeis  on  which  he 
coald  talk  with  unaffected  zeal ;  and  with  what  ad- 
mirable delicacy  of  instinctive  politeness  did  he 
•elect  his  topic  according  to  the  peculiar  history, 
study,  pursuits,  or  social  habiis  of  the  stranger! 
Haw  beautifully  he'varied  his  style  of  letter- writmg, 
according  to  the  character  and  situation  of  his  mul- 
ttfarioud  oorrespondent^,  the  reader  has  already 
enabled  to  judge :  but  to  carry  the  same  sys- 


lem  into  praotioe  at  m/U— to  manage  utter  straU' 
aers,  of  many  and  widely  diHerent  classes,  in  the 
same  /ashion,  and  with  the  aame  eflect— called  for 
a  Quiciuiess  of  observation  and  fertiaty  of  resource 
•och  as  no  description  can  convey  the  slightest  no- 
tiDo  of  to  those  who  never  witnessed  the  thing  for 
thcmae^res.  And  all  this  was dqne  without  approach 
to  the  immanly  trickery  of  what  is  called  catching 
the  tone  of  tpe  person  one  converses  with.  Scott 
took  the  sulusct  on  which  he  thought  such  a  man 
or  woman  would  like  best  to  ht<ar  him  apeak— but 
not  to  handle  it  in  their  way,  or  in  any  way  but 
what  was  completely,  and  most  simply  his  own ;~ 
not  to  flatter  them 'by  embellishing,  with  the  illjis- 
tcstion  of  his  genius^  the  views  and  opiiuons  which 
ifaey  were  supposed,  to  entertain»~but  to  le«|his  aeoi- 
IS  ptay  out  Its  own  variations,  for  his  own  delight 
a&if  theirs,  as  freely  and  easily,  and  with  as  endless 
a  maltipuoity  of  delicious  novelties,  as  ever  the 
magic  of  Beethoven  or  Mozart  could  fling  ov^r  the 
fow,  primitive  notei^  of  a  village  air. 

It  is  the  custom  in  soma,  perhaps  in  many  coun- 
try  houses,  to  keep  a  register  of  the  guests^  and  1 
have  often  regretted  that  nothing  of  the  sort  was 
ever  attempted  at  Abbot^ord.  It  would  have  been 
a  curious  record— especially  if  so  contrived—^as  I 
hare  seen  done)— that  the  names  of  each  day  should, 
by  tnetr  arrangement  on  the  page,  indicate  the  exact 
order  in  which  the  company  sat  at  ilinner.  It  would 
hardly,  1  believe,  be  too  mu(;sh  to  affirm,  that  Sir 
Walter  Scott  entertained,  under  his  roof|  in  the 
course  of  the  seven  or  ^ight  brilliant  seasons  when 
his  prosperity  was  at  its  height,  as  manv  persons  of 
disuoction  in  rank,  in  pohtics,  in  art,  tn  literature, 
and  in  science,  /is  the,  most  princely  nobleman  oi 
bis  age  ever  did  m  the  like  space  of  time.— I  turned 
over,  since  I  wrote  the  preceding  sentence,  Mr. 
LodisE^a  compendium  of  the  British  Peerage,  and  on 
summing  up  the  titles  which  suggested  to  myeif 
fioaie  reroimsc^nce  of  this  kind,  I  found  them  nearly 
aj  one  out  of  sue— I  fancy  it  is  not  beyond  the  nterk 
xxi  ndJr  that  of  the  eminent  foreigners  who  visited 
our  island  within  this  period,  a  moiety  crossed  Jhe 
Channel  mainly  in  consequence  of  the  interest  with 
which  his  writings  had  invested  Scotland— and  that 
the  hopo  of  beholding  the  man  under  his  own  roof 
was  the  crowning  motive  with  half  that  moiety. 
As  for  countrymen  of  his  own,  like  him  ennobled, 

Stbe  higher  sense  of  that  word,  by  the  display  of 
eir  intellectual  energies,  if  anv  one  such  contem- 
porary can  be  pointed  out  as  having  crossed  the 
Tweed,  and  yet  not  spent  a  day  at  Abbotaford,  I 
ahall  be  surprised. 

It  is  needless  to  add,  that  Sif  Walter  was  famil- 
iarly known,  long  before  tbs  days  I  am  ipsakiog  oA 
/  ' 


to  almost  aU  the  nobiOty  Mid  hlgh«r  gentry  of  Soyt- 
land ;  and  consequently,  that  there  iieldom  wanted 
a  fair  proportion  of  them  to  assist  him  in  doing  the 
honours  of  his  country.  It  is  still  more  euperfluoos 
to  say  90  respecttng  the  heads  of  bis  own  profession 
at  Exiinbursh:  Sibi  et  smieis— Abbotaford  was 
their  villa  whenever  they  pleased  to  resort  to  it^  and 
few  of' them  were  ever  absent  from  it  long.  He 
lived  meanwhile  in  a  constant  interchange  of  easy 
visits  with  the  gentlemen's  families  of  Teviotdale 
and  the  Forest ;  so  that,  mixed  up  with  his  superfine 
admirers  of  the  Mayfhir  breed,  his  staring  worship-' 
pers  from  foreign  parts,  and  his  quick-witted  coevals 
of  the  Parliament-House— there  was  found  gene- 
rally some  hearty  homespun  laird,  with  his  dame— 
the  young  laird— a  bashful  bumpkin,  perhaps,  whose 
kleas  did  not  soar  beyond  his  gun  and  pointer— or 
perhaps  a  little  pseudo-dandy,  for  whom  the  Kelso 
raoe-coursc  and  the  Jedburgh  ball  were  '*Life."  and 
"  the  World ;"  and  not  forgetting  a  brace  of  ^  Miss 
Rawbones,"  in  whom,*  as  their  mamma  prognosti- 
cated, some  .of  Sir  Walter's  young  Waverleys  or 
Osb'aldistones  mi^htperadventure  cuscovo-  a  Flora 
Maclvor  or  a  Die  Vernon.  To  complete  the  oUa 
podrida,  we  must  remember  that  no  old  acquaint- 
ance, or  family  connexions,  however  remote  their 
actual  station  or  style  of  manners  from  his  own, 
were  forgotten  or  lost  sight  of.  He  had  som^  even 
near  relations^  who,  except  when  they  visited  him, 
rarely,  if  ever,  found  admitunce  to  what  the  haughty 
dialect  of  the  upper  world  is  pleased  lo  designate 
exclusively  as  aocutv.  These  were  welcome  guests, 
let  who  might  be  under  that  roof;  and  it  was  the 
Bfxne  with  many  a  worthy  citiaen  cf  Edinbuigh,  ha- 
'biiually  moviag  in  the  obscurest  of  circles,  who  had 
been  in  the.  same  class  with  Scou  at  the  High 
School^  or  bis  fellow-apprentice  when  be  was  proud 
of  earmng  three-MQce  a  page  by  the  use  of  his  pjen. 
To  dwell  on  nothing  else,  it  was  surely  a  beautifol 
perfection  of  real  universal  humanity  and  politeness, 
that  could  enable  this  groat  and  good  man  to  blend 
guests  so  multifarious  m  one  group,  snd  conirive  to 
make  them  all  equally  happy  with  him,  with  them* 
selves,  and  with  each  other. 

I  remember  saying  to  William  Allan  one  morning 
as  the  whole  party  mustered  before  the  porch  sfter 
breakfast,  **a  fiutbfiil  sketch  of  what  you  at  this 
moment  see  would  be  more  interesting  a  hundred 
years  hence,  than  the  grandest  so-ealled  historical 
picture  that  you  will  ever  exhibit  in  Somerset- 
House;"  and  my  friend  agreed  with  me  so  cordially* 
that  I  often  wondered  afterwards  he  had  not  at- 
tempted to  realixe  the  suggestion.  The  subject 
ought  however,  to  have  been  treated  conjointly  by 
him  (or  Wilkie)  and  Edwin  Landseer.  It  was  a 
clear,  bright,  September  morning*  with  a  sharpness 
in  the  air  that  doubled  the  animating  innuence  oi 
the  sunshine,  and  all  was  in  readiness  for  a  grand 
coursing  match  on  Newark  Hill.  The  only  miest 
who  had  chalked  out  other  sport  for  himself  was 
the  stanchest  of  anglers,  Mr.  Rose^  but  h^,  too. 
was  there  on  his  theityt  armed  with  bis  salmon-rod 
and  landing-net,  and  attended  by  his  humorous 
squire  Hinves,  and  Charlie  rurdie,  a  brother  of  Tom, 
in  those  days  the  most  celebrated  fisherman  of  the 
district.  This  little  group  of  Waltonians,  bound  for 
Lord  Somerville's  preserve,  remained  lounging 
about  to  witness  the  start  ot  the  main  cavalcade. 
Sir  Walter,  mounted  on  Sibyl,  was  marshalling  the 
order  of  procession  with  a  huge  hunting-whip;  and 
among  a  dozen  frolicsome  youths  and  ^aidenf,  who 
seemed  disposed  to  laugh  at  all  discipline,  appeared, 
each  on  horseback,  each  as  eaeer  as  the  youngest 
sportsman  in  the  troop^  Sir  Humphry  Davy,^  Pr. 
WoUaston,  and  the  patriarch  of  Scottish  belles-Icl- 
ires,  Henry  Mackenzie.  The  Man  of  Feeling,  how- 
ever, was  persuaded  with  some  difficulty  to  resign 
his  steed  tor  the  present  to  hisfsithftd  negro  follow- 
er, and  to  join  Lady  Scott  in  the  sociable,  unul  wo 
should  reach  the  f^ound  of  our  battue.  Laidlaw, 
on  a  long-tailed  wiry  Highlander,  yclept  Hodd^ 
Chaif^  whion  carried  him  nimbly  and  stoutly,  aU 
though  his  feet  alfViost  touched  the  ground  as  be  sat,, 
was  the  adjutant    But  tl^  Jfj^  picturesqjoe  figura 


UiVOPi 


:  WALnOL  MOVI. 


wtbe  iUttMiip«Miati>toiil«ror  tiie^iaftty^aiop.  Ha 
had  oome  tor  ms  favourite  snort  of  aii«liiig,  and  had 
been  practimng  it  suecesafully  with  Rose,  his  travel- 
fing  oompanion,  for  two  or  three  days  preceding  this, 
but  he  had  not  prepared  for  couraing  fieldsr  or  had 
left  Charlie  Puroie's  troop  for  Sir  Walter's  on  a  sud- 
den thought^  and  his  fisherman's  costume— a  brown 
hat  with  flexible  brims,  surrounded  with  line  upon 
line  of  catgut,  and  innumerable  fly-hooks— jack^ 
boots  worthy  of  i^  Dutch  smaggler,  and  a  fustian 
surtout  dabbled  with  the  blood  of  salm9n,  made  a 
fine  contrast  with  the  smart  jackets,  white-coid 
breeches,  and  well  polished  jockey-boots  of  the  less 
distinguished  cavauers  about  him.  Dr.  Wollaston 
was  in  black,  and  with  his  noble  serene  dignity  of 
countenance,  might  have  passed  for  a  sporting  arch- 
bishop. Mr.  Mackenzie,  at  this  time  in  the  76th 
year  -of  his  age,  with  a  white  hat  turned  up  with 
green,  green  spectacles,  green  Jacket,  and  long 
iNTOwn  leathern  gaiters  buttoned  upon  his  nether 
mnatomy,  wore  a  dog- whistle  round  his  neck,  and 
had  all  over  the  air  or  as  resolute  a  devotee  as  the 
gav  captain  of  Huntly  Burn.  Tom  Purdie  and  his 
suDaltems  had  preceded  us  by  a  few  hocns  with  all 
the  ffi'eyhounds  that  could  be  collected  a^  Abbots- 
ford,  Damick,  and  Melrose;  but  the  giant  Maida 
had  remained  as  his  master's  orderly,  and  now  gam- 
bolled about  Sibyl  Grey,  barking  for  mere  joy  like  a 
apaniel  puppy. 

.The  order  of  march  had  been  all  settled,  and  the 
sociable  was  just  getting  under  weigh,  when  the 
hcuiv  Anne  broke  nom  the  line,  screaming  with 
langnter,  and  exclaimed,  "Papa,  papa,  1  knew  you 
oottld  never  think  of  going  without  your  pet."  Scott 
looked  round,  and  1  rather  think  there  was  a  blush 
aa  well  as  a  snaile  viqon  his  fiace,  when  he  perceived 
a  little  black  pig  mskin^  about  his  pony,  and  evi- 
dentljf  a  self-efected  addition  to  the  party  of  the  day. 
He  tried  to  look  stem,  and  cracked  his  whip  at  the 
creature,  but  was  in  a  moment  obliged  to  join  in  the 
general  cheera  Poor  pig^  soon  found  a  strap 
round  its  neck,  and  was  dragged  into  the  back- 
ground :— Scott,  watohiag  the  retreat,  repeated 
with  mock  pathos  the  first  verse  of  an  old  pastoral 
aong— 

•*  What  wfM  I  do  chi  my  hoggle'  die  1 
My  joy.  my  pnde,  my  hoggte  ! 

My  only  besat,  I  had  nae  mae, 
And  wow!  butlWMvogiei"- 
—the  cheers  were  redoubled— and  the  squadron  mo- 
ved on. 

This  pig  had  taken,  nobody  could  tell  how,  a  most 
sentimental  attachment  to  Scott,  and  was  con- 
stantly urging  its  pretensions  to  be  admitted  a  rol- 
ler member  of  his  tail  along  wth  the  jgreyhounds 
and  terriers;  but,  indeed.  I  remember  him  sufieripg 
another  summer  under  the  same  sort  of  pertinacity 
on  the  part  of  an  affectionate  hen.  I  leave  the  ex- 
planation for  philosophers— but  such  were  the  facts. 
I  have  too  riiuch  respect  for  the  vulgarly  calumnia- 
ted donkey  to  name  him  in  the  same  categoryof 
pets  with  the  pig  and  the  hen ;  but  a  year  or  two 
after  this  time,  my  wife  used  to  drive  a  couple  of 
these  animals  in  a  little  garden  chair,  and  when- 
ever her  father  appeared  at  the  door  of  our  cottage, 
we  were  sure  to  see  Hannah  More  and  Lady  Mor- 
gan (as  Anne  Scott  had  wickedly  christened  them) 
trottina  from  their  pasture  to  lay  their  noses  over 
the  paling,  and.  as  Washington  Irving  says  of  the 
old  whiteliairea  hedger  with  the  Parisian  snuff-box, 
**to  have  a  pleasant  crack  wi'  the  laird." 

But  to  return  to  our  chasge.  On  reachinjr  New- 
ark Casile,  we  found  Lady  Scott,  her  eldest  daugh- 
ter, and  the  venerable  Mackeni^e,  all  busily  engaged 
m  unpacking  a  basket  that  had  been  placed  in  their 
carriage,  ana  arranging  the  luncheon  it  contained 

*  Hof  ngnifiet  in  the  Sooteh  dimleot  a  rouDf  sheep  that  haa 
ntvft  bien  shorn.  Hence,  no  doubl,  the  name  of  the  i*oet  of  Et- 
triek-HIerhred  ftom  a  Iods  line  of  shepherds.    Mr.  Charles  Laipb, 


bewever,  in  one  of  his  sonaeti,  suueeta  this  pretty  orlfb  of  Ms 
**  Family  Name  i"-~ 


-  -, ^s  some  shepherd  o 

In  manneis  niidese  aa  his  own  sw€^t  Boeksi 
Reqeived  it  flnt  amid  the  raerrf  mocks 
Aod  aioh  aOinioaa  of  hit  fellow  iwaiM.** 


MB  thfe  mteiirro^««mi«ii^  itebaiiiih 
Yarrow.  Dtma  suck  of  the  compaDr  as  cbo»M 
part^enof  thisnfection,  the  Man  of  Redingiw. 
mad  his  pony,  ana  all  asoaoded  the  BonBtaa,  iAf 

gfarshalled  at  proper  distaocea,  so  asto  beat  io  i 
road  Una  over  the  heathei^  Sir  Walter  dirKtiatthi 
moverhent  from  the  right  wing— toarards  BlictM- 
dro.  Davy»  next  to  whom  1  chanesd  toberidiitt 
laid  his  whip  about  the  fern  Uke  aa  expewacii 
hand,  but  orackisd  many  a  joke,  too,  upoahii  om 
jackboots,  and  surveying  the  long  eager  bautiiMif 
"  "  )od  ne 


rangers,  exclaimea,  *'  Good  neaveos  I  is  it  iliu 

that  I  viait  the  scenery  of  th^Lay  of  the  Last  Ki- 
strel  1"  He  then  kept  mutteiin^  to  himself  «s  hi 
glowinf^  eye — (the  finest  and  bngbtest  that  1  enr 
saw)— ran  over  the  landscape,  some  of  tkoie  ken- 
tifiil  lines  from  the  CmtduHon  of  the  Lay— 

"Botufll, 

When  sammer  smiled  on  oveet  Banbill, 
And  July's  eve,  with  babmr  breath, 
Waved  the  blue-bella  oo  Newaik  bealh, 
Wbea  throstles  sdng  Id  Hareheadahaw, 
And  corn  was  green  on  Carterhaugh, 
And  flourisihed,  broad,  Blackandro's  oak, 
The  aged  harper's  aoul  awoke,"  Ac 

Mackenzie,  apeetacled  thoagh  hh  wa%  saw  tbelini 
sitting  hare,  gave  the  word  to  ahp  the  doga  td 
spurred  after  them  Uke  a  b^y.    AU  the  seoionb  ■• 


deed,  chd  well  as  long  as  the  coarse  was  apwMi 
but  when  puss  took  down  the  dochvity,  th^bm 
and  breathed  themselves  upon  the  knoU-Tcbecmg 


gavly,  however,  the  voung  people,  who  daiM  a 
full  speed  past  and  below  them.  Coursing  oo  mA 
a  mmihtain  is  not  like  the  same  aport  over  t  Mt  «f 
fine  English  pasticres.  There  were  goUs  to  be  iroi^ 
ed,  and  bogs  onough  to  be  threadecK-maayi  m 
nag  stock  fast'-many  a  bold  rider  meafondw 
length  among  the  peat-hags— «nd  another  tmam 
to  the  cround  beatdes  Davy  plunged  neek-deoiM 
a  treaenerous  well-head,  which,  tUl  t«ey  werenm- 
dering  in  it,  had  borne  all  the  appearance  of  ■  pica 
of  delicate  gi^p  turf.  When  Sir  Humphry  eiiKr- 
ged  from  hia  involuntary  bath,  hie  habilimem9Rl^ 
niahed  with  mud,  shme,  and  mangled  waterKnm 
S^  Waltar  receivied  him  with  a  trinmphant  man! 
But  the  philosopher  had  hia  revenge,  bt  jearat 
soon  afterwards  in  a  brisk  gallop,  Scott  ^  Sibfl 
GIrev  to  a  leap  beyond  herjproweas.  and  Isy  ho- 
Wed  in  the  ditch,  whOe  Davy,  who  war  wtw 
mounted,  cleared  it  and  him  at  a  bound.  HippiT 
there  was  httle  damage  done—but  no  one  waaaMn 
that  the  sociable  had  been  detained  at  the  foot  a 
the  hill. 

I  have  seen  Sb  Humphry  in  many  plaoea,  andn 
company  of  many  different  descripnonsi  l»t  DWtf 
to  such  advantage  as  at  Abbotsford.  Hts  hoit  t« 
he  delighted  in  each  other,  and  the  modesty  of  (bar 
mutual  admiration  was  a  memorable  spectade- 
Davy  was  by  nature  a  poet— and  Scott,  thouffMy 
thing  but  a  philosopher  in  the  modem  sense  of  ttat 
term,  might,  I  think  it  very  likely,  have  pursued  w 
study  of  physical  science  with  zeal  and  aucceas,  bm 
be  happened  to  fell  in  with  such  on  instnictciw 
Sir  Humphry  would  have  been  to  him,  in  hisjm 
life.  Each  strove  to  make  the  other  talk— atM  twj 
did  so  in  turn  more  charmingly  than  I  e?«r  hewt 
either  on  any  other  occasion  whatsoever.  Scott 
in  his  romantic  narratives  touched  a  deeper  chonl 
of  feeling  than  usual,  when  he  had  such  a  listens 
as  Davy:  and  Davy,  when  induced  to  open  M 
views  upon  any  Question  of  scientific  interest  o 
Scott's  presence,  aid  so  with  a  degree  of  clear  en«j 
getic  eloquence,  and  with  a  flow  of  imagery  »» 
illusiration,  of  which  neither  his  habitual  tone^ 
table-talk,  (least  of  aH  in  London.)  nor  any  ojm 
prose  writings,  (except,  indeed,  theposihumoosGoo- 
eolations  of  Travel,)  could  suggest  an  adequate  no- 
tion. I  say  his  prose  writings— for  who  that  hii 
read  his  sublime  quatrains  on  the  doctrine  of  Sp- 
noza  can  doubt  that  he  might  have  united,  if.be  bw 
pleas^  in  some^reat  didactic  poem,  the  vigoroor 


l«»<OFJIB^WAUmfMfVr. 


oniT  he6StM^VS>o^Td'-*^^Si^  pmerve  us ! 
thif  M  a  very  wperior  occauen  t  jSb,  sira  r'  he  ad- 
ded, cocknigbt0  cy«  like  a  bird,  **  I  wonder  if  ShaJp 
•peare  and  Bacon  «ver  met  to  screw  ilk  otberupj** 
•  Since  I  have  touched  on  the  suWect  of  Sir  Wal- 
lers autumnal  diversions  in  these  nis  later  years,  I 
may  as  well  notice  here  two  annual  festivals,  when 
sport  was  raade  his  pretext  for  assembling  his  rural 
neishbours  about  him— days  eagerljr  anticipated,  and 
fondly  remembered  by  manv.  One  was  a  solemn 
bout  of  salmon-fishi^  for  the  neighbouring  gentry 
and  their  famjlies,  insututed  ori^nally,  I  beueve,  by 
Lord  Somerville,  but  now,  in  his  absencci  conduct^ 
cd  and  presided  over  by  the  Sheriff.  Charles  Purdia 
atreadr  mentioned,  had  charge  (partly  as  lessee)  of 
the  aiimon  fishenea  for  three  or  four  miles  of  the 
Tweed,  including  all  the  water  attached  to  the  lands 
of  AbboVBford,  (^tHa.  and  Allwyn:  and  this  festival 
had  been  established  with  a  view,  besides  other  con- 
siderations, of  recompensing  him  for  the  attention 
he  always  bestowed  on  any  of  the  latrds  or  their  vi- 
aitera  that  chose  to  fisl|,  either  from  the  banks  or 
the  j>oat,  within  his  jurisdiction.  His  selection  of 
the  day,  and  other  precautioAs,  generally  securad  aa 
abundance  of  sport  for  the  great  anniversary ;  and 
Chen  the  whole  party  assembled  to  regale  on  tbf 
D^nrly  caught  prey,  boiled,  grilled,  and  roasted  in 
every  variety  of  preparation,  beneath  a  grand  old 
aih,  adjoimngCharlie^s  cottage  at  Boldside,  on  the 
northern  margin  of  the  Tweed,  about  a  mUe  above 
Abbotsford.  This  banquet  took  place  earlier  io  the 
day  or  later,  ai^cording  to  circumstances :  but  it 
often  lasted  tiU  theharvest  moon  shone  on  the  love- 
ly scene  and  its  revellers.  These  formed  groups 
that  would  have  done  no  discredit  tp  Watteau— and 
a  atill  better  hand  has  painted  the  background  ia 
the  Introduction  to  the  Monastery  :—^*  Onuie  oppo- 
«ite  bank  of  the  Tweed  might  be  seen  the  remams 
of  ancient  enclosures,  surrounded  by  sycamores  and 
aah- trees  of  considerable  size.  These  had  pnce 
^Ttned  the  croAs  or  arable  ground  of  a  village,^  now 
reduced  to  a  single  hut,  the  abode  of  a  fisherman, 
who  also  manages  a  feny.  The  cottages,  even  the 
clmrch  which  once  existed  there,  have  sunk  into 
images  bardly  to  be  traced  without  visiting  the  spot, 
the  inhabitants  having  gradually  withdrawn  to  the 
more  prosperous  town  ot  Galashiels,  which  has  risen 
*rato  consideration,  within  two  miles  of  their  neigh- 
bourhood. Superstitious  eld,  however,  has  tenant- 
ed the  deserted  grove  with  aerial  beings,  to  supply 
the  want  of  the  mortal  tenants  who  have  deserted 
it.  The  ruined  and  abandoned  churchyard  of  Bold^ 
mdc  ha^  been  long,  believed  to  be  haunted  by  the 
Pahies,  and  Jhe  deep  broad  current  of  the  Tweed, 
wbetlin;^  in  moonlight  round  the  foot  of  the  steep 
bank,  with  the  numbet  of  trees  originally  planted 
for  shelter  round  the  fields  of  the  cottagers,  but  now 
preeentms  the  effect  of  scattered  and  detacheid 
groves,  fill  up  the  idea  which  one  would  form  in  ima- 
gination for  a  scene  that  Oberon  and  Queen  Mab 
might  love  to  revel  in.  There  are  evenings  when 
the  spectator  might  beneve,  with  Father  Chaucer, 
that  the 

— '  (^ueen  of  FaSry. 

With  haru,  and  pipe,  and  symphony, 
Wore  dwelling  in  the  place.' " 

Som^mea  the  evening*  closed  with  a  "  burning 
of  the  water;"  and  then  th»  SheriflT,  though  now 
not  so  agile  as  when  he  practised  that  rough  sport 
in  the  early  times  of  Ashestiel,  was  surl  to  be  one 
of  ihe  party  «in  the  boat,^hel4a  torch,  or  perhaps 
took  ihe  helm,— and  seemed  to  eYijoy  the  whole  thiDg 
as  heartily  as  the  youitgest  o(  his  company— 
**  Tl»  blitho  along  the midni^t  tide, 
WHh  stslw-art  ann  the  boat  Io  fuide-^ 
On  high  the  daxxUng  bla?;e  to  rear, 
And  heedful  plung4»  th-:  barbed  vpoar ; 
'Hock,  wood,  and  scaur,  cinerainic  brif  ht, 
Fling  on  the  stream  their  ruddy  light, 
And  from  llic  bank  oar  band  appears 
IJke  Genii  orincd  vrlth  fiery  gpears,** 

The  other  "  auperior  occssion"  came  later  in  the 
aeason  \  the  28th  of  October,  the  birthday  of  Sir 
48   2D 


|6ctetrfor^46£iolt/brd  ^IWmL  \  Tfiiwaft  a  eonn^ 
mg-fieU  on  a  large  acale,  laeuMimgi  with  as  many 
of  the  young  gentry  as  pleaMd  Co  attends  all  Seottf  a 
personal  favourites  among  the  yeomen  and  fanaera 
of  the  sturrounding  couatry.  The  Sheritf  alwaya 
took  the  fieldi  but  latterly  devolved  the  oomadaad 
upon  his  good  friend  Mr.  John  Usher,  the  ex^kdid 
of  lY>ftfield ;  and  he  could  not  have  had  amort  skil- 
fol  or  a  better-humoured  lieutenant.  The  hunt  took 
place  either  on  the  moors  above  the  Cauld-8hieU 
Loch,  or  over  tome  of  the  bills  on  the  estate  of  C|ali, 
and  we  had  eommonly,  ere  we  returned,  kmas 
etiougb  to  ffopnly  the  wife  of  every  farmer  that  attend- 
ed with  wup  for  a  week  following^  The  whofe  then 
dined  at  Abbotsford,  the  Sherifi^  in  the  chah-,  Adam 
Ferguson  croupier,  and  Dominie  Thomson,  of 
course^  chaplain.  George,  by  the  way,  waa  himself 
an  eager  partaker  in  the  preliminary  mort;  and  now 
he  woald  favour  us  with  a  grace,  in  Bnms'B  phrase, 
**  as  long  aa  my  arm,'^  beginning  with  thanks  to.  the 
Almighty,  who  had  given  .man  dominion  over  the 
fowla  of  the  air,  and  the  beasts  of  ihe  field,  and  ex- 
patiating on  this  text  with  so  Ineulent  a  oommenta- 
ry,  that  ocott,  who  had  been  fumbling  with  hie  spbon 
long  before  he  reached  \aM  Amen,  could  not  he^ 
extlaimingashesatdown,  **  Well  done,  Mr.  Gwtmt 
I  think  wrve  had  every  thmg  but  the  view  holla  r 
The  company,  whose  onset  bad  been  thus  deferred| 
were  seldom,  I  think,  under  thirtv  in  number,  and 
aometimee  they  exceeded  forty.  Iiie  feast  was  such 
aa  suited  the  occasfcm^a  bafon  of  beel^  roasted,  at 
the  foot  of  the  table,  a  salted  round  at  the  beisd« 
while  tureens  of  hare-soap,  hotohpotch,  andcockey- 
leekie,  extended  down  the  centre,  and  such  light  ar- 
ticleaaa geese,  turkeys,  entire  sucking  pigs,  a  singed 
sheep's  headland  the tinfaiHna  haggis,  were  set  forth 
by  way  of  side^ishea.  Blackcodt  and  moorfowl, 
boshels  of  snipe,  biUck  pudding»t  ithUt  pudd(ng». 
and  pyramids  of  pancakes,  formed  the  aeoeiNi 
coarsw  Ale  was  the  favourite  beverage  during  din- 
ner, but  there  was  plenty  of  port  and  sherry  for 
those  whose  stomaehs  tney  smted.  The  quaighs 
of  Qlenhvet  were  filled  britnlii),  and  toeeed  ofi*  aa  if 
they  held  water,  The  wine  <feoanters  made  a  few 
larnids  of  the  table,  but  the  hints  for  hot  punch  and 
toddy  soon  became  clamorous.  Two  or  three  bo  wis 
were  introduced,  and  placed  under  the  supervision 
of  experienced  manunctorers— one  of  these  being 
usually  the  Ettriok  Shepherd.-'-and  then  the  busi- 
ness of  the  evening  commenced  in  good  earnest. 
The  faces  shone  and  glowed  like  those  at  Camacho*s 
wedding:  the  chairman  told  his  richest  stories  of 
oki  rural  life,  Lowland  or  Highland ;  Feigueon  and 
humbler  heroes  fought  their  peninsular  battles  o*er 
Main;  the  stalwart  Dandie  Dinmonts  lugged  out 
their  last  winter's  snow-storm,  the  parish  scandal, 
perhaps,  or  the  dexterous  bargain  or  the  Northum- 
berland trysU;  snd  everv  man  was  knocked  down 
for  the  song  that  he  sung  best,  or  took  most  pleasure 
in  singing.  SheriflT- substitute  Shortreed— (a  cheer- 
ftil  hearty  little  man,  with  a  sparkling  eye  and  a 
most  infectious  laugh)— gave  us  Dick  (/  the  Cowt 
ot-,  Now  UddtsdaU  has  ridden  a  raid ;  a  weather- 
beaten,  stiflT-bearded  veteran,  Captain  Ormistoun, 
as  he  wa^  called,  (though  1  doubt  if  his  rank  was 
recognised  at  the  Horse  Guards,)  had  the  primitive 
pastonl  of  Cowdenfenotpea  in  sweet  perfection ; 
Hogg  produced  T^e  Women  /oik,  or,  T^  Kye 
comes  ham^,  and.  in  spite  of  many  grinding  notes, 
contrived  to  make  every  body  delighted,  wheiher 
with  the  fun  or  the  pathos  of  his  ballad ;  the  Mel- 
rose doctor  sang  in  spirited  style  some  of  Moore's 
masterpieces ;  a  couple  of  retired  Failors  joined  in 
Bould  Admirai  Duncan  upon  the  nigh  vta  .•-*and 
the  gallant  croupier  crowned  the  last  bowl  with 
Ale,  good  alt,  thou  art  my  darling  J  Imagine  some 
smart  Parisian  Mran^— some  dreamy  pedant  of 
Halle  or  Heidelberg— a  brace  of  stray  young  lords 
from  Oxford  or  Cambridge^  or  perhaps  their  prim 
college  tutors,  planted  here  and  there  amidst  these 
rustic  wasssilers— this  being  their  first  vision  of  the 
author  of  Marmion  and  Ivanhoe,  and  he  appearing 
as  heartily  at  home  in  the  scene  as  if  he  had  been  a 


l»»<^titt/Wi^MdlMm9. 


fCtr  ts  obiWIuM^  bin  «Mit»  iilwiys  rdtd/.  And  ik> 
^"it  proeteded  UBiil  0onw  worthy,  who  had  fifteen  or 
twenty  mike  fo  ride  homi^  bei^ni  to  inMnaate  that 
his  wife  and  bairns  would  be  getting  sorely  anxious 
about  the  fords,  and  the  Dumpies  and  Hoddins  were 
at  last  heard  neighing  at  the  gate,  and  it  was  voted 
that  the  hour  had  come  nr  cfoc/t  an  dorrach—the 
Btirrup-cup--4o  wit,  a  bumper  all  round  of  the  unmi- 
tigated mountain  cUto.  How  they  all  contrived  to 
get  home  in  safety  Heaven  only  knowe— but  I  never 
efTd  of  any  serious  accident  except  upon  one  oc- 
casion, when  James  Hogg  made  a  bet  ot  starting 
that  he  would  leap  over  his  wall-eyed  pooeyasshe 
•tODO,  and  broke  his  nose  in  this  experiment  of 
"o'ervaolting  ambition."  One  comely  good-wilb, 
Isr  ofl*  among  the  hills,  amused  Sir  Walter  by  tell- 
ing hinii  the  next  time  he  passed  herhomesleaa  after 
one  of  tltese  jolly  doings,  what  her  husband's  first 
words  were  when  he  alighted  at  his  own  door— *'Ai- 
lie,  my  woman,  Vm  ceady  for  my  bed— and  oh,  las9, 
(he  gallanily  added,\  I  wish  I  could  sleep  for  a  tow- 
roont,  for  there's  only  ae  thing  in  this  warld  worth 
hving  for,  and  that's  the  Abbotsford  hunt!'' 

It  may  well  be  supposed  that  the  Pnesident  of  the 
Boldside  Festival  and  the  Abbotsford  Hunt,  did  not 
omit  the  good  old  custom  of  tiu  Kim,  Every  No- 
vember before,  quitting  the  eouniry  for  Edinburgh, 
be  gave  a  harvtH-homet  on  the  most  approved  mo- 
del of  former  daye,  to  all  the  peasantry  on  his  estate, 
their  friends  and  kindred,  aad  as  manyj)oor  neigh- 
bours besides  as  his  bam  oould  bold.  Here  old  and 
young  danced  from  sunset  to  sunrise.  John  of  Skye's 
bagpipe  being  relieved  ai  intervals  by  the  vioiin  of 
aome  "  Wandering  W-illie  {"^and  the  laird  and  all 
his  fiimilv  were  present  dqring  the  early  part  of  the 
evening,  be  and  his  wife  to  distribute  the  contents 
6f  the  first  tub  of  wbisky-punohi  and  his  young  peo- 
ple to  take  their  due  share  in  the  endleas  reela  and 
hornpipes  of  the  earthaa  noor.  As  Hr.  Monitt  has 
said  of  him  as  he  appeared  at  Laird  Nippey's  kum 
of  earUer  days,  '*  to  witness  the  eqrdinlily  ot  his  re- 
ception mi^ht  have  unbent  a  misanthrope."  He 
had  his  private  joke  for  «very  old  wife  or  "  gausie 
carle,"  his  arch  egmpliment  for  the  ^r  of  every  bon- 
,  ny  lass,  and  his  hand  end  his  bjessiog  for  the  bead 
of  every  little  Bppi^  DakUe  from  Ahbotatown  or 
Broomylees. 

"The  notable  paradox,"  he  says  in  one  of  the 
most  charming  ot  his,  essays,  *  that  the  reaidsDce 
of  a  proprietor  upon  bis  estate  is.  of  as  little  conse- 
quence as  the  bodily  presence  of  a  stockholder  upon 
Exchange,  has,  we  believe,  been  renounced.  At 
least,  as  in  the  case  of  the  Duchess  ef  Snnolk's  re- 
lationsh|p^o  her  own  child,  the  yidgar  condnue  to 
be  of  opinion  that  there  is  some  difference  in  favour 
of  the  next  hamlet  and  village,  and  eveii  of  the  vici- 
nage in  general,  when  the  squire  spends  his  rents 
at  the  manor-house,  instead  of  cutting  a  figure  in 
France  or  Italy.  A  celebrated  politician  usedto  sajr, 
he  would  willingly  bring  in  one  bill  to  make  poach- 
ing felony,  anothcT  to  encourage  the  breed  of  foxes, 
and  a  third  to  revive  the  decayed  amusements  of 
cock- fighting  and  bull-baiting^that  he  would  make, 
in  short,  any  sacrifice  to  the  humours  and  prejudices 
of  the  country  gentlemen,  in  their  most  extravagant 
form,  provided  only  he  could  prevail  upon  them  to 

dwell  in  their  own  houses,  be  the  patrons  of  their 
own  tenantry,  and  the  fathers  of  their  own  chil- 
dren.'"* 


CHAPTER  L.        . 

rUBLICATlON  'or  THX  ABBOT  —  THB  BLAIB-ADAM 
CLUB— KBLSO— WALTONHALL,  BTC— BAlLAimrifB'B 
KOVBUSt's  UBBABTc-ACQUITTAL  OF  QUBBN  CABO- 
U:«B— SBBTICX  or  THB  DUKB  OF  BUCCLBUCH— 
SCOTT  BUBCTBD  PRS8IDJBNT  OF  THB  BOTAL  80CIXTT 
OF  BOIXBUBOH— THE  CELTIC  SOOIBTV— LBTTEB8  TO 
LOBD  MONTAGU— C0B:»BT  POOTT— CHABLKS  SOOTT— 

*  Enar  on  T.«ndioape  Qtx^uixm,  MiMellanMQi  Pmm  Week*, 
«ol.  B(i.,  p.  7T. 


Aujot  ovMMmti^t  «np.' 

BO.— ISHHYSM. 
In  the  September  of  IfiSO,  Longman,  in  conjupo- 
tion  with  Consuble^pnblished  Tht  Abbpt—the  coa- 
tioi^ation,  to  a  certain  extent,  of  The  Monastery,  of 
which  I  barely  mentioned  the  appearance  under  the 
preceding  March.  I  had  nothing  of  any  conse- 
quence to  add  to  the  information  which  the  subse- 
quent Introduction  affords  us  respecting  the  compo- 
sition and  fate  of  the  former  of  these  novels.  It  was 
considered  as  a  failure— the  first  of  the  series  on 
which  any  such  sentence  vras  pronoum:ed;  nor 
have  I  much  to  allege  in  favour  of  the  White  Lady 
of  Avenel  j^enetaJjy  criticised  as  the  primary  blot, 
or  of  Sir  Percy  Shafton,  who  was  !oudly»  though 
not  quite  so  generally,  condemned.  In  either  case, 
considered  separately,  he  seems  to  have  erred  from 
dwelling  (in  the  German  taste)  on  materials  that 
might  have  done  very  well  for  a  rapid  sketch.  Tha 
phantom  with  whom  we  have  leisure  to  become  fa- 
miliar is  sure  to  fail— even  the  witch  of  Endor  is 
contented  with  a  momentary  appearance  and  five 
stllables  of  f  he  shade  she  evokes.^  And  we  may  sa|r 
the  same  of  anv  grotesque  absurditvrin  human  man- 
ners: Scott  misrht  have  considered  with  advantage 
how  li^tly  and  briefly  Shakspeare  introduces  his 
Euphuism— though  actually  the  prevalent  humour 
of  the  hour  when  he  was  writing.  But  perhaps 
these  errors  might  have  attracted  little  notice,  had 
the  novelist  been  successf^  in  finding  some  reoon- 
cilmg  medium  capable  of  giving  consistence  and 
Harmony  to  his  naturally Incon^ous  materiala. 
"These/*  saki  one  of  hia  ablest  critics,  '*are  joined 
-*but  they  refuse  to  blend.  Nothing  can  be  mora 
poetioal  in  conception,  and  sometimes  in  language^ 
than  the  fiction  of  the  White  Maid  of  Avenel ;  tmt 
when  thia  ethereal  peraonage^  who  rides  on  the 
cloud  which  '^for  Araby  is  bound'— who  is 
"Something  between  heaten  and  htU, 
Something  tb^t  neither  stood  nor  feU'— 

wh#se  existence  is  linked  by  an  awful  and  mysteri* 
ous  destiny  to  the  fortunes  of  a  decaying  fkmily« 
when  such  a  being  as  tj^is  <Iescends  to  clownish 
pranks,  and  promotes  a  frivolous  jest  about  a  tailor's 
bodkin,  the  course  of  our  syihpathies  is  rudely  ar- 
rested, and  we  feel  as  if  the  author  hadt>ut  upon  us 
the  old-fashioned  pleasantry  of  selling  a  bargain."* 

The  beautif\il  natural  scenery,  and  the  sterling 
Scotch  characters  and  manners  introduced  in  the 
Monastery  are,  however,  sufficient  to  redeem  even 
these  mistakes :  and,  indeed,  I  am  inclined  to  be- 
lieve Uiat  it  will  ultimately  occupF  a  securer  place 
than  some  romances  enjoying  hitherto  a  far  higher 
reputation,  in  which  he  makes  no  use  of  SeoOish 
materials. 

Sir  Walter  himself  thought  well  of  T%t  Ahboi 
when  he  bad  finished  it  When  he  sent  me  a  com- 
plete copy,  [  found  on  a  slip  of  paper  at  the  begin- 
ning of  volume  first,  these  two  lines  from  TVm 
Cnb*»  Memorial  to  ConfresM : — 

"  Up  he  rose  in  a  funk,  lapped  a  toothful  of  brandy. 
And  to  it  again  I— any  odos  npou  Sandy  t"— 

and  whatever  ground  he  had  been  supposed  ,to  loce 
in  the  Monastery,  part^at  least  of  it  was  regtined  by 
this  tale,  and  especially  by  its  most  nucefol  atkl  pa- 
thetic portraiture  of  Mary  Smart  The  Castle  of 
Lochleven,"  says  the  Chief-CommiBswner  Adam, 
"  is  seen  at  every  turn  from  the  northern  side  of 
Blair-Adam.  This  castle,  renowned  and  attractive 
abeve  all  the  others  in  my  neighbourhood,  became 
an  object  of  mnch  iaereased  attention.' and  a  theme 
of  constant  conversation,  after  the  autnorof  Waver- 
ley  had,  by  his  inimitable  power  of  delineating  cha- 
racter—bv  his  creative  poetic  fancy  in  representing 
scenes  of  varied  iutereat— and  by  the  aplendotn'  of 
his  romantic  deacriptions,  infused  a  more  diversified 
and  a  deeper  lone  of  feeling  into  the  history  of  Queeo 
Msry's  csptivity  and  escape." 

I  have  introduced  this  quotation  from  a  little  book 
privately  printed  for  the  amiable  Jndge*s  own  family 
and  fomiliar  friends,  because  Sir  Walter  owned  to 

D  i  g  itiz&d^VjCfl5^  iC 


ura  -w  mtLWAUPsk  ^so&t9i 


SM 


ttyielf  at  tin  time,  thtt  the  Met  6(-^rhe  Ahboi  bad 
arisen  in  hie  mind  durins  a  vMt  to  Blair- Adam.  In 
the  Images  of  the  tale  itself^  indeed,  the  betutilul  lo- 
calities of  that  estate  are  distinctly  mentioned,  with 
an  allusion  to  ^he  virtues  and  manners  that  adorn 
ita  mansion,  such  as  mutt  have  been  intended  to 
satisfy  the  possessor  (if  he  could  have  had  any 
doubts  on  the  subject)  as  to  the  authorship  of  those 
noTels. 

The  Right  Honourable  William  Adam  (who  must 
y  pardon  my  mentioning  him  here  as  the  only  man  I 
ever  knew  that  rivalled  Sir  Walter  Scott  in  uniform 
IH'aciousness  of  bonhommie  and  gentleness  of  hn- 
Biour)  was  appointed  in  1815,  to  the  Presidency  of 
the  Court  for  Jury  Trial  in  Civil  Cases,  then  insti- 
tated  in  Scotland,  and  he  thenceforth  spent  a  great 
part  of  his  time  at  his  paternal  seat  in  Kinross-snire. 
Mere,  about  mid-summer.  1816,  he  received  a  visit 
from  his  near  relation  William  Clerk,  Adam  Pergu- 
iK>n,  bis  hereditary  friend  and  especial  favourite,  and 
their  lifelong  intimate,  Scott  They  remained  with 
him  for  two  or  three  days,  in  the  course  of  which 
they  were  all  so  much  delighted  with  their  h6^,  and 
he  with  them,  that  it  was  resolved  to  reassemble 
the  party,  with  a  few  additions,  at  the  same  season 
df  cTery  fi>llowing  year.  Thii  was  the  origin  of  the 
Blair-Adam  Clu^  the  regular  members  of  which 
^rere  in  number  mne;  viz.,  the  four  already  named— 
the  Chief  Commissioner's  son,  Admiral  Sir  Charlee 
Adam— his  son-in-law,  the  late  Mr.  Anstruther 
Thomson  of  Charleton,  in  FiJSsshire^Mr.  Thomas 
Thomson,  the  Deputy  Register  of  Scotland— his 
brother,  the  Rev.  John  Thomson,  minister  of  Dud- 
dingston,  who,  though  a  most  diligent  and  affec- 
tionate parish-priest,  Has  found  leisure  to  make  him- 
aeff  one  of  the  first  masters  of  the  British  School  of 
Landscape  Painting— and  the  Right  Honourable 
Sir  Samuel  Shepherd,  who,  aAer  nlling  with  liigh 
distinction  the  omce  of  Attorney-(jK9n«ral  in  Eng- 
land, became  Chie^BaroQ  of  the  Court  of  Exchequer 
in  Scotland,  shortly  after  the  third  anniversary  of 
this  brotherhood,  into  which  he  was  immediately 
welcomed  with  unanimous  cordiality.  They  usually 
contrived  to  meet  on  a  Friday ;  spent  the  Saturday 
in  a  ride  to  some  scene  of  historical  interest  withm 
an  easy  distance ;  enjoyed  a  (}uiet  Sunday  at  home 
— **duly  attending  divine  worship  at  the  Kirk  of 
Cleish  (not  CleishbothamV*— gave  Monday  morn- 
ing to  another  antifiuarian  excursion,  and  returned 
to  Edinburgh  in  time  for  the  Courts  of  Tuesday. 
Prom  1616  to  1831  inclusive.  Sir  Walter  wae  a  con- 
stant attendant  at  these  meetings.  HoTisited  in 
this  way  Castle  Campbell,  Magus  Moor,  Falkland, 
Dunfermline,  St.  Andrews,  and  many  other  scenes 
of  ancient  celebritsr ;  to  One  of  those  trips  we  must 
ascribe  his  dramatic  sketch  of  Macclujr*  Cro99— 
and  to  that  of  the  dog-days  of  1819,  we  owe  the 
weightier  bbligation  of  Tkt  Ahhot, 

I  expect  an  easy  foraiveness  for  introducing  from 
the  liber  rarisnmtit  of  Blair-Adam  the  page  that  be- 
longs to  that  particular  meeting— which,  though  less 
numerous  than  usual,  is  recorded  as  having  been 
*mo8t  pleanng  and  delightfnl."  **  There  were," 
writes  tno  President,  "only  five  of  us— the  Chief 
Baron.  Sir  Walter,  Mr.  Clerk,  Charles  Adam,  and 
myselr.  The  weather  was  sultry,  almost  beyond 
hearing.  We  did  not  stir  beyond  the  bounds  of  the 
pleasure-ground,  indeed  not  far  f^om  the  vicinity  of 
the  house:  wandering  from  one  shady  place  to 
another}  lolling  upon  the  grass,  or  sitting  otwn 
prostrate  trees,  not  yet  earned  away  by  the  pur- 
chaser. Our  conversatipjUU^a. constant;  though 
-tranquil;  and  what  mighT  be  expected  firom  Mr. 
Clerk,  who  is  a  superior  converser.  and  whose  mind 
in  stored  with  knowledge;  and  from  Sir  Walter 
Scott,  who  has  let  the  public  know  what  his  pow- 
ers are.  Our  talk  was  of  all  sorts  (except  of  beeves.) 
Besides  a  display  of  their  historic  knowledge,  at 
onne  extensive  and  correct,  they  touched  frequently 
on  the  pleasing  reminiscences  of  their  early  davs. 
Shepherd  and  I  could  not  go  back  to  those  periods ; 
bat  we  could  trace  our  own  intimaev  and  constant 
IHendship  for  more  than  forty  years  track,  when  in 
1783  vi%  begaii  our  profesiioBsJ  pursuits  on  thecir- 


coH.  8o  thaf  If  Scott  could  describe,  with  incon- 
ceivable humour,  their  doings  at  Mt  Murray's  of 
Simprim,  when  emerging  from  boyhood ;  when  he. 
and  Murray,  and  Clerk,  and  Adam  Ferguson,  acted 
plays  in  the  school-room  (Simprim  making  the  do- 
minie bear  his  part)— when  Ferguson  was  prompter, 
orchestra,  ana  audience — and  as  Scott  said,  repre- 
senting the  whole  pit,  kicked  up  an  *0.  P.*  row  by 
anticipation ;  and  many  other  auch  recollections- 
Shepherd  and  I  could  tell  of  our  Circuit  fooleries,  as 
old  Fielding  (the  son  of  the  great  novelist)  called 
them— of  the  Circuit  songs  which  Will  Fielding 
made  and  sung— and  of  the  grave  Sir  William 
Grant,  (then  a  briefless  barrister,)  yclept  by  Field- 
ing the  Chevalier  Grant,  bearing  his  part  in  those 
fooleries,  enjoying  all  our  pranks  with  great  zest^ 
and  who  talked  of  them  with  delight  to  his  dying- 
dfiv.  When  thy  rnn^  ~' i^'  ^^  ^Mlk  a  mvfr  ^n^?t 
an«1  niriF'i  npnf]  Ji*pr.  :  .    liir  tjin-'f  ilanm 

took  n  fincat  shart'  in  m  tor  DutwiEliRtundmi?  his 
infiirnih"  of  denfneii'?,  h^^  ii«  a  mo^t  piQnEiuys,  rtnd 
agr^^'f  nMi?  tonvtrser,  and  rtrtthly  ]\lv.\-<^f  up  wbai  is 
pis^^mi^;  nnd  Wftymg  ^  fH9s-ica.\  nitiirl.  and  claB^ici^I 
in  t' Tin  lit  ion,  givpss  a  plfflfnii^,  K^ntleninnly,  and 
Wr  II 'in formed  tong  to  BpneraJ  mi*veTenTion>  Be- 
fore: I  ]n-in^  liijisf:  rccnlleciiane  of  oitr  eidcuiI  and 
cln:*?rful  ritimpa  to  a  close,  let  me  &hfl<?rve,  ihat  there 
Wft^  a  thfirrtete:Hi?fiic  ftatiire  atl^-rKlJng  them,  which 
it  would  be?  injyeiicc  to  rjie  individunle  who  com* 
posc^d  our  parties  not  to  mention.  *The  whole  set 
of  Mt>  wrh^  iiddtctcd  lo  take  a  full  share  of  oonvirsn- 
tioni  and  \o  dbcuss  evcrv  siihjecl  ihal  octtirr^fd 
with  ftufHdent  keenness.  The  topirs  were  TrnjIiTfa- 
rioits,  and  the  opinions  of  cnutee  viirious;  but  dur- 
ing inp  whol«  time  of  our  i(Uett:oiiree,  for  m  many 
year*,  frmr  days  ai  a  time,  snd  always  together,  nx- 
cepE  when  we  were  aslfep^  I  here  never  was  ihe 
least  tendency  on  any  occasion  to  any  unruly  de- 
bate, nor  to  any  ibinK  that  deviated  Jrom  the  pure  de- 
light of  ■tocial  intercoiiT;*^/' 

^  Tb.i  Chief  ComniiBBioner  addfi  the  foHowmp  par- 
ticularain  \\\e  appt^ndiic  s— **  Our  Tttum  from  Blnir- Ad- 
am Ufter  the  first  mt^eliriK  oi  ih^  Club)  w«3  vfjv 
earl^  on  a  Tuusdaf  morning,  that  we  iTiijjhi  ftach 
the  Courffl  by  ninfi  o*clo<?k.      An  oofrurrence  locik 

Slacn  rtear  thf?  H  awe's  Inn,  which  left  Ijula  duuhr 
port  my  mind  that  Sir  WaUerScoti  wbb  the  Author 
of  Wavt^rley^  of  Guy  Manfi^jrinc,  and  of  the  Antiquary, 
hift  nnly  nuvctlg  then  published.     The  morning  waa 

Srijidifcidiifly  fine,,  una  ihe  st-a  os  smooth  aa  glass* 
^  IJT  VVfthor  and  i  ^vtr*  &imidifig  on  the  bf!ach,  eo- 
joviri^  the  proaj>*^t  ^  lilt:  other  gonfli?men  wew  not 
couii^  from  the  hoat.  The  jn^rtitnaea  were  nsmg  in 
great  numberst  when  Sir  Wnltt^r  »aid  to  m&,  '  Look 
at  thi^m,  how  tbey  arp  allowing  thcmadvea  ;  what 
fine  fellow*  they  are  I  I  have  ihtJ  greatest  rv^pecr 
for  them  :  I  would  as  toon  kiU  a  man  aa  a  phoca.^ 
I  c^juld  noi  conceive  that  the  same  idr>a  coutd  occur 
to  two  men  rastiecilng  this  animal,  and  aet  down  that 
it  couEil  Linlv  bj5  Sir  tWaltcr  Scott  who  nmdc  iho 
phocQ  hfivf  tli(*  better  of  the  battle  with  th(>  Antiqua- 
ry's n^pbew^  Captain  M'luiyro. 

'*  Soon  iiAer,  anotiier  occtirrencc  quite  coo  firmed' 
me  a  a  to  thf;  auihorahip  ofthu  jiovpIi  On  that  visit 
to  Blair-Adam,  inroarnwof  <*(mver9ntion,  1  mention- 
ed an  anecdote  abuut  Will^it^i  the  nuthor  of  the  Ep\* 
gOT^iad,  who  was  but  a  furmnl  poet,  hut  whose  con- 
versation waa  mojji  amusing,  and  fpU  of  ftmcrj'. 
Hf^ving  heard  much  of  him  in  my  famitift  where  he 
had  bi^en  very  in  lima  te,  1  went,  when  quite  a  lad,  to 
St.  Ahdrcw«ij  where  ne  w^as  a  Profesf^or,  for  the 
purpoffp  of  viiiting  him  I  hnd  scarcely  let  him  know 
wlio  I  wa^,  when  he  said,  'Mr*  William,  wuro  you 
ever  in  this  place  before  1-  I  said  no»  ^Then*  sir,  yon 
must  go  and  look  at  Begulus  TowfTi— no  doubt  you 
Will  haTc  Mmethingof  nn  vye  of  an  aichiteci  about 
yoiJ ;— walk  Mp  W)  i(  a  I  nn  a  lipids  ndvtiiireand  recede 
uiicii  you  Rdt  to  see  it  at  its  proper  diiiiijcct  and 
come  oack  and  tell  me  whether  you  ever  saw  any 
thing  so  beautiful  m  building :  till  I  aaw  that  fywer. 
apd  studied  it,  I  thought  the  beauty  of  architecture  had 
conaisted  in  curly  wurlies,  but  now  I  find  it  conmstt 
in  symmetry  and  proportion.'  In  the  folbwing  win« 
tar  Rob  Roy  Wat  publiebed,  and  there  1  read^  tbat  tht 


MfJ:^ 


W9  OP'  am  W:ii«i9ft  409TIV 


CatlMdral  of  Glasgow  waca  'rM^ectable  Gothic 
structure,  without  aoy  curly-tBurlie*,^ 

'*.  But  ^hat  conflrmedi  and  waa  certainly  meant 
to  diadose  to  me  the  authori  (ana  that  in  a  very  ele^ 
gam  manner,)  was  the  mention  of  the  Kitry  CraigB 
^a  picturesque  piece  of  scenery  in  UMgrounoa  of  Blair 
Adam— aa  being  in  the  vicinity  of  &elty  Bridge^  the 
A^nr/of  Attchtermuchty,  the  Kinross  carrier. 

"It  was  only  an  intimate  friend  of  the  fomily,  in 
the  habit  of  coming  to  Blair- Adam,  who  could  know 
any  thing  of  the  Kiery  Craigs^or  its  name ;  and  both 
the  scenery  and  the  name  Had  auractions  for  Sir 
Walter. 

"At  our  first  meeting  after  the  publication  of  the 
'  Abbot,'  when  the  j)arty  waa  assembled  on  the  top 
of  the  rock,  the  Chief>Baron  Sh^hordf  lookinif  Sir 
Walter  fuH  in  the  face,  and  stamping  his  staffon  the 
ground,  8ai#*  Now,  Sir  Walter,  1  think  we  be  upon 
the  top  of  the  Kiery  Cragg»J  Sir  Walter  preserved 
profound  silence ;  but  there  was  a  conscious  looking 
down,  and  a  considerai>le  elongation  of  hisuppet 
Up." 

Since  I  have  obtained  permission  to  quote  from 
this  private  volume,  1  may  as  well  mention  that  1 
.was  partly  moved  to  ask  that  favour,  by  theauthor'a 
own  coqfeasion,  that  his  **  Blair- Adaoi,  from  1733  to 
1834,''  originated  in  a  suggestion  of  Scott's.  '*  It 
Vas,"  says  the  Judge,  "  on  a  fine  Sunday,  lying  on 
the  grassy  summit  of  Bennarty,  above  its  craggy 
brow,  that  Sir  Walter  said,  looking  first  at  the  flat 
expi|nseof  Kioross-ahire,  (on  the  south  side  of  the 
Ochilsi)  and  then  at  the  space  ¥(hich  Blair-Adam 
fills  between  the  hill  of  Dnimglow  (the  highest  of 
the  Cleish  hUla)  and  the  valley  of  Loehore— '  What 
an  extraordinary  thing  it  is  that  here  to  ti^  north 
80  little  appears  to  have  been  done,  when  mere  are 
80  many  proprietora  to  work  upon  it  i  and  to  the 
BQUlh.  here  is  %  district  of  country  entirely  made  by 
the  enbrts  of  one  family,  in  three  generations,  and 
one  of  them  amongst  us  in  the  full  ei\joyment  of 
whftt  haa  been  done  by  hia  two  predecessors  and 
himself?  Blai^Adam.  as  1  have  always  heard,  had 
a  wild,  uncomely,  and  unhospitable  appearance,  be- 
forails  improvemeoti  were  begun.  It  woiild  be 
moat  ourioua  to  record  in  writing  iu  original  state, 
ind  trace  its  gradual  progress  to  its  present  gondi- 
ttoa.' "  Upon  this  suggestion,  enforced  by  the  ap- 
'  Dfobationofthe  other  members  present,  the  Presi- 
qant  of  the  Blair- Adam  Club  commenced  arranging 
the  materials  for  what  constitutes  a  most  instructive 
aa  weU  as  entertaining  history  of  the  Agricultural  and 
ArboriouhuraTprogress  of  hiadomaina,  in  the  course 
of  ahnndredyeara,  under  hia  grandfather,  his  lather, 
(the  celebrated  architect,)  and  bimselil  And  Sir 
Walter  had  only  suggested  to  his  friend  of  Kinross- 
abire  what  he  was  resolved  to  put  in  practice  with 
regard  to  hieownimprovemenison  Tweed-side ;  for 
he  begun  at  precisely,  the  same  period  to  keep  a  fesr 
ular  Journal  of  all  his  rural  transactions,  under  toe 
title  of  "  SvLVA  Abbotspobdibnsis." 

For  reasons,  as  we  have  seen,  connected  with  the 
affairs  of  the  BallantynesL  Messrs.  Longman  pub- 
li^ed  the  first  edition  of  The  Monastery  (  and  similar 
cireumstances  induced  Sir  vValter  to  associate  this 
house  with  that  of  Constable  in  the  succeeding  novel. 
Oonstable  disUked  its  title,  and  would  fain  have  had 
Utt.  Nunnery  instead ;  but  Scott  stuck  to  his  Abbot, 
The  bookseller  srumblfid  a  little,  but  was  sooLhed- 
by  lIli'  riii^'pir'*-  ri''i|iTiun  ihf  Ins  rL-qiicf!  ihftt  tiif-a 
f^i^abc'b  mi^liii  bi^  bri<k>  'In  ^^  thi*  Held  in  hl^  n-  At 
rom*nn<x\  as  ft  ciiini  »      ■  ■  Mrirv  Sliifift  ot  r^ie 

AbboL  Scatt  wmiU  lu.i .:....  J  indiilgi^  him  Mi[h 
the cUoi^  (jf  hic imrticuiar  prnotl  of Kliiib^ji Ej' »s  n.i^ 
mdicntipc}  in  tim  pinapQaetl  ntU^  of  'iJin  Arm&ii*i ,-  liut 
e3(prcA«ed  his  wi^lin^mrps,  to  lak^"  up  hitf  'iwn  old  la- 
voiiritic^  the  le^ttitj  ..f  M«  ik[e^%  bnjlad.  He  wi^hf^ho 
calJ  the  Aovflt,  liki!^  thi-  hnUniE,  Vnmn^r-hati^  tmE  in 
fimhcr deferen cc  t c?  (.- u ii a p  »h f i^' »  w \Av^itt  * u b^^t i T 1 1 1 rd 
".temlijijrtb."  Julm  Bnlliiniync  object -^d  n,  ihis 
titlc^  and  told  C^)n«^iAMrikM  tvmuU  would  b^  "sfjmo- 
Ihtnt  worthy  nf  \hG  iuenm  3  j'*  Uii  <*[*nsiab[e  had  lill 
Nson  tofacaaTisfiufi  Willi  the  child  irti  hiftchristeotnh'. 
m»  pannpf.  Mr*  Cidcll,  Knvii— **  Mitt  vanAy  both  d 
ovtr  so  moch  tii  this  tiuir,  nut  hivjrig  hi*!  Biiggt^9ti>->A 


is  but  fair  to  aay,  waf  leally  o^most  essential  serrio^ 
to  Scott  upon  many  of  tl^ese  occasions :  and  hia  let- 
ter (now  before  me)  proboain;^  the  subject  of  T^ 
Armada^  iurnished  thJB  Novelist  with  such  a  cata- 
logue  of  materials  for  the  illustration  of  the  period, 
as  may,  projbably  enoogh,  have  called  forth  aom9 
verv  eneuetjc  expreasion^  of  thankfulness.    . 

Scott's  kindness  secured  for  John  Ballantvne  the 
usual  interest  in  the  promts  of  Kenilwortli,  t^  last 
of  his  Kieat  works  vq,  which  this  friend  was  to  hav^ 
any  concern.  1  have  already  mentioned  the  obvious 
drooping  of  his  health  and  strength:  and  a  docu- 
ment to  be  introduced  presently,  wul  show  tluat  John 
himself  had  occasional  glimpses,  at  least,  of  his  dan- 
ger hvfaw  tbfi  eUiiii^  nf  IS]9»  Nf.  VL'rthelessi  his  spirit* 
c<>niiiiUL-J,  at  Uie  Liiav  ^i  whicL  1  am  now  treatiogt 
to  be  in  j^cderal  hh  hi^li  a«  evt^r  ;  nay,  it  was  now« 
aft^r  bill  iiialadiefi  hsid  taken  a  very  aerious  ahap^ 
and  \<  wiL»har<l]v  ^:"l^^^^)^  hi  Vv>k  on  without  an tici- 

patLri^  &$p«^i\is  :^riLiiii.Mi jf  Lis  career,  that  tha 

fllb-Y.  hi'nji-i'ul  >L'jri>  i>t  \U'  <\-:\i\'.j^  and  tiemblinis 
mvaliii  led  biiu  to  i^Eiing^  rnr<v  n  new  stream  pf  cost- 
ly mdukeiic^.  Ii  u/i.-i  un  anuul^li) point  in  hia  char- 
act  er^  ihat  he  h^d  alwaya  r€:Lajni:d  a  tender  fondness 
for  his  n  alive  pi  acts.  He  had  ui>w  taken  up  the  am- 
biiLonof  rival  ling  Kia  illustrious  fdend,  in  aome  sort, 
by  pTOTtdiug  himat^If  wiili  a  summer  retiiemeot 
hrnxdnX  ilic  EM^ttery  of  hU  boyhood  j  and  it  need  not 
be  tjijubteH,  qr  thi>  sairiti  timp.  thnun  erecting  a  villa 
at  KAryK  \  '  \\'i\\\-..  '*] '.:  ih  M''  ^'itedonaubsuntial 
adv«LjAULUtu»  ii-ttui  ia»  vt4;»ii&L>  ii>  Alibotsford. 

One  «iie  day  of  this  autumn  1  accompanied  Sir 
Walter  to  inspect  the  progress  of  this  edifice,  which 
was  to  have  the  title  of  Walton  HalL     Jonn  had 

Surchased  two  or  three  old  houses  of  two  stories  in 
eight,  with  notched  gables,  aid  thatched  roofok 
near  lae  end  of  the  long,  original  street  of  Kelso,  and 
not  far  from  the  gateway  of  the  Duke  of  Rozburghe'a 
magnificent  park,  with  their  small  gardens  and  pad- 
docka  running  down  to  the  margin  of  the  Tweed. 
He  had  already  fitted  up  convenient  bachelor'a  loog- 
gings  in  one  of  the  primitive  tenements,  and  cou- 
varted  the  others  into  a,  goodly  range  of  stabling, 
and  was  now  watching  the  completion  of  his  new 
e&rp8  <U  logia  behind,  which  included  a  handaomo 
entrance-hall,  or  saloon,  deatined  to  have  old  Pisca- 
tor's  hvst,  on  a  stand,  in  the  centre,  and  to  be  eat- 
belliabed  all  round  with  emblems  of  his  sport.  Be- 
hind this  were  spacious  rooms  overlooking  the  liule 
plea»anc€  which  was  to  be  laid  oyt  somewhat  in  the 
Italian  style,  with  ornamental  steps,  a  fountain,  and 
iei  dPeati,  and  a  broad  terrace  han^g  over  the  river, 
and  commanding  an  ext^sive  view  of  perhaps  th«? 
most  beautiful  landscape  m  Scotland.  In  these  new 
dominions  John  received  us  with  pride  and  hilarity  ; 
and  we  then  walked  with  him  over  this  pretty  town, 
lounged  away  an  hour  among  the  ruins  of  the  Abbey, 
and  closed  our  perambulation  with  the  OanUn, 
where  Scott  bad  sncnt  some  of  the  happiest  of  hia 
early  summera,  i^nu  where  he  pointed  out  with  sor- 
rowful eyes  the  site  of  the  Platanus,  under  which  he 
first  read  Percy's  Reliques.  Returning  to  John's 
viUs,  we  dined  gaily,  tU  frwcot  by  the  side  of  hia 
fountain  ;  and  after  not  a  few  bumpers  to  the  pros- 
perity of  vyalton  HaUv  he  mounted  Old  Mortality, 
and  escorted  us  for  several  miles  on  our  ridjD  home- 
waras.  It  was  this  day  that  overflowing  with 
kindly  ze(d,  Scott  revived  one  ot  the  long- forgotten 
proiects  of  their  early  ronnexion  in  business,  and 
ofl'ered  his  servicts  as  editor  of  a  Novelist's  Library, 
to  be  printed  and  published  for  the  sole  benefit  of  hia 
host.  The  oflfer  was  eaeerly  embraced,  and  when 
two  or  three  mornings  afterwards  John  returned  Sir 
Walter's  visit,  he  had  put  into  his  hands  the  MS.  of 
that  admirable  life  of  Fielding,  which  waa  foUowed, 
at  brief  intervals,  as  the  arrangements  of  the  project- 
ed iwork  required,  by  others  of  Smollet,  Richarasoo, 
Defoe,  Sterne,  Johnson,  Goldsmith,  Le  Sage,  Hor^ 
.aoe.Walpole.  Gumberland.  Mrs.  RadcUfie^  CharicMi 
JohmitfiMb  01aca.Reevei  Ohirfotie  SaMth,  andRob-* 


LIFE  OP  SIR  WALTER  SCOTT. 


341 


Mt  6a£e  The  publiciitioQ  of  the  first  volume  of 
^^BallaDtyne's  Noveliat's  Library''  did  not  take  place 
however  until  F«ibniary,  18ai :  and  the  series  was 
closed  soon  after  the  proprietor's  death  in  the  ensu- 
Muc  suBuner.  In  spite  of  the  chamrjog  prefaces,  in 
which  Scott  oorobinee  all  the  (graces  of  his  easy 
narrative,  with  a  perpetual  stream  of  deep  and  gentle 
wisdom  m  commenting  the  tempers  and  fortunes 
of  his  best  predecessors  m  novel  literature,  and  also 
with  eiposiiipns  pf  his  own  critical  views,  which, 
prove  how  profoundly  he  had  investigated  the 
principles  and  practice  of  those  masters  oefore  he 
struck  out  a  new  path  for  himself— in  spite  of  these 
delightful  a^d  valuable  essays,  the  publication  was 
not  prosperous.  Constable,  after  Baliantyne's  death, 
would  williaaly  have  resumed  the  scheme.  But 
Scott,  had  by  that  timeconvinced  himself  that  it  was 
in  vain  to  expect  much  succeiiS  for  a  collection  so 
Inilky  and  miscellaneous,  and  which  must  ef  neces- 
sity mclude  a  large  proportion  of  matter,  condemn- 
ed oy  the  purity,  whether  real  or  affected,  of  mod<;rn 
taste.  He  could  hardly  have  failed  to  perceive,  on 
reflection*  that  his  own  novels,  already  constituting 
an  extensive  libral^  of  fiction,  in  which  no  parist 
^oold  pretend  to  discover  danger  for  the  morals  of 
youth,  iiad  in  fact  superseded  the  works  of  less 
strait'laced  days  in  the  only  permanently  and  sol- 
idly profitable  market  for  books  of  this  order.  He 
at  all  events  declined  Constable's  proposition  for 
rex^wingand  extending  this  attempt.  What  he  did 
was  done  gratuitously  for  John  Baliantyne's  sake  t 
and  1  have  dwelt  on  it  thus  long,  because,  as  the 
rrader  will  perceive  by  and  by,  it  was  so  done  du- 
ring (with  one  exception)  the  very  busiest  period  of 
Scott's  literary  life. 

Shortly  before  Scott  wrote  the  following  letters, 
be  had  placed  his  second  son  (at  this  time  in  his 
fifteenth  yeai)  under  the  care  of  the  Reverend  John 
WilliaiAs,  who  had  been  my  intimate  friend  and 
eompanioo  at  Oxford,  with  a  view  of  preparinghim 
for  that  University.  Mr.  Williams  was  then  Vicar 
of  Lampeter,  in  Cfardiganshire,  and  the  high  satis- 
faction with  which  his  careof  (Jharles  Scott  inspired 
Sir  Waller,  induced  several  other  Scotch  gentlemen 
of  distincuon  by  and  bv  to  send  their  sons  also  to 
his  WeM  parsonage;  the  result  of  which  northern 
connexions  Was  important  to  the  fortunes  of  one  of 
the  most  accurate  and  extensive  scholars,  and  most 
•kilfiil  teachers,  of  the  present  time. 

To  Waller  Seafty  Etq.,  IBlh  HuMdr*,  Cork. 

^  Edinburgh,  14th  November,  1880. 
«  Mr  dear  Walter, 

*f  I  send  you  a  cheque  on  Coutts  for  vour  quarter's 
allowance.  I  hope  you  uianagc^jrour  caw)  like  a  person 
of  discretion— above  all,  avoid  the  card  tables  of  ancient 
dowagers.  Always  remember  that  my  fortune,  however 
much  my  effbrts  may  incre.-iso  it,  and  although  I  am  iin- 
proving  it  for  your  benefit,  not  for ^ny  that  can  accrue 
m  my  own  time,— vet  never  can  be  more  than  a  decent 
independence,  and  therefore  will  make  a  poor  figure 
onlera  managed  with  good  sense,  Moderation,  and  pru- 
dence— which  are  hablta  easilv  acquired  in  youtli,  wnile' 
habitual  extravagance  is  a  fault  very  difficult  to  be  aAer- 
wards  corrected,  \ 

'*  We  came  to  town  yesterday,  and  bade  adieu  to  Abbots- 
ford  for  the  season.  Fif^'  to  ntaniraa's  great  surprise  and 
scandal,  chose  to  stay  at  Abbotsford  with  Mai,  and  plainly 
denied  tp  follow  the  carriage— so  our  canine  establish- 
ment in  Castle  street  is  reduced  to  Ultle  I5ry .  f  We  spent 
two  days  at  Amiston,  on  the  road,  and  on  coming  here, 
found  Sophia  as  nicely  and  orderly  settled  in  her  house  as 
If  she  had  been  a  married  woman  these  five  years.  I 
believe  she  Is  very  happy— Perhaps  utiusually  so,  for  her 
wishes  are  moderate,  and  alt  seem  anxious  to  please  hor. 
She  Is  prenarins;  in  due  time  for  the  arrival  of  a  Utile 
stranger,  who  will  make  you  an  uncle  and  me  (God  help 
me !)  a  grandpapa- 

"The  Round  Towers  you  mention  are  very  curious,  and 
deem  to  have  been  built,  as  the  Irish  hackney-coachman 
said  of  the  Martello  one  at  the  Black  Rock,  *  to  puzzle 
posterity.'  There  are  two  of  them  in  Scotland—  both  ex- 
cellent pieces  of  architecture ;  one  at  Brechin,  l^illt  quite 
ek)se  to  the  old  church,  so  as  to  appear  united  with  it,  but 
taifact  It  is  quite  detached  from  the  church,  and  sways 
Croro  it  In  a  high  wind,  when  It  vibrates  like  a  lighthouse. 

*  Ttmette-  a  spaniel  of  Ladv  Scott's. 
«  UrM^-it  smalii  leiTier  of  ibe  Imw  •dkrbairod  Kiotail  bvecd. 
2D* 


The  other  Is  at  Abemetby  in  Perthshire — said  to  bavie 
been  the  capital  city  of  the  Picts.  I  am  glad  to  see  yoa 
observe  objects  of  Interest  and  curiosity,  because  other* 
wise  a  man  may  travel  over  the  universe  without  acqulriaf 
aiL^  more  knowledge  than  his  horse  does. 

*^  We  had  our  himt  and  our  jollification  aAer  It  on  last 
Wednesday.  It  went  otT  in  great  style,  although  I  felt  a 
little  sorry  at  having  neitljer  Charles  nor  you  in  the  field. 
By  the  way,  Charles  seems  most  aduiiiably  settled.  1  had 
a  moat  sen-nible  letter  on  the  subject  from  Mr.  Williams, 
who  appears  to  havp  taken  great  pains,  and  to  have  formed 
a  very  just  conce))tion  both  of  \uh  merits  and  foibles. 
When  I  hav«-  an  opportunity,  I  will  hand  you  his  letter; 
for  it  will  caurtaiii  you,  it  is  so  correct  a  picture  of  Mon- 
sieur Charles. 

•'  Dominic  Thooiison  has  gone  to  a  Mra  Bennistoun,  of 
Colsrain.  to  drill  h«'r  yuunnMors.    I  am  afraid  he  will  finck 
a  change  ;  hiii  I  hop/' to  have  a  nook  open  to.Jiim  by  and 
by-  :i<  a  Pun  of  rttreit  or  harbour  ou  his  Ice."  Adieu,  ray 
dear— alwa>  s  lu'lii-ve  me  yuur  afteciionale  father, 

Waltbr  Scott." 

To  Mr.  Churlr.i  Scott^  care  of  the  Rev.  John  WiUianu^ 
Lamptttr. 

••  E-linburgh,  14th  Nov.  I830i 

"Mv  (If.ar  hny  f;iiarl«»s, 
**  Vonr  l»'iti  r.^  iijulf  us  all  very  hap|Py,and  1  trust  you 
are  now  comfortably  set  tied  and  plying  your-  task  hard. 
Mr.  Williams  will  probably  ground  you  more  perfectly  in 
the  grammar  of  the  classii'cal  lauguazes  than  nas  hitherto 
been  done,  and  this  you  will  at  nrst  find  but  dry  work. 
But  there  are  many  indisponsabte  reasons  why  you  must 
bestow  the  utmost  atieotioo  upon  it.  A  perfect  know- 
l^ge  of  the  classical  languages  has  been  fixed  upon,  tf  d 
am.  without  good  reason,  as  th«  mark  of  a  weU'educated 
young  man ;  and  though  people  may  have  scrambled  into 
distinction  without  it,  it  is  always  with  the  greatest  diffl* 
cully,  just  like  climbing  over  a  waU,  Instead  of  giving  your  . 
ticket  at  the  door.  Perhaps  you  may  think  another  proof 
of  a  youth's  talents  wight  have  been  adopted ;  but  what 
good  will  arise  from  your  thiiUting  so,  If  the  gMieral  prac- 
tice of  society  has  fixed  on  this  piarticular  branch  of 
knowledge  as  the  criterion  7  Wheat  or  barley  were  as 
good  grain,  1  suppose,  as  M9amum ;  but  it  was  only  ta 
seeamum  that  the  talisman  gave  way.  and  the  rock 
opened ;  and  it  is  equally  certain  that,  it  you  are  not  a 
wellfoimded  granunatical  scholar  in  Greek  and  Latin, 
you  will  in  vain  present  other  quaUfications  to  distinction. 
Besides,  the  study  of  grammar,  from  Its  very  asperities, 
is  calculated  to  toadi  youth  that  patimt  labour  which  is 
necessary  to  the  usual  exertion  of  the  underscaodlng 
upon  every  other  branch  of  knowledge  ;  and  your  great 
deficiency  is  want  of  steadiness  and  of  resolute  appUca-  ' 
tion  to  the  dry  aa  well  as  the  interesting  paits  of  your 
learning.  But  exerting  yourself,  as  I  have  no  doubt  vou 
will  do,  under  the  direction  of  so  learned  a  man,  and  so 
excellent  a  teacher  as  Mr.  Williams,  and  being  without 
the  temptations  to  idleness  which  occurred  at  home.  I 
have  every  reason  to  believe  that,  to  your  natural  quick- 
ness yon  will  presently  add  such  a  habit  of  applicatKm 
and  steadiness,  as  will  make  you^a  respected  member 
of  society,  perhaps  a  distinguished  one.  It  is  very  pro- 
-liable  that  the  whole  success  of  your  future  lile  may 
depend  on  the  manner  in  wliich  you  employ  the  next 
two  years  ;  and  I  am  therefore  most  anxious  you  should 
fully  avail  yourself  of  the  opportunities  now  afiforded 
you. 

*'  You  must  not  be  too  much  disconcerted  with  the 
apparent  dryness  of  your  immediate  studies.  Lansjiage 
is  the  great  mark  by  which  man  is  dlstineuished  iroro 
the  bcat^ts,  and  a  strict  acquaintance  with  the  manner  in- 
whlch  It  is  composed,  becomes,  as  you  follow  it  a  Kttle 
way,  one  of  the  most  curious  ana  interesting  exercises  of 
the  intellect. 

**We  had  our  grand  hunt  on  Wednesday  last,  a  fine 
day,  and  plenty  of  sport.  We  hunted  all  over  Ilunily 
wood,  and  so  on  to  Ilalidon  and  Prieston— saw  twelve 
hares,  and  kilted  six,  having  v^ry  hard  runs,  and  turning 
three  packs  of  grouse  completely.  In  absence  of  Walter 
and  you.  Stenhouse  the  horse-couper  led  the  field,  and 
rode  as  if  he  had  been  a  piece  of  nis  horae,  sweltering 
like  a  wild-drake  all  through  Marriage-Moss  at  a  motion 
betwixt  swimming  aud  riding.  One  unlucky  accidf-nt 
befell.  Queen  Mab,  who  was  oeslrode  by  CaplEin  Adam, 
liflcd  up  her  heels  against  Mr.  Craic  of  Onlashiel.s,' 
whose  le;r  she  greeted  with  a  thump  like  a  iiistol-shot, 
while  by  the  same  movement  she  very  nearly  sent  the 
noble  Captain  over  her  ears.  Mr.  Craig  was  helped  from 
horse,  but  would  not  permit  his  boot  to  be  drawn  off, 
protesting  he  would  faint  if  he  saw  tbe  boQe  of  his  leg 

*  Mr.  Geonre  Craic,  fketor  to  the  laird  of  Gala,  and  irMUMfff*^ 
of  a  litlle  branch  bank  at  Gslaihicls.  This  worthjr  man  was 
one  oC  the  racoiar  memben  of  tb»  Abbotslbrd  bant. 


UF£  OF  Sm  WALTER  SCOTT* 


■Uckhiflhromrh  the  stocklnf .  Some  thought  he  was  re* 
taetfcnt  to  exhibit  his  legs  In  their  prfmiUve  and  unclothed 
•impllcitjr.  In  respect  thc^  have  an  unhappr  resemblance 
to  a  pair  of  tonffl.  As  for  the  Captain,  he  declared  that  if 
the  accident  had  happened  in  action^  the  surgeon  and 
dram-boys  would  have  bad  off,  not  his  boot  only,  but  his  leg 
fe  bootj  before  he  could  have  uttered  a  remonstrance.  At 
length  Gala  and  I  prevailed  to  have  the  boot  drawn,  and  to 
my  great  Joy  I  found  the  damage  was  not  serious,  though 
the  pain  must  have  been  severe. 
,  "On  Saturday  we  left  Abbotsford,  and  dined  and 
spent  Sunday  at  Amiston,  where  we  had  many  Inquiries 
afler  you  from  Robert  Dundas,  who  was  so  kind  to  you 
last  Tear. 

^  I  must  conclude  for  the  present,  requesting  your 
earnest  pursuit  of  such  branches  of  study  as  Mr.  WilUams 
recommends.  In  a  short  time,  as  you  begin  to  compre- 
hend the  subjects  vou  are  learning,  you  will  fimi  the  path 
turn  smoother,  and  that  which  at  present  seems  wrapped 
up  In  an  inextricable  labyrinth  or  tiiorns  and  briers,  will 
at  once  become  easy  and  attractive. 

^  Always,  dear  Charlie,  your  adfectionate  fatlier, 

W  8." 

On  the  same  day  Scott  wrote  as  follows  to  the 
manly  and  atniabde  author  of  **  Sir  Marmaduke 
Maxwell,"  who  had  shortly  before  sent  the  MS. 
of  that  romantic  drama  to  Abbotsford  for  his  in- 
spection :— 

7%  Mr.  Allan  Cunningham:  care  qf  /*.  Chantrejft  Esq. 
Jt.  A.f  London. 

**  Edinburgh,  14th  November,  182a 
"MydearAlUn,  ^ 

"I  have  been  meditating  a  long  letter  to  you  for  mai9 
#eeks  p&4t ;  but  company,  and  rural  business,  and  rural 
spons,  are  very  unfavourable  to  writing  letters.  I  have 
now  a  double  reason  for  writing,  for  I  have  to  thank  you 
Ibr  sending  me  in  safety  a  beamifal  specimen  of  our  Bng- 
llsh  IWichaei's  talents  in  the  cast  of  my  venerable  friend 
Mr.  WaU :  It  Is  a  most  striking  resemblance,  with  all  that 
Itving  character  which  we  are  apt  to  think  Hfe  itself  alone 
oan  exhibit  I  hope  Mr.  Chantrey  does  not  permit  his 
distinguished  skUl  either  to  remain  aneJiercised,  or  to  be 
lavished  exchisivelv  on  subjects  of  little  interest  I 
would  like  to  see  him  engaged  on  some  subject  of  Im- 
.  portance  completely  adapted  to  the  purpose  of  his  chisel, 
and  demanding  its  highest  powers.  Pray  remember  me 
to  him  most  kindlyi 

•*  I  have  perused  twice  your  curious  and  intereatin? 
mannscript.  Many  parts  of  the  poetry  are  eminently 
beautlfuK  though  I  fear  the  great  lengtli  of  tlie  piece,  anil 
some  ob«curity  of  th^  plot,  would  render  it  until  for  dra- 
matic representation.  There  is  also  a  fine  tone  of  super- 
natural iinpnlHft  spread  over  the  whole  action,  wliich  I 
thinic  a  common  audience  would  not  be  likely  to  .irlopl  or 
comprehend— though  I,own  that  to  me  it  has  a  very  pow- 
erful eflfrct.  Speaking  of  dramatic  composition  in  gen*^- 
ral.  I  think  it  1^  almost  essrnti  <!  (though  the  rule  be  most 
difficult  in  praclice)tliat  the  plot,  or  hu'^iness  of  ihf^  piece, 
should  advance  with  every  lin-?  that  is  r^pokcn.  Tlio  fict 
1^  the  drama  is  addressed  ch'tefly  lo  the  eyes,  an<i  as 
mucUaHcmi  be,  l>y  any  pos.:I>ility,  r''prrs('ni'Hl  on  the 
Btaiie,  should  neither  be  told  or  descriljcd.  Of  the  njis- 
cellnncous  part  of  a  larjre  .luili^nre,  mnny  do  not  under- 
stand, nay,  maav  cannot  hf-ar,  eitlicr  unrralive  ord.'srrip- 
tion,  but  nre  polely  intent  upon  thp  action  exhil>i:<d.  It 
Is,  Iconcfive,  for  this  reason  tiiat  very  h  vl  play*,  written 
by  pnrformers  theinsHves  ortcii  contrive  to  got  rhrouffh, 
and  not  without  ap;ilaiirp;  whilf*  oMhtj,  Imin^.-xsiiraMy 
supe.'ior  in  pomt  ol  pooiicnl  merit,  fail,  merely  h»'caiis»> 
the  author  is  not  sufficiently  pos'^es^'^d  of  the  trick  of 
the  scene,  or  enoujh  aware  of  the  importance  of  :i  maxim 
pronounced  by  no  less  a  performer  than  Punch  lumself-- 
(at  least  he  was  the  la^'t  atJtbority  from  whom  1  h*-.ird  It) 
—Ptt^h  on,  keep  moving  !  Now,  in  voiir  very  ingenious 
dramatic  effort,  the  interest  not  only  stands  sliu.lu>l  some- 
tlui'^fl  retrogrades.  It  contains,  noiwithsiandinp,  mmy 
passa;{f3  of  eminent  brauty,  mnu\  specimens  of  muvt 
interesting  dlalojrue  ;  and,  on  the  whole,  if  it  Is  net  filled 
for  the  modern  stage,  I  am  not  sure  thii  its  very  liup<*rf'*c- 
tlons  do  not  render  itniore  til  for  ihe  closet,  fur  wc  cer- 
tainly do  not  alwavs  read  with  the  gilealcsl  pleasure  tliose 
pUyfi  which  act  best. 

"  If,  however,  you  should  at  any  time  y\\nh  to  Ijccome  a 
candidate  for  drautatic  laurels,  I  would  ndvise  you,  in  the 
first  place,  to  considt  some  profes;?ionai  persiui  of  jml^- 
ment  and  taste.  I  should  rejrard  fri€  nd  Terry  e.«  an  excel- 
lent Mentor,  and  I  believe  he  wotild  concur  with,  mc  in 
recommending  that  at  least  one  third  of  the  drama  be 
retrenched,  that  the  plot  should  l)e  rendered  simpler,  and 
the  motives  more  obvious  ;  and  I  tiiink  the  powerful  lan- 
guage and  niuiy  of  the  sltuatioas  might  thso  have  their 


fbn  effect  upon  the  audience.  I  am-nMertaln  If  1  havf 
made  myself  sufficiently  understood;  but  I  would  ssj,  Ibr 
example,  that  W  Is  fli  explained  by  what  means  Comyn 
and  his  gang,  who  land  as  shipwrecked  men,  became  at 
once  possewed  of  the  eU  kmFs  domains,  metely  by  kfil- 
log  and  taking  possession.  1  am  aware  of  what  yaa 
mean,  namely,  that  being  attached  to  the  then  rulers,  Im 
is  supported  in  his  iU-acquired  power  by  their  stttboriiy. 
But  tills  is  Imperfectly  brought  out,  and  escaped  mc  at 
the  first  reading.  The  superstitious  motives,  also,  which 
Induced  the  shepherds  to  delay  their  vengeance,  are  not 
likely  to  be  intelligible  to  the  generality  of  the  hearers. 
It  would  seem  more  probable  that  the  young  Baron  should 
have  led  his  faithful  vassals  to  avenge  the  death  of  his 
parents)  and  it  has  escaped  me  what  prevents  him  from 
takhig  this  direct  and  natural  courae.  Beaidas  it  ia,  I  be- 
lieve,  a  rule  (and  it  seems  a  good  one)  that  one  single  In- 
terest, to  wliicii  c\  cry'btlier  is  subordinate,  should  oceupr 
the  wiiolc  play,-~cacli  separate  object  Itaving  just  the  ef- 
fect of  a  uiiU-tlam,  sluicing  oHT  a  certain  ptmion  of  tho 
sympathy,  which  nhould  move  on  with  increasing  force 
an<l  rapidity  to  Ihe  catastrophe.  Now,  in  your  work, 
there  arc  several  divided  points  of  Interest— there  is  the 
murder  of  tiie  old  Baron— ll«e  escape  of  his  Avife— that  of 
Ids  soTi — the  loss  of  ius  bride — the  villnnuus  artificea  of 
Comyn  to  possess  liimsetf  of  her  person,  and,  finally,  The 
fall  of  Couiyn,  and  acceleration  ot  He  vengeance  due  to 
his  crimes.  Iain  sure  your  own  excellent  sense,  wlilcb  I 
admire  as  much  as  1  dolour  genius,  will  give  me  credit 
for  my  frankness  in  these  matters ;  I  only  know,  thai  I 
do  not  know  many  persons  on  whose  pcrformancea  I 
would  venture  to  offer  so  much  criticism. 

*'  I  will  return  the  manuscript  under  Mr.  Freeling'a 
Post-Office  cover,  and  I  hope  it  will  reach  y<Hi  safe. — 
Adieu,  my  leal  and  esteemed  friend— yours  truly, 

WALTSa  BCOtT." 

Shortly  afterwards  Mr.  Canningharo,  ihankioK 
his  critic,  said  he  had  not  yet  received  back  his  MS.| 
but  that  he  hoped  the  delay  had  been  occasioned  by 
Sir  Walter's  communication  of  it  to  aotDefiieftd  of 
theatrical  expeltence.  He  also  mentioned  his  hmv- 
ing  imdertaken  a  collection  of  '*The  Songs  of 
Scotland,"  with  notes.  The  answer  was  in  theM 
terms  :~ 

7b  ilfr.  Allan  Ounninghom. 

"My  dear  Allan, 

**  It  was  as  you  sup|)osed— I  detained  your  manuscripl 
to  read  It  over  with  Terry,  The  plot  aopcars  to  Terry  as 
to  me  ill-combined,  which  is  a  great  defect  In  a  dnunav 
though  less  perceptible  in  the  closet  than  on  the  stage. 
Still  If  the  mind  can  be  kept  upon  one  unbroken  course 
of  interest,  the  etfect  even  in  perusal  is  more  gratifying. 
I  have  always  considered  this  as  the  great  secret  in  dra- 
matic |)octry.vmd  conceive  It  one  of  the  most  difficult  cx- 
ercis«M  of'th^  invent-on  possible  to  conduct  a  story 
through  five  acts,  d*»veloping  it  gradually  In  every  scene, 
so  Hn  10  keep  up  the  attention,  yet  never  tiTI  tlie  veiy  coo- 
c!u«ion  permitiinp  the  flattue  of  the  catastrophe  to  b^ 
com«^  vi>lhle.— and  all  the  while  to  accompauy  this  by  the 
necessary  dolincation  of  character  and  beauty  of  lans- 
ffua;e.  I  am  jjlad,  however,  that  you  mean  to  preserve  In 
t-'ome  permanent  form  your  very  curious  drams,  which, 
if  not  altogether  fitted  for  the  stis**,  cannot  be  read  with- 
out vory  jnuch  and  vq|v  deep  interest. 

"  I  .'.III  iilad  you  arc  "bout  Scottish  .song.  No  man— not 
Ro'xTt  Bums  himself— has  contributed  more  beautiful 
eft'ufionsto  enrich  it.  Here  and  there  1  would  pluck  a 
flo\v«T  from  your  P<isy  to  give  what  rcma'ns  an  effect  of 
grr  iicr  simp'liciiy,  but  luxuriance  can  only  be  the  fault  of 
•jeaiu^,  and  iiuuiy  of  vour  songs  are,  I  think,  unmatched. 
I  would  inst  mce— "  It's  hame  and  It's  luime,"  which  my 
dan;:ht«rMrs.  Lockhart  siti^s  with  such  uncommon  cfiecL 
You  c  uuiol  do  any  thinj;  cither  in  the  way  of  original 
comuoMii'*n,  or  collection,  or  criticism,  that  will  not  be 
hishly  uccentahle  to  all  who  are  worth  pleasing  in  the 
.Scoiush  public— and  I  pray  you  to  prpoeedwilh  it 

"  lit  memhcr  me  kindiv  lo  Chantrey.  lam  happy  my 
effi  Ty  Is  \o  go  with  that  of  Wordsworth,*  for  (differing  from 
him  in  very  many  points  of  taste)  }  do  not  know  a  man 
more  lo  be  venerated  for  upri•zhtne^•s  of  heart  and  lofU- 
nt- :;>  of  genius.  Why  be  will  Komeiimcs  choose  to  crawl 
ujK.u  all  fours,  whco  God  has  given  him  so  noble  a  coun> 
tcnance  lo  lift  to  lieaven.  I  am  as  little  able  to  account  foi 
as  for  his  (|uarreUin2  (.iS  yoti  tell  me)  with  the  wrinkles 
which  Uuifi  and  meditation  have  stauiped  Itis  brow  wtthaL 

"  I  am  obliged  to  conclude  haatiiy,  having  lonx  letters  to 
write — God  wot  upon  very  didferent  subjects.    I  pray  loj 

*■  Mr.  Cunnin^am  had  told  Scott  that  ehaQtre7*s  bart  of 
>Vonl«worth  (another  of  Ms  noblest  %vodci)  was  also  to  be  ss»> 
duesdttthelUjpalAcadsBy'SBxhlbilloaftrllBL 


jums^w  9m  wjomoL^mm. 


ktnd  napwU  to  Mn.  Cbintce/ — Be||«vo  me,  4^«  Mika, 
rtrj  tnify  7oun»  Ac,  Waltv  »o»rr." 

The  following  letter  touches  on  the  dropping  of 
the  Bill  which  had  been  introdaced  by  Government 
for  the  purpose  of  degrading  ib«  consort  of  Greorge 
the  Fourth ;  the  riotous  rejoiciugs  oT  Uie  Edinburgh 
mob  on  that  occasion  t  and  Scott's  acquiescence  in 
the  request  of  the  guardians  of  the  young  Duke  of 
fidccleuch,  that  he  should  act  as  chancellor  of  the 
jury  about  to  §trvt  his  grace  heir  (as  the  Isw  phrase 
goes)  to  the  Scotltsb  estates  of  his  family. 

7\>  tJke  Lord  Mtmtagu^  4^.,  4*c.,  4«. 

(*  Ediabunb,30th  November,  1820. 
**  Nt  dtar  Lord, 
'^  1  had  your  letter  some  time  since,  aod  have  now  to  con- 

SUulate  you  on  your  two  months'  spell  of  labour-ln-vain 
ty  beii^'at  longth  tX  an  end.  The  old  sign  of  the  La- 
boor- in- vain  Ta?em  was  a  fellow  attempting  to  icrub  a 
black-a-moor  white ;  but  the  present  difflcuUy  seem*  to  lie 
in  showing  ItuU  one  it  black.  Truly,  I  conjmitulRte  the 
country  on  the  iesue:  for,  since  the  t^s  of  Qoeeu  Dolla- 
krfla*  and  the  Rumti'tddity  choslis  in  Tom  Thumb,  never 
was  there  so  jolly  a  representative  oT  royalty.  A  Kwd  bat 
iad  migiit  be  made  by  way  of  parody  on  Gay's  JenatliaB 
Wild^  /      /       i~     / 

Her  Majesty's  trial  has  set  us  at  eaae^ 
And  every  wife  round  me  may  kiss  if  slic  please. 
We  had  the  Marquis  of  Bute  and  Fr^ds  Jetfrey  vary 
briHiant  in  George  Street,  and  I  think  one  grocer  besides. 
I  was  hard  threatened  by  letter,  but  I  eaiUMd  my  servant 
to  say  in  the  qturter  where  I  ihought  the  threatening 
came  from,  thai  I  should  suSer  my  wmdows  to  be  broken 
lUte  a  Christian,  but  if  any  thing  else  was  atlemptedf  I 
should  become  as  great  a  heathen  as  the  Dey  of  Algiess. 
We  were  passed  over,  but  many  bouses  were  terribly 
Omeaqut,  aa  was  the  phrase  hi  Paris  1&14  and  1315.  The 
neA  night,  being,  Hke  true  Scotsmen,  wise  behind  the 
hand,  the  bailies  nad  a  sufficient  force  sufficiently  arrang- 
ed, aod  put  down  every  attempt  to  riot.  If  the  same  pre- 
cautions hud  been  taken  beiore,  the  town  wotild  have 
been  saved  some  disgrace,  and  the  loss  of  at  least  jSlOOO 
worth  of  property.  Hay  Donaldsont  is  getting  stout 
again,  and  up  to  the  throat  in  business ;  there  is  no  get> 
ting  a  word  out  of  him  that  does  not  smell  of  parchment 
and  special  service.  Ue  asked  me,  as  tt  is  to  oe  a  mere 
lato  service^  to  act  as  chsncellor  on  the  Duke's  inquost, 
Whlck  honourable  office  I  will  of  course  undertake  wUh 
great  willingness,  and  discharge,  t  mean  the  ho^pitahle 
part  of  it,  to  the  best  of  my  y>ower.  I  think  you  are  right 
to  avoid  a.  more  extended  service,  as  £iWO  certainly 
wodtd  not  clesr  the  expense,  as  you  wo^ld  have  to  dine  at 
least  four  counties,  and  as  sweetly  sing,  with  Duke  Whar- 
ton on  Chevy  Chase, 

Pity  ft  were 
So  ituch  good  wfne  to  spill. 
As  these  botd  freeholders  would  drink, 
Before  they  had  their  flIL 
I  hope  we  Hhall  all  live  to  see  our  young  baron  take  his 
own  chair,  and  feast  the  land  in  his  own  way.    Ever  your 
Lordsliip'a  must  truly  faithful 

Waltsr  Scott. 
**P.  S. — In  the  iUurainaUon  row,  voong  Romilly  was 
ki>ocked  down  and  robbed  by  the  mob,  just  while  he  was 
in  the  act  of  declatmiug  on  the  impropriety  of  havio^r  con- 
stables and  volunteers  to  iotorrero  with  the  hariuiess 
mirth  of  the  people." 

To  Mr.  Charlea  Scott,  care  qf  tke  Rev.  John  WUliatn*, 
Lampeter, 

"■  Edinbiurgb,  l»th  Dec.,  ISQO. 
"Mr  dear  Charles, 

^We  begin  to  be  afirakl  that,  in  improving  your  head, 
you  have  lost  the  u^e  of  your  fingers,  or  got  so  deep  into 
the  Greek  and  Lotin  grammar,  that  you  have  forKOtten 
bow  to  exprr'tw  yoursHf  in  your  own  lauAuage.    To  ease 
our  an  nous  uitnds  in  these  imiwrlonl  doubts,  we  beg  you 
wfu  write  as  soon  as  postHblr^,  and  give  us  a  fall  account 
of  your  proce«HHnjf!«,  as  I  do  not  approve  of  long  intervals 
o/* silence,  or  think  that  you  need  to  stand  very  rigorously 
up*n  the  exchange  of  letters,  especially  as  mine  are  so 
muAh  the  iMigest 
*  QMe^fS.  "*  WbsAtbooch  I  now  am  half  seas  o'er, 
I  scom  to  baulk  this  boul ; 
Of  ctifT  rack  punch  fetch  Iwwlt  a  score, 
'Pone  Oeorfo,  I'll  «ctj  them  out  t 
Cttor^s .— Rainti  idditjr.  row.  row.  row, 

If  we'd  a  good  sup,  Mre'd  take  it  now." 


FiBfj>iNo's  Tom  Thumb. 
t  lltia  fTOitlunart,  Scott's  frieod  and  confidential  solicitor,  bad 
okhdncd,  (I  believe)  on  his  lecomiDendaUoa,  the  legal  maoago- 
■HPtoftboBuecieuoli  '"'    '   '     ' 


*•  I  Tf^  uMii  It  Oaft  yoH  4VS  MW  waMog  httrd  te  lbs 
elaasical  miiM,  getting  out  the  rubbish  as  last  as  you  ean, 
and  preparing  yourself  to  collect  the  ore.  I  cannoi  too 
much  hnoress  upon  your  mind,  that  labour  is  the  coa(!U- 
tion  which  God  has  Imposed  on  us  in  every  station  of  luo 
— there  is  nothing  wonh  having  that  can  be  had  without 
it,  from  the  bread  which  the  peasant  wins  with  the  sweat 
of  his  brow,  to  the  sports  bv  which  the  rich  man  DMiit 
get  rid  of  Us  ennui.  The  only  difference  betwixt  themis, 
that  the  poor  man  labours  to  get  a  dinner  to  hia  appetite* 
the  rich  man  to  get  an  appetite  to  his  dinner.  As  for 
knowledge,  it  can  no  more  be  planted  in  the  human  mind 
without  UlK>ur,  than  a  field  of  wheat  can  he  produced 
without  the  previous  use  of  the  plough.  There  la  hideed 
this  great  rtiflerenc*,  that  chance  or  circom«»fBOces  may 
(to  cause  it  that  another  shRll  reap  what  the  farmer  sows; 
*ut  no  man  can  be  deprived,  whether  by  accident  or  mie- 
fortune,  of  the  fruits  of  his  own  studies,  and  the  liberal 
and  extended  acquisiUons  of  knowledge  which  he  makes 
are  all  for  bis  own  use.  Labour,  my  dear  boy,  therefor^ 
and  improve  the  time.  In  youth  our  steps  are  light,  an* 
our  mimls  are  ductile,  and  knowledge  is  easily  laia  up. 
Butif  we  neglect  <mr  spring,  our  summers  will  be  useless 
and  roniemptible,  our  harvest  will  be  chaff,  and  the  wih* 
ter  of  our  old  age  nnrespected  and  desolate. 

^*  It  Hi  now  Cfiristmas-tide,  and  it  comes  sadly  round  to 
me  as  reminding  me  of  your  excellent  grandmother,  wber 
was  taken  lirom  us  last  year  at  this  time.  Do  you,  ta^ 
dear  Charles,  pay  attention  to  the  wishes  of  your  pareots 
while  they  are  with  you,  that  you  may  have  no  self-re* 
proach  when  jrou  think  of  them  at  a  future  period. 

"  You  hear  the  Welsh  spoken  much  about  you,  and  if 
you  can  nick  It  up  without  interfering  with  more  hn» 
portant  labours,  It  will  be  worth  while.  I  supposo  yot| 
can  easily  get  a  grammar  and  dictionary.  It  Is.  you  know« 
the  language  spoken  by  the  Britons  before  the  invasioir 
of  the  Angio-SaXons,  who  brought  in  the  principal  inftre- 
dienta  of  uur  present  language,  called  from  thence  EngUsh. 
It  was  afterwards,  however,  much  mingled  with  Normaa 
French,  the  language  of  William  the  Coaqueror  aod  hia 
followers ;  so  li  you  can  pick  up  a  little  or  the  Cambro*. 
British  speech,  it  will  qualify  you  hereafter  to  be  a  good 
philologist,  should  your  genius  turn  towards  languages. 
Pray,  have  you  yet  leamed  who  Howel  Dba  wasi— Glctt. 
dower  you  are  well  acquainted  with  by  reading  Shaks^ 
peare.  The  wUt^  mysterious,  barbaric  grandeur  with 
which  he  has  investea  that  chieftain,  has  often  struck  me 
as  very  fine.    I  wish  we  luul  some  more  of  him. 

"  We  are  all  well  here,  and  I  hope  to  yet  to  Abbotsford 
for  a  few  days— they  cannot  be  many— m  the  ensuing  va- 
cation, when  I  trust  to  see  the  planting  has  got  well  for- 
ward. All  are  well  here,  aod  Mr.  Cadell*  is  come  back* 
and  gives  a  pleasant  accoimt  of  your  Journey.  Lot  mo 
hear  from  you  very  soon,  and  tell  me  if  yon  expect  any 
skatinej  and  whether  there  is  any  ice  in  Wales.  I  pre- 
sume there  will  be  a  uicrry  Cliristinas,  and  beg  my^est 
wishes  on  the  subject  to  Mr.  WiUiaxna,  his  sister  ond 
family.  The  Lockh;irls  dine  with  us,  and  the  Soptts  of 
ITar^len,  James  Scout  with  liisj>ipcs,  and  I  hope  Captain 
Adam.  ■  We  will  remember  your  nealth  In  a  glass  of 
claret  just  about  six  o'clock  at  night;  ho  that  you  will 
know  exactly  (allowing  for  variation  of  time)  wlwit  We  are 
doing  at  the  k^ame  moment 

*'■  But  I  think  I  have  written  quite  enough  to  a  young 
Welsliin.'>n,  wlio  has  n>rnot  all  his  Scots  kith,  kin,  and  at 
lies.  Manuiia  and  Anne  i<ond  many  loves.  Walter  eamo 
like  a  shadow,  and  so  dcpnrted— after  about  ten  days'  stay. 
The  effect  was  quite  dramatic,  for  the  door  wai  fiung 
open  as  wc  were  about  to  go  down  to  dinner,  mid  Turner 
announced  Cuptain  J^ott.  Wo  could  not  conceive  who 
was  meant,  wlien  in  walked  Walter,  as  large  as  life.  Ue 
H  positively  a  new  edi(k>n  of  l]>e  Irish  giaut  I  beg  my 
kind  respects  to  Mr.  Wflliaras.  At  hisleiBurc  I  should  be 
happy  to  have  a  lino  from  him,  I  am,  my  dear  liule  boy, 
always  your  affectionate  father, 

Waltbu  Soott." 

The  tie^t  letHer  contains  a  brief  allusion  to  an  af- 
fair which,  in  the  life  of  any  other  man  of  letters, 
would  have  deserved  to  be  considered  as  of  some 
consequence.  The  late  Sir  James  Hall  of  Dunglass 
resigned,  in  November,  1820,  the  Presidency  of  tho 
Royal  Society  of  EdinburKbi  and  the  Fellows, 
though  they  had  on  all  former  occasions  selected  a 
man  of  science  to  fill  thst  post,  paid  Sir  Walter  ths 
compliment  of  unanimously  requesting  him  to  be 
Sir  James's  successor  in  it.  He  felt  and  expressed  ' 
a  natural  hesitation  about  accepting"  this  honour — 
which  at  first  sight  sceuicd  like  mvading  the  proper 

«  Mr.  Robert  Codull,  of  tlio  bou»e  of  Constable,  had  this  raar 
conveyed  Oharh«  f^cott  fVotn  Abbotsford  to  Lampeter. 

t  Sir  Walter's  cous  n,  a  son  of  his  onde  Thomas.    See  ttnf, 


Digitized  by  tuOOQlC 


^i)pttHtnf«nt  of  anoUier order  of  ^eholapft.  *  Bot/when 
it  was  urged  upon  him  that  t!^e  Society  is  really  a 
w>uble  one— embracing  a  section  for  literature  as 

well  as  one  of  science— and  thai  it  was  only  due  to 
^he  former  to  let  it  occasionally  supply  the  chief  of 
the  whole  body.  Scott  acquiesced  m  the  flattering 
proposal ;  and  his  gentle  skill  was  found  enective, 
^80  long  as  he  held  the  Chair,  in  maintaining  and 
strengthening  the  tone  of  good  feeling  and  good 
manners  which  can  alone  render  the  meetings  of 
such  a  society  either  agreeable  or  nseful.  The  new 
President  himself  soon  began  to  take  a  lively  in- 
terest in  many  of  their  discussions— those  at  least 
which  pointed  to  any  dis<;overy  of  practical  use  ;— 
'and  he,  by  and  by,  added' some  eminent  men  of  sci« 
ence,  witli  whom  his  acquaintance  had  hitherto 
been  slight,  to  the  list  of  his  roost  valued  friends.  I 
may  mention  in  particular  Dr.,  now  Sir  David, 
Brewster. 

,Sir  Walter  also  alludes  to  an  institution  of  a  far 
different  description— that  called  "The  Celtic  So- 
ciety of  Edinburgh"— a  club  established  mainly  for 
the  patronage  of  ancient  Highland  manners  and 
wstoras,  especially  the  use  of  "  the  Qarb  of  Old 
iiaur— though  part  of  their  funds  have  always  been 

3 plied  to  the  really  important  object  of  extending 
uoation  in  the  wilder  districts  of  the  north.  At 
their  annual  meetings  Scott  was,  as  may  be  sup- 
posecL  a  regular  attendant.  He  appeared,  as  in  duty 
bound,  m  the  Costume  of  the  Fraternity,  and  was 
naually  followed  by  "John  of  Skye,"  in  a  still  more 
complete,  or  rather  incomplete,  style  of  equipment. 
To  the  Lord  Montagu,  ^c.  4v.  ^..Ditton  Park, 

u^M.^       »     -.  "Edinburgh,  17th  January,  1821. 

••Mydear  Lord, 

•*  We  had  a  tight  day  of  ft  on  Mondar  last,  both  dry  and 
wet.  The  dry  pnrt  waa  aa  dry  as  may  be,  conslsthig  In  re- 
hearsing the  wnole  lands  of  the  Bucclcuch  estatelorfive 
mortal  hours,  although  Donaldson  had  kindly  selected  a 
clerk  whose  tongue  went  over  baronies,  lordships,  and 
regalities,  at  as  high  a  rate  of  top  speed  as  ever  Eclipse 
displayed  in  clearing  the  course  at  Newmarket.  The 
evening  went  off  very  well— considering  that  while  look- 
ing forward  with  the  natural  feelings  of  hope  and  expecta- 
tion on  behalf  of  our  young  friend,  most  of  us  who  were 
present  could  not  help  casting  looks  of  sad  remembrance 
on  the  days  we  had  seen.  However,  we  did  very  weH 
Mid  I  kept  the  chair  till  eleven,  when  we  had  coffee,  and 
departed,  «  no  rery  fou,  but  gayly  yet."  Besides  the  law 
gentlemen  and  immediate  agents  of  the  family,  I  nicked 
upon  my  own  account  Tom  Ogilvie,"  Sir  Harry  Hay  Mac- 
dougal,  Harden  and  his  son.  Gala,  and  Captain  John  Fer- 
guson, whom  I  asked  as  from  myself,  stating  that  the  party 
was  to  be  anile  private.  1  suppose  there  was  no  harm  in 
this,  and  It  helped  us  well  «n.  I  beliere  your  nephew  and 
my  jovng  chief  enters  life  with  as  favourable  auspices  as 
could  well  attend  him,  for  to  few  youths  can  attach  so 
manv  good  wishes,  and  none  can  look  back  to  more  es- 
timable examples  both  In  his  father  and  grandfather.     ' 


ILffV  or  !8m  WiLTflR  S^jitm'. 


phiraBgr  of  efllccs^lhli  week.  On  Friday  t  had  aiy  Ptttttc 
stewaMship ;  on  Monday  my  cbaneethmAfp :  ycsterdav 
jny  preaidentship  of  the  Royal  Society,  for  I  had  a  meet, 
lag  of  that  learned  bodv  at  my  house  last  night,  where 
mulled  wine  and  punch  were  manufactured  and  con- 
sumed acconHni  to  the  latest  philosophical  discoverio*. 
Besides  all  this,  I  have  before  my  eyes  the  terrors  of  a 
cemUn  Highland  Aasocfauion,  who  dhicd,  bonneted  and 
ktUediA  the  old  fashion,  (all  save  myser,  of  couree.)  and 
armed  to  the  teeth.  This  is  rather  severe  service ;  bin 
men  who  wear  broadswords,  dirks,  and  pistols,  are  not  to 
be  neglected  in  these  days ;  and  the  Gael  are  very  loyal 
lads,  so  it  IS  as  well  to  keep  up  an  influence  wHh  them. 
Once  more,  ipy  dear  Lord,  tarewell,  and  believe  alwava 
most  truly  yours,  ' 

WaLTEB  800TT." 

.  In  the  course  of  the  riotous  week  commemorated 
m  the  precedmg  letter,  appeared  Kenilwonb,  in  3  vola. 
post  8vp..  like  Ivan  hoe,  which  form  waa  adhered  to 
With  all  the  kubseqiient  novels  of  the  series,  Kenil- 
worth  wasoneof  the  most  supcesafulof  them  all  at  the 
Ume  of  pubhcauon  J  and  it  eon  times,  and  I  doubt 
not  wiU  ever  contmae,  to  be  placed  in  the  very  high- 
est  rank  of  prose  fiction.  The  rich  variety  of  char^ 
acter,  and  scenery,  and  hicident  in  this  novel,  has 
never  mdeed  been  surpassed  ;  nor,  with  the  one  ex- 
cepuon  of  the  Bnde  of  Lammermoor,  haa  Scot i 
bequeathed  ns  a  deeper  and  naore  affecting  tragedf 
than  that  of  Amy  Robsart.  »      -«    j 


uuiauit;  cAAui^icH  utnn  m  ms  lainer  ana  grandfather.  I 
think  he  will  succeed  to  the  warm  and  social  affections  of 
hia  relaUvea,  which,  if  they  sometimes  occasion  p«in  to 
those  who  possess  them,  contain  also  the  iiurest  sources 
of  happiness  as  well  as  of  virtue. 

"  Our  late  Pitt  meetihc  amoirated  to  about  800,  a  most 
tremendous  multitude.  I  had  charge  of  a  separate  rocAn 
containing  a  dcUichment  of  about  250,  and  gained  a  hcad- 
ach  of  two  days,  by  roaring  to  them  for  five  or  six  hours 
almost  Incessantly.  The  Coxites  had  also  a  verr  numer- 
ous meeUng,  600  at  least,  but  sad  scamps.  We  had  a 
most  formidable  band  of  yoimg  men,  almost  all  born  aen- 
tlemeu,  and  zealous  proselytes.  We  shall  now  begTn  to 
look  anxionsly  to  London  fon  news.    I  suppose  they  will 

So  by  the  ear#  m  the  Hou.se  of  Commons ;  but  I  trust 
linisters  will  have  a  ureat  majority.  If  not.  they  should 
go  out,  and  let  the  others  make  the  best  of  It  \v\x\\  their 
acquitted  Queen,  who  will  be  a  Ucklish  card  in  their  band, 
for  she  is  by  nature  intrigante  more  ways  than  one.  The 
lOM  of  Canning  is  a  serious  disadvantage.  Many  of  our 
friends  have  good  talenU  and  good  taste  ;  but  I  think  he 
alone  has  that  higiier  order  of  mrts  which  wc  call  senius 
1  whh  lie  had  ha<l  more  prudence  to  guide  it.  He  haa 
been  a  most  unluclsy  politician.  Adieu.  Best  love  to  ail 
at  Dition,  and  great  respect  withal.  My  best  complimenu 
attend  my  young  chief,  now  seated,  to  use  an  oriental 
phrase,  upon  the  Musnud.  I  am  almost  knocked  up  with 
public  meetings,  for  the  triple  Heoate  was  a  jolco  to  my 
•The  late  Thomw  EUiolt  OgiWe.  E^..  of  ChHters,  in  Roa- 
ijggauie-ono  of  Sit  Waltor's  chfif  Ineiida  among  his  ooont^ 


CHAPTER  LI. 

VISIT  TO  townow— pifcjECT  or  the  sotal  fiocirrr 

or  LlTEaATUBB— APrAIBS  OF  THE  19tH  HVS&ABB 
»— MABRIAGE  OP  CAPTAIN  ADAM  FERGITSOK— I.ET- 
TERS  TO  LOHD  8IDM0CTH— LORD  MONTAGU— AI4JUf 
CIWNIKOHAM— MRS.  LOCKHART— AND  CORMST  SCOTT 
"~182l. 

Before  the  end  of  January,  1821,  Scott  went  to 
London,  at  the  request  of  the  othefr  Clerks  of  See- 
won,  that  be  might  watch  over  theprogreaa  of  an  Act 
of  Parlianient,  deeiRijed  to  relieve  them  from  a  con- 
aderable  oart.of  their  drudgery,  in  attesting  record- 
ed deeda  by  signature ;  and  bis  stay  was  prolonged 
until  near  the  beginning  of  the  Summer  term  of  his 
Oouri.    His  letters  while  in  London  are  chiefly  to 
his  own  fainily,  and  on  strictly  domestic  topics- 
but    I  shall  extract  a  few  of  them,   chiefly  (for 
reasons   which   I    have  already  sufficiently    inti- 
mated) those  addressed  to  his  son  the  Comet.    1 
need  not  trespass  on  the  reader's  attention  by  anr 
attempt  to  explam  m  detail  the  matters  to  which 
th^  letters  refer.    It  will  be  seen  that  Sir  Walter 
had  beard,  with  deep  concern,  some  rumours  of  ir- 
regularity in  the  mtenor  of  the  I8th  Husaars:   and 
that  the  consequent  ipterfeience  of  the  then  Com- 
mander of  the  forces  in  Ireland,  the  late  Sir  David 
Baird,  had  been  received  in  any  thing  but  a  spirit  of 
humility.    The  reports  that  reached  Scot!  prerved  to 
have  been  grossly  exa^erated  :  bat  I  presume  there 
had  been  Mme  relaxtion  of  discipline  in  the  rcc- 
ment,  and  Sir  Walter  was  by  no  means  sorry  to 
learn,  in  the  course  of  the  ronng,  first,  that  his  son 
had  been  detached  on  a  siball  separate  service :  then 
that  the  corps  waetp  be  sent  to  India,  in  whicli  case 
he  would  have  a  fair  pretext  for  renioving  him  into 
another  regiment:  and,  finally,  that  the  Duke  of 
R^^htu^v'r  "*"  '^Hcing  the  18th.    Comet 
hCott-Hwho  had  never  himsetf  been  suspected  of 
sharing  in  any  of  the  indiscretions  which  led  to  thit 
siep)— then  travelled  for  soine  time  in  Germany,  with 
a  view  to  his  improvement  m  the  science  of  Ks  pro- 
fession.   He  afterwards  spent  a  brief  period,  for  the 
same  purpose,  in  the   Royal  Military  Coll^je  of 
Sandhurst  j  and  ere  long  he  obtained  a  commission 
as  lieutenant  in  the  15th,  or  King's  Hussars— a  refri. 
ment  which  has  uniformly,  I  believe,  been  rank^ 
among  the  most  distingutshed  in  the  nervice-and. 
in  which  his  father  hved  to  see  him  Major. 

It  will  also  be  seen,  that  during  this  visit  to  Lon- 
don, Sir  Walter  was  released  from  considerable 
anxieivon  account  of  his  daughter  Sophia,  whom 
he  had  left  in  a  weak  state  of  health  at  Kdinburgh. 
bHhe  intelligence  of  her  safe  accouchement  of  a  boyl 
-John  HugTi  Lockhart^  ihg  by^i^)^3>»^io*»«  "  ^ 


UFE  or  SIR  WALTER  SCOTT. 


.t4&> 


Ike  Talea  of  a  Oran^aUhgr.     The  approaohing 
inama/K  of  Captain,  now    Sir  Adam  Ferguson, 
to  wbidi    aome  jocular  alluaiona  occur,  may  be 
claaaod  with  iheae  otyjecia  of  family  intereat;  and 
that  event  was  the  source  of  unmixed   aattafiM- 
tMB  to  Scott,  as  it  did  not  interrupt  his  enjovment 
of  bis  old  friend's  society  in  the  country ;  for  the 
Captain,  thou;;h  he  then  pitched  a  tent  for  himself, 
did  80  at  a  Very  ahort  distance  from  Huntly  Burn. 
I  believe  the  ensuing  extracts  will  need  no  further 
commentary. 
Tq  My:  Loekhatt,  Great  Khtg  Street^  Edinburgh. 
•*Ditton  Park,  Feb.  18  Iffll. 
"My  dearest  Sophia, 

"I  recoivpd  as  much  pleasure,  and  was  relieved  from 
as  much  anxiety,  as  ever  I  felt  in  my  life,  by  Lockhart's 
kind  note,  which  acquainted  me  with  the  nappy  period 
that  bas  been  put  to  vour  suflfering,  and*  as  I  hope  ana  trust, 
to  the  eompkimts  wnich  occasioned  it.  You  are  now,  my 
dearest  girl,  beginning  a  new  course  of  pleasures,  anxie- 
tieg,aQd  duties,  and  the  best  1  can  wish  for  you  is,  that  your 
Ultle  boy  may  prove  the  same  dutiful  and  anectionale  child 
which  you  have  always  been  tu  me,  and  fchat  God  may  give 
him  a  sound  and  headthy  mind,  with  a  good  constitution 
ofbody — tha  greatest  blessing  which  this  earth  can  bestow. 
Pray  be  extremely  carefid  of  yourself  for  some  lime. 
Young  women  are  apt  to  iujure  their  health  by  thinking 
tliemselves  well  too.  soon.  1  beg  you  to  be  cautious  in  this 
respect. 

"The  news  of  the  young  stranger's  arrival  was  most 
joyfully  received  here,  and  his  health  and  yours  toasted 
in  a  Uuoper.  Iwidy  Anne  is  quite  well,  and  Elizabeth 
aJso ;  and  Ladv  Charlotte,  who  has  rejoined  theni.  is  a 
most  beautiful  creature  indeed.  This  place  is  all  light 
sod  splendour,  compared  to  London,  where  I  Was  forced  to 
use  candles  tilt  lea  o'clock  at  least.  I  have  a  gay  time  of 
it.  To-morrow  I  return  to  town,  and  dine  with  old  Sothe* 
by;  on  Tuesday,  with  the  Duke  of  WeUington ;  Wednes- 
day, Willi  Croker,  and  ao  on.  Love  to  L.,  Uie  Captain,  and 
the  Violet,  and  give  your  bantling  a  kiss  extraordinary  for 
Grandpapa.  I  hope  Mungo*  approves  of  the  child,  for 
that  is  a  seriou<i  point  There  are  no  dogs  in  the  hotel 
wbere  I  lodge,  but  a  tolerably  conversible  cat,  who  eats  a 
mesfl  of  cream  with  me  in  the  morning.  The  Utile  chiefand 
his  brother  have  come  over  from  Eton  to  see  me,  so  I  must 
break  oflT. — I  am,  my  dear  love,  most  affectionately  yours, 

Waltui  Scott." 
To  Walter  SeoMy  Emj.^  PortobeUo  Barrackty  Dublin. 
••  Waterloo  Hotel,  Jermyn  Street,  Feb.  19, 1821. 
"My  dear  Walter, 

''  I  have  just  received  your  letter.  I  send  you  a  draught 
for  £QOy  which  you  must  make  go  as  far  as  you  can. 

"  There  is  what  1  liave  no  doubt  is  a  very  idle  report 
here,  of  your  paying  rather  marked  attention  to  one  young 
kdy  in  particular.  1  ueg  you  would  do  nothing  that  can 
justify  such  a  rumour, as  it  would  excite  mj  highest  die- 
pleaeure  should  you  either  entangle  yourself  or  any  other 
penoQ.  1  am,  and  always  have  been,  quite  frank  with  you, 
sod  beg  you  wiU  be  equally  so  with  me.  One  should,  in 
jostice  to  the  young  women  they  Mve  wHb,  be  very  cau- 
tious not  to  giiv  the  least  countenance  to  such  nuQours. 
They  are  not  easily  avoided,  but  are  always  highly  preju- 
dicial to  the  parties  concerned  ;  and  what  b<^ins  in  folly, 
ends  in  serious  misery — am*  au  lecteur. 
Believe  tne,  de^r  Comet,  your  aifectionate  father, 

Walteh  Scott. 
"P.8.— I  wish  vou  could  pick  me  up  the  Irish  hit  of  a 
tune  to  '  Patrick  Fleming.'    The  song  begins— 
.  *  Patrick  Fleming  was  a  gallant  soldier, 
He  carried  Ills  musket  over  his  shoulder. 
Wljeu  I  cock  my  pistol,  when  I  draw  my  raper, 
I  make  them  ^tand  la  awe  of  me,  for  lam  a  tak»>r. 

F^lala«'  Ac. 
*•  From  another  verse  hi  the  same  song,  it  seems  the  hero 
was  In  such  a  predicament  as  your  own. 

'  If  you  be  Peter  Fleming,  as  I  suppose  you  be,  sir, 
We  are  thi'ee  pedlers  walking  on  so  free.  sir. 
We  are  three  pedlers  a-walking  on  to  Dublin, 
WKb  notlrtng  In  our  pockets  to  pay  for  our  lodging. 

Falala,'^Ac." 
7\>  WaXter  Scott,  Eaq.,  IS/A  IIussar»y  Cappoquin. 
•  "  London,  17th  March,  1821. 

^'My  dear  Commandapt  of  Cappoqatn, 

"  Wishing  you  joy  of  your  new  government,  these  are  to 

hiform  yoii  that  I  am  sliH  in  London.    The  late  aspersion 

on  your  regiment  induced  mc  fo  prolracl  my  stay  here. 

wtb«.tf«w  to  see  the  Duke  of  Tork  on  your  belialf 

•  Mungo  was  a  favourite  Nevrlbuodland  Dog. 

44 


i 


Which  T  did  yesterday.  H.  K.  Highness  expressed  Wm- 
self  most  obligingly  disposed,  and  promised  to  consider 
what  could  best  be  done  to  forw^d  your  military  educa- 
tion. I  told  him  %ankly,  that  in  giving  you  to  the  King's 
service,  1  had  done  all  (bat  was  in  my  power  to  show  vur 
auachment  to  his  Majesty  and  the  country  which  had  been 
so  kind  to  me,  and  that  it  was  my  utmost  ambition  that 
youshoukl  render  yourself  capalile  of  serving  them  both 
well.  He  said  he  would  give  the  affair  his  particular  ccm- 
.sidemtion,  and  see  whether  he  could  put  you  on  the  es- 
tablishment at  Sandhurst  without  any  violent  infringement 
on  the  rules  ;  and  hinted  that  he  would  make  an  exception 
to  the  rtiles  of  seniority  of  standing  and  priority  of  appli- 
cation in  your  favour  when  au  opportimity  occurs. 

"  From  II.  R.  H's  very  kind  expressions,  1  have  little 
doubt  you  will  have  more  than  justice  done  you  in  the 

Eatronagn  necessary  to  facilitate  yopr  course  through 
fe ;  but  it  must  be  by  your  own  exertfons,  my  dearest 
boy,  that  you  must  render  yourself  qualified  to  avail  your- 
self of  tlie  opponunitiea  which  you  may  have  offered  to 
you.  Work  therefore  as  hard  as  you  can,  and  do  not  be 
discontented  for  want  of  assistance  of  masters,  &c.,  be- 
cause the  knowledge  which  we  acquire  by  our  own  un-* 
aided  efforts,  is  much  more  tenaciously  retained  by  the  . 
memory,  while  the  exertion  necessary  to  gain  it  strength- 
ens the  understanding  At  the  same  tijne,  f  would  inquire 
whether  there  may  not  be  some  catholic  priest,  or  prot- 
estant  clergyman,  or  scholar  of  any  description,  who  for 
love  or  money,  would  give  you  a  little  a8.<)l8tance  occa- 
sionally. Such  persons  are  te  be  found  almost  every  where: 
not  professed  teachers,  but  capable  of  smoothing  the  road 
to  a  wllHng  student.  Let  me  earnestly  recommend  in 
your  reading  to  keep  fast  particular  houra,  and  suffer  uo- 
one  thing  to  encroach  on  the  other. 

"  Charles's  last  letter  was  uncommonly  steady,  and  pre 
pared  me  for  one  from  Mr.  Williams,  in  which  hie  express- 
es satisfaction  with  his  attention,  and  with  his  progress 
in  teaming,  in  a  much  stronger  degree  than  formerly. 
This  is  tnUy  comforiable,  and  may  relieve  me  fTom  the 
necessity  ol  sending  the  poor  boy  to  India. 

*'  All  in  Edinburgh  are  quite  well,  and  no  fears  exist, 
saving  those  of  little  Cathrtino*  for  the  baby,  lest  the 
fairies  take  it  away  before  the  christening.  I  Willi  send 
some  books  to  you  from  hence,  if  I  can  find  means  to 
transmit  thenL  I  should  like  you  to  read  with  care  tha 
campaigns  of  Buonaparie,  which  have  been  vnltten  in 
French  with  much  science,  t 

^'  1  hope,  indeed  1  am  sure,  I  need  not  remind  you  to.be 
very  attentive  to  your  duty.  You  have  but  a  small  charge, 
but  it  Ls  a  charge,  and  rashness  or  carelessness  may  lead 
to  discredit  in  the  commandant  of  Cappoquin,  as  weU  as  in 
a  Aeld-marshal.  « In  the  exercise  of  your  duty,  bo  tender 
of  the  lower  classes ;  and  as  you  arc  strong,  be  mercifuL 
In  this  you  will  do  your  master  good  service,  for  show  me 
the  rikanners  of  the  man,  and  1  will  judge  those  of  the 
master. 

"  In  your  present  situation  It  may  be  interesting  to  you 
to  know  that  the  bill  for  Catholip  Emancipation  will  pass 
the  Commons  without  doubt,  and  very  probably  the  Peers 
also^  unless  the  Spiritual  Lords  make  a  great  rally.  No- 
body here  cares  much  about  it,  and  if  it  does  not  pauss  this 
year.  It  will  the  next  Without  doubt. 

"  Amons  other  improvements,  I  wish  you  would  aoiend 
your  bond.  It  is  a  deplorable  scratch,  and  far  the  wor^ 
of  the  family.  Charles  writes  a  firm  good  hand  in  com- 
parison. 

"  You  may  address  your  next  to  Abbotsford,  where  I 
long  to  b<^  being  heftriily  tired  of  fine  company  and  fine 
living,  from  dukes  and  duchessef*,  doMm  to  turbot  and 
plovers'  eggs.  It  is  very  well  for  a  while,  but  to  be  kept 
at  it  makes  one  feel  like  a  poodle-dog  compelled  to  stand 
for  ever  on  his  hind  legs. — Must  affectionately  yours, 

Waltbr  8cott." 

During  this  visit  to  London,  Sir  Walter  appears  to 
have  been  consulted  by  several  persons  in  authority 
as  to  the  project  of  a  Society  of  Literature,  for 
which  the  Kin^s  patronage  had  been  soHcited,  and 
which  was  established  soon  aAerwards— though  on 
a  scale  less  extensive  than  had  been  proposed  at  the 
outset.  He  expressed  bis  views  on  this  subject  in 
writinfT  at  considerable  length  to  his  friend  the  Hon. 
John  Viiliers,  (now  Earl  of  Clarendon  ;)  but  of  that 
letter,  described  to  me  as  a  mo^t  admirable  one,  I 
have  as  yet  failed  to  recover  a  copy.  I  have  little 
doubt,  (hat  both  the  letter  in  question,  and  the  fol- 
lowing, addressed,  spon  after  nis  arrival  at  .Abbots- 
ford,  to  the  then  Secretary  of  State  for  the  Homo 
Department,  were  placed  in  the  banda  of  the  Kingi 

«  Mis,  Lockhart's  inatd. 

^  This  fetter  was  ibUowed  by  a  copy  df  Qeneial  Jomftd'iee«' 
bratedwock. 


M 


UFE  OF  SIR  WALTER  SCOTT. 


bttt  it  seems  pr&bsble,  that  whatever  his  BCajeatir 
may  have  thought  of  Scptt's  representations,  he 
considered  himself  as  already^  in  some  measure, 
pledged  to  countenance  the  projecieii  academy. 

Tb  the  Right  Bon,  the  Lord  Viteount  Sidmouth^  4^;., 
4-c.,  4*c,     Whitehali. 

"  Abbotsford,  April  90, 1821. 
"  My  dear  Lord, 

'•  Owlnglo  ray  retreat  to  this  place,  I  was  only  honour- 
ed  with  your  Lordiihip's  letter  yesterday.  Whatever  use 
can  be  made  of  my  letter  to  stq)  the  very  ill  contrived 
project  to  which  it  relates,  will  answer  the  purpose  for 
which  it  was  written.  I  do  not  well  remember  the  terms 
in  which  my  remonstrance  to  Mr.  Villicrs  wa.s  couched, 
for  it  was  uosjitivoly  written  betwixt  sleeping  and  waking ; 
but  your  Lordship  will  best  judge  how  far  the  contents 
may  be  proper  for  his  Majesty^s  eye ;  and  if  the  sentiments 
appear  a  little  in  dishabille,  there  is  the  true  apology  that 
lhey«were  never  intended  to  go  to  Court  From  more 
than  twenty  years'  intercourse  with  the  literary  world, 
during  which  I  have  been  more  or  less  acf^uainted  with 
every  distlBgui.«hed  writer  of  my  day,  and,  at  the  same 
time,  aa  accurate  student  of  the  habits  and  tastes  of  the 
reading  public,  I  am  enabled  to  say,  with  a  feeling  next  to 
certainty,  that  the  plan  can  only  end  in  something  very 
unpleasant.  At  all  events,  his  Majestv  should  get  out  of 
it ;  it  is  nonsense  to  say  or  supi^ose  that  any  stops  have 
been  taken  which.  In  such  a  matter,  can  or  ought  to  be 
eoQsidered  as  irrevocable.  The  fact  is,  that  nobody 
knows  aa  yet  how  far  the  matter  has  gone  beyond  the 
projel  of  some  well-meaning  but  mlsjudiiu^  persons,  and 
the  whole  thing  is  asleep  and  forgotten  so  lar  as  the  pub- 
lic is  concerned.  The  Spanish  proverb  says, '  Clod  help 
me  from  my  frif  nds.  And  1  will  keep  myself  from  my  ene- 
miea ;'  and  there  is  much  sense  in  it,  for  the  zeal  of  mis- 
judging adherents  oAen  contrives,  as  in  the  present  case, 
to  turn  to  matter  of  reproach  the  noblest  feelings  on  the 
part  of  a  sovereign. 

"  Let  men  of  letters  fight  their  own  way  with  the  public,- 
and  let  his  Ma^jesty,  according  as  his  own  excellent  taste 
and  liberality  dictate,  honour  with  his  patronage,  express- 
ed in  the  manner  fitted  to  their  studies  and  habits,  those 
who  are  able  to  rliHtinguish  themselves,  and  alleviate  by 
bis  bounty  the  distresses  of  such  aa,  with  acknowledged 
merit,  may  yi^t  have  been  unfortunate  in  procuring  inde- 
pendence. The  immediate  and  direct  favour  of  the  So- 
vereign is  worth  the  patronage  of  ten  thousand  societies. 
But  your  Lordship  knows  how  to  set  all  this  in  a  better 
light  than  I  can,  and  I  would  not  wish  the  cause  of  letters 
in  better  hands. 

**  I  am  now  in  a  scene  changed  as  compfietely  as  possible 
from  those  in  which  I  had  the  great  pleasure  of  meeting 
Toor  Lordship  lately,  riding  through  the  moors  on  a  pony, 
Instead  of  traversing  the  streets  fn  a  carriage,  and  drink- 
ing whisky-toddy  with  mine  honest  neighbours,  instead 
ol^CliarapajWie  and  Burgundy.  1  have  gained,  however, 
in  point  of  exact  political  information ;  for  I  find  we  know 
upon  Twcedsjde  with  much  greater  accuracy  what  is  done 
and  Intended  in  the  Cabinet,  than  ever  I  could  learn  when 
living  with  the  Miaislprs  five  days  In  the  week.  Mine  hon- 
est Tevioldaln  friends,  whom  I  left  iu  a  high  Qacenfever, 
are  now  beginnlnj?  to  be  somewhat  ashamed  of  ihem- 
selves,  and  to  nmko  as  great  advances  towards  retracting 
their  opinion  as  they  are  over  known  to  do,  which  atuounts 

to  this :    '  God  judge  me.  Sir  W ,  the   King's  no 

been  so  dooms  far  wrong  after  a'  in  yon  Qnem's  job  like ;' 
which,  being  interpreted,  sIgnlfieR,"*  We  will  fight  for  the 
King  to  the  death.*  I  do  not  know.^how  it  was  In  other 
places ;  but  I  never  saw  ao  sudden  and  violent  a  dchiVion 
posse^is  the  minds  of  men  in  mv  life,  even  those  of  sm- 
sible,  steady,  well-intentioned  fellows,  that  would  fight 
knee-deep  against  the  Radicals.  It  is  well  over,  thank 
God. 

"  My  best  comftlments  attend  the  ladies.  I  ever  am, 
ray  dear  Lord,  your  truly  obliged  an"l  faithful  humble 
servant,  W^ltbb  Scott." 

I  hsve  thoufjht  it  right  to  insert  the  preceding  let- 
ter, because  it  indicates  with  sufficient  distinctness 
what  Scott's  opinions  always  were  as  to  a  subjeoi 
on  which,  from  his  exi>erience  and  positioii.  he  must 
have  reflected  very  seriously.  In  how  far  the  resnlis 
of  the  establishment  of  the  Royal  Society  of  Lite- 
rature have  tended  to  confirm  or  to  weaken  the 
weight  of  his  authority  on  these  matters,  I  do  not 
presume  to  have  formed  any  judgment.  He  receiv- 
ed, about  the  same  lime,  a  volume  of  poetry,  by  Al- 
lan Cunningham,  which  included  the  drama  of  Sir 
Harmaduke  Maxwell )  and  I  am  happy  to  quota  his 
latter  of  acknowledgmeat  to  that  high-spinted  and 


independeot  author  in  the  samapue  with  tbe  in- 
going monition  to  the  dispensers  oi  patronage. 

7\i  Mr.  Allan  Ottnninghan^  EecUtene  Struts  PimHuk 

«*AI»botsford,  ami  April 
"DearAHao, 

**  Accept  my  kind  thanks  for  your  nttle  loodsafo* 
lume,  received  two  days  since.  I  was  acquainted  viik 
most  of  the  pieces,  and  yot  I  perused  them  aUwillir^ 
newed  pleasure,  and  especially  my  old  friend  Sir  Mara» 
duke  with  his  new  face,  and  by  assistance  of  an. \pnl  iua, 
which  is  at  length,  after  many  a  roojth  blast,  befinoinsto 
smile  on  us.  The  drama  has,  in  my  conception,  Oiort 
poetical  conception  and  poetical  expresaioa  in  it  ttsn 
most  of  our  modern  comiioaitions.  Perhaps,  iodoed,  I 
occasionally  sins  even  in  the  richness  of  ooeUcalexjm 
sion  ;  for  the  lan^ruage  of  passion,  though  bold  and  flfon- 
live,  is  brief  and  concise  at  the  same  time.  Bat  wbit 
would,  in  acting,  be  a  mote  serious  objecUon,  is  the  coo- 
plicated  nature  of  the  plot,  which  is  very  obscnre.  I  hope 
you  will  make  another  dramatic  aflempt ;  and,  iu  iltS 
case,  I  would  strongly  recommend  tluit  you  should  pre- 
viously n»ake  a  model  or  skeleton  of  yoiu*  incidents,* 
vidini;  them  regularly  into  scenes  and  acts,  to  as  toiowre 
the  dependence  of  one  circumstance  upon  anotlicr,  ud 
the  simplicity  and<«mion  of  your  whole  story.  The  cow- 
men class  of  readers,  and  more  especially  of  spectiton. 
are  thick-sculled  enough,  and  can  hardily  cenprehcDd 
what  they  see  and  hear,  unless  they  are  hemmed  ta,ai 
guided  to  the  sense  at  every  turn. 

**  The  unities  of  thne  And  place  liave  alwayt  appeani 
to  me  fopperiea,  as  far  as  they  require  close  obscmnct 
of  the  Prcfnch  rules.  Still,  the  nearer  you  can  conw  to 
them,  it  is  always,  no  doubt,  the  better,  beca«ne  yoorr- 
tion  will  be  more  probable.  Bat  the  unity  of  aetkto-l 
mean  that  coutlvuity  which  unitea  every  scene  with  tbi 
other,  and  makes  the  catastrophe  the  natuiml  andpieb- 
able  result  of  aM  that  has  gone  before— scemi  to  net 
critical  rule  which  cannot  safely  bedlspcnaedwilh.  WWh 
out  such  a  regular  deduction  of  incident,  men's  atteaboo 
becomes  distracted,  and  the  most  beautiful  langut(e,irit 
all  listened  to,  creates  no  imereat,  and  it  out  of  pisee.  1 
would  give,  as  an  example,  the  suddenly  eotertaiiMd,  nd 
as  suddenly  abandoned,  jealousy  of  mr  Marroadike,  jv 
85,  as  a  useless  excrescence  In  the  actkm  of  the  dram- 

"  I  am  very  much  unaccustomed  to  offer  criticUB.  nd 
when  I  do  90,  it  it  bec4tuee  I  beHcve  tn  my  aoaltbstlai 
endeavouring  to  pluck  away  the  weed*  which  hide  !«•• 
era  well  worthy  of  cultivation.  I» yoar  case,  the  rkboia 
of  your  language,  and  fertility  or  your  imaginatios,  ut 
the  snares  against  which  I  would  warn  you.  If  the  oae 
had  been  poor,  and  the  other  costive,  1  would  ntrtt 
have  made  remarks  which  could  never  dogood,whle 
they  only  gave  pain.  Did  you  ever  readBavage's  betali- 
ful  poem  of  the  Wanderer  1  If  not,  do  ao,  and  yoo  we4 
see  the  fault  which,  1  think,  attaches  to  Lord  Maxvrel-* 
want  of  distinct  preciKlon  and  inteUigiliility  about  llie  Mo- 
ry,  which  counteracts,  esneciallv  with  ordinary  rcade»i| 
the  effect  of  beautiful  and  forcible  diction,  poetical  la* 
gery,  and  animated  description. 

"All  this  freedom  you  will  excuse,  I  know,  on  thep*l 
of  one  who  has  the  truest  respoct  for  the  n»nly  indepea- 
dence  of  chamcler  which  rests  for  its  mipport  on  boiw* 
induxtrr,  instead  of  hidulging  the  fooHsh  faatidioiuacas 
formerly  suppo^'cd  to  be  essential  to  the  poetical  feaipS" 
rainent,  and  which  has  induced  some  men  of  real  talnu 
to  become  coxcombs — some  to  become  ■ots-  loiae  W 
plunge  themselves  into  wsnt — othera  into  the  equal  oii«- 
rics  of  dependence,  merely  because,  forvooth,  they  *«« 
men  of  genius,  and  wise  ab<»vo  the  ordlaary,  and,  I  »T. 
the  manly  duties  of  human  life. 

*  I'd  rather  be  a  kitten,  and  cry.  Mew !' 
than  write  the  best  poetry  In  the  world  on  condidoa  of 
laying  aside  ooiumon  sense  In  the  ordinary  transactkM 
and  bu!=ineBs  of  liio  world;  and  therefore,  dear  .\lltt 
I  wish  much  the  better  to  the  muse  whom  yon  meet  bj 
the  fireside  In  your  hours  of  leisure  when  you  ha»e  f>^ 
ed  vour  part  manfully  through  a  day  of  lat>our.  I  sbtcM 
like  to  see  her  making  those  hours  also  a  liule  profitaitla 
Perhaps  something  of  the  dramatic  romance,  ifyou  coun 
hit  on  a  goo<l  subject,  and  combine  the  scenea  weO,iai|U 
answer.  A  beautiful  thing,  with  appropriate  ow^ 
scenes,  ice.  might  be  woven  out  of  the  Mernoaid  of  w- 
loway. 

*'  \vTien  there  is  any  chance  of  Mr.  Chantrey  ceawl 
this  way,  I  hope  you  will  let  me  know :  and  If  you  eoas 
with  him,  so  much  the  belter.  I  like  mm  aa  much  fat  tiH 
manners  as  for  Ids  geaiua. 

*  He  is  a  man  wHhout  a  clagf ; 
His  heart  is  frank  vrithout  a  flaw.' 

**  This  la  a  horrible  loi 

Digitizec 


isij'^seF^gife' 


unBt>F  am  vwaltbr  soott. 


MtfMtitaL    OAevBMi^  my  bMtthnkslbrllM  Utile  vol. 
iB(y  mi  beUev6  mt  joon  truly, 

Wala 


•  Dear  Walter, 


I  DOW  retvm  to  Sir  Walter's  correfpondence  with 
IM  Comet^t  Cappoqain. 

To  Walter  Scott^  Etq.^  18tA  Hu—art. 

"^  Abbotsford,  April  21,  1921, 
-My  dear  Waller, 

^ ....  A  democrat  in  any  aitualioi^s  but  a  silly 
ioti  of  fellow,  but  a  democratical  soldier  is  worse  than  an 
ordinary  traitor  by  ten  thoosand  dogrees,  aa  he  forgets 
hii  military  honour,  and  is  taithless  to  the  master  whose 
bread  be  9als.  Ttiree  distinguished  heroes  of  this  class 
hare  arisen  In  ray  time.  Lord  Edw«td  Fitzxerald,  Colonel 
Despard,andOiptainThistlewood,  and,  with  the  contempt 
and  abhorrence  of  all  men,  they  died  the  death  of  inCamy 
aad  xailt.  It  a  man  of  honour  is  unhappy  enough  to  en- 
tertain opinions  inconsistent  with  the  senrice  in  which  he 
fiods  himself,  it  Is  his  duty  at  once  to  resign  his  commla- 
iioo;  in  acting  otherwise  be  disgraces  himself  for  ever. 

The  reports  are  very  strange,  also, 

will)  respect  to  the  private  conduct  of  certain  officers. 
•  .  .  .  Gentlemen  maintain  their  characters  even  in 
following  their  most  licentious  pleasures,  otherwise  they 
resemble  the  very  scavengera  in  the  streets.  .... 
I  bad  written  you  a  long  letter  on  other  subjects,  but  these 
circumstances  have  altered  my  plans,  as  well  as  given  roe 
fTMt  uneaainesa  on  account  of  the  effects  which  the  so* 
d^j  you  hare  been  keeping  may  have  had  on  your  prin- 
ciples, both  political  anci  moral  Be  very  frank  with  me 
BO  this  subject.  I  have  a  title  to  expect  perfect  sincerity, 
having  always  treated  you  with  openness  on  my  part 

''nay  write  immediately,  and  at  length.— I  remain 
your  amtiooate  &lker, 

Wains  SooTT." 

TV  the  Sume. 

"  Abbotsford,  Aprfl  28, 18i^. 

The  great  point  In  the  meanwhile  is  to 
icqaire  such  prellmlnanr  information  as  may  render  you 
qoalified  to  profit  by  Sandhurst  when  you  get  thither. 
Aaongst  my  acquaintance,  the  men  of  greatest  informa- 
foti  have  been  those  who  seemed  but  indifferently  situat- 
ed for  the  acquisition  of  it,  but  who  exerted  themselves 
in  proportion  to  the  infrequency  of  their  onportunitlea. 

"  The  noble  Captain  Ferguson  was  married  on  Monday 
M.  I  was  present  at  the  bridal,  and  I  assure  you  the 
like  hath  not  been  seen  since  the  days  of  Lesinahago. 
like  his  prototype,  the  Captain  advanced  in  a  jaunty  mili- 
tarf  step,  with  a  kind  of  leer  on  his  iace  that  seemed  to 
qoizlhc  whole  affair.  You  should  write  to  your  brother 
•portaman  and  Roldior,  and  wish  the  veteran  joy  of  his 
entrance  into  the  band  of  Beoedicts.  Odd  enough  that  1 
•hould  christen  a  grandchild  and  attend  ihe  wedding  of  a 
conieiuporary  within  two  days  of  each  other.  I  have  sent 
Jshn  of  Skyc,  with  Toin,  and  all  the  rabblement  which 
they  can  collect,  to  play  the  pines,  shout,  and  fire  guns 
below  the  Captain's  windows  this  morning  :  and  lam  just 
poing  over  to  hover  about  on  my  pony,  and  witness  their 
reception.  The  happy  piUr  retumeif  to  IIuntlyBamon 
Saiorday ;  but  yesterday  being  Sunday,  we  permitted 
them  to  enjoy  their  pillows  in  quiet.  This  morning  th**y 
must  not  expect  to  get  off  so  well.  Pray  write  soon,  and 
five  me  the  history  of  your  slillhuntin^s,  4^.— Ever 
yours  affectionately, 

W.  Scott." 

TV  CkarU»  Scvltf  B*q.^  care  of  the  Rev,  Mr.  WiUiama^ 
Lampeter. 

*'  Abbotsford,  9th  May,  1821. 
"  My  dear  Charles, 

"I  ara  glad  to  find,  by  your  letter,  just  received,  that 
yoa  are  reading  Tacitus  with  some  relish.  His  stylo  Is 
rather  quaint  and  enigmatical,  which  makes  it  difficult  to 
the  student  X  but  then  his  pages  are  filled  with  such  ad- 
mirablo  apothegms  and  maxims  of  political  wisdom,  as 
infer  the  deepest  knowledge  of  human  nature;  audit  ia 
particularly  necessary  that  any  one  who  may  have  views 
is  a  public  speaker  should  be  master  of  hts  works,  as 
there  is  neither  ancient  or  modem  >lvho  affords  such  a 
selection  of  admirable  quotations.  You  should  exercise 
yourself  frequently  In  trying  to  make  translations  of  the 
passages  which  most  strike  yon,  trying  to  invest  the 
sense  of  Tacitus  in  as  good  English  as  you  can.  This 
will  answer  the  double  purpose  of  making  yourself  faml- 
Ihr  vrith  the  Latin  author,  and  giving  you  the  command 
of  your  own  langtiage,  which  no  person  will  ever  have 
vho  does  not  study  English  composition  In  eariy  life.  .  .  . 
•  •  .  I  conclude  aomewhat  abruptly,  having  trees  to  cut, 
and  saucy  Tom  watchk^  me  lik^  Calmuck  with  the  axe 
ia  kia  band.— Yowra  affectionately,  W.  Scotr." 


*•  Abbotsford,  lOtb  lUy,  1821. 
"Dear  Walter, 

*  1  wrote  yesterday,  buVl  am  indneed  inomediately  to 
answer  your  letter,  because  I  think  you  expect  from  it  an 
elftct  upon  my  mind  rather  different  from  what  it  pro- 
duces. A  man  may  be  violent  and  outrageous  in  his  li- 
quor, but  wine  seldiom  makes  a  gentleman  a  blacicguard, 
or  instigates  a  loyal  man  to  niter  sedition.  Wine  unveila 
the  passions  and  throws  away  restraint,  but  it  does  not 
create  habits  or  opinions  which  did  not  previously  exist 
in  the  mind.  Bcsidea,  what  sort  of  defence  is  this  of  in- 
temperance 1  I  suppose  if  a  private  commits  riot,  or  ia 
disobedient  in  his  cups,  his  officers  do  not  admit  whisky 
to  be  an  cxciise.  I  have  seen  enough  of  that  sort  of  so- 
ciety where  habitual  Indulgence  drowned  at  la.st  every 
diatmction  between  what  is  worthy  and  unworthy,  and  1 
have  seen  young  men  with  the  fairest  prospects  turn  out 
degraded  miserable  outcasts  before  their  life  was  hall 
spent,  merely  from  soaking  and  sotting,  and  the  bad  hab- 
its these  naturally  lead  to.  You  tell  nio  '  *  '  and  *  *  * 
frequent  good  society,  and  are  well  received  in  It,  and  I 
am  very  glad  to  hear  this  is  the  case.  But  such  stories  aa 
these  wiU  soon  occasion  their  seclusion  from  the  beet 
company.  There  nay  remain,  indeed,  a  large  enough 
circle,  where  ladies,  who  are  either  desirous  to  fill  their 
rooms  or  to  marry  their  daughters,  will  continue  to  re- 
ceive any  young  man  in  a  showy  uniform,  however  irreg- 
ular hi  private  life ;  but  if  these  cannot  be  called  bad 
company,  they  are  certainly  any  tifing  but  very  rood,  and 
the  iaciUty  of  access  makca  tfte  entrle  of  mtle  conse- 
quence. 

*'I  mentioned  in  my  last  that  you  were  to  continue  in 
the  18th  xmtil  the  regiment  went  to  India,  and  that  I  trust- 
ed you  vronid  get  the  step  within  the  twelve  months  that 
the  corps  yet  remains  in  Europe,  which  wiU  make  your 
exchange  easier.  But  it  Is  of  far  more  importance  that 
you  learn  to  command  yourself  than  that  you  should  be 
raised  higher  in  commanding  others.  It  gives  me  pain 
to  write  to  Tou  in  terms  of  censure,  but  my  duty  mijst  be 
done,  else  I  cannot  expect  you  to  do  youre.  All  here  are 
well,  and  send  love.— I  am  your  affectionate  father, 

Waltrh  Scott." 

To  the  Same, 

"  Edinburgh,  15th  May,  1821. 
"  Dear  Walter, 

"I  have  your  letter  of  May  6th,  to  which  it  Is  nnne- 
cessary  to  reply  very  particularly.  I  would  only  insinuate 
to  you  that  the  lateyere  and  goaaipe  of  Edinburgh,  whom 
your  military  politeness  hand.somely  classes  together  fn 
writing  to  a  lawyer,  know  and  care  as  little  about  the  18tb 
as  they  do  about  tho  19th,  20th,  or  21  si,  or  any  other  regi- 
mental number  which  does  not  happen  for  the  time  to  be 
at  PiershilL,  or  in  the  Castle.  Do  not  fall  into  the  error 
and  pedantry  of  young  military  men,  who,  living  much 
tojjetner,  arc  apt  to  think  themselves  and  their  actions  the 
subject  of  much  talk  and  rumour  among  the  public  at 
large.— I  will  transcribe  Fielding's  accoimt  of  such  a  per- 
son, whom  he  met  with  on  his  voyage  to  Lisbon,  which 
will  give  two  or  three  hours'  excellent  amusement  when 
you  choose  to  peruse  it : — 

*  In  his  conversation  it  is  true  there  was  something  ml. 
litary  enough,  as  it  consisted  chiefly  of  onths,  and  of  the 
grsat  actions  and  wise  sayings  of  Jack,  Will,  and  Tom  of 
owrs,  a  phrase  etemnlly  in  his  mouth,  and  he  »<:  emed  to 
conclude  that  It  conveyed  to  all  the  oflicerB  such  a  degreo 
of  public  notoriety  and  importance  that  it  entitled  him,  like 
the  head  of  a  profession,  or  a  first  minister,  to  be  the  sub- 
ject of  conversation  amongst  those  who  had  not  the  least 
personal  acquaintance  with  him.' 

Avoid  this  silly  narrowness  of  mind,  my  dear  boy,  which 
only  makes  men  be  looked  on  in  the  world  with  ridicule 
and  contempt.  Lawyer  and  gosnip  as  1  roay  be,  I  suppose 
you  will  allow  1  have  seen  something  of  life  in  most  of  its 
varieties;  as  much  at  least  as  if  I  had  been,  like  you, 
eighteen  months  in  a  cavalry  regiment,  or,  like  Beau 
Jackson,  in  Roderick  Random,  had  cruized  for  halfayear 
in  the  chops  of  the  Channel.  Now,  I  have  never  remark- 
ed any  one,  be  he  soldier,  or  divine,  or  lawyer,  that  waa 
exclusively  attached  to  the  narrow  habits  of  his  own  pro- 
fession, but  what  such  person  became  a  great  twaddle  in 
good  .society,  besides  what  is  of  much  more  Importance, 
ecoming  narrow-minded  and  ignorant  of  all  general  in- 
formation. 

"That  this  letter  may  not  be  unacceptable  in  all  iu 
parts,  I  enclose  your  ^lowance  without  stopping  any 
thipg  for  the  hackney.  Take  notice,  however,  my  dear 
Walter,  that  this  ia  to  last  you  till  midsummer.  We 
came  from  Abbotsford  yesterday,  and  left  aO  well,  except- 
ing that  Mr.  Laidlaw  lost  his  youngest  child,  an  infant, 
rery  unexpectedly.  We  found  Sophia,  L  "^  ^  ' 
Digitized  by  ^ 


:nua,  an  miani. 


.   * 


1M8 


thoir  eMM,  hi  thod  heikH,  tnd  iB  iend  Icnre.-^  remain 
jouraffecUonate  father, 

Waltbr  Scott." 

7\>  fFbfter  iSbori,  J2«7.,  18rA  Huuart. 

*'  Edinburgh,  26th  May,  1821 
"My  dear  Walter, 

"  I  see  you  are  of  the  mind  of  the  irritable  prophet 
Jonah,  who  persisted  in  maintaining  *  he  did  wcU  to  bo 
an;;ry,'  even  whon  disputinf  with  Omnipotence.  lam 
aware  that  Sir  David  is  considered  as  a  severe  and  ill- 
tempered  man ;  and  I  remember  a  story  tliat,  when  re- 
port came  to  Europe  that  Tippoo's  prisoners  (of  whom 
Baird  wan  one)  wero  cliaincd  lonether  two  and  two,  his 
mother  said, '  Ood  pity  tl»e  poor  lad  that's  cliained  to  our 
Davie..^    But  though  it  may  be  very  true  that  he  may 


UFK  OP  SIR  WAI/HER  8G0TT. 

tre  u  great  corioiifieB  ia  their  mgr. 


Tbe,eld«4(  te  a 


complete  old  maid,  with  all  tho  frsTity  and  A^iMsof  lt»« 
character,  bm  not  a  grain  of  its  bad  hiunoar  «r  cpleon  ; 
on  the  contrary,  she  is  one  of  ttie  Kindest  and  aaost  (po- 
therly  creatiirea  in  the  world.  The  aeeood,  liary ,  was 
in  her  day  a  very  pretty  girl ;  but  her  oeraoa  became  «le- 
formed,  and  she  has  the  sharpness  of  features  with  wbicb 
that  circumstance  i? sometime? attended.  She  rii»e«  ^ery 
early'in  tha  mominf ,  and  roams  over  all  my  wild  land  in 
the  nei^hb<^rhood,  wearing  the  most  complicated 'pil«  of 
handkercihIcTs  of  different  colotirsoa  her  head,  and  a 
«ick  double  her  own  height  in  her  hnnd,  attended  by  Xy*^ 
dojrs,  whose  powers  of  yelping  arc  truly  terrific.  Witb 
such  garb  and  accompaniment'^  <(he  lias  very  nearly  estaA>- 
lished  the  character  in  the  neighbourhood  oi  being  «wce- 
Ihing  no  eowny— and  the  urchins  of  Melrose  and  Dtemtck 


have  acted  towards  vou  with  caprice  and  severity,  yet  you  |  ^^  frightened  from   gathering   hazle-nurs  and  carting 
are  always  to  re-iieraber,  Ist,  That  in  becoming  a  soldi**  ;  ^?."5'«  fP.J"/ <^*^."?!''  ^7  ^^^  [^^  of  meeting  Ute  daft  tody. 


With  all  this  quizzicality,  I  do  not  believe  there  ever  rx- 

I  isted  a  family  with  so  mtich  mutual  affection  and  such  an 

(eropiating  the  pro.4pect  of  commanding  other's  in  yoiVr  I  overflow  of  benevolence  to  all  aroond  them,  from  fT»Mi 


you  have  8ubii»cte«l  yourself  to  the  cjiprice  and  severity 
of  superior  oiUcers,  and  have  no  comfort  except  In  con 


turn.  In  the  meanwhile,  you  have  in  most  cases  no  re- 
medy so  useful  as  patience  and  subnussion.  But,  2dly, 
J^a  you  seem  disponed  to  admit  that  you  yourselves  have 
been  partly  to  blame,  I  submit  to  you,  that  in  turning  the 
mapiifying  end  of  the  telescope  on  Sir  D's.  faults,  and 
the  diminishing  one  on  your  own,  you  take  the  least  useful 
mode  of  considering  the  matter.  By  stmlying  hu  errors, 
you  can  acquire  no  knowledge  that  will  be  useful  to  you 
till  you  become  Commander-in-Chief  in  Ireland,  whereas, 
by  reflecting  on  your  own.  Comet  Scott  and  his  compa* 
nions  miy  reap  some  immediate  moral  advantage.  Your 
fine  of  a  dozen  of  claret,  upon  any  one  who  shall  intro- 
duce females  into  your  mess  in  future,  reminds  me  of  the 
rule  of  a  country  club,  that  whoever  '  behaved  ungen- 
teeV  should  be  fined  in  a  pot  of  porter.  Seriously,!  think 
there  was  bad  taste  in  the  style  of  the  forfeiture. 

"  1  am  well  pleased  with  your  map,  which  is  very  busl- 
nesslike.  There  was  a  great  battle  fou«;ht  between  the 
English  and  native  Irish  near  the  Blackwater,  in  which 
the  former  wore  defeated,  and  Bagenol  the  Kniglit-Mar- 
ahal  killed.  Is  there  any  remembrance  of  this  upon  the 
■pott  There  Is  a  clergyman  in  Lismore,  Mr.  John  Gra- 
hiiun* — originally,  that  is  by  descent,  a  borderer.  Ho  late- 
ly sent  me  a  manuscript  which  I  intend  to  publish,  and  I 
wrote  to  him  enclosing  a  cheque  on  Coutts.  1  wish  you 
could  ascertain  if  he  received  my  letter  safe.  You  can 
call  on  him  with  my  compliments.  You  need  only  say  I 
wma  desirous  to  know  if  he  had  received  a  letter  from  roc 
lately.  The  manuscript  was  written  by  a  certain  Mr. 
Owynne,  a  Welsh  loyalist  in  the  great  Civil  War,  and 
afterwards  an  officer  in  Jho  guards  of  Charles  II.  This 
will  be  an  object  for  a  ride  to  you. 

**I  presided  last  night  at  the  dinner  jof  tho  Celtic  Soci- 
ety. *  all  plaidod  and  plumed  in  their  tartan  array,'  and 
such  jumping,  skipping,  and  screaming,  you  never  saw. 
Chief  Baron  Shepherd  dined  with  ua,  and  waa  very  much 
pleased  with  the  extreme  enthusiasm  of  the  Gael  when 


, , _. ...  „..^..  ,  -    =,     . -  free  will  and  by  spontaneous 

liberated  from  the  thraldom  of  breeches.     You  were  f  exertion,  is  like  food  eaten  with  appetite— it  digests  wrU, 


voted  a  member  by  acclamation,  which  will  cost  me  a 
tartan  dress  for  your  long  limba  when  you  coma  here. 
If  the  King  ukes  Scotland  In  coming  or  going  to  Ireland, 
(as  has  been  talked  of,)  t  expect  to  get  you  leave  to  come 
orer.— -I  remain  your  affectionate  father, 

w  ALTHK  Scott. 
"  P.  S.—I  beg  you  will  not  lake  it  Into  your  wise  noddle 
that  I  will  act  either  hastily  or  unadvisedly  in  your  mat* 
ters.  1  have  been  more  successful  in  life  than  most  peo- 
ple, and  know  well  how  much  success  depends, first  upon 
desert,  and  then  on  knowledge  of  the  carte  depays.'* 

The  following  letter  begins  with  an  alhision  to  a 
▼ifit  which  Captain  Penmson,  his  bride,  and  his 
youngest  sister,  Miss  Mnrgarot  Ferguson,  had  be6n 
paying  at  Ditton  Park  :— 

To  the  Lord  ^fontogu^  /^x.  ^e. 

^,,    ^       ,     ^  "Edhiburgh,2l8tMay,f8ai. 

*»  My  d^ar  Lord, 

"  I  was  much  diverted  with  the  acconnt  of  Adam  and 
Eve's  visit  to  Ditton,  which,  with  its  surrounding  moat, 
might  make  no  bad  emblem  of  E<len,  but  for  the  absence 
of  snakes  ami  fiends.  He  is  a  very  smgular  fellow ;  for, 
with  all  his  humoiir  and  knowledge  of  the  World,  he  by 
nature  is  a  remarkably  shy  and  modest  man,  and  more 
afraid  of  the  possibility  of  intrusion  than  would  occur 
to  any  onp  who  only  seo s  him  in  the  full  stream  of  soci- 
ety.  His  sister  Margaret  is  extremely  Uke  him  In  the 
turn  ofthonght  andof  humour,  and  he  has  two  others  who 
•  Tliij  Mr.  Gfahain  is  knowji  as  the*  author  of  a  "  Hittory  of 
tlifSji^pf  of  LorKlomlerry,"  "  Annab  of  Ireland."  and  variouii  po- 
Hfj<Ml  trac^.  Sir  Waltw  Scott  published  Qwynno'i  memoni. 
wtth  a  prelace,  *c,  in  1821. 


and  wom^'U  down  to  hedge-sparrows  and  lame  aH«-cotr^ 
morte  than  one  of  which  they  have  taken  under  tfcteir 
direct  and  special  protection. 

"  I  am  sorry  there  should  be  occasion  for  caution  in  ihe 
case  of  little  Duke  Walter,  but  it  is  moM  lucky  that  ftte 
necessity  Is  eat^y  and  cloaely  attended  to.  Ilow  nmaj 
actnal  valetudinarians  have  outlived  ad  their  robust  eoo- 
temporaries,  and  attained  the  utmost  verpe  of  hnman 
life,  without  ever  having  enjoved  what  is  usuall^r  called 
high  health.  This  Is  taJdng  the  very  worst  view  of  the 
case,  and  supposing  the  constitution  habltnally  tleHcate*. 
But  how  often  has  the  stronitest  and'bc  A  confirmed  beakh 
succeeded  to  a  delicate  childhood— and  such,  I  trust,  s»fQ 
be  the  Duke's  case.  I  cannot  help  thinkin^r  that  this  teii>- 
norary  recess  from  Eton  may  be  made  sabservient  t» 
Walter's  improvement  in  general  literature,  and  pairticti- 
larly  In  historical  knowle<^.  The  habit  of  reading  u««. 
ful,  and,  at  the  aame  time,  entertaining  books  of  history 
Is  often  acquired  during  the  retirement  which  delicate 
health  in  convalescence  Imposes  on  us.  1  remember  We 
touched  on  this  point  at  Ditton;  and  I  think  again. that 
though  classical  learning  be  the  Shibboleth  by  which  we 
jndge,  generally  speaking,  of  the  proficiency  of  the  youth- 
ful scholar,  yet,  when  this  has  been  too  exclusively  and 
Ftedantically  impressed  on  his  mind  as  the  one  thing  need- 
ul,  he  very  often  finds  he  has  entirely  a  new  course  of 
study  to  commence  just  at  the  time  when  life  is  •p«mM 
all  its  busy  or  gay  scenes  before  him,  and  when  study  oT 
anv  kind  becomes  irksome. 

^For  this  species  of  Instruction  I  do  not  so  inacb  ap- 
prove of  tasks  and  set  hours  foi  serious  reading,  as  of  the 
plan  of  endeavouring  to  give  a  taste  for  history  to  the 
youths  themselves  and  sufloring  them  to  gratify  it  in  their 
own  way,  and  at  their  own  time.  For  this  reason  I  would 
noi  be  very  scrtipulous  what  Itooks  they  began  with,  or 
whether  th'>y  Ifegan  at  the  middle  or  end.  The  know- 
ledge which  we  acquire  of  free  will  and  by 


and  benefits  (he  system  ten  times  more  than  the  doublo 
cramming  of  an  alderman.  If  a  boy's  attf^ntion  can  be 
drawn  in  conversation  to  any  Interesting  point  o(  hiaiory, 
and  the  book  Is  |)olnted  out  to  him  where  he  will  find  the 
particulars  conveyed  in  a  lively  manner,  he  reads  the  pas- 
sage with  so  much  pleasure  lliat  he  very  naturally  recurs 
to  the  book  at  the  first  unoccupied  moment  to  try  If  he 
cannot  pfck  more  amusement  out  of  it ;  and  when  once  a 
lad  gets  the  spirit  of  iu formation,  he  goes  on  Idmself  witb 
httle  trouble  but  that  of  selecting  for  him  the  best  and 
boost  agreeable  books.  I  think  Walter  has  natursVy 
some  turn  for  history  and  historical  anecdote,  and  would 
be  disposed  to  read  as  much  as  could  be  wished  In  that 
most  useful  line  of  knowledge :— for  in  the  eminent  situa- 
tion he  is  destined  to  by  his  birtlk,  acquainuace  with  the 
history  and  institutions  of  his  country,  and  her  relatlva 
position  with  respect  to  others,  is  a  Wne  q^ta  non  tu  bLs 
discharging  its  duties  with  propriety.  AU  Ibis  is  extreme* 
ly  Uke  prosing,  so  I  will  harp  on  tliat  string  no  longer. 

'^Kind  compliments  to  aU  at  Ditton;  you  say  nothinf 
of  your  own  rheumatism.    I  am  hero  for  the  sesaioo,  un- 
less the  wind  should  blow  me  south  to  see  the  coronatloi^ 
and  I  think  HX)  miles  rather  a  long  journey  to  see  a  show 
I  am  always,  my  dear  Lord, 

Youis,  very  aflTcctionately, 

WALTKa  Scott.** 


CHAPTER  LII. 

ILIjafi88  AND  DEATH  OF  JOHS  BAUJ^NTYWE—EXTmACT 
FROM  HIB  POCKET- BOOi^—LKTTEBB^ROM  BLAIK-AO* 
AM — CAVrU^-CAMPBBLL— SIR  SAMtlEL  8HEPHSB0 — 
**BA1UK  MACKAT,"  ^kc.— CORONATION  OF  «fiOB«B 
IV.— C0BBC8P0NDENCK  WITH  JAMBR  BOGO  AlfD  LOBD 


UFE  OF  1^  WALTER  3C0TT. 


nDaCOVTH— LBTTKK    ON    TH»    C^BONATION—AKBO- 
DOTXS — ^ALLASr  CUNNIKOHAM's  MEMORANDA— COK- 

rurrion  or  chantbey's  bust.— Id21. 

Oar  tbe  tth  of  June,  Scott  beioK  thea  on  one  of  his 
•Hort  Settional  visits  to  Abbotsford,  received  the 
punAil  intelhgenoe  that  his  friend  John  Ballantyne's 
mriadies  had  begun  to  assume  an  aspect  of  serious 
and  even  immediate  danger.  The  eld^  brother 
made  the  communication  m  these  terms:— 

To  Walter  Seott,  Bart,  qf  Abbots/ord,  Melroae. 

*'  Kdinborfh,  Bui^jr,  3d  Juno,  lau. 
'-  Dear  Sir, 

"  I  have  this  morning  had  a  most  heart-breakiof  letter 
froon  poor  John,  from  iirhfoh  the  foilnwtng  la  an  extract 
ToawUI  judge  bow  it  has  affected  me,  who,  wHh all  his 
pecaliarities  of  temper,  love  htm  "Vfit^  much.    He  says— 

*  A  i^Ubig  of  blood  hat  commenced,  and  jou  may  guess 
the  flttuation  into  which  1  am  plunged.  We  are  aU  aceus- 
ansed  to  consider  death  as  certainly  inevitahle ;  but  his 
olmous  approach  is  assuredly  the  most  detestable  and  ab- 
karrent  feeling  to  which  human  nature  can  be  subject* 

^  This  la  truly  doleful.  There  is  something  hi  it  more 
abaointcly  bitter  to  my  heart  than  what  I  have  otherwise 
foflered.  1  look  back  to  my  mother's  peaceful  rest,  and 
b>  ray  iolant'aiilessedness— if  life  be  not  the  extinguisba- 
bie  worthless  spark  which  I  eannot  tlUnk  it— but  here,  cut 
off  m  the  very  middle  of  life,  with  good  means  and  strong 
powen  of  ei^oying  it  and  nothing  but  reluctance  and  re- 
pyiingat  the  close— I  say  the  truth  when  I  say  that  I  would 
yajfmkj  part  with  my  right  arm,  to  avert  the  approaching 
rntfuk.  Pardon  tliis,  dear  sir ;  my  heart  and  soul  are  heavy 
within  me.    With  the  deepest  respea  and  gratitude. 

At  the  date  of  this  letter,  the  invalid  was  in  Rox- 
bargbahiro;  buf  he  came  to  Edinburgh  a  day  or  two 
aAorwards,  and  died  there  on  the  l6Ui  of  the  same 
oMMith.  I  accompanied  Sir  Walter  when  one  of  their 
la«t  interviews  took  plaoe,  and  John's  death-bed 
was  a  thins  not  to  be  forgotten.  We  sat  by  him  for 
perhaps  an  houl-,  and  I  thmk  half  that  soace  was  oc- 
cupied with  hispredictionsof  a  speedy  end,  and  details 
of  his  last  will,  which  be  had  just  been  executing, 
and  which  lay  on  his  coverlid;  the  other  half  beiitg 
sifen,  &'W9  minutes  or  so  at  a  time,  to  qaesdoos  and 
rsmarkfli,  which  intimated  that  the  hope  of  Ufe  was 
stiil  flickering  before  him— nay,  that  his  interest  in 
alt  its  concerns  remained  eager.  The  proof-sheets 
of  a  volume  of  his  Novelist's  Library  lay  siso  by  hit 
pillow ;  and  he  passed  from  them  to  hia  will,  and  then 
back  to  them,  as  by  jerks  and  starts  the  unwonted 
vefl  of  gloom  closod  upon  his  imagination,  or  was 
withdirawn  again.  He  had,  as  he  said,  left  his  ^i^^at 
friend  and  patron  jC2000  towards  the  compktion  of 
the  new  Library  at  Abbotsford— and  the  spirit  of  the 
ioctioneer  virtuoso  flashed  up  as  he  began  to  describe 
what  wopld,  he  thought,  be  the  best  style  and  ar- 
nogement  of  the  book- shelves.  He  was  interrupted 
by  an  agony  of  asthma,  which  left  him  with  hardly 
any  n^s  of  life ;  and  ultimately,  he  did  expire  in  a 
fit  f^  the  same  kino.  Scott  was  visibly  and  pro- 
ioDodly  ahaken  by  this  scene  and  its  sequel  As  we 
stood  toother  a  few  days  afterwards,  whOe  they  were 
smoothing  the  turf  over  John's  remains  in  theCan- 
oo^te  Cnurchyard,  the  heavens,  which  had  beon 
dark  and  slaty,  cleared  up  suddenly,  and  the  mid- 
summer sun  shone  forth  in  his  strength.  Scott,  ever 
awake  to  the  "  skiey  influences, "  cast  his  eye  .along 
toe  overhanging  line  of  the  Calton  Hill^  with  its 
gkaming  walls  and  towers,  aodtheil  turning  to  the 
^qrave  again,  *'  I  feel,"  he  whispered  in  my  ear,  "  I 
teel  89  n  there  would  be  less  sunshine  for  me  from 
thia  day  forth."  ^ 

-As  we  walked  nomewardB,  Scott  told  me,  among 
other  favourable  traits  of  his  friend,  one  little  story 
which  1  must  not  omit.  He  remarked  one  day  to  a 
poor  student  of  divinity  attending  hi$  anciion,  thai 
be* looked  as  if  he  were  in  bad  health.  The  young 
man  assented  with  a  sigh.  *'  Come, "  said  Ballan- 
tyne,  **  I  think  I  ken  the  secret  of  a  sort  of  draft  that 
Would  relieve  you— particularly,"  he  added,  handing 
bun  a  cheque  for  JC6  or  XIO— '^particularly,  my  dear, 
if  taken  opon  an  empty  stomach." 

John  died  in  his  elder  brother's  house  in  St.  John 
Street;  a  circumstance  which  it  giv^  me  pleasure 
to  rooord,  as  it  confirms  the  impression  of  their  af- 
fectionate feelings  towards  each  other  at  this  time, 


which  the  reader  mtist  have  derived  from  James** 
letter  to  Soott  last  quoted.  'Their  confidence  and 
cordiality  had  undergone  considerable  interruptioii 
in  the  latter  part  of  John's  life  j  but  the  close  was  m 
all  respects  fraternal. 

A  year  and  a  half  before  Jdhn's  exit,  namely,  on  the 
last  day  of  1819,  hehappened  to  lav  hishand  on  an  old 
pocket-book,  which  roused  his  renections,  and  he  fill- 
ed two  or  three  of  its  paa;e8  with  a  brief  summary 
of  the  most  active  part  of  his  life,  which  I  think  it 
due  to  hia  character,  as  well  as  Sir  Walter  Scott's, 
to  transcribe  in  this  place.  | 

"  3l«t  Dec.  1819.  In  moving  a  bed  f^om  the  fire-place  to 
day  up-Aairs,  I  found  an  old  memorandum-book,  which 
enableti  me  to  trace  the  following  recollections  of /Am  daji, 
the  last  of  the  year. 

**  IBOl.  A  shopkeeper  in  Kelso ;  at  this  period  my  diffl- 
cullies  had  not  bepin  in  business ;  was  well,  happy,  and 
27  years  old ;  new  then  in  a  connexion  which  alterwards 
gave  me  great  pain,  but  can  never  be  forgotten^ 

^1802.  2Sold:  m  Kelso  as  before— could  scarcelr  be' 
bappior— bunted,  shot,  kept ""s  company,  and  ne- 
glected business,  the  fruits  whereof  I  soon  found. 

**  1803.  29  :  Still  fortunate,  and  happy  from  same  cause. 
James  in  Edinburgh,  thriving  as  a  printer.  When  I  was 
ennuied^  home,  visited  hUn.  Business  neglected  every 
way.-  t 

'^IdOi  aO:  Material  change;  gettiag  into  diJQeulties; 
all  wrong,  and  changes  in  every  way  approaching. 

**  1806.  31 :  All  consummated ;  health  miserable  all  sum- 
mer, and  *  *  *  designated  in  an  erased  mem.,  the  tctmn- 
drel.  I  yet  recollect  the  cause — can  I  ever  forget  it  1  My 
furniture,  goods,  Jkc.  sold  at  Kelso,  previous  to  my  going 
to  Edinburgh  to  become  my  brother's  clerk;  whither  I 
duigo,  for  which  CJodbe  praised  eternally,  on  Friday,  3d 
January,  1806,  on  jC200  a-year.  My  effects  at  Kelso,  with 
labour,  paid  my  debts,  and  left  me  pennyless. 

"  Froih  thia  period  till  1808.    34 :  J  continued  in  tbis  situ- 
ation—then  the  scheme  of  a  bookselling  concern  in  Hano- 
ver street  was  adopted,  which  1  was  to  manage ;  it  wsa 
oar,  and  one  fourth  of  the  profits  beslcTes. 


X300a-3 

'*  1809.  35:  Already  the  business  in  Ilanover  Street 
getting  into  difficulty,  from  our  ignorance  of  its  nature, 
and  most  extravagant  and  foolish  advance.s  from  its  funds 
to  the  piinUng  concern.  I  ought  to  have  resisted  this,  but 
I  was  thoi^huess,  although  not  young,  or  rather  reckless,, 
and  lived  on  as  long  as  I  could  make  ends  meet. 

"  1810.  38 :  Bills  increasing— the  destructive  system  of 
accommodations  atjoptcd. 

**1811.  37:  Bills  increased  to  a  most  fearful  degree. 
Sir  Wm.  Forbes  and  Co.  shut  their  account*.  No  bank 
would  discount  with,  us,  and  every  thing  leading  to  irre- 
trievable failure. 

"  1812.  3S :  The  first  partner  stepped  in,  at  a  crisis  so 
tremendous,  that  it  yet  shakes  my  soul  to  think  of  it.  Bj 
the  most  consummate  wisdom  and  resohition,  and  unheard 
of  exertions,  he  put  things  in  strain  that  finally  (so  early  as 
1817)  paid  even  himself  (who  ultimately  became  the  sole 
creditor  of  the)iouse)  in/uU^  with  a  balance  of  a  thousand 
pounds. 

"  1813.  39 .  In  business  as  a  literary  auctioneer  in  Prince's 
Street ;  firom  which  period  to  the  present  I  have  got  grad- 
ually forward,  both  in  that  line  and  as  third  of  a  partner  of 
the  works  of  the  Author  of  Waver  ley,  so  that  1  am  now,  at 
46,  worth  about  (I  owe  je2000)  JE.'jOCK),  with  however,  alas  * 
many  changes— my  strong  con rtitotion  much  broken ;  my 
father  and  mother  dead,  and  James  estranged— the  chief 
enjoyment  and  glory  of  my  life  being  the  possession  Of 
the  friendship  and  confidence  of  the  greatest  of  men." 

In  communicating  John's  death  to  the  Comet,Sir 
Waller  Bays,  "1  have  had  a  very  great  loss  in  poor 
John  Ballantyne,  who  is  gone,  after  a  iQng  illness. 
He  persisted  to  the  very  last  in  endeavouring  to  take 
exercise,  in  which  he  was  often  imprudent,  and  was 
up  and  dressed  the  very  morning  before  his  death. 
In  his  will  the  grateful  creature  has  left  me  a  legacy 
of  JB2000,  life  rented,  however,  by  his  wifa;  and  the 
rest  of  his  little  fortune  goes  betwixt  his  two  broth- 
ers. I  shallmisshim  very  much,  both  in  business, 
and  as  an  easy  and  lively  companion,  who  was  eter- 
nally active  and  obliging  in  whatever  I  had  to  do.'* 

I  am  sorry  to  take  leave  of  John  Ballantyne  with 
tiie  remark,  i|hat  his  last  will  was  a  document  of  the 
mme  class  with  too  many  of  his  states  and  co/enc^r^. 
So  far  from  having  je2000  to  bequeath  to  Sir  Wal- 
ter, he  di^  as  he  had  lived,  ignorant  of  the  situation 
of  his  affairs,  and  deep  in  debt.  \ 

The  two  following  fetters,  written  *t  Blair-Adaro, 
where  the  Club  were,  as  u9ual,  assembled  for  tbt 


ISO 


UPE  Of  sm  WALTER  SCOTT. 


dog-days,  have  been, selected  from  among  several 
which  Scott  at  this  time  addressed  to  nis  frieDds  in 
the  Soutfi,  with  ihe  view  of  promoting  Jtfr.  Mackay's 
success  in  his  debut  on  the  London  boards  as  Bailie 
Jarvie' 

**  To  Mi—  Joanna  BaUUe^  Hamjft%ad. 

"The  Immediate  motive  of  my  writing  to  you,  mj  dear- 
est IViend.  is  to  make  Mrs.  Af nes  and  fou  aware  that  a 
Scots  performer,  called  Mackay,  Is  going  up  to  London  to 
play  Bailie  NIcol  Janie  for  a  single  night  at  Covent  Gar> 
den,  and  to  beg  you  of  all  dear  loves  to  go  and  see  him; 
for,  faking  him  in  that  single  character,  I  am  not  sure  I 
ever  saw  any  thing  In  my  life  possessing  so  much  tnitli 
and  cumic  effect  at  the  same  time  :  he  is  completely  the 
personage  of  the  drama,  the  purse-protid  consequciltial 
magistrate,  humane  and  irritable  in  the  same  moment, 
andtlie  Irup  Scotstnan  in  every  turn  of  thought  and  action : 
his  variety  of  feelingd  towards  Rob  Roy,  whom  he  likes, 
and  fears,  and  despises,  and  admires,  and  pities,  all  at  ortce, 
is  exceedingly  well  exprossed.  In  short,  I  never  saw  a 
part  better  sustained,  certainly ;  I  pray  you  to  collcqi  a 
party  of  Scotch  friends  to  see  it.  1  have  written  to  ?othe 
DV  to  the  same  puri)09c,  but  I  doubt  whether  the  exhi- 
bition will  prove  as  satisfactory  to  those  who  do  not  know 
the  original  from  which  the  resemble c  Is  taken.  I  ob- 
Sei*ve  tne  English  demand  (as  Is  natural)  broad  caricature 
in  the  depicting  of  national  peculiarities:. they  did  so  as 
to  the  Trlsh,  till  Jack  Johnstone  taught  them  better,  and 
at  first  I  should  fear  Mackay's  reality  will  seem  less  ludi- 
croas  than  Liston's  humorous  extravagances.  So  let  it 
sot  be  said  that  a  dramatic  genius  of  Scotland  wanted  the 
countenance  and  protection  of  Joanna  Baillie :  the  Doctor 
and  Mrs.  Baillle  wiQ  be  much  diverted  If  they  go  also,  but 
somebody  said  to  me  that  they  were  out  of  town.  The 
man,  I  am  told,  Is  perfectly  respectable  in  his  life  and 
habits,  and  consequently  deserves  enrouragemcnc  every 
way.  There  is  afreat  difference  betwixt  his  bailie  and 
all  bis  other  penormances:  one  would  think  the  part 
made  for  him,  and  him  for  the  part— and  yet  I  may  do  the 
poor  fellow  injustice,  and  what  we  here  consider  as  a  fall- 
ing off*  mar  arise  from  our  identifying  Mackay  so  com- 
pletely with  the  worthy  Glasgow  magistrate,  that  recollec- 
tions of  Nlcol  Jarvie  intrude  upon  us  at  every  comer,  and 
mar  the  personification  of  any  other  part  which  he  may 
represent  for  the  time. 

**  I  am  here  for  a  coople  of  days  wHh  our  Chief  Com* 
pUftsioner,  late  Willie  Adam,  and  we  had  yesterday  a  de- 
Ufhtful  stroll  to  Castle  Campbell,  the  Rumbling  Brig. 
Cauldron  Linns,  Ac :  the  scenes  are  most  romanuc.ana 
I  Itnow  not  by  what  fatality  it  has  been,  that  living  wttnln 
a  sled  of  them,  I  never  visited  any  of  them  before.  We 
had  (sir  Samuel  Shepherd  with, us,  a  most  dellghtM  per- 
son, but  with  too  much  English  fidgetiness  about  htm  for 
crags  and  precipices, — perpetually  afraid  that  rocks  would 
five  %ray  under  his  weight  which  nad  over-brow'd  the  tor- 
rent for  ages,  and  that  good  weU-rootcd  trees,  moored  so 
as  to  resist  ten  thousand  tempests,  would  fall  because  he 
srasped  one  of  their  branches ;  he  must  certainly  be  a 
firm  believer  In  the  simile  of  the  lover  of  your  native 
sad,  who  complains — 

*  I  Isant  my  back  mito  an  sik, 
I  thought  it  was  a  trusty  tree. 
But  first  tt  bow'd  and  then  it  brake,'  Ac.  tec  Ac 

Certes  these  Southrons  lack  much  the  habits  of  the  wood 
and  wilderness,  for  here  is  a  man  of  taste  and  genius,  a  fine 
schol  r  and  a  most  Interesting  companion,  haunted  vrtth 
fears  that  would  be  entertained  by  no  shop-keeper  from 
the  Lucken booths  or  the  Saut  Market.  A  sort  of  Cock- 
neyin*  of  one  lund  or  another  pervades  their  men  of  pro- 
fessional habits,  whereas  every  Scotchman,,  with  very 
few  sxception.t,  holds  country  exercises  of  all  kinds  to 
be  part  of  his  nature,  and  is  ready  to  become  a  traveller 
or  even  a  soldier  on  the  slightest  possible  notice.  The 
habits  of  the  moorfowl  shooting,  salmon'Hshing,  and  so 
forth,  may  keep  this  much  up  among  the  gentry,  a  name 
which  our  pride  and  pedigree  extend  so  much  wider  than 
in  Englan4 ;  and  it  is  worth  notice  that  these  amusements 
being  cheap  sod  tolerably  easy  come  at  by  all  the  petty 
dunnyWassels,  have  a  more  general  influence  on  the  na- 
tional character  than  fox-hunting,  wlilch  'is  confined  to 
those  who  can  mount  and  keep  a  horse  worth  at  least 
100  guineas.  But  still  this  hardly  explains  the  general 
and  wide  rilfffercnce  betwixt  the  conntriea  in  this  particu- 
lar. Happen  how  it  will,  the  advantage  is  wuch  In  favour 
oft^otland:  it  is  true  that  it  contributes  to  prevent  our 
producing  such  very  accomplished  lawyers,  divines,  or 
artisans,*  ss  when  the  whole  mind  is  bent  with  undivided 

*  The  mat  engiaeor,  James  Watt  of  Biraiiogfaam— in  whose 

.  talk  8«ott  took  much  dellMtt-told  hhn.that  tbouirh  hnndreds 

VwaAy  ofhis  nofthsm  couutiiuieii  had  soufht  efnpkyjrmefit  at  hii 


attention  apon  attalnkig  one  branch  of  knewleilge,— but 
it  gives  a  strong  and  muscufaur  character  to  the  people  In 
general,  and  saves  men  from  all  sons  of  c«»efess  ftmru 
and  lIutteriQss  of  Uie  heart,  which  give  qoUe  as  mocb 


ension.  This  is  not  ranou^y  to  me  purpose  of  my  let- 
sr,  which,  after  rscommending  Blonsiear  Mackay,  was  to 
ill  you  thrift  we  are  all  well  and  happy.    Sophia  is  getting 


misery  ss  if  there  were  real  cause  for  entertslnlBC  apprO' 
'    '      *         '  pose  of  n 

Mackay,  \ 
tell  you  thift  we  are  all  well  anti  happy.  Sophia  is  getting 
stout  and  pretty,  and  is  one  of  the  wisest  and  most  impor- 
tant little  mammas  that  can  be  seen  anywhere.  Her 
bower  is  biggcd  in  gude  green  teood,  and  we  went  la^ 
Saturday  in  a  body  k>  enioy  it,  and  to  consult  about  fur- 
niture, and  we  have  got  the  roai)  stopt  which  I«d  up  the 
hill,  so  it  is  now  quite  solitary,  and  i^>proaclied  through  a 
grove  of  trees,  actual  well  grown  txoos,  not  LiltiiMUiui 
foreals  Uke  those  of  Abbotslord.  The  season  is  oreail- 
fuliy  iwckward.  Our  ashes  and  oaks  are  not  yet  in  leml, 
and  will  uoi  be,  I  think,  in  any  tiling  Uke  full  Ibliage  thU 

J  ear,  such  is  the  rigour  of  the  east  winds.— Always,  mf 
ear  and  much   respected  friend,  otost  affecLioaatel/ 

W.  Scorr. 
"filair-Adam,  U  June,  If^ei, 
In  fun  siglit  of  Locbleven. 

"P.  S.— Pray  read,  or  have  read  to' you  by  Mrs.  Agnes, 
the  Annah  of  the  Fariak.  Mr.  Gait  wrote  the  worst  tra- 
gedies ever  seen,  and  has  now  written  a  most  esceHeoC 
novel,  if  It  can  be  called  so." 

* 
To  the  Lord  Momiugu^  ^.  4e.,  Lombn. 

*«  Blair- Adam,  June  11,  LSSt 
"My  dear  Lord, 

"  Thojre  Is  S  man  goli^{Xip.(h>m  Pdlnbmrgh  to  |Hay  oae 
night  at  Covent  Garden,  whom, as  having  the  rerj^  onusoal 
power  of  presenthig  on  the  stage  a  c4Mttplete  Seocsmatt,  1 
am  very  desirous  you  sbouM  sbe.  He  plays  Bsilto  Nicol 
Jarvie  m  Rob  Roy,  but  wftb  a  degree  oCaatioosl  truth  aod 
understsndtng,  wUch  makes  the  part  Miusf  to  anv  thing 
I  have  ever  seen^oa  the  stage,  and  I  have  seen  all  tus  best 
comedians  for  these  forty  years.  I  wish  much,  If  you 
continue  in  town  till  he  comes  up,  that  you  would  get  into 


hensions,  but  to  a  Scotamra  it  is  hilmitable,sad  you  have 
the  Glasgow  Bailie  beloM  yoii.  with  all  his  bastMnf  c«o- 
eelt  and  importanee,  bis  real  bsoevolenoe,  sitd  his  irrita- 


ble habits.  He  wiU  want  in  London  a  fellow  who,  Id  the 
character  of  the  Highland  turnkey,  held  the  backhand 
to  him  admirably  meu.  I  know  how  difficult  it  is  for  MkM 
ef  condition  to  get  to  the  theatre,  but  this  is  worth  sn  ex 
ertion,  and,  besides,  the  poor  man  (who  I  understand  is 
very  respectable  in  private  Ufe)  will  be,  to  use  an  admii^ 
able  simile  (by  which  one  of  yonr  father's  fisnners  per- 
snsfled  the  Duke  to  go  to  hear  his  son,  a  probatloaer  is 
dlvinity^reaeh  his  fbst  sermon  hi  the  tows  of  Ajt^  IdJta 
a  etc  in  afremd  loaning^  and  glad  of  Scots  couateaaoce. 

**  I  am  gbKl  the  Di&ke's  cokl  is  better— bis  stomach  will 
not  be  put  to  those  trisls  which^ours  underw}^t  in  oui 
youth,  when  deep  drinking  was  tlie  fashion. .  I  Uope  bo 
will  alway  •  be  aware,  however,  that  his  is  not  a  strong  one. 

**CampbeIl*s  Lives  of  the  Admirals  is  an  admirable' 
book,  and  I  would  advise  your  Lordship  e'en  to  redeem 
yonr  pledge  to  the  Doke  on  some  rainy  day.  Yoa  do  not 
run  the  risk  from  the  pentaal  whiolf  my  poor  mother  sp> 
prehended.  She  always  aUeged  it  scat  her  eldest  son  to 
the  navy,  sod  did  aoC  see  with  indiference  sny  of  her 
younger  olive  branches  engaged  witli  Campbell,  except 
myself,  who  stood  in  no  danger  of  the  cockntt  or  quarter- 
deck. I  would  not  swear  for  Lord  John  tnough.  Your 
Lordship's  tutor  was  just  such  a  well-meaning  persoa  as 
mine,  who  used  to  take  from  me  old  Lindsay  of  ntseoctie. 
and  set  me  down  to  get  by  heart  RoUin's  Inferasl  list  oi 
the  Shepherd  Kihgs,  whose  hard  names  couid  hare  done 
no  good  to  any  one  on  earth,  unless  he  wished  to  raise 
the  devil,  and  lacked  laogoage  to  cOnjure  with. — AJways^ 


my  dear  Lord,  most  truly  yours. 


Walter  Scott  ' 


The  coronation  of  George  IV.,  preparations  for 
which  were  (as  has  been  seen)  in  active  progress 
by  March.  1820,  had  been  deferred,  in  consequence 
of.  the  nnnappy  affair  of  the  Queen's  Trial.  The 
19th  of  July,  1821,  was  now  announced  for  this  so- 

ostaUishment.  he  never  ooold  get  one  of 
rate  artisan.  "Manyofdiem.'^eaidhe, 
and  rose  to  be  valuable  olerks  and  ^otA 
eapalile  oTthis  ant  of  advanoeoent 

'Mitou»'  

hifbest 


of  then  to  beoome  a  flrs^ 
too  seed  for  cbaf. 


^ ^ _Jways  the  same  mm- 

parable  aversion  to  coiliof  so  ksifst  any  one  pcibt  of  nechaoi*3a 
astQsasi  the  hifhest  wages  anronr  tM  worlaDen."   " 
doabt  8ir  AVaher  was  UMdng  of  W;  ;i^a 


wnle  tJK  seoltnos  Jn  th»  teat. 


faeteat.        OUVl 


had  always  i^^ 
tmen.' 


Ibaveno 


LfTO  OP  HiTtL  WALTfitl  dOOTf. 


lannltf,  and  jSr  Wdtar  MfoWed  to  be  among  the 
ipectalors.  It  occurred  to  him  that  if  the  Ettrick 
Shepherd  were  to  accompany  him,  and  produce 
some  memorial  of  the  scene  likely  to  catch  *  the  po- 
piiUr  ear  in  Scotland,  good  aerviee  might  thus  be 
done  to  the  cause  of  loyalty ;  but  this  was  not  his 
ooIt  conskleration.  '  Hogg  had  married  a  handsome 
mnn  most  estimable  young  woman',  a  good  deal 
above  his  own  onginal  rank  in  life,  the  yeRi:J)efore : 
and  expecting;  with  her  a  dowry  of  jCVOOO,%e  had 
forthwith  revived  the  grand  ambition  of  an  earlier 
day,  and  become  the  candidate  for  an  extenaive 
fiarm  on  the  Buccleuch  estate,  at  a  short  distance 
from  Altdve  Lake.  Various  friends,  supposing  his 
worldly  circumstances  to  be  much  improved,  had  sup- 
ported bis  appKcaiion,  and  Lord  Montagu  hhd  re- 
ceived it  in  a  manner  for  which  the  Shepherd's  let- 
ters lo  Scott  express  much  gratitude.  Misfortune 
pursucHJ  the  Shepherd— the  unforeseen  bankruptcy 
of  bin  wife's  father  interrupted  the  stocking  of  tlie 
sheep  walk ;  and  the  arable  part  of  the  new  pos- 
aewion  was  sadly  miamanaaed  by  himself.  Scott 
hopod  that  a  visit  to  London,  and  a  coronation 
poem,  or  pamphlet,  might  end  in  some  pension  or 
post  that  'would  relievje  these  difficulties,  and  he 
wrote  to  Hogg,  urjjing  him  to  come  to  Edinburgh, 
and  embark  with  him  for  the  great  city.  Not  doubt- 
ing that  this  proposal  would  be  eagerly  accepted, 
he,  when  writing  to  Lord  Sidmouth,  to  ask  a  place 
f»r  himself  in  the  Hall  and  Abbey  of  Westminster. 
naeotioned  that  Hogg  was  to  be  hts  companion,  and 
hesgrd  suitable  accommodation  for  him  also.  Lord 
Sidmouth,  being  overwhelmed  with  business  con- 
nected with  the  approachiiTg  pageant,  answered  by 
the  pen  of  the  Under-Secretary  of  Stale,  Mr  Hob* 
hoaae.  that  Sir  Walter's  wishe^  both  as  to  himself 
and  the  Shepherd,  should  be  gratified,  provided 
they  woi^d  both  oioe  with  him  the  dav  after  the 
coronation,  in  Richmond  park,  ^  where/  says  the 
letter  before  mc^  "  his  Lordship  will  invite  the  Duke 
•fYork  and  a  lew  other  Jacobites  to  meet  you.*' 
AH  this  being  made  known  to  the  tenant  of  Mount- 
Ben^r.  be  wrote  to  Scott,  as  he  says,  *'  with  the 
tear  m  his  eye,"  to  signify,  that  If  he  went  ro  Lon- 
don, be  must  misi  attending  the  great  annual  Bor- 
(kr  fair,  held  on  St.  Boswell  s  Green,  in  Roxburgh- 
shire, on  the  18th  of  every  Jiily ;  and  that  his  ab- 
aaooafirom  that  meeting  so  aoon  after  entering  upon 
bmaneas  aa  a  store-farmer,  would  be  considered  by 
IttB  aew  compeers  aa  highly  imprudent  and  diacred- 
itable.  **In  short,"  James  concludes,  "the  thing 
is  impossible.  But  aa  there  is  no  man  in  his  Ma- 
jestywi  dominions  admires  his  great  talents  for  gov- 
ernment, and  the  energy  and  dignity  of  his  admin- 
istration, so  much  aa  I  do,  I  will  write  something  at 
bona  and  endeavotur  to  give  it  you  before  you 
start."  The  Shepherd  probablv  expected  tha  t  these 
pretty  comphments  would  reach  the  royal  ear ;  but 
Dovrever  that  may  have  been,  his  own  Muse  turned 
a  deaf  ear  to  him— at  least  I  never  heard  of  any 
thing  that  he  wrote  on  this  occasion. 

Scott  embarked  without  him,  on  board  a  new 
steam  ship  called  th^  City  qf  Edinburgh^  which,  as 
he  suggested  to  the  master  ought  rather  to  have 
been  chriatened  the  Ntw  Rtekit.  This  vessel  was 
tiiat  described  and  lauded  in  the  following  letter  :— 

To  the  Lord  Montagu^  4'C*  ^c, 

"EdiDbut;9h,Joly  1,1821. 
"MTdoarJ.ord, 
''I  write  jiMt  n<^  to  thank  you  for  your  letter.  I 
have  been  tm  board  fhe  dteam-ship,  aod  am  so  delighted 
iriih  It,  that  I  Uiink  I  shall  put  myself  aboard  for  the 
.'^rooatioD.  It  runs  at  nine  koots  an  hour,  (me  ipto  teste.") 
uainst  win<|  and  tide,  with  a  deck  aa  long  as  a  frisatc'a 
to  walk  upon,  and  to  sleep  on  also,  if  you  like,  as  I  have 
always  preferred  a  cloak  and  a  matiress  to  those  crowded 
cabins.  This  reconciles  the  speed  and  certainty  of  the 
raail-coAcli  with  the  ease  and  eonvenieuce  of  being  on 
ship-boartl.  So  I  really  think  I  will  run  up  to  see  the 
grandeo  show  ami  run  down  again.  I  scorn  to  mention 
economy,  thongh  tiie  eiqiensc  it  not  one  fifth,  and  that  U 
something  in  bard  times,  especially  to  me,  who  to  cUoose, 
would  always  rather  travel  m  a  publlo  conveyance,  tlian 
witb  my  domestic's  good  companr  in  a  po-char. 


**  But  now  comes  the  news  of  news.  I  hate  been  instf- 
gating  the  creat  Caledonian  Boar,  James  Hogg,  to  under-^ 
take  a  similar  trip— with  the  view  of  turning  an  honest 
pennT,  to  help  out  his  stocking,  by  writing  some  sort  of 
Shepherd's  Letters,  or  the  like,  to  put  the  honest  Scots 
bodies  up  to  this  whole  affidr.  I  am  trying  with  Lord 
Sidmouth  to  get  him  a  place  among  the  newspaper 
gentry  lo  see  the  ceremony.  It  la  seriously  worth  while 
to  get  such  a  popular  view  of  the  whole,  aa  he  will  pro» 
bably  hit  off. 

**■!  have  another  view  for  this  poor  fellow.  You  have 
heard  of  the  RoyjJ  Literary  Society,  and  how  they  pro- 
pose to  distribute  solid  pudding,  alias  pensions,  to  men  of 
gonrus.  It  is,  I  think,  a  very  nroLlematical  matter, 
whether  it  will  do*  the  good  which  is  Intended;  but  if 
they  do  moan  to  select  worthy  objects  of  enrouragement, 
I  really  know  nobody  that  has  a  "better  or  an  equal  claim 
to  poor  Hog?.  Our  friend  Villiers  takes  a  great  charge  of 
this  matter,  and  good-naturrrily  forgave  my  staling  to  him 
a  number  of  objections  to  the  first  concoction,  which  was 
to  have  been  something  resembling  the  French  Academy. 
It  lias  now  been  much  modified.  Perhaps  there  may  be 
some  meang  fallen  upon,  with  your  Lordship's  asiiistance, 
of  placing  Hofg  uncfer  Mr.  Villiors'  viow.  I  would  have 
done  so  myself,  but  only,  1  have  battled  the  |>oint  against 
the  whole  establishment  so  keenly,  that  it  would  be  loo 
bad  to  bring  forward  a  proteg*?  of  my  own  lo  lake  the 
advantiwe  of  It.  They  intended  at  one  time  to  give  pen- 
sions of  about  JGIOU  a-year  to  thirty  persons.  I  know  not 
where  they  could  find  tialf-a-dozen  with  such  pretensiona 
as  tho  Shepherd's. 

"Tliere  will  be  risk  of  his  being  lost  in  London,  or 
kidnapped  by  some  of  those  bdies  who  open  Uteralry 
menageries  for  the  reception  of  lions.  I  should  like  to 
.see  him  at  a  rout  of  blue-stockings.  I  intend  lo  recom- 
mend him  to  tiic  protection  of  John  Murray  the  bookseller ; 
and  I  hope  he  will  come  equipped  with  plaid,  kent,  ^d 
collcy.* 

"  1  wish  to  heaven  Lord  Melville  would  either  keep  the 
Admiralty,  or  in  Hogg's  phrase — 

'O  I  would  eagerly  press  him 

The  keys  of  the  tost  to  require,' — 

for  truly  the  Board  of  Ck)ntrol  Is  the  Com  Cbe.^t  for  Scot* 
land,  where  we  poor  gentry  must  send  our  youngest  sons, 
as  we  send  our  black  cattle  i6  the  south. 
Ever  most  truly  yours, 

Waltbs  Scot*.*' 

From  London,  on  the  day  after  the  coronation, 
Sur  Walter  addressed  a  letter,  descriptive  of  the 
ceremonial,  to  his  friend  James  Ballantyne,  who 
published  it  in  his  newspaper.  It  has  been  since 
reprinted— but  not  in  any  collection  of  Scott'a  own 
writings ;  and  I  therefore  insert  it  here.  It  will  pro- 
bably poasess  considerable  intereat  for  the  student 
of  English  history  and  mannera  in  future  times ;  for 
the  cor<ination  of  (George  the  Fourth*8  successor 
was  conducted  on  a  vastlv  inferior  scale  of  splen- 
dour and  expense— and  the  precedent  of  curtail- 
ment in  any  such  matters  is  now  seldom  neglected* 

To  the  Editor  of  the  Edinburgh  Weekly  Journal. 

"London,  July  20th,  1881. 
"  Sir, 

"  I  refer  yon  to  the  dsllr  papers  for  the  details  of  the 
great  National  Solemnity  which  we  witnessed  yesterday, 
and  will  hold  my  promise  absolved  by  sending  a  few  gene- 
ral remarks  upon  what  I  aaw,  with  surprise  amounting  lo 
aatonishment.  and  whi(?h  1  shall  never  forget.  It  is,  in- 
deed, impossible  to  conceive  a  ceremony  more  august  and 
imposing  in  all  ila  parts,  and  more  calculated  to  make  the 
deepest  impression  both  on  the  eye  and  on  the  feelings. 
The  most  minute  attenlioa  must  have  been  bestowed  to 
arrange  alt  the  subordinate  parts  in  harmony  with  tho 
rest;  so  tlial,  amongst  so  much  antiquated  ceremonial, 
imposing  singular  dresses,  duties,  and  characters,  upon 
persons  accustomed  lo  move  in  the  ordinary  rowtae  of 
society,  nothing  occurred  cither  awkward  or  ludicrous 
which  could  mar  the  general  effect  of  the  solemnity. 
Considering  that  it  is  but  one  step  from  the  sublime  to  the 
ri<licnlou«,  town  I  considered  It  as  sorprlsing  that  the 
whole  ceremonial  of  the  day  should  have  passed  sway 
without  the  slightest  circumstance  which  could  derange 
the  general  tone  of  solemn  feelings  which  was  suited  to  tho 
occasion. 

'^  You  must  have  heard  a  full  account  of  the  only  dis* 
agreeable  event  of  the  day.    I  mmn  the  attempt  of  the 

*  Kent  \m  the  ihepherd'i  BtnfT—CoIley,  his  dog.  Scott  aUodea 
to  the  old  song  of  the  Lea  Rig— 


"  Nae  herds  wi'  kent  aod  eoUey  then,' 


■^ogie 


upeE<>«  m^  WWI^W0S9!. 


P' 

in 


oSvulded  la^,,wbo  hMlatetj.ftiraivbfld  so  maoj  topics 
or  mseassion,  ttf  intmde  herself  open  a  ceremonial, 
where^  not  being  In  her  proper  place,  to  be  pregent  in  toy 
other  must  have  been  Toluntary  degradation.  Hiat  matter 
if  a  fire  of  straw  which  has  now  burnt  tu  the  very  embers, 
and  those  who  try  to  blow  it  into  life  again,  will  onlv 
blacken  their  hands  and  noses,  like  mjscltievous  chil- 
dren dabbling  among  the  ashes  of  a  bonfire.  It  seems 
singnlar,  that  being  detenn'med  to  be  present  at  all 
hassards,  this  mifortunate  personage  should  not  have 

I>rocuccd  a  Peer's  ticket,  which,  1  presume,  would  have 
nsured  her  admittance.  I  >«llUngIy  pass  to  pleasantcr 
matters. 

"The  effect  of  the  scene  in  the  Abbey  was  beyond 
measure  magnificent  Imagine  long  galleries  stretched 
among  the  aisles  of  that  venerable  and  aufust  pile— those 
which  rise  above  the  altar  pealing  back  their  echoes  to  a 
Aill  and  magnificent  choir  of  music — those  which  occu* 

Eled  the  sides  filled  even  to  crowding  with  all  that  Dritaiu 
as  of  beautiful  and  distinguished,  and  the  cross-gallery 
most  appropriated  occupied  by  the  Westminster  school- 
boys, In  their  white  surplices,  many  of  whom  might  on 
that  day  receive  impressions  never  to  be  lost  during  the 
rest  of  thehr  lives.    Imagine  this,  I  say,  and  then  add  the 

Spectacle  upon  the  fiooi^-the  altar  surrounded  by  the 
athers  of  the  Church— the  King  encircled  by  the  Nobi- 
lity of  the  land  and  the  Counsellors  of  his  throne,  and  by 
warriors,  wearing  the  honoured  marks  of  distinction 
bought'by  many.*,  glorious  rlanger— add  to  this  the  rich 
spectacle  of  the  aisles  crowded  with  waving  plumage,  and 
coronets,  and  caps  of  honour,  and  tlie  sun,  which  bright- 
ened and  saddened  as  if  on  purpose,  now  beamhig  In  fn|l 
lostre  on  the  rich  and  varied  assemblage,  and  now  darting 
a  solitary  ray,  which  catched,  as  It  passed,  the  gliUering 
folds  of  a  banner,  or  the  edge  of  a  group  of  battle-axes  or 
partisans, and  then  rested  full  on  some  fair  form,* the 
Cynosure  of  neighbouring  eyes,'  whose  circlet  of  dia- 
monds glistened  under  its  Influence.  Imagine  all  this, 
and  then  tell  me  if  I  have  made  my  journey  of  four  hun- 
dred miles  to  little  purpose.  I  do  not  love  your  cui  bonn 
men,  and  therefore  I  will  not  be  pleased  if  you  ask  me  ih 
tho  damping  tone  of  sullen  philosophy,  what  good  all  this 
has  done  the  spectators  I  If  we  restrict  Ufe  to  its  real 
animal  wants  and  necessities,  we  shall  Indeed  be  satisfied 
with  *  food,  clothes,  and  fire ;'  but  Divine  Providence,  who 
widened  our  sources  of  enjoyment  beyond  those  of  the 
animal  creation,  never  meant  that  we  should  bound  our 
wishes  within  such  narrow  limits ;  and!  shrewdly  suspect 
•  that  those  non  est  tanti  gentlefolks  only  depreciate  the 
natural  and  unaffected  pleasure  which  nUn  like  me  re- 
ceive  from  sights  of  splendour  and  sounds  of  har^|ony, 
either  because  thoy  would  seem  wiser  thazf  their  simple 
neighbours  at  the  expense  of  being  less  happy,  or  because 
the  mere  pleasure  or  the  sight  and  sound  la  connected 
witth  associations  of  a  deeper  kind,  to  which  they  are  tm- 
wHUng  to  yield  themselves. 

"  Leaving  these  gentlemon  to  enjoy  their  own  wisdom, 
I  still  more  pity  those,  if  there  bo  any,  who  (being  on* 
able  to  detect  a  peg  x)n  which  to  hang  a  laugli)  sneer 
coldir  at  this  solemn  festival,  and  are  rather  disposed  to 
dwell  on  the  expense  which  attends  It,  tlian  on  the  gene- 
rous feelings  which  it  ought  to  awaken-  The  expense,  so 
far  as  it  is  national,  has  gone  dlrectlv  and  instantly  to  the 
encouragement  of  the  British  jnahufiiouirer  and  me- 
chanic ;  and  so  far  as  It  is  personal  to  the  persons  of  rank 
attendant  i^Mn  the  Coronation,  it  operates  as  a  tax  upon 
wealth  and  consideration  for  the  benefit  of  poverty  and 
•  industry ;  a  tax  wltUnglv  paid  by  the  one  class,  and  not 
the  less  acceptable  to  the  other,  because  It  adds  a  happy 
noliday  to;ho  monotony  of  a  Ufe  of  labour. 

•♦  But  there  were  better  things  to  reward  my  pilgrimage 
'.  lan  the  mere  pleastires  of  the  eye' and  ear ;  for  It  was  ten- 
.  'ssible,  without  the  deepest  veneration,  to  behold  the 
voluntary  and  solemn  interchanco  of  vows  betvrixt  the 
King  and  his  assembled  People,  whilst  he,  on  the  one  hand, 
called  God  Almighty  to  witness  his  resolution  to  maintain 
their  lawB  and  privileges,  whilst  they  called,  at  the  sanw 
uioment,  on  thf  Divine  Being,  to  bear  witnem  that  they 
accepted  him  for  their  liege  Sovereign,  and  pledged  to  him 
their  love  and  their  doty.  I  cannot  describe  to  you  the 
effect  produced  by  the  solemn,  yet  strange  mixture  of  the 
words  of  Scripture,  with  the  shouts  and  acclamadons  of 
the  a.<i8cmbled  multitude,  as  thev  answered  to  the  voice  of 
tho  Prelate  who  demanded  or  them  wli^thor  they  ac- 
knowledjred  as  their  Monarch  the  Princ«»  who  claimed  the 
/wvereigntjr  In  their  presence.  It  was  peculiarly  dellght- 
fuj  to  see  the  King  receive  firom  the  royal  brethren,  but 
in  particular  from  the  Duke  of  York,  the  fraternal  kiss  In 
which  they  acknowledged  their  sovereign.  There  was 
an  honest  tenderness,  an  affectionate  and  shicere  reve- 
rence, in  the  embrace  Interchanged  betwixt  the  Duke  of 
York  and  his  Majesty,  that  approached  almost  to  a  caress, 
and  Impressed  all  present  with  the  electrical  conviction, 


,that  the  nearest  to  the  throne  fa  hlMd^vaa  (be  OMfMl 
also  in  afl!bction.  I  never  henxl  pliumu  |tveB  iaor«lh»m 
th«  heart  than  those  that  were  thundered  Qpon  the  royil 


brethren  when  they  were  thus  pressed  to  each  other's 
hosoma,— It  was  an  emotion  of  natHral  Undaesa,  wttlels 
bursting  out  amidst  cavemonl^nrandaor,  fottnd  «i  answer 
ia  every  British  boaooD.  The  Ungaeemed  mack  alaeted 
at  this  and  one  or  two  other  parts  of  the  ceremonial,  even 
so  much  so,  as  to  excite  some  alarm  among  those  who 
saw  him  as  nearly  as  I  did.  He  completefy  recovered 
himself,^ however,  and  bore  (generally  speaking)  the 
fatigue  of  tho  day  very  well.  I  learn  from  one  near  Yam 
person,  that  he  roused  himself  with  great  energy,  even 
when  most  oppressed  with  heat  and  nUgue,  when  any  of 
the  moro  iDtarestlng  parts  of  the  ceremony  were  to  be 
performed,  or  when  anv  thing  oecorred^  which  excAtod 
his  personal  and  imme<»ate  atteotioB. 


When  preaidbu 
iquet  amid  the  long  line  of  his  Noblea,  he  looked 
'  every  inch  a  King ;'  ana  nothing   could   exceed  the 


gral^e  with  which  he  accepted  and  returned  the  Tartoua 
acts  of  homage  rendered  to  him  Ih  the  course  of  that 
long  day. 

"  It  waa  also  a  very  grati^rhig  jroectacle  to  those  who 
think  Uke  me,  to  behold  the  Dnite  of  Devonshire  a*d 
most  of  the  diatinguiahed  Whig  nobility  aasembled  round 
the  throne  on  this  ocoasloa ;  giving  an  open  testloMnij 
that  the  differences  of  political  opmions  are  only  akio* 
deep  wounds,  which  assume  at  times  an  angry  appearance, 
but  have  no  real  effect  on  the  wholesome  constitution  ol 
the  country. 

**  If  you  ask  me  to  distinguish  who  bore  him  best,  and 
appeared  most  to  sustain  the  character  we  annex  to  the 
assistants  In  such  a  solemnity,  I  have  no  hesitation  to 
name  Lord  Londonderry,  who.  in  the  magnlficettt  robea 
of  the  Garter,  with  the  cap  and  high  plnme  of  the  order, 
walked  alone,  and  by  his  fine  (ace,  and  majesbc  peraooj 
formed  an  adeqoate  representative  of  the  order  of  Edward 
in.,  the  costume  of  which  was  worn  by  his  Lordship 
only.  The  Duke  of  Wellington,  with  aU  his  kurela, 
moved  and  looked  deserving  the  baton,  which  waa  never 
grasped  by  so  worthy  a  hand.  The  Blarqala  of  Ancles«« 
showed  the  most  exquisite  grace  in  managing  his  horae, 
notwithstanding  the  want  of  his  Bmb,  which  he  left  at 
Waterloo.  I  never  saw  so  fine  a  bridle-haad  in  my  Ule, 
and  I  am  rather  a  jadge  of  *  noble  borsenumshtp.'  Lord 
Howard's  horse  was  worse  bitted  than  those  of  the  two 
former  noblemen,  but  not  so  much  so  as  to  derange  tba 
ceremony  of  retiring  back  out  of  the  Ball. 

'*  The  Chfunplon  was  performed  (aa  of  right)  by  younf 
D^ocke.  a  fine-looking  youth,  but  bearing,  perluvps.  a 
little  too  much  the  appearance  of  a  malden-knlght  to  ba 
the  challenger  of  ihc  wortd  in  a  Kta^n  behalf.  He  threw 
down  his  gauntlet,  however,  with  becoming  manhood,  and 
showed  aa  much  horsemanahip  as  the  crowd  of  knigfata 
and  squires  around  him  woold  permit  to  be  eibJbHad 
His  armour  was  in  good  taste,  but  hia  shield  was  out  of  all 
propriety,  being  a  round  rencfac^,  or  Highland  target,  a 
defensive  weapon,  which  it  would  have  been  Impossible  to 
use  on  horseback,  instead  of  being  a  three-cornered,  or 
heater-shield^  which  in  time  of  the  tilt  waa  siifipended 
round  the  neck.  Pardon  this  antiquarian  Scmplc,  wide b, 
you  mhy  believe,  occurred  to  few  but  myself.  On  the 
whole,  this  striking  part  of  the  exhibidon  nomewfiat 
disappointed  me,  fori  would  have  had  the  Champion  leas 
emtmrraased  by  his  assistants,  and  at  Uberty  to  pat  bin 
horse  on  the  gramd  pas.  And  yei  the  young  Loid  of 
Scrivelsbaye  looked  aud  behaved  extremely  weH- 

*'  Returning  to  the  subject  of  costume,  I  could  not  but 
admire  what  I  had  prevlout^ly  been  disposed  much  to 
criticise.— I  mean  the  fwicy  dress  of  the  Privy-Coimrtl- 
lors,  which  waa  of  white  and  blue  saJIn,  with  trunk-hose 
and  mantles,  after  the  fashion  of  (^neen  EHRabeth's  lime, 
^parately,  so  gay  a  garb  bad  an  odd  effect  on  the  per- 
BonM  of  eldcriy  or  Ill-made  men ;  but  when  the  whole  wa^t 
thrown  into  one  general  body,  all  these  discrepancies 
disappeared,  and  you  no  more  obwrved  the  particnler 
manner  or  appearance  of  an  individual  than  you  do  that 
of  a  soldier  in  the  battalion  which  inarches  pait  you.  The 
whole  was  so  completely  harmonixed  in  actual  colouring, 
as  well  as  in  association  with  the  general  mass  of  gay  aiHS 
gorgeous  and  antique  dress  which  floated  befor*  the  eye, 
that  it  was  next  to  impossible  to  attend  to  the  effect  of  In- 
dividual figures.  Yet  a  Scotsman  wfll  detect  a  Scotsman 
amongst  the  most  crowded  assemblare,  and  I  must  my 
that  the  Lord  Justice-Clerk  of  Scotland  showed  to  as  great 
advantage  In  his  robes  of  Privy-Coimclllor  aa  any  by 
whom  that  splendid  dress  was  worn  on  this  great  occasioo. 
The  common  Court-dress,  used  by  the  Privy-Counclllora 
at  the  last  coronation,  must  have  had  a  poor  effect  hi 
comparison  of  the  present  which  formed  a  gradation  fai 
the  scale  of  gorgeous  ornament,  from  the  unwiel^ 
splendour  of  the  heralds,  who  glowed  Uke  huge  maaaea 
of  cloth  of  gold  and  silver,  to  xho  inpre  chastened  robes 
Digitized  by  VjOOQ  It  ^ 


^»«.p0,4m  .WjAyppi  sraoipi^ 


m 


;  not  fottfii  t)^  effeet 


Hi  toiUflvJoMipi  AinIuMMok»ra.pi«p 
oteffiwVn«liRM|)erff«tlrlBftbkM 

JjptiiTtiav,  in  fitftkuhar.  he  4^auqar«d  Uka  a  gaUxy.  | 
eaanot  learn  poatiVdj  if  he  had  on  ^at  reuownedcoat 
vhich  has  Tiaited  all  Che  courta  of  Europe  lave  ours,  and 
te  said  to  be  worth  XlOO^OOOf  or  some  such  trifle,  and 
vhieh  costs  the  Prinee  £\S0  or  two  ef  ery  timb  he  puts  It 
on,  as  he  is  swe  to  16se  peaffe  to  ttaat-aoumnt  Tms  was 
«  h^as^  drew,  but  splendid  in  the  last  degreei  perhaps 
too  llntt  far  ftood  taace.  at  least  it  would  have  appearcld  so 
anj  where  eiae.  Besde  the  Pfllic^  sat  a  good^nanioured 
'  ^  w^  sfteoBied  all  ejFas  and  ears,  (his  daushteHi»*latr  I 

rt ^  wh^wfure  aaiuinj  diaoMads  as  i£  tOAjT  bad  baeia 
1  aionf  a.    ▲ahoneyM  Persian  wan  also  a  xemarka^I^ 

^  from  the  owed  and  Imperturbable  grarity  with 
Jeh  he  looked  on  the  whole  scene,  withow  ever  mov- 
ii|r  a4it;>b  or  a  muscle  during  the  apace  of  four  hours. 
late  nt  Wllfiit  Wltwoud,  I  carniot  find  that  your  Ferstaoi 
ti^offthedox;  for  if  he*  scorned  every  thing  else,  tberew«s 
^Kalioiiieian  paradise  eiEtttnded  om  Wft  fl|*fl  tend  alaofl 
Htm  setts  wmeh  were  ooeupied  by  the  FJaeggssest  ana 
<Mi'  dwghters,  which  th»  Prophet  hitns^lf  nil||t  ha«« 
lookt^  on  wiita  emotion.    I  ka^e  seldom  seen  A  mm 

5  the  noble 
ffeathera, 

__-      _  ,-    i  the  most  ap- 

proprtate  efl^clh?  setting  off  their  charms. 

^1  must  not  (^it  that  the  foreigners,  who  are  aft  to 
isHsMey  cm  as  a  aaiiott  ew /Voe,  and  wfthMt  the*  osnal 
•«er«atoliils  of  dreMs^ and 'distfncUon,  ware  itcterly  asto- 
vished  aiMidelfghtsdtoseeth^svvinloffiBudBi^eaaBS 
aaiKsadal  grandeUiv  wkea  the  oecasiom  dofnaaded  itr  and 
QlitiiF  a  degiijae  of  splendoor  which. iheyaveised  they 
tpdmvrer  saen  paralleled  in  fi\irope. 

**  Ti^  dudes  of  aerrice  at  tlie  Banquet,  and  of  attend- 
in^e  Id  general,  was  perform^  by  pitfes  drest  very  ele- 
gantly, in  Henry  Qustre  coata  of  scarlet,  with  goldtace, 
Wie  aabhea;  white  snk  hose,  and  whit^  rosettes.  Inhere 
were  ilao  mare^al's-men  for  keeping  order,  who  wove  a 
liniflarAreaa,  bat  o^bhMt  and  tevtn|ftvta(te  sashes.  Both 
oepartine«ls  were  ilUed  up  almsat  entirely  i>yiTo«Qgfen' 
kenea,  numy  of  Kheiii  of  the  very«  6rst  condition,  vrtis 
'  ^h2?®  menial  charaetera  to  gain  admission  to  the 


Twas  BchooUng  pride  to  see  the  menial  wait, 
Smile  on  his  fatper,  and  receiTe  hi/i  plate. 

It  must  be  own^d,  however,  that  thev  pnsied  but  hidlilfer' 
^  ^fvaleli,  ani  were  very  apt,  like  we  olown  In  the  pan- 
*  Ibaiho^,  to  eat  the  oheer  they  abould  hkve  handed  to 
Cheir  maatMrs,  and  to  play  other  toun  de  page^  which  n^ 
■sindtd-me  of  the  oantioa  of  our  proverb,  *  not  to  ^nao 
yourself  with  your  kin.'  "Hie  Peers,  for  ejcample,  had 
<mly  a  cold  coIlSfttio&,  while  the  Aldermen  of  London  feast- 
ed on  venison  and  turtle;  tnd  simUar  errors'  necessarily 
l^ell  others  in  the  confusion  of  the  evening.    But  these 

»  'd^hi  mistakes,  which  indeed  were  not  known  till  after- 

wards, had  not  the  slightest  effect  on  the  general  grandeur 
of  the  scene. 

"  I  <fid  not  see  the  processton  between  the  Abhey  and 
fialL    In  the  morning  a  few  voices  called,  Queen^  Queen^ 

^  as  Lord  Londonderry  nassed,  and  even  when  the  Sove- 

reign appeared.  But  theae  were  only  signals  for  the  loud 
and  reiterated  acclamations  in  which  these  tonea  of  dis- 
content wete  completely  drowned.  In  the  return,  no 
one  dissonant  voice  intimated  the  least  dissent  from  the 
«  shouts  of  gratulation  which  poured  from  every  quarter; 
and  ccrtatnlt  never  Monarch  received  a  more  general 
welcome  from  his  assembled  subjects. 

^You  will  have  from  others  full  accounts  of  the  variety 
<^  entcrtainmentsprovided  for  John  Bull  in  the  Parks, 
the  River,  in  the  Theatres,  and  elsewhere.  Nothing  was 
to  be  seen  or  heard  but  sounds  of  plea.^re  and  festivity ; 
and  whoever  saw  tho  scene  at  any  one' spot,  was  con- 
Tioced  that  the  whole  population  was  assembled  there, 
while,  others  found  a  similar  concourse  of.  revellers  in 
every  (fiffcrent  point.  It  is  computed  that  about  fivb 
HUKSRBD  TuorSA50  PEOPLE  sharcd  in  the  Festival  in  oiie 
\  way  or  another ;  and  you  may  imagine  the  excellent  dis- 
jNyfcition  by  which  the  people  were  animated,  when  I  tell 
yon,  that,  excepting  a  few  windows  broken  by  a  small 
Dbdy-guardof  ragamuIBns,  who  were  in  immediate  atteno- 
pmce  on  the  Great  Lady  in  the  morning,  not  the  slightest 

SMtical  violence  occurred  to  disturb  the  general  bar- 
ony—«nd  that  the  assembled  populsce  seeped  to  be 
univenally  actuated  by  the  nririt  of  the  day,  loyalty^ 


huooor-  JtrotUiM  oeeifrrad  t*  danm 
1t((Misr  the  wiatgir'w«a<^aoat<pMM| 
Joos,  and  ths'  aitsnt^^ents  so  pnibot,  Ibnt  aaaeqiMK 
of  any  kind  Is  re^rted  krha^liig  taken  |fti»e.  And  ik> 
concmded  the  coronation  «r  Ofewnn  nr.y  whofn  Gnoiisat 

Sierve.  Thosp  who  wit— saed  it,ha««-aeen  mm^wm 
olated  to  raise'  tbe  emmtry  in  their.  sfdBie«r  aodi  19 
iw  into  the  sittde  all  aeenea  of  a  iUnUavmagnifiBeliMv 
from  the  field  •(  the  Clolh  of  C^oki  dovnt-to  the  praatnt 
diiy.    I  rMnaltt,'yo«iri«badtoitt  aerranty 

Ak  £f  n-WcniBaa/' 

At  the  close  of  this  bnlliani  s^^ae^  Hcoit  received 
II  murk  of  homage  i*  his  pemus  which  deiiRhtA^ 
Him  nor  ha9  fhaif)  Laird  Nippy* b  raterence  for  tht 
^eri^'^  KnKffL  and  the  ESirmmph am  Cutler'*  dear 
atquisition  of  Kir  ei^nnture  on  a  visiting  ticrkei. 
MsssJT^K  hia  cnnia^,  he  bnd  to  return  home  on  foot 
from  Westmtnflter,  nfmr  the  batiquet—tbat  is  to  «ay, 
between  two  and  \hite  o^ctock  in  the  mprnmjs— 
when  he  apd  a  youna  geDtl^mant  ^^  cotiTpanion, 
fynmd  ihcJTJselvtjs  lucked  in  ihm  croivd,  aonwwliere 
lltar  WhiiehaLL  and  the  buiiUe  and  mniuh  wer« 
ttich  Uiai  hm  ftifmd  wai  afraid  f^ome  aeciiknt  niinht 
huppcn  1^  the  lanifl  limb.  A  ?pac4?  for  the  dtfunla- 
Yk:9  wns  kept  dear  ttl  that  rcJint  by  the  Scot«  Grpy*. 
Sir  Walter  addressed  a  aerjeant  of  this  cetebtatpd 
r^nientt  be^y^np  to  bo  allowtxi  to  pass  by  him  tHito  ^ 
the  upon  KTiJund  in  ih^  middle  of  the  irrtieL  The 
TOiin  ariswc+rt^l  flhortly  that  hifl  orders  were  atnci— 
that  the  thinu^  was  impoMJblo^  WbUc  h<^wtnM  «ii- 
oeavoriiig  to  poreuade  tbt?  s^Tgesni  lo  rtleDt,  some 
nevt  wove  of  turbulcn^re  approi^rbcd  from  bobtndt 
and  his  yriunR  compfioifln  ejcclaiosed  in  a  |<jtid  mce> 
•*  Tnky=  care,  Sir  Walter  StoU,  take  onre  T  The  siai- 
Won  rtra^non»  on  hcfirinK  the  nntiif,  Jjaid,  "  What  i 
Si r  W aho r  S to tt  1  He  § h al I  gpt  t b roueh  an r bo w  1*^  ^ 
fli?  thtn  addresaed  tne  soldiers  near  him— ^'Mok^ 
yoom,  m^n,  for  Sit  Walter  Scott*  our  iUu^rrtous 
countryman  V*  The  men  answer^,  "Sir  Wallet 
Besot  r  I  God  hi  eta  him  T^— and  he  was  ii*  a  noomjenl 
wrthtn  the  f!uard«d  Line  of  safety. 

I  shall  now  take  anoiber  extTact  from  tb«  m^m*^ 
randfjt  with  which  I  have  bct-n  favonred  bjf  my  fnond 
Allan  Cunningham.    Ai^er  the  particulars  formeTljr       ^ 
quoted  abouf   ScoU^P  aittins  to  Chuntrcv,  in   the 
spring  of  iS^n,  he  prooe^$  aa  foUowd  :— 

"  I  aaW'iBir  Walter  asiin,  when  he  attended  the  eon>na> 
tlon,  In  ld21.  In  the  mean^me  hia  bnat  had  been  wrought 
in  marble,  and  the  npulpior  deairedto  take  tbendvant^e 
of  hia  ▼iait  to  eommunicate  auch  toncbea  of  expreaaion 
or  lineament  aa  the  new  material  rendered  neceaaary. 
Ttitowaa  Amewlthahttpptaieacor  ere  and  hand  alaaoat 
mafical ;  for  fire  houira  dttd  the  poai  ait,  or  stalMl,  or  w«ll^ 
while  Chantrey'a  chisel  waa  paased  again  and  again  orer 
the  marble,  addhs  aoniethtng  at  every  tomb. 

"  <  Wel>,  Allan/ he  Mid,  when  he  aaw  mr  at  Chia  taat  Ut- 
ting,  *  were  you  at  the  (»)ronatk)n  9  It  was  a  aplendid  sight ' 

*  No,  81r  Walter.'  I  anewered— *plaeea  were  dear  and  ill 
to  ^:  I  am  told  it  was.  a  magnificent  scene ;  but  having 
seen  flie  proceaaion  of  King  Crispin  at  Dumfries,  I  was 
aatiafied.'  I  aald  this  vdth  a  sndle :  Scott  took  it  aa  I 
meantjt,  and  laughed  heartily.  *  That  la  not  a  bit  better 
than  Iiogg,'  he  satu.  *He  stood  balancing  the  matter 
whether  to  go  to  the  coronation  or  the  fair  of  Saint  Bos- 

"well— and  the  fair  carried  It*  < 

"During  this  conversation,  Mr.  Bolton  the  engineer 
came  in.  ^mething  like  a  cold  acknowledgment  passed 
between  the  poet  and  him.  On  hia  passing  into  an  inner 
room,  Scott  said, '  1  am  afraid  Mr.  Bolton  has  not  forgot  a 
little  pa85uige  that  once  took  pbce  between  us.  We  met 
in  a  DubUc  cprnpany,  and  in  reply  to  the  remark  of  some 
one.  he  said,  ' Thal^s  like  the  old  saying— in  every  corner 
of  tne  world  you  will  find  a  Scot,  a  rat,  and  a  Ifewcastle 
grindstone.'     This  touched  my  Scotch  spirit,  and  I  said, 

*  Mr.  BoHon,  you  ought  to  have  added,  ano  a  Birming- 
ham  &u$ton,*  There  waa  a  lixigh  at  this,  and  BIr.  Bokon 
replied, '  We  make  something  better  in  Birmingham  than 
buttons— we  make  steam- engioes,  sir.'        , 

••*!  like  BoHon,'  thus  continued  Sir  Wilier,  *  he  la  a 
brave  man,  and  vrho  can  disUke  the  brave  7— He  showed 
this  on  a  remarkable  oecasfcm.  He  had  encaged  to  coin 
ibraome  foreign  prince  a  lai^e  quantity  of  gold.  This 
waa  found  out  by  soase  daaoai^adoes,  who  resolved  to  rob 
tile  premises,  and  aa  a  preluninary  atep  tried  to  bribe  the 
portar.  The  porter  vfaa  an  honest  fellow— he  told  Bolton 
that  he  waa  ofiVred  a  hundred  poiuida  to  be  blind  and 
deaf  ne«  night  "Take  the  money,"  -tras  the  answer, 
**and  I  shall  protect  the  plhce.**    Midnight  eame^hf 


164 


LIFB  6p  sir  WALTTOt  SOOTT. 


fMM  Opened  m  if  by  uuiffie ;  the  interior  doore,  eecored 
vMk  peteal  loeke,  opened  se  if  of  their  own  eecord,  and 
three  men  with  dark:  lenteme  entered  end  went  straight  to 
the  foM.  Bolton  had  prepared  eome  llaz  steeped  in  tur- 
penSne— he  dropt  flre  upon  It,  a  sudden  lifbt  filled  all  the 
plaee,  and  with  his  assistante  he  nisbed  forward  on  the 
robbera.  The  leader  saw  in  a  moment  he  was  betrayed, 
tamed  en  the  porter,  and  shooting  him  dead,,  burst 
through  all  obstruction,  and  with  an  ingot  of  gold  in  his 
hsndjSGaled  the  wall  and  escaped.' 

*' '  That  is  quite  a  romance  in  robbing/ 1  said,  and  I  had 
beartr  said  mote,  for  the  cavern  scene  and  death  of  Meg 
Mertuees  rose  in  my  mtnd-^erhaps  the  mind  of  (Hr  Wat* 
te^  was  taking  the  direction  of  the  Sohn^  too,  for  he  said, 
'How  long  hsve  you  been  from  Ni(hedaleV  '▲  dozen 
yews.'  *  Then  you  will  remember  it  well  I  was  a  visiter 
there  in  my  youth ;  my  brother  was  at  Closebum  school, 
nnd  there  4  found  Crcehope  Linn,  a  scene  ever  present 
to  my  fancy.  It  is  at  once  fearful  and  beautlftji.  The 
stream  jump.i  down  from  the  moorlands,  saws  its  way  into 
the  Tree-stone  rock  of  a  hundred  feet  deep,  and,  in  eseap> 
tng  to  the  plain;  nerfonns  a  thousand  vagaries.  In  one  pwrt 
It  hie  actually  snaped  out  a  little  chapel— the  peasants  call 
It  the  Sotors*  Chair.  Tliere  are  seulptores  on  the  ddes 
of  ihe  linn  too.  not  sueh  As  Mr.  Ghantsey  easts,  but  etch* 
IMS  scraped  in  with  a  knife,jnerhape,oraharrow*looth. 
Pkl  you  ever  hear,*  said  Sir  Walter, '  of  Patrick  Blazwell, 
who,  taken  prisoner  by  the  King's  troops,  escaped  from 
them  on  hfs  way  to  Edinburgh,  by  fiinginx  himself  into 
that  dreadful  linn  on  Moflhtt  water,  called  the  Douglasses 
Beef-tub  7'  *  Frequently,'  I  answered;  *lhe  country 
abounds  with  anecdotes  of  those  days ;  the  popular  feel* 
lag  syropethices  with,  the  poor  ^JaeoMtes,  ana  haa  record* 
ed  Ite  sentiments  in  many  a  tale  and  many  a  rrrse.*  *  The 
Bttnck  Shepherd  haaoollected  not  a  fevv  nnin.^r  iliiajtV 
aaidflcott,  'and  I  suppose  many  snatcho'^  r^f  ^i^^i  m^y  jet 
be  found.'  C. '  I  have  gathered  many  su <  1 1 U] [ns,a  mj 5i<L^ If, 
IHr  Walter,  and  as  I  stUl  propose  to  make  a.  cqU^ciI^jti  of 
an  Scottish  soogs  of  poetic  merit,  I  shall  wi'Tk  up  rnariy  of 
my  stray  verses  and  cnrloua  anecdotes  iu  tlin  not«?4. '  H. 
'  I  am  glad  that  you  are  about  such  a  tYUuf!,  ,itny\ie\pwh  Erh 
1  can  give  Vou,  you  may  command ;  ask  mt!  aoy  queaiioTie, 
nomatter newmany, Irtiallanswerthetiiir  loan  TV^n't 
be  timid  in  your  selection ;  our  anceator.-i  friu«bt  boldly, 
■poke  boldfy,aDd  sang  boldly  too.  I  eaii  h^lp  you  t^i  jia 
old  characteristic  ditty  not  yet  in  print : 

^  Ther^  dwalt  a  man  into  the  wast, 

And  O  ghi  he  was  cruel. 
For  on  his  bridal  night  at  e*en 

He  cat  up  and  grat  for  gruel 
Thev  broi^ht  to  nhn  a  gods  ihe«p*a  head, 

A  bason,  and  a  towel, 
Oar  take  tnae  whim-whame  fiur  firae  me, 

I  wlnna  want  ray  gruel' 

**G.  I  never  heard  that  verse  before;  the  hero  seema 
nkted  to  the  bridegroom  of  Ntthsdale— 

. '  The  bridegroom  grat  as  the  sun  gade  down, 
The  bridegroom  grat  as  the  sun  gade  down,i 
To  ony  man  I'll  gie  a  bunder  marks  sao  free. 
This  night  that  wiU  bed  wi'  a  bride  for  me.'      , 

**S.  A  cowardly  loon  enouzh.  t  know  of  many  crornba 
and  fragments  of  verse  which  will  be  uaefhl  to  your  work ; 
the  Border  was  once  peopled  with  poetp,  for  every  one 
that  could  fight  could  make  ballads,  tome  of  them  of  great 
power  and  pothoa.  Some  such  peoole  as  the  minstrels 
were  living  less  than  a  century  aio/  C.  *  I  knew  a  man, 
the  IsLSt  of  a  race  of  district  tale-tellers,  who  used  to  boast 
of  the  golden  dau  of  his  youth,  and  say,  that  the  world, 
with  all  lis  knowledge,  was  grown  six-pence  a  day  worse 
^for  him.'  S. '  How  wa)i  that  1  how  did  he  make  his  living?* 
'by  telllni;  tales,  or  singing  ballads  J'  C.  •  By  both :  he  had 
a  devout  tale  for  the  old,  and  a  merry  song  for  the  young ; 
he  was  a  sort  of  beggar.'  R  *  Out  upon  thee,  Allan,  dost 
thou  call  that  begging  1  Why,  man,  we  make  our  bread 
by  storytelling,  and  honest  bread  it  Is.' " 

I  ou^ht  not  to  cloBo  th?8  extract,  without  obaerv- 
•ing  that  Sir  F.  Chan  trev presented  the  orif^nsl  bust, 
of  which  Mr.  Cunninf^nam  speaks., to  Sir  Walter 
himself:  W  whose  remote  descenoanrs  it  will  uo- 
4oubtedl¥  be  held  in  additional  honour  on  that  ae- 
connt.  Tiie  poet  had  the  farther  gratification  of 
learning  that  three  copies  were  exectited  in  marble 
before  the  original  quitted  the  studio;  One  for 
Windsor  Castle— a  second  for  Apsley  House— and  a 
third  for  the  friendly  sculptor's  own  private  collec- 
tion. The  leqitimatt  casts  of  this  bust  have  since 
been  multiplied  beyond  perhaps  any  example  what> 


ever.  JJDr.  Cunniiwhtiii  ramemben  ndt  fcwer  than 
fifteen  hundred  of  them  (priee  four  ffuineat  each) 
beinR  ordeted/vr  €avprto/«on--ehiedy  to  the  United 
States  of  Ameriea-^'witimi  one  year.  OfthenrnBadik 
or  rather  milliona,  df  inferior  copies  manoliaetnfea 
and  distributed  by  unauthorized  perecnu,  it  would  b» 
in  vain  ta  attempt  any  calculatioiL 


CHAPTER  LIII. 

PtTBUCATlON   or    MB.  ▲Z>0LPHU8's.  LETTEfta  OV  TBK 
AUTHORSHIP  or  WAVEaUBT.— 1821. 

ijLibtNLr  :^i-.tt's  visit  to  London,  in  Jolv,  18B1, 
there  DT^pcort ri  a  work  which  was  read  with  ea^er 
ctiriosity  and  delight  by  the  public— with  mneh 
privntL'  c1ivt;rsh^a  besides  by  his  frienda— and  w4i^ 
ho  himD4  [f  tiMist  have  gone  through  with  a  vKy 
odd  aiiixturn  iii  emotions.  I  allude  to  the  vqIuom 
en  lEikd  ''  LiLJt  Eire  to  Richard  Heber,  Esq.,  oontaininis 
cniLcnl  rem&rks  on  the  series  of  noma  beginning 
wjtli  Waverley.  and  an  attempt  to  ascertain  theor 
aiithoa^^  whith  was  soon  known  •to  faava  beea 
penned  hv  Mr.  John  Leicester  Adolphua,  a  dierin- 
(frjj'sbc'd  ftbmijiisof  the  University  then  represented 
in  PurliHmcni  by  Sir  Walter's  early  friend  Hebcr. 
PrenoLi3l}r  \i>  i he  publication  of  these  Lettarii  the 
opinion  \\mx  Scott  was  tbe.-author  of  Waverley  haA. 
iiiLJt-i>d  beoHK!  well  settled  in  the  EogUsh,  to  aajt 
nuthiiig  id  lUii  Scottish  mindi  a  ^reat  variety  aC 
etrcumstanoes,  external  as  well  as  miemal.  had  bjr 
degreea  co-operated  to  its  general  eatablisiiraeRt  f 
yet  there  were  not  wanting  persons  who  stiJ}  iHa- 
sented,  or  at  least  aflected  to  dieaent  from  It  It 
was  reserved  for  the  enthusiastic  tndostry^  and  ad- 
mirable ingenuity  of  this  juvenile  academic  to  set 
the  question  at  rest,  by  an  accumulation  of  critical 
evidence  which  no  sophistry  could  evade,  and  yet 
produced  in  a  style  of  aueh  higli-brea  delicacv,  Caai 
It  was  imnossibfe  for  the  hitherto  'veiled  prophe^M 
take  the'slighteat  ofifenee  with  th«  hand  taat  nad  for 
ever  abolished  his  disgnrise.  The  only  soeptieal 
scruple  that  survived  this  exposition,  wat  extin- 
guished in  due  time  by  Scott's,  avowal  of  the  mtU 
and  urjutUted  authorship  of  his  novels :  and  now 
Mr.  Adolphus's  Letters  have  ahared  the  late  of 
other  elaborate  arguments,  the  tbasia  of  which  haa 
ceased  to  be  oontroverted.  Hereafter.  I  am  per- 
suade his  vohune  will  be  revived  for  its  own 
sake;— but,  in  the  meantime,  regardmg  it  merdy  aa 
forming,  by  its  original  effect,  an  epoch  in  Sooths 
history,  I  think  it  my  duty  to  mark  my  sense  of  its 
impprtanee  in  that  point  of  view,  by  tranacribiog 
the  writer's  own  summary  of  its 

"CONTENTS. 

^^LsTTBE  I. —Introduction—General  reasons  for  b^ 
lieviog  the  novels  to  hare  been  written  by  the  author  of 
Bfarmlon. 

"  Lbttir  n.— Resembisnce  between  the  noreUst  end 

Ketin  their  tastes,  studies,  andhabltsof  life,  as  Illustrated 
their  works— Uotli  Scotchmea— Babitual  residents  In 
Edinburgh— Poets— Antiquaries— German  and  S^panish 
scholars— Equal  in  classical  attainments— Deeply  read  in 
British  history— Lawyers— Fond  of  field  sports— of  dogs- 
Acquainted  with  roost  manly  exercises— Lovers  of  miU* 
tarY  subjects— Ttie  novelist  apparently  not  a  aokller. 
"  TETTER  ni— The  novelisvia,  like  the  Doet,  a  man  of 

Sood  society— His  stories  never  betrav  forxetfulneaa  of 
onourable  principles,  or  ignorance  oi  good  manners- 
Spirited  pictures  of  gentlemanly  character— Colonel  fiCaa* 
nering— Judicious  treatment  of  elevated  historical  per^ 
sonages.- The  novelist  quotes  and  praises  most  contetn. 
porary  pocttt,  except  the  author  of  Marmion — Instances 
In  whicn  the  poet  lias  appeared  to  slight  his  own  unac- 
knowledged, but  afterwards  avowed  productions. 

"  LxTTKB  IV.— Comparison  of  the  works  themselves— 
All  distingul^ed  by  good  morals  and  good  sense— the 
hater  particularly  shown  in  the  management  of  charafi* 
ter— nrose  style— Its  general  feiitures— Plainness  and 
facility— Grave  banter— Manner  of  telling  a  short  story — 
Negligence— Scotticisms— Great  propriety . aad  c^rreeU 
ness  occa.<donally,  and  sometimes  unusual  sweetnees. 

LKTTBn  v.— Dialogue  in  the  nqyels  and  poems— Ne«t 
colloquial  toma  in  the  former,  sueh  as  cannot  be  ex- 
pected in  romantic  poetry— Happy  adaptation  of  dialogue 
to  character,  whether  m^re^  natural,  or  artificially  modi 


UPE  OP  SIR  Walter  scort. 


ied,  u  by  proton,  local  hftbkf,  *e.^*PkQlU  of  dia- 
lofae,  as  eonnMtad  wtth  the  chaxacter  of  apeaken— 
Qnaineness  of  kmafa  and  tbot^t— BooUah  air  In  eon- 

Seraatkm— BiflCorkal  periooaffes  alluding  to  their  own 
elabrated  acta  and  aajring a— Uoancceaaml  attempta  at 
broad  Tukarttf— Beautlea  of  eompoahton  pecoliar  to  the 
dialo(iie-^erBena8aand  spirit— Theae  qiiahtiea  well  dis- 
played in  qvarreb ;  bat  not  in  acenea  oi  polished  raille- 
ry— Ekiqueoce. 

**  I'Tna  VI.— The  p^etnr  of  the  author  of  Marmion 
generally  characterized— wa/habtta  of  composition  and 
torn  of  mind,  aa  a  poet,  compared  with  those  of  the  no- 
velat— Their deaenptions  slm[^y  concehred  and  compos- 
ad,  wMwot  abstnise  and  far-fetched  circumstances  or 
reftned  conunenjts— Chreat  aJlral>ta|e  derfred  bj  l>oth  from 
accidental  combinatiane  of  fmages,  and  the  association  of 
objects  in  the  mbid  with  persons,  events,  ^.—Distinct- 
neas  and  Bveliaess  of  effect  in  narrative  and  description— 
N arrive  usually  picturesque  or  dramatic,  or  both— 
PMthietiless,  4cc.  6t  eflfcct,  produced  in  ▼arions  ways— 
.  Sirilcimf  pictures  of  individuals— Their  persons,  dress, 
4ke.— Inscriptions  sometimes  too  obviodsly  picturesoue— 
Subjects  for  painter*— Effects  of  light  fjreouently  noticed 
and  finely  described— Both  writers  excel  in  grand  and 
complicated  scenes— Among  detached  and  oi^asional 
ornaments,  tlie  irimiles  partioulaHy  noticed— ^nlir  fre- 
qneaacj  and  beaotir— Similes  and  metaphors  aomettmea 
^oalbt  and  puraued  too  fiir. 

•*  Lama  VII.— Stiarlea  of  the  two  wrttera  compare*— 
THese  are  generalfy  connected  with  true  history,  and 
lia^e  their  scene  laid  in  a  real  place— Local  peculiarities 
diUfently  attended  to— Instances  In  which  the  novelist 
and  poet  bare  celebrated  the  same  placea— they  fluent- 
ly deacrlbe  theae  aa  aeen  by  a  traveBer  (the  hercvor  some 
other  j>i1ncipal  pen^nage)for  the  first  time— Dramatie 
nwde  of  relattttg  story— (SoHloqnies— Some  scenes  de- 
feneTat»  Into  melodrame— Lyrical  pieces  Introduced 
•onetimef  too  theatrically— Oomparathre  nnimportaoce 
of  faeroes-^variona  cauaes  of  thia  laalt- Beroea  iVjected 
bjr  ladlea,  and  nuurylng  others  whom  they  had  before 
aoglited— Peraonal  atr^le  between  a  denized  and  a 
barbarous  hero— Characters  reaembling  each  other— 
.Femalo  portraita  In  general--4Where  and  daoghtera— 
Obaractera  In  Panl'a  Letter*— WycUffe  and  Rislfigham— 
Cnoasin  and  Hatteraick— Other  characters  compared. — 
Long  periods  of  time  abruptly  passed  over— Surprises, 
unexpected  discoveries,  Ac— These  sometimes  too  for- 
ced and  artiflcial^FreqneAt  recourse  to  the  manrelloua— 
Breams  wen  described— Lhring  persons  mistaken  for 
SMctrea— Deaths  of  Builer,  Risingham,  and  Rashlelgh. 

'*L«rm  Vnt— Oompariaon  of  particular  paasagea— 
Beacriptiona— BDaceUaneoua  thouchta- Inatancea,  In 
which  the  two  writers  have  reaorted  to  (he  aame  aources 
of  information,  and  borrowed  the  aame  incldenta,  &c.— 
flame  antbora  quoted  by  both— the  poet,1lke  the  npreltst, 
Ibnd  of  mentioning  his  contemporaries,  whether  as  pri* 
Tate  friends  or  as  men  publicly  distinaulshed— Anther  of 
Marmion  nerer  notices  tne  Amhor  of  Waverl^  (see  Letter 
in.)— Both  delight  In  frequently  introducing  an  antiquated 
op  fhntastic  dialect— Pec  uliaritiea  of  expreaaion  common 
to  both  wrttera— Conchiaion." 

I  wiih  I  had  si^ace  for  extracting  copiotw  speci- 
Bient  of  the  felicity  with  which  Mi.  Adolphus  works 
out  them  vnrious  boipts  of  his  problem.  As  it  ia,  I 
most  be  contented  with  a  nanow  telection— and  I 
ihall  take  two  or  three  of  the  passages  which  seem 
to  me  to  connect  themselves  most  naturally  with 
the  mam  pwpose  of  my  own  compilation. 

"  A  thorough  knowledge  and  atateamanllke  underatand* 
ing  of  the  domestic  hiatory  and  poUUca  of  Britain  at 
vsriona  and  diatant  periods ;  a  familiar  acquaintance  with 
the  manaera  and  prevailing  epirit  of  former  generationa, 
and  with  the  characters  and  tiablis  of  their  most  diatin- 
guistv&d  men,  are  of  themselves  no  cheap  or  common  at- 
tainmenta ;  and  it  la  rare  indeed  to  find  them  united  with 
a  strong  original  genius,  and  great  brilliancy  of  Imagtaa- 
tion.  Yfe  know,  however,  that  the  towering  poet  of 
Flodden-fleld  is  also  the  diligent  edUor  of  Swift  and  Drv- 
den,  of  Lord  Somers's  Trac^,  and  of  Sir  Ralph  Sadlera 
State  Papers ;  that  in  theae  and  other  parts  of^his  literary 
career  he  has  necessarily  plunged  deep  into  the  study  of 
British  bistoiT,  biography,  and  antiquities,  and  that  the 
talent  and  aetirtty  which  he  brought  to  tiiese  researches 
have  been  warmly  seconded  by  the  seal  and  liberality  of 
those  who  possessed  the  amplest  and  rarest  sources  of 
information.  *  The  mui^  jG^tind  hha*'  aa  he  himaelf  aald 
long  ago,  *  engaged  in  the  purslh  of  historical  and  txadl< 
tlonal  antlquUiea,  and  the  excuraloaa  which  he  haa  made 
in  her  company  have  been  of  a  nature  which  Increases 
his  attachment  to  hia  original  atudj.'  Are  we  then  to 
suppose,  that  another  writer  haa  combined  the  aama 


poweraof  foncy  wfthAhe  Mme  spirit  of  toveatigalion,  Cha 
aame  peraeventacaitaml  the  aame  good  fortonel  and 
ehaU  we  not  rathiftMllaTe,  that  the  labour  employad 
in  the  inuatration'of:Dryden  haa  helped  to  fertlttie  the 
taveation  which  prodneed  Montroae  and  Old  Blattatt* 
tyl    .    .  w    .,  , 

^  However  it  may  mlUtaie  againat  the  auppoaition  of  his 
being  a  poet,  I  cannot  aumreaa  my  oplnicak,  that  our  no- 
▼elist  is  a  *  man  af  1am.*  -  He  deals  out  the  peculiar  terms 
and  phraoea  of  that  science  (aa  practiaed  m  Scotland)  wilh 
a  freedom  and  coofldeaoe  beyond  the  reach  .of  any 
tminitiated  person.  If  ever,  in  the  progress  of  his  nar* 
rative,a  legal  topic  prassnts  Usalf.  (which  very  frequently 
happens,)  he  neither  decUnes  the  subject,  nor  timid^ 
sUirs  it  over,  but  enters  as  largely  and  formally  into  all  ita 
teehnicaliUea,  aa  if  the  case  were  actually '  before  the 
fifteen.'  The  manners,  humourai  and  profeaaional  bo- 
vardage  of  lawyers,  are  sketched  with  all  t^  ease  and 
familiarity  which  result  from  habitual  obsenration.  'In 


fact,  the  aubject  of  law,  which  ia  a  stumblingblock  to 
"         '   '    the  present  writer  a  apot    ' 
louogea  and  gossips,  h( 
Boleattu^  and,  at  times,  almost  forgets  that  when  an  au* 


otherSfisto  the  present  writer  a  spot  of  repose;  upon 

Mcinctut  eS 


this  theme  he 


,  ho  is  ( 


thor  finua  himaelf  at  home  and  perfecUy  at  ease,  he  is  in 
great  danger  of  falling  asleep.^^If,  then,  my  inferenoes  are 
correct,  the  unknown  writer  who  was  just  now  proved  to 

)d  a  follower 

least  on  thia 

differ^t  ocf 

caaion— 


be  an  excellent  poet,  must  also  be  pronounced  a  f 
of  the  law :  the  oomoinaUVn  la  so  unusual,  at  least 
wUde  of  the  Tweet^  that,  sjf  Juvenal  aays  on  a  diffe] 


'  bimembri 


Hoc  monatrum  puero.  vel  mlrandia  aub  aratro 
Piscibus  inventis,  et  Rets  compare  mul».' 


goddess  ^f 
towearoataflrolio 


Nature  has  Indeed  praaented  us  with  one  such  pn>digy  hi 
the  author  of  Marmion ;  and  It  la  probable,  that  m  the  an* 
tbor  of  Wavsrleyf  we  only  see  the  aame  apeelmen  under 
a  different  aapeet ;  ■  fo«,  however  anottive  the  goddei 
be,  ahe  haa  too  muob  wit  and  inrentioa  to 

by  Bkaay  repatltioBa. 

•  "A  strikhig  eharaoteriatic  of  both  writera  is  their  aiv 
dent  love  of  rural  aports,  and  all  manly  and  robust  exar>  • 
cisea.^But  the  importanes  given  to  the  canine  race  hi 
theae  worka  ought  to  be  noted  aa  a  oharaotertatic  feature  < 
by  itaell  I  have  aeen  aome  drawlnga  by  a  Swiaa  artiat, 
vrtm  was  oalled  tha  Baphael  of  cau ;  and  either  of  the 
wrttera  before  ua  ml^ht,  by  a  aimilar  phrase,  be  called  • 
Che  Wilkie  of  doga  la  it  neceaaary  to  juatify  auch  acorn* 
pliment  by  exampleal  Call  Yarrow,  or  Luflra*  or  poor 
rsnta.  Colonel  Mannertng*a  Ttaio,  Henry  Morton'a  Etphm, 
or  Bobbie  EUiof  a  KObuck,  or  wolf  or  AveneLCaatle  :— 
see  Fits- Jamea'a  hounds  returning  from  the  purauit  of  the 
ioatatag—  ^ 

*  Back  Umped  with  alow  and  crippled  pace 
The  aulky  leaders  of  the.chase^— 

or  awlmming  after  the  boat  which  earrles  Hietf  Maater— 

«Wlth  heads  ereet  and  whlmiMiHagci!«r  ' 

The  houDda  behhMl  their  paisage'ply.^ 

Sea  Captain  (Tlotterbuok'a  dog  guixMing  him  when  hd< 
mlaaed  a  bird,  or  the  acene  of  *  mutual  explanatioa  sad . 
remonstrance'  between  ^|he  venerable  patrlarcha  oM 
Pepper  and  Muatard,'  and  Henry  Bertram'a  rough  tar* 
risr  Waap.  If  theae  matancea  are  not  aufBcient,  torn  m 
the  &igUah  blood>hoimdaaaaiUng  the  yoongBucdenoh— 

*  And  hark !  and  hark  I  the  deep-mouthed  bark  « 

Cornea  nlgher  atill  and  nigher ; 
Bursta  on  the  path  a  dark  blood-hoond, 
Hia  tawny  musxle  tracked  the  ground, 

And  hia  red  eye  ahot  fire. 
t3oon  aa  the  wildered  chUd  aaw  he, 

He  fiew  at  him  right  furioualie 

I  ween  you  would  have  seen  with  Joy 

The  beartng  of  the  gaUant  boy. 

So  fierce  he  atruck,  tho  doa.  afiraid, 
At  cautioaa  diataace  hoarsely  bayed, 

But  atUl  In  act  to  aprtng . 

Or  Lord  Ronald's  deer-honnda,*!  Ihe  haunted  forsAtf  ' 
Gienfinlaa—  ^ 

"  Within  an  hotir  retum'd  each  homid ; 

In  ruah^d  the  rouaera  of  the  deer ; 
They  howl'd  hi  melanaholy  aonnd, 

Then  cloaely  couch  baalde  the  aeer. 

Suddeatha  hounds  ereei  their  eara, 

And  audden  ceaae  their  moaning  howl; 
Ck>ae  oTeaa'd  to  Hoy,  they  mark  their  feara 

By  ahivering  Mmba,  and  atlfled  grovrL  ' 

Untoueh'd  the  harp  began  to  ring;    OOQlC 

Aa  aofUy,  alowly,  oped  the  door,'  &c.      O 


li«id>tIUu«rMa|litiJ 


iM«H  ilM'  84jgAoiou8  lDii(>»l0dlg«^fjl]niag«>mr  peealltf 
t6  thetv  i»e«,  Ibrboffe  to  tatnida  ii|Mb  tb8  uoMfy  sUbdc* 
of  OMrmMter.'  Tb  cooirifeu  tiM*'pl^ure,»On«  «i1rty 
old  ^If-doff  alone,  with  the  hbertj  of  an  indulged  fat 
♦oorifo,  iSdiplMitc*  hlawelf  dfciiby  lb*  ohair^  ^le, 
«wlOMa8idn«tt;'^«ttt«mdtoMtt«tt  nottee  bypuoliif  hta 
liMe  hMrrheAdtipoli  lOs  tD«Mer*»'ftBew,«rpiiaMaghIfl 
mMe  lAM  hte  liaod.  Ctreo  M  ^nm  reptlkd  br  tb«  Mem 
cMnmand,**Iiowii,B*ltfer,4own»  famiiDtiDtbetuiiiiour 
fiwfodlery."* 

**  Attocher  tniniated  eHeteb  0«6Ufi  to  t)i6  way  of 
iIibM^,— *The  interHew  between  lUleOflb  And  SharptUaHf 
ttd'w  dipect  <KffereBt  nrora  all  tbette.  Thev  eat  for  tir^ 
ibffinrc*^  allent,  on  opporite  aides  of  a  amaO  tabfe^  and 
lp6ked  fixedly  at  ekeh  o(hcf,  ^th  i  ahafp,  knowing^  and 
iSert  caa(  Ofeottntenance.  not  nnlntariid  tflHi  an  Ibcltoa- 
tlbn  to  lAngb,  aiKi  reaembled,  more  fflan  any  thln|  else, 
two^dotfa,  #ho,  titep«ring  for  a  g^me  «t  roitopa,  are  aeett 
10  ceiaph  down,  ana  remain  In  tMat  pofltitfe  fbr  a  HtUe  flme, 
tSratchln?  each  oOier'a  movements,  andl»alting  which  ahall 
berfin  the  game.'  .      . 

*°Let  me  poiht  out  a  aUD  more  tnoafttf  study  or  canine 
life-:  *  WMIe  the  Antiitukrj  wacte  ftdFtfevlamiiXion.  Jano, 
wi&d  held  him  ito  Awe,  a6eorditt[i' to  the  remarkable  in- 
MUnct  DT  which  dogs  fntfttotly  dukJerteir  those  who  Hke  or 
ill^ke  them,  Itod  peeped  aevern'times  iiito  the  room,  a&d, 
eoco^ntediig  noming  very  forUdding  to  his  aspect,  had 
at  length  presc^ned  to  totroduce  her  fuU  peraon,  and 
inally.  becoming  bold  bj  iinpmiity,  she  aptuaUy  ate  up 
Mr.  Oldbuck's  toaat^  as,  looking  t^  a(  one.  then  at 
another  of  his  Kudlepce,  he  repested  with  aelfeampla- 
cence, 

•*  Wiesve  the  wwrp,  and  tKesro^ihe  ^ttftoi"-^  ^ 

*'¥ou.rsiMAbM  the  MMSage  to  the  Fatal  Sisters,  whiehh 
bf!  th«  w^^  is  not  so  Itoa  aa  to  tlie  ocigtoa^Bot,  hey-diy  I 
mt  toast  baaiVaoiahsd  t  I  aae  WUcli^wli7'«nAli,  Itom  type 
•f womankind,  no  wonder  they  take  oflhaeeat  tfay  gsnerio 
affKliattonl^'^flo  saying,  hs  abooh  btailst  at  /nno,  who- 
scoured  mtt  of  dwniilourJ)  . 

^  In  shoct,  4bsoaghout  these  vnrkBy  wherever  it  is  po» 
stois  fot  adbg  to  eontributetto -any wayita  the  efbetof  a 
apena^wa'Aad  t^re  the  rerydsi  .that  was  reqairad,to 
Ml  pcopM  pkM:o«iid  attltiide.  ki  Btouiksome  Hali,.whcto 
tiM  feaatWaa^TSK, 

'  The  Blag-houad^  ^oarf\  wfthihe  chaaa, 
.    tay,  stretched  i]^B|this  rushy  floor, , 
Apd  urged,  to  drs^imst  the  forest  mce 
,  From  Tetlot^stona  to  ]$^d«l*iinoor.' 

The  gentle  Margaret,  when  she  steals  secretly  from  the 


'  Pau  the  shaggf  btood-houiM 
4^tif  ffspsss  |Um  up.pPop^:^4sir.' 

When  }^»Io4iiTjMls,ttie  Bsitm«6£^qiidwardtaet  to  his 


I  QeUaUeiy'Si  Ban  mA  Buscar  play 
their  parts  to  every  potot  with  perfect  diacretion ;  and  in 
fM  m"SVB  oMnpny  that  Mseaibles  at  Little  Vectha,  onr 
tlewwDti's  ^Iv^ement,  these  honest  aAhnals  are  Ibend 
'  Muflbd  torthe  thrdat  wltti  food,  ia  the  Hbendtty  of  Mac* 
wl»ebl0^a>oy,'  and  'anortu  on  th^  Itoor.'  In  the  peri- 
lens  ■ribrSBturs  of  Henrr  Bertram,  at  Portanfeny  gsol, 
thO'edton  weuld  k>ee  half  Its  toterbst,  wlttioat  the  by^^ 
of  little  Wai^.  At  the  funeral  ceremony  of  Duncr^ggan. 
t  <to  thS'lAdy  of  the  Lake,)  a  principal  mourner  ii^ 

*  Stiunah,  who,.the  bier  beside, 

His  master's  corpse  with  wcnider  eyed ; 
Poor  Stumah  !  whom  his  least  halloo 
Could  send  hke  li^itatog  o'er  the  dew.' 

Ellen  Douglas  smiled  (or  Old  hot  smile) 

*  to  aee  the  stalely  drake. 

Lead  forth  bis  Jleei  epea  the  lake, 
While  her  f  eied  spaniel  from  the  beach, 
Bayed  at  the  prize  fieyend  his  retush.'  '^ 

¥1  via  dose  this  gtowbtg  cattlogws  of  examples  with 

one  of  the  mosL  elegant  descriptions  that  ( 

,   from  a  poet's  f^ity  : 

*  Delishtfql  pnise !  like  snmmet'  rose, 


That  brighteir  in>the.dew*drep  gtoWs^ 
The  bauAil  eialden's  dheek  appeared, 
For  Douglas  apoke,  and  Malcolm  heard 
The  0teh  of  alMxne-faoed  jey  to  hide, 
The  hduttds,  the  hawk,  her  ibdre^  divile ; 
The  loved  caresses  of  the  maid 
The  dogs  with  erouch  and  whimpsi'  paid ; 


And,  at  her  whistle,  on  her  hsad        « 
ThdMckm  0D6kli»4iSro«rife  stand, 
Oloaed  Ikis  dark  wteg,  nUaated  MS  ey«, 
Nor,  mo«igli^imhiMitod,  seeght  to  fly.' 

Their  pugioa  ibr  martial  subjects,  fuad  t^r  eacceea 
in  treattog  thep.  form  a  ooiBfpbcuous  pohit  of  reeeoe 
blance  between  me  novelist  aoa  pqel.  No  wfitsr  has  ap- 
peared to  our  age  (and  few  have  ever  existed)  wio  eould 
vie  with  the  author  of  MMmio^to  deapslhizig  battles  and 
marches,  and  an  the  teraU^le  grandeur  of  vVt  excf  pi  ttoe 
author  of  Wiveriey.  Kor  is  Uiere.  any  man  of  onguual 
xexuus and.powsriul  toveotive  tslent  aa  convecaant  wifh 
the  military  character,  aod  as  well  schooled  tutaetiee,  ae 
the  author  of  Wa(verley,  except  thai  author  of  Manatew 
BollLseem  to  exult  to  canape  amj  to.wa|g»  at  the eppioecli 
of  a  soldier.  In  every  waxlike  saene  that  awes  and  agi- 
tates, or  dandea  an4  inqHrea.  the  poet  triumpha ;  but 


of  a  soliner.  In  every  warlike  saene  that  awea  and  agi- 
tates, or  dandea  an4  inqHrea.  the  poet  triumpha;  but 
where  any  effect  is  to  be  produced  bv  dwelling  oo  the 
mtouti0  of  miatary  habiu  and  diacipline,  or  eriiibitfn^ 
the  blended  hues  of  individual  humour  aiid  profnatiensi 
peculiarity,  ss  they  iiteseat  themaetves  to  themea^rooai 
or  the  guara-rpom,  evwy  advaitfage  i»  on  the  aide  of  ti^^ 
•m.   I  i9ifl|alUu 


ibytt^inhOtbe 


oadatioMoF  cBasaclar  narked' out  to  the  nevela.  firaoi 
ih»  BfM^ef  Bradmurdtoe  to  Tom  HalHday :  but  the  ex* 
amplea  are  too  well  knoi^  to  require  enumscatioo,  and 
too  generally  adinhred  to  stand  to  aeedof  paaegycic.  Beth 
wriMn,  then,  juust  hs^e  bestowed  ajEreater  attention  on 
military  anbJects,  and  jMve  mi^ed  more  Creiiaentlr  to  tiM 
society  of  soldiers,  than  to  uaual  with  persena  not  educated 
to  the  proieaaton  oi  arma.  I 

"li  may  be  asked  wby  wd  bhauld  tikke  far  graiiied  that 
the  writer  of  these  aovel^  imbqi  h^micli  a  msmbeir  of  the 
miiitaiy  profeaaiout  Tlifs  ccKii«ci,ure  ij>  a  UUl?  impTDli*- 
ble,  if  we  have  beeu  rigUi  m  caelL^ju4]in£  tiiatthe  nun^itA- 
ness  and  multiplici^  oi  our  auihc^f 't  iiir||;al  de(iii«  xjm  the 
fruit  of  his  own  stu^y  ar^^l  pi-cicacf ;  aliJti>i|di.flu  saoie 
person  jnay  certainly,  ai  iLli^Hrom  ptriotiaorlub^put'tio 
the  helmet  and  the  wii^  ilio  ^ttri  and  iiie  htmd ;  sU#Eid 
coucte  apd  lis  to  treuc^Lca  ■  hcmd  ^  ciiAX^e  sod  iced  m 
cause.  I  caipnot  help  tu^^j^^rUn^,  Imwc^vej,  (it  U  wttli 
the  greetest  diAdeuce  1  'v^^oEnrtT  ibt^  t^iuke^)  ilui  Ia 
those  wiuiihs  recitals  wli  icli  ifo  «ir<^ni[ly  interest  the  greet 
body  of  resdern^  an  srmv  cniic  wuubj  discover  ««ereL 
particulsra  thst  aavour  Ji^orc  oi  lim  aiitai«ur  than  of  tbe 
practised. fsinpsigner.  k  Is  nat  tmm  viy  ifejuii«et  Iid- 
proprieties (llsuch  exici;  i\iM  I  d€:nve  tins  ob^rretiNt. 
but,  on  the  coutrsry,  from  a  too  gc^at  mlnuienes*  end 
Over-curious  diUgence»  at  times  perceptible  to  the  mllltery 
details ;  which,  aqiidat  a  seeming  fluency  sod  familiarity, 
betray^  I  thwk^  here  sod  there^  the  lurkiug  vestiges  oi 
lapour  and  cootriwoe,  hke  thejnarka  of  pickaxes  In  aa 
artificial  grotto.  Ti\e  accounts  of  openulona  to  the  field, 
if  not  more  circumstantial  than  a  profesaioosi  aoihpf 
wuuld  have  made  theip,are  occaskyially  circumstantial 
oa  points  which  such  an  auihor  would  have  thought  it  idle 
to  dweu  upon.  A  writer  wbp  derived  his  knowledge  of 
"vrnr  from  experience  would,  no  doubt,  like  the  Author  of 
\yavezley,, delight  in  sbaulog  out  iuaagtoary  roanoguvrea. 
or  in  filling  up  the  traditional  outUue  of  those  martial 
enterprises  and  conflicts,  which  have  found  a  place  to 
history ;  perhaps,  too.  hewoolfl  dwell  on  theee  partsiof 
his  narrative  a  litHe  longer  than  wsa  strictly  aeoeasanr ; 
but  indescrtbing  (for  example)  the  advance  of  apaflty  of 
soldiers,  threMehcd  by  an  amboscade.  he  woiild  scarcelj 
think  It  worth  while  to  relate  at  hn^e  that  the  captain  *  re- 
formed his  line  of  march,  command^  his  soldiers  to 
uaSUng  their  llvelocks  and  fix  their  bayonets,  ami  formed 
an  advanced  and  rear>guard,  eeeh  conariattsv-  of  a  noa- 
commissioned  ofllcer  and  two  privates,  who  received 
strict  orders  to  keep  an  alert  look-out  :*  or  that  when  the 
eoemy  appeared^  *  he  ord^ed  the  rear«goBrd  to  yi>to  the.^ 
centre,  and  both  to  ck>se  up  to  the  advance,  doubliiig  his 
files,  so  as  to  occupy  with  his  column  (he  whole  practica- 
ble part  of  the  road,'  &c.  Agato,  in  representtog  a  de- 
feated corps  rethring  and  pressed  by  the  enemy,  he  would 
probably  never  think  of  recordtog(8s  our  noveUat  dees 
In  his  incomparable  narrative-  of  the  engagement  at 
Drumclog)  that  the  commanding  officer  gave^such  direc- 
tions as  these— 'Let  Allan  form  the  rcgltoent,  end  do  you 
two  retreat  up  the  hill  in  two  bodies,  each  haKhitg  alt^- 
nalehr  a3  the  other  lalls  back.  VU  keeb  the  rogues  in 
cheek  with  the  rear-guard,  making  a  stand  and  fitomg  from 
time  tetlme.'  I  do  not  offer  these  observations  tor  the 
purpose  of  depreciating  a  series  of  notary  pletare%. 
which  have  never  been  snrpeased  to  ricunem,  antoMinoii} 
and  diffcMetness;  I  will  oWn,  too,  fhat  such  detalla  as  I 
have  pointed  out  ere  the  ^teM  that  could  be  selected  Ibr 
the  generality  of  novel-readers ;  I  merely  contend  that  e 
wntes  practically  acquainted  with  war  would  either  have 
pSsscd  over  those  circoinstances  ss  too  comnidn  to  re- 
quirt  partteular  mention,  or  if  he  had  thought  It  nedtanary 


Ut'fe'  OP  SIR  WALrfift  sc&h! ' 


387 


to  «ii]^e  U|ibQ  Ch^ie,  «buld  bwre  4wdt  wkh  proftor- 
tknute  imnutenef s  oa  iDcideots  of  &  less  ordioary  l(Mi 
which  the  fecolTecUoQs  of  a  goldler  would  hare  reiidUr 
supplied,  and  bU  imagineUoo  would  have  retted  on  wHd 
eomplacenc/.  He  would,  in  short,  have  left  aa  little  uo- 
iJone  foiT  the  military,  as  ihc  preeent  author  has  for  t^M 
]«S^  part  of  his  narratives.  But  ibe  i^oet  ingenious 
writer,  who  attempts  to  discourse  with  teehoicsl  familiari- 
ty on  arts  or  pursuits  with  which  he  is  nor  habitually 
conversant,  will  too  surely  fall  into  a  supei^uous  parti> 
cahurily  on  common  and  trivial  points,  proportiooed  t* 
hJs  deficiency  in  those  nicer  deiaiU  which  imply  practical 
knowledge." 

*  Tile  prince  of  dh^kness  is  h  gentleman. '  *  ' 

*^  Another  point  of  resemblance  between  the  Author  of 
Waverley  and  him  of  Flodden  Field  is  that  both  are  un- 
questionably men  of  good  society.  Of  the  anonyuiotts 
writer  I  infer  this  from  his  works ;  of  the  poet  it  fs  un- 
necessary to  deduce  such  a  character  from  his  writings, 
because  they  are  not  anonymous.  I  am  the  more  inclined 
to  dwell  upon  this  merit  in  the  novelist,  on  account  of  its 
raritv ;  for  among  the  whole  multitude  of  authors,  well  or 
in  educated,  who  devote  themselves  to  poetry  or  to  nar* 
rattve  or  dramadc  fiction,  how  few  there  are  who  give 
any  proof  in  their  works,  of  the  refined  taste,  the  in* 
atioctive  sense  of  propriety,  the  clear  spirit  of  honour, 
nay.  of  the  familiar  acquaintance  with  conventional  forms 
of  food-breeding,  which  are  essential  to  the  character  of 
a  gentleryan  I  Even  of  the  small  number  whpi  in  a  certain 
dtfree,  possess  th^se  quahfications,  how  rarely  do  we 
find  one  who  can  so  conduct  his  fable,  and  so  order  his 
dUlogue  throughout,  that  nothing  shaU  be  found  either 
repwant  to  honourable  feeUngs  or  inconsistent  with 
pofished  manners !  How  constantly,  even  in  the  best 
worics  of  fiction,  are  we  disgusted  with  such  offences 
against  aU  generous  principle,  as  the  reading  of  letters 
by  those  for  whom  (hey  were  not  intended;  taking  ad- 
vantue  of  accidents  to  overhear  private  conversation ; 
revealing  wlut  in  honour  should  have  remained  secret ; 
plotting  against  men  as  enemies,  and  at  the  same  time 
making  use  of  their  services,*  dishonest  practices  on  the 
nassions  or  sensibilities  of  women  by  their  admirers; 
bisehoods,  not  always  indirect ;  and  an  endless  variety  of 
k)w  artifices,  which  appear  to  be  thought  quite  legitimate 
if  carried  on  through  suberdinate  agents.  And  all  these 
knaveries  are  assi^ed  m  characters  which  the  reader  is 
expected  to  honour  with  bis  sympathy,  or  at  least  to  re- 
ceive into  favour  before  the  story  concludes. 

"The  sins  against  propriety  in  manners  are  as  iVequent 
and  as  glaring.  I  do  not  speak  of  the  hoyden  vivacity, 
harlot  tenderness,  and  dancing-school  affability,  with 
which  vulgsu*  novel-writers  ahvavs  deck  out  their  coun- 
tesses and  princioessas,  chevaliers,  dukas,  and  mar- 
quises ;  out  It  would  be  easy  to  produosL  from  authors 
of  a  beUer  class,  abundant  instances  of  bookish  and  la- 
borious pleasantry,  of  pert  and  insipid  gossip  or  mere 
ikng,  the  wrecks,  perhaps,  of  an  obsolete  fashionable 
dbleet,  set  down  as  the  brilliant  conversation  of  a  vritty 
and  elegant  society ;  incredible  outrages  on  the  common 
decemm  of  life,  represented  as  traits  of  eccentric 
humour;  ^miliar  raillery  pushed  to  downright  rudeness ; 
affiactation  or  ill- breeding  over-coloured  so  as  to  become 
iosupportabto  iosalenoe;  extravagant  rants  on  the  most 
delicate  topics  Indulged  in  before  all  the  workj;  expres- 
dons  freely  int»?rchanged  between  gentlemen,  whicn,  by 
the  customs  of  that  class,  are  neither  used  nor  tolerated ; 
and  quarrels  carried  on  most  bombastically  and  abusive- 
ly; even  to  mortal  defiance,  without  a  thought  bestowed 
— ^  the  numbers,  sex,  nerves,  or  discretion  of  the  by- 
ders. 

^  You  will  peroeive  that  in  recapitulating  the  offences 
of  other  writers,  I  have  pronounced  an  Indirect  eiilogium 
00  the  Author  of  Waverley.  No  man,  I  ihtoik,  has  a 
clearer  view  of  what  is  just  and  honourable  in  principle 
and  conduct,  or  possesses  io  a  higher  degree  that  elegant 
taste,  and  that  chivalrous  generosity  of  feeling,  which, 
united  with  exact  judgment,  give  an -author  the  power  of 
comprehending  and  expresflni^,  not  merely  the  right  and 
fit,  bnt  the  graceful  and  exalted  in  human  action.  As  an  il- 
lustration of  the^e  remarks,  a  somewhat  horoelv  one  per- 
haps, lee  me  call  to  your  recollection  the  incident,  so 
wild  and  extravagant  in  itself,  of  Sir  Pierele  Shafton's 
elopemeiit  with  the  miller's  daughter.  In  the  address 
ana  feelins  with  which  the  author  has  displayed  the  high- 
minded  delicacy  of  Queen  Elizabeth's  courtier  to  the  un- 
gnacded  village  nymph,  In  his  brief  reflections  arishig 
out  of  this  port  of  the  narrative,  and  indeed  in  his  whole 
c«kception  loid  management  of  the  adventure,  I  do  not 
know  whether  tfte  moraHst  or  the  gentleman  is  most  to 
Be  admired :  it  is  impossible  to  praise  too  warmly  either 
tkt  ooimd  taste,  or  the  virtuous  sentiment,  which  have 

•  King  Lear,  Act  in.Sc.4. 


upon  t 
s4ade 


imSarted  so  much  grace  and  iMoMOt  to  siieh  •  I 
episode. 

•*  It  raof , IfbHik,  ht  generally  affirmed,  tin  a  review  of  '. 
an  the  8lv-aiid4htrty  volumes,  in  which  thie  author  h^  * 
related  the  adventures  of  some  twentr  or /more  heroea 
and  hemines,  (vrltho^t  counting  seconef-rate  persouagesj 
ihu.  there  Is  not  an  imhayidsome  action  or  degrading  sen- 
timent recorded  of  an^  person  who  is  recommended  to  the 
foil  esteem  of  the  reader.  To  be  blameless  ai  this  head, 
is  one  of  the  strongest  proofs  a  writer  can  give  of  %>noar> 
able  pritHriples  implanted  by  education  and  refi-eaned  by 
good  society. 

"  The  correctness  In  morals  is  tcarcelr  more  remark- 
able  than  the  refinement  and  propriety  In  manners,  by 
which  these  novels  are  dlstihgulahed.  Where  the  cha- 
raeter  of  a  gentleman  is  Introduced,  we^generaUy  Ihid  It 
supported  withom  affl^ceation  or  constntint,  and  often  wlin 
so  nraek  truth,  animation,  and  dlgnfty,  that  we  forget  our- 
selves into  a  longing  to  behokl  and  converse  with  the  at- 
corapUihed  creature  of  imaghiation.  It  is  true  that  tHis 
volatile  and  elegant  man  of  wit  and  pleasure,  and  rhe* 
gracefullx  fantastic  petite-maitresae,  area  species  of  cha- 
racter scarcely  aver  attempted,  and  even  the  few  sketch- 
es we  meet  with  m  this  style  are  not  worthy  of  iio  great 
a  master.  But  the  aristocratic  countrr  gentleman^  the 
andent  lady  of  quality,  the  gallant  oavaller,  (he  punctiU- 
oua  yoong  soldier,  and  the  Joeuhd  veteran,  whose  hi|b 
mind  is  melkmed,  not  subdued  by  years,  are  drawn  with 
matchleas  vigour,  gf«ce,  and  refinement.  There  is,  in  aU 
these  ereaflaoa.  a  spirit  of  #entil|ty,  not  merely  of  that 
negative  kimtwhioh  avoids  glvinc  otrenec,  but  ofa  strong, 
conunanding.and'parradlng  <|oamy,  blendtrig  unimpairra 
with  the  rioheat  Sumoor  and  wildest  eccentricity,  and 
commnnicatlogan  Interest  and  an  air  of  orlghiabty  to  cha* 
racters  which,  without  It,  would  be  wearisome  and  hisl** 
pid,  orwotrtd  fade  Into  commonplaee.  In  Waverley,  for 
exaimde,  if  it  were  not  for  this  powerfol  ehanti,  the  se- 
vere oat  wann-heaned  Major  Mehrille  and  the  generous 
Colohel  Talbot,  would  become  m^e  ordinary  machinca 
for  carrying  on  the  plot ;  and  Sfr  Everard,  the  hero  of  an 
episode  that  might  be  coveted  oy  Macki«nzlne,  would  en 
counter  the  flrowna  of  every  hnnaiient  reader,  for  tmpro- 
fitably  reurding  the  story  at  Hs  fin*  outset 

*'But  without  dwelling  on  minor  instances,  I  wHI  re^r 
you  at  Once  to  the  character  of  Colonel  Manneriog,  as  ona  ' 
of  fhe  most  striking' reprasentaCloiM  i«m  acquainted  with, 
of  a  gentleman  in  feelings  and  in  manners,  in  habita, 
taste,  predilections ;  nay,  if  the  expression  may  be  ven- 
tured, a  gentleman  awn  In  prajndiees,  paasions.  and  cap- 
rices. Had  it  been  less  than  all  I  have  described ;  had 
any  refinement,  any  nicety  of  touch,  been  wanting,  tj|^ 
wmrie  portrait  must  have  Been  coarse,  common,  and  re» 
polsive,  hardly  distinguishable  from  the  r6oody  father 
and  domineering  chieftain  of  every  hackneyed  romance- 
writer.  But  it  was  no  vulgar  hand  that  drew  the  linea- 
ments of  Colonel  Mannering :  no  ordinary  mind  could 
have  conceived  that  exquisite  combhiation  of  steronesa 
and  sensibility,  hijvrious  haughtiness  and  chivalroui 
courtesy ;  the  promptitude,  decision,  and  imperious  spi- 
rit of  a  military  disciplinarian ;  the  romantic  caprices  of 
an  nntameablc  enthusiast ;  generosity  impatient  of  Umit 
or  lmpe(fiment ;  pride  scourged  but  not  subdued  by  re* 
morse ;  and  n  cherished  philosophical  severity,  maintain- 
ing ttaelTectua]  conflicts  with  native  teademess  and  con- 
stitutional irritabfiity.  Supposing  that  it  had  entered  into 
the  thoQghts  of  an  inferior  writer  to  describe  a  temper 
of  mind  at  once  impetuous,  kind,  arrogant,  affectionate, 
stem,  sensitive,  deliberate,  fanciful ;  supposing  even  that- 
he  had  had  the  skill  to  combine  these  difierent  qualKiea 
harmoniously  and  naturally,  yet  how  could  he  have  ii- 
tained  the  Shaksperian  felicity  of  those  delicate  and.  tm- 
ambittous  touches,  by  which  this  author  shapes  and 
chisels  ow  individual  character  from  general  nature,  and 
imparts  a  distinct  Dereonality  to  the  creature  of  his  inven- 
tion 1  Such  are  (for  example)  the  sllphl  tinge  of  super- 
stition, contracted  by  the  romantic  voung  Astrologer  in 
his  adventure  at  Bllangowan,  not  wholly  eflkced  in  ma- 
turer  life,  and  extending  itself  by  contagion  to  the  mbid 
of  his  daughter,"  Ac.  Ac. 

—It  would  have  araiified  Mr.  Adolphue -could  fae 
have  known,  whence  penned  these  pat^ea,  a  circum- 
stance which  the  repemeal  of  them  btinga  to  my 
memory.  )Vben  Guy  MannertoR  was  first  publish- 
ed, the  EttricK  Shepherd  said'  to  Profesaor  Wilson,  ^ 
"  I  have  done  wi'  doubts  now.  Colonel  Manner- 
ing is  just  Walter  Scott,  painted  by  himself."  Thi« 
was  repeated  to  James  BaIIaniyne,,and  he  again 

«ientioned  it  to  Scott— who  smiled  in  approbation 
f  the  Shepherd's   ahrewdneas,  and  often  after- 
wards, when  the  printer  expressed  an  opinion  in 
which  he  could  not  concur,  would  cut  hmi  ahort . 
with— "  James— James— you'll   find   that  Colonel 


U?g,C«F  SHk  WALTBR  SCOTT. 


Mannering  luts  laid  down  the  law  on  this  poi^tt." 
I  fesimie  my  extract— 
**  All  theproducUons  I  am  acquainted  with,  both  of  tbe 
poet  nod  oMhe  prose  writer,  recommend  tnemaekres  by 
a  natito  piety  and  ffoodness,  not  fenerally  predominant 
in  modern  works  of  ima^inAtlon ;  and  which,  where  they 
do  appear,  are  too  often  disfigured  by  eccentricity^  pre- 
tension, or  b«d  taste.  In  the  worln  before  us  there  is  a 
constant  tendency  to  promote  the  desire  of  ezcellsnce  in 
ourselves,  and  the  love  of  it  in  our  neighbours,  by  mskinf 
us  think  nonourably  of  our  general  nature.  WluOerer 
kindly  or  charitable  affection,  whatever  principle  of  man- 
ly and  honest  ambition  exists,  within  us,  is  roused  and  sti- 
mulated by  the  perusal  of  these  writings  ;  our  passions 
are  won  to  the  cause  of  justice,  purity,  and  seli-denial ; 
and  the  old,  indissoluble  ties  that  bind  us  to  country,  kind- 
red, and  birth-place,  appear  to  strengthen  as  we  read,  and 
brace  themselves  more  firmly  about  the  heart  and  ima^- 
n^iou.  Both  writers,  although  peculiarly  happy  id  their 
cauception  of  all  chivalrous  and  romantic  excellencies, 
are  stul  more  distinguished  by  their  deep  and  true  feeling 
and  expressive  delineation  oi  the  graces  and  v|^ues  pro- 

Eer  to  domestic  life.  The  gallant,  elevated,  and  puncli- 
ous  character  which  a  Frenchman  conteoiplates  in  speak- 
ing of  '  un  honn^te  homme,'  is  singularly  combined,  in 
these  authors,  with  the  genial,  homely  good  qualitie.s  that 
win  from  a  Caledonian  the  exclamation  of  *  honest  man  !' 
But  the  crown  of  their  merits,  as  virtuous  and  moral 
writers,  is  the  manly  and  exemplary  spirit  with  which, 
upon  all  seasonable  occasions,  they  pay  honour  and  hom- 
age to  religion,  ascribing  to  it  its  just  pre-eminence 
among  the  causes  of  human  happiness,  and  dwelling  on 
It  Is  as  the  only  certain  sonrca  of  pure  and  elevated 
thoughts,  and  upright,  benevolent,  ana  magnanimous  ac- 
tions. 

"  This  then  is  common  to  the  books  of  both  wrtters : 
that  they  furnish  a  direct  and  distinguished  contrast  to 
the  atrabilious  gloom4>f  aome  modem  works  of  genius, 
and  the  wantonTout  not  artless  levity  of  others.  They 
yield  a  memorable,  I  trusl^n  immortal,  accession  to  the 
evidences  of  a  truth  not  always  fashionable  in  Uterature, 
that  the  mind  of  mui  may  put  forth  all  its  bold  luxuriance 
of  original  thought,  strong  feeling,  and  vivid  imagination, 
without^  being  loosed  from  any  sacred  and  social  bond,  or 

E'uned  of  any  lecitimate  affection  ;  and  that  the  Muse  is 
deed  a '  heavenly  goddess,'  and  not  a  graceless,  lawless 
runagate, 

*  d<^fiTut^  ddifticrosj  dpitmos*  — 

"  Good  sense,  the  sure  foundation  of  excellence  in  all 
the  arts.  Is  another  leading  characteristic  of  tiiese  pro- 
ductions. Assuming  the  author  of  Wavorlcy  and  the 
author  of  Marmion  to  be  tbe  'same  person,  it  would  be 
difficult  in  our  times  to  find  p.  second  equally  free  from 
affectation,  prejudice,  and  every  other  distortion  or  de- 
pravity of  judgment,  whether  arising  from  ignorance, 
weakness,  or  corruption  of  morals.  It  is  asionishing  tluit 
So  voluminous  and  successful  a,  writer  should  so  sddom 
be  betrayed  Into  any  of  those- '  Amtaslic  tricks'  which,  in 
such  a  man,  make  '  tne  angels  weep,'  and  (?  comxerao)  the 
critics  laugh.  He  adopts  no  fashionfible  cant,  colloquial, 
philosophical,  or  literary  ;  he  takes  no  delicht  in  being 
unintelligible,'  he  does  not  amuse  himself  oy  throwing 
out  those  fine  sentimental  and  metaphysical  threads  which 
float  upon  the  air,  and  tease  and  tickle  the  passengers, 
but  present  no  palpable  substance  to  their  srasp;  he 
alms  at  no  beauties  that  'scorn  the  eye  of  vulgar  light ;' 
he  is  no  dealer  in  paradoxes ;  no  anecter  of  new  doc- 
trines in  taste  or  morals ;  he  has  no  eccentric  sympathies 
or  antipathies ;  no  maudlin  philanthropy,  or  impertinent 
cynic  ism ;  no  nondescript  hobby  horse ;  and  with  all  his 
matchless  energy  and  originality  of  mind,  he  is  content  to 
admire  popular  books,  and  enjoy  popular  pleasures ;  to 
cherish  those  opinions  wliich  experience  has  sanctioned; 
to  reverence  those  institutions  which  antiquity  has  hallow- 
ed; and  to  enjoy,  admire.chcrish,  and  reverence  all  these, 
with  the  same  plahmess,  simplicity,  and  sincerity  as  our 
ancestors  did  of  old. 

"  I  cannot  help  dwelling  for  a  moment  on  the  great  simi- 
larity of  manner  apparent  In  the  female  portraits  of  the 
two  writers.  The  picturbs  of  their  heroines  are  execut- 
ed with  a  peculiar  fineness,  delicacy,  and  ^niiteness  of 
touch,  and  with  a  care  at  times  almost  amounting'  to  timi- 
dity, so  that  they  generally  appear  more  highly  tinislied. 
but  less  boldly  and  strikingly  thrown  out,  than  the  figures 
with  which  they  are  surrounded.    Their  elegance  and 

tnrily  are  always  admirable,  and  are  happily  combined, 
t  most  instances,  with  unaffected  ease  and  natural  spirit. 
Bttnong  practical  sense  is  their  most  pre%'ailing  cTiaracter 
■He,  unaccompanied  hy  any  repulsive  air  of  selfishness, 
"'"^"^j  or  tmfeminine  harshness.    Few  writers  have 


ever  evinced,  in  to  atroog  a  dairae,  aa  the  autibm  of  Mir- 
mlon  and  Wkverley,  thkt  mamy  rMard,  ana  (qptficd  btt 
enthuaiaailc  devotion,  which  may  ne  ezpreaaad  by  tie 
term  loyalty  to  the  fair  sex,  the  booourable  attribnte  ^ 
chivalrous  and  romantic  ages.  If  they  touch  on  the  (auki 
of  womankind,  their  satire  Is  playful,,  not  contemptnotu; 
mhI  their  acquaintance  witfi  female  mannerm,  graces,  aai 
foibles,  is  apparently  drasm.  not  from  libertine  experi- 
ence, but  from  the  guileless  lamiUarity  of  dnmestic  hie. 

"  Of  all  human  ties  and  connexions  there  is  none  m 
frequently  brought  in  view,,  or  adorned  with  so  maay 
touches  of  the  most  affecting  eloquence  by  btMh  these 
writers,  as  the  pure  and  tender  relation  of  father  aad 
daughter.  Douglas  and  Ellen  In  the  Lady  of  tihe  Lake 
will  immediately  occur  to  you  as  a  distiosiiisbtd  example. 
Their  mutual  affection  and  aohciiude ;  their  oride  in  eacb 
other's  excellencies:  the  parent's  regret  of  the obscart- 
ty  to  which  fate  has  doomed  his  child;  and  the daughtei*s 
self-devotion  to  her  father's  welfare  and  safely,  consitue 
*the  highest  interest  of  the  poekn.  and  that  which  is  worn. 
uniformly  sustained ;  nor  does  this  or  any  other  nansnce 
of  the  saline  author  contain  a  finer  stroke  of  pasaoiihaB 
the  over  boiling  of  Douglas's  wrath,  when,  mixed  ss  a 
stranger  with  the  crowd  at  StirUng,  he  sees  his  daughiei't 
favourite  Lufra  cha.stised  by  the  royal  huntsman. 

"  In  Rokeby  the  filial  attachment  and  duteoua  anxietiej 
of  Matilda  form  |he  leading  feature  of  her  character,  aod 
the  chief  source  of  her  distresses.  The  intercourae  be- 
tween King  Arthur  and  his  daughter  Oyneth,  in  The  Bci- 
daJ  of  Triermain,  is  neither  long,  nor  altogether  amicaMe ; 
but  the  monarch's  feeUngs  on  first  beholding  that  hevob- 
ful  '■  slip  of  wilderness,'  and  his  manner  of  receiving  \m 
before  the  queen  and  court,  are  too  forcibly  and  natmrafiy 
described  to  be  omitted  hi  this  enumeration. 

"Of  all  novels,  there  are  at  most  but  two  or  three  in 
which  a  fond  father  and  affectionate  daughter  may  not  be 
poUited  out  among  the  principal  characters,  and  in  wtkk 
the  main  Interest  of  many  scenes  does  not  arise  ooL  sf 
that  paternal  and  filial  reUtion.  What  a  beautify  di^tay 
of  natural  feeling,  under  every  turn  of  circum^saccs 
that  can  render  tne  situationi  of  c'hild  and  parent  a«oa£^ 
ing  or  delightful,  runs  through  the  history  of  David  Desss 
and  his  two  daughters !  How  affecting  Is  the  tale  of  Le* 
cester'a  unhappy  Coimtess,  after  we  have  acen  her  kt' 
saken  &ther  consmumg  away  with  moody  sorrow  In  ^ 
joyless  manor-house !  How  exquisite  are  the  grouplif 
and  contrast  of  I^bac,  the  kind  nut  sordid  Jew,  and  fail 
heroic  Rebecca,  of  the  buckram  Baron  of  Bradwanfisc 
and  the  sensitive  Rose,  tire  reserved  but  ardent  Manner- 
ing, and  the  flighty  coquette  Julia  f  In  the  Antiqnary,  and 
Bride  of  Lammermoor,  anxiety  is  raised  to  the  most  psto- 
ful  height  by  the  spectacle  of  mther  and  daughter  expos- 
ed together  to  imminent  and  frightful  peril.  The  hcrome* 
in  Rob  Roy  and  the  Black  Dwarf  are  duteous  and  devoted 
daughters,  the  one  of  an  unfortunate,  the  other  of  w 
unworthy  parent.  In  the  whole  story  of  Kenitworlh 
there  is  nothing  that  more  strongly  in^catcs  a  maiter- 
hand  than  the  paternal  carefolnt'ss  and  apprehensiotts  of 
the  churl  Foster:  and  among  the  most  striking;  scenes  in 
A  Legend  of  Montrose,  Is  that  in  wliich  Sir  DvacsD 
Campoell  Is  attracted  by  an  obscure  yearning  of  tb« 
heart  toward  his  unknown  child,  the  supposed  orphan  of 
Darnllnvftrach." 

It  would  be  impoBsible  for  one  to  follow  <Hit  Mr. 
Adolphus  in  his  most  ingenioim  tracings  of  petty 
coincidence  in  thought,  and,  above  all,  in  expresHBoo. 
between  the  poet  of  Marinion  and  the  novelist  of 
Waverley.  Hia  apology  for  the  nainuteness  of  ha 
detail  in  that  part  of  his  work,  ia»  however,  too 
Rrnceful  to  be  omitted :— *'  It  cannot,  I  think,  appear 
frivolous  or  irrelevant,  in  the  ifKiuiry  we  are  ptnrna- 
ing,  to  dwell  on  these  minute  coincidences.  Unim- 
portant indeed  they  are  if  looked  upon  as  subjects 
of  direct  criticism;  but  considered  with  reference  to 
our  present  ptirpose,  they  resemble  those  light  sub- 
stances which,  floating  on  the  trackless  'sea,  dis- 
cover the  true  setting  of  some  mighty  current :  they 
are  the  buoyant  driftwood  which  betrays  the  kiddea 
communication  of  two  great  poetic  oceans." 

^conclude  with  re-quoting  a  fragment  from  one  ot 
the  quaint  tracts  of  Sir  Thomas  Urqahart.  'I%e 
following  is  the  epigraph  of  Mr.  AdoIphiis*8  Wb 
Letter  :— 

"  O  with  how  great  liveliness  did  he  represent  the  cao- 
dittons  of  all  manner  of  men  !-~From  the  OTerweentdg 
monarch  to  the  peevish  swaine,  throogh  all  intermetfiila 
I  ^degrees  of  the  superficial  courtier  or  proud  warrior,  dto^ 
sembled  churchman,  doting  old  man,  cozeniof  lawyer, 
lying  traveler,  covetous  merchant,  rude  wmnan,  pedio- 
tick  scolar,  the  amorous  shepheanLenviooa  aniaamvaia- 
Digitized  by  VjOOQIC 


UFE  pV  m  WAWm  AQOTT. 


^prloot  BMMter  «n<l  trick/  Mrvant ; He  had  aU  the 

gtmnj  MfOlKe,  tbuuij  llinB,  ijulpe,  uttnti,  whlma,  jests, 
•Hncnes,  gybee,  jnoke^'  Jern,  with  all  the  several  kinds 
^  of  equlTocations  and  other  sophistical  captions^  that  could 
fyroperly  be  adMled  to  th*  person  by  whose  representa- 
tion he  intended  to  inveaf  fe  the  company  into  a  At  of 
oUnb!" 

I  have  it  not  in  my  power  to  produce  the  letter  in 
which  Scbtt  conveyed  to  Heber  his  opinion  of  this 
work.  I  know,  however,  that  it  ended  with  a  re- 
onest  that  he  should  present  Mr.  Adolphus  with  his 
thanks  for  the  handsome  terms  in  which  his  poet- 
ical efforts  had  been  spoken  of  throughout,  and 
reqaest  hjro,  in  the  name  of  the  author  o/Marmion^ 
not  to  revisit  Scotland  without  reserving  a  day  for 
Abbotsford ;  and  the  Eidolon  of  the  author  of 
Warerlq/  was  made,  a  few  months  afterwards,  to 
speak  as  follows  in  the  Introduction  to  the  Fortunes 
of  Nigel :— "  These  letters  to  the  member  for  the 
Gniversity  of  Oxford,  shqw  the  wit  genius,  and 
delicacy  of  the  author,  which  I  heartily  with  to  sec 
I  engaged  on  a  subject  of  more  importance :  and  show, 
besioes,  that  the  preservation  of  my  character  of 
tneognito  has  engaged  early  talent  in  the  discussion 
of  a  curious  question  of  evidence.  But  a  cause, 
however  ingeniously  pleaded,  is  not  therefore  gained. 
Tou  may  remember  the  neatly-wrought  chain  of 
circumstantial  evidence,  so  artificially  broaght  for- 
ward to  prove  Sir  Philip  Frances  title  to  the  Let- 
ters of  Junm^  seemed  at  first  ixVefragable ;  yet  the 

i_- r  .t : —  L J ^^^ 


known 

soothed 

or  provoked  into  saying  one  word  more.  To  say 
who  I  am  not,  would  be  one  step  towards  saying 
who  I  am ;  and  as  I  desire  not,  any  more  than  a 
certain  Justice  of  Peace  mentioned  by  Shenstone, 
the  noise  or  report  such  things  make  m  the  world, 
I  shall  continue  to  be  silent  on  a  subject  which,  in 
my  opinion,  is  very  undeserving  the  noise  that  has 
been  made  about  it,  and  still  more  unworthy  of  the 
serious  employment  of  such  ingenuity  as  has  been 
diq>layed  by  the  young  letter- writer."* 


.     CHAPTER   LIV. 

MEW  BUILDINGS  AT  ABBOTSrOBO^CHlKFSWOOD—WItr 
LIAM  EBBKINB— LETTBR  TO  COVNTBSe  PUBG8TALL— 
PBOORB88  or  THB  PUUTB— PRIVATB  IBTTBB8  IK 
THB  BBION  OF  JAMBS  I. — COMMXXGBMBNT  OF  THB 
POBTUNBS  OP  MIOBL— SBCOND  8ALB  OF  COPTBIGHTS 
— CONTBACT  FOB  "  FOUB  WOBXS  OF  FICTIOn"— BN- 
OBMOUp  PB0F1T8  OF  THB  K0VBU8T,  AND  E2TRAVA- 
OANT  FBOJECT8  OF  C0N6TABLB — THEPIRATB  PUB- 
USHKD— LOBD  BYBOn's  CAIN,  OBDICATED  TO  8C0TT 
— AFFAIB  OFTHBBBACOS  NBW8PAPBB— FBANCk's 
IfOBTHBBN  XBM01B8~AND  N0TB8  OP  LOBD  POON- 
TAIN-HALL,   PVBU8HBD.— 1821. 

Whbn  Sir  Walter  returned  from  London,  he 
brought  with  him  Mr.  Blore's  detailed  plans  for  the 
completion  of  Abbotsford :  the  wall  and  gateway 
of  the  court  in  front,  and  the  beautiful  open  screen- 
work  of  stone  connecting  the  house  with  the  gar- 
<den  ;  this  last  having  been  originally  devised  by 
himselC  and  constituting  certainly  the  mostgracefol 
feature  about  the  edifice.  The  foundations  towards 
the  river  were  forthwith  laid,  and  some  little  pro- 
gress, was  made  during  the  autumn;  but  he  was 
very  reluctant  to  authorize  ,the  demolition  of  the 
rustic  porch  of  the  old  cottage,  with  its  luxuriant 
overgrowth  of  roses  and  jessamines;  kept  it  stand- 
ing tor  months  after  his  work-people  complained  of 
the  obstruction— and  indeed  could  not  make  up  his 
mind  to  sign  the  death-warrant  of  this  favourite 
bower  until  winter  had  robbed  it  of  its  beauties.  He 
then  made  an  excursion  from  Edinburgh,  on  purpose 
to  be  present  at  its  downfall— savtd  as  many  of  the 
creepers  as  seeined  likely  to  survive  removal,  and 
planted  them  with  his  own  hands,  about  a  some- 
what similar  porch,  erected  expressly  for  their  re- 
ception, at  his  daughter  Sophia's  little  cottage  of 
Coiefswood. 

•  See  Wmerley  Kovtbt  vol  xzvl,  p.  34. 


Tbore  'my  wife  ai^  I  ^pent  thiy  fomaier  and  m- 
tumn  of  1821— the  first  of  several  seaBont,  whkui 
will  ever  dwell  on  my  memory  as  th^  happiest  qf 
my  life.  We  were  near  enou^  Abbotslbra  to  par- 
take as  often  as  we^liked  of^its  brilUaal  and  con- 
stantly varying  society;  yet  could  do  bo  without 
being  exposed  to  the  wprry  and  exhaustion  of  spirit 
which  the  daily  receplidn  of  new  comers  entailed 
upon  all  the  family,  except  Sir  Walter  biroself.  But, 
in  truth,  even  he  was  not  always  proof  against  the 
annoyances  connected  with  such  a  style  of  open- 
house-keeping.  Even  his  temper  sunk  sometimes 
under  the  solemn  apjplauscs  of  learned  dulness,  the 
vapid  raptures  of  oointed  and  j>eriwigged  dowagerSi 
the  horseleech  aviaityr  with  which  underbred  foreign- 
ers urged  their  questions,  and  the  pompous  simperB 
of  condescending  magnates.  When  sore  beset  at 
home  in  this  way,  he  would  every  now  and  then 
discover  that  he  had  some  very  particular  business 
to  attend  \  <  -i:  ui  miLlyintf  pari  uf  lilr^  i  -  K' .  nnd 
craving  \hc  jnilul^i.'nf(i  of  Jiis  ^\\  .-  "■  ■ : mglM,  ap- 
pear at  the  i.  ah  in  m  iha  ^kn  \m\.-  -.i-  .iHiEilitants 
were  asiir  in  ihe  moriiing.  Th-  liinr  of  Sibyl 
Grey's  hijah,  the  yelpiiif;  of  AltiBtard  4irid  Spice, 
and  his  own  joyauii  j^huut  o(  r^rtiL'ie.  under  our  win* 
dows,  viiTc  the  si^al  that  he  had  burnt  hi^  loiJs 
and  measu  for  theiEclay  U  "tnke  his  ense  m  his 
inn.**  On  drsc^ndinK,  he  wa»  to  bi;»  foUDd  st'Sted 
with  all  hiA  dojis  tuid  ouu  abrmt  him,  undtr  a 
spreading;  ash  that  overshaduwvd  half  the  b^nk  be- 
tween thtj  cuim^t^!  and  ihi3  b^fjok,  p^mUm  the  e^i$e 
of  his  WLHJil-iimii'ft  ftJte  for  KixrtEit'lf^  and  listening 
to  Tom  PurdiE:^-!  k'ctur<?  louchiiiif  thtE  pUiUation/ 
that  moj^i  ncR^led  thiniiing.  After  brtakfastt  he 
would  taku  poffstssion  of  a  dresiicing-niiini  up  itair^s 
and  write  a  chapter  of  Th^  Pint  it  -,  and  then,  hav- 
ing mad^  lip  and  dtejjatehfd  bis  padLet  for  Mr* 
BailantyriiL,  a  way  to  join  PurJie  wherever  the  for- 
esters wtt^^  at  work^aud  sometimes  to  labour 
among  lium  hh  sirenuously  n«  Juhn  Swanston 
himseLF— uuiil  it  was  time  either  to  jebin  his  owu 
party  at  Abbotsford*  or  the  qui^^i  drcfc  of  the  cot- 
tage. When  Litf  guests  were  f*^w  and  friend ty,  he 
often  made  them  eomi^ovbrnnd  meift  hun  nt  Cmelft- 
wood  in  a  body  towards  cvenii^g;  and  Htireiy  he 
never  apcH^ared  to  mare  aniiablo  adviiniagu  thati 
when  helping  his  young  iwople  wi(h  their  fittle  ar-  . 
rangemenT!)  upan  ^uch  uccuseon?.  He  wn^  r^^ady 
with  all  garts  of  deviices  to  e^upply  ihf  wants  of  a 
narrow  esiaUlifthmtnii  h«  used  to  dfili^t  pDrticu- 
larly  in  sinking  the  wirw?  in  ?i  w^-U  tind^t  the  htm 
erene  wt'Dt  out,  ond  hawliiiy  up  the  b[ifJ«€:tj[ist  be- 
fore dinner  was  announced— this  primitive  process 
being,  he  said,  what  he  had  always  practised  when 
a  young  house-keeper,  and  in  his  opinion  far  su- 
perior in  its  results  to  any  application  of  ice;  and, 
m  the  same  spirit,  whenever  the  weather  was  suffi- 
ciently genial,  he  voted  for  dining  out  of  doora  al- 
together, which  at  once  got  rid  of  tlie  inconvenience 
of  very  small  rooms,  and  made  it  natural  and  easy 
for  the  gentlemen  to  help  the  ladies,  so  that  the 
paucity  of  servants  went  for  nothiiig.  Mr.  Rose 
used  to  amuse  himself  with  Likening  the  scene  an4 
the  parly  to  the  closing  act  of  one  of  those  liitle 
French  dramas,  where  "  Monsieur  le  Comte,"  and 
**  Madame  la  Comtesse"  appear  feasting  at  a  vil- 
lage bridal  under  the  trees ;  but  in  truth,  otur  "  M. 
le  Comte"  was  only  trying  to  live  over  again  for  a 
few  simple  hours  his  own  old  life  of  Lasswade. 

When  circumstances  permitted,  he  usually  spent 
one  evening  at  least  in  the  week  at  our  little  cot- 
tage:  and  almost  as  frequently  he  did  the  hke  with 
t^e  Fergusons,  to  whose  table  he  could  bring  chance 
visiters,  when  he  pleased,  with  equal  freedom  as  to 
his  daughters.  Indeed  it  seemed  to  be  much  a 
matter  of  chance,  any  fine  day  when  there  had  been 
no  alarming  invasion  of  the  Southron,  whether  the 
three  families  (which,  in  fact,  made  but  one)  should 
dine  at  Abbotsford,  at  Huntley  Burn,  or  at  Chieis- 
wood ;  and  at  none  of  them  was  the  party  consi- 
dered quite  complete,  unless  it  included  also  Mr. 
Laidlaw.  Death  has  laid  a  heavy  hand  upon  that 
circle— as  happy  a  circle  I  beheve  as  ever  met. 
Bright  eyes  now  closed  in  dust,  gay  VbioM  for  ever 


LIFE  W  Ml  ^^AtltOBt  JJtJWf. 


4ftO 

llileii<M$d«  wninkto  1t«tint  me  48  T write.  Witli  three 
^xee^tiotii,  Aey areaffl ffone.  Eten  since  the  last 
of  tbeee  volwnes  wiu  BmBhed,  Mie  whom  I  may 
,  now  Bttdly  Teeord  as,  next  to  Sir  Walter  bimselt 
the  chief  ornamekit  and  deKghtof  all  those  simple 

.  nieeting»^8he  to  whose  love  I  owed  my  own  place 
in  them—Scott's  eldest  daughter)  (he  one  of  all  his 
ohildren  who  in  countenance,  mmd,  and  manners, 
most  resembled  himself;  andf  who  indeed  was  as 

/  tike  him  in  all  things  as  a  gentle  innocent  woman 
can  ever  be  to  a  great  man,  deeply  tried  and  skilled 
in  the  struggles  and  perplexities  of  active  lif&-«he, 
loo.  is  no  more.  And  in  the  very  hnnr  that  mw  ber 
laid  in  her  grave,  t^m  only  otbcr  feniafc  frurvivor, 
h«r  dearest  friend,  Margaret  Ferpixiiioti,  breathed 
her  last  also. — Bat  tnoagh— and  more  than  1  ia- 
tended— I  must  resume  the  &tof  r  of  Ahbot^fnrd 

During  several  we ''ki*  at  i\mx  dtlighiruE  summer, 
Scott  had  ander  his  roof  Mr,  VVtUinm  F^skirje  and 
two  of  his  daughter ^;  this  bnng,  1  Mi^vc,  their 
first  visit  toTwvedst^i*"  aince  the  death  of  Mrs.  Er- 
skine  in  September,  l  ^  l  ^.  Re  had  probnbl  y  jiiad^  a 
pointof  having  his fr: LSI d  with  liSxn  oi  th>^  parucular 
time,  because  he  wa  -^  dt^^jroue  ot  havini;  the  bonc'fit 
of  his  advice  and  corrtctionfl  from  day  to  tiny  n?  he 
advanced  in  the  con  I  [r(^  a  i  MO  n  otL  Lip  PiratC!— wuh  the 
toeatttiesof  which' to  ma  nee  the  Sht^hlFof  Orkmsy 
and  Zetland  was  of  ^  ouree  thoroughly  familiar.  At 
all  events,  the  coc^^t^nt  and  eager  d flight  with 
which  Brskine  watchful  the  progresa  of  thf>  tak,  tus 
Mt  a  deep  impreasior]  on  my  menvory  i  and  indtijd 
I  heard  sonmoy  of  its  ehspter?  fJr^t  ri^ad  frojn  the 
'JUS.  by  him,  that  I  can  tiever  open  ih<?  hook 
now  without  thinking  1  htar  bi^  voicf.  Sir  Walter 
used  to  mve  him  at  breakfast  the  pns^Gs  he  bad 
written  that  momii'ig \  and  very  commi>aly,  while 
he  was  again  at  work  in  hi*^  study,  Rrs kin e  would 

^  walk  over  to  ChiefHwo^d,  that  he  iniijhi  have  the 
pleasure  of  reading  them  aloud  to  my  wife  and  me 
under  oar  favourite  tree,  before  the  packet  had  to  be 
aealed  up  for  the  printer,  or  rather  for  the  transciiber 
in  Edinburgh.  I  cannot  paint  the  delight  and  the 
pride  with  which  he  ac^tted  himselt  on  such  oc- 
casions. The  little  artifice  of  his  manner  was 
merely  superficial,  and  was  wholly  forgotten. as 
trader  afltection  and  admiration,  fresh  as  the  un- 
pulses  of  childhood,  glistened  in  his  eye,  and  trem- 
bled in  his  voice. 

This  reminds  me  that  I  have  not  yet  attempted 
any  sketch  or  the  person  and  mannera  of  Scott's 
most  intimate  friend.  Their  cam  wa^  ou  lUiUia- 
diotion  to  tha  old  saying,  that  the  mo^^t  at  id  eh  cd 
comrades  are  often  very  unlike  each  ocht  r  in  char- 
acter and  temperatnent.  The  mere  phyt^ichl  con- 
trast waa  aa  atrong  aa  could  well  be,  anrl  rh:^  i^  r^^t 
unworthy  of  notice  here ;  for  Erakine  wa-,  j  rJnnlt, 
the  only  man  in  whose  society  Scoti  t  <ok  j>ti  at 
plea0Br&  during  the  more  vigorous  part  nf  his  liie, 
that  had  neither  eonstitution  nor  inclinnTjon  Tor  any 
of  the  rough  bodily  exercises  in  whi<  h  Ilm  luniKLf 
delighted.  The  Counsellor  tas  Scott  n  ]  w  n  y  i  va  j  u  d 
him)  waa  a  little  man  of  feeble  make,  u  ]  ] .  i  >;<.  e  i  u  c  d 
uohappv  when  his  pony  got  beyond  u  r^o^i  j^(^e, 
anckhad  never,  I  should  supooae,  addit  ri  d  ]iint.^<  If 
to  any  otttH>f-door8  aport  whatever.  Fit:  would,  I 
fancy,  have  as  ftoon  thought  of  alay^nk^  his  own 
mutton  aa  of  handling  a  fowhng-piece :  ht>  tti^cd  to 
shudder  when  he  saw  a  partjy  eqmpped  ilir  ronrMn;^ 
aa  if  murder  were  in  the  wmd;*but  tlir  coiA  nifdi- 
'utive  angler  was  in  his  eyes  the  ab^nnnaiKm  of 
abominations.  His  small  elegant  feniuifjr,  iMctic 
cheek,  and  soft  hazel  eyes^  were  the  uvlvx  of  tlie 
^ick  sensitive  gentle  spirit  within.    Um  h»d  tlih 


I  heart  of  a  woman,  her  generous  mthir^ta^m, 

and  some  of  her  weaknesses.  A  beautif  n  i !  a  ndacn  pe, 
or  a  fineatrain  of  maaic,  would  send  t\n^  tea  nit  roll- 
ing down  hia  cheek;  and  though  capable,  1  have 
no  doubt,  of  exhibitine^  had  his  duty  <  riJIfd  hmt  to 
do  so,  the  higkest  spint  of  a  hero  or  »  inurrvr,  he 
had  very  little  command  over  his  nrrvrs  jsnu.ut 
aircumatances  soch  as  men  of  ordiniir,  rmuld  Ujo 
sav  nothing  of  iron  fabrics  like  Scott's  h  w^ivr^i  wnh 
uidiflerenee.  He  would  dismount  to  1- ^d  In*  horae 
down  what  hia  friend  hardly  perceive  u'  to  be  a  d^ 


•ceatataUt  grew  pale  at  ayreeiMeB;.aai,n»fih» 
the  White  Lady  of  Aveoel,  wooki  «n  a  kug  waf 
round  fos  a  bridge. 

Erakine  had  aa  yet  been  rather  unfortunate  m  nia 
proliBaaional  career,  and  thought  a  shefifVship  by  no 
means  the  kind  of  advancement  due  to  hia  merha; 
and  which  hia  connexion  might  naturally  have  se- 
cured for  him.  Theae  circumstances  had.  at  4he 
time  when  1  first  observed  him,  tinged  his  demaan- 
our ;  he  had  come  tointermio^e  aomain  waywarji 
snappiahoiess  now  and  then  wi^  his  forensic  exhi- 
bitions, and  in  private  aeemed  inclined  (jhoogh  al- 
together incapable  of  abandoning  tha  Tory  party) 
to  say  bitter  thin^  of  people  in  high  placea;  oiU 
with  theae  exc4>tion8,  never  waa  benevolence  to- 
wards all  the  human  race  more  hvely  and  overflow- 
ing than  his  evidently  waa,  even  when  he  oooair 
dered  himself  as  one  who  had  reason  to  complain 
of  his  luck  in  the  world.  Now,  however,  these  little 
asperities  had  disappeared ;  one  great  real  grief  haa 
cast  its  shadow  over  him,  and  submissive  to  th# 
chasiiiitiinunt  of  lit'flvtin,  lie  hud  j;o  Ioii>LVr  any 
though  Lh  fi  iX  i  h  e  pt  1 1  y  ni  it-usaiju  of  ni  ank  j  ■  ^  ^  i .  >^  * . .  1 1 '  a 
ap  p  rti  hi^{i!  ai  u  n  w JUS  tha  t  his  am  bit  irj  n  w  f)  r. ' 
ed  with  hia  ree^ntxneot;  and  he  wfci?  .;-: 

evt'ry  enduavMUTt  m  coniicirion  wii-h  thtir  LiJLii.4.^.»a 
fri^ndj  die  Lord  Advocatii  Raa;  tp  procUX^for  Bt' 
ski  tit.'  that  lone- covf  ted  teat  on  the  b«ucb,  foout 
whi^h  rha  aubJ^cd  widawi^t  htmaidf  had  c^aaeil  Ur 
ocviiry  hia  initid.  By  and  by  tht^i;  viaw»  were  re>- 
tMTtA  to  SEoit's  luiG^h  BAii^facma^  and  for  a  htkf 
sea^noii  wub  (hi^  happiest  inflect  on  Etikiuif^s.  own 
apmta !  but  1  shnll  not  e^jiicipate  the  ne^wl 

Mc^anwbde  be  ahmnk  from  th«  coUisiafia  of  goa-' 
era!  society  tn  Edinbur^i^k  and  hvvd  ahuost  «Xi£til- 
siv ely  in  lus  aw n  U ( t| c  cuv le  of  in tiiu a tci*  His  con- 
ver^^aiion^  though  eomewhat  pr^iciae  a^d  Snical  mn 
the  tir»t  ini^reftvion,  was  rich  in  knowlt.'dgtu  His 
litemry  ainbidon,  active  at3.d  aflpiriiig  at  ihe  outa^t. 
hfid  loEijg  before  this  time  mcTif^ed  ui  hia  ptofMlid 
v<  rLL-r.'itton  for  Scott ;  but  ka  su\l  rctui  a  greai  d^w* 
aii'i  did  sn  n-  tnurh  J  lulirvc  with  a  view  ip  ussisf* 
in.  --■■■-'■■'.:;  ■  •"  ,  ^ '        :  i\ 

aiiiu^fiii'jdr.     il\  .  ..   -L    '  -  L,.  JL 

extracting  the  picturesque  (tarn  old,  and,  generally 
speaking,  dull  books ;  and  in  bringing  out  hia  stores 
he  often  showed  a  great  deal  of  quaint  hmnoor  and 
sly  wit. 

Scott,  on  his  side,  respected,  trusted,  and  loved 
him,  much  aa  an  alfecdonate  husband  doea  the 
wife  who  gave  him  her  heart  in  youth,  and  thinks 
his  thoughts  rather  than  her  own  in  the  eveninr  of 
life  I  he  soothed,  cheered,  and  anatained  Brsnie 
habitually;  I  do  not  believe  a  more  entire  and  per- 
fect confidence  ever  subsisted  than  theirs  was  and 
slwaya  had  been  in  each  other;  and  to  onawfao 
had  duly  observed  the  cresping  jealonaiea  of  huasan 
nature,  it  might  perhapa  eeem  doubtful  on  which 
side  the  balance  of.  real  nobility  of  heart  and  ol^ar- 
acter,  as  displayed  in  then*  connexion  at  the  tuno 
of  which  I  am  speaking,  ought  to  be  casu 

Among  the  common  irienas  of  their  young  daya, 
of  whom  they  both  delighted  to  speak— and  alwava 
spoke  with  warm  and  equal  affection— waa  toe 
sister  of  their  friend  Cranstoun,  the  confidant  of 
Scott's  fiist  unfortunate  love,  whom  neither  had 
now  seen  for  a  period  of  more  than  twenty  yeara. 
This  lady  had  undergone  domestic  affiictions  more 
than  sufficient  to  have  crashed  almost  any  apirit 
but  her  own.  Her  husband,  the  Count  PurgstalJ, 
had  died  some  years  before  this  time,  leaving  her 
an  only  son,  a  youth  of  the  moat  amiable  dispo- 
sition, and  possessing  abilities  which,  had  he  hved 
to  develope  them,  must  have  secured  for  hhn  a  high 
station  in  the  annals  of  genius.  This  hope  of  her 
eyes,  the  last  heir  of  an  illustrious  lineage,  followed 
his  father  to  the  tomb  in  the  nineteenth  year  of  his 
age.  The  desolate  Countess  was  ur^ed  by  her  fa- 
mily in  Scotland  to  reiorn,  after  this  bereavement, 
to  her  native  country;  but  she  had  vowed  to  her 
son  on  his  deathbed,  that  one  day  her  dust  ahould 
be  mhigied  with  his ;  and  no  ar^ment  could  induoa 
her  to  depart  from  the  resolution  of  remaining  hi 
aolitary  Styria.  By  her  desire,  a  valued  fjriend  of 
Digitized  by  VjOOQlc 


L1P&  W  StR  WAXMXL  SCmt. 


\ 


dM 


ffa^  bcmie  of  Piitg9ttj],  ivfio  11091)6611  born  and  bred 
«p  on  their  estati^'  the  celebrated  Orientalist,  Josgph 
'Von  Hammert  eoinpilea  a  little  memoir  of  **Tne 
Two  Last  CounlBof  Purgstall,"  which  he  put  forth, 
in  Jmnuary,  18!2l,  under  the  title  of  "  Denkmahl, "  or 
Monmnentrand  of  this  work  the  Gonntess  sent  a 
ccmjr  to  Sir  Walter,  (with  whom  her  corresnondence 
had  been  dnrine  several  years  suspended,)  by  the 
hands  of  her  eldest  brother,  Mr.  Henry  Cranstoun, 
who  had  been  risiting  her  in  Styria,  and  who  at  this 
time  occupied  a  viQa  within  a  few  miles  of  Abbots- 
ford.  Scott's  letter  of  acknowledgment  never 
reached  her:  and  indeed  I  doubt  if  it  were  ever  des-' 
patched,  tffi  appears  to  have  meditated  a  set  of 
consolatory  verses  for  its  conclusion,  and  the  muse 
not  answering  his  call  at  the  moment,  I  suspect  be 
had  aRowed  the  sheet,  which  I  now  transcribe,  to 
M  aside  and  be  lost  sifitht  of  among  his  mtdtiforious 
I  of  MS. 


TJtke  Ckmntut  Pur^ttaU,  4>c.  4>c. 

**  Mr  d$t$  UMl  roach  valuetf  FrieniL 

'  You  eannot  imagine  bow  much  I  was  taterette^  and 
affiteted  by«jrec9Miig  your  token  of  your  kind  recoUec- 
ti0ii,  after  the  hiter? al  of  so  many  Tears.  Your  brother 
Btary  break^Mted  witli  me  yetteroaor,  and  gave  me  the 
letter  «nd  the  book,  which  served  me  as  a  matter  of  much 
melaiicholy  reflection  for  many  hours. 

^Hardbr  any  thing  makes  the  mind  recoil  so  much  upon 
1^1^  as  the  being  suddenly  and  strongly  recalled  to  Atnes 
'         ist,  and  that  by  the  voice  of  one  whom  we  have  so 
kwed  and  respected.    Do  aot  think' I  haveever 


kmtpast, 
aneb  kwc 


ibifoaeo  |rou,  or  the  many  iMppy  days  I  passed  in  Fred- 
ertek  Street,  In  society  which  fate  has  separated  so  far, 
aad  Csr  so  many  years. 


"The  Uliie  volume  was  particularly  acceptable  tome, 
as  lUyquainted  me  with  many  circumstances,  of  which 
<h«uDue  and  imperfect  communication  had  left  me  ehber 
enter eff  ignorant,  or  had  transmitted  oidy  hMccucate  in- 

**AJasl  my  dear  Mend,  what  ean  the  otatiost  eflbrts  of 
trtSfcdntatp  offer  yon,  beyond  the  sympathy  which,  how- 
srer  sbieere,  must  sound  like/an  empty  compliment  in 
the  ter  orsAliction.  God  knows  with  what  willingness  I 
snuld  undertake  anything  which  might  afford  you  the 
meiancholy  consolation  or  knowing  how  much  your  old 
ad  eaoly  iriend  interests  himself  m  the  sad  event  which 
has  so  deeply  wounded  your  peace  of  mind.  Tlie  verses, 
therefbr^whieh  conclude  this  letter,  must  not  be  weigh- 
•d  according  to  their  Intrinsic  value,  for  the  more  io- 
aJsqoace  they  are  to  express  the  feeUngs  they  would  lain 
esDvey,  the  more  they  show  the  authors  auuous  wish  to 
da  what  nuty  be  gratefhl  to  you. 

•*  Iq  truth,  I  have  long  given  up  poetry.  I  have  had  my 
day  wilh  the  public ;  and  being  no  great  believer  !n  poeti- 
cal iaomortality,'!  was  very  wcH  pleased  to  rise  &  winner, 
wtohout  conthining  tl^e  g^e,  tifl  I  was  beggared  of  any 
credit  I  had  acqmrea.  Besides.  I  felt  the  prudence  of 
fMi^  w«y  before  the  more  forcible  and  powerinl  genius 
«f  ByroA.  Iff  were  cither  greedy,  or  jealous  of  poetical 
fane— «od  both  are  strangers  to  mj^  nMure—l  might  com- 
fort ssy  self  witli  the  thouchu  that  I  would  hesitate  to  strip 
myself  to  the  contest  so  fearlessly  as  Byron  docs ;  or  to 
command  the  wonder  and  terror  of  the  public,  by  exhi- 
bithig,  in  my  own  person,  the  sublime  attitude  of  the  df- 
^  ghidiator.  But  with  the  old  frankness  of  twenty  years 
ibKe,  I  win  Mrly  own,  that  this  same  delicacy  of  mine 
aiay  silee  aanre  from  conscioas  want  of  vigour,  and  iafe- 
rMTity,  than  from  a  delicate  dislike  to  the  nature  of  the 
oooflki.  At  any  rate,  there  is  a  time  for  every  thing,  and 
wftbeul  swearing  oaths  to  it,  I  think  my  time  for  poetry 
IMS  gofM*  by. 

**My  health  suffered  horridly  last  year,  I  think  from 
<werlaboi«r«iidiexcitation:  and  though  it  is  now  appar- 
ealty  restored  to  its  usual  tone,  yet  during  the  lonff  and 
pahifid  disorder,  (spasms  bi  the  stomath,)  and  the  tright* 
M  process  of  cure,  by  a  prokmged  use  of  calomel,  I 
Isamedliiat  my  fhune  was  made  of  flesh,  and  not  of  iron, 
a  c^nvietten  which  I  vriU  long  keep  in  remeanbrnnce,  and 
«*«M«ny  occupations,  so  laborious  and  agitating,  as  poe- 
try m«at  be,  to  be  worth  any  thing. 

«*fa  tMs  hnsMHir,  I  often  think^if  passing  a  few  weeks 
on  the  continent—*  summer  vacation  if  I  cftn—and  of 
course  tny  atmiction  to  Gratz  would  be  very  strong.  I 
finu  this  is  the  only  chance  of  our  meeting  in  this  world, 
Wc,  wh0  eiice  saw  ««ch  other  dailv  I  For  I  underslaod 
|froea  Oeorge  and  Henry,  that  thore  is  little  chance  of 
yoor  eomlng  here.  And  when  1  look  around  me.  and 
cossMer  how  msiiy  changes^you  will  see  in  feature,  form, 
■Ml  fiksMon,  amongst  all  you  knew  and  luved ;  and  how 
Bsch,  ao  sodden  squsU,  or  violenc  tempest,  but  the  slow 
46  3F 


and  grsAtml  progress  of  llfei's  ISMg  veyige,  hm  te^erad 
aH  the  gallhnt  fellowships  Whom  yon  left  <  spreadfang  their 
sails  to  the  morning  breeze,  I  really  am  ndt  sure  that  , 
you  would  have  utaeh  ipleasut  e. 

^  The  gay  and  wild  romance  of  life  is  over  with  all  of 
ns.  The  real,  dull,  and  stem  history  of  humanity  has 
made  a  tar  greater  procress  over  our  heads;  and  age, 
dark  and  unlovely,  has  laid  his  crutch  over  the  stoutest 
fellow's  shoulders.  One  thing  your  old  society  may 
boasL  that  they  have  all  run  their  course  with  honour, 
and  almost  all  wtfh  distinction ;  and  the  brother  suppers 
of  Fiederiek  Street  have  certainly  made  a  very  consider- 
able figure  In  the  world,  as  was  to  be  expected,  from  h^ 
talents  under  whose  auspices  they  were  assembled.  # 

"One  of  the  most  pleasant  aights  which  you  would  see 
in  Scotland,  as  it  now  stands,  would  be  your  brother  Georgo 
In  possession  of  (he  most  beautlfU  and  romantic  place  in 
Clydesdale— Corehouse.  I  have  promised  often  to  go  nut 
with  him,  and  assist  hUn  with  my  deep  experience  as  a 
planter  and  landscape  gardener.  I  promise  you  my  oaki* 
vtriU  outlast  my  laurels ;  and  I  pique  myself  more  upon 
my  compositions  for  manure  than  on  any  other  composi'  ■ 
tioDs  whstsoever  to  which  1  was  ever  accessary.  But  so 
much  does  business  of  one  sort  or  other  engase  us  both* 
that  we  never  have  been  able  to  fix  a  time  which  siiitea 
us  both  ;  and  with  the  titmost  wish  to  make  out  the  party, 
perhaps  we  never  may. 

"  This  is  a  melancholy  letter,  but  it  is  chiefly  so  ftt)m 
the  sad  tone  of  yours— who  have  had  saeh  resl  disasters 
to  hunent— while  mtoe  is  only  the  humorous  sadness, 
which  s  retrospect  <»  tanman  Ufe  Is  sure  to  produce  od 
the  most  prosperous.  Formy  owncourssof  life,  I  have 
only  to  be  ashamed  of  iu  prosperity,  and  afraid  of  its  ter- 
mhiatlon  ;  for  I  have  little  reason,  arguing  on  the  doctrine 
of  chances,  to  hope  that  the  same  good  forttme  will  attend 
me  for  ever.  1  have  had  an  affectionate  and  promising 
ikmily,  maqy  (Hends.  few  unfHends,  and  I  thlin,  no  ene- 
mies— and  more  of  (aitne  and  fortune  than  mere  Utersture- 
ever  produced  for  a  man  before. 

^  I  oweil  among  my  own  people,  and  have  mai^  whose 
happtnessis  dependent  an  me,  and  which  I  study  to  the 
best  of  loy  power.  I  trust  my  temper,  which  you  know 
is  by  nature  good  and  sasy,  has  not  been  spoiled  by  flat- 
tery or  proaperity ;  and  therefore  I  have  escaped  entirely 
that  irritability  of  disposition  which  I  thhik  is  planted, 
like  the  slave  In  the  poet's  chariot,  to  prevent  his  enjoying 
bU  triumph. 

"Should  things,  iherelbre,  otenge  with  me  and  In 
these  times,  or  Indeed  in  any  tlmeai  such  change  is  to  be 
apprehended— 1  trust  I  shall  be  abw  to  surrender  thape 
adveqtitioQs  sdrantages,  as  I  would  my  upper  dress,  as 
sometfahig  extremely  comfortable,  but  whicn  I  can  make 
shift  to  do  without"*^  .... 

As  I  may  haTe  no  occasion  hereafter  to  allude  to 
the  early  friend  with  ^oae  Mirowa  Soott  tbua 
sympathized  amidst  the  meridian  ^lendoura  of  hia 


appeared  to  myself  from  the  firat  chimerical ;  and 
that  I  ha?6  since  beard  those  who  knew  her  best 
in  the  days  of  her  intercourse  with  Sir  Walter,  ex- 
preaa  the  same  opinion4n  the  moat  decided  manner, 
^ut  to  return. 

While  the  Pirate  was  advancing  under  Mr.  JSr- 
skine'a  eye,  Scott  had  even  more  than  the  usual 
aUowance  of  minor  literary  operatiena  on  hand. 
He  edited  a  reprint  of  a  curious  old  book,  called, 
"  Franck's  Northern  Memoir,  and  the  Contemfila- 
live  AnRler  i"  and  he  also  prepared  for  the  press,  a 
volume  published  soon  after,  under  the  title  of 
**  Chronological  Notea  on  Scottish  Affairs,  1660  to 
1701,  from  the  Diary  of  Lord  Fountainhall.'*  The 
professional  writings  of  that  celebrated  old  lawyer 
had  been  much  in  his  hands  from  his  early  years, 
on  account  of  the  incidental  light  which  they  throw 
on  th^  evants  of  a  most  memorable  period  >n  Scot- 
tish  history ;  and  he  seems  to  have  contemplated 
aome  more  considerable  selection  from  bis  remains, 
but  to  have  dropped  these  iiitentions,  on  being  nven 
to  understand  that  they  might  interfere  witp  those  ■ 
of  Lord  Fountaiiihall's  accomplished  representa- 
tive, the  present  Sir  Thomas  Dick  Lauder,  Baronet. 


*  In  comnranlestlnr  (his  letter  to  tnv  fViend  C^a^rtain  Hall,  wben 

^ .-  .... ,Ji«tffe 

sequence  of  an  eipretsion  about  Scutt't  Eealtb.  that  it  most  have 


he  was  engiifed  in  l^s  Accovnt  of  a 
dsrinc  tiielast  tnonlhs  of  her  Ufe,  J  ii 


liit  to  Madame  de  Purgstall 
;fpsted  to  bin,  in.  con- 


been  wntlSn  in  18S0.  Tije  date  of  the  "  DenkmaU,"  to  whkh 
it  refcts,  is,  howevw,  scdBcient  evidetiee  thaL  I  oitf^ttoJiSM 
■•«»W1.  ,.    Digitized  by  VjTTOgTe 


i<lk 


Ll^£  01^  B^A  Wig[«TER  SOPTT. 


It  Wf  however  to  be  le^retted,  that  Sir  ThomWa 
prpmise  of  a  Life  of  his  eminent  ancestor  has  not 
yel  been  redeemed. 

In  August  appeared  the  volume  of  the  Noveliers 
Library,  containing  Scott's  Life  of  Smollett ;  and  it 
being  now  ascertained  that  John  Ballantyne  had 
died  a  debtor,  the  editor  offered  to  proceed  with  this 
Claries  of  prefaces,  on  the  looting  that  the  whole  prof- 
its of  the  work  should  go  to  his  widow.  Mr.  Con- 
stable, whose  health  ^as  now  beginning  to  break, 
had  gone  southwards  in  quest  of  more  genial  air,  and 
wOs  at  Hastings  when  he  heard  of  this  proposition. 
He  ttnmediateiy  wrote  to  me,  entreating  me  to  rep- 
resent to  Sir  Walter  that  the  undertaking  having 
been  coldly  received  at  first,  was  unlikely  to  grow  in 
favour  if  continued  on  the  same  plan— that  in  his 
opinion  the  bulk  of  the  volumes,  and  the  small  type 
of  their  text,  had  been  unwisely  chosen  for  a  work  of 

I  mere  entertainment,  and  could  only  be  suitable  for 
-one  of  reference  j  that  Ballantyne's  Novelist's  Libra- 
ry, therefore,  ought  to  be  stopped  at  once,  and  an- 
other in  a  lighter,  shape,  to  range  with  the  late  collect- 
ed  edition  of  the  first  series  of  the  Waverley  Roman- 
^  ces,  announced  with  his  own  name  as  publisher,  and 
Scott's  as  editor.  He  proposed  at  the  same  time  to 
commence  the  issue  of  a  Select  Library  of  English 
Poetry,  with  prefaces  and  a  few  notes  of  the  .same 
h^d :  and  calculating  that  each  of  these  collections 
should  extend  to  twenty- nve  Yolumes,  and  that  the 
pubUcation  of  both  might  be  concluded  within  two 
'  years—*  the  writing  of  the  prefaces,  &c.,  forming  per» 
iiaps  an  occasional  relief  from  more  important  la- 
bours *!— the  bookseller  offered  to  pay  their  editor  in  all 
the  sum  of  X6000 ;  a  small  portion  of  which  sum,  as  he 
hinted,  would  undoubtedly  be  more  than  Mrs.  John 
Ballantyne  could  ever  hope  to  derive  from  the  pros- 
ecution of  her  husband's  last  pnblishmg  adventure. 
Various  causes  combined  to  prevent  the  realization 
of  these  magnificent  projects.  Scott  now,  as  at  the 
beginning  of  his  career  of  speculation,  had  views 
about  what  a  collection  of  English  Poetry  should 
be,  in  which  even  Constable  could  not,  on  consider- 
ation, be  made  to  concur ;  and  I  have  already  ex- 
plained the  coldness  with  which  he  regarded  further 
attempts  upon  our  Elder  Novelists.  The  Ballantyne 
Library  crept  on  to  the  tenth  volume,  and  was  then 
dropt  abruptly}  and  the  double  negotiation  with 
Constable  was  never  renewed. 

Lady  Louisa  Stuart  had  not,  I  fancy,  read  Scott's 
'Lives  of  the  Novelists,  until,  some  years  after  this 
time,  IheV  were  collected  into  two  httle  piratical  duo- 
decimos by  a  Parisian  bookseller;  and  on  her  then 
expressing  her  admiration  of  them,  together  with 
her  aatomshmeni  that  the  speculation,  of  which  they 
formed  a  part,  should  have  attracted  Httle  notice  of 
any  sort,  he  answered  as  follows :— "I  am  deUghted 

\  they  aflord  any  entertainment,  for  they  are  rather 
fiimsily  written,  being  done  merely  to  oblige  a  friend : 
they  were  yoked  to  a  great,  ill-conditioned,  lubberly, 
double-columned  book,  which  they  were  as  useful 
to  tug  along  as  a  set  of  fieas  would  be  to  draw  a  mail 
.  coach.  It  19  very  difficult  to  answer  your  ladyship's 
curious  question  concerning  change  of  taste ;  but, 
whether  m  young  or  old,  it  takes  place  insensibly 
without  the  parties  being  aware  of  it.  A  grand  aunt 
of  my  own,  Mrs.  Keith  of  Raveistone,  who  was  a 

5 arson  of  some  condition,  being  a  daughter  of  Sir 
ohn  S  win  ton  of  S  win  ton— lived  with  unabated  vig- 
our of  Intellect  to  a  very  advanced  age.  She  was 
very  fond  of  reading,  and  enjoyed  i(  to  the  last  of  her 
long  life.  One  day  she  asked  me,  when  we  happen- 
ed to  be  alone  together,  whether  I  had  ever  seen 
Mrs.  Behn's  hovels?— I  confessed  the  charge.— 
Whether  I  could  get  her  a  sight  of  them  7—1  said, 
with  some  hesitation,  I  believed  I  could ;  but  that 
I  did  not  think  she  would  like  either  the  manners,  or 
the  language,  which  approached  too  near  that  of 
Charles  II.^s  time  to  be  quite  proper  reading.  *  Nev- 
■ertheless,'  said  the  good  old  lady,  '  1  remember  them 
being  so  much  admired,  and  being  so  much  interest- 
ed in  them  myself  that  I  wish  to  look  at  them  again.' 
To  hear  was  to  obey.  So  1  sent  Mrs.  Aphra  Behn, 
coriously  sealed  up,  with 'private  and  confidential' 
OB  tl^e  packet)  to  my  gay  oldLgrand'aunt.    The  next 


time  I  saw  bar 

properly  wrapped 
'Take  back  •'"•-' 


^  ahe  nve  M  b«4  4flv% 
mn  o»aAf  tnese  woirdi : — 

, Mrs.  Behn:  and  if  you  itill 

take  my  advice,  put  her  in  the  fife,  tor  I  foatid  it  im- 
possible to  get  through  the  very  first  novel  But  is 
It  npt,'  she  said,  *  a  very  odd  thing,  that  I,  an  old  wo- 
man of  eighty  and  ujpwanis,  situiig  alone,  (ed  my- 
self ashamed  to  read  a  book  which,  sixty  years  ago, 
I  have  heard  read  aloud  for  the  arausemepi  of  largo 
circles,  consisting  of  the  first  and  most  creditaDle 
society  in  London.'  This,  of  course,  was  owing  to 
the  gradual  improvement  of  the  National  taste  and 
delicacy.  Tiie  change  that  brings  into  and  throws 
out  of  fashion  particular  styles  of  composition,  is 
something  of  the  same  kind.  It  doea  not  signify 
what  ih€<  giieateror  less  merit  of  the  book  ia ;— the 
reader,  as  Tony  Lumpkin  says,  must  be  in  a  concat- 
enatioix.  accordingly— the  fashion,  or  the  general 
taste,  must  have  prepared  him  to  be  pleased,  or  put 
him  on  his  guard  against  it.  It  is  much  like  dran. 
If  Clarissa  should  appear  before  a  nrodem  party  ia 
her  lace  ruffles  and  head  dress,  or  Lovelaop  in  his 
wig,  however  genteelly  powdered,  I  am  anid  they 
would  make  no  conquests ;  the  fashion  which  makes 
conquests  of  us  in  other  respects  is  very  powerful  in 
literary  composition,  and  adds  to  the  effect  of  «odm 
works,  while  in  others  it  forms  their  sole  merit." 
-  Among  other  miscellaneous  work  of  this  autumn, 
Scott  amused  some  leisure  hours  with  writing  a  ae- 
ries of  "Private  Letters,"  supposed  to  have  beea 
discovered  in  the  repositonea  of  a  Noble  Engiiab 
FamiljfS  and  giving  a  picture  of  manners  in  town  aod 
country  during  the  early  part  of  the  reign  of  James  ]. 
These  letters  were  printed  as  fast  as  hepenned  them, 
in  a  handsome  quarto  form,  and  he  nimished  the 
margin  with  a  running  commentary  of  notes,  pMwii 
up  in  the  character  of  a  disappomted  chaplain,  a 
keen  Whig,  or  rather  Radical,  overflowing  on  all  oc- 
casions with  spleen  against  Monarchv  and  Aristoc- 
racy. When  the  pnnting  had  reached  the79d  psga, 
however,  he  was  told  candidly  by  Erskine,  by  James 
Ballantyne,  and  also  by  myself,  that,  however  clever 
his  imitation  of  the  epistofary  style  of  the  period  in 
question,  he  was  throwing  away  in  these  letters  the 
materials  of  as  good  a  romance  as  he  had  ever  pen- 
ned ;  and  a  few  days  afterwards  he  said  to  roe— pat- 
ting Sibyl's  neck  nil  she  danced  under  him—"  Yon 
were  all  quite  right :  if  the  letters  had  passed  for  geo- 
uine  they  would  have  found  favour  only  with  s  few 
musty  antiquaries,  and  if  the  joke  were  detected, 
theie  was  not  story  enough  to  carry  it  off.  I  ihall 
bum  the  sheets,  and  give  you  Bonny  King  Jamie  and 
all  his  tail  in  the  old  shape,  as  soon  as  I  can  get  Cap- 
tain Goffe  within  view  of  the  gallows." 

Such  was  the  origin  of  the  "  Fof tunes  of  Niget' 
As  one  set  of  the  uncompleted  Letters  has  b^n  pre- 
served, I  Bhsll  here  insert  a  specimen  of  them,  in 
which  the  reader  will  easily  recognise  the  germ  of 
more  than  one  pcene  of  the  novel. 

Jcnkin  Harman  to  the  Lord ^. 


"  My  Lord, 

**  To 


-'owchins  thii  new  mishappe  of  Sir  Tboows,  wfter«> 
of  yonr  Lorcl»hinpe  makes  queric  of  me,  I  wokle  haftitte 
that  I  could^  truth  and  my  boonden  dutie  alweya  bme  mt^ 
iafied.  make  sue  ho  answer  as  were  fullie  pl^saunte  to  mam 
to  write,  or  unto  your  Lordsbippe  to  reade.  But  what 
remedy  7  voung  men  will  have  stirring  bloodes;  and  tbe 
conrticrlikr  gallants  of  the  time  wiU  be  gamesome  and 
dangerous,  as  they  have  bene  in  day es past.  I  think  your 
Lordshippe  is  so  wise,  as  to  casto  one  eve  back*  to  yoor 
own  more  juvenile  time,  whitest  you  looke  forward  wich 
the  othi^r  upon  this  mischaunce,  wtiich,  upon  my  lyfe,  mm. 
be  fonnde  to  be  no  othervrise  barmfol  to  Sir  Thomas  thaa 
as  it  shews  him  an  hastie  Hotspur  of  the  day,  suddealia 
checkki^  at  wliatsoever  may  seem  to  smirche  hia  hoooor. 
As  I  am  a  trcw  man,  and  your  Lordship's  poors  kiaaman 
and  bounden  servant,  I  think  ther  livea  not  a  c entlesian 
more  trew  to  his  (riende  than  SirThomaa ;  and  ahhoofti 
ye  be  but  brothers  uterine,  yet  so  dearly  doth  he  hfoloa 
your  favour,  that  his  fiither,  were  the  gode  knight  alyvs, 
should  not  have  more  swaye  with  him  than  shaUe  year 
lordship;  and,  also,  it  Is  no  kindly  part  to  sow  dUieont^ 
betwene  brethrene ;  for,  as  the  holy  Paalmlflt  saythe. 
'  J3eee  quam  bonum  et  guamjtuundmn  haMmreJrmirm,* 
Ac.    And  moreover,  it  nedes  not  to  tell  your  Lorddiippa 


UFE  OP  Silt  vfAittitSL  scom. 


US 


^m  W6dD6i^  kiHhat  ha  Mid  (o  iiie»  with  mocbe  dlit«m- 
pentnre,-~1lwter  Jenkio,  I  be  tolde  that  ye  meddle  and 
BB^e betvrene meandinj Lorde  mj brother;  wberfore, 
lake  this  for  feyr  waumuif  e,  that  when  I  ehall  fynde  70a  to 
dooying,  I  will  incvntiilent  put  my  dagger  to  the  mite  in 
you :— and  this  was  spoken  with  all  emestneMS  of  viittge 
and  justioao,  graspinc  of  his  poinard's  handle,  as  one  wtio 
wolde  presentlie  maxe  his  words  good.  Surely  my  Lord, 
it  Lb  not  (air  carriage  towarde  yoor  pore  kinsman  if  anie  out 
of  your  house  make  such  reportsof  me,  andof  that  which 
I  have  written  to  you  in  sympleness  of  herte,  and  in  obe- 
<fience  tovour  comraandcment,  which  is  my  law  on  this 
matfer.  Truely,  my  Lord,  I  wolde  this  was  well  looked  to, 
otherweys  my  rowarde  for  trew  service  might  be  to  hand- 
■ell  with  my  berte'e  blode  the  steel  of  a  Mikut  poisnado. 
Natheieas,  1  will  precede  with  my  nuiter,  <al  back  f)U  edge. 
Crastyng  all  utterly  in  the  singleness  of  my  integretie,  and 
in  Tour  Lordahippe's  discretioun. 

"My  Lordc,  the  braule  which  hath  befallen  chaunced 
Chis  waye,  and  not  otherwise.  It  hap'd  that  one  Rainee, 
the  master  of  the  ordinarie  where  his  honour  Sir  Thomas 
eteth  wellnie  dalle  (when  he  is  not  in  attendance  at  courte, 
wherein  he  is  perchance  more  slacke  than  were  wise,) 
^Hxilde  assemble  some  of  the  beste  who  haunte  his  house, 
hayrng  diet  ther  for  money.  The  purpose,  as  shewn 
ftwthe,  wms  to  tast  a  new  piece  of  choice  wyne,  and  ther 
Stc  Thomas  most  nedes  be,  or  the  purpose  holdes  not, 
and  the  Alicant  becometh  Bastard,  wel,  my  Lord,  dice 
tber  wer  and  music,  lustie  helthea  and  dir^e  braines,— 
some  saye  hit  ladyee  also,  of  which  I  know  nought,  save 
thac  sue  he  cockatrices  hatch  wher  such  cockes  of  the 
fme  do  haunt.  Alweys  ther  was  revel  and  wassail  enow 
mad  to  spare.  Now  it  chaunced,  that  whilst  one  Dutton, 
of  Grain's  Inn,  an  Essex  man.  held  the  dice,  Sir  Thomas 
fiUecba  fulle  carouse  to  the  belth  of  the  fair  La^ie  Eliza- 
beth. Tmlie,  my  Lord,  I  cannot  bUune  his  devotioun  to 
so  fair  a  sainK,  though  I  may  wish  the  chapel  for  his  adora- 
tion had  been  better  chosen,  and  the  companie  more  suit- 
able ;  sed  re9pieejlnem.  The  pledge  being  given,  and  alle 
men  on  footeTaye,  and  some  on  knee,  to  drink  the  same, 
young  Philip  I)arcT«  a  near  kinsman  of  my  Loade'a,  or  so 
^aQyng  himself,  takes  on  him  to  check  at  the  helthe,  ask- 
yog  Sir  Thomas  jf  he  were  willinge  to  drink  (he  same  hi  a 
Vonetian  glassel  the  mening  01  whiche  hard  sentence 
your  LordBhippe  shal  esilie  construe.  Wliereupon  dir 
TboBoas,  year  Lordshippe's  brother,  somewliat  shrewish- 
fy  demanded  whether  that  were  bis  game  or  his  crnest ; 
*|D  which  demaunde  the  uther  answers  i^ecklessly  as  he 
thai  wolde  not  be  brow-beaten,  that  Sir  Thomas  might 
lake  it  for  game  or  emest  as  him  listed.  Whereupon  your 
Lordshippe's  brother,  throwing  down  withal  the  wood- 
•cockers  bill,  with  which,  as  the  fashionn  goes,  he  was 
sicking  his  teeth,  answered  redily,  he  cared  not  that  for 
his  game  or  emest,  for  tliat  neither  were  worth  a  bean. 
A  small  matter  this  to  make  such  a  storie,  for  presentlie 
young  Darcie  up  with  the  wine-pot  in  which  they  had  as- 
said  me  freshe  nogshede,  and  heveth  it  at  Sir  Thomas, 
which  vesoel  missing  01  the  mark  it  was  aym'd  at,  en- 
countreth  the  hede  of  Master  Dutton,  wlien  the  outside 
of  the  flaggon  did  that  which  peradventure  the  inside  had 
aeeompUsh'd  somewliat  later  in  the  evening,  and  strctrh- 
f  tb  him  on  the  llore ;  and  then  th'b  crie  arose,  and  you 
might  see  twenty  swords  onle  at  once,  and  none  rightly 
knowing  wherfor.  And  the  groomes  end  valets,  who 
waited  in  the  street  and  i^the  kitchen,  and  who,  as  seldom 
&ilea,  had  been  as'  besy  whh  the  beer  as  tlieir  masters 
with  the  wine,  presentlie  fell  at  odds,  and  betoke  them- 
selves to  their  weapons;  so  ther  was  bouncing  of  buck- 
lers, and  bandying  of  blades,  in.<i(cde  of  clattering  of  quart 
potties,  andchuningofharpjsand  fiddle.  At  length  comes 
the  wache,  and,  as  ofl  happem>  in  the  like  affiles,  alle  men 
join  ageynst  them,  and  ihpy  are  betcn  balP  An  honest 
man,  David  Bootli,  constable  of  the  night,  and  a  chandler 
i>y  trade,  Is  sorelv  hud.  Tlie  crie  rises  of  Prentices,  pren- 
tices. Clubs,  clubs,  for  word  went  that  the  egairt-gailanta 
and  the  Graie's-Inn  men  had  murther'd  a  citizen;  all 
mei^e  take  the  street,  and  the  whole  ward  is  uppe,  none 
well  knowing  why.  Menewhile  our  gallants  bad  toe  hicke 
and  sense  to  disperse  their  company,  some  getting  thorn 
into  the  Temple,  the  gates  wheroi  were  presentlie  shut 
to  prevent  pursuite  I  warrant,  and  some  taidng  boat  as 
thermjglit;  water  thus  saving  whom  wyne  had  endaun- 
f  era.  The  Alderman  of  the  ward,  Worthy  Master  Dan- 
velt,  with  Master  Deputy,  and  others  of  repute,  bestow'd 
theffi«elves  not  a  Htel  to  compose  the  tumult,  and  seal  past 
-over  for  the  evening. 

"  My  Lord,  this  is  the  hole  ofthe  mater,  so  far  as  my  earn- 
est and  anxious  serch  had  therein,  as  well  for  the  sake  of 
,  my  blode  relation  tp  your  honorable  house,  as  frome  af- 
fectioan  to  my  kinsman  Sir  Thomas,  and  especiallio  in 
humble  obedience  to  your  regarded  commaudes.  As  for 
<Mher  offences  given  by  Sir  Thomas,  whereof  Idle  brulies 
.art  correht,  as  that  he  should  have  cail'd  Master  Darcie 


a  codshead  or  an  woodetfKke,  t  eiilildrneW  no  Mieb  UnUM 
noranle  nere  to  them,  only  that  when  he  said  he  cared 
not  for  his  game  or  emest,  he  flung  down  ilie  woodcock's 
bUl,  to  which  it  may  be  there  was  sticking  a  part  of  the 
head,  though  mytnformantsaithe  otherwise ;  and  he  stode 
so  close  by  Sir  Thomas,  that  he  herde  the  auartpot  whis- 
sel  a<i  it  new  betwixt  their  two  hedes.  Of  damage  done 
among  the  better  sort,  there  is  not  muche ;  some  cuts  and 
thrusts  ther  wer,  tnat  had  their  sequcnts  in  blood  and 
woundes,  but  none  dedlie.  Ofthe  rascal  sort,  one  fellowo 
is  kill'd,  and  sundrie  hurt.  Hob  HiUon,  your  brother's 
grome,  for  life  a  maymed  man,  having  a  slash  over  the 
right  hande,  for  faulte  of  a  gauntlet.  Marry  lie  has  been  a 
brave  knave  and  a  sturdie :  and  if  it  pleses  your  goode 
Lordshlppe,  I  fynd  he  wolde  zladlie  be  preler'd,  when 
tym  is  fitting,  to  the  ofilce  of  oedle.  lie  hath  a  burlie 
frame,  and  scare-babe  visage ;  he  shall  do  wel  euoughe 
in  Bucl)  charge,  though  lackyng  the  use  of  four  fingers.* 
The  hurtyng  ot  the  constabel  is  a  wsrse  mater;  as  also 
the  anger  that  is  between  the  courtiers  and  Graie's-fan 
men ;  so  that  yf  close  hede  be  not  given,  I  doubt  me  we  shall 
here  of  more  Oesta  Graiorvm.  Thel  will  not  be  persuad- 
ed but  that  the  quarrel  betwixt  Sir  Thomas  and  yomigDar* 
cie  was  simulate ;  and  that  Master  Dulton's  hurte  wes  wil- 
ful ;  whereas,  on  m'y  Ivfe,  it  will  not  be  founde  so. 

"  The  cbunseyl  hath  taen  the  mater  up,  and  I  here  H. 
M.  spoke  many  things  gravely  and  solidly,  and  as  one  who 
taketh  to  hert  such  unhappie  chaunces,  both  a^nst 
brauling  and  drinldng.  ar  Thomas,  with  others,  hath 
put  in  plegge  to  be  forthcoming ;  and  so  strictly  taken  up 
Mres  the  unhappie  mater  ef  the  Scots  Lord,t  that  if  Booth 
shulde  die,  which  God  forefend,  there  might  be  a  fereful 
reckoning .  For  one  cNyzen  sayeth,  I  trust  falslie,  he  saw 
Sir  Thomas  draw  back  his  band,  having  in  it  a  drawn 
sword,justas  the  constabel  felle.  It  seems  but  too  con- 
stant that  thel  were  within  but  short  space  of  ech  otiler 
when  this  unhappy  chaunce  befel.  My  Lord,  it  is  not  for  me 
to  sai^  what  course  your  Lordshlppe  should  steer  in  this 
storm,  onlie  that  the  Lord  Chansellour's  gode  worde  wll, 
as  resen  is,  do  yeman's  service.  Schulde  it  come  to  fine, 
or  imprisonment,  as  is  to  be  fered,  why  should  not  your 
Lordsnippe  cast  the  weyght  into  the  balance  for  that  refr* 
traint  which  goode  Sir  Thomas  must  nedes  bear  hiraaglt, 
rather  than  for  such  penalty  as  must  nedes  pinchc  the 

Eurses  of  his  frendes.  Your  Lordship  always  knowcth 
est ;  but  surely  the  yonee  knyght  hath  but  Utel  re^on  to 
expect  that  you  shulde  further  engage  yourself  in  such 
bondes  as  might  be  necessary  to  bring  this  fine  into  the 
Chequer.  Nether  have  wise  men  helde  it  unfit  that  heat- 
ed bloode  be  coold  by  sequestration  fipr  a  space  from 
temptation.  There  is  dout,  moreover,  whether  he  may 
not  hold  himself  bounden,  according  to  the  forme  of  faytho 
which  such  gallants  and  stirring  spirits  profess,  to  have 
further  meeting  with  Master  Philip  Darcie,  or  tliis  same 
Dutton,  or  with  bothe,  on  this  rare  dependancc  of  an 
woodcocke's  hede,  and  a  quart- pot ;  certeynlVj  me- 
thoughte,  the  last  tym  we  met,  and  when  he  barb  himself 
towards  me,  as  I  have  premonish'd  vour  Lordshlppe,  that 
he  was  fitter  for  quiet  residence  under  safe  keeping,  than 
for  a  free  walk  amongst  pcceful  men. 

"  And  thus,  my  Lord,  ye  have  the  whole  mater  before 
you;  trew  ye  shall  find  it,— my  dutie  demands  it, — un- 
plcasinsr,  I  cannot  amende  it:  But  I  truste  neither  more 
e\il  in  esse  nor  in  posse,  than  I  have  set  forth  as  above. 
From  one,  who  is  ever  your  Lordshippe's  most  bounden 
tn -nri-n-'ncl,4;c.— J.  H." 

f  >  t..U.  It  must  hnvo  h&Gu  about  the  middle  of 
OriuWr  chat  hi^  dropped  the  scheme  of  this  ficti- 
tious corrtspondence.  I  well  rEinf  niber  the  morn- 
ii>flf  Mii*t  hebi^^an  iht  Kor(tinefl«l  iSigel.  The  day 
bemsiik'sijnei]  t«ir  Ne^oik  HilL  I  u^  nt  over  to  Ab- 
bot t^ford  before  brenkfasr,  and  found  Mr.  Terry  (who 
had  bffftn  sinyina*  there  for  some  timt )  walking  about 
with  hia  frieiid^s  rndflter-masoHs  nf  whose  proceed- 
ines  ht  took  a  farherly  ebaj"(?e,  as  ]j.  mi^ht  well  do, 
tince  the  pinn  of  thu  buildine  hod  h'^en  in  a  consi- 
derable measure  ihe  work  of  ins  owh  taste.  While 
Terry  and  I  were  chattiiif,  Scott  came  out,>  bare- 
I44  Eidtd,  with  a.  buDch  of  SIS,  i»  lit.^  hand,  and  said, 
"  Well,  Indii.  Tve  ktd  the  keel  of  a  new  lugger  this 
mornintf— h*!re  \i  is— b^  off  (•>  rho  water-mde,  and 
let  me  hrar  hi  v.  jou  like  it.'*  Torry  took  the  papers, 
and  walking  up  and  down  by  the  river,  read  to  me 

*  "  The  death  of  the  rascal  sort  is  mentioned  as  be  would  have 
fiororoemoratedthat  of  a  dof ;  and  his  leadiott  plan  of  v#bvidiM 
for  a  profligate  menial,  is  to  place  him  in  lupenntendenco  of  the 
imhappy  poor,  over  whom  his  fierce  looks,  and  rough  demeanour 
arc  to  supply  the  means  of  authority,  which  his  arm  can  no  lunger 
enforce  by  actual  violence  t"  ,     .    . 

*  "  Perhaps  the  case  of  Loid  Sanquhar.  His  Lardslnp  liad  the 
miffortuiie  to  be  ^nged,  for  causing  a  poor  fencing  master  to  be 

■    ted,  wfth  seems  the     '  "       .    j^^--. 


"'^IfflJHLi'el^glC 


LiPfi^  m:  ifM/amB^cfn. 


k- 

:,.:■.•  ^r:;  (id 

li 


8N 

th«  Unt  diapter  oif  NM.  He  expreMed  Mat  de- 
list ^th  the  anhnated  op^ng,  and  e8pe<:fially  with 
the  contrast  between  its  thorough  sth*  of  London 
life,  and  a  chapter  about  Norna  of  the  Fitfiil-Head, 
in  the  third  volume  of  the  Pirate,  which  had  been 

f' ven  ta  him  in  a  similar  manner  the  morning  before, 
could  see  that  (according  to  tl^e  SheriiT'e  phrase) 
hd  smelt  roast  meat ;  here  there  was  everjr  prospect 
of  a  fine  6eld  for  the  art  of  Terryjication.  The 
actor,  when  oar  host  met  us  returning  from  the 
haugrif  did  not  fail  to  express  his  opinion  that  the 
new  novel  would  be  of  this  quality.  Sir  Walter,  as 
he  took  the  31 S.  from  his  band,  eyed  him  with  a 
ga^  smile,  in  which  genuine  b^volence  mingled 
with  mock  exultation,  and  then  throwing  himself 
into  an  attitude  of  comical  dignity,  he  rolled  out  in 
the  tones  of  John  Kemble,  one  of  the  loftiest  bursts 
of  Ben  JoDson's  Mammon— 

*'  Come  on,  sir.    Now  you  set  your  foot  on  shore 

In  NotM  or  be— 

^Pertinax,  my  Surly,* 

Af  aln  I  say  tp  thee  aloud,  Be  rich, 

Thib  day  tnou  shall  have  iflgoia."— 
This  was  another  oeriod  of  "  refreshing  the  ma- 
chine." Early  in  Ivovember,  I  find  Su*  Waller 
writing  thus  to  Constable's  partner,  Mr.  Cadell :  **I 
want  iwo  books,  Malcolm's  Londor  '^  «*  *  -  qj. 
acme  such  name,  and  Derham's  Ai 
maker.'*  [The  reader  of  Nigel  wi 
these  requests.]  '*  All  good  hidk  to  yo 
k  and  otherwise.  1  am  grown  a  sham ' 
feu*  my  eyes  are  hot  so  young  as  th 
grudge  every  thing  that  does  not  go  to  press."  Such 
a  feeling  must  often  have  been  present  with  him ; 
yet  I  can  find  no  period  when  he  grudged  writing  a 
letter  that  might  by  possibility  be  of  use  to  any  of 
his  family  or  mends;  and  I  must  quote  one  or  the 
many  which  about  this  very  time  reached  his  second 
^n. 

To  Mr.  Charles  Scottf  care  of  the  Rev.  Mr.  WiUiafnst 
Lampeter. 

V2lat  Nov.  1621. 
"  My  dear  Charles, 

*'  I  had  the  pleasure  of  your  letter  two  days  since, 
being  the  llrst  svroptom  of  your  being  alive  and  well 
which  1  have  had  directly  since  you  left  Abbotsford.  I 
beg  you  will  be  more  frequent  in  your  couununlcationb, 
~  which  must  always  be  desirable  when  you  are  at  such  a 
distance.  I  am  very  glad  to  hear  you  arc  attending  close- 
ly to  make  up  lost  time.  Sport  Is  a  good  thing  both  for 
health  and  pastime ;  but  you  must  never  allow  it  to  inter- 
fere with  serious  study.  You  have,  my  dear  boy,  your 
own  fortune  to  malte.  with  better  assistance  of  every 
kind  than  I  had  when  the  world  first  opened  on  mc ;  and 
I  asmire  you  that  had  I  not  given  some  attention  to  Iearn« 
ing,  (I  have  often  regretted  that,  from  want  of  opportuni- 
tyt  indifferent  health,  and  some  indolence,  I  did  not  do  all 
1  might  have'done,)  my  own  situaUon,  and  the  advantages 
which  I  may  be  abVe  to  procure  for  you,  would  have  been 
very  much  bounded.  Consider,  therefore,  study  as  the 
principal  object.  Many  men  have  read  and  written  their 
'  way  to  independence  and  fame ;  but  no  man  ever  gained 
It  by  exclusive  aXtentlou  to  exercises  or  to  pleasures  of 
any  sort.  You  do  not  say  any  thing  of  your  friend  Mr. 
Surtees,!  who  I  liope  is  vretl.  We  all  remember  him  with 
much  affection,  and  shonid  be  sorry  tb  think  we  were 
forgotten. 

"  Our  Abbotsford  hunt  went  off  extremely  weH.  We 
killed  seven  liares,  I  think,  and  our  dogs  behaved  very 
well.  A  large  parly  dlnfcd,  and  we  sat  down  about  iwouty- 
fif  e  at  table,  Every  genllcmau  present  sung  a  song, 
tantbim  que  mal,  excepting  Walter,  Lockhart,  and  I  nay- 
Melf.  r  believe  1  should  ado  the  metanciioly  Jaques,  Mr. 
Waugh,  who.  on  this  occasion,  however,  was  not  melan- 
choly J    In  short,  we  had  a  very  merry  and  social  party. 

•  The  fun  of  this  am>UeaHon  of  "  my  Surly"  will  not  escape 
any  one  who  raraembcn  the  kind  and  «rood-huniourcd  Terry's 
power  of  a«suniiuf  a  peouliariy  saturnine  aspect.    Thia  queer 

K'mncM  of  look  was  iuvaluable  to  the  comedian  in  several  of  his 
It  ports  ;  and  in  irritate  he  ofVon  called  it  up  when  his  heart 
was  most  cheerful. 

t  Mr.  Viiii«r9  Swtecs.  a  school- &Uow  of  Charles  Seott's  «t 
Lamiwter.  had  ipont  the  vacation  of  thti*  jrear  at  Abbotsford. 
He  is  now  one  of  tin?  Supivm*  Judges  at  the  Mauritius. 

:  Mr.  Waugh  wa*  a  retired  Wvst  Indian,  of  very  dolatous  as- 
pect, who  hiitl  settled  at  Melrose,  built  a  large  bouse  there,  sur- 
rounded it  I  od  his  frarden  with  &  huge  wall,  and  seldom  emerged 
from  his  own  piecancts  excei>t  upon  the  grand  occasion  of  tne 
Ahbotsford  Hunt.  The  vUlsgers  called  hun  "Uie  Melancholy 
M«n">and  considered  him  as  already  "  dr^ln'  his  dole  rar  do^ 
um  amang  the  poor  niggers."       • 


ri^SS 


*'Tlieveia,iehMc,iionewa1ietre'   Tbol 
Davidson,*  hasliada  bad  aocMent,  and  i 
much  br  the  iUl  of  m  large  sttfne.     I  am  mrraoM 
about  h'rm  as  a  faithfUl  and  honest  servant.    Brery  4 
else  at  Abbotsford,  horses  and  do^  inctaded,  are  ia  fre«t 
preserrtition. 

**  Yon  ask  me  about  reading  history.  Yoa  apre  qidte 
right  to  read  Clarendon— his  style  is  a  little  long-winded ; 
but,  on  the  other  hand,  hla  character!  may  match  tho«e 
of  the  anciem  historians,  and  one  thinks  they  would 
know  the  very  men  if  yon  were  to  aneet  them  in  sodeCT. 
Pew  English  writers  have  the  mme  precliion,  either  m 
describhif  the  actors  fn  great  Kenes,  or  the  6ee&s  wMch 
they  pertormed.  He  wae,  yoo  are  aware,  blmielf  doepty 
enipiged  in  the  scenes  which  he  deofeli,  and  tl|^erore 
colours  them  with  the  individual  fecUng,  and  someiiaBeB, 
doubtless,  vtrith  the  partialtty  of  a  partisan.  Yet  I  tblaft: 
he  is,  on  the  whole,  a  fair  writer;  for  though  healways 
endeavours  to  exeuse  King  Charlee^  yet  he  pointa  oq(  kiis 
mistakes  and  errors,  which,  certainly,  were  neither  few 
nor  of  sUght  consequence.  Some  of  hie  hietory  leeaiJe 
the  country  in  whick  yon  are  now  a  recident;  ttnd  you 
will  find  that  much  of  the  fate  o(  that  Great  Ofvil  Wcr 
turned  on  the  suceesful  refiidtanco  made  by  cbe  dty  oif 
Gloucester,  and  the  relief  of  that  plaee  by  the  Eartof 
Eesex,  by  means  of  the  trained  bands  of  London,  a  MUt 
of  force  Resembling  oar  local  militia  or  ▼olunteera.  TlMf 
are  the  subject  of  ridtonie  hi  all  the  plays  md  poeta*  of 
the  time ;  yet  the  sort  of  practice  of  am»  whielt  they  hstf 
acquired,  enabled  them  to  wttbstand  ttie  chaxfe  of  Prlnee 
Rupcn  and  hia  gallant  cavalry,  who  were  then  IbHed  fiHr 
the  first  thne.  Read,  my  dear.Ohailes,  read,  a»d  read 
tliat  which  is  useftd.  Alkn  only  dUfers  from  hlrdt  mad 
beasta,  because  he  has  the  means  df  assaittBg  hhnself  of. 
the  knowledge  acquired  by  his  predecessors.  The  arwol- 
low  bm'lds  the  same  nest  which  its  inber  and  molhor 
built ;  and  the  sparrow  does  iM>t  Imuive  tty  the  ezpovl- 
ence  of  its  narenta.  The  son  of  the  teamed  pig,  if  it  botl 
one,  would  be  a  mere  brute,  fit  only  to  make  6ac<m  of.  ft 
ia  not  so  with  the  human  race.  Our  anecsters  lodged.  In 
caves  andtwigwams.  where  we  construct  palaces  Mr  the 
rich,  and  comfortable  dwellings  for  the  poor ;  and  wti^  ta 
this— but  because  our  eye  is  enabled  to  look  hsek  nfian 
th^  past,  to  improve  upon  our  ancestors'  improve^menlfe, 
and  to  avoid  their  errors?  This  con  only  oe  done  tfj 
studying  history,  and  comparing  it  with  nossAng  eTeots. 
God  has  given  you  a  strong  memory, and  tne  fKiwer  of  i»* 
derstaoding  that  which  you  give  your  mind  to  with  atted* 
tlon— but  all  the  advantage  to  be  derived  from  thcoe  qo^B- 
ties  mtist  depend  on  your  own  determinatiiMi  to  svoSl 
yourself  of  them,  and  iutprove  them  to  the  utteraioot 
That  you  should  do  so  will  be  the  greatest  sallisfiacilaQ  I 
can  receive  in  my  advanced  life,  and  when  my  tiinghM 
roust  be  entirely  turned  on  the  soccessof  myctdHJrsa 
Write  to  me  more  frequently,  and  mention  your  stodies 
particularly,  and  I  will  on  my  side  be  a  good  eorre»> 
pendent. 

"'  I  beg  my  compliments  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Willismo.  I 
have  left  no  room  to  aten  myself  your  affectioiiate  iathar, 

W.  Sl" 

To  return  to  business  and  Messrs.  Constable.  Sfir 
Waiter  concluded  before  he  went  to  town  in  Ha- 
vember  another  negotiation  of  importance  with  Uub 
house.  They  agreed  to  give  for  the  remaunna  cf»py> 
right  of  the  four  novels  pabliahed  betwieen  Deceia- 
ber,  1819,  and  January,  1821— to  wit»  Iranhoe,  i1m 
Monastery,  the  Abbot,  and  Kenilworth — the  eum  ef 
five  thousand  guineas.  The  stipulatiqn  aboAt  not 
revealing  the  author's  name,  under  a  penalty  of 
JC2000,  w|^  repeated.  By  these  four  novcla,  the 
fruits  of  scarcely  more  than  twelve  months'  laooiiit 
he  had  already  cleared  at  least  XlO^OOO  beiore  xbm 
bargain  was  compkied.  They,  like  their  pradoce*- 
sors,  were  now  issued  in  a  coUective  shape,  ond«r 
the  title  of  "  Historical  Hcmatuesy  by  t»e  Author 
of  Waterley." 

I  cannot  pretend  to  cness  what  the  actual  attte 
of  Scott's  pecuniary  aifrairs  was  at  the  time  when 
John  Ballantyne's  death  relieved  them  from  ona 
great  equrc)^  of  complication  and  difficulty.  But  I 
have  said  etlbugh  to  satisfy  every  reader,  that  when 
he  began  the  second,  ana  far  the  larger  divisiooof 
his  buuding  at  Abbotsford,  he  must  have  contemplal- 
ed  the  otmost  sum  it  eouid  cost  him  as  a  mer«  ttide 
in  relation  to  the  resources  at  his  command.  Hi 
must  have  reckoned  on  clearrng^iE30,000  at  least  in 
the  course  of  a  couple  of  years  by  the  novels  writ- 
ten within  such  a  perioo.     The  publisher  of  aia 

*  This  hsdger  bad  got  tfas  titfe  of  Csptsia.  in  ianMt|r«r«li 
gallantry  si  some  r[5^|tized  by  V^OOglC 


UMM,GW  9m  WAbXn  aOOTT. 


w 


l«las»  who  best  knew  how  they  were  produced,  and 
J*iit  thef' brOttgh!  of  f|[ro8S. profit,  and  who  nraat 
ni#»iad  UieatroB^t  nttereat'tn  Keeping  the  au- 
thor's name  tmtarnished  by  any  risk  or  reputation 
of  fiuhiie,  would  willingly  as  we  have  seen,  have 

Even  him  j^jfiOOO  more  ifiihin  a  space  of  two  years 
r  works  of  a  lesa  senous  sort,  likely  to  be  des* 
mtehed  at  leisure  hours,  withoyt  at  all  interfenivs 
with  the  main  manufacture.  But  alas  I— even  this 
was  not  all.  Messrs.  Constable  had  such  faith  in 
the  prospective  fertiUtf  of  bis  ima^ation,  that  they 
were  by  this  time  ouite  ready  to  sign  bargains  and 
pant  biUs  for  noveb  and  romances  to  beproduoed 
tereafker,  but  of  which  the  subjects  and  the  names 
were  alike  unknown  to  them  and  to  the  man  from 
whose  p£n  they  were  to  proceed.  A  forgotten  sati- 
nst  well  say^ 

¥  The  active  prinef|»le  miihWt    ^ 

Works  on  aome  btaina  the  eieet  of  fin;'*         « 

hot  in  his  <^i8ar  every  external  influence  combined 
to  stir  the  flamei  and  swell  the  inttolication  of  rest- 
less exnberant  energy.  His  allies  knew,  indeed, 
what  he  did  no^  that  the  sale  of  his  novels  was 
rtther  less  than  it  had  been  in  the  days  of  Ivaoboe; 
and  hints  had  sometimes  been  dropped  to  him  that 
it  might  be  veU  to  try  theeAelsof  sr  paose.  Bnt 
he  always  thought— and  James  Ballantyne  had  de- 
adedly  the  same  opinion— that  his  best  things  were 
'"  '  and 
ellera, 
.        _„       _    ^cellea 

pmiUiHy,  as  in  ment^  any  other  person's  best, 
■Boold  have  shrank  km  the  ezperittMatof  a  dsei- 
■ve  damper.  On  the  oontrary  they  nMt  be  exoQs- 
ad  for  from  thneto  time  flattering  themselves  that 
if  the  books  sphi  at  a  less  rate,  this  might  be  counter- 
poised by  stiU  g^ter  rapidity  of  production.  They 
could  m>t  make  uj^  their  minds  to  cast  the  peerless 
vessel  adrift  i  aijd,  m  short,  after  every  little  whisper 
sf  prodentml  misgivmg^  eehoed  theunlhiling  burden 
of  Ballantyne' s  song— to  piiah  am,  hoisting  more 
asd  more  sail  as  the  wind  lulled. 

He  was  as  eager  to  do  as  they  conld  be  to  saggest 
— aad  this  1  well  kneWat  the  time.  I  had.  however, 
no  Jtotiou,  until  all  his  correspondence  lay  before 
flUL  of  the  extent  to  which  he  had  permitted  him- 
self thus  early  to  build  on  the  chances  of  life^  health, 
and  coBtinued  pspulari^y.  Before  (he  Fortunes  ol 
Nigel  Issued  from  tpe  preasy  osoU  had  exehanfKd 
isstrvments,  and  received  his  bookseller's  bill8,lbr 
so  less  thsn  four  **  works  of  fietion'''-not  one  of 
Ihem  otherwise  described  in  the  dMs  of  agreement 
--to  be  produced  in  onbroken  soccession,  each  of 
them  to  fill  at  least  three  volumes,  but  with  j)roper 
having  clauses  as  to  inctrease  of  copy-money,  m  case 
any  ot  them  should  run  to  four.   And  within  two 

J  ears  all  this  anticmation  had  been  vnped  off*  by 
'everil  of  the  Peak,  Quentin  Dorward,  St  Ronan's 
Wellt  and  Redgauntlet;  and  the  new  castle  waa  by 
that  time  oompletek  and  overflowing  with  all  its 
sptendonr ;  but  by  that  time  the  end  also  was  ap- 


aoeoiy  nie  same  opimon— mai  nis  oest  cmngs  were 
thcMs  which  he  threw  off  the  most  easoly  and 
swyUy :  aQ4  )t  was  no  wonder  tbat  his  bookseHera. 
fsiinc  how  ttnmeasurably  even  his  worst  ezceUed 


broaching  i 

The  splendid  Romance  of  the  Pirate  Was  pub- 
blied  in  the  begimiing  of  December,  1821  {  and  the 
^a  fr'eehness  Of  its  atmosphere,  the  beantiful  con- 
trast of  Minna  and  Brenda,  ana.  the  ^quisitely 
drawn  ohaneter  of  Captain  Cleveland,  found  the 
ncsplion  which  they  deserved.  The  work  waa 
anafpBed  with  remarkable  care  in  the  Quarterly  Re- 
view—by  a  critic  second  to  few,  either  in  the  manly 
hittrtiness  of  his  sympathy  with  the,  felicities  of 
gecius,  or  in  the  honest  acuteness  of  his  censure  in 
cases  of  %iegligence  and  confusion.  This  was  the 
second  of  a  series  of  articles  in  that  Journal,  con- 
carved  and  exectued  in  a  tone  widely  diflbrent  from 
uose  ftiyen  by  Mr.  Giffbrd  himself  to  Waverley, 
€tay  ManneTina,  and  the  Antiquary.  I  fancy  the  old 
gentleniiin  hadbecorae  convinced  that  he  had  made 
a  grievous  rmstake  in  this  matter,  before  he  acqui- 
eacea  in  ScoU's  proposal  about  *' quartering  the 
ehUcK'  in  /anusry,  1816 1  and  if  he  was  fortunate  in 
fttdinc  ft  contributor  able  and  willing  to  treat  the 
rest  01  Father  ^ode^MmNi  progeny  with  exoellent 


skill,  and  in  a  apint  more  vcordant  with  the  lujit 
and  general  sentiment^  of  tbepnUhc,  we  must  aleo 
recognise  a  pleasing  and  honourable  trait  of  charac- 
ter in  the  frankness  with  which  the  rechise  and 
often  despotic  editor  now  resigned  the  pen  to  Mr. 
Senior. 

On  the  13th  Decen^ber,  Sir  Walter  received  a 
copy  pf  Cain,  as  yet  unpublished,  from  Lord  By- 
ron's bookseller,  who  had  been  instructed  to  ask 
whether  he  had  any  objection  to  havjng  the  **  MVs- 
tery"  dedicated  to  him.    He  replied  in  these  words : 

To  J9^n  Mmrujft  JB^q-,  AUtemarU  Streett  Lomdhn.* 
**Ediaburfh,  17th  December,  18^. 
«  My  dear  air, 

"I  accept  with  t^elinss  of  great  obligation  the  tat- 
tering proDosal  of  Lord  Byron  to  prefix  mr  name  to  the 
very  trana  and  tremeodoua  drama  of  Cain.  I  may  be 
partial  to  it.  and  you  wiU  allow  I  have  cause ;  bnt  I  do  not 
know  that  ma  Muse  has  ever  taken  so  loAy  a  flight  amid 
her  former  soarings.  He  has  certainly  matched  Milton 
on  his  own  ground.  Some  part  of  the  language  is  bold, 
and  may  shock  one  class  of  readers,  whose  tone  «rtil  be 
adopted  by  others  out  of  all^ctation  or  envy.  But  then 
they  must  condemn  the  Paradise  Lost,  if  they  have  a  mind 
to  be  consistent.  The  fiend-like  reasoning. and  bold  blas- 
phemy of  ttie  fiend  and  of  tils  pupil,  lead  exactly  to  the 
point  which  waa  to  be  expected— the  commission  of  the  ' 
first  murder,  and  tlie  min  and  despair  of  the  perpetrator. 

**  I  do  not  see  how  any  one  can  arouse  the  author  him- 
self of  ManichsisA.  The  deyll  takes  the  language  of 
that  aectf  doubtless ;  because,  net  being  able  to  deny  the 
existence  of  the  Good  Principle,  he  endeavours  to  exak 
liimself— the  Bvil  Principle— to  a  seeming  equality  wtth 
the  Good;  but  such  axgumentSt  in  the  mouth  of  such  a 
being,  can  only  be  used  to  deceive  and  to  betrar.  Lord 
Byron  might  liave  made  this  more  evident,  by  placing  in 
tne  mooln  of  Adam,  or  of  some  good  and  protecnng 
spirit,  the  reasons  whidi  render  the  existence  of  moral 
siril  coualstem  with  the  general  l»en«volence  of  the  Deity. 
llie  great  key  to  the  mytmrf  i%  perhaps,  tlie  imperfect 
tion  <H  our  own  faeuJUeai  wwch  aee  and  foel  strongly  the 
partial  evils  wbi^h  press  v#oo  us,  but  know  too  luUe  of 
the  genera)  system  of  the  universe,  to  bo  aware  how  the: 
existence  of  these  is  to  be  reconciled  with  the  beuevo- 
lence  of  the  great  Creator.— Ever  yours  truly, 

Waltsr  Scott." 


In  some 


narratives   of  Sir  Walter 


$«o4t*s  Ljfjp,  I  find  the  principalfeature  for  I8di  to 
be  an  aflaur  of  whkh  1  have  as  yet  said  nothing? 
and  which,  notwithatanding  the  ezamplea  I  have 
before  me,  1  must  be  exousea  for  treating  en  a  aeale 
commensitrate  with  hie  real  share  and  interest 
therein.  I  aUnde  to  sn  unfortunate  ne»spspcr,  br 
na^  7^  Bt€ucont  whieh  began  to  be  pubUshed  in 
Edinburgh  in  January,  1821,  and  waa  aonqitly  die* 
continued  in  the  August  of  the  same  year.  It 
originated  in  the  alarm  with  whieh  the 'Edinburgh 
Tories  contemplated  the  progress  of  Radical  doc- 
trines dunog  the  agitation  of  the  Q.ueen's  business 
in  1830— and  the  want  of  any  adequate  counterac- 
tion en  the  part  of  the  Ministerial  newspapers  in  the 
north.  Jomea  Ballantyne  had  on  that  occasien 
swerved  from  his  banner-^nd  by  so  doing  given 
not  a  little  offence  to  Scott.  He  approved,  there- 
fore, of  the  project  of  a  new  Weekly  Journal,,  tb  be 
conducted  by  some  steadier  hand ;  and  when  it  was 

{proposed  to  raise  the  rcK^uisite  capital  for  the  specu- 
ation  by  private  subscriptioo,  expressed  his  wiJliog- 
ness  to  contribute  whatever  si|m  should  be  named 
by  other  gentlemen  of  his  standing.  This  was  ac- 
espied  of  course;  but  every  part  of  the  adviee  with 
which  the  only  man  in  the  wnole  conclave  that  un- 
derstood a  jot  abouit  such  things  coupled  hisj||ider 
of  alliance,  was  departed  6xmi^in  pracdce.  Ivo  ex- 
perienced and  responsible  editor,  of  the  sort  he 
pointed  out  as  indispensable,  was  secured ;  the  vio- 
ienoe  of  disaffected  spleen  was  encountered  by  a 
^ein  of  satire  which  seemed  moDs  fierce  than  frolic« 
some ;  the  Law  OfScers  of  the  Crownf  whom  he 
hsd  most  strenuously  cautioned  against  any  partici- 
pation in  the  concern,  were  rash  enough  to  commit 
themselves  in  it ;  the  subscribers,  like  tnle  Scotch- 
men, in  place  of  paymg  down  th^  money,  and 
thinking  no  more  of  that  part  of  the  matter,  chose 
to  put  flieir  names  to  a  bond  of  security  on  which 
the  eum  total  was  to  be  advanced  by  bankers,  and 


8M 


LllJ'E  OF  SIR  WALTER  SCOTT. 


thus  by  thetr  own  overcaation  as  to  a  few  pound?, 
laid  the  foundaiion  for  a  long  uain  of  hummaiing 
distresaea  and  disgraces;  and  finally,  when  the 
rude  drcmery  of  the  young  hot- bloods  to  whoni  they 
had  entrusted  the  editorship  of  their  paper  produced 
its  natural  consequences,  and  the  ferment  of  \ybig 
indignation  be^n  to  boil  over  upon  the  dignified 
patrons  of  what  was  denounced  as  a  systematic 
scheme  6f  calumny  and  defamation— these  seniors 
shrunk  from  the  dilemma  as  rashly  as  they  had 
plunged  into  it,  and  instead  of  compelling  the  juve- 
nile allies  to  adopt  a  more  prudent  course,  and  gra- 
dually give  the  journal  a  tone  worthy  of  open  ap- 
probation, they,  at  the  first  blush  of  personal 
difficulty,  left  tneir  instruments  in  the  lurch,  and, 
without  even  consulting  Scott,  ordered  the  Beacon 
to  be  extinguished  at  an  hour's  notice.       .  . 

A  more  pitiable  mass  of  blunder  and  imnecilUy 
was  never  heaped  together  than  the  whole  of  this 
affair  exhibited ;  and  from  a  very  early  period  Scott 
was  so  disgnsteid  with  it  that  he  never  even  saw  the 
newspaper,  of  which  Whigs  and  Radicals  believed, 
or  afiected  to  believe,  that  the  conduct  and  manage-, 
ment  were  in  some  degree  at  least  under  his  dicta- 
,  tion.  The  resulu  were  lamentable:  the  Beacon  was 
made  the  subject  of  Parliamentary  discussion,  from 
which  the  then  heads  of  Scotch  Toryism  did  not 
escape  in  any  very  consolatory  plight ;  but  above 
all,  the  Beacon  bequeathed  its  rancour  and  rashness, 
though  not  its  abihty,  to  a  Olaseow  Paper  of  similar 
form  and  pretensions,  entitled  The  Sentinel.  By 
that  organ  the  personal  quarrels  of  the  Beacon 
were  taken  up  and  pursued  with  relentless  industry  i 
and  finally,  the  Glasgow  editors  disagreeinA,  some 
moment  of  angry  confusion  betr&yed  a  oox  of 
HSS.,  by  which  the  late  Sir  Alexander  Boswell  of 
Anchinlock  was  revealed  as  the  writer  of  certain 
troculent  enough  pasauinades.  A  leading  Edin- 
burgh Whig,  who  had  been  pilloried  in  one  or  more 
of  these,  challenged  Boswell— and  the  Baronet  fell 
in  a*  miserable  a  quarrel  as  ever  cost  the  blood  of  a 
hiffh-spirited  gentleman. 

This  tragedy  occurred  in  the  early  part  of  1822 ; 
and  soon  aiterwards  foBowed  ^u)ee  debaies  on  the 
whole  business  in  the  House  of  Commons,-  for 
which,  if  any  reader  foels  curiosity  about  them.  I 
refer  aim  to  the  Parliamentary  Histories  of  the 
tima.  A  single  extract  from  one  of  Scott's  letters 
to  a  raemb«'  of  the  then  Oovemment  in  London 
will  be  sufficient  for  mypiurpose:  and  abpndantly 
eonfirm  what  I  have  said  as  to  his  personal  part  in 
the  affiiirs  of  the  Beaeon. 

To  J.  W,  Croktr^  Etq.^  AdmiraUjf, 

**MydcarCroker, 

" ....  I  had  the  fate  of  Oassandra  in  the  Beaeon 
matter  ttom  beginninf  to  end.  I  endeavoured  bi  vain  to 
ImpretA  on  the m  the  necessity  of  haivtnf  an  ecStor  who 
.  waa  really  up  to  the  buaineaa,  uid  coukJ  mix  ■pirlt  with 
discretioD— one  of  those  '*  gentlemen  of  the  presa,"  who 
understand  the  exact  lengths  to  which  they  can  go  in  their 
vocation.  Then  I  wished  them  in  place  of  that  Bondy  to 
have  each  tlrown  down  his  hundred  pounds,  and  never 
inquired  more  about  it— and  lastly,  I  exclaimed  against 
ihe  Crown  Connsel  bctag  at  all  concerned.  In  the  two 
first  remonstrances  I  was  not  listened  to— In  the  laAt  1 
thought  myself  saccsssfuL  and  it  was  not  till  long  after- 
wards  that  I  heard  they  had  actuallr  subscribed  the  Bond. 
Then  the  hasty  renunciation  of  the  thing,  as  If  wo  had 
been  doing  sc^ething  very  atrocious,  put  me  mad  alto* 
getbeji  The  younger  brethren  too,  ajfege  that  they  are 
put  iSh  the  front  of  the  fight,  and  deserted  on  the  first 
phich ;  and  on  my  word  I  cannot  say  the  accusation  is 
altogether  false,  though  I  have  been  doing  my  best  to 
mediate  betwixt  the  partiei^  and  keep  the  peace  if 


as— cQsrsTABl^'a 
THKFtATxqnaor 


We.  The  fact  Is,  it  Is  a  blasted  business,  and  wtll  l'on-| ,  UniM  ws  iSwSSm 
tinoe  long  to  have  bad  consequences.— Yours  in  all  love^  '>nic.  ^b.  pi,rp«„iiK. 
aod  kindness 


Walixs 


CHAPTER  LV. 

WILUAM  1B8KINX  PROMOTED  TO  THl  rfhWOH— 
JOAK»*A  BAIU4S*8  lUaCU.LAXrr— JIAUPON  UILL 
4»D  MACDCTT's   caOSS— 2JTl«EaS   TO    LORD   MON- 


TAGC—LAST  POaTKArr  BT  BAXBUl 
LBTTEB  OS  THS  APPBABANCS  OF 
NIOKL— HAUOON  HILL  PUBUSHXD.— 1622. 

Iif  January^  1822.  Sir  Walter  had  the  great  satis- 
faction of  se^ng  Erskine  at  length  promoted  to  ft 
seat  on  the  Bench  of  the  Conrt  of  Session,  by  tbe 
title  of  Lord  Kinnedder ;  and  his  pleasare  was  en- 
hanced doubtless  by  tbe  reflection  that  his  fnead 
owed  this  elevation  very  much,  if  not  maml^,  to  hiib 
own  unwearied  exertions  on  his  behalf,  This  hap- 
py event  occurred  just  about  the  time  when  Joanna 
Baillie  was  distressed  by  hearing  of  the  sudden  and 
total  ruin  of  an  old  friend  of  hers,  a  Scotch  gentle- 
man long  distinguished  in  the  commerce  of  the  dty 
of  London :  and  she  thought  of  collecting  among 
her  literary  acquaintance  such  contributions  as 
might,  with  some  gleax^ings  of  har  own  porUblioa, 
filkup  a  volume  of  i>oetical  miscellanias,  to  be  pob- 
lisned.  by  subscription,  for  the  benefit  of  the  mer- 
chant s  family,  in  requesting  Sir  Walter  to  write 
something  for  this  purpose,  she  also  asked  him  to 
communicate  the  scheme,  m  her  name,  to  various 
common  friends  in  the  North— among  others,  lo  thm 
new  Judge.    Scott's  answer  was— 

To  9Ua9  Joanna  BaUUe,  Ham^tntd. 

"Edinburgh,  Peb.  10, 1822. 
"  Mr  dear  Friend, 

**  No  one  lias  so  good  a  title  as  you  to  command  mc  hi 
an  my  strength,  and  In  aU  my  weakness.  I  do  not  beUera 
I  have  a  single  scrap  of  trnpuUlshed  poe^Tr  fi>r  I  wws 
never  a  wiUtnf  compoeer«of  oceaslooal  pieces,  and  wtiea 
I  have  beeaguiky  of  such  etMoii8,U  was  to  answer  tha 

Slirpose  of  some  publisher  of  sonfs,  or  the  like  immo- 
late demand.  The  consequence  is,  that  all  these  tiifle« 
have  been  long  before  the  public,  and  whatever  I  add  to. 
your  collection  must  have  the  grace  of  novekv,  in  casa  it 
should  have  no  other.  1  do  not  know  what  should  make 
it  rather  a  melancholy  (ask  Ibr  me  nowadavs  to  sh  down* 
(o  versify— I  did  not  use  to  thtidc  It  sb-^bm  I  have  ceased; 
1  know  not  why,  to  find  pleasure  to  U,  and  yet  I  do  i»of 
think  I  have  tost  aay  of  the  faculties  I  ever  po«seso«l  foa 
the  task ;  but  I  was  never  fond  of  my  own  poetry,  and  au^ 
DOW  much  out  of  conceit  with  it  AlJ  this  another  persoo, 
less  candid  in  construction  than  yourself,  would  iMei|»r«t. 
into  a  hint  to  send  a  good  dose  of  praise— but  you  know. 
wc  have  agreed  long  ago  to  be  above  ordlnancea,  Hko 
Cromwell's  saints,  i^lien  I  go  to  the  country  upon  Che 
I2th  of  March,  I  will  try  what  the  waterside  can  do  for 
mc,  (or  there  is  no  haspirBtion  ki  causeways  and  kemids. 
or  oven  the  Coon  of  Session.  You  have  the  vieiocy  over 
mt  now,  for  I  remember  lanthing  at  yovfor  saying  yeiv 
could  only  write  your  beaotlrol  lyrics  upon  m  ftne  wanm 
day.  But  what  U  this  something  to  bet  I  wish  vou  woiU* 
give  me  a  subject,  for  that  would  cut  o(9t  hau  my  diflU 
cukies. 

"  1  am  delighted  with  the  prospect  of  seeing  BOss  Bt|ge« 
worth,  and  makhig  her  personal  acquaintance.  I  expect 
her  to  be  just  what  yon  describe,  a  oelng  totally  void  of 
affectation,  and  who,  like  one  other  lady  of  my  acqaainc- 
ance,  carries  her  literary  reputation  a«  fireely  and  9tuAr 
as  the  milk-maid  In  my  country  does  the  ft^fei»«  wblcb 
she  carries  on  her  beadi  and  vndks  aagrseeiulfy  with  k 
as  a  duchess.  Someof  the  (air  sex,  and  some  of  (befool 
sex  too,  carry  their  renown  in  London  fashfon  on  %  yoke 
and  a  pair  of  Pitchers.  The  consequence  is,  that  hesidea 
pokbif  frlghtmny,  they  are  hitting  every  one  on  the  shia» 
with  their  buckets.  Now  this  is  all  nons^se,  too  fantastic 
to  be  vrrhten  to  any  bodr  but  a  person  of  good  sense.  Bf 
the  way,  did  you  know  Miss  Austen,  authoress  of  sotto 
novels  wliich  have  a  great  d«U  of  nature  inthem1-HW- 
ture  in  ordinary  and  middle  life,  to  be  iure.lmt  valuable 
from  its  strong  reseeablance  and  correct  drawiag.  1 
wonder  which  way  she  carried  her  nail  )* 

**  1  did  indeed  rejoice  at  £r«lcine's  promotion.  There- 
is  a  degree  of  melancholr  aucnding  toe  latef  stage  of  a 
barrister's  profession,  which,  though  no  one  cares  for 

«  When  the  late  { 

anict  was  prepariou. 

me  into  a  miitake,  wUel 


km  of  9ir  Walter deoa*  Prase  M«eri- 
pubfiabcr  of  the  Qtiarlerly  Revkv  led 
I  majr  as  well  take  mis  oppotueltjr  or 


-^ r-^^ne  for-    Olanefm  luMtiljr  over  Us  private  leeerds,  W 

ioci«aainhis  kstofSirWaJtei'i        — 

artiole  on  Miss  Austan's  novels  ; 
srtide  expreseei  ort  meir  merju  ai 


akei's  contiftwtiqns  to  Usisimal « 
wels  i  and  as  tbs  opiaistks  wfasek  tk» 


uMal  tone  of  fleotfs 
liahad  <kawn  it  op,  sj 
aUrdoctorstf  br  Mr- 


vicwsl  waaiQ  act  written  bs  L     _. . 

Dablio.— Miss  Aos^'i  nove»,  espectaJly  Cninm  and  J 


iHon.  r  saw  DO  reasoo  to  donbt  tB 

die  stfle  aiifht  have  been  dimiiIw 

•,   I  hove  since  ka«sd.U«T*eat 

Dr.  whatetar .  now  ArChbubap  of 


Ahher,  were  tr^at  ftvooriiw  vrid|  eei^ani^dalllo  v 
tersof  tbcm  to  his  eveoinsouci^^ViiiOOV^lc 


UPE  OF  SIR  WALTfeR  iSC(At. 


•cdSmeatalitiet  ftUendantOA  a  man  of  fiftj  or  Uiereaboot, 
in  amstf  bUck  bombasine  fowOf  are  not  tbe  leaa  cruelly 
felt  i  weir  builness  aooner  or  latei^  faila,  for  youocer 
men  wfil  work  cheaoer,  and  lomer,  and  harder— beaidta 
that  the  caaea  are  few,  comparatively,  in  wbich  aeoior 
counsel  are  eufifed,  and  it  is  not  etiquette  to  aak  any  one 
in  that  advanced  af  e  to  take  the  whole  burden  of  aoauae. 
Iiuenaibly,  without,  dectfy  of  talent,  and  without  loamg 
the  public  t ateem,  there  ia  a  gradual  decav  of  employ- 
meot,  wbich  almost  no  man  ever  praetiaed  thirtv  yeari 
without  experiencing :  and  thqa  tLe  honoura  and  dignitiea 
of  tbe  Bench,  ao  hardly  earned,  and  themaelvea  leading 
but  iq  toila  of  another  kind,  are  peculiarly  desiralile. 
Brskine  woult^  have  aat  there  ten  years  ago,  bot  for 
wretched  intrigues.  He  has  a  very  poetical  and  elegant 
loiod,  but  I  do  not  lOiow  of  any  poetry  of  his  writing,  ex- 
sept  •ome  additional  stanzas  to  Cotftas*  ode  on  Scottish 
superstitions,  long  since  published  in  the  Border  Minstrel- 
sy. I  doubt  it  would  not  be  consistent  with  his  high  office 
10  write  poetry  now,  bi\t  you  may  add  his  natoc,  with  Mrs. 
Scott's  (Heaven  forgive  me  !  I  should  have  said  I.Ady 
Scott's)  and  mine,  to  the  subscriDtionlist.  1  will  not  pro* 
mipe  to  get  you  more,  for  people  always  look  as  if  you 
were  asknig  the  guinea  for  vourself— there  John  Bull  has 
the  better  of  Sawney ;  to  oe  sure  he  has  more  guineas 
to  bestow,  but  we  retain  our  reluctance  to  part  with  hard 
cash,  though  nrofuse  enough  ui  our  hospitably.  1  have 
seen  a  laird,  alter  giving  us  more  champitf;ac  and  claret 
than  ,wc  cared  to  drink,  look  pale  at  the  Idea  of  paying  a 
crown  in  charity. 

^  I  am  seriously  tempted,  though  it  would  be  sending 
coals  to  Newcoatlo  with  a  vengeance,  not  to  mention  salt 
to  DysarL,  and  all  other  superfluous  importations— 1  am,  I 
SAy,  strangely  tempted  to  writo  for  your  Proteges  a  dra- 
matic scene  on  an  incident  which  happened  at  the  battle 
of  Halidon  Hill  (I  think.)  Tt  was  to  me  a  nursery-tale,  often 
told  by  Mrs.  Margaret  Swinton,  sister  of  my  maternal 
atandmother  ;  a  fine  old  lady  of  high'  bk>od,  and  of  as 
aigb  a  mind,  who  was  hneally  descended  (rom  one  of  the 
actors.  The  anecdote  was  brieAy  thus.  The  family  of 
Swinton  is  rcry  ancient,  and  was  once  very  powerful,  and 
at  the  period  of  this  battle  the  knight  of  Swinton  was  gi- 
gantic m  stature,  unequalled  in  strength,  and  a  sage  and  ex- 
perienced leader  to  boot.  In  one  or  those  quarrels  which 
dHded  tli*e  kingdom  of  Scotland  in  every  corner,  he  had 
iWn  his  neighbour,  the  head  of  the  Gordon  fiunily,  and 
IB  inveterato  feud  had  ensued;  for  it  seems  that  power- 
hd  as  the  Gordons  alwavs  were,  the  Swintons  confd  then 
Udea  banc  with  themJ  Well,  the  batUe  of  HaUdon  be- 
gan, and  the  Scottish  army,  unskilfully  disposed  on  tbe 
side  of  a  hill  where  no  arrow  feU  in  vain,  was  dreadfully 


{Apdi 
mrintc 


by  Ibo  archery  of  the  English,  as  usual ;  upon  which 
on  approached  the  ScoUish  General,  requ 


requesting 


gained  tbe  battle  of  Bannockbum.  Hiis  was  refused;  out 
of  stnpidity  or  soUenneaa,  by  the  General,  on  which  Swin- 
ton exproMed  bis  determlnadon  to  charge  at  the  head  of 
his  own  foUowen,  though  totally  inadequate  for  tbe  pur- 
pose. The  young  Gordon  heard  the  proposal,  son  of  him 
whom  Swinton  had  slain,  and  with  one  of  those  irregular 
bursts  of  generosity  and  feeling  which  redeem  the  dark 
ages  ftom  tbe  character  of  utter  barbarism,  he  threw 
htanself  fhim  his  horse,  and  kneeled  down  before  Swin- 
ton.—* I  have  not  yet  been  knighted,'  he  said, '  and  never 
esB  I  take  the  honour  from  the  hand, of  a  truer,  more 
isyal,  mtore  vahant  leader,  than  he  who  slew  my  rather: 
pant  roe,'  he  aaid, '  the  boon  I  ask,  and  I  unite  my  forces 
to  yours,  thai  we  may  live  and  die  toftethcr.'  His  feudal 
enemy  'became  instantly  bis  godfather  in  chivalry,  and 
his  ally  in  batUe.  Swinton  knighted  the  young  Gordon, 
and  they  rushed  Vown  at  the  head  of  their  united  retain- 
ers, dispersed  the  archery,  and  would  have  turned  tlie 
battle,  fiad  they  been  supported.  At  length  they  both 
fell,  and  all  who  folk>wed  tnem  were  cut  ofl*,  and  it  was 
rrsiarked,  that  while  the  fight  lasted,  the  old  giant  guard- 
ed tbe  Toung  man's  hfe  more  than  his  own,  and  the  same 
was  hidieated  by  tbe  manner  hi  wbich  his  body  lay  stretch- 
ed over  that  or  Gordon.  Now,  do  not  laogh  at  my  Ber- 
wickshire burfj  which  t  assure  yon  is  li^raUy  and 
Hneally  handed  down  to  me  by  my  grandmother,  from 
this  fine  old  €>oliah.  Tell  me,  if  I  can  clamper  up  the 
oory  into  a  sort  of  single  scene,  wlU  it  answer  your  pur- 
pose ¥  I  would  rather  try  my  hand  In  blank  verse  than 
rliyni^. 

*^Tbe  story,  vrtth  many  others  of  the  same  kind,  is  con- 
seented  to  me  by  the  remembrance  of  the  narrator,  with 
her  brown  silk  90wn«  and  uhHe  rulBes,  and  her  benevo- 
lant  foce,  which  was  always  beside  our  beds  whan  there 
were  childish  complaUits  among  us.  Poor  Aunt  Maxgaret 
ba4  a  most  ahockliu  fate,  belitt  murdered  by  a  fovourite 
maid-servant  to  a  nt  of  Insamty,  when  I  wis  about  ten 
years  old ;  the  catastrophe  was  much  owing  to  the  acru- 


Ur 

potiouM  dellcaoy  and  high  courage  of  my  poor  relation, 
wbo  would  not  have  tbe  assistance  of  men  called  in  for 
e  loosing  the  unhappy  wretch  her  servant.  1  thhik  you 
win  not  aak  for  a  letter  from  me  in  a  hurry  again,  but,  as 
I  have  no  chance  of  aecing  y<Ai  for  a  long  Ume,  I  must  be 
contented  with  writing.  Bly  kindest  gespects  attend  BIrs. 
Agnes,  your  kind  brother  and  family,  and  the  Richard- 
aona,  httle  knd  big,  abort  and  tall ;  and  believe  me  most 
truly  youra,  W.  8corr.> 

"  P.  S.— Sophia  is  come  up  to  her  Sunday  dinner,  and 
begs  to  send  a  thousand  remembrances,  with  the  import- 
ant intelligence  that  her  baby  actually  says  roa-uia,  and 
bow  wow,  when  he  sees  the  dor.  Moreover,  he  is  christ- 
ened John  Hugh ;  and  I  intend  to  plant  two  little  knoUa 
at  their  cottue,  to  be  called  Mount  Saint  John,  and  Hugo- 
mont    The  Papa  also  sends  his  respects. " 

About  tbis  time  Cornet  Scoti^  beins  fop  a  short 
period  in  Edinburgh,  sat  to  William  Allan  for  that 
admirable  portrait  which  now  hangstbeing  the  only 
picture  in  the  room)  over  the  mantelniece  of  the 
Great  Library  at  Abbotsford.  Sir  Waiter,  in  extol- 
ling tbis  performance  to  Lord  Montagu,  happened 
to  mention  that  an  engraving  was  about  to  appear 
from  Mr.  Allan's  "  Death  of  Archbishop  Sharp^"  aiid 
requested  his  lordahif)  to  subscribe  for  a  copy  of  it. 
Lord  Monta^  read  bid  letter  hurriedly,  and  thought 
the  forthcoming  engraving  was  of  the  Comet  and  hia 
oharger.  He  stgnined  that  he  would  very  gladly 
have  that ;  but  look  occasion  to  remind  Sir  Walter, 
that  the  Buccleuch  family  had  not  forget  his  old 
promise  to  sit  to  Raebum  himself  for  a  portrait,  to 
be  hung  up  at  Bowhill.  Scott's  letter  of  explana- 
tion includes  his  opinion  of  Horace  Walpole's  poat- 
humous  *'  Memoirs." 

To  the  Lord  Montagu. 

«'  Abbotsford,  16th  March,  162S: 
"  My  dear  Lord, 

"  It  is  close  firing  to  reply  to  your  kfatd  letter  so  soon,, 
but  I  had  led  your  Lordship  into  two  mistakes.  fix>m  writ' 
ing  my  former  leuar  in  a  huiry ;  and  therefore,  to  try 
whether  1  cannot  contradict  the  old  proverb  of  *tw« 
bkeks  not  making  a  white,  I  write  this  in  a  hurry  to  |^end 
former  blundera. 

"  In  the  first  placof  I  never  dreamed  of  aaking  yon  to 
sobseribe  to  a  print  of  my  son— It  wiU  be  Ume  for  him  to 
be  copperplattdf  as  Joseph  GiUon  used  to  call  it,  when 
he  is  major-general.  I  only  meant  to  ask  you  to  take  a 
print  of  the  Murder  of  Archbishop  Sharp,  and  to  mention 
historically  that  the  aame  artist,  who  made  a  capital  picture 
of  that  event,  had  painted  for  me  a  very  good  portrait  of 
my  son.  I  suppoae  I  may  apply  roar  Lordship's  kind 
permission  to  tne  work  for  which  I  did  mean  to  require 
your  patronage ;  and  for  a  Scottiah  subject  of  biterest  by 
aSoottiah  artist  of  high  promise,  I  will  presume  to  reckon 
also  on  the  patronage  or  my  young  ctuaf.  I  had  no  Idea 
of  sitthig  for  my  own  picture :  and  I  think  it  will  be  as 
well  to  let  Duke  Wslter,  when  he  feels  his  own  ground  In 
the  vn>rld.  take  his  own  taste  in  the  way  of  adorning  his 
bouse.  Two  or  three  yeara  will  make  him  an  adequate 
judge  on  such  a  subject,  and  if  they  will  not  make  roe 
more  beautiful,  they  have  every  chance  of  making  me 
more  picturesque.  The  distinction  vras  ably  drawn  ia 
the  caae  of  persona'  horsea,  by  Sydney  Smith,  in  one  of 
his  lectures :— *  The  reetor»s  horse  is  beaut^Wr^thc  cu- 
rate's is  picturesque.'  if  the  portrait  had  been  begun, 
that  were  another  maUer;  as  It  is,  the  Duke,  when  he  is 
tw»  or  three  years  older,  shall  command  my  picture,  as 
the  original,  k  vmdre  et  h  peiM/rf— an  amnlrable  expres- 
aion  of  devotion,  which  I  picked  npfrom  acurioua  fetter 
of  Lord  Lovat's  which  I  found  the  other  day.  I  am  great- 
ly afraid  the  said  original  wlU  by  and  by  be  fit  only  for  the 
laat  branch  of  the  dliemma. 

"  Have  you  irad  Lord  OirtonTs  History  of  his  own  Time 
—it  is  sold  and  lively,  but  serves,  I  think,  to  show  how  lit- 
tle those,  who  live  in  public  business,  and  of  course  In 
constant  agitation  and  intrigue,  know  about  the  real  and 
deep  progress  of  opinions-and  eventa.  The  Memoirs  of 
our  Scots  Sir  George  Mackenide  are  of  the  same  class- 
both  immersed  hi  fittle  political  detail,  and  the  struggling 
skirmish  of  party,  seem  to  have  lost  sight  of  the  great 
progressive  movements  of  human  affairs.  Theyput  me 
somewhat  in  mind  of  a  miller,  wbo  Is  so  busy  with  the 
clatter  of  his  own  wheels,  grindstones,  and  machinery, 
and  so  much  employed  in  regulating  hia  ovm  artificial 
nHll-dam,  that  he  Is  Incapable  of  notichig  the  gradual 
awell  of  the  river  from  which  he  derives  his  httle  stream, 
until  it  comes  down  in  such  force  as  to  carry  his  whols 
manufactory  away  before  k.  It  is  comical,  too,  that  mtv 
Orford  should  have  delayed  trusthig  the  pubUc  with  hia 
rendniscences,  until  so  many  years  had  destroyed  all  our- 


unL  qp  spi  liWTi^i  aayrr. 


atereat  in  the  PftrUamtntaxr  ind  Court  intrffQM  which 

IM  tAm  fHii  io  ttudh  iFHiti^.   II  i«  VIM  iiMtk  ir«o 

•ImmM  hqrtek  afi'a  hocehfldl  of  older,  to  b«  drank  hslf  a 

'  MDtnry  afterwardtoi  tmen  it  eoQld  eoninin  IHtlii  but  ael- 

"  t  am  bare,  thank  Ckxt^  fbr  twti  tnenthfli  I  hare  ac- 
quirad,  aa  I  truat.  a  good  nitlener,*  warranted  hf  Wa^a- 
daMkI  of  IMkeith.  So  the  aeeda,  which  yonr  Lordahip 
Is  ao  kind  aa  to  promiae  me,  wtti  be  nanaged  Uke  a  tanar. 
The  fteatest  advance  of  age  which  I  have  fat  found  la 
Vking  a  CO/,  an  animal  I  dateitedi  and  becoming  fondof  a 
garden,  an  ait  which  I  deapiaed— but  I  aoppoae  the  Indoi- 
gent  mother  Nature  haa  pala  and  hobby-boraea  anited  to 
her  clkUdren  ai  all  ages.— Everi  n^  dear  Lord,  moat  trulj 
youra, 

Walwi  Scott." 

AoQuiesdnff  id  the  prophety  of  what  Sir  Walter 
BMd  thus  said  re«pectmir  the  propoaed  portrait  for 
Bowhdl,  Lord  Monugo  reqoMted  him  to  tit  with* 
out  delay  for  a  smeiJer  picture  on  hie  own  behalf; 
and  the  result  was  that  kalMengtk  now  at  Dinon, 
which  poaaeeaee  a  peculiar  value  and>iiuereat  aa 
beiDg  tht  rery  latft  work  of  Raehurn'a  pencil.  The 
poet's  answer  to  Loid  Montagu's  request  was  as 
follows  .— 

T9  the  l4>rd  Mfnta^u, 

"  Abbotaibrd,  37th  March,  laae. 
<«MydearLord. 

^  I  aboald  be  Tory  unworthy  of  ao  great  a  proof  of 
your  re^krd,  did  I  not  immediately  aaaure  you  of  the 
pleasure  with  which  I  wttl  contribute  the  head  you  wiah 
to  the  halls  of  Ditton.  I  know  no  place  where  the  aub> 
stance  haa  been  to  happy,  and,  therefore,  the  ahadow 
may  be  eo  far  well  placed.  I  win  not  suflbr  thia  Impor- 
nmt  a<hir  to  langiiiah  ao  far  aa  I  am  concerned,  but  will 
arrange  with  Raebum  when  I  return  to  Edinburgh  in 
May.  Allan  ia  not  in  the  ordinary  habit  of  doing  portraita, 

and  aa  he  ia  rr-" '-"-t:  Ti-^VM-L'  — •—  r.  f  ^Tht  M  be 

•orry  toaea  ,  ch 

carries  off  c,>^-'  .mi;i-  =>i  L!..jr  iV-hiipu«>n.  LMit:  jLn^jes 
on  aa  he  haa  !>■  ■£  i  i o  j  b  t^- 1  ■  i  j  rii;  1  Ju  k  -■  i  m  y  one  dhr  palm  r  i  iae 
the  Sooctish  \f(«,  ^fn  fnr  m  [o  nniur  j>  ptcitircor  the  "  He* 
leasing"  of  KLiJtiir.ni  WjllJet  frtiin  Mm.  t  afn^o  i>ntirj|Jy 
withyour  L&rdntiip'd  Idegi  of  learlfb^t  the  jouiJjf  r.hU^f  to 

^thegrar:eof  loTtuio^  hia  uwa  id^^iu  on  mariy  ptmnta, 


contenting  yoierjielf  with  fji^lni;  ttJm  such  principle 
because  weD-mennim  (nkh-L^  „:  _^,jj  uo  much  c^eio 


ng  1 
may  enable  h nu  w  j i k if  p  rijrhtl ¥.    t  he Unv^ "niorfr "y <•  >  ha 
o£  hSih  eatpe i.iiflUrj n  ti^ve  bo\ u-n  fn-^tnihv  cfjnri^''^ 


.ly 


rope  it  tfu  than  from  any  other  reason  whateTer.  There 
lain  youth  a  feekng  of  independence,  a  deaire,  hi  abort, 
of  behig  Chair  own  matter,  sad  cajoying  their  own  tno 
agenoy,  which  is  not  alwaya  attended  to  by  guaniana  and 
parental  snd  hence  the  beat  hM  achemea  fafl  In  executton 
ftom  beiof  a  little  too  prominently  brought  forward.  I 
trust  that  Walter,  with  the  good  Senae  which  he  aeema  ta 
poasess,  will  never  toae  that  moat  amiable  charaetertatio 
of  his  father's  funUy,  the  Ioto  and  aflection  which  aU  the 
membera  of  it  hare,  for  two  generations,  borne  to  each 
other,  and  which  haa  made  thorn  paUerna  aa  well  aa 
blessings  to  the  country  they  lived  in.  I  hare  few  hap- 
pier days  10  look  forward. ti>,  and  yet,  Uke  aU  happiaeaa 
which  cornea  to  gray-headed  men,  it  will  have  a  touch  of 
Borrow  in  it,  than  that  in  whiah  ha  shall  a.<isame  his  high 
situation,  with  the  resolution  which  I  am  aure  be  wlU  hava 
to  be  a  good  friend  to  the  country  In  which  he  has  ao 
large  a  atake,  and  to  the  multitudes  which  muat  depend 
upon  him  for  protection,  countenance,  and  bread.  Selfiah 
feeUnga  are-  ao  much  the  fastiion  amongat  bahkwable 
men— it  is  accounted  so  completely  absurd  to  do  any 
thins  which  is  dot  to  contribute  more  or  lass  dtreotly  to 
the  immediate  personal  eclat  or  peraonal  enjoyment  of 
the  party— that  young  men  k>se.  sight  of  real  power  and 
real  im^rtance,  the  foundatkm  of  which  muat  be  laid, 
even  seffishly  considered,  in  contrlbuUng  to  the  general 
welfiu>e,— Uke  those  who  hsTa  thrown  their  bread  on  the 
waters,  expecting,  and  surely  receiving,  after  manr  davs. 
its  return  m  gratitude,  attachment,  and  aupport  of  eveiy 
kind.  The  memory  of  the  most  splendid  eutertatameat 
passes  away  with  the  aeaaon,  but  the  money  and  pataia 
beatowed  upon  a  large  estate  not  only  conuibute  to  ita* 
improvement,  pu(  root  the  bestower  in  the  hearta  of 
hundreds  over  hundreds;  should  these  become  needfuL 
he  is  sure  to  exercise  a  correspondent  influence.  I  can- 
not look  forward  to  these  as  settled  times,  hi  the  re- 
trenchments proposed,  GoverpoMnt  agree  to  diminiah 

S^^SLi'^r'''^  Pe»on  is  now  .enteckaicf 
^'  '^uFL^?^  MinstKlsv.  (Vol.  ii.  p,  90.)  the  eapital  old 
Z^tSS^  eapUt?''  the  BaUtBaeeieaeh'^WaMD 


their  own  InfluenMi  and  while  thsf 
ptmmtf  iHffe  f^  Sir  Mtor  ef  mf 


maklAg  new  dtaeonteiMe  aaiflBS  I 
sake  at  least,  were  Ibehr  mturw  adhefsate  la  l||h  •bey- 
are  aothv  weakly,  and  trying  tl»  a«^tlie  the  tassOlgea^ 
peMte  of  inaovation,  by  throwing  down  their  oatwuAn,  as 
if  that  which  renders  attack  more' secure  and  easy  wenikl 
dhninlah  the  courage  of  the  aaaaOanla.  Last  year  the 
aanu&cturing  claaaea  were  riaiag^-lhla  year  the  agrt- 
euRoral  inseseat  Is  dlacootented :  and  whatever  temporary 
relief  either  olaaa  receivaa  will  bd9«Ml  reader  them  qtAet 
for  the  moment,hut  not  eraae  from  their  adnds  the  ranted 
beUef  that  the  ffovemmentandconatttution  of  tMa  country 
are  in  &ult  for  their  embarraaamenta.  WgB,  I  cannot 
help  its  &nd  therefore  will  not  thtak  about  it,  for  that  at 
least  I  cam  help. 

*  Time  and  the  hour  run  through  the  rongheat  day.'     « 

"  We  have  had  dreadfbl  tempeats  here  of  wind  andrnki, 
and  for  a  variety  a  Utile  snow.  I  assure  you  it  is  aa  un- 
common to  aee  a  hill  with  snow  on  iu  top  these  two  last 
seasons,  aa  to  aee  a  beau  on  the  better  side  of  ^Irty  with 
powder  in  his  ludr.  I  buUt  ao  ice-houae  last  year,  and 
could  get  no  ice  to  fUl  it— this  year  I  took  the  opportunity 
tff  every  poor  twenty-four  hours,  and  packed  It  fulioi 
hard- rammed  snow— hut  lo,  ye— the  snow  ia  now  in  ase- 
ditatiene/ugct,  and  I  wish  1  may  have  enoush  to  cool  a 
decanter  when  yon  come  to  Abbotaford,  aa  i  truat  your 
Lordship  wiH  be  likely  to  be  here  next  autumn.  It  ia 
worth  while  to  aome,  were  it  but  to  see  what  a  romance 
of  a  house  I  am  making,  which  is  neither  to  be  caatle  nor 
abbey,  (Ood  forbid !)  but  an  okl  Scottlah  raanor-houae.  I 
beUeve  Atkinson  is  in  despair  with  my  whima,  for  he 
criea  out  yes— yer— yea— in  a  tone  which  exactly  aignitlea 
no—no-'HO—^  no  manner  of  meane.—lMiere  me  al- 
waya, my  dear  Lord,  moat  gratefully  yours, 

Waltss  Soott." 

At  the  commencement  of  this  spring,  then,  Soon 

found  hii  \i*.'^'  f^\^fi(^  Iti  rrrpM  progress |  and  letters 
on  that  sulji.LL  u?  auU  from  Torry,  occBpy,  darm|( 
niBTiy  enbfequ^ni  monthe,  a  rt^ry  large  share  in  hia 
correspond GTice.  Before?  ihe  erfd  or  the  yaeation, 
howovtir,  he  had  finlBhL'd  the  MS.  iifhisNig^  Nor 
hjiJ  h&  loBi  Bight  of  his  promiae  lo  Joanna  Bioliew 
He  prtiduc^i^  and  iha(,  as  I  well  remember,  in  tke 
c<  if/'i'  of  two  rainv  tzKjrnmg?^  ibedratnatie  sketch 
01  ^  ^  liidun  Hill ;  bui  on  condudin^it,  hefoiHMl  that 
hi  ii  ad  invon  it  an  t^xumt  qrjiit^  iiieoBipatiUe  with 
hi«  fnend>  ttrmnKernenist  for  litr  rharitable  pic- sic. 
H<"  ihtrofoTe?  cAst  about  for  another  sobjecrt  t&ely 
to  Uc  embraced  in  sfinUler  trfjmTiaM|  and  the  BIair> 
Aihiin  meetirtg  of  ihe  nejit  June  ^applied  him  with 
ono  m  Mncdiift's  Crosis.  Mcnnttrae,  on  heanns  a 
wluii^pLT  about  H&bdon  Hill,  Mfjssr&  Coaatabie^ 
wiEiioui  Hectnstbe  MS,,  forthwith  tendered  i&iooo 
for  tbc  copyri^ni— the  same  sum  that  had  appeared 
almost  irrahonftlly  mtjniiicrfii  ^h^n  offoBBtl  m  180T 
for  (be  (.'mbryo  Mirmion,  h  was  aeoeoted,  ood  a 
lei  'J  r  from  Con#ublo  himsctf.  abont  to  be  introdn- 
cf,'.\,  wtEl  show  how  well  the  lipsj  of  thefimi  was 
pk;iHf'd  with  tliia  Ti-ili  barcain.  At  the  moment 
wKi  II  bi^  head  waagidctv  wiib  T be  popular  applauaes 
of  die  neW'tauDcb^  Nigel— and  although  oe  had 
Wn  iiifurmud  that  FcpeWf  o/ /Aa  Pea*  waa ahia- 
dvoFi  Ebc  f^uxkii— be  suwfi69ied  tbnt  a  little  pinnace,' 
of  nyp  HnlJdondaafvtntKnt  easily  he  liffied  out  once 
a^^iuTirtpr,  by  way  of  diwfajon,  ^M  thus  add  mother 
J^owi  per  annum  to  the  f  10  or  ^1ft,00q.  on  which 
all  nartits  counted  aa  ibe  sure  yniHAprofit  of  three- 
deckers  in/ore. 

Before  I  quote  Constable's  effusion,  however,  1 
must  recall  to  the  reader's  recollection  sotne  Tery 

gr.  "^";'ri;.-  '  nf  1  n-  ■.  ..,r.i  h,  rfc-rrfi.  'ijRCere,  IsndstlOn 
of  JiiiLi  Lii  hi^  DroJiWiuHttl  D^LpaeiEv.  which  theAo- 
thi^r  of  the  !<  oriunes  of  Nif^tl  bad  pot  into  the 
mtHith  of  bia  Captain  Clutt^irbijck  in  tne  hnmoroos 
El  I -tie  Jntruduciory  to  that  NovcL  After  alh^ini;, 
m  rj(T.-c[jonJite  t^rai^  to  th*  reeent  death  of  John 
BftlUnsyn^  ihe  Captain  adds^— "Tif  thia  great  de- 

Imvaiiou  ha^  bmi  addt-dj  1  imsi  for « time  only,  the 
Ofift  (if  nnofhcr  bibliopolieal  friend,  whose  vigorova 
mti  tlicE,  and  liberal  ideas,  hnve  not  only  renderad 
ma  riulive  ^^oantry  the  itiart  of  h.^r  own  liferaton^ 
but  (^labli^htd  there  n  court  of  letttum  wlriehmosC 
oomniand  tt^pect,  even  from  tboe«  meet  inclined  to 
diK^ont  fusm  many  of  its  canons.    The  effect  of 

by  the 


tht9fi  cbBiiK^s  operated 

Digitized  by 


X^'&fSgrr^ 


j:wa^iow^BmfymmȤ<XMf% 


m 


imiMiifiMiaM!  taiirtwgnJrtymw  oC  <i»4iidi- 
ipidiiil^inidr  kiKew noiir to  aTsa  UmteU;  to  an  uo- 
bob0d>  fn  eiMirt»  of  the  iFafioiio  kindB  of  ulent 
wmdi  his  cottntry  produced,  wilt  probablr  appear 
mote  clearly  to  the  generation  wmch  shall  follow 
thepreaeot  I  entered  the  shop  at  the  Gross  to  in- 
ouire  after  tbe  health  of  roy  worthy  friend,  and 
baroed  with  satisfaction  that  his  residence  in  the 
■oQtb  bad  abated  the  rigour  of  the  symptoms  of  his 


It  appears  that  Nigri  waa  published  on  the  30th 
of  May,  I8!»;  and  next  day  Constable  writes  as  fol* 
bws  from  his  temporary  residence  near  London  t— 
n  Sir  WaUir  Seott^  Bart,  Ckutle  Strtety  Edinburgh, 

**  Castlvbetrc  Put,  3lst  iUj,  1822. 
"DeararWttier, 

**  I  bave  received  the  highest  gntlQcation  from  the 
perusal  of  a  certain  new  woilc.  I  may  indeed  s^y  new 
work,  for  It  Is  eottrely  so,  and  wlQ,  if  that  be  poitiible, 
ecBpse  in  popularttr  all  that  has  gone  before  it. 

"The  author  wfll  be  blamed  for  one  thihy,  howoror 
vnreaaonably,  and  that  is,  for  concluding  the  story  with- 
oai  psitit  hiii  readers  a  Utile  more  of  it.  We  are  a  set  of 
nngrateml  mortals.  For  one  thing  at  least  Itmst  1  am 
never  to  be  found  so,  for  I  most  ever  most  duly  appreciate 
the  kindthtngs  Ihtended  to  be  applied  to  mo  in  nie  Intro- 
doct^ry  EptSde  to  this  work.  I  learn  with  astonishment, 
tat  not  leaadeni^  Ihsl  the  press  is  «t  worksgala  \.  the 
dttsL  whish.  has  bsen  banded  to  me,  is  quite  exceUent. 

**  I  am  now  so  well  as  to  find  it  compatiale  to  pay  mj 
respects  to  sooae  of  my  old  haunts  in  the  metropolis, 
where  I  go  occasionally.  X  was  in  town  jresterday,  and 
so  keenly  were  the  oeople  devouring  my  iriend  Jingling 
Oeorditt  that  1  adtnallysaw  fh6m  reading  it  in  the  streeu 
anksyoBSsed  along.  I  aesase  you  there  isnoesaggesa" 
lioa  in  thia^  A  new  novel  Isom  tbe  author  of  W&verley 
pots  a«i^,  in  other  words  puts  down  for  the  time,  every 
vmer  literary  performance.  The  Smock  Ocean,  by 
which  (he  new  work  waa  sMpped,  arrived  at  the  wharf  on 
Sonday ;  the  bales  were  gotout  by  one  on  Monday  morn- 
ing, «nd  before  hal(paat  ten  o'eloekTOOD  copies  had  been 
d^reed  feom  90,  Cheapside.*  I  mm  my  secreiarn  on 
purpose  to  witness  the  activity  with  which  such  things 
are  conducted,  and  to  bring  me  the  account,  gratilybig 
certainly,  which  I  now  give  you. 

"  I  went  yesterday  to  the  shop  of  a  curious  perscni-~ 
Mr.  Swaby,  in  Warden-street— to  look  at  a*  ola  portrait 
wtkieli  my  son,  when  lately  hek-Sy  mentioned  to  me.  It 
la,  I  tMak,  a  portrait  of  Jamea  the  I\mrth.  and  if  not  an 
airiginal,  is  doubtless  a  picture  as  ft^  as  his  reign.  Our 
firtond  Mr.  Thomson  has  seen  il,  and  is  of  the  same  opi- 
okw  ;  but  I  purpose  that  you  should  be  called  upon  to 
decide  this  nice  point,  and  I  have  ordered  it  to  be  forward- 
ed to  you,  tni»tmg  that  ere  long  I  may  see  it  in  the  Ax- 
mouryat  Abbotsford. 

"I  found  at  the  same  place  two  large  elbow  chairs, 
elaborately  carved,  in  boxwood— with  fisures.  foUage,&e. 
perfectly  entire.  Mr.  Swaby,  from  whom  1  purchaacd 
ttarra,  assured  me  they  oame  from  the  Borghese  Palace 
stiLMue  ;  he  possessed  oi^inally  ten  such  chairs,  and 
had  sold  six  of  them  to  the  Duke  of  Rutland,  foi  Belvoir 
Castle,  where  they  will  be  appropriate  furniture  ;  the  two 
which  I  hare  obtained  wonld^  1  think,  not  be  less  so  hi  the 
Librarr  of  Abbotsford. 

**  1  nave  been  so  fortunate  as  to  secure  a  still  more 
carious  article— a  slab  of  mosaic  pavement,  quite  entire, 
and  large  enough  to  make  an  outer  hearth-stoircj  which  I 
also  destine  for  Abbotsford.  It  occurred  to  me  that  these 
three  articles  might  prove  suitable  to  your  taste,  and 
Qoder  tluit  impression  I  am  now  induced  to  take  the  uber- 
ty  of  re^iuestipg  you  to  accept  them  as  a  small  bat  sin- 
cere pledge  oigrateful  feeling.  Our  literary  connexion 
is  too  important  to  make  it  necessary  for  your  publishers 
to  trouble  you  about  the  pounds,  sbiUihg!!.  and  pence  of 
such  things;  and  I  liierelore  trust  you  will  receive  them 
on  the  footing  I  have  thus  taken  the  liberty  to  name.  I 
have  boen  on  the  outlook  for  antique  carvings,  and  if  I 
knew  the  purpose.^  for  which  you  would  wxint  such,  I 
miffht  probably  be  able  to  send  you  some. 

'^1  was  truly  happy  to  hear  of  '  Halidon  HIU,'  and  of 
the  s^itffactory  airangcinents  made  for  its  publication.  I 
wi^  1  had  the  power  of  prevailing  %vith  you  to  give  us  a 
similar  production  every  three  months;  and  that  our  an- 
cient enemies  on  this  aide  the  Border  might  not  have  too 
much  their  own  way,  perhaps  your  next  dramatic  sketch 
might  be  Bannockbumt  U  would  be  presumptuous  in 
me  to  point  out  subjects,  but  you  know  ray  craving  to  be 
great,  and  1  cannot  resist  mentk)ning  here  that  I  should 

*  Constalile'f  Leodon  sseoU,  Means.  Hoist,  Robinwa,  and  Co. . 
kadtlwa  their  MMoifes  in  Cbsepnde.  ..... 

t  Had  Mr.  Crinnlat>le  quite  fbcfottea  tbsLoid  of  Um  Isles  1 
47 


"  Sir  Thomas  Lawrence  was  so  kind  as  l^viti^  mtt  to  t^& 
his  picture^,— what  an  admirably  ponvaft  he  hek  com- 
meneed  of  you!— he  has  altogether  bit  a  happy  and  In^ 
tereadag  expeesskm.  I  do  not  know  whether  you  have 
heard  that  there  la  an  ejchibition  at  Leeds  this  yeai.  I 
had  an  appUcatioa  Ibr  the  use  of  Raeburn's  piet^ie, 
which  is  now  there ;  and  it  stands  No.  1  io  the  catalogue, 
of  which  I  inclose  you  a  copy 

"  You  will  receive  with  this  a  copy  of  the  'Poetry,  ort- 
gtnal  and  selected.'  1  have,  1  fear,  overshot  the  maix  by 
including  the  poetry  of  the  Plt^ate,  a  liberty  for  which  I 
must  hope  to  be  forgiven.  The  poblicalion  of  the  volnmc 
wUl  be  delayed  tea  days>  in  cass  yon  Should  do  me  the 
favoor  to  suggest  any  alteration  ki  the  adveitiaement,  or 
other  change.— I .  have  tbe  honour  to  be,  dear  Bir  Waller,' 
ynu  lalthftti  humble  servant,  / 

AaonsALO  Constaslb.*' 

lite  last  paragraph  of  thiaietter  allddes  to  a  little 
volume,  into  which  Constable  had  coteeted  the 
songs,  mottoes,  and  other  scraps  of  Vers^scattdred 
over  Scott's  Novels,  from  Waverley  to  the  Fdrate. 
It  had  a  considerable  run ;  and  had  it  appeared 
sooner,  mi^tltt  haTe  sav^  Mr.  Adolphus  the  trouble 
of  wTf'ns  an  4*fl!iny  to  prove  thai  the  Afiihor  of 

CiiMsiablt^  dfifins'  his  residefioe  in  bHip^lsnd  si  tbi^ 
time,  waft  J n  the  habit  of  wrinng  tvcry  week  Ot 
tvi'o  to  Six  Walter,  sr>d  his  letieTs  now  l>cfor«  ms 
aro  till  of  ihe  same  complejtian  as  \he  prnx^ing 
'si't  rjjnetj.  The  srdent  book &dkT^9  brain  set ms  to 
hftve  b(it:n  wcll-ni|4;h,  unselllcKl  nt  thiff  periodj  Slid 
I  have  often  I  bought  ihtii  the  fuxglove  whjch  he 
then  dwrii lowed  {his  complainl  bmng  a  ihreaienitig 
of  waitr  in  the  chtidt)  uiight  hnvw  fmd  a  share  in 
the  ^jLirsiVb^Qnt  6xcJt(inicnt  of  hif^  mind.  Dc:<;h- 
,aie>e(illy,  hofttjver,  h&pnLt;r0  on  details^  a&ia  which, 
or  a  I  If^^st  as  to  Sir  Wnitcir''8  shsre  in  ih«n),  there 
could  not  hav«  beon  any  mistake^  and  thesis  w^ro, 
it  my$t  he  owned,  of  s  nature  well  cslcnlatOfl  lo 
nouii^^h  and  sasistn  in  lh«  atithor'f  fancy  n  degree 
of  a  T  inn  St  msd  eihilaraiion,  near  akin  m  hi»  pub- 
Ki'  .'  wti  fjrfldoQiinant  mood.  In  n  ipttcr  of  the 
ei  uouih,  for  ex&mpler  aft^T  refumini^  to  the 

pi  if  I'e  verii  of  the  Pesk,  under  1D,(W)0  copka 

of  i  T  noerly  ih/ji  mimWt)  Ballamyn*:^a  preas- 

3e  .'iw  gTt>iinLnfE,  and  ^I^Lncini;  i^ayly  lo  fhe 

p!  4  thciT  beine  kept  r^'gul any  employed  lo 

tbi'  niLUiv-  eicienl  unui  rhreu  oEh^r  novelti,  a?^yet  on- 
cliristenwi,  had  followed  Pev en],  headds  a  nummary 
of  whfli:  was  then,  iiadi  just  been,  or  was  aboai  to 
Iw,  thr'  Liuiount  of  occunation  furnish lhJ  lo  tha  same 
offiee  bv  reprints  of  uldier  works  of  Iho  a  a  me  pen  ; 
— ''  'I  (iuinmary  "  heejida:m«,  *'  to  which  1  venture 
to  pay  there  will  bo  no  rival  m  qui  day!"  And  well 
mi;^ht  ConMabk  i^ay  ^ot  forihe  resnlUf),  tbst  James 
Biifliiniy^ne  and  Co.  haa  just  t*j[(Mnii«^vOr  werii  on 
th^'  eve  of  cKecxifinK,  by  hia  order— 

t«  A  new  edition  of  Sir  W.  Scott's  PoeUcal 

Worka,  tai  10  vols.  (mlniature,>  •    •    •  50U0  copies 

"Novels  and  Tales,  12  vola  ditto,      •    •    •  5000     — 

"  Historical  Romances,  6  vols,  ditto.       •    •  6000     — 

"  Poetry  from  WaTerley,  Ac.  1  vol.  l2nio,  5000     — 

"  Paper  required, 7772  reams 

"  Volumes  produced  from  Ballantyne's  press,  145,000 !" 

To  which  we  may  aafely  add  from  30,000  to  40,000 
volumes  more  as  the  immediate  produce  of  the  au- 
thor's daily  industry  within  tbe  space  of  twelve 
months.  The  scale  of  these  operations  was,  with* 
out  question,  enough  to  torn  any  bookseller's  wits ; 
—Constable's,  in  its  soberest  hours,  was  as  inflam- 
mable a  head-piece  as  ever  sat  on  the  shoulders  of 
a  poet ;  and  his  ambition,  in  truth,  had  been  mov- 
ing pari  pasau^  during  several  of  these  last  stirring 
and  turmoiling  yeara,  with  thai  of  /its  poet.  He, 
too,  as  I  ought  to  have  mentioned  ere  now,  had. 
like  a  true  Scotchman,  concentred  his  dreams  on 
the'  hope  of  bequeathing  to  his  heir  the  name  and 
dignity  of  a  lord  of  acres.  He,  too,  had  conaider- 
ably  before  this  time  purchased  a  landed  estate  m 
his  native  county  of  Fife  \  he,  too,  I  doubt  not,  had, 
while  Abbotsford  wasrismfthisown  rural  castle  in 
petto  t  and  alas !  for  "  Archibald  Constable  of  Bal- 
m,l»  .I«s  -nd  hi.  or^rw-mi^^t^iggf^ 


m 


tlFB  OF  dm  WALTfiR  SOOtT. 


worldly  aaeoeii^  Fortnne  had  already  begun  to  pre- ' 
pan  a  ttera  rebuke. 

Nigel  waa,  I  need  not  say,  considered  as  ranking 
in  the  first  class  of  Scott's  romances.  Indeed,  as 
a  historical  portraiture,  his  of  James  I.  stands  forth 
pre-eminent,  and  almoft  alone;  nor,  perhaps,  in  re- 
perusing  these  novela  4eliberately  as  a  series,  does 
any  one  of  them  leav^  so  complete  an  impression 
as  the  picture  of  an  age.  It  is,  in  fact,  the  best 
commentary  on  the  old  English  drama— hardlv  a 
single  picturesque  point  of  manners  touched  by  Ben 
Jonson  and  his  contemporaries  but  has  been  dove- 
tailed into  this  story,  and  aU  so  easily  and  naturally, 
as  to  form  the  most  striking  contrast  to  the  histo- 
rical romances  of  authors  wno  eram^  as  the  school- 
boys phrase  it,  and  then  set  to  work  oppressed  and 
bewildered  with  their  crude  and  undigested  burden. 

The  novel  was  followed  in  June  by  the  dramatic 
sketch  of  Halidon  Hill ;  but  that  had  far  inferior 
success.  I  shall  say  a  word  on  it  presently,  in  con- 
nexion with  another  piece  of  the  same  order. 

A  few  weeks  before  this  time  Cornet  Scott  had 
sailed  for  Grermany,  and,  it  seems,  in  the  midst, of 
roush  weather— his  immediate  destination  being 
B^lin,  where  his  father's  valued  friend  Sir  George 
Rose  was  then  Ambassador  from  the  Court  of  SL 
James:— 

/V  Walter  Scott ^  Eaq.^  tare  of  Hia  Excellency  Sir 
Oeorge  Roee^  4^.  4^.,  Berlin. 

**  My  dear  Walter, 

"  Yoar  letters  came  both  together  this  morning,  and 
relieved  me  from  a  disagreeable  state  of  anxiety  about 
you,  for  the  winds  have  been  tremendous  since  you  sail- 
ed ;  and  no  news  arriving  fron)  the  Continent,  owing  to 
their  sticliing  in  the  west,  I  waa  really  very  uneasy. 
LuclUIv  mamma  did  not  take  any  alarm.  I  have  no  news 
lo  send  you  save  what  are  agreeable.  We  are  well  here, 
and  goii^  on  in  the  old  fiishion.  Last  night  Mathewa  the 
oomedian  waa  with  ua,  and  made  himseu  very  entertain* 
lug.  About  a  week  ago  the  Comptesse  Nial,  a  lady  in  the 
service  of  Princess  Louisa  of  Prussia,  came  totiine  here 
vrith  tlie  Lord  Chief  Commissioner  and  famllv,  and  seem- 
ed to  take  a  sreat  interest  in  what  she  heard  and  saw  of 
our  Scottish  foshions.  She  was  so  good  as  to  offisr  me  let- 
ters lor  you  to  the  Princess  Louisa;  General  Oneisaenau. 
who  waa  Adiufant-Oenoral  of  Blucher's  army,  and  formed 
the  plan  or  almost  all  the  veteran's  campaigns ;  and  to 
the  Baroness  de  la  MoUe  Fouqu^  whp  is  distinguished  io 
the  world  of  letters,  at  well  as  her  husband  the  Baron, 
the  author  of  many  very  plcaaing  works  of  fiction,  parti- 
cularly the  beautiful,  tale  of  Undine,  and  the  travels  of 
Thcodulph.  If  you  find  an  opportunity  to  say  to  the  Ba- 
roness how  much  I  have  been  Interested  by  her  writings 
andMons.  dc  la  Motte  Foaqud'a,  you  will  say  no  more  than 
the  truth,  and  it  will  be  civil,  for  folks  like  to  know  that 
they  are  Known  and  resp^ed  beyond  the  limits  of  their 
own  country. 

"Having  the  advantage  of  good  introductions  to  foreign-) 
crs  of  distinction,  I  hope  you  will  not  follow  the  estab- 
lished English  fashion  of  herding  with  your  countrymen, 
and  neglecting  the  opportunity  orextcnding your  acouaiat- 
ance  with  the  language  and  society.  There  Is,  I  own, 
a  great  temptation  to  this  in  a  strange  country ;  but  it  is 
destruction  of  all  the  purposes  for  which  the  expense 
and  trouble  of  foreign  travel  are  incurred.  Labour  par- 
ticularly at  the  German,  as  the  French  can  be  acqmred 
elHewhere  ;  but  I  should  rather  say,  work  hard  at  both. 
It  is  not,  I  think,  likely,  though  it  is  TOssiblc,  thatyou  may 
fall  into  company  with  some  of  the  Tttes  ichaujfee*,  who 
are  new  so  common  in  Germany — men  that  would  pull 
down  the  whole  political  system  in  order  to  rebuild  it  on 
a  better  model :  a  proposal  about  as  wild  as  that  of  a  man 
who  shrald  propose  to  change  the  bridle  of  a  furious 
horse,  and  commence  his  labours  by  slipping  the  head- 
stall in  the  midst  of  a  heath.  Prudence,  as  well  as  prin- 
sipleand  my  earnest  desire,  will  induce  you  to  avoid  this 
class  of  politicians,  who,  I  know,  are  always  on  the  alert 
to  kindnap  young  men. 

"I  account  Sir  George  Rose's  being  at  Berlin  the  most 
fortunate  circumstance  which  could  have  befallen  you,  as 
you  will  always  have  a  friend  whom  you  can  consult  in 
case  of  need.  Do  not  omit  Immediately  arranging  your 
time  so  as  to  secure  as  much  as  possible  for  your  studies 
and  exercises.  For  the  last  I  recommend  fencing  and 
riding  in  the  academy ;  for  though  a  good  horseman,  it 
ia  right  you  should  keep  up  the  habit,  and  many  of  the 
German  schools  are  excellent.  I  think,  however,  Sir 
George  Rose  says  that  of  Berlin  is  but  indifferent ;  and 
be  is  a  good  judge  of  the  art.    I  pray  you  not  to  lose  time 


in  dswdlbigf  fef  betwixt  ^  , 

passage,much  of  the  time  wldoh  oar  plaa  dsstkied  Sar 
your  itudieB  has  been  coosumed,  and  your  reConi  into  tb» 
active  service  of  your  profesakm  is  proportiooally  delay- 
ed ;  so  lose  no  ome.  I  cannot  say  bm  what  I  am  very 
happy  that  you  are  not  engaged  in  the  inglorious,  yet  dan- 
gerous and  harasaing,  warfare  of  Ireland  at  present. 
Your  old  fHcnd  Paddy  is  now  stark  mad,  and  dofaic  oioch 
mischief.  Sixteen  of  the  Peelers  have,  I  see  by  this 
mamiDf^t  papers,  been  besieged  in  their  qua];ters  by 


the  mob,  four  killed,  and  the  rest  obliged  to  i 
after  they  bad  ftred  the  house  in  which  they  were  quar- 
tered. The  ofllcers  write  that  the  service  is  more  haras- 
air:  :"r.  OQ  the  Peninsula,  and  it  would  appear  a  coo- 
sid  I  jLh.  t'-irt  of  the  country  is  literally  in  possession  of 
ihf  Ki^nr^i'uts.  Yon  are  just  as  well  leamli^  TVfttecAe 
»prr,its'7t.  \  am  glad  to  aee  you  are  vnriting  a  firm  and 
go  ii  ^iLn.r  Your  last  from  Hamburgh  was  distinctly 
WT  i  u  <  r  I .  J 1 1  <  1  well  composed.   Pray  write  all  your  remarks, 

an  ;  i  '  v  le  little  attention  to  the  style,  which,  without 

be  pedantic,  should  always  be  accurate. 

*Li_i.__xharts  are  well;  but  baby  has  a  cough,  whicli 
keeps  Sophia  anxious :  thcv  cannot  say  whether  it  t>e 
the  hooping-cough  or  no.  Mamma,  Anne,  and  little  Wal- 
ter *  sendkind  love.  The  little  fellow  studies  hard,  and 
will,  I  hope,  be  a  credit  to  the  name  he  beara.  If  you  do 
not  take  care,  he  may  be  a  General  before  you.  AJwaja, 
my  dear  Walter,  most  afifectionately  yours, 

WALTBaScorr. 

*<  P.  6.— The  Gennana  are  a  people  of  form.  Yon  wffl 
take  care  to  learn  the  proper  etiquette  abool  deUvexia^ 
the  enclosed  letters." 


CHAPTER  LVI. 
aaPAiBS  OF  acBLaoea  ABsar— lbttsbs  to  uoao  uon-- 

TAGU  AND  MISS  BDOaWOBTH— KIHO  OBOBOB  IV.  VI- 
SITS BCOTliAND— CBLTIO  MAlTlA— MB-  CBABBB  DT 
CASTi:.E  STBBBT— DEATH  Of  LOBD  KIWNBDDBB— OB- 
PABTURB  OP  THE  XIKO— LETTBBS  PBOX  MB.  PEEL 
AKD  MB.  CBOKBB.— 1822. 

DriaiNO  April,  May,  and  June,  of  this  year.  Scott's 
thoin^ts  were  much  occupied  with  a  plan  foraecnr-' 
ins  Melrose  Abbey  against  the  pro^^ress  of  decay, 
which  had  been  making  itself  manifest  toan  alann. 
ing  extent,  and  to  which  he  had  often  before  direcu 
edthe  attention  of  the  Buccleuch  family.  Even  in 
writing  to  persons  who  had  never  seen  Melrose,  he 
could  not  help  touching  on  this  business— for  hm 
wrote,  as  he  spoke,  out  of  the  fulness  of  the  heart. 
The  young  Duke  readily  concurred  with  his  guar- 
dians in  allowing  the  poet  to  direct  such  repairs  as 
might  seem  to  him  adequate :  and  the  result  waa 
extremely  satisfactory  to  all  the  habitual  worship- 
pera  of  these  classical  ruins. 

I  return  to  the  copious  and  candid  correspondenoe 
from  which  it  has  been  throughout  my  object  to  ex- 
tract and  combine  the  scattered  fragments  of  aa 
autobiography. 

To  Miet  Edgeworth,  Edgewn-thetown. 

"  Abbotsford,  dith  April,  1822. 
"  My  dear  Miss  Edgeworth, 

"I  am  extremely  sorry  indeed  that  yon  cainnot 
Ailfil  your  kind  intentions  to  be  at  Abbotsford  this  year. 
It  is  a  great  disappointment,  and  I  am  grieved  to  think  it 
should  have  arisen  from  the  loss  of  a  valued  rehttion. 
Tliat  is  the  worst  part  of  life  when  its  earlier  path  is  trod. 
If  my  limbs  get  stiff,  my  walks  are  made  shorter,  and  my 
rides  slower.— If  my  eyes  iail  me,  I  can  use  glaasea  and 
a  large  print— If  I  get  a  little  deaf,  I  comfort  myself  that, 
except  in  a  few  instances,  I  shall  be  no  peal  loser  by- 
missing  one  full  half  of  what  is  spoken ;  but  I  feel  the 
loneliness  of  age  when  my  companions  and  friends  are 
taken  from  me.  The  sudden  death  of  both  the  Boswells, 
Mid  the  bloody  end  of  the  last,  have  given  me  great  peiB.f 

*  Walter,  the  ion  of  Mr.  Thomas  Scott,  waa  at  this  time  do- 
miciled with  hii  uncle'n  family. 

t  James  Bpswell  of  the  Temple,  editor  of  the  last  Vaikvom 
Shalcspeare.^.,  a  man  of  considerable  ieaniin|  and  admaaUa 
■oeial  qualities,  died  suddenly,  in  the  prime  of  fi&>  aiiout  a  fitit* 
ni«ht  befbre  hu  brother  Sir  Alexander.  8oott  was  warmly  at- 
tached to  them  both,  and  tiie  &n  of  the  Baronet  mi^  well  snra 
him  a  severe  shock.  lur  he  had  dined  in  Cattle  Street  only  two  or 


three  days  belbre  it  occurred,  and  the  menieat  tones  of  tos  Toiee 
were  still  rininnx  in  hit  irtend'i  eart  when  be  received  the  fetal 
inteliigeoce.    That  eTcninc  was,  I  think,  the  sayeat  1  ever  spent 


lyt 
wercttillrinff 

in  Cattle  Strec'trand  thou«hlJlirl«~Mathew^        ptescot^'aDd 
Ms  best  ftfoe,  p^or  Bosweil's  sonss.  jokes,  and  antcMcs.  had 


Digitized  by  V^OOQlC 


UFE  OP  sot  ffAUnOL  BOOVT. 


m 


Totth«v«ii«f«r|oClMlf  tbepnlM  ftmiamo^^  lol»?6 
procured  -you.  The  reuea  ta,  that  the  duefltam  wUeh 
the  ezceUent  portrait  wu  drawn,  feel  the  reaemblance 
too  palnfunf  to  thank  the  author  for  it ;  and  I  do  not  he- 
liere  the  common  readers  onderBtand  it  in  the  leaat  I 
who,  thanli  God,  am  neither  great  man  nor  politician, 
hare  Ured  enough  among  them  to  recognise  the  truth  and 
nature  of  thepaintinc,  and  am  no  war  implicated  in  the 
■atire.  I  bepin'to  think  that  of  the  three  kingdoms  the 
English  alone  are  qualified  to  mix  in  poUtics  safeljr  and 
without  fatal  resuRs ;  the  fierce  and  hastj  resentmenu 
of  the  Irish,  and  the  sullen,  long-enduring,  reTengefuI 
temper  of  mj  countrymen,  make  such  agitations  have  a 
much  wider  and  more  dreadful  effect  amongst  them. 
Wen,  we  win  forget  what  we  cannot  help,  and  pray  that 
we  may  lose  no  more  friends  tttl  we  find,  as  I  hope  and  am 
sure  we  shall  do,  friends  in  each  other.  1  hare  arranged 
to  stay  at  least  a  month  after  the  12th  of  May,  in  hopes  of 
detatolng  you  at  AbboUibrd,  and  I  will  not  let  you  off 
und«r  a  month  or  two  the  next  vear.  I  stn!l  ^nr'  my 
house  completed,  my  llbrarr  replied,  my  a  .  i  r .  iiew 
furbished,  my  piper  new  clothed,  and  theliin'^  nii^^ih  be 
July.  I  trust  I  may  hare  the  same  fkmily  uhani  m<',  and 
peniaps  my  two  sons.  Walter  Is  at  Berfin  ^tn.i  s  in^  the 
great  art  or  war— and  entertaining  a  most  mil  -  ^  vie- 
tion  that  all  the  distnrbances  orlreland  an  rely 

owing  to  his  last  regiment,  the  18th  hussars,  een 

imprudently  reduced.  Little  Charles  is  stitvkug  i^  be- 
come a  good  scholar  and  fit  for  Oxford.  Both  have  a 
chance  of  behig  at  home  in  autumn,  1823.  I  know  no- 
thing I  should  wish  you  to  see  which  has  any  particuiar 
chance  of  becoming  tuTisible  in  the  course  or  fourteen 
months,  excepting  my  old  bloodhound,  poor  fellow,  on 
whom  sge  now  sits  so  heavily,  that 'he  cannot  follow  me 
fiur  from  the  house.  I  wished  you  to  see  him  wetj  much- 
he  is  of  that  noble  breed  which  Ireland,  as  well  as  Scot- 
land, once  possessed,  and  which  is  now  almost  extinct  in 
both  countriea  I  haTC  sometimes  thonghl  of  the  final 
cause  of  dogs  having  such  short  ttres,  and  I  am  quite  sa- 
tisfied It  la  in  compassion  to  the  human  race ;  for  if  we 
suffer  so  much  in  losing  a  dog  after  an  acquaintance  of 
ten  or  twelve  years,  what  would  it  be  If  they  were  to  live 
double  that  time  Y 

**  I  don*t  propose  behig  in  London  this  yeai^I  do  not 
like  it— there  la  such  a  ridfaig  and  drivtng^-so  much  to 
•ee-^so  much  to  say— not  to  mention  plover's  eggs  and 
champagne— that  I  always  feel  too  mucn  excited  In  Lon- 
don, though  it  Is  good  to  rub  off  the  rust  too,  sometimes, 
and  brings  you  up  abreast  vrith  the  woHd  as  it  goos- 


But  I  must  break  off,  being  summoned  to  a  conclave  to 
examine  how  the  progress  of  decay,  which  at  .present 
threatens  to  destroy  the  ruhis  of  Melrose,  can  yet  be  ar. 
rested.  The  Duke  of  Bucclench,  though  but  a  boy,  is 
▼ery  desirous  to  have  something  done,  and  hia  guannans 
haTC  acquiesced  in  a  wish  so  reasonable  and  creditable 
to  the  little  chief.  I  only  hope  they  will  be  UberaL  for  a 
trifle  will  do  no  good,  or  rather,  I  think,  any  purliai  tam- 
pering is  likely  to  do  harm.  But  the  Dukenas  an  Im- 
mense esute,  and  I  hope  they  will  remember,  that 
though  a  moderate  sum  may  keep  up  this  national  monu- 
ment, yet  his  whole  income  could  not  replace  it  should  it 
folL— Tours,  dear  Miss  Edgeworth,  with  true  respect  and 
regard,  WjL&na  Soott." 

TV  Ike  Lord  Montagu,  ^«. 

^^   ^      ,     ^  "Abbotsford,  29th April,  1822. 

"  Mr  dear  Lord, 

^*  The  state  of  the  east  window  is  peculiariy  preca- 
rious, snd  it  ttuiy  soon  giro  way  If  not  assisted.  There 
would  not  only  he  dishonour  In  that,  as  Trlnculo  says 
when  he  lost  his  bottle  In  the  pool,  but  an  infinite  lofs. 
Messrs.  Smallvrood  snd  Smith  concur,  there  will  be  no 
difficulty  in  erecting  a  scaffolding  strong  enough  to  sup- 
port the  weight  of  an  Interior  arch  or  beam,  as  we  call  it, 
of  wood,  so  as  to  admit  the  exterior  two  rows  of  the  stone- 
arch  to  be  lifted  and  replaced,  stone  by  stone,  and  made 
as  sure  as  ever  they  were.  The  other  ribs  should  then 
bo  pointed  both  above  and  beneath,  every  fissure  closed, 
every  tree  and  shrub  eradicated,  and  the  whole  arch 
covered  with  Roman  cement,  or,  what  would  be  greatly 
better,  vrith  lead.  This  operation  jrelates  to  the  vault 
over  the  whidow.  Smaliwood  thinks  that  the  window 
itself,  that  ia,  the  shafted  columns,  should  be  secured 
by  renewing  the  cross-irons  which  formerly  combined 
them  together  laterally,  and  the  holes  of  which  still  re- 
main ;  and,  indeed,  considering  how  It  has  kept  its  ground 
in  Its  present  defenceless  state,  I  thing  it  amounts  to  a 
certainty  that  the  restoration  of  so  many  points  d'apnui 
will  secure  K  sgalnst  any  tempest  whatsoever,  especially 
exMfatted  DO  armptom  of  eeUme.  It  tuned  cot  that  be  had  join- 
fife'f!!!'  ^"**"  **  *™»5  ^^5^1  un«^»triy  after  oomplet- 
his  the  laat  ananceroenti  for  Us  duel.    It  may  be  worth  whiJeto 

eodiatfaedueticeneofBt.  Rooan'sWtIL  . 


wlMB  the  «anlC0d  root  It  preMrvsd  tnm  Hho  prtMoC 
risk  of  fiJIing  down  on  it 

**  There  is  one  way  In  which  the  expense  w«nld  b« 
greatly  leasened,  and  the  appearance  of  the  building  la 
the  highest  degree  improved,  but  it  depends  on  a  prtwfs. 
Provided  then  that  the  whole  eMtem  window,  with  th« 
vault  above  it,  were  repaired  and  made,  as  Law  says, 
eartum  atoue  fccfum,  there  couM  be  no  objection  to  tak- 
ing down  tne  modem  roof  wHh  the  clumsy  buttresses  on 
the  northern  side.*  Indeed  I  do  not  see  how  the  roof's 
continuing  could  in  an/  respect  protect  the  vrindow, 
though  it  may  be  very  doubtful  whether  the  west  gable 
should  be  pulled  down,  which  would  expose  the  east  win- 
dow to  a  thorough  draft  of  air,  a  circumstance  which  the 
original  buiMer  did  not  contemplate,  and  against  which,  ^ 
therefore,  he  made  no  provlsioa.  The  taking  down  this 
roof  and  the'  beastly  buttresses  would  expose  a  noble 
range  of  columns  on  each  side.-*Ever,  my  dear  Lord, 
yours  ever  truly,  W.  8." 

7^  the  Same. 

"  IbboUford,  15th  Blay,  1822. 
<*  Mr  dear  Lord, 

^  I  am  quite  delighted  vrith  the  commencement  of 
the  Melrose  repairs,  and  hope  to  report  progress  before 
1  leave  the  country,  though  that  must  be  on  Monday  next 
Please  God,  I  vrill  be  on  the  roof  of  the  old  Abbey  myself 
when  the  seaflblding  is  up.  When  I  waa  a  boy  I  could 
climb  Uke  avrildcat;  and  entire  affection  to  the  work  on 
hand  must  on  this  occasion  counterbalance  the  disadvant- 
ages of  increased  weight  and  stiffened  limbs.  The  east 
and  south  windows  certainly  chUm  the  pri^erence  in  any 
repairs  suggested ;  the  side  aisles  are  also  in  a  very  bad 
way,  but  cannot  Ui  this  summer  weather  be  the  worse  of 
deUy.  It  is  the  rain  that  finds  ita  way  betwixt  the  arch- 
atones  In  vrinter,  and  is  there  arrested  by  the  frost,  which 
ruins  ancient  buildings  when  exposed  to  wet  Ice  occu- 
pies more  space  than  water  unfrozen,  and  thus,  whea 
formed,  operates  as  so  many  wedges  inserted  betweea. 
the  stones  of  the  arch,  which,  of  course,  are  dislocated  by 
this  Interposltioii,  and  in  process  of  time  the  equilibrium 
of  the  arch  is  destroyed— O.  E.  D.  There  spoke  the  Pre- 
sident of  the  R.  8.  E.  The  removal  of  the  old  roof  would 
not  be  attended  with  a  penny  of  expense,  nay,  might  be 
a  savkig  were  It  thought  proper  to  replace  the  flags  whldi 
BOW  cover  it  upon  the  side  aisles,  where  they  eertainl/ 
originally  lay.  The  ruble  stones  would  do  much  more 
than  pay  the  labourers.  But  though  this  be  the  case,  and 
though  the  beauty  of  the  ruin  would  be  greatly  increa^ 
ed,  still  I  should  first  Uke  to  be  well  assured  that  the 
east  wia&m  waa  not  thereby  deprived  of  shelter.  It  is  to 
be  seriousir  weighed  that  the  architect  who  has  shown 
so  much  skill,  would  not  fail  to  modify  the  strength  of  the 
different  paru  of  his  building  to  the  violence  which  they 
were  to  sustain ;  and  as  it  never  entered  into  his  pious 

Ke,  that  the  east  vrindow  waa  to  be  exposed  to  a  thorough 
St  from  west  to  east.  It  is  possible  he  may  not  have 
constructed  it  of  strength  suflleient  to  withstand  its  fury, 
snd  therefore  I  say  caution,  caution. 

**  We  are  not  like  to  sufler  on  this  occasion  the  mortl- 
fioation  Incurred  by  my  old  friend  aad  kinsman  Mr.  Keith 
of  Ravelstone,  a  most  excellent  man,  but  the  mosC^irre* 
solut&in  the  would,  more  especially  when  the  question 
vras  unloosing  his  purse  stringa  Conceiving  himself  to 
represent  the  great  Earls-Marischal,  and  being  certainly 

Sisscssed  of  their  castle  and  domains,  he  bethought  him  of 
e  family  vault,  a  curious  Gothic  building  in  the  church- 
yard of  Dunnotar :  XiO  it  vras  reported  would  do  thejob 
— m'y  good  friend  proffered  jE5— It  would  not  do.  "Aro 
years  after  he  offered  the  ftill  sum.  A  report  was  sent 
that  the  breaches  were  now  so  much  increased  that  £70 
would  scarce  serve.  Mr.  Keith  humm'd  and  ha'd  for 
three  years  more ;  then  offered  X20.  The  wind  and  rain 
had  not  waited  his  decision— less  than  £S0  would  not 
now  serve.  A  year  afterward  he  sent  a  cheque  for  the 
jCoO,  which  was  returned  by  post,  with  the  pleasiiig  intel- 
ligence that  the  Earl-Marischal's  sisle  had  fallen  the  pre- 
ceding week.  Tour  Lordship's  prompt  decision  has  prob- 
ably saved  Melrose  Abbey  from  the  same  fote.  I  protest 
I  often  thought  I  was  looking  on  it  for  the  last  time. 

"  I  do  not  know  how  I  could  write'  in  such  a  alovenly 
way  as  to  lead  your  Lordship  to  think  that  I  could  recom- 
mend planting  even  the  fertile  soil  of  Bowden-moor  in  the 
montti  of  April  or  May.  Except  evergreens.  I  would 
never  transplant  a  tree  betwixt  March  and  Martina 


Indeed  I  hold  by  the  old  proverb— plant  a  tree  before 
Candlemas,  and  command  It  to  grow-^lant  it  after  Can- 
dlemas, and  you  must  entreat  it  I  only  spoke  of  this  as  a 
thing  which  you  might  look  at  whsn  your  Lordship  came 
here ;  and  so  your  ideas  exactly  meet  mine. 
**  I  tldnk  I  can  read  Lady  Montagu's  dream,  or  yoor 

«  Some  time  after  the  ditdplM  of  John  KnoK  bad  dope  tb^  sa- 
vage pleaaure  upon  Melroae  Abbey,  the  weitero  part  of  the  ehan- 
etl  WIS  lepsiied  io  a  most  cloniBjr  style  to  senre  as  a  paiM  UlL. 


LIFE  09  dm  WMmtL  600TT. 


3nr 

uaniel  coming  tojudgment,  (&r  IJbieUiiiik  nia  mv  pramiae 

Utdo  Df  .BO  hooest  gontifNnao.who.bad  ooce  run  aome  risk 
of  being  kimtelf  penduloua  oa  a  tree  in.this  eountrT.  U 
Ui0y  eoofte  to  any  thing  ^reUy,  w©  shall  be  too  proad  to 
lave  soma  of  the  produce  at  iMtton. 

^'  rour  bailaioiVM  have  visited  usT*mlogIed,  in  BcriP' 
wre-  phrane^  with,  ooala  of  fire.  My  uocTe,  novir  nlae^ 
mree  years  oDioplet*,  Uvea  in  the  house  of  Mooklaw. 
where  the  offices,  were  set  od  flre.by  the  lightning.  The 
Old  gentleman  was  on  foot,  and  as  active  with  bis  orders 
and'  directions  as  if  he  had  been  but  finrtr^ve.  Tb«y 
wished  tagethimoflT,  but  he  aasvrered,  <  Na,  w,lads,.X 
hava  faced  mony  a  fire  in  my  time,  and  I  winna  turn  my 
iiaflkontlii»ane.'  Wa^notthis^goodcutofanold  Bor- 
derer 7— Ever  your  Lordship's  faithful, 

In  the  next  of  these  letters  Sir  Wjiltar. refers  to 
the  sudden  ((eath  of  tlw  ^sHeoe  Primate  of  Ireland, 
the  Honourable  Wilham  gtuart,  brother  to  his  and 
Lord  Montagu's  dear  Ihend  Lady  Louisa.  His 
Qrace  appears  to  have  been  cut  oflTin  consequence 
ot,an  oveT'dose  of  laudanum  being  accidentally 
admimstered  to  him. 

Ta  the  Same. 

^  ,  ^  "  Ediabwrth,  ath  May,  1828.  • 

"  1  HO  dcTouity  grieve  for  poor  Lady  Lij^isa.  With 
a  mind  nod  iudc«dA  bodily  frauia  whkh  ftikT  rSso  peou- 
JIhtIj.  as  iKira  imder  dooieeUr  alflictloii,  I  \hmit  she  has 
bfid  H  larffl-  slisrc  of  it  Uian  «iy  p«rfton  ainio^f r  in  my  ao- 
ai>ftlnUTic«.  Pcrbnpg,  In  ber  csie,  cDUbicy,  by  extend- 
lAH  thu  air<'ctJhin»oreo  kind  a  htmrt  throngli  the  remoter 
rmer  of  reUtipnaliip,  hma  r**ni1«?red  htr  inn  re  liable  to 
flueh  Juruaf^j  upi^ii  hct  happln«fta.  1  rpnjeiutMjr  sevexvd 
8f'ritl*rhts  similar  to  that  of  ibe  Archbinjioi;  t^f  Armagh. 
H^iidt: Toon's  (Uic  ninrcr?  wa*  oiif?.  lf(0  wirn,  who  adml^ 
metered  itje  fataJ  dnt^M,  wi«  th?  only  peTaf>n  who  re- 
uialDod  ifuoraiit  t>f  ihe  eauie  of  liie  <l(*iirh  fine  of  the 
Dulte'5  fi-rmeri,  eomo  years  fiHiic^',  i-h-  '  ^  aordlnary 
resolution  In  tbo  *iuik?  fftuaiiau  H  \eA  given 

htci  ft  ijnajitJty  of  ImidAnuni  ina(<!4d  her  medi'> 

cine.  The  rai^takf  was  iiisiAnll:y  .lihi  h^v*  r.ij  ;  but  the 
ypQiiff  man  had  tfufDck'nt  eiierny  and  fert- <■  of  mind  to 
combut  the  opemlmn  of  the  dmif!  Whilf*  all  around  him 
vtrn  arnpld  wttb  fear,  hfl  rot^e,  saddted  rii»hori>^.  and  rode 
to  aelkJrk  (tn  or  »ev(jn  inil^s  ;)  thus  rt^tnj^  ih^'  time  that 
the  doctor  (Hiiit  haTe  lalct-n  iij  c aiojng  tfiljiin  It  is  very 
cufloaa  inat  hfs  auDny  of  fl^fcntJ  was  ablj?  tn  xxjapend  the 
^peritioq  of  the  dtlig  imUl  he  ttaii  alighti^.L  i^  hen  It  in- 
fltanUj  btgan  to  opt^rnte,    ily  re<:ov*ired  jKri^^,  tly. 

"Wqch  obitppd  hy  the  cofiimimicflllfln  oi  u^r,  symbols 
adopiefi  by  the  \at^y  patronoBiie?  si  tbe  bojl  foi  the  Bcol- 
Uth  CorptiraLkm.  Somfi  spfio  verv  Ap<>crv|kb,*l.  I  have 
porocwherc  iwo  [ins  of  th*'  hr-itcr,.^  .'.f  n...  >fi^hLind clans* 
whiclido  not  fjniUF-  anv-  'f.\\fr.    I  sop* 

poet  ihijy  someEhuea  BtiiiiL  J ^^^^i^.    la  general 

K  was  a  rule  to  have  an  evergreen ;  and  I  have  heard  that 
ue  downfall  of  the  Stuarta  waa  supposed  to  be  omened 
by  their  having  choseta  the  oak  for  their  badge  of  distmc 
Jton.  I  have  alivays  heard  that  of  the  Beotts  vras  the 
heath-flower,  and  that  they  were  sometimes  called  Hea- 
ther-tope  from  that  ehrcnmstance.  There  ia  a  rhyme  In 
Satchells  or  elsewhere,  which  runs  thus:— 


*If  heather- bills  were  corn  of  the  best, 
Buccleuch-miU  would  have  a  noble  grist.' 

In  the  Highlands  I  used  sometimes  to  pat  heath  in  my 
hat,  and  was  always  welcomed  as  a  idnsman  by  the  Mac- 
donaJds,  whose  badge  isfreugh,  or  heather.  By  the  way, 
Glengarrv  has  had  anaflair  with  a  cow,  in  which,  rumour 
says,  he  hag.'noi  come  off  quite  so  triumphantly  as  Guy 
of  Warwick  in  an  incident  of  the  same  nature.  Lord 
pity  them  that  should  mention  Tom  Thumb.— Yours  ever, 

W.  a." 

"  In  tke  IbHowinghe  touches,  among  other  ihiuRs, 
on  a  strange  book,  called,  "Cranboume  Chase,'* 
the,  periormance  of  a  clergyman  mad  upon  sport, 
which  had  heen  sent  to  him  by  his  friend  William 
Rose ;— the  anniyersary  of  the  battle  of  Waterloo, 
as  celebrated  by  him  and  his  rural  allies  at  Melrose; 
—a  fire  which  had  devastated  the  New  Forest,  in 
thenoichbourhood  of  Lord  Montagu's  seat  of  Beau- 
lieu  Abbey;— and  the  annual  visit  to  Blair-Adam, 
which  suggested  the  subject  of  another  dramatic 
sketch,  that  of  "  Macduff ^s  Cross." 
To  the  Same, 

"  Edinburgh,  June  23, 1822. 
**  I  am  gjad.  you  Lordship  likes  ^ranboorne  Chase :  if 
you  had  not,  I  should  have  bcpn  mortified  to  my  self- 


end  two  or  three  leaves  «f  bknk  paper,^thatJ.iMviucit 
some  exceUenl  anecdotes  of  (he  learned  author,  tdbi^li  i 
tfot  from  good  auihoiritj.  BisdeMlin  thespartiasliu 
was  shooting  an. old  cat,  for  whl^ci:^ne  hAsiather  ajS 
mm  do  penanoo  Hpon  bread  and  water  for  three  otootta 
in  a  garret,  where  J>e  amused  blmaetf  with  hunUiuaili 
upon  a  new  principle.  Is  not  this  being  game  to  theback- 
bonel  .      . 

*^1  expect  to  be  at  Abbotsford  for  two  days  aboottbt 
li8th,  that  I  may  held  a  Uttle  ioUiAcaUoo  with  the  iakati 
tants  of  Melrose  and  netghbourhood.  who  alwayt  kma 
?.i|)Md/3amu8,  lik^  honest  men,  on  the  annivermf  of 
Waierloo.  I  sbaU  then  see  what  is  doing  a|  the  Al>bef ^ 
lam  nery  tenaciously  disppaed  to  think,  that  when  (Ihi 
exiMmsA  of  aealfolding,  4cc.  is  incnrred,  it  would  be  i«g 
deshraUe  tOi  complete  the  thine  by  oove^g  the  arch  ]^ 
Itad,  which  will  secure  itforSOO  yeara  Idoubioomo- 
sUlons  Ataading  pur  avU  climate  i  and  then  the  0I4  «on 
of  vegetation  taking  place  among  thestonaa  comai  tMiad 
^^  and  twenty  years  put,  it  in  as  much  danger  aa  be- 
fore. To  be  sure  the  U)ad  will  not  look  ao  picturesque  y 
oement,  but  then  the  preservation  will  be  complete  lad 

"The  fire  in  Bewly  forest  remtods  me  of  a  pine  wood 
in  Strathspey  taktog  fire,  which  threatened  the  moit  ik- 
atructivQ  consequences  to  the  eztenaive  foreau  of  tbe 
Laird  of  Grant.  He  sent  the;^y  aroee  (there  pccdttrijr 
appropriate,  and  the  last  time,  it  is  said,  that  U  wasued^ 
through  Olea-lTrquhart  and  aO  its  dependenciea,  ndai- 
sembled600  BighUndera  with  ajtes,  who  could  opir  ttaa 
the  confiagraUon  by  cuuing  a  g»p  of  GOO  yards  in  widtt 
betwixt  the  burning  wood  and  the  rest  of  the  foren. 
Thia  occurred  about  1770,  and  must  liave  been  a  moat  Ue- 
mendous  scene,  .• 

*' Adam  Feijguson  and  I  spent  Saturday,  Sundar,  ai 
Monday  last  in  scouring  the  country  with  the  Cluei  Bhqd 
and  Chief  Commissioner  in  search  of  old  castles,  croiM, 
and  so  forth  f  and  the  pleasant  weather  rendered  the  a- 
cursion  delightful  The  beasts  of  ReXbrmers  have  k& 
only  the  bottom-stone  pr  socket  of  Macduff's  CrDeB,M 
which  is  supposed  to  have  been  recorded  the  bounty  of 
King  Maloom  Canmprs  to  the  unborn  Thane  of  Fifa  It 
was  a  comXbrt,  however,  to  have  seen  any  thing  of  it  at 
all  As  to  your  behigin  Bond  Street,  I  can  only  aaj  I 
pity  you  with  all  my  heart  CasUe  Street  is  bad  eiiouflv, 
even  with  the  privilege  of  ahop-steprwdjump  to  Abbot*- 
forcl  bvway  of  shpemakers'  holiday. 

"I  shall  be  delighted  to  hear  that  Lady  Charlone's 
bridal  has  taken  place  ;V  and  as  doubtlesa  she  destine*  a 

fair  of  gloves  to  one  of  her  oldest  Iriends  and  well-wishers, 
hope  her  Ladyship  wiU  not  allow  the  awful  prospeabe- 
fi>re  h&c  to  put  01^  of  bqr  recollection  that  I  tuive  the 
hagest  pair  of  hands  almost  in  Scotland,  (now  that  Hu|b 
Warrender  is  gone,)  and  that  if  tbene  be  seven-leagued 
glfOveB,as  once  there  were  seven-leagued  boou,  they  viU 
be  moet'germain  to  the  maUer.'  My  respectful  com- 
pliments to  the  bride-elect  and  her  siaters,  to  Lady  Moa- 
tatfo,  and  your  own  young  ladies.  I  have  scarce-room  to 
add  that  I  always  am  your  Lordahip's  very  faithful, 

, ,   Waltbr  Scon." 

On  the  12th  of  July,  Sir  Walter,  as  usual  left 
Edinburgh,  but  hp,iyas^reQ|JilQd;WiU)in  a  week,  by 


the  business  to  which  the  following  note  refers  ^- 

To  D.  Terry ^  Eeq.,  London. 

''Edinburgh,  Slst  July,  1322. 
"  My  dear  Terry, 

^*  I  liave  not  a  moment  to  think  my  own  thoughts,  or 
mind  my  own  matters:  would  you  were  here,  for  we  art 
in  a  famous  perplexity :  the  mouo  on  the  St.  Andrevr's 
Cross  to  be  presented  to  the  King,  is  '  Righ  A.tbaxiiH.£% 
bratk,'  that  is, '  Long  Life  to  the  King  oi  Scotland.'  Rieh 
pi  brath^  would  make  a  good  motto  for  a  button—'  iLe 
King  for  ever.'  I  wisli  to  have  Montrose's  sword  down 
with  the  speed  of  light,  as  I  have  promised  to  let  ray  cou- 
sin, the  limghi-MarBhal,  have  it  on  this  occasion.  Pray 
send  it  down  bv  tho  mail-coach  .  I  can  add  no  more,  for 
the  whole  of  this  work  has  devolved  on  my  shoulders. 
If  Montrose'H  sword  is  nol  quite  finished,  seod  it  never- 
theless.!—Yours  eutircly, 

W.  ScoTT." 

We  have  him  here  in  fhe  hot  bustle  of  preparation 
for  King  George  the  Fourth's  reception  in  Scotland, 

•  LadfCharbtle  SeotL  sister  to  the  tMeaeotDake  of  BoeelsBok 
was  manied  about  thia  tune  to  her  oonsin  Lord  Stopibidi  sew 
Eariof  Cooitown. 

t  There  ia  in  the  armoury  at  Abbotsfold  a  awoid  neseotra  of 
Cbarln  I.  to  the  (rest  Marouis  of  Montrose— with  Pnnoe  Hem 
anna  and  cipher  on  one  nde  of  the  blade,  and  his  own  oe  OS 
J  other.   9ir  Walter  had  sent  h  to  Terry  for  a  new  sbcath.  *c. 


UPS  OF  SSR  YiALWBR  fiCQTR 


.S73 


wrikn  his  Hi^Mty  «pent  a  forUuRlit  in  the  enapiflg 
AugUBt,  as  be  had  a  ajmilar  penod  in  Ireland  the 
vaar  before,  immediately  after  bis  coronation.  Be- 
tbre  this  time  no  Prince  of  the  House  of  Hanover 
was  known  to  have  touched  the  soil  of  Scotland, 
ejtcept  one,  whose  name  had  ever  been  held  there 
in  univeraal  detestation— the  cruel  conqueror  of  Cul- 
loden--  the  butcher  Cumberland.'*  Now  that  the 
very  last  dream  of  Jacobiiism  had  expired  with  the 
Cardinal  of  York,  there  could  be  little  doubt  that  all 
the  northern  Tories,  of  whatever  shade  of  senti- 
menu  would  concur  to  give  their  lawful  Sovereign 
ajrreetingof  warm  ana  devoted  respect:  but  the 
feelings  (m  the  Liberals  towards  George  IV.  person- 
ally had  been  unfavourably  tinctured,  in  consequence 
of  several  incidents  in  his  history— above  all— (speak- 
ia^  of  the  mass  of  population  addicted  to  that  po- 
litical creed)— the  unhappy  dissensions  and  scan- 
dals which  had  terminated,  as  it  were  but  yester- 
day, in  the  trial  of  his  Queen.  The  recent  asperities 
of  the  political  press  on  both  sides,  and  some  even 
iatal  results  to  which  these  had  led,  must  also  be 
taken  into  account.  On  the  whole  it  was,  in  the 
opinion  of  cool  observers,  a  very  doubtful  experi- 
meot,  which  the  new,  but  not  young,  Kinfe  had  re- 
folYea  on  trying.  That  he  had  been  moved  to  do  so 
m  a  very  great  measure,  both  directly  and  indirectly, 
by  Scott,  there  can  be  no  question;  and  I  believe  it 
will  now  be  granted  by  all  who  can  recall  the  par- 
ticulars as  thev  occurred,  that  his  Majesty  mamlv 
owed  to  Scotrs  personal  influence^  authority,  and 
zeal,  the  more  than  full  realization  of  the  highest 
hopes  he  could  have  indulged  on  the  occasion  of  this 
northern  progress. 
^Whether  all  (he  arrangements  which  Sir  Walter 
dictated  or  enforced,  were  conceived  in  the  most  ac- 
curate taste,  IS  a  different  question.  It  appeared 
to  be  very  generally  thought,  when  the  first  pro- 
grammes were  issued,  that  the  Highlanders,  tneir 
kilts,  and  their  bagpipes,  were  to  occupy  a  great  deal 
too  much  9pace  in  every  scene  of  public  ceremony 
eonnected  with  the  King's  reception.  With  all  re- 
spect and  admb'ation  for  the  noble  and  generous 
qnaliiies  which  our  countrymen  of  the  Highland 
eUna  have  so  often  exhibited,  it  was  difficult  to  for- 
get that  they  had  always  constituted  a  small,  and 
almost  always  an  unimportant  part  of  the  Scottish 
population ;  and  when  one  reflected  how  miserably 
their  numbers  had  of  late  yea^s  been  reduced  in  con- 
sequence of  the  selfish  and  hard-hearted  policy  of 
their  landlords,  it  almost  seemed  as  if  there  was  a 
cruel  mockery  in  giving  so  much  prominence  to 
their  pretensions.  But  there  could  b(?  no  question 
that  they  were  picturesque— and  their  enthusiasm 
was  too  sincere  not  to  be  catching ;  so  that  by  and 
by  even  the  coolest-headed  Sassenach  felt  his  heart, 
like  John  of  Argyle's,  '*  warm  to  the  tartan ;"  and 
hiffh  and  low  were  in  the  humour,  not  only  to  ap- 
plaud, but  each,  according  to  his  station,  to  take  a 
ahare  in  what  might  really  be  described  as  a  sort  of 
grand  terryfication  of  the  Holy  rood  chapters  in  Wa- 
verley ;  Greorge  IV.,  anno  atatis  60,  being  well  con- 
tented to  enact  "  Prince  CharUe,"  with  the  Great 
Unknown  himself  for  his  Baron  Bradwardine,  "ad 
truendaM  vel  dttrakendas  caligas  domini  regU  post 
hattaliam." 

But  Sir  Walter  had  as  many  parts  to  plav  as  ever 
tasked  the  Protean  genius  of  his  friend  Mathews; 
and  he  played  them  all  with  as  much  cordial  energy 
aa  animated  the  exertions  of  any  Henchman  or 
Piper  in  the  company.  His  severest  duties,  how- 
ever, were  those  of  stage-manager,  and  under  these 
I  sincerely  believe  any  other  human  being's  temper 
and  patience  would  very  soon  have  given  way.  The 
local  magistrates,  bewildered  and  peiplexed  with  the 
rush  of  novelty,  threw  themselves  on  him  for  advice 
and  direction  about  the  merest  trifles ;  and  he  had  to 
arrange  every  thing,  from  the  ordering  of  a  proces- 
sion to  the  cut  of  a  button  and  theemoroidenngof  a 
cross.  Ere  the  green-room  in  Castle-street  had  dis- 
missed provosts,  and  baiUes,  and  deacon-conveners 
of  the  trades  of  Edinburgh,  it  was  sure  to  be  besieged 
by  swelling  chieftains,  who  could  not  agree  on  the 
nlative  positions  their  clans  had  occupied  at  Ban- 
2G 


n<fc-kburn.  which  daey  considi  nd  as  consiUuitn^ 

thfl  atithEoiic  precedent  for  dcterrumin^f  tharowri 

place*,  eocfi  nl  the  h(*fld  of  his  little  ihcsincii!  tmL 

in  jhe  line  of  ihe  Kiiin^s  i^scorl  belwotm  the  Pier  of 

f^dvh  sncl  the  Ciinon^iitf,    It  ri-ejiiind  a II  9 cotton 

liriwj  'iriufJ  Rgtbd-huiJioufi  and  imp^^riurbabk'  power 

. ,  ro  Ijuar  in  becoming  ^raviiy  the  Rpuiicnng 

ViTsi^s  of  »uch  fiery  nvnki  estrh  rrKardinij 

n,  ii><L  li  a^  n  I  me  poti^niate^  the  rcpfiisen  talive  of 

Pnnccs  HB  nnt'i'iril  tis  Hnurbon  ;  nnJ  no  inan  could 

fiave  coaxod  them  in lo  dGccni  co-opermion,  cxcctpt 

liim  whrim  all  iho  Hfghtandtrs,  from  the  hnu^hticEt 

Mpk  htir  icj  the  slyest  CtiliuTi  -Be^%  agnnJ  in  lfx)k- 

inii  uj^  to  jis  i]\t  great  restorer  und  hlBKciner  itf  ihtir 

[r.iciitionary  RJor^es.    Hfi  had,  however^  jn  nil  ibia 

inosi  (ieticnre  part  of  his  ftflmimsifiatian,  an  admtttt- 

ble  a^$ij<(atTt  id  one  who  hftd  ttleo,  by  the  direcUOit 

of  hii?  iit^rary  talents,  at'tjmred  no  nit^D  ^httt  of  tiii- 

rhurirv  among  fhp  Cdts— (inmely\  tlic  l/iie  Gvt^tTiil 

I>n\i[l  Sl<  wart  of  Qarfb,  flotbor  of  the  "HistDfy  af 

tilt  Hij^tilflThl  Repiiaeiitfi.'*     On  Garih  (seasiu^  alt 

•  ivi.T  witl]  iht  ftcofs  of  Eg^'pt  nnd  SpoLti)  divolved 

Hie  ToyCaptJiinahip  of  the  Cdtic  CVu^f,  already  «I* 

jijiied  to  a.i  an  ns''ocktion  of  ycsunK;  riviliaija  trithu- 

MiEiaafic  fnr  the  promo noi:!  of  the  pmlal^ey^ — and  ho 

linlletl  tind  miidtit;r*rti  that  motleyarrayin^u^'h  stylo, 

I  bat  rhey  formed^  perh-ip  9,  the  nicest  spltrndid  feature 

in  th2  wiinio  of  this  phiaed  panorama.     Btit  hev  too, 

bad  a  pott'Ottal  voice  iri  thK^  cotJclavf3  of  rival  chiflf- 

tatns  — and,  with  the  able  backini;^  of  ihi^  honoured 

Veteran,  Scott  ^ircefdfd   ftnaJJy  in  assajigin^  all 

their  h^aif^  and  r^dndng  their  cnnflkiin^  preien- 

pionp  to  term  a  of  frnec,  at  ffa&t,  and  comrromise, 

.\  ballad  fnow  inrtndfd  in  bis  work?J  whrrcin  tUc-ae 

Tn  agnate  a  were  rn(i?«r  adroitiF  flattered,  was  widt'ly 

c  irculalf.d  smong  thtnm  and  nieir  follciwcrjs  and  wrji 

tinderstotjcl  to  havt  had  a  conetderabh.'  eharu  of  thu 

meTH  in  this  pf^are-tnaking  J  bi.it  thf?  constant  hoa- 

pitalJT)-  of  his  tabte^was  a  riot  It^sseffident  organ  of 

inClut^ncr.     A  fnend  comfng  in  upon  him  nn  a  de- 

Iflchnit'ni  of  DunicwaF^aila  w^re  onjov'inp,  for  the 

first  Imie^  his  **  Cogie  now  the  KifJK'H  Corne,*'  in  hia 

hre«kra*l  pari  en  r,  could  not  hejp  whispeiin;^  in  bia 

far—"  Your  are  jtiel  ynxtr  awn  Lmih^ay  in  Alarm  ion 

—$t*iitf)v  Tirte  AfiM -A^nnf /*— and,  ind*vd|  alnn>tt 

tbfl  wbolt'  dcFcrjplion  tbua  reftTred   to  might  have 

hivn  applied  to  nim  H'ht'n  arranKing  the  f^tiiiuctttis 

Chf  thifl  rf'ri^moniftl ;    fur,  among  other  perions  iti 

place  and  di^mty  ^holeanr^l  to  him  for  support  on 

tvury  qu(:5tion,  w»»  hia  friend  and  kinsman^  tha 

Ui(e  worthy  Sir  Alpiander  Keiths  Knigbt-Mafia^ 

rhal  of  Scotland  j  and— 

^*  lJ*?mEdt  ajul  puntuiiuus  bjr  nwue 
Ital«,  [Mlny^  Mji^rehrunntT  ftotlurmy  camef 
AJC(^iif1>iittfub  R  kJnF-araima, 
Whoie  httiiii  tbfl  uririariai  tl'U[lCb<^ua  UqLiI, 
Tliiit  frnJ»l  mnfv  hftfJ  often  (JtieJIrd, 
Wln.'nwilJr'dt  [r»ftlarmt. 
1T^  wrta  i  man  of  £ni4clle  ^^<, 
tn.  jiAprrt  Efinjilyf  gntvr^  and  vt^^t 
An  r>ti  KLiiEl;^!*  (?rrd,nfl  cdine:; 
ftut  hi  ihv  pu^rneo*  of  hi*  ptp 
A  pRnRlmtluff  1[*f<ii,and  Blf 

Ripr^KsiDri  fountl  [(a  lJ>ni0  .  ^  -  >  .  *  .  . 
StfUiM  ih^  WJ^Fff*  in  highnfttmmt. 
An*l  fiiil  tky  rertt  fuHh  rharm^  ; 

IfQHti  \aqh  Ki NCI- 4r- arms" 

About  noon  of  tho  I4tb  of  Auirust^  th«  rn^al  ya^ht 
and  ihf  nt  lend  an  I  vessd*  of  wnreasi  anchor  m  the 
jlof^dfi  of  Ldlh  ^  hu^  althoui^h  Scotl'a  bnElttd-pro* 
Ij^nc  bn^i  etJ(r^t*^d  ibeclergv^  to  "  wnrftilt  for  a  sun- 
tsy  day/'  tlip  wi?aib  r  was  so  unpror'itioui?  that  it 
V  :ji4  finind  oeci^flPfiry  to  dtfcr  the  landini?  unti]  the 
1  'nh.  In  the  im\ii  oU\w  nifn  however,  S-r  Wnli^r 
ripwfd  olt  taibi- Royal  Geor^t;  and,  aay»  the  tiewa- 
pri;jt!r  of  the  day^— 

t'l  tltp  K[og,— *Whai^'  i«](*Lli»iiit*!dhkMa.jci*ly.  *SJr  W*Jt<?f 
S^'ott  (  The  lunn  m  lektutbuiH  iHtAi  wis^p  to  jA-**  '  T  J't  hlia 
cruw  up.'  TliiHOf"tiriJi*ii*h*^d  TVnmnK  thtii  *i3*efnikd  tW 
slnp,  Eiflr*  WAS  prctf«nti'd  Ki  fbu  King  uD  the  qiuirifistiwk, 
v/[>rrf,  aft<if  an  appfiJl^fKJle  ■ti^i^irf.n  In  imiur  iif  thr  laitit^i 
of  Eifiiibnn^h.  h*  prH»r"nlf>d  liin  Mitji  "         ^       *■ 


tTA 


UF£  OF  SIR  WALTER  SCOTT. 


d^dtortkn.'  The  Kinct  with  erldent  nutrkt  of  tttto&c- 
lion,  made  Agncious  replf  to  Sir  Walter,  received  the  gift 
In  the  moet  Und  and  coodescending  manner,  and  promised 
to  wear  it  In  public,  in  token  of  acluiowleagment  to  the 
ftlrdonora." 

To  this  record  let  me  add^  that,  on  receiving  the 
poet  on  the  quarter-deck,  his  Majesty  called  for  a 
bottle  of  Highland  whisky,  and  having  drunk  his 
health  in  this  national  liquor,  desired  a  glass  to  be 
filled  for  him.  Sir  Walter,  after  draining  his  own 
bumper,  made  a  request  ,that  the  King  would  con- 
descend to  bestow  on  him  the  glass  out  of  which 
his  Majesty  had  just  drunk -his  health;  and  this 
being  granted,  the  precious  vessel  was  immediately 
wrapped  up  and  carefully  deposited  in  what  he  con- 
ceived to  be  the  safest  part  of  his  dress.  So  he 
returned  with  it  to  Castle  Street;  but— to  say  noth- 
ing at  thi6  momentof  graver  distractions— on  reach- 
ing his  house  he  found  a  guest  established  there  of 
a  sort  rather  different  from  the  usual  visiters  of  thb 
time.  The  poet  Crabbe,  to  whom  he  had  been  in- 
troduced when  last  in  London  by  Mr.,  Murray  of 
Albemarle  Street,  alter  repeatedly  promising  to  fol- 
low up  the  acquaintance  by  an  excursion  to  the 
north,  had  at  last  arrived  in  the  midst  of  jhr^^i) 
tumultuous  preparations  for  tlip  ruynl  fld  vcrd.  X  ■  r  - 
withstanding  all  such  imrtxl^menis.  )i^  found  bii 

guarters  ready  for  him,  am!  Scon  enktin;^,  v^  ci  nnd 
urried,  embraced  the  vem mble  man  with  hroiherly 
afTection.  The  royal  ffift  vi  jis  furaott^n — ihe  aruplt; 
■kirt  of  the  coat  withm  which  Et  had  hi't  n  p^ickid, 
and  which  he  had  hitherto  held  cautiously  in  front 
of  his  person,  slipped  back  to  its  more  iisual  p-jsi- 
tion— he  sat  down  beside  Crabbe,  and  the  glass  was 
crashed  to  atoms.  His  scream  and  gesture  made 
his  wife  conclude  that  he  had  sat  down  on  a  pair 
6{  scissors,  or  the  like;  but  very  little  harm  bad 
been  done  except  the  breaking  of  the  i^^ass,  of  which 
alone  he  had  been  thinking.  This  was  a  damage 
not  to  be  repaired :  as  for  the  scratch  that  accom- 
panied it,  its  scar  was  of  no  great  consequence,  as 
even  when  mounting  the  ^*  cat-doth,  or  batile-gar- 
'  roent"  of  the  Celtic  Club,  he  adhered,  like  his  hero' 
Waverley,  to  tht  trett*. 

By  six  o'clock  next  morning,  Sir  Walter,  arrayed 
in  the  *'  Garb  of  old  Gaul,''  (which  he  had  of  the 
Campbell  tartan,  in  memory  of  one  of  his  great 
grandmothers,)  was  attending  a  muster  of  these 

fallant  Celts  in  the  Queen  Street  Gardens,  where  he 
ad  the  honour  of  presenting  them  with  a  set  of 
colours,  and  delivered  a  suitable  exhortation, crown- 
ed with  their  rapturous  applause.  Some  members 
of  the  Club,  all  of  course  in  their  full  costume,  were 
invited  to  breakfast  with  him.  He  had  previously 
retired  for  a  iitile  to  his  library,  and  when  heentcred 
the  parlour,  Mr.  Crabbe,  dressed  in  the  highest 
atyle  of  professional  neatness  and  deconim,  \vith 
buckles  in  his  shoes,  and  whatever  was  then  con- 
sidered as  befitting  an  Enclish  clergyman  of  his 
years  and  station,  was  standing  in  the  midst  of  half- 
a-do7en  stalwart  Highlanders,  exchanging  elabor- 
ate civilities  with  them,  in  what  was  at  least  meant 
to  be  French.  He  had  come  into  the  room  shortly 
before,  without  having  been  warned  about  sucn 
company,  and  hearing  the  parly  conversing  together 
in  an  unknown  tongue,  the  polite  old  man  had 
adopted,  in  his  first  salutation,  what  he  considered 
as  the  universal  language.  Sorne  of  the  Celts,  on 
their  part,  took  him  for  some  foreign  abb^or  bishop, 
and  were  doing  their  best  to  explain  to  him  that 
they  were  not  the  wild  savages  for  which,  from  the 
startled  glance  he  had  thrown  on  their  hirsute  pro- 
portions, there  seemed  hut  too  much  reason  to  sus- 
pect he  had  taken  them ;  others,  more  perspicacious, 
gave  into  the  thing  for  the  joke's  sake ;  and  there 
was  high  fun  when  Scott  dissolved  the  charm  of 
their  stammering,  by  grasping  Crabbe  with  one 
hand,  and  the  nearest  of  these  fipjures  with  the  other, 
and  greeted  the  whole  group  with  the  samfe  hearty 
good^moming. 
Perhaps  no  Englishman  of  these  recent  days  ever 

•  Thit  waa  the  crotn  inMTibcd  "  Ri>h  Albainn  gn  bratb."  aboat 
which  Scott  wme  to  Toirjr  oo  tho  Slst  July. 


I  arrired  in  Scotlaad  with  a  scantier  stock  of  infiMv* 
I  atk>n  about  the  country  and  the  people  than  Cuff- 
ing from  all  that  he  said,  and  more  ezpreaaiTely 
looked)  this  illustrious  poet  had  brought  with  him 
in  August,  1822.  It  seemed  as  if  he  had  never  for 
one  moment  conceived  that  the  same  island,  in 
which  his  peaceful  parsonage  stood,  contained  se- 
tually  a  race  of  men^  and  gentlemen  too,  owiiig  no 
affinity  with  Englishmen,  either  in  blood  or  in 
speech,  and  still  proud  in  wearing,  whenever  oppor- 
tunity served,  a  national  dress  of  their  own,  bearing 
considerably  more  resemblance  to  an  American 
Indian's  than  to  that  of  an  old-fashioned  rector 
from  the  Vale  of  Beivoir.  His  eyes  were  opened 
wide— but  they  were  never  opened  in  vain ;  and  he 
soon  began,  if  not  to  comprehend  the  machinery 
which  his  host  had  called  into  motion  on  this  occa- 
sion, to  sympathize  at  least  very  warmly  and 
amiably  with  all  the  enthusiasm  that  animated  the 
novel  spectacle  before  him. 

I  regret  that,  having  been  on  duty  with  a  troop  of 
yeomanry  cavalry  on  the  16th  of  August.  I  lost  the 
opportunity  of  witnessing  Mr.  Crabbe's  aemesnour 
when  this  magnificent  scene  was  first  fully  revealed 
upon  him.  The  whole  aspect  of  the  cit^r  and  its 
vicinity  was,  in  truth,  as  new  to  the  inhaoitanta  as 
it  could  have  been  even  to  the  Rector  of  Muston : — 
every  height  and  precipice  occupied  bv  military  of 
the  regular  army,  or  by  detachments  of  these  more 

fiicmresque  irregulars  from  beyond  the  Grampians— 
ines  of  tents,  nags,  and  artiflery  circling  Arthar'a 
Seat.  Sailsbury  Crags,  and  theCalton  Hill— ^nd  the 
old  black  Castle,  and  its  rock,  wreathed  in  the 
smoke  of  repeated  salvoes,  whUe  a  huge  banner- 
royal,  such  as  had  not  waved  there  since  1746^ 
floated  and  flapped  over  all ; — every  street,  square, 
garden^  or  open  space  below  paved  with  solid  mass- 
es of  silent  expectants,  except  only  where  glitter- 
ing lines  of  helmets  marked  the  avenue  /Warded  for 
the  approaching  procession.  All  captiousness  of 
criticism  sunk  into  nothing  before  the  grandeur  of 
this  vision ;  and  it  was  the  same,  or  nearly  so,  on 
everjr  eubseouent  day  when  the  King  chose  to  take 
part  in  the  devised  ceremonial.  I  forget  where  Sir 
Walter's  place  was  on  the  16th ;  but  on  one  or  other 
of  these  occasions  I  remember  him  seated  in  an 
open  carriage,  in  the  Highland  dress,  armed  and  ac- 
coutred as  heroically  as  Garth  himself,  (who  accom- 
panied him,)  and  evidently  in  a  most  bardish  state  of 
excitement,  while  honest  Peter  Ma thieson  managed 
as  best  he  mii;ht  four  steeds  of  a  fierier  sort  than  be 
had  usuallv  in  his  keeping— though  perhaps,  after 
All,  he  might  be  less  puzzled  with  them  than  with 
the  cocked-hat  and  regular  London  Jehu's  flaxen 
wig  which  he,  for  the  first  and  last  time,  displayed 
during  "  the  royal  fortni«ht." 

The  first  procession  from  Leith  to  Holyrood  was 
marshalled  m  strict  adherence,  it  must  be  admitted, 
to  tho  poetical  programme— 

••  Lord !  how  the  pibrocha  zroan  and  yell ! 
Macdonnell's  ta'en  thr>  flelJ  hirnscl', 
Maclrod  cornos  brankinj;  o'er  the  fell— 
Carle,  now  the  King's  come  !" 

Butl  must  transcribe  the  newspaoer  record  in  its 
details,  because  no  one  could  well  believe,  unless 
he  had  a  specimen  of  tlicsc  before  him,  the  extent 
to  which  the  Waverley  and  Rob  Roy  animiu  was 
allowed  to  pervade  the  whole  of  this  aflair. 


"Three  Trnrapeters  Mid-fx)tbian  Yeomanry  Cavalry. 

Squadron  Mid-Ix>thian  Yeomanry. 

TVo  If^hland  Piper 9. 

Captain  Campbell^  and  Tail  of  Breadalbane. 

Squadron  Scots  Circys. 

Ttto  Highland  Pipert. 

Colonel  Stewart  of  Garth  and  Celtic  Club. 

Sir  Evan  AfGregor  -mounted  on  kortebacU^  and  Tail  qf 

'McGregor. 
,  Herald  mounted. 

Marischal  trumpets  mounted. 

A  Marischal  sroom  on  foot. 

Three  Mart sc hal  grooms  abresat 


Two  Grooms.  ^^J„J{J3^*5^^JJ^ 


Bgie 


UFB  OF  £HR  WALTBBL  8C0TT. 


m 


M^mkmtM.  \Kja§ht  Murteebal  moonted, ^  Menehmum, 

Qroom.     f      iritbhts  baton  of  office.      <     Groom. 

JlfaHwAo/  rear-guard  of  Highlanders. 

Sherm  mounted. 

Sheriff  officer!. 

Deputy  lieutenants  in  green  coats,  mounted. 

7^190  Pipere. 

General  Oraham  Stirling^  and  TaU. 

Barons  of  Exchequer. 

Lord  Clerk  Register. 

Lords  of  Justiciar/  and  Session,  in  carriages. 

Marquis  of  Lothian,  Lord  Lieutenant,  mounted. 

Two  Heralds,  mounted. 

Glengarry  mounted^  and  grooma. 

Young  Glengarry  and  two  tupportere — Tail. 

Foui  Herald  Trumpeters. 

White  Rod,  mounted,  and  equerries. 

Lord  L/on  Depute,  mounted,  and  grooms. 

Earl  of  Errol,  Ix>rd  High  Constable,  mounted. 

Two  Heralds,  mounted.. 

Squadron  Scots  Greys. 

Roral  Oarriace  and  Six.  in  which  were,  the  Marouis  of 

Orabam,   Vice-Chamberlain;   Lord  G.    Bcresrord, 

Comptroller  of  the  Household;   Lord  C.  Ben- 

tinck,  Treasnrer  of  the  Household ;  Sir  R.  U. 

Vivian,  Equerry  to  the  King;  and  two 

others  of  his  Majesty's  suite. 

Ten  Royal  Footmen,  two  and  two. 

Sixteen  Yeomen,  two  and  two. 

i  "THE  KING,  ► 

«    attended  by  the  Duke  of  Dorset.  Master  of  the    o 

^  Horse,  and  the  Marquis  of  Winchester,  g* 

5  Groom  of  the  Stole.  2 

^  Sir  Thomas  Bradford  and  StaC 

Squadron  Scots  Greys. 

Three  Clana  of  Highlanders  and  banners. 

Two  Squadrons  of  Mid-Lotbian  Yeomanry. 

Grenadiers  of  77tb  regiment. 

Two  Squadrons  Third  dragoon  Guards. 

Band,  and  Scots  Greys." 


It  is,  I  belioYe,  of  the  dinner  of  the  15th  August 
m  Castle  Street,  that  Crabbe  penned  the  following 
brief,  record  in  bis  Journal :—  Whilst  it  is  fresh  in 
my  memory,  I  should  describe  the  day  which  I  have 
just  pasaea,  but  I  do  not  believe  an  accurate  de- 
acnption  to  be  possible.  What  avails  it  to  say,  for 
instance,  that  there  met  at  the  sumptuous  dinner, 
in  all  the  costume  of  the  Highlanders,  the  great 
chief  himself;  and  officers  of  his  company.  This 
expresses  not  the  smgulantv  of  appearance  and 
manners— the  peculiarities  ol  men  all  gentlemen, 
but  remote  from  our  society— leaders  of  clans- 
joyous  company.  Then  we  had  Sir  Walter  Scott's 
national  songs  and  ballads,  exhibiting  all  the  feel- 
ings of  clanship.  I  thought  it  an  honour  that 
Glengarry  even  took  notice  of  me,  for  there  were 
those,  and  gentlemen  too,  who  considered  thera- 
aelves  honoured  by  following  in  his  train.  There 
were  also  l^ord  Errol,  and  the  Macleod,  and  the 
Fraser,  and  the  Gordon,  and  the  Ferguson;*  and  I 
conversed  ac.  dinner  with  Lady  Glengarry,  and  did 
almost  believe  myself  a  harper,  or  bard,  rather— for 
harp  I  cannot  strike;  and  Sir  Walter  was  the  life 
and, soul  of  the  whole.    It  was  a  splendid  festivity^ 

*  Sir  Walter's  friend,  tlie  Captain  of  Huntlerbara.  did  not.  aji 
fiir  ai  I  remomber,  iport  tlie  His  bland  dress  on  this  occasion,  but 

no  doubt  '^'-  ---=—  n'"  •  •-^-    -^ *--        -  •    t  ,]  ^o 

nalteCfi     -         ■■.ilfS'i  '  -  .i-,      -ir  ."■■Uin, 

bowever,  '-^htunil-^r  to  '  ...h  Ei^r;  cjonii^  MaC' 

ErrUt,  fr»Ftwnor  r.  'i   ^^t.  tmiilDtufl  inlii 

Tergtuo  ■-■n  Im  n-vt^i.  ^,  ■  Miihira!  fnsVr  hirf» 

<m  at  lean i '<■■n\^^ rfcn hv-  ocir-n. ■  ^  [■>.■! i ■  ii  1 1 hrL  ^h  i-rp^ r | n jf  I lia 

Celtic  bUrtNi  in  urfff^iii^n ■  in  hn  ^jwriy  or  ihe  LfT"  hT  irthn 
Horne«  SivtU  i*v*:^"f>f.  A^iinn  r^u^inifvrnt  lu  r1jjui]jnri  to 
the  Black  ^^''liebiiOr  \M  Hicliloijil  n^i^imrnt,  wli«<ni  th^t  t:^^^\w>^  \Kt\M 
ibst  sent  Itj  Ih**  Ci>nlini*f!i.  f\*  i\w  vwmxK'XtK  jtkiirs(iti[  ut  Lhe 
bsttle of  rontmnjr,  tbc!  commnfuNnf  nflk-jfr,  Sii  {\>\Wn  Mocins 
was  astnr>i9he<]  til  sm  il»  phspkuii  mt  ihi^  hv^^J  f^f  ilp'  rji1iirfiii, 
with  a  bn)A<l4TiTHinI  dnivfn  in  hm  h^nd.  HAdciirrd  \\ini  to  fi»i,a 
the  rear  ivirli  \.\v^  Piirfotnii,  jn  rr'^  »niaJ  ftliicb  Atlam  Fi-rtiiii^in 
spumed  HJr  Itn^kprt  ni  Irtiirth  f ^ il4  inrn  U^l  hi*  coffiiniitiun  did 
notentitl'^  lum  To  tie  jwHipnl  in  Hi"  r-*!^'  n-Kp'^Li  \\n  ItiidHirtdniud  ^ 
*D— o  my  oomniiHjon/ ttti«l  iiti>  Miirtikr  c^iapiain.  tjhrowins  it 
towardsi  his  cohjiui.  It  nvMn  4r/LiL]>  Li'  c^uinLHii^oa  that  the  matter 
was  only  rcmpmivTi^ft  ti*  .^  i-fpfui  i*^*  :  Nil  \h"  future  hiitorian  of 

Rorae  shared  t)i J  ' in^th-^*  !readful  dar,  where, 

aecordinf  to  tt)  L    :     mcItcb, 'the  Hish 

bod  Airies  msbed  in  upon  them  with  more  violence  than  ever  did  a 
sea  driven  by  a  tompest."'^lfiscsUass(m«  Prose  Works,  vol 


and  I  felt  I  know  nofi  how  mueli  yotmgan^— Xri/% 

qf  Crabbs,  p.  273. 

The  King  took  up,  bis  residence^  during  his  stay  in 
his  northern  dominions,  at  Dalkeith  Pauice,  a  noble 
estate  of  the  Buccleuch  family,  within  six  miles  of 
Edinburgh :  and  here  his  dinner-party  almost  daily 
included  Sir  Walter  Scott,  who,  however,  appeared 
to  have  derived  more  deep-felt  gratification  from 
his  Majesty's  kind  and  paternal  attention  to  his  ju- 
venile host,  (the  Duke  01  Buccleuch  was  at  that  time 
only  in  his  sixteenth  year,)  than  from  all  the  flatter- 
ing condescension  he  lavished  on  himselC  From 
Dalkeith  the  King  repaired  to  Holyroodhouse  two 
or  thre^  time^  for  the  purpose  of  a  levee  or  dra winf^- 
room.  One  Sunday  he  attended  divine  service  m 
the  Cathedral  of  St.  Gilea^,  when  the  decorum  and 
silence  preserved  by  the  multitudes  in  the  streets, 
struck  him  as  a  most  remarkable  contrast  to  the 
rapturous  excitement  of  his  reception  on  week  days ; 
and  the  scene  was  not  less  noticeable  in  the  eyes  of 
Crabbe,  who  says,  in  his  Journal,— "The  silence  of 
Edinburgh  on  the  Sunday  is  in  itself  devout."  An- 
other very  splendid  day  was  that  of  a  procession 
from  Holvrood  to  the  Castle,  whereof  the  whole 
ceremonial  had  obviously  been  arranged  under 
Scott's  auspices,  for  the  purpose  of  calBng  up,  an 
exactly  as  might  be,  the  time-hallowed  observance 
of  "  the  Riding  of  the  Parliament."  Mr.  Peel  (then 
Secretary  of  State  for  the  Home  Department)  wae 
desirous  of  witnessing  this  procession  privately, 
instead  o'f  taking  a  place  in  it,  and  he  walked  up  fbe 
High  Street  accordingly,  in  company  with  Scoit, 
some  thne  before  the  royal  cavalcade  was  to  get  into 
motion..  The  Poet  was  as  little  desirous  of  attract- 
ing notice  as  the  Secretary,  but  he  was  soon  recog- 
nised- and>his  companion,  recently  revisiting  Scot- 
land, expressed  his  Uvely  remembrance  of  the  en- 
thusiastic veneration  with  which  Scott's  person  was 
then  greeted  by  all  classes  of  his  countrymen. 
When  proposing  Sir  Walter's  memory  at  a  public 
dinner  given  to  him  in  Glasgow,  in  December,  1836, 
Sir  Robert  Peel  said—"  I  had  the  honour  of  accom- 
panying his  la  ti?  Miijesty  as  his  Secretary  of  Slate, 
wSjei]  ho  paid  a  vj^it  U)  Edinburgh.  I  suppose  there 
arc  many  of  yoii  htro  who  were  present  on  that  oc- 
casion, a  I  that  memorable  scene,  when  the  days  of 
ancienl  chivalry  wero  recalled— when  every  man's 
frimdshtp  Beeimd  t^j  be  confirmed— when  men  met 
for  the  fir*i  time,  who  had  alwavs  looked  to  each 
other  with  diHtrriEl,  mid  resolved  in  the  presence  of 
thi  ir  Sovereign  iti  fopt;et  their  hereditary  feuds  and 
antmosLtties.    In  the  beautiful  language  of  Dryden, 

'Men  met  each  other  with  erected  look — 

The  steps  were  higher  that  they  took; 

Friends  to  congratulate  their  friends  would  haste. 

And  long  inveterate  foes  saluted  as  they  pass'd.' 
"  Sir  W^ilt^tf  Scf>tt  took  an  active  lead  in  these 
cert'inonie?.  On  \h\\  day  on  whii::h  hjs  Majesty  wna 
to  pn.-js  ftiKTi  Holy  root!- house,  \w  J^roI)0!irfi  !o  tiie  to 
at?ixi4rH':in^'  him  up  the  Hi^h  SuetX,  to  sec  whether 
thf  ftrrnngfimutB  wcro  complttetl.  \-^k^d  to  liim^ 
^Yuu  \iTt  uyirig  a  liftTi^crous  ^•xjmnm^n.i—voM  wiil 
never  KL-t  Vhinu;^h  in  privacy.'  Hi^  snidi  *  They  are 
tJUTirely  al>M:»rbid  in  loy»Jty.*  But  I  Wft«  the  better 
propht'i;  he  WHS  rpcoRnised  from  the  out]  t*xtrem- 
ity  of  the  ptreoi  ts>  the  other^  and  never  did  1  sea 
Burb  nn  inHeatifre  oT  national  devotion  expresscii/* 

The  Kin^nl  his  fir^l  l^veedivrrted  matiy.  nnd  de- 
lighted Scott,  bv  appfjaring  in  thr^  full  High  land 
Barb,^(lie  8flmpbnliiai>i  Situart  'Parians,  sa  calt- 
efl,  in  which  certainly  no  SieuBri.' except  Prinra 
Charlei^,  had  ever  btfijrf'  tires^tiled  hrniwylf  in  iho 
Si  lf*on  B  of  Holvrood ,  H  is  m  b jes  i  y^  a  Cc  I  lie  toil  e  i  to 
had  been  carefully  waiJ  hi:d  and  as?  is  led  by  tha 
gellJiTU  Laird  of  Onrtb,  who  was  not  a  littk  proud 
of  (ht!  r€»ttlt  of  h\B  dpKteroxi^  matiipidationa  of  tha 
royal  plaid,  and  protiounred  the  King  "a  vera  pret- 
ty rt^an/*  Atid  beiild  look  a  most  ^tatel^  and  irn- 
poBitig  person  in  that  beautiful  dref!S— bat  hia  eatis^ 
fii<'ti'>Ti  therein  wa#  cruelly  disturbed,  when  h&  dis^ 
c^^v^^d,  Tr.Vr  riirjLj  [ind  Mtirinj?  nin''^n.5:  nnd  above 
tiic  ycnuinc  uUngarnea  and  Macleods  and  Mao 
Gregorf^  a  figure  even  more  portly  than  his  own, 
equipped,  from  a  sudden  impulse  of  loyal  ardour 


i9r$ 


Lli^fi  w  «ti  vfMAm.  Me^rr. 


'  in'^n  equiUy  oom^te  m(  of  the  0elf-«sme  comrpic 
uoui  Steaart  tartans:— 

**  H«  oati^bt  6ir  WfUiam  Curtis  In  a  kilt— 
'Willie 4hrong'd  the  chiefs  of  eretj  Highland  clan 
lb  baU  their  brother,  Vlch  Ian  Alderman."* 
In  troth,  this  portentous  apparition  cast  an  air  of 
ridicule  and  cawrntureover  the  whole  of  Sir  Walter's 
CftldfiEMi  pniieanirj'.  A  slurp  LtfJe  baijit?  from  Ab- 
erdeen, wjio  hid  rreviniislii?  r5ii>dOfT:<;iiininianrt'  with 
the  vronhy  GuiMlmJI  B&rotiet,  nnd  (a^ted  ihn  mrlle- 
■oup  af  his  voluptnmjH  yiicht^  lorMjnui  htm,  us  he 
eadtd  down  ihe  lung  gftllery  of  HotyrOTd,  by  eug- 
geating  ihai,  afier  all,  his  costume  wns  not  quite 
perf^L  Sir  WiUJam,  who  had  hcf^i^  ni^cd  out,  as 
the  auctirtnt^t'fs*  adv erti semen  t  uny,  "ref^ardles^  of 
exp^tisi?/'  e>xdaimc-d  ihni  hfi  nm.ni  bo  nii£faWen-~ 
iNIn^  hta  WDidd  expTain  his  crilicism^nrid  as  be 
tmk?  threw  a  glance  of  adsnirntion  on  n  ^kcnedhti, 

•  (black  knjfcK)  which,  like  n  Irm^  "  warrinr  Jind  hun.- 
ler  of  d-^er,*'  he  wofe  etuek  into  one  <jf  hi?i  fCiuters. 

'  **  Oo  ay— on  uy/'  quoth  the  Abr'aiomari  j  "  tbe  knifo^s 
n*  nghlt  mnn,— bnt  faar's  voar  fpe^u  1" — Hwhtife's 
*our  Bpoon  7)  Stjch  was  ^eolt'e  story,  but  whether 
lie  "  pBVi^  it  ft  cofked-httT  and  walkiaK-cuneT"  in 
tb*i  hope  of  refltorinir  the  Km^s  jijood-hutnour,  &(i 
^eva^^^ly  iphnken  by  ibis  hcToica!  dappd-gnngcrt 
tl  i(f  not  very  necesaaiy  to  inqutri^ 

A»  in  Hamler,  th pre  was  to  be  a  plav  within  the 
pla^;  and,  by  hia  Mqji^i=tv*^  d^.^ire,  Mr*  Murr-iy's 
itompftny  pp rfo r me*!,  in  U\!^  i  > r t  ^^  n c c,  ih e  d r ii n  i . i  ■  if 
Rab    t?n-<j.       Mr.   Jaoics    Rilkrirym:Vs    n*jW¥y>ip..r 

•  cliruii.cii;  su>i  . 

"  In  the  pit  and  Kalleries  the  audience  were  so  i^loselr 
wedfcd  toijethcr,  that  It  would  have  been  found  difficult 
fo  introduce  h«»twccn  arty  two,  even  the  point  of  a  sabre. 

•  It  was  astonishing  to  observe  the  patience,  and  even  the 
food-aature  with  wbieh  the  andietiee  bore  the  extreme 
pressure.  No  one,  indeed,  could  hope  to  better  his  situa- 
Uon  by  any  effort ;  but  the  joy  which  was  felt  seemed 
completely  to  have  absorbecf  every  (bellng  of  uneasiness. 
The  boxes  were  lilled  with  the  rank,  wealth,  and  beauty 
of  Scotland.  lathis  doxzling  galaxy  were  obseivcd  the 
gallant  Sir  David  Balrd,  Colonel  Stewart,  of  Garth,  Glen- 
garry, the  Ix)rd  Provost,  and  Sir  Walter  Scott;  each  of 
whom,  as  he  entered,  was  greeted  with  loud  acclama- 

tiODS. 

"  At  ten  minutaa  past  eight,  the  shouts  of  the  multitude 
announced  the  approach  of  the  King,  which  was  eaufirm- 
edby  an  outrider,  who  galloped  up  with  the  intelligence. 
The  universal  feeling  of  breathless  suspense  wiiich  at  this 
moment  pervaded  the  audience,  cannot  be  described,  and 
will  never  be  forgotten.  Our  gracious  King  now  stood 
before  his  assembled  subjects.  The  momentary  pause 
of  deathlike  stillness  which  preceded  the  King's  appear- 
ance, gave  a  deep  tone  of  enthusiasm  to  the  shout— ihe 
prolonged  and  heartfeltshout,  which  for  more  than  a  min- 
ute rent  the  house.  The  waving  of  handk  t  " '  f  ^  ihe 
plumed  bonnet,  and  the  tartan  scarf.  adde<  :he 

Impresaive  glaonasa  of  the  acene  which,  nt, 

met  the  e/e  of  the  Chief  of  Chiefs.    His  ith 

Ws  wonted  affability,  repeatedly  bowed  to  ce^ 

while  the  kindly  smile  which  beamed  fi  ■  ■  i-  ■  nly 
countenance  expressed  to  this  favoured  i<<<ir  i.ii  i^r  bis 
loving  subjects  the  regard  with  which  he  x  i  ■  u .  *  H , 

**  The  play  Was  Rob  Roy^  Which  his  Msje>^[>  i  ih  i  <  Lest 
taste,  had  been  pleased  to  command,  ou  t  r^  ^^  r  i  i  p  h  1 1 1  nt, 
doubUesa,  to  the  country.  During  the  mh^^w  \\'-vh<tm- 
anco,  the  King  paid  the  greatest  attention  to  U.u  biuiueas 
of  the  stage,  and  laughed  very  heartily  at  some  of  the 
more  odd  incidents,— such  as  the  precipitate  retreat  of 
Mr.  Owen  beneath  the  bedclothes— the  contest  in  which 
the  Bailie  displays  his  prowess  with  the  het  poker— and 
the  Bailie's  loss  of  an  essential  part  of  his  Vrardrobe.  His 
Majesty  seemed  fully  to  comprehend  and  to  relish  very 
much  the  good-natured  wit  and  innocent  sarcasms  of  the 
Olasgow  magistrate.  He  laughed  outright  when  this  most 
humourous  of  functionaries  said  to  Prank  OsbaMistolie, 
who  was  toying  with  Matty,—*  Nane  o'your  Lon'on  tricks ;' 
When  he  mentioned  the  distinguished  appellatives  of  Old 
and  Young  Nick,  which  the  citizens  had  bestowed  upon 
his  father  and  himself;  when  he  testified  his  distrust 
of  Major  Oalbraith,  who  *  has  mair  brandy  ihan  brains,' 
and  of  the  Highlanders,  of  wliom  he  says,  ♦  they  may 
quarrel  amang  themselves  now  and  then,  and  gie  ane 
aalther  a  stab  wi'  a  dirk  or  a  slash  wi'  a  claymore  ;  but, 
tak  my  wofd  on't,  they're  ay  -sure  to  join  in  the  lang  run 
anjn^  a'  wha  hae  purses  in  their  pockets  and  breeks  on 
tHeir  hinder-ends  /  and  when  he  said  to  the  boy  who  re- 

*  Bf rao's  Afa  of  Bronae. 


tamed  bbn  his tmt and  wU,  Hhat*a  a  brew  ciiQuitT  jvni 
be  a  man  before  your  mitner  yet' " 

On  the  24th  of  Auc(ust,  the  Magistrates  of  Edin- 
burgh entertained  their  Sovereign  with  a  samptooiw 
banquet  in  the  Parliament-Hcnise:  and  upon  that 
occasion  also  Sir  Walter  Scott  filled  a  prominent 
station,  having  been  invited  to  preside  over  one  of 
the  tables.  But  the  most  striking  homage  (though 
apparently  an  unconscious  one)  that  his  genms  re- 
ceived during  this  festive  period,  waa|  when  his 
Majesty,  after  proposing  the  heailth  of  his  host*, 
the  Magistrates  and  CorporatioQ  of  the  northern 
capital,  rose  and  said  there  was  one  toast  more, 
and  but  one.  in  which  he  must  request  the  assem- 
bly to  Join  him,— "I  shall  simply  give  you,"  said 
he,  "  Tlie  Chieftains  and  Clana  of  Scotland — and 

Erosperity  to  the  Land  of  Cakes."  So  completely 
ad  this  hallucination  talccn  possession,  that  nobody 
seqns  to  have  been  startled  at  the  time  hy  languygB 
which  thus  distinctly  conveyed  his  Majeatya  im- 
pression, that  the  marking  and  crowniog  glorv  of 
Scotland  oonsisled  in  the  Highland  dana  and  their 
chieftains. 

Scott's  early  associations,  and  the  prime  labours 
and  honours  of  his  life  had  been  so  deeply  connect- 
ed with  the  Highlands,  that  it  was  no  wonder  be 
should  have  taught  himself  to  look  on  their  plaju 
and  chiefs  with  almost  as  much  anect^n  and  re- 
spect as  if  he  had  more  than  a  scantling  of  their 
blood  in  his  veins.  But  it  was,  necessary  to  be  an 
eye-witness  of  this  royal-  visit,  in  order  to  compre« 
bend  the  extent  to  which  he  haid  allowed  his  imagi- 
natk)n  to  get  the  mastery  over  him  as  to  all  thest 
matters ;  and  perhaps  it  was  qeces^ary  to  under- 
stand him  thoroughly  on  such  points,  in  his  personal 
relations,  feelings,  and  demeanour,  before  one  coold 
follow  his  genius  to  advantage  in  some  of  its  most 
favoured  and  delightful  walks  of  exertion.  The 
strongest  impression,  however,  which  the  wbolr 
affair  left  on  my  mind  was,  that  1  bad  never  till 
then  formed  any  just  notion  of  his  capacity  for  prae- 
tical  dealing  and  role  among  men.  I  do  not  think 
he  had  much  in  common  with  the  siateemen  and 
diplomatists  of  his  own  tge  and  country ;  Imt  I  am 
mistaken  if  Scott,  could  not  have  played  in  other 
days  either  the  Cecil  or  the  Gondomar ;  and  I  be- 
lieve no  man,  after  long  and  intimate  knowledge  oi 
any  other  great  poet,  has  ever  ventured  to  say,  that 
he  could  have  ooticeived  the  possibility  of  any  soefa 
parts  being  adequately  filled  on  the  active  ata^  of 
the  world,  by  a  peraon  in  whom  the  powers  of  fancy 
and  imagination  had  such  predominant  ewaVi  as  to 
make  him  in  fact  live  three  or  four  Hvee  habitHally 
in  place  of  one.  1  have  known  other  literary  men 
of  energy  perhaps  as  restless  as  his  \  but  all  aoeh 
have  been  entitled  to  the  designation  of  6uay-6ocf ta» 
—busy  almost  exclusively  about  trifles,  and  aboins 
all,  supreroelv  and  constantly  eonscioos  of  their 
own  remarkaole  activity,  and  rejoicing  and  gtonring 
in  it.  Whereaa  Scott,  neither  in  fiterary  labour  nor 
in  continual  contact  with  the  affairs  of  the  worid, 
ever  did  seem  aware  that  he  waa  making  any  very 
extraordinary  exertion.  The  machine,  thus  gigan- 
tic in  its  impetus,  moved  so  easily  that  the  master 
had  no  perception  of  the  obatructions  it  overcame — 
in  fact,  no  measure  for  its  power.  Compared  to 
him,  all  the  rest  of  the  pott  species  that  I  have 
chanced  to  observe  nearly-'with  but  one  gloriooa 
exception— have  aeemed  to  me  to  do  little  more  than 
aleep  through  their  lives— and  at  beat  to  fill  the  sum 
with  dreams;  and  I  am  persuaded  that,  taking  all 
ages  and  countries  together,  the  rare  examples  of 
indefatigable  energy,  in  union  with  serene  self-pos- 
session of  mind  and  character,  such  as  Scotia, 
must  be  sought  for  in  the  roll  of  great  sovereigns, 
or  great  captains,  rather  than  in  that  of  literary  ge- 
nius. 

In  the  case  of  such  renowned  practical  masters, 
it  has  been  usual  to  account  for  their  apparent  calm- 
ness amidst  the  stirring  troubles  of  the  world,  by 
imputiog  to  ihem  callousness  of  the  affections. 
Perhaps  injustice  has  been  done  by  the  supposition ; 
but  at  all  events,  hardly  could  any  one  extend  it  to 
the  case  of  the  placid  man  of  the  imagipatrve  order  | 


UVB  0PflIRi]9AlJTBRi80amt 


trr 


— •  Mat  ^Mmb**^  of  vntn  and  nitve,  «t^eekl!y, 
would  seem  to  be,  ex  vi  termini^  a  profound  »ym- 
pathker  with  the  passions  of  his  brethren,  with  the 
weakness  as  well  as  with  the  strength  of  humanity. 
Sach  assureoly  was  Scott.  His  heart  was  as 
**ramm'd  with  life*'  (to  use  a  phrase  of  Ben  Jqhn-^ 
son's)  as  his  brain;  and  I  never  saw  him  tried  in  a' 
tenderer  point  than  he  was  during  the  full  whirl  of 
splendour  and  ffayety  that  seemed  to  make  every 
brain  but  his  dizzy  in  the  Edinburgh  of  August, 
1822. 

Pew  things  had  ever  given  him  so  much  pleasure 
as  William  Erskine's  promotion  to  the  Bench.  It 
seemed  to  have  restored  his  dearest  friend  to  con- 
tent and  cheerfulness,  and  thus  to  have  doubled  his 
own  sources  of  enjoyment.  But  Ersl^ne's  consti- 
taik>a  had  been  shaken  before  he  attamed  this  dig- 
nity ;  and  the  anxidbs  delicacy  of  his  conscience 
rendered  its  duties  oppcessive  and  overwhelming. 
In  a  ioeble  state  of  body,  and  with  a  sensitive  mind 
stretched  and  strained^  a  silly  calumny,  set  a-foot 
hf  8onr\e  envious  gnssip.  was  sufficient  literally  to 
chase  hun  out  of  ufe.  On  his  return  to  Edinburgh 
^ut  the  SOih  of  July,  Scott  found  him  in  visible 
danger :  he  did  whatever  friendship  could  do  to  com- 
tori  and  stimutfte  him  :  but  all  was  in  vain.  Lord 
Kjonadder  survived  his  elevation  hardly  half  a  vr" 

Sd  who  that  observed  Scott's  public  domgs  ai 
B  three  or  four  weeks  1  have  been  describmg;  couL 
have  suspected  that  he  waB  daily  and  nightly  the 
watcher  of  a  deathbed,  or  the  consoler  of  orphans; 
striving  all  the  wJbile  against 

**^TkiieMnieataeTrow,  rooted  nUseries, 
Angnisb  in  grsin,  vezations  ripe  and  blown  1" 

I  am  ifot  aware  that  I  ever  saw  him  in  such  a  state 
of  dejection  as  he  was  when  I  accompanied  him 
and  nis  friend  Mr.  Thotnas  Thomson  from  Edin- 
borgh  to  Queensferry,  in  attendance  upon  Lord 
Kinnedder's  funeral.  Yet  that  was  one  of  the  noi- 
sleat  days  of  the  royal  festival,  and  he  had  to  plunge 
into  some  scene  of  high  gavety  the  moment  after 
he  returned.  As  we  naltea  in  Castle  Street,  Mr. 
Grabbe's  mild,  thoughtful  face,  appeared  at  the  win- 
dow, and  Scott  said,  on  leaving  me, — "  Now  for  what 
o«r  old  friend  there  puts  down  as  the  crowning  curse 
of  his  poor  player  in  the  Borough— 

*  To  hide  in  rant  the  heart-ache  of  the  night' " 

The  very  few  letters  that  Sir  Walter  addressed  to 
friends  at  a  distance  during  the  King's  stay  in  Scot- 
land, are  chiefly  occupied  with  the  calumny  which 
proved  fatal  to  Erskine,— the  pains  which  his  friends 
took,  at  his  request,  to  sift  it  to  the  bottom,— their 
conviction  that  he  had  been  charged  with  an  im- 
proper liaison,  without  even  a  shadow  of  justice,— 
and  their  ineflectual  efforts  tp  soothe  his  morbid 
sensibility.    In  one  of  these  letters  Scott  says,— 

** Ttic  l^ond  woiiklliave  done hfuioar  to  the  invention 
of  the  devil  himself,  especially  the  object  (at  least  the  ef- 
fect) being  to  torture  to  death  one  of  the  most  aofl-hearted 
and  aeDsitire  of  Ood's  creatures.  I  think  it  was  Ui  his 
nature  to  like  female  society  ingeneral  better  than  that  of 
men  ;  he  had  also  what  might  have  given  some  slight  shad- 
•w  t0  thnie  foul  suspicions,  an  air  of  being  particular  in 
his  attentions  to  women,  a  sort  of  Philandering  which  I 
used  to  laugh  ar  him  about-  The  result  of  a  close  inres- 
tigatlon  having  been  completely  saJUsfactory,  one  would 
have  thought  tlie  business  at  an  end— but  the  shad  had 
hit  the  mark.  At  fir!»t,  while  these  matters  were  going  on, 
I  fot  him  to  hold  up  his  head  pretty  well ;  he  dined  with 
me,  went  to  tlie  play  with  my  wife— got  court  dresses  for 
hUd4Ugl Iters,  whom  Lady  Scott  was  to  present,  and  be- 
haved, in  my  presence  at  least,  like  a  man,  feeling  Indeed 
gunfuJly,  but  bearing  up  as  an  innocent  man  ought  to  do. 
ohappily  I  could  only  see  him  by  snatches— the  whole 
business  of  the  roception  was  suddenly  thrdwn  on  my 
tautfls,  and  willi  such  a  general  abandonment,  I  may  sav, 
on  all  sides,  that  to  work  from  morning  to  night  was  too  little 
llwo  lo  make  the  necessary  arrangements.  In  the  mean- 
time, poor  ErsiUnc' s  nerves  became  weaker  and  weaker ; 
ho  waA  by  nature  exiremcly  sensitive,  easily  moved  to 
toulcs  or  tears,  and  deeply  affected  by  all  those  circum- 
stances in  society  to  which  men  ofthc  world  become  har 
<iisiiMl ;  as,  for  example,  formal  introductions  to  people  of 
tBn¥,  ami  so  forth ;  he  was  unhapj^y  haunted  by  the  idea 
tbatliUcUaractertasasdedasit  had  been,  was  degraded 
48    2G» 


feailie 


fee  eyes  of  the  auldib,  tnd  ao  artaaMnt  could  reniove 
delusion.  At  Ien|th  (bv«r  stud  delirium  eakne  en ;  ho 
bled  repeatodlr  and  very  oopioasly,  a  necessary 
treatment  perhaps,  but  which  completely  exhausted  hf  s 
weak  frame.  On  the  morning  of  Tuesday,  the  day  of  the 
King's  arrival,  be  waked  flrom  hil  sleep,  ordered  bis  win- 
dow to  be  opened  that  he  tnigbt  see  the  sun  once  more, 
and  was  a  dead  man  immediately  alter.  And  so  died  a 
man  whose  bead  and  heart  were  alike  honourable  to  bis 
kind,  and  died  merely  because  he  could  not  endure  the 
allgfateot  stainon  his  reputation.— The  present  is  a  scene 
of  great  bustle  and  interest,  but  though  I  must  act  my 
part,  I  am  not,  thank  God,  obliged  at  ttds  moment  to  write 
about  it." 

In  another  letter,  of  nearly  the  same  date,  Scott 
saya— 

**  It  #onld  be  rather  difficult  for  any  one  who  has  never 
lived  much  among  my  good  country-people,  to  compre- 
hend that  an  idle  story  of  a  love-intr^ue,  a  story  alike 
base  and  baseless,  should  be  the  death  of  an  innocent 
man  of  high  character,  high  station,  and  well  advanced 
in  years.  It  struck  into  poor  Brakine's  heart  and  spul, 
however,  qoite  as  cruelly  as  any  similar  calumny  ever 
affected  a  modest  woman— he  withered  and  simk.  There 
is  no  need  that  I  should  say  peace  be  with  him !  If  ever 
a  pure  spirit  quitted  this  vale  of  tears.  It  was  William 
Erskine's.  I  must  turn  to  and  see  what  can  be  doue 
about  getting  some  pension  for  his  daughters." 

The  ibUovviiHic  letter  to  his  ton  Walter,  now  a  lieu- 
tenant in  the  l&th  Hussars,  but  not  yet  returned 
from  his  German  travels,  was  written  a  few  daya 
later  :— 

»  My  dearest  Walter. 

*^  This  town  haa  been  a  scene  of  such  giddy  tumult 
since  the  King's  coming,  and  fpr  a  fortnight  oeiore,  that 
I  have  scarce  had  an  instant  to  myself  For  ^  long  time 
every  thing  was  thrown  on  my  hand,  and  even  now,  lodk- 
Ing  Mok,  and  thinking  bow  manjr  difficulties  I  bad  to  re* 
conciiOjObjecUons  to  answer,  prejudices  to  smooth  away, 
and  purses  to  open.  I  am  astonished  that  I  did  not  fever  m 
the  midst  of  it.  All,  however,  has  gone  off  most  happily ; 
and  the  Edinburgh  populace  have  behaved  themselves 
like  BO  many  princes.  In  the  day  when  he  went  in  state 
fVom  the  Abbey  to  the  Castle  with  the  Regalia  borne  be- 
fore him,  the  street  was  lined  with  the  various  trades  and 
professions,  all  arranged  under  their  own  deaoons  and 
office-*bearers,  with  white  wands  in  their  handstand  with 
their  banners,  and  so  forth  ;  as  they  were  all  in  their 
Sunday's  clothes,  you  jpositively  saw  nothing  like  mob, 
and  their  behaviour,  which  was  most  steady  and  respect- 
ful towards  the  King,  without  either  Jostjiing  or  crowding, 
had  a  most  sinziUar  effect.  They  shouted  with  great 
emphasis,  but  vvithout  any  running  or  roaring,  each  stand- 
ing as  still  In  his  place  as  if  the  honour  of  Scotland  had 
depended  on  the  propriety  of  his  behaviour.  This  made 
the  scene  quite  new  to  aJl  who  had  witnessed  the  Irish 
reception.  The  Celtic  Society,  '*  all  plalded  and  plumed 
in  their  tartan  array,"  mounted  guard  over  the  regalia 
while  in  the  Abbey  with  ^reat  militarv  order  and  steadi- 
ness. They  were  exceedingly  nobly  dressed  and  armed. 
There  were  two  or  three  hundred  Highlanders  besides, 
brought  down  by  their  own  Chiefs,  and  armed  cnv-Hvie. 
They  were  all  put  under  my  immediate  command  by  their 
various  chiefs,  as  they  would  not  have  liked  to  have  re- 
ceived orders  from  each  other— so  I  acted  as  Adjutant- 
General,  and  had  scores  of  them  parading  in  CaatJe  Birte* 
every  day,  with  piob  agus  brattath^  namely,  pipe  and 
banner.  The  whole  went  off  excellently  well  Nobody 
was  80  gallant  as  the  Knight-Marischal,  who  came  our 
with  a  full  retinue  of  Esquires  and  Yeomen, — Walter 
and  Charles  were  his  pages.  The  Archers  acted  a5 
gentlemen-pensioners,  and  kept  guard  in  the  interior  of 
the  palai  3.  Mamma,  Sophia,  and  Anne,  were  presented, 
and  wont  throuch  the  scene  with  suitable  resignation  and 
decorum.  In  snort,  I  leave  the  girls  to  tell  you  all  about 
balls,  plays,  sermons,  and  other  varieties  of  this  gay  pe 
riod.  To-morrow  or  next  day  the  King  sets  off;  and 
also  take  my  departure,  being  willing  to  see  Canning  be 
fore  he  goes  off  for  India,  if.  Indeed,  they  are  insane 
enough  to  part  with  a  man  of  his  power  in  the  House  of 
Commons  at  this  eventOil  crisis. 

"  You  have  heard  of  poor  Lord  Londonderry  (Castle 
reach's)  death  by  his  own  hand,  in  a  fit  of  insanity.  Thif 
explains  a  story  he  once  told  me  of  having  seen  a  ghost 
and  which  I  thought  was  a  very  extraordinary  narrativa- 
from  the  lips  of  a  man  of  so  much  sense  and  steadiness 
of  nerve.  But  no  doubt  he  had  been  subject  to  aberra 
lions  of  mind,  which  often  create  such  phantoms.  • 

*'  I  have  Irncl  a  most  severe  personal  losr,  in  my  «>xeIleot 
friend  Lord  Kinnedder,  wl^pj^yj^moUon  lately  lejoiped 


t78 


UPS  OF  SIR  WALTER  SCOTT. 


.  m  w  much.  I  laaTt  7011  to  ju^ce  wbat  pain  this  most 
have  glren  me,  happening  aa  It  did  in  the  midst  of  a  con- 
fosion  from  which  it  was  impossible  for  me  to  withdraw 

mvself. 

^*  Ali  our  usual  occupations  have  been  broken  in  upon 
by  this  most  royal  row.  Whether  Abbotsford  is  in  prog- 
ress or  not  I  scarcely  know ;  in  short,  I  cannot  say  ttiat  I 
have  thought  my  own  thoughts,  or  wrought  my  own  work, 
for  at  least  a  month  past.  The  same  hurry  must  make 
me  conclude  abruptly.— Ever  yours,  most  affectionately, 

Walter  Scott." 

The  ghost  story  to  which  the  foregoing  letter  al- 
ludes, was  this:— Lord  Castlerea^n,  when  com- 
manding; in  early  life,  a  i^ilitia  regiment  in  Ireland, 
was  stationed  one  night  in  a  large  desolate  country- 
house,  and  his  bed  was  at  one  end  of  a  long  dilapi- 
dated room,  while  at  life  other  r^trcmuy  a  srcat  fire 
of  wood  and  turf  had  been  pr  putid  wjtbm  ii  hu«e 
gaping  old-fashioned  chimney.  Waking  in  ih«  itiid- 
dle  of  the  night,  he  lay  watcKm^;  frum  h!$  pillow 
the  gradual  darkening  of  the  c-rnhei'^  on  ihci  iu^nrth. 
when  suddenly  they  blazed  uj,  and  a  naked  child 
stepped  from  among  them  vv^u  \\w  flfjor.  The 
figure  (|dva need  slowly  towarih-  t.cinl  Caatleiea^h, 
rising  in  stature  at  every  st(]j.  udiii  an  cooing 
within  two  or  three  paces  of  hi^  Eied,  it  hud  asiurned 
the  appearance  of  a  ghastly  ^ii^fiE,  palo  as  deAth, 
with  a  bleeding  wound!  on  the  brow,  and  pyea  plur- 
ing  with  rage  and  despair.  Lord  Gaitlercflfih  le^p- 
edfrom  his  bed,  and  confronted  the  figure  in  an  at- 
titude of  defiance.  It  retreated  before  him,  dimin- 
ishing as  it  withdrew,  in  the  same  manner  that  it 
Lad  previously  shot  up  and  expanded :  he  followed 
it  pace  bv  pace,  until  the  original  childlike  form  dis- 
appeared among  the  embers.  He  then  went  back 
to  his  bed.  and  was  disturbed  no  more.  This  story 
Lord  Oastlereagb  told  with  perfect  gravity  atone  of 
his  wife's  supper  parties  in  Paris  in  1815,  when  Scott 
was  among  the  hearers.  I  had  often  heard  htm 
repeat  it— before  the  fatal  catastrophe  of  August, 
1822,  aflforded  the  solution  in  the  text— when  he 
merely  mentioned  it  as  a  singularlv  vivid  dream,  the 
product  probably  of  a  feverish  night  following  upon 
a  military  debauch,— but  aJSfording  a  striking  indica- 
tion of  the  courageous  temper,  which  proved  true  to 
itself  even  amidst  the  terrors  of  fancy. 
'  Circumstances  did  not  permit  Sir  Walter  to  fulfil 
his  intention  of  being  present  at  the  public  dinner 
given  in  Liverpool,  on  the  30th  Aupust,  to  Mr.  Can- 
ning, who  on  that  occasion  delivered  one  of  the 
most  noble  of  all  his  orations,  and  soon  afterwards, 
instead  of  proceeding,  as  had  been  arranged,  to  take 
on  him  the  supreme  government  of  British  India, 
was  called  to  fill  the  place  in  the  Cabinet  which 
Lord  Londonderry's  calamitous  death  had  left 
vacant.  The  King's  stay  in  Scotland  was  protract- 
ed until  the  29th  of  August.  He  then  embarked 
from  the  Earl  of  Hopetoun's  magnificent  seat  on 
the  Firth  of  Forth,  and  Sir  Walter  had  the  gratifi- 
cation of  seeing  his  Majesty,  in  the  moment  of  de- 
Earture,  confer  the  honour  of  knighthood  on  two  of 
is  friends— both  of  whom.  I  believe,  owed  some 
obligation  in  this  matter  to  his  good  offices— name- 
ly, Captain  Adam  Fergnson,  deputy-keeper  of  the 
Kegalia,  and  Henry  Raeburn,  R.  A.,  properly  se- 
lected as  the  representative  of  the  fine  arts  in  Scot- 
Jand.  This  amiable  man  and  excellent  artist,  how- 
ever, did  not  long  survive  the  receipt  of  his  title. 
Sir  Henry  died  on  the  8ih  of  July,  1823— tlie  last 
work  of  his  pencil  having  been,  as  already  mention- 
ed, a  portrait  of  Scott. 

On  the  eve  of  the  King's  departure  he  received  the 
following  communication  :— 

To  Walter  Scott^  Bart.^  ^c.  ^-c,  Ca»tle  Street. 

"  Edinburgh,  August  2S,  1822. 
"My  dear  Sir, 

"  Thf  King  has  commanded  me  to  acquaint  you,  that 
he  cannot  bid  adieu  to  Scotland  without  conveying  to  you 
individually  his  warm  personal  acknowledgpients  for  the 
deep  interest  you  have  taken  In  every  ceremony  and  ar- 
rangement connected  with  his  Majesty's  visit,  and  for 
^our  ample  contributions  to  their  complete  stiecess. 

"  His  Majesty  well  knows  how  many  difficulties  have 
been  smoothed,  and  how  much  -Asb'^n  effected  by  your 
unremitting  activity,  by'-r  Jrf/^lcdge  of  your  coun- 


estimattMi  to  which  ihaf  mU 


trymM,  a&d  by  the  jn 
you. 

'*  The  Kin^  wishes  to  nuke  you  the  channel  of  conv«j. 
Ing  to  the  Highland  chiefs  and  their  followera,  who  hav« 
given  to  the  varied  scene  which  we  have  witnessed  so  pe- 
culiar and  romantic  a  ctmracter,  his  p&nlcular  thanlcs  for 
their  attendance,  and  his  warm  approbation  of  their  uni- 
form deportment  He  does  justice  to  the  ardent  s^iit  of 
loyalty  by  which  they  are  animated,  and  is  convinced  that 
he  could  offer  no  recompense  for  their  services  so  graU- 
fving  to  them  as  the  assurance,  which  I  now  convey,  of 
the  esteem  and  approbation  of  their  Sovereign. 

"  I  have  the  honour  to  be,  my  dear  Sir,  wilh  great  tmth, 
most  truly  and  faithfully  yours, 

ROSBST  PSEI.." 

Sir  Walter  forwarded  copies  of  Mr.  Peel's  para- 
graph touching  the  Highlanders  to  such  heads  of 
clans  as  had  been  of  late  in  his  counsels,  and  he 
received  very  fateful  letters  in  return  from  Maclcod, 
Glengarry.  Sir  Evan  MacGregor,  and  several  others 
of  the  order,  on  their  return  to  the  hills— aa  also 
from  the  Coantess  (now  Duchess- Countess)  of 
Sutherland,  whose  son.  Lord  Francis,  had,  as  she 
playfully  expressed  it,  been  out"  as  her  represen- 
tative at  the  head  of  the  most  numerous  and  bait 
appointed  of  all  the  kilted  detachments.  Glengar- 
ry was  so  deUghted  with  what  the  Secretary  of 
State  had  said,  that  the  paragraph  in  question  soon 
found  its  way  to  the  newspapers ;  and  then  tbers 
appeared,  in  some  Whig  journal,  a  sarcastic  com- 
mentary upon  it,  insinuating  that,  however  hi^ly 
the  King  might  now  choose  to  eulogize  the  ijoet  and  - 
his  Ceiuc  allies,  his  Majesty  had  been  considerabJjr 
annoyed  with  much  of  their  arrangements  and  pro- 
ceedings, and  that  a  visible  coolness  had,  in  lact, 
been '  manifested  towards  Sir  Walter  during  the 
King's  stay  in  the  north.  As  this  idle  piece  of  ma- 
lice nas  been'revived  in  some  formal  biographies  of 
recent  date,  I  may  as  well  dispose  of  it  for  ever,  by 
extracting  the  following  iK>tes,  which.pas8ed  in  tha 
course  of  the  next  month  between  Scott  and  the 
Secretary  of  the  Admiralty^  whose  official  duty,  I 
presume,  it  was  to  be  in  waiting  at  Ramwate  when 
the  King  disembarked  from  his  yacht.— Tne  "Dean 
Cannon  to  whom  these  notes  allude,  was  a  cleri- 
cal humorist.  Dean  of  a  fictitious  order,  who  sat  to 
Mr.  Theodore  Hooke  for  the  jolly  "  Rector  of  Pud 
dIe-cum-Pipes*'  in  his  novel  of  "  Maxwell." 

To  J.   W.  CrokeTf  Esq.f  M.  P.,  Admiralty ^  London. 

"  Abbotslbrd,  Thorsday. 
"  My  dear  Croker, 

"  What  have  you  been  doing  this  fifty  years  1  We  had  a 
jolly  day  or  two  with  your  Dean  Cannon  at  Edinburgh. 
He  promised  me  a  call  if  he  returned  through  the  Bor- 
ders ;  but,  I  suppose,  passed  in  the  midst  of  the  royal 
turmoil,  or,  perhaps,  jrot  tired  of  sheep's-head  and  haggis 
in  the  pass  of  Killlekrankle.  He  was  wrong  If  he  did : 
for  even  Win  Jenkins  herself  discovered  that  where  there 
were  heads  there  must  be  bodies ;  and  my  forest  haunch 
of  mutton  is  noway  to  be  sneezed  at. 
"  Ever  yours,    , 

WALTsa  Scott.  » 

To  Walter  Scotty  Bart.,  Abbotsford, 

*'  Admiralty,  Sept  29, 182SL 
"My  dear  Scott, 

"I  wish  it  ioere  *  fifty  years  since'  you  had  heard  of 
me,  as,  perhaps,  I  should  find  myself  by  and  by  celebra- 
ted, like  the  Baron  of  Bradwardine  and  some  other  friends 
of  'sixty  years  since.' 

"  I  have  not  seen  our  Dean  since  his  Scotch  tour.  I  aaa 
sorry  he  was  with  you  in  such  a  period  of  bustle,  aa  I 
should  hnvc  liked  to  hear  his  sober  obsenrationt  on  th« 
usual  style  of  Edinburgh  society. 

"  I  had  the  honour  of  receiving  his  Majesty  on  bis  re- 
turn, when  he,  after  the  first  three  words,  began  most 
graciously  to  tell  me  *  all  about  our  friend  Scott*  Some 
silly  or  malicious  person,  his  Majesty  said,  had  reported 
that  there  had  been  some  coolness  between  yon,  but,  he 
added,  that  it  was  utterly  false,  and  that  he  was,  In  every 
respect,  highly  pleased  and  gratified,  and.  he  said,  grmte- 
ful  for  the  devoted  attention  you  hod  paid  him ;  and  he 
celebrated  very  warmly  the  success  that  had  attended  all 
your  arrangements. 

"  Peel  has  sung  your  praises  to  the  samo  tune ;  and  I 
have  been  flattered  to  find  that  both  the  King  and  Peel 
thought  me  so  muclop^^fecfi^f'VLt'**^  they,  as  tt  were, 


LIFE  OF  SIR  WALTER  SCOTT. 


tn 


fwporttd  to  me  tlM  mnttof  'mjr  friend  Scott.*— Toon 
erer, 

J.  W.  CSOKSS." 

If  Sir  Walter  lost  somethinR  in  not  seeing  more 
of  Dean  Cannon— who,  among  other  social  merits, 
sane  the  Ballads  of  Robin  Hood  with  delightful 
skill  and  effect— there  was  a  great  deal'better  cause 
for  rngret  in  the  unpropitious  time  selected  for  Mr 
Grabbe's.visit  to  Scotland.  In  the  glittering  and 
tomiiltuous  assemblages  of  that  season,  the  elder 
bard  was  (to  use  one  of  his  friends  favourite  simili- 
todes)  very  like  a  cow  in  a  frtmd  loaning  \  and 
though  Scott  could  never  have  been  seen  in  colours 
more  likely  to  excite  admiration,  Crabbe  had  hardly 
any  opportunity  of  observing  him  in  the  everyday 
loveableness  of  his  converse.  Sir  Walter's  enthusi- 
astic excitement  about  the  kilts  and  the  processions, 
seemed  at  first  utterly  incomprehensible  to  him ;  but 
hy  degrees  he  caught  not  a  hitle  of  the  spirit  of  the 
ume,  and  even  indited  a  set  of  stanzas,  which  have 
perhaps  no  other  merit  than  that  of  reflecting  it. 
He  also  perceived  and  appreciated  Scott's  dexterous 
management  of  prejudices  and  pretensions.  He  ex- 
claims, in  his  Journal.— "What  a  keen  discrimina- 
ting man  is  my  friend !"  But  I  shall  ever  regret  that 
Crabbe  did  not  see  him  at  Abbotsford  among  nis 
books,  his  trees,  and  his  own  good  simple  peasants. 
Thef  had,  I  believe,  but  one  quiet  walk  together, 
and  It  was  to  the  ruins  of  St.  Anthony's  Chapel  and 
Mnschat's  Cairn,  whioh  the  deep  impression  made  on 
Crabbe  by  the  Heart  of  Mid- Lothian  had  given  him 
an  earnest  wish  to  see.  I  accompanied  them,  and 
the  hour  so  spent,  in  the  course  of  which  the  fine 
old  man  gave  us  some  most  touching  anecdotes  of 
bis  early  struggles,  was  a  truly  delightful  contrast 
to  the  bustle  and  worry  of  miscellaneous  society 
which  consumed  so  many  of  his  few  hours  in  Scot- 
land. Scott's  family  were  more  fortunate  than 
himself  in  this  respect.  They  had  from  infancy  been 
taught  to  reverence  Crabbe' s  genhis,  and  tbey  now 
saw  enough  of  him  to  make  them  think  of  him  ever 
afterwards  with  tender  affection. 


CHAPTER  LVIL 

MONS  MCO— lACOBITB  PEBBAOE8 — INVITATION  FROM 
THS  GALASHIELS  POET— PBOOEESS  OF  ABBOTSFORD 
H0U8B— LETTERS  TO  JOANNA  BAILLIB— TERRY— 
LOBD  MONTAGU,  ETC. — COMPLETION  AND  PUBLICA- 
TION OF  PEVBRIL  OF  THE  PEAK.— 1822— 1823. 

Though  Mr.  Crabbe  found  it  necessary  to  leave 
Scotland  without  seeing  Abbotsford,  this  was  not 
the  case  with  many  less  celebrated  friends  from  the 
south,  who  had  flocked  lo  Eainburgh  at  the  time  of 
the  Royal  Festival.  Sir  Walter's  house  was,  in  his 
own  phrase,  "like  a  cried  fair,"  during  several  weeks 
after  the  King's  departure ;  and  as  his  masons  were 
then  in  the  highest  activity  upon  the  addition  to  the 
building,  the  bustle  and  tumult  within  doors  and 
without  was  really  perplexing.  We  shall  find  him 
confessing  that  the  excitement  of  the  Edinburgh 
scenes  had  thrown  him  into  a  fever^  and  that  ne 
never  needed  repose  mor^.  He  certainly  never  had 
less  of  it. 

Nor  was  an  unusual  influx  of  English  pilgnms 
the  only  legacy  of  "  the  glorious  days  "  of  August. 
A  considerable  number  of  persons  who  had  borne  a 
part  in*  the  ceremonies  of  the  King's  reception,  fan- 
cicMd  that  their  exertions  had  entitled  them  to  some 
mbstantial  mark  of  royal  approbation;  and  post 
after  post  brought  longwmded  (despatches  from  these 
clamorous  enlnusiasts  to  him  who,  of  all  Scotch- 
men, was  supposed  to  enjoy,  as  to  matters  of  this 
description,  the  readiest  access  to  the  fountain  of 
honour.  To  how  many  of  these  applications  he  ac- 
corded more  than  a  civil  answer  I  cannot  tell ;  but 
I  find  that  the  Duke  of  York  was  too  good  a  Jaco- 
hiU  not  to  grant  /avotfrable  consideration  to  his  re- 

Snest.  that  one  or  two  poor  half- pay  officers  who 
ad  aistinguished  themselves  in  the  van  at  the  Celts, 
might  be,  as  opportunity  offered,  replaced  in  High- 
land regiments,  and  so  reinvested  with  the  untheat- 
rical  *'  Garb  of  Old  Gaul." 


Sir  Walter  had  also  a  iietition  of  his  own.  lliis 
related  to  a  certain  gigantic  piece  of  ordnance,  cele- 
brated in  the  history  of  the  Scottish  Jameses  under 
the  title  of  Mons  Meg,  and  not  forgotten  in  Drum- 
mond's  Macaronics— 

Stcuti  Mons  Megga  enckasset, 

which  had  been  removed  from  Edinburgh  Castle  to 
the  Tower  of  London,  after  the  campaign  of  1746. 
When  Scott  next  saw  the  King,  after  he  had  dis- 
played his  person  on  the  chief  bastion  of  the  old 
fortress,  he  lamented  the  absence  of  Mons  Meg  on 
that  occasion  in  language  which  his  Majesty  could 
not  resist.  There  ensued  a  correspondence  with 
the  official  guardians  of  Meg— among  others,  with 
the  Duke  of  Wellington,  then  Master- Greneral  of 
the  Ordnance,  and  though  circumstances  deferred 
her  restoration,  it  was  never  lost  sight  of,  and  took 
place  finally  when  the  Duke  was  Prime  Minister, 
which  I  presume  smoothed  petty  obstacles,  in  1828. 
But  the  serious  petition  was  one  in  which  Sir 
Walter  expressed  feelings  in  which  I  believe  every 
class  of  his  folio w-countrymen  were  disposed  to 
concur  with  him  very  cordially— and  certainlv  none 
more  so  than  the  generous  King  himself.  The  ob- 
ject which  the  poet  had  at  heart  was  the  restoration 
of  the  Scottish  peerages  forfeited  in  consequence  of 
the  insurrections  of  1715  and  1745;  and  the  honour- 
able families,  in  whose  favour  this  liberal  measure 
was  soon  afterwards  adopted,  appear  to  have  vied 
with  each  other  in  the  expression  of  their  grateful- 
ness for  his  exertions  on  their  behal£  The  follow- 
ing paper  seems  to  be  his  sketch  of  (he  grounds  on 
which  the  representatives  of  the  forfeited  Peers 
ought  to  approach  the  Ministrjr;  and  the  view  of 
their  case  thus  sumested,  was,  it  will  be  allowed, 
dexterously  selected,  and  persuasively  enforced. 


'*  Hints  respecting  an  AftpUeationfor  a  Rsvereal  of  the 
Attainders  m  1715  and  1746. 

"Sept.  1882. 
**  A  good  many  years  ago  Mr.  Erskine  61  Mar,  and  other 
represcntativea  of  those  noble  nersons  who  were  attaint* 
ed  for  their  accession  to  the  RebellionB  of  1715  and  1746, 
drew  up  a  humble  petition  to  the  King,  praying  that  his 
Majesty,  taking  into  his  royal  consideration  the  long  time 
which  had  since  elapsed,  and  the  services  and  loyalty  of 
the  posterity  of  the  attainted  Peers,  would  be  tJ^cionAy 
pleased  to  recommend  lo  Parliament  an  Act  for  rever- 
sing all  attaind'-rs  [jti  .^^J  Lm^insi  iljui^r-  t^hu  wn  r  <-ii'=iii^  J 
in  1715  and  174^>,  k"  bu*  ta  iiliicp  ilictr  di'wrflttriHta  sn  ilii* 
same  situation,  A!)  (o  ranlt,  wbklHJiPT  umiM  l]?ivc  held, 
had  such  attairirkiB  n«Ttf  Iflhifs  \'\itcc.  This  {^txiXXon^  U 
is  believed,  "wn-  jinffifj^oil  ohnut  Mn?  lime  ihut  im  A«  was 
passed  for  re^-iu]  msj  the  i^•[f^\U^^i  pRta^cs,  wttlHci  tH'M<?i(i- 
ion  of  tlie  Cn  ^  u  ;  rmit  it  iv.is  Uruu0iied  thai  [lib  fmcinuf 
act  afforded  a  ■  ■  i  ii[i|">ftunUy  forrcj^ntwllii^q  fpversAl 
of  the  attainri  :.  in  h.vX  JjiibH^"!  octtirrrd,  psprciaJlj'  s* 
it  was  suppoa.  .J  \\i,i\  Uif.  ]?ilr?  Iy*>ril  Mi'^ivjllr^trtp  j;rF-iH  mdii' 
ser  of  the  one  cin'^mr",  w.*«  rifitmUy  fh^'tidlj  to  ih+?  ethpr. 
The  petition  In  qupiTtoa,  bfTwrv^r,  tl  is  h^lJi^vr'tl,  iif?vtr 
was  presenleil  (m  1l>t:  K(ng-  H  hfltfritf  Iw-^tJ  iitifi'-mujod  tliil 
the  Chancellor  T^-rd  Tlnirkiw,  ^a'ftfilu^»ttEfl  In  jt^  uml  iJml, 
therefore,  it  would  hi*  umir  jiriodvrji  ti&I  xn  tirruii  It  then 
Ills  thought  I. ^  >.rnjii\  iLaModhM?  fo  hi*  Hujpjicy*?i  Ui^ 

S sternal  and  ■:  >  vt^csou*  ^nil  lu  hlsflnflli'nt  lt1nEd«TTn  nt 
colland,  In  v  '.  ■  u'\\t*  invfux\'\\  nnxl^'ifti  to  rcslfo  ftnil  en- 
courage ail  tiib  ^irouJ  rtculiceliuiw  of  it»  funupf  rfnowti, 
and  10  cherish  all  associations  connected  with  the' events 
of  the  olden  times,  as  by  the  display  of  the  Regalia,  by 
the  most  distinguished  attention  to  the  Royal  Archers, 
and  by  other  similar  observances,  a  fit  time  has  now  ar- 
rived for  most  humbly  soliciting  the  royal  attention  to  the 
state  of  those  individuals,  who  but  for  the  conscientious, 
though  mistaken  loyalty  of  their  ancestors,  would  now 
hive  been  in  the  enjoyment  of  ancient  and  illustrious 
honours. 

^*  Two  objections  might,  perhaps  occur ;  but  it  is  hoped 
that  a  short  statement  mav  be  sufficient  to  remove  Ihem. 
It  may  be  thought,  that  ir  the  attainders  of  1715  and  1745 
were  reversed,  it  would  be  unjust  no/ to  reverse  all  attain- 
ders which  lm(l  ever  passed  in  any  period  of  the  English 
history— a  measure  which  might  give  birth  lo  such  a  mul- 
tiplicity of  claims  for  ancient  English  Peerages,  forfeited 
at  different  tiwes,  as  might  affect  seriously  the  House  ot  , 
Lords,  so  as  botli  to  render  that  assembly  improoerly 
numerous,  and  to  lower  the  ^^^^^^'fl^^f^S^ 


CSSO 


UFs^OF  fina^WAi/iBRiSOOini 


who  now  til  tb«re.  To  thM  it.i8  rabmiMfdt  M  »  auffldent 
answer,  that  there  ia  no  occaMon  for  reversing  anv  aitaio-' 
dera  previous  to  the  accession  of  the  present  royal  family, 
and  that  the  proposed  Act  might  be  founded  on  a  graciou^^ 
declaration  of  the  King,  ejcpressive  simply  of  his  wish  lo 
have  all  attainders  reversed,  for  offences  against  his  own 
royal  house  of  Hanover.  This  lijnitatk>D  would  at  once 
give  ample  room  for  the  display  of  the  greatest  mag- 
nanimity on  the  part  of  the  King,  and  avoid  the  bad  cou* 
sequences  indicated  in  the  objection ;  for,  with  the  ex- 
ception of  Lords  Qerwenlwater  and  Widdrtntton,  who 
joined  in  the  Rebellion  of  1715,  the  only  Peers  who 
joined  in  any  insurrection  against  tlie  Hanover  famfly 
were  Peers  of  Scotland,  who,  by  their  restoration,  in  so 
far  as  the  families  are  not  extinct,  could  not  add  to  the 
number  of  the  House  of  Lords,  but  would  only  oc- 
casion a  small  addition  to  the  number  of  those  already 
entitled  to  vote  at  the  election  of  the  Sixteen  Representa- 
tive Peers.  And  it  seems  plain,  that  in  such  a  limitation, 
there  would  be  no  more  injustice  than  might  have  been 
alleged  against  the  Act  by  wlUch  the  forfeited  estates, 
still  in  the  hands  of  Government,  were  restored ;  while  no 
compensation  was  given  for  such  estates  as  had  been  al- 
reatfy  sold  by  Go^rernment  The  same  argument  might 
have  been  stated,  with  equal  force,  against  the  late  rever- 
sal of  the  attainder  of  I^rd  Edward  Fitzgerald;  it  might 
have  been  asked,  with  what  sort  of  justice  can  you  reverse 
thisattainder,  and  refuse  to  reverse  allattaiuders  that  ever 
look  place  either  in  England  or  Ireland  7  But  no  such  ob- 
jection was  made,  and  tho  recommendation  of  the  King 
to  Parliament  was  received  almost  with  acclamation. 
And  now  that  the  family  of  lA>rdE.  Fitzgerald  have  been 
restored  to  the  rights  which  he  had  forfeited,  the  petition 
in  the  preserit  case  will,  it  is  hoped,  naturally  sinke  bis 
Majesty  with  peater  forco,  when  he  is  pleased  to  recollect 
than  his  lordship's  attainder  took  place  on  account  of  ac- 
cession to  a  rebellion,  of  which  the  object  was  to  Introduce 
a  foreign  force  info  Ireland,  to  overturn  the  Constitution, 
and  to  produce  universal  uHsery ;  while  the  elder  attain- 
ders now  in  question  were  the  results  of  robelUoo,  under- 
taken from  views  of  conscientious,  though  mistaken  loy- 
alty, in  many  individuals,  who  were  much  attached  to 
their  countrv,  and  to  those  principles  of  hereditary  suc- 
cession to  the  Throne  in  which  they  had  been  educated, 
and  which,  in  almost  every  instance,  ought  to  be  held  sa- 
cred.        .  t 

"  A  second  objection,  peihaps,  might  be  raised,  on  the 
ground  that  the  reversal  of  the  attainders  in  question 
would  imply  a  censure  against  the  conduct  of  that  Gov- 
ernment by  which  they  were  passed,  and  consequently 
an  approval,  in  some  measure,  of  those  persons  who  were 
so  attainted.    But  it  might  as  well  be  said  that  the  reversal 

?f  Lord  E.  Fitzgerald's  attainder  implied  a  censure  on  the 
'arliament  of  Ireland,  and  on  the  King,  bv  whom  that  act 
had  been  passf^d ;  or  that  the  restoration  of  an  officer  to  the 
rank  from  which  he  had  been  dismissed  by  the  sentence 
of  a  court-martial,  approved  of  by  the  King, -would  implpr  a 
censuie  on  that  court,  or  on  that  King.  Such  implication 
might,  at  all  events,  be  completely  guarded  against  bv  the 
preamble  of  the  proposed  Act— which  mUht  condemn 
the  Rebellion  ifl  strong  terms — but  reverse  the  attainders, 
from  the  magnanimous  wish  of  the  King  to  obliterate  the 
memory  of  all  former  discord,  so  far  as  his  own  house  had 
been  the  object  of  attack,  and  from  a  just  sense  of  the 
meritorious  conduct  and  undoubted  loyalty  of  the  descen- 
dants of  those  unfortunate,  though  criminal  individuals. 
And  it  is  himibty  submitted,  that  as  there  is  no  longer  any 
Pretender  to  Ids  Majesty's  Crown,  and  as  all  classes  of 
his  subjects  now  regard  him  as  both  deiure  and  cfe  facto 
the  only  true  representative  of  our  ancient  race  of  Prin- 
ces— now  is  the  time  for  such  an  act  of  roval  magnanimity, 
and  of  Parliamentary  munificence,  by  which  the  honour 
of  so  many  noble  houses  would  be  fully  restored ;  while, 
at  the  same  time,  the  station  of  the  representatives  of 
certaip  other  noble  bouses,  who  have  assumed  titles,  their 
right  to  which,  is.  under  the  present  law,  much  more  than 
doubtful,  would  be  fully  confirmed,  and  placed  beyond 
the  reach  of  objection. 


wetfrer  iMmed  Tbomoo,  bat  known  mad  boifeoiimi 

all  over  'yeTiptfiale  as  "  the  Galashiels  Poeu*^"3Lt 
the  first  of  these  celebrations  that  ensued  the  ibrth- 
coming  of  Rob  Roy.  this  bard  4«|khted  him  com- 
peers, and  not  less  their  guest,  by  cbmnttiu(  a  dieter 
parody  on  the  excellent  song  of  ".J>oiial4  Cmirdt* 
I.  c  Tinkeft  the  chorus  beinK— ia  placei  ol'  Scott's 

''  Dinna  let  the  dherra  keo 

Donald  Cafard's  c«sne  again;" — 

"  Think  ye  doe*  the  Shefra  ken 

Rob  Mac  Oregof'M  come  o^oin  .•" 

and  that  was  thenceforth  a  standing  ditty  on  the  day 
of  the  Deacon.  The  Sheriff's  presence  at  the  in- 
stallation of  1822  was  requested  by  Che  following 
epistle  r— 

To  Sir  Walter  Scott^  Bart.^  Abbot^ford. 

"  Marray'M  Inn^  OalaukieU,  Ut  Oct,  1922. 

**  This  year  we  rather  'gin  to  (alter 

If  an  epistle  we  should  send  ye. 
Say  some, '  Ye  pnly  pbgue  Sir  Walter, 

He  canna  ilka  year  auend  ye : 
Last  year»  nae  doubt,  he  coodescendod. 


Just  to  be  qujt  o'  your  palaver ; 
lut  he  could  ne'er  ha'e  apprehen( 
That  ilka  year  yc'd  ask  thejavonr. 


In  Scott's  collection  of  miscellaneous  MSS.,  the 
article  that  stands  next  to  this  draft  of  "  Hints,"  is 
one  that  I  must  indulge  myself  with  placing  in  sira-  | 
ilar  juxtaposition  here.     I  have  already  said  some- 
thing of  his  friendly  relations  with  the  people  of  the 
only  manufacluring  village  in  his  neighbourhood. 
Among  other  circumstances  highly  grateful  to  them 
was  his  regular  attendance  on  the  any  when  their 
Deacon  and  Convener  for  the  year  entered  on  his  ; 
^flBce— which  solemnity  occurred  Gmm  in  October,  i 
On  the  approach  of  these  occasions,  he  usually  re- 1 
ceived  an  invitation  in  \erfe.  penned  by  a  worthy  j 


He's  dined  but  lately  wi'  the  King, 

And  round  him  there  Is  sio  a  spleiidoor, 
He  winna  stoop  to  such  a  Ihhif , 

For  a'  the  reasons  ye  can  render: 
Content  yourselves  wf  John  o'  9kye ; 

Your  Impudence  deserves  a  wip^r 
Ye'll  never  rest  till  he  grows  shy. 

And  e'en  refuse  to  send  his  piper.' 

"  These  reasons  a'  may  be  withstood, 

Wi'  nae  pretensions  for  a  talker: 
Ye  mauna  lightly  Deacon  Wood, 

But  dine  wi'  him  like  Deacon  Walker. 
Your  fov'rite  dish  is  not  forsot : 

Imprimis  for  your  bill  of  tare, 
We'd  put  a  sheep's-head  i'  the  pot, — 

Ye'se  get  the  cantle  for  your  share : 
And  we've  the  best  o'  "  Mountain  dew," 

Was  gathered  whare  ye  mauna  list, 
In  spite  o'  a'  the  gauiter  ci  ew, 

By  Scotland's  *  children  o'  the  mistJ* 
Last  year  your  presence  made  as  canty, 

For  which  we  hae  ye  yet  to  thank ; 
Ttus  year,  in  £aith,  we  cauna  want  ye. 

Ye  re  absence  wad  mak  sic  a  blank. — 
As  a'  our  neibora  are  our  friends. 

The  company  is  not  selected ; 
But  for  to  mak  ye  some  amends, 

There's  not  a  social  soul  neglected. 

*'  We  wish  you  luck  o'  your  new  biggin': 
There's  no  the  like  o't  on  the  Tweed ; 

Ye'll  no  mlstaklt  bv  itsriggin','— 
It  is  an  oddity  indeed. 

To  Lady  dcott  our  kind  respect- 
To  her  and  to  Miss  Ann  our  thanks  ^ 

We  hope  this  year  they'll  no  ueglMt 
Again  to  smile  npon  our  ranks. 

Upon  our  other  ^d  regards 
At  present  we  will  no  be  treating. 

For  some  discourse  we  maun  hae  spared 
To  raise  the  friendly  crack  at  meeting. 

So  ye  maun  come.  If  ye  can  whi— 
Gic's  nae  ejrcuse,  like  common  gentry ; — 

If  we  suspect,  as  sure's  a  gun. 
On  ABSOTSPOttn  we'll  place  a  sentry." 

It  was  a  pleasant  thingtosee  the  annual  procecaaon 
of  these  weaver^  of  Galashiels— or  (for  they  were 
proud  enough  to  adopt  the  name)  of  GanderB-^ltnek 
—as  they  advanced  from  their  village  with  John  ot 
Skye  at  their  head,  and  the  banners  of  their  cnft 
ail  displayed,  to  meet  Sir  Walter  and  bis  family  at 
the  ford,  and  escort  them  in  splendour  to  the  scene 
of  the  great  festivity.  And  well  pleased  was  h«  to 
"  share  the  triumph  and  partake  the  gale"  of  Dteaoon 
Wood  or  Deacon  Walker — and  a  proud  man  was 
Laureate  Thomson  when  his  health  was  proposed 
by  the  "  brother  bard"  of  Abbotsfoid.  At  thai  0«- 
lashiels  festival  the  Ettrick  Shepherd  also  waa  a 

«  The  oW  song  tayf,— 

"  This  ifl  no  mioo  ato  house. 
I  keo  by  the  rigejn  o%  4x.'"--§^___, 

Digitized  by  V^jOOS 


LIFE  OF  SIR  WALTER  BOOTT. 


ngtAdr  atieiuhnt.  Hb  used  to  come  down  the 
fd|;ht  before,  and  accompany  Sir  Walter  in  the  ontv 
earriase  that  graced  the  march:  and  many  of 
Hogg's  best  baliada  were  produced  for  the  first  time 

Solast  the  cheers  of  the  men  of  Ganders-cleuch. 
eecing  Poet  Thomson  not  long  since  in  a  di^erent 
pan  of  the  country,  he  ran  up  to  me,  with  the  tears 
m  idu  eyes,  Mad  exclaimed,  "  Eh.  sir.  it  does  me 
good  to  see  yon — for  it  puts  me  in  tnmd  of  the  grand 
da^s  in  our  town,  when  Scott  and  Hogg  were  in 
their  glory— and  we  were  a*  leal  Tbries  I"  Galashiels 
B  now  a  nest  of  Radicalism— but  I  doubt  if  it  be  a 
happier  place  than  in  the  times  of  Deacon  Wood  and 
Deacon  Walker. 

la  die  following  letters  we  hava  ••  many  readers 
may  miak^  rather  too  much  of  the  "  new  bimin" 
and  **  the  nggin  o't"— but  I  cannot  consent  to  curtail 
mch  curiously  characteristic  records  of  (he  days 
wiMsn  Scott  was  finishing  Peveril  of  the  Peak,  and 
pcmecting  hia  inimiuble  portraitures  of  Louie  XL 
SM  Charles  of  Burgundyv 

To  Danitt  Terry  ^  Etq.^  London. 

'•  Abbouford,  Ooteber  6,  ia22L 
•  My  dear  Terry, 

**  I  have  be«o  *  a  vixen  and  a  grMn*  as  Mrs.  Jenkhis 
«>▼«,  for  numy  days— in  plain  truth,  very  much  out  of 
heart.  I  know  you  wlQ  sympathize  partieularly  witb^me 
on  the  loss  of  onr  excellent  friend  W.  Er»klne,  who  fell 
a  Tictim  to  a  hellishly  false  story  which  wsa  widely  ctrcu- 
bled  eoneeminf  him,  or  rather  I  should  say  to  the  sen* 
ribfBtf  of  his  own  nature,  which 'Could  noc  endure  even 
the  shadow  of  reproaeb-tike  the  ennine,  which  is  said 


to  pine  Xo  death  if  tu  fur  is  soiled.  And  now  Hay  Donald- 
SOB*  has  followed  htm,  an  ezcelleot  man*  who  long  ma- 
aaged  my  family  aiTaini  with '  the  greatest  accuracy  and 
kiukiess.  The  last  ihree  or  ibur  years  have  swept  away 
mftre  than  half  the  friends  with  whom  I  lived  In  habits  of 
irreftt  Inttmacy— the  poor  Duke,  Jocund  Johnnie,  Lord 
AfMnervflle,  the  Boswells,  and  now  this  ne^  deprivation. 
80  HL  Siust  be  wfth  us 

*"  Wheff  ance  life's  day  draws  near  the  gk)amln,"f— ^ 

aad  yet  we  proceed  with  our  plantations  and  plans  as  if 
aay  tree  but  the  sad  cypress  would  socompany  na  to  the 
graire,  where  our  friends  have  gone  before  us.  It  is  the 
way  of  the  world,  howeven  and  must  be  so.  otherwise 
life  would  be  spent  in  unavailing  raoumins  for  tnose  whom 
we  have  lost  It  is  better  10  en^joy  the  soeJety  of  those  who 
reraain  to  us-  I  am  heartily  glad,  my  dear  Terry,  that  you 
bave  carried  through  ytmr  engagement  so  trtomphant- 
ly,  and  that  your  professional  talents  are  at  length  so  /ar 
appreciated  as  to  place  you  In  the  first  rank  In  point  of 
etoolomeot  as  in  point  of  reputation.  Your  talents,  too, 
are  of  a  kind  that  will  wear  well,  and  health  permitting, 
bold  out  to  you  a  long  course  of  honourable  exertipn ; 
Toq  should  bexin  to  make  a  little  nest-egg  as  soon  as^ou 
can  ;  the  first  uttle  hoard  which  a  man  can  make  of^his 
earnings  ts  the  foundation-stone  of  comfdrt  and  indepen- 
dence— so  says  one  who  has  found  it  difilcult  to  practise 
the  leoson  he  offers  you.  We  are  getting  on  here  in  the 
c4d  style.  The  new  castle  is  now  roofing,  and  looks 
superb ;  In  fact  a  little  too  good  for  the  estate,  but  we 
must  work  the  harder  to  make  the  land  suitable.  The 
hbtary  is  a  superb  room,  but  after  all  I  fear  the  shelves 
oq^ht  not  to  be  less  than  ten  or  twelve  feet  high ;  I  had 
qoite  decided  for  nine  feet,  but  on  an  cxacter  measure- 
ment this  will  not  accommodate  fully  tlie  books  I  have 
now  In  hand,  and  leaves  no  room  for  future  purchases. 
Pray  is  there  not  a  tolerable  book  on  uphoLstery— I  mean 
plans  for  tables,  chairs,  commodes,  and  such  like  7  If  so, 
1  would  be  much  obliged  to  you  to  get  me  a  copy,  and 
Sisnd  it  under  Freellng^s  cover.  When  you  can  pick  up  a 
few  odd  books  for  me,  especially  dramatic,  you  will  do  me 
a  great  kindness,  and  I  will  remit  the  blunt  immediately. 
1  wish  to  know  what  the  Montrose  sword  cost,  that  I  may 
send  the  ftatUity.  I  must  look  about  for  a  mirror  for  the 
drawing-room,  large  enough  to  look  well  between  the 
windows.  Beneath,  I  mean  to  place  the  antique  mosaic 
slab  which  Constable  has  given  me,  about  four  feet  and  a 
half  in  lenxtb.  I  am  puzzled  about  framing  it.  Another 
anxious  subject  with  me  is  fitting  up  the  little  oratory— I 
have  three  thick  planks  of  West  Indian  cedar,  which, 
exchanged  with  black  oak,  would,  I  think,  make  a  fine 

•  Mr.  Hajr  ponakbon  drew  up  an  alftctlng  sketch  of  his  friend 
Lard  Kinnedder's  Life  and  Character,  to  which  8cott  made  tome 
additMas,  and  wirich  was  ninted,  bat  not.  I  think,  Ibr  publte  dr- 
He  died  shoit^  afterwards.  00  the  80th  or  fiepti 


thing.  I  wish  you  hsd  «ett  tiie  Ktaif's  risit  hsre;  tt  wss 
very  grand ;  in  faet,  in  moral  frandeur  it  was  beyond  any 
thing  I  ever  wlinessed,  for  the  hearts  of  the  poorest  as 
well  as  the  greatest  were  completely  merged  in  the  bnai- 
oess.  WiUlam  Murray  behaved  excellently,  and  was 
most  useful.  I  worked  like  a  horse,  and  had  almost  paid 
dear  for  it,  for  it  wss  only  a  sudden  and  violent  erupUoa 
that  saved  me  from  a  daugerons  illness.  I  believe  it  was 
distress  of  mind,  suppressed  as  much  as  I  coUld.  and 
mingling  with  the  fatigue  :  certainly  I  was  miserably  iU, 
and  am  now  only  got  quite  better.  I  wish  to  know  how 
Mrs.  Terry,  and  Vou,  and  n^  little  Walter  are ;  alao  little 
Miss^  1  hope,  if^I  live  so  k>ng,  I  may  be  of  use  to  the 
fbrmer :,  little  misses  are  not  so  easily  accommodated.— 
Pray  remember  me  to  Mrs.  Terry.  Write  to  me  soon, 
snd  believe  me,  always  most  truly  yours, 

WALTSa  SOOTT." 

7b  Lieutenant  Walter  Sfeott,  15/A  Buetart^  Berlin. 

"  Abbotsford,  7th  October,  IdSfi. 
"My  dearest  Walter, 

*^  I  vnt>te  you  a  full  account  of  the  King's  visit,  which 
went  ofT  d  merveiile.  I  sufTercT!  a  j^f^od  deal  in  conie- 
qaence  of  excessive  fatigue  a£  I  roTi^ruuit  anxiety,  but 
wss  much  relieved  by  a  very  ii^^oiiYcnicut  aiMJ  nw^r 
eruption  wUcb  physicians  call  aii  ^  j^ir^iy  heu^  Ross 
says  if  it  had  not  broke  out  I  wou'J  havr-  tk^J  a  bad  fet^t- r 
— mthe  mean-time,  though  the  1  ■»Ni|i^Ui]a  h$tM  e,oa^  aft^ 
isiy  arms  and  legs  are  spotted  lik>  1  J^opard'e-  The  KUkg 
has  expressed  himselr  most  gmi  imuj^ly  to  me^  boUi  af 
leaving  Edinburgh  and  since  he  re[Linied.  1  know  from 
sure  authority  he  has  scarce  ev>^  r  crjuej  to  spi^^k  alMiut 
the  Scotch,  and  the  fine  taste  ana  ^^urit  of  ihpjr  rt!Cf^pti««i' 
.  "Some  email accompts  of  yoiEL'4>  liavi'  tomt^  in-  TUIt 
is  wrong— you  ought  never  to  l-^ivc  a  cuunlry  wllhuut 
clearing  every  penny  of  debt;  &.nd  yaa  have  no  apfiflij^t 
for  doing  so,  as  you  are  never  rciUs^d  what  1  fan  n^f^V^nl. 
When  you  can  get  a  troop  1  ahfeti  ■'xjii'ct  jtdu  la  uiAmiAJn 
yourself  without  further  recour^*»  on  qint  fvcp^  in  tbfl 
case  of  extraordinary  accident,  t-"  t\M^  w^tboul  [linchlng 

Sourself,  you  must  learn  to  keei'  ni\  .vimr  t- ]cp^jidei  wH}^- 
1  your  income;  it  ia  a  lesson  whbcb  if  not  learned.  Ui 
youth  lays  up  much  bitter  regret  ior  age. 

"  I  am  pleased  with  your  account  of  Dresden,  and  could 
have  wished  you  had  gone  on  to  Tttplitz,  Leipsic,  dec.  At 


TOplitz  Buonaparte  had  bis  fatal  check,  losing  Vaudamme, 
and  about  10,000  men,  who  had  pressed  too  unwarily 
on  the  allies  aftf  r  raising  the  siege  of  Dresden.    These 


are  marked  events  in  your  profession,  and  when  you  are 
on  the  ground  you  ought  to  compare  the  scene  of  action 
with  such  accounts  as  you  can  gel  of  the  motives  and  mo- 
tions of  the  contending  powers. 

"  We  are  all  quite  well  here  ;  my  new  house  is  quite 
finished  as  to  masonry,  aad  we  are  now  getting  on  the  roof 
lust  la  time  to  face  the  bad  wealher,  Charles  Is  well  at 
last  writing— the  L6ckharts  speak  for  themselves.  Game 
ia  very  plenty,  and  two  or  three  pair  of  pheasants  are 
among  tbe  younf  wood  at  AbbotsLee.  I  have  givep  strict 
orders  there  shall  be  no  shooting  of  any  kind  on  that  aide 
of  the  hill.  Our  house  has  been  a  HtUe  disturbed  by  a 
false  report  that  puss  luul  oat  up  the  favourite  robin- red- 
brea5t  who  comes  every  morning  to  sing  for  crumbs  after 
breakfast,  but  the  reappearance  of  Robin  exculpates  old 
Hinzie.  On  your  birthday  this  week  you  become  major  / 
—God  seud  you  the  wit  and  reflection  necessary  to  con- 
duct your  self  as  a  man ;  from  henceforward,  my  province 
will  be  to  advise  rather  than  to  command.— Well,  we  shaU 
have  a  little  jollification,  and  drink  your  health  on  becom- 
ing legally  major,  which,  1  suppose,  you  think  a  much 
less  matter  than  were  you  to  become  so  in  the  military 
term. 

**  Maumia  is  quite  well,  and  with  Ann  and  Cousin  Walter 
join  in  compliments  and  love.— Always  affectionately 
yours, 

WaLxaa  Scott." 

In  the  next  letter  to  Terry.  Scott  refers  to  the 
death  of  an  atniable  friend  of  his,  Mr.  James  Wed- 
derburne.  Solid  tor- General  for  Scotland,  which 
occurred  on  the  7th  November;  and  we  have  an  in- 
dication that  Peveril  of  the  Peak  had  reached  the 
fourth  volume,  in  his  announcement  of  the  subject 
for  Quentin  Durw^ard. 

To  D.  Terry  J  Enq.  London. 

"  Abbot sford,  Nov.  lOth,  l.^i^. 
"  Mv  dear  Terry, 

"  I  got  all  the  plans  safe,  and  they  are  delightful.  The 
library  ceilins  wJU  be  superb,  and  we  have  plenty  of  or 
rutraents  for  It  nMhout  repeating  one  of  those  hi  the  eat- 
ing-room. The  plan  of  shelves  Is  also  excellent,  and  will 
I  think,  for  along  time,  suffice  my  collection.  The  bm&» 
es  for  the  shelves  I  like— but  not  the  price :  t>^  notched 


LIFE  OF  Sm  WALTER  SOOTT. 


ooei,  after  all,  do  rvcj  well.  I  have  had  three  grand 
bawla  Bince  I  last  wrote  to  you.  The  pulpit,  repentance- 
•tool,  Kind's  seat,  and  Qod  knowa  how  much  of  carred 
waintcot,  from  the  kirk  of  Dunfermline,*  enoofh  to  coat 
the  hall  to  the  height  of  seven  feet  .^enpposing  it  board* 
ed  above,  for  hanginK  guns,  old  portraiis,  mtennixed  with 
armour,  Ac.— it  wilt  be  a  superb  entrance-gallery :  this  is 
hawl  the  first.  Hawl  second  is  twenty-four  pieces  of  the 
most  splendid  Chinese  paper,  twelve  feet  high  by  four 
vride,  a  present  from  my  cousin  Hugh  Scott,t  enough  to 
finish  the  drawiM-roora  and  two  bed-fooms.  Hawl  third 
is  a  quantity  or  what  is  called  Jamaica  cedar-wood, 
enough  for  fitting  up  both  the  drawing-room  and  the  li- 
brary, including  the  presses,  shelves,  &c. :  the  wood  is 
finely  pencilled  and  most  beautiful,  something  like  the 
colour  of  gingerbread ;  it  costs  very  little  more  than  tiakj 
works  much  easier,  and  is  never  touched  by  vermin  or 
any  kind.  I  sent  Mr.  Atkinson  a  specimen,  but  it  was 
from  the  plain  end  of  the  plank ;  the  interior  is  finely 
waved  and  variegated.  Your  kind  and  unremitting  exer- 
tions in  our  favour  will  soon  plenish  the  drawing-room. 
Thus  we  at  present  stand.  We  have  a  fine  old  Knglish 
cabinet,  with  china,  &€.— and  two  superb  elbow-chairs, 
the  gift  of  Constable,  carved  nrast  magnificently,  with 

Soups  of  children,  fruit,  and  fiowe^s,  in  the  Italian  taste  : 
ey  cam9-from  Rome,  and  are  much  admired.  It  seems 
to  me  that  the  mirror  you  mention,  being  fVamed  in  carv> 
ed  box,  would  answer  admirably  well  with  the  chairs, 
which  are  of  the  same  material.  The  mirror  should,  1 
presume,  be  placed  over  the  drawing-room  chimnev- 
piece ;  and  opposite  to  it  I  mean  to  put  an  antique  table 
of  mosaic  marbles,  to  support  Chantrey's  bust.  A  good 
eofa  would  be  desirable,  and  so  would  the  tapestry^ 
■creen,  if  really  fresh  ana  beautiAil ;  but  as  much  of  our 
fhmiture  will  be  a  little  antiquated,  one  would  not  run  too 
much  into  that  taste  in  so  small  an  apartment  For  the 
library  I  have  the  old  oak  chairs  now  in  the  little  armoury, 
eight  in  number,  and  we  might  add  one  or  two  pair  or 
the  ebony  chairs  you  mention.  1  should  tlUnk  this  enough, 
for  many  seats  in  such  a  room  must  impede  access  to  the 
books ;  and  I  don*t  mean  the  library  to  be  on  ordinary 
occasions  a  public  roonib  Perhaps  the  tapestry-screen 
would  suit  better  here  than  in  the  draWfng-room.  I  have 
one  library  table  here,  and  shall  have  another  made  for 
atlases  and  prints.  For  the  h^l  I  have  four  chairs  of 
black  oak.  In  other  matters  we  can  make  it  out  well 
enough.  In  fact,  it  is  my  object  rather  to  keep  under  my 
new  accommodations  at  first,  both  to  avoid  immediate 
outlay,  and  that  I  may  leave  room  for  pretty  things  which 
may  occur  hereafter.  I  would  to  Heaven  I  eouU  take  a 
cruize  with  you  through  the  brokers,  which  would  be 
the  pleasantest  aiTair  possible,  only  I  am  afraid  I  should 
make  a  losing  voyage  of  it  Mr.  Atkinson  has  missed  a 
UtUe  my  idea  of  the  oratorv.  fitting  it  up  entirely  as  « 
bookcase,  whereas  I  shoold  lilte  to  have  had  recesses  for 
curiosities— for  the  Bruce's  skulls— for  a  crucifix.  At. 
Ac.— in  short,  a  littie  cabinet  histead  of  a  book-closet. 
Four  sides  of  books  would  be  perfectiy  sufiUcient ;  the 
other  four  so  far  as  not  occupied  by  door  or  window, 
should  be  arranged  tastefully  for  antiquities,  Ac.,  like 
the  inside  of  an  antique  cabinet  with  drawers,  and  shot- 
ties,  and  fanny  littie  arches.  The  oak  screen  dropped 
as  firom  Uie  clouds :  it  is  most  acceptable  ;  I  might  have 
guessed  there  was  only  one  kind  friend  so  ready  to  sup- 
ply hay  to  my.hobby-horse.  You  have  my  views  in  these 
matters  and  your  own  taste ;  and  I  will  send  the  nee^ul 
when  you  apprise  me  of  the  amount  total.  Where  things 
are  not  quite  satisfactory,  it  is  better  to  wait  a  while  on 
every  account,  for  the  amusement  is  over  when  one  has 
room  for  nothing  more.  The  house  is  completely  roofed, 
Ai:.,  and  looks  worthy  of  Mrs.  Terry's  painting.  I  never 
saw  any  thing  handsomer  than  the  grouping  of  towers, 
chimneys,  Ac.,  upon  the  roof,  when  seen  at  a  proper  die- 
tance. 

"  Once  more,  let  me  wish  you  joy  of  your  professional 
succlss.  I  can  judfe,  by  a  thousand  minute  items,  of 
the  advance  you  make  with  the  public,  jnat  as  I  can  of 
the  gradual  progress  of  my  trees,  because  I  am  interest- 
ed in  both  events.  You  may  say,  like  Biirkc,  you  were 
aot '  coaxed  and  dandled  Into  eminence;'  but  have  fought 
your  way  gallantiy,  shown  your  passport  at  every  barrier, 
and  been  always  a  step  in  sdvance,  without  a  single  retro- 
grade movement  Every  one  wishes  to  advance  rapi(Uy, 
but  when  the  desired  {losition  is  gained,  it  is  far  more 
easily  maintained  by  him  whose  ascent  has  been  gradual, 

_•  For  this  hawl  Sir  Waller  was  indebted  to  the  Magistrates  of 
Onnfermline. 

*  Gacrtasn  Huffa  Soott  of  the  Bast  India  Company's  Jfaval 
Senrioe,  (now  Of  Difyoote  HoMe,  near  Dei^^)  seeoodioa  to tiis 
late  Laird  of  Raebum. 

:  A  cast  of  the  skull  of  King  Robert  the  Brace,  made  when  his 
tomb  wns  discovered  during  some  repairs  of  Dunfermline  Abbey, 
IB  mt. 


and  whoe^  favour  is  feundad  net  on  the  vlatmmmMe  em- 
pectations  entertained  from  one  or  two  aeaaona,  but  rrom 
an  habitual  experience  of  the  power  of  pleasing  darfnc 
several  years.  You  say  not  a  word  of  poor  Walnea.  1 
hope  little  Miss  has  not  put  his  nose  out  of  johit  eiuirely. 

"  I  have  not  been  very  well— a  whoreson  thickneaa  of 
blood,  *and  a  deoressioa  of  spirits  arisin|  from  the  losa 
of  friends,  (to  wnom  I  am  now  to  add  poor  Wedderbarue,) 
have*annoyed  me  much ;  and  Peveril  will,  I  fear,  sanell 
of  the  apoplexy.  I  propose  a  good  rally,  however,  and 
hope  it  will  be  a  powerful  efi^ect  My  idea  ia,  eft/re  notta, 
a  scotch  archer  in  the  French  King'a  guard,  tempore 
Louis  XI.,  the  most  picturesque  of  all  tunea. — Always 
yours  very  faithfully, 

WALTaa  Soott." 

This  letter  contuns  the  first  alluiion  to  the  tpecies 
of  malady  that  ultimately  proved  fatal  to  Sir  Walter 
Scott.  He.  as  far  as  I  know,  never  mentioned  to 
any  one  of  his  family  the  symptoms  which  he  here 
speaks  of;  but  lofig  before  any  B&nxms  apoplectic 
aeisure  occurred,  it  had  been  suspected  by  mywelL 
and  by  others  of  his  friends,  that  he  bad  mistainea 
slight  attacks  of  that  nature,  and  concealed  them. 

The  depression  of  spirits  of  which  he  complains, 
cotitd  not,  however,  have  hung  over  him  long ;  at 
len<?t  it  hy  no  means  interrupted  any  of  his  uaoa! 
occupations.  A  prievims  interruption  had  indeed 
bei  Ti  oi^casianed  by  i]ic  royal  visit,  its  preparations, 
aDiHEs  li'f^^cyof  v1jjl( Pints  and  correspondence ;  but 
he  n^.tvv  la!t<»ur<.d  to  make  up  his  lee-way,  and 
PbviMil  uf  Uu  Peak,  was  completed,  and  some  prog- 
ress had  also  been  achieved  with  the  first  voitune  of 
duL  niin  Dur^nrd.  hf^fure  the  year  reached  its  cloae. 
Nor  h:)d  hfj  et^aeied  to  contemplate  fa  tore  labour, 
aci^  {:onLmii8^  ^pulsirity,  with  the  same  firmness 
npd  hopcfulno98  as  ever.  He  had,  in  the  course  of 
Oci^btTp  compared  hiB  contract,  and  received  Con- 
8tiblp*3  biUt  for  unrjther  unnamed  "woik  of  fic- 
tion ;'*  and  Ibis  ^as  the  last  such  work  in  which 
tht^  ^Ttinl  bookseller  'if  Edinburgh  wasdesiined  to 
h&vc  nny  concern.  The  engagement  was  in  fact 
tmi  r^iwrned  ihr&e  yt-irs  af^rwardsbr  Woodstock. 

Sir  Wii]t«r  waBk,  ne  may  be  supposed,  stiniiilated 
in  i\\\  thc4$«  tnaTt4?rR  Uv  the  music  of  the  hammer 
and  saw  at  Abbotsford/  Witnesa'this  letter,  writ* 
ten  during  the  Christmas  recess- 
TV  D<miel  TVrry,  Eaq.^  London. 

» Abbotsford,  January  dth,  1821 
"Dear  Terry, 

"  It  is  close  firiiw  to  answer  letters  the  day  ^ey  coraci 
to  hand,  but  I  am  airaid  of  losing  opportunities,  as  tn  the 
case  of  the  mirror,  not  to  be  retrieved  I  am  first  to  re- 
port progress^or  your  consideration-and  Mr.  AtkinaoD's, 
of  wliat  I  have  been  doioa  here.  Everv  thing  about  the 
house  has  gone  "h  rien  mieuSj  and  the  shell  Is  comfrietely 
finished;  ulthe  upper  story  and.garreta,aawell  aa  the 
basement,  have  had  their  first  coat  of  plaster,  beinc  flr^ 
properly  fenced  from  the  exterior  air.  The  only  tbinga 
which  we  now  greatly  need  are  the  designs  for  the  ceil- 
ings of  the  hall  and  drawing-room,  as  the  aoiitba  and 
plasterers  are  impatient  for  tiieir  working  plana,  the  want 
of  which  rather  stops  them.  I  have  taken  actual,  real, 
and  corporal  Doaaession  of  my  sitting-room,  which  haa 
been  fitted  with  a  temporary  floor,  door,  and  window — the 
oratory,  and  the  door  into  the  library,  being  bricked  up 
ad  interim.  This  was  a  step  of  necessity,  as  mv  books 
began  to  suffer  in  Peter's  garret,  so  thev  were  Drought 
up  to  the  said  room,  and  are  all  ranged  iu  their  old  ^cHes 
and  presses,  so  as  to  be  completciv  comeatable.  They 
have  been  now  there  a  fortnignt  witliout  the  Icaat  appear- 
ance of  damp,  so  drv  do  the  brick  facings  make  the  wal! ; 
and  as  we  keep  aood  fires  in  the  place  (which,  by  the  by, 
vents  like  all  Mr.  Atkinson's  chimneys,  in  a  auperior 
style,)  I  Intend  they  shall  remain  there  till  they  are  txaoa- 
ferred  to  the  Library,  so  that  this  room  vriU  be  fitted  up 
last  of  all.  I  shall  be  then  able  to  jodge  of  a  poJnt  oa 
which  I  have  at  preset  some  d  ubt— namely,  the  capa- 
city of  niy  library  to  accommodate  my  books.  Should  it 
appear  limited  (T  mean  making  allowance  for  future  addi- 
tions) I  can  perhaps,  by  Mr.  Atkinson's  assistance,  fit  up 
this  private  room  with  a  gallery,  which  might  enter  by 
carrying  the  stair  up  the  ora^ry,  and  renouncing  the  Idea 
of  fitting  it  up.  The  cedar,  rassure  you,  is  quite  beauti- 
ful. I  have  had  it  sawn  out  into  planks,  and  every  oae 
who  look)  at  it  agrees  it  will  be  more  beaotiful  than  oak. 
Indeed,  what  I  have  seen  of  it  put  to  that  use,  bears  do 
comparison,  unlesa  with  such  heart  of  oak  as  Bitllocle 
employed,  and  that  you  know  is  veneered.    I  do  not  go 


UPE  OF  am  WILTB  flCOTT. 


SO 


w  «M  •ry  fai  tUfl»  but  pnsttoal  knowtodgv,  for  Mr. 
Wang h,  mf  ndghbonr,  a  West  Indian  planter,  (but  bim* 
•■If  bred  a  joiner,)  baa  flnisbed  tbe  pretUont  apartment 
with  It  tbat  1  ever  saw.  I  should  be  apt  to  prefer  tbe 
lava  notchesj^era  tbe  difference  only  what  you  men- 
tioo,  namely,  £20  {  bbt  I  cannot  make  out  bow  that  should 
be,  unless  by  aimpoaing  the  joiners'  waaea  much  higher 
tlMB  with  ua.  But  indeed,  in  such  a  library  as  mine, 
when  the  books  are  once  catalojcued,  I  could  perhaps  In 
many  mataoces  make  fixed  shelves  answer  the  turn,  by 
adoptinf  a  proper  arrangement  from  the  beginning.  I 
give  up  tbe  Roslin  drop  in  the  oratory— indeed  1  have 
bog  aeeo  it  would  not  do.  1  think  the  termination  of  it 
may  be  employed  as  the  central  part  of  Mr.  Atkinson's 
beautiful  pUn  for  the  receas  in  the  library  ;  by  the  by. 
the  whole  of  that  ceiling,  with  the  heads  we  have  got,  will 
be  the  prettiest  thing  ever  seen  in  these  parts. 

*'  Tbe  plan  preferred  for  the  door  between  the  entrance- 
hall  and  ante-room,  was  that  which  was  marked  B.  To 
make  this  plain,  I  reinolose  A.  and  C — which  mode  of  ex- 
plahung  myself  pots  me  in  mind  of  the  evidence  of  an 
Irish  officer. — *  We  met  three  rebels,  one  we  shot,  hang' 
ed  another,  the  third  we  flogved  and  made  a  guide  of.' — 
*  Which  of  the  three  did  you  flog  and  ouUco  a  guide  of  1 — 
'  Him  whom  we  neither  shot  nor  hanged.'  Understand, 
therefore,  that  the  plan  not  returned  is  that  fixed  upon. 
I  think  there  is  nothing  left  to  say  about  the  house  ex- 
Scenting  the  cbiomey«pieees.  .  I  have  selected  for  tbo  hall 
chimney-piece  one  oi  the  cloister  arches  of  Bi^elrose,  of 
which  I  enclose  an  accurate  drawing.  I  can  get  it  finish- 
ed bere  very  beautifully,  at  day's  wages,  in  our  dark  red 
(reesume.  The  chimneya  of  drawing-room,  library,  and 
ay  own  room,  with  grates  conforming,  will  be  got  much 
better  in  London  than  any  where  else ;  by  tbe  by,  for 
tbe  haU  I  have  got  an  old  massive  chimney-grate  which 
belonged  to  the  old  persecutor  Bishop  Sharp,  who  was 
murdered  on  Magus  Muir.  All  our  grates  must  be  con^ 
trivsd  to  use  wood  as  well  as  coal,  with  what  are  called 
hair-dogs. 

"  t  am  completely  I^dy  Wishfort  as  to  the  escritoire, 
h  tact,  my  determmation  would  very  much  depend  on 
the  possibUiCy  of  showing  it  to  advantage ;  for  if  it  be  aueh 
as  is  set  up  against  a  wall,  like  what  is  ca|led,  par  excel- 
ItMctf  a  wnting-desk,  you  know  we  have  no  space  in  the 
library  that  is  not  occupied  by  book-presses.  If,  on  the 
eontrary,  it  stamto  quite  free,  why,  I  do  not  know— I  must 
e'en  leave  it  to  rou  to  decide  between  taste  and  prudence. 
Hw  silk  damauc,  I  ftmcy,  we  must  have  for  the  drawing- 
room  curtains ;  those  in  the  library  we  shall  have  of  super- 
fine crimson  cloth  from  Galashiels,  made  of  mine  own 
wool  I  should  like  the  silk  to  be  seat  down  in  the  bales,  aa 
I  wiah  theae  ourtains  to  be  made  up  on  a  simple  useful 
psctera«  without  that  paltry  trash  or  drapery,  &c.  dec.  I 
woaid  tkke  the  armoury  curtains  for  my  pattern,  and  set 
my  own  tailor,  Robin  Good-fellow,  to  make  them  up ;  and 
I  tUnk  I  mav  save  on  the  charge  of  such  an  upholsterer 
as  my  friend  Mr.  Trotter  much  of  the  difference  in  the 
value  of  materials.  Tbe  chairs  will  be  most  welcome. 
Packing  is  a  most  Important  article,  and  I  must  be  indebt- 
ed to  your  continued  flDodness  for  putting  that  into  proper 
hands.    The  mirror,  for  tostance— O  Lord,  air ! 

^*  Another  and  roost  Important  service  would  be  to  pro- 
cure me,  from  any  person  whom  Mr.  Atkinson  may  re- 
comsaend,  the  execution  of  the  enclosed  commission  tor 
fridt-trees.  We  dare  not  trust  Edinburgh ;  for  though 
the  trade  never  makes  a  pause  in  fumishmg  you  with  the 
moat  rare  plants,  insomuch  that  an  old  friend  of  mine,  the 
originftl  Jonathan  Oldbuck,  having  askied  one  of  them  to 
mpplY  him  with  a  doaen  of  anchovies^  he  answered,  '  he 
had  plenty  of  them,  but,  being  a  delicate  pbint,  they  were 
aiiUin  the  hothouse'— yet,  when  the  said  planu  come  to 
bear  fruit,  the  owner  may  adopt  the  classical  line— 

'  Miratur  novas  frondes  et  non  sua  pons.' 


My  I 
wsy,  and 


gardener  Is  a  partieularrv  clever  fellow  In  his 
thinks  the  enclosed  kinds  like  to  answer  best. 
Our  new  garden-wall  will  be  up  in  spring,  time  enough  to 
have  tbe  plants  set  l|y  the  way,  has  Mr.  Atkinson* seen 
the  way  of  heatbig  hot-houses,  «c.,  adapted  by  Mr.  Some- 
bodv  at  Glasgow,  who  has  got  a  patent  1  It  is  by  a  new 
application  of  steam,  which  Is  poured  into  a  vauhcd  roof, 
made  completely  airtight,  except  where  it  communicates 
with  art  Iron  box,  so  to  speak,  a  receptacle  of  the  heated 
air.  This  vaulted  recess  Is  filled  with  bricks,  stone<i,  or 
roehttke  substancea,  capable  of  receiving  and  retaining 
an  extreme  degree  of  heat  from  the  steam  with  which 
they  are  surrounded.  The  steam  itself  ia  condensed  and 
carried  oflT;  but  the  air,  which  for  many  hours  continues 
toudse  from  these  heated  bricka.  asconds  into  the  iron 
receptacle,  and  Is  let  00"  by  ventilators  into  the  space  to 
be  bested  in  such  quantities  aa  many  be  deaired.  The 
exnallence  of  thia  pum  is  not  only  the  savbag  of  fuel,  but 
alas  and  particularly  the  certain^  that  the  air  ttonot  be 


overhMtsd,  far  the  twhperature  at  hottest  does  not  ex-  ' 
ceed  96  degrees— nor  overchilled,  for  it  eonttnnes  to  re- 
tain, and  ofeourse  to  transmit,  the  same  degree  of  heated 
air,  or  but  with  little  variation,  for  ten  or  twelre  hours, 
BO  as  to  render  the  proceaa  of  forcing  much  more  certain 
and  simple  than  it  w  been  from  any  means  hitherto  de- 
vised. I  dare  say  that  this  ia  a  very  lame  explanation, 
but  1  wai  get  a  perfect  one  for  Mr.  Atkhisoq  if  he  wishes 
IL  The  Botanical  Garden  at  Glawow  has  adopted  the . 
plan,  and  they  are  now  chang'mg  that  of  Edinburgh  for 
the  same  purpose.  I  have  not  heard  whether  it  has  been 
applied  to  houses ;  but,  from  the  prihciple,  I  should  con- 
ceive It  practicable. 

"  Peveril  has  been  stopped  ten  daya,  having  been  driven 
back  to  Leith  Roads  by  stress  of  weather.  I  have  not  a 
copy  here,  but  will  write  to  Ballantyne  to  aend  you  one 
forthwith.  I  am  sick  of  thinking  ol'^it  myself.  We  hear  • 
of  you  often,  and  always  of  your  advancing  lavour  with 
tbe  public.  It  is  one  of  many  cases  in  which  the  dearly 
beloved  public  has  come  round  to  my  ^decided  opinion^ 
after  seeming  to  water  for  a  lime.  Washington  Irving's 
success  is  another  instance  of  the  same.  Little  Walter 
will,  1  hope,  turn  out  all  we  can  wish  him ;  and  Mrs.  Ter- 
ry's health,  I  would  fain  hope,  will  be  completely  re-estab- 
lished. The  steam-boats  make  a  jauntao  Scotland  com- 
paratively so  speedy  and  easy,  that  I  hope  yon  will  aonyb- 
times  cast  both  of  yourselves  this  way.  Abbotsford,  I  am  ^ 
sure,  will  please  you,  when  you  see  all  your  dreams  real-  * 
ized,  so  far  as  concerns  elevation,  Ac. 

"  John  Thomson,  Duddingstone,  has  given  me  his  most 
splendid  picture,  painted,  he  says,  on  purpose  for  me— « 
true  Scottish  scene.  It  seemi  to  me  that  many  of  our 
painters  shun  the  subUme  of  our  country,  by  labouring 
to  introduce  trees  where  doubtless  by  search  they  might 
be  found,  but  where  most  certainly  they  make  no  con* 
spicuous  part  of  the  landscape,  being  like  some  little 
folks  who  fill  up  a  company,  and  put  you  to  the  p/pof  be- 
fore you  own  to  have  seen  them.  Now  this  is  Fast 
Castles  faidotia  both  in  history  and  legend,  situated  near  St. 
Abb's  Head,  which  you  most  certaiiuy  must  have  seeivas 
you  have  cruized  along  the  coast  of  Berwickshire.  'The 
view  looks  from  the  land  down  on  the  ragged  ruins,  a  black 
sky  and  a  Xoaodng  ocean  beyond  them.  There  is  more- 
imagination  in  the  picture  than  in  any  I  have  seen  of  a.. 
long  time— a  sort  of  Salvator  Rosa's  doings.— i2erenen« 
h  noe  numtoru.  I  find  that  the  plans  for  the  window- 
shutters  of  the  entrance-ban  are  much  wanted.  My ' 
wainscot  will  not  be  altogether  seven  feet— about  six. 
Higher  It  cannot  be,  because  of  the  pattern  of  the  Dun- 
fermline part ;  and  lower  I  would  not  have  tt,  because 
the  srmour,  Ac.  much  be  suspMided  beyond  the  reach 
of  busy  a^d  rude  fingers,  to  which  a  hall  is  exposed. 
Toa  understand  I  mean  to  keep  lighter,  smaller,  and 
more  ornate  objects  of  curiosity  in  the  preaent  little  room,. 


and  have  only  the  maaslve  and  laige  specimens,  with 
my  fine  collection  of  horns.  &c..  In  tne  hall.  Above  the 
wainscot,  I  propose  the  wall  to  be  planked  and  covered 


with  cartridge  paper,  and  then  properlv  painted  hi  wain- 
scot, to  match  the  arrangement l>eneath. 

**  I  have  now,  as  your  own  Dogberry  says,  bestowed^ 
all  my  tedlouaness  updh  you  ;— yet  I  have  Mill  a  question 
of  yours  to  answer  on  a  certain  bookseller's  part  Un- 
questionably I  know  many  Interesting  works  of  the  kind 
he  mentions  which  mifht  be  tran^tedfrom  the  German  -,. 
—almost  all  those  of  Mussus,  of  which  Beddoes  made 
two  Volumes,  and  which  are  admirably  written :  many 
of  La  Motte  Fouqu? ;  several  from  the  collecUon  bearing 
the  aasumed  name  hf  Beit  Weber.  But  there  is  a  point 
more  essential  to  their  success  with  the  Brirish  public 
than  even  the  selection.  There  is  in  the  German  mode 
of  narration,  aa  affectation  of  deep  metaphysical  reflection 
and  protracted  description  ana  disctission,  which  the 
Englwh  do  not  easily  tolerate ;  and  whoever  translates 
their  narratives  with  effect  should  be  master  of  the  taste 
and  spirit  of  both  nations.  For  histance,  I  lately  saw  a 
translation  of  *  Sintram  und  seine  GefUhrten,'  or  Sintram 
and  his  Comrades,  the  story  to  the  world  which,  if  the 

E lot  were  InsHnuated  Into  the  boxes^  as  Baycssays,  would 
e  most  strikUig,  transhUed  into  such  English  as  was  far 
more  difficult  to  me  than  the  originalGerraan.  I  do  not 
know  where  an  Interpreter  such  as  I  pbint  to  could  be  ■ 
found;  but  a  literal  jo^/roWer,  such  as  translated  the 
passages  from  GoSthe  annexed  to  the  beautiful  engrav- 
ings, which  you  sent  me,'  would  never  make  a  profitable 
job.  The  bibliopole  must  lay  his  account  to  seek  out «. 
man  of  fency,  and  pay  him  well.  I  suppose  my  friend 
Cohent  Is  above  superintending  such  a  work,  otherwise 
he  Is  the  man  to  make  something  of  it.  Perhaps  ho 
might  be  induced  to  take  it  In  hand  for  the  love  of  the 
tasK.     AH  who  are  here— namely,  my  lovely  lady  and 

«  I  prMome  this  alkdes  to  the  Ea/Mk  edition  of  Retach's  0«^ 

"tMr.  CoEJoi  new  Sir  Praaois  Palgrave,  R  t^  O  Og  IC 


3M 


uiaror  wac  wiLim  Bemv:- 


tht  UOr  Anne-'^ikttA  70a  iBd  Mft.  T«rt7  with  ttic 
moot  iinotre  good  wfahefl.-^PaiaiAiUjr  Toun/ 

•*  P.  8.  Direct  to  Edinburgfh,  ^diere  I  alwl!  be  on  the 
14th.  Pertiapi  the  slightest  sketch  of  the  escritoire  nrfght 
enable  me  to  decide.  If  I  cotUd  swap  my  owii,  which 
cost  me  jB30,  it  might  diminish  my  prudential  scruples. 
Poor  Hitle  Johmilc  woald  have  oflbred  the  prime  coat  at 
once.  Your  letter  shall  go  to  James  Ballantjme.  I  think 
1  have  something  new  likely  to  be  actually  dramatical. 
I  win  send  it  you  presently  ;  but,  on  your  life,  show  it 
no  one,  for  certain  reasons.  The*Tery  name  is  kept  se- 
cret, and,  strange  to  tell,  U  will  be  printed  wlthom  one." 

The  precaution  mentioned  in  this  P.  S.  watwalljr 
adopted  in  the  printing  of  Quentin  Dnrward.  If 
had  been  sugRested  by  a -recent  akirm  about  one  of 
Bitlliintfiie's  workmen  playinff  foul,  and  tranimu- 
ting  proof'flheetB  of  PeveiiU  while  at  preaa,  to  some 
American  pirate. 

Peveril  of  the  Peak  appeared,  then,  in  January, 
1823.  Ita  reception  was  loinewhat  eoklBr  than  that 
of  its  three  imm^iatc  predecessors.  The  post- 
haste rapiditjr  of  the  ^ovelisfs  executions  was  put 
to  a  severe  trial,  from  his  adoption  of  so  wide  a  can- 
P'ass  as  was  presented  by  a  period  of  twenty  budy 
years,  and  filled  by  so  very  large  and  multifarious  an 
assemblage  of  persons,  not  a  few  of  them,  as  it 
were,  struggling  for  prominence.  Fenella  was  an 
unfortunate  conception ;  what  is  good  in  it  is  not 
orignnal,  and  the  rest  eztravagantty  absurd  and  in- 
creoible.  Brcn  worse  was  that  condescension  to 
the  practice  of  mlgar  romancers,  in  his  treatment 
of  the  trial  scenes— scenes  usually  the  venr  citadels 
of  bis  strength— which  outraged  every  feeling,  of 
probabjlity,  with  th9se  who  b^  studied  the  ternbje 
tragedies  of  the  Popish  Plot,  in  the  authentic  records 
oA  perhaps,  the  most  diagracefol  ep&eh  m  our  huH 
t6ry.  The  story  is  clumsy  and  perplexed  \  the  ca* 
tastrophe  (another  signal  ekception  to  his  rales) 
foreseen  from  the  begmning,  and  yet  most  inartifi* 
cialty  brought  about.  Alt  this  is  true ;  and  yet  might 
not  criticisms  of  the  same  sort  be  applied  to  half 
the  masterpieces  of  Shakspearcl  And  did  any  dra- 
matist—to say  nothing  of  any  other  novelist— ever 
produce,  in  spite  of  aU  the  surrounding  bewilder- 
ment ot  the  table,  characters  more  powerfully  con- 
ceived, or,  on  the  whole,  mors  hamnly  portrayed, 
than  those  (1  name  but  a  few)  of  Christian,  Bridge- 
north,  Buckingham,  and  Cmffinch— sketches  more 
vfvid  than  those  of  Young  Derby,  Colonel  Blood, 
and  the  keeper  of  Newgatel  The  severest  cenaor 
or  this  novel  was  Mr.  Senior ;  yet  he  was  just  as 
wen  as  severe.  He  could  not  dismiss  the  work 
without  admitting  that  PeveriU  "  though  entitled  to 
no  precedency,"  was,  on  the  whole.  **  not  inferior  to 
his hretfaren,  taken  as  a  class  f*  and  upon  that  class 
h^  tntroduced  a  general  eulogy,  which  1  shall  gratifr 
my  jeaders  by  extracting  :♦ 

**  It  had  become  a  trite  remark,  long  before  there  was 
the  reason  for  it  which  now  exists,  that  the  Waverley 
novels  are,  even  from  their  mere  popularity,  the  most 
striking  literary  phenomena  of  the  age.  And  that  popu- 
larity, unequalled  as  It  is  in  Its  extent,  Is  perhaps  more 
cxtraordiijary  in  its  permanence.  It  has  resisted  the 
tendency  of  the  publiCf  and  perhaps  of  ourselves,  much, 
as  we  struggle  againi»t  it.  to  ttunk  every  subsequent  work 
of  the  same  author  in/erior  to  its  predecessorsr  if  It  be 
not  manifestly  superior.  It  has  resisted  the  satiety  which 
might  have  beenpre<lictedas  the  hcceasar>consequence 
of  the  frequent  repetition  of  similar  characters  and  situa- 
tions. Above  all,  it  lias  withstood  ptiaimum  genus  ininU- 
eorum  laudantes.  And,  In  spite  of  acute  enemies,  and 
clmn-^y  friends,  and  bungling  imitators,  each  succeflslvo 
novel  succeeds  in  obtaining  a  fortnight  of  attention  as 
deep  and  as  exclusive  as  was  bestowed  upon  the  '  Bride 
of  Lammermoor,'  or  the  *  Heart  of  Mia-Lothian.»  We 
have  heard  tliis  popularity  accounted  for  in  many  various 
ways.  It  has  been  attributed  to  the  picturesque  realitv 
of  Sir  Walter  Scott's  descriptions,  to  the  truth  and  indi- 
viduality of  his  characters,  to  the  depth  of  his  pathos  and 
the  gayety  of  his  huau>ar,  to  the  purity  and  candour  of 
his  morality,  and  to  the  clear,  flexible,  and  lively>  vet 
unaffected  style,  which  is  so  delightful  a  vehlcle.or  hto 
more  substantial  merits. 

•lfhtralliee<iDOlathis«ritletaMi,  m  it  was  paMslMd  la  Ou 
London  Reviei»-ti  Joimial  which  stopped  et  the  tteoM  or  thiro 
Nunber,  and  must  tbcKeftvehave  had  a  veiy  nanewdreiilatioB. 


««Butwftdc<Bii^lliWW  tiialftes*  tiarinesr  «MB«*ea 
together,  anl&oientiy  bo^onal  for  raeh  wncthd  atlas 
been  prodncad.    InidniosiaUofthem^behashadfir^wts 


),  perhapa,  •oporiora-^and  tfaoafta  we  know  of 
no  writer  of  any  age  or  any  mtlon  who  baa  anttrd  aL 
these  exoeUenceatn  mo  high  a  degrA,  tbafr  daieieociet 
have  been  balanced  by  aurength,  in  what  are  our  antbor'i 
weakest  pointy.  Interest  and  probabtiiQr  in  th«  labia,  «d 
clear^oaa  of  narratioa. 

**  We  are  Inclined  lo  aaggest  as  the  addilinmi  caase  sT 
his  sacceaa,  the  manner  in  whieh  his  works  note  te 
most  iireeondlable  forms,  and  the  noot  op^xMite  mrnt- 
rials.  He  exhibits,  someducs  in  sueceasioa,  and  seav- 
timea  tntennihgled,  tragedy  and  the  rosoaBce,  amedf 
and  the  novel  Great  events,  exalted  persoftsges,  and 
awftil  supersdtlona,  have.  In  general,  been  iSie  exdnsiva 
provhice  of  the  two  Ibnmer.  Hot  the  dignity  which  has 
been  supposed  to  belong  to  those  styles  of  writtai,  hat 
in  genend  exehided  the  repreientatiaB  of  the  every-dsy 
occurrenees  and  fhrniUor  emotions^  which,  dunigti  ptxc 
of  great  events,  and  incident  to  great  people,  arenot  chs- 
racterisde  of  either.  And  as  haman  nature  is  priBcissi. 
ly  conversant  In  such  ocourrencea  and  emotions,  kus 
in  general  been  Inadeqn^y  or  (Usely  repreaanttd  Is 
tragedy  and  ronsMiee ;  hudeqnately  by  good  wrlienL  ssi 
&lsely  by  bad^-the  former  omlttfng  whatever  eoaid  sst 
be  mada  splendid  and  majestic,  the  kltef' exaggevsHai 
what  they  found  really  great,  and  auerapdng  le  aivete-  * 
portance  to  what  Is  base  and  trivlaL  and  snarlfieiaf  res- 
son  and  prnbabllKy  to  render  freebootera  dintted,  sad 
make  familiar  Irienda  converae  in  heroics.  ^omerMtd 
Bortpldes  are  the  only  exceptiona  among  the  andeali; 
and  no  modem  tragedian,  except  Shakspeare,  baa  vet- 
tured  to  make  a  king'a  son  ♦  remember  that  poor  m*^ 
tnre,  smaU-beer.*    Human  nature,  thereforevfettinie the 


hands  of  comedbns  and  noveUata ;  but  they  s 
to  have  thought  that  there  was  something  to  the  I 
and  sufferings  of  otdiUsry  mortality  IncoosiMaat  with 
those  who  are  made  of  the  porcehUn  clay  of  the  esAh; 
or  not  to  have  formed  sufllciently  general  cooeenaoa, 
to  venture  beyond  the  limits  of  thetr  own  expen€aee. 
Their  cluuncters,  therefore,  are  copied  frooi  the  oilainli 
with  whom  the  writer,  and  therefore  the  reader,  ts1te>^ 
liar :  they  are  placed  in  situations  wMeh  dertve  no  *• 
terest  from  thefir  novelty ;  and  the  nsnal  catnscrepteii 
an  event  wWch  every  reader  has  experleoced  fx  et 
pected.  .       .  . 

"  We  may  compare  tragedy  to  a  marty  rdom  by  «we  of 
the  old  masters ;  wWeh,  whatever  be  tta  mert^  reye- 
Bents  persons.  emeUons,  and  •events  so  remote  msm  tht 
experience  of  the  spectator,  that  he  feela  the  | 


his  approbation  and  blame  to  be  in  a  great  m& 
jettutal.  The  romance,  such  as  we  generally  have  sew 
It,  resembles  a  Gothic  window-piece,  wlksr»  nMdante 
and  bishops  exhibit  the  symbols  of  their  dignl^,  mt 
saints  hold  out  thetr  pahn  brsnches,  and  grotasqae 
monsters  In  bhie  and  gold  pursae  one  aAoth«r  dkTD«# 
the  intricacies  of  a  never-ending  scroll,  splendM  te  ca- 
lonring,  but  childish  In  cotaipoeMen,  and  imitating  notfiiaf 
In  natiire  but  a  mass  of  drapery  and  jewels  dimwn  ovrr 
tiie  commonest  ontlhies  of  the  hmnan  figure.  TKewwkf 
of  the  come^ett  and  novelist,  In  their  Inu*  ini<iri«li< 
forms,  are  Dntch  pWntlngs  and  caricatures :  In  thefr  best. 
they  are  Uke  Wilkie*8  earUer  pictarts,  aectiral»  insli- 
tioM  of  pleashig,  bnl  femHiar  objectis— admirable  is 
works  of  art,  but  addressed  rather  to  the  j«<l|Kimnt  thsa 
to  the  Imaginatidn.  ^        .  ^       ^  ^ 

•*  Onr  author's  6rine!pal  agents  are  (he  ndgbty  «C  Ae 
earth,  often  mixed,  in  Ms  earUcr  works,  with  bciofsef 
more  than  earthly  attributes.  He  paints  the  pasisni 
which  arm  sect  agatost  sect,  party  againat  party,  and  na- 
tion against  natSon.  He  relates,  either  eptvedieaBy  or  as 
the  mabi  object  of  his  narrative,  the  success  or  &dnn 
of  those  attempts  which  perrtanenay  alftci  the  happi- 
nesa  of  states ;  conspiracies  and  rebellions,  civy  wv  aoi 
religious  persecutiOD,  the  overthrow  of  dynasties  aad 
changea  oi  belief—- 

*  There  saw  I  how  the  secret  felon  wrought. 
And  treason  labouring  In  the  traitor's  thooght ; 
On  the  other  side  thert  stood  destmclion  bare, 
Unpunish'd  rapine,  and  a  wirfte  of  war ; 
Contest,  with  sharpcnM  kmves  In  cloisters  drawn. 
And  all  with  blood  bespread  the  holy  lawn.* 


«*9o  far  he  haa  nothing  in  coiunon  with  the  1 
or  the  comedian.  Bot  he  writes  for  timea -wlien  the  »«* 
of  high  life  is  rent  or  torn  avray— when  aQ  men  are  ds 
posed  to  scmtlnfxc,  and  competent  to  jodg»--wl>e«i  oey 
look  throogh  and  through  kfafes and ^esinen,  ao^MS 
that  they  are  and  act  as  mere  men.  He  haa,  th«retw«, 
treated  those  lofty  stibjecu  with  a  mlnoteoess  «f  dssafi. 
and  in  unsparing  Imitation  of  hnman  natwre,  in  itt  fo*- 
blea  as  wdl  aa  ita  energies,  which  few  wi1t«rs»  «xeepiia« 


^F^  PF  SIB  WALTER  SCOTT. 


the  three  whom  we  have  mc:ui<rrnp<]»  hwe  hid  the  bold- 
IMM  apd  the  philoe6i^7  to  e  .  m  itie  rrprMi!niAiion 
«f  exalted  char&cterg  end  t  ^"it-ot&.    ^IUb  stot^ 

xequiree  preachers  and  kit  he  tiuuka  onJij  ub 

jnen*;'  aiici  well  f^rare  that  LMj'^ioivMQce  and  fltxt^ry 
muu  heighten  every  pecaliarii.y^  ijo  h^a  ilr^wA  in  ^  t>jjril 
personage  die  most  laughab'K^  picture  tbiiL  r'^fl^i^I^ii  ^^^r  | 
was  ezmbited  of  humau  follj  ^LmH  Ini^oiidbtejiL^.  B*  his 
intenuizture  of  public  and  pi I'^atp  CTents.  he  h^s  enowu 
bow  they  act  and  re-act  on  "iiff  unothcr  ;  liaw  rt'salts  > 
which  appear,  to  him  who  vi-'ivn  thism  (torn  ihd  Jlidtsncu 
of  history,  to  depend  on  caii-i-4  of  ^ow  ind  irre^NUblr 

Sejnadon,  are  produced,  or  prcveiited,  or  inudLfin]^  by 
K  passions,  the  prejadicesj.  likf  wiercrsts,  a/ict  oft«b  Uif^ 
caprice  of  todiviauais ;  and  im  tino  otiier  ht^id,  how  ts- 
■entlal  national  tranquillity  \-i  to  indJcfldiul  happlae^?-- 
what  Cunily  discord  and  treachery,  what  ctuoftyt  wiiat 
meanness,  what  bisolenee,  ^^hnt  rapHGiLjp  what  insecu- 
r1^ — in  snort,  what  vice  and  unfierj  of  tsvyry  kind  uiust 
he  witnessed  and  felt  by  thiK-^^'  whr>  Hatc  dmwn  the  an- 
py  Jot  of  existence  in  liine-*  at  civil  war  aod  rcTolu- 


fkin. 

^*  Wehe>ye  no  doubt  that  hi  ^  conii^xiL  IbtrodncJioD  of  le- 
csJ  proceedingfi  (a  subject  as  Mr  is  fully  :iVEiSiiK;d  l>¥  bia  pre- 
dec^sora)  oiaterially  ansista  iho  pbuflibnityof  bUnjj'ni- 
liTes.  In  peaceful  tunes,  tiktj  Ijlw  is  ihc  kvr-r  which  i^iJ!) 
a  motion  a  great  part  of  our  a«;Lion^,  And  r^D'i^uiaiud  ind  con- 
4rQla^em  alL  And  if,  in  time^  or  ctv]hJj«Lurb^ci%  Jte^  x(^s~ 
ular  and  beneficial  operation  Uv  late^upi<!d  (ajiu  indeed 
sochcui  interrUFtiopif  the  criti  reoTi«iUi4uj e great  [njicbier 
of  cirf  I  disturbance,)  yet  the  f  rnia  of  Isw  ftfy  ii.eTf:r  in  mom 
TffntfffT^t  use.  >MeH  whowoiiiij  not  rob  or  tuuTilrirf  will 
mqjoi^Oate  .^aAoaa^eiam.  The  vtvantniTf^,  thej^mtiflctji- 
tkm  of  avarice  or  hatred,  is  t  nj^yptJ  by  ail— Uie  rMpaQ- 
Mbilil^  is  divided ;  since  thos*  wtici.  framed  ihe.  iniquitouii 
l«#'bave  not  to  exbbt^e  it,  an  J  tboic  who  kItp  efl^ct  to 
it  did  not  create' it.  The  rd^iufronce,  ihi^refciTc,  in  our 
ambor**  woiAs,  of  ibis  main^prjn;^  of  hujium  a^filrs,  bAs 
a  doable  eflbct.  If  the  story  were  inic^  we  fihauid  eiqiett 
«» meet  with  it;  snpposUig  h  flt-titiouB,  we  eiiQQLid  expect 
.Ittobe^disent 

**  Aa^iampla  wiU  illnstntc  much  of  whm  we  hh^s  ic- 
dUiitely.  sad  we  fear  abacmcly,  atiemptod  lo  iix plain. 
We  van  take  bno  tramVlw^ ri < ■  y .  Tii d  prtn<iip,it  &eenp a 
tm  told  in  a  royal  palace,  on  &  &eid  of  battle,  whefe  tlio 
kingdom  is  the  stake,  ana  st  ili  c  hf^^d  Qiiariej  a  of  a  viotQ^ 
■fkmB  nUtny.  The  actors  are^  nn  o  lii^  i ji  prin  g  e,  rccloiroing 
the  sceptre  of  his  snceston.  ^ind  tii^^  ELnncd  ni>b!hiy  and 
fenOry  of  his  kingdom,  fio  fur  we  rth  in  the  In  fly  rciponi 
of  ramsnee.  And  in  any  ot3L»?r  hiandj?  th^  ihrmo  of  Sl^ 
'Walter  Scott,  the  language  nud  r^oodad  of  ibttma  |t«aL 
MO^e  vroula  have  been  os^Iifrntfi^id  ojg  lUeir  HttiyUlciUk 
•  We  tbouild  have  heard^othmii:  at  the  kato  in  his  new 
eoiuune  *  majoring  aforie  tlK^mucklc  pier-jtlii«j'— of  hit 
ertiesi  by  the  host  of  the<Ciiii.Llci>.tick~Df  hi*  cmnlaiiiion 
by  the  well-powdered  Bfaior  M':'lvillc — of  Im  fears  of  ba- 
ll^ tnformed  against  by  Mrs.  \ n'^t- bajz.  The  Baton  wQuld 
not  have  ehdmed  to  draw  olT  the  priric^Iy  ea/jf*  Fo 
goe  would  not  have  been  iBflaf^ncr<d,  iu  brinMing  h}^  faster 
(o  the  camp,  by  the.  credit  tn  bir  obiEtlnpd  Tbroui:)!  her 
beauty  and  aceomplishmenlH.  Wt>  jatictiddmit  have  het^n 
tcddoi  the  staff-appointmeni  rr'fua<>ii  by  W^iverlej,  dt  of 
the  motlvea  which  caused  huu  fir  Ft  i<}  taarch  with  ihu 
lt*lvora|.  and  afterwards  with  liie  Baithi,  In  ihori^  we 
should  have  had  a  uniform  t^^rid  ipipoftuig^  repr^aeiitAiLLoa 
of  a  splendid  scene,  but  cak.uLi^edtn  9^ave  fal^o  rrcoUfc- 
tions  with  the  uninstructed,  md  i^oiic!  at  ail  wJtb  the  ju- 
dielous  reader.  But  when  ^vn  mudy  the  history  of  fh? 
rebellion  in  Waverley,  we  l-"!  cr/ni'Snced  that,  thoiigh 
the  details  presented  to  us  u*-v*'t  eKLMcd,  yet  iJjpy  n^u-^t 
reeemble  what  really  happeric^d  ;  Eind  ihat  ^hile  ilk«  leiul- 
ing  persons  and  events  are  i^^i  rt^^uciDie  frpiu  thoju!f  of  c»r^ii- 
nary  life  as  the  inventions  cf  ^ctidcri^  the  picturr  of  hn^ 
man  nature  is  as  fiiithful  u  dould  have  been  giran  by 
Tleldinj  or  Le  Sage." 

I  fear  the  reader  will  hnrrily  p anion  me  for  hnap- 
ing  him  down  abruptly  ft  I'm  thi#fine  criticism  lo  a 
little  joke  of  the  Parliampnt-Hoiigc.  Amotif?  Im 
lounging  young  barri8ter^^  ^^f  ihrtaednyp,  Sir  WalttT 
Scotr,  in  the  intervale  oi  hm  duty  as  clerk,  ctHen 
came  forth  and  mingled  ttiuch  in  the  Myh  of  hia 
own  coeval  Mouniain.  Indecfl  ihc  pkn^urj?  he 
seemed  to  take  in  the  socif.  ty  of  his  profesai^jnal  ju- 
niors, was  one  of  the  m  j.^t  reniBrkable,  and  cer- 
tainly not  the  least  a^rei  (ibk  ft'a lures  of  his  char- 
acter at  this  period  of  hi,^  ronsiimmate  hoooi^r  and 
celebrity  J  but  I  shooldrn^her  have  said.  jMrhnrjs, 
of  young  people  generally,  rmic  orffmjfik'i  law  or 
)a^.  j^entle  or  simple.  I  ii=ed  tfj  ihink  it  was  near 
ot  fun  to  another  feature  in  hjni,  his  l^ive  of  a  bri^H^ 
Hght.  It  was  always,  Iiusp«ct»  against  the  ffroin 
49    2U 


with  him»  when  he  did  not  oven  ivorK  at  hia  desk 
wtlh  the  Aun  full  upon  him.  Hfjwever^  oiie  mciu 
infi  soon  after  Pevenl  dam*?  out,  one  of  our  m'*at  m 
mous  wa|^«,  (now  ramouafar  bertff  Lhiag&  n  r^OT^efy, 
Mr*  Patrick  Rohetisoni  commonly  callefl  by  tb*  mi- 
dearing  S (Mulish  iiiiniTHitire  "VPcier."  obwjrvedthot 
tail  t-onicai  while  head  advaociog  anovfj  th(i  crow^d 
towards  (he  fyr^ploc^^,  wliere  rhu  uaufil  roar  of  fun 
was  gojni;onamokng  lbs  briefirss,  and  sraid,  "  Hiiih 
boya.  here  come<  old  PeveriL  i  stt  Fhc  Pfak^  A 
laugti  cnsucdi  andibe  Great  Unknunn,  as  h^  with- 
drew froro  the  cirdtj  afkr  a  fow  miriuitjs'  gaaaip,  m- 
sisLed  that  I  fihauld  \A\  him  what  our  joke  upon  bJa 
advent  hftd  been.  \Vhen  cnli^htcm^i.  being  by  thai 
time  half  way  aero^a  ^'  ihe  babbhng  uaU,  towards 
hia  own  IHHsimi^  he  looked  round  with  a  «ly  grta, 
and  aaidT  betwt?tn  his  itieth^  "Ay,  a^',  my  man/ a* 
weel  Pevcril  o'  the  Peak  ony  day  a  a  Petrr  o'  the 
Pflinch**  (paunch)— whit h  leiui:  tTmnfmitted  to  tb« 
brethren  aithi  *iQr£6fAi?QL  of  courae  dplighttic)  alt  of 
them  except  lbeir,porUy  Coryphaeus.  But  PUvr't 
application  stuck  ;  eo  his  dyinp  day^  Scoit  waf  in  tho 
Outer  House  Pevt:ril  of  ihe.  PcakQl  fMd  Ptrrei^— 
and,  by  and  by,  like  a  good  Cava!i<?r,  ht  took  totha 
dcBi^nartofi  kmdly.  He  wo»  well  aware  that  hia 
own  fjimily  and  yotinger  friynds  con^tnnily  talked 
of  hi ni  u ndcr  this  ^lobritfu et.  Man y  n  1  ii  t le  n o t e  h a vo 
1  had  from  him  (and  so  probably  hfla  Pde;^  niaoA 
re  proving,  or  peTnaps  ^iico»nieing,  Tory  miBchief, 
and  signed.  *'Thfnet  pEVKniL.^'— Specimcnn  etjoyjgh 
will  oecur  by  and  by— but  I  niay  as  well  iransCriho 
one  heren  doggret  thoych  it  be.  Calling  at  my  house 
one  forenoon,  bo  hud  detpcied  me  in  wrilins  somo 
nona^n^e for Hlackwood^aNoctis  Ambropianie ;  and 
afti5r  he  went  hotnCi  fi/iditig  an  apolopy  from  fiom« 


friend  who  had  heiu  cjiptctijd  lo  dints  vvich  a  Whig- 
gbh  parly  that  day  ki  Casllu  Stji^i,  he  d&ipatched 
ibis  billet  :— 


"  Itredow!5nblo  aiiiner. 

Work  what  Whigt  yoci  plcaao  till  diiuier, 

But  be  h pre  t-xn^r-.t  ml  sIjc, 

(Sophy  msy  step  up  td  te*^ 
Chir  table  h*t  no  room  far  the} 
Came  ijoKngvns  within  y?jur  chueltj 
And  help  iwevt 

Fkvmkil  ov  tks  Pbak." 


CHAPTER  LVIIl, 

ttUESTm  DtJSWABD  VSt  PHOG  fiE3B^LETTE  RS  TO  COI»- 
STABtE— ASP  DR.  tJfDDlJff — THE  AtTrSOR  OF  WaVM.- 
LSV  AND  THE  aOXHCRGHK  CUCTB— THE  BAKKATTKV 
CLLB  PO^l^DEO^ECOTT  CMAIBMAK  OF  THS  zmH- 
Dt^aOft  OIL  OAS  COHPASTT,  SJC*— MSCHAXtCAt  |}>- 
VJCEB  AT  ABfiOTBFOBiJ— OASOMETEA — AJJl-aELL, 
ETC,    ETC.— THE  B£tLEM»ES   WINDOWS.— 1823. 

!t  waa,  porhaps,  some  inward  mi*givmga  lowarda 
diQ  to  tuple  (ion  of  Peveril,  that  determititd  Scott  ta 
break  oew  crouod  in  his  next  novel ;  and  aa  be  had 
before  flwtikentsd  a  fresh  intfireHt  by  ventnrinG  on 
Engiiifth  seen<3ry  and  hiatorVt  try  the  still  bolder  vx- 
penmen  I  of  aconlincnial  eseutBion.  However  tbiiJ 
may  h«v<?  been,  he  wai  eneoura^d  and  strenBtb* 
etiti  by  th*  felurn  of  hia  fri(  nd,  Mr.  Skene,  aboiit 
this  ume»  from  a  tour  in  Frauee  e  in  the  course  of 
which  he  hod  kept  nn  accurate  and  lively  journal, 
and  exeeutfsd  a  vast  variety  of  clever  drawings,  n?p* 
resentiiif^Iaudaeapesand  aneicni  buddings,  such  as 
would  have  been  tnost  auro  to  interest  Scot  I  hao  ne 
been  iho  companion  of  his  wnndenn^s.  M  r  Skene  t 
MS.  eol let" lions  wers  placed  at  his  dispo^alt  and  be 
took  from  one  of  ibecr  chapters  the  substance  of  tho 
(>n>t  ftd  n  nt  r oduc  t  ion  to  (iiJ  en  li  n  i>u  r wfl  rd .  Ye  t  aiill 
hi  a  difficulties  in  lb  is  new  undertaking  were  freoueiitt 
and  of  a  sort  to  wbieb  he  had  hitherto  bten  a  STran- 
^r.  I  rem ffwhcT  observing  bimjnany  limes  in  the 
Advocates*  Library  poring  over  niaps  and  gazetteers 
with  care  and  ansiiety!  and  the  folio wmg  la  oneot 
many  siTniHftr  notes  whit:h  hia  booksollet  and  prmt- 
er  receiTed  during  the  profo^fts  of  i«fi  novel  ;^ 
Digitized  by  V^OOQlC 


UPE  OF  SIR  WALTER  SCOTT. 


7h  AreMbaid  OotutabU^  Etq. 

"  CasUe  Street,  23d  Jan.  1883. 

*  ftf  4t*r  Constable, 

'  « It  a  lile  place  thit  TiUaffeor  Pletais  lea  Tours  that 
caa  haffle  both  you  and  me.  It  la  aplace  famous  in  histo* 
ryi  and,  moreover,  is,  as  your  Gazeueer  assures  us,  a  Til- 
lafoof  1000  inhabitants,  yet  I  have  not  found  it  in  any  map, 
provincial  or  general,  which  I  have  consulted.  1  think 
•omethinc  must  be  found  in  Malte  Brun's  Geographical 
Works.  I  have  also  suggested  to  Mr.  Cadell  that  Wnuc* 
hall's  History  of  France,  or  his  Ttavela,  may  probably  help 
\m.  In  the  mean  time  I  am  getting  on ;  and  Instead  of  de- 
aeription  holding  the  place  of  sense,  1  must  try  to  make 
«ncn  sense  aa  lean  find  hold  the  place  of  daseration. 

**  1  know  Hawkwood's  story  ;*  be  was  originaUy,  I  be- 
lieve, a  tailor  in  London,  and  became  a  noted  leader  of 
Conoottieri  in  Italy. 

*'  I  shall  be  obliged  to  Mr.  Davidf  to  get  from  the  Advo- 
cates' Library,  and  send  me,  the  large  copy  of  Philip  de 
Commines,  in  4to.  I  returned  it,  intending  to  bring  mine 
from  Abbotsford,  but  left  it  in  my  hurry :  and  the  author 
is  the  very  key  to  my  period.-'Yours  ever, 

WALna  SooTT." 

He  wai  much  amtised  with  a  mark  of  French 
admiration  which  reached  him  (opportunely  enough) 
about  the  same  time— one  of  the  few  such  that  nis 
novela  aeem  to  have  brought  him  prior  to  the  publi- 
cation of  Q,uentin  Durwara.    I  regret  that  I  cannot 
produce  the  letter  to  which  he  alludes  in  the  next  of 
these  notes ;  but  I  have  bv  no  means  forgotten  the 
excellent  flavour  of  the  Champagne  which  soon  af- 
terwards arrived  at  Abbotsford,  in  a  quantity  greatly 
moie  liberal  than  had  been  stipulated  for. 
To  A.  OomtabUf  Boq. 
"*  CasUa  Street,  16ch  Pebroary,  18Ei8. 
"  My  dear  ConsUble, 

**  I  send  you  a  letter  which  will  femose  you.  It  la  a  Am- 
By  Prenchinan  who  wants  me  to  accept  some  Champagne 
for  a  set  of  my  worka.  I  have  written,  in  answer,  that  as 
my  works  cost  me  nothing,  I  eookl  not  mink  of  potttng  a  va- 
lue on  them,  but  that  I  should  apply  to  yon.  9end  him  by 
the  mediation  of  Hurst  and  Robinson  a  set  of  my  children 
and  god-children,  (poems  and  novels,)  and  if  he  found, 
•n  aeeingthem,  that  they  were  worth  a  dozen  flasks  of 
Champagne,  he  might  address  the  case  to  Hurst  and  Rob- 
•  inson.  and  they  would  clear  it  at  the  custom-house  and 
send  it  down. 

"Pray  return  the  enclosed  as  a  sort  of  curiosity.— 
Yours,  te. 

Waltis  Scott." 

A  compliment  not  less  flattering  than  this  French- 
man's tender  of  Champagne,  was  paid  to  Scott  with- 
m  a  few  weeks  of  the  appearance  of  Peveril.  In 
the  epistle  intreductonr  of  that  novel,  Captain  Clut- 
tsrbuck  amuses  Dr.  Jonas  Dnrasdust  with  an  ac- 
oooot  of  a  recent  visit  from  their  common  parent, 
"  the  Author  of  Waverley/'  whose  outward  man, 
as  it  wss  in  those  days,  ia  humourously  caricatured, 
with  a  suggestion  that  he  had  probably  sat  to  Qeof- 
frey  Crayon  for  his  "  Stout  Glentleman  of  No. 
II.;"  and  who  is  made  to  apologize  for  the  hearti- 
ness with  whith  he  pay^  his  duty  to  the  viands  set 
before  him,  by  alleging  that  he  was  in  training  for 
the  approachmg  anniversary  of  the  RoxburgheClub, 
whose  gastronomical  zeal  had  always  been  on  a 
scale  worthy  of  their  bibliomaniacal  renown.  "  He 
was  preparing  himself^"  ^aid  the  gracious  and  portly 
Eidolon^  "  to  hoh-nob  with  the  lords  of  the  literary 
treasures  of  Althorpe  and  Hodnct  in  Madeira  negus, 
brewed  by  the  classical  Dibdin  "—[why  negus  ?]— 
**  to  share  those  profound  debates  whicn  stamp  ac- 
curately on  each  'smalt volume,  dark  with  tarnish- 
ed gold,'  its  collar,  not  of  S.S.,  but  of  R.R.— to 
toast  the  immortal  memory  of  Caxton,  Valdarfer, 
Pynson,  and  the  other  fathers  of  that  great  art 

*  Hawkwood— from  vrhoM  adventOTM  Oonttsblefaad  tboufiit 
tlw  aothor  of  Qoentm  Dnrward  mifbt  take  sonie  ttiott-bf^an  life 
as  aumolioe  to  a  Loodoo  tailor.  But,  as  Fuller  fars,  "  he  loon 
turaB  bit  needle  into  a  iword.and  his  thimble  into  a  nhield,"  and 
imiMO  Mrowlf  to  knighthood  m  the  senrice  of  Edward  lU.  After 
aecuroalatinK  groat  wealth  and  fame  in  the  pr»Miatorr  wan  of  Ital*, 
he  died  in  iaS3,  at  Floreoee,  where  his  funeral  wat  eelabcated  with 
roafnifioenoe  amidat  the  general  laraentatiooi  of  the  people.— Set 

'The  Honourabte  Prentice^  or  the  Life  ond  Death  of  Sir  John 
Bmokwood,"*  d-e.    London :  4to.    1«15. 
t  Mr.,pavidOoiMtabls.eMsrtseasf  tbaireat  bookisiiei,-had 

'  an  called  lo  Um  bar  at  Ediobuiih. 


which  has  made  all  and  eaiil:  )f  us  what  we  mJ' 
This  drollery  in  fact  aUuded  jot  to  the  BAzbun^ 
Clubj  but  to  an  institution  o^  the  same  class  wliSeli 
was  just  at  this  time  sprinssDg  into  life,  under -Sir 
Walter's  own  suspices,  in  Edinburgh—the  Baimo- 
tyne  C/ti6,  of  which  he  wss  the  founder  and  firvt 
president.  The  heroes  oftheRozburgfae,  however, 
were  not  to  penetrate  the  mystification  of  Captain 
Clutterbuck's  report,  and  from  their  jovial  and  eru- 
dite board,  when  they  next  congresrated  around  iu 
*'  generotis  flasks  of  Bur|(undy,  each  flanked  by  an 
uncut  fifteener"'-(so  I  think  their  reverend  chroni- 
cler has  somewhere  depicted  the  apparatus)  the  fol- 
lowing despatch  wss  forwarded — 

TV  Sir  Walter  Scott,  Bart..,  Edinburgk. 

**  Feb.,  22,  1828. 
"MydearBlr, 

**The  death  of  Sir  M.  M.  Bykes,  BarL,  bavlaf  oce^ 
sioned  a  vacancy  in  our  Roxbdbohb  Clcb,  I  am  desired 
to  request  that  jtou  wQl  have  the  goodneas  to  make  that 
fact  known  to  tie  Avtbor  or  Wavsrlbt,  who,  6xun  the 
yco|)ewe  to  Pbvbbiloptr>  Psak,  seems  dispoeedto 
become  one  of  the  members  thereof;  and  I  am  Anther 
desired  to  express  the  wishes  of  the  said  Clob  that  the 
said  AuTHOK  may  succeed  to  the  said  BaroneC — I  am 
ever  most  sincerely  yours, 

T.  P.  Dnon,  V.  F.» 

Sir  Waiter's  answer  to  this,  and  to  a  subteqiiflDt 
letter  of  the  Vice-President,  announcing  his  formal 
election,  were  as  follows : 


To  the  Rev.  Tkowuu  ProgndU Dibdin,  tc  ^I 
eingtcn. 

f  Edin.  Peb.  fiS,  laUL 
"MydearBlr, 

**  I  was  duly  frvonred  with  your  letter,  which  proves 
one  point  against  the  unknown  Author  of  Wsireiiey ; 
namely,  that  he  is  certainly  a  ScoCsbmo,  siBce  no  other 
nation  pretends  to  the  advantage  of  seeond  sight  Be  1m 
who  or  where  he  may,  he  most  eettaialy  ieel  tbe  vevy 
high  henourwhich  has  selected  him,  nomifUe  mmkrmf 
to  a  sltoatlon  so  worth  of  envy. 

**  As  his  personal  anpearaace  In  the  fraternity  is  not 
Uke  to  be  a  speedy  event,  one  may  nresume  he  aaay  be 
desirous  of  offering  some  token  or  his  grslltvde  in  the 
Shape  of  a  reprint,  or  8Uch>Uke  kickshaw,  and  for  Ihie 
puipoae  you  had  better  send  me  the  statutes  of  jomr 
teamed  body,  which  I  win  engage  to  send  him  in  aBMCj. 

**  It  will  Allow  as  a  characterlstie  cireumstsBee,  that- 
the  table  of  the  Roxburghs.  Hke  that  of  King  Axthnr, 
will  have  a  vacant  chair,  like  that  of  Banquo  at  Mac- 
beth's  baaqnet  But  if  this  snthor,  who  *  hath  fenmeed 
and  walketn  invisible,'  should  not  appear  to  claim  it 
before  I  come  to  London,  (Should  I  ever  bo  there  again^ 
with  permission  of  the  Club,  L  who  have  something  •{ 
adventure  in  me.  although  a  knight  Itte  Sir  Andrrw 
Aguecheek, '  dubbed  with  unbacked  rapier,  and  on  cnr- 
pet  consideration,'  would,  rather  than  loae  the  chance  ef 
a  dinner  with  the  Rozburghe  Club,  take  npon  m«  the 
adventure  of  the  tiere  perttouoy  oxkd  reap  some  amends 
for  perils  and  scandala  into  which  the  Invisible  champiosi 
haa  drawn  me,  bv  being  his  locum  tenene  on  so  iHstia 
gulshed  an  occasion.- 

"  It  will  be  not  uninterestins  to  you  to  know,  that  a 
fraternity  is  about  to  be  estabUshed  here  aomethii^  oo 
the  plan  of  the  Roxburghe  Club;  but,  having  Scoctlah 
antiquitiea  chiefly  in  view,  it  Is  to  be  called  the  Banna- 
tyne  Club,  from  the  celebrated  antiquary,  George  Bannn- 
tyne,  who  compiled  by  for  the  createst  record  of  old 
Scottish  poetry.  The  first  meeting  Is  to  be  held  oo 
Thursday,  when  the  health  of  the  Rozburghe  Club  wtU 
be  drunk.— I  am  always,  my  dear  sir.  your  most  &Uhful 
humble  servant,  waltkb  8cott." 

To  the  Same. 

"  AbboUford,  May  1, 1331 
"  My  dear  Sir, 

"I  am  duly  honoured  with  your  venr  interesting 
and  llatiering  communication.  Our  Highlanders  hare 
a  proverbial  saying,  founded  on  the  traditional  renown 
ot^  FingaVs  dog ;  *  If  it  is  not  Bran,'  they  say,  *  it  is  Bran's 
brother.'  Now,  this  is  alwavs  taken  as  a  compliment  of 
the  first  class,  whether  applied  to  an  actual  cmr.  or  pu»* 
bolically  to  a  biped ;  and,  upon  the  same  principle,  it  Is 
with  no  small  pnde  and  gratification  that  1  hsar  the  Roz- 
burghe Club  have  been  so  very  flatteringly  diapoaed  Co 
accept  me  as  a  locum  teneno  for  the  uidcnown  author 
whom  they  have  made  the  child  of  their  adoption.  A» 
sponsor,  I  will  play  my  part  until  the  real  Buuon  PuTe 
make  his  appearance. 


Digitized  by  V^OOQlC 


UPE  OP  Sm  WALTER  SCOTT. 


tsr 


iMtikf      Mud  Toiii  ifiy  u»,  that  *  lli«i  Fdn^  i^T  DkrliDefit 

hk  tnviKlSmijr,  ftftii,  rdUinftif  tUs  itirnfnfKt.  permit  me  lo 
»njt>7^,  In  tiM  •tffjul,  ail  jH^tviiir  ivliicb  ]  yrIuq  tij«te  Oiiti  I 
do  tlliM  whkh  I11M  h4>eD  bettowfld  od  jhc  bj  the  cr^lJt  oi 
hiring  WrliU«in  luijr  nf  hi  a  qoTcti. 

"  t  ri'ffret  (]*!^jtly  I  cumijl  aot'D  inU  mywlf  of  my  nf!« 
j^rtf Ur2«i  >  but  t uurtii,  ^Mch  t  uu  uiid^^r  tho  nccenief 
«X  iUMdttnc  dAlIihUj',  iit  down  in  ft  reir  (iajrjs  and  ^ 
mmi  db  not  ftrliiQ  fur  vmcMton  until  July.  Bu|  I  hope 
10  b#  Jti  lowH  ne«i  ^Hng  ;  and  rcTtsUnly  I  havfl  erne  Unmi 
■^dRtcml  TPfwon  fi^r  a  Ijitujnn  Joumcjr^  ftanil«bflfl  by  the 
pimiufv  of  mi^i^tinjf  the  Rotburthe  Citib  Mtke  my 
iBa«  reapeetM  cdmpUuientA  tn  the  lac^tdben  At  ibelr 
a#xt  menry^me^biii  And  cjqjrcBa,  la  tlin  wumi««£  man- 
D^tt  my  BfnMt  of  obllfiJiQia  — t  idi  Alway*,  my  d«ftr  siTf 
Tcry  tuuch.  rour  nto*!  oboiUtnt  terriiitt  » 

tn  hit  way  of  taking  both  the  bVeruchmfta's  eivili- 
ihoM  and  thoB«  of  th^  Etoxbiireht^rv,  itp  9ce  evtd«i3t 
wmptorrift  ibut  the  tna*k  had  ou^un  ta  bo  worn  rji* 
lliar  cardeesly  He  woDid  not  have  WTiTten  thLe 
liat  letter.  1  fnney,  prcvions^  io  ihe  pubiication  of  Mr» 
Adolphufl  a  E^nya  on  the  Auth«>rahip  of  Wavcrlcy. 

Sir  Wflltor^  li  rnaybe  woHh  ni«ntromn>?^  waa  also 
about  this  tim^eloctj^  a  mtiniberof  '^The  Club^'^ 
that  liamon«i  on€  esiiahhshcd  by  Johnaoit^  Burke, 
and  Reynold*,  ot  the  Turk's  Head^  but  which  haa 
now  for  a  lon^  Bcnea  of  years  held  i(»  meetiiui;  at 
the  Thatched  House,  in  Sl  3&m<^9  Street  More- 
o^or,  he  had  beeti  choMii,  on  tho  death  of  the  an- 
liqnsry  Lyaona.  ProGrasor  of  Aticiei^t  History  to 
the  R4>yal  Academy^-a  chair  originally  fbundcd  at 
Dt.  Johnson's  lURgiealion.  "in  onk'T  that  Gotdi^ 
mi^ht  have  «  nahi  tt>  b«  at  thdr  dhiners,"  and  in 
which  Goldflmitn  has  had  several  illiiBtiiaua  siicccft- 
aor^  beaidea  Sit  Walter.  I  belbvc  hi?  was  pr^sem 
at  more  tban  one  of  tb^  festivals  of  each  of  theae 
f raiern  i  6*3«.  A  pai  licula  r  d  in  n  er  of  tbe  Roy  a  I  Acad  ■ 
emy^  at  all  eventa^  is  recorded  wtcb  aoino  pictu^ 
Ts^ue  detaiia  Jn  tiia  easay  on  th^  [jfo  of  his  friend 
John  Kerohte,  who  aat  nojit  to  him  upon  that  oeca- 
aion. 

Tha  Banna tyne  Clnb  was  a  chdd  of  his  own,  and 
from  flrat  to  laat  he  took  a  most  fatherly  concern 
in  nil  ita  pToci^insra.  Hid  rfaetical  A^ne^i  dictated 
B  direction  of  their  fun  da  widely  diUbrcfft  from  v,  hat 
h%d  t»«en  adopted  by  the  Ro  is  burgh  1?.  Thtij  Chih 
^AoA^  already  conaiitutt  a  veireunoujiaiid  valtiable 
iihrary  of  Scottish  hi^Jtary  and  oi>tiquHiei :  ihcu- 
axamplfr  haa  be^r  I'cdlowed  with  not  mferior  aucceaa 
by  the  Maitland  Club  of  Gla^ow— which  n-aa  aogn 
lAcr wards  inahtTited  on  a  aimtlfir  models  and  of 
which  alao  Sjr  Walter  was  n  zealou»  associate :  and 
sjnoa  hk  death  a  third  Club  of  thu  olasa,  founded  at 
Edinbt^Tgh  in  hia  hononr-,  and  etyled  T?^  Abbattford 
CMt  haa  tak<*n  a  still  widi^r  range— not  eon  fining 
iheiT  printing  to  worka  connected  with  Seotlano, 
but  admit tmR  all  tnatf^rinl^  that  con  ilirow  Ijj^ht  on 
tht  ancient  hi  a  to  ry  or  literature  of  an^  country,  any 
whero  doacribed  or  discuMt^  by  liie  Author  of 
Wararley, 

At  the  meetinga  of  the  Bannatyne  he  tegular! y  pre- 
ndfld  firom  li23  to  i%3l ;  and  in  the  chair  on  thdr  anni* 
vfftnry  dinners,  surrounded  by  aome  of  hia  oldi'at 
and  (leareat  friends— Thomas  Thomson  E?ho  Vice^ 
President,)  iobf>  Clerk  (Lord  Eldin,}  the  Chief  Gom- 
mlsDionej-  Adam«  the  Chief  Baron  Shepherd,  Lord 
Jeffrey t  Mr  Constable— and  let  me  not  forge  1  his 
kind»  intelligent,  and  ^nduetrtous  ally.  Mr.  David 
Laing.  booksellef,  the  Secretory  of  the  Club— hfl 
ffotTithia  titfje  foiward  was  the  unfailmg  antrceand 
centre  of  nil  aorti  of  merriment  "  withm  the  limtta 
of  becoming  inirih,"  Of  tht!  ongio  and  carlv  prog- 
ress of  their  institution*  the  reader  has  a  full  ac- 
cmint  in  hii  Feviewol  of  Pitcaim's  Ancient  Criminal 
Trials  of  Scotland^  the  most  important  work  as  yet 
e£ted  for  the  Bannatyne  pres*  ;*  and  the  laat  edi- 
lUMi  i>f  his  Poem:i  includes  hi^  excellent  pong  com- 
P0ii«d  (m  their  first  dinner— that  of  March  9,  IS23— 
and  then  »img  by  Jamea  BalUntyne.  and  nearliiy 
ebortJS*ed  by  all  the  aforesaid  diKiiitaries  :— 

*  Btt  MiMiUaoHHia  Frm  Wtrrki,  vol.  cii  ^  IIS. 


.v....~;  ..„:,  t  •.:^  friaada  af  old  books  and  Did  wlnSt 
Tu  *Utg  Id  iAb  pTa:lA(^«  of  flaf  e  BoatuttQet 
WTio  Jeft  fuelj  it  treMiire  of  old  9c43tljali  kttf.^ 
Aaenablct  ewch  mv  to  print  one  toIoxr?  ibo«. 
Out  vi>]tiiii«  [pare,  my  irieml^-^an  it^lma^ta^re 
Wr  'h  TKumck  0I4  Itwiriy  for  Mift  tdJ  uma  morc^"    '' 
On  the  morning  afWr  that  first  Rannatvno  Club 
dinnaTi  Scott  sent  such  of  the  Waverl^y  MSB.  ti 
be  batl  in  CastW  Street  to  Mr.  Constable,  with  ihia 
nntfls— 

"  Edinburgh,  lUth  SUmh,  laJS. 
**  Dear  Consttbli?, 

"  You,  who  liftwe  m  richly  cmlvwefl  my  Uwln  eal- 
lection,  cannot  Tcfon^  mv  the  fnkuuie  ef  addhaitajwiir^ 
I  bef  y otjr  acccptancfi  of  tf  {Meal  of  H«i  t  wHeh  X  know 
y-Qur  partiaUUea  wfU  |!va  msom  falua  to  tb#n  th^y  d«. 
•ervn;  and  oflJf  anaea  ili«  ecmdUleaa.  ilwt  tbe  kIiaU  ha 
■eraptikiuiil]r«iHieeal«d.  OurttiitliB  wnlHor'a  1U«,  ftiid  onljr 
nud»  furLhcDEntfij  whco  ti  may  bn  n«*r4*ii«iry  to  i>>a«rt 
bii  riflblto  be  accounted  tbe  writer  of  iIhm  novt^la. 

**l  eocloae  a  nata  to  Mr  Outhiifi  Wrtjbt,  who  will  da* 
Uver  'jj  you  Rima  others  nf  iho^a  M3^  wbtcti  wrr?  In 
poor  I^td  Kfnsedder*!  ^osaewlon ;  and  n  few  more  now 
at  Abbotflford.  wlitcb  I  can  een4  in  a  day  or  two|  wUIf 
1  think,  nrATly  complete  the  wholrTtht^ugh  theta  aokf  ba 
aomft  Ui4Ti;i  iidflBlnit- 

"  ]  hap*f  you  we  not  Iba  worse  or&urTery  manr  psr^ 
ty  yeil«nlay,<— Evar  your  a  truly, 

Witipa  Sc<rn,^* 

Various  passages  in  Scoil'i  correspondence  have 
recalled  to  my  recollectiorf  the  wonder  with  which 
the  friends  best  aeqoainted  with  the  extent  of  hb 
utiual  engagements  observed,  about  this  period,  his 
readinea?  in  mi  King  himself  op  i^ith  the  busines*  of 
ossociatioriB  far  diffi-^rtnt  fivam  the  Bantiatyne  Club, 
I  cantiot  doubt  that  his  cotiduct  as  President  of  the 
Royal  Society  ,1  and  a  a  manager  of  the  preparationa 
for  the  Kings  visit,  had  a  main  inflnenco  in  this 
matter*  Ir\  noth  of  th*?se  capacitiea  he  had  Wn 
thrown  into  eon  tact  with  many  of  the  most  emment 
of  hia  lellow-citisons^  who  had  previoosly  *i*n  lit- 
tle of  him  peraonally— incliidtng  several,  and  those 
of  espectal  conaeiiTiencej  who  had  been  accuBtotned 
to  flai^oiir  aJI  their  notions  of  him  with  something 
of  the  gnll  of  local  partisonnhip  \n  i:tolitics  The 
mininaUc  mixture  of  sagacity.  discrLtion,  and  gen- 
tleness which  characlenied  oil  hii  interC4,mrBc  with 
mankind,  waa  fto*in  appreciated  by  the  gtntleiiien 
to  whom  1  allude  *  for  not  a  few  of  them  had  had 
abimdonr  opportuiiitiea  of  observing  and  In  men  ting 
the  east*  with  ivhieh  ill  bumoor^  are  en|E>endered,  to 
the  disturbnn.ce  of  all  really  useful  discussiotit  whefe- 
ever  social  equals  assemble  in  coticlave,  wtlhottt 
having  some  official  presea,  uniting  the  weight  of 
strong  and  quick  i  n  tell  tic  t|  with  the  calmnea«  and 
modcratjon  of  a  brave  apiiit,  and  the  (xmcjlmtlryg 
grace  of  Eiabitiml  courtesy.  No  man  was  ever  tuoro 
admirably  qualified  to  contend  with  the  difficult»ea 
of  aucii  a  ettuation.  Presumption,  dogmatism^  and 
arrogance^  shrunk  from  the  overawing  conlfust  of 
his  modest  greatneas :  the  j»mQn  of  every  little  paa-  . 
ston  waa  shamed  and  ncutraliied  benenih  tbecha* 
riiable  dicnity  of  his  penef ration ;  and  jealousy,  fret- 
fulneasi,  and  spleen,  felt  themselves  traof mated  in 
the  placid  atmosphere  of  good  aenaef  good  humour, 
and  goofl  man nera.  And  whoever  might  be  apt  to 
plead  off  on  the  score  oi  hara&eitjg  and  engrosatpg 
persona)  duty  of  any  sort^  £Jcott  had  always  btsure 
as  well  as  temper  at  tommand,  when  invited  to 
take  part  in  any  buainesi?  connected  with  any  ration* 
al  hopf*  of  public  sd vantage,  Theae  things  open- 
ed, like  the  mscavury  of  some  new  and  precwus  ela- 
ment  of  wealth,  upon  certain  eager  spirit  a  who  coq- 
,  sidercd  the  Roval  Society  as  the  great  local  parent 
and  minister  of  practical  inventions  and  meclisni- 
!  cal  Improvements  t  and  thev  foimd  it  no  hard  mat- 
ter to  m^rre  their  geaial  cnief  with  a  warm  aym- 
pat  by  in  not  a  few  of  their  then  predomiruBl  ape- 
culsfiona^  Ho  was  invited,  for  example,  Vptsco 
himaeif  at  the  head  of  a  new  company  for  improv- 
ing the  matiLifacture  of  tnl  g^iF^  and  in  the  spring  of 
this  year  began  to  officiate  reguiartv  in  that  capa- 
city. Other  aijsoeiations  of  a  like  kind  callc*j  for 
his  countenanc*',  and  n  c^iived  it  The  fume  of  hia 
ready  zeal  and  happy  demetjumr 
Digitized  by 


e^d^^' 


8d8 


LIFE  OP  SIR  WALTER  SCOTT 


and  from  this  time,  until  bodily  infirmities  disabled 
him,  Sir  Walter  occupied,  as  the  most  usuaK  ac- 
ceptable, and  successful  chairman  of  public  meet- 
ings of  almost  every  conceivable  sort,  apart  from 
politics,  a  very  prominent  place  among  the  active 
dtisens  of  his  native  town.  Any  foreign  student 
of  statistics  who  should  have  happened  to  peruse 
the  files  of  an  Edinburgh  newspaper  for  the  period 
to  which  I  allude,  would,  I  thinlL^  have  concluded 
that  there  must  be  at  least  two  air  Walter  Scotts 
in  the  place— one  the  miraculously  fertile 'author 
whose  works  occupied  two  thirds  of  its  literary  ad- 
vertisements and  critical  columns— another  some 
retired  magistrate  or  senator  of  easy  fortune  and 
ipdefatigable  philanthropy,  who  devoted  the  rather 
oppressive  leisure  of  an  honoured  old  age  to  the 
promotion  of  patriotic  ameUorations,  the  watchful 
guardianship  of  chariciea,  and  the  ardent  patnmage 
of  educational  institutions. 

The  reader  will  perceive  in  the  oorrespondenoe  to 
which  I  must  return,  hints  about  various  little  matr 
ters  connected  with  Scott's  own  advancing  edifice 
on  Tweed-sid&  in  which  he  may  trace  the  President 
of  the  Royal  Society,  and  th6  Chairman  of  the  Gas 
Company. 

Thus,  on  the  Uth  of  Febniary,  he  reeurr  to  (he 
plan  or  heating  interiors  by  steam—and  proceeda 
with  other  toiMcs  of  a  similar  class  :— 

7\>  D.  Teny^  E^q.^  London, 

*♦  Dsar  Terry, 

**1  will  not  foil  to  send  Mr, AddnsQa,  sosooii  u  I  can 
geiit,  » lull  aocoimt  of  Mr.  Holdsworth  or  Glasgow's  im* 
moved  usa  oi  steam,  which  is  In  great  acceptation. 
.Being  now  necessanly  sometiines  with  men  of  science, 
I  hear  a  great  deal  of  these  matters ;  and,  like  Don  Diegp 
Snapatiorto  wit2l  respect  to  Greek,  though  I  do  not  on- 
tlerstand  them,  I  like  the  sound  of  them.  I  have  got  a 
■eapital  stove  (proved  and  exercised  by  Mr.  Robtson,* 
'Who  Is  Bueh  a  mechanical  geniaB  as  his  fiuiher,  ttie  eele- 
-brated  professor,)  for  the  lowar  part  of  ihs  house,  with 
a  ooBUBMiaioaCion  for  ventilating  hi  the  sommer.  More- 
lover,  I  have  got  for  one  or  two  or  the  rooms  a  new  sort 
of  belL  which  I  think  would  divert  you.  There  is  nei- 
ther wire  nor  crank  of  any  kind ;  the  whole  consistmg 
of  a  tube  of  tln.auch  as  Is  used  for  gas,  having  at  one 
extremity  a  cylinder  a(  wider  dimensions,  and  in  the 
other  a  piece  of  light  wood.  The  larger  cylinder^-Bup- 
pose  an-  taich  and  a  half  hi  diameter— terminates  in  the 
apartment,  and,  ontamented  as  you  please,  is  the  handle, 
as  it  were,  of  the  beli  By  pcessmg  a  piston  down  taim  this 
upper  and  wider  cylinder,  the  air  through  the  tabe,  to  a 
.mstaace  of  a  hundred  feetif  necesaary,  is  suddenly  com- 
pressed, which  compression  throws  out  the  light  piece 
.of  wood,  which  strikes  the  beU.  The  power  of  compres- 
.alon  is  exactly  liko  that  of  the  Bnunah  patent— the  acting 
element  being  air  instead  of  water.  The  bell  may  act  as 
a  telMraph  by  sbiUng  once,  twice,  thrice,  or  so  forth. 
The  great  sdvaatsge,  however,  is  that  it  never  can  go  out 
of  araer— needsno  oranks,  or  pollies,  or  wirts— and  can 
be  contorted  into  any  eoit  of  twining  or  taming,  which 
Boovenlenoe  of  coBsmaniesnlon  may  require,  being  aim- 
-ply  an  air-tight  tube.  Ilraight  be  used  to  communicate 
with  the  stable,  and  I  think  of  somethhig  of  that  kind— 
with  the  porter's  lodce— with  the  gardener's  house.  I 
have  a  model  now  in  the  room  with  me.  The  only  thing 
I  have  not  explained  is,  that  a  small  spring  raises  the 
piston  B.  when  pressed  down.  I  wlah  you  wonid  show 
this  to  Mr.  Atkinson :  if  he  has  not  seen  it,  he  will  be  de- 
listed. I  have  it  tried  on  a  tube  of  fifty  feet,  end  it 
never  fails,  indeed  cannot,  k  may  be  called  the  nephts 
uUra  of  beU-ringlng— the  pea>gun  principle,  as  one  may 
aay.  As  the  bell  is  stationary,  it  might  be  necesary  (were 
more  than  one  used)  that  a  little  medalUon  should  be 
suspended  in  such  a  manner  as  to  be  put  in  vibration, 
so  as  to  show  the  servant  which  bell  has  been  struck.— 
1  thbik  we  have  spoke  of  wellnigh  all  the  commodities 
wanted  at  Conondrum  Oastlc  worth  mentioning.  Still 
there  are  the  carpets.  % 

**  I  have  no  idea  my  present  labouM  will  be  dramatic 
tai  sltustlon  :  as  to  character,  that  of  Louis  XI.,  the  saga- 
elous^rfidious,  superstitious,  joenlar,  and  politic  tyrant, 
woul^P,  for  a  hlstoral  chronicle,  containing  his  life  and 
deat^  one  of  the  most  powerful  ever  brought  on  the 
stage.— Yours  truly, 

W.  Scott." 

,  son  of  the  author  of  "Elements  ofMe- 
*c  is  now  Sscfstanr  ofthe  Royal  SoefeCv 


•Mr.J< 


diftUg 


MS?' 


A  few  weeks  later,  ha  saya  to  the  aame  correepon- 
dent—"  I  must  not  omit  to  tell  you  that  my  gaa  es- 
tablishment is  in  great  splendour,  and  worwng,  now 
that  the  expense  of  the  apparatus  is  in  a  great 
measure  paid,  very  easily  and  very  cheapjy.  In 
point  of  economy,  however,  it  ia  not  so  efiecdve; 
for  the  facility  of  proeming  it  encourages  to  a  great 
profusion  of  ught :  but  then  a  galh>n  of  the  fcsuseat 
train  oil,  which  is  used  for  preference,  makes  a  Inm- 
dred  feet  o(  gas,  and  treble  that  quantity  lighfa  the 
house  in  tfie  state  of  an  illumination  for  the  exnenae 
of  about  3s.  6d.  In  our  new  mansion  we  saould 
have  been  ruined  with  spermaceti  oil  and  waz-cao- 
dles,  yet  had  not  one  tenth  part  of  the  ^ghL  Be- 
sidesi  we  are  entirely  freed  from  the  gieat  pla^oe  of 
oleaiung  lamps,  dbc.  There  is  no  smell  whatever, 
unleas  a  valve  ialeft  open,  and  the  gas  escapes  on- 
consumed,  in  whieh  case  the  scent  oocasionB  ita  be- 
ing instantly  discovered.  About  twice  a-week  the 
gas  ia  nsade  by  an  ordinary  labourer,  under  ooca- 
nonal  inspection  of  tbe  gardeoer.    It  takes  ahoot 


five  hours  to  fill  the  feserroir  gaaomater.    I  i 

saw  an  invention  more  compleCely  aaliafiMMory  in 
the  resulta." 

I  cannot  aay  that  Sir  Walter'a  "oantary  of  iarm- 
dons"  at  Abbotsfoid  turned  out  very  kaivily.  Hia 
new  philosophical  ffM  plus  «/lra  of  beUa  waa  liaand 
in  the  saiiuel  a  poor  roeeedaiwmp  for  the  okl-AiahioD- 
ad  luechanism  of  the  aimple  wire ;  aad  hia  t|K>lum- 
tk>B  of  sas-light  to  the  intarior  of  a  dwdkog'nooae 
was  in  net  attended  with  so  many  innaunwiienw, 
that  eie  long  all  his  fonibrhaaitily  wished  it  had  nev- 
er been  thoujdit  »t  Moieover,  Sir  Walter  had  fda- 
oehrad  faiaisaif  aa  to  the  axpense  4>f  sadi  an  aapan- 
tus  when  maintained  for  the  uaosof  a  suutlaaonMS- 
tic  astablishman  t.  He  aasily  maile  cut  that  his  n» 
fter  M  cost  Mm  less  than  the  wax^  oil,  and  tsUair 
nqujsire  to  r^roduoe  an  equal  qaaatiiv  of  light  would 
have  done  J  bat  thous^  he  adButtsa  that  no  aunh 
<]i]aTiLity  of  ariificial  fight  Was  naoassary  aither  for 
aomffiTt  ar  splendour,  nor  woald  aaer  haiva  hem 
dreamt  of  had  its  supply  been  to  come  from  the 
ahanejlcr"^  ^ tore,  "  the  state  of  an  iUnraioadon*'  waa 
a  I  Fi  Mj  ^  1  C4 >  n  •»!  antly  kept  up.  Above  all,  he  seems  to 
h^vc^  by  e^i^Tme  tnokeiy  or  the  imsgination,  got  rid 
in  hje^  ^^niLiate  of  all  memory  of  tlie  very  con* 
aidirablo  siim  expanded  on  tbe  ori|9Jial  fobnc  and  -' 
forni^hirig;  of  his  gasometer,  and  lining  wall  upon 
wall  wuh  3--i  many  hirtidiais,  perhaps  thousaiida 
of  foet  of  deticate  pipe  work,~and,  in  like  manner 
to  have  counted  for  nothing  the  foot  that  he  had  a 
workman  of  auperior  eharapteramnfoyad  during  no 
alender  portion  of  every  ydar  in  the  manufoenne. 
He  himself,  aa  has  been  mentioned  before,  deU«|fa|el 
at  all  times  in  a  strong  light,  and  was  not  liable  to 
much  annoyance  from  the  delicacy  of  his  oifactory 
nerves.  To  the  extiemea  of  heat  and  cold,  too.  he 
was  nearly  indifferent.  But  the  blaze  and  glow, 
«tii!.1  oc-.^fieffinr*  Arl.ur  r.^  ... ,:,.  when  spread  over  ev- 
ery pan  oi  a  |.»rivatd  house,  will  ever  conatitute  a 
serioiiR  Hnnoyance  for  tha  majority  of  man-^atill 
moTfi  so  of  women—anii  m  u  oountry  place  where 
skilfu]  repair,  in  case  ofaecirlciit,  cannot  beiransedi- 
atoly  procnr^,  the  mmxlt  Is  ofrtm  a  misery.  The  ef- 
fect of  the  nevf  apparntui  m  the  dining-rocmi  at 
Abhotsford  was  at  fir?  r  mi  per  h.  In  setting;  down  to 
table,  m  Automn,  no  oiui  ob^^erved  that  m  each  of 
tfartjjp  chamJelir?.re  {one  of  thiMu  beinjg  of  venr  great 
diimnsjEODaj  therr^  lurkcid  a.  fittle  tmy  bead  of  red 
liglit.  Dinner  pap^'d  o\\\  ari([  the  sun  went  down, 
and  fudderiily',  at  ihc  tuminp  of  a  screw,  the  room 
was  filJ*;*!  vr\th  d  i?u»h  of  ^?p!t<ndour  worthy  oif  the 
paJAcre  of  AUdiJki  r  but,  as  in  the  case  of  Aladdin, 
thi?  i^ld  lamp  would  haVfl  bean  better  in  the  UDshot. 
Jfiw  elry  Bparktd,  but  checks  aad  lipa  looked  cold 
and  wan  m  this  fierce  illumination ;  and  the  eye  was 
wearied,  and  the  brow  ached,  if  the  sittmg  was  at 
all  protracted.  I  confess,  however,  that  my  chief 
enmity  to  the  whole afiair  arises  from  my  conviction 
that  Sir  Walter's  own  health  was  damaged,  in  his 
latter  years,  in  consequence  of  his  habitually  work- 
ing at  night  under  the  intense  and  burning  glare  of  a 
broad  star  of  gaa,  which  hung,  as  it  werei  in  the  air, 
immediately  over  his  writing  taW«v^^^ .  ^ 
Digitized  byVjUOQ  IC 


UPE  OP  SIR  WALTER  SCOTT. 


Tliesephiloaophical  novelties  were  combined  with 
cnzioualy  heterogenous  features  of  decoration--^,  g, 
TV  tht  Lvrd  M^tagu,  ^c.  Ditton  Park^  Windsor. 
**  Edlnborfb,  February  20, 1823. 
''My  dear  Lord, 

**  I  want  a  little  sketch  of  yoar  Lordahlp's  arm«,  on  the 
fonowhig  account  You  are  to  know  that  I  have  a  sort  of 
entrance  galtory,  in  which  I  intend  to  hang  up  my  old  ar- 
aoor,  at  least  the  hearler  paruofitf  with  sundry  skins, 
horns,  and  such  like  aflUrs.  That  the  two  whidows  may 
be  in  onlsoil,  I  intend  to  sport  a  litUe  painted  glass,  and  as  I 
think  heraldry  is  always  oener  than  any  other  subject,  I 
Intend  that  (he  upper  compartment  of  each  window  shall 
have  the  shield,  supporters,  Ac.  of  one  of  the  existing  dig- 
nitaries of  the  clan  of  Seou ;  and,  of  course,  the  Duke's 
arms  and  yoor  Lordship's  will  occupy  two  sueh  posts  of 
diactoctioa.  The  corresponding  two  will  be  Harden's  and 
Thirlestaae's,*  the  only  rsmiliesnow  left  who  bare  a  right 
to  be  regarded  as  chlenalns;  andthe  lower  compartments 
of  aacli  window  will  contain  eight  shields  (Wttbout  ac- 
eompeniments)  of  good  gentlemen  of  the  name,  of  whom 
I  estn  stm  musur  dzteen  bearing  separate  coats  of  arms. 
There  tn  a  Mttlo  conceit  in  all  this,  but  I  have  long  got  bC' 
yood  the  terror  of 

'  Lord,  what  wlM  all  the  people  say ! 

Blr.  BCayor,  Mr.  BSayorV 
and,  like  an  obstinate  old-iaahioned  Scotchman,  I  buckle 
my  belt  my  ain  gate,— and  so  1  wUl  have  my  B9Usn4ent 
w9ndow.-^Bv9i  yours  faithfully, 

WALTia  8C0TT.» 

The  following  letter,  addressed  to  the  same  noble- 
man at  his  seal  in  the  New  Fon^t;  opens  with  a 
rather  noticeable  paragraph.  He  is  anxious  that 
tbs  guardian  of  Bnocleoch  should  not  omit  the  op- 
portUBity  of  adding  another  farm  in  Dumfriesshire, 
to  an  estate  which  already  covered  the  best  part  of 
three  or  four  coimties ! 

Th  the  Lotd  M^ntagUj  ^.  ^.  Beaulieu  Abbey ^  ffanU. 

''June  Idth,  1823. 
»My  dear  Lord, 

"  Your  ktaid letter  reached  me  just  when,  with  my  nsual 
aaddling  humour,  I  was  about  to  poke  your  Lordship  on 
Ufes  snbject  of  the  ftrm  near  Drumlanrlg.  I  iee  officially 
that  the  u^et  price  is  reduced.  Now,  surely  you  will  not 
let  it  aUp  yon :  the  other  lots  have  all  gone  higher  than  val- 
uatioo,  so,  therefore,  it  is  to  be  supposed  the  estimation 
I  be  very  much  out  of  the  way,  and  surely,  as  run 


ningabsolutcly  into  sight  of  that  fine  castle,  it  should  be 
the  Dnke'a  at  all  events.  Think  of  a  vile  four-  cornered 
house,  with  plantations  laid  out' after  the  fashion  of  scol- 
lops (as  the  women  call  them)  and  pocket  handkerchiefs, 
cutting  and  disfiguring  the  side  ot  the  hill,  in  constant 
view.  The  small  property  has  a  tendency  to  fall  into  the 
great  onO)  as  the  small  drop  of  vroter,  as  it  runs  down 
the  pane  of  a  carriage>winaow,  alwavs  joins  the  larger. 
But  ibis  may  not  happen  till  we  are  all  dead  and  gone  ;  and 
N*  O  W  are  three  important  letters  of  the  alphabet, 
mighty  slippery,  and  apt  to  escape  tlie  grasp. 
^I  was  much  interested  by  your  Lordship's  account 
of  BeauUeu;  I  have  seen  it  from  the  water,  and  admired 
It  very  much,  but  I  remember  being  told  an  evil  ffenlus 
haunted  It  in  the  shape  of  a  low  fever,  to  which  the  in- 
habitants were  said  to  be  eubject  The  woods  were  the 
most  noble  I  ever  saw  The  disappearance  of  the  an- 
cient monastic  remains  may  be  accounted  for  on  the 
aam«  principle  as  elsewhere— a  desire  of  the  grantees  of 
the  Crown  to  secularise  the  appearance  of  the  property, 
and  remove  at  least  the  external  evidence  that  It  naa  ever 

been  dedicatf  ^  * "-'""  --^^    r-rtry  mnch  on  the 

principle  on  t  \vihi-iiu%fitrvii  ^Piur?  tn^h  plji[<^  io 

soon  as  it  con  i^'ir  ivi^ftf^cf^iianH  and  jnvi!^  i^ic  <st\^V- 

nal  metal  ai  .  .  ..•  Ij  rfnticra  It  inorfl  difflcuU  la  re- 
assume  it— th;  I  uv^t  uiisavdury  «i(oHc  Tlie  various 
faintatlons  in  "i.;i'i,  aiul  (r'H'i»eqijpnlly  In  property  of 
this  kind,  re^  ■■  i.'ci' ri  li"t1  ^\\rV\  poUry.  Your  Lnrd^hiip 
cannot  but  re  .i-mi^m  r  Mir  FatI  of  Fetabrokp.  \t\  Edujird 
the  fltith's  thus  <^jcp<:<lli»i?  tbe  aunt  f^wn  Wfltr3<n— iti' n 
in  Queen  Msi  -'^  Yr-iivhitxvnt  t\\^n\  into  thck  niTimf^iv, 
himself  meet2^ii<:  i\in  ahhas.'i.  b^rciwAf^d  «]id  in  t^ctcknu, 
in  penance  lb'  iilt  HcrtJn^'^^-*in''l  fitjAlUt  ^nin  Tiiniing 
the  said  abbe  -  -  -Mid  Ui'i"  Viiv;;^^*  .Mliifi  m'ttif?  jity*  of  gptid 

*  Lord  Napier  has  Uipeerairetaf  well  as  the  covmmndinf  lur- 
name,  ftom  a  female  ancestor ;  in  the  male  blood  he  fi  Scott,  Baro- 
•MX  qT  TMrlettan^-axtd  indeed  ■ome  antiquaries  of  no  mean 
authority  consider  him  as  now  the  male  reprrsontative  of  Buc- 
daueii.  I  seed  fiot  rsmiod  the  reader  that  both  Harden  and 
TUitostaoB  make  a  mat  6stm  in  the  Lay  of  the  Last  Minstrel, 
s  the  old  war-cqr  of  Becelsttch. 
2H* 


Queen  Bess,  with  the  wholesome  admonkion— *  Oo  spin, 
you  jades,  go  spin. '  Sometldng  Uke  the  system  of  demoli* 
tion  which  probably  went  on  during  these  uncertain  timee 
was  practised  by  what  was  calledf  in  France  La  Iteade 
Noire,  who  bought  cliateauz  and  abbeys,  and  oulUng 
them  down,  sold  the  materials  for  what  they  would  bring 
— ^which  was  sometimes  sufficient  to  help  well  towards 
payment  of  the  land,  when  the  assigns ts  were  at  an  im* 
mense  depreciation. 

"  I  should  like  dearly  to  have  your  Lordship's  advice 
about  what  I  am  now  doing  here,  knowing  you  to  be  one 
of  those 

'  Who  in  trim  gardens  take  their  pleasure.* 

I  am  shutting  my  house  in  with  a  court-yard,  the  interior 
of  which  is  to  Be  laid  out  around  the  drive  In  flower- 
plou  and  ahrubbery,  besides  a  treUieed  walk.  This  I 
mtend  to  connect  vvith  my  gardens,  and  obtain,  if  poe> 
sible,  some  thin^  (parvum  compmtere  magnia)  like  the- 
comfort  of  Ditton.  so  preferable  to  the  tame  and  poor 
waste  of  grass  ana  gravel  by  which  modem  houses  are 


surrounded,    k  trust  to  see  yon  all  here  in  autumn.^ 
,&iQ^aUy,  "'  '^ 


Ever  yours. 


W.  Scorr" 


In  answerinc  the  foregoing  letter,  Lord  MoAtuni 
mentioned  to  scott  the  eatiefaction  he  had  recentlr 
had  in  plactnR  hie  nephew  the  Doke  of  Buccleucn 
under  the  care  of  Mr«  Blak^ney,  an  accompliehed 
eentleman  and  old  friend,  who  had  been  hia  own 
fellow-Biudent  at  Cambrioge.  He  also  ralUed  the 
poet  a  little  on  hia  yearning  for  acres ;  and  hint- . 
tad  that  that  craving  is  apt  to  draw  inconveniently 
even  on  a  ducal  revenue.    Soott  aaya  in  replyr- 

To  the  Lord  Montagu^  ^.  4%. 

"  My  dear  Lord, 

**  I  am  delighted  that  you  have  got  such  a  tutor  for 
Walter  ^a  enthrely  sattsAes  a  person  so  well  acquahited 
with  mankind  as  your  Lordship ;  and  I  am  not  afirahl 
that  a  frisnd  of  yours  should  be  imbued  with  any  of  very 
dangerous  qualities,  which  are  sometimes  found  in  ihe 
instructors  placed  around  our  noble  youths.  Betwixt  a 
narrowmhided  pedantry,  which  naturally  dlagtists  a 
young  ipan,  and  the  iar  more  formidable  vices  of  flatte- 
ry, assentation,  and  self-seektng  of  all  kinds,  there  are  . 
very  few  of  the  class  of  men  whi>  nrti  Itlf'ty  to  sdopt  the 
sitTOiHon  of  tutor,  that  one  U  nm  EiTr^iu  Tf>  trii:Jt  tivat  iht}. 
person  of  a  boy  of  rank  a;v'l  fcnuno  I  tlitnk  it  in  an 
argument  of  your  friend's  goufl  »ta^u  and  Ji]Ltgm>^Qii  ttiat 
he  thinks  the  knowledge  of  ^Somemjc  hi-slory  easent  al  i& 
his  pupil.  It  is  in  fact  the  i-k^!?  ontpMs>i'm'Mii  wbJr'h^  of 
aU  others,  comes  most  hoir'^'  Ui  fho  btiemc^M  iipd  bre^iH 
of  a  public  man — and  the  Dulcet  of  EEucck^uch  cj^h  ticvt^ 
be  regarded  as  a  private  ouo.  H-'jijid*'?*,  it  has,  to  n  with 
gular  degree,  the  tendency  in  rip{?a  mtfa':i  jud^iu^nt 
upon  the  wild  political  spei  ulalkms  now  ctirrtril.  Any 
one  who  will  read  Clarendon  wnU  atttnUr>n  uidpAili'ii^Cw 
may  regard  re/uti  in  specu^j  (b<^  furm  rtud  pn'saurr  ^r 
our  own  times,  if  you  will  just  place  Ide  faniiJeiMti  of 
atheism  and  irreliglon  instead  or  ih&i  of  eutbui»icuun,  and 
combine  it  with  the  fierce  thirst  after  innovation  proper 
to  both  ages.  Hen  of  veiy  high  rank  are,  I  have  noticed^ 
in  youth  peculiarly  accessible  to  the  temptations  held  out 
to  their  inexperience  by  the  ingenious  arsuers  upon 
speculative  politics.  There  is  popularity  to  be  obtained 
by  listening  to  these  lectnres— there  is  also  an  idea  of 
generosity,  and  independence,  and  public  spirit,  in  affect' 
ing  to  hold  cheap  tne  privileges  which  are  peculiarly 
their  own— and  there  may  spring  in  some  minds  the  idea 
(a  very  vain  one)  that  the  turret  would  seem  higher,  and 
more  distinguished,  if  some  parts  of  the  building  that 
overtop  it  were  pulled  dovm.  I  hsve  no  doubt  Mr. 
Blakeney  is  aware  of  all  this,  and  will  uike  his  own  time 
and  manner  in  leading  our  young  friend  to  draw  from 
history,  in  his  own  way,  Inferences'wfaich  may  apply  to 
his  own  times.  I  will  consider  anxiously  what  your 
Lordship  mentions  about  a  course  of  Scottish  study.  We 
are  still  but  very  indifferently  provided  with  Scotch  his- 
lories  of  a  general  description.  *.  I-,ord  Hailes'  Annals  are 
the  foundation-stone,  ana  an  excellent  book,  though  dryly 
\vritten.  Pinlcerton,  in  two  very  unreadable  quartos,  which 
yet  abound  in  information,  takes  up  the  thread  where 

*  See  aome  remarks  on  the  Scottish  historiaiM  in  Sir  1|^lter'« 
reviowal  of  tho  fint  and  vooood  vohimet  of  Mr.  P.  F.^PIler's 
elaborate  work— a  work  which  lie  had  meant  U>  criticize  throufb* 
out  in  similar  detail,  for  he  coniidered  it  aj  a  very  important  one 
in  itself,  and  had,  mor<H>ver.  a  warm  resard  for  the  author— the 
son  of  hi«  oarljr  friend  Lord  Woodhouaelpe.  Hb  own  Tales  of  a 
Grandfather  have,  however  unanibitiously  undertaken,  supplied  a 
more  just  and  clear  miide  of  Scottish  history  to  the  feneral 
reader,  than  any  one  coald  have  pointed  out  at  the  time  wncr 


390 


UFE  OF  SIR  WALTER  SCOTT. 


HaUM  dropi  it— «nd  then  jon  hare  Robertton,  down  to 
ihe  Union  of  the  crowns.  But  I  would  beware  of  taslc- 
worlE.  wUeh  PInlcerton  U  least  mutt  always  be,  and  I 
would  relieve  him  every  now  and  then  by  looking  at  the 
pages  of  old  Pitscottie,  where  events  are  told  with  so 
much  nafve(s,  and  even  humour,  and  such  individuality 
as  It  were,  that  it  plac^es  the  actors  and  scenes  before  the 
reader.  The  whole  history  of  James  V.  and  Queen  Mary 
may  be  read  to  great  advantage  in  the  elegant  Latin  of 
Lesiy,  Bishop  of  Ross,  and,  collated  with  the  account 
which  his  opponent,  Buchanan,  in  language  still  more 
elassical,  gives  of  the  same  eventful  reigns.  Laing  is 
but  a  bad  guide  through  the  seventeenth  century,  yet  I 
hardly  know  where  a  combined  account  of  these  events 
IS  to  be  had,  so  fiir  as  Scotland  is  concerned,  and  still  leas 
where  we  could  recommend  to  the  voong  Duke  an  ac- 
count of  Scottish  Jurisprudence  that  is  not  too  technical. 
All  this  I  will  be  happy  to  talk  over  with  vosv  Lordship, 
for  that  our  young  friend  should  possess  this  Information 
in  a  general  way  is  essential  to  his  own  comfort  and  the 
welfare  of  many. 

**  About  the  ladQ  I  have  no  doubt  your  Lordship  is  quite 
right,  but  I  have  something  of  wtmt  is  cfUed  the  yeard 
hunger.'  I  dare  savyou  will  get  the  other  lots  iLbon 
marchi.  when  you  wish  to  have  them ;  and,  to  be  sure,  a 
dacal  dignity  is  a  monstrous  besst  for  devouring  ready 
oaah.  I  do  not  fear,  on  the  part  of  Duke  Walter,  those 
ills  which  might  arise  to  many  from  a  vesy  great  cdm> 
mand  of  ready  money,  which  sometimes  makes  a  young 
man,  like  a  horse  too  niU  of  spirits,  make  too  much  play 
at  starting,  and  flag  afterwards.  I  think  improvident  ex- 
penditure will  not  be  his  fault,  though  I  have  no  douM  he 
will  have  the  generous  temper  orhis  father  and  grand- 
fiUher,  with  more  means  to  indulge  an  expense  which 
has  others  for  Its  object  more  than  mere  personal  gnui- 
fication.  This  I  venture  to  foretell,  and  hope  to  see  the 
accomplishment  of  my  prophecy  ;  few  thhigs  could  give 
me  more  pleasure. 

"Mr  courtyard  riiet,  but  masons,  of  all  men  but  lo- 
▼en,  love  the  most  to  linger  ere  they  depart  Two  men 
are  now  tapping  upon  the  summit  of  my  gate  as  gently  as 
If  they  were  layinf  the  foundation-stone  of  a  Methodist 
meel^ig-house,  and  one  plumber  *alts,Bparrow.like,  com. 
nanionless,'  upon  the  top  of  a  turret  which  should  have 
been  iiniahed  a  month  since.  I  must  go,  and,  as  Judge 
JelTeries  used  to  express  it,  give  them  a  lick  with  the 
rough  side  of  my  tongue,  which  will  relieve  your  Lord- 
•hip  sooner  than  might  otherwise  have  been. 

*^Melrose  is  looking  excellently  welL  I  begin  to  think 
taking  oflr  the  old  roof  would  have  hurt  it,  at  least  exter. 
nally,  bv  diminishing  its  effect  on  the  eye.  The  lowering 
the  roofs  of  the  aisles  has  had  a  most  excellent  effect  Sir 
Adam  is  well,  and  his  circle  augmented  by  liis  Indian 
brother.  Major  Ferguson,  who  has  much  of  the  family 
manners— an  excellent  importation,  of  course,  to  Tweed- 
side.— Ever  yours  truly, 

W.   SOOTT." 

In  April  of  this  yean  Sir  Walter  heard  of  the  death 
of  his  dear  brother  Tnoma^  Scott,  whose  son  had 
been  for  two  years  domesticated  with  him  at  Ab- 
botsford,  and  the  rest  of  that  family  were  soon 
afterwards  his  f^ests  for  a  considerable  time. 
Amons  other  visitants  of  the  same  season,  were 
Miss  Edseworth  and  her  sisters:  Harriet  and  So- 
phia. After  spending  a  few  weeks  in  Edinburgh, 
and  making  a  tour  into  the  Highlands,  they  gave  a 
fortnight  to  Abbotsford ;  and  thenceforth  the  cor- 
respondence between  Scott  and  the  most  distin- 
guished of  contemporary  novelists,  was  of  that  con- 
fiding and  affectionate  character  which  wo  have 
seen  largely  exemplified  in  his  intercourse  with 
Joanna  Baillie.  His  first  impressions  of  his  new 
fnend  are  given  in  this  letter  to  Mr.  Terry. 

To  D.  Terry^  Btq.,  London. 

•*  Castle  Street,  June  18. 1823. 
*'My  marbles !  my  marbles  I  O  what  must  now  be  done  1 
My  drawing-room  is  finish'd  off,  but  marbles  there  are 

none. 
Mv  marbles !  my  marbles !  I  fancied  them  so  fine, 
The  marbles  ofLord  Elgin  were  but  a  joke  to  mine.t 

**  In  fact  we  are  all  on  tip-toe  now  for  the  marbles  and 
the  chjwiey-grates,  which  being  had  and  obtained,  we 
will  beWs  clamorous  about  other  matters.  1  have  very 
little  news  to  send  you :  Miss  Edgeworth  is  at  present  the 
great  lioness  of  Edinburgh,  and  a  very  nice  lioness ;  she 
Is  fhll  of  fun  and  spirit ;  a  little  slight  figure,  very  active 


t  Sir  Waller  m  .parodjrifif  the  Spanish  Ballad,  "  My  earrinca  ! 
■rear-rinas  are  dropt  into  the --'^"  "^ 


e  well"  Ac. 

I 


in  her  motions,  venr  good-humoored,  and  fuU  of  ^ 
asm.  Your  descriptions  of  the  chlffonleres  made  in9 
mouth  water :  but  Abbotsfbrd  has  cost  rather  too  much 
for  one  year,  with  the  absolutely  necessarjr  e■pen^si^ 
and  I  like  to  leave  something  to  succeeding  years,  when 
we  may  be  better  able  to  aliord  to  set  our  matters  mada 
tasty.  Besides,  the  painting  of  the  house  should  be  exe- 
cuted before  much  curious  furniture  be  ^ut  in ;  next 
spring,  perhaps,  we  may  go  prowling  together  throqgh 
the  brokers'  purlieus.  I  enclose  you  a  nlan  of  mj  ow« 
for  a  gallery  round  my  own  room,  which  is  to  comhia^ 
that  advantage  with  a  private  staircase  at  the  same  tioie, 
leaving  me  possession  of  my  oratory ;  this  will  be  lor 
next  year— but  I  should  like  to  take  Btr.  Atkinson's  senti- 
ments about  it  Somebody  told  me,  I  trust  iaaecu  ratal j, 
that  he  had  not  been  well.  I  have  not  heard  of  him  for 
some  time,  and  I  owe  him  (besides  much  kindness  whicli 
can  only  be  paid  with  gratitude)  the  suitable  comi»eni»> 
tion  for  his  very  frten<fly  labours  in  mv  behalt  Iwiah 
you  would  poko  him  a  little,  with  all  delicacy,  on  this 
subject  We  are  richer  than  when  Abbotsford  first 
bwan,  and  have  engrossed  a  great  deal  of  his  most  vahi- 
able  time.  I  think  you  will  understand  the  plan  perfect- 
ly. A  private  staUrcaae  comes  down  from  my  drwsing* 
room,  and  opena  upon  a  book  gallery  ;  the  laodiag-plaett 
forms  the  top  of  the  oratory,  leaving  that  cabinet  seran 
feet  high  ;  then  there  is  a  staircase  in  the  closet  which 
corresponds  with  the  oratory,  which  you  attain  by  walk- 
ing  round  the  gallery.  This  staircase  might  be  made  to 
hamg  OQ  the  door  ana  poll  out  when  it  is  opened,  vrfaich  Is 
the  way  abroad  with  an  etcaiier  derobi.*  I  might  either 
put  shelves  under  the  gallery,  or  place  some  or  mj  cabi* 
nets  there,  or  partly  both.— Kind  compliments  to  Mrs. 


parti  V 
Terry,  in  which  all  join. 


''Yours most  truly, 


W.  SooTT. 


"  P.  S.— The  quantUy  of  horns  that  I  have  for  the  hafl 
would  furnish  the  whole  world  of  cuckoldom:  srrived 
this  instant  a  new  cargo  of  them.  Lord  knowa  from 
whence.  I  opened  the  box,  thinking  it  nUght  be  the  d»> 
mask,  and  foOnd  it  full  of  sylvan  spoils.  Has  an  old-fa- 
shioned consulting  desk  ever  met  your  aye  in  yoor  ram- 
bles 1  I  mean  one  of  those  which  nave  four  faces,  each 
forming  an  inclined  phme,  like  a  writing-deak,  and  made 
to  turn  round  as  well  as  to  rise,  end  be  depressed  by  a 
strong  iron  screw  in  the  centre,  something  like  a  cow- 
clawed  table ;  they  are  old-fiuhioaed,  but  cholcelv  con- 
venient, as  you  can  keep  three  or  four  hooka,  fbiioe  if 
rou  like,  open  for  reference.  If  you  have  not  seen  one, 
can  get  one  made  to  a  model  in  the  Advocates'  library. 
Some  sort  of  contrivsnces  there  are  too  for  disptajmc 

Erints,  all  which  would  be  convenient  in  so  large  a  r 
ut  can  bo  got  in  time." 


CHAPTER  LIX. 

aiTBNTIN  DURWABO  PUBU8HBD— TaAMSACTIONS  WITIC 
COMSTABLB— DIAL06UXS  ON  StTPBRSTmOlT  PBOPO0- 
ED— AaTICLB  ON  BOMANCB  WMITTBW— STAtOHAK** 
WBLL  B«OUN— "  MtLBOSB  IW  JULY** — ABSOTSTOBO 
VISITBD  BY  M188  EDGEWOBTH— AND  BY  MB.  ADOL- 
PHUS— HIS  MKMOBANDA— EZCCB8I0N  TO  ALLAKTON 
— ANBCD0TB8— LBTTEB8  TO  MISS  BAILUB,  MIBS 
KDGEWOBTH,  MB.  TBBBV,  ETC.— PITBUCATION  OF  BT. 
BON  AN*  8  WELL.— 1823. 

A  DAiJ^or  two  after  the  date  of  the  preceding  let- 
ter, Quentin  Durward  was  published ;  and  surpsM- 
ins  as  its  popularity  was  eventually,  ConstabU, 
wno  was  in  London  at  the  time,  wrote  in  oold  terms 
of  its  tmtii   *'  option. 

Vt  ry  «li  > '  !  the  bookseller  left  Edinburgh 

for  I  ti At  n^*,  11^  11 11 L  i»ncii]ded  another  baivain  (ois 
1b}*i;  of  ihp  sorO  t*  r  '*!«  ptirchase  of  Waveriey  copy- 
riuhit— fietjuinrip  ih  author's  property  in  the  Pirate^ 
Ni^t  I,  Pevcril,  Quel  also  Quentin  Durward,  oat  and 
out,  at  ilie  price  of  ft  ye  thousand  guineas.  He  had 
tby:i  payl  for  thi-  ii>py right  of  novels  (over  and 
above  ihe  hnU  profits  of  the  early  separate  editions) 
I  h«  5imi  of  £'k%MHi ;  and  his  advances  upon"  works 
ci  !:j-ijii"  suli  m  embryo,  amounted  at  this  mo- 
ment to  X10,000  more.  He  began,  in  short,  and  the 
wonder  is  that  he  began  so  late,  to  suspect  that  the 
process  of  creation  was  moving  too  rapidly.    The 

{mblication  of  different  sets  of  tbe  novels  in' a  col- 
ective  form  may  probably  have  had  a  share  in  open- 

*  Sir  Welter  had  in  his  mind  a  ftvomite  eafainet  of  Napoleoa's 
at  tbe  ElyHe  Bourbon,  where  thsia  aie  a  fsllegr  and  eanceaied 
staiicaioitteh  as  hs  baa  dsseiibss. 

Digitized  by  VjOOQIC 


LIFE  OP  SIR  WALTER  SCOTT. 


m 


mg  hii  eyes  to  the  fact,  that  the  voluminoaanesa  of 
an  author  is  any  thing  hut  favourable  to  the  rapid 
diffusion  of  bis  works  as  library  books— the  great 
obiect  with  any  publisher  who  aspires  at  founding  a 
solid  fortune.  But  he  merely  intimated  on  this  oc- 
casion that  he  thought  the  pecuniary  transactions 
between  Scott  and  himself  had  gone  to  such  an  ex- 
tent that,  considering  the  usual  chances  of  lifei  and 
health,  he  must  decline  contracting  for  any  more 
novels  until  those  for  which  his  house  had  already 
advanced  monies  (or  at  least  HiU)  should  have 
been  written. 

Scott  himself  appears  to  have  admitted  for  a  mo- 
ment thp  '■^■'--■^  that  ho  hnd  been  .■Vhr.I'in'T  in 
the  field  ■.  ■  .  .  ;  and  oponeti  !cj  < 'iiTisirtlil^^  the 

scheme  ui  a  w4jrK  on  populor  supers  til  ions,  m  ihe 
form  of  dinloBUf,  fof  which  hv  had  lung  pois?tc9«ed 
ample  ma^^nuld  in  hisiliormi^li  mEi^tery  of  perhaps 
the  most  canoua  librnri'  of  diabUric  that  ever  man 
epueeutd^  But  bcfort  Coni^tnbTe  had  li^i^iurt^  to  ron- 
lideErihts  proposiU  m  nit  Ua  bparine»t  Quentin  I>ur- 
wsrd,  frum  bebp^  as  Scoii  uxjjrtfss^  M^fr&st-hU^ 
h&d  emerEcij  inio  rnfjst  fen  id  and  flouriflning  life. 
In  ftcr^  thc^  sen  Bali  on  which  thU  novel,  on  its  first 
appear ance^  created  in  Perns,  was  Gxlremely  Bimilar 
to  that  which  ar (ended  the  original  Wa^crley  in 
Edinbnrpb,  aivd  /van hoe  aficr wards  in  London. 
Par  thij  first  time  Scytt  bad  ventured  on  forifim 
ground,  and  thfl  French  public,  long  weaned  of  ine 
poropous  trasediana  and  f*eble  romanccrfw  who  had 
alone  striven  lo  brins  out  (he  ancient  htsvor^  and 
manners  of  eheir  t'otmnv  in  popolar  form  5,  were 
flietxed  with  a  fc^er  of  delighi  when  Louts  XI.  and 
Cbarlea  The  Bold  ainrted  into  Hfe  iLj^ain  at  the  beck 
of  the  Nonhem  Magician.  Germany  h»d  been  ful* 
Iv  awmkc  to  his  mt^nts  ycnra  before,  but  the  public 
thefie  also  it\i  their  ayfrip^thiea  upp^al^  to  with 
hiihertoiinniatehetl  strength  and  efTccL  The  infec- 
tk>p  of  admiration  ran  far  n mi  wide  on  the  Coitti- 
nent,  and  soon  re-acicd  moai  polentljr  upon  tin!  a  in. 

Discussing  the  v^]  rlaiJM  fortunes  of  thc^e  noveU  a 
w  ycara  after,  Mr.  Senior  says— 

**  Almost  all  Uie  characters  in  his  other  noveU  are 
drawn  from  British  history  or  from  British  domestic  life. 
That  they  should  delight  nations  differing  so  much  from 
ourselves  and  from  one  another  in  habiu  and  in  literarj 
taste,  who  cannot  appreciate  the  imitation  of  our  ezisUng 
manners,  or  Join  in  our  historical  associations ;  that  the 
bead  of  Le  Sleur  Valtere  Skote'  should  be  pointed  out  by  a 
Buncartan  tradesman  as  the  portrait  of  '  Fhomme  le  plus 
c€l€bre  I'Eorope ;'  that  his  works  should  employ  the 
tzanalators  and  printers  of  Leipsic  and  Paris,  and  even  re- 
fieve  the  ennui  of  a  Rothentum  quarantine  on  the  extreme 
borders  of  European  civilization,  is,  as  Dr.  Walsh'  has  well 
observed,  the  strongest  proof  that  their  details  are  found- 
ed on  deep  knowledge  of  the  human  character,  and  of 
tke  general  feeUngs  recognised  by  all.  Bnt  Quentin  Dur- 
ward  has  the  additional  advantage  of  scenery  and  charac- 
ters possesstng  European  interest.  It  presents  to  the  in- 
habiiaou  of  the  Netherlands  and  of  France,  the  most 
advanced  of  the  continental  nations,  aoicturo  of  the  man* 
ners  of  their  ancestors,  incomparablj  more  vivid  and 
more  detailed  than  is  to  bo  found  in  any  other  narrative, 
either  fictitious  or  real :  and  that  picture  is  dignified  by 
the  Introdaction  of  persons  whose  influence  has  not  even 
yet  ceased  to  operate. 

**  Perhaps  at  no  time  did  the  future  state  of  Enrope  de- 
pend more  on  the  conduct  of  two  individuals  than  when 

tbecrowri  of  France  an-1  *'- "^ -^  -"  > 

ceniled  on  Louis  XI.  ani  b 

fren  real  to  nominal  so         _i,.,,  a 

tbeftteoftho  empire 01  ipi^pjuiyi^t  wiui  Uii-u  iiL|iT;uiJLi]| 
over  the  kingdom  of  Iv.un  f.  Atici  i\  tjiat  ihrunA  had 
been  filled,  at  this  critlcnl  ^i  t\^\^  hy  a  inr^nArrh  wiib  hv^s 
courage,  less  prudence,  01  iscire  icrtip^lc^ua  th&n  Lrmi-i, 
Oisre  seems  every  reaatrn  tn  mippoaeUiiit  tH>3  ^rcm  r<  14. 
listorlcs  would  have  secuied  u^eXr  ind^'p^ndrnc^,  ariiltJe 
f fester  part  of  that  co^iiiItv  iiii^ht  rrnw  be  divided  tnto 
BBUiy  petty  principalitieiv,  t^rtur  Cathnlir,  ind  ikiiiii^  Pn»- 
teaiant,  prioeipallf  intern  -mi  »  x.lu^ljni^  nrirb  *^\\i  t'^  .  i.>[:i. 

modlties,  and  prevenUni;  La < .; . uu.u.d 

have  been  predicted  as  the  necessary  consequence  of  a 
free  trade  between  Gascony  and  Languedoc. 

**  On  the  other  hand,  if  the  race  of  excellent  sovereigns 

wbo  jovemed  Burgundy  for  a  hundred  and  twenty  years 

had  been  continued— or,  indeed,  if  Duke  Philip  had  been 

IbDowed  by  almost  any  other  person  than  his  orutal  son, 

*  8es  Wabh's  Joamar  to  Constantinople. 


the  rich  and  extensive  countries,  which  under  his  reign 
constituted  the  most  powerful  sute  in  Borope,  must  sooa 
have  been  formed  into  an  independent  monarchy—a  mo* 
narchy  far  greater  and  better  consolidated  than  the  arti* 
ficial  kingdom  lately  built  up  out  of  their  fragments,  and 
kept  together  rather  by  the  pressure  of  surrounding  Eu- 
rope  than  by  any  internal  principles  of  cohesion.*  From 
the  times  of  Louis  XI.  until  now,  France  has  been  the 


master-spring  in  European  politics,  and  Flanders  merely 
an  arena  for  combat.  The  imagination  is  bewildered  by 
an  attempt  to  speculate  on  the  course  which  human  a^ 


fairs  might  have  taken  if  the  commencement  of  the 
fifteenth  century  had  found  the  Low  Countries,  Burgun- 
dy and  Artois,  one  great  kingdom,  and  Normandy,  Brttta> 
ny,  Provence,  and  the  other  fiefs  of  the  French  crown, 
independent  principalities. 

"  In  addition  to  their  historical  inlcresL  Sir  Walter  had 
the  good  fortune  to  find  in  Charles  and  Louis  characters 
a.«^well  contrasted  as  if  they  had  been  invented  for  the 
purposes  of  fiction.  Both  were  indeed  utterly  selfish, 
but  there  the  resemblance  ends.  The  duke's  mUnr 
piinciple  was  vanitjr,  and  vanity  of  the  least  tatelleetnu 
kind.  His  first  object  was  the  fame  of  a  conqueror,  or 
rather  of  a  soldier,  for  hi  his  battles  he  seems  to  fa«ve 
aimed  more  at  showing  courage  and  personal  streoujg^ 
than  the  calmness  uid  combination  of  a  genersL  CDs 
other  great  source  of  delisht  was  the  exmbition  of  his 
wealth  and  splendour,— hi  tne  pomp  of  his  dress  and  his 
retinue-  In  these  ignoble  pursuits  he  seems  to  have  been 
utterly  Indifferent  to  the  sufl^erings  he  inflicted  on  others, 
and  to  the  risks  he  himself  encountered ;  and  uhimatehr 
threw  away  his  life,  his  army,  and  the  proq>erity  of  bis 
country,  in  a  war  undertaken  without  any  object,  ibr  be 
was  attacking  those  who  were  anxious  to  be  bis  auxUisp 
ries,  and  persevered  in,  after  success  waa  imposstblSi 
merely  to  postpone  the  humiliation  of  a  retreat 

"  Louis's  object  was  power ;  and  he  seems  to  have  en* 
loyed  the  rare  felicity  of  being  unaffected  by  vanity. 
Be  had  both  intrepidity  and  conduct  in  battle— fkr  more 
of  the  latter  indeed  than  his  ferocious  rival ;  but  no  de> 
sire  to  display  these  (roaUUes  led  him  into  war,  if  his  ob* 
jeou  could  be  otherwise  obtained.  He  fought  those  only 
whom  he  could  not  bribe  or  deceive.  The  same  indlfferw 
ence  to  mere  opinion  entitled  him  to  Commhies^  prsias 
as  *  eminently  wise  hi  adversity.'  When  «it  vnis  not  ex- 
pedient to  resist,  he  could  retreat,  concede,  and  apolo- 
gize, without  more  apparent  humiliation  than  the  king  hi 
chess  when  he  moves  out  of  check.  He  was  rapacious, 
because  wealth  is  a  source  of  power,  and  because  he 
had  no  symo^hy  with  those  whom  he  Impoverished ;  but 
he  did  not,  uR  his  rival,  waste  his  treasures  on  himseU^ 
or  on  his  favourites-^e  employed  them  either  in  the 
support  of  his  own  real  force,  or  in  keepUig  in  his  pay 
the  ministers  and  favourites  of  other  sovereigns,  snd 
sometimes  the  sovereigns  themselves.  His  only  oer* 
sonal  expense  was  in  providing  for  the  wel&re  of  his 
soul,  which  he  conciliated  with  his  unscrupulous  ambi- 
tion, by  allowhil  the  saints  his  intercessors  a  portion  of 
his  spoils.  Our  author's  picture  of  his  superstition  may 
appear  at  first  sight  overcharged,  but  the  imaginary 
prayer  ascribed  to  him  is  scarcely  a  caricature  of  hw 
real  address  to  Notre  Dame  de  Clery,  which  we  copy  la 
Brmntome's  antiquated  spelling— 

^  *■  Ah,  ma  bonne  Dame,  ma  petite  Maistresse.ms  grands 
ame,  en  qui  j'ay  eu  tousjonrs  mon  reconfort  Je  te 
prie  de  supplies  Dieu  pour  moy,  et  estre  mon  advocate 
envers  luy,  qu'il  roe  pardonne  la  mort  de  mon  firere— que 
j'ay  fait  empoisonner  par  ce  meschant  Abb6  de  8.  Jean. 
Je  m'en  confesse  a  toi,  comme  i  ma  bonne  patronne  et 
maistresse.  Mais  aiissi,  qu'eusse-je  sceu  fairel  U  ne 
me  faisoit  que  troubler  mon  royaume.  Fay  moy  done- 
oues  pardonncr,  ma  bonne  Dame ;  et  je  tgay  ce  yueje  te 
aonnerau.* 

"  Sir  Walter  has  made  good  use  of  these  excellent  ma 
terials.  His  Louis  and  his  Charles  are  perfectly  faithflil 
copies,  with  all  the  spirit  and  consistency  which  even  As 
could  have  given  to  creations  of  his  own.  The  narrative, 
too,  is  flowing  and  connected :  each  event  depends  on 
that  which  preceded  It,  without  any  of  the  episodeiu  re- 
capitulations, and  sudden  changes  of  scene,  which  hi 
many  of  his  works  weaken  the  interest,  and  distract  the 
attention  of  the  reader." 

The  result  of  Quentin  Durward,  as  reffards  the 
contemporary  Hterature  of  France,  and  thence  of 
Italy  and  the  Continent  Renerally,  would  open  a 
field  fbf  ample  diirreasion.  As  concerns  Scott  him- 
self, the  rsys  of  foreign  enthusiaam  speedily  thaw- 
ed the  frost  of  Constable's  imwonted  misgivingt; 

*  This  critici*m  was  p«rf>iished  (in  th«  Loodoo  Review)  long 
belbie  tin  Revolt  of  Bnisseb,  ki  1860,  divUed  BelgimB  fh>m  Hoi 
land. 


Digitized  by  V^OOQlC 


ihi&  Dklogu^d  on  Supe  rati  lion,  if  he£verl>egaii  (h^nu 
were  \aT^  ^cm  dropped,  And  ibe  rVoveiiat  reisiumed 
his  pen.  He  hud  not  sunk  mider  the  sliorE'Iivctt 
frown— for  be  wrote  to  HnlJantyiip,  on  first  nsc^r- 
tmiiim  that  a.  damp  was  thrown  on  \m  utstial  njiina' 
fncture^ 

'*  The  QtouBe  who  only  trOati  to  pijw  poor  hoie, 
Can  ntver  be  a  mouie  of  &ny  soui ;'' 

and  while  hia  ^kutilj^ht^r  yei  riJintiined  irresolute  ab 
10  thf^  plfi»  oi'  DibloKiies,  tlirc^w  ati;  with  unohat^^d 
energy',  his  tJte^Ueni  Eaiay  on  RunmncG,  for  ihe 
Supplement  to  tht  Encyclapipdia  Bntaunjcs ;  nnd 
I  cannot  but  coneider  it  oa  another  di&plajf  of  his 
hmh  sclf-rdinncei  that,  though  he  v^l  knew  lo 
what  inQuftnceCiucfiiin  oWed  its  ultimate  eucceas 
in  thc^  BhtiEih  miirket,  he,  ihe  matani  he  found  hini- 
telf  encourtiK'^d  iv  mke  up  thtj  trntle  of  Btoryteliitig 
again,  apranR  back  tci  Scotland -^naj^,  vofutitahly 
eQcountpred  new  diEBculties,  by  se^eciinjjf  tha  com- 
ptrativEly  tJimi?  and  tinpicture^ue  renhlie^  of  mo- 
dem manners  in  his  native  province, 

A  con  versa  (ion,  which  much  inicreflt^me  at  the 
time,  had,  I  fnmy,  some  share  at  [^st  in  this  deter- 
mioatian.  As  Im,  LaidlaWt  and  mypelt  wcno  loiin;^* 
ing  on  our  ponice*  one  fine  caltn  afternoon,  along 
the  brow  of  ihe  Eildon  hil!  where  it  ovfrhanga  MoU 
rose,  he  mention^  to  ua  eayly  thfi  n^ip^  &»h^  ctii\M 
it,  that  was  going  on  in  Pans  about  Que n tin  Dur- 
warri,  and  said,  ^*  I  can't  hut  think  thai  1  eouUL 
njak^  belter  play  atill  with  something  German  " 
Lflidlftw  grumbled  at  thia,  and  isaid,  like  a  true 
Scotchman.  ""  Na.  na,  air — take  my  word  for  it^  you 
mri)  ttlwayg  test,  like  He  ten  MacGr»:i^or,  wbe^n  your 
foot  is  on  your  native  heath  ^^  and  I  have  often 
thought  that  if  yuu  were  to  write  a  novel,  and  Iny 
the  9Ct;ne  Aire,  in  the  very  year  )*on  wer3  writing  it. 
you  would  eiceert  four&elf/'— "Hame'a  ha  me/' 
cntcth  Scoti,  amihnir,  "be  it  ever  aae  hamely. 
There's  bo  me  thing  in  what  you  »9\\  Willie.  Who  I 
auppofie  I  were  to  take  Captain  Clutterbuck  for  a 


LIFfc  OP  SIR  WALTER  SCbW. 


field  wotild  he  quite  wide  enoua;h— and  tfi^ni  /or 
no  ?""(Thia  pet  phrase  of  M€«  Doda  was  a  Laid- 
fotpiVTn.)— Some  fun  folio wetf  about  the  diflert^nt 
real  peraon^  in  the  viUafits  that  might  by  mirodueed 
with  eoniicnl  cRect;  but  as  Laidlaw  and  I  talked 
and  lenighed  over  our  worthy  neighbour:},  hia  air  Ld- 
cAme  graver  and  graver  j  and  lie  at  ienirth  said, 
"  Ay.  ay,  if  one  could  look  into  tht^  heart  uf  that  hi- 
lie  cIuBier  of  cottaBcB,  no  fear  hut  you  would  find 
mate^rinl^  enow  for  tragedy  as  well  as  comedy.  1 
undertake  lo  say  there  ja  aome  real  romance  at  thia 
moment  going  on  down  there,  that,  if  it  could  h*ive 
justice  done  to  it,  wouhi  be  well  worth  all  the  fiction 
that  waa  ever  spun  out  of  humani  brains."  He  ihsn 
told  na  s^  tale  of  dnrk  domestic  j^uilt  which  had  re- 
cently come  under  hia  notjcfi  as  Shenff.  and  of  which 
the  acone  was  not  MelroBc,  but  a  a  mailer  hamlet  on 
the  other  aide  of  the  Tweed,  ftiH  in  our  viewj  htit 
the  details  were  not  of  a  kiod  to  hcj  dwelt  irpon ; 
—any  thing  more  dreadful  wae  nr:ver  conctived  by 
Crohbc,  and  he  told  it  fo  aa  to  ^>rodiJce  on  iw  who 
liatenad  all  the  elTect  of  another  Bail  tyf  Jtfsilce.  It 
couEcl  never  have  entered  into  \m  h*tm  to  etalioraeo 
■uch  a  tale ;  hut  both  Latdiaw  ami  I  used  to  thmk 
ihat  this  talk  fniggf^sted  St.  Rtman'e  Weil— ihouj^h 
Jny  good  friend  was  by  no  nteana  dippoaed  to  acetpt 
that  as  payment  in  fiill  of  his  demand,  and  from 
lime  Id  time  after  wants  would  frive  the  Slicrilf  a  lit- 
llepokmfi  alM:»ui  "  Sklrose  in  July." 

Before  Sir  Walt^er  aettleil  to  the  new  novel,  hts  re- 
ceived Joanna  BaTllieVs  long-prnmiifid  Collection  of 
Poeticitl  Miseellniireft,  in  which  aiT^peared  hia  own 
drAmattc  pkeicb  of  Macdufffl  Orosa,  When  Uali- 
don  Hill  flrat  earnc  forth,  iherewerii  not  wan  tin  ft 
roviewers  who  ha  tied  it  in  ii  style  of  rapture,  anch 
na  nnght  have  been  uxpf:^eied  had  it  hocm  a  Macbeth. 
Btat  this  folly  soon  sunk;  and  I  only  mention  it  a^ 
an  inataner' i)f  the  ejctent  to  which  rt=pntation  be- 
^dera  and  confounds  even  petson  who  have  good 


brains  enough  when  thev  find  it  convenient  to  ex 
ercise  them.  The  eecona  attempt  of  the  class  pnh 
duced  no  sensation  whatever  at  the  lime;  and  both 
would  have  been  long  since  forgotten,  but  that  they 
came  from  Scott's  pen.  TheF  both  contain  loma 
fine  passages— Halidon  Hill  naiL  indeed,  several 
grand  ones.  But,  on  the  whole,  they  alwameon- 
ed  to  me  most  egregiously  unworthy  of  Sir  Walter; 
and,  now  that  wehavi  before  us  his  admirable  let- 
ters on  dramatie  composition  to  Allan  CunniDgham, 
it  appears  doubly  hard  to  account  for  the  rashoeif 
with  which  he  committed  himself  in  even  sacb 
slender  attempts  on  a  spedea  of  compoffitioo,  of 
which,  in  his  cool  hour,  he  so  fully  appreciated  ibe 
difficult  demands.  Nevertheless,  I  am  very  fu 
from  agreeing  with  those  critics  who  have  gnrd; 
talked  of  Halidon  Hill,  and  Macdufi^s  Cro»,  lod 
the  still  more  unfortunate  Doom  of  Devorigoil,  is 
proving  that  Sir  Walter  could  not  have  succeeded 
in  the  drama,  cither  seiious  or  comic  It  would  be 
as  fair  to  conclude,  from  the  abortive  fragment  of 
the  Vampyre,  t|iat  Lord  Byron  could  not  have  wiii- 
ten  a  good  novel  or  romance  in  prose.  Scott  threr 
off  these  tilings  currente  calamo ;  he  never  m 
himself  time  to  consider  beforehand  what  could  be 
made  of  their  materials,  nor  bestowed  a  moment  os 
correcting  them  after  he  had  corered  the  allotted 
quantity  of  paper  with  blank  verse :  and  neitbei 
when  they  were  new,  nor  ever  aften  aid  he  seem  to 
attach  the  slightest  importance  to  tnem. 

Miss  Baillie^s  volume  contained  sevoral  poems  by 
Mrs.  Heman8,*T-8ome  >«tix  (F esprit  by  the  latelfias 
Catherine  Faiishawe,  a  woman  of  rare  wit  tod 
genius,  in  whose  society  Scott  greatly  deUghtsd,— 
and.  inter  alia^  Mr.  William  Howisbn's  earlv  baUii 
oz  Polydore,  which  had  been  (uisinally  publiabei 
under  Scott's  auspices,  in  the  Edinburgh  Amusl 
Register  for  1810. 

Tb  3Bs8  JoaHna  Bittllt^  ffkmpste^ 

"£dlx)burfh,' July  11,1^  ' 
"  Your  kind  letter,  my  dear  fiiend,  heaps  coals  of  fire 
fln  my  head,  for  1  snould  have  written  to  yoo,  in  can- 
mon  gratitude,  lone  ^nce ;  but  I  waited  tfll  I  shoold  retd 
ihrough  the  Mi8c«IlBay  with  some  attention,  whicli  ai! 
have  not  vet  done,  I  can  scarce  say  much  to  the  jJon 
pose,  so  lar  as  that  is  concerned.  ^  My  own  produrtioa 
Bate  in  the  porch  Ilice  an  cVil  thing,  and  scared  me  from 
proceeding  fiwiher  ilian  to  harry  through  your  compo' 
sitions,  wTtli  which  I  was  delighted,  and  two  or  three 
others.  In  mr  own  case,  I  have  almost  a  nervous  rehiC' 
ianco  to  look  oack  on  any  recent  poetical  perforaaaoM 
of  my  own.  I  may  almost  say  with  Macbeth,— 
"  I  am  afraid  to  think  what  I  have  done. 
Look  on't  again  I  dare  not" 
But  the  best  of  the  matter  is,  that  your  purpose  has  bees 
eo  aatiafactorily  answered— and  great  reason  have  jea 
[0  be  proud  of  yoar  influence  with  the  poem-bayen is 
well  as  the  poem-makers.  By  the  by,  you  know  year  re* 
quest  first  set  me  a  hammering  on  an  old  tale  of  tte 
Bwlntons,  from  whom,  by  the  mother's  aide,  I*an  d» 
icendedj  and  the  tinkering  work  I  made  of  it  wanned  ifat 
heart  or  a  coosin*  in  the  East  Indies,  a  descendant  of 
the  renowned  Sir  Allan,  who  has  sent  his  kindred  poet 
by  this  fleet  not  a  butt  of  sack,  but  a  pipe  of  moat  ptfli* 
cular  Madeira.  ¥ou  and  Mrs.  Agnes  shall  have  a  ^HM 
of  it  when  you  come  to  Abbotsford,  for  I  always  coaii> 
der  your  last  only  a  payment  to  account— you  did  not 
Htay  half  the  time  vou  promised.  I  am  going  oat  tiM« 
on  Friday,  and  shaU  see  idl  my  fiimily  re-imited  aroaad 
me  for  the  first  time  these  many  years.  They  malM  a 
very  good  figure  aa  *  honest  men  and  bonny  lasses.'  I 
read  Miss  Fanabawe's  pieces,  which  are  quite  beantifoL 
Mrs.  Hemans  is  somewhat  too  poetical  for  my  taate-4o» 
many  flowers  I  moon,  and  too  little  firuit— but  that  mtf 
be  the  cynical  criticism  of  an  elderly  gentleman ;  for  It 
Is  certain  that  when  I  was  young,  I  read  verses  of  eveiy 
kind  with  infinitely  more  indulgence,  because  with  moct 
]Ucasure,  -than  I  can  now  do— tJie  mpre  shame  for  ae 
now  to  refuse  the  complaisance  which  I  have  hsdia 
often  to  soUcit  I  am  hastening  to  think  prose  a  better 
thing  than  verse,  and  if  you  have  any  hopes  to  convtoes 
me  to  the  contrary,  it  mu«t  be  by  writing  and  pablid^ 
noother  volume  of  plays  as  fast  as  p^BSfble.  I  tUak 
Oiey  wDukl  be  moat  tkvourably  received ;  and  be^  Ike 
Bums,  to 

*  George  Swintctt,  Emu  (now  of  BwintwO  mn  at'tte  ti» 
Secretary  to  the  Gouodl  in  Bengal.,      ^-x/-x/^i^ 
4  Digitized  by  VjOOQ  IC 


UFfi  OP  SIR  WALTER  SCOtT. 


893 


^  ten  you  of  oiine  and  Scotland's  dronth, 

Your  servant's  huinble— "     * 

I  jovtDg  friend  of  mine,  Lord  Freocls  Go^er,  has  made 
I  ?ei7  fair  auempt  to  translate  Goethe's  untranslatable 
tlar  of  Faui(t,  or  Fanstua.  He  has  given  also  a  Tenrton 
•f  SchiHer*»  rery  fine  poem  on  Castins  the  Bell,  which  1 
hink  equals  Mr.  Sotheby's— nay,  privately,  (for  tell  it 
lot  hi  Sppin;  Forest,  whisper  it  not  in  Hainpstead,)  ra- 
her  outdoes  our  excellent  friend.  I  have  not  compared 
hem  minutely,  however.  As  for  Mr.  'Howison,  tuch  is 
he  worldly  name  of  Folydonre,  I  never  saw  such  a 
change  in  my  Ufe  upon  a  young  man.  It  may  be  fourteen 
ears,  or  thereabouts,  since  he  introduced  himself  to 
oe,  by  sending  me  some  most  excellent  verses  tor  a 
outh  of  sixteen  yean  old.  I  asked  him  to  Ashemlel, 
ind  he  came — a  thin  hectic  youth,  with  an  eye  of  dark 
ire,  a  cheek  that  coloured  on  the  slightest  emotion,  and 
1  mhid  fraught  with  feeling  of  the  tender  and  the  beautl- 
ul,  and  eager  Ibr  poetical  fame— otherwise,  of  so  little 
icqoaintance  whb  the  World  and  the  workl's  ways,  that 
I  sucking-turkey  might  have  been  his  tutor.  I  was  ra- 
her  a  bear-like  nurse  for  such  a  Iamb-like  charf  e.  We 
oold  hardly  indeed  BSsocfate  together,  for  I  was  then 
eternally  restless,  and  he  as  sedentary.  He  could  nei- 
het  fish,  shoot,  or  course— ho  could  not  bear  the  inside 
>f  a  carriage  with  the  ladies,  for  it  made  him  sick,  nor 
he  oufMde  with  my  boys,  for  it  made  him  giddy.  He 
ouid  not  vralk,  for  it  fanned  him,  nor  ride,  for  he  fell 
)ir.  I  did  all  1  could  to  make  him  happy,  and  it  was  not 
ill  he  had  caught  two  colds  and  one  spnun,  besides  risk- 
Df  his  Ufe  in  tne  Tweed,  that  I  gave  up  aJl  attempts  to 
oDvert  him  to  the  thinge  of  this  world.  Our  acquaint- 
mce  after  this  languished,  and  at  last  fell  asleep,  uH  oae 
lay  last  year  I  met  at  Loekhan's  a  thin  consvmptite- 
ooking  man,  bent  double  vrlth  study,  and  whose  eyes 
leemed  to  have  been  exthtguiahed  almost  by  poring  over 
he  midnight  lamp,  though  protected  by  immense  green 
peetacles.  1  then  foimd  that  my  poet  had  turned  meta- 
•hysician,  and  that  these  spectacles  were  to  assist  him 
Q  gazing  into  the  millstone  of  moral  philosophy.  He 
>oked  at  least  twice  as  old  as  he  really  Is,  and  nas  since 
ublished  a  book,  very  smiOI  in  size,  but,  from  its  ex- 
reme  abatraeted  doctrines,  more  difficult  to  comprehend 
ian  any  I  ever  opened  in  my  life.*  I  will  take  care  he 
as  one  of  my  copies  of  the  Miscellany.  If  he  geU  into 
lie  risht  line,  be  will  do  something  remarkable  yet. 
'*  We  aaw,  you  will  readily  suppose,  a  great  deal  of  Miss 
klgoworth,  and  two  very  nice  girls,  her  younger  sisters, 
t  is  scarcely  poaaibie  to  say  more  of  this  very  remarkap 
•le  person,  than  that  ahe  not  only  completely  answered, 
)ut  exceeded  the  expectation  which  I  bad  formed.  I  am 
nrticularly  ploaoed  wHh  the  nnlveie  and  good-humoured 
irdour  of  mind  which  she  unites  with  such  formidable 
xmeraof  acute  observatioB  In  external  appearance, 
ihe  is  quite  the  (airy  of  our  nurseir-tole,  the  Whippity 
^ourie,  if  you  remember  such  a  sprite,  who  came  ilyiiut 
through  the  window  to  work  all  soru  of  marvels.  I  will 
never  believe  but  what  ahe  has  a  wand  in  her  pocket, 
UKl jmlls  it  out  to  conjure  a  little  before  she  begins  to 
thoA  very  striktag  pictures  of  manners.  I  am  grieved 
to  sav,  that,  since  they  left  Edinburgh  on  a  tour  to  the 
nighlands,  they  have  been  detained  at  Forrea  by  an  ery- 
Bipelaa  breaking  out  on  Miss  Edgeworth's  face.  They 
hftTe  been  twelve  days  there,  and  are  now  returning 
southwards,  as  a  letter  from  Harriet  tnforma  me.  I  hope' 
«>on  to  have  them  at  Abbotsford,  where  we  will  take  good 
c^re  of  them,  and  the  invalid  In  particular.  What  would 
I  fiTe  to  have  you  and  Bfars.  Agnes  to  meet  them,  and 
^m  cantT  cracks  we  wobld  set  up  about  the  days  of 
'*ng  •yne  I  The  increasing  powers  of  steam,  which,  Uke 
?pu,  Ilookon  half-proud,  half-sad,  half-angry,  and  half- 
pleased,  in  doing  so  much  for  the  commercial  world, 
promise  something  also  for  the  soclAble  ;  and,  like  Prince 
HoQfseln's  tapestry,  vrlll,  I  think,  one  day  waft  friends  to- 
gether in  the  course  of  a  few  hoitrs,  and,  for  aught  we 
ni^ybeable  to  teD,  bring  Hempstead  and  Abbotsford 
Within  the  distance  of,—*  Will  you  dine  with  us  quietly  i 
to-morrow  T  I  wish  I  could  advance  this  happy  abridg- 1 
ineiit  of  time  and  space,  so  as  to  make  It  serve  my  present 
Wishes. 

••  Abbotsford,  July  la 
^1  have,  for  the  first  time  these  several  years,  my 
''hole  ftraily  united  around  me,  excepting  Lockhart.  who 
'8  with  his  yeomanry,  but  joins  us  to-morrow.  Walter 
»  returned  a  fine  steady  soldier-like  young  man  from  his 
Jl>o«  un  the  Continent,  and  little  Charles,  with  his  friend 
f'*'**!^  has  come  from  Wales,  so  that  we  draw  together 
iromd&tant  quarters.  When  you  add  Sophia's  baby,  I  as- 
vlll^E^MT  en  the  Sentiments  of  Atiraetian,  AdapUtion.  and 
ISSl  ^*»  !»*>*«*  ■«  •<'<i«d,  A  Key  to  tiw  Mytfaolocy  of  the 

^5?WitS?,?«Ha^?S&"*^*™*^^  "'^*** 

60 


sure  you  my  wife  and  I  look  very  patriarchal.  The  misfor- 
tune Ik,  all  this  must  be  soon  over,  for  Walter  is  admitted 
one  of  the  higher  class  of  students  in  the  Military  College, 
and  must  joiu  against  the  1st  of  August  I  have  some 
cli  r.  4,  I  thijik^  wheu  fic  has  bad  a  rear'u  study,  of  iH- 
tin:  '  Mt  iipLiij  4Ji>-.:  eUfTim  thn  Luitiiirii  ij)luiiil>>,  whicTi  I 
sli.nU  ^/F^^(J>  jkiiHtr  lu  iMii  lMLi|^£tlKg  jibukU  viIlEigii'A  iu 
hor&CMxuAnc*r«  ;  Ik  lvi*miltM\g  lonUir^kiialJi^al  tiini,  which 
nrujiMic^  hi  W  olflervlur  Ip  lihi»  i^rufi'^elii^n  ;  HUi^  f'hatjr* 
Is  lirltiijji^  nU'^dily  au  w|ih  lii^  i^jartjiiitji^— but  to  v^tit^t  am 
he  i&  tu  lum  it  I  muref  krjim  jpcl.-l  aia  yrt^  huiry  irr-' 
deeJ  LhalttHJ  ilrJCltTr  ia  ijotiiplalniut— he  wlio^**  lifc  ha* 
be  in  one  tfiur^e  (if  adtitlni'iriUiiF  help  artil  tonitbrt  to 
otlicrifl,  jahCfiUd  imt,  utic  vaniU}  tJilak*  suffrr  litia-clf ;  but 
sucb  tt^f^  tbe  Lerm»«iu  wldcb  wt  iu^Ul  imr  gm^—hnvifytt 
valual»[4f  to  olhi^rH,  Ui?  v  an'.  Hocrteilj^riea  Irs$  xvklkbl*  t^j 
ouraelv^it  t  Auicrruly  hope  this  wUl  On  J  Ultu  bolti^r, 
an<I  Mr9  IkJJLli^  coi^jcr  In  proiTorrioH  Wben  1  wuh  mib- 
je«  t  a  iKUo  U>  ture  ihruftlJit  t  *rur^tl  Djyftclf  cif  ttiai  n^TuJro- 
cy  hf  .i^>uji£la4;  ^f  lVif*:^l,  lif<^^l,  nx^a  fthuTUi^rrR^  rv^ry 
momni;^,  wall  Ui<  fuMriTl  w^vT  I  ti^mhi  gtti  biiE  lUlir  Is 
raih*^!  a  ImTnc  rrnii^fty^tlmuih  T  aiill  kei*p  xty  \Uv  yiAi'Utc. 
All  \\i-ri\  tiuii.  iki^  lA'tvirr',  loai^rn^ii.  ubiI  bacbeltTEi  UlufT,  not 
fortinutJt;  IlliJo  Job  a  Iliigh.  or.  ^uhe  tm  popularly  »tylt± 
Hu-jli  LinN  ji,hir>,  jieinl  luvlii)j  n'iiiistiUmnr.f;a<iD  you  ana 
Mrs,  Aj^n^jj  —  ELvrr,  dcMJ'Hrii   Joani«,  mi\ht  irnlj  yaaf^ 

Waltiw  ecoTT.*' 

Then^xt  month— Auffust,  isaa— ww  one  ot  iht 
h^ppii^dL  in  Seuit*»  lifL-.  Nt^v^r  did  I  B4e«  h/nAA/et 
doy  nt  AbbmefortJ  thaa  that  on  vihtch  Hiw  £!«»- 
w  jrth  Itrsst  «mve^t  Hit  re — never  can  I  fotg:et  ber  l^ok 
and  ftcccnt  v  hon  ^h^  was  received  N  hiin  nthb  »rch* 
u ay  and  c?xcl aimed.  '*  Every  ihitisatJoutyouisejtact- 
1y  wb&tDiicou;rbttQliiivchAd  mtenoudi  to  dream  f* 
The  weBtht^r  wsa  brauiiful^  and  ilic;  pdifice,  jind  its 
appuxt^RBflceB,  wi^ri)  all  but  cumplefe  ;  and  day  afitr 
diiy,  BO  lonff  an  abc  cuald  remniiit  ber  host  Ijad  al- 
wnys  Boine  new  p\nn  ot  eaytxy.  One^  day  ih^tTo  wae 
fii^liinRuii  theCauldjhielfl  Loch,  and  a  djnntroii  I  ho 
biiithy  bstnk.  Another,  the  wholo  pony  fcfte ted  by 
Thomas  the  Eynier's  wftvtrf&ii  in  ihc  glen— and  (he 
sionf^  on  whirh  Mnria  ihat  day  sut  wa?  tve^t  After* 
wnjijs  called  Edfatoitfit  *ione.  A  I  bird  day  we 
biid  to  ffofikrihtT  0' field.  He  must  ntieds  show  her» 
niJi  Newark  onW,  but  &\[  the  uppcf  frcen^ry  oT  tho 
Vnrrow*  why  re  '^  fair  bangs  ihea^le  fraeihe  rock/* 
—and  the  baaketJ^  wi^rc  unpacked  about  aunsot^  be- 
side tht  ruinc-d  Chnpel  av«^rbc»kine  St  Mary's  Loch 
—  and  bfl  hart  i*^Tamb1cd  to  cather  hliiL^bdls  amj 
hi  ath-floHrtrrs,  with  which  all  the  young  ladies mual 
iv^  tne  thdr  hair.— and  ihpv  *,an(^flnd  he  recited  until 
it  was.  liine  lo  ^o  home  btncflth  ttic  eoftcat  of  harvest 
nuions*.  Thus  a  forlni^ht  wae  passed-  and  the 
vbion  c1o£ed ;  for  Misa  EiJkc worth  m  vej  saw  Ab- 
biftstVif  d  n^nm  dwrme  hi^  life  j  and  I  «m  very  eura 
flhe  could  never  bear  la  Jook  upon  it  now  that  tho 
spirit  is  fled. 

Another  honoured  and  welcome  Kuett  of  the  saine 
month  wae  Mr.  J.  L.  Adolphus— the  author  of  the 
Letters  to  Heber ;  and  1  am  enabled  to  enrich  these 
pagea  with  some  reminiscences  of  that  visit— the  first 
of  several  he  paid  to  Abbotsford—which  this  gentle- 
man has  been  so  kind  as  to  set  down  for  my  use, 
sod  I  am  sure  for  the  f^tification  of  all  my  readers. 
After  modestly  recountinff  the  circumstances  which 
led  to  his  invitation  to  Abbotsfordi  my  friendly  con- 
tributor says  :— 

"  With  great  pleasure  and  curiosity,  but  with  something 
like  awe,  I  first  aaw  thia  celebrated  house  emerge  from 
below  the  planUtion  which  acreened  it  trmn  the  Selkirk 
and  Melrose  road.  Antique  as  It  waa  |i  desi]tn,  it  had  not 
yet  had  time  to  take  any  tint  from  the  weather,  and  its 
whole  compUcadon  of  towers,  turrets,  fallerteih  cornices,^ 
and  quaintly  dmamented  momdinga,  looked  fnm  flrom  the 
chisel,  except  where  the  walls  were  enriched  with  some 
re*ny  ancient  carving  or  inscription.  As  I  approached 
the  house,  there  was  a  busy  sound  of  maaons'  tools ;  the 
shrubbery  before  iha  windows  was  strewed  with  the 
works  of  the  carpenter  and  stone-cutter,  and  with  gro. 
tpsque  antiquitioa,  for  which  a  place  was  yet  to  be  found ; 
on  one  side  were  the  beginniaga  of  a  fruit  andilower  gar 
den  ;  on  another,  but  more  distant,  a  slope  bristling  with 

onng  firs  and  larches  ;  near  the  door  murmured  an  vn 

lished  fountain. 

"  1  had  seen  Sir  Walter  Scott,  but  never  met  him  in  so 
ciety,  before  this  viaU.  lie  received  me  with  all  his  weL 
known  cordlaUty  and  sImpLcity  gfg^|^ncr.  {^^Qm^ 


ni 


8«4 


UFE  OF  Sm  WALTER  SCOTT. 


•tancM  under  which  I  presented  myself  were  peculiar, 
u  the  only  cause  of  my  being  under  his  roof  was  one  ! 
which  could  not  without  awkwardness  be  alluded  to,  while 
a  strict  reserve  existed  on  the  subject  of  the  Waverley  I 
novels.  This,  however,  did  not  create  any  embarrass- 
ment ;  and  he  entered  into  conversation  as  if  any  thing 
that  inight  have  been  said  with  reference  to  tlie  origin  of 
our  acquaintance  had  been  said  an  hour  before.  1  have 
since  been  present  at  his  first  reception  of  many  visitors ;  ' 
and  upon  such  occasions,  as  indeed  upon  every  other,  I 
never  saw  a  man  who,  in  his  intercourse  with  aU  persons, 
was  so  perfect  a  master  of  courtesy.  His  manners  were 
so  plain  and  natural,  and  his  kindness  took  such  immedi- 
ate possession  of  the  feelings,  that  this  excellence  in  him 
might  for  a  while  pass  almost  unobserved.  I  cannot  pay 
a  higher  testimony  to  it,  than  by  owning  that  I  first  (ully 
appreciated  it  from  his  behaviour  to  other^.  His  air  and 
aspect,  at  the  moment  of  a  first  introduction,  were  placid, 
modest,  and,  for  his  time  of  life,  venerable.  Occasional- 
ly, where  he  stood  a  little  on  ceremony,  he  threw  into  his 
address  a  deferential  tone,  which  had  hi  it  something  of 
old-fashioned  politeness,  and  became  him  extremely 
well 

**  A  point  of  hospitality  in  which  Sir  Walter  Scott  never 
ftiled,  whatever  might  be  the  pretensions  of  the  guest, 
was  to  do  the  honours  of  conversation.  When  a  stranger 
arrived,  he  seemed  to  consider  it  as  much  a  duty  to  oflbr 
him  the  resources  of  his  mind  as  those  of  his  table ;  taking 
care,  however,  by  his  choice  of  subjects,  to  give  the  visit- 
er an  opportunity  of  ouJcing  his  own  stores,  if  he  had 
tiiem,  available.  I  have  frequently  observed  this— with 
admiration  both  of  his  powers  and  of  his  discrlminatinf 
kindness.  To  me.  at  the  time  of  my  first  visit,  he  ad* 
dressed  himself  often  as  to  a  member  of  his  own  profes- 
■loB ;  and  indeed  he  seemed  always  to  have  a  real  plea* 
aare  in  citing  from  his  own  ejq>erience  as  an  advocate  and 
a  law  ofilcer.  The  first  book  he  recommended  to  me  for 
an  hour's  occupation  hi  his  library,  was  an  old  Scotch 
pamphlet  of  the  trial  of  Philip  Stanfield,  (published  also  in 
the  English  State  Trials ;)  a  <asmal  and  mysterious  storr  of 
murder,  connected  slightly  with  the  politics  of  the  time 
of  Janfes  II.,  and  having  in  it  a  taste  of  the  marveUons.  * 

**  It  would,  I  think,  be  extremely  difllcnlt  to  give  a  Just 
Idea  of  his  general  conversation  to  any  one  who  had  not 
known  him.  Considering  his  great  personal  and  literary 
popularity,  and  the  wide  circle  of  society  in  which  he  had 
Uved,  it  is  perhaps  remarkable  that  so  few  of  his  sayings, 
reid  or  Imputed,  are  in  circulation.  But  he  did  not  affect 
sayings;  the  pohits  and  sententious  turns,  which  are  so 
easily  caught  up  and  transmitted,  were  not  natural  to  him : 
though  he  occasionally  expressed  a  thought  very  pithily 
and  neatly.  For  example,  he  once  described  the  Duke 
of  WelUngton's  s^Ie  of  debating  as  *  slicing  the  argu- 
ment into  two  or  three  parts,  and  helping  himself  to  the 
best.'  But  the  great  charm  of  his  '  table  talk '  was  Ui  the 
sweetness  and  abandon  with  which  it  flowed,— alvrays. 
however,  guided  by  good  sense  and  taste ;  the  warm  and 
nnstudied  eloquence  with  which  he  expressed  rather  sen- 
timents than  opinions ;  and  the  liveliness  and  force  with 
which  he  narrated  and  described :  and  all  that  he  spoke 
derived  so  much  of  its  eflEeci  from  indefinable  felicities  of 
manner,  look,  and  tone — and  sometimes  from  the  choice 
of  apparently  insignificant  words— that  a  moderately  iaith- 
ful  transcript  of  his  sentences  would  be  but  a  %int  image 
of  his  conversation. 

"  At  the  time  of  my  first  and  second  visits  to  Abbots- 
ford,  in  1323  and  1924,  his  health  was  less  broken,  and  hix 
spirits  more  youthAil  and  buoyant,  than  when  I  afterwards 
■aw  him,  in  tne  years  from  1SZ7  to  1831 .  Not  only  was  he 
inexhaustible  In  anecdote,  but  he  still  loved  to  exert  the 
talent  of  dramatizing,  and  in  some  measure  representing 
In  his  own  person  the  Uicidents  he  told  of,  or  the  situa- 
tions he  imagined.  I  recollect,  for  instance,  his  sketch- 
ing in  this  manner  (it  was,  I  think,  apropoa  to  some  xoo- 
logical  discussion  with  BIr.  William  Stewart  Rose)  a  saUor 
trying  to  persuade  a  monkey  to  speak,  and  vowing,  with 
all  kinds  of  whimsical  oaths,  that  he  would  not  tell  or  him.t 
On  the  evening  of  ni|  first  arrival,  he  took  me  to  see  his 
*  wild  man,'  as  he  called  him,  the  celebrated  Tom  Purdie, 
who  was  hi  an  outhouse,  unpacking  some  Indian  idols, 
weapons,  end  carved  work,  just  arrived  from  England. 
The  better  to  exhibjt  Tom,  his  master  played  a  most  amu- 
sing scene  of  wonder,  impatience,  curiosity,  and  fear,  lest 
any  thing  should  be  broken,  or  the  candle  fall  into  the  loose 
hay  of  the  packages,  but  all  this  with  great  submission  to 
the  better  judgment  of  the  factotum,  who  went  on  grave- 

*  See  the  ease  of  Philip  StanfieM'i  allesed  parricide,  and  Sir 
Walter  Scott's  remarks  thereupon,  in  bis  edition  or  "Lord 
Foaatainhaii's  (^teooolocical  Notes  on  Scottiah  Aflain,"  pp.ns 
—936 ;  and  compare  an  extract  from  one  of  his  early  note-books, 
gtven  ante,  p.  e6. 

*  Mr.  Rose  was  at  thii  time  meditating  Ms  entertaining  little>eu 
4'§9prU,  entitled. "  Aoeodotei  of  Monkejs." 


ly  breaking  up  and  onpapering  after  his  own  i 

if  he  had  been  sorting  some  toys  for  a  reitleta  cMU.  An- 
other  specimen  of  his  talent  for  representation,  wUch 
struck  me  forcibly  about  the  same  time,  was  his  teUfof 
the  story  (related  in  bis  Letters  on  Demonology)  of  a  dy- 
ing man  who.  in  a  state  of  deUrium,  while  hla  nurse  was 
absent,  left  his  room,  appeared  at  a  club  of  which  he  w» 
president,  and  wa^ukenffor  his  own  ghost.  In  relattac 
this  not  very  likely  story,  he  described  with  his  de^  and 
lingering  tones,  and  with  gestures  and  looks  suited  to  Mch 
part  of  the  action,  the  sick  man,  deadly  pale  and  with  va- 
cant  eyes,  walkinx  into  the  club  room;  the  silence  and 
consternation  of  Uie  club ;  the  supposed  spectre  moving 
to  the  head  of  the  table ;  giving  a  ghastly  salutation  to  the 
company:  raising  a  glass  towards  his  lips;  stiffly  turning 
his  head  from  side  to  side,  as  if  pledging  the  several  mem- 
bers ;  his  departure,  just  at  micmight  *,  and  the  breathless 
conference  of  the  club,  as  they  recovered  themselves 
from  this  strange  visit.  St  Ronan's  Well  was  published 
soon  after  the  telling  of  this  story,  and  I  have  no  doubt 
that  Sir  Walter  had  it  in  his  mind  invirritingoiie  of  the  last 
scenes  of  that  novel. 

"  He  read  a  play  admirably  weU,  (fistinfuisbing  the 
speeches  by  change  of  tone  and  manner  without  naming 
the  characters.  I  had  the  pleasure  of  hearing  him  recite, 
shortly  befbre  it  was  published,  his  own  spirited  ballad  of 
'  Bonny  Dundee ;'  and  never  did  1  listen  to  more  *  eloquent 
music.'  This  was  in  one  of  the  last  years  of  his  Hie,  bot 
the  lines 

*'  Away,  to  the  bills,  to  the  caves,  to  the  rocks ! 
Ere  I  own  a  usurper,  I'll  couch  with  the  fox !' 

could  not,  in  his  most  vigorous  days,  have  been  loloasCsd 
with  more  fire  and  enevgy. 

^*  In  eoQversatton  he  sometiintes  added  very  strikingly  im 
the  ludricous  or  pathetic  eiTeet  of  an  expreaaioa  bj 
dwelUnx  on  a  syllable ;  holding  the  note,  as  It  would  hav« 
been  ciQled  in  music.  Thus  I  recollect  his  teOlnc  with  sa 
extremely  droll  emphasis,  that  once,  when  ahoy,  he  was 
^CMffedf  by  his  aunt  for  singing 

*  There's  nao  repentance  in  my  heart, 
The  fiddle's  hi  my  arms  I'* 

"Noone  who  hasseen  him  can  fovget  the  rarprialBg 
power  of  change  which  his  countensnee  sboired  when 
awakened  fh>m  a  state  of  composure.  In  18SB,  when  I 
first  knew  him,  the  bshr  upon  his  forehead  was  quite  crmy, 
but  his  face,  which  was  healthy  and  sanguine,  ana  the 
hair  about  it,  which  had  still  a  strong  reddbh  tinge,  oon> 
trasted  rather  than  harmonized  vrith  the  sleek  ailverly 
locks  above;  a  contrast  which  might  seem  rather  suited 
to  a  jovial  and  humorous,  than  to  a  pathetic  eamrsssJon. 
But  his  features  were  equally  capable  of  both.  The  form 
and  hue  of  his  eyes  (for  the  benefit  of  minute  phyiriog* 
nomlsts  it  should  be  noted,  that  the  pupils  coDtained  some 
small  specks  of  brown)  were  wonaenully  calcalaCed  for 
showing  great  varieties  of  emotion.  Their  BKKinifiil  as- 
pect was  extremaely  earnest  and  aflecdnx;  and,  when  he 
told  some  dismal  and  mysterious  story,  they  had  a  doabl> 
ful,  melancholy,  explormg  look,  which  appealed  irresisti' 
bly  to  the  hearer's  imagination.  OccadbonsUy,  when  be 
spoke  of  somethbic  very  audacious  or  eccentric,  they 
would  dilate  and  light  up  with  a  tragic-comic,  harebrahied 
expression,  qnite  pecuUar  to  himself;  one  might  see  fca 
it  a  whole  chapter  of  Caur-dtUon  and  the  Clerk  of  Cnv 
manhurst.  Never,  perhaps,  did  a  man  go  throu|di  all  the 
gradations  of  laughter  vrith  such  complete  enjoyment, 
and  a  countenance  so  radiant  The  first  dawn  of  a  hu- 
morous thought  would  show  itsslf  sometimes,  as  he  set 
silent,  by  an  involuntary  lengtlftning  of  the  upper  Up, 
followed  by  a  aby  sidelong  glance  at  his  neighbours,  inde- 
scribably whimsical,  and  seeming  to  ask  from  their  looks 
whether  the  spark  of  drollery  should  be  suppressed  or 
allowed  to  blaze  out  In  the  full  tide  of  mirth  he  did  in- 
deed <  Uugh  the  heart's  laugh,'  Uke  Walpole,  but  it  wes 
not  boisterous  and  overpowering,  nor  md  it  check  the 
course  ef  his  words ;  he  could  go  on  telling  or  descentinf, 
while  his  lungs  did  *■  crow  like  chanticleer,'  his  syllablee, 
in  the  struggle,  growing  more  emphatic,  his  accent  more 
strongly  Scotch,  and  his  voice  piaintive  with  excess  ef 
merriment 

"  The  habits  of  life  at  Abbouford,  when  I  first  saw  It, 
ran  in  the  same  easy,  rational,  and  pleasant  course  vriiioh 
I  believe  they  always  afterwards  took ;  though  the  fomily 
was  at  this  time  rather  straitened  in  its  arrangementsk  ae 
some  of  the  principal  rooms  ware  not  finished.  After 
breakfast  Sir  Waiter  took  his  short  interval  of  study  in 
the  light  and  elegant  little  room  aftensards  aaUed  Bliss 
Scott's.    That  vvbich  he  occupied  when  AbbUsford  wee 

•  These  Knes  an  fion  the  old  ballad. "  Bfarabecson's  T  smast/ 
—the  sroond-WQikof  Buras'i  dorions  "  Blaepiianoa'e  Psifwal*^ 
See  ScoU'i  JKscsUsMeoiw  Preie  W»k9,  voL  xviL  pu  Ml 

Digitized  by  V^OOQlC 


UPE  OF  SIR  WALTER  SCOTT. 


MS 


penion) 
ttnotradl 


more  eonTeiii«iit  in  aome  materitl  re- 

.         TtomA  the  leatt  cheerful*  and  least  priTate 

Ib  the  house.  It  had,  howerer,  a  recouunendation  wbichf 
perhaps,  ho  was  very  sensible  of^that,  as  he  sat  at  his 
writiDf -table,  he  could  look  out  at  nis  young  trees.  About 
one  o'clock  he  walked  or  rode,  generally  with  some  of  his- 
viatera.  At  this  period  he  used  to  be  a  good  deal  on  horse- 
back, and  a  pleasant  sight  it  was  to  see  the  gallant  old  gen- 
tleman. In  his  seal-skin  cap  and  short  green  jacket,  loung- 
tag  alonf  a  field-side  on  his  poare,  Sibyl  Grer,  and  pausing 
DOW  and  then  to  talk,  with  a  serio-comic  look,  to  a  labour- 
lag  man  or  woman,  and  rejoice  them  with  some  quaint 
aaying  in  broad  Scotch.  Tlie  dinner  hour  was  early ;  the 
fitting  after  dinner  was  hospitably  but  not  immoderately 
DTolooffed ;  and  the  whole  family  party  (for  such  it  always 
leemed,  eren  tf  there  were  seTeral  ▼isiter8)then  met  again 
for  a  whon  evening,  which  was  passed  in  conversation  and 
loncehecrd  Sir  Walter  say,  that  he  beUeved 
as  a  '  pair '  of  cards  (such  was  his  antiquated  ex- 
a)  somewhere  in  the  house— but  probably  there 
f  no  tradition  of  their  having  ever  been  used.  The  draw> 
tag-room  and  library  (unfurnished  at  the  time  of  my  first 
vidt)openedintojeach  other,  and  formed  a  beaudfbl  even- 
kw  apartment  *  Bv  every  one  who  has  visited  at  Ab< 
bMsford  they  most  oe  associated  with  some  of  the  most 
delghtful  recollections  of  his  life.  Sir  Waber  listened 
to  (he  music  of  his  daughters,  which  was  aU  congenial  to 
bis  own  taste,  with  a  never-  faSUng  enthusiasm.  He  follow- 
ed the  fine  old  songs  which  Mra.  Lockhart  sang  to  her 
haip  with  his  mind,  eves,  and  lips,  almost  as  if  Joining  In 
n  act  of  religion.  To  other  musical  performances  he 
was  a  datlAil,  ani^often  a  pleased  listener,  but  I  believe  he 
cared  Uttle  for  mere  music :  the  notes  failed  to  charm  him 
if  the/  were  not  connected  with  good  words,  or  immedi- 
atdy  associated  with  aome  historr  or  strong  sentiment, 
upon  which  his  imagination  couki  fasten.  A  similar  ob- 
servation might.  I  should  conceive,  apply  to  his  feeling  of 
stber  arts.  1  do  not  remember  any  picture  or  print  at 
Abbotaford  which  was  remarkable  merely  as  a  work  of 
colour  or  deaign.  All,  I  think,  either  represented  histori- 
cal, roDoantic,  or  poetical  subjects,  oi  rented  to  persons, 
piseea,  or  circumstances,  in  which  he  took  an  interest. 
Even  in  architecture  his  taste  had  the  same  bias ;  almost 
tvenr  atone  of  hia  house  bore  an  allusion  or  suggested  a 
lentknent. 

**  It  seemed  at  first  a  little  stranse,  In  a  scene  where  so 
aanr  thhigs  brought  to  mind  the  waverley  novels,  to  hear 
DO  direct  mention  of  them,  or  even  allusion  to  their  exist- 
ence. But  as  forbearance  on  this  head  was  a  rule  on 
which  a  complete  tacit  understanding  subsisted,  there 
WIS  no  embarrassment  or  appearance  of  mystery  on  the 
mbject.  Once  or  twice  I  have  heard  a  casual  reference 
made,  in  Sir  Walter'a  presence,tp  some  topic  in  the  nov- 
els ;  no  surprise  or  appearance  of  displeasure  followed, 
but  the  conversation,  so  far  as  it  tended  that  way,  died  a 
namral  death.  It  has,  I  believe,  happened  that  he  himself 
baa  been  caught  unawares  on  the  forbidden  ground ;  I 
have  heard  it  told  by  a  very  acute  observer,  not  now  living, 
that  on  his  coming  once  to  Abbotsford.  after  the  publica- 
tkm  of  the  Pirate,  Sir  Walter  asked  him,  '  Well,  and  how 
is  oar  friend  Kemble'?  glorious  John !'  and  then  recollect- 
ing, of  course,  that  he  was  talking  Claude  Halcro,  he 
checked  himself,  and  could  not  for  some  moments  reco- 
ver firom  his  false  step.  Had  a  man  been  ever  so  prone  to 
indiscretion  on  such  subjects,  it  would  have  been  unpar- 
donable to  betray  it  towards  Sir  Walter  Scott,  who  (beside 
an  his  other  claims  to  respect  and  affection)  was  himself 
cantious,  even  to  nicety,  of  hazarding  an  inquiry  or  re- 
mark which  might  appear  to  be  an  bitrusion  upon  the 
aflkira  of  those  with  whom  he  conversed.  It  may  be  ob- 
served, too,- that  the  publications  of  the  day  were  by  no 
mesas  the  staple  of  conversation  at  AbbotsfoVd,  though 
they  had  their  turn ;  and  with  respect  to  his  own  works, 
Sir  Walter  did  not  often  talk  even  of  those  which  were 
avowed.  If  he  ever  indulged  in  any  thing  like  egotism,  he 
loved  better  to  speak  of  what  he  had  done  and  seen  than 
of  vrhat  he  had  written. 

**  After  all,  there  isperhapa  hardly  a  aecret  in  the  world 
wkleb  haa  not  its  safety- vahre.  Though  Sir  Walter  abstain- 
ed strictly  from  any  mention  of  the  waverley  novela,  he 
did  no^scmple  to  talk,  and  that  with  great  zest,  of  the 
plajs  which  had  been  foimded  upon  some  of  them,  and 
the  characters  there  represented.  Soon  after  our  first 
metfting,  he  described  to  me,  with  his  usual  dramatic 
power,  the  deathbed  scene  of  *  the  original  Dandle  Din- 
mont ;"  of  course  referring,  oatensiblv  at  least,  to  the 
-opera  of  Guy  Bfannering.  He  dwelt  wiUi  extreme  delight 
upon  Bfackay's  performances  of  the  Bailie  and  Dominie 
Sampson,  and  appeared  to  taste  them  with  all  the  fresh 

^  It  is.  however,  tbeooly  iitthf-room  in  the  house  that  looks 


t  See  Note  to  Onj  Manoerioff,  Waverley  Notelif  vol  iv.,  p. 


and  disinterested  enjoyment  of  a  common  spectator.  I 
do  nut  know  a  more  mteresting  circumstance  in  the  his-  ' 
tory  of  the  Waveriey  novels,  than  the  pleasure  which  their 
illustrious  author  thus  received,  as  it  were  at  the  rebound, 
from  those  creations  of  his  own  mind  which  had  so  large- 
ly increased  the  enjoyments  of  all  the  civilized  world. 

'*  lA  one  instance  only  did  he,  in  my  presence,  say  or 
do  any  thing  which  seemed  to  have  an  intentional  refer- 
ence to  the  novels  themselves,  while  they  wcreyet  un- 
acknowledged. On  the  last  day  of  my  visit  hi  1823C  I  rode 
out  with  Sir  Walter  and  his  fnend  Mr.  Rose,  who  was 
then  his  guest  and  frequent  companion  hi  these  short 
ramblea.  Sir  Walter  led  us  a  liule  way  down  the  left 
bank  of  the  Tweed,  and  then  into  the  moors  by  a  track 
called  the  Girth  Road,  akmg  wtiich,  he  told  wl  the  pilgrims 
from  that  side  of  the  river  used  to  come  to  Melrose.  We 
traced  upward,  at  a  distance,  the  course  of  the  UtUa 
stream  called  the  Elland,  Sir  Walter,  as  his  habit  was, 
pausing  now  and  then  to  point  any  thing  in  the  prospect 
that  was  either  remarkable  in  itself,  or  associated  i^ith 
any  Interesting  recollection.  I  remember,  in  particular, 
his  showing  us,  on  a  distant  eminence,  a  dreary  lone  ' 
house,  called  the  Hawk's  Nest,  in  which  a  young  man,  re- . 
tumini  from  a  fair  with  money,  had  been  murdered  in  the 
night,  and  buried  under  the  floor,  where  ills  remaina  were 
found  after  the  death  or  departure  of  the  inmates ;  the 
fact  was  simple  enough  in  itself,  but,  related  in  his  man- 
ner, it  was  just  such  a  stonr  as  should  have  been  told  by 
a  poet  on  a  lonely  heath.  When  we  had  ridden  a  Uttle 
time  on  the  moors,  he  said  to  me  rather  pointedly,  *  I  am 
gobig  to  show  you  somethhig  that  I  think  will  interest 
you  i*  and  presently,  In  a  wild  comer  of  the  hilla,  he  halted 
oa  at  a  place  where  stood  three  small  ancient  towers,  or 
castellated  houses,  in  mtais,  at  short  distances  firom  each 
other.  It  waa  plain,  upon  the  allghtest  consideration  of  the 
topography,  that  one  (perhaps  any  one)  of  theito  was  the 
tower  of  Glendearg,  vraere  so  many  romantic  and  marvel- 
loua  adventures  happen  in  The  Monastery.  While  we  look- 
ed at  this  forlorn  group,  I  said  to  Shr  WaUer  that  they  were 
what  Bums  called  ^  ghalst-alluring  edifices.'  *■  Yes,'  he  an- 
swered, carelessly,  *  I  dare  say  there  are  many  stories 
about  them.'  As  we  returned,  by  a  dUTerent  route,  he 
made  me  dismouut  snd  take  a  footpath  through  a  parcel 
Lord  Somerville's  grounds,  where  the  EUand  runa  through 
a  beautiful  little  valley,  the  stream  vrinding  between  level 
borders  of  the  brighest  greenav?ard,  which  narrow  or  wi- 
den as  the  steep  sides  of  the  glen  advance  or  recede. 
The  place  is  called  the  Fairy  Dean,  and  it  required  no 
cicerone  to  tell  that  the  glen  was  that  in  which  Father 
Eustace,  in  the  Monastery,  is  intercepted  by  the  Wiiite 
LadyofAvenel." 

Every  friend  of  Sir  Walter's  roust  admire  particu- 
larlv  Mr.  Adolphua'a  truly  exquisite  description  of 
his  lau^h;  but,  indeed,  every  word  of  these  memo- 
randa 18  precious,  and  I  shall  by  and  by  give  the  reat 
of  them  under  the  proper  date. 

In  September,  the  Highland  Society  of  Scotland, 
at  the  request  of  the  late  Sir  Heory  Stewart  of  Al- 
lanton,  sent  a  deputation  to  his  seat  in  Lanarkshire, 
to  examine  and  report  upon  his  famous  inrprove- 
ments  in  the  art  of  transplanting  trees.  Sir.Walter 
was  one  of  the  cominittee  appointed  for  this  busi-  \ 
jiess,  and  he  took  a  lively  interest  in  it ;  as  witness 
the  Essay  on  Landscape  Gardening,*  which,  what- 
ever may  be  the  fate  of  Sir  Henry  Stewart^s  own 
writings,  will  transmit  his  name  to  posterity.*  Scott 
made  several  Allan tonian  experiments  at  Abbots- 
ford  i  but  found  reason  in  the  sequel  to  abate  some- 
what of  the  enthusiasm  which  his  Bssay  expresses 
as  to  ^  eystem.  The  question,  after  all,  comes  to 
pounds,  shillings,  and  pence— and  whether  Sir  Hed- 
ry's  accounts  had  or  had  not  been  accurately  kept, 
the  thing  turned  out  neatly  more  expensive  on 
Tweedsioe  than  he  hiia  found  it  represented  in 
Clydesdale. 

I  accompanied  Sir  Walter  on  this  little  expedition, 
in  the  course  of  which  we  paid  several  other  visits, 
and  explored  not  a  few  ancient  castles  in  the  upper 
regions  of  the  Tweed  and  the  Clyde.  Even  while 
the  weather  was  most  unpropitious,  nothing  could 
induce  him  to  remain  in  the  carriage  when  we  ap- 
proached any  ruined  or  celebrated  edifice.  If  he  had 
never  seen  it  before,  his  curiosity  was  like  that  of  an 
eager  stripling;— if  he  had  examined  it  fifty  times,  . 
he  must  renew  bis  familiarity,  and  gratify  the  ten- 
derness of  youthful  reminiscences.  Whde  on  the 
road  hia  conversation  never  flagged— story  suggested 


*  MkUtUmeaue  Proee  Wwka,  vol  zxL, 

Digitized  by 


pp.  77— UL 

Google 


'  itoiy,  and  Imllfld  came  upon  ballid  in  onJles^;  fuc- 
cession.  But  wbut  fiiruck  nn'  iJiLidt  v^au  th*^  appa- 
rently  omnivorous  ^a^p  of  Iijb  (tiemory*  Thai  he 
should  r^i'tillcct  c^t^ry  stanEii  of  any  nncjcnt  diiiy  tjf 
chivalry  or  roiiiancp  ibui  hud  onca  cxcitod  Uis  ima^- 
nation,  oouhl  uli  itjjiRLTsurpriflo  nie  ^  but  it  fit'^^nnsd  as ' 
if  heremcmbertylevtry  thm^  viiihoui  excepiiou>  ^q 
it  were  in  utiy  thia«  like  ih*?  shape  of  vtrae,  thai  iie 
had  ever  read.  For  exaniple.  iht  morning  atlcr  we 
left  Allamoiii  we  vveiit  nerofe  iliucouiury  tu  break- 
fast with  his  fnenr]  Cf{t4i!»ioini|  tLord  UorLikou^e,) 
who  accompanied  ^9  in  thts  same  carnngc ;  and  his 
lordship  buppenin^  lu  repf!^at  rt  phraa^t,  remarkahla 
only  for  its  Dn^n.rdii7,  from  a  lilnguxine  poem  of  the 
very  siUieei  fep.»hkne*?t  wbtch  rh^y  had  IftUKlt*d  at 
when  al  Coih'i^t'  tOKtther^  Scott  imaiEdiaidy  btg«n 
at  the  beginriinj?,  and  pavt  it  ub  tv  The  end,  with  ap- 
parently ni>  more  tfturtthan  tf  hehimeflf  Ijad  com- 
posed ii'thf  day  before^  I  eonid  afur  thi#i  ^^^sily  hi'- 
fieve  a  stor^  otxea  told  by  Ho^K.  10  the  et!eot  that, 
lamenting  in  t^ecjti's  nreaeiice  bia  having  lott  his 
onlv  copy  of  a  lon^  ballad  composed  by  him  in  his 
early  dayfi,  and  of  which  he  then  could  tocrII  mf^r^ly 
the  sulyect,  and  otie  or  two  frafftocriu,  Sir  Walttr 
forthwith  *aid,  with  a  amik,  "Take  your  pecitd| 
Jemmy^  and  141  dictate  your  ballad  to  you,  word 
for  word  ;*'— which  was  done  accordingly- 

As  this  was  atnfing  the  firat  limes  that  1  ^ver 
travelled  for  a  few  days  ici  00  nip  any  with  Scotl,  I 
may  as  well  add  [ht<  siirj»rieo  with  which  hie  hterary 
diligence,  when  away  Irotn  honic^  and  hi?  book», 
could  not  fail  to  beob*eTved.  Wberevfr  wfi  slept, 
whether  in  »  noble  man  a  ion  or  in  the  ah  abbi  est  of 
country  iun.-f,  and  whether  the  work  wa*  done  afler 
retiring  at  nt^h  t  or  before  an  ^arly  atari  in  the  morn- 
ing, he  Ttrp  ruftly  mounted  iho  carriage  again  with- 
out having  a  packcH  cif  the  well-knowij  a^ptei  ready 
sealed,  and  cordtd^  and  addrriteftd  to  hia  pnnteir  in 
EklinburRlu  1  tis^^d  to  anspect  thai  h'^  hsfl  adopted 
in  his  latter  yearif  the  plan  ot  wniing  every  ibing 
on  paper  of  the  qiiaTto  form,  in  place  of  the  foln>, 
which  heat  an  earher  penod  iiHtidt  chiefly  bcrfausi!'  sa 
this  way,  wh^ti^vtir  he  waa  writ  in  b»  and  wherever 
he  wrote^  b&  mi^iit  seem  to  ca^iiut  oh^etvers  to  bo 
merely  engaged  tipon  a  com  man  lett43f  ?  and  the  ra- 
pidity of  hia  izx&cLiisoDi  lakcin  with  the  &hapa  of  hia 
sheet,  hUF  probably  demved  hundreds;  but  when 
he  had  flniBheJ  hiE  two  or  three  let  tc^ra,  at,  Ronan's 
Wdk  or  whstovef  was  iti  hatidi  had  made  a  chapter 
in  advanre. 

The  folio winj?  wae  hia  6rat  letter  to  Mi^a  Bdpo- 
worth  after  her  rf?iurn  to  Irthnd.  Htr  younci^st 
sister  Sophia — {r  tieaunful  creamre-^now  pone, liiie 
moat  of  I  he  p  1 1  a  s  ri  f>  t  p  art  v  x  h  pti  a  ssc  nib  I  ed  ^— ha  d 
particularly  rutnsL'd  bim  by  her  singing  of  a  frnf^ment 
of  an  Irian  duty,  the  heroine  of  which  wn?  n  so  J 
damsel  in  n  piUicottl  0/  r€d--ihQ  chomai,  1  think^ 
something  like, 

Thfnkl^i:  no  ih^  ikya  that  Kr«  lovf  ^nnof  b  ngone;'' 

and  he  hud,  a*  vve  fihall  aee,  becfi  busying  himself 
among  his  bnllad  eollectiana^  to  kee  if  nv  coDld  re* 
cover  any  niore  of  the  words  than  the  younf^  lady 
had  given  him. 

'<  My  dear  Mbii  Edcewortb. 

"  Mi»*  ttAfn^l  h-,\  itc  -uv'tu-^  io  sivv  Hit  :iii  j^€^— t 
of  your  safe  arrival  in  the  Green  Isle,  of  which  I  was,  ' 
Booth  \p  say,  extremely  glad ;  for  I  haa  my  own  private 
apprehensions  that  yourvery  disa^ecable  disorder  mij^ht 
return  while  yoa  were  amonj;  stranirers,  and  in  our  ruf  ^ed 
climate.  I  now  conclude  vou  are  settled  quietly  at  home, 
andlookin:;  back  on  recollections  of  mountains, ^and  val- 
leys, and  pipes,  and  clans,  and  cousins,  and  masons,  and 
cajrpenters,  and  pupp7-daf«,andall  the  confusion  of  Ab- 
botsford,  as  one  docs  ou  the  recollection  of  a  dream.  We 
shall  not  easily  forget  the  vision  of  liaving  seen  you  and 
our  two  youn^  friends,  and  your  kind  lndul;{enco  for  all 
our  hmnours,  sober  and  fantastic,  rough  or  smooth. 
Maomia. writes  to  make  her  own  acknowledgments  for 
your  very  kind  attention  aboQtthe  cobweb  stockings, 


UPE  OF  SIR  WALTfiR  SOOIT. 


wWrh  rear^hMi  us  under  rtiecunntpotenl  flfanlt  ef  Crotw, 
vtho,  likp  n  tnte  Irtish  heart,  nearer  icrupk*  stretching  bM 
uowprfi  &  l!ltlp  to  Bcrvfj  a.  fnt^od, 

"  We  iff  ail  here  much  sm  foa  left  ui,  oiilj  in  po«*ps- 
s1on  ofDurdrtiw1rnpr£iDm,niiElpltirlou#witti  our  lailif '^**t 
whkb  as  ypt  have  only  invol^fd  us  once  in  total  d»Tk]]'7»S 
— fsnce  in  11  lemporiiry  teilpif .  fn  holh  c*M4  ttie  remedy 
WAN  eAi^v  snd  the  csuse  obvit>Eis.  and  if  the  fs«  hi^  do 
greater  objection*  than  1  have  rei  neen  or  can  iiiHclp*le, 
ft  Is  pooo  tfke  to  put  wtuc  sud  niuiiDn  «urc  entirety  onl  oi 
fuhlon.  I  hate  recffvpiiMij  by  gr«til  aeeldeivti  *noih*r 
verse  or  twn  of  Miss  SophiU'S  bi-auUful  Iri-ifa  air;  tt  isflxily 
curiDUft  av  bintlo^  at  ilie  cause  of  Uie  poor  damsd  of  the 
redpttticoarKdt'C'j]  doii>ur  ;— 

^]  wont  to  the  mill,  but  the  miTler  was  gone, 

I  tAte  me  down  and  erit'ci  ocbunc, 

To  think  on  llie  dnys  Uiat  are  past  and  gone, 

Of  Dickie  SlAcphabon  thm^a  slallL 

Shool,  aboc4,  Ac- 

'  1  lold  my  rock,  t  sold  my  reel, 
And  Bae  hau  I  tuy  spinning- whcel^ 
And  all  t^  biiy  a  ciip  of  steel, 
For  Ulfikm  Mscpb^ion  thai'ii  tlalu 
Sbool,  ifaoul,'  ^e~  Jbc- 

■'  But  who  woa  Pirkle  MscphsJioii  for  whwrn  thi*  %Mr 
ment  ytaw  comjiotcd  1  WIi^  Wiu  the  Phanit..itj  (or  wflBfii' 
trjc  Py  run  lid  \\ikA  nised  i  The  quesilaDfi  mr  t-^iuiity  d» 
bio  us  aiid  equally  important,  bm  tS  Ibe  aat^r  v«  iHiy- 
rr-niMoably  i^oppose^  VtUtA  ft  Klog  of  BgjrPI*iO  1  thllili  wif 

ree»,  fiiace  fim  UjUgb^  Goil  \\\cmb  theui,  liflm^f  ^fftti  Our 
d*:epffj§t  of  their  iameotiiii^iTi  fullandd  T*rho  IJ^??  wfldly,  dj'^ 
bravely^  and  *dorn  to  ifnrrivt?  aniii  ili^  Lmc-juk'  ujil  aisd 
not  worth  weeinryt  for.  So  niiich  tcirPltW*?Mitc|?hiiJ!l<ni- 
jvhn,  1  dfii-^  say,  Ttn^  in  hit  dny  '  a  |irori«f  f^/tKOg  OMmtk*' 

"■'  Wf:  havt!  lo4  ^r  Jkiuijftificy  iJ^tfy  brrsi Jfar  a.  d«ir  t^r 
tWM — very  [ilrvapanl  and  InBinicTi'^i: .  J^H'f  W\iX  Mas*  ror  * 
mmdh— lb»t  joi^  coimn^  and  goin'      '  '   las  i)*tn 

pli^adinjt  at  the  c1r*;uEt  fof  a  clim-i  *iwL  h»v> 

ing  iiutii lined  &;ii  aJTyout  rri>Ln  tH-'>  >       '  roftd  iifQiiM 

(torn  l^ariBiown  fkir,  Tifibi;  ^^tlaiJ  ji\il  muiMr*Q  lllpC7 
iioih  H!n|^li^bnJllLied.  lie  oIn^  col  off  Ihdlr  PoisiLHitith 
ivuB  carr^lniE  llie  j:iiatter  imlher  ^>o  lar,  oad  mvHtj&T 
ihoujfbi— so  nvy  nwneaslte  muirt  strap  for  It,  as  many  of 
jTfte  Rmigh  Clun  h^vp  doni^  before  him  After  th!t 
Lockhan  atid  t  went  to  fttr  flrnry  f*i*»wari'!i*  10  examine 
tils  procL-aa  of  inuiiiplantlnp  ire^-s.  Itc  eier^-iACs  woo- 
ful  pQwer  ctrialnl)-  orrr  the  t  r^t^iablt'  world,  *nd  ha£ 


derK  . 

msd«  hia  trees  dance  abotiL  aa  m^^rrUy  aa  ever  did  Or- 
plieu» ;  but  be  haa  pm  luc  cut  of  cone  pit  witii  my  ptiv 
femtlon  of  a  Uuidsscape-gaJden^r,  now  I  aee  au  few  bndns 
are  ticr**fiHiry  for  a  ^nck  In  trade.  1  wish  His^  Tlsjrrtet 
wduld  dream  no  mert'  onilnnm  tI^Idhs  about  ?!plrle.f 
The  pour  tiling  has  been  very  it]  of  that  &tiii  dutortXer 
proper  to  the  ranlna  race,  calied^  pnr  tTteUim^-f,  t9a 
Dirtf^tnpfr.  I  have  prescribed  for  \ttt  aa  who  nhould 
Ray  thui  yo^  would  doc  [or  a  do(f,  and  I  hope  ia  bring 
her  throiijth,  a«  she  is  a  vc.-ry  ainxtionale  btrfe  cre»ltiTe, 
aiulof  a  fine  race-  6he  has  Kidl  nn  odd  whfeztn^,  hcmr- 
cver,  wbich  makej  me  rather  ikiubtfut  of  sticcess-  Hie 
IjickharLa  arfj  buth  well,  and  at  preAf^tit  out  ior|l>£?rs,  lo- 
XCLber  wlih  John  ritij[it,  or,  an  he  callfi  himself,  D^jnlchiie^ 
which  flounda  I  tic  t  one  of  jour  olb  trif«h  kJoi^i.  They 
all  join  in  tv<^ry  tbiiiJl  kind  end  afl^ctlonali^  to  vuu  antj 
thr  yomiR  Ladic«,  end  b^«t  compliments  to  your  bnother- 
— Believe  me  ever,  dear  Miss  Ed; cworih,  yours,  vitJt 
tbe  ^ealeat  truth  imd  lespecti 

Wal-tkb  BctfTT." 
The  following  letter  was  addr^seed  to  Jo  anna 
BniUje  on  (he  death  of  her  brother^  the  celebra^ 
phyaieian : — 

TVp  MisM  Joanna  Bitiiii^' 

^'-  AbboLdfonU  ^  October,  I  SSL 
"My  rlfliresr  Friend, 

'**  V0i[r  very  kind  Ipttrr  resph^d  lit*  jnjtt  whii?  I  wu 
tloliLferfDUfu  liOw  lo  Atiiii^Bo  you  ou  iiic  iMODful,  ohm 
painful  subjeot,  to  which  it  refers,  and  considering  haw 

*  "  As  cWer  Tom  Clinrh.  while  the  mbUe  wsb  bawKng, 
Rode  stately  through  lIo)l)om  to  die  in  nil  caJlinf, 
He  »topt  at  the  George  fi'r  a  bottle  of  tack. 
And  promised  to  paf  for  it  when  he  came  back. 
His  waintooat,  aad  stockinf  b,  and  braeebes  weie  white ; 
His  cap  had  a  iiew  eherrf  nl>>ion  to  tie't 
I'he  maids  to  the  doon  and  tlie  boJconics  ran. 
And  said, '  Lack-a  day  I  he's  a  proper  younc  man  I' " 

SWCTT. 

t  Sptee .  ooe  of  the  Popper  and  Mustard  teniers.  ScoU  wi«a 
the  names,  oitlike  his  Dandle  TMnmont.  but  stfll.  as  he  phrased  it, 
"  stuck  to  the  eniets."  At  one  Ume  he  hada  Pepper,  a  Muttari, 
a  Spice,  a  Otfixtr,  a  Katchup,  and  a  Soy—iA  dcscondnrts  ol 
tlie  real  Chariie's-hoiie  patriarchs. 


Digitized  by  V^OOQlC 


LIFE  OF  SIR  WALTEIR  SCOTT. 


307 


I  could  beat  intrude  my  own  Bjmpathy  tmidBt  your  do- 
mestic ftlBietion.  The  token  jou  have  given  of  jour 
frieadahipt  bv  thinking  of  me  at  such  a  moment,  I  will 
ahmjs  regard  as  a  most  precious,  though  melancholv 
gnMii  of  its  sincerity.  We  have,  indeed,  to  mourn  such 
a  man,  as,  since  medicine  was  first  esteemed  an  useful 
and  honoured  science,  has  rarely  occurred  to  grace  its 
anna  la,  and  wbo  will  be  lamented  so  long  as  any  one 
lives,  who  has  experienced  the  advantage  of  his  profes- 
sioaal  skill,  and  the  affectiouate  tcindnesa  by  which  it 
was  accompanied.  My  neighbour  and  kinsman,  John 
Bcott  of  Gala,  who  was  attended  by  our  excellent  firiend 
daring  a  very  dangerons  illness,*  ia-mingling  his  sorrow 
with  mine,  as  one  who  laments  almost  a  second  father ; 
and  when  in  this  remote  comer  there  ar«  two  who  join 
in  such  a  sincere  tribute  to  kUs  memory,  what  must  be 
the  aorrowa  within  his  more  ijumediate  sphore  of  exer- 
tion !  I  do,  Indeed,  awcerely  pity  the  family  and  friends 
who  have  lost  such  a  head,  and  that  at  tne  very  time 
when  they  might,  in  the  course  of  nature,  have  looked 
lo  enjoy  his  society  for  many  years,  and  even  more  close- 
ly and  intimately  than  during'  the  preceding  period  of 
nis  life,'  when  his  domestic  intercourse  was  so  much 
broken  in  upon  by  his  professional  duties.  It  Is  not  for 
OS,  In  Uiis  limited  state  of  observation  and  comprehen- 
tte^  to  inquire  why  the  Uvee  moat  usaAil  to  society, 
■HOMMt  dear  to  lirlendahip.  wtem  to  beof  a  shorter  date 
than  tboae  which  are  oselesfi  or  perhapa  worse  Ibaa 
useless ;— but  the  certainty  that  in  another  and  succeed- 
ing state  of  things,  theye  apparent  difficulties  will  be  ba> 
lanced  and  explained,  is  the  best,  if  not  the  only  cure 
for  unavailing  sorrow,  and  this  your  well-balanced  and 
powerful  mind  knows  better  how  to  apply,  than  I  how  to 
leach  the  doctrtne. 

**We  were  made.  In  some  degrse  aware  of  the  ex* 
tieiaeiy  precacioos  state- of  oar  late  dear  friend's  health, 
by  lettsrs  which  jomig  Swtees  had  frooi  his  IHends  in 
Glouceatershlre,  during  a  residence  of  a  few  weeks  with 
as,  and  which  mentioned  the  melancholy  subject  in  a 
verj  hopeless  manner,  and  with  all  the  interest  which  it 
was  calculated  to  excite.  Poor  dear  Mrs.  BailUe  is  infi- 
aitely  to  be  pitied,  but  you  are  a  ikmily  of  love :  and 
tboufh  one  breach  has  been  made  among  you,  will  only 
extend  your  arms  towards  each  oUier  the  more,  to  hide, 
tttamgh  yom  cannot  fill  up  the  gap  which  has  taken  place. 
The  same  conaolatioa  remains  for  Mrs.  Acnes  and  your- 
asU;  my  dear  (iriend ;  and  1  have  no  doubt,  that  in  the 
affection  of  Dr.  BalUie's  family,  and  their  success  in  life, 
you  will  find  those  pleasing  tiea  which  connect  the  pass- 
tag  generation  with  that  which  is  rising  to  succeed  it 
npoo  the  stage. 

^Sophia  is  in  the  way  of  enlarging  her  family— an 
event  to  which  I  look  forward  with  a  mixture  of  anxiety 
and  hope.  One  baby,  not  very  strong,  though  lively  and 
clever,  is  a  frail  chance  upon  which  to  stake  happiness ; 
St  tlie  ^ame  time,  Ckxl  knows  there  have  been  too  many 
insiances  of  late  of  the  orisinal  curse  having  descended 
eo  young  mothers  with  iatal  emphasis ;  but  we  will  hope 
the  best.  In  the  mean-time  her  spirits  are  good,  and 
her  hoialth  equally  so.  I  know  that  even  at  this  moment 
these  details  will  not  be  disagreuble  to  you,  so  strangely 
are  life  and  death,  sorrow  and  pleasure,  blended  to- 
gether in  the  Upestry  of  human  life. 

^  I  answer  your  letter  before  I  have  seen  Sophia ;  but 
I  know  well  hovf  deeply  she  is  interested  in  your  grief. 
My  wife  and  Anne  send  their  kindest  and  most  sympa- 
thetic regards.  Walter  is  at  the  Royal  Military  College 
to  study  the  higher  branches  of  his  profession,  and 
Cliarles  has  returned  to  Wales.     » 

**  My  affectionate  respects  attend  Mrs.  Batllie  and  Mrs. 
Agnes,  and  I  ever  am,  my  dear  friend,  respectfully  and 
affectionately,  yours, 

Waltsr  Scott  " 

To  D.  Terrpf  E$q.,  London. 

"Abbotsford,  October  29, 1823. 
**  My  dear  Terry, 

**Our  correspondence  has  been  fiasglnff  for  some 
time,  yet  I  have  much  to  thank  vou  for,  and  perhaps  some- 
thing to  apologize  for.  We  md  not  open  Mr.  Baldock's 
connnode,  because,  in  honest  truth,  this  place  has  cost 
me  a  great  deal  witlUn  these  two  years,  and  I  was  loth  to 
add  a  superfluity,  however  elegant,  to  the  heavy  expense 
already  ner  essarily  bicurred.  Lady  Scott,  the  party  most 
interested  in  the  drawing-room,  thinks  mirrors,  when 
they  cast  up,  better  things  and  more  necesiwry.  We 
have  received  the  drawing-room  grate — very  handsome 
Indeed— from  Bower,  but  not  those  for  the  library  or  my 
room,  nor  are  they  immediately  wanted  Nothing  have 
we  heard  of  the  best  b^  and  its  sccompaniments,  but 
there  is  no  hurry  for  this  neither.  We  are  in  possession 
of  the  bed-room  story,  garreu,  and  a  part  of  the  under 
or  sunk  story— basement,  the  learned  call  it;  but  the 
21 


library  advances  slowlv.  The  extreme  wemess  of  the 
season  has  prevented  the  floor  from  being  laid,  nor  dare 
we  now  venture  it  tlH  snrin«,  when  shilling  and  arranging 
the  books  will  be  *  a  pleasing  pain  and  toil  with  a  gain/ 
The  front  of  the  bouse  is  now  enclosed  by  &  court-yard 
wall,  with  flankers  of  100  feet,  and  a  hanitaome  gateway. 
The  interior  of  the  court  is  to  be  occupred  by  a  large 
gravel  drive  for  carriages,  the  rest  with  flowers,  shrubs, 
and  a  few  trees :  the  inside  of  the  court-yard  wall  is  adorn- 
ed with  large  carved  medallions  from  the  old  Cross  of 
Edinburgh,  and  Roman  or  colonial  heads  in  bas  relief 
from  the  ancient  station  of  Pptreia,  now  called  Old  Pen 
rith.  A  walk  runs  alone  it,  which  I  ;ntend  to  cover  witb 
creepers  as  a  trellissed  arbour :  the  court-yard  is  sepa- 
rated from  the  garden  by  a  very  handsome  colonnade, 
the  arches  filled  op  with  cast-iron,  and  the  cornice  carved 
with  flowera,  after  the  laahion  of  the  running  cornice  on 
the  cloisters  at  MeUrose :  the  masons  hero  cut  so  cheap 
that  it  really  tempts  one.  AU  this  is  in  agreat  measure 
finished,  and  by  throwing  the  gatden  into  a  subordinate 
state,  as  a  sort  of  pUiUance^  it  has  totally  removed  the 
awkward  appearance  of  its  being  so  near  tnc  house.  On 
the  contrary,  it  seems  a  naturaland  handsome  accompa- 
niment to  the  old-looking  mansion.  Some  people  of  very 
considerable  taste  have  been  here,  who  have  given  our 
doings  moch  applause,  particulkrly  Dr.  RusaeT,  a  beau- 

ttfnldriiaffhtsraan.Hi"^  ^ nf  p -*'lDTit    The 

iB'i't'i"'' ''I  ihi   fi.'Ji  .  ■<     ,        :'■,  Sixteen  ot' 

w^i' ]>,fuiirmiie  Aluuj^  Lht  ctuUt,  I  initiul  lu  point  wuli 
mv  riwn  quarto riug^  $<>  fi^r  sd  t  know  tbonit  for  1  aiu  &» 
yet  iin{:erl»in  of  two  oa  my  luothcr^s  airjt^ ;  Imt  rourltten 
arc  no  bad  qiiancrtnj;  m  be  qulie  rcaU  luici  ibc  uihcra 
mar  be  eoverecJ  Wih  a  rloriJ,  alncp  ThaT'C'  do  amblUon 
to  be  A  cfDon  (tf  Stfa«b"Ti;i  for  wbkh  iilxt«eTi  ar*?  peces- 
sary  ;  1  mar  Ujtiit  ot\  th<?«*,  ^I<^w(^Ter.    T?i©  scute h»n» 
oa  tb(>  cumtcc  I  propose  to  eharfo  witii  fhe  bEaEonry  of 
aU  tb'T  Bardtir  clana^  eiEhleeii  In  ntimNr,  uid  somsnyuf 
th'>  £r<^nt  famiEiPHi  mH  ciana^  u  wiU  occupy  Lb*  olUg/j(. 
Til"  winijomirtrfr  tn  be  ij*iiir''d  with  tke  diff'»rei«  bearings 
of  'i.rV.  n  nt  ft^imUaiof  Lhi*  clan  of  Scott,  wlilch,  with  their 
qv  .<iid  lmpfiiJiui;^t  ""^11  make  »  pr^Eiy  diapUy. 

Tl  :^  ali  Lfipfie  ^iraijr,  Ac,  have  tUtd  up  what 

It  [  ijsoc  rodla  tho  raktiy  tpanorit  for  KUch  this 

lai-i  MiiHV  (hu  xivQ  wh&k  ti!7  csllpd.     I  jrhnll  be  ertaHj  oblig- 
ed h--  y/^cj.  to  let  me  Xnow  whfil,  elf  btfti  owe  in  ]y!iitdnni^  tint 
finny  rt^mit  aeiL^ordLngly  ^  be»t  To  piiy  for  cirn?'a  piping  in 
tiin.\  .lEirJ  bcfor«  we  are  ikiiiUter  yi\%\\  our  purclria«e4i. 
Yf'ii  irir>iitjni)cd  having  fome  theatrical  wuri»  for  me  ;  ^ 
n<<i.  Lnia  to  lot  mc  know  ibe  oinQUnt-     HAVr  yflu  seen  Uj. 
M'^'/ii' k'ji  A£Cuum  of  the  Ancient  Artiioiirl— it  ii  a  biook 
bt'i'JMfidly  K^ot  upr  and  of  tnueb  antltjuarlau  hi^^rifiatJofl. 
'  Ujivlnif  iKfliri  no  nnjieh  for  mv  hr>udo«  t  mid  fiiir  xiiy  fami- 
ly .,, .,  ,^,....„  ...T.......  i.r.y.,  ..^-..^i,.^.v-.ii  k  i|'  T^^.i^S^ima 

lit..  ■     ■  "  niy 

last  aflkir  now  in  progress :  It  Is  within,  or  may  be  easily 
compressed  into,  dramatic  time ;  whether  it  is  otherwise 

?ua]lfled  for  the  stage,  I  cannot  guess.— I  am,  my  dear 
erry,  truly  yours, 

Waltxb  Soott,'/ 

The  novel  lo  which  Sir  Walter  thu«  alludt^  wis 
published  kbuut  ttie  tniddtfn  of  Deceoiber,  andm  lis 
EDi^lisli  reception  lliero  was  anotht'r  f&Uiag  off, 
wLii  b  of  coursg  somewhat  dlapiHldd  ihe  booltsvljer 
foi  (he  mumunt.  S^caich  readers  in  Kuneral  dissteni- 
ed  .^[initly  from  thi^  jadfrmenf.  alWvi>nrWt  i^f  they 
mi-;h  t  well  do,)  iJiat  M^jfi  Dods  ck^urvid^  n  pUce  by 
the  ^ili€  (jf  Moiikbaros,  Hailie  Jarvi^>  and  Capliun 
Deli^rtty ;  that  i]0  ont%  who  had  hred  m  the  autbgr'A 
own  cr>uniryH  coulrl  btjaitateto  recojinixe  vivid  ami 
hai'f4'  ntinraituttis  in  Teach  wood,  MacTurk,  and 
thr  r.iJiieti  niuiUter  af  Si.  Ri^nan^s;  thai  the  dta- 
cri['U<jn^  of  natural  accmcry  mijeht  rank  viih  any 
be  had  niven ;— atvd,  finally,  that  iho  whole  charac- 
ter (if  Clara  Mowbray,  but  especially  it?  dcvdop- 
mrrj!  in  iht*  third  volume,  fortJied  an  original  crea- 
tion, deetinctl  lo  bo  dass^'d  by  posi^ntv  mth  tht- 
hi{:  h  r  5 1  effort  b  of  iraflic  r  q  ma  net.  S  o  mt  Ed  \  nlmr|i  1  \ 
cnns,  liu\vevtir~(b<?ih  Ealkftr;?  aiid  writers)— feoew- 
ed  v.iih  consitltTabk^  gnid^jiny  cerUjJn  surcasijc 
sk^ii  hf'?uf  ibe  woti[L[*b\?-firH^  lift  of  tbf  watirinp- 
phii' —sketched  H'bich  tlirir  SouUiron  brieihr^n  bad 
kin  Itv  sugftoated  ^ni^hl  be  drawn  from  Sorthemr 
obi^>  rvaljon,  but  could  ntivt-r  appear  better  ,thin 
faiiiJiwtii^  caricatures  to  any  p4^TS)ti  who  bad  viaiicd 
evn  h  a  third- rate  Enghah  resort  of  the  same  oomi- 
nai  <?!a&ik.  There  ifl  aodoobi  that  thQanibor  dashed 
ofl' tiieae  minor  pCTSonagea  wuh,  in  the  painler^a 
phru£«s  a  rith  br^Mh  i  but  I  mual  con&^  ttiy  beh^f 


that  thfiy  have  tu  more  ttjjil^.ab^gt  ( 


t99 


LIFE  OP  SIR  WALTER  SCOTT. 


countrymen  seemed  at  the  time  willing  to  allow ; 
and  if  any  of  my  readers,  whether  Scotch  or  En- 
glish, has  ever  happened  to  spend  a  few  months, 
not  in  either  an  English  or  a  Scotch  watering-place 
of  the  present  day,  but  among  such  miscellaneous 
assemblages  of  British  nondescripts  and  outcasts, 
—including  often  persons  of  higher  birth  than  any 
of  the  beau  monde  of  St.  Ronan's  Well,— as  now 
mfest  many  towns  of  Prance  and  Switzerland,  he 
will,  I  am  satisfied,  be  inclined  to  admit  that,  while 
the  Continent  was  shut,  as  it  was  in  the  days  of  Sir 
Walter's  youthful  wanderings,  a  trip  to  such  a  se- 

auestered  place  as  Gilsland.  or  Monat  or  Innerlei- 
tien— (almost  as  inaccessible  to  London  duns  and 
bailifTs  as  the  Isle  of  Man  was  then,  or  as  Boulogne 
and  Dieppe  are  now)— may  have  supplied  the  future 
novelist  8  note-book  with  authentic  materials  even 
for  such  worthies  as  Sir  Bingo  and  Lady  Binks, 
Dr.  Quackleben,  and  Mr.  Winterblossom.  It  should, 
I  moreover,  be  borne  in  mind  that,  during  our  insular 
blockade,  northern  watering-places  were  not  alone 
favoured  by  the  resort  of  questionable  characters 
from  the  south.  The  comparative  cheapness  of 
living,  and  especially  of  education,  procured  for  Sir 
.  Walter's  "  own  romantic  town"  a  constant  succes- 
sion of  such  yisitants,  so  long  as  they  conld  have 
no  access  to  the  tablet  ^Mie  and  dancing-masters 
of  the  Continent.  Whpn  T  first  minslf^^l  an  the  so- 
ciety of  Edjnbur^]]^  It  abounded  wish  Knfiliah  .bro- 
ken in  character  and  in  fortune,  who  found  n  more 
title  (even  a  ^nroiic-L^s  one)  of  conan'QLiL'n!^^  ^nuugh 
to  obtain  for  them,  from  the  proverbially  i^E^utious 
Scotch}  s  degree  of  attention  to  which  liwy  bad  Jong 
been  unnctuatomed  anii^ng  thow  who  liaa  thane ed 
10  observe  the  progrcaa  of  ihdr  personi]!  histonf^s; 
^and  I  heard  many  natnei  when  tJiE  novei  was  new, 
a  booby  of  some  r^nk^  m  whom  ihey  rccoffnJEPed  a 
BU^cit^nily  accurate  prototype  for  Sir  Bm^o. 

Sir  Walter  had  shown  a  recnarkable  degree  df 
Roodnature  tn  the  completion  of  this  novel.  When 
the  end  ca mo  in  vie w^  James  BQllaniyne  sudderily 
took  va*t  alarm  about  a  partktilar  fetiture  in  the 
hktory  of  the  heroine.  In  the  ohgin  at  conception, 
and  m  the  book  afl  actuall)^  written  anri  jinnttjd, 
Mipa  Mowbray's  mock  m^mngc  hsd  luithaltii  at 
The  pnafontid  ccrctnonjf  of  the  church  ;  and  the  de- 
licate printer  ahrunk  from  tbt'  iden  of  obtruding  on 
the  fa 9 [idiotic  public  the  po&sjbitlEy  of  any  personal 
comammation  having  bem  incurred  b^  aln^h-bom 
damsel  of  the  nineteenth  cencur^.  SctHi  was  at 
first  inclined  lodismiEa  hiB  friend's  5cmples  av  brief- 
ly as  ho  had  done  those  'if  E  lack  wood  in  the  cose 
of  the  Blaijk  Dwarf:— "You  would  ncvL'r  have 
quarrelled  with  it,"  he  said,  "liad  the  thinj^  hnpptn- 
ed  to  a  girl  in  ttiughanu  The  eilk  petticont  cnn 
make  little  dinercncc/^  inmes  reclaimed  with 
donble  energy,  and  called  Co  nut  able  to  the  r».sciie ; 
— and  after  some  pausc^  the  author  very  rclucc'intly 
con  90  nted  to  can  eel  a  nd  re  w  ri  i  ft  a  h  yu  t  t  wen  t  y  1 1  ur 
pQgea^  which  was  cnon^h  to  obliterate,  tn  a  certain 
e;ttentt  EhedretidedsiL^anaal— and  ina  aimUardej^ee, 
ashefilwava  persisted,  to  perplex  and  weokcfi  The 
cuiirfC  of  his  rLarrat^ve,  and  the?  dark  efK'Ct  of  its 
catastrophe. 

Whoever  might  take  offence  with  different  parts 
of  the  book,  it  was  rapturously  hailed  by  the  inhabi- 
tants of  Innerleithen,  who  immediately  identified 
the  most  striking  of  its  locaUiies  with  those  of  their 
own  pretty  village  and  its  picturesque  neighbour- 
nood,  and  foresaw  in  this  celebration  a  chance  of 
restoring  the  popularity  of  their  long  neglected  Well 
—the  same  to  which,  as  the  reader  of  the  early  part 
of  these  memoirs  may  have  noticed.  Sir  Walter  Scott 
had  occasionally  escorted  his  mother  and  lister  in 
the  days  of  boyhood.  The  notables  of  the  little 
town  voted  bv  acclamation  that  the  old  name  of 
Innerleithen  should  be,  as  far  as  possible,  dropped 
thenceforth,  and  that  of  St.  Ronan*s  adopted.  iVor 
were  they  mistaken  in  their  auguries.  An  unheard- 
of  influx  of  water-bibbers  forthwith  crowned  their 
hopes ;  and  spruce  hottles  and  huge  staring  lodging- 
houses  soon  arose  to  disturb  woiolly  every  associa- 
tion that  had  induced  Sir  Walter  to  make  Inner- 
leithen the  scene  of  a  romAnce.    Nor  were  ihcy 


who  profited  by  these  invasions  of  the  genius  Imek 
stall  sparing  in  their  demonstrations  of  gratitude. 
The  traveller  reads  on  the  corner  of  every  new  erec- 
tion there,  "Abbotsford  Place,"  "  Wavericy  Row," 
"  The  Marmion  Hotel,"  or  some  inscription  of  toe 
like  coinage. 

Among  other  conse<^uences  of  the  revived  fame  of 
the  place,  a  yearly  festival  was  instituted  for  the  cel- 
ebration of  "The  St.  Ronan's  Border  Games."  A 
club  of  "  Bowmen  of  the  Border."  arrayed  in  doob- 
lets'of  Lincoln  ^een.  with  broad  blue  bonnets,  and 
jiavin^  the  Ettnck  Shephefd  for  Captain,  asmuncd 
the  principal  management  of  this  exhibition  ;  and 
Sur  Walter  was  well  pleased  to  be  enrolled  among 
them,  and  during  several  years  was  a  regular  attend- 
ant, both  on  the  Meadow,  where  (bendes  archery) 
leaping,  racing,  wresthng,  stone-heaving,  and  ham- 
mer-throwing, went  on  opposite  to  the  noble  old 
Castle  of  Traquair.  and  at  the  subsequent  banquet, 
where  Hogg,  in  mil  costunie,  always  presded  z% 
master  of  the  ceremonies.  In  fact,  a  gayer  specta- 
cle than  that  of  the  St,  RonanU  Oam^  in  tboae 
days,  could  not  well  have  been  desired.  The  Sbep- 
herd,  even  when  on  the  yerge  of  threescore,  exert- 
ed himself  lustily  in  the  field,  and  seldom  failed  to 
carry  ofT  some  of  the  prizes,  to  the  astonishment  of 
his  vanquished  juniors ;  and  the  ft^n-rtrani^  of 
Edinburgh  mustered  strong  arnon/;  the  gentry  and 
yeomanry  of  Tweeddale,  to  see  him  afterwards  in 
his  glory,  filling  the  presddent'i  chair  with  emineat 
tuceeas,  and  commonly  supported  on  thia— which 
waajn  fact  the  grandest  evening  of  his  year— by 
Sir  Walter  Scott,  Profeeaor  Wilton,  Sir  Adam  Fer- 
guson, and  **.  Peter  Robertson." 

In  Edinburgh,  at  least,  the  play  founded,  after  the 
usual  fashion,  on  St.  Ronan's  Well,  had  luccess  very 
far  beyond  the  expectation  of  the  novehst,  whatev^ 
may  have  been  those  of  the  dramatizer.  After  wit- 
nessing  the  &ist  representation,  Scott  wrote  thus  to 
Terry—"  We  had  a  new  piece  t'other  night  from  St. 
Ronan's,  which,  thoogfa  I  should  have  eappoaed  it 
ill  adapted  for  the  stage^  succeeded  wonderfully 
—chiefly  by  Murray's  acting  of  the  Old  Nabob. 
Mackay  also  made  an  excellent  Meg  Dods,  and 
kept  his  gestures  and  his  action  more  within  the 
verge  of  female  decorum  than  I  thought  possible." 

A  broad  piece  of  drollery,  in  the  shape  of  an  eoi- 
logue,  delivered  in  character  by  Mackay  when  be 
first  took  a  benefit  as  Meg  Dods.  is  included  in  die 
last  edition  of  Scott's  Poetical  Works;*  but  thoc^ 
it  caused  great  merriment  at  the  time  in  Edinbnrgn, 
the  allusions  are  so  exclusively  local  and  temporarr 
that  I  fear  no  commentary  could  ever  make  it  intd- 
ligible  elsewhere. 


CHAPTER  LX. 

PUBU CATION  OF  BEDGAUNTLET— DEATH  OP  LORD  BVaCHf 
— UBBARY  AMD  MUSEUM— "  THE  WALLACE  CHA»'' 
— HOUSE- PAIKTINO,  ETC — ^AVECDOTES — UBTTXaSTO 
CONST  ADLE — MI8|^DOBWORTH— TEREY — MIBBRAIL- 
LIE  — LORD  MONTAOU— MR.  SOUTHEV  —  CKARLXS 
BCOTT;  ETC.— speech  AT  THE  OPEMIKO  OF  THE 
EDINBURGH  ACADEMY— DEATH  AND  EPITAPH  OF 
MAIDA— FIRES  IN  EDINBURGH.— 1824. 

Immediately  on  ihe  conclusion  of  St.  Ronan's 
Well,  Sir  Walter  began  the  novel  of  RedgauntUt ; 
—but  it  had  made  considerable  progress  at  prtn 
before  Constable  and  Ballantyne  could  persuade 
him  to  substitute  that  title  for  IJcrriee.  The  book 
was  pubhshed  in  June,  1824,  and  was  received  at  the 
time  somewhat  coldly^  though  it  has  since,  I  be- 
lieve, found  more  justice.  The  reintroduction  of 
the  adventurous  hero  of  1745,  in  the  dulness  and 
dimness  of  advancing  agCi  and  fortunes  hopelessly 
blighted— and  the  presenting  him— with  whose  ro- 
mantic portraiture  at  an  earlier  period  historical 
truth  had  been  so  admirably  blended— as  the  mov- 
ing principle  of  events,  not  only  entirely^  but  noto- 
riously imaginary— this  was  /i  rash  experiment,  and 
could  not  rail  to  suggest  many  disagreeable  and 
disadvantageous  comparisons ;  yet,  had  there  been 
*  See  edition  IS 
Digitized  by ' 


y'tl^-ft&gfe 


UPE  OP  SIR  WALTER  SCOTT. 


-899 


no  Waverley,  I  am  persuaded  the  (hllen  and  fiftied 
Ascanius  of  Redgauntlet  would  have  been  univer- 
Bally  pronounced  a  masterpiece.  About  the  se- 
condary personages  there  could  be  little  ground  for 
controversy.  What  novel  or  drama  has  surpassed 
the  ipt>tesmiely  ludicrous,  dashed  with  the  profound 
pathos,  of  Peter  Peebles— the  most  traffic  of  farces  7 
— or  the  still  sadder  merriment  of  that  human  ship- 
wreck, Nantie  Ewart  ?— or  Wandering  Willie  and 
his  Tale  ?— the  wildest  and  most  rueful  of  dreams 
told  by  such  a  person,  and  in  such  a  dialect  I  Of  the 
young  correspondents  Darsie  Latimer  and  Allan 
Fairford,  and  the  Quakers  of  Mount  Sharon,  and 
indeed  of  numberless  minor  features  in  Redgauntlet, 
BO  one  who  has  read  the  first  part  of  these  me- 
moirs will  expect  me  to  speak  at  length  here.  With 
posterity  assuredly  this  novel  will  yield  in  interest 
Co  none  of  the  series— for  it  contains  perhaps  more 
of  the  author^s  personal  experiences  than  any  other 
of  them,  or  even  than  all  the  rest  put  together. 

This  year,  mirabilc  dictu!  produced  but  one 
novel ;  and  it  is  not  impossible  that  the  author  had 
taken  deeply  into  his  mind,  though  he  would  not 
immediately  act  upon  them,  certain  hints  about  the 
danger  of  overcropping/'  which  .have  been  allud- 
ed to  as  dropping  from  his  publishers  in  1623.  He 
had.  howeven  a  labour  of  some  weight  to  go  Ihrough 
in  pre{)aring  for  the  press  a  Second  Edition  of  his 
voluminous  Swift.  The  additions  to  this  reorint 
Kere  numerous,  and  he  corrected  his  notes,  and  the 
La£B  of  the  Dean  throughout,  with  considerable  care. 
He  also  threw  off  several  reviews  and  other  petty 
miscellanies — among  which  last  occurs  his  memor- 
able tribute  to  the  memory  of  Lord  Byron,  written 
ioT  BaUantyne's  newspaper  ammediately  after  the 
news  of  the  catastrophe  at  Missolongni  reached 
•  Abbotsford-* 

The  arrangement  of  his  library  and  museum  was, 
however,  the  main  care  of  the  summer  months  of 
this  year ;  and  his.woods  were  now  in  iuch  a  state 
of  progress  that  his  most  usual  exercise  out  of  doors 
was  ttunning  them.  He  was  an  expert  as  well  aa 
powerM  wielder  of  the  axe,  and  competed  with  his 
ablest  subalterns  as  to  the  paucity  of  blows  by 
which  a  tree  could  be  brought  down.  The  wood 
rang  ever  and  anon  with  laughter  while  he  shared 
Aeir  labomra:  and  if  he  had  taken,  as  he  every  now 
and  then  did,  a  whole  day  with  them,  they  were 
wfe  to  be  invited  home  to  Abbotsford  to  sup  gayly 
at  Tom  Pnrdie's.  One  of  Sir  Walter's  Traosatlan- 
oc  admirers,  bv  the  way,  sent  him,  a  complete  as- 
sortment or  the  tools  employed  in  clearing  the 
Backwoods,  and  both  he  and  Tom  made  strenuous 
efhrta  to  attain  some  dexterity  in  using  them ;  but 
neither  succeeded.  The  American  axe,  in  particu- 
lar, having  a  longer  shaft  than  ours,  and  a  much 
■mailer  and  narrower  cutting-piece,  was,  in  Tom's 
opinion,  only  fit  for  paring  a  ktbbuck  (i.  «.  a  cheese 
of  skimmed  milk.)  The  old-fashioned  large  and 
broad  axe  was  soon  resumed:  and  the  belt  that 
bore  it  had  accomm6df|Ltion  also  for  a  chissel,  a 
hammer,  and  a  small  saw.  Among  all  the  num- 
berless portraits,  why  was  there  not  one  represent- 
ing the  Belted  Knight,"  accoutred  with  these  ap- 
purtenances of  his  forest-crafty  jogging  over  the 
heather  on  a  breezy  mornine.  with  Thomas  Purdie 
at  his  stirrup,  and  Maida  stalking  in  advance  ? 

Notwithstanding  the  numberiess  letters  to  Terry 
about  his  upholsterj',  the  far  greater  part  of  it  was 
Bianufactured  at  home.  The  most  of  the  articles 
from  London  were  only  models  for  the  use  of  two 
or  three  neat-handed  carpenters  whom  he  had  dis- 
covered in  the  villages  near  him:  and  he  watched 
and  directed  their  operations  as  careftdly  as  a  George 
Bullock  could  have  done,  and  the  results  were  such 
a^even  Bullock  might  have  admired.  The  great 
table  ill  the  library,  for  example,  (a  most  complex 
and  beautiful  one,)  was  done  entirely  in  the  room 
where  it  now  stands,  by  Joseph  Shillinglaw  of 
Damick— the  Sheriff  planning  and  studying  every 
turn  as  zealously  as  ever  an  old  lady  pondered  the 
d^elopment  or  an  embroidered  cushion.  The 
hangings  and  curtains,  too,  were  chiefly  the  work 
•  See  MiwelkneoasProM  Woftoi,  voL  iv.  p.  JU. 


of  a  little  hunchbacked  tailor,  by  name  WxUiam 
Goodfellow— (save  at  Abbotaiford.  where  h©  an- 
swered to  iJoWn)— who  occupied  a  cottage  on 
Scott's  farm  of  the  Broomielees— one  of  the  race 
that  creep  from  homestead  to  homestead,  welcomed 
wherever  they  appear  by  housewife  and  handmaid- 
en^ the  great  gossips  and  newsmen  of  the  parish, 
—in  Scottish  nomenclature  cardooers.  Proudly  and 
earnestly  did  all  these  vassals  toil  in  his  service ;  and 
I  think  It  was  one  of  them  that,  when  some  stran- 
ger asked  a  question  about  his  personal  demeanour, 
answered  in  these  simple  words—"  Sir  Walter 
speaks  to  every  man  as  if  they  were  blood-rela- 
tions." Not  long  after  he  had  completed  his  work 
at  Abbotsford,  little  Goodfellow  fell  sick,  and  as  his 
cabin  was  near  Chiofswood,  I  had  many  opportuni- 
ties of  observing  the  Sherin's  kind  attention  to  him 
in  his  affliction.  I  can  never  forget^  in  particular,  the 
evening  on  which  the  poor  tailor  died.  When  Scott 
entered  the'hovel,  he  found  every  thing  silent,  and 
inferred  from  the  looks  of  the  good  women  in  at- 
teudance  that  their  patient  had  fallen  asleep,  and 
that  they  feared  his  sleep  was  the  final  one.    He 


hands  with  an  expression  of  rapturous  gratefuIhesL 
and  devotion,  that,  in  the  midst  of  delormity,  dis- 
ease, pain,  arid  wretchedness,  was  at  once  beauti- 
ful ana  suolime.  He  cried  with  a  loud  voice,  "  the 
Lord  bless  and  reward  you,"  and  expired  with  the 
effort. 

In  the  painting  of  his  interior,  too.  Sir  Walter  per- 
sonally directed  every  thing.  He  abommated  the 
common-place  daubing  of  walls,  panels,  doors,  and 
windowboards  with  coals  of  white,  blue,  or  gray^ 
and  thought  that  sparklings  and  edgings  of  gilding 
only  made  their  baldness  and  poverty  more  notice- 
able. He  desired  to  have  about  him,  wherever  he 
could  manage  it,  rich,  though  not  gaudy,  hangmn» 
or  substanual.  old-fashioned  wainscot- work,  with 
no  ornament  hut  that  of  carving;  and  where  the 
wood  was  to  be  painted  at  all,  it  was  done  m  stnct 
imitation  of  oak  or  cedar.    Except  in  the  drawing- 


mtersections  of  beams,  and  resting  on  comiios,  to 
the  eye  of  the  same  material,  but  really  composed 
of  casts  in  plaster  of  Paris  after  the  fohage,  the 
flowers,  the  grotesque  monsters  and  dwarfs,  and 
sometimes  the  beautiful  heads  of  nuns  and  confist- 
sors,  on  which  he  had  doated  fh)m  infancy  among 
the  cloisters  of  Melrose  and  Roslin.  In  the  paint- 
ing of  these  things,  also,  he  had  instruments  who 
considered  it  as  a  labour  of  love.  The  master-lim- 
ner, in  particular,  had  a  devoted  attachment  to  his 
person :  and  this  was  not  wonderful,  for  he,  m  fact, 
owed  a  prosperous  fortune  to  Scott's  kind  and  raga- 
cions  counsel,  tendefed  at  the  very  outset  of  his  . 
career.  A  printer's  apprentice  attracted  notice  by 
his  attempts  with  the  pencil,  and  Sir  Walter  was 
called  upon,  after  often  admiring  his  skill  m^  renre- 
senting  dogs  and  horses  and  the  like,  to  assist  him 
with  his  art  vice,  as  ambition  had  been  stirred,  and 
the  youth  would  fain  give  himaelf  to  the  regular 
training  of  an  artist.  Scott  took  him  into  his  room, 
and  conversed  with  him  at  some  length.  He  ex- 
plained the  difficulties  and  perils,  the  almost  certain- 
distresses,  the  few  and  narrow  chances  of  this  as- 
piring walk.  He  described  the  hundreds  of  ardent 
spirits  that  pine  out  their  lives  in  solitary  garrets,, 
lamenting  over  the  rash  eagerness  with  which  they 
had  obeyed  the  suggestions  of  young  ambition,  and 
chosen  a  career  inwhich  success  of  any  sort  is  rare, 
and  no  success  but  the  highest  is  v^orth  attaining. 
"  You  have  talen  ts  and  energy,"  said  he,  but  who 
can  say  whether  you  have  genius  1  These  boyish 
drawings  can  never  be  relied  on  as  proora,  of  thM, 
If  you  feel  within  you  such  a  glow  of  ambition,  that 
you  would  rather  run  a  hundred  chances  of  obscurity 
and  penurv  than  miss  one  of  being  a  Wilkie,-7-roeke 
up  your  mind,  and  take  the  bold  plunge;  but  if  your 
object  is  merely  to  raise  yourself  to  a  station  oi 


400 


UFE  OP  SIR  WALTER  aCOTT. 


w^wldly  comfort  and  independencoj— iTfoa  would 
fnin  look  forward  with  loIeiBhle  assnrano?  ta  the 
prospect  of  being  a  reifpeclnlile  dtiien.  w  ith  your 
own  snug  roof  ov^tT  >'our  head,  nnd  rhf?  hapny  faces 
of  a  wife  and  dbtldren  about  you^— fiftuae  and  (wflect 
wdl  It  tl^lp<^ar8  lo  qi<j  that  there  is  link  demand 
for  fine  vvorks  of  th(J  pencil  in  this  conn  try.  Not  a 
few  aLTiiitp,  who  have  e^cn  obtiined  high  (ind  merit* 
ed  r«!putationt  find  etitploymerat  starc^  and  stRrve 
under  their  Inured^.  I  thitik  profit  in  Brilaiu  is,  with 
venf  rnre  t?Jie^tion*,  aj^ntxthtf  to  deparrmenf*  of 
obviona  and  direct  ntiTity,  in  which  ihe  mm  a*  of  the 
tieoplf  aru  c^jticerned ;  and  it  hHs  often  s^tnick  me, 
lh;^E  some  clffter  follow  might  n>akf  a  ^ood  hit  if, 
jn,  plnce  of  lenrollitiE;  hiniseJf  amon^  the  futyro  Ra- 
phecij  and  Vandykes  of  the  Royal  Academy,  he 
should  fie9alut«ly  set  himself  to  introducing  sornM- 
thinK  of  a  more  ide^ant  style  of  hoiiee-painiitiff." 
The  j'oung  intin  thus  addreased  (Mr.  D,  R.  Hay) 
was  nvidest  nnd  wbw^  enoujiEb  to  accept  the  advice 
With  thankfulnesB,  and  to  act  upon  it  with  patience 
md  slcftdineei*.  After  a  few  yeAr&  he  had  nualified 
htm  self  10  take  charge  of  n]l  ihis  ddicale  limning 
and  bloEotiing  nt  Abbot^ford.  Hl-  ih  now,  J  under* 
atandt  flr  the  head  of  a  Rreat  and  floitrtshing  eatab- 
hahmeni  in  Krjinburgh?  and  a  ireatjae  on  the  aci- 
enw  of  colour,  which  has  proceeded  from  hi*i  pen, 
IB  talked  of  as  reflective  hieh  credit  r>n  his  taste  and 
understanding.  Nor  should  I  omit  what  seerns  a 
par  I  ocularly  honourable  trait  in  Mr.  Hay  :— he  is 
eaid  to  be  one  of  the  most  hberal  patrons  ^>f  native 
an  now  in  eii^tencc ;  in  fact,  to  possess  an  unrival- 
led collection  of  the  works  of  conteniporarj'  Scot* 
Ush  pttinlers* 

Mean -time  theproRresa  of  Abbot  sford  stimulated 
targdy  both  frieiids  and  atranj^rr^  to  contribute  ar- 
ticles of  ctirioaiiy  towards  its  final  adornment.  I 
have  already  ftlladod  wilh  rc«rel  to  the  non- comple- 
tion of  the  Poet's  own  eaialogue  of  his  literary 
and  anttquariau  raritiefi,  bpgun  under  the  title  of 
"ReliqurjE  Troitcosian^"  and  mentioned  Mr* 
Tfam^  ttie  affectionate  supervisor  of  exeiie^  as  the 
most  unwearied  and  bountiful  of  all  the  eontribti- 
tors  to  tlic  il/i*fl«ira.  Now,  he  would  fain  have  his 
pan  m,  the  atibat&nlial  ^^ plmishing^'  alao;  and  I 
trail »cnheT  as  a  epecin\en  of  hi&  zc^l.  the  tieeount 
which  I  have  received  from  him  self  of  hi  a  prepara- 
tion and  tronsmiflsion  oi  one  piece  of  furniture,  to 
which  hiB  friend  tillotttHl  a  diaiinipiished  pluce,  for 
It  was  one  of  ihe  £ito  chaira  that  ultimately  stood 
m  his  own  saru^ium  tan^hrum.  In  those  days  Mr. 
Trams  official  residence  waa  at  Kirkintilloch,  in 
SlJTlmRahire  j  and  he  says,  in  his  MfftnorQnda,— 

"  RftrblBton,  of,  m  (t  la  now  culled,  Robr^tslon,  where 
thB  vfUiam  W&llace  wot  bdirtifed  l>y  MQnteith  of  ktitJtln, 
|iionl5  n  few  tD|lf«  iltsitimt  from  KJrfcintilJofih.  The  waUs 
of  the  houwe^  wh^re  the  flrjtt  ftc&uc  of  ihot  <)^gTmi?cfuJ 
.trij?ftl^  was  nctc-l  w^re  arjinUliiif,  on  my  airivai  in  ihal 

ru?t«r.  Tlie  roof  weu  frtitirelr  tfoue ;  but  I  observed 
t#o[De  btnti  (jf  thrt  mfterH.huWt  UUo  ibe  waU,  were 
«im  r#malniiiji.  A*  the  m j n  vmt  ^Itout  he'mg  uk^n  fiovn 
lo  make  w^f  for  the  plooiitisharet  I  caaUy  succeudc  J  hi 
?iircbuJng  tbuse  olaBttuopM  frj>iii  itic  farmer  i;ntm  who*e 
f  roJUJd  it  stoofi    Wh^j]  tiik*?n  out  of  the  Lmildljjj^,  tticpri 

Elect*  of  wood  were  ffcemtfigty  go  aauch  drenrorl  u  Co 
e  fit  rtiiTy  for  fuet ;  b»it  after  plftniug  off  about  nit  inch 
fbjm  irie  HurrajLi^.  I  found  that  the  remainder  of  the  wood 
was  as  h*rd  A3  a  bone,  *nd  auicepUble  of  a  fine  polish.  I 
Llirii  f<-g*>lvi[ul  iipun  hiiTliuja  ehftfcr  of  the  moai  i^caiquede^ 
.  J,t  rrptl<in  made  vut  of  liioiic  wiLsted  bloclt!i,  as  ci  intfnx^rtaJ 
at  I  KIT  most  Vfflirlotlc  bero,  wiih  a  feHhig  sopiewUit  lUiO 
lar  to  theirs  who  nuncmliei-  their  ftitisur  in  iha  cxaciJU- 
'  III  the  e^ecueion  nf  thiw  undertaking  workmen  of 
tnfjous  deaDminatfona  w^-re  einployetj  It  wai  modaUed 
from  an  titd  chair  in  the  Pnlw=e€f  HanitUQti,  and  fa  m^nr. 
If  co?*rcd  with  cwred  work,  roprei*oniinf  rv»ck«,  liea 
llief,  ind  (Metle.i,  euibknmUc  of  Sc«Iftnd,  wid  !ndi.nf&ir 
wiU^  bnt««,  reprweatlof  Iha  ffarp  o/MeAWr^^ffUironml. 
od  Willi  Uurdlfi  uai  *apported  bv  twf  et*,  ciayuwrea, 
*f^*'*f?;''^  ais«,  Wftr  heroi,  Jtfi.  Ttio  «eat  U  c^verad 
wiUi  *U1  vrif»t.  b«fteath  whicli  \a  ti  dmwer.  nt>iji«iUTiM  a 
b«*  bottod  1«  Uia  most  prixumv.^  form  iti  Robrgynton 
.  WOS?  **^  ^*?  cUspa.  In  ttilji  book  ure  tic  tailed  at 
iJ2|th  aotae  of  th&  parUfitilafs  h<?re  brlufly  slluJed  lo, 
WMa  Uifl  ftflJniHiUons  uf  aeTenil  periotitf  to  whoff?  care 
in*  fihftir  Wtti  mtrustijij  In  ih«  couraa  of  tnnlGUig 


^,  On  the  (hidkle)  bLCk  of  i|tt  ^ilr  is  a  bnaa  plaia, 
be-RTlai^Iha  folilfivinf  Inscrfptleeti-^ 

iiii>t  or  TH£  cxLV  nrsji  ikiko  WDOO 

Of  tns 

uoosB  A-r  BoaaovsTgw, 

IM  WtilBU    Tnil      . 

M.*TClU.Eii3  #!ft  WILLIAM  WALLACE 

'  wjia  nujrn  to  oeatii  hv  f£LOM  baxd 

POa  BCJoiDiho  wni,L  ma  patiiebs'  lajed/ 

ja.  HOST  rtRspncrFrLt-v  rciEs^KNTBB  to 

^m  WAJ.TER  SCOTT, 

Aa  A  ^MALL  tOK&Ti  Cif  QftA  rrFfTDBf 

ar  »ja  oivonsn  simvj,vr, 

'^Eju^eraled  reoona  of  this  chair  spread  orertbe  ad- 
jac^at  eontiiTj  with  a  flcry-cross  tUrf)  speed,  and nisod 
iMiblk  cnrio.-^ity  lo  such  alu^liEhtf  that  jteraoQainthairowB 
carriaj^ei  c^uhg  ntany  irabt  [o  ae«  IL  I  happoied  to  be 
lu  a  dieupL  petrt  of  ui.v  ilUtrtci  at  the  time  ;  bat  1  (hie 
i>my  m^imy  pt^rA^^Ji;;  in  KirtimLiiiucU  vet  remember  iam 
triui^ip^i^fltiy  thtiiiymijoli£  chair  wo*  uome  frommrlodg- 
ioiffl  10  ttici  bank  of  ibo  Great  CaiinI,  lo  be  there  ibtpped 
for  Abbotaford,  In  the  mid»t  of  th«  town- band  playimi— 
*acotB  wJia  liae  wt*  WnUatfi  blttt,*  and  surrooadedsiT 
thooaanda,  wtiQ  miade  the  w^Mn  rr^pnand  with  bants  oi 
naUonfti  entliiiaiksm,  Jn«uryin^  th''  couplet  of  Pope— 
*  Alt  this  may  be,  the  pfjcpnle's  mice  is  odd  ; 
The  9c  Ota  wdl  flit  tit  for  Wallace  aa  for  God.'"— 

Such  arrivals  as  that  of  **  the  Wallace  Cb«»^ 
were  frequerr 1 1  h ron ghou t  \m4.  It  waa  a  happv, and 
therefore  it  ni^t^i  hardly  be  added,  anio^ventnufear 
—hill  last  year  of  uniliatuThrtd  oroapcritjr.  Tbenttk 
incidents  that  diverst^cd  liia  domestic  interior,  aid 
the  seal  which  he  always  kept  tip  for  ril  the  coa 
cerrva  of  his  friends,  together  with  a  few  iodicatioiM 
of  hjj  opinions  on  aiibjects  of  literary  and  politicil 
interei^t^  will  ht  found  in  hii  corresDondiaice,  wluck 
wi]  1  h  n  rd  ]  y^  req  uire  a  n  ir  ed  i  tonal  e^planationa. 

Within,  I  think,  the  same  week  in  Janaaij,  lim- 
ed a  copy  of  Motitfau^on^B  Antsquitiea,  in  fifteen  vo- 
lumes folio,  richly  boTtnd  in  scarlet,  the  gift  of  Kjng 
George  Iv,,  and  a  aet  of  the  Vanomm  ClasMS, 
in  about  a  hundred  vobmes  octavo,  from  Mr.  Con- 
alablo.    Sir  Walter  aays— 

7^  Archibald  Oanstablr,  Btq. 

"  Abbouford,  6th  January,  uat 
"Biy  dear  Sir.  '* 

"  Yeiterdaj  !  hai)  the  p-eat  pleiaore  of  ptaciiytea? 
pfoTlttonal  library  the  laoit  jrpknded  present,  aa  I  fe 
eineerltjr  believe,  wbkh  eifer  an  anibor  received  froa a 
booJiaellpf.    Ifitlie  lihapc^  ofth^tae  iniioltable  Vm 


who  knowi  wij^attie\r  ide&a  this  QaaiicanMuay  aoaMll- 
£br  I  an)  i^etermined  to  shaJre  otTUje-nut  wtdSjess 
bavft  CDnurAct?d„  and  to  r«iid  ai  lotat  aome  of  tbesM* 
c  Kpilsl  of  I  he  anc  I  onta  b  e  fore  I  itje.  Believe  me,  my  <fev 
and  cild  frieFid,  1  B<^t  a  m£rrc  e^acial  value  oo  uus  voct 
aa  eominx  frari)  yuu,  aiid  aa  beina  a  pledge  that  the  lo^ 
and  conAdealial  tot«rcaurs«  betwial  ua  has  b«en  ^tm- 
ablnj  and  adva^stngeoua  ta  botli,— Youra  truly, 
Waltt 


Miss  Edge  worth  had  wntien  to  him  to  vxfltt 
about  the  health  of  his  ^lde»t  daughter,  and  vM. 
him  sottie  anecdotes  of  an  American  dame,  whose 
head  had  been  turned  by  ;he  Waverley  NoTels.  ai^ 
who  hod,  amonf;  othar  demon stnitiona  of  ooauish 
SFm,  callm  her  farm  in  Maasaehusaetta,  Char^i 
H'}pt,  This  lady  had,  it  s^fetaa.  eorresponckd  wri 
Mrs.  Grant  of  LagRan,  herself  for  a  time  ooeof  ibe 
'  Autliora  of  Waverley/'  atid  Mrs.  Grant,  in  dia- 
da  I  nil  UR  auch  honour*,  had  spoken  of  the  leil 
source  in  term  a  of  sueh  per&ct  assurance,  that  the 
honest  American  a  1  moat  fancied  she  must  htt? 
beard  -Scoit  confess* ;  yet  siiJI  she  was  in  dooto 
nod  Lribulafiona,  ana  unhappy  lUJ  she  cotild  bear 
more.  The  theory  prevaletit  in  her  own  ne^ 
boiirhood  was,  it  9eeinfl|  that  I  ho  authorship  was » 
joint- stock  bumneas— a^r  Walter  being  one  of  ibf 
partners,  and  the  other  aij  unfortunate  lunatic  d 
vvbose  papers  he  bad  got  posaesaion  dorins  a  boa 
intenral    Scott  anewera  thus :— 

Ta  MiMt  Edgew&rth,  Edgeieorf]^*  town,  IrtloMd. 

' '  My  dear  Mlai  £d«  e worth,  ' 

'I  answer  T our  kind  letter  toi mediately,  becaatti 
Ko  «iiro  jfour  ajaiera  «ui  YOU  wiJI  intereal  yourselves  it 
Sophii^.PKUeofheatth.  Ifrn^tin  notof  tba  I    - 

Digitized  by  VjOOQIc 


UFB  OF  sra  WAI/nOl  iKHyiT. 


*T«liioc  M  fllylNit  vokf  6e  wtU  reported' 

On  flhUurday,  31st  January,  ahe  bad  a  daughter,  but  the 
poor  little  straofer  left  um  on  the  Monday  following ;  and 
uu>agh  Sophia  is  very  patient  in  her  temper,  yet  her 
recovery  ia  naturally  retarded,  and  I  am  sorry  to  say  she 
has  been  attaelced  in  her  weak  state  by  those  spasms 
'Which  aeem  a  hereditary  diMrder  in  my  family,— slightly, 
iMwever,  ia  comparison  of  the  former  occasion  ;  and  for 
the  last  two  days  she  has  been  so  much  recovered  as  to 
take  a  |prain  or  two  of  calomel,  which  is  specific  in  the 
complaint  I^ave  no  doubt  now,  humanly  spealcing,  that 
ber  recovery  will  proceed  favourably.  1  saw  her  for  a 
quarter  of  an  hour  vesterday,  which  was  the  first  per- 
manent visit  I  have  been  permitted  to  make  her.  So  you 
may  eoAceive  we  have  been  anxious  enough,  hving,  ae 
18  oar  elamiish  (aahioD,  very  much  for,  aqd  wkh  each 
«(b<$r. 

**Tour  American  firfend,  the  good-wife  of  Oharlie's 
ll^>e,  s«em9  disposed,  as  we  say,  Ho  tiit  her  mercisa' 
fllie  quarrels  wtta  books  that  amuse  her,  because  she 
doevnot  know  the  author ;  and  she  gi«es  up  ehieken-ple 
iM  the  opposite  reason,  that  she  knows  too  mtieb  about 
the  birdr  ptilgree.  On  the  last  point  I  0«re  her  pre- 
%idfeee,  and  never  could  eat  the  lleeh  of  any  creature  I 
led  known  while  afive.  I  had  once  a  noble  yoke  of  oxen, 
«hich«  with  the  nsoal  agrlsuitiiFal  gratitude,  we  killed  for 
4te  table ;  they  said  it  was  the  finest  beef  in  the  four 
•ounties,  but  I  couM  never  taste  Oog  and  Magoff,  wbom  I 
-■sed  to  adtnire  in  the  ploogh.  Moreever,  when  I  was  an 
«flleer  of  yeomanryi  and  us«d  to  dress  my  own  ohaiirer, 

formed  an  acquaintance  with  a  fioek  of  white  (Urlceys, 
^1ter«wtnf  them  a  bandAil  of  oats  now  and  ihe»  wlien  I 
aame  from  the  stable :— 4  saw  their  ttomben  diminish 
w  u  real  pain,  and  never  attempted  to  eat  any  of  them 
wibcttt  being  sick.  And  yet  1  have  a<i  much  of  the  r«^- 
j«d  and  tough  about  me  as  Is  necessary  to  carry  me 
fctaiigh  all  sorts  of  dnty.  without  much  sentUnental  cont- 
vonctkm. 

**Aa  to  the  ingenious  system  of  dotible  auUiorshlp« 
which  the  Amencans  have  devised  for  the  Waverley 
Bovete,  I  think  it  in  one  point  of  view  extremely  likely ; 
fiace  the  unhappy  man,  whom  they  have  thought  fit  to 
Wing  on  the  carpet,  has  been  shut  up  in  a  madhouse  for 
naoy  years ;  and  it  seema  probable  that  no  brain  but  a 
Bsdman's  could  have  invented  so  much  stuffi  and  no  lel- 
aore  but  (bat  of  a  prisoner  could  have  afforded  time  to 
write  it  all  But,  if  this  poor  man  be  the  author  of  these 
woika,  I  can  assure  your  kind  friend  that  I  neither  could, 
would)  nor  durst  have  the  slishtest  communication  with 
him  on  that  or  any  other  subject  In  fact,  I  have  never 
beard  o(  him  twice  for  these  twenty  years  or  more.  As 
for  honest  Mrs.  Grant,  I  cannot  conceive  why  the  deuce 
{should  have  selected  her  for  a  mother-con^sor ;  if  it 
had  been  yourself  or  Joanna,  there  might  have  been  some 
probability  in  the  report ;  but  good  Mrs.  Grant  is  so  very 
serulean,  and  surrounded  by  so  many  fetch-andcarry 
laistressea  and  missesses,  and  the  malntainer  of  such  an 
tuunercifol  correspondence,  that  though  I  would  do  her 
any  lundness  in  my  power,  yet  I  should  be  afraid  to  be 
very  intimate  with  a  woman  whose  ton|tue  and  pen  are 
rather  overpowering.  She  is  an  excellent  person  npt- 
witlistanding.  Prav,  make  my  respects  to  your  corres- 
pondent, and  tell  ner  I  am  very  sorry  I  cannot  tell  her 
who  the  author  of  Waverley  is ;  but  I  hope  she  will  M 
woe  the  justice  not  to  ascribe  any  dishonourable  transac- 
tkms  to  me,  either  in  that  matter  or  anv  other,  until  she 
boars  that  they  arc  likely  to  correspond  with  any  pitt  of 
my  known  character— which,  havUig  been  now  a  uon  of 
good  reputation  on  my  own  deserts  for  twenty  years  and 
upwards,  ought  to  be  indiflerentlv  well  known  in  Scot- 
Taod.  She  seems  to  be  a  very  amiable  person :  and  though 
I  shall  never  see  Charlie's  Hope,  or  eat  her  cnickenpios, 
I  araaore  I  wish  health  to  waJt  on  the  one,  and  good  di- 
geidofk  on  the  other.  Thoy  are  fuhny  people  the  Ameri- 
cans ;  I  saw  a  paper  in  which  they  said  my  father  was  a 
tailor.  If  he  had  been  an  honest  tailor ^  I  should  not  have 
been  aahamed  of  the  circumstance;  but  he  was  what 
may  be  thought  as  great  a  phenomenon,  for  he  was  an 
^koneH  lawyer,  a  cadet  of  a  good  family,  whose  predeces- 
•ors  only  dealt  in  phiking  and  slashing  doublets,  not  in 
making  them. 

**■  Here  is  a  long  letter,  and  all  about  trash— but  what  can 
you  expect  1  Judges  are  nnmbUng  and  gmmbling  a>>ovc 
in»->(awyers  are  squabbling  and  babbuig  around  me. 
The  minutes  I  give  to  my  letter  are  stolen  from  Themis. 
I  iMpo  to  get  to  Abbotffford  verr  soon^  ttiough  only  for 
two  or  three  days,  until  ViCb  Bfaron,  when  we  go  there  for 
some  time.  Mrs.  Spicie  seems  to  be  recovering  from  her 
oithnMMtes,  which  makes  a  curious  ease,  providinc  the 
roeoverr  be  eomQleted  Walter  aame  nown  at  Christ- 
mas, and  speedily  assembled  three  more  terriers.  One 
day  the  whole  got  off  aAer  a  hare,  and  made  me  remem- 
l>er  the  basket  Mi«(le«thit  Lord  IbilDii  twed  to  keep  in 

61  ai* 


my  yovlh;  for  the  wbole  paokopoaad  Mke  hoOBds,aMi 
would  liave  stuck  to  the  chase  tiUtbey  bad  Idlled  the  taave 
which  would  have  been  like  being  pricked  to  death  wWi 

Skins,  if  we  had  not  licked  them  off  so  soon  as  we  could 
or  laugbiag.  This  is  a  dull  joke  on  paper ;  but  imagine 
the  presumption  of  so  manv  longtMick«d,  shortlexged 
creatures,  pursuing  an  animal  so  very  fleet.  You  wilTal- 
low  it  is  something  rldiculoua  lam  surp  Coutft  O'llal- 
loran  would  have  laugiied,  and  Colonel  Heathcock  would 
have  been  scandalized*  Lady  B.  sends  her  best  andldnd- 
est  remembrances,  in  which  she  is  joined  by  Anne  and 
Sophia  (poor  body.)  Mv  fair  friends,  Harriet  and  Sophia, 
have  a  large  interest  In  this  greeting,  and  Lockhart  throws 
himself -in  with  tidings  that  Sophia  continues  to  mend.— 
Always,  my  dear  Miss  E.,  most  faithfully  yours, 

WALTBa  Scot*'." 

Tbifl  is  thfi  answer  to  a  request  concerning  some 
MS.  traffedy,  by  the  la  to  Mrs.  Heroans,  which 
seems  to  have  been  damned  at  one  of  the  London 
theatres,  and  then  to  have  been  tried  over  affain  (I 
know  not  with  what  result)  at  Edinburgh  .— 
To  Mi9$  Joanna  BaiUiey  Bamptteod. 

*'Bdiabuif  h,  FebruMy  9, 18M. 
•*HTdearBfl88BaiUie, 

^^TO  bear  is  to  obey,  and  the  enclosed  bner  vrill  ihow 
that  the  Siddobses  are  mgnmble  to  act  Mrs.  Hemaaa'a 
drama.  When  yon  tell  the  taley  say  nothing  about  mo, 
for  6n  no  eaithhr  oonsideratloB  wuuld  1  like  it  to  bolmown 
thatlinterfsred  intheatrloal  matters;  it  brbiga  ouoba 
torrent  of  apnbcatiOBa  which  it  is  impossible  to  grant,  a|id 
ofter  very  pamfol  to  refbse.  Every  body  thinks  they  sen 
write  blsBk  verse— and  a  word  ^ffour*  to  Mr:  Smitni 
dtcftc  Ihad  oiMxogue(tobosurehe  wentmadaAor- 
wards,  poor  follow)  who  came  m  bully  me  in  my  own 
home,  until  he  had  idmost  made  tne  mist  oCtwemyyeare, 


aaOssiaasaya,  roll  baeicwards  (rem my  apitiL  In  wbicii 
he  m^it  have  come  by  an  ezeelient  good  boatii 


-have  great  pleasure^  however,  in  aerving  Mrs.  -Hw 
both  on  account  of  ner  own  merit,  and  because  of  your 
patronage.    I  trust  the  pieae  will  aueeeed    * 
no  promMng,  for  "       * 


thought  less  critical 
leqnie 


tbe  pieae  wlU  aueeeedt  but  there  is 
Saunders  ia  meanly  jeamtia  of  being 
il  than  John  Bulli  and  may,  perbaps. 


to  be  pteaaed  with  what  was  less  fortunate  ia 
I  wfan  Mrs.  H.  had  been  on  the  spotto  make 
any  alCemtions,  *o.  frhioh  the  players  are  aJiways  de- 
I  will  read  the  drama  over  more  •oarefolbr  than 


I  have  yet  done,  and  tell  you  if  any  thiaff  occura.  I  need 
hardly  apologise  for  betaig  late  in  letting  you  hear  all  this 
—for  the  terror  of  the  cramp  attaokinc  poor  Sophia  to 
herweak  state  kept  us  very  foveriab:  but  ibankCfodk 
did  little  more  tbto  menace  her.  and  the  symptoms  bar- 
ing now  given  way,  her  husband  talks  of  going  to  town, 
in  which  case  I  intend  to  take  Sophia  to  Abbotsford,  and 

*  Till  she  be  lat  as  a  Norroway .  seal, 
ini  feed  her  on  bannocks  of  barley  meal.' 
"Betwixt  Indolence  of  her  own,  and  Lockbart's  ejt 
treme  anxiety  and  indulgence,  she  has  foregone  tbe  ous> 
torn  of  her  exercise,  to  which,  pleaae  God,  we  wHl  bring 
ber  back  br  degreea  Uttle  Charles  is  some  down,  just 
entered  at  Braxen  Nose,  where,  however,  he  does  not  goto 
reafale  till  October.  We  must  see  that  he  fills  up  the 
space  between  to  good  advantsge  ;  he  bad  always  quick- 
ness enough  to  learn,  and  seems  now  really  to  have 
caught  tbe 

•  fever  of  renown, 

Sprung  from  the  strong  contagion  of  the  gown.* 

"  I  am  sorry  for  Mi*.  Crabbe's  complaint,  under  which 
he  suffered,  I  recollect,  when  he  was  here  in  1822.  Did 
you  ever  make  out  how  he  liked  his  Scottish  tour  1-— he  is 
not,  you  know,  verv  outtpoken.  and  1  was  oilen  afraid  that 
he  was  a  liltle  tired  by  the  busde  around  him.  At  another 
time  I  would  have  niade  a  point  of  attending  more  to  his 
comforts— but  what  was  to  be  done  amid  Piping,  and 
drumming,  and  pageants,  and  provosts,  and  baiUos.  and 
wild  Highlandmen  by  the  score  1  The  tinse  would  have 
bean  more  propitious  to  a  younger  poet.  The  fertility 
you  mention  is  wonderful,  but  surely  he  must  correct  a 
great  deal  to  bring  his  verses  into  the  terse  and  pointed 
sute  in  which  he  gives  them  to  the  public  To  come 
back  to  Mrs.  Hemans.  I  am  afraid  that  I  cannot  flatter 
myself  with  much  interest  that  can  avail  her.  I  go  so 
little  out,  and  mix  so  seldom  either  with  the  gay  or  the 
literary  workl  here^  that  I  am  reduced,  like  Gil  Bias,  much 
to  the  company  of  mv  brother  clerks  and  men  of  busi- 
ness, a  seclusion  which  I  cannot  say  I  regret  greatly  * 
but  any  thing  within  my  power  shalloot  be  left  undone. 
I  hope  you  will  make  my  apology  to  BlUa.  Hemans  for  Um 

«  See  J'  Its  Absentee,'*  fo  Mhi  Bi%ewmli^  Tales  cff\Mlla» 
tUeUfo. 


Digitized  by  V^OOQlC 


LIFE  OF  COR  WALTER  SCOTT. 


dtlaj  which  haf  taken  pkce ;  If  aof  thing  •hoold  occur 
aaaential  to  be  Icnowa  to  the  authoreu,  I  wili  write  im- 
mediatelj. 

**  Alwaya  yours,  my  dear  friend, 

Waltbr  Soon." 

Id  the  next  letter  Scott  mentions  an  application 
from  Mr.  Jaipes  MontKomcry  ipr  some  contribution 
to  a  miscellaneous  volume  compiled  by  that  ever 
benevolent  poet  for  the  benefit  of  the  little  chimney- 
sweeps. 

To  Mi—  BaiUiey  HamptUad. 

"Edinburgh,  Feb.  12,1831. 
"  Bfy  dearest  Friend, 

**  I  hasten  to  answer  your  kind  inquiries  about  Sophia. 
You  would  learn  from  my  last  that  she  wa/  In  a  fair  wav 
of  recovery,  and  I  am  happy  to  say  she  continues  so  well 
that  we  have  no  longer  any  apprehensions  on  her  ac- 
count. She  will  soon  get  into  her  sitting-room  again,  and 
of  course  have  good  rest  at  night,  and  gather  strength 
gradually.  I  have  been  telling  her  that  her  face,  which 
was  last  week  the  size  of  a  sixpence,  has,  in  three  or  four 
days,  attained  the  diameter  of  a  ahilling,  and  will  soon  at- 
tain its  natural  and  most  extensive  clrctmiference  of 
lialf-a-erown.  If  we  live  till  12th  of  next  month  we  shall 
ail  go  to  Abl>otsford,  and  between  the  black  doctor  and 
the  red  nurse  (pony  and  cow,  videlicet)  I  trust  she  will 
be  seon  well  again.  Aa  lor  little  Johnnie,  I  have  no  se- 
rious apprehensions,  being  quite  of  vour  mind,  that  his 
kaowinnieas  is  only  a  proof  that  he  is  much  with  grown- 
up people  ;  the  ehiid  is  active  enou^  and  I  hope  will  do 
well— yet  an  only  child  is  Kko  a  blot  at  backgammon,  and 
Ate  is  apt  to  hit  It  I  am  particularly  entertained  vrith 
your  answer  to  Montgomery,  because  it  happened  to  be 
precisely  the  same  wuh  mine ;  he  appUed  to  me  fiH'  a 
•onnet  or  an  .elegy,  Instead  of  which  1  sent  him  sn  ac- 
count of  a  manner  of  conscnietinf  chimneys  so  as  scarce- 
ly to  contract  soot;  snd  2dly,  of  a  very  simple  and  ef- 
reetnal  machine  for  sweeping  away  what  soot  does  adhsre. 
In  all  the  new  part  of  Abbotsford  I  have  Uned  the  chimney- 
vents  with  a  succession  of  cones  msde  of  the  same  stuff 
with  conuDoa  ilower>pots,  abotat  one  and  a  half  Inch 
thick,  snd  eighteen  Inches  or  two  feet  high,  placed  one. 
above  another,  and  the  vent  built  round  them,  so  thai  the 
smoke  psssing  up  these  round  earthen  tubes,  finds  nei- 
ther corner  nor  roughness  on  which  to  deposit  the  sooC, 
and  hi  fact  there  la  very  little  collected,  what  sweeping 
U  required  is  most  easily  performed  by  a  brush  like  what 
housemaids  call  a  pope*»  heady  the  handle  of  which  con- 
sists of  a  sucoetsloQ  of  pipes,  one  slipping  on  the  top  of 
another  like  the  Joinu  of  a  flshtaig-rod,  so  that  the  maid 
first  sweeps  the  lower  part  of  the  vent,  then  adds  snother 
pipe  and  sweeps  a  little  liigher,  and  so  on.  1  have  found 
this  quite  effectual,  i>ut  the  fining  of  the  chinmeys  makes 
the  accumulations  of  soot  very  trifling  in  comparison 
with  the  oonunon  case.  Montgomery  thanked  me,  but  I 
think  he  would  rather  have  had  a  sonnet ;  which  puts  me 
hi  mind  of  Mr.  Puff's  hitcnded  comedy  of  The  Reformed 
Housebreaker,  in  which  he  waa  to  put  burglary  in  so  ridi- 
cuk>us  a  point  of  view,  that  bolts  and  bars  were  likely  to 
become  useless  by  the  end  of  the  season.  Verily  I  have 
no  idea  of  writing  verse  on  a  grave  subject  of  utility,  any 
more  than  of  going  to  church  hi  a  cinque  pace.  Lottery 
tickets  and  Japan  blacking  may  indeed  be  exceptions  to 
the  general  rule.  I  am  quite  delighted  at  us  two  cool 
Scots  answering  in  exactly  the  same  manner,  but  I  am 
afraid  your  foofy  men  (who  are  still  hi  regular  discharge 
of  their  duty)  and  my  oope'e  head  and  lined  vents  will  not 
suit  the  committee,  wno  seem  more  anxious  for  poetry 
than  for  common  sense.  For  my  part,  when  I  write  on 
such  subjects,  1  intend  h  shall  be  a  grand  historico-phi- 
losoohico  poem  upon  oil-gas,  hAving  been  mule  presiaent 
of  tfie  Oilgas  Comnany  of  this  city ;  the  whale  fishery 
raisht  be  introduced,  and  something  pretty  said  about 
pam  oil,  which  we  think  Is  apt  to  be  popular  among  our 
lawyers.  I  am  very  sorry  for  poor  R/chardson,  so  much 
attached  to  his  wife,  and  suffering  so  rnnch  in  her  suffer 
ing.  I  hope  Tom  Campbell  gets  on  pretty  well,  and  wish 
he  would  do  something  to  sustain  hl»  deserved  reputation. 
I  wrote  with  Mrs.  Siddons's  consent  to  give  Mrs.  Hc- 
mans's  tragedy  a  trial.  I  hope  that  her  expectations  are 
not  very  high,  for  I  do  not  think  our  ordinary  theatrical 
audience  is  either  more  judicious  or  less  f8.<«tidious  than 
those  of  England.  They  care  little  8b<fut  poetiy  on  the 
sta«;e— it  Is  situation,  passion,  and  rapidity  of  action,  which 
see'm  to  be  the  principal  requisites  for  ensuring  the  suc- 
cess of  a  modem  drama ;  but  I  trust,  by  dint  of  a  special 
jury,  the  piece  may  hare  a  decent  success— certainly  I 
should  not  hope  for  much  more.  I  must  see  they  bring 
It  out  before  12th  March,  If  possible,  as  we  go  to  the 
«Qantry  that  day.  I  have  not  aeen  Mra.  Siddons  and  her 
brother  WUliion  Murray  shice  their  obllghig  answer,  for 


one  of  tof  coUeMM  islsid  upitU^mMiU  aiMt  this  give* 
me  long  seats  in  ffie  Court,  of  MWn  you  have  reaped 
the  fruits  hi  this  long  episde  from  tile  Clerk's  table,  dona 
amid  the  bustle  of  pleaders,  attorneys^  and  so  forth.  I 
will  get  a  frank,  however,  if  possible,  lor  the  matter  \m 
aasuredly  not  worth  a  shilling  postage.  My  kindest  re- 
membrances attend  Mrs.  Baillie  and  Mrs.  Agnes. — ^Alwaya 
yours,  with  sincere  respecfrstnd  affection, 

WALTKa  acOTT." 

TV  D.  TVry,  l^Sy.,  London. 

"  Abbotsford,  Feb.  18,  ISM. 
"  My  dear  Terry, 

""  Your  very  kind  letter  reached  me  here,  so  that  I 
was  enabled  to  send  you  immediately  an  accurate  aketch 
of  the  windows  snd  chimney-si^s  of  the  drawing-room 
to  measurement.  I  should  Uke  the  mirrors  handsome 
and  the  frames  pkdn ;  the  colour  of  the  hanginga  is  green, 
with  rich  Chinese  figures.  On  the  side  of  the  window 
I  hitend  to  have  exactly  beneath  the  glass  a  plain  white 
side-table  of  the  purest  marble,  on  which  to  place  Chan- 
trey's  bust  A  truncated  pillar  of  the  same  marble  will 
belts  support;  and  I  think  that  besides  the  mirror  above 
there  will  be  a  plate  of  mirror  below  the  table ;  these 
memoranda  will  enable  Baldock  to  say  at  what  price  these 
points  can  be  handsomely  accomplished.  I  have  not  yeC 
spoken  about  the  marble  table ;  perhaps  they  naay  t>e  all 
got  in  London.  I  shall  be  wiUing  to  give  a  handsume  but 
not  an  extravagant  price.  I  am  much  obliged  to  Mr.  Bal- 
dock for  hia  confidence  about  the  acreen.  But  what  s^fs 
Poor  Richard  1*  'Those  who  want  money  when  they 
come  to  buy,  are  ^  to  want  money  when  tbej  come  l» 
pay.'    Again  Poor  Dick  observes, 

*  That  in  many  yon  find  the  true  gentlsoan's  ftte. 
Ere  his  house  is  complete  he  has  soM  his  estate.' 


Sc>  u  f^  will  adjourn  consideration  of  the  screen  tflU  c 
tiiiM  r^ ;  tet  us  firEi  hdvv  the  needlul  got  and  paid  for.  TIm 
stnCT  fur  thf>  windoivN  mthe  drawing-room  is  the  crfmaoo 
da  n  i  .'uik  silk  w  0  boug  1 1 E  last  year.  I  enclose  a  scrap  of  tt^ 
thit  [|j^  iflngfi  ma?  b<  made  to  match.  I  propose  they 
ah^'LJii]  he  hung  walk  i^urge  handsome  brass  rings  upon  n 
br.^'H  crNpdrrt  unii  i  Delieve  It  would  be  best  to  have 
th' §F'  .TfticLeA  fioin  L^'itdon— I  mean  the  itegs  tnd  cyte* 
der¥^  bui  [  rjii^likc  umch  complication  In  the  mode  of 
dfnv^KJx  Lhecn  ft^par.-it^,  as  it  Is  eternally  going  wrong; 
th«^<^<  ivhich  divjrjr  frj  ehe  middle,  drawizig  Sack  on  each 
Bl4i<  iiki'  ibe  turralTii'  ^if  an  old-fashioned  bed, and  when 
dr^^s  Ei  back  ari;  ^c-ci^i  t:d  by  a  loon  and  tassel,  are,  I  think, 
the  handsomest,  and  can  easily  be  made  on  the  spot ;  the 
fringe  should  be  silk,  of  course.  I  think  the  curtains  of 
the  library,  conslderlns  the  purpose  of  the  room,  require 
no  fringe  at  all.  We  have,  I  believe,  settled  that  thej 
shall  not  be  drawn  hi  a  line  across  the  recess,  as  in  tlie 
drawing-room,  but  shall  circle  along  the  insioe  of  the 
windows,  t  refer  myself  to  Mr.  Atkinson  about  the 
fringe,  but  t  thhik  a  litUe  mixture  of  gold  would  look 
handsome  vrith  the  crimson  silk.  As  for  the  Bbrary,  a 
yellow  fringe,  if  any.  I  send  a  draught  of  the  wiodovrs 
enclosed  ;  the  architraves  are  not  yet  up  in  the  Bbrary, 
but  they  are  accurately  computed  from  the  drawings  of 
my  kind  friend  Mr.  Atkinson.  There  Is  plenty  of  time 
to  tbbik  about  these  matters,  for  of  course  the  rooms 
must  be  painted  before  they  are  put  up.  I  saw  the  press- 
es yesterday ;  they  are  very  huidsome.  and  remind  me 
of  the  awful  Job  of  arranging  my  books.  About  July 
Abbotsford  will,  I  think,  be  finished,  when  I  shall,  Hke 
the  old  Duke  of  Queensberry  who  built  Drumlanrig,  fold 
up  the  accounts  in  a  scaled  parcel,  with  a  label  tHddIng 
'  the  deil  pike  out  the  een  of  any  of  my  succeeeora  that 
shall  open  It.*  I  beg  kind  love  to  Mrs.  Terry,  Walter  the 
Great,  and  Missy ;  deUcious  weather  here,  and  birds 
singing  St.  Valentine's  matins  as  if  it  were  April.o-Jtooars 
ever, 

Waltbb  Scott. 

"  P.  (^— Pride  will  have  a  fall— I  have  a  whelp  of  one  of 
Dandle  Dinmont's  Pepper  and  Mustard  terriers,  wMch 
no  sooner  began  to  follow  me  Into  the  house  than  0«- 
risque  fell  foul.  The  Liddiedale  devil  cocked  its  noee, 
and  went  up  to  the  scratch  like  a  tigress,  downed  Ourie 
and  served  her  out  completely — since  which  Ourie  has 
been  so  low  that  it  seems  gotnx  into  an  atrophy,  and  Gin 
ger  takes  all  manner  of  precedence,  as  the  best  place  l^ 
the  ^e,  and  so  on,  to  Lady  Scott's  great  disoomflture.— 
Single  letters  by  poet ;  double  to  Croker,  with  a  card  e» 
closed,  asking  a  frank  to  me." 

About  thiq  time  Bliss  Bdgeworth  announced  ths 
approaching  maniage  of  her  sister  Sophia  to  Bfi. 
Fox. 

*  8se  the  weeks  sf  Dr.  rmaOm. 

Digitized  by  V^OOQlC 


LIFE  OF  SHJEL  WALTER  SCOTT. 


"Ediilburgh,  Febrnary  21, 18M 
«  Uj  dear  MiM  Edgeworth, 

**  I  do  not  delay  a  momeot  to  send  my  wannert  and  best 
congratolations  upon  the  very  ^appy  event  xrMch  Is 
about  to  take  place  in  yovii  fanmy,  and  to  assure  you  that 
joo  do  me  but  conunon  Jobtice  in  supposing  that  I  take 
the  warmest  interest  in  whatever  concerns  mr  young 
ftiend.  All  Abbotsford  to  an  acre  of  Poyais*  that  she 
trill  make  ao  excellent  wife ;  and  most  truly  happy  am  I 
to  think  that  she  has  such  an  admirable  prospect  of 
matrimonial  happiness,  although^  the  expense  of  thwart* 
Inf  the  maxim,  and  showing  that 
^  *  The  course  of  true  love  sometimea  may  run  smooth.' 
It  will  make  a  pretty  vista,  as  I  hope  and  trust,  for  you, 
m J  good  friend,  to  look  forwards  with  an  increase  of  ki- 
ter«ic^to  futuri^.  Lady  Bcott,  Ann,  and  Sophia,  send 
their  sincere  and  hearty  (congratulations  upon  this  Joyful 
oeca^n.  I  hope  to  hear  her  sing  the  petticoat  of  red 
•ome  day  in  her  own  house.  I  should  be  apt  to  pity  you 
a  little  amid  all  tout  happiness,  if  you  had  not  my 
friend  Miss  Harriet,  besioes  other  young  companions 
whose  merits  are  only  known  to  m^  by  report,  to  pre* 
▼ent  your  feeling  so  much  as  you  would  otherwise  tho 
blamk  which  this  event  must  occasion  in  your  domestic 
society.  Sophia,  I  h<»e,  will  be  soon  able  to  make  her 
avna  gratnlations ;  she  is  recovering  very  weO,  and  over>> 
H^ed  to  hear  such  good  news  from  y ftur  quarter.  I  have 
been  on  a  short  trip  to  Abbotsford.  to  set  painters  to 
work  to  complete  what  Slender  would  eaU  *  Mine  own 
great  chamber  ;*  and  on  my  return  I  was  quite  delighted 
to  aee  the  change  on  my  daughter.  little  John  Hugh  is 
llkewlM  much  Better,  but  wUI  requfare  nnrsiBg  and  care 
for  some  years  at  least  Tet  I  have  often  known  such 
hot-house  plants  bear  the  open  air  u  well  as  tlu>se  that 
were>  reared  on  th^open  moor. 

**  I  am  not  at  all  surprised  at  what  you  say  of  the 
Tankees.  They  are  a  people  possessed  of  very  con* 
•idsrable  energy,  quickened  and  Drought  into  eacsr  ac- 
tkm  by  an  honourable  love  of  their  comitry  and  pride 
In  their  institutions;  but  they  are  as  yet  rode  in  their 
Ideas  of  social  intereoursey  and  totally  Ignorsat,  q>eakbig 
generally,  of  aU  the  art  of  good-breeding,  which  consists 
chiefly  in  a  postponement  of  one's  own  petty  wiriies  or 
comforu  to  those  of  others.  By  rude  questiona  andob* 
•ervations,  and  absdute  disrespect  to  other  peoi^e's  feel* 
I,  and  a  rcMtvly  indulgence  oi  their  owq,  they  make  (me 


^^eri: 


.^rerish  in  their  company,  though  perhaps  you  may  be 
ashamed  to  confess  the  reason.  But  this  will  wear  off, 
and  is  already  wearing  away.  Men,  when  they  hate  once 
0ot  benches,  will  soon  fall  into  the  use  of  cnshiona  They 
are  advancing  in  the  lists  of  our  litemure,  and  they  wiu 
not  be  lonr  Sclent  in  the  petite  morale^  especiaiiy  as 
they  have,like  ourselves,  the  rase  for  travelling.  I  have 
seen  a  new  work,  the  Pilot,  by  the  author  of  the  Spy  and 
Pioneer.  The  hero  Is  the  celebrated  Paul  Jones,  whom 
I  well  remember  advancing  above  tho  Island  of  Inchkeith 
with  three  small  vessels  to  lay  Leith  under  contribution. 
I  remember  my  mother  beiM  alarmed  with  the  drum, 
which  she  had  heard  all  her  life  at  eight  o'clock,  conceiv. 
Ing  it  to  be  the  pirates  who  had  landed  I  never  saw  such 
a  change  as  betwixt  that  time,  1779,  in  the  military  state  of 
a  city.  Then  Edinburgh  had  scarce  three  companies  of 
men  under  arms ;  and  latteriy  she  furnished  GOOCk  with 
complete  appointments,  of  cavalry,  artillery,  and  innntry 
— enough  to  nave  eaten  Paul  Jones  and  his  whole  equip* 
age.  Nay,  the  very  square  in  which  my  father's  house 
stands,  could  even  then  have  furnished  a  body  of  armed 
men  sufficient  to  have  headed  back  as  large  a  party  as  he 
could  well  have  landed  However,  *the  novel  is  a  very 
clever  one,  and  the  sea-scenes  and  characters  in  particu- 
lar are  admirably  drawn ;  and  I  advise  you  to  read  it  as 
soon  as  possible.  I  have  little  news  to  send  from  Abbots* 
ford :  Sj)ice  is  much  better,  though  still  asthmatic ;  she  is 
extremely  active,  and  in  high  q>irits,  though  the  most 
miserable,  thin,  long-bscked  creature,  I  ever  saw.  She  is 
extremely  like  the  shadow  of  a  dog  on  the  wall;  such  a 
sketch  as  a  child  makes  in  ito  first  attempts  at  drawing  a 
monater— with  a  large  head  four  feet,  and  a  most  por* 
tentous  longitude  of  back.  There  was  great  propriety  in 
Miss  Harriet's  dream  after  all,  for  if  ever  a  dog  needed 
six  legs,  poor  Spice  certainly  requires  a  pair  of  additional 
supporters.  She  is  now  following  me  a  little,  though  the 
duty  of  body-guard  has  devolved  for  the  present  <m  a 
cousin  of  hers,  a  fierce  game  devil,  that  goes  at  every 
thing,  and  has  cowed  Ourisque's  coursge  in  a  most  extra- 
oromarv  degree,  to  Lady  ScoU's  great  voxatton.  Here  is 
a  tale  of  dofs,  and  dreams,  and  former  days,  but  the  only 
Pleasure  in  writing  is  to  write  whatever  eomes  readiest  to 
the  pen.    My  wife  and  Anne  send  kindest  compliments 

•  Om  of  tin  bobUss  cT  tMs  babble  period,  VTM  a  sefaene  of 
rolonhstion  at  Poyais. 


of  eonfirataIation,as  also  Oharlea,  who  has  eomedowa  to 
spend  four  or  five  months  with  us.  He  is  just  entered  at 
Brazen-nose— on  fire  to  be  a  scholar  of  cUuaeical  renown, 
and  studying  (I  hope  the  humour  will  last)  like  a  very 
dragon.— Always,  my  dear  Bfiss  Edge  worth,  with  best  love 
to  the  bride  and  to  dear  Harriet,  very  much  yours, 

Waltbb  Soott.** 

7\>  Daniel  Terry  ^  Beq^  London. 

*<  Abbotsford,  Bfarch  13, 18M. 
"My  dear  Terry, 

"We  are  now  arrived  here,  and  In  great  bustle  with 
painters,  which  obliges  me  to  press  you  about  the  mir* 
rors.  If  we  cannot  have  them  soon,  there  is  now  an  excel- 
lent assortment  at  Trotter's,  where!  can  be  supplied,  fori 
will  hardly  again  endure  to  nave  the  house  turned  upside 
down  by  upbolstcrers— and  wish  the  whole  business  end- 
ed, and  the  house  rid  of  that  sort  of  cattle  once  for  all.  I  am 
only  ambitious  to  have  one  fine  mirror  over  the  chiomey- 
piece;  a  smaller  one  will  do  for  the  other  side  of  the  roouw 
Lady  ScoU  has  seen  some  Bannockbum  carpets,  which 
will  answer  very  well,  unless  ther^  are  any  bespoken. 
They  are  putting  up  my  presses,  which  look  very  hand- 
some. In  the  (Irawing-room  the  cedar  doors  and  win* 
dows,  being  weU  varnished,  assume  a  most  rich  and  beau- 
tiful appearance.  The  Chinese  paper  in  the  drawing* 
room  18  most  beautiful,  saving  the  two  ugly  hlanka  leH 

for  these  mirrors  of  d n,  which  I  dare  say  you  curse 

as  heartily  as  I  do.  I  wish  vou  could  secure  a  parcel  of 
old  caricatures,  which  (um  So  bought  cheap,  lor  tt^e  pur- 
pose of  paperinii  two  co^inefs  de  Peau.  Joim  BaUantyne 
used  to  Doake  great  hawls  in  this  way.  The  Tory  side  of 
the  question  would  of  course  be  most  acceptable :  but  I 
don't  care  about  this,  so  the  prints  have  some  spirtt.  Exi- 
cuse  this  hasty  and  pressing  letter :  if  you  saw  the  plight 
we  are  in  you  wonla  pity  and  forgive.  At  Baldock,  as  I 
have  had  at  you.  My  mother  whips  me,  and  I  whip  the 
top.  Best  compliments  to  Mra  Terry.-~Believe  me  al- 
ways yours,  WALna  Soon." 

To  ArehibaU  Oonetable,  JBeq,,  PUton  Houee^  Laeewtde, 

"Abbotsford,  Ah  Blarch,  18M. 
"My  dear  Constable, 

"Since  I  received  your  letter  I  have  been  on  the  lool^ 
out  for  a  companion  for  yoa.  and  have  now  the  pleasara 
to  send  one  bred  at  Abbotsford  of  a  fomons  race.  ^  His 
name  has  hitherto  been  Cribb,  but  you  may  change  it  if 
you  please.  I  will  undertake  for  his  doing  executfoa 
upon  the  rats,  which  Polton  was  well  stocked  with  when 
I  anew  it  home  seventeen  or  eighteen  years  ago.  You 
must  take  some  trouble  to  attach  Mr.  Oribb,  otherwise 
he  will  form  low  connexions  in  the  kitchen,  which  are  not 
easily  broken  off.  The  best  and  most  effectusl  way  is  te 
feed  him  yourself  for  a  few  daya 

"I  concratulate  you  heartilv,  my  good  old  friend,  on 
your  look-forwwrd  to  domestic  vraUcs,  and  a  companion 
of  this  sort ;  and  I  have  no  doubt  your  health  will  gradu- 
aOy  be  confirmed  by  it.  1  will  take -an  early  opportunity 
to  see  you  when  we  return  to  Edinburgh.  I  like  the 
banks  of  the  Esk,  whicluo  me  are  full  of  many  remem- 
brances, among  which  Aose  relating  to  poor  Leyden 
must  come  home  to  you  as  wdl  as  to  me.  1  sm  ranging 
m  my  improvements-HMinting  mV  baronial  hall  with  afi 
the  scutcheons  of  the  Border  clsns,  and  many  similar  ds- 
vicea  For  the  roof-tree  I  tried  to  blazon  my  own  qnar^ 
terings.  and  succeeded  easily  with  eight  on  my  fother»s 
side ;  h»ut  on  my  mother's  side  1  stu^  fut  at  the  mother 
of  my  great-grandfather.  The  ancestor  himself  was 
John  Rutherford  of  Orundisno<^,  which  is  an  appanage 
of  the  Bunthill  estate,  and  he  vras  married  to  Isahel  Ker 
of  Bloodylawa  I  think  I  have  heard  that  either  this  John 
of  Grunoisnock  or  his  fother  was  one  of  the  vine  sons  of 
the  celebrated  Cock  of  HunthiU,  who  seems  to  have  had 
a  reasonable  brood  of  chickena  Do  you  know  any  thing 
of  the  pedigree  of  the  Hunthlllsl  The  Bari  of  Teviot  was 
of  a  younger  branch,  Rutherford  of  Quarrelholes^  bat  of 
the  same  family.  If  I  could  find  out  these  Rntherfords, 
and  who  they  married,  1  could  complete  my  tree,  which 
is  otherwise  correct;  hut  IK  not,  I  will  paint  douda  on 
these  three  shields,  with  the  motto  Vixeruntfortee  ante. 
These  things  are  trifles,  when  correct,  but  very  absurd 
and  contemptible  if  otherwise.  Edgerstane  cannot  help 
me  ;  he  only  knows  that  my  grandfather  was  a  cou^  of 
his— tnd  you  know  he  rejpresents  Hnnthlll.  My  poor 
mother  has  often  UMi  me  about  It,  but  it  was  to  renrcUess 
ears.  Would  to  God  1  had  oM  Mra  Kedle  of  Leith,  whe 
screeded  off  ail  the  alliances  between  the  Andersons  of 
Ettrick  House  and  the  Andersons  of  Etorlck  Hall,  tbot^ 
Michael  was  the  name  of  every  second  msn,  and  to  eonip 
plete  the  mess,  thoy  intermarried  with  each_other.-. 
'i«ar,tnlT.  Digitized  byXL"" 


LIFE  OP  SIR  WALTER  SCOTT. 


A  bad  aecideiit  in  a  foz-chaae  occurred  at  this  time 
to  Sir  Walter's  dear  friend  Mr.  Scott  of  Gala.  The 
ice-house  at  Abbotsford  was  the  only,  one  in  the 
neighbourhood  that  had  been  filled  during  the  pre- 
ceoing  winter,  and  to  Tom  Purdie's  care  in  that 
particular  Mr.  Scott's  numerous  friends  owed  the 
preservation  of  his  valuable  life. 

To  the  Lord  Montagu,  4t.,  Dilton  Park. 

<'lBdInburgh,  14th  April,  ISM. 
"My  dear  Lord, 

"  You  micht  juttly  think  me  most  tinmerclful,  were 
you  to  consider  this  letter  as  a  provoke  requiring  an 
answer,  h  cornea  partly  to  thank  yoa  twenty  times  for 
your  long  and  most  kind  letter,  and  partly,  which  I  think 
not  onneceAsary,  to  toll  you  that  Gala  mar  now,  I  truni,  be 
considered  as  quite  oat  of  danger.  He  has  swam  for  bis 
life  though,  and  barely  saved  it.  It  is  for  the  credit  of 
ths  elan  to  state  that  he  had  no  dishonour  as  a  horseman 
by  his  &!!.  He  had  alighted  to  put  his  saddle  to  rights, 
and  the  horse,  full  of  corn  and  little  work,  went  off  with 
him  before  he  got  into  hts  seat,  and  went  headlong  down 
a  sort  of  precipice.  He  fell  at  least  flfleen  feet  without 
stopping,  and  no  one  that  saw  the  accident  could  hope  he 
should  be  taken  up  a  living  man.  Yet,  after  losing  a  quart 
of  blood,  he  walked  home  on  foot,  and  no  duigeroua 
symptoms  appeared  till  five  or  six  days  after,  when  they 
csdie  with  a  vengeance.  He  eontlnues  to  use  the  ice  whn 
wooderfUl  eflTcct,  though  it  seems  a  violent  remedy. 
"How  fate  besets  us  in  our  sporis  and  In  our  tr^^  qiiet 

op 

of 


nd 
)et 
m- 
On 

M^S, 


domestie  moments  i  Your  lofdship*s  story  o 
olakes  one  shudder,  and  I  think  It  wonderfhl 
Montagu  felt  no  more  bad  effects  from  the  mer 
soch  an  accident ;  but  (he  gentlest  characters 
most  real  firmneas.  I  once  saw  something  < 
AMm  a  very  lange  scale.  You  may  have  seen  a 
HMise  an  unmf  nse  bronze  chandelier,  with  ee 
drcd  burners,  weighing  three  or  four  tons  at  i 
tho  day  previous  to  the  public  exhibition  of  the 
the  Royal  Academicians  are  in  use,  as  youi 
koowi,  to  give  aa  immensely  latgediaaer-pttrt>  ._  ^..r.. 
of  distinction^  supposed  to  be  patrons  of  the  art,  to 
litetaty  men,  to  amateurs  In  general,  and  the  Lord  knows 
whom  besides.  I  happened  to  be  there  the  first  time  this 
pofederoUa  mass  of  bronke  was  saspehded.  It  had  been 
oMt  forhis  H&lesty,  then  PMnee  Reg ent,  and  he  not  much 
Ukiag  it— I  am  surprised  be  did  not,  as  it  Is  very  ugly  in- 
daed-^isd  bestowed  It  on  the  Royal  Academicians.  Be^ 
nesdi  it  was  placed*  aS  at  Ditlon,  a  large  round  ublc,  or 
rstiiier  a  tier  of  tablea,  rising  above  each  other  Uke  the 
shelvea  of  a  dumb-waiter,  and  famished  with  as  many 
glsiswa,  tumblers,  decanters,  and  so  forth,  as  might  have 
«i  np  an  entire  glass  shop— ttie  nombers  of  the  company, 
imwards  of  IfiO  psrsou,  requiring  such  a  supply.  Old 
West  presided,  and  was  sopnorted  by  Jockey  oi  Norfolk 
OB  the  one  aide,  and  one  of  the  royal  Dukes  on  the  other. 
we  had  just  drunk  a  preliminary  toast  or  two,  when— the 
Lord  preaervansi-Ht  noise  was  heard  Uke  that  which 
waeadssaa  esrtlicinake,  the  links  of  the  massive  chain, 
07  which  this  baaatiy  lump  of  bronze  was  suspended, 
bagaa  to  give  way,  and  the  rmagk  descending  slowly  for 
■tverri  Inches  eacoontered  the%ble  beneath,  which  was 
IMMHiyelv  amilhilated  by  the  pressure,  the  whole  glaiw- 
Tfare  being  at  once  destroyed.  What  was  very  odd,  the 
ehii%  after  this  manilestation  of  weakness,  continued  to 
bekl  feat;  the  skilful  inspected  it,  and  declared  It  would 
yield  no  iarther—snd  we,  I  think  to  the  credit  of  our 
coaran,  renmlned  qolet  and  continued  our  sitting.  Had 
it  nwliy  glvsa  way,  as  the  arehitectnre  of  Somerset  House 
has  been  in  general  esteemed  unsubstantial,  it  must  have 
broke  the  fioor  like  a  bombshell,  and  carried  us  all  down 

a  the  cellars  of  ihal  great  national  edifice.    Your  Lord- 
IP's  letter  placed  the  whole  scene  in  my  recollection. 
A  fine  paragraph  we  ahouki  have  made.  * 

"  I  think  jour  Lordship  will  be  much  pleased  with  the 
fine  phmtallOD  on  BoWden  Moor.  I  have  found  an  excel- 
lent legend  for  the  spot  It  is  close  bf  the  grave  of  an 
uphaopy  bein^,  eaUed  Watiie  Waetnan,  (whether  the  last 
appellative  vras  really  his  name,  or  has  been  livcn  him 
fi?am  his  melancholy  fate.  Is  uncertain,)  who  being  all  for 
love  and  a  little  for  steaUng,  hung  himself  there  seventy 
or  eighty  years  since  imter^i.  where  did  he  find  a  tree  7)  at 
once  to  revenge  himself  of  his  mistress  and  to  save  the 

Gllows  a  labour.  Now,  as  the  place  of  his  grave  and  of 
B  stiielde  is  lust  on  the  verge  where  the  Duke'B*1and 
meets  with  mme  and  Kippilaw's— (ymi  are  aware  that 
where  three  laird's  hmds  meet  Is  always  a  charmed  spot) 
-jUie  spirit  of  Wattle  Waeman  wanders  sa.ily  over  the 
adjacent  moors,  to  the  great  terror  of  all  wanderhig 
wights  who  have  occasion  to  paas  ftom  Melrose  to  Bow- 

*  TVUtonrJi  also  told  b  Scott's  Eisay  on  the  Lift  of  Kmlile. 
■is MilllmdsnMUi Prose  Works,  vol  XX.  pp.  iia-T.^^* 


den.  1  begto  to  thfajcimcb  of  his  nilnetaifes  Oris  omen 
concerns,  for  I  Uiks  Walter  Kerr  of  Kippilaw  to  be  out  of 
the  question.  I  never  heard  of  a  Pnko  actually  dyii^  |br 
love,  though  the  Duke  in  the  Twelfth  Ntsht  be  in  aa  alarm- 
inc  way.  On  tlie  other  hand,  Sir  John  Grsme  of  the 
WcBl  Countries,  who  died  for  cruel  Barbara  Allan,  ia  a 
case  in  point  a^^aJnst  the  Knight.  Thus,  In  extreme  caaeS| 
your  Duke  loses  his  head,  wliereaa  your  Knight  or  Ea» 
quire  xb  apt  to  retain  it  upon  a  neck  a  little  murr  elon- 
gated than  usual.  I  will  pursue  the  discusaion  no  furtl^, 
as  the  cards  appear  to  turn  againiit  me.  ^The  peopte 
beginr  to  call  the  plant^ou  Waemau's  Wood— rather  a 
good  name.  * 

^^  It  is  quite  impossible  your  Lordshio  should  be  sad«- 
fied  with  the  outside  view  of  my  castle,  for  I  reckon  upon 
the  honour  of  receiving  your  whole  pariy,  fmot  ^6i 
adtttU,  aauBuaLin  the  hiterlor.  We  have  plenty  of  room 
for  a  considerable  numl>er  of  friends  at  bed  as  WeO  as 
board.  Do  not  be  alarmed  by  the  report  of  die  gee, 
which  was  quite  true,  but  reflects  no  duslMynour  on  that 
mode  of  illumination,  t  had  calcolsted  that  fifteen 
hundred  cubic  feet  of  gas  would  tire  out  some  ftve- 
and-twenty  or  thir^r  pair  of  feet  of  flcotch  dancers,  but 
it  lasted  only  till  six  >n  the  morning,  end  then,  as  a  brave 
soldier  does  on  his  post,  went  om  when  burned  van. 
Had  1  kept  the  man  sitting  up  for  an  hour  or  two  to  make 
the  gas  as  fast  m  consumed,  1  shonld  have  spoiled  a  good 

**My  hall  Is  in  the  comrse  of  hsvtaig  an  the  heavy 
parts  of  my  armorial  collection  bestowed  upon  It.  and 
really,  though  foncilU,  looks  very  well,  and!  am  as  bnmr 
as  a  bhe,  disposing  salts  of  armonr,  battle-axes,  broad* 
swords,  and  all  tub  nick-nacks  I  have  been  breakft^ 
my  ahlns  evsr  in  every  comer  of  the  lionse  for  these 
seven  years  past,  hi  laudable  order,  and  to  the  b^  ad- 
vantMe. 

''  ItMr.  Blakeney  be  the  able  person  that  ftme  reports 
him,  he  will  have  as  greet  a  duty  m  perform  ts  hteaneea- 
torstMrUngOastle;*  fortokeepaoyonng  a  person  as 
my  chief,  in  his  paiticuha*  sitauion,  from  the  inroeds  of 
foUics,  and  worse  than  folUea,  reoulres  as  much  attention 
and  firmness  aa  to  keep  Hlstiland  claymores  and  French 
engineers  out  of  a  (brtiflea  place.  Bm  there  la  an  ad- 
mirable garrison  In  the  fortress^  kind  and  generous  feeV 
inas,  and  a  strong  sense  of  honottr  and  duty,  which  Duke 
waiter  has  by  descent  from  his  fiuher  and  grandiather. 
Qod  send  hhn  life  and  health,  and  I  trust  he  wfll  reward 
your  Lordship's  paternal  care,  and  ftilfll  my  hopes.  They 
are  not  of  the  lowest,  but  such  as  must  be  entertained 
by  an  oM  snd  attached  -friend  of  the  family  who  has 
known  him  from  infency.  My  IHood  Lord  Jote  vnmts 
the  extreme  responsibility  of  nis  brother's  sttnation,  and 
may  afibrd  to  sowfi  few  more  wild  oats,  bm  I  tmst  be 
will  not  make  the  crop  a  large  one.  Ix>rd  *  '  *  and  his 
tutor  have  just  left  us  for  the  somh,  sfter  spending  three 
or  four  days  vrith  ua  They  could  not  have  done  worse 
than  sending  the  yoUng  Vlacount  to  Edfoburg  h,  for  thourh 
he  Is  really  an  imaffected  natural  yotmg  maii,  yet  it  was 
absurd  to  expect  that  he  shonld  study  hard  vi^en  he  had 
six  invitations  for  every  hour  of  every  eventog.  I  am 
more  and  .more  convinced  of  the  excellence  of  the  Bng- 
lish  monsstic  insfltulionsof  Oambrit^e  and  Oxford.  Th.^y 
cannot  do  all  they  may  be  expected,  bm  there  is  at  least 
the  exclusfcm  of  many  temptations  to  dtssiptoion  of  mind ; 
whereas  with  us,  supposing  a  yoimg  man  to  have  any  pre- 
tensions to  keep  good  society-Hmd,  to  say  trutii,  we  are 
not  very  nice  in  Investigating  them— he  is  almost  paDed  to 
pieces  by  spectiladng  mammas  and  fiitting  misses.  If  a 
man  is  poor,  plain,  and  hidiffferently  connected,  he  may 
have  excellent  ooDortnnitfes  of  study  at  Edinbtirgh : 
otherwise,  he  shoula  beware  of  it. 

"  Lady  Anne  is  very  naughty  not  to  take  eareof  hecMlf, 
and  I  am  not  sorry  she  haa  been  a  UitU  01,  that  It  m^Ba 
a  waning.  I  wish  to  hear  your  Lordihip's  self  Is  anKT 
I  hate  unformed  complaints.  A  doctor  Is  Hke  Ajax— iHre 
him  light  and  he  may  make  battle  with  a  disease;  but,  no 
disparagemem  to  the  Esculaplan  art,  they  arebad  guesa- 
era.  My  kindest  compliments,  I  had  almost  aairl  fore, 
auend  Lady  Isabella.  We  are  threatened  with  a  cruet 
deprivation  in  the  loss  of  our  friend  Sir  Adam,  the  fir»t  of 
men.  A  d<»  of  a  banker  has  bought  nis  house  for  an  in- 
vestment of^capital,  and  I  fear  he  must  trudge.  Had  I 
still  had  the  Highland  piper  t  in  my  service,  who  would 
not  have  refused  me  such  a  favour,  I  would  have  had 
him  dirked  to  a  certainty— I  mean  thia  cursed  banker. 
Aa  it  is,  I  must  think  of  some  means  of  noisoning  his  hot 
rolls  and  butter,  or  setting  his  house  on  fire,  by  way  of  re- 
venge. It  is  a  real  afiUction.  I  am  happy  to  hear  of  Ladv 
Margaret's  good  looks.  I  was  one  o^  her  earUest  ac- 
qualntsnce,  and  at  least  hslf  her  godfkther,  for  I  took  the 

ri^7i^\SSrSSSitS^^&^  ••  us-  M.1.ftl*mi.w.i-go 
t  John  of  Skye  hsd  left  AbbotsfM-bot  he  soon  istnroed. 


UFK  OF  SIR  WALTER  SCOTT. 


or  nthcr, 

*Like  Clerk  unto  the  Session  booiid.' 
"I  could  have  borne  a  worse  toss,  and  eren a Uttle  dan* 
ger,  since  the  wind  brouf(ht  ndn,  which  is  so  much 
wanted.  One  set  of  insects  is  eating  the  larch— another 
the  spruce.  Many  of  the  latter  will  not,  I  think,  recover 
the  stripping  they  are  receirtQC.  Crops  are  looking  well, 
except  the  hay,  which  is  not  looking  at  all.  The  sheep 
are  eating  roasted  grass,  bat  will  not  be  the  worse  mottoto, 
as  1  hope  sooa  to  prore  to  yoor  Lq^dshlp  at  Abbotslbrd. 
I«m,  always,  mv  dear  ford, 

Yonrs  ftitbful  to  command, 

Waltbb  Soott. 

"P.  6.^1  am  hflrffj,  accordtag  1o  the  old  swrlnjf,  bird- 
eUamf ;  for  my  »>n  Huirlps  \i  nihln^  nl  Lachlii^^eu,  anil 
my  iffifi?  nnd  duugTitisr  fhoppy  ii«Ti#dftB  !>  arc  at  Abljoia&rd, 
I  tfHsfc:  thy  iipi?oHunl(y  (o  spend  ivfo  day*  at  TymogbAms. 
Lor<i  H.Ldctiwtnn  (rnmplainfi  of  «nia(  of  uieuM>Ty^  tt^le 
hi»  rfinversAlTon  is  ms  Wltiy  ojf  o,  f  nmcd^^  ajitj  his  ULtcdote 
as  f  {iTr(?t.t  AS  a  p*rlib  reglsi^r. 

*'  I  win  hi-  h  FiTttfsr  for  a  {if^K^ymB  till*  y#ar.  If  they 
rip^'H  ^  £'  IJ  :*t  Putnfj,  or  your  nihtr  frvriJKS  ThuA&  I  had 
befiirr  tVi'iTi  j'iwj  rn»ij<r<i  m  ihe  DLirserj,  not  plaiucd  out) 
arc-  now  Anh  f^alt  pLmlii/' 

4^mor)g  SeoU'it  viaiterHnf  the  next  munth,  f^ratui 
EidiuburftUj  and  afier  wards  on  Tweed  side,  were  the 
late  iirtaitble  and  v«?nertib1fl  Dr<  RUj^hea^  one  of  the 
Ciinon&*rfiiiiJFntinry  of  Stn  Pa«r»^  and  his  >v  arm- 
hen  rml  laiiv.  Tlic  fattier  hnd  bcit^n  tiiifubertd  amoDg 
hia  frjeixdii  from  mm  curly  pt^rn^d  fjf  life^  fod  a  mom 
zealnD^ty  afTpc^lioaatA  frtund  he  never  pa^Dsstid-  On 
her  way  to  Scotlwod  phc  hnd  hohed  at  Keswkk  lo 
viHit  ^Ir,  Sou  they  t  wh^in  aUo  sh^?  thud  long  known 
Wi  11,  nnd  carrei*poijdwi  wiib  frerjuetilly,  Henc«  ihfl 
fo) lowing  leUer?, 

To  Robert  Southepy  Eoq.,  Keovnck^  CumberUmd. 

"My  dPiiT  Sou  they, 

*^tto  you  t' member  Richardson's  metaphor  of  two 
ba^ihMliovcri  rinning  opposite  to  each  other  in  f — "~* 


TOWS  on  me  lor  sdinebody  or  othair.wbo.  I  dare  «ay,  has 
never  thought  half  so  often  of  her  as  I  nare  done.  And 
ao  I  have  written  out  my  paper,  anc^  I  fear,  your  Lord* 
■hip's  patience.  JM^  respectful  complimenta  attend  Lady 
Montagu  and  the  young  ladies  of  Oitton.— Ahxrays  most 
truly  yours,  Wai.TBR  Soott." 

The  estate  of  Oattonside  was  purchased  about  this 
time  bv  Mr.  George  Bainbridge  of  Liverpool— and 
Sir  Adam  and  Lady  Ferguson,  to  Scott'&  great  re- 
ject, \veot  a  year  or  two  afterwards  to  another  part 
of  Scotland.  The  "cursed  banker,"  hov^-^/er,  oad 
only  to  be  known  to  be  liked  and  esteemed.  Mr. 
Bainbridge  had.  among  other  merits,  sreat  skill  in 

Sorts— eapecially  in  that  which  he  has  illastraied  by 
e  ezoeUent  manual  entitled  "The  Ply-fisher's 
Guide ;"  and  Qattonside-house  speedily  resumed  its 
friendly  relations  with  Abbotsford. 

The  next  letter  was  in  answer  lo  one  in  which 
l.ordf'  Montagu  had  communicated  his  difficulties 
about  fixing  to  which  of  the  English  Universities  he 
should  send  the  young  Duke  of  Buccleuch. 
7\>  the  Lord  Montagu,  4"^.,  ^c. 

"Edinburgh,  15th  Jane,  1824. 
"M/ dear  Lord.  ^  ^ 

««I  ^vras  much  Interested  by  rour  Lordship's  last  l^uer. 
For  some  certain  reasons  Imner  prefer  Oxford  lo  Cam- 
bridge, chiefly  because  the  last  great  University  was  in- 
fected long  ago  with  liberalism  in  politics,  and  at  pre- 
sent shows  some  symptoms  of  a  very  different  heresy, 
■which  is  yet  sometimes  blended  with  the  first— I  mean 
enthusiasm  in  religion — ^not  that  sincere  zeal  for  religion, 
in  which  mortals  cannot  be  too  fervid,  but  the  inr  more 
doobtfiil  enthusiasm  which  makes  religion  a  motive  and 
a. pretext  for  particular  lines  of  thinking  in  politics  andin 
temporal  afEura  This  Is  a  q)irit  which,  whUe  it  has  aban- 
<ion«dthe  lower  claaaes,  where  perhaps  it  did  some  good, 
for  it  u  a  guard  against  gross  and  scandalous  vice — has 
transferred  itself  to  the  upper  clasaes,  where,  I  think,  it 
can  do  little  but  evil— disuniting  famiUos,  setting  children 

in  opposition  to  parents,  and  teaching,  as  I  think,  a  new  .  Da>ini:iji  i»\crH  niniung  oupomie  lu  eacu  vtuvr  ui|hub«bi 
vmy  of  going  to  the  Devil  for  God's  sake.  On  the  other  ,  li04"H,  wIMinut  i^e  least  chance  of  union,  until  some  good* 
hand,  this  is  a  species  of  doctrine  not  likely  to  carry  off ,  natured  body  gsives  a  shove  to  the  one,  and  a  shove  to  the 
o«r  yonng  friend ;  and  I  am  sure  Mr.  Blakeney's  good  ,  othi  r.  and  no  T-  .ids  them  to  form  a  junction  1  Two  lasy 
sense  wiU  equally  guard  him  against  poliiicai  mistakes,  corn  i^prjuekuts  ooay,  Ithink,  form  an  equallv  apt  subiect 
for  I  should  think  my  frfend  Professor  Smvth's  historical '  for  xhr-.  i^nnh.-.  for  here  have  you  and  I  been  silent 
course  of  lectures  likely  to  be  somewhat  Whiggish,  >  foj  T  bii.  '^i  n^ir  :iow  many  years,  for  no  other  reason  than- 
though  I  dare  say  not  improperly  so.     Upon  the  whole, '  th    -   ^  '    which  wrote  last,  or,  which  was  in  duty. 

I  think  the  reasons  your  Lordship's  letter  contains  in  fiir    be  Irst.    And  here  comes  my  clever,  active, 

vour  of  Cambridge  are  decinjve,  although  1  mav  have  a  ;  bu-wi..^  Ui^.J.Mr8.  Hughes,  and  tells  me  that  you  regret 
private  wish  in  favour  of  Christ  Church,  which  I  dare  a  silence  which  I  have  not  tne  least  power  of  accounting 
nay  w^^'rear  its  head  once  more  under  the  new  Dean,  for,  except  upon  the  general  belief  that  1  wrote  you  along 
The  neighboorhood  of  Newmarket  Is  certainly  in  some  epistle  after  your  Jdnd  present  of  the  Lay  of  the  Laureate, 
sort  a  snare  for  so  yotmg  persons  as  attend  collrge  at '  and  that  I  have  once  every  week  proposed  to  write  you  a 
Cambridge  ;  but,  alas !  where  is  it  that  there  be  not  still  longer,  till  abame  of  my  own  indolence  cooArmed  me 
snares  of  one  kind  or  other }  Parents,  and  those  who  i  in  my  evil  habits  of  procrastination— when  here  eoroea 
have  the  more  delicate  task  of  standing  in  the  room  of  ;  good  Mrs.  Huxhes,  gives  me  a  shake  bv  Ihe  collar,  and 
]Arents,  must  weigh  objections  and  advantages,  and  with-  ,  assures  me.  that  you  are  in  pretty  nearly  the  same  case 
out  expecting  to  find  any  that  are  without  risk,  must  be  ,  with  n^lHlir— and,  as  a  verv  slight  external  impulse  will  . 
content  to  choose  those  where  the  chances  seem  most  i  sometBei  drive  us  into  acUon  when  a  long  succession  of 
&vourable.  The  tnrf  is  no  doubt  a  very  fonccful  tempta- :  internairesolutions  have  been  made  and  broke,  I  take  my 
tion,  especially  to  a  youth  of  high  rank  and  fortune.  •  pen  to  assure  my  dear  douthey,  that  I  love  him  as  well  as 
Tbero  is  something  very  fiattering  in  winning,  when  good  if  our  correspondence  had  been  weekly  or  daily.  The 
fortune  depends  so  much  on  shrewdness  of  observation, '  years  which  nave  gone  by  have  found  me  dallying  with 
and,  as  it  is  called,  knowingness;  the  very  sight  is  of  an  '  the  time,  and  you  improving  it  as  usual— I  tossing  my  ball 
agitatmg  character ;  and  perhaps  there  are  few  things  and  driving  my  hoop,  a  rrayheaded  schoolboy,  and  you 
more  fascinating  to  young  men,  whose 'large  fortune  ex*  I  playing  your  task  uaremloingly  for  the  instruction  of  our 
eludes  the  ordinary  causes  of  solicitude,  than  the  plea-  own  and  future  agea  Tet  Ibave  not  been  wholly  idle  or,^ 
sures  and  rif«ks  of  the  race  course  ;  and  though,  when  i  liselcss — witness  five  hundred  acres  of  moor  and  moss, 
indulged  to  excess,  it  leads  to  very  evil  consequences,  now  converted  into  hopeftil  woodland  of  various  sizes,  to 
yet.  If  the  Duke  heresfter  should  like  to  have  a  stud  of  the  great  refreshment,  even  already,  of  the  eyes  of  the 
racers,  he  might  very  harmlcsaly  amuse  himself  in  that  pilgrims  who  still  journey  to  Melrose.  I  wish  you  could 
way,  provided  he  did  not  suffer  It  to  take  too  ea?pr  pos-  '  take  a  step  over  the  Border  this  season  with  Mrs.  Southey, 
seMion  of  his  mind,  or  to  enf  ross  his  time,  t^ertainly  !  and  let  us  have  the  pleasure  of  showing  you  what  I  have 
one  would  rather  he  had  not  tlie  turn  at  all,  but  I  am  far  been  doing.  I  twice  intended  an  invasion  of  this  sort 
more  afraid  of  sedentary  games  of  chance,  for  wasting!  upon  your  solitude  at  Keswick,  one  in  spring  1821,  and 
time  and  fortune,  than  1  am  of  any  active  out-of-door's  then  again  la  the  summer  of  the  same  year,  when  the 
sport  whatsoever.  ,  coioivatJon  took  place.    But  the  convenience  of  going  to 

"  Old  Paradise  did  not  nimnber  a  neit^hbourhood  among  London  by  the  steam-packet,  which  carries  you  on  wheth- 
its  pleasures;  but  Gattonside  has  that  arlvantage,  and  er  you  wake  or  sleep,  is  so  much  preferable  to  a  long 
great  will  be  the  regret  of  the  said  neighbours,  if  Sir  land  journey,  that  1  took  it  on  both  occasions.  The  ex- 
Adam  and  Lady  Eve  are  turned  out.  I  parted  with  them  trenie  lapidity  »>f  communication,  which  places  an  in. 
at  Blair-Adam  on  lhi.<«  day— for,  taking  a  fit  of  what  wait-  habitant«0f  Edinburgh  in  the  metropolis  sooner  than  a 
ing-maids  call  Ihfi  c/crer«,  I  starte^l  at  six  this  mominir,  ictter  can  rrach  it  by  the  post,  is  like  to  be  attended  with 
and  got  here  to  breakfa.<)t.  \s  it  blew  hard  all  night,  a  mass  of  most  important  consequences,  some,  or  rather 
there  was  a  great  swell  on  the  ferry,  so  that  I  came  most  of  them,  good,  but  some  also  Vrliich  are  not  to  be 
through  I  viewed  witliout  apprehension.    It  must  make  the  public 

t  r  iw«  r«Ks«Oa4n  tn  t>i«  ui<r>ii.n/ic  h/^.inri  I  fecl  Hg  and  senUment  of  London,  whatever  they  may 

rii)^SJ^hLJ}S2n  do  n5^^^  ^         '  I  *^hance  to  be,  much  more  readily  and  emphaticagy  in- 

Oryhig,  boatman,  do  not  tarry-  \  fl„p„tiaj  upon  the  rest  of  the  kingdom,  and  I  am  by  no 

i  means  sure,  that  it  will  be  on  the  whole  deslnblfi  tW  the- 
y  y  ^-K 


*  CarapUU's  "  Lord  UUin's  Daughter." 


4M 


LIFE  OP  SIR  WJU.TER  SCOTT. 


whole  covmtry  should  be  u  subject  to  be  morod  bj  its 
szunple  u  the  inhsblunts  of  its  suburbs.  Admittiug  the 
metropolis  to  be  the  heart  of  the  sjstem,  it  is  no  si^  of 
health  when  the  blood  flows  too  rapidly  uux>ugh  the  sys- 
tem at  eveir  pulsation.  Formerly  in  B<Unburgh  and  other 
towns  the  Impulse  received  fin>m  any  stronf  popular 
feeUng  in  London  was  companUiTely  alow  and  gradual, 
and  bad  to  contend  with  opposite  feelings  and  prejudices 
of  a  national  or  provincial  character ;  the  matter  under- 
wem  a  reconsideration,  and  the  crv  which  was  raised  in 
the  great  mart  of  halloo  and  humbug  was  w>t  instantly 
echoed  back,  as  it  may  do  in  the  present  day  and  present 
circumstances,  when  our  opinion,  liko  a  small  drop  of 
water  brought  into  inunediate  contiguity  with  a  bigger,  is 
most  likely  to  be  absorbed  in  snd  united  with  that  of  the 
Isrger  mass.  However,  you  and  I  have  outlived  so  many 
resl  perils,  that  it  is  not  perhaps  wise  to  dread  those  that 
•re  onlv  contingent,  especially  where  the  cause  out  of 
which  they  arise  brings  with  it  so  much  absolute  and  in- 
disputable  advantage.  What  is  Wordsworth  doing  1  I 
was  unlucky  in  being  absent  when  he  crossed  the  Border. 
I  heartUy  wish  I  could  induce  him  to  make  a  foray  this 
season,  and  that  you  and  Mrs.  Southey,  and  Bliss  Woods 
worth,  my  very  good  and  well  remembered  friend,  could 
be  of  the  party.  Pray  thhik  of  this,  for  the  distance  is 
nothing  to  well  resolved  minds,  and  you  in  particular  owe 
me  a  visit  I  have  never  quite  forgiven  your  tour  in 
Scotland  without  looking  in  upon  my  poor  premises. 
Well,  as  I  have  re<appeared  like  your  floating  island, 
which  I  see  the  newspapers  aver  hath  again,  after  seven 
years'  soaking,  become  visible  to  mortal  ken,  it  would  not 
be  &ir  in  me  to  make  my  visit  too  long  a  one— so.  with 
ktaidest  respects  to  Mrs.  Southey.  in  which  my  wiie  sin- 
cerely joins,  I  am  always  most  truly  yours, 

Waltu  Soon. 
**8th  July.  18M,£dUiburgh. 

^^  Address  Abbotsford,  Melrose. 

«You  may  have  heard  that  about  four  years  since  I 
was  bro%|ht  to  death's  door  by  a  violent,  and  at  the  same 
lime  most  obstinate  complaint  a  sort  of  spasms  in  the 
stomach  or  diaphragm,  which  lor  a  long  time  defied  me- 
dietaie.  It  gave  wav  at  length  to  a  terrific  course  of  ca- 
lomel, such  as  msde  the  cure  almost  as  bad  as  the  dis- 
ease. Since  that  time,  I  have  recovered  even  a  better 
portion  of  health  than  I  generally  had  before,  and  that 
was  excellent  1  do  not  indeed  possess  the  activity  of  for- 
mer days  either  on  foot  or  horseback,  bm  while  I  can  ride 
a  pony,  and  walk  five  or  six  miles  with  pleasure,  I  have 
BO  reason  to  complain.  The  rogue  Radicals  had  nearly 
set  m«  on  horseback  again,  but  I  would  have  had  a  good 
jollo9ffin§  to  help  out  my  own  deficiencies,  as  all  my  poor 
neighbours  were  willing  to  fight  for  Kirk  and  King. 

Mr.  Southey's  next  letter  enclosed  a  MS,  copy  of 
hw  Ode  on  the  Kind's  Northern  Progress  of  1822. 
Sir  Walter,  in  his  reply,  adverts  to  the  death  of  Louis 
XvIII.,  which  occarred  on  the  I7th  of  September, 
1824— and  prophesies  the  fate  of  his  successor. 

TY>  Robert  Southey ^  Esq.^  Keswick^  Cumberland. 
„  ^    ,       ^  *'  BowhiU  aeth  Scpu,  18EM. 

"My  dear  Southey, 

"  I  did  not  immediately  thank  you  for  your  beautiful 
poem  on  the  King's  Visit  because  I  was  afnid  you  might 
tUnk  that  I  was  trespassing  too  much  on  time  which  is 
always  well  employed;  but  I  must  not  let  the  ice  settle 
again  on  the  stream  of  our  correspondence,  and  there- 
fore, while  I  have  a  quiet  morning,  1  employ  part  of  it  to 
thank  you  for  the  kindness  you  have  done  me  as  a  friend, 
and  still  more  for  the  honour  you  have  bestowed  on  my 
country.  I  hope  these  verses  are  one  day  to  see  the  llf  ht 
and  am  too  much  personally  interested  not  to  expect 
that  period  with  hnpatience. 

"Ihad  a  letter  from  Oiflbrd  some  time  since,  by  which 
1  perceive  with  regret  he  renounces  ftirther  management 
of  the  Quarterly.  I  scarce  gaesa  what  can  be  done  by 
Murrav  hi  that  matter,  unlesa  he  could  prevail  on  you  to 
take  the  charge.  No  work  of  the  kind  can  make  pro- 
gress (though  it  may  be  kept  afloat)  upder  a  mere  book- 
selling management  And  the  difliculty  of  getting  a  per- 
son with  sufficient  independence  of  spirit,  accuracy  of  i 
judgment  and  extent  of  knowledge,  to  exercise  the  pro- 
fession of  Aristarch,  seems  very  great  Yet  I  have  been 
so  long  out  of  the  London  circles  that  new  stars  may 
have  arisen,  and  set  for  aught  1  know,  shice  I  was  occa- 
sionally within  the  hemispliere. 

**The  King  of  Frsnce's  death,  with  which  one  would 
think  I  had  wondrous  little  to  do.  has  produced  to  me  the 
crest  disappointment  of  preventing  Cannii^'s  visit  He 
bsd  promised  to  spend  two  or  three  days  st  Abbotsford 
on  ms  road  to  Edinburgh,*  and  it  is  the  more  provoldng, 

.  *  BIT  Canninf  nwnC  aonie  part  of  the  miMner  oTlBM  in  a  visit 
to  dw  Manyaesi  WeUeslef .  then  Lofd  Ueutsoant  of  heland ;  and 


as  I  dare  say,  after  attt  there  is  no  ikrther  occaakn  ftr 
his  being  at  bis  post  than  arises  from  matter  of  mere 
form,  since  I  suppose  there  is  no  reason  to  think  that 
Charles  X.  will  change  the  line  of  policy  adopted  by  Us 
brother.  I  remember  hhn  in  Edinourgh  about  1794,  one 
of  the  most  elegant  men  in  address  and  exterior  whom 
I  ever  saw.  Strange  times  we  have  lived  in  I  I  am  q>eak 
ing  of  Charles  X.  as  a  Frenchman  of  1661  might  have 
spoken  of  Charles  II.  By  the  way,  did  you  ever  observe 
how  easy  it  would  be  for  a  good  historian  to  run  a  paral- 
lel betwixt  the  great  Rebellion  and  the  French  Revolu- 
tion, just  substituting  the  spirit  of  fanaticism,  for  that  of 
soi-disant  philosophy.  But  then  how  the  chsracter  of 
the  English  would  rise— whether  yoo  considered  the  ta- 
lents and  views  of  the  great  leaders  on  either  side,  or  tha 
comparative  moderation  and  humanity  with  which  thej 
waged  their  warfare  I  I  sometimes  think  sn  in^imettva 
comparative  view  might  be  made  out,  and  it  would  aflbrd 
a  comfortable  augury  t^at  the  Restoration  In  either  case 
was  followed  by  many  amendments  in  the  Constitulioo. 
I  hope  Louis  Baboon  will  not  carry  the  matter  so  &r  sa 
to  reouire  completing  the  paralled  by  a  second  Revolu- 
tion—but  it  would  be  very  singular  if  the  devotion  of  this 
King  to  the  Catholic  priests  snd  forms  should  occaston 
such  a  catastrophe.  Heber  has  promised  to  come  down 
here,  and  if «o,  I  will  perhaps  return  with  him  as  for  aa 
Rokeby,  and,  if  we  can,  take  Keswick  on  our  way  wars 
it  but  to  see  you  for  sn  hour.  All  this,  however.  Is  spe- 
culslion.  I  am  just  sending  oflT  my  younger  son  to  Ox- 
ford. My  eldest  is  an  ofllcer  In  the  ISth  hussarSjaad  I 
believe  will  soon  get  that  object  of  every  voungoffleer's 
ambition,  a  troop,  which  would  be  great  nick.— Believe 
me,  dear  Southey,  most  truly  yours, 

Waltj 


In  October  of  this  year,  Sir  Walter'a  aon  ChariM 
beffan  hia  residence  at  Brazen-noae  College,  Oxford. 
The  adoption  of  this  plan  implied  finally  dioppiiv 
the  appomtment  in  the  civil  aerrice  of  the  Eaat  In- 
dia Company,  which  had  been  placed  at  hia  diqwaal 
by  Lord  Bathnrat  in  the  spring  of  lf20 ;  a  atep,  I  .. 
need  not  obaerre,  which,  were  there  any  doubt  oa 
that  subject,  would  alone  be  aufflcient  to  prove,  to 
the  conviction  of  the  moatenvioua  sceptic,  that  the 
vouug  gentleman's  father  at  thia  time  conaidered 
his  own  worldly  fortunes  as  iiL  a  highly  proaperona 
situation.  A  whterahip  in  Inaia  ia  early  inaa>eo- 
dence;— in  the  caaeof  a  son  of  Scott,  so  contfact- 
4ng  himself  aa  not  to  discredit  the  name  he  inherited. 
it  ooald  hardly  have  failed  to  be  early  wealths  And 
Sir  Walter  waa  the  last  nfan  to  deprive  hia  boy  of 
such  ahfe  and  easy  proapecta  of  worldlv  advaataga^ 
turning  him  over  to  the  preoarioua  coancea  of  a 
learned  profeaaion  in  Great  Britain,  unleaa  in  the 
confidence  that  his  own  resources  were  ao  great  aa 
to  render  ultimate  failure  in  such  a  career  a  matter 
of  no  primary  importance. 

The  Vicar  of  Lampeter,  mean-while,  had  become 
a  candidate  for  the  rectorship  of  a  new  classical 
academy,  founded  this  year  at  Edinbutgh ;  and  Sir 
Walter  Scott'a  influence  was  aealously  exerted  in 
behalf  of  his  son's  learned  and  eatimable  tutor. 
Mr.  Williams  was  successful  in  hia  object ;  and  at 
the  opening  of  the  inatitution  (ist  October)  the  Poet 
appeared  in  Edinburgh  to  preside  over  the  ceremo- 
nial in  which  this  excellent  friend  was  so  deeply 
concerned.  I  transcribe  what  follows  from  a  report 
prepared  at  the  time  (but  never  until  now  published) 
by  the  honorary  secretary  of  the  academy,  Mr.  John 
Russell,  W.  S.  :— 

''  The  Rev.  Sir  Henry  MoncreiiT  Well  wood,  Bart  (mi- 
nister of  the  parish,)  at  the  request  of  Sir  Walter  Scott, 
opened  the  busmess  of  the  meeting,  by  an  eloquent  and 
impressive  ptayer,  in  which  he  invoked  the  blessing  of 


the  Aluiffhty  on  the  institution. 

"  Sir  Walter  ^ott  then  rose,  and  observed,  that  it  had 
been  determined  bv  the  directors,  that  some  account 
should  be  given  on  this  occasion  of  the  nature  and  mean- 
ing of  the  Tnstituiion.  He  wished  that  some  one  better 
aualified  had  been  appointed  for  this  purpose ;  but  as  the 
utv  had  been  imposed  upon  him.  he  should  endeavour 
to  discharge  it  as  briefly  as  poasiDle.  In  Scotland,  and 
before  such  an  assembly,  it  was  unnecessary  for  him  to 
enlarge  on  the  general  advantages  of  educalion.  It  waa 
that  which  disUnguished  man  m>m  the  lower  animals  in 
the  creation— which  recorded  every  fact  of  history,  and 
transmitted  them  in  perfect  order  from  one  generation 

had  proposed  to  letora  fiom  Dublin  by  the  way  of  8ooHaad.    I 

tliink  there  wai  to  hats  been  ap         '        '  ^^  '  

Iwagh. 


Digitized 


a  psUiB  dinnsrlB  mi  hoooora 
tized  by  VjOOgie 


LIFE  OF  8IR  WALIBR  BOffFP, 


4»a««tlMr.  Our fi>fefiitteniluuliho«ni their MBte of ita 
Importance  by  their  oondoct;  but  they  could  little  have 
«oiiceiTed  the  length  to  which  diacoveriee  in  science  and 
literature  had  gone  in  thia  age ;  and  tboae  now  present 
could  aa  little  anticipate  to  what  extent  posterity  migbt 
carry  tbem.  Future  ages  might  probably  spcalc  ofthe 
"knowledge  of  the  18th  and  19th  centuries,  aa  we  now  do 
of  that  of  the  15th  and  16th.  Bat  let  them  remember 
that  the  progress  of  knowledge  was  gradual ;  and  as  their 
ancestors  had  been  bnjdoua  to  secure  to  them  the  bene- 
ilu  of  education,  so  let  it  be  said  of  the  present  sge,  thf  t 
It  MTed  the  way  for  the  improvement  <n  the  generations 
which  were  to  follow.  He  need  not  repeat  to  Scotsmeo, 
that  at  an  early  period  the  moi^  anxious  solicitude  had 
l>een  ahown  on  this  subject  while  Scotland  was  torn 
with  convulsions,  and  the  battle>brand  was  yet  red,  our 
Ibrefathers  had  sat  down  to  devise  the  means  of  spread- 
ing Che  blessinss  of  knowledge  among  their  posterity, 
M»  the  most  enectual  means  of  preventing  those  dark 
and  bloody  times  from  recurring.  We  had  but  lately 
•flheathed  a  triumphant  sword,  and  lived  now  in  a  period 
of  profound  peace ;  and  long,  long  aright  it  be  before  the 
«word  waa  again  unaheathed  1  This  was  therefore  a 
proper  time  for  improving  the  institutions  ofthe  country, 
and  endeavouring  to  cause  its  literature  to  keep  pace 
with  its  high  martial  achievements.  In  forming  an  inaii- 
tntion  like  the  present,  there  was  something  generous 
and  diainterested.  The  founders  of  a  Ubrary  might  en- 
J07  Che  benefit  of  reacBng  in  that  library,  llie  founder 
of  an  hospital  had  bad  sometimes  the  melancholy  grati- 
flcadOD,  in  the  deoUne  of  his  fortunes,  of  repoainf  under 
4be  roof  of  the  asylum  whtoh  his  charity  had  erected  for 
others  :  but  such  could  not  be  the  case  with  those  who 
flibecribed  for  this  institution.  It  waa  like  a  torch  held 
out  in  the  hand  of  a  dead  man,  which  imparted  light  to 
others,  but  to  the  bearer  it  gave  none.  He  therefore 
caOed  on  the  younf  to  attend  to  the  instructions  that 
would  be  addressed  to  them  in  this  academy,  erected 
ezelQslvely  for  their  benefit,  and  not  for  that  of  those  by 
whom  it  had  been  founded. 

**  The  establishment  of  those  excellent  Institntlons,  the 
Parochial  Schools,  had  early  hidaoed  the  moral  and  orw 
derly  habits  which  had  ao  much  tended  to  raise  the  chft> 
racter  of  our  countrymen.  King  James,  whatever  had 
been  liis  failings  in  other  respects,  had  attended  to  the 
education  of  the  youth,  and  had  founded  an  institution 
(the  High  School)  which  flourished  at  thia  moment,  the 
pride  and  boast  of  our  City ;  but.  from  the  great  increase 
of  population.  Its  size  was  now  found  inadequate  to  the 
dncy  originally  Intended.  Since  its  establishment,  the 
cttv  had  increased  to  six  thnea  the  extent  It  then  waa; 
and  the  great  number  of  subscribers  to  the  present  in- 
stitution, pioved  the  general  feeling  that  something  must 
be  done  to  relieve  the  Metropolitan  school.  It  was  true 
there  were  many  private  seminaries,  whose  teachers 
were  men  of  |^eat  talent ;  but  schools  of  that  description 
were  not  so  Well  calculated  to  secure  the  education  of 
children  as  an  institution  like  the  present.  It  was  plain 
to  the  most  common  understanding,  that  one  man  could 
not  teach  four  or  five  classes  of  pupils  with  the  same 
■occees  that  one, man  could  teach  one  class;  that  was 
rafce  plain.  A  jealousy  had  been  enteruined  that  the 
design  of  the  present  institution  was  to  hurt  the  more 
ancient  seminary.  Look  at  tlwse  who  were  the  leading 
members  of  this  society ;— many  of  them  who  had  re- 
ceived their  education  at  the  High  School,  whose  fathers 
and  grandfathers  had  been  instructed  there,  and  who 
«alBO  had  their  children  there  :  they  were  not  capable  of 
entertaining  a  thought  to  the  prejudice  of  that  senUnary. 
The  effect  of  the  present  institution  would  only  be  to 
reHeve  the  High  School  of  superfluous  scholars,  and 
thereby  leave  the  hands  of  its  teachers  more  at  liberty  to 
eduoftte  those  who  were  left.  He  trusted  he  should  hear 
nothing  more  of  such  an  unworthy  motive.  He  was  sure 
Chore  would  be  nopetty  jealousies— no  rivalry  between  the 
two  insUtnilonik  but  the  honourable  and  fair  rivalry  of 
Kholarship.  He  was  convinced  Pallnurus  would  not 
ahunber  at  the  helm,  while  he  beheld  another  vessel 
■crfvlnf  to  gain  the  port  before  him. 

"In  appropriating  the  funds  which  had  so  liberally 
been  placed  at  their  disposal,  the  directors  had  observed 
the  acrtetest  economy.  By  the  ingenuity  of  Mr.  Bum, 
the  Architect,  whose  plana  for,  and  superintendence  of 
the  bnildings  had  been  a  labour  of  love,  it  would  be  ob- 
MTved,  that  hot  much  had  been  lost.  If  they  IwMVnot 
the  beauty  of  lavish  ornament,  thev  had  at  least  taste 
and  proportion  to  boast  of— a  more  important  part  of  ar- 
oMtecture  than  high  finishing.  The  directors  had  a 
iBore  dlfllcul»and  delicate  duty  to  perform  than  the  rear- 
ing  of  stone  walls,  in  choosing  the  gentlemen  who  were 
to  carry  into  execution  their  plans ;  a  task  important  be- 
yond Uie  power  of  language  to  desoribe.  firom  the  num- 
bm  of  oertificates  produced  by  men  of  talant  who  were 


wiWng  to  abandon  thehr  sltnatieni  hi  other  •enriaailei^ 
and  to  venture  the  credit  of  their  repotati<m  and  proa> 
pects  in  Ufo  on  this  experimental  project  of  ours— a  task 
so  delicate,  that  the  directors  were  greatly  at  a  loss  whom 
to  choose  among  aeventy  or  eighty  inditiduals,  of  almost 
equal  merit,  and  equally  capable  of  undertaking  the  task. 
The  one  principle  which  guided  the  directors  in  their 
selection  waa--who  where  most  likely  to  give  satlafoetlon 
to  them  and  to  the  public  1  He  truated  they  had  been 
ancceesfhl  In  the  performance  of  this  task.  The  DnI- 
verslty  of  Oxford  had  given  them  one  of  Its  most  learned 
scholars,  (the  Rector,)  Inthe  flower  of  his  age,  with  fifteen 
years'  experience  as  a  teacher,  and  of  whose  acquire- 
ments, in  that  gentleman's  presence,  he  would  not  speak 
In  the  terms  he  would  empknr  elsewhere.  To  him  the 
directors  misted  aa  the  main  pillar  of  the  establishment: 
he  was  sure  also  he  would  oe  well  supported  by  the 
other' gentlemen :  and  that  Che  whole  machine  would 
move  easily  and  smoothly. 

"  Bat  there  waa  sUU  another  selectton  of  no  mean  dl^ 
flcuhy.  In  the  formation  of  a  new,  they  roust  lose  some 
of  the  advantages  of  an  ancient  and  venerable  Instttntlon. 
One  could  not  lay  his  hands  on  the  head  of  his  son,  and 
say,  this  is  the  same  bench  on  which  I  sat :  this  is  the 
voice  which  first  instructed  me.— They  had  to  identiff 
their  children  with  a  new  Insthution.  But  they  had  som^ 
thing  to  counterbalance  these  disadvantages.  K  thej. 
had  iM>t  the  venerable  Oothic  temple,  the  lonf  sotmdliif 
gallerlea,  and  tnrreted  waHs— where  every  aasodation  wae 
favourable  to  learning— they  were  also  free  from  the  pre- 
judices peculiar  to  such  seminaries,— the  'rich  winoows 
which  exclude  the  light,  and  passages  that  lead  to  nothing.' 
SomethUig  might  be  gained  from  novehy.  The  attentlen 
of  the  directors  had  been  particularly  turned  *(o  the  focL 
that  while  Scotland  was,  on  the  whole,  the  best  Informed 
country  In  Europe,  it  had  not  of  late  produced  manr  emi- 
nent classical  scDolars.  The  observation  of  Dr.  Johnsos 
waa  well  known,  that  hi  learning  Scotland  resembled  « 
besieged  city,  where  every  man  had  a  mouthful,  bat  no 
man  a  bellyfuL  It  might  be  said,  hi  answer  to  thiS|  that  II 
was  better  education  ahould  be  divided  Into  mouthfula, 
than  served  up  at  the  banquet  of  some  favoured  Ihdl- 
viduals,  while  the  great  mass  were  left  to  starve.  BuL 
sturdy  Scotsman  as  he  was,  he  was  not  more  attached 
to  Scotland  than  to  truth ;  and  It  ibust  be  admitted  that 
there  was  some  foundation  for  the  Doctor's  remark.  The 
directors  were  anxious  to  wipe  off  this  reproach,  and  for 
this  purpose  had  made  every  provision  In  their  power. 
ThejF  had  made  some  additions  to  the  course  adopted  la 
the  High  School,  but  in  no  case  had  they  made  any  hmo- 
vatlon  urom  the  mere  love  of  change.  It  was  a  part  el 
their  plan  to  lay  a  fonndatkm  for  a  thorough  knowledge 
of  the  Latin  tongue,  by  the  most  precise  and  carenil  an- 
dy  of  its  elemental  principlea.  With  this  they  meant  to 
coniohi  the  study  of  Greek,  to  be  begun  at  an  earUer  pe* 
rioa,  and  prosecuted  to  a  greater  extent,  than  hitherto 
was  customary  in  Scotland.  It  waa  the  language  of  thf 
lathers  of  history,  and  of  a  people  whose  martial  achieve 
ments  and  noble  deeds  were  the  ornament  of  their 
pagea.  At  no  moment  was  the  study  of  that  beantlfU 
language  so  interesting  as  at  present  when  the  people 
among  whom  it  was  still  in  use,  were  again,  as  he  trnsted«  I 
about  to  emancipate  themselves  firom  riavery  and  baiw 
barism,  and  take  their  rank  among  firee  nations.  There 
would  also  be  instruction  In  Writing  and  Arithmetic-Huwl 
a  class  for  the  study  of  BfathemaUca,  from  which  the  di- 
rectors hoped  great  advantage  would  accrue  to  the  pupila. 
There  would  be  another  class  in  this  institution^  whidi 
was  not  to  be  found  in  any  other  similar  academy— a  clase 
for  Che  study  of  EngUsh  Literature.  It  had  been  jusUf 
remarked,  that  the  study  of  classics  had  sometimes  led 
to  Vie  neglect  of  our  own  language,  and  that  some  aeho> 
lars  could  express  themselves  better  in  Latin  than  is 
English.  To  avoid  this  error,  a  teacher  was  added  to  the 
institution,  who  was  to  instruct  the  boys  in  the  principlea 
of  English  Composition,  and  to  connect  with  this  a  know- 
ledge of  the  higtory  of  their  own  country.  He  wooM 
have  the  youthauught  to  venerate  the  patriots  and  heroes 
of\our  own  country,  along  with  thoee  of  Greece  and 
Rome;  to  know  the  histories  of  Wallace  and  Bruce,  ae 
well  as  those  of  Themistocles  and  of  Csesar  ;  and  that 
the  recollection  of  the  fields  of  Flodden  and  Bannock- 
bum,  should  not  be  lost  in  those  of  Pbusea  and  Marathon. 
The  masters  would  open  their  classes  every  morning 
with  prayer;  and  a  portion  of  Scripture  would  be  read 
by  one  of  the  boys  every  Monday  morning,  before  the 
commencement  of  the  week's  labours. 

In  conclusion,  Sir  Walter  addressed  a  few  words  to 
his  young  friends  around  him.  He  observed,  that  CiM 
public  could  not  have  given  a  more  interesting  mark  of 
their  confidence  In  the  manageta  of  the  seminary,  than 
they  bad  done,  in  placing  under  their  direction  these 
young  persons,  characterised  by  the  Roman  matron  aa 


^^0^ 


UFE  OP  SIR  Wain!BR  SCOTT. 


,  ht  most  preetttUi^wela,  |br  erery  one  of  whom  ke  m^a 
•onsible  more  thao  one  bo«r»m  w«s  at  present  beflHiK, 
anjdous  lor  tbea*  ftiture  haopineaa  and  prosperitj.  ^e 
eiUiorted  them  to  give  tbeur  whole  soius  and  niinAa  to 
their  studiea,  without  which  it  was  Ultle  that  either  their 
teachers  or  directors  could  do.  If  they  were  destined 
for  any  of  the  learned  professions,  he  begged  them  to 
remember  that  a  physician  without  learning  was  a  mere 
quack ;  a  lawyer  wittiout  learning  was  a  pettifogger;  and 
a  clergyman  without  learning  was  like  a  soldier  withoat 
a  sword,  who  bad  not  the  mesos  of  endEoreiag  the  autho- 
rity of  his  Divine  Master.  N«zt  to  a  cooscitncs  roid  of 
offeoeo  towards  God  and  man,  the  greatest  possession 
they  could  ha?e  was  a  weU  cultivated  mind ;  It  was  that 
alone  which  distinguished  them  from  the  beasts  that 
psrishc  K  they  went  to  India  or  other  distant  quarters 
of, the  globe,  it  wouVd  sweeten  their  paUi«  and  add  to  their 
iiappinsM.  He  trusted  tbat  his  wordSf  poor  as  they  were, 
would  sink  into  their  hearts,  and  remam  on  their  memo- 
ries, loi^  after  they  had  forgpUen  the  speaker.  He  ho- 
ped they  would  remember  the  words  of  their  reverend 
uiend,  who  had  just  implored  the  blessing  of  God  upon 
their  studies,  for  they  were  the  outpourhigs  of  ihe  sotil 
•f  one  not  young  in  years,  nor  void  of  experience ;  and 
when  thev  were  cqme  to  manhood,  they  might  say  to 
their  chiMren,  'Thus  and  thus  were  we  taught,  and  thus 
and  thas  we  teach  yoo.  By  attending  to  these  tiUngs  we 
rose  to  bonoor  and  diatinotion.'  Happy  (said  Sir  mHcr) 
VrUl  it  be  if  you  can  say,  'I  have  followed  that  whkh  I 
heard.    May  you  do  so  and  liye.'  " 

The  Academy^Qpened  uhder  these  auspices,  throve 
from  thr.  b^nmog,  and  may  now  be  considered  as 
one  of  the  most  important  amonc  the  national  es- 
Ubjishments  of  Scotland  ;  nor  have  Sir  Walter's 
anUQipations  aa  to  the  resqlt  of  honourable  rivalry 
between  it  and  the  old  High  Sehool  been  disap- 
pointed. 

Afl  it  happens;  I  have  to  place  in  the  same  page 
with  SirWiflter*8«peech,  in  honour  of  classical  learn- 
ing, the  record  of  a  false  quantity  which  his  gen- 
erosity may  almost  be  said  to  have  made  claseical. 
In  the  course  of  that  same  October,  died  his  faith- 
iul  friend  and  servant  Maida,  the  noblest  and  most 
celebrated  of  all  his  dog«— might  I  not  safely  say 
of  all  doga  that  ever  shared  the  fiallowship  of  man  1 
His  e«it  was  announced  in  this  letter  to  the  young 
Oionian. 

To  Charlet Scottj Esq., Sraxennme  College^  Oxford.  - 

..  „  "  Abbotaford,  22d  Oetober,  1834. 

•'My  dear  Charles, 

^  I  am  glad  to  hear  that  you  are  safely  settled  at 
OoHegCL  I  trust  with  the  intention  of  making  your  real- 
denee  there  subservient  to  the  purposes  of  steady  study, 
without  which  H  wiU  be  tmly  a  waste  of  expense  and  or 
leisure.  I  believe  tha  matter  dq^ends  very  much  on  a 
yovfli  himself,  and  therefore  I  hope  to  hear  that  you  are 
^Tenuously  exerting  yourself  to  hold  an  honourable  sit- 
mUion  among  the  students  of  your  celebrated  university. 
Tear  course  will  not  be  unmarked,  as  something  is  ex- 
pected from  the  son  of  any  lUerary  person  ;  tor!  I  sin- 
oerely  hope  hi  this  case  those  expectations  wlU  be  amply 
gratified.  ■    ' 

^I  am  obliged  to  Mr.  Ha^es*  for  his  kind  intentions 
In  your  &vour,  as  I  dare  say  that  any  to  whom  he  taitio- 
duces  vou  will  be  acquaintance  worth  cnlUvaUng.  I  shsU 
baclad  to  hear  that  you  ha^e  taken  up  your  ground  at 
OoUeg e,  and  who  are  like  to  con^KMS  your  set.  I  hope 
yau  will  make  your  way  to  the  clever  fellows  and  not  put 
up  with  Doldrums.  Bvery  men  soon  faUs  behind  that 
does  not  aaoire  to  keep  np  with  the  foremost  hi  the  race. 

**  I  have  little  domestic  news  to  tell  you.  Old  Maida 
died  quietly  In  his  sUnaw  last  week  after  a  good  supper,' 
which,  considering  his  weak  stale,  was  rather  a  deUver- 
OBoe.  He  is  buried  below  his  monument,  on  which  the 
Ibllowlng  epitaph  is  engraved— though  it  is^eat  andacity 
to  acnd  Tevfotdaler  Latin  to  Brazen-nose— 

*  Maids  Marmorei  dormis  sub  imagine  Maida, 
Ad  Januam  domini  sit  tibi  terra  levfs.' 

Thus  Englished  by  an  emlnejU  hand,— 

*  Beneath  the  sculptured  form  which  late  you  wore, 
Sleep  soundly,  MsJda,  at  your  master's  door.'  • 

**  Yesterday  we  had  our  solemn  hunt  and  killed  fourteen 
■•f  as<-but  a  dog  of  Sir  Adam's  broke  her  leg,  and  was 
obliged  to  be  put  to  death  in  the  field.    little  Johnnie 

;*JfotaHaahM,  Eta  of  Oriel  Collcfo-^wm  of  Sir  WaUer'a  old 
fiMda,  Dr.  and  Mm.  HuiW-  the  name  whose  "  Ilinerary  of  the 
Bhooe/^Ae.,  ifl  menUoned  with  higfa  pnhe  m  the  bitrudqctioo 
■oviasniB  ouMravo. 


talks  the  strangest  glbbailsli  I  ever  beard,  by  «wsf  n> 
peating  his  littk  poems.  1  wish  the  cbiM  way  sf  wait 
plain.  Mamma,  Sophia,  Anna,  aMl  I,  send  lova-AhNM 
your  affectionate  fotker, 

WALna  Soon.'* 

The  monument  here  tnentionod  was  a  leojii^ 
on-slonty  to  which  the  skill  of  89011*8  mafiteMoi- 
son  had  siv^n  the  shape  of  Maida  reeuabeai.  It 
had  stood  by  the  gate  of  .^bbotsford  a  year  or  mm 
before  the  dojg  died  and  after  he  was  laidundtt  k 
his  masto-,  dining  tliat«vening  at  Chiefswood.  m, 
over  bis  glass  of  toddy  and  eigar,  that  he  had  bees 
bothering  his  brains  to  make  an  epitaoh  for  bis  tn- 
cient  favourite  but  could  not  pleaae  nimselt  He 
said  It  must  be  m  Latm,  because  Maida  leegMd 
made  on  purpose  to  close  a  hexameter—and  beffiei 
as  I  was  fresher  off  the  irons  than  himseU  wt  1 
would  try  to  help  him.  The  unfortunate  eupk 
above  printed  waa  what  suggested  itself  at  tbea»> 
ment"-and  though  his  own  English  verskm  s(  it; 
extemporized  next  minut^  was  so  much  better,  M 
hM  way  home  he  gave  directions  to  have  it  engraT- 
ed,  and  engraved  it  was  before  many  houn  hd 
passed.  Mr.  James  Ballantyne  was  the  first  pv* 
son  that  aaw  it ;  believing  it  to  be<  Scoti's,  be  li- 
mired  it^  of  course— and  of  courae,  alao,  he  tikonb 
fit  to  prmt  it  soon  after  (aa  Sir  Walter's)  iaiii 
newapf^per-^but  his  memory  Imd  played  him  a  diA 
rgh,  aoKl  IB  he  prinied  ik 


before  be  reached  1 ^ 

hnes  theyahowed  not  only  their  oriffiial  blooder, 
but  another  of  his  own  creation  ;  he  nad  piit;«» 
far  dermis.  His  printing  the  thin^at  all  wasoBr 
fo^nate;  for  some  fHcndU  believe  it  wv  Lonl 
Mmto)  had  pointed  out  in  the  interim  the  (abeqwa- 
tity  of  januamiy  and  the  maaon  was  just  iket  i» 
rectify  that  by  substituting  some  legitimate  dietyl 
or  sponde^  suMsetted  by  this  critic^  when  the  oewi: 
paper  reached  Abbotafoid.  Sir  Walter  on  eeM«  a 
said.  "  WelK  well,  shice  Ballantyne  has  printed  mei 
at  all,  I  shan't  have  any  corrections  made  here-1 
shall  wnte  and  tell  him  of  his  blunder,  andlettke 
other  stand  as  it  is."  But  mean- time  Sir  Wair 
Scotfs  false  quantities"  had  headed  various  pii^ 

graphs  m  the  newspapera  both  in  Edinburgli  aadii 
ondon:  and,  strange  to  say,. even  the  undosbM 
double  blimder  of  Ballantyiie^s  edition  found  gifiut 
defenders.  A  Mr.  Lionel  Barguer,  who,  I  think,  hid 
pubUahed  aome  poems,  and  dedicated  them  to  Scott, 
was  one  of  theae  champions  :  and  Sir  Waherhitn- 
self  had  twice  pleaded  guilty  in  the  newapapers,  be- 
fore the  matter  was  atlowed  to  rest  It  is  sofficKOt 
to  quote  the  following  ^- 

7Tb  the  Editor  of  the  Momhig  Post 

"  Abbotaford,  Not,  U,  1321. 

"  Sir,— Aa  I  am  a  friend  to  truth,  e^jon  in  tri/les»  !«•- 
not  consent  to  shelter  myself  imder  the  classicid  osalh 
which  Mr.  Lionel  Bbroueb  and  some  unknown  favA 
have  chosen  to  extend,  in  their  charity,  over  my  lsutoi» 
prosody.  The  two  lines  were  written  in  mere  wkim,M* 
without  the  least  intention  of  their  beiiw  made  pwili. 
In  the  first  line,  the  word  jaces  is  a  mistake  af  Um  ma- 
scrtbcr,  (whoever  took  that  trouble  0  tba  phrass  isd»- 
mis^  which  I  believe  is  good  prpsody.  The  error  is  lk» 
second  line,  ad  januam^  certamly  exists,  and  I  bfm  tsis 
casiifnition.  I  must  plead  the  same  apoknr  whiek  vii 
used  by  the  great  Dr.  JoifiisoN,  when  he  mMiaterptsud 
a  vetennar^  phrase  of  ordlnaxy  occurraoce— '*  ignorasca 
—pure  Ignorance"  was  the  cause  of  my  blunder.  PoO| 
years  ago.  longs  and  shorts  were  little  auended  tola  Sc* 
lisb  education ;  and  Lhave,  it  appeara,  forgot  the  lialal 
may  then  have  learned.  I  have  only  to  add^  thst  Ismi^ 
from  undervaluing  any  branch  of  scbolsrship,  beeanaai 
have  notthcgoox)  fortunate  to  possess  it,  and  heartily  «>•* 
that  those  who  succeed  »i8  may  have  the  benefitof  a  moat 
accurate  classica]  education  than  was  common  ia  ny  aaf* 
Ucr  days. 

"The  Inscription  cannot  now  be  altered;  but  if  it  » 
mains  a  memorial  of  my  want  of  learning,  it  shall  vHM 
addition,  cpnvey  auy  imputation  on  my  canooar.  1  shSflM 
have  been  ashamed,  at  a  more  stirring  time,  to  aakadvii^ 
sion  for  this  pica  of  guilty ;  but  at  present  you  may  iMak 
it.worth  a  place  fa  your  paper.  Pugna  est  de  pmjti* 
regno.— I  remain  your  obedient  servant.  v 

,  WAi.Txa  Scan-" 

•ouj^t  this  controrer 
:  his  vicinity  when  t 


The  culprit  whose  sin  ha 
sy  on  Sir  Walter.  it)?|»bi^4 


uro  OP  amwALTKR^corr. 


PM  flMM  oft-Bor  otgaMHoC  it  mitil  he  had  ochD' 
mitaa  lumelfj  and  oo  the  aane  L2th  of  Novem- 
NT,  bfliog  the  Poet's  Iwt  day  at  Abbotafisrd  for  the 
oog  Ta^aticHit  be  inditod  toe  R>lk>winR  rbymea— 
ifhich  aavour  of  hia  noaat  overhauling  of  Swift 
lad  Sheridan'i  doiKrel  epiadea. 

To  J.  a.  Lockkart.  B»q..  Northumberland  SlreeU 
Edtnburgk. 

"  Dear  Jotm,— I  aome  time  ago  wrote  to  inform  hw 
Fat  worship  «f;ac«»,  mispriotecl  for  dormu  ; 
But  that  several  Southrons  assured  me  the^onuom^ 
Waa  a  twitch  to  both  of  ears  of  Ass  Priscten's  cranium. 
Vou,  perlmps,  may  obserre  that  ooe  Lionel  Berguer, 
In  dtfeaea  «f  our  blundev  ^paurs  a  aiottt  aqruer : 
Bat  at  teniKk  1  bava  aettlad,  1  hope,  all  thaae  claltarst 
Ik  a  f#tpi-io  ttie  papa ra— fine  place  for  aocb  ipattera. 
I  have,  th6ra£ipr«,  to  nak«  it  for  once  ray  command,  air, 
That  my  gudeaon  shall  leave  the  wbole  thing  in  my 

And  by  no  meant  accomplish  what  James  aaya  you 

threaten, 
Some  banter  in  Blaeliwood  to  daim  your  dog-Latin. 
I  haire  varldua  reaadoa  of  weight,  on  my  word,  sir, 
Vor  prononneiog  a  step  of  this  sort  were  absurd,  air. 
W)is^jy  emdita  air,  'twaa  a«aiaHt  your  adviaiag 
I  adpptad  the  lines  U^a  mooscrpsity  lies  in ; 
For  yon  modestly  hinted  mj  Eng Oah  translation 
Would  become  better  iar  auch  a  dignified  station- 
Second— how,  in  God's  name,  would  my  bacon  l>c  saved, 
By  not  having  writ  what  I  clearly  engraved  1 
On  the  contrary,  I,  on  the  whole,  Itink  It  better 
To  be  whippedas  the  thief,  then  his  lotisy  resetter. 
Thirdly— don't  yon  perceive  that  1  don't  care  a  boddle 
AltiKM^lL  fifty  false  metrlb  were  Aung  at  my  noddle. 
For  my  back  is  as  broad  and  as  hard  as  Benlomon's, 
Apditreat  as  Ipleaaebath  the  Graekaand  tba  Romans ; 
Wbereaa  the  said  hewthene  might  look  rather  serioua 
At  a  kickon  their  drum  Inimthe  scribe  of  Valerius. 
And,  fourthly  and  lasdy^it  is  my  good  pleasure 
To  remain  the  aole  source  of  thai  murderous  measure. 
So  atetpro  raiiane  volurtfa^—he  tractile. 
Invade  not,  I  aay,  my  own  dear  Uttle  dactyl ; 
If  yoa  doi,  you'll  occaaioo  a  breach  in  our  tntereourae : 
To-morrow  will  see  me  in  tewn  ibr  the  wihter-coiteie, 
But  aot  at  your  door,  at  the  uaual  hour,  sir, 
My  own  pye-houac  daughter's  good  prog  to  devour,  sir. 
Ergo— peace,  on  your  duty,  your  squeamiahneas  throttle, 
And  we'u  soothe  Friacian's  spleen  with  a  canny  third 

bottle. 
A  fig  for  all  dactyls,  a  fljK  for  all  spondees, 
A  fig  for  all  dunces andDominle  Gmodys ; . 
A  fig-  for  drv  thrapples,  south,  ac  rth,  east,  and  wt8t,'Mr, 
Spealea  and  razes  ere  five  for  a  famlahing  niest,  ah* ; 
And  aa  Fatsmant  and  I  have  aame  topics  ibr  haver,  he'll 
Be  Invited,  I  hope,  to  meet  me  and  Dame  Peveril, 
Upon  whom,  to  say  nothing  of  (huy  and  Anne,  you  a 
Dog  ahail  be  deemed  if  you  fasten  your  Janua, 

"*¥.  B,—Moc  Joeas»*-btit  I  am  nerertheleas  >  in  literal 
meeL  You  kicur  my'aerioutf  diapleaaare  If  you  move 
le  inch  in  thia  contemptible  rumpoa.  So  adieu  till  to- 
orrow.— Yours  afiectionately,  W.  8." 

In  the  ooorae  of  that  November  aeYeral  of  the 
Lige  aotique  buildinKs  which  save  ita  peculiar  eha- 
icter  to  the  Oid  Town  of  Edmbnrgh,  perished  by 
re ;  and  no  one,  it  may  be  beliered,  witneesed  this 
imoHtion  with  more  regret  than  Sir  Walter.  He 
lya  to  Lord  Montagu  on  the  18th,— 

Ky  deAT  Lord, 

'■'■  Sinc»  1  came  here  1  have  witneaaed  a  horrible  ca- 
mlty.  A  fire  broke  *out  on  Mopctey  n(£ht  in  the  High 
Teet,  raged  all  night,  and  great  part  of  the  next  day, 
itching  to  the  steeple  of  the  Tron  Church,  which  being  t 
Dod  was  aoon  in  a  blaze,  and  burned  like  regular  fire* 
arks  till  an  vraa  consoraed.  All  this  while  ue  flamea 
we  apreodiog  down  to  the  Cowgate  anoagst  those  closes 
bere  the  narrowness  of  the  acceas,  and  the  height  of 

*  These  is  aa  excellent  iton^  (but  too  loof  fbr  notation)  in^tba 
anoTH  of  the  SameTvUles,  (\-ol.  i.  p.  S4o;  about  aa  old  Lata  of 
at  familr.  wbo,  when  he  Wished  preparations  to  be  made  fbr 
eh  feasUft^  at  Us  Oastto  of  Cuwtfaally,  used  to  wnd  en  a  billet 
lenbed  with  this  iaoooio  pfacase»  "  Bpeate*  and  Tase»,"—i.  e. 
iu  atid  rang6«.  Upon  ooe  occaaioo.  Lady  S<MnerviIfo  (beinc 
wjff  married,  and  not  yet  skilled  in  ner  nusbaod'a  nien«)yphicfl) 
idthe  mandate  as  »pearg  and  iaekg,  and  MDt  forth  90u  armed 
nsetnoM,  whose  appearance  on  Ow  moon  freatiy  alaraied  Lord 
Knerrilhs  and  hia  ruest,  wbo  happened  to  be  no  lets  a  penaa 
an  King  James  IIL 

1'*— en  alliuioB  te  the  oalebiated  POQ^  BaskeiviJIc. 


the  beuaei}  rendered  the  approach,  of  eociaca  almost  Imr 
possible.  On  Tuesday  night  a  sectmd  fire  broke  out  hi  the 
Parliament  Square,  greatly  endangering  the  Courts  of  Jus- 
tice, and  the  Advocaica'  more  than  prmcelr  Library.  By 
great  exertion*)  it  was  prevented  approaching  this  poblle 
building ;  and  Sir  William  Forbes'  bank  also  escaped.  But 
all  the  other  houaee  hi  the  Parliament  Square  are  totally*  ' 
deacroyed ;  and  1  can  conceive  no  sight  more  grand  or 
terrible  than  to  see  these  lelVy  buildinga  on  fire  from  te^ 
to  bottom,  vomiting  out  fiames  like  a  volcano  from  every 
aperture,  and  finally  crashing  down  one  after  another 
into  an  abyss  of  fire,  which  resembled  nothing  but  hell : 
for  there  were  vaults  of  wine  and  8piritS4Vhich  sent  up 
huge  ]et8  of  flame,  whenever  they  were  called  into  activl- 
ly  by  the  fall  of  these  massive  fragments.  Between  the 
corner  of  the  Parliament  Sqnare  and  the  South  Bri^o 
all  la  deatroyed,  excepting  some  new  buildinga  at  the 
lower  exjtremity  ;  and  the  devaatation  has  ejcte«lded  down 
the  oloees,  which  I  hope  will  never  be  rebuilt  on  Iheii 
present,  I  ahould  say  their  late  form.  The  general  dU> 
tresa  Is,  of  course,  dreadful.— Ever  yours, 

W.  «corr." 


CHAPTER  LXI. 

TALBS  or  THS   CXVBADnS  Btamt—A  CHAISTMAa  AT 

▲BaoTsroaci,  in  jultbacts  fbom  thx  jm.  lovamo* 

OF  CASTAUr  BASIL  HALL,  B.  2I.'DBC.  29. 1624— J AV. 

10,  1825. 

DtTBiKG  the  Winter  Seesion  of  bis  Court,  SirWal* 
ler  resumed  his  usual  course  of  literary  exertion, 
which  the  supervision  of  carpenters,  painters  and 
upholsterers  had  so  long  interrupted.  The  Tales  of 
the  Crusaders  were  hegun :  but  I  defer,  for  the  pre-, 
sent,  the  histoxy  of  their  proarpsss.l 

Abbotsford  wa$  at  l^st  nnished,  and  in  all  ilA 
splendour ;  and  at  Chnstmasi  a  larger  party  than 
the  house  could  ever  before  have  accommodated* 
were  assembled  there.  Among  thejguests  was  one 
who  kept  a  copious  journal  during  ma  stay,  and  has 
kindly  mmish^  me  with  a  copy  of  it,  I  shall,  there- 
fore, extract  ^uch  passajges  as  bear  immediately 
upon  Sir  Walter  Scott  himself,  who  certainly  was 
never  subjected  to  sharper  observation  than  that  of 
his  ingenious  friend  Captain  Basil  Hall. 


EXTRACTS  PRGM  CAPTAIN  HALL'S  JOURNAL. 
**  Abbot^ord  Deeenber  2^  1824. 

''This  morning  my  brother  James  and  I  aet  out 
from  Edinburgh  in  the  Blucher  coach,  at  eight 
o'clock,  and  although  we  heard  of  enow«storras  on 
the  hills,  we  bowled  along  without  the  smallest  hn- 
pediment.  and  with  a  fine  bright  sun  and  eheerftil 
green  fields  around  us,  with  only  here  and  theve  a 
distant  streak  of  snow  in  some  shady  ravine.  W» 
arrived  in  good  time— and  foi^nd  seveitd  other  gueata 
at  dinner 

"The  public  rooms  are  lighted  with  oil-gas  in  a 
style  of  extraordinary  splendour.  The  ^paaaages^ 
also,  and  the  bedrooma,  are  lighted  in  a  dmilar 
manner.  The  whole  eatiibliahment  is  on  the  same  ^ 
footingT-I  mean  the  attendance  and  entertainment 
— all  ia  in  good  order,  and  an  air  of  punctuality  mid 
inethod,  without  any  waste  or  oatentation,  pervades 
every  thing.  Every  one  seems  at  hia  ease;  and  al* 
thoiigh  I  have  been  in  some  big  houses  in  my  time, 
and  amongst  good  folks  who  studied  theae  sort  of 
points  not  a  httle,  I  don't  remember  to  have  any 
where  met  with  things  better  managed  in  all  re-  * 
spects. 

'*Had  I  a  hundred  pens,  each  of  which  at  the 
same  time  should  separately  write  down  an  aneo- 
dote,  I  could  not  hope  to  record  one  half  of  moae 
which  our  host,  to  use  Spenser's  expression,  *  Well- 
ed out  alway.*  To  write  down  one  or  two,  or  one  or 
two  dozen,  would  serve  no  purpose,  as  they  wef«all 
appropriate  to  the  moment,  and  were  told  ^nvith  « 
tone,  gesture,  and  look,  suited  exactly  to  the  cirouni- 
atanoes,  but  which  it  is  of  course  impossible  in  the 
least  deface  to  describe. 

^^  Abbotsford^  y^th  December, 

"  This  morning  Maior  Stistod,  my  brother,  and  L 
accompanied  Sir  Waiter  Scott  on  a  walk  over  Mic 


410 


UFB  OF  SIR  WALTER  SCOTT. 


inroundB,  a  distance  of  five  or  aix  miles.  He  led  us 
through  his  plantations,  which  are  in  all  stages  of 
advancement,  and  entertained  us  all  the  wav  with 
an  endless  string  of  anecdotes,  more  or  less  charac- 
teristic of  the  scenes  we  were  passing  through. 
•  »  Occasionally  he  repeated  snatches  of  songs,  some- 
times a  whole  ballad,  and  at  other  times  he  planted 
bis  staff  in  the  ground  and  related  some  tale  to  us, 
which  though  not  in  verse,  came  like  a  stream  of 
poetry  from  his  lips.  Thus,  about  the  middle  of  our 
walk,  we  had  first  to  cross,  and  then  to  wind  down 
the  banks  of  Che  Huntly-burn,  the  scene  of  old  Tho- 
mas the  Rymer's  interview  with  the  Queen  of  the 
Fairies.  Before  entering  this  little  glen,  he  detained 
us  on  the  heath  above  till  he  bad  related  the  whole 
of  that  romantic  story,  so  that  by  the  time  we  de- 
scended the  path,  our  imaginations  were  so  worked 
upon  by  the  wild  nature  ofthe  fiction,  and  still  more 
by  the  animation  of  the  narrator,  that  we  felt  our- 
selves treading  upon  classical  ground ;  and  though 
the  day  was  cold,  the  path  muaay  and  scarcely  pass- 
able owing  to  the  late  floods,  and  the  trees  all  oare, 
yet  I  do  not  remember  ever  to  have  seen  any  place 
so  interesting  as  the  skill  of  this  mi_gbty  magician 
had  rendered  this  narrow  ravine,  which  m  any  other 
company  would  have  seemed  quite  insignificant. 

'*0n  reaching  an  elevated  point  near  a  wild 
mountain  lake,  from  whence  we  commanded  a  view 
of  many  different  parts  of  his  estate,  and  saw  the 
progress  of  his  improvements,  I  remarked  that  it 
must  be  interesting  to  epgage  in  planting.  '  Inte- 
resting !*  he  cried ;  You  can  have  no  idea  of  the  ex- 
quisite delight  of  A  planter—he  is  like  a  painter  lay- 
ing on  his  colour9--at  every  moment  ne  sees-  his 
enects  coming  out.  There  is  no  art  or  occupation 
comparable  to  this:  it  is  full  of  past,  present,  and  fu- 
ture enjoyment.  I  look  back  to  the  time  when  there 
was  noi  a  tree  here,  only  bare  heath :  I  look  round 
and  see  thousands  of  trees  growing  up,  all  of  which, 
I  may  say  almost  each  of  ^ach,  have  received  my 
personal  attention..  I  remember  five  years  ago 
looking  forward,  with  the  most  delighted  expecta- 
tion, to  this  very  hour,  and  as  each  year  has  passed, 
the  expectation  has  gone  on  increasing.  I  do  the 
same  now ;  I  anticipate  what  this  plantation  and 
that  one  will  presently  be,  if  only  laken  care  of,  and 
there  is  not  a  spot  of  which  I  do  not  watch  the  pro- 
gress. Unlike  building,  or  even  painting,  or  inaeed 
any  other  kind  of  pursuit,  this  has  no  end,  and  is 
never  interrupted,  but  goes  on  from  day  to  day,  and 
from  year  to  year,  wiih  a  perpetually  augmenting 
interest.  Farming  I  hate ;  what  have  I  to  do  with 
fatteniM  and  killing  beasts,  or  raising  com  only  to 
cut  It  down,  and  to  wrangle  with  farmers  about 
prices,  and  to  be  constantly  at  the  mercy  of  the 
seasons  7  There  can  be  no  such  disappointments 
or  annoynn'**:?  in  plantihg  trrfls.' 

"  It  IB  uiipu.'"^!otr  [<i  louL'h  lor  on  insiiant  on  any 
themft^  but  sUfi(Kh!wny  lijjth^ift  ftii  antfcJotu  lo  fit  ji. 
*  Whftt  i»  the  nninc  of  ihat  bright  &poiJ  I  ^Aid,  '  usi 
which  ih«  sun  is  Ahirimf*)  jiisMhere  in  tb^  line  u( 
Cowdenknowea  f—'  That,  said  he, '  m  cslicd  Hojd 
CUuj^h.  I  was  lonjq;  ptiislcd/  hu  addod^  '  i^  frnd 
the  elymology  of  ihi*  tianip^  and  inqnir^^d  tn  vain  4>ri 
pvery  hand  lo  diacover  ewmc thing  &ml table,  I  i  ouM 
Itiarn  nathinp  more  than  that  nenr  the  CktiB;h  thero 
wa3>  a  flpot  wlueh  iradiiig^n  ^jd  had  been  a  Diuidi- 
oal  placp  of  worshijb.  Still  ihia  did  not  help  inr , 
ana  I  w^^nt  on  (or  g  lr>nE  fiTc^fr  tt^rnr^nTinf:  m^Frlf  t^j 
"no  Viiii^'-rr .     A     ':_'.../,      ■  [    .,i\--  f'L.niL:    viry 

early  one  fine  summer's  morning,  I  accidentally 
lighted  upon  a  passage  in  some  German  book,  which 
stated  that  Haxa  was  the  old  German  term'  for  a 
Druidess.*  Here,  then,  the  mystery  was  solved, 
and  I  was  so  enchanted  with  the  discovery,  that  I 
was  wild  with  impatience  to  tell  it  to  some  one:  so 
away  I  mounted  up  stairs  to  my  wife's  room,  where 
she  was  lying  fast  asleep.  I  was  well  aware  that  she 
neither  knew  nor  cared  one  Jot  about  the  matter; 
that  did  not  signify  —tell  it  I  must  immediately  to 
some  one ;  so  I  roused  her  up,  and  although  she  was' 
▼ery  angry  at  being  awakened  out  of  her  comfort- 
able doze,  I  insisted  upon  bestowing  Haxa,  and 
*  Htstf  is  modem  GOTBtn  tir  tHfcA. 


Haxel  Cleugh,  and  all  mr  beautiful  discovery  of  the 
0ruid'8  temple,  npon  her,  notwithstanding.  Now, 
don't  you  understand  thisT  aaid  he,  turning  to  me 
— '  Have  not  you  sometimes  on  board  your  skip  hit 
upon  something  which  delighted  you,  so  that  you 
could  not  rest  till  you  had  got  hold  of  some  one 
down  whose  throat  you  might  cram  it— tsoom  stu- 
pid dolt  of  a  lieutenant,  or  some  gaping  midshipman, 
on  whom  in  point  or  fact  it  was  totally  thrown 
away?— but  still  you  had  the  satisfactionof  impan- 
ing  it.  without  which  half  the  pleasure  is  lost' 

Thus  we  strolled  along,  borne  as  it  were  on  this 
strange  stream  of  song  and  story.  Nothing  came  ^ 
amiss  to  him ;  the  most  trivial  and  commonplace 
incident,  when  turned  in  his  hand,  aoouired  a  polish 
and  a  clearness  of  the  first,  water..  Over  all,  too. 
there  was  breathed  an  air  of  benignity  and  good- will 
to  all  men,  which  was  no  less  stnking  than  the 
eloquence  and  point  of  his  narrations.  The  man- 
ner in  which  he  spoke  of  his  neighbours,  and  of  dis- 
tant persons  of  whose  conduct  he  disapproved,  wac 
all  in  the  same  spirit  He  did  not  cloak  their  umlte 
—he  spoke  out  manfully  in  contempt  of  what  was 
wrong ;  but  this  was  always  accompanied  by  some 
kindly  observationj  some  reservation  in  favonr  of 
the  good  they  possessed,  some  natural  and  proper 
allowance.  I  say  natural,  because  I  should  be 
giving  a  wrong  impression  of  the  character  of  his  m 
conversation  were  l4o  let  it  be  supposed  that  these 
excuses  or  extenuations  were  mawkishly  uttered,  or 
that  he  acted  apart,  and  a^a  npatter  of  rule  said 
something  in  favour  even  of  those  he  condeauied. 


"  He  is  loyal  to  the  back  bone,  to  use  a  mlgar 
phrase  ;  but  with  all  this  there  is  nothing  servile  or 
merely  personal  in  his  loyalty.  When  the  King  was 
coming  to  Edinburgh,  and  it  was  known  he  was  to 
pisa  DTfT  Wr,*  r7oo  Bridge,  a  gentleman  suggested 
lu  him  ih'.  11,  ^  «4  of  concealing  or  erasing  me  in- 
f^onncioQ  ntisp^tung  Prince  Leo|>old*  on  the  arch  of 
the  hndgaisit  was  known  there  was  a  coolness 
hetw^n  tn^  KjTiKand  his  son-in-law.  *  What  f  said 
lu\  '  ahall  we  insult  the  King's  son-in-law,  and 
«]]ri>ugh  him  the  King  himself  by  any  allusion  to,  or 
rioEiceof.  whiii  I?  so  unworthy  of  all  parties?  Shall 
wc  be  a^hamcHl  of  our  own  act,  and  without  anj 
diMiinution  or  our  respect  for  ttiose  to  whom  the 
(imiplmieat  was  paid,  draw  back  and  eat  our  words 
I M  ■  ^n  M  ^e  we  have  beard  of  a  petty  misunderstandiegf 
1  hall  Ml?  undo  ihat which  our  respect  for  the  King 
n\nl  hiti  firnilv  rtlone  prompted  us,  right  or  wroDg: 
tu  drj  ?  No,  ^r !  sooner  than  that  inscription  should 
be  erased,  or  even  covered  with  flags  or  flowers,  as 
you  propose,  or  that  any  thing,  in  short,  should  be 
done  to  show  that  we  were  ashamed  of  our  respect 
for  Prince  Leopold,  or  souRht  to  save  the  King's 
feelings  by  a  sacrifice  of  our  own  dignity,  I  would 
with  mv  own  hand  set  the  town  of  Edinburgh  on 
fire,  ana  destroy  it  1'    ...... 

"  In  the  evening  we  had  a  great  feast  indeed.  Sir 
Walter  asked  us  if  we  had  ever  read  Christabel,  an4 
upon  some  of  us  admitting  with  shame  that  we  bad 
never  even  seen  it,  he  offered  to  read  it,  and  took  a 
chair  in  the  midst  of  all  the  party  in  the  libAiry.  Htf 
read  the  poem  from  end  to  end  with  a  wonderful 
pathos  and  variety  of  expression— in  some'parts  his 
voice  was  deep  and  sonorous,  at  others  loud  and 
animated,  but  all  most  carefully  appropriate,  and 
very  sweetly  modulated.  In  his  nands,  at  all  eventi^ 
Christabel  justified  Lord  Byron's  often-quiazed  cha- 
racter of  it—*  a  wild  and  singularly  original  and 
beautiful  poem.' 

"  Sir  Walter  also  read  us^  with  the  utmost  delight, 
or,  as  it  is  called,  completely  con  amore^  the  famou 
poem  on  Thomas  the  Kymer's  adventure  with  the 
Queen  of  the  Fairies ;  but  I  am  at  a  loss  to  say 
which  was  the  most  interesting,  or  even  I  will  say 
poetical— his  conversational  account  of  it  to  us  to- 
day on  the  very  soot,  Huntly-burn,  or  the  higblf 
characteristic  ballad  which  ne  read  to  us  in  the 
evening.t 

*  Prinoe  Leopold  had  been  preienc  at  tJie  openinf  of  tUi  kaan 
— «nd  Uie  imcnptfon  records  that  dreumatAnce. 
t  See  Uiiebdkd  in  the  Bonier  MloetrelQr,     ' 


'S^e 


UPE  OF  SIR  WALTER  SOOTT. 


411 


**  lotenpened  with  these  Tarious  readings  were 
hundreds  of  stories,  some  quaint,  some  pautetical— 
0ome  wild  and  fairylike,  and  not  a  few  warlike, 
eepeciaUy  of  the  old  times,  and  now  and  then  one  of 
Wellington  and  Waterloo ;  and  sometimes  he  gave 
anecdotes  of  thing[s  close  to  his  own  doors,— ay. 
and  incidents  of  this  very  day,  which  we  had  passed 
ttnseen,  but  which  were  now  kindled  into  interest 
and  importance,  as  if  by  the  touch  of  a  magician's 
wand. 

**  There  was  al^  much  pleasing  singing— many 
old  ballads,  and  many  pretending  to  be  old  ballads, 
were  sufig  to  the  harp  and  pianoforte.  The  fol- 
lowing is  so  exquisitely  pathetic,  that  1  copied  it 
after  I  went  to  my  room,  from  the  young  ladier 
book,  and  give  it  a  place,  though  perhaps  it  is  to  be 
fcnma  somewhere  in  print  :— 

*  My  love  he  built  me  a  boonie  bower,'  &a.  dbc* 

"*  Abbotqford,  ZUt  December,  ISM. 

'*  The  ftshion  of  keeping  up  old  holidays  by  bone- 
fires  and  merriment,  is  surely  decreasing.  Or  is  it 
that  we,  the  recorden  of  these  things,  are  getting 
older,  and  take  eonsequently  less  interest  in  what 
DO  longer  amuses  ns,  so  that  we  may  be  deceived  in 
aappoamg  the  taste  of  our  juniora  to  be  altered, 
wnue  in  net  it  is  only  our  own  dispositions  and 
habita  that  are  changed  in  complexion  1  It  may  be 
so-8till  I  suspect  that  the  progress  of  education, 
and  the  new  haUts  of  industiy,  and  the  more  varied 
and  generous  objects  which  have  been  opened  of  late 
years  to  all  classes,  have  'tended  greatly  to  banish 
those  idle  ceremonies  and  jovialities,  which  I  can 
jnst  recollect  in  mv  childhood  as  being  of  doubtftil 
pleasnre,  but  which  our  ancestora  describe  as  being 
near  the  summit  of  their  enjoyments.  •  Be  this  as  it 
may  in  the  e^es  of  others,  t  confess,  for  my  part,. 
that  your  Christmas  and  iNew-Yearr  parties  seem 
generally  dull.  There  are  several  causes  for  this  : 
The  mere  circumstance  of  being  brought  together 
for  the  express  purpose  of  being  merry,  acts  m  op- 
position to  the  design  in  view ;  no  one  is  pleased  on 
eompulsion ;  then  it  seldom  happens  that  a  piirty  is 
quite  well  sorted ;  and  a  third  reason  is,  that  it  will 
scarcely  ever  happen  that  a  family  circle  ci\n  be 
drawn  together  on  two  successive  years,  without 
betraying  to  the  eye  of  affection  some  fatal  blanks 
*  that  were  not  there  before.' 

**  1  took  notice  at  supper,  as  we  waited  for  the 
moment  that  was  to  give  birth  to  a  new  year,  that 
mere  was  more  than  one  *  unquiet  drooping  of  the 
eye  ;*  and  amidst  the  constrained  hilarity  of  the 
hour,  I  could  trace  a  faltering  in  some  voices,  which 
tokl  distinctly  enough. to  an  ear  that  was  watching 
for  it,  that  however  present  the  smiling  cheek  ana 
laughing  eye  might  seem  to  be,  the  bleeding  heart 
was  far  away.t 

**  It  is  true'-'enough  that  it  is  to  '  moralize  too 
deeply*  to  take  things  in  this  way,  and  to  conjure  up 
with  an  ingenuity  of  self- annoyance  these  blighting 
iraaees.  oo  it  is,  and  so  1  acted ;  and  as  my  heart 
was  light  and  unloaded  with  any  care,  1  exerted 
myself  to  carry  through  the  ponderous  evening- 
ponderous  only  because  it  was  one  set  apart  to  be 
tight  and  gay.  I  danced  reels  like  a  wild  man, 
snapped  my  fingers,  and  halloed  with  the  best  of 
them,  flirted  with  the  young  ladies  at  all  hazards— 
and  with  the  elder  ones,  of  which  there  was  a  store, 
I  talked  and  laughed  finely.  As  a  suit  of  rooms  was 
open,  various  little  knots  were  formed,  and  nothing 
would  have  been  nicer  had  we  been  left  alone,  but 
we  must  needs  be  dancing,  jsinging,  playing,  jesting, 
or  something  or  other  different  from  that  which  we 
might  be  naturally  disposed  to  be  doing.  Wherever 
the  Great  Unknown  went,  indeed,  there  was  a  sort 
of  halo  of  fun  and  intelligence  around  him ;  but  his 
plan  of  letting  all  things  bieU  was  not  caught  up 
somehow,  and  we  were  shoved  about  more  than 
enough. 

**  Supper  was  over  just  at  midnight,  and  as  the 

•  See  "  The  Bonier  Widow'i  Lament."  io  the  Minetreky,  voL 

tThe  widow  end  rfuiifaten  of  the  poet'i  brother,  Mr.  Thomu 
Meott,  were  of  the  pertf. 


cluck  was  Btrikina  twelve,  wo  «U  stood  up,  aft«-r 
dnrikinff  a  bciarty  (junipur  <o  ihc  okl  year,  md  havint; 
joini'd  hands  crosewise,  uach  with  hia  nght  Ktinii 
9«]^ii)A  his  nf:ighbour*«  kn,  nil  yivned  cbams  in  an 
apijJ'oprate  @crn^  hy  Sir  Atiam  F orfm&oa,  a  wonhy 
kiii^blV  poswMieod  of  infinite  drall^y.  Thim  fof* 
Inwrd  DLFifir  tomstsof  a  loyal  dL^acriprtioTi,  and  then 
a  s<j[|*4,  aeitod  ntd-hot  Jacobite  yong  to  the  Kijig*- — 
a  ditif  wliicb,  acenmry  iigQi,  might  have  cost  iho 
C'jmpnnif'  ihcir  heiiden  of  at  loaet  their  hands^biit 
now  ]t  did  no  iiinre  than  draw  broad  ariwlta  of  pfRjct* 
%d  smrehenaioTit  i^nd  that  roguish  «ori  of  look 
notural  whpn  pi*op]e  aru  mnofimtly  i^mploypd  in 
doing  what  is  hsdd  Ui  bamiichi^vous,  but  harms  no 
onp, 

'"'  Stilly  atiU  it  was  pondcroua^  Not  ill  ihp  ha^ 
mour  and  miraculous  vivacity  snd  readint^sff  of  our 
host  could  aave  it— long  blank  pjtuflBfl  occurred— 
and  then  a  ff>ehle  whiRpr— but  httio  more,  and  the 
roiir  of  ti  jollv  toaat  f  uD»ided  into  a  follow  caltn  I 
dwell  upon  all  thif  mi9ffily  to  niDki!  p^oplo  con  aider 
how  uft€lcB3  it  ia  to  Ret  up  *uch  things  nowaday* — 
for  if  Wahc^r  Scott,  with  all  upplJnnc^ff  and  tn«aas  * 
to  boot— in  his  noble  houBc^ — purroijntkd  by  hia  own 
chuict' fritodtf— Ml  of  heallh  and  nil  be  can  wish, 
ia  unable  Eo  exempt  a  Hogmanny  party  from  the 
snpnrific  cfiect  proverbiaUy  attertannt  upon  manu- 
fncturtrd  hippinesa,  who  else  need  venture  on  the 
espcffrnent  1  At  about  otic  wc  broke  up^  and  every 
ont^  sfmni^  rejoiced  t<j  he  allowed  to  ro  about  at 
pteaaurc:  w^i'lc  .he  fejr-:r  were  pttttingto,  to  carry 
ot[^  onr  nnmeroos  company,  and  shawls  were  hunt- 
ing for,  people  became  oright  again,  and  not  being 
called  upon  to  act  any  part,  fell  instantly  into  good- 
humour  j  and  we  had  more  laughing  and  true 
hilarity  in  the  last  half  hour  than  in  allthe  evening 
before.  The  Author  of  Waverley  himself  seemed 
to  feel  the  reviving  influence  of  freedom,  and  cruized 
about  from  group  to  group,  firing  in  a  shot  occasion- 
ally to  give  spirit  to  what  was  going  on,  and  then 
hauling  off  to  engage  with  some  other— to  show  his 
stores  of  old  armour— his  numerous  old  carved  oak 
cabinets,  filled  with  the  strangest  things— adder 
stones  of  magical  power  —fairies'  rings— pearls  of 
price,  and  amongst  the  rest  a  mourning  ring  of 
poor  Lord  Byron^  securely  stowed  away  m  one  of 
the  inmost  drawers ! 

"  On  one  of  those  roving  expeditions  he  pushed 
his  head  into  the  circle  of  which  I  happened  to  make 
one,  and  seizing  upon  some  casual  analogv,  said, 
'  that  reminds  me  of  a  story  of  a  fair,  finir  lady,'  &c. 
All  became  mute  and  crowded  about  bim,  and  he 
began,  in  a  low,  solemn,  and  very  impreseive  voice, 
with  a  sort  of  mock  earnestness  which  fixed  the  at- 
tention in  a  wonderful  degree,  and  gave  an  nr  of 
truth  and  importance  to  what  he  was  telling,  as  if  it 
were  some  material  fact  which  he  bad  to  communi- 
cate for  our  serious  consideration.  'There  was,* 
said  he,  *  a  very  merry  party  collected  in  a  town  in 
France,  and  amongst  all  the  gay  lords  and  ladies 
there  assembled,  there  was  none  who  caused  sc 

treat  a  sensation,  as  a  beautiful  young  lady,  who 
anoed,  played,  and  sang  in  the  most  exquisite  style. 
There  were  only  two  unaccountable  circumstances 
belonging  to  hei^-one  was,  that  she  never  went  to 
church,  or  attended  family  prayers ;  the  other,  that 
she  always  wore  a  slender  black  velvet  band  or 

S'rdle  round  her  waist.  She  was  often  asked  about 
ese  peculiarities,  but  she  always  evaded  the  inter- 
rogatories, and  still  by  her  amiable  manners  and 
beauty  won  all  hearts.  One  evening,  in  a  dance, 
her  partner  saw  an  opportunity  of  pulling  the  loop 
of  her  little  black  girdle  behind ;  it  fell  to  the  ground, 
and  immediately  tne  lady  became  pale  as  a  sheet- 
then  gradually  shrunk  and  shrunk— till  at  length 
nothing  was  to  be  seen  in  her  place  but  a  small  heap 

of  gray  ashes  1' 

•^I  forgot  to  mention  that  in  the  course  of  a  con- 
versation about  ghosts,  fears  in  the  dark,  and  such 
matters.  Sir  Walter  mentioned  having  once  arrived 
at  a  country  inn,  when  he  was  told  there  was  no  bed 

•  "  Hera'i  to  the  Kinr.  bqri, 

Ye  ken  wha  I  meen,  bore."  ftc.  fte. 

Bu  Howf  J^oehiit  ReHee, 


4ia 


UFB  OF  SIB  WALT^l  SCOTT. 


for  him.  '  IVo  pbce  li)  lie  down  at  all  1 '  said  be.— 
'No, '  ftirtid  the  trnJiAn  «f  the  houaer-*  None,  ,«xcept 
a  room  m  wliicli  tiiere  is  a  corpse  lying.' ,  Well, 
said  h<^  '  did  I  lie  pt't»on  die  of  aay  coniagioua  dis- 
oitierT  '  Oh  no— ri^il  at  all,*  said  ihev.  'Well, 
then,'  <<mv!nin.¥l  he,  let  nac  have  ,the  other  bed.— 
So,'  still  Sir  ^Vttlror,  *  I  laid  me  down,  and  never 
had  a  IcWxt  nightV  »lBep  in  my  life.' 

"  Abbottford^  January  1,  1925. 

"  Yesterday  being  Hogmanay  there  was  a  con- 
stant succeaaion  otGuisards—u  t,  boys  dressed  up 
in  fantastic  caps,  with  their  shirts  over  their  jackets, 
and  with  woodeo  swords- in  their  hands.  These 
players  acted  a  sort  of  scene  before  us,  of  which 
the  hero  was  one  Gioloshin,  who  gets  killed  in  a 
*  battle  for  love,'  but  is  presently  brought  to  life 
again  by  a  doctor  of  the  party. 
/^^  As  may  be  imagined,  the  taste  of  our  host  is  to 
keep  up  these  old  ceremonies.  Thus,  in  the  morn- 
ing, yesterday,  I  observed  crowds  of  boys  and  girls 
oommg  to  the  back  door,  where  each  one  got  a 
penny  and  an  oaten  cake.  No  less  than  70  penpie« 
where  thus  distributed— and  very  happy  the  lutle 
bodies  looked,  with  their  well  stored  bags. 

"  People  accustomed  to  the  planting  of  trees  are 
well  aware  how  grateful  the  rising  generations  o^ 
the  forest  are  to  the  hand  which  thins  and  pmaes 
them.  And  it  makes  one  often  melancholy  to  see 
what  a  destructive  sort  of  waste  and  retardation 
goes  on  by  the  neglect  of  young  woods— how  much 
Beauty  is  lost— how  much  w,ealth  is  .wantonly 
thrown  away,  and  what  an  air  of  sluttishness  is 
given  to  scenery  wluch.  with  a  very  httle  trouble, 
roight  have  adorned  ana  embeUished,  not  to  say  en- 
ncned,  many  a  great  estate. 

"  I  never  saw  thia  mischievous  efiect  of  indolence 
more  conspicuously  made  maniieet  than  in  a  part 
of  the  grounds  here.  Sir  Walter's  property  on  one 
side  is  bounded  by  a  belt  of  fir  trees,  say  twenty 
yards  across.  The  '  march '  runs  directly  along  the 
centre  of  this  belt,  so  that  one-half  of  .the  trees  be- 
long to  his  neighbour,  the  other  to  him.  The  mo- 
ment he  came  m  possession  he  set  about  thinning 
and  pruning  the  trees,  and  planting  a  number  of 
hardwood  shoots  uuder  the  shelter  of  the  firs.  In 
a  very  short  time  the  efiect  was  evident:  the  trees, 
heretofore  choked  up,  had  run  into  acraggy  stems, 
and  were  sadly  stunted  in  growth;  i>ut  having  now 
room  to  breathe  and  to  take  exercise,  they  have  shot 
up  in  the  course  of  a  few  years  in  a  wonaerful  man- 
ner, and  have  set  out  branches  on  all  sides,  while 
thar  trunks  have  gradually  lost  the  walking-stick 
or  hop- pole  aspect  which  they  were  forced  to  assume 
before,  and  the  beeches  and  oaks  and  other  recent 
trees  are  starting  up  vigorously  under  the  genial  in- 
fluence of  their  owners  care.  Meanwhile,  the  ob- 
stinate, indolent,  or  ignorant  possessor  of  the  other 
half  of  the  belt  has  done  nothing  to  his  woods  for 
U)ny  years*  and  the  growth  is  apparently  at  a  stand 
Xi  its  original  ugliness  and  uselesaness.  The  trees  are 
none  of  them  above  half  the  height  of  Sir  Walter's, 
and  few,  if  any,  of  half  the  diameter.  So  very  remark- 
able is  the  diflTerenoe,  that  without  the  most  posi- 
tive assurances  I  could  not  believe  it  possible  that  it 
could  have  been  brought  about  by  mere  care  in  so 
short  a  period  as  five  years.  The  trees  on  the  one 
side  are  quite  without  value,  either  to  make  fences 
or  to  sell  as  supports  to  the  coal-pits  near  Berwick, 
while  Sir  Walter  already  reaps  a  great  profit  from 
the  mere  thinning  out  of  his  plantations.  To  ob- 
tain such  results,  it  will  l>e,  easily  understood  that 
much  pergonal  attention  is  necessary,  much  me- 
thod and  knowledge  of  the  subject.  It  happens, 
however,  thai  in  this  very  attention  he  finds  his 
chief  pleasure— he  is  a  most  exact  and  pimctual  man 
of  business,  and  has  made  it  his  favourite  study  to 
acQuiro  a  thorough  knowledge  of  the  art. 

*  His  excellent  taste  in  planting  has  produced  a 
very  important  effect.  In  layins;  out  his  planta- 
tions,  lie  was  guided,  partly,  by  a  feelin;;  that  it  was 
natural  and  beautiful  to  follow  the  *  lie  of  the 
ground/  as  it  is  called,  and  partly  bv  an  idea  that  i 
by  iMMUflg  his  young  wood  along  honows  and  gentle  ! 


slopes,  he  would  be  takiaa  the  sweet  oouree  tagrve 
it  shelter.  But  though  he  bad  only  the  proepent|r 
and  pictoresquenesB  of  the  wood  in  view,  he^  nae 
alij>o,  he  finds,  added  to  the  value  of  the  adioimng 
fields  that  remain  unplanted.  The  person  who  for 
merly  rented  one  farm  came  to  him  and  onerea  to 
take  the  unplanted  part  again,  and  lo  pay  the  eema 
rent  for  it  as  he  had  pakl  originally  for  the  whol& 
although  one  half  of  it  is  now  a  young  forest  ana 
eflfectually  enclosed.  On  Sir  Walters  expiessuig 
his  surprise  at  this,  the  man  said  that,  both  lor 
growiiiK  corn  and  for  the  pasture  of  sheep,  toe  land 
was  infinitely  improved  in  value  by  the  proteciioo 
which  bis  rising  woods  and  numerous  eocloeuiee 
afibrded. 

"  This  will  seem  still  more  remarkable  when  it  ie 
mentioned  that,  whenever  circumstances  ^amitted, 
his  best  land  has  been  selected  for  planung  trees. 
'  I  have  no  patience,'  he  exclaimed,  '  with  those  peo- 
ple who  conskler  that  a  tree  b  not  to  be  placed  ^- 
oepton  a  soil  where  nothing  else  will  grow.  Wdt 
should  the  noblest  of  all  vegetables  be  condemoai 
to  the  worst  soil  7  After  all.  it  is  the  most  i»rodiicc»ve 
policy  to  give  trees  every  advantage  evea  in  a  pen<> 
niary  point  of  view,  aa  1  have  just  sAovm  yoo.  Tbft 
immediate  return  in  cash  is  not  so  great  mdeed  aa 
fVom  wheat,  but  it  is  eventually  as  sare.  if  matters 
be  properly  attended  to— and  this  is  all  over  and 
above  one's  great  and  oonstaBtly  increasing  squroa 
of  eajoyment  in  the  ^ictureeque beauty  which  rising 
woods  afibid." 

^AhboX^fwrd  January  2,  ISOk 


"At  fareakCust  to-day  we  had,  as  usual,  aouie  W 
Btories— God  knows  how  they  came  in,  but  he.ia,  in 
the  matter  of  anecdote,  what  Hudibras  was  in  fig- 
ures of  speech-'  his  mouth  he  could  not  ope— but  out 
there  flew  a  trope '—so  with  the  Great  iJnkiiowa, 
his  mouth  he  eannot  open  without  ^vingout  some* 
thing  worth  hearinflr-aod  all  so  aimpur,  good-na« 
turedly,  and  naturally !  I  quite  forget  aU  these  sto- 
nes but  one  :— 'My  cousin  Watty  Scott*  (saidhe) 
'  was  a  midshipman  some  forty  years  ago  in  a  sbQ> 
at  Portsmouth ;  he  and  two  other  companiona  had 
gone  on  shore,  and  had  overstaid  their  leave,  spent 
all  their  money,  and  run  up  an  immense  hill  at  a 
taverooathePoint— the  ship  made  the  signal  for 
sailing,  but  their  landlady  said,  "  No,  i^eotlemeo— 
you  shall  not  escape  without  paying  your  reckoning;" 
—and  she  accompanied  her  wocda  by  appropnaia 
actions,  and  placed  them  under  the  tender  keepiuif 
of  a  sufficient  party  of  bailifrs.  They  felt  that  they 
were  in  a  scrape,  and  petitioned  very  bard  to  be  re- 
leased; "No,  no,"  said  Airs. .Quickly,  "I  must  be 
satisfied  one  way  or  t'other:  you  must  be  weU 
awaie,  gentlemen,  that  you  will  be  totally  ruined  d 
you  doir  t  get  on  board  m  time."  They  made  looa 
faces,  and  confessed  that  it  was  but  too  true.  "  WeH, 
said  she, "  I'll  give  you  one  chance— I  am  so  circuaa- 
stanced  here  that  Icannot  carry  on  my  busineae  as  a 
single  woman,  and  J  muet  contnve  somehow  to  have 
a  husband,  or  at  all  events  1  must  be  able  to  pro- 
duce a  marriage  certificate :  and  therefore  the  only 
terms  on  which  you  shall  all  three  have  leave  to  go 
on  board  to-morrow  morning  is,  thai  one  of  you 

consent  to  marry  me.    1. don't  care  a  d which 

it  is,  but,  by  all  that's  holy,  one  of  you  I  will  have^ 
or  else  you  all  three  go  to  jail,  and  your  ship  sails 
without  you !"  The  virago  was  not  to  be  pacified, 
and  the  poor  youths,  left  to  themselves,  agreed  after 
a  time  to  draw  lots,  and  it  happened  to  fall  on  my 
cousin.  No  time  w^  lost,  and  off  they  inarched  to 
church,  and  my  poor  relative  was  forthwith  spliced. 
The  bride,  on  returning,  gave  them  a  good  subetan- 
tial  dinner  and  severalbottles  of  wine  a  piece,  and 
having  tumbled  them  into  a  wherry  sent  them  ofC 
The  ship  sailed,  and  the  young  men  religious'ly  ad- 
hered to  the  oath  of  secrecy  they  bad  taken  previons 
to  drawing  lots.  The  bride,  1  should  have  said, 
merely  wanted  to  be  married,  and  was  the  firat  to 
propose  on  eternnl  separation.  Some  months  after, 
at  Jamncia,  a  file  of  papers  reached  the  midship- 
men's berth,  and  Watty,  who  was  observed  to  be 
looking  over  them  carclesdy,  reading  an  account  ol 


LIFE  OP  SIR  WALTER  SCOTT. 


41S, 


a  robbery  and  murder  at  Portsmouth,  suddenly 
jamped  op,  in  his  ecstasy  forgot  his  oblieallpn  of  se- 
crety,  ana  cried  out  **  Thanks  be  to  Godi  my  wife  is 

**  Mixed  up  with  ail  this  fun,  Sir  Walte^has  much 
admirable  good  ^nse,  and  makes  many  valuable 
reflections,  which  are  apt  sometimes  to  escape  no- 
tice from  the  unpretendmg  manner  in  which  they 
an  introduced.  Talking  of  different  professions  to- 
day, and  of  the  universal  complaint  of  each  one  be- 
ing overstocked,  he  observed-7' Av,  av,  it  is  the  same 
in  all ;  we  wear  our  teeth  out  in  the  hard  drudgery 
of  the  outset,  and  at  length  when  we  do  get  bread 
to  eat — we  complain  that  the  crust  is  hard— so  that 
in  neither  case  are  we  satisfied.' 

"  Taking  up  a  book  with  a  pompous  dedication  to 
the  King;  he  read  the  first  paragraph,  in  which «the 
style  was  inverted  in  such  a  manner  as  scarcely  to 
be  intelligible,  but  yet  was  so  oddly  turned  as  to  ex- 
cite curiostty.  *  Now  this,*  he  said,  '  is  just  like  a 
■lan  coining  into  a  room  bottom  foremost  in  order 
to  excite  attention :  he  ought  to  be  kicked  for  his 


*  Speakjng  of  books  and  booksellers,  he  remarked, 
that,  oonadered  generally,  an  author  might  be  sat- 
isfied if  he  got  one  sixth  part  of  the  retail  price  of 
bis  book  for  his  share  of  the  profits :— this  seems 
▼tary  moderate— bat  who  sbould  have  such  means 
of  making  a  right  ealeulation  on  such  a  point 

**  Some  comrersstion  arose  about  stranger  tourist's, 
mud  I  lesmed  that  Sir  WAlter  bad  at  length  been 
Tery  relnetantly  obliged  to  put  a  stop  to  the  inunda- 
tion of  these  people^  oy  sending  an  intimation  to  the 
inns  at  Melrose  and  Selkirk  to  sto^^them  by  a  mes- 
ssffB,  esying  it  was  not  convenienPto  receive  com- 
psof  at  AoDOtsford,  utrisfis  their  visit  bad  been  pre- 
misly  announced  and.  accepted.  Before  this,  the 
hoaseuaed  to  be  literally  stormed:  no  less  than 
Mr/Ma  parties,  all  uninvited,  came  in  one  day— and 
Intyaentiy  eight  or  ten  forced  themselves  in.  So 
that  it  became  impossible  fbr  the  family  to  hare  a 
moment  tfO  themselves.  The  tourists  roved  about 
the  hanse,  touched  and  displaced  the  urmour,  and  I 
dare  say  (thoogh  this  was  not  admitted)  many  and 
mainr  a  set  carried  off  some  trephv  with  them. 

**  Just  as  breakfast  ^ms  concluded  to-day  he  said, 
'  Ladies  and  gentlemen,  I  shall  read  prayers  at  elev- 
SB,  when  I  expect  you  all  to  attend.'  He  did  not 
treat  the  subject  as  if  ashamed  of  it,  which  some 
do.  Hedid^iotsay  'those  who  please  may  come, 
and  any  one  who  likes  may  stay  away,'  as  I  have 
ohea  heard.  He  read  the  Church  of  England  ser- 
tics,  and  did  it  with  singidar  bsauty  and  impressive- 
ness,  varying  his  voice  according  to  the  subject ; 
and  as  the  first  lesson  was  fh>m  a  tery  poeticalpart 
of  Issiah,  he  kindled  up,  and  read  it  with  a  great 
deal  of  animation,  without,  showever,  overstepping 
the  solemnity  of  the  occasion. 

**  We  had  an  amusiiig  distance  of  his  playfulness 
thisevenrag.  Somefhiiig  introduced  the  subject  of 
*  Well,'  said  he.    1  think  it  amusing  enough 


10  be  a  Hon ;  what  think  you,  Captain  HalH'      , 

I  answered)  'I  am  always  too  much  flattered  by  it 
—and  nothing  gratifies  me  more  than  being  made 
to  Wag  my  tail  and  roar  in  my  small  way.'  *  That's 
right,'^he  said,  turning  to  the  company,  *  nothing  is 
mors  diverting  than  being  handed  about  in  that  way, 
and  for  my  part  I  enjoy  it  exceedingly;  I  was  once 
hunted  by  a  well-known  lion-catcher,  who  I  found 
was  also  in  search  of  Miss  O'Neil,  and  so  it  chanced 
that  we  met  together  at  Highgate  or  in  that  neigh- 
bourhood, ana  we  were  carried  out  to  see  some 
groonds,  m  the  course  of  which  both  the  lion  and 
lioness  found  themselves  in  a  place  where  there  was 
^niron  railing  all  round.  "Now,"  said  I,  "if  you 
nave  got  a  lock  there  to  turn  upon  us.  you  have  us 
both  for  ever,  and  your  fortune  is  made.  Tou  have 
onlv  to  hoist  a  flag  on  a  pole  at  the  top  of  the  hill 
and  stick  up  a  lew  bills,  saying  that  you  have  just 
GSo^t  those  two  beautiful  animals,  and  in  an  hour's 
tima  you  have  half  the  metropolis  to  see  us  at  a 
shilHng  a-headtjuid  we  shall  roar  in  grand  style- 
shall  we  noITlkiss  CNeU  T" 
**He  then  Itughed  much  at  lome  Ikms  iboat 


town,  who  disdained  being  stirred  up  with  a  long 
pole,  as  everv  good  lion  ought  to  be.  *  Tou  and  I, 
Captain  Hall^  know  better,  and  we  enjoy  ourselves 
accordingly  in  our  noble  beast  capacity — whereas 
those  poor  wretches  lose  all  the  good  things  we  get 
—because,  forsooth,  they  must  beloved  and  admired, 
and  made  much  of  for  their  mere  human  qualities 
—while  we  are  content  with  our  pretensions  as 
monsters !' 

"  Abbot^ord,  Jafmary  3, 

"  There  has  been  an  immense  flood  in  the  Tweed 
latelyr,  which  overflowed  its  banks,  and  did  a  worldi 
of  mischief,  though  not  quite  so  great  as  that  at  St. 
Petersburgh.  Eut  what  is  comical,  this  rise  of  the 
river  actually  set  Abbotsford  on  fire ;  at  least  the 
ofiQces  on  the  haugh  below  the  house,  where  the 
water  rose  three  feet  perpendicular  above  the  floor ; 
and  happening  to  encounter  a  pile  of  unsiacked  lime 
in  the  comer  of  a  cow-house,  presently  set  it  in  a 
blaze!  There  was  no  want  of  water  you  mav  be 
sure—*  too  much  of  water,  poor  Opheha  '—and  lio 
great  damage  was  done.  This  flood  raised  the  wa- 
ter considerably  more  than  a  foot ;  exactly  three 
inches  higher  than  that  of  1812,  the  highest  ever 
known  up  to  that  date. 

"  A  neighbouring  laird  and  his  son  joined  our  party 
yesteoday,  Mr.  Henderson  of  Eildon  Hall,  and  the 

froprietorof  the  well-known  bills  of  that  name, 
lis  history  may  amuse  you.  He  was,  long  asb. 
clerk  of  the  Cocket  at  Letth,  an  of^oe  worth  £60 
a-yesr,  and  this  was  his  whole  aubetttioe.  It  chan- 
ced that  Mr.  Ramsay,  the  banker,  was  in  want  of 
a  clerk,  and  said  to  a  friend,  '  Do  you  know  any 
one  who  writes  a  good  hand,  is  honest  and  steady, 
and  who  never  opens  his  mouth  from  one  years 
end  to  the  other  T  *I  know  your  man  exactly,' 
said  the  other;  and  Mr.  H.  was  accordingly  made 
clerk  tmder  Mr.  Ramsay,  with  whom  he  kept  up  the 
necessary  coinmunicatton  by  means  of  a  sort  of 
telegraph,  as  it  is  alleged,  as  Mr.  R.  had  a  great  dis- 
like to  speech.  In  process  of  time  our  hero  insinu- 
ated himself  so  completely  into  the  good  mces  of 
his  patron,  that  he  got  a  small  share  in  tue  bank, 
then  a  larger,  and  so  on.  It  happened  about  this 
time  that  the  man  who  had  taken  Craigleith  quarry 
failed  for  want  of  capital ;  And  our  friend,  the  silent 
clerk  of  the  Cocket,  who  had  the  bank  under  his 
lee,  bought  up  the  contract,  and  cleared  ten  thou- 
sand a-year  for  nine  or  ten  yeats  by  this  one  job. 
So  that  what  with  the  bank,  and  sundry  other  spec- 
ulations, which  all  turned  out  well,  he  amassed 
great  vrealth,  and  resolved  to  turn  country  gentle- 
man. 

"  One  day  in  company  he  was  making  inquiries 
about  land,  and  a  gentleman  opposite  was  so  elo- 
quent in  praise  of  fiildon  Hall,  then  in  the  market, 
that  he  was  seized  with  a  desire  to  be  the  purcha- 
ser. •  What  is  the  price  7'  asked  he.  *Why,'  said 
the  other,  *  I  dare  say  you  may  gel  it  fbr  pftiy  thou- 
sand pounds.'    *  Indeed  !*  said  our  quarfyma 


)ugh  Isand  pounds.'  *  Indeed  r  said  our  quarfyman,  *  I 
Oh,'  ^  pwill  give  that  with  pleasure— and  I  authorize  you 
L — v^Q  make  the  ofler.* 

"Now,  the  amusing  thing  about  this  transaction 
is,  that  the  estate  in  Question  had  been  some  time 
advertised  for  sale  for  thirty-seven  thousand  pound:* 
only;  thus  our  worthy  friend  of  the  telegraph  gave 
three  thousand  more  for  the  propertjf  than  ,was 
asked,  to  the  great  delight  and  astouishmeni  of 
Messrs.  Todd  and  Komanes,  the  agents  for  the  sale. 
A  fact,  by  the  way,  which  goes  far  to  support  the 
Lord  Chancellor's  estimate  of  a  banker's  mteilects. 

"  With  all  this,  our  taciturn  friend  makes  *  a  very 
decent  lord,'  is  well  esteemed  in  the  neighbourhood, 
and,  as  he  has  the  discretion  now  to  take  good  ad- 
vice, he  is  likely  to  do  well. 

"  Sir  Adam  Ferguson,  who  is  the  most  humour- 
ous man  alive,,  and  delights  in  showing  up  his 
neighbour,  mentioned  to  him  the  other  day  that  the 
Eilaon  estate  was  sadly  in  want  of  lime.  '  Eh !' 
said  the  laird,  *  I  am  much  obliged  to  you  for  that 
hint— I  am  just  ruined  for  want  o'  hints !' 

**  At  this  moment  there  is  a  project  for  making  a 
railway  from  Berwick  to  Kelso,  as  all  the  world 


LIFE  OP  SIR  WALTER  SCOTT. 


14 

knows ;  but  the  Great  Unknown  and  several  other 

Sentlemen  are  anxious  to  tail  on  a  branch  from 
lelrose  lo  meet  the  ^eat  one;  and  as  Mr.  H..  with 
his  long  purse,  and  his  willingness  to  receive  hints, 
is  no  bad  cara  in  the  game,  he  has  been  brought  up 
to  Abbotsford  for  a  week :  his  taciturnity  has  long 
ago  fled,  and  he  is  now  one  of  the  most  loquacious 
Borderers  going.  Torwoodlee,  too,  and  his  son  the 
Skipper,  came  to  breakfast  to-day,  in  order  that  the 
whole  party  might  have  a  consultation  before  going 
to  the  railroad  meeting  at  Melrose.  I  should  sus- 
pect that  when  the  Author  oC  Waverley  sets  his 
shoulders  to  any  wheel,  it  must  be  in  a  devilish 
deep  slough  if  it  be  not  lifted  out 

"  As  my  brother  James  was  obhged  to  return  to 
Edinburgh,  and  I  thought  that  I  had  staid  loii^ 
enough,  we  set  out  from  Abbotsford,  after  luncheon, 
very  reluctantly,  for  the  party  had  grown  upon  our 
esteem  very  much,  and  had  huAy  been  augra tinted 
by  the  arrival  from  England  of  Mr.  Luckhart, 
whom  I  wished  to  get  acquainted  wiih,  mid  of  Cap- 
tain Scott,  the  poet  s  eldest  son.  The  family  nigsd 
me  very  much  to  stay,  and  I  ccuM  i^aly  j^eu^vi^y  by 
making  a  promise  to  return  for  rlieir  lutk  danct^  on 
Friday  evening;  so  that  it^  ie  nal  unpij»\-<i\Ac  ;bis 
journal  may  have  some  additions  made  to  it  in  the 
same  strain." 

"  Abbotsford,  7th  Jannary,  1825. 
**  To-day  my  Bister  Fanny  and  I  came  here.  In 
the  evening  there  was  a  dance  in  honour  of  Sir 
Walter  Scott's  eldest  son,  who  had  recently  come 
from  Sandhurst  College,  after  having  passed 
through  some  military  examinations  with  great 
credit.  ^ 

*'  We  had  a  great  clan  of  Sootts.  There  were  no 
less  than  nine  Scotts  of  Harden^  and  ten  of  other 
families.  There  were  others  besides  from  the  nei^- 
bourhood— at  least  half-a-dozen  Fergusons,  with 
the  joUy  Sir  Adam  at  their  head^Lady  Fergason, 
her  niece  Miss  Jobson,  the  pretty  heiress  of  Lochore 

—Ac.  Ac.  &c 

"  The  evening  passed  very  merrily,  with  much 
spirited  dancing;  and  the  sopper  was  extremely 
cheerful,  and  qmte  superior  to  that  of  Hogmanay." 
"^Abbott/ordy  8th  January. 
"It  is  wonderfril  how  many  people  a  house  can 
be  made  to  hold  upon  occasions  such  as  this:  and 
when,  in  the  course  of  the  morning,  the  neighbours 
came  to  stream  off  to  their  respective  homes,  one 
stared.-hke  the  man  in  the  Arabian  Nights  who  un- 
corked the  genie,  thinking  how  the  deuce  they  ever 
got  in.  There  were  a  few  who  stayed  awhile  to 
saunter  about  the  dressed  grounds,  under  the  guid- 
ance of  Sir  Walter;  but  by  one  or  two  o'clock,  my 
sister  and  I  found  ourselves  the  only  guests  left,  and 
on  the  Great  Unknown  proposing  a  walk  to  a  point 
in  his  plantations,  called  Turn-again,  we  gladly  ac- 
cepted his  offer  and  set  out. 

"  I  have  never  seen  him  in  better  spirits,  and  we 
accompanied  him  for  several  hours  with  great  de- 
light. I  observed  that,  on  this  occasion,  the  lone 
of  his  innumerable  anecdotes  was  somewhat  differ- 
ent from  what  it  had  been  when  James  and  1,  and 
some  other  gentlemen,  formed  his  companions. 
There  was  tnen  an  occasional  roughness  in  the 
point  and  matter  of  the  stories ;  but  no  trace  of  this 
to-day.  He  was  no  less  humorous,  however,  and 
varied  than  before ;— always  appropriate,  too— in 
harmony  with  the  occasion,  as  it  were— never  lug- 
ging in  stories  by  the  head  and  shoulders.  It  is 
very  difficult,  I  may  say  imposiible,  to  give  a  correct 
conception  of  this  by  mere  description.  So  much 
consists  in  the  manner  and  the  actual  tone  and 
wording  of  what  is  said ;  so  much,  also,  which  can- 
not be  imparted,  in  the  surrounding  circumstances 
— the  state  of  the  weather— the  look  of  the  country 
—the  sound  of  the  wind  in  the  trees  close  at  hand— 
the  view  of  the  distant  hills :— all  these  and  a  thou- 
sand other  things  produce  an  effect  on  the  minds  of 
those  present  which  suits  them  for  the  reception  of 
the  conversation  at  the  moment,  and  prevents  any 
transfer  of  the  sentiments  produced  thereby  to  any 
one  differently  circumstanced. 


**0n  reaching  the  brow  of  the  hill  on  the  eastern 
side  oipne  of  his  plantations,  we  Cilme  in  sight  of 
Melrose  Abbey,  on  which  there  was  a  partial  gleam 
of  sunshine  lighting  up  an  angle  of  the  rains. 
Straightway  we  haa  an  anecdote  of  Tom  Purdie, 
his  gamekeeper  and/adotunu  T^m  has  been  manv 
years  with  Sir  Walter^  and  being  constantly  in  such 
company,  has  insensibly  picked  up  some  of  the  taste 
and  feeling  of  a  higher  order.  '  When  I  came  here 
first,'  said  Tom  lo  the  factor's  wife,  ^  *  I  was  little 
better  than  a  beast,  and  knew  nae  mair  than  a  cow 
what  was  pretty  and  what  was  ugly.  I  was  cuif 
enough  to  think  that  the  bonniest  thing  in  a  coun- 
try-side was  a  corn-field  enclosed  in  four  stane 
dykes;  but  now  I  ken  the  difference.  Look  this 
way,  Mrs.  LaiJlavv,  and  I'll  show  you  what  the 
ptEitlcfolks  likes.  K.je  ve  there  now  the  sun  glint- 
ing on  M^irosB  AKiifsy?  It's  no  aw  bright,  nor  its 
no  aw  shadow £i  ficjilier,  but  just  a  bit  screed  oi*  light 
heTe— pnd  jx  bit  daud  o*  dark  yonder  like,  and  that's 
what  they  ca^  picturesque;  and,  indeed,  it  maun  be 
confe-'^ijedit  b  unc^j  bonnie  to  look  atl' 

-'  Sir  Waltf^r  wi^i^htid  to  have  a  road  made  through 
a  strai^'ht  belt  of  irt^^s  which  had  been  planted  be- 
fore he  purchased  tho  property,  but  being  obUgsd  to 
return  in  Bdinburght  he  entrusted  it  to  'Tom  Pordk^ 
hid  '  riMhi  hapd  nmn.'  'Tom,'  said  he,  *you  moat 
not  mukfl  ih\n  wnlk  straight— neither  most  it  be 
crt^ok^d.'  '  Uiel,  ^ii  I  than  what  maun  it  be  likeT 
*  Why,  said  bis  master,  *  don't  yon  remember  when 
you  were  a  sheplMrd,  Tom,  the  waf  in  -wluch  von 
dandered  hame  oI  an  even  1  Yoo  never  walked 
straight  to  your  house,  nor  did  you  go  moeh  about; 
now  nuike  me  iust  such  a  walk  as  yoo  used  to  take 
yourseul"  AoArdingly.  '  Tom**  wW  is  a  staml- 
ing  proof  of  the  skill  and  tasteof  the  o-dcvant  shep- 
herd, as  well  as  of  the  hapny  power  which  his  master 
possesses,  in  trifles  as  weU  as  in  great  afihira,  <rf  im- 
partmg  his  kleas  to  thosehe  wishes  to  influence.  .  .  . 

"In  the  course  of  ouir  walk  be  entertained  na 
much  by  an  account  of  the  orimn  of  the  beantifol 
sone  of  *  Auld  Robin  Gray.'  *It  was  written  (he. 
saidT  by  Lady  Anne  Lindsay,  now  Lady  Anne  Ber- 
nard. She  happened  to  be  at  a  house  where  she 
met  Miss  SuflT  Johnstone,  a  MreU-known  person, 
who  played  the  aur,  and  accompanied  it  by  words 
of  no  great  delicacy,  whatever  their  antiquity  might 
be ;  and  Lady  Anne  lamenting  that  no  better  words 
should  belong  to  such  a  melody,  immediately  set  to 
work  and  composed  this  very  pathetic  itory.  Truth, 
I  am  sorry  to  say,  obliges  me  to  add  that  it  was  a 
fiction.  Robin  Gray  was  her  father's  gardener,  and 
the  idea  of  the  youog  lover  going  to  sea,  which 
would  have  been  quite  out  of  character  here  amongst 
the  shepherds,  was  natural  enough  where  she  was 
then  residing,  on  the  coast  of  Rife.  It  was  long  un- 
known,' he  added,  '  who  the  author  was ;  and  in- 
deed there  was  a  clergyman  on  the  coast  whoas 
conscience  was  so  large,  that  he  took  the  burden 
of  this  matter  upon  himself,  and  pleaded  guilty  to 
the  authorship.  About  two  years  ago,  I  wrote  to 
Lady  Anne  lo  know  the  truth—and  she  wrote  back 
to  say  she  was  certainly  the  author,  but  wondered 
how  I  could  have  guessed  it,  as  there  was  no  person 
alive  to  whom  she  had  told  it.  When  I  mentioned 
having  heard  it  long  ago  from  a  common  friend 
who  was  dead,  she  then  recollected  me,  and  wrote 
one  of  the  kindest  letters  I  ever  received,  saying,  she 
had  till  now  not  the  smallest  idea  that  I  was  the  littie 
lattie  boy  she  had  known  so  many  years  before.' 

"  I  give  this  anecdote  partly  from  its  own  interest, 
and  partly  for  tho  sake  of  introducing  the  trocon- 
cerned  allusion  to  his  own  lameness— which  I  have 
heard  him  mention  repeatedly,  in  the  same  sort  of 
way.  without  seemingly  caring  about  it  Onoe^ 
speaking  of  the  old  city  wall  of  Edinburgh  (which, 
by  the  way,  he  says  was  built  during  the  panic 
caused  by  the  disastrous  battle  of  Fiodden  Field) — 
he  said. it  used  to  beta  grea(  ploy  in  his  youth  to 
climb  the  said  wall.  *I  used  often  to  do  it,'  be  ob- 
served, '  notwithstanding  my  bad  foot,  which  made 
it  no  very  easy  job.' 

**  On  coming  to  a  broad  path  m  the  middle  of  the 
woods,  we  took  notice  of  a  finger-post,  on  wbiob 


UPE  OF  SIR  WALTER  SCOTT. 


41» 


wma  written,  *  The  Rod  to  Selkirk.'  We  made  some 
remark  about  Tom's  orthographyt  upon  which  he 
laughed,  and  said  that  that  fioffer-post  had  gained 
b;m  great  popularity  in  the  neighbourhood.  '  1  can- 
not sav,'  he  remarked,  *  that  I  had  any  such  view 
when  1  ordered  it  to  be  put  up.  The  public  road,  it 
is  true,  is  not  far  off,  and  this  leads  through  the  very 
centre  of  my  grounds,  but  I  never  could  brmg  myself 
Id  make  that  a  reason  for  exoluding  any  person  who 
finds  it  agreeable  or  advantageous  to  take  over  the 
hill  if  he  likes.  But  alihoutjh  my  practice  in  this 
respect  had  always  been  well-known,  the  actual  ad- 
mission of  it,  the  avowed  establishment  of  it  as  a 
aort  of  right,  by  sticking  up  the  finger-post,  was  re- 
ceived as  a  kind  of  boon,  and  I  got  a  world  of  cred- 
it for  a  thing  which  had  certainly  not  any  nopularity 
for  its  ooiect.    Nevertheless,' he  con nnw  ve 

no  scruple  in  saying  that  what  I  did  dc  ^e 

good  people's  acknowledgment ;  and  1  ly 

disapprove  of  those  proprietors  who  act  <  r- 

en t  principle  in  these  matters.  Nothin^i  uu  ._.ih 
would  induce  me  to  put  up  boards  threatening  pros- 
ecution, or  cautioning  one's  fellow  creatures  to  be- 
ware of  man-traps  and  spring-guns.  I  hold  that 
aU  such  things  are  not  only  in  the  highest  degree 
ofiensive  and  hurtful  to  the  feelings  of  people  whom 
it  is  ever>'  way  impoi^tant  to  concdiaie,  but  that  they 
are  also  quite  inefficient— and  1  will  venture  to  say, 
that  not  one  of  my  young  trees  has  ever  been  cut, 
nor  a  fence  trodden  down,  or  any  kind  of  damage 
done,  in  consequence  of  the  free  access  which  ail 
the  world  has  to  my  place.  Round  the  house,  of 
course,  there  is  a  set  of  walks  set  apart  and  kept 

f»nvaie  for  the  ladies— but  over  all  the  rest  of  my 
and  any  one  mav  rove  as  he  likes.  I  please  my- 
self with  the  reflection,  that  many  people  of  taste 
mav  be  mdulgmg  their  fancies  in  these  ^t)unds, 
and  I  often  recollect  how  much  of  Burns's  inspira- 
tion was  probably  due  to  his  having  near  him  the 
woods  of  Ballochrayle  to  ramble  through  at  his  will 
when  he  was  a  ragged  callant.' 

"  He  told  us  of  the  different  periods  at  which  he 
had  planted  ttis  pounds.  *1  bought  this  property 
bit  by  bit,'  he  said^  *  as  accident  threw  the  means 
of  purchase  into  my  hands ;  I  could  not  lay  it  all 
out  jn  a  consistent, plan,  for  when  I  first  came  here 
I  merely  bought  a  few  acres  and  built  a  cottage,  as 
a  kind  of  occasional  retreat  from  the  bustle  of  Ed- 
inburgh. By  degrees,  1  got  another  and  another 
farm,  until  all  you  now  see  came  to  me.  If  things 
go  on  improving  at  the  rate  they  do  in  the  matter 
of  traveliiog,  I  dare  say  I  shall  be  able  to  live  here 
all  the  year  round,  and  come  out  every  day  from  the 
Court.  At  present.  I  pass  about  seven  months  of 
the  year  at  Abboisford,  but  if  the  projected  railway 
is  established,  and  we  have  steam-coaches  upon  it 
running  at  .twenty  miles  an  hour,  it  will  be  merely  , 

Sood  exercise  to  go  in  to  breakfast  and  come  back  to  I 
inner. 

"  Ip  a  hilly  countr>%  such  as  this,  one  is  more  de- 
pendent upon  the  taste  of  one's  neighbours  than 
where  the  surface  is  flat,  for  the  inequalities  bring 
mio  view  many  distant  points  which  one  must  con- 
stantly be  wishing  to  see  turned  to  advantage. 
Thus  it  is  of  conseaueuce  to  bo  on  such  friendly 
terms  with  the  neign  boar  hood,  especially  the  pro- 
prietors on  the  opposite  side  of  the  river,  that  they 
may  take  one's  comfort  and  pleasure  into  considera- 
tion when  they  come  to  plant,  or  otherwise  to  em- 
bellish their  ground.  Sir  Walter  pointed  out  seve- 
ral different  plantations  which  had  been  made  ex- 
pressly with  a  view  to  the  improvement  of  the  pros- 
pect from  Abbotsford.  The  owner  of  one  of  these 
estates  came  over  to  him  one  day  to  point  out  the 
Une  which  he  had  traced  with  a  plough,  as  the  limit 
of  a  new  plantation,  and  asked  Sir  Walter  how  he 
liked  it,  or  if  he  wished  any  alteration  to  be  mode. 
'The  Author  of  Waverley  thanked  him  for  his  atten- 
tion, and  the  two  gendemen  climbed  the  hill  above 
Abbotsford  to  take  the  matter  into  consideration. 
It  was  soon  seen  that,  without  extending  the  pro- 
jected plantation,  or  diminifthing  its  beauty  with 
reference  to  the  estate  on  which  it  was  made,  a  new 
line  might  be  drawn  which  would  double  us  ap- 


r'iiit^ii^  iiuii^uiiMijK:,  mtu  lastly  enhance  ih^  beautf 
or  lis  f^>rf!i.  as  iff  en  from  AbLM^tsftird.  The  Btnlle- 
mau  wui  dcUghtc4  lo  hiivu  an  oi>porinijity  ^  oMi 
^iji'^  ihfi  Grual  wdI-ktioiA<n  Unknowui  tfncl  i^nfef- 
C!.i  ii.:ii  k  m  fban^^e  ihe  line.  Tht  youMK  trees  mm 
&>ri  niy  givuif^  eijiffldent  ^vjJttico  af  ibc  good  tails 
c  ;u*  pro  poster  uf  ihe  cb(ifiKi%  and  it  may  l^e  aai4 
&i-  I.  tA  hif«  iiiiotl  »ti#e  and  hi^  i^ood  naiurtn,  for,  un- 
k  V  htr  po^dtfs^  bo  til  ill  an  emmt^Dt  dnier^i',  oil  hm 
gi:^  iririi;  lalenia  wouJId  be  jneuSidont  tci  bong  round 
ai»  :i[  him  the  reiuly  hearts  a^d  han^f  *)f  all  within 
hjc  Rach'  Sc^n  of  Ualo,  for  jnatanci^^  haF.  out  of 
pure  kindnesiit  plan k^j^  for  u  ei^uct  of  e<)Vi;ral  iiitk-Si 
the  whole  uf  ihi;  oppodtti  bank  of  ibi3  Tweed,  and 
wiih  STGAt  jjatns  mi  pro  veil  all  the  Ime^  uf  hi«  fa- 
tliefa  planting,  sokly  to  please  hia  neighbour^  and 
^vi;houi  anyhcneflt  to  his  own  placen  His  worthy 
f  A.  ^Ui^,  iif  Eildon  HalK  he  told  ue  to-dayt  had 
k  ',  under [aki'ii,  id  \\w  mtne  apifiit  to  plant  tha 
t  :  iheae  iwo  i>eautiful  bills,  which,  wiihout  di* 
r  lUt^ir  Arnndeur,  will  ^atly  add  to  th«if 

t  itfect,  and.  in  fact,  increase  the}  bold 

III  '^L,  ii.  I  LLcii  of  thetr  summits, 

'  ]  iiKjke  mti  a  rule  tu  be  on  intjmatt  terms,'  he 
t.iUi  iiy,  '  iM\h  all  nty  neighbours— thRt  would  bp  an 
ifJk  ihiuu.  to  do.  Some  are  gooJ^some  tiol  so 
gi>  I  ^  uxi  it  would  be  fuohsh  Btid  intfleciual  to  treat 
alJ  ^vLLli  ihti  game  t-ardialtlyi  but  tu  live  in  harnnoiiy 
^vl\h  ail  is  quite  coey,  and  purely  vt^ry  pleasani* 
Sonif  of  theui  may  bt^  rou^h  und  j^nr/Tat  first,  but 
ali  men,  if  kindly  used,  cumti  abtjiU  at  last,  and  by 
gtjtfig  on  gentlyt  and  never  being  ^i^gpr  or  noiny 
about  what  I  wanlt  and  letting  (hiDgs  i^tide  oa 
l{:!t:^iirely,  I  always  find  m  ihe  end  that  tlio  object  ia 
gained  on  which  1  have  *et  my  bi^an,  eubtr  by  ax* 
change  or  purchatic,  or  by  some  sort  of  camprotniae 
by  which  botti  parlies  are  obligl^d,  And  good-wdl 
becot^  if  it  did  not  exi*t  before— strengthened  if  i| 
did  <^3(i?t' 

^'  'Therts  see,'  he  continued,  '  that  farm  (herc^  at 
'the  focH  of  the  hill,  ia  occupied  by  !i  rt^iptotablo 
enough  lenunt  of  mine;  I  lold  him  I  had  a  great 
dosirti  for  him  to  try  the  el^ect  of  lime  on  bin  land^ 
MeBaid  liedoubttvi  its  succe^s?,,  and  could  not  ven- 
ture to  rifk  so  much  miiney  as  it  would  cost. 
Wdl,  said  It  Tair  enoueh  t  hot  i^  i  wish  to  have  th« 
expenmcnt  tried,  you  ahaU  have  the  hme  for  the 
meT<?  carting;  yon  may  send  to  the  place  where  it  is 
to  be  bou^ht^  und  at  thp  h  rm-day  you  shall  ainku  ort 
the  wbvie  value  of  the  iiun  fnmi  the  rent  due  to  me. 
When  the  day  cBme^  my  fn«nd  the  farmer  carr^o 
with  lii{i  whole  rent,  which  he  laid  down  on  the  ta- 
ble before  me  without  dpduction.  How's  tliis,  my 
man,  you  are  to  deduct  for  the  lime,  yoa  know< 
Why,  Sir  Waller,  replitid  he^  myconsdenca  will  not 
l*-!  rne  impoflo  on  you  so  far— the  lime  you  recom- 
mended  me  to  iry^  and  wfaichbutfor  yoursugg^tion 
1  Ttevcr  would  liave  tried*  has  produced  more  than 
would  have  purcho^ed  the  hme  half-a-dojieti  titnetf 
oviT,  a  Till  I  tannot  think  i^(  making  a  deduction.' 

"Ill  ilri.s  way^  hy  a  conj^tanl  qiiiti  interchange  of 
gijod  orliifii.  he  e\tf  tidn  hi*  greFii  mfluonce  amongst 
at!  rluf'f^fl  -,  hiuh  aod  low  5  autl  while  in  Oip  mom* 
VAQ.  Ill  brcaklait-time.  he  ^e^H  a  IrMrt  from  the 
Duke  of  Wellington,  along  with  some  rare  Spanish 
manuscripts  taken  at  Vittoria*— at  mid-day  ho  is 
gossiping  with  a  farmer's  wife,  or  pruning  his  young 
trees  cheek  by  jowl  with  Ttm  Purdie-jSt  dinner  he 
is  keeping;  the  table  merry,  over  his  adwirable  good 
cheer,  with  ten  hundred  good  stories,  or  discussing 
railroads,  black-faced  sheep,  and  other  improve- 
ments with  Torwoodlee— in  the  evening  he  is  set- 
ting the  young  folks  to  dance,  or  reading  some  fine 
old  ballad  from  Percy's  Reliques,  or  some  black- 
letter  tome  of  Border  lore,  or  giving  snatches  of 
beautiful  songs,  or  relating  anecdotes  of  chivalry— 
and  ever  and  anon  coming  down  to  modan  home 
life  with  some  good  honest  practical  remark,  which 
sinks  irresistibly  into  the  minds  of  his  audience, — 
and  all  with  such  ease  and  unaffected  simplicity, as 
never,  perhaps,  was  seen  before  in  any  man  so  gift- 
ed—so qualined  to  take  the  loftiest,  proudest  hne  at 

•  About  this  time  the  Duke  wnt  Seott  some  oniout  docdmeau 
about  the  prolKJMd  duel  brtwses  Chtites  V.  aod  Pianals  L  J 1^^ 


4ii 


LIFE  (MP  Sm  WAWER  SCOTT. 


the  head  of  the  literatofe.  the  tute.  the  imagination 
of  the  whole  world  I  Who  can  doubt  that,  after 
mieh  a  day  aa  I  have  glanced  at^  his  slumbers  must 
be  peaceful,  and  that  remorse  is  a  stranger  to  hfs 
bosom,  and  that  all  his  renown,  all  hi#wealth,  and 
the  lore  of  such'  troops  of  friends,*  are  trebly  grati- 
fying to  him,  and  substantial,  from  their  being  pur- 
chased at  no  cost  but  that  of  truth- and  nature. 

"  Alas  for  poor  Lord  Bvron,  of  whom  he  told  us 
an  anecdote  to-day,  by  which  it  appeared  that  his 
immense  fame  as  an  author  was  altogether  insuffi- 
cient to  harden  him  against  the  darts  of  calumny 
or  malevolence  levelled  at  his  private  life.  He 
quoted,  with  the  bitterest  despair,  to  Scott  the 
strong  expression  of  Shakspeare, 

*  Our  pleasant  vices  are  but  whips  to  scourge  us ;" 
And  added,  '  I  would  to  God  that  I  could  have  your 
peace  of  mind,  Mr.  Scott ;  I  would  give  all  I  have, 
all  my  fame,  every  thing,  to  be  able  to  speak  on 
this  subject  (that  of  domestic  happiness)  '  as  you 
doT 

"  Sir  Walter  describes  Lord  Bvron  as  being  a  man 
of  real  goodness  of  heart,  and  the  kindest  and  best 
feelings,  miserably  thrown  away  by  his  foolish  con- 
tempt of  public  opinion.  Instead  of  being  warned 
or  checked  by  public  opposition,  it  roused  him  to  go 
on  in  a  worse  strain,  as  if  he  said,  *  Ay,  you  donn 
like  it— welL  you  shall  have  something  worse  for 
your  pains/  Thus  his  Lordship,  poor  fellow,  by 
taking  the  wrong  view,  went  on  from  bad  to  worse, 
and  at  every  struggle  with  the  public  sunk  deeper 
and  deeper  in  their  esteem,  while  he  himself  became 
more  and  more  sensitive  about  their  disapprobation. 
*  If  any.  many  a  pleasant  hour  have  I  spent  with 
him,'  Sir  Walter  added,, '  and  I  never  met  a  man 
with  nobler  fiaelings,  or  one  who,  had  he  not  unfor* 
tunately  taken  the  wrong  course,  might  have  done 
more  to  make  himself  beloved  and  respected.  A 
man  oC  eminence  in  any  fine,  and  perhaps  a  man 
of  great  literary  eminence  eapecialfy,  is  exposed  to 
a  thousand  eyes  which  men,  not  so  celebrated,  are 
safe  from-~and  in  ctonseqnence^  right  conduct  is 
muclrmore  essential  to  his  happmeas  than  to  those 
who  are  lesa  watched ;  and  I  may  add.  that  only  by 
■Qch  conduct  can  the  permanence  of  his  real  influ* 
enee  over  any  claas  be  secured.  I  could  not  per- 
suade Byron  to  see  it  in  this  light— the  more's  the 
pity,  for  ne  has  had  no  justice  done  him.' 

'^  Some  one  talked  of  the  pains  taken  to  provide 
the  poor  with  receipts  for  making  good  dishes  oat 
of  their  ordinary  measea  '  I  dislike  all  such  interfe- 
rence,' he  saio,— 'all  your  domiciliary,  kind,  im- 
pertinent visits— they  are  all  pretty  much  felt  like 
insults,  and  do  no  manner  of  good ;  let  people  go  on 
in  their  own  way,  in  Ghxl's  name.  How  would  you 
like  to  have  a  nobleman  coming  to  you  to  teach 
vou  how  to  dish  up  your  beefsteak  into  a  French 
kickshaw  1  And  who  is  there  so  miserably  pot  to 
his  ways  and  means,  that  ifnll  endure  to  have  an- 
other coming  to  teach  him  how  to  economise  and 
keep  his  accounts  7  Let  the  poor  alone  in  their  do- 
mestic habits,  I  pray  you :  protect  them  and  treat 
them  kindly,  of  course,  and  trust  them ;  but  let  them 
enjoy  in  quiet  their  dish  of  porridge,  and  their  potatoes 
andnemngs,  or  whatever  it  may  be-*but  for  any 
sake  don't  torment  them  vritK  tout  fashionable 
soups.  And  take  care,'  he  added,  '^not  to.give  them 
any  thing  grtitis ;  except  when  they  are  under  the 
gripe  of  immediate  mt«ery— what  tfujf  think  mia- 
ery— consider  it  as  a  sin  to  do  any  thing  that  can 
tend  to  make  them  lose  the  precious  feelings  of  in- 
dependence. For  my  part,  I  very,  very  rarely  give 
any  thing  away.  Now,  for  instance,  this  pile  of 
branches  which  has  been  thinned  out  this  morning, 
is  placed  here  for  sale  for  the  poor  people'a  fires, 
and  1  am  perfectly  certain  they  are  more  grateful  to 
me  for  selling  it  at  the  price  I  do  (which,  you  may 
be  sure,  is  no  great  matter,)  than  if  I  were  to  give 
them  ten  times  the  quantity  for  nothing.  Every 
ahiUing  collected  in  this  and  other  similar  manners, 
goes  to  a  fund  which  paya  the  doctor  for  his  attend- 

«  'Thsi9diafeJMl,aQdofoiiTpleaisnttilM 
Make  iitf  uumsnts  to  iconrfs  us/-~X<fi^  Xtfor. 


ance  on  them  when  they  are  tick  {  andthia  Iswy 
notion  of  charity.'  .       *  . . 

"  I  shall  have  given  a  false  impreraion  of  this  gr^t 
man's  character  to  those  who  do  not  know  him,  if  I 
have  left  an  impres^bn  that  he  is  all  goodness  and 
forbearance— that  the-e  is  no  add  m  his  character  j 
for  I  have  heard  him  several  times  as  sharp  as  need 
be,  when  there  was  occasion.  To-day,  for  instance, 
when  a  recent  trial,  in  which  a  beautiful  actress 
was  concerned,  happened  to  be  brought  into  disco*- 
sion,  he  gave  nis  opinion  of  all  the  parties  with 
great  force  and  spirit;  and  when  the  lady'a  father  a 
name  was  mentioned  as  having  conmved  at  bi« 
daughter's  disgrace,  he  exclaimed.  Well,  I  do  not 
know  what  I  would  not  give  to  have  one  good  kick 
at  that  infernal  rascal— I  would  give  it  to  hun,  «ud 
he,  drawing  his  chair  back  a  foot  from  the  taNe. 
'  I  would  give  it  to  htm  in  such  style  as  shoukl  send 
the  vagabond  out  of  that  vrindow  as  for  as  the 
Tweed.  Only,  God  forgire  me,'  added  he,  simlmg 
at  his  own  unwonted  iim)etno8ity,  and  drawing  ma 
chair  forward  quieUy  to  tlie  tohle, '  only  it  would  be 
too  good  a  death  for  the  viUam ;  and  besides,'  said 
he,  nis  good-humoured  manner  returning  as  he 
spoke, '  It  would  be  a  sad  pollution  to  our  boony 
'Tweed  to  have  the  drowning  of  such  a  thorough' 
bred  miscreant  as  could  sellms  daughters  honour  f 

"It  ia  interesting  to  see  how  all  rank*  agree  to 
respect  our  hero,  and  to  treat  bun  with  respect  at 
once,  and  with  kindneas  and  familiarity.  On  hi^i 
daya  and  holidays,  a  large  blue  ena«n,  mich  as  is 
worn  by  ahips  or  war,  is  displayed  at  a  flag-stall, 
rising  from  a  round  tower  built  for  the  piirpoee  at 
one  angle  of  his  gaylen.  The  history  of  this  flag  la 
as  follows :—    .  _       ,  ^  .   ,  •   ■  . 

''The  'Old  Shippins  Smack  Company*  of  Leitk 
some  time  ago  launcned,  one  of  the  finest  v^ttsela 
they  had  ever  sailed,  ^d  called  her  Tlie  Walter 
Scott'  in  honour  of  their  countrymaa..  In  return 
for  this  compliment,  he  made  the  Captain  a  presMit 
of  a  set  of  flags ;  which  flags  yoa  may  be  sure  the 
noble  commander  was  not  shy  of  displaying  to  all 
the  world.  Now,  it  so  happens  that  there  is  a  stncl 
order,  forbidding  all  vessels,  except  King's  ship&  to 
hoist  any  other  flag  than  a  red  ensigB,  so  that  vnien 
our  gallaht  amack-skipper  chanced  to  ful  in  with 
one  of  bis  Majesty's  cruizers,  he  was  ordered  per 
emptorily  to  pull  down  his  blue  coloura.  This  was 
so  sore  a  humiliation,  that  he  refiiaed  xo  obey,  and 
conceiving  that  he  could  out-sail  the  nigate,  crowd- 
ed all  aad,  and  tried  to  make  ofi^  with  hw  enaiga 
atai  flying  at  his  mast-head.  'The  sbm-of-war,  how- 
ever, was  not  to  be  so  satisfied,  and  hinted  as  much 
by  dropping  a  cannon-shot  acrosa  his  fore-foou 
Urtvr"  "'■"^f  thf"  W/TP  ^'npign,  which  was  acoordinc- 
h  '  insmitted  forthvrith  to  the 
L(.r.]:=  iti  ittL  AJtJiiraLty,  as  is  usual  in  such  caaes  of 
CO  1 1 T 1 1  me ly.  Thei r  Lord .^hips,  in  merry  mood,  and 
perrmpK  tveit  in  th<?  pleantude  of  their  power,  feeling 
tfat  rtapccl  which  was  clue  to  genius,  sent  the  fla^ 
to  V]>b<)Lt!ford,  end  wrote  an  official  letter  to  Sir 
Wniier.  staaiiK  thu  c^isa,  and  requesting  him  to 
have  inc  goodness  to  ^]ve  orders  to  his  cruizers  in 
fututf  not  T*j  hoiat  coIouth  appropriated  ezclnsivdj 
to  "  .  r  of  hi8  Mttjtfty.  The  transaction  was 
d  :  )  all  pariie?,  and  he,  instead  of  taking 
of  -  n  blockhead  in  hia  place  would  have 
d<<iiL,',  lELLiJicdi^itdy  f^eiM  for  his  masons,  and  built 
him  n  lowtr  on  whirii  to  erect  his  flag — and  the 
ftfiit  nui  fi:^3on  i?»  win*  h  it  was  displayed  was  the 
late  rcLuru  ui  nis  elclcsi  son  from  England 

"  I  have  caught  the  fever  of  story-telling  from 
contact  with  this  Prince  of  all  Story-tellersT  Du- 
ring the  riots  for  the  immaculate  Qiieen  latelv  de- 
ceaaed,  a  report  went  abroad,  it  seems,  that  Abbots- 
ford  had  been  attacked  by  a  mob,  its  windovra  bro- 
ken, and  the  interior  ransacked.  *  Ay,  ay,'  said  one 
of  the  neighbouring  country  people,  to  whom  the 
story  was  toM, '  so  there  vras  a  great  alaught«  of 


•  I  do  not  niMkntand  faowMiyman  eouU  hsvetrnkmc 
under  theM  eireamitaoeM.    The  Firat  Loid  of  Ibe  Adn 
Lord  McMlle ju)d Ibe  BeeretaiT.  Mr.  Croker.  weiebolli  InlMMli 
iHendi  of  Mr  Wfthcr* -imd  tlf  that  pMwd  wai,  of  00^ 

Digitized  by  V^OOQ IC 


Ura  OF  SIR  WALTER  8GOTT. 


m 


POOdIb  T  *  Ntti  ni/  iaid  his  ialbrmant,  *  there  was 
naebody  killed.'—  Weel,  then/  said  the  other,  'de- 
pond  upon  it,  it'a  aw  a  lee^if  Abboisfordis  taken  by 
stomi,  and  the  Shirra  in  it,  ye' 11  hae  afterwards  to 
tak  account  o'  the  killed  and  wounded,  Tse  war- 
rant ye!'" 

^^Aftb6t»ford^  January  9. 
"We  saw  nothing  of  the  chief  till  luncheon-lime, 
between  one  and  two,  and  then  only  for  a  few  min- 
utes. He  had  gone  out  to  breakfast,  and  on  his  re- 
turn seemed  busy  with  writing.  At  dinner  he  was 
in  great  force,  and  pleasant  it  wtfs  to  observe  the 
difference  which  his  powers  of  conversation  under- 

S)  by  the  change  from  a  large  to  a  small  party. 
n  Friday  when  we  sat  down  twenty  to  dinner,  it 
cost  him  an  effort  apparently  to  keep  the  ball  up  at 
table ;  but  next  day,  wiien.the  company  was  ix^duced 
to  his  own  family,  with  only  two  alrangers,  (Fanny 
and  1,)  he  appeared  delighted  to  be  at  horn;;,  and  ex- 
panded with  surprising  animation,  and  poured  forth 
his  stores  of  knowleuge  and  fun  on  all  hands.  I 
have  never  seen  any  person  on  more  delightful  terras 
with  his  family  than  he  is.  The  best  proof  of  this 
is  the  ease  ana  confidence  with  which  ihey  all  treat 
him,  amounting  quite  to  familiarity.  Even  the 
Youngest  of  his  nephews  and  nieces  can  joke  with 
nim,  arid  seem  at  all  ^mcs  perfectly  at  ease  in  his 
presence — his  coming  into  the  room  only  increases 
the  laiigh,  and  nev,er  checks  it— he  either  joins  in 
what  is  going  on,  or  passes.  No  one  notices  him 
any  more  than  if  he  were  one  of  themselves.  These 
are  things  which  cannot  begot  up— no  tkill  can  put 
people  at  their  ease  where  the  disposition  ddes  not 
sincerely  co-operate. 

**  Very  probably  he  has  so  correct  a  knowledge  of 
human  character  in  all  its  varieties,  that  he  may 
assist  bv  artio  giving  effect  to  this  naturally  kind 
bent  of  his  disposition,  and  this  be  may  do  without 
ceasing  to  l)e  perfectly  natural.  For  mstance,  he 
never  sits  at  any  particular  place  at  table— but  takes 
his  chance,  and  never  goes,  as  a  matter  of  course, 
to  the  top  or  to  the  bottom.*  Perhaps  this  and 
other  similar  things  are  accidental,  and  done  with- 
out reflection ;  but  at  all  events,  whether  designed 
or  not,  their  effect  is  to  put  every  one  as  much  at 
his  ease  as  if  a  being  of  a  superior  order  were  not 
present. 

**  I  know  no  one  who  takes  more  delight  in  the 
stories  of  others  than  he  does,  or  who  seems  less 
desirous  of  occupying  the  ears  of  the  company.    It 

is  true  that  no  one  topic  can  be  touched  i but 

straightway  there  flows  out  a  current  of  a]  ate 

story — and  let  the  anecdote  which  any  one  slls 

be  ever  so  humorous,  its  only  effcet  is  to  (  )m 

him  another,  or  rather  a  dozen  others,  stil  in 

point!  Yet,  as  I  am  trying  to  describe  ihi  si.i  lar 
man  to  others  who  have  not  seen  him,  I  ;  r;  be 
leaving  a  wrong  impression  of  his  style  ii  rs- 

pcct,  were  I  to  omit  mentioning  that  there ; ng 

m  the  least  like  triumph  on  these  occasions,  or  any 
apparent  wish  to  excel  the  last  speaker— the  new 
key  is  struck,  as  it  were,  and  instantly  the  instru- 
ment discourses  most  eloquent  music— but  the  thing 
is  don#  as  if  he  could  not  help  it ;  and  how  often  is 
his  story  suggested  by  the  obvious  desire  to  get  the 
man  that  has  been  speaking  out  of  a  scrape,  either 
wiih  some  of  the  hearers,  or  perhaps  with  his  own 
conscience.  'Are  you  a  sportsman  ?'  he  asked  me 
to-day.    1  said  I  was  not— that  I  had  begun  too  late 


in  life,  and  that  I  did  not  find  shooting  in  particular 
at  all  amusing.  'Well,  neither  do  I,  he  obscr.ed; 
*  time  has  been  when  I  did  shoot  a  good  deal,  but 
somehow  I  never  very  much  liked  it.  I  was  never 
quite  at  ease  when  I  nad  knocked  down  my  black- 
cock, and  going  to  pick  him  up,  he  cast  back  his 
dying  eye  with  a  look  of  reproach.  I  don't  affect  to 
be  more  squeamish  than  my  neighbours,— but  1  am 
not  ashamed  to  say,  that  no  practice  ever  reconciled 
me  fully  to  the  cruelty  of  the  affair.  At  all  events, 
now  that  I  cfan  do  as  I  like  without  fear  of  ridicule, 

^  •  TW«  feeiM  refilling.  Sir  Walter,  like  any  other  gentleman  of 
Ma  standing,  miirbt  be  expcct«d  to  devolve  the  labour  of  carrinf 
QD  one  of  hjn  tona. 

53 


I  take  more  pletiure  in  seeing  the  birds  fly  past  me 
unharmed.  I  don*t  carry  this  ninety,  however,  be- 
yond my  own  person— as  Walter  there  will  take 
good  occasion  to  testify  to-morrow.' 

"Apparently  fearing  that  he* had  become  a  Ihtle 
too  sentimental,  he  speedily  diverted  oar  thoughts 
by  telling  us  of  a  friend  of  his,  Mr.  Hastings  Sands, 
who  went  out  to  shoot  for  the  first  time,  and  after 
firing  away  for  a  whole  morning  without  any  t  uccess, 
at  length  brought  down  a  bird  close  to  the  house, 

an<* *o  catch  his  pheasamt,  as  he  supposed— 

but  o  his  horror,  he  found  was  a  pet  parrot, 

bel  •  one  of  the  young  ladiey.    It  was  flap- 

pin  nted  plumage,  now  all  dripping  with 

bio  .1  Bjaculatmg  quickly,  pretty  Poll!  pretty 
Po,. :  :..-  -L  t  xpired  at  the  feel  of  the  luckless  pports- 
raan— who^  between  shame  and  regret,  swore  that, 
as  it  was  his  first  experiment  m  shooting,  it  should 
be  his  last ;  and  on  the  spot  broke  his  gun  all  to 
pieces,  and  could  never  afterwards  bear  to  hear  a 
shot  fired. 

"  But  I  am  forgetting  what  I  hinted  at  as  a  very 
characteristic  turn  of  his  good  nature.  1  had  men- 
tioned among  other  reasons  why  1  was  not  \ery 
fond  of  shooting,  that  when  I  missed  I  was  morti- 
fied at  my  want  of  skill,  and  that  when  I  saw  the 
bird  Iving  dead  at  my  feel  it  recalUd  to  my  mind  a 
boyish  piece  of  cruelly  which  I  had  been  guilty  of 
some  five-and-iwenty  or  thirty  years  aeo,  the  recol- 
lection of  which  has  been  a  soinre  of  frequent  and 
bitter  remorse.  It  is  almost  too  bad  to  relate — suf- 
fice it  that  the  nest  was  robbed,  the  young  ones 
drowned  before  the  mother's  evee,  and  then  she  w^as 
killed.  '  You  take  it  too  deeply  now,'  he  said,  '  and 
■yet  an  early  circumstance  of  that  kind  properly  re- 
flected upon  is  calculated  to  have  the  best  effect  on 
our  character  throughout  life.  I  too,'  he  continued, 
'have  my  story  of  boyish  cruelty,  which  has  often 
given  me  the  bitterest  remorse  in  my  after  life ;  but 
which  1  think  has  carried  with 'it  its  useful  lesson  in 
practice.  I  saW  a  dog  coming  towards  me,  when  I 
was  a  hoy  about  the  age  you  describe  yourself  to  have 
been  when  you  murdered  the  ox-eye  family.  What 
devil  tempted  me  I  know  not,  but  I  took  up  a  lar^e 
stone,  threw  it,  and  hit  the  dog.  Nevertheless,  it 
had  still  strength  to  crawl  up  to  me,  and  lick  my 
feet  kindly,  though  its  leg  was  broken- it  was  a  poor 
bitch  big  with  pup.* 

"  From  parrots  we  got  to  corbies,  or  ravens,  ar\d 
he  told  us  with  infinite  humour  a  story  of  a  certain 
tame  bird  of  this  description,  whose  constant  delight 
was  to  do  mischief,  and  to  plague  all  mankind  and 
beastkind.  'A  stranger'  (he  said)  'called  one  day 
with  a  very  eurly  dog,  whose  habit  it  was  to  snarl 
and  bile  at  every  animal  save  man ;  and  he  was  con- 
sequently the  terror  and  hatred  of  his  own  fraterni- 
ty, and  of  the  whole  race  of  cats,  sheep,  poultry,  and 
so  on.  "  Maitre  Corbeau"  seemed  to  discover  the 
character  of  the  stranger,  and  from  the  moment  of 
his  arrival  determined  to  play  him  a  trick.  I  watched 
him  all  the  while,  as  I  saw  clearly  that  he  had  a 
tjuniik'fi  mind^  for  some  mischief.  He  first  hopped 
up  familiarly  to  Cato,  as  if  to  say,  "  How  d'ye  do  V 
Cato  snapped  and  growled  like  a  bear.  Corbie  re- 
tired with  a  flutter,  saying,  "  God  bless  me,  what's 
the  matter?  I  had  no  idea,  my  good  sir,  that  I  was 
offending  you— I  scarcely  saw  you,  I  was  looking 
for  a  worm."  By  and  by  he  made  another  studied 
sort  of  approach— and  when  Cnto  growled  he  drew 
off,  with  an  air  as  if  he  said,  "  What  the  devil  is  the 
matter  with  you  ?— I'm  not  meddling  with  you— let 
mt  alone."  Presently  the  dog  became  less  and  less 
suspicious  of  Mr.  Corbie,  ana  composed  himself  on 
the  sunny  gravel-walk  in  a  fine  sleep.  Corbie 
watched  his  moment,  and  hopped  jind  hopped 
Quietly  till  close  up,  and  then  leaping  on  Cato*s  back, 
napped  his  wings  violenllv,  gave  one  gr  two  severe 
dabs  with  his  hill,  and  then  flew  up  to  the  edge  of 
the  cornice  over  the  gateway,  and  laughed  and 
screamed  with  joy  at  the  impotent  fury  of  the  dog — 
a  human  being  could  not  have  laughed  more  na- 
turally -and  no  man  that  ever  existed  cx)uld  have 
enjoyed  a  mischievous  joke  more  complelf Ix  ,tkan 
our  friend  Corbie.'    .    .  Digitced  by  vjOOQ  l>- 


UFB  OF  SIR  WALTER  SCOTT. 


"  The  party  at  Abbotaford  breaka  up  thia  morning, 
to  the  sorrow,  I  belioTe,  of  every  member  of  it.  The 
loadatar  of  our  attraction,  accompauied  by  hia  siater- 
ia-law,  Mrs.  Thomas  Scott,  and  her  family,  sat  off 
for  Lord  Dalhousie's— and  all  the  others  except 
J^ady  Scott  and  her'dau^i^hter,  who  are  to  follow  m 
a  day  or  two.  are  streaming  off  in  different  direc- 
tions. Sir  Walter  seemed  as  unwilUnff  to  leav^  the 
country,  and  return  to  the  bustle  of  the  city,  as  any 
schoolboy  could  have  been  to  go  back  to  his  lessons 
after  the  holidays.  No  man  perhaps  enjoys  the 
country  more  than  he  does,  and  he  is  saidno  return 
to  it  alwaya  with  the  liveliest  rehsh.  It  may  be 
asked,  if  this  be  so,  why  he  does  not  give  up  the 
town  altogether  7  He  might  do  so,  and  keep  his 
Sheriffship ;  but  his  Clerkship  is  a  thing  of  more 
consequence,  and  that  he  must  lose ;  and  what  is 
far  more  important  still,  his  constant  transactions 
with  the  booksellers  could  never  be  carried  on  with 
convenience,  were  he  permanently  settled  at  a  dis- 
tance from  them  and  their  marta.  Hia  great  pur- 
chases of  land,  his  extensive  plantations  the  crowd 
of  company  which  he  entertains,  and  the  splendid 
house  he  haa  just  completed,  are  all  aevere  nulla  on 
his  income— an  income,  it  must  be  recollected,  which 
is  produced  not  from  any  fund,  but  by  dint  of  labour, 
and  from  time  to  time*  He  is  too  prudent  and  aa- 
gacioua  a  man  not  to  live  within  his  meana  j  but  aa 
yet  he  cannot  have  laid  by  much,  and  he  will  have 
to  write  a  good  deal  more  before  he  can  aafely  live 
where  he  pleases,  and  aa  he  pleaaee. 

"  It  becomes  a  curious  question  to  know  when  it 
ia  that  he  actually  writes  these  wonderful  works 
which  have  fixed  the  attention  of  the  worid.  Those 
who  Uve  with  him,  and  see  him  alwaya  the  idleat 
man  of  the  company,  are  at  a  loss  to  discover  when 
it  ia  that  he  finds  the  meana  to  compose  hia  books. 
My  attention  waa  of  course  directed  this  way,  and  I 
confess  I  see  no  great  difficulty  about  the  matter. 
Even  in  the  country  here,  where  he  cornea  professed- 
ly to  be  idle,  I  took  notice  that  we  never  aaw  him  till 
nearieu  o'clock  in  the  morning;  and,  beaidea  thia, 
there  we^e  alwaya  some  odd  noura  in  the  day  in 
which  he  was  not  to  be  seen. 

'*  We  are  apt  to  wonder  at  the  prodigious  quantity 
which  he  wntea,  and  to  imagine  liie  labour  must  be 
commensurate.  But,  in  point  of  fact,  the  Quantity 
of  mere  writing  is  not  very  great.  It  certainly  ia  im- 
mense if  the  quality  be  taken  into  view ;  but  if  the 
mere  amount  of  handwriting  be  conaidered,  it  ia  by 
no  means  large.  Any  clerk  in  an  office  would  traoa- 
cribe  one  of  the  Waverley  Novels,  from  beginning 
to  end,  in  a  week  or  ten  days—say  a  fortnight.  It  is 
well  known,  or  at  least  generally,  and  I  have  reaaon 
to  believe  truly  admitted,  that  Sir  Walter  compoaea 
his  works  iust  as  fast  aa  he  can  writcthat  the 
manual  labour  is  all  that  it  costs  him,  for  his 
thoughts  flow  spontaneously.  He  never  forrects 
the  press,  or  if  he  does  so  at  all,  it  is  very  slightly— 
and  in  general  his  works  come  before  the  public  just 
as  they  are  written.  Now,  such  being  tne  case,  I 
really  have  no  difficulty  in  supposing  that  a  couple 
of  hours  every  day  before  breakfast  may  be  quite 
sufficient  for  all  the  MS.  of  Waverley  Novels  pro- 
duced in  the  busiest  year  since  the  commencement 
of  the  series.  * 

"  Since  writing  the  above  I  have  taken  the  trouble 
to  make  a  computation,  which  I  think  fair  to  give, 
whichever  way  it  may  be  thought  to  make  ia  the 
argument. 

In  each  page  of  Kenilworth  there  are,  upon  an 
average,  864  letters:  in  each  page  of  this  Journal 
777  letters.  Now  I  find  that  in  ten  days  1  have 
written  120  pages,  which  would  make  about  108 
pages  of  Kenilworth ;  and  as  there  are  320  pages  in 
a  volume,  it  would,  at  my  rate  of  writing  this  Jour- 
nal, cost  about  29|  days  for  each  volume,  or  say 
three  months  for  the  composition  of  the  whole  of 
that  work.  No  mortal  in  Abbotaford* house  ever 
learned  that  I  kept  a  Journal.  ,  I  was  in  company 
all  dav  and  all  the  evening  till  a  late  hour— ap- 
parently the  least  occupied  of  the  party ;  >and  I  will 
venture  to  say  not  absent  fVom  the  drawing-room 


one  quarter  of  the  time  thtt  the  Unknown  waa.  I , 
was  always  down  to  break&st  before  any  oBe  elae^ 
and  often  three  quarters  of  an  hoor  before  the  Author 
of  Kenilworth— always  among,  the  very  last  to  go 
to  bed— in  abort,  I  would  have  set  the  acutest  ob- 
server at  defiance  to  have  discovered  when  I  wrote 
this  Journal— and  yet  it  is  written,  honestly  and 
fairly,  dav  by  day.  I  dooi't  say  it  haa  cost  me  much 
labour ;  But  it  is  surely  not  too  much  to  suppose  that 
its  composition  has  cost  me.  an  unpractised  writer, 
as  much  study  as  Kenilworth  has  cost  the  giorioua 
Unknown.  I  have  not  had  the  motive  of  X6S00  to 
spur  me  on  for  my  set  of  volumes ;  but  if  I  had  had 
such  a  bribe,  in  addition  to  the  feelings  of  good- will 
for  those  at  home,  for  whose  sole  perusal  I  write 
this ;  and  if  I  had  had  in  view,  over  and  above,  tbo 
literary  glory  of  contributing  to  the  happineae  of 
two  tnirgs  of  the  globe,  do  you  think  I  would  not 
have  wntten  ten  timee  as  much,  and  yet  no  one 
should  have  been  able  to  discover  when  it  waa  that 
I  had  put  pen  to  paper  ? 

''  All  this  assumes  Sir  Walter  Scott  to  be  i^  vuuu 
If  at  a  distance  there  still  exist  any  doubt  on  the 
question,  there  seems  to  be  no  longer  anv  in  Edin- 
burgh. The  whole  tenor  of  Sir  Walter's  oehaviour 
on  the  occasion  shows  him  to  be  the  writer ;  and 
the  single  argument  of  a  man  of  his  candour  and 
literary  taste  never  saeaking  of;  or  praising  worka 
such  as  these,  would  alone  be  sufficienL  It  would 
be  tota)ly  irreconcilable  with  every  part  of  his 
character  to  suppose  that  he  would  lor  an  inatant 
take  the  credit  oi  another'a  work— and  thia  silence 
ia  eouif  alent  to  the  claim. 

"It  may  then  be  aettled  that  he  ia  certainly  the 
author— but  some  may  aak,  why  then  does  he  afiect  i 
any  mvatery  about  it!  This  ia  easily  answered— it  | 
aavea  nim  completely  frt>m  a  world  of  flattery  and » 
trouble^  which  he  aincerely  detests.  He  never  reads 
the  criuciams  on  hia  books :  thia  I  know  from  the 
most  unquestionable  authority.  *  Praise,'  he  saysi 
*sives  him  no  pleasure— and  censure  annoya  him.* 
He  is  fully  satiafied  to  accept  the  intense  avidity 
with  which  his  novels  are  read— tlie  enovnona  and 
continued  aale  of  hia  worka,  as  a  aufficient  commen- 
dation of  them ;  and  I  can  perfectly  underatand  bow 
the  complete  exempdon  from  all  idle  flattery  ad- 
dressed  to  himself  personally  ia  a  great  blemng. 
Be  it  remembered  that  this  favour  would  be  bummed 
into  hia  eara  by  every  stupid  wretch  whom  he  met 
with,  as  well  as  by  the  pohte  and  learned — he  would 
be  literally  worried  to  death  by  praise,  since  not  a 
blockhead  would  ever  let  him  pass.    Aa  it  is,  he  en- 


joya  all  the  reputation  he  woiDd  have  if  his  name 
were  on  the  titlepage,  perhaps  more ;  he  enjoys  all 
the  profit— and  he  escapea  all  worry  about  the  mat- 


ter. There  is,  no  doubt,  some  little  oooksoUing  trick 
in  it  too ;  but  this  is  fair  enough ;  hia  works  are 
perhaps  more  talked  of,  and  consequently  more  sold, 
than  if  the  author  were  avowed— but  the  real 
cause  of  the  mystery  undoubtedly  is  his  love  of 
quiet,  which  he  can  thus  indulge  without  the  loss  of 
one  grain  of  Uterary  fame,  or  advantage  of  any  de-, 
scription.  \ 

"  To  conclude — Sir  Walter  Scott  really  aeema  aa 
great  as  a  man  aa  he  is  as  an  author ;  for  he  is  al- 
to{^ether  untouched  by  the  applause  of  the  whole 
civilized  world.  He  is  still  as  simple  in  his  manners, 
as  modest,  unassuming,  kind,  and  considerate  in  hia 
behaviour  to  all  persons,  as  be  was  when  the  worid 
were  unaware  of  his  enormous  powers.  If  any 
man  can  be  said  to  have  a  right  to  be  preaumpttious 
in  consequence  of  possessing  acknowledged  talenia 
far  above  (hose  or  his  company,  he  is  thia  man.< 
But  what  sagacity  and  intimate  knowledge  of  hu- 
man nature  aoes  it  not  display,  when  a  man  thus 
gifted,  and  thus  entitled  as  it  were  to  assume  a  hi^- 
er  level, ,  undazzied  by  such  unanimous  praise, 
has  steadiness  of  head  enough  not  to  be  made  giddy»; 
and  clearness  enough  of  moral  viaion  to  discover, 
that,  so  far  from  lessening  the  admiration  which  it  isl 
admitted  he  might  claim  if  he  pleased  he  augments' 
it  infinitely  by  seeming  to  wave  thtt  right  altogether! 
How  wisely  lie  acts  By  mixing  famiuarly  with  all. 
men,  drawing  them  m  crowda  around  him,  placing 


LIFE  OP  SIR  WALTER  SCOTT. 


41f 


them  at  their  ease  within  a  near  view  of  his  excil- 
lence,  and  taking  his  chance  of  being  more  cor* 
rectly  seen,  more  thoroughly  known,  and  haviiiu 
his  merits  more  heartily  acknowledged,  than  ll 
with  a  hundred  times  even  his  abilities,  he  were  f^ 
trumpet  them  forth  to  the  world,  and  to  frighten  ^tl 
spectators  to  a  distance  by  the  brazen  sound ! 

*'  It  is,  no  doubt,  in  a  great  measure,  to  this  fat . 
lity  of  access,  and  engaging  manner,  that  his  int^ 
mense  popularity  is  due  ;  but  I  should  hold  it  vej  v 
tinfair  to  suppose  (hat  he  proceeds  upon  any  8U(  ri 
calculation.  It  is  far  more  reasonable  to  conclu<iL< 
that  Providence,  in  giving  him  such  astonishing 
powers  of  pleasing  others,  should  also  have  gift(  d 
him  with  a  heart  to  understand  and  value  the  d  - 
light  of  being  beloved  as  well  as  wondered  at  ar-i 
admired :  and  we  may  suppose  that  he  now  enjoys  :i 
higher  pleasure  from  seeing  the  happiness  which  lic 
has  given  birth  to  both  abroad  in  the  world,  and  ^  t 
home  by  his  own  fire-side,  than  any  which  his  ren- 
ders are  conscious  of  If  a  man  does  act  well,  it  i-» 
an  idle  criticism  to  investigate  the  motive  with  any' 
view  of  taking  exception  to  that.  Those  motivt  s 
which  induce  to  good  results,  must,  in  the  longrurL, 
be  good  also.  A  man  may  be  wicked,  and  yet  on  n 
special  occasion  act«  virtuously,  with  a  view  to  di  ■ 
ceive  and  gain  under  flilse  colours  some  advantage: 
which  his  own  flag  denies  him ;  but  this  will  not  ih 
to  go  on  with.  Thus  it'sigtiifies  nothing  to  say  th'i  [ 
Sir  Walter  Scott,  knowing  the  envious  nature  <>£' 
the  world,  and  the  pleasure  it  has  in  decrying  bigii 
merit,  ana  picking  holes  in  the  reputation  of  grenr 
men,  deports  himself  aa  he  does,  in  order  to  avo- d 
the  cavils  of  his  inferiors.  Where  we  find  the  su 
cess  so  ffreat  as  in  this  case,  we  are  quite  safe 
saying  that  it  is  not  by  rule  and  compass  that  tl 
object  is  gained,  but  by  ji^enuine  sentiment  and  rigfa ' 
mindednes»— by  the  mfloence  of  those  feehni^^ 
which  prompt  men  to  take  pleasure  in  good  aud 
kindly  offices— by  that  judgment  which  sees  throug  li 
the  mists  of  preindice  and  error,  finds  some  merit  i  n 
every  man,  and  makes  allowances  for  the  fauli^ 
and  weaknesses  of  all ;— above  all,  by  that  admi- 
rable self-command  which  scarcely  allows  ary 
unfavorable  opinion  to  pass  the  lips, — the  fruit  oi' 
which  is,  that  by  concealing  even  from  himselfl  tis 
it  were,  every  unkindly  emotion,  he  ceases  to  feel  ir. 
His  principle  is,  by  every  means,  to  banish  from  fa  is 
mind  all  angry  feehngs  of  every  description,  and 
thus  to  exempt  himseu  both  from  the  pain  of  disap- 
pointment in  disputes  where  he  should  fail,  and 
fh>m  the  pain  of  causing  ill-wOl  m  cases  where  ha 
might  succeed.  In  this  way .  he  keeps  on  gocri 
terms  with  all  his  neighbours,  without  exception, 
and  when  others  are  disputing  about  boundarioi^ 
and  all  the  fiimily  of  contiguous  wrangling,  he  man  - 
ages  to  be  the  universal  friend.  Instead  of  quar- 
relling with  his  eminent  brother  authors,  whethtr 
poets  or  novehsts(as  so  many  others  have  donf.\ 
and  now  do,  to  their  mutual  discomfort  and  shame), 
he  is  in  friendly  and  thoroughly  unenvious  corres- 
pondence with  th^  all.  So  far  from  any  spark  <if 
jealousy  being  allowed  to  spring  up,  his  delight  is  \o 
discover  and  to  foster,  and  make  the  most  of  genius 
wherever  it  exists.  But  the  great  .trial  is  every  dn  / 
life,  and  among  every-day  people :  his  house  is  fllltEi 
with  company  all  the  year  round,  with  persons  r-f 
all  rankd— from  the  hij;[nestdown  to  the  lowest  cla.^.% 
that  is  received  at  all  m  society^  he  is  affable  alik& 
to  them  all,  makes  no  effort  at  display  on  any  occ.i- 
sion,  is  alwavs  gay  and  friendly,  and  puts  every  o}H' 
at  bta  ease ;  1  consider  all  else  as  a  trifle  compari'd 
with  the  entire  simplicity  of  his  manners,  and  tha 
total  apparent  unconsciousness  of  the  distinction 
which  IS  his  due.  This,  indeed,  cannot  possibly  ho 
assumed,  but  must  be  the  result  of  the  most  entire 
modesty  of  heart,  if  I  may  use  such  an  expression, 
thej>ure8t  and  most  genuine  kindness  of  dispositiou, 
which  forbids  his  drawing  any  comparison  to  tl  it^ 
disadvantage  of  others.  He  has  been  for  many 
years  the  object  of  most  acute  and  vigilant  observri- 
tion,  and  as  far  as  ray  own  opportunities  havegon^ 
I  must  agree  with  the  general  report— namely,  thit 
on  no  occasion  has  he  ever  betrayed  the  smaller  e 


symr^C'^^  ^'f  vanity  or  tf&^tatieii,  OT  meinuAtfd  a 
ihouah!  horderiri^  on  rjTeaumpii^>i)T  or  even  on  a 

whntf!»jever.  Some  of  lu^  oldest  and  most  inumate 
friends  assert,  that  bn  has  evim  of  htc  years  hecoma 
more  g|mt>I<^  and  bntlEy  tlinn  ev^r ;  that  Llus  att«n-  , 
tmn  Eothu»  about  Uim,  and  aba^neeof  all  appaixint 
eoncerti  nbom  hjm*cjf  ro  on,  if  joesibl^  increasing 
with  hb  fame  and  fortune.  Surely  if  Sir  Waller 
Scott  be  not  a  happy  mani  which  ha  setims  truly  to 
be,,  he  JcE'ijrvcE  to  bt?  so  I** 

Thus  itrnunates  Cap  lain  Hall*  A  bUotsifbrd  Jour- 
nal;  iind  with  lus  flourish  of  trumpets  I  mu^t  drop 
ihe  cuftftin  oti  a  atcne  and  period  of  unclouded  proa- 
pi;;rtiy  and  i^pleuddur.  The  muEUird  drum  ts  in 
prospects 


CHAPTER   LXIK 

MJtHBIAGE  or  LltUTE^fANT  WALTItft  iOOTr^tiiTT ■  a 
TO  lATiY  DAW— PHOJECT  OF  CCrN«tAttLl.V  MifCCL- 
LANir— TERHV  ASD  THE  AJJELPMI  TM  K  AT  tK— la  SU  * 
CATlO>*  or  THE  TAl-^B  OT  THK  CBCJ3AOE8S— PHB- 
'  FAUATmKS  POU  THE  LIFE  OP  ^lTO*»JAf  ASTft— LIT- 
TEM3  TO  «ft.  l^tUV,  3iaS.  W  A.I.TBB  CCOTT,  &  C.—  Icii^ 

With  all  hi  a  frcutcness  Captain  Basil  HaM  dof^a 
not  stem  to  have  en  u  eh  I  any  suapicmn  of  the  rsaJ 
purpose  and  meaning  uf  the  ball  for  which  he  wia 
mvatsd  back  (o  Abbotsford  on  tbo  9th  of  Janaory, 
IB25»  Thiit  evening  wsa  one  of  the  very  proudi^ai 
aqti  bappjfafi  in  Scott' a  brilliant  i^xisitence.  Its  fea* 
nviticd  were  hold  in  honour  of  a  young  lady,  wbam 
:  >  I'Sptain  n  a  m^-s  cursorily  anton^  the  t^  fiesta  a  a 
■V  preity  heiress  of  LochoreJ^  It  was  known  to 
!  i\  f^w  of  the  partyj  and  I  should  have  etippoffed 
.1  ij light  have  been  Bumiiscd  by  ib«  rest,  thai  ihoae 
Iml^swett?  displayed  fat  the  first  timo  m  all  their 
--I  if:l]^lo|]r^  on  an  occasion  not  less  iniercating  to  the 
IViLf  tliiui  the}  condusion  of  a  treaty  of  marriage 
Lk.[u<  sa  I  he  heir  of  hie  name  and  forlunea,  and  Ine 
armahie  niece  of  bia  fncndfl,  Sir  Adam  and  Lady 
Ferguaon.  It  was  the  fir^t  rt'guJar  ball  given  at 
Abboieftird,  and  tb(?  hiat.  Nay,  though  twelve  yeat« 
have  eTapaed,  I  believe  nobody  hoa  ever  danced 
under  ihat  ruof  since  then,  J  myself  never  a^ain 
pflw  tho  whole  rang+2  of  apartments  thrown  upen  for 
the  rtception  of  company  except  once— on  the  day 
of  8ir  Walter's  fune^a^ 

The  lady* a  fortune  was  a  handsome  on#,  and  her 
^ardian^  exerted  the  powera  with  which  they  wen* 
invested  J  by  reqiiirinH  that  the  marriage-con  tract 
f*hould  settle  Abbotsford  (with  reservation  of  Sir 
Walter's  own  liferent)  upon  ih«  affianced  parties,  in 
the  ^ame  munner  ns<  Lochor%  T6  tbts  condition  he 
pave  a  ready  assent,  and  the  moment  jhe  had  sitcned 
the  dted,  he  cxclajmcdH  *^l  have  now  parted  with 
my  landd  wuh  more  pleafinro  than  I  ev^r  derived 
from  the  actjulsition  or  possession  of  ihem  j  and  if  I 
be  spared  for  ten  year  a,  I  think  I  may  promii^e  td 
Mttle  aa  much  more  attain  upon  these  young  folks,** 
It  WEB  well  for  himself  and  his  children  that  hJ0 
auguriesi.  which  fat  Jed  io  mi*crniily  as  to  the  matter 
of  worUily  wealth,  were  destined  to  no  disoppoint- 
ment  rb  respected  eonRiderationsof  a  higher  deficnr- 
iion,  1  transcribe  ont  of  the  letters  by  which  he 
communicntJ?d  the  happy  event  to  the  w(de  circle o| 
frit  ndii^  who  were  siire  to  sympathize  in  his  feelings 
of  paternal  ealisfaciwn, 

Tb  the  ^HSuff  Davy,  GrMTfn&r  SiTceU  Lmtdmt, 

'  ^  Eilf  nb  ufjth,  i^th  Jwi  iiwy ,  1  rsiS. 
**  My  dflor  I  Jidf  Vvwj, 

*'As  1  know  ihe  kind  inri^TPst  which  you  take  in^oMr 
very  fJiLCcre  frtetid  aiid  Scotch  ccmalu,  I  Lhink  you  will 
Ute  to  heir  ihm  m?  i-ldtrfi  hapi>.  wtio,  not  ojAuy  yeira 
Afo^,  HUB  latj  i^ufhl'^il  lo  Accept  your  ntfered  ialiJt<J,  ^d 
prm'.rifi'^  m^  Eh^  h^ppifiyEts  ui  i  kItLd  on  lUv  eiccoujit^  b<* 
iri(l<i  ttuU  which  I  ]ilw&f  a  cMioi  on  my  own,  bn*T  us  he  haa 
jtTi>WJi  older ,  Ir&med  a  hrtlt  heiwr  how  aiiL:h  fa^ouTti  are 
to  ba  csUnulfd.  In  a  wonii  Wulttrt  tb<^n  an  awkwanJ 
boy*  had  now  lumed  '>m. «.  fujut  youn^  fallow,  *iLii  i'swl 
manner*,  ^ml  ■  t3n*  liiturp*  Lf  %  father  inAjf  jUiJi**'*  ftUud- 
inif  well  wilh  ihc  HomC't^uat'IHi  aJid  rouf  h  mhKiDf  of  the 
Bcler^USc  part  of  his  pr^fe^on,  r^taiirfBihMt>Jt^lwn« 
time  luucn  {^f  the  smtplfi  Hdi^slMtf cti^^iVJiliif ninp^^      ' 


4S0 

tcr,  though  now  travelled,  and  acquainted  with  courts  and 
eamps.  Some  one  of  these  good  qualities,  I  know  not 
which,  or  whether  it  were  the  tinited  force  of  the  whole, 
and  particularly  his  proficiencjr  in  the  attack  of  strong 
places,  has  acquired  bim  the  aft'ection  and  hand  of  a  very 
sweet  and  iiretty  Mrs.  Anno  Pago,  who  is  here  as  ^et 
known  by  the  name  of  Miss  Jobson  of  Lochore,  which 
she  exchanges  next  week  for  that  of  Mrs.  Scott  of  Ab- 
botsforiL  It  would  seem  some  old  flirtation  betwixt 
Walter  and  her  lud  hung  on  both  their  minds,  for  at  the 
conclusion  of  a  Christmas  party  we  learned  the  pretty 
heiress  had  determined  to  sfo^  the  old  tune  of— 
*  Mouat  and  go — moimt  and  make  you  ready, 
Mount  and  go,  and  be  a  soldier's  lady.' 
iTMmi^lh  her  fortune  be  considcrdble,  the  favours  of  the 
ftublii:  will  enable  me  to  make  such  settlements  as  her 
trieiid.<!  think  very  afleqtiate.  The  only  impediment  has 
been  the  poor  mother,  (a  Hichland  lady  of  great  worth 
,  ind  integrity,)  wiio  could  not  brook  parting  with  the  sole 
Bbjeci  of  her  care  and  ailcntlon,  to  resign  her  to  the 
vicissitudes  of  a  military  Jife,  while  I  necessarily  refused 
to  let  my  son  sink  into  a  mere  fox-himting,  muirfowl- 
•hootin;  squire.  She  has  at  length  been  obliged  to  ac- 
quiesce rather  than  consent— her  friends  and  counsellors 
beinj:  cbar-sightcd  enough  to  see  that  her  daughter's 
happiness  could  scarce  be  promoted  by  compelling  the 
girl  to  break  off  a  mutual  attachment,  and  a  match  with  a 
young  lieutenant  of  hussars,  sure  of  having  a  troop  very 
soon,  with  a  good  estate  in  reversion;  ftnd  as  handsome  a 
fellow  as  ever  put  his  foot  In  a  stirrup.  80  they  succeeded 
Ux  bringing  matters  to  a  bearing,  although  old  Papa  has 
practised  the  '  profane  and  unprofitable  art  of  poem- 
making'— and  the  youngster  wears  a  pair  of  formidable 
mustachios.  Tliey  are  to  be  quiet  at  Abbotsford  for  a 
few  days,  and  then  they  go  to  town  to  make  their  neces- 
sary purchases  of  carriage,  and  so  forth  ;  they  are  to  be 
at  ray  old  friend,  Miss  Duraergiie's.  and  will  scarcely  see 
any  one ;  but  as  I  think,  you  will  like  to  call  on  my  dear 
little  Jane,  I  am  sure  she  will  see  you,  and  I  know  you 
will  be  kind  and  indulgent  to  her.  Here  is  a  long  letter 
when  I  only  meant  a  line.  I  think  they  will  be  in  London 
about  the  end.of  February,  or  beginning  of  March,  and 

fu  from  thence  to  Ireland,  Walter's  leave  of  absence 
elng  short.  My  kindest  compliments  to  Sir  Humphry, 
and  pray  acquaint  him  of  this  change  in  our  family,  which 
opens  to  me  another  vista  in  the  dark  distance  of  futuri- 
ty, which,  nnless  the  lady  had  what  Sir  Hugh  Evans  calls 
goodgi/ttycoaid  scarce  otherwise  have  happened  during 
.my  Ufetlme— at  least  without  either  imprudence  on 
Walter's  part,  or  restrictions  of  habits  of  hospitality  and 
comfort  on  my  own.— Always,  dear  Ladr  Davy,  your  af- 
fcetionate  and  respectful  friend  and  cousin, 

Walter  Scott.*' 
The  marriage  took  place  at  Edinburgh  on  the  3d 
d«7  of  February,  and  when  the  young  couple  left 
Abbotsford  two  or  three  weeks  afterwards,  Sir 
Walter  promised  to  visit  them  at  their  regimental 
gaarters  in  Ireland  in  the  course  of  the  summer. 
Before' he  fulfilled  that  purpose  he  had  the  additional 
pleasure  of  seeing  his  son  gazetted  as  Captain  in 
the  King*B  Hnssars— a  step  for  which  Sir  Walter 
4  advanced  the  large  sum  of  X3500.  Some  other  in- 
ddents  will  be  gathered  from  his  letters  to  his  son 
and  daujBjhler-in-law — of  which,  however,  I  give 
Buch  copious  extracts  chiefly  for  the  illustration  they 
afford  of  his  truly  paternal  tenderness  for  the  young 
lady  who  had  just  been  admitted  into  his  fJamily— 
and  which  she,,  from  the  first  hour  ot  their  connex- 
ion to  the  last,  repaid  by  a  filial  love  and  deyoted- 
ness  that  formed  one  of  the  sweetest  drops  in  his 
cup  of  life. 

ToUfrs.  Walter  Scott,  Dublin. 

"  Abbotsford,  March  20, 1825. 
•*  My  dearest  Child, 

^  1  had  the  n-eat  pleasure  of  receiving  your  kind  and 
attentive  letter  from  I^ndon  a  few  days  later  than  I  ought 
to  have  done^  because  it  was  Iving  here  while  I  was  absent 
on  a  little  excursion,  of  which  1  have  to  give  a  most  In- 
teresting account  Believe  me,  my  love,  I  am  vert  grate- 
ful for  the  time  you  bestow  on  me,  and  that  you  cannot 
five  80  great  happiness  to  any  one  as  to  me  by  saying  yon 
■re  weD  and  happy.  My  daughters,  who  deserVe  all  the 
afiTection  a  fiuher  can  bestow,  are  both  near  me,  and  in 
safe  guardianship,  the  one  under  the  charge  of  a  most 
affocKonate  husband,  and  the  other  under  the  eye  of  her 
parents.  For  my  sons,  1  have  Unghi  them,  and  what  was 
more  difficult,  I  have  taught  myself  the  philosophy,  that 
lor  their  own  sake  and  their  necessary  advancement  in 
Bfe,  their  absences  from  my  house  must  be  long,  and 
'^      -'  '  lahoii*  and  as  they  are  both,  I  hope,  able  to 


LIFE  OP  SIR  WALTEE  SCOTT. 


conduct  themselves  wisely  and  honourably,  I  have  leaim- 
ed  to  bo  contented  to  hope  the  best,  without  making  my- 
self or  them  uneasy  by  rmitless  anxiety .  But  for  voir, 
my  dear  Jane,  who  have  come  among  us  with  such  gene- 
rous and  confiding  affection,  my  stoicism  mnst  excuse 
me  if  I  am  more  anxious  than  becomes  either  a  philoso- 
pher or  a  hackneyed  man  of  the  Vrnrki,  who  uses  in 
common  cases  to  take  that  world  as  it  goes.  I  cannot 
help  worrying  myself  with  the  question,  whether  the  ob- 


ject of  such  constant  and  affectionate  rare  may  not  feci 
less  happy  than  1  could  wish  her  in  scenes  which  must  be 
so  new,  and  under  privations  which  musP  be  felt  by  yoa 


the  more  that  your  earlier  life  has  been  an  entire  strancer 
to  them.  I  know  Walter's  care  and  affection  will  soften 
and  avert  these  as  much  as  possible,  and  if  there  he 
any  thing  in  the  power  of  old  papa  to  assist  him  in  the 
matter,  you  will  make  hhn  most  happy  by  tasking  that 
power  to  the  utmost  I  wrote  to  liim  yesterday  that  he 
might  proceed  in  bargain  for  the  troop,  and  send  me  the 
terms  that  I  might  provide  the  needful,  as  mercantile  folks 
call  it,  In  time  and  place  suitable.  The  rank  of  Captain 
gives,  I  am  aware,  a  degree  of  consideration  which  is 
wprtli  paying  for;  and  what  is  still  more,  my  little  Jan  a, 
as  a  Captain's  lady,  takes  better  accommodation  every 
way  than  is  given  to  a  subaltern's.  So  we  must  get  the 
troop  by  all  means,  coute  qui  coute. 
*'  Now  I  will  plague  you  with  no  more  business ;  but 

Jive  you  an  account  of  myself  In  the  manner  of  Mr. 
onalhan  Oldbuck,  if  ever  you  heard  of  such  a  person. 
You  must  §;.uppose  that  you  are  bpsy  with  your  work,  and 
that  I  am  telling  you  some  long  story  or  other,  and  that 
you  now  and  then  lo6k  round  and  say  cA,  as  you  do  when 
you  are  startled  by  wquestion  or  an  asseruon — It  is  not 
quite  eh  neither,  but  just  a  little  quiet  interjection,  which 
shows  you  are  attending.  You  see  what  a  close  observer 
papa  is  of  his  child. 

"  Well  then,  when,  as  I  calculate;  (as  a  Yankee  would 
say,)  you  were  tossing  on  the  waves  of  the  Irish  Channel, 
I  was  also  tossing  on  the  Vadum  Scotticum  of  Ptoleuiy, 
on  mv  return  from  the  celebrated  Urbs  Orr^a  of  Tacitus. 
*  Eh,' says  Jane ;  '  Lord,  Walter,  what  can  rtie  old  gentle- 
man mean  T— *  TFews  nieht*  davon,'  says  the  huaaar, 
taking  his  cigar  from  under  his  moustaches,  (no,  I  beg 
pardon,  he  does  not  take  outtlie  cigar,  because,  from  the 
last  advices,  he  has  used  none  in  his  London  journey.) 
He  says  ueisa  nichtSy  however,  which  is,  in  Italian,  lio 
80 — in  French,  Je  tie'n  sdais  rien — in  broad  Scotch,  i 
neither  ken  nor  care— Well— you  ask  Mr.  Edgeworth,  or 
the  chaplain  of  the  regiment,  or  the  first  scholar  you 
come  by— that  is  to  say.  you  don't  attempt  to  pronounce 
the  hieroglypliical  word,  but  you  fold  down  the  letter  just 
at  the  place,  show  the  talisroanic  Urba  Orrea  and  no 
more,  and  ask  him  in  which  corner  of  the  earth  Sir 
Walter  can  have  been  wandering  1  So,  after  a  moment's 
recollection,  he  tells  you  that  the  great  Roman  general, 
Agricola,  was  strangely  put  to  his  trumps  at  the  Urbs 
Orrea  during  his  campaign  in  Caledonia,  and  that  the 
ninth  legion  was  surprised  there  by  the  British  and  near- 
ly destroyed;  then  he  gets  a  county  history  and  a 
Tacitus,  and  Sir  Robert  Sibbald's  Tracts,  and  begins  lo 
fish  about,  and  finds  at  length  that  the  UrOs  Orrea  is 
situated  in  the  kingdom  of  Fife*— that  it  is  now  called 
Lochore— that  it  belongs  to  the  Ix»chorc»— the  De  Val- 
lenccs— the  Wardlaws— the  Malcolms— and  Lord  knows 
whom  in  succession— and  then,  in  a  sheet  wet  from  the 
press,  he  finds  it  is  now  the  properly  of  a  pretty  and  ac- 
complished young  lady,  who,  in  an  unthrifl  generosity, 
has  given  it— with  a  much  more  valuable  present,  namely, 
her  oten  self— to  a  lieutenant  of  hussars.  So  there  the 
scholar  shuts  his  book,  and  observes  that  as  these  are 
many  cairns  and  tumuli  and  other  memorials  upon  the 
scene  of  action,  he  Venders  whether  Sir  Walter  had  not 
the  curiosity  to  open  some  of  them.  '  Now  heaven  for- 
bid,' says  Jane ;  '  I  think  the  old  knight  has  stock  cnoiigh 
for  boring  one  with  his  old  Border  ballads  and  battles, 
without  raising  the  bones  of  men  who  have  slept  1000 
years  quietly  on  my  own  estate  to  assist  him.'  Then  I 
can  keep  silence  no  longer,  but  speak  in  my  own  proper 
person.  '  Pray  do  you  not  bore  me,  Mrs.  Jane,  and  have 
not  I  a  right  to  retaliate  7'—'  Eh.'  says  the  Lady  of  Lo- 
chore, '  how  is  It  possible  I  should  bore  you,  and  so  many 
hundred  miles  between  us?"— *  That's  the  very  reason,* 
says  the  Laird  of  Abbotsford, '  for  if  you  were  near  me 
the  thing  would  be  impossible— but  being,  as  you  say,  sl 
so  many  hundred  miles  distant,  I  am  always  thinklnc 
about  you,  and  asking  my  self  an  hundred  questions  whick 
I  cannot  answer ;  for  instance,  I  cannot  go  about  my  httle 
improvements  without  teasing  myself  with  thmking 
whether  Jane  would  like  the  green-house  larger  or  leas — 
and  whether  Jane  would  like  such  line  of  walk,  or  such 

*  According  to  the  ceneral  cieed  (out  of  the  "  Kinfdosn  of  Fife,'* 
that  isio  say)— Mr.  Oldbuck  was  quite  wionf  as  to  the  ideotiiica- 
tion  of  this  pr«(or<t#m.  ,      ^r\nlo 

Digitized  by  VjOOQ  IC 


LIFE  OP  SIR  WALTER  SOTT. 


421 


another— «Qd  whether  that  stile  Is  not  too  tUgh  for  Jane  to  | 
sten  over.'  *  Dear  papa,'  says  Jane, '  your  own  style  is  , 
really  too  high  for  my  comprehension.' 

••  Well  then,  I  am  the  uiosi  indulgent  papa  In  the  world,  | 
and  so  you  see  1  have  turned  over  a  new  leaf.  The  plain  ^ 
sense  of  all  this  rambling  stuff,  which  escapes  from  my  i 
pen  as  It  would  from  my  tongue,  is  that  I  have  visited  for  | 
a  <lay,  with  Isaac  Bayley,'  your  dominions  of  Lochore,  i 
and  was  excellently  entertained  and  as  happy  as!  could  | 
be,  where  every  thing  was  putthig  me  in  mind  that  she  j 
was  absent  wlioni  1  could  most  have  wished  present.  It ' 
f-flt,  somehow,  like  an  intrusion  ;  and  as  if  it  was  not  quite 
ri!?ht  that  I  should  be  in  Janr'4  house,  while  Jane  herself 
was  amon:;at  strangers ;  this  is  the  sort  of  false  colouring  \ 
which  imdgination  gives  to  events  and  ciicumstances.  1 
\V.«ll,  but  1  was  much  pleased  with  ail  I  saw,  and  periicu-  ) 
larly  with  the  high  order  Mr.  Bayley  has  put  every  thing  ' 
m'o  ;  and  I  cUmbed  Bennarty  like  a  wild  goat,  and  scram-  ' 
l)led  throjigh  the  old  crags  like  a  wildcat,  ond  pranced  ' 
through  your  pastures  like  a  wild-buck,  (fat  enough  to  be  i 
in  season  though,)  and  squatlered  through  your  drains  \ 
like  a  wUd-duck,  and  had  nearly  lost  myself  in  your 
morasses  like  the  ninth  legion,  and  visited  the  old  caftle, 
which  is  nut  a  atupit  place,  and  in  short,  wandered  from 
Dan  to  Beersheba,  and  tired  myself  as  effectually  in  your 
d<)niluii*ns  as  I  did  you  in  mhie  upon  a  certain  walk  to  the 
Rhymer's  Glen.  1  had  the  offer  of  your  pony,  but  the 
wiaiher  being  too  cold,  I  preferred  walking ;  a  cheerful 
little  old  gentleman,  Mr.  Burrell,and  Mr.  Gray  the  clergy- 
man, dined  with  u.s,  and  your  health  was  not  forgotten- 
On  rny  retreat  (Border  fashion)  I  brought  away  your 
pony  and  tlie  little  chaise,  believing  that  both  will  be 
better  under  Peter  Mathieson's  charge  than  at  Lochore, 
in  case  of  its  being  let  to  strangers.  Don't  you  think 
Jane's  pony  will  be  taken  care  of  T 

*'  The  day  we  arrived  tlie  weather  was  gloomy  and 
rainy,  the  cllraaie  sorrowful  for  your  absence^  I  suppose: 
tht;  next,  a  fine  sunny  frost ;  the  third,  when  I  came  off 
!.o  checkered  with  hail  showers,  as  to  prevent  a  visit  I 
ha-l  meditAted  to  two  very  interesting  persons  hi  the 
iioinhbourhood.  '  The  Chief  Commisiiiioner  and  Cliarles 
Adam,  I  suppose  T—*  Not  a  bit,  guess  again.'— '  O,  Mr. 
B»*rUon  of  Contal,  or  Mr.  Sym  of  Blair  1'—'  Not  a  bit,  guesa 
a^ain.'— '  I  won't  guess  any  more.'— Well,  then,  it  wa« 
two  honest  gentlemen  hewn  In  stone— some  of  the  old 
knights  of  Lochore,  who  were  described  to  me  as  lying 
uuder  your  gallery  In  the  kirk ;  but  aa  I  had  no  reason 
to  expect  a  warm  reception  from  them,  I  put  off  my  visit 
till  some  more  genial  season. 

"  This  puts  me  m  mind  of  Warwiek  nnviiited,  and  of 
my  stupidity  In  not  letting  you  know  that  the  church  la 
as  well  Worth  seeing  as  the  castle,  and  you  might  have 
seen  that,  notwithstanding  the  badness  of  the  morning. 
All  the  tombs  of  the  mighty  Beauchamps  and  Nevilles 
are  to  be  seen  there,  in  the  most  magnificent  style  of 
Gothic  display,  and  in  high  preservation.  However,  this 
will  be  for  another  day,  ana  you  must  comfort  yourself 
that  Ufe  has  something  still  to  show. 

'*  I  trust  you  will  soon  find  yourself  at  Edgewortha- 
town,  where  I  know  you  will  be  received  with  open 
wrms.  for  Miss  Edgeworth's  kindness  Is  equal  to  her  dls- 
tinffulihed  talents. 

^  I  am  glad  you  like  my  old  acquaintance,  Ifathews. 
Some  day  I  will  make  him  show  his  talent  for  your 
amnsement  in  private ;  for  I  know  him  ii*ell.  It  is  very 
odd,  he  is  often  subject  to  fits  of  deep  melancholy. 

**  This  is  a  letter  of  formidable  length,  but  our  bargain 
ii,  long  or  short,  just  as  the  humour  chances  to  be,  ana 
you  are  never  to  mend  a  pen,  or  think  upon  a  semence, 
but  write  whatever  eomes  readiest.  My  love  to  Walter. 
I  am  rather  anxious  to  know  if  be  has  got  his  horses 
well  over,  and  whether  all  hUi  luggage  has  come  nfe.  1 
am  glad  you  have  got  a  carriage  to  your  mind ;  it  la  the 
best  economy  to  get  a  food  one  at  once.  Above  all,  I 
shall  be  anxious  to  hear  now  you  like  the  society  of  the 
ladies  of  the  loch.  I  know  my  Jane's  quiet  prudence 
and  good  sense  will  save  her  firom  the  risk  of  making 
smiden  intimacies,  and  hiduce  her  to  consider  for  a  little 
while  which  of  her  new  companions  may  suit  her  best ; 
in  the  meanwhile  being  civil  to  alL 

"  vhu  see  tiiat  I  make  no  apology  for  writing  ailly  let- 
ters; and  why  should  you  think  that  I  can  think  yours 
stupid?  There  is  not  a  atupit  bit  about  them,  nor  any  ; 
word,  or  so  much  as  a  comma,  that  is  not  hiteresting  to 
me.  Lady  Scott  and  Anne  send  their  kindest  love  to  you, 
and  grateful  compliments  to  Mrs.  Edgeworth,  Miss  Edge- 
worth,  our  friend  Miss  Harriet,  and  all  the  family  at 
Edgeworthstown.  Buona  notte  amata  bene.  Good-night, 
darling,  and  take  good  care  of  yourself. —I  always  remain 
your  affectionate  father, 

,WAt.TDi  Scott. 


t  of  the  young  ladjr.  and  the  kgal 
2L 


maaater  of  her 


P.  S.— They  say  a  man's  fortune  depends  on  a  wlfe'a 
pleasure.  I  do  not  know  how  thit  may  be  ;  but  1  behev« 
a  lady's  comfort  depends  much  on  her  JUte-df-chambr^ 
and  therefore  beg  to  know  how  Rebecca  discharges  har 
office." 

To  Mn.  Walter  Scott^  Edgetcorthstotenj  Ireland. 
"  AbboUford,  March  23, 1825. 

"My  dearest  Jane, 
^  1  am  afraid  you  will  thtok  me  a  merciless  correa> 
pondent,  assailing  you  with  so  close  a  fire  of  letters ;  but 
having  a  frank,  I  thought  it  as  well  to  send  you  an  episllo, 
though  it  can  contain  nothing  more  of  hiterest  excepting 
that  we  are  all  well.  |  can,  nowever,  add  more  poiticu- 
larly  than  formerly,  (hat  I  learn  from  Mrs.  Bayley  that 
Mrs.  Jobson's  health  is  not  only  good,  but  her  spirits  are 
remarkably  so,  so  as  to  dve  the  greatest  pleasure  to  afl 
frien<ls.  I  can  sec,  I  thirik,  a  very  good  reason  for  this  ; 
for,  after  the  priin  of  the  first  separation  from  so  dear  aa 
object,  and  after  having  brought  her^ind  to  believe  that 
your  present  situation  presented  to  you  a  fair  chance  for 
happiness,  I  can  easily  euppose  that  ner  maternal  anxiety 
is  greatly  relieved  from  feari?  and  apprehensions  which 
formerly  distressed  her.  Nothing  can  be  more  kind  and 
more  handsome  than  the  way  In  whi^h  Mrs.  Jobson 
speaks  of  Walter^  which  I  mention,  because  it  gives  me 
sincere  pleasure,  a&d  will,  I  am  sure,  afford  the  same  to 
you,  or  rather  uioch  more. 

^^My  troops  here  are  sadly  diminished.  I  have  onlj 
Anne  to  parade  for  her  morning  walk,  and  to  domineer 
over  for  going  hi  thin  slippers  and  silk  stockings  through 
dirty  paths,  and  in  lace  veils  through  bushes  and  thorn 
brakes.  .  I  think  Jane  sometimes  came  hi  for  a  share  of 
the  lectures  on  these  occasions.  So  I  walk  my  soUtary 
rotmd— generally  speaking— look  after  my  labourers,  and 
hear  them  regularly  enquire,  '  if  I  have  ncard  from  the 
Captain  and  his  Leddy  V  I  wish  I  could  answer  them — 
yes  ;  but  fiave  no  reason  to  be  iinpatient.  This  is  the  23d, 
and  I  suppose  Walter  will  bo  at  Cork  this  evening  to  joia 
the  15lh,  and  that  you  are  safe  at  Edgeworthstown  to 
spend  your  first  short  term  of  widowhood.  I  hope  the 
necessary  hospitality  to  hia  mess  will  not  occasion  hia 
dissipatmg  too  much ;  for,  to  be  a  very  strong  young  man, 
I  know  no  one  with  whom  what  Is  called  hard  living  agrees 
so  ill.  A  happy  change  hi  the  manners  of  the  times  for> 
tunately  renders  such  abuse  of  the  good  creature,  wine* 
much  less  frequent  and  less  fashionable  than  it  waa 
h)  my  days  and  Sir  Adam's.  Drinking  is  not  now  the 
vice  of  the  times,  whatever  vicea  and  follies  they  maj 
have  adopted  in  Us  stead. 

"  I  had  proceeded  thus  lar  In  tny  valuable  communica- 
tion, when,  lo !  I  was  alarmed  by  the  entrance  of  that  ter- 
rific animal  a  two-legged  boar — one  of  the  largest  sixe 
and  most  tremendous  powers.  By  the  way,  I  learned, 
from  no  less  an  authority  than  George  Canning,  what  mj 
own  experience  has  since  made  good,  that  an  efficient 
bore  must  always  have  something  respectable  about  hia^ 
otherwise  no  one  would  permit  him  to  exercise  hia  occu- 
pation. He  must  be,  lor  example,  a  very  rich  man 
(which,  perhaps,  gives  the  greateat  privilege  of  all)— or 
he  must  be  a  man  of  rank  and  condition  too  Important  to 
be  treated  aana  eeremonie— or  a  man  of  learning  (often  a 
dreadful  bore)— or  of  talents  imdoubted,  or  of  high  ore* 
tensions  lo  wisdom  and  experience— or  a ireat  traveller; 
—in  short  he  muat  have  some  tangible  privilege  to  sanc- 
tion his  profession.  Without  something  of  this  kind,  one 
would  treat  a  bore  as  you  do  a  vagrant  mendicant,  and 
send  hUn  off  to  the  workhouse  if  he  presumed  to  annpf 
you.  But  when  properly  qualified,  the  bore  la  more  Dke 
a  beggar  with  a  badge  and  pass  from  his  pariah,  which 
entitles  him  to  disturb  you  with  his  hnporiunity  whether 
you  will  or  no.  Now,  my  bore  is  a  complete  gentlemaa 
and  an  old  friend,  ^but.  unhappily  for  thoae  who  know 
him,  master  of  all  Joe  Miller's  stories  of  sailors  and  Irish- 
men, and  fun  of  quotations  from  the  classics  as  hack- 
neyed as  the  post-horses  of  Melrose.  There  was  no 
remedy ;  I  must  either  stand  his  shot  within  doors,  ot 
turn  out  with  him  for  a  long  walk,  and,  for  the  sake  of 
elbow-room,  I  preferred  tho  last.  Imagine  an  old  gen- 
tleman, who  has  been  handsome,  and  has  stUl  that  sort 
of  pretension  which  leads  him  to  wear  tight  pantaloons 
anda  sroan  half-boot,  neatly  adapted  to  show  off  his  le^ ; 
suppose  hhn  as  upright  and  as  straight  as  a  poker,  if  tae 
poker's  head  had  been,  by  some  accident,  been  bent  to 
one  side ;  add  to  this,  that  he  is  a  dogged  Whig ;  consider 
that  I  was  writing  to  Jane,  and  desired  not  to  be  inter- 
rupted by  much  more  entertaining  society— well,  I  waa 
had^  however— fairly  caught— and  out  we  sallied,  to  make 
the  best  we  could  of  each  other.  1  feU  a  sort  of  necea- 
sity  to  ask  hhn  to  dinMer ;  but  the  invitation,  like  Mac- 
beih's  amen^  stuck  In  my  throat.  For  the  first  hour  ho 
got  the  lead,  and  kept  It ;  btit  opportunities  always  occur 
to  an  able  general,  if  he  knows  bow  to  make  use  of  them. 


«a 


LIFE  OF  SIR  WALTER  SCOTT. 


In  an  tTil  hour  for  bim,  and  a  happy  one  for  me,  he  start- 
ed the  topic  of  }ur  Intended  rufroad;  there  I  was  a 
match  for  him,  liaring  had,  on  Taesdajr  last,  a  meeting 
With  Harden,  the  two  Torwoodlees,  and  the  engineer, 
on  this  subject,  so  that  I  i\ad  at  my  finger-end  every  cu/, 
every  lift,  every  degree  of  elevation  or  depression,  every 
pass  in  the  country,  and  every  possible  means  of  cross- 
ing them.  So  I  kept  the  whip-hand  of  him  completely, 
and  never  permitted  him  to  get  off  the  railway  agcUn  to 
his  own  ground.  In  short,  so  thoroughly  did  I  bore  my 
bore,  that  he  sickened  and  gave  in,  taking  a  short  leave 
of  me.  Seeinff  him  in  full  retreat,  I  then  ventured  to 
make  the  civil  offer  of  a  dinner.  But  the  railroad  had 
been  break&st,  luncheon,  dinner  and  supper  to  boot— he 
hastily  excused  himself,  and  left  me  ai  double  quick- 
time,  sick  of  railroads,  I  oare  say,  for  six  months  to  come. 
But  I  must  not  forget  that  I  am  perhaps  abusing  the  priv> 
ilege  I  have  to  bore  you,  being  that  of  your  affectionate 
pajoa. 

"  How  nicely  we  could  manage  without  the  said  rail- 
road, now  the  great  hobby  of  our  Tevioldale  lairds,  if 
we  could  by  any  process  of  conjuration  waft  to  Abbots- 
ford  some  of  the  coal  and  lime  from  Lochore — though  if 
I  were  to  wish  for  such  impossibilities,  I  would  rather 
desire  Prince  Houssein'a  tapestry  in  the  Arabian  Nights 
to  bring  Walterand  Jane  to  us  now  and  then,  than  I 
would  wish  for  *Tife  and  all  the  lands  about  it." 

"  By  the  by,  Jane,  aftar  all,  thoo^'  site  looks  so  de- 
mure, is  a  very  sly  girl,  and  keeps  hex  accomplishments 
to  herself.  You  would  not  talk  with  mo  about  planting 
and  laying  out  ground ;  and  yet,  from  what  you  had  been 
doing  at  Lochore,  I  see  what  a  pretty  turn  you  have  for 
these  matters.  I  wish  you  were  here  to  advise  me  about 
the  litUe  pond  which  we  passed,  where,  if  you  remem- 
ber, there  is  a  new  cottaige  built  1  Intend  to  plant  it 
with  aquatic  trees,  willows,  alders,  poplars,  and  so  forth 
—and  put  trouts  and  perches  into  the  water— and  have  a 
preserve  of  wild  ducks  on  the  pond,  with  Canadian  geese 
and  some  other  water-fowl.  I  am  to  get  some  sggs  from 
Lord  Traquair  of  a  curious  species  of  half-reclaimed 
wild  ducks,  which  abound  near  his  soUtary  old  chateau, 
and  no  where  else  in  Scotland  tliat  I  know  of;  and  I  can 
set  the  Canadian  geese,  curious  painted  animals,  that 
fook  as  if  they  had  flown  out  of  a  figured  ChUiese  paper, 
from  Mr.  Murray  of  Broughton.  The  foolish  folks,  wnen 
1  was  absent,  chose  to  improve  on  my  plan  by  making  an 
island  in  the  pond,  which  is  exactly  tne  size  and  shape 
of  a  Stilton  cheese.  It  will  be  useful,  however,  for  the 
ibwl  to  breed  in. 

**  Mamma  drove  out  your  pony  and  carriaj?e  to-day. 
She  was  (twenty  years  ago,)  the  best  tadyuthip  in  Edin- 
burgh, and  was  delighted  to  find  that  she  retained  her 
dexterity.  1  hope  she  will  continue  to  exercise  the  rein 
and  whip  now  and  then,  as  her  healtii  is  much  improved 
by  moderate  exercise. 

"  Adieu,  my  dear  Jane.    Mamma  and  Anne  join  in 

the  kindest  love  and  best  wishes.    I  please  myself  with 

the  idea  that  I  shall  have  heard  you  are  well  and  happy 

■    long  before  this  reaches  you.— Believe  me  always  your 

affectionate  father, 

Walter  Scott. 

"I  hope  you  will  take  my  gopd  example,  and  write 
without  caring  or  thinking  either  what  you  have  got  to 
say,  or  in  wJiat  words  you  say  it." 

*        To  Walter  Scott,  £?*^.,  ^r.  ^c.  Barracks,  Cork. 
"  Abbotsfo^rd,  4th  April,  1825. 
"  My  dear  Children, 

"  I  recrtved  your  joint  composition  without  a  date, 
but  which  circnmstanccs  enabled  me  to  fix  it  as  written 
upon  the  24ih  or  25th  March.  I  am  very  sorry  on  Jane's 
account  for  the  unpleasant  necessity  of  night  journeys, 
and  the  Inconvenlpnce  of  bad  quarters.  I  almost  wish 
you  had  stuck  by  your  original  plan  of  leavinji  Jane  at 
Edgeworthstown.  As  for  you.  Mr.  Walter  1  do  not  ^udge 
your  bemg  obliged  to  pay  a  little  deference  to  the  wig 
and  gown.  C*^dant  arma  toga  is  a  lesson  well  taught  at 
an  assixe.  But  although  you,  thanks  to  the  discipline  of 
the  most  excellent  of  fathers,  have  been  taujtht  not  to 
feel  greatly  the  inconvenience  of  night  journeys  or  bad 
lodgings,  yet,  my  poor  Jane,  who  has  not  had  these  ad- 
vantages, must,  I  fear,  feel  verv  uncomfortable ;  and  I 
hope  you  will  lay  your  plans  so  that  she  shall  be  exposed 
to  them  as  little  as  possible.  I  like  old  songs,  and  1  like 
to  bear  Jane  sing  them  ;  but  I  would  not  like  ttial  she  had 
cause  to  sing, 

*  Oh  but  I'm  wear>'  with  wandering, 

Oh  but  my  fortunes  are  bad ; 
It  sets  not  a  gentle  young  lady 
To  follow  a  sodger  lad.' 

Bat  against  the  recurrence  of  thetfe  inconveniences  I 
•  A  sonc  of  Pr.  Blackk>ck't. 


am  sure  Walter  will  provide  as  w«U  at  he  can.  Ikoat 
you  have  delivered  your  introdtiction  to  Mn.  Seoa  (« 
Harden'a)  friend  in  the  neighbourhood  of  Cork.  Good 
introductions  shotild  never  be  neglected,  tboogk  an- 
merous  ones  are  rather  a  bore.  A  lady's  locietf,  espe- 
cially when  entering  on  life,  should  be,  as  they  tre  said 
to  choose  their  liquor,  little  but  good  ;  and  Hn.  Scon 
being  really  a  woman  of  fashion,  a  character  not  qoite  i& 
frequent  in  reality  as  aspire  to — and  being,  besides,  suck 
an  old  friend  of  yours,  fs  likely  to  introduce  you  to  rain- 
able  and  creditable  society. 

"  We  had  a  visit  from  Lockhart  yesterday.  Be  mde 
out  on  Saturday  with  a  friend^  and  Uiey  dined  here,  re 
mained  Sunday,  and  left  us  tl^s  morning  earijr.  I  (eel 
obliged  to  him  forgoing  Immediately  to  Mra  Jobsoo'i 
whenrthe  explosion  took  place  so  near  her  in  my  friend 
Colin  Mackenzie's  premises.*  She  liad  experieQced  do 
inconvenience  but  the  immediate  fright,  for  the  shock 
was  tremendous— and  vras  rather  proud  of  the  sobstan- 
tJal  capacity  of  the  houso,  which  had  not  a  pane  hnHua, 
when  many  of  the  adjoining  tenements  scarce  had  on« 
left. 

**Wc  have  '. 
down  with  me, 

die  being  sent  i  .  , 

fell  with  him,  and  rolled  over  him.  and  bruised  him  very 
much.  This  is  rather  too  bad,  to  I  #hall  be  on  the^r< 
for  a  ponv.  my  neck  being  rather  precious. 

"Touciung  Colonel  Thwack-well,t  of  whom  I  know 
nothing  but  the  name,  which  would  bespeak  him  a  mxkx 
disciplmarian,  I  suppose  you  are  now  arrived  at  that 
time  of  life  you  can  take  your  ground  from  your  obser- 
vation, vrithout  being  Influenced  by  the  sort  of  csbal 
which  often  exists  in  our  armv,  especially  in  the  corps 
where  the  olficers  are  men  of  fortunes  or  expectatioos, 
against  a  commanding  officers.  The  executkn  of  tfaeir 
duty  is  not  altoaya  popular  vrith  young  men,  who  mur 
Ul^B  the  dress  and  show  of  a  regimental  officer;  aad  k 
often  liappens  that  a  little  pettishncss  on  the  one  tide 
begets  a  little  repulsiveness  of  manner  on  (he  other,  s 
that  it  becomes  the  question  how  the  one  shall  < 


I  had  our  share  of  casualties.  Sibyl  caoe 
ne,  but  without  any  injury :  bat  Tom  Par- 
>nt  on  some  business  by  Mr.  LaidUw,  she 


and  the  other  obey,  In  the  vray  most  dimgreeable  to  the 
other,  withont  a  tangible  Infringement  of  rules.  TUs 
is  the  shame  of  our  array,  and  in  a  greater  degree  that  of 
our  navy.  A  humble  and  reflecting  man  keeps  as  mw^ 
aloof  as  possible  from  such  feuds.  Yon  have  seen  tb( 
world  more  than  when  you  joined  the  18lh. 

'*  The  Catholic  question  seems  likely  to  be  carried  tl 
last  I  hope,  though  I  doubt  it  a  Uttle,  that  Ireland  «\11 
be  the  quieter,  and  the  people  more  hanpy.  I  siopect. 
however,  that  it  is  laying  a  plaster  to  the  foot  while  tbe 
head  aches,  and  that  the  fault  is  in  the  landholders'  ex- 
treme exactiona,  not  in  the  disabilities  of  the  CatholicJ, 
or  any  more  remote  cause. 

*'  My  dear  Jane,  pray  take  care  of  yourself,  and  write 
me  soon  how  you  are  and  what  you  are  dotiig.  I  hope 
it  will  contain  a  more  pleasant  account  of  your  travel* 
titan  the  last  Mamma  and  Aime  send  best  loves.  I 
hope  my  various  letters  have  all  come  to  your  hand,  and 
am,  my  dear  children,  always  your  affectionate  father, 
Walter  Scott." 

To  Walter  Scott,  Etq.,  Lieutenant,  loth  Bttmart,  B«r- 
racks,  Dublin. 

"  Abbotsford,  27th  April,  183P 
"  My  dear  Walter, 

*'  I  received  to-day  your  interesting  commnnlcstiM. 
and  have  written  to  Edinburgh  to  remit  the  price  of  tha 
troop  as  soon  as  possible.  I  man  make  this  oot  wichoot 
troubling  Mr.  Bayley ;  but  it  vrill  pare  my  nails  than  fer 
the  summer,  and  1  fear  prevent  my  paying  your  earruige, 
as  1  had  intended. 

•  Mcol  is  certainly  going  to  sell Faldonside.t  The  Na* 
bal  asks  X40,000,— at  least  JC5000  too  much.  Tet  in  tke 
present  low  rate  of  money,  and  general  thirst  for  hod, 
there  Is  no  saying  but  he  may  get  a  fool  to  offer  him  his 
price,  or  near  it.  I  should  like  m  know  your  views  abo«t 
this  matter,  as  it  is  more  your  concern  than  mine,  fines 
you  will,  I  hope,  have  a  much  loncer  date  of  tt  1  thiak 
I  could  work  It  all  off"  during  my  life,  and  also  improve 
the  estate  highly :  but  then  It  is  always  a  heavy  burden, 
and  I  would  not  like  to  undertake  it,  tmless  I  was  sore 
that  Jane  and  you  desired  such  an  augmentation  of  ter- 
ritory. 1  do  not  mean  to  do  any  thing  haatv,  but,  as  m 
opp<irtunity  may  cast  up  suddenly,  1  should  like  to  know 
your  mind. 

*'I  conclude,  this  being  27th  April,  that  you  are  al 
snugly  settled  in  Dublin.    1  am  a  little  afraid  of  the  gale- 

*  This  alludes  to  an  explosiao  of  gas  in  Shaadwiek  PIm«. 
Eklinburfh. 

t  Sir  Walter  had  tnisread.  or  chose  to  miswrite,  lbs  namtof 
hii  soo'i  new  comroaodant.  Lieutenant-Cokmel  Thac 

I  St  ante.  Vol  iTp^i^^d  by  V^OOQEC 


LIFE  OF  SIR  WALTER  SOOTT. 


tiM  tor  Jane,  and  hope  iha  will  be  gay  moctoi 

ahe  may  be  fay  lonf .    The  ft-equent  habit  of 

la  atwaya  demmental  to  health,  and  aometiinei  has  con- 

aaqoencea  which  laat  for  life.    Avi»  au  leeteur ;  of  courae 

I  do  not  expect  you  to  ahut  youraelves  up  at  your  period 

of  life.    Your  coorae  gaiety  at  Cork  remmda  me  of  Jack 

Johnatone'a  aong — 

*Then  we'll  viait  the  CalUghans,  Brallaghana, 

Nowlana,  and  Dowlaos  Utccwise, 
And  bother  them  all  with  the  beauty 

Which  atreama  firom  my  Judy 'a  (or  Jeanie'a)  black  eyea. 


*^  Wa  have  bolter  accounta  of  litllc  Johmile  of  late— hia 
coiuh  ia  over  for  the  preaent,  and  Uie  learaed  cannot 
aettle  whether  it  has  been  the  hooping-cough  or  no. 
Sophia  talks  of  taking  him  toOermiston.  LockhArt  comes 
here  for  the  Circuit,  and  I  expect  him  to»roorrow. 

"  Sir  Adam  and  Lady  Ferguaon  bring  moat  excellent 
accounts  of  Mrs.  Jobaon'a  good  health  and  apirtls.  Sir 
Henry  Jardine  (he  writes  himself  no  less  now)  hath  bad 
the  dignity  of  ^knighthood  inflicted  on  him.  Mamma  and 
Anne  join  in  kind  love.  I  expect  a  long  letter  from  Jane 
one  of  theae  days  soon ;  ahe  whiica  too  well  not  to  write 
with  eaae  to  herself,  and  therefore  I  am  reaolved  her 
talent  ahall  not  be  idle,  if  a  little  jogging  con  prevail  on 
her  to  exerciae  it 

"  You  have  never  aaid  a  word  of  your  horaea,  nor  how 
you  have  come  on  with  your  domestica,  those  necessary 
plaguea  of  our  life.  Two  or  three  days  since,  that  cub 
of  Sir  Adam'a  chose  to  amuae  himaelf  with  flinging 
crackera  about  the  hall  here  when  we  were  at  dinner.  1 
think  I  gave  him  a  proper  jobation. 

"  Here  is  the  first  wet  day  we  have  had— very  welcome, 
as  the  earth  required  it  much,  and  the  aeaaon  waa  back- 
ward.   I  can  hear  Bogie  whistling  for  ioy. 
"  Your  affectionate  father, 

WALTBa  SoOTT. 

In  May  1826,  Sir  Walter^s  friend  T.  rry,  m^  his 
able,  brother  comedian,  Mr.  Freden<  k  ^'lae^  enter- 
ed on  a  negotiation,  which  termini  i^  J,  m  Jul^%  in 
their  becoming  joint  lessees  and  nia[ia^f!r]j  ol  the 
Adelphi  Theatre,  London.  Terry  rt^^ue^ic^  Scott 
and  Ballantyne  to  assist  him  on  thi^  occisiun  by 
some  advance  of  money,  or  if  t^at  should  bi^  incon- 
venient, by  the  use  of  their  credit.  They  were  both 
▼ery  anxious  to  serve  him,  but  Sir  W^iltfr  haiJ  a 
poor  opinion  of  speculations  in  theatrical  property, 
and,  moreover,  entertained  suspicions,  too  well 
justified  by  the  result,  that  Terrf  was  not  much 
qualified  for  conducting  the  pecuniary  part  of  such 
a  business.  Ultimately  BallantyneJ  who  shared 
these  scruples,  became  Terry's  secunty  for  a  consi- 
derable surfi  (I  think  X500,)  and  Sir  Walter  pledg- 
ed his  credit  in  like  manner  to  the  extent  of  j£1290. 
He  had,  in  the  seauel,  to  pay  off  both  this  sum  and 
that  for  which  Ballantyne  had  engaged. 

Several  letters  were  interchanged  before  Terry 
received  the  support  ho  had  requested  from  his 
Scotch  friends ;  and  I  must  extract  two  of  Sir  Wal- 
ter's The  first  is,'  in  my  opinion,  when  considered 
with  reference  to  the  time  at  which  it  was  written, 
and  the  then  near  though  unforeseen  result  of  the 
writer's  own  commercial  speculations,  as  remark- 
able a  document  as  was  ever  penned.  It  is,  more- 
over, full  of  shrewd  and  curious  suggestions  touch- 
ing theatrical  affairs  in  general— from  the  highest 
to  the  lowest.  The  second  is,  at  least,  a  specimen 
of  friendly  caution  and  delicate  advice  mostmimita-. 
biy  characteristic  of  Scott. 

TaDanUl  Terry  ^  Ewq..,  Loncbn, 

"  Edinburgh,  Hay  6th,  1825. 
**  My  Dear  Terry, 

*'I  received  your  long  confidendial  letter;  and  as 
Che  matter  is  in  every  respect  important,  I  have  given  it 
my  anzlons  consideration.    The  plot  is  a  good  plot,  ahd 

?ie  friends,  though  I  know  them  only  by  your  report,  are, 
doabt  not,  good  firienda,  and  full  of  expectation.  There 
are,  however,  two  particnlara  unlkvourable  to  all  thea- 
trical speculationa,  and  of  which  you  are  probably  better 
aware  than  1  am.  The  first  is,  that  every  acheme  de- 
peaiding  on  public  caprice  must  be  irregular  in  its  re* 
toma.  I  remember  John  Kerable,  complaining  to  me  of 
Harry  Siddoiis'  anxlona  and  hypochonariac  fears  about 
his  Edlnbaigh  concern,  said,  'He  does  not  consider  that 
no  theatre  whatever  can  be  considered  a.^  a  regular 
aoarce  of  income,. but  must  be  viewed  aa  a  lottery,  at 
ooa  tima  strikiiigly  soosesafal,  at  another  a  total  fidiore.' 


Now  this  affaeta  your  scheme  in  two  ways.    Flnt|  yoa 
can  hardly  expect,  I  fear,  your  returns  to  be  so  rsgulac 
every  aaaaon,  even  though  your  (Calculation  l>e  Juat  aa  to 
the  recent  average.    And,  secondly,  you  mast  secure 
some  fond,  either  of  money  or  credit,  to  meet  those 
blanka  and  bad  aeaaona  which  must  occaaaionally  occur. 
The  beat  busineaa  ia  ruined  when  it  becomes  pinched 
for  money,  and  geta  into  the  circle  of  discounting  bills, 
and  baying  necessary  articles  at  high  prices  and  of  infe* 
rior  quality,  for  the  aake  of  long  credit.    1  own  your  plan 
would  have  appeared  to  me  more  solid,  though  less  splen^ 
did,  if  Mr.  Jones,  or  any  other  monied  man,  had  retained 
one-half  or  one-third  of  the  adventure  ;  for  every  apecu- 
lation  requires  a  certain  command  of  money,  and  cannot 
be  conducted  with  any  phiuaibiUty  upon  creoit  alone.    It 
ia  eaay  to  make  it  feasible  on  mper,  but  the  times  of  pay- 
ment arrive  to  a  certainty.    Thoae  of  aupply  are  leas 
certain,  and  cannot  be  made  to  meet  the  aemanda  with 
the  eame  accuracy.    A  month'a  difference  between  de- 
mand and  receipt  makes  loss  of  credit ;  k>as  of  credit  ia 
in  aach  a  case  ruin.    I  would  advise  you  and  Mr.  Yatea 
to  consider  this,  and  sacrifice  some  view  of  profit  to  ob- 
tain stability  by  the  assistance  of  aome  monied  man — a 
claas  of  whom  many  are  in  your  great  city  just  gaping 
for  such  an  opportunity  to  lay  ouica-shlo  advantage. 
This  difficulty,  tne  want  of  iplid  caah,  ia  an  obatacla  to  all 
attempta  whatsoever ;    but  there  is  something,  it  would 
seem,  peculiarly  difliculi  in  managing  a  theatre.    AU  who 
practise  the  fine  arts  in  any  department  are,  from  the 
very  temperament  necessary  to  success,  more  irritable, 
jealoua,  and  capricious  than  other  man  made  up  of  hea- 
vier elements  ;  but  the  jealousy  among  players  Is  signal- 
ly active,  because  their  very  persons  are  broucht  hito 
direct  comparison,  and  from  the  crown  of  the  nead  to 
the  sole  of  the  foot  they  are  pitted  by  the  public  in  ex* 
press  rivahry  against  each  other.    Besidea,  greatly  as  the 
profession  has  risen  in  character  of  late  years,  theatrical 
talent  must  still  be  found  frequently  allied  with  imperfect 
general  education,  low  habits,  and  sometimes  the  follies 
and  vices  wliich  arise  out  of  them.    All  this  makes,  I 
should  think,  a  theatre  very  difficult  to  manage,  and  liable 
lo  audden  checks  when  your  cattle /i&6  or  do  not  work 
kindly.    I  think  you  have  much  of  the  talent  to  manage 
this ;  ind  bating  a  little  inddence,  which  you  c^  alwaya 
conquer  when  you  have  a  mind  and  a  motive,  Mnow  no 
one  whose  taste,  temper,  and  good  sense  make  him  more 
Kkely  to  gain  and  secure  the  necessary  influence  over 
the  performers.    But  ilfaut  de  Pargent—yoM  must  be 
careful  in  vour  situation,  that  a  check  ahall  not  throw 
you  on  the  Sreakcrs,  and  for  this  there  is  no  remedjf  but 
a  handsome  provision  of  the  blunt    This  is  the  second 
particular,  I  think,  unfavourable  to  undertakings  of  a 
theatrical  description,  and  against  which  I  would  wiah  to 
see  you  guarded  by  a  mure  ample  fund  than  your  plan  in- 
volves. , 

"  You  have  of  course  ascertained  from  the  books  of  the 
theatre  that  the  returns  of  receipts  arc  correct ;  but  I  see 
no  provision  made  for  wear  and  tear  of  stock,  expense  of 

f^eUing  up  new  pieces.  Ac.  which,  in  such  an  undertak- 
Dg,  must  be  considerable.  Perhaps  it  is  included  in  the 
charge  of  £d6  per  night ;  but  if  not,  it  seems  to  me  that 
it  will  materinllv  alter  your  calculations  for  the  worse,  for 
you  are  naturallv  disposed  to  be  liberal  in  such  expens- 
es, and  the  pubOc  wfll  expect  it  Without  baits  the  fish 
cannot  be  caught  I  do  not  state  these  particulars  IVom 
any  wish  to  avoid  assisting  you  in  this  undertaking ;  much 
the  contrary.  If  I  saw  the  prospect  of  your  getUng  fair- 
Jy  on  the  wing,  nothing  could  give  mc  nu)re  pleasure  than 
to  assist  lo  the  extent  of  my  means,  and  I  shall  only,  in 
that  case,  regret  that  they  are  at  present  more  limited 
than  I  could  wish  by  circumstances  which  1  will  present- 
ly tell  you.  But  I  should  not  like  to  see  you  take  flight, 
like  the  ingenious  mechanist  in  Rasselas— only  to  flutter  . 
a  few  yards,  and  fall  into  the  lake.  This  would  be  a  most 
heart-breaking  business,  and  would  hang  like  a  millstone 
about  your  neck  for  all  your  life.  Capital  and  talent  wilt 
do  excellent  things  togetlier ;  but  depend  on  it,  talent 
without  capital  will  no  more  carry  on  an  extensive  and 
progressive  undertaking  of  this  nature  than  a  race-horse 
will  draw  a  Newcastle  waggon.  Now,  I  cannot  at  praaent^ 
assist  you  with  ready  money,  which  is  the  great  object 
in  your  undertaking.  This  year  has  been,  owing  to  many 
reasons,  the  heaviest'of  my  expenditure,  and  the  least 
fruitful  of  profit,  because  various  anxieties  attending 
WalterHi  marriage,  and  feasting,  Ac.  afler  it,  have  kept 
me  from  my  usual  lucrative  labours.  l£  has  no  doubt 
been  a  most  advantageous  concern,  for  he  has  got  an 
amiable  girl,  whom  he  lovea,  and  who  is  warmly  attached 
to  him,  with  a  very  considerable  fortune.  Bat  !  have  had 
to  find  cash  for  the  purchase  of  a  troop  for  him— about 
£3500 :  item,  the  bride's  jewels  and  ao  forth,  becoming 
her  situation  and  fortune,  JC500 :  item,  for  a  remotmt  to 
him  on  Joininf  his  regiment  equipage  for  quarters,  car* 
riage,  and  other  things,  that  they  may  tmer  Ufe  with  a  ' 


4M 


UFZ  OP  Sm  WjOiTER  SGOTT. 


fr«e  ineomoi  £1000  at  least  Moreover,  I  am  a  sharer  to 
the  extent  or  xI500  on  a  railroad,  which  will  bring  coala 
and  lime  here  at  half  price,  and  double  the  rent  of  the 
arable  part  of  mr  property,  but  is  dead  outiaj  in  the 
.  meantime ;  and  I  have  shares  in  the  oil-gas,  and  other 
promising  concerns,  not  having  resisted  the  mania  of  the 
day,  though  I  have  yieJded  to  it  but  soberty ;  also.  I  have 
Uie  dregs  of  Abbotsford  House  to  pay  for— and  alJ  besides 
my  usual  considerable  expenditure  ;  so  I  must  look  for 
aome  months  to  be  put  to  every  comer  of  my  saddle.  I 
could  not  let 'my  son  marry  her  like  a  beggar;  but,  in 
the  mean-time.  I  am  lilce  my  namesake  in  the  days  of  the 
crusades— Walter  the  Penniless. 

"  Every  one  grumbles  at  his  own  profession,  but  here 
is  the  devil  of  a  calling  for  you,  where  a  man  pays  £3000 
for  an  annuity  of  X400  a-year  and  less— renounces  his 
freewill  in  almost  every  respect ;— must  rise  at  five  every 
morning  to  see  horses  curried— <lare  not  sleep  out  of  a 
particular  town  without  the  leave  of  a  cross  Colonel,  who 
is  often  disposed  to  refuse  it  merely  because  he  has  the 
power  to  do  so ;  and,  last  of  all,  may  be  sent  to  the  most 
unhealthy  climates  to  die  of  the  rot,  or  be  shot  like  a 
black-cock.  There  is  a  per  contra,  to  be  sure — fine 
clothes  and  fame  ;  but  the  first  must  be  paid  for  and  the 
other  is  not  come  by  bv  one  out  of  the  hundred.  I  shall 
be  anxious  to  know  what  you.  are  able  to  do.  Your  rear 
dj  is  the  devil. 

*The  thing  may  to-morrow  be  all  In  your  power, 
But  the  money,  gadzooks,  must  be  paid  in  hour.' 

If  you  were  once  set  arolUng,  time  would  come  round 
with  me,  and  then  I  should  be  able  to  help  yon  a  little 
more  than  at  present.  Mean-while,  I  am  willing  to  help 
you  with  my  credit  by  becoming  one  of  your  guarantees 
to  thft  extent  of  jei250. 

"  But  wliat  I  am  most  anxious  about  is  to  know  how 
Toa  raise  the  £5000  cash  :  if  by  bills  and  discounts,  I 
beg  to  sTjr  I  must  decline  having  to  do  with  the  business 
at  all ;  lor  besides  the  immense  expense  of  renewals, 
that  mode  of  raising  money  is  always  liable  to  some  sud- 
den check,  Which  uirows  you  on  your  back  at  once,  and 
I  should  then  have  hurt  myself  and  deprived  myself  of 
the  means  of  helping  you  sonlo  other  way.  If  you  can 
get  such  anum  in  loan  for  a  term  of  years  certain,  that 
would  do  well.  Still  better,  I  think,  could  you  get  a  inon- 
led  partner  In  the  concern  to  pay  the  sum  down,  and  hold 
some  £2000  more  ready  for  current  expenses.  I  wish  to 
know  whether  in  the  jC36  for  nightly  expenses  you  in- 
clude vour  own  salary,  within  which  you  would  probabl/ 
think  It  prudent  to  restrain  your  own  expenses,  at  least 
for  a  year  or  two ;  for,  believing  as  I  do,  that  your  calcu- 
lation of  £70  per  night  (five  per  cent  on  the  outlay)  is  ra- 
ther sanguine,  I  would  like  to  know  that  your  own  and  Mr. 
Yates's  expenses  were  provided  for,  so  as  to  leave  the 
receipts,  whatever  they  mav  be,  free  to  answer  tbe  bur- 
dens. It  they  do  so,  you  will  have  great  reason  to  be  con- 
tented. I  need  not  add  that  Theodore  Hook's  assistance 
win  be  impayable.  On  the  whole,  my  apprehenjtion  l.s 
for  want  of  money  hi  the  outset  Should  you  either  start 
with  marked  success,  or  have  friends  sufficient  to  carry 
on  at  some  disadvantage  for  a  season  or  two,  1  should 
have  little  fear  ;  but  great  attention  and  regularity  will  be 
necessary.  You  arc  no  great  accountxmt  yourself,  any 
moie  than  I  am,  but  I  trust  Mr.  Yates  is.  All  rests  with 
prudence  and  management  Murray  Is  making  a  fortime 
for  his  sister  and  familv  on  the  very  bargain  which  Sid- 
dons,  poor  feUow,  could  not  have  sustained  for  two  years 
longer.  If  I  have  seemed  more  cautious  in  this  matter 
than  you  might  expect  from  my  sincere  regard  for  you, 
it  is  because  caution  is  as  necessary  for  yon  as  myself ; 
and  I  assure  vou  I  think  as  deeply  on  your  account  as 
on  my  own.  I  beg  kind  compUinents  to  Mrs.  Terry,  and 
Inclose  a  look  oimy  gray  hair,  which  Jane  desired  me 
to  send  you  for  some  brooch  or  clasp  at  Hamlet's.— Ever 
yours,  very  truly, 

Waltbr  Scott." 

To  the  Same. 

"  My  dear  Terry, 

"  You  have  long  ere  this  heard  from  honest  James 
that  he  accedes  to  your  proposal  of  becoming  one  of  your 
sureties.  I  did  not  think  it  right  in  the  first  instance 
either  to  encourage  or  deter  him  from  taking  this  step, 
but  sent  him  the  whole  correspondence  upon  the  subject, 
that  he  might  judi|e  for  himself,  and  I  fancy  he  conclud- 
ed that  his  own  risk  of  loss  was  not  by  any  means  in  pro* 
portion  to  your  (air  prospect  of  advantage. 

*^  There  is  an  idea  among  some  of  your  acquaintance, 
which  1  partly  acquiesce  Ui,  that  you  are  in  general 
■omewhat  of  a  procraatinator.  I  believe  I  have  noticed 
the  same  thing  myself;  but  then  I  consider  it  the  habit 
of  one  accustomed  to  alternations  of  severe  exertion  and 
great  tndoleivce ;  and  I  have  no  doubt  that  it  will  give 


place  to  tbe  necessity  of  foUowtac  oat  a  regoltf,  sUtad» 
and  daily  businese— where  every  hour  bringa  its  own  p6> 
cuUar  dutiea,  and  you  feel  yourself  like  the  maiteaich 
compelled  to  be  tn  to  time.  I  know  such  routine  ahvsjn 
cures  me  of  the  habit  of  indolence,  which,  on  other  oee»* 
sions,  I  give  way  to  aa  much  as  any  man.  This  objecttoB 
to  the  success  which  all  agree  is  in  your  own  power,  I 
have  heard  coupled  >vlth  another,  which  is  also  founded 
on  close  observation  of  vour  character,  and  connected 
with  an  excellent  point  of  it ;  it  is  that  you  will  be  too  de- 
sirous to  do  things  perfectly  well— to  consider  the  petite 
economie  necessary  to  a  very  extensive  undertaklx^. 
This,  however,  is  easily  guarded  against.  I  remember 
Mrs.  John  Kemble  telling  me  how  much  she  had  saved  by 
degrading  some  unfortunate  figurantes  Into  paper  Teinr 
and  ruflles.  I  think  it  was  a  round  sum,  and  without 
going  such  lengths,  I  fear  severer  economy  than  one 
would  like  to  practice  is  essential  to  making  a  theatre 
profitable.  Now,  I  have  mentioned  the  only  two  personal 
circumstances  which  Induce  envy  to  lift  hervolce  against 
your  prospects.  1  think  it  right  you  should  know  them, 
for  there  is  something  to  be  considered  in  both  narticn- 
lars ;  I  would  not  mention  them  till  the  affair  was  nntsbed, 
because  I  would  not  have  you  think  I  was  sheltering  my- 
self under  such  apoloffies.  That  the  perils  riKLnc  out  of 
them  are  not  formidaole  in  my  eyes,  I  have  sufficiently 
shown;  and  I  think  it  right  to  mention  them  now.  I 
know  I  need  not  apologize  for  my  frankness,  nor  will 
you  regard  it  either  as  an  undue  exercise  of  the  privilefe 
of  an  adviser,  or  an  abuse  of  the  circumstances  in  which 
this  matter  has  placed  us.— Yours  ever,  with  best  love  to 
Mrs.  Terry  and  Watt, 

W. 


While  this  business  of  Terry's  was  under  coxiMd- 
eration,  Scott  asked  me  to  go  out  with  him  od« 
Saturday  to  Abbotsford,  to  meet  Gonstable  and 
James  Ballaatyae,  who  were  to  be  there  for  a  quiet 
consultation  on  some  projects  of  great  importance. 
I  had  shortly  before  assisted  at  a  minor  conclaTo 
held  at  Constable's  villa  of  Polton,  and  was  not 
8ii*|.r'>rf^  that  Sir  Wfl!t«r  should  hav'"  cf>Tnid(»T^ 
hi-;  jniblUlior'^.iiL'w  pli-iiiJ  worthy  uf  vtry  aiiTple  de- 
li! i;  rLiiion.  Up  ncjw  opened  Jbem  in  mor^  mln^sa 
of  [i  taiT^  und  explained  his  viewa  in  n  maiini^ir  ibit 
miL;ht  well  excite  ediiiiraUQn,  not  unmiiiHl  wttk 
alorm.  Constable  vtna  meditaiini*  noiKitiff  Um 
itnin  a  tomi  rtvohinon  ia  ihe  sin  and  traffic ^of 
bcMik^elhn^^nnii  tht?  eJcukin^nnH  blazing  fa ncj^  with 
Willi  h  hi  totpanded  atid  embelEJahid  Uii  wtons  of 
sur.esB,  hiiherio  undresimt  of  in  ihti'  phiJofaphj  of 
th  uade,  migh  r  etliM)  have  indaced  s^noiia  «itsf)(Cioos 
of  ]iis  suniiy,  but  fcir  iht;  curious  accunmlaticmlif 
pti:  i^nunt  fact^  on  which  ho  rcsti^d  hie  |ustiflcJii|Q»1V| 
aiiU  ?ho  ik'xuroii*  aagijcjtv  with  whkh  h*»tmeo*wd 
his  practical  infpretic«s.  He  stariicd  u^  at  ihe  (mt^ 
set  by  saying,  "  Literary  /;enm8  may,  or  may  not, 
have  done  its  best :  but  pnnting  and  bookselling,  as 
instruments  for  enlightening  and  entertaining  man- 
kind, and,  of  course,  for  making  money,  are  as  yet 
in  mere  infancy.  Yes,  the  trade  are  in  their  cradle.*' 
Scott  eyed  the  florid  bookseller's  beaming  cotmte- 
nance,  and  the  solemn  ^are  with  which  theequaOf 
portly  printer  was  listening,  and  pushing  round  the 
bottles  with  a  hiearty  chuckle,  bade  me  Give  our 
twa  eonsie  babbies  a  drap  mother's  milk."  Consta- 
ble sucked  in  fresh  inspiration,  and  proceeded  to 
say  that,  wild  as  we  might  think  him,  his  new  plans 
had  been  suggested  by,  and  were  in  fact  mainl/ 
grounded  upon,  a  sufficiently  prosaic  authority— 
namely,  the  annual  schedule  of  assessed  taxes,  a 
a  copy  of  which  interesting  dooumdnt  he  drew  from 
his  pocket,  and  substituted  for  his  Z/Oy/ey.  It 
was  copiously  diversified,  "  text  and  margent,"  by 
figures  and  calculations  in  his  own  hanawntinir, 
which  I  for  one  should  have  regarded  with  less 
reverence,  bad  I  known  at  the  lime  this  "great 
arithmetician's"  rooted  aversion  and  contempt  for 
all  examination  of  his  own  balance-shcet  His 
lecture  on  these  columns  and  ciphers  was,  however, 
as  profound  as  ingenious.  He  had  taken  vast 
pains  to  fill  in  the  numbers  of  persons  who  might 
fairly  be  supposed  to  pay  taxes  for  each  separate 
article  of  luxury;  and  nis  conclusion  was,  that  the 
immense  majority  of  British  families,  endowed  with 
liberal  fortunes,  had  never  jfet  conceived  the  rs-' 
rootest  idea  that  their  domestic  arrangements  were 
mcomplete,  unlesa  they  expended  some  conaideia 


^  UPE  OF  SIR  WALTER  SCOTT.  4» 

Die  mim  anauallv  upoa  the  purchase  of  books,  i  thinkms  seriouily  of  turning  my  hand  to  history. 
"Take,"  said  he,  this  one  absurd  and  cootempti-  I  am  or  opinion  that  historical  writing;  has  no  more 
ble  iUm  of  the  tax  on  hair-powder;  the  use  of  ii  is  ,  been  adapted  to  the  demands  of  the  increased  cir- 
almost  entirely  Kone  out  of  fashion.    Bating  a  few   clos  among  which  literature  does  already  find  itn 

E arsons'  and  lawyers'  wit;£s  it  may  be  said  that  way,  than  you  allege  as  to  the  shape  and  price  of 
air-powder  is  confined  to  ihe, flunkeys,  and  indeed  books  in ^neral.  What  say  vou  to  taking  ino  field 
to  the  liverj'  servants  of  great  and  splendid  houses  with  a  Lile  of  the  other  Napoleon  ?" 
exclusively;  nay,  in  many  even  of  these,  it  is  al- 1  The  reader  does  not  need  to  be  told  that  the  se- 
rea  ty  ciuiie  laid  aside.  Neverlhele?'s,  for  each  head  i  ries  of  cheap  volumes,  subsequently  issued 'under 
thus  vilifial  in  Great  Britain, fe  guinea  is  paid  yearly  I  the  title  of.  '^Constable's  Miscellany,"  was  the 
to  the  Exchequer ;  and  the  taxes  in  th^it  schedule  I  scheme  on  which  this  great  bookseller  was  brood- 
are  an  army,  compare  I  to  the  purchasers  of  even  •  ins;.  Before  he  left  Abbotsford,  it  was  arranged  that 
the  best  and  most  popular  of  books."  lie  went  on  ,  the  first  number  of  this  collection  should  consist 
in  the  same  vein  about  armorial  bearings,  hunters,  of  one  half  of  Waverley;  the  second,  of  the  first 
racers,  and  four-wheeled  carriages;  and  having  i  section  of  a  "Life  of  Napoleon  BuQjiaparte,  by  the 
demonstrated  that  hundreds  of  thousands  in  this  1  author  of  Waverley;"  that  this  Life  should  becom- 
magnificent  country  held,  as  necessary  to  their  per-  ,  pr.ded  in  four  of  these  numbers:  and  that,  until  the 
aonal  comfort  and  the  maintenance  of  decern  sta-  whole  scries  oi  his  novels  should  have  been  issued, 
tbn,  articles  upon  articles  of  costly  elegance,  of  {  a  volume  every  second  month,  in  this  new  and  un- 
which  t'aeir  forefathers  never  dreamt,  said  that,  on  i  costly  form,  he  should  keep  the  Ballantyne  press 
the  whole,  however  usual  it  was  to  talk  of  the  ex-  •  going  with  a  series  of  historical  works,  to  be  issued 
tended  scale  of  literary  transactions  in  modern  •  on  the  alternate  months.  Such  were,  as  far  as 
days,  our  self-love  never  deceived  us  more  grossly  !  Scott  was  concerned,  the  first  outlines  of  a  daring 
than  when  we  fancied  our  notions  as  to  the  matter  I  plan  never  destined  to  be  carried  into  execution  on 


plays,  contemptible  as  wo  hold  it  to  have  been,  in  i  olutions  that  Uterary  history  will  ever  have  to  re- 
the  lime  of  Elizabeth  and  James,  was  more  credit-    cord— a  revolution  not  the  less  sure  to  be  completed, 


able  to  the  classes  who  reallv  induced  in  any  sort 
of  elegance  then,  than  the  sale  of  ChiWe  Harold  or 
Waverley,  triumphantly  as  people  talk,  is  to  the  al- 


though as  yet,  after  the  lapse  of  twelve  years,  we  see 
only  Its  be;^innings. 
Some  circumstances  in  the  progress  of  the  Tales 


Ic^ed  expansion  of  taste  and  intelligence  in  this  of  the  Crusaders,  begun  some  months  before,  and 
niifieenth  century."  Scott  helped  him  on  by  inter- 1  now  on  the  eve  of  publication,  must  have  been  up- 
posing,  that  at  that  moment  he  had  a  rich  valley  i  permost  in  Scott's  mind  when  he  met  Constable  b 
crowded  with  handsome  houses  under  his  view,  I  proposals  on  this  occasion  with  so  much  alacrity, 
and  yet  much  doubled  whether  any  laird  within  ten  |  The  story  of  77i«  i5e/ro/Acc/— (to  which  he  was  main- 
miles,  spjint  ten  pounds  per  annum  on  the  hterature  i  ly  prompted  by  the  lively  and  instructing  conversa- 
of  the  day— which  he,  of  course,  distinguished  from  j  tion  on  Welch  history  and  antiquities  of  his  friend 
its  periodical  press.  "  No,"  said  Constable,  "  there  )  Archdeacon  Williams)— found  no  favour  as  it  ad- 
is  no  market  among  tliem  that's  worth  one's  think-  j  vanced  with  James  Ballantyne;  and  so  heavily  did 
ing  about.  They  are  contented  with  a  review,  or  a  j  the  critical  printer's  candid  remonstrances  weigh  on 
ma:<azine,  or  at  best  with  a  paltry  subscription  to  |  the  author,  that  he  at  length  lost  heart  about  the  mat- 
■ome  circulating  library  forty  miles  off.  But  if  1 '  tor  altogether,  and  determined  to  cancel  it  for  ever, 
live  for  half-a-dozen  years,  I'll  make  it  as  impossi-  j  The  tale,  however,  all  but  a  chapter  or  two,  had 
ble  that  there  should  not  bo  a  good  library  in  every  i  been  printed  off,  and  both  publisher  and  printer 
decent  house  in  Britain  as  that  the  shepherd's  ingle- ;  paused  about  committing  such  a  mass  to  the  names, 
nook  should  want  the  saut  poke.    Ay,  and  what's  |  The  sheets  were  hung  up  meanwhile  in  Messrs. 


that  T'  he  continued,  warming  and  puffirf 
should  the  ingle-nook  itself  want  a  she  i 
novels'?"    "1  see  your  drift,  my  man," 
Walter,  "  you're  for  being  like  Billv  Pitt  i;   « 
print — you  want  to  get  into  the  salt-box  .  j 

Yes.    he  responded  (using  a  favourite  a|; 

'"  I  have  hitherto  been  thinking  only  o' 


hy  I  Ballaniyne's  warehouse,  and  Scott,  roused  by  the 
he  ,  spur  of  disappointment,  began  another  story— The 
Sir  ]  Talisman— m  which  Jahies  hailed  better  omens. 
y's  I  His  satisfaction  went  on  increasing  as  the  MS. 
,L"  fiowed  in  upon  him;  and  he  at  last  pronounced  The 
m)  I  Talisman  such  a  masterpiece,  that  The  Betrothed 

_  ,  -  -  ^  -  „  -  ax  i  might  venture  under  its  wing.    Sir  Walter  was  now 

lights,  but  before  I'm  a  twelvemonth  older  I  shall  I  reluctant  on  that  subiect.  and  said  he  would  rather 
have  mv  hand  upon  the  tallow."  ** Troth,"  says  write  two  more  novels  than  the  few  pages  neces- 
Scott,  You  are  indeed  likely  to  be  *The  grand  Na-  sary  to  complete  his  unfortunate  Betrothed.  But 
poleon  of  the  realms  of  rrtn/.' "  "If  you  outlive  while  he  hesitated,  the  German  newspapers  an- 
mc,"  says  Constable,  with  a  regal  smile,  "I  bespeak  nounced  "a  ?icw  romanct  hy  the  author  of  Waver' 
that  line  for  my  tomb-stone ;  but,  in  the  mean  time,  I  lerf*  as  about  to  issue  from  the  press  of  Leipsig. 
may  I  presume  to  ask  you  to  be  my  right-hand  man  |  There  was  some  ground  for  suspecting  that  a  set 
when  I  open  my  campaign  of  Marengo  7  I  have  of  the  suspended  sheets  might  have  been  purloined 
nosv  settled  my  outHne  of  operations— a  three  shil-   and  sold  to  a  pirate,  and  this  consideration  put  an 


end  to  his  scruples.  And  when  the  German  did 
publish  the  fabrication  entitled  WaUadmorj  it  could 
no  longer  be  doubtful  that  some  reader  of  Scott's 
sheets  tiad  communicated  at  least  the  fact  that  he 
was  breaking  ground  in  Wales. 

Early  in  June,  then,  the  Tales  of  the  Crusaders 
were  put  forth  \  and,  as  Mr.  Ballantyne  had  pre- 


ling  or  half-crown  volume  every  month,  which 
must  and  shall  sell,  not  by  thousands  or  tens  of 
thousands,  but  by  hundreds  of  thousands— ay,  by 
millions  1  Twelve  volumes  in  the  yeac,  a  halfpenny 
of  profit  upon  every  copy  of  which  wril  make  me 
rict^"  than  the  possession  of  all  the  copyrights  of 

all  Pv^  quartos  that  ever  were,  or  will  be.  not-pres»>  wcic  um  luim  \  auu,  as  wi.  x^auamyiici  uau  v^v- 
cd!  Twelve  volumes,  so  good  that  millions  mu.st '  dieted,  the  brightness  of  theTaUsman  dazzled  the 
wish  to  have  them,  and  so  cheap  that  every  butch-  .  eyes  of  the  million  as  to  the  defects  of  the  twin- 
er's callant  may  have  them,  if  he  pleases  to  let  me  I  story.  Few  of  these  publications  had  a  more  en- 
tax  him  sixpence  a- week!"  ^  thusiastic  greeting ;  and  Scott's  literary  plans  were, 
Many  a  previous  consultation,  and  many  a  soli-  as  ihe  reader  will  see  reason  to  infer,  considerably 
tary  meditation,  too,  prompted  Scott's  answer.  I  modified  in  consequence  of  the  new  burst  of  ap- 
"Vour  plan,"  said  he,  "cannot  fail,  provided  the!  plause  which  attended  the  brilliant  procession  of 
books  bo  really  good,  but  you  must  not  start  until  his  Saladin  and  Cceur  deLion. 
you  have  not  only  the  lea«Qng  columns,  but  depth  |  To  return  for  a  moment  to  our  merry  conclave  at 
upon  depth  of  reserve  in  thorough  order.  I  am  will- 1  Abbotsford.  Constable's  vast  chapter  of  embryo 
ins  to  do  my  part  in  this  grana  enterprise.  Often,  i  schemes  was  discussed  more  leisurely  on  thefollow- 
oflate,  have  I  fell  that  the  vein  of  fiction  was  nearly  ing  Monday  morning  when  we  drove  to  the  crags  of 
worked  out;  often,  as  you  all  know,  have  I  been  I  Smailholm  and  the  Abbey  of  Dryburgh,  both  poet  and 


LIFE  OP  SIR  WALTER  SCOTT. 


pablishcr  taUdnR  over  the  past  and  the  future  course  ,  ^7  of  »<^«»«7  ^^  ^u'^^^y!!!^^^^  iSS^^^S^ 
5f  their  lives,  aSd  agreeing,  as  far  as  I  could  pene-  ?^^<*^,rScSe%  oJS  Ta^SetXmy  o^S^r^SlSSd; 
trate,  that  the  years  to  come  were  hkcly  to  be  more  |  JJhoui  appciingto  such  halting  astiiunta, 
prosperous  than  any  they  had  as  yet  seen.  .  In  the  .  ^  .  ^  .v     .v 

evening,  too,  ^his  being  his  friend^s  first  visit  smce  'Whom  I  have  used  for  aport,  rather  thai 


r  than  need' 


the  mansion  nad  been  completed,  Scott  Unougn  •]  _iyjii  i^y  my  foundations  better  than  on  qwicitsands— I 
there  were  no  ladies  and  few  servants)  had  the  hall    win  rear  my  structure  of  belter  materials  than  painted 

and  library  Ughted  up,  that  he  might  show  hini  ,  cards ;  in  a  word,  1  will  write  History  !" 

every  thing  to  ihe  most  sparkling  advantage.  With  1  ;•  As  the  confusion  began. lo  abate,  more  than  one  roe m- 
what  serenity  did  he  walk  about  those  spendid  b^-r  of  the  meeting  u-as  seen  to  touch  his  forehead  si-- 
Tparlmlnts,  Lndlin^^  expounding  Srmour    nificantly,  while  Captain  Clutierbuck  humm'd, 


and  pictures,  and  rejoicing  in  the  Babylon  which  he 
had  built!  ,    .     .    ,.        . 

If  the  reader  has  not  recently  looked  mto  the  origi- 
nal Introduction  to  the  Tales  of  the  Crusaders,  it 
will  amuse  him  to  trace  in  that  little  exiravanza  Sir 


'  Be  by  your  friends  advised, 
Too  rash,  too  hasty,  dad, 
Maugre  your  bolls  and  wise  head. 
The  world  will  think  you  mad-' 

"  The  world,  and  you,  gentlemen,  may  think  what  you 


Walter's  own  embellishment  of  these  colloauies  please '' said  the  Chairman,  elevaUng  hia  Toice ;  *' but  I 
with  Constable  and  Ballantyne.  Thd  title  is,  "  Min-  intend  To  write  the  most  wonderful  book  which  the  world 
wtesof  Sederunt  of  the  Shareholders  designing  to  ever  read-a  book  in  which  every  incident  sha^lbcln- 
ftCrm  •  Inint  Sfnpk  PomDanv  united  for  Uie  Dur-  1  credible,  yet  strictly  true— a  work  recalling  recollections 
™  «?  w^?:n«  Inrf  PnhKSfiS^'  thp  Plnss  of  Works  ^vilh  which  the  eari  of  this  generaUon  once  Uncled,  and 
P°?i®  i*^.J^"ii?^  ^1  K'  „!li  Lm  Jn  .b!  W«tPrln^  which  shall  bc  read  by  our  children  with  an  at&nimtioQ 
called  the  Waverley  Novels,  held  in  the  Waterloo  I  caching  to  incredulity.  Such  shall  be  the  Line  of 
Tavern,  Regent  Bndge,  Edinburgh,  on  the  1st  of  j^Xpoleon  Buonaparte,  by  the  Author  of  Wavmlet!'" 
June,  1825."    The  notion  of  casting  a  preface  mto        ,.  „^  ,      ,  •  u     .  j  i         u  * 

thiS  form  could  hardlv  have  occurred  in  any  other  Sir  Walter  begun,  without  delay,  what  was  meant  , 
year  the  humourist  had  not  far  to  seek  for  his  '  to  be  a  very  short  preliminary  sketch  of  the  French 
^palpable  hit"  The  "Gentlemen  and  others  in-  Revolution,  pnorto  the  appearance  of  his  hero  upon 
lerested  in  the  celebrated  publications  called  the  j  the  scene  of  action.  This,  he  thought,  might  be 
Waverley  Novels,"  had  all  participated  in  the  gen-  done  a  most  currerUe  calamo ;  for  his  personal  re- 
eraldcusions  which  presented  so  broad  a  mark ;  t  collection  of  all  the  great  events  as  they  occurred 
and  their  own  proper  ^'  bubbles"  were  at  the  biggest !  was  viyid,  aifd  he  had  not  failed  to  peruse  evenr 
-^n  other  words,  near  enough  the  bursting.  1  book  of  aiiy  considerable  importance  on  these  sub- 

As  regards  Sir  Walter  hii^self,  it  is  not  possible  '  jects  as  it  issued  from  the  press.  He  apprehended 
now  to  recall  the  jocularities  of  this  essay  without  1  the  necessity,  on  the  other  hand,  of  more  labonous 
wonder  and  sadness.  His  own  share  in  specula-  study  in  the  way  of  reading  than  he  had  for  man v 
tions,  remote  from  literature,  was  not  indeed  a  very  years  had  occasion  for,  before  he  could  enter  with 
heavy  one ;  but  how  remarkible  that  a  passa^^e  like  advantage  upon  Buonaparte's  military  career ;  and 
the  following  should  have  dropped  from  his  pen,  '  Constable  accordingly  set  about  collecting  a  new 
who  was  just  about  to  see  the  apparently  earth- ,  library  of  prmted  materials,  which  c^^^ 
built  pillars  of  his  worldly  fortune  shattered  ift  ruin,  ;  day  to  day  pouring  m  upon  him,  till  bus  little  par- 
merely  because,  not  contented  with  being  the  first   lour  m  Castle  Street  looked  morejike  an  auction- 


author  of  his  age,  he  had  chosen  also  to  be  his  own 
printer  and  his  own  bookseller ! 

"In  the  patriarchal  period,"  we  read,  "a  man  is  his 
own  weaver,  uiilor,  butcher,  shoemaker,  and  so  forth; 
and,  in  the  age  of  Stock-companies,  as  the  present  may 
be  called,  an  Individual  may  be  said,  in  one  sense,  to 


eer's  premises  than  an  author's.  The  first  wagon 
delivered  itself  of  about  a  hundred  huge  foUos  of 
the  Moniteur;  and  London,  Paris,  Amsterdam,  and 
Brussels,  were  all  laid  under  contribution  to  meet 
the  bold  demands  of  his  magnificent  purveyor; 
while  he  himself  and  his  confidential  fneods  em- 


exercise  the  same  plurality  of  trades.  In  fact,  a  man  braced  every  possible  means  of  secunng  the  use  Of 
who  haf  dipt  largely  into  these  speculation?,  may  com- 1  written  documents  at  home  and  abroad.  The  rapid 
bine  his  own  expenditure  with  the  improvement  of  his  ;  accumulation  of  books  and  MSS.  was  at  once  flat- 
own  income,  just  like  the  jngenious  hydraulic  machi^,  tering  and  alarming;  and  one  of  his  notes  to  me. 
I...:.       s„^„  !,„  ,.       „.,r,«i.-.^ ,.  about  the  middle  of  J 


which,  by  its  very  waste,  raises  its  own  supplies  of  wa- 
ter. Such  a  person  buys  his  bread  from  his  oWn  Baking 
Company,  his  milk  and  cheese  from  his  own  Dairy  Com- 

Sny,  takes  off  a  nevfr  coat  for  the  benefit  of  his  own 
othing  Company,  illuminates  his  house  to  advance  his 
own  Gas  Establishment,  and  drinks  an  additional  bottle 
of  wine  for  the  benefit  of  the  General  Wine  Importation 
Company,  of  which  he  is  himself  a  member.  Every  act, 
which  would  otherwise  be  one  of  mere  extravagance,  is, 
to  such  a  person,  seasoned  with  the  odor  lucri,  arid  recon- 
ciled to  prudence.  Even  if  the  price  of  the  article  con- 
sumed be  extravagant,  and  tlie  quality  Indifl^erent,  the 
f>erson,  who  is  in  a  manner  his  own  cnstoiucr,  is  only 
mposed  upon  for  his  own  benefit.  Nay,  if  the  Joint- 
^ock  Company  of  Undertakers  shall  unite  with  the  Med- 
ical Faculty,  as  proposed  by  the  late  facetious  Doctor 

G ,  under  the  firm  of  Death  and  the  Doctor,  the 

shareholder  might  contrive  to  secure  to  his  heirs  a  hand- 
some slice  of  his  own  death-bed  and  funeral  expenses." 

Since  I  have  quoted  this  Introduction,  I  nriay  as 
well  give  also  the  passage  in  which  the  "Eidolon 
Chairman"  is  made  to  announce  the  new  direc- 
tion his  exertions  were  about  to  take,  in  furtherance 
of  the  grand  *'  Joint-stock  Adventure,"  for  which 
Constable  had  been  soliciting  his  alliance.  The  pa- 
ternal shadow  thu'i  addresses  his  mutinous  offspring 
— Cleishbothom, Oldbuck,  Clultcrbuck,  Dryasdust, 
and  the  rest  :— 

"  It  signifies  nothing  speaking— I  will  no  longer  avail 
myself  of  such  weak  ministers  as  you— I  will  discard  you 
—I  win  tmbegct  you,  as  Sir  Anthony  AbJ>lute  says— I  will 
leave  you  and  yonr  whole  hacked  slock  In  trade— your 
caverns  and  yonr  castles— your  modem  antiques,  and 
yonr  antiquated  moderns— your  confusion  of  times,  man* 
oars,  and  elrcuntstances— your  properties,  as  player-folk 


une,  had  these  rhymes  by  way 
of  postscript :~ 

"  MiHicn  with  Poetry  dealln* 

Hoom  enough  fn  a  shieling ; 

Neither  cabin  nor  hovel 

Too  small  for  a  noffel ; 

Though  my  back  I  should  rub 

On  Diogenes'  tub. 

How  my  fancy  could  prance 

la  a  dance  of  romance ! 

But  my  house  1  must  swap 

With  some  Brobdignag  chap. 

Ere  I  grapple,  God  bless  me  !  with  Emperor  Nap." 

In  the  mean  time  he  advanced  with  his  Introduc- 
tion :  and  catching  fire  as' the  theme  expanded  be- 
forp  him,  had  so  soon  several  chaptera  in  his  desk, 
wi  ill  lit  havtug  travelled  over  half  the  ground  as- 
si^iuH  Un  ilieiit^  that  Constable  saw  it  would  be  in 
vain  la  hope  for  lite  completion  of  the  work  within 
fou r  t in V  fl  uodecini oa.  They  resolved  that  it  ahotild 
be  ptibfished^  it)  ibe  first  mstance,  as  a  separate 
bcjcik.  in  four  vohimea,  of  the  same  size  with  the 
TakE^  cif  [he  Cruaudera,  but  with  more  pagea  and 
nlrtr^  IcMf^r  prces  to  each  page.  Scarcely  had  this 
hicn  ^lUleOt  before  it  became  obvious,  that  four 
sucli  ^  i)lumc»,  however  closely  printed;  would  never 
suffice ;  and  the  number  was  week  after  week  ex- 
tended—with coneaponding  alterations  aa  to  the 
rate  of  the  author's  payment.  Mr.  Constable  still 
considered  the  appearance  of  the  second  edition  t>f 
the  Life  of  Napoleon  in  his  Miscellany  as  the  great 
point  on  which  the  fortunes  of  that  undertaking 

*  8ee  Introdoetion  to  Varerier  Nowb.        « 


LIFE  OF  SIR  W;iLTER  SCOTT. 


were  to  torn ;  and  its  commencement  was  in  conse- 
ooence  adjourned ;  which,  however,  must  have  been 
the  case  at  any  rate,  as  he  found,  on  inquiry,  that 
the  stock  on  tiand  of  the  already  various  editions 
of  the  Waverley  Novels  was  much  greater  than  he 
had  calculated :  and  therefore  some  interval  must 
be  allowed  to  elapse  before,  with  fairness  to  the  re- 
tail trade,  he  could  throw  that  long  series  of  vol- 
umes into  any  cheaper  form. 


CHAPTER  LXIII. 
mxaamaios  to  ibeland— bbccption  in  dvblin — 

WICKLOW— EDOEWOBTH8TOWN— KILLABNEY— COBK 
— CASTLE  BLABNBT,  &C.— LETTEB8  PBOM  MOOBE 
AND  CANNING — LLANGOLLEN— ELLEBAY— flTOBBS— 
LOWTHEB,-— 1826.  * 

Before  the  Court  of  Session  rose  in  July,  Sir 
Walter  had  made  considerable  progress  m  his 
Sketch  of  the  French  Revolution :  out  it  was  agreed 
that  he  should  make  his  promised  excursion  to  Ire- 
land before  any  MS.  went  to  the  printers.  He  had 
seen  no  more  of  the  sister  island  than  Dunluce  and 
the  Giant's  Causeway,  of  which  we  have  his  impres- 
sions in  the  Lighthouse  Diary  of  1814— his  curiosity 
ab6ut  the  scenery  and  the  people  was  lively— and 
besides  the  ^reat  object  of  seeing  his  son  and  dau^li- 
ter-in-law  under  their  own  roof,  and  ih-  ^^nr  ^Iv  in- 
ferior pleasure  of  another  meeting  with  M  i  >  [ .  -;e* 
worth,  he  looked  forward  to  renewing  ti  -  >  ,;  u- 
ance  with  several  accomplished  pers(  I  n,  \%\i'  had 
been  serviceable  to  him  in  his  laoour^  i.  >ij  ■'^\\  ft. 
But,  illustriously  as  Ireland  has  contr  I'j'^ '^  i  '  'he 

English  Library,  he  had  always  been  a     ;  i  ->  i I  to 

hear  that  almost  no  books  were  now  pub  I ;  ^jj  .  i  i !  i'  re, 
and  fewer  sold  than  in  any  other  coumry  cnllmg 
itself  civilized ;  and  he  had  naturally  concludes  I  criat 
apathy  and  indifference  prevailed  as  '"'•  Hi.  m,, ire 
itself,  and  of  course  as  to  literary  men.  He  had  not, 
therefore,  formed  the  remotest  anlicipation  of  the 
kind  of  reception  which  awaited  him  in  Pubiin,  and 
indeed  throughout  the  island  wherever  he  traversed 
iL   .. 

On  the  day  after  he  despatched  the  following  let- 
ter, he  had  the  satisfaction  of  seeing  his  son  ga- 
zetted as  Captain. 

TV  Walter  Scott j  Esq.,  15/A  Husaan,  10,  Stephen's 
Oreerij  Dublin. 

''  Edinburgh,  16th  June,  1325. 
«  My  dear  Waller, 

-'  I  stiall  wait  with  some  impatience  for  this  night's  Ga- 
zette. I  have  written  to  Coutts  to  pay  the  money  so  soon 
as  Tou  are  in  i)osse8.4ton. 

*^On  Saturday,  11  ih,  1  went  to  Blair-Arlam,  and  had  a 
delicious  stroll  amqpg  the  woods.  The  roc-doer  are  lyinjt 
as  thick  there  as  in  the  Highland^:,  and,  I  dare  say,  they 
must  be  equally  so  at  Lochore  :  so  you  will  have  some  of 
the  high  game.  They  are  endeavoring  to  destroy  them, 
which  they  find  very  diiUcult.  It  is  a  pijy  they  do  so 
much  mischief  t«  the  woods,  for  otherwise  they  are  tlie 
most  beautiful  objects  in  nature ;  and  were  they  at  Ab- 
botsford,  I  could  not,  I  think,  have  the  heart,  to  make  war 
on  them.  Two  Lltle  fawns  came  into  the  room  at  tea- 
time  and  drank  cream.  They  had  the  most  beautiful  dark 
eyes  and  little  dark  muzzles,  and  were  scarce  so  bij  as 
Miss  Ferguson's  Ifalian  greyhound.  The  Chief  Commis- 
sioner offered  them  to  me, 'bat  to  keep  them  tame  would 
hftve  been  hDpos.4ible  on  account  of  the  dogs,  anil  to  turn 
them  loose  would  have  been  wilfully  entailing  risk  on  the 

EUntations  which  have  cost  me  so  much  money  and  trou- 
le.  There  was  then  a  talk  of  fattening  them  for  the 
kitchen,  a  proposal  which  would  have  driven  mamma  dis- 
tracted. 

"W-c  spent  Monday  on  a  visit  to  Ixichore,  and  in  plan- 
ning the  road  which  is  so  much  wanted.  The  Chief  Com- 
mlaaioner  is  an  excellent  manager,  and  has  undertaken  to 
treat  with  Mr.  Wemyss  of  East  Blair,  through  a  part  of 
whose  properly  the  line  lies,  but  just  at  a  corner,  and 
where  it  will  be  as  convenient  for  his  property  as  Lochore. 
"  1  UD  glad  Jane  looks  after  her  own  affairs.  It  is  very 
irksome,  to  be  sure  ;  but  then  one  must  do  it,  or  be  eaten 
up  by  their  servants,  like  Actieon  by  his  hounds.  Talk- 
ing of  hounds,  I  have  got  a  second  Maida,  but  be  is  not  yet 
arrived.    Nimrod  is  his  name. 

**  I  keep  my  purpose  aa  expressed  In  my  lart.  I  might, 
perhaps,  persuade  manuna  to  come,  but  she  is  unhappy 
In  steamboats,  bad  beds,  and  all  the  other  inconTenieDces 


oftraTeUlng.  Sir  Adam  and  Lady  Fenpison,  as  I  hoar, 
are  thinking  of  stirring  towards  you.  Ihope  they  will  al- 
low oiur  visit  to  be  over  in  the  first  instance,  as  it  would 
overtax  Jane  and  you— otherwise  1  should  like  to  see  the 
merry  knight  in  Ireland,  where  I  suppose  he  would  prove 
I2>si9  Hybernis  Ht/bernior,  more  Irish  than  the  natives. 

*'  I  have  given  Charles  his  choice  between  France  and 
Ireland,  and  shall  have  his  answer  in  two  or  three  davs. 
Will  he  be  de  trop  If  we  can  pack  him  up  in  the  little  ba- 
rouche 1 

"  Your  commentary  on  Sir  D.  Dundas's  confused  hash 
of  regulations,  which,  for  the  matter  of  prtuciple,  mi^hi  be 
shortened  to  a  dozen,  puts  me  in  mhid  of  old  ^r  William 
Eri^kine's  speech  to  him,  when  all  was  in  utter  confuiiion 
at  the  retreat  from  before  Dunkirk,  and  Sir  William  came 
down  to  protect  the  rear.  In  passing  Sir  David,  the 
tough  old  veteran  exclaimed, 'Davie,  ye  donnert  idiot, 
whore's  a'  yoxxr  peevioya  (pivots)  the  dav  V 

As  to  your  early  hours,  no  man  ought  to  be  in  bed  at 
seven  in  siunmer  time.  I  never  am  ;  your  four  oVIock  is 
rather  premature.— Yours,  with  kindest  remembrances 
to  Jane,  Walter  Scott." 

"  P.  S. — Yours  just  received,  dateless  as  the  former.  I 
suppose  it  is  a  family  fault.  What  I  have  written  mil 
show  that  the  cash  matters  are  bang-up.  A  comparison 
of  the  dates  will  show  there  has  been  no  voluntary  deUy 
on  my  pait ;  indeed,  what  motive  could  I  have  for  leaving 
money  without  interest  in  the  hands  of  a  I^oudon  banker  1 
But  we  are  corresponding  at  a  triangle,  when  you  write  to 
me  and  I  to  London.  I  will  write  to  Jane  to  scokl  her  for 
her  ladylike  fears  about  our  reception  ;  to  find  you  happy 
will  be  the  principal  part  of  my  welcome  ;  for  the  rest,  a 
slice  of  plain  meal  of  any  kind— a  cigar— and  a  Utile  po- 
t/ieen,  are  worth  turtle  and  Buraundy  to  my  taste.,    As  for 

poor  dear  stupid ,  there  Is  only  one  answer,  which 

the  clown  in  one  of  Shakspeare's  plays  savs  will  be  a  fitting 
reply  to  all  questions— Oa  Lord^  air ! !  I'' 

It  did  not  Suit  either  Lady  S^oti  or  her  eldest 
daughter  to  be  of  the  Irish  eiroedilion;  Anne  Scott 
and  myself  accompanied  Sir  Walter.  We  left  Edin- 
burgh on  the  8th  of  July  in  a  light  open  carriag;e, 
andafter  spending  a  few  days  among  our  friends  m 
Lanarkshire,  we  embarked  at  Glasgow  in  a  steamer 
for  Belfast.  Sir  Walter  kept  no  diary  during  this 
excursion,  and  the  bustle  and  tumult  throughout 
were  such  that  he  found  lime  to  write  but  very  few 
letters.  From  my  own  to  the  ladies  left  at  home,  I 
could  easily  draw  up  a  pretty  exact  journal  of  our 
proceedin{2[s ;  bull  shall  content  myself  with  noting 
a  few  particulars  more  immediately  connected  with 
the  person  of  Scott— for  I  am  very  sensible,  on  look- 
ing over  what  I  set  down  at  the  moment,  that  there 
was  hardly  opportunity  even  for  him  to  draw  any 
conclusions  Of  serious  value  on  the  structure  and 
ordinary  habits  of  society  in  Ireland,  to  say  nothing 
of  the  vexed  questions  of  politics  and  administra- 
tion; and  such  features  of  natural  beauty  and  his- 
torical interest  as  came  under  hisview.have  been 
painted  over  and  over  again  by  native  writers,  with 
whom  hasty  observers  should  not  be  ambitious  of 
competing. 

The  steamboat,  besides  a  crowd  of  passengers 
of  all  possible  classes,  was  lumbered  with  a  cargo 
offensive  enough  to  the  eye  and  the  tiostrils,  but  still 
more  disagreeable  from  the  anticipations  it  could  not 
fail  to  suggest.  Hardly  had  our  carriage  been  lashed 
on  the  aeck  before  it  disappeared  from  our  view 
amidst  mountainous  packages  of  old  clothes ;  the 
cast-off  raiment  of  tne  Scotch  beggars  was  on  its 
way  to  where  beggary  is  the  staple  of  life.  The 
captain  assured  us  that  he  had  navigated  nearly 
forty  years  between  the  West  of  Scotland  and  the 
sister  island,  and  that  his  freights  from  the  Clyde 
were  very  cogimonly  of  this  description ;  pigs  and 
potatoes  being  the  usual  return.  Sir  Walter  rather 
irritated  a  military  passen^r  (a  stout  old  High- 
lander,) by  asking  wiiether  it  had  never  occurred  to 
hijn  that  the  beautiful  checkery  of  the  clan  tartans 
might  have  originated  in  a  pious  wish  on  the  part  o*" 
the  Scottish  Gael  to  imitate  th<?  tatters  of  the  paren 
race.  After  soothing  the  veteran  into  good- humour, 
by  some  anecdotes  of  the  Celtic  splendours  of  Au, 
gust,  1822,  he  remarked  that  if  the  Scotch  High- 
landers were  really  descended  in  the  main  fiom  the 
Irish  blood,  it  seemed  to  him  the  most  curious  and 
difficult  problem  in  the  world  to  account  for  the 
startling  contrasts  in  so  many  points  of  their  chs* 


LIFE  OF  SIR  W^TER  SCOTT. 


488 

meter,  temper  and  demeanour ;  and  entered  into 
some  disquisition  on  this  subjeci,  which  I  am  sorry 
I  cannot  repeat  in  detail.  -The  sum  of  his  opinion 
was,  that  while  courage  and  generous  enthusiasm 
of  spirit,  kindness  of  heart,  and  great  strength  and 
puriiv  of  domestic  affection,  characterised  ihem 
equally,  the  destruction  in  the  course  of  endless 
feuds,  and  wars,  and  rebellions,  of  the  native  aris- 
tocracy of  Ireland,  had  robbed  that  people  of  most 
of  the  elements  of  internal  civilisation;  and  avowed 
his  belief  that  had  the  Highlanders  been  deprived, 
under  similar  circumstances,  of  their  own  chiefs, 
they  would  have  sunk,  from  the  natural  poverty  of 
their  regions,  into  depths  of  barbarity  not  exampled 
even  in  the  history  or  Ireland.  The  old  soldier  (who 
had  taken  an  earlv  opportunity  of  intimating  his 
"own  near  relationship  to  the  chief  of  his  sept)  nod- 
ded assent,  and  strutted  from  our  part  of  ihe  deck 
with  the  dignity  of  a  MacTurk.— "  Bui  then,"  Sir 
Walter  continued,  (watching  the  Colonel's  retreat,) 
"  but  then  comes  the  queerest  point  of  all.  How  is 
it  that  our  solemn,  proud,  dignified  Celt,  with  a  soul 
80  alive  to  what  is  elevating  and  even  elegant  in 
poetry  and  feeling,  is  so  supereminently  dull  as  re- 
spects all  the  lighter  play  of  fancy*?  The  Highlander 
never  understands  wit  or  humour— Paddy,  despite 
all  his  misery  and  privations,  overflows  with  both. 
I  suppose  he  ?^  the  gayest  fellow  in  the  world,  ex- 
cept the  only  worse-used  one  still,  the  West  India 
nigger.  This  is  iheir  make-up— but  it  is  to  me  the 
saddest  feature  in  the  whole  story." 

A  voyage  down  the  Firth  of  Clyde  is  enough  to 
make  any  body  happy:  no  where  can  the  home 
tourist,  at  all  events,  behold,  in  the  coarse  of  one 
xiay,  such  a  succession  and  variety  of  beautiful,  ro- 
mantic, and  majestic  scenery :  on  one  hand  ddrk 
mountains  and-  castellated  shores— on  the  other, 
rich  groves  and  pastures,  interspersed  with  elegant 
villas  and  thriving  towns,  the  bnght  estuary  between 
alive  with  shipping,  and  diversified  with  islands. 

It  may  be  supposed  howdelightfullsuch  a  voyage 
was  in  a  fine  day  of  July,  with  Scott,  always  as  full 
of  glee  on  any  trip  as  a  schoolboy ;  crammed  with 
all  the  traditions  and  legends  of  every  place  we  pas- 
sed ;  and  too  happy  to  pour  them  out  for  the  enter- 
tainment of  his  companions  on  deck.  After  dinner, 
too.  he  was  the  charm  of  the  table.  A  worthy  old 
Bailie  of  Glau^ow,  Mr.  Robert  Tennent,  satbvnim, 
and  shared  fully  in  the  f^eneral  pleasure ;  though 
his  particular  source  pf  interest  and  satisfaction 
was,  that  he  had  got  into  such  close  quarters  with 
a  live  Sherifi'  and  Clerk  of  Session,  and  this  gave 
him  the  opportunity  of  discussing  sundry  knotty 
points  ot  police  law,  as  to  which  our  steerage  pas- 
sengers might  perhaps  have  been  more  curious  than 
most  of  those  admitted  to  the  symposium  of  the 
cabi%  Sir  Walter,  however,  was  as  ready  for  the 
roperies  of  the  Broomielaw,  as  for  the  misty  anti- 

?uitie8  of  Balclutha,  or  the  discomfiture  of  the 
Norsemen  at  Largs,  or  Bnice's  adventures  in  Arran. 
I  remember  how  Mr.  Tennent  chuckled  when  he, 
towards  the  conclusion  of  our  first  bowl  of  punch, 
said  he  was  not  surprised  to  find  himself  gathering 
much  instruction  froni  the  Bailie's  conversation  on 
hU  favourite  topics,  since  the  most  eminent  and 
useful  of  the  police  magistrates  of  London  (Colqu- 
boun)  had  served  his  apprenticeship  in  the  Town 
Chamber  of  Glasgow.  Hie  Bailie  insisted  for  a 
second  bowl,  and  volunteered  to  be  the  manufac- 
turer; "for,"  quoth  he  (with  a  sly  wink,)  "I  am 
reckoned  a  fair  hand,  though  not  equal  lo7ny/a^er, 
Hie  dtacon,"  Scott  smiled  in  acquiescence,  and, 
the  ladies  having  by  this  time  with-drawn,  said  he 
was  glad  to  find  the  celebrated  beverage  of  the  city 
of  St.  Mungo  had  not  fallen  into  desuetude.  The 
Bailie  extolled  the  liauor  he  was  brewing,  a^.d  quot- 
ed Sir  John  S/nclairs  Code  of  Health  and  Longe- 
vity for  the  case  of  a  gentleman  well  known  to  him- 
self, who  lived  till  ninety,  and  had  been  drunk  upon 
It  every  night  for  half-arcentury.  But  Bailie  Ten- 
nent was  a  devout  elder  of  the  kirk,  and  did  not  tell 
his  story  without  one  or  two  groans  that  his  doctine 
should  have  such  an  example  to  plead.  Sir  Walter 
i»aid  he  could  only  hope  that  manners  were  mended 


in  other  respects  since  the  days  when  a  popular  mi- 
nister of  the  last  age  (one  Mr.'Thom,)  renowned  for 
satirical  humour,  as  well  as  for  highflying  zeal,  had 
demolished  all  his  own  chances  of  a  Glasgow  be- 
nefice by  preaching  before  the  Town-Council  frooi 
this  text  in  Hosea  :— "  Ephraim's  drink  is  soar,  and 
he  hath  committed  whoredom  continually."   The 
Bailie's  brow  darkened  (like  Nicol  Jarvie's  when 
they  misca^d  Rab  ;)  he  groaned  deeper  than  before, 
and  said  he  feared  "Tham  o'  Govan  was  at  heart 
a  ne'erdoweel."    He,  however,  refilled  our  glasse 
as  he  spoke ;   and  Scott,  as  he  tasted  hi«,  said, 
"  Weel,  weel.  Bailie,  Ephraim  waa  not  so  far  wrong 
as  to  the  matter  of  drink."    A  gay  little  Irish  S<pB- 
reen  (a  keener  Protestant  even  than  our  "merchant 
and  magistrate")  did  not  seem  to  have  discovered 
the  Great  Unkown  until  about  this  time,  and  now 
began  to  take  a  principal  share  in  the  converi^nofi. 
To  the  bowl  of  Kphraim  he  had  from  the  first  done 
all  justice.    He  broke  at  once  into  the  hearted  dbe 
debateablo  land  ;    and   after  a  few  ^erce  tirades 
against  Popery,  asked  the  Highland  Colontl,  »to 
had  replaced  the  Master  of  the  steamer  at  the  h«d 
of  the  table,  to  give  the  glorious  memory.    The  pre- 
dent  Colonel  affected  not  to  hear  until  this  hint  aid 
been  thrice  repeated,  watching  carefully  meauvluK 
the  demeanour  of  a  sufficiently  mixed  company. 
The  general  pushing  in  of  glasses,  and  perhaps  soma 
free-masonry  symptoms  besides— (for  we understo^l 
that  he  had  often  ser\'cd  in  Ireland)— had  &aiist»d 
him  that  all  was  right,  and  he  rose  and  announct4 
the  Protestant  Shibboleth  with  a  voice  that  made 
the  Fockers  and  rafters  rinj^  again.    Bailie  Tennent 
rose  with  grim  alacrity  to  join  in  the  cheers ;  and 
then  our  Squireen  proposed,  in  his  own  person, 
what,  he  said,  always  ought  Xo  be  the  (^econd  toast 
among  good  men  and  true.    This  was  nothing  el« 
than  the  heroic  memory^  which,  from  our  frteiKTa 
preHminary  speech,  we  understood  to  be  the  m&n^ 
TV  of  Oliver  CromwelK    Sir  Walter  winced  roort 
shrewdly  than  his  Bailie  had  done  about  Epbraim'a 
transgressions,  hut  swallowed  his  punch,  and  stood 
up,  glass  in  hand,  like  the  rest,  though  an  unfortu- 
nate fit  of  coughing  prevented  his  taking  p«it  in 
their  huzzas.    "This  feature  of  Irish  loyalism  wi« 
new  to  the  untravelled  Scotch  of  the,  party.    On  a 
little  reflection,  however,  we  thought  it  not  so  nn- 
natural.    Our  little  Squireen  boasted  of  being  him- 
self descended  from  a  sergeant  in  Crom  well's  araff; 
and  he  added  that  "  the  best  in  Ireland"  had  kmibi 
pedigrees  to  be  proud  of.    He  took  care,  boweva; 
to  inform  us  that  his  own  great  ancestor  was  a  reil 
jontteman  all  over,  and  behaved  as  such;  "for* 
said  he,  **  when  Oliver  gave  him  his  order  for  tbe 
lands,  he  went  to  the  widow,  and  toidd  her  he  would 
neither  turn  out  her  nor  the  besT-lookins  of  b^ 
daughters ;  so  get  the  beet  dinner  you  can,  old  lady," 

?uoth  he,  **  and  parade  the  whole  lot  of  them,  tM 
'11  pick."  Which  was  done,  it  seems,  accordinglr: 
and  brobably  no  conquest  ever  wanted  plenty « 
such  alleviations. 

Something  in  this  story  sunested  to  Scott  an  is- 
cident.  recorded  in  some  old  book  of  Memoirs,  of  a 
French  envoy's  reception  in  the  tower  of  somelrii^ 
chieftain,  dunng  one  of  the  rebellions  against  Qneet 
Elizabeth;  and  he  narrated  it,  to  the  infinite  dehght 
of  the  Protestant  Squireen.  This  comforter  of  tk 
rebels  was  a  bishop,  and  his  unbn  of  civil  and  reli- 
gious dignity  secured  for  him^  all  possible  respect  aoJ 
attention.  The  chief  (I  think  the  name  was  0*00- 
noghue)  welcomed  him  warmly:  He  was  clad  in  s 
yellow  mantle— C*  to  wit,  a  dirty  blanket."  int^pos- 
es  the  Squireen)— but  this  he  dropt  in  the  interior, 
and  sat  upon  it  mother-naked  in  the  midst  of  hd 
family  and  guests  by  the  fire.  The  potheen  circu- 
lated, and  was  approved  by  the  bishoo.  When  ikt 
hour  of  retiring  for  the  night  approached,  the  hos- 

f)itable  Milesian  desired  him  to  look  round  and  se- 
ect  any  of  his  daughters  he  liked  for  a  bedfelktw. 
The  bishop  did  as  he  was  invited,  and  the  yoms 
lady  went  up  stairs,  to  be  dealt  with  probably  by 
Monseigneur's  valet  as  Peregrine  Pickle's  beggar, 
girl  was  by  Tom  Pipes.  By  and  by  the  bishop  fci 
lowed,  and  next  minute  his  allotted  partoex  lam 


LIFE  OP  SIR  WALTER  SCOTT. 


4» 


bled  into  the  patriarchal  circle  below  in  an  affony  of 
tears,  while  the  great  man  was  heard  peatin^  voci- 
ferously in  his  chamber  aboye.  "It  turned  out," 
said  Sir  Walter,  "  that  the  most  prominent  object 
on  his  reverence  s  toilette  had  been  a  pot  of  singu- 
larly precious  pomatum,  recently  presented  to  him 
bv  the  Pope.  This  the  poor  girl  was  desired  by  the 
French  attendant,  as  he  withdrew,  to  make  use  of 
in  completing  the  adornment  of  her  person;  but  an 
interpreter  had  been  wanting.  She  took  it  for  but- 
ter, and  the  bannock  which  she  had  plastered,  both 
side3  over,  with  this  precious  unguent,  was  half- 
devoured  before  the  ambassador  honoured  her 
bower  with  his  presence.  Dandjasm  had  prevailed 
over  gallantry,  and  Princess  O'Donoghuo  was  kick- 
ed downstairs/' 

When  we  got  upon  deck  again  after  our  carousal, 
we  found  it  raining  heavily,  and  the  ladypassengerR 
in  ^eat  misery;  which  state  of  things  continued 
till  we  were  within  si^ht  of  Belfast.  We  got  there 
about  nine  in  the  mornmg,  and  1  find  it  set  down  that 
we  paid  four  guineas  for  the  conveyance  of  the  car- 
riage, and  a  guinee  a-piece  for  ourselves  ;  in  IS37  I 
understand  the  charge  for  passengers  is  not  more 
thannalf-aj^T-juii  a-hendin  thefabiii,  nml  mv^vnce 
in  the  stet.rMae — ao  raiHiily  hv^it  tnit-rtm-rtiivii.':.-  )n 
extended  in  in«  apace  of  twelve  yt^ara.  Sir  \\  er 
told  us  he  well  reraenilicrcd  htin^  cm  bontil  f.  (le 
firs t steam  r  that  ever  wa5  lauuehcd  m  PrUnuL  in 
1812.  For  f^oTiic  lime,  that  one  fiwkworfl  machine 
went  back  and  forwjird  btftwceu  Ghs?gow  and 
Greenock,  ruid  it  m;ou1J  havt  looked  Likt  a  cock- 
boat besicU  Einy  iJtio  fif  the  hundr^tis  of  mBgni^f^^nt 
steamships  i hat  now  co^er  die  Finb  of  Clydf.  It 
is  also  written  in  my  pocket-book^  that  ine  little 
Orange  S(,u]r^ti  waspstticiilaHy  ktnd  and  et^rvi^je- 
able  at  our  landing— Knocking  nWut  the  swunn  of 
porters  thrjt  invmli>i  iheycas*^!  on  nndioririgj  in  a 
style  quite  rvw  toxca,  with  ?Ian^  rnnnlh^lnfih— r-.  g. 
"Vourfini         ■      :'   '      '  ^^         .^j. 

manteau^  *^  ^s-jl  i-. ,  y^aoia-j^  j-^,    ^_.  A.^. 

The  folio wmg  is  part  of  the  first  letter  I*wrote  to 
my  wife  from  Dublin  :— 

**  Belfast  is  a  thriving  buatlinff  place,  surrounded  witli 
amart  viUaSi  and  built  much  like  a  second-rate  English 
town ;  yet  there  we  saw  the  use  of  the  imported  rags- 
foTthwith.  One  man,  apparently  happy  and  gay,  return- 
ing to  his  work  (a  mason  seemingly,)  for  breakfast,  with* 
pipe  in  mouth,  liad  a  coat  of  which  I  don't  believe  any 
three  inches  together  were  of  the  same  colour  or  the 
same  stuff— red,  black  yellow,  green— cloth,  velveteen, 
corduroy,  fustian— the  complete  image  of  a  tattered 
coverlid  originally  made  on  puipose  of  particularly  small 
patches— no  shirt,  and  almost  no  breeches ;— yet  this  is 
the  best  part  of  Ireland,  and  the  best  population.  What 
Bliall  wc  see  in  the  South  1 

"  Erin  deserves  undoubtedly  the  style  of  Green  Erin. 
We  passed  through  high  and  low  country,  rich  and  poor, 
but  non^  that  wiw  not  greener  t|^an  Scotland  ever  saw. 
The  husbandry  to  the  north  seemed  rather  careless  than 
had— I  should  say  slovenly ^  for  every  thing  is  cultivated, 
and  the  crops  are  fine,  tn<fugh  the  appearance  is  quite 
spoiled  by  the  bad,  or  oftener  the  no. fences ;  and,  above 
all,  to  unaccustomed  eyes,  by  the  human  wretchedness 
every  where  visible  even  there.  Your  papa  says,  how- 
ever, that  he  sees  all  over  the  North  marks  of  an  Impro- 
ving country ;  that  the  new  houses  are  all  greatly  beUer 
than  the  old,  &c.  He  is  no  doubt  right  as  to  the  tovms, 
and  even  villages  on  the  highway,  but  I  can't  imagine  the 
ftrteest  huts  of  the  peasantry  to  have  been  preceded  by 
worse  even  in  the  days  of  Malachi  with  the  collar  of  gold. 
They  are  of  clay  without  chimneys,  and  without  any 

Stening  for  light,  except  the  door  and  the  smoke-hole  in 
e  roof.  When  there  is  a  window,  it  seldom  has  even 
one  pane  of  glass,  and  I  take  it  the  aperture  is  only  a 
summer  luxury,  to  be  closed  upwith  the  ready  trowel 
whenever  the  winter  comes.  The  filth,  darkness,  and 
squalor  of  these  dens  and  their  inhabitants,  are  beyond 
imagination,  even  to  us  who  have  traversed  so  often  the 
wildest  of  our  own  Highland  glens;  yet  your  father 
swears  he  has  not  yet  seen  one  face  decidedly  careworn 
and  unhappy ;  on  the  contrary,  an  universal  good-humour 
and  merriment,  anfl,  to  ua,  every  sort  of  civility  from 
the  poor  people ;  as  yet  few  beggars.  An  old  man  at 
Doiueer  having  got  some  pence  from  Anne  while  the 
carriage  stopt,  an  older  woman  came  forward  to  sell 
gooseberries,  and  we  declining  these,  she  added  that  we 
might  as  well  give  her  an  alms  too  then,  for  she  was  an 


old  atruggler.  Anne  thought  she  taid  wtugglery  and 
dreamt  of  potheen,  but  she  meant  that  she  had  done  her 
best  to  resist  the  *  sea  of  troubles ;'  whereas  her  neigh- 
bour, the  professed  mendicant,  had  yielded  to  the  stream 
too  easily^  The  Unknown  says  he  shall  recollect  the 
word,  which  deserves  to  be  classical.  We  slept  at  Dun- 
dalk,  a  poor  little  town  by  the  shore,  but  with  a  magni- 
ficent Justice-hall  and  jau— a  public  building  sup<?rior,  I 
think,  to  any  in  E^nburgh,  '\t\  the  midst  sf  a  place  des- 
picably dirty  and  miserable." 

When  we  halted  at  Drogheda,  a  retired  oflficer  of 
dragoons,  discovering  that  the  party  was  Sir  Wal- 
ler's, sent  in  his  card,  with  a  polite  offer  to  attend 
him  over  the  field  of  the  battle  of  the  Boyne,  about 
two  miles  off,  which  of  course  was  adbepted ;— Sir 
Walter  rejoicing  the  veteran's  hpart  W  his  vigorous 
recitation  of  the  famous  balled  ( The  Crossing  of  the 
Watcr^)  as  we  proceeded  to  the  ground,  ana  the 
eager  and  intelligent  ciiriosity  with  which  he  receiv- 
ed his  oxplatiations  of  it. 

On  Tl}ur>.l.^v  .!.■  ■.=1"  "I  iLiLiiLd  DiiliUri  in  lunt.^ 
for  dinner,  and  found  youna  ^Vaktr  itnc]  Jiis  Imdc 
estt^hlishcd  ut  ono  of  iho&a  large  and  noble  houi?fis 
in  *Si.  Stephen's  Green  (the  fiiost  c\f<rnfivE  a]iJj\rf' 
in  Europe.)  the  fotindi.'rs  of  which  liick  drc^nnu  thtii 
thf  y  diould  evtr  l*c  let  ut  nn  easy  rate  tx^  garn^oii 
lo  i  1 1  z  9,  Ne  ver  ca  1 1 1  f ur j;  L  t  tlu^  fo  n  d  J  o  y  and  prid  t; 
w  I  wliidi  Sir  Waller  looktd  round  him,  &»  be  eat 
fo'  1 1  It'  firht  lime  at  his  son's  table.  I  could  nut  hut 
recall  Pindar's  lmc«,  in  ^^hich,  w tubing  to  pnint  the 
genite^t  rdpiyte  of  fdici(>i  h^y  dr^cribef  an  old  mtiR 
wiHi  K  Ibamin^  wine- cup  in  his  hand  f^t  his  child' ^ 
Wt?<^dinK-feiiiit. 

Th  It  \(ir^  livening  nm^Td  a  deputation  from  tUe 
Rtiyal  .Saciety  of  Dublirts  inviting  Sir  Walter  to   a 

Eurj.i;  din  nor;  and  iniXL  raorninL;;  ho  found  on  his 
rtftkraat- table  n  kiiLr  frntji  the  Provosl  of  Trinity 
CVlk'gt;  I  Dr.  Kyk^  now  Kishop  of  Cjtjrk,)  annouuc- 
inp  jhrff  tbn  IhnvtrsiLy  desircil  to  pay  hitii  the  very 
hi ^11  iroinplinieiit  of  a  dcgriJC  f^f  Poctor  of  Lawi  hy 
d\  tit  ft.  Thi.'  Afchhishoji  of  Dnbliri  Ube  c*lebrai' 
ec  r.  ]>!n^(4^j  though  ^turroundcd  with  ^evtre  do- 
in  ;  '.c  ntJJictions  ae  the  time,  was  amoria  the  eorlfest 
ol  li.ri  vititofj. ;  enothe?T  was  the  Attorney-Gcntral 
{Lyv.  Lord  Chani^L'llor  PlunkeUi>a  ihird  was  iht^ 
CiKanifindt  r  of  lUe  Forccst  Sir  George  Murray  t  and 
a  fL>i]rih  the  Chief  Retrtembrancer  of  lixcht^jucr 
(the  Right  Honournble  Amhoriv  KljikeJ  who  was 
thn  licisTiir  of  a  message  from  thi?  Mnrtjurs^'WelU'i?- 
le>,  then  Lord -Lieutenant  of  I  r  eland,  oftering  nil 
Siiri:^  of  facililtcB,  imd  inviting  him  to  Jitie  riext  duy 
at  his  K-iccellencv's  country  rctidmcc,  Malahida 
Cistlo.  Jt  wotild  bo  cndlo&s  to  eimnierate  the  dls- 
tirij^uJsbeJ  persons  who,  niorning  after  inornjnp^ 
ci.iwdcd  hia  itvte  in  St.  Slcrhcn'a  firccn.  The 
C(pur(j}  of  kw  were  not  tht^n  sitting,  and  most  of 
the  judges  were  out  of  town ;  but  all  the  other  great 
functionaries,  and  the  leading  noblemen  and  G^n de- 
mon of  the  city  and  its  neighbourhood,  of  wMtever 
sect  or  parly,  hastened  to  tender  every  conceivable 
homage  and  hospitably.  But  all  this  was  less  sur- 
prising to  the  companions  of  his  journey  (though, 
to  say  truth,  we  had,  no  more  than  himself,  count- 
ed on  such  eager  enthusiasm  among  any  class  of 
Irish  society,)  than  the  demonstrations  of  respect 
whichi  after  the  first  day  or  two,  awaited  him, 
wherever  he  moved,  at  the  hands  of  the  less  elevat- 
ed orders  of  the  Dublin  population.  If  his  carriage 
was  recognised  at  the  door  of  any  public  establish- 
ment, the  street  was  sure  to  be  crowded  before  he 
came  out  again,  so  as  to  make  his  departure  as  slow 
as  a  procession.  When  he  entered  a  street^  the 
watchword  was  passed  down  both  sides  like  light- 
ning, and  the  'shopkeepers  and  the'u:  wives  stood 
bowmg  and  curtseying  all  the  way  down ;  whUc 
the  mob  and  boys  buzza'd  as  at  the  chariot-wheels 
of  a  conqueror.  I  had  certainly  been  most  thorough- 

»'  , unprepared  for  finding  the  common  people  of 
ublin  80  alive  to  the  claims  of  any  non-military 
greatness.  Sir  Robert  Peel  says,  that  Sir  Walter's 
reception  on  the  High  Street  of  Edinburgh,  in  Au- 
gust, 1822.  was  the  first  thing  thatgave  him  a  notion 
of  "the  electric  ahock  of  a  nation's  gratitude."  I 
doubt  if  even  that  Icene  surpassed  what  1  myself 
witnessed  when  he  returned  down  Dame  Street, 


ao 


LIFE  OP^Sm  WALTER  SCOTT. 


after  inspectina  the  Castte  of  Dablin.  Baibe  Tcn- 
ncnt,  who  had  oeen  in  the  crowd  on  that  occasion, 
called  afterwards  in  Stephen's  Green  to  show  Sir 
Waller  some  promised  Return  about  his  Glasgow 
Police,  and  observed  to  me,  as  he  withdrew  that 
"  yon  was  owre  like  worshipping  the  creature.' 

1  may  as  well,  perhaps,  extract  from  a  letter  of 
the  I6lh,  the  contemporary  note  of  one  day's  opera- 
tions. 

"Sir  numphry  Davy  in  here  on  his  way  to  fiah  in 
ronnomara— he  breakfasted  at  Walter's  this  morning ; 
al^o  Uartstooge,  who  was  to  show  us  the  lions  of  St.  Pat- 
rick's. Peveril  was  surprised  to  find  the  exterior  of  the 
calttedral  ho  rudely  worked,  coarse,  and  almost  shape- 
1^:R&— but  the  interior  islmposing,  and  even  grand.  Tliere 
are  some  curious  old  raenuments  of  the  Cork  fanillv, 
ir.,  but  one  thinks  of  nothing  but  Swift  there— the  whole 
raihedral  is  merely  his  tomb.  Your  papa  himg  lonjr  over 
the  famous  incripiion,*  which  is  in  gilt  letters  upon  bUick 
marble ;  and  seemed  vexed  there  was  not  a  ladder  at 
hand  that  he  might  have  got  nearer  the  bust,  (apparently 
a  very  flne  one,)  by  Roubilliac,  which  is  placed  over  it. 
This  was  given  by  the  piety  of  his  printer,  Faulkener. 
According  to  this.  Swift  had  a  prodigious  double  chin; 
and  Peveril  remarked  that  the  severity  of  the  whole 
countenance  is  much  increased  by  the  absence  of  the 
wig,  which,  in  the  prints,  conceals  ihe  height  and  gloom 
of  the  brow,  the  unconunon  massivcness  and  breadth  of 
the  temple- bones,  and  the  Herculean  style  in  which  the 
head  fits  In  to  the  neck  behind.  Stella's  epitaph  is  on  the 
adjoining  pillar— close  by.  Sir  Walter  seemed  not  to 
have  thought  of  it  before,  (or  to  have  forgotten,  if  he  had.) 
but  to  judge  merely  from  the  wording  that  Swift  himself 
wrote  it.  She  is  described  as  *  Mrs.  Hester  Johnson, 
better  known  to  the  world  by  the  name  of  Stella,  under 
which  she  Is  celebrated  In  tne  writings' of  Dr.  Jonathan 
Swift,  Dean  of  this  cathedral.'  »Thi8,'  said  Sir  Walter, 
*  the  Dean  might  say— any  one  else  would  have  said  more,' 
She  died  in  1727.  Swift  In  1745.  Just  by  the  entrance  to 
the  transept,  is  his  tablet  in  honour  of  the  servant  who 
behaved  so  welt  about  the  secret  of  the  Drapier's  let- 
ters.—We  then  saw  St.  Sepulcher's  Library,  a  monastic 
looking  place,  very  like  one  of  the  -smaller  college  libra- 
ries in  Oxford  Here  they  have  the  folio  Clarendon,  with 
Swift's  marginal  remarks,  moStly  in  pencil,  but  still  quite 
legible.  *  Very  savage  as  usual  upon  us  poor  Scots  every 
where,*  quoth  the  Unknown.  We  then  went  Into  the 
Deanery,  (the  one  Swift  hihabited  has  been  pulled  down,) 
and  had  a  most  courteous  and  elegant  reception  from  the 
Dean,  the  Honourable  Dr.  Ponsonby.  He  gave  us  a 
capital  luncheon — the  original  full-length  picture  of  the 
Dean  ov^r  the  sideboard.  The  print  in  the  Edinburgh 
edition  is  very  good — but  the  complexion  is  in  the  pic- 
ture—black, robust,  sanguine— a  heavy-lided,  stem  blue 
eye.  It  was  interesting  to  sec  hovr  completely  the  genius 
loci  has  kept  his  ground.  Various  little  relics  reverently 
hoarded  as  they  should  be.  Tliey  said  his  memory  was 
as  fresh  as  ever  among  the  common  people  about — they 
still  Hing  his  ballads,  and  had  heard  with  great  delight 
that  Sir  Walter  wrote  a  grand  book  all  about  the  great 
Dane.    The 

•  Jolly  lads  of  St.  Patrick's,  St.  Kevin's,  DAhorr,' 

mustered  strong  and  Stentorian  at  our  exit.  They 
would,  like  their  great-grandfathers  and  mothers,  have 
torn  the  UnknoAvn  to  pieces,  had  he  taken  the  other  cack, 
and 

*■  Insulted  us  all  by  insulting /he  Dean.'t 

"  We  next  saw  the  Bank— late  Parliament  House — the 
Dublin  Society's  Museum,  where  papa  was  enchanted 
with  a  perfect  skeleton  of  the  gigantic  moose-deer,  the 
lioms  fourteen  feet  from  tip  to  tip,  and  high  in  propor- 
tion— and  a  long  train  of  other  fine  places  and  queer  things, 
all  as  per  road-book.  Every  wheie  throughout  this  busy 
d.ty— nn«  folks  within  doors  apd  rabble  without— a  terri- 
ble rudhing  and  crushing  to  see  the  Baronet :  Lord  Wel- 
lington rould  not  have  excited  a  better  rumpus.  But  the 
theatre  in  the  evening  completed  the  thhtg.  I  never  heard 
such  a  row.  The  players  might  as  well  have  had  no 
tongues.  Beatrice  (Miss  Foote)  twice  left  the  stage  ;  and 
at  Rist  Benedick  (Abl>ot,  who  is  the  mana<;er)  came  for- 
ward, cunning  dog,  and  asked  what  was  tiie  cause  of  the 
tempest.  A  thousand  voices  shouted,  Sir  Walter  Scott ; 
and  the  worthy  Hon  being  thus  bearded  and  poked,  ro>e, 
after  ;m  hour's  torture,  and  said,  with  such  a  kindness 
and  grace  of  tone  and  manner,  theie  words  :—*■  I  am  sure 

*  The  temble  imcription  is  "  Hie  dcspositum  est  corinis  Jona- 
tlien  &wift.  8.  T.  P.  &c.,ubi  sa»va  indif natio/ ulteriuj  cor  lacerare 
neguit." 

♦  See  8cott'«  Swift,  (Edit.  Ifill.)  Vol  x.  p,537. 


the  Irish  people>-<a  roar)— I  am  sure  this  re  . 
audienco  will  not  suppose  that  a  stranger  can  be  inseui- 
blc  to  the  kindness  of  their  reception  of  him  ;  and  if  I 
have  been  too  long  in  saying  this,  I  trust  it  will  be  auribut- 
ed  to  the  right  cause— my  unwillingness  to  take  to  myself 
honours  so  distinguished,  and  which  I  couW  not  and 
cannot  but  feel  to  be  unmerited.'  I  think  these  are  the 
very  words.  The  noise  continued— a  perfect  cataraci 
and  thunder  of  roaring ;  but  he  would  take  no  hint*  about 
going  to  the  stage-box,  and  the  evening  closed  decently 
enough.  The  theatre  is  very  handsome- the  dreiises  and 
scenery  capital — the  actors  and  actresses  seemed  (but.  to 
be  sure,  this  was  scarcely  a  fair  specimen)  aboot  as  bad 
as  in  the  days  of  Crokcr's  Familiar  Epistics." 

On  Monday  the  18th,  to  Rive  another  extract : 
"  Young  Mr.  Matnrin  breakfasted,  and  Sir  Walter  asked 
a  great  deal  about  his  late  father  and  the  present  situation 
of  the  family,  and  promised  to  go  and  see  the  widow. 
When  the  voung  gentleman  was  gone,  Uartstonce  told  as 
that  Maturin  used  to  compose  with  a  wafer  passed  on  his 
forehead,  which  was  the  signal  that  if  any  of  his  family 
entered  the  sanc/wm  they  must  not  speak  to  him  *Hc 
was  never  bred  in  a  writer's  cAot/mer,'  quoth  Ptverll. 
Sir  Walter  observed  that  it  seemed  to  be  a  piece  of  Pro- 
testantism -in  Dublin  to  drop  the  saintly  titles  of  the 
Catholic  Church :  they  call  St.  Patilck's,  Patrick*# ;  and 
St.  Stephen's  Green  has  been  Orangeized  into  Siephea'j. 
He  r^nir^  j<-"  iiight  trace  the  Puritans  in  the  plain  P^teia 
(fo<  ^\  Tl  ,,  -)of  the  old  English  comedians.  We  tbca 
wc.  r  I..  1.1.  Bank, where  the  Governor  and  Dtrectors 
ha-!  :  iu-  I  ii.m  to  let  themselves  show  him  every  thiac 
in  ir  ,'  T  £ij^te;  and  he  was  forced  to  say,  as  he  came 
ou  '  i !.. us*  people  treated  me  as  if  I  was  a  Prince  of  tte 
Bl(  H.|  '  [do  believe  that,  just  at  this  time,  the  Duke  of 
Ycrk  r,,i  J  J>l  bo  treated  as  well— better  he  could  not  be. 

Fr r  I .  I  ufl  ( he  College  hard  by.    The  Prorost  rec  ehred 

Sii  \v .  ui  a  splendid  drawing-room,  and  then  carried  him 
through  the  libraries,  halls.  Ac.  amidst  a  crowd  of  emger 
students.  He  received  his  diploma  in  due  form,  and  there 
followed  a  superb  dejeuner  in  the  Provostry.  Neither 
Oxford  nor  Caimbridge  could  have  done  the  whole  thinf 
in  beUer  style.  Made  acquaintance  with  Dr.  Bdn)dey, 
Astronomer  Royal,  and  Dr.  Macdoimell,  Profesaor  of 
Greek,  and  all  the  rest  of  the  leading  Professors,  who 
vied  vrith  eac^h  other  in  respect  and  devotion  to  the  ITd- 
known.— 19th.  I  forgot  to  say  that  there  Is  one  tme  para- 
graph in  the  papers.  One  of  the  College  UbrarUms  yes- 
terday  told  Sir  W.,  flshingly,  *  1  have  been  so  busy  that  I 
have  not  yet  read  ifwr  Redgaontlet.'  He  answered,  very 
meekly, '  I  have  not  happened  to  fall  in  with  such  a  woxtc, 
Doctor.'. " 

From  Dublin  we  made  an  excursion  of  some  dart 
into  the  county  Wicklow,  haltins  for«  night  at  the 
villa  of  the  Surgeon- General,  Mr.  Crampton,  who 
struck  Sir  Walter  as  being  more  like  Sir  Humphrey 
Dav/than  anv  man  he  had  met,  not  in  person  only, 
but  tn  the  liveliness  and  range  of  his  talk,  and  who 
kindly  did  the  honours  of  Lough  Breagh  and  the 
Darcle:  and  then  for  two  or  three  at  Old  Connanghr, 
Lord  Plunkett'a  seat  near  Bray.  Here  there  was  a 
large  and  brilliant  party  aaaembled ;  and  from  hence, 
unaer  the  guidance  of  the  Attorney- General  and  his 
amiable  family,  we  perambulated  to  all  poasible  ad* 
vantage  the  classical  resorta  of  the  DeviPs  dyn, 
Rosanna,  Kilruddery,  antf  Glendaiough,  with  its 
seven  churches,  and  St,  Ketin^a  Bed-^xhe  scene  of 
the  fate  of  Cathleen,  celebrated  in  Moore's  ballad— 

*  By  that  lake  whose  g4oomy  shore 
Skylark  never  warbles  o'e^,"  Ac. 

"  It  is,"  says  my  letter,  "  a  hole  in  the  ahecr  snrface 
of  the  rock,  in  which  two  or  three  people  might  sit. 
The  difficulty  of  getting  into  this  pl|ice  haa  been 
exaggerated,  as  also  the  danger,  for  it  would  only 
be  falling  thirty  or  forty  feet, into  very  deep  wa- 
ter. Yet  I  never  was  more  pained  than  when  your 
papa,  in  spite  of  all  remonstrances,  would  make  his 
way  to  it,  crawling  along  the  precipice.  He  suc- 
ceeded and  got  in— the  first  lame  man  that  ever 
tried  it.  After  he  was  gone,  Mr.  Plunkett  told  the 
female  guide  he  was  a  poet.  Cathleen  treated  this 
with  indication,  as  a  quiz  of  Mr.  Attorney's. 
'  Pott  r  said  she,  *  the  devil  a  bit  of  him—but  an  hon- 
ourable gentleman :  he  gave  me  half-a-crown.'  '* 

On  the  1st  of  AuguaC  we  proceeded  from  Dublin  to 
Edgeworthstown,  the  party  being  now  reinforced 
by  CflDtain  and  Mrs.  Scott,  and  also  by  the  delight- 
ful addition  of  the  Surgeon-General,  who  had  long 
Digitized  by  VjOOQIC 


LIFE  OP  SIR  WALTER  SCOTT. 


m 


been  an  intimatd  friend  of  the  Edgeworth  family, 
and  equally  g^ratified  both  the  novehsta  by  breaking 
the  tous  01  hia  great  practice  to  witness  their  meet- 
ing on  his  native  soil.  A  happy  meeting  it  was :  we* 
reniained  there  for  several  days,  making  excursions 
to  Loch  Gel  and  other  scenes  of  interest  in  Long- 
ford and  the  adjoining  counties;  the  gentry  every- 
where exerting  themselves  with,  true  Irish  zeal  to 
signalize  their  affectionate  pride  in  their  illustrious 
countrvwoman,  and  their  appreciation  of  her  guest ; 
white  ner  brother,  Mr.  Lovell  Edgeworth.  had  his 
classical  mansion  filled  everv  evening  with  a  suc- 
cession of  distinguished  friends,  the  elite  of  Ireland. 
Here,  above  all,  we  had  the  opportunity  of  seeing 
in  wnat  universal  respect  and  comfort  a  gentle- 
man's family  may  live  in  that  countrv,  and  in  far 
from  its  most  favoured  district,  provided  only  they 
live  there  habitually,  and  do  their  duty  as  the  friends 
and  guardians  of  those  among  whom  Providence 
has  appointed  their  proper  place.  Here  we  found 
neither  mud  hovels  nor  naked  peasantry,  but  snug 
cottages  and  smihng  faces  all  about.  Here  there 
was  a  very  large  school  in  the  village,  of  which 
masters  and  pupils  were  in  a  nearly  eqjual  propor- 
tion Protestants  and  Roman  Catholics,  the  Protest- 
Snt  squire  himself  making  it  a  regular  part  of  his 
aiiy  business  to  visit  the  scene  of  their  operations, 
and  strenghlen  authority  and  enforce  disdplinc  by 
his  personal  superintendence.  Here,  too,  we  pleased 
ourselves  with  recognising  some  of  the  sweetest 
features,  in  Goldsmith's  picttpre  of 

,"  Sweet  Aaborn !  loveliest  village  of  the  plain ;" 

and,  in  particular,  we  had  "  the  playftil  children  just 
let  loose  from  schooP'Jn  perfection.  Mr.  Edge- 
worth's  paternal  heart  delighted  in  letting  them 
make  a  playground  of  his  lawn ;  and  every  evening 
after  dinner  we  saw  leap-frog  going  on  with  the 
highest  spirit  within  fifty  yards  6f  the  ara wing-room 
windows,  while  fathers  and  mothers,  and  their  aged 
parents  also,  were  grouped  about  among  the  trees 
watching  the  spofl.  It  is  a  curious  enough  coinci- 
dence that  Oliver  Goldsmith  and  Maria  Edgewoith 
should  both  have  derived  their  early  love  and  know- 
ledge of  Irish  character  and  manners  from  the  same 
kientical  district.  He  received  part  of  his  education 
at  this  very  school  of  Edgeworthstown ;  and  Pal- 
lasmore,  (the  locus  cut  nomen  est  Pallas  of  John- 
son's epitaph,)  the  little  hamlet  where  the  author 
of  the  vicar  of  Wakefield  first  saw  the  light,  is  still, 
as  it  was  in  4i8  time,  the  property  of  the  Edge- 
worths. 

It  may  well  be  imagined  with  what  lively  interest 
Sir  Walter  surveyed  the  scenery  with  which  so  many 
of  the  proudest  recollections  of  Ireland  must  ever 
be  associated,  and  how  ciuiously  he  studied  the  rural 
manners  it  presented  to  him,  in  the  hope  (not  disap- 
pointed) of  being  ablo  to  trace  some  of  his  friencrs 
bri;;ht  creations  to  their  first  hints  and  germs.  On 
the  delight  with  which  he  contemplated  her  position 
in  the  midst  of  her  own  large  and  happy  domestic 
circle  I  need  say  still  less.  The  reader  is  aware  by 
this  lime  how  deeply  he  condemned  and  pitied  the 
conduct  and  fate  of  those  who,  gifted  with  pre-emi- 
nent  talents  for  the  instruction  and  entertainment 
of  their  species  at  large,  fancy  themselves  entitled 
to  neglect  those  eveyy-day  duties  and  charities  oC-life, 
from  the  mere  shadowing  of  which  in  imaginary 
pictures  the  genius  of  poetry  and  romance  has  al- 
ways rcr.ped  its  highest  and  purest,  perhaps  its  only 
true  and  immortal  honours.  In  Maria  he  hailed  a 
8:ste^  spirit :  one  who,  at  the  summit  of  literary 
fame,  took  the  same  modest,  just,  and,  let  me  ado. 
Christian  view  of  the  relative  importance  of  the 
feelings,  the  obligations,  and  the  hopes  in  which  we 
are  all  equally  partakers,  and  those  talents  and  ac- 
complishments which  may  seem,  to  vain  and  short- 
sighted eyes,  sufficient  to  coosthute  their  possessors 
into  an  order  and  species  apart  from  the  rest  of  their 
kind.  Such  fantastic  conceits  found  no  shelter  with 
either  of  these  powerful  minds.  I  was  then  a  young 
man,  and  I  cannot  forget  how  much  I  was  struck 
at  the  time  by  some  words  that  fell  from  one  of 
them,  when,  in  the  course  of  a  walk  in  the  parkat 


Ekif^eworthstown.  I  happened  to  use  some  phraie 
which  conveyed  (thougn  not  perhaps  meant  to  do 
so)  th^  impression  that  1  suspected  Poets  and  No- 
velists of  being  a  good  deal  accustomed  to  look  at 
life  and  the  world  only  as  materials  for  art.  A  soft 
and  pensive  shade  came  over  Scott's  face  as  he 
said— "I  fear  youjjave  some  very  young  ideas  in 
your  head  :— are* you  not  too  apt  to  measure  things 
by  some  reference  to  literature—to  disbelieve  that 
any  body  can  be  worth  much  care  who  has  no 
knowledge  of  that  sort  .of  thing,  or  taste  for  if? 
God  help  us!  what  a  poor  worla  this  would  be  if 
that  were  the  true  doctrine!  1  have  read  books 
enough,  and  observed  and  conversed  with  enough  of 
eminent  and  splendidly  cultivated  minds,  too,  in  my 
time,  but,  1  a'ssure  you,  I  have  heard  higher  senti- 
ments from  the  lips  of  poor  uneducated  men  and 
women,  when  exerting  the  spirit  of  severe  yet  gentle 
heroism  under  difficulties  and  afflictions,  or  speak- 
ing their  simple  thoughts  as  to  circumstances  in  the 
lot  of  friends  and  neighbours,  than  I  ever  yet  met 
with  out  of  the  pages  of  the  Bible.  We  shall  never 
learn  to  feel  andf  respect  our  real  calling  and  destiny, 
unless  we  have  taught  ourselves  to  consider  every 
thing  as  moonshine,  compared  with  the  education 
of  the  heart.''  Maria  did  not  listen  to  this  without 
some  water  inkier  eyes— her  tears  are  always  ready 
when  any  generous  string  is  touched— (for,  as  Pope 
says,  "  the  finest  minds,  like  the  finest  metals,  dis- 
solve the  easiest ;")  but  she  brushed  them  ^aily  aside, 
and  said,  "You  see  how  it  is— Dean  Swift  said  he 
had  written  his  books,.in  order  that  people  might 
learn  to  treat  him  hke  a  great  lord.  Sir  Waiter 
writes  his,  in  order  that  he  may  be  able  to  treat  his 
people  as  a  great  lord  ought  to  do." 

Lest  I  should  forget  to  mention  it,  I  put  down  here 
a  rebuke  which,  later  in  his  life,  Sir  Walter  once 
gave  in  my  heanng  to  his  daughter  Anne.  She  hap- 
pened to  toy  of  something^  I  forget  what,  that  she 
could  not  abide  it— it  was  vulgar.  "  My  love."  said 
her  father,  '*you  speak  like  a  very  young  lady ;  do 
you' know,  after  all,  the  meaning  of  this  word  vul- 
gar ?  'Tis  only  common ;  nothing  that  is  common, 
except  wickedness,  can  de^rve  to  be  spoken  of  in 
a  tone  of  cohtempt ;  and  when  you  have  lived  to 
my  years,  you  will  be  disposed  to  agree  with  me  in 
thanking  God  that  nothing  really  worth  having  or 
caring  about  in  this  world  is  uncommon,^* 

At  Edgeworthstown  he  received  the  following 
letter  froril  Mr.  Canning  :— 

To  Sir  Walter  Scott,  Bart.  ^c.  4v. 

"  Come  Wood,  July  24, 1825. 
"My  dear  Sir, 

^  A  pretty  severe  indisposition  has  prevented  me  fW>m 
sooner  aclmowledging  your  kind  letter ;  and  now  I  fear 
that  I  shall  not  be  able  to  accomplish  my  viift  to  Scot- 
land this  year,  Although  I  shall  be,  for  the  last  fort* 
night  of  August,  at  no  great  distance  from  the  Borders, 
my  time  is  so  limited  that  I  cannot  reckon  upon  getting 
farther. 

"  I  rejoice  to  see  that  my  countrymen  (for,  though  I  was 
accidentally  bom  in  London,  I  consider  myself  an  Iribh- 
man)  have  so  well  known  the  valne  of  the  honour  which 
you  arc  paying  to  them. 

"  By  the  way,  if  yon  landed  at  Liverpool  on  your  re- 
turn,  could  you  find  a  better  road  to  the  north  than 
through  the  Lake  country  1  You  would  find  me  (from 
about  the  10th  of  Angutt)  and  Charles  Ellis*  at  my  friend 
Mr.  Bolton's,  on  the  Banks  of  Windennerc,  where  I  can 
promise  you  as  kind,  though  not  so  noisy  a  welcome,  as 
that  which  you  have  jast  experienced  ;  and  where  otir 
friend  the  Professor  (who  is  Admiral  of  the  Lalte)  would 
fit  out  all  his  flotilla,  and  fire  as  many  of  bis  guns  as  are 
not  painted  ones,  in  honour  of  your  arrival.— Yours,  my 
dear  sir,  very  sincerely, 

Geo.  Canning." 

This  invitation  was  not  to  be  resisted;  and  the 
following  letter  announced  a  change  of  the  original 
route  to  Mh  Morritt; 

•  ''  To  John  B.  S.  Morritt,  Esq.,  Rokeby  Park,  Greta 
Bridge. 

"  Edgeworthstown,  Aug.  3, 1825. 
"  Your  kinJ  letter,  my  dear  Morritt,  finds  me  swoltei* 
ing  under  the  hottest  weather  I  ever  experienced,  for  the 


LIFE  OP  SIR  WALTER  SOOTT. 


flftko  of  seeing  eights— of  itself,  you  know,  the  moA  fe- 

Terieh  occupation  in  the  world    Luckilr  wo  are  free  of 

Dublin,  and  there  is  nothing  around  ua  but  gretn  fields 

and  fine  trees,  '  barring  the  high  roads,'  which  inakeJ  ever  yours, 

those  who  tread  on  ihera  the  most  complete  piepoudreux 

ever  seen ;  that  is,  if  the  old  definition  of  ptepoudres  be 

authentic,  and  if  not,  you  may  seelc  another  dusty  simile 

for  yourself— it  canno't  exceed  the  reality.     I  have  with 

me  Ix)ckiiart  and  Anne,  Walter  and  his  cara  sposa,  for 


ample  space  nnd  verge  enough.  Indeed  it  is  impossible 
to  condoive  tlic  extent  of  this  virtue.in  all  classes  ;  1  don't 
thinic  even  our  l^ottisii  hospilaUty  can  match  that  of  Ire- 
land. Kvery  thing  seems  to  give  "way  to  the  desire  to  ac- 
commotlate  a  stranger ;  and  1  really  believe  the  story  of 
the  Irish  harper,  who  condemned  ids  harji  to  the  flames 
for  want  of  fire-wood  to  cook  a  guest's  supper.  Their 
personal  kindness  to  me  has  been  so  great,  that  were  it 
not  from  the  chilling  recollection  that  novelty  is  easily 
substituted  for  merit,  I  should  think,  like  the  booby  in 
Steele's  play,  liiat  1  had  been  kept  back,  and  that  there 
was  somi'lluug  more  about  me  than  1  had  ever  been  led 
to  suspect.    As  I  am  L.  L.  D.  of  Tiinity  College,  and  am 

SuaUfied  as  a  Catholic  seer,  by  havin;z  mounted  .up  into 
le  bed  of  Saint  Kevin,  at  the  cclebraied  seven /;hurchc8 
of  Glendalough,  I  am  entitled  to  prescribe,  ex  cathedra, 
for  all  the  diseases  of  Ireland,  as  being  free  both  of  the 
Cathohc  end  Protestant  parties.  Hut  the  trutli  is,  that 
Pat,  while  the  doctors  were  consultinir.  has  be*»n  gradu- 
ally and  securely  recovering  c»f  iUmself'.  He  is  very  loath 
to  admit  this  indeed ;  there  bemg  a  strain'of  hypociibndria 
m  his  complaints,  which  will  not  permit  him  to  believe 
he's  getting  better.  Nay,  he  gets  even  angry  when  a 
phyeician,  more  blunt  than  polite,  continuf'.s  to  assure 
nim  that  tie  is  better  than  he  supposes  himself,  and  that 
much  of  his  present  distress  consists,  partly  of  tlie  re- 
collection of  former  indisposition,  partly  of  the  severe 
practice  of  modern  empirics.    • 

"  In  sober  sadness,  to  talk  of  the  misery  of  Ireland  at 
this  time,  is  to  speak  of  the  illness  of  a  malade  itnagi- 
naire.  Wf.ll  she  is  not,  but  she  is  rapidly  becoming  so. 
There  are  all  tlie  outward  and  visible  tokens  of  conva- 
lescence. Every  thing  is  mending ;  tlie  houses  that 
arise  are  better  a  hundred-fold  than  the  cabins  which  are 
falling ;  the  peasants  of  the  younger  cla^s  are  dressed  a 
freai  deal  better  than  with  the  fags  which  clothe  the 
person.^  of  the  more  ancient  Teagues,  which  realize  the 
wardrobe  of  Jenny  Sutton,  of  whom  Morris  sweetly 
sings, 

*  One  single  pin  at  night  let  loose 
The  robes  which  veiled  her  beauty.' 

I  am  sure  I  have  seen  with  apprehension  a  single  button 
perform  the  same  feat,  and  when  this  mad  scare-crow 
hath  girded  up  his  loins  to  run  hastily  by  the  side  of  the 
chaise,  I  have  feared  it  would  give  way,  and  that  there, 
as  King  Lear's  fool  says,  we  should  be  all  shamed.  But 
this,  which  seems  once  to  have  generally  been  the  attire 
of  the  lair  of  the  Green  Isle,  probably  since  the  time  of 
King  Malachi  and  the  collar  of  gold,  is  now  fast  disap- 
pearing, and  the  habit  of  the  more  youthful  Pats  and 
Patosses  is  decent  and  comely.  Here  they  all  look  well 
coloured,  and  well  fed,  and  well  contented-  And  tut  I  see 
in  most  places  great  exertions  making  to  reclaim  bogs 
upon  a  large  scale,  and  generally  to  improve  ground,  I 
must  needs  hold  that  they  are  in  constant  employment. 

'*  With  all  this  there  is  much  that  remains  to  be  amend- 
cdj  and  which  time  and  increase  of  capital  only  can 
amend.  The  price  of  labour  is  far  too  low,  and  this  na- 
turally reduces  the  labouring  poor  beyond  their  just  level 
In  society.  Tlie  behaviour  of  the  gentry  in  general  to  the 
labourers  is  systematically  harsh,  and  this  arrogance  is 
received  with  a  servile  defence  which  argUes  any  thing 
cxcepUng  affection.  This,  however,  is  also  in  the  course 
of  amending.  I  have  heard  a  great  deal  of  the  far-fomed 
CathoUc  Question  from  both  sides,  and  I  think  I  see  Its 
bearings  better  than  I  did ;  but  these  are  for  your  ear 
when  we  meet— as  meet  we  shall— if  no  accident  prevent 
ft.  I  return  via  Holyhead,  as  I  wish  to  show  Anne  some- 
thing of  England,  and  you  may  beUeve  that  we  shall  take 
Bokeby  in  our  way.  To-morrow  1  go  to  Killamey,  which 
will  ocpupy  most  part  of  the  week.  About  Saturday  I 
shall  be  back  at  Dublin  to  take  leave  of  friends ;  and  then 
for  England,  ho !  I  will,  avoiding  London,  seek  a  plea- 
sant route  to  Rokeby.  Fate  will  onlv  allow  us  to  rest 
there  for  a  day  or  two,  because  I  have  some  desire  to  see 
Canning,  who  is  to  be  on  the  Lakes  about  that  time.  Bi 
fini».  My  leave  will  be  exhausted.  Anne  and  l^ockhart 
•end  kindest  compUments  to  you  and  the  ladies.  I  am 
truly  rejoiced  that  Mrs.  John  Morritt  is  better.  Indeed,  I 
bad  learned  that  agreeable  intelligence  fronf  Lady  Louisa 
Btuart.  I  found  Walter  and  his  wife  llTtag  happily  and 
rationally,  affecUonately  and  prudently.    T^ere  is  jreat 


good  sense  and  quietness  about  all  Jane's  domesHe  sr* 
rangemehts,  and  she  plays  the  leaguer's  lady  very  pret- 
tily.—I  will  wrile  again  when  I  reach  Britain,  and  remau 

Waltm  Soon." 
Miss  EdKeworth,  her  sister  Harriet,  and  her  bro- 
ther Wilham,  were  easily  persuaded  to  join  onr  party 
for  the  rest  of  our  Irish  travels.    Wo  had  hngered  a 


all  whom  the  hospitaUty  of  Edgeworthstown  has  found  ^  week,  at  Edgeworthstown,  and  were  nowanxi<»i& 
"  ■"     '-■'-•  '•     to  make  the  best  of  our  way  towards  the  Lakes  of 

Killarney;  but  posting  was  not  to  be  very  rapidiv 
accomplished  in  those  regions  by  eo  large  a  com- 
pany as  had  now  collected — and  we  were  mors 
agreeably  delayed  by  the  hospUolities  of  Miss  Jildge- 
worth'sold  friends,  and  several  of  Sir  Walter'*  ntw 
ones,  at  various  mansions  on  our  line  of  routo 
—of  wbich  I  must  note  especially  Judge  Moore's,  a: 
Lamberion,  near  Maryborough,  because  Sir  Walter 
pronounced  its  beneficence  to  be  even  beyond  the 
iisual  Irish  scale;  for,  on  reaching  our  next  haitin:; 
place,  which  was  an  indifferent  countr>inn,  u-e  dis- 
covered th.it  we  need  be  in  no  alarm  as  to  ourditi- 
ner  at  all  events,  the  Judge's  people  having  privitely 
packed  up  in  one  of  the  carriages,  ere  we  siaried  in 
the  morning,  a  pickled  salmoi'i,  a  most  lordly  veni- 
son pasty,  and  half-a-dozen  bottles  of  Chatnpagoc 
But  most  of  these  houses  seemed,  like  the  ju-ipp"!, 
to  have  been  constructed  on  the  Principle  of  the 
Pe^i  Banou's  tent.  They  seemed  all  to  have  room 
not  only  for  the  lion  and  lionesses,  andtheirres«pect- 
iye  tails,  but  for  all  in  the  neighbourhood  who  cook 
be  held  worthy  to  inspect  them  at  feeding-tiine. 

It  was  a  succession  of  festive  gaiety  wherever  we 
halted ;  and  in  tWe  course  of  our  movemeni*  we  saw 
rnany  castles,  and  ruins  of  all  sorts— with  more 
than  enough  of  rpountain,  wood,  lake,  and  hvtr,  to 
have  made  any  similar  progress  in  any  oihr r  part  of 
Europe,  truly  delightful  in  all  respects.  But  those 
of  the  party  to  whom  the  South  of  Ireland  wu 
new,  had  almost  continually  before  them  spectacke 
of  abject  misery,  which  robbed  these  things  of  mow 
than  half  their  charm.  Sir  Walter,  indeed,  with 
the  habitual  hopefulness  of  his  temper,  persistod 
that  what  he  saw  even  in  Kerry  was  better  than 
what  books  had  taught  him  to  expect ;  and  insBr«l, 
therefore,  that  improvement,  however  slow,  wm 
going  on.  But,  ever  and  anon,  as  we  moved  deeper 
into  the  country,  there  was  a  melancholy  in  nia 
countenance,  and,  despite  himself,  in  ihe  tone  d 
his  voice,  which  I  for  one  could  not  mistake.  The 
constant  passings  and  repassing?*  of  bands  of 
mpunted  poUcen^en,  armed  to  the  teeth,  and  hartog 
quite  the  air  of  highly  disciplined  soldiers  on  sharp 
service;  the  ruefiflsoualidDoverty  that  crawUdby 
every  wayside,  and  blocked  up  every  village  where 
wehad  to  change  horses,  with  exhibitions  of  humao 
suffering  and  degradation,  such  as  it  hatd  never  en- 
tered into  our  heads  to  conceive:  and,  above  all, 
the  contrast  between  these  nakea  clamorous  beg- 
gars, who  seemed  to  spring  out  of  the  croand  at 
every  turn  like  swarms  of  vermin,  and  the  boiir.<i- 
less  luxury  and  merriment  surrounding  the  thinly 
scattered  magnates  who  condescended  to  inhibit 
their  ancestral  seats,  would  have  been  suffident  to 
poison  those  landscapes,  had  Nature  dressed  tbm 
out  in  the  verdure  of  Arcadia,  and  art  cmbelUshed 
them  with  all  the  temples  and  palaces  of  old  Rome 
and  Athens.  It  is  painful  enough  even  to  remember 
siich  things ;  but  twelve  years  can  have  had  but  a 
trmmg  change -in  the  appearance  of  a  country 
which,  so  nchly  endowed  by  Providence  with  evar 
element  of  wealth  and  happiness,  could,  at  s«  ad- 
vanced a  period  of  Eoropean  civilisation,  sicken  thi 
heart  of  the  stranger  by  such  wide-spread  mam- 
festations  of  the  wanton  and  reckless  profligacy  <rf 
human  mismanagement,  the  withering  curse  of 
feuds  and  factions,  and  the  tyrannous  selfishness  of 
absenteeism ;  and  I  fear  it  is  not  likdy  that  lay 
contemporary  critic  will  venture  to  call  my  melan 
choly  picture  ovelrcharged.  A  few  blessed  etc^ 
tiona—such  an  aspect  of  ease  and  decency,  for  ex- 
ample,  as  we  met  every  where  on  the  vast  doinaia 
of  the  Duke  of  Devonsifare— served  only  to  make 
the  sad  reality  of  the  rul^  mp^^pififfjii  and  ap- 
Digitized  by 


mP£  dp  Sm  WALTfiR  sooot. 


411 


palliBg.  Taking  his  bedroom  caUcH^  one  night  in  u 
fUtiffe  on  the  Duke's  estate,  Sir  Walter  summed  up 
the  strain  of  his  disccrurBo  by  a  line  of  Shakspeare's— 
"Sweet  mercy  ii  nobility's  true  badge." 
There  was,  however,  abondance  of  ludicrous  in- 
cidents to  break  this  gloom ;  and  no  traveller  ever 
tasted  either  the  humours  or  the  blunders  of  Paddy 
more  heartily  than  did.  Sir  Walter.,  I  And  recorded 
in  one  letter  a  very  merry  mornine  at  Limelick, 
where,  amidst  the  ringing  of  all  the  bells,  in  honour 
of  tho  advent,  theis  was  ushered  in  a  brother-poet, 
who  must  needs  pay  his  personal  respects  to  the 
author  of  Marmion.  He  was  a  scarecrow  figure— 
attired  much  in  the  (afihion  of  the  strtiggler^— by 
n&me  O'Kelly ;  and  he  had  produced  on  the  spur  of 
the  oooasion  this  modest  parody  of  Dryden's  famous 
epigram:—  ' 

''Threo  poets,  of  three  difierent  naMons  bom^ 
The  United  Kingdom  in  this  agc.adorn ; 
Byron  of  England,  Scott  of  Scotia's  blood, 
And  Erln'i  pride— O'Kelly,  great  and  good." 

Sir  Wal  ter's  live  shiUings  were  at  once  forthcoming : 
and  the  bard,  in  order  that  Miss  Edgeworth  m^ght 
display  eoual  generosity,  pointed  out,  in  a  little 
volume  of  bis  works,  (for  which,  moreover,  we  had 
an  to  subflcribe,)  this  pregnant  couplet  :-^ 
**  Scoct,  BCotfan,  Edgeworth,  Byron,  prop  of  Greece, 
Are  oharacterii  whose  £uns  not  soon  wiU  cease." 
We  were  stilt  more  amused  (though  these  was 
real  misery  in  (he  eas^)  with  what  bsfel  on  our  ap- 
proach  to  a  certain  pretty  seat,  in  a  difierent  county, 
wbare  there  was  a  collection  of  pictures  andotm* 
oaities,  not  usually  shown  to  travellers.  A  gsntlo^ 
man  whom  wo  had  met  in  Dubhn,  had  beeovaocom- 
panying  us  part  of  the  day's  journey,  and  rolmi- 
teered,  being  acquainted  witn  too  ownert  to  procure 
us  easy  admission.  At  the  entranos  of  the  domain, 
to  which  we  prooeeded  under  his  wing,  we  were 
startled  by  the  dolorous  apparition  of  two  under- 
taker's men,  in  voluminous  black  scarfs,  though 
there  was  little  or  nothing  of  black  about  the  rest 
of  their  habiliments,  who  sat  upon  the  highway  be- 
fore the  gate,  with  a  whiskey-bottle  on  a  deal-table 
between  them.  Thev  informed  us  that  the  master 
of  the  house  had  died  the  day  before,  and  that  they 
were  to  keep  watch  and  ward  in  this  style  until  the 
ftmeral,  inviting  all  Christian  passengers  to  drink  a 

8 lass  to  his  repose.  Our  Cicerone  left  his  card  for 
,  \e  widow—having  previously,  no  doubt,  written  on 
it  the  names  of  his  two  lions.  Shortly  after  wo  re- 
gained our  post-house,  he  received  a  polite  answer 
frOm  the  lady.  To  the  best  of  my  memory,  it  was 
in  these  terms  :— 

*'  Strs. preaenta  her  kind  compliments  to  Mr. 

,  and  much  regrets  that  she  cannot  aliow  the  pic- 

tureif  to-day,  as  Major  — —  died  yesterday  evening  by 

apoplexy  ;  which  Mrs. the  more  regrets,  as  U  will 

prc\  cut  her  having  llie  honour  to  see  Sir  Walter  Scott 
and  Miss  Edgeworth." 

Sir  Walter  said  it  reminded  him  of  a  -woman  in 
Fife,  who,  summing  up  the  misfortunes  of  a  black 
year  in  her  history,  said—'-  let  me  sec,  sirs :  first  we 
lost  our  wee  callant— and  then  Jenny— and  then  the 
gudeman  himsel  died-^and  then  the  coo  died  too, 
poor  hizzey  (  but.  to  be  sure,  her  hide  brought  me 
fifteen  shillings. 

At  one  country  gentleman's  table  where  we  dined, 
though  two  grand  full-length  daubs  of  WUliam 
and  Mary  adorned  the  walls  of  the  room,  there  was 
a  mixed  company— about  as  many  Catholics  as  Pro- 
testants—all apparently  on  cordial  terms,  and  pledg-. 
ing  each  other  lustily  in  bumpers  of  capital  claret. 
About  an  hour  after  dinner,  however,  punch  was 
called  for ;  tumblers  and  jugs  of  hot  water  appeared, 
and  with  them  two  magnums  of  whisky,  the  one 
bearing  on  its  label  Kisq  s,  the  other  Qcebn's.  We 
did  not  at  first  Understand  these  inscriptions;  but 
H  was  explained,  sotto  roce,  that  the  King's  had 
paid  the  duty :  the  Queen's  was  of  contraband  ori- 
gin ;  and.  in  the  choice  of  the  liouors,  we  detected  a 
new  slubboleth  of  party.  The  joRy  Protestants  to 
a  man  stuck  to  the  King's  bottle;  the  equally  radi- 
ant Papists  paid  their  duty  to  the  Queen's. 
55     2M 


Sinoe  I  have  alluded  at  all  to  the  Uten  grand  difll- 
puie,  I  may  meution,  that,  after  our  tour  was  cbn- 
cluded,  we  considered  with  some,  wonder  that,  hav- 
ing partaken  Uberally  oi  Catholic  hospitality,  and 
encountered  almost  every  other  class  of  society,  we 
had  not  sat  at  meat  with  one  specimen  of  the 
Romish  priesthood ;  whereas,  even  at  Popish  tables, 
we  had  met  dignitaries  of  the  Established  Church. 
This  circumstance  we  set  down  at  the  time  as 
amounting  pretty  nearly  to  a  proof  thflt  there  were 
few  gentlemen  in  that  order ;  but  wc  afterwards 
were  willing  to  suspect  that  a  prejudice  of  their  own 
bad  been  the  source  of  it.  The  only  incivility, 
which  Sir  Walter  Scou  ultimately  discovered  him- 
self 10  have  encountered,  (for  his  friends  did  not  al- 
low him  to  hear  of  it  at  the  time,)  in  the  course  of 
his  Irish  peregrination,  yras  the  refusal  of  a  Romaii 
Catholic  gentleman,  named  O'Conneli,  who  kept 
stag-bounds  near  Killarney,  to  allow  ot  a  hunt  on 
the  upper  lake,  the  day  he  visited  that  beautiful 
scenery.  This  he  did,  as  we  were  told,  because  hs 
considered  it  as  a  notorious  fact,  that  Sir  Walter 
Scott  was  an  enemy  to  the  Roman  CathoUc  claims 
for  admission  to  seats  iti  ParUament  He  was  en- 
tirely mistakeni  however ;  ibr,  though  no  man  dis^ 
approved  of  Romanism  as  a  system  of  faith  a^d 
practice  more  smcereiy  than  Sir  Walter  always  did, 
he  had  long  before  this  period  formed  the  opinion* 
thrrr  no  good  could  come  of  farther  resistance  to 
th^      !  i:rii  in  ouestion.     He  on  all  occasions  ex- 

fr.  s*'<l  I  lanfullyhis  belief;  that  the  best  thing  for 
ri  3^jii  ]  v/ould  have  been  never  to  relay  the  strictly 
vo'i'i-ii>  enactments  of  the  penal  laws,  however 
har-:!:i  rf^tae  might  appear.  Had  they  beeu  kept  in 
vj^.fvf  i-ii-  another  half  century,  it  was  his  convic- 
ti^ii  ?h;  t  Popery  woald  have  been  all  but  extin- 
gv  -'1.4  <i  Ireland.  But  he  thought  that^  after  ad- 
mil  SiJi  -  Romanist^ to  the  elective  frtfnchise,  it  was 
a  \-ai  notion  that  they  could  be  permanently  or  ad- 
vantageously debarred  from  using  that  franchise  in 
favour  of  those  of  thei^  own  persuasion.  The  great- 
er part  of  the  charmmg  society  into  which  he  fell 
whde  in  Ireland,  entertained  views  and  sentiments 
very  Ukoly  to  confirm  these  impressions ;  and  it 
struck  me  that  considerable  pains  were  taken  to  en- 
force them.  It  was  felt,  probably^  that  the  crisis 
of  decision  drew  near :  and  there  might  be  a  natural 
anxiety  ^o  secure  the  suffrage  of  the  great  writer  of  • 
the  time.  The  polished  amenity  of  the  Lord-Lieu- 
tenant setoff  liis  commanding  range  of  thought  and 
dexterous  exposition  offsets  to  the  most  capuvating 
advantage.  *'  The  Marquis's  talk,"  says  Seott^  in 
a  letter  of  the  following  year,  "  gave  me  the  notion 
of  the  kind  of  statesmanship  that  one  might  have 
expected  in  a  Roman  Emperor,  accustomed  to  keep 
the  whole  world  in  his  \'iew,  and  to  divide  his 
hours  betweeti  ministrt-s  like  MecEenas  and  wits 
like  Horace."  The  acute  logic  and  brilliant  elo- 
quence of  Lord  Plunkett  he  ever  afterwards  talked 
of  with  hi^  admiration ;  nor  had  he,  he  said,  en- 
countsred  in  society  sny  combination  of  ^uauties 
more  remarkable  than  the  deep  sagacity  and  the 
broad  rich  humour  of  Mr.  Blake.  In  Plunkett, 
Biake,  aad  Crampton,  he  considered  himself  as  hav- 
ing gained  th);ee  real  friends  by  this  expedition ;  and 
I  tnink  I  may  venture  to  say,  that  the  feeling  on 
their  side  was  warmly  reciprocal. 

If  he  had  been  111896  aware  at  the  time  of  the  dis- 
courtesy of  the  Romish  staghunter  at  Killarney,  he 
might  have  been  consoled  by  a  letter  which  reached 
him  that  same  week  from  a  less  bigoted  member  of 
the  same  church— the  great  poet  of  Ireland— whom 
he  had  never  choncea  to  meet  in  society  but  once, 
and  that  at  an  early  petiod  of  liib,  shortlv  after  the 
first  publication  of  the  Lay  of  the  Last  Minstrel 
To  Sir  Walter  Scott,  Dart.  4-c.  4r. 
"  Sloperton  Cottage,  Devizes,  July  21,  1825. 
"  My  dear  Sir  Walter, 

"I  wish  most  heartily  that  I  had  been  tn  my  own 
green  hmd  to  wclc<>me  you.  It  defj^hts  rac,  however, 
to  see  (what  I  conld  not  have  doubted)  that  the  warm 
hearta  of  my  coimlr>'men  have  shown  thai  Qiey  koow 
now  to  value  you.  How  1  envr  those  who  will  nave  the 
gbry  of  showiog  you  and  KUlamey  to  each  other !   No 


484 


UFB  OF  SIR  WALTEIt  SOOTF*. 


two  of  oAtiire'i  prodoctioiia,  I  wiU  tay,  were  erer  more 
worthy  of  mealing.  Ifttw  Kenmares  should  be  your 
Ciceroni,  pray  tell  them  what  1  say  of  their  Paradise, 
with  my  best  regards  and  greetings.  1  received  your 
kind  message,  through  Newton,*  last  year,  that  *  if  I  did 
not  come  and  see  you,  before  you  died,  you  would  ap- 
pear to  me  allerwards.'  Be  assured  that,  as  I  am  all  for 
liv  jDig  apparitions.  I  shall  take  care  and  have  the  stxirt  of 
you,  ana  would  have  done  it  tiiis  very  year,  I  rather 
think,  only  for  your  Irish  movements, 

"  Present  my  best  regards  to  your  sonfp-law,  and  be- 
lieve me,  ray  dear  Sit  Walter  (though  we  have  met,  I 
am  sorry  to  say,  but  once  In  our  lives,) 

"  Vours,  cordially  and  sincerely, 

Tbomas  Moosb." 

Scott's  answer  was— 

To  Thomaa  Moore^  Btq. 

"August  5,  Somerton,  near  TcmpletOn  <1  think.) 
"My  dear  Sir, 

''  If  any  thing  could  hav«  added  to  the  pleasure  I 
must  necessarily  feel  at  the  warm  reception  which  the 
Irish  nation  have  honoured  me  with,  or  if  any  thing 
could  abate  my  own  sence  that  I  am  no  ways  worth  the 
coil  that  has  been  made  about  me,  it  must  be  the  assu- 
rance that  you  partake  and  appro\'e  of  the  feelings  of 
your  kind-hearted  countryfoIltB. 

"In  Ireland  I  have  met  wiih  every  thing  that  was  kind, 
sMd  have  «ecn  much  which  is  never  to  be  forgotten. 
What  I  have  seen  has,  in  general,  giren  me  great  plea^ 
rare ;  for  it  appears  to  mo  that  the  adverse  circmik 
stances  which  nave  so  long  withered  tlie  prosperity  of 
this  rich  and  powerful  country  are  loidng  their  force,  and 
that  a  gradual  but  steady  spirit  of  progressive  Improve- 
ment IS  efTectually,  though  tachly,  counteracting  thefr 
bjuJ  effects.  The  next  twenty-five  years  will  probably 
be  the  most  important  in  their  results  that  Ireland  ever 
knew.  So  prophesies  a  sharp-sighted  Bennachie  from 
the  land  of  mist  and  snow,  aware  that,  though  hit  opin- 
ion may  be  tin  founded,  he  cannot  please  your  6«r  bet- 
ter than  by  presaging  the  proq>erity  of  Ireland. 

"  And  so,  to  descend  flnom  such  high  matters,  I  hone 
you  wiil  consider  me  as  having  left  my  card  for  you  hj 
this  visit,  althoiuh  I  have  not  been  happy  enough  to  find 
you  at  home.  You  are  bound  by  the  ordinary  forms  of 
society  to  return  the  call,  an(^  come  to  see  Scotland 
Bring  wife  and  balms.  We  have  ploniy  of  room,  and 
plenty  of  oatmeal,  and,  enfre  novt,  a  bottle  or  two  or  good 
claret,  to  which  I  thhik  you  have  as  little  objection  as  1 
have.  We  will  talk  of  poor  Byron,  who  wte  dear  to  as 
both,  and  regret  that  such  a  rose  should  have  fallen  from 
the  chaplet  of  his  country  so  untimely.  I  very  often 
think  of  him  almntt  with  tear*.  Surely  you,  who  have 
the  mea;<  ,  "  "iJJ  Jr>  eciujcihing  fir  \M  literary  life  at 
least.  ^■  ■  .  :!.tcn3ily  avnUI  tcmrtnl  cpfs*n  old  wounds. 
Then,  r  :  :t>  nit r  prftposcLiiai'^anKH  you  know  folks 

call  me  - ,  nnil « i  <u  a  Jfic(^bin  ^  bi  It  Is  quite  clear 

that  wo  /■  T.    llKriiig  uufiri^il  ibin  vile  pun,  which 

is  only  ihl^  h^'eaist^t  ihc  subjcri  of  polities  d«- 

servess  ■ .  n  t*  hi^b  lifnctii  iniiictu^le. 

"  I  rei  lajrth  Cii^LiiaJ,  ycL,  1  am  a  ^raid,  willi  little 

chance  \z  jri>ii,  wtisr  b  1  sbculf];  ^lish  to  do  were 

it  but  fo,  liuur,    1  Jiivt  coiiiLi  thu.^  far  on  my  way 

to  Rillai  .  Mxrfi  HaI^h  ia  i^liif  friM^  a  broken  leg. 

So  mticl  .  ..Mif-nfffiT  ji^nrkm*"!!  clJiiiMng  precipices. 
1,  who  ?  ;v.  i,e^Ti  ri'cii'iflv  Lfli3iKti""*1  luif  the  bed  of  St. 
Kevin  r!  « he  Sj?vim1  Cluirchi-strOM  lahalil  bear  charmed 
limbs  u^»<Q  ;2^it  (vtcaftmi-^l  &Jn  ver^  tuuch,  dear  sir, 
your  oDiif«a  Biiil  liitttirul 

Waiter  Scott." 

Having  crdssjed  the  hills  from  Killarney  to  Cork, 
where  a  repetition  of  the  Dtiblin  reception— corpo- 
ration honours,  deputations  of  the  literary  and 
scientific  societies,  and  &p  forth— awaited  him,  he 
gave  a  couple  of  days  to  she  hospitalitv  of  this 
flourishing  town,  and  the  beautiful  scpnery  of  the 
Shannon ;  not  for^tting  art  excursion  to  the 
l^roves  of  Blarney,  atnonoj  \vho«e  shades  we  had  a 
nght  mirthful  pic-nic.  Sir  Walter  scrambled  up  to 
the  top  of  the  castle,  and  kissed,  with  due  faith  and 
devotion,  the  famous  Blarney  stoncj  one  salute  of 
which  is  said  toemancipste  the  pilgnm  from  all  fti- 
ture  visitations  of  mauvaise  konte  : 

"  The  stone  this  Is,  whoever  kisses. 
He  never  misses  to  grow  clo<incnt— 

'Tis  he  ijiay  clamber  to  a  lady's  chamber, 
Or  be  a  member  of  Parliament." 

a*  Jh?la'e amiaLle and eie^nt arliit.  Gilbert  Stpwart  Ne^vton, 
R.  A,  bad  ipent  part  of  the  autamn  of  1S24  at  Chieftwgod. 


But  the  BhamefgoedDesa  of  our  yoooff  £Binale  foeodi 
was  not  exposed  cd  an  inspection  Of  the  wona  of 
art,  celebrated  by  the  poetical  Dean  of  Cork  aa  the 
prime  ornaments  of  the  Lady  Jefferie8*^B    station," 

*'  The  statues  growing  that  noble  place  in, 
,        Of  heathen  goddesses  most  raro— 
'  Homer,  Venus,  and  Nebuchadneaaar, 
All  standing  naked  hi  the  open  air." 

These  had  disappeared,  and  the  castle  and  ail  its 
appurtenances  were  in  a  state  of  woful  dilapidation 
and  neglect. 

From  Cork  wo  proceeded  to  Dablin  by  Fcrmoy. 
Liamore,  Cashel,  Kilkenny,  and  Holycroaa— at  all 
of  which  places  we  were  bountifuUv  entertained, 
and  assiduously  dceroned— to  our  old  quarters  in 
St.  Stephen's  green;  and  after  a  niormngor  two 
spent  in  taking  leave  of  many  kind  faces  that  he 
was  never  to  see  again,  Sir  Walter  and  his  original 
fellow-travellers  atarted  for  Holyhead  on  the  ISth 
of  August.  Our  progress  through  North  Wales 
produced  nothing  worth  recording,  except  perhaps 
il:  ''  "  .  r  0  !. j;ht  which  every  imng  in  the  aspect 
ol  ::'  '  ::iii;  ]i  peoplc,  their  orcss.  their  hoasea, 
th i.ir  ^^Ti'i  [i^,  aijd  their  htisbandry,  could  not  fkil  to 
ctjl]  i.i'i<  jii  i".TM<ii:^  who  had  just  been  seeing  Ii^and 
foe  lb.  ftrs^t  i.jhe:^;  and  a  short  visit  (which  wa&  is- 
dci.  J,  iJii'  i^nly  i.irta  he  made)  to  the  far-famed  la- 
dii'  ^  < '  f  L  ki  n  g  u :  lt>n.'  They  had  reoeived  some  hint 
th^t  Sir  Wdhir  incfanr  to  pass  their  Way j  and  on 
aloppin^  nt  the  inn,  he  nceived  ait  tnvkation  ao 
pressing  to  ndd  one  more  lo  the  lonK  list  of  the  iliiia- 
trioua  visjltcrs  of  their  retreat,  that  it  waa  impoa- 
Bible  for  him  noi  to  comply.  We  bad  read  hxatonea 
aiid  litscrrptioni^  enough  of  theae  romaatie  apinatan^ 
ati^i  ntrc  pn  ;i [iri4  to  be  well  anniaed ;  bat  the  rani* 
ity  aurpaaaed  ali  expectation. 

An  axtract  from  i  goaaippini^  letter  of  the  fioUow- 
ing  week  will  parhapa  be  aofteient  lisr  LUngoUan. 
"« BQeray,  Augiiat  34. 

•  •  •  u  ^0  ,|M)t  on  Wednesday  evening  at  Capel 
Carig,  which  Sir  \V.  suppose*  to  meail  the  Chapel  of  the 
Crags;  a  pretty  little  Inn  in  «  most  picturesque  steoatton 
certainly,  and  as  to  the  matter  of  toasted  cheese,  quite 
•xquisiie.  Next  dajr  we  ad\'anc«d  through,  1  veiily  be- 
UeTe,  the  most  perfect  gem  of  a  country  eye  ever  saw, 
havinc  almost  all  the  wildnessof  Ilighland  backgroonds, 
and  all  the  loveliness  of  rich  English  landscape  nearer 
us,  and  streams  like  the  purest  and  most  babbung  of  our 
own.  At  Llangollen  your  papa  was  waylaid  by  tne  cele- 
brated ^  Ladies'— ▼is.  Lady  Eleanor  Butler  and  the  Ho- 
nourable Miss  Ponsonby,  who  having  been  one  er  both 
crossed  in  love,  foreswore  all  dreams  of  matxlmony  in 
the  heyday  of  youth,  beauty,  and  feshioa,  and  selected 
this  charming  spot  for  the  repose  of  their  now  tiine<h«»> 
noured  virginity.  It  was  many  a  day,  howoTer,  before 
they  could  get  implicit  credit  for  being  the  innocent 
fHends  they  really  were,  among  the  people  of  the  nrifb- 
bourbood ;  for  their  elopement  from  Ireland  had  been 

Serformed  under  suspicious  clrcimistances ;  and  as  Lady 
lleanor  arrived  here  in  her  natural  a^oct  of  a  pretty 
girl,  while  Miss  Ponsonby  had  condescendcil  to  acocitma. 
ny  her  in  the  garb  of  a  smidt  foounan  in  bock^in 
breeches,  years  and  years  elapsed  ere  full  justice  was 
done  to  the  character  of  their  romance.  We  proceeded 
up  the  hill,  and  foimd  every  thing  about  them  and  theiy 
habitation  odd  and  extravagant  beyond  report.  Imagine 
two  women,  one  apuarenily  70,  the  other  65,  dressed  la 
heavy  blue  riding  nabit.^,  enormous  shoes,  and  men's 
hatd,  with  their  petticoats  so  tucked  up,  that  at  the  first 
glance  of  ihem,  fussing  ami  tOttering  about  their  porch 
m  the  agony  of  cxpeciation,  wo  took  them  for  a  couple 
of  hazy  or  craay  oM  sailors.  On  nearer  inspection  they 
boTli  wear  a  world  of  brooches,  rings,  ^te.,  and  L»i^ 
Eleanor  positively  orc/erA— several  sura  and  crosses,  snd 
a  red  ribbon,  exactly  like  a  K.  C.  B.  To  crowaaU,  they 
have  cro])  heads,  shaggy,  rough,  bushy,  and  as  white  as 
snow,  the  one  with  ago  alone,  the  other  as^ted  by  « 
sprinkling  of  powder.  The  older  lady  is  almost  blind, 
and  every  way  much  decayed ;  the  other,  the  ci-devant 
^lo'im,  in  good  preservation.  But  who  could  pahit  the 
prints,  the  doft^,  the'oats,  the  miniatures,  the  cram  of 
cabinets,  clocks,  plass-cases,  booiu,  bijouterie,  dragoB> 
chini,  nodding  mandarins,  and  whirligiss  of  every  shape 
and  hue — the  whole  house  outside  and  in  (for  we  must 
see  every  thing  to  the  dressing  closets,)  cotertd  wi  h 
carved  oak,  voir  rich  and  flne  aome  of  it-Hind  the  Olus- 
tratc'f  copies  of  Sir  W.'s  poems,  and  the  joking  simper* 
tng  eomplimems  abou^  Wavcrley.andth^ /i^etv  to  knew 
Digitized  by  VJOOQlc  ' 


LIFE  OF  SIR  WALTER  800TT. 


who  MaoJvor  r^ljr  wu,  and  tbe  ibsolutti  iJ«voLurlii|:  of 
the  poor  Uuknowri,  whn  h^  ro  c-pTtt  aC  beatJeFt  nU  Ftac 
r«8tyODe  .-uiMl  I  it  uf  Utcml  buffer  dij;g  up  jQ  a  Mj^^&inn 
stone  jar  'rom  the  boLlom  or  souio  Irtth  bpf .  Oix^ol 

romance.  >  li-mni  imtt^ceQco  gf  «:t'iarael«r-  one  muM 

have  loo)  t;  ^ut  fi  wg^s  c^nAjuqiliu^  to  £ijii  Ihid 

mixed  up  ^vl1ib  luah  eager  curioaiLirT  uid  cnonnouE  krjiaw- 
ledge  of  the  ijULle  aud  icaadiJ  of  cbe  vorki  Uijc^  )]{id  ao 
loDf  lift.  Tlieir  tables  werti  plied  wtLb  aewApapers  fri»ii 
ev((nr  corn  1^1^  of  ibo  Mjai^diaED,  an  J  |b«y  itemed  to  h^ve 
the  deatha  pujni  m-irriatfei  of  iho  wnii^cuJiM  ai  cheif  flfnperj' 
ends.  TljtJr  Albumi  anil  aHtoOTspli^t  fn>m  Loula  XVIIL 
/tadOeoriT'-*  IV.,  down  lo  uuit^uEJiQe  po^t^i  em^  fiuAcJE-dTaC' 
tors,  are  u  museum-  I  Ahall  nc-ver  s.ee.  tlto  9].^irlt  of  1:^Lu#- 
■coekingitiii  apfcln  in  such  perfect  Ine^maiton.  reTsril 
won't  get  over  tti^ir  Anai  kliitfting  uiatch  foi'  a  wtiok^  Vdt 
it  is  too  bn4  to  lau^h  nt  L^jcte  e(}r>il  old  |![irU;  EhR/  bave 
long  been  tli'i^  ^ubaIUuj  ^ugeU  of  tbi^  rdkitt!,  iind  sre  woe- 
shipped  by  mna,  woutu^  midcliild  abouE  tbeid" 

,  This  letter  vvae  writ  (en  on  the  ban  ka  of  ^Vindtrr- 
xnere,  wh'^re  we  were  rtctfivixl  wiih  ihe  ivaniuh  of 
old  friendaliip  bv  Mr*  WJaoo.  and  one  who^e  ^nce 
and  Rentle  gocHiaeas  cuuU  hove  fijund  no  lovirliiir  ur 
fitter  Bome  than  Elkrny,  ex^^tjt  where  shcJi  now, 

Mr;  Bolmn'ft  icat,  to  wliitli  €nn«jag  bad  invited 
Scott,  is  situatc^d  a  couple  of  mileit  loWGr  down  on 
the  eame  Lake  ]  and  ihnhcr  Mr*  ^ViUoTJ  coniio<:ted 
him  nexr  day.  A  large  conipotiy  had  been  assem- 
bled thcrt^  in  honour  of  the  Minietor—tt  Jncludtd  al- 
ready Mf- Word  &  worth  and  Mr,  Son  i  hey.  I;  has 
not,  I  aiippose,  often  hapencd  to  a  platn  En^lieh 
merchant^  wholly  the  archiiect  of  his  own  foriunc^ 
to  entertnm  m  one  time  a  porty  embracing  so  runny 
illostrious  names.  Htj  was  proud  of  hia  i^i^sta  ; 
they  respected  hiiTi,  and  honoured  ant!  loved  each 
other;  and  it  wouttlhave  been  difBcult  tosny  vthich 
star  inthe^  constellation  ^honc  with  ihe  brightest 
or  the  softest  lisht-  There  wo?  *'  hich  dis<^oufBe/^ 
mtermio&led  with  as  cay  fia^hinea  of  courtlv  wit 
as  ever  Cannine  divriLayed  \  and  a  plentifbl  allow* 
ance,  on  all  iidea,  of  ihoae  niry  tranBiGnt  p  lea  sun- 
tries,  in  which  the  fancy  of  poees,  boweyer  wiae 
and  grav€.  dclisti^s  !t>  run  riot  when  they  are  etira 
not  to  be  mifltmdersiocid.  There  wert  beauriful  and 
accomplished  women  lo  adorn  and  enjoy  ibia  circle. 
The  weai  her  wa  s  a  s  El  yeia  n  ajj  t  h  e  sccnen'^  Tb  e  re 
were  brilHant  cavalcadea  ihronRh  the  wooda  in  the 
morning^.,  and  delicious  boQtingn  on  th^  Lake  by 
moon-ligtit;  and  the  last  day  "  the  Admiral  of  the 
Lake^'  preaidcd  over  ona  of  the  most  eplendid  r^ai* 
tas  that  ever  enhTOned  Windermpre*  Perhsps  there 
were  not  fewer  than  fifty  barges  roUowins  in  the 
Professof  a  radiant  proceision*  wh^in  ii  pntie<?d  at 
the  point  of  Btorrs  to  admit  into  the  place  of  ho- 
nour the  vessel  that  earned  kind  and  happy  Mr. 
Eolion  and  his  fines ti<  The  three  borda  of  the 
akes  led  th«  cheers  thai  hailed  Scott  and  Can- 
ninaj  and  niusic  and  erun^hine,  flags,  streatnera^ 
ana  gay  drc&ses,  the  merry  hum  of  voices,  and  the 
rapia  splashing  of  innumerable  oars,  made  up  a 
dazzling' mixture  of  stns^ationa  oa  the  RotUln  wouTjd 
its  way  among  the  Tichiy-foliagcd  island  a,  and  along 
bays  and  promontorita  peopled  with  erithuaiastie 
spectators. 

On  al  last  quitting  the  festive  circle  of  Storra,  wo 
visited  tie  family  ot  the  Inte  Biphop  Watson  at  Cal- 
garth,  and  Mr  Wordsworth  at  hi^i  charmine  retreat 
of  Blonnt  llydaK  He  aecompani^^d  \\s  to  Ke^wjck^ 
where  We  a  aw  Mr.  Son  they  re-eplablifthwl  m  hia 
unrivalled  libra  ry *  Mr.  Word  aw  or  th  a  nd  h  i  s  d  au  ft  h  - 
ler  then  (urned  with  ne»  and  posain^  ovc^r  Krrk- 
stone  to  U [3 water  conducted  153  fir^i  lo  hia  friend 
Mr.  Marj*h all's  (:hf;iani  villa,  ncnr  Lyulph'a  Tower, 
and  on  the  next  day  10  the  noble  castle  of  hia  life- 
long friend  nnd  patroo  Lord  Lonsdale*  The  Earl 
and  Coi;nte5B  h^d  their  hall  a  filled  with  a  no  1  her 
splendid  rireb  of  diBtinpuiahed  persona,  vsfhi\  like 
them,  lavifhfd  all  possible  attentions  and  detnon- 
Btrations  of  tL-sptct  iipon  Sir  Wakcr.  He  terns j n- 
ed  a  coup  Is  of  d.^y9,  and  peratnbnlai:t?d,  under 
WordswciTiVfl  Rvtidan^t,  ihe  superb  terraces  and 
grores  of  thn  "  fair  dotnain>'*  which  thai  poet  has 
connected  with  thi^  nobleat  monument  of  his  {genius. 
But  the  temptatiotts  of  Storrs  and  l^wther  had 
cost  moi^  tittle  than  had  been  calctilaied  tipgn,  and 


the  promised  viiit  to  Rokeby  was  unwiBingly  aban- 
doned. Sir  Walter  reached  Abbotsford  again  on 
th#  first  of  September^  and  said  truly  thai  *'  his 
tour  had  been  one  ovation." 

I  add  two  letters  on  the  subject  of  thisjrish  expe- 
dition :— 

To  J.  B.  8.  Morritt,  JSJ»o.,  Rokcby  Park,  Greta  Bridge. 

"Abbotsford,  Sept.  2,  1&25. 
''Your  letter,  my  dear  Moniit,  gave  me  most  sincere 
pleasure  on  your  account,  and  also  on  my  own,  as  it  re* 
conciled  me  to  mvself  fbr  my  stupidity  in  misdirecting 
my  letters  to  Charlotte  and  you  from  Wales.  I  was  sin- 
cerely vexed  when  I  found  out  my  fcerwe,  b'ut  am  now 
well  pleasvd  that  it  happened,  since  we  might  otherwise 
have  arrived  at  Rokeby  at  a  time  when  we  must  necea- 
sarily  have  been  a  little  in  the  wav.  I  wish  you  joy  most 
sincerely  of  your  nephew's  settling  in  life,  in  a  manner 
so  agreeably  to  your  wishes  and  views.  Belia  gerani 
alii— he  will  htvfe  seen  enough  of  the  world  abroad  to 
qualify  biin  fully  to  estimate  and  discharge  the  duties  of 
an  English  country-gentleman ;  and  with  yoiv  example 
before  him,  uid  your  advice  to  resort  to,  he  cannot,  wt|h 
the  talents  he  possesses,  ijeol  to  fill  honourably  that  most 
honourable  and  important  rank  in  ioeiety.  You  will, 
probably,  in  due  thne,  think  of  Parliamem  for  him,  where 
there  is  a  fine  sphere  for  young  nsen  of  talentsjU  present, 
all  the  old  political  post-horses  being,  as  Sir  Pertinax 
says,  dry- foundered. 

*M  was  extremely  sorry  to  find  Canning  at  Winder- 
mere looking  poorly :  hut,  in  a  ride,  the  old  man  seemed 
to  come  aUve  again.  •  I  fear  he  works  himself  too  hard,- 
under  the  great  error  of  trying  to  do  too*  much  with  his 
own  hand,  and  to  see  every  thing  with  his  own  eyes, 
v^eieaa  the  greatctt  general  and  the  first  statesman 
muritn  ]n  iriiiiiy  cas+?i,  b*?  'Zijrili-nf  [■■  ni"  th*.''  'V'j*  ■iki'i  fing- 
er i{  i.if  cither^,  am]  EkJiI  iticnisvkca  conlemcd  witb  the 
eJ^'L'cist.^  ijf  eI)'^  f  rcEitK'St  cjirtj  in  the  cbuicc  crini^Jementt, 
HiiiiT.jL  vraUiiible  tJifc  [!.i  us  just  nuw.  1  pftised  1  fcttipU 
of  days  EU  Lriwtli^r,  to  moke  up  m  flome  dci^ruc  ta  Ana  a 
fi^r  tivT  dti^ppomtinent  in  not  getimi^  10  K4;jkeby^  1  was 
seduced  lb  ere  by  Ljuiy  Frt^denck  Btaunclii,  whom  1  bad 
Ion;!  known  as  a  f  erj  o^  re  (.'able  pofiOa,  and  who  was 
very  kinii  m  Aime.  ThiJ  woro  out  my  pfopo^cd  k1fUrS|.. 
and  frijiii  Lowtlteir  we  reached  AL!'i:«t«fr>nJ  In  one  day* 
and  now  doth  the  ohl  lort  feed  in  ibo  oLd  rr&nJL^  I  had 
th«  ^rtui  plifaatire  of  leo.^ nig  Wnjir rand  bis  intle  wiFa 
well,  hB[ipyi  arid,  aa  ibay  ecijua  perfectly  to  underptiod 
each  oLbt^r,  Uknlj  to  continua  fia.  Ills  ardour  (ar  miUu> 
ry  aQaJr!^  continuea  unabated,  ftnd  bis  gr&nx  serine  (jfacti* 
vily  1^  iheJ^tEfn  tjtrirt — so  uif  Iri&li  tie  nominate  Uie  ex- 
ereiiin^  jETOund,  citniaifiiikit  gf  iboul  fifty  ^'Crej,  ia  the 
Phccnii  P&jt^^  vthicli  Induced  an  attorney,  wriuhig  a  chal- 
lenge to  a  bTH-Jtrier  of  the  trade,  to  najne,  a«  a  pIiKe  of 
meoCjrLi;,  ihn^fifltin  itcrtt^  addifii:,  with  pro refiiieDai  accu- 
racy^ '  I>e  Ukry  mole  or  lee?,'  jlere  about  3UUQ  men,  iks 
garnse>ii  of  Dnblin,  btd  to  be  ce^  cxercitiitg,  ever  Hid 
anon,  to  urflvr  that  Pit  may  be  n ware  how  some  W30 
muak^ia,  BfsisLcd  by  the  liiscbarge  of  twenty  ^Jd-pivera, 
and  the  iTonip  uf  ^  or  &Xi  hcrdCn  i^uuud,  in  coaip«rleoo 
to  tl  I «  tj  lu  lide  r  mf  M  r.  O '  Coniie  U . 

"  All  ihii  tntvclliofi  and  i^ooing  ia  like  to  preveni  our 
moftiT)^  ihin  aea^on-  t  hopa  to  maku  up  for  jt  tt^e  next* 
Ledy  H<:oa,  Anne,  anii  Soplila  join  Lockhsn  and  uie  io 
beet  wii^bie  t'>  lliB  lifippy  tviC^wtio  arc  to  be  booh  one. 
My  bcsi  rcrpecLii  sitend  ui  ' 


most  truly  yours, 


e  Mtju  ^rorhttE,aiid  I  ever  mod, 
Waltbs  Soott." 


To  MiM  Joanna  .Bai/2*e,  ffampsttfuL 

''  Abhoislbrd,  October  12, 182& 

*'  It  did  not  require  your  kind  letter  of  undeserved  re- 
membrance, my  dear  friend,  to  remind  me  that  I  had 
been  guilty  very  criminal  negligence  in  our  epistokury 
correspondence.  How  this  has  come  to  pass  I  really  do 
not  know  ;  but  it  arises  out  of  any  source  but  that  of 
ingratitude  to  ray  flriends,  or  thoughtless  forgetftilness  of 
my  duty  to  them.  On  the  contrary,  I  think  always  most 
w  them  to  whom  1  do  owe  letters,  for  when  my  con- 
science is  satlsficcren  that  subject,  their  perturbed  spirits 
remain  at  rest,  or  at  least  do  not  haunt  me  as  the  injured 
spirits  do  Ihe  surviving  miurderers. 

**!  well  intended  to  hove  written  from  Ireland,  but, 
&Uu9  i  Hell,  as  some  stern  old  divine  says,  is  paved  with 
good  hitcntions.  There  was  such  a  whirl  of.  visiting, 
and  laking,  and  boating,  and  wondering,  and  shouting^ 
and  laughing,  and  carousing :  so  much  to  be  seen  and  . 
so  little  time  to  see  it ;  so  much  to  be  heard  and  only 
tvto  ears  to  listen  to  twenty  voices,  that,  upon  the  whole, 
I  grew  decorate,  and  gave  up  all  thoughts  of  doing  what  . 
vras  right  and  proper  upon  post-days— and  so  aU  my  epis* 
«  9d  King  Biwry  IK.,  Act IL  80J1OQ IC 


4M 


UFfi  OF  SIB  WALTER  SCXXTT. 


tolarjr  good  iotMtioos  ar«,j|o&e  to  MacadAnuM,  I  map- 
pose.  *  the  burnijag  marie'  ofthe  infernal  regions.  I  have 
not  the  pen  of  our  friend,  Maria  Edge  worth,  wlio  vn^tea 
all  ttie  while  she  laughs,  talks,  eats,  and  drinks,  and  I 
believe,  ilu)U|;h  I  do  not  pretend  to  be  sofar  in  the  secret, 
all  the  timd  «ne  sleeps  too.  She  has  good  luck  in  havloff 
a  pen  wiiich  walks  at  once  so  unwearledly  and  so  weU. 
I  do  not,  however,  quite  like  hex  last  book  on  Education/ 
considered  as  a  general  work.  She  should  have  limiied 
the  title  to  Education  in  Natural  Philosophy,  or  some 
such  term,  for  there  is  no  great  use  in  teaching  children 
in  general  to  roof  houses  or  build  bridges,  which, 'after 
all,  a  earoenter  or  a  mason  does  a  rreat  deal  better  at  28. 
6U.  per  clay.  In  a  waste  country,  like  some  parts  of  Ame- 
Ilea,  it  raky  do  very  well,  or  perhaps  for  a  sailor  or  a 
traveller,  certainly  for  a  civil  engineer.  But  in  the  or^ 
cinary  professions  of  the  better-Uiformed  orders  I  have 
always  observed,  that  a  small  taste  for  mechanics  tends 
to  encouraging  a  sort  of  trifling  self-oonceit,  founded  on 
knowing  that  which  is  not  worth  being  known  by  one 
who  has  other  matters  to  employ  his  nolfaid  on.  and  in 
short,  forms  a  trumpery  gimcrack  kind  of  a  ehaiacter 
who  is  a  mechanic  among  gentlemen,  and  most  probably 
a  gentlemsn  among  meclumics.  Yoa  must  understand 
■  I  mean  only  to  challenge  the  system  avteakinf  mocha- 
nics  too  much  and  too  general  a  subject  of  edncatien, 
anri  converting  scholars  Into  makers  of  toys.  Men  like 
Watt,  or  mfyyse  geniua  (ends  strongly  to  Invent  and  ax* 
ecnte  those  wonderful  combinatiens  which  extend  in 
such  an  mcalculable  degree  the  human  force  aad  coni' 
mand  over  the  physical  world,  do  not  come  within  ordi- 
nary rules;  but  your  ordinary  Harry  tbonld  be  kept  to 
his  grammar,  and  your  Locy  of  most  conrauHi  occnr- 
zvnco  vfill  be  best  employed  on  her  sampler,  instead  of 
waffling  wood,  and  cutoog  their  tni era,  whieh  I  am  con- 
▼Inced  thsy  did.  thoogh  their  blstorUn  says  nothing  of  it 
**  Well,  but  I  did  not  mean  to  aay  anr  thing  about  Harrv 
and  Lucy,  whose  dialogues  are  very  interesting  after  aU. 
bat  about  Ireland,  which  I  eonld  prophesy  for  aa  well  as 
If  I  were  Thomas  the  Rhymen  Her  natural  gifts  are  so 
great,  that,  despite  all  the  disadvantages  which  have  hith- 
erto retarded  her  progreas,  she  wiH,  I  believe,  be  qneen 
oif  the  trefoil  of  kingdoms.  I  never  saw  a  richer  country, 
or,  to  speak  my  aiind,  a  finer  people ;  (lie  worst  of  them 
is  (he  bitter  and  envenomed  di^ike  which  they  have  to 
oaoh  other.  Their  factions  have  bean  so  long  envenomed, 
and  they  have  such  narrow  gronnd  to  tio  their  battle  in, 
that  they  are  Uke  people  flgbtlng  with  daggers  in  a  hogs- 
head. This,  however,  is  getthig  better,  for  as  the  govern- 
ment  temporises  between  the  parties^  and  does  not  throw, 
as  formerly,  iu  whole  weight  Into  the  Protestant  scale, 
there  is  more  appearance  of  (hhiga  seuitag  Into  concord 
and  good  order.  The  Protestaiaa  of  the  old  school,  the 
determiied  Oangemen,  are  a  very  fine  race,  but  danger- 
ous for  the  quiet  of  a  country ;  they  reminded  me  of  the 
Spaniards  in  Mexico,  and  aeemed  still  to  walk  among^the 
Chtbolies  with  all  the  pride  of  the  conquerors  of  the 
Bay&e  and  the  oapiora  of  limerick.  Their  ovm  belief  Is 
eompletely  Axedi  Ulat  there  are  enough  of  men  in  Down 
•ad  AnlrlnUo  conquer  all  Ireland  again ;  and  when  one 


I  the  haWttial  authority  they  have  exercised, 
their  energetic  and  militarv  character,  and  (he  singnlar 
i*ay  to  which  they  are  banded  and  united  locelher,  thev 
may  be  right  enough  tor  what  I  know,  for  &ey  have  a\l 
one  mind  and  one  way  of  pursuinx  it.  out  the  Catholic  19 
holding  np  Ms  head  now  in  a  cUflTerent  way  from  what 
they  did  In  former  days,  tboogh  still  with  a  tourh  of  the 
savage  about  them.  It  is,  after  all,  a  helpless  sort  of  su- 
perttkion,  wUch  with  iU  sahiU'  days,  and  the  influence 
of  its  ignorant  bigoted  priesthood,  destroys  ambition  and 
Industrious  exertion.  It  is  rare  to  seethe  Catholic  rise. 
above  the  Uno  he  Is  bom  in.  The  Protestant  part  of  the' 
conntry^ia  as  hi^y  Improved  as  many  parts  of  England. 
Edoeation  is  much  more  frequent  in  Ireland  than  in  Eng> 
laad.  In  Kerry,  one  of  the  wildest  counties,  you  find 
peasants  who  speak  Latin.  It  is  not  the  art  of  reading, 
however^  but  the  use  whieh  is  made  of  it,  that  is  to  be 
considered.  It  Is  much  to  be  wished  that  the  priests 
themaelvea  were  better  educated,  but  the  college  at 
Maynooth  has  been  a  failure.  The  students,  all  men  of 
the  lower  orders,  are  educated  there  In  all  the  bigot- 
ry of  the  OathoUo  rellclon,  unmitigated  by  any  of  the 
Knowledge  of  the  world  which  they  used  to  acquire  in 
France.  Italy,  or  Spain,  from  whirh  they  returned  vary 
often  highly  accomplished  and  ceropanionable  men.  I  do 
not  beheve  either  p«rtv  care  a  bit  for  what  is  called  eman- 
cipation, only  that  the  Catholics  dosire  it  because  the  Pro- 
taatanta  are  not  wlllini;  they  should  have  H,  and  the  Pro* 
teaiants  desire  to  vdthhold  it.  because  the  want  of  it  mor- 
tifies the  Catholic.  The  beM  informed  Catholics  said  It 
had  no  Interest  for  the  common  people,  whose  distresses 
had  notMng  to  do  with  poUtical  emancipation,  but  that ' 
they,  the  higher  ordert  vera  hiteraited  in  it  as  a  point  of 


honour,  the  wlthholdtaif  of  arhich  nraventad  thefar  tutm- 
ing  their  strength  into  the  hands  of  Government  Oatht 
whole,  I  think  Government  have  given  the  Cathoto  m 
much,  thai  withhokUng  this  is  juat  ghdng  them  soiacthiif 
to  grumble  about,  withont  ita  operating  to  diminirt|te> 
single  instance,  the  extent  of  Topery.—Then  we  bid 
beautiful  lakes, '  those  vaat  inland  aeaa,'  aa  Speaser  tscu 
them,  and  hiil*  which  they  call  mouaiaina,  and  dufla 
and  dingles,  and  moat  superb  mliu  of  castlea  and  ibbeji, 
and  Uve  nuna  in  6tf;ict  retreat,  not  permitted  to  ipeik. 
but  who  read  tbetr  braviariea  with  one  eye,  and  kfoked 
at  their  visiters  with  the  other.  Then  we  had  Miis  Edg^ 
wonh,  and  the  kind-natured  clever  Harriet,  wbomovMl, 
and  thought,  and  acted  for  erery  body'a  comfort  nthu 
than  her  own  ;  we  had  Lockhan  to  aay  clever  thiafi.  and 
Walter,  with  his  whiskers,  to  overawe  obstinate  dooIdss 
and  impudent  bqggars— and  Jane  to  bleaa  hers^thst  the 
folks  had  neither  houses,  clothea,  nor  lumitare-iBd 
Anne  to  make  fun  from  morning  to  night-^ 
'  And  merry  folka  were  we.' 
^'  John  Richardson  haa  been  looking  at  a  wild  dooita 
wtthUi  five  miles  of  ua.  and  left  us  In  the  earnest  deter- 
mination to  bny  It,  having  catight  a  basket  of  troutsin  tbe 
space  of  two  hoora  in  the  stream  he  is  to  c^  his  ova.  It 
is  a  good  purchase,  I  think :  he  baa  promised  to  see  ■• 
again  and  carry  you  up  a  bottle  of  wnisky,  whleh,tf  jm 
will  but  take  enough  ot;  will  operate  aa  a  peace^lIeriBC 
ahould,  and  make  jrou  forget  all  my  epistolwy  fcfliirei.  1 
beg  kind  respects  to  dear  Mra.  Agnea  and  to  Mrs.  BuUie. 
Lady  Scott  and  Anne  send  beat  reapacta.~I  have  bu 
room  U>  iay  that  I  am  always  yours, 

WALTta  aoon  ■ 

CHAPTER  LXIV. 

LlPE    OP    NAPOLEON  III  t>&0OBSB«  —  VISITS  OT  Ml. 
•     MOOBX,  MHB.   COtTTTS,    tTC.— COtSXSRCUL  lUSU 
AND  mPKNOINO  DimCULTISe  OF  1826. 

Without  an  hour's  delay  Sir  Walier  reaamed  kii 
usual  habits  of  life  at  Abbotfiford—- the  musing  nm- 
hU  among  his  own  fdena,  the  breezy  ride  over  the 
moors,  the  merry  speJl  at  the  woodman's  axe,  oi 
the  festive  chase  or  Newark,  Femile&  Hanging* 
shaw,  or  Debraine ;  the  quiet  old-fashioBed  con- 
tentment of  ^the  httle  domestic  circle^  altemttinf 
with  the  brilliant  phantasmagoria  of  admiring,  aoa 
sometimes  admired,  strangers^or  the  boistins  of 
the  telegraph  flag  that  called  laird  aod  botmet-Iaird 
to  the  burning  or  the  water,  or  the  wiLBsail  of  tk 
hall.  The  hotirs  of  the  closet  alone  had  fi>ufi4 « 
change.  The  preparation  for  the  Liiie  of  Napdtoo 
was  a  coturse  of  such  hard  readinjg  as  had  not  been 
called  fof  while  "  the  great  mamcian,"  in  the  foil 
sunshine  of  eas^  amused  himself,  and  delighted  the 
world,  by  unroiung,  fold  after  fold,  his  endlesdy  Tt- 
ried  panorama  of  romance.  That  miracle  had  to  lU 
appearance  cost  him  no  effort.  Unmored  and  se- 
rene among  the  multiplicities  of  worldly  busineifi, 
and  the  invasiona  of  half  Europe  and  America,  he 
had  gone  on  tranquilly  enjoying  rather  than  exeri- 
iiig  his  genius,  in  the  production  of  thoae  master- 
pieces which  have  peomed  all  our  fire-sides  w;ih  in- 
expensive friends,  and  rendefed  the  solitary  supie- 
macy  of  Shakspeare,  aa  an  all-comprehensiTe  v» 
genial  painter  of  man,  no  longer  a  proverb. 

He  had,  while  this  was  the  qccupation  of  his  fev 
desk-hours,  read  only  fbr  his  diversion.  How  much 
he  read  even  then,  ms  correspondeoeeinai  hare  af- 
forded some  notion.  Those  who  observed  him  the 
most  constantly  were  never  able  to  understand  how 
he  contrived  to  keep  himself  so  iboit>aghly  up  to  tbe 
stream  of  contemporary  literamre  or  almoat  all 
sorts,  French  and  German,  as  well  as  Englitb. 
That  a  rapid  glance  might  teH  him  more  than 
another  man  a>uld  gather  by  a  week's  poiiog. 
n|ay  easily  be  guessed;  but  the  grand  seem  wu 
his  perpetual  practice  of  his  own  grand  maxim, 
ntver  to  be  ddn^  nothing.  He  had  no  *'  unconsid- 
ered thflea*'  of  tune.  Every  moment  was  turned 
to  account ;  and  thus  he  had  leisure  (or  erery  thing 
—except,  indeed,  the  newspapers,  which  consumf 
so  many  |>recious  hours  nowadays  with  most  roes, 
and  of  which,  during  the  period  of  my  aoquaintanee 
with  him,  he  certaiinf  read  leaa  than  anr  other  bmb 
I  ever  knew  that  had  anv  habit  of  readiim  at  all  I 
should  aiao  exoqit,  ipetking  gcnenllyi  the  icnewt 


LlFfi  OF  em  WALTER  SC07F. 


487 


and  magazinea  of  the  time.    Of  these  he  saw  few, 
and  of  the  few  he  read  littld.  _  , 

He  had  now  to  apply  himself  doggedly  to  the  mas- 
tehng  of  a  nuge  accumulation  of  nistoncal  materi- 
als. He  read  and  noted,  and  indexed  with  the  per- 
tinacity of  some  pale  compiler  in  the  British  Mu- 
seum ;  but  rose  from  such  emDloyment,  not  radiant 
and  buoyant,  as  after  he  had  been  feasting  himself 
among  the  teeming  harvests  of  Fancy,  but  with  an 
aching  brow,  and  eyes  on  which  the  dimness  of 
years  had  begun  to  plant  some  specks,  before  they 
were  subjected  again  to  that  straining  over  small 
print  and  difficult  manuscript  which  had,  no  doubt, 
been  familiar  to  them^  in  the  early  time,  when  (ui 
Shortreed's phrase)  "he  was  making  himseifl"  It 
was  a  pleasant  sight  when  one  happened  to  take  a 
passingpeep  into  ma  den,  to  see  the  white  head  erect, 
and  the  simle  of  conscious  inspiration  on  his  lips, 
while  the  pen,  held  boldly  and  at  a  commanding 
distance,  glanced  steadily^and  gaily  along  a  fosi- 
blackening  page  of  "  The  Tahsman.**  It  now  often 
made  me  sorry  to  catch  a  0impse  of  him.  stooping 
and  poring  with  his  spectacles,  amidst  piles  of  au- 
thorities, a  little  note-DOok  ready  in  the  left  hand, 
that  had  always  used  to  be  at  liberty  for  patung 
Maida.  To  observe  this  was  the  more  painful,  be- 
cause I  had  at  that  time  to  consult  him  about  some 
Uterary  proposals,  the  closing  vnih  which  would 
render  it  necessary  for  me  to  abandon  mw  profession 
and  residence  in  Edinburgh,  and  with  them  the 
hope  of  being  able  to  relieve  bun  of  some  part  of  the 
minor  labodrs  in  which  he  was  now  mvolved ;  an 
assistance  on  which  he  had  counted  when  be  un- 
dertook this  historical  task.  There  were  then  about 
me,  indeed,  cares  and  anxieties  of  various  sorts  that 
might  have  thrown  a  ^ade  even  over  a  brighter 
vi^n  of  his  interior.  For  the  circumstance  that 
finally  determined  me,  and  reoonciled  him  as  to  the 
proposed  alteration  in  my  views  of  ufe,  was  the  fail- 
mg  health  of  an  infant  equally  dear  to  us  both.  It 
was,  in  a  word,  the  opinion  of  our  medical  friends, 
that  the  short-lived  child  of  many  and  hi/m  hopea| 
whose  name  will  go  down  to  posterity  with  one  of 
Sir  Walter's  most  precious  works,  could  hardly  sur- 
vive another  northern  winter ;  and  we  all  flattered 
ourselves  with  the  anticipation  that  my  removal  to 
London  at  the  close  of  1825  might  pave  the  way  for 
a  happy  resumption  of  the  cottage  at  Chiefswood  m 
the  ensuing  summer.    Dis  aiittr  visum. 

During  the  latter  months  of  1836,  while  the  matter 
to  which  I  have  alluded  was  yet  undecided,  I  had  to 
make  two  hurried  journeys  to  London,^  which  I 
lost  the  opportunity  of  witnessing  Sir  Walter's  re- 
ception of  several  eminent  persons  with  whoni  be 
then  formed  or  ratified  a  friendship  t—amongothers 
the  late  admirable  Master  of  the  Rolls,  Lord  Gifford, 
and  his  Lady— who  spent  some  days  at  Abbotsford, 
and  detected  nothing  of  the  less  agreeable  features 
in  its  existence,  which  I  have  been  dwelling  upon ; 
Dr.  Philpotts,  now  Bishop  of  Exeter ;  and  also  the 
brother  bard,  who  bad  expressed  his  regret  at  not 
being  present  "  when  Scott  and  Killamey  were  in< 
trodu<xd  to  each  other."  No  more  welcome  an< 
nomicement  ever  reached  Scott  than  Mr.  Moore's 
of  ms'purpose  to  make  out,  that  same  season,  bis 
long  meditated  expedition  to  Scotland:  and  the 
characteristic  opening  and  close  of  the  reply  will  not, 
I  hope,  be  thrown  away  upon  my  reader,  any  more 
than  they  were  on  the  warm-hearted  minstrel  of 
Erin. 

To  Thomas  Moore^  Esq.^  Sloperton  Cottage,  Detizes. 
"  Abbowford,  ThuTBday. 
"  My  clear "flir,    Danui  Sir— My  deur  Moore, 

**  Few  things  could  give  rae  more  pleasure  than  your 
realizing  the  prospect  your  letter  holds  out  to  me.  We 
arc  atAbboUford  fixtures  tlU  10th  Noverabcc,  when  ray 
official  doty,  for  I  am  '  slave  to  ao  hour  and  vassal  to  a 
ben,'  calls  me  to  Edinburgh.  I  hope  you  willpive  rae  as 
much  of  your  time  as  you  can— no  one  will  value  It  more 
highly.  .  ^ 

"  You  keep  the  great  north  road  till  you  come  to  the 

last  atago  In  England,  Comhlll,  and  then  take  up  the  Tweed 

to  Kelao.    If  I  know  what  day  yon  would  be  at  Kelso,  I 

would  come  down,  and  do  the  honours  of  Tweedsidc,  by 

2M* 


bxiiWEinc  you  here,  and  shewing  you  any  thing  that  Is  re- 
marvable  by  the  vray ;  but  though  1  could  start  at  a  mo- 
ment's warning,  1  should  scarce,  I  fear,  liave  time  to 
receive  a  note  from  Newcastle  soon  enough  to  admit  of 
my  reaching  you  at  Kelso.  Drop  me  a  line,  however,  at 
atf  events ;  and,  in  coming  from  Kelso  to  Melrose  and  Ab- 
bolsfoid,  be  sore  to  keep  the  southern  side  of  the  Tweed, 
both  because  it  is  fiur  the  pleamntcst  route,  and  becaoso 
I  wLU  come  a  few  milea  to  take  the  chance  of  meeting  yon. 
You  do  not  mention  whether  yon  have  any  fellow-onaTtl- 
lers.  We  have  plenty  of  accommodation  for  any  port  of 
your  family,  or  any  friend,  who  may  be  with  you. — Yours, 
In  great  joy  and  expectation, 

WALTBaScOTt." 

Mr.  Moore  arrived  accordindy—and  he  remained 
several  days.  Though  not,  I  believe,  a  regular 
joumalizer,  he  kept  a  brief  diary  during  his  Scotch 
tour,  and  he  has  kindly  allowed  me  the  use  of  it.  ^ 
He  tbrtunately  found  Sir  Walter  in  an  interval  of  re- 
poee— BO  one  with  him  ht  Abbotsford,  but  Lady  and 
Miss  Scott^and  no  compsny  at  dinner  ezc^t  the 
Fergusons  and  Laidlaw.  Tne  two  poets  baa  thus 
the  opporttmity  of  a  great  deal  of  auiet  conversation ; 
and  from  the  hour  they  met,  they  seem  to  haye 
treated  each  other  with  a  full  confidence,  the  record 
of  which,  however  touchingly  honourable  to  bothi 
could  hardly  be  made  public  in  txtmso  while  one  of 
them  survives.  The  first  day  they  were  alone  after 
dinner,  and  the  talk  turned  chiefly  on  the  receht 
death  of  Byron— from  which  Scott  passed  unaffec- 
tedly to  his  own  literary  history.  Mr.  Moore  iistenea 
with  great  interest  to  details,  now  no  longer  new* 
about  the  early  days  of  ballad-huifting,  Mat  Lewia, 
the  Minstrelsy,  and  the  Poems ;  and  **  at  last,"  says 
he,  "to  my  no  small  surprise,  as  well  as  pleasure^ 
he  mentioned  the  novels,  without  any  reserve^  u 
his  own.  He  gave  me  an  account  of  the  original 
progress  of  those  extraordinary  works,  the  hints 
snpph^  for  them,  the  coi^ectures  and  mystification 
to  which  they  had  given  rise,  Slc.  &c.  :"  he  con- 
cluded with  sayinff,  "they  have  been  a  mine  of 
wealth  to  me— but  I  find  I  fail  in  them  now— I  can 
no  longer  make  them  so  good  as  at  first."  This 
frankness  was  met  as  it  should  have  been  by  the 
brother  poet;  and  when  he  entered  Scott's  room 
next  morning,  **  he  laid  his  hand,"  says  Mr.  Moore» 
"  with  a  sort  of  cordial  earnestness  on  my  breast, 
and  said— -Voir,  my  dtar  Moore,  tr«  artfntitidafor 
life.**  They  salUed  out  for  a  walk  through  the  plan- 
tations, ana  among  other  things,  the  commonness 
of  the  poetic  talent  in  these  days  was  alluded  to. 
"  Hardly  a  Magazine  is  now  published."  said  Moore, 
"  that  does  not  contain  verses,  which  some  thifty 
years  ago  would  have  made  a  reputation."  Scott 
turned  with  his  look  of  shrewd  humour,  as  if  chuck* 
hng  over  his  own  success,  and  said,  *'  Ecod,  we  were 
in  the  luck  of  it  to  come  before  these  fellows ;"  but 
he  added^  playfiilly  flourishuig  his  stick  as  he  spoke, 
"  we  have,  like  Bobadil,  taught  them  to  beat  us  with 
our  own  weapons."  **In  complete  novelty,"  savs 
Moore,  *^  he  seemed  to  think  lay  the  only  chance  for 
a  man  ambitious  of  high  literary  reputation  in  these 
days." 

Mr.  Moore  was  not  less  pleased  than  Washington 
Irving  had  been  nine  years  before  vtrith  Scott's  good 
friend  at  Kaeside.  He  says:—" Our  walk  was  to 
the  cottage  of  Mr.  Laidlaw,  his  bailiflf',  a  gentleman 
who  had  been  reduced  beneath  his  due  level  in  life, 
and  of  whom  Scott  spoke  with  the  most  cordial  res- 
pect. His  intention  was,  he  said,  to  ask  him  to  come 
down  and  dine  with  us :— the  cottage  homely,  but 
the  man  himself,  with  his  broad  Scotch  dialect, 
showing  all  the  quiet  6clf-p06se;ssion  of  good  breed- 
ing and  good  sense." 

At  Melrose,  writes  Mr.  Moore,—"  With  the  assis- 
tance of  the  sexton,  a  shrewd,  sturdy-mannered  ori- 
ginal he  explained  to  me  all  (he  parts  of  the  ruin ; 
after  which  we  were  shown  up  to  a  room  jh  the 
sexton's  house,  filled  with  casts  done  by  himself, 
from  the  ornaments,  heads,  &c.  of  the  abbey. 

O^^lwmm.  A    1a»<va      v.iy.V.M     nmnt.r        Givrkt*     aaifl      *    T/\l«ik«i 


wfedbi^<9^'le'"- 


UPE  OP  Sm  WALTER  SCOTT. 


tinued  Soott,  as  we  went  down  stairs,  *  I'm  afraid, 
if  there  shoold  be  another  anti-popish  rising,  you'll 
have  your  house  pulled  about  XQWr  ears.'  Wnan  we 
had  gol  into  the  carriage,  I  said,  '  You  have  made 
that  man  most  truly  Happy,*—'  Eeod,  then,'  he  re- 
plied. '  there  are  two  of  us  pleased,  for  I  was  very 
much  puzzled  to  know  what  to  do  with  that  Virgin 
and  child  i  and  mama  particularly*  (meaning  Lady 
Scoit)  *  will  be  delighted  to  get  rid  of  it.'  A  less 
natural  man  would  have  allowed  me  to  remain  un- 
der the  impression  that  he  had  really  done  a  very 
generous  thing." 

They  called  the  same  morning  at  Huntly  Burn :— 
"  I  could  not  help  thinking,"  (says  Moore,) "  during 
this  homely  visit,  how  astonished  some  of  those 
French  friends  of  mine  would  be,  among  whom  the 
name  of  Sir  Walter  Scott  ia  eneireled  only  with 
high  and  romantic  associations,  to  see  the  quiet, 
neighbourly  manner  in  which  he  took  his  seat  be- 
side these  good  old  maids^  and  the  fomiliar  ease  with 
which  they  treated  him  in  return.  No  oommon 
squire  indeed,  with  but  half  an  idea  in  his  head, 
could  have  fallen  into  the  gossip  of  humdrum  coun- 
try-visit  with  more  unaasumed  simplicity." 

Mr.  Moore  would  have  been  likely  to  make  the 
same  sort  of  observation,  had  he  accompanied  Sir 
Walter  into  any  other  house  in  the  vallev ;  but  he 
could  not  be  expected  to  appreciate  off-nand  the 
very  uncommon  intellectual  merits  of  "  those  old 
maids"  of  Huntly  Bum— who  had  enjoyed  the  ines- 
timable advantage  of  living  from  youth  to  age  in 
the  atmosphere  of  genius,  learning,  good  sense,  and 
high  principle. 

Hij  W.1S  of  course  delight t^l  iil  ihe  diiuier  nliich 
folio  wed,  Vt'hvn  Scott  had  coII^^cuh)  iiis  ndij^hbiMirs 
to  erijujy  hi*  Ruest.  with  ihe  vdl  and  hutnoui  ol  Sir 
Adam  ForRUBoti^  W  pjctureequc  i lories  of  the  Pe- 
pini^Ia,  and  his  itiimiLftbleflmf^n^of  ih^old  Jacob- 
jtfl  ditlle!!.  'VN'oitiing^'^  he  wriU'e,  "  could  Iw  more 
hcnrty  ami  rndiant  than  Soot  1' a  i?n  jay  men  I  o(  ihetn. 
though  hi?  ntteuxpiii  ti>  join  in  ihe  chorus  ehawed 
certainly  fur  raotG  of  will  ihnn  of  power  Hti^O'^n- 
i^-t9^  mat  bt'  Uarrllv  knew  high  l>gm  law  in  rin;>ic. 
I  toliihim  that  Lord  Ei'T!>n,  m  the  same  nmijrser, 
kn<^^^  n(^thin^  of  musical  an  arc,  bm  stiU  bml  a 
itrong  tct^ling  of  h^  and  ihat  I  hail  more  than  once 
fean  th&  tcara  come  uitn  hU  c^'ffi  m  he;  tuatcnod. 
I  dan;  say/ »aid  Seott^  *  ihat  Byron's  fcelme;  and 
mine  about  tjiijaic  niight  be  prstty  nmth  the  same.' 
■^Iwaamudi  airucklby  bia  deacriiplion  of  a  ^iccne 

he  had  onCfl  with  Lady Uh^  divorced  Lady ) 

apdi)  h«r  etiituat  boy,  wha  had  been  borne  bifun  her 

marriage  with  Lord ,  asitinff  her  why  hu  him  elf 

was  not  Lord (the  ftocuud  titk'^)   *  Do  yon  i-^ar 

that  7^  she  pxclsifnej  wildly  to  Sctittj  and  I'.en 
mabiiii;  lo  the  pionofartt?^  piaml,  in  a  ^ort  of  lun- 
z\\  sunitj  hiirrie^  nirs>  n?  if  to  arivc  J^way  ihi>  t-jnk 
though tft  ilifrn  in  heT  miod.  It  »irutk  ma  tUui  he 
tipoke  of  ilus  lady  as  If  th«are  had  been  ^amuihiog 
more  tlun  niero  friendship  between  them.  Ho  des- 
cribed her  ai  Iwttiitifm!  and  Mi  of  (^KsracTtT. 

"In  refercTiec  to  hii  own  ignorance  'if  musical 
matters,  ScoU  mtniiontwl  that  be  had  been  *>nce 
employed  na  cOLtiiJi.-I  upon  a  coai^  whtre  a  furehfijor 
of  a  fiddic  had  be^H  irarKi^ii  iipon  sf  to  jti  Vriie. 
H<!  found  it  uixcsftiiryt  secordinijly,  to  prv^tirc^  i  .u- 
aelf  hy  TCading  all  about  fiddl^i  ahdfiddkrs  tiiii;  he 
cooJdfitid  in  me  Kncvd^ptBdia,  &c.  i  and  h.n.ng 
i£Ot  tht)  n Allies  of  Siradkiariua,  Amatu  and  Euch  WAe, 
efibly  upon  hii  tongue,  he  got  sw  imrningly  through 

hiA  c*u*p.    Not  lotit;  aft*r  tht*,  dinjnjj  «t *  he 

fatiad  himtelf  left  atone  after  dinner  with  the  D-^ke, 
who  had  but  two  subiecls  he  couM  talk  u/^ow— Jiin- 
tiiig  nod  mnsic,  Hiiving  eihatisud  Imnnnff,  S-att 
ih^ufiht  he  would  bring  forward  hifi^  hi'.]  ed 

team m J?  in  fffidle^,  upon  which  bis  Or  [ne 

quite  animated,  and  ifnnvcdiately  whi^.  ne 

ord«sri  to  the  builer  in  c<in»<wit'iice  of  ^  sre 

feoon  entered  into  the  room  about  hulf  r*  all 

footmen,  each  bearing  a  Sddlo-case  ;  anJ  )w 

fonod  his  nm^jcal  knowleit^<?  brought  to  inj  kss 
trying  ft  tept  th^n  that  of  telling^  by  the  tono  of 
edch  fiddK  aj  the  Duke  plny^  it,  b^  what  aniitit 
bnd  been  made.    '  Hy  guessing  atid  manngumcnt,' 


he  said,  *  I  got  on  pretty  well  dU  we  were,  to  my 
great  relieft  summoned  to  conee.'  '* 

In  handing  to  me  the  pages  from  which  I  have 
taken  these  scraps^  Mr.  Moore  savs,— -"  I  parted 
fix)m  Scott  with  the  feeling  that  all  the  world  might 
admire  him  in  his  works,  but  that  those  only  could 
learn  to  love  him  as  he  deserved  who  had  seen  him 
at  Abbotsford.  I  give  you  carte  blanche  to  aay 
what  you  please  of  roy  sense  of  his  cordial  kindness 
and  gentleness;  perhaps  a  not  venr  dignified  phrase 
would  express  my  feeling  better  than  any  fine  one 
—it  was  that  he  was  a  thorough  good  ftUoW''* 
What  Scott  thought  of  Moore  me  reader  shall  see 
presently. 

The  author  of  Lallah  Rookh's  Kelso  chaise  was 
followed  before  many  days  by  a  more  formidable 
equipage.  The  much  talked-of  lady  who  began  life 
as  Miss  Harriet  Mellon,  a  comic  actress  in  a  pro- 
vincial troop,  and  died  Duchess  of  St.  Albans,  waa 
then  making  a  tour  in  Scotland  as  Mrs.  Coutts,  the 
enormously  wealthy  widow  of  the  first  English 
banker  of  his  time.  No  person  of  such  conse- 
quence could,  in  those  days,  have  thought  a  Scotch 
progress  complete,  unless  it  included  a  reception 
at  Abbotsford ;  but  Mrs.  Coutts  had  been  previously 
acquainted  with  Sir  Walter,  who,  indeed,  nad  some 
remote  connexion  with  her  late  hosband'a  family, 
through  the  Stuarts  of  Allanbank,  I  beheva  or  per- 
haps the  Swintons  of  Swinton.  He  had  visited 
her  occasionally  in  London  during  Mr.  CouttVa  life, 
and  was  very  willing  to  do  the  honours  of  Teviot- 
dale  in  return.  But  although  she  was  considerate 
enough  not  to  come  on  him  with  all  her  retinue, 
leaving  four  of  the  seven  carriages  with  which  she 
travelled  at  Edinburgh,  the  appearance  of  only 
three  ooadies,  each  drawn  by  four  horses,  was  ra- 
ther trying  for  poor  Lady  Scott.  Ther  contained 
Mrs.  Cfouttev her  future  lord  the  Didte  or  St.  Albans, 
one  of  his  Grace's  sisters'-a  dame  de  oompagnic 
(vulgarly  styled  a  Toady)— a  brace  of  ohysicians— 
for  it  had  been  considered  that  one  doctor  might 
himself  be  disabled  in  the  course  of  an  expedition 
so  adventurous— and,  besides  other  menials  of  every 
grade,  two  bed-chamber  women  for  Mrs.  Coutts's 
own  person ;  she  requiring  to  have  this  a>ticle  also 
in  duplicate,  because,  in  her  widowed  condition, 
she  was  feanUl  of  ghosts— and  there  muet  be  one 
Abigail  for  the  service  of  the  toilette^  a  second  to 
keep  watch  bv  night.  With  a  little  puzzling  and 
cramming,  all  this  train  found  accommodation ;  but 
it  80  happened  that  there  were  already  in  the  house 
several  ladieii,  Scotch  and  English,  of  nigh  birth  and 
rank,  who  felt  by  no  means  disposed  to  assist  their 
host  and  hostess  in  making  Mrs.  Coutts's  visit  agree- 
able to  her.  They  had  heard  a  great  deal,  and  they 
saw  something,  of  the  ostentation  almost  insepara- 
ble from  wealth  so  vast  as  had  come  into  her  keep- 
ing. They  were  on  the  outlook  for  absurdity  and 
merriment ;'  and  I  need  not  observe  how  eflectually 
women  of  fasliion  can  contrive  to  mortify,  without 
doing  or  saying  any  thing  that  shall  expose  them 
to  the  charge  of  actual  inciviUty. 

Sir  Walter,  during  dinner,  did  every  thmg  in  his 
power  to  counteract  this  influence  oithe  tvUe^e^ 
and  something  to  overawe  it  i  but  the  spirit  of  mis- 
chief had  been  fairly  stirred,  and  it  was  easy  to  see 
that  Mrs.  Coutts  fonowed  these  noble  dames  to  the 
drawing-room  in  by  no  means  that  complacent 
mood  which  was  customarily  sustained,  doubtless, 
by  every  blandishment  of  obseouious  flattery,  in  this 
mistress  of  millions.  He  cut  the  gentlemen's  sed^ 
runt  short,  and  soon  after  joining  the  ladies,  mana- 
ged to  withdraw  the  youngest,  andgayest,  and  cle- 
verest, who  was  also  the  highest  in  rank  (a  iuvely 
Marchioness,)  into  his  armorial-hall  adjoining. 
''  1  said  to  her,"  (he  told  me,)  "I  want  to  Meak  a 
word  with  you  about  Mrs.  Coutts.  We  have  known 
each  other  a  good  while,  and  I  know  you  won't  take 
any  thing  I  can  say  in  ill  part.  It  is,  I  hear,  not 
uncommon  among  the  fine  ladies  in  London  tobe 
very  well  pleased  to  accept  invitations,  and  even 
sometimes  to  hunt  after  them,  to  Mrs.  Coutts's  grand 
balls  and  fetes,  and  then,  if  they  meet  her  in  aay 
private  circle,  to  practise  on  her  the  dehcate  marurtc- 


UFIE  OF  SIR  WALTER  6C0TT. 


Tre  dUled  tipping  the  cold  shotUder.  This  you  agree 
with  me  is  shabby ;  but  it  is  nothing  new  either  to 
you  or  to  me  that  fine  people  will  do  snabbinessesfor 
which  beg^rs  might  blush,  if  they  onoe  stoop  so 
low  as  to  poke  for  tickets,  I  am  sure  you  would  not 
for  the  world  do  such  a  thine ;  but  you  must  permit 
me  to  take  the  great  liberty  oisaying,  that  I  think  the 
style  you  have  all  refieived  my  guest  Mrs.  Coulls  in, 
this  evening,  is,  to  a  certain  extent,  a  sin  of  the  same 
order.  You  werp  all  told  a  couple  of  days  ago  that  I 
had  accepted  her  visits  and  that  she  would  arrive  to- 
day to  stay  three  nights.  Now  if  any  of  you  bad  not 
been  disposed  to  be  of  my  party  at  thb  same  time 
with  her,  there  was  plenty  of  lime  for  you  to  have 
fione  away  before  she  came ;  and  as  none  of  you  mo- 
ved, and  It  was  impossible  to.  fancy  that  aov  of  you 
would  remain  oat  of  mere  curiosity,  I  thought  I  had 
a  perfect  right  to  calculate  on  your  having  made  up 
70Ur  minds  to  help  me  out  with  her."  The  beau- 
nifbl  Peeress  answered,  "  I  thank  you,  Sh  Walter^ 
Toa  have  done  me  the  great  honour  to  speak  as  if  I 
had  been  yaor  daughter,  and  depend  upon  it  you 
arhall  be  obeyed  with  heart  a'nd  good-wjll. '    One  by 


train  ;  the  Marchioness  was  requested  to  sing  a  par< 
ticular  song,  because  he  thought  it  would  please 
Mrs.  Coutts.  "Nothing  could  gratify  her  more 
than  to  please  Mrs.  Coutts.**  Mrs.  Coutts^s  brow 
smoothed,  and  in  the  course  of  half  an  hour  she  was 
as  happy  and  easy  as  ever  she  was  in  her  life,  rattling 
away  at  comical  anecdotes  of  her  early  theatrical 
yeara,  and  joining  in  the  chorus  of  Sir  Adam's  Laird 
pf  Cockpen.  She  stayed  out  her  three  days*— saw, 
accompanied  by  all  the  circle,  Melrose,  Drybuigh, 
and  Yarrow— and  left  Abbotsfprd  delighted  with  her 
host,  and.  to  all  appearance,  with  his  other  guests. 
It  may,  be  said  (for  the  most  benevolent  of  men 
had  in  his  lifetime,  and  still  has,  some  maligners) 
that  he  was  so  anxious  about  Mrs.  Coutts's  comfort, 
Decause  he  worshipped  wealth.  I  dare  not  deny  that 
be  set  more  of  his  affections,  during  great  part  of  his 
hfe,  upon  worldly  things,  wealth  among  others, 
than  might  have  become  such  an  intellect.  One 
may  cgnceive  a  sober  grandeur  of  mind,  not  incom- 
patible with  genius  as  rich  as  even  his,  but  infinitely 
more  admirable  than  any  genius,  incapable  of 
brooding  upon  any  of  the  pomps  and  vaniies  of  this 
life— orcanng  about  money  at  all,  beyond  what  is 
ntcessary  for  the  easy  sustenance  of  nature.  But 
we  must,  in  judging  the  most  pow^ful  pf  minds, 
take  into  account  the  influences  to  which  they  were 
exposed  in  the  pl^istic  period ;  and  where  imagina- 
tion is  visibly  the  predominant  faculty,  allowance 
must  be  made  very  largely  indeed.  Scott's  autobio- 
graphical fragment,  and  the  anecdotes  annexed  to 
It,  have  been  printed  in  vain,  if  they  have  not  con- 
veyed the  notion  of  such  a  training  of  the  mind, 
fancy,  and  character,  as  could  hardly  fail  to  suggest 
dreams  and  aspirations  very  likely,  were  temptation 
presented,  to  take  the  shape  of,  active  external  am- 
bition—to  prompt  a  keen  pursuit  of  those  resources, 
without  which  visioiis  of  worldly  splendour  cannot 
be  reahzcd.  But  I  think  the  subsequent  narrative, 
with  the  correspondence  embodied  m  it,  must  also 
have  satisfied  every  eandid  reader  that  his  appetite 
for  wealth  was,  after  all,  essendally  a  vivid  yearn- 
ing for  the  means  of  large  beneficence.  As  to  his 
being  capable  of  the  silliness— to.say  nothing  of  the 
meanness— of  allowing  any  part  of  bis  feeungs  or 
demeanour  towards  others  to  be  affected  by  their 
mere  possession  of  wealth,  I  cannot  consider  such 
a  suggestion  as  worthy  of  much  remark.  He  had 
a  kindness  towards  Mrs.  Cou^&  because  he  knew 
that,  V|iin  and  pompous  as  her  displays  of  equipage 
and  attendance  might  be,  she  mainly  valued  wealth, 
like  himself;  as  the  instrument  of  doing  good.  Even 
of  her  apparently  most  fantastic  indulgences  he  re- 
membered, as  Pope  did  when  ridiculing  the  "lavish 
cost  and  httle  skiir*  of  his  Timon, 

*0irWallBroftenqDOtedt]MinaxiiDof  an  okiltdr  in  one  of 
MiM  Fenier'B  nov«b-tl)at  &  Tint  iliould  iKTor  excted  tbrte 
^lyt, "  rett  dar-tbe  dmt  dar-«nd  u»  prut  day." 


"  Yet  hence  the  poor  are  cbthed,  the  hoDgry  ftd  ;**— 
but  he  interfered,  to  prevent  her  being  made  uncom- 
•fortphle  in  his  house,  neither  more  nor  less  than  he 
would  have  done,  had  she  come  there  in  her  original 
character  of  a  comic  actress,  and  been  treated  with 
coldness  as  such  by  his  Marchionessess  and  Coon- 
tesses. 

Since  I  have  been  led  to  touch  on  what  many  al- 
ways considered  as  the  weak  part  of  bis  character 
—his  over  respect  for  worldly  things  in  general,7-I 
most  say  one  word  as  to  the  matter  of  rank,  which 
undoubtedly  had  infinitely  more  effect  on  him  than 
money.  In  the  first  place,  he  was  all  along  courted 
by  the  great  world— not  it  by  him ;  and,  secondly, 
pleased  as  he  was  with  its  attentions,  he  derived  in- 
finitely greater  pleasure  from  the  trusting  and  hear- 
ty afiection  of  his  old  equals,  and  the  inferiors  whose 
welfere  he  so  unweanedly  promoted;  But,  thirdly, 
he  made  acute  discriminations  among  the  many 
difienent  orders  of  claimants  who  jostle  each  other 
for  pre-eminence  in  the  curiously  comphcated  sys- 
tem 'of  modern  British  society.  His  imaginauoii 
had  been  constantly  exercised  in  recalling  and  embsl- 
lifihing  whatever  features  of  the  past  it  was  possibto 
to  connect  with  any  pleasing  ideasi  and  a  historical 
name  was  a  charm  that  hterally  stirred  his  blood. 
But  not  so  a  mere  title.  He  reverenced  the  Duke  of 
Buccleuch— but  it  was  not  as  a  Duke,  but  as  the 
head  of  his  clan,  the  representative  of  the  old 
knights  of  Branxholm.  In  the  Dnke  of  Hamilton 
he  saw  not  the  premier  peer  of  Scotland,^but  the 
lineal  heir  of  the  heroic  old  Douglasses ;  and  he  had 
profounder  respect  for  the  chief  of  a  Highland  Clan, 
without  any  title  whatever,  and  with  an  ill  paid  ren- 
tal of  two  or  three  thousand  a-  year,  than  for  the 
haughtiest  magnate  in  a  blue  nbbon,  whose  name 
did  not  call  up  any  grand  historical  mmiiiisceiice. 
I  remember  once  when  he  had  some  young  English* 
men  of*  high  fashion  in  his  boose,  mere  amved  a 
Scotch  gentleman  of  no  distinguisbed  appearance, 
whom  he  recerved  with  a  sort  or  eagerness  and  em* 
prtaatvunt  of  reverential  eourtesy  that  struck  the 
strangers  as  quite  out  of  the  common.  His  name 
was  that  of  a  Scotch  Earl,  however,  and  no  doubt 
he  was  that  nobleman's  son.  "  Well,"  said  one  of 
the  Southrons  to  me.—"  I  had  never  heard  that  the 

Earl  of was  one  of  your  very  greatest  lords 

in  this  country ;  even  a  second  son  of  his,  booby 
thoiinh  be  b^?,  seema  lo  br  of  wotiderful  conBiJera- 
tion."  The  young,  Engliifh  lord  htnrd  with  some 
surpriiW,  thai  the  visiter  In  qtitstbn  wa»  a  j^oQt  lieu- 
t^  imcit  on  half-pnyi  heir  to  a  tower  nbotit  as  cmzy 
as  n  .n  Qtiiiti'te  B,  and  nowaye  rein  led  (at  least  oc- 

corJiiig  lo  Engiiah  lioliona  of  relaimnsliip  Ito  the 

farl  III- *     "  What,  then."  hr  ened,     What  fait 
i  r  Wa  I  r  t  r  nu  dO  ?"     ' '  W  h  y,^ '  f  aid  I ,  ''  hi*  mefi  n  i  ng 
is  M'Xf  citnr.    Tliis  senticinGa  ls  the  mole  rt;pr*?*en- 

laiL\i?  (^'iiich  tb«j  Eiifl  i^i- tuRy  poMiblv  ho  in 

th(;  ft  inolf^  lint  J  of  a  ktii^^ht  who  is  celct^fGied  by  our 
gld  pt>ti  RliiKJ  Harrt-p  us  having  signniiztd  him rdf 
b|  me  tide  of  Sir  Williaai  Wallace,  and  irom  whom 

every  SKM^fcliiiiiiii  ihnt  b^nr^  the  nnme  of has 

ai  liniii  the  ambiibn  ^)f  lictng  supposed  rodeflcend.'* 
— Sir  WaluVs  owij  titU?  cunrr  uci.^miRht ;  UfJiJ  that 
he  acccplud  it^  not  in  ibutuuiiuh  liuicy  tliai  puch  a. 
tide,  or  any  title,  could  increase  his  own  personai 
consequsnce,  but  because  he  thought  it  Uax  to  em- 
brace the  opportunity^  of  securing  a  certain  external 
distinction  to  his  heirs  at  Abbotsford}  was  proved 
pretty  clearly  by  his  subsequently  declining  the* 
greatly  higher,  but  intransmissible  rank  of  a  Prhry- 
Councillor.  At  the  same  time,  I  dare,  say  his  ear 
liked  the  knightly  sound ;  and  undoubtedly  he  was 
much  pleased  with  the  pleesure  his  wife  took,  and 
gaily  acknowledged  she  took,  in  being  My  Lady. 

The  circumstances  of  ihe  King's  visit  in  1869,  and 
others  already  noted,  leave  no  doubt  that  imagina- 
tion enlarged  and  glorified  for  him  many  objects  \o 
which  it  is  very  difficult  for  ordinary  men  in  o]^  gen- 
eration to  attach  much  importance;  and  perhaps 
he  was  more  apt  to  attach  importance  to  such  things, 
during  the  prosperous  course  of  his  own  fortunes, 
than  even  a  hberal  conaderation  of  circumstancee 
can  altogether  excuse.    To  myself  it  seems  to  have 


LIFE  OF  S^.W^TEJl  SCOTT. 


440 

been  so ;  yet  I  do  not  think  the  severe  critics  on  tWs 
part  of  hn  story  hnvekept  quite  sufficiently  in  mipd 
how  eaqrit  isior  us  all  to  andervalue  any  species 
of  (ompution  to  which  we  have  not  happened  to 
be  exposed.  I  am  aware,  too,  that  there  are  exam- 
ples of  men  of  genius,  situated  to  a  certain  extent 
like  him,  vrho  have  resisted  and  repelled  the  fasci- 
nations against  w)iich  he  was  not  entirely  proof ; 
but  I  have  sometimes  thought  that  they  did  so  at 
the  expense  of  parts  of  their  character  nearer  the 
marrow  of  huoaanity  than  those  which  bis  weak- 
ncias  in  this  way  tended  to  endaipaA^e ;  that  they 
mmgled,  in  short,  in  their  virtuous  self-denial)  some 
grains  of  sacrifice  at  the  shrine  of  a  cold,  unsocial, 
even- sulky  species  of  self-conceit  But  this  digres- 
sion has  already  tmrned  out  much  longer  than  I  in- 

Mra.  Coutts  and  her  three  coaches  astonished 
Abbotsford  but  a  few  days  after  I  returned  toChiefii- 
wood  from  one  of  my  rapid  journeys  to  London. 
While  in  the  metropolis  on  that  occassion.  I  had 
heard  a  great  deal  more  than  I  understood  about 
the  commercial  excitement  of  the  tune.  -For  seve- 
ral years  preceding  1826  the  plethora  of  gold  on  the 
one  hand,  and  the  wildnessof  impatient  poverty  on 
the  other,  had  been  uniting  their  stimulants  upon 
the  blood  and  brain  of  the  most  curions  of  all  con- 
oretes,  individual  or  national,  "  John  Bull  (*  nor 
had  sober  '*  Sister  Peg"  escaped  the  iitfecuon  of 
disorders  which  appear  to  recur,  at  pretty  regular 
periods,  iti  the  sanguine  oonstituaon  6t  her  brother. 
!niey  who  had  accumulated  great  masses  of  wealth, 
di^satisfted  with  the  usual  rates  of  interest  under  a 
qoDscientioua  government  really  protective  of  pro* 
perty,  had  embarked  in  the  most  perilous  and  tan- 
ttBtic  achemea  for  piling  visionary  Pelions  upon  the 
real  Ossa  of  their  moneybags ;  and  unscrupulous 
dreamers,  who  had  all  to  gam  and  nothing  to  lose. 
Ibund  it  easy  to  borrow,  from  cash-encumbered 
neighbours,  me  nseans  of  pushing  adveiftures  of 
thcur  own  devising,  more  extravamit  than  had 
been  heard  of  smoe  ^e  days  of  the  South  Sea  and 
Missiasippi  bubbles.  Even  persons  who  hcMl  exten- 
sive and  flourishing  businesses  in  their  bands,  par- 
took the  general  rage  of  infatuation.  He  whose 
own  shop,  counting-house,  or  warehouse,  had  been 
sufficient  to  raise  him  to  a  decent  ahd  safely-m- 
creasing  opulenoe,  and  was  more  than  sufficient  to 
ooemyy  all  his  attention,  drank  in  the  vain  delusion 
that  hie  was  wasting  his  time  and  energy  on  things 
unworthy  of  a  masculine  ambition,  and  embarked 
the  resourees  necessary  for  the  purposea  of  his  law- 
fiil  calling;  in  speeulations  werthv  of  the  land-sur- 
veyors of  E\  Dorado.  It  was  wnispered  that  the 
trade  (so  called,  par  eseellmce)  had  been  bitten  with 
this  fever ;  and  persons  of  any  foresight  who  knew 
(as  I  did  not  at  that  time  know)  the  infinitely  cu- 
rious links  by  which  booksellers,  and  printers,  and 
paper-makers  (and  therefore  authors,)  are  bound  to- 
gether, high  and  low,  town  and  country,  for  good  and 
nt  evil,  already  began  to  prophesy  that,  whenever 
the  general  crash,  which  must  come  ere  long,  should 
arrive,  its  effiscts  would  be  felt  far  and  wide  among 
all  claaaes  connected  with  the  productions  of  the 
press.  When  it  was  nunoured  that  this  great  book- 
seller, or  pfimei;  had  become  a  principal  holder  of 
South  AmcricaR  mining  ahares-'that  another  was 
the  leading  director  of  a  railway  company—a  tbhrd 
of  a.  gas  company— irhile  a  fourth  house  had  risked 
about  ^100,000  in  a  cast  upon  the  most  capridous 
of  all  agricultural  products,  Aopc— it  was  no  wonder 
that  hankers  ehould  begin  to  calculate  balances, 
and  pause  upon  discounts. 

Among  other  bints  to  the  tune  of  perieuloea 
plenum  omtedUm  which  reached  my  ear,  wo-e  some 
concerning  a  splendid  bookselling  esublishment  in 
London,  with  which  I  knew  the  Edinburgh  house 
of  Constable  to  be  closely  conneoted  in  business. 
Little  suspecting  the'extent  to  which  any  mischance 
of  Heaars.  Hurst  and  Robinson  must  mvolve  Sir 
WaiteA  own  responsibilities,  I  transmitted  to  him 
the  rumours  in  question  as  I  received  them.  Before 
I  could  have  his  answer,  a  legal  friend  of  mine,  well 
known  to  Soott  also,  told  me  that  people  were  talk- 


ing doubtfoUy  about  C9imMp*B  own  8tabiliity«  t 
thought  it  probame  that  if  Ijehatabie  foil  into  anj 
pecunianr  embarrassments,  Scott  might  suffer  the 
mconvenience  of  losmg  the  copy-money  of  his  last 
novel.  Nothing  more  serious  occurred  to  me.  But 
I  thought  ic  my  duty  to  tell  him  this  whisper  also  ; 
and  heard  from  him,  almost  by  remrn  of  post,  that, 
Qhake  who  ntight  in  London,  his  friend  in  Edin- 
burgh was  ''  rooted,  as  well  as  branched,  like  the 
oak.^'  Knowing  his  almost  painfollv  accurate  hah- 
its  of  business  as  to  matters  of  trivial  moment,  I 
doubted  not  that  he  had  ample  grounds  for  bein^ 
quite  easy  as  to  any  concerns  of  nis  own  with  fym 
publisher ;  and  though  I  turned  northwards  with  < 
anxiety  enough,  aone  of  the  burden  had  rderence 
to  that  subject.  .    ^      ^. .  , 

A  few  days,  however,  alter  my  arrival  at  Chiea- 
wood,  I  received  a  letter  from  the  legal  friend  alrea- 
dy alluded  to— (Mr.  William  Wright,  the  eminent 
barrister  of  Lincoln's  Inn,— who.  by  the  way,  w» 
also  on  habits  of  great  uersonal  famihanty  wim 
Constable,  and  Ifted  the  C^ar  exceedingly)— which 
renewed  my  apprehensions,  orrathe^for  the  firat 
time,  gave  me  any  suspicion  that  there  really  migt^ 
be  something  "  rotten  in  the  state  of  Muecmr 
Mr.  Wright  informed  me  that  it  was  reported;  ia 
London  that  Constabfe'a  London  banker  had 
thrown  up  his  book.  This  letter  reached  me  about 
five  o'clock,  as  I  was  sitting  down  to  dinner |  and, 
about  an  hour  afterwards,  1  rode  over  to  Abbots- 
ford,  to  communicate  its  contents.  I  found  Sit 
Walter  alone  over  his  glass  of  whisky  aod  water 
and  cigai^at  this  time,  whenever  there  was  b9 
company,  "  his  custom  always  in  the  afternoon.'' 
I  gave  nim  Mr.  Wright's  letter  to  read.  He  did  aow 
and  returning  it,  said,  quite  with  his  usual  tranmul 
good-humour  of  look  and  voice,  I  am  nitteh  obug- 
ed  to  you  for  coming  over,  but  you  may  rely  upoa 
it  Wright  has  been  hoaxed.  I  promise  you,  were 
the  Crafty*  8  book  thrown  up,  there  would  be  a  pret- 
ty decent  scramble  among  the  bankers  for  the  heat- 
ing of  it.  There  may  have  been  some  little  diamte 
or  misunderstanding,  which  malice  and  envy  have 
exaggerated  in  this  absurd  style ;  but  I  shan't  allow 
such  nonsense  to  disturb  my  eitata.  Don' t  ypu  see.'^ 
he  added,  lighting  another  cigar, "  that  Wright  could 
not  have  heard  of  such  a  transaction  the  very  day 
it  happened  1  And  can  you  doubt,  that  if  Constable 
had  been  informed  of  it  yesterday,  this  day's  post 
must  have  brought  me  intelligence  direct  from 
itureoTO suggest  that  this  last pomt  did 


him  1"  1  venture „ -  .       , 

not  seem  to  aoe  clear ;  that  Constable  might  not, 
perhaps,  in  such  a  case,  be  in  so  great  a  hunjr  with 
his  intelligence.  **  Ah  r  said  he,  "  the  Crafty  aaa 
James  BaDantyne  have  been  so  much  connected  in 
bumness,  that  Fatsman  would  be  sure  to  hear  of 
any  thing  so  important ;  and  I  hke  the  notion  of  hta 
hearing  it,  and  not  sending  roe  one  of  his  mala|;- 
rugrous  bittdsdoux.  He  could  as  soon  keep  h» 
eyebrows  in  their  place  if  you  tol4  him  there  i^ita  • 
ffire  in  his  nursery."  • 

Seeing  how  coolly  he  treated  my  new^  I  went 
home  relieved  and  atatified.  Next  mornmg,  as  T 
was  rising,  behold  retter  Mathieson  at  my  door^ 
his  horses  evidently  off  a  journey,  and  the  Sherin 
rubbing  his  eves  as  if  the  halt  had  shaken  bim  oat 
of  a  sound  sleep.  I  ipade  what  fiaste  I  could  to 
descend,  and  found  him  by  the  side  of  the  brook* 
looking  somewhat  worn,  but  with  a  serene  and  sat- 
isfied countenance,  busied  already  in  helpinghie 
little  grandson  to  feed  a  fleet  of  ducklings.  "You 
are  surpriaed,"  he  said,  "  to  see  pie  here.  The  truth 
is,  I  was  more  taken  aback  with  Wright's  epistle 
than  I  cared  to  let  on ;  and  so,  as  soon  as  rou  left 
me,  I  ordered  the  eairiage  to  the  door,  and  never 
stopped  till  1  got  to  Pdton,  where  I  found  Const^le 
putting  on  his  nightcap.  I  staid  an  hour  with  bun, 
and  I  have  now  the  pleasury  to  tell  vou  that  ail  U 
right.  There  was  not  a  word  of  truth'in  the  story. 
He  is  fast  as  Ben  Lomond  ;  and  as  Mamma  and 
Anne  did  not  know  what  my  errand  was,  I  thought 
it  as  well  to  come  and  breakfast  here,  and  set  So- 
phia and  you  at  your  ease  before  I  went  homo 
again*" 


Digitized  by  V^OOQlC 


UFE  OF  SIR  WALTER  SCOTT. 


We  kad  a  merry  breakfast,  and  he  chatted  gaiiy  i 
afterwards  as  I  escorted  him  through  his  woods, 
leaning  on  my  shoulder  all  tlie  way,  which  he  sel-  I 
dom  as  yet  (fid,  except  with  Tom  Purdie,  unless  ! 
when  he  was  in  a  more  than  commonly  happy  and 
affectionate  mood.    But  I  confess  the  im;  rcsFion  ! 
this  incident  left  on  my  mind  was  not  a  pleasant  i 
one.*  It  was  then  that  I  first Iwgan  to  haibour  a  I 
suspicion,  that' if  any  thing  should  befall  Constable,  I 
Sir  Walter  would  suffer  a  heavier  loss  than  ihenon-  i 
payment  of  some  one  novel.    The  night  journey  { 
revealed  serious  alarm.    My  wife  suggested,  as  we  i 
talked  things  over,  that  his  alarm  had  been,  not  on 
his  own  account,  but  Ballantync's,  who,  in  case  evil 
came  on  the  great  employer  of  his  types,  might  | 
possibly  lose  a  year's  profit  on  them,  wmch  neither 
she  nor  I  doubted  must  amount  to  a  large  snm— 
any  more  than  that  a  misfortune  of  BaDantyne's 
would  grieve  her  fathei^  as  much  as  one  personal 
to  himself.    His  warm  regard  for  his  printer  codd 
be  no  secret ;  we  well  knew  that  James  was  his 
confidential   critic— his   trusted   and   trustworthy 
friend  from  b^^hood.     Nor  was  I  ignorant  that 
Scott  had  a  share  in  the  property  of  Ballantync's 
Edinbin^  Weekly  Journal.    I  Hinted,  under  the 
year  1820,  that  a  dispute  arose  about  the  line  to  be 
adopted  by  that  paper  in  the  matter  of  the  Queen's 
trial,  and  that  Scott  employed  his  authority  towards 
overruling  the  Editor's  disposition  to  e8p<)U8e  the 
an ti- ministerial  side  of  that  unhappy  question.    He 
urged  every  argoment  in  his  power,  and  in  vain ; 
for  James  had  a  just  sense  of  his  own  responsibility 
as  editor,  and  conscientiously  differing  from  Sir 
Walter's  opinion,  insisted,  with  honourable  firra- 
neae,  on  maintaining  his  own  until  he  should  be 
deotided  of  his  office.  ,  I  happened  to  be  present  at 
oneof  thdr  conversations  on  this  subject,  and  in 
the  course  of  it  Scott  used  language  which  dis- 
tinctly ir|[}plied  that  be  spoke  not  merely  as  a  friend, 
but  aa  a  Joint-proprietor  of  the  Journal.    Nor  did  it 
seem  at  all  strange  that  this  should  be  so.    But 
that  Sir  Walter  was  and  had  all  along  been  James's 
partner  in  the  great  printing  concern,  neither  I,  nor, 
I  believe,  any  member  of  his  family,  had  entertain- 
ed the  slightest  suspicion  prior  to  the  coming  cala- 
mities which  were  now  "casting  their  shadows  be- 
fore." 
it  is  proper  to  add  here  that  the  story  about  the 
;       banker  I  throwing  up  the  book  was,  as  subsequent 
I      rsvelationa  attested,  groundless.    Sir  Walter's  first 
:       guoss  as  to  its  origin  proved  correct. 

A  few  days  afterwards,  Mr.  Murray  of  Albemarie 
Street  seat  me  a  transcript  of  Lord  Byron's  Raven- 
na Dianr,  with  permission  for  my  neighbour  also  to 
j«ad  it  it  he  pleased.    Sir  Walter  read  those  extra- 
,       ordinary  pages  with  the  liveliest  interest,  and  filled 
'       eeveralor  the  blank  leaves  and  margins  with  illus- 
trative aimotations  and  anecdotes,  some  of  which 
I       have  lately  been  made  public,  as  the  rest  will  doubt- 
I       }e*B  be  hereafter.    In  perusing  what  Byron  had  jot- 
I       ted  down  fVom  day  to  day  in  the  intervals  ofregutar 
■      composition,  it  very  naturally  occurred  to  Sir  Wal- 
ter ttiat  the  noble  poet  had  done  well  to  avoid 
troubling  himself  by  any  adoption  or  affectation  of 
plan  or  order — ^ving  an  opinion,  a  reflection,  a  re- 
nuniscence,  senous  or  comic,  or  the  incidents  of  the 
passing  hour,  just  as  the  spirit  moved  him.^and 
seeing  what  a  mass  of  curious  tilings,  such  as  *  after- 
times  would  not  willingly  let  die,'*  had  been  thus 
rescued  from  oblivion  at  a  very  sli);ht  cost  of  exer- 
tion,— he  resolved  to  attempt  keeping  thenceforth  a 
somewhat  similar  record.    A  thick  quarto  volume, 
bound  in  vellum,  with  a  lock  and  key,  was  forth- 
with procured ;  and  Sir  Waller  began  the  journal, 
from  which  I  ahull  begin,  in  the  next  chapter,  to 
draw  copiously.    The  occupation  of  a  few  stray 
minutes  m  his  dressinpr-room  at  getting  up  in  the 
morning,  or  after  he  had  retired  for  the  night,  was 
found  a  pleasant  variety  for  him.    He  also  kept  the 
book  by  him  when  in  mi  study,  and  often  had  re- 
course to  it  when  any  thing  puzzled  him  and  called 
for  a  halt  in  the  prosecution  of  what  he  considered 
(though  posterity  will  hardly  do  so)  a  more  im- 
portant task*    It  was  extremely  fortunate  that  he 
66 


look  up  this  scheme  exactly  at  the  time  when  bo 
settled  seriously  to  the  history  of  Buonaparte's  per- 
sonal career.  The  sort  of  preparation  which  every 
chapter  of  that  book  now  called  for  has  been  alrea- 
dy alluded  to;  and— although,  when  he  bad  fairly 
read  himself  up^  to  any  one  great  cycle  of  transac* 
tions,  his  old  spint  roused  itself  in  full  energy,  and 
he  tfaccd  the  record  with  as  rapid  and  glowing  a 
pencil  as  he  had  ever  wielded— tnere  were  minutes 
enough^  and  hours,  and  perhaps  days,  of  weaij^ness, 
depression,  and  languor,  when  (unless  this  silent 
confidant  had  been  ai  hand)  even  he  perhaps  might 
have  made  no  use  of  liis  writing-desk. 

Even  the  new  resource  of  journalizing,  however, 
was  not  sufficien  t .  He  soon  convinced  himself  that 
it  would  facilitate,  not  impede,  his  progress  with 
Napoleon,  to  have  a  work  of  imagination  in  hand 
also.  The  success  of  the  Tales  of  the  Crusaders 
had  been  very  high ;  and  Constable,  well  aware  that 
it  had  been  nis  custom  of  old  to  carry  on  two  ro- 
mances at  the  same  time,  was  now  too  happy  to 
encourage  him  in  beginning  Woodstock,  to  be  taken 
up  whenever  the  historical  MS.  should  be  in  ad- 
vance of  the  press. 

Of  the  progress  both  of  the  Novel  and  the  Histo« 
ry,  the  Journal  will  afford  us  fuller  and  clearer  de- 
tails than  I  have  been  able  to  produce  as  to  any  of 
his  preceding  works :  but  before  I  open  that  sealed 
book,  I  believe  it  wilt  be  satisfactory  to  the  reader 
that  I  should  present  (as  briefly  as  I  can)  my  own 
view  of  the  melancholy  change  in  Sir  Walter's 
worldly  fortunes,  to  which  almost  every  page  of  tho 
Diary,  during  several  sad  and  toilsome  vear^^  con- 
tains some  allusion.  So  doing,  I  shall  avoid  (in 
some  measure  at  least)  the  necessity  of  interrupt- 
ing, by  awkward  explanations,  the  easy  tenor  of 
perhaps  the  most  candid  Diary  that  ever  maa 
penned. 

The  early  history  of  Scott's  connexion  with  the 
Ballantynes  has  been  already  given  ip  abundant  de- 
tail ;  and  I  have  felt  it  my  duty  not  to  shrink,  at 
whatever  pain  ;o  my  own  feehogis  or  those  of  others, 
from  setting  down,  plainly  and  dif  tinctly.  my  own 
impressions  of  the  character,  manners,  and  conduct 
of  those  two  very  dissimilar  brothers.  I  find,  with- 
out surprise,  that  my  representations  of  them  )iave 
not  proved  satisfactory  to  their  surviving  relations. 
That  I  cannot  help — though  I  sincerely  regret  hav- 
ing been  compelled,  in  justice  to  Scott,  to  become 
the  mstrument  for  opening  old  wounds  in  kind 
bosoms,  animated,  I  doubt  not,  like  my  own,  by 
venerauon  for  his  memory,  and  respected  by  mo 
for  combining  that  feeling  with  a  tender  concern  for 
names  so  intimately  connected  with  his  throughout 
long  years  of  mutual  confidence.  But  I  have  been 
entirely  mistaken  if  those  to  whom  I  aUude,  or  any 
others  of  my  readers,  have  interpreted  anv  expres- 
sions of  mine  as  designed  to  cast  the  slightest  im- 
putation on  the  moralrectitude  of  the  elder  BaUan 
tyne.  No  suspicion  of  that  nature  ever  crossed  my 
mind.  I  believe  James  to  have  been,  from  first  to 
last,  a  perfectly  upright  man ;  that  his  principles 
were  of^  a  lofty  stamp— his  feelings  pure  even  to 
simplicity.  His  brother  John  had  many  amiable  as 
well  as  amusing  quaUties,  and  I  am  far  firom  wish- 
ing to  charge  even  him  with  any  deep  or  deliberate 
malversation.  Sir  Walter's  own  «)ithet  of  "  my 
little  picaroon"  indicates  all  that  I  desired  to  imply 
on  that  score.  But  John  wasi  from  mere  giddiness 
of  head  and  temper,  incapable  of  conducting  any 
serious  business  advantageously,  either  for  himself 
or  for  others ;  nor  darej  hesitate  to  express  my 
conviction  that,  from  fSUings  of  a  different  sort, 
honest  James  was  hardly  a  better  manager  than  the 
picarodn. 

He  had  received  the  education,  not  of  a  printer  but 
of  a  solicitor;  and  he  never,  to  his  dying  day,  had 
the  remotest  knowledge  or  feeUng  of  what  the 
most  important  business  of  a  master-printer  con- 
sists in.  He  had  a  fine  taste  for  the  effect  of  types — 
no  establishment  turned  out  more  beautiful  sp<K:i- 
mens  of  the  art  than  his ;  but  he  appears  never  to 
have  understood  that  types  need  watching  as  well 
as  setting.    If  the  page  looked  handsome  ho  was 


LIFE  OF  SIR  WALTER  SCOTT. 


•atisfied.  He  had  been  instructed  that  on  every 
£60  paid  in  his  men's  wages,  the  master-printer  is 
entitled  to  an  equal  sum  of  frross  profit ;  and  be- 
yond this  rule  of  thumb  calculation,  no  experience 
could  bring  him  to  penetrate  his  myattry.  In  a 
word,  James  never  comprehended  that  in  the  great- 
est and  most  regularly  employed  manufactory  of 
this  kind,  (or  indeed  of  any  kmd,)  the  profits  are 
likely  to  be  entirely  swallowed  up,  unless  (he  acting 
master  keeps  up  a  most  wakeful  scrutiny,  from 
week  to  week,  and  from,  day  to  day,  as  to  the  ma- 
chinery and  the  materials.  So  far  was  he  from 
doing  this,  that  during  several  of  the  busiest  and 
most  important  years  of  his  connexion  with  the 
establishment  in  the  Canongate,  he  seldom  crossed 
its  doors.  He  sat  in  his  own  elbow-chair,  in  a  com- 
fortable library,  situated  in  a  diilerent  street— not 
certainly  an  idle  man— quite  the  reverse,  though 
naturally  indolent— but  the  most  negligent  and 
inefficient  of  master-printers. 

He  was  busy,  indeed ;  and  inestimably  seri'icea- 
We  to  Scott  was  nis  labour ;  but  it  consisted  simply 
and  solely  in  the  correction  and  revisal  of  proot- 
sheets.  It  is  most  true,  that  Sir  Walters  hurried 
and  careless  method  of  composition  rendered  it  ab- 
solutely necessary  that  whatever  he  wrote  should 
be  subjected  to  far  more  tha^  the  usual  amount  of 
inspection  required  at  the  hands  of  the  printer ;  and 
it  is  equally  so.  that  it  would  have  l)een  extremely 
difficult  to  find  another  man  willing  and  able  to  be- 
stow such  time  and  care  on  his  proof-sheets  as  they 
nnifofmly  received  from  James.  But  this  was,  in 
fact,  not  the  proper  occupation  of  the  man  who  ><as 
at  the  head  of  the  estabhshment— who  had  under- 
taken the  pecuniary  management  of  the  concern. 
In  every  other  great  prinlmg-house  that  I  have 
known  any  thing  about,  there  are  intellieenl  and 
well-educated  men,  called,  technically,  readers,  who 
devote  themselves  to  this  species  of  Ipbour,  and  who 
are,  I  fear,  seldom  paid  in  proportion  to  us  impor- 
tance. Dr.  Goldsmith,  in  his  early  life,  was  sudi  a 
reader  in  the  printing-house  of  RichardscJnj  but  the 
author  of  Clarissa  did  not  disdain  to  look  after  the 
presses  and  types  himself,  or  he  would  never  have 
accumulated  the  fortune  that  enabled  him  to  be  the 
liberal  employer  of  readers  like  Goldsmith.  I  quoted, 
m  a  preceding  volume,*  a  letter  of  Scoli's,  written 
when  John  Ballantyne  and  Co.'a  bookselling  house 
was  breaking-up,  in  which  he  snys,  "  One  or  other 
of  you  will  need  to  be  constantly  in  the  printing- 
office  htnceforlh:  it  is  the  sheet-anchor."  This  was 
ten  years  after  that  establishment  becan.  Thence- 
fortn  James,  in  compliance  with  this  injunction, 
occupied,  during  many  hours  of  every  day,  a  small 
cabinet  on  the  premises  in  the  Canongate;  but 
whoever  visited  him  there,  found  him  at  the  some 
eternal  business,  that  of  a  literator,  not  that  of  a 
irinter.  He  was  either  editing  his  newspaper— and 
le  considered  that  matter  as  fondly  and  proudly  as 
Mr.  Pott  in  Pickwick  docs  his  Gazette  of  Eatans- 
will— or  correcting  proof-sheets,  or  writing  critical 
notes  and  letters  to  the  Author  of  Waverlcy.  Shaks- 
pearo,  Addison,  Johnson,  and  Burke,  were  at  his 
elbow ;  but  not  the  ledger.  We  may  thus  uijder- 
stand  poor  John's  complaint,  in  what  I  may  call 
his  dying  memorandum,  of  the  "large  sums  ab- 
stracted from  the  bookselling-house  wr  the  use  of 
the  printing-office." t  Yet  that  booksolling-house 
was  from  the  first  a  hopeless  one ;  whereas,  under 
accurate  superintendence,  the  other  ought  to  have 
produced  the  pannera  a  dividend  of  from  je2000  to 
X8000  a- year,  at  the  very  least. 

On  the  other  hand,  the  necessity  of  pit)vidrng  some 
remedy  for  this  radical  disorder,  must  very  soon  have 
forced  itself  upon  the  conviction  of  all  concerned. 
had  not  John  Ballantyne  (who  had  served  a  brief 
apprenticeship  in  a  London  banking-house)  intro- 
duced his  fatal  enlightenment  on  The  subject  of 
facilitating  discounts,  and  raising  cash  by  means  of 
accommodation-hills.  Hence  the  perplexed  states 
and  ca/«7idar*— the  wilderness  and  labyrinths  of 
ciphers,  through  which  no  eye  but  that  of  a  pro- 

*  See  ante^  vol.  iii.  p.  61. 
»'8ee  ante*  vol  ▼.  p.  77. 


I 


fessed  accountant  could  have  detected  any  clue; 
hence  the  accumulation  of  bills  and  counter-bills 
drawn  b^  both  bookselling  and  printjng-house,  and 

fraduallv  so  mixed  up  with  other  obligations,  that 
ohn  Ballantyne  died  in  utter  ignorance  of  the  conr 
dition  of  their  affiiirs.  The  pecuniary  detail  of  those 
affairs  then  devolved  upon  James ;  and  I  ^ncy  it 
will  be  only  too  apparent  that  he  never  made  even 
one  serious  effort  to  master  the  formidable  balances 
of  figures  thus  committed  to  his  sole  trust — but  in 
which  his  all  was  not  all  that  was  involved.    , 

1  need  not  recapitulate  the  history  of  the  connex' 
ion  between  these  Ballantyne  firms  and  thpt  of 
Constable.  Il  was  traced  as  accurately  as  my  meaiia 
permitted  in  Jhe  preceding  volumes,  with  an  eye  to 
(he  catastrophe.  lam  willing  to  believe  that  kin«i- 
ly  feelings  had  no  small  share  in  inducing  Constable 
to  uphold  the  credit  of  John  Ballantyne  and  Com- 
pany, in  their  several  successive  struggles  to  avoid 
the  exposure  of  bankruptcy.  He  was,  with  {.itiable 
foibles  enough,  and  grievous  faults,  and  1  fear  even 
some  black  stains  of  vice  in  his  chatacter,  a  man  of 
warm,  and  therefore  I  hardly  doubt,  of  sympatbizim; 
temperament.  Vain  to  excess^  proud  at  the  Bam« 
time,  haughty,  arrogant,  presumptuous,  despotic — 
he  had  still  perhaps  a  heart.  Persona  who  knew 
him  longer  and  better  than  I  did,  assure  tue  of  their 
conviction  that,  in  spite  of  many  direct  professionai 
hinderances  and  thwartings,  the  ofi^ring  (as  he 
viewed  matters)  partly  of  Tory  jealousy,  and  partly 
of  poetical  caprice— he  had,  even  al  an  early  period 
of  his  life,  formed  a  genumc  afiTection  for  Scott's 
person,  as  well  as  a  most  profound  veneration  for 
his  genius.  I  think  it  very  possible  thai  he  befran 
his  assistance  of  the  Ballantyne  companies  maiolf 
under  this  generous  influence— and  I  alto  believe 
that  he  had,  in  diflferent  ways,  a  friendly  leaning  in 
favour  of  both  James  and  John  themselves.  But 
when  he,  in  his  overweening  self-sufficiency,  thought 
it  involved  no  mighty  hazard  to  indulge  his  beitir 
feelings,  as  well  as  his  lordly  vanity,  in  ahieldiiis 
these  friends  from  commercial  dishonour,  he  had 
estimated  but  loosely  tbe  demands  of  the  career  of 
speculation  on  which  he  was  himself  entering.  And 
by  and  by  when,  advancing  by  one  mighty  plunge 
after  another  in  that  vast  neld,  he  felt  in  his  own 
person  the  threatenings  of  more  signal  min  than 
could  have  befallen  them,  this  '*  Napoleon  of  the 
press"— still  as  of  old  buoyed  up  as  to  ih©  ultimate 
result  of  his  grand  operations,  by  the  most  fulsome 
flatteries  of  imagination— appears  .to  have  tossed 
aside  very  summarily  all  scruples  about  the  extent 
to  which  nc  mi^ht  be  entitled  to  tax  their  sustainins 
credit  in  reqmial.  The  Ballantynes,  if  they  had 
comprehended  all  the  bearings  oi  the  case,  were  not 
the  men  to  consider  grudgingly  demaiuis  of  thin 
nature,  founded  on  service  so  important;  and  wbo 
can  doubt  that  Scott  viewed  them  from  a  chivalrous 
tiltiiude  t  It  is  easy  to  see  that  tbe  moment  the  ob- 
ligations became  reciprocal,  there  arose  exlrenw 
peril  of  their  coming  to  be  hopelessly  comphcattd. 
It  is  equally  clear  that  he  ought  to  have  applied  on 
these  affairs,  as  their  complication  thickened,  il* 
acumen  which  he  exerted,  and  rather  prided  binistl- 
in  exerting,  on  smaller  points  of  worldly  busiutsis, 
to  ihs  utmost.  That  he  did  not,  I  must  always  r.  - 
gard  as  the  enigina  of  his  personal  history;  I  Lt 
various  incidents  in  that  history,  which  I  have  .li- 
ready  narrated,  prove  inconicstably  that  he  h  .  ■ 
never  done  so  ;  and  I  am  unable  to  account  for  t.ii 
having  been  the  case,  except  on  the  supposii.-  .. 
that  his  confidence  in  the  resources  of  Const yi>c 
and  the  prudence  of  James  Ballantyne  wasso  enitf, 
that  he  willingly  absolved  himsen  from  all  duty  .>r 
active  and  thorough-going  superinspeciion. 

It  is  the  extent  to  which  the  confusion  had  cone 
that  constitutes  the  great  puzzle.  I  have  been  told 
that  John  Ballantyne,  in  his  hey-day.  might  be 
heard  whistling  on  his  clerk,  John  Steven w>n, 
(True  Jock,)  from  the  sanctum  behind  the  shop, 
with,  "Jock,  you  lubber,  fetch  ben  a  ^heaf  o' 
stamps."  Such  things  might  well  enough  be  be- 
lieved of  that  harebrained  creature ;  but  bow  aobei; 
solemn  James  could  hav^  made  up  his  mind,  as  be 


/ 


LIFE  OF  Sm  WALTER  SCOTT. 


443 


have  done,  to  follow  much  the  same' wiltf 

course  whenever  any  pinch  occurred,  ie  to  me,  I 
most  own,  incomprenenaible.  The  books,  of  course, 
were  kept  at  the  printiD|i?-hou8e ;  and  Scott,  no 
doubt,  had  it  in  his  power  to  examine  them  as  often 
as  he  Hked  to  go  there  for  that  purpose.  Hui  did  he 
ever  descend  the  Canongate  once  on  such  an  er- 
rand 7  1  certainly  much  question  it.  I  think  it  very 
t  likely  that  he  now  and  then  cast  a  rapid  glance  over 
the Jletails of  a  week's  or  a  month's  operations; 
but  no  man  who  has  followed  him  throughout  can 
dream  that  he  ever  grappled  with  the  sum  total. 
Durinjr  several  years  it  was  almost  daily  my  custom 
to  walk  home  with  Sir  Waller  from  the  Parliament- 
House,  calling  at  James's  on  our  way.  For  the 
most  part  I  used  to  amuse  myself  with  a  newspaper 
or  proof- sheet  in  the  outer  room,  while  they  were 
closeted  in  the  little  cabinet  at  the  comer;  and 
merry  were  the  tones  that  reached  ray  ear  while 
they  remained  in  collo<iuy.  If  I  w6re  called  in,  it 
was  because  James,  in  his  ecstasy,  must  have 
another  to  enjoy  the  dialogue  that  nis  friend  was 
improvising— between  Meg  Dods  end  Captain  Mac- 
Turk  for  examole,  or  Petef  Peebles  and  his  counsel. 
"  How  shrewdly  Scoti  lectures  Terry  in  May 
1S25:— "The  best  business  is  ruined  when  it  be- 
comes pinched  for  money,  and  gets  into  the  circle 
of  discounting  bills.'*  "  It  is  easy  to  make  it  feasi- 
ble on  paper,  but  the  times  of  payment  arrive  to  a 
certainty."  "  I  should  not  like  to  see  you  take  jiight 
like  the  ingenious  mechanist  in  Rasselas,  only  to 
Gutter  a  few  yards,  and  fall  into  the  lake;  this  would 
be  a  heart-breaking  business."  '*  You  must  be  care- 
fill  that  a  check  shall  not  throw  you  on  the  breakers, 
and  for  this  there  is  no  remedy  but  a  nandsome  pro- 
vision of  the  blunt"  &c.  &c.  Who  can  read  these 
words — and  consider  that,  at  the  very  hour  When 
they  fell  from  Scott's  pen,  he  was  meditating  anew 
purchase  of  land  to  the  extent  of  X40,000— and^that 
nevertheless  the  "  certaintv  of  the  arrival  of  times 
of  payment  for  discounted  bills"  was  within  a  few 
monttisof  being  realized  to  his  own  ruin ;— who  can 
read  such  words,  under  such  a  date,  and  not  sigh 
the  only  comment,  sic  ros  non  vobis  7 

The  reader  may  perhaps  remember  a  page  in  a 
fonner  volume;  where  I  described  Scott  as  riding 
with  Johnny  Ballantyne  and  myself  round  the  de- 
serted halls  of  the  ancient  family  of  Riddell,  and  re- 
j        marking  how  much  it  increased  the  wonder  of  their 
niin  that  the  late  Baronet  had  '*  kept  day-book  and 
I        ledger   as   regularly  as  any  cheesemonger  in  the 
Ohra^tnarkeL"    It  is,  nevertheless,  true  that  Sir 
Walter  kept  from  first  to  last  as  acournto  an  account 
of  bis  own  jtersoTuU  expenditure  as  Sir  John  Riddell 
could  have  done  of  his  extravagant  outlay  on  agri- 
,       cultural  experiments.    The  instructions  he  gave  his 
^       son  when  nrst  joining  the  18th  Hussars  about  the 
best  method  of  keeping  accounts,  were  copied  from 
j        hisx>wn  practice.    I  coold,  I  believe,  place  before 
my  reader  the  sum-total  of  sixpences  that  it  has 
*       cost  hhn  to  ride  through  turnpike  gates  during  a 
period  of  thirty  years.  This  was,  of  course,  an  early 
lial>it  mechanically  adhered  to :  but  how  strauf^e 
that  the  man  who  could  persist  however  mechani- 
cally, in  noting  down  every  shilling  that  he  actually 
drew  from  his  purse,  should  have  allowed  others  to 
pledge  his  credit,  year  after  year,  upon  sheafs  of  ac- 
commodation paper,  "  the  time  for  i^aying  which  up 
must  certainly  come,"*' 'without  keeping  any  efficient 
watch  on  theirproceedings— without  knowing  any 
one  Christmas,  tor  how  many  thousands  or  rather 
tens  of  thousands  he  was  responsible  as  a  printer 
in  the  Canongdte ! 

This  is  sufficiently  astonishing— and  had  this  been 
aH,  the  result  must  sooner  or  later  have  been  suffi- 
ciently uncomfortable ;  but  still,  in  the  absence  of  a 
oircurostance  which  Sir  Walter,  however  vigilant, 
eonld  hardly  have  been  expected  to  anticipate  as 
within  the  range  of  possibility,  he  would  have  been 
in  no  danger  of  a  "  check  that  must  throw  him  on 
the  breakers"— of  finding  himself,  after  his  flutter- 
tngt  over  The  Happy  valley,  "in  the  lake."  He 
eomd  never  hare  foreseen  a  step  which  Constable 
took  in  the  frenzied  excitement  of  his  day  of  pecu- 


niary alarm.  Owing  to  the  original  habitual  irre- 
gularities of  John  fiallantyne,  it  had  been  adopted  ' 
as  the  regular  plan  between  that  person  and  Con- 
stable, that,  whenever  the  latter  signed  a  bill  for  the 
purpose  of  the  other's  raising  money  among  the 
banker?,  there  should,  in  case  of  his  neglecting  to 
lake  that  bill  up  before  it  fell  due,  be  deposited  a 
counter- bill,  signed  by  Ballantyne,  on  which  Con- 
stable might,  if  need  were,  raise  a  sum  equivalent  to 
that  for  vvliich  he  had  pledged  his  crtdit.  I  am  told 
that  this  is  a  usual  enough  course  of  procedure 
among  soeculative  merchants :  and  it  may  be  so. 
But  mark  the  issue.  The  plan  went  on  under 
James's  management,  just  as  John  had  begun  i\. 
Under  his  manaj^ement  also,  such  was  the  incredi- 
ble looseness  of  it,  the  counter-hills^  meant  only  for 
being  sent  into  the  market  in  the  event  of  the 
primary  bills  being  threatened  with  dishonour— 
these  instruments  of  safeguard  for  Constable  against 
contingent  danger  were  allowed  to  lie  uninquired 
about  in  Constable's  desk,  until  ihey  had  swelled 
to  a  truly  monstrous  "  sheaf  of  stamps."  Consta- 
ble's hour  of  distress  darkened  about  him,  and  he 
rushed  with  these  to  the  money-changers.  They 
were  nearly  all  flung  into  circulation  in  the  course 
of  this  maddening  period  of  panic.  And  by  this  one 
circumstance  it  came  to  pass,  that,  supposing  Bal- 
lantyne and  Co.  to  have,  at  ihe  day  of  reckoninp. 
obligations  against  them,  in  consequence  of  biU 
transactions  with  Constable,  to  the  extent  jof  £25,- 
000,  they  were  legally  responsible  for  jeso.OOO. 

It  is  not  my  business  to  atiemnt  any  detailed  his- 
tory of  the  House  of  Constable.  The  sanguine 
man  had,  almost  at  the  outset  of  his  career,  oeen 
"lifted  off  his  feet,"  in  Burn's  phrase,  by  the  sudden 
and  unparalleled  success  of  the  Edinburgh  Review. 
Scott's  poetry  and  Scott's  novels  followed ;  and  had 
he  confined  himself  to  those  three  great  and  trium- 
phant undertakings,  he  must  have  died  in  possession 
of  a  princely  fortune.  But  his  "  appetite  grew  with 
what  it  fiedon,"  and  a  long  series  ot  less  meritorious 
publications,  pushed  on,  one  after  the  other,  in  the 
craziest  rapidity,  swallowed  up  the  gains  which, 
however  vast,  he  never  counted,  and  therefore  al- 
ways exaggerated  to  himself.  He  had  with  the  only 
person  who  might  have  been  supposed  capable  of 
controlling  him  in  his  later  years,  the  authority  of 
age  and  a  quasi-parental  relationship  to  sustain  the 
natural  influence  of  great  and  commanding  tal- 
ents ;  his  proud  temperament  and  his  glowing  ima- 
gination played  into  each  other's  hands;  and  he 
scared  suspicion,  or  trampled  remonstrance,  when- 
ever (which  probably  was  seldom)  he  failed  to  infuse 
the  fer\'our  of  his  own  self-confidence.  But  even 
his  gross  imprudence  in  the  management  of  his  own 
great  business  would  not  have  been  enougli  to  in- 
volve him  in  absolute  ruin  :  had  the  matter  halted 
there,  and  had  he,  suspending,  as  he  meant  to  dp, 
all  minor  operations,  concentred  his  energies,  in 
alliance  with  Scott,  upon  the  new  and  dazzung  ad- 
venture of  the  Cheap  Miscellany,  I  have  no  doubt 
the  damage  of  earhr  misreckonings  would  soon  have 
been  altoj^ether  obliterated.  But  what  he  had  been 
to  the  Ballantynes.  certain  other  still  more  auda- 
cious "  Sheafmen"  had  been  to  him.  The  house  of 
Hurst,  Robinson,  and  Co.  had  loni;  been  his  London 
agents  and  correspondents;  and  he  had  carried  on 
with  them  the  same  traffic  in  bills  end  counter- 
bills  that  thfe  Canongate  Company  did  with  him— 
and  upon  a  still  larger  scale.  They  had  done  what 
he  did  not— or  at  least  did  not  to  any  very  culpable 
extent :  they  had  carried  their  adventures  out  of  the 
hne  of  their  own  business.  It  was  they,  for  exam- 
ple, that  must  needs  be  embarking  such  vast  sums 
m  a  speculation  on  hops !  When  ruin  threatened 
them,  theyavailed  themselves  of  Constable's  credit, 
without  stint  or  limit— while  he.  feeling  darkly  that 
the  net  was  around  him,.stniggled  and  splashed  for 
relief,  no  matter  who  might  suffer,  so  he  escaped  1 
And  Sir  Walter  Scott,  sorely  as  he  suffered,  was  too 
painfully  conscious  of  the  "  strong  tricks  he  had 
allowed  his  own  imagination  to  play,  not  to  make 
mercifiil  allowance  for  all  the  apparently  monstrous 
things  that  I  have  now  been  narrating  of  Constable ; 


i44 


LIFE  OP  SIR  WALTEB  SCOTT. 


thouj(h  an  offence  lay  behind  which  even  hia  charity 
could  not  forgive.  Of  thai  I  need  not  as  yet  speak? 
I  have  done  all  that  seems  to  irie  necessary  for  ena- 
bling the  reader  lo  apprehf  ud  the  nature  and  extent 
of  ine  pecuniary  difficulties  in  which  Scott  was 
about  to  be  involved,  when  he  commenced  his  Diary 
of  18-25. 

For  the  rest,  his  friends,  and  above  all  posterity, 
are  not  left  to  consider  bis  fate  without  consoling 
rertections.  They  who  knew  and  loved  him,, must 
ever  remember  that  the  real  nobility  of  his  character 


had  iib  riuL  jjoijti  't;AjiiJj*rti  tu  Uia  iaLcff  ^'iMxa  hj  the 
grdeal  a(  ai^Vi^mUY.  Ami  other  a  as  wi^ll  as  ihey 
mny  fett  a*3uroii,  tKtii  had  not  that  adversity  btt^n 
prec&Jed  hy  uui  iTr-rji^^tual  epur  of  ^Kicuni^ry  dC" 
mancis,  he  whj  began  liib  wnh  sjuch  *uu\ck  Hppeiirefl 
for  nil  Us  ordmity  LnjuymfntJi,  wmild  nev^^r  liav^ 
(kyoted  himself  to  iUe  rt-nrin^  of  chat  pfnuhc 
monttment  of  fi?mua,  labour,  lind  t^ower^  irhich  his 
works  now  t'onMjtutc*  The  imaffi nation  which  htta 
bequeath !?4  s^o  much  ta  dtliftht  »nd  humanist;  man- 
kind, would  hav't  rievelupt^d  few  of  [ts  mtraculous 
resogrccs,  eJtceptin  th*r  i^mbeihshracnt  of  his  own 
(Nirstjnal  txisteace.  The  enchanied  ifpnnSf  mi^ht 
bave  synkintii  eartii  w;th  th'^rod  thai  hade  it  t^i'-lit 
tad  left  tifl  no  itvma  watiiira.  Wc  c^innot  undcraitandl, 
but  we  may  never rKeleaj  respect  evon  ih«  ^Iranetst 
caprices  of  th«  itiarvclloqs  combinalion  of  facultjt* 
to  which  our  debt  h  mi  weighty.  Wp  shuwld  iry  to 
picture  t<t  O'lrsclvea  what  ihe  acHiai  iatelkttual  life 
roust  huv<f  been  fjf  the  outhor  of  siidj  n  serKjg  of  i^i* 
mance*.  We  shoiild  ask  ^^iirsekca  whttber,  nilina 
and  cii^t^hargintj  9^3  Boi^trly  and  graceifully  as  he  did 
the  com  m  on  function  a  uf  social  man,  it  wns  not, 
nev^rthelees^  bupassLbh!  but  that  he  must  have 
passed  must  of  his  jif^  m  other  worlds  than  ours  \ 
and  we  ouj^lit  knrdly  to  tUiak  it  a  ffrieviiua  circum- 
stance that  their  bri£(ht  vLsioni  should  have  left  a 
dazzld  sometimes  on  ihe  cyt^  which  h^  tif  gently 
re-optnesd  isfon  otirpro8ai(jreali(i»3S,  Ht*  had,  oo  the 
whole,  a  communii  uvtr  the  pow^s  of  his  mind—l 
nvenn  that  he  cotild  coturol  and  direiM  bis  thop),Khta 
and  re  five  lions  with  a  r€Jidim'«s>  ^rmnes%  and  easy 
security  of  *  way— beyond  what  I  find  it  po^ssibla 
to  triCf  hi  any  otntr  arti^it'MrecoTtivd  character  and 
tustory  \  but  licj  could  not  habiiually  ding  them  inro 
tte  r^Rion  of  dream  a  ihroughuut  a  ions;  seriea  of 
years,  and  yet  be  uipectwi  lo  find  a  correspondinR 
ttiisfaciion  in  btjntiHi(f  them  to  thr  lesii  affn-enhie 
^nsidc'rations  whjch  the  crircumsianee't  of  any  hii* 
man  bFLnR'fi  iJrstUical  lot  in  ihia  world  must  prtfsetit 
in  abnudanct*.  The  trainjoff  to  which  he  accustom- 
ed nimsclf  could  not  Icrtto  mm  as  bf  wa?  when  lie 
began.  He  must  ii:jy  thu  T^^jnoity,  as  well  as  reap 
the  gbry  of  this  halong  JihfumcltoTi  of  revcHK?,  ibta 
telf-abfludonnicnt  of  Fairy  [and. 

This  was  Ibr  him  th«  last  year  of  nianjf  things ; 
nmong  othtrs,  of  Sibyl  Grey  and  the  Abbosi/ord 
IffMit.  Toward*  the  cloae  of  a  hard  run  on  his 
nejffhbour  Mr  Soou  of  Gala's  ground,  he  adveotur- 
*%i  lo  leap  Uit  Cfi^r-iif— that  venerable  relic  of  ths 
days  of 

^^Kfumi  wide 
Anil  lair  ;5l^^Ul  aydm." 

of  which  ih^  fender  may  remember  manynoriciS 
in  his  ceirlv  letter*  to  George  Eiliii,  tie  was  b<?vc re- 
ly brtiisNed^nd  shattered  ;  and  never  after^i-arda  re- 
covered the  feeling  of  confidence  without  which 
thsre  can  bf.^no  pleasure  in  horssmatisUtp.  He  often 
tflked  of  this  ai^ciiknt  wiih  a  somewhat  auperiti* 
tiouB  mournfulnees. 


CHARTER  LXV. 

ITK  WAttfiVs  jviA^v  afcc#tr?r  *rov*  20,  t&23-in£ETcH^s 

OF    VVaiOCa    FfilEXlJ»"«ril.UA^    rLtAK— CHJLRLES 

fJSKPATBtCtC     feJlAtyt-^LOUD     ASEHCItDSfBlE— ^HB 

ftaer  xjt  ftL  or  m  t  sto— lo  s  &  r^  hon — KEirnT  m  a  c- 

XIENZIX — CHItr  a  A  SOX  BirKPnKHH"*;Ot  JtlTOtt-CCX- 
lHAt  nOPE— THOMAS  MQOti:E-^CH.\CLE:?  HATKEWS 
*— tOU?2T  KAVIOOF^^TC.  ETC* — liQclKTV  OF  T.tiiy- 
WUMQm—tlXLl<HfSV9    0PI?fl03fa    AK©    fiKJJ^TOa — VA* 


'      aiOUS  ALABM8  ABOCT  THE  H0X7BK  OT  HtTmiT,  I 

SOX,  AND  CO.—"  6T0BM  BLOWS    OVEr"— AKD  BOSTO 
OP  DO:!«NY  OVXDSC  WBITTSX  AT   CHRISTMAC,  1835. 

Thb  Journal,  on  which  we  afb  about  to  enter,  has 
on  tho  title-  page,  **  Sir  Walter  Scott  of  Abbotglbrd, 
Bart.,  his  Gumal ;"— and  this  foot-note  to  Crumal, 
"A  hard  word,  so  spelt  on  the  authority  of  Miss  So- 
phia Scott,  now  Mrs.  Lockhart."  '  This  is  a  little 
joke,  alluding  to  a  note- book  kept  by  his  eldest  ^rl 
during  one  of  the  Highland  exi>ediiions  of  e<ruer 
I  days,  m  which  he  was  accompanied  by  his  wife  and 
children.    The  moUo  is,— 

"  As  I  %YalIced  by  myself, 

I  talked  to  myself, 

Ai^d  thus  myself  said  to  me.^OidStng.* 

These  hnes  are  quoted  also  ih  his  reviewalof  Pepys's 
Diary.  That  book  was  published  just  before  be  left 
Edinburgh  in  July.  It  was,  1  beheve,\the  only  one 
he  took  with  him  to  Ireland  ;  and  I  nerer  observed 
him  more  dehghted  with  any  book  whatsoever.  He 
had  ever  afterwords  many  of  its  queer  turns  and 
phrases  on  his  lips. 

The  reader  cannot  expect  that  any  chapter  in  a 
Diary  of  this  sor(  should  be  printed  in  cxUmq  with- 
in a  few  years  of  the  writer's  death.  The  editor 
has,  for  reasons  which  need  not  be  explained,  foond 
it  necessary  to  omit  some  passages  altogetner— to 
abridge  others— and  very  rrequently  to  substitats 
asterisks  or  arbitrary  initials  for  names.  Bat  wher* 
ever  omissions  or  alterations  have  been  made,  theas 
were  dictated  bv  regard  for  the  feehngs  of  living 
persons;  and.  it  any  passages  which  have  been 
retained  should  prove  offensive  to  such  feelingsi, 
there  is  no  apology  to  be  offered,  but  that  the  edit<^ 
found  they  could  not  be  struck  out,  without  losing 
some  statement  of  fact,  opinion,  or  sentiment, 
which  it  seemed  impossible  to  sacrifice  without  in- 
justice to  Sir  Walter  Scott's  character  and  history. 


DIARY. 

"Edinburgh^ November  20t  1823.— Ihavb  ail  mj 
life  regretted  that  I  did  not  keep  a  regular  JounMi. 
I  have  myself  recollection  of  much  that  was  inte- 
resting ;  and  I  have  deprived  my  family  of  soma 
curious  infonijation  by  not  carrying  this  resolutioa 
into  effect.  I  have  bethought  me,  on  seeing  latcij 
some  volumes  of  Byron's  notes,  that  he  probably 
had  hit  upon  the  right  way  of  keeping  such  a  me- 
morandum-book,  by  throwing  out  all  pretence  to 
regularity  and  order,  and  marking  down  events  just 
as  they  occurred  to  recollection.  I  will  try  this 
plan ;  and  behold  I  have  a  handsome  locked  vo- 
lume, such  as  might  serve  for  a  lady's  Album.  NUa 
bene^  John  Locknart,  and  Anne,  and  I  are  to  raiae 
a  Society  for  the  Suppression  of  Albums.  It  is  a 
most  troublesome  shape  of  mendicity.  Sir,  your 
autography— a  line  of  poetry— or  a  prose  sentence  1 
—Among  all  the  sprawling  sonnets,  and  blotted 
trumpery  that  dishonours  these  miscellanies,  a  man 
must  have  a  good  stomach  that  can  swallow  thia 
botheration  as  a  compliment. 

"  I  was  in  Ireland  last  summer,  and  had  a  most 
delightful  tour^There  is  much  less  of  exaggeration 
about  the  Irish  than  might  have  been  suspected. 
Their  poverty  is  not  exaggerated  ^  it  is  on  the  ex- 
treme verge  of  human  misery  ;  their  cottages  woold 
scarce  serve  for  pig-sties,  even  in  Scotland— and 
their  rags  seem  the  very  rsfuse  of  a  rag-shop,  and 
are  disposed  on  their  bodies  with  such  ingenious  va- 
riety or  wretchedness  that  you  would  think  nothing 
but  some  sort  of  perverted  taste  could  have  assem- 
bled so  many  shreds  together.  You  are  constantly 
fearful  that  some  knot  or  loop  will  give^  and  place 
the  individual  before  you  in  all  the  primitive  shnph- 
city  of  Paradise.  Then  for  their  food,  they  have 
only  potatoes,  and  too  few  of  them.  Yet  the  men 
look  stout  and  healthy,  the  women  buxom,  and 
well- coloured. 

"Dined  with  us,  being  Sunday,  Will.  Clerk  aad 
C.  Sharps.  William  Clerk  is  the  second  son  of  the 
celebrated  author  of  'Naval   Tactics.'     I  have 


Digitized  by  CjOOQIC 


UFE  OP  SIR  WALTER  SCX)TT. 


446 


»  known  him  iotiraatdy  since  our  college  days;  and 
to  my  thinking,  never  met  a  man  of  greater  powers, 
or  more  complete  information  on  all  deeiraole  aub- 
jects.  In  youili  he  had  etron^^ly  the  Edinburgh 
jyrurihu  diapxitandi  /  but  habits  of  society  have 
greaily  mellowed  it,  and  though  still  anxious  to  gain 
your  suffrage  to  his  view&  he  endeavours  rather  to 
conciliate  your  opinion  than  conquer  it  by  force. 
Still  there  is  enough  of  tenacity  of  sentiment  to 
prevent^  in  London  society,  where  all  must  go  slack 
and  easy,  W.  C.  from  rising  to  the  very  top  of  the 
tree  as  a  conversation  man :  who  must  not  only 
wind  the  thread  of  his  argument  gracefully,  but  also 
know  when  to  let  go.  But  1  like  the  Scotch  taste 
better;  there  is  more  matter,  more -information, 
above  all,  more  sphrit  in  it.  Clerk  will,  I  am  afraid, 
leave  the  world  littl*?  nif^re  ihan  |K^.  f^  -^  *"  *ii8 
powers.  Heis  i*v>  iniji.^kiit  lo  timeSi  an^  •  er- 
able  wqrk.    Ch^rtHS  KirkuEimck  Sharif  :  »«' 

very  remarkabU  nmn.  He  was  bred  iiy.  \^  '  fjr- 
man,  but  never  tuok  order*.  He  \\n^  infiuu^^  mi 
and  a  great  turr  lor  antiqunrian  iGft?^  us  ihe  pijl^]i<»i- 
tions  of  Kirktoii,  ^c  bear  witnesB.  Hxa  dmwtngs 
are  the  moat  faEinfijl  and  droll  imnginJibli!— s  niix- 
tau  between  tit^gartU  and  eomis  oi  those  fori'gn 
nMerawho  piijtited  temptationi of  St.  Aniliony, 
and  sachgroteeiii<^  eubjecti^.  As  a  po«t  he  ba^  not 
a  very  strong  tt 51  ic[t,  t^  [  range  vhm  Ins  finKFr-fnds 
eandesoribeso  ^at  hij^uinn;  '  :  ir- 

ly  and  flnnly  in  V;  w.^-  If  he  wore  lu  ii.^^^  u.._w- 
ing  a  resoorce,  it  might  raise  him  a  large  income. 
•  Bat  though  a  lover  (»  antii^uities,  and,  therefore,  of 
expensive  trifles,  C.  K.  S.  is  too  aristocratic  to  us6 
his  art  to  assist  his  purse.  He  is  a  very  complete 
genealogist,  and  has  made  many  detections  in 
Douglas  and  other  books  on  pedigreei  which  our 
nobles  would  do  well  to  suppress  if  tney  had  an 
opportunity.  Strang  that  a  man  should  be  cu- 
nous  after  scandal  of  centuries  old!  Not  but 
Charles  loves  it  fresh  and  fresh  also,  for  being  very 
much  a  fashionable  man,  he  is  always  master  of  the 
reigning  report,  and  he  tells  the  anecdote  with'such 
gusto  that  there  is  no  helping  sympathizing  with 
Eim—a  pecuUarity  of  voice  adding  not  a  little  to  the 
general  efiect.  My  idea  vs.  that  C.  K.  S.,  with  his 
oddities,  tastes,  satb&  and  nigh  aristocratic  feelings, 
resembles  Horace  Walpole— perhaps  in  his  person 
also,  in  a  general  way.— See  laissAikin'B  Anecdotes 
tot  a  description  of  the  author  of  the  Castle  of 
Otraoto.— No  other  company  at  dinner  except  my 
cfaeeiiul  and  good-humoured  friend  MissU  Macdon- 
tld,*  so  called  in  fondness.  One  bottle  of  cham- 
pagne, with  the  ladies'  assistance,  two  of  claret.  I 
observe  that  both  these  great  connnoisseurs  were 
very  nearly,  if  not  quite  agreed,  that  there  are  no 
absolutely  undoubted  originals  of  Queen  Mary. 
But  bow,  then,  should  we  oe  so  very  distinctly  in- 
formed as  to  her  features  1  What  nas  become  of 
aU  the  oiiginals  which  suggested  these  innumerable 
copies?  Surely  Mary  must  have  been  a^  unfortu- 
nate in  this  as  m  other  particulars  of  her  life. 

"Aowmter  21.  1825.-1  am  enamoured  of  ray 
journaL  I  wish  the  zeal  may  but  last.  Once  mora 
of  Ireland.  I  said  their  poverty  was  not  exaggera- 
ted—neither is  their  wit— nor  their  good-bumoiu^- 
nor  their  whimsical  absurdity— nor  their  courage. 
Wit,—!  gave  a  fellow  a  shilling  on  some  occasion 
when  sixpence  was  the  fee.  '  Remember  you  owe 
me  sixpence,  Pat.'  *  May  your  honour  hve  till  I 
pay  you.'  There  was  courtesv  as  well  as  art  in  this, 
and  all  the  clothes  on  Pat's  back  would  have  been 
dearly  bought  by  the  sum  in  question. 

"  Gooc^Aumour.— There  is  perpetual  kindness  in 
the  Irish  cabin— butler-milk,  potatoes— a  stool  is 
offered,  or  a  stone  is  rolled  that  your  honour  may  sit 
down  and  be  out  of  the  smoke,  and  those  who  beg 
every  where  else  seem  desirous  to  exercise  free  ho»- 
intauty  in  their  own  houses.  Their  natural  dispo- 
sition is  turned  to  gaiety  and  happiness;  whiles 
'Scotchman  is -thinking  about  the  term-day,  or,  if 
easy  on  that  subject,  about  hell  m  the  next  world- 
while  an  £ngUshnian  is  making  a  little  hell  in  the 
present,  because  his  muffin  is  not  well  roasted— 
*  MiM  Maedooftld  Buehanan  of  OranuDtkitt. 
3N 


Pat's  mind  is  always  turned  to  fun  and  ridicule. 
They  are  terribly  excitable,  to  be  sure,  and  will 
murder  you  on  slight  suspicion,  and  find  out  next 
day  that  it  was  all  a  mistake,  and  that  it  was  not 
yourself  they  tneant  to  kill  at  all,  at  all. 

"  Absurdity.— They  were  widening  the  road  near 
Lord  Claremont's  seat  as  we  passed.  A  number  ol 
cars  were  drawn  up  together  at  a  particular  point 
where  we  also  halted,  as  we  understood  they  werr 
blowinga  rock,  and  the  shot  was  expected  presently 
to  go  off.  After  waiting  two  minutes  or  so,  a  fel- 
low called  out 'something,  and  our  carriage  as  s 
planet,  and  the  cars  for  satellites,  started  all  forward 
at  onoe,  the  Irishmen  whooping  and  the  horses 
galloping.  Unable  to  learn  the  meaning  of  this,  1 
was  only  left  to  suppose  that  they  had  delayed 
firing  the  interned  «W  till  we  should  pass,  and  that 
we  were  passing  quickly  to  make  the  delay  as  short 
as  possible.  No  such  thing.  By  dim  of  making 
fnreat  hast&  we  got  within  ten  yards  of  the  rock 
just  when  the  blast  took  place,  tnrowin;;  dust  and 
gravel  on  our  carriage,  and  had  our  postilion  brought 
us  a  little  nearer  (it  was  not  for  want  of  hallooing 
and  flogging  that  he  did  not,)  we  should  have  had  a 
still  more  serious  share  of  the  oxplosion.  The  ex- 
planation I  received  from  the  drivers  was,  that  they 
had  been  told  by  the  overseer  that  as  the  mine  had 
been  so  long  in  going  off,  he  dared  say  we  would 
have  dme  to  pass  it— so  we  just  waited  long  enough 
to  make  the  danger  imminent.  I  have  only  to  aod, 
that  two  or  three  ^people  got  behind  the  carriage, 
just  for  nothing  but  to  see  how  our  honours  got  past 

"  Went  to  the  Oil  Gas  Committee  this  morning, 
of  Which  concern  t  am  President,  or  Chairman. 
This  brings  me  into  company  with  a  body  of  active, 
business-beings^money- making  citizens  of  Edin- 
burgh, chiefly  Whigs,  by  the  way,  whose  senti- 
ments and  proceedings  amuse  me.  The  stock  is 
rather  low  in  themaritet. 

"  Dined  with  Sir  Robert  Dund  s,  where  we  met 
Lord  and  Lady  Melville.  My  li  itle  nitcts  («x  o,ffici6\ 
gave  us  some  pretty  music.  I  do  not  know  and 
cannot  utter  a  note  of  Qiusic ;  and  complicated 
harmonies  seem  tome  a  babble  of  confused  thouch 
pleasing  sounds.  Yet  simple  melodies,  especially 
if  connected  with  words  and  ideas,  have  as  much 
effect  on  me  as  on  most  people.  But  then  I  hate  to 
hear  a  young  person  sing  ^iinout  feeling  and  expres- 
sion suited  to  the  song.  I  oannot  bear  a  voice  that 
has  no  more  life  in  it  than  a  piano-forte  or  a  bugle- 
horn.  There  is  about  all  the  fine  arts  a  something 
of  soul  and  spirit,  which,  like  the  vital  principle  in 
man,  defies  the  research  or  the  most  critical  anato- 
mist. You  feel  where  it  is  not,  yet  you  cannot  de- 
scribe what  it  is  you  want.  Sir  Joshua,  oi*some 
other  great  painter,  was  looking  at  a  picture  on 
which  much  pains  had  been  bestowed—*  Why,  yes,' 
he  said,  in  a  nesitating  manner,  'it  is  very  cfever— 
very  well  done— can't  find  fault ;  but  it  wants  some- 
thing ;  it  wants— it  wants— d—n  me— it  wants  that* 
—throwing  his  hand  over  his  head,  and  snapping 
his  fingers.  Tom  Moore's  is  the  most  exquisite 
warbling  I  ever  heard.  Next  him,  Da^•id  Maccul- 
loch  for  Scotch  songs.  The  last,  when  a  boy  at 
Dumfries,  was  much  admired  by  Burns,  who  used 
to  get  him  to  try  over  the  words  which  he  composed 
to  new  melodies.  He  is  brother  to  Macculloch  of 
Ardwell. 

"  Norember  22.— 3/oore.— I  saw  Moore  (for  the 
first  time,  I  may  say)  this  season.  We  had  indeed 
met  in  pubtic  twenty  years  ago.  There  is  a  manly 
frankness,  with  perfect  ease  and  good- breeding, 
about  him  which  is  delightful.  Not  the  least  touch 
of  the  poet  or  the  pedant.  A  little— very  little  man. 
Less,  I  think,  than  Lewis,  and  somewhat  like  him  in 
person ;  God  knows,  not  in  conversation,  for  Matt, 
though  a  clever  fellow,  was  a  bore  of  the  first  de- 
scriptioiL  Moreover,  he  looked  always  like  a  school- 
boy. Now  Moore  has  none  of  this  insignificance. 
His  countenance  is  plain,  but  the  expression  so  very 
animated,  especially  in  speaking  or  singing,  that  it 
is  far  more  interesung  than  the  finest  feamres  could 
have  rendered  it. 

"I  was  aware  that  Byion  hao  often 
Digitized  by  ^ 


LIFE  OF  SIR  WALTfiE  SCQTT. 


446 

in  private  society  and  in  his  Journal  of  Moore  and  i 
myself,  in  the  same  breath,  and  with  the  same  iort  of ; 
regard ;  so  I  was  curious  to  see  what  there  could 
be  in  common  betwixt  us,  Moore  having  lived 
so  much  in  the  gay  world.  1  in  the  country,  and 
with  people  of  business,  and  sometimes  with  poli- 
ticians ;  Moore  a  scholar,  I  none ;  he  a  musician 
and  artist,  I  without  knowledge  of  a  note ;  he  a 
democrat,  I  an  aristocrat— with  many  other  points 
of  ditference ;  besides  his  being  an  Irishman,  I  a 
sir      "^  '^     ■  ■  *     * ' '  rtatiflnaL    Ycnh^re 

jj  .         1      :  , ,  El  sironc;  one.     We 

;if4j  botli  i;.j(jU-LiumuurLU  JJlIIows,  wlio  ratht^r  Peek 
10  enjoy  what  fa  ^oui^  forward  thati  ttj  main  id  a 
our  dignity  ns  lioiLi»  i  and  we  havij  both  mn'U  tha 
world  (oj  witiely  md  too  well  not  lo  contemn  m 
itur  soub  ibe  imai^iaiiry  cansHiucnt't^or  themrypco- 
j^le.,  who  wflik  with  iheir  noses  in  tho  air^  una  rc- 
nuiid  n\t  always  of  the  fdlow  whoai  Johusort  uitl 
ill  the  ulohouKt  and  who  called  hrma^ If  *Uii  ^rtat 
TiC(Umi^  —  inn!*iitr  of  the  ^ifOfl-totc  iron  far 
atnouthin^  ihun  ^  He  also  ciijovs  tbt  Af<^^  yitar 
fLT£,  and  so  do  L  It  was  4  pit^  that  nothing  saia 
the  totfll  deatfuction  of  Ryron's  Mrmoira  would 
Sfltlflfy  III?  extciuor^.  But  there  was  a  ri-Ason-- 
Prtmai  AoJ  aUo.  It  would  be  a  deligtiifril  addi- 
tion 10  life,  if  T*  M,  had  a  colm^e  within  two  mdvfl 
ofonc>.  We  wenito  [h«  tbflair<^  lo^ether^  and  the 
house  bei/ig  hickily  ft  K^^od  one.  r^tived  T*  M.  with 
rapturi\  I  could  have  hui^gtd  thtm,  iar  ii  paid  back 
the  debt  of  the  kind  rt^cepiion  i  mi?t  wiih  in  Irt^lojid. 
"Here  is  mot  tor  for  a  May  morning,  but  much 
Stitr  for  a  Not  craiL»cr  one*  The  gentral  diistrtss  in 
ibe  city  hsfl  ofTected  H.  and  R.,  d'onstablt'i  grcni 
agents-  Should  they  go,  it  jd  not  likuly  that  Don- 
stttbk  can  statid,  and  such  an  event  would  kf  d  to 
grreat  ni^trcsa  nndperpk^xity  on  ihe  part  of  J-  B.  i^^rtd 
myself*  Thank  Oid  1  have  enoiifih  (^i  pay  more 
than  20s.  m  the  pounds  taking  nmttetdi  at  tlw  very 
wowt.  But  muen  inconvcnieticy  musi  be  the  con- 
sequence, [  hada  lesson  in  iSM  y^hkh  shauEd  have 
donu  good  ;  but  succf'sa  and  abundance  (^ra?cd  it  j 
from  my  mind^  But  this  is  no  tlin^^  for  jo^rNalain^  j 
or  motaliEing  t-ithcr-  Necessity  is  Hk(3  a  fcjur'rtiei.'d 
ectok-maid,  and  1  a  Lurn-sntt  she  has  Hogged,  <?re 
nnrt%  till  he  mounted  his  wheeL  If  Woodstock  can 
bv  out  by  25th  January^  it  will  do  much,  and  it  >s 
posiibt«.  Could  not  w^rhe  to  pur;jo$e  for  thick 
cojning  fsnciea. 

'  3i5j  fip!nn|nf- wheel  H  vill  ap  J  stiff", 
Tlie  r^jt:k  o't  wkcuit  svnaH^  tix : 

To  k«f  ^Hlie  leitifK4r-plt>  ]n  (IfT, 

'MVsnt  (0  dine  at  tha  Lord  Juaticc^-Clark^i,  nei  1 
tboufiht  by  inviiation^  but  u  was  forTiiesiiny  se^cn- 
nifiht*  Rt turned  very  well  [^leaacdt  not  bvinn  e3t' 
flcily  in  iht^  haniour  for  company^  mid  had  n  mi(- 
eteak*  My  appetite  id  ^ardyn  cxct^ei^i^  j^^i  to  li^uan- 
tity,  thftt  of  a  furincr,  fiir,  eating  moderaiely  uj  njiy 
thtn^,  rny  gpicure^it  pleasure  ;f  111  tlw  rnoi^t  simp  la 
diet.  Wills  I  pctdoni  taste  when  alone,  and  u^  m* 
stead  a  little  spirits  and  water.  I  have  of  ktc  di* 
rcimished  the  quantuy,  fur  fear  of  a  wt?nknf?a  induc- 
uve  to  u  diabtrtt>s — a  disease  which  broke  up  my 
faeher'tf  hedth,  thotMth  one  of  ths  mo^X  ternperritg 
min  who  ev«r  liv^.  I  smoku'  u  couple  of  ei^ar^i  id- 
s-Jtsd.  which  opi-raie*  cqunlly  as  a  sedfltivc-^ 


I  smoked  a  good  deal  about  twenty  years  ago  when 
at  AshesticI ;  but  coming  down  one  morning  to  the 
parlour.  I  found,  as  the  room  was  small  and  con- 
fined, that  the  smell  was  unpleasant,  and  laid  aside 
the  use  of  the  Nicotian  tceed  for  many  years;  but 
was  again  led  to  use  it  by  the  example  or  my  son,  a 
hussar  officer,  and  my  son-in-law,  an  Oxford  sm- 
dent.  I  could  lay  it  aside  to-morrow;  1  laugh  at 
the  dominion  of  custom  in  this  and  many  things. 
^  We  make  tbe  gUoU  first,  and  iheh—do  not  kill  tiiem.' 

*' Aorcmftcr,  23.— On  comparing  notes  with  Moore. 
I  was  confirmed  iri  one  or  two  points  which  I  had 
always  laid  down  in  considering  poor  Byron.  One 
was,  that  lik^Rousseati  be  was  apt  to  be  very  sus- 


picious, and  a  plaii),  downris^ht  ateadiness  of  b. 

ner  was  the  true  mode  to  mamtaln  his  f^ood  Ojptinion. 
Will  Rose  told  me  that  once,  while  sitiuLg  with  By- 
ron^ he  fixed  insensibly  his  eves  on  his  feet,  one  of 
which,  it  must  be  remembered,  was  ddlbrmed. 
Looking  up  suddenly,  he  saw  Byron  regarding  him 
with  a  look  of  concentrated  and  deep  dis^IeaFure, 
which  wore  off  when  he  observed  no  conscioii«nesa 
or  embarrassmom .  in  the  countenance  of  Rose. 
Murray  afterwards  explained  this,  by  felling  Rose 
thftt  Lord  Byri^n  was  very  iealoirs  ftf  having  this 
pergonal  ini^^rfi^ction  notic^nj  or  attcnd^'ii  tu.  In 
another  poiiK,  Morire  coniirnKMi  my  i^revjc^ufi  opin- 
ion, naroelyj  that  Byron  lovtd  Juisibi^f-tiittking. 
Mocirc  bad  written  in  him,  cautioning  him  s^ainat 
the  pMjtict  of  cflirtbliahitiK  thei>ap«sr  caUtd  the  Libe- 
ral, in  commumon  with  nien  yn  whotn  h.;  paid  the 
world  had  act  its  mark,  Byron  ihow^tl  iKis  10  the 
psniew.  Shelly  wrot;  a  niodi'*l  atid  rather  afleci- 
ing  expostulation  to  ^loore.  Thesc^  two  [^eruUari- 
ties  of  extreme  su«pieiiin  artd  Ipvt'  of  tni^cbief  are 
both  shades  of  tho  malady  which  certajniy  linctured 
BOtna  part  of  the  character  of  this  mifthty  peoma; 
and  without  eonit?  tendenty  Towards  whieh.  geniaa 
perhaps cannoi  exist  to  ^eai  extent.  Tiic  wheels 
of  a  machini^  to  jday  rapidly  muac  nm  6i  witk  the 
utmost  exactness,  else  the  attritUm  diminiabes  the 
imf^etdii. 

"Another  of  Byron' £  p^uhariiies  was  the  I'jve  of 
mystifying,  which^  indeed,  may  be  rt<fierr»t  io  tlwt  of 
mischief.  There  was  no  knowjn;;  bow  mijisfa  or 
how  It  I  lie  to  believe  of  his  jiarrativca.  Instence:-* 
Wilhain  BnrLken,  expostulating  wilk  Im  tipon  a 
dedication  which  he  Jiad  writtfn  la  &tTWYg^^nnt 
U'rms  of  praise  to  Cam  Hobhou&ei  BfTOB  loUl  aim 
that  Cam  had  bored  himabaui  ibisdedkati^in  ^iUhe 
bad  said, '  VVdl,  ii  shall  be  so,  provided  fon  will  nrhte 
k  yourself;^  atid  a^trnied  that  Hobhouaccivl  write 
the  bigb- coloured  dtfdjca^^on  accord tn^ly*  I  bicii* 
ttoncd  this  to  Murray,  having  the  repon  Ivom  Will 
Hose,  to  whom  Banket  had  mentioned  it.  Murray, 
in  t^vh%  asmr«d  me  ihii  the  dt?dication  wvs  wxiueB 
by  Lord  Byron  himself,  and  showed  it  mc  m  hi  town 
hand.  I  wrote  10  Rose  to  rn{?ption  the  tiiiM  to 
Bankt]«,  act  it  might  have  made  mischief  had  the 
story  ^o\  into  the  circle,  Bjrmn  wa^  di&powd  to 
think  all  men  of  imagination  were  addiett^  t<>  puz 
fiction  (or  poetry)  m  tWr  pra«^>  He  used  to  iajr  he 
dared  believe  the  celebrated  (^uriexan  of  Veoioe^ 
about  whom  Rou^seati  makes  tu  ptc^uantt^a  storr, 
was.  if  one  could  sec  hcr^  a  draKgle^iaUed  wenco 
enough.  I  believe  that  be  embellished  hi«  own 
amours  considerably,  and  that  he  was,  tn  niaof  r»- 
ipeecs,  Ii  /aT^/iiron  dc  tk'es'/ti'it  n  a  rati  pot-  He 
loved  to  be  ihonEbt  woful,  mystcnou^  and  filoomy, 
and  somen mti  hinted  at  ^tran;^^  eauica,  I  bdwve 
iho  whole  to  have  been  the  creation  and  sport  of  a 
wild  and  rowcrfui  fancy.  In  the  same  manner  he 
cratn  yjied  ncopbt  as  it  is  termed,  about  duds  And 
the  hke„  which  never  exi^iedlt  or  were  much  ezag- 
gerntrd* 

'What  I  iiked  about  Byron,  besides  hiaboundleae 
gen  in  5,  wa^  his  generosity  of  spirit  aa  w«ll  as  tMiree^ 
and  his  utter  contemtii  of  clI  the  afllciatjona  of 
liierature,  from  the  s^not}Umagi«teiiial  ityle  10  ther 
lackadaisical.  His  example  has  formed  a  bon  of 
iippe?-hou*e  of  poetry— but 

*  There  will  h*  Uiin?  pt^crs 
Ere  9ucb  ani^tber  Ifyron.' 

•'  »  »  *  Talking  of  Abbotbford,  it  bemna  to  be 
haunted  by  too  much  company  of  every  Rind,  hat 
especially  foreigners.  I  do  not  like  them.  1  tiaie 
fine  waistcoats,  and  breast-pins  upon  dirty  ahiria.  I 
detest  the  impudence  that  pays  a  stranger  comph- 
roents,  and  harangues  about  an  aathor  s  works  in 
his  own  house,  which  is  surely  iU-breedis^.  JMoreo 
over,  they  are  seldom  long  of  making  it  evuient  that 
they  know  nothing  about  what  they  are  talking  of; 
excepting  having  seen  the  Lady  of  the  Lake  at  the* 
opera. 

"Dined  at  St.  Cathenoe'a^  with  the  Lord  Advo- 

*  8t.  C«theri6e*»,  the  MitorSir  WilHsm  Raa.  Bart,  tJiea  Loid 
Adfocate,  ii  abost  three  mikt  fitooi  Ziubargh._ 

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447 


cat&  I«Brd  Melvilie»  Lord  Justice-Clerk,  Sir  Archi- 
baldf  Campbell  of  Succoth,  all  class  companions, 
and  acquainted  well  for  more  than  forty  years.  All 
excepting  Lord  J.  C.  were  at  Fraser's  class,  High- 


School.  Boyle  joined  us  at  college.  There  are,  be- 
sidea,  Sir  Adam  Fei-Ruson,  Colin  Madtenzie,  James 
Hope,  Dr.  James  Buchan,  Claud  Russell,  and  per- 


Jlea,  Sir  Adam  Fei-Ruson,  Colin  Madtenzie,  James 
ope.  Dr.  James  Buchan,  Claud  Russell,  and  per- 
haps two  or  three  more  of  and  about  the  same  pe- 
ri«l--but 

*  Apparent  rari  nantes  in  gurgUe  raeto.' 

"  Xoi'emb6r  24i/i.— Talking  of  strangers.  London 
held,  some  four  or  live  years  since,  one  of  those  ani- 
mals who  are  lions  at  nrst,  but  by  transmutaiion  of 
two  scusjns  become  in  regular  course  bores— Vf^o 
FoscqIq  by  name,  a  haunter  of  Murray's  shop  and 
of  hierary  parties.  Ugly  as  a  baboon,  and  intolera- 
bly conceited,  he  spluttered,  blustered,  and  disputed, 
without  even  knowing  the  principles  upon  which 
jncn  of  sonse  render  a  reason,  and  screamed  all  the 
while  like  a  pix  with  a  knife  in  his  throat.  Another 
such  an  animalacclois  a  brute  of -a  Marquis  de  *  *  *, 
^^ho  lately  inflicted  two  days  on  us  at  Abbotsford. 
These  gentry  never  know  what  to  make  9f  them- 
selves m  the  fbrouoon,  but  sit  tormenting  the  wo- 
men to  play  at  proverbs  and  such  trash. 

"  F*ortiffner  of  a  dUftrmt  caste.  There  was 
lately  at  Abbotsford,  and  is  here  for  education  just 
now,  a  young  Cortnt  Davidofl^  with  his  tutor,  Mr. 
Collyer.  He  is  n^hew  of  the  famous  Orlows.  It 
13  quif«  surprising  how  much  sense  and  sound  think- 
mg  this  vouth  has  t\t  the  early  age  of  sixteen,  with- 
out the  least  self-conceit  oribrwardness.  On  the 
contrary^  he  seems  kind,  modeeft,  and  ingenuous. 
Toouestions  which  I  asked  about  the  state  of  Rus- 
sia, be  answered  with  the  precision  find  accuracy  of 
twice  his  years.  I  shouldT  be  sorry  the  saying  were 
verified  in  hira— 

*■  So  wise  so  young,  they  say,  do  ne'er  live  long." 
I  saw  also  at  Abbotaford  two  Frenchmen^hooi  I 
liked,  friends  of  ^iss  Dumergue.  One,  called  Le 
Noir,  is  the  author  of  a  tragedy  which  he  had  the 
grace  never  to  quote,  and  which  I,  though  poked  by 
some  malicious  persons,  had  not  the  grace  even  lo 
hint  Of.  They  were  disposed  at  first  to  be  compli- 
mentary, but  I  convinced  them  it  was  not  the  cus- 
tom here,  and  they  rook  it  well,  and  were  agreeable. 

"  A  little  bilious  this  morning,  for  the  nrst  time 
these  six  months.  It  cannot  be  the  London  mat- 
ters which  stick  on  my  stomach,  for  that  is  mend- 
ing, and  may  have  good  efiiecta  on  myself  and 
others. 

*•  Dined  with  Robert  Cockbnrn.  Company,  Lord 
Melville  and  fhmily;  Sir  John  and  Lady  Hope; 
Lord  and  Lady  R.  Kerr,  and  so  forth.  Combination 
of  colliers  general,  and  coals  up  to  double  price ;  the 
men  will  not  work  alffiough^  or  rather  bei:au»e  they 
can  make  from  thirty  to  forty  shillings  per  week. 
Lor«i  R.  Kerr  told  us  hd  had  a  letter  from  Lord 
Forb«i  (son  of  Earl  Granard,  Ireland,)  that  he  was 
89'?<»p  in  his  house  at  Castle  Forbes,  when  awaken- 
ed by  a  sense  of  suffocation  which  denrixed  him  of 
th<»  power  of  stirring  a  limb,  yet  left  nira  the  con- 
s'-iousnew  that  the  house  was  on  fire.  At  this  mo- 
ment, and  while  his  aoartment  was  in  flames,  his 
Inrge  dog  jumped  on  tne  bed,  seized  his  shirt,  and 
(irncged  him  to  the  stair-case,  where  the  fresh  air 
I  stored  his  pawers  of  existence  and  of  escape. 
This  !S  very  aiflferent  from  most  cases  of  preserva* 
'.nr\  of  life  by  the  canine  race,  when  the  animal 
i.-cs'prtrl!y  jumps  into  the  water,  in  which  element 
ill*  has  force  and  skill.  That  of  fire  is  atf  hostile  to 
him  as  to  mankind. 

*  A  or«m6<r  25.— Read  Jeffrey's  neat  and  welhin- 
ien<U)d  address  to  the  mechanics  upon  their  eombi* 
iwiiions.  Will  it  do  good?  Umph.  It  takes  only 
the  hand  of  a  Lillipuuan  to  light  a  fire,  but  would 
r«quin9  the  diuretic  n6wers  of  Gulliver  to  extinguish 
:t.  The  Whigs  will  live  and  die  in  the  heresy  that 
The  world  is  ruled  by  little  pamphlets  and  speeches, 
ind  that  if  you  can  sufiicienuy  demonstrate  that  a 
line  of  conduct  is  most  consistent  with  men's  ir^ter- 
•  KimgKtcntrdlU,   Aec  m.,  teene  t. 


est,  you  have  therefore  ^and  thereby  demonstrated 
that  they  vrill  at  length,  after  a  few  ^peeche^  on  the 
subject,  adopt  it  of  course.  In  this  case  we  should 
have  no  nead  of  laws  or  churches,  for  I  am  sure 
ihtreis  no  mfficulty,  in  proving  that  moral,  regular,- 
and  steady  habits  conduce  to  men's  best  interest, 
and  that  vice  is  not  sin  merely  but  folly.  But  of 
these  men  each  has  passions  and  prejudices,  the 
gratification  of  which  he  prefers,  not  only  to  the 
general  weal,  but  to  that  of  himself  as  an  individ- 
ual.   Under  the  action  of  these  wayward  impulses 

i^-i.;urfau\  lilt  i.4irL;+,;-i  Uf-uAi^rru^^H  Ui,>ij^h  Ju-  ,a 
f  I  ir..'  to  bt  h  n  ngtU  on  \VecInc?da>'  j  and  pcof'lt'  afti  so 
hi  J  w  to  btUtvt-  thai  wliich  makts  agmiiti  ibdir  own 
predomiDiint  psj^sions,|  that  m^ch^^iiC^  ^<<'ill  combii>e 
M  Tsife  the  pnce  for  one  ^vcek^  though  Jbei  dustroy 
the  rtmntiftfctur?  for  ever*  Tbc  hi  at  rein^Kiy  sfcips 
tg  Ihj  ihe  rrribalile  suppiy  of  lubtsurtrs  fruin  other 
trudes.  Jeffrey  prcinosf^s  each  mechanic  rball  Idarn 
so  I  El  p  iiXh^T  irLtlf  uidn  hie  own,  and  fu  Imvc?  rw^o 
s^Lrrngs  ttj  hi*  Ltow,  He  ^oi^b  ngtcoiisi^ier  \\\i:  kngillt 
ttf  Q'  dou ble  n ppr^n t i cc ship .  To  pi ake  a  m an  a  |?ood 
wc-aVcr  and  a  gut>d  tailor  vvoidd  re^juirta  as  mtich 
rime  as  the  patriarch  served  for  hia  two  wives. 
Eatfi  mt'chfiTiic  h^*,  indeed,  o  ftccoiid  trade,  fn\  ha 
t m  [hg  and  do  rusiic  work.  Perhaps  the  be«t  rca- 
pi>i!  ftr  Ijfcakiiigup  iht  aa^ociaiion  will  prove  lo  be 
iH-.'  cspcudiliire  of  !he  money  whidi  they  have  liccn 
tiNijpk  (.nouijh  fo  lev V  from  (he  industrious  for  the 
yLi[.tport  of  ilic  idle.  How  much  provision  for  the 
fink  and  the  ajy[td,  the  widow  and  the  orphan »  has 
|j ocn  ^irpeiided  in  ibu  ai tempt  to  get  wnjiics  which 
\\\i-  manufociurer  cannot  «nbrd  them,  at  any  pi^^e- 
FJl^lc  chftn^«  of  selling  his  comniodiir  \ 

'*  I  bad  a  bad  fall  last  nighi  roining  borne.  There 
wE?ro  unliaisbcj  huuics  at  ihe  cjist  ^nd  of  Alholl 
Crts^nt,  and  as  !  was  on  fooiT  1  cr.osfcd  the  atreet 
NT  ovoid  the  materials  which  lay  about  :  but,  di;- 
mv«l  by  the  moondighi^  1  slipped  atikle-devp  into 
a  SCO  of  mud  (hont^^t  earth  onq  waliTi  thank  God|) 
and  fell  on  my  bands.,  Never  wna?  there  #uch  a 
reprcstntfttne  of  WaU  in  E*y ramus 
turd  Thi  ih^r- 1  w  na  ab  ?r>lii  i  ely  ro  ugh  -  ^^^  \^l  H 
coat,  Luckilv  Lady  S.  had  retired  i5  «?*^«im^  ihi 
when  I  came  no  mtj  sol  enjo^'cd  my  ifnwiul  miA  uf 
tub  of  water  without  eithtr  rem  on-  *"*>«'"«'<*'  ' 
ptrat^ce  or  eondoloncc-s.  Cockburti^s  ^^  ^k^^a. 
hospitahty  will  get  the  benefit  and  cufrimK  lii  tSl 
r<«[VOwn  of  my  down-fnllt  find  >'tft  has 
no  claim  to  ir.  In  futun?,  though,  1  mu^i  lake  my 
ciach  at  night^-n  control  on  onoU  fr£M:dom,  but  tt 
must  be  submit  led  to*  J  found  a  letter  froiTi  Cadell, 
E:ivin!;  a  ch coring  account  of  things  in  London. 
Their  correspondeni  is  goiting  into  his  strength,  - 
TiiT^dsya  ago  I  svould  have  b(?en  contented  to  bt^y 
x\i\%  ctyn&nlit^  a^  Judy  eays^*  dcarei  llian  by  a  doien 
fills  in  tht?  mud. 

"  Mrs.  Contt^  with  the  Duke  of  St,  A i bans  and 
Lady  Charlotte  BciiLicleric,  calJcdto  t-ikc  Uavcof  us. 
WhfjTi  at  AbboE*ford,  bisauii  ihrovtibui  coldfy.  She 
mnde  mc,  lfjfilieviij,  h^j  conHdatU  itt  sEnccriiy.  She 
had  refused  hmi  twice,  and  di>cidediy :  he  was  mere* 
ly  on  the^  footing  of  friendships  I  ui-ged  it  was 
nkin  to  love.  She  allowLni  »he  misht  marry  the 
Duke,  only  she  hod  at  pf««£Ot  not  the  leot^t  intention 
1 1 i a t  w ay.  Is  I hi«  f r an k  a d mia sion  more  f n vourabli? 
for  the  Duke  tlian  an  ab^oltitn  protei^i jiijon  ngain^ 
Hiij  poi-sil'iUty  c.^f  such  a  marrLngc  \  I  thmk  not.  It 
i?  (be  fa&ldon  toattt^ind  Mrs.  Coutfs  parEJ^?,  and  to 
alutsd  her,  I  have  always;  foimd  her  a  kind*  friend 
iy  wtjmnn,  wilhotii  either  atTtCtniion  or  insolence  in 
tne  display  of  her  wealth  :  mo*t  willing  lo  do  good* 
Li'  the  means  be  shown  lo  per.  She  f  nn  by  very  cn- 
r^rtainin^,  1'5l\  as  j?h€  fipcaks  wichcut  «tmpk  of  her 
f tA^tJ  life.  So  much  wealiheftri  bardlv  be  enjoyed 
wtTliout  somcnticnttilion.  llin  wh^it  t|jen7  If  ibd 
Duke  marrii.'s  h^r^  he  ensures  an  tmmenAe  fortune ; 

*^\m  &[lude»  la  nt  I'TitRrr  oid  wriin*-tn.  Iiepcr  of  ■  pat>tiO' 
3i'wiPi»  nniAfiit  lite  Wirikfw  uicnirPfiiiii!*,  M-hoi  nni^i^a  uoriti  m 
^rf|l3iU^*^^  6ut  inborrt  owfn  vfunA  f^petlni^  in  fi^fi^  hv  (hi:-  iMmnfrHi  nf 
<!i^' it-miiuKUaii-  CvirWfl  tot  inpr>«obiiCii^— ^sfA^r^.' tw  k^fitJbm- 
ti^Lfi .  Jf  ?.  ^{%  Lonl  l*3iuiki!ti  htiJ  T4.jk,^3  cdro  la  jitrDiJi}  Judjr  Uhl 
nW  Iter  )>c€ullir',t]fii. 


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449 


UPE  OP  SIR  WALTER  SCOTT. 


if  she  marries  him,  ^e  has  the  first  rank.  If  he 
marries  a  woman  older  than  hynself  by  twenty 
years,  she  marries  a  man  youncer  in  \yu  by  twenty 
degrees.  I  do  not  think  he  will  dilapidate  her  for> 
tune— he  seems  good  and  gentle:  I  do  not  think 
that  she  will  abuse  his  softness— of  disposition,  shall 
I  say,  or  of  head  7  The  disparity  of  ages  concerns 
no  one  but  themselves ;  so  they  have  my  consent 
to  marry,  if  they  can  set  each  other's.  Just  as  this 
is  written,  enter  my  Lord  of  St.  Albans  and  Lady 
Charlotte,  to  beg  I  would  recommend  a  book  of 
sermons  to  Mi's.  Coults.  Much  obliged  for  her  good 
opinion:  recommended  Logan's— one. poet  ehould 
always  speak  for  another.  The  mission,  I  suppose, 
was  a  Httle  displav  on  the  part  of  good  Mrs.  Coutts 
of  authority  over  ner  hi^h  aristocratic  suitor.  I  did 
not  suspect  her  of  turnmg  devotee,  and  retract  my 
consent  as  given  above,  unless  she  remains  'burly, 
brisk,  and  jolly.*  Dined  quiet  with  wife  and  daugh- 
ter    R^':Ti   rrVl!  J     Ki.l  in  in  the  evening  on 

''  I  here  rewaier  my  purpoae  to  practise  economics. 
1  have  litTk  it'mptatioa  to  do  Otherwise.  Abbots- 
ford  39  iitl  That  1  cnn  nii^e  it,  an4  too  large  &r  the 


ed  with  affluence.'  Not  too  much  of  that  neidier. 
my  dear  petitioners,  thottgh  I  may  thank  myself 
that  your  ideas  are  not  correct. 

"Dined  at  Melville  Castle,  whither  I  went  through 
a  snow-storm.   I  wai  glad  to  find  myself  once  more 


in  a  place  -connected  with  manv  happy  days.  Met 
Sir  K.  Dundas  and  my  old  friend  George,  noif  Lord 
Abercromby,  with  his  lady  and  a  bcautifiu  girl  his 


pmptjrty  I  sa  I  r<*olve— 

Nq  mLjrfi  buildifig? 
'*  No  purchfls<?«  oflaad,  i 


J  rlil  rimes  are  quite  safe  : 
*No  bujing  book*  or  txpL  naive  trifles-^I  mean  to 

any  extent  y  litid 
"  CleJ^ring  ofF  encUiiibrantJis,  with  the  return*  of 

ttUB  yefkf^  labour ; 
'Which  reaul  at  ions,  wiih  li.  alth  and  my  habits  of  in- 
daftJr>\  ^'ill  makye  mc  '  >;eep  in  spite  of  thunder.' 
**  After  nil,  it  i^hard  thrii  rhe  vagabond  stock- job- 
bing Jews  should,  for  thLU-  own  purposes,  make 
such  ff  shake  of  credit  as  now  exists  in  London, 
and  mi^nace  (he  rr^iit  of  n\tm  trading  on  siu'e  fimds 
like  Hurel  and  Rohin^gn     It  is  just  like  a  set  of 
pickpockets,  who  rmae  a  mob,  in  which  honest  folks 
are  knocked  down  and  plundered,  that  they  may 
pillage  safely  in  the  midst  of  the  confusion  they  have 
eiicited. 

•*  November  26.— The  Court  met  late,  and  sat  till 
otu ;  detained  from  that  hour  till  four  o'clock,  being 
engaged  in  the  perplexed  affairs  of  Mr.  James  Stew- 
art of  Brugh.    This  young  geatleman  is  hen*  to  a 
property  of  oetter  than  i&LOOO  a^year  in  Orkney.  His 
mother  married  very  young,  and  was  wife,  mother, 
and  widow,  in  the  course  of  the  first  year.    Being 
unfortunately  under  the  direction  of  a  rirr'.—-  --nit, 
she  was  unlucky  enough  to  embaf-^iiia  Lur  aiijirs. 
I  was  asked  to  accept  the  fcituatii  t^  of  rmt^  of  ibe 
son's  curators ;  and  trust  to  clear  a  tit  his  iilTTiirs  , 
and  hera^at  least  1  will  not  fail  fr  j^  waul  i^f  npr^li- 
cation.    I  have  len  t  her  jB880  on  a  «    ^  nd(  fi  nd  i  lit  re- 
foie  doubtful)  security  over  her  he  ->  ^  i  N-n-ing-f 
ton,  bought  for  Xl(K'  i,  and  ou  \wi.cn  ! 
I  ivM  obliged    ^600  is  already  secured.    I  have  no  ! 
togivo  thi«  up    connexion  with  the  family  exceot  that 
in«<)naMueoce    of  compassion,  and  may  not  be  re- ' 

of    my   ovra    wardedevenbythankswhentheyoung 
mi«fortuo«.         ^^^   jj^gj  ^  g^g^    I   j,,^.g  i^jjQ^j^ 

my  father  often  so  treated  by  those 
whom  he  had  laboured  to  aerve.  But  if  we  do  not 
nm  some  hazard  in  our  attempta  to  do  good,  ^vhere 
is  the.merit  of  them?— So  I  will  bring  through  my 
Orkney  laird  if  1  can.  Dined  at  home  quiet  wirn 
Lady  S.  and  Anne. 

"  yorember  2S.— People  make  me  the  oddest  re- 
quests.   It  is  not  unusual  for  an  Oxonian  or  Cantab,  | 
who  has  outrun  his  allowance,  and  of  whom  I ! 
know  nothing,  to  apply  to  me  for  the  loan  of  £20,  | 
JC50,  or  J^IOO.    A  captain  of  the  Danish  naval  ser- ! 
vice  writes  to  me,  that  being  in  distress  for  a  sum  t 
of  money  by  which  he  might  transport  himself  to  | 
Columbia  to  offer  his  services  in  assisting  to  free  i 
that  province,  he  had  dreamed  I  generously  made  | 
him  a  present  of  iu    I  can  tell  him  his  dream  by  i 
contraries.    I  begin  to  find,  like  Joseph  Surface, 
that  too  good  a  character  is  inconvenienL    I  don't 
know  what  I  have  done  to  gain  so  much  credit  for  { 
generosity,  but  I  sospect  I  owe  it  to  being  supposed, 
as  Poif  says,  one  of  *  those  whom  Heaven  has  bless- : 


daughter.  He  is  what  he  always  was,  the  best- 
humoured  man  living ;  and  our  meetings,  now  more 
rare  than  formerlv,  are  seasoned  with  many  a  recoU 
lecrion  of  old  frolics  and  old  friends— I  am  enter- 
tained  to  see  him  just  the  same  he  has  aTways  been, 
never  yieldic^  up  bis  own  opinion  in  fact,  and  yet 
in  woitis  acquiescing  in  all  that  could  be  said  against 
it.  George  was  always  like  a  willow— he  never 
offered  resistance  to  the  breath  of  argument,  but 
never  moved  firom  his  rooted  opinion,  blow  as  it 
listed.— Exaggeration  might  make  these  peculian- 
ties  highly  dramatic  :  Conceive  a  man  who  always 
seems  to  be  acquiescing  in  your  sentiments,  yet 
never  changes  his  own,  and  this  with  a  sort  of  6on- 
hwnmie  which  shows  there  is  not  a  particle  of  de- 
ceit intended.  He  is  only  desiroba  to  spare  you  the 
trouble  of  contradiction.    " 

•'  November  29.— Dined  at  Justice-Clerk's— the 
President — Captain  Smullett  of  BonhiU, — our  new 
Commander-in-Chief,  Hon.  Sir  Robert  O'Calla- 
ghan,  brother  to  Earl  of  Liemorc,  a  fine  soldierlike 
man,  with  orders  and  badges;— also  his  yoMnpiX 
brother,  aU  agreeable  man,  whom  I  met  at  Lowtner 
Castte  this  season.  He  composes  his  own  music 
and  sings  his  own  poetry— has. much  humour,  en- 
hanced by  a  strong  touch  of  national  dialect,  which 
is  always  a  rich  sauce  to  an  Irishman's  good  things. 
Dandyish,  but  not  offensively ;  and  seems  to  have 
a  warm  feeling  for  the  credit  of  his  country— rather 
Inconsistent  with  the  trifling  and  selfish  quietude  of 
a  mere  ntam  of  society. 

'^  Notcrtibtr  30.— I  api  come  to  the  time' when 
'  those  that  look  out  of  the  windows  shall  be  dark- 
ened.' I  must  now  wear  spectacles  constantly  in 
reading  and  writing,  though  till  this  winter  I  have 
made  a  shift  by  using  only  their  occasional  assist- 
ance. Althouga  my  health  cannot  be  better.  I  feel 
my  lameness  becomes  sometimes  painfiil,  ana  often 
inconvenient.  Walking  on  the  pavemen  t  or  cause- 
way gives  me  trouble,  and  I  am  glad  when  I  have 
accomplished  my  return  on  foot  from  the  Parlia- 
ment House  to  Castle  Street,  though  I  can  (taking 
a  competent  time,  as  old  BraxU  said  on  another 
occakion)  walk  five  or  six  miles  in  the  country  with 
ploaspre.  Well,  such  things  must  oome,  and  be 
received  with  cheerful  submission.  My  early  lame- 
ness considered,  it  was  im^posaible  for  a  man  to  have 
been  stronger  or  more  active  than  I  have  been,  and 
that  for  twenty  or  thirty  vears.  Seams  will  slit,  and 
elbows  will  out,  quoth  tlic  tailor;  and  as  X  was  fif- 
ty-four 15th  August  last,  my  mental  vestments  are 
none  of  the  ne^vest.  Then  Walter,  Charles,  and 
Lockhart  are  asacuve  and  handsome  young  fellows 
as  you  can  see:  and  while  they  enjoy  sueogth  and 
activity  I  (*an  hardly  be  said  to  want  it.  I  have 
perhaps  all  myUfe  set  an  undue  value  on  these  gifts. 
Yet  it  does  appear  to  me  that  high  and  ifida>endent 
feelings  are  naturally,  though  not  uniformly  or  in- 
separaMyt  connected  with  bodily  advantagea. 
Strongmen  are  U8uall>:  good -humoured,  and  active 
men  often  display  the  same  elasticity  of  minds  as  of 
body.  These  supcrk>ritie8,  indeed,  are  often  misused. 
But,  even  for  these  thing?,  God  shall  call  us  to 
judgment. 

^  Some  months  skioe,  1  joined  with  other  literary 
folks  in  subscribing  a  petition  for  a  pension  to  Mrs. 
Grant  of  Laggan,  which  we  thought  was  a  tribute 
merited  by  her  as  an  authoress}  and,  in  mv  opin- 
ion, mnch  more  by  the  firmness  and  elaa'tieity  of 
mind  with  which  the  had  borne  a  succession  of 
great  domestic  calamities.  Unhappily  there  was 
only  about  jBioo  open  oh  the  pension  list,  atid  this 
the  mimsttn  assigned  in  equal  portions  to  Mrs. 
G-— — -  iMd  ivdistieaMd  lady,  0ancl;<iMgfater  of  a 
forfeited  Scottish  nobleman.    M^V^tt---,  proud 


Digitized  by  ^ 


,    — „ 


UFE  OF  SIR  WALTER  SOOTT. 


«Af  EUghland-womaD,  vain  as  a  poetess,  and  ab- 
surd as  a  blue-8U>cking|  has  taken  this  partition  in 
malam  varUnu  and  wntten  to  Lord  Melville  about 
her  merits,  ana  (hat  her  friends  do  not  consider  her 
claims  as  beios  fairly  canvaased^  with  something 
like  A  demand  that  her  petition  be  submitted  to  the 
King.  This  is  not  the  way  to  make  her  placJc  a 
hawbety  and  Lord  M<.  a  little  miffed  in  turn,  sends 
the  whole  corresponaence  to  me  to  know  whether 

Mrs.  G will  accept  the  jB60  or  not.    Now, 

hating  to  deal  with  ladies  when  they  are  in  an  un- 
reasonable humour,  I  have  got  the  good-humoured 
Man  of  Feeling  to  find  out  the  lady  s  mmd,  and  I 
take  on  myselt  the  task  of  making  her  peace  with 
Lord  M.  There  is  no  sreat  doubt  now  it  will  end, 
for  your  scorniful  dog  will  always  etx  your  dirty  pud- 
dmg.  After  all,  the  poor  lady  is  greatly  to  be  pitied ; 
—her  sole  remaining  daughter  deep  and  far  gone  m 
a  decline.  ,  ,  ,   . 

**  Dined  with  my  cousin,  Robert  Rutherford,  being 
the  first  invitation  since  my  uncle's  death,  and  our 
•cousin  Lieutenant-Colonel  Russell*  of  AshestieL 
with  his  sister  Anne— the  former  newly  returned 
from  India— a  fine  gallant  fellow,  and  distinguished 
as  a  cavalry  officer.  He  came  over  land  from  In- 
dia, and  has  observed  a  good  deal.  Knight  Maris- 
chal  not  well,  so  unable  to  attend  the  convocation 
43ifkith  and  kin. 

"  December  l»t— Colonel  Russell  told  me  that  the 
Earopean  Government  had  discovered  an  ingenious 
mode  of  diminishing  the  number  of  burmn^  of 
widows.  It  seems  the  Shaster  positively  enjoins 
that  dt&e  pile  shall  be  so  constructed  that,  if  the  vic- 
tim should  repent  even  at  the  moment  when  it  is 
set  on  fire,  she  mav  still  have  the  means  of  saving 
lierselfl  The  Brahmins  soon  found  it  was  neces- 
sary to  assist  the  resolution  of  the  sufferers,  by 
ine«na  of  a  little  pit  into  which  they  contrive  to  let 
the  poor  widow  sink,  so  as  to  prevent  her  reaping 
any  oenefit  from  a  late  repentance.  But  the  Gov- 
ernment has  brought  them  back  to  the  regard  of 
this  law,  and  only  permit  the  burning  to  ffp  on 
when  the  pile  is  constructed  with  full  opportunity  of 
a  loeuB  peniteniUB,  Yet  the  widow  is  so  degraded 
if  she  dare  to  survive,  that  the  number  of  bumiiupB 
•is  still  great.  The  quantity  of  female  children  de- 
stroyed by  the  Raiapout  tribes,  Colonel  R.  describes 
as  very  great  indeed.  They  are  stranf^led  by  the 
mother.  The  principle  is  the  aristocratic  pride  of 
these  high  ckstes,  who  breed  up  no  more  daughters 
than  they  can  reasonably  hocKs  to  find  matches  for 
in  their  own  rank.  Singular  now  artificial  systems 
of  feeling  can  be  made  to  overcome  that  love  of  off- 
spring which  seems  instinctive  in  the  females,  not 
•of  the  human  race  only,  but  of  the  lower  animals. 
This  is  the  reverse  of  our  system  of  increasing  game 
by  shooting  the  old  cock  buds.  It  is  a  system 
would  aid  Malthus  rarely. 

"  I  think  this  journal  will  suit  me  well ;  if  I  can 
wax  myself  into  an  idea  that  it  is  purely  voluntary, 
it  may  go  on— nvtfa  die$  tine  Hned.  But  never  a 
being  hated  task- work  as  I  hate  it,  from  my  infiancy 
■upwards,  and  yet  I  have  done  a  great  deal  in  my 
day.  It  is  not  that  I  am  idle  in  my  nature  neither. 
But  propose  tame  to  do  one  thing,  and  it  is  incon- 
<»ivaDle  the  desire  I  have  to  do  something  else— not 
-that  it  is  more  easy  or  more  pleasant,  but  just  be- 
cause it  is  escaping  from  an  unposed  task.  I  can- 
not trace  this  love  of  contradiction  to  any  distinct 
source,  but  it  has  haunted  me  all  my  life.  1  could 
almost, suppose  it  was  mechanical,  and  that  the 
imposition  of  a  piece  of  dutv-labour  operated  on  me 
tke  the  mace  of  a  bad  bilnard-player.  whicbgives 
an  impulse  to  the  ball  indeed,  but  sends  it  off  at  a 
tangent  different  from  the  course  designed.  Now, 
if  I  ezpcHod  such  eccentric  movements  en  this  jour- 
nal, it  wDl  be  turning  a  wretched  propensity  to  some 
tolerable  account  If  I  had  thu6  employed  the 
hours  and  half  hours  which  I  have  whiled  away  in 
4mtting  off,  something  that  must  needs  be  done  at 
lasL  my  conscience !  I  should  have  had  a  journal 
with  a  witness.     Sophia  and  Lockhart  came  to 

•  NowS^hOenenJ  Sir  Jamet  {LuMeU,  K.  0.  & 


Edinburgh  to-day  and  dined  with  us.  meeting  Hec- 
tor Macdonald  Buchanan,  his  Lady,  and  Missie, 
James  Skene  and  his  Lady,  Lockhdrt's  friend  Cay, 
&c.  They  are  lucky  to  be  able  to  assemble  so  many 
real  friends,  whose  good  wishes  I  am  sure  will  fol- 
low then\  in  their  new  undertaking. 

"  December  2.— Rather  a  blank  day  for  the  Gur- 
nal.  Sophia  dined  with  ns  alone,  Lockhart  being 
gone  to  the  west  to  bid  farewell  to  his  father  and 
brothere.  Evening  spent  in  talking  with  Sophia  on 
their  future  prospects.  God  bless  her,  poor  girl, 
she  never  gave  me  a  moment's  reason  to  complain 
of  her.  But,  O  foy  Grod,  that  poor  delicate  child,  so 
clever,  so  animated,  yet  holding  by  this  earth  with 
so  fearfully  slight  a  tenure.  Never  out  of  his  mo- 
ther's though tl^  almost  never  out  of  his  father's 
arms  when  he  has  a  single  moment  to  give  to  any 
thing.    DeuM  protidebit. 

"!lri;;'  '  T  S.  called  !flst  meht  to  esccusc 
luTti^i^llfi'ocEk  Uitiing  with  Loekhaft's  friend  b  to-day. 
1  really  ft^ar  he  is  ticnf  aa  artual  stnud-etUU  He 
hA2»  bc^ri  C'-itreiiiely  improvidL'n^  When  I  ftrat 
knbw  him  he  had  an  excellent  esTate,  and  now  he 
ifi  deprivi^f  I  fear,  of  the  whole  r^vcreion  of  the 
price,  and  thi»  from  no  viiie  or  t'Jttmrue,  eiocpt  a 
wastfjful  mode  of  Uupni^  pictur^H  and  oEher  costly 
trifles  at  hi^h  priCf?S|  and  adiirrg  them  again  for 
noihingi  btsidce  eittT,*iVftfiaiit  housekeeping  and  pro 
fuse  hospnaliiy.  Ah  excellent  diipo^^ition,  with  a 
conpidcrabk  fund  tjfdcgit] red  knowledfrts  would  have 
re;uk'rcKi  him  an  a^n^tiable  companion,  had  he  not 
nftectt'd  ^in^ilaritVi  and  ri^ndered  himatlf  aeoord* 
ingly  sinj^uUrlf  a  nee  led.  He  wai^  very  near  bein^ 
a  poet,  but  a  niieis  m  as  ifsaod  as  a  [iiiW^  1  know  him 
Urs^i,  mtinf  years  a^o^  when  he  wa&  dcs^iroue  of  mf 
1  ;:  ;intr.:  (,  bt]i  hf.  was  too  iJoeiic*!  for  me,  or  I 
was  not  poetical  enough  for  him,  so  that  we  con- 
tinued only  ordinary  aoquamtaace,  with  good-will 
on  either  side,  which  T.  S.  really  deserves,  as  a 
more  friendly,  generous  creature  never  livedo  Lock- 
hart hopes  to  get  something  done  for  him,  being 
sincerely  attached  to  him,  but  says  he  has  no  hopes 
till  he  is  utterly  ruined.  That  pomt  I  fear  is  not  far 
distant,  but  what  Lockhart  can  do  for  him  Uun  I 
cannot  guess.  His  last  effort  failed,  owing  to  a  cu- 
rious reason.  T.  S.  had  made  some  translatioiis, 
which  he  does  extremely  well,  for  give  him  ideas, 
and  he  never  wants  choice  of  good  words,  and  Lock- 
hart had  got  Constable  to  oner  some  sort  of  terms 
for  them.  T.  S.  has  always,  though  possessing  a 
beautiful  power  of  handwriting,  had  some  whitai  or 
other  about  imitating  that  of  some  other  person,  and 
has  written  for  months  m  the  imitation  of  one  or 
other  of  his  friends.  At  present  he  has  renounced 
this  amusement,  and  chooses  to  write  with  a  brush 
upon  large  cartridge  paper,  somewhat  in  the  Chi- 
nese fashion— so  when  his  work,  whjch  was  only 
to  {extend  to  one  or  two  volumes,  arrived  on  the 
shoulders  of  two  porters,  in  immense  bales,  our  ioUy 
bibliopole  backed  out  of  the  treaty,  and  woul(f  have 
nothing  more  to  do  with  T.  S.  He  is  a  creature 
that  is,  or  would  be  thought,  of  imagination  all  com- 
pact, and  is  influenced  by  strange  whims.  But  he 
18  a  kind,  harmless,  friendly  soul,  and  I  hu  has 
been  cruelly  plundered  of  money,  which  he  now 
wants  sadly. 

"Dined  with  Lockhart's  friends,  about  fifty  in 
number,  who  gave  him  a  parting  entertainment. 
John  Hope,  Solicitor- General,  in  the  chair,  and  Ro- 
bert Dundas,  croupier.  The  company  most  highlv 
respectable,  and  any  man  might  be  proud  of  such 
an  mdication  of  the  mterest  they  take  m  hisprom-esa 
in  life.  Tory  principles  rather  too  violently  upheld 
by  some  speakers.  I  came  home  about  ten ;  the 
party  sat  late. 

'*  December  6^.— This  rooming  Lockhart  and  So- 

fhia  left  us  early,  and  withont  leave-takmg:  when 
rose  at  eight  o'clock  they  were  gone.  This  was 
very  right  I  hate  red  eyes  and  blowing  of  noses. 
Agere  et  paii  Romanum  est.  Of  all  schools  com- 
mend me  to  the  Stoics.  We  cannot  indeed  over* 
come  our  affections,  nor  otight  we  if  we  could,  bat 
we  may  reprets  them  within  due  bounds,  and  avoid 


eoaxing  them  to  mikc  fools  of  those  who  ebnuld  be 
their  masters.  1  have  lost  somt'  of  iUt;  ctjmtoTi^  tu 
^hich  I  chi^?t]  y  iooked  for  enj  o  y  m  en  t .  Wellf  1  m  u  at 
make  the  more  of  mch  o»  rLrnuin—God  W^  them* 
And  80  '1  will  unto  my  holy  work  ngum '•  ^vmyh 
at  present  la  ili<?  description  of  that  worshuiixUl  m- 
umvirate,  DaiHof*,  RolHiSTJieiTtf^  and  Marat. 

"1  cannot  conctive  what  pn^ncsatja  iiie,  {jver  c-vpry 

Sjrson  besides,  to  mislay  papers.  1  rootfivad  a  letter 
aturday  ai  ^'*^n,  in*-ltJBins  a  bill  for  £750  j  no  dm/ 
ntUs.  Wellt  I  read  ii,  and  note  tbecontenia;  and 
this  day,  at  if  it  bad  bfm  a  wind  bill  in  the  Jiteral 
sense  of  tho  worde.  1  aearch  «v«ry  where,  (ind  lose 
three  hours  of  my  nif»rnin^^— turn  over  all  my  con- 
fusion in  th^^  vvtsuim  dt  sk— bf^Jik  open  one  m  two 
letters,  lest  1  s^lniuld  hnvc  inclosed  the  Hwcct  and 
eanly  convyrtitdt!  docuineoi  in  them— send  for  a 
joiner,  and  diBoriznniKe  my  scTutoirc,  Icat  U  should 
have  fallen  atid©  by  mistake.  I  5nd  it  at  U^t— the 
place  wherei  is  of  httle  confieqaence;  but  thii^  tnck 
must  be  amended- 

"Dined  nt  the  Royal  Society  CJubt  whefe,  sa 
usual,  was  a  pleasant  meeting— from  twenty  to 
twenty-five*  It  ja  a  very  poud  iiisutmion;  we  pay 
two  guineas  only  for  ai*  dinncrei  m  tlie  yeatt  presenl 
or  absent.  Bmv  at  five,  o:  rnihct  iiaJf-past  five,  at 
the  Koyal  Hotel,  where  we  havi>  an  sxcdEent  din- 
ner, with  Boups,  fisht  &c,,  and  all  in  good  order; 
port  and  sherry  till  half-jpaet  se^cih  then  canee,  and 
wc^go  to  the  Society.  This  preface  of  a  good  diii- 
Dor,  to  bo  paid  for  wlu^thfir  you  partake  or  notj 
brings  out  many  a  p  bile  sop  her  who  mifjht  not  other* 

'     have  attended.    Harry  Macktn'iie.  now  m  his 


LIFE  pP  SIR  WALTER  SCOTT. 

cr  lie  a  writer*     Good-nstiirai  lud,  too,  wImh 


eighty-see(9iid  or  third  year,  rend  pflrt  of  an  Essay 
on  Dreaais.  Supped  at  Dr.  Russell's  iisuaL  part y^ 
which  shall  ei^rvi^  for  one  while. 

**  DeovmhtT  GtK.—A  niQ  thing  ihie  literattirf,  or 
love  of  fame  or  noiofjety  which  accompkniM  it. 
Here  is  Mr,  H*^nry  MackeniiH  on  thr  very  brink  of 
human  dit Sill unon,  as  a^[rtively  ani^iouB  about  it  aa 
if  the  curtain  musi  not  soon  be  clo&ed  on  that  and 
every  thmg  elae^t  Ht-  calle  me  his  literary  conftjs- 
sor;  and  1  am  nurc  1  am  glad  to  return  the  khid- 
nesses  which  he  showed  me  long  since  in  George 
Square.  No  man  is  less  known  from  hi?  writings ; 
you  would  suppose  a  retired,  modesty  snmewhat  af- 
MCted  msT),  with  a  white  handkerchieff  and  a  sigh 
ready  for  *'V4:'ry  sen timetit.  No  such  thing;  H.  M. 
is  Alert  as  a  con  true  ting  tailor's  needle  io  every  sort 
rf  business— a  politician  and  a  ?porti?man— shoots 
and  fishes  in  a  sort  even  to  thi?  da v— and  is  ihe  life 
ef  eompany  with  anfe^^otoe  and  fun.  Sometimes 
kisdfiughtt;r  tell  a  mc  be  is  in  low  epirila  at  hnme,' 
Init  really  1  never  aih^  any  ihint^  of  it  in  aoctety. 

"Trtiere  is  a  mmxirn  almost  univer*tal  in  Scotlandi, 
which  I  sbmild  like  miich  tfj  see  com  rolled.    Every 
youth,  of  every  tetnptr  and  almost  every  descrip- 
'  uon  of  chart) CI er,  is  acnt  either  to  ttndy  for  the  bttr, 
or  to  §  wrilefs  offiee  as  ar*  op  prentice.    The  Scot- 
tiah  seem  to  coneeirc  ThcnMs  the  most  powerful  of 
sOddesseH,    l?t  a  I  mi  *mpid,  the  law  will  sharpen 
himt  is  he  mercurial,  the  law  will  make  him  sedate  j 
has  ne  an  estate,  he  msiy  get  a  shrrilTdonif  is  he 
poor,  theriehtffltlaftyMrshavcimcrgctlfrotnpovertyi 
IB  he  a  Tory,  he  may  become  a  depoie-advocate  j  is 
he  a  Whiji,  he  may  vfuh  far  btjinr  hope  expect  to 
become,  ht  refiutntjon  at  least,  that  rising  eounsel 
Mr. ^,  when  irt  faet  he  oT*ly  rises  at  tavern  din- 
ners.   Upon  ftonie  such  wild  viewt,  adirot'fttcjB  and 
writers  multiply  till  there  is  no  Ufe  fot-  them*  and 
men  give  up  the  chtjsc,  bopetessand  cqfhntiatid,  and 
go  into  the  army  at  five-anc!-!  went v,  instead  Of 
^ghteen^  with  a  turn  for  expense,  pcrbaps— almost 
oertainly  for  profliffacyt  and  wiib  a  nearl  embittered 
against  the  Uiviiip  parents  or  friends  wJhi  compelled 
them  to  lope  six  or  seveti  years  in  duiiinw  the  rails 
of  the  SLjiir  with  thnr  hl^ck  ffowns,  or  flcnhbhn« 
nonsense  for  twopence  a  im^e  all  day,  snd  laymg 
gut  t wise  their  earninps  at  nii^ht  in  whisky-punch. 
Here  i*T.  L.  now*     Four  or  five  jfc^r*  ^iisoi,  from 
certain  iTidH-8tions>  1  assured  hii  friends  he  wouJd 

•  ITInff  KJVAitrW  irr,     Art  m  .  Snfnn  7. 

tMr.Mv^iomti  Utlb«n  OHWilUnt  Sir  WoUer  abaol  eet- 
^cttBg  HiiTfrA  ;itTc&De  poetf/. 


Bacchus  33  out  of  the  queeuon ;  but  at  o!ber  iim« 
m  nui,macious,  that  it  was  wi?hi?d  he  eoolrf  only  Iw 
properly  placed  where  tishlinc  wag  to  be  a  pwt  of 
his  duty,  rc^uloied  by  tirrie  and  place,  and  paid  for 
nccordinKly*  Well,  time  and  ms  true  lion  have  been 
thrown  swey,  and  now;  after  fightjof?  two  rogular 
boiing-mstchea  and  a  duel  with  pistols  m  the 
course  of  one  week,  he  tells  them  ruundly  ^e  in^  be 
tio  writer*  which  commorv  sense  might  bav^  told 
them  before.  He  haa  nov?  perhaps  uL-qwired  bawfa 
[jf  m  sub  ordination,  unfitting  bim  for  the  army, 
w^hert'  he  mi^ht  have  been  tamed  at  an  earher  p^ 
riod.  He  ia  too  old  for  the  navv,  and  «ohe  mtist  §o 
to  India  t  a  gu  in  pa-pig  on  board  a  Chinaman^  vvith 
what  hope  or  vitw  it  la  melancholy  to  eucsa  Hjj 
elder  brother  did  sU  man  could  to  gtn  his  fnenda  to 
consent  to  his  poitij^  into  ihearmym  ntne.  The 
lad  has  good*  humour,  courage,  aod  most  gentle^ 
man-like  fecling?i,  but  he  is  incorably  d^-r^tpatedj 
fear ;  eo  coew  to  die  tn  a  foreign  land*  Thank  <iod| 
i  let  Wauer  lakehia  own  way;  and  I  trust  he  W» 
be  a  useful,  honoured  soldier,  be)ng|  for  bi»  tifoji 
high  in  the  service  i  whereas  at  homehe  wotjid  itofe- 
ablyhsvubecn  a  winc-bibbtnK,  moor-fowl  ehoojinir 
fox-hunting  Fife  Aqu ire— living  at  Locbore  wifboul 
either  aim  or  end— and  %vell  if  he  were  no  worse. 
Dined  at  home  with  Lady  S,  and  Anne.  Wrot^  in 
the  evening*  „  .    .   ^  ,  r 

"  Deccmh^  7*^.— Temd  day-^at  homeof  oo^ra^ 
Wrote  answers  to  one  or  two  letters  which  have 
been  lyrns  on  tny  desk  like  snakes,  baamft  si  roe 
for  my  dilatoriness.  Received  a  let  tat  man  mt^y^ 
Knighton,  nventionini?  (bat  the  King  leqwcedin 
my  propos a  1 1 h a  t  Co  ri s t ab I e  s  M ia*x liany  ibookt  be 
d edica ted  to  h iin .  K nj 0 i n cd,  ho w e ver,  Dpt  to  make 
this  public,  tilithe  droit  of  dedieiiiionaball  be  ap- 
proved. This  letter  tamed  eo  lonp,  I  thotischt  some 
one  had  insinuated  the  proposal  was  infradt^.  I 
donH  think  m.     The  purpose  la  to  bnug  ail  ibe 


statjdard  works,  both  m  sciences  and  the  libera] 
arts,  M'ithin  the  reach  of  the  lower  cUs««a.  and 
enabla  them  thus  to  use  witli  advaniage  the  oduni- 
iion  which  IS  gTTon  them  at  every  hand.  To  make 
boys  learn  to  read,  and  thon  place  lio  good  books 
within  their  roDcb^  is  to  give  mon  an  appoUi*,  ^nd 
Icflve  nothing  in  the  pantry  aave  unwholsome  and 
poisonous  food,  which,  depend  upon  it,  ihey  will  #»t 
rather  than  starve*  Sir  William,  it  eoojus,  baa  bt&k 
in  Germany.  j  , 

*'  Mighty  dark  this  morning  ■  it  is  p4Si  ten.  and  I 
urn  usinf,^  tny  lamp.  The  vast  number  of  bouses 
buikbei^eath  we  to  the  north  certainly  rentJefs^ our 
street  darker  <!unng  the  days  in  vhich  frost  or  haso 
ureyetits  the  sti^oke  from  risinjc.  After  all,  il  tnay 
W  my  older  eyes.  I  remember  two  pars  iiin^  when 
Lord  Hermsnd  began  to  fail  somewhat  in  bis  hfnb», 
he  observed  that  Lord  Sueeoib  CJitne  to  Coiin  »i  a 
more  early  hour  than  usual,  wh^reoa  it  was  he  him- 
eelf  who  took  buffer  time  to  walk  thetistml  distanoB 
betwixt  his  house  and  the  Psjliament  tiquane,  I 
suBpect  oEd  gentlemen  often  moke  the*o  tnisittkew. 

'*  Dined  Qiiict  with  Lsdy  S and  Annis.    Anno 

is  practising  Scots  flongs*  which  1  take  as  a  wmd 
eompliment  to  my  own  taste,  as^  lien  leads  bcT 
chiefly  to  foreign  music*  1  think  the  good  gtrl  Sjfe* 
that  I  want  and  nmat  misi  her  siet^a  pecubar 
talent  in  singinR  the  sirs  of  otir  native  e^>iintjy- 
which,  imperfect  as  my  mtwictl  ear  i^  make^  and 
always  have  made  the  moat  pleasing  rtnpreaMOfi  crn 
me.  And  so  if  sheptjtts  a  ainstraiiit  on  ben»tf  f»r 
mv  soke,  I  ean  only  aoy,  in  n^fjuital,  God  bleaa  her. 
^'  I  have  (tiuch  to  comfort  me  in  the  prea^J  aspect 
of  my  fa  mil  V*  My  eldest  son,  independeftlin  for 
ttiin^  uniteff  to  an  aflk^tionQte  wife— and  of  good 
hopes  in  hv*  profession  ;— my  seeond,  with  a  good 
don!  of  talent,  and  in  the  way,  1  truist*  of  cuUivamig 
it  10  good  purpOBf!.  Anne^  an  ho  neat,  downngfhtr 
good  Scots  lnsfl»  in  whom  1  could  only  wish  to  0<»r- 
reel  a  spirit  of  satire;  and  Lockhort  is  Lockhan,  MO- 
whom  1  can  most  wilhngly  eon  fide  tbo  happmesi 
of  tiie  daughter  who  chose  hirii,  and  whom  n#  had 
chosen.  But  rny  dear  wifet^ih©  P^^^^l  of  ^*^ 
cares  and  succwgf.^ J  ^i^e>gf^^-^l»p|^ 


UFE  OF  SIR  WALTER  SCOTT. 


I  trust  and  pray  she  may  tee  me  out.  Indeed,  if 
this  troublesome  complaint  goes  on— it  bodes  no 
long  existence.  My  brother  was  affected  with  the 
same  weakness,  which,  before  he  was  fifty,  brought 
on  mortal  symptoms.  The  poor  Major  had  been 
rather  a  free  liver.  But  my  father,  the  most  abste- 
mious of  men,  fave  when  the  duties  of  hospitality 
required  him  to  be  very  moderately  free  with  his 
bottle,  and  that  was  very  seldom,  had  the  same 
weakness  of  the  powers  of  retention  which  now 
annoys  me,  and  he,  I  think,  was  not  above  seventy 
when  cut  off.  Square  the  odds,  and  good-night  Su- 
Walter  about  sizty.— I  care  not,  if  I  leave  my  name 
unstained,  and  my  family  properly  settled— So/  ett 
vixute. 

'*  Dtetmber  8.— Talking  of  the  vixisse,  it  may 
not  be  impertinent  to  notice  that  Knox,  a  young 
poet  of  considerable  talent,  died  here  a  week  or  two 
since.  His  father  was  a  respectable  yeoman,  and 
he  himself!  succeeding  to  good  farms  under  the 
Duke  of  Bocdeucby  became  too  soon  his  own  mas- 
ter, and  plunged  mto  dissipation  and  ruin.  His 
talent  then  showed  jtself  in  a  fine  strain  of  pensive 
poetry,  called.  I  think,  'The  Lonely  Hearth,'*  far 
superior  to  that  of  Michael  Bruc&  whose  con- 
mmptiotL  by  the  way,  has  been  the  life  of  his 
verses.  But  poetry,  nay  good  poetry,  is  a  drug  in 
the  present  day.  I  am  a  wretched  patron— I  cannot 
go  about  with  a  subscription-paper,  like  a  pocket- 
pistol,  and  draw  unawares  on  some  honest  country- 
gentleman,  who  bas  as  much  alarm  as  if  I  had 
used  the  phrase  'stand  and  deliver/  and  parts 
vnth  his  money  with  a  grimace,  indicating  some 
suspicion  that  tne  crown-piece  thus  levied jzoes  ulti- 
mately into  the  collector's  own  pocket.  This  I  see 
daily  done ;  and  I  have  seen  such  collectors,  when 
they  have  exhausted  papa  and  mamma,  continue 
their  trade  among  the  misses,  and  coiniire  out  of 
their  pockets  their  little  funds  wfaicl;  should  carry 
them  to  a  play  or  an  assembly.  It  is  well  people 
vinll  go  through  this— it  does  some  good,  I  suppose, 
and  they  have  great  merit  who  can  sacrifice  their 
pride  so  for  as  to  attempt  it  in  this  way.  'For  my 
part  I  am  a  bad  promoter  of  subscriptions ;  but  I 
wished  to  do  what  I  could  for  this  lad,  whose  talent 
I  really  admired ;  and  I  am  not  addicted  to  admire 
heaven-bom  poets,  or  poetry  that  is  reckoned  very 
good  considering.  1  had  him,  Knox,  at  Abbotsford, 
about  ten  years  ago,  but  found  him  unfit  for  that 
sort  of  society.  I  tried  to  help  him,  but  there  were 
temptations  ne  could  never  resist.  He  scrambled 
on  writing  for  the  booksellers  and  magazines,  and 
living  like  the  Otways.  and  Savages,  and  Chatter- 
tons  of  former  days,  though  I  do  not  know  that  he 
w^s  in  extreme  want.  His  connexion  with  me  ter- 
mmaied  m  baggihg  a  subscription,  or  a  guinea,  now 
and  then.  His  last  works  were  spiritual  hymn& 
and  which  he  wrote  very  well.  In  his  own  hne  of 
society  h^  was  said  to  exhibit  infinite  humour;  but 
all  bis  works  are  srave  and  pensive  a  style,  per- 
haps, like  Master  Stephen's  melancholy,  afiected 
for  the  nonce. 

"  Mrs.  G^nt  inthnates  that  she  will  take  her 
pudding— her  pension,  I  mean  (see  30th  November), 
and  is  contrite,  as  Henry  Mackenzie  vouches.  I  am 
glad«the  stout  old  girl  is  not  foreclosed,  faith.  Cab- 
bing a  pension  in  these  times  is  like  hunting  a  pig 
with  a  soap'd  tail,  monstrous  apt  to  slip  through 
your  fingers. 

•*  i?ecc7n6«r  9.— Yesterday  I  read  and  wrote  the 
whole  day  and  evening.  To-day  I  shall  not  be  so 
happy.  Having  Oas-Light  Company  to  attend  at 
twoy- 1  must  be  orief  in  journalizing. 

"  Th^  gay  world  has  been  kept  in  hot  water 
lately  by  the  impudent  publication  of  the  celebrated 
Harriet  Wilson — who,  punk  from  earliest  possibility, 
I  suppose,  has  lived  with  half  the  gay  world  at  hack 
and  manger,  and  now  obliges  such  as  will  not  pay 
hush-money  with  a  history  of  whatever  she  knows 

•  WflUam  Knox  dkd  ISUi  November.  Ho  had  mibUibed 
"  8ao|e  of  UtmI,  ISM  i"  **  4  Visit  to  Dublin,  1894 :"  "  The  Hup 
of  ZIoD,  ISSlTnke. ;  Mdee  tiw  "  Lonely  Heartk'*  Hie  pub- 
liriMT  (Mr.  Andeieoii.  junior,  of  Edinbunh)  remembew  tfant^ 
WaHaroeetikioaOy  wrote  to Kaok, and  loni himmamfi  L.  10 
aiatime. 


401 

or  can  invent  about  them.  She  must  have  been 
assisted  in  the  style,  spelling,  and  diction,  though 
the  attempt  at  wit  is  very  poor,  that  at  pathos  sick- 
ening. But  there  is  some  good  retailing  of  conver- 
sations, in  which  the  style  of  the  speakei^  so  far  as 
known  to  me,  is  exactly  imitated,  and  some  things 
told,  as  said  by  individuals  of  each  other,  which  vml 
sound  unpleasantly  in  each  other's  ears.    I  admire 

the  address  of  Lord  A ,   himself  very  sorrily    . 

handled  fipm  time  to  time.-  Some  one  asked  him 
if  H.  W.  had  been  |)retty  correct  on  the  whole. 
'  Why,  fiiith,'  he  replied,  *  I  believe  so'~  when,  rais- 
ing his  eyes,  he  saw  Q, D ',  whom  the  httle 

jilt  had  treated  atrociously— '  what  concerns  the 
present  company  always  excepted,   you   know.' 

added  Lord  A j  with  infinite  presence  of  mind. 

As  he  was  in  part  cam  with  d.  D.,  no  more  could 
be  said.  After  all,  H.  W.  beats  Con  Philips,  Anne 
Bellamy,  and  all  former  demireps,  out  and  out.  I 
think  I  supped  once  in  her  company,  more  than 
twenty  years  since,  at  Mat  Lewis's  in  Argyle  Street, 
where  the  company,  as  the  Duke  says  to  Lucio, 
chanced  to  be ' '  fairer  than  honest.'*  She  was  far 
from  beautiful,  if  it  be  the  same  thiffonne^  but  a 
amart  saucy  girl,  with  good  eyes  and  dark  hair,  and 
the  manners  of  a  wila  schoolboy.  I  am  glad  thia 
accidental  meeting  has  escaped  her  memory— or, 
perhaps,  is  not  accurately  recorded  in  mine— for, 
being  a  sort  of  French  falconer,  whp  havrk  at  all 
they  see,  I  mi^ht  have  had  a  distinction  which  I  an^ 
far  from  desinng. 

"Dined  at  Sur  John  Hay's— a  laiive  party.  In 
the  morning  a  meeting  of  Oil  Gas  Committee.  Thd 
concern  hangs  a  little ; 

*  It  any  do  weel,  for  ovif  ht  It's  done  yet, 
Bat  oa]r~4t's  no  jusc  begun  yet'r 

*'  December  10. —A  tftortoy  and  roiny  day.  Walk 
it  from  ihu  Ciiurt  ibruugh  ihe  rain,  I  don't  dislfke 
thm,  Fgadf  I  rather  like  it ;  Tor  no  mnn  that  ever 
sti^iped  t]n  Ilea  I  [iff  has  lea  a  dread  thaii  I  of  the 
catch  cotd^  and  I  ftccnt  to  rcrgain,  in  bufleTJng  wi.ih 
iht:  >*'irid»  a  iittlo  of  iht  hi^h  eipmt  with  fthich,  in 
younpcr  dayVi  J  ufttcl  to  enjoy  a  Tarn-o'-Shanfer 
ride  throuj^h  ilarknces,  witidl  a^id  rain,  thi^  bougha 
gmaninR  and  crocking  over  my  heed,  the  good 
fiori^e  frcf?  to  the  road  and  impatient  for  hom«i  and 
feeling  T^!-  ^--nf^i,.*-  ^,o  jHtfe  lis  I  iH^i-f. 

*  The  storm  around  might  roar  and  rustle, 
We  did  na  mind  the  storm  a  wliittle.' 

"jiuavvtirtd  two  Itilitra— one  Oliawct  \j  a  Ediool-  • 
boy,  who  whlue  himsoli"  Captain  of  Gigi^leftwick 
SdiQol  U  moijt  imposing  tilk),  «?nij«-«tioi;  tho 
youngi^Etr  not  to  comimtDCfi  ediJor,<^(  a  niaftazine  lo 
pL  Gantk'd  th«  Yorkibire  Mu^iit  1  fbii^k,  at  sev^n- 
Uxn  years  old— ai^cuudi  to  n  W^i^r  of  the  70th, 
ihowiHg  why  I  cotitiot  ohhge  him  by  ^^eiting  hie 
dbtihurge,  and  cubortine  him  ralUer  to  btiar  wiiii 
th^  wick4:jduf'»e  and  profs niiy  of  iha  H:rvii:t:\  than 
take  the  verjf  prct:ai'ioui  step  uf  de^riion.  This  ia 
ihp  oltl  receipt  of  Diif  and  arte — PatUnce^  cm^rin* 
and  ihu^i  the  earth ;  nnd  1  supjHjsts  ilm  correfipond- 
ents  will  think  1  have  been  t<M)  buay  in  oflcTms  my 
cuunb^til  whijro  I  ^vaa  nskcd  for  fiaseifttance^ 

"  A  third  rogn^^  wrfcltH  to  lull  mc — rothr r  of  tho 
latest,  if  the  matter  was  uf  conaequenee — that  he 
approves  of  the  first  three  volumes  of  the  Heart  of 
Mid-Lothian,  but  totally  condemns  the  fourth.  ^ 
Doubtless  he  tfUnks  his  opinion  worth  the  seven- 
pence  sterling  which  his  letter  costs.  However,  an 
author  should  be  reasonably  well  pleased  when 
three-fourths  of  his  work  are  acceptable  to  Uie 
reader.  The  knave  demands  of  me,  in  a  postscript, 
to  get  back  the  sword  of  Sir  William  Wallace  from 
England,  where  it  was  carried  from  Dumbarton 
Castle.  I  am  not  Master-General  of  the  Ordnance, 
that  I  know.  It  was  wrong,  however,  to  take  away 
that  and  Mons  Meg.  If  I  go  to  London  this  sraing, 
I  wtU  renew  my  negotiation  with  the  Oreat  Dnka 
for  recovery  of  Mons  Meg. 

"  There  is  nothing  more  awful  than  to  attemot  lo 
oast  a  glance  among  the  clouds  and  mi|ta  wT '  *^ 

*  Mfsmre/or  Menurt,  Aet  IT.,  Scene  1^ ,  _ 
t  Buam'sMlMfioitis  fissfriAimaf^l^ 


4d2 


LIFE  OP  SIR  WALTER  SCOTT. 


hide  the  broken  extremity  of  the  celebrated  bridge 
of  Mirza.*  Yet,  when  every  day  brings  us  ni^her 
that  termination,  one  would  almost  think  our  views 
should  become  clearer.  Alas !  it  is  not  so :  there  is 
a  curtain  to  be  withdrawn,  a  veil  to  be  rent,  before 
we  shall  see  thinss  as  they  really  are.  There  are 
few,  I  trust,  who  disbelieve  the  existence  of  a  Ood; 
nay,  I  doubt  if  at  all  times,  and  in  all  moods,  any 
single  individual  ever  adopted  that  hideous  creeJ, 
though  some  have  piofessed  it.  With  the  beUef 
of  a  Deity,  that  of  the  immortahty  of  the  soul  and 
V  of  the  state  of  future  rewards  and  punishments  is 
indissolubly  linked.  Mofe  we  are  not  to  know; 
but  neither  are 'we  prohibited  from  all  attempts, 
however  vain,  to  pierce  the  solemn  sacred  gloom. 
The  expressions  used  in  Scripture  are  doubtless 
metaphorical,  for  penal  fires  and  heavenly  melody 
are  only  applicable  to  beings  endowed  with  cor' 
poreal  senses ;  and  at  least  uU  the  period  of  the  re- 
surrection, the  spirits  of  men,  whether  entering 
into  the  perfection  of  the  just,  or  committed  to  the 
rofrions  of  punishment,  are  not  connected  with 
bodies.    Neither  is  it  to  be  supposed  that  the  glori- 

^  ned  bodies  which  shall  arise  m  the  last  dav  will  be 
capable  of  the  same  gross  indulgences  with  which 
ours  are  now  solaced.  That  the  idea  of  Miihomet's 
paradise  is  inconsistent  with  the  purity  of  our 
heavenly  religion  will  be  readily  granted ;  and  see 
Mnrk  xii.  2o,  Oariiiony  b  dbviati^l^  clioiiiQii  us  the 
least  corporeal  of  all  gratiii cations  of  the  ecn!^^^  nad 
as  the  ivpe  tif  hjvti^  uwiJy,  and  a  ataie  of  peace  si  ad 
ptrfetrt  happmeay.  But  they  have  u  puor  idea  of 
tbe  I' eity,  and  ihc  inwards  which  are  di^stincd  for 
ibtf  just  made  p<^Tfect,  who  can  only  ndopt  the  literd 
sr^DE^  of  on  etf:rna1  concert-'a  nev«jir-*indmf;  birth- 
day ode.  I  rather  suppose  this  should  be  under^tijod 
as  eomoctKiimlsebn  from  thtJ  Hiftheet,  aonie  duty 
10  discharge  with  the  applauai^  of  a  satisfied  con- 
science* That  the  Deity,  wht>  liimaelf  TTTiisibe  sup- 
poBp^  to  feci  love  i^nd  a(recrion  for  the  beings  he 
Las  called  into  exij^tencje^  should  delegate  a  portion 
of  tbose  pow<irs,  I  for  otie  cannot  conceive  alto- 
j^etlier  so  wrong  a  mnJGcture.  We  ^lould  thf^n  And 
reaiity  in  MiUor^" 9  sublime  machinery  of  the  guar- 
dian flnints  or  genii  of  kin^dunis.  Nay.  ^ve  woidd 
approach  to  the  Catholic  idea  of  the  employmifnt  of 
samiSi  thou  fib  without  approaching  the  abaurdity 
of  saint- worship,  which  degraded  their  rdij^ion. 
Thtre  wonld  be,  wc  mtisr  9uppo*i!»  in  these  empl*>v- 
III ^nte^  difiieiiltu^a  to  overaune^  and  *^xcrtionF  to  oe 
«     inadf,  fnr  o!t  which  the  celestial  Iwingb  employed 

'  would  have  certaiu  appropriate  power**  1  cannot 
help  owning  that  a  hf"?  of  active  bentjvolence  is 
more  conaiatom  with  my  irfoas  ih&n  an  eternity  of 
music.  But  it  is  all  speeti'lation,  and  it  is  impossible 
to  guess  what  we  sbnil  do,  anlcss  wt-  could  n^iniir- 
tain  the  equal!/ djHicnlt  previuuflfpiL'&tion,  what  we 
are  to  be.  Bui  there  ta  a  God,  and  a  just  God -a 
judgment  and  a  future  life— and  all  who  own  so 
much  let  them  act  according  to  the  faith  that  is  in 
them.  I  would  not  of  course  limit  the  range  of  my 
genii  to  this  confined  earth.  There  is  the  universe 
with  all  its  endless  extent  of  worlds. 

"  Coinpany  at  home— Sir  Adam  Ferguson  and  his 
Lady :  Colonel  and  Miss  Russell ;  Count  Davidoii; 
and  Mr.  Collyer.  By  the  by.  I  observe  that  all  men 
whose  names  are  obviously  derived  from  some  me- 
chanical trade,  endeavour  to  dis^;ui|e  and  antiquate, 
as  it  were,  their  names,  by  8pelhng%em  after  some 
'quaint  mann^  or  other.  Thus  we  have  Collyer, 
Smythe,  Tailleure :  as  much  as  to  say,  my  ancestor 
was  indeed  a  mechanic,  but  it  was  a  world  of  time 
»  ago.  when  the  word  was  spelled  very  unlike  the 
moaem  usage.— Thep  we  had  young  Whitebank 
and  Will  Allan  the  artist,  a  very  agreeable,  simple- 
mannered,  and  pleasant  roan. 

"  Dtcember  II.— A  touch  of  the  morbus  erudi- 
torunit  to  which  I  am  as  little  subject  as  most  folksi 
and  have  it  less  now  than  when  young.  It  is  a 
toemor  of  the  head,  the  pulsation  of  which  becomes 
painfhlly  sensible— a  disposition  to  causelMs  alarm 
—much  lassitude— and  decay  of  vigour  and  activity 
'  Spectator,  No.  IM. 


of  intellect  The  reins  fioel  weary  and  painful,  and 
the  mind  is  apt  to  receive  and  encourage  gloomv 
apprehensions.  Fighting  with  this  fiend  is  not  al- 
ways, the  best  way  to  conquer  him.  I  have  found 
exercise  and  the  open  air  better  than  reasoning. 
But  such  weather  as  is  now  without  doors  does  not 
encourage  la  petite  ^uerre^  so  we  must  give  hira  bat- 
tle in  form,  by  letting  both  mind  'ana  body  know 
that,  supposing  one  the  House  of  Commons  and 
the  other  the  House  of  Peers,  my  will  is  sovereign 
over  both.  There  is  a  fine  description  of  this  species 
of  mental  weakness  in  the  fine  play  of  Beaumont 
and  Fletcher,  called  the  Lota's  Progress,  where 
the  man,  warned  that  his  death  is  approaching; 
works  himself  into  an  agony  of  fear,  and  calls  for 
assistance,  though  there  is  no  apparent  danger. 
The  apparition  oJtthe  innkeeper's  ghost  in  the  same 
plav,  hovers  between  the  ludicrous  and  the  terrible t 
and  to  me  the  touches  of  the  former  quality  which 
it  contains,  seem  to  augment  the  effect  of  the  Utter 
—they  seem  to  give  reaUty  to  the  supematnral,  as 
being  a  cu'cimistance  with  which  an  inventor  woald 
hardly  have  garnished  his  story. 

*^  Decemper  12.— Ho^  came  to  breakfast  this 
morning,  and  brought  for  his  companion  the  Gala- 
shiels baxd.  David  Thomson,*  as  to  a  meeting  of 
huz  TividcUe  poets.  The  honest  grunter  opines 
with  a  delightful  naivetl  that  Mail's  verses  are  far 
owre  sweet— answered  bv  Thomson  that  Moore's 
ear  or  notes,  I  forget  which,  were  finely  strung. 
*They  are  far  owre  finely  strung,'  rephed  he  of  the 
Forest,  *  for  mine  are  just  right'  It  renunded  me  of 
Queen  Bess,  when  questiomng  Melville  sharply  and 
closely  whether  Mary  was  taller  than  her,  and  ex- 
tracting an  answer  in  the  affirmative,  she  replied, 
*  Then  your  Clueen  is  too  tall,  for  I  am  just  the  pro- 
per height.' 

"  Was  engaged  the  whole  day  with  Sheriff  Court 
processes.  There  is  something  sickening  in  seeing 
poor  devils  drawn  into  great  expenses  about  trifles 
by  interested  attorneys.  But  too  cheap  access  to  liti- 
gation has  its  evils  on  the  other  hand,  for  the  prone- 
ness  of  the  low^r  class  to  gratify  spite  and  re- 
venge in  this  way  would  be  a  dreadful  evil 


they  able  to  endure  the  expense.  Very  few  cases 
come  before  the  Sheriff  Court  of  Selkirkshire  that 
ought  to  come  any  whera  Wretched  wranglings 
about  a  few  pounds,  begun  in  spleen,  and  carried 
on  from  obstinacy,  and  at  lensth,  from  fear  of  the 
conclusion  to  the  banquet  of  ill-humour,  *  D— n— n 
of  expenses.'t  \  try  to  check  it  as  well  as  I  can ; 
'but  so  'twillbe  when  I  am  gone.* 

**  December  12.— Dined  at  hom&  and  spent  the 
evening  in  writing— Anne  and  Ladv  Scott  at  the 
theatre  to  see  Mathews— a  very  clever  man  my 
friend  Mathews  ;  but  it  is  tiresome  to  be  fiinny  for 
a  whole  evening,  so  I  was  content  and  stupid  at 
home.  • 

"  An  odd  optical  delusion  has  amused  me  these 
two  last  nights.  I  have  been  of  late,  for  the  first 
time,  condemned  to  the  constant  use  of  spectacles. 
Now,  when  I  have  laid  them  aside  to  step  into  a 
room  dimly  lighted,  out  of  the  strong  light  which 
I  use  for  writing,  I  have  seen,  or  seemed  to,  see, 
through  the  rims  of  the  same  spectacles  which  I 
have  left  behind  me.  At  first  the  impression  was 
so  hvely  that  I  put  my  hands  to  my  eyes,  believing 
1  had  the  actual  spectacles  on  at  the  nioment  Bat 
what  I  saw  was  only  the  eidolon  or  image  of  said 
nseful  servants.  This  fortifies  some  of  Dr.  Hibbert's 
positfons  about  spectral  appearances. 

^'December  13.— Letter  from  Lady  Stafford— kind 
and  friendly  after  the  wont  of  Banzu-Mohr-ar- 
chat.t  This  is  wrong  spelled  1  know.  Her  coun- 
tenance is  something  for  Sophia,  whose  company 

*  See  ante,  vol.  v.  p.  '226. 

t  BuTiNsns  Addresi  to  the  Uneo  Quid. 

I  Banmnhorar-ChcLt,  i.  e.  the  Great  Ladjr  of  the  Cat  ii  the 
Gaelic  tide  of  the  CounteM-Duchess  of  Suthedaod.  The  Coanty 
of  Sutherland  it«ctf  is  in  that  dialect  CatteUf  and  to  the  Eogliah 
name  ufthe  neicfabourinf  one,  Caithnea*,  we  have  ai^other  tnux 
of  the  earlr  ■ettlemont  of  the  CUm  Chattan ;  nhoms  chieii  bear 
the  comizance  of  a  Wild  gf^^.^^^  ^^  i^OOglC 


IJFE  OF  SIR  WALTER  SCOIT. 


4(3 


shduld  be,  as  ladies  are  said  to  chodse  their  liquor 
kittle  and  |;ood.  To  be  acquainted  with  persons 
of  mere  tonis  a  nuisance  and  a  sorape— to  be  known 
to  persons  of  real  fashion  and  fortune  is  in  London 
a  very  jajeat  advantage.  In  London  second-rate 
fashion  is  like  false  jewels. 

"Went  to  the  yearly  court  of  the  Edinburgh  As- 
surance Company,  to  which  I  am  one  of  those 
g'aceful  and  useless  appendages,  called  Directors 
ztraordinary— an  extraordinary  director  I  should 
prove  had  they  elected  me  an  ordinary  one.  There 
were  there  money ers  ajid  great  oneyers,*  men  of 
metal— counters  and  discounters— sharp,  grim,  pru- 
dential faces— eyes  weak  with  ciphering  by  lamp- 
light-men who  say  to  gold  Be  thou  paper,  and  to 
paper  Be  thou  turned  into  fine  gold.  Many  a  bust- 
ling, sharp- faced,  keen-eyed  writer  too— some  per- 
haps speculating  with  their  clients'  property.  My 
reverend  seigniors  had  expected  a  motion  for  print- 
ing their  contract,  which  I  as  a  piece  of  light  artil- 
lery, was  brought  down  and  got  mto  battery  to  op- 
pose. I  should  certainly  have  done  this  on  the  gen- 
eral ground,  that  while  each  person  could  at  any 
time  obtain  sight  ol  the  contract  at  a  call  on  the 
directors  or  managers,  it  would  be  absurd  to  print 
it  for  the  use  of  the  company— and  that  exposing  it 
to  the  eyes  of  the  world  at  large  was  in  all  respects- 
unnecessary,  and  mu;ht  teach  novel  companies  to 
avail  themselves  of  our  rules  and  calculations— 
if  false,  for  the  purpose  of  exposing  our  errors— if 
correct,  fo^the  purpose  of  improving  their  own 
schemes  on  our  model.  But  my  dotiuence  was  not 
required,  no  one  renewing  the  motion  under  ques- 
tion; so  off  I  came,  my  ears  still  ringing  with  the 
sounds  of  thousands  and  tens  of  thousands,  and 
my  eyes  dazzled  with  the  golden  gleam  oiTercd  by 
BO  manv  capitalists. 

"Walkeq  home  with  the  Sblicitert— decidedly 
the  most  hopeful  young  man  of  his  time ;  high  con- 
nexions, great  talent,  spirited  ambition,  a  ready  elo- 
cution, with  a  good  voice  and  dignified  manners, 
prompt  and  steady  courage  vigilant  and  constant 
assidait^,  popularity  with  the  youn;i;  men,  and  the 
good  opimon  of  the  old,  will,  if  I  mistake  not,  carry 
film  ashigh  as  any  man  who  has  arisen  here  since 
the  days  of  old  JBal  Dundas.t  He  is  hot  though, 
and  rather  hasty :  this  should  be  amended.  They 
who  would  play  at  single-stick  must  bear  with 
pleasare  a  rap  over  the  knuckles.  Dined  quiet)y 
vrith  Lady  Scott  and  Anne. 

**  December  14.— Affairs  very  bad  again  in  the 
money-market  in  London.  It  must  come  here,  and 
I  have  far  too  many  engagements  not  to  feel  it. 
To  end  the  matter  at  once,  1  intend  to  borrow 
iSlO,000,  with  which  my  son's  marriage-contract 
allows,  me  to  charge  my  estate.  This  will  enable 
us  to  dispense  in  a  great  measure  with  bank  assis- 
tance, and  sleep  in  spite  of  thunder.  I  do  not  know 
why  It  is— this  business  makes  mea  Uttle  bilious,  or 
rather  the  want  of  exercise  during  the  Session,  and 
this  late  change  of  the  weather  to  too  much  neat. 
But  the  sun  and  moon  shall  dance  on  the  green 
ere  carelessness  or  hope  of  gain,  or  facility  of  gettmg 
cash,  shall  make  me  go  too  deep  again,  were  it  but 
for  the  disquiet  of  the  thing. 

"  December  15.— Dined  at  home  with  family.  I 
am  determined  not  to  stand  mine  host  to  all  Scot- 
land and  England  as  I  have  done.  This  shall  be  a 
saving,  as  it  must  be  a  borrowing  year.  We  heard 
from  Sophia;  they  are  got  safe  to  town;  but  as 
Johnnie  had  a  little  bag  of  meal  with  him,  to  make 
his  ponidge  on  the  road,  the  whole  inn-yard  as- 
sembled to  see  the  opera  don.  Junor,  his  maid,  was 
of  opinion  that  England  was  an  'awfu'  country  to 
make  parritch  in.'  God  bless  the  poor  baby,  and 
restore  bis  perfect  health ! 

^December  16»— T.  S.  and  his  friend  Robert 
Wilson  came — the  former  at  four,  as  usual— the  lat- 

•  See  Iff  King  Eenry  IV.  Act  II.  Seene  I. 

^  John  Hope  Esq.  (now  Dean  of  the  Faeultjr  of  Advocates) 
waa  at  ibis  time  Solicitor- General  for  Sootlood. 

:  Heorr  Duodaa,  the  fint  Viscount  Mctrille,  fint  appeared  lo 
PaiUameot  as  Lord  Advocate  of  Scotland. 


ter  at  three,  as  appointed.  Robert  Wilson  frankly 
said  that  T.  S.'s  case  was  quite  desperate,  that  he 
'was  insolveht,  and  that  any  attempt  to  save  him  at 
present  would  be  just  so  much  cash  thrown  away. 
GkKi  knows,  at  this  moment  1  have  none  to  throw 
away  uselessly.  For  poor  S.,  there  was  a  melancho- 
ly mixture  of  pathos  and  affectation  in  his  statement, 
which  really  affected  me ;  while  it  told  me  that  it 
would  be  useless  to  help  him  to  money  on  such 
very  empty  plans.  1  endeavoured  to  persuade  him 
to  make  a  virtue  of  necessity,  resign  all  to  hi&cre- 
ditors,  and  begin  the  world  pn  a  new  leaf.  I  offered 
hin^  Chiefewood  for  a  temporary  retirement.  Lady 
Scott  thinks  I  was  wrong,  and  nobody  could  less 
desire  such  a  neighbour,  all  his  affectations  being 
caviare  to  me.  But  then  the  wife  and.children  1 
Went  again  to  the  Solicitor  on  a  wrong  night,  being 
asked  for  to-morrow.  Lady  Scott  undertakes  to 
keep  my  engagements  recorded  in  future.  ^Sed 
quis  custodiet  ipsam  custodem  T 

^^  December  17.— Dined  with  the  SoUcitor— Lord 
Chief-Baron— Sir  William  Boothby  nephew  of  old 
Sir  Brook,  the  dandypoet,  &c.  Annoyed  with  anx- 
ious presentimen**  "»Ki«w  *v%a  ni<vK*'a  <»»•»  v^nm* 
dispefor  confirm. 


ious  presentiments,  which  the  night's  post  must 
"     il  o 


" "  December  18.— Poor  T.  S.  called  again  yester- 
day. Through  his  incoherent,  miserable  tale,  I 
could  see  that  he  had  exhausted  each  access  to 
credit,  and  yet  fondly  imagines  that,  bereft  of 
all  his  accustomed  indulgences,  he  can  work  with  a 
literary  zeal  unknown  to  bis  happier  days.  I  hope 
he  may  labour  enough  to  gain  the  mere  support  of 
his  family.  For  myself,  if  things  go  badly  in  Lon- 
don, the  magic  wand  of  the  Unknown  will  be  shiv 
erecl  in  his  grasp.  He  must  then,  faith,  be  termecc 
the  Too- well-known.  The  feast  of  fancy  will  be 
over  with  the  feeling  of  independence,  tie  shall 
no  longer  have  the  delight  of  waking  in  the  morn- 
ing with  bright  ideas  in  his  mind,  hasten  to  commit 
them,  to  paper,  and  count  nhem  monthly,  as  the 
means  of  planting  such  scaurs,  and  purchasing 
such  wastes ;  replacing  dreams  of  fiction  by  other 
prospective  visions  of  walks  by 

'  Fouatain  beads,  and  pathleaa  groves; 
Places  which  pale  paaaon  loves.' 

This  cannot  be ;  but  I  may  work  substantial  hus- 
bandry, i.  e.  write  history,  and  such  concerns.  They 
will  not  be  received  with  the  same  enthusiasm ;  at 
least  I  much  doubt  the  general  knowledge  that  an 
author  must«write  for  his  bread,  at  least  for  improv- 
ing his  pittance,  degrades  him  and  his  productions 
in  the  public  eye.  He  falls  into  the  second-rate  rank 
of  estimation : 

*  While  the  harness  tore  gaUa,  and  the  spurs  his  aide 

goad, 
ThchiglMnettlttd  racer's  a  back  on  the  road. 

It  is  a  bitter  thought ;  but  if  tears  start  at  it,  let  them 
flow.  My  heart  clings  to  the  place  I  have  created. 
There  is  scarce  a  tree  on  it  that  does  not  owe  its 
being  to  me. 

"  What  a  life  mine  has  been  !— half  educated,  al- 
most wholly  neglected,  or  left  to  myself ;  stuniog 
my  head  with  most  nonsensical  trash,  and  undep> 
valued  by  most  of  my  companions  for  a,  time ;  get- 
ting forward,  and  held  a  bold  and  clever  fellow, 
contrary  to  the  opinion  of  all  who  thought  me  a 
mere  dreamer ;  broken-hearted  for  two  years  ;  my 
heart  handsomely  pieced  again :  but  the  crack  will 
remain  till  my  dying  day.  Rich  and  poor  four  or 
five  times  ;  once  on  the  verge  of  ruin,  yet  opened  a 
new  source  of  wealth  almost  overflowing.  Now 
to  be  broken  in  my  pitch  of  pride,  and  nearly  winged 
(unless  good  news  should  com&)  because  London 
chooses  to  be  in  an  nproan  and  inthe  tumult  of 
bulls  and  bears,  a  poor  inoffensive  lion  like  myself 
is  pushed  to  the  wall.  But  what  is  to  be  the  end  of 
it  1   God  knows  ;  and  so  ends  the  catechism. 

"  Nobody  in  the  end  cftn  lose  a  penny  by  me— that 
is  one  comfort.  Men  will  think  pride  has  had  a  fall. 
Let  them  indulge  their  own  pnde  in  thinking  that 
my  fall  will  make  them  higher,  or  seem  so  at  least. 


4U 


UPE  OP  Sm  WAI/TER  SCOTT. 


I  have  the  satisfaction  to  recollect  that  mt  proeper- 
ity  hjBS  bceo  of  advantage  to  many,  and  to  hope 
that  some  at  least  will  forgive  my  transient  wealth 
on  account  of  the  innocence  of  my  iutentionSi  and, 
my  real  wish  to  do  g[oo<^  to  thet>oor.  Sad  hearts, 
too,  at  Darnick,  and  m  the  cottages  of  Abbotsford. 
I  nave  half  resolved  never  to  see  the  place  a^ain. 
How  could  I  tread  my  hall  with  such  a  diminished 
crest  1  How  live  a  poor  indebted  man,  where  i  was 
one  the  wealthy— the  honoured?  1  was  to  have 
gone  there  on  Saturday  in  joy  and  prosperity  to 
receive  my  friends.  My  dogs  will  wait  for  me  in 
vain.  It  IS  foolish-^but  the  thoughts  of  parting 
from  these  dumb  creatures  have  moved  me  more 
than  any  of  the  painful  rcflectiontl  have  put  down. 
Puor  thiDf^s,  I  mu?'  ^e(t  j]iom  kind  riiiskre  1  There 


TOy  be  yet  ihuEe  wlui^  loving  me,  may  love  iiiy  dog, 
because  il  has  bo^n  luine.  I  must  end  ibeie  ^[(Kiiny 
fbrebodings,  or  t  i»KaU  Io(^  ihe  tone  of  mind  wiia 


which  men  should  meet  distresa-,  f  feel  my  do^' 
■  feet  oti  my  kne«.9.  ]  hear  ihein  w  hi  nine  nnd  seeking 
Bie  every  whtre.  This  is  nonfftmsei  but  it  i»  wfiat 
they  wonid  do  crould  they  know  how  thine?  mnv  be. 
An  odd  though  I  •(rikes  me— When  I  rjie,  will  the 
jourtial  of  thff3f  dnys  be  taken  out  of  thff  ebony  ca- 
oisrun  ot  AVibuiftford,  !»iid  r«?nd  with  wonder,  I  hat 
Ihi'  \i.t  ll-Mcrmrn^  Baron^^t  shuuEd  taver  havu  expe- 
rienced iht'.  tlMi  of  s*iix:h  a  hitch  i  Or  wiil  it  be  found 
>  in  some  obscure  lodjkiinf^-h uu Be,  where  th^^  dee iiyed 

900  of  Chivalry  had  hunt;  up  hiS'  icutcheoni  and 
where  ono  or  two  old  friends  will  look  ernve  nnd 
whisjier  la  each  other,  *  Poor  peDVlBmoti  — '  a  well- 
meamng  man'— *  nobody^s  enemy  but  bia  own'— 
*  thought  his  part^  would  nt^ver  wear  out'—*  family 
»  poorly  left'—'  pity  he  took  th&t  foolish  liiW    Who 

can  answer  this  question  T 

■*  Poor  Will  Laid  law— poor  Tarn  PurdEe^isuch 
news  will  wnna  your  hi^artEit  atid  mony  a  poor  fel- 
low besideii  tow  noin  my  prosperity  was  daily  brejid. 

**  Rallantytie  tiehtjv«i!)  like  fiim self,  nnd  suika  the 
pTospeci  of  his  own  rum  m  contemplating  mine.  J 
Iried  to  enrich  him  indet'd,  and  now  r]\j  nil  is  m  the 
balance.  He  will  have  the  Joumsl  stiU— ihat  is  a 
comfortu  for  stjte  thtvtf  cannot  find  n  better  editor. 
iTMSy— alas,  who  will  ih€y  be— the  ujibrkannten 
obtm*  who  tnHj  hnve  tn  di!!i(>osi°i  of  my  ail  n»  they 
will  i  Some  hard -eyed  bnnker— aome  of  ehtae  men 
of  milhone  whom  I  dcfieribed. 

"  [  hflVe  endetivouretl  to  pve  vent  to  though  Is 
naiUTftUy  BO  pa  in  tut  by  wriiiti^  these  nolee^parrtjr 
to  k/eep  them  nt  bny  by  buiiyiaf!  utyiit^lf  with  the  his- 
tory of  the  Preneh  Conv*mtion.  I  thn^k  tiod  I  can 
do  both  wuh  n'U.^nnftVilj^  rrtrnTui«iire.  I  Wivfidcr 
how  Anne  will  bear  Fuch  an  DiiiJEuoji.  .She  is  pas- 
sionate, but  stout-hearted  and  courageous  in  im- 
portant matters,  though  irritable  in  trifles.  I  am 
fflad  Lockhart  and  his  wife  are  gone.  Whyl  I 
cannot  tell— but  I  am  pleased  to  be  left  to  my 
own  regrets,  without  being  melted  by  condolences, 
though  of  the  most  sincere  and  affectionate  kind. 

"Oddly  enough,  it  happened  mine  honest  friend 
Hector  Macdonaid  came  in  before  dinner,  to  ask  a 
copy  of  my  seal  of  arms,  with  a  sly  kindliness  of  in- 
^timation  that  it  was  for  some  agreeable  puQ)ose. 
Ualf-paat  eighl.  1  closed  this  book  under  the  im- 
pression of  impending  ruin.  1  open  it  an  hour  after 
I  (thauks  be  to  God)  with  the  strong  hope  that  mat- 

ters will  be  got  over  safely  and  honourably,  in  a 
mercantile  sense.  Cadell  came  at  eight  to  commu- 
'  nicate  a  letter  from  Hurst  and  Robinson,  intimating 
they  had  stood  the  storm. 

*U  shall  always  think  the  better  of  Cadell  for  this 
— not  merely  because  his  feet  are  beautiful  on  the 
mountains  who  brings  good  tidings,  but  because  he 
showed  feeling;— deep  feeling,  poor  fellow.  He, 
who  I  thought  nad  no  more  than  his  numeration- 
table,  and  who,  if  he  had  his  whole  counting-house 
full  of  sensibility,  had  yet  his  wife  and  chilaren  to 
bestow  it  upon— I  will  not  forget  this,  if  all  keeps 
nghu  I  love  the  virtues  of  rough-and-round  men— 
The  others'  are  apt  to  escape  in  salt  rheum,  sal- 
Tolatile  and  a  white  pocket-handkerchief. 

*  Unb$lmmten  oi«r»— apknowo  ralen. 


I  "  December  19.— Ballantyne  here  before  broskfitft. 
He  looks  on  last  night's  news  with  confidcDee. 
Constable  came  in  and  sat  an  hour.  The  old  san- 
tleman  is  firm  as  a  rock.  He  talks  of  going  to  Lmi- 
don  next  week.    But  I  must  go  to  won. 

*^  December  20.— Dined  at  Lord  Chief- Baion't. 
Lord  Justice-Clerk.  Lord-President,  Captain  Scar- 
lett, a  gentlemanlike  yonn^  man,  the  son  of  the 
E-eat  Counsellor,*  andf  a  fnend  of  my  son  Walter, 
ady  Charlotte  Hope  and  other  womankind,  R. 
Dundas  of  Amiston,  and  his  pleasant  and  good- 
humoured  Uttle  wife,  whose  qmck,  intelli|(ent  look 
E leases  me  more,  though  her  face  be  plam,  than  a. 
undred  mechamcal  beauties.  I  Uke  Ch.  Ba.  Shep- 
herd very  much— as  much,  I  think,  as  an/  man  I 
have  learned  to  know  of  late  years.  There  is  a  neat- 
ness and  precision,  a  closeness  and  truth  in  the  tone 
of  his  conversation,  whch  shows  what  a  lawyer  he 
must  have  been.  Perfect  good-humour  and  naiveU 
of  manner,  with  a  little  warmth  of  temper  on  suita- 
ble occasions.  His  great  deafness  alone  prevented 
him  from  being  Lord  Chief-Justice.  I  never  saw  a 
man  so  patient  under  such  a  malady.  He  loves  so- 
ciety,  and  converses  excellentl  v ;  vet  is  often  obliged, 
in  a  mixed  company  particulam^  to  lay  asidehifl 
trumpet,  retire  into  himself,  and  withdraw  from  the 
talk.  He  does  this  with  an  expression  of  patience 
in  his  countenance  which  loaches  one  mocb.  Con- 
stable's Hcense  for  the  dedication  is  corner  which 
will  make  him  happy .t 

"December  219^.— Dined  with  Jamea  Ballantyaew 
and  met  R.  Cadell,  and  my  old  friend  Mathews,  the 
comedian,  with  his  son,  now  grown  up  a  clever  kd« 
who  makes  songs  in  the  style  of  James  Smith  or 
Colman«  and  sin^  them  with  spinu  There  have 
been  odd  associations  attending  my  two  last  meet- 
ings with  Mathews.  The  last  time  I  saw  him  be- 
fore yesterday  evening  he  dined  with  me  inoon 
with  poor  Sir  Alexander  Bosw^,  who  was  1 

withiii  a  week.t    I  never  saw  Sir  Alexander  l 

The  time  before  was  in  1816,  when  John  Scott  df 
Gala  and  I  were  returning  from  France,  and  paaesdl 
through  London,  when  we  brought  Mathews  dpwn 
as  far  as  T^eamrngton.  Poor  Byron  lunched,  or 
rather  mide  an  early  dinner  with  us  at  Long^s,  and 
a  most  brilliant  day  we  had  of  it.  I  never  saw  By- 
ron so  full  of  fun,  troHc,  wit,  and  whim  :  he  was  as 
Slayful  as  a  kitten.  Well,  I  never  saw  him  agaio-S 
lo  this  man  of  mirth,  with  his  merry  meetings,  has 
brought  me  no  luck.  I  like  better  that  he  should 
throw  in  his  talent  of  mimicry  and  hnmonr  in- 
to the  present  current  tone  of  the  company,  than 
that  he  should  be  required  to  give  this,  thatand 
t'other  frt<  selected  from  his  public  recitations.  They 
are  good,  certainly— excellent ;  but  then  you  mtc^ 
laugh,  and  that  is  always  severe  to  me.  When  I 
do  laugh  in  sincerity,  the  joke  must  be  or  seem  un- 
prem^itated.  1  could  not  help  thinking,  in  the 
midst  of  the  glee,  what  gloom  had  lately  been  over 
the  minds  of  three  of  the  company.  What  a  strange 
scene  if  the  surge  of  conversation  could  suddenly 
ebb  like  the  tide,  and  show  us  the  state  of  people's 
real  minds  I 

*  No  eyes  the  rocks  discover 
Which  lurk  beneath  the  deep.* 

Life  could  not  be  endured,  were  it  seen  in  reaUty. 
Things  keep  mending  in  London. 

*•  December  22.— I  wrote  six  of  my  close  pa^es 
vcsterday,  which  is  about  twenty-four  paffes  in  pimi. 
What  is  more,  I  think  it  comesofTiwangiogif.  The 
story  is  so  very  interesting  in  itself;  that  ihcM  is  no 
fear  of  the  book  answering.il   Supeificial  it  must  be, 

*  Mr.  Scarlett,  now  Lord  Abinger. 

t  I'he  Dedication  of  ConsUble'i  Miftvlkinr  was  pemed  by 
I  Sir  Walt(5r:-To  His  Majuty  Kimo  Obobob  IV.,  the  mtMt 


gcocrouN  PaUtm  even  of  tlie  moat  bumble  atttropCi  toward  tbe 
adrantare  oThia  tuhjectt :  Thu  MiscBLLAjrr,  detifnad  to  es- 
tend  nicful  knouledrp  and  clerant  literature,  by  Dhaac  wotlv 
of  standard  merit  miitbin  the  attainment  of  everr  ean  m  Read- 
en.  il  most  humbly  inscribed  by  His  mAjawrV's  datiliil  and 
devoted  aubject— Abchibald  Cokstablb." 

:  8eo  ante  Vol.  t.,  pp.  lSS-4. 

I  Sec  tttUe  Vol,  iti..  pp.  »6-9,  973. 

ruftrfN.poI«..       Digifeedby*^OOgle 


UFE  OF  SR  WALTER  SGOTT. 


hoi  I  do  not  care  for  the  charge.  Better  a  superfi- 
cial book  which  brings  well  and  strilJDgly  together 
the  known  and  acknowledged  iacta,  than  a  dull 
boring  oarrative,  pausing  to  see  farther  into  a  mill- 
stone at  every  moment  than  the  nature  of  the  mill- 
stone admits.  Nothing  is  so  tiresome  as  walking; 
through  some  beautiful  scene  with  a  minute  phx- 
lo9ovher.  a  botanist,  or  pebble-gatherer,  who  is  eter- 
nally calling  your  attention  from  the  ^and  features 
of  the  naturalpicture  to  look  at  grasses  and  chucky- 
stones.  Yet,  m  their  way,  they  give  useful  informa- 
tion: and  so  does  the  minute  historian.  Gad,,! 
think  that  will  look  well  in  the  preface.  My  bile  is 
quite  gone:  I  really  believe  it  arose  from  mere 
anxiety.  What  a  wonderful  connexion  between  the 
mind  and  body  I 

**  The  air  of  Bonnie  Dundee  running  in  mv  head 
to-day,  I  wrote  a  few  verses  to  it  before  dinner, 
taking  the  key-note  from  the  storv  of  Clavers  leav- 
ing the  Scottish  Ck>nvention  of  Estates  in  1688-9.* 
I  wonder  if  they  are  good.  Ah,  poor  Will  Erskine  I 
thou  couldst  and  wouldst  have  told  me.  I  must 
consult  J.  B.,  who  is  as  honest  as  W.  E.  But  then, 
though  he  has  good  taste  too,  there  is  a  little  of  Big 
JSoiD-wow  about  it.  Can't  say  what  made  me  take  a 
fMi  80  uncommon  of  late  years  as  to  write  verses 
of  free-will.  I  suppose  the  same  impulse  which 
makes  birds  srog  when  the  storm  has  blown  over. 

"  Dined  at  Lord  Minto's.  There  were  Lord  and 
Lady  Kuthveo,  William  Clerk*  and  Thomas  Thom- 
son—a right  choice  party.  There  was  also  my  very 
old  friend  Mrs.  Brydone,  the  reUct  of  the  traveller. 
And  daughter  of  Principal  Robertson,  and  really 
worthy  of  auch  a  connexion— Lady  Minto*  who  is 
also  peculiarly  agreeable— and  her  sister,  Mrs.  Admi- 
ral Adam,  in  the  evening. 

*^  December  23.— Lord  Minto's  father,  the  first 
Barl,  was  a  man  among  a  thousand.  I  anew  him 
very,  very  intimately  in  the  beginning  of  the  cen- 
tnry,  and,  which  Was  very  agreeable,  was  much  at 
his  house  on  very  easy  terms.  He  loved  the  Muses, 
and  worshipped  them  in  secret,  and  used  to  read 
some  of  his  poetry,  which  was  but  middling.  With 
the  mildest  manners,  he  was  very  tenacious  of  his 
opinions,  although  he  changed!  them  twice  in  the 
crises  of  politics.  He  was  the  early  friend  of  Fox, 
and  made  a  figure  towards  the  end  of  the  American 
war,  or  during  the  strangles  betwixt  Fox  and  Pitt. 
Then  came  the  Revolution,  and  he  joined  the  Anti- 
Oallican  party  so  keenly,  that  he  declared  against 
Addington's  peace  with  France,  and  was  for  a  lime, 
I  believe,  a  Wyndhamite.  He  was  reconciled  to  the 
Whigs  oA  the  Fox  and  Grenville  coalition ;  but  I 
have  heard  that  Pox,  contrary  to  his  wont,  retained 
soch  personal  feelin|(s  as  made  him  object  to  Sir 
Gilbert  Elliott's  having  a  seat  in  the  cabinet;  so  he 
was  sent  Grovemor-Greneral  to  India— a  better  thing, 
I  take  it,  for  his  fortune.  He  died  shortly  after  his 
retum,t  on  his  way  down  to  bis  native  country. 
He  was  a  most  pleasing  Jind  amiable  man.  I  was 
very  sorry  for  his  death,  though  I  do  not  know  how 
we  should  have  met,  for  a  contested  election  in  Rox- 
burghshire had  placed  some  coldness  betwixt  the 
pfresent  Lord  and  me.  I  was  certainly  anxious  for 
Sir  Alexander  Don,  both  as  friend  of  my  most  kind 
friend  Charles  Duke  of  Buccleuch,  and  on  poUtical 
accounts;  and  those  thwartings  are  what  men  in 
pnbHe  life  do  not  like  to  endure.  After  a  cessation 
of  friendship  for  some  years,  we  have  now  come 
about  again.  We^never  had  the  slightest  personal 
dispute  or  disagreement.  But  politics  are  the  blow- 
pipe beneath  whose  influence  the  best  cemented 
friendships  diffuse ;  and  ours,  after  all,  was  only  a 
very  familiar  aomiamtance. 

•*^It  is  very  odd  that  the  common  people  about 
Minto  and  the  neighbourhood  will  not  believe  at  this 
hour  that  the  first  Earl  is  dead.  They  think  he  had 
done  something  in  India  which  he  could  not  answer 
for— that  the  house  was  rebuilt  on  a  scale  unusually 
large  to  give  him  a  suite  of  secret  apartments,  and 
-that  he  often  walks  about  the  woods  and  crags  of 

*  Ms  Seottii  Poetied  WotIb,  ToL  xiL  PQ.  IH-^. 

*  Gilbert,  Eari  of  Minto.  died  in  June,  Uli. 


Minto  at  night,  with  a  white  nightcap,  and 


Mmto  at  nignt.  with  a  wDite  aignteap,  and  Ions 
white  beard.  The  circumstance  of  his  having  diei 
on  the  road  down  to  Scotland  is  the  sole  foundaikm 
of  this  absurd  legend,  which  shows  how  willing  tb0 
public  are  to  gulf  themselves  when  they  can  find  nt 
one  else  to  take  the  trouble.  I  have  seen  people  wha 
could  read,  write,  and  cipher,  shriig  their  shoulders 
and  look  mystenous  when  this  subject  was  men- 
tioned. One  very  absurd  addition  was  made  oa 
occasion  of  a  great  ball  at  Minto  House,  which  it 
was  said  was  given  to  draw  all  people  away  ijx>m 
the  grounds,  that  the  concealed  Earl  might  hava 
leisure  for  his  exercise.  This  was  on  the  principle 
in  the  German  play,*  where,  to  hide  their  oonapiracyi 
the  associates  join  in  a  chorus  song.    , 

'*  We  dined  at  home ;  Mr.  Davidofl*  and  his  tutor 
kept  an  engagement  with  us  to  dinner  notwith* 
standing  the  death  of  the  Emperor  Alexander.  Thef 
went  to  the  play  with  the  womankind;. I  staid  at 
home  to  write. 

*•  December  24;— Wroib  to  Walter  and  Jane,  and 
gave  the  former  an  account  of  how  things  had  been 
in  the  money  market.  Constable  has  a  new  scheme 
of  publishing  the  works  of  the  Author  of  Waverley 
in  a  superior  style,  at  £l  la.  volume.  He  aays  he 
will  answer  for  making  ^0.000  of  this,  and  Ube-* 
rally  offered  me  any  share  oi  the  profits.  I  hava 
no  great  claim  to  any,  as  I  have  only  to  contribute 
the  notes,  which  afe  light  work ;  yet  a  few  thou- 
sands coming  in  will  be  a  good  thing— besides  the 
printing  oflice.  Constable,  though  valetudinary^ 
and  cross  with  his  partner,  is  certainly  as  good  a 
pilot  in  these  rough  seas  as  ever  man  put  faith  in. 
His  rally  has  put  me  in  mind  of  the  old  song— 

*  The  tftilor  raised  and  shook  bis  dads, 
He  gar'd  the  Buam  flee  aff  in  clnds, 
And  they  that  staid  gat  fearfa'  tliaaa— 
The  tailor  proved  a  man,  O.' 

"  We  are  for  Abbotslbrd  to-day,  with  a  light  heart. 

^^  December  25— A66o/^ord.— Arrived  here  last 
night  at  seMiu  Our  halls  are  silent  compared  to 
last  year,  buMet  \ih  be  thankful— ^ar6aru«  fuu  se- 
e^te«'l  Fs'uHum  numen  abesL  si  *it  prudeui^» 
Tliere  shall  be  no  lack  of  wisdom.  But  come— 1| 
/aiit  ciiitivrr  noire  jardinA  Let  us  see,  I  shall 
write  out  the  Bonnets  of  Bonnie  Dundee.  I  will 
sk<-lrh  a  rr^f^jce  to  La  Roch^acquelin  for  Consta« 
bliM*  i^^^^i  1  llnuy,  and  try  about  a  specimen  of  notes 
for  I h iT  VV u \  L  r ley  novels.  Together  with  letters  and 
by  -  business,  it  will  be  a  good  day's  work. 

'  I  make  a  vow, 
Andk^epittroe.' 

I  wOl  accept  no  invitation  for  dinner,  save  one  to 
Newton-Don,  and  Mertoun  to-morrow,  instead  of 
Christmas-day.  .  On  this  day  of  general  devotion  I 
have  a  particular  call  for  gratitude ! !" 


CHAPTER  LXVI. 

COKSTABLB  IN  LONDON— EXTHACT  FBOM  JAMES  f  At- 
LANTYNB's  MEMOaANDUM  —  SCOTT's  DIABT  RB- 
8UMED— PB0OBE88  OP  WOODSTOCK-^  BBVIEW  01% 
PXPT's  DIABV— SKEJCE— BCaOPE— MATHXWS,  &C. — 
OOMMXBCIAL  ALABMS  BENEWED  AT  INTEBYALfl — 
CATA8TB0PHE  OF  THE  THBEB  HOUSES  07  HUBtT 
AND  BOBINSON,  CONSTABLE,  AND  BALLANTYNB. — 
JANUABT  AND  rXBBCABV,  1826. 

It  was  not  till  nearly  three  weeks  aAer  Sir  Walter 
penned  the  last-quoted  paragraph  of  his  Diarv,  that 
Mr.  Constable  made  hiJB  appearance  in  London.  I 
aaw  him  immediately.  Having  deferred  his  iourney 
imprudently,  he  had  performed  it  very  rapidly;  and 
(his  exertion,  with  mental  excitement,  had  brought 
on  a  sharp  access  of  gout,  which  confined  him  for  a 
couple  of  days  to  his  hotel  in  the  Adelphl— re/iMr/an^ 
tern  draconem.  A  more  impatient  spirit  never 
boiled  in  a  feverish  frame.  It  was  then  that  I,  for 
the  first  time,  saw  full  swing  given  to  the  tyran- 
nical temper  of  the  Czar,    He  locked,  ^;>oke,  and 

•  See  Canniiw*f  "  Gennaa  Plaj,"  in  the  AntiiaeoU& 
t  See  QtndUe. 


Digitized  by  V^jOOQlC 


UPE  OP  SIR  WACVfiR  SOOTT. 


fletticulated  like  some  hoary  despot,  accustomed  to 
nothinff  but  the  complete  indulgence  of  every  wish 
and  whim,  against  whose  sovereign  anthoxitv  his 
most  trusted  satraps  a«d  tributaries  had  suddenly 
revolted—open  rebellion  in  twenty  provinces ;  con- 
cision in  the  capital ;  treason  in  the  palace.  I  will 
not  repeat  his  haughty  ravings  of  scorn  and  wrath. 
I  listened  to  these  with  wonder  and  commiseration ; 
nor  were  such  feelings  mitigated  when,  having  ex- 
hausted his  violence  of  vituperation  against  many 
persons  of  whom  I  had  never  before  heard  him 
speak  but  as  able  and  trusted  friends,  he  cooled 
down  sufficiently  to  answer  my  question  as  to  the 
practical  business  on  which  the  note  announcing 
nis  arrival  in  town  had  signified  his  urgent  desire  to 
take  my  advice.  Constable  told  me  that  he  had  al- 
ready seen  one  of  the  Hurst  and  Robinson  firm,  and 
that  the  storm  which  had  seemed  to  be  *'  blown 
over"  had,  he  was  satisfied,  only  been  lulled  for  a 
moment  to  burst  out  in  redoubled  fury.  If  they 
went,  however,  he  must  f>llow.  He  had  deter- 
mined to  support  (hem  through  the  coming  gale  as 
he  had  done  through  the  last;  and  he  had  the 
means  to  do  so  efiectuallv,  provided  Sir  Walter 
Scott  would  stdnd  by  him  heartily  and  boldly. 

The  first  and  most  obvious  step  was  to  make  large 
sales  of  copyrights:  and  it  was  not  surprising  that 
Constable  should  nave  formed  most  extravagant 
notions  of  the  marketable  value  of  the  property  of 
this  nature  in  his  possession.  Every  bookseller  is 
very  apt  to  do  so.  A  manuscript  is  submitted  to 
him ;  he  inspects  it  with  coldness  and  suspicion : 
with  hesitauon  ofiers  a  sum  for  it ;  obtains  it,  ana 
■ends  it  to  be  printed.  He  has  hardly  courage  to 
look  at  the  sheets  as  they  are  thrown  off:  but  the 
book  is  at  last  laid  on  his  counter,  and  he  from  that 
moment  regards  it  with  an  eye  of  parental  fond- 
ness. It  is^;  he  considers  It  in  that  light  quite 
as  much  as  does  the  atithor,  and  is  likely  to  be  at 
lej^t  as  sorely  provoked  by  any  thing  in  the  shape 
of  hostile  cnticism.  If  this  be  the  usual  working 
of  self-love  or  self-interest  in  such  cases,  what 
wonder  that  the  man*  who  had  at  his  disposal  (to 
say  nothing  of  innumerable  minor  properties)  the 
copwights  of  the  Encyclopsdia  Bntannica,  with 
its  Supplement,  a  moiety  of  the  Edinburgh  Review, 
nearly  all  Scotrs  Poetry,  the  Waverley  Novels,  and 
the,  advancing  Life  of  Napoleon— who  bad  made, 
besides,  sundry  contracts  for  novels  by  Scott,  as  yet 
nnwniten— and  who  seriouslv  view»l  his  plan  of 
the  new  Miscellany  as  in  itself  the  sure  foundation 
of  a  gigantic  fortune— what  wonder  that  the  san- 

SineConstable  should  have  laid  to  bis  soul  the 
Itering  untion  that. he  had  only  to  display  such 
resources  in  some  quarter  totally  above  the  momen- 
tary pressure  of  the  tradty  and  command  an  ad- 
vance of  capital  adequate  tOTelieve  him  and  all  bis 
lilies  from  these  unfortunate  difficulties  about  a  few 
paltry  *'  sheafs"  of  stamped  paper  7  To  be  brief^  he 
requested  me  to  accompany  Him,  as  soon  as  he  could 
get  into  his  carriage,  to  the  Banlrof  England,  and 
support  him  (as  a  confidential  friend  of  the  Author 
w  Waverley)  in  his  application  for  a  loan  of  from 
^100,000  to  X200,000  on  (he  security  of  the  copy- 
Tights  in  his  possession.  It  is  needless  to  say  that, 
,  without  distmct  instructions  from  Sir  Walter,  I 
cq^d  not  take  upon  me  to  interfere  in  such  a  busi- 
ness as  this.  Constable,  when  I  refused,  became 
livid  with  rage.  After  a  long  silence,  he  stamped 
on  the  ground,  and  swore  that  he  could  and  would 
do  alone.    I  left  him  in  stem  indignation. 

There  was  another  scene  of  the  same  kind  a  day 
or  two  afterwards,  when  bis  object  was  to  get  me 
to  back  his  application  to  Sir  Walter  to  borrow 
£90,000  in  Edmburgh,  and  transmit  it  to  him  in 
London.  I  promised  nothing  but  to  acquaint  Scott 
immediatel|  with  his  request,  and  him  with  Scott's 

•On  weint  the  Mssaico  In. the  text.  Mr.  Coiwtoble't  imTinnf 
Ptftper  writet  aa  IbUowt :— ••  No  better  illaWralion  of  this  buoy- 

£t  idM  of  the  value  of  Uterar*  property  ii  to  be  fbunfl  than  in 
» now  well  asecrlatoed  fact  oTCoottable  himielf.  in  1811,  ovor- 
mmatina  his  partner.  Mr  Hunter,  our  of  the  conwm  at  the 
gonto  ibetune  of  some  ^l«^.or  i6l«,000~a  blow  from  which 
IM  finn  nerer  recovered.— R.  C  " 


answer.  Sir  Walter  had«  ere  the  mesaage  reached 
him.  been  made  awane  that  his  advances  had  af- 
ready  been  continued  in  the  absence  of  all  ground 
for  rational  hope. 

It  is  no  business  of  mine  to  detail  Constable's 
subsequent  proceedings  on  this  his  last  visit  to  Lon- 
don. Every  where  he  found  distrust  The  roetro- 
poUtan  bankers  had  enough  on  their  hands  at  a 
time  when,  as  Mr.  Huskisson  afterwards  confessed 
in  Parliament,  the  Bank  of  England  itself  had  been 
on  the  ver^e  of  a  stoppage,  without  embarrassing 
themselves  with  new  securities  of  the  uncertain  and 


precarious  nature  of  literary  j^roperty.  The  great 
bookseUing  houses  were  all  either  labouring  tn&ai- 
selves,  or  watching  with  fear  and  trembling  the  daf- 
ly  aggravated  symptons  of  distress  among  their 
friends  and  connexions.  Constable  lingered  on, 
fluctuating  between  wild  hope  and  savage  despair, 
until,  I  seriously  believe,  he  at  last  hovered  on  the 
brink  of  insanity.  When  he  returned  to  Edinburgl^ 
it  was  to  confront  creditors  whom  he  knew  be  ooold 
not  pay. 

Before  that  day  came,  I  had  necessarily,  been  in* 
formed  of  the  nature  of  Scott's  connexion  with 
commercial  speculations ;  but  1  had  not  been  pre- 
pared for  the  amount  to  which  Constable's  ndn 
must  involve  him,  until  the  final  blow  was  struck. 

I  believe  I  have  how  said  enough  by  way  of  pre- 
faoe  to  Sir  Walter's  Diary  from  Christmas  1826,  to 
the  latter  part  of  Jaquarv  1886,  when  mv  <faHiest 
anticipations  were  more  than  realixed.  But  before 
I  return  to  this  Diary,  it  my  be  well  to  transcnbe  the 
very  short  passage  or  James  Ballantyne'sdeathbeift 
memorandum  which  refers  to  this  painful  period. 
Mr.  Ballantyne  saya,  in  that  most  candid  paper: — 

"  I  need  not  here  enlarge  upon  the  unfortunate 
facility  which,  at  the  period  of  univeraal  confidence 
and  indulgence  our  and  other  houses  received  from 
the  ba^ks.  Suffice  it  to  say  that  all  our  apjfbarances 
of  prosperity,  as  well  as  those  of  Constable,  and 
Hurst  and  Robinson,  were  merely  shadows,  and 
that  from  the  moment  the  bankers  exhibited  symp- 
toms of  doubt,  it  might  have  been  easy  to  diaoom 
what  must  be  the  ultimate  result.  During  wed^ 
and  even  months,,  luwever,  our  house  was  kept  m 
a  state  of  very  painful  suspense.  The  other  twa  I 
have  no  doubt,  saw  the  coming  event?  more  clearly. 
I  must  here  say,  that  it  was  one  of  Sir  Walter's 
weaknesses  to  shrink  too  much  from  looking  evil  in 
the  face,  and  that  he  was  apt  to  carry  a  great  d^ 
too  far—*  sufficient  for  the  day  is  the  evil  thereof!' 
I  do  not  think  it  was  more  than  three  weeks  bdfore 
the  catastrophe  that  he  became  fully  convinced  it 
was  impending— if  indeed  his  feeUngs  ever  reached 
the  length  of  conviction  at  alL  Thus,  at  the  last,, 
his  fortitude  was  very  severely  tried  indeed." 


DIARY. 

"  Abbot^ordf  December  26^  1625.— Hy  God  I  what 
poor  creatures  we  are !  Aflbr  all  my  fair  proposida 
yesterday.  I  was  seized  with  a  moat  violent  pain  in 
the  right  Kidney  and  parts  adjacent,  which  forced 
me  instantly  to  go  to  bed  and  send  for  Clarkson.* 
He  came,  enquired,  and  pronounced  the  complaint 
to  be  gravel  augmented  by  bile.  I  was  in  great  ago- 
ny till  about  two  o'clock,  but  awoke  with  the  paia 
gone.  I  got  up,  had  a  nre  in  my  dressing-close^ 
and  had  Dalgliesh  to  shave  me— two  trifies,  which 
I  only  menuon,  because  they  are  contrary  to  mr 
hardy  and  independent  personal  habits.  But  af- 
though  a  man  cannot  be  a  hero  to  his  valet,  his  valet 
in  sickness  becomes  of  great  use  to  him.  I  cannot 
expect  that  the  first  li^ill  be  the  laat  visit  of  this  Cruel 
complaint;  but  shall  we  receive  good  at  the  hand  of 
God,  and  not  receive  evil  7 

"  December  27/A.— Slept  twelve  hoars  at  a  stretch, 
bemg  much  exhausted.    Totally  without  pain  to 
day,  but  uncomfortable  from  the  effects  of  calomel, 
which,  with  me  at  least,  is  like  the  assistance  of  an  • 
auxiliary  army,  just  one  degree  more  tolerable  than- 

*  Jaroet  Clarkaoo,  Eaq,,  Snifeoo,  Meboae,  aoo  to  Seotl'a  old 
(hend  Dr.  Clarkaoo  of  Selkirk. 


Digitized  by  V^OOQlC 


UPE  OF  SIR  WALTER  SCOTT. 


«f 


the  enemy  it  chases  away,  Calolnel  contemplations 
•re  not  worth  recording.  I  wrote  an  introduction 
and  a  few  notes  to  the  Memoirs  of  Madame  La 
Rochejacqaelin,*  being  all  that  I  was  equal  to.  Sir 
Adam  Ferguson  came  over  and  tried  to  marry  my 
Terse*  to  the  tune  of  Bonnie  Dundee.  '  They  s 
well  adapted  to  each  other.  Dined  with  Lady  S 
and  Anne.  Worked  at  Pepys  in  the  evening  with 
the  purpose  of  review  for  Quarterty.t  Notwith- 
standing the  depressing  effects  of  the  calomel,  I  feel 
the  pleasure  of  being  alone  and  uninterrupted.  Few 
men.  leading  a  ouiet  life,  and  without  any  strong  or 
highly  varied  change  of  circumstances,  have  seen 
more  variety  of  soaety  than  I— few  have  enjoyed  it 
more^  or  been  bared^  as  it  is  called,  less  by  thecom- 
pmny  of  tiresome  people;  I  have  rarely,  if  ever, 
round  any  one,  out  of  whom  I  could  not  extract 
amusement  or  edification ;  and  were  I  obliged  to  ac- 
eount  for  hints  afibrded  on  such  occasions,  I  should 
make  an  ample  deduction  from  my  narrative  pow- 
ers. Still*  however,  from  the  earUest  time  i  can 
imnember,  I  preferred  the  pleasure  of  being  alone 
to  wisliing  for  visiters,  and  have  often  taken  a  ban- 
nock and  a  bit  of  cheeee  to  the  wood  or  hill,  to  avoid 
dining  with  company.  As  I  grew  from  boyhood  to 
manhood  I  saw  this  would  not  do;  and  that  to 
gain  a  place  in  men's  esteem  I  must  mix  and  bustle 
with  them.  Pride,  and  an  exaltation  of  spirits  often 
■applied  the  real  pleasure  which  others  seem  to  feel 
in  society ;  yet  mme  certainly  upon  many  occasions 
was  real.  Still  if  the  question  was,  eternal  com- 
pany, without  the  power  of  retiring  within  yourself; 
or  solitary  confinement  for  life,  I  should  say, '  Turn- 
kay,  Lock  the -cell  1'  My  life,  though  not  without  its 
fist  of  waking  and  strong  exertion,  has  been  a  sort 
of  dream,  spent  in 

*  Chewing  the  cud  of  sweet  and  bitter  fancy.* 

I  have  worn  a  wishing-cap,  the  power  qf  which  has 
been  to  divert  present  griefis  by  a  touch  of  the  wand 
of  imaginauon,  and  mid  over  the  future  by  prospects 
more  fair  than  can  oe  realized.  ,  Somewhere  it  is 
said  that  this  castle- building— this  wielding  of  the 
unreal  trowel,  is  fatal  to  exertions  in  actual  life.  I 
cannot  tell,  1  have  not  found  it  so.  I  cannot,  in- 
deed, say  like  Madame  Genlis,  that  in  the  imagi- 
nary scenes  in  which  I  have  acted  a  part  I  ever  pre- 
pared myself  for  any  thing  which  actually  befell 
me:  but!  have  certainly  fashioned  out  much  that 
made  the  present  hour  pass  pleasantly  away,  and 
much  that  has  enabled  me  to  contribute  to  thea- 
nraseroent  of  the  public.  Since  I  was  five  years  old 
I  cannot  remember  the  time  when  I  had  not  some 
ideal  part  to  play  for  my  own  soUlary  amusement. 

"  December  28.— Somehow  I  think  the  attack  on 
Christmas-Day  has  been  of  a  critical  kind ;  and 
having  cone  off*  so  well,  may  be  productive  rather 
of  healtn  than  continued  indisposition.  If  one  is 
to  get  a  renewal  of  health  in  his  fifty-fourth  yearr 
he  must  look  to  pay  fine  for  it.  Last  night  Greorge 
Thomson  came  to  see  how  I  was,  poor  fellow.  He 
has  talent,  is  well  informed,  and  nas  an  excellent 
heart ;  but  there  is  great  eccentricity  about  him.  I 
wish  to  God  I  sawnim  provided  in  a  country  kirk. 
That,  with  a  rationaiwife,  would,  I  think,  bring 
him  to  a  steady  temper;  at  present  he  is  between 
the  tyning  and  the  winning.  If  I  could  ^et  him  to 
set  to  any  hard  study,  he  would  do  something  clever. 

**  How  to  make  a  cnVic— A  sly  rogue,  sheltering 
himself  under  the  generic  name  of  Mr.  Campbell, 
requested  of  me,  through  the  penny-post,  the  loan 
of  X50  for  two  years,  having  an  impulse,  as  he  said, 
to  make  this  demand.  As  I  felt  no  corresponding 
impulse,  I  begged  to  decline  a  demand  which  might 
have  been  as  reasonably  made  by  any  Campbell  on 
earth ;  and  another  impulse  has  determined  the  man 
of  fifty  pounds  to  send  me  anonymous  abuse  of  my 
works,  and  temper,  and  selfish  disposition.  The 
severity  of  the  joke  lies  in  14d.  for  postage,  to  avoid 
which,  his  next  epistle  shall  go  back  to  the  clerks 

*  See  Coostablo't  ItfiKellanr,  vol.  v. 

t0e«  the  Quarterlir  Review  for  January  1898,— or  SeoU't  Mia- 

1  Proae.  tcA  jdc. 

68    20 


of  the  Post-Officc,  as  itot  fv  Sir  W— S-.  How 
the  severe  rogue  would  be  disappointed,  if  he  knew 
I  never  looked  at  morfi  than  the  first  and  last  lines 
of  his  satirical  effusion  I  When  I  first  saw  that  a 
literary  profession  was  to  be  my  fate,  I  endeavoured 
by  all  efforts  of  stoicism  to  divest  myself  of  that 
irritable  degree  of  sensibility— or,  to  speak  plainlv, 
of  vanity— which  makes  the  poeycal  race  miserable 
and  ridiculous.  The  anxiety  of  a  poet  for  praise  and 
for  compliments  I  have  always  endeavoured  to  keep 
down. 

"  December  29.— Base  feehngs  this  same  calomel 

S'ves  one— mean,  poor,  and  abject— a  wretch^  as  Will 
ose  says.  » 

'  Fie  ie  on  silly  coward  man, 
Ttiat  he  should  be  the  alave  o't." 
Then  it  makes  one  "  wofiilly  dogged  and  snappish,"      \ 
as  Dr.  Rutt  the  Quaker  says  in  his  Gum  a/. —Must 
go  to  Woodstock^  yet  am  vexed  by  that  humour  of 
contradiction  which  make^ne  incline  to  do  any 
thing  else  in  preference.    Commenced  preface  for 
the  new  edition  of  my  Novels.    The  City  of  Cork 
send  my  freedom  in  a  silver  box. 

"  I>«c«n6er  31.— -Took  a  good  sharp  walk  the  first 
time  since  my  illness,  and  found  myself  the  better 
in  health  and  spirits.  Being  Hogmanay,  there  dined 
with  us  Coloned  Russell  and  his  sisters.  Sir  Adam 
Ferguson  and  Lady,  Colonel  Fennison,  with  Mary 
and  Margaret :  an  auld-world  party,  who  made 
themselves  happy  in  the  auld  fashion.  I  felt  so  tired 
about  eleven  that  I  was  forced  to  steal  to  bed. 

"January  1,  1826.— A  year  has  passed,— another 
has  commenced.  These  divisions  of  time  influence 
our  feelings  as  they  recur.  Yet  there  is  nothing  in 
it;  for  every  day  in  the  year  closes  a  twelvemonth 
as  well  as  theSlst  December,  The  latter  is  only 
the  solemn  pause,  as  when  a  guide,  showing  a  wild 
and  movntainous  road,  calls  on  a  party  to  look  back 
at  the  scenes  which  ;theY  have  iust  passed.  To  me 
this  new  year  opens  sadly.  There  are  these  trou- 
blesome pecuniary  difficulties,  which,  howfever,  I 
think  this  week  should  end.  There  is  the  absence 
of  all  my  children,  Anne  exceptedMnom  our  httle 
family  festival.  There  is,  besidea  that  ugly  report, 
of  the  IBth  Hussars  going  to  India.    Walter,  I  sup- 

r)se,  will  have  some  step  jn  view,  and  will  go,  and 
fear  Jane  will  not  dissuade  him.  A  hard  frosty 
day— cold,  bat  dry  and  pleasant  under  fooU  Walk- 
ed into  the  plantations  with  Anne  and  Anne  Rus- 
sell. A  thought  strikes  me.  alluding  to  this  period  , 
of  the  year.  People  say  that  the  whole  human 
frame  in  all  its  parts  and  divisions  is  gradually  in  * 
the  act  of  decaying  and  renewine.  What  a  cunonei^ 
time- piece  it  would  be  that  could  indicate  to  us  the 
moment  this  gradual  and  insensible  change  had  so 
completely  taken  place,  that  no  atom  was  Fefi  of  iho 
original  person  who  had  existed  at  a  certam  period, 
but  there  existed  in  his  stead  another  person  havmg 
the  same  thewes  and  sinews ;  the  same  face  and 
lineaments;  the  same  consciousness;  a  new  ship 
built'on  an  old  plank;  a  pair  of  transmigrated 
stockings  like  those  of  Sir  John  Cutler,  all  green, 
without  one  thread  of  the  ongmal  black  silk  left  r 
Singular— to  be  at  once  another  and  the  same  t 

*^  January  2.— Weather  clearing  up  in  Edinburgh 
once  more,  and  all  will,  I  believe,  do  well.  I  am 
pressed  to  get  on  with  Woodstock,  and  must  try.,  I 
wish  I  could  ooen  a  good  vein  of  interest  which 
would  breathe  freely.  I  must  take  my  old  way  and 
write  myself  into  good-humour  with  my  task.  It 
is  only  when  I  dally  with  what  I  am  about,  look 
back,  and  aside,  instead  of  keeping  my  eyes  straight 
forward,  that  I  feel  those  cold  sinkings  of  the  heart.. 
All  men,  I  supj^ose,  do  so  less  or  more.  .They  are 
like  the  sensation  of  a  sailor  when  the  ship  is  clear- 
ed for  action,  and  all  are  at  their  places— gloomy 
enough ;  but  the  first  broadside  puts  all  to  rights.. 
Dined  at  Huntly  Burn  with  the  Fergusons  en  matte, 

"JaTiuary  3.— Promises  a  fair  day,  and  I  thiiik 
the  progress  of  my  labours  will  afford  me  a  httla 


sitized  by  boogie 


418 


UFE  OF  SIR  WALTER  SCOTT. 


^zemse.  Walked  with  Colonel  Ruisell  from  eleTea 
till  two,  the  first  roo8  day's  exercise  I  hav6  had 
siace  coming  here.  We  went  through  all  the  Ter- 
f"  race,  the  Roman  Planting,*  over  by  the  Stiel  and 
Haxellcleuch,  and  so  by  the  Rhymer's  Glen  to 
Chiefswoodi  which  gave  my  heart  a  twinge,  so  dis- 
consolate it  seemed.  Yet  all  is  for  the  best.  When 
I  returned,  signed  a  bond  for  XlO.OOO,  which  will 
disencumber  me  of  all  pressing  claims  ;t  when  I 
get  forwards  Woodstock  and  Nap.  there  will  be 
^12)000  and  upwards,  and  I  hope  to  add  JS3000 
agamst  this  time  next  year,  or  the  devil  must  hold 
the  dice.  J.  B.  writes  me  seriously  on  the  careless- 
ness of  my  style.  I  did  not  think  I  had  been  more 
careless  than  usual ;  but  I  daresay  he  is  right.  I 
will  be  more  cautious. 

"  January  4.— Despatched  the  deed  executed  yes- 
terday. Mr.  and  Mrs.  Skene,  mv  excellent  friends, 
^came  to  us  from  Edinburgh.    Skene,  distinguished 


brother,  his  education  was  somewhat  neglected  in 
early  lili^  against  which  disadvantage  he  made  a 
moat  gallant  fights  exerting  himself  much  to  obtain 
those  accomplishments  which  he  has  since  posses- 
sed. Admirable  in  all  exercises,  there  entered  a 
snod  deal 'of  the  cavalier  into  his  early  character. 
C^  late  he  has  given  himself  much  to  the  study  of 
antiquities.  His  wif&  a  most  excellent  person^  was 
temwrly  fond  of  Sophia.  They  bring  so  much  old- 
fashioned  kindness  and  good-bumonr  with  them, 
besides  the  recollections  of  other  time^  that  they 
must  be  always  welcome  guests.  Letter  from  Mr, 
Scropo,!  announcing  a  visit. 

JojMiary  b.—Qm  the  desired  accommodation 
which  will  pat  J.  B.  ouite  straight  but  am  ft  little 
anxbus  still  about  Nonstable.  He  has  immense 
stock,  to  be  sure,  and  most  valuable,  bat  he  may 
have  sacrifices  to  make  to  convert  a  large  propor- 
tion of  it  into  ready  money.  The  accounts  m>m 
London  are  most  disastrous.  Many  wealthy  per- 
sona totafly  ruined,  and  many,  many  more  have 
been  obliged  to  purchase  their  safety  at  a  price  they 
vrill  feel  all  their  lives.  I  do  not  hear  things  have 
been  so  bad  in  E^dinburgh ;  and  J.  B.'s  business  has 
been  transacted  by  the  banks  with  liberalitv. 

"  Colonel  Russell  told  us  last  night  that  the  last  of 
-  the  Moguls,  a  descendant  of  Kubla-Khan,  though 
having  no  more  power  than  his  eflSgies  at  the  back 
of  a  set  of  playine-cards,  refused  to  meet  Lord  Hast- 
'  ings,  because  the  Grovemor-Oeneral  would  not 
ngree  to  remain  standing  in  his  presence.  Pretty 
mm  for  the  blood  of  Timur  in  these  degenerate  days ! 

**  Much  alarmed.  I  had  walked  till  twelve  with 
Skene  and  Russell,  and  then  sat  down  to  my  work. 
To  my  horror  and  surprise  I  could  neither  write  nor 
spell,  put  put  down  one  word  for  another,  and  wrote 
nonsense.  I  was  much  overpowered  at  the  same 
time,  and  could  not  conceive  the  reason.  I  fell 
asleep,  however,  in  my  chair,  and  slept  for  two 
hours.  On  mv  waking  my  head  waa  clearer,  and  I 
began  to  recollect  that  last  night  I  had  taken  the 
anodyne  left  for  the  purpose  by  Clarkson,  and,  be- 
•  ing  disturbed  in  the  course  of  the  ni|(ht,  1  had  not 
slept  it  off.  Obliged  to  give  up  wnting  to-day- 
read  Pepys  instead. 

"January  6.— This  seems  to  be  a  feeding  storm, 
coming  on  by  little  and  little.  Wrought  all  day.  and 
dined  quiet  My  disorder  is  wearing  ofli  and  the 
quiet  society  of  the  Skenes  suits  my  present  humour. 

*  Tfaif  pkntatton  now  coven  the  remaim  of  an  old!  Romtn  nmi 
fibm  the  Great  Cainpon  the  Eiidon  hilJe  (the  Trlmimtiumot 
4be  annalieli)  to  the  twd  below  ScoU't  liotwe. 

^  Whsii  settUnc  Um  eatata  on  hi*  eldeat  ton.  Sir  WaHcr  had 
retahted  the  power  of  hardening  it  with  ieiO,O0O  for  behoof  of  his 
children  :  he  now  laisca  the  luro  fiirthe  aaeiftanoe  of  the 


2  William  Sorope,  Eaq.,  of  Lineotnthite— the  repreaentative  of 
the  Lorda  Scrope  of  Bolton  (to  whoec  peerage  he  n,  I  believe,  en- 
titled.) was  at  thb  period  much  in  SooUand.  being  a  seatous  ang- 
W  and  deerstalker.  He  had  a  lease  of  Lord  Somerville'a  pa- 
vffioo  oMMMite  Melroae.  and  lived  on  terms  of  afftctionate  ioti- 
•asey  wiOi  Sir  Waker  Soott.  There  oocors  In  a  sobaequent  entry 
aa  aOuai  ya  to  BIr.  Scrape's  — "r**^**"  as  an  amatetir  artist 


I  really  thought  iNvas  in  for, some  very  bad  iUne«u 
Curious  expression  of  an  Indian-born  boy  just  coma 
from  Bengal,  a  son  of  my  cousin  George  SwintMi. 
The  child  saw  a  hare  run  across  the  fidda,  and  ex- 
claimed, *  See,  there  is  a  little  tige;  V 

"  January  7— 5?imday.— Knight  a  young  arti^ 
son  of  the  performer,  came  to  do  a  picture  of  me  at  tbm 
request  of  Terry.  This  is  very  far  from  being^  agra»> 
able,  as  I  submitted  to  that  state  of  oooatraint  last 
year  to  Newton,  at  request  of  Lockhart ;  to  I.eal^i 
at  request  of  my  American  friend  :*  to  Wilkie,  Ibr 
hispicture  of  the  King's  arrival  at  Holyrood  House  i 
and  some  one  bendes.  I  am  as  tired  of  the  opera- 
tion as  old  Maida,  who  had  been  so  often  skotched 
that  he  got  up  and  walked  off  with  mga*  of  loath- 
iog  whenever  he  saw  an  artist  vnforl  his  pa^  and 
handle  his  brushes.  But  this  vomif  man  is  cvril 
and  modest :  and  I  have  agreed  he  shall  be  in  the 
room  while  I  work^  and  take  the  beat  likeoeaa  ha 
can,  withotu  oompoling  me  into  the  fixed  attttate 
and  yawning  fatigues  ox  an  aetoal  sitting.  I  ihiak, 
if  he  haa  talent,  he  may  do  more  my  way  than  in 
the  customary  mode;  at  least  I  can't  have  the  haso- 
dog  look  which  the  unfortunate  Tketens  haa  wba 
IB  doomed  to  sit  for  what  seems  an  etemity.t 

"I  wrought  till  two  o'clock^-indeed  till  I  wta 
almost  nervous  with  correcting  and  acfibbUng.  I 
then  walked,  or  rather  waa  dragged  through  tha 
snow  by  Tom  Puidie,  while  Skene  acoompaaiad. 
What  a  olessing  there  is  in  a  feUowOe  Tom,  wiioai 
no  familiarity  can  spoil  whom  you  may  scold  aad 
praise  and  iok4  with,  knowing  the  qaality  of  tba 
man  is  unalteirable  in  his  love  and  revereaoe  to  kii 
maater.  Use  an  ordinary  aerrant  in  the  same  wa^ 
and  he  will  be  your  maater  in  a  month.  Weehould 
thank  Gkxi  for  the  snow  as  well  at  samiBerflowera. 
This  brushing  exercise  has  put  all  my  nenrea  into 
tone  again,  which  were  really  jarred  with  fiatjaiie 
until  my  very  backrbone  teemed  breaking.  Thit 
comet  of  trying  to  do  too  muoh.  J.  B.*t  newt  aia 
as  good  asttissible.— Prudence^  prodeooei  and  all 
win  do  exeobntly. 

January  8.— Frost  and  snow  stHL  WKte  to  ex- 
cuse myself  from  attending  the  ftmeral  of  my  amit 
Mrs.  Curie,  which  takes  place  to-morrow  at  Kelso. 
She  was  a  woman  of  the  old  Sandy-Knowe  breed, 
with  the  strong  sense,  high  principle,  and  indifilerent 
temper  which  helonged  to  my  fathers  family.  She 
lived  with  great  credit  on  a  moderate  income^  and  I 
beUeve  gave  away  a  great  deal  of  it.t 

"  January  9.— Mathews  the  comedian  and  hit  ata 
come  to  spend  a  day  at  Abbots(brd.~Mr.  Sciope 
also  comes  out. 

"January  10.— Bodily  health,  the  mainspring  of 
the  microcosm,  seems  quite  restored.  No  mota 
flushing  or  nervous  fits,  but  the  soimd  mind  in  the 
sound  body.  What  poor  thinoB  does  a  fever-fft  or 
an  overflowing  of  bile  make  of  the  master  of  crea- 
tion. The  snow  begins  to  fall  thick  this  morning— 
*The  landlord  then  aloud  did  say. 
As  bow  ho  wished  they  would  go  away.* 
To  have  our  friends  shut  up  here  would  be  rather 
too  much  of  a  good  thing.— The  day  cleared  up  aad 
was  very  pleasant  Had  a  good  walk  and  looked 
at  the  curling.  Mr.  Mathews  made  himself  very 
amusing  in  the  evenijig.  He  has  the  good-nattua  . 
to  show  his  accomplishments  without  pressing  and 
without  the  appearance  of  feeling  pain.  Qki  the 
contrary,  I  dare  say  be  eiijoys  the  pleasure  ha  com- 
municates. 

"January  U.— I  got  proof-sheets,  in  which  H 
seems  I  have  repeat^  a  whole  passage  of  history 
which  had  been  told  before.    James  is  in  an  awfiu 

•  Sir  Walter  omits  the  name  of  Us  IViend.Bfr.TlekiMrorasf 
I  Mr.  Lealie'sportiatt. 

*-- eedet,  Btaraamqoe  sedeMt 

Inleltx  Theaeaa VOHak 


;  Id  a  letter  to  this  date,  to  his  siater-fai-law.  BIr.  TIhmm 
Soott,  Sir  Walter  says— "  Poor  aunt  Carle  died  like  a  Rooiaa,  m 
rather  hke  one  of  the  Sandy- Koowe  bairns,  the  most  stoioiliMS 
I  ofOT  knew.  She  tamed  every  ooe  oat  of  the  room,  aad  ihsw 
her  last  breath  aboe.  So  did  my  undo  Oaplaia  Robert  Swtl, 
and  several  others  (rf'that  ftmOy.;*  ^-x/-x/^i^ 
Digitized  by  VjOOQ  IC 


UFK  OF  SIR  WALTER*  SCOTT. 


ftew,  and  I  cannot  blame  him ;  but  then  he  should 
consider  the  hyo»eyamtis  which  I  was  taking,  and 
the  anzioua  botheration  about  the  money-market 
HowoTer,  as  Chaucer  saya— 
'  '  There  is  na  workemao 

That  can  bothe  worken  wel  and  bastille, 
This  must  be  done  at  leasure  parfaitly.' 
**Ja'nuary  12.— Mathews  last  night  save  us  a 
Twy  perfect  hnitation  of  old  Cumberland;  who  ear- 
ned the  poetic  jealousy  and  irritability  farther  than 
any  man  I  ever  saw.  He  was  a  great  aatterer,  too. 
the  old  rogue,  ^ill  Erskine  used  to  admire  him.  I 
think  he  wanted  originality.  A  very  high-bred  man 
in  point  of  manners  in  society,  upon  the  whole, 
the  days  pass  pleasantly  enough— work  till  one  or 
two,  then  an  hour  or  two  hourr  walk  in  the  snow, 
then  lighter  work^  or  reading.  Late  dinner,  and 
smging,  or  chat,  m  the  evening.  Mathews  has 
reaUy,  all  the  will,  as  well  as  the  talent,  to  be 
amusing.  He  confirms  my  idea  of  ventriloquism 
(which  IS  an  absurd  word),  as  being  merely  the  art 
of  imltaang  sounds  at  a  greater  or  less  distance, 
aMsted  by  some  ^ttle  points  of  trick  to  influence 
the  imagination  of  the  audience— the  vulgar  idea  of 
a  Deculiar  oiganization  (beyond  fineness  of  ear  and' 
or  utterance)  ta.nonsense. 

^January  13.— Our  party  are  about  to  disperse— 
'like  youthful  steers  unyoked,  east,  north,  and  south.' 
I  am  not  sorry,  beiuR  one  of  those  whom  loo  much 
mirth  always  mchnes  to  sadness.  The  missing  so 
OMny  of  my  own  family,  together  with  the  senous 
inoonveniencies  to  which  I  have  been  exposed,  give 
me  at  present  a  deaiie  to  be  alone.  The  Skeaes  re- 
tom  to  Rdinburgfa,  so  does  Mr.  Scrope-Ts/em,  the 
fiule  artist;  Mathews  to  Newcastle;  his  son  to 
Liverpool.    So  extutU  omnet. 

** Mathews  assure:^  ma  that  Sheridan  wa«  ^ene* 
nHf  very  dull  in  ^  ciny,  and  sste  ^siillen  and  jsilent, 
swallowing  glass  nfier  £(Id8^»  mlber  a  bindernnci) 
than  a  help.  But  ibere  wa^  n  time  wbsn  he  broke 
om  with  a  reeuiLiptiuti  af  what  had  bom  F?oinj;  on^ 
done  with  great  lorce,  aud  gnneriilly  attacking;  e-onm 
person  in  the  oompFinsr,  or  aome  opinion  wKich  he 
had  expressed.  I  never  an w  8herionn  but  m  iars,^ 
Mrties.  He  had  n  Bardolph  couDtc-nant^e,  wjih 
heavy  features.  Imt  hie  eye  roMess*-!;!  rhc  most  dis- 
tiniliuished  brilliaiicy.  Mathewa  says  it  is  v<^ry  siut- 
pie  m  Tom  Moore  to  admire  how  Sheridan  came 
ov  the  means  of  paying  the  price  of  Dmry-Lane 
Theatre,  when  all  the  world  knows  he  never  paid  it 
•t  all  t  and  that  Lacy,  who  sold  it,  was  reduced  to 
want  by  his  breach  of  foith. 

**  January  14— An  odd  mysterious  letter  from 
Constable,  who  has  gone  post  to  London.  It 
strikes  me  to  be  that  sort  of  letter  which  I  have 
seen  men  write  when  they  are  desirous  that  their 
disagreeable  intelligence  should  bo  rather  appre- 
hended than  expressed.  I  thought  he  had  been  in 
London  a  fortnight  ago,  disposing  of  property  to 
meet  this  exigence,  ana  so  I  think  he  should.  Well, 
I  must  have  patience.  But, these  terrors  and  frights 
are  truly  annoving.  Luckily  the  funny  people  are 
gone,  and  I  shall  not  have  the  task  of  grinning 
when  I  am  serious  enough. 

"  A  .letter  from  J.  B.,  mentioning  Constable's 
joomey,  but  without  expressiD^much  apprehension. 
He  knows  C.  well,  and  saw  him  before  his  de- 
parture, and  makes  no  doubt  of  his  being  able  easily 
to  extricate  whatever  may  be  entangled.  ■  I  will  not 
^erefore  make  myself  uneasy.  I  can  help  doing  so 
surely,  if  I  will.  At  least,  1  have  given  up  cigars 
since  the  year  began,  and  have  now  no  wish  to  re- 
turn to  the  habit,  as  it  is  called.  I  see  no  reason 
^why  one  should  not,  with  Gkxl's  assistance,  shun 
noxious  thoughts,  which  foretell  evil  and  cannot 
remedy  it. 

**  January  1 5.— Like  yesterday,  a  hard  frost. 
Thermometer  at  10;  water  in  my  dressing-room 
frozen  tO/flint  x  vet  I  had  a  fine  walk  yesterda)f;  the 
inn  dancinff  deTightfully  on  '*  grim  Nature's  visage 
hear.''^    were  it  not  the  plague  of  being  dragged 


along  by  another  person,  I  should  like  such  weather 
as  well  as  summer,. but  having  Tom  Purdie  to  do 
this  office  reconciles  me  to  it.  /  cannot  cleik  with 
John^  as  old  Mrs.  Mure  used  to  say.  I  mean,  that 
an  ordinary  menial  servant  thus  hooked  to  your 
side  reminds  me  of  the  twin  bodies  mentioned  by 
Pitscottie,  being  two  trunks  on  the  same  waist  and 
legs.  One  died  before  the  other,  and  remained  a 
dei^  burden  on  the  back  of  its  companion.  Such 
IS  the  cloee  uuion  with  a  person  whom  you  cannot 
well  converse  with,  and  whose  presence  is  yet  in- 
dispensable to  your  getting  on.  An  actual  com- 
pamon,  whether  bumbb  or  your  equal,  is  still  worse. 
But  Tom  Purdi^  is  just  the  thing,  kneaded  up  be- 
tween the  friend  and  servant,  as  well  as  Uncle 
Toby's  bowling-green  between  sand  add  clay.  You 
are  certain  he  is  proud  aa  well  as  patient  under  his 
burden,  and  you  are  under  no  more  constraint  than 
with  a  pony.  I  mustjride  him  to-day  if  the  weather 
holds  up.  Mean* time,  I  will  correct  that  curious 
fellow  Pepys*  Diary.  I  mean  the  article  I  have 
made  of  it  for  the  Qnarterly. 

^^  Edinburgh,  January  16.— Came  through  cold 
roads  to  as  cold  news.  Hurst  and  Robinson  have 
suffered  a  bill  to  come  back  upon  Constable,  which 
I  suppose  infbrs  the  rum  of  both  houses.  We  shall 
soon  see.    Dined  with  the  Skenes. 

"  January  17.— James  Ballantyne  this  morning, 
good  honest  fellow;  with  a  visage  as  black  as  the 
crook,  fie  hopes  no  salvation  ;na8  indeed  taken 
measures  to  stop.  It  is  hard,  after  having  fouffht 
such  a  battle.  Have  apologized  for  not  attenamg 
the  Royal  Society  Club,  who  have  a  gaudtamus  on 


thia  day,  and  seemed  to  count  much  on  my  being 
the  proses.  My  old  acquaintance.  Miss  Ehzabeth 
Clerk,  sister  of  Willie,  died  suddenly.    I  cannot 


choose  but  widi  it  had  becoi  Sir  W.  S.,  and  vet  the 
feeliiu;  is  unmanly.  I  have  Anne,  my  wiie,  and 
Charles  to  look  after..  I  felt  rather  sneaking  as  I 
came  home  firom  the  Parliament-House— felt  as  if 
I  wen  liable  momtrari  digUo  in  no  very  pleasant 
way.  But  this  must  be  borne  cum  ctsieris ;  and, 
thank  God,  however  uncomfortable.  I  do  not  fioel 
despondent.  I  have  seen  Cadell,  Ballantyne,  and 
Hogarth ;  all  advise  me  to  execute  «  trust  of  my 

Sroperty  for  payment  of  my  obligattf)ns ;  so  does 
ohn  Gibson,*  and  so  I  resolve  to  do.    My  wife  and 
daughter  are  gloomy,  but  yet  patient. 

*^  January  18.— He  that  sleeps  too  long  in  the 
morning,  let  him  borrow  the  pillow  of  a  debtor.  So 
nays  the  Spaniard,  and  so  say  I.  I  had  o[  course 
an  indifferent  night  of  it.  I  wish  these  two  days 
were  over;  but  the  worst  is  over.  The  Bank  of 
Scotland  has  behaved  very  well ;  expressing  a  reso- 
lution to  serve  Constable's  house  and  me  to  the 
uttermost :  but  as  no  one  can  say  to  what  extent 
Hurst  and  Robinson's  failure  may  go,  borrowing 
would  but  linger  it  out. 

*'  January  19.— During  yesterday  I  received  for- 
mal visits  from  my  friends  Skene  and  Colin  Mac- 
kenzie (who,  I  am  glad  to  see,  looks  well),  with 
every  oner  of  service.  The  Royal  Bank  also  sent 
Sir  John  Hope  and  Sir  Henry  Jardine  to  offer  to 
oflfer  to  comply  ivith  my  wishes.  The  Advocate 
came  on  the  same  errand.  But  I  gave  ail  the  same 
answer— that  my  intention  was  to  put  the  ^hole 
into  the  hands  of  a -trustee,  and  to  be  contented 
with  the  event,  and  that  all  I  had  to  ask  was  time 
to  de  so,  and  to  extricate  my  affahs.  I  was  assured 
of  every  accommodadon  in  this  way.     From  all 

Jiuarters  I  have  had  the  same  kindness.— Letters 
rom  Constable  and  Robinson  have  arrived.  The 
last  persist  in  saying  they  will  pay  all  and  every 
body.  They-  sav,  moreover,  in  a  postscript,  that 
had  Constable  Seen  in  town  ten  days  sooner,  all 
would  have  been  well.  I  feel  quite  composed  and 
determined  to  labour.   There  is  no  remedy.   I  gueu 

Mr.  John  Gibwn,  junior,  W.  8..-Mr.  Jaraef  Jollie,  W.  8..- 

~lr.  Atoandef  r  —  ~   "    '" 

jlUmatelr 
Scott's  af&in ; 


Mr.  A 

whouf 


Monrpeiuiy.  W.  B.,  were  the  three  gentli 

itelr  affieed  to  Uke  charte.  ai  tnisteee,  of  Sir  Walter 


;  and  eertaSnly  no  leatleroeo  ever  aoqaitted  then- 

■elvet  of  Mcb  an  office  in  a  manner  roofe  booourable  to  them* 


480 


LIFE  OP  SIR  WALTER  SCOTT. 


(as  Mathews  makes  his  Yankees  say)  that  we  shall 
not  be  troubled  with  visiters,  and  I  calculate  that  I 
will  not  go  out  at  all ;  so  what  can  I  do  better  than 
labour  ?  Even  yesterday  I  went  about  making  notes 
on  Waverley,  according  to  Constable's  plan.  It 
■will  do  good  one  day.  To-day,  when  I  lock  this 
volume,  I  go  to  Woodstock.  Heigho  I— Knight 
came  to  stare  at  me  to  complete  his  portrait.  He 
must  have  read  a  tragic  page  comparative  to  what 
he  saw  at  Abbotsford.— VVe  dined  of  course  at  home, 
and  before  and  after  dinner  I  finished  about  twenty 
printed  pages  of  Woodstock,  but  to  what  effect 
others  must  judge.  A  painful  scene  after  dinner, 
and  another  after  supper,  endeavouring  to  convince 
these  poor  dear  creatures  that  tbey  must  not  look 
for  miracles,  but  consider  the  misfortune  as  certain, 
and  only  to  oe  lessened  by  patience  and^  labour. 

"Januaiy  20.— Indifferent ,  night— very  bilious, 
which  may  be  want  of  exercise.  Mais^  pourtani, 
euUivona  notrt  jardin.  The  public  favour  is  my 
only  k}ttery.  I  have  long  enjoyed  the  foremost 
prize,  and  something  in  my  breast  tells  me  my  evil 
genius  will  not  overwhelm  me  if  I  stand  by  myself. 
Why  should  I  not  1  1  have  no  enemies— many  at- 
tached friei^ds.  The  popular  ascendency  which  I 
have  maintained  is  of  the  kind  which  is  ratherim- 
proved  by  frequent  appearances.  In  fact,  critics 
mav  say  what  they  will,  but  'Aatn  your  reputation, 
ana  tyne*  your  reputation,*  is  a  true  proverb. 

"  Sir  Wuliam  Forbest  called,  the  same  kind, 
honest,  friend  as  ever^  with  all  offers  of  assistance, 
&c.  dbc.  &c.  All  anxious  to  serve  me,  and  careless 
about  their  own  risk  of  loss.  And  these  are  the 
cold,  hard)  money-making  men  whpse  questions 
and  control  I  apprehended.  Lord  Chief  Commis- 
sioner Adam  also  came  to  see  me,  and  the  meeting, 
though  pleasing,  was  melancholy.  It  was  the  first 
time  we  had  met  since  the  break  up  of  his  hopes  in 
the  death  of  his  eldest  son  on  his  return  from  India, 
where  he  was  Chief  in  Council  and  highly  esteem- 
ed.t  The  Commissioner  is  not  a  very  eai^ly  friend 
of  mine,  for  I  scarce  knew  him  till  his  settlement  in 
Scotland  with  his  present  office.  But  I  have  since 
lived  much  with  him,  and  taken  kindly  to  him  as 
one  of  the  most  pleasant,  kind-hearted,  benevolent 
men  I  have  eyer  known.  It  is  high  treason  among 
the  Tories  to  express  regard  for  nim,  or  respect  for 
the  Jury  Court  in  which  he  presides.  I  was  against 
that  experiment  as  much  as  any  one.  But  it  is  an 
experiment,  and  the  establishment  (which  the  fools 
will  not  perceive)  is  the  only  th'mg  which  I  see  likclv 
to  give  some  prospects, of  ambition  to  our  bar,  whicn 
has  been  otherwise  so  much  diminished.  As  for  the 
C^ef  Commissioner,  I  dare  say  he  does  what  all 
omer  people  of  consequence  do  m  elections  and  so 
forth.  But  he  is  the  personal  friend  of  the  King,  and 
the  decided  enemy  of  whatever  strikes  at  the  con- 
stitutional rights  of  the  Monarch ;  besides  I  love 
him  for  the  various  changes  which  he  has  endured 
through  life,  and  which  have  been  so  great  as  to 
make  nim  entitled  to  be  regarded  in  one  point  of 
view  as  the  most  fortunate— m  the  other,  the  most 
unfortunate  man  in  the  world.  He  has  gained  and 
]ost  two  fortunes  by  the  sanie  good  luck  and  the 
same  rash  confidence,  of  which  one  raised,  and  the 
other  now  threatens,  my  peculium.  And  his  quiet, 
honourable,  and  ^nerous  submission  under  circum- 
stances more  pamful  than  mine,— for  the  loss  of 
world's  wealth  was  to  him  aggravated  by  the  death 
of  his  youngest  and  darling  son  in  the  west  Indies, 
—furnished  me  at  the  time  and  now  with  a  noble 
example.  So  Tory  and  Whig  may  go  be  d — - — d 
together,  as  names  that  have  disturbed  old  Scot- 
land, and  torn  asunder  the  most  kindly  feelings 
since  the  first  day  they  were  invented.  Yes,  d— n 
them,  they  are  spells  to  rouse  all  our  angry  passions, 
and  I  dare  say,  notwithstanding  the  opinion  of  my 

•  To  hain  any  thin?  is,  Angliee,  to  detl  rery  carertdly,  penu- 
liously  about  it— /ynr,  to  lose.  Scott  oAen  uiwd  to  say, ' '  hain  a 
pea  and  tyne  a  pen  :"  which  ia  nearer  Uie  proverb allud«>d  to. 

♦  The  late  Sit  William  Forbeg.  Bart ,  aucceeded  hM  fatlwr  (the 
biographer  of  B^attic)  as  chief  of  the  head  private  bankinir- house 
in  Edinbursh.    Soott'e  amiable  friend  died  a4tli  October,  1823. 

:  John  Adam,  Eaq.  died  on  ihipboord,  ou  hit  paaaage  bome- 
wards  from  Caleutta.  4th  JuncflSSS. 


private  and  calm  moments,  I  will  open  on  the  cry 
again  s»  soon  as  something  occurs  to  claim  my 
words.  Even  yet,  Gk)d  knows,  I  would  fight  in 
honourable  contest  with  ^ord  or  blow  f&c  my 
poUtical  opinions ;  out  I  cannot  permit  that  strife  to 
Qiix  its  waters  with  my  daily  meal,  those  waters  of 
bitterness  which  poison  all  mutual  love  and  confi- 
dence betwixt  the  well-disposed  on  either  side,  and 
prevent  them,  if  need  were,  from,  making  mntua) 
concessions  and  balancing  the  constitution  against 
the  ultras  of  both  parties.  The  good  man  seems 
something  broken  by  these  afflictions. 

"  January  21.— Susannah  in  Tristram  Shaudy 
thinks  death  is  best  met  in  bed.  I  am  sure  trouble 
and  vexation  are  not.  The  watches  of  the  night 
press  wearily  when  disturbed  bv  firuitless  regrets 
and  disagreeable  anticipations.    But  let  it  pass. 

'  Well,  Goodman  Time,  or  blunt,  or  keen, 

Move  thou  quick,  or  take  thy  leisure. 

Longest  day  will  have  its  e'en, 

Weariest  life  but  treads  a  measure.' 

I  hu^ti  ^,..>  c.iv.t.r.,  k.,.,  .^  ,...,-  much  downcast 
for  the  risk  oi  their  copy- rights  be\nji  thrown  away 
bv-  n  iijitty  sule.  1  tun^gesE^ji  liiat  if  they  went  very 
cfa^ai^  Fiome  nitan:^  mi^Ui  be  fill  lira  on  to  purchase- 
tfa ni  ill,  J  kat  the  t^plit  btiwiAt:  Constable  apd 
Cr.  ^  'I  v.i1!  render  impossible  what  might  otherwise 
be  Hfiouf^h.    It  is  th«  italjaa  race-horses,  I 

tfa  h,  iDstead  qi  ndur^  huve  spurs  tied  to 

tfa  Hj  3<^  ttMirjckttk^TLj  EH  to  a  constant  gal- 

lop. Uuucii  icl.:^  iiie  iiJuir  grcBj  profit  was  some- 
times.L.  10,000  a- year,  but  much  swallowed  up  with 
expenses,  and  his  partner's  draughts  which  came  to 
L.4000  yearly.  What  there  is  to  show  for  this.  God 
knows.  Constable's  apparent  expenses  were  very 
much  within  bounds. 

"Cohn  Mackenzie  entered,  and  with  his  usnal 
kindness  engages  to  use  his  influence  to  recommend 
some  moderate  proceeding  to  Constable's  creditors, 
such  as  may  permit  him  to  go  on  and  turn  that 
species  of  property  to  account  which  no  man^  alive 
can  manage  so  well  as  he. 

"  Followed  Mr.  Gibson  with  a  most  melancholy 
tale.  Things  are  much  worse  with  Constable  than 
I  apprehended.  Naked  we  entered  the  world,  and 
naked  we  leave  it— blessed  be  the  name  pt  the 
Lordl 

"  January  22.— I  feel  neither  dishonoured  nor 
broken  down  by  the  bad— now  really  bad  news  I 
have  received.  I  have  walked  mv  last  on  the  do- 
mains I  have  planted— sate  the  fast  time  in  the 
halls  I  have  built.  But  death  would  have  taken 
them  ^m  me  if  misfortune  had  spared  them.  My 
poor  people  whom  I  loved  so  welll— There  is  just 
another  die  to  turn  up  against  me  in  this  run  of 
ill-luck  i  t.  e.—l(  I  should  break  my  magic  wand  in 
the  fall  from  this  elephant,  and  lose  my  popularity 
with  my  fortune.  Then  Woodstock  and  Bony 
may  both  go  to  the  paper-tnakcr,  and  I  may  take 
to  smoking*  cigars  and  drinking  grog,  or  turn 
devotee,  and  intoxicate  the  brain  another  way.    In 

{>rospect  of  absolute  ruin,  I  wonder  if  they  would 
et  me  leave  the  Court  of  Sessions.  I  would  like 
metbinks  to  go  abroad, 

*  And  lay  my  bones  Ikr  frora  the  Tweed.* 
But  1  find  my  eyes  moistening,  and  that  will  not  do. 
I  will  not  yield  without  a  fi^ht  for  it.  It  is  odd, 
when  I  set  myself  to  work  doggedly^  as  Dr.  Johnson 
would  say,  I  am  exactly  the  same  man  that  I  ever 
was— neither  low-spirited  nor  dUiraiL  In  pros- 
perous times  I  have  sometimes  felt  my  fancy  and 
{)Owersof  language  flag,  but  adversity  is  to  me  at 
east  a  tonic  and  bracer;  the  fountain  is  awakened 
from  its  inmost  recesses,  as  if  the  spirit  of  affliction 
had  troubled  it  in  his  passage* 

"  Poor  Mr.  Pole  the  harper  sent  to  ofier  me  L.500 
or  L.600,  probably  his  all.*  There  is  much  good  in 
the  world,  after  all.  But  I  will  involve  no  friend, 
either  rich  or  poor.  My  own  right  hand  shall  do  it— 
*  Mr.  Pde  had  loof  attended  Sir  Walter  Scott's  daoxhten  as 
teacher  of  the  harp.    To  the  end,  Soptt  alwa/s  •poke  0(  bm  eoa. 


duct  on  this  occaiion  as  the 
componiod  his  disaste^^ed  by 


itonce  ihU  aie> 


UPE  OP  Sm  WALTER  SCOTT 


4fl 


el0e  will  I  be  done  Id  the  slang  language,  and  un- 
done in  common  parlance. 

**I  am  glad  that,  beydtod  my  own  fiimOy,  who 
are,  ezcepuog  Lady  S.,  young  and  able  to  bear  sor- 
row, of  whicD  this  is  the  first  taste  to  some  of  them, 
most  of  the  hearts  are  past  aching  which  would 
have  once  been  inconsolable  on  this  occasion.  I  do 
not  mean  that  many  will  not  seriously  regret,  and 
some  perhaps  lament  my  misfortunes.  But  mv 
dear  mother,  my  almost  sister.  Christy  Rutherfora, 
poor  Will  Erskine;  those  would  have  bebn  mourners 
mdeed. 

**  Well— exertion— exertion.  O,  Invention,  rouse 
thyself!  May  man  be  kind !  May  Gkxi  be  propitious ! 
The  worst  is,  I  never  quite  know  when  I  am  right 
or  wrong  rand  Ballantyne,  who  does  know  in  some 
degree^  /mil  fidar  to  tell  me.  Locklurt  would  be 
worth  gold  just  now.  but  he  too  might  be  too  diffi- 
dent to  speak  broad  out.  All  my  nope  is  in  the 
continued  indulgence  of  the  pubtic  I  have  a 
funeral-letter  to  the  burial  of  the  Chevalier  Yelin.  a 
tbreigiier  of  learning  and  talent,  who  has  died  at  the 
Roval  Hotel.  He  wished  to  be  introduced  to  me, 
and,  was  to  have  read  a  paper  before  the  Royal 
Society  when  this  introduction  was  to  have  taken 
place.  I  was  not  at  the  Society  that  evening,  and 
the  poor  gentleman  was  taken  ill  at  the  meeting 
and  nnable  to  proceed.  He  went  to  his  bed  and 
never  rose  again :  and  now  his  funeral  will  be  the 
first  public  place  I  shall  appear  at.  He  dead,  and  I 
mioea.— This  is  what  you  call  a  meeting. 

**  January  23.— Slept  ill  not  having  been  abroad 
these  eight  dajB—tplenduia  hilU.  Then  a  dead 
sleep  in  the  morning,  and  when  the  awakening 
come^  a  strong  feeung  how  well  I  could  dispense 
with  It  for  onpe  and  for  ever.  Tliis  passes  away, 
-  however,  as  better  and  more  dutiful  thoughts  arise 
in  my  mind.  I  know  not  if  my  imagination  has 
flagged;  probably  it  has;  but  at  least  my  powers 
of  labour  have  not  diminished  during  the  last  mel- 
ancholy week.  On  Monday  and  Tuesday  my  exer- 
tioQB  were  suspended.  Since  Wednesday  inclusive 
I  have  wr^ten  thirty-eight  of  my  close  manuscript 
Dage&  of  which  seventy  make  a  volume  of  the  usual 
Novel  size. 

"Wrote  till  twelve  a.  m.,  finishing  half  of  what  I 
call  a  good  day's  work— ten  pages  of  print  or  rather 
twelve.  Then  walked  in  the  Prince's  Street  plea- 
sure-grounds with  good  Samaritan  James  Skene, 
the  only  one  among  my  numerous  friends  who  can 
properly  be  termed  amicus  curaxyLm  mearum^  others 
being  too  busy  or  too  gay,  and  several  being  estrang- 
ed by  habit. 

"  The  walks  have  been  conducted  on  the  whole 
with  much  taste,  though  Skene  has,  undergone 
much  criticism,  the  usual  reward  of  public  exertions, 
on  account  of  hn  plans.  It  is  singular  to  walk  close 
beneath  the  grim  old  castle,  and  think  what  scenes 
it  must  have  seen,  and  how  many  generations  of 
threescore  and  ten  have  risen  and  past  away.  It  is 
a  place  to  cure  one  of  too  much  sensation  over 
earthly  subjects  of  mutation.  My  wife  and  girl's 
tongues  are  chatting  in  ft  lively  manner  in  the  draw- 
ing-room.   It  does  me  good  to  hear  them. 

*^  January  24.— Constable  came  yesterday  and 
saw  me  for  half  an  hour.  He  seemed  irritable,  but 
kept  his  temper  under  command.  Was  a  little 
shocked  when  I  intimated  that  I  was  disposed  to 
regard  the  present  works  in  progress  as  my  own.  I 
thmk  I  saw  two  things  :-*-l.  That  he  is  desirous  to 
return  into  the  management  of  his  own  aflfairs  with- 
out Cadell,  if  he  can.  2.  That  he  relies  on  my  con- 
nexion as  the  way  of  helping  him  out  of  the  slough. 
Indeed  he  said  he  was  ruined  utterly  without  my 
oonntenanoe.  I  certainly  will  befriend  him  if  1  can, 
but  Constable  without  Cadell  is  like  getting  the 
clock  without  the  pendulum :— the  one  haying  the 
ingenuity,  the  other  the  caution  of  the  business.  I 
wul  see  my  way  before  making  any  bargain,  and  I 
will  help  them,  1  am  sore,  if  I  can,  without  endan- 
gering my  last  cast  for  freedom.- Worked  out  my 
xtak  yesterday.^-My  kind  ^end  Mrs.  Coutts  has 


got  the  cadetship  for  Cringle  Shortreed,  in  which  I 
was  peculiarly  interested. 

"I  went  to  the  Court  for  the  first  time  to-day, 
and,  like  the  man  with  the  large  nose^  thought  every 
body  was  thinking  of  me  and  my  mishaps.  Many 
were,  undoubtedly;  and  all  rather  regretiingly,  some 
obviously  affected.  It  is  singular  to  see  the  differ- 
ence of  men's  manner  whilst  they  strive  to  be  kind 
or  civil  in  their  way  of  addressing  me.  Some  smiled 
as  they  wished  me  good  day,  as  if  to  say,  '  Think 
nothing  about  it,  my  lad :  it  is  ^uite  out  of  our 
thoughts.'  Others  greeted  me  with  the  affected 
gravity  which  one  sees  apd  despises  at  a  funeral. 
The  best-bred,— all,  I  believe,  meaning  eoually  well 
—just  shook  hands  and  went  on.— A  foolish  pufl!'in 
the  papers,  calling  on  men  and  gods  to  assist  a 
popular  author,  who  having  choused  the  public  of 
many  thousands,  had  not  the  sense  to  keep  wealth 
when  he  had  it.— If  I  am  hard  pressed,  and  measures 
used  against  me,  I  must  use  all  means  of  legal  de- 
fence, and  subscribe  myself  biftikrupt  in  a  petition 
for  sequestration.  It  is. the  course  one  should,  at 
any  rate,  have  advised  a  client  to  take.  But  for 
this  I  would,  in  a  Court  of  Honour,  deserve  to  lose 
my  spurs.  Noi  if  th^  permit  me,  I  will  be  their 
vassal  for  life,  and  dig  in  the  mine  of  my  imagination 
to  find  diamonds  (or  what  may  sell  for  such)  to 
make  ^ood  my  engagements,  not  to  enrich  myself. 
And  tms  from  no  reluctance  to  be  called  the  Insol- 
vent, which  I  probably  am,  but  because  I  will  not 
put  out  of  the  power  of  my  creditors  the  resources, 
mental  or  literary,  which  yet  remain  to  me.  Went 
to  the  funeral  of  Chevalier  Yelin,  the  literary  for- 
eigner mentioned  on  22d.  How'  many  and  how 
various  are  the  ways  of  affliction.  Here  is  this  poor 
man  dying  at  a  ctistance  fh>m  home,  his  proud  heart 
broken,  his  wife  and  fkmily  anxiously  expecting  let- 
ters, and  doomed  only  to  learn  they  nave  lost  a  nus- 
band  and  father  for  ever.  He  lies  buried  on  the 
Calton  Hill,  near  learned  and  scientific  dust— the 
grav^  of  David  Hume  and  John  Playfair  being  side 
by  side. 

"  January  2S.— Anne  is  ill  this  morning.  May  God 
help  us!  If  It  should  prove  serious,  as  I  htive  known 
it  in  such  cases,  where  am  I  to  find  couraee  or  com- 
fort ?  A  thought  has  struck  m6— Can  we  do  nothing 
for  creditors  with  the  goblin  drama,  called  the  Por- 
tunea  of  Devorgoil  1  Could  it  not  b^added  to  Wood- 
stock as  a  fourth  volume?  Terry  refused  a  gift  of 
it,%but  he  was  quite  and  entirely  wrong;  it  is  not 

fjood,  but  it  may  be  made  so.    Wox  Will  Erskine 
iked  it  much. 


** January  26.— Spoke  to  J.  B.  last  night  about 
Devorgoil,  who  does  not  seem  to  relish  the  propo- 
sal, alleging  the  comparative  failure  of  Halidon  Hill. 
Ay,  save  Self-Conceit,  but  he  has  not  read  it— and 
whefi  ne  does,  it  is  the  sort  of  wild  fanciful  work  be- 
twixt heaven  and  earth,  which  men  of  solid  parts 
do  not  estimate.  Pepys  thought  Shakspeaxe's  Mid- 
summer-Night's Dream  the  most  silly  play  he  had 
ever  seen,  and  fepys  was  probably  judging  on  the 
same  grounds  wiin  J.  B.,  though  presumptuous 
enough  to  form  conclusions  against  a  very  different 
work  firom  any  of  mine.  How  if  I  send  it  to  Lock- 
hart  by  and  by  1  . 

"  Gibson  comes  with  a  joyful  face,  announcing  all 
the  creditors  had  unanimously  agreed  to  a  private 
trust.  This  is  handsome  and  confidential,  and  must 
warm  my  best  eflbrts  to  gel  them  out  of  the  scrape. 
I  will  not  doubt— to  doubt  is  to  lose.  Sir  William 
Forbes  took  the  chair,  and  behaved,  as  he  has  ever 

I  done,  with  the  generosity^  of  ancient  faith  arti  early 
friendship.  That  House  is  more  deeply  concerned 
than  most.    In  what  scenes  have  Sir  William  and 

I I  not  borne  share  together— desperate  and  almost 
;  bloody  affrays,  rivalries,  deep  drinking  matches,  and 

finally,  with  the  kindest  feelings  on  both  side.s  some- 
what separated  by  his  retiring  much  withm  the 
bosom  of  his  family,  and  I  moving  little  beyond 
mine.  It  is  fated  our  plantts  should  cross,  though, 
and  that  at  the  periods  most  interesting  for  me. 
Down— down— a  hundred  thoughts. 
"I  hope  to  .leep  l'«««ftig'^in^;vJtt6^\J 


/ 


LIFE  OF  Sm  WALTER  SCOTT. 


chall  get  ill;  and/  then  I  cannot  keep  my  engage- 
ments. Is  It  not  odd  7  I  can  command  my  eyes  to 
be  awake  when  toil  and  weariness  sit  oiv  my  eyehds, 
but  to  draw  the  curtain  of  oblivion  is  beyond  my 
power.  I  remember  some  of  the  wild  Buccaneers, 
m  the^r  impiety,  succeeded  pretty  well  by  shutting 
hatches  and  burning  brimstone  and  assafcetida  to 
make  a  tolerable  imitation  of  ^//— but  the  pirates' 
Tieavcn  was  a  wretched  a^air.  It  is  one  o[  the  worst 
thmgs  about  this  system  of  ours,  that  it  is  a  hundred 
times  m<^e  easy  to  inflict  pain  than  to  create  pleas- 
ure. 

""^ January  27/^.— Slept  belter  and  less  bilious, 
owing  doubtless  to  thefatigue  of  thepreceding  night, 
and  the  more  comfortable  news.  Wrote  to  Laidlaw, 
directing  him  to  make  all  preparations  for  reduction. 
The  Celtic  Society  present  me  with  the  most  splen- 
did broadsword  I  ever  saw ;  a  beautiful  piece  of  art, 
and  a  most  noble  weapon.  Honourable  Mr.  Steuart, 
(second  son  of  the  Earl  of  Moray.)  General  Graham 
Stirling,  and  MacDougal,  attended  as  a  committ,ee 
to  present  it.  This  was  very  kind  of  my  friends  the 
Celts,  with  whom  I  have  had  so  many  merry  meet- 
ings. It  wijl  be  a  rare  legacy  to  Walter— for  myself, 
good  lack !  it  is  like  Lady  Dowager  Don's  prize  in  a 
lottery  of  hardware;  she— a  venerable  lady  who  al- 
wava  wore  a  haunch-hoop,  silk  gneglig^  and  triple 
TamoR  at  the  elbow— having  the  luck  to  gain  a  pair 
of  silver  spurs  and  a  whip  to  correspond. 

"Jflnuary  28^.— These  last  four  or  five  days  I 
have  wrought  little ;  to-day  I  set  on  the  steam  and 
ply  my  paddles. « 

"January  89.— Tbeprools  came  so  thick  in  yester- 
day that  much  was  not  done.  But  I  began  to  be 
hard  at  work  to-day.    I  must  Boigumaltze  much. 

"  Mr.  Jollie,  who  is  to  be  my  trustee,  in  oonjnno- 
tion  with  Gtibson,  came  to  see  me  s— a  pleasant  and 
good-humoured  man,  and  has  high  reputation  as  a 
man  ot  business.  I  told  him,  and  I  will  keep  my 
word,  that  he  would  at  least  have  no  trouble  by 
mv  interfering  and  thwarting  their  management 
which  is  not  the  unfrequent  case  of  trusters  and 
trustees. 

**  Constable's  business  seems  unintelligible.  No 
man  thought  the  house  worth  less  than  jCl60,000. 
Constable  told  |ne,  when  he  was  making  his  wi)l, 
that  he  was  worth  £80,000.  Great  profits  on  al- 
most all  the  adventures.  No  bad  speculations— yet* 
neither  stock  nal^debt  to  show.  Constable  mi§ht 
have  eaten  up  his  share ;  but  Cadell  was  very  frugal. 
No  doubt  trading  almost  entirely  on  accommodation 
is  dreadfully  expensive. 

"January  30.— I  laboured  fairly  yesterday.  The 
stream  rose  fast — if  clearly,  is  another  question : 
but  there  is  bulk  for  it,  at  least— about  thirty  printed 
pages. 

*And  DOW  again,  boys,  to  the  oar.' 

"January  31.— There  being  nothing  in  the  roll  this 
morning,  I  stay  at  home  from  the  Court,  and  add  an- 
other day's  perfect  labour  to  Woodstock,  which  is 
worth  five  days  of  snatched  intervals,  when  the  cur- 
rent of  thought  and  invention  is  broken  in  upon,  and 
the  mind  shaken  and  diverted  from  its  purpose  by  a 
succession  of  petty  interruptions.  I  have  now  no 
pecuniary  provisions  to  embarrass  me,  and  I  think, 
now  the  shock  of  the  discovery  is  past  and  over,  I 
am  much  better  offon  the  whole.  I  feel  as  if  I  had 
shaken  off  frorti  my  shoulders  a  great  mass  of  gar- 
ments, rich  indeed,  but  always  more  a  burden  tnan 
a  copifort  I  shall  be  free  of  an  hundred  petty  pub- 
lic duties  imposed  on  me  as  a  man  of  consideration 
—of  the  expense  of  a  great  hospitality— and  what 
is  better,  of  tne  great  waste  of  time  connected  with 
it.  I  have  known  in  my  day  all  kinds,  of  society, 
and  can  pretty  well  estimate  how  much  or  how 
little  one  loses  by  retiring  from  all  but  that  which 
is  very  intimate. .  I  sleep  and  eat,  and  work  as  I 
was  wont;  and  if  I  could  see  those  about  me  as  in- 
difierent  to  the  loss  of  rank  as  I  am,  I  should  be 
completely  hnppy.  As  it  is.  Tim^  must  salve  that 
■ore,  and  to  Time  I  trust  it. 


"  Since  the  14th  of  this  month  no  guest  hu 
broken  bread  in  my  house,  save  G.  H.  Gordon*  one 
morning  at  breakfast.  This  happened  never  before 
since  I  had  a  house  of  mv  own.  But  I  have  played 
Abou  Hassan  long  enough ;  and  if  the  Ca)iph  comes 
I  would  turn  him  oack  again. 

"  February  1.— A  most  generous  letter  (though 
not  more  so  than  I  expected)  from  Walter  and  Jane. 
ofiering  to  interpose  with  their  fortune,  Ac  God 
Almightv  forbid  I— that  were  too  unnatural  in  me  to 
accept,  though  dutiful  and  affectionate  in  them  to 
offer.  They  talk  of  India  still.  With  my  damaged 
fortune  I  cannot  help  them  to  remain  by  exchange, 
and  BO  forth.  God  send  what  is  for  the  best.  At- 
tended the  Court,  and  saw  J.  B.  and  Cadell  as  I 
returned.  Both  very  gloomy.  Came  home  to 
work,  &c.,  about  two. 

"  P6b.  2.— An  odd  visit  this  morning  from  Miss 

of ,  whose  law-suit  with  a  Methodist 

pardon  of  ihp  name  <jf  —— — ,  msde  tome  n>ise 
The  worihy  divine  had  in  the  baeast  tiianjur  misf- 
fcn  J  tfj  prt'vent  this  Udy'^  mwrmgr  by  two  anonf- 
Tniiwa  Iflttfs,  in  which  he  contrived  tu  re^ef  tbd 
lov  t  r>  to  vi'hom  ihey  Wf  re  addressed^  for  fjtnhef  est- 
roborniLon  la  himstlf.  The  whole  imposition  makei 
the  subject  of  a  litik  pntiiphEet.  The  lady  iroatiieDd 
for  redress  into  i\i^  thicket  of  English  law— ^I<»i 
one  puit — eained  another,  with  £300  dam ^e&,  and 
wa»  ruined.    The  appenraDco  and  penson  of  Mia.^ 

■  nre  prepoflBessinK-    She  is  a  bout  iliiriy  years 

old,  a  brunetK.s  with  rt^i^ular  and  pic«:«iug  fuatun^ 
marked  wiih  melancholy— an  eniliuaiast  in  liit^m- 
ture,  md  nrobably  in  fcili^on.  She  bod  b«eii  ai 
AMM>!Bfofd  to  iee  me,  nmi  Tnod<^  her  way  to  me  Item, 
in  tho  vnin  hope,  thnt  &he  could  get  bcr  fX^ty  wcffltjed 
up  int5  a  novel  \  and  certain ly  the  ihtng  is  capable 
of  jnT^resTJug  aituations.  It  throws  a  eunoofl  Bfi^t 
upon  the  anstocraCic  or  talher  hieralic  intlaea^ 
exercised  by  the  Methodist  preachers  within  t^ 
connt-iion*  as  ft  is  called.  Admirable  food  ittb 
would  be  for  the  Q,unrterlj\  or  any  other  review«rttt 
who  might  dtsire  to  fe^d  fat  their  cnjdge  a^^iut 
thi'i^G  aectunnns*  But  (here  are  two  rca»oti3  aRiinat 
such  a  pubhcmion.  First,  it  could  do  the  p&it  paf- 
ferer  no  f^ood.  '2dly,  It  miuUt  hurt  the  Mctbotfivtie 
cotititxion  verv  tmit;li,  whicli  I  for  <*ne  woAlid  t^\ 
Itki'  to  injure.  They  have  their  fault i»,  and  are  iiectt- 
\m\i  IfnDlc  to  thofe  of  h>^p^criay,  and  siprntuaf  Mm* 
bitian,  and  pntistcrafli.  On  the  mher  hand,  thef  i£o 
infinite  (;oodt  cnrryin^  relicpon  into  claA»^  ua  Soci- 
ety ^vluTe  it  \^  ouid  #caree  oe  found  to  peoetntc^  aid 
it  n.  Iv  inrrrly  upon  tironf  nf  its  docTnrn?*,  upon  calm 
rfiflso  t  tt  a  I  id  11  po  n  ra  I  ionn  I  a  ryu  inc  n  i .  T  hi?  yit^  iyl* 
isis  add  a  powerful  appeal  to  the  feelings  and  pa»- 
siens  j  and  though  I  believe  this  is  often  exagger- 
ated mto  absolute  enthusiasm,  yet  I  consider  upon 
the  whole  they  do  much  to  keep  aPive  a  sense  of 
religion,  and  the  practice  of  morality  neceasarilf 
connected  with  it  It  is  much  to  the  discredit  of  the 
Methodist  clergy,  that  when  this  calumniator  w^s 
actually  convicted  of  guilt  morallv  worse  than  many 
men  are  hanged  for,  thev  only  degraded  him  from 
the^rff^  to  the  second  class  of  preachers.  If  they 
beUeved  him  innocent,  they  did  too  much— if  guilty, 
far  too  Uttle. 

"  Pcbruary  3.— This  is  the  first  time  einoe  my 
troubles  that  I  felt  at  awaking— 

*I  had  drunken  de«p 

Of  all  the  blessedness  of  sleep.' 

I  made  not  the  slightest  pause,  nor  dreamed  a  i , 

dream,  nor  even  changed  my  side.  This  is  a  bless- 
ing to  be  grateful  for.  There  is  to  be  a  meeting  of 
the  creditors  to-day,  but  I  care  not  for  the  issue.  If 
they  drag  me  into  the  Court,  ohtorto  ooZ/o,  instead 
of  going  mto  thia  acheroe  of  arrangement,  they  will 
do  themselves  a  great  injury,  and  perhaps  eventoaliy 
do  me  ^d,  though  i(  would  give  me  much  paio. 
James  JBaliantyne  is  severely  critioal  on  what  he 
calls  imitations  of  Mrs.  Radcliffe  in  Woodstodc 

*  Mr.  Gordon  (of  whom  more  ia  the  segqeO  wu  at  tb«  tiAe 
ScoU'i  Binanuenflit :  he  cop^,  lliat  n  to  layr  the  MB.  lor 


LIFE  OF  SIR  WALTER  SCOTT. 


Jf  any  will  think  with  him— yet  I  am  of  opinion  he 
is  quite  wrong,  or  aa  friend  J.  P.*  says  trong.  In 
the  first  place,  am  1  to  look  on  the  mere  uct  of 
another  author  having;  treated  a  subject  happily,  as 
a  bird  looks  on  a  potato-bogle  which  scares  it  away 
from  a  field,  otherwise  as  free  to  its  depredations  as 
an^  where  else  7  In  2d  place,  I  have  taken  a  wide 
dinerence }  my  object  is  not  to  excite  fear  of  super- 
natural things  in  my  reader,  but  to  show  the  enect 
of  such  fear  upon  the  agents  in  the  story— one  a 
man  of  sense  and  /irmness— one  a  man  unhinged 
by  re'morse— one  a  stupid  unenquiring  clown— one  a 
learned  and  worthy,  but  superstitious  divine.  In  3d 
place,  the  book  turns  on  this  hinge,  and  cannot 
want  it.  Biit  1  will  try  to  insinuate  the  refutation 
of  Aldiboronti's  exception  into  the  prefatory  matter. 
—From  the  19th  January  to  the  2a  February  inclu- 
sive, is  exactly  fifteen  days,  during  which  time,  with 
the  intervention  of  some  days'  idleness,  to  let  ima- 
gination brood  on  the  task  a  little,  1  have  written  a 
volume.  I  think,  for  a  bet,  I  could  have  done  it  in 
ten  days.  Then  I  must  have  had  no  Court  of  Ses- 
sion to  take  me  up  hours  every  morning^  and  dissi- 
pate my  attention  and  powers  of  working  for  the 
rest  of  the  day.  A  volume,  at  cheapest,  is  worth 
L.IOOO.  This  18  working  at  the  rate  of  L.24,000  a- 
year  ;  but  then  we  must  not  bake  buns  faster  than 
people  have  appetite  to  eat  them.  They  are  not 
essential  to  the  market  like  potatoes. 

*'  John  Gibson  came  to  tell  me  in  the  evening 
that  a  meeting  to-dav  had  approved  of  the  proposed 
trust.  I  know  not  way,  but  the  news  gives  me  little 
concern.  I  heard  it  as  a  party  indi%rent.  I  re- 
inemher  hearing  that  Mandrint  testified  some  hor- 
ror when  lu)  found  himself  bound  alive  on  the  wheel, 
and  saw  the  executioner  approach  with  a  bar  of 
iron  to  break  his  limbs.  After  the  second  and  third 
blow,  he  fell  a-langhing,  and  being  asked  the  reason . 
by  his  confessor,  said  he  laughed  at  his  own  folly, 
which  had  anticipated  increased  agony  at  every 
blow,  when  it  was  obvious  that  the>r«f  must  have 
jarred  and  confounded  the  system  of  the  nerves  so 
yiuch  aa  to  render  the  succeeding  blows  of  Utile 
consequence.  I  suppose  it  is  so  with  the  moral 
feeling  I  at  least  1  could  not  bring  myself  to  be 
anitious  whether  these  matters  were  settled  one 
way  or  other. 

*•  Ptbruarv  4.— Wrote  to  Mr.  Laidlaw  to  come  to 
town  upon  Monday,  aild  see  the  trustees.  To  farm 
or  not  to  farm,  that  is  the  question.  With  our  care- 
less habits,  it  were  best,  I  think,  to  risk  as  little  as 
possible.  Lady  Scott  will  not  exceed  with  ready 
money  in  her  hand ;  but  calculating  on  the  produce 
of  a  mrm  is  different,  and  neither  she  nor  I  are 
capable  of  that  minute  economy.  Two  cows  should 
be  all  we  should  keep.  But  I  find  Lady  S.  inclines 
rooch  for  the  four.  If  she  had  her  youthful  activity, 
and  could  manage  things,  it  wotild  be  well,  and 
would  amuse  her.   But  I  fear  it  is  too  late  for  work. 

"  Wrote  only  two  pag^s  (of  manuscript)  and  a 
half  to-day.  As  the  hoatsv^in  said,  one  can't 
dance  always  nouthtr.  But,  were  we  sure  of  the 
Quality  of  the  stufij  what  opportunities  for  labour 
does  this  aame  system  of  retreat  afibrdus!  I  am 
convinced  that  in  three  years  I  could  do  more  than 
in  the  last  ten,  but  for  the  mine  being,  I  fear,  ex- 
hausted. Give  me  my  popularity  (an  avful  poa- 
tulate  .0,  and  all  my  present  difficulties  shall  be  a 
joke  in  ifour  years ;  and  it  is  not  lost  yet,  at  least.    ^ 

•'  FehrucLTy  5.— Rose  after  a  sound  sleep,  and  here 
am  I  without  bile  or  any  thing  to  perturb  my  inward 
man.  It  is  just  about  three  vireeks  since  so  great  a 
ehange  took  place  in  my  relations  in  society,  and 
already  I  am  indifiereni  to  it.    But  I  have  been 

«  I  belicvf  J.  F.  gtaoda  ibr  Junei  Ferrier.  Em.— one  of  Sir  Wal- 
ter^ brathren  of  the  Clerk's  table— Che  fitli^r  of  hia  eateemod  aad 
•domed  laend  tbo  autfaoren  of  "  Marriage.  "  Tho  loheritaaoe," 
Ac. 

"  Authco^  Mcmaim  ^T  the  MMurkabla  Life  and  rarpiMiw 


)  MoMurkabl 

Bs^hiita  of  SUndrin.  Caplain-aeiitial  of  the  FMneh  8i 

who  for  the  apace  of  nine  month*  ceaolutely  atood  in  de , 

ffas  whole  Aianr  of  Pmnee,  Ac  Sfa  Loud.  1785.  **  AVboi^d 
Utnuv^Bm  atmkmtm!§  Uivatiitt,  voL  txv^—Note,  fToMr- 
Uy  Novclt,  VOL  v. 


Smucticni 
defianpeof 


always  told  niy  feelings  of  joy  and  sorrow,  pleasure 
and  pain,  enjof  ment  and  privation,  are  much  colder 
than  those  of  other  people. 

'  I  ttiink  the  Romans  call  it  stoicism.' 

"  Missie  was  in  the  drawing-room,  and  overheard 
William  Clerk  and  me  laughing  excessively  at  some 
foolery  or  other  in  the  back-room,  to  her  no  small 
surprise,  which  she  did  not  keep  to  herself.  But  do 
people  suppose  that  he  >^s  less  sorry  for  his  poor 
sister  or  I  for  my  lost  fortune  1  If  I  have  a  very 
strong  passion  in  the  world,  it  is  pridcy  and  that 
never  hinged  upon  world's  gear,  which  was  always 
with  me— Light  come,  light  go. 

"  Ptbruary  6.— Letters  received  yesterday  from 
Lord  Montagu.  John  Morritt,  and  Mrs.  Hughes, 
kind  and  dear  friends  all,  with  solicitous  enquiries. 
But  it  is  very  tiresome  to  tell  my  story  over  again, 
and  I  really  nope  I  have  few  more  friends  intimate 
enough  to  ask  me  for  it  I  dread  letter- writing,  and 
envy  the  old  hermit  of  Prague,  who  uever  saw  pen 
or  ink.  What  theni  one  must  write;  it  is  apart  of 
the  law  we  live  on.  Talking  of  writing.  I  finished 
my  six  pages,  neat  and  handsome,  yesterday.  N.  B. 
At  night  I  fell  asleep,  and  the  oil  dropped  from  the 
lamp  upon  my  manuscript.  Will  this  extreme 
unction  make  it  go  smoothly  down  with  the  pubhc? 

'  Thus  idly  we  nroiwye  the  sacred  time 

By  silly  prose,  ng ht  jest,  aod  Ugbter  rhyme.' 

I  have  a  song  to  write,  too,  and  I  am  not  thinking 
of  it.  I  trust  It  will  come  upon  me  at  once— a  sort 
of  catch  it  should  be.*  1  walked  out,  feeling  a  little 
overwrought. 

"-P(c6ruary  7.— My  old  friend  Sir  Peter  Murray 
called  t0  4oner  his  own  aseistanoe,  Lord  Justice- 
Clerk's,  and  Abercrombjr'a,  to  negotiate  for  me  a 
seat  upon  the  Bench  [of  the  Court  of  Session]  in- 
stead of  my  aberiifdom  and  clerkship.  I  explained 
to  him  the  use  which  I  could  make  of  my  pen  was 
not,  I  thought,  consistent  with  that  situation ;  aod 
that,  besklea,  I  had  neglected  the  law  too  long  to 
permit  me  to  think  of  it :  but  this  was  kindty  and 
nonoHrably  done.  I  can  see  people  think  me  muoh 
woree  off  than  I  ^hink  myself.  They  may  be  right; 
but  I  will  not  be  beat  till  I  have  tried  a  rally,  and  a 
bold  one. 

"  FebruATv  8. — Slept  ill,  and  rather  bilious  trt  tho 
morning.  Many  of  thcrBench  n*w  arc  my  JQiiiotB. 
I  will  not' seek  ex  eleemosynS  &ji]ntrf  iv'hich,  had  I 
turned  my  studies  that  way,  f  mi^hi  have  aspirifd 
to  long  ago  tx  merilis.  Mj  I'j  n  should  do  rr^uch 
better  for  me  than  the  odd  L.  i  <  n  ^  i  n-yenr.  If  it  tm\e, 
I  will  lean  on  what  they  leav-  smo.  Another  chance 
might  be,  if  it  fails,  in  the  patrona^f^  whit;)]  mighi, 
after  a  year  or  two.  place  me  in  Kjt chequer.  But  I 
do  not  count  on  this  unless,  insJud,  iF^tj  Duke  of 
fiuccleuch,  when  he  cofmes  of  ogir,  ehoulJ  choott^  Uj 
make  play.  Got  to  mv  work  ai^ain,  and  wroio 
easier  than  the  two  last  days. 

"Mr.  Laidlaw  came  in  from  Abbotsford.  and 
dincKl  with  us.  We  spent  the  evening  in  laying 
down^  plans  for  the  farm,  and  deciding  whom  we 
should  keep  and  whom  dismiss  among  the  people. 
This  we  did  on  the  true  negro-driving  principle  of 
self-interest— the  only  principle  I  know  which  never 
swerves  from  its  obiects.  Wc  chose  all  the  active, 
young,  and  powerful  men,  turning  old  age  and  infir- 
mity'adrift.  I  cannot  help  this,  for  a  guinea  cannot 
do  the  work  of  five;  but  I  will  contrive  to  make  it 
easier  to  the  aufTerers. 

"  February  9.— A  stormy  rooming,  lowering  and 
blustering  Uke  our  fortunes.  Mea  virtute  me  inrolvo. 
But  I  must  sav  to  the  muse  of  fiction  as  the  Earl  o| 
Pembroke  saia  to  th^  ejected  nuns  of  Wilton .— *  Go 
spin,  you  jades,  go  spin !'  Perhaps  she  has  no  low 
on  her  rock.  When  I  was  at  Kilkenny  laat  year  we 
went  to  see  a  nunnery,  but  coald  not  converse  with 
the  sisters  because  they  were  in  9tTict  retreat.  I 
was  delighted  with  the  red-nosed  Padre,  who  show^ 


•  See  "  Glee  fcr  Kin«  Cbaries."  WMerl$»  Itavitt, 


^te 


LIFE  OF  SIR  WALTER  SCOTT. 


•d  08  the  place  with  a  sort  of  proud,  unctuous  hu- 
miliation, and  apparent  dereliction* of  the  world, 
that  had  to  me  the  air  of  a  complete  Tartuffe ;  a 
strong,  sanguine,  square-shouldered  son  of  the 
Church,  whom  a  Protestant  would  be  apt  to  war- 
rant against  any  sufferings  he  ^as  like  to  sustain 
by  privation.  My  purpose,  however,  iust  now  was 
to  talk  of  the  strict  retreat^  which  did  not  prevent 
the  nuns  from  walking  in  their  little  garden,  peep- 
ing at  us,  and  allowing  iis  to  peep  at  them.  Well, 
now  we  are  in  atriet  retreat ;  and  if  we  had  been  so 
last  year,  instead  of  galhvanting  to  Ireland,  this 
affair  might  not  have  befallen— if  hterary  labour 
could  have  prevented  it.  But  who  could  have  sus- 
pected Constable's  timbers  to  have  been  rotten  fiom 
the  beginning  1 

"Visited  the  Exhibition  on  my  way  home  from 
the  Court.  The  new  rooms  are  most  splendid,  and 
several  good  pictures.  The  Institution  has  subsist- 
ed but  nve  years,  and  it  is  astonishing  how  much 
superior  the  worst  of  the  present  collection  are  to 
the  leaboard-looking  things  which  first  appeared. 
John  Thomson,  of  Duddingstone,  has  far  the  finest 
picture  in  the  Exhibition,  of  a  large  size— subject 
Durduce^  a  ruinous  castle  of  the  Antrim  family, 
near  the  Giant's  Causeway,  with  one  of  those  ter- 
rible seas  and  skie^  which  only  Thomson  can  paint. 
Found  Scrope  there,  improving  a  picture  of  his  own, 
an  Italian  scene  in  Cslabtia.  He  is,  I  think,  one 
of  the  very  best  amateur  painters  I  ever  saw— Sir 
Gtoorge  Beiattmoni  scarcely  excepted. 

"  I  would  not  write  to-day  after  I  came  home.  I 
vriU  not  say  could  not,  for  it  is  not  true ;  but  I  was 
lazy;  felt  the  desire/arnien/«,  which  is  the  sign  of 
one's  mind  being  at  ease.  I  read  77^  English  in 
Bafyf  which  is  a  clever  book.  Byron  used  to  kick 
and  frisk  more  contemptuously  against  tbb  literary 
gravity  and  stan^  than  any  one  I  ever  knew  who 
had  chmbed  so  high.  Then,  it  is  true,  I  never  knew 
anir  one  climb  so  high— and  before  you  despise  the 
eminence,  carrying  people  aking  with  vou  as  con- 
vinced that  you  are  not  playing  the  fox  and  the 
grapes,  you  must  be  at  the  top.  Moore  told  roe 
eoma  deughtful  stones  of  him.  •  •  •  •  ♦  ♦f 
He  wrote  fhim  impulse,  never  fix>m  effort:  and 
therefore  I  have  always  reckoned  Bums  and  Byron 
the  most  genuine  poetical  geniuses  of  my  time,  and 
half  a  century  before  me.  We  have  many  men  of 
high  poetical  talent,  but  none^  I  think,  of  that  ever- 
gushing  andpereapial  fountain  of  natural  waters. 
V  "Mr.  Laidfaw  Aied  with  us.  Sa/s  Mr.  Gibson* 
told  him  he  would  dispose  of  my  aflTairs,  were  it  any 
but  Sir  W.  S.  No  doubt,  so  should  I.  I  am  well- 
nigh  doing  so  at  any  rate.  But  /artuna  juvante! 
much  may  be  achieved.  At  worst,  the  prospect  is 
not  very  discouraging  to  one  who  wants  little. 
Methino  I  have  beisn  like  Bums's  poor  labourer, 
t  *  So  constantly  in  Ruin's  aif  ht. 

The  view  o't  gives  me  Uule  fright.'  " 


CHAPTER  LXVII. 

BXraACT  FBOM  JAMES  BALLAKTTNS's  aiEMOaANDA— 
AKXCDOTE  PBOM  BfB.  8KKNB— I.BTTXRS  OF  JAKVAST 
AND  FKBBDABT,  1826,  TO  J.  G.  LOCKHABT— MS.  M OB- 
BITT— AND  LADV  DAVT— BSSULT  OF  THE  BMBAE- 
KASSMENTS  OF  CONSTABLE,  HCTBST,  AKD  BALLAK- 
TTNE  —  BE60LUT10N  OF  81K  WALTER  SCOTT  — 
MALACIU  MALAOBOWTHEB. 

I  iNTEBBOPT,  for  a  moment.  Sir  Walter's  Diary,  to 
introduce  a  few  collateral  illustrations  of  the  period 
embraced  in  the  foregoing  chapter.  Whenheretmn- 
ed  to  Eklinburgh  from  Ahbotsford  on  Monday,  the 
16th  of  January,  he  found  (as  4e  have  seen)  that 
Hiuvt&  Co.  had  dishonoured  a  bUl  of  Constable's ; 
and  then  proceeded,  according  to  engagemenl,  to 
dine  at  Mr.  Skene  of  Rubislaw's.  Mr.  Skene  fts-' 
sures  me  that  he  appeared  that  evening  quite  in  his 
usual  spirits,  conversing  on  whatever  topic  was 
started  as  easily  and  gaUy  as  if  there  had  been  no 
impending  calamity ;  but  at  parting,  he  whispered, 

j.  Here  follow  tcreral  tneodotef ,  linoe  pubUihcd  in  Moore'i 


"  Skene,  I  have  something  to  speak  to  yon  about  • 
be  so  good  as  to  look  in  on  me  as  you  go  to  iha 
ParUament-House  to-morrow.*'  When  Skene  called 
in  Castle  Street,  about  half-past  nine  o'cIool  next 
morning  he  found  Scott  wnting  in  his  stfidy.  He 
rose,  and  said,  "  My  friend,  give  me  a  shake  of  yoor 
hand— mine  is  that  of  a  beggar."  He  then  told  him 
that  Ballantyne  had  just  been  with  him,  and  that 
his  ruin  was  certain  and  complete :  explaining,  brief- 
ly, the  nature  of  his  connexion  with  the  three  nouses, 
whose  downfall  must  that  morning  be  macfe  publia 
He  added^  "  Don't  fancy  I  am  going  to  stay  at  home 
to  brood  idly  on  what  can't  be  helped.  I  was  at 
work  upon  Woodstock  when  you  came  in,  and  I 
shall  take  up  the  pen  the  moment  I  jget  back  from 
Court.  I  mean  to  dine  with  you  agam  on  Sunday, 
and  hope  then  to  report  progress  to  some  purpose?* 
WhenOSunday  came,  he  reported  accordingly,  that 
in  spite  of  all  the  numberless  interruptions  of  meet- 
ings and  conferences  with  his  partner,  the  Consta- 
bles, and  men  of  business— to  say  nothmg  of  his  dis- 
tressing anxieties  on  account  of  his  wife  sind  dangh- 
ter— he  had  written  a  chapter  of  his  novel  every 
intervening  day. 

The  reader  may  be  curious  to  see  what  aeooont 
James  Ballantyne's  memorandum  gives  of  that  daik 
announcement  on  the  morning  of  iHittBday  the  17th. 
It  is  as  follows  .—*' On  the  evening  of  the  16th,  I 
received  from  Mr.  Cadell  a  distinct  message  potting 
me  inpossession  of  the  truth.  I  called  immediate- 
ly in  Castle  Street,  but  found  Sir  Walter  bad  gained 
an  unconscious  retspite  by  being  engaged  out  at 
dinner.  It  was  between  eight  an^  nine  next  morn- 
ing that  I  made  the  final  commnnication.  No  doubt 
he  was  greatly  stunned— but,  upon  the.wholfli  he 
bore  it  with  wonderful  fortitude.  He  then  asked, 
'  Well,  what  is  the  actual  step  we  mtist  'first  take — 
I  suppose  we  must  do  something?*  I  reminded  him 
that  two  or  three  thousand  pounds  were  dne  that 
day,  so  that  we  had  only  to  do  what  we  must  do— 
refuse  payment — to  bring  the  disctosure  sufficiently 
before  the  worid.  He  took  leave  of  me  vrith  these 
striking  words,  *  Well,  James,  depend  upon  that,  I 
will  never  forsake  you.*  ** 

After  the  ample  details  of  Scott'i  Diary,  it  woold 
be  idle  to  quote  here  many  of  his  private  letteriln 
JanuaiT,  1826 ;  but  I  must  give  two  of  thoee  ad- 
dressed to  myseU;  one  written  at  Abbotsford  on  the 
16th,  the  day  before  he  started  for  Edinboixh  to  re- 
ceive the  fatal  intelligence— the  other  on  the  20th. 
It  will  be  seen  that  1  had  been  so  very  unwise  aa  to 
intermingle  with  the  account  6f  one  of  my  painfol 
interviews  with  Constable  an  expreaaion  of  sur- 
prise at  the  nature  of  Sir  Walter's  commercial  eo- 
gagements  which  had  then  for  the  first  time  besQ 
explained  to  me;,  and  every  reader  vnU,  I  am  putt 
appreciate  the  gentleness  of  the  reply,  however  na- 
satisfactory  he  may  conskier  it  as  refpuds  the  roaiA 
fact  in  question. 

•      To  J.  G.  Lockkartf  £^26,  Pati^Matt,  London, 
'  "  Abbotsford,  January  16, 1896L 

**I  have  both  your  packets.  I  have  been  quite  wel 
since  my  attack,  only  for  some  time  very  downhearted 
with  the  calomel  and  another  nasty  statT  they  call  hyos- 
cyamua— and  to  say  truth,  the  silence  of  my  own  hoaie> 
hold,  which  used  to  be  merry  at  this  seascm. 

'*  1  enclose  the  article  on  Pepya.  It  ia  totally  uncor- 
rected, ao  I  wiah  of  course  macn  to  see  it  in  proof  if  pos> 
Bible,  aa  it  must  be  dreadfully  inaccurate ;  the  opiate  was 
busy  with  my  brain  when  the  beglnnins  was  wriiteo, 
and  as  James  BallantTne  complatna  wofulfy,  so  wfll  your 
printer,  I  doubt  The  subject  is  like  a  good  siiloia, 
which  requires  only  to  be  hasted  with  ita  own  drtppinfa. 
I  had  little  trouble  of  research  or  reference ;  pei^ps  I 
have  made  it  too  long,  or  introduced  too  many  extracts^ 
if  BO,  use  the  pnmlng-knife,  hedgebill,  or  axe,  ad  UUttim. 
Tou  know  T  don't  care  a  curse  about  what  I  write  or 
what  becomes  of  it 

**  To-nM>rrow,  snow  permitting,  we  go  into  Edinburgh ; 
mean-time  ye  can  expect  no  news  from  thisplaoe.  I  saw 
poor  Chiefswood  the  other  day.    Cock-a-pislbl*  sencto  hts 

*  A  carde'ner.ltjrnaiiM  James  Soott,  wfao^M  at  a  plaescalM 
popuIvl7  CoekaiBstol,  because  tfis  bsttboflfalwiBS  U.  n.  IHD 

becutberd. 

Digitized  by  V^OOQlC 


UFE  OF  SIR  WALTER  SCOTT. 


4tf 


hmnole  rememhnncai.  Commeod  me  a  thoasand  Uoaei 
to  the  maffnanlmous  Johnnie.  I  live  lo  hopes  he  will  not 
frwitlymlss  Marlon  and  the  red  cow.  Don't  let  him  for- 
fet  poor  ha-papa.  Farewell,  my  dear  Lockhart :  never 
trouble  yourself  about  writing  p  me,  for  I  suspect  you 
ibive  enough  of  that  upon  hand. 

'*  Pardon  my  sending  you  such  an  unwashed,  uncomb- 
ed thing  as  the  encloseo.  I  really  can't  see  now  to  read 
lay  own  hand,  so  bad  have  my  eyes  or  my  fingers  or  both 
become.— Always  yours  affectionately, 

Waltbb  Scott." 

To  the,  Scune. 

Edinburgh,  January  20, 1836. 
"My  dear  Lockhart, 

*•  I  hare  your  kind  letter.  Whenever  I  heard  that 
Constable  had  made  a  ceisiofori^  I  thought  it  became  me 
to  make  publie  how  far  I  was  concerned  in  these  matters, 
and  to  offer  mr  fortune  so  far  as  it  was  prestable,and  the 
•cempletioa  oi  my  litertory  engagementa— (the  better 
thing  aknoat  of  the  two>«io  maike  good  all  daiins  upon 
BaUantyne  and  Go. ;  and  e^n  anppofltag  that  neither 
Burst  and  Co.  nor  jConstabla  and  Co.  ever  pay  a  paiiny 


^  ,     . ,    manly  way  of  calculating  such  matters,  since  one  may 

tliey  owe  me,my  oldsge  will  be  &r  (torn  desUtute-^even.  >be  better,  but  can  hardly  be  worse.    I  can't  say  I  fed 


if  my  right  hand  should  lose  its  cunning.  This  is  the 
rery  toorat  that  can  befall  me ;  but  I  have  little  doubt 
that,  with  ordinary  management,  the  affairs  of  those 
houseift  will  turn  oot  ftvourably.  It  la  nac^eas  to  add 
that  I  will  not  engage  nurself^  as  Constable  desires,  for 
iE90,00D  more— or  £2000— or  jB20a  I  have  advanced 
enough  already  to  pay  other  people's  debts,  and  must 
new  pay  my  own.  If  our  firiena  O.  had  set  out  a  fortnight 
earlier,  nothing  of  all  this  would  have  happened ;  but  he 
Wt  the  hour  of  distress  precede  the  hour  of  provisioo, 
•od  he  and  others  must  pay  ibr  it.  Yet  don't  hint  this  to 
Im.  poor  feUow~4t  is  an  infirmity  of  nature. 

"inave  made  my  matters  pubuc,  and  have  had  aplen- 
<fid  offers  of  assistance,  all  which  I  have  declined,  for  I 
would  rather  bear  my  own  burden  than  subject  myself 
to  obligation.    There  Is  but  one  way  in  such  cases. 

**  It  Is  easy,  no  doubt,  ibr  any  fVlend  to  blame  me  for 
-cnteriag  Into  eonnexlon  with  eommercial  matters  at  sll. 
Bntl  wish  to  know  v^hat  I  could  haive  done  beUer ;  ex* 
'eluded  from  the  bar,  and  then  fron  all  profits  for  siz 
years,  by  my  colleague's  protonged  life.  Literature  was 
not  in  those  days  what  poor  Constable  has  made  it ;  and, 
with  my  little  capital,  I  was  too  glad  to  make  commer- 
cially the  means  of  supporttag  my  family.  I  got  but  XGOO 
Ibr  the  Lay  of  the  Last  Bllnstrel,  and— it  was  a  nrice  that 
msde  men's  hair  stand  on  end— £1000  for  Marmion. 
Ibave  been  ter  firom  stiAring  by  James  BaUantyne.  I 
eve  it  to  him  to  sbt,  that  his  dttncoltlea,  as  well  aa  his 
advantages,  are  owing  to  me.  I  trusted  too  much  to  Con- 
Mable's  assuranoea  of  his  own  and  his  conrespondenis' 
■Ubility,  but  yet  I  believe  he  waa  only  sangmnc.  The 
opshot  is  just  what  Hurst  and  Co.  and  Constable  may  be 
«ole  to  pv  me ;  If  15s.  in  the  pound.  I  shall  not  complain 
of  my  loss,  for  I  have  gained  many  thousands  in  my  day. 
Jut  while  I  live  1  shall  regret  the  downiWl  of  Constable'^s 
house,  for  never  did  thefe  exist  so  intelligent  and  so  lib- 
erd  sn  establishment  They  went  too  far  when  money 
«•»  plenty,  that  is  certain ;  yet  if  every  author  in  Britahi 
had  lazed  himaelf  half  a  year's  income,  he  should  have 
kept  up  the  house  which  first  broke  in  upon  the  monop- 
oly of  the  London  trade,  and  made  Letters  what  they  now 

**  I  have  had  visits  firom  all  the  monled  people,  offering 
uieir  purses— and  those  who  are  creditors,  senmng  their 
nuLnasers  and  treasurers  to  assure  me  of  tneir  joining  faa 
aod  adopting  anv  measures  I  may  propose.  I  am  glad  of 
uUs  for  their  saae,  and  for  my  own— lor  ahh6ugh  1  shall 
aot  desire  to  steer,  yet  I  am  the  only  person  that  can 
^att,as  Lieutenant  Hatchway  says,  to  any  good  purpose. 
A  very  odd  anonvmous  ofler  I  had  of  £30,000,*  which  I 
rejected,  as  I  did  every  other.  Unless  I  die,  I  shall  beat 
2>  against  this  foul  weather.  A  penny  I  will  not  borrow 
from  any  one.  Since  my  creditors  are  content  to  be 
Pjfient,  I  have  the  means  of  righting  them  perfectly,  and 


and  keep  her  q)irits  up.  Tyne  heart,  tync  all ;  and  it  ia 
making  more  of  money  than  it  is  worth  to  grieve  ^bont 
it.  Kiss  Johnnie  for  me.  How  glad  I  am  fortane  carried 
you  to  London  before  these  reverses  happened,  as  tbef 
would  have  embittered  parting,  and  made  it  resemble  the 
boat  leaving  the  sinldng  ship.— Yours,  dear  Lockhart,  af- 
fectionately, 

Waltbi  Scott." 

From  Sir  Walter's  letters  of  the  same  period, 
to  friends  out  of  his  own  family,  I  select  toe.  foU 
lowing  :— 

To  J.  B. 


S.  Morritt^  Esq.  4%. 
Brighton. 


Marine  7Vrro«e, 


"  Edinburgh,  eth  February,  1826. 
*•  My  dear  Morritt, 

'*  It  Is  very  true  I  have  been,  and  am  in  danger,  of  a 
pecuniary  loss,  and  probably  a  vary  large  one,  which,  in 
the  uncertainty,  I  look  at  as  to  the  full  extent,  beUig  the 


.     1  hib, 

^MiiJ  tji.itt  and 
Til  en  I  gjte 


at  losing  a  large  sum  of  hard-earned  monev  la 
a  most' unexpected  manner,  for  all  men  considered  Con- 
stable's people  secure  as  the  Bank ;  yet,  as  I  have  ob- 
tained an  arransement  of  payment  convenient  for  every 
body  concemeo,  and  easy  for  rnyself,  I  cannot  say  that  I 
care  much  about  the  matter.  Some  economical  restric- 
tions I  will  make  ;  and  it  happened  oddly  that  they  were 
such  as  Lady  Scott  and  mvself  had   ■'■■  ,1 

upon  without  this  compulsion.    Abb  ijc«- 

forth  be  our  only  establishment;  ai  m^  f 

must  be  in  town,  I  will  take  my  bed 
We  shall  also  break  off  the  rather  e  ^ 
to  which  we  were  exposed,  and  no  lo)r^r 
hostess  to  all  tt^at  do  pilgrimage  to  Me  I  e  i  <  ■ 
up  an  expensive  farm,  which  I  always  lnKd,  rand  lurn  a.U 
my  odds  and  ends  into  cash.  I  do  n>  i  rt  ritoa  quuch  uu 
my  literary  exertions— I  mean  in  pr<'[HirtiDu  to  formoT 
success— because  papular  taste  may  i\  ■  ict  xv-d  n.  Rut  wJ:Ui 
a  moderate  degree  of  the  favour  wIlIi  h  \  have  oJwayi 
had,  my  time  my  own,  and  my  minJ  unfUi^upd  a  bout 
other  tmncs,  I  may  twldly  promise  m^^f^tf  soon  ro  get  the 
better  of  this  blow. 

^  In  these  circumstances,  I  should  be  uniust  and  un* 
grateful  to  ask  or  accept  the  pity  of  mv  friends.  I  for 
one,  do  not  see  there  is  much  occasion  for  making  moan 
about  it  My  womankind  wUl  be  the  greater  sufferers.— 
vet  even  they  look  cheerily  forward ;  and,  for  myself,  tna 
blowing  off  my  hat  In  a  stormy  day  has  given  me  more 
uneasiness. 

** !  envy  your  Brighton  party,  and  your  fine  weather. 
When  1  was  at  Abbotsford  the  mercury  waa  down  at  sUt 
or  seven  in  the  morning  more  than  once.  I  am  hammer- 
ing away  at  a  bit  of  a  story  from  the  old  aflhir  of  the 
dtat>lerie  at  Woodstock  in  the  Long  Parliament  times.  I 
don't  like  it  much.  I  am  obliged  to  hamper  my  fanatics 
greatly  too  much  to  make  them  effective ;  but  I  make  the 
sacrince  on  principle ;  so,  perhaps,  I  shall  deserve  good 
success  in  other  parts  of  the  work.  You  will  be  sur- 
prised when  I  tell  you  that  I  have  written  a  volume  in 
exactly  fifteen  days.  To  be  sure,  1  permitted  no  Inter- 
ruptions. But  then  I  took  exercise,  and  for  ten  days  of 
the  fifteen  attended  tlie  Court  of  Session  from  two  to  four 
hours  every  day.  This  is  nothing,  however,  to  writing 
Ivanhoe  when  1  bad  the  actual  cramp  in  my  stomach ; 
but  1  have  no  idea  of  these  things  preventing  a  man  from 
doinK  what  he  has  a  mind.  My  love  to  all  the  party  at 
Brighton— fireside  party  I  had  almost  said,  but  you  scorn 
my  words— seaside  party  then  be  it.  Lady  Scott  and 
Anne  Join  in  kindest  love.  I  must  Close  my  letter,  for 
one  of'^the  consequences  of  our  misfortunes  Is,  that  we 
dine  every  dav  at  half-past  four  o'efock  ;  which  prema- 
ture hour  arises,  I  suppose,  from  sorrow  being  nungry 
as  well  as  thirsty.  One  most  laughable  nan  of  our  trajrio 
comedy  was,  tliat  every  fricod  in  the  world  came  formaOy, 


the  confidence  to  employ  them.  T would  have  given  a  I  jn.st  as  they  do  here  when  a  relation  dies,  thinking  that 


food  deal  to  have  avoided  the  coup  d'eclat ;  but  that  hav- 
™« taken  place,  I  would  not  give  six[)ence  for  any  other 
resuita.  I  fear  you  vriil  think  I  am  writing  in  the  heat  of 
CKcited  resistance  to  bad  fortune.  My  dear  Lockhart,  I 
*n»  as  calm  and  temperate  as  you  ever  .saw  me,  and  work- 
p8  *t  Woodstock  like  a  very  tiger.  I  am  grieved  for 
{^8dy  Scott  and  Anne,  who  cannot  conceive  adversity  can 
™^e  the  better  of  them,  even  for  a  moment.  If  it  teaches 
•little of  the  firugality  which  I  never  had  the  heart  to  en- 
wee  when  money  was  plenty,  and  it  seemed  cruel  to 
ywrnrot  the  enjoymertof  it  in  the  way  they  liked  beat— 
•yJlbewelK 

Kindest  kyre  to  Sophia,  and  tell  her  to  study  the  aonft 

^?i;^•$«r  psmkoew  te  aaoM  of  ilrii  maDiflent  pcisoa. 
^    fJp  with  the  beoBeUefBoiNiisDuBdea." 
59 


the  rclipsc  of /c«  beaux  yeur  de  ma  cassette  was  perhaps 
a  loss  as  deserving  of  consolation. 

"  We  had  an  impleamnt  report  that  your  nephew  was 
ill  I  am  glad  to  see  from  yoor  lett'^r  it  is  only  the  lady, 
and  In  the  right  way  ;  and  I  hope.  Scottice  loquens^  she 
will  be  worse  before  she  is  better.  This  mistalce  is  some- 
thing like  the  Irish  blundf'r  in  Faulkner's  Journal,  '*  For 
his  Grace  the  Duchess  of  Devonshire  was  safely  deliver- 
ed—read her  Grace  the  Duke  of  Devonahii e,  dec.'* 
Always  yours,  affectionately, 

Waltbb  Scott. 

"  P.  S.  .Win  you  do  me  a  favour  1    Set  fire  to  the  Chi- 
nese stables ;  and  if  it  embrace  the  whole  of  the  Pavik 


LIFE  qP  SIR  WALTKR  flCOTI*. 


To  lAdy  Davy,  26,  Park  Street,  London 

« 6th  February:  l^^^ 

""^If^ei^ihliuieu  .mce,  I  received  your  kind 
wtw^dSswer  it  in  aU frankness, and, in  lago' j  wor*!*, 
Jl^Cr/,^am  but  not  kllled'-nor  even  IfUt  1  ha« 
madSwmu^  by  Uteriture,  that,  even  should  ibn  h^=^^ 
Sin^tsThole  Jxtcnt,and  we  now  make  prei..nitmdj 
for  the  worst,  it  will  not  break,  and  haa  not  brokPii  inf 
Seeo  If  Ibkve  good  luck,  I  may  be  as  rich  ^JS^m  ** 
ever  •  if  not,  I  shfil  have  sUlI  far  more  than  mai.y  of  ihe 
Soi  deserving  people  in  Britain-soldiers,  sailor ..  ^aios- 

"?.%*;SS'uchobi"ert;%u  fervour 
who  has  tact,  and  great  truth  of  cliaracter,  I  bell.^ . .  St]-. 
wiU  wSi  to  take  her  company,  as  the  scandjU  «ud  kd^r. 
jked  their  wine,  little  snd  good;  and  I  ;«ed  (i-ii  ^^J,i 
dSll  be  greatly  ibliged  by  your  continued  noticr^  of  mr. 
^l^vf  known  nSwfoJ  a  long  Ume.  ^I  5™.  t-^jv^-'r; 
ourselves,  afraid  of  the  Utile  boy ;  he  is  terriblv  Hi.  m- 
In  ^stUutlon,  and  so  twined  about  the  parentt<'  >irnrErt, 
Sat— -Bui  ItTs  needless  croaking ;  wfiat  is  %nu^  mi 
Si  fbreheads  at  our  birth  shaU  be  accompUshc.l.  *J  f^r 

''"LSc1S^TAhink,Uihis  own  line,  and  therefore! 
do  n^  regret  his  absence,  though,  in  our  prcscm  amnge^ 


ct  nis  aosence,  muujs,",  •!*  "«•  r* *■-     „  7r  — ^ 
oent  M ny »ife ^id Ann*  P,rof»B«to rejmln^a^^ 

round  at  Al 


lodgings. 


Abbotslbrd,!  shaU  be  soUtary  enough  m  iny 
But  I  always  loved  being  a  bear  an<1  ainik  ii£[ 


naa.    But  1  aiwavB  iuycu  uciuk  •  mij»»  — -. ---, 

my  paws  In  solitudcbetterthanbdng^Uonanil  vsv^ipiiil 
fcr  fee  amusement  of  others;  and  as  I  propose  10  *iaiD 
So  (S«>r  In  the  fece  of  aU  and  sundnrjbr  these  ihrei; 
irMnTto  come, and  neither  eat  nor  gfve  to  crat,  I  ^f 
Jome  forth  bearish  enough,  should  I  Uve,  to  make  another 

S Tatar.  Seriously,  I  intend  to  receive  nobod/t  fid  onJ 
Atii^e  Mends  excepted,  at  Abbotsford_5i8  s^a^u,  for 
ft  cost  me  much  more  In  time  than  otherwise. 

*»I  beg  my  kindest  compliments  to  Sir  Huninhry,  and 
teU  him  in  luck,  that  direful  cheml^  never  put  Into  his 
ewcible  amore  IndiMbluble  piece  jf  atuff  than  your  af- 
♦  fecUonate  cousin  and  sincere  ^*"'**'^j[i^,„  Saorr  '» 


oi  til.  crauiui>.  1m  ^ntmn«  into  that  mairittse-wn-^ 
iraci,  without  a  previous  moat  drJibeyaie  ^^^^J^^^; 

have  ftU  in  tii  s  tnanntif,  though  I  have  a j  «or*  01 

inL^^A^',ounUf-bi!l..  would  hij«  bj^nj^i^'^.*^ 
at  perfect  libBfiy  to  doatl  that  he  d£y<>"J*^' ^: 
caLiK  Ho^evtr  that  may  have  been,  »"a  jrb«  - 
ever  may  havs  hv^n  hia  delicacy  rtipecUr»K    iha 

Kal  fiTm>n  the  V^hck  HUh  ^^e  ft^trjga  Dol  of 

hy  devDtinis  the  rest  of  hia  life  to  rh*  «J^^^^f?i* 
J,.aitor^  kSs  ^u\d,  m  the  upMiot,  P'^*?!±J'J^ 
thim  hro  wed  iht 01.  They  (with  owe  or  two  paltry 
eSrmn.)  applaud.^  hi.  honourt^hle  ^«^«^^7^»  fi 

s*.lf-ri.liaiice  of  tWdS^tor,  ^;>%  .^"^  4f;Z.:"f^ 
calculated  aa  to  their  intcreai  Nor  M  f'^^^fF 
ca  ciliated  wrongly.  He  pjyd  the  P^^J^^^f  ^^^^ 
and  life,  but  he  sa^ed  hia  honour  and  his  *felf'fC- 

I  ^^*  ^  fin 

*'  The  (flory  tUtja  not,  and  Lbc!  grief  is  psw^ 

As  floon  asParUamen;  mt^t.  thf  recent  cOinrtil^O 

En  thocommeitiul  worhi  became  the  ^^t>J*^*  f  f^-J)? 

very  reniarkable  debater  in  tho  Lower  Hou.*,^ 

Ihu  Minisierf,  tracini?  it  mainly  to  th©  raaii  la^ab^ 


of  bftiikcra  in  yit^ldinf?  credit  lo  ■pt^'^  "J*^^*!!^ 
posed  to  Eirike  at  the  root  of  the  W  by  takJD|f  ft9» 


I  ofier  no  coW  commenta  on  the^  atren^ih  of 
character  which  Sir  Waller  Scott  exhibiud  in  the, 
ensiaof  his  calamitieB.  '  Bui  for  the  revel nnonsot 
his  Diary  it  would  never  have  been  known  to  his 
most  intimate  friends,  or  even  to  his  own  ofloction- 
ate  chUdren.  what  struggles  it  cost  lum  to  reach  Oie 
lofty  serenity  of  mind  which  was  reflected  in  all  his 
outward  conduct  and  demeanour.  u-*.-ir 

As  yet,  however,  he  had  hard  v  prepared  himseir 
for  ihe^tent  to  which  Constable's  debts  cxee^nd 
lusasa^ts.  The  obligations  of  that  house  arnmiiit' 
•d,  on  a  final  reckoning,  to  £256.000 1  ihojc  of  HurBt 
and  Robinson  to  somewhere  about  jemm>D.  l  he 
•former  paid,  ultimately,  only  2a.  9d.  in  the  pDundi 
the  latter  abofit  is.  3d. 

The  firm  of  James  Ballantyne  and  Co.  rrii  m  navy 

allowed  itself  to  be  declared  bankrupt,  and  obtn.neti 

a  speedy  discharge,  as  the  bookselhn/?  conc^ern*  dtd, 

fo?aU  Its  obUgaiionsr-bnt  that  Sir  W.Ucr  Scott 

was  a  pariner.   Had  he  chosen  to  act  m  lie  ma  oner 

commonly  adopted  by  commercial  insolvents,  the 

matter  would  have  been  settled  m  a  very  ?hori  time. 

ThecreditorsofBallantyneandCo.— (whnst^elmms, 

jicluding  sheafs  of  bills  of  all  descnption^  nTnouni^ 

jd  to  jCl  ir.OOO)— would  have  brought  into  1 1  it  warkKX 

whatever  property,  Ulerary  or  oihefrwise,  hv.  at  the 

hour  of  failure  possessed;  they  would  h^vt  had  a 

right  to  his  liferent  of  Abboisford,  amonfi  oihtr 

things  -and  to  his  reversionary  in  teresi  in  ih  e  petti  I  e, 

in  case  either  his  eldest  son  or  his  daughter-m^law 

should  die  without  leaving  issue,  and  thus^  v^iid  tUu 

provisions  of  theb-  marriage-contract.    All  ihis  b^i- 

ing  brought  into  the  market,  the  result  would  have 

been  a  dividend  very  far  superior  to  what  the  crcdi^ 

tors  of  Constable  and  Hurst  received ;  and  10  return, 

thepartncra  in  the  printing  firm  would  have  bn^n 

left  at  liberty  to  reap  for  themselves  the  jrofiteol 

their  iftiture  exertions.    Things  were,  howt^v^r  c->ni- 

plicated  in  consequence  of  the  transfer  of  Abbots- 

ford  in  January,  1826.    At  first,  some  crvdilors  aeciu 

to  hjive  had  senous  thoughts  of  contestuig  the  vali- 

fityof  thattransaciioir;  but  a  Uttle  reflLcUon  and 

anamination  satisfied  them  that  noibinK^uld  be 

gained  by  such  an  attempt.    But,  on  the   othor 

hand.  Sir  Walter  felt  thai  he  had  dorie  wrong  in 

placing  any  part  of  his  properly  beyond  the  rc^ela 


private  banka  the  T>^iY^kg*^of  ^^^'^l^'^^^'^f^^^- 
noti-9  as  money,  and  limiting  e¥on  the  Bank  of  t,^* 
hind  tn  the  iij.-.i;  of  iiote^  of  ^6  vntue  and  i^pwai^a. 

ahokild  apply  to  Scotland  aa  well  aa  Ki^land ;  an^ 
the  northern  public  rec*tv«i  the  °pj»^"'*^£''£;^ 
ilrrioal  universal  reprobation*  The  Sootfn  jr^US 
apprehended  a  m09t  aerioas  cnriaiimmt  of  »*jr 
profiia;  nnd  the  nierchania  and  tratfers  <n^™^ 
rls'!»  were  ^ell  dispuaed  to  back  them  in  oppoaUif: 
tho  Ministmal  innoiatjon.  Scots  fvci  ^otiuralf 
iealoiia  as  to  the  mferfcrcnceof  EngUh  statteajncn 
with  the  internfli  affaira  of  hia  nalive  kingdom,  taofc 
the  matter  up  with  a&  much  jaeal  as  be  ooiild  hM 
displayed  BKumat  thetfmon  had  ht  hv^rd  m  ihef* 
of  Queen  Anne.     His  national  f^ims^s  may  1 


ot  uuoen  Anne.  niP  uquwiKi,  .^^....-,*^  .- 
been  somewhat  stimnlaUKl,  perhaps,  by  ™--^ 
Bensc  of  gratitude  for  tha  Rtnurxxua  rorb^aTagcfr 
which  severnl  RdinbnTch  banHingKouftea  had  jrct 
bt«n  exhibiMnK  tow^orde  himiselfi  ant*  I  y^^Jl 
nof^  00 1  Iw,  doubted,  moreover,  thai  the  *pwyy 
bUi^  which,  a 8  the  Diary  isbows,  hi#  own  n«t- 
lu n es  h ad  enac n ilered ,  d em n  nded  Jo [™\  <»W«- 
valve.  Hence  tltt-  three  Leliers  of  M»h*ctu  yw- 
oro^^ilhur,  which  appear^Ji  fir*i  m  the  K<hiib^*iflh 
Wteklir  Journol,  and  wf-re  afterward*  eoliecM  ttito 
a  pamphlet  by  the  lale  Mr.  Bkckwood.  wB^  oa 
ihat  occasion,  for  the  fir^t  tnne<  bad  jusu^  doo*  10 
hia  personal  character  by  ''  iha  Black  Bu^snt  of 

Thcsts  diatriboa  produced  in  ScolUnd  _  ^— 
not  pf-rhaps,  inferior  to  that  of  the  Drapi»r'ai 
11^  IrnUnii  ?  a  greater  otit^.  earXFimly,  iban  anf  1^-^^^ 
eal  tract  had  ejceited  m  the  Bntish  public  at  l«lf» 
sincf*  ihe  nppeorflnce  of  Hurke'?  Reticttions  otttlj 
Fnmch  EcvoSuitoTir  They  Mfcta  answered  mm 
Blaborntelv  find  acutely  in  me  Loudon  t.*itimr  vjm 
the  semi-offictal  fjrftan  of  l.urd  t.»verppo4  •  ilif; 
envmeru)  by  Sir  Wfil tar's  £nend,  the  SectfiW 


the  Admirahv,  Mr.  Ctokof,  who,  pprfaAps^  "—7-35^ 
ifi  the  heat  of  hia  compoamoft,  a  f«w  pttaoMl  «W- 
aiona  that  iniKht  n«  v(fell  have  been  ^parad,  •■& 
which  mis^ht  hsvo  leinpted  a  k?a_g>Jod-patitr^;^  ^ 
taconiat  to  a  Itery  rpjoinder.  Mec(tn(f»  ttowifV* 
ftjtiowed  tr^eetjnc,  and  peliti4>n  on  petition  ca lu«KP 
wiih  tbougandH  of  aignaiiire^i  and  the  Mioactis 
ttcUmg  found  (hat  the  opposition,  of  whicliM*lw:.in 
had  It^d  the  van,  wae,  in  ftpUe  of  all  Qt&r  o^a 
FiMjeches  and  Mr.  Croker'a  tfsaayfctoo  wtimm  "f 
ton  rapidly  atrongtheninp,  to  he  safely  en*:oiiat»e'L 
The  Scorch  psrt  of  the  rn^'asuro  w*9  dr*9ptf  and 
Scott,  having  carried  his  practical  ohjeci,  wim  ii<^ 
at  all  dispoBcd  to  perswf  ih  -i  coBtfoVej^y  wbiclLj 
I  farther  pureuedi  ^ouJd  toifcfi^i  aa  h^  fopBaaw,  UA 


LIFE  GS^am  WALTER  SOOTT. 


to  inteUBpt  tiie  Idodly  ^1inf{«  that  Cnolter  and  ho 
liad  for  Qinn^  year^  iititeTtnincd  kit  atith  oibt-r,  iind 
tlso  tc>  aggravate  and  proJonff*  unneceaaarily,  the 
rci^jnttui^nt  with  which  sevi^fal  of  hia  friendi  m  the 
Co  bint' L  hd  Tegurded  his  uiilook«(i-fo^  appearance 
ai  a  kniiAe  iigiEator, 

J  b&lievet  with   iheee  hinLsi,  tha  Fcader  ia  euH^- 
eeody  pi^&xcd  far  n^dutnin^  Sir  WaJkr'ft  Diarf . 


CKAPTEK  LXVIII. 

tflABT  iUmilD — A14TCD0TE  OF  CUipLOMTt^^LSTTRa 
fiOM  JIACKIMTO^H — aXllIBlTlOM  OP  P JCTPB Bs— aiO" 
Dim  f  AlSTEafi— HABITfl    O*'  <30MPiJe[TI0N— OLEH- 

GAsat  —  advocates'      usaAat  —  prSW^tJATIOISB 

WITH  ca£t}iToa«— FtaaT  lbttkb  op  xalachi  h al- 

~  AoaowTHca — cnajONiciua  uc  JAc<it''ia  oit  lauain 

-^PVDQB£B8  or  WOOnrrOCE  ANB  DUONAFAaTB^NO^ 
ITELS  St  AALT— 'Miaa    AUSTIN— AltP  LADV    MO  BO  AN 

^sacojfiv  Ayj>  TII11J3  Bfi^TLsa  or  aiAiAcm— i»k- 
i^Aanrai  ruoM  CAaruK  BTafST, — rsams-Asr  asd 
xAaCKf  ISriS, 

DIARY. 

"  Edmburghj  Fib^marv  10.— Went  thrmwh,  for  a 
BOW  day,  tba  task  of  bultoningr  which  seeiua  to  me 
•umelujw  to  fill  up  more  of  my  morning  than  usual 
-  RoU  certainly  that  such  U  t\\^  caa^  but  thai  my 
njicd  Bltetida  to  ih*?  proeiaia,  having  go  Utile  Mt  to 
jioptf  or  fear.  The  half  hour  lifltw««n  waking  and 
riiin^  ha»  all  my  life  proved  tiropiuoua  to  any  taak 
whkh  was  yxyrciiLng  my  invention.  VVheo  I  «oi 
over  any  knouy  diflieuUif  tn  a  atoryi  of  have  had  in 
ContJt^r  timefl  ro  fill  up  a  paasaee  m  a  poom^  it  was 
a^vQj's  when  I  firet  opeiit^d  my  eyw»  that  thr  dt^airod 
wi-'ti^  ihrongixl  upon  nj^  This  ib  so  much  the  cA&ti. 
tlsit  I  am  in  th«  Habit  of  rdying  u|ion  ir,  (ind  sayms 
to  myi^eir,  when  1  am  at  a  lo^a,  *  Never  mindi  vvg 
vntiW  have  it&t  *e\en  o'clock  to  morrow  morning.' 
If  I  hrive  forgo tten  a  oircum«tance  or  a  name,  or  a 
copy  of  vetifeB,  it  ia  the  aame  thiiig.  1  think  the  first 
huur  ^jf  the  morning  i«  al^  favourable?  to  ihe  bodily 
Blrength,  Among  tjther  foaii  when  I  waa  a  young 
Diiin,  1  was  able  at  timeeto  h/t  a  arnith'ii^  &avii  with 
ore  hand,  by  what  ia  called  lUnhtn^ti.  that  projecting 
pit  cc  of  iron  on  which  ihingfi  art^  tieoten  to  turn 
thuni  round.  But  I  could  oiiTydo  tins  before  break- 
fast.  It  rc^iiuireii  my  full  Htrengih,  undimmiahed  by 
the  leaat  eiienion^  and  thoi^  wlio  choose  to  try  wifl 
Slid  the  feat  no  easy  one.  Thi9  tnormng  I  had 
iOJiiw  new  ideas  jrBBptJCtJng  Woodsjock,  which  will 
make  the  story  bettor,  Tii«  devil  of  a  difficulty  i^^ 
^a!  one  puzzle*  th«  i^ein  in  ordi^r  to  e\c\ie  cun- 
imity,  and  thJon  cannot  disentangle  it  for  the  aaLi^^- 
iucion  of  the  prying  Hund  th«y  hove  rfiised^  I  hsvo 
I  prtHtily  e!iprt?a&tfd  loiter  of  condolence  from  Sir 
faco^^B  Macknitof^b.*    Yea£4}rday  I  had  an  atiecdote 

*  This  V^^Tfr  n  i&  ht«aarah)c  to  !he  yrritrt,  u  wefl  44  Uj  Sip 
WtilUstt  tliat  ]  AHi  t«iipted  lo  uiW?ft  it  lo  •  utiia  :— 

**Cadnsiiii  Ptace,  Feb.  f,  1936. 

BIt  (learfllr, 

-^  llavinf  bopn  AuJIhft  oa  WlndcniwrD  irb^n  Lord  Glf- 
>r  1  nafii  Uie  JaJcu*^  and  altnoai  erni^Mutlj  cojifitK^cl  ^jnce 
ij  r€?itim  tcj  tuivn.  lOid  not  hear  till  lwo<lBiyi  a^o,  of  y  oar 
ei  r  iiind  m^^Mim:.  wycti,  Jf  I  luu)  reroivfd  a  tn  the 
or  rt*f  1  rihoiilii  protiabty  haie  anrffprt-d  in  person,  i  do 
01  ki^iw  I  hilt  I  fthoulJ  iio-vt  liftvo  irouE4ed  jaix  VFtUi  wrii- 
ia  Ohiiiks  for  ivliat  is  ao  nattrnl  to  you  as  lui  &ct  of  cour- 
tM'*  anO  iioHpitalnyt  it  1  wr^re  not  In  h^ppa  itial  ymt  mijtht 
oz^izJilcr  J I  ft*  i^xcuae  caoti^h  for  an  indij|{i;cnci?  oT  LdcUua- 
01 )  wKlch  njiflu  othcrvrlif!  be  thought  inlruMvc, 

*'  Nq  man  Ixtiq^  tt«3  gjv^Ti  pleaaurff  lo  so  nMnf  ppnwna 
I  yi'jn  liavo  d4nc*i  Ainl  you  muit  b?  BiBurtd  thAt  great 
rtiititm(e3  who  nirveraftw  you^  in  every  quarlei-  of  the 
oil  hi,  will  FfgrcLtli©  sllRhttn  cUsfurbanrc  i>f  your  con- 
»Btjiefice-  UiKt  ok  1  tia^e  at^^erved  ttiat  tile  ijjproB* 
»cl>ir«tic>n  of«afi  LadividuaJ  souir.':ett£)C'ff  fii^kra  more  Ink- 
rei»«ion  than  the  itronjr^at  ajt»urancc  ofth^  «$nttJiifcAts 
>•  7NUlUtude*,l*eiittire  to  i»y  ih»i  I  most  sIncoreJy  la- 
iei)i£  til  at  Ally  untowafdcirciiuiiitanceit  tfhouJd,  evtn  for  a 
DO'-,  inierrupt  the  indutfetieia  of  your  taato  md  vour 
it  rii  enjnyinf!ntj.  lam  dorry  that  sfcollainS  shotiLdj  for 
nji^mfnt,  los<?  the  very  p'tcdliar  ili^ilint^tJoii  of  hntlfif^ 
le  bono  UTS  of  the  MUiitry  Oflfie  t»  \isiitcn*  by  the  [kt. 
m  at  Ute  head  of  cuir  tlurature.    Abota  «U^  I  am  ttimy 


m 

from  old  Sir  Jamca  Stewart  denhami*  which  ii 
worth  wn  ling  down,  Hisiinci?,  Lord  Elchoj  waa, 
a^  (a  well  known,  ^ngaeed  in  the  affair  of  I74S,  He 
was  dia^aUsQi^d  with  the  condoct  of  matters  from 
Vjeipnning  lo  end*  Bnt  (iftcr  the  left  wing  of  the 
HighUttdeTB  was  repulsi^d  and  broken  ot  L\iUodeP| 
KIcho  rode  up  to  the  ChovaLicr  and  told  him  all  waa 
lost,  and  diat  notbmg  remained  cjicept  to  charge  at 
the  hi^ad  of  two  thousand  men,  who  w^re  alill  un^ 
broken^  and  cither  turn  the  fate  of  the  da/  or  die 
Bword  in  hand,  as  became  his  pretention n.  The 
Chcvflli*trgnve  him  some  ev active  atiswef,  and,  turn- 
ing his  horse's  head,  rode  off  the  field.  T.ord  filcho 
caik-d  wfttr  him  (1  wr^e  his  very  words,)  'There 
you  GH)  for  a  damned  cowardly  Iialian,'  and  never 
would  see  htm  again,  though  he  lost  his  property 
and  T«mained  an  exile  in  the  cau^e^  Lord  Elcho 
left  two  copies  of  hjs  memoirs,  one  vrith  Sir  Jamea 
Stewart's  faintJy,  one  with  Lord  Wcmysa.  ThiB 
is  better  eYidencc  than  the  romatice  0/  Chevalier 
Johnstone ;  and  I  hsve  litiic  doubt  it  is  true*  Yet 
it  IS  no  pnwf  of  the  Prince's  cowHrdice»  though  it 
«how$  hitu  to  have  b(?en  no  John  of  Gaunt.  Pnncea 
are  constantly  iurrounded  with  jj*  ople  who  hold  np 
their  own  t(ft  and  sa/tty  to  them  11  s  by  far  the  most 
important  stake  in  any  contest  j  and  this  is  a  doc- 
trine in  which  conviction  is  easily  received.  Such 
ftn  eminent  person  finds  every  body's  advicei  ta^e  ' 
here  and  there  that  of  a  de«peraie  Fdcho,  recom- 
mend obedience  to  the  natural  instinct  of  eelf-pre- 
servaiion^  which  very  oft^n  meo  of  tnfenor  aitua- 
tiotiti  tind  it  difficult  to  combat,  when  all  the  world 
ore  crying  to  iheni  to  get  on  and  be  d^mnedi  in e lead 
of  encourngins  ih^rii  so  run  awny.  At  Preston- 
P&na  the  Chevalier  offered  lo  lead  the  va»»  and  ho 
was  with  ihii  second  hne,  which,  during  that  hnef 
Jijffair,  followed  the  first  very  close.  J  oh  n  stone' b 
own  Bcciount,  carefully  read^  brings  him  wiihin  a 
pia Lot- shot  of  the  fir»t  Une-  At  the  aame  time 
Charles  Etlward  had  not  a  head  or  heart  for  great 
ihiogs^  notwithiiiionding  bis  daring  adventure;  and 
the  Irish  officen^  by  whom  he  waa  «UMi<sd,  w^&re 
[H>or  creaiurea.  Lord  George  Murray  waa  the  aoul 
of  the  undortaking.t 

*^  f\brtiary  11.— Court  B&t  tdl  b a Lf-pa at  one^  A 
man,  calhng  hitnaelf  **»tof*t**»  wrilaa 
to  me.  expruineiiig  sympathy  for  my  miaiortiuieAj 
and  oftering  me  half  ihe  profits  of  what,  if  I  under- 
Btand  him  right,  is  a  patent  medicine,  to  which  I 
auppn^  he  eipeets  me  to  stand  trumpeter.  Ha  en* 
deavoura  to  get  over  my  objections  10  accepting  hia 
iibcralit/ (aupposiag  ma  to  at^tdriain  tlw m)  by  as* 
sunng  me  his  omidnct  is  founded  otl  *  a  m^i  'Hf- 

Hmt  a  fortune  <MLrni?d  by  f  cnhi*  •ml  cTpruded  so  gcn«' 
rnotfly.  fhumld  htf  Tor  thci  ^orl^st  flsAa  sb«fcen  by  the 
l^on^raJ  calaialMlCft- 

'^TtKii^Q  ditfpoiittjoni  of  yours  wb^eh  moat  quicken  tho 
fdkiW'fefiiltajf*  of  odicrs  w(JJ  best  aonAolc  yo^u.  I  liata 
haaxd  nvWi  d+^Ufthi  tljai  toor  eompofiiiro  and  elicerfidneai 
havB  uiready  conifaritd  ilioie  who  an*  mnit  aiTL-cttoniite^ 
Intnrpsticd  to  you-  WHiit  1  heftrd  of  your  liaj>py  temper 
in  iMi*  way,  rcrnidnilrd  foe  of  WorbunQn'a  tine  cliAracter 
of  Bajle— ^  IT«  had  a  eoul  superior  to  th**  atiaclEa  of  for- 
tunf,  and  a  heurt  practise li  to  the  best  phlloHophy,*  Ton 
hAVe  lejpended  jour  fortune  too  well  not  to  he  con3o1>?d 
fnr  a  i*!ii>porary  siiUFpsnalej!  afit*  procFace ;  you  ha^o  your 
^eukU0.  your  tuuiet  aod^  wtiat  ts  hetier  than  efihiTt  your 
kifid  aiKi  clieerful  nituia, 

''  t  iruffi  io  much  to  your  EDCKtaatured  ludulifenee,  ttuc 
T  hup^'  you  Uiili  pardon  roe  for  jc4alD}[  my  MLncere  but 
Tpry  hiind>lc  vokt?  to  tU*»  adfiilraiion  aod  riycupOrUiy  of 


Bijfope.— 'I  I 


I  my  dear  3ir^  yours  wosi  iruijj 

J.  MAosiierMn.^ 


fi/'E  cjT  th&  iScott  On?r^.  THi  FutJ^r,  ilic  rji?l(>br&tK>d  fNilitieral 
entattmiil.  tonk  {laitjn  ^h^  BetK^tlinn  of  l'i&.  umi  wnj  Unif  nf-, 
h^.T\va.rtU  Ati  e:ul«.  Tiicr«id«r  ii  nci  dctubl  RcquiLkiti>d'  wiUi  Lady 
Mmn  Wiml»r  Mostagu«  letU!t*T  ijidieurd  to  bim  aud  hu  wife 
LfliEly  Francei.  The  prefuit  vcnmblci  l^ir  JamM  bod,  I  think,  at- 
taift«t  tbu  rutlc  «r  Captain  in  a  (Scfcifn  ii«rFico  bofim  hii  faihm't 
attatiid«r  wai  TeHiUcJ ;— Kt  l»  naa  llfed  ta  beeome  the  leniior 
nniNni  officer  in  (beBfitiiB  annr- 

t  "  Hsil  Phn«!  Charln  ilfiiT  doriiw  the  whnle  of  the  eipeoi' 
tHun,"  iftja  the  Ciirtlitr  Johntlone,  "  and  ali^triid  Lcpfd  GnnEB 
Mujia^  lo  act  fijf  l^iui  arajrdinf  In  hin  nwu  jucffTncnt.  thrte  it 
pr4^ry  t&iMm  ibr  inippoiinf  M  woutd  faavt  ffjimrfthe  cKnt'n  of 
OtpM  B^taio  *ii  nil  bwrt  whon  he  awoke."-  Utetnoir^tfthe  lU^ 
MHflM  <tf  nm»  #fi    Lofsckuir  lUtO.    iU>,  p.  tM. 


Digitized  by  V^OOQlC 


UFS  OF  SIR  WALtSr  SCOTT. 


UhnasP  This  is  diyerting  enoughs  I  suppose  the 
Commissioners  of  Police  will  next  send  me  a  letter 
of  condolence,  begging  my  acceptance  of  a  broom,  a 
shovel,  and  a  scavenger's  great  coat,  and  assuring 
me  that  they  had  appointed  me  to  all  the  emolu- 
ments of  a  well-frequented  crossing.  It  would  be 
doing  more  than  they  have  done  of  late  for  the  clean- 
liness of  the  streets,  which,  witness  mv  shoes,  are 
in  a  piteous  pickle.  I  thanked  the  selfish  sage  with 
due  decorum ;  for  what  pui^xise  can  anger  serve  7  I 
remember  once  before,  a  mad  woman,  from  about 
Alnwick,  by  name  ♦  *  ♦  ♦,  baited  me  with  letters 
and  plans— first  for  charity  for  herself  or  some  pro- 
Ugir—1  gave  my  guinea— then  she  wanted  to  have 
half  the  profits  ot  a  novef  which  I  was  to  publish 
under  mj  name  and  auspices.  She  sent  me  the 
manuscnpt,  and  a  Quoting  tale  it  was,  for  some  of 
the  scenes  lay  in  the  (Mxntt  h  Feau.  I  declined 
the  partnership.  Lastly,  my  fair  correspondent  in- 
sisted I  was  a  lover  of  speculation,  and  would  be 
much  profited  by  going  snares  in  a  patent  medicine 
which  she  had  invented  for  the  benefit  of  little  babes. 
I  dreaded  to  have  any  thing  to  do  with  such  a 
Herod' like  affair,  and  begged  to  decline  the  honour 
of  her  correspondence  m  future.  I  should  have 
thought  the  thing  a  quiz  but  that  the  novel  was 
real  and  substantial.  Sir  Alexander  Don  called, 
and  we  had  a  good  laugh  together. 

'*  February  12. — Having  endsd  the  second  volume 
of  Woodstock  last  night,  I  had  to  begin  the  third 
this  morning.  Now  I  have  not  the  sTigfaCtoC  idea 
how  the  story  is  to  be  wound  up  to  a  catastrophe. 
I  am  just  in  the  same  case  that  I  used  to  be  when  I 
lost  myself  in  former  days  in  some  country  to  whieh 
I  was  a  stranoer.  I  always  poshed  for  the  pleasant* 
est  route,  and  either  found  or  made  it  the  nearest. 
It  is  the  same  in  writing.  I  never  could  lay  down  a 
plan— or,  having  laid  it  down^  I  never  oould  adhere 
to  it ;  the  action  of  composition  always  extended 
some  passages,  and  abridged  or  omitted  others ;  and 
personages  were  rendered  important  or  insi^;nifi- 
cant,  not  according  to  their  agency  in  the  original 
conception  of  the  piece,  but  according  to  the  suc- 
cess, or  otherwise,  with  which  I  was  able  to  bring 
them  oat  I  only  tried  to  make  that  which  f  was 
ictually  writing  diverting  and  interestmg,  leaving; 
thereat  to  fate.  I  have  been  often  amused  with  the 
critics  distinguishing  some  passages  as  particularly 
labonred,  when  the  pen  passed  over  the  whole  as 
£ut  as  it  could  move,  and  the  eye  never  again  saw 
them,  except  in  proof.  Verse  I  write  twice,  and 
■ometimet  three  times  over.  This  kab  nab  at  a  ven- 
fure  is  a  periloafl  style,  I  grant,  but  I  cannot  help 
n.  When  I  strain  my  mind  to  ideas  which  axe 
purely  imaginative— for  argument  is  a  different  thing 
—it  seems  to  me  that  the  >sun  leaves  the  landscai>e 
— that  I  think  away  the  whole  vivacity  of  my  ori- 
ginal conception,  and  that  the  results  are  cold,  tame, 
and  spiritless.  It  is  the  difference  between  a  writ* 
ten  oration  and  one  bursting  from  the  unpremedi- 
tated exertions  of  the  speaker,  which  have  always 
something  the  air  of  enthusiasm  and  insph'aUon.  I 
would  not  have  young  authors  imitate  my  careless* 
ness.  however. 

"Kead  a  few  pages  of  Will  D'Avenant,  who  was 
fond  of  having  it  supposed  that  Shakspeare  in- 
trigued with  his  mother.  I  think  the  pretension  can 
only  be  treated  as  Phcton  was,  according  to  Field- 
ing's farce— 

'  Besides,  by  all  the  village  boys  I'm  shamed. 
Yon,  the  sun's  sod,  you  rascal— you  be  damn'd.' 

Egad,  ni  put  that  in  Woodstock.  It  might  come 
well  from  the  old  admirer  of  Shakppcare.  Then 
Fielding's  lines  were  not  written.  What  then  ?— i  i 
is  an  anachronism  for  some  sly  rogue  to  detect.  Be- 
sides, it  is  easy  to  swear  they  were  written,  and  that 
Fielding  adopted  them  from  tradition.* 

"F^rttary  13.— The  Institution  for  the  Encour- 
agement of  the  Pine  Arts  opens  to-day,  with  ahand- 
some  entertainment  in  the  Exhibition-room,  as  at 

*  8m  tte  eouplet,  tad  the  apology,  in  Woodstock-  WMerlev 
Nwtlv.  Vol.  v. 


SciEiitirsoi  House.  li  sthke«  me  that  ^e  direedoii 
ffiveti  by  amatflurs  nnd  profe^aHjrs  to  their  prcrfef  ^ 
niifl  pupils,  whd  Bfipire  to  be  mrii^ts.  is  upon  a  p^ 
liaTEtir  ^ml  f^jln^  iinnciple^^  AlJ  tbf?  thie  arts  have  it 
for  pli'ir  hi^ltt^t  oijJ  miifit  li?i;itLma(e  end  sndpur- 
|.n>j:{^,  U'i  i]tw(  x\n-  hijiimn  pB^^snoim,  ur  flmootli  an4 
[iUt!viak%  for  tt  tjme,  the  ne^ir  miutti^tfeelimortbe 
TLjind--io  ejicxie  wonder,  or  Terror^  or  tnWira,  or 
omntion  of  tiomo  kind  or  other.  It  wften  liapp«nA 
Ehatt  m  the  ver>  ri&e  and  ongm  of  mese  arts,  as  in 
ihr  instance  of  Homer,  ibe  tiHncipfll  nhject  m  ob- 
inincdin  a  dugre';  not  eciwslied  by  any  eaceea^Qr. 
Eui  there  ia  a  dcjrrce  of  ejiMutioa  wknait  io  niorp 
fL-ficicd  timoSj  the  fjoet  or  tnufiician  begins  t^  studj', 
vviiich  giv<^s  a  vfilae  of  its  own  to  iheir  produetiotis 
of  a  rliifitreni  kind  from  th«  nide  AlrRUgth  of  their 
pirdeecsKirfl.  Poetry  become*  complicayd  m  \%a 
rules— in u Sir:  \airnm  in  Ub  ciaencea  •ad  humo- 
mee— rhetoric  aubtle  in  its  petiodtfp  lhv«  is  more 
isivpn  to  Lbp  labour  of  ejiteoutinic— J«m  stiained  by 
the  clfect  produced.  Still  ibe  nobler  and  powilar 
t'nd  of  these  arte  is  not  fo f gotten;  and  if  we  have 
some  productions  too  leorned^  too  r&chtrrhig  fot 
publii:  ft^lmg,  wfl  have,  every  now  and  then,  music 
that  electrizes  a  whole  aaseflibl)'^,  dioqtience  which 
6hnkt(*  the  forum,  nnd  poetry  which  cairka  mefl  ap 
CO  the  I  bird  heaven.  But  m  painting;;  it  b  dilferefH ; 
]t  is  all  liecome  a  iiiyattrry,  the  secrti  of  wJuich  i» 
iod^i^l  in  a  few  connom^'^ira^  whose  objeci  i*  not 
1<1  praise  the  works  of  such  pQint<?rs  as  produce  ef- 
feci  on  rnankind  at  iflrgCi  but  to  clnss  them  aeeoid' 
ins  to  their  proficiency  in  th*  inftfhof  t^ka  of  the 
art,  which,  thoush  moAi  n<3ct'«flarv  to  he  lAUghc  and 
lentncd,  a  hoi  i  hi  yet  only  be  considflired  aa  w  Ota- 
dun  fid  Famaji^im,  the  Btepe  by  which  the  higher 
and  ulliniate  object  of  a  ereei  popular  ^ed  is  lo  be 
q  tte  i  neil .  They  b  n  ve  al  I  em  braced  *  hn  very  style  of 
cniicism  which  indxiced  Michael  Aiigdo  lo  c*U 
some  Pope  a  pout  criiatufe,  when^  rtjmiiiK  his  at- 
ten  lion  from  uic  j^eneral  enW'i  of  a  aohiestatne, 
hw  Hotinin^  he^^nn  to  mlicisc  iho  hem  of  tbe rofe«- 
This  scemg  to  tne  the  caut»fl  of  the  dec«T  of  this  de- 
hffhtfulartj  etq^edally  in  hiatorys  its  noblest  brand). 
Aa  I  speatE  to  myedf,  I  rnay  My  that  a  paintinir 
should,  lo  bo  cxcellen^  have  iiomethjne  lo  ley  to 
rhe  ntind  of  a  man,  like  mjselfi  well  iducati^d.  fuid 
auBCeptible  io  those  feefinfrs  which  any  ihmK 
sttrongly  recalling  tjatural  etnotion  ii  idtely  to  in- 
spire. HtiL  how  aeldom  do  I  se**  any  ihinit  tNt 
movna  mc  imjch  !  IftSlkie,  the  far  mor«  than  TWii- 
<  re  of  SiNJtIand,  e*rininly  gave  Tr\any  new  ideasi  So 
does  Win  AlUitK  rhoiiph  overwh^rlnied  with  tbejir  re- 
nin rks  about  cojoyrtng  and  grouprtig,  again#t  wbidi 
iliey  nte  not  willinu  to  place  hia  ginnsrai  and  dfi> 
^inalmerM^.  Land aoer'  a  does  were  r he  nvoat  11U19- 
niiic^nt  thiii^B  I  ever  saw— leaping,  and  boundinlCi 
iinH  grinning  on  the  canvasan  Leslie  hasjereec  pon^ 
(im;  nnJ  ihe  ec^^ni^a  from  Moli^re  by  Newton  ar« 
exeelknt.  Vet  painting  wants  a  refl»neraiOf' 
some  one  who  will  9wc<?p  the  cobweb*  out  of  hii 
head  before  he  takes  the  pallet,  ae  Chan  trey  hai 
done  in  the  sister  an.  At  preeent  we  tine  pajtit^iiK 
pictures  from  ihc  aneienisi,  aiiBtfaora  in  tW  day'* 
of  i.oiJLfl  Ui^atorze  wrote  epje  ^<ona  aejcordjni;  to 
ihe  recipe  of  Da<^i(?r  and  Co.  Tlie  poor  reader  or 
9pf.^c[atur  has  no  renu^y ;  the  cotnpoiiitoDS  ate  ft* 
ntmiitm  arlem  ;  and  if  he  dors  not  like  iheni,  h«  is 
n^>  iudse,  tbai*a  all 

"  /^efrn/rjry  14*— 1  had  a  ca  I J  from  Gknnrnr  fm- 
(enJayi  as  kind  and  fri^ndl^  aa  URXtaL*  Tjbiii  yieolli^ 
man  la  a  kind  of  QuLtqle  in  our  a^e^  having  fvraiA^ 
td,  in  their  fiill  ex  lift  t,  ihfftvhoUr  fcehng:a  at  daft; 
^hipnttd  ^^hiiftainehip,  elsewhere  ho  long  uUandii^n&i^ 
He  sii^^ms.  to  have  jiv<^d  a  eeatun'  ^oo  lat(N  ^^  ^ 
I  jii$i,  in  a  s^ati'.  of  nompkle  law  and  orW,  hiM  «. 
(Jlengnrry  of  Md^  whose  wUl  was  law  lo  hia  ami. 
Warin-henrtcd,  ^t^etn^*,  firieRdly  i  ha  is  bebMby 
tho^c  uho  know  hitni  and  hiji  elforta  are  tmo^flmv 
no  ebow  kindne?3  to  thost  of  his  elan  wh^>  I 
pnfMDd  fully  to  Qilmh  hifi  prct^n^ott^.  Tb  C 
them  19  tg  mcur  Uh  ri'senimentf  whktt  ra*  j 


■too  toi™,,.  •^p.g.,.^^,   ^y  QQQgl^—^ 


UFE  OP  SIR  WALTER  SCOTT. 


Uoief  broken  out  in  acts  of  Tiolenoe  which  have 
brought  him  into  collision  with  the  law.  To  me  he 
k  a  treasure,  as  being  fiill  of  information  as  to  the 
history  of  his  own  clan  and  the  manners  and  cus> 
tpms  of  the  Highlanders  in  general.  Strong,  ac- 
tive, and  muscular,  he  follows  the  chase  of  the  deer 
for  days  and '  nights  together,  sleeping  in  his  plaid 
when  darkness  overtakes  him.  The  number  of  his 
singular  exploits  would  fill  a  volume ;  for,  as  his 
pretensions  are  high,  and  not  always  willingly  yidd- 
ed  to,  he  IS  every  now  and  then  giving  rise  to  some 
rumour.  He  is,  on  many  of  tfiiese  occasions,  as 
much  sinned  against  as  sinning :  for  men,  knowing 
his  temper,  sometimes  provoke  him,  conscious  that 
Glengarry,  from  his  character  for  violence,  will  al- 
ways be  put  in  the  wrong  by  the  public.  I  have 
seen  him  behave  in  a  very  mamy  manntT  whc^n  llms 
tempted.  He  has  \jf  Utt-  pftnn^cuicd  o  'iuarr*.!,  ri  li- 
culous  enoui^h  in  the  pr^^st  ui  doy,  to  buvc  hirnMlJf 
admitted  niid  rfcogni»ed  as  Chief  of  the  who!'.  <"jin 
Ranald,  or  surname  of  Mardonald,  Thii  i.nilh 
■eemstobe,  thai  thc^  present  Claurnnnld  i-^  no-  de- 
•cended  frum  a  legitimate  ehieftain  of  titi+  it\^m-  -  f.»r, 
having  accQiiipli^hcd  a  revolution  in  the  ifith  i--.  [iru- 
ry,  they  aifivfiCicl  a  Tanist,  or  Captain,  thai  i^  a 
Chief  not  in  ^\u-  direct  line  of  succ^^siun—namtly, 
a  certain  lati  Mo  id  an,  or  John  of  Moidart^  who 
took  the  tiik4  of  C  dp  tain  of  CUnranaH  wiih  at!  the 
powers  of  Chief,  and  t^vtn  Gkuj^arry's  ancestor  re- 
cognised them  riadiitfa  di/ticttf  if  not  d^jurc  The 
fact  is,  thni  this  elective  pijw<>r  wast,  m  caBen  of  in- 
■ariity,  iml^L'ti!ity,  (>r  the  like,  eiercLsed  by  the  Cel- 
tic tribes;  rtnd  though  Ian  Moidari  was  no  chit  f  by 
birth,  yet  by  d^^cimri  he  became  so,  and  trart^mir-ed 
hispower  to  hii»  dc@«^ndanta,  as  would  Kin[:  VVil- 
hani  III.,  if  ht:  hud  had  any.  So  it  is  ohiiuriJ  to  aet 
up  the  jufitaTij^  in  14  now,  whicii  Glengarrv'M  tin- 
cestors  diH  not,  or  couIJ  not  make  zovd,  when  it 
was  a  riglii  wonh  combating  for.  I  \Trouflht  out 
my  fvLU  task  vesterday. 

•*  Saw  Cadell  as  1  returned  from  the  Court.  He 
teemed  dejected,  and  gloomy  about  the  extent  of 
stock  of  novels^  Ac.  on  nand.  He  infected  me  with 
his  want  of  spirits,  and  I  almost  wish  my  wife  had 
not  asked  BIr.  Scrope  and  Charles  K.  Sharpe  for 
this  day.  But  the  former  sent  such  loads  of  game 
that  Lady  Scott's  gratitude  became  ungovernable. 
I  have  not  seen  a  creature  at  dinner  since  the  direful 
17th  of  Jamiary,  except  my  own  family  and  Mr. 
LaiaUw.  The  love  of  solitude  increases  by  indul- 
gence; I  hope  it  will  not  diverge  into  misanthropy. 
It  does  not  mend  the  matter  that  this  is  the  first 
day  that  a  ticket  fi)r  sale  is  on  my  house,  poor  No. 
99.  One  gets  accustomed  even  to  stone  walls,  and 
the  place  suited  me  verv  well.  All  onr  furniture  too 
w  to  go— a  hundr^  httle  articles  that  seemed  to  me 
connected  with  all  the  happier  years  of  my  life.  It 
18  a  sorry  business.    But  suraum  carda. 

"My  two  friends  came  as  expected,  also  Missie, 
and  staid  nil  half-past  ten.  Promised  Sharpe  the 
set  of  Piraneai's  views  in  the  dining-parlour.  They 
belonged  to  my  uncle,  so  I  do  not  Uke  to  sell  them. 

J^Pebruary  16.— Yesterday  I  did  not  write  a  line 
of  Woodstock.  Partly,  I  was  a  little  out  of  spirits. 
though  that  would  not  have  hindered.  Partly,  I 
wanted  to  wait  for  some  new  ideas— a  sort  of  col- 
lecting of  straw  to  make  bricks  of.  Partly,  I  was 
*  a  little  too  far  beyond  the  press.  I  cannot  pull  well 
m  long  traces,  when  the  draught  is  too  far  behind 
me.  I  love  to  have  the  press  thumping,  clattering, 
ami  banging  in  my  rear:  it  creates  the  necessity 
which  almost  always  makes  me  work  best.  Needs 
must  when  the  devil  drives— and  drive  he  does  even 
according  to  the  letter.  I  must  work  to-day,  how- 
«Xgr.— Attended  a  meeting  of  the  Pagulty  about  our 
n^  library.  I  spoke— saying  that  I  hoped  we 
would  now  at  length  act  upon  a  general  plan,  and 
look  forward  to  commencing  upon  such  a  scale  as 
might  secure  us  at  least  for  a  century  against  the 
petty  and  partial  management  which  we  have 
hitherto  thought  sufficient,  of  filling  up  one  room 
after  another.  Disconnected  and  distant,  these 
nave  been  cosung  large  sums  ot  money  frera  time 


to  time,  all  now  thrown  away.  We  are  now  to 
have  space  enough  for  a  very  large  range  of  build- 
ings, which  we  may  execute  in  a  simple  taste,  leav- 
ing Grovernment  to  ornament  them  if  they  shall 
thmk  proper— otherwise  to  be  plain,  modest,  and 
handsome,  and  capable  of  being  executed  by  de- 
grees«  and  in  such  portions  as  convenience  may  ad- 
mit of.— Poor  James  Hogg,  the  Ettrick  Shepherd, 
came  to  advise  with  me  about  his  affairs,- he  is 
sinking  under  the  times ;  having  no  assistance  to 

f' ve  him,  my  advice  I  fear  will  be  of  little  service, 
am  sorry  for  him  if  that  would  help  him,  especial- 
ly as,  by  his  own  account,  a  couple  of  hundred 
pounds  would  carry  him  on.     \ 

".P(c6rMary  16.— '  Miafonunt*a  gowling  bark** 
comes  louder  and  louder.  By  its^^frninK  my  whole 
property  to  truBtoes  for  behoof  of  cfptfi torsi,  with 
two  works  in  proj^ry&s  anri  nigh  publication,  and 
with  all  my  future  literary  Uboura,  I  conceived  1 
was  bringing  into  th^  fit-Id  a  large  fund  of  payment, 
which  could  not  exist  wit  boat  uiy  eiurtionp,  and 
that  thus  far  I  wa»  entitled  to  a  corresiionding  d«<- 

See  of  indulgeuco.  J  ibtTffort^  supposed,  on  sdhng 
is  house,  and  various  other  property,  and  on  re- 
ceiving the  prict  of  Woodstock  and  ^  apolt^orit  that 
they  would  give  me  leistyii  to  mak«  other  exertions^ 
and  be  content  with  the  rents  of  Abboiafbrd,  with- 
out attempting  a  sale.  Thie  wotUd  havi^  boen  the 
more  reasonahle>  as,  (he  very  printinp  of  these  works* 
must  amount  to  a  lar«e  Hum^  of  i^hich  they  will 
touch  the  profiifl.  In  the  CKjurao  of  thia  delay  I  etxp- 
ppsed  I  was  to  have  liie  ehance  of  s<'l*iriE  souia  m- 
sight  both  into  Conii table's  aftbirH  and  ihosje  of 
Hurst  and  Robinson.  Nay,  employing  these  houpea, 
under  precautio Tie,  to  sell  the  works,  the  publisher^ 
profit  would  have  tome  in  to  pay  part  of  their  dobt» 
But  Gibson  last  niKht  rumf^in  afTirT^innm  nriif  jrnvo 
me  to  understat  < '   '        '     '      '        s. ,   "  ',J9 

in  a  different  po>_i:  j:  \.._-,  ..^^  --^.-.^.i  axy  cuu- 
tribution  of  the  produce  of  past,  present^  and  future 
labours,  as  compensated  in  full  by  their  accepting 
of  the  trust-deed,  instead  of  pursuing  the  mode  oi 
sequestration,  and  placing  me  m  the  Gazette.  They 
therefore  expect  the  trustees  to  commence  a  lawsmt 
to  reduce  the  marriage  settlement,  which  settles  the 
estate  upon  Walter ;  thus  loading  me  with  a  most 
expensive  suit,  and  I  suppose  seUing  library  and 
whatever  else  they  can  lay  hold  on. 

'*  Now  this  seems  unequal  measure,  and  would  be- 
sides of  itself  totally  destroy  any  power  of  fancy,  of 
genius,  if  it  deserves  the  name,  wnicn  may  remain 
to  me.  A  man  cannot  write  in  the  House  of  Cor- 
rection ;  and  this  species  of  ^eine  forte  et  dure 
which  is  threatened,  would  render  it  impossible  for 
one  to  help  himself  or  others.  So  I  told  Gibson  I 
had  my  mind  made  up  as  far  back  as  the  24th  of 
January,  not  to  suffer  myself  to  be  harder  pressed 
than  law  would  press  me.  If  this  great  commer- 
cial company,  through  whose  hands  I  have  directed 
so  many  thousands,  think  they  are  right  in  taking 
every  advantage  and  giving  none,  it  must  be  my 
care  to  see  that  they  take  none  but  what  the  law 
gives  them.  If  they  take  the  sword  of  the  law,  I 
must  hy  hold  of  the  shield.  If  they  are  determined 
to  consider  me  as  an  irretrievable  bankrupt,  they 
have  no  title  to  object  to  my  settling  upon  the  usual 
terms  which  the  Statute  requires.  They  probably 
are  of  opinion,  that  I  will  be  ashamed  to  do  this  by 
applying  publicly  for  a  sequestration.  Now,  my 
feelings  are  different.  I  am  ashamed  to  owe  debts 
I  cannot  pay ;  but  I  am  not  ashamed  of  being  class- 
ed with  those  to  whose  rank  I  belong.  Toe  dis- 
grace is  in  being  an  actual  bankrupt,  not  in  being 
made  a  legal  one.  I  had  like  to  have  been  too  hasty 
in  this  mauer.  I  must  have  a  clear  understand- 
ing that  I  am  to  be  benefited  or  indulged  in  some 
way^  if  I  bring  in  two  such  funds  as  those  works 
in  progress,  worth  certainly  from  jC  10,000  to  Xl£,000. 

"F*ebruary  17.— Slept  sound,  for  nature  repays 

herself  for  the  vexation  the  mind  sometimes  gives 

her.    This  morning  put  interlocutor   on   several 

Sherifi-Court  processes  from  Selkirkshire.    Gibson 

•  Bom'f  Dedication  to  Gavin  HamUtoo. 


470 


UPE  OF  SIR  WALTER  SCOTT. 


came  Lo-nu^t  to  say  that  he  had  apoken  at  ful^ 
length  with  Alexander  Monypenn/,  propoaed  aa 
trustee  on  the  oart  of  the  Bank  of  Scotland,  and 
found  him  deciaedljr  in  favour  of  the  most  moderate 
measures,  and  taking  burden  on  himself  that  the 
Bank  would  proceed  with,  such  lenity  as  might 
enable  me  to  have  some  time  and  opportunity  to 
clear  these  affairs  out.  I  repose  trust  in  Mr.  M.  en- 
tirely. His  father,  Colonel  Monypenny,  was  my 
early  friend,  kind  and  hospitable  to  me  when  I  was 
a  mere  boy.  He  had  mucn  of  old  Greneral  Withers 
about  him,  aa  expressed  in  Pope's  epitaph— 

* A.  worth  in  youth  approved, 

A  80(1  homanity  ia  age  beloved  !' 

Hifl  aon  David,  and  a  younger  brother,  Frank,  a  sol- 
dier, who  perished  by  drowning  on  a  boating  party 
from  Gibraltar,  were  my  schoolfellows ;  and  with 
the  survivor,  now  Lord  Fitmiliy«  I  have  always  kept 
up  a  friendly  intercourse.  Of  this  gentleman,  on 
whom  my  fortunea  are  to  depend^  I  know  little..  He 
was  Colin  Mackenzie's  partner  m  business  while 
my  friend  pursued  it,  andhe  speaks  highly  of  him : 
that's  a  great  deal.  He  is  secretary  to  the  Pitt  Club, 
and  we  have  had  all  our  lives  the  habit  idem  aentirc 
wU  repiiblica:  that'a  much  too.  Lastly,  he  is  a 
man  of  perfect  honour  and  reputation  :  an 4]  I  hnve 
nothing  to  ask  which  such  a^man  would  noi  thither 
fH'ant  or  convince  me  was  unreasonable.  1  have, 
to  be  sure,  something  of  a  constitutional  and  hered- 
itary obsunacy;  but  it  is  in  me  a  dormant  qimliiv. 
Convince,  my  understanding  and  I  am  ptrfo'jtly 
docfle ;  stir  my  passions  by  coldness  or  affroat^t  and 
the  devil  would  not  drive  me  from  my  purpose. 
Let  me  record,  I  have  striven  against  this  besetting 
•in.  When  I  was  a  boy,  and  on  foot  expeditions, 
as  we  had  m^ny,  no  creature  could  be  so  indifferent 
which  way  our  course  was  directed,  and  I  acquiesced 
tn  what  any  one  proposed ;  but  if  I  was  once  driven 
to  make  a  cnoice,  and  felt  piqued  in  honour  to  main- 
tain my  proposition,  I  have  broken  off  from  the 
vhole  party,  rather  than  yield  to  any  one.  Time 
has  sobered  this  pertinacity  of  mind  ^  but  it  still 
exists,  and  I  must  oe  on  my  guard  against  it.  It  is 
the  same  with  me  in  politics.  In  general  I  care 
very  little  about  the  matter,  and  from  year's  end  to 
year's  end  have  scarce  a  thouj^ht  connected  with 
them,  except  to  laugh  at  the  fools,  who  think  to 
make  themselves  great  men  out  of  Uttle  by  swaz- 
l^ering  in  the  rear  of  a  party.  But  either  actuftlTy 
miportant  events,  or  such  as  seemed  so  hy  their 
close  neighbourhood  to  me,  have  always  hurried  me 
off  my  feet,  and  made  mc,  as  I  have  sometimes 
regretted,  more  forward  and  more  violent  ihan 
those  who  had  a  regular  jog-trot  way  of  busying 
themselves  in  public  matters.  Good  luck  ;  for  had 
I  Uved  in  troublesome  times,  and  chanced  to  be  on 
the  unhappy  side,  I  had  been  hanged  to  a  certainty. 
What  I  have  always  remarked  has  been,  that  many 
who  have  ballooed  me  on  at  public  meetings,  and 
80  forth,  have  quietly  left  me  to  the  odium  which  a 
man  known  to  the  public  always  has  more  than  his 
own  share  of;  while,  on  the  other  hand,  they  were 
easily  successful  in  pressing  before  me,  who  never 
pressed  forward  at  all,  when  there  was  any  distribu- 
tion of  public  favours  or  the  like.  I  am  horribly 
tempted  to  interfere  in  thi^  business  of  altering  the 
system  of  banks  in  Scotland;  andyetl  know  that 
ir  I  can  attract  any  notice,  I  will  offend  ray  English 
friends,  without  propitiating  our  doom  in  Scotland. 
I  will  think  of  it  till  to-morrow.  It  is  making  my- 
self of  too  much  importance,  after  alL 

'*  february  la— I  set  about  Malachi  Malagrow- 
ther's  Letter  on  the  late  disposition  to  change  every 
thing  in  Scotland  to  an  EngUsh  model,  but  without 
resolving  about  the  publication.  They  do  treat  us 
very  provokingly. 

*  O  Land  of  OUie*  !  said  the  Northern  bard, 

Though  all  the  world  betrays  thee, 
One  faithful  pea  thy  rights  shall  £uard, 

One  faithful  harp  shaol  praise  thee." 

•*-P«6ruary   19.— Finished   my   letter  (Malachi 
*  A  parody  oa  Moore*8  Mfrutrel  Bof . 


Malagrowther)  this  morning,  and  sent  it  to  James 
B.,  wno  ia  to  call  with  the  result  this  forenoon.  I 
am  not  very  anxious  to  get  on  with  Woodstock.  I 
want  to  see  what  Constable's  people  mean  to  do 
when  they  have  their  trustee.  For  an  unfinished  * 
work  they  must  treat  with  the  author.  It  is  the  old 
atory  of  tne  varnish  spread  over  the  picture,  which 
nothing  but  the  artist's  own  hand  could  remove.  A 
finishMl  work  might  be  seized  under  some  legal  pre- 
tence. 

"  Being  troubled  with  thick-coming  fandee,  and 
a  slieHt  pfllpitntinn  of  the  heart,  I  have  been  readibs 
Lht  1  >od  Knight  Measire  Jacques 

dr  L}u^l\^^--r.ui^>ni:f^  bu-  dull,  from  the  Constant  repe- 
tition of  tho  same  spet  ies  of  combats  in  the  same 
style  and  phriifti^  1 1 1^  like  washing  bushels  of  sand 
for  n  ^Tum  of  ;;oid.  ft  passes  the  time,  however, 
etpecLfllly  in  that  hstU'ss  mood  when  your  mind  ia 
hair  un  your  bauk^  h;df  on  something  else.  Tou 
catch  EOmuthinK  to  ari^est  the  attention  every  now 
and  then,  and  what  you  miss  is  not  worth  goimz 
back  upon  ;  idle  man's  studies,  in  short  StiU 
things  occur  to  oi>e^  Something  might  be  made 
of  a  tal«  of  chivalry,— taken  from  the  Passage  of 
Arms,  which  Jac[)U(>fj  de  Lalain  maintained  for  the 
first  day  of  every  nioiiih  for  a  twelvemonth.*  The 
fin;  I  ID  en  lion  perLiup^  uf  red-hot  balls  appears  in  the 
BJege  of  Oudenurde  l^  the  Citizena  oi  Ghent.— 
Chroiiiiiue,  p.  23^  This  would  be  light  aummcr 
work. 

''J.  B.  cstme  and  sat  an  hour.  I  led  him  to  talk 
of  Wpud^toc-k ;  and,  tci  say  truth,  his  approbation 
dirJ  mc  niucb  good.  I  am  aware  it  may,  nay,  muH 
he  rmniBJ :  yEt  19  bfi  Tom  Tell- truth,  and  totally 
unnlile  to  atflj^iiise  hif;  real  feelings.  I  think  1  make 
no  h  11  bit  of  feeditift  sax  praise,  and  despise  thoae 
whom  I  eee  greedy  for  ii,  as  much  as  I  should  an 
urrdLT-brcd  feilnw  who,  after  eating  a  cherry- tart» 
procecnieii  lalkk  the?  plate.  But  when  one  is  flag* 
giii^.  a  lilCiL'  pra\!^v  (if  it  can  be  had  genuine  and 
uRHiluUerated  by  Aattery,  which  is  as  difficult  to  ' 
come  bv  as  the  genuine  mountain-dew)  ia  a  cordial 
after  all.  So  now — vamoa  corazon— let  ua  atooe 
for  the  loss  of  the  morning. 

"-F«6ruary  20.— Yesterday,  though  late  in  begin- 
ning, I  nearly  finished  my  task,  which  is  six  of  my 
close  pages,  about  thirtv  pagea  of  print,  a  full  and 
uninterrupted  dsy's  work.  To-day  I  have  already 
written  four,  and  with  some  confidence.  Thus  does 
flattery  or  praise  oil  the  wheels.  It  is  but  tvro 
o'clock.  Skene  was  here  remonstrating  agnlinst  my 
taking  apartments  at  the  Atbyn  Club,  ana  reoom* 
mending  that  I  ahould  rather  stay  with  them.  I 
told  him  that  was  altogether  impossible.  I  hoped 
to  visit  them  often,  but  for  taking  a  permanent  resi- 
dence, I  was  altogether  the  country  mouse,  and 
voted  for 

*  A  hollow  tree, 

'         A  crust  of  bread  and  liberty.' 

The  chain  of  friendship,  however  bright,  does  not 
stand  the  attrition  of.  constai^t  close  contact. 

"  February  21.— Corrected  the  proofs  of  Malachi 
this  mornin;;:  it  may  fall  dear],  and  there  will  be  a 
tgiuli  1  i!'i  ;  It  n]ni' {^hnQcjL^  uj  light  on  some  in|(re- 
dim^s  yf  uQtionnl  feeling  tirid  eel  folk's  beards  m  a 
bl.«/,'  -^nd  et>  rtiUE^h  ihti  bt;il^=r  if  it  does.  I  mean 
ben^rfoT  pScorlttnd— not  a  \*hii  fur  me.  Attended 
ihi?  h*^1^I>(^  m  Parliameni-HiiuR^  till  near  four 
oV  torkt  m  i  shall  di>  link  to-niKht  for  I  am  tired 
and  ^k'cpy.  Oiu^  perBon  talking  for  a  long  time, 
whfiihpr  in  pulpit  or  at  tha  bar.  or  any  whose  elae, 
unl*"!!^  lhpinrprt^8t  bp  ^rj^iAt,  and  (h*-  eloQuence  of  the 
hifj^  >-t  rhfmrT.ri  sf)fi  ttio  tn  sli"^rp.  1  impudently 
lean  my  head  on  my  hand  in  the  Court  and  take  my 
nap  without  shame.  The  Lords  may  keep  awake* 
and  mind  their  own  affairs.  Quod  supra  noM  nihil 
ad  nos. .  Tliese  clerks'  stools  are  certainly  aa  eaar 
seats  as  are  in  Scotland,  tho^  of  the  Barons  01 
Excheauer  always  ex^iepted. 

'^February  22.— Ballantync  breakfasted,  and  is 
to  negotiate  about  Malachi  with  Blackwood.     It 
*  Thto  iMDt  wu  takao  up  in  Count  RoUrt  of  Pan. 


LIFE  OF  SIR  WALTER  SCOTT. 


nadfl  not  amisfl ;  and  if  I  can  get  a  few  guineaa  for 
4t  1  ahall  not  be  ashamed  to  take  them ;  for,  payini^ 
Lady  Sco^t,  I  have  just  left  betwten  £3  and  £4  for 
any  necessary  occasion,  and  my  salary  does  not 
become  due  until  20th  March,  and  the  expense  of 
removing,  dsc.,  is  to  be  provided  for : 

'  But  shall  we  go  mourn  for  that,  my  dear  V 

The  mere  scarcity  of  money  (so  that  actual  wants 
are  provided)  is  not  poverty— it  is  the  bitter  draught 
to  owe  money  which  we  cannot  pay.  Laboured 
fairly  at  Woodstock  to-day,  but  principally  in  re- 
Tising  and  adding  to  Malacni,  of  which. an  edition 
as  a  pamphlet  is  anxiously  desired.  I  have  lugged 
in  my  old  friend  Cardrona*— I  hope  it  will  not  be 
thought  unkindly.  The  Banks  are  anxious  to  have 
it  published.  They  were  lately  exercising  lenity 
towards  me^  and  lif  I  can  benefit  them«  it  will  be 
an  mstance  of  the  'King's  enrand  lying  in  the 
rcadger's  gate.' 

"  F^ebruary  23.— 0)rrected  two  sheets  of  Wood- 
stock this  roornini^  These  are  not  the  days  of  idle- 
ness. The  fact  is,  that  the  not  seeing  coD^>any  gives 
me  a  command  of  mv  time  which  I  possessea  at  no 
other  period  of  my  life^  at  least  since  I  knew  how  to 
make  some  use  of  my  leisure.  Thera  is  a  ^eat 
pleasure  in  sitting  down  to  write  with  the  conscious- 
iiesa  that  nothing  will  occur  during;  the  day  to  break 
the  spell.  Detained  in  the  Court  ttU  paet  three,  and 
came  home  just  in  time  to  escape  a  terrible  squall. 
I  am  a  good^^deal  jaded,  and  will  not  work  till  after 
cinner.  There  is  a  sort  of  drowsy  vacillation  of 
mmd  attends  fatigue  with  me.  I  can  command  my 
pen  as  the  school-copy  recommends,  but  cannot 
equally  command  my  thoughts,  and  often  write  one 
word  for  anodier.  Read  a  little  volume  called  the 
Owen— veiy  well  written— deep  and  powerful  lan- 
Saagct 

"  February.  24^— Went  down  to  printing-office 
after  the  Court,  and  corrected  MalachL  J.  B.  re- 
proaches me  with  having  taken  much  more  pains 
m  this  temporary  pamphlet  than  on  works  which 
have  a  greater  interest  on  my  fortunes.  I  have  cer- 
tamly  bestowed  enoiwh  of  revision  and  correction. 
But  the  cases  are  different.  In  a  novel  or  poem,  I' 
mn  the  comae  alone— here  I  am  taking  up  the  cud- 
sels,  and  may  expect  a  drubbing  in  return.  Besides, 
I  do  fed  that  this  is  puUic  matter  in  which  the 
country  is  deeply  interested ;  and,  therefore,  is  far 
more  important  than  any  thing  referring  to  my  fame 
or  fortune  alone.  The  pamphlet  will  soon  be  out— 
mean-time  Malacbi  prospers  and  excites  much  at- 
tention. The  banks  have  bespoke  500  copies.  The 
conntry  is  taking  the  alarm }  and,  I%hink,  the  Min- 
isters will  not  dare  to  press  the  measure.  I  should 
lejoice  to  see  the  old  red  lion  ramp  a  Httle,  and  the 
thistle  agam  claim  its  nemo  me  tmpune,  1  do  be- 
liefve  Scotchmen  will  show  themselves  unanimous  at 
last,  where  their  cash  is  concerned.  They  shall  not 
yant  backing.  I  incline  to  cry  with  Biron  in  Love's 
Labours  Lost, 

<  Bf  ore  At^s,  more  At^s,  stir  them  on.' 

laoppQSe  all  imaginative  people  feel  more  or  less  of 
exataiioB  from  a  scene  of  insurrection  or  tumult,  or 
Of  general  expression  of  national  feeling.  When  I 
WM  a  ladf  poor  Davie  DouglasI  used  to  accuse  me 
of  beiag  emjpiauB  novarum  rerwm,  and  say  that  I 
Ipved  the  stimulus  of  a  broil.  It  might  be  so  then, 
and  even  still. 

'  Even  in  our  aahea  live  their  wonted  fires.' 
Wfcimsical  enough^  that  when  I  was  trying  to  ani- 
mate Scotland  against  the  currency  bill,  John  Qib- 
«>n  brought  me  the  deed  of  trust,  assigning  my 
whole  estate,  to  be  subscribed  by  me ;  so  that  I  am 

•  The  lata  Mr.  WfUkmna  of  CaRlnma,  in  PeehleeUie,  was  a 
^teBfo  fc-MBCHMt.  ofwhom  8ir  Waltar  told  manjr  storiea.    The 

^flratof  Malada'i  EU4stlea-Seo Scott's MUeaUmeotu  Prou 

frhc  Omen,  hj  Mr.  Gah,  had  juit  been  piibliahed.-6ee  Mi»- 

Lest  Beetea-aet  mu§,  p.  it. 


turning  patriot,  and  taking  charge  of  the  afEunpf 
the  country,  on  the  very  day  I  proclaim  myself  in- 
capable of  managing  my  own.  What  of  that?  Who 
would  think  of  their  own  trumpery  debts,  when  th^ 
are  taking  the  supp9rt  of  the  whole  svstem  of  Scot- 
tish banking  on  their  shoulders?  Odd  enough  too— 
on  this  day,  for  the  first  time  since  the  awful  I7th 
January,  we  entertain  a  party  atdinnei^-Lady  Anna 
Maria  Elliot,  W.  Clerk,  John  A.  Murray,  and 
Thomas  Thomson— as  if  we  gave  a  dinner  on  ac- 
count of  my  ceaHo/ori, 

^*  February  26.— Our  party  yesterday  went  off 
very  gaily ;  much  laugh  and  fun.  and  I  think  I  en- 
joyedit  more  from  the  rarity  of  the  event— I  mcah 
from  having  seen  society  at  home  so  seldom  of  late. 
My  head  aches  slightly  though ;  yet  we  were  but  |i 
bottle  of  Champagne,  one  of  Port,  one  of  old  Sher- 
nr,  nnd  tivo  of  Claret,  among  four  gentlemen  and 
th  rci;  hdioe.  I  have  been  led,  from  this  incident,  to 
thuik  (if  liikiQg  chambers  near  Clerk,  in  Rose  Court. 
Met^unkd  the  retired  situation  should  suit  me  welt 
TJitt]  fi  jnan  and  woman  would  be  my  wjiole  estab^ 
hfihmeni.  My  superfluous  furniture  might  server 
and  I  could  ask  a  friend  or  two  to  dinner,  as  I  hav^ 
bi'crj  accu^iomed  to  do.  I  shall  look  at  the  place 
to-dav'.  1  must  set  now  to  a  second  epistle  of 
Mriladii  io  the  Athenians.  If  I  can  but  get  the 
suEky  Scottish  spirit  set  up,  the  devil  woirt  tum 
them. 

*  Cock  up  your  beaver,  and  cock  it  fu'  sprush ; 
Wc'li  oTer  tile  Border,  and  give. them  a  brush : 
There's  somebodj  tliere  we'll  teach  better  behaviour; 
Hey,  Jotinnie,  lad,  cock  up  your  beaver,* 

"  February  26.— Spent  the  morning  and  till  dinner 
onMi]:*"  '  vpi^cU',    It  is  <hfficult  to  steer 

betwiJiL  ijic  ijikiural  impulse  of  one  s  national liNil* 
inga  e':rFiri;^  ir^  n^e  dircciioiif  and  the  prudent  regard 
to  thr!  uikrcdts  of  ihti  empire  and  its  internal  peMt 
an4,aukt,  r^r^mmendin^jes^ Yebement expression 
I  will  Gfideovnur  io  kiN^p  ^jj^ht  of  both.  But  wen 
m  y  0  wn  in  E  t'jCB  t  II 1  in  ic  t  on  r  t  c  oed,  d  n  roe  boi 

I  would  /;ive  it  them  Im>(  !  Hud  some  valuable  osoi* 
munii;ationp  from  Colin  Macktanzie,  which  will  sup- 
ply my  plentiful  lack  of  facts. 

"Received  an  anonymous  satire  in  doggrel, 
which,  having  read  the  first  verse  and  last  I  com- 
mitted to  the  flames.  Peter  Murray  of  Simprim 
called,  and  sat  half-an-hour— an  oldfnend,  and  who, 
from  the  peculiarity  and  originality  of  his  genhis,  is 
one  of  the  most  entertaining  companions  I  have 
ever  known.    But  I  must  finish  Malachi. 

February  27.~Malachi  is  getting  on ;  I  'must 
finish  hini  to-night  .  I  dare  say  some  of  my  London 
friends  will  he  displeased— Canning  perhaps,  for  he 
is  engoui  of  Huskisson.  Can't  help  it  The  plao4 
1  looked  at  won't  do;  but  I  must  really  get  soma 
lodging,  for,  reason  or  none,  Dalgliesh  will  not  leave 
me,  and  cries  and  makes  a  scene.*  Now,  if  I  staid 
alone  in  a  little  set  of  chambers,  he  would  serY6 
greatly  for  my  accommodation.  There  are  soma 
places  of  the  kind  in  the  New  Buildings ;  but  then 
are  distant  from  the  Court,  epd  I  cannot  walk  weU 
on  the  pavement.  It  is  odd  enough,  that  Just  whea 
I  had  made  a  resolution  to  use  my  coach  irequentlyi 
I  ceased  to  keep  one. 

"  February  28.— Completed  Malachi  to- day.  It  is> 
more  serious  than  the  first,  and  in  some  places  per- 
haps too  peppery.  Never  mind ;  if  you  would  have 
a  horse  kick,  make  a  crupper  out  of  a  whin-cow  ;t 
and  I  trust  to  see  Scotland  kick  and  flingto  some, 
purpose.  Woodstock  lies  back  for  this.  Bift  quid 
non  pro  pairia  ? 

"March  1. ^Malachi  is  in  the  Edinburgh  Journal 
to-day,  and  reads  like  the  work  of  an  uncompro- 
mising right-forward  Scot  of  the  old  school.  Some 
of  the  cautious  and  pluckless  instigators  will  be 
afraid  of  their  confederate ;  for  if  a  man  of  some! 
energy  and  openness  of  character  happens  to  be  on 
the  same  side  with  these  jobbers,  tney  stand  as 

•  DaMie«b  wa«  8tr  Walter'i  botfer.  He  iaid  he  eared  apt  how 
WW*  W  wasee  war  mkieedr-biit  m  he  wouM  not 

t  \V%in-coto—Ang\ioe,  a  bueheflhnk 


4n 


UFE  OF  SIR  WAl  VER  SCOTT. 


mnieh  in  awe  of  his  yehemence  as  did  the  inezpe- 
lienced  conjarer  who  invoked-a  fiend  whom  he  could 
not  manaj^e.  Came  home  in  a  heavy  shower  with 
the  Solicitor.  I  tried  him  on  the  question,  but  found 
him  reserved.  The  future  Lord  Advocate  must  be 
cautious;  but  I  can  tell  my  good  friend  John  Hope, 
that  if  he  acts  the  part  of  a  nrm  and  resolute  Scot- 
tish patriot,  both  his  own  country  and  England  wUl 
respect  him  the  more.  Ah !  Hal  Dundas,  there  was 
no  truckling  in  thy  day  I 

"  Looked  out  a  quantity  of  things,  to  go  to  Ab- 
bqtsibrd;  fot  we  fir«  Oirtmg,  It  vou  please^  It  is 
.with  a  sepsis  af  pnln  ihnl  I  h^v^  uebjnd  a  pa; eel  of 
trumpery  prints  and  Liule  ornam^nis,  onot'  ihe  pnde 
of  Lady  S — -''»  hoart,  but  which  she  aces  ron- 
signed  wIeIi  iiidifli'ttsiiCfi  Lo  th?  diaticeof  an  auction. 
Things  thai  have  had  ibeir  day  of  hnpOTtunetj  with 
me  I  cannot  fariget,  tboueh  the  merosi  In  firs.  But 
1  am  glad  thai  she,  with  bad  heahhn  and  cnau^h  to 
yex  her,  hcii»  not  iho  same  u^dt^^a  rnadi?  of  rsi^dciii- 
ting  recoll(3c  Uun  9  ^vit  h  this  u  up  I  ea  s^n  lU  b  us  i  n  t  .Hi .  The 
Iwst  parli>f  j{  is  iht  necessity  of  itjsvJDK  btshinrJ,  viz. 
getting  rid  uf,  a  eel  of  nio»t  wrcicbcd  daubi^  of  tand- 
JBcapea,  in  f^reat  gildexl  framei^  i>f  wliich  1  have  often 
been  hearttly  ashnmcd.  The  history  of  (h^m  was 
curious.  An  aniutcui'  artiai  (a  lady)  happened  to  full 
Into  misfonuQea,  uran  which  hw  laGdeCtipea,  the 
character  of  which  nnd  haan  buoyed  up  far  heyund 
their  proper  level,  sank  new  beiiirath  it,  nini  at  was 
low  enough.  One  moat  ainiahit?  and  Decompile  bed 
old  lady  c«mlinui.^d  to  eti courage  bir  pencil,  and  to 
order  pictures  afttr  pietirrta,  which  hhi:^  pent  in  pres- 
ients  to  her  friends.  I  suppose  I  have  eight  or  tea  of 
them,  which  I  could  not  avoid  accepting.  There  will 
be  plenty  of  laughing  when  they  come  to  be  sold. 
It  would  be  a  good  joke  enough  to  cause  it  to  be 
circulated  that  they  were  performances  Of  my  own 
in  early  yontb,  and  looked  on  and  bought  up  as 

cnrioeities. Do  you  know  why  you  have  writ- 

IMI  all  this  down.  Sir  Yi.l  You  want  to  put  off 
writing  Woodstock,  just  as  easily  done  as  these 
memoranda,  but  which  it  happens  your  duty  and 
yoar  prudence  recommend,  and  therefore  you  are 
loth  to  begin. 

*  Hei«ho, 

I  cairt  say  no ; 
Bat  this  pfece  of  task- work  off  I  can  stave,  O, 
For  Malachi'a  poBlini  into  an  octavo  ; 
to  correct  the  prooAsheets  only  this  night  I  have,  O, 
So  Conscience  you've  gotten  as  good  as  yon  gave,  O, 
But  to-morrow  a  new  day  we'll  better  behave,  O 
So  I  lay  down  the  pen,  and  your  pardon  I  crave,  O.' 

"  March  3.— I  have  a  letter  from  Colin  Mackenzie, 
approving  Malachi,— *  Cold  men  may  say  it  is  too 
strong:  but  from  the  true  mc^n  of  Scotland  yo;:  are 
•are  of  the  warmest  ^ntitutie.'  I  nev*  r  htive  yet 
found,  nor  do iexpcH^i  it  on  this  cM^coBiunT  that  dl- 
will  dies  in  debt,  or  what  ta  cnfW^d  p-atitude  dis- 
tresses herself  by  fr^tjetit  pa^^nicnts*  The  one  ^ 
like  a  ward-holding,  and  n;iy*  its  reddendo  in  hird 
blows.  The  other  a  bfancn-ietiuro,  and  isdit^ehitrg- 
6d  for  payment  of  a  rr^d  rosci  or  a  pepp-ercorn.  He 
that  takes  the  forlorn  hop<?  in  an  attackj  i^  "ften 
deserted  by  them  ilin^  "should  ^up^^ort  him,  and  who 
generally  throw  llu-  hlArTv:'  ty(  their  o^vn  cownniice 
npon  his  rashnet^,  W,;  shall  spe  this  end  in  the 
same  wav.  .But  1  ture:^aw  ][  from  }lw.  beginning. 
Thd  bankers  will  be  persuaded  that  it  i^  a  sqaib 
which  may  burn  their  own  fingers,  and  will  ciirse 
^e  poor  pyro tech  niijt  that  compounded  it— if  they 

do,  thevbed d.    Slept  indifTeRntly,  jithI  drenm- 

ed  of  /l^apolepn*^  Inai  mojiicnla,  of  win:  ii  [  was 
reading  a  medical  account  la&t  nlgliL  by  i>r.  Aniott. 
Horrible  death— a  cancer  on  the  pylorus.  I  would 
have  given  something  to  have  lain  still  thin  morn- 
ing and  made  up  for  lost  time.  But  desidia  valt- 
ourL  If  you  once  turn  on  your  side  after  the  hour 
at  which  you  ought  to  rise,  it  is  all  over.  Bolt 
pp  at  pnca.  Bad  night  last— the  next  is  sure  to  be 
better. 

*  When  the  drum  beats,  make  ready ; 
When  the  fife  plays,  march  away— 
To  the  roIl-calL  to  the  roll-caU,  to  the  roU-call. 
Before  the  break  of  day.* 


'  Dined  with  Chief  Commissioner :  Adnural  Adam, 
W.  Clerk,  Thomson,  and  I.  The  excellent  old  man 
w^ai  cheerfiil  at  intervals— at  times  sad,  as  was  na- 
tural. A  good  blunder,  he  told  us,  occurred  in  the 
Annindale  case,  whrch  was  a  question  partly  of 
domicile.  It  was  proved,  that  leaving  Lockwood, 
the  Earl  had  given  up  his  kain  and  carriagts  ;*  this 
an  English  counsel  contended  was  the  best  of  all 
possible  oroofs  that  the  noble  Earl  designed  an  ab- 
solute cnange  of  residenceu  since  be  laid  aside  his 
walking'siick  and  his  ooocn.  First  epistle  of  Malar 
chi  out  of  print  already. 

"  March  3.— Could  not  get  the  last  sheets  of  Blala- 
chi,  Second  Epistle,  so  they  must  go  out  to  the 
woiid  uncorrected— a  great  loss,  for  the  last  touches 
are  always  most  effectual ;  and  I  expect  misprints 
in  the  additional  matter.  We  were  e8{>ecially 
obliged  to  have  it  owt  this  ip— "•-- -  •^-*  '-*  vmr 
opeiriri.'  as  a  gentle  priparative  i.^i  in*,  juf  t  u^^^  ..{ 
inhabilants  at  two  0  docL  Vi>(rue  la  fafrre-^we 
shall  Bt*  ir  Seoisnieti  have  any  pjgck  left  If  Hot, 
they  may  kill  the  next  Percy  themselves  It  m  rtdit- 
ulous  enuuf^h  fur  me,  fn  a  state  of  insolvency  for 
the  pre^ient,  to  be  b:itt]ing  about  gold  and  papej  cvg* 
rfenry— it  is  tfomethiug  like  the  humorous  toudi  in 
HoRurth^s  Distri^sstd  Poet,  where  ihe  poor  starTO- 
lin^  of  th«  Muf^ti  le  eng^i^d,  when  in  ihe  abyas  of 
ftoverty,  in  wrltinj?  an  Kssay  an  ?aymr!ni  ot  the 
National  Debt^  and  his  wait  tn  adorned  with  tplan 
of  the  mines  of  Peru*    NevenhcleeA*^e^  the»e  fu- 

fitiveaittmpfs,  frotn  the  swccces  which  they  have 
ad,  qnrl  the  noi'^p  they  nre  mtikin^,  ser^n  to  thsw 
tht  Cfi.iih  of  th';  old  provrrb— 

*  When  bouse  and  land  are  gone  andq>ent, 
Then  learning  Is  most  ezceUent' 

On  the  whol&  I  am  glad  of  this  bruilzia,  as  far  as  I 
am  concerned ;  people  will  not  dare  talk  of  me  as  an 
object  of  pity— no  more  *i>oor-manning.'  Who  asks 
how  manvptmds  Soots  the  old  champion  had  in  his 
pocket  when 

*He  set  a  bugle  to  his  mouth. 

And  blew  so  load  and  shrilL 
The  trees  In  greenwood  shook  thereat, 

Sae  loud  rang  every  hill  V 

This  sounds  conceited  enough,  yet  is  not  far  from 
truth. 

"The  meetii^.  was  very  nnmeroua,  600  to  MO  at 
least,  and  unanimous,  saving  one  Mr.  Howden,  who 
having  been  all  his  life,  as  lam  told,  in  bitter  oppo- 
sition to  Ministers,  proposed  on  the  present  occasion 
that  the  whole  conteated  measure  should  be  tmsted 
to  their  wisdom.  I  suppose  he  chose  the  opiwrtnni- 
ty  of  placing  hii  own  opinion  in  opposition,  single 
opposition  too,  to  one  of  a  large  assembly.  The 
speaking  was  very  moderate.  Bieport  bad  said  that 
Jeffrey,  J.  A.  Murray,  and  other  sages  of  the  econom- 
ical school,  were  to  tmbuckle  their  mails,  aixl  giT* 
us  their  opmions.  But  no  such  pent  guns  appeaved. 
If  they  had,  having  the  mulutnde  on  mv  side,  I 
would  have  tried  to  break  a  lance  with  them.  A 
few  short,  but  well  expressed  resolutions,  were 
adopted  unanimously.  These  w^e  proposed  by 
Lord  Rollo,  and  seconded  by  Sir  JanMS  Pei^usson, 
Bart.  I  was  named  one  of  a  committee  to  enconr- 
age  all  sorts  of  opposition  to  the  measure.  80  I 
have  already  broken  through  two  good  and  wise  rev- 
olutions—one, that  I  would  not  write  on  political 
controversy ;  another,  that  I  would  not  be  named 
in  public  committees.  If  my  good  resolves  gtk 
this  way,  like  snaw  qjf  a  dyke^tne  Lord  help  me  1 

"  March  4.— Last  nicht  I  had  a  letter  from  Lock- 
hart,  who,  speaking  of  Malachi,  says,  *The  Minis- 
ters are  sore  beyond  imagination  at  present ;  and 
some  of  them,  I  hear,  have  felt  this  new  whip  on 
the  raw  to  some  purpose.'  I  conclude  he  means 
Canning  is  offended.  I  can't  help  it,  as  I  said  be- 
fore—^a/>t/rfi^  mat  arlum  No  cause  in  which 
I  had  the  slightest  personal  interest  should  havs- 
made  me  use  my  pen  against  them,  blunt  and  point  • 

*  Koin.  in  Scotch  law,  meani  pajrment  in  hind  caifl^fMn. 
in  the  lauM  phraaeolocTi  atanda  ur  fcmocsia  dzmnf  wMi  hatm 
andeut. 


LIFE  OP  SIR  WALTER  SOOTT 


4T» 


t 


ed  tB  if  may  be.  But  as  thev  are  about  to  throw 
this  country  into  distress  and  danger,  by  a  measure 
of  useless  and  uncalled  for  expenment.  they,  must 
hear  the  opinion  of  the  Scotsman,  to  whom  it  is  of 
no  other  consequence  thfto  as  a  seneral  measure 
affecting  the  country  at  large— and  more  they  shall 
hear.  I  had  determmed  to  lay  down  the  pen.  But 
now  they  shall  have  another  of  Malachi,  beginning 
with  bunoonery,  and  ending  as  seriously  as  I  can 
write  it.  It  is  like  a  frenzy  that  they  will  agitate  the 
upper  and  middling  classes  of  society,  so  very  friend- 
ly to  them,  with  unnecessary  and  hazardous  pro^ 
jects. 

*  Oh,  thus  It  WM  they  loved  them  dear, 
And  sought  how  to  leouite  'em, 

And  haTint  no  friends  letl  but  thev, 
They  did  resolve  to  fight  them.' 

The  country  is  very  high  just.  now.  England  may 
carry  the  measure  if  she  will,  doubtless.  But  what 
will  oe  the  consequence  of  the  distress  ensuing.  Grod 
only  can  foretell.  Lockhart,  moreover,  enquires 
about  my  affairs  anxiously,  and  asks  what  he  is  to 
say  about  them ;  says  *  he  has  enquiries  every  day : 
kind,  most  kind  all,  and  among  the  most  interested 
and  anxious,  Sir  William  Knighton,  who  told  me 
the  King  was  quite  melancholy  all  the  evening  he 
heard  or  it.*  This  I  can  well  Believe,  for  the  King, 
educated  as  a  prince,  has  nevertheless  as  true  and 
kind  a  heart  as  any  subject  in  his  dominions.  He 
goes  on— *I  do  think  they  would  ave  you  a  Baron's 

E»wn  as  soon  as  possible,'  &c.  ,1  have  written  to 
m  in  answer,  showing  I  nave  enough  to  carry  me 
CD,  and  can  d^cate  my  literary  efforts  to  clear  my 
land.  The  preferment  would  suit  roe  well,  and  the 
late  Duke  of  Bucoleuch  gave  me  his  interest  for  it 
I  dare  say  the  young  Duke  would  do  the  same,  for 
the  invaried  love  I  have  borne  his  house ;  and  by  and 
by  he  will  have  a  voice  potential.  But  there  is  Sir 
William  Rae^  whose  prevailing  claim  I  would  never 
lace  my  own  in  opposition  to.  even  were  it  possible, 
_y  a  tour  cU  force,  such  as  L.  points  at,  to  set  it 
aside.  Mean- time,  I  am  building  a  barrier  betwixt 
me  and  promotion. 

"  In  the  mean- while,  now  I  am  not  pulled  about 
for  money,  dSx.,  metbinks  I  am  happier  without  my 
wiealth  than  with  it.  Every  thing  is  oaid.  I  have 
no  one  anxious  to.  make  up  a  mm,  and  pushing  for 
his  account  to  be  paid.  Since  17tn  January  I  nave 
not  laid  out  a  guinea,  out  of  my  on  han^l  ^^•■'  '  no 
or  three  in  chanty,  and  six  snilhEi^r^  tor  a  i»v  !i6t- 
book.  But  the  cash  with  which  I  m\  out  ha^nng 
ran  ^ort  for  family  expenses,  I  dre  w  ori  Hlnck  ^  >  ^^mI, 
through  fiallantyne,  which  was  hunourcd,  for  £25, 
to,acoountof  Malachi's  Letters,  of  whi<:h  armtlier 
edition  of  1000  is  ordered,  and  gav^^^  it  to  Lady  St  jtt, 
because  our  lemoval  will  reqmre  \  Imt  in  Ji&nd.  On 
the  20th  my  quarter  comes  m,  and  though  J  have 
something  to  pay  out  of  it.  I  shall  W  nn  vo!vri  for 
e^q>enae— and  regular  I  will  be.  Methinks  all  tri- 
fling objects  of  expenditure  seem  to  grow  hght  in 
my  eyes.  That  I  majr  regain  independence  I  must 
be  saving.  But  ambition  awakes  as  love  of  indul- 
gence dies  and  is  mordfied  within  me.  *  Dark  Cu- 
thullin  will  be  renowned  or  dead.' 

^  March  5.— Something  of  toddy  and  cigar  in  that 
last  9Uotation^  I  think.  Yet  I  only  smoked  two, 
and  liquified  with  one  glass  of  spirits  and  water.  I 
have  sworn  I  will  not  blot  out  what  I  have  once 
written  here. 

*  **  March  e.—Finished  third  Malachi,  which  I 
don't  much  like.   1 1  respectsHhe  difficulty  of  finding 

Sold  to  rei^lace  the  paper  circulation.  Now  this 
boold  have  been  considered  first.  The  admitting 
that  the  measure  may  be  imposed,  is  yielding  up  the 
question,  and  Malachi  is  like  a  commandant  who 
should  oegiQ  to  fire  from  interior  defences  before  his 
outworks  were  carried.  If  Ballantyne  be  of  my 
own  opinion  I  will  supprese  it.  We  are  all  in  a 
bustle  shiftinff  things  to  Abbotsford.  It  is  odd,  but 
I  don't  feel  the  impatience  for  the  country  which  I 
hare  asually  experienced. 

"  Mardi  7.— Detained  in  the  Court  tin  thrst  by  a 
60  2P* 


hearing,  ^en  to  the  committefT  appointed  at  the 
meeting  on  Friday,  to  look  after  the  small  note 
business.  A  pack  of  old  faineants^  incapable  of 
managing  such  a  business,  and  who  will  lose  the 
day  from  mere  coldness  of  heart.  There  are  about  a 
thousand  names  at  the  petition.  They  have  added  no 
del*  *■  1  -  -  'MriKiUr;  for  tcatimmn'^  sunt 
poi  .■      ....    .■.„.•■.   •..■  ■'■.■r'Kh"uM  neviT  be  iopt 

sigiiLol.  Tbtyareditito[>i*'  ■:  iml  hHplcft!?;  j«si 
as  m  the  busineae  cif  the  K;ii.^  -  .  -i',  wh*,'n  fiverir 
bo<iy  Threw  ihti  weight  Qti  mo.  in  ntujther  time-— 
so  ilrs-gua^ed  was  I  witli  e«ing  them  titling  in  j,nef> 
fecir)uT  tu'lLile«0tie$9i  spitting  on  the  hot  irnn  that 
lay  W'fare  lu^m,  and  touching;  it  wtih  s  timid  tinker, 
as  if  tiinud  of  bdn^  tienlded^  Ih^t  I  lui^hi  Imve 
da£2hi>d  in  :ind  taken  u[»  (he  h&mmert  Hurumnned 
the  deacons  and  othtjr  bL<ad«  of  rtiblic  bodies^  and 
by  lansuUinf;  ihem  have  corrii^u  thtsra  wiJh  me. 
Bui  1  cannot  wafit^  my  tjint^  hentth,  and  spirits^  in 
figUiin^z  diankl{i:iii  L at  ties,  1  left  them  iri  a  ijuarter 
of  nil  nuuit  and  ptiiiituga,  unk^^s  the  cuuntry  rnaJM) 
an  ajairm^  ihi^causu  js  [ostt.  Tht;  pljiltiujpkjical  w- 
viewtifB  nianfl^c  their  ullajrs  IjcI tor— hold  off— avuid 
com  [flitting  then  1^1  vea,  but  i brow  their  n'j  intrriuE 
int<  I  till*  eppoEULe  f^cal&i  djiJ  Ji^uirulko  ftuliiiiLE}  which 
they  tntiuoi  combat.  To  forte  tbfjn  t<j  tislit  on 
disiii:Ivaotii£t.'OU3  ground  iHuur  policy.  But  wtj  have  • 
mcft^  pneAeTs  after  ndnist^jruii  favour  th(*r»  men 
whu  lov^  theiT  coMinty,  and  who,  upon  a  liberal 
scr!  .  w^udd  Bt^vii  thfir  party,  for  to  foKM  ilie 
Wl  -  I  avow  an  unpotmlnr  doclnne  in  popular 
asi'  h  .Jkrt,  Qt  to  wrench  the  governmetit  of  .^^ucb 
bodies  from  them,  would  be  a  coup  de  maitre.  But 
they  are  alike  destitute  of  manly  resolution  and 

sound  policy.    D n  the  whole  nest  of  them !    I 

have  corrected  the  last  of  Malachi,  and  let  the  thing 
take  its  chance.  I  have  made  iust  enemies  enough, 
and  indisposed  enough  of  firienas. 

*•  March  a— At  the  Court,  though  a  teind  day.  A 
lEbolish  thing  happened  while  the  Court  were  en- 
gaged with  the  teinds.  I  amused  myself  with  wri" 
ting  on  a  sheet  of  paper,  notes  on  Frederick  Hait- 
land's  account  of  the  capture  of  Buonaparte;  and 
I  have  lost  these  notes— shuffled  in  perhaps  among 
my  own  papers,  or  those  of  the  teind  clerks.  What 
a  curious  document  to  be  found  in  a  process  of 
valuation.  Being  jaded  and  sleepy,  I  took  tip  Le 
Due  de^  Guise  on  Naples.  I  think  this,  wittt.  the 
old  Memoirs  on  the  same  subject  which  I  have  at 
Abbotsford,  would  enable  me  to  make  a  pretty  essay 
for  the  Quarterly.  We  must  take  up  Woodstock 
now  in.good  earnest  Mr.  Cowan,  a  good  and  able 
man,  is  chosen  trustee  in  Con8tabie^B  affairs,  with 
full  power.  From  what  I  hear,  the  poor  man  Con- 
stable is  not  sensible  of  the  nature  of  his  own  situa- 
tion ;  for  myself,  I  have  succeeded  in  putting  the 
matter  perfectly  out  of  my  mind  since  I  cannot  help 
it,  and  nave  arrived  at  a  flocci-pauci-nihili-pili^ca- 
tion  of  misery,  and  I  thank  whoever  invented  that 
long  word.  They  are  removing  our  wine,  dbc  to 
the  carts,  and  you  will  judge  if  our  flitting  is  not 
making  a  noise  in  the  world,  or  in  the  street  at 
least. 

"  Marth  9.— I  foresaw  justly, 

*  W^en  first  I  set  this  dangerous  stone  a-roUing, 
'iVould  fall  upon  myself.' 

Sir  Robert  Dundaa  to-day  put  into  my  hands  a 
letter  of  between  twenty  and  forty  pases,  in  angry 
and  bitter  reprobation  of  Malachi,  fiul  of  general 
averments,  and  very  untenable  arguments,  all  writ- 
ten  at  me  by  name,  but  of  which  I  am  to  hate  no 
copy,  and  which  is  to  be  circulated  to  other  special 
friends,  to  whom  it  may  be  necessary  to  '  give  the 
sign  to  hale.'  I  got  it  at  two  o'clock,  and  returned 
it  with  an  answer  four  hours  afterwards,  in  which  I 
have  studied  not  to  be  tempted  into  either  aarcastio 
or  harsh  expressions.  A  quarrel  it  is.  however,  in 
all  the  forms,  between  my  old  friend  and  myself 
and  his  Lordship's  reprimand  is  to  be  read  out  in 
order  to  all  our  friends.  They  all  know  what  I 
have  said  is  true,  but  that  will  be  nothing  to  the 
purpose  if  they  are  desired  to  consider  it  as  false. 


474 


UFB  OF  SIR  WALTER  SCOm. 


*  Nobody  at  least  can  plague  me  for  intirest  with 
Lord  Melville  aa  they  used  to  do.  By  the  way,  from 
the  tone  of  his  letter,  I  think  hia  Lordship  will  give 
up  the  measure,  and  I  shall  be  the  peace-oHenng. 
All  Mdll  agree  to  condemn  me  as  too  warm— too 
ra«^--and  yet  rejoice  in  privileges  which  they  would 
not  have  been  able  to  save  but  for  a  little  rousing  of 
spirit,  which  will  not  perhaps  fall  asleep  again.--A 
gentleman  called  on  the  part  of  a  Cap  tarn  Rutherford, 
to  make  enauiry  about  the  Lord  Rutherfords.    ^"* 


being  very  cUev'er,  as  John  Frazer  used  to  say,  at 
these  pedigree  matters,  referred  him  to  my  cousin 
Robert  Rutherford.  Very  odd— when  there  is  a 
vacant,  or  dormant  title  in  a  Scottish  family  or 
narm^  every  body,  and  all  connected  with  the  clan, 
conceive  they  have  guodam  modo  aright  to  it. ,  Not 
being  engrossed  by  any  individual,  it  communicates 
part  of  its  lustre  to  every  individual  in  the  tribe,  as 
if  it  remained  in  common  stock  for  that  purpose. 

"  Aforc4  10.— I  am  not  made  entirely  on  the  same 
mould  of  passions  like  other  people.  Many  men 
would  deeply  regret  a  breach  with  so  old  a  friend  as 
Lord  Melvifle,  and.  many  men  would  be  in  despair 
at  losing  the  good  graces  of  a  Minister  of  State  for 
Scotland,  and  all  pretty  views  about  what  might  be 
done  for  myself  and  my  sons,  especially  Charloi. 
But  I  think  my  good  Lord  doth  ill  to  be  angnr,  hke 
the  patriarch  of  old,  and  I  have,  in  my  odd  ^tu 
wucianee  character,  a  good  handful  of  meal  from 
the  grist  of  the  Jolly  Miller,  who 

*Onc« 
Dwelled  on  the  river  Dee ; 
'  I  care  for  nobody,  no  not  I, 

Since  nobody  cares  for  me.' 

"  Sandie  Yoimg*  came  in  at  breakfast-time  with 
«  Monsieur  Brooqoe  of  Montpelier.  Saw  Sir  Robert 
Dundas  at  Couru  He  is  to  send  my  letter  to  L9rd 
Melville.  Colin  Mackenzie  concurs  in  thinking 
Lord  M.  quite  vmrong.  He  muai  cool  in  the  tkin  he 
hei  in. 

"  On  coming  home  from  the  Court  a  good  deal 
fatigued,  I  took  a  nap  in  my  easy-chair,  then  packed 
my  bookSt  and  committed  the  refuse  to  Jock  Ste- 
Yenson— 

*  Left  not  a  limb  on  which  a  Dane  could  triampb.' 

Gave  Mr.  Gibson  my  father's  cabinet,  which  suite 
a  man  of  business  well.  Gave  Jock  Stevenson  the 
picture  of  my  favourite  dog  Camp,  mentioned  in  one 
of  the  introductions  to  Marmion,  and  a  little  crow> 
quill  drawing  of  Melrose  Abbey  by  Nelson,  whom  I 
used  to  call  the  Admiral,  poor  fellow.  He  had  some 
ingenuity,  and  was  in  a  moderate  way  a  good  pen- 
man and  draughtsman.  He  left  his  situation  of 
amanuensis  to  ^  into  Lord  Home's  militia  regimen  t, 
but  his  dissipation  got  the  better  of  a  strong  consti- 
tution, and  ne  fell  into  bad  habits  and  poverty,  and 
died,  I  believe,  in  the  Hospital  at  Liverpool.— 
Strange  enough  that  Henry  Weber,  who  acted 
aftsrwards  as  my  amanuensis  for  many  years,  had 
also  a  melancholy  fate  ultimately.  He  was  a  man 
of  very  superior  attainments,  an  excellent  linguist 
and  geographer,  and  a  remarkable  antiquary.  He 
published  a  collection  of  ancient  Romances,  supe- 
rior, I  think,  to  the  elaborate  Ritson.  He  also  pub- 
lished an  edition  of  Beaumont  and  Fletcher,  but  too 
carelessly  done  to  be  reputable.  He  was  a  violent 
Jacobin,  which  he  thought  he  disguised  from  me, 
while  I,  who  cared  not  a  fig  about  the  poor  young 
man's  politics,  used  to  amuse  myself  with  teazing 
him.  He  was  an  excellent  and  affectionate  creature, 
but  unhappily  was  afflicted  with  partial  insanity, 
especially  if  he  used  strong  liquors,  to  which,  like 
others  with  that  unhappy  tendency,  he  was  occa*^ 
sionally  addicted.  In  1814,  he  became  quite  insane^ 
and,  at  the  risk  of  my  life,  I  had  to  disarm  him  of  a 
pair  of  loaded  pistols,  which  I  did  by  exerting  the 
sort  of  authority  vhicn,  I  believe,  gives  an  effectual 
control  in  such  cases-t    My  patronage  in  this  way 

/  Alexander  Young,  Ekq.  of  Harlwrn— a  iteady  Whif  of  the 
old  Mshool,  and  a  ctoadf  and  Wghlj  esteemed  fiiend  of  Sir  Wal- 
tor**. 
t  See  ante,  p.  iw. 


has  noi  been  lucky  to  the  partlefl  protacted^  ^y^^^ 
poor  Georiie  Hu  fitly  n^rdMn  wiU  ej^oape  the  rallu* 
ence  of  the  evil  -kxm.  Ho  hfi!«  no  vicfi,  t^OQr  fe^UiW, 
but  bifitotd  d^ncM  tns^kes  hiiu  h4:U>^c«s. 

"  JWflr<^*  1 L— TUii  day  the  Court  rose  after  a.lop« . 

and  lat>onous  P€(]i?runL    I  employed  tbe  remsuid^ 

of  the  day  in  compteLmp  a  iK?l  of  note*  on  CaptUo 

gni     BBitland^s  manuscript  narrative  of  the  forai»Qon  of 

iVot   Nupolcon  Kuonsperte  on  board  the  Bisilerophotw 


mI  da  J  bt-i^n  prf  vicualy  in  the  haada  of  my  6ien4 
Basil  Halit  who  hnd  rpadt  manv  excaUeftC  oorreo^ 
tions  in  poim  of  Biyli^ ;  bin  ha  bud  been  bypOTCTItiCM  " 
in  wishini?  On  ^^  iuiporiant  a  ma  tier,  wb^tre  everx 
thing  dypeiids  on  flccuroejf)  this  e*prett»ft  Uj  be 
altt^refl— for  di^Ucflcy'*  eaWc,  thai  to  be  cofrected, 
ftjr  ftiar  of  giving  oifeiicfr— and  that  olJher  to  be 
abrtdgt^d^  for  feat  (fif  heijiR  ti^diDus.  The  plniti  sailor's 
namiiivD  forTiH;:^  wristen  on  the  spot^  and  beanng 
in  it*  minuteness  the  evidence  of  ita  veriiciiy.  Lrtm 
Klein  sent  inc^  aornc  time  sificcs  s  curious  sccouEt 
of  In  a  imprison  mt'nt  ii^  Franci?,  nnd  thf  slteinpta  ' 
nhich  were  msf!^  to  di-aw  him  mto  some  tatTigue 
which  im^ht  aulhori^c  tfiiRtinK  him  with  ligcrar.* 
He  failed  to-day  and  eoinmiiniC*tfid  st^ziie  eorioiM 
cireumatfiin^ca^  on  the  !liiihority  of  Fou^h^,  DeooO, 
and  othera*  respcf  ting  Huonopariff  and  the  KnipnpsB' 
Maria  Louisa,  whom  Lord  Eljfin  hod  e^n versed 
with  on  the  subject  m  Italy.  His  Mndoct  towtril* 
her  was  someihinff  hke  that  of  EtiiwaM  lo  Elbarga, 
m  Joanna  Bftjllie^s  fine  iraK^Jyi,  "lakinjs  her  pott- 
pone  her  hiffh  mnk  by  birth  to  the  authority  wJucb 
he  had  acquired  by  hia  tsletH*. 

"il/iircft  la,— Rflaum«i  Woodstock*  aiid  wroi^ 
my  task  of  sU  pOK*-'«*  I  eantiot  §rumiiUxt^  b<iw- 
ever,  having  wrought  iWy  eyee  nearly  ouL 

"  March  13.— Wrote  to  the  end  t>f  a  chtptffl,  and' 
knowing  no  more  than  the  man  m  the  tjjoon  whtil 
cume^  next,  1  will  pat  down  a  few  of  Lord  Elgjn'it 
tij  membra  nee*,  ana  something  may  oeenr  lo  m^  in 
the  mertn- while,  *  *      .     *  * 

''  1  have  hinted  in  tbeiM*  notes  that  I  am  not  «o- 
lirdy  free  from  ■  stirt  of  gloomy  flte^  Vfith  a  fltiiter- 
itiB  of  the  heart  and  d^prctaion  of  spirit*,  juat  sa  if  K 
knew  not  what  wai^  ROtbiE  to  befali  me,  I  c«a' 
some: time*  reai»l  ihia  niecewfijUy.  but  u  is  better  la- 
evade  ihanio  com  bit  it.  The  bane-dog  ipmi  malt- 
ha ^e  originated  iti  theconfuaion  and  chucking  about 
of  fl n r ol d  fumit u re,  th« atiippioff ofwallsofpie UxTc^ 
and  room  a  of  ornrHDentSf  cbeleaTiiifr  of  ^t  hoiiMwe* 
have  @o  lon^  called  aiir  faom^  w  iltciftethor  tDclan-* 
choty  enough.  1  am  glaii  hmf  S.  does  not  mind  Hi 
find  yei  1  wonder.  i<3o.  Shu  inaiBift  oD  mf  urmmi)^ 
ing  till  Wei^firadfiv,  not  kno^wina  what  I  mj^San 
Mt'tin-whill^,  to  maliL  mv  racuaant  pynhldopeiU 
1  have  ^H  to  work  lo  elear  away  pipcn  and 
ihetn  for  my  journer.  What  a  ^tranga  aMsdllfV 
j^MUchta  Aueh  a  task  prttduci'^'  til  ere  Jlia  latfjjp 
^vliich  made  the  heart  throb  wheti  rvedva^  ^0 
iiibJ^^^s  and  nniniepcsiing— as  are  perbaps  iheif  WTf» 
t*fts*  Riddlea  which  hftve  b«n  re<ad— acfaemetf 
which  timt!  has  dtarfoyed  or  broupht  to  njaturtil^- 
m€mori"ffl  td  friendships  at)d  ^nimrita  whtcb  srd 
now  ahkc  faded.  Thuj*  do'ie  the  ring  of  Saturn  uon- 
aume  iladf.  To-day  annihilujes  yt^^rerday.  &i  xh^ 
old  tyrant  Fwotlowetl  hbi  ehildrtm,  and  ilie  &n&kaiU 
tail.  But  I  muftl  flay  to  my  Juurnn]  as  poor  BrnO 
did  to  Moore— 'D—n  it,  Toti^  don't  bv  poetical/ 

"iWbrcA  14,— J.  B.  tailed  this  mominft  to  t*k* 
It^ave*  and  riM>eive  directions  aWul  proofs,  dew 
Talks  of  the  uproar  about  Malaeb)  ^  but  1  am  tjrvd, 
of  Malochi— the  humour  in  ofli  and  1  ba^«  ftaid  what 
I  wanted  lo  aay,  and  put  the  people  of  SeotJand  ot& 
their  guard,  R*  well  us  Mitnakm  if  thc^y  lik«  lo  b# 
warned.  They  are  gradually  destioyifig  wh&t  !•• 
main^r  of  natkmahty,  and  mnKing  thi:  country  '^^W* 
la  rusa  for  docEtif^ei  of  b^ild  innovations  /llHif 
iooaeniji^f  and  frmdittfr  down  all  iho^e  peeulianllM 
which  distin^iahed  u^  as  Srotst/ifrn  will  throw  tlit 
eountry  into  a  state  in  which  it  will  he  univcMalty 

'  ^lAfe*JSiitimmp«nt-3iUuUttneBm^rote  Wvria* 


LIPB  OF  SIR  WALTER  SCOTT. 


in 


- -J  to  deBJOcrft(*T,  ftiid  bst^ad  qf  ceinny  Saun- 

oeiA  ihi'y  will  hft^e  a  very  dnneerous  Norm  Bniish 
nt'iphbaiiThood,  Som^  Uwyvr  ^xpreafird  to  Lord: 
Elibsmk  an  opin^rii  that  ai  iha  Union  (Kc  English 
law  fihoulfl  hove  be^n  *?Jii ended  nil  over  Scoifand. 
*  I  cannot  stiy  hoiir  tbat  rni^ht  hnv«:  anf  wtrred  our 
purpo*fc/  Baid  Lord  Po tricky  who  was  nt?vi!r  non- 
jiUjtiMi  fbr  want  of  an  Einswtv^  *buT  it  woidd  scArcc 
h^vt^  suited  ^our^i  itince  by  ihiti  tUna  the  Abc^rdten 
AiiroeatfM*  would  have  possrCSBed  thfmaolvcjs  of  &II 
the  buuneis  in  Wemminfiier  Hall/ 

**  What  a  deieitable  Minp  this  flwttcrinc  of  the 
heart  la  I  I  know  it  is  nothing  orf^nie.  snrl  that  it 
LB  cnrirely  ncrroun'  but  the  eickemng  t^ffe^ts  of  it 
are  dispinting  to  a  dcgreu.  Ib  it  titc  body  brings  it 
on  the  mindf  or  tbe  mind  tbnt  indicte  it  npon  the 
body  7  I  cannot  teEl ;  but  it  isi  a  navt-fi^  price  to  pay 
for  the  f^aia  M&rgami  wiih  which  Fancy  eome- 
limoa  amnsea  mm  of  warm  iiii aginations  Ae  to 
body  and  mind,  1  fjincy  I  mishi  ca  well  enciuirc 
whether  thu  fiddle  or  fiddlpj^titk  mskca  the  tune. 
In  youth  this  complaint  usetl  to  throw  mo  into  in- 
voluntary pa.'^HLijnjj  of  cau9tk5&  tear*.  Bnt  1  will 
drive  it  away  in  ibe  country  by  eit'Tciae  I  wiah  I 
had  been  a  mechanic :  a  turn  lug- lathe  or  a  rhceit  of 
tools  would  have  been  a  God-send  j  for  ihoLiRht 
makes  the  acecss  of  niclandioly  rather  wotac  th»n 
better.  I  have  it  id<!om,  thank  God,  and,  I  behtve, 
UjihtEy,  in  compaDson  of  others^ 

It  was  [he  fiddle  after  nil,  waa  ont  of  order— not 
the  fiddltiatick  ;  the  body,  not  the  niind*  I  walkod 
<}ut;  met  Mrs.  Skcfie.  who  took  a  round  wuh  me 
in  Pnnc«*H  Str<?et,  Bade  Constable  and  Cadell 
farewell^  and  bad  a  brisk  walk  home>  whif-'h  enables 
me  to  face  the  dpB4.tlB  lion  here  wiih  mora  apirit.  News 
from  Sophia.  She  has  had  the  luck  to  get  an  anli- 
dmgwst  iti  a  Dr*  Gooeh^  who  prcacribes  care  for 
Johnnie  instead  of  drtJ^a,  and  a  httb  homebrewed 
ale  id^teod  of  wLno ;  and,  like  a  liberal  nhyeicianj 
Eupplies  the  medicino  he  presf  ribo*,  Aa  for  mysel/i 
aiijce  I  hod  acorcti  etirrea  to  take  exercise  for  four 
or  live  days,  no  wonder  1  hud  the  mulligrubs,  jt  iit 
ftn  a^wfiil  jeenaation  thouRbt  and  woiilti  havii  made 
mn  enthuajaat  of  me^  had  I  mdulj^ed  my  imagination 
Qfi  devotion  b1  subjectp.  J  have  btr^in  always  careful  to 
place  my  mind  m  the  most  tranquil  posture  whieh  it 
can  aaaume  daring  my  private  ejcrt!iM'«  of  dt'^otioo. 

*'  I  have  amused  myself  occamnally  very  pleas- 
tfttly  during  the  last  ft^w  daya  by  rcadmj*  over  Lady 
Morgan's  novel  of  O'Donnd,  which  baa  some  stn- 
km^  and  beautiful  paasac^ei  of  situation  and  deaoip- 
tion,  and  in  the  comic  part  is  very  rich  and  enter- 
lAJmog^  \  dti  not  remember  beinf?  so  much  pleased 
witb  Hit  first*  There  is  a  want  of  storyt  always 
fiCal  to  a  book  the  first  reading  -acid  it  is  well  if  it 
geta  a  chance  of  a  fM2i;ond.  Alasj  poor  riovcl !  AIeo 
read  again,  and  for  the  third  time  nt  loaj>t|  Miaa 
Austen  »  very  finely  written  novel  of  l*ri4eand  Pre- 
jlMJice  That  youtig  lady  hod  a  talml  for  describing 
lfa«  iBToIrenient^  and  feelinj^s,  and  charaeters  of 
ortlilia^  liJe^  which  is  to  me  the  most  wet^derful 
T  Vt<ar  met  with.  The  Bi^  Row- wow  strain  t  can 
itt  itiyaelf  like  any  nt>w  ^oing  j  but  the  axqiiisite 
louche  whieh  rendera  ordinary  commonpltice  Utijiea 
and  characters  intt^restin^^  frony  the  truth  of  the 
description  and  the  etjutiment,  is  denied  to  me. 
What  a  pity  Ruch  a  gifted  creature  died  so  early  i 

^*Mari^  IS.— This  morping  1  leave  No.  nu,  paatle 
Street,  for  the  last  time.  '  The  eabm  waa  conve- 
j^ient,'  and  habit  had  made  a  agreeable  to  me,  I 
never  reckoned  upon  a  change  m  this  panicuiar  so 
lotiff  a^  I  bdd  an  office  itt  the  Coart  of  Se^ion. 
Ira  fill  mv  former  changea  of  residence  it  was  fro rn 
pood  to  better;  thts  is  retrograding;  1  l€ave  ibis 
bouae  for  sale,  and  I  ceaae  to  be  an  Edinburj^h  eiti- 
7en^  in  the  sense  of  being  a  proprietorT  which  my 
lather  and  ]  have  be^n  for  sixty  years  at  least.  So 
tJitewell,  poor  39,  and  may  yot)  never  harbour  worse 
people  than  thoi^  who  now  leave  yom  Not  to  de- 
isert  the  Lares  all  at  once.  Lady  S,  and  Anne  remoin 

*  The  Afiomt^M  of  iIh!  tav^n  of  AheMft^ri  Art  it; IH  Advo- 
■saieM-    Tbu  viiufiblv  phvilprc  if  itid  tu  tu^ve  Ihoo  betffiifvtd  ml 


till  Sunday.    Am  lor  mei  I  go,  as  aforesaid,  thia 

marnmg, 

*HatilmitiiUdhM--*'* 

CHAPTER  LXIX.    ^ 

DOMESTtC  ArFUCTlONS— COBBBSPONDKirCX  WITH  SIB 

aoaenT  nn^DAs   and  mb.  cbokbb  om  the  Bro> 

Jticr  Ot^  JUALACHI  MALAOBOWTHBB. 

Str  W  a  Iter's  diary  begins  to  be  clouded  with  a 
darker  species  of  diatresi  than  a  mere  loss  of  wealth 
cou^d  bring  to  his  spirit.  His  darling  grandson 
ia  Sinking  apace  at  Brighton.  The  misfortunes 
against  which  his  manhood  atriu^gled  with  stem 
eneri^y  wer^-  cucountered  by  his  afiectionate  wifeon- 
dtr  ine  disadvantages  of  enfeebled  health ;  and  it 
fteema  but  too  evident  that  mental  pain  and  mortifi-« 
cation  had  a  great  share  in  hurrying  her  ailmenta 

I  to  a  fatal  end. 

NevertJie]f«s,  all  his  afflictions  do  not  seem  to 

I  have  interrupted  for  more  than  a  day  or  two  hia 
usual  couritt  of  labour.     With  rare  exceptions  he 

\  appears^  all  through  thia  trying  period,  to  have  fin- 
ish e<i  his  dnilv  task— thirty  printed  pages  of  Wood- 

I  Atock,  until  that  novel  was  completed ;  or,  if  ha 
patjsed  in  it,  be  gave  a  similar  space  of  time  to 
some  minor  production :  such  as  his  paper  on  Galt'a 
Om<3n,  for  L^l  ickwood's  Magazine^or  his  very  valua- 
ble one  on  the  life  of  Kemble  for  the  duarterly  Re- 
V  ie  w.  And  hardly  had  Woodstock  been  finished  be- 
fore he  began  the  Chronicles  of  the  Canongate.  Ha 
alao  corres^ponded  much  as  usual  (notwithstandin|( 
all  he  say  A  about  mdolence  on  that  score)  with  hia 
absetit  fnenfis ;  and  I  need  scarcely  add  that  his  du- 
ties as  ^herin*  claimed  many  boura  every  week. 
The  picture  of  resolution  and^  industry  which  tbia 
portion  of  hia  Journal  presents  is  certainlv  as  ra- 
ni ark  a  bli^  as  the  boldest  imagination  could  have 
conceived. 

Buforu  I  oi>eD  the  Diary  again,  however,  I  may  aa 
well  place  m  what  an  ingenious  contemporary  no- 
velist calls  an  "inter-chapter,"  three  letters  con- 
nected with  the  affair  of  Maiachi  Malagrowther. 
The  firai  wfis  addressed  to  the  late  Sir  Robert  Dun- 
das  (his  colleague  at  the  Clerk's  table)  on  receiving 
throttgb  him  the  assurance  that  Lord  Melville^  how- 
ever sETOfi^  in  his  dissent  from  Malachi's  views  on 
tile  Curreni  V  Q,ue8ti()n,  had  not  allowed  that  mat- 
u-T  to  intt?nupt  his  afiectionate  regard  for  the  author. 
The  others  will  speak  for  themselves. 


Ta  Sit  Roberl  Dundat  of  Dunira,  Bart..  Btriot  Aoio, 
Hdinburgk.  ^ 

''  My  dear  9i\t  Robert, 

*'  1  hail  yvn  r  letter  today,  and  am  much  interested  and 
i*!rec:u.'d  Uv  U-^  rantcnts.  Whatever  Lord  MelviUe's  scntl- 
mrofs  liar5  hi  i-n  towards  me,  I  could  never  have  lost  re- 
oT'mbrBiici  if  the  very  early  friend  with  whom  I  carried 
ojjr  s?iKrl]i-l  ti'  ifhool,  and  whose  regard  I  had  always  con- 
eiirjii-rof]  ts  omi  of  the  happiest  circumstances  of  my  life. 
]  remain  oTtiie  same  opinion  respecting  the  Letters  which 
hafe  orca^iciiTjrid  so  much  more  notice  than  thev  would 
hav*>  <!.-:.  rt'.-.v  had  there  not  been  a  very  general  feeling 
in  thi  and  among  Ix)rd  Melville's  best  friends 

lniF>,  :"■  ■•  some  public  remonstrances  of  the  kind 

from  ^:  :  Like  myself,  who  had  nothing  to  win  or  to 

Uj46—i3r  ttiihei  who  hazarded  losing  a.great  deal  in  the 
rnod  DpjiilDn  uf  friends  whom  he  was  accustomed  not  to 
vTilu€>  firiij.  but  to  reverence.  As  to  my  friemi  Croker, 
Etn  HcKoniuVei  like  myself,  I  would  throw  my  hat  into  the 
ring  for  tove,  and  give  him  a  bellyful.  But  I  do  not  feel 
tti4?re  U  mf  rail  on  me  to  do  so.  as  I  could  not  do  It  with- 
OUT  cni^rin^  into  particulars,  wtUch  I  have  avoided.  If  I 
^11 J  Kikd,  ^tikh  I  might  have  done,  that,  in  a  recent  case, 
D  gf^nttt^rriBEii  abiding  an  otHce  under  the  Great  Seal  of 
Scoilwiil.  wai  referred  to  the  English  Crown  Counsel— 
who  gav<*  thtir  opinion— on  which  opinion  the  Secretary 
wfi<i  prrjiam]  to  act— that  he  waa  forcibly  to  be  pushed 
fri>r[^  hU  &itii.ir:iun,  because  he  vraa,from  age  and  malady, 
nnt  iihli'i7i]jii#o  Its  duties ;  and  that  by  a  process  of  Eng- 
linh  Itiw,  ihp  ^  iTy  name  of  which  was  unknown  to  us,  I 
wiuilrl  1  ilnaV  Ji.'Lve  made  a  strong  case.  But  I  care  not  to 
rtiter  hito  ^t  luaicnts  to  the  public,  the  indirect  conse* 
cju^nrc!  ofwliirli  might  be  painful  to  some  of  our  friends. 
I  oniy  teniure  to  hope  on  that  subject,  that,  suffering 
Maiachi  to  go  as  a  misrepresenter,  or  calumniator,  or 
wh«t  they  w[ll|  some  attention  may  be  paid  that  such 


•Wc  return 


no  mom.,y  boogie 


176 

•  . 
froundfl  for  calumny  and  misrepresentation  shall  not  ex* 
ht  in  future— I  am  contented  to  lie  the  scape-goat  1  re. 
member  the  late  Lord  Melville  defending,  in  a  manner 
that  defiedjiefutation,  the  Scots  [aws  against  sedition,  and 
I  have  livJG  to  see  ihesc  repealed,  by  what  our  friend 
Baron  Hume  calls  *a  bill  for  the  better  encouragement  of 
sediUon  and  treason.'  It  will  last  my  day  probably  ;  at 
least  I  shall  be  loo  old  to  be  shot,  and  have  only  the  hon- 
ourable chance  of  being  hanged  for  incivisme.  The 
whole  burgher  class  of  Scotland  are  gradually  preparing 
for  radical  reforin— 1  mean  the  middbng  and  respectable 
classes ;  and  when  a  burgh  reform  comes,  which  per- 
haps caimut  long  be  delayed.  Ministers  will  not  return  a 
member  for  Scotland  from  the  towns.  The  gentry  will 
abide  longer  by  sound  principles ;  for  they  are  needy, 
and  desire  advancement  for  their  sons,  and  appointments, 
and  so  on.  But  ttiis  is  a  very  hollow  dependence,  and 
those  who  sincerely  hold  ancient  opinions  are  waxing 
old. 

"Differing  so  much  as  we  do 'on  this  head,  and  holding 
my  own  opinion  as  I  would  do  a  pointpf  religious  faith,  I 
am  sure  1  ought  to  feel  the  more  indebted  to  Lord  Mel- 
k  vlUe's  kindness  and  generosity  for  suffering  our  differ- 
ence to  be  no  breach  in  our  ancient  friendship.  I  shall 
always  feel  his  sentiments  in  this  respect  as  the  deepest  ob- 
ligation I  owe  him ;  for,  perhaps,  there  are  some  passages 
in  Madachi's  epistles  that  I  ought  to  have  moderated.  But 
I  desired  to  make  a  strong  impression,  and  speak  out,  not 
on  the  currency  question  alone,  but  on  the  treatment  of 
Scotland  generally,  the  ophiion  which,  I  T.nJnrp  tr  - t, 
has  been  long  entertained  by  Lord  Melvili'^>  NfN  I  iii<  n  i, 
though  who  tnat  had  any  thing  to  hope  oi  fv^t  woul*!  IjhI^  o 
hesitated  to  state  it*?  So  much  for  my  ScaEii.sli  ft'elvtij;':  - 
prejudices,  if  vou  will ;  but  which  wert^  hata,  and  will 
die  with  me.  ^or  those  I  entertain  tovmrda  |.r>rd  yu  I- 
Tille  penonaliy,  I  can  only  say  that  I  hnya  loi^ii  mucU  a 
my  life ;  but  the  esteem  of  an  old  friend  li;  that  1  glum  id 
regret  the  most;  and  I  repeat  I  feel  m'^t  tP^n9<i!>l>'  i^e 
generosity  and  kindness  so  much  belonfiujc  iolus  iMitui'i, 
which  can  forgive  that  which  hasprooably  bci-u  luujt 
offensive  to  him.  People  may  say  I  have  been  rash  and 
Inconsiderate  ;  they  cannot  say  1  have  been  cither  self- 
ish or  malevolent.  1  have  shunned  all  the  sort  of  popu- 
larity attending  the  discussion ;  nay,  have  reAised  to  ois- 
tribute  the  obnoxiouV  letters  in  a  popular  form,  though 
urged  from  various  quarters. 

*'  Adieu ;  God  bless  you,  my  dear  Sir  Robert.     You 

may  send  the  whole,  or  any  part  of  this  letter,  if  you 

think  proper ;  I  should  not  wish  him  to  think  that  I  was 

,  sulky  about  the  continuance  of  his  friendship.— I  am 

yours  most  truly, 

Waltkb  Scott." 
To  Sir  Walter  Scott,  Bart. 
[Private  and  eonfidentjal.] 

^  Admiralty,  March  16,  1826. 
/*B|y  dear  Scott, 

"I have  seen  I/ord  Melville's  and. your  letters  to  Sir  R. 
Dundas,  and  the  tone  of  both  of  them  makes  me  feel  very 
anxious  to  say  a  confidential  word  or  two  to  you  on  the 
subject  I  am  not  going  to  meddle  with  *thc  politics, 
which  are  batl  enough  in  printed  letters,  but  to  endea- 
vour, In  the  cordiality  of  a  sincere  private  friendship,  to 
satlsfv  you  that  these  differences  on  speculative  points 
of  public  policy  do  not,  in  this  region,  and  ought  not  in 
yours,  to  cause  any  diminution  of  private  intercourse  and 
regard.  Lord  Melville  certainly  felt  that  hia  administra- 
tion of  Scottish  affairs  was  sweepingly  attacked,  and  the 
rest  of  the  government  were  astonished  to  see  the  one- 
pound  note  question  made  a  kind  of  war-cry  which  might 
excite  serious  practical  consequences,  and,  no  doubt, 
these  feelings  were  expressedpretty  strongly,  but  it  was 
in  thp  spirit  of  c/  /«,  Brute  ^  The  regard,  the  admiration, 
the  love,  which  we  all  bear  towards  you,  made  the  stroke 
80  much  more  painful  to  tho.se  who  thought  it  directed 
at  them,  but  that  feeling  was  local  and  temporary ;  by 
local  I  mean  that  tlie  pain  was  felt  on  the  spot  where  the 
blow  was  given— and  I  hope  and  believe  It  was  so  tempo- 
rary a.s  to  be  already  forgotten.  I  can  venture  to  assure 
you  that  it  did  not  at  all  interfere  with  the  deep  sympathy 
with  which  we  all  heafd  of  the  losses  you  had  sustained, 
nor  would  it,  I  firmly  believe,  have  caused  a  moment's 
hesitation  in  doin?  any  thing  which  might  be  useful  or 
agreoable  to  vou  if  euch  an  opportunity  had  occMrred. 
However  Lord  Melville  mav  have  expressed  kis  soroness 
on  wha»,  it  must  bo  admitted,  was  an  attanJr  on  him,  as 
being  for  the  last  twenty  years  the  minister  for  Scotland, 
there  is  not  a  man  in  the  world  who  would  be  more  glad 
to  have  an  (ipport'uiily  of  giving  you  anv  mark  of  his  re- 
gard ;  and  from  the  moment  We  hoard'  of  the  inconve- 
nience you  suffered,  oven  down  to  this  hour,  I  do  not  be- 
nevo  he  lias  had  another  feeling  towardii  you  privately.  , 
ISf  L  .  "^'^^^^^  y°"  ^^^^^  ^*^<*  expecfed  from  his  gene- 
ral  good-naiure  and  his  porticvlar  firieddslup  for  you. 


LIFE  OP  SIR  WALTER  SCOTT. 


«  As  to  mytelf,  (if  I  may  venture  to  name  myaeif  lo 
you,)  I  am  so  ignorant  of  Scjmish  affUrs  and  lO  reoioia 
from  Scottish  interest,  that  you  will  easily  beliere  that  1 
felt  no  personal  discomposure  from  Mr.  MaJagrowtber. 
What  little  I  know  of  Scotland  you  have  tauglit  me,  and 
my  chief  feeling  on  this  subject  was  toonder  that  so  clever 
a  fellow  as  M.  M.  could  entertain  opinions  so  different 
from  those  which  I  fancied  that  1  had  leafiK^d  from  you: 
but  this  has  nothing  to  do  with  our  private  ftetingt.  If 
I  differed  from  M.  M.  as  widely  as  I  do  from  Mr.  BTCul- 
loch,  that  need  not  affect  my  private  JeeHngt  towards 
Sir  Walter  Scou  nor  his  towards  me.  He  mar  {eel  the 
matter  very  warmly  as  a  Scotchman ;  I  can  only  Jiare  a 
very  general,  and  therefore  proportlonably  Unt  interest 
in  the  subject ;  but  in  cither  case  you  and  I  are  not,  UJce 
Sir  Archy  and  Sir  Callaghan,  to  quarrel  about  Sir  Arch/'a 
great  grandmother ;  but  I  find  that  I  am  dwelUag  too  lonff 
on  so  insignificiJit  a  part  of  the  subject  as  myaelt  I  took 
up  my  pen  with  the  Intention  of  satisfyinf  you  as  to  the 
feelings  of  more  important  persons,  and  1  shall  now  quit 
the  tflpic  altogether,  with  a  single  remark,  that  this  letter 
is  strictly  confidential,  that  even  Lord  Melville  knows 
nothins  of  it,  and  21  jj/««  /orte  rtuMon^  nobody  else.— Be- 
lieve ine  to  be,  my  dear  Scott,  most  sincerely  and  affec- 
tionately yours,  J.  W^.  Cboksb." 

To  J.  W.  Oroker,  Esq.,  M.  P.,  ^.  ^.,  Admirahy. 
"  Abbotsford,  19th  March,  I8& 
"  My  dear.Croker, 

*' I  received  your  very  kind  letter  with  the  feehnfa  ii 
was  calculated  to  excite,  those  of  great  affection  mixed 
with  pain,  which,  indeed,  I  had  already  felt  and  antici- 
pated be/ore  taking  the  step  which  I  knew  you  moat  all 
feel  as  awkward,  coming  from  one  who  has  been  honoured 
with  so  much  personal  regard.  1  need  not,  I  am  sure, 
say,  that  1  acted  from  nothing  but  an  honcet  desire  of 
serving  this  country.  Depend  upon  it,  thatifasucee** 
sion  of  violent  and  experimental  ctnnges  are  made  from 
session  to  session,  with  biUs  to  amend  bilis,  where  no 
want  of  legislation  had  been  at  all  felt,  Scodand  wilL 
within  ten  or  twenty  years,  perhaps  much  sooner,  read 
a  more  fearful  commentary  on  poor  Malachl's  epistles 
than  any  statesman  residing  out  of  the  country,  and 
stranger  to  the  habits  and  feelings  which  are  entertained 
here-,  can  possibly  anticipate.  My  heail  may  be  low— I 
hope  it  will— before  the  time  comes.  But  Scotland,  coai> 
nletely  liberalized,  as  she  is  in  a  fair  way  of  being,  will 
be  the  most  dangerous  neighbour  to  England  that, she 
has  had  since  1639.  There  is  yet  time  to  make  a  stand, 
for  there  is  yet  a  great  deal  of  good  and  genuine  feehn^ 
left  in  tl>e  country.  But  if  you  unaeotch  us,  you  will  fina 
us  damned  mischievous  Englishmen.  The  restless  and 
yet  laborious  and  constantly  watchful  character  of  the 
people,  their  desire  for  speculation  in  politics  oriny  thiiig 
else,  only  restrained  by  some  proud  feelings  about  their 
ovm  country,  now  become  antiquated,  and  which  laie 
measures  wiU  tend  much  to  destroy,  will  make  them, 
under  a  wrong  direction,  the  most  formidable  xevolo- 
tionists  who  ever  took  the  field  of  innovation.  The 
late  Lord  Melville  knew  them  well,  and  managed  them 
accordingly.  Our  friend  the  present  Lord  Melville,  with 
the  same  sagacity^  has  not  the  same  advantages.  His 
high  office  has  kept  him  much  in  the  south  ;  and  when 
he  comes  down  here,  it  is  to  mingle  with  persons  who 
have  almos^  all  something  to  hope  or  ask  for  at  his 
hands. 

**  But  I  shaU  say  no  more  on  this  subject  so  far  as 
politics  are  concerned,  only  you  will  remember  tltc  siory 
of  the  shield,  whicli  was  on  one  side  gold,  and  on  the 
other  silver,  and  which  two  knights  fought  about  till  they 
were  mutually  moriaHy  wounded,  each  avowing  the 
metal  to  be  that  which  he  himself  witnessed.  You  see 
the  shield  on  the  golden,  I,  Ctod  knows,  not  on  the  silver 
side— but  In  a  black,  gloomy,  and  most  omiAoas  aspirct. 

"  With  respect  to  your  own  share  in  the  controversy.  It 
promised  me  so  great  an  honour  that  I  laboured  under.a 
strong  lemptation  to  throw  my  hat  Into  the  ring,  tie  my 
colours  to  the  ropes,  cry  Hollo  there,  Saint  Andrett  for 
Scotland!  and  try  what  a  good  cause  might  do  for  a  lied, 
at  least  an  inferior,  combatant  But  then  I  must  hare 
brought  forward  my  facts ;  and  as  these  must  liave  com- 
promised  friends  individually  concerned,  I  felt  myself 
obliged,  with  regret  for  forfeiting  some  honour,  rather  to 
abstain  from  the  contest.  ReF^ides,  my  dear  Croker,  I 
raupt  sav,  that  yon  sported  too  many  an'd  too  direct  per- 
sonal allusions  to  myself,  not  to  suthorizc  and  even  de- 
mand sojne  rctjJiotion  dans  le  meme  genre;  and  how- 
ever  good-humourodly  men  begin  this  sort  of  'sharp  en- 
counter of  their  wits,'  their  temper  gets  the  better  of 
them  at  last.  When  I  was  a  cudgel-player,  a  sport  at 
which  I  was  once  an  ugly  customer,  we  used  to  bar  rap- 

f)ing  over  the  knuckles,  because  it  always  end*>d  hi  br*»ak- 
ng  heads ;  the  matter  may  be  remediied  bv  btuskets  in  a 
set-to  with  oak  saplings,  but)J  ^nfO^^^bCj^t^^^Qce  ifi 


LIFE  OF  SIR  WALTER  SCOTT. 


417 


the  npier  and  poinard  game  of  wit  So  I  thought  it  beit 
not  to  endanger  the  loss  of  an  old  friend  for  a  bad  jest, 
and  sit  qiiletly  detrn  with  your  odd  hits,  and  the  discredit 
which  I  must  count  on  here  for  not  repaying  them,  or 
trying  to  do  so. 

^'■A.B  for  my  aflairs,  which  you  allude  to  so  kindly, lean 
safely  say,  that  no  oak  ever  quilted  its  withered  leaves 
more  easily  than  1  have  dune  what  might  be  considered 
as  great  wealth.  I  wish  to  God  it  were  as  easv  for  me  to 
endure  impending  misfortunes  of  a  very  diflrerent  kind. 
You  may  have  heard  that  Lookhart's  only  child  is  very 
in,  and  the  delicate  habits  of  the  unfortunate  boy  have 
«nded  in  a  disease  of  the  spine,  which  is  a  hopeless  ca- 
lamity, and  in  my  daughters  present  situation,  may  have 
eonsequencea  on  her  health  terrible  for  me  to  anticipate. 
To  add  to  this,  though  it  needs  no  addition— for  the  poor 
child's  voice  is  dav  and  night  in  my  ear— I  have,  from  a 
consultation  of  pnysicians,  a  most  melancholy  account 
of  my  wife's  health,  the  faiihAiI  companion  of  rough  and 
smooth,  weal  and  wo,  for  so  many  years.  So  If  you  com- 
pare me  to  Brutus  In  the  harsher  points  or  hit  character, 
yoa  must  also  allow  me  some  o(>hl8  stoical  fortitude—'  no 
man  bears  sorrow  better.' 

^  1  camiot  giT6  JOQ  a  more  absolute  asmnrmnce  of  the 
tminterruptedrecard  with  which  I  must  always  think  of 
TOO.  and  toe  confidence  I  r^HMe  in  your  ejmressions  of 
coroiality,  than  by  entering  on  details,  which  one  reluc- 
tantly mentions,  except  to  those  who  are  sure  to  partici- 
pate in  them.  « 

**  As  for  Malachi,  I  am  like  poor  Jean  Gordon,  the  pro- 
totype of  Meg  Merrllees,  who  was  ducked  to  death  at 
Ouilsle  for  being  a  Jacobite,  and  till  she  was  smothered 
oatrlght,  cried  out  every  time  she  got  her  head  above 
water,  CharUe  yet.  But  I  have  said  my  say,  and  have  no 
wish  to  give  my  friends  a  grain  more  oiTence  than  is  con- 
sistent with  the  discharge  of  my  own  feelings,  which,  I 
think,  WDold  have  choked  me  If  I  had  not  got  my  breath 
out  I  had  better,  pei  hapa,  have  saved  It  to  cool  mTPor* 
ri^ ;  I  have  only  the  peoi^ect  of  being  a  sort  of  High- 
land Cassandra  But  even  Cassandra  tired  of  her  pre- 
iBctions,  I  suppose,  when  she  htd  cried  herself  hoarse, 
and  disturbed  all  her  friehds  ^y  howling  in  their  ears 
what  they  were  not  willing  to  listen  to. 

**  And  so  God  bless  you— and  believe,  though  circum- 
stances have  greatly  diminished  the  chance  of  our  meet- 
Ina,  1  have  the  same  warm  sense  of  y6ur  kindness  as  its 
umform  tendency  has  well  deserved.— Tours  afTection- 
aiely,  Waltsb  Soorr." 


CHAPTER  LXX. 

mXVt  RSSinifiD— ABBOTflPOBD  IV   BOUT I7DB— DEATH 

or  an  a.  don — usvusw  or  thIb  ufb  of  kkmbls. 

Ac.— CONCLUSION  OF  WOOOStOCK— DEATH  OF  LADV 
8C0TT— CHB0NICLE8  OF  THE  CANONOATB  BEOtJW— 
APBIL— MAY,  1826.  ^ 

DIARY. 

"  AbboU/ordf  March  IS,  9  a/  ntfAi.— The  natural- 
ly uDpleaaant  feeUuRS  which  influeoce  me  in  my 
ejectment,  for  such  it  is  virtually,  readily  evaporated 
in  the  course  of  the  journey,  though  I  had  no  pleas- 
anter  companions  than  Mrs.  Mackay  the  house- 
keeper and  one  of  the  maids;  and  I  have  a  shyness 
of  disposition,  which  looks  like  pride,  but  is  not, 
which  makes  me  awkward  in  speaking  to  my  house- 
hold domestics.  With  an  out-of-doors*  labourer  or 
an  old  woman  sathering  sticks  I  can  crack  for 
ever.  I  was  welcomed  here  on  my  arrival  by  the 
tumult  great  of  men  and  dogs,  all  happy  to  see  me. 
One  of  my  old  labourers  killed  by  the  tail  of  a  stone 
working  at  Galtonside  Bridge.  Old  Will  Straiten, 
my  man  of  wisdom  and  proverbs,  also  dead.  He 
was  entertaining  from  his  importance  and  self-con- 
ceit, but  really  a  sensible  old  man.  When  he  heaid 
'of  my  roisfortimes,  he  went  to  bed,  and  said  be 
would  not  rise  agam,  and  kept  his  word.  He  was 
very  infirm  when  I  last  saw  hiiy.    Tom  Purdie  in 

freat  glory,  being  released  from  all  farm  duty,  and 
estined  to  attend  the  woods  and  be  my  special  as- 
sistant 

"  Aftircfc  17.— Sent  off  a  packet  to  J.  B. ;  only 
three  pa|^  copy— so  must  work  hard  for  a  day  or 
two.  1  wish  I  could  wind  up  my  bottom  handsome- 
ly (an  odd  but  accredited  phrase;)  the  conclusion 
will  not  be  luminous ;  we  must  try  to  make  it  dash- 
ing.   Have  a  good  deal  to  do  Between  hands  in 


sorting  op— hourly  arrival  of  books.    I. need  not 
have  exulted  so  soon  in  having  attained  ease  and 

?[uiet.  I  am  robbed  of  both  with  a  vengeance.  A 
etter  from  Lockhart.  My  worst  augury  is  verified ; 
the  medical  people  think  poor  Johnnie  is  losing 
strength ;  he  is  gone  with  his  mother  to  Brighton. 
The  bitterness  of  this  probably  impending  calamity 
is  extreme.  The  child  was  almost  too  good  for  this 
world ;  beautiful  in  features ;  and  though  spoiled 
by  every  one,  having  one  of  the  sweetest  tempers 
as  well  as  the  quickest  intellect  I  ever  saw ;  a  sense 
of  humour  quite  extraordinary  in  a  child,  and, 
owing  to  the  general  notice  ^^hicn  was  taken  of  him, 
a  great  deal  more  information  than  suited  his  hmirs. 
He  was  bom  in  the  eighth  month,  a|id  such  chil- 
dren are  never  strong— seldom  long-lived.  I  look  on 
this  side  and  that,  and  see  nothing  but  protracted 
misery, 
occupy' 

and  dj-_„        

hearts  were  turned  on  him ;  or  the  poor  child  may 
die  before  Sophia's  oonfinement,  and  that  may  again 
be  a  dangerous  and  bad  affair;  or  she  may,  by  in- 
crease oTattention  to  him,  injure  her  own  health. 
In  short,  to  trace  into  how  many  branches  such  a' 
misery  may  flow  is  impossible.  The  poor  dear  love 
had  so  often  a  slow  fever,  that  when  it  pressed  its 
little  lips  to  mine,  I  always  foreboded  to  my  own 
heart  what  all  I  fear  are  now  aware  of. 

"  March  H.— Slept  inrfiffbrcnily,  and  under  the 
jjinuoiipe  of  Queen  Mab,  seldom  stiapictous  lo  tnc. 
Dreamed  of  rendinc  the  talc  of  the  Vrincc  of  the 
Black  Marbk  blamlft  to  IiuIp  Johnnie,  extended  on 
ap^mlyiiccihELir,  and  yet  Eolling  nil  hispn-Lty  ^torie^ 
about  Ku'Popfl,  u9  lit  calls  iiu\  find  Chif:f?wooil-^ 
and  wabeN^  to  thmk  I  »hguM  aeF.*  the  liiile  darling  no 
inoret  or  aee  him  us  a  ihang  I  hat  hnd  Irettrr  never 
have  e^ciBtBd.  Oh  mj£«ry.  nnacry,  that  tho  be^i  I 
can  wish  for  Kim  is  early  aeaib,  with  all  rho  wretch- 
ed neast  to  his  p&retiia  that  la  hkely  to  eu»U€  E  I 
,  had  ititendfKi  to  have  «taid  at  home  lo-daiti' ;  but 
Tom  moTii  widely  had  resolved  ilmt  I  abould  wnlk^ 
and  hunt;  about  thi?  window  with  his  lULe  and  my 
own  in  hia  haiid  tilt  1  turned  nut  with  him,  and 
hdpcd  to  cut  ^ome  fine  palini;. 

"  March  19.— Lady  S.,  the  faithful  and  tme  com- 
panion of  my  fortunes,  kood  and  bad,  for  so  many 
years,  has.  but  with  difficulty^  been  prevailed  on  to 
see  Dr.  Abercrombie,  and  his  opinion  is  far  from 
favourable.  Her  asthmatic  complaints  are  fast  ter- 
minating in  hydropsy,  as  I  have  long  suspected  ; 
yet  the  announcement  of  the  truth  is  overwhelming. 
They  are  to  stay  a  httle  longer  in  town,  to  try  the 
efiects  of  a  new  medicine.  On  Wednesday  they 
propose  to- return  hither— «  new  affiiction,  where 
there  was  enough  before  $  yet  her  constitution  is  so 
good,  that  if  she  will  be  guided  by  advice,  things 
may  be  yet  ameliorated.  God  grant  it !  for  reaHy 
these  misfortunes  come  too  close  upon  each  other. 

**  Marcfl  20.— Despatched  proofs  and  copy  this 
morning  ;  and  Swanston  the  carpenter  coming  in, 
I  made  a  sort  of  busy  idle  day  of  it  with  altering 
and  han^g  pictures  and  prints,  to  find  room  for 
those  which  came  from  Edinburgh,  and  by  dint  of 
being  on  foot  from  ten  to  near  five,  put  all  things 
into  apple-pie  order.  What  strange  beings  we  are  ! 
The  serious  duties  1  have  on  hand  cannot  divert 
my  mind  f^om  the  most  melancholy  thoughts ;  and 
yet  the  talking  of  these  workmen,  and  the  trifling 
occupation  which  they  give  me,  serves  to  dissipate 
my  attention.  The  truth  is,  I  fancy  that  a  body 
under  the  impulse  of  violent  motion  cannot  be  stop- 
p«i  or  forced  back,  but  may  indirectly  be  iirptd  into 
a  different  channel.  In  the  evening  1  read  und  sent 
off  my  sheriff-court  processes. 

"March  21.— Perused  an  attack  upon  myself 
done  with  as  much  abliity  as  truth,  by  no  less  a^ 
man  than  Joseph  Hume,  the  night- work  man  of 
the  House  of  Commons,  who  lives  upon  petty 
abuses,  and  is  a  very  useful  man  by  so  doing.  He 
has  had  the  kindness  to  say  that  I  am  interested 
mkeepiogup  the  tMx>>,^y^lb^i^(Ma,i  .be 


LIFE  OP  SIR  WALTER  SCOTT. 


to  do  with  them  than  to  pay  them.  But'  he  is  an 
888,  and  not  worth  a  man's  thinkint?  ahout.  Joseph 
Hume  indeed !— 1  say  Joseph  Hum,— and  could 
add  a  Swiftian  rhyme,  but  forbear.  Busy  in  un- 
packing and  repacking.  I  wrote  five  pages  of 
Woodstock,  which  work  begins 

'  To  appropinque  an  end.' 

**  March  23.— Lady  Scott  arrived  yesterday  to 
dinner.  She  was  belter  than  I  expected,  but  Anne, 
poor  soul,  looked  very  poorlv,  ana  had  been  much 
worried  with  the  fatigue  and  discomfort  of  the  last 
week.  Lady  S.  takes  the  digitalis^  and,  as  she 
thinks,  with  advantage,  though  the  medicine  makes 
her  very  sick.  Yet  on  the  whole,  things  are  better 
than  my  gloomy  apprehensions  had  anticipated. 
Took  a  brushing  walk,  but  not  till  I  had  done  a 
good  task. 

"  JMbrcA  24.— Sent  off  copy,  p(opii%  &c.,  to  J.  B., 
clamorous  for  a  motto.  It  is  foolish  to  encourage 
people  to  expect  such  decoraments.  It  is  Uk«  being 
in  the  habit  of  showing  feats  of  strength,  which  you 
gain  little  praise ,  by  accomplishing,  while  some 
'  shame  occurs  in  failure. 

*^  March  26.— Here  is  a  disagreeable  morning, 
snowing  and  hailing,  with  gleams  of  bright  snn- 
shine  between,  and  all  the  ground  white,  and  all 
the  air  frozen.  I  don't  like  this  jumbling  of  weather. 
It  is  ungeniali  and  gives  chilblains.  Besides,  with 
its  whiteness,  and  its  coldness,  and  its  discomfort, 
it  resembles  that  most  disagreeable  of  all  things,  a 
vain,  cold,  empty,  beautiftd  woman,  who  has  neither 
mind  nor  heart,  out  only  features  like  a  doll.  I  do 
not  know  what  is  so  like  this  disagreeable  day, 
when  the  sim  is  so  bright,  and  yet  so  tminflaential, 
that 

*  One  may  gaze  upon  Its  beams. 
Tin  he  is  storred  with  cold. ' 

No  matter,  it  will  serve  as  well  as  another  day  to 
finish  Woodstock.  Walked  right  to  the  lake,  and 
coquetted  with  this  disagreeable  weather,  whereby 
I  catch  chilblains  in  my  fingers,  and  cold  in  my 
head.  Ped  the  swans.  Finished  Woodstock  how- 
ever, cum  tola  sequela  of  title-page,  introduction, 
4bc.,  aad  so,  as  Dame  Fortune  says  in  Quevedo^ 
*  Go  wheel,  and  may  the  devU  drive  thee.' 

**  March  27.— Another  bright  cold  day.  I  answer- 
ed two  modest  reouests  from  widow  ladies.  One, 
whom  I  had  already  assisted  in  some  law  business, 
on  the  footing  of  her  having  visited  my  mother, 
requested  me  to  write  to  Mr.  Peel,  saying  on  her 
authority,  that  her  second  son,  a  youth  of  infinite 
merit  and  accomplishment,  was  fit  for  any  situation 
in  a  public  ofike,  and  that  I  requested  he  might  be 
provided  accordin^y.  Another  widowed  dame, 
whose  claim  is  having  l-ead  Marmion  and  the  Lady 
of  the  Lake,  besides  a  promise  to  read  all  my  other 
works— Gad^  it  is  a  rash  engagement  ^demands 
that  I  shall  either  pay  £209  to  gel  her  cub  in'-  -nnie 
place  or  other,  or  settle  him  in  a  seminary  <J  t.-  inra- 
tion.  Really  this  is  very  much  after  the  ii -hiiiL  of 
the  husbandman  of  Miguel  Turra*s  rejirt,^!-  of 
Sancho  when  Governor.  *Have  you  tv.-.v  lisiag 
else  to  ask,  honest  man  7'  quoth  Sancho.  Irni  wl  at 
are  the  demands  of  an  honest  man  to  tbn"^!  <>(  an 
honest  woman,  and  she  a  widow  to  boot"  I  i1o  I  te- 
lieve  your  destitute  widow,  especially  if  tin.  hiitii  a 
charge  of  children,  and  one  or  two  fit  for  patronage, 
is  one  of  the  most  impudent  animals  living.  Went 
to  Galashiels,  and  settled  the  dispute  about  Sandie's 
Wall. 

"  March  28.— We  have  now  been  in  solitude  for 
some  time,— myself  nearly  totally  so,  excepting  at 
meals.  One  is  tempted  to  ask  himself,  knocking 
at  the  door  of  his  own  heart.  Do  you  love  this  ex- 
treme loneliness  7  I  can  answer  conscientiously,  / 
do.  The  love  of  solitude  was  with  me  a  passion  of 
early  youth ;  when  in  my  teens,  I  used  to  fly  from 
company  to  indulge  in  visions  and  airy  castles  of 
my  own,  the  disposal  of  ideal  wealth,  and  the  exer- 
cise of  imaginary  power.    This  feehng  prevailed 


even  till  I  was  eighteen,  when  love  and  ambitioo 
awakening  with  other  passions,  threw  me  more  into 
society,  from  which  I  have,  however,  at  times  with- 
drawn mvself^  and  have  been  always  even  glad  to 
do  BO.  I  nave  risen  /from  a  feast  satiated ;  and  un- 
less it  be  one  or  two  persons  of  very  strong  intel- 
lect, or  whose  spirits  and  good-humour  amuse  roe, 
I  wish  neither  to  see  the  high,  the  low,  nor  tffe  mid- 
dling class  of  society.  This  is  a  feehng  without  the 
least  tinge  of  misanthropy,  which  I  always  consider 
as  a  kind  of  blasphemy  of  a  shocking  oeacnptioo. 
If  God  bears  with  the  very  worst  of  us,  we  may 
surely  endure  each  other.  If  thrown  into  societjr, 
I  always  have,  and  always  will  endeavour  to  brxni^ 
pleasure  with  me,  at  least  to  show  wilhngness  to 
please.  But  for  all  this  *I  had  rather  Uve  alone,' 
and  I  wish  my  appointment,  so  convenient  other- 
wise, did  not  require  my  going  to  Edinburgh.  Bat 
this  must  be,  and  in  my  UtUe  lodging  I  shall  be 
lonely  enough.  Reading  at  intervals  a  novel  called 
Granhy,  one  of  the  class  that  aspire  to  describe  the 
actual  carrsnt  of  society,  whose  colours  are  so 
evanescent  that  it  is  difficult  to  fix  them  on  the 
canvass.  It  is  well  written,  but  ov^abonred— too 
much  attempt  to  put  the  reader  exactly  iip  to  the 
thoughts  ana  aemiments  of  the^  parties.  The  wo- 
men do  this  better ;  Edffeworth,  Feniei^  Aumsb, 
have  all  given  portraits  of  real  soeiety.  for  sopensr 
to  any  thing  man,  vain  man,  has  ikrednoed  of  the 
like  nature. 


"AforT^.89.--Worited  in  the  momiiig.  Weiksd 
fiK>m  one  till  halfniast  four.  A  fine  flasfiy  disnflpiiii 
able  day,  snow-clouds  sweeping  past  asMing  san- 
shine,  dnviajs  down  the  v^^y.  snd  whiteniiur  the 
country  behmd  them.  Mr.  Gibson  came  suddenly 
in  after  diim^r.  Brought  very  indiffirent  news  from 
Constable's  house.  It  is  not  now  hoped  that  the/ 
will  pay  above  three  or  four  shillings  m  the  pound. 
Robinson  supposed  not  to  be  much  better.  Mr.  O. 
goes  to  London  immedistely,  to  sell  Woodstock. 
This  work  may  foil  perhaps,  though  better  than 
some  of  its  predecessors,  if  so,  we  must  try  some 
new  manner.  I  think  I  could  catch  the  dogs  yuL 
A  beautiful  and  perfect  lunar  rainbow  to-night. 

**  April  U—Es  una  die  di»ee  omnes.— Rose' at 
seven  or  sooner,  studied  and  wrote  till  breakfiMt« 
with  Anne,  about  a  qnarter  before  ten.  Lady  Scott 
seldom  able  to  rise  till  twelve  or  one.  Then  I  write 
or  study  again  till  one.  At  that  hour  to-day  I  drove 
to  Huntly-Bum,  and  walked  home  by  one  of  the 
hundred  and  one  pleasing  paths  which  I  have  made 
through  the  woods  I  have  planted— now  chatting 
with  Tom  Purdie,  who  carries  my  plaid  and  speaks 
when  he  pleases,  telling  long  stories  of  hits  and 
misses  in  shooting  twenty  years  back— sometiines 
chewing  the  cud  of  sweet  and  bitter  fancy— and 
sometimes  attending  to  the  humours  of  two  curious 
Ihtle  terriers  of  the  Dandie  Dinmont  breed,  together 
with  a  noble  wolf-hound  puppy  which  Glengarry 
has  given  me  to  replace  Maiaa.  This  brinies  me 
down  to  the  very  moment  I  do  tell— the  rest  is  pro- 
phetic. I  shall  feel  drowsy  when  this  book  is  lock- 
ed, and  perhaps  sleep  until  Dalglissh  brings  the  din- 
ner summons.  Then  I  shall  have  a  chat  with  Lady 
S.  and  Anne ;  some  broth  or  soup^  a-  slice  of  plain 
meat— and  man's  chief  business,  in  Dr.  Johnson's 
estimation,  is  briefly  despatched.  Half  an  hour 
with  my  family,  and  naif  an  hour's  coquetting  with 
a  cigar,  a  tumoler  of  weak  whisky  and  water,  and 
a  novel  perhaps,  lead  on  to  tea,  which  sometirors 
eonsumes  another  half  hour  of  chat ;  then  write 
and  read  in  my  own  room  nil  ten  o'clock  at  night ; 
a  little  bread,  and  then  a  ^lass  of  porter,  and  to  bod ; 
and  this,  very  rarely  vaned  by  a  visit  from  some 
one,  is  the  tenor  of  my  daily  life— and  a  very  pleasant 
one  indeed,  were  it  not  for  apprehensions  about 
Lady  S.  and  poor  Johnnie  Hugh.  The  former  will. 
I  think,  do  well(  for  the  laHer— I  four- 1  f 


April  2.— I  am  in  a  wayward  humour  this  mom- 
iTK.    I  received  yesterday  the  last  proof-sheets  of  , 
Woodstock,  and  I  ought  to  oorrect  them.    Now, 
this  ought  soundg  M|  l»,c^a^j>ostibl6  to  mutt,  and 


LIFE  OP  SIR  WALTER  SOTT. 


499 


'fnu8t  1  canrfot  abide.  I  would  go  to  Preeter  John's 
ccmntrv  of  free  good- will,  sooner  than  I  would  muat 
it  to  Edinbargh.  Yet  this  is  all  folly,  and  silly  folly 
too ;  and  so  must  shall  be  for  once  obeyed  after  I 
have  thus  written  myself  out  of  my  aversion  to  its 
peremptory  80und.~<^orrected  the  said  proofs  till 
twelve  o'clock— when  I  think  I  will  treat  resolution, 
not  to  a  dram,  as  the  fellow  said  after  he  had  passed 
the  gin-shop,  but  to  a  walk,  the  rather  that  my 
eyesight  is  somewhat  uncertain  and  wavering. 

"April  3,-1  have  the  extraordinary  and  gratify- 
ing news  that  Woodstock  is  solcj  for  JBR228;  all 
ready  money— a  matchless  sale  for  less  than  three 
months'  work.*  If  Napoleon  does  as  well,  or  near 
it,  it  will  pat  the  trust  anair§  in  high  flourish.  Four 
or  five  years  of  leisure  and  industry  would,  with 
such  success,  amply  replace  my  losses.  I  have  a 
curious  fancy ;  I  will  go  set  two  or  three  acorns,  and 
judge  by  their  success  in  growing  whether  I  shall 
succeed  in  clearing  my  way  or  not.  I  have  a  Uttle 
toothach  keeps  me  from  working  much  to-day,  be- 
sides I  sent  off^  per  Blucher,  copy  fbr  Napoleon,  as 

well  as  the  d d  proofs.    A  blank  forenodn  1— 

But  how  could  I  help  jt,  Madam  Duty  7  I  was  not 
lazy ;  on  my  soul  I  was  not.  I  did  not  cry  foi  half 
faohday  for  the  sale  of  Woodstock.  But  in  came 
Colonel  Ferguson  with  Hr&  Stewart  of  Blackhill, 
t)r  hall,  or  some  thing,  and  I  must  show  her  the 
garden,  pictures,  Ac.  This  lasts  till  one ;  and  just 
as  they  are  at  their  lunch,  and  about  to  go  of!',  guard 
)6  ridieved  by  the  Laird  and  Lady  Harden,  and  Miss 
Eliza  Scotl— and  mydear  Chief,  whom  I  love  very 
much,  proving  a  little  obsidional  or  so,  remains  tiU 
thrae.  That  same  crown,  composed  of  the  grass 
which  grew  on  ;he  walls  of  besieged  places,  should 
be  offered  to  visiters  who  aiay  above  an  hour  in 
any  eidentt  person's  house.  IVxiote  letters  this 
evening. 

"April  4.— Wfote:  two  pages  in  the  morning. 
Then  went  to  Aehestiel  with  Colonel  Fergvcon. 
Found  my  cousin  Rusaell  settled  kindly  to  fara  gar- 
deninoi  oo.  He  aeems  to  have  brought  home  with 
'hun  the  enviable  talent  of  being  interested  and  bap- 
py  in  hie  own  place.  Ashestiel  looks  wmate  I  tlunk 
at.tjiifl  time  of  the  year,  but  is  a  beautiful  place  in 
summer,  where  I  paaaed  some  happy  years.  Did  I 
ever  pass  anhiqipT  years  any  where^  None  that  I 
lemember,  save  Cmise  at  the  High  School,  which  I 
thoroughly  detested  on  account  of  the  connnement. 

I  diiailiked  serving  in  my  father's  ofiloe,  too,  from  the 
same  hatred  to  restraint.  In  other  respects,  I  have 
had  unhappy  days,  unhappy  Weeka— even,  on  one  or 
two  occasions,  unhappy  months;  but  Foitune'a 
finger  has  never  been  able  to  play  a  dirge  on  roe  for 
t  quatftfr  of  a  year  together.  1  am  sorry  to* see  the 
Peel- wood  and  other  naturaF  coppice  decaying  and 

abridged  about  Ashestiel— 
• 
*•  The  horrid  plough  h&M  razed  the  ^reto, 

Where  once  my  children  play'd ; 
The  axe  has  feird  the  hawthorn  screen. 

The  schoolboy's  summer  shade.'; 

"  There  was  a  very  romantic  pasturage,  called  the 
Cew-park,. which  1  was  partlcuhirly  attached  to, 
-from  it»  wild  and  sequestered  character.  Having 
heea  part  of  an  old  woiod  which  had  been  cutidown; 

II  was  full  of  copse— hazel,  alui  oak,  aad  all  eoru  Of 
ytoung  trees^  irregularly  scattered  over  the  £nepas«- 
turage,  and  affording  a  hundred  intricacies  so -deli'- 
cious  to  the  eye  and  the  imagination.  But  some 
jnisiudging  friend  had  cut  down  and  cleared  away 
without  mercy,  and  divided  the  varied  and  sylvan 
scene  (which  wm  di/ided  by  a  little  rivulet)  into  the 
iwo  moat  formal  things  in  the  world— a  ikrimng 
plantation,  many-angled,  as  uflual*-and  a  park  laid 
durwiiin groat,  wanting,  therefore,  the  rich  graminiv- 
orous variety  which  Nature  gives  ber  carpet*  and 
ahowing  instead  a  braid  of  six  days'  growth— lean 
and  hungry  growth  too— of  rye-grass  and  clover. 

•  The  readOT  will  undenrtand  that,  the  Norol  beifv  soM  for  the 
behoof  of  James  Ballaat^ne  and  Companrli  ereditoi*,  this  mub 
ineludes  the  cost  of  pnotonf  the  flnt  edition,  as  well  as 

t  Eident,  I  e.  eagerly  diliraiL  * 

2  These  lines  a«  siq^  altered  from  Loiaa. 


As  for-  the  rill,  it  stagnates  in  a  deep  square  ditoh, 
which  silences  its  prattle,  ond  restrains  its  meanders 
with  a  witness.  The  original  scene  was,  of  course, 
imprinted  still  deeper  on  Russell's  mind  than  mine, 
and  1  was  glad  to  see  he  was  intensely  sorry  for  the 
change. 

"April  5.— Rose  late  in  the  morning  to  give  the 
cold  and  toothach  lime  to  make  themselves  scarce, 
which  they  have  obligingly  done.  Yesterday  every 
tooth  on  the  right  side  of  my  head  was  absolutely 
waltzing.  I  would  have  drawn  by  the  half-dozen, 
but  country  dentists  are  not  to  be  lippened*  to.  To- 
day all  is  quietness,  but  a  little  stiffness  and  swelling 
in  the  jaw.  Worked  a  fair  task ;  dined,  and  read 
Clapperton's  journey  and  Denmaii's  into  Bornou. 
Very  entertaining,  and  less  botheration  about  miner- 
alogy, botany,  and  so  forth,  than  usual.  Pity  Africa 
picks  off  so  many  brave  men,  however.  Won^  again 
m  the  evening. 

"April  6.— Wrote  in  the  morning.  Went  at  one 
to  Hun tly-Burn,  where  I  had  the  great  pleasure  to 
hear,  through  a  letter  from  Sir  Adam,  that  Sophia 
waa  in  health,  and  Johnnie  gaining  strength.  It  ia 
a  fine  exchange  from  deep  and  aching  uncertainty 
on  so  intereaung  a  subject  to  the  httle  spitfire  feel- 
ing of  *  well,  but  they  might  have  taken  the  trouble 
to  write;'  but  so  wretched  a  correspondent  as  rav- 
aelf  has  not  much  to  say,  ao  I  will  but  grumble 
euffidontly  to  maintain  the  patriarchal  dignity.  I 
reluraed  m  rime  to  work;  and  to  have  a  shoal  of 
thinga  firom  J.  B.  Among  others,  a  letter  from  an 
Irish  lady,  who^  for  the  beaux  yeus  which  I  ahalL  • 
never  look  upon,  deshes  I  may  forthwith  send  her 
all  the  Wsverley  Novels,  whieh  she  aseuree  me  will 
be  an  ef  a  in  her  life.  Soa  inay  find  out  some  otber 
epooha. 

''  Aprit  7.—^Ude  out  my  morning's  task— at  one 
drovo   to  Cbiefawood.  and  walked  home  by  the 

^liy-mcr'!)  Glen.  Mar' a  Lee,  and  Haxell-Cleugh. 
oak  rne  three  tiour^.  The  neath  gets  somewhat 
hcaviet  for  me  every  year— but  never  mind.  I  Uke  it 
altci^f'iher  s^  wdl  as  the  day  I  could  tread  it  best. 
Tli'j  plantation  a  are  ^citing  all  into  green  leaf;  es- 
p(H.ii4lly  I  he  larchea,  if  theirs  may  be  called  leaves, 
which  are  only  a  ^ort  of  hair.  As  1  returned,  there 
mnPi  hi.  the  ^thrascology  of  that   most  precise  of 

Sri^s  in  ^  while  colbrleaa  coat  and  chapeau  brMt 
lustur  Cumniisaary  ******^  *  a  rather  dense  inspia- 
siaiion  of  rain/    Dit^l  Cire. 

*  Lord,  who  would  live  turmoiled  in  the  Conrt, 
And  max  enjoy  socti  qniet  walks  as  these  Vj 

Yet  misfortune  comes  our  way  too.  Poor  Laidlaw 
lost  a  fine  prattling  child  of  five  years  old  yester- 
day. It  is  odd  enoi^— John,  the  Kentish  Enquire, 
has  just  made  the  ejaculation  which  I  adopted  in 
the  last  page,  when  he  kills  Cade,  and  poats  away 
up  to  Court  to  get  the  price  set  upoli  his  head.  Here 
is  a  letter  come  from  Lockhart,  full  of  Court 
news,  and  all  sorts  of  newa.  He  erroneously 
supposes  that  I  think  of  applying  to  Miniatera 
about  Charles.  I  would  not  make  such  an  apphca- 
tion  for  millions :  I  think  if  I  were  to  ask  patronage 
it  would  not  be  through  them,  for  some  time  at  least, 
and  I  might  have  better  acoees-t 

"  AprU  8.— We  expect  a  raid  of  folks  to  visit  us 
thia  morning,  whom  we  must  have  dirud  before  our 
miflforttmes.  Save  time,  wine,  and  money,  theae 
roisfortunea— and  so  far  are  convenient  things.  Bo- 
sides,  there  ia  a  dignity  about  them  when  they  cone 
only  like  the  gout  in  its  mildeet  shape,  to  authorise 
diet  and  retirement,  the  night-gown  and  the  velvet 
shoe;  when  the  one  comes  to  chalk-stones,  and 
you  go  to  prison  through  the  other,  it  is  the  devil. 
Or  compare  the  efiecta  of  Sieur  Gout  and  absolute 
poverty  upon  the  stomach— the  necessity  of  a  bot- 
tle of  laudanum  in  the  one  case,  the  want  of  a  mor- 
sel of  meat  in  the  other.  Laidlaw's  infant  which 
died  on  Wednesday,  is  buried  to-day.  The  people 
eoming  to  visit  prevent  my  goings  and  I  am  glad  of 


•  Liwpefud- 
t  9rf  King  H«07 

tin  a  letter  of  (^ 
mlffbt  have  known,  i 


try  VI.  Act  IV.  8eeoe  IS. 
the  lame  day  he  sayt—"  Mr  interest,  as  foa 

- «- ^'"fci^aby  *-j  o  og  le 


480 


UPE  OF  SIR  WALTER  BCCTTT. 


it,  I  hate  fanerals— always  did.  There  is  such  a 
mixture  of  mummery  with  real  grief— the  actual 
mourner  perhaps  heart-broken,  and  all  the  rest 
making  solemn  faces,  and  whispering  Observations 
on  the  weather' and  public  news,  and  here  and 
there  a  greedy  fellow  enjoying  the  cake  and  wine. 
To  me  it  is  a  farce  of  most  tragical  mirth,  and  I  am 
not  sorry,  (like  Provost  Coulter,*)  but  glad  that  I 
shall  not  see  my  own.  This  is  a  most  unfiliaL  ten- 
dency of  mine,  for  my  father  absolutely  loved  a  fu- 
neral: and  asne  was  a  man  of  a  fine  presence,  and 
looked  the  mourner  well,  he  was  asked  to  every  in- 
terment of  distinction.  He  seemed  to  preserve  the 
list  of  a  whole  bead-roll  of  cousins,  merely  for  the 
pleasure  of  being  at  their  funerals,  which  he  was 
often  asked  to  superintend^  and  I  suspect  had  some- 
times to  pay  for.  He  earned  me  with  him  as  often 
as  he  could  to  these  mortuary  ceremonies ;  but  feel- 
ing I  was  not,  like  him,  either  useful  or  ornamental, 
I  escaped  as  often  as  I  could.  I  saw  the  poor  child's 
funeral  from  a  diatanoa  Ah,  that  dialance!  What 
a  magician  for  conjuring  up  scenes  of  joy  or  sorrow, 
smoothing  all  asperities,  reconciUng  all  incongrui- 
ties, vedling  all  absurdities,  softening  every  ooarae- 
pess,  doubling  every  effect  bv  the  influence  of  the 
imagination.  A  Scottish  wedding  should  be  seen  at  a 
distance—the  gay  band  of  dancers  just  distingtiished 
amid  the  elderly  gMup  of  the  spectators— the  glass 
held  high,  aAd  the  distant  cheers  as  it  is  swallowed, 
should  he  only  a  sketch,  not  a  finished  Dutch  pic- 
ture, when  it  becomes  brutal  and  boorish.  Scotch 
psalmody,  too,  should  be  heard  from  a  distance. 
■  The  grunt  and  the  snivel,  and  the  whine  and  the 
scream,  should  all  be  blended  in  that  deep  and  dis- 
tant sound,  which,  rising  and  fallins  like  the  Eolian 
harp,  may  have  some  title  to  be  called  the  praise  of 
one's  Maker.  Even  so  'the  distant  funeral— the  few 
mourners  on  horseback,  with  their  plaids  wraiH>ed 
around  them— the  father  heading  the  procession  as 
they  enter  the  river,  and  pointing  out  the  ford  by 
which  his  darline  is  to  be  carrieof  on  the  last  long 
road— none  of  the  subordinate  figures  in  discord 
with  the  general  tone  of  the  incident— but  seeming 
just  accessions,  and  no  more— this  is  affecting. 

**  April  12.-1  have  finished  my  task  this  morning 
at  half-fiiai  «/«re7i— easily  and  early— and,  I  think, 
not  amiss.  I  hope  J.  B.  will  make  some  areat 
points  of  admiration  1 !  I  otherwise  I  shall  be  disap- 
pointed. If  this  work  answers— if  it  hut  answers, 
It  must  set  us  on  our  legs ;  I  am  sure  worse  trum- 
pery of  mine  has  had  a  great  run.  I  remember  with 
what  great  difficulty  I  was  bipught  to  think  myself 
something  better  than  common,  and  now  I  will  not 
in  mere  famtness  of  heart  give  up  good  hopes. 

^^  April  13.— On  my  return  from  my  wolk  ytstor- 
day  I  learnt  with  ^jneat  conc«TTi  <he  desth  of  my  old 
friandf  Sir  Alexander  Dor*,  He  cannot  have  been 
above  ^ijc  orwveTi-nnd-forry.  Wilboitt  being  much 
lOReth^T,  Hf.  hnd,  canFpidenng  otir  ditTerent  hnints, 
lived  m  much  fmriflsbip,  and  I  sin  cere  I  y  r^gri  t  fiis 
death*  His  habitH  were  tho^  or  a  rhv  tnnn^  much 
connected  wUh  the  furf;  hut  he  posscF?e<J  i^'rrMlg 
naiiirnlpartp,  and  in  PEirticnl&r  l>w  men  could  spfjuk 
beiler  in  puUic  when  he  chose.  He  hhA  tact,  v^ith 
power  of  sart:Bi3njt  and  thai  mrieacfibable  some- 
thing which  mnrks  the  gentleman,  Hl^  mnnu-rs 
in  society  wem  e;iLTemdy  pleasing,  and  a!*  he  hod  a 
raatf  for  hierature  and  the  fi.fH5  nrTfl,,  there  wefr  few 
mora  agie^iibie  companions,  besidi^s  being  a  hsjjfijy- 
Bpifited,  St  find  y,  ond  h^novirnblt'  man.  His  iiido- 
lencftprfientet]  his  turninp  tiieiif  gi^ndparis  xqvy  ords 
acquiring  the  diftiiuftifin  he  mi^ht  have  a  trained. 
He  wnn  arnnng  the  thUmx^  whom  Buon!?T>ftriH's 
iniwHitou§  com  m  and  ft  confined  sft  loing  in  Krunc'e; 
ana  corn m^  into  pr>siipfiflion  of  n  I arcf  estate  in  riijbt 
j*f  ni&  mothtT,  the  heiress  of  the  Glen c aim  family, 
no  hnd  the  means  of  being;  vrry  escpt'nKivt!,  and  jroo- 
sbly  then  ftr^*i?f»^W  ti,,,*^  -,^^,  hah ts  which  retrdered 
him  aver^j  «     f^.     Being  {>7ir  inem- 

ner  for  KoxburijlisLirc,  his  death  will  make  a  stir 
atnongst  us.  I  prophesy  Harden  'will  be  here^  to 
talk  about  starting  nis  son  Henry.  Accordingly 
*  See  ante,  p.  ii7. 


the  Laird  and  Lady  called.  I  exhorted  him  to  writs 
instantly.  ,  There  can  be  no  objection  to  Henrr 
Scott  for  birth,  fortune,  or  potitical  principles ;  and 
I  do  not  see  where  we  could  get  a  better  representa- 
tive. 

"  April  15.— Received  last  night  letters  from  Sir 
John  Scott  Douglas,  and  Sir  William  Elliot,  of 
Stobbs,  both  canvassing  for  the  county.  Young 
Harry's  the  lad  for  me.  Poor  Don  died  of  a  disease 
in  the  heart ;  the  body  w'as  opened,  which  was  very 
right.  Odd  enough,  too,  to  have  a  man,  probably  a 
fnend  two  days  before,  alaahing  at  one's  heart  as  it 
were  a  bullock'c<.  I  had  a  letter  yesterday  from  ' 
John  Gibson.  The  House  of  Longman  and  Co. 
guarantee  the  sale  of  Woodstock.  Also  1  made  up 
what  was  due  of  my  task  both  for  13th  wad  14|h. 
So  hey  for  a  Swifuanism— 

I  loll  in  my  chair. 

And  around  me  i  stare, 

With  a  critical  air, 

Lilceacalfatafalr; 

And,  say  I,  Mrs.  Duty, 

Good  morrow  to  your  beauty, 

I  kiss  your  sweet  shoe-tie, 

And  hope  I  can  soil  ye. 

don't 


again. 

, „- of  Toulon. 

Call  you  that  a  task  7  d— me,  FU  write  it  as  £aBt  ts 
Boney  carried  it  on. 

"  April  16.— I  am  now  far  a-head  with  Nap. 
Lady  Scott  aeems  to  make  no  way.  A  sad  pros- 
pect !  In  the  evening  a  despatch  from  LordMenrili& 
written  with  all  the  famiUaritr  of  former  times.  I 
am  very  glad  of  it. 

"  Jedburgh^  April  17.— Came  over  to  Jedbiirgh 
thia  morning,  to  breakfast  with  my  good  old  friend 
Mr.  Shor  treed,  and  had  my  usual  warm  reception. 
Lord  Oillies  held  the  Circuit  Court,  and  there  was 
no  criminal  trial  for  any  offence  whatever.  I  have 
attended  these  drcuits  with  tolerable  regularity 
since  1792,  and  though  there  is  seldom  mncn  of  im- 
portance to  be  done,  yet  I  never  rememb^  befim 
the  Porteons  roll  beingauite  blank.  The  jod^  wa« 
presented  with  a  pair  of  white  gloves,  in  oonsiderm- 
tion  of  its  being  a  maiden  dreuit. 

"  Received  4100  from  John  Lockhart,  for  a  rs- 
view  of  Peftya ;  but  this  is  by  far  too  much ;  £90  it 
pic  n  ty.  iStifl  *  I  must  impeHcot  the  gratilUt^  fat 
the  pres^rnt.  Wrote  a  great  many  letters.  Dmed 
with  the  jud^  where  I  met  the  disappointed  tail- 
did  ate,  Sir  J.  S.  D.,  who  took  my  excuse  like  a  gen* 

"  Ami  18.— This  morning  I  go  down  to  Kelso  to 
poor  Don's  funeral.  It  is,  I  suppose,  forty  years 
since  I  saw  him  first.  I  was  staying  at  Sydenham, 
a  lad  of  fourteen,  or  by'r  Lady  some  sixteen  i  and 
he,  a  boy  of  six  or  seven,  waa  brought  to  visit  me 
on  a  pony,  a  groom  holding  the  leading  rein;  and 
now  1,  an  old  grey  man.  am  going  to  lay  him  m  hia 
grave.  Sad  work.  The  very  road  I  go,  is  a  road 
of  grave  recollections. 

"  AhboUf&rd^  April  19.— Returned  last  night  from 
the  house  of  death  and  mourning  to  my  own,  now 
the  habitation  of  sickness  and  anxious  apprehension. 
The  result  cannot  yet  be  judged.  Two  melancholy 
things  last  night.  I  left  my  pallet  in  our  family 
aparunent,  to  make  way  for  a  female  attendant,  ana 
removed  to  a  dressing-room  adjoining,  when  to 
return,  or  whether  ever,  Gkxl  only  can  tell.  Also 
my  servant  cut  my  hair,  which  used  to  be  poor 
Charlotte's  personal  taak.  I  hope  ahe  will  not  ob- 
serve it.  The  funeral  yesterday  waa  very  mournful  t 
about  fifty  persons  present,  and  all  seemed  aflfected. 
The  domestics  in  particular,  were  very  much  so. 
Sir  Alexander  was  a  kind,  though  an  exact  master 
It  was  melancholy  to  aee  those  apartments,  whera 
I  have  so  often  seen  him  play  the  graoefhl  and  kind 
landlord,  filled  with  those  who  were  to  carry  him 
to  his  long  home.  There  was  very  Uttle  talk  of  the 
election,  at  least  till  the  funeral  was  over. 

Digitized  by  VjOOQ  IC 


UFKOF  aJBtWU/TBa,  3C0TT. 


^  JML-Another  dtmOxt  ThonmBi^ 
.  or  OnmiBton,  ■eqeatit-mAjor  of <  tht  B 
Toop  in  tho  ganny  dayi  of  our  yeomtniy, 
^  a  very  good  fellow.  The  dajr  was  so  lemptiDg 
bat  I  went  out  with  Tom  Purdie  to  cut  some  trees, 
Mt  rather  that  my  task  was  very  well  aavanoed. 
He  led  me  into  the  wood,  as  the  band  king  of  Bo- 
hemia was  led  by  his  four  knkhts  mU>  the  thick  of 
the  battle  at  Agincourt  or  Grassy,  and  then,  hke 
the  ol4.king,  *  1  strudf  good  strokes  more  than  one,  ^ 
which  IS  nianly  exerosa 

**  April  M.—Qood  news  horn  Brighton.  Sophia 
is  coofined,  and  both  sh«  and  her  baby  aro  doing 
well,  and  the  chiUPs  name  is  announced  to  be 
Walioi;  a  faTomite  name  in  our  fiimily,  and  I  treat 
of  no  bad  omen.  Yet  it  is  no  charm  for  life.  Of 
my  liitlMr^  fenily,  I  was  the  second  Waiter,  if  not 
the  third.  I  am  glad  the  name  came  my  way,  for 
it  was  borne  by  my  father,  great«grandfather,  and 

Seat-great^-grandfathers  also  by  the  grandsira  of 
at  last  named  veneraUe  peison,  who  was  the 
first  hufd  of  Raebom.  Hurst  and  Robinson,  the 
Toikabire  tykea,  have  foiled,  after  all  their  swag- 
gering. But  if  Woodstock  and  Napoleon  take  with 
the  public,  I  shall  «are  but  little  about  their  insol- 
vaaoy;  and  if  they  do  not,  I  don't  think  their  sol- 
vency would  have  lasted  long.  OrastaUe  is  vorely 
livoken  down. 

•Ptoor  foetavd  kaste^  I  teve  one  part  In  my  heart 
'nnt's  sDrry  yet  tor  tbee.' 
His  conduct  has  not  been  what  I  deserved  at  bis 
hcnd.  but  I  befieve  that,  walking  blindfold  hunself, 
he  misled  me  withont  nwliee  prepense.  It  is  best 
to  think  so  at  least,  tmtil  the  contrary  be  demon- 
strated. To  nourish  angry  passions  against  a  man 
vrtiom  I  really  iiked,  womd  be  to  lay  a  Blister  on  my 
own  heart. 

**  Ajn-U  37.— This  is  one  of  those  abominable  April 
mormngs  whi(^  deserve  the  name  of  Saru  Cum- 
iidm^  aa  being  ooki.  beggarlj^  coarse,  savage  and 
intrusive.  The  earth  lies  an  ^oh  deg>  with  snow, 
to  the  confusion  of  the  worshippers  or  Flora.  It  is 
as  imprudent  to  attach  yourseli  to  flowers  in  Scot- 
land as  to  aoaged  biro;  the  cat,  sooner  or  later, 
awaps  up  the  one,  and  these  8(m»  CulMidtB  anni- 
liilate  the  other.  It  was  but  yesterdi^  I  was  ad- 
aairing  the  gtorious  flowish  of^  the  peara  and  apri- 
cots, and  now  hiath  come  the  *  killing  freat.'  Dnt 
Jet  It  freese  without,  we  are  oomforlable  within. 
L^dy  Scott  continues  better,  and,  we  may  hope,  has 
got  the  turn  of  her  disease. 

**  April  SS.-'Beautiful  morning,  but  ice  as  thick 
••  pssteboard,  too  suroly  showmg  that  the  night 
1ms  made  good  vestertfay*s  threat.  Dalgliesh, 
writh  his  most  melanoholy  face,  conveys  the  most 
dolefol  tidings  Arom  Bogie.  But  servants  are  fend 
of  the  woful,  it  gives  such  oonsetiaence  to  the  per- 
#on  who  oemmunicates  bad  news.  Wrote  two  let- 
taras  and  read  till  twe)v&  and  now  fer  a  stout  walk 
among  the  plantations  till  four.  Found  Lady  Scott 
obviously  better,  I  think,  than  I  had  left  her  in  the 
morning.  In  walking  I  am  like  a  spavined  horse, 
«nd  heat  as  I  get  on.  The  flourishing  plantations 
around  me  are  a  great  argument  for  me  to  labour 
bard.  '  Barbaras  lias  segetes?*  I  will  write  my  fin- 
^p-ends  oflf  first. 

"  Ayril  29.— I  was  always  afraid,  privately,  that 
'Wooastock  would  not  stand  the  test.  In  that  case 
my  fate  would  have  been  that  of  the  unfortunate 
minstrel  and  trumpeter  Maclean  at  the  battle  of 
Shermmuir— 

*Throiij{h  miffortmie  be  happened  to  &',  man, 
But  saving  his  neck 
Hl5  trumpet  did  break, 
And  came  off  without  music  at  a',  man.'  * 
J'.  B.  conoborated  my  doubta  by  his  raven-like 
croaking  and  criticizing :  but  the  good  fellow  writes 
tne  this ,  morning  that  he  is  written  down  an  ass, 
and  that  the  approbation  is  unanimous.    It  is  but 
Scanburgh,  to  be  surer  but  £ainburgh  has  always 
been  a  harder  critic  than  London.   It  ia  a  great 

•  HofS'i  JaookU€  RtHct,  Vol  tf.,  Ik.  s. 

61  SQ 


t  fo;  fotona  eser- 


merei^  and  givei ^~^, ^  — 

4tm.  Having  written  two  leaves  tha  roonmbcl 
think  I  will  turn  out  to  my  walk,  thoufi^  two  hoiin 
earlier  than  usual,  figadj  could  not  persuade  my- 
self that  it  waf  such  bad  Salaam,*  aiier  alL 

"Miy  8.— Yesterday  waa  a  apiendid  May-day  i 
to-day  seems  inclined  to  be  9q/tr  as  nm^  call  it  i  bnt 
iant  fiuettJ.  Yesterday  had  a  twang  of  froat  in  tC. 
I  ffiuat  set  to  work  and  fiaiah  Boaden^  Life  of  Kem- 
bla,  ana  Kelly^a  Reminiteenoes,  for  the  (ltiarteriy*t 
I  wrote  and  read  for  three  hours,  and  then  walked, 
the  day  being  soft  and  detightful ;  but,  aiaa,  aH  my 
waika  are  leaely,  from  the  abseaee  of  my  poor 
companioB.  She  doea  not  maSer.  thank  Ood,  hot 
strength  mast  nil  at  last.  .Since  Sunday  there  haa 
been  a  gradual  changa— vsrv  gradual— hut,  alaa,  to 
the  waraa.  My  hopea  aie  almiost  gone.  Bat  I  am  ^ 
detenaiitod  to  atana  this  grief  as  I  have  done  others,  m 

**  Mdf  4.— On  visiting  Lady  Scott's  sick-room* 
this  mommg  I  found  her  suflering,  and  I  doubt  if 
she  knew  me.  Yet.  after  breakfaati  she  seemed  se- 
rene sod  composed.  The  worat  la,  abe  will  not 
apeak  out  about  the  symptoms  under  which  shete- 
botirs.  Ssd,  sad  work ;  I  am  under  the. most  m- 
aocholy  apprehension,  for  what  constitution  oan 
hold  out  under  these  continued  and  wasting  atlaoka. 
My  nieoe,  Anne  Scott,  a  prudent,  sensmla,  and 
kind  yoimg  woman,  arrived  tO'davj  having  coma 
down  to  assist  us  in  our  diatraas  from  ao  for  as 
Cheltenham.  This  is  a  gnat  oonsolatioa.— Heary 
Scott  carries  the  oounty  without  opposition. 

"  Mi^  6.— The  same  sesoe  of  hopeless  (alamsO 
and  unavailing  anxiety.  Still  welcoming  ma  with 
a  amile,  aad  aaaerting  aha  is  better.  I  fear  tbedia- 
ease  is  too  deeply  entwin^  vhch  the  prmeipfes  of 
liliB.  Still  labouring  at  this  Review,  without  heart 
or  spirits  to  finish  it.  I  am  it  tolerable*Stoic,  but 
preach  to  myself  in  vain. 
1  *  Are  these  thtogs  then  necesiitiee  1 

Then  let  us  meet  them  like  necessities. '4 

**  ilfoy  7.— Hammered  on  at  the  Review  till  my 
baokl^one  ached.  But  I.  beheve  it  was  a  netyoaa 
afieotioB,  for  a  walk  cured  it.  Sir  Adam  and  the 
Oolonel  dined  here.  So  I  spent  the  evening  as 
pleasantly  aa  I  well  ooahL  conaideriiw  Tam  so  soon 
to  go  likea  stranger  to  the  town  of  which  I  have 
been  ao  long  a  eitiaen,  and  leave  my  wife  lingering 
without  prospect  of  rsooveryj  under  the  charge  of 
two  poor  girb.     TaUa  cogU  aura  aeeeseiloe. 

**  Mof  &— I  went  over  to  the  election  at  Jedbuigfa. 
There  was  a  numerous  meeting;  the  Whigs,  wno^ 
did  not  bring  ten  men  to  the  meeting,  of  course  took ' 
the  whole  matter  under  their  patronage,  which  waa ' 
much  of  a  piece  with  the  Blue  Bottle  drawiiig  the 
carriage.  To  see  the  difierence  of  modern  times  1 
We  had  a  good  dinner,  and  excellent  wine ;  and  I 
had  orderea  my  carriage  at  half-past  seven,  almost 
ashamed  to  start  so  soon.  Every  body  dispersed 
at  so  early  an  hour,  however,  that  when  Henry  had 
left  the  cnair,  there  was  no  carriage  for  me,  and 
Peter  proved  his  accuracy  by  showing  me  it  was  bnt 
a  quarter  past  seven.  In  tne  days  that  I  remember 
th^  would  have  kept  it  up  till  day-light;  nor  do  I 
think  poor  Don  would  have  left  the  chair  before 
midnignt.  Well,  there  is  a  medium.  Without  being 
a  veteran  Vice,  a  grey  Iniquity,  Hke  Falstafi*,  I  think 
an  occassional  jolly-bout,  if  not  carried  to  exceas, 
improvfijd  society ;  men  were  put  into  good  humour ; 
when  toe  good  wine  did  its  good  office,  the  jest,  the 
song,  the  speech,  had  double  efect ;  men  were  hap- 
py for  the  night,  and  better  fnends  ever  after,  be- 
cause they  had  been  so.  . 

"May  U.— '  Der  Abechied's  tac  est  da, 

Bcbwer  Ueft  es  auf  den  hefxen— «ehwer.*i 

*  BaUmn  it  the  eant  name  in  a  oeivspaper  oAee  for  Asiidae 
parifiaplM,  aboot  rooottfoui  prodnctiom  oT  aatuic  and  the  like, 
kept  slandiM  In  tfpe  to  be  UMd  whenerfr  the  real  newt  of  the 
dar  leave  an  awkward  nwce  that  mutt  be  Idled  op  tosMhow. 

1 8w  MlMceUaiuow  Prof  Work*. 

J  Si  King  UtnryVJ.,  Act  m.  Scene  1. 

&  Thb  it  the  openinc  conplet  of  a  Oennan  trooper's  sooff,  sOiat- 
elle,fl»il»-|K_f7.  .iWl 


....    __fli«eialtianslationit~ 
Th«  d»v  of  (kpartoT*  i«  coom, 
UMvyUttfUoa, " 


le 


Lira  Of  SIR  ffWVER  SCCItT. 


**  Chkiloite  wa«  mtMe  to  take  letTe  of  me,  beTng 
in  t  Boand  deep,  after  a  very  indiilerent  rngku  Per- 
haps it  was  as  well  Emotion  mif^t  havenurt  her ; 
and  nothing  I  could  have  expressed  would  have 
been  worth  the  risli.  I  have  foreseen,  for  two  years 
.«nd  more,  that  this  menaced  event  eould  not  be  far 
distant.  I  have  seen  plainlv,  within  the  last  two 
months^  that  recovery  was  hopeless.  And  yet  to 
part  with  the  companion  of  twentv-nine  years 
when  so  very  ill— that  I  did  not,  could  not  foreeee. ' 
It  withers  my  heart  to  think  of  it,  and  to  reoolleet 
that  I  can  hardly  hd)>e  again  to  seek  confidence  and 
counsel  from  that  ear  to  which  all  might  be  safely 
confided.  But  in  her  present  lethargic  state,  what 
would  my  attendance -have  availed—and  Anne  has 
premised  close  and  constant  intelligence.  I  must 
^  .dine  with  James  Ballantvne  to-dav  en. /ami//6.  I 
m  cannot  help  it ;  but  would  rather  be  at  home  and 
alone.  However,  I  can  go  out  too.  I  will  not  yield 
to  the  barren  sense  of  hopelessness  which  struggles 
.to  invade  me. 

^^EtHnburgh—Mrg.  Brown* •  lodgings^  North  St. 
David  Street— Ma^  12.— I  passed  a  pleasant  day 
with  kind  J.  B.,  which  was  a  great  relief  from  the 
black  dog,  which  would  have  worried  me  at  home. 
He  was  quite  alone. 

"  WeU,  here  I  am  in  Arden.  And  I  may  say  with 
Touchstone,  '  When  I  was  at  home  I  was  in  a  bet- 
ter place  ;'*  I  must,  when  there  is  occasion,  dra^ 
to  my  own  Bailie  Nieol  Jarvie's  consolation— *  One 
cannot  carry  the  comforts  of  the  Saul- Market  abont 
with  one.'  Were  I  at  ease  in  mind,  I  think  the  body 
ia  very  well  cared  ibr.  Only  one  other  lodoer  in  the 
hoaae,  a  Mr.  Shandy—a  clergyman ;  and,  despite 
his  name,  said  to  be  a  quiet  one. 

**May  13.— The  projected  measure  against  the 
Scottish  bank-notes  h^B  been  abandoned.  Malachi 
might  clap  his  wings  upon  this,  but,  alas  1  domes- 
tic anxiety  has  cut liis  comb.— I  think  very  lightly 
in  general  of  praise ;  it  costs  men  nothing,  and  is 
usually  only  lip-salve.  Some  nraise,  however,  and 
from  some  people,  does  at  once  delight  and  strength- 
en the  mind :  and  I  insert  in  this  place  the  quota- 
tion with  which  Ld.  C.  Baron  Shepherd  concluded 
a  letter  oor^cemtnB  me  to  the  Chief  Commissioner: 
—"Magna  etiamiilalaafl|  et  admirabilisvideri solet, 
tulisse  oasBS  sapienter  adveraoa,  non  fractum  esse 
CoruinA,  retinuisse  in  rebus  aspens  diKnitatem.'t  I 
record  these  words,  not  as  meritbg  the  high  piraise 
thf  y  imply,  but  to  remind  me  that  such  an  opinion 
being  partially  entertained  of  me  by  a  man  of  a 
character  so  eminent,  it  becomes  me  to  make  my 
conduct  approach  as  much  as  possible  to  the  stan- 
dard at  which  he  rates  it.— As  I  must  pay  some  cash 
in  London,  I  have  borrowed  from  Mr.  Alexander 
Ballaotyne  the  sum  of  X500.  If  God  should  call 
me  before  next  November,  when  my  note  falls  due, 
.  I  request  my  son  Walter  will,  in  reverence  to  my 
memory,  see  that  Mr.  Alexander  Ballantyne  does 
not  suffer  for  having  obliged  me  in  a  sort  or  exigen- 
cy—he  cannot  affbra  it,  and  Grod  has  given  my  son 
the  means  to  repay  him. 

••  May  14.— A  fair  good  morrow  to  you  Mr.  Sun, 
who  are  shining  so  brightly  on  these  dull  walls. 
Methinks  you  look  as  if  you  were  looking  as  bright 
on  the  banks  of  the  Tweed;  but  look  where  you 
will,  Sir  Sun,  you  look  upon  sorrow  and  sufTenng. 
--Hogg  was  here  yesterday  in  danger,  from  having 
obtained  an  accommodation  of  £100  f^om  James 
Ballantvne,  which  he  is  now  obliged  to  repay.  I 
am  unable  to  help  the  poor  fellow,  being  obliged  to 
borrow  myself.  But  I  long  agoVemonstra ted  against 
the  transaction  at  all^  and  gave  him  £00  out  of  my 
pocket  to  avoid  granting  the  accommodation,  but  it 
did  no  good. 

**May  15.— Received  the  melancholy  intelligence 
that  all  is  over  at  Abbotsford. 

"  Abbotsford.  May  16.— She  died  at  nine  in  the 
morning,  after  being  very  ill  for  two  days— easy  at 
last.    I  arrived  here  late  last  night.    Anne  is  worn 

•iU7oi«Ltt»ir,AetLflociM4.     tQioem,i»OrtU.u.UL 


ou^  and%as  had  hyBterlcs,  wideh  ratnmad  on  mr 
amvaL  Her  broken  aeoents  wens  Kke  those  of  a 
child,  the  language  as  well  as  the  tones  broken,  hot 
in  the  most  gentle  voiue  of  submission.  ^Poor 
mamma— never  return  again— gone  for  ever— a  bet- 
ter place.'  Then  when  she  came  to  herself  aba 
Soke  with  sense,  freedom,  and  strength  of  mind^ 
1  her  weakness  tetumed.  It  would  have  been 
inexpressibly  moving  to  me  as  a  stranger— what 
was  It  then  to  the  lather  and  the  husband  7  For  my- 
self; I  scarce  know  how  1  feel,  sometimes  as  firm  as 
the  Bass  Rock,  sometimes  as  weak  as  the  water 
that  breaks  on  it  I  am  as  alert  at  thtnkiag  and 
deciding  as  I  ever  was  in  ray  life.  Yet,  when  I  con- 
trast what  this  plaoe  now  is,  with  what  it  has  been 
not  Long  since,  I  think  my  heart  will  braak.  Lona- 
ly,  aged,  deprived  of  my  mmily— all  bat  poor  Anne  ; 
an  impoverished,  aa  embarrassed  man,  depcived  of 
the  sharer  of  my  thoughts  and  counsels,  who  oooid 
always  talk  down  my  sense  of  the  calamitons  ap- 
prehensions which  break  the  heart  that  must  bear 
them  alon&— Even  her  foibles  were  of  aervioe  to 
UM,  by  giving  me  things  to  think  of  beyond  ray 
weary  seu-reneotions. 

"  1  have  seen  her.  The  figure  I  beheld  is,  and  ia 
not  my  Charlotte— my  thirty  years*  eompaoimL 
There  is  the  same  symmetry  of  form,  though  those 
limbs  are  rigid  which  were  once  so  gracefully  elaatie 
—but  that  yellow  maa^ue,  with  pinebad  fieatures, 
which  seems  to  mock  life  rather  than  emolate  it, 
can  it  be  the  iace  that  was  onoe  so  loll  of  Uveljr  as- 

f^repfion  t  t  will  not  look  on  it  again.  Anne  thinks 
UT  Uule  €hfiMge[J,  bti  :ai86  the  latest  idea  she  had 
r(>rtned  of  LiLt  fitoUier  is  as  she  appeared  under 
circumstaneeEi  of  eiiretne  pain.  Mine  go  back  to  a 
piriQii  of  ectnparativc;  case.  If  I  write  long  in  thia 
wa^,  I  Khali  writedown  my  resolution,  whichlshould 
rmtifr  nrilG  upi  if  1  could.  I  wonder  howl  shall 
do  wirti  the  Inme  portion  of  thoughts  which  were 
^x:.^a  iui  ihuty  years.  I  8uq>ect  they  will  be  hen 
yet  for  a  long  time  at  least.  But  I  will  not  blaxe 
cambric  and  crape  ia  the  public  ey&  like  a  discon- 
solate widower,  that  most  afl^ted  t>r  all  characters. 

"  May  17.— Last  night  Annc^  afier  ooaversiog  with 
apparent  eaae,  drooped  auddenly  down  as  she  rose 
from  the  sonper-tabl^  and  lay  six  or  seven  minutaa, 
as  if  dead.  Clarkson,  hoveveri  has  no  fiMV  of  these 
affections.  , ' 

**  Afoy  18.— Another  day,  and  a  bright  one  to  the 
external  world,  again  opens  on  us ;  the  air  soft  and 
the  flowers  smiUng,  and  the  leaves  glittering.  They 
cannot  refreah  her  to  whom  mild  weather  was  a 
natural  enloyment  Cerenentsof  lead  and  of  wood 
already  hold  her  t  cold  earth  must  have  bar  aqon. 
But  it  IS  not  my  Charlotts^  it  is  not  the  bride  of  nsv 
youth,  the  mother  of  my  ehildien,  that  will  be  laid 
among  the  ruins  of  Dryburgh,  which  we  have  ao 
often  visited  in  gaiety  and  pastime*  No^  no.  She 
is  sentient  imd  conscious  of  my  emotions  some- 
where—somehow; vikere  we  cannot  tell;  haw  we 
cannot  tell ;  yet  would  I  not  at  this  moment  tm- 
nounoe  the  mysterious  yet  certain  hope  that  I  shall 
see  her  in  a  better  world,  for  all  that  this  world  can 
give  me.  Thd  necessity  of  this  separation,  that  ne- 
cessity which  rendered  it  even  a  relief  that  and 
patience  must  be  my  comfort.  I  do  not  experienoe 
those  paroxysms  of  grief  which  others  do  on  the 
same  occasion.  I  can  exert  myself,  and  speak  even 
cheerfully  with  the  poor  girls.  But  alone,  or  if  any 
thing  touches  me,  the  choking  sensation.  I  have 
been  to  her  room ;  there  was  no  voice  in  it — no  stii- 
ring :  the  pressure  of  the  coffin  was  visible  on  the 
bed,  but  it  had  been  removed  elsewhere ;  all  was 
neat,  as  she  loved  it  but  alLwas  calm— calm  asdeatL 
I  remembered  the  last  aight  of  her ;  she  raised  her- 
self in  bed,  and  tried  to  turn  her  eves  after,  me,  and 
said,  with  a  sort  of  smile,  *  You  all  have  such  me- 
lanchohr  faces.'  These  were  the  last  words  I  ever 
heard  her  utter,  and  I  hurried  away,  for  she  did  not 
seem  quite  conscious  of  what  she  said— when  I  re- 
turned, immediately  departing,  she  was  in  a  de^ 
Sleep.    It  is  deeper  now.    This  was  but  seven  dsya 

Digitized  by  V^OOQlC 


lips  CfF  SIR  fflhT&BL  scotri 


They  are  arranging  the  chamherof  death ;  that 
'  *^ *       the  iparuneiu  of  eoanabiat  hipiH^ 


fioL    ^ ^^. 

nMt,  and  of  wBoee  afrmogemeBta  IbeCler  than  In 
ncherboaRa>ahewa8BopnNul^  Thar  ere  treading 
h»t  and  tbiek.  For  weeu  yo«  4Mnild  nave  heani  a 
football.    OhtiiiyQodl. 

"JMby  19.— Anne,  poor  love,  fa  ill  wifliher  exer- 
tiona  fid  agiution— oannot  walk— and  ia  atill  bya- 
terioal,  thoish  leu  ao.  I.otderedfleah-brueh  and 
tepid  bath,  which  I  think  will  bring  ^er  about,  ^e 
4>eak  freely  of  her  whom  we  have  loat,  and  mix 
her  name  with  our  ordinary  convereation.  This  Ib 
the  rule  of  nature.  All  primitive  peopler  epeak  of 
^beir  dead,  and  I  think  virdioualv  and  wiaefy.  The 
idea  of  blotting  the  namea  of  those  who  are  gone 
ou,t  of  the  language  and  familiar  discourae  of  thoao 
to  whom  they  were  deareet,  ia  one  of  the  rules  of 
ultra-civilisation  which,  in  ao  many  instances, 
ttrangjo natural  feeling  by  way  of  avoiding  a  painfu  I 
aensauoQ.  The  Highlanders  apeak  of  their  dead 
children  /m  freely  as  of  their  fivmg  memhers ;  how 
IXK)jr  Colm  or  ItoDei;t  would  have  acted  in  such  or 
such  a  situation.  It  js  a  generous  and  manly  tone 
of  reeling ;  and  so  far  as  it  mav  be  adopted  wiihout 
anectation  or  contradicting  the  general  habits  of 
ao^ty,  1  reckon  on  obsecvmg  it. , 

*'  ilfoy  20.— Tb-ttifeht,  I  trust,  will  bring  Chattea 
or  L<kuLhart,  or  both  fat  least  I  must  nearfVbm 
them.  '  A  letter  from  violet  Lockhart  gave  to  the 
pninfhl  mte|Iigenc^  that  she  had  not  xtjenttoried  to 
8ot>hia  the  dantreroua  state  in  which'  her  mother 
was.  Host  kindly  meAnt,  but  certainly  not  so  wdL 
fudged.  I  have  always  thought  that  truth,  even 
when  painful,  is  a  great  duty  on  such  ov^aaiotis,  and 
it  ia  seldom  th^t  conceillment  is  justifiable.  So- 
phia's baby  was  christened  on  Sunday  14(h  May, 
at  Bri/^htom,  by  the  name  of  Waher  Scott  May 
God  ftive  him  life  and  health  to  wear  if  with  credit 
to  himself  and  those  belonging  to  him.  Mdancho^ 
!y  to  thhik  that  the  next  morning  after  this  cere- 
mony deprived  him  of  so  near  a  relation  1 


^  JIfaf  tn.—OMT  aad  pieparationa  for  to-moiTo>w 
contiiiue.    A  letter  froiA  Loekhart ;  doabtfU  if  So- 

Ehia*a  heal  th  will  4et  him  be  here.  If  things  Dermi  t 
e  coBiea  tonight  .  From  Charles  not  a  word ;  but 
I  think  I  may  expect  hnn.  I  wish  to-mormw  were 
over;  not  that  i  fear  it,  formy  aawea  are  pretty 
good,  but  it  will  be  a  day  of  maliy  recolleetiona. 

"  ATay  22.-- Charles  arrive  last  oight»  noch  af- 
iMted*  of  course.  Aaoie  had  a  return/  of  her  faint- 
iag-ftta  on  eaeiag  htm*  tod  again  apon  aeeing  Mr> 
Ramaay.^  ikwgentleaian  who  perfi>rma  ^hft  serviee. 
I  heard  him  do  so  with  the  utrneat  propriety  Imt  ray 
late  friend,  Lady  Alvaoley,t  the  arr«Meraent  or 
whoso  fnnenil<devoived  upon  no.  How  httle  I  eould 
inieaa  when,  where,  aed  with  seepect  to  whom  1 
should  next  hear  thoae  solemn  woiiroa.  Well,  I  am 
Bo^  apt  to  ahriak  from  ,th«l  which  is  n^duty,  mere- 
lybecaaae  it  ia  painii^  i  but  I  wiah  thi*  (dy  over. 
A  kiad  of  cloud  of  amiiaditirhanga  about  m«k  as  if 
all  were  unreal  that  vmu  aeem  to  be  doing  and  talk- 
ing about— ^ — r 

••  May  23.— About  an  hqnr  before  the  mournful 
ceremony  of  yeaterday.  Walter  arrived,  having 
travelled  expreas  fV6m  Jreland  on  receiving  the 
news.  He  was  much  affected,  poor  fellow,  and  no 
wonder.  Poor  Chanotte  nursed  biro,  and  perhaps 
for  that  reason  she  was  over  partial  uji  him.  The 
wh^le  scene  floats ,  as  a  sort  of  dream  before  me— 
the  beautiful  day,  the  fl|ey  ruins  covered  and  hidden 
among  clouds  of  foliffge  and  flourish,  where  the 
grave,  even  in  the  lap  of  beauty,  lay  lurking  and 
gaped  for  its  prey.  Then  the  grave  looks,  the  nasty 
important  bustle  of  men  with  spadea  ana  mattocks 
—the  train  of  carriages— the  coffin  containing  the 
creature  that  waa  so  long  the  dearest  on  earth  to 

Rev.  B.  &  lUmMf,  A.  If.  (hpM.-of tiM  Seoltiih  Ekih' 
jmrninten.  St  Joha'i  Ctape^'Bdialiiink 


•^ 


fi^'tSt 


m 

uie^  and  whofzi  I  was  la  consign  to  the  very  spol 

wbicb  in  ptea^ure'PiLiti&s  vv€  ao  frequtntiy  visiitMi, 
It  4e(:mA  atdl  as  if  t)u9  could  not  b«  rctUly  ao.  Bui 
U  ig  HO— und  duty  to  GoJ  and  to  my  ch»lar<jn  muat 
leach  tnc  pttiicuct^.  Poor  Anne  ha.&  hud  longer  fits 
since  our  amviil  froiii  Dry  bum  th&ti  before,  bul 
yeEStiTdttv  was  the  crisiit.  Sbt  ot'slrt'd  to  hsjar  pray- 
ers read  by  Mf .  Rainsayi  who  pLrlonoEd  the  di^ty  in 
tha  most  solemn  matiDc-r.  Bat  hzr  »ireo^lh  could 
not  curry  it  through.  Hhc  fainted  befcsrc  the  service 
was  concluded. 

'*  Af»^  21,— Slept  wrtlchcdiy,  or  rn[b<T  waked 
wrereiiftdly  all  nlpht.  and  wfta  very  ?iek  and  hilioas 
in  coTi&cqucTTe^,  add  9c?arce  able  eo  hald  up  my  hfiad 
with  pain.  A  y^ulMt  lioweVfr,  wirb  my  aoiJs  did  me 
a  rJeal  of  good;  indc^  their  society  is  the  gt^arcsi 
support  iha  warM  can  aflbrd  ny^^  Their  iil«a»  of 
every  thmg  anj  €o  just  and  hdiiaurabJc^  kind  to- 
wards rht  ir  siattirn,  and  aJfectioiifltH  i&  me^  *li«t  I 
!r'kU5t  be  ^TTTiti^rul  to  tlod  for  tpnririg  them  to  m#, 
and  continrjie  to  battle  with  the  world  for  th^h- 
pnk^,  if  ntti  for  my  own. 

"  M<iy'2&.—i  biLrl  Eicnnd  sleep  to-night,  and  waked 
wkii  lit  tin  ur  nothing  of  the  sLranee  dfeatuy  feebngt 
wliioh  b»d  made  mtj  for  some  ouya  feel  tike  otia 
bewiTdtirul  in  a  country  where  ui^t  orsuow  baa 
fliii^tiijiud  ifwm  feauturcd  of  tha  Uadic^im  whii^h 
s^rti  btai  known  to  htni.'-This  «vtriiijg  Walter  left 
115^  being  auxiuue  lo  reluru  to  hid  wife  as  well  aa  to 
hkn  i^ginieat* 

**  May  2&.— A  rough  morntnii^  maki?»  me  tbink  of 
Su  Georgie*s  Chsnaelt  whith  Walter  ranst  pto»s  to- 
night  or  to-m arrow  to  get  to  Athlon^.  The  wind 
is  olmcisf  Jmp  past>  however,  atid  the  Chanml  at 
thu  narrowest  point  between  Port* Pa  trick  and 
PonaghadoDr  His  absence  ia  n.  gsmt  bhrik  in  our 
circle,  fSTimally  I  think  lo  his  sinter  Annt\  to  whom 
he  fh<)wa  invariably  much  kindoea^.  But  indeed 
they  do  sq  without  erct-ption  eath  tow^ard*  Iha 
other  f  fljid  in  weal  or  wOp  have  ahowti  ih^niselvee 
a  family  of  lore.  I  will  go  lo  town  git  Monday  and 
TCHume  my  labours.  BuEni;  now  of  a  grave  nature, 
thty  cannot  go  e^fainat  the  general  timiper  of  my 
fcehngs^  and  HI  other  reaped  a  the  eicer^ion^  a  a  far  n.s 
1  Am  concerned,  will  do  me  f^ood  ;  bc^ideftp  I  must 
re-cstabiieh  my  fortune  for  tlie  Bak(i  of  The  ohildretif 
and  of  my  own  chanicler.  1  hate  not  le^ssuru  to 
ij:)i|ij|^e  the  disahline  and  dii^coura^ols?  tt^onghts 
that  press  on  me.  Were  an  enemy  cyiinin^  upon 
tny  hou*et  would  I  not  do  tiiv  beM  fnfiffhtjnl  though 
oppressed  in  spirits,  and  shall  n^umiliir  dcspomleney 
prcvLint  mfj  Uoi^.  mental  exerUoalt  U  ahaU  not, 
f»y  Heaven  I  Thia  day  and  to-morfow  I  give  to  t,ho 
currency  of  the  iJeaa  which  have  6f  fate  occupied 
my  mind,  and  with  Monday  ihey  ahall  be  mingled 
at  ka«E  with  oiher  tluiughtfl  and  carys.— Last  muht 
Cliarks  and  1  wiilk^i  late  on  the  t;erracc  aE  K£ei,«ide, 
when  the  clouds  accmcd  ru'eumulatinp  in  the  wild- 
est RiaiscH  both  on  the  Eildnn  Hills  and  oth^ 
mountains  in  the  di^iajicc  This  rouith  morning 
fB»ds  the  riddle.  Dull,  droopini!,  cbiieriea*,  ha*  this 
dsy  boGfi.  I  catcd  not  to  carrying  my  own  jitlaam 
to  the  ejrU»  and  ?io  auic  in  my  own  room,  dawdlmg 
with  old  popera,  which  awakened  oa  many  jitin^s 
as  if  they  hud  been  the  neat  of  fifty  scorpions. 
Then  the  ^liiudc  evented  so  absolute— tny  pour 
Churlotte  would  hiive  been  in  ib&  rc»om  half- a -scuta 
of  [imes  to  see  if  thu  6re  bu^fd^  and  to  Aak  a  hnn- 
dreil  kitid  questions,  Welli'^bl  ia  over— and  if  it 
cannot  be  ibj^o tten,  inuat  he  remembered  with  pa- 
tien'^A'. 

"  May  ST,— A  sleepleag  night,  ft  is  true,  I  ahould 
be  tjp  and  doui;^  and  a  aleeplese  night  sotiK^ri^gea 
furnish^^a  good  idcna.  AJ&al  I  have  no  comparuon 
now  with  whotw  I  can  cominnnlctiie  to  relieve  iha 
lonalinefiB  of  these  watches  of  the  ritKht.  But  I 
must  noi  fi^il  myself  atid  my  family — and  the  noccs* 
sity  of  exertion  becouit-ft  SfipareiiL  1  tnust  try  a 
hoFM  cf^Mcrff  somethinf^  th^t  oaji^go  on  bbtwet^E 

Mta.*  llWray 


i  li  e   necen  *ary   m  te  rv  1^ 
Keuli's  Tale  of  the 


htji  intcfvtcw 


J 


n 


hfn  OF  ^m  WAiAm  300TT. 


Eth  ^be  lad'^  mother,  may  be  mpde  most  affecmig, 
I  wiflf'  hirdtf  enduref  mu6n  e^pannon.*  TOb 
fhiinework  ma/  be  a  Hinfiand  tour,  under  the 
tmardianahip  of  the  ^rt  dfpoatilioti  whom  Mrs.  Sf. 
iC.  described  to  me— a  species  of  condueteur  who 
Mgulated  the  mptiona  of  iiis  company,  made  their 
halts,  and  was  their  Cicerone. 

\*  MayJS,--!  yttott  a  few  pa^ea  yesterday,  and 
ijakn  walked.  I  b^Uieve  the  description  of  the  old 
Scottish  lady  may  do,  but  the  change  has  heen  un- 
ceasingly rung  upon  Scottish  subjecu  of  late,  and  it 
sOilifie  me  that  the  iqttoductory  matter  maj  be 
«onaMl#red  as  an  imiution  or  Washington  Irruig— 
yet  not  so  neither.  In  short,  1  will  go  on.  To-day 
make  a  dozen  of  close  pages  ready,  and  take  J.  B.'s 
•dvice.  I  intend  the  work  as  an  oUa  podrida^  into 
Vvhioh  any  odds  and  eodsof  narrative  or  description 
BMiy  be  thrown.  I  wrote  easily.  I  think  the  exer- 
IlieA  has  do^  me  good*  I  i^pt  sound  last.nioht, 
and  at  waking^  as  is  usual  wHh  mei  I  lound- 1  had 
-#ofne  clear  views  and.  thoughie  upon  the  suhjeoi  of 
this  trifling  work.  I  w(^er  if  othen  find  so 
strongly  as  I  do  the  truth  of  the  Latin  proverb,  Au- 
'rota  muaia  arnica, 

"Edinbur^  May  80.— Returned  to  town  la^t 
night  with  Charles.  This  morning  re^me  ordi- 
niiry  habits  of  rismR  early,  wm-kiiiif  in  the  rfion^- 
rtip,  and  artending  ihp  Court.  All  wilJ  roine  e!i&^\Y 
roiftnd.  But  J!  i^  si  firjtt  nfi  if  men  Looked  fltrang^ 
on  mei  arid  bitrr  their  tip  when  ihtf  riopf  my 
hnnt}^  and  Fud^catc^d  ^UppreiAed  &«lmgf,  U  if  nat* 
luai  this  Mbuiild  be— unduubtCNdly  it  haia  lioen  po 
iwiib  mek  Yel  it  is  iJtmnge  to  find  *jrjtj'j»  tel/  reaerii- 
hie  a  dou4  which  darktmn  eai^^ty  wh^^revtir  it  iiUer* 
po^es  ita  G billing  ehade.  Will  it  bf^  beiUT  wbtin,  leflt 
to  my  own  fefllingei,  I  jj™  th**  whpte  world  pip^  aad 
dance  n round  me  7  )  think  ii  will  Thair  fivnijja,' 
tby  intrudes  on  tnv  prvato  afflictMio-— I  riiushi'd 
correct  in  j^  ihia  proou  for  the  Qyartt^rty;  It  ii^  but  a 
flimajf  arncleLbui  then  the  cireumeiancus  w<;rtj  most 
UtHowiird.— Thia  bus  been  a  m^luncboly  dny— most 
in<]lAiicholy,  1  am  afraid  poor  ChHtha  Jouod  Jue 
wf?epjn^.  I  do  ooL  knftw  what  nihdT  folks  fcel,  btit 
wiib  me  the  byetorical  paasion  thriT  inuHrJe^  teara  )q 
a  terrible  violence— a  fiort  of  throMJiiiis  sci-nsauon— 
iltHH  aacc^o^Jffd  by  a  staiB  of  dreaioing  ^upidkvt  ui 
wbicb  I  ask  if  my  poor  Chaflotte  can  actUAJfy^  be 
dead.  J  tbiok  I  f^el  m)^  l^^a?  mnnf  than  at  Uie  6rat 
blovv^.  Poor  Charlea  wiahes  to  ootnc  back  to  aludj^ 
h^Tti  wb«n  hJs  tcnn  i^nda  at  Oxford,  1  {^ an  see  the 
jnoiive. 

**  Mav  3 1 .  —The  m  el  a  n  c  bol  y  h  (errors  of  yes  lerday 
linust  not  return.  To  ed courage  that  dreamy  siate 
-0*irieapadlV  is  tor^Uffn  all  authoriiyoverdie  mind, 
'4od  I  have  been  u«od  to  flay— 

^  My  taf^A  i«  iiai»  &  kltif  dom  ti.' 

I  am  light fui  monarch  ;  and^  God  to  a id^  I  will  not 
be  dethroned  by  any  febellious  pasaii>n  that  may 
rear  Hit  a^&ndard  aflaiiint  me.  Such  are  mormnij 
ihouKhtRj  strong  tt»  carle- hemp— -tayi  Hums— 

*  CoDie^  firui  Rejrjjvf^  tAk«  llvou  tlit  van^ 

ChadF*  i^-ent  by  the  .ffrtm-hoat  ibii  msirning  ai 
^1.  We  parted  fafrt  t^jgbt  mcmrnfujlron  both  iiiaes. 
Poor  boy,  ihiii  iit  biBrm  FPhoti^  stirfoAv.  Wrote 
thift4nornm;t  a  Memffial  on  ?he  niflfm,  whit^h  Con* 
itahje's  p»?ojtle  prefer  asi  to  rhf  Ci.ipyriRhis  of  Wood- 
stock  and  Njjpoh^nn.  My  nrfjirnVnt  amonntfi  to 
thift,  thntbcin^  im  longer  nccouijiijhb'  atipiiWiftbtrs, 
^they  nanriol  cluim  the  ch^irat'ttr  of  auch,  or  a^iert 
fl^y  tiKht  nrisjnfioui  ofiht^  eoritrBftfa  enuitd  into 
while  they  held  mat  capariry.— I  nlao finished  a  few 
Ttrirtini?  mfimoranda  on  a  book  calletl  itic  Omen^  ai 
Black  wood' a  rc^iuetr/*t 

■*■•  Prwi  lliirti.  .    . 


CHAPTER  LXXI. 

wooDSTOBlp-rBavBPnoiioPT^s  wxrm*'Mm^wumth 
..  LOD€U>io»^Mjc'niAo«iniQv.AiDi*»ror8Mj<nM»Mk? 

.    StL  llAIArr-flVb|;AFaaTB.WB«HBD|  AHB-OnOniOLM 

.or  THa  aAN6ii«air»BBanr-^<i7ianoB]ft  uJMini  !>«■• 
iKO  BUMMaa  AND  AUTUM^v-^tXTaacw  rBtte  Mt 

WAUTHI  B  JQUaNAL— WB— OCTOSE^  1836. 

The  pHee  received'  fot  Wloodstbdr  shbwf  #hai 
e^ercompetittonhadbe^nddldd  forfh  among  the 
booksellers  when,  afttf  the  laps^  of  several  yeara, 
Constable's  monopoly  of  6^  Waltei^  noTeb  was 
abo)ished,  bjr  their  comtrron  atlaminr-  The  interest 
excited,  not  only  in  Scotiami  ant)  England,  but  all 
over  civilhed  Ehirope,  by  the  ne^"*  of  Scott's  tnt»- 
fortyoea,  must  also  have  had  its  inffoence  in  qoiek* 
eninK  this  commercial  rivalry.  Tbe  reader  need 
hardfy  be  told,  that  the  fh^  meeting^of  Jamea  Bal- 
laiitjme  and  Oorapsny'a  creditor!  witnessed  the 
transfot'mation,  a  motrth  before  daridy.  prophesied 
of  the  "Great  UWtnown"  imo  the  '^Too-wclf- 
known."  Even  fbr  those  who  had  loni^ceaaed  to 
entertain  any  doubt  as  to  the  main  source  at  lease 
of  the  W^verle^  lomanoeK  there  would  hate  beoa 
something  8tirni»  in  the  first  confession  of  tha 
author;  but  it  in  fact  included  the  aVbwal,  that  be 
had  stood  alone  inthet^ork  of  creatbn;  aftid  wlteii 
the  mighty  dm^  came  io'the  aa^M1b^ea|h  with  the 
announcement  of  personal  min,  the  eflect  on  tha 
oommuoity  of  Edinburfh  vaa  electrku.  It  iB»  in 
my  opinioH,  not  the  least  striking  feature  jo  cKe 
foregoing  tEviry,  that  it  contains  no  alluaon  (savto 
the  ominoua  one  of  18ni  December]  to  (his  looig 
withheld  revelation.  He  notes  his  pamfoI'aBticipa- 
tion  of  returning  to  the  Parliament-Hooae— moa- 
I  sirari  di^ih-^tit  an  insolvent.  It  does  not  aeem 
I  even  toliaveooeurred.  to  him,  that  when  he  ap- 
jpaared  ihsre  the.morniiig  after  hia  creditora  had 
I  heard  hia  ^ofesaion,  there  oould  not  be,  many  men 
I  inthepnce  but  must  gaze  on  his  familiar  featuraa 
|.witb  amimre  of  curiosity,  admiration,  and  aympa- 
thy,  of  which  a  hero  in  the  pnoment  of  victory  might 
have  been  proud— which  inight  have  swelled  tKs 
liaart  of  a  martyr  aa  he  waa  iK>«Bd  to  the  auke.— 
ThemniTBtaal  feeling  wa&  1  believe,  much  what  the 
late.fnniafaW  atid.accompudbed  Bail  of  Dudley  es^ 
piesaipd  lo^Mr.  Morritt  ythen  these  nawa  reached 
tham  at  Brightoik  ' IScoM tutned  f.'  aasd  f ha^  *' tba 
anthortif  WaMrleyramedl  Gbod  Ood*  lat  ev«T 
manr  tO(  whom  >haiaaigiven  moncha  af  dalightgpve 
him  a  sixpence,  and  he  will  rise  to-morrow  mormoK 
ikhar  than  tlot£Mhild«»  > 

H  ia  ! 
known  I 
tress, 
ShaU 

master        ,  . 

ordaall  Shall N^ettace  any  thing «rhia><mn6iipc- 
rienoes  in  ihto  eanatroction  ^hia  mtaginary  ptraon- 
ageft  and  events'? 

I  know  not  how  others  ioterpreted  Tariooa  pitt- 
aagea  bi  Woodstock^  hot  there  were  not  a  few  dmt 
carried  deep  meaning'far^sueh  er8cotf*8  own  firienda 


SB  w^re  ao<}o«nted  wiih^  not  bis  pecuniiiry  r 
tune  alone,  but  the  drooping  health  of  hiaWife.  and 
the  consolation  hfi^rded  him  hy  the  dutiful  devo- 
tion of  his  daughter  Aniie,  in  Whose  character  and 
demeanour  a  change  hsd  occurred  exactly  similar  to 
that  painted  in  poorAlioe  Lee:— "Ahgbt  joyous 
air,  with  someining.  of  a  humorous  expresaion. 
which  seemed  to  be  looking  for  amusement,  had 
vanished  before  the  touch  Of  affliction,  and  a  f  aim 
melancholy  sjipjilied  its  place,  which' seemed  oh  the 
watch  10  admmister  cqtnfdit  to  others."  In^ seve- 
ral moUoe9,  and  plher  scraps  of  verse,  the  curious 
reader  will  fii\d  ^hnilar  traces  of  the  CaplB  and  feel- 
ings recotded  m  the  author's  Diary^ 

As  to  the  novetitself  though  none  can  pretend  to 
claaa  it  in  the  very  highest  rank  of  hik  works,  ainoe 
we  fee!  throughout  the  effects  of  the  great  funds- 
mantaj  error,  likepMi  hr  a  coiuemiiomry  critic  to 
that  of  the  wnterwho  should  lay  hisaeene  at  Room 


LIPE'OP  SIR  WAE^rtR  SCOrt. 


^85 


A*ce  BmtwB  nfl  the  survivor  in  that  conflict,  and 
C^rofis  his  iSonipanion  invictoty:  yet  even  this 
eemor  i6  forced  to  allow  that  Woodstock  displays 
eeriain  excellences,  not  exemplified  in  till  the  au< 
tiior's  fictions,  and  which  attest,  more  remarkably 
than  any  others  could  have  done,  the  complete  sclf- 
pomession  of  the  mind  when  composing  it.  Its 
great  merit,  Mr.  Senior  thmks,  is  (hat  it  combines 
an  extraordinary  variety  of  incident  with  perfect 
unity  of  action  !  For  the  rest,  after  condemninj?, 
ill  my  view  far  too  broadly,  the  old  Shakspcarian 
Cavalier  Sir  Henry  Lee,  he  says— 

"The  CrosmwcU  and  Charles  11.  are  inaccurate  as  nor- 
tralls,  buti  *9  imaginary  characters,  th*y  are  adouniblo. 
Charted  i»  perhaps  somewhat  too  stiff,  and  Cromwell  too 
•entimental ;  bnt  these  Impressions  never  struck  us  UU 
our  office  forced  ub  to  pervert  the  work  from  its  proper 
Old,  aiid  to  read  for  th«  porpose  of  criticism  instead  of 
«iijo/in0Dt.  Waare  not  sure,  however,  that  we  do  not 
prefer  TomlCins  to  either  of  them ;  his  cunninf ,  profli- 
(acy,  hypocrisy,  and  enthusiasm  ar«  combined  into  a 
character  as  spirited  as  it  is  orifinal.  Wildrake,  Roche- 
cllfle,  Desboroueh,  Holdenough,  and  Bletnon  are  com- 
posed of  fewer  nuaterials,  and  therefore  exhibit  less  power 
in  thea«thor{  but  tk«r  are  natural  and  forcible,  panlco- 
larlT  Uoldenough.  Thtfr«  are  few  mbjecu  which  Sir 
WWec  seems  jnore  to  delight  in  painting  than  the  melio- 
rating influence  of  religious  feelings  on  an  imperiect  tem- 
per, even  though  somewhat  alloyed  by  siiperstitlon  and 
enthusiasm— Woodstock  is  a  picture  full  oftalse  costume 
aad  Irteorfeet  design,  but  splendl«lly  grouped  and  colour- 
ed ;  andwe  envy  those  whose  imperfect  knowledge  of  the 
real  evtenta  )»a  enabled  them  to  enjoy  its  beauties  with- 
oMt  beii^  plfendedby  iu  taaccuractes.'* 

There  is  one  character  of  conaiderale  importance 
which  the  reviewer  does  not  allude  to.  If  be  had 
happened  to  have  the  slijfhtest  tinct«re  of  his  au- 
thors fondness  fo^  doss,  he  would  not  have  (ailed 
to  say  somvthins  of  the  elaborate  and  affectionate 
portraiture  of  old  Maida,  under  the  name  of  Be  vis. 

The  success  of  this  novel  was  great :  large  as  the 
ptioe  wai,  its  publishers  had  no  reason  to  repent 
thew  hari^in ;  and  of  course  the  rapid  receipt  of 
aneh  a  sum  as  je8,000,  the  jjroduct  of  hardly  three 
OMmhs*  labour,  highly  gratified  the  body  of  cred- 
itors, whose  debtor  had  devoted  to  them  whatever 
labour  his  health  should  henceforih  permit  him  to 
pwibrm.  We  have  seen  that  he  very  soon  b^an 
another  work  of  fiction  i  and  it  will  appear  that  he 
fiY>ra  the  first  designed  the  **  Chronicles  of  the  Gan- 
ongata"  lo  be  published  by  Mr.  Robert  Cadell. 
That  (gentleman's  connexion  mith  Constable  was 
from- circumstances  of  which  the  reader  may  have 
traocd  various  little  indications  not  likely  to  be  re- 
newed after  the  catastrophe  of  their  old  copartner- 
ship. They  were  now  endeavoring  to  establish 
thonselves  in  separate  businesses;  and  each  was, 
of  course,  eager  to  secure  the  countenance  of  Sir 
Walter.  He  did  not  hesitate  a  roomeoL  He  con- 
ceived that  Constable  had  acted  in  such  a  manner 
by  him.  especially  in  urging  him  to  borrow  large 
sums  of  money  for  his  support  .after  all  chance  of 
recovery  was  over,  that  he  had  more  than  forfeited 
all  claims  on  bis  confidence:  and  Mr.  Cadell's 
firank  conduct  iii  warning  Ballantyne  and  him 
against  Constable's  last  mad  proposal  about  a 
guarantee  for  £20,000,  had  producecl  a  strong  im- 
pression in  his  favour. 

Sir  Walter's  Dinry  has  given  us  some  pleasing 
glimpses  of  the  kind  of  feeling  displayed  by  Ballan- 
tvne  towards  him,  and  bv  him  towaras  Ballantyne, 
during  these  dark  months.  In  justice  to  both,  1 
shall  here  insert  one  of  the  notes  addressed  by 
Scott,  while  Woodstock  was  at  press,  to  his  critical 
,  typographer.  It  has  reliance  lo  a  reouest,  that  the 
success  of  Malachi  Hala^wther  might  be  followed 


ployment)  a  lucrative  one:  ^e  creditors,  after  par- 
ing James  his  salary,  cleared  in  ooe  veax  .£1,200 
from  the  ooncero,  wbich  bad  for  nMny  before  beea 
a  source  of  nothing  but  perplexity  to  its  foundoiak 
No  hints  of  motual  complaint  or  recrimination  ever 
dropt  from  either  of  the  fallen  partners.  The  prin- 
ter, like  Scott,  submitted  without  a  murmnr  of  that 
sort,  or  ipdeea  of  any  sort,  to  his  reverses :  he  with- 
drew to  a  very  small  house  in  a  sequestered  sub- 
urban situation,  end  altered  all  his  domestic  habit« 
and  arrangements  with  decision  and  foriitudeb 
Here  he  received  many  commuxncationa  such  as 
the  following:^ 

To  Mr.  JamcM  BaUantyne. 

"  North  St  David  Street. 
"Dear  James, 


"  I  cannot  see  to  read  my  manuscript  4n  the  war  you 

f>ropo8e— I  would  eive  a  thousand  pounds  'I  could ;  but 
ike  the  ofRccr  of  the  Custom.*?,  when  the  Board  desired 


him  to  read  a  coquet  of  hirf  own,— I  am  coquet-imVer, 
not  coquetrcrtrf«r— and  you  must  be  thankful  that  I  can 
perform  even  that  part  of  the  duty. 

^*  We  must  in  some  sort,  stand  or  fall  together ;  aad  I 
do  not  wish  you  to  think  that  I  am  forgotUnx  your  interest 
in  my  own— though  I  sincerely  believe  the  fojrmcr  is 
what  you  least  thhik  of.  But  I  am  afraid  1  must  decline 
the  political  task  you  bivUe  me  to.  It  would  cost  mt  a 
fortnUfht's  hard  work  to  do  an  v  thing  to  purpose,  for  I 
have  no  information  on  the  subject  whatever.  In  short, 
as  the  Earl  of  Essex  said  on  a  certain  occasion^ '  Frankly, 
it  may  not  be.'  I  hope  next  winter  will  amud  me  an 
opportunity  to  do  something,  which,  as  FaLstaffsaye,  *  may 
do  yougocki' 

Ever  yours,  W.  B." 

The  date  of  this  note  (North  St-  David's  Street) 
reminds  me  of  a  passese  in  Captain  Basil  Haifa 
Diary.  He  called  at  Mrs.  Brown's  lodging-house 
one  morning— and  OQ  his  return  bprne  wrote  aa 
follows  ;— 

"A  hundred  and  fifty  years  hence,  when  his  works 
have  become  old  elassioal  anithorities.  it  may  hiterest 
some  fervent  lover  of  his  writings  to  know  what  this 
great  genius  was  about  on  Saturday  the  10th  of  June,  1<>26 
— five  months  after  the  total  ruin  of  his  pecuniary  for- 
tunes, and  twenty-six  days  after  the  death  of  his  wife.' 

**  In  the  days  of  his  good  luck  he  u^d  to  live  at  No.  39 
in  North  Castle  Street,  in  a  house  befitting  a  ricn  baro- 
net ;  but  on  reaching  the  door,  I  found  the  p^ate  on  IZ 


covnred  with  rust  (so  soon  Is  glory  obscured,)  the  win- 
dows shuttered  up,  dusty,  and  coinwrtless ;  and  from  the 
side  of  one  projected  a  board,  with  this  in.scription,  **To 


tip  by  a  set  of  essays  on  Irish  Absehtceism  in  the 
Edinburgh  Weekly  Journal  t—xhc  editorship  of 
which  paper,  with  the  literary  management  of  the 
printing-house,  had  been  continued  to  Mr.  Ballan- 
tyne, upon  a  moderate  salary,  by  his  creditors'  trus- 
tees. I  may  observe  th€t  when  the  general  super- 
intendence of  the  printing-house  csme  into  the 
huds  of  regular  men  of  business,  it  was  found 
^notwithstanding  the  loss  of  Constable's  great  em- 
•  *  Q 


Sell  ;*'  the  stairs  were  unwashed,  and  not  a  footmark  told 
of  the  ancient  hospitality  which  reigned  within..  In  alt 
nations  with  which  I  am  acquainted  the  fashionable 
world  move  westward,  In  imitation,  perhaps,  of  the  great 
tide  of  civiliTAtion ;  and  vice  versa^  those  persons  who 
decline  in  fortune,  which  is  mostly  equivalent  to  dec  lin- 
ing iu  fashion,  shape  their  course  eastward.  According- 
ly oy  an  involuntary  impulse,  I  turned  my  head  that  way. 
and  enquiring  at  the  clubs  in  Prince's  Sti'ect,  leamed 

I  that  he  now  resided  in  St.  David  Street.  No.  6. 

•*  I  was  rather  glad  to  recognise  my  old  friend  the  Ab- 
botsford  butler,  who  answered  the  door— the  saying 
about  heroes  and  valeis-de-chambre  comes  to  one's  rec- 
ollection on  such  occa.^on8,  and  nothing,  we  may  be 

{  sure,  is  more  likely  to  be  satisfactory  to  a  man  whose 
fortune  is  reduced  than  the  staunch  adherence  of  a  mere 
servant,  wlK>se  wages  must  be  altered/for  the  worse.  At 
the  top  of  the  stair  we  saw  a  small  tray,  with  a  single 

ftlate  and  fflasses  for  one  solitary  person's  dinner.  Somo 
ew  months  ago  Sir  Walter  was  surrounded  by  his  fam- 
ily, and  wherever  he  movec^.'hls  headquarters  were  the 
focus  of  fashion.  Travellera  from  all  nations  crowded 
round,  and,  like  the  recorded  honours  of  I/>rd  Chatham, 
'thickened  Qv«»r  him.'  Lady  aodT^Miss  .Scott  were  his 
constant  companions ;  the  Ix>ckliattowere  his  neighbours 
both  in  town  and  in  Roxburghshire ;  hi.s  eldest  son  was 
his  frequent  guest;  and  in  short,  wluii  ^vith  his  own 
family  and  the  clouds  of  tourists,  who,  like  eo  many 
hordes  of  Cossacks,  pres.sed  upon  hhn,  there  was  not, 
i  perhaps,  mu  of  a  pala<y,  any  man  so  atfrnded,  I  had  al- 
most sal<l  overpowered,  by  company.  His  wife  is  now 
dead— his  son-in-law  and  favourite  dauithter  gone  to  Lon- 
don, and  his  grandchild,  1  (car,  ju^t  stairgerin;,  poor 
little  fellow,  on  the  ed?f  of  the  grave,  which,  perhaps,  is 
the  securest  refuge  for  him— his  eldest  sen  ts  married, 
and  at  a  distance,  and  report  speaks  of  no  probability  ot 
the  title  descending ;  in  short,  all  are  dispersed,  and  the 
touriiits,  those  "  curiofoa  itnpcrtinentes,"  drive  past  hb*' 
botsford  gate,  and  curse  their  folly  in  having  delayed  for 


UF^  OP  m  niFAuncR  soovr. 


a  year  tpo  late  Uieir  lone  projected  jaqnt  to  the  north. 
MeaD-wfaRe  not  to  mitie  Am  matter,  the  (real  man  had, 


^ear  tpo  late  their  loi 
_  eaD-wnRe  not  to  toSbt 
flomehow  er  other,  maoagad 


inVoWe  WmwAf  with 


lirintert.  pubUsbert,  bankefa,  gtthmakera,  wool'Maplers. 
aod  all  the  fraternttr  of  qieculatora,  accoouDodation-bUl 
maaufacturera,  land-jobbera,  and  .so  on,  till  at  a  teaaon 
of  dlstraat  ia  moaey  matters,  the  hour  of  reckoniag 
came,  like  a  thief  io  the  nifht ;  and  aa  our  friend,  lika 
tbc  unthrifty  virgins,  had  no  oil  in  his  laiap,  all  bis  amira 
went  to  wreck  and  mtn,  and  landed  hlin,  after  the  gale 
waa  oter,  !n  the  predicament  of  Robinson  Crusoe,  with 
Uttle  ihorrc  than  a  shin  to  his  back.  Bot  like  that  able 
navigator,  he  is  not  cast  awaf  upon  a  barren  rock.  The 
tide  haa  ebbed.  Indeed,  and  left  him  on  the  beach,  bot 
the  hull  of  his  fortunes  is  above  water  still,  and  it  will  go 
hard,  indeed,  with  him  if  he  does  not  shape  a  raft  that 
■hall  bring  to  shore  much  of  the  caigo  that  an  ordinary 


mind  would  leave  in  despair,  to  be  swept  away  by  the 
rth(  "*"      ••    •      •      ' 

9  living  crei 
J  than  in  the  poi 
over  them,  of  turning  to  varied  account  the  means  with 


next  change  of  tne  moon.  The  distinction  between  man 
and  the  rest  of  the  living  creation,  certainly,  is  in  nothing 
more  remarkable,  than  in  the 


ower  which  he  possesses 


which  the  world  is  stocked.  But  it  has  always  struck 
me,  that  there  Is  a  far  greater  di.«rtinction  between  man 
and  man  than  between  many  men  and  most  other  ani- 
mals ;  and  it  is  from  a  familiarity  with  the  practical  ope- 
ration of  this  marvellous  difference  that  I  venture  to  pre- 
diet,  that  our  Ctusoe  will  cultivale  his  own  island,  and 
build  himself  a  bark  in  which,  in  process  of  time,  he  will 
'sail  back  to  his  fViend^  and  fortune  in  greater  triumph 
than  if  he  had  never  been  driven  amongst  the  breakers. 
"  Sir  Walter  Scott,  then,  was  sitting  at  a  writing-desk 
covered  with  paprrs,  and  on  the  top  was  a  pile  of  bound 
volumes  of  the  Moniteur, — one,  which  be  was  leaning 
over  as  my  brother  and  1  entered,  was  open  on  a  chair, 
and  two  others  were  Iving  on  the  floor.  As  he  rose  to 
receive  us  he  closed  the  volume  which  he  had  been  ex- 
tractioa  from,  and  came  forward  to  shake  hands.  Be 
waa,  ai  course,  in  deep  mounilna,  with  weepers  and  the 
other  trappings  cf  woe,  but  his  countenance,  though 
eertainly  a  little  woc-begonish,  was  not  cast  into  any  very 
deep  furrowa.  His  tone  and  manner  were  as  fHendly  as 
heretofore,  and  when  he  saw  that  we  had  no  intention 
of  making  any  attempt  at  sympathy  or  rooaoifioation,  but 
spoke  to  him  as  of  old,  he  gradually  contracted  the 
length  of  bis  countenance,  and  allowed  the  comers  of  hia 
mouth  to  curl  almost  imperceptibly  upwards,  and  a  re^ 
newed  lustre  came  into  his  eye,  if  not  exactly  indicative 
of  cheerfulness,  at  all  events  of  well-regulated,  patient, 
Chri.stlan  resignation.  My  meaning  will  be  misunder- 
stood if  it  bo  imagined  from  this  picture  that  I  wispected 
any  hypocrisy,  or  an  affectation  of  grief  in  the  first  in- 
stance. 1  have  no  doubt,  indeed,  that  he  feels,  and  most 
acutely,  the  bereavements  which  have  come  upon  him  ; 
but  wc  may  very  fairly  suppose,  that  among  the  nviuy 


thedealb  I  am  not  tme  ihat  it  it  ri^t  io  iv9ik  M 
bard ;  but  a  man  must  take  huna^  ma  weU  «ft 
other  people,  when  m  the  humour.  1  doubt  if  dma 
of  method,  who  can  lay  aside  or  Uke  up  the  pea 
just  at  the  hours  appointed,  will  ever  be  better  thAQ 
poor  creatures.  Lady  Louisa  Stuart  naed  to  teu 
me  of  Mr.  Hoole,  the  translator  of  Tasso  and  Ari- 
osto,  and  in  thai  capacity  a  noble  transiputer  of 
cold  into  lead,  that  ne  waa  a  clerk  in  the  India- 
House,  with  long  ruffles  and  a  anuff-colourcd  mil 
of  clothes,  who  occasionally  x-iaited  ber  father. 
John  Earl  of  Bute.  She  sometimes  conyeraed 
with  him,  and  was  amused  to  find  that  he  did  ex> 
aclly  so  many  couplets  day  by  day,  neither  more 
nor  less ;  and  habit  bad  made  u  lifjht  to  him,  how- 
evf»r  heavy  it  might  seem  to  the  reader.  WelL  but 
il'l  ]  uv  do  v.i\  the  pen,  as  the  pain  in  jny  breast  ninta 
lh;it  f  should,  what  am  I  to  do  i  If  I  think,  why  1 
sKuU  weep— and  that's  nonsense ;  and  I  have  no 
ftiiiiid  now— nr'ni-^— to  relieve  my  tediouaness  for 
fa  alf-flii-hour  of  1  li  ■  gloaming.  Let  me  be  grateful— 
I  Un\e  gowl  iipwir  fromAbbotsford. 

"  Jitne  7.~ARain  a  day  of  hard  work — baav  at 
half- past  eight.  I  went  to  the  Dean  of  Faculty's  to 
a  consultation  about  Constable,*  and  sat  with  aaid 
Dean  and  Mr.  J.  S.  More  and  J.  Gibson.  I  find 
they  have  as  high  hope  of  success  as  lawyers  ou^ht 
fo  express;  and  I  think  I  know  how  ovr  profeaaioa 
speail  when  sincere:  but  I  cannot  intereat  myself 
deeply  in  it.  When  I  had  come  home  firom  sucb  s 
buamess,  1  used  to  carry  the  newt  to  poor  Chw- 
lotte,  who  dressed  her  face  in  sadness  or  mirth  98 
she  saw  the  news  affect  me;  this  hangs  lightly 
about  me.  1  had  almost  forgot  the  appointmeot, 
if  J.  G.  had  not  sent  me  «  cara ;  I  passed  a  piper  in 
the  street  as  1  went  to  the  Dean's,  and  could  not 
help  giving  him  a  ebillmg  to  pla]^  Pibrodi  a  DonuU 
Dhu  for  luck's  sake;  what  a  child  I  am ! 

*^Junt  8.— Bilious  and  headach  this  momiag.  A 
dog  howl'd  all  night  and  leA  me  little  sleep,— poor 
cur!  I  dare  say  he  had  his  distresses*  as  1  nav* 
mine.  I  was  obliged  to  make  Dalgliesh  shut  the 
windows  wheh  he  appeared  at  half-paat  aii:,  as 
usual,  and  did  not  rise  till  nine.  I  have  often  de- 
served a  headach  in  my  younger  days  without  hav- 
ing one,  and  Nature  la,  1  suppose,  paying  off  old 
Bcorea.  Ay,  but  then  the  want  of  the  afiectionata 
care  ;hat  used  to  be  ready,  with  lowered  voice  and 


visiters  he  must  have,  there  may  be  soiuo  who  cannot  stealthy  pace,  to  smootne  tnepiliow  and  otter  coa- 
undcrRtand  that  it  \b  proper,  decent,  or  even  possible  to  i  dolcnce  and  assistance,— gone — gone — for  ever — 
hide  those  finer  emoUons  deep  in  tbc  heart —He  Imme-  ever— ever.  Well,  there  is  another  world,  and  we'll 
diately  began  to  converse  in  his  usual  Btvlc— the  chief  meet- free  from  the  mgrial  sorrows  and  frailties 
topic  helng  Captain  Denham  (whom  I  had  recently  seen  1  which  beset  us  here ;  amen,  ao  be  it.  Let  me  change 
w«;?il  k"'?  ^-5  lilt  book  of  African  TravcH,  xvhich^Sir  I  the  topic  with  hand  and  head,  and  the  heart  must 
VV^alter  had  evideiltly  read  with  much  altoniion.  •••  ^Jf^ll^,^^    I    f,^\s\x^    four  pagis    to-day,    headach, 

laziness  and  all. 


After  sitting  a  quarter  of  an  hour,  we  came  awny,  well  i 
pleased  to  see  our  friend  quite  unbrokon  in  spirit— and  j 
though- bowed  down  a  little  by  the  blast,  and  here  and) 
there  a  branch  the  less,  as  sturdy  in  the  trunk  as«ver, 
and  very  possibly  aD  the  better  for  the  discipline— bet- 1 
ter,  I  mean,  for  the  public,  inasmuch  as  he  has  now  | 
a  vast  additional  stimulus  for  exertion— and  one  which 
an  the  world  must  admit  to  be  thoroughly  noble  and 
gencroua" 


*'  Ju-ne  9.— Corrected  a  stubborn  proof  this  morn- 
ing. These  battles  have  been  the  death  of  many 
a  man— I  think  they  will  be  mine.  Well,  but  it 
clears  to  windward  ;  so  we  will  fag  on.  Slept  well 
last  night.  By  the  way,  how  intolerably  selfish 
this  Journal  makes  me  seem — so  much  attention  to 
A  «.««ir  k-r«—  •!,:-  «;-;♦  .^^i,  «i-««  c:.  w.i.^,1  ^"®**  naturals  and  non-naturals'?  Lord  Macken- 
uh  Z^'^fS^^  ^^?  visit  took  ploce,  Sir  Wal  cr  ^^^^  called,  and  we  had  much  chat  about  pariah 
^ill^Sa  "  n^y  K^Tl'"' f '^F  '^  ^TT  wu  i''"  business.  ¥he  late  regulations  for  preparing  cases 
erary  tasks ;  and  he  thenceforth  worked  wah  de- 1  j^  ^.^  Outer-Hodse  do  not  work  well.  Onl  effect 
termmed  .resolution  on  jhe  Life  of  Napoleon^ mier- 1  ^f  running  caus«^s  faster  through  the  Courts  below 


laying  a  day  or  two  of  the  Chronides  of  the  Canon- 1  ■  ,hni  they  go  by  scores  to  appeal,  and  Lord  Gif- 
henever  he  had  got  befoi^thd  press  with  his  I  ford  has  hitherto  decided  them  with  such  judjg. 
!:  ^^f-'J^^jR  ^^*  ^'V^^Si  ^^V"  ■  '^"^  men^  «n<*  "O  »""<*  rapidity,  as  to  give  great  Jafil 
cam!  for-j-i^ange  of  labour.  In  resummg  fo^tion.  The  consequenceSvill  in  time  Gs,  thnt  ih« 
\uli'}  ^^^  u    "^^^^  extracts  rather  less    Scottish  Supreme  Court  will  he  in  effect  situated  ir 


L 


gate,  whenever  he  hj^  got  before  thd  press  with  his 
historical  MS, 
he  ever 

hia  own       

lately  thnn  before,  because  many  entries  merely 
reflect  the  life  of  painful  exertion  to  which  he  had 
now  submitted  himself^  without  giving  us  any  inter- 
esting glimpses  either  of  his  feelings  or  opinions.  1 1 
hope  I  have  kept  enough  to  satisfy  all  proper  curi- 
osity on  these  last  points. 

EXTRACTS  FROM  PIARY-JTTNE,  1886. 

**  Edinburgh.  June  4.— I  wrote  a  good  task  yes- 
tsraay,  and  to-day  a  great  one,  scarce  stirring  from 


e 

in 

London.  Then  down  falLns  national  objects  of 
respect  and  veneration,  the  Scottish  Bench,  the 
Scottish  Baf,  the  Scottish  Law  herself,  and— and 

'  Here  is  an  end  of  an  auld  snng.'i    Were  I  as 

I  have  been,  I  would  fight  knee-deep  in  blood  ere  it 

*  Tbifl  alludes  to  the  cUtim  advanced  bv  the  creditoni  of  Ooa- 
Btablr>  and  Co.  to  the  cot>rrigfat  oC^Woodstock  and  the  life  of 
Napttleon. 

«The  eld^'tt  son  oftbe  Man  oflVeUnr 

:  Siieecb  of  Lord  Cbanccllot  Setfirld  on  the  ntifitalioo  af  Ilia 
ecotch  Union.    8«o  MUceiUneou*  Prote  Worl^  [^ 


UIB^OF  8m  WALXmi  motPT. 


<Qame  lo  that  I  ahtU  fiwm  be  inroad  of  Mdaobi 
«•  hariag  headed  bftek  the  SouUnDO,  or  helped  to 
•do.  ao  in  one  mstaacb  at  least. 

"June  11.— Bad  dreams.  Woke,  thinkin;;  my 
old  and  inseparable  friend  beside  me ;  and  it  was 
only  when  I  wag  fully  awake  that  I  could  persuade 
myself  that  she  was  dark,  low,  and  distant,  and 
that  ray  bed  was  widowed.  1  believe  the  phenom- 
ena of  dreaming  fire  in  a  great  measure  occasioned 
by  the  double  touch  which  takes  place  when  one 
hand  is  crossed  iQ  sleep  upon  another.  £ach  gives 
^nd  receives  the  impression  of  touch  to  and  Trom 
the  other,  and  this  complicated  sensation  our  sleep- 
ing fancy  ascribes  to  the  agency  of  another  beins, 
when  it  is  in  fact  produced  by  our  own  limbs  roll- 
ing on  each  other.  Well,  here  soes—incumbite 
remis. 

"June  12.— Finished  volume  third  of  Napoleon. 
I  resumed  it  on  the  lat  of  June,  the  earliest  period 
that  I  could  bend  my  mind  to  it  after  my  gre^t  loss. 
Since  that  time  I  have  lived,  to  be  sure,  the  life  of  a 
hermit,  except  attending  the  Court  five  days  in  the 
week  for  about  three  hours  on  an  average.  Except 
at  that  time  I  haye  been  reading  or  writing  on  the 
enbject  of  Boney,  and  have  finished  last  mght,  and 
sent  to  printer  this  morning,  the  last  sheet  df  fiftv- 
two  written  since  Ist  June.  It  is  an  awful  screed ; 
irat  grief  makes  me  a  housekeeper,  and  to  labour  is 
my  only  resource. 

"June  14.— To-d|iy  I  b^an  with  a  page  and  a 
half  before  breakfast.  This  is  always  the  best  way. 
Ton  stand  like  a  child  going  to  be  bathed,  shivering 
and  shaking  till  the  first  pitcher%l  is  flung  about 
your  eara,  and  then  are  as  blythe  as  a  watci^wag- 
tail.  I  am  jtist  come  home  fh>m  Court;  and  now. 
my  fnend  Nap,  have  at  you  with  a  downright  blow  I 
Methinks  I  would  fain  make  jpeace  with  my  con- 
science by  doing  six  paf^es  to-night.  Bought  a  little 
bit  of  Gniyere  cheese,  instead  oi  our  dame's  choke- 
dog  concern.  When  did  I  ever  purchase  any  thing 
for  my  own  eating  1  But  I  win  say  no  more  of 
that.    And  now  to  the  bread-mill— 

"June  16.— Yesterday  safe  in  the  Court  till 
nearly  four.  I  had.  of  course,  only  time  for  my 
task.  I  fear  1  shall  have  little  more  to-day,  for  I 
have  accepted  to  dine  at  Hector's.  I  got,  yesterday, 
a  present  of  two  engravings  from  Sir  Henry  Rae- 
burn's  portrait  of  me,  which  (i>oor  fellow !)  was  the 
last  he  ever  painted,  and  certainly  not  the  worst* 
I  had  the  pleasure  to  give  one  to  young  Davidofffor 
his  uncle,  the  celebrated  Black  Captain,  of  the  cam- 
paign of  1812.  Curious  that  he  should  be  interested 
m  getting  the  resemblance  of  a  person  whose  mode 
of  attaining  some  distinction  has  been  verv  different. 
But  I  am  sensible,  that  if  there  be  any  thing  good 
about  njy  poetry  or  j^rose  either,  it  is  a  hurried 
frankness  of  composition  which  pleases  soldiers, 
sailors,  and  young  people  of  bold  and  active  disposi- 
tion. I  have  been  no  sogher  in  shades— no  writer  of 
( Songs  and  sennets  and  rustical  roundelays, 
JPYamed  on  fancies,  and  whistled  on  reeds.' 

^  Abbot^ord,  Saturday^  June  17.— Left  Edin- 
burgh to-day,  after  Parliament- House.  My  two 
giiis  met  me  at  Torsonce,  which  was  a  pleasant 
surprise,  and  we  returned  in  the  sociable  all  togeth- 
er. Found  every  thin^  right  and  well  at  Abbots- 
ford  under  the  new  regime.  I  again  took  possession 
of  the  family  bedroom  and  my  widowed  couch. 
This  was  a  sore  trial,  but  it  was  necessary  iiot  to 
blink  such  a-  resolution.  Indeed,  I  do  not  Uke  to 
nave  it  thought  that  there  is  any  way  in  which  I 
can  be  beaten.t 

"  •/une  19.— This  morning  wrote  till  half  twelve 
—jgood  day's  work — at  Canongate  Chronicles. 
Methmks  I  can  make  this  answer.    Then  drove  to 

■    8ee  ante,  p.  968. 

f  This  entry  reminds  me  of  Hannah  Morels  aeooont  of  Mrs. 
Garriek'a  conduct  after  her  husband's  funeral.  "  She  told  me," 
•ayi  Mn.  More, "  that  she  prayed  with  (rcat  composure,  then 
vent  and  kined  the  dear  bed,  and  got  into  it  with  a  nd  pleas- 


«e."^-See  Memoin  ttfMrt.  More,  toL  L  p.  i». 


got  into  i 
ToL  I  p.  t 


grwitl^Bftfii,  and  eiUad  at  iCliMfkwo«d.  Walked 
one.  The  country  crying  for  rain:  yet,  on  ih$ 
wholoi  the  weather  delicious,  dry,  and  wanii|  witk 
a  fine  air  of  wind.  The  young  woods  are  rising  in 
a  kind  of  profusion  I  never  saw  elsewhere.  Let  ma 
once  clear  off  these  encumbrances,  and  they  shall 
wave  broader  and  deeper  yet, 

"  June  21.— For  a  party  of  pleasure  I  have  attend- 
ed to  business  well.  Twenty  pages  of  Croftangay. 
five  printed  pages  each,  attest  my  diligence,  ana  I 
have  had  a  delightful  variation  by  the  company  of 
the  two  Annes.   Regulated  my  httle  expenses  here. 

"  Edinburgh,  June  22.— Returned  to  my  Patmot^ 
Heard  good  news  from  Lockhart  Wife  well,  and 
John  Hugh  better.  He  mentions  poor  Soutfaey 
testifying  much  interest  for  me,  even  to  tears.  It  is 
odd— am  I  so  hard-hearted  a  man?  I  could  not 
have  wept  for  him,  though  in  diitiess  I  would  have 

fone  any  length  ,to  serve  him.  I  sometimes  think 
do  not  deaenre  people's  good  opinion,  for  certainly 
my  feelings  are  rather  gnided  by  reflection  than  im- 
pulse. But  every  body  has  his  own  mode  of  ea- 
pressing  interest,  and  mine  is  stoical  even  in  bitter* 
est  grief.  I  hope  I  am  not  the  worse  for  wanting 
the  tenderness  that  I  see  others  possess,  and  which' 
is  so  amiable.  I  think  it  does  not  cool  my  wish  to 
be  of  use  when  I  can.  But  the  truth  is  I  am  bettec 
at  enduring  or  acting,  than  at  consoling.  From 
childhood's  earliest  hour,  my  he^rt  rebelled  against 
the  influence  of  external  circumstances  in  myself 
and  others— non  e»t  tanti !  To-day,  I  was  detained 
in  the  Court  from  half-past  ten  till  near  four,  yet  I 
finished  and  sent  ofi'a  packet  to  Cadell,  which  will 
finish  one-third  of  the  Chronicles,  vol.  IsL  Henry 
Scott  came  in  while  I  was  at  dinner,  and  sat  while 
I  eat  my  beef-steak.  A  gourmand  would  think  me 
much  at  a  loss,  coming  back  to  my  ploughman's 
meal  of  boiled  beef  and  Scotch  broth,  from  the 
rather  richerchi  table  at  Abbotsford,  but  I  have  no 
philosophy  in  lyy  carelessness  on  that  score.  It  is 
natural,  though  I  am  no  ascetic,  as  my  father  was. 

"  June  28.— I  received  to-day  ^10  from  filacl^wood 
for  the  ardcle  on  The  Omen.  Time  was  I  would 
not  have  taken  these  small  tithes  of  mint  and  cum- 
min^ but  scornful  dogs  will  eat  dnty  puddings,  and 
I,  with  many  depending  on  me,  must  do  the  best  I 
can  with  my  time ;  God  help  ma 

"  Blair- Adam  Junt  24.— Left  Edinburgh  yester- 
day after  the  Court,  and  came  over  here  with  the 
Lord  Chief  Baron  and  William  Clerk,  to  spend  as 
usual  a  day  or  two  at  the  Chief-Commissioners. 
His  Lordship's  family  misfortunes  and  my  own 
make  our  holiday  this  year  of  a  more  quiet  descrip- 
tion than  usual,  and  a  sensible  degree  of  melancho- 
ly hangs  on  the  re-union  of  our  party.  It  was  wise, 
however,  not  to  omit  it,  for  to  slacken  your  hold  on 
life  in  any  agreeable  point  of  connexion,  is  the 
sooner  to  reduce  yourself  to  the  indifference  and 
passive  vegetation  of  old  age. 

"  June  26.— Another  melting  day ;  we  hajre  loung- 
ed  away  the  morning  creepiilg  abonl  the  place,  sit- 
ting a  great  deal,  and  walking  as  little  as  might  be 
on  account  of  the  heat.  Blair- Adam  hss  been  sue- 
ceesively  in  possession  of  three  generations  of  per- 
sons attached  to  and  skilled  in  the  art  of  embellish- 
ment; and  may  be  fairly  taken  as  a  place  where  art 
and  taste  have  done  a  great  deal  to  improve  nature. 
A  long  ridge  of  varied  ^ound  sloping  to  the  foot  of 
Benarty,  and  which  origin ally*^vas  of  a  bare  moaey 
boggy  character,  has  been  clothed  by  the  son,  Bither, 
and^grandfather ;  while  the  undulations  and  hol- 
lows, which*8eventyor  eighty  years  since  must  have 
looked  only  like  wrinkles  in  the  black  morasses, 
being  now  drained  and  limed,  are  skirted  with  deep 
woods,  particularly  of  spruce,  which  thrives  wond- 
erfully, and  covered  with  excellent  gra8&  We  drove 
in  the  droskie,  and  walked  in  the  evening. 

"June  26.— Another  day  of  unmitigated  heat; 
thermometer  82;  must  b*  higher  in  Rdinburgh, 
where  I  return  to-night,  when  the  decUne  of  the 


Digitized  by  V^OOQlC 


LIFE  OF  SIR  WALTBR'«eOTT. 


sott  mftkes  trtTeniBff  pnietictble.  It  will  be  well 
for  my  wbrks  to  be  there— not  quite  so  well  for  me  j 
there  is  a  difference  between  the  clever  nice  arrange- 
meat  of  Blair- Adapi  and  Mra.  Brown's  accommo- 
dations, though  he  who  is  ensuMd  against  worse 
has  no  right  to  complain  of  them.  But  the  studious 
neatness  of  poor  Charlotte  has  perhaps  made  me 
fastidious.  She  loved  to  see  things  clean,  even  to 
Oriental  scrupulosity.  So  oddly  do  our  deep  recol- 
lections of  other  kinds  correspond  with  the  most 
petty  occurrences  of  our  life.  Lord  Chief  Baron  told 
us  a  story  of  the  ruling  passion  strong  in  death.  A 
Mr.  *  ♦  ♦,  a  Master  in  Chancery,  was  on  his  death- 
bed—a very  wealthy  man.  Some  occasion  of  great 
mgencv  occurred  in  which  it  was  necessary  to  make 
an  affidavit,  and  the  attorney,  missing  one  or  two 
other  Masters  whom  he  eo<|uired  after,  ventured  to 
ask  if  Mr.  «  *  •  would  be  able  to  receive  the  depo- 
sition. The  proposal  seemed  to  give  him  momen- 
tary strength ;  his  clerk  was  sent  /or,  and  the  oath 
taken  in  due  form.  The  Master  was  lifted  up  in  bed, 
and  with  difficulty  subscribed  the  paper :  as  he  sank 
down  again,  he  made  a  signal  to  his  clerk—'  Wal- 
lace.*—'Sir  1'—*  Yoftr  ear— lower— lower.  Have 
you  got  the  ha^'crofwn  T  He  was  dead  before  morn^ 

IBg. 

"  Edinburgh^  June  27.— Returned  to  Edinburgh 
late  last  night,  and  had  a  most  sweltering  night  of 
it  This  day  also  cruel  hot.  However.  I  made  a 
task,  or  nearly  so,  and  read  a  good  deal  about  the 
Egyptian  expedition.  1  have  also  corrected  proofs, 
and  prepared  for  a  great  start,  by  filling  myself  with 
facts  and  ideas. 

*'  June  29.— I  walked  out  for  ah  hour  last  night, 
and  made  one  or  two  calls— the  evening  was  de- 
L'ghtful— 

*  Day  It8  sultry  firet  bad  wasted, 

Calm  and  cool  the  mooabeom  rose, 
Even  a  captive's  bosom  tasted 
Half  obUvion  of  bin  woes.' 

I  wonder  often  how  Tom  Campbell,  with  so  much 
real  genius,  has  not  maintained  a  greater  figure  in 
the  public  eye  than  he  has  done  of  late.  The  Ma- 
gazine* seems  to  have  paralyzed  him.  The  author, 
not  only  of  the  Pleasures  of  Hope,  but  of  Hohen- 
linden,  Lochiel,  du;.,  should  have  been  at  the 
very  top  of  the  tr^**  9r.—.-y--x  hn  vr— *?  nutla- 
diy,  lefjrd  (JiLj  pi]L>iK',  (inti  vfUnx  \s  \vi>r.=iL',  u^xn 
the  sh Eld 0 IV  of  his  own  t^puttition.  He  if<  a  ;:r'^ 
oomcfor  too,  which  euccei'd^  aa  ill  in  coinpoBjnon 
as  in  education.  Many  a  ciLeviT  boy  is  fla^j^ed  into 
a  dunce,  and  mnny  an  ongini^l  composition  correct- 
ed into  mediocniy.  Tom  ou^ht  to  have  don^  a 
5 teat  deal  more.  His  youthful  promise  waa  great, 
oh II  Leydtrn  inirodueert  mc  to  him.  They  afler- 
warJi  quarrelled.  When  I  repeat^  Hohi^fiUnden 
to  L^don,  he  said,  '  Dash  it,  man.  tell  the  fitiUow 
thai  I  hale  him,  buT,  duah  bim»  ht'  haa  written  the 
ilneet  veraea  that  have  been  published  these  fifty 
™r»*^  I  did  miny  erraud  a?  faith  fid  I  y  na  orit^  of 
Homer^t^  nieaH^cnger!,  and  haJ  far  answer,  '  Tell 
Leyden  ibat  I  det«st  hitn,  but  1  know  the  vaicif  of 
Ma  critical  approbation-'  This  fetid  wai$  the^lore 
in  the  way  of  bein^  taken  up*  *When  Ltyden 
cornea  back  from  Imiiaf'  m\i\  Tom  Campbell,  *  what 
canmhab  he  will  have  eaten,  and  what  iiger?  he 
Wfil  have  turn  to  pieces  V 

"  Chive  a  poor  poetess  £\.  Gibson  writes  me  that 
JB2300  is  offerednor  the  poor  house ;  it  is  worth  £300 
more,  bat  I  will  not  oppose  my  own  opinion  and 
convenience  to  good  mnd  well-meant  counsel :  so 
farewell,  poor  No.  39.  What  a  portion  of  my  life 
has  been  spent  there]  It  has  sheltered  me  from 
the  prime  of  life  to  its  dechne ;  and  now  I  must  bid 
good- by  to  it.  I  have  bid  good-by  to  my  poor  wife, 
so  long  its  courteous  and  kind  mistress.  And  I 
need  not  care  about  the  empty  rooms;  yet  it  gives 
me  a  turn.    Never  mind ;  all  in  the  day's  work. 

"  June  30.— Here  is  another  dreadful  warm  day, 
fit  for  nobody  but  the  flies.  I  was  detained  m  Court 
till  four;    dreadfully  close,  and  obUged  to  drink 

^Mr.  Campbell  wai  then  Editor  of  the  New  Monthly  Mac&- 
sme,  but  he  loon  gave  it  up. 


water  for  refraahment,  which  Ibmierty  I  «Md  t» 
■eorn,  eveii  in  the  moors,  with  a  bumiDS  Augntt 
sun.  the  heat  of  exercise,  and  a  hundred  spnngs 
gushing  around  me.  Corrected  proofs,  &^^  on  mjr 
return. 

"  Abhotaford  Julf  2.— I  worked  a  little  this  fnoni- 
ing,  then  bad  a  long  and  warm  walk.  Captain  and 
Mrs.  Hamilton,  from  Chiefkwoodi  the  presient  in- 
habitants of  Loekban*s  cottage,  dined  with  ua, 
which  made  the  evening  pleasant.  He  is  a  fine 
soldierly- looking  man*— nis  wife  a  sweet  good- 
humoured  little  woman.  Since  we  w^  to  lose  the 
Lockharts.  we  could  scarce  have  had  more  agree- 
able neighbours. 

"  Edinburgh^  Ju/y  6.— Returned  last  night,  and 
suffered,  as  usual,  from  the  incursions  of  the  black 

horse.    Mr.  B — - —  C writes  to  condole  with 

me.  I  think  our  acquaintance  scarce  warranted 
this ;  but  it  is  well  meant  and  modestly  done.  I 
cannot  conceive  the  idea  of  forcing  mysdi  on  stran- 
gers in  distress,  and -I  have  half  a  mind  to  turn 
sharp  round  on  some  of  my  consolers. 

"  Jii/y  8.— Wrote  a  good  taskjhis  moming.  I 
may  be  mistaken ;  but  I  do  think  me  tale  of  Elspat 
MlTavisht  in  my  bettermost  manner—but  J.  B. 
roars  for  cbivahry.  He  does  not  qiiite  understand 
that  every  thing  may  be  overdone  m  this  w^^^kj.  or 
sufficiently  estimate  the  necessity  of  novelty.  Th» 
Highlanders  have  been  off  the  field  now  for  some 
unie.  Returning  from  the  Coiu't,  looked  into  a  fine 
show  of  wild  beasts,  and  saw  Nero  the  great  lion, 
whom  they  had  the  brutal  cruelty  to  bait  with  bull- 
dogs, against  whom  the  noble  creamre  disdained  to 
exert  his  strength.  He  was  lying  like  a  prince  in  a 
large  eage,  where  you  mi^ht  be  admitted  if  yoa 
wish.  1  had  a  month's  mmd— but  was  afraid  of 
the  newspapers.'  I  could  be  afraid  of  nothing  else, 
for  never  did  a  creature  seem  more  gentle  and  yet 
majestic.  I  longed  to  csress  him.  Wsllace,  the 
other  Lion,  bom  in  Scotland,  seemed  much  leas 
tnistworthy.  He  handled  the  dogs  as  his  namesake 
did  the  southron. 

"  Julv  10.— Dined  with  John  Swinton  enJamilU, 
He  tola  mo  an  odd  circumstance.  Commg  from 
Bermckshiro  in  the  mail-coach,  he  met  with  a  nas- 
senger  who  seemed  more  like  a  military  man  uiaa 
anv  thing  else.  They  talked  on  all  sorts  of  subjects, 
at  length  on  politics.  Malachi's  letters  were  men- 
tioneoi^  when  the  stranger  observed  they  were  much 
more  seditious  than  some  expressions  for  which  he 
had  three  or  four  years  ago  been  nearly  sent  to  Bot- 
any Bay.  And  perceiving  John  Swinton^s  surprise 
at  this  avowal,  he  added,!  am  Kioloch  of  Kinioch. 
This  gentleman  had  got  engaged  in  the  Radical 
business  (the  only  real  gentleman  bv  the  way  who 
did.)  and  harangued  the  weavers  of  Dundee  with 
such  exphasis,  that  he  would  have  been  tried  and 
sent  to  Botany  Bay,  had  he  not  fled  abroad.  He 
wasoudawed,  and  only  restored  to  his  estateaon 
a  composition  with  Government.  It  seems  to  have 
escaped  Mr.  Kinioch,  that  the  man  who  places  a 
Ugh  ted  coal  in  the  middle  of  combustibles  and  v^pcn 
the  floor,  acts  a  little  differently  from  him  who 
places  the  same  quantity  of  burning  fiiel  in  a  fire 
grate. 

"  July  13.— Dined  yesterday  with  Lord  Abercrom- 
by  at  a  party  he  gave  to  Lord  Melville  and  some  . 
old  friends,  who  formed  the  Contemporary  Club^ 
Lord  M.  and  I  met  with  considerable  feeling  oa 
both  sides,  and  all  our  feuds  were  forgotten  and  for- 
given ;  I  conclude  so  at  least,  because  one  or  two 
people,  whom  I  know  to  be  sharp  observes  of  the 
weather-glass  on  oceaeion  of  such  squalla,  have 
been  earnest  with  me  lo.  meet  him  at  parties— which 
I  am  well  assured  they  would  not  have  been  (had 
I  been  Horace  come  to  life  again)  were  they  not 
sure  the  breeze  was  over.  For  myself.  I  am  happy 
that  our  usual  state  of  friendship  should  be  restored,. 

*  Thomas  Hamilton,  E»q.— the  anthor  of  Cfril  Thornton— Men 
and  Manner!  in  America— Annals  of  the  Peoinfolar  Campaiacns* 
Ac.  &c. 

t  The  Highland  Widow.  ,      r\r\nlo 

Digitized  by  VjOOQ  IVl 


u9BOP«miWJULVBa»  Boom 


^ 


dwajn 


to  nmko  jiiTiiicicnL  wnch  is,^ ^_ 

th« diay  of  thencher tnd  mon  powtrfiilorthe two. 
ToHlar  I  leave  Mra.  Brown'a  lodginga.  1  have 
done  a  monstrotu  mjit  of  work  hero  ootwitkaiand- 
ing  the  indolence  of  this  last  week»  which  muat  and 
shall  be  amended. 

So  goo^bft  Mrs.  Brown, 

am  goiniE  out  of  town, 
Orer  (Ule,  over  down, 
Where  bugs  bite  not. 
Where  lodgers  fight  not. 
Where  below  you  chairmen  drink  not. 
Where  besido  you  gutters  stink  not ; 
But  all  is  fresh,  and  clear,  and  car, 
And  merry  lambkins  sport  and  play : 
And  th«v  toss  with  rakes  uncommonly  short  hay. 
Which  looks  as  if  U  had  been  sown  only  the  other  day. 
And  where  oats  are  at  twtfntv-five  shillings  a- boll,  they  say, 
Bui  all's  one  for  that,  stnce  1  mast  and  ^nUl  away. 

"  July  li.^Abbot^ord.  Any  body  would  think, 
from  the  fal-de-ral  conclusion  of  myjournalof  yes- 
terday, that  I  left  town  in  a  very  gay  humour— cu^im 
contrarium  verum  est.  But  nature  has  given  roe  a 
kind  of  buoyancy.  I  know  not  what  to  call  it,  that 
mingled  even  with  my  deepest  afflictions  and  most 
gloomy  hours.  I  have  a  secret  pride— I  fancy  it  will 
be  so  most  truly  termed,  which  impels  me  to  mix 
with  my  distresses  strange  snatches  of  mirth  *  which 
have  no  mirth  in  them.' 

"JMly  16.— Sleepy,  atopid,  indolent— finished  ar- 
ranging the  books,  and  after  that  was  totallv  useless 
— wklesa  it  can  be  called  atody  that  I  slumbCTed  for 
three  or  four  hours  over  a  variooim  edition  of  the 
Gill*s-Hill  tragedy.*  Admirable  escape  for  low  spir- 
its—for, not  to  mention  the  brutality  of  so  extraor- 
dinary a  murder,  it  led  John  Bull  mto  one  of  hia 
most  uncommon  fits  of  gambols,  uifTll  at  last  he 
became  so  maudlin  as  to  weep  for  the  pitiless  as- 
sassin, Thurtell.  and  treasure  up  the  leaves  and 
twigs  of  the  hedge  and  shrubs  in  the  fatal  garden 
as  valuable  relics,  nay,  thronged  the  minor  theatres 
lo  see  the  roan  horse  and  yellow  gig  in  which  his 
victim  was  transported  from  one  house  to  the  other. 
[  have  not  stept  over  ihb  threshold  to-day,  so  very 
stupid  have  I  been. 

"July  il.—DenduB  tcmdtm.  valtdixu—OnT  time 
is  like  our  money.  When  we  change  a  guinea,  the 
shillings  escape  as.thinga  of  small  account ;  when 
we  break  a  day  by  idleness  in  the  morning,  the  rest 
oi  the  boors  lose  their  importance  in  our  eye.  I  set 
stoutiy  about  saven  this  momiDg  to  Boney— 

And  lone  ere  dinner  time,  I  have 

Full  eij;ht  close  pages  wrote ; 
What.  Duty,  hast  thou  now  to  crave  1 

WeU  done  Sir  Walter  Scott ! 

"  Juijf  21.— To  Mertoun.  Lord,  and  Lady  Minto' 
ind  several  other  guests  were  there,  besides  their 
5  wn  large  family.  So  my  lodging  was  a  little  room 
which  I  had  not  occupied  since  I  was  a  bachelor, 
t>at  •fien  before  in  mv  frequent  tnterconrse  with  this 
^ind  and  hospitable  family.  Feeling  myself  return- 
ed to  that  celibacy  which  renders  many  accommo- 
Jationsindiflerent  which  bnt  lately  were  indispon- 
!ablt^  my  imagination  drew  a  melancholy  contrast 
between  the  voung  man  entering  the  world  on  fir^ 
for  fome,  ana  busied  in  imagining  means  of  coming 
)y  it,  and  the  aged  widower,  blaxi  on  the  point  of 
iterary  reputation,  deprived  of  the  social  comforts 
>f  a  married  state,  and"  looking  back  to  recrei  in- 
itead  of  looking  forward  to  hope.  This  brought  bad 
iloep  and  unpleasing  dreams.  But  if  I  cannot  hope 
to  be  what  I  have  been,  I  will  not,  if  1  can  help  if, 
lufier  vain  repining  to  make  me  worse  than  I  may 

•  The  murdef  of  Weare  br  Tbnrtcll  and  Co.  at  OiD'a  Ilili.  in 
ff  rrUc>rdiihire.  Sir  Walter  collected  printed  trials  with  great  awi- 
iuity,  and  took  can*  always  to  have  the  contemporary  bulladu 
md  prints  bound  up  with  tbem.  He  admixed  particularl/  this 
rena  of  Mr.  Hook'i  broadside— 

••  Tbef  cut  hia  thro*t  (Vow  ear  u  tar, 
Hi*  braiHi  th«7  bxtttrer  in  ; 
BU  naire  «»•  Mr  WilliBin  Weare, 
Ut  dwalt  ia  Lyoo's  Ino." 


40»: 

ht.  We  laft  MwttKai  after  hreikfttt,  and  tHat^d 
Anoea  and  I  visited  Lady  Raebnm  at  Lesandden. 
My  aunt  ie  now  in  her  ninetieth  yeaar— so  clean,  so 
nice,  ao  well  arranged  in  every  respect,  that  it  makes 
old  age  lovely.  She  talks  both  of  late  and  former 
events  with  peifect  possession  of  her  faculties,  and 
has  onlv  foiled  in  her  hmbs.  A  great  deal  of  kind 
feeling  has  survived,  in  spile  of  the  frost  of  years. 
Hpme  to  dinner  ancLworked  all  the  afternoon  among 
the  Moniteura— to  little  purpose,  for  my  principal 
acquisition  was  a  headach. 

"  Juhf  94— At  dinner-time  to*day  oame  Dr.  Jamie- 
aon*  of  the  Scottish  Dictionary,  an  excellent  good 
man,  and  full  of  auld  Scotiiah  cracks,  whic^  amoae 
me  well  enough,  but  are  oariare  to  the  young  people. 

'*  July  26.— This  day  went  to  Selkirk,  to  hold  a 
court.  The  Doctor  chose  to  go  with  me.  Action 
and  reaction— Scots  proverb—*  The  unrest  ft.  a. 
pendulum)  of  a  clock  gangs  aye  aa  far  the  ae  gait 
as  the  t'other.' 

"  July  27.— Up  and  at  it  this  morning,  and  finish* 
ed  four  pagea.  An  unpleasant  letter  from  London, 
as  if  I  m»ht  be  troubled  by  some  of  the  creditors 
there,  if  Ishould  go  up  to  get  materials  for  Nap.  I 
have  no  wiah  to  go— none  at  all.  I  woukl  even  like 
to  put  off  ray  visit,  so  far  as  John  Lockhart  and  my 
daughter  are  concerned,  and  see  them  when  the 
meeting  could  be  more  pleaaant.  But  then,  having 
an  offer  to  see  the  correspondence  from  Sl  Helena, 
I  can  make  no  doubt  that  I  ought  to  go.  However, 
if  it  is  to  mfer  any  danger  to  my  personal  freedom, 
English  wind  shall  not  blow  on  me.  It  ia  moa- 
strona  hard  to  prevent  me  doing  what  ia  certainly 
the- beat  for  all  parties. 

*'Jufy  28.— I  am  well  nigh  choked  with  the 
sulphurous  heat  of  the  weather— and  my  hand  is  aa 
nervous  as  a  paralvtic^s.  Read  through  and  correct- 
ed Saint  Roaan's  Well  I  am  no  judge,  but  I  think 
the  language  of  this  piece  rather  good.  Then  I 
must  allow  the  fashionable  portraita  are  not  the  true 
thing.  I  am  too  much  out  of  the  way.  The  atory 
is  horribly  contorted  and  unnatural,  and  the  catas- 
trophe is  melancholy,  which  should  alwaya  be 
avoided.    No  msttcr,  I.  have  oorrected  it  for  the 

f»res8.t    Walter's  account  of  his  various  quarters  per 
ast  despatch.  'Query  if  original 

*LoughrlQ  is  a  blackguard  place, 

To  Gort  1  five  ray  curse : 
Athlone  itself  U  bad  enough, 

But  Ballinrobe  is  worse. 
I  cannot  tell  which  is  the  worat, 

The»'re  all  ao  very  bad,  ' 
But  oi  all  towns  I  ever  saw, 

Bad  luck  to  Kinnegad.' 

**  Aueuat  1.— Yesterday  evening  I  took  to  arrang- 
ing old  plays,  and  scrambled  through  two.  One, 
called  Michadmas  Term,  full  of  traits  of  manners; 
and  another  a  isort  of  bouncmg  tragedy,  called  the 
Hector  of  Germany,  or  the  Palsgrave.  The  last, 
worthless  in  the  extreme,  is  like  many  of  the  plays 
in  the  beginning  of  the  17th  centurv,  written  to  a  ' 
good  tunc.  The  dramatic  poets  of  that  time  seein 
to  have  po98es$ed  as  joint-stock  a  highly  poetical* 
and  abstract  ton^  of  language,  so  that  the  worst  of 
them  remind  you  of  the  very  best  The  audience 
must  have  had  a  much  stronger  sense  of  poetry  in 
those  days  than  in  ours,  since,  language  waa  receiv- 
ed and  applauded  at  the  Fortune  or  the  Red  BuIL 
which  could  not  now  be  understood  by  any  general 
audience  in  Great  Britain.    Now  to  work. 

"  August  2.— I  finished  before  dinner  five  leaves, 
and  1  would  crow  a  little  about  it,  but  here  comea 
Duty  like  an  old  housekeeper  to  an  idle  chamber- 
maid.   Hear  her  very  word  p. 

"  Duty.  Oh  !  you  crow,  do  you  1  Pray,  can  you 
deny  that  your  £>iiting  so  quiet  at  work  was  owing 

*  Tbe  Teaerable  Icxicof  rapher  oAen  had  loikin^  near  Abbolv 
ford  in  tbe  Bnglinfr  wason,  beinir  atiii  st-tf  fund  ot  that  gport. 

'  This  Novel,  waa  i^mioc  thruugb  the  press  in  Sto,  I9nxs  tod 
ISmo,  t»  complete collecUve  editions  ii^it|gi^i^f^4p^O no 


UFB  OF  SIS  WMJ8BBS(Xm. 


to  U«  raimng  heavly  all  the  forenoon,  and  indeed 
till  diAner-timei  so  that  nothing  would  have  stiired 
out  thai  could  help  it  save  a  duck  or  a  Rooael  I 
trow,  if  it  had  been  a  fine  day,  by  noon  there  would 
have  been  aching  of  the  head,  throbbing,  shaking, 
and  so  forth,  to  make  an  apology  for  going  out. 

"  Egomet  Ipst,  And  whose  head  ever  throbbed 
to  go  out  when  it  rained*,  Mrs.  Duty  1 

"  Duty.  Answer  not  to  me  witk  a  fool-bom  Jest^ 
as  your  friend  Rrskine  used  to  say  to  you  when  you 
escaped  from  his  good  advice  under  the  fire  of  some 
silly  pun.  You  smoke  a  cigar  after  dinner,  and  I 
never  check  you— drink  tea,  too^  which  is  loss  of 
time;  and  then,  instead  of  writmg  ine  one  other 
page,  or  correcting  those  you  have  written  out,  you 
roUock  into  the  woods  till  jou  have  net  a  dry  thread 
about  you ;  and  here  you  sit  writing  down  my  words 
in  your  foolish  journal  instead  of  minding  my  advice. 

"  Ego.  ^  Why,  Mrs.  Duty,  I  would  as  gladly  be 
friends  with  you  as  Crabbe's  tradesman  fellow  with 
his  conscience  ;*  but  you  should  have  some  consid- 
eration with  human  frailty. 

"  Duty.  Reckon  not  on  that.  But,  however,  good 
night  for  the  present  I  would  recommend  to  you 
to  think  no  thoughts  in  which  I  am  not  mingled— 
to  read  no  books  in  which  I  have  no  concern— to 
write  three  sheets  of  botheration  all  the  six  days  of 
the  week  per  diem,  andon  the  aevenih  to  send  them 
to  the  pnnter.  Thus  advising,  I  heartily  bid  you 
farewell. 

*Ego.  Farewell,  madam  {exit  Dctv) and 


be  d d  to  ye  for  an  unreasonable  bitch  !  'The 

devil  must  be  m  this  greedy  gled !'   as  the  Earl  of 
AogiLB  said  to  his  hawk ;  '  will  she  never  be  satis- 

"  Augtut  3.— Wrote  half  a  task  in  the  morning. 
From  eleven  till  half-past  eight  in  Selkirk  taking 
precognitions  about  a  row,  and  came  home  famish- 
ed and  tired.  Now,  Mrs.  Duty,  do  you  think  tlfere 
is  no  other  Duty  of  the  family  but  yourself?  Or  can 
the  Sheriff-depute  neglect  his  Duty,  that  the  author 
may  mind  his  ?  The  thing  cannot  be ;  iho  people  of 
Selkirk  must  have  Justice  as  well  as  the  people  of 
England  books.  So  the  two  Duties  may  go  pull- 
caps  about  it.    My  conscience  is  clear. 

**  August  6.— Wrote  to-day  a  very  good  day's 
work.  Walked  to  Chiefswood,  and  saw  old  Mrs. 
Tytler,  a  friend  when  life  was  young.  Her  husband, 
Lord  VYoodhouselee,  was  a  kind,  amiable,  and  ac- 
complished man;  and  when  we  lived  at  Lasswade 
Cottage,  soon  after  my  marriage,  we  saw  a  great 
deal  of  the  family,  who  were  very  kind  to  us  as 
newly  entered  on  the  world.  How  many  early  sto- 
ries aid  the  old  lady's  presence  recall.  She  might 
almost  be  my  mother;  yet  there  we  sat,  like  two 
people  of  another  generation,  talking  of  things  and 
peojile  the  rest  knew  nothing  of  when  a  certain 
period  of  life  is  over,  the  difference  of  vears,  even 
when  considerable,  becomes  of  much  less  conse- 
quence. 

"  August  10.— Rose  early,  and  wrote  hard  till 
two,  when  I  went  with  Anne  to  Minto.  I  must  not 
let  her  quite  forego  the  custom  of  good  society.  We 
found  the  Scotis  of  Harden,  &c.,  and  had  a  very 
pleasant  party.  I  like  Lady  M.  particularly,  but 
missed  my  facetious  and  lively  friend,  Lady  Anna 
Maria.  It  is  the  fashion  of  some  silly  women  and 
silly  men  to  abuse  her  as  a  bluestocking.  If  to  have 
good  sense  and  good-humour,  mixed  with  a  strong 
power  of  observing,  and  an  equally  strong  one  oT 
expressing— if  of  this  the  result  must  be  blue,  she 
shall  be  as  blue  as  they  will.  Such  cant  is  the  re- 
fuge of  fools  who  fear  those  who  can  turn  them 
mio  ridicule  :  it  is  a  common  trick  to  revenge  sup- 
posed raillery  with  good  substantial  calumny.  Slept 
at  Mm  to. 

"August  11.— I  was  up  as  usual,  and  wrote  about 
two  leaves,  meaning  to  finish  my  task  at  home ; 

!  55?^«W»l5  Tiile  of  ••  The  Stranic*  of  Consoienee." 

t  See  Tales  of  a  Qnuidlkther,  and  MucdlaMotta  Prow  Works. 


bittliMinid  «y  ShflriftmlMlkaMhOTBOB  anr  MU 
which  lookup  the  evening.    Bni  I  sImU  mudk 


volume  in  leas  than  a  month  after  beginnbiff  it. 
The  aaofie  exertion  woakl  bring  the  book  out  at 
Martinnras,  bst  December  is  a  better  time. 

**  August  14.— Finished  Vol.  IV.  yesterday  even- 
ing-/>eo  gratias.  This  morning  I  was  seized  with 
a  fit  of  the  clevers  and  finished  my  taak  by  twelve 
o'clock,  and  hope  to  add  something  in  the  evening. 
I  was  guilty,  however,  of  some  waywardness,  for 
I  began  Vol.  V.  of  Boney  instead  of  carrying  on 
the  Canongate  as  I  proposed.  The  reason,  how- 
ever, was  that  I  might  not  forget  the  information  I 
had  acquired  about  the  treaty  of  Amiens. 

^''August  16.— Walter  and  Jane  arrived  last  night. 
God  be  praised  for  restoring  to  me  my  dear  chiU^ren 
in  good  health,  which  has  made  n^e  happier  than 
any  thing  that  has  happened  theee  several  months. 
If  we  had  Lockhart  and  Sophia  these  would  be  « 
meeting  of  the  beings  dearest  to  me  in  life.    Walked 

to ^  where  I  find  a  certain  lady  on  a  vitit 

—90  youthv,  so  beautiful,  so  strong  in  voice— with 
sense  and  learning— above  all,  so  fond  of  good  con- 
versation, that,  in  compassion  to  rov  eyes,  ears,  and 
understanding,  ofi^Iboltj^d  in  the  middle  oi  a  tremen- 
dous shower  of  rain,  and  rather  choae  to  be  wet  to 
the  skin  than  to  be  bethumped  with  words  at  that 
rate.— In  the  evening  we  had  music  from  the  girU, 
and  the  voice  of  the  harp  and  viol  were  heard  in 
my  halls  once  mora  which  have  been  so  ioi^  de- 
prived of  mirth,  it  is  with  a  mixed  aeneation  I 
hear  these  sounds.  I  look  on  my  children  and  «m 
happy ;  and  yet  every  now  and  then  a  pang  ahoots 
across  my  heart. 

A*i  K  -i  ^i  I  ^  -  -  k  i  I F  ^  i\i  L-  ming  wrote  none  except- 
iuL:  irxiracT'^,  ^c,  being  under  the  necessity  of  read- 
in.L^  and  coll  mine  a  grcjil  deal,  which  lasted  till  one 
o'clock  orih- n-aouuiP,  when  Dr.  and  Mrs.  Brewster 
and  iheir  yoajitE^  [leoplf  en  me  to  spend  a  day  of  hap- 
pinesB  nlifie  Lnke.  Vvo  were  met  there  by  Captain 
and  Mfp*  Han^ihi^n,  and  a  full  party.  Since  the 
days  of  ^t^l^L'LJ',  Enjperof  of  Ethiopia,  these  days  of 
appoititod  Fptjrt  ami  happiness  have  seldom  answer 
ed  ;  but  wi?  cunieolTLj nil n'erently  well.  We  did  not 
iuiiued  catch  much  hsh:  but  we  lounged  about  in 
a  delightful  day,  eat  and  drank— and  the  children, 
who  are  very  fine  infantry,  were  clamorously  enjoy- 
ing themselves.  We  sounded  the  loch  in  two  or 
three  different  places— the  deepest  may  be  sixty  feeL 
I  was  accustomed  to  think  it  much  more,  bnt  your 
deepest  pools,  like  your  deep&Bt  politicians  and  phi- 
losophers, often  turn  out  more  shallow  than  was 
expected. 

"  August  23,  Biitocf^S'bridge.—Set  off'early  with 
Walter,  Charles,  and  ladies,  in  the  sociable,  to  make 
•  trip  to  Drumlanrig.  We  breakfasted  at  Mr. 
Boyd^s,  Broad  meadows,  and  were  received  with 
Yarrow  hospitality.  From  thence  climbed  the  Yar- 
row, and  skirted  Saint  Mary's  Lake,  and  ascended 
the  Birkhill  path,  under  the  moist  and  nfisty  ioftn* 
ence  of  the  genius  loci.  Never  mind,  my  oonops- 
nions  were  merry  and.1  cheerful.  When  old  people 
can  be  ^%ith  the  young  without  fatigning  them  or 
themselves,  their  teinpers  derive  the  same  benefits 
which  some  fantastic  physicians  of  old  supposed 
accrued  to  their  constitutions  from  the  breath  of  the 
voung  and  healthy.  You  have  not— cannot  again 
have,  their  gaiety  or  pleasure  in  seeing  sights,  hnt 
still  It  reflects  itself  upon  you,  and  you  are  cheered 
and  comforted.  Our  luncheon  eaten  intheheid's 
cottage ;  but  the  poor  woman  saddened  mo-  nn- 
awarea,  by  asking  for  poor  Charlotte,  whom  she 
had  often  seen  there  with  me.  She  put  me  in  mind 
that  I  had  come  twice  over  those  nills  and  bogs 
with  a  wheel-carriage,  before  the  road,  now  an  ex- 
cellent one,  was  made.  I  knew  it  was  true,  but,  on 
my  soul,  looking  where  we  must  have  gone,  I  could 
hardly  believe  I  had  been  such  a  fool.  For  riding, 
pass  if  you  will;  but  to  put  one's  neck  in  such  a 
ventiure  with  a  wheel-carnage  was  too  silly. 

'*  Drumlanrig^  i^gf|'||  t?^tl^'^  vinona  does 


um  oPiUR  wAur»  aqott. 


BOt  thia  BiMgnifieeBt  M  houM  brbff  Imok  to  me!  i 
Tbe  exif  lior  js  much  improved  sinioe  I  first  knew  it. 
It  was  then  m  the  state  of  dilapidation  to  which  it 

had  been  abandoned  py  the  celebrated  old  d ^ 

and  was  indeed  scarce  vnnd  and  watertight.  Then 
the  whole  wood  had  been  felled,  and  the  outrafced 
eastle  stood  in  the  midst  of  waste  and  desolation, 
excepting  a  few  scattered  old  stumps,  not  judged 
worth  the  cutting.  Now,  the  whole  has  been;  ten 
or  twelve  years  since,  completely  replanted,  ana  the 
scattered  seniors  look  as  graceful  as  fathers  sur- 
rounded by  their  children.  The  face  of  this  im- 
mense estate  has  been  scarcely  less  wonderfully 
changed.  The  scrambling  tenants,  who  held  a  pre- 
carious tenure  of  lease  under  the  Duke  of  Queens- 
berry,  at  the  risk  (as  actuallv  took  place)  of  losing 
their  possession  at  his  death,  have  fdven  room^o 
skilful  men,  working  their  farms  regularly,  and  en- 
joying comiortable  bouses,  at  a  rent  whicjii  is  enough 
to  forbid  idleness,  but  not  to  overpowei  mdustry. 

"August  26l— The  Duke  has  grown  up  into  a 
graceful  and  apparently  strong  young  man,  and  re- 
edved  ns  most  kindly.  I  think  he  will  be  well  quali- 
fied to  sustain  his  difficult  and  important  usk. 
The  heart  is  excellent,  so  are  the  talents,— good 
sense  and  knowledge  of'  the  world,  picked  up  at  one 
of  the  great  English  schools,  (and  it  is  one  of  their 
moat  important  results,)  will  prevent  him  from  being 
deeeivca ;  and  with  perfect  good-nature,  he  has  a 
natara?  '■<■■■■  .-,r  v*>  r  ■.>,■-,  ^^:fo«f-„..-  -mAa^^.  n""  ^.ep 
him  from  rissi^LiLLitLri^  wvAi  uwwotihy  cXiUiiKiiwrns. 
God  bles9  him]  hi^  hihct  and  I  bv^d  «ac-h  i^ujer 
well,  and  his  htautiful  mother  had  qs  much  or  [be 
angel  as  ia  permitted  to  walkfhia  «&rth.  I  8ei?  the 
balcon/  from  which  ibty  w*lcom<Kl  poor  Chiirkiite 
and  me,  long  ^e  the  afici^mi,  wa»  sutmouTiTcd, 
stream iitF^  out  ihtnr  white  handkerthiefj^  from  cbe 
battlenientji.  Thero  wt^re  _fpwr  mt^rry  pefH'!''  tl'ai 
day— n^^w  <irip  nnri  individual  in  ntl  mai  r  ■  r  is. 
Singula  prmduntur  annl.  I  had  a  loofi  v.ojJk  lo- 
day  through  the  new  plantations,  the  Duchess's 
Walk  by  the  Nith,  Ac.  (formed  by  Prior's  *  Kitty 
yonn^  and  gay;')  fell  in  with  the  ladies,  but  then* 
donkiea  outwalked  me— a  flock  of  shc^  afterwards 
outwalked  me,  and  I  begsti  to  think,  on  my  .con- 
science, that  a  snail  pot  in  training  might  soon  out- 
walk me.  I  must  lay  the  old  salve  to  the  old  sore, 
and  be  thankful  for  being  able  to  walk  at  all.  Noth- 
og  was  written  to-day,  my  writing-desk  having 
been  forgot  at  Parkgate,  but  Tom  Cnchton  fetched 
it  up  to-day,  so  something  mor^or  less  maybe  done 
to-morrow  morning— and  now  to  dress. 

"BUtoek •'bridge^  August  26.— We  took  our  de- 
paruire  from  the  friendly  halls  of  Drumlanrig  this 
mornm^  after  breakfast.  1  trust  this  young  noble- 
man will  be 

*•  A  hedse  about  his  friendt, 
A  baclueto  bis  foes.' 

I  would  have  him  not  ouite  so  soft-natured  as  his 
grandfather,  whose  kindness  sometimes  mastered* 
his  excellent  understatiding.  His  father  had  a  tem- 
per which  better  lumped  with  nw  humour.  Enough 
of'ill-natnre  to  Keep  yomr  good-nature  from  being 
abused,  is  no  bad  ingredient  m  their  dispositk>n  who 
have  favours  to  bestow. 

"  Id  coming  from  Parkgate  here  I  intended  to  ac- 
complish a  purpose  whicn  I  have  for  some  years 
eote^tained,  of  visiting  Loch  wood,  the  ancient  seat 
of  the  Johnstones,  of  which  King  James  said,  when 
he  visited  it,  that  the  man  who  built  it  must  have 
been  a  thief  in  his  heart.  It  rained  heavily,  how- 
ever, which  prevented  my  making  this  excursion, 
and  indeed  I  rather  over-walked  myself  yesterday, 
and  have  occasion  for  rest. 

*  So  sit  down,  Robin,  and  rest  thee' 

"  Abhot^ord^  August  27.— To-day  we  journeyed 
through  the  hills  and  amongst  the  storms;  the 
weather  rather  bullying  than  bad.  We  viewed  the 
Crfey  Mare's  Tail,  and  I  still  felt  confident  in  crawl- 
ing along  the  ghastly  bank,  by  which  you  approach 
the  fall.  •!  will  certainly  get  some  road  of  applica- 


tion to  Mr.  Hope  J<AB«tone  Id  pray  him  to  majte 
the  place  accesaible.  Wo  got  home  before  half-|>aat 
four,  having  travelled  forty  miles. 

"  Blair- Adam,  August  28.— Set  off  with  Waller 
and  Jane  at  seven  o^lock,  and  reached  this  place 
in  the  middle  of  dinner-time.  By  some  of  my  pot 
unusual  blunders  we  had  come  a  day  before  we  were 
expected.  Luckily,  in  this  ceremonious  generation, 
there  are  still  houses  where  such  blunders  only  caoee 
a  little  raillery,  and  Blair- Adam  is  one  of  them.  My 
excellent  Triend  is  in  high  health  and  spirits,  to 
which  the  presence  of  Sir  Frederick  adds  not  a  lit- 
tle. His  Isdy  is  here— a  beautiful  woman,  whose 
countenance  realizes  all  the  poetic  dreams  of  Byron. 
There  is  certainly  something  of  full  maturity  of 
beauty  which  seems  framed  to  be  adoring  and  ador- 
ed, and  it  is  to  be  found  in  the  full  dark  eye,  luxuriant  , 
tresses,  and  rich  complexion  of  Greece  and  not 
among  *  the  pale  unripened  beauties  of  the  north.' 
What  sort  of  a  mind  this  exquisite  casket  may  con- 
tain, is  not  so  easily  known.  She  is  anxious  to 
please,  and  willing  to  be  pleased,  and,  with  her 
striking  beauty,  cannot  fail  to  succeed. 

"  August  29.— Besides  Mrs.  and  Admiral  Adam, 
Mrs.  Loch,  and  Miss  Adam,  I  find  here  Mr.  Impey 
sdn  of  that  Sir  Elijah  celebrated  In  Indian  history. 
He  has  himself  been  in  India,  but  has,  with  a  great 
deal  of  sense  and  observation,  much  better  address 
than  always  falls  to  the  share  of  the  Eastern  adven- 
turer. The  art  of  qitiet,  easy,  eniettaining  conver- 
sation is,  I  think,  chiefly  known  in  England.  In 
Scotland  we  are  pedantic  and  wrangle,  or  we  run 
away  with  the  harrows  on  some  topic  we  chance  to 
be  discursive  upon.  In  Ireland  they  have  too  much 
vivacity,  and  are  too  desirous  to  make  a  show,  to 
preserve  the  golden  mean.  They  are  the  Gascons 
of  Britain.  GTeorge  Ellis  was  the  first  converser  I 
ever  knew  I  his  patience  and  good-breeding  made 
me  often  ashamed  of  myself  going  off  at  score  upon 
some  favourite  topic.  Kichara  Sharp  is  so  celebra- 
ted for  this  peculiar  gift  as  to  be  generally  called 
Conversation  Sharp.  The  worst  of  this  talent  is, 
that  it  seems  to  lack  sincerity.  You  never  know 
what  are  the  real  sentiments  of  a  good  converser, 
or  at  least  it  is  very  difiicult  to  discover  in  what  ex- 
tent he  entertains  them.  His  politeness  is  incon- 
sistent with  ener»^.  For  forming  a  good  converser, 
good  taste  and  extensive  information  and  accom- 
plishment are  the  princioal  requisites,  to  which  must 
be  added  an  easv  and  elegant  delivery,  and  a  well- 
toned  voice.  I  think  the  higher  order  of  genius  is 
not  favourable  to  this  talent. 

"Thorough  decided  downfall  of  rain.  Nothing 
for  it  but  patience  and  proof-sheets. 

"  August  30.— The  weather  scarce  permitted  us 
more  licenft  than  yesterday,  yet  we  went  down  to 
Lochore,  and  Walter  and  I  perambulated  the  pro- 
perty, and  discussed  the  necessity  of  a  new  road 
from  the  south-west,  also  that  of  planting  some 
willows  along  the  ditches  in  the  low  grounds.  Re- 
turned to  Blair- Adam  to  dinner. 

"  Abbotsford.  August  3L— Left  Blair  at  seven  iii 
the  morning.  Transacted  business  with  Cadell  and 
Ballantyne.    Arrived  here  at  eight  o'clock  at  night. 

"  September  6.— Walter  being  to  return  to  Ireland 
for  three  week&  set  off  to-day,  and  has  taken  Charles 
with  him.  I  fear  this  is  but  a  wild  plan,  but  the 
prospect  seemed  to  make  them  so  happy,  that  I 
could  not  find  in  my  heart  to  say  'No.'  So  away 
they  went  this  morning  to  be  as  happy  as  they  can. 
Youth  is  a  fine  carver  and  gilder.  I  had  a  letter 
from  Jem  Ballantyne,  plague  on  him !  full  of  re- 
monstrance, deep  and  solemn.  Upon  the  carelessness 
of  Buonaparte.  The  rogue  is  right,  too.  But,  as  to 
correcting  my  style,  to  the 

*  Jenmay  jemmy  linkam  feedle' 

tune  of  what  is  called  fine  writing,  I'll  be  d d  if  I 

do.  Drew  L.12  in  favour  of  Charles  for  his  Irish 
jaunt;  same  time  exhorted  him  to  make  himself  as 
expensive  to  Walter,  in  the  way  of  eating  and 
drinking,  aa  he  could.       digitized  by  ^OOglC 


xjv%0FsaLWAucm^$ctnvi 


^SepHmber  8.~9ir  Froderid(  Adam  deeply  re- 
grets the  preiient  Ghreek  war,  as  prematurely  onder- 
taken  before  knowledge  and  rational  edocation  had 
ttZtendBd  themaelves  sufficiently.  The  nei^bbour- 
hood  of  the  Ionian  Islands  was  fast  producing  civi- 
lisation ;  and  aa  knowledge  is  power,  it  is  clear  that 
example  and  opportunities  of  education  must  soon 
have  given  them  an  immense  euperioriiy  over  the 
Turk.  This  premature  war  has  thrown  all  back  in- 
to a  state  ot  barbarism.  It  was,  I  cannot  doubt, 
precipitated  by  the  ajfents  of  Russia.  Sir  Frederick 
spoke  most  highly  of  Byron,  the  soundness  of  his 
▼lews,  the  respect  in  which  he  was  held— his  just 
ideas  of  the  Grecian  cause  and  chal-acter,  and  ibe 
practical  and  rational  wishes  he  formed  for  them. 
Smgular  that  a  man  whose  conduct  in  his  own  per- 
sonal ftffairs  had  been  any  thing  but  practical  should 
be  thus  able  to  stand  by  the  helm  of  a  sinking  state! 
Sir  Frederick  thinks  he  might  have  done  much  for 
them  if  he  had  lived.  ^  The  rantipole  friends  of  liber- 
ty, who  ^o  about  freeing  nations  with  the  same  suc- 
cess which  Don  Quixote  had  in  redressing  wrongs, 
have,  of  course,  blundered  every  thing  wnich  they 
touched.    Task  bang-up. 

",  September  12.— I  begin  to  fear  Nap  will  swell  to 
seven  Volumes.  I  had  a  long  letter  from  James  B., 
threatening  me  with  eight ;  but  that  is  impossible. 
The  event  of  his  becoming  Emperor  is  the  central 
point  of  his  history.  Now  I  have  just  attained  it, 
and  it  is  the  centre  of  the  third  volume.  Two 
volumes  and  a  half  may  be  necessary  to  complete 
the  whole.— As  I  slept  for  a  few  minutes  in  my 
chair,  to  which  I  am  more  addicted  than  1  could 
wish,  I  heard,  as  I  thought,  my  poor  wi/e  call  me 
by  the  familiar  name  of  fondness  which  she  gave 
me.  My  recollections,  on  waking  were  melancnoly 
enough.    These  be 

*The  airy  tongues  that  syllable  men's  namesi' 

All,  I  believe,  have  some  natural  desire  to  consider 
these  unusual  impressions  as  bodements  of  good  or 
evil  to  come.  But  alas!  this  is  a  prejudice  of  our 
own  conceit.  They  are^  the  empty  echoes  of  what 
is  past,  not  the  foreboding  voice  of  things  to  come. 

*^  September  13.— Wrote  my  task  in  the  mivnn^', 
and  thereai^er  had  a  letter  from  ihut  aEigi   Vvwv- 

counsellor .    He  propoBi?s  to  m*^  thut  I  «tioH 

propose  to  the of ,  and  oiJura  hi?  o'^n 

right  honourable  intervention  lo  brinL;  en  benudful 
»  Dusiness  to  bear.  I  am  struck  dumh— ah^ulurply 
mute  and  speechless— and  how  lo  prevent  him  inalt- 
mg  me  farther  a  fool  is  not  ea't^^  for  he  baa  U-ft  me 
no  time  to  assure  him  of  the  ahBurdJEy  of  what  lie 
proposes;  and  if  he  should  eve  r  bint  at  stuch  n  piece 
of  d— d  impertinence,  what  mu^^t  rht-  fady  ihink  of 
my  conceit  or  of  my  feelings!  I  will  wHle  lo  his 
present  quarters,  however,  that  ^lo  may»  ifpoeiihlf, 
have  warning  not  to  continue  thU  absurdity.* 

**  September  14.— 1  should  not  have  forgotten, 
among  the  memorabilia  of  yesterday,  that  two 
young  Frenchmen  made  their  way  to  our  sublime 
presence,  in  guerdon  of  a  laudatory  copy  of  French 
verses  sent  up  the  evening  before,  by  way  of  *  Open 
Sesamum,'  I  suppose.  I  have  not  read  them,  nor 
ahall  I.   No  man  that  ever  wrote  a  line  despised  the 

rip  of  praise  so  heartily  as  I  do.  There  is  nothing 
scorn  more,  except  those  who  think  the  ordinary 
sort  of  praipe  or  censure  is  matter  of  the  least  con- 
sequence.. People  have  almost  always  some  private 
view  of  distinguishing  themaelvess  or  of  gratifying 
their  animosity— some  point,  in  short,  to  carry,  with 
which  you  have  no  relation— when  they  take  the 
trouble  ig  praise  you.  In  general,  it  is  their  purpose 
to  get  the  person  praised  to  puff  away  in  return. 
To  me  their  rank  praises  no  more  make  amends  for 
their  bad  poetry  than  tainted  butter  would  pass  off 
stale  fish. 

•  Lady  Sootl  hid  not  been  quitofbur  montlw  dead,  and  the 
emiF  «f  the  pivceJing  day  nhows  Iraw  extremely  ill-timed  \va« 
tMi  Oomiminication,  from  a  fcntleraan  with  whom  Sir  Walter 
had  never  hnd  any  inlimary.  This  wm  nc»t  the  only  proiMsitioo 
ortJ»  kind  that  roacbod  Wm  daring  hit  \vi<io^'hood.  In  the  pre- 
■ont  ease  there  waa  very  bi«h  rank  and  an  ample  Ibrtane. 


'*  September  iT.^Riiffaer  mirpnaed  wMi  a  teM 
from  Lord  Melville,-  ififorminft  me  he  and  llr.  Feel 
had  put  me  into  the  Commiasion  for  enquinitfr  inM 
the  conditkm  of  the  Colleffea  in  Scotland.  I  know 
Uttle  on  the  snbjeet,  but  I  dare  say  as  much  as  eome 
of  the  official  persona  who  are  mseried  of  course. 
The  want  ofefncient  men  Is  the  reason  allied.  I 
muet  of  courae  do  my  best,  though  I  have  littte  hope 
of  being  useful,  andf  the  time  it  wdt  occupy  !»  half 
ruinous  to  me,  to  whom  time  is  every  thin^.  Be- 
sides, I  suppose  the  honour  is  partly  meant  as  an 
act  of  grace  for  Malachi. 

*^  Jedburgh,  September  19.— Circuit.  Went  to 
poor  Mr.  Shortre^d's  and  regretted  bitterly  the  dis- 
tress of  the  family,  though  they  endeavoured  to 
bear  it  bravely  and  to  iriake  my  reception  as  com- 
fortable and  cheerful  as  possible.  My  old  friend  R. 
S.  gave  me  a  ring  found  m  a  grave  at  the  Abbey,  to 
be  kept  in  memory  of  his  son.  I  will  certainly  pre- 
serve it  with  especial  care.* 

"  Many  trifles  at  circuity  chiefly  owing  to  the  cheap 
whisky,  as  they  were  almost  all  riotSk  One  case  of 
an  assault  on  a  deaf  and  dumb  woman.  She  mmm 
herself  the  chief  evidence ;  but  being  totally  withosi 
education,  and  having,  from  her  sitaation,  very  im- 
perfect nottoosof  a  Deny  and  a  foture  state,  no  oath 
could  be  administered.  Mr.  Kimubuigh,  teacher  of 
the  deaf  aod  dumb,  was  sworn  intarpreter,  together 
with  another  person  her  neighbour,  who  knew  Uaa 
accidental  or  conventional  signs  which  the  poos> 
thing  had  invented  for  herself,  na  Mr.  K.  was  sup- 
posed to  understand  tbe  more  general  or  nialural 
signs  common  to  people  in  sucn  a  sitaation.  He 
went  through  the  task  with  much  addtesa,  and  it 
was  wonderful  to  see  them-  make  themselves  tntel- 
liable  to  each  other  by  mere  pantomime.  Still  I 
did  not  consider  snch  evidence  as  much  to  be  truste- 
ed to  on  a  criminal  case.  Several  previous  inter- 
views had  been  necessary,  between  the  interpreter 
and  the  witnessi  and  this  is  verv  much  like  getting 
up  a  story.  Some  of  the  signs,  brief  in  themselves, 
of  which  Mr.  K.  gave  long  interpretations,  put  me 
in  mind  of  Lord  Burleigh  in  the  Oitic.  '  Did  he 
mean  all  this  by  a  shake  of  the  head  V  '  Yea,  if  he 
shook  his  head  as  I  taught  him.'  The  man  wae 
found  not  guilty.  Mr.  K.  told  us  of  a  pupal  of  his 
whom  he  restored,  as  it  may  be  said,  to  humsnitr. 
and  who  told  him  that  his  ideas  of  another  world 
were  that  some  great  person  in  the  skies  ligbied  ap 
the  sun  in  the  morning  as  he  saw  his  mother  liiut 
a  fire,  and  the  stars  in  the  evening  as  she  kindled  a 
lamp.  He  said  ihe  witnees  had  ideaa  of  truth  and 
falsehood,  which  was,  1  believe,  true;  and  that  she 
had  an  idea  of  punishment  in  a  future  state,  wfaicn 
1  doubt.  He  confessed  she  could  not  ^ive  anv 
guess  at  its  duration,  whether  temporary  or  etemaf. 
Dined  of  course  with  Lord  Mackenzie  the  Judge. 

"  September  20.— Waked  after  a  restleas  night, 
in  which  I  dreamed  of  poorvTom  Shcfrtreed.  Break- 
fasted with  the  Rev.  Dr.  Somerville.  This  veoe^ 
rable  gentleman  is  one  of  the  oldest  of  the  literary 
brotherhood,— I  suppose  about  eighty-seven,t  and 
except  a  little  deafnefs,  quite  entire.  Living  ail  his 
life  in  good  society  as  a  gentleman  bom— and  hav- 
ing, besides,  professional  ealla  to  make  among  the 
poor— he  must  know,  of  course,  much  thatiscnriofis 
concerning  the  momentoua  changes  which  have 
passed  under  his  eyes.  He  talked  of  them  accord- 
ingly, and  has  wntien  something  on  the  subject, 
but  nas  scarce  the  force  necessary  tp  seize  on  the 
most  striking  points.  The  bowl  that  rolls  easiest 
along  the  fpreen  goes  farthest,  and  has  least  olay 
sticking  to  It  I  have  often  noticed  that  a  kindly, 
placid  good -humouris  the  companion  of  longevity, 
and,  1  suspect,  frequently  the  leading  cause  of  it. 
Quick,  keen,  sharp  observation,  with  the  power  of 
contrast  and  illustration,  disturbs  tlii^  easy  current 

*  Mr.  Thomaa  Sbortrwd,  a  yotinf  fcntleman  of  elegaat  t 
and  attainments,  dc'voledly  attached  to  S*"""'  " 
loved^in  return,  Jiad^ervnUy  died. 


9  ^r  Walter,  and  mach  be* 


*  The  Rev.  Dr.  Thomas  SommeniUe.  roioister  of  Jrdhurfh, 
ithor  of  the  "  History  ot'Cireat  Britain  dorinc  thereicn  oTQm 
Anne,"  and  other  wnrlu,  died  Hlh  B'  '     " 


author  of  the  "  History  ot'Cireat  Britain  dorinc  thereicn  oTUaeeb 
Anne,"  and  other  worlu,  difnl  11th  May,  1830.  iaibejiikh  year  af 
hiaaff«,anaC4thorbisfDJniatry. .   '       ^^-^^^^ 


14FE  OF  ant  WAiLTBH  SCOTT. 


MlM 


friend,  the  Tenerable  Doctor 
sof^ttaiseaee. 


"  SepUmhtr  23;— Wroufffat  in  the  morning,  but 
«nlir  at  reading  and  prooo.  That  ouraed  battle  of 
Jena  ia  like  to  cost  me  more  time  than  it  did  Buona- 
parte to  gain  it.  I  met  Colonel  Feiguaon  abont  one, 
to  see  his  dogs  run.  It  is  a  spprt  I  nave  loved  well, 
but  now,  I  know  not  why,  I  find  it  little  interesting. 
To  be  sure  I  used  to  gaUoo,  and  that  I  cannot  now 
do.  We  had  good  sport,  nowever,  and  killed  five 
hares.  I  felt  excited  during  the  chase,  but  the  feel- 
ing was  but  momentary.  My  mind  was  immediate- 
ly turned  to  otlier  remembrances,  and  to  pondering 
iipon  the  change  which  had  taken  place  in  my  own 
feelings.  The  day  was  positively  heavenly,  and  the 
wild  EUl-aidtiu  with  our  little  coursing  party,  was 
beautiful  to  look  at  Tet  I  felt  like  a  man  come 
from  the  dead  looking  with  indifference  on  that 
which  interested  him  while  living.  We  dined  at 
Huntly-Burn.    Kind  and  comfortable  as  usuaL 

"  September  24.-1  made  a  rally  to-day  and  wrote 
four  pages  or  nearly.  Never  stirred  abroad  the 
whole  day.  but  was  made  kapp/  after  dinner  by  toe 
return  of  Oharlea,  full  of  his  uwh  jaoot,  and  happy 
as  young  men  are,  with  the  caange  of  scene.  To- 
morrow I  must  go  to  Melville  Castle.  |  woader 
what  1  can  door  sav  about  theae  Untvisrttlies.  One 
tluBg  occura— tho.aittribution  of  barsaries  onljr  ex 
meniis.  That  is,  I  would  have  the  lireaentattoos 
continue  in  the  pre  Aunt  pa  irons,  Hut  ejc^ci  ihuT  those 
pTe&etited  should  b^  uuaLiiW  by  aucct.'*^  in  thi  ir  hte- 
wry  (inajnmeutii  and  distinciian  ao^nirwl  at  bl:Ii.»o1 
to  DQ[d  tho&e  flchi>lDrBhipa.  TbiA  u^L^fna  fu  Ih'  t  >1- 
]owiti2  otit  \lw  idea  of  thA.'  fuut^di:rfii»  wboi  Juubi]'  is, 
intended  the  furthering  of  good  lileratwrc  To  j^iye 
educaiioti  to  duH  mcdiocHiy-  i»  a  ihnjdue  oIx\w  t^hil- 
dreti^A  bread  to  duts*  -it  \b  ^hfirpmg.  a  hatchet  on  a 
rt^or-fitrop,  whiijh  renders  Xhv  strop  u^eliBsa,  nod 
doM  no  go^d  lA  the  butchet.  VVelK  sumeihifi^  ^e 
will  do. 

"  AtalwiiU  CoBiU,  iSep<flm6ar2&.^FoundLord  and 
Lady  M.  iia  grant  diatreas.  Their  son  Robertis  taken 
ill  at  a  Rnasian  town  about  380  miles  from  Moscow 
"dangerously  ill.  The  distance  inoreasea  the  ez- 
trsme  distress  of  the  parents,  who,  however,  bore  it 
ttce  themselvei.  I  was  glaid  lo  spend  a  day  upon 
theoki  terms  with  such  old  frieodsi  and  believe  my 
being  with  them,  erven  in  this  nMment  of  painful 
aospensei  as  it  did  not  diminish  the  kindness  of  my 
nccDtioiu  might  rather  tend  to  divert  them  from  the 
tmd  subject.  Dr.  NiooUr  Prinoipal  of  St.  Andrews, 
dined— a  -very  gentlemanlike  aeaaible  man.  We 
Mke  of  the  visitation,  of  granting  degrees,  of  pnb- 
uoaiaminationiL  of  aboUshing  the  electioD  of  pro- 
feasors  by  the'  Senatoa  Academions  ia  most  preg- 
nant source  of  jobe),  and  mueb  besRM^bnt  all  de- 
sultory. I  go  back  to  Abbotsford  to-morrow  mom- 
mg. 

''Abbotsford^  September  29.— A  sort  of  zeal  of 
working  has  seized  me,  which  I  must  avail  myself 
of.  No  dejection  of  mind,  and  no  tremor  of  nerves, 
for  which  God  be  humbly  thanked.  My  roirits  are 
neither  low  nor  high— grave,  I  think,  ana  quiet— a 
comnlete  twihght  of  the  mind.  I  wrote  five  pages, 
nearly  a  double  task,  yet  wandered  for  three  hours, 
axe  in  hand,  superintending  the  thinning  of  the  home 
planting.  That  does  good  too.  I  feel  it  gives  steadi- 
ness to  my  mind.  Women,  it  is  said,  go  mad  much 
seldomer  thsn  men.  I  fancy,  if  this  be  true,  it  is  in 
sooio  degree  owing  to  the  little  manual  %rorks  in 
which  they  are  constsntly  employed,  which  regulate 
n  some  drarse  the  current  of  ideas,  as  the  penanlum 
^igulates  the  motion  of  the  time-piece.  I  do  not 
know  if  this  is  sense  or  nonsense,  but  I  am  sensible 
th*t  iff  were  in  solitary  confinement,  without  either 
thspower-of  taking  exercise  or  employing  myself  in 
•tody,  six  months  would  make  me  a  madman  or 
•n  idiot. 

"  October  a.— I  wrote  my  task  as  usual,  but, 
etrange  to  teU,  there  ia  a  want  of  paper.  I  eiqtect 
some  to-day.    In  the  inm-time,  to  avoid  all  quar- 


rel with  Dame  Duty,  I  cut  up  some  other  leaves 
into  the  ususl  statutory  size.  They  say  of  a  fowl 
that  if  you  draw  a  chalk  line  on  a  tablis,  and  lay 
chick-a-diddle  down  with  his  bill  upon  it,  the  poor 
thing  will  imagine  himself  opposed  by  an  insur- 
mountable barrier,  which  he  will  not  attempt  to  croaa. 
Snch  like  are  one-half  of  the  obstacles  wnich  serve 
to  interrupt  our  best  resolves,  and  such  is  my  pre- 
tended want  of  paper.  It  is  like  Sterne's  want  of 
eouSf  when  he  went  to  relieve  the  Pauvre  Hdnteus, 

"  October  6.— I  was  thinking  this  morning  ttiat 
my  time  glided  away  in  a  singularly  monotonous 
manner,  like  one  of  those  dark  grey  days  which 
neither  promise  sunshine  nor  threaten  rain^  too 
melancholy  for  enjoyment,  too  tranquil  for  repining. 
But  this  day  has  brought  a  change  which  some- 
what shakes  my  philosophy.  I  find,  by  a  letter 
from  J.  Gibson,  that  I  may  go  to  London  without 
danffer,  and  if  I  may,  I  in  a  manner  must  to  exam- 
int'  thf  itapttrB  in  the  Secretary  of  Stau^^a.  office 
abcJnt  Bijurvii^i^xrit'  ^vhen  at  St.  fU'ktia,  T\iq  oppor- 
tun  LEV  Imvini^  been  oflcred  uiube  he  secepied^nnoypt 
I  hail  niuch  rnthor  stay  nt  home.  Even  the  p^on- 
ptct  {ir  9«eitiK  Sophin  and  I^oc^khart  must  b^  miog- 
ltd  ttuh  pain,  yet  thia  i*  fooliBh  too.  Lady  Hamil- 
ton* writes  me  that  Potto  di  fiorgo,  tliG  Russian 
Mmi^br  at  Paris,  is  willing  to  comttiumcaie  to  tne 
BoiWi  iianicubra  of  Buonap&Tto^s  tiarly  life*  Query 
— nuKHt  I  not  go  on  thcirc  i  In  for  s  p^nny,  in  for  u 
pounJ.  1  intend  to  lak^  Annt  wuh  mis  snd  tli« 
p  I.  a  spuria  will  bo  great  to  her,  who  doeerves  much  at 
my  hand. 

"  October  9.— Agrackras  letter  from  Messrs:  Abnd 
and  Son,  bUl-broksn,  &&:  assure  my  tmstees  that 
they  will  inatknte  no  legal  proceedings  against  me 
foriburorfive  weeks.  And  so  I  am  permitted  to 
spend  my  money  and  my  time  to  improve  the  means 
of  paying  them  their  debts,  for  that  is  theonty  use 
of  this  journey.  They  are  Jews;  I  suppose  the 
devil  bsits  for  Jews  with  a  pork  gnskin.  Were  I 
not  to  exert  myself,  I  wonder  where  their  money  is 
to  come  from. 

"  October  10.— I  must  prepare  for  going  to  Loo- 
don,  and  perhaps  to  Parjs.  1  have  great  unwilling- 
ness to  set  out  on  this  journey;  I  almost  think  it 
ominous;  but 

'  They  that  look  to  freits,  my  matter  dear, 
Their  freiu  will  foltow  them.' 

I  am  down-hearted  about  leaving  all  my  things,  after 
I  was  quietly  settled ;  it  is  a  kind  of  disrooting  that 
recalls  a  thousand  painful  ideas  of  former  happier 
jonrneys.  And  to  be  at  the  mercy  of  these  fellows 
—God  help— but  rather  God  bless— man  must  help 
himsel£ 

'*  October  II.— We  sre  ingenious  self-tormentors. 
This  journey  annovs  me  more  than  any  thing  of  the 
kind  m  my  life.  My  wife's  figure  seems  to  stand 
before  me,  and  her  voice  is  in  niy  ears—*  Scott,  do 
not  go.'  It  half  frightens  me.  Strange  throbbing 
att  my  heart,  and  a  disposition  to  be  very  eick.  It 
is  iust  the  efteet  of  so  many  feelings  which  had  been 
killed  asleep  by  the  uniformity  of  my  life^  but  which 
awaken  on  anv  new  subject  of  sgitation.  Poor, 
poor  Charlotte  ! !  I  cannot  daub  it  farther.  I  get 
incapable  of  arranging  my  papers  too.  I  will  go  out 
for  half  an  horn".    God  relieve  me!" 


CHAPTER  LXXlt. 

J'OUBNXY  TO  L0ND0I7  AND  PABI8— SCOTt's  DIABT  — 
BOKEBY—fiUBLEIOH— IMITATORS  OF  THE  WAVBBLBY 
NOVEtS  —  SOUTIIEy's  PEKINSULAA  WAB  —  BOVAL 
LODGE  AT  WINOSOB— OEOBGE  IV. — ADEU>HI  THEA- 
TBE— TEBBY— CBOFTON  C^OKEB— THOMAS  PBINOLB 
—ALLAN  CUNNINGHAM —MOOBE  —  BOOEBS  —  LAW- 
BENCE,   Ac.  —  CALAIS— MONTBEUlL,    dc.— BOE  OE 


•  Now  Udy  Jane  1 
of  the  iUuatriotu  Adm 
neesproc  ' 
tbeUfeo 


J  Dalnrmplfl— the  eldest  daoshler 
I  Duncan.  Her  Ladrihip'f  IumI- 
■  to  tbi  author  of 


m 


UM  Ot'Slk  #XL*fEft  SCOTt. 


ttVOU  t02C6  M -BOhGO— LORD  ORANVILLB— MAB- 
•HALS  MACPOI^ALD  AND  Jf  ARMONT— OAIXOia— W.  R. 
0PXNCKR  —  PRINCESS  OAtlTXtN  —  CHARLB8  X.  — 
DUCHSSS  or  ANSOULSSfX,  &C.— KNTHUSlASTiC  RR- 
CRPTION  IN  PARIS— DOVER  CLiFP— THRODORR  HOOK* 
— LTOIA  WHITE— DUKB  OF  WRLUNGTON— PEEL— 
— CANKINO— CHOKER,  &C.  &C.— DUKE  OP  YOBK— 
MADAME  d'aRBLAT-— STATE  OF  P0UTIC8— OXFORD 
—CHELTENHAM  —  ABB0T8P0RD  —  WALKER  STREET, 
EDINBURGH— OCTOBER— DECEMBER.  l826. 

.  On  ihe  12th  of  October,  Sir  Walter  left  Abbots- 
ford  for  London,  where  he  had  been  promised  ac- 
cess to  the  papers  in  the  Gk>vernnient  offices  ;  and 
thence  he  proceeded  to  Paris,  in  the  hooe  of  gather- 
ing from  various  eminent  persons  aotnentic  views 
and  anecdotes  concerning  the  career  of  Napoleon. 
His  Diary  shows  that  he  was  successful  in  obtain- 
ing many  valuable  materials  for  the  completion  of 
his  historical  work ;  and  reflects,  with  sufficient 
distinctness,  the  very  briHiant  reception  he,  on  thia 
occasion,  excriencea  both  in  London  and  Paris. 
The  range  of  his  society  is  strikingly  (and  ancon- 
Bciously)  exemplified  in  the  record  of  one  day, 
when  we  find  him  breakfasting  at  the  Royal  Lodge 
in  Windsor  Park,  and  supping  on  oysters,  and  port* 
er  in  "  honest  Dan  Terry's  house,  like  a  souirr^l's 
cage,**  above  the  Adelphi  Theatre,  in  the  Strand. 
There  can  be  no  doubt  that  this  expedition  was  hi 
manv  ways  serviceable  to  his  Life  of  Napoleon ; 
and  1  think  as  little,  that  it  was  chiefly  90  by renerv- 
in^  his  spirits.  The  deep  and  respectfm  8ynv)athy 
.  with  which  his  misfortunes,  and  gallant  behflvtour 
under  them,  had  been  regarded  by  all  elasaet  of  men 
at  home  and  abroad,  was  brought  borne  to  bis  per- 
ception in  a  way  not  to  be  roiatdken*  He  waa 
cbsered  and  gratified,  and  returned  to  Soottand, 
with  renewed  Aope  and  oounftB,  for  ihe  proteouiton 
of  fail  marvelleua  course  of  industry. 
IXTRAOTS  PROM  DIARY. 

"  Rokebtf  Park,  Ociobpr  13«— We  left  Carlide  be- 
fore seven,  and,  visiting  Appleby  Castla  by  the  way, 
(a  most  interesting  and  curious  place,)  we  got  to 
llorritt*8  about  half-paat  four,  where  we  had  as 
warm  a  welcome  as  one  of  the  warmest  hearts'  in 
the  world  could  give  an  old  fiNend.    It  was  ^Teat 

Erasure  to  me  to  see  Morritt  happy  in  tne  middle  of 
is  family  cirolt,  undisturbed,  as  heretofore,  by  the 
sickness  of  any  one  dear  10  him.  1  may  note  that 
I  found  much  pleasure  in  mv  companion's  conver- 
sation, as  well  as  in  her  mode  of  maitaginf^  all  her 
little  concerns  on  the  road.  I  am  apt  to  judge  of 
character  by  good-humour  and  alacrity  in  these  pet- 
ty concerns.  I  think  the  inconveniences  of  va  jour- 
ney seem  greater  to  me  than  formerly  ;  while«  on 
the  other  band,  the  pleasures  it  afibrds  are  ratner 
less.  The  ascent  of  Stainmoce  seemed  duller  and 
longer  than  usual,  and,  on  the  other  hand  Bowes, 
which  used  to  strike  me  as  a  distioguiahed  feature, 
seemed  an  ill-formed  mass  of  rubbish,  a  great  deal 
lower  in  height  than  I  had  supposed;  yet  I  have 
seen  it  twenty  times  at  least.    On  the  other  hand, 

Shat  I  loae  in  my  own  personal  fediags  I  gate  ki 
lose  of  my  companion,  who  shows  an  inteUiftant 
curiosity  and  interest  in  what  she  sees.  1  enjoy, 
therefore,  reflectively,  veluH  in  speeuU^  the  sort  or 
pleasure  to  which  I  am  now  less  accessible.— Saw 
m  Morritt's  possession  tbeoriginal  miniature  of  Md- 
ton,  by  Ck>oper—a  valuable  thm^  indeed.  The  coun- 
tenance is  handsome  and  dignified,  with  a  strong 
expression  of  genius.*  . 

**  Grantham^  October  IB.— Old  England  is  no 
changeling.  It  is  long  sinc6  I  traveuM  this  road, 
having  come  up  to  town  chiefly  by  sea  of  late  years. 
One  race  of  red-nosed  innkeepers  are  gone,  and 
their  widows,  eldest  sons,  or  head- waiters  exercise 
hospitality  in  their  room  with  the  same  bustle  and 
importance.  But  other  things  seem,  externally  at 
least,  much  the  same.    The  land  is  better  ploughed ; 

'Htb  pradom  mfniatare.  exocoted  bt  Coopef  for  Mihoo's  fit* 
vo«me  daailittr,  w«s  ionr  in  tin  posteaHon  ofSir  Jotfaua  Rcy- 
DoUf,  and  bcqnrathed  br  Mm  to  the  poet  2Ba»on.  who  was  an  Jd* 
InnatB  ihmd  of  Mr.  Uoihtt'i  father. 


Straight  ridges  everr where  adopted i&pUee  of  (ks 
bid  curcumnex  of  twenty  years  ago.  Hiree  horaes, 
howevart  or  e? en  ibur.  Sfe  still  often  assii  in  a  plough 
yoked  one  beiore  the  other.  Ill  habits  do  not  go 
out  St  once. 

'  ^'Biggleswade^  Ocfo6erl 0.— Visited Burleiffh  this 
morning ;  the  first  time  I  ever  saw  that  grandplace, 
where  there  are  so  many  objects  of  mteresi  and 
curiositv.  The  house  is  magnificent,  in  the  style  of 
James  I.'s  rei^n,  and  consefjuently  m  mixed  €k>tbic. 
Of  paintings  I  know  nothing ;  so  shall  attempt  to 
say  nothing.  But  whether  to  connoisseur^  or  to 
an  ignomnt  admirer  like  myself,  the  Salvator  Mdndi, 
by  Carlo  Dolci,  must  seem  worth  a  king's  ransoo. 
Lady  Kxeter,  who  was  at  hoofie.  had  the  goodness 
or  curiosity  to  wish  to  see  us.  one  is  a  beauty  after 
my  own  heart ;  a  great  deal  of  liveliness  in  the  face : 
an  absence  alike  of  form  and  of  affected  ease,  and 
really  courteous  aAer  a  genuine  and  ladyUke  fksnion. 

"  25.  Pall'MalU  October  17.— Here  am  1  in  this 
capital  once  morsi  after  an  Aprii-weather  meeting 
yrith  my  daughter  and  Lockhart.  Too  much  grw 
in  our  nrst  meeting  to  be  ioyfiili  too  much  pteasare 
to  be  distressing}  a  giddy  sensation  between  the 
painful  and  the  pleasurable.  I  will  call  another 
sobjecti 

*'  I  read  with  interest,  during  my  journey.  Sir  Join 
Chiyerton  and  Brambletye  House— novels,  in  wfetat 
I  Jita)r  surely  claim  ss  the  style 

*  WU^h  1  was  boiD  to  imroduee^ 
ReflneSit  flrsc,  aad  sbow'd  its  use." 

lliey  are  both  clever  books^-one  in  imitation  of  the 
days  of  chivalry—the  other  Ibv  Horace  Smith,  one 
of  the  authors  of  Rejected  Addresses)  dsted  in, the 
time  of  the  Civil  Wars,  tna  introduang  historical 
characters. 

*'  I  believe,  were  I  tojpubliirii  the  Canongate  Chron- 
icles without  my  name  Knomvude  guerreA.  mean,) 
&e  event  might  be  a  corollary  to  the  fable  of  the 
peasant  who  made  the  real  pig  squeak  against  the 
imilator,  when  the  sapient  anOMiee  killed  the  poor 
grunieras  if  inferior  (0  the  bqied  in  hiBown  laa- 
guage.  The  peasant  eoak^  indeed,  ooofiite  the  long- 
earsd  mullitiule  by  sbowmg  piggy  >  ^ut  ware  I  to 
faii  as  a  knigfat  wWLa^whita  and  ttaiden  8hieU»  aad 
then  vindicate  inyeltin  to  attebti<m  by  puttiag'llr 
the  Author  of  Wavailey'  in  tha.title»  ray  aood  Moa 
PufrKcumwoidd  defend  itself  by  stating!  bad  tilted 
so  ill,  that  ay^cour^  had  not  the  least  ressmblaaoe 
to  fiMtaer  doinos*  when  indiitoutshlj  I  bore  away 
the  garland.  Tlievefoie  1  am  firmly  and  reaolntely 
determined  to  tilt  under  my  own  cognisance.  Hie 
hazard,  indaecL  remauia  of  hsing  beaten.  But  Ibsre 
is  a  pntiodica  (not  an  itnduo  one  neither)  in  fMroor 
of  the  arigioal  patentee  t  and  Joo  Man  ton's  name 
has.  botne  am  msay  a  sorry  guD-barieL  Mors  of 
this  to^monotw. 

Expense  of  jonrney,  .       .  £A.\    0  0* 

Ami«,pocket-Q>oDey,       .  .       6    0   0 

Serranu  on  jotoey,  .  2    0   0 

Cash  in  purse  (tflvernot  reckoned,)  3   0  9 

X80    0    0 

This  ia  like  to  be  an  expensive  trip ;  but  if  I  can  sell 
an  early  copy  to  aPrencbjlrahslator,  it  should  bring 
me  home.  Thank  God,  little  Pohniiie  Hoo,  as  he 
calls  himself,  is  looking  well,  though  the  poor  dear 
child  is  kept  always  in  a  prostrate  posture. 

^  OctoUr  1&— I  take  up  again  my  remarks  00 
imitators,  1  sm  sure  I  mean  the  gentleman  no 
wrong  by  calling  th^m  so.  and  heartily  wiah  thsy 
had  followed  a  better  modal.  B^t  it  serves  to  sbaw 
me  v^vdi  in  $peculo  my  own  errors,  or.  if  vou  wiU. 
those  of  the«(y/«.  One  advantage,,!  think,  I  still 
have  all  of  them.  They  may  do  their  foolinjc  with 
better  grace }  but  L  like  Sir  Andrew  Agueeheek,  do 
it  more  naturi^^  Tbev  have  lo  read  old  books,  and 
consult  antiquarian  collections,  to  get  their  knoii- 
ledge;  I  write  because  I  have  long  since  read  such 
worli%  and  i^ssess,  thanks  to  a  strong  menorv, 
tha1iiA)rniai6oiL  wMch  they  have  to  sack  for.    TUa 


XJPA  OP  «IS  WAt/TBR  80097. 


dicst^  and  tbi»r€  i»  a  t^nde^ncv  io  augment  n.  woi^ 
alrosfJjf  loo^  U>nj4  by  »»yinf*  al}  thai  can  be  ssid  of 
ibt.i  lii^lory  of  ancM^oi  imto^  uppiTtaminf;'  to  eveni^ 
placf  m*miione<i.  What  cure  we  w  he  I  her  SaruAi- 
^:\  be  dprived  tram  Cet'ea rift  Augusta?  C^ufd  llo 
have  proved  it  to  be  Numantiuuii  there  would  ha^ 


„  tDadrtinjiW'mlrfilorkMildetaflfl^yhetdutd 
■hoohiarii  ■omat  th«  intvrefltof  tfaid  main  pieoe is 
lost  in  nrunaie  deacriptiona  of  events  which  do  not 
•ifeet  ita  pro^reaa.  Perfaapa  I  have  linnad  in  thi!» 
way  myaelfs  indeed,  I  am  but  too  consciooa  of  hav- 
ing conaidared  the  plot  only  a^what  Bayea  calla 

the  meana  of  brining  in  fine  thinffs  ;  so  that,  in  hetn  a  concatenation  acrardm^ly.* 
leapect.to  the  deacnptiona,  it  reaemoled  the  stnng  "'  Breakfasted  at  Sanj  Rogers  with  Sir  Thorn ss 
of  the  showman'e  box,  which  be  pulls  to  exhibit,  iti  j  I^awrenee^  Lutrrel  the  grt^at  Londofi  wit;  Rkh- 
succession,  Kings,  Q,u6en8,  the  Battle  of  Waterloo,  ard  Sharpy  &e.  One  dtxht^m  made  tncrry  with 
Buonaparte  at  St.  Helena.  Newmarket  Races,  and  some  pan  of  Rose's  ArSoaro ;  pTopoaed  thai  ihu 
White-headed  Bob  floored  by  Jemmy  from  Town^  i  l^liin  should  be  pnnleti  on  the  other  side^  for  tho 
All  this  I  may  have  done,  but  I  have  repented  of  it ;  |  i^^'iUe  of  aRj^istm^  ihe  indoknl  re^tii^r  fn  undtTatArid 
and  in  my  better  effort^  while  I  conducted  my  story 
through  the  af^ency  of  historical  personages,  atul 
by  connecting  it  with  historical  incidents,  I  have 
eudeavoured  to  weave  them  pretty  closely  together, 
and  in  future  I  will  study  this  more.  Must  4ot  ki 
the  back-ground  eclipse  the  principal  figures — the 
frame  overpower  the  picture. 

"Another  thing  in  mv  favour  is,  that  my  contem- 
poraries steal  too  openly.  Mr.  Smith  has  inserted 
in  Brambletye  House  whole  pages  from  De  Poe'a 
*  Fire  and  Plague  of  London.* 

'  Steal !  fob  I  a  fico  for  the  phrase — 
Coavey,  the  wise  it  call !' 

When  I  c(mr«y  an  incident  or  so,  I  am  at  as  much 
l^aips  to  avoid  detection  as  if  the  offence  could  bi^ 
mdicted  at  theOld  Bailey.  But  leaving  this,  hard 
pressed  as  I  am  by  these  imitators^  who  must  pur 
the  thing  out  of  fashion  at  last.  I  consider,  like  a 
fox  at  hia  ainfts,  whether  there  be  a  way  to  dodge 
them— some  new  device  to  throw  them  oUf  and  have 
a  mile  or  two  of  free  ground  while  I  have  legs  and 
wind  left  to  use  it  There  is  one  way  to  give  novel- 
ty ;  to  depend  for  auccess  on  the  interest  of  a  well^ 
contrived  atory.  But,  wo^a  me  1  that  reqairee  though  t  , 
conaideratipn—ihe  writing  out  a  regi{lar  plan  or  plot 
—above  all.  the  adhering  to  one  which  I  never  can 
do,  for  the  ideas  rise  as  rwrit&  and  bear  such  a  dia- 
proportioned  extent  to  that  which  each  occtipied  o  i 
the  first  concoction,  that  (cocksnowns  I)   t  shall 


the  Eni^lkfihi  and  r-ompbirjed  uf  his  bsinf^  mor« 
ihiin  '>nee  the  phraae  of  ^  lady  hftvin^  *  voidtd  her 
s-'^drjlr,'  which  Ivould  ccrtatnly  Muund  c, it tjj\ ordinary 
at  Apothtcanta'  HalL  W-iH,  wff],  Rose  rairicH  a. 
1  lirk  t  n  fi .  The  mo  nunc  w  a  9  io^>  dn  rk  for  Wt-a  I  mi  n- 
liier  AbbL*y,  which  we  bad  projected* 

"  J  thtin  went  to  Downmp  atrerti  ariff  am  put  by 
Mf.  Wdmot  Horron  into  ihtdiandAof  a  confidctuial 
clfirk,  Mr.  Snuth,  pronnses  access  It)  i'vcry  thing. 
Then  saw  Or  ok  er  wh«  i?bvl-  me  n  bundle  of  docti- 
menij?.  Sir  George  Cockburn  promise*  his  dfcs- 
patchee  and  jourufti.  In  ehorr,  1  have  ampleproa- 
pm't ^^f  luahTjals.  Dinetl  with  Mra. GuutLa.  Tragl- 
comfc  difitressi  of  my  i^ood  fricndi  on  the  niitrriage 
■if  her  pre»iiniptive.  heir  with  k  daughter  of  Lucien 
lluonnpane. 

"  October  20.— Com ra ended  drjwn  to  pa*s  aday  at 
WiTidsor,  Ttiita  ia  verv  kiod  of  hia  Majt.*ty.— At 
bti'aUlfii^,  Crofton  Crokcr,  authur  of  the  In  ah  Foijy 
Tyh-,H  -Einle  ^s  n  drtart,  keen -eyed  aw  u  h«wk,  and 
oleu^y^prepofijik^uiidipH  mannerjA.  SomethinKlikcToru 
M  oon. .  H  ere  were  a  I  so  Terry^  Allen  Ou  onirt  gh  a  n>, 
XeVh  too,  urid  others.  Now  t  must  go  lu  work.^ 
Went  down  to  Wuidsor,  or  rather  lo  the  Lodge  in 
the  Forest,  which,  though  ridicaled  by  coniioi&- 
^iira  (ioenis  to  be  no  bail  specimen  of  a  royal  re- 
tLreiuont,  and  is  delightfully  aituatcd.  A  kind  of 
ionwg*',  too  Ur^c  Piirnopa  for  tht  style,  but  yoi  so 
miinaged,  that  ih  trie  walka  you  ouEr  f»GC  part^i  of  U 
«^«^J  K- -KuV«  ..v- .k- ♦w^..ki  TV-j'««V»^  ^^  al  once  and  the&e'wdi  corn poai^f  and  groopmg 
never  be  able  to  Uke  the  trouble :  and  ^et  to  m^ake    ^„|,  ^^^  imiueo^e  trees.    Hui  rnaj.sty  recoived  me 


^e  world  stare,  and  gain  a  new  march  ahead  of 
them  all !   Well,  something  we  still  will  do. 
*  Liberty's  in  every  blow ; 
Let  OS  do  sr  die  I* 

Ptxir  Rob  Bums !  to  tack  thy  fine  strains  of  aublime 
patriotism !  Better  Tristram  Shandy's  vein.  Haiid 
me  my  cap  and  belU  there.  So  now,  I  anl  equip- 
ped.   I  ope|i  my  raree-show  with 

'  Ma'am,  will  yon  walk  in,  aad  fal  de  ral  diddle  1 
And,  sir,  will  vou  stalk  in,  and  (hi  de  raJ  diddle  1 
And,  miss,  wui  you  pop  in,  and  fal  de  ral  diddQe  1 
And,  master,  pray  hop  in,  and  &1  de  ral  diddle' 

(luery— How  long  is  it  ainoe  I  heard  that  strain  of 
aalcet  mood,  and  where  or  how  oame  I  to  pick  it 
up  1  It  ia  not  aiine,  *  though  by  your  smiling  yea 
Mem  to  aay  §0.*  Here  is  a  proper  morning's  work  I 
But  I  am  childish  with  aeeing  them  all  well  and 
lappy  beret  and  aa  I  ean  neither  whistle  nor  aing, 
must  let  the  mddy  humour  run  to  waste  on  paper. 
"Sallied  jEorth  in  the  morning;  bought  a  hat 
Mot  Sir  Wi^  -.^'^  Km.irfT- v  ■ '-.,;  -^..-..^digconrHt 
Iguesa  that  ;Uuliidii  haa  duii^  me  no  p^rir-judice  in  a 
oeriainquarur  ;  w^th  tnore  indite  tiotin  of  the  times, 
which  1  need  no  t  set  do  wn.  S  al  lied  agaiti  a  fter  break- 
fast, and  V lidded  the  Piccaddly  Jadkt.     Saw  also 


r 


with  t!u  uame  ojjitiJtre  of  kin^lnefts  and  courteay 
which  haA  always  diatuuiiiished  his  conduct  to>- 
wards  me.  There  was  no  company  be^id&ia  the 
royM  retinue^ Lady  Conyngham^her  dauicbter— 
and  two  or  thfco  other  ladicfi.  After  wc  Idt  tflb](?t 
thtt&  wnsijxcellent  niusic  by  thti  royai  band,  who 
lay  ambushed  in  a  gre^^n-houae  adjoining  the  apart- 
rntni.  The  King  made  ma  9U  bcFJde  him  and  talk 
a  great  dcaJ^fo&  mticA  perhaps — for  he  has  the  art 
of  raij^ing  onu'^  fipTrKf^  and  making  you  for^^vt  ihfr 
rttenui  which  i^  prndtint  ev^^ry  where,  ee^peciiillyitt 
court.  KuL  he  converst^s  hunsi^lf  with  so  nttich 
cast'  and  elegance,  that  you  lose  thr^oAhu  of  :ho 
prince  in  admiring  the  well-bred  and  accompliahtiid 
geniknimnH  He  is  in  many  ti^fpects  the  model  of 
a  Brili.-^h  nionarch^haa  httlti  mchnation  to  try  ex- 
pcrinuutt^  on  govert^itit^ni  otherwise  t^mn  through 
hiif^  Mmi!<t£r3— sincerely,  I  behcve,  dceircs  thi*  good 
of  his.  ^uhjetta— ia  kitid  toward  the  distressed,  and 
movt.:!^  snd  apeak  a  *i!very  inch  a  king.'     I  ant  sure 


Euch  n  man  i^  fitter  rums  llian  one  who  would  long 

to  htjad  armieft,  or  be  ptipeutJiUy  intermeddliiig 

with  ifo  ff  rati  fit  j'oUtiqutn    A  sort  of  tesbrve,  whicE 

creeps  mt  hmi  daily,  and  prevent*  bin  ^oing  to 

plfiCLB   of  public  ro&orL,    is  a    riinadvonlngei,    and 

ihro'^heirorBuckinKYamrfliid  L  }''\  H"'*'*^?"   generally    p^^puUr    n»   ia 

Pury,  with  0  moiit  Uraytiful  I  ttle  pirl.    Owen  Reea  1  * '''^^'^' V  h.^'^^!^T*h  '   ^^^'"''  f  *  '''"Jl'hhl!^T'i£i 
^     •  -        *  .  _     .      .  p .  .         .1  inena-^ii+l   by  the  behavmur  of  the  rabble  tn  tn« 

Hrutnl  msanity  o(  the  Ctkieea**   trial,  whtn  John 

IbiH,  meaning;  the  best  in  tbi!  world,  tiiade  auch  a 

bcaaily  figure. 

'*  Oi/dAcr  SI. —Walked  In  the  morning  with  Sir 
W  lib  am  Koighton,  and  had  tn\ich  [Xmfidential  ch^il, 
nM  Hi  to  be  hero  sei  down,  in  case  of  BLcidenis, 


e  gir       . 

atad  &Tjri  at^rced  1  should  have  what  the 

-  .enchman  has  oiTtrtrl  for  i  he  a'!  v  ant  ago  of  trana- 
liting  Napoltion,  which  will  help  my  oApcnaes  to 
town  and  down  again. 

**  October  18.— I  roae  at  my  asual  time,  but  could 
not  write;  so  read  Southey's  History  of  the  Penin- 
sular Wnr.    It  is  very  good  hideed— honest  Englifih 


principle  in  every  Wnt ;  buf  thete  are  many  preju-    ^^  utjdcrtook  most  kindly  to  recommend  Charles, 

•f^WIUjsaiWBa  Private  Seoctary  to  Kim  Oeoris  IV.  Sir  I     ♦  Jt  ii  rtrniMinf  m  ftimpite  ihi*  chltejittn  with  But  Wslirr"» 
_]|^ait«r  made  hia  aoquaintanoe  in  Augnit.  ISSt,  andrvsr  afWr  '  n^'\^  An\\v%f  to  Idf-nii/^  Mi  dAucliter  jn-laiv'i 


ssr 


with  eacbo(ber--soiDetj«e«  v«ty  ooaE  1  wjili  tin  Vrbt  Orrspi  vf  tits  R^m^^^^i 


LOTB  OP  sm  WAyiER  soon 


vbenbe  hM  taken  hit  d«9r0e,to  beaiuishtd  to 
some  of  the  diplomatic  miaaiona,  which  I  think  is 
beat  for  the  lad,  aftjer  aU.  After  breaktaat  went  to 
Windaor  Castle,  ana  examined  the  improvementa 
floing  on  there  under  Mr.  WyatYillei  who  appears  to 
possess  a  great  deal  of  taste  and  feeling  for  Gk>thic 
architecture.  The  old  apartments,  splendid  enough 
in  extent  and  proportion,  are  paltry  in  finishing. 
Instead  of  being  lined  with  heart  of  oak,  the  pnlace 
of  the  British  King  is  bung  with  paper,  painted 
wainscot  colour.  There  are  some  nne  pamtings, 
and  some  droll  ones :  Among  the  last  are  those  oi 
divers  princes  of  the  House  of  Mocklenburg-Stre- 
litz,  of  which  Ciueen  Charlotte  was  descended. 
They  are  ill-coloured,  orang-outaog^Iooking  fifpires. 
with  black  eyes  and  hook-noses,  «n  old-rashioned 
uniforms.  Returned  to  a  hasty  dinner  in  Pall-Mall, 
ana  then  hurried  away  to  see  honest  Dan  Terry's 
theatre,  called  the  Adelphi,  where  we  saw  the  Pilot, 
from  an  American  *  novel  of  that  name.  It  is  ex- 
tremely popular,  the  dramatist  having  seized  on  the 
whole  story,  and  turned  the  odious  and  ridicnloua 
parts,  assigned  by  the  original  author  to  the  Bntish, 

X'nst  the  Yanj^ees  themselves.  There  is  a  quiet 
»ntery  in  this,  that  is  of  a  rare  and  'peculiar 
character.  The  Americans  were''  so  much  dis- 
pleased, that  they  attempted  a  row — which  rendered 
the  piece  doubly  attractive  to  the  seamen  at  Wap- 
ping,  who  came  up  and  crowded  the  house  nknt 
after  nisht,  to  support  the  honour  of  the  British  flag. 
After  all,  one  must  deprecate  whatever  keeps  up  ill- 
will  betwixt  America  and  the  mother  country ;  and 
tM  in  particular  should  avoid  awakening  painful 
.  recollections.  Our  high  situation  enables  us  to 
contemn  petty  insults,  and  to  make  advances  to- 
wards cordiality.  I  was,  however,  glad  to  see  Dan's 
theatre  as  fiiU  seemingly  as  it  could  hold.  The  heat 
was  dreadful,  and  Anne  so  unwell  that  she  was 
obliged  to  be  carried  into  Terry's  house,  a  cnrions 
dwelling  no  larger  than  a  squirrel's  cage,  which  he 
has  contrived  to  squeeze  out  of  the  vacant  space 
of  the  theatre,  and  which  is  accessible  by  a  most 
eomi^ieated  combination  of  staircases  and  small 
passages.  There  we  had  rare  good  porter  and  oys- 
ters after  the  play,  and  found  Anne  much  better. 

"  October  32.— This  nv»min^  Mr.  Wilmot  Horton. 
Under  Secretary  of  State,  breakfasted.  He  is  full  ot 
some  new  plan  of  relieving  th^  T>AQr*S'rati?s^  by  ^n- 
oonraging  emigration.  Hut  .lohn  }^iii^  \iiU  relink 
this  savours  of  Botany-Bny.  Th*'  atiemiJt  tn  look 
the  poor's-rates  in  the  fsie  ia  cf  riainly  nitriilorioitB. 
Laboured  in  writing  anrj  mnrkms.  eiHTAcA^  iu  be 
copied,  from  breakfast  to  clinricr--with  the  oxcopiim 
of  an  hour  spent  in  telliitg  JohnniF-  the  hi&^tory  of 
h^  namesake,  Gilpin.  Taoi  Moorti  and  Sir  I'boui- 
as  Lawrence  came  in  tliL^  evening,  which  mtwir  a 
pleasant  soirU,  Smokc^I  my  French— Bgad  ii  is 
time  to  air  aome  of  my  vocabttlary.  It  is,  1  tind, 
cursedly  musty. 

••  Oc/o6er  23.— Sam  Rogers  and  Moore  break- 
fasted here,  and  we  were  very  merry  fellows. 
MoOre  seemed  disposed  to  goto  Prance  with.  us. 
I  foresee  I  shall  be  embarrassed  with  more  com- 
munications than  I  can  use  or  trust  to,  coloured  as 
they  must  be  by  the  passions  of  those  who  make 
them.  Thus  I  nave  a  statement  from  the  Dutchess 
d'Escars,  to  which  the  Buonapartists  would,  I  dare 
say.  rive  no  credit  If  Talleyrand,  for  example, 
could  be  communicative,  he  must  have  ten  thousand 
reasons  for  perverting  the  truth,  and  yet  a  person 
receiving  a  direct  communication  from  him  would 
be  almost  barred  from  disputing  it.- 

*  Sing,  tantarara,  rogues  all.' 

'*Wr  dined  at  the  Residentiary- house  with  good 
Dr.  Hughes— Allan  Cunningham,  Sir  Thomas 
Lawrence,  and  voung  Mr.  Hughes.  Thomas  Prin- 
gle,*  is  returned  fVom  the  Cape.    He  might  have 

Mr.  Vna^  waa  a  RoxbarghtUrefaraMi^  ■on  (Ium  io  both 
I)  who,  in  youth.  atUaeted  Sir  Walter's  notice  by  Ui  poem 
-•  "»       aofTevDldaie."    He  waa  for  a  lima  Eaitor  of 


-  mr. 


BlMkwood^a  MMadoa.  but  tha  pubNabar  and  hf  bad  __^ 

iy85«.<wandBad.  and  parted.    Sir  Wabar  tfara  gave  Pnofk 
•lions  recomreaodationa  to  tbe  late  Loid  Chaiiea  Somfoet,  Qor> 


done  wall  Ihtte,  6oirid  heii^fe«eoand  liis!^ 
of  pohtica,  but  he  must  noeda  poUMi  a  Whi^  Joqt- 
nal  attheCapeof  Good  HmwII  HaiaawoMf 
creature,  but  oonoaiced  withaf— fttneiito  laArmmm, 
He  brought  me  some«ntlers  and  a  akin,  in  admtiaa 
to  others  he  had  sent  to  Abbotaford  four  yens 
ainee. 

**  Odoher  fi4.^Laboured  io  tbe  morning.  At 
breakfast,  Drv  Holland,  and  Cob«n,  whom  tbcv 
now  eall  Palgrave,  a  mutation  of  names  whicS 
confused  my  recollections.  Item.Mo<^  I  worked 
at  the  Coloibial  Office  pretty  hard.  Dined  with  Mr. 
Wilmot  Horton.  and  his  beautiful  wife,  the  originnl 
of  the  *  iSl^iMMv  in  htaut^*  Ac  of  poor  Byron. — 
N.  B.  The  conversation  is  seldom  excellent  amonis 
official  people.  So  many  topics  sre  what  Oiahetti- 
ans  call  taboo.  We  hunted  down  a  puo  or  two, 
whioA  were  turned  out,  like  the  stag  at  the  Epptng 
Hunt,  for  the  pursuit  of  all  and  sundry.  Came 
home  early,  ana  was  in  bed  by  eleven. 

"  October  36.  Kind  Mr.  Wilson*  and  his  wile  at 
breakfast :  also  Sir  Thomas  Lawrence.  Lockerf 
came  in  afterwardcL  and  made  a  pinpoaal  to  me  to 
give  up  his  intended  life  of  Qeorge  lit.  in  my  ftvonr 
on  cause  shown.  I  decUned  the  propoaal,  not  being 
of  opinion  that  my  genius  lies  that  wav,  and  not 
relishinff  punting  m  couples.  Afterwaros  went  to 
the  Colonial  Office,  and  had  Robert  Hay's  aaaiat- 
ance  in  my  enquiries— then  to  the  FVeodi  Ambas- 
sador's for  hiy  passports.  Picked  up  Sotbeby,  who 
endeavoured  to  saddle  me  for  a  review  of  his  Poly- 
glott  Virgil.  I  fear  I  shall  scarce  con«i|ee  him  thac 
1  know  nothing  of  the  Latin  lingo.  Sirs.  H.  Ingli% 
Richard  Sharpi  and  other  frienda  called.  Wedino 
at  Miss  Dumergue's,  and  spend  a  part  of  onr  aoir6e, 
at  Lydia  White'a.    To-morrow, 

*  For  France,  for  France,  for  tt  is  more  than  need.* 

**  Calais^  October  26.— Up  at  five,  and  in  the 
packet  by  six.  A  fine  passage— save  at  the  conclu- 
sion,  while  we  Uy  on  and  on  the  harbour  of  Calais. 
But  the  tossing  made  no  impression  on  my  com- 
panion or  me ;  we  ate  and  drank  like  dVagoons  the 
whole  way,  and  were  able  to  mana|;e  a  good  suppar 
and  best  ptn  of  a  bottle  of  Chablis,  at  the  dasaic 
Dessein's,  who  received  us  with  n^uch  courtesy. 

"  October  27.— Custom-house^  Ac.  detained  na 
till  near  ten  o'clock,  ao  we  had  tune  to  walk  on  Um 
Boulevards,  and  to  see  the  fortifications,  which 
must  be  very  strong,  all  the  country  round  being 
flat  and  marshy.  Lost,  as  alMnow,  by  the  bloody 
papist  bitch  (one  muat  be  vernacular  when  on 
French  ground)  Clueen  Mary,  of  red-hot  memory. 
I  would  rather  she  had  burned  a  score  more  of 
bishops.  If  she  had  kept  it,  her  sister  Bess  would 
sooner  have  parted  with  her  virginity.  Charles  L 
had  no  temptation  to  pare  with  it— it  migfat  indeed, 
have  been  shuffled  out  of  our  hsnds,  during  the 
Civil  Wars,  but  Noll  wonld  have  as  soon  let  Mon- 
sieur draw  out  one  of  his  grinders— then  Charles  H. 
would  hardly  have  dared  to  sell  auch  an  old  pos- 
session, as  tie  did  Dunkirk  t  and  after  that  the 
French  had  little  chance  till-ihe  Revohition.  Even 
thenr  I  think,  we  could  have  held  a  place  that  could 
be  supplied  from  our  own  element  tbe  sea.  Od 
bono  ?  None,  I  think,  but  to  plague  the  rogues.— 
We  dined  at  Cormont,  and  being  stopped  by  Mr. 
Canning  having  taken  up  all  the  post-boraes,  could 
only  reach  Montreuil  that  night.  I  ahonid  have 
liked  to  have  seen  some  more  of  this  place,  which 
ta  fortified;  and  as  it  stands  on  an  elevated  and 
rocky  site,  must  preaent  some  fine  points.    Bat  ss 

ernor  of  tbe  Cape  of  Good  Hooe,  in  wbicb  coboj  be  aaCtfed.  aad 
ibr  tone  jreara  ibiwe  under  flia  Governor'a  imOaotian :  bnl  tba 
newspaper  alluded  to  in  the  text  rained  faia  proapaeta  at  Uw  Oape 
—ho  retimicd  to  Enclamt-becanie  Seomry  to  ap.aiiti-afoaevy 
aatociation-pnUiabed  a  ebaitnint  Utde  vohmiejentttted  ^'  Aftieaa 
8ketchei.*^-apd  aad,  I  fear  in  vary  dialmacd  dremaaiapcea.  ii 
DaoemberiSM.  He  waa  a  man  of  aaiiaWe  feaj 
seniuB.  The  raadBT  may  aae  a  fuller  aooiNi 
terly  Reriew  for  Deoember  1838. 
•  WilUam y^ilm^or  WaMiawortb 


iatfaaOMi^ 


■m     » 


hw^  OF  '$m  wMvrm  siqott. 


e#r 


^  eame  ml 


45M  to  gdoiT^tinent,  — 
mraac       '         «•     - » 


It,  good  8U] 


I  can  on] 

„ ^^ ,    supper,  good  t\n 

drsact  and  excellent  beda, 

"  October  28*— Breakftiated  at  Abbeville,  aaid  fiw 
'9,.  rerv  l|andBome  Gothic  church,  aod  reached 
^kaJHivilljera  at  night  The  houae  la  but  aecond- 
late,  though  lauded  hy  aevaral  English  trsTellera 
for  the  moderation  of  ita  charaea,  aa  waa  recorded 
in  «  book  preeanted  t6  ua  by  ibe  lanolady.  There 
is  no  great  pafriotiam  in  puMiahtng  that  a  trayeller 
thipka  the  biUa  fnOderate— it  aervea  uaualW  aa  an 
iotiBMtiOn  tojBinehoaCor  hoateaa  that  Joon  Bull 
will  bear  a  httla  mora  squeesing.  I  gave  my  attea* 
tftlion,  too.  howaver^  ior  ihe  chargea  of  the  good 
lady  resembled  thoae  etaewhere^  and  her  anxiety 
to  pkiae  waa  extitome.  FoVkm  muat  be  harder 
hearted  than  I  am  to  reeiat  the  tmj)rt$9em«nt, 
which  may.  indeed  be  venal,  yet  haain  ita  axptea- 
■an  a  touch  of  oordiahty. 

''Parh,  OeUfber  d^— Biregkfdated  at  Baanvaia, 
and  «a#  ita  magnificent  c^hedral—vnfintaiMd  it 
liaa  been  left,  and  unfiniahed  it  will  r^main^  of 
eo«Mi— the  raahion  of  cathedrals  being  passed 
away.  Bm  even  what  esrista  ia  ihimitable,  the 
choir  particularly,  and  the  grand  front  Beanvais 
ia  called  the  PuaUet  yist.  so  fhr  as  I  can  aee,  ahe 
wettpa  no  ataya-«I  mean,  bia  no  fortificationa.  On 
we  ran,  ^owavar.  V^gut  lm_f4lh^ ;  et  voila  nmtt 
4PArU,  HaM  de  WintUar  (Rue  Rivoli,)  Wh^re  we 
are  well  lodfeftd.  PnnTtrr,  at)  far  as  I  rnn  sfce,  wliich 
i*  vtry  lilt!?,  bft*  not  undf^rj^one  mariy  rhariKea. 
The  iimee  cif  ^sr  has,  inde^,  pnincd  away,  ntld 
we  no  loader  see  (fVK>|i9  fro^siiiR  ihy  toutitry  In 
eterv'  dir^icriod— Till  apes  eubt^r  rtrined  ar  Eiamiily 
ft'irnfied— inhnbitnntg  ttlii^Uered  in  (he  woods  nttd 
cay^a  to  eEcope  ih^  rftpadry  of  the  soldiers,— all 
this  bna  passed  away.  *nje  inn*,  toOi  moch  ftme^nd* 
pd.  There  is  no  ^Kcasmn  for  that  ra»cai!y  pracnte 
or  making:  n  bargain— or  armbicn-m^  yoHr  land- 
lariyt  burore  yoti  unhnroesfl  your  hors^j  M^hich 
fortnerly  w^i  matter  of  oecesaity.  TUo  i^n^ral 
ta«teaf  ibe  En^lUh  secern e  to  rt'gukte  the  iravelliag 
— qaiurally  euouglj,  as  ilie  hotel 3.  of  which  thwe 
aro  two  or  ihr^  m  eech  town,  chkfly  siibii^L  by 
th^m.  Wt!  dnJ  hQi  ace  ooe  Fytnch  cquJi^Qt^c  on  the 
toad  i  the  natives  ft(?eni  to  uravid  untirely  in  the  dili- 
gence, and  d^^ubUest^  ti  bon  tnarch^  ;  ihe  ruiid  was 
tiir Gti>^cLil  Ui^ith  English.  But  in  her  great  A'aUires 
Fmucu  id  iheaaiuti  a^  ever.  An  opprcosivo  mr  of 
aolitude  seema  to  hover  over  theae  rich  and  extended 
plaioa,  while  wa  are  aenaible,  that  whatever  ia  the 
nature  of  the  desolation,  it  cannot  be  sterdity.  The 
towns  are  smsll,  and  have  a  poor  appearance,  and 
more  frequently  exhibit  signs  of  decayed  splendour 
than  of  mcreasine  prosperity.  The  chateau*  the 
•abode  of  the  gentleman,— and  the  villa,  the  retreat 
of  the  thrrvmg  negodantr-tite  rarfely  seen  till  you 
come  to  Beaumont  At  this  place,  which  well  de- 
aefvee  its  name  of  the  flair  mount,  tne  prospect  im- 
proveagreaify,  and  contftry-seata  are  seen  in  abun- 
dance ;  also  woods,  sometimes  deep  and  extensive, 
at  other  times  scattered  in  groves  and  single  trees. 
Amidst  these  the  oak  seldom  or  never  is  found ; 
England,  lady  of  the  oceauL  seems  to  claim  it  ex- 
clnaivblv  as  her  own.  Neither  are  there  any  qnan- 
tity  of  nrs.  Poplars  in  abundance,  give  a  formal 
air  to  the  landscape.  The  forests  chiefly  consist 
of  beeches,  with  some  birches,  and  4he  roads  are 
bordered  by  elms  cruelly  cropped  and  pollarded  and 
switched.  The  demand  for  fire-wood  occasions 
these  mutilations.  If  I  could  waft  by  a  wish  the 
thinnings  of  Abbotsford  here,  it  would  make  a  little 
formne  of  itself.  But  then  to  switch  and .  mutUate 
my  trees !  not  for  a  thousand  francs.  Ay,  but  sour 
grapes,  quoth  the  fox. 

"  October  30.— Finding  ourselves  snugly  settled  in 
our  hotel,  wc  determined  t^  remain  here  at  fifteen 
franca  per  day.  We  are  in  tne  midst  of  what  can  be 
aeen.  This  morning  wet  and  surly.  Salhcd,  how- 
aver,  by  the  assistance  of  a  hired  coach,  and  left 
oarda  for  Ck>unt  Pozzodi  Boi'go,  Lord  (Granville,  oor 
ambaaaador.  and  M.  Gallois,  author  of  the  History 
•of  Yaniee.    Found  no  one  at  home,  not  even  the  old 


f'rate  Gali^tiini,  at  vjrhooD  den  I  vet^tDf^^  t^  OitL 
li(>wed  jjiy  wmipanjon  the  L^iutre,  (whjclii 'Waa 
closed  uTi^uekilyt)  ihe  Uan\s  i^f  the  ^ai^if^  with.  Jta 
C*>urt3,  find  alt  that  F^letidid  (juarler  which  tht-fnuia 
of  i^ans.  rflflts  i*jjion  ^n  eccunty.  >Ve  coa  nevt^  do 
tl^te.hk^  in  BnLuio.  Royal  1110^01  fleece  p  can  only  be 
diE-phycd  by  dispotic  pumeT.    l)i  Kn^Iaiid.  veri;  i)\a 

5"  lost  Hpjf^ndid  »lreei  m  pub  he  bmldint;  lo  he  tTCQlfii, 
ie  naatt^r  must  ba  discusstd  ii:^  Pni-hatnenll^or  p<;r- 
hfipe  aome  ftturJy  i^obbler  holds  ouu  anil  refiifle*  to 
patt  with  hid  5Ul],  and  th^  v  bote  ptiiu  \9  discon- 
dtiried,  Lquc  may  4uch  imjiedimii&ta  p^st !  But 
tl  1(^11  WE  dioutd  eonronii  to  c^reunistauceA,  iind  as- 
SHitnc  in  our  pubHc  works  3  cqrtain  sober  ^impU^Uy 
of  ckarncie^  i^hich  thnuld  point  tJUt  that  they  were 
dictated  by  utiiity  rather  than  show.  The uRecta- 
tion  of  an  exponsivo  etyle  only  ^lacca  ua  at  a  dis- 
advantaj^£oua  contrast  with  other  nation^  nnd  our 
aubstiiusfOM  of  pla*ier  for  freestone  return bles  ihe 
mean  ambUion  which  displays  Bristol  stooes  in  at* 
fault  of  diamonds. 

"  Wi  went  ill  lb 0  evening  to  the  Corned ie  Pran  ■ 
^ini'i ;  Jivs(imf>n.di  tbo  piec^.  It  is  the  a>napu6JtU3il 
of  a  youn^  man  With  a  promismff  Xiv.me — Ktnlle  de 
Mo7i'jHi:hose ;  the  storj'  that  of  Fajr  Rowiniood. 
Thi'tfi  were  Bom^  Kood  situations,  and  the  artoti  jti 
the  Fp  nch  taste  s<^cfriird  10  me  aiJjnirahle^  particu- 
lar I  y  M  lide  itiQiet"!  I  e  Bi>iif  coi  n.  { t  won  I  d  hi?  ah  surd 
to  critjcisc  what  J  only  Kj^lf  und(i<raEood ;  but  the 
pjocc  was  well  foceivied,  and  pf0(jtjc*;'d  a  vtry  stfoog 
efTt'Ct.  Two  Of  thrett  ladies  were  cnrritjd  out  in  bya- 
teric^^  one  next.  10  €ur  bui  wa=i  hitghifidiy  ilL,  A 
Mone[Li]r  ^1  heiiiJf  moustach.^^^^ht.'.  husband,  1  trust, 
thoui^b  it  IS  ^i^p^Y  ^^y  were  #71  partie  _^c^v,'ub  ex- 
tT*?m<*ly  ni>d  nffectbnately  aitidtimrs.  She  vr^s 
Well  won  by  of  the  trottblfjlitinfi  vfcry  pretty  indeed  I 
the  faci;  beauiifuh  pven  amidst  the  mvoluHtarf  cctn- 
vniaionH.  The  afterpicre  w^s  Frtnnit  Ju^f  at  Par- 
He^  with  which  I  was  less  amused  than  J  bndex* 
pected,  because  I  fonnd  I  understood  the  Inti^ngo 
less  than  I  did  ten  or  clcren  yeurs  since,  Wdl, 
Wefl,  1  am  past  the  pg k  of  in^ndmR. 

**  Some  of  ot^  ^ends  in  London  hsd  pretended 
that  at  Panii  f  might  stand  some  cbanee  at  heing 
encountered  by  the  ^ame  sflft  of  tumultuary  recep* 
tion  whieb  1  met  in  Itrland ;  hnt  far  this  1  see  no 
groanrL  It  i»  a  point  on  which  I  atn  tola  11  y  indif- 
ferent. As  a  literary  ttia^v  I  cannot  a^eci  to  dt^pi^e 
public  applause:  as  a  private  gentlemanly  I  have  n}- 
yvii^s  ht^'.n  embnrraseca  and  displeased  with  popular 
cl.imours,  even  when  in  rny  favour.  I  kfiow  very  ^ 
w nil  the  bresthef  which  bVich  shQuia  nm  ajmpusou, 
and  I  sill  aenfiihle  chose  who  applaud  rue  to^div 
Would  be  as  ready  to  toss  me  to-morrow;  and  I 
would  Qot  have  tueiu  think  that  1  put  such  a  value 
on  their  favours  aa  would  make  me  for  an  instant 
fear  their  displeasure.  Now  all  this  disclhmatiqn 
ia  sincere,  and  yet  it  aounda  affected.  It  puta  me  in 
mind  of  an  old  woman,  who,  when  CarUale  waa 
taken  by  the  Highlanders  in  1746,  choae  to  be  par- 
ticulnrly  apprehensive  of  peraonal  violence,  and  ahut 
herself  up  m  a  closet,  in  order  that  ahe  miant  escape 
ravishment.  But  no  one  came  to  diaturb  her  aoli- 
tude, and  she  began  to  be  aenaible  that  poor  Donald 
waa  lookins  outTor  victuals,  or  seeking  acme  small 
plunder,  witnout  beatowing  a  thought  on  the  fair 
sex ;  by  and  by  she  popped  her  hesd  out  of  her  place 
of  refuge  with  the  prettv  question,  '  Good  folks,  can 
you  tell  when  the  raviahing  is  going  to,  begin  V  I 
am  sore  I  ahall  neither  hide  myself  to  avoid  applauae, 
which  probably  no  one  will  think  of  confernng,  nor 
have  the  meanneas  to  do  any  thing  which  can  in- 
dicate any  daaire  of  raviahment.  I  nave  seen,  when 
the  late  Lord  Erskine  entered  the  Ekiinburgh  theatre, 
papera  distributed  in  the  boxes  to  mendlcate  a  round 
of  applauae^the  natural  reward  of  a  poor  player.    - 

"  October  31.— At  breakfast  visited  by  M.  Galloia, 
an  elderly  Frenchman,  (alwoys  the  moat  agreeable 
class,)  lull  of  information,  courteous  and  comrouhi- 
oative.  He  had  seen  nearly,  and  remarked  deeply, 
and  apoke  (rankly,  though  with  due  caution.  He 
want  with  ua  to  the  museum,  where  I  think  the  Hall 
of  Sculpture  continaea  to  be  a  fiae  thing—that  of 


LIFfi  OV*  SIR  'WALTBft  ^CV&T. 


TiDtmn  hat  tdtfrabfe,  whed  wb  rsfleet  upon  l8t& 
'  A  number  of  mat  mbtfh  daubs,  (conlparativelir,) 
'  by  David  ana  Qerard,  cover  the  walla  once  oecu- 
'  pisd  by  the  Italian  du/g-tPotuvre,     F%at  juttitia^ 
not  coehtm.    We  then  visited  NOtre  Dame  and  the 
Palace  of  Justice.    The  latter  is  accounted  the  old- 
est building  in  Paris,  bein^  the  work  of  St  Louis. 
It  is,  however,  in  the  interior,  adapted  to  the  taste 

•  of  Louis  XIV.    We  drove  over  the  Pont  Neuf,  and 
'  visited  the  fine  quays,  which  was  all  we  could  make 

out  to-day,  as  I  was  afraid  to  fatigue  Anne.  When 
*'  we  returned  home,  I  found  Count  Pozzo  di  Boreo 
waiting  for  me,  a  personable  man,  mclined  to  be 
rather  corpulent—handapme  featwee,  with  all  the 
CoflSican  fire  in  his  eyes.  He  was  quite  kind  and 
'  communicative.  Lord  Granville  had  also  calledi 
and  sent  his  Secretary  to  invite  us  to  dinner  to- 
morrow. In  the  evening  at  the  Odeon,  wher0  we 
saw  hankot.  It  was  superbly  got  un,  the  Norman 
soldiers  wearing  pointed  helmets  and  what  resem- 
bled nfiuch  hauberks  of  mail,  which  looked  very 
well.^  The  number  of  the  attendants,  and  the  skill 
Vith  which  they-were  moved  and  grouped  on  the 
stage,  were  well  wbrthy  of  notice.  It  was  an  opera, 
and;  of  course,  the  story  sadly  manj^ed,  and  the 
dialogue,  in  great  part,  nonsense.  Yet  it  was  strange 
to  hear  any  thing  like  the  words  which  I  (then  in 
an  agonypf  pain  with  spasms  in  my  stomach)  die* 
^ted  to  Wdllam  Laidlaw  at  Abbotsford  nowrocit^ 
m  a  foreign  tongue^  and  for  the  amusement  of  a 
strange  people.  1  little  thought  to  have  survived 
the  completiog  of  this  novel. 

" Ntnembtr  l.-rl  suppose  the  ravishing isgoing 
to  begin,  for  we  hf  ve  had  the  Dames  des  HaUe& 
with  a  bouquet  like  a  maypole,  and  a  speech  full  of 
bonev  and  oil,  which  cost  me  ten  francs;  also  a 
small  worshipper,  who  would  not  leave  his  name, 
but  came  tadema^  pour  avoir  leplaiHr,  la/eliciUf 
ffc.  4*0,  AU  this  jargon  I  answer  with  correspond- 
ing blarney  of  my  own,  for  have  I  not  licked  the 
black  Stone  of  that  ancient  castle  1  ,As  to  French,  I 
speak  it  as  it  comes,  an(i  like  Doeg  in  Absalom  and 
Achitophel— 

* dMh  oiv  through  thick  and  thin, 

,        Throofh  aeaie  and  nonsense,  never  out  nor  in.' 

We  went  Uiis  ttHmiing  with  M.  Gallois  to  the 
'  Church  of  St.  Genevieve,  and  thenoe,to  the  College 
Henri  IV.,  where  I  saw  once  more  my  old  friend 
Chevalier..  He  was  unwell,  swathed  in  a  turban  of 
nightcaps  and  a  mtiltiplieity  of  ro6e»  de  eham^rt ; 

•  but  he  had  all  the  heart  and  vivacitv  of  former  times. 
I  WAS  truly  glad  to  see  the  kind  ola  man.    We  were 

'  unludcy  in  our  day  for  sights,  this  being  a  high  fiw- 
tival— All  Souls' Dsy.  We  were' not  allowed  to 
aoale  the  stfseple  of  St.  Genevieve^  neither  could  we 

'  see  tHI  animals  at  the  Jardio  des  Plantes,  who, 
though  they  have  nO'Soulik  it  is  supposed,  and  no 

•  interest,  of  course,  in  the  devotions  of  the  day,  ob- 
serve it  in  strict  retreat,  like  the  puns  of  Kilkenny. 

'  I  met,  however,  one  lioness  walking  at  large  in  the 
Jerdin,  and  was  introduced^  This  was  Madame  de 

'  Sousa,  the  authoress  of  some  well4inown  French 
romances  of  a  very  classical  character,  I  am  told, 
fop  I  have  never  read  them.  She  muse  have  been 
beautiful,  and  is  stiH  weU-looked.  She  is  the  mother 
of  the  handsome  Count  de  Fhdiault,  and  had  a  very 
well-looking  daughter  with  her,  besides  a  son  or 
two.  She  was  very  agreeable.  We  are  to  meet 
again.  The  day  becoming  decidedly  rainy,  we  re- 
turned along  the  Boulevards  by  the  Bridge  of  Aus- 

-  terliis,  but  the  weather  sooiled  the  fine  show. 

*^  We  dined  at  the  Ambassador.  Lord  Granville's. 
He  inhabits  the  same  splendid  house  which  Lord 
Castlereagh  had  in  1815^  namely,  Numero  30,  Rue 
deFauxbourg  St.  Honors.  It  once  belonged  to 
PauUne  Borgbese,  and,  if  its  walls  could  speak,  ihey 

Slight  tell  U3  mighty  curious  stories.    Without  their 
aving  any  tongue,  they  speak  to  my  feelings  *with 
most  niiraculous  organ.'    In  these  halia  I  hdd  often 
seen  and  conversed  fnmilrarly  with  many  of  the 
',  Weat  and  powerful,  who  won  the  world  by  their 
swords,  and  divided  it  by  their  counsel.     'There  I 

•  saw  very  much  of  poor  Lord  Castleretgh'— a  ntan 


of  aenae,  prsaenee  of  mind,  and  Ibrtito^  vrhich  cs- 
ried  him  through  many  an  afiinr  of  cnticil  mom^ 
when  finer  talents  would  have  stock  in  the  ibini 
He  h0d  been,  I  think,  indiffsraatly  educated,  and  bk 
mode  of  speahing  bemg  fkr  from  logical  or  consst, 
he  was  sometimes  in  danger  of  becoming  afanostn- 
diouloos,  in  danite  of  his  lofty  preseneei,  which  had 
all  the  graoe  of  the  Seyi^ours,  and  his  datermintd 
courage.  But  then  he  was  always  up  to  the  oeca- 
sion,  and  upon  important  matters  was  an  orator  to 
con  vince,  if  not  to  delight  his  hearera.  He  is  goae, 
and  my  friend  •«»»««•«  also,  whose  kindnsaa  tkis 
tovm  ao  strongly  Fscalls.  It  is  remarkaUs  ihsy 
were  the  only  persons  of  sense  aad  credibUity  who 
both  attested  supemataral  appearances  on  thorown 
evidence,  and  both  died  in  the  same  mslaacbolv 
manner.  I  shall  always  tremble  whan  any  ttsaa 
of  mine  becomes  sfisionary.  I  have  seen  is  these 
rooms  the  Emperor  Alexander,  Platoff,  Sekwwt- 
zenberg;  old  Bhwher,  Foucb6,  and  many  a  marshal 
whose  tmnchsen  had  gmded  arroies-^all  now  at 
peaccL  without  subjectik  without  dominioo,  and 
where  their  past  life,  perhaps,  seems  but  ths  rscol- 
lection  of  a  feverish  dream.  What  a  sroup  woaid 
this  band  have  made  in  the  gloomy  regions  <isscnbed 
in  the  (^esaey  I  Biu  to  lesser  things.  We  wsie 
most  kindly  received  by  Lord  and  Lady  Oranydle. 
"  '  lome  of  them  bavian 
among  these  wen 

^ jere  wars  also  Charisi 

(Lord  Seaford  now,)  cum  plurimU  aiu4.  Aaos 
saw  for  the  first  time  an  entertaimDeot  ^1^  moo* 
de  /Vance,  where  the  gentlemea  left 


and  met  many  iHends,  aome  of  them  haviait  beai 
guests  at  Abbotsford :  among  these  wen  Lor4i 
Ashley  and  Horpeth ;  there  wars  also  Chariss  S2ks 
(Lord  Seaford  now,)  cum  plurimU  aiu4. 
saw  for  the  first  time  an  entertaimDeot  Jula  ■ 
de  /Vance,  where  the  gentlemea  left  flp  parfour 
with  the  ladies.    In  djplomatie  honaee  it  is  a  ^ood 


wav  of  preventing  pohtical  diaoujMJon,  which  Mm, 

§uu  is  alwaya  apt  to  introduce  with  the  seoond  hot- 
&  We  leu  early,  and  came  home  at  tea.  nnicb 
pleasni  with  Lord  and  Lady  QranTiUe's  kisdnese, 
though  it  waa  tobe  «q>eotsd|  as  our  jpeoommanda- 
lion  came  f^iun  Windsort 

**  November  2.-— Another  gloomy  dar— «  ptae  s^ 
on  it  1— and  we  have  settled  lo  go  to  SL  Cloud,  and 
dine,  if  possible,  with  the  Druibmonds  at  Autsafl. 
Besides^  I  expect  poor  Spencer^  to  breakiast 
There  is  another  thought  which  depresses  me. 
Well— but  let  ns  jot  down  a  little jpoftties,  as  oy 
book  has  a  pretty  firm  lock.  The  Wings  may  ssf 
what  they  please,  but  I  think  the  Bonrboos  ww 
stand.  M.  *  *  *,  no  great  RoraKst,  says  that  the 
Duke  of  Orieans  lives  on  the  best  terms  with  the 
reigning  family,  which  is  wise  on  his  part,  for  the 
golden  fruit  may  ripen  and  fell  of  itseil^  but  ii 
would  be  dangerous  to 

*  Lead  the  crowd  his  arm  to  shake  the  tree.'f 

The  army,  vvhioh  was  Buonaparte'a  strength,  is 
now  very  much  changed  by  the  gradoal  inm^enea 
of  time,  which  has  removed  many,  and  made  mva- 
lids  of  many  more.  The  artisans  are  neutral  and 
if  the  King  will  govern  according  to  the  Charts, 
and,  what  is  still  more,  according  to  the  habits  ef 
the  peopl&  he  will  sit  firm  enough,  and  the  consti- 
tution will  gradually  attain  more  and  more  rever- 
ence as  age  gives  it  authority,  and  distinguishes  it 
from  those  temporary  and  ephemeral  governments, 
whieh  seemed  only  set  up  to  be  pulled  down.  The 
most  dangerous  point  in  me  present  state  of  France 
is  that  of  relisiqp.  It  is.  no  doubt,  excellent  in  the 
Bourbons  to  desire  to  make  France  a  religions  coun- 
try ;  but  they  begin,  I  think,  at  the  wrong  end.  To 
press  the  observancy  and  ntual  of  religion  on  tboae 
who  ore  not  influenced  by  its  doctrines,  is  planring 
the  growing  tree  with  its  oead  downwards.  Rites 
are  sanctified  by  belief;  but  belief  can  never  arise 
out  of  an  enforced  observance  of  ceremonies ;  it 
only  makes  men  detest  what  is  imposed  on  i* 

The  kttHoiKMmbbWJUun  Robot  £ 

of  ven  d«  tocUti  in«ur  flme,  and  oo«  or  tk»  i 


of  comiMoioos.  was  axoctly  Sir  Walter^a  eoatc 

him  firtt  atti»cted  notice  Iv  a  WTuon  of  BUrm'B  J 

Mm,  too,  thh  rmwrkablo  man  w\  into  peeomaiy  ^xnm  is  li» 


>*B  Latvr§. 


4imm.tom  ren  IMS,  «iid  he  %tf  oam.  an  ianihntafr  i 
Paris,  whm  be  died  ia  Ootobar,  MM.  ami.  dBier  IS. 
Onr(leo>  A^Utfim  and  4<mrPMp^i^m^  9£i 

^  Digitized  by  VJVJC 


Lira  0F  m  wii^«R  Motr 


bfeoranilikNi.  lMiilMM^«fmt%wbomnttntt(i, 
empkaMllT,  an  imperkm  im  im^triot  IkbotariiiR 
first  hr  th«  benefit  ef  Umv  otwrn  order,  and  next  tu 
that  of  tbe  Roman  Sbo^whal  istt  but  the  mtroduo- 
tton  into  France  of  a  fareiBn  inflaenee,  whooe  inter-' 
eet  may  often  ran  coonter  lo  the  general  welfiure  of 
the  kiB^doml 

.  We  have  enoo^  of  rafiahment.  M.  Meonce 
writea  me  that  he  la  ready  to  bang  himeelf  that  we 
did  not  find  aocommodatioii  at  hia  hotel  {and  Mad- 
ame Mirbel  came  abnoet  on  hor  kneea  to  have  per- 
miaiion  to  uke  my  portrait.  1  waa  cmel ;  bat  aee- 
ing  iier  weeping  ripe,  conaented  ahe  ahoold  cohm 
lo-raorrow,  and  work  while  1  wrote.  A  Rasatan 
Prinoeaa  Oalitiia.  too,  demande  to  aee  me,  in  the 
heroic  vm ; '  ^^Blie  voiUoit  travtner  leg  m«r»  pour 
tMm  9oir  S.  W.  S^"«  dkc— and  offera  me  a  rendat- 
▼ooa  at  my  hoteL  Thia  ia  preoioua  tonKlbolery ; 
howevier,  it  ia  better  than  being  negleeted  like  a  iail- 
en  aky-rookett  which  aearaed  Kke  lo  be  my  fate  laat 
year. 

"We  wiant  to  St.  Okwd  with  my  old  fiiend  Mr. 
Dnimmond,  now  hYing  at  a  prel^  mmUon  de  earn- 
pagns  at  Aoteoii.  St.  Uloud,  bendes  ita  unequalled 
view,  is  rich  in  vamembfancea.  I  did  not  fail  to  ▼ini 
the  Oron^arie,  out  of  which  Boney  aznelled  the 
Council  of  Five  Hundredi  I  thought  I  aaw  the 
acoundrela  jumping  the  wiadowa,  with  the  bayonet 
at  tbeir  rampa.  what  a  pity  the  bouaewaa  not  two 
atoriea  high  I  I  asked  the  S  wise  aome  queetions  on 
the  loeakf  which  he  anawered  with  becoming  cau- 
tion, aayine^owever,  that '  he  waa  not  preaent  at 
the  time.'  There  are  alao  new  remembrancea.  A 
aeparate  garden,  laid  out  aa  a  plajr-ground  for  the 
r^al  children,  m  called  Trocadera  Jrom  the  siege 
of  Cadis.  But  the  Bonrbona  ahould  not  take  nuE- 
tary  ground— it  ia  firing  a  pop-gun  in  answer  to  a 
battery  of  cannon.  All  within  the  houae  is  deranged. 
Every  trace  of  Nap.  or  his  reign  touUy  done  away, 
aa  if  traced  in  ^land  over  whii^  the  tide  )ias  pasaed. 
Moreau  and  Pichegru'a  poruaita  hang  in  the  royal 
antOchamber.  The  Ibrmer  haa  a  meao  physiogno- 
my ;  the  latter  haa  been  a  strong  and  atern-looiung 
man.  I  looked  at  him,  and  thought  of  hia  death- 
atrufffiles.  In  the  guard-room  were  the  heroea  of 
La  vended,  Charette  with  hia  white  bonnet^  the 
two  La  Kbche  Jacquelinea,  rEscureSv  in  an  attitude 
of  prayer,  Stofflet,  the  gamekeeper,  with  othera* 

"  November  3.— Sat  to  Mad.  Mirbel-*Spencer  at 
breakiaat  Went  ont  and  had  «  long  mterview 
with  Marahal  Macdonald,  the  pBrporf  of  which  1 
have  pat  down  elaewhere.  Yiaited  Prinoeaa  Gaht- 
sn,  and  alao  Cooper*  the  American  nevcfiat.  Thia 
man,  who  has  ahown  ao  nrach  genius,  has  a  good 
deal  of  the  raannera,  or  want  of  raannera,  peculiar 
to  bit  countrymen.  He  proposed  to  me  a  inoda  of 
publishing  in  America,  by  entering  the  book  aa  the 
property  of  a  citizen.  I  will  think  of  thia.  Every 
nttle  helps,  as  the  tod  says,  when,  dtc.  At  night, 
at  the  Theatre  de  Madame,  where  we  aaw  two  petit 
pieces,  Z^  Marriage  de  /?auon,  and  Le  plxu  otau 
jour  de  Ma  Ft«-both  excellently  played.  Afterwards, 
at  Lady  Granville's  rout,  which  waa  aa  splendid  as 
any  I  ever  saw— and  I  have  seen  beaueouv  dane  u 
genre.  -  A  great  number  of  ladies  of  the  first  rank 
were  present,  and  if  honeved  words  ttom  pretty  lips 
could  surfeit,  I  had  enough  of  them.  One  can  swal- 
low a  great  deal  oP  whipped  cream,  to  be  sure,  and 
it  does  not  hurt  an  old  stomach. 

*\  November  4.— After  ten  I  went  with  Anne  to  the 
Tmlenes,  where  we  saw  the  royal  family  paaa 
through  the  GAaaa  Oal^ery  aa  they  went  to  chapel 

Tmh  done  ki  «p«mv«  iMm  fo  the  fabwfa^  trait  of  Tom 
WS^Jllfe?.  2?I™,5«  •'^^  ^  nowi^r  Scott'i  bwooetcr 
hBMbed  Abbotafard,  Tom  wu  not  to  be  found  in  way  ofUi  luuol 
hiunu,:  he  itnaiDedabieBt  tW  whole dajr-end  when  he  letum- 
ed  at  nwhl  the  myslm  wu  Unit  aoleiMd..  Be  and  Che  he«l 

^  on  Uie  kU  bosOy  emdoyed  in  pre&un;  a  large  STfor  Sir  to 

Uwae  afiervwda  (bund that boneeC  Tom  had  taken  it  npon  htn 
jgader a mMon to Mrve aaimikr  fapooorafale  angmeniatiaa oa 


We  Wara  «ery  much  looked  at  in  ovr  torn,  and  dw 
King,  on  pasaing  out.  did  me  the  hooonr  to  aay  a 
few  civil  words,  wbieh  prodaoed  a  great  aanaatioil. 
Mad.  la  Danphine  and  Mad.  d^  Berri  curtsied« 
smiled,  and  k)oked  eztrvmely  gracioos;  and  amilei, 
bows,  and  cnrtaiea  rained  on  ua  like  odonra,  firom 
all  the  coortters  and  ladies  of  the  train.  We  wafs 
conducted  by  an  officer  of  the  Royal  Qardes  du  \ 
Cotps,  to  a  convenient  place  in  the  chapel,' where 
we  had  the  pleaaure  of  hearing  the  masa  performed 
with  excellent  muaic. 

"  I  had  a  perfect  view  of  the  royal  famfly.  The 
King  ia  the  aame  in  age  as  I  knew  him  in  youth  at 
Holyroodhou8eb--debonair  and  courteoua  in  tho 
higbeat  dagraa  Mad.  Danphine  reaambiA  very 
much  the  prints  of  Maria  Antoinette,  in  the  profile 
eapeeially.  She  ia  not,  however,  heantiful,  Her  fea* 
tnraa  being  too  atrong,  but  they  annoanoa  a  great 
dei^of  eharaater,  and  the  piinoesa  whom  Buona- 
parte nsed  to  call  the  man  of  the  femity.   She  i 


ed  very  attentive  to  her  devotiona.  TheDucheaa  of 
Berri  aeemed  leaa  immersed  in  the  ceremony,  and 
yawned  once  or  twioa  She  ia  a  lively-looking 
blonde— looka  aa  if  ahe  were  good«humoared  and 
happy,  by  no  meana  pretty,  and  has  a  cast  with  her 
eyea;  splendidly  adorned  with  diamonds,  hoansvai. 
After  thia  gave  Mad.  Mirbel  a  sitdng,  where  I  en- 
coUDtarBd  a  general  oficer,  her  uncl^  who  wife 
chef  dol'atat  major  to  Buonapatta  He  waa  varr 
oommunieative,  and  aeemed  an  intareating  person, 
by  no  meann  over  much  prspoasaaaed  in  favour  ot 
hia  late  matieri  whom  he  judged  impardallyi  though 
with  afibction.  We  came  home  and  dhiad  m  quart, 
having  refaaed  all  temputkma  to  go  oat  in  the 
evening  \  thia  on  Anne^a  account  aa  well  aa  my  own. 
it  is  not  oUite  gaapel,  though  Solomon  aaya  it— Tha 
oya  eon  do  tind  with  mtng,'  whatever  ho  may  ai> 
-i%oin  the  contrary.  And  then  there  are  ao  many 
eompiraientK  1  wiah  for  a  little  of  the  ohl  ScDteh 
caaaticity.  I  am  aomething  like  the  bee  that  aipa 
treacle.  • 

"  November  6.— I  believe  I  mnat  give  tip  my  joof- 
nal  till  I  leave  Paria.  The  French  are  literally  ouf- 
rageous  in  then'  civilitiea  bounce  in  at  all  honra, 
axid  drive  one  half  mad  with  complimenu.  I  am 
imgracioaa  not  to  be  ao  entirely  thankftil  aa  I  ooght 
to  thia  kind  and  merry  people.  We  breakfes^ 
with  Mad.  Bfirbel,  where  were  the  Dukea  of  Fltz- 
Jameaand  Duraa,  &e.  &o.  &  j^oodly  cotupany  ;  bat 
all*a  one  for  thatt  I  made  rather  an  JiiipaitL'nt  ah- 
ter,  wiahing  to  talk  much  mutt  than  wa&  agre«Al>l« 
to  Madame.  Afterwards  t^e  went  tn  tjie  Cbai^ipa 
Elyste,  where  a  baUoon  was  let  ofl^,  uiidiaU  aorta 
of  Irohoa  perfermed  for  the  lierrefit  of  the  ben^  f^cn* 
de  Pari*— beaidea  atuffing  rhecn  wiih  victtjaia.  1 
wonder  how  auch  a  civic  fetiuvnl  wciutd  m>  off  ia 
London  or  Edinburghi  or  c^pLcially  in  Dub  tin.  To 
be  aura,  they  would  not  iniroilu^i  thdr  filiikliiliii 
But,  in  the  claaaic  taste  of  t  be  hVcnoh  vhifro  wer^ 
no  auch  gladiatorial  doinga  To  be  muk,  ihcy  have 
a  natural  good-humour  and  utiieiy  wUkh  inclinee 
them  to  be  pleaaed  with  the rn-^Uea,  and  ev^ry  thing 
abont  them.  We  dmed  at  rh«  ambasettdor'e,  wh«^re 
waa  a  large  pariy».Lord  Morpeth,  the  Duko  of  Dev- 
onahire,  and  othera— all  vary  kitra.  ?otxo  di  Borgw 
there,  and  diapoasd  to  be ccimmunkatjvfi.  A  Uree 
soiree.  Home  at  eleven.  Thuac  Uouia  oi^  early, 
however. 

November  6.— Cooper  came  to  brasikfeat,  but  wa 
were  obeedie  jtarUnU.  Such  a  number  of  French- 
men bounced  in  aucceaaively  and  exploded  (I  mean 
diacbarged)  their  complimenta,  that  I  could  hardly 
find  an  opportunity  to  apeak  a  word,  or  entertain 
Mr.  Cooper  at  all.  ,  After  thia  we  sat  again  for  our 
portraits.  Mad.  Mirbel  took  care  not  to  have  any 
one  to  divert  my  attention,  but  I  contrived  to  anr 
myself  wiih  aome  maaona  finishing  a  fe^ade  op 
aite  to  me,  who  placed  their  stonea,  not  like  inigia 
Jonoa.  but  in  the  moat  lubberly  way  in  the  worUL 
with  the  help  of  a  large  wheel,  and  the  applicatjpn  of 
Btrength  of  hand.  Jfohn  Smith  of  Damick.  anS  two 
of  hia  men,  would  have  done  more  with  a  block  and 
pulley  than  the  whole  score  of  them.    The  Frandl 


lifv  OF  mi  WALmft  «ooTr« 


«ii  up.wiwjuii^n^w,  but  mat  wm have  io» eod*  J 
hiife  liad  to  parry  aeyf  ral  preMnta  ol^  bwit^i  aad  ao 
fi^tl»«r  TkB  ftinity  thmB  ^W  the  ^>u%  of  lay  litue 
Jmrna  We  had  a  moflt  imaotioDate  partingrrwet. 
f^a^cbeekaott  the  lady's  aick.  Pebble-haaried,  and 
ahod  aa  few  teara  as  Crab  ofidoggiah  memory.* 

*^  WeDl  to  Oa|«tiaiii\  wheve  the  brothcfkalter 
aome  palaver,  otjerea  i&ios  (ot  t^  aheeta  at  Napo- 
laon,  to  he  rtf>ni)ted,  at  Paris  m  EpcUefa.  I  told 
them  I  would  thmk  ot  it.  I  auppeaa  Tfautlel  and 
WttrtalMkd  apprehended  son^htna  of  thii  kind,  for 
thtfy  wfite  bm  that  thty  had  made  a  bargam  fiJt 
Mv  piibHahar  (Cadell  I  stippoae)  for  the  pubhabiQg 
^mf  b^ok  in  all  eorta  or  #af «.  I  must  look  iiifo 
Ihtflk 

*'  Bitiad  with  Marshal  Mbcdonaldt  and  a  Bpleaclui 
.party4  amongai  others,  BfarahalMannont-^mtddie 
size,  atoai  made^  danlbcainplezioou  and  Ipoksiaen- 
^    -      .  .       .  •        teh  for  ma  oondoet 


The  Frenoh  hale  l^in 

to  1814,  hdt  it  is  only  makiaft  him  the  aoape-aoiat 
Also  I.  saw  filott*.  de  Mol^  bat  eep^ciaUy  the  Mttt- 
gma  de  liauriaion.  who  reaahrad  me  most  kmdbr. 
Ha  ife  personaBy  like  my  cousin  Coltoel  RnssMl. 
I  learned  thai  his  brother,  Lome  Law,$  my  old 
fiiead^  was  alore,  and  the  father  of  a  lacge  fsJaaily . 
I  was  moat  kindly  toeafeed.  and  h^d  ray  vanity  mneh 
.^tteiad  by  the  men  who  had  aciad  aueh  important 
parts  taULUig  to  hm  in  the  most  frank  raattier. 

**  In  theevetumi  to  Princess  Gbj^tsin,  where  were 
a>  wibole  eotey  aif  Princetfies  of  AnssiB  arrayed  in 
iartttn^  wkh  music  and  amging  to  boot.  The  per- 
attn  in  whom  I. was  mdst  interiftted  was  BHad;  de 
fiaufflers,  upwardroC  eighty,  veily  polite,  very  plaaa- 
MUti  and  with  all  thaaoquiremenMof  a  French  cotirt 
Jady  of  tha  timaof  Bfa2L  Satigtifi,  orof  the  eomea- 
^ndeot  taiher  of  Horace  Widpode.  Cdopen  was 
thara,  aa  the  Scotch  and  Amenaan  bona  took  mb 
field  tof^er.— Holae,  and  aettied  bur  afiaiita  to  4e- 
V9MU 

%"  November  7.— Off  at  seven— breakfasted  at. 
Baauvai%  aj»d  pushed  on  to  Amie^a.  Thia^bdng 
a  foreed  iwrch,  we  h&d  bad  lodflip^  wet  wood, 
uncoaiHurttolo  supper,  damp  bed%  and  an  ^travar 
fSMii  char^  I  y^f^  never  oddtf  m  my  life  than 
when  I  ww^ed  with  the  sheets  dmging  around  me 
l&eaahroud,  , 

**  Nwembe^  8.^We  started  at  six  in  the  miming, 
imving  no  need  tcbe  called  twice,  so  hedrtily  was  I 
weary  of  my  comfortless  colicn.  BrealdiMted  at 
^kbbeviUa— then  pushed  on  to  Boalogna^  expecting 
to  ted  tha  paeket  reack'to  atart  neort  morning,  )ind 
aw  to  bava  had  the  advantage  of  the  eaateriy  tide. 
Ebt^  io  ye  I  tha  packet  was  not  toaail  nU  next  day. 
Bov^aftar  Winning  our  ahcoldera^-hcing  tha  solace 
^  ia  mode  dejf^rfame^-hnd  rscsuiting  oorsel  ves  with 
m  bullet  and  a  bottle  of  Chablia  a  ia  made  €p  Angle- 
^erre^  we  set  off  for  Oaiais  after  aupper,  and  it  was 
betwixt  tfaro6«nd  four  in  themominabeforowegdt 
toOeeasin'a,  whan  the  honse  waa  fiil,  or  nsported 
taheao.  Wa  ooald  oolv gat  two  wretched biick*- 
pavadfaneis^aaeold  and  rncwt  aa  thoae  of  Anienk 
inalaad  of  the<  coMforts  which  we  were  recovad 
wiiii  at  oaranivaLf  Bdt  I  waa  better  prepared. 
Cttsipbtd  off  the  aheeta,  and  lay  dawn  in  my  dress'- 
iagxgdwn,  and  so  roughed  it  ont^^-ianl^n.  que^mU. 

•*  ATofiwnd^r  t.— At  four  in.tlm  mofning  we  were 
called-i-at  six  we  got  on  board  the  packet,  where  I 
fopad  a  sapaiblA  and  conversibla  man,  a  very  pleas- 

"  •  8«  tto  Tibo  Gwiterken  gf  YeraHa',  Act  tl.  Scon©  9. 

*  IVliBirinl  bttd  yiiilek  BeotlMtf  in  l8l6<Huid  the  DiayM 
aMn  tttiv  ft  Mod  fleal  of  Uti  onder  aw  nraf  of  Jiia  kiomum,  Mr 

_  .TuuurSton,  the  a^ent  aeat  of  ih«  Lorwa,  ao  fkmtiai  in  Frendi 
lIMorf ,  is  verjr  near  Ediriburjh,  stKl  the  «t«te  waf  in  their  poe- 
MMimi  St  the  tiliM  oTChe  R««oluliMi.  Twoor  three  cnde(»  of 
^S^toatty-v^qv  of  tho^Ttt  vmimtioo,  and  oa^of  thna  <M.  Loan 
eqvent  goeetof  thepoKt'a  faih^  and  atWrwaida 
dunrtf  nagr  rears  wnh  hinutcltl  I  am  not  ture 
.  tvai  m.  Lodit  LawithoM^fVeneh  deiifnatkm  ao  nmeh 

the  people  of  EdMbnr^    One  hrotfaofofthe  Mania  da 

[imtai),  lowave^  \vaa  j^ied  L$Cf»e9eUfr  de  MMttonltol»- 

PaToui  IrtTSSaHrt't^'SoB^  nowlnBCifirf^xihafnbHB  de 
Utar  Saotf-^inotker  has  lone  bbea  nttitod  "Chamhte  de 


antbnmimfllanae.  ^i  Steiterlln' Wand  MaavM 
tha  katttanant-goveKHdr  of  tha  caao^  aol  iKipwayf 
m  to  visit  thai  ancient  fortressi,  I  rtoKtaAnmm 
that  oac  time  iraa  simt,  and  the  wdftMr  ^  aiot 
admit  of  anr  aeeingf  'viawa,  ad  Wa  aoiud'<toly  tiumk 
the  gentleiben  in  4sckainc  their  ciirility.  The^aatla, 
partly  ruinous,  seems  to  nave  been  ttaity  fipe^.  Aa 
C^iff,  to  ^ch  ShablpeB»iavii4ti«iwEMrtal  aafna^ 


diaiin«itioki  of  ita  conseiiBence  to  it 
ia  repeatedly  atncb  chapoat*s  ttme. 
likely  that  the  imagioaciafi  of  Shakapeare^ 
"    '      tayaavai 


ihiahitinorB 


tie 


perhapaat  a  period  kng  after  faeasayi.  

cock,  had  described  it  aiich  aa  ha  coneaivad  it  to 
have  beesw  Basidei,  ShakapeAte  wM  bonk  in  a  flat 
country,  and  Dover  Cliff  is  at  ledat  lafcf  eoaufh  to 
have  sukBttseed  ihe  eaaggerassd  foaoxea  toiria  fsit- 
cy«  .  At  fdi  avienta,  Ic  baa  naittMmed  ita  csprntatieB 
better  than  the  Tarpeian  Rock— no  man  could  kap 
fiMm  it  aid  live.  Left  Oovtibf  after  a  faoi-  ImHOf tea 
about  fotnr  o'dook,  and  reached  London  at  haD- 
paat  three  in  the  tkonxMfi.  8o,.adiea.  to  Im  betk 
Prance^  and  welcama  many  Mngtand* 

"  Fua-MaO,  Nwmb^  10.-^1^  I  leave  k  bd(ie 
JFVanet,  howef*er,  it  ia  fit  I  lUidiM  expresa  my j|^- 
itude  for  theunwontedly  kind  reeeption  which  i  nkec 
udth  at  all  hands.  It  wcahi  be  an  unworthy  pieee 
<if  affbetatbn  did  I  ntft  allow  that  I  have  been 
pltflsed— h^^ly  pleased— to  find  a  epedeaaf  fiteri- 
turs  intended  only  for  my  own  country,  hta  met 
Buch  an  cj^tensive  and  fiiy<MiVabIe  reception  in  a 
fore^  kttdt  where  ^ere  was  so  much  a  priori  fo 
oppose  its  ttrogress.  For  my  woHil  I  think  I  hivlB 
done  a  goon  deal ;  but  ab<yve  all,  I  have  been  con- 
firmed strongly  in  thelmtireeiicns  I  had  previod^ 
formed  of  tha  character  of  Nto.,  ftftd  tnay  attempt 
to  draw  him  with  a  firmer  hand. 

"The  succession  cf  new  people  and'unnaual  ind- 
denrts  has  bttd  a  favourable  effeet  on  my  mind, 
which  Was  becotnfng  rutted  Ifice  an  ill  knit  hu^- 
way.  My  thotighta  nhve  for  wnh^  time  flowed'hi 
atiocher  and  lAeasanter  chttnnel  than  through  tha 
melaneholr  course  into  which  my  solhary  and  de- 
prived state  had  long  driven  theitt,  and  wlm;h  gave 
often  pain  to  be  endured  Without  complatnt,  aibd 
without  syti^aihy.  *  For  this  refie^'  as  Marcelhtt 
aaysin  finnmat,  ^muoh^banka^* 

'^To-^hiy  i  visited  the  public  offlees,  and  pio- 
aecateditiyresearchea.  Left  ancpiHeB  for  the  Duhe 
of  York,  who?  hto  ncavered  ftom  a  anoat  deaperaie 
statte.  His  legs  had  been  threatened  with  monii- 
aatioB  I  but  he  was  aa^ed  by  a  critical  diachara»»* 
also  visited  tiia  Duke  off  WeUiagkm,  Lord  MaUWe, 
tend  others,  beaidea  tha  Isdiei^  in  Piccadilly.  Mied 
and  spam  thfrevening^uiaily  ia  Pall-Mall. 

**' November  11.— Croker'came  to  breakfast,  and 
we  wert  soon  afler  joined  by  Theodore  Hook,  alias 


spent  in  abusing  our  neighbours,  at  which  my  three 
neighbours  are  nd  novices  any  more  than  lam  mr- 
seli;  tnough  (like  Puss  iti  BootSt  who  onlycausot 
mice  for  his  amusement),  1  am  only  a  chamber 
counsel  in  matters  of  scandal.  The  fact  i^  I  have 
refrained,  as  much  as  human  frailty  will  permit, 
from  all  satirical  composition.  Here  is  an  ample 
subject  foi'  a  Uttle  bteck-balttng  in  the  case  of  Joseph 
Htune,  the  great  accotmtant,  who  has  managed  the 
Greek  loan  so  egresiousiyp  1  donct  Isck  personal 
provocation  (see  I3th  March  last),  yet  I  won't  at- 
tack him— at  present  at  least— but  ^U  ee  garde  de 
moi: 

*  Vm  not  a  Mia$^  nor  nae  sic  thins,  ^ 
My  word  it  maif  not  atand; 

But  Joseph  mav  a  buffet  bide. 
Come  be  betfeath  my  brano.' 

"  At  dinner  we  had  a  little  blow-out  on  Sophia^ 
part.  Lord  Dudley,  Mr.  Hay,  Under  Secretary  (jf 
State,  Sir  Thoma«  Lawrence,  ±q.  Jmstreee,  m 
^hc  now  calls  hierseU;  Joanna  Aaillie,  andiief  — 


I 


LWfc  OP  SIR  WALTiER  SCOTT. 


Ml 


e^tiM  hi  the  tiyetitkg. 


ne  whole  went  off  plea- 


**^Nb9embiir  l&— Went  to  SK  to  Sir  T.  L.  to  finish 
the  pietiire  for  his  Mmeety,  which  overy  one  eaye  is 
«  very  fine  one.  I  tmnk  00  inyBelf ;  and  wonder 
h9w  Sir  Thomas  has  made  so  much  out  of  an  old 
weather-beaten  block.  But  I  believe  the  hard  fea- 
tures of  otd  Dons  like  myself  are  more  within  the 
compass  of  the  artist's  skill  than  the  lovelvface 
and  delicate  complexion  of  females.  Came  home 
after  a  heavy  shower.  I  had  a  long  conversation 
about  •  ♦  with  •  ♦  •  •—all  that  was  whispered  is 
^rue— a  sign  how  much  belter  our  domestics  are 
acqaainted  with  the  private  affairs  of  our  neigh- 
bours than  we  are.  A  dreadful  tale  of  incest 
and  teductioB,  and  nearly  of  blood  also^horrible 
bsysnd  expression  in  its  complications  and  events 
—*^And  yet  the  end  is  not:*— and  this  man  was 
•nuaMeu  and  seemed  the  soul  of  honoui^-laughed, 
too,  ana  was  the  soul  of  society.  It  is  a  mercy  our 
own  thoughts  are  concealed  from  each  other.  Oh ! 
a,  at  our  aodal  table,  we  coold  see  wh»t  passes  in 
each  bosom  around,  we  would  seek  dens  and  csV' 
ems  to  shun  humaii  society !  To  see  the  projector 
tremblinK  for  his  falling  speculations  {  the  voiuptit- 
9xy  rueing  the  event  of  his  debauchery ;  the.  miaer 
wearing  out  bis  soul  for  the  loss  of  a  guinea— all 
—all  bent  upon  vain  hopes  and  vainer  rM^rets— we 
should  not  need  to  go  to  the  hall  of  the  Caliph  Va- 
thek  to  see  men's  hearts  broiling  under  their  black 
veils.  Lord  keep  us  from  all  temptation,  for  we 
cannot  be  our  own  shepherd  ! 

/'  Wc  dined  to-day  at  Lady  Stafibrd's  at  Weat- 
hili.  Lord  S.  looks  very  pporly,  but  better  than  I 
expected.  No  company,  excepting  Sam  Rogers 
and  Mr.  Thomas  Greoville,  a  very  amiable  and 
acoomplished  man  whom  I  knew  better  about 
twenty  years  since.  Age  has  touched  him,  as  it  has 
doubtless  affected  me.  The  great  lady  received  us 
with  the  most  cordial  kindness,  and  exprotaed  her- 
self, I  am'sure  sincerely,  desirous  to  be  of  service  to 
Sophia. 

"  Norembffr  13.— I  consider  ChaYles'e  business  as 
settled  by  a  private  intimation  which  I  had  to  that 
effect  from  Sir  W.  K,,  so  I  need  negociate  no  far- 
ther, but  wait  the  event.  Breakfasted  at  home, 
and  somebody  with  us,  but  the  whirl  of  visits  so 
great  that  I  have  already  forgot  the  party.  Lock- 
hart  and  I  dined  at  an  omcial  person's,  where  there 
was  a  little  too  much  of  that  sort  of  flippant  wit,  or 
rather  smartness,  which  becomes  the  parochial  Joe 
Miller  of  boards  and  offices.  You  must  not  be 
grave,  because  it  might  lead  to  improper  discus- 
sions ;  aud  to  langh  without  a  joke  is  a  hard  task. 
Your  profbssed  wags  are  treasures  to  this  species 
of  company.  Gil  Bias  was  right  in  eschewing  the 
literary  society  of  his  friend  iJ'abricio ;  but  neverthe- 
less one  or  two  of  the  mess  could  greatly  have  im- 
proved the  conversation  of  his  Commis,  Went  to 
poor  Lydia  White's,  and  found  her  extended  on  a 


she  has  set  up  the  whoje  staff  ot  ner  rest  in  keeping 
literary  society  about  her.  The  world  has  not  neg- 
lected her.  Ills  not  always  so  bad  as  it  is  called. 
She  can  always  make  up  her  circle,  and  ffenerally 
has  some  people  of  real  talent  and  distinction. 
She  is  wealthy,  to  be  sure,  and  gives  petit  dinners, 
but  not  in  a  style  to  carry  the  point  d  force  (far- 
gent  In  her  case  the  world  is  good-natured,  and, 
perhaps  it  is  more  freqtiently  so  than  is  generally 
auppoised. 

•*  Notembtr  14.— We  breakfasted  at  honest  Allan 
Cunningham's— honpst  Allan— a  leal  and  true 
Scotsman  of  the  old  cast  A  man  of  genius,  be- 
sides, who  only  requires  the  tact  of  knowing  when 
and  where  to  stop,  to  attain  the  universal  praise 
which  ought  to  follow  it.  I  look  upon  the  altera- 
tion ol '  It's  hame  and  its  heme,'  and  'A  wet  sheM 
and  a  flowing  sea,'  as  amonK  tlie  best  sonss  goln^. 
Hb  prose  has  often  admirable  passages,  but  Jie  is 


obscure,  and  overlaya  bis  meaning,  vhioh  will  no!  y 
do  nowadays,  wheA  he  who  runs  must  read.. 

"Dined  at  Croker's,  al  ^ensiogUm,  with  hit 
family,  the  Speaker,  and  the  focettous  Th^odan 
Hook. 

"  We  came  away  rather  e^rly,  that  Anne  and  I 
might  visit  Mrs.  Arbutbnot  to  medt  the.  Duke  of 
Wellington.  In  all  my  life  I  never  saw  him  better. 
He  has  a  dozen  of  campaims  in  his  body*-and 
tough  ones.  Anne  was  deltghtea  with  the  frank  ^ 
manners  of  this  unequalled  prkle  of  British  war* 
and  me  he  recaved  with  all  his  usual  kindness. 
He  talked. away  about  Buonaparte^  Rttsaiai  and 
France. 

"'  Aap^mferr  \.^^ — t  went  JO  thc  Cok»niHl  Office 
wlH«ret  Laboured  hsrd.  Din«)  with  th?  Dt^e  Oi 
WellmRtoii.  Anne  c^njl^^  not  look  RnooRH  at  the 
Tt^inqcttr  du  ^aiiuimr  dc  I<!i  ttt^t.  The  p any  were 
Sir.  niid  Mrs.  Peel  and  Brr.  nnd  Mrs.  Arliuthnot, 
Vf^f-y  riijKpcTaldt  Branks,  find  Crower^  with  Lady 
BntJnir*!  and  Lady  GwjrRmnn.  One  Rt'fttl^intin 
Unjk  Tiiiirh  of  ihi^  Donvi?rsntion,  and  eavt"  up,  vTiib  ' 
UTi[i«{.>e<M3ary  empbans^  and  at  scrpernttoup  lenECtb, 
hi^  ofiinii>n  of  a  Tate  gambling  trmnaacuon.  Thiu 
stjtiili-fl  thp  evening.  I  am  fntry  for  the  ocvunence 
though,  for  Lord  »  *  •  ts  fetlock  de^p  In  it,  and  it 
looks  likt'  ^  Vile  bop.  This  migfonun^,  «ith  the 
fttfiir.^b  jtidJunt  nt  *  •  *  m\\  nnt  be  suffer^^d  lo 
fafj  10  I  he  ground^  but  will  bv  nsed  bb  a  coUiiterp^Jivi 
to  ilio  Greek  ham,  P^'l  o&ked  tiye,  in  private,  my 
opliiJrtiiof  three  candid  IS  te«  for  the  Scotch  ^Oiwi^ 
snd  1  gavp  it  him  tantlitily,  We  pholl  sec  if  it  haft 
"wdptt,  I  bftgin  lo  Urts  of  my  gaipTJEi* ;  and  the  Into 
hontfi  nnA  ennstani  fefintmg  ni*affrfu  with  mo.  I 
wrfth  for  ^  sht^^p's-hf^a^l  nnd  whisky- toddy  b  gain  at 
all  ihr*  French  cookery  and  thanipognc  in  Tno 
Wi>rliL  Well.  I  supposff  I  ndghi  have  befrn  a  Judge, 
of  Sj  ^iPiori    by  this  ifme — aitatnofl,  m  short,   itie 

flvnT\\\  i^iinl  iiroposed  to  ihe  ambaiion  of  a  S^oltifh 
iiwyr'w  It  IB  betrer,  however,  s*  it  is,  while,  at 
least,  1  can  mainluin  my  liierary  r^tpataiion. 

"iVor«m6<r  16.— Breakfasted  with  Rog^s,  wild 
ray  dauj^hters  and  Lockhari.  R.  was  exceeduigly 
entertaining,  in  his  dry,  quiet,  sarcastic  manner. 
At  eleven  lo  the  Duke  of  Wellington,  who  gave  ma 
a  bundle  of  remarks  on  Buonaparte's  Russian  cam- 
paign, written  in  bis  carriage  during  his  late  mission 
to  St.  Peterslmrgh.  It  ie  furiouBljr  scrawled,  and 
the  Russian  names  hard  to  distinguish,  but  it  shall 
do  me  veoman's  service.  Thence  I  passed  lo  the 
Colonial  Office,  where  I  concluded  my  extracts. 
Lockhart  and  I  dined  with  Croker  at  the  Admiralty 
au  grand  courert.  No  less  than  five  Cabinet  Min- 
isters were  prepent— Canning,  Huakisson,  Melville, 
Peel,  and  WcUington,  with  sub-secretaries  by  the 
bushel.  The  cheer  was  excellent,  but  the  presence 
of  too  many  men  of  distinguished  rank  and  power 
always  free7.es  the  conversation.  Each  lamp  shines 
brightest  when  placed  by  itself;  when  too  close, 
they  neutralize  each  other,* 

"  ,\\>-.-\f^j.fr  1 7  —Sir  John  Malcolm  at  breakfast. 
S J '■V  t bn  Ihikffif  York.  The  change  on  H.  R.  H. 
is  mufit  wondc^rful.  Prom  a  big,  burly,  stout  man, 
with  s  ihiek  and  sometimes  an  inarticulate  mode 
of  ^PfEikinir,  he  has  sunk  into  a  thin-faced  slender- 
lookinir  old  ninn»  who  seems  diminished  in  hie  very 
STz^.  I  could  hsrdly  believe  I  saw  the  same  person, 
th^Tttch  1  H-ft^  received  with  his  usual  kindness. 
H(*  apjak)*  m^ieh  more  distinctly  than,  fbrmerlyj 
his  complexion  is  elearer :  in  short,  H.  R.  H.  seems, 
on  the  whole,  more  healthy  sftcr  this  crisis  than 
when  in  the  stall-fed  state,  for  such  it  seemed  to  be; 
in  which  I  remember  him.  God  grant  it;  his  life 
is  of  infinite  value  to  the  Kmg  and  country— it  is  a 
breakwater  behind  the  throne.  ^ 

"  November  18.— Was  introduced  by  Rogers  to 
Mad.  D'Arblay,  the  crh-brated  authoress  of  Evelina 
and  Cecilia,— an  elderly  lady,  with  no  remains  of 
personal  beauty,  but  with  a  simple  and  gentle  man- 

•  In  fpturoimi  tnm  Mm  dfciocr  Bit  WaliK  •aid.  '*  I  ha  1  gijUja  ' 
tonw  of  thGM  giiitA  men  at  t§^^^^te/or  ih§  Uut  tHnl" 


Ber,  a  pleuioff  expression  of  countenance,  Ind  ap- 
N  patently  quick  ISwHnga.  She  told  me  she  had 
wiahed  to  see  two  peradns— myself  of  course,  being 
•Be,  the  other  Gteorse  Canning.  This  was  really  a 
•ompUment  to  be  pleased  with— ^  nice  little  hand- 
some pat  of  butter,  made  up  by  a  neat  handed  Phil- 
fis  of  a  daify-tnaid.  instead  of  the  greasy  fit  only 
for  cart-wheelf!  which  one  is  dosed  with  by  the 
pound. 

"Mad.  D'Arblaytold  us  that  the  common  story 
of  Dr.  Burney,  her  father,  having  brought  home 
her  own  first  work,  and  recommended  it  to  her 
perusal,  was  erroneous.  Her  father  was  in  the 
secret  of  Evelina  being  printed.  But  the  following 
.  circumstances  may  have  given  rise  to  the  story  :— 
Dr.  Burney  was  at  Streatnam  soon  after  the  publi- 
eation,'  where  he  found  Mrs.  Thrale  recovering 
from  her  confinement,  low  at  the  moment,  and  out 
of  spirits.  While  they  were  talking  together,  John- 
son, who  sat  beside  m  a  kind  of  reverie,  suddenly 
broke  out—*  You  should  read  this  new  work,  mad- 
am—you should  read  Evelina ;  every  one  says  it  is 
excellent  and  they  are  right.'  The  deUghted  father 
obtained  a  commission  from  Mrs.  Thrale  to  pur- 
chase his  daughter's  work,  and  retired  the  happiest 
of  men. ,  Mad.  D'Arblay  said  she  was  wild  with 
jo|,  at  ihis  d'.r']-iv>  t  vijr  jicr  of  her  literary  success, 
snd  ibat  iilic  L'^^Lild  oij^y  i;Jve  vent  to  her  rapture  by 
dancing  and  Eakippmg  round  a  mulberry-tree  in  the 
ffartkn.  She  ^  was  v<^ry  y^ciuog  at  this  time.  1  trust 
X  fill  ri El  a«e  this  lady  agam. 

*\Dia&d  aiMt.  Petl'»  with  Lord  Liverpool,  Duke 
of  Wc^UirtgtoTu  Cfukcr*  Sn^  The  conversation  very 
good,  Pe^T  lakitig  ihtOi^Qd  iQ  his  own  house,  which 
he  will  not  do  elsewhere,  *  •  ♦  Should  have  been 
at  the  piny,  but  ftat  too  Ua;^  at  Peel's,  ^o  ends  my 
campaign  uniungat  iIil^l  inaijnincoes  and  T>otent 
Htigniors,  with  when 
wtritJ(;9t  aeci^ilntiur 


I4f*£  OF  SIR  W^ILXJBR,  SGOTT. 

poor,  pale,  prostrate  child,  so^  clem  and  to 

mg,  1  ahotild  have  parted  easuy  on  this  < 

but  these  misgivings  overcloud  the  prospect    We 

Teached  Oxford  by  six  o^cbck,  and  found  Charles 


ni  [  iijv^ound,  as  usual,  the 


"  November  20.— I  ended  this  morning  my  sittings 
to  Lawrence,  and  am  heartily  sorry  there  should  be 
another  picture  of  me  except  that  which  he  has  fin- 
ished. Theperson  is  remsrkably  hke,  and  conveys 
the  idea  of  the  stout  blunt  carle  that  cares  for  few 
things  and  fears  nothing.  He  has  represented  the 
author  as  in  the  act  of  composition,  yet  has  efifec- 
toafly  discharged  all  affectation  from  the  manner 
and  attitude.  He  dined  with  us  at  Peel's  yesterday, 
where,  by  the  way,  we  saw  the  celebrated  Chapcau 
de  Paide,  which  is  not  a  Chapeau  de  Paille  at  all. 
I  also  saw  this  morning  the  Duke  of  Wellington 
and  the  Duke  of  York ;  the  former  so  communica- 
tive, that  1  regretted  extremely  the  length  of  time,* 
hot  have  agreed  on  a  correspondence  with  him. 
TVc/p  (thonntur  pour  moi.  The  Duke  of  "^'ork 
seems  still  mending,  and  snokc  of  state  affairs  as  a 
high  Tory.  Were  his  hf  alih  good,  his  spirit  is  as 
'  strong:  as  ever.  H.  R.  H.  has  a  devout  norror  of 
the  Liberals.  Having  the  Duke  df  Wellington,  the 
Chancellor,  and  (perhaps)  a  still  greater  person  on 
his  side,  he  might  make  a  great  fight  wheri  they 
split,  as  split  they  will.  But  Canning,  Huskisson, 
and  a  mitigated  party  of  Liberaux  will  probably  beat 
them.  Canning's  wit  and  eloouence  are  almost  in- 
vincible. But  then  the  Church,  justly  alarmed  for 
their  proDcriy.  which  is  plainly  struck  at,  and  the 
bulk  of  the  landed  interest,  will  scarce  brook  even 
a  mild  infusion  of  Whiggery  into  the  Administra- 
tion.   Well,  time  will  show. 

•*  We.visited  our  friends  Peel,^  Lord  Gwydir,  Mr. 
Arburthnot,  dbc.  and  left  our  tickets  of  adieu.  In 
no  instance,  during  my  former  visits  to  London,  did 


occanon. 


and  his  friend  young  Surteee  waiting  for  us,  w\^  a 
good  fire  in  the  chimney,  and  a  good  dianer  reedv 
to  be  placed  on  the  table.  We  had  struggled  throngn 
a  cold,  sulky,  drizzly  dav  which  deprived  of  bH 
charms  even  the  beautilul  country  near  Henley.  So 
we  came  from  cold  and  dariiness  into  light,  and 
warmth,  and  society.  N,  B.— We  had  neiuier  day- 
light nor  moonlight  to  see  the  view  of  Oxford*  from 
the  Maudliu  bridge,  which  I  used  to  think  one  of 
the  most  beautiful  in  the  world. 

"  The  expense  of  travelhng  has  mounted  hif^  I 
am  too  old  to  rough  it,  and  scrub  it  nor  eoukl  I  nave 
saved  fifty  pounds  by  doing  so.  I  have  gainecL 
however,  in  health  and  apirits,  in  a  liew  atock  ot- 
ideas,  new  combinationa.  and  new  views.  My  aelf- 
consequence  is  raised,  1  hope  not  undniy,  by  the 
many  flattering  circumstances  attending  my  recep- 
tion in  the  two  capitals,  and  I  feel  confident  io  pro- 
portion. In  Sicotland  I  shall  find  time  for  labour 
and  for  economy. 

**  Cheltenham,  November  21.— Breakfasted  with 
Charles  in  his  chambers  at  Brazen-nose,  where  he 
had  every  thing  very  neat.  How  pleasant  it  is  for 
a  father  to  sit  at  his  child's  board !  itis  like  the  aged 
man  reclining  under  the  shadow  of  the' oak  which 
he  has  planted.  My  poor  plant  has  some  storms 
to  undergo,  but  were  this  expedition  conducive  to 
to  no  more  than  his  entrance  into  life  under  suitable 
auspices,  I  should  consider  the  toil  and  the  ex- 
pense well  bestowed.  We  then  salUed  out  to  see 
the  lions.  Remembering  the  ecstatic  feelings  with 
which  I  visited  Oxford  more  than  twenty-five  rears 
since,  I  was  surprised  at  the  comparauve  indiffer- 
ence with  which  I  revisited  the' same  scenes.  Re- 
ginald Heber,  then  composing  his  Prize  Poem,  and 
imping  his  wings  for  a  long  flight  of  honourable  dis- 
tinction, is  now  dead  in  a  foreign  land— Hodgson* 
and  other  able  men  all  entombed.  The  towers  and 
halls  remain,  but  the  voices  which  fill  them  are  of 
modern  days.  Besides,  the  eye  beeoni^es  saturated 
with  sights,  as  the  full  soul  loathes  the  honeycomb. 
I  admired  indeed,  but  my  admiration  waa  void  of 
the  enthusiasm  which  I  formerly  felt.  I  remember 
particularly  having  felt,  while  in  the  Bodleian,  like 
the  Persian  magician  who  visited  the  enchanted  U- 
brary  in  the  bowels  of  the  mountain,  and  willingly 
suffered  himself  to  be  enclosed  in  its  recesse^  while 
leos  ea^er  sages  retired  in  alarm-  Now  I  had  some 
base  thoiignts  concerning  luncheon,  which  waa 
most  munificently  suppliedby  Surtees,  at  hia  rooms 
in  University  College,  with  the  aid  of  the  best  ak  I 
ever  drank  in  my  life,  the  real  wine  of  Ceres,  and 
worth  that  of  Bacchus.  Dr.  Jenkyns,t  the  vice- 
chancellor,  did  ine  the  honour  to  call,  bat  I  saw  him 
not.  Before  three  set  out  for  Cheltenham,  a  long 
ami  uninteresting  drive,  which  we  achieved  by  nine 
o'clock.  My  sister-in-law,  Mrs.  Thomas  'Scott. 
and  her  daughter,  instantly  came  to  the  hvitel,  aod 
seem  in  excellent  health  and  spirits. 

"  iVor.  22.— 'Breakfasted  and  dined  with  Mrs. 
Scott,  and  leaving  Cheltenham  at  seven,  pushed  on 
to  Worcester  to  sleep.  iVor.  88.— Breakfasted  at 
Birmingham  and  slept  at  Maccleafield.  As  we 
came  in  between  ten  and  eleven,  the  people  of  the 
inn  expressed  surprise  at  our  travelling  so  late,  as 
the  general  distress  of  the  manufaciurera  has  ren- 
dered many  of  the  lower  classes  desperatelv  outra- 

"Lad»Liui»a  Smart  dined-alsoWriirht  and  Mr  '  «»»l«Pi  thus  setting  oui  of  ihe  region  of  the  Wern, 

theereninB,  .0  ended  plea.an,ly  our  Us.  n^^^n.  .,  f^^^l  ,^^:;^^^ll'„YX^^^^ 

II  ^  ^     >    »r        .  who  have  blown  up  this  country  into  a  State  of  un- 

Oxfordy  November  20.~Left  London  after  a  i  substantial  opulence,  at  the  expense  of  the  health 
comfortable  breakfast,  and  an  adieu  to  the  Lockhart    and  morals  of  the  lower  classes. 

."L  '';,  ?"  ''!    ''"'        '"""f""""*  '""'"  "f  '•'"'  1     %Dr.  r,odrf,«n  H.J.«n.  tl.  Ul.  «>>n«tt  Matotf  I 
.    B«»L  Waller  no  doobt  meann  that  he  re«rrttcd  not  Kavinff  leea  '  nose  CoUeja 
tlisDi^ataii««ilitrp«hodofhiibutonealIabetira.  1        -    -^ 


ae  CoUere. 

'  Dr.  Richard  Jenkym ,  Maiter  of  B&liol  CoDefe. 


Digitized  by  V^OOQlC 


UFVOr  m  WALTER  S009T* 


"JMot^ard,  Napfmh4r  j».  —  Consvkioff  my 
Dime,  found  my  good  X60  diminithed  to  Cuiartei' 
1680  Ten.  In  puree,  £6.  Naturally  reflected  how 
much  expense  has  increased  since  I  first  travelled. 
My  uncle's  servant,  tluring  the  jaunts  we  made  to- 
gether while  I  was  a  boy,  used  to  have  hfs  option  of 
a  shilling  per  diem  for  board  wages,  and  usually 
prefefrred  it  to  having  bis  charges  borne.  A  servant 
nowadays  to  be  comfortable  on  the  road  should  have 
4s.  or  4s.  6d.  board  wages,  which  before^  1790  would 
have  maintained  his  master.  But  if  this  be  pitiful, 
it  is  still  more  so  to  find  the  alteration  in  my  own 
temper.  When  young,  on  returning  from  such  a 
trip  as  I  have  iust  had,  my  mind  wotild  have  loved 
t»  dwell  on  all  I  had  seen  that  was  rich  and  rare,  or 
have  been  placing,  perhaps,  in  order,  the  various 
additions  with  wnicn  I  had  supplied  my  stock  of 
information— and  now,  like  a  stupid  boy  blundering 
over  an  .arithmetical  question  half  obliterated  on  his 
slate,  I  go  stumbling  on  upon  the  audit  of  pounds, 
shillings,  and  pence.  Weil,— the  skirmish  oas  cost 
me  xaoo.  I  wished  for  information— and  I  have 
had  to  pay  for  it." 

On  proceeding  to  Edinburgh  to  resume  bis  official 
dudes,  3ir  Walter  estabUshed  himself  in  a  furnished 
house  in  Walker  Street,  it  being  impossible  for  him 
to  leave  his  daiu^ter  alone  )n  the  country,  and  the 
aspect  of  his  anairs  being  bo  much  ameliorated  that 
he  did  not  think  it  necessary  to  carry  the  young 
lady  to  such  a  place  as  Mrs.  Brown's  lodgings.  Dur- 
ing the  six  ensuing  months,  however  he  led  much 
the  same  life  oif  toil  and  secluaion  nrom  company 
which  that  of  Abbotaford  had  been  during  the  pre- 
cedinf(  autumn— very  rarely  dining  abroad,  except 
with  one  or  two  intimate  friends,  en  /am»//«— still 
more  rarely  receiving  even  a  single  guest  at  home ; 
and,  when  there  was  no  such  interruption,  giving 
hia  night  as  well  as  hia  morning  to  the  desk. 


CHAPTER  LXXIII. 

Urm  OF  ITAVOLXON,  AND  CHRONICL^  OF  THX  CANON- 
OATX  IN  PB0<^88— BXVIBWALS  OF  MACXXNZIE's 
BDITION  OF  HOMX,  AND  OF  HOFPMAN's  TALES— 
'BHEUMATIC  ATTACKS— THXATBICAL  FUND  DINNEB 
—AVOWAL  OP  THX  SOLE  AUTH0B8H1P  OF  THE  WA- 
VBRLET  NOVELS— LETTEB  FBOM  OOBTHE— DEATHS 
OF  THB  DUKE  OF  TOBK— MB.  GIFFOBD— SIR  GEOBGE 
BEAUMONT,  XTfc.— MB.  CANNING  MINISTER— COM- 
PLETION OF  THB  LIFE  OP  BVONAPABTE— BEMINIS- 
CXNCES  9F   AN  AMANUENSISt-OOETHb's   BEMABKS 

•  ON  THE  WOBK — ITS  PECUNIABY  RESULTS- DECEM- 
BEB,  1826— JUNE,  1827. 

DuBiNG  the  winter  of  1826-7,  Sir  Walter  suffered 
great  pain  (enough  to  have  disturbed  effectually 
any  other  man's  labours,  whether  official  or  lite- 
rary) from  successive  attacks  of  rheumatism,  which 
seems  to  have  been  fixed  on  him  by  the  wet  sheets 
of  one  of  his  French  inns ;  and  his  Diary  r-r-*-^-Ti,, 
besides,  various  indications  that  his  co^^c^i^•,^l\>'n 
was  already  shaking  under  the  fatigue  to  which  he 
had  subjected  it.  Formerly,  however  prf^At  the 
quantity  of  work  he  put  through  his  hnndN,  his 
evenings  were  almost  always  reserved  for  ih-  ii^iiit 
reading  of  an  elbow  chair,  or  the  enjoynu  rit  >it  !iis 
family  and  friends.  Now  he  seemed  in  ^rii'fj;e 
every  minute  that  was  not  soent  at  the  de^k.  Ihe 
little  that  he  read  of  new  books|,  or  for  mere  amuse- 
ment, was  done  by  snatches  m  the  course  of  hie 
meals ;  and  to  walk,  when  he  could  walk  at  all,  to 
the  Parliament  House,  and  back  again  through  the 
Prince's  Street  Gardens,  was  his  only  exercise,  and 
his  only  relaxation.  Every  ailment,  of  whatever 
sort,  ended  only  in  aggravating  his  lameness  i  and, 
perhapsi  the  severest  test  his  philosophy  encounter- 
ed, was  the  fieeling  of  bodily  helplessness  that  from 
week  to  week  crept  upon  him.  The  winter,  to  make 
bad  worscL  was  a  very  cold  and  stormy  one.  The 
growing  sluggishness  of  his  blood  showed/tself  in 
chilblains,  not  only  on  the  feet  but  the  fingers,  and 
hia  handwriting  becomes  more  and  more  cramped 
«ad  confused.    I  shall  not  pain  the  reader  b^  ex- 


tractiBjBr  nieraly  medieal  entriai  froni  hia  Diaryj'  bdt 
the  following  give  charaetetiatie  sketches  or  hia 
temperament  and  reflections  :— 
I 
"  December  16.— Another  bad  night  1  remember 
I  used  to  think  a  slight  illneaa  was  a  luxnriosa 
thing.  My  pillow  was  then  softened  by  the  hand 
of  affetftion.  and  the  Httle  carea  put  in  exerciae  ta 
soothe  the  languor  or  pain,  were  more  flattering  and 
pleasing  than  the  consequences  of  the  illneaa  werei 
disagreeable.  It  was  a  new  scene  to  be  watched 
and  attended,  and  I  used  to  think  that  the  malade 
imaginaire  gained  something  by  his  humour.  It  is 
different  in  the  latter  stages- the  old  poist-chaise 
gets  more  shattered  and  out  of  order  at  every  turn ; 
windows  will  not  be  pulled  up,  doors  refuse  to  open, 
or.  being  open  will  not  shut  again— which  lasiia 
rather  ray  case.  There  is  some  new  subject  of  com- 
plaint every  moment— your  sicknesses  come  thicker 
and  thicker— your  comforting  and  sympathizing 
friends  fewer  and  fewer— for  why  should  they  sor- 
row for  thfj  course  of  nritiirt  1  The  ri^t^olWnnn  nf 
youth,  heelirh,  and  tininttmij.ili  iJ  i^j^w.rb  ul  ji.  livmy^ 
neither  imprinred  nor  t^j^.^Vt'd,  Js  &  p^Kir  aifaio  of 
comfort.  The  h'^si  i?h  tht  long  hair  will  urmc  at 
last,  and  cure  »U.  This  was  n  day  of  labour,  agrco- 
ablv  varied  by  n  pain  which  rendered  ii  scarte  poa* 
sible  to  &[X  itpri^'ht-  My  jour  nit  L  is  getiini^  a  vile 
chirurgical  fi^pcct.  I  bc^n  to  !»e  afraid  of  the  odd 
consequer:  I H  complain  la  ia  the  pcfil  tquiUm  are 
said  to  pr  n*  i.:l\  I  ^hall  tiro  of  my  journal.  In  mv 
better  da>#  I  had  stories  lo  leH  |  buL  d^arh  has  closer 
the  long  dark  avung^  upon  loiter  and  fru^ndahipsi 
and  Hook  at  them  ns  through  the  graU'd  doorofa  J^u* 
rial-place  fill^jd  i^iih  monuments  of  those  who  were 
once  dear  to  me,  whh  no  itiainct^re  wish  that  Tt  may 
open  for  mt'  ot  no  dial  ant  pmcMl,  provided  such  bo 
the  will  of  Qod,  My  pains  were  tno^o  of  the  heart, 
and  had  Stfrneihing  flattering  in  their  characier;  if 
in  the  heaii  ii  was  from  th*  blow  of  a  bludicega 
gallantly  ¥4?ceived^  and  well  paid  back.  1  (bt^k  t 
shall  not  live  to  the  ueuat  verK^  of  human  eiisttsnce : 
I  shall  ne^ '  r  !!M:e  the  thrcfcpf^re  and  ten,  and  shall 
be  surnmtii  up  ai  a  discount.  No  help  fo^  it,  and 
no  matter  either. 

"  December  18.— Sir  Adam  Ferguson  breakfasted 
— one  of  the  few  old  friends  left  out  of  the  number 
of  my  youthful  companions.  In  youth  we  l^ave 
many  companions,  few  friends  perhaps;  in  age 
companionship  is  ended,  except  rarely,  and  by  ap- 
pointment Old  men,  by  a  kmd  of  instinct,  seek 
younger  associates,  who  listen  to  their  stoiies^  hon- 
our their  gray  hairs  while  present,  and  mimic  and 
laagh  at  them  when  their  backs  arc  turned.  At 
least  that  was  the  way  in  our  day,  and  I  warrant 
our  chicks  of  the  present  brood  crow  to  the  same 
tune.  Ol  all  the  friends  that  I  have  left  here,  there  is 
none  who  has  any  decided  attachment  to  literature. 
So  either  I  must  talk  on  that  subject  to  young  peo- 
ple—in other  words,  turn  proser— or  I  must  turn 
tea-table  talker  and  converse  with  ladies.  I  am  too 
old  and  too  proud  for  either  character,  so  I'll  live 
alone  and  be  contented.  Lockhart's  departure  for 
Loadon  was  a  loss  to  me  in  this  way." 

He  spent  a  few  days  at  Abbotsford  at  Christmas, 
and  several  weeks  during  the  spring  vacation ;  but 
the  frequent  Saturday  excursions  were  now  out  of 
the  question— if  for  no  other  reason,  on  aqpount  of 
thi^  quaniuy  of  buuks  which  he  roust  have  by  him 
whilo  working  at  hi4  Napoleon.  He  says,  0n  the 
30th  of  Def^tmber— 'Wrote  hard.  Last  day  of  an 
evuniful  yt-ari  tiiuch  evil— and  some  good,  but  espe- 
cially the  courage  it  endure  what  Fortune  aends 
wiifujut  bntu}niit\g  a  i)ipe  for  her  fingers.*  It  is  not 
the  ta*i  dtiy  uf  the  y'lar ;  but  to-morrow  being  Sun- 
day, we  hold  <JUf  r^  !itival  to-day.— The  Ferguapna 
caiiie,  and  we  had  the  usual  appliancea  of  mirth 
and  Ri3od  chper.  Vet  our  party,  like  the  ohariot- 
whm^  of  PharoEih  in  the  Red  Sea. dragged  heavflf. 
—It  must  be  allowcil  that  the  regular  recurrence  of 
annual  festivals  among  the  i^ame  in<^viduala  haai 
aa  hfe  advances,  something  in  it  that  is  melancholy. 


«  HamM>  Act  HI.  S< 

Digitized 


'^ODglt 


m 


Llfl^  €m  mSBL  WJOfBOk  9Gcm\ 


<^^  woundec[  and  wmened  ouraelvts^  uid  took- 
lag  through  dimiDishod  raoki  ip  thiuk  of  these  who 
are  no  more.  Or  they  are  like  the  feast  of  the 
Owibst  in  Which  they  held  that  the  pale  and  speech* 
less  pnantoms  of  the  deceased  appeared  and  min- 
H^  with  the  living.  Yet  where  shall  we  fly  from 
^n  repining  l—o¥  why  should  we  give  up  the  com- 
fort of  seeing  our  fnends,  because  they  can  no 
longer  be  to  us,  or  we  to  them,  wha(  we  once  were 
to  each  other? 

"  January  1,  1827.— God  make  this  a  happy  new 
year  to  the  King  and  pountry,  and  to  all  honest 
men. 

'*  I  went  to  dine  as  usual  ht  the  kind  house  of 
Hniitly-Burn ;  but  the  cloud  still  had  its  influence. 
Tfce  effect  of  grief  upon,  persons  who,  like  myself 
and  Sir  Adam,  are  highly  susceptible  of  humour, 
has,  I  think,  been  finely  touched  by  Wordsworth  in 
tie  character  of  the  merry  village  teacher  Matthew, 
whom  Jeffrey  profanely  calls  a  half  crazy  senti- 
mental person.^'*  Bat,  with  my,  friend  Jeffrey's 
pardon,  I  think  he  loves  to  see  imagination  best 
wneri  it  is  bitted  and  managed,  and  ridden  upo|L  the 
grandpas.  He  does  not  make  allowance  for  starts 
and  sallies,  and  bounds,  when  P^sus  is  beautiftil 
to  behold,  though  sometimes  perilous  to  his  rider. 
Not  that  I  think  the  amiable  bard  of  Rydale  shows 


judgment  in  choosing^  such  subjects  as  the  popular 
mind  cannot  sympathize  in.  It  is  unwise  and  un- 
jdst  to  himself.    I  do  jnpt  compare  myself,  in  point 


of  imagination,  with  Wordsworth,  fitr  from  it;  ibi" 
his  is  naturally  exquisite,  and  highly  cultivated  from 
constant  exetcise.  But  I  can  see  as  many  castles 
in  the  clouds  as  any  maii,  as  many  genii  in  the  curl- 
ing smoke  of  a  steam-engine,  as  pbrfisci  a  Persepo- 
lis  in  the  embers  of  a  sea-coal  nre.  My  life  has 
been  spent  in  such  day-dreams.  But  I  crv  no  roast- 
meat.  There  are  times  a  man  should  remember 
what  Rosseau  used  to  say,  Tait-toi^  Jean  Jaequtt^ 
cctr  on  no  fentendpasi 

*"  Talking  of  Wordsworth,  he  told  Anne  a  story, 
the  object  of  whieh,  as  she  understood  it,  was  to 
show  that  Crabbe  iiad  no  imagination.  Crabbe, 
Sir  Greorge  Beaumont,  and  Wordsworth  were  sit- 
ting together  in  Murray's  room  in  Albemarle  Street. 
S^  George,  after  sealing  a  letter,  blew  out  the  can- 
dle which  had  enabled  bun  to  do  so,  and  exchanging 
a  look  with  Wordsworth,  began  to  admire  in  silence 
the  undulating  thread  of  smoke  which  slowly  arose 
from  the  expinng  wick,  when  Crabbe  put  on  the  ex- 
tinguisher. Anne  laughed  at  the  instance,  and  in- 
quired if  the  taper  was  wax,  and  being  answered  in 
the  negative,  seemed  to  thitik  that  there  was  no  call 
on  Mr.  Crabbe  to  sacrifice  bis  sense  of  smell  to 
their  admiration  of  beautiful  and  evanescent  forms. 
In  two  other  men,  I  should  have  said,  *  ^^^t  it  is 
affectations,'  with  Sir  Hugh  Evans  ;t  but  Sir  George 
is  the  man  in  the  world^most  void  of  affectation ; 
and  then  he  is  an  exquisite  painter,  and  no  doubt 
■aw,  where  the  incident  would  have  eucceeded.  in 
painting.  The  error  is  not  in  you  yourself  receiving 
decip  impressions  from  slight  hints^but  in  supposing 
that  precisely  the  same  sort  of  unpreesion  must 
arise  m  the  mind  of  men,  otherwise  of  kindred  fed- 
in&  or  that  the  common -place  folk  of  the  world 
can  derive  such  inductions  at  any  time,  or  under 
anx  circumstances. 

*^  January  13.— The  Fergusons,  y^ith  my  ndgh- 
bours  Mr.  Sorope  and  Mr.  Bainbridge,  eat  a  haunch 
of  renison  from  Orummond  Castle,  and  seemed 
happy.  We  had  music  and  a  little  dancing,  and  en- 
joyed in  others  the  buoyancy  of  spirit  that  we  no 
longer  possess  ourselvee.  It  et  I  do  not  think  the 
young  people  of  this  age  so  gey  as  we  were.  There 
IS  a  turn  foi"  persiflage,  a  fear  of  ridicule  among 
thsm,  which  stifles  the  honest  emotions  of  gaiety 
and  lightness  of  spirit ;  and  people^  when  thev  gi^e 
jn  the  least  to  the  expansion  of  their  natural  feei- 

1  are  always  kept  under  by  the  fear  of  bt*coraing 

oos    To  festrain  your  feelings  and  check  your 

*  See  Edlnbturgh  Review,  No.  sdii.  p.ia5. 
t  Jflrry  fr<V«t  qf  HTiJiiMr,  A«t  L  Scene  L 


ingB,  ar< 
nKueioa 


ie^diusiasm  in  the  cause  eyen  of  pleasure,  is  juyw  % 
mle  among  neople  of  faahioni  as  much  as  it  uira  to^ 
be  am6ng  poilosopl^ers.' 

*•  Edinburgh  JanuarVt  16,— Qff  we  (»me|  and  i» 
despite  of  rheumatism  I  got  tU'ough  the  journegr 
tolerably.  Coming  through  Galashiels,  we  met  the 
Laird  of  Torwoodlee,  who.  on  hearing  how  long  I 
had  been  confined,  asked  how  I  bore  it^  obaervtox 
that  he  had  once  in  his  life— Torwoodlee  must  be 
between  60  and  70— been  confined  for  five  days  tp 
the  house,  and  was  like  to  hang  himself.  I  regmt 
Grod*s  free  air  as  much  as  any  man,  but  I  couid 
amuse  myself  were  it  in  the  Baslile. 

"  February  19.— Very  cold  weather.  What  says 
Dean  Swift  f— 

'  Wliea  frost  and  snow  come  both  tof  eUMsr, 
Thou  sit  by  the  fire  and  save  shoe  leather.' 

I  read  elid  wrote  at  the  bitter  account  of  the  French 
retreat  from  Moscow,  in  1812,  till  the  httie  room 
and  coi^  fire  seemed  snug  by  the  compariaon.  I 
felt  cold  m  its  rkour  in  my  chudbood  and  boyhood, 
but  not  since.  In  youth  and  middle  life  I  was  yet 
less  sensible  to  it  than  now— but  I  remember  think- 
ing it  ,worse  than  hunger.  Uninterrupted  to-dsjr 
and  did  eight  leaves.* 

"  March  3*— Very  severe  weather,  and  home  oov- 
eced  with  anew.  White  as  a  frosted  plum-cake,  by 
jin^o.  No  tnatter}  I  am  not  sorry  to  find  I  eao 
stand  a  brusn  of  weather  yet.  I  like  to  see  Ar- 
thtir's  Seat  and  the  stem  old  Castle  with  their  white 
watch-cloaks  on.     But,  as  Byron  said  to  Moore^ 

d n  it,  Tom,  don't  be  poetical.     1  settled  to 

Boney,  and  wrote  right  long  and  well. 

*^  AbboU/ord^  March  12.— Away  we  set,  and  came, 
safely  to  Abbotsford  amid  all  the  dulnes^  of  a  great 
thaw,  which  has  set  the  rivers  a  streaming  in  ful^ 
tide.    The  wind  is  high,  but  for  my  part 

'I  like  this  rocking  of  the  battlements. 't 
I  was  received  by  old  Tom  and  the  dogs  with  the 
unsophisticated  ibelings  of  good- will.  I  have  been 
trying  to  rejid  a  new  novel  which  I  had  hea«d 
praised.  It  is  called  Atmackst  and  the  author  has 
so  well  succeeded  in  describing  the  dold  selfish  fop- 
peries of  the  time^  th^t  the  copy  is  almost  as  dull  as 
the  orignal.  1  think  I  shall  take  up  my  bundle  of 
Sheriff-Court  processes  instead  of  Almacjis,  as  the 
more  entertaining  avocation  of  the  two.. 

March  13.— Before  breakfast,  prepared  and  for- 
warded the  processes  to  Sdkirk.  Had  a  pleasant 
walk  to  the  thicket,  though  my  ideas  were  oll^i- 
podrida-ish.  I  expect  this  will  not  be  a  day  of  work 
but  of  idleness,  for  my  books  are'not  come.  Would 
to  God  I  coidd  make  it  light,  thoughtless  idleness, 
such  as  I  used  to^faave  when  the  silly  smart  faaciea 
ran  in  my  brain  like  the  bubbles^  in  a  glfiss  of  cbam-  - 
pagne,— as  brilliant  to  my  thmkmg,  as  mtoxicatiog^ 
as  evanescent  But  the  wine  is  somewhat  on  the- 
lees.    Perhaps  it  was  but  indifferent  cider  after  ^alL 


many  things  that  like  him. 

"Afarc&«l>— Wrote  till  twelve,  then  out  upon  the 
heights,  though  the  day  was  siormy,  and  faced  the 
gale  bravely.  Tom  Purdie  was  not  with  me.  He 
would  have  obliged  me  to  keep  the  sheltered  ground. 
There  is  a  touch  of  the  old  spirit  in  me  yet,  that 
bids  me  brave  the  tempest,— the  spirit  that,  in  spire 
of  manifold  infirmities,  made  me  a  roaring  boy  bi 
my  youth,  a  desperate  climber,  a  bold  rider,  a  deep 
dnnier,  and  a  stout  player  at  single  stick,  of  aU 
which  valuable  qualitiee  there  are  now  but  slender 
remsins.  I  worked  hard  when  I  came  in,  and  fin- 
ished five  pages. 

"  March  26.— Despatched  packets.  Colonel  and 
Captain  Ferguson  arrived  to  breakfast.  I  had  pre- 
viously determined  to  give  myself  a  day  to  write 
letters;  and  this  day  wul  do  as  well  as  another.    | 

*  One  paxe  <^  hia  M8.  amwera  to  fiom  toar  to  fiv*  of  the 
close  printed  pates  of  (ho  original  editkm  of  fail  Buoimvant. 

*  Zanffa,  in  "The  RevOtge.^ 
:  Nbai*0d-«  itar boond. 


Digitized  by  V^OOQlC, 


LOfs  OF  sui  wmvpsm  Bcmrr.- 


ctim»t  haep  «>  ndth  ^e  world  withoni  shving  a 
leUer  now  aod  then.  It  is  true  the  i^natest  nappi- 
IMP*  I  oould  think  of  would  be  to  be  nd  of  the  world 
entirely.  Excepting  jfkV  own  family.  I  have  little 
vleasorer  in  the  world,  leaa  buaineaa  in  i^  and  agi 
Beariily  careleaa  aboat  all  its  concerns. 

"  April  a4.— Still  deep  snow— a  foot  thick  in  the 
ooort-yard,  I  dare  say.  Severe  welcome  for  the 
poor  lambs  now  coming  into  the  world.  But  what 
signifies  whether  they  die  just  now,  or  a  little  while 
after  to  be  united  with  sallad ,  at  luncheon  time  7 
It  sifrnifies  a  good  deal  too.  '  There  is  a  period, 
though  a  short  one,  when  they  dance  among  the 
gowans,  and  seem  happy.  As  for  your  aged  ihcep 
or  wether,  the  sooner  they  pass  to  the  Norman 
aide  of  the  vocabulary,  the  better.  They  are  like 
some  old  dowager  ladies  and  gentl^tnen  of  my  ac- 
quamtance— no  one  cares  about  them  till  they  come 
to  hecutupt  and  then  we  Bee  how  the  tallow  lies  on 
the  kidneys  and  the  chine. 

"JWby  13.-— A  most  idle  and  riissipaUs*!  day  I 
did  not  nse  till  half-past  eight  o'clock.  Col  uad 
Capit.  Ferguson  came  to  breakfast.  1  walk^J  half- 
way home  with  them,  then  turned  back  and  ^ptnt 
the  day,  which  was  delightful,  ih-atidennfc  ir^^m 
place  to  place  in  the  woods,  aoni^iJnios  rr-i^iiinf;  (he 
new  and  intefesting  volumes  of  Cyrii  Thorabmt 
fiOroetimee  'chewing  the  cud  of  iVi-eet  «iid  t^iter 
fanoies  which  alternated  in  my  fniuU.  idly  »urred 
by  the  succession  of  a  thousand  vagu^j  tbouMhte  it^A 
fears,  the  gay  strangely  miu«W  with  iho»e  of  tlis- 
mal  melancholy ;  tears  whicnsf^med  rendy  t<>  flow 
unoidden:  smiles  wiuch  approeohirMi  rh  .  r  d- 
sanUy:  all  that  wild  variety  of  iiiuuii  wliicn  ;^..._ie 
engraders.  I  scribbled  some  verses,  or  rather  com- 
po8«d  them  in  my  memory.  The  contrast  at  leav- 
ing Abbotsford  to  &>rmer  departures,  is  of  an  agi- 

j""^  and  violent  description.  Assorting  papers, 
and  so  forth.  I  never  could  help  admiring  the  con- 
catenation between  AhithopeI*s  setting  his  house 
JP.ofder  and  hanging  himself.*  The  one  seems  lo 
follow  Che  other  as  a  matter  of  course.  But  what 
frightens  and  disgusts  me  is  those  fearful  letters 
jPora  thooe  who  have  been  long  dead,  to  those  who 
{[ttger  on  their  wavfiire  through  the  valley  of  tears. 
iiK>se  fine  hnes  of  Spencer  came  into  my  head— 

**  The  shade  of  youthful  hope  ts  there, 
That  ling(  red  long,  and  latest  died ; 

Ambition  all  dissAlved  to  air, 
WHh  phantom  honours  by  his  aide. 

"  What  empty  shadows  glimmer  ni^tb  1 
They  once  were  Friendship,  Truth,  and  I*ove  J 

Oh  die  to  thought,  to  Memory  die. 
Since  lifeless  lo  my  heart  ye  prove. "f 

A/,  and  can  I  forget  the  Author— the  frightful  moral 
of  his  own  vision '?  What  is  this  world  7— a  dream 
^ibin  a  dream— as  we  grow  older  each  step  is  an 
•^•kfining.  The  youth  awakes,  as  he  thinks,  from 
ctui(Uiood— the  fuH-^rown  man  despises  the  pur- 
suits of  vouih  as  visionary— the  old  man  looks  on 
roanhood  as  a  feverish  dream.  The  grave  the  l^t 
sleep  1   Mo ;  it  is  the  last  and  final  awakening. 

** Edinburgh^  May  16.— It  is  impoPsibT^  tiii^t  to 
conipare  this  return  to  Edinburgh  with  orfn  r^  in 
niore  happy  limes.  But  we  should  rather  refuSkct 
pnder  what  distress  of  mind  I  took  up  my  LoiJgiiigs 
ui  Mrs.  Brown's  last  summer.  Wept  to  coutt  and 
fesumed  old  habiis.  Heard  the  true  history  ot 
T  .-'t  Imagination  renders  us  liable  to  be  ibe 
^ctimsof  occasional  low  spirits.  AH  belon:- -  -  ^o 
this  gifted,  as  it  is  colled,  but  often  unhap'  ■.  i, 

must  have  felt  that  but  for  the  dictates  of  i  ■  i, 

or  the  natural  recoil  of  the  mind  fromtht  jihi  f 
dissolution,  there  have  been  times  when  they  v\niild 
nave  been  willing  to  throw  away  life  aa  n  il^ild 
does  a  broken  toy.   I  am  sure  I  know  one  who  ims 

•  9A  Sara.  xvii.  23. 
.J'^Cfms  by  the  late  Honoorablo  W.  R.  Spencsr,  Loudn.r,,  tv..-i, 
'«    8w«in/e,  p.  438. 

J  BiM  Waller  had  this  monrinf  heard  of  the  wiicid*'  v  -  rj,  rn 
^i^^in  unaiiaatioo,  to  wiiom.  at  an  earlier  period  ,ln  v     h 

6^.    SS. 


f  oAenfth  ao.  'OGodI  what  are  weV-Lonlaof  na- 
•  turel — ^Why  a  tile  drops  from  a  house- top,  whkm 

an  elephant  wookl  not  feel  more  than  the  fall  of  a 
I  sheer  of  pasteboard,  and  there  hes  his  lordship.    Or 

somethinff  of  inconcetyably  minute  origin,  the  prea- 
I  sure  of  a  Done,  or  the  inflami9atk>n  of  a  particle  of 
;  the  brain  takes  place,  and  the-emblem  of  the  I)eity 

destroys  himself  or  some  one  else.  We  hold  our 
I  health  and  our  reason  on  terms  sUghter  than  one 

Nwould  desire,  were  it  in  their  choice,  to  hold  an 
i  Irish  cabin." 

I  These, are  melancholy  entries.  Ifest  of  those 
from  which  they  have  been  selected  begin  with  R. 
for  Rheumatism,  or  RR.  for  Rheumatism  Redoub- 
,  led,  and  then  mark  the  number  of  leavea  sent  to 
j  James  Ballantyne^the  proof-sheets  corrected  for 
presa-^r  the  calculations  on  which  he  reluctantly 
made  up  his  qiind  to  extend  the  Life  of  Buonapante 
j  from  sis  to  seven,  from  seven  to  eight,  and  finally 
from  caght  to  nine  thick  and  closely  printed  volumes. 
I  During  the  early  months  of  1827,  however,^  he  ex- 
ecuted various  minor  tracts  also ;  for  the  Q,uarterly 
Review,  an  article  on  Mackenzie's  Life  and  Works 
of  John  Home,  author  of  Douglas,  which  is,  in  faot, 
a  rich  chapter  of  Scott's  own  early  reminiscences, 
and  gives  many  interesting  aketclies  of  the  literary 
societv  of  Scotland  in  the  age  of  which  Mackenzia 
was  the  last  honoured  relic ;  and  for  the  l^oreign 
Review,  then  newly  aurted  under  the  editorship  of 
Mr.  R.  P.  Gillies,  an  ingenious  and  elaborate  paper 
on  the  writings  of  the  German  Novelist  HoflTmaD. 
This  article,  it  is  proper  to  observe,  was  a  benefiu:- 
tion  to  Mt*.  Gillies,  whose  pecuniary  affairs  rendered 
such  assistance  very  desirable.  Scott's  generosity 
in  this  matter— for  It  was  exactly  giving  a  poor 
brother  author  XlOO  at  the  expense  of  considerable 
time  and  drudgery  to  himself— 1  think  it  nece^ry 
to  mention  ;  the  date  of  the  exertion  requires  it  of  ' 
me.  But  such,  in  fact,  had  been  in  numberless  in- 
stances his  method  of  serving  literary  persons,  who 
hsd  little  or  no  claim  on  him,  except  that  they  were  ' 
of  that  class.,  I  have  not  conceived  it  delicate  to 
specify  many  instances  of  this, kind:  but  I  am  at 
liWty  to  state,  that  when  he  wrote  hjs  first  article 
for  the  Encyclopedia  Supplement,  and  £he  Editor 
of  that  work,  Mr.  Macvey  Napier  (a  Whig  in  poh- 
tics,  and  with  whom  he, had  hardly  any  persona) 
scquaintanee,)  brought  him  jSlOO  as  his  remunera- 
tion. Sir  Walter  said,  "  Now  tell  me  firankly,  if  I 
doB  t  take  this  money,  does  it  go  into  your  pocket 
or  your  publisher's,  (or  it  is  impossible  for  me  to 
accept  a  penny  of  it  from  a  literary  brother."  Mr. 
Napier  assured  him  that  the  arrasgementa  of  the 
work  were  such,  that  the  Editor  had  nothing  to  do' 
with  the  fund  destined  for  contributions :— Scott 
then  pocketed  his  dua  with  the  observation,  that 
"  he  had  rreet«  to  plant,  and  no  conscience  as  to  the 
purse  of  his  fat  fnend"— to  wii.  Constable. 

At  this  period,  Sir  Walter's  Diarv  very  seldom 
mentions  any  thing  that  could  be  called  a  dinner* 


party.  He  and  his  daughter  partook  geaerally  o „  . 
m  every  week  the  family  meal  of  Mr.  and  Mm. 
Skene  of  Rubielaw ;  and  they  did  the  like  occasion- 
ally with  a  few  other  old  fnends,  chiefly  those  of 
the  Clerks'  table.  When  ao  exception  occurs,  it  ia 
easy  to  see  that  the  scene  of  social  gaiety  was 
doubly  grateful  from  its  rarity.  Thus  one  entry, 
referring  to  a  party  at  Mr.  J.  A.  Murray's  (now  Lord 
Advocate  for  Scotland,)  ssys.— "  Went  to  dine  with 
John  Murray,  where  met  his  brother  (Henderland,) 
Jefirev,  Cockburn,  Rutherford,  and  others  of  that 
file.  Very  pleasant— capital  good  cheer  and  excel- 
lent wine— much  lauflh  and  fun.  I  do  not  know 
how  it  is,  but  when  I  am  out  with  a  party  of  my 
Opposition  fnendn,  the  day  is  often  merrier  than 
when  with  our  own  set.  'Is  it  because  they  are 
cleverer  ?  Jeflrey  and  Harry  Cockburn  are  to  be 
sure  %'ery  extraordinary  men  ;  yot  it  Is  not  owing  to 
that  entirely.  I  believe  both  parties  meet  with  the 
feeling  of  something  like  novelty.  We  have  not 
worn  out  our  jests  in  daily  contact.  There  is  also 
a  dispoHiion  on  Buch  occasions  to  be  courteous,  and 
of  course  lo  be  pleased."     ^-^-^.^^^  ^^  ^OOgYt 


LIFE  OF  em  wAunm  scorr. 


Another  «Teniiig,  spent  in  Roee  Court  with  hii 
old  firiend,  Mr.  Clerk,  seems  to  have  given  him  es- 
pecial deliKhu  He  savs,— "  This  being  a  blank  day 
kt  the  Court  I  wrote  hard  till  dressing  time,  when 
I  went  to  Will  Clerk's  to  dinner.  As  a  bachelor, 
and  keeping  a  small  establishment,  he  does  not  do 
these  things  often,  out  they  are  proportionally 
pleasant,  when  they  come  round.  He  had  trfested 
Sir  Adam ,  to  bespeak  his  dinner,  who  did  it  con 
amore^  so  we  had  excellent  cheer,  and  the  wines 
were  various  and  capital.  As  I  before  hinted,  it  is 
not  every  day  that  M'Nab  mounts  on  horseback.* 
and  so  our  Isndlord  had  a  little  of  that  soliciiuae 
that  the  party  should  go  off  well,  which  is  very  flat- 
tering te  the  guests.  We  had  a  very  pleasant  eve- 
ning. The  Chief  Commissioner  was  there,  Admiral 
Adam,  J.  A.  Murray,  Tom  Thonfeon,  &c.  &c.— Sir 
Adam  predominating  at  the  head,  and  dancing 
what  he  calls  his  merry-andrada  in  gwat  style.  In 
short  we  really  laughed,  and  real  laughter  is  a  thing 
as  rare  as  real  tears.  I  must  say,  too,  there  was  a 
htarL  a  kindly  feeling  prevail^  over  the  party. 
Can  London  give  such  a  dinner?— it  may,  but  I 
never  saw  one— they  are  too  cold  and  critical  to  be 

easily  pleased. 1  hope  the  Bannatyne  Club  will 

be  really  useful  and  creditable.  Thomson  is  super- 
intending a  capital  edition  of  Sir  James  Melville's 
Memohs.  It  is  brave  to  see  how  he  wag^s  his  Scots 
tongue,  and  what  a  difference  there  is  in  the  form 
ana  firmness  of  the  language,  compared  to  the 
mincing  Enghsh  edition  in  which  he  has  hitherto 
been  alone  known." 

No  wonder  that  it  should  be  a  sweet  relief  from 
Buonaparte  and  Blucher  to  see  M'Nab  on  horse- 
back, and  Sir  Adam  Ferguson  in  his  merry-andradii 
exaltatioii;  and  laugh  over  old  Scotch  stories  with 
the  Chief-Commissioner,  and  hear  Mr.  Thomas 
Thomson  report  progress  as  to  the  doings  of  the 
Bannatyne  Club.  But  I  apprehend  every  reader 
vi(ill  see  that  Sir  Walter  was  misled  by  his  own 
modesty,  when  he  doubted  whether  London  could 
afford  symposia  of  the  same  sort.  He  forgets  that 
he  had  never  mixed  in  the  society  of  Londpn  except 
in  the  capacity  of  a  stranger,  a  rare  visitor,  the  un- 
rivalled htc^ary  marvel  oi  the  time,  and  that  every 
Earty  at  which  he  dined  was  got  up  expressly  on 
is  account,  and  constituted,  whoever  mi^ht  be  the 
landlord,  on  the  natural  principle  of  bnnging  to- 

g ether  as  many  as  the  table  could  hold— to  see  and 
ear  Sir  Walter  Scott.  Hence,  if  he  dined  with  a 
Minister  of  State,  he  was  likely  to  find  himself 
seated  with  half  the  Cabinet— if  with  a  Bishop, 
half  the  Bench  had  been  collected.  As  a  matter 
of  course,  every  man  was  anxious  to  gratify  on  so 
rare  an  occasion  as  many  as  he  could  of  those  who, 
in  case  they  were  uninvited,  would  be  likely  to  re- 
proach him  for  the  omission.  The  result  was  a 
crolvding  together  of  too  many  rival  eminences: 
and  he  very  seldom,  indeed,  witnessed  the  delightful 
result  so  constantly  produced  in  London  by  the  in- 
termingling of  distinguished  persons  of  various 
classes,  full  of  facts  and  vieWs  new  to  each  other— 
and  neither  chilled  nor  perplexed  by  the  pernicious 
and  degrading  trickery  of  lionizing.  But,  besides, 
it  was  unfair  to  institute  any  comparison  between 
the  society  of  comparative  strangers  and  that  of  old 
fViends  dear  from  boyhood.  He  could  not  have  his 
Clerks  and  Fergusons  both  in  Edinburgh  and  in 
London.  Enough,  however,  of  commentary  on  a 
very  plain  text. 

That  season  was  further  enlivened  by  one  public 
dinner,  and  this,  though  very  briefly  noticed  in 
Scott's  Diary,  occupied  a  large  space  in  public  at- 
tention at  the  time,  and,  I  believe  I  may  add,  seve- 
ral  colmnns  in  every  newspaper  printed  in  Europe. 


out    I  fbar  it  will  b*  uoeomlbrtiblc;  and  whtl^isr 

the  stoics  may  say,  a  bad  ditiner  throws  cold  wnxtt 
on  chftritv.  I  have  agreed  to  preside,  a  sitiution  in 
which  I  have  been  rather  ieudtous,  not  by  noch 
superiority  of  art  or  wisdom,  Tar  less  of  eloqueoee ; 
but  by  two  or  three  simple  rules,  which  I  put  down 
here  for  the  benefit  of  my  postenty. 

"  1st,  Always  h^rry  the  bottle  round  for  iSve  or 
six  rounds,  without  prosing  yourself  or  permitting 
others  to  prose.  A  slight  lilip  of  wine  inclines  peo- 
ple to  be  pleased,  and  removes  the  nervousness 
which  prevents  men  from  speaking— disposes  them, 
in  short,  to  be  amusing  and  to  be  amused. 

"  2d,  Push  on,  keep  moving,  as  Toong  Rapid 
says.*  Do  not  think  of  saving  fine  things— nobodr 
cares  for  them  anv  more  than  for  fine  music,  which 
is  often  too  liberally  bestowed  on  such  occasions. 
Speak  at  all  ventures,  and  attempt  the  mol  jnur 
rire.  You  will  find  people  satisned  with  wonder- 
fully in  differ^  t  jokes,  if  you  can  but  hit  the  taste 
of  the  company, 'which  depends  much  on  its  char- 
acter. Even  a  very  high  party,  primed  with  all  the 
cold  irony  and  non  tat  ianti  feeirngs  or  no  feelings 
of  fashionable  folks  may  be  stormed  by  a  jovial, 
roufih,  round,  and  ready  preses.  Choose  your  te« 
with  discretion— the  sermon  may  be  as  yoir  Kke. 
Should  a.  drunkard  or  an  ass  break  in  with  any 
thing  out  of  joint,  if  you  can  pairy  it  with  a  jest, 
good^  and  well— if  not,  do  not  exert  your  flenoos 
authority,  unless  it  is  very  bad.  The  autbority  even 
of  a  chairman  ought  to  be  very  cantionsly  ezerctaed. 
With  patience  you  will  have  thesupport  of  evoy  one. 

'*  3aly,  When  you  have  drunk  a  few  glasses  to 
play  the  good-fellow,  and  banish  modesty— (if  you 
are  unludcy  enough  to  have  such  a  troobleaome 
companion)-^then  beware  of  the  cup  too  mach. 
Nothing  is  so  ridiculous  as  a  drunken  preses. 

"  Lastly,  always  speak  short,  and  Skwtk  dock  na 
8fcUl— cut  a  tale  with  a  drink. 

This  is  the  purpose  and  intent 
Ofgude  Schir  Waller's  te«tament"t 

This  dinner  took  place  on  Friday  the  23d  FebriH 
ary.  Sir  Walter  took  the  chair,  being  supported  by 
the  Earl  of  Fife,  Lord  Meadowbank,  Sir  John  Hope 
of  Pinkie,  Admiral  Adam,  Robert  Dtmdas  of  Arois- 
ton,  Peter  Robertson,  and  many  other  personal 
friends.  Lord  Meadowbank  had  come  on  short  ' 
notice,  and  was  asked  abruptly  on  his  arrival  to 
take  a  toast  which  had  been  cCestined  for  a  noble 
person  who  had  not  been  able  to  appear.  He 
knew  that  this  was  the  first  public  dinner  at 
which  the  object  of  this  toast  had  appeared  since 
his  misfortunes,  and  taking  him  aside  in  the  ante- 
room, asked  him  whether  he  would  consider  it  in- 
delicate to  hazard  a  distinct  reference  to  the  parent- 
age of  the  Waverley  Novels,  as  to  whicl^  there  had, 
in  point  of  fact,  ceased  to  be  any  obscurity  from  the 
hour  of  Constable's  failure.  Sir  Walter  smiled,  and 
said,  "^Do  just  as  you  like— only  don't  say  mnch 
about  so  old  a  story."- In  the  course  of  the  evening 
the  Judge  rose  accordingly  and  said— t 

"  I  would  beg  leave  to  propos<j  a  toast— the  health  of 
one  of  the  Patrons,  a  ^reat  and  distinguished  indiridtnl, 
whose  naiue  must  always  stand  by  ttaelf,  and  which.  In 
an  assembly  such  as  this,  or  in  any  other  a-wembly  of 
Scotsmen,  mast  ever  be  received.  I  will  not  say  with  or- 
dinary  feelings  of  pleasure  orof  dciifht,  but  with  those  of 
'       *  In  doing  til'    -  *    •   •      - 


rapture  and  enthusiasm. 
In  a  somewhat  new  situation. 


i)is  I  feel  that  I  stand 
Whoever  had  been  called 


His  good  friend  William  Murray,  manager  of  the    intruding  on  the  modesty  of  the  great 'individual' to  whom 
Edinburgh  Theatre,  invited  him  to  preside  at  the  I  ^  '^efer.    But  it  is       * 


first  fMtivaf  of  a  charitable  ftind  then  instituted  for 
the  behoof  of  decayed  performers.-  He  agreed,  <nd 
ssys  in  his  Journal—^*  There  are  300  tickeU  given 

v,.*  T!*i."°«^"  pemwate,  the  lata  M'Nab  of  that  Uk,  spent 
hu  Me  almost  eiittrely  tn  a  diatriot  where  a  boat  wa«  the  usual 
cuufeiauee.  I  ampeot.  boxvever,  there  is  an  allusion  to  tome 
pttiticnlar  aoeedote  which  I  have  not  roooveied. 


upon  to  propose  the  health  of  my  Hon.  friend  soom  time 
ago,  would  nave  found  himself  enabled,  from  the  mys- 
tery in  which  certain  matters  were  invohred,  to  rnofy 
himself  and  his  auditors  by  alluaioDs  «ure  to  find  a  re- 
sponding chord  in  their  own  feelings,  and  to  deal  tn  the 
language,  the  sincere  language,  of  (nnegyric,  without 
■         "  *        odestj  of  the  great  individual  to  w) 

no  longer  possible,  consistently  t.._ 

the  respect  due  to  ray  auditors,  to  use  upon  this  subject 

*  Morton's  comedv  of  A  Cure  for  the  Heart- Ache. 

^  Sir  Walterparodies  the  oonchision  of  King  Robert  the  Braei^ 
"  Maxims,  or  Political  Tpfftament"  See  Hailes's  Anialt,  A.  S. 
ISlI.-orFordun'sSooticfaronicon— Xlf.  10. 

:  Br  the  favour  of  a  friend,  who  took  notes  at  this  dinnsr,  1 9m 
enabled  to  five  a  better  report  of  these  speeches  tliaD  that  ofSs 
contemporary  nex^papcr^^^g^  ^y  VjOOQlC 


Ure  OP  sot  WALTBR  SCOTT. 


I0CIDS  ettto  tt  mjritiflcatioii,  or  of  ob«ci|rr  or  indirect 
■noBloiL  The  cloads  liave  been  dispelled— the  darknest 
tiaibU  hu  been  cleared  awaj— «na  the  Great  Unkiiown 
— tlie  minstrel  of  our  native  land— the  nfightr  magician 
who  has  rolled  back  the  current  of  time,  and  eonjiyred 
up  before  our  llTing  seases  th»  men  and  the  manners 
of  daja  which  have  long  paaaed  awar,  stancfc  rereal' 
ed  to  the  eyes  and  tho  hearts  of  hit  aifeclionate  and  ad* 
miring  cojmtrymen.  If  I  were  capable  of  imafining  all 
tbaj  belongs  to  this  mighty  subject— were  I  able  to  give 
'utterance  to  all  that  as  a  man,  as  a  Scotsman,  and  as  a 
friend,  I  must  feel  regarding  it,  yet  knowing,  as  I  well  do. 
that  this  illustrious  individual  is  not  more  distinguished 
for  his  towering  talcntsi  than  for  those  feelings  which 
render  such  allusions  ungrateful  to  himself,  however 
spariiMrlpr  intiV>duced,  I  would  on  that  account  sdll  refrain 
from  domg  what  would  otherwise  be  no  less  pleasing  to 
mrself  than  to  those  who  hear  me.  But  this  I  hope  I  may  be 
allowed  to  say— (tny  auditors  would  not  pardon  me  were 
1  to  say  lcss>— we  owo  to  himf  as  a  people,  a  large  and 
heavy  debt  of  gratitude.  Tic  it  is  who  lias  opened  to  for- 
eigners the  gnind  and  characteristic  beauties  of  our 
country.  It  is  to  him  that  we  owe  that  our  gallant  ances- 
tors and  illustrious  patriou— who  fouffht  and  bled  in  or- 
der to  obtain  and  secure  that  independence  and  that  hb- 


arty  we  now  enjoy— have  obtainecf  a  fame  no  longer  con- 
fined to  the  boundaries  of  a  remote  and  comparatively 
obscure  countrv— ii  is  He  who  has  called  dovm  upon 
their  struggle^  for  glory  and  freedom  the  admiration  of 
foreign  knds.  He  It  is  who  has  conferred  a  new  reputa- 
tion on  our  national  character,  and  bestowed  on  Scotland 
an  imperishable  name,  were  it  only  by  her  having  given 
birth  to  himsel£  I  propose  the  health  of  Sir  waiter 
Scott" 

Long  before  Lord  Meadowbdnk  ceased  speaking, 
^e  company  had  got,  upon  chairs  and  tables,  ana 
^e  storm  of  applause  that  ensued  was  deafening. 
When  they  recovered  from  the  first  fever  of  their 
raptures,  Sir  Walter  spoke  as  follows  .— 

*'I  certainly  did  not  think,  in  coming  here  to-day,  that 
1  should  have  the  task  of  -*-  —  "---  -  "^  '^rc  300  gen-  • 
tlemen,  a  secret  which,  /as  commu- 

nicated to  more  than  t\^  i  y  m  ,»|i^k %  ha^  u.-in  remarka- 
bly well  kept.  I  am  n(  ^^  r{i  ih^  bar  of  tny  country,  and 
niay  be  understood  to  I"  ^-n  trial  hi^frirrr  I,^rd  Meadow- 
bank  as  an  offender :  an  1  •  i^ujptly  tlui  nil  w bo  were  airt 
andpairt  conduct  theci  ■  ix  f^s^  ihflt  J  uji  sure  that,  were 
the  pane;  now  to  stand  -i*  bin  Uek-ncti,  4^v»<ry  impartial 
JQry  would  briog  in  a  v«  r  ■  lu  i  ,jf  Xot  PnJrcw  I  am  will- 
ing, however,  to  plead  li'Ufu-imt  uhiU  I  detain  the 
Court  by  a  long  explan&uon  rthy  my  coaieBiion  has  been 
•0  long  deferred-  Perhaps  caprice  might  have  a  con- 
siderable share  in  the  matter.  I  have  now  to  say,  how- 
ever, that  the  merits  of  these  works,  if  they  had  anv, 
and  their  iauUih  are  all  entirely  imputable  to  myself 
uke  another  Scottish  criminal  of  more  consequence, 
one  Macbeth, 

*  I  am  afraid  to  think  what  I  have  done ; 
Look  on't  again,  I  dare  not' 

"  I  have  thus  far  unbosomed  myself,  and  I  know  that 
tty  confession  will  be  reported  to  the  public.  1  mean, 
then,  sertouaiy  to  state,  that  when  I  say  I  am  the  author, 
I  mean  the  total  and  undivided  author.  With  the  excep- 
IJOQ  of  quotations,  there  is  not  a  single  word  that  was  not 
derived  from  myself,  or  suegested  in  the  course  of  my 
reading.  The  wand  is  now  brolcen,  and  the  book  buried. 
Ton  will  allow  nie  further  to  pay,  with  Prospero,  it  is 
your  breath  that  has  lillorl  my  sails,  and  to  crave  one 
*to|le  toast  in  the  capacity  of  the  author  of  these  novels. 
I  would  &in  dedicate  a  bumper  to  the  health  of  one  who 
has  represented  several  of  those  characters,  of  which 
I  had  endeavoured  to  give  the  skeleton,  with  a  truth  and 
liveliness  for  which  I  may  well  bo  grateful.  I  beg  leav9 
lo  nropoHO  the  health  of  my  friend  Bailie  Nicol  Jarvic— 

{Wiu  I  am  sure,  that  when  the  author  of  Waverley  and 
lob  Roy  drinks  to  Nicol  Jarvie,  it  will  be  received  with 
be  jost  applause  to  which  that  gentleman  has  always 
been  accustomed,— nay,  that  you  will  take  care  that  on 
we  present  occasion  it  shall  be  pro— oi— oi— ous !" 
(umg  and  vehement  applause,) 

Mr.  Mackay.— "My  conscience!  My  worthy  father 
the  deacon  could  never  have  believed  that  his  son  would 
bae  sic  a  compliment  paid  to  him  by  the  Great  Un- 
known I" 

^•«  WALTn  Scott.— "The  Small  Known  now,  Mr. 
Bailie.  6ic.  &c. 

•Portly  after  resuming  his  chair,  Sir  Walter  (I  am 
{old)  sent  a  slip  of  paper  to  Mr.  Robertson,  begging 
wm  to  "  confess  something  too,— why  not  the  mur- 
<w  of  Begbie?''    (See  ante,  p.  ido.)    But  if  Peter 


complied  wiih  the  hint,  it  was  long  after  the  ■enior 
dignitanea  had  left  the  room. 

The  "  sensation"  produced  by^  this  scene  was.  in 
newspaper  phrase,  "unprecedented."  Sir  Wal- 
ters Piary  merely  says— '  F'eht;^ary  24.— 1  carried 
my  own  instructions  mto  effect  Uie  best  I  could,  and 
if  our  jests  were  not  good,  our  laughter  was  abun- 
dant. I  think  I  will  ■  hardly  take  the  chair  again 
when  tho  company  is  so  miscelhrneous ;  though 
they  all  behaved  perfectly  well.  Meadowbank  tax- 
ed me  with  the  novels,  and  to  end  il^t  farce  at 
once,  I  pleaded  guilty,  so  that  splore  is  ended.  ,  As 
to  the  collection— it  has  been  much  cry  and  little 
woo,  as  the  deil  said  when  he  shore  the  bow.  1  got 
away  at  ten  at  night.    The  performers  performed 

very  like  gentlemen,  especially  Will  Murrav. ^ 

March  2.— Clerk  walked  home  with  me  from  the 
Court.  I  was  scarce  able  to  keep  up  with  him; 
could  once  have  done  it  well  enough.  Funny  thing 
at  the  TheatreJast  nig^hl.  Among  the  di^ourse  in 
High  Life  below  Stairs,  one  of  the  ladies'  ladies 
asks  who  wrote  Shakapeare.  One  says  '  Ben  Jon- 
son,'  another  ' Finis.'  'No,*  aaid  Will  Murray,  'it 
is  Sir  Walter  Scott,  he  confessed  it  at  a  public  meet- 
ing the  other  day.' " 

The  reader  may,  perhaps,  expect  that  I  should 
endeavour  to  Danoe  the  'upwards  of  twenty  per-, 
sons"  whom  Sir  Walter  alluded  to  on  this  occasion 
as  having  btJtu  put  iuio  ihf^  ^^  cnn  ot  the  V\  ovcrirjy 
Novels,  previouftl^,  and  without  refcreoce.  to  the 
catastrophe  at  1^66*  1  am  by  no  ]iitrnn&  B-utt^  that 
1  can  give  the  coroplet^  liai :  hut  in  ad  ei  it  ion  to  lh« 
imroediste  metiibers  of  ihf!  suthor'i*  own  family— 
(including  his  mother  and  hie  brother  ThmimB}— 
there  were  Conatnbta  CtideU,  the  two  BRl]B!J*ytie», 
Terry,  Laid  law,  Mr.  Truiu*  and  Mr,  G.  H  Gordon  i 
Charles  Duke  of  Bucckuch,  Latly  Lf^uisa  Siuan, 
Lord  Moatauu,  Lord  and  Lady  Pohvarth,  Lord 
Kinned(lt?r,  Sir  Adam  Ferguson,  Mr.  Morntt,  Mr. 
andMr^.  v4kene,  Mr.  Willmni  Ckrk,  Mr.  Hbv  Don- 
aldson, JHIr.  Joim  Richiirdiion,  and  Hr,  Ttiotiita 
Moore. 

The  entries  in  Scott's  Diary  on  contemporary  lit- 
erature are  at  this  time  very  few :  nor  are  there 
many  on  the  public  events  of  the  day,  though  the 
period  was  a  very  stirring  one.  He  seems,  in  fact, 
to  have  very  rarely  seen,  even  when  in  town,  anv 
newspaper  except  the  Edinburgh  Weekly  Journal 
At  his  age^  it  is  not  wonderful  that  when  that  sheet 
reached  him  it  for  the  most  part  contained  the  an- 
nouncement of  a  death  which  interested  his  feel- 
ings ;  and  several  of  the  following  passages  refer  to 
incidents  of  this  melancholy  class  :— 

"  January  9.— This  morning  received  the  long- 
expected  news  of  the  Dnke  of  York's  death.  I  am 
sorry  both  on  public  and  private  accounts.  His  R. 
H.  was,  while  he  occupied  the  situation  of  next  in 
suoceasioo,  a  Br'eak-trater  behind  the  throne.  I 
fear  his  brother  of  Clarence's  opinions  may  be  dif- 
ferent, and  that  he  may  hoist  a  standard  under 
which  men  of  desperate  hopes  and  evil  designs  will 
rf'ndezvous.  lam  sorry,  too,  on  my  own  account. 
The  Duke  of  York  was  uniformly  kind  to  me,  and 
though  I  never  tasked  his  friendship^  yet  I  nnd  a 
powerful  friend  is  gone.  His  virtues  were  honour, 
j;ood  sense,  integrity,  and  b]A  exertion  of  these  qual- 
ities, he  raised  the  British  army  from  a  vci7  low 
ebb  to  be  the  pride  and  dread  of  Europe.  His  er- 
rors were  those  of  a  sanguine  and  social  temper- 
he  could  not  resist  the  temptation  of  deep  play, 
which  was  fatally  allied  with  a  disposition  to  the 
bottle.  This  last  is  incident  to  his  complaint,  which 
vinous  influences  soothes  for  the  time,  while  it  in- 
sidiously increases  it  in  the  end. 

*'  January  17.— I  observe  in  the  papers  my  old 
friend  GifTord's  funeral.  He  was  a  man  of  rare  at- 
tainments and  many  excellent  qualities.  His  Juve« 
nal  is  one  of  the  best  versions  ever  made  of  a  clas- 
sical author,  and  hia  satire  of  the  Baviad  and  Ms- 
viad  squabashed  at  one  blow  a  set  of  coxcombs, 
who  might  have  humbugged  the  world  long  enough. 
As  a  commentator  he  was  capital,  could  he  but  have 
suppressed  his  rancours  against  those  who  Jiad  pre  ^ 
Digitized  by  VjOOS? IC 


M 


UlfE  W  sm  Witt-TBR  8C<W^; 


eed«dfiiiii  in  tbe  tusk)  but  a  imacpastvtictioti,  or 
misinterpretation,  nay,  tlie  niisplaoing  of  a  commn 
was,  in  Ginbrd'a  eyes,  a  crime  worthy  of  the  most 
severe  animadversion.  The  same  fauh  of  extreme 
severity  went  throush  his  critical  labours,  and  in 
ijeneral  he  flagellated  with  so  little  pity^  that  people 
lost  their  sense  of  the  criminal's  guilt  in  dislike  of 
the  sava^  pleasure  which  the  executioner  seemed 
to  take  in  inflicting  the  pumahment.  This  lack  of 
temper  probably  arose  from  indifferent  health,  for 
he  was  veryivaietudinary,  and  realized  two  verses. 
'  wherein  he  says  Fortune  assigned  him— 

'  One  eye  not  over  good, 

Two  sides  that  to  their  cost  have  stood 
A  ten  years'  hecUe  cough, 
,  Aclies,  Btitchea,  all  the  various  ilU 

That  swell  the  dtvilish  doetor's  bUls, 
And  sweep  poor  layrtals  off' 

But  he  mif;ht  also  justly  claim,  as  his  gift,  the 
moral  qualities  expressed  m  the  next  fine,  stanza— 
'A  soul 

^        That  spurns  the  crowd's  malign  control 
A  firm  contempt  of  wrong ; 
apirita  above  affltcUun's  powers, 
And  skill  to  soothe  the  lingeiing  hour 
With  no  inglorious  song.' 
Ha  was  a  little  man,  dumpled  up  together,  and  so 
ill  made  as  to  seem  almost  deformed,  but  with  a 
singalar  expression  of  talent  in  his  countenance. 
Though  so  little  of  an  alhleie»  he  nevertheless  beat 
off  Dr.  Wolcott,  when  that  celebrated  person,  the 
most  unsparing  calumniator  o(  his  time,  chose  to 
be  offended  with  Gifford  for  satirizing  him  in  his 
turn.    Peter  Pindar  made  a  most  vehement  attack, 
but  Gifford  had  the  best  of  the  affray,*  and  remained, 
I  think,  in  triumphant  possession  of  the  field  of  ac- 
tion, and  of  the  assailant's  ,oane.    G.  had  one  sin- 
gular custom.    He  used  always  to  have  a  duenna 
of  a  housekeeper  to  sit  in  his  study  with  him  wh|le 
he  wrote.   This  female  companion  died  when  I  was 
in  London,  and  his  distress  was  extreme.    I  after- 
wards heard  he  got  her  plaqe  supplied.    I  believe 
there  was  no  scandal  in  all  this. 

"  This  is  another  vile  day  of  darkness  and  rain, 
with  a  heavy  yellow  mist  that  might  become  Charing 
Cross— one  of  the  benefits  of  our  extended  city;  for 
that  in  our  atmosphere  was  unknown  till  the  extent 
of  the  buildings  below  Queen  Street. 

January  28.— Hoar  of  Miss  White's  death.  Poor 
Lyaia !  she  gave  a  dinner  on  the  Friday  before,  and 
bad  written  with  her  own  hand  invitations  for  an- 
other party.  Twenty  years  ago /shc  used  to  tease 
menvith  her  vouthfiil  affectations— her  dressing  like 
the  Queen  ot  Chimney*sweep8  on  May-day  morn- 
ing, ac— and  sometimes  with  letting  her  wit  run 
wild..  But  she  tiMz^a  %voman  of  wit,  and  had  a  feel- 
iiME  and  kind  heart.  Poor  Lydia  I  I  saw  the  Duke 
ofz  ork  and  her  in  London,  when  Death,  it  seems, 
was  brandishing  His  dart  over  them. 

*The  view  o'l  gave  them  little  fright.' 

"  Ftbruary  10.— I  got  a  present  of  Lord  Francis 
Gqwer's  printed  but  unpublished  Tale  of  the  Mill. 
It  is  a  fine  tale  of  terror  in  itself,  and  very  happily 
brought  out.  He  has  certainly  a  true  taste  for  poet- 
ry. 1  do  not  know  why.  but  from  my  childhood  I 
have  seen  something  fearmi,  or  melanclioly  at  least, 
about  a  mill.  Whether  I  had  been  frightened  at  the 
machinery  when  very  young,  of  which,  I  think,  I 
have  some  shadowy  remembrance— whether  I  had 
heard  the  stories  of  the  Miller  of  Thirlcstone,  and 
similar  molendinar  tragedies,  I  cannot  tell;  but  not 
even  recollections  of  the  Lass  of  Patie's  Mill,  or 
the  Miller  of  Mansfield,  or  '  he  who  dwelt  on  the 
river  Dee,'  have  ever  ^o\.  over  my  inclination  to  con- 
nect gloom  with  a  mill,  especially  when  the  sun  is 
Betting.  $0  I  entered  mto  the  spirit  of  the  terror 
with  which  Lord  Francis  has  invested  his  haunted 
spot 

"  Fehrutiry  !4.—*  Death's  gi'cn  the  art  an  iinco 
aweVi    Sir  George  Beanjnoni^s  dead  ;  by  far  the 

*  See  Cputle  to  Peter  Pindar.  Gi/Tord'i  BavUui  and  ilavUxd, 
ap.  181-in,  ed.  1812. 

* '  Death'i  giVn  the  lotJfe  an  uneo  derel, 
Tam  SampHon's  dead."— Durru. 


most  sensible  and  pleasing  man  I  ever  Iqiew,  tind, 
too,  in  his' nature,  and  generous— gentle  m  aodsty, 
and  of  those  mild  manners  which  tend  to  soiten  the 
causticity  of  the  general  London  tone  of  persiflage 
and  personal  satire.  As  an  amateur  paioter,  he  was 
of  the  vety  highest  diatinction ;  and  thoo^  I  koow 
nothing  o(  the  matter,  vet  I  should  bold  hnn  a  per' 
feet  cnticx)n  painting,  tor  he  alwavs  miide  his  criti- 
cisms intelligible,  and  used  no  slang.  I  am  very 
sorry— as  much  as  it  is  in  my  nature  to  be  for  one 
whom  I  could  see  but  seldom.  He  was  the  great 
friend  of  Wordsworth,  and  understood  his  poetry, 
which  is  a  rare  thing,  for  it  is  more  easy  to  see  his 
paculiaritias  .than  to  feel  his  great  meht,  or  follow 
his  abstract  ideas. 

"  A  woman  of  rather  the  better  class,  a  farnieT's 
wife,  was  tried  a  few  days  ago  for  poisoning 
her  maid-servant.  There  seems  to  have  been  little 
doubt  of  her  guilt,  but  the  motive  was  peculiar.  The 
unfortunate  girl  had  an  intrigue  with  her  son,  wbioh 
this  Mrs.  Smith  (I  think  that  is  the  Daine)wa&  de* 
sirouB  to  conceal,  from  some  ill-advised  Puritanie  ' 
notions,  and  also  for  feai'  of  her  huaband.  She 
could  ^nd  DO  better  way  of  hiding  the  ahame  than 
giving  the  girf  (with  her  own  knowledge  and  con- 
sent, I  believe)  potions  to  cause  abortion,  which  shc 
afterwards  changed  for  arsenic,  as  the  more  effectual 
sitLH^iri^  i.i  'i  ;.  In  the  comae  of  the  trial  one 
of  :.'  I  I  I  .,  I  vn  in  an  epileptic  fit,  and  on  his 
re  "\  TV  nrir  '[LI  ^)o  much  disordered  to  permit  ihe 
trill  ili  j>ii>i  ,rri.  With  oi)ly  fourteen  joryxneo,  it  was 
ini|i  j^^^jbltvru  i^n  0(1.  The  advocate  says  ahe  shall 
b(  '.r\fi\  nns  w,  (•iru^eshe  has  not  tholtdane  assize 
Si'\  I*ii uiit^ti  it—  1 1  rtcU  qu i4^m.  But,  having  been 
half-EmH,  I  ihin'>  she  should  have  some  benefit  of 
it,  F15  Tar  AS  ^avint^  lier  life,-if  convicted  on  the  second 
indictun^nt.  Loni  Advocate  declares,  however,  that . 
sho  sUdW  htj  ]umi:rd^  as  certainly  she  deserves.  Yet 
it  looks  somctbmg  like  hanging  up  a  man  who  haa 
been  revovered  by  the  surgeons,  which  has  always 
been  accounted  harsh  justice. 

"  February.  20.— At  Court,  and  waited  to  seethe 
poisoning  woman  tried.  She  is  clearly  guilty,  but 
as  one  or  two  witnesses  said  the  poor  wench  hinted 
an  intention  to  poison  herself,  tne  iury  gave  that 
bastard  verdict.  Not  proven.  I  hate  that  Caledonian 
nudium  quid.  One  who  is  not  prorcrf  giiiltyt  is  in- 
nocent in  the  eyos  of  law.  It  was  a  face  to  do  or 
die,  or  perhaps  to  do  to  die.  Thin  features,  which 
had  b€Ken  handsome,  a  flashing  eye,  an  acnte  and 
aquiline  nose,  lips  much  marked  as  arguing  decision, 
aiui  I  think,  bad  temper— they  were  thin,  and  habi- 
tually compressed,  rather  turned  down  at  the  cor- 
ners, as  one  of  a  rather  melancholy  disposition. 
There  was  an  awful  crowd ;  but,  sitting  withUi  the 
bar,  I  had  the  pleasure  of  seeing  much  at  my  east; 
the  oonatables  knocking  the  other  folks  about, 
which  was  of  course  very  entertaining. 

"  I  have  a  letter  from  Baron  Von  Goethe,  whidi 
I  must  have  read  to  me ;  for  though  I  know  Ger- 
ra-n.  !  have  forgot  their  written  hand.  I  make  it  a 
re  om  to  read,  and  never  to  answer  foreiga 

Ic  om  literary  folks.    It  leads  to  nothing  but 

th  ■  ^ore  and  shuttle-coek  intercourse  ai^  oom- 

pliim  n  ly,  as  light  as  cork  and  feathers.  But  Goethe 
larhi^i  e^nt,  and  a  wonderfiil  fellow,  the  Arioeto  at 
dl  i  almost  the  Voltaire  of  Germany.     Who 

CG«.«  .i.ivc  told  me  thirtv  years  ago  I  should  corres- 
pond and  be  on  soraetning  like  an  equal  footing 
with  the  author  of  the  Goetz  ?  Ay,  and  who  could 
have  told  me  fifty  things  else  that  have  befiallen 
me?" 

Goethe's  letter  (as  nearly  as  the  Editor  can  render 
it)  runs  thus: 

2'o  .Sir  Walter  Scoit,  Bart.,  Edinburgh, 

"  Weimar,  January  I2lh,  1837. 

*^  Mr.  H  i  welt  known  to  me  at  ■  cotleotor  of  ob- 

jects of  art,  has  givnii  me  a  iikenesa,  I  hope  aiith«iMic  ancl 
accurate,  of  the  Ulr:  Lord  Byroo,  and  it  awakes*  aaew 
the  sorrow  which  I  could  not  but  feel  for  the  loss  of 
one  whom  all  the  world  prized,  and  I  in  particular: 
atnce  how  could  I  fiul  to  be  delighted  with  tite  many 
exprcflstona  of  partlalUy  for  roe  whith  bis  wrillagacoo- 

^^^  Digitized  by  boogie 


UFE  OF  Sm  WALTER  SCOTT. 


m 


**  Meaii«tiine  the  beit  eonaolatlon  for  xu,  the  minrivora, 
Hid  IdOlt  flToOMl  lu;  upd  coitiM0r.  tllat  As  tbe  (Iteparted 
1m',iumAlm€y  biit  has  joined  the  noble  *fMtaBttomp$my 
.of  Mgh-Uearted  men,  oapibte  of  IbTe.  fhendehipr  and  con* 
nde^c^  that  had  l«fi  this  aphere  belore  hho,  so  we  have 
•Un  kindred  spirits  on  earth,  with  whom,  though  not  viai- 
bte  arty  more  thari  the  blessed  shades  of  pa^  qa es,  yre 
haye  a  right  to  feci  a  brotherfijte  connexion—wnieh  is 
(ad<;et!  oar  richest  inheritance. 

*♦  And  so,  at  Mr.  H — —  informs  toe  he  expects  to  be 
soon  in  Bdtnburgh,  1  thus  aoqqit  myself,  tnine  honoured 
sir,  of  a  duty  which  I  had  long  ago  felt  to  be  tncambent 
on  me — to  acknowledge  the  lively  interest  1  have  during 
many  rears  taken  in  your  wonderful  pictures  of  human 
life.  I  hare  not  wanted  external  stimulants  enough  to 
kee|k  ray  at^ncion  awake  on  ttHs  subject,  since  not  only 
have  transmdons  abounded  In  the  German,  but  the  works 
are  largely  read  here  hi  the  original,  and  Talnedaceort&ng 
as  different  men  are  capable  of  comprehending  their 
spirit  and  genius. 

"  Can  I  remember  thit  such  a  mah  in  his  youth  made 
himself  acquainted  with  my  writings,  and  even  (unless  I 
have  been  misinformed)  tntroduced  them  in  part  to  the 
knowledge  of  hia  own  nationi  and  yet  defer  any  longer, 
at  mj  now  very  advanced  yearsi  to  express  my  sense  of 
such  an  honour  1  It  becomes  me,  on  the  contrary,  not 
to  lose  the  opportunity  now  offered  of  taying  for  a  con- 
ftmatiee  of  your  kindly  regard,  and  telling  you  how  much 
4  direct  ^wsmrance  of  good-Will  nrom  yotir  own  hand  would 
gntlfyakjroldage. 

"  With  taigk  and  gniafUl  reipeot,  I  salnt«  ynu« 

J.  W.  V.  GOBTHB." 

This  letter  might  well  delkht  Steott  ftia  answer 
toil  I  haT^  not  seen,  bm'G66the,  in  writing  soon 
•Itarwards  to  hia  friend  Mr.  Thomaa  Cariyfe,  (the 
umiuilator  of  his  Wilhelm  Meiatelr,)  daecitbed  it  aa 
'  oiieefing  amd  Warm-hearted.*' 

I  new  inaert  a  faweniiiea  from  Sir  Walter's  Diary, 
intermixed  with  extracts  fnm  his  letters  to  royaelf 
mad  Mr.  Motritt,  which  Mali  §^re  tlK  madcr  sn^i- 
dent  information  as  to  the  eompletioii  of  hia  Life  of 
Buonaparte,  and  also  as  to  hia  impgeaaions  on  hear- 
ing of  the  iHneai  of  Lord  Liveipool,  theoonseqiient 
dissolution  of  hia  Cabinet,  ana  the  formation  of  a 
new  Ministry  under  Mr.  Canaung. 

DiABY— "  /^VBrwory  21.^Lopd  I 
an  apoplexy.  I  am  sorry  for 'it.  1 
Who  will  be  got  for  Premiet?   If 

sent  to  be  made  a  peer  he  woul< ^ 

his  ambition  will  prefer  the  Hbuse  of  Commons. 
Wrought  a  good  deal. 

"  April  16.— A 'day  of  work  and  exerciae.  In  <he 
evening  a  letter  from  L.  with  the  wooderfttl  pewa 
that  the  Ministry  has  broken  up,  andapparently  for 
no  cause  that  any  one  can  explain.  Thaoldgniap^ 
I  suDpose,  which  has  sone  on  like  a  crack  in  toe  aide 
of  a  house,  enlarging  from  day  to  day,  till  down  goea 
the  whole ** 

To  J.  Q.  Lochkatt^  Baq.,  Wifnbkdon. 
•    •    •    *    •    **TourJetter  has  giten  me  the  vertigo— 
my  he»d  turns  round  like  a  chariot-wheeU  and  I  am  on 
tha  petaic  of  asking 

*tPniy,  how  nowT  Am  I  Giles,  or  am  I  nttif 

The  Duke  of  Wellington  out  1— bad  news  at  home,  and 
worse  abroad.  I^rd  Angle^ea  in  his  situation  1->does  not 
much  mend  the  matter.  Duke  of  Clarence  in  the  Navy  1 — 
Wild  work.  Lord  MeMllet  I  suppose,  lalla  of  course-* 
perhaps  cum  toiA  aequelA^  about  which  atausla^  unless 
Sir  TV.  Bae  and  the  Solicitor,  I  care^  little.  The  whole  is 
glam4>ur  to  one  who  reads  no  papers,  and  iias  none  to 
read.  1  must  get  one,  though,  if  this  work  is  to  go  on, 
for  it  is  quite  bursting  in  ignorance.  Caiming  is  haughty 
and  prejudiced~>bu(.  I  thintc,  honoorable  as  well  as  able— 
nous  Ttrrona.  I  fear  Croker  will  shake,  and  heartily  sorry 
1  should  feel  for  that" 

bi ABY— "  April  25.— I  have  now  got  Bony  pegg'd 
u|)  in  the  knotty  entrails  of  Siint  Helena,  and  may 
make  a  short  pause.  So  I  finish  the  review  of  John' 
Home's  works,  which,  after  allr  are  poorer  than  I 
thought  them.  Good  blank  verse,  and  stately  sen-' 
tinient,  but  something  luke-warmisbj  excepting 
Douglas,  which  is  certamly  a  master-piece.  Even 
that  does  not  stand  the  closet.  Its  merits  are  for 
the  stage ;  and  it  is  certainly  one  of  the  beat  acting 


;»r6rppol  is  ill  of 
16  wil^  be  missed 
Peel  would  con- 
do  ;.  but  I  doubt 


playagoinn^  Perhaps  a  play  loaetwiU  should  no* 
be  too  poeticaL 

"  April  26.— The  anow  stOl  profuselv  distributed, 
and  the  svirface,  as  our  hair  used  to  oe  in  youth, 
after  we  had  played  at  aome  aetive  game,  half  black, 
half  whit&  all  in  large  patches.  I  finished  the  cri- 
ticism oa  Home,  adding  a  string  of  Jacobite  anec- 
dotes, hke  that  which  Dots  put  to  a  kite's  tail.  Re- 
ceived a  great  cargo  of  papers  firom  Bemadotte, 
soixie  curious,  and  would  have  been  inestimable  two  . 
months  back,  but  now  my  task  is  almost  done.  Add 
then  my  feelings  for  poor  Count  Itterberg,  the  lineal 
and  legitimate,  make  me  averse  to  have  much  to  do 
with  this  child  of  the  revolation." 

To  J.  G.  tockhart^  Esq. 

"April  26/ 
....    "The  news  you  send  is  certainly  the 
most  wenderfol  of  my  time,  in  a  party  point  of  view,  es- 

Eecially  as  I  can't  but  think  all  has  turned  on  petsohkl 
kings  and  disUUngs.  I  hope  they  won't  let  in  the  Whigs 
at  the  breaeh.  for  1  suppose,  if  Lansdowne  come  in,  he 
must  be  admitted  with  a  tall  on,  and  Lauderdale  will  have 
the  weight  in  Scotland.  How  our  tough  Tories  may  Ijike 
that,  I  wot  not ;  but  they  will  do  much  to  keep  the  key  of 
the  corn-chest  withbi  reach.  The  Advocate  has  not  used 
me  extremely  kindly,  but  I  shall  be  sorry  if  he  suffers 
in  this  State  tempest  For  me,  I  remain,  hke  the  LUQ- 
padaa  poet^*  In  amaze— Lost  I  gaze'—or  rather  as  sotne 
otlier  bard  «ings— 

"  So  ibiks  beholding  at  a  dlstanca 
Seven  men  gung  out  of  a  easement, 
They  never  atlr  to  their  assistance, 
But  just  allbrd  them  their  amassment'* 

—You  ask  why  the  wheels  of  Napoleon  tarry ;  not  by  my 
fault,  I  swear; 

*  We  daily  are  jogging. 
While  wnistling  and  flogging, 
WMle  whistling  and  flogq^, 
The  eoaehman  drives  on, 

Whh  a  hey  hoy,  gee  up  gee  ho.  dec.  Ac.  At. 

To  use  a  more  classical  simile 

*  Wilds  immeasurably  spread 
Seem  lengthening  as  I  go.'t 

I  have  just  got  some  very  curious  papers  from  Swedeii 
I  have  wrought  myself  blind  between  writing  and  col- 
latiag,  and.  except  about  three  or  four  hours  tor, (bod 
and  ezef ewe,  I  have  not  till  to-day  devauled  from  my 
task 

O^Bony,  I'll  owe  you  a  curse,  if  Hereafter 
To  my  vision  your  tyrannous  spectre  shall  show, 

But  1  doubt  yda'U  be  pinned  on  old  Nick's  reddest 
rafter. 
While  the  vulgar  of  Tophet  nowl  back  from  below. 

I  ffhalK  haw<'%^ri  dtisjiltiiaf'!  TJltraa  Rtith  as  Cruki  i ,  un  the 
BUMiK^ct  or  Brm,  wfrto  was  rrriakilj  n  great  nuihT  iMoiigh 
far  iV-TTi  n  jfiw-fiinii].  anit«t|tl  fajilicr  frdui  *  ^fwd  liiiJg. 
Bif  I'll-  "i^Mj^iirji^Kt  RfiefrlH  in  Eiimjse  Imm  lids  umbitionnnd 
se' '  -.ad  whi*ri*  K-iMyfMj  rtibi  lit4<Trtlrtiut1    t  own  I 

th  i^  itLn^  nT)Ey  iltsgUM^  p^npl^,  unl«sd  It  ie  jn  [he 

Wi  rrElit  iTiVfCIiin,  nnijthaf  ifi  b|fi{Ory  |i>utiAd 

ro"  II  ■■'■■'  ktrp  (rie  mfe  aide,  and  n,\:ofd  coli^nrlag  too 
hiriily  All.  r  :lI1.  r  sn^ipct*  wen?  Crolirr  in  prebence  nf 
B<iri\  i-iM"r!''*.v  h^- mijfht  Cftlnlni,  if  CBpla'ti  T.  dtfl  at 
OD''.  i>\  Oil.'  VMftk  kvf  t's^  *  WfU,  Ht'iiY^R  a  d — -d  goftd  fel- 
k>w  after  all.'" 

To  the  Same. 

"  Abbotaford,  May  10, 1827. 
"  To  speak  seriously  of  tiieae  political 
movements,  I  cannot  say  that  I  approve  of  tbe  dissidents. 
I  understand  Peel  had  ifom  the  King  carte  blanrhe  for  an 
Anti-Catholic  Administration,  and  that  he  could  not  accept 
it  because  there  was  not  strength  enoiiscn  to  form  sucii. 
What  is  this  but  saying  In  plain  words  that  the  Catholics 
had  the  country  and  the  Question  1  And  because  the v 
are  defeated  in  a  single  question,  and  one  which,  were  ft 
to  entail  no  farther  consequences Js  of  wonderful  linle 
import,  they  have  abandoned  the,King'B  service— given 
up  the  citadel  because  an  exterior  work  was  carried,  and 
marched  out  into  Opposition.  I  can't  think  this  vims  nsHt 
They  ought  either  to  have  made  a  stand  without  Cannmg, 


no  , 

or  ft  ttand  wtth  him ;  for  to  abdicate  as  they  hav^  done 
was  the  way  Co  sabject  the  coantry  to  an  the  future  ex- 
perimento  which  this  Catholic  Emanclpaaoo  maj  lead 
those  that  now  carry  it  to  aaempt,  and  which  nuiy  Drove 
worse,  ftir  worse,  than  any  thine  connected  with  the  Ques- 
tioii  itself!  Thus  says  the  old  Scotch  Tonr.  But  /  fttr 
one  do  «oi  believe  it  was  the  question  of  Emancipation, 
or  any  public  question,  which  carried  them  out.  1  be- 
lieve the  predominant  motive  in  the  bosom  of  every  one 
of  them  was  personal  hostility  to  Canning,  and  that  with 
more  prudence,  less  arbitrary  manners,  and  more  atten- 
Uon  to  the  feelings  of  his  colleagues,  he  would  have 
stepped  nem.  con.  into  the  situation  of  Prime  Minister, 
•  for  which  his  eloquence  and  talent  naturally  point  him 
out  They  objected  to  the  man  more  than  the  states- 
man, and  the  Dulce  of  Wellington,  more  frank  than  the 
rest,  almost  owns  that  the  quarrel  was  personal.  Now. 
acting  upon  that,  which  was,  I  am  convinced,  the  real 
ground,  I  cannot  tnihft  the  dissidents  acted  well  and  wisely. 
It  is  very  poasible  that  they  might  not  have  been  able  to 
go  on  with  Canning ;  but  I  tliink  they  were  bound,  as 
loyal  subjects  and  patriots,  to  ascertain  that  continuing  in 
the  Cabinet  with  hun  as  Premier  was  impossible,  before 
they  took  a  stop  which  may  change  the  wnole  policy,  per- 
haps eventually  the  whole  destiny  of  the'  realm,  and  lead 
to  the  prevalence  of  those  principles  which  the  dissidents 
have  imiformly  represented  as  destructive  to  the  interests 
of  Britain.  I  think  they  were  bound  to  have  jnade  a 
trial  before  throwing  Canning,  and  alas !  both  the  King 
and  the  country,  into  the  hand  of  the  Whigs.  These  are 
the  sort  of  truths  more  visible  to  the  lookers-on  than  to 
those  who  play. 

'*  As  for  Conning,  with  his  inunense  talent,  wit,  and  elo- 
.quence,  he  unhai^Uy  wanu  prudence  and  patience,  and 
in  his  esger  desire  to  scramble  to  the  highest  point,  is  not 
sufficiently  sele<St  as  to  his  assistantsi  The  Queen's  aflhir 
is  an  example  of  this  -Lord  Castlereagh's  was  another. 
In  DOth  he  threw  himself  back  by  an  over-eager  desire  to 
press  (brward,  and  something  of  the  kind  must  have  been 
employed  now.  It  cannot  be  denied  that  he  has  nhured 
hhnself  (perhaps  more  from  compulsion  than  choice)  in 
a  situation  which  greatly  endangers  his  charaeter.  ficilL, 
however,  he  has  that  character  to  maintain,  and  unluckily 
it  is  all  we  have  to  rest  upon  as  things  so.  The  sons  of 
Zertiah  would  be  otherwise  too  many  for  us.  It  is  pos- 
sible, though  I  doubt  it,  that  the  Whigs  will  be  satisfied 
with  their  share  of  arts  and  graint.  and  conftnt  them- 
selves with  feeding  out  of  the  trou|n  without  overtum- 
hig  it  My  feeling,  were  I  in  the  House  of  Commons, 
would  lead  me  to  stand  up  and  declare  that  I  supported 
Canning  so  fiir,  and  so  fiu*  only,  as  he  continued  to  pre- 
•erre  and  maintain  the  principles  which  he  bad  hitherto 
profeftsed-Hhat  my  alleglaiice  could  not  be  irredeemably 
pledgad  to  hiin^  because  his  camp  was  filled  with  those 
aga|nst  whom  I  had  formerly  waged  battle  under  his  com- 
mand—yiat,  however,  it  should  not  be  mere  apprehen- 
sion of  evil  that  would  make  me  start  off— reserving  to 
myself  to  do  what  should  be  called  for  when  he  crisis 
arrived.  I  think  if  a  number  of  Intelligent  and  able  men 
were  to  hold  by  Canning  on  these  grounds,  they  mi^rht 
yet  eiuU>le  him  to  collect  a  Tory  force  around  him,  suflli- 
ciont  to  check  at  least,  if  not  on  all  pointa  to  resist  the 
course  of  innovation.  If  my  old  friend  is  wise  he  will 
wish  to  organize  such  a  force,  for  nothing  is  more  certain 
than  that  if  the  champion  of  Anti-Jacobinisro  should  stoop 
to  become  the  tool  of  the  Whigs,  it  is  not  all  his  brilliancy 
of  talents,  eloquence  and  wit.  which  can  su|iport  him  in 
such  a  glaring  want  of  consistency.  Meliora  apero.  I 
do  not  think  Canning  can  rely  on  his  Whig  confederates, 
and  some  door  of  reconciliation  may  open  itself  as  unex- 
pectedly as  the  present  confusion  has  arisen." 

Diary.— "Moy  11.— The  Boar  of  the  Forest  called 
this  morning  to  converae  about  trying  to  get  him  on 
the  pecuniary  Hat  of  the  Royal  Literary  Society. 
Certainly  he  deaertea  it  if  geniua  and  neceaaity  can 
do  80.  But  I  do  not  belong  to  the  society,  nor  do  I 
propoae  to  enter  it  aa  a  coachutor.  I  do  not  like  your 
roval  academies  of  this  kind ;  they  almoat  always 
fall  into  job^  and  the  membera  are  aeldnm  those 
who  do  credit  to  the  literature  of  a  country.  Jt 
affected,  too,  to  comprehend  thoae  men  of  letters 
who  are  apeaally  attached  to  the  Crown,  and  though 
I  love  and  honour  my  King  9a  much  as  any  of  them 
can,  yet  I  hold  it  beat,  in  this  free  country,  to  pre- 
aerve  the  exterior  of  independence,  that  my  loyalty 
mav  be  the  more  impressive,  ana  tell  more  effec- 
tually. Tet  I  wish  sincerely  to  help  poor  Hogg,  and 
have  written  to  Lockhart  about  it.  It  may  be  my 
own  deaolate  feelinga— it  may  be  the  apprehension 
of  evil  from  thia  political  hocus-pocuQ;  but  I  have 


UPE  OP  SIR^ALTER  SCOTT. 


eeldom  felt  more  moody  and  moomfortablc  thai 
while  writing  theae  linea.  I  have  walked,  too,  fast 
without  effect  W.  Latdlaw,  whose  very  mflenioQs 
mind  ia  ddigbted  with  all  novelties,  talk^  non- 
aenae  about  tne  new  government,  in  which  men  are 
to  reaign  principle,  I  fear,  on  both  aides. 

"  Parliament  Houae  a  queer  mgbt.  Looked  as  if 
people  were  aiosdng  to  each  otker  the  noble  song 
of  'The  ^ty'a  falUng—chickie  diddle.'  Thinks  I  to 
myself,  rU  keep  a  calm  aough. 

♦  Betwixt  both  sides  I  unconcerned  stsnd  by- 
Hurt  can  1  laugh,  and  harmless  need  I  cry  r 

"May  16.— I  dioed  at  a  great  dinner  giveo  br  Sir 
Greorge  Clerk  to  his  electors^  the  freeholders  of 
Mid-Lothian  ;  a  great  atteodance  of  Whig  and 
Tory,  huzxainff  each  other's  toasts.  X^  ia  a,  good 
peace-maker,  out  quarter-day  ia  a  better.  1  have  a 
gucas  the  beat  gamecocks  would  call  a  truce,  if  a 
haodful  or  two  of  oats  were  scattered  among  them. 

- "  May  27.— I  got  ducked  in  coming  home  from 
the  Court.  Made  a  hard  day  of  it.  Scarce  ackrcd 
from  one  room  to  another^  but  by  bed- time  fSnished 
a  handaome  handful  of  copy.  I  have  auoted  Gour- 
gaud^a  evidence;  I  suppose  he  will  be  in  a  rare 

{>assion,  and  may  be  addicted  to  vengeance,  like  a 
ong-mouatached  aoB  of  a  Praneb  bitcli  aa  he  b. 
•  Frenchman.  Devil,  or  Don, 
Damn  him  lei  him  come  on. 

He  shanH  scare  a  son  01  the  Island.'* 

"  May  2a-'Axiother  day  of  umnterrapted  stiidf ; 
two  such  would  finish  the  work  with  a  murnun. 
What  ahall  I  have  to  think  of  when  I  lie  down  at 
nii^t  and  awaks  in  the  momiog  1  What  will  be 
my  plagus  and  ray  pastime— my  curse  uid  my 
MA^fig"— «a  ideas  coma  and  the  pidse  rises,  or  as 
fhry  ilagand  sorncihing  Kke  a  snow-haie  covers 
my  wlioie  i  m  agin  it  t  ion  1—1  have  my  Hightand  Tales 
—find  then— nev<?T  tnind— sufiWnent  wt  the  day  is 
4  he  evil  iherei>h— Lftipf  From  John  toochinff  public 
aJTEtir;*^  dan't  half  liko  ihem,  and  am  afraid  we 
sball  havo  ihc  Wliig  allnnce  turn  out  like  the  call- 
rnff  in  of  the  S0]Eons^  I  told  this  to  Jefirey,  who 
Eiaid  they  would  conviTi  us  aa  the  Saxona  md.  the 
Briiit^h.  I  ^ball  die  in  my  Paganism  for  one.  I 
don'r  like  a  bone  df  ih^ni  aa  a  party.  Ugly  reports 
of  the  King*ii  health  I  God  ijity  this  poor  country- 
^hmM  rhnt  be  90,  but  I  hope  it  is  a  thing  devised  uf 
(he  ffn''mj'. 

"  June  3.— Wrought  hard.  I  thought  I  had  but  a 
trifle  to  do.  but  new  things  ca^t  up :  we  (^t  beyond 
the  Life,  however,  for  I  have  kuled  him  to-day. 
The  newspapers  are  very  saucy ;  the  Sun  aara  I 
have  got  j&I^OOO  for  anfiering  a  Frenchman  to  look 
over  mv  manuacript.  Here  ia  a  proper  fellow  fiyr 
you!  I  wonder  what  he  thinks  Franchmeo  are 
made  of— walking  money-bags,  doubtless.  *  Now,* 
aa  Sir  Fretful  Plagiary  aays,  ^another  person  wocU 
be  vexed  at  thia,*  but  1  care  not  one  brsss  fitfUuBK. 

''Juns  6.— PTOo£k  Parliament-House  till  twa 
Commenced  the  character  of  Buonaparte^  To* 
morrow  being  a  Teind-day,  I  may  hope  lo  get  it 
finiabed. 

"JtmelO.— Rose  with  the  odd  consciousness  of 
being  free  of  my  daily  taak.  I  ha^e  heard  that 
the  fish-women  go  to  church  of  a  Sunday  with 
then'  creels  new  washed,  and  a  few  atonea  in  them 
for  ballast  just  because  they  cannot  walk  ateadily 
without  their  usual  load.  I  feel  aometbing  like 
them,  and  rather  inclined  to  take  up  aome  tight 
task,  than  to  be  altogether  idle.  I  have  my  proof- 
sheets,  to  be  sure;  but  what  are  these  to  a  whole 
day 7  A  good  thought  came  in  my  head  to  write 
Stories  forlittle  Johnnie  Lockharr,  from  the  Hiaiory 
of  Scotland,  like  those  taken  from  the  History  « 
England.  But  I  will  not  write  mine  quite  ao  aiinply 
as  Cfoker  has  done.  I  am  perauaded  both  chSdren 
and  the  lower  class  of  raaders  hate  booka  which 
are  writtefi  dovni  to  their  capacity,  and  love  those 
that  are  composed  more  for  their  elders  and  betters. 
I  will  make,  if  possibk,  a  book  that  a  child  shaK 

^  «SirW.  vffr<e>amieof"77k«r<|Atfl«/sJ 


i«^B.  OF  «ia  ytiLiOL  fiovn. 


¥* 


itomnd,  mt  amui  ^  fiBtl«oaie  teniptatipii  to 
pepi06  shoold  he  onance  to  take  it  tip.  it  wul  xe- 
Vure,  however,  a  simplicity  of  style  not  quite  my 
own.  The  srand  and  mteresting  consists  m  ideas, 
not  in  words,  A  clever  thing  of  this  kind  might 
have  a  race.** 

3V  John  B.  S.  Morrittf  Esq%  PortUutd  Place,  Loruhn. 

"  Edinburgh,  June  10, 1827. 
"MjdearMorritt, 

**  Napoleon  has  been  an  absolute  millstone  about  my 
neck,  not  permitting  me  for  many  a  long  day  to  think  my 
own  thoughifl,  to  work  my  own  work,  or  to  write  my  own 
letters— which  last  clause  of  prohibition  has  rendered 
ma  thus  long  your  debtor.  I  am  now  finished— vo^ol 
mtod  valere  poteH—%ad  as  usual  not  very  anxious  about 
the  opinion  of  the  public,  as  I  have  never  been  able  to 
sea  that  such  anxiety  has  any  effect  in  mollifying  the 
minds  of  the  readers,  while  it  renders  that  of  the  author 
very  uncomfortable — so  nogue  la  gnlire. 

"How  are  you,  as  a  moderate  proCathoKc,  satisfied 
with  this  strange  alliancs  in  the  Cabinet?  I  own  I  look 
upon  it  with  dsubt,  at  best,  and  with  aoprehensions.  At 
the  same  time  I  cannot  approve  of  the  late  Ministers 
Isaviog  the  King's  counciLi  in  such  a  hurry.  They 
could  hardly  suppose  that  Canning's  lame,  talent,  and 
firm  dlspo:>fiion  would  be  satisfied  with  less  than  the 
condition  of  Premier,  and  such  being  the  case— 

*To  fiy  the  boar  before  the  boar  pursued* 
Was  to  incense  the  boar  to  foUow  them." 

On  the  other  band,  his  allying  himself  so  closely  and  so 
hastily  with  the  parry  against  whom  he  had  maintained 
war  from  yomh  to  age  seems  to  me,  at  this  distance,  to 
sTgue  one  of  two  things  ;'-eithsr  tiiat  the  Minister  has 
b(Ma  hoodwhiked  by  ambitioa  and  anger— or  thst  he 
looks  upon  the  sttschment  ti(  those  gentlemen  to  the 
opinions 'Which  he  hss  always  opposed  ss  so  slight,  un- 
substantial, and  unreal,  that  they  will  not  insist  upon 
them,  or  any  of  them,  provided  they  are  gratified  per- 
sonally with  a  certain  portion  of  the  benefits  Of  place  and 
revenue.  Now.  not  being  disposed  to  think  over  well  of 
the  Whigs,  I  cannot  suppose  that  a  larco  class  of  British 
statesmen,  not  deficient  certaUUy  In  talents,  can  be  will- 
bur  to  renounce  all  the  pofitical  maxims  and  measures 
which  they  have  been  insisting  upon  for  thirty  years, 
merely  to  become  placeholders  under  Canning.  The 
euppositioh  is  too  profligate.  But  then  tf  they  come  in 
the  sam^'^Whigs  we  have  known  them,  where,  how,  or 
vriien  are  they  to  execute  their  iavonrite  notions  of  Re- 
forra  of  Psrliainentl  and  what  sort  of  amendments  will 
they  be  whioh  are  to  be  brought  forward  when  the 
proper  time  comes  1  or  how  is  Canning  to  conduct  him- 
sell  when  the  Saxons,  whom  he  has  celled  in  for  his  as- 
sistance, draw  out  to  fij^ht  for  a  share  of  the  power  which 
they  have  amisted  him  io  obtain  1  When  such  etrange 
and  unwonted  bedfeUows  are  packed  up  together,  will 
they  not  kick  and  struggle  for  the  better  share  of  the 
coverlid  and  blankets  t  Perhape  yon  wlU  say  that  t  hiok 
gloomily  on  all  this,  snd  have  forgotten  the  way  of  the 
world,  which  sooner  or  later  shows  that  the  principles 
of  statesmen  are  regulsted  by  their  advsoce  towards,  or 
retreat  from  power ;  and  that  from  men  who  are  always 
acting  upon  the  emergencies  of  the  moment,  it  is  In  vain 
to  expect  consistency.  Perfect  consistency,  I  agree,  we 
cannot  look  fbr— It  is  Inconsistent  with  humanity.  Bin 
l^at  gross  inconsistency  which  Induces  men  to  clasp  to 
their  bosom  the  man  whom  they  most  hated,  and  to  nold 
tip  to  admiration  the  princifdes  which  they  have  most 
forcibly  opposed,  may  cahi  a  temporary  triumph,  but  will 
never  found  a  strong  Ministry  or  a  settled  Governifient. 
My  old  friend  Canning,  with  his  talents  and  oratory, 
ought  not,  I  think,  to  have  leasued  himself  with  any  party, 
but  might  have  awaited,  well  assured  that  the  general 
voice  must  have  carried  him  into  Aill  possession  of  pow- 
er. I  am  sdnr  he  lias  acted  otherwise,  and  argue  no 
good  from  it,  triough  when  or  how  ttie  evil  Is  to  come  I 
cannot  pretend  to  say.      . 

^  My  best  compUmeatsVait  on  ^our  fireside.  I  cou' 
elnde  you  see  Lany  Louies  Btewsrt  very  often,  which  is 

a  happiness  to  be  envied. 

Ever  yours,  most  kindly. 

Walteb  Scott" 

I  received,  aome  years  ago,  from  a  very  modest 
and  intelligent  young  mifh,  the  late  Mr.  Robert 
Hogg  (a  nephew  of  the  Ettrick  Shepherd,)  employed 
in  1827  as  a  rtadtr  in  Ballantyne's  priniing-omce, 
a  letter  for  which  this  ia  perhaps  the  most  proper 
place. 

^.KiingBMmrAttL   Acill.8e.a. 


«8lr, 


TV  J.  <y<  ZjKkuMrty  Btf, 

**  Bdlnbttt^  leth  Febmsry,  lfl». 


**dsving  been  for  a  few  days  employed  by  Sir  Wslter  - 
9eott,  when  he  was  finishing  his  life  of  Buonaparte,  to 
copy  papers  connected  with  that  work,  and  to  write 
occasionally  to  his  dictation,  it  may  perhaps  be  In  my 
power  to  mention  some  circumstances  relative  to  Sir 
Walter's  haolta  of  composldon,  which  could  not  fall 
under  the  observation  of  any  one  except  a  persod  in  the 
same  situation  vrith  myself,  and  which  sre  therefore  not 
unlikely  to  pass  ahogether  without  notioe.  * 

*"  When,  at  ^  Walter's  request,  I  waited  upon  hun  te 
be  informed  of  the  business  in  which  he  needed  my 
assistance,  after  stating  it,  he  asked  me  if  I  was  an  early 
riser,  and  added  that  It  would  be  no  great  hardship  for 

Sc,  being  a  young  man,  to  attend  trim  the  next  morning 
six  o'clock.  I  was  punctual,  and  found  Sir  Walter 
already  bn^  writing.  He  appointed  my  tasks,  snd  sgain 
sat  down  at  his  own  desk.  We  continued  to  write  during 
the  regular  work  hours  till  six  o'clock  in  the  evening, 
without  interruption,  except  to  take  breakfast  and  dlni 
ner,  which  were  served  In  the  room  beside  os.  so  that  no 
time  was  lost ;— we  rose  from  our  desks  wh^n  every 
thin|:  was  ready,  and  resumed  oar  labours  when  tho 
meals  were  over.  I  need  not  tell  you  that  during  these 
intervals  Sir  Walter  conversed  with  me  as  if  I  had  been 
on  a  level  of  perfect  eqnahty  with  himself. 

'*  I  had  no  notion  it  was  possible  for  any  man  to  underge 
the  fatigue  of  composition  for  so  long  a  time  at  once,  and 
Sir  Walter  acknowledged  he  did  not  usually  subject 
himself  to  so  much  exertion,  though  it  seemed  to  be 
only  the  manual  pert  of  the  operation  that  occasioned 
him  any  ioconvenlence.  Once  or  twice  he  desired  ma 
to  relieve  him,  and  dictated  while  I  wrote  with  as  muek 
rapidity  as  I  was  able.  I  have  performed  the  same  ser* 
vice  to  several  other  persons,  most  of  whom  walked  up 
and  down  the  apartment  while  exccgitating  what  was  te 
be  committed  to  writing ;  they  sometimes  stopt  too,  and, 
'like  those  who  fail  In  a  leap  and  return  npon  tneir  coarse 
to  take  the  advantage  of  another  usee,  eadeavoored  te 
hit  upon  something  additional  by  perusing  over  my  shoul- 
der what  was  already  set  down,— mendJBg  a  phrase  per- 
haps, or  recasting  a  sentence,  till  they  should  reeovev 
their  wind.  None  of  these  aids  were  necessary  to  Sir 
Walter :  his  thoughu  flowed  essUy  snd  felicitously,  with- 
out any  difliculty  to  lay  hold  of  them  or  to  find  appropriate 
Language ;  which  was  evident  by  the  absence  of  all  solid- 
tude  (miseria  cogitanti)  fh>m  his  copntenance.  He  sat 
in  his  chair,  fh>m  which  he  rose  noW  and  then,  took  m 
volume  from  the  bookcase,  consulted  it,  and  restored  it 
to  the  shelf— all  without  Intermission  In  the  current  of 
ideas,  which  contlnned  to  be  delivered  with  no  less  read- 
iness thsn  If  his  mind  had  been  wholly  occupied  with  the 
words  he  was  uttering.  It  soon  became  apparent  to  me, 
however,  that  he  was  carrying  on  two  distinct  trsins  of 
thought,  one  of  which  was  already  arranged  and  hi  the 
act  of  being  spoken,  while  at  the  ssme  time  he  was  hi 
advance  considering  what  was  afterward  to  be  said. 
This  I  discovered  by  his  sometimes  introducing  a  word 
which  was  wholly  out  of  place— enferroined  bistead  of 
denied,  for  exapiple,- but  which  I  presently  found  to 
belong  to  the  next  sentence,  perhaps  four  or  Ave  lines 
farther  on.  which  he  had  been  preparing  at  the  vei^  mo- 
ment that  he  gave  me  the  words  of  the  one  that  preceded 
it  Extemporaneoas  orators,  of  course,  snd  no  doubt 
many  writers,  think  as  rapidly  as  was  done  by  Sir^al 
tar;  but  the  mind  is  wholly  occupied  with  what  the  lips 
arc  uttering  or  the  pen  Is  tracing.  I  do  not  remember 
any  other  Instance  In  which  it  could  be  said  that  two 
threads  were  kept  hold  of  at  once — connected  with  each 


—I  am^  Sir^  rei^ctAilly  your  obMged  humble  servsnt, 
I  Roaaat  Hooo." 

The  Life  of  Buonaparte^  then,  was  at  last  pub- 
lished about  the  middle  of  June  1627.  Two  yeara 
had  elapsed  since  6oott  began  it ;  but,  by  a  carefol 
companaon  of  dates,  I  have  arrived  at  the  conclu- 
sion that,  bis  expeditions  to  Ireland  snd  Panik  and 
the  composition  of  novels  and  cnuoal  roiseelianiea 
beiitf  duly  allowed  for,  the  hiatorical  task  occupiM 
haiohr  Dioi«  than  twelve  months.  The  book  wa> 
closely  printed ;  in  fact  tboee  nine  volumea  contain 
as  much  ktXer-preas  its  Waverley,  Guv  Mannenng. 
the  Antiquary,  the  Motiaatery,  and  the  Legend  of 
Moatroae,  all  put  together.  Tf  ithad  beenprmte* 
on  the  aariginal  model  of  those  novels  the  Lifo  or 
Buonaparte  would  hvve  filUd  ^m  thiitten  to  km- 


m 


Li^Wot*  sift  Wiii'Hiit  if6d4¥»- 


teen  volume* ^—th^  iriM"  of  ote«  twelve-month— 
door  in  the  midol  of  paipi'  fonvw,  and  nun.      . 

The  magnitude  of  the  theme,  and  the  copigua' 
Maft  whh  which  it  wm  treated,  appear  to  liave 
flilditened  the  cri^ca  of  the  thne.  Nono  of  our  great 
Reviews  grappled  with  the  worh  at  all :  nor  am  I 
ao  presumptuous  as  to  urldertake  what  they  shrunk 
from.  The  eeneril  curiosity  with  which  it  was 
expected,  and  the  satisfaction  with  which  hi£^  and 
candid  minds  perused  it,  cannot  I  believe  be  better 
described  than  m  the  words  of  the  authors  most 
illustrioua  literary  contemporary. 

*  "Walter  Scott,"  sars Goethe,  "pasacd  hli  childhood 
among  the  itirriog  scenes  of  the  American  War,  and  was 
a  youth  of  seventeen  or  eighteen  when  the  French  Rev- 
olotion  broke  out  Novr  well  advanced  in  the  iidiea, 
having  aU  along  been  (avourably  placed  for  observation, 
he  proposes  to  lay  before  us  his  views  and  recollections 
of  the  important  events  throogh  which  he  has  lived. 
;rhe  richest,  the  easieet,  the  most  celebmied  narrator 
of  the  century,  undertakes  to  write  the  history  of  his  own 


**  What  expeotationt  the  aanooncement  of  such  a  work 
must  have  excited  in  me,  will  be  onderstood  by  any  one 
who  remembers  that  I,  twenty  years  older  than  Scott, 
conversed  with  Paoli  in  the  twentieth  year  of  my  age, 
and  with  Napoleon  himself  in  the  sixtieth. 

» Through  that  long  series  of  years,  coming  more  or 
less  hito  contact  with  the  great  doings  of  the  world,  I 
failed  not  to  think  sorionsly  on  what  waa  passing  around 
me,  and,  after  my  own  ftaUon,  to  connect  so  many  extra- 
ordinary mutations  into  something  like  arrangement  and 
Intenlependence. 

<*  What  could  now  be  mmre  delightful  to  me  than  leis- 
ure^ and  calmly  to  sit  down  and  listen  to  the  discourse 
•of  such  a  man,  while  clearly,  truly,  and  with  all  the  skill 
of  a  great  artist,  he  recalls  to  me  the  incidents  on  which 
through  life  I  have  meditatedjand  the  influence 6f  which 
4s  stiU  dsily  in  operation  V'—Kunat  und  AUkerthmm. 

The  lofty  impartiality  with  which  Scott  treats  the 
■personal  character  of  Buonaparte  was,  of  course, 
«ure  to  make  all  ultra-politicians  at  home  and 
al^road  condemn  his  representation ;  and  an  equauy 
serteral  and  better  founded  exception  was  taken  to 
the  lavish  imagery  of  his  historical  style.  He  de- 
spised the  former  clamour^to  the  latter  he  bowed 
submissive.  He  could  not,  whatever  character  he 
might  wish  to  assume,  cease  t9  be  one  of  the  great- 
eat  of  poets.  Metaphorical  illustrations,  which  men 
bom  with  prose  in  their  aouls  hunt  for  painfully, 
and  find  only  te  murder,  were  to  him  the  natural 
and  necessary  ofTspring  and  pleythiUga  of  ever- 
teetning  fancy.  He  cooid  not  wnte  a  note  to  his 
printer— he  could  not  speak  to  himself  in  his  Diary 
— without  introdudng  them.  Few  will  say  that  his 
historical  style  is,  on  the  whole,  excellent ;  none 
that  it  is  perfect  1  but  it  is  completely  unattected, 
and  therefore  exciess  nothing  of  the  unpleasant 
feeKng  with  which  we  consider  the  elaborate  arti- 
fices of  a  far  greater  historian— the  greatest  that  our 
literature  can  boast— Gibbon.  The  rapidity  of  the 
execution  infers  many  maccuracies  as  to  minor 
matters  of  fact ;  but  it  is  nevertheless  true  that  no 
inaccuracy  in  the  smallest  degree  affecting  the 
character  of  th^  book  as  a  fair  record  of  great 
events,  has  to  this  hour  been  detected  even  by  the 
malevolent  ingeniuty  of  Jacobin  and  Buonapartist 
pamphleteers.  Even  the  most  hostile  examiners 
were  obliged  to  aoknowledge  that  the  gigantie  ca- 
reer of  their  idol  had  been  traced,  in  its  leading 
features,  with  wonderful  truth  and  spirit.  No  civ- 
'  ilian,  it  was  universally  admitted,  had  ever  before 
described  modem  battles  and  campaigns  witli  any 
wpfproach  to  his  d^t\ntt  and  comprehensive  felicity. 
The  public,  ever  unwilling  to  concede  a  new  species 
of  honor  to  a  name  dreadir  covered  with  distinction, 
hstmied  eagerlv  fbr  a  while  to  the  indignant  reda- 
j^ations  of  nobodies,  whose  share  in  mij^ty  trans- 
aetions  had  been  omitted,  or  slightly  mtarepresent- 
«di  but,  er^  long,  all  these  pompous  rectifications 
were  summed  up— and  found  to  corestitnte  nothing 
but  a  contemptible  monument  of  self-debding  van- 
nf:  Th«  ^oik  devoured  at  first  wkh  breatkless 
delight,  had  a  shade  thrown  over  it  lor  a  thne  by 
^M  p^rtnimMAit  Muilaniig  i»f  tiMSe  angry  LOhpu 


tftths ;  but  If  bttf  now  eMitt|fAl^'^<|(My  •  sud  t  ,. 
firom  the  tnistdf  susp^^ibn— atid  fe#*,Wwwe  opMMB 
deeerve  much  attention,  beaitate  to  avow  their  oott- 
viction  that,  whoever  may  be  the  PolyUna  of  tba 
modern  Hannibal,  posterity  will  recognise  hit  livy 
in  Scott. 

"  Woodstocl^  IM  we  have  seen,  placed  opwavia 
of  jB8.0(X)  in  the  hands  of  Sir  Waiter's  creditors. 
The  Napoleon  Ifirst  and  second  editiona)  produced 
for  them  a  sum  which  it  even  now  stanles  tn^  to 
mention— £18,000.  As  by  the  time  the.  historical 
worB:  was  published,  nearly  half  of  the  First  Series 
of  Chromcleft  of  the  Canougate  had  been  written, 
it  ia  obvious  that  the  amount  to  which  Seott'a  liter- 
ary industry,  from  the  close  of  188ft,  to  the  lOih  of 
June,  182t,  had  diminished  his  debt;  cannot  be 
stated  at  less  than  jB28,000.  Had  bealth  been 
spared  him,  how  soon  must  he  have  freed  himedf 
from  all  his  encumbrances! 


CHAPTER  LXXIV. 

BXCVaSIONTO  ST.  AKDnWS — DEATHS  OT  LADT  mjarA 
8C0TT"C0N8TABUS-Ain)  CAKKtNG— EXTmACT  FBOM 
Ma.  ADOLPHl78'SMXMOaAin>A— AVTAIB  OFGEHKEAL 
OOOBGAUD— LETTBR  TO  MB.  CLBBK— BLTTHSWOOI^— 
COBEHOnS^— DXTKX  OP  WBLUKOTOK^S  VIBrT  TO  OVB- 
HAM— DIKNBB  IK  THE  0A8T1.E— SUXSDXHLAStO — ^EA- 
VEN8W0BTH— ALNWICK— VEB8E8  TO  BIB  CDTHEBET 
SHABP— AFFAIB  OP  ABCD  AND  CO.— PUBUCATlOV 
OP  THE  CHBOKICLES  OP  THE  CAJrONOATB,  SBEU8 
PIBST— AKB  OP  THE  PIB8T  TALES  OP  A  OEAJfDPA- 
TMBB— ESSASr  ON  PLANTflNQi.  AC. — ^MtSCELUUfBOOa 
PBOer  WOBKS  collected— BALV  OP  T^  WATMKtMT 
COPVBIOHTO^DiVlPBND  TO  CBEMTOBS  itfW-'PB* 
CEMSEB— 1827. 

Mv  wife  and  I  spent  the  summer  of  1837,  pertly 
at  a  sea-bathinjS  place  near  Edinburgh,  and  pertly 
in  Roxburghshire ;  and  I  shallj  in  my  account  of  tke 
sequel  of  this  year,  draw,  as  it  may  happen  on  9it 
Walter's  Diary,  nis  letters,  the  memoranda  o^ 
friendly  visiters,  or  my  own  recollections.  The  ar- 
rival ot  his  daughter  and  her  children  at  PortobeUo 
was  a  Bouroe  of  constant  refreshment  to  hito  dariac 
June;  for  every  other  day  he  casae  down  and  diasa 
there,  and  strolled  about  afterwards  on  the  beedij 
thus  interrupting,  beneficially  for  hia  health,  and  I 
doubt  not  for  the  result  of  his  l&houra  also,  toe  new 
custom  of  regular  night-work,  or,  as  he  called  it 
of  serving  double- tides.  When  the  Court  released 
him,  and  he  returned  to  ^hbotsford,  his  family  did 
what  they.could  to  keep  mm  to  his  ancient  evening 
habits;  but  nothing  was  so  useful  as  the preeenos 
of  his  invalid  grandson.  The  poor  diild  waa  at 
this  time  so  fat  restored  as  to  be  eble  to  eit  hia  pony 
again :  and  Sir  Walter,  who  had.  ae  the  reader  ob» 
aerved,  conceived,  the  very  day  he  finished  Napo- 
leon, the  notion  of  putting  together  a  series  of  sto- 
ries on  the  history  of  Scotland,  aomewhat  in  the 
manner  of  Mr.  Croker's  on  that  of  England,  rode 
daily  among  the  woods  with  hia  "  Hugh  llittl^|<^iiL'* 
and  told  the  Ule,  and  asdertained  that  it  soitod  tne 
oompreheoaion  of  boyhood,  befbie  he  reduced  it  to 
wrj^mg.  Sibyl  Grey  had  been  diamieaed  in  conse- 
quence of  the  accident  at  the  Catrail ;  and  he  had 
now  stooped  his  pride  to  a  sober,  steady  creatures 
of  veiy  humble  blood ;  dun,  with  black  mane  ana 
leas ;  bv  name  Douce  Davie,  alias  the  Covenanter. 
Thia^  the  last  of  hia  steeds,  by  the  way,  had  been 
previously  in  the  possession  of  a  jolly  old  laird  in  a 
neighbounng  county,  and  aei^ured  a  distinguialied 
reputation  by  ita  skm  in  carrvmg  him  home  aaA^ 
when  dead  dnmk.  Douce  Davi&  on  such  occa- 
sions, accommodated  himself  to  the  swerving  bal- 
ance of  his  rider  with  such  nice  di8cnmination,«that, 
on  the  laird's  death,  the  country  people  expected  a 
vigorous  competition  foa  the  sandbtis  animal ;  but 
the  club-coippanions  of  the  d^ranct  stood  off  to  a 
man,  when  it  was  understood  that  the  Sheriff  cov- 
eted the  succession. 

The  Chronicles  of  the  Canotigate  proceeded  pari 
passu  with  these  historical  tales:  and  both  works 
were  publlahad  Mbie  the  and  of  the  ytm.    He  also 


LIFE  OF  SIR  WALTER  SCOTT. 


fi^?. 


vaDerintendediic  the  raipe  time,  the  first  coHactioB 
of  Ais  Prose  Miscellanies,  in  six  volumes  Svo—eer- 
eral  articles  being  remodelled  and  extended  to  adapt 
them  for  a  more  permanent  sort  of  existence  than 
had  been  originally  thought  of.  Moreover,  Sir 
Walter  penned,  that  autumn,  bis  beautiful  and  jri- 
Btructive  paper  on  the  Planting  of  Waste  Lasdf , 
which  is  indeed  no  other  than  a  preeioas  chapter  ut 
his  autobiomph  y  for  the  Quarterly  Review.*  Wha  t 
he  wrote  of  new  matter  between  June  and  Decem- 
ber, fills  from  five  to  six  volumes  in  the  late  unifomi 
edition  of  his  works ;  but  all  this  was  light  and  ca^y 
after  the  perilous  ({nidgery  of  the  preceding  eighteen 
months. 

The  Blair- Admm  Club,  this  year,  had  their  head- 
luarters  at  Charieton,  in  Fifii-~theadat  of  the  found* 
Qt'B  son-in-law,  Mr.  Anstrudier  Thomson  s  and  ont 
3f  their  drives  was  to  the  two  ancient  mansions  of 
Ely  and  JBalcasky.  *'  The  latter,"  says  Sir  Waller 
n  nis  Diary,  "put  me  in  mind  of  poor  Philip  An- 
nruther,  dead  and  gone  many  a  Jong  year  ame 
He  was  a  Am,  gallant,  light-hearted  young  sailor. 
[  remember  the  story  of  his  drawing  on  hw  father 
1^  some  cash,  which  produced  an  angry  lettar  from 
>Id  Sir  Robert,  to  which  Philip  replied,  that  if  be 
iid  not  know  how  to  writeJike  a  gentleman,  be  did 
lot  desire  any  more  of  his  correspondence.  Bal- 
:askyis  much  dilapidated;  bat  they  are  restoring 
he  house  in  the  good  old  style,  with  its  terraces  &nd 
few  hedges." 

Another  morning  was  given  to  St.  Andrews  < 
vhich^oae  of  the  party  had  never  before  vinted. 
'  The  Tums^"  he  say&  **  have  been  lately  cleared 
mt  They  had  b^en  chiefly  roagmfioent  from  their 
dze,  not  their  ricbneos  in  omament.t  1  did  not  go 
m  to  St.  Rule's  Tower,  as  on  former  oeoaaien« ; 
his  is  a  falling  ofT^for  when  before  did  I  remain  ari- 


Irst  decidea  sign  ef  acquieaoenee  in  my  lot  I  eti  i 
lown  on  a  grave-slone,  and  recollected  the  first 
isit  I  made  to  St  Andrews,  now  thirty-four  yeari» 
go.  Whar  changes  in  myreelings  and  my  fortunes 
lave  aince  taken  place  !->some  for  the  better,  many 
or  the  worse.  I  remembered  the  name  I  then  carved 
a  runic  characteraon  the  turf  beside  the  castlc-gat^'H 
kod  I  asked  why  it  should  stul  agitate  my  heart. 
lot  my  friends  came  down  from  the  tower,  and  the 
oolish  idea  was  chased  away." 
On  the  22d  of  July  his  Diary  bears  the  date  of 
VRtUo.  He  then  say*— •'  We  rubbed  uo  some  reool- 
ections  of  twenty  years  ago,  when  I  was  more  m- 
imate  in  the  family,  till  whig  and  Tory  separated 
IS  for  a  time.  By  the  way.  nobody  talks  Whig  or 
["ory  just  now,  and  the  fighting  men  on  each  side 
;o  about  muzzled  and  mute,  like  dogs  after  a  proc- 
smatipn  about  canine  madness.  Am  I  sornr  for 
his  truce  or  not  Half  and  half.  It  is  all  we  n  ave 
sft  to  Btit  the  Mood,  this  little  political  brawling, 
{ut  better  too  little  of  it  than  too  much.  Here  I 
ave  received  news  of  two  death^  at  once;  Lady 
)ie  Scott,  my  very  old  friend,  and  Archibald  Con- 
table,  the  bookseller."— He  adds  next  day—"  Ye* ! 
hey  are  both^  for  very  different  reasons,  subjects  or 
efleciion.  Lady  Diana  Scott,  widow  of  Walit^r 
>cott  of  Harden,  was  tab  last  person  whom  I  re- 
ollect  80  much  older  than  myself,  that  sl^  kept 
Iways  at  the  same  distance  in  point  of  age,  so  that 
he  scarce  seemed  older  to  me  (relatively)  two  years 
go,  when  in  her  qindty-second  year,  than  fiAy 
ears  before.  She  was  the  daughter  (alone  remain- 
ig)  of  Pope's  Earl  of  Marchmont,  and,  like  htr 
ither,  had  an  aeule  mind,  and  an  eager  temper. 
;he  was  always  kind  to  mel  remarkably  so,  ind4ii]c], , 
/hen  I  was  a  boy.— Constable's  death  might  bav^;  \ 
een  a  most  important  thing  to  me  if  it  had  hap- 
ened  Bome  years  ago,  and  I  should  then  have  la- 

*  8ae  UiieeDaoeaui  Ptom  Vorki,  (edition  iwj)  vol  »d. 
1 1  bebeye  therefa  no  doubt  that  the  Metropolitan  GathftdnF 
r  St.  Aftdrewf  bad  been^tbe /«nrMl  in  Ettrope-«  ^err  ramark 
ble  ftet,  when  one  thfaikf  of  the  mwUoeia  and  pofveitr  of  the 
Nntiy.  It  k  rtated,  with  mtente  mlealatiooi.  and  Maeh  agaiia^ 
on,  bran  old  SooCoh  wniw~Kolwrai«M  (L  §.  WIIaon)->iD  bii 
Doe  aritbratcd  tnatiee  D$TranquttHtiUe  Animi, 
65      ' 


mented  it  raofih.  He  has  lived  to  do  me  some  in- 
jury; yet,  exceptiog  the  last  je6,000,  I  think  most 
umntpntwnnllF,  IIp  tuTm?  r  prince  of  book&eners ; 
bis  views  *h(WT),  powerful,  a  ad  iihcrali  too  saii- 
p  I  line,  however,  and  J)kc  rnnny  h<il\  ond  aucceiaAil 
Fchemers,  never  ktiovvjni;  whtQ  to  &  land  or  ^%£yp, 
and  not  alwQys  cakubtirvg  bis  mt^ans  |o  his  object 
With  mercaQLiie  accuracy.  He  wai  v?ry  vEiinT  Hir 
which  ha  had  ^itma  rtiasort,  having  raised  hiinaejf 
to  ureat  (?onirii/ir*:[al  triiijunc**,  ns  ht!  might  alao, 
Mfiiii  good  ntiinii^eiucat,  hflveaitaJtiod  gftai.  wealth. 
Hci  kjiiw^  I  ihuik,  more  of  the  bnttincgs  of  n  book- 
seller^  in  pknaing  anil  exectjtjjig  popular  works, 
than  any  man  of  ma  ttmc  In  boo]iB  ihems^lvea 
he  hod  much  biblioffratjbical  informfltion*  but  none 
M'liatevcr  lliot  cguM  bo  tt^rtiied  Iktrary.  He  Ln<w 
this  rare  volunu's  of  hia  library  nni  only  by  the  t-ye, 
hui  by  I  ho  touchy  when  bUndfoIdcu.  ThoTrma 
Thom^n  saw  him  make  iliis  i^xperimcntt  finil  that 
II  mijihi.  be  compL'te,  pi  need  in  hi^  hand  an  ordinary 
vcjlume  ine^ti'^d  of  ono  of  itiuski  lihrti  tMrior^e,  Ha 
said  be  had  uvereiirnnAtyd  hja  mLiuorj^  he  could 
not  recolE^ct  that  volume.  Constable  was  a  vio- 
lent tempered  man  with  thoic  he  anred  lo  uee  fpoe- 
cJotti  wJiD.  He  wag  enBily  ovaraw^  by  poopb  of 
conofjquenc^;  but,  ae  usual,  look  it  out  ot  moss 
whom  poverty  niaJij^  JsubBervieaL  to  bim.  Yet  he 
was  gencj-oiia,  and  far  from  bad'hjpjarted :— in  per- 
son ffwd  lonkinff.  but  very  coffiulent  IntHysriyi  a 
large  feeder,  nnd  deep  drinker,  tiUbis  health  J>ccame 
W£  tik.  He  dkfi  of  watt?r  m  the  fheat,  which  the 
natural  sErf^nfjth  fjf  hm  constitution  set  lonp  at  d*- 
fiance,  1  have  no  r^eot  rca*ori  to  regret  him  i  vet  I 
do.    If  be  deccivetTnu'i  hen  Ucid«ct"iv<^  himself." 

Cnnpt abb's  wpirit  had  been  effecttially  broken  by 
\m  down  fa  11.  To  atoot*  from  being  vrimus  aba^e 
smcundij  ftmong  the  Kdinburch  book  (tell  era,  to  be 
the  occupant  of  an  obscure  ck>«eT  of  a  ihop,  with* 
out  eepitalt  vtithotjl  ort^ditt  all  bin  mJKbty  lindej- 
takinpe  abandoned  or  ^op*?  into  other  hands,  tx- 
cepl  indeed  hi»  Miscellany,  which  he  had  now  no 
resouret.'8  for  pushing  on  in  the  faahion  hci  otice 
Cijnifmplaicd— this  reverse  was  too  much  for  that 
proud  beniL  He  no  lonKer  oppo^  a  detormmed 
miad  to  the  aUmenta  of  the  body,  and  sunk  on  the 
aiaiof  ibis  month,  havingi  ns  1  am  told,  looked 
lon^  ere  ha  took  to  bis  hm  at  least  ten  yeari  o|der 
than  he^was*  He  dmd  in  his  Mih  year;  but  into 
that  Bpaco  he  hod  crowded  vaetly  pioro  than  the 
usual  avcraee  of  zeal  and  cner^,  of  hilarity  afld 
triumph,  Jind  (Jtrhapg  of  aniiety  and  miaery*» 

About  this  ttme  tbt*  rumour  b^ame  pr^valeoi  that 
Mr.  Canninfi^s  health  wa*  break  ins?  up  iiinonR  loila  / 
and  mortifications  of  another  order,  and  Scott's 
Diary  haa  aomo  etriksncj  entriiie  on  t)m  painful  aub- 
JBCt-  MeeUii^  Lord  MelvUle  cas^untly  nt  the  seal  of 
a  eommoQ  fnend,  towards  thti  t  nd  of  JtiU'i  he  says, 
"I  was  very  sorry  to  sm^  iny  vtry  old  fnend,  tuia 
ut)right  &laieHman  and  honourable  gentleman,  de- 
f] rived  of  his  power,  otid  his  ofTttifil  tncome-^  which 
the  number  of  his  family  muM  rf.nder  fl  matter  of 
importance.  He  was  cheerful,  not  nfTeelodly  so, 
and  bore  his  decletipiou  like  a  wise  and  brave  mail. 
Caiitjmg  said  the  ofRc*  of  Premier  was  bis  by  p- 
hcritfince ;  he  could  nut^  from  constituiion,  hold  it 
above  two  years,  nnd  then  it  would  desjcenrj  to  Peel.  ' 
Such  ia  ambition  !  Old  friends  forsaken— old  prin- 
ciptesi  ell  nngeci— every  c-tlbrt  ufed  to  fjive  ibt^  vt&sd 
of  the  State  a  new  direction,  and  all  to  ha  Palinurus  ; 
fur  two  years!" 

Of  the  iQth  of  Aumisi— when  the  news  of  Mr. 
Ctinninff^a  Itath  reached  Abbot sford— and  the  day 
followinf^t  are  ihcae  enineai^"The  death  of  the 
Premier  is  announced— late  Gcorfiti  Canning— thu 
witty,  the  accompliftbed,  the  ambitious j—hq  who 
hod  Eoiled  ihjrJy  years,  and  invoUed  himilfi'If  in  the 
mo^t  haraening  dinrussioni?,  to  attain  this  diizy 
height ;  be  who  hod  held  it  for  thre«  m.onths  of  in- 
tripfuu  and  obloquy— and  now  a  heap  of  du^t,  and 
that  is  tdl.  He  was  an  early  and  familiar  fnend  of 
mint:i  ihrou^^h  my  intimacy  with  George  Elbe*  No 
man  popaeeied  a  gayer  and  more  playful  wit  in  flo* 
Ciety:  no  one,  since  PiU'e  time,  hadr  nJmfjMH»|  r> 
manding  sarcaim  in  debate  |iEithr@ioi^i# of  ICw^^ 


814 


LIFB  QP  SIR  WALTER  SCOTT. 


uons  he  was  the  terror  of  that  species  of  orators 
called  the  Yctpers.  His  lash  fetched  away  both 
skin  and  flesh,  and  wonld  hare  penetrated  the  hide 
of  a  rhinoceros.  In  his  conduct  as  a  statesman  he 
hadr  a  great  ^a'ult;  he  lent  himself  too  willinely  to 
intrigue.  Thus  he  got  into  his  auarrel  with  Lord 
Castlereagh,  and'  lost  credit  with  the  country  for 

,  want  of  openness.  Thus,  too,  he  got  involved  with 
the  dueen^s  part^  to  such  an  extent,  that  it  fettered 
him  upoif  that  miserable  occasion,  and  obliged  him 
to  butter  Sir  Robert  Wilson  with  dear  friend,  and 
gallhnt  general,  and  so  forth.  The  last  composi- 
tion with  the  Whigs  was  a  sacrifice  of  principle  on, 
both  sides.  I  have  some  reason  to  think  they  count- 
ed on  getting  rid  of  him  in  two  or  three  years.  To 
me  Canning  was  always  personalljr  most  kind.  'I 
saw,  with  pain,  a  great  change  in  his  health  when 
I  met  him  at  Colonel  Bolton's,  at  Storrs,  in  1896. 
In  London  last  year  I  thought  him  looking  better. 
My  nerves  have  fbr  these  two  or  three  last  davs 
been  susbeptible  of  an  acute  excitement  from  the 
slightest  causes;  the  beauty  of  the  evening,  the 

,  sighing  of  the  summer  breeze^  bring  the  tears  into 
my  eyes  not  unpleasantly.  But  I  must  take  exer- 
cise, and  case-harden  myself.  Th^re  is  no  use  in 
encouraging  these  moods  of  the  mind. 

**  August  11.— Wrote  nearlv  five  pages:  then 
walked.  A  visit  from  Henry  Scott;  nothmg  known 
as  yet  about  politics.  A  High  Tonr  Administration 
would  be  a  great  evil  at  this  time.  There  are  repauv 
in  the  structure  of  our  constitution  which  ought  to 
be  made  at  this  season,  and  without  which  the  peo- 
ple will  not  long  be  sflenu  A  pure  Whig  Adminis- 
tration would  probably  play  the  devil  by  atiomptTDg 
a  thorough  r^air.  As  to  a  compouiid,  or  melo-drs- 
matio  Mmistry^  the  parts  oat  of  which  such  a  one 
conld  be  organked  ^ust  now  ^r^^  at  a  terrible  dn- 
oount  in  public  esnmation,  nor  will  the^  be  at  pntr 
in  a  hurry  again.  The  pnbhc  wc  ro  ki'iic  r a!  t  ^  e  li  at:  k- 
ad  at  the  complete  lack  of  principle  tL^i^iified  on  ibe 
late  occasion,  and  by  some  who  tilE  then  hud  hi^i^h 
credit.  The  Duke  of  WeUinKt'Jn  haa  risen  by  his 
firmness  on  the  one  side,  Earl  Orey  on  th^  other," 

He  received  about  this  time,  a  third  visit  from 
Mr.  J.  L.  Adolphus.    The  second  occurred  in  Au- 

fist  1824,  and  since  that  tiiae  they  had  not  met. 
transcribe  a  few  paragraphs  from  my  fiiend*s 
memoranda,  on  which  I  formerly  drew  so  largely : 
He  saya— 

^calamity  had  borne  heavily  upon  Sir  Walter  ia  the 
.  interval ;  but  the  palnfol  and  aozious  feeling  yritli  which 
a  friend  is  approached  for  the  first  time  under  such  cir- 
cumatances,  gave  way  at  once  to  the  anaasamed  serenity 
of  hia  manner.  There  were  some  signs  of  age  about  him 
which  the  mere  lapse  of  time  would  scarcely  have  ac- 
counted for;  bat  his  snirits^rere  abated  only,  not  bro- 
ken; if  (hey  had  Ban1c,tney  had  sunk  equably  and  gently, 
ft  was  a  declining,  not  a  cloadcd  sun.  I  do  not  remember, 
it  this  period,  hearing  tiim  make  any  reference  to  the 
afllioaons  he  had  sufTered,  except  once.  when,  speaking 
' *"    *     knew  that  it  had 


aad  then  raised  a  mijestie  bark  from  beklnd  the  hoaas. 
U  was  one  of  rfhe  lUtlo  scenes  of  Abbotsford  life  wbfek' 
should  have  been  preserved  by  a  painter,  when  Sir  wal* 
ter  strolled  out  in  a  sunny  morning  to  caress  poor  Maida, 
and  condole  with  him  upon  being  so  *  very  fradl ;'  the 
aged  liound  dragging  his  camit  limbs  forwara,  painfUIy, 
yet  with  some  remains  of  dignity,  to  m6et  the  hand  and 
catch  the  deep  affectionate  tones  of  his  master. 

"The  greatest  observable  difference  which  the  last 
throe  years  had  made  in  the  outward  ^pearance  of  Ab> 
botsford,  was  in  the  advanced  growth  of  the  plaatationa. 
Sir  Walter  now  showed  me  some  rails  and  paliaadca, 
made  of  tlieir  wood^  with  more  self-complacency  than  I 
ever  s&w  him  betray  on  any  other  subiecL  The  cardea 
did  not  appear  to  interest  him  so  much,  and  the  Mnavia 
and  merle'  were,  upon  principle,  allowed  to  use  their 
discretion  as  to  the  fruit.  His  favourite  afternoon  exer> 
cise  was  to  ramble  through  his  grounds,  conversing  with 
those  who  accompanied  him,  itfd  trimming  hia  yoang 
troes  with  a  large  knife.  Never  have  I  received  an  in- 
vitaUon  more  gladly  than  when  he  has  said,  ^  If  vou  ftke 
a  walk  in  the  plantationk.  I  will  bestow  my  te<Boaanesa 
upon  yon  after  one  o'clock.'  His  conversation  at  such 
times  ran  in  that  natural,  easy,  desultory  course,  which 
accords  so  well  with  the  irregular  movements  oi  a  walk 
over  hill  and  woodland,  and  which  he  has  iitw»«*if  da- 
Bcribed  so  well  in  his  ^Istle  to  Mr.  Skene.*  Lrememkgr 
with  particular  pleasure  one  of  our  walks  tbrougb  the 
romantic  little  ravine  of  the  Huntly-Bum.  0«r  progrtfas 
was  leisurely,  for  tBe  path  was  somewhat  difficult  to  ntan. 
Occasionally  he  would  stop,  and,  leaning  on  his  walking- 
stick  and  fixing  his  eyes  on  thoiM  of  tne  hearer, 

forth  «ome  sonorous  stansa  of  an  c'^ "    "^ 

the  Bcene,  or  to  the  laat  subject 

Several  times  we  paused  to  acJb&ire  the  good  lisle,  as  it 


t  on  those  of  the  hearer,  poor 
isa  of  an  old  Doem  applicable  id 
t  subject  of  the  eonreraatfoB. 


of  his  Life  of  Napoleon,  he  said,  Mie  ■.••d  uj«h.  h,  uau 
some  inaccuracies,  but  he  believed  it  would  be  found 
right  in  all  essential  points ;'  and  then  added,  in  a  quiet, 
out  affecting  tone. '  I  could  have  done  it  better,  it  I  could 
have  written  at  more  leisure,  and  vrith  a  mind  more  at 
ease.'  One  morning  a  party  was  made  to  breakfast  at 
CbiefewDod:  and  anyone  who  on  that  occasion  looked  at 
and  heard  Sir  Walter  Scott,  in  the  midst  of  his  children, 
and  ^ranrlchildren.  and  friends,  must  have  rejoiced  to 
sec  that  life  sitfl  yielded  him  a  store  of  pleasures,  and 
that  his  heart  was  as  open  to  tbeir  influenee  as  ever. 

*'  I  was  much  struck  by  a  few  words  wliich  fell  from 
him  on  this  subject  a  short  time  afterwaros.  After  men- 
tioning  an  accident  which  had  spoiled  the  promised 
pleasure  of  a  visit  to  his  daughter  in  I/>ndon,  he  tiien 
addled, '  I  am  like  Segcd,  T.ord  of  Ethiopia,  hi  the  Ram- 


seemed,  with  which  his  great  HighlaBd  stagiioimd  Nins- 
rod  always  displayed  himself  on  those  prominent  poinls 
of  the  little  flen,  where  his  ftgnte,  in  comUnatfon  with 
the  scenery,  had  the  most  picturesque  effisct.  Sir  Walter 
aeeounted  tor  this  by  observing  that  the  sitnationa  were 
of  that  kind  which  the  dog's  taistUict  would  probably 
draw  him  to  if  looking  out  for  game.  In  speakinf  of  the 
Huntly-Bum  I  used  the  word  *  brook.'  *  It  b  hardly  Umc,' 
said  he,  *  it  is  just  a  runnel'  Emerffaig  into  a  BMre  open 
country,  we  saw  a  road  a  Httle  below  us,  on  each  sMe  of  • 
which  were  some  feathery  saplinn.  *I  like^  be  said, 
*  that  way  of  glvtaig  an  eyelash  to  Uie  road.'  IndepeBd- 
eatly  of  the  recollectlona  caHed  up  by  particolar  ob}eciB»  * 
his  eye  and  mind  always  Seemed  to  dwell  with  a  perfect 
complacency  on  his  own  portion  of  the  vale  of  Tweed: 
he  used  to  say  that  he  did  not  know  a  more  ^Oveable' 
country. 

*'  A  substitute  for  walking,  which  he  always  Tery  cheer- 
fully used,  and  which  at  last  became  his  only  reoooaoe 
for  any  distant  excursion,  was  a  ride  in  a  tbtnr-wheeled  ' 
open  carriage,  holding  four  persons,  bat  not  abaolotefy    . 
Umited  to  that  number  on  an  emergency.    Tame  as  this   . 
exercise  micht  be  in  comparison  with  riding  on  horse- 
back, or  VTitn  walking  under  propitiotu  circumstances, 
yet  as  he  was  rolled  along  to  Melrose,  or  BowhlU,  or 
Yair,  his  spirits  always  freshened ;  the  air,  the  aoun<b, 
the  lamiliar  yet  romantic  scenes,  wakened  up  all  the 
poetry  of  his  thoughts,  snd  hsppy  were  they  who  heard 
it  resolve  itself  into  words.    At  tne  sight  of  certain  objects 
—for  example,  in  Dasslns  t" 
liUle  chapel 


for  example,  in  passing  the  green  foundations  or  the 

4le  chapel  of  Lmdean,  where  the  body  of  the  *  Dark 

Knight  or  LIddesdale'  was  deposited,  on  Itsxray  to  Mel- 


id 


rose,  i  would,  I  suppose,  been  Impossible  for  him,  unless 
with  a  companiop  nopeiesaly  unsusceptible  or  pre-occo- 
pied,  to  forbear  some  (passing  comment,  some  har]^nc  (If 
the  word  may  be  favourably  used)  on  the  tradition  of  the 
place.  This  was,  perhaps,  what  he  called  *  bestowing  his 
tediousncra ;'  but  If  sny  one  could  think  these  elfVisions 
tedious  because  they  often  broke  forth,  such  a  man 
might  hove  objected  against  the  rushing  or  the  Tweed,  of 
the  stirring  of  the  trees  in  the  wind,  or  any  other  natonl 
melody,  that  he  had  heard  the  same  thing  before. 

*^Some  days  of  my  visit  were  marked  by  an  almost 
perpetual  confinement  to  the  hoUse ;  the  rain  being  io- 
ceessDt.  But  the  evenings  were  as  bright  and  cheerifut 
as  the  atmosphere  of  the  days  was  dreary.  Not  that  the 
gloomiest  morning  could  ever  be  weaJisome  under  a 
a  roof  where,  independently  of  the  resourcea  in  society 


Vler.  who  said  that  l^e'^ould  have  ton  hapny  days,  and    ^^^^^L  ^^L^f^TJ^^J^J^^^^lnt?^^^ 

all  turned  to  disapppmunent    But,  howeve?,  1  have  had     ">™^;  Sii^®' l!?]T!^!lI?,^„V^ 

aamnan  nanpmeslTm  my  time  asinosi  men,  Jnd  I  must    £""Ji!^^§j'!SSS^^^^^ 

Ml  eemptam  now.'    I  s^d,  that  whatever  had  been  his  !  w»»nder.    So  many  of  the  volumes  were  enriched  with 

then  seen  il  complete  even  to  the  statue  of  MJda  at  the  1  ^*»«"  *»«  entered  from  his  own  room,  to  consnh  or  take 


«IOfr,  though  hi  1681  old  Msida  was  stUl  alivSf  and  now  I 


*  SsePoedeal  Woiks,  Vol  L 


gie 


/ 


LIFE  OF  SIR  WALTER  SCOTT. 


6U 


awaj  a  book.  How  often  b&ve  T  he^rd  with  pleaaiure,  after 
t  long  sOence,  the  uneven  atop,  the  point  of  the  stick 
strlkiog  against  the  flooc,  and  tnen  seen  the  poet  himself 
emerge  from  his  studr,  with  a  faee  of  thought  but  yet  of 
cheenolneas.  followed  perhaps  by  Nimrod,  who  stretched 
his  limbs  and  yawned,  is  if  tired  out  with  some  abstruse 
investigation. 

"  On  one  of  the  rainy  days  I  have  alluded  to,  when 
WaUdog  at  the  usual  hour  became  hopeless,  Sir  Walter 
asked  me  to  sit  with  him  while  he  contmued  his  morning 
occupation,  gMng  me,  for  my  own  employment,  the  pub- 
lications of  the  Banna^ne  Club.   His  study,  as  I  recollect 
it,  was  strictly  a  work-room,  though  an  elegant  one.    It 
has  been  lancifully  decked  out  in  pictures,  but  it  had. 
I  think,  very  few  articles  of  mere  ornament    The  chief 
of  these  was  the  print  of  Stothard's  Canterbury  Pilgrims, 
which  huig  over  the  chimney-piece,  and,  from  the  place 
assigned  to  it,  must  have  been  in  great  favour,  though 
Sir  Walter  made  the  characteristic  criticism  upon  it.  thht 
if  the  procession  were  to  moire,  the  younc  squire  who  is 
prancing  in  the  foreground  would  in  another  minute  be 
over  his  horse's  head.    The  shelTOS  were  stored  with 
serviceable  books;  one  door  opened  Into  the  great  Bbrtr 
ry,  and  a  hanging-stair  witUn  the  room  itselTcommuni- 
cated  with  his  bed-room.    It  would  have  been  a  good 
lesson  to  a  desultory  student,  or  even  to  a  moderatelv 
active  amanuensis,  to  see  the  unintermittod  energy  with 
which  Sir  Walter  Scott  applied  himself  to  his  work.    I 
conjectured  that  he  was  at  this  tim^  writing  the  Tales 
of  a  Orandiather.    When  we  had  sat  down  to  our  re- 
spective employments,  the  stillness  of  the  room  was  un- 
broken, eztept  by  the  light  rattle  of  the  rain  against  the 
vrindQWS,  and  the  dashing  trot  of  Sir  Walter's  pen  over 
his  paper;  sounds  not  very  unlike  each  other,  and  which 
seemed  to  vie  together  hi  rapidity  and  contmoance. 
Sometimes,  when  he  stopped  to  consult  a  book,  a  short 
dialogue  would  take  ^ace  upon  the  subjeota  with  which 
I  was  occupied;  about  ICary  Queen  of^ Scots,  perhaps, 
or  Viscount  Dundee ;  or,  again,  the  ail<fnce  might  oe 
broken  for  a  moment  by  some  merry  outcry  in  the  halL 
firom  one  of  the  little  grandchildren,  which  would  half 
waken  Nimrod,  or  Bran,  or  Spice,  as  they  slept  ai  Sir 
Walter's  feet,  and  produce  a  growl  or  a  stifled  bark,  not 
in  anger,  bat  by  way  of  protest.    For  ipatters  like  these, 
work  did  not  proceed  the  worse,  nor,  as  It  seemed  to  me, 
did  Sir  Walter  feel  at  all  discomposed  by  such  interrup- 
tions as  a  message,  or  the  entrance  of  a  visiter.    One 
door  of  his  study  opened  Into  the  hall,  and  there  did  not 
appear  to  be  any  understanding  that  he  should  not  be 
disturbed.    At  the  endT  of  our  morning  we  attempted  a 
sortie,  but  had  made  onlv  a  little  way  in  the  ahrubbery- 
walks  overlooking  the  Tweed,  when  the  iratai  drove  tia 
back.    The  river  swollen  and  oistokKired,  swept  by  ma- 
le stically,  and  the  aight  drew  te^fn  Sir  Waiter  his  &voQr- 
ite  lines— 

*  I>e  seen  Tweed's  silver  streams,  glittering  In  the  sunny 

beams,       i 
Tom  drumlyand  dark,  as  they  roll'd  on  their  way.' 

There  could  not  have  been  a  l^etter  moihent  for  appre- 
ciating the  imagery  of  the  last  Hne.  I  think  it  was  in  this 
short  walk  that  he  mentioned  to  me,  with  great  satisfiic- 
tion,  the  favourable  prospecto  of  his  literary  industry, 
and  spoke  sang^iinely  of  retrieving  his 'losses  with  the 
bookscUera.' 

"  Those  who  have  seen  Abbotsford  win  remember  that 
there  is  at  the  end  of  the  hall,  opposite  to  the  entrance 
of  the  Ubrary,  an  arched  door- way  leading  to  other  rooms. 
One  night  some  of  the  party  oSserved  that,  by  an  ar- 
rangement of  light,  easily  to  be  imagined,  a  lumlaons 
sp&ce  was  formed  upon  Die  library  door,  in  whieh  the 
shadow  of  a  person  standing  hi  the  opporfte  ^chway 
made  a  very  Imposing  appearance,  the  10^  of  the  hall 
remaining  quite  dark.  Sir  Walter  had  some  time  before 
told  hia  friends  of  the  deception  of  sight  (mentioned  in 
his  Bemonology)  which  maae  him  for  a  moment  imam&e 
a  figtiro  of  Lord  Byron  standing  in  the  same  hall.'  .The 
discoverers  of  the  Httle  phantasmagoria  which  I  liave 
just  described;  called  to  him  to  come  and  see  their 
ghost  Whether  he  thought  that  raising  ghosts  at  a  ma^ 
door  was  not  a  comely  amusement,  or  whether  the  paro- 

2f  upon  a  circumstance  which  had  made  some  impres- 
on  upon  his  own  fancy  was  a  little  too  strong,  he  cer- 
tainly old  not  enter  into  the  Jest 

"  on  the  subjects  commonly  desifoated  as  the  *  marvel- 
loua,'  bia  mind  was  susceptibie,  and  it  was  delicate.  He 
loved  to  handle  them  in  tus  own  manner  and  at  his  own 
seaaoot  not  to  be  pressed  with  them,  or  brought  to  any 


found  to  waver.    Sir  Walter  Scott,  as  it  aeem  A  to  'me, 
»  8m  SeotVi  Lflten  on  DemoDokgy  tod  ViCeliaiiV 


never  cared  te  ascertain  very  ipreciselv  where  this  point 
lay  i^  his  own  mental  constitution ;  stol  less,  I  suppose, 
did  he  wish  the  Investigation  to  be  seriously  pursued  by 
others.  In  no  instance,  however,  was  his  colloquial  elo- 
quence more  striking  tnan  when  he  was  well  Jannched 
in  '  some  tale  of  wonder.'  The  storv  came  from  hlogi 
with  an  eaually  good  grace,  whether  it  waa  to  receive  a 
natural  solution,  to  be  smiled  at  as  merelv  fantastical,  or 
to  take  its  chance  of  a  aerious  reception.'' 

About  tbe  close  of  Aupuai  Sir  Walter's  Diary  ii 
cbirilv  occupied  wiih  an  DfTair  which,  as  the  reader 
of  ^^n  previmia  chnyier  is  aware,  did  not  come  alto- 
gt]\r.r  uneJipectedly  on  him*  Among  the  docu- 
mt  jji^  laid  btfor^  hitii  in  ihc  Colonial  Office,  when 
ht  vk'^fs  m  LonJoD  at  ihe  close  of  1826,  were  some 
Willi '1  rrrr^sLTiLedoneof  Ijucinapaite's  attendants 
at  ^i.  H*  \vfiu.  General  Gugr><aud,  as  having  been 
gujj-y  iif  ^ruf^ts  unfiiracBSt  giving  the  £ngUsh  Gov- 
einnieni  private  information  that  the  Emperor's 
conipLainiK  cf  itJ-uuagL^  wt^rt  utterly  unfounded,  and 
yet  then,  and  oflcrv^  ards,  dding  and  assisting  the 
debsion  in  France  aa  to  thn  Liirshness  of  Sir  Hud- 
son Lowif^H  conduct  iqwardi  hia  captive.  Sir  Wal- 
ter, when  umm  ihese  rf^rnnrlutble,  documents, 
guessed  ilunc  Gour^^afiid  mi^iit  be  inclined  to  fix  a 
,  personal*  juarrcl  unhimBclf^  and  there  now  appeared 
m  the  ncwepfipei:^  q  huc  cession  of  hints  that  the 
G^neriii  wha  Eenouslv  bent  on  this  ptirpose.  He 
applied,  as  "  Coierul  Grogg'*  would  h^ve  done  forty 
years  before^  to  '*  T^  Baronet," 

DiABT.— '*  Augutt  27.— A  singular  letter  fVom  a 
lady,  requesting  me  to  fiither  a  novel  of  hers.  That 
won't  pass.  Cadell  iransmiu  a  notice  from  the 
French  papers  that  Goiir^ud  has  gone,  or  is  goinft 
to  London!  and  the  bibliopohst  is  in  a  great  fonL 
I  lack  tome  part  of  his  instinct.  I  have  done  Gonr« 

Kud  no  wrong.    I  have  written  to  Will  Clerk,  who 
m  mettle  in  him,  and  wiU  think  of  my  honour,  at 
well  aa  my  safety." 

7\t  WUUam  Clerk,  Beq,,  Rott  Owrt,  Edintmrgh, 
»  Abbotsfbrd,  27tk  Ai^ust,  1687. 
"Mr  dear  Clerk, 

"I  am  abom  to  claim  an  espaeial  aertice  firom  jou  In 
the  name  of  our  long  and  Intunate  friendahip.  I  under 
stand,  from  a  paaaage  in  the  French  papers,  that  General. 
Goorgaud  has,  or  la  about  to  act  oat  for  London»to  ver(/y 
the  fiacta  averred  concerninf  him  in  my  history  of  Napo* 
leon.  Now,  in  case  of  a  personal  appeal  to  me.  I  have  to 
sax  that  his  confessions  to  Baron  Stunner,  Count  Bal* 
main,  and  othera  at  8t  Helena,  eonilrmed  by  him  hi 
various  recorded  conversations  vrith  Bfr.  Oonlbum,  then 
Under  Secretary  of  State— were  documents  of  a  historical 
nature  which  I  found  with  others  in  the  Colonial  Omcei 
and  vraa  therefbre  perfectly  entitled  to  use.  If  his  lan^ 
fuage  has  been  misrepresented,  he  has  certainly  been 
very  unfortunate;  for  it  haa  been  misrepresented  by 
four  or  five  diflbrent  people  to  whom  he  said  the  same 
thing  a,  true  or  false  he  knows  best  I  also  acted  vrith 
deUcacy  towards  him,  4eaving  out  whatever  related  to  hia 
private  quarrels  with  Bertrand,  Ac.,  so  that,  in  fact,  he 
has  no  reason  to  complain  of  me,  since  it  is  ridiculous  to 
suTOose  I  waa-to  suppress  historioal  evidence,  furnished 
by  him  voluntarily,  because  his  present  sentlinents  ren- 
der it  unpleaaing  for  him  that  those  which  he  formerly 
entertained  should  be  known.  Still,  Uke  a  man  who  finds 
himself  in  a  scrape.  General  Goiirgaud  may  vrlah  to  fight 
hhnaelf  out  of  it.  and  M'the  ouarrel  should  be  thrust  on 
me—why,  /  teill  not  bttulk^  M*fn,  Jackie.  He  shall  not 
dishonour  the  country  through  my  sides  I  can  aasure 
iAm.  I  have,  of  Course,  no  wish  to  bring  the  thing  to 
such  an  arbitrement  Now,  in  this  caae,  I  ahaU  have 
occaaion  for  a  aensible  and  resohite  friend,  and  I  natu* 
rally  look  for  him  in  the  companion  of*  my  youth,  on 
whose  flrmneaa  and  aagaeity  l  can  with  such  perfect 
confidence  rely.  If  you  can  do  me  thia  oflSce  of  friend- 
ahip, will  you  have  the  kindness  to  let  me  know  where 
or  bow  we  can  form  a  speedy  junction,  should  circum* 
stances  require  it. 

**  After  all,  the  matter  may  be  a  Parisian  on  dit.  But  It 
is  beat  to  be  prepared.  The  paaaages  are  In  the  ninth 
volume  of  the  book.  Pray  look  at  them.  I  have  an  ofB* 
dal  copy  of  the  principal  communication.  Of  the  others 
I  have  abridged  extracts.  Should  he  desire  to  see  them, 
I  conceive  I  cannot  refuse  to  give  hhn  copies,  as  it  is 
likely  they  bay  not  admit  him  to  the  Colonial  Office. 
But  if  he  aaka^ay  apology  or  explanation  for  having  made 
use  of  his  namet  It  la  my  purpose  to  decline  K  and  stand 
to  consequences.   I  am  aware  I  could  march  ofF  vpoa 


Kft 


UFB  OF  SIE  WALTER  SCOTT. 


tbe  priTilQges  of  ^terftture,  and  so  fortli,  but  I  harelio 
aste  for  th*t  species  of  retreat ;  and  if  a  gentleman  says 
to  me  I  have  iniured  him,  however  captious  the  quarrel 
may  be,  I  certiDinr  do  not  think,  as  a  man  of  honour,  I 
ean  avoid  giving  mm  satisfaction,  without  doing  intolera- 
'  blc  injury  to  my  own  feelings,  and  giving  rise  to  the  most 
malignant  animadversions.  I  nceanot  say  that  I  shall  be 
anxious  to  hear  from  you,  and  tliat  I  always  am,  dear 
Clerk,  aflTectionatcly  yours, 

Waltbh  Scott." 

.»  DiABT.— **  September  4.— Wfljiam  Clerk  quite 
readv  and  willing  to  stand  my  fhend  if  Oourgatid 
should  come  my  road.  He  agrees  with  me  that 
there  is  no  reason  why  ^e  should  turn  or  v^  *  ut 
iftotif  he  does,  reason  or  none,  it  ip  best  lu  E>Land 
buff  to  him.  It  appears  to  me  that  wbnt  h  Itt^t 
ibtraven  in  a  man  of  any  mark  or  likelihood,  is  want 
of  that  article  blackguardly  called  pluck.  All  tlie 
'  fine  qualities  of  genius  cannot  make  amends  for  it. 
We  are  told  the  genius  of  poets,  especially,  is  irrec- 
oncilable with  this  species  of  grenadier  accomplish- 
ment.   If  80,  quel  caicn  dc  genre! 

^  SepUmher  10.^Qot«rg«id'8  wrmtb  haa  burst 
lorth  in  a  very  distmnt  dap  of  thumikBri  in  which  be 
acoiiiea  meof  ooatrivinii,  with  the  Minwtry,  to  sian 


munications  were  n«t  pointed 9Ut  to  me  by  any  one.  They 
occurred.  In  the  eourse  of  my  researches,  like  other 
pieces  of  information,  and  were  of  too  serious  and  tm- 
porumt  a  character,  verified  as  they  were,  to  be  omitted 
in  the  liistory.  The  idea  that,  dated  and  authenticated  as 
they  arc,  they  could  have  been  folse  documents,  framed 
to  mislead  lumre  historians,  seems  as  absurd,  as  it  is 
positively  false  that  they  were  fabricated  on  anv  under- 
standing with  me,  who  liad  not  at  the  time  of  tnelr  date 
the  slightest  knowledge  of  their  existence. 

"To  me,  evidence,  ex  facie  the  most  unquestionable, 
bore,  that  General  Gourgaud  had  attested  certain  facia  of 
importlmce  to  different  persons,  at  dlffbrent  times  and 
places ;  and  it  did  not,  I  own,  occur  to  me  thst  what  he 
Is  stated  to  liave  made  the  subject  of  grave  assertioQ  and 
attestation,  could  or  oiwht  to  be  received  as  matter  of 
doubt,  because  it  restea  onl7*on  a  verba]  communication 
made  before  responsible  Witnesses,  and  was  not  cooclu- 
d^  by  fny  formal  signature  of  the  party.  I  have  bee4 
acenstomed  to  consider  a  gentleman's  word  as  equdlj 
worthy  of  credit  with  his  hi^dwrltlng. 

"At  the  same  time,  in  availing  mjself  of  these  docu 
njents,  I  felt  it  a  duty  to  confine  myself  entirely  to  those 
particulars  which  concerned  the  hbtory  of  Napoleon,  his 
person  and  his  situation  at  9l  Helena ;  omitttag  «U  sabor- 
dhiate  matters  in  which  C^cneral  Gourgaud,  in  his  com- 
muidcations  with  our  Ministers  and  others,  referred  to 

^. ,. trsnsactionsofa  more  private  character,  personal  to  htm- 

der  hit  ymg  of  a  reputation.    He  be  a«  ■       d  for  %i  self  and  other  gentlemen  resldhag  at  St.  Helena.    I  shaQ 


fcol,  to  iiHike  ^hie  caee  worae  by  atiniBg.  I  aball 
only  revensB  m  vself  by  puUiamiig  the  whole  ez- 
traees  I  made  nam  the  recorde  of  the  Colonml 
Office^  in  which  he  will'  find  enough  to  make  him 
bite  hia  nails. 

''SefUw\beT  17.— Received  from  Jamee  Ballail^ 
tyne  urn  proofs  of  iny  Reply,  with  some  ceutioue 
Mlaam  fVom  miae  Koueit  uiend,  aUmed  by  a^ 
QjflhiaDd  colonel,  who  had  deacribed  GeurftMia  as 
a  nouvaiaguram,  famoae  fencer^  markwdov  cuid 
so  forth,    rwmtei  in  answer,  which  ia  true,  that  I 


the  death  of  a  txufloaed  rat  in  a  hole,  oat  of  mere 
sepee  of  my  own  degradation.  Qod  knows,  that, 
though  life  is  placid  enough  with  me^'I  do  not  feel 
any  thing  to  attach  me  tan  so  strongly  as  to  oeca- 
^ston  my  avoiding  any  risk  which  duty  to  my  char- 
Miter  may  demand  from  me.  I  set  to  work  with 
the  Tales  of  a  Grandfother,  seepnd  volume,  and 
finished  four  pages." 

7b  the  BdUor  t^  the  Edinburgh  Weekly  Journal 
"  Abbotsford,  Sept  14, 1027. 

**8lr,— I  obetrved  in  the  London  papers  which  I  re- 
eehred  yesterday,  a  tetter  from  General  Ooaigaud,  which 
I  beg  you  will  have  the  goodness  to  reprint,  with  thia  conv 
■uuttoatton  and  the  papers  accompanying  iL 

^|t  appears  that  the  General  is  greatly  displeased,  be* 
eaoae,  availing  myself  of  formal  offlcial  documents,  I  have 
'  represented  him  in  my  L4fe  of  Buonaparte,  as  ooramoni. 
eating  to  the  British  Government  and  the  representativet 
of  others  of  the  Allied  Powers,  certain  statements  in 
matter,  which  he  seems  at  present  desirous  to  deny  or 
disavow,  though  in  what  degree,  or  to  what  exteht,  he  has 
not  explicitly  stated. 

"  Upon  these  groonds,  for  I  can  discover  no  other,  Gene- 
ral Gourgaud  x^  been  pleased  to  charge  me,  in  the  moat 
intemperate  terms,  as  the  agent  of  a  plot!  contrived  by  the 
bte  British  Ministers,  to  slander  and  dishonour  him.  I 
will  not  attempt  to  imitate  the  General  either  in  his  ek>- 
Quence  or  his  invective,  Imt  cenfino  myself  to  the  shnple. 
lact,  that  Ills  accusation  alainst  me  is  as  void  of  truth  as 
jt  is  of  plausibUihr.  I  undertook,  and  carried  en,  the  task 
(if  writmg  the  Life  of  Napoleon  Buonapane,  wUnout  the 
least  intercourse  with,  or  cneouragement  from,  tlie  Minis* 
try  of  the  time,  or  any  person  connected  with  them ;  nor 
was  it  \wtil  my  task  was  very  lar.advanced,  that  I  asired 
and  obtained  permission  from  the  Eari  Bathurst,  then 
Secretary  for  the  Colonial  Department,  to  consult  such 
doeomenisaa  his  oflice  afibrd  ed,  coneeming  the  reaidenc  e 
of  Napoleon  avSt.  Helena.  His  Lordship's  liberality,  with 
that  of  Blr.  Hay,  the  Under  Secretary,  permitted  me,  in 
the  month  of  October  last,  personal  access  to  the  offidel 
records,  when  I  inspected  more  than  eizteen  quarto 
Tolumes  of  letters,  from  which  I  made  asemoraada  or  ex- 
tracts  at  my  own  discf  etkin,  Aieaotusted  by  any  feefing 
aiceptieg  toe  wish  to  do  Justice  to  all  pertiea. 

»<  "nie  papers  rebtting  to  Oentral  Goaivaad  and  his  con* 


bbserve  the  same  degree  of  restraint  as  far  as  poesibk. 
out  of  the  sincere  respect  I  entertain  for  the  honour  and 
fidelity  of  General  Gouivaud's  companiona  tn  exile,  who 
might  Justly  complain  or  me  for  reviving  the  memory  of 
peuy  altercations ;  but  out  of  no  deference  to  General 
Gouigau(l  to  whom  I  owe  none.  The  line  which  General 
Gourgaud  has  adopted,  dbllses  me  now,  in  remect  to  raj 
own  chsracter,  to  lay  the  fuU  evidence  before  the  public — 
subject  only  to  the  above  restriction— that  It  may  appear 
how  far  it  beaas  out  the  account  given  of  those  traaeac- 
ttons  in  my  History  of  Napoleon.  X  should  have  been 
equally  wiuiag  to  have  communicated  idy  authorities  te 
General  Gonrsaud  in  private,  had  he  made  such  aarequest, 
according  to  the  ordinary  courtesies  of  soclet/. 

^  I  trust  that,  upon  reference  to  the  Life  or  Napoleon, 
I  shall  be  found  to  have  used  the  information  these  docu- 
ments anbrdedwith  becoming  respect  to  private  feelings, 
and,  at  the  same  time,  with  the  courage  aind  capdour  due 
to  the  truth  of  history.  If  I  were  capable  or  fiUhng  in 
either  respect,  I  should  despise  myself  as  much,  if  pos- 
sible, as  I  do  toe  resentment  of  General  Gourgaud.  The 
historian's  task  of  exculpation  is  qf  course  ended,  when 
ha  has  published  authorities  of  apparent  authenticity.  If 
General  Gourgaud  shall  undertake  to  prove  that  the  sub- 
joincd'documents  are  false  and  foived.  in  whole  or  in  part, 
the  burden  of  the  proof  will  He  with  himself;  and  Sixne* 
thing  better  than  the  assertion  of  the  pariy  interested  will 
be  neceesury  to  overcome  the  testimony  of  Mr.  Goeihani 
and  the  other  evidence. 

"  There  Is  indeed  another  coarse.  General  Gowgand 
may  represent  the  wholeof  his  communications  as  a  trick 
played  off  npon  tbe  Sngtlah  Ministers,  In  order  to  tnduce 
them  ta  grant  his  personal  liberty.  But  I  cannot  imitate 
the  General's  disr^ard  of  common  civiUtr  so  fiu*  as  to 
suppose  him  capable  of  a  total  departure  nrom  veracity, 
when  giving  evidence  upon  his  word  of  honour.  In  re- 
presenting the  Ex- Emperor's  health  as  good,  his  finances 
as  ample,  his  means  or  escape  as  easy  and  frequent,  while 
he  knew  his  condition  to  be  the  reverse  in  every  partlco- 
lar.  General  Gourgaud  must  have  been  sensible,  that  the 
deceptive  views  thus  hnpressed  on  the  British  Ministers 
must  have  had  the  natural  effect  of  adding  to  the  rigours 
of  his  patron's  confinement.  Napoleon,  it  must  be  rec* 
dUectedrWoi^tfeceive  the  visits  of  no  English  physician 
in  whom  BirVullson  Lowe  seemed  to  repose  cpnndence, 
and  he  shimned,  as  much  as  possible,  allinterconrse'witli 
the  British.  Whom,  therefore,  were  sir  Hudson  t/>we 
and  the  British  Ministers  to  believe  concerning  the  rea^ 
state  of  his  health  and  circumstances,  if  they  were  to  re- 
Axse  credit  to  his  own  aide-de-camp,  an  officer  of  distinc- 


tion, whom  no  one  could  suppose  guilty  of  slandering 
hb  master  for  the  purpose  of  obtainbig  a  straight  pas- 
sage to  England  for  himself,  instead  of  being  subjected 


to  the  inconvenience  of  going  round  by  the  Dspeof  Good 
Hope  1    And  again,  when  General  Gourgaud,  navhig  ar- 
rived in  London,  and  the  purpose  of  his  supposed  decep- 
tion being  ftilly  attained,  continued  to  represent  Napp- ' 
leon  as  feigning  poverty  whilst  hi  affnence,  alTectmff 
Hlness  whilst  bi  health,  and  posessing  ready  means  of 
escape  whilst  he  was  complamiog  of  unnecessary  re>. . 
straint— what  cfl^ct  could  such  statements  produce  on  ' 
Lord  Bathurst  and  the  other  raeojbers  of  the  British 
Ministry^  except  a  disregard  to  Napoleon's  remonstran* 
cea,  and  a  rigorous  increase  of  every  precautfoo  neees 


UPE  O^  SIR  WALTER  SCOTT. 


61T 


nnr  to  pfe^eM  bis  •spApe?  Th«7  had  thft  evidence  of 
one  of  his  mo«t  intimate  pereonal  attendant!  to  juatity 
them  fqr  actiiu;  thus;  and  Aeir  own  reeponsibiJIty  to 
'Britain,  a^d  to  Europe,  for  the  safe  custody  of  Napoleon. 
vjouM  have  rendered  them  inexcusable  had  they  acted 
otherwise. 

^*  It  Is  no  concern  of  mine,  however,  how  the  actual 
troth  of  the  fiiet  stands.  It  Is  sufficient  tb  me  to  have 
ahown,  that  I  have  not  laid  to  General  Gourgaud'a  charge 
a  aingle  enression  for  which  1  had  not  the  most  indubita- 
ble authority.  If  I  have  been  guilty  of  over  credulity  in 
attaching  more  weight  to  Greneral  Gourgaud'a  evidence 
than  it  dcsenes,  I  am  well  taught  not  to  repeatthe  error, 
aAd  the  world,  too,  may  profit  by  the  lesson.  I  am,  Sir, 
your  humble  servant, 

Waltbr  Scott." 

To  this  letter  Goargaud  made  a  fieiy  rpjoinder; 
l)Ut  Scott  decUnod  to  proloqg  the  paper  war,  nmplv 
Ala^nffs  in  Ballantyne^s  pdnt  that  ^' while  leaving 
the  question  to  the  decision  of  the  British  public,  he 
^ould  have  as  little  hesitation  in  refeiring  it  to  the 
French  nation,  provided  the  documents  he  had  pro- 
duced  were  allowed  to  be  prints  in  the  French 
newspapers,  from  uihich  hitherto  thtjf  had  been  ex- 
chided.  And  he  would  indeed  have  been  idle  had 
he  said  more  than  this,  for  his  cause  had  been  taken 
up  on  the  instant  by  every  English  Journal,  of 
whatever  politics,  andi  TAa  T^mu  thus  sammed  up 
its  very  enective  demolition  of  his  •antagoi^t!--' 

u  sir  Walter  fleott  did  that  which  would  have  occurred 
to  every  honest  man,  whose  faip-deiUne  had  violent  im- 
putations cast  upon  it  He  produced  his  authorities, 
extracted  from  the  Colonial^  Office.  To  these  General 
Gourgaud's  present  pamphlet  professes  to  be  a  reply ;  but 
we  do  conscientiously  declare,  that  with  every  reatdiness 
to  aclcnowledse — and,  indeed,  with  every  wish  to  dis- 
cover—something like  a  defence  of  the  character  of 
General  Gourgaud,  'whose  sood  nanio  has  alone  been 
impUcated— (for  that  of  Siv  Walter  was  abundantly  clear- 
ed, even  had  the  official  documents  which  he  consnlted 
turned  out  to  be  as  false  as  thoy  appear  to  be  unquestion- 
able,>— the  charge  against  the  General  stands  precisely 
where  it  was  before  this  illjtulged  attempt  at  refutation 
was  published ;  and  In  no  one  instance  can  we  make  out 
■  satisfactory  answer  to  the  plain  assertion,  that  Gour- 
gand  had  in  repeated  instances  either  betrayed  Buona- 
parte, or  sacrificed  the  truth.  In  the  General's  reply  to 
Sir  Walter  Scott's  statement,  there  is  enough,  even  to 
satiety,  of  declamation  against  the  English  Government 
under  Lord  Castlereagh,  of  subterfuge  and  equivocation 
with  regard  to  tiie  words  on  record  against  himself,  and 
of  gross  abuse  and  BilUngsffote  against  the  historian  who 
1^8  placarded  hhn ;  but  of  direct  and  successful  negative 
mere  is  not  one  syllable.  The  Aide-de-camp  of  St. 
Helena  shows  himself  to  be  nothing  better  than  a  cross 
between  a  blusterer  and  a  sophist." 


.  Sir  Walter's  family  were,  of  coarse,  relieved  from 
considerable  anxiety,  when  the  newspapers  ceased 
to  give  paragraphs  about  General  Gourgaud:  and 
the  blowing  over  of  this  alarm  was  particularly  ac- 
ceptable to  his  eldest  daughter,  wno  had  to  turn 
southwards  about  the  beginning  of  October.  He 
himself  certainly  cared  little  or  nothing  about  that 
(or  anv  similar)  affair;  and  if  it  had  any  ef^t  at  all 
upon  nis  spirits,  they  were  pleasurably  excited  and 
stimulated.  He  po8aBSfle4  &  pair  of  pistols  taken 
r  from  Napoleon's  carriage  at  Waterloo,  and  present- 
ed to  him,  I  believe,  bv  the  late  Honoimible  Colonel 
James  Stanhope,  ana  he  said  he  deein'i^  to  make 
use  of  them,  in  case  the  controversy  should  end  in  a 
rencounter,  and  his  friend  Clerk  should  think'  as 
well  as  he  did  of  their  fabric.  But  this  was  proba- 
bly a  jest.  I  may  observe  that  I  o»tc«  saw  Sir  Wal- 
ter shoot  at  a  mark  with  pistols,  and  he  aeouitted 
himself  well ;  so  much  so  as  to  excite  great  aamira- 
tion  in  some  young  officers  whom  he  had  found 
practising  in  his  barn  on  a  rainy  day.  With  the 
rifle  he  is  said  by  those  who  knew  him  in  early  life 
to  have  been  a  very  good  shot  indeed. 

Before  Gourgaud  fell  quite  asleep.  Sir  Walter  made 
an  excursion  to  Edinburgh  to  meet  his  friends,  Mrs. 
Mac  Lean  Clephane  and  Lady  Northampton,  with 
whom  he  had  some  business  to  transact  \  and  they, 
^feeling,  as  all  his  intimate  friends  at  this  time  did, 
that  the  kindliest  thing  they  couki  do  by  him  was  to 
keep  him  as  long  as  possible  away  from  his  desk, 
eontrived  fa  seduce  him  into  escorting  them  as  far 
^  2T 


flts  Greenock  on  iheir  wny  to  the  HtbnJcs*  He 
vieitod  on  his  Ttimn  Uib  estwm*?d  kinsmnn,  Mr. 
Cnmpbell  of  BlythewoaJt  m  vihos^p&rk  ho  ^<aw. 
v^ith  much  interest,  the  Ar^Ie  Kionc,  JimrkiriK  the 
spor  wher«  ihe  tcli^brntcd  Eaj;I  wcis  taKoji  priaaner 
in  u',>-:^.  Ht  niittfl  in  Lis  Dinrf,  (hnt  "  ihe  HighUnd 
drnv>TB  are  stiJl  upt  t*i  break  BlythawoofrafeRitt'St^ 
ac€  (hie  Stones'^  antl  thpn  rEnirda  tht:  capjlal  mftlc. 
Ai^  of  hta  fncnd's  cnleriaiimtonr,  and  some  aood 
81' jriL^a  luUi  at  ifible,  e€fi*cifllly  ihifl  :  *Prayfr  ot  the 
niiniattjr  of  the  CumbmySt  two  miserable  islande  m 
the  mouth  of  the  Clyde;  '  O  Lurd  hlcss  aftd  be 
grQCji^ua  to  the  Oreater  iind  lh^  Lttstt  Cttmbmy^ 
and  in  thy  mercy  do  not  fofRet  the  adjacent  iilmids 
of  Greiil  Britain  and  Jreland,'  This  ie  n&»  vomti 
nutai^ktit  with  21  wnise^nce" 

AnoThof  halt  w)!  a  at  the  noble  sent  of  hi^  early 
frierjii  Cmnsioun,  by  the  Falls  of  ihcJ  CWdc*  He 
says :--"  Cran^touQ  and  1  walked  berprt  dinner.  I 
never  «nw  tiie  Orent  t'dl  of  Corra  Linn  fTora  this 
side  (icfijre,  and  I  think  it  iht^  best  oomi  perhaps  ;  at 
all  tvoiii*,  ir  is  not  that  from  which  \l  U  mitaUy 
Bt-KH ?  *>o  Ltird  Corehoufle  baa  the  si^htr  atid  efcape* 
tl  H  ]  (ictJBta  -  This  is  a  aupe  rb  pJ  nee.  C  r«  n  a  t  n  p  n  ha  a 
a9  much  Ci'fjlin^  nbout  improvement  as  othcT  rhini^. 
Like  nil  new  improvers,  he-  is  at  more  ejcpenac  than 
ifi  iicot?s5BTy^  planiA  too  thick,  and  trenches  whwu 
trmching  IS  ettt>t'rtTuoufi.  Bm  this  is  the  ca*!^tJt^s 
of  a  yiJuHK  artiflU  U<?BnJe9  the  prnnd  hon  tlu^  Kal!  <A 
CE^'tfn  ht^  hfla  more  than  onp  lion'e  whflii — a\'aU  o! 
a  brook  in  a  d^ugh  cnljKJ  MiH'fi  Gill  miisl  be  sa* 
purh  in  rainy  whiihcr.  The  old  Cs&tle  of  Core^ 
nomv,  toti)  is  much  more  i^*ili?-like  on  this  i hail 
fnmi  the  other  sdo.  My  nid  frienit  was  veny  happy 
vhen  I  toid  hun  the  favonnihle  pro«pt*ct  of  my  afj 
fairSw  To  he  «nr^,  if  I  come  thronghi  it  will  be  won- 
der lo  ojft  and  moHt  to  mySiJ^f-'* 

On  rL'tiirninj*  from  ihis.lisrt  Scott  found  an  in- 
vitation from  Lord  ar*d  Lady  Ravfttii worth  lo  rntet 
i]w  thikii  of  Wellington  at  thi  ir  en  silo  near  Dut' 
ham.  The  Dnke  was  thf^n  makiiie  n  prwcefl  in 
thfi  Nnrth  of  Englonri,  TO  which  nddiiiond  i report' 
ant^R  was  i^veu  by  tho  uncertain  staJ^  nf  poluital 
arrani^Tinentsj— the  chance  of  Lord  Godcrirh  » 
t'inET  able  to  maJTitain  himself  as  CnnmnR  s  sjjc- 
Cisaor  setmine  vary  prec^srion^— and  the  opinion 
V.iiit  bin  ^mce  mupt  aoon  be  Cilkd  to  a  hight?r  »iA- 
tl r<n  than  ilini  of  ComranFid^^f  of  the  Forces,  which 
In.'  had  accepts!  undi^  thu  new  PrcniitTi  gaTning 

fruiind  tvurv  day.  Sir  VVaher,  who  felt  for  the 
J  rent  Cap  lain  the  fjnre  and  fitaltcij  devotion  that 
|] Light  hnvi'  been  pxpccicd  fr'jrn  some  honoyit^d  iol- 
clier  of  hii  banncrp.  accepted  this  irtvtifttioji,  and 
witiicflscd  a  scene  of  enihosiasm  with  which  its 
principal  object  could  hardly  have  been  more  B^au- 
iicd  ihan  he  waB. 

DrAtJV.— "  Oetobef  1.— I  aet  about  work  for  tw0 
hojp-!>,  and  finished  three  poffcs  i  then  walked  for 
two  hciurB  i  then  home,  adjufiled  shfirilT  processes, 
and  clerired  iho  [able  lam  to  aet  f4T  to-morrow 
fi/r  Ravens  worth  Cast  If,  lo  mevt  the  Duke  of  Wei- 
lingioii  ^  a  f^rpal  Ui-nl^;  I  aiippoj^e.  Vet  I  wuuld 
n  I  most  rnthtr  stay'f  ami  *ee  tuo  dnys  tijore  of  Lock- 
lirirr  and  my  danshtert  who  will  be  ofl'  before  my 
rrforn.  PfrnapB-^— '  Bin  ihew  lit  no  end  lo  ?>*?■« 
hapi^.  We  muat  cut  the  rope,  and  kl  the  vesed 
drive  down  th«  lida  of  destiny. 

"  Ot:i oh cr  9  —Set  oui  in  the  mOTninf  ai  aevcn, 
riTid  reached  KeL*o  by  a  htik'  past  teii  wnii  my  own 
hrjrsc«i  Then  took  the  VVclIington  coach  to  carry 
nw.  tit  WeUmston— Smfirt  that,  Nobody  inside  bi4t 
nn  old  ladyt  who  proved  a  Loy-woinori  tn  Kdinbun^h; 
lier  b(  ad  furni^h^d  \virh  o»  suiwtaritLitl  ware  ac  her 
slinji,  but  a  piood  soiiL  Tfe  warrant  her,  H'jard  all 
Ik1*!iIc»  wlLh  her  liindlord  about  o  new  door  lo 


ilr .„^--- .       .    - 

iSie  4  ^  llur— and  the  proprijfe:iy  of  payinM  r^tit  on  the 
Kftb  or  a&th  of  May.  Lacdloriji  a«d^  tenants*  will 
h a v^!»  different  opinions  on  Ihfii  sithjtiei.  We  dined 
a  I  Wooler,  where  an  obstreperous  hor8«  retard  td  us 
r<ir  an  hocr  at  E«Q*ft,  to  the  fiTcat  alarm  of  my  fnemi 
I  he  lojfMvopmn.— N.  H.  Shv  would  hav&  tnade  a 
^i>oil  fi^aiher-bed  if  the  e^rrtaftc.bBiH«ipperAd|o  M\ 
and  her  un  derm  oat.  T|^i|i|feaOTYWlHiO@^l6^«** 
U9  near  ati  houj  morCi  so  thai  1  he«ivitedc!^  go  te 


(18 


LIFE  OF  SIR  WALTER  SCOTT. 


Ravensworth  so  late ;  but  my  soodwoman's  tales 
of  6ktx  9heet&  and  certain  ropoilections  of  a  New- 
castle inn.  inaaced  me  to  go  on<  When  I  arrived, 
the  family  nad^Sost  retired.  Lord  Ravensworth  and 
Mr.  Liddell  came  down,  however,  and  both  received 

"^  fhtifber  3,— Rose   stKiut  fticbt    or  Inter.     My 
moriiJa   bEgin  to  be  corrupted  by  travel   und  fine 
companyr    VVent  to  Durham  mih  Lonl  Ravona^  I 
warlh  ht]iwiMl  a  tie  and  )  wo^    F^iund  the  gentlemen  i 
of  Durham  cftuoty  mid  town  iiBaombled  to  Tectdve  I 
the  Duke  ofWelUr^ffton.    !  naw  ievc^ral  old  friends^  I 
and  frith  [liflictiky  suited  n^ioics  to  fac^ft,  and  f«ce»  . 
to  name*.    There  were  Dr,  PhiJpotis,  Dr.  GilJ>^,  I 
aud  hiii  wife.',  and  a  world  of  ncqusirttanoe,— amon^  ' 
othcrPj  Sir  Tliumna  Lawrence  i  whom  I  asked  to 
come  on  lo  Abbotaford^  but  he  cuuld  not.    Ho  ifs  | 
fratrt  ^flhit  of  coaxbg  hi*  atibjeeLa  1  guppose,  a  little 
tQo  fair-  spoke n ,  o  t  h  (^  r witie  ver  y  plcaaa  n  t.    The  Du  k  e 
am^etj  very  late.    There  were  belli,  and  cannon,  | 
and  drums,  trumpetn,  nod  haunters,  besides  a  fine  i 
troop  of  y*K»maory.    l*he  address  was  well  express* 
ed,  and  as  weII  answered  by  the  Duke*    The  enthu- 1 
fiiaam  of  the  Indie*  and  the  gentry  was  (Treat— the 
common  people  more  Iiikuwarnip    Tho  Duke  has 
lost  popnfarity  m  acceotinj?  political  power.     He 
will  be  more  u^tful  lo  his  country,  tt  may  be,  than 
«ver,  btit  wdl  scarce  be  io  grncicius  in  the  pcflplc^e 
■y^s^and  he  will  noi  care  a  curse  for  what  outward 
■no  IV  he  hae  Io5t,    But  I  mult  not  talk  of  ettreDa, 
iot  wii  are  rtOKig  lo  take  dinnor  wi(h  tbe  Hi&hop  of 
Durham. — We  dined  about  one  htmdr<?d  and  forty 
or   tifty   men,  a  distinguished  company  for   rank 
arid  property.    Marshnl  Bereafordt  and  Sir  John,* 
amonRst  others— Mar^^uJi  of  Lothiant  Lord  Fever- 
aha m.  Marquis  Londonderry-- and  I  know  not  who 
besides— 

^  Lords  ELtid  l>ukoi,  tQ<l  Roblfi  Prtnce^t, 
AU  tho  pTi<ie  flfi^  Aoivpr  of  9p&la,' 

We  dined  m  the  old  baronial  hall,  tmpresBtye  from  its 
nidt'  inticjtjity,  and  fortunately  iVec  from  the  pi  airier 
of  former  improvement,  aa  1  tniat  ii  will  lonf^  be 
from  the  mnsef bread  t,>ate  of  modern  Gotlviciaers 
The  hrij^ht  moon  sireanvin^  in  throuf^h  the  old 
Gothic  Windows  can  tra«te<l  ^tran^ely  with  the  arti- 
ficial  lifihU  within ;  upeara,  banner*,  and  armour 
were  mit^rmtjced  with  the  pLCturea  of  old  biahops, 
and  the  whale  had  a  sin;;nUr  mijiture  of  baronial 
pomp  with  the  grave  Und  more  chastenMl  dignity  of 
pttla^y.  The  ixjnduct  of  our  reverend  enter  lamer 
suited  the  character  rem.irkaUy  well.  Amid  ihe 
ivdcome  of  a  count  Palatine  he  djd  not  for  an  instant 
forsft  She  gmvity  of  the  Clmrch  dij^mlarvH  All  bis 
loanti  t^ere  ^rncLTully  give!],  and  bis  Litife  ap^-eehea 
well  made,  and  the  more  uffbctinK  that  the  fuitm^ 
voice  aometTnu''S  reminded  us  that  our  hofit  laboured 
under  the  infirmilie&  of  sdvaiic«<l  life*  To  me  p^- 
$on filly  the  Biabop  waa  vi^ry  eivii." 

la  writing  to  w&  next  day,  Sir  Walter  says, 
"The  dinner  was  otic  of  the  fitn^st  ihins^s  I  evsr 
saw^  it  w)i>  in  the  old  Caaile  Hall/untoudu^li,  for 
aup^ht  I  know,  aince  ALrthony  Beck  ftasled  KdwHrd  | 
Longflhanks  on  his  wsy  uy  itivade  Scoilftnd.t  The 
moon  tjitreamcd  throuf^h  ihe  hi^^h  latticud  windows 
'  aa  if  she  had  been,  curlotia  to  sec  what  wna  going 
on."  I  was  also  favoured  vnih  a  letter  on  the  sub- 
iectfrom  Dr.  Philpotis.  (now  Bishop  of  Exeter,)  who 
said,  **I  wish  yon  had  witnessed  this  very  striking 
scene.  I  never  saw  curiosity  and  enthusiasm  so 
highly  excited,  and  I  may  add,  as  to  a  great  part  of 
the  company,  so  nearly  balanced.  Sometmies  I 
doubted  whether  the  hero  or  the  ooet  was  fixing 
most  attention— the  latter  I  need  nardly  tell  yon, 
appeared  unconscious  that  he  was  reganied  differ- 
ently from  the  others  about  him,  un^l  the  good 
Bishop  rose  and  proposed  his  health.'*  Another 
friend,  the  Honourable  Henry  Liddell,  enables  me 

*  Admiral  Sir  John  Berraford  had  lome  few  jreara  before  tMi 
commaAded  on  the  Leith  station— when  Sir  Walter  and  be  aaw 
•  great  deal  of  each  othei^"  and  merry  men  were  ihcy. " 

t  The  warlike  Biabop  Beck  aeeompjuiied  Edward  I.  in  \um  Scotch 
expeditipo,  aod  if  We  may  believe  Bbnd  Harrr.  very  naTowly 
imaed  having  the  honour  to  die  by  the  hand  of  Wallace  in  a  akir- 
maih  on  the  street  of  QlasgoAv. 


to  give  the  word^  ("  iotisnma  ^erba")  of  Sir  Wtltflr 
in  .acknowledging  this  toast.  He  says:— ''Tlic 
manner  in  which  Bishop  Van  Mildert  proceeded  on  / 
this  occasion  will  never  be  forgott  jn  or  thoce  who 
know  how  to  appreciate  scholarship  without  pedan- 
\n\  and  di^coity  svisb^n]!;  oatentauon.  Sir  Walter 
lia  i  ?ii<  0  observed  I^Lrl»righout  the  day  with  ezcra- 
orduKjrv  interest— ]  sliould  rather  say  enthuaiasro.— 
The  Biehop  jiavc  Im  iumlth  with  peculiar  felicity; 
remarkm^  thaihe  could  reflect  upon  the  labours  of 
a  hmg  litemn^  life,  vviih  the  consciousness  that 
every  ihinc  h(?  Iisid  wrii  um  tended  to  the  practice  of 
virtue,  and  to  Ibc]  im;:ira^  ement  of  the  htmian  race.  ^ 
Sir  Walter  rcpbi^  'ihrit  upon  no  occasion  of  his  . 
life  had  he  ever  rctuTni-rl  r.hanks  for  the  honour  done 
him  in  dnnkinR  his  hriilfh,  with  a  stronger  sense  of 
obJJganon  to  the  propoi^t^r  of  it  then  on  the  present — 
that  hereafter  be  shpuld  always  reflect  with  great 
pnde  upon  that  momimt  of  his  existence^  when  Yam 
health  liad  been  given  in  au^  UrmSt  by  the  Bishm 
of  Utirhsm  in  hit  otrt}  baronial  hall,  surnmnded 
and  auppi^rtt'd  by  the  Assembled  aristocracy  of  the 
I  wo  northern  counties,  and  in  thepre»enee  qf  the 
fJukc  of  fVeUhi^ton.'  " 

The  Diary  con  iinuei^^  \ 

''  Mrs.  Van  MildeTt  held  a  sort  of  drawing-room 
afler  we  rose  from  table,  at  which  a  great  many 
ladies  attended.  After  this  we  went  to  the  Aisem- 
hly  roouia^  which  were  crowded  with  company. 
Here  1  aaw  some  very  pretty  girls  dancing  nienuf 
that  old  fashioned  ihing  called  a  coantrr-daooe^ 
which  old  England  has  now  thrown  aside^  as  aha 
would  do  her  creed,  if  ^ere  were  some  forakp  frip- 
pery olfered  iubtead.  VVe  got  away  after  midnight, 
a  large  party,  and  riAi^hed  Ravenaworth  Castfc— "* 
Duke  of  Wellington,  Lord  Londonderry,  and  aboat 
twenty  hepidea--about  half-past  one.  Soda  water, 
and  to  bed  by  two. 

"  Oi^tobtr  A.— Shpi  til]  nigh  ten— fatigned  by  oar 
toils,  of  yi^terday,  and  the  unwonted  late  honiB. 
Siill  too  early  for  thi^^  Castle  of  Indolence,  for  I 
foil n d  few  of ! ti^ t  n i ^b i' a  party  yet  appearing.  I  had 
an  tifppo  ft  unity  of  s^^me  talk  with  the  Pnke.  He 
doca  not  cooaider  Poy*s  l»ook  as  written  by  htmaeli; 
but  as  a  thine  got  tip  rierhaps  from  notes.  Meo- 
tioned  that  Poy,  when  in  Spain,  was  like  other 
French  officers,  very  de^mrous  of  seeing  the  Englisk 
pnperB}  ihrLiugh  which  alone  they  eonld  collect  any  .' 
idea  of  what  wa^  gomu  on  without  their  own  can- 
ion  nients,  for  Nnpoleon  permitted  no  commonica- 
lioi^  of  that  kin  1 1  with  France.  The  Dtike  growing 
tiretl  of  ihis,  af  letrgih  lold  Baron  Tripp,  whose  ser- 
vices he  ebietly  used  in  communications  with  the 
outpoeti,  tbnt  he  wua  not  to  give  them  the  newspa- 
pers. '  What  rr^ason  f«hall  I  allege  for  withholding 
t  hem  7'  &ai  J  Tri  |}p.  '  N  »  ne,'  replied  the  Duke—*  Let 
thtm  aUege  some  reaat^n  why  they  want  them.' 
F^y  was  not  at  a  loss  to  assign  a  reason.  He  said 
he  nsd  canaidorable  sunis  of  money  in  the  English 
firnds,  and  wanted  to  see  how  atocks  fell  and  ro&e. 
The  excuse  however  did  not  go  down.— I  remember 
Raron  Tripp,  a  Dutch  n«>bleman,and  a  dandy  of  the 
firM  wfiier^  and  yet  \^  it  b  an  energy  in  his  dandyism 
uhLchntade  it  reaped ^ible.  He  droved  a  gig  as  far 
as  Dun  robin  C  as  tie,  ami  back  again,  vfithout  a  whip. 
He  looked  al^ef  his  own  horse,  for  he  had  no  ser- 
vant, and  after  all  his  little  estabUahment  of  clothes 
and  necessaries,  with  all  the  accuracy  of  a  petit 
maHre.  He  was  one  of  the  best-dressed  men  possi- 
ble, and  his  horse  was  in  equally  fine  conditioa  as  if 
he  nad  had  a  dozen  of  grooms.  I  met  him  at  Lord 
Somerville's,  and  liked  him  much.  But  there  was 
something  exaggerated,  as  appeared  from  the  con- 
clusion of  his  life.  Baron  Tripp  shot  himself  in 
Italy  for  no  assignable  cause. 

*'  What  is  colled  great  society,  of  which  I  have 
seen  a  good  deal  in  my  day.  is  now  amusing  to  me, 
because  from  age  and  ^indifference  I  have  lost  the 
habit  of  considerinff  myself  as  a  pari  of  it,  and  have 
only  the  feelings  of  looking  on  as  a  spectator  of  the 
scene,  who  can  neither  play  his  part  well  nor  HI, 
instead  of  being  one  of  the  aramatiM  veraonte ;  so, 
careless  what  is  thought  of  myseULl^A^faU  time 
to  attend  to  the  motions  of  other^^ 


UFE  OF  SIR  WALTER  SCOTT. 


(a9 


**Otir  party  went  to-da;  to  Sunderland,  when  the* 
Duke  was  brflUaotly  received  by  an  immenee  popu- 
lation, chiefly  of  seamen.  The  difficulty  of  getung 
into  the  rooms  was  dreadful— an  ebbing  and  flowing 
of  the  crowd,  which  nearly  took  me  off*  my  legs. 
The  entertainment  was  handsome ;  about  two,  hun- 
dred dined,  and  appeared  most  heartv  in  the  cause 
which  had  convened  them— some  indeed  so  much 
ao,  that,  finding  thetnselves  ao  .far  on  the  way  to 
perfect  happiness,  they  e^en  would  go  on.  After  the 
dinner-party  broke  up,  there  wae  a  ball,  numerously 
attended,  where  there  was  a  prodigious  anxiety  dis- 
covered for  shaking  of  hands.  The  Duke  had  enough 
of  it,  and  I  came  in  for  my  share;  for.  though  as 
jackal!  to  the  lion,  I  got  some  part  m  whatever  was 
going.  We  sot  home  about  nalf-paat  two  in  the 
morning,  sumoiently  tired." 

Some  months  afterwards,  Sir  Cuthbert  Sharp, 
who  had  been  particularly  kind  and  attentive  to 
Soott  when  at  Sunderland^  happened,  in  writing  to 
him  on  some  matter  of  busmess,  to  say  he  hdped  he 
had  not  forgotten  his  friends  in  that  quarter.  Sir 
Walter's  answer  to  Sir  Cuthbert  (who  had  been 
introduced  to  him  by  his  old  and  dear  friend  Mr. 
Surtees  of  Mainsfom)  begins  thus,—  / 

**  Forget  thee  %  Nol  my  worthy  fere  I 
Fdrget  blithe  mirth  and  sallant  cheer  I 
Death  sooner  stretch  me  on  my  bier ! 

'  Forget  thee  1    No. 

**  Forget  the  universal  shout 

When  *  eaany  Sunderland'  spoke  oat— 

A  truth  which  knaves  affect  to  doubt— 

^  Forget  thee  1    No. 

"Forget  you  1    No— though  now-a-day 
Pvcheard  your  knowing  people  say, 
Disown  the  debt  you  cannot  pay, 
You'll  find  it  lar  the  thriftiest  way- 
Bat  I1-0  no. 

"  Forget  your  Undnesa  found  for  all  room, 
In  what,  though  large,  aeem'd  still  a  small  room, 
Forget  my  ^nu-tutm  a  b|ll  room- 
Forget  you  1    No. 

**  Forget  your  sprightly  dnmpty-^ddles, 
/  And  beauty  tripping  to  the  fiddles. 

Forget  my  lovely  •friends  the  LideMU— 

Forget  you  1    No. 

**  So  much  for  oblivion,  my  dear  Sir  C,  and  now, 
having  dismounted  from  my  PegaaucL  who  is  rather 
spavined,  I  charge  a-foot,  like  an  old  dragoon  as  I 

"  Diary.— October  5.— A  quiet  day  at  Ravens- 
worth  Castl&  giggli^  and  making  giggle  among 
the  kind  and  franknearted  young  people.  The  Cas- 
tle is  modern,  excepting  always  two  towers  of  great 
antiquity.  Lord  R.  manages  his  woods  admirably 
well.  In  the  eyening  plenty  of  fine  music,  with 
heart  as  well  a|i>oice  and  mstrument.  Much  of 
this  was  the  spontaneous  effusions  of  Mrs.'  Ark- 
wright.  (a  daughter  of  Stephen  Kemble,)  who  has 
set  Hohenlinden.  and  other  pieces  of  poetry  to  music 
of  a  highly-gifted  character.  The  Miss  Liddells  and 
Mrs.  bafrington  sang  *The  Campbells  are  coming,' 
in  a  tone  that  might  have  waked  the  dead. 

"  October  6.— Left  Ravensworth  this  morning, 
and  travelled  as  far  as  Whittingham  with  Marquis 
of  Lothian.  Arrived  at  Alnwick  to  dinner,  where  I 
was  vepy  kindly  received.  The  Duke  of  J^orthum- 
berlsnd  is  a  handsome  man.  who  will  be  corpulent 
if  he  does  not  continue  tb  take  hard  exercise.  The 
Duchess  very  prettv  and  lively,  but  har  liveliness 
is  of  that  kind  which  shows  at  once  it  is  connected 
with  thorough  principle,  and  is  not  liable  to  be  in- 
fluenced by  rasliionable  caprice.  The  habits  of  the 
family  are  early  and  regular ;  I  conceive  they  may 
be  termed  formal  and  old  fashioned  by  sucn  visi- 
ters as  claim  to  be  the  pink  of  themode.  The  Castle 
is  a  ffne  old  pile,  with  various  courts  and  towers, 
and  the  entrance  is  magnificent.  It  wants,  how- 
ever, the  'splendid  feature  of  a  keep.  The  inside 
fitting  up  is  an  attempt  at  Gothic,  but  the  taste  is 
meagre  and  poor,  and  done  over  with  too  much 
tplding.    It  was  done  half  a  century  ago,  when  this 


kind  of  taste  was  ill  uhderstood^  I  found  htee  the 
Bishop  of  Worcester,*  ^.c.  4bc. 

"  October  7.— This  morning  went  to  chnrch^and , 
heard  an  excellent  sermon  firom  the  Bishop  of  Wor- 
cester; he  has  great  dignity  of  manncTT  and  Km  ac- 
cent an  J  dtUvtry  aro  fortiute*  Drove  out  with  the 
Dnkein  ii  rihn^^ioni  and  saw  part  of  the  park,  whieh 
is  a  fino  one  tying  along  the  Alne.  But  it  ha»  been 
ill  planted.  It  was  hid  out  by  thceelebraicii  Br^iwn^ 
who  svjb^^LUiitcnJ  i: lumps  of  Hireh  and  Scottish  firs 
for  the  heaniiXul  oaks  and  copse  wliich  grow  ng 
where  ?«>  iVecty  na  m  Narthumb^rlaiirj,  To  com- 
plete tliiH  ihc  Ut«f  Uuke  did  not  ihin,  bo  Ehe  wood  is 
m  a  poor  smte.  AU  that  the  Duke  cute  dcjwn  la  so 
much  w!Wte,  for  the  people  will  not  buy  it  where 
cecals  ar4:i  mt  cbt?ap.  Had  they  been  oak- coppice^ 
the  bark  would  have  reiohed  Jts  value :  had  they 
been  gn>wti  oak&>  the  ma  porti  would  have  found 
a  marKL-L  Had  they  been  brcb*  the  country  de^ 
mands  for  rader  purpofl^:?  would  have  been  un- 
answffnble.  The  Dtikt^  doe»  thf  beat  he  can  to 
retrievi  lud  wfKnis,  but  seems  to  dcsti-icsid  more  than  . 
a3K>un;:>  mnn  oui^ht  to  do.  It  is  reFreF.bmg  ta  see 
such  a  mnn  in  ht»  situation  f^ve  bo  muc|y  of  bis 
time  and  thuughta  to  tht^  iniprovement  of  hifi^sinrcai 
and  th'.>  wo  I  faro  of  tbo  people.  He  tell  4  me  his 
people  ]Tj  Seeldar  were  all  quite  wild  ihe  Erat  time 
his  filtlier  went  up  to  sboot  there-  The  women  bad 
no  otfaE^T  dress  than  a  bod  gown  and  petticotL 
The  mm  were  savsgp,  and  ooiild  hardly  be  brought 
to  rise  from  ibe  beacK  either  from  sullcnnes!!  or 
fear.  They  3ung  n  wild  tune,  the  burden  of  which 
was  or  it  no,  Qrii  fi'i^  (rrjiina.  The  fenialee  sangj  tbo 
men  danced  rouii^^L,  ntid  nf  a  certain  point  of  ilia 
tune  th<iy  drov  thf  ir  dirk  a,  which  they  always  wore. 

"We  came  by  the  remains  of  an  old  Carmelite 
MonasttrVt  which  form  a  very  Bne  object  in  the 
park.  It  i*n*  finished  by  De  Vescu  The  gateway 
of  Alnwick  Abbey,  alao  a  6ne  specimen,  is  sltrndm^ 
about  n  nultf  dieiant.  The  trec:^  Are  much  Finer  on. 
the  left  kjilt!  tjf  iht.'  Alne,  whets'  th^y  have  been  let 
alone  by  the  capiilMUiy  villain.  YisKed  the^ncefnlc 
of  the  Casrlc^  and  paasefl  into  the  dungeon.  There 
is  also  nn  armoury,  but  damp,  and  tht*  arms  in  in- 
difiSsrent  ordt-r.  One  odd  pets rd-lookinjir  thing  struck 
me. — Jllf'nip  to  coni^uli  Grose.  I  had  ibe  honour  to 
sit  in  Hot ^pur' a  seat,  and  to  ecc  the  Eloody  Gap,  a 

Elace  ^vher^  the  cxii  TTittl  wail  must  have  been 
reach  it.  The  Ducbcsa  ^ave  me  a  hook  of  etch- 
ings of  thtj  an  tiq  til  ties?  of  Alnwick  and  W  ark  worth 
from  hrr  own  drawings.  1  hod  half  &  mind  lo  etay 
to  see  Warkworih,  but  Anne  is  alone.  We  had 
prasrerH  ui  ih^t  evening  read  by  the  Archdcacon/'t 

On  the  8th  Sir  Walter  reached  Abbotsford,  and 
forthwith  resumed  his  Grandfather's  Tales,  which 
ne  comnosed  throughout  with  the  ease  and  hearti- 
ness renected  in  this  entry  :— "  This  morning  was 
damp,  dripping  and  unpleasant  i  so  I  even  made  a 
work  of  necessity,  and  set  to  the  Tales  like  a  dragon. 
I  murdered  Msclellan  of  Bomby  at  the  Thneve 
Castle:  stabbed  the  Block  Douglas  m  the  town 
of  Stirling:  astonished  King  Jaines  before  Roz- 
biugh  i  and  stifled  the  Earl  of  Mar  in  his  bath,  in 
the  Canongate.  ^  A  wild  world,  my  masters,  this 
Scotland  of  ours  must  have  been.  No  fear  of  want 
of  interest ;  no  lassitude  in  those  days  for  want  of 
work— 

*  For  treason,  d'ye  see, 
Was  to  them  a  dish  of  tea. 
And  murder  bread  and  DuUer.' " 

Such  was  his  life  in  autumn  1827.  Before  I  leave 
the  period,.  I  must  note  how  greatly  I  admired  the 
manner  in  which  sU  his  dependents  appeared  to 
have  met  the  reverse  of  his  fortunes— a  reverse 
which  inferred  Very  considerable  alteration  in  the 
circumsunces  of  every  one  of  them.  The  bntler, 
instead  of  being  the  easy  chief  of  a  large  establish- 
ment, was  now  doing  half  the  work  of  the  house, 
at  probably  half  his  former  wages.  Old  Peter,  who 
had  been  for  five-and-twenty  years  a   dignified 

•Dr.  Gornwa]!. 

*  ProtMbly  Mi.  Aicbdeaoon  Stofleton. 


Digitized  by  V^OOQlC 


CO0 


LIPB  OP  Sm  WALTER  SCOTT. 


•oRChman*  wm  now  ploiigbmiin  ,,;  .....ioAry,  onlj 
putting  his  horaes  w  the  darrift^e  upviij  •high  and 
rife  occfs^oiiH ;  nnd  eu  on  ivith  m\  ihe  ri»t  that  re- 
mamea  of  ihe&ficierjt  tmin.  And  jtU,  tomjrnew, 
84:£mcJ  huppUir  chan  tb^y  had  ever  done  before. 
Thfiir  good  condiict  had  given  every  one  of  them  a 
new  elevfltioiri  in  Ins  own  mmd — and  yrt  lh«r  dc- 
nit^anouf  hud  gained,  Jn  ptftC4?  yf  losiiiR,  in  aimple 
humility  of  obst^rvance.    The  kit  at  \os^  waa  that 

gf  WilJinm  Laidlaw,  for  whom  tth<t  eamce  being  all 
ut  a  frat^mt^nt  in  the  hitndi  of  the  irnateea  and 
thi^ir  agent ^  ther?  wa»  now  no  occuv  .ition 'here. 
Thi!  co[tai^e,  which  In 3  100 tt^  had  converted  into  a 
lovcftbh'  retrofit  had  found  d  ru^n Spaying  tenant:' 
and  he  was  Ijvins  a  dozt^n  miles  ofT  on  the  &rm  of 
a  raktion  in  dio  Vale  of  V arrow.  E^ery  week, 
however,  h«»  cankedown  to  bave  a  ramble  with  Sir 
Walter  over  tbeir  old  bairnta— to  hear  how  the  pe- 
cuniary atmosphere  was  darkening,  or  brightening  t 
and  to  read  in  every  face  at  Abbotarord,  thatitoouTd 
never  be  itself  again  untd  eireumMariCc^  l^iould 
p&rtnit  hia  r<?Atabli^htnent  ni  Rae^jiio, 

All  thi»  wnrra  and  r^^spectful  solid tude  muH  bavo 
hftd  a  preciously  ^uihin^  jindut'nce  on  the  nnnd  of 
Scolt,  *ho  mrtybe  »md  tu  havo  lived  upon  love. 
No  nmn  canid  Ions  about  popular  admiration  and 
^pplauB^i  but  for  ihe  Ic^iftt  cbdl  on  iho  afTjction  of 
any  neajr  and  dear  to  him  ha  bad  the  (lensibvenees 
of  a  n)  aid  en.  I  caiinut  forget,  in  particular,  how 
hi*  eye*  nimrkUd  whin  htr  first  pointed  <iitt  to  me 
Peief  Mathiesoti  guidme  ilif^  jiloiisfli  on  ihe  haugh  : 
*'  Egftdr"  said  bet,  **  atdd  Pepe  (tbia  was  ihc  chij- 
dren'a  oamt^  for  iheir  good  fiiend)— auld  Pepo'i 
yvhmlmfi  at  Ida  darp.  Th*  hotiMt  frilow  ©aid,  a 
Yokinf<  m  a  doen  field  would  do  baiUi  him  nnd  the 
blackies  good*  It  tbingH  get  round  with  me,  easy 
shall  be  regie's  cushion."  IngLnflral,  dnrinaihut 
autumn,  I  ihou&bt  Sir  Walrer  enjoyed  miuh  his 
usual  spuita*  (ind  often,  no  doubi,  he  did  so.  His 
Piary  sliows  (wbal  perbjijus  mauy  of  hia  mtitTiatt^a 
doubttd  durinfr  bis  liftUme]  tbqt,  in  spite  of  the  dijjr- 
nififld  e<iuanimity  which  chsrnctensod  all  bis  con- 
veraaiion  with  mankind,  he  had  bis  full  share  of  the 
delicate  sensd^ibne*.  tbe  myst£rJouflups  anddo^ns, 
the  wayward  melancholy,  and  fanraf^tic  sunbeams 
.  of  th*  poetic/^l  tcmpcranient.  it  Is  only  with  itua- 
^nntive  minds,  m  irnih.  (hat  sorrows  of  tb<j  spirit 
are  enduring'  Those  he  hud  encountered  wera 
veiled  from  the  ey«  of  the  world,  but  ihcy  Instrd 
with  hia  life*  Whit  a  pf^'ttirc  bavt-  we  ttt  hi?  tntry 
about  tbt>  Runic  '.       :  ■  ■      '.  ..i  ,   ;i  • .  *        ■  ■       '  ■     -A' , 

youn^  pasiiioa  I'  ^  ....  _ i 

of  Si.  Andrews  i  Aud  again,  ho  wrote  ueitiier  Bon- 
nets, nor  elegies,  nor  monodies,  nor  even  an  epitaph 
on  hia  wife—bot  what  an  epitaph  is  his  Diary 
througfaont  the  year  1836— ay,  and  down  to  the 
close! 

There  is  one  entry  of  that  Diary  for'the  period  We 
an  ieovinfl^  which  paints  the  man  in  his  tenderness, 
his  fortittid&  and  his  happy  wisdom :— "  September 
24.-- Worked  in  the  mommg  as  usnal,  and  sent  oflf 
the  proofii  and  copy.  Something  of  the  black  dog 
BCili  hanging  about  roe)  but  I  will  shake  him  oft. 
I  generanv  affect  good  spirits  in  company  of  ray 
family,  whether  I  am  enjoying  them  or  not.  It  is 
too  severe  to  sadden  (he  harmless  mirth  of  others 
by  snflering  voar  own  causeless  melancholy  to  be 
seen ;  and  this  species  of  exertion  is,  like  virtue,  its 
own  reward ;  for  the  good  spirits,  which  are  at  first 
Bunalafled,  become  at  length  real.'* 

The  first  series  of  Chronicles  of  the  Canongate— 
(which  title  supplanted  that  of  "  Tfie  Canon^ate 
'  MiMcellany,  or  Traditions  of  the  Sanctuary")— 
was  published  early  in  the  winter.  The  contents 
were,  the  Highland  Widow,  the  Two  Drovers,  and 
he  Sttrgeon*s  Daughter— all  in  their  styles  excel- 
Jent  except  that  the  Indian  pait  of  the  last  does  not 
well  harmonize  with  the  rest;  and  certain  prelimi- 
nary chapters  which  were  generally  considered  as 
atiir  better  than  the  stories  they  introduce.  The 
portraiture  of  Mrs.  Murray  Keitn,  under  the  name 
of  Mrs.  Bethune  Baliol,  and  that  of  Chrystal  Croft- 
angry  throughout,  appear  to  me  unsurpassed  in 


f] 


Scott's  wiitings.  ^Iil  the  former,  I  am  aBSored  h» 
has  mixvd  up  variotis  features  of  his  own  beloiiti 
mother ;  and  in  the  latter,  there  can  he  no  doubt 
that  a  good  deal  was  taken  from  nobody  but  him- 
self. In  fact,  the  cboic^  of  the  hero's  resulenoe,  the 
original  title  of  the  book,  and  a  world  of  minor  cir- 
cumstances, were  suggested  by  the  actual  condition 
and  prospects  of  the  author's  affairs ;  for  it  appears 
firom  hia  Diary,  though  hhave  not  thought  it  neces- 
sary to  quote  those  entries,  that  from  time  to  time, 
between  December  1826  and  November  1827,  he  had 
renewed  threatenmga  of  severe  treatment  from  the 
Jewish  brokers,  Messrs.  Abud  and  Co. ;  and,  on  at 
least  one  occasion,  he  made  evenr  prroaration  for 
taking  shelter  in  the  Sanctuary  of  Hofyroedhouse. 
Although  these  people  were  well  aware  that  at 
Christmas  1827  a  very  large  divklend  would  be  paid 
on  the  Ballaniyne  estate^  they  would  not  understand 
that  their  interest,  and  that  of  all  the  creditors,  lay 
in  allowing  Scott  the  fineeuse  of  his  time;  thatbf 
thwarting  and  harassing  him  personallr,  nothing 
was  likely  to  be  achieved  but  the  throwing  up  of  the 
tinst,  and  the  setUeraene  of  the  insolvent  house's 
aiTairs  on  tbe  usual  terms  of  a  sequestration ;  in 
which  case  there  eould  be  no<doubt  that  he  would, 
on  resigning  all  hia  assets,  bs  discharged  absolutely, 
with  liberty  to  devote  his  future'  exertions  td  Ris  own 
sole  benefit.  The  Jews  would  understnnd  nothing, 
but  that  the  very  unanimity  of  the  other  creditors 
as  to  the  propriety  of  being  gentle  with  him.  ren- 
dered it  extremely  probable  that  their  .haruinta 
might  be  rewarded  by  immediate  payment  of  their 
whole  demand.  They  fancied  that  the  tmetees 
would  clear  off  any  one  deb^  rather  than  distarb  the 
arrangements  generally  adopted ;  they  fandad  that, 
in  case  they  laid  Sir  Walter  Scott  in  prison,  there 
would  be  some  extraordinary  burst  of  fioeiing  in 
Edinbttrgh-*-that  private  friends  woidd  interfere- 
in  short,  that  in  one  way  or  another,,  they  should 
get  bold,  without  farther  delay,  of.  their  "  pound  of 
fiesh."— Two  or  three  paragraphs  from  the  Diary 
will  be  enough  as  to  this  unpleasant  subject. 

"  October  31.— Just  ai  I  waa  merrily  cutting  away 
among  my  trees,  arrives  Mr.  Gibson  with  a  very 
melancholy  look,  and  indeed  the  news-hebrouidit 
was  shocking  enough.  It  seems  Mr.  Abud,  the 
same  who  formerly  was  disposed  to  disturb  me  hi 
London,  has  given  positive  orders  to  (Ake  out  dilF 
gence  against  me  for  hia  debt.  Thia  breaks  all  the 
measures  we  had  resolved  on,  and  prevents  the 
dividend  from  taking  place,  by  which  many  poor 
persons  w31  be  great  sufferer^  For  me  the  alter- 
native will  be  more  painful  to  my  feelings  ^han  pre- 
judicial to  my  interests.  To  submit  to  a  seauestra- 
tion,  and  allow  the  creditors  to  take  what  tney  can 
get,  will  be  the  inevitable  consequence.  This  will 
cut  short  my  labour  by  several  year&  which  I  might 
spend,  and  spend  in  vain,  in  endeavouring  to  meet 
their  demands.  We  shall  know  more  on  Saturday; 
and  not  sooner.— I  went  to  Bowbill  with  Sir  Adan^ 
Ferguson  to  dinner,  and  maintained  as  good  a 
countenance  in  the  midst  of  mv  perplexitiea  as  a 
man  need  desire.  It  is  not  bravado;  I  feel  firm  and 
resolute. 

"  November  1.— I  waked  in  the  night  and  lay  two 
hours  in  feverish  meditation.  This  is  a  tribute  to 
natural  feeling.  But  the  air  of  a  fine  frosty  morn- 
ing gave  me  some  elasticity  of  spirit  It  is  strange 
that  about  a  week  ago  I  was  morp  dispirited  for  no- 
thing at  all,  than  I  am  now  for  perplexities  which 
set  at  defian(%  my  coniecturea  concerning  their 
issue.  I  suppose  that  1,  the  Chronicler  of  the 
Canongate,  will  have  to  take  up  my  residence  in 
the  Sanctuary,  unless  I  prefer  the  more  airy  resi- 
dence of  the  Calton  Jail;^  or  a  trip  to  the  Isle  of 
Man.  It  IS  to  no  pvpose  being  angry  with  Abud 
or  Ahab,  or  whatever  name  he  delights  in.  He  is 
seeking  his  own,  and  thinks  by  these  harsh  mea- 
sures to  render  his  road  to  it  more  speedy. — Sir 
Adam  Ferguson  left  Bowhill  this  morning  for  Dum- 
fries-shire. I  returned  to  Abbotaford  to  Anne,  and 
told  her  this  unpleasant  news.  She  stood  it  r*^ 
markably  well,  POor^^Jf^yl^OOglC 


UVB  OF  SIR  WALTER  8C0TT. 


HA 


*•  Nonmber  a.— I  was  ■  little  bilious  mia  mgiii—  i 
no  woncter.    Had  aundry  lettora  wjthoyi  any  pow«r  I 
of  giving  my  mind  m  answer  ibem— one  aboui  I 
Gour^qud  with  his  nonseiiflt^     I  shall  not  troable 
my  hir.id  more  on  that  score,    VVell,  it  13  n  hard 
knock  on  the  olhuw  ;  I  knew  I  hnci  b  lifo  of  Inhour  ' 
beiorE"  me,  but  I  wna  resolved  lo  work  Htendily ,  now  j 
they  have  ireat«^i  rne  iike  a  recusant  {urnapit,  and  ' 
pat  in  n  red-hot  cinder  into  the  wheei  alongst  with 
me.    Btu  of  what  iise  is  philosopby-sna  I  have 
always  iireiended  to  a  httle  of  a  Tiraf^Ucal  okarncter 
— \f  M  cannot  teach  ^»  to  do  or  siitFGr  T  Tire  day  iff  '< 
gloriou^H  ye  1 1  have  lit  Tie  will  to  enjoy  it  *  yet,  wew 
a  tWelvcrnonth  (jvet,  I  should  ruThnpv^i  finide  al  what 
makes)  uie  now  ver/  Bprmits.     Srjiile  I— No— that 
can  neviT  be.    My  present  ferhtigs  CAnnoi  bo  recoU 
lected  wuti  (jhe^ritimesa  ;  but  I  may  drop  a  tear  of 
gratitnde.  * 

*'  Nof^^^mber  3.— Slppt  iJl*  and  lay  ofte  hour  longer 
than  ti?ual  in  the  mornir^g,  I  gained  an  hour's  qmet 
by  It,  that  19  rmjch*  I  fuel  a  httlo  shaken  at  the  re- 
sult of  to-day's  post  I  am  notahlt-  to  go  out.  My 
poor  worluifs  wondar  that  I  pass  them  x^nUiodt  a 
wottL  I  can  ima^tie  no  aUernafive  but  the  .Sonc- 
tuary  up  ibe  Isk  of  Man.  Eoth  ^hncking  enouj^h. 
But  in  Edinburgh  1  aiu  always  on  tbo  scene  of  ac- 
tioii,  free  from  uncertainty,  end  nt'^r  my  poor 
dau^ter ;  so  I  think  I  ahall  prefer  it,  and  thus  1 
rest  in  unrest.  But  I, will  noi  let  this  unman  tne. 
Our  horm  heavenly  and  earthly,  ia  poorly  one  liortdt 
if  the  cflbk*  parts  upon  the  stTeam.  i  behave  m 
God,  who  can  change *vil  imo  Rood?  and  I  am 
conddEmt  th;it  ivhat  »t/alh  us  ia  always  ultitnat^ily 
for  tho  best.  % 

"Aoicjafccr  1— Put  my  papers  in  some  order, 
and  prf^pared  for  the  journey.  It  is  in  tlte  style  of 
the  EmpfiTora  of  A&yaainia,  who  proclaiin-^Cut 
down  thtjKanioira  in  thu  fourcjuarteraqf  ihu  world, 
for  I  know  not  whero  I  nm  going  Viit,  wore  ifuoi 
for  poor  i^rme'a  doloful  looke,  J  would  (m\  ^tm  m  a 
piece  of  granite.  RvciM||e  poor  do^s  seem  to  fawn 
OBint!  with  nniiouB  inMtng,  a^  if  iht^re  ware  some- 
thing fioinp  on  they  cmild  not  comprehend.  They 
probtthly  notice  the  packing  of  the  clothes,  and  other 
•  sympioma  uC  i\  journ(?y. 

"Set  oft  at  iwebe,  firmly  fe<oW«d  iti  body  and 
mind.  Dineti  at  Fuahie  BndAf.  Ah[  ffood  Mra, 
Wiiaon,  you  know  not  you  are  hke  lo  lose  an  old 
customer  I* 

"But  when  I  arriW  in  Edinburgh  ot  my  faithful 
fiiendi  Mr.  Gib  son*  b—  |o|  ihn  ucen<i  had  again 
cbanRedj  and  a  new  hare  is  atarted^ "  t&c.  &c. 

The  *' new  hare'!  was  this.    It  transpiiEd  in  the 
vety  nick  of  time  that  a  fln*ipi<'ion  ofusnry  atmchcd 
to  iIkw  Israelites  without  guile,  in  -a  trapaaction  ' 
with  Hurst  ond  Robinson*  as  to  one  or  more  of  the ' 
bills  for  which  the  houec  of  Jja 3  Ian tyne  had  becotne' 
r^stTCrneible.     This  euanicron,   upon  investJEation^  j 
assumed    a  shape   eufficientty  taneible   toTliatify 
Baltanrytje^B  tmstcea  in  carrymg  the  point  before' 
the  Court  of  Se?*tfon  ;  biit  they  failed  lo  esiabli»h  ■ 
thetr  allegation,    The  amount  was  (hen  eettled — 
but  how  and  m  what  mannsY  waa  lon^  unknown 
to   Scott.     Sir  WiJltam   Porbeai>  whose  banking- 
hoQie  was  one  of  Meaara.  Ballantyne's  chief  erccli- 
tora?  crowned  bis  generous  eftbrta  for  Scott's  relief 
by  privately  payief^  the  whole  of  Abnd'a  demand 
(nearlv  L.^(m)  out  of  Iris  own  pockei—rankine  as 
an  ordinary  creditor  for  the  amount  j  and  taking 
carvat  the  snme  time  that  his  old  friend  should  be 
allowed  to  believe  that  tfic  affair  had  merited  qmcily 
in  the  f^encral  meosurps  of  tha  tnspfee?.    In  fnef  a 
was  not  until  some  time  after  Sir  WHIiani's  death, 
that  Bir  Walt^  learned  what  be  had  done  on  this 
occasion  ;  and  1  may  as  well  add  here,  that  he  him^ 
self  dif  d  in  utter  i^^norance  of  aome  eervtces  of  a 
Kke  aor[>which  ho  owed  to  the  secret  hberality  of 
three  of  his  brelbren  ai  the  Clerks'  table— Hector 

*  B4rB-  Wiljon,  kr^dlafly  qT  tl^a  inn.  nt  Pmyii,  tine  *ttjer  f&m\ 
EdintMergbF-  un  <jUi  dani«  of  khtio  hruTEuujr,  wiUi  wlmin  Bir  S^^af 
ter  aivfjLr*  hnrt  n  rnifrnTlT  rnllwTJv  in  fhn^iin^,    I  bvliiTTv  (be 

of  tli«  BonW.    Hut  lirjr-fkfv  BafliCAlliinn  lutitf  Ir  wbi  aaolfaer 
■ource  \jt  trith  HienJiiif>]it. 

^  66  2  T* 


Maciir-nftjo    l^nchanao,  CoHn  Mackenzie,  and  ^ir 
Robert  Dunda-*, 

I  ought  not  to  omit  that  aa  soon  as  Sir  Walter*^ 
ftldt^t  &on  heard  of  the  A  bud  bu^inciiar  he  left  Ire- 
land for  Edinburstbr  but  before  he  reached  his  fa- 
ther the  alarm  hed  tilown  over. 

Thii  vision  of  lh€  real  Canon  gate  haii  drawn  me 
away  from  th©  Chromelee  of  Mr.  Craftanf^y  Tho 
scenery  of  hbpatnmoniaj  inheritance  was  sketch- 
ed from  that  of  Carmichael,  the  ancient  and  now 
deserted  mansion  of  the  noble  famdy  of  Hyndford  j 
but  for  hift  9iTonE*|y  Scottiah  feelings  about  part' 
ing  w^ith  his  land,  and  stem  efforts  to  SMpprv-sa 
them,  the  author  had  not  to  git  so  far  a-fif  Id.  Chris- 
tie Sieele'if  brief  cjiaraeter  of  Crofmnpn-y's  apc^try. 
too,  appears  to  suit  well  all  that  we  hrive  Ofl  record 
concerning  his  own  more  immediate  proj^enitors  of 
the  stubborn  race  of  Raeburn :— *"  They  w<*rena  ill 
to  the  poor  folk,  ^tr,  and  diat  is  ave  something; 
they  were  juai  decent  bten  liodies*  Ony  poor  crea- 
ture t|^t  had  face  to  bog  gol  an  awnioua^  and  wel- 
come; rhcy  that  wera  ihamefaccd  gaed  by,  and  twico 
as  welcome.  I3ui  they  keej»t  an  honest  walk  beiore  ' 
God  and  mnn^  the  Crofian^rm  and  as  I  said  be- 
fore, if  they  did  little  good,  they  did  ae  little  lU. 
They  liftt'd  their  rents  and  spent  tfjera^  eaile<l  in 
their  kain  and  eat  them  ?  gacfl  to  the  kirk  of  a  Sun- 
day ;  bowed  eivillv  if  folk  took  aff  their  banneta  as 
thoy  gaed  by,  and  lookn  as  bkek  as  sin  at  thent 
that  keepit  them  on.^'  I  hope  I  ahtill  give  no  of- 
fence byMding.  iiia£  tnany  thinf^a  in  the  charactat 
and  manners  of  Mr  Gideon  Gray  of  Middlemaa  in 
the  Tale  of  I  he  Surgeon '$  Daaghter,  were  conaid^ 
ered  a  I  the  time  by  Sir  Walter's  neighbours  oti 
Twtedside  ae  copied  fn\m  Dr.  Ebenezer  CI  ark  son 
of  Selkirk,  "  He  was,''  says  the  Chronicler^  ''  of 
sitch  rc'pu  Lotion  in  the  medical  world,  that  he  had 
been  oft^n  sirlviaed  to  LXfihnnae  the  village  atid  its 
meagre  circle  of  prncticsg  for  Edmburgh.  Theie  ia 
no  creature  in  Scotland  that  works  hardar,  and  is 
more  poorly  requ it (kI  than  Ih*  country  doctor,  un- 
less perhaps  it  mav  be  his  hfrse.  Vet  the  horse  ia, 
and  mdeed  mtist  be,  hardy,  active,  and  indefatiga- 
ble, in  spile  of  n  rou^h  coat  and  indiflerent  condi- 
tion ;  and  so  yon  will  often  find  in  his  mister,  under 
a  blunt  ex  If  nor,  proressional  skill  and  aQthusiasm, 
iotr^fliptnce,  Immaniiy,  courage,  and  science."  A 
true  picturi^—a  portraji  frorp  ihehfe  of  Scot t' a  hard- 
rid  mg^f  benevolent,  and  eagftcioas  old  friend,  "  tc 
aH  the  country  dear/' 

These  Chronicles  were  not  recaived  with  e:^eced* 
mg  favour  at  this  time^  and  Sir  Walter  was  a  good 
deal  discouraged.  Indeed  he  \6etm3  to  have  been 
with  Sf>me  difficulty  perpuaded  by  Cade! I  and  Bal- 
lantyne,  that  it  weuM  not  do  for  him  lO  "He  fallow"" 
as  a  novelist  i  and  then  when  he  in  compliance  with 
their  entreaties  began  a  Second  Cancngatc*  Series, 
(hey  were  both  disappointed  with  his  MK.,  and  lold 


him  their  opinions  so  plaiiVly.  that  his  good-nattire 
was  sharply  tried-  The  Tolea  which  they  disap- 
pTOVtHi  ofi   were  thoao  of  "My  Aunt   Mar^aret^s 


Mirror,**  and  "The  Laird's  Jock  ;"  he  conecnicd  to 
lay  (hem  aside,  and  began  St.  Val  en  line's  Rve,  or 
the  Fair  Maid  of  Perth,  which  from  the  flrt-t  pleased 
hist  critics.  Ii  i\  as  in  the  brief  interval  occasioned 
by  these  misgivings  and  debates,  that  his  ev^relaS' 
tie  mind  threw  off  another  charming  paner  for  the 
Quartcriy  Review— that  on  Ornamental  Gardening, 
by  way  of  fit^uel  to  the  Essay  on  Planting  \^aate 
Lands.  AnoEher  fruit  of  hi ^  liesure  was  a  sketch 
of  the  life  of  George  Bannatyne,  ihe  collector  M 
flpcient  Scottish  poetry,  for  the  CUib  which  bears 
hisnamc^ 

T>iAaif— '*  Edinbitrgh,  ?%0Temhtr  6.— >%  roitgh* 
upon  an  introduction  lo  ihe  nonets  whit*h  hav^ 
been  recovered  of  George  Bannatyne,  anihor  or 
rather  iTanscriher  of  ihe  famous  Ecpositonf  of 
Scottish  Poetry,  generally  known  hi'  the  name  of 
ihe  Baniiotyne  MS,  They  arc  very  jejune  ihoeo 
notices— a  mere  record  of  mailers  of  business,  put- 
titig  forth  and  calling  in  siimp  of  money,  and  such 
like.  Yd  it  is  a  ^atisfactitjn  to  know  that  I  his  great,, 
benefactor  to  the  literature  of  Scoil^i^  had  a  pros- 
l>erous  Ufe,  and  enjoyetfei^^ii^faj^H^s^C^gje^ 


fttt 


■odetyi  and,  in  a  lime  peculiarly  [lonkiufl,  Uved  ua^ 
molc9te<l  and  died  m  quitjt/' 
Ho  had  taken,  for.  that  ipinier*  the  house  No.  6, 
»  ShajidwjL-k  Ploc^,  which  he  ocim fried  by  ihe  rnonib, 
during  the  remainder  of  faia  servitude  aa  »  Clerlt  of 
Session-  Very  near  thia  house,  he  wa*  lold  q  few 
daya  after  he  took  poaeegsion.ilw'iif  ihri  a>red  moth- 
er of  his  first  lov«— tlie  Iftdy  of  tin  Rffnuji^haraciers 
^and  he  ejipresaed  to  hie  fmud  Mr^  iskctie  (V  vvish 
that  she  ahould  carry  him  to  renew  an  acquaiuiance 
which  sef:m3  to  have  Gecn  iotermpteU  from  the 
period  of  hia  youthful  romance,  Mrs,  Skene  coui- 
plied  with  hia  doaire.  and  ahe  tells  mc  that  n  very 
painful  aceno  aaaued^  edding,  ''1  thmk  it  highly 

fjTobnhle  that  it  was  on  returning  from  thb  call  thai 
le  cotnmitted  to  writing  th<?  ver^enj  To  l\m&t  by 
hia  early  favotjrile,  which  you  havL^  pnnted  at  p.  544 
of  your  first  volume  J'  I  belie  vf  Mrsn,  Skene  will 
havcnoduuht  on  that  ma  iter  when  the  *foUo  wing 
entries  from  hia  Diary  meet  her  eye  :-- 

"  JVbfmi6ir7,— Be^an  to  mule  myself  this  ilom- 
ine,  after  the  hurry  ofniind  and  even  of  body  which 
I  have  lately  undergone.— I  W(>nt  to  make  a  visit, 
and  fairly  poftened  myaelf^  like  an  old  fooli  with 
recalling  old  stories,  till  1  vpm  fit  for  nolhioR  but 
shedding^  tears  and  repeating  verses  for  the  whole 
night.  This  is  sad  work.  The  vpry  srove  i^ives  up 
its  deadi  and  time  rolls  bock  thiriy  years  to  add  to 
my  perplciitieH.  I  don't  care,  1  b«gin  lo  «row 
.  case- hard  en  tsL  and,  like  a  stag  turruBiR  at  bay,  my 
naturally  f^ood  temper  rtowb  fierce  and  dAngcraufl. 
Yet  what  a  romance  to  tell,— and  told,  I  TeaiT  it 
will  one  day  be.  And  then  my  three  y^ara  of  dream- 
inff^  and  my  two  yenra  of  waken ing,  will  be  chron- 
iclca»  doubtleaa.    But  the  dead  will  feel  no  pain. 

"  NQvember  10.--Wrote  out  my  laak  and  little 
more.    At   twelve  o'clock  l   went  again  to  poof 

Lady ■  to  talk  over  old  ptorTta,    I  am  not 

dear  that  it  is  a  right  or  healthful  indti licence  to  be 
ripping  up  old  aorea,  but  it  aeema  to  fii?e  her  dotji- 
rooted  sorrow  words,  and  that  k  a  mental  blood- 
letting. To  me  these  Viinf^a  are  now  mattt^r  of 
caJmand  solemn  recolle^Jt ion,  never  i^o  be  forgotten, 
yet  scarce  to  be  remembered  wiih  pain.-^We  go  out 
to  Saint  Catherine's  to-day^  I  am  dstd  of  it.  for  I 
'would  not  have  these  recotleetions  haunt  me,  and 
■ociety  will  put  them  out  of  my  head*'' 

Sir  Walter  has  this  entry  on  reading  the  Gazette 
of  the  battle  of  Navarino  :^"  Norcmbf^r  1 L— Wo 
have  thumped  the  Turks  very  well.  But  as  to  the 
juatice  of  our  interference;,  I  will  only  ^uppo^  some 
Turkish  plcnipoienuary,  with  an  immense  turbaw 
and  long  loose  irottJ^er?,  comes  to  dictate  to  us  the 
mode  in  which  we  ahould  deal  with  our  refractory 
liegemen,  the  Caiholica  of  Inland.  We  hesitate  to 
admit  bis  Imerfcrfnce,  on  v-hidi  the  Moslr^m  nins 
into  Cork  Bay,  or  Bantrv  Bay^  alongaidc  of  n  British 
squadron,  and  sends  a  hom  to  toiv  on  a  fire-ship. 
A  veasiel  ires  on  the  boat  and  sinks  it.  Is  there  an 
aEgressiofi  on  the  part  of  ihoae  who  fired  fir  ft,  or 
of  tnoe^  whose  uvancEuvrcs  occn^ioned  the  firing  T' 

A  few  daya  afterwarde  Ite  received  a  vtry  agreea- 
ble piece  ot  intelligence.  The  KLine  had  not  forgot- 
ten  his  promise  with  rcBpect  to  the  poet's  eecond 
aon  J  and  Lord  Duilley,  then  Secretary  of  State,  for 
the  Foreij^n  DeparEment,  was  a  much  attached 
friend  from  early  daya— (he  hud  hrcn  partly  educated 
at  Edinburgh  under  the  mof  of  Duj:rald  8  tew  art)  ~ 
hb  brdshSp  had  therefyre  been  very  well  disponed 
to  coQiply  with  the  royal  rcrornmendation.  A'a- 
r ember  ^\—Thfi  great  pleafluro  of  a  letter  from 
Lord  Dudley,  informing  me  that  he  has  received  hia 
Majeaiv*»  commands  to  put  down  the  naifte  of  my 
son  C  hail  OS  for  the  first  vacancy  that  iih^li  occur 
in  the  Foreign  Office^  orid  at  ihe  a  a  mo  time  to  ac- 
quaint me  with  bis  gracious  intentions,  whkh  were 
aignilied  in  language  the  moat  Ratifying  to  me- 
Toia  nmkea  me  really  ft-el  light  and  huppy,  and  most 
grateful  to  the  kind  and  gracious  Boverei>;n  who  haa 
always  shown,  1  may  say,  fio  mijch  fritindsbip  to- 
wards ii>c.  WouIlI  io  Gijd  ihi  Kinj^^s  in<ind  might 
iU  in  the  cfid^grn  i^mit^  dial  I  might  have  ^"me 
wtGet  ^av  of  ahowihg  my  fbelinga  than  merely  b;  a 


LIFE  OF  SIR  WALTER  SCOTT. 

letter  of  thanki 

gratitude    Pul . ^  .    —  .    „ 

ent  MiniatTy  are  ueLihei  Whig  nor  Tory,   md  di- 


.„ka.  or  this  priva  te  memoraitdum  of  mr 
*l  gra  titudc.    PubUo  aifa  irs  look  a  wk  w  ajid.    The  i^e»- 


vested  of  the  support  of  either  of  the  greal  partif^ 
of  the  state,  at  and  sopported  by  the  will  of  the  aor^ 
rcign  alone.  This  ia  not  consTitutionsL  and  thouin 
it  may  be  a  teujporary  augmentation  of  the  prijicra 
personal  inlluene^,  ytt  it  cannot  but  prore  httrtfut 
to  the  Cfown  upon  the  whole,  by  tending  to  throw  . 
that  responiibihty  on  bim  of  which  the  'aw  hfts-  de- 
ptived  him.  1  pray  to  God  I  may  be  wron*^  hut,  I 
think,  an  attempt  to  govern  jjar&oj^uJiiby  imiinunn 
betwixt  the  opposite  partie^t  i®  equally  unsafe  for  ih* 
Crown  and  detrimental  to  the  country,  and  tan  not 
ilo  for  a  long  time.  That  with  a  neutral  Adminis- 
tration thia  country,  hard  ruled  at  rtny  timej  e*Q  be 
long  govern edi  1  for  one  do  not  believe  God  lezul 
the  good  Eijig.  to  whom  1  owe  so  much,  as  safe  and 
honorable  extrieotiun  as  the  circumalanees  render 
poaaiblt^."  The  disBoluHon  of  the  Godehch  Cnbinei 
confirmed  very  soon  these  shrewd  gue^i»ec»;  and 
Sir  Walter  an  iicipated  nothing  but  good  from  iho 
Premiership  of  the  liuke  of  Welbngion.  jr 

The  settlement  of  Charles  Scott  was  rapidly  fofj- 
low^ed  by  more  than  on©  fortunate  incident  in  Sir 
Walter's  literary  and  pecuniary  hiistory.  The  6rwt 
Tales  of  a  Grandfather  appeared  early  in  December, 
and  their  reception  was  more  rapturoua  than  that 
of  any  one  of  his  works  since  I  van  hoe.  He  bad 
solved  for  the  iirst  time  the  problem  pf  nsjraung 
history^  so  aa  at  once  to  cxdte  and  gratify  ibo  ctiri* 
osity  of  youth,  and  please  and  instruct  the  wisest 
of  mature  minds.  The  popldariiy  of  the  book  haa 
gro%n  With  every  year  that  has  since  elapsed;  k 
la  ^ally  priiea  in  the  library^  the  boudoir,  the 
schoolroom^  and  the  nursery  s  it  is  adopted  am  tho 
happieat  of  manuals,  not  only  in  Scotland,  b^t  • 
wherever  the  English  toneue  is  spoken  j  nay,  it  w 
to  be  seen  in  the  hands  of  old  and  young  aD  o^eir 
the  civilised  world,  and  hasi  I  have  hlLle  doubt,  eJ:- 
tt^nded  I  he  knowledge  of  Scottish  history  in  quarteri 
where  little  or  no  mteresM^ad  ever  hefiore  been 
awakened  as  to  any  other  iWf ta  of  tivat  stibje^t,  eac- 
cept  those  immediardyeonnecned  with  Mary  Stuart 
and  the  Chevalier,  This  success  ertcetuall)^  rebuked 
the  trepniation  of  the  author's  bookaelkr  and  prim- 
ed r,  ontl  inspired  the  former  with  new  courage  ma  to 
n  step  which  he  bad  for  some  time  bet^n  meditating;, 
»nd  which  hod  given  rise  to  many  a  lo^e  and  ani- 
ioufl  discussion  between  him  and  Sir  \^  alter, 

Thequeslkm  aa  to  the  property  of  the  Life  of  Na- 
poleon and  Woodstock  having  now  been  settled  br- 
ibe arbiter  ^Lord  Newton)  in  favour  of  the  aniliar, 
iheTebtive  atTairs  of  Sir  Waller  and  the  creditors 
of  Constable  were  so  simplified,  that  the  iniit«e  on 
thai  s^guefit rated  estate  tesolved  to  bring  intu  ibe 
marker,  with  the  concurrence  of  Bollantyne*s  ixna^ 
iees»  and  u  itliout  further  delayi  a  variety  of  Teff 
valuable  copyrights.  This  impoiiant  sftle  ««<ii- 
prisetj^cott^s  novels  from  Wa^efley  to  Q,u«iltm 
Durward  inclusive,  besides  a  majority  oliim  abarci 
o(  the  Poetical  Works^ 

Mr.  Cadell's  family  and  nnvato  Iiiends  ware  e£- 
iremely  desirous  lliat  be  should  pureh»«  part  at 
least  of  these  copyrights s  and  Sir  Walters  were 
not  ksHSO  that  be  should  mite  this  last  opportunity 
of  recovering  a  share  in  the  prime  fruits  of  bca 
gcniusn  The  relfttions  hy  this  time  estabhshed  bo* 
tween  him  and  Cad  el  I  were  those  of  i!tnc£  eartfi-  • 
dcnf-e  and  kindtut^sj  and  Imtb  «aw  well  that  the 
property  would  be  comnaratively  lost,  were  it  not 
secured,  that  thenccforih  the  whole  ahould  b*  man- 
aged as  one  un broker*  concern.  It  was  in  the  sti^ 
cess  of  an  miiform  edition  of  the  Waverley  nav«(c« 
with  frefaees  and  notes  by' the  author,  tfrat  ho^ 
anticipated  the  means  of  Anally^  extinguisbmg  tbiv 
debt  of  Ballantyaa  and  Co. ;  and,  aHcrsome  demoTt 
the  trustees  of  that  houae^s  crt^ditors  were  wile 
etiough  to  adopt  their  viewt^  The  r^uh  woa^  that 
the  copyri^hiscxpoiwid  to  sale  for  behoof  of  Consta- 
ble's credit  or  a  were  purcha?t'dt  one- ha  If  for  Sir 
Walter,  the  other  half  for  Caddl  at  rho  price  df 
^S,600— a  sum  wliich  was  considered  large  at  tba 
moment,  but  which  the  Loiuhm  comEeft^J^ 


Digitized  by  ^ 


LIFE  OF  SIR  WALTE^  SCOTT. 


tfterwirda  Snviaced  ibemaelre*  tiwy  jcignt  to  | 
have  OiiibLii.^ 

The  Diary  saya  t—'^  December  U.—S^nt  off  the 
new  bogi  n  n  i  ne  of  « he  Cfi  ro  n  i  cle»  i  ti  H  al  Ian  If ite.  I 
hiiie  canceJs,  iheyaro  a  doublt  Eaboor*  Mr,  Go  woo, 
Uust^c  fot  Cone  tab  It' 3  eredttorSf  cftljtd  in  the 
niorninjr  by  nppomtniefiU  and  wo  talked  about  the 
the  !iDk  of  tb&  copynghiB  of  Wavtrky,  dbc,  K  ts 
to  be  hoped  the  liiKh  upB&t  pnce  ftxed  ;X5,00[J)  will 

Oftbu  |MM:ltpud*.' 

Tbia  ip<?cwlatjon  may  be  for  f^ood  or  for  evit,  but  it 
t™dft  incajpLilably  to  mcresse  the  value  of  euch 
copynghrs^  OS  remain  in  mf  own  percon  ?  and  if  a 
hand»onn>  and  cheap  aJiti^n  of  the  whole,  with 
hoic?s,  con  be  inatituted  in  con  form  ttv  with  Cadell  ^ 
pljai^,  It  muflt  prove  a  mine  of  wealth  for  mv  credi- 
trtrJ.  It  13  po&siblep  no  doubi,  thot  the  works  may 
late  their  tf  doc  t  on  the  pub  he  mindi  but  Xb\e  loitst 
bo  riskftdi  am]  I  tbmk  the  chance*  are  jfreatly  in  our 
favour.  Death  (my  own,  I  mean)  would  improve 
inc  pfi>perty,  Binee  ati  edilion  with  a  Ltfo  would  sell 
like  wildfire.  Perhaps  thoae  who  read  ihia  prophecy 
may  ehaSse  their  heads  and  aay,  'Poor  fellowi^,  he 
lutle  thoufihi  how  he  should  gpc  the  (iubjie  inlereat 
in  hfm  and  hia  citinmnahed  even  during  his  naltirol 
exigtenee*  It  may  bo  so,  but  I  will  hopo  better, 
Thifl  I  know,  that  no  literary  sptcuUiion  ever  suc- 
ceeded with  me  but  wher*^  my  own  work^  were 
concerned;  and  that,  on  the  other  ha  tid,  lhe«e  haYe 
rarely  failed. 

**  Dacmhir  20,— Atieiit  thecop™hts— the  hock! 
pmds  were  noi  frighiened  by  our  hi^h  pnee,  Tm| 
•  came  on  briskly,  four  or  five  bidders  abreast,  ann 
went  on  lUl  the  lot  was  khockM  down  to  CadtU  nt 
,£a,&00,»  n  very  Urge  sum  certainly^  yei  he  baa  beeij 
offered  profit  on  it  already.  The  activity  of  the  con- 
teitscrveatoBhowtbevolueoftbeproperly.  Onihe 
whole  I  am  greatly  pleased  with  the  aequiaiuon." 

Well  miRht  the  '^pockpuJdinR*"— the  Eni^lish 
bo<jkfleller>— me  tbtir  timtdiiy  on  thia  day  ?  bni  U 
was  the  most  lucky  one  that  ever  came  for  Sit 
"Waller  Scotl'a  crethtfjrs.  A  dividend  of  sii  shillini^s 
in  the  pound  waftpaid  at  this  Chhatmas  on  their 
whole  claims.  Tne  reault  of  their  bigh-heatTed 
debtor^*  exertions,  between  January  ^^^  a^d  Jan- 
.  uary  l^lf^i  was  in  all  very  nearly  ^O,nos).  No  ht- 
erary  bio^apher,  in  all  likelihood,  '^lU  ever  have 
auch  another  fact  to  record.  Thfe  erfditors  imatit- 
monsiy  pafl*ad  a  vote  of  ihanka  for  the  indefatigable 
induairy  which  bad  achievai  »*>  much  for  their 
behoof. 

On  reluming  to  Abbotsford  at  ChristmBa,  after 
completrng  these  rranaaclion^  he  says  in  his  Dia- 
ry :— *' My  rdlrcuonft  in  entering  myown^ate  to- 
day were  of  a  verv  different  and  mori>  pleasmf!  cast, 
than  those  \*ith  which  I  left  this  place  about  *ii 
.  weekn  a^o  1  was  then  in  doubt  wbcthyf  I  eWuld 
Hy  my  country,  or  become  avowedly  bankmpt,  and 
surrender  up  my  library  and  household  furnuura 
wiib  the  liferent  of  my  ettaiei  to  aale-  A  man  of 
the  world  wilt  say  1  had  belter  dooe  ao.  No  doubly 
had  I  taknn  thia  course  at  once,  I  might  have  em- 
ployed the  moticv  I  have  made  since  the  iti«olvonC|y 
of  Consiable  and  Robmson'j*  housei  in  compound- 
inff  my  debts.  But  I  could  not  have  slept  sound  as 
I  now  can,  onder  the  comfortable  imfircsaion  of 
receivina  the  thanks  of  my  cri^dttor*,  and  the  con- 
.  eciouB  feeling  of  diacharKing  mv  duty  as  a  man 
of  honour  and  honesty.  I  eee  before  me  a  long, 
tediouft,  and  dark  path,  bnt  it  leads  io  stainksfl  rep- 
'  bLatbn.  If  1  die  in  tht  harrows,  aa  k  verv  likely,  1 
shall  die  with  honour  ;  if  I  achieve  my  task,  I  shall 
hove  the  thankaof  oH  concerned,  and  the  approba- 
tifni  of  my  own  conscience.  And  b^o  1  think,  I  can 
fairly  trace  the  return  of  Christmas-day." 

And  aj^ain.  on  the  3lat  December,  bo  aaya  :— 
"  Looting  back  to  the  conctusion  of  IB^.  T  ob- 
Mrre  that  the  last  year  ended  in  imuble  and  sick- 
tietii  with  preflflurea  for  the  present  and  gloomy 
pro^cts  for  ihe  fuhire.  The  fen s^:  of  a  great  pri- 
vation BO  lately  auttained,  toRether  with  the  very 


doubtful  and  douded  nature  of  my  private  affairf , 
preJ^st-d  hard  upon  my  mind.  I  am  now  reatori^d  iji 
cunstitutson  i  and  thoogh  I  am  siiU  on  troubled 
waters,  yet  I  am  rowing  wiih  the  iide^  and  lesa  than 
the  coiiUmiation  of  my  e^ieriiotis  of  t.^^i?  mnv%  with 
(jod'a  blessing,  carry  mu  siiceois.fully  throufifh  lesH, 
when  wo  may  gain  6  more  *n>cu.  sea,  if  not  exactly  a 
safe  port.  Above  all,  my  children  are  well  Sopma|a 
s^matv>n  excilffii  some  naitiral  aniiety?  but  it  is 
only  the  accomplishment  of  the  burden  imposed  on 
ber  sei,  Walter  la  happy  irt  the  view  of  hia  ma-  • 
joriiy,  on  which  maiter  wo  have  favourable  hopea 
from  the  Hurije-Guard^,  Ann«  is  well  and  happy. 
Chart ea'a  enuy  ou  hfu  under  the  htgheat  patronage, 
and  in  a  Iftie  for  winch,  I  hope^  he  la  QualiHcd,  ia 
about  to  take  place  preeenily* 

'*  For  all  the^'  great  blessmga  it  becomea  me  well 
to  he  thankful  to  God^  who,  m  hia  good  time  and 
Kood  pleaauro,  aeiida  u«  gooil  aa  welfaa  evil'* 

CHAPTER   LXXV. 

THS  "oFtra  MACSTTM"— ^^  RKUOlOCB  Pt^COin^Efi,.  B1 
A  LA¥MAN"*'LaTri:nB  TO  OKOBOE  HUNTLTPjlrQftrfOlT 
— CAPBLL— ANtl  BAt4.A>'TrNB— HEAl-n'a  m^clsAItE* 
&C*  —-  Aa^IBTOW'-OALHOtfftli  —  paieOSiB  — DISSOLD- 
TtON  OF  VEOBAItaV  C AV A LUT*— TH B  FAItt  »Att)  0^ 
PXttTK   PUFLiSHlI^— JASIDAEV— APilL,    ISSS. 

Wi^  I  he  exet^ptJon  of  a  few  we^a  occupi«d^  by 
an  e:(Cur«ion  to  London,  which  butineaa  of  vanooi 
forta  had  rendtfred  necessary,  the  year  IS^  wa< 
Bpont  in  the  same  assiduoua  labour  aa  iBt27«  The 
commercial  tranaaction  completed  at  Christ  ma* 
cleared  the  way  for  two  undcrtakinga.  which  would 
of  themaelvea  have  been  enongh  to  aupply  deak* 
work  in  abundance  t  and  Sir  Waller  appears  to 
havo  scarcely  paased  a  day  on  which  somt  ihing 
w 03  not  done  tor  them.  I  allude  to  Cadell'a  plan 
of  a  new  edition  of  the  Poetry,  wii:h  biographical 
prefaces ;  and  the  diill  more  etieneive  one  of  an 
uniform  repnnl  of  the  Novels,  each  to  be  introduced 
by  an  account  of  the  hints  on  which  it  had  hecii 
founded,  and  illustrated  ihroughout  by  hiatorical 
and  anti(juarian  annotationa.  On  thia  laat>  com- 
monly mentioned  in  the  Diary  a#  the  Opus  Mag^ 
num^  Sir  Waller  be*  towed  pains  com  men  aur  ate 
with  ita  importance ;— and  in  the  eiecuiion  of  tha 
very  delicate  task  which  either  ache  mo  impoaea, 
he  naa  ceflainly  displayed  such  a  combination  of 
frankntps  and  fno^ksiy  aa  entitles  him  to  a  high 
place  m  the,  short  hsit  of  graceful  autohiographcra. 
True  dignity  i»  aUava  einipte;  and  perhaps  troA 

eeniu^of  the  highest  class  at  lea^i,  ii  always  hum 
le,  Tbe*e  operationa  took  up  much  time}— yet  he  . 
laboured  hard  thi<i  yea t  both  aa  a  novelist  and  a 
histijrian.  He  contribuiefl,  moreover,  several  arti- 
clea  to  the  Huarterly  Ileview  and  the  Baonaivna 
Club  library  ;  and  to  the  Journal  conducted  by  Mr- 
Gilliea,  an  excellent  Essay  on  Jloliere;  thia  laai 
being  again  a  free  gitv  to  the  Editor* 

But  the  firsi  advertisement  of  1823  was  of  a  now 
orders  and  the  antiuuncemenl  that  the  Auihor  of 
Waverley  had  Strmorm  m  the  press,  wos  received 
.perliapa  with  aa  much  incrcciuliiy  in  th»  clerical 
world,  aa  could  have  bei^n  tJtciied  aojooK  ibem  by 
that  of  a  romance  from  the  Archhiabop  of  Can  let- 
bury.  A  thin  octavo  volume*  entitled  ^'Relicioua 
Discoursei  by  a  Laymen/*  and  boving  *'  W.  S.''  at 
the  fool  of  a  short  preface,  did.  however,  laaue  in  tha 
courae  of  the  spring,  and  from  the  shop,  that  all 
msKht  heln  perfeclTkeeiiing,of  Mr.  Coi burn,  a  hook* 
atUer  (hen  known  almost  ejiclusively  as  the  stand- 
ing purveyor  of  what  ia  called  ''light  reading'^— 
novels  of  "  fasih  ion  able  life,'*  and  tbe  like  pretty 
ephemera.  I  am  afraid  th»l  the  '^ReliRioua  Dta- 
riooraes,"  too,  would,  but  for  the  authors  nume, 
have  hqd  a  brief  I'listencpj;  hu;  the  history  of  their 
com poai lion,  bCiiideB  aumctently  expUining  the  ^ 
humility  of  these  tracts  in  a  literary  as  well  as  a 
lb  CO  logical  point  of  view,  will,  I  hope,  gratify  moat 
of  my  readers.  «-   „r  t    _. 

It  may  perhaps  he  remembered,  that  Sir  Waltefa 
Cicerone  over  vVatcrloo.  in  Auguat,  mu,  wan  a  car- 
tain  Major  Pryae  aoraoB^g.{h|j^af^   " 


LIFE  9P  JSIR  WALTEft  SCOTT. 


resident  at  Broetels.  The-  acqaniittance,  until  they 
met  at  Sir  Frederick  Adam's  table,  had  been  v^ry 
slight— nor  was  it  ever  carried  farther;  but  the 
Major  waa  exceedingly  attentive  during  Scott* i 
stay,  and  afterwards  took  some  pains  about  col- 
lecting Httle  reliques  of  the  battle  for  Abbotsford. 
One  evening  the  poet  supped  at  his  house,  and  there 
happened  to  sit  next  him  the  host's  eldest  son,  then 
a  lad  of-  nineteen,  whose  appearance  and  situation 
much  interested  him.  He  had  been  destined  for 
the  Church  of  Scotland,  hut  as  he  grew  up  a  deaf- 
ness, which  had  come  on  him  in  boyhood,  became 
worse  and  worse,  and  at  length  his  friends  feared 
that  it  must  incapacitate  him  for  the  -clecical  func- 
tion. He  had  ^one  to  spend  the  vacation  ¥rith  his 
father,  and  Sir  Frederick  Adam,  understanding 
now  he  was  situated,  offered  him  a  temporary  ap- 

E ointment  as  a  clerk  in  the  Commissariat,  which 
e  hoped  to  convert  into  a  permanent  one^  in  case 
the  war  continued.  At  the  time  of  Scott's  arrival 
that  prospect  was  wellnigb  gone,  and  the  young 
man's  unfirmity,  his  embarrassment,  and  other 
thini;sl|  which  his  own  memorandum  makes  no 
allu8iov||excited  the  visiter's  sympatny.  Thouj^h 
there  were  lion-hunters  of  no  small  consequence-  m 
the  party,  he  directed  most  of  his  talk  into  the  poor 
clerk's  ear-trumpet ;  and  at  parting,  begged  him 
not  to  forget  that  he  had  a  friend  on  Twe^side. 

A  couple  of  years  elapsed  before  he  heanr  any 
thing  more  of  Mr.  Grordon,  who  then  sent  hini  his 
father's  little  9polia  of  Waterloo,  and  accompanied 
them  by  a  letter  exploining  his  situation,  and  asking 
advice,  in  a  stvle  which  renewed  and  increased 
Scott's  favourable  impression.  He  had  been  dis- 
missed from  the  Commissariat  at  the  general  reduc- 
tion of  our  establishments,  and  was  now  hesitating 
whether  he  had  b&tter  take  up  again  his  views  aslo 
the  Kirk,  or  turn  his  eyes  towards  English  orders; 
and  in  the  mean-time  ne  was,anxious  to  find  some 
way  of  lightening  to  his  parents,  by  his  own  industry, 
the  completion  of  his  professional  educntion.  There 
ensued  a  copious  correspondence  between  him  and 
Scott,  who  gave  him  on  all  p()ints  of  his  case  most 
paternal  advice,  and  accompanied  his  counsels  with 
offers  of  pecuniary  assistance,  of  which  the*  young 
man  rarely  availed  himself.  At  length  he  resolved 
on  re-entering  the-  Divinity  Class  at  Aberdeen,  and 
in  due  time  was  licensed  by  the  Presbytery  there  as 
a  Preacher  of  the  Gospel  r  but  though  with  good 
connssions,  far  he  was  *'&pninp:of  Scoiia'fl  L-railcr 
bloodt"  hi*  rleafne^s  oper*tJ^l  a?  n  »iTititi»  bar  ui  his 
obtain Jng  the  tiicu  mbency  of  n  pari-^h^  A  fter  bpv(  ral 
years  hnn  elnpsf^d,  he  rpcmved  n  preseniniion;  !mt 
the  PTjvincinI  Synod  pronouiu'etl  hiii  <ieftfntss  an 
inaupt^rtkbk^  otijec'tinn.  sad  ihe  esse  wjj«  referrtcl  to 
'  ttie  Gi^tier&l  Asstnibly.  Thnt  tnbunftl  huard  Mr. 
Oordon'fl  cansi?  maiiuainwl  by  all  the  sM)  and  do- 
queocf!  flf  Mr.  Jt^flrev,  whynB  good  offices  hi>d  been 
^ecur^  bi'  Scittt'B  LntervomiDn,  and  they  overrtifed 
the  decision  of  iho  Presbytery.  Bttt  fiOrdtm,  in  the 
eourse  4if  th«  discii^Mon.  gathE'reci  ihe  conviction, 
tbai  n  man  almdst  literally  Btone-dcaf  could  not  rfis- 
charge  *ome  uf  the  bighesi  i}\nk&  of  a  rdrisili-priest 
in  a  Bairsfnnmrr  nnnner,  nnd  he-  with  honuurnble 
firrriMti^^'''   ■'    ■'     ■  i    ink*:   ailviinripc  uf  thi'  jaiig- 

ment  oi  lUo  ^u^f^iae  Court.  Jlcan  atne  J.c  iisd 
been  employed,  from  the  failure  of  John  Ballan- 
tyne's  health  downwards,  as  the  transcriber  of  the 
Waverly  MSS.  for  the  press,  in  which  capacity  he 
displayed  every  quaUty  that  could  endear  an  aman- 
uensis to  an  author;  and  when  the  disasters  of  1826 
rendered  it  unnecessary  for  Scott  to  have  his  MS. 
copied,  he  exerted  himself  to  procure  employment 
for  Gordon  in  one  of  the  Government  offices  in 
London.  Being  backed  by  the  kindness  of  the  late 
Duke  of  Gordon,  his  story  found  favour  with  the 
then  Secretary  of  the  Treasury,  Mr.  Lusjiington— 
and  Gordon  was  named  assistant  privtie  secretary 
to  that  centlemnn.  The  appointment  was  tempo- 
rary, but  he  so  pleased  his  chief  that  there  was  hope 
ot  helter  things  by  and  by.— Such  was  his  situation 
at  Christmas  1827;  but  that  being  his  first  Christmns 
J^  London,  it  was  no  wonder  that  he  then  discov- 
>  ered  himself  to  have  somewhat  miscalculated  about , 


money  matters.  In  a  word,  be  knei»-not  wMtker 
to  look  at  the  moment  for  extrication,  until  he 
bethought  him  of  the  following  little  inckieitt  of  his 
lire  at  Abbotsford.  , 

He  was  spending  the  autumn  of  1824  there,  dailf 
copying  the  MS.  of  Redgauntlet,  and  workmg  at  < 
leisure  nours  on  (he  Catalogue  of  the  Library,  wiiea 
ihe  fhmily  observed  him  to  be  labouring  under  some 
extraordinary  depression  of  mind.  It  was  just  then 
that^hc  had  at  length  obtained  the  prospect  of  a 
Living^  and  Sir  Walter  was  smprised  that  this 
should  not  have  exhilarated  him.  Gently  soundioK 
the  trumpet,  however,  he  discovered  that  the  agita- 
tion of  the  question  about  the  deafness  had  shaken 
his  nerves— nis  scruples  had  been  roused— his  con- 
science wasrsensitive,— %nd  he  avowed  that,  though 
he  thought,  on  the  whol^  he  ought  to  go  throoKit 
with  the  business,  he  could  not  cdhimand  his  mind 
so  as  to  prepare  a  couple  of  sermons  which,  unless 
he  summarily  abandoned  his  object,  must  be  pro- 
duced on  a  certain  day— theh  near  at  hand^before 
hie  Presbytery.  Sir  Walter  reminded  him,  that  his 
exercises  when  on  trials  for  the  Probationerahip  had 
given  satisfaction ;  but  nothing  he  could  say  was 
sufficient  to  re* brace  Mr.  Gordon's  spirits,  and  he 
nt  length  exclaimed,  with  tears,  that  hia  pen>was 
powerless,— that  he  had  made  fifly  attempts,  and 
saw  nothing  but  failure  and  disgrace  befofe  him» 
Scott  answered.  ^My  good  young  frieno,  leavv  this 
matter  to  me— do  you  work  away  at  the  CataJoguei 
and  1*11  write  for  you  a  oouple  of  sermons  that  shall 
pass  ^uster  well  enough  at  Aberdeen."  Corden 
assented  with  a  sigh;  and  next  morning  Sir  Walter 
Ae  him  the  MS.  of  the  *'Religk>ne  Diacooraee." 
On  reflecdon,  Mr.  Gordon  considered  it  quite  im* 

Eossible  to  produce  them  m  his  own,  and  a  letter  to 
e  quoted  iihmc^iately  will  show,  that  he  by  md 
by  had  written  others  for  himself  m  a  style  credit- 
able to  his  talents,  though,  from  circumstaaees 
above  explained  he  never  delivered  them  at  Aber- 
deen. But  the  "Two  discourses"  of  1894  had  re-  ^ 
mained  in  his  handa;  and  it  now  occurred  to  him 
that,  if  Sir  Walter  would  allow  him  to  dispoae  of 
these  to  aomt  bookseller,  they  might  poaetMy  bring' 
a  price  that  would  float  him  overbis  little  oifficu!- 
lies  of  Christmas. 

Scott  consented ;  and  Gordon  gownoie  titan  he 
had  ventured  to  expect  for  his  MS.  But  ainee  this 
matter  has  been  introduced,  I  must  indulgje  myaelf 
with  a  httle  retrospect,  and  give  a  few  speomeDs  of 
the  great  author's  correspondence  with  ihia  amMibie 
dependent.  The  series  now  before  wa  conaiet  of 
more  than  forty  letters  to  Mr.  Gordon. 

''Edinboigh.  5ch  Jamary,  IfilT. 
***'*!  am  very  101x7  your  muady  conUnoea  to  tts. 
tress  you  j  yei  wliile  one's  eyes  are  spared  to  look  on  the 
wisdom  or  forincr  time8,.we  arc  tbe  less  entiUed  to  reirrec 
that  we  hear  less  of  the  fully  of  the  present  The  Church 
always  presents  a  safe  and  respectable  asylumt  and  baa 
many  inanaions.  But  in  fact,  the  great  art  of  lite,  so  far 
as  I  nave  been  able  'to  observe,  consists  in  forfltode  and 
perseverance.  I  have  rarely  seea,  that  a  man  who  cod- 
scientloualy  devoted  himself  to  the  studies  and  duties  of 
any  profession,  and  did  not  omit  to  take  fair  and  honour* 
uble  opportunities  of  offering  himaelf  to  notice  when  sucik 
presented  themselves,  haa  not  at  length  cot  Ibiward. 
The  mischance  of  those  who^tall  behind,  UKMigh  flout 
upon  fortune,  more  frequently  arises  from  wani  of  ckiU 
and  perseverance.  Life,  my  young  friend,  is  like  a  game 
at  cards — our  hands  are  alternately  good  or  bad,  and  the 
whole  seems  at  first  glance  to  deiicnd  on  mer^  chance. 
But  it  Is  not  BO,  for  In  the  long  run  the  skill  of  the  player 
predominates  over  the  casualities  of  the  game.  There> 
Tore,  do  not  be  discouraged  with  the  prospect  before 
yOu.  but  ply  your  studies  hard,  and  qualify  yourself  ta 
receive  fortune  when  she  comes  your  way.  1  shall  have 
plc'isure  at  any  time  in  Ueariog  from  you,  and  more  espe- 
cially in  seeing  you."  .  . 

"  aith  July,  I8ia 
a'*  •  *  *  I  send  you  the  Travels  of  Tluodolf.'    Perltaps 


you  might  do  well  to  give  a  glance  over  Tytler'a  F^nci- 
pies  of  Translation,  ere  you  gird  up  your  loina  to  the 
undertaking.    If  the  gods  have  made  yoti  poetical,  you 


should  imitate,  rather  UiMn  attempt  a  Uterai  traoslatiou 
of.  the  verses  interjipersc-d ;  and,  in  general,  I  think  both 
the  prose  and  verse  might  be  improved  by  compressian. 


LIFE  OF  Sill  WALTER  SCOTT. 


If  you  find  the  veraific&tion  a  difficult  or  unpleasant  taskt 
I  must  transr- 1^- '=    ■■    ■■       ".■.:''*■  !■.-':>  -y 

be  absotute];.  !.■  .'-'■■.,-  i..l  ■  ■■'■  -m^!.  ■■.,  w  .  ..[••i-, ,  ■■.^,<,.  ^ 
will  coat  an  ahl  h,ii-K  UJi-^  jli-  vcty  hitie  [ruuhhr.  1  -w^iuld 
haTe  yoQt  however*  by  ail  m^iLna  tty  yourself.*'    *    *    * 

"lUhOetober,  LSIS. 

you  think  y  o  ti  liacl  ^  i  vt^n  umiic  ili^i  htflst  a  Acne  e.  1  f  t  hut 
very  erroneuuia  idi^a  h^^m  from  iuy  diuiics  rWid  eticrt  Ipl- 
ters,  I  must  ^lEf^^nl  li«^th  l»u»iiieas  aihd  Iit£iii{7tfs,  whlcb 
makes  mo  an  inilifftrrLit  (tDrrL'!iiKHTirlen[ ;  but  I  thoUf^lU  1 
had  explain' il  in  my  Iflit  thai  which  it  waa  ne?<irqj  thm 
you  should  kimw.  '  '  ' 

"I  have  6&\>l  iiolTiitut  un  the  cMI&iti}  c^nflttcncf?  you 
have  reposed  in.  lue.  1  liAVu  niK  rafgotten  tbat  I  hava 
been  young.  aiiJ  umai  tli«rfl(br«  be  ^tu^arvXy  jiuer^Jiti'd 
In  those  feeiio^A  whicti  tiii?  bpst  lufen  euterUjn  with  inoet 
warmth.  At  llic  luunf^  lime^  my  (ikpuriujice  mnJieii  uil' 
alike  an  entiiny  to  prtiiuAturc  marriajfi  and  lu  dLsumt 
cngagementA.  *  TTn;:  fim  add  to  uur  in<uvl[^uiil  rarei 
the  respcHUibElilj  for  ibo  bciovpd  and  helpless  pledge i 
of  our  aflfecrioLi,  and  thf*  last  oro  habli^  lo  tn<?  mciat  cruel 
dipappointrntrnt^  Hutt  my  good  younir  firten<l,  If  you 
have  settled  yrjur  affectloofl  tipau  a  wurth/  L>tiject,  I  esa 
<mlv  hope  titai  yaur  prorresa  in  Hfe  inU  be  Kuch  m  lo 
msJce  you  look  forwatif  wiiii  prudencb  to  a  npeedy 
union.''  * 

"lathJunMSaO. 
"    •  *  ■  1  am  very  eoTty  for  rotir 

illness,  and  your  unpleiuaiir  and  iinoeriatn  EiltunEioii,  for 
which,  tmfortunately^  I  4! an  ^vk  no  better  corm^JaUon 
4han  m  the  WDm-oui  axitl  wcirying-out  word,  palience. 
What  yon  xntnLloiii  of  your  priTmq"  feeiioj^i  ua  m  inier- 
•sdnx  subject,  i«  indeed  cLi«trcRiiitig ;  but  a^ura  your^ 
•elf  that  soarqc  oao  peraua  out  uf  rweiuy  u^Hiri^a  hia 
flrat  k>ve,  and  dcarcs  ouo  out  of  twcniy  of  Ok  rciiiiludtr 
ha«  cause  to  fejtjtc«  at  leaving  done  w.  What  wo  JoT&in 
those  early  days  ict  generuLly  raih^r  a  fanciful  creation  of 
<mr  own  tnaja  a.  roallty.  \y&  bidld  4fLatui^4  of  snow,  and 
weep  when  they  mek."  *  ■  ' 

**  lath  April,  iSK. 
•"My  dear  Mr.  Gordon, 

"I  would  have  maiJo  mma  additions  to  y^'nr  itriuon 
with  great  pjc-aaiLrc^  byt  ii  ii  wiih  **vcn  mcir<^  tliaji  i^reot 
pleasure  thai  I  aasurf?  you  it  needs  nonu.  It  in  a  uioaj 
respectable  disco urae,  wiih  tfo<td  {iiiiJivfty  In  it,  wbfcli  la 
always  the  marrow  and  Ijuhea  of  n  Oaneio  nil  ffp?r*rt», 
•Ad  yoQ  mny  proiioiuic«  ll^  vmo  ptriGutoj  witliont  ihe 
least  danger  of  faiiui-e  or  fif  uhpkasant  qninparisons,  I 
cm  not  fond  nf  Mr.  [n-iu^'d  ^pacf^  oi^  elijfqueucf!^  can- 
alaling  of  otm^  ilouTiahai  and  extravAgam  metapliorti. 
JTbe  eloquence  of  tiif^  puJplt  thould  be  nf  a  cho^tc  aud 
dignified  cbitractrf ;  eumeirtp  biiL  not  hli^b  flinvii  and 
ecstatic,  and  confli^ttUE;  as  much  in  ci'Jite  rf-'Etfltituuit  ha  in 
elegant  oxprcaaton.  Ii  o^^Aiirj^  to  mp  w  a  good  tepir  for 
more  than  one  disconriwj,— itio  manner  m  wiiJch  Uio 
heresies  of  the  earlier  Christian  ehurcii  ar«  iTPa^^td  In 
Che  Acts  and  Ibe  Eplatltii.  It  is  remarkable,  that  ivhita 
the  arguments  by  wb^cli  ihuy  *rc  combated  aj^  fh»iinc:t| 
clear,  and  poweTnjJ,  the  inspired  writers  harfiffoi;  juiIgM 
ICMproper  u>  g>i  bcyoU'J  iiiiieiral  cxpr^asionff,  ruspccliog 
ttie  particular  iioresieH  wiUch  tboy  coiabaif^J.  If  yuu 
look  closely^  ih*yre  Is  mufb  reason  In  this.  '  "  * 
In  general,  1  would  say,  that  on  onlerinis  on  the  clerical 
larofession,  wer«i  ii  my  caee,  1  should  be  anxiotis  to  take 
much  pains  with  my  sfTcnonB,  and  tike  Etudiefl  nn  which 
they  must  be  ri>uiiaed.  Nuibing  rewards  itself  ao  com- 
pletely as  eterclai:,  wbcLhet  of  the  body  or  tuintL  Wo 
sleep^  sound,  md  oni  wakino:  hour^  are  happv,  beeauso 
they  are  euipToyed ;  nnd  n  little  aenso  of  toll  is  necas- 
aary  to  the  enjoyment  of  leisure^  even  when  earned  by 
study  and  sanctioned  by  the  ihAcharff  of  duly.  1  ihlnv 
most  clergy [ncn  diminish  fhiiir  own  reapectabtlhy  by 
falling  Into  itbduU  nt  hn  hi  is,  and  whai  plftvenf  call  irolJein^ 
through  their  pari.  Vdu,  wtio  have  i^  beat  up  DEiuiut  an 
infirmity,  and  it  may  ba  against  somo  unreoi^rrnaUie  pru- 
jttdices,  arialiig  from  that,  uifirrciity^  Hhau Ed  dettrmUie  to 
ck>  the  thing  not  only  wellt  but  better  than  oibfirs.'^  *  *  * 

To  a.  BfiTnl^  (M<7rd9it,  Etq.  Trrnntrjf,  Ltmdun. 

'*2Sth  Dccfmber,  1937, 
"DearCJordon, 

"  As  1  have  no  money  to  spare  at  pro  sent,  I  find  it 
neeessary  to  n»ko  a  eacriiSce  of  my  own  scrupleSf  to 
relieve  you  from  a^rioua  dlfficulUos.  The  enclosed  will 
•  entitle  you  tc^  tU-  nl  with  an  y  re  dpociabl  e  litjo  kHolle  r.  Vo  u 
must  tell  the  history  in  your  own  way  (is  shortly  as  pos* 
i^ie.  All  tliat  \s  necesdary  to  saf  is,  that  thf?  ^^■cour'qea 
were  written  lo  oblige  a  younjj  friend.  It  h  undLTdiMid 
mv  name  is  not  U>  be  put  on  the  tltls-paie,  or  bUied  at 
pill  length  in  tbo  prel^e.  Vou  msjF  tr^  that  to  iba 
mewipaptn. 


"Friy,  do  not  tbhdc  of  returning  any  thanks  about 

WA-:   It    i'..    .:h.,.,^L   that  IkllH.-.     -  •^•*     '     ■  --      .t 

I'MLj..'-'      iiiiii  ii.^f  lUe  Amila  ai  1  ■  ■■■,i'   i 

ionvcevriib  prudent" e,  for  audi  inr^ininiu'^  leiniri  iprin^ 
up  fit  cTtry  placif  of  the  deatin,— I  arn,  in  haste,  evtfr 
yours  mofti  imly, 

WiiTSS   &COTT." 

The  rentier  wit  I,  I  believe,  forgive  this  retrospect : 
»iul  be  pleaiied  to  know  thai  the  publicution  of  the 
^tirrrioEls  inaw^f^  tlte  purpoee  intended,  JHr,  Gor- 
don now  occupied  a  pf^rniail4;-nt  and  rcepcH^table 
i^ituaiion  m  her  Miy^'sty's  Staiionnry  Office?  ajid  he 
eondudefl  his  ctjmmnmcation  to  rm*  with  express- 
inp  hk  feeling  that  bis  proflpcriiy  ^Ms  aU  ckatly 
Trnetabb  lo  the  ktrtdnoss  of  Sir  Walter  Scott." 

la  a  letter  to  me  about  thia  affair  of  the  De scour* 
p^?.  Sir  Wnkcr  sftys,  **Voi}t  Gordon  has  goi  my 
leave  to  mnkc  (i  fcirk  and  a  yftUl  of  my  Sertnfjns — 
heaven  save  the  mark  I  Help  him,  if  you  (ran,  to 
ihe  water  of  Pactolu^  oBd  a  swapptnfi  ihirla«tv" 
The  only  entriea  tn  tbo  Diary,  which  relate  to  the  bu- 
nmt^is,  arc  the  following  r— *^  Dec.  28.— HuntJy  Gor- 
don writes  ine  in  dfi«pmr  ahotit  i;  130  of  debt  vfhich, 
he  hoB  incurred.  He  wiahea  lo  tmblish  two  wr- 
moji»  ft'bich  I  wtoie  for  hint  when  he  was  taking 
orders i  and  he  would  get  little  rooney  for  tliem 
without  my  name.  Pcoplr  tnay  exclaim  aKninet 
the  undeeirfid  and  un>felcome  iKeal  of  him  who 
B I  retched  his  hand^  to  help  the  ark  over,  with  the 
best  intentions,  and  cry  i«Eimlefic-  And  yet  they 
wiil  dii  ma  gross  iniustice^  for  1  would,  if  called 
UpotiT  die  a  martyr  fut  tho  Chriiiliafi  religion,  io 
compkidy  ia  (in  my  poor  opinion)  its  divine  origm 
proveH  by  ita  benencial  effects  on  the  state  of  soci- 
ety. Were  WD  but  to  namo  the  nbolition  of  slavery 
and  polygainy,  hr>w  much  ha  a,  in  these  two  words, 
been  granted  ro  mankind  in  the  Itaaon?  of  onr  Sa< 
vionr.  January  It),  IS23.— Hantly  Gordon  hna  dis- 
posed of  the^  two  «crmons  to  the  bookseller*  Colbum, 
ior  £2&Q  i  well  sold  I  think,  and  to  gt)  forth  iiti me- 
dia IbIVh  Tho  ttmn  ia  a  pufTin^  t^uack  ;  but  ihouKh  I 
would  rather  the  thiiiR  had  not  gone  there,  and  for 
rather  that  it  had  ^ono  nowhere^  yet  hang  it,  if  it 
mnkes  the  poor  lad  easy,  what  netds  I  fret  aboiil  it 
After  all,  thijre  would  be  httle  grace  in  doing  a  kind 
thing,  if  you  did  not  suffer  pain  or  itt convenience 
upon  the  8cor*3 " 

Th*^  next  literary  entry  is  this  :— '' Mr.  Charles 
Hf  ath,  the  engrave^,  invites  me  to  take  charge  of  a 
ycarlv  publication  called  the  Eeeppoke,  of  which 
the  platee  are  bryond  comparison  beautiftil,  but  the 
letterpress  indifferent  enovt^h*  Hf  siropoeee  i:t!0O 
a -year  if  1  would  become  editor,  and  £-iW  if  I  would 
contribute  from  Beventy  to  one  htmdred  v^isvs.  I 
declined  both,  btit  told  nitn  1  riiiglit  give  him  nomtj 
trifling  thing  or  other.  To  become  me  stipocidiary 
-editor  of  5  New-YearVGift  Book  \»  not  to  be 
ihouxhi  of,  nor  could  I  agree  to  work  re|mlarlyj  fur 
any  i|uantity  of  supply*  at  Bueh  a.  ptiblicatir^n-  Even 
the  pecuniary  view  j**  not  llaiiering.  rhoueh  Mr. 
Hetiih  meant  it  should  be  so.  One  hundred  of  hi^ 
close  pnnlcd  pag«P,  for  whjeli  he  oifers  £400,  are 
nearly  e<iual  to  one  vohim^^  of  a  novel  Each  novel 
of  three  voluniefl  tjrincB  £A(}()0,  and  I  remfiin  pro- 
inriutor  of  the  mine  after  the  first  ore  is  scooihJ 
OUT."  The  result  of  this  ncj^otiaiion  with  Mr,  Heath 
was,  that  be  received,  for  jEMO,  the  liberty  sif  print- 
ing  in   bis  Keepsake   the  long  forao^ten  juvenile 


second  Chronickfi  of  Ctiof[  angry,  Hut  SirWaltt^r 
reKTL'ited  having  nicddletl  in  any  way  with  the  loy- 
stiup  of  literature,  and  would  never  do  so  agaiHi 
though  repeatedly  ofiered  very  large  aums^nor 
even  when  the  n^olive  of  private  regard  was  added, 
n[ion  Mr.  Allen  t'nnningham*&  lending  hia  name  ht 
one  of  these  pamtcd  blmlders^ 

In  the  ?ame  week  that  Mr.  Heath  made  bis  pro- 
poFition,  Sir  Walter  receivod  another  whieh  he  thus 
disftosea  of  in  hiift  Diary:—*'!  havo  an  mvitatjon 
from  iVIee&ra  Saunders  and  Ottky,  booksellera, 
#Hering  me  from  £lfi(iO  to  £aoO0  anntU|Uy  ti>  eoartuci 
a  jonrnah  but  I  am  ihdrhrimhl^|va^,  I 
tog  indolent  to  stand  td^Ml^lwi^t  V  wor^'tfiid  1 


626 


LIFE  OF  SIR  WALTER  SCOTT.'' 


must  preserve  the  undk^urbed  use  of  «ny  leisure, 
and  possess  my  soul  in  quiet.  A  lar^e  income  is  not 
my  object ;  I  must  clear  my  debts;  and  that  is  to 
be  done  by  writing  things  of /'which  I  can  retain  the 
property.    Made  my  excuses  accordincly." 

In  Januaryt  1828,  reprints  both  of  tne»Grandfa- 
ther^s  Tales  and  of  the  Life  of  Napoleon  were  called 
for;  and  both  so  suddenly,  that  the  booksellers 
woal()  fain  have  distributed  the  volumes  among  va- 
»rious  primers  in  ordm*  to  catch  the' demand.  Bal- 
lantyne  heard  of  this  with  natural  alarm:  and 
Scott,  in  the  case  of  the  Napoleon,  conceived  that 
his  own  literarv  character  was  trifled  with,  as  well 
as  his  old  ally  s  interests. »  On  receiving  Jameses 
first  appeal— that  as  to  the  Grandfather  s  Stories, 
he  wrote  thus :— I  need  scarcely  add,  with  the  de- 
sired effect. 

To  Rob^t  Cadelly  Etq.^  Edinburgh. 

"  Abbotsford,  3d  January,  18&& 
•*  My  dear  3ir, 

*'I  find  our  friend  James  BaOantyne  is  ver^  anxious 
about  printing  the  new  edition  of  tlie  Tales,. which  i  hope 
*  you  will  allow  him  to  do,  unless  extreme  haste  bo  an  ex- 
treme object  I  need  not  remind  you  that  we  three  are 
like  the  shipwrecked  crew  of  a  vessel,  cast  upon  a  deso- 
late island,  and  fitting  up  out  of  the  remains  of  a  gallant 
*b«rk  such  a  cock-boat  as  may  transport  us  to  some  more 
hospitable  shore.  Therefore,  we  are  bound  by  the' 
strong  tie  of  common  misfortuoe  to  help  each  other,  in 
so  iar  as  the  claim  of  self-preservation  will  permiUond  I 
am  happy  to  thiiUc  the  plank  is  large  enough  to  floarus  all. 

"  Besides  my  feelings  for  my  own  old  mend  and  school- 
fellow, with  whom  I  have  shared  good  and  bad  weather 
for  so  many  years,  I  must  also  remember  that,  as  in  your 
own  case,  his  firiendB  have  made  great  exertions  to  sup- 
port him  in  th^  prhiUng-olBce,  under  an  implied  hope  aod 
trust  that  these  pubUcotions  would  take  in  orainarif 
€U§e$  their  usual  direction.  It  is  true  no  engagement  was 
or  could  be  proposed  to  this  effect,  but  it  was  a  reasona- 
ble expectation  which  infiuenced  kind  and  generous  men,< 
and  I  incline  to  pay  every  respect  to  it  in  my  power. 

**  Messrs.  Longman  really  keep  matters  a  little  too  quiet 
for  my  convenience.  The  next  thing  they  may  telf  me 
is,  that  Napoleon  must  go  to  press  Instantly  to  a  dozen  of 
printers.  I  must  boot  and  saddle,  off  and  away  at  a  fort- 
night's warning.  Now  this  I  neither  can  nor  will  do. 
My  character  as  a  man  of  letters  is  deeply  interested  in 
giving  a  complete  revisal  of  that  work,  and  I  wish  to  have 
•    time  to  do  so  without  being  hurried.    Yours  very  tnilv, 

The  following  specimens  of  his  "  skirmishes,"  as 
be  used  to  call  them,  with  Ballantyne,  while  the 
Fair  Maid  of  Perth  was  in  hand,  ar^  in  keeping  with 
this  amiable  picture  :— 

"  My  dear  James— I  return  the  proofs  of  Tales,  and 
send  some  leaves,  copy  of  St  Valentine's.  Pray  get 
on  with  thU  in  case  wc  should  faU  throush  again.  When 
the  press  does  not  follow  roe,  I  get  on  alo^\y  and  ill,  and 

Eut  myself  in  mind  of  Jamie  Balfour,  who  could  run  when 
e  could  not  stand  stiU.  We  miut  go  on  or  stop  altoge- 
ther.   Yours,"  Ac.  &c. 

**  I  think  you  are  hyiyercrltical  in  your  commentary.  I 
'  counted  the  hours' with  accuracy.  In  the  morning  the 
citizens  went  to  Kinfauns  ud  returned.  This  puto  over 
the  hour  of  noon,  then  the  dinner  hour.  Afterwards, 
and  when  the  king  has  had  his  devotions  in  pyvate,  comes 
all  the  scene  in  the  court-yard.  The  sun  sets  at  half- past 
five  on  the  14th  February ;  and  if  we  suppose  it  to  be 
within  an  liour  of  evening,  it  was  surely  time  for  a  woman 
who  had  a  night  to  put  over,  to  ask  where  she  should 
sleep.  This  isthe  exT>lanation,~apply  it  as  you  please 
to  the  text;  for  you^wno  see  the  doubt  can  best  clear  it 
Yours  truly,"  Ac. 

"  I  cannot  afford  to.be  merciful  to  Master  Oliver  Proud- 
foot,  although  1  am  heartily  glad  there  Is  any  one  of  the 
fiersonages  sufficiently  interesting  to  make  you  care 
whether  he  lives  or  dies.  But  it  would  cost  my  cancel- 
Itns  half  a  volume,  and  rather  than  do  so,  I  would,  like  the 
valiant  Baron  of  Clackmannan,  kill  the  whole  characters, 
the  author,  and  the  printer.  Besides,  entre  noua,  the 
resurrection  of  Athelstane  was  a  botch.  It  struck  me 
when  I  was  reading  Ivanhoe  over  the  other  day. 

t'  I  value  your  criticism  as  much  as  evcf,  but  the  worst 
is,  my  faults  are  better  known  to  myself  than  to  you. 
Tell  a  young  beauty  that  she  wears  an  unbecoming  dress, 
or  an  iii-fasbioned  ornament,  or  speaks  too  loud,  or  com- 
mits any  other  misuke  which  she  can  correct,  and  she 
wiU  do  so,  if  she  has  sense  and  a  good  opinion  ofy^ 
taste.    But  ten  a  failing  beauty,  that  her  hair  is  getung 


grey,  her  wrinkles  apparent,  her  gait  heavy,  aod  that  she 


has  no  business  in  a  ball-room  but  to  be  ranged  i  ^ 
the  wall  as  an  ever-green,  apd  you  will  afflict  the  poor  dr* 
lady,  without  rendering  her  any  service.  She  knows  a| 
that  better  than  you.  I  am  sure  the  old  lady  in  questioa 
takes  pain  enough  at  her  toilette,  and  gives  yoo,  her 
trusty  euivantCf  enough  of  trouble.    Yours  truly, 

These  notes  to  the  printer  appear  to  have  been 
written  at  Abbotsford  during  the  holidays.  On  his 
way  back  to  Edinburgh,  Sir  Waller  halts  for  a  Satur- 
day and  Sunday  at  Arniston,  and  the  Diary,  on  tht 
second  day  says:— "Went  to  Borthwick  cbnroh 
with  the  family,  and  heard  a  well-composed,  well- 
delivered,  sensible  discourse,  froin  Mr.  Wright.* 
After  sermon  we  looked  at  the  old  castle,  whic|i 
mad6  me  an  old  man.  The  castle  was  not  a  bit 
older  for  the  twenty-five  years  which  had  passed 
away,  but  tiie  ruins  of  the  visiter  are  very  apparent. 
To  climb  up  ruinous  staircases,  to  creep  through 
vaults  and  into  dungeons,  were  not  the  easy  labours 
but  the  positive  BftortB  of  my  younger  years;  but  I 
thought  it  convenient  to  attempt  no  more  than  the 
aecMs  to  the  lar^e  ^nd  beauuful  hall,  in  which,  as 
it  is  Bomewbf-rij  dtHiorjl>edi  an  armed  horsemaB 
migh  t  brandif  h  h  t  s  1  an  ce  J  Th  is  feeling  of  growing 
inability  is  painful  to  one  who  boasted,  in  q>ite  oi 
infirnuty,  greai  boldnescc  snd  ^ft^^ft ntTin  sack  fieats: 
the  boldness  rejnain.^.  l>r  ^  .^  ^  d foot,  gr^  and 
accuracy  of  step  have  altt^ther  failad  me— the 
spirit  is  willing  biat  the  flesh  is  weak,  and  so  I  nraat 
retreat  into  the  invalided  corps,  aod  tell  theiD  of  my 
former  exploits,  which  roaj^very  likely  pass  for  lieai 
We  then  drove  to^alhoisia  where  the  ^lant 
Earl,  who  has  done  so  much  to  distingiiiiah  the 
British  name  in  every  quarter  of  the  oiobe,  is  repair- 
ing the  castle  of  his  ancestors,  which  of  yore  stood 
a  siege  against  John  of  Qaunt  I  was  bis  compan- 
ion at  tchool,  where  he  was  as  much  beloved  by  his 
playmates,  as  he  has  been  ever  respected  by  his 
companions  in  arms  and  the  people  over  whom  he 
has  been  deputed  to  exercise  the  authority  of  his 
sovereign.  He  was  always  steady,  wise,  and  gen- 
erous. The  old  Castle  of  DaJhousie— seu  sofws 
Dalwolsey — was  mangled  bv  a  fellow  called,  I  be- 
lieve, Douglas,  who  destroyed,  as  far  as  in  him  lay. 
its  militaiv  and  baronial  character,  and  roofed  if 
after  the  fashion  of  a  poor's-house.  Bomt  is  now 
restoring  and  repairing  in  the  old  taste,  and,  I  think* 
creditably  to  his  own  feeling.  God  bless  the  roo^ 
trefis! 

**  We  returned  home  by  (he  aide  of  the  Soutb^Esk, 
where  I  had  the  pleasure  to  see  that  Robert  Dundaa 
is  laying  out  his  woods  with  taste,  and  managing 
them  with  care.  His  father  and  uncle  took  notice 
of  me  ^en  I  was  a  *  fellow  of  no  mark  nor  likeH- 
hood 'S^nd  I  am  always  happy  in  finding  myself  in 
the  old  oak  room  at  Arniston.  where  I  nave  dr^k 
many  a  merrv  bottle  and  in  the  fields  where  I  have 
seen  many  a  hare  killed." 

At  tbe  opening  of  the  Session  next  day,  he  misses 
one  of  his  dear  old  colleagues  of  the  table,  Mr.  Mac- 
kenzie, who  had  long  been  the  official  preses  in  or- 
dinary of  the  Writers  to  the  Signet.  The  Diarvhaji 
a  pithy  entry  here :— "  My  good  frieiMl  Colin  Mac- 
kenzie proposes  to  retire  from  indifi*erent  health. 
A  belter  man  never  lived— eager  to  ^serve  everr 
one— a  safeguard  over  all  public  business  which 
came  throu^  his  hands.  As  Deputy-keeper  of  the 
Signet  he  will  be  much  missed.  He  had  a  patience 
in  listening  to  every  one,  which  is  of  infinite  import- 
ance in  the  management  of  a  public  body ;  for  many 
men  care  less  to  gain  their  point,  than  they  do  to  play 
the  orator,  and  be  listened  to  for  a  certain  ume. 
This  done,  and  due  quantity  of  personal  considera- 
tion being  gained,  the  indrvidual  ofator  is  usually 
satisfied  with  the  reasons  of  the  civil  listener,  who 
has  suffered  him  to  enjoy  his  hour  of  consequence." 

The  following  passages  appear  (in  various  ways)^ 

*  Tlie  Rev.  T.  Wright,  of  Borthwick.  m  the  author  of  vaiioas. 
popular  works,—"  llio  Mominff  and  Eveniog  Sacnnoe.*'  &c'  itt. 

t  See  Scott's  aeooont  of  tkis  Castle  io  lus  Prase  BAaceOuucaw 
Vol  VII. 

I  WiUiam  Bom,  Eiq.,  srehttcet,  EdiDbaHh.  tI/^ 

i  King  Hmry  /K,  Aeim.Bc%       ^      g  LL 


UFE  OP  SIR  WALTER  SCOTT. 


BS7 


too  curious  and  cKaract^ratic  to  be  omftted.  He  itf* 
working  hard,  alasi  too  hard— at  the  Fair  Maid  of 
Perth. 

V*  Ftburary  17.— A  hard  day  of  work,  being,  I 
think  eight  pages*  befA'e  dinner.  I  cannot,  I  am 
£ure,  tell  if  it  is  worth  parking  down,  that  yester- 
day, at  dinner-time,  I  v  ^t,  .  '■  v  ..^t^j  »^iy 
what  I  would  call  the  ser  -  n  firf -r  ximstnu.:— v«r..  a 
confused  idea,  that  nothitm  [hat  pnsjusd  was  said  for 
the  first  time. -chat  the  bvw:.  lopicji  h.id  been  diB- 
*  cueaed,  ana  the  same  per  'iji^  had  aitittd  iheeai,ie 
opinions  on  them.  It  is  '  rurj  rhtrc  miwht  havo  i^  i  n 
some  ground  for  recoil- ttjuns*  fofisidmni;  iliit 
three  at  least  of  the  company  were  t^ld  friends,  niid 
liad  kept  much  company  ios;elher;  that  \%  Ju-:  ■  .»- 
Clerk,  [Lord]  Abercromby,  and  I.  But  the  s<  iitJ- 
tidn  was  so  stroitg  as  to  ^oe^i;l1lbte  what  is  f^^XkA  a 
mirage  in  the  desert,  or  \  calenlure  on  board  of 
ship,  when  lakes  are  seen  fii  the  difsert,  and  »ikan 
landscapes  in  the  sea.  It  was*  vory  diatreaiiui?  fts- 
terday,  and  brought  to  m^  mind  th^?  faiicje^  of 
Bishop  Berkely  about  an  itjjal  wodd  ThL^tc  wn^  a 
vile  sense  of  want  of  reji!:iy  iu  all  I  did  and  (-sud. 
It  made  me  gloomy  ami  out  uf  j?piriji,  thoui^h  I 
flatter  mrself  this  was  rh^[  i.itp!-tr^>ii.  Tiit  Jkulily 
feeliojg  which  most  resenilili:^  \\\\^  \m\Av\iM\\\i,  imllu- 
cination  is  the  giddy  stiiU'  wliit:h  fullowu  i^rufuse 
bleeding,  when  one  reeU  ^1^  \\  hit  were  walking;  on 
feather-beds  and  couM  uoi  find  h  ^cutt;  footing.  I 
think  the  stomach  has  s^imeihin^  to  do  with  il  I 
drank  several  glasses  of  wini^  but  the«(>  oi>ly  j^j(- 
Inented  the  disorder.  I  did  not  find  the  "in  tino 
Veritas  of  the  philosophers.  Something  of  this  in- 
sane feeling  remains  to-day,  but  a  trifle  only. 

"  February  20^— Another  day  of  labour,  but  not 
so  hard.  I  worked  from  eight  till  three  with  little 
intermission,  but  only  accomplished  four  pa^ea.     ^ 

"A  certain  Mr.  Mack  ay  from  Ireland  called  on 
Tile,  an  active  agent,  it  would  seem,  about  the  re- 
form of  prisons.  He  exclaims,  justly  I  doubt  not, 
about  the  state  of  our  Lock-up  House. '  For  my- 
self I  have  some  distrust  of  the  fanaticism  even  of 
philanthropy.  A  good  part  of  it  arises  in  general 
from  mere  vanity  and  love  of  distinction,  gildefl 
over  to  others  and  to  themselves  with  some  show 
of  benevolent  sentiment.  The  philanthropy  of 
Howard,  mingled  with  his  ill-usoKe  of  his  son, 
seems  to  have  risen  to  a  pitch  of  msanity.  Tet 
without  such  extraordinary  men,  who  call  attention 
to  the  subject  by  their  own-  peculiarities,  prisons 
would  have  remained  the  same  dungeons  which 
,  they  were  forty  or  fifty  years  ago.  I  do  not,  however, 
see  the  propriety  of  making  tnem*dandy  places  of 
detention.  Thoy  should  be  places  of  punishment, 
and  that  can  hardly  be  if  men  are  lodsed  better,  and 
fed  better,  than  when  they  are  at  large.  I  have 
never  seen  a.  plan  for  keeping  in  order  these  resorts 
of  guilt  and  misery,  without  presupposing  a  superin- 
tendence of  a  kind  which  might  perhaps  be  exer- 
cised, could  we  turn  out  upon  the  watch  a  guard  of 
angels.  But,  alas!  jailers. and  turnkeys  are  rather 
_  like  anftels  of  a  different  Hvery,  nor  do  I  see  how  it 
is  possible  to  render  them  otherwise.  Quis  cuttodiel 
ipsoa  custodes?  As  to  reformation,  I  have  no  great 
belief  in  it^  when  the  ordinary  classes  of  culprits, 
who  are  vicious  from  ignorance  or  habit,  are  the 
sulijectsof  the  experiment.  *  A  ahave  from  a^broken 
loai'  is  thought  as  little  of  by  the  male  set  of  delin- 

fluents  as  by  the  faic  frail.  The  state  of  society  now 
caris  to  iBuch  accumulations  of  humanity,  that  we 
cannot  wonder  if  it  ferment  and  reek  like  a  compost 
dun'rhill.  Nature  intended  that  population  should 
bf  diffused  over  the  soil  in  proportion  to  its  extent. 

f  We  have  accumulated  in  huge  cities  and  amother- 
in?  manufactories  the  numbers  which  ahoidd  be 
spread  over  the  face  of  a  Country ;  and  what  wonder 
that  thcv  should  be  oorrup)edt  We  have  turned 
healthful  and  pleasant  brooks  into  morasses  and 
pestiferous  ]akes»— what  wonder  the  aoil  should  be 
unhealthy?    A  great  deal,  I  think,  might  be  done 

'  Dv  executing  the  punishment  of  deathy^  withoiit  a 

chanc^of  escape,  m  all  cases  to  which  it  should  be 

•  i.  A.  fWjt  paiiM  of  print,  or  vsry  Dtailf. 


found  pFjOBerly  applicable ;  of  course  these  occasions 
bein^  diminished  to  one  out  of  twenty  to  which 
capital  punishment  is  now  assign^.  Our  ancestors 
h|ought  the  country  to  order  by  kilting  thieves  and 
banditti  with  strings.  So  did  the  Freuch  when  at 
Naples,  and  bandits  became  for  the  timemiheard  of. 
When  once  men  are  taught  that  a  crime  of  a  certain 
character  is  connected  inseparably  with  death,  the 
moral  habits  of  a  population  become  altered,  and 
you  may  in  the  next  age  remit  the  punishment  which 
m  this  it  has  been  necessary  to  inflict  with  stem 
severity. 

"  February  21.— Last  night  after  dinner  I  rested  ' 
from  my  work,  and  read  the  third  series  of  Sayings 
and  DoingSy  which  shows  great  ^knowledge  of  hfe 
in  a  certain  sphere,  and  very  considerable  powers  of 
wit,  which  somewhat  damages  the  cflfect  of  the 
tragic  parts.  But  Theodore  Hook  is  an  able  writer, 
anof'  90  much  of  his  work  is  well  said,  that  it  will  . 
carry  through  what  is  indifferent.  I  hope  the  same 
good  fortune  for  other  folks. 

**  I  and  watching  and  vaitin^r  till  I  hit  on  somg 
quaint  and  clever  mode  of  extricating,  but  do  not  see 
a  glimpse  of  any  on&  James  B.,  too,  discourages 
me  a  good  deal  by  his  silence,  waiting,  I  suppose,  to 
be  invited  to  disgorge  a  full  allowance  of  his  critical 
bile.  But  be  will  wait  long  enough,  for  I  am  dis- 
couraged enough.  Now  here  is  the  advantage  of 
Edinburgh,  in  the  country,  if  a  sense  of  inabiHty 
once  seizes  me,  it  haimts  me  from  morning  to  night  t 
but  in  town  the  time  is  so  occupied  ana  frittered 
away  by  official  duties  and  chance  occupations,  that  • 
you  have  not  leisure  to  play  Maater  Stephen,  and  be 
melancholy  and  gentlemanl&e.**  On  the  other 
Jiand,  you  never  feel  in  tpwn  those  spirit-stirring  in- 
fluences —  tho8«  gisnces  of  sunshine  that  make 
amends  for  clouds  and. mist.  The  country  is  saul 
to  be  the  quieter  life;  not  to  me,  I  am  sure.  In  town 
the  business  I  have  to  do  hardl/  costs  me  mors  « 
thought  than  just  occupies  my  mind,  and  I  have  as 
much  of  gossip  and  lady-Uke  chat  as  consumes  odd 
hours  pleasantly  enough.  In  the  country  I  am 
thrown  entirely  on  my  own  resources,  and'  there  is 
no  medium  betwixt  happiness  and  the  reverse. 

"  March  9.— I  set  about  snanging  my  papers,  a 
task  which  I  always  take  np  with  the  greatest  pos- 
sible ill-will,  and  which  makes  me  cruelly  nervous. 
I  don't  know  why  it  shoidd  Imso,  f&r  I  have  nothing 
particularly  disagreeable  to  Took  at;  far  from  it,  I 
am  better  than  I  was  at  thia  time  last  year,  my 
hopes  firmer,  my  health  stronf^er,  my  affairs  bettered 
and  bettering.  Tet  I  fe^l  an  inexpressible  nervous- 
ness in  consequence  of  this  employment.  The 
memory,  though  it  retainsrall  that  has  parsed,  has 
closed  sternly  over  it ;  and  this  rummaging,  like  a 
bucket  dropped  suddenly  into  a  well,  deranges  and 
confuses  thekieas  which  slumbered  r>n  the  mind.  I 
am  nervoijig,  and  I  am  biUous,  and,  in  a  word,  I  am 
unhappy,  ^his  is  wrong,  very  wrong;  and  it  is 
reasonably  to  be  apprehended  that  something  of 
serious  misforttme  may  be  the  deserved  punishment 
of  this  pusillanimons  lowness  of  spirits.  Strange, 
thm  i;::i;  wlw.  Ut  UiO.t  iirni>:.^.  ^..^y  be  said  to  have 
enoufzii  ot  the  '  care  na  by^/  ^iiouid  be  subject  to 
suL-h  vile  weakness  I- DTummond  Hay,  the  anii- 
qunry  nnd  Lyon-heraldtt  cnmo  in,  I  do  not  know 
any  ibin^  wnit:b  relieves  ihe  mind  so  much  from 
tha  Ealleri!)  ae  mining  iHtiCiiS&ionffi  nhout  antiquarian' 
oid  iromanrit^.  It  ia  like  kniniug  a  stocking, 
diverting  the  mind  wjrhout  oeiiipying  it;  or  it  is 
liki,  i^y  Our  Lndy,  a  tpdl-dan],  wfiich  leads  one's 
thniii^li  !A  Ei  niiy  and  imjM  tf  ^-pnHly  oai  of  the  channel^ 
in  ViHi<^h  tbt*y  .uc;  chafing  and  boihng.  To  be  sure, 
it  i^  only  comjeit'tiuf;  ihi'm  to  turn  a  child's  mill: 
whfi !  fiiiinifiee  thai  ?-  iho  divef slot)  iw  a  relief,  though 
th<-  fi^iUri  J!i  of  liMlc  ititportaace.  1  cannot  tell  what 

^*Man^  12.— I  was  sadly  worried  by  the  black  dog 

this  morning,  that  vile  palpitation  of  the  heart— 

*  S<«  Bon  JolinMo'a'£oery  iron  in  Mi  Uumcur.^   Aeti« 

^*  W.  A.  Drummood  Hay,  Eaq.,  (now  eonoul  at  Taofier.)  was 
at  thM  Ume  tlie  deputy  of  hM  couaia  the  Earl  uf  Kinnoufl,  hartd- 
itarjr  Lord  Lyoa  Kins  at  Anna. 


LIFE  OF  Sm  WALTER  SCOTT. 


ilan  \vhic}i 


tA&t  tremcr  corjlu— that  hyatoneal  pajman  \vhic}i 
foicce  unbiddon  rlghs  nnd  t-jurs  and  WEs  upon  a 
coaiiiiTiU'ii  [\Xii  IJce  a  driU[^  of  int  on  while  paper, 
which  i»  not  ihk  Ikes  a  a  Lain  because  it  earned  .no 
V  meanini^.  I  wrote  ih^e  kflvea,  Uowever,  and  the 
»tory  Roee  on. 

"  The  diseolutjoti  of  the  Yeomanrif  was  the  ttcu>f 
the  lust  Miiiiiiiry,  The  pzeMenx  did  noi  alicr  ihe 
mesBurf.^  <3n  accourti  of  thci  pxpense  sieved.  I  Bm, 
if  not  Lh(2  very  otdest  Veonian  in  ScoiJand,  one  of 
the  olde^tf  and  have  ^en  tlie  risei  proj^repsn  and 
now  ihfl  fall  of  this  very  conaiitutiDtial  part  of  ihe 
nutionfll  fkjree.  U&  pflieacy,  on  ocQ&SMioa  of  msur* 
rcctiorji  was  asjffidcntly  proved  in  the  Radical  Un\K. 
But  heaideis  il  kept  up  a  spirit  of  hiirrofluy  between 
the  propria tora  of  land  and  the  orcupieri*  and  made 
iheai  known  to  and  beloved  by  each  other  j  and  it 
Kayo  la  iheyotins  men  a  son  of  military  and  bigh- 
eptriled  character  which  alwaya  does  honour  to  a 
\  country*  The  rnanufwcinrerH  ar«  in  er^iat  glee  on 
Ihfa  orcaeion.  I  wish  ParUament,  as  they  havi> 
turned  the  Yeom>:!n  adrift  ao  me  what  aeomfuilv* 
mm^  aot  have  occaaion  to  roar  them  in  Of^ain. 

^The  elriticb  ktitght  uave  tm  hie  arraa 

Willi  tnAay  a  fturrowfcil  stfi^h.'  " 

Sir  WttUer  finked  his  novel  by  ihe  end  of  March, 
and  tmmediaieLy  tiul  out  for  London,  where  the  last 
budpstof  proof-iheeis  reached  hinu  The  Fair  Maid 
waBif  and  coniinuru  to  be  hjj^hly  popular,  nnd  ihooj^h 

>  never  elaa*ed  with  hia  performances  of  [ho  first  fik\ 
it  hao  undoubtedly  several  scenes  wiual  *o  what  th*: 
be»t  of  them  can  ahow,  and  is  on  the  whole  a  work 
of  brilliant  variety  and  most  hvely  interest*  Thouch 

'  the  Introduction  of  i&3a  say  a  a  j^ood  deol  on  the 
rnom  orifjdnal  character,  inai  of  Connochar.  the 
reader  moy  not  be  sorry  to  have  one  para^aph  on 
thnt  auhject  from  tlie  Diary  t^*^  D^ttnbet  fi.  1B27.— 
The  ffllow  that  swam  the  Tay,  and  esc  aped,  would 
be  a  ^ood  ludicroua  charaiter.  Buti  have  a  mind 
to  try  him  in  iho  nt^riciuH  line  of  tmaedy.  Misa  Briil- 
lie  has  made  her  Eliding  a  cow/ird  by  temperament, 
and  a  bero  when  tonchcxl  by  filial  affection.  Sup* 
pose  a  titan's  nerves,  supported  by  feelings  of 
nonoiiTt  or  aay,  by  the  spur  of  jealousy,  f  nsiaining 
him  agamit  conatituiional  timidity  to  a  certain 
point,  then  HitMenly  giving  way.  I  think  something 
trftcic  migdt  be  prodtieisi*  if^ne^  BaHontyTie'B 
cniiciem  ia  ioo-%iuoW'>^i^^ded  upon  the  general 
taste  of  novels  to  admit  tl  lear)  ihb  ap^cies  of 
reasoninK-  But  what  cati  one  do!  !  am  hani  tip 
as  far  aa  imas^uation  is  concemedt  yet  the  world 
calls  for  novelty.  Well,  Til  try  my  bravr  coward 
or  cowardly  brave  m^n*     Vak^i  Tirflit/um.'* 

Themo^l  eareful  critic  that  hag  handled  thieTale, 
\phile  ho  pickfl  many  ho  lea  in  the  ph:it,  estimatevth^ 
characters  very  highly*  Of  the  glee- maiden,  He  vi^etl 
sayfl  E  ^*  Louise  is  a  delightful  sketch. —Noibinsj  can 
be  morfi  diouJBite  than  the  manner  in  which  Hpt 
fltory  ia  partly  told,  atid  partly  bmted,  or  than  the 
contrast  tietween  her  natural  and  her  prLvfae?iionol 
cba/acter;'^  and  after  diacuaainA^  at  i^ome  leuRth 
Roth«ayt  Henb  an  &,  Ramornoy,  &c,  ^.  he  eomes 
to  Connochar. 

•*  Tlilfl  characier'*  (saf  s  Mr.  Qenier) "  ifl  p^jittxlf  tragie, 
nelllier  too  bad  for  sympathy ^  nor  so  irwd  as  to  render 
ti4a  CMiliuuity  rerfiUiinK^  but  its  ^v^i  merit  is  xh^  boidnpna 
Wflh  Wbleh  ws  «ta  emUed  upoti  to  ii3rtnpathi7.c  wun  a  df^ 
tfclncj  wMeh  i*  fe&aro^ty  the  subject  of  unmULitatDi,} 
acoTTL.  ft  is  ImiMittlble  nal  to  feel  tl^Q  4o^i?p««i  commiac^ 
«  rafi'in  for  n  yoiitti  cursed  by  nam  re  with  ejttrciroc 
RciiHlbillty  bolh  to  shumer  and  to  feiir,  ftuddcniy  mlied 
fVoo)  a  \m  orobA^arturaiiii  peofCi^  to  liead  a  coalederaty 
<tr  \tarlfti«»  Aavof  Ftj  nnd  forced  !mm#:(ltately  oftdn^ardi 
to  etaci,  bef^ro  the  eyefl  of  iUousahiU,  bRtwncn  a  frifhi- 
Tul  d«lh  and  an  lirnoti]Enl<iOff  facape,  Thp  phHowphy 
of  couraflQ  and  caMrartiit-i^  ii  one  of  tlia  obscarffst  parti 
sif  hdiiuin  nattu^e :  (lanly  IttcJitisd  thft  ntuceptiblUtj  of 
fear  ta  mfi«h  affpcted  bjr  pby^iiral  c^usea,  by  habit,  and 
by  ^jjuople  ;  and  parti  v  b<?cauje  It  l»  a  »ul>jecf  m  To 
which  BKjn  (19  nei  reatUIy  state  the  result  cf  itiOr  own 
eJCj>«il€Bce,  and  nrhen  tftey  do  stute  It,  arp  moi  always 
ImpliciM^  behete^i.  The  «ubif*l  tia*  been  flJrTb<^^  per 
fit/?ier!,  In  inodprri  t\mm^  by  ihe  ScAndtfimiiin  invention, 
of  tha  polDi  of  honour  I— a  dottJlno  which  rflprcsiCnEi" 
ibfl  msatfestatlDD,  In  □»■!  &t4e«,  of  eteu  w^LUfoandi^] 


appreKenaloii  as  &it}  to  ill  fiobUIty  of  ehiraecar ;— «a 
opinion  m  tUUe  admittM  by  thoi  classical  world,  tbifc 
Houif^r  hftes  fttcribmed  io  iTertor,  nnd  Vlryfl  to  Tliniaa, 
cenatnly  wiihetu  aupv^^n'S  \h*}m  dishonoured, preciaely 
ihfl  sama  condircl  of  whkti  ^Ir  Walter  iu|kes  suicide  a 
conscqn^nce,  wUhour  bchig  &n  CT[>iatiOn.  The  result  of 
all  this  lias  been  that  fEcarcf^ly  any  modem  writers  have 
mad<  the  varieue  degre«A  of  couriige  a  source  of  much 
w^etv^nddJscTintUialloDof  clmracter.  Tbey have gnren 
u  indeed  pleniy  of  fi  rental  era  and  plenty  of  pcriuxTOOs; 
Hid  Si^iJcapf  are  has  paiufed  Ui  Fmlstiiff  constitutional  in- 
ircpldily  unsupported  by  honour;  but  by  lar  the  mosit, 
uiunl  nu>dificnHon  of  chirflcS+tr  acnong  persons  of  Yivid 
[Toajeinauon,  that  m  wliicti  ti  tiuicic  feeling  of  honour  com- 
bola  a  quick  apprehension  of  ilfOicer,  a  chancnsr  which 
il  tike  proclflo  conTerac  nf  F»l3(aff'«,  has  been  left  almost 
natouebed  for  Scott" 

I  alluded,  in  an  early  pan  qf  these  Memoirs 
(p.  HI,)  to  a  circumstance  in  Sir  Walter's  conduce, 
which  ]E  was  painful  to  mention,  and  added,  that  in 
advanced  life  he  himself  f<poke  of  it  with  a  deep 
feeling  of  contrition.  Talking  over  this  character 
of  Oonrioehar,  jtiflt  before  the  book  appeared,  he 
told  me  the  unhappy  fate  of  his  brother  Daniel,  and 
how  ha  had  declined  to  be  present  at  his  Aineral,  or 
wear  moiirninK  for  him*  He  added,  "My  secret 
motive  in  thia  attempt,  was  to  perform  a  sort  of 
expiation  to  my  poor  brother's  manes.  I  have  now 
learned  to  have  more  tolerani:e  and  compassioB 
than  I  had  in  those  days/*  I  said  he  put  me  in 
mind  of  Samtiel  Johnson's  standing  bareheaded, 
in  the  last  year  of  his  life,  on  the  market-place  of 
Uttoieter,  by  '*^'^y  of  penance  for  a  piece  of  juvenile 
irreverence  towards  his  father.  "  Well,  no  matter,** 
(said  he,)  "perhaps  that's  not  the  worst  ihinK  in  the 
Doctor's  itory."* 

CHAPTER  LXXVI. 

JOUKKIV  TO  LO^DOK— eHAaL£eOTS-BALL— HOLLAVn- 
HOTO«—  CBISWIC^—  KeNEUIQTON  PALAC«—  BICH- 
BS  OifD  PA  BI— OlLL'e-fl  ILL— BO  YD— 80THKBY— COL»- 
BltMJB— «[!  T.  ACKLA^IfD— SIBHOF  COFFLKSTOVS— 
VB9,  ABlTWaiCHT— LOBD  KIDSOUTH — LOBD  AltVAB- 
LEY— NOMTHCOTE— tlAVnON— CHAWTBEY  ABD   OCIT- 

iriNonAM—A>'»c DOTES— Li:TT«a8  TO  HK.  TBaav— 
atae.   LocKUAai^-A^n   aia   alixaitoxk  wood— 

niATJl  OF  Bia  WILUVV  rOBBBS  —  BgVUWS  OF 
HAIJI  BABA  IH  EKOLATJD,  AND  DAW^S  SALICOSIit 
— AKITG  OF  GEEEBSTEIN  BEOUIT— SECOKD  SXBBS 
OF  THZ  OBA^OFATMKk's  TALSB  FUBUSHBD— AFSIi. 
— l>ECEMBEBj    1829k 

Sib  Walteb  remained  at  this  time  six  weeks  in 
London.  His  eldest  aon^s  regiment  was  stationed 
at  Hampton  Court ;  the  second  had  recently  taken 
hia  desk  at  the  Foreif::n  DQicei  and  was  livinit  at 
his  sister's  in  iho  Re^^nt'a  Park  ;  he  had  thus  looked 
forward  to  a  happy  meetinjj  with  all  his  fiamily— 
but  he  encountered  scenea  of  sickness  and  distressi 
in  consequence  of  which  I  aaw  but  little  of  him  in 
general  sodeiy.  I  shall  cull  a  few  notices  from  hie 
private  volume,  which,  however,  he  now  opened 
much  leas  repufarly  than  formerly,  and  which  ofiiBrs 
a  total  blank  for  the  latter  half  of  the  year  1828.  In 
coming  up  to  town  he  diverf^ed  a  little  for  the  sake 
of  seeing  the  interesting  eubjeet  of  the  first  of  these 
fixtracU. 

'*  April  8-— Learn]  ne  from  Washington  Irring's 
desenpiion  of  Stratfoi^,  that  the  hall  of  Sir  Thom- 
as Lticy,  the  jusiicc  who  rendered  Warwickskhe 
too  hot  for  Shoksptare,  was  still  extant,  we  went 
inf^u<?9i  ofit* 

''  Charlecote  le  in  high  preservation,  and  inhabited 
by  Mr.  Lticv^  deserndani  of  the  worshipfol  Sir 
Thomas  The  Hall  is  about  three  hundred  jrears 
old,  a  bnck  m^insion  with  a  irate-house  in  advance. 
l\  is  surrounded  by  venerable  oaks,  realizing  the 
imagery  which  Shaksrieare  loved  to  dw^U  npon ; 
rich  verdant  pa  a  in  res  extend  on  every  sid&  ana  na- 
meroufl  herds  of  deer  were  reposing  in  the  shade. 
All  showed  that  ibe  Lucy  family  had  retained  their 
'latid  and  beevea.'  While  we  were  surveying  the  . 
antlcred  old  ball,  with  its  painted  ^ass  anid/amily 
pictures,  Mr.  Lucy  came  to  welcome  us  in  person, 
•  So«  Cnkir  «  B9*mi^h  ^^'^  ^liHiim  V9I.  v.  ^  flt.1 


UFE  OP  Sm  WALTER  SCOTT. 


629 


and  to  show  the  honie,  with  the  coUect'iDn  of  paiDt- 
nffs,  which  seetna  vanrefale. 

"He  told  ra^the  park  fVom  whkh  Sbakipisan? 
stole  the  buck  was  not  that  which  sUTTOtmrtif  Cbnr- 
lecote,  but  belonged  to  a  mansion  at  ik>iu«  difttnnec^ 
where  Sir  Thomas  Lucy  resided  at  ihc  time  of  ihp 
trespass.  The  tradition  went  «that  the^  hid  ihr 
buck  in  a  barn,  part  of  which  was  etsiidm^  a  fi^w 

I  ears  agos  but  now  totally  decayed.  ThU  paik  no  i 
)Dfler  bNefonics  to  (he  Lucys.  The  hou^  Uar^  no  i 
marks  of  decay,  but  seems  the  abode  oi  ^ax  and 
opulence.  There  were  some  fine  old  books,  and 
I  was' told  of  many  more  which  were  noi  in  ord^r^ 
How  odd  iz  a  fouo  Shakspeare  shauhl  be  fotiud 
amon«t.  them.  Our  early  hreakfaet  Uid  not  pi.r- 
mit  takm^  advantage  of  an  excellent  reroai  ofTcrcd 
by  the  kindness  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Lucy,  tlw  last  u 
lirehr  Welsh  woman.    This  visit  ksvo  q)<^  gi^ai 


his  own  armorialara  the  ball  window,  lIi^u  was  his 
yerson  in  mv  mind's  eye.  There  is  a  pici^ro  ahciwo 
as  that  of  the  old  Sir  Thomas^t  Mr.  Lu<:y  coa- 
jecturea  it  represents  his  son,  There  ^f^ir^  three;  da^ 
scents  of  the  same  name  of  ThomaSn  Tlio  portrait 
hath  *  the  eye sever&  and  beard  of  formnl  cm,  vf)i\d\ 
fiU  lip  with  jodidai  avstarity  the  othtrwieo  sociol 
^fajrsiognomy  of  the  ^6rshipml  preeerLCA  i^ith  his 
•i^  rotind  belly  with  good  eapon  Mned/f 

"^Hcgenfs  Parht  April  17.— Made  U|»  mv  journat^ 
which  had  fallen  something  behind.  In  th la  p h s o- 
Msmagorial  place  th^  objects  of  the  d^iv  oomc  nod 
depart  like  shadows.  Weat  to  Murruy'^^  whera  I 
met  Mr.  Jacob,  the  great  economifiL  He  i^  pro- 
posing a  mode  ofsupportiDg  the  M>or,  by  compming. 
uem  to  labour  under  a  species ormiUt a r>'  djscipUjje. 
I  see  DO  objection  to  it,  only  it  will  make  a  n^boJlioa 
tp  a  pertamty :  apd  the  tribes  of  Jacob  will  cut 
Jacob  s  throat.t 

^  ** Canning's  conversion  from  populir  opinions 
was^strani9uy  brought  round.  Whde  he  wqs  ^tudy- 
i(ig  in  the.  Templ&  and  rather  entertaining  n^volu- 
tionary  opmions,  Grodwm  sent  to  say  \hM  hf.  was 
coining  to  breakfaat  with  him.  to  speak  on  a  subj«4^t 
of  the  highest  importance.  Canning  k  n  v  w  1 ;  u  le  u  f 
him,  but  received  his  visit,  and  leaxni^  to  hia  nAton- 
ishment.  that  in  expectation  of  a  uuu  urder  of 
things,  the  Knglish  Jacobins ^desigped  i&  pluct  him, 
Canning,  at  the  head  of.  their  revoluiioQ.  He  waa 
much  struck,  and  asked  time  to  think  whai  course 
he  should  take— and  having  thought  ihe  matter 
over,  he  went  to  Mr.  Pitt,  and  made  the  Anti-Ja- 
cobiii  confession  of  faith,  in  which  he  pcmeveri^ 

gnlil .    Canning  himself  mentioned  this  to  Sir 

W.  Blnighton  upon  occasioa  of  giving  a  pluoe  in 
the  Charter-house  of  some  ten  pouiiiis  a-jear  to 
Godwin's  brother.  He  could  scarce  do  ke&  for  one 
who  had  offered  him  the  dictator's  curtilc  cbair. 

**  Dined  with  Rogers  with  all  iny  owi]  family,  and 
met  Sharp,  Lord  John  Russell,  Jekyll  mid  othf^Tti 
The  conversation  flagged  as  usual,  anii  Jokos  wero 
fired  like  minute  guns,  producing  ancJTt^ct  not  much 
leas  melancholy.  A  wit  should  always  h^ve  sn 
atmosphere  congenial  to  him,  othern'iae  he  wilt  not 
sihiue. 

'*  AprU  18.— Braakfiiated  at  Hampstead  with  Jo- 
anaaBailKe,  and  found  that  gifited  peh<m  extremely 
well,  and  in  the  display  of  all  her  nativt:  knowledge 
^  cnaraot6r%and  benevolence.  I  u^ouJd  kwu  as 
much  to  have  a  capital  picture  of  her  m  for  any 
portrait  in  the  worii  Dined  with  the  Dean  of 
Cheater.  Dr.  Philpotts— 

*  Where  all  above  us  wu  a  selenm  row 
Of  priest!  aiHl  deaooM— so  were  hll  bel<>w.'1 

.Then  were  fhe  amiable  Bishop  of  London  (How* 
ley,)  Coppleatone,  whom  I  remember  ih^  first  man 

««  HMit  n^..  Act  m.t  gone  & 
f  JM  Y(tuL1kt!hAtH..Beie7, 

1 1  believe  Mr.  Jaeob  publisbed  at  this  timr  fome  ittrt*  can 
SgV»  tba  Poor  Colpoin  insliliitad  br  tbt  Kirt  uf  il»  NeUwr 

illiaUM'ilUeQrfllisDiiB^OTatan.'  *   V 


at  uiford,  now  Bishop  of  Llandafft  and  Dean  of  ^ 
St  Paiii'<}  ijiiTonaly  mrpllif^ent.)  and  oiher  diK*it-'^ 
tarief**  of  whom  I  ktiew  l^m.  It  wua  a  vtiy  pt^aa-  • 
an!  day— (h<j  wig»  ai^nirist  ihe  wJTa  for  m  Biainen,  . 
in  poijvt  of  cfiovorsation,  Ann^  looked  qu(*tT,  and 
much  dippoaed  ro  laiiRh,  at  findinj^  heriBolf  p  J  need 
beiwi^l  two  pHatc«  in  blnck  paiUc?oati.  t 

"  April  it>."BreakfftfliG(l  with  Sir  George  Phil- 
Ijps^  Had  hia  nctmi  against  the  blcHEom^  hej^i? 
injured  by  froat.  It  ctinwi^ls  in  wfltcrine  them 
pjenrifully  brjfore  sunriacn  This  ia  like  tlia  modv  of 
thawing  beef.  We  bad  a  pleaitint  morning,  much 
the  b^twf  that  Morntt  wns  wiih  ns.  Dined  with 
Sir  Itobert  ftjglis,  and  met  Sir  Tiiomaa  Acland^ 
my  old  and  kind  frtond,  }  was  happy  to  sec  lunj. 
Ho  ma^  he  Con«idi,Ted  now  as  the  hi? ad  of  the  r^li- 
pious  pnriv  \n  (h^  Hoaac  of  Corfimon*,  a  poweiful 
body  vihkh  Wilbtrftjfce  long  comnianckKl  It  b  a  ] 
difficuli  tfituation ;  for  the  ada^jtation  of  religious ' 
motive!^  (o  earEhlv  policy  is  apt—among  ihr  inffnite  ' 
{IchisioTia  of  the  humnn  htari— ti>  be  a  snare  But 
I  cotild  confiik'  much  m  Sir  T.  Aclanij*9  Uononr  and 
inteicrity.  Bi sh op  Bloo mfield  o f  Che ?ler,  o ne  of  I ftc 
moat  leariied  pr^mit's  of  the  church,  alao  dined. 

*'j4pnl  25.— Sophia  left  tliLS  to  take  down  poor 
JohuDi^j  to  Brighten.  I  fear-I  fear—but.  we  m oat 
haw  the  boat*     Ann^  vcni  t^ilji  her  sister. 

*^  Lockhart  aod  I  dmed  with  Sothehy,  wher«  wc 
met  a  farKP  i^arty,  the  orator  of  which  ^as  thai  esx,' ; 
iToordinary man  CoIi?riJite*    After  taiing  a  heartfr. 
dinntr^  during  which  he  j^poka  not  a  wr^rd,  he  bt^ 
pan  a  most  ItaJiitd  haraogueon  the  Samothraclan 
Sfyptcrios,  w^hieh  he  rfgard*  as  ofTordijisf  the  ferm 
of  all  tales  abottt  faihcs  paFtt  pr*»tnf,  aHiT  to  cattft  ' 
He  Then  diverged  tn  Hottict,  whose  Ihad  he  tott- ' 
sidetcd  aa  a  collection  of  j^oems  by  dilTtrfGi  au- 
thora.  at  ditTerent  timoa,  dtiring  a  century.    Morriit. 
a  2eabiis  worshipper  oi  thpold  bard,  waa  incensed^ 
at  a  avatpm  which  wouUf  itirn  him  into  ti  polvtheiBt^ ' 
ffa¥e  battle  %vith  kecnt^e^a,  ajid  wa»  ioinifl  by  Sothe- ' , 
by.    Mr.  Cole  rid  rp  tie  hn  vend  with  tln3  utnio&t  lom-^ 
plaissncuand  t<srnpcrf  htJl  rdaxed  not  from  hia  si-  * 
ertiona.    '  Zaiind?»  I  waa  never  ao  btthumped  with 
words/    Morritt'a  lmpatien<i©  moat  have  cost  him- 
a  n  eji  tra  aiipence  w  o  r  ih  of  snufll  ; 

"  Aprit  33.— Dined  at  Lady  Drrvy'a  with  Loro 
and  Ladr  Lansdowne  and  several  iitnttr  gn^  fiiiljif:*^^ 
rny  keyn  were  sent  to  BrJinjflh'a  wuh  my  itoakt  ao  [ 
have  not  had  ihe^  means  oJ  put  tin  k  down  tn  alters 
regularly  for  seveml  days.  Bot  w  bo  csrea  for  the 
whipp'u  crearo  of  London  society  1 

** April UA.—B^nt  th<?  day  in  reefi^ef^  a  road* 
bill  whit^h  drew  a  turf^pike  roai  ibrotsb  all  ih* 
Darnickers'  cotiaj^t's^  and  a  ^ood  Ml  of  ffiy  own. 
J  got  it  put  io  ri^hta.  1  was  in  aomo  apprehen&jon 
of  bein«  oh]]ged  to  sdifirM  the  <;ommittei?.  1  did 
not  fear  thgm,  for  I  suppose  they  are  no  wispr  or 
hotter  in  their  capacity  of  kuiNlDtora  than  I  find 
them  every  day  ai  dinner  tlui  I  ftared  for  my 
r*^Mtaiion.  They  would  have  expicted  Aonieihina 
better  than  the  occasion  demanded,  or  the  iitdivid- 
tifil  could  produce,  and  there  would  have  bAea  a., 
failure^  We  bad  ^ne  or  two  persons  at  home  m 
f^reai  wretched nees  to  dinner.  I  was  not  able  to 
make  ony  fiffht^  and  the  evening  went  olT  as  heavily 
Sd  any  I  ever  spent  in  the  course  of  niy  life. 

'*  April  26h— We  dined  at  Ibchardson^s  with  the 
I  wo  Chief  Barons  of  Kn^land*  and  Scotland^t -ftdd- 
enough,  the  one  bcini^  a  Scotsman  and  the  other 
an  EtiKlifthtnan— fiir  the  pleaaantctit  day  wo  have 
had.  I  BuppoBfl  1  am  partial,  but  1  think  the  lawyers 
beat  the  bLshops,  and  the  biehopf)  beat  the  wita. 

^'  April  57,— Thi?i  rnorninc  1  went  to  meet  a  rc- 
markabk  man,  Mr.  Boyd  of  the  hotise  of  Boyd. 
Ben  field,  &  Co.,  which  bf^ake  for  n  very  large  $Qtn. 
St  the  begitining  of  the  war,  Ben  field  went  to  the 
diivil*  I  believe*  Boyd*  •  man  of  very  different 
atamp,  w«nt  over  to  Parti  to  Look  aftcir  some  largis 
claims  «?bieh  hta  house  bad  on  the  French  Govern-, 
ment  They  were  aucb  a?,  it  seems,  ihey  could  not 
dieavoWt  howirver  tbey  might  be  disposed  to  d^  so, 

*  Sk  Wmian  ja»udft.Digitize^i9iT«uKMl  i^tmhtA 


630 


OPE  OF  SIR  WALTER  SCOW. 


h; 


But  they  used  every  efforf,  by  fotij  m^Aus  and  fair, 

to  induce  Mr  Bqyn  to  d^fparL     He  was  r^duce^l  to 

po¥crt>;  he  Wfl9  thrown  into  prison  :  ond  the  rrniflt 

flnittnag  proepecti  w^re.  itn  tht  other  hand,  held 

ont  to  hjm  if  he  wiiitld  cuinpromise  his  claiiniiF.    Ha& 

Bufi  wer  wiiijt  uuifofm*    It  wa^  ihc  property,  }ni  &mJ^ 

of  his  crtditor^i,  and  he  would  die  ere  he  rcsif^ned  ii. 

HJH  discfcsaefi  were  so  jEfrcat^  thut  a  aubsoription 

M^aa  mnde  amotiKat  his  Si^ouidh  frienda,  lo  which  I 

wa?  a  eomnburor,  through  the  ffxiuesi  of  poor  Will 

Rreltine*    Ah<&r  the  pt^^Oi  or  Pari*  iho  toonej  wa» 

it'atoredi  and*  fajthtul  icf  the  last,  Boyd  laid  the 

whole  a^f   hi^  creJi tors'  di;?po.?&i  ^  aialinz.  at   ibe 

eainc  timci  thai  bo  wild  pctiniltjaB  unless  tniy  con- 

at'uied  to  allow  biiii  a  mod^jfatt^  sum  i\\  name  of  per 

cenia^e,  in  coneidtraiiou  of  twenty  years  of  e^iic^ 

jovcrrVi  aod  danger,  all  of  which  evils  he  naiKht 

Jiave  eecapLHl  by  surre,'ndt2nn^  their  ngbia,     Wiii  it 

be  believed,  ihat  a  muck-worm  was  baso  enough  to 

Teflil*  hb  consyni  to  this  deduction,  alkain^ihe  had 

ptomiaed  to  his  falhei;  oa  hia  death  bed,  never  lo 

coropfonitije  tliis  d^bi  1    The  wretch i  ttowf ver,  was 

overpowered  by  thu  execrations  of  all  aroimd  hinv 

and  com  urredj  widi  others,  in  sett iof  apart  for  Mr. 

Boyd  a  anm  of  i;4rt,i^L>0  of  X50^0fX>  out  of  holf  a  mil- 
lion.   Tbi^  is  a  mnn  to  whom  statucia  should  bo 

erect  I'd  J  and  f  il  grim*  shout  d  go  lo  ^cc  him*    He  is 

good  Tookin^i  but  old  and  infirm.    Bright  dark  eyes    . ^^^^  ^  -^ 

niid  eyebrows  eontrHSt  with  hia  anowy  bnir,  and  I  Hudacioualy  mi  up  in  a  faahiunahle  <}uan#r  of ^ 

all  hia  features  mark  vigour  of  princfplfr  and  resolu-    town  as  a  peri*oti  ihrouch  whogt?  mtluence,  ppoporff 

lion.  '  propitiatt-d,  fat^oars  and  aitnationB  of  ifrrportfldCie 

■*'AFn7  m-Wo  have   Mr.   Adolpbaa,   and    hb    '^iKtit  c^jtainlv  be  oMained-alwaya  for  acon^^ 

faLher,  the  c^Tebrati.^  lawyt^r.  to  brtakTaat,  and  I    f*^^^',  ?^^  cheated  ma^  people,  and  maintti^fff 

waa  greaily  del^^hted  with  the  information  of  the    t^^a.  Tnck  for  months,    One   incK  wad  to  ««!  tb« 

lauer.     A  barrieier  of  extended  practice,  if  he  baa    «ItiipaE^a  of  Lord  North,  and  other  P«T^op>  «  cm-_ 

any  lalent*  ai  all.  U  the  heat  companK>n  m  iho   portane*?  to  haliblfcre  her  door,  aatf  t.^^^^^ 

world.     Pined  wiih   Lord  Alvanley  jind  met  Lard  I  ^''^  T^^]3\  T^^t  refipect  to  nioat  of  ihem,  ihM 

Fiiiroy  Soinere^t,  Mamtiis  and    Marchioneaa  of  ,  ^^  efeted  by  brtbins  the^  dmera,    fa'JJf^jJ*;^ 

Worcester,   &c.    Urd  ilvanJoy'a  wti  m«de  ibia    man  who  warht^b^^.ciosi.^y.ohaerwd  that  C^^ 

■■'■**  '      '  J.  Fox  actufjJty  Uft  Ilia  eanioge  and  went  int^tM 

hoiiae^  and  th]»  more  than  once.    He  waathei^*  it 
must    be   noticed,  in  the  IVltnrstry.     When  Mr*. 


r  :iiMrcr  should  bare  i^oljiiAg  to  do  with  politic:!. 
lit:  jd  L tirtainly*a clever fetlowj  but  u>o  ejuhmiMtic 
which,  however,  diatresB  eeema  ijO  have  citred  m. 
E!ome  dei^^tv  ftia  wife,  a  pretty  womarK  Umked 
happy  to  aw  nu\  and  mat  iis  tovneihmg,  Yel  il 
was  very  htite  l  could  d^  to  help  them.* 

*'  May  &.— Din^d  wi(h  Mrs.  Alexnndei-  of  Ballaeh- 
myle,— Lord  and  Lady  Meatb,  who  were  kind  \^ 
UP  in  Ireland,  and  a  Seotiiab  party,  Eilpnaant  from 
havinfi  the  broad  accents  end  hone»l  thuughla  of 
my  native  land.  A  large  circle  tn  the  evtodiiiff*  A,, 
Banileman  came  up  to  mc  and  aak^  '  If  f  had  seen 
tfte  Casket,  acurtona  w«^rk,  tht?  moiit  bcatttiftil,  tb« 
most  hij^hly  ortiamenied,— and  ibtn  the  edttof  or 
cditresa--a  female  »o  iTiter^i^tiofft -mi^sbt  he  ft^k  a 
vi^ry  great  favour  T  and  out  he  pidlcd  a  |»ieo^  of 
thia  pic-nic.  J  wafl  really  angry,  and  said  for  o  tea^ 
ecrrption  be  mipltt  eommaneTnie-— for  a  oontribtttnr 
—No.  This  may  be  misteprpF^nled,  but  J  care  flot 
Suppose  thia  pairon  of  the  Mu**s  pivija  fivt  ^mea» 
to  hig  diatre^sfd  ladv,  be  will  ihink  be  do«B  s  iff  eat 
dealj  yet  be  lakcP  b'fty  from  me  with  the  cafme*tl 
air  ifi  the*  world ;  (or  th(?  commn mention  la  wortit 
that  tf  it  be  worth  any  ihitif^.  There  ii  no  {nuafutLnK 
in  the  proposal. 

'*  Afo*  &.— Gwunda  of  Fooie's  fa  Ice  of  the  p(«- 

en  era.    Lady  -—  — ,    A  certain  Mra*  Pa 


&c.  Urd  ilvanJoy'a  wit  made  ibia  man  who  watrhedh^^.ciosi.^y.ohaern 
party  vary  pleasant,  as  well  aa  the  kind  recafitloii  (  ^^^  actufjJty  Uft  hia  eanioge  and 
ofrn'-fneSditheMiafesArden.  "—  ""-^  '^^'^  "^^"  *^-"  ""-*     ^ 


"  M^y  I. --Break fasted  with  Lord  and  I#ady 
Franeis  Gower,  and  enjoyed  the  aplondid  treat  of 
hearing  Mrs,  Arkwright  aihg  her  own  muaic,  which 
ia  of  the  liiKheitForder— no  forced  vagariea  of  the 
voice,  m>  aiprioesof  ttitie^  but  aU  telling  upon  ahd 
intireafifig  the  foelia;^  the  words  require,  Thi*  li 
*  marrying  nmaic  to  immortal  verse,'  Most  people 
place^  ihetn  on  sepirato  niamtefionee.* 

".T/rty  2,-1  breakfasted  with  a  Mr^  — ,  aitd 

narrowly  escaped  Mr,  Irving  tho  cel^rnted  preach- 
er. Thii  two  ladies  of  hia  houae  aeetiicd  dovotfd  to 
hia  opinion  a,  and  ouoted  him  ai  evTTy  word.  Mr. 
himself  made  aoioe  apijilogiea  for  the  Milieu 


Fhipps  waa  blown  np,  thia  ctrcumslance  waa  rccoJ^ 
jeeted  as  deaer^nng  explanation,  whk-b  Fox  rradilf 
gave  at  Brookes*  ma  elaewhert.  It  fteeini  Mm' 
Phippahad  tb*  art  to  pcfMiBde  him  that  she  tad  Ae' 
di^ostal  of  what  was  thein  called  a  hyartta,  Iftaf  ia, 
an  beitefa-  nn  immense  Jamaica  heireaa,  ia  wlioia 
shy  was  wiiJingtot?;iveori***llher  iniereft  to  Charles 
For,  Withotti  having  perfect  eonfidtnte  in  the 
obliging  proposal^  the  ^eat  aiateamoo  thought  tha 
thing  worth  looking  after,  atid  became  no  t:arnrst 
m  it,  that  Mrs,  Phiiirp  w*aa  deairona  to  back  out  fef 
fear  of  discovery,  with  this  view  *he  made  coii-'' 
feasion  one  fine  mnminp,  with  many  pfofesaioas  of 


He  ifi  a  neat  antiquary,  who  tbinka  he  oo^ht    the  deepe^i  feehngs^  that  the  hyaint!  had  proved  a 

to  have  bei^n  n  man  f*(  li^tttr?,  nnd  'hat  his  eenju!?    fr^^il  mon!<T(^ri  atrd  givf^n  ttirth  to  a  pirl  nr  j^y^prft 

u~-.\.>'   ;...:..  .-..:. :::.:_  -  ..  .  .^  ■■;    "...      .  =  ..--  ^.hlcli.   Even  fK-  ^' '--.■..'-- f^---'.  -m- 


Sme  hMiae  and  fine  famUy  shonM  hHve  checked. 
>ni|iare  hit  dwelliiis^  hie  comfona^  with  poor  Tom 
OampbeU'a. 

**jifey6>-Bn9ak|ll«ted%ith  Hay^kn,  and  sat  for 
MVhead.  I  ll<9pe' thift  ai'tim  hi  on  his  legs  agltin. 
Tm  King  has  «nren  him  a  lift,  by  baying  his  clever 
picture  of  the  Mock  Eiectioh  in  the  King's 'Bench 
piUK>n»  to  which  he  i^addios  a  aecimd  pert,  F^re- 
■bMing  theohairinflr  ^f  the nMmhecat the  metnent 
it  W9m  interrupted  by  the  entry  of  the  guards. .  Hay* 
don  4k^aaonce  a^eat  adknirer  and  ooronaAion  of  the 
QnaDipk}nf  of  thd-Uoekney  aehooi  iina  is  now  dia- 
posed  to-reoounoe  them  and  thbir  opiiboiia.  To  thia 
kind  of  converaaiipn  I  did  not  give  mueh  wa/.    A 

^  •  Aitonf  ottHMooffi  Mtt.  Arkwright  (am  tata,  p.  ns.)  delighted 
Btr  W«te«r.^b  her  own  aet  fif- 
twetti 


"FwpwtJH  Forewel 

Hm  Icflltl  IftgtsoL ,„. 

lU  a«xt  niaM  joia  llto  tniward  thoett 


^  "tbe  ypice  yon  hear 

it«  Iftgt  soft  tone  tHttf  yofO, 


Arid-aboatoinoeffltiaaiKAitintorawV^^kiew    . 
B0wa9  Mttiw  Uy  m,  at  •qom  dwUnoo  vim  the  lady,  and  whit- 
vfiiM  «« tho  qlojic^. "  caDital  Woffis.— wbosa  ate  therJ-Bjrron'a 
1  MtiTMMN'.  biit  I  dd^'t  rtjmetnbar  tfyrm."    H*  was  astonbhed 
wten  I  ir>M  bteHMU'tfaep  tvdn  fai>  own  la  dM»7katkH-ha  leMMd 


^eased  ^t  tiie  Biomeai—bat  said  next  mini 
W«tf  fm^H  MMMfy  goet.  all  la  Up!  W 
alwajt  mj  ttroog  point.** 


wior  aKj  air 


have  dis- 
(MktVaa 


waff  jptenty  and  certai(i,  the  circumstance  mi^t  be 
overfooked.  Mrs.  Phipps  had  nQihing  for  it  hut  to 
double  the  dis^sTitig  dose.  *Tne  poor  chfld,'  aha 
said,  *  w«s  unfortnnately  of  a  ixitxed  coloar,  some* 
what  tinged  with  the  blood  of  Aftica;  no  doubt  Mr. 
Foi  was  himself  very  dark,  am  the  drcimistance 
might  not  draw  attention,'  &c.  &c.  Thia  singular 
atwcdote  waa  touched'  Mffdn  By  Wnte,  and  is-  the 
cause  of  inftoducing  th^  ne^refi#'  into  tba  Co<^nerSi 
though  no  exf^riMs  allusion  to  Charles  Fok  waa  ad" 
mhted.  Ladv  — ^  tella  me  'that  in  h^  youth^  th^ 
laogh  waftumv^real  'eo  a^oN  as  the  Mack  woman 
appeared^  It  is  one  of  the  nuttleyous  hits  that  i^ 
be  lost  to  posterity. 

"  This  day.  at  the  reqiMsl  of  Sir  Williaoa  Knigh- 
ton, I  Mi  to  Korthcotc^  who  ia  to  iatroduco  himaelf 
in  the  same  piece  in  the  act  of  painling  me,  Uke. 
^ome  mdliires  of  (he  Venetian  achool.  The  artist  h 
an  old  man,  low  in  ataiure,  and  bent  with  yea^a— 
fourscore  at  least.  Btu  the  ere  ia  <iuick  aad'tka 
countenance  noble.  A  pleasint  eompknidb, 'i||- 
'' Mr  wWltdtr  bad  thdrOv  (M^lbre  Ii^hi  ai«»'ar  tfareoli 


inuje— "  You  haw  dis-    a  subscriiAion  for  Mr.  Hi 


Ma  sobscripUonieli/vedtBjStMt  pitiSS!S!SSS  ■UidtjBC! 
ihe  pkuire  mentiooed  in  iSkmufi 


LIFE  OP  SIR  Walter  scott. 


631 


j&ilkr  with  rccollf^tioni  of  Sii  Jo^shua,  S^mutl 
Johaiori,  Burke,  Goldsmith t  A-c  His  account  of 
tho  \^t  coniimi^  »ll  tbat  we  have  bc^rd  of  his 
oddintis. 

"  May  1 1." Another  long  sitting  Xo  tb*;  old  Wiznrd 
rjorthcote.  Ho  really  lesembl^  an  animated  nucm- 
my,  Dintd  with  hie  Majeaiy  in  a  very  pnvaie 
party,  five  or  sn  only  being  prt«€nt.  I  wai  rL-caiv^  d 
most  kiRcify^  as*  nutial-  It  ii  impo&fiiliU!'  to  ti^ncpive 
a  more  fnondly  mfinnof  than  tbni  his  Majesty  need 
towards  me.  iRpok^  to  Sit  Wtlham  Knighton  nbonl 
ih^'tlpdJcalion  of  the  collcct£-d  novdSs.and  be  eays 
it  %vdl  be  highly  wt;l]  taken.* 

"  Mty  17.— A  day  of  busy  idJen^as*  Richardson 
came  and  brealtfaprted  with  me,  Ilkr  a  good  ftHow. 
Then  I  weut  to  Mr,  Ubanuey.  Thertaf^c^  abouti 
12  o' clocks  I  went  to  IroakfasT  the  Sf^cond  at  L^dy 
Shtlle^'a,  wheje  lh*>re  was  a  fp'eat  morning  party. 
A  younK  lady  beRRtid  a  I  nek  of  my  hai^  whicrn  v/aa 
ni3t  worth  refti^n^,  I  Pttpulaied  for  u  kiaa,  which  I 
wiifl  permitsed  tu  take,  From  this  I  iwent  to  the 
Duko  of  Welti nf;ti:tm  who  pave  me  futri©  tiinrR  or 
Tsthor  details,  Afterwardd  1  drnve  nut  to  Cbiswickj 
where  I  had  nflvcr  ln^n  bt^fure.  A  nnmernns  ana 
Hay  party  \^  ere  aEijk'mhlpd  to  walk  and  cnjisy  the 
beautiea  of  tbat  Palladian  dome.  The  plara  and 
bif^hJy  ornamented  gardens  b«] longing  tn  i  t  temuMe 
a  pititure  of  Waitcau.  Therv^  ta  a^^me  a  Deviation  in 
thepietnrei  but  in  the  cnwimbk  the  ori«iinL  looked 
very  weH.  ^be  Duke  of  Devonshire  rtcejved  cverf 
«nt  with  (he  befit  poftsibU  t»ianner*.  The  scene  wa« 
disnified  by  the  presence  of  an  immijnse  elephant 
wnoj  undor  ch«r«4J  of  a  grooin,  wandered  uii  Bnd 
downs  giving  an  ui  of  Aaiatic  pa^aiitr^  lo  the  ^n- 
terUittmont.  1  was  uevi^r  b(iJbre  at'n^iblc  of  th« 
diiKnity  whicb  larg^^nosa  of^i^e  and  freedoni  of  mov^ 
xnetit  give  to  thia  otbeTwino  very  -uely  aaiinah  Am  I 
waa  to  dino  at  Holland  Uouie,  I  md  not  pmtake  in 
the  magtiifieent  repast  *vbttb  was  ofltreii  to  ua^  and 
took  my^df  off  about  five  nVIock.  I  contrived  to 
make  a  demi-iodetu-  ai  Bolland  House,  rather  ti^ian 
drive  all  the  way  to  London.  Roj^crs  canit  to  the 
dinner,  which  waa  v«ry  entenainmi?.  Lady  Hol- 
land pTeatad  us  to  atav  all  mght,  which  we  did  ai> 
cardiitKly, 

"  Ma^  I  a —The  fresh  ncia  of  the  air,  the  sinking 
of  the  bird  A,  the  b«&utLfii1  aapect  of  naturi^  tlm  size 
of  the  venerabJe  trwB.  j?ave  rni?  altogether  n  dt^liffht- 
ftil  feehnjf  this  mominfj.  tt  styimed  there  waa 
pteuaure  even  in  livinNl  and  breathinK  wifhont  ^ny 
thbgelae.  We  U.  i.  Hop^Ts  Jintl  I)  wjindemd  mto 
a  iq-een  lane,  btjnicred  with  fine  treea,  which  misfit 
have  been  twenty  mil«»  from  a  town.  It  will  bf-  o 
^eat  jirty  whf^n  lliiH  ondent  hou«c  rnuat  come  down 
and  (five  way  to  rwwe  and  crescent?.  Jt  ia  not  that 
Holland  Houie  la  ftne  as  a  bdldirig,— on  the  eor^- 
trary  it  has  a  tumble-down  Jookj  and  Blthoueh 
dei^jrated  with  the  baatard  Gofhie  of  Jamt'S  Us 
time,  the  frorjt  it  heairv.  But  it  resembles  many 
respectable  matpsna,  wl*o  hflEving  been  nbsobttly 
tiKly  during  youth*  acquire  by  a^e  an  aiT  of  dismity. 
Bill  onr  19  ehiefly  aflineied  by  the  air  of  deep  seclusion 
w  hich  is  eiiread  around  the  domaiti. 

''  JIfuy  19.— Dinod  by  command  with  the  Ducheea 
of  Kent.  I  wBi  very  kiodly  rucoffoiaed  by  Prinee 
Leopold— and  preaentcJ  to  iha  Uttic  Fimceaa  V'lo* 
TOfia— I  hop4j  they  will  charif^c^  her  nanw^— ili*  lu'ir- 
apparont  lo  the  crown  aa  tbinga  now  «taad>  How 
strange  that  so  largo  and  fine  a  faindy  as  that  of 
hia  I  ale  Migestj  ghtiuld  have  ditid  off,  or  decayed 
into  old  aKe,  i,vith  eo  few  de#et?ndanta.  Prince 
GcoTse  of  Cumberland  is,  ihcy  soy,  a  fine  boy  about 
nine  years  old— a  bit  of  a  Pickle.  ThU  liUh  ludy  le 
educating  with  mtich  tram,  and  watdbpd  so  clowlif 
that  no  buay  maid  haa  a  moment  ItM^li taper,  '  You 
ara  hdr  of  England.'  I  aiwpt'Ct  if  we  coifld  diaeuct 
the  litiTe  heart,  we  ahould  find  ibat  aame  pigeon  or 
other  bird  of  the  air  had  carried  the  matter,  Sho  ia 
fait,  like  the  Royal  famdy  -the  Dtidhcaa  herairrlf 
very  pleasing  and  aflabte  in  het  manjiefs.  1  sat  by 
Mr.  Spring  Rice,  a  very  a^treeable  man.    There 


wcTO  afpo  Charlea  Wjmn  and  hb  lady-^and  the  ^ 
evening,  for  a  court  evening,  went  agfeeably  ofT.    I 
am  commanded  for  two  day^  by  Prince  Leopold,  but 
wdl  send  c;tctisea. 

"  May  24.— Thia  day  dined  at  Rich  mend  Park 
with  Lord  Sidmtjuth*  Before  dinner  hia  Lord  ship 
ahowed  me  letters  wbidt  paasfd  between  hia  father. 
Dr.  Addinjdon,  and  the  urt^ai  Lord  Chathnm,  There 
was  much  of  dial  fanuliar  fnendahip  which  arii^ea, 
and  muat  anse,  betwet-n  an  mvahd,  the  bead  of  an 
invahd  fafnily,  and  their  medical  adviser,  aupposing 
ihe  last  to  be  a  wise  and  well-bred  man.  The 
character  of  Lord  C hath anra  handviriting  ia  atrong 
and  bold,  and  hia  expreasioDa  abort  and  manly. 
There  are  intimation  a  of  hia  partiality  for  WiUiatft, 
whoa«  health  seem  a  to  h.'jve  been  (irecarioua  dunnff 
boyhood.  He  lalkaof  WJiiam  miiiating  bun  in  all 
he  did,  and  ealline  for  ale  beeauatj  hii^  father  was 
recommended  to  orink  it.  'Jf  J  phoiiJd  smoke,'  he  « 
aaid, '  Wdham  would  instantly  call  for  a  pipe  i'  and, 
he  wiaaly  inJera,  '1  must  take  caru  what  I  do.'  The 
letters  or  the  late  Willtani  Pitt  are  of  *^at  cunoaiiy ; 
but  uj?,  hkt:  all  ftal  bjtttrB  of  bu^inestif,   thev  only 


aUiid^  to  maiiej-a  with  whidi  bia  corre^poncfent  la 
well  acquainted,  and  do  not  enter  into  deiaila,  they 
would  require  an  ample  comimentary.  I  hope  Lord 
Bid  mouth  will  &ucjplv  this,  and  b^^^e  urged  it  \ 


well  acquainted,  and  do  not  enter  into  deiaila,  they 

mUE.'h  aa lean.    I  think,  tboneh  I  bate  letters,  and 
ab<jminai^iniarfef#ince,  I  will  write  to  him  on  llua 


[  thi; 


aubject.    Hcie  I  met  my  old  and  much  esteem^ 
fntind.  Lord  S  to  well,  looking  very  frail  and  even 
comatoae-    Quantum  mutittus.    He  waa  one  of  the    « 
pkaaanteat  men  I  ever  knew. 

"Respecting  the  letters^  I  picked  up  Jjom  Ihoaeof 
Pitt  that  he  waa  always  extremely  dejiiroue  of  peace 
with  France,  and  even  reckonetf  upun  it  at  a  mo- 
metn  when  he  otight  to  have  dei^p aired.  I  atapect 
Ihis  falae  view  of  the  etate  of  France  (for  such  il 
wasi^  which  induced  the  Britieh  Minister  t^  look  for 
|>eace  w  hen  thtr«  waa  no  chariee  of  ii,  damped  hia 

Jtrdoor  in  maintaining  the  war      He  wanted  the 
oily  idf:aa  of  hia  father— yon  read  it  in  hif  hand- 
wnima,  great  aiat^sman  «a  he  waa.    I  aaw  a  letter 
or  two  of  Burke's  in  which  there  ia  an  epsTjrhtmfni 
dt  eipur  not  vigibfe  in  thosf  of  Pitt,  who  wnti^s  like 
&  Premier  to  his  colleague,     Burke  was  under  the 
itrange  halltidnatjon  that  hie  son,  who  predeceased 
him,  waa  a  man  of  gr cater  taJents  than  himself.  On 
the  enotrary,  he  had  liitle  takni,  and  nci  nervtv  On 
moving  auiue  r&solutiona  in  favour  of  the  Catholica, 
which  wert!  lil^received  by  the  JI«Heeof  Gomtnoni,  ' 
young  Hufkc  actually  ran  away,  whioh  an  Orange-  ' 
iBtin  compared  to  a  cro^i^readins  in  the  newfii>3- ' 
pers.     *  Yesterday   the  Cn  the  lie    reeoluticms  were  * 
moved  &c.— but  the  pistol  miasing  flrtr,  the  vfUtfina  ' 
ran  offn'" 

'*  May  a&.— After  a  mofniog  of  letfer  writing, 
laaTe-tBkmg,  papers  deuiroyine,  and  God  knows 
what  mimpery,  Sophia  and  I  set  out  for  Hampton 
Court,  eari^jttg  with  ua  the  following  hone  and 
t ion eaae a— Samuel  Rogers,  Tom  Moore,  Words* 
worth,  with  wife  and  daughnx^  We  were  very 
kindly  and  properly  received  oy  Welter  and  bia  wife, 
and  bad  a  verv  pleaaani  day.  At  parting  Rogeri 
gave  me  a  gold-motinted  pair  of  glaatf^a.  which  I 
will  not  part  with  m  i  hurry.  1  really  like  S,  R,, 
and  hate  always  Ibund  bim  moat  friendly/' 

Tbia  ia  ibe  laiil  London  entry ;  bt»t  I  must  men- 
lion  twu  circumataneea  ibai  occurred  during  that 
viatt,  Breakfoatiug  one  morning  with  Allan  Cun- 
nincham.  and  commendrng  one  of  hia  publicationai 
be  lotiked  round  the  table  and  aaid,  "  what  are  you 
going  to  make  of  all  these  boys,  Allan!*'  "I  aak 
that  quealion  often  at  my  own  heart,"  aaid  Allan, 
''  and  I  cannot  anawer  it/'  ''  What  doea  the  eldest 
point  to  T'  "*Thb  callaot  would  fain  be  a  acldicr* 
Sir  Walter— and  I  have  a  half  protnise  of  a  eoiti* 
nnaakin  in  the  king'a  firmy  for  him ;  bot  1  wish 
rather  ne  could  leo  to  India,  for  th^t^  the  pay  ia  a  ' 
tnaintenancc,  and  on<f  does  not  n^d  interest  at  eVt^ry 
atep  to  get  on."  Scotfdimgsfrf  (*ijiaihie*t,lint  went 
an  hour  afterwardu  m  Lord  Melville,  ( whf>*wa4f  now 
Prc^dent  of  the  Board  of  Control  and  begg«d  a 


632 

•  cadetship  for  young  Cunnineham.    Lord  Jlulvill.? 

^romisea  to  enfluire  if  ho  had  one  at  bis  di^o^il,  m 
which  case  he  would  gladly  pervu  the  »on  of  honest : 
Allan ;  but  the  point  heiiif^  thus  Itft  doabifiil,  Sc^ti, 
me&ting  Mr.  John  Loch,  one  of  thti  K!i?i  ImJia  Di* 
rectors,  at  dinner  the  eamf  cvenina  ai  Lord  *^tor- 
ford's,  apphed  to  him,  and  receivpd  itn  immedkaie 
assent.  On  reaching  home  a i  ni^t  he  found  a  rioto 
from  Lord  Melville,  in liin at jtigi  ha i  hs  hadentjuired, 
and- was  happy  in  complvioi;?  with  his  r^iiuest.  N&M 
morning  Sir  Walter  apreart,'d  ai  Sir  R  Chamrey  a 
breakfast  table,  and  gT(ii;ud  iLc  s^cidptoriwlw  la  a 
brother  of  the  angle)  wiih—"l  euppoBc  it  has  eome- 
Kme»  happened  to  you  ta  c?»ich  otio  trom  (which 
was  aM  you  thought  of)  ^Uh  the  fly,  and  cnpthcj 
with  the  bobber.  I  have  done  ao,  and  I  ihink  I 
ehal^  land  them  both*  DgnU  you  think  Cunning- 
ham would  hke  very  well  to  have  cadci*hm»  for  twi? 
of  those  fine  ladsf"  "  To  hn  «are  be  would/'  aaiiJ 
Chantrey,  "and  if  you'll  mcuic  th^  commitraioDB, 
I'll  make  the  outfit  efiay."  Great  was  the  joy  in 
Allan's  household  on  this  donblc  goocl  news :  hai  1 
shofiki  add,  that  before  the  ihin^  was  done  ne  had 
to  thank  another  benefactor.  Lord  Mejvilla  nfrer 
all,  went  out  of  the  Board  of  Co nirol  before  he  bad 
been  able  to  fulfil  hia  vj™rnise  \  but  hie  successor. 
Lord  EUenborough,  on  hearing  Iho  cirt^usnaiancea 
of  the  case,  desired  Cuniiingham  to  &et  his  mmd  nt 
rest,  and  both  h>8  ybi4ng  men  are  now  prnspenng  m 
the  India  service.  .  ^ 

Another  ftiend's  priv n  te  afFatra  occupj cd  more  i m • 
pleasantly,  much  of  Sf^ou's  areention  during  ihjs 

*  residence  in  London.  He  1  corned,  ehortk'  after  his 
arrival,  that  misfortune;'  (oa  foresacn  i?y  himself  in 
May,  t8i^6)  had  gatbereij  oyer  the  manacemcnt  of 
tlieAdelphi Theatre.'  Thu  foUowins  letterliQ*  beeti 
selected  from  among  several  on  ihe  same  pamfiil 
sttbjeet         ' 

"London,  Lotkhan^s,  April  l&,  1338, 
»*My  dearTerrr, 

"Iteeotvedwlthatocere  tlifiireflfl  y<H4r  moat  melan- 
cboW  tetter.  Cartainly  waa!  of  candour  wltli  one's  frtands 
in  buuneable,  and  proeraaii nation  In  clrcuiuooiiccB  of 
embarra«uuentU  hlgbly  uiiwIa^.  But  ihey  brinq  audi  a 
fearnd  chastisement  on  the  paity  who  comiolti  liicrnUiAt 
i&e  may  joslly  expect,  not  tho  reproaches,  but  i\w  »ym- 
patbv  and compassioa  of  liii  friends;  at  Ica^st  ofull  Euch 
^Me  eonacfence  charges  them  vpith  flrrorp  of  Ltieir  uwii. 
For  my  part  1  feel  as  Utile  ililct  us  Qod  Jtnow*  1  have 
wish,  to  make  any  reflections  on  the  mat  id  r^  morp  than 
urn  conneeCed  with  the  mo?t  nine  ere  rnt^pi  on  f  otir  own 
•eaoont  The  som  at  wliich  I  ^tond  noted  In  the  ech^d- 
nla  iar  of  no  fensaqaencc-^  in  ih«  n<i\9  mort  favoiirabie 
eondition  of  m/  atfUra,  and  ihi^  Iqs«  to  i^e  ponton  lUly  is 
the  less,  that  I  alwaya  ouirildercrj  £'ima{  the  tiame  na 
belonging  to  my  fodsoa ;  but  ho  is  ynimir,  tmd  mAy  iioi 
Bdsa  Uie  loss  when  he  coiqes  to  be  fittffj  i-^ut  far  the  voy^ 
age  of  Ufa ;  wa  mtM  hcfc  i  tie  beat-  I  ToM  your  suUeiior 
that  I  deaf  red  he  trould  con  Bider  luo  aa  a  fHend  of  fotit^ 
desirous  totakeas  acredimr  tlte  m^asuxca  which  t<?enieri 
best  to  forward  yoQr  iniein«t  li  might  be  lnt:oa^- anient 
tome  were  I  cafled  upon  to  inalte  up  EUch  inaialmcnta  uf 
the  price  of  the  theatre  en  are  nnpiUd,  but  of  tliis,  I  sup- 
pose, there  can  be  no  ft  eat  Aaim^r.  Pray  let  mc  Ichdw, 
aa  soon. as  you  can,  how  «hi!i  atunds.  1  think  you  tire 
dfte  ri^t  to  stand  te  the  wani.  and  that  ynur  rf^Urine 
Ilk  an  iojudioious  mesi^uri'  wtilr/h  cAonoi  bi^  ti>o  ^«on 
IHlUmctedf  omUe  qui  COuff  I  nm  tit  firesioiJt  in  London  with 
P>ekhart^  who,  as  wdX  &s  tnv  diiuglitcr,  arc  in  deep 
sorrow  for  what  has  liaEinmed^  as  tiiev,  rh  well  n»  I  un 
tlielr  ac60iua,ton8idcT  th^mai^tt'ea  ak 'deeply  oblli«d  to 


UPE  OF  SIR  WALTER  SCOTT. 


YnUT  objociioos  to  an  Amerlcta  trip  *rt  qnite  m^vheio^ 
L  >  ,  unloft*  th  P  «u  r  c  e  ss  o  f  jou  r  ftflfllcltor'fl  nieasurfls  alJottiO 
ifk  p'irt  rciiMive  thoin^  whea  It  may  be  court Jer Hi «»  apM* 
atkr.  Aa  lo  WoJter  there  can  be  no  dlffieully  Jfi  pro- 
curinjt  his  ftiimirtition  to  tJie  Eitiiibirah  Academy,  aWdU 
be  coLdd  bt  sfUled  with  hi^  itraiirjjatlier.or  undoc  his 
tyj?,  iLA  io  doJiieMif!  acd-ymfliodatlont  1  wonW  willliiflj 
Ijike  c-ar«?  of  bia  telioollnj ,  and  look  nftiat  him  when  I  ata 
in  town.  I  shall  be  annoue,  IndoPd,  liU  I  h«r  OiaJ  you 
mie  once  laoro  restored  to  ibp  Hnreadm inert  use  of  your 
trUiHiia;  for  I  am  sensubk  hnn^  dfeadfuJiJiy  annoying  must 
b*!  your  present  ^^tuaUonj  which  teftvca  no  ninth  limc^  for 
ifitknehoiy  rttroppeclion  wtibtitii  any  tjpportually  of 
of<^rtJon.  Yet  thta  sitme,  Uko  oihert,  muai  be  eisdurcJ 
with  patience ;  Ihe  furiously  impute nt  horse  only  pitm- 
f  r.s  til[n?elf  de^^pf^r  in  the  flfoflgh,  m  OUT  old  himt^  ex- 
rursiona  may  tmve  taUltlit  ub.  b  Bencfr*,  Ih*  nnraaa 
tniiid  ie  sttaag.  in  nfoportlon  to  the  Internal  enerfjr  whuih 
11  pntyii!4!8e»,  EtiI  fortune  is  aa  uanti&nt  ae  go^%  ^i!' 
Et](i  eiidoii«erfiii  ship  is  *tlU  manned  by  si  sliiJily  and  *n- 
ling  crowt  why  then 

*  Vp  and  rig  a  jury  forcnuLvt, 

Sha  righli,  she  n^htSi  bi>)rii,  Wd^ra  oJTahonj.' 

Thift  was  the  ivsitin  1  arpiml  upon  in  my  lalft  dLi£r«Mt«i 
smit  tlicrctbrc*  I  ^trcmfily  f^cmnnjeiiLd  ll^to  yoni  \^^ 


Mrs.  T^iTy'/i.kiiidpees^  an  well  as  frfim  njaRrd  n>  yon. 
These  hard  times  muat  stfein  Ntiil  hArdor  while  you  are 
in  a  forc^;a  country.  1  a.u\  not,  you  kaow^  sn  wealthy 
aa  I  have  been,  but  £^  or  £3Q  ar«  h^utlly  st  yoar 
serrke  tf  you  will  let  sua  know  ho^v  the  rerniitaiicu  cau 
reach  you.  It  does  n'>t  suem  lo  me  tint  an  iirnuiEpmrnt 
with  your  creditors  wiH  be  dliffniU;  but  for  Ood^a  j*alte 
dd  not  tamporiae  and  ucidtrtnko  bimlcna  wbith  yon 
caanot  disaharge,  and  wlijcla  wilt  only  Lf^atl  lo  now  dtff]^ 
cuMiei^^ 

**  A^to  your  Tiewa  about  an  qiyiafein*'iitm  Bdinbiireh 
I  doqbt  mueh»  though  an  <ieoaAtoiia!  ni\l  would  probably 
adccaad.  My  country  me  r^  [ak?*ii  in  their  general  tapst- 
city,  are  not  people  lo  hhu-  frfoumc  to  inadveruc  tir* 
caj^Mtanceg.    John  BuUU  a  bcticr  l>oft«£  Ln  EnL4f£>riiUi]4!. 

f    ■  «  Bet  Mt*,  p.  US. 


Qiy  kindest   comphuaents  lo  Mrt   Teirry*  and  . 

bcUflf  data  iiiay  c^m^e.    I  ahalJ  b«  hure  UU  the  betinnrnf 

of  May  ]  therefora  wo  inay  meet ;  bdieve  me,  very  truly 

On  the  iifiemcwn  of  the  fiSth  of  May,  Sir  Walter 
Blurted  for  thu  north,  but  cnuld  not  reaiaj  goint  04it 
of  hi9  way  to  see  the  spot  where  Mr.  WiHiam 
Weare,  who  dwdt  in  Lyon^»  Inn,"  was  tnurdered. 
His  Diary  flay ^ :—        ^  ,   ^  ,  ,    .     , 

*'  Otir  eWiint  rEftearchcg  camcii  m  out  of  (he  hi^- 
rond  end  through  a  labyrinth  of  intncate  tanes, 
which  &epm  made  on  purpose  to  stford  strap^en 
the  fni!  benefit  of  a  daris  iji^ht  and  a  dmnk  tinir^r, 
ill  order  to  vhit  Gtlfs  Hili,  in  Hertfordshire,  ft tnous 
for  the  murder  of  Mr.  Wi-nrc.  The  place  lias  tbe 
aironaeai  title  to  the  di^scrtption  of  \\  ords worth, 
'  A  mciry  spot  'tis  a&id  in  days  of  yore^ 
But  soiaethinit  eJls  it  now— the. place  la  cUfit' 

The  prittciual  pari  of  the  hauae  hai  b(?en  deetroypel* 
and  only  the  kiicben  remains  &taitdin(r.  The  etrden 
hae  t>efln  iliflmanlled^  thou*;h  ti  few  Iniirtb  and  flow- 
erinR'shrubfi.  run  wild,  continue  to  mark  the  «pot. 
The  fatal  pond  i&  now  only  a  green  *warap,  but  sa 
near  the  liousu  that  one  cannot  coni^eivo  hovr  tt  wo* 
ever  chosen  hb  q  placuof  temporary  conotalnient  fo^ 
the  murdered  body.  Indeod  the  wholo  history  of 
I  lie  murder,  and  tho  accnee  which  ensued,  »f« 
strange  pictures  of  de^erate  and  short-mghtfid 
wicki;dncs3.  The  feafitloff— the  dngini^lhe  mirr-, 
dcref,  with  his  hands  still  blcwKly,  hanmne  round  th« 
neck  of  one  of  the  females  tbe  wat  clinch  am  of  the 
murdered  man— argue  the  utmu^l  apot-by.  EteA. 
Probart,  the  most  fngbtened  of  the  party,  fled  no 
fanhtr  for  relief  tban  to  the  brandy  bottle,  tind  i« 
found  in  the  very  lane,  nay,  at  the  very  spot  of  the 
murder,  seeking  for  the  weapon(  and  exposing  him- 
Relf  to  the  view  of  ibe  pavaen^TS.  Another  mngu- 
ht  mark  of  Hiiipid  audacity  was  their  venturing  m 
wear  the  rloihea  of  their  victim.  There  wbb  A  W4iit 
of  foreel^hl  in  the  whole  arrant^enrent^  of  the  doedj 
and  the  fittcmptj?  lo  concenl  it,  winch  a  profewed 
robber  would  not  have  exhibited.  There  was  just 
one  shade  of  rtti**e>Tiing  character  about  a  btisiiHJW 
»o  bmml.  perpetrated  by  men  above  thtr  very  lowest 
rank  of  (ite— il  ivne  the  mixture  of  revenge,  which 
afforded  mnio  relief  to  the  cifeumstancea  of  treache- 
ry and  premeditatinn.  But  Weare  was  ji  chcAt,** 
and  hflfl  no  doubt  pillflf^ed  Thnrteil,  who  therefore 
decmeii  he  might  Take  greater  libextiea  with  him 
than  with  others.  The  dirt  o(  the  present  htbita- 
tion  eqmilled  |l»  wrett';be<]  dcaolfttiorj,  and  a  tmeu- 
lent-lixjking  bsj^,  who  showed  us  the  plac^,  and  re-. 
ceived  half-a-rrown,  looked  not  unlike  the  naturJU 
inmate  of  such  a  manpion.  She  hinted  aa  muca , 
herself,  caiang  the  landlord  had  dismantled  xm 
place,  because  no  rc^>cr table  peraon  would  Lve 
there,    She  aeema  to  Uvo  ontir^y  iilone*^ and  fear* 

•  Weare,  ThudtU-  * 
6«t  mutt  p.  W. 


UPk  OP  SIR  WALTER  SCOTT. 


no  ghostBf  Bhe  ssys.  One  tiling  about  this  tragedy 
was  never  explained.  It  is  said  that  Weare,  as  is 
the  habit  of  such  Aien,  always  carried  about  his 
person,  and  between  his  flannel  waistcoat  and  shirt, 
a  sum  of  ready  money,  equal  to  jB  1600  or  jC200a  No 
such  money  was  ever  recovered,  and  as  the  sum 
divided  by  Thurtell  among  his  accomplices  was  only 
about  £20,  he  must,  in  slang  phrase,  have  bucketed 
his  pallt, 

"  May  29.— We  travelled  from  Alconbury  Hill  to 
Ferry  Bridge,  upwards  of  a  hundred  miles,  amid  all 
the  beauties  of  flourish  and  verdure  which  spring 
•  awakens  at  her  first  approach  in  the  midland  coun- 
ties of  England,  but  without  any  variety,  save  those 
of  the  season's  making.  I  do  beheve  this  great 
north  road  is  the  dullest  m  the  world,  as  well  as  the 
most  convenient  for  the  travellers.  The  skeleton  at 
Bambv  Moor  has  deserted  his  gibbet,  and  that  is 
the  only  change  I  recollect. 

"  Rokthy.May  30.— We  left  Ferry  Bridge  a  I  Btv  c  t^ 
and  reached  this  place  at  past  three,  a  mile  fr^m 
the  house  we  met  Morritt^  looking  for  us.  I  had 
great  pleasure  in  finding  myself  at  Rokcby,  arid  re- 
collecting a  hundred  passages  of  past  time,  Morrtlt 
looks  well  and  easy  in  his  mina  which  I  am  do- 
lighted  to  see.  He  is  now  one  ot  my  oldest,  and,  I 
believe,  one  of  my  most  sincere  fnenoai— a  m  in 
unequalled  in  the  mixture  of  sound  goqd  rcjie::  '  h 
literary  cultivation,  and  the  kindest  and  ^^\\  <  it 
temper  that  ever  graced  a  human  bo^oni.  tiia 
nieces  are  much  attached  to  him,  and  art  dc serving 
and  elegant,  as  well  as  beautiful  young  women. 
What  there  is  in  our  partiaUty  to  female  beauty  that 
commands  a  species  of  temperate  homage  from  the 
aged,  as  well  as  ecststic  admiration  from  the  young, 
I  cannot  conceive;  but  ii  is  certain  that  a  very 
large  portion  of  some  other  amiable  quality  is  too 
little  to  counterbalance  the  absolute  want  of  this 
advantage.  I,  to  whom  beauty  is,  and  shall  hence- 
forward he  a  picture,  still  look  upon  i(  with  the  quiet 
devotion  of  an  old  worshipper,  who  nO  longer  olfers 
incense  on  ^e  shrine,  but  peaceably  presents  his 
inch  of  taper,  taking  special  care  in  dfoing  so  not  to 
bum  his  own  fingers.  Nothing  in  life  can  be  more 
ludicrous  or  contemptible  than  an  old  man  aping 
the  passions  of  his  youth. 

**  Talking  of  youth,  there  was  a  certain  j}rofe8eor 
at  Cambridge  who  used  to  keep  sketches  of  all  the 
lads  who,  from  their  conduct  at  college,  seemed  to 
bid  fsir  for  distinction  in  life.  He  showed  them  one 
day  to  an  old  shrewd  sarcastic  master  of  arts,  who 
looked  over  the  collection,  and  then  observed,  *A 
promising  nest  of  eggs ;  what  a  pity  the  great  part 
will  turn  out  addle!'  And  so  they  do:— looking 
round  amongst  the  young  men  one  sees  to  all  ap- 
pearances fine  flounsh— but  it  ripens  not. 

"  May  31,— 1  have  finished  Napier's  War  in  the 
Peninsula.*  It  is  written  in  the  spirit  of  a  Liberal, 
but  the  narrative  is  distinct  and  clear.  He  has, 
however,  given  a  bad'  sample  of  accuracy  in  the  case 
pf  Lord  Strangford,  where  his  pointed  affirmation 
nas  been  as  pointedly  repelled.  It  is  evident  be 
would  require  probing.  His  defence  of  Moore  is 
spirited  and  well  argued,  though  it  is  evident  he  de- 
fends the  statesman  as  much  as  the  general.  A»a 
Liberal  and  a  miUtary  man,  Napier  finds  it  difficult 
to  steer  his  course.  The  former  character  calls  on 
him  to  plead  for  the  insurgent  Spaniards :  the  latter 
induces  him  to  palliate  the  cruelties  of  the  French. 
Good-even  to  him  until  next  volume,  which  I  shall 
long  to  see.  This  was  a  day  of  pleasure,  and  noth- 
ing else." 

Next  night  Sir  Walter  rested  at  Carlisle.  "  A  sad 
place,"  says  the  Diary,  "in  my  domestic  remem- 
brances, since  here  I  fftarried  my  poor  Charlotte. 
She  is  sone,  and  I  am  following— faster,  perhaps, 
than  I  wot  off.  It  is  something  to  have  lived  and 
lov^;  and  our  poor  children  are  so  hopeful  and 
anectionate,  that  it  chastens  the  sadness  attending 
the  thoughts  of  our  separation.    .    .    .    BIy  books 

«  Tbe  fint  Tolmne  af  Colonel  NapMCs  work  had  reeeotlr  beea 
poblnhed. 

2V* 


533- 

being  finished,  I  lighted  on  an  odd  volume  of  the 
Gentleman's  Magazine,  a  work  in  whichi  as  in  a 
pawnbroker's  shop,  much  oC  real  curioei^  and  valu^ 
are  stowed  away  amid  the  frippery  and  trumpery  oi 
those  reverend  old  gentlewomen  who  were  the  "re- 
gular correspondents  of  Mr.  Urban."     • ' 

His  companion  wrote  thus  a  day  or  two  afterwards 
to  her  sister*-         .  *  ■ 

"  Early  in  the  morning  before  we  started, papa  took  me 
with  him  to  the  CathedraL  This  he  had  often  done  be- 
fore ;  but  he  said  be  must  stand  once  more  on  the  apot 
where  he  married  poor  mamma.  After  that  we  went  to 
the  Castle,  where  a  new  showman  wont  throagh  the  old 
trick  of  pointing  out  [Fergus  MaclTor»B  very  dungeon. 
Peveril  said  *  Indeed  1  Are  you  quite  sure,  sir  1>  And  on 
belM  told  there  coold  be  no  doabt,  was  troubled  with  a 
fltofeoughtng,  which  ended  in  a  laugh.  The  man  seemed 
exceedingly  indigniint :  so  when  papa  moved  on,  I  whis- 
pered who  it  was.  I  wish  you  had  seen  the  man's  starL 
and  how  he  stared  and  bowed  as  he  parted  from  us :  and 
then  rammed  his  keys  into  tiis  Docket,  and  weat  off  at  a 
hand-gaUop  to  warn  the  rest  oi  the  garrisoD.  But  tl^e 
carriage  was  ready^  and  we  escaped  a  row." 

They  reached  Abbot&fonj  that  tiight,  and  a  dey  or 
two  afterwards  KdmborRh  i  whtp?  Sir  WsUef  wts 
greeted  with  the  Bsnefactory  imelJigencfc  that  his 
plftUF  OS  10  tbo  *^opu*  magnu ni^^  iind  n^cn  con- 
sidfTi^H  fit  n  meeting  df  his  irus^ees,  stiJ  final  I  v  ap- 
pr  '  toio.    As  the  Bchcme  mferred  a  large 

01  irawiniffi  and  cn^ravrnf^t,  and  utherwise, 

th  in  had  hean  k><>kt^d  for  with  much  anxiety 

by  Ijiiii  and  Mr^  Caddl.  He  says,  "J  (ntftt.  ii  wjft 
answer;  yet  uho  can  warrant  the  continuance  of 
popularity?  Old  Nattah  Corn,  who  entered  into 
man V  projects^  and  could  never  set  the  sails  of  a 
winamill  to  catch  the  aura  popularise  used  to  say 
he  believed  that,  were  he  to  turn  baker,  it  would  put 
bread  out  of  fashion.  I  have  had  the  better  luck  to 
dress  my  sails  to  every  wind;  and  so  blow  on,  good 
wind,  and  spin  round,  whirligig."  The  Carri  here 
alluded  to  was  sn  unfortunate  adventurer,  who, 
among  many  other  wild  schemed,  tried  to  set  up  an 
Italian  Opera  at  Edinburgh. 

The  Diary  for  the  next  month  records  th^e  usual 
meeting  at  Blair- Adam— but  nothing  worth  quotingt 
that  was  done  or  said,  except,  perhaps,  these  two 
scraps— 

"  Salutation  of  tvo  old  Scottish  Lairds—*  Ye'er 
maist  obedient  hummil  servant,  Tannachy-Tulloch,' 
'Your  nain  man,  Kilspindie.' 

"  Hereditary  descent  in  the  Highlands.  A  clergy- 
man  showed  John  Thomson  the  island  of  Inchma* 
chome,  on  the  Port  of  Monteith,  and  pomted  out 
the  boatman  as  a  remarkable  person,  the  represen* 
tative  of  the  hereditary  gardeners  of  the  Karls  of 
Monfeith,  while  these  Earls  existed.    His  son^  a 

fi  y  y  <■  f.,]r,.w  ;.  ^'i  ■  flirme,- 'Fayther,  when 
)  !  ,,  :Il_\..-  J.:  .  -  will  not  the  fisimily 
be  pjttiiict  T  /\i^rt<^^— '  No  ;  I  believe  there  is  i^ 
man  in  BalqahiddtT  who  take-up  the  succession." 

During  Ina  remsindcr  af  ibis  year,  as  1  already 
mentioned.  Sir  Walter  nuvtr  opened  his  'Mocked 
book.'*  Wh(?ihcr  in  Edinburgh  or  the  oocmtry,  his 
lift'  u%s  aiich,  that  Iw  describes  himself  in  several 
leutrs,  Qb  having  bepODruB  ''n  writing  automaton." 
Hi  h:id  cotiiplokd,  IvCbrifttnas,  the  Second  Scries 
oi  IrthiJ  H.rs  sr  .^        I        '     snd  made  considera- 

bit!  pro^rtsa  lu  a ^..^  vw— Anne  of  Geierstein  i 

he  had  also  drawn  up  for  the  Quarterly  Review  his 
article  on  Mr.  Morier  s  Hajji  Baba  in  England;  and- 
that  delightful  one  on  Sir  Humphry  Davy's  Sal-' 
77ionia— which,  like  those  on  Planting  and  Garden- 
ing, abounds  in  sweet  episodes  of  personal  reminis- 
cence ;  And^  whenever  he  had  not  proof-sheets  to 
press  him,  his  hours  were  bestowed  on  the  opus 
magnum. 

A  few  extracts  from  his  correspondence  may  snp^ 
ply  in  part  this  blank  in  the  Diary.  Several  oi  thein 
touch  on  the  affairs  of  Mr.  Terry,  whose  stamina 

1  eopf  ftom  a  letter  wbich  ha*  no  date,  so  that  I  cannot  bo 
-'••    '  '     haft  at  r       ■         ' 


quite  lurc  of  tins  being  the  I 


:  Carlisle  it  refera  to.    I  oooe 


wllneswd  a  toene  almost  exactly  the  same  at  Stirlittg  CasUdy 
where  an  old  inldicr  callwl  Sir  WaKetfa  et^ti 
dunfeon"  of  Rhoderick  Dhy^tized  by  VjVj' 


634 


LIFE  OF  Sm  WALTER  SCOTT. 


were  ndt  sufficient  to  resiet  the  stroke  of  misfortune. 
Re  had  «  paralf  tic  seiiure,  A^y  shortif  after  the 
rain  of  his  theatre  was  made  public.  One,  ad- 
«  dressed  tot  a  dear  and  eilrly*  friend,  Sir  Alexander' 
Wood,  wks  written  on  the  death  of  his  brother-in- 
law;  Sir  William  Forbes  of  Pitsligo— the  same 
modest}  tfentloi  and  high-spirited  man  Mnth  whose 
history  Snr  Walter's  had  (as  the  Diary  of  1826  tells) 
been  yery  remarkably  intertwined. 

n  J.  O.  Lockharl^  Btq.  Regent't  Park. 

"Abbotsford,  July  14, 1886. 
•*.My  dear  L, 

"I  wrote  myself  blind  and  sick  laat  week  about 
*  '  ■  "I  *jrj(l  lursivi;  lue  rfr  ^ATiAg  thought  U  p)^- 
alblo  thM  2,  h<.-Uj'jiii\2^\.x^E  uLuutd  be  L>ut  iLZul  out  ci  r^iunai 
-  beUXf,  I  hvvti  a  U^Ucr  frcnn  Terry— but  wrttE^ji  bv  hj>* 
fJOor  wife— hi*  former  one  wi*  iwdljf  ficrawltd,  I  ho|M 
Le  mat  yH  get  beuer--but  1  eiuspe^t  Uie  i^ol  tuia  j^aQ/ks 

*  O  whut  a  werld  ol"  wortda  were  it, 
Would  MiTOw,  paliiT  and  slokn^i*  apaJre  It, 

Syne  wha  woatd  atarvfl  V 

'^If  it  bft  mie  tliftl  Lotifnian  atitl  Tcj  have  nfTerftJ 
jS^DOO  for  a  hjflLii^ry  of  Ireland,  Gotland  miust  at^nd  at 
Bfty  per  teot  dUirouni,  fi>r  tht?y  Ui*^U  olTererf  ru«  Xsua 
(br  one  of  tho  liwi*>r  country,  wliiiGlkr>fcQijj:#f  1  dvcUned 
Tha^ealieo  bui  Murray's  rtjuent  to  do  Aoiiie  bk^mjiby 
for  bii  n Q  wf  wud enafclop  1  Bu  1 1  rira  tly  t mw^ i  LMiik  of  any 
LSTp  I  could  euU?  do,  f^xccpHllf  Que*?)!  Mftry's,  ftod  ttist 
I  dectdtnily  would  not  do,  btCBC!*^  niy  odmon^  m  piut  of 
foci,  ia  cofiirary  botli  to  ltj«  pf^tmlur  fnrPillni!:  and  to  mf 
owti  1  aeet  by  tbft  by,  ihiU  your  Ufc  af  Thirns  ia  gyini 
to  pTeia  H^oibi  uid  therefore  *eDd  you  a  few  leners  wHIcn 
tnay  be  of  ubu  tQ  you  in  one  of  thein  ito  that  aliiffuJAr 
old  curmLiL^eL^Ti}  Lady  Winifrjrd  Conaiabbj)  yuu  will  b^a 
he  ptciyii  hSjfii  J&cobji^u,  and,  do  ihiit  acroutUi  uia  curious  \ 
tfaough  1  iiTin^^inc  hja  jucobUt^m,  liko  tut  oWiii,  Gi^lopfred 
to  the  t^ncf  ri&E her  than  tho  rifji«ori.  jf«  was,  bowever, 
a  grtar  Pi  title  liowti  tt»«.e,eni]Jn  period  There  were  same 
pa9«i]f  rttuptl  v<«raei  in  rile  pai^cm,  be  Peking  and  de- 
le nfUujc  hiji  iBtire  on  ;i  etittaiin  prenrheTi  t^ticij}  he  termed 
'an  unco  calf'  Iq  orns  of  tbfiin  occurred  Ihoae  liaeK  in 
Tltufiera^o^n  of  iJtic  ajlvtr*ary— 

'  A  W\\\^.  I  (f  tieM.    Bui  lUb*i  a  Tory, 
An  fic«  lu  meny  a  funny  etory^' 

*Thla  isaa  in  17S7-~Ever  youre, 

WAtntR  Scott." 
Tq  RakfiTl  CarUlt,  Etq  ^  Ediftbur^k 

»  Abboiafonl>  m  October^  Iflaa 
"My  dear  Sir, 

*'  W6  were  ccimlly  ^TTitlGod  Jiml  :iai]prli!ed  t*T  the  ar 
rlTal  nf  the  Fup^ri]  rime  pifro^  wilh  wliich  yon  have  or- 
Dunented  our  nulla-  There  iirc  finni^  tUatTUdlona  ^herfe 
It  i>  lo  be  puE»  nmrt  w&  are  on  It  ftjfeed  upan  one  p<iintf 
thill  U  I*  oufl  c.f  the  handiomo^  things  of  ibf  ]ilnd  we 
ever  uw,  afid'tliat  wa  btp  uniJ**r  irrtxit  obh^liunK  fo  the 
klri^  (kniur-  On  my  part,  t  tbdl  nevrr  look  on  it  without 
^  rucnUrctiUK  (iiat  tbe  rmt>loy  im^nt  nf  my  itme  \»  a  tnatter 
*ir  conpr(*m?uce  Lo  you^  cls  wtill  u  myitnlf  i 

'*I  flenJ  TOU  two  ]«terA,  of  wbien  copies  will  bt  :- 
quiflllo  rorThi'  ffta^num  mum  They  must  bii  ropird  si  ]  ! 
rateJy .  T  wl  al  i  yo  n  won!  d  1  en  in  from  Mr.  Wal  1 1-  r  D  k  k  -  ■ , . 
with  my  best  r^'flpecis,  Ihe  mciiden  name  of  Mr»  tfolrlir', 
atid  thfl  pinper  vtay  In  whif^h  slie  ■■iishr  lo  bi?  di'^igniited 
Another  jiolnt  uf  mlbrm^lion  ( wlnh  b^  have  i«.  lonr^m- 
hiji:  tbti  rairibUitltinifne  of  tTiip  liinn's  hi.'^d'iinc-n  ur  bUif. 
|imn  j.  Sticli  should  occur  ia  an^  jicrount  ofihij  (.'Hiapct 
RtiVai,  ta  which  \hry  wefe  an  a[ifir.*adftp<s  hm  T  bav** 
,  looked  info  AmoTt  i\mi  MaiLtand,  without  being  able  w5tid 
any  thing.  My  friend,  Dr.  Lee,  will  know  at  once  where 
thia  fa  to  be  sought  Ibr. 

"  Here  ia  a  question.  Bums  In  hi«  poetry  repeatedly 
itetes  the  idea  of  his  becoming  a  beggar— these  pafsages 
1  have.  Bat  there  is  a  remarkable  one  in  some  of  his 
prots,  stating  with  much  spirit  the  qualifications  he  pos- 
BBflsed  for  (he  character.  1  have  looked  till  I  am  sick, 
through  all  the  letters  of  his  which  1  have  seen,  and  can- 
not find  this.    Do  you  know  any  amateur  of  the  Ayrshire 

♦  Those  letters,  chiefly  addressed  to  Sir  Walter'*  excellent  | 
mead,  Janaa  Haywood  BTarkland,  Esq.,  (Bditor  of  the  Chester 
Mjrsterifs J  were  on  a  deiioete  sahieet  eonoectcd  with  the  inci- 
neiit  arnUisetoonlB  of  King's  CoHefe,  London. 

I  Mr.  Murraj  of  Albemarle  Street  wim  at  this  time  prqjectinf 
,  tts  Farniiv  Library,  one  of  the  many  imiutiooa  of  CaBslahlCs 
^*t  acljeme. 

1  The  aUusitMi  is  to  a  clock  in  the  style  of  Louis  Quatorae,  now 
la  the  diawiof  room  at  AijbotsfonL 


[  Bard  who  pan  point  it  eutl    b  will  aave  tin^e,  i^ch  ie 
!  {(^recibuawjthme.* 

^^  J.  B.  has  given  me  anob  a  daih  of  eriticiiai,  that  I 
have  laid  by  the  Blaid  of  tke  Miek  Ibr  a  few  days,  but  f 
am  working  hard,  meanwhile,  at  ilie  UiustrttiDaB,  ao  no 
time  ia  lost— Youra  very  tEoly, 

WaATsa  Scorr." 

To  Mr*.  Loekhart,  Brighton. 

"  Abbotsford,  21th  October,  182a 
*"  My  dear  Sophia,  '  \ 

**  I  write  to  you  miher  than  to  the  poor  Tvrya,  on  the 
aubjeej;  of  their  plana,  which  appear  to  me  10  require  ra- 
consiideration,  as  I  have  not  leisure  so  to  modfy  my  ex- 
pressions as  to  avoid  grating  upon  feelings  which  Bsay  be  • 
ooTE?  enough  already..  But  if  1  advise  I  must  be  {uaia. 
rij'  plan  of  a  cottage  in  thia  neighbourhood  is  auite 
Ti*iionary.  Londoh  or  iti  vichiity  is  the  best  place  for  a 
llii^  J  ted  Income,  because  you  can  get  every  thing  yon  want 
v.Ltriottt  taking  a  pennyweight  more  of  it  tbah  you  have 
occesioa  Ibr.  In  the  ooimcry  (with  us  at  leak)  if  yeu  , 
v^iiht.  a  baain  of  milk  every  day,  you  mmt  kaep  a  eoiw--4f 
yi  I !  want  a  bunch  of  straw,  you  must  have  a  ^rm.  But 
w  I  kit  is  stm  worse,  it*seemsto  me  that  such  a  pumw;ottld 
remove  Terry  out  of  Ids  natural  sphere  of  action.  R  fa 
nu  i-asy  matter,  at  any  nue,  to  fiBtreat  from  the  pracuee 
of  na  art  to  the  inveatSgation  of  its  theory;  but  rxtnamm 
aei  I  ^a  aay  a,  that  if  l)^ar«  ia  oiM  branch  of  literatura  wtUck 
hiv^  a  chance  of  suecess  for  our  friend,  it  must  be  that 
rr lilting  to  the  drama.  Dramatic  works,  whether  destgned 
ri>r  Ihe  stage  or  the  cloeet,— dramatic  biography  Can  srti- 
c\r  I  a  which  the  public  is  always  faiterested)— dramatic 
cri!]  dam— these  can  all  be  conducted  with  best  advanta^ 
in  I>>iidon4  or,  rather,  ihey  can  be  conducted  nowhere 
>;:|ju  In  comings  dovm  to  Scotland,  therelbre,  Terry 
w^  I  >xld  be  lewlna  «  position  in  wbieii,  aboold  he  prove  able 


trj  ■  xert  himself  and  find  the  public,  lavourahle,  he  mtaht 
pf:>fci.-lbly4o  as  muoh  Ibr  hla  family  as  he  cotud  by  aia 
I  pr..i  sssion.  But  then  he  will  require  to  be  in  bookrahope 
an'.]  publishing- bouses,  and  living  among  those  up  to  the 
en nent  of  public  opinion.  And  although  poorTerTy*e 
(jperits  might  not  at  first  be  up  to  this  ezettion,  he  should 
rTMJirwnber  that  the  power  or  doing  things  eaaly  is  only 
to  1  n  acquired  by  resolutioa  and  habit  ,*and  if  he  reaDy 
cin\:i  give  heart  and  mind  to  Mtsrature  hi  any  ceoilder- 
nbN  degree,  I  cent  see  how,  amidst  ao  maoy  Kjouc,  aad 
A|j»iuna,  and  Souvetiirs -not  to  meOtion  daily  papers, 
crir^.^a,  censorsjand  so  forth— I  caanot  aee  how  he  covid 
fit  t1  1 0  make  X200  or  X3U0  a  year.  In  Edinburgh  there  is 
noTiilngof  this  kind  going  forwards,  positively  notliing. 
^Li^>  e  Constable'a  fkll,  all  exertion  is  ended  in  the  Glide 
Tou  a  in  the  publishing  buainess,  excepting  what  I  may 
no<  ^ong  be  able  to  carry  on.    ' 

'■  We  have  had  Uttle  Walter  Terry  with  us.  Re  is  a 
nir.  boy.  I  have  got  him  sent  to  the  New  Academy  ta 
i^iiEiiburgh,  and  hope  he  will  do  well.  Indeed,  I  have 
gLHi.i  hopes  as  to  them  all,  but  the  prospect  of  succeaa 
iiiii-i  remahi,  first,  with  the  restoration  of  Terry  to  the 
p'lH  jr  of  thought  and  labour,  a  mailer  which  is  In  God's 
hiis,-\;  and,  secondly,  on  the. choice  he  shall  make  of  a 
nt'w  sphere  of  occupation.  On  these  events  no  mortal 
cttn  have  influence,  unlesa  so  far  as  Mrs.  Terry  may  be 
Ei:M'  to  exert  over  liim  that  degree  of  power  wMch  mind 
L '  r !  tinly  poasepses  overbody .  - 

"Our  worthy  old  aunt,  Lady  Raebum,  is  gone,  and  I 
,Li<i  HOW  Ihe  eldest  tiving  person  of  my  lather's  ninlly. 
M  Id  fViend,  Sir  WiUism  Forbes,  is  extremely  ill,  dyiaff 
I  r,  and  Die  winter  seems  lo  approach  with  more  tbaa 
III  gloom.  We  are  well  here,  however,  and  send  love 
ro  [.  fckhart  and  the  babies.  I  want  id  see  L.  much,  and 
b  J  ■  he  may  make  a  run  down  at  Christmas.  a 

■  Vou  will  take  notice,  that  all  the  advice  X  venture  to 
>)tlV  r  to  the  Terrys  is  according  as  matters  now  stand t 
liidi  ed,  I  think  he  is  better  now,  than  whea  strunrling 
imaiiist  a  loshig  concern}  turning  worse  every  day.  With 
health,  I  have  little  doubt  he  may  do  well  yet,  and  with- 
out  it  what  can  any  one  do  7  Poor  Rose,  he  too  seems  te 
be  very  badly.,  and  so  end,  if  I  lose  him,  wit,  talent,  froMe 
beyond  the  bounds  of  sobriety,  all  imited  with  an  adiaai- 
rable  heart  and  feelings. 

*'  Besides  all  other  objectiona  to  Terry'a  plan,  the  poor  , 
invalid  would  be  most  uncomfortable  here.  As  my  ' 
guest,  it  was  another  thing;  but  without  power  te  enter- 
tain  the  better  sort  of  folk,  and  liable  from  his  professioa 
to  the  prejudices  of  our  middling  people,  without  mesBs 
too  of  moving  about,  he  muat,  wteile  we  are  not  at  Abbots- 
ford,  be  an  absolute  hermit.  Besides,  health  ntay  be 
restored  so  as  to  let  him  act  again— regimen  aad  quiet 

\  These  queries  all  point  ts  the  anootstioa  of  tlu  Antiqvmr^. 
t^r.  Terry  died  in  London  on  the  mJuife.l8S9.  His  widow, 
to'  whom  tiiew  mnnoirs  have  owed  many  of  their  natci^LleJa 
now  (1837.)  married  to  Mr.  Charles  Richardton  of  Tulse  Hiu.  tba 
asthor  of  Ihe  well-known  dlMmavyoflhe  EngiiBh  Langtiafs,  ^ftc. 


Digitized  by  V^OOQlC 


UPE  OF  SIR  WALTER  SCOTT. 


t'rtaf  do  much  in  auth  casea— «nd  he  shoold  not  rashly 
flitTQW.op  Mpfesilowl  ^onntJlona.  Ifthej  be  b«Qt  on 
seUUng  h  Scotland,  a  amau  houae  in  £dinbur<h  would 
be  moch  better  thfto  tbe  idea  of  residing  here. 

*!  have  been  delighted  ^ith  yoor  views  of  eOmlnf  }j^k 
io'Oldfefswqod  next  svmmer— bnt  had  yoa  not  better  de< 
fer  that  for  another  yearl  Here  is  plenty  of  room  for 

Jou  aU— f  l«my  of  baef  and  mtttton— tlanty  of  boolu  for 
N,  and  he  should  have  th^  UtA^.  parlour  (the  monk0f  • 
room,  as  Morria  has  christened  it)  iaviolate-^aoa  he  and 
1  move  on  easily  without  interrupting  each  other.  Pray 
think  of  all  this,  and  beUev6  that,  separated  as  I  am  60 
much  from  you  both  and  the  grandcnildren,  the  more  I 
ean  see  of  you  iJI  while  I  have  eyes  left  to  see  you  with, 
tiM  gteater  will  be  nur  pleasure.  I  am  turning  a  terrible 
Acture  with  rheumnnsm,  end  ga  about  tUUel>ut  in  the 
«*rHage,  and  raond  tbe  doors.  ▲  change  of  macket* 
.  days,  bat  seams  wiU  «Ut»  «9d  elboweiwiU  out.  Ur  general 
'  health  is  exceUent.—!  ai^  always,  dearest  Sophia,  your 
affectionate  (fther, 

Waltbb  Scott. 

.T»  JSit  Aiesandir  W0odt  fe.  ^.  ^^  CUinPon  abme^ 

'  StUnlmrgh,   ' 

"  Abbot#ford,  Oct  28, 1838. 
"  My  dea^flir  Alexander, 

"Your  letter  broi^ht  jnetbe  oflicting  intelUceoee of 
lb«  death  of  our  early  fusdv  beloved  friend  0ir  WiUieni.  I 
!lvad  lUle  else  to  sxpect,  fxoay  the  state  of  health  in  which 
he  was  when  I  last  saw  him,  but  tl^U  circumstance  does 
not  dUninlsh  the  pain  with  which  I  now  reflect  that  I  shall 
never  see  him  more.  He  was  a  man  who,  from  his 
habits,  could  hot  be  Intimately  known  to  many,  although 
r  thing  wh}ch  he  «d  partook  of  that  high  feeling  and 


scruples  on  your  side.    Alas,  poor  Crafty !  Bo  you  re> 
meinbar  his  eicnitctlon  when  my  l|OBy  aJUr  ww  tftft 


tfenexoelty  which  beloqge  perhaxM  to  a  better  age  than 
that  we  Uve  in.  In  him  I  feel  I  have  snatained  a  loss 
vhich  no  after  y«san  of  my  life  can  ftU  up  to  me.  Our 
early  IHendsmp  none  koeV  better  than  yoa ;  and  you 
also  wetl  know  that  If  1  look  back  to  the  gay  and  happy 
hours  of  youth,  they  mus^be  fiHed  with  recollections  oi 
4mx  departed  mend.  Ih  the  whole  course  of  life  ear 
IMenihikip  haa  been.  uHintennipted  aa  hia  kindnea  has 
teen  oavearted.  Kvea  the  laal  ttee  I  saw  him  (so 
chiMiged  irnm  what  1  Jax^w  h^n)  b«  oaom  to  Urwa  wh«n 
he  waa  fitter  to  have  ke|>t  ^  room,  mexe^y  because  he 
could  be  of  service  10  some  affUi%6f  mine.  Tt  is  most 
melancholy  to  reflect  that  the  life  of  a  num  i«bose  prin- 
ciples were  so  excellent,  and  hfs  heart  so  afftsctionatev 
should  have,  in  the  midst  of  external  prosperity,  been 
^darkened,  and  I  fear,  I  taoay  say,  shortened,  by  domestic 
adkction.  But  *  those  vsbom  He  toveth,  he  chaateneth ;' 
4nd  the  o^er-seeiog  Providence,  whose  ways  are  as  just 
•ad  kind  as  they  are  ioscnitable,  has  given  ua,  In  the 
j»te  of  our  dear  friendr  an  example  (hat  we  must  look  to 
.«  bettor  world  for  the  reward  of  sound  religion,  active 
patriotism,  and  extended  benevolence.  1  need  not  write 
more  to  you  on  ihii  subject ;  you  must  feel  the  loss  more 
keenly  tnan  any  one.  But  there  is  *  another  and  a  better 
world,'  in  which,  1  trust  in  God,  those  who  have  loved 
each  other  in  this  transitory  scene,  may  meet  and  re- 
.eognise  the  frieteids  of  yooth,  and  companions  of  more 
Advanced  years. 

*'  1  beg  my  kiikdestcompUtnents  and  sincere  expceasion 
of  sympathy  to  l.ady  Wood,  and  to  any  of  the  aor^wiqg 
famfly  who  may  be  gratified  oy  the  interest  of  one  of  their 
tUhei's  pldest  friends  and  most  afflicted  6ur>'ivors. 

**  God  bless  you,  my  dear  Wood !  and  I  am  sure  you 
'wrill  beHerve  me 

Yours  in  sorrow  as  in  gladness. 


To  J.a,  Lockhartt  JBsq.  BrigiUtm, 

"*  October  30,106. 
*  Dear  John, 

,  "  I  have  a  9ad  afllo«0«  in  Ihe  4e^h  of  poor  8lr.MWHam 
Forbes.  You  loved  him  well,  I  know,  but  it  is  im^ssiblD 
chat  you  sluiuld  enter  into  all  my  feelings  on  this  occa- 
(lon.  My  heatf  bleeds  for  his  chUdren.  CTod  help  all ! 
:  "  Your  scruples  about  doing  an  epitome  of  the  Life  of 
*kmy,  for  the  Family  library  that  is  to  be,  are  a  great 
oeal  over  delicate.  "My  book  in  nine  thick  volumes  can 
oever  fill  the  place  which  oor  friend  Murray  waols  you 
Id  AUt  and  whkh,  if  yoa  don't,  some  one  alee  will  right 
•^n.  Mof  eo«rer,  yon  took  nmeh  peiaa  in  helping  me 
when  I  was  begiiming  my  task,  jshich  I  afterwards  greatly 
regretted  that  Constable  had  no  means  of  remunerating, 
^  no  doubt  he  intended,  when  you  were  giving  him  so 
mach  good  advice  in  laying  down  his  grand  plans  about 
the  Mli'cellany.  By  all  means  do  w|iat  the  Emperor 
isU».  He  Is  what  Emperor  Nap.  wfta  not,  much  it  gen- 
Uaman,  and,  knowing  oar  footing  In  all  thhigs,  would  not 
tere  proposed  any  thing  that  ought  to  have  excited 


propeeedl  Good  God,  1  see  him  as  he  then  was 
momettl^-how  he  swelled  and  rolled  and  reddene 
oatblaneyed  ail  bkroey !  Well,  so  be  it.    I  hope 


tned,  aad 


*  After  life's  fltful  fever  he  sleeps  well.'* 
But  he  has  cost  me  many  a  toilsome  dreary  day,  and 
drearier  night,  and  will  cost  me  more  yet 

**  I  am  getting  very  unlocomotive — soroetlung  like  aA 
old  cabinet  that  looks  well  enough  in  its  own  corner,  but 
will  scarce  bear  wheeling  about  even  to  be  dusted.  But 
my  work  lias  been  advancing  gaily,  or  at  least  rapidlv 
nevertheless,  all  this  harresL  Mastev  Uttlejohn  wiU 
soon  have  three  more  tomee  in  hie  hand,  and  the  Swise 
story  too  will  be  ready  early  in  the  year.  I  shall  send 
you  Vol.  I.  with  wee  Johnoie'a  sAur.  Fat  James,  aa 
usual,  has  bored  and  bothered  me  with  his  critlciams, 
matay  of  which,  however,  may  luive  turned  to  good.  At 
first  my  not  having  been  in  Svdtzefland  waa  a  devil  Qf  a 
poser  tor  him— "but  had  T  not  the  honour  of  an  intimate 
personal  acqnabitance  with  every  pass  in  the  HighbuuM: 
and  if  that  were  not  enough,  had  1  not  seen  pictures  and 
prints  galtre  7  I  told  him  I  supposed  he  was  becoming  a 
geologist,  and  afMl  of  my  misrepreaendng  the  Mtrata  of 
some  rock  on  Wbith  I  had  to  perch  my  Maid  of  the  Mist, 
but  that  he  should  be  too  good  a  Christian  to  johi  those 
humbugging  sag«s,  confound  ihem,  who  are  all  tarrod 
with  the  same  sti.  V  v  ~r-  ••'—-'. 

*  Who  jpru  '*  I  .■  J  ;  IS  > '  I  r  !.■  ^-^  Gud'i-  hi  HlfniMT, 

That  noH^a  Wii*  A  gn^nd  LmpoeiLor  ;'l 

and  that  at  any  miv  I  hsJ  no  ruinJ,  1d  fivui  i^to  s^euiacy 

ofthetraveUflr.l  I' 'zH  H.Ua»a>Ai  beitms  liisdiapLer  oo 

Athens  withedi^  juvHiLon  m*  iht^  forfnafum  i^f  Uie  Acrpp- 

oUf  Bock.     Macli' r^cik  \lv  G^kr4t4-la,  Jn  apw,  how- 

ever,'  id  a  (air  wnv-  1  mrnn  e>J  btibf  married  uid  a'  tbA 
lave  o't,  and  I  oi  haying  lirr  ladyship  (ft(  my  liVidSr  J 
hJure  fdeo  twineiJ  f*iX  a  w^rld  of  nut  bt4  LhiUeam  in  the 
way  of  notes,  4m:  >  kn  n\y  >Ma#tni[[i,  y?lii(b  if  we  touM 
butmani«eiheariist.KHirc4'mJy,  miahi  V'on  be^ &flodt., and 
WiU,  I  do  think,  ik>  womlets  u>r  m?  tJcui eatiun  1  have 
jio  other  news  i<j  uotibW?  f^n  vtim.  U  is  ^mabUiho 
<4uaiterly  may  hyi  i\ikHi.'  tifihi  10  talcj?  ths  Antk  Cmitit'liCr 
Una  BOStrangly;  I'St  1  inr^iiff  dwubt  thr  prni^finr^  ofthis 
thing,  for  lam  c  ^      .  ,  '1  bn 

earned  very  soo 


^^as  totheDuu^  «i  Uiti.;iiHiiuu,  i*»>-  j — ,.  i^ 

that  there  is  no  other  ntaa  ttvipg.  who  can  work  out  tl^ 
salvation  of  this  country.  1  t»ke  some  credH  to  myielf 
fer  having  foreseen  his  gce^ttaess,^  before  many  wooid 
beUeve  him  to  be  any  thing  o«it  of  the  ordinary  line  Of 
clttver  ofikera.  He  is  au£b  a  man  aa  Europe  hae  »Dt 
seen  since  Julius  Cvsar  ;  and  if  Spain  had  had  the  brains 
to  make  him  king«  that  country  oiight  ha«e  been  die  of 
tbe  first  in  the  world  before  bis  death.    Ever  afleotkw 

^'rjo^  WAi^Soorr." 

Of  th©  same  date  waa  the  folio wmglgtter,addiQM- 
ed  to  the  Editor  of  a  work,  enutled,  '' Tbe  CoiirMra 
Manual."  He  had  asked  Sir  Walter  for  a  contnbn- 
tion ;  and  received  thetewith  the  ancient  Scottish 
ditlyof^Au/dHccA.-"- 

'Mlear  3ir, 

"  t  have  loved  tbe  sport  of  couraing  so  well,  and  pursued 
ft  so  keenly  for  several  yearij,  that  I  would  with  Plf^fJ^o 
have  done  any  thing  In  my  power  to  addio  yotir  collection 
OQ  the  subject ;  but  1  have  long  UM  aside  the  amusement, 
and  still  longer  it^nounced  the  poetkal  pen,  which  odgHt 
to  have  celebrated  it;  and  I  eouki  only  send  von  the  Isr 
meota  of  an  okl  aun,  and  the  snameration  of  the  nambar 
of  horses  and  doge  which  have  been  laag  Wd  under  iJm 
sod.    1  cannott  Uideed,  complain  with  th»  ol^  buntapnan, 

« No  one  now. 

Dwells  hi  the  hall  of  Ivpr, 
Men,  dogs,  and  horses,  all  are  dead. 
And  I  the  sole  surrivor ;'  J 
but  I  have  exchanged  my  whip  for  a  walking-stick.  my 
smart  hack  has  dwindled  Into  a  Zetland  rtelty,  and  my 
two  brace  of  greyhounds  into  a  pair  of  terriers.    Instead 
of  entering  on  such  melancholy  topica,  1  jud*e  it  betlar 
to  acnd  you  an  Elegy  on  'Bonny  Heck,'  an  old  Scottish 
poem,  of  very  considerable  merit  in  the  eyes  of  thoM 
who  understand  the  dialect. 

« The  Elezy  itself  turns  upon  a  circumstance  wnteh, 
when  I  kepi  greyhounds,  I  felt  a  considerable  ■Itoy  to 
the  sport;  I  mean,  the  necessity  of  despatching  the  In- 
BtmmenN  and  partakers  of  our  amuaement,  when  they- 
begin  to  make  up,  by  cunnhig,  ft»r  the  deficiency  of  yputh^ 
M  vigQor*  A  greyboond  is  oft^n  termed  an  inffiior 
•Macbeth.    t«wllt     rWoidswoith. 

Digitized  by  V^OOQlC 


^ 


UFE  OF  Sir  WALTER  SCOTT. 


.r 


.  jolM  of  the  cioine  noe,  in  point  of  tagaeity,  and  in 
_ie  ejes  of  an  accompUihed  apocuman  it  ia  deairable 
they  ahduld  be  ao,  ainee  tliey  are  Talued  for  their  nirit, 
not  their  addreaa.  AGCordingl/)  they  are  aeldom  admit- 
ted to  the  rank  of  peraonal  iavouritea.  1  have  had  such 
greyhounds,  however,  and  they  posseBsed  as  large  a  share 
of  hMeUigencG.  attachment,  and  aqgacity,  as  any  other 
species  of  dog  that  1  ever  saw.  In  i(uch  cases,  it  bccomea 
ifiiBtuIt  or  impossible  to  execute  the  doom  iipon  the  an- 
tiquated greyhound,  so  coolly  recommended  by  Dame 
Juliana  Bemers  :— 

*  And  when  he  comes  to  that  yere, 

Have  iitui  tath^tannere, 

For  the  best  whelp  ever  bitch  had 

At  nine  yeara  ia  foil  bad.' 
Modem  sportsmen  anticipate  the  doom  by  three  yeara  at 
least. 

"I  cannot  help  adding  to  the  'Last  Words  of  Bonny 
Heck,'  a  sporting  anecdote,  said  to  have  happened  tn 
Fife,  and  nut  iu  irom  the  residence  of  that  iamous  crey- 
hound,  which  may  serve  to  show^in  what, regard  the 
rnles  of  fair  play  oetween  hound  and  hare  are  held  by 
Scottish  sportemcn.  Tliere  wa»  a  courshu  club,  once 
npon  a  time,  which  met  at  BalchrUty,  in  the  Province,  or 
al  it  is  popularly  called,  the  Kingdom  of  Fife.  The  mem- 
bers were  elderly  social  men,  whom  a  very  moder^e 
allovrance  of  sport  served  as  an  introduction  to  a  hearty 
dinner  and  joUy  evening.  Now,  there  had  her  seat  on  the 
ground  where  they  usually  met,  a  certain  laue  atout 
jAffe,  who  seemed  mad*  on  purnose  to  entertain  these 
moderate  sportsmen.  Sftie  nsuany  gave  the  amusement 
of  three  or  four  tnma,  as  aoon  aaahewaa  put  np,— e  sore 
t^  of  a  strong  hare,  when  pimetised  by  toy  b«yond  the 
•ke  of  a  leverets— dicpo  etretehed  out  in  great  etyle,  and 
alter  aflbrtling  the  gentlemen  an  easy  canter  of  a  mUe  or 
two,  threw  out  the  dogs,  by  paaaing  through  a  particular 

gp  in  an  enolosnre.  Thia  aport  the  same  hare  gave  lo 
e  same  paity  for  one  or  two  aeaaons,  and  it  waa  Just 
enoii^h  to  aflbrd  the  woithy  members  of  the  ctob  a  snf- 
floient  reason  to  be  alleged  to  their  wives,  or  others  whom 
It  m*y  concern,  for  patting  the  day  in  the  public  house. 
At  length,  a  fellow  who  attended  the  hunt  nefariously 
Uj flirt!  11 1#  t*^a\A  orvf'^ai  rnat.hito  the  gap  I  mentioned, 
Find  piM  pr  \m^s^  jivr  rain^^n  Delng  thus  cut  oflT,  was.  In  the 
UuVfuatf^  Fif  (jit  liyiRf  rio^iemona,  '  basely— basely  mur- 
4l«rvMt.'  Thn  «j>QTt  or  Hiv  llalchrlsty  dub' seemed  to  end 
wMtL  this  ttmon^  hwr  1  Hey  either  found  do  hares,  or 
vac  It  fw  aftmle^i  on}y  n  itaUoo  and  a  aqueak.  or  euch, 
finally,  ait  guve  ibiui  rurl  t^^  r  runs  than  they  had  pleaaure 
if  IbUowlbjf.  Tli«  vntr^i  <'i  the  meeting  died  away,  and  at 
«nc(()  H  wm  fcitcji^Ptnpr  iiiven  up. 

"Ttir  publjcAn  ttran^  <<f  aeorse,  tlio  pany  moat  eape- 
etaily  nWnjcitiA  by  \he  iii»<  >  atinuanee  of  the  club,.yd  re- 
paTifcil,  J I  ni'iy  'iii^  pmip'-^ed.  with  no  complaeency,  ih« 

t,.n.,^r..L  ^  IV.,  I 'v.  I  ....!.  i  the  hare  from  escaping,  and 

even  liis  memory.  One  day  a  gentleman  asked  him  what 
waa  become  of  inich  a  one,  naming  the  obnoxious  indi- 
vidual. *  He  is  dead,  sir,'  answered  mine  host,  with  an 
angry  acowl,  *and  his  soul  kens  this  day  whether  the  har« 
of  Balohrlaty  gQ(  fair  play  or  not.' 

.  VfAvan  floor?." 

ResuminK  his  joiimnl  at  the  close  of  the  year,  he 
sjtys,  ••Having  omitted  to  carry  on  my.  Diary  for 
two  or  thr^  days,  I  lost  heart  to  make  it  ijp,  and 
left  it  unfilled  for  mlny  a  month  and  day.  Durmg 
thia  period  nothing  oiia  happened  worth  particolar 
notice :—  th&  same  occupations,-'the  same  arause- 
menti^— the  same  occmsional  aNernatiens  of  spirits, 
gay  or  depressed.— the  same  absence,  for  the  most 
l^art,  of  all  sensible  or  rational  caose  for  the  one  or 
the  other.  I  half  grieve  to  take  up  my  pen,  and 
^  doubt  if  it  is  worth  mf  while  to  record  such  an  in- 
finite quantity  of  nothing. 


CHAPTER  LXXVII. 

VXSrr  TO'cJLTDBSDALE'^JOHy  GSE£!ISHI«LD8,  SCtTLP- 
TOR—LBTTER  TO  LORD  ELGIN— THIS  WTSTPORT  MITB- 
DEH8  — JXECtmON  OF  BrBKB  — LETTER  TO  MISS 
JUK}EWORTH  — BALLANTTNe's  HYFOCHOKDRIA— BO- 
MAN  CATHOLIC  EMANCIPATION  CARRIED— SDIM- 
Bt7RQH  PBTCTION,  &K;.<--DBATH8  OP  LOUD  BUGHAM, 
MB.  TBBRT,  AND  MR.  8H0RTBXBD  —  REV.  •BDWABD 
inVIKO  —  ANKB  OP  OBIUSTBIN  PUBLISNBD  —  MStJS 

'  or  TH»  "OPtTB  MA0NT7M"  BBOITN  — rrs  StTCCBSS— 
KEHVOUa  ATTACK  —  HJOfOBBHAOBS  —  REVJEWALS 
ON   ANCIENT  SCOTTISH    HISTORY,  AND  PITCAIBN's 


TBLAL8  —  THIRD  SBBIK8  OT  TALES  OF  A  ORAHD- 
FATHER,  AND  nSST  VOLTOE  OF  TMS  SCOTTISH  BIS- 
TOBY  U?  LABDMEB'b  CVCL0P£DLA  PUBUSHEB— > 
DEATH  AND  EPITAPH  OF  TUOMAfr  PUBDIX.  —  IQE^. 

Sir  Walter  havin|r  expressed  a  wish  to  oonsnlt 
me  abont  some  of  his  idSairs,  I  went  down  to  Ab- 
botsford  at  Christmas,  and  fpimd  him  app^rentty 
ivcll  in  health  (except  that  he  suffered  from  rheuma- 
tism,) and  enjoying  the  society  Rs  usual  of  the  Fer- 
gusons, with  the  welcome  adailion  of  Mr.  Morritt, 
and  Sir  James  Stuart  of  Allanbank— «  gentlenuin 
whose  masterly  pencil  had  often  been  employed  on 
subjects  from  his  poetry  and  novel&  «nd  whose 
convsrsation  on  art  Hike  that  of  Sir  Georce  Beau- 
mont and  Mr.  Scrope,)  being  devoid  of  profeasbnal 
pedantries  and  jealousies,  was  always  particularly 
delighti^il  to  him.  One  snowy  morning,  he  ga^e  ua 
sheets  of  Anne  of  Gei^rBteiD,  e^eadinic  to,  I  think, 
about  a  volume  and  a  half:  and  we  read  them  to- 
gether in  the  library,  while  he  worked  in  the  adjoin- 
ir-  —-r-r,  nnd  occasionally  dropped  in  upon  us  to 
h  11 1  i !  ■  V'  we  were  pleased.  All  WeM  highly  grattffed 
vi[|i  iti'i^B  vivid  and  pictiiresqve  pages,  and  both 
31<>rr>^i  rini]  Stuart,  bemg  iafninarwitn  thesceneij 
of  ^uiLzrrlnnd,  could  not  suAcientljf  express  tbeff 
a&ioniBhmcnt  at  the  felicity  with  wmch  he  had  di- 
wutd  it  Ell  peculiar  character,  and  outdone,  by  the 
force  of  imagination,  all  the  efforts  of  a  thousand 
actual  tourists.  Such  approbation  was  of  ooutso 
very. acceptable.  I  had  seldom  seen  him  moregentlf 
ana  tranquilly  happy. 

Among  other  topics  coimected  with  his  fhvourifa 
studies.  Sir  James  Stuart  had  much  to  say  on  the 
merits  and  prospects  of  e  remarkable  roan  (well 
known  to  myself^)  who  had .  recently  occupied 
general  attention  m  the  NortlL,  I  allude  to  the 
late  John  Greenshields,  a  stonemason,  who  at  the 
age  of  twenty«eight  began  to  attempt  the  art  of 
sculpture,  and  after  B  few  years  of  solitary  devotion 
to  this' new  pursfft,  hsd  produce^  a  statue  of  the 
Duke  of  York,  which  formed  at  this  time  a  popular 
exhibition  in  Edinburgh.  Greenshields  was  the 
son  of  a  small  farmer^  who  managed  also  a  ferry- 
boat, on  mv  elder  brother's  estate  m  Lanarkshire; 
and  I  could  increase  the  interest  with  which  both. 
Sir  James  and  Sir  Walter  had  examined  the  Btacoe. 
by  betlring  testimony  to  ihe  purity  and  modesty  ot^ 
his  character  and  manners.  Another  eminent  lover 
of  art,  who  had  been  especlallv  gratified  by  Greeir- 
shields'  work,  was  the  Earl  of  Elgin.  Just  at  this 
time,  as  it  happened,  the  sculptor  had  been  hivited 
to  spend  a  day  or  two  at  his  Lordship's  seat  in  Fife  ; 
but  learning,  through  a  letter  of  Sir  James  Stnart'a, 
that  Sir  Walter  was  about  to  visit  Clydesdak^ 
Greenshields  wonld  not  lose  the  chance  of  being 

E resented  to  him  on  his  native  spot,  and  left  Broom- 
all  without  havingfiDished  the  inspection  of  Lonl 
Elgin's  marbles.  His  Lordship  addressed  a  long 
and  interesting  letter  to  Sir  Walter,  in  which  he 
mentioned  this  drcumatance,  and  besought  him.' 
after  having;  talked  with  the  aspirant,  and  ascertained 
his  own  pnvate  views  and  feelings,  to  communicate 
his  opinion  as  to  the  course  wM^b  might  most  ad- 
vantageously be  pursued  for  the  encouragement 
and  developement  of  his  abilitiea. 

Sir  Walter  wentt  m  (he  middle  of  Jtpuary,  to 
Milton-Lockhart ;  there  saw  the  scnlptor  in  the  pS'^ 
ternal  cottage,  and  was  delighted  with  him  and 
some  of  the  works  he  had  on  nand— particularly  a 
statue  of  (jreorge  IV^  Greenshields  then  walked 
with  us  for  several  hours  by  the  river  aide,  and 
among  the  weeds.  .  His  conversation  was  easy  and 
manly,  and  many  sagacious  remarks  en  tifh,  as  well 
as  art,  lost  nothing  to  the  poet's  ear  by  being  deliv> 
ered  in  an  a(^cerit  almoilt  as  broad  and  unsophis- 
ticated as  Tom  Purdie*8.  John  had  a  keen  sense  of 
humour,  and  his  enjoyment  of  Sir  Walter's  l^hirei 
on  planting,  and  jokes  on  every  thing,  was  ri<m.  He 
bad  exactly  that  way  of  drawing  his  lips  into  a  grim 
myoluntary  whistle,  when  a  aly  thing  occiuredi 
which  the  author  of  Rob  Roy  assigns  to  Andrew 
Fairservice.    AfterJie^left^gs,^^Qg|'^hereia 


UPE  OF  SIR  WALtER  SCOTt. 


K37 


giUch  about  t^t  man  tliat  reminda  me  of  Burns." 
n  reaching  E^burgh  be  wrote  as  follows:— 
SPb  the  JRight.  BotwtrabU  the  Earl  of  Elgin^  ^e.  ^-c, 
BroomhaU,  Fife. 
"  Edinburgh,  BOth  Jaiuiar j,  1929. 
*•  My  dear  Lord, 

"  1  trtth  I  were  aMe  to  pay  in  better  value  the  debt 
which  I  have  contracted  with  Tour  Lordship,  by  belnr  the 
imeonseioas  means  of  deprhrmg  you  uf  Mr.  Greenshields 
sooner  thaa  had  been  meant.  It  is  a  complicated  obliga* 
tion,  since  I  owe  a.much  greater  debt  to  Greenshields  for 
depritlng  him  of  an  inTaraable  opportunity  of  receiving 
the  adtic«.  and  profiting  by  the  opinions  of  one  whose 
taste  for  the  arts  is  strong  by  nature,  and  has  been  so 
highly  cnltlvated.  If  it  were  not  that  ne  may  again  have 
an  opportunity  to  make  up  for  that  which  ha  baa  lost,  I 
wovilcTcaU  the  loss  irreparable. 

**  My  own  acquaintance  with  art  Is  90  venr  small,  that  I 
almost  he^t4lte  to  obey  your  Lordship  in  glvlnK  an  opin- 
ion. But  I  thfaik  I  neve^  saw  a  more  successful  exertion 
of  a  young  artist  than  the  King's  statue,  which,  though 
the  sculptor  had  only  an  indifferent  print  to  work  by, 
seems  to  nie  a  very  nappy  likeness.  The  poaition  (as  if 
in  act  of  receiving  some  person  whom  his  majesty  de- 
tigfated  to  honour)  has  emial  ease  and  felicity,  and  con- 
vert an  Idea  of  grace  and  courtesy,  and  even  kindness, 
Mxed  with  dignity,  which,  as  he  never  saw  the  original, 
1  Was  Burntised  to  imd  mingled  in  such  judicious  propor- 
UoQS.  The  difficulties  of  a  modem  military  or  court 
dress  are  numAilly  combated ;  and  I  think  the  whole 
thtxigpurely  conceived.    In  a  word,  it  Is  a  work  of  great 

"  I  may  speak  with  more  confidence  of  the  artist  than 
e€  the  llgnre.  Mr.  Greenshields  seems  to  me  to  be  one 
of  those  remarkable  men  who  must  be  dlitinguished  in 
one  way  or  other.  He  showed,  during  my  conversation 
with  him,  sotmd  sense  on  all  subjects,  and  considerable 
lnf<>nnatlon  on  snch  as  occupied  his  mind.  His  habits,  I 
understand,  are  perfectir  steady  and  regtilar.  His  man- 
ners are  modest  and  plain,  without  being  clownish  or 
imde,  sjid  he  has  all  the  good- breeding  which  nature  can 
teaeh.  Above  all,  I  had  occasion  to  remark  that  he  had  a 
generous  and  tnanlv  disposition  — aboTo  fueling  little 
slighls,  or  acts  of  iutberality.  Having  to  mention  some 
♦ery  reasonable  request  of  his  which,  had  been  refused 
by  an  individual,  he  immediately,  as  ff  to  obliterate  the 
li|ilavour&blelmpresslon,hastened  to  mention  several  pre- 
vious instances  of  khidness  which  the  same  individual 
had  shown  to  him.  His  mind  seems  to  be  too  much  bent 
ikpon  fame  to  have  room  for  love  of  money,  and  his  pas- 
Won  for  the  arts  seems  to  be  unfeignedly  sincere. 

**The  hnportanfquestibn  of  how  he  is  to  direct  his  ef- 
forts, must  depend  on  the  advice  of  ms  friends,  and  I 
Ictibw  no  one  so  capably  of  directing  him  as  your  Lord- 
ahipv  At  the  same  time,  I  obey  your  commands,  by 
throwing  together  in  haste  the  observatjons  which  follow. 

**  Like  all  heaven-bom  geniuses,  he  is  ignorant  of  the 
roles  whieh  have  beeo  adopted  by  artists  before  him, 
and  has  never  seen  the  ehe/s-d'cnivre  of  clasfucal  time. 
Bueb  men,  having  done  so  much  without  education,  are 
aomethnes  sf)t  either  to  despise  it,  or  to  feel  so  much 
mottifleation  at  aecing  how  far  short  their  efforts  fall  of 
eacsOence,  that  they  resign  their  art  In  despair.  I  do 
think  and  hope,  however,  that  the  sanguine  and  the  modest 
are  so  well -mixed  in  this  man's  temper,  that  he  will  study 
the  best  models  with  the  hope  of  improvement,  and  will 
he  bold,  as  Spencer  says,  without  being  too  bold.  But 
opportunity  of  aftich  study  is  wanting,  and  that  can  only 
he  had  in  London.  To  London,  therefore,  he  should  be 
•eut,  If  possible.  In  addition  to  the  above,  I  must  remark, 
that  Mr.  G.  is  not  master  of  the  art  of  tempering  his  clay, 
and  other  mechanical  matters  relating  to  his  profession. 
Theije  he  should  ajiply  to  without  (^lay,  and  it  would 
probably  be  best,  having  little  time  to  lose,  that  he  should 
ibr  ■  while  lay  the  chisel  aside,  and  employ  himself  in 
making  models  almost  exclusively.  The  uanaference  of 
the  figure  from  the  clay  tO  the  marble  is,  I  am  taformcd 
.  by  Chantrey,  a  mere  mechanical  art,  excepting  that 
aome  finishing  touches  are  required.  Now  it  follows  that 
Orer^nshields  may  model,  I  dare  say,  six  figures  while  he 
eould  only  cut  one  in  stone,  and  in  the  former  practice 
must  make  a  proportional  progress  in  the  principles  ' 
hlsart.  The  ic^owledge  of  hiaart  is  only  to  be  galnec  _ 
the  studio  of  B^me  sculptor  of  eminence.  The  task 
«  wkleh  Mr.  O.  Is  fun  of  at  present  seems  to  bo  chosen  on 
a  ftilse  principle,  chiefly  adopted  from  a  want  of  acquaint- 
•ance  with  the  genuine  and  proper  object  of  art-  The 
pnblic  of  Edinburgh  haTe  been  deservedly  amused  and 
delighted  with  two  figures  in  the  character  of  Tam  O'- 
Shanter  and  his  dninken  companion  Pouter  Jolmny. 
The  figares  were  much  and  justly  applauded,  and  the 
exhibition  being  of  a  kind  adapted  to  every  taste,  is  daily 
flUed.  I  lather  think  It  it  the  success  of  this  piece  by  a 
68 


man  muchinhls  own  circtimstances,  which  has  inclined 
Mr.  Greenshields  to  propose  cutting  a  groupe  of  gro- 
tesque figures  fVom  the  Beggars'  Cantata  of  the  same 
poet  Now,  in  the  first  place,  I  suspect  six  figures  will 
form  too  many  for  a  sculptor  to  group  to  advantage.  But 
besides,  I  deprecate  the  attempt  at  such  a  subject  I  do 
not  consider  caricature  as  a  proper  style  for  sculpture  at 
all.    We  have  Pan  and  his  Satyrs  in  ancient  ^ulpturo, 


group  of  this  particular  kind,  and  instead  of  comparing 

hat  Greenshields  might  do  \n  this  way  with  higher 
models,  the  public  would  certainly  regard  him  aa  the  rival 
of  Mr.  Thorn,  and  give  Mr.  Thom  the  preference,  on  the 
same  pritaciple  that  the  Spaniard  saye  when  one  msa 
walks  fVrstt  all  the  rest  must  be  his  followers.  At  the 
same  time  I  higlUy  approved  of  one  figure  in  the  group,! 
mean  that  of  Bums  uimself.  Bums  <taJung  his  mora 
contemplative  moments)  would  indeAl  be  a  noble  study, 
and  I  am  convinced  Mr.  G.  would  do  it  nobly— as,  for  ex- 
ample,  when  Coila  describes  him  as  gazing  on  a  snow- 
storm,— I 

'    *I  saw  grim  Nature's  visage  hoar, 
Strike  thy  young  eye.' 
i  suppose  it  possible  to  represeitt  rocks  with  icicles  la 
Sculpture; 

"Upon  the  moment  I  did  not  like  to  mention  to  Mr.  O. 
my  objections  against  a  scheme  which  was  obviously  a 
favourite  one,  but  I  felt  as  I  did  wlien  my  poor  friend 
John  Keqsble  threatened  to  play  Falstaff.  In  short  tha 
perduraMe  character  of  sculpture,  the  grimly  and  stem 
severity  of  its  produdtons,  their  aiae  too,  and  their  oon< 
sequence,  connne  jhe  art  tp  what  is  either  dignified  and 
noble,  or  beautiful  and  graceful;  it  is,  1  think,  inap> 
plicable  to  situations  of  broad  humour.  A  painting  of 
Teniers  is  very  well— it  is  of  a  moderate  size,  and  only 
looked  at  Vhen  we  choose  ^  but  a  group  of  his  drunken 
boors  dancing  in  stone,  as  large  as  life,  to  a  grinning  fid* 
dler  at  the  bottom  of  a  drawing-room  wonld,  I  think,  be 
ioon  found  Intolerable  bad  company. 

'^  I  think,  therefore,  since  Mr.  Greenshields  has  a  de« 
cided  call  to  the  higher  and  nobler  department  of  his  art, 
he  should  not  be  desirous  of  procurii^  immediate  siten^ 
tion  by  attempting  a  less  legitimate  objeet  I  desired  Mr. 
Lockharl  of  Milton  to  state  to  Mr.  G.  what  I  felt  on  the 
above  subject,  and  I  repeat  it  to  you,  that,  if  I  am  so  for- 
tunate as  to  agree  in  opinion  with  your  Lordship,  you  may 
exert  your  powerful  infiuenee  on  the  odcasion. 

"I  have  only  to  add  thai  I  am  quite  wilHng  to  contribute 
my  mite  to  put  Mr  Greenshields  in  the  way  of  the  beat 
iofltniction,  wtUch  seems  to  me  the  best  thing  which  ean 
be  done  for  him.  I  think  your  Lordship  will  hardly  claiia 
another  epistolary  debt  urom  me,  since  I  have  given  it 
like  a  tether,  which»  Heaven  knows,  la  no  usual  error 
of  mine.  1  am  always,  with  respect,  my  dear  Lord,  your 
Lordship's  most  falthftU  and  obedient  servant,    ^ 

Waltkb  Scott. 

"  P.  a— I  ought  to  mention,  that  I  saw  a  good  deal  of 
Mr.  Greenshields,  for  ho  walked  with  ns,  while  we  went 
over  the  grounds  at  Milton  to  look  out  a  situation  ibr  a 
new  house." 

Mr.  Greenshields  saw  Sir  Walter  again  in  Clydes- 
dale in  183^,  and  profited  so  wjell  by  these  scanty 
opportunities,  as  to  produce  ai  statute  of  the  poet,  in 
a  sitting  posture,  which,  all  the  circumstances  con- 
sidered, must  be  allowed  to  be  a  very  wonderAiI 
performance.*  He  subsequentlv  executed  various 
other  works,  each  surpassing  the  promise  of  th6 
other ;  bat  I  fear  his  enthusiastic  seal  had  led  him 
to  unwise  exertions.  His  health  gave  way,  and  he 
died  in  April  1836.  at  the  early  age  of  forty,  in  the 
humble  cottage  where  he  was  bom.  Celebrity  had 
in  no  degvee  changed  his  manners  or  his  virtues. 
The  most  flattering  oompHmeni  he  ever  received 
was  a  message  from  Sir  Francis  Cfaanlrey,  inviting 
him  to  come  to  London,  and  ofiering  to  take  him 
into  his  house,  and  give  him  all  the  benefits  of  his 
advice,  instruction,  and  example.  This  kindnesa 
filled  his  eyes  with  tears— but  the  hand  of  fate  was 
already  upon  him.  -  , 

Scott's  Diary  for  the  day  on  which  he  wrote  to 
Lord  Elgin  says:— "We  strolled  pbout  Milton  on 
as  fine  a  day  as  could  consist  with  snow  on  the 
grouiMi,  in  company  with  John  Greenshields,  the 
new  sculptor,  a  sensible  stroqg-mhided  man.    The 

»  Thii  statue  is  now  in  the  posaewion  of  Sir  Wahcf's  pil^ 
Mm,  Mr.  Cadell.  81,  SL  Andrew's  Squaie.  EdiDburgh. 


mtaation  is  eminently  beautiful ;  a  fine  promontonr 
round  which  the  Clyde  makee  a  magnificent  bend. 
We  fixed  on  a  situaiion  for  WilUam*a  new  house 
where  the  siiiinp  rooms  will'commiuid  the  upoer 
valley ;  and,  with  an  ornamental  garden,  I  think  it 
may  be  made  the  prettiest  place  m  Scotland.  Next 
dayUn  our  way  to  Edinburgh,  we  stopped  at/Uan- 
loi  to  see  a  tree  transplanted,  which  was  performed 
with  great  ease.  Sir  Henry  Stewart  is  ifted  beyond 
the  so^d  earth  by  the  effect  of  his  book's  success; 
-but  the  book  well  deserves  it.*  He  is  m  pracuce 
parUcularly  anxious  to  keep  the  roots  of  trees  near 
the  surface,  and  only  covers  them  with  about  a  fool 
of  earth:  iVoi*.— Lime  rubbish  dug  m  among  the 
roots  of  ivy  encourages  it  much.— The  operatmn  de- 
layed us  tW  hours,  so  It  WM  «e?en^brforewe 
reached  our  dinner  and  a  good  fire  m  Shandwicfc 
Place,  and  we  w^e  well-nigh  frozen  to. death,  lfu- 
ring  the  excursion  I  walked  very  ill—with  morepam 
itf  fact  than  I  ever  remember  to  have  feli—andj 
even  leaning  on  John  Lockhart,  could  hardly  get 
on.— Well,  the  day  of  return  to  Edinburgh  is  come. 
I  don't  know  why,  but  I  am  more  happy  at  the 
change  than  usual.    I  am  not  working  hard,^  and  U 


UFB  OP  ^IR  WALTER  3cbTT. ' 


change  than  usual.  1  am  not  worKing  nara,  nnu  i* 
is  what  I  ought  to  do  and  must  do.  Every  hour  of 
IwnMB  cries  fie  upon  me. ,  But  there  is  a  perplex- 
ing sinking  of  the  heart  which  one  cannot  always 
overcome^  At  such  times  I  have  wished  mys^a 
olerk.  quiU-driving.for.  two-pence  per.  Pa«e- ,  Jqu 
haye  at  least  apphcauon,  and  that  la  all  that  is 
n^^,  ^^  ,-v,  whfTpris,  nnk?«  your  lively  faculties  are 
ftwukt  and  propinour",  yimr  application  will  do  you 
an  liitlc  go6a  aa  if  you  strianed  your  smews  to  lift 

On  the  2.3d' hti  ma:-"  The  SoUcitort  came  to 
dino  with  mc-vft  drank  a  bottle  of  ChamoagnA 
and  iwo  bottler  of  claret,  which,  in  former  daysi  I 
should  hnvc  ihougbi  a  vtry  sober  allowance,  «noa 
Lockban  incJud^.  thi^re  wt^re three  oersons  to-dnnk 
ii.  But  J  fell  1  hftd  drunk  loo  much,  and  was  un- 
comfortable. The  youni^  men  stood  it  hke  young 
mt^i.  Skene  and  his  wii'^  and  daughter  looked  in 
m  the  tvcnitiR.  I  suppose  I  am  turningto my  secotjd 
childhoodp  for  noi  only  tun  I  filled  drunk,  or  made 
stuptd  nt  itjiiii,  with  anc  buUleof  wine,  but  lam  dis- 
abled from  wniitvg  hy  chd'*^*^'*^  ^^  "^^  fingers— a 
ino«t  bahyieh  Lompbrnt.'*  , 

Ai  thU  time  the  ctij^f  topic  of  discouFse  in  Kdin- 
burgh  waa  the  atrrjciou**  wries  of  murders  perpe- 
trat<id  hy^  gangof  Iriflb  H  ueperadoes,  Burke,  Hare, 
A<,,  m  a  hotiBt'  or  fnWnr  .^f  the  West  Port,  to  which 
they  seduced  ^K>or  olJ  wayfaring  people,  beggar 
women^  idiots,  and  so  forth,  and  then  filled  them 
drunk,  and  smothered  or  strangled  them,  for  the 
mere  purpose  of  having  bodies  to  sell  to  the  anato- 
mists. Sir  Walter  write/on  the  28th  :— "  Burke,  the 
murderer,  hanged  this  mommg.  The  mob,  which 
was  immense,  demanded  Knox  and  Hare,  but 
thousi^  oeody  for  more  victim^  received  with  shoals 
the  solitary  wretch  who  found  bis  vvay  to  the  gal- 
lows out  of  five  or  aix  who  seem  not  less  guilty  than 
he.  But  the  siory  begins  to  be  sule,  insomuch  that 
I  believe  a  doggrel  ballad  upon  it  would  be  popular. 
how  brutal  soever  the  wit.  This  »  the  progress  of 
human  passion.  We  eiaculate,exclaim,  hold  up  to 
heaven  our  hand,  like  the  rustic  Phcebe— next  morn- 
ing the  mood  changes,  and  we  dance  a  jig  to  the 
tune  which  moved  us  to  tears." 

A  few  days  later,  he  discusses  the  West  Port  tra- 
gedy in  this  striking  letttx.  It  was  written  in  answer 
.  to  one  announcing  Miss  Fanny  Edijeworth  a  raar* 
nage  with  Ifcr.  Lestock  Wilson  :— 

To  MiM  Bdgexwrtk^  J5dgeuM»rthatoum. 

"Edinburgh,  Feb.  4, 1829. 
•*Bfy  dear  Sfisa  Ed^eworth, 

"  I  have  had  jour  letter  several  days,  and  only  an- 
swer juft  now,  dot,  you  nuiy  believe,  from  waiil  of  iaierest 
In  the  contents,  but  from  the  odd  circumatancc  of  being 
SD  much  afflicted  with  chilblams  in  the  flngerf ,  that  mj 

»  ae)»  Sir  Walter*!  aiCiela  oo  Oraaaeatd  aasdenkis.-lfitetf- 
-— "  Praaf  Wo¥kt. 


rra  aciamblca  every  way  but  the  right  00^*5 
shoUd  receive  the  eharacter  of  the  moat  crabbed 
from  those  modern  aagea  who  judge  of  »  ""  f"'?*!- 
haadwriUng.    But  aa  an  old  man  becomes  a  cWW,  W^ 
e xpect,  I  auppose,  meaalea  and  amall  pox.    I  only  wian  1 
coSld  get  a  VfSih'aet  cxf  teeth.    To  tejl  you  the  trudj,  I 
feel  the  advance  of  age  more  than  1  like,  {hough  airj^' 
erol  health  U  excellent;  but  I  am  not  *We  to  wa^  aal 
did.  and  I  fear  I  could  not  now  vlaU  St  Kevin'a  Dea 
This  is  a  great  aflllction  to  one  who  has  been  ao  acuva  as 
I  have  been,  in  apiie  of  all  disadvanlagea.    1  mnat  now 
have  a  friendly  arm,  instead  of  relying  oq  mj^oj^n  «*f!l 
Uona :  and  it  U  sad  to  think  I  ahall  be  worse  before  I  am 
better.    However,  the  mild  weather  majhclp  roe  ia  aooao 
dei^ree,  and  the  worst  ia  a  quiet  ponv,  0  "*f?j.^,£if  "f  * 
qiuet  pony.)  or  perhaps  a gHrden-chair.    AU  ihiado^  p«t 
Srevent  i/  sincere  sympathy  in  tha  i?^^«««,of  ^^P^ 
neaa,  which  1  hope  Miss  f anny'a  mamaae  wiU  ajwrd  to 
heraelf,  and  you,  and  all  who  love  her.    1  haje  noi  had 
SJ  «^L^opportunlly  U.  know  her  meritaaa  Owae  of  nyr 
.Sends  Mra^^uUer  ind  Mrs.  Fox ;  but  I  «;VS!S^.i^ 
'^her  (being  your  slater)  when  at  DubUn,  to  feel  most  •»- 
corely  interested  in  a  young  Pf  «>n 'f^?»f  !S?i^  ^2 
amiable.    In  Mr.  WlUon  you  describe  the  natioiial  oha- 
racier  of  Joha  Bull,  who  is  not  the  worst  of  the  t^  «J 
Uons,  Uiough  be  ^  not  the  l"^^*^ /««*»!^  •"?.. J^ 
humour  ofyour countrymen,  nor  the  ahrowd  sagacity ,or 
the  romantic  spirit  of  thinking  and  adventurina  which  tM 
Scotch  otten  conceal  under  pieir  fPP^^^i.J^Sf^JSJ 
which  vou  have  so  well  painted  in  the  M'Leod  of  xsur 


♦  John  Hope.  Ew]. .  SoUcitor  OeiMtal-now  Dean  of  the  Paflulty 


I  go  lo  London,  were  I  to  have  a  voy4«e  of  discovery  ts 
make  it  out :  aid  it  will  be  Mr.  Wilson's  fauU  If  w«  d«^w« 
make  an  intimate  acquatatance.  , 

"I  had  the  pleasure  of  receiving,  last  autumn,  irovr 
American  friend  Mlaa  Douglas,  who  if«n«a  "^SS/ff^ 
nioua  person;  and  I  hope  X  ««ccwded  in  maWoa  ^ 
happy  during  her  short  vunt  at  A|>bouford;  fp'f  J  S!f 
compelled  to  leave  her  to  Pay  ault  and  aenrlca  at  a>©  Cup- 
cuit  The  menUon  of  the  Circuit  brings  me  to  the  horroni 
which  you  have  so  well  described,  and  which  i^mWj 
DotWng  so  much  aa  a  wild  dream.    Certamly  1  thougkL 
Uke  you,  that  the  pubUc  alarm  was  but  an  engurataonoC 
vulgar  rumour ;  but  the  tragedy  is  too  true,  and  l^pok  te 
vaifror  a  rem^rof  the  evtla,  in  which  it  ^^J^^^ 
thia  bUck  and  unnatural  buameaa  has  ionnd  us  oti|Sn. 
The  principal  soSlrce  certainly  liea  to  the  feehuca  of  alj 
tachment,  which  the  Scotch  have  for  their  doccaM 
friends.    They  are  curious  in  the  choice  of  their  aepolr 
chre,  and  a  conuuon  shepherd  Is  often,  at  wbata^or 
ruinous  expense  lo  Ids  lamfly,  transporiod  many  mUw*; 
some  favourite  place  of  burial  which  haa  been  occupiM 
by  bis  lathers.    It  followa,  of  courae,  that  any  iulerfoieDCO 
with  tliese  remains  b  conaldered  with  inost  uuer  hotfsr 
and  IndicnaUon.    To  auch  of  their  aupenora  aa  incy  W|vs 
from  claushlb  or  iiabiUi  of  dencudauce,  they  attach  As 
same  feeling.    1  experienced  U  when  1  had  a  great  do-  . 
mestic  loss ;  for  I  loamed  aOerwards  that  the  ceinotary 
was  guarded,  out  of  good  will,  by  the  aervauta  and  d^ 
pendants  who  had  been  attached  to  her  durmg  hfej  and 
were  1 10  be  laid  beside  my  loat  companion  l«ft  «**•» 
have  no  doubt  it  would  belong  before  my  kumhle  fin^ads 
would  discontinue  the  same  watch  overmy  reniaiBa,aBd 
that  it  would  incur  mortal  risk  toapproocb  them  with  tM 
purpose  of  violation.    This  Is  a  kind  and  vutuoua  prin- 
ciple, In  which  every  one  so  lar  partakes,  that,  aXthou^ 
an  unprejudiced  person  would  have  no  objecuon  to  tba 
idea  of  his  own  remains  undergoing  diasedioB,  if  their 
betag  exposed  to  scientific  research  couW  be  of  the  tea^ 
service  to  humanity,  yet  wo  all  shudder  atOw?  notios  of 
any  who  had  been  dear  to  us,  eapecialiy  a  wife  or  stMe^ 
being  subieclfd  16  a  scalpel  amoua  a  aaaing  and  i«fael- 
ing  crowd  of  studcnta-    One  would  light  and  die  to  poe- 
vent  It.    This  current  of  feeling  ia  encouraged  by  tbe 
law  which,  as  diStUigulshing  murderers  and  other  iitro. 
cioua  criailnals,  orders  that  their  bo(fies  ahall  be  i^oa 
for  public  dlsacdlion.    This  makes  it  almost  ampoaaifala 
to  conaigP  the  bodies  of  those  who  die  in  the  public  hoa- 
pltals  to  the  same  fete ;   for  it  would  be  iuilictiug  oa 
poverty  the  penally  which,  wisely  orunwiaely,  Oie  lawof 
the  country  has  denounced  ag amat  guilt  of  thfe  tugheat 
degree  ;  and  it  would  assuredly  deprive  all  who  bava  a 
remaining  spark  of  fcelhig  or  shame,  of  the  benett  of 
those  consolations  of  charity  of  wliich  they  are  the  bait 
obtects.  If  the  prciudico  be  not  very  liberal,  itia  avnljr  na- 
tural, and  so  deeply  seated,  that  many  of  the  beatfeeitecs  . 
must  be  destroyecf  ere  it  can  be  eradicated.    Wbattbea 
remains  *?    The  only  chance  I  «ee  is  to  permit  iinportatkm 
froih  oijier  countries.    If  a  subject  can  be  had  in  Fssia 
for  ten  or  twenty  franca,  U  will  aurely  pay  the  Importer 
who  brings  it  to  3cotlaud.    Somethtog  must  be  done,  for 
there  is  an  end  of  the  Canlabilvaeuuty'  the  last  frece- 

•  Cantabit  vacuoi  conm  latrooe  Ti»tof,->/i»swi«l. 

Digitized  by  V^OOQlC 


UFE  OF  SIB  WALTER  SCOTT. 


m 


ndr4of  beggary,  wWch  enUUefl  bUn  to  laiuhat  tlie  risk 
of  rabbttj.  Th*?  Ti2i1^at  wri!idi  U}  Ihe  biirliwiiiv  ma?  he 
better,  booty  ti^ha  kjUM-Kon  of  ctiflrtrlderiinori.  tiim >■' the 
taat  may  mnt  bul  a  few  BftiJiiniErf  m  tun  p^,,  itt  i,  ivu.J  Ute 
bcfgar,  being  onco  deM,  i*  wurili  ien  pouudji  tu  hi«  mur- 
derer. 

**Thc  great  numlier  i>f  Lh^  lower  J&ish  wliith  bave 
come  orer  beru  mno^  ihc  neare,  ii.  like  hU  iinponutt  oc 
^rrences.  atteci'lfi  vf\ii\  Jta  own  alia^r^  orgriDi]  imd  eviL 
It  inuet relieve  rr-^ldml  In  f»rt  ^jf  the  e  xcpse  of  popti»«i<»ii, 
which  is  one  al  Itji  gnfaK^st  ovtln,  jind  it  ■ccommorfmej 
flcotland  wtthaisct  of  Larar  anj  In.iefiiU^tile  lahogrfjm^ 
without  which  it  W(HiI<i  Us  UufioHslblc  ta  carry  op  tlie  very 
eneasive  imp^ov^nv^ntH  wlycli  bsive  bo  eft  rtecuted. 
Our  canals,  our  nil  mmli  widl  our  rarie^ui  pubUc  works 
are  all  wrought  b^  Irish  r  bave  often  employ ed  ihtm 
nijaelf,  at  burning  cbiy,  anJ  aJmilar  oporaituns.  and  Jiavp 
loond  them  as  laboiirifrs  ciuiei  iwni  tjrat  table,  ti^lji-Bjifrhud, 
loo,aodhappy Jg  adrgn'r  ticynnd  b«btirt»nd  jn  nn  Llt?aree 
qnanrftlaome,  k«!flp  whJAkoy  froaj  thejn  and  thrm  (V.im 
vhiaker.  But  fmJtt  unhappily  fnr  itll  parties  ihev  w&rfc  aE 
lar  too  low  a  rate  ;  ha  raie,  in  ihon,  vfUkM  c*»  bcji  juttt 
procure  nit  ,and  potjuat^j  ;  they  btcorpe  r*^eklij:5a,  of 
coarse,  of  all  tl  J  (■  comfort*  and  Lipcpnc-tc^a  oflifD,  which 
mey  have  no  mcjiaH ^ r p ro^^  uri ng.  Kitrfti nc  [KJ mpu*  brlaff a 
knorajice  apd  vii-e,  juid  iln'^e  are  ihn  rouUier*  o/ crime 
u  irejand  were  u>  GuboiELio  aomp  kind  of  tuior-ntio— 1  do 
potJOieMi  that  of  England— Leu  iwjiuc^thinf  t^i^  ihouJd 
secure  to  the  Indigent  ihtir  naiurAlshaie  of  the  fruiii  of 
the  earth,  and  4  n»til«  them  at  3t?ii*i  to  fe*'dwhil*>oihefa 
are  feafttixig— it  w:ju1pJ,  I  caijnoi  Jouht^  r^ae  the  cliura^li^T 
0 f the  lower  ordf't^,  andditprLte  ihcni  of  that  n^cttkatn^M 
of  futurity  w^ich  leBdH  ^hatu  to  ttkink  only  of  the  preeent- 
Indeed,  where  int^xka^^m  off  be  bwor  rfljiiitB  is  mentioned 
U  a  vice,  we  imi*i  allnvf  rhe  (empisikm  l*  wp II- nigh  Ine*' 
Itable;  meat,c*i>th<fi.  lire,  mil  that  raeii  cm  and  do  uiaiit 
Meiuppttedbt  it  rlroii  of  whiikej.  and  no  one  «bs7iUd  b^ 
turprUedthat  tb<>  relief  (t4>o  orttn  ibo  only  ope  witJiIntba 
wretchei*  power)  f^  tso^crly  gnuiped  at. 

V^®  Pfy^bacSi,  1  iuap^ct,  th«-  inrooventeticps  wc  re- 
ceive frorii  the  charge  tor  uf  our  Irl^b  imp&rttitioo,  by  flemJ 
fag  you  a  set  of  bfllf^dncuteLt,  coldh^srlod  Scatcbtncii  lo 
be  Ments  and  nitd .  il  ^  mj-ii.  Aiuong  the  m,  loo,  r  here  are 
good  and  excell' lU  'haractprs,  jet  1  cwi  canc^lT**  they 
Otten  mislead  th*  ■  \  r  cru  plgy  e  ra  1  nm  uo  gre  at  bi-liever  in 
the  exueme  degrt^e  of  inipri>veiiient  ui  be  ikrtvpd  frttui 
me  advancement  of  RrJtnce  t  (*iit  every  study  of  that  na- 
Jpo  'ends,  whetJ  piisilied  to  a  certain  cjtie'n!,  To  harden 
tte  heart,  and  render  th^  phlloikfipber  r'^cjeleii  cjf  (>T*!ry. 
tWng,  save  the  o^|ject  of  tiis  owu  pTitiuEi ;  aJI  efiuihbriiini 
m  tHe  Character  U  diairMyed,  and  th*>  vijuiil  force  of  the 
understanding Ifc  psnoriutJ  by  b^init  fiic^  m  one  object 
exclusively.  Tl  1  u  s  wr  »<?  e  ih  eologii  tial  gcc  t^  c  al  thong  h  in  - 
culcating  the  monl  doctridL^s^ard  oLr^rnatl^  placing  rniUi's 
teal  In  opposition  ro  t!ii?ni ;  and  tten  in  the  praciiri]  of  ilic 
bar,  itlsastefaisliini  bow  w*?  be  route  calJuUfl  to  right  and 
wrons.  when  the  iim?fJtion  U  to  «a(n  »r  )o»e  a  CRiiae.  [  hav^ 
myself  often  wonili-  rnl  how !  beoMne  so  IndlJfbrent  to  the 
norrorsofacriBun.il  trial,iftnni?oLTeaapt'|&lof  Jttw.  In 
Bite  manner,  th^  1  in  suit  of  phyHjoLpgy  JnOicts  toiltires  on 
the  lower  animal,-^  of  cruatiiin,  and  oi  Uugth  coqiei  Xa  rob 
shoulders  against  Lht  W«^i  V^rt.  The  maw  wf  high  dvi- 
iizatlon  to  whlcL  we  liflvi™  arri?eii.  [b  ^^ninp^  icarrcly  11 
national  blessing.  ^i\rv,  wttilt?  ihefew  art  jirtprravod  to 
the  highest  point,  tho  wany  arc  In  pfoportlon  mMallJtnji 
•nd  degraded,  aiiil  ttii^  Hiito  nntiou  dl*plAy*ia(  the  same 
Uroe  iha  very  hifi^h'^iit  lUid  tlje  icry  lowiait  ntJito  In  wWtf  h 
the  human  race  cun  exijit  in  poiai  tif  iutcUccL  //ere  la  a 
doctor  who  Is  abl-  to  tiik*  .lown  th(i  wIidJa  clock  worlc  of 
the  human  frami\  ami  may  in  lime  find  aome  way  uf  Tf.- 
purine  and  pattini;  it  toip-th-T  ajjairj ;  and  iherf  ia  Bfirfce 
with  the  body  (f  bis  mnnlerfld  coiinirywonian  oa  li^a 
hack,  and  her  bloari  ^  his  hantba,  osikiii^  bi£  pricr  from 
the  learned  carrma  buKtitcr.  After  all^  lite  gulden  ajre 
was  the  period  for  Etnienii  bikppino9.i,  wht>n  ih*?  lanhgavK 
5«  stores  without  laUmr,  and  the  people  exisitcrl  only  in 


IB  at  fbls  moment  stopped  by  the  soov-stonnt  atiil  lolaelnc 
hEintt^lf  wlib  a  ctjmr  somewberfl  1j|  Morthumb<?rknd,-  lifi 
in  ail  tbe  news  that  em^itUn^oHt  yo  u^  D  r.  and  AI  n^  Oatm' 
«t>^ir  are  rather  getanf  aver  tbf?ir  hoary  ip**,  i,m  itiAwm 
too  Tiidhk  00  tlipif  brnwB,  M)iJ  ihat  bigod  fiver  iylng  daily 
before  Ihem  fa  a  sad  remembraneer.  I  ww  a  brtiificr  of 
yours  on  a  visit  mt  A^Uerky  i'  be  dtneU  wlt|]  ua  011*^  ilny, 
anil  ptortiiaed  to  conif  and  t^e  n^  next  a^inim^^r,  *pbicb  i 
hopF^ticwilluiakegoQd  My  pen  baa  h  r  on  deri^rlng  I  ise  1  f 
mJeptndtut  thEa  laat  half  hour,  which  la  U>e  nwtfe  tinaat- 
unU,  aa  it  ia  engaged  Ln  writing  |o  its  faruaer  mutrefcs.r 
Kvor  youra  afTecdooaieiy. 


the  numbers  whi^'ti  I,  could  ejuUif  isufmist;  liut  tbitJiyaB 
S?-5°****  to  last.  A?  iiiir  nsmU^pr^^rpUf  our  wami*  mniti 
PUed,  and  here  ivt-  are  eontondlnff  wHb  mcr^^^^aa^ng  dlffll 
^ties  by  the  fore *;  of  re peated  inv enij mrn.  Wlwlhi' r  vy b 
VUilat  last  eat  tacb  Mber,  as  <d  yorp.  or  whetlirrrhe 
earth  will  set  a  flj^j  with  a  cnmet'*  iad  ftrst^  wW  but  th-j 
""^jerend  Mr.  Irving?  witi  vt^urure  lu  pronuunre? 

Now  here  is  a  fearfui  h-ni^  letter,  and  tlit-  next  tNnpr  i» 
tpsend  It  under  Lord  j'rini^jH  flower' a  oinnljiotedr  frflot  ' 
Anne  steds  best  fompliiuenti  ;  tho  say  a  aha  tiad  the  hon- 
^ to  despatch hrrcoiignaiilatlona to  youaJroady.  Walter 
•M  his  little  wlfii  jirc  at  Nice;  hp  la  now  iiujiir  of  hja 
'?«"n«nt,  which  \i  rapid  adTanfienieotp  mni  bo  has  ioqo 
Jhroed  to  see  thi-  w.^rld.  Lock  hart  has  been  bere  for  a 
week  or  two,  but  is  now  gone  for  E^i^lMid     I  jiuiipeci  he 

''JiSSb  M&5"  Ajcfttanf  for  InMandf  unda  the  Duke  of  Wei- 


Str  Waltef  9  op^ratiotia  appear  to  liBve  beon  intar- 
rupted  tvpr  and  anon,  d uri rjg  January  and  February^ 
iB2%  m  eodiitequetice  of  sevure  diatresB  m  Tho  ho  He- 
boid (i[  Ua  pnutei :  wboet;  warm  afitctioiis  were 
not,  as  in  Lis  own  case^  subjtictod  to  the  auihorliy 
^  a  stoical  will.  On  the  Uth  of  F«brt»ry  the  Diary 
pays  :**  The  Iflltera  I  received  wf^rc  nunitroiAa,  and  , 
craved  answers,  yel  th^  tbird  volume  is  getting  on 
h4>ply  iind  ftiirl^,  I  am  twtnEy  leaves  Before  iho 
pnnier,  but  Oallaiityno's  wife  is  ill,  and  It  is  bia  na- 
itif©  \Q  itidukfi  appriihensione  of  the  worst,  wbicb 
ifl  enpacii  ates  b  1  m  to  r  1  abuu  r.  I  ta  n  n  a  t  }ie  I  p  re;^  a fdini? 
tbia  amiable  weakneaM  of  tht;  mind  v^ub  tfonitthirig 
too  near  I  y  allied  to  no  titeinp  t. "  O  n  t  he  i  7  th  ^ — "  T  re- 
ceived tha  melafjchal/  news  ihat  James  BaJlaijtyjie 
baBloftthi^wife,  VVithhiBdomeaiicbabit^iJicbfow 
is  i  rre  irievab  le.  VVh  0 1  ea  rt  h  e  do,  poor  fe  I  low,  at  ibe 
head  of  auch  a  family  of  children  T  1  ^hoitid  not  be 
au  rp  Ksed  i  f  he  were  1 0  gi  vc  way  to  de^  air. "  J  a  m  t« 
was  not  able  to  sppi^at  at  hia  wife's  funeral;  and 
I  his  Scott  viewed  with  ao  met  hi  tig  ttiorc  tban  jptty. 
IVcxi  morning,  however,  says  the  Oiary  :— '^BnlUn- 
tyoe  tnmc  in^  to  my  surprUe,  about  twelve  o'clock. 
Ete  was  vety  aerioua,  and  spoke  sb  if  he  bad  name 
idea  of  atiriden  and  speedy  death.  He  mentioned 
that  he  bad  Qamed  Cadell,  Cowan,  youn^  Hughes^ 
ilttd  CUB  brother  to  be  his  tmstees  with  tijyMlf  He 
baa  settled  fo  go  lo  the  counirj',  poor  fellow  !" 

Bnllanlyne  re ttriid  accordingly  to  some  pexjUL^aterea 
place  iitjar  Jedburgb,  and  Tberev^ndutging  hiaerifif  in 
fohtudf^  fell  into  a  condition  of  reii^ous  melancbo- 
ly,  from  which  I  think  be  n*?ver  wh'jlly  recovered 
SeotT  regarded  this  aa  weaknosa,  and  in  part  at 
least  ae  wilful  weaknesi,  and  addressEil  10  bim  aev* 
era!  letters  of  strong  reincrtBlranee  and  rebuke,  I 
have  rf?ad  them,  but  do  not  po««c^a  ibom  1  nor  per- 
hape  would  it  have  been  proper  for  me  to  print  tbein. 
In  writinj^  of  the  coae  to  mj  self,  he  fl^aya,  "  1  have 
a  sore  irnevnneo  in  poof  BaUantyne'a  increasing 
lownoas  of  hearty  and  I  fear  he  ia  ainkiug  rapidly 
into  I  he  condition  p^f  a  religious  drfiatner  His  re* 
tiremetii  from  Ekiin burgh  was  the  woret  advised  , 
aehotne  in  the  world,  I  in  vatn  remindod  him  that 
when  &ur  SnviiLiur  himBL4f  was  10  be  bii  into  itmpt- 
adntJ,  the  first  thing  rhe  Devil  fhougbt  of  was  to  act 
him  into  the  wildyrnt^as '*  Halbrttyne,  after  a  fi?w 
weeks,  resumed  bi?  place  in  the  pnntinse  olfice  j  but 
he  odinrted  himself  more  and  moie  to  what  hip 
friend  eonsiden'd  as  erroneous  and  eJttrnvnafant  no- 
liona  of  rdiji^otiB  doctrine  j  and  I  ri^et  to  tay  that 
in  this  dtflerene*'  oriKinhted  a  certain  ttlienBlii:m,  not 
of  afre>rtion,  but  of  confidence,  which  was  visiihW  lo 
every  tiear  observer  of  tb<;ir  tubaeqnent  inrep(>oiirft*j. 
Towards  the  Inat^  indeed,  ihcy  saw  but  Imb-  of  each 
other.  I  fiuppoae,  however,  it  i'^  need  less  to  add 
that  down  to  the  very  last,  Scoli  waiched  m^t 
BaUantyne's  intert^ata  with  ttnditnioiabed  attention. 
I  must  ^ive  a  few  more  c^tfrscts  from  ibe  Diary, 
for  the  Sprmp  Seesfion.  during  which  Anrveof  Geier- 
^tem  was  ilnwhed.  and  the  Prospeciun  of  the  Opus 
Magnutn  issued.— Severn  I  entnea  rtrr«r  to  tbf-  linal 
carrying  of  the  Roman  Catholic  Qutsnon.  Wh<^n 
the  Duke  of  Wellington  and  Sir  Rrjbtrt  Peel  an- 
1 1  ou  need  tbetr  in  ten  no  n  of  conceding  those  claims, 
on  which  the  reader  baa  already  swn  Scott's  opin* 
lon^  there  w^e  meetings  and  pctiikms  enough  in 
Edinburgh  as  elsewhere ;  and  though  he  felt  confiid- 

*  AlWlej  U  tht  Hal  «f  Sir  Pavid  Brewi^w,  oi^xMite  Meliupp, 
A  onfr  boy.  oiwi  qf  3tr  Davkl'i  loua,  had  b«n  JruwcR-d  a  Y^tt  bo- 
forp  in  tl»e  Tweed. 

\  Mita  Edcewurth  bad  fivon  ^if  Walter  a  bnvde  inkiUad  (astd 
to  LuvD  bflloatnJ  la  Arioatoif  mth  ap 


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540 

erable  repugnance  to  acting  in  any  such  inatter 
with  Whigs  and  Radicals,  in  opposition  to  a  great 
section  of  the  Tories,  he  ultimately  resolved  not  to 
shrink  from  doing  his  part  in  support  of  the  Duke  s 
government  on  that  critical  experiment.  He  wrota  I 
believe,  several  articles  in  favour  of  the  measure  for 
the  Weekly  Journal ;  he  spoke,  though  shortly,  at 
the  principal  meeting,  and  proposed  one  of  its  reso- 
lutions; and  when  the  consequent  petition  was 
read  in  the  House' of  Commons,  hit  name  among 
the  subechbers  was  received  with  such  enthusiasm, 
that  Sir  Robert  Poel  thought  fit  to  address  to  him  a 
special  and  very  cordial  letter  of  thanks  on  that  oc- 
casion. 

DiABV,  **/>&.  03.— Anne  and  I  dined  at  Skene's, 
where  we  met  Mr.  and  Mrs.  George  Forbes,  Colonel 
and  Mrs.  BlaTr,  Qeorge  Bell,  Ac.  The  party  was  a 
pleasant  one.  Colonel  Blair  told  us  that  at  the 
commencement  of  the  battle  of  Waterloo,  there  was 
some  trouble  to  prevent  the  men  from  breaking  their 
ranks.  He  expostulated  with  one  mant-'  Why,  mv 
good  fellow,  you  cannot  propose  to  beat  the  French 
alone?  You  had  better  keep  your  ranks.'  The 
man,  who  was  one  of  the  71st,  returned  to  his  place, 
saying,  *I  believe  you  are  right,  sir,  but  I  am  a  man 
of  a  very  hot  temper,*  There  was  moch  bonkommie 
in  the  reply. 

**  February  24.— Snowy,  miserable  morning.  I 
corrected  my  proofs,  and  then  went  to  breakfast 
with  Mr.  Drummond  Hay,  where  we  again  met 
Colonel  and  Mrs.  Blair,  with  Thomas  Thompson. 
We  looked  over  some  roost  beautiful  drawings 
which  Mrs.  Blair  had  made  in  diflferent  parts  of 
India,  exhibiting  a  species  of  architecture  so  gor- 
geous, and  on  a  scale  so  extensive,  as  to  put  to 
shame  the  magnificence  of  Europe;  and  vet,  in 
most  cases,  as  liitle  is  known  of  the  people  who 
wrought  these  wonders  as  of  the  kings  wno  built 
the  Pyramids.  Fame  depends  on  literature,  not  on 
architecture.  We  are  more  eager  to  see  a  broken 
column  of  Cicero's  v'dla,  than  all  these  mighty  la- 
bours of  barbaric  power.  Mrs.  Blair  is  full  or  en- 
tbustiasm.  She  told  me,  that  when  she  worked 
with  her  pencil  she  was  glad  to  have  some  one  to 
read  to  heras  a  sort  of  sedative,  otherwise  her  excite- 
ment  made  her  tremble,  and  burst  out  a-crying.  I 
can  understand  this  very  well.  On  returning  home, 
r  wrought,  but  not  much— rather  dawdled  and  took 
to  reading  Chambers's  Beauties  of  Scotland^hich 
would  be  admirable  if  they  were  Accurate.  He  is  a 
clever  young  fellow,  but  hurts  himself  by  too  much 
haste.  I  am  not  making  too  much  myself  I  know— 
and  I  know,  too,  it  is  time  I  were  making  it— un- 
happily there  is  such  a  thing  as  more  basic  and  less 
speed.  I  can  very  seldom  think  to  purpose  by  ly- 
ing perfectly  idle,  but  when  I  take  an  idle  book,  or 
a  walk^  my  mind  strays  back  to  its  task,  out  of  con- 
tradict^ as  it  were:  the  things  I  read  become 
mjnglea  with  those  I  have  been  writing,  and  some- 
thmg  is  concocted.  I  cannot  compare  this  process 
of  the  mind  to  any  thing  save  that  of  a  woman  to 
whom  the  mechanical  operation  of  spinning  serves 
as  a  running  bass  to  the  songs  she  sing&^or  the 
course  of  ideas  she  pursues.  The  phrase  Bbc  a$t^ 
so  often  quoted  by  my  father,  does  not  jump  with 
my  humour.  I  cannot  nail  my  mind  to  one  sub- 
ject of  contemplation,  and  it  is  bjf  nourishing  two 
trains  of  ideas  that  I  can  bring  one  mto  order. 

"  February  2Sv — Finished  my  proofs  this  morn- 
ing ;  and  read  part  of  a  curious  work,  called  Me- 
moirs of  Vidocq ;  a  fellow  who  was  at  the  head  of 
Buonaparte's  police,  ft  is  a  picaresque  tale:  in 
other  wordcs  a  romance  of  roguery.  The  whole 
seems  much  exaggerated,  and  got  up ;  but  I  sup- 
pose there  is  truth  au  fond.  I  came  home  about 
two  o'clock,  and  wrougnt  hard  and  fast  till  now- 
night.  I  cannot  gel  mys«lf  to  feel  at  ,all  anxioua 
about  the  Catholic  question.  I  cannot  see  the  use 
of  fighting  about  the  platter,  when  you  have  let 
them  snatch  the  meat  off  it.  I  hold  Popery  to  be 
such  a  mean  and  depraving  soperstition,  that  I  am 
not  sure  I  could  have  found  myself  liberal  enough 
for  voting  the  repeal  of  the  penal  laws  as  they  ex- 


IJFE  OF  SIR  WALTER  SCOTT. 


ifted  before  1760.  Hiey  must,  and  would,  in  conne 
of  time,  have  smothered  Popery  i  and,  I  confstt,  I 
should  have  seen  the  old  lady  of  Babylonl*8  mooth 
stopped  with  pleasure.  But  now,  that  ytm  have 
taken  the  plastv  oiT  her  mouth,  and  given  her  free 
respiration,  I  cannot  see  the  sense  of  kecsing  up 
the  irritation  about  the  claim  to, sit  in  ParuameoL 
Unopposed,  the  Catholic  superstition  may  sink  into 
dust,  with  all  its  absurd  ritual  and  solemnities 
Still  it  is  an  awfiil  risk.  The  world  ia,  in  fact,  •• 
sillv  as  evei^  and  a  good  competence  of  nonsanae 
will  always  find  believers.  Animal  tnagnethm, 
phrenology,  &c.  &c..  have  all  had  their  believers, 
and  why  not  Popery  7  Ecod !  if  they  should  b^^ 
to  make  Smithfield  broils,  I  do  not  know  where 
many  an  honest  Protestant  could  find  courage 
enough  to  be  carbonadoed  7  I  should  shrink  from 
the  thoughts  of  tar-barrels  and  giUtets,  I  am  aliraidb 
and  make  a  very  pusillanimous  martyr,  so  I  hope 
the  Duke  of  Wellmgton  will  keep  the  homed  beast 
well  in  hand,  and  not  let  her  get  her  leg  over  the 
harrows. 

"JWarc^4.— At  four  o'clock  arrives  Mr.  CadtO, 
with  bis  horn  charged  with  good  news.  The  proa- 
pectus  of  the  Magninn,  although  iaaoed  only  a  week, 
has  produced  such  a  demand  among  the  trade,  that 
he  thinks  he  must  add  a  large  number  of  copies, 
that  the  present  edition  of  7000  may  be  increased  to 
meet  the  demand :  he  talks  of  raising  it  to  10,000  or 
12,000.  If  so,  I  snail  have  a  powerful  and  constant 
income  to  bear  on  my  unfortunate  debu  for  several 
yeara  to  came,  and  may  fairly  hope  to  put  every 
claim  in  a  aecure  wav  of  payment.  Lajdlaw  dined 
with  me,  and,  poor  fellow,  was  as  much  elated  with 
the  news  as  I  am,  for  it  is  not  of  a  nature  xo  be 
kept  secret.  I  hope  I  shall  have  him  once  more  at 
Kaeside  to  debate,  as  we  used  to  do,  on  religion  and 
politics.  • 

'*  Mardi  ^.—l  am  admitted  a  member  of  the  Mait- 
land  Club  of  Glasgow,  a  Society  on  the  principle  of 
the  Roxburgh  and  Bannatyne.  What  a  tail  of  the 
alphabet  I  shouM  draw  after  me  were  I  to  sign  with 
the  indications  of  the  different  societies  I  belong  tOk 
beginning  with  President  of  the  Royal  Society  oi 
Edinburgh,  and  ending  with  umpire  of  the  Six-feet- 
high  Club. 

"  March  6.— Made  some  considerable  additions  to 
the  Appendix  to  General  Preface.  I  am  in  the  sen- 
timents towards  the  public  that  the  buffoon  player 
expresses  towards  His  patron— 

"  Go  tell  rav  good  Lord,  said  this  modeet  young  man, 
If  he  will  but  invite  roe  to  dinner, 

FU  be  as  diverting  as  ever  I  can— 
I  will,  on  the  faith  of  a  sfauier." 

I  will  multiply  the  notes,  therefore,  when  there  iaa 
chance  of  giving  pleasure  and  variety.  There  is  a 
stronger  gleam  of  hope  on  my  affaire  than  has  yet 
touched  on  them ;  it  is  not  steady  or  certain;  but  it 
is  bright  and  conspicuous.  Ten  years  may  laat  with 
me,  though  I  have  but  little  chance  of  it. 

"  March  7.— Sent  away  proofs.  Th»  exiricaikm 
of  my  affairs,  though  only  a  Pisgah  prospect,'  oeca* 
pies  my  mind  more  than  is  fitting :  but  without 
some  such  hopes  I  must  have  felt  like  one  of  the 
vicihns  of  the  wretch  Burke,  strui^ling  against  a 
smothering  weight  on  my  bosom,  toll  nature  could 
endure  it  no  longer. 

"  Mirch  8.— Ballantyne,  by  a  letter  of  tbia  morn- 
ing, totally  condemns  Anne  of  Creierstdn.  Tlunl 
volume  nearly  finished— a  pretty  thing,  truly,  fiw  I 
shall  be  expected  to  do  all  over  again.  Oreardis* 
honour  in  this,  as  Trinculo  says,  besidea  an  infinite 
loss. ,  Sent  for  Cadell  to  attend  me  to-morrow 
morning,  that  we  may  consult  about  this  bus^nesai 
— Ped  has  made  his  motion  on  theCatbobcqueetioa 
with  a  speech  of  three  hours.  It  is  aknoat  a  com* 
plete  surrender  to  the  Catholics,  and  so  it  should  be. 
for  half  meastu-es  do  but  linger  out  the  feud.  This 
will,  or  rather  ought  to  satisfy  all  men  who  aincerelT 
lova  peace,  and,  therefore,  all  men  of  properly.  But 
will  this  satisfy  Pat,  who^  with  all  nia  Tirtttea.  ii 
certainly  not  the  most  sennble  person  in  the  world  1 


LIFE  OF  SIR  WALTER  SCOTT. 


PerWs  Qot ;  and  if  not,  it  is  but  fightins  them  at 
last.  I  smoked  away,  and  thought  of  ticklish 
politics  and  bifd  novels.  * 

"  March  9.— CJidell  came  to  breakfast*  We  re- 
solved in  privy  council  to  refer  the  question  whether 

Anne  of  G n  be  sea- worthy  or  not  to  further 

consideration,  which,  as  the  book  cannot  be  pub- 
lished, at  any  rate,  during  the  full  rage  of  the  Cath- 
olic question,  may  be  easily  managed.  After  breakfast 
I  w^nt  to  Sir  William  Arbuthnors,*  and  met  there 
a  select  party  of  Tories,  to  decide  whether  we  should 
a<n  with  the  Whigs,  by  adop^ng  their  petition  in 
favoor  of  the  Catholics.  I  was  not  free  from  appre- 
hension that  the  petition  might  be  put  into  such 
language  as  I,  at  least,  shoulo'^be  unwillinjo;  to  h6- 
mologate  by  my  subscription.  The  Solicitor  was 
▼oucner  that  they  would  keep  the  terms  quite  gene- 
ral ;  whereupon  we  subscribed  the  requisition  for  a 
meeting,  with  a  slight  alteration,  affirming  that  it 
was  our  dasire  not  to  have  intermeddled,  nad  not 
the  anti-Catholics  pursued  that  course ;  and  so  the 
Whigs  and  we  are  embarked  in  the  s^me  boat— 
9ogue  la  galore, 

"  Went  about  one  o'clock  to  the  Castle,  where  we 
•aw  the  auld  murderess  Mons  Megt  brought  up  in 
solemQ  procession  to  re-occupy  her  ancient  place  on 
the  Artfyle  battery.  The  day  was  cold,  but  serene, 
and  I  think  the  ladies  must  nave  been  cold  enough, 
not  to  mention  the  Celts^  who  turned  out  iip9n  the 
occasion^  under  the  leadmg  of  Clany  Macpherson, 
a  fine  spuited  lad.  Mons  Me^  is  a  monument  of 
our  pride  and  povertv.  The  size  it  enormous,  but 
flix  smaller  guns  would  have  been  itiade  at  the  same 
ezpease,  and  done  mx  times  as  much  execution  as 
she  could  have  done,  i  There  was  immense  interest 
taken  in  the  show  by  the  people  of  the  town,  and 
the  numbers  who  crowded  the  Castle-hill  had  a 
magnificent  appearance.  About  thirty  of  our  Celts 
attended  in  costume :  and  as  there  was  a  Highland 
regiment  for  duty,  with  dragoons  and  artillerymen, 
the  whole  made  a  splendid  show.  The  style  in 
which  the  tast  manned  and  wrought  the  windlass 
which  raised  Old  Meg,  weighing  seven  or  eight  tons, 
firom  her  temporary  carriage  to  that  whieh  baa  been 
her  bans  for  many  years,  wai  singularly  beautiful 
•a  a  oombined  exhibition  of  skill  and  strength.  My 
dMMfktbr  had  what  might  have  proved  a  frightful 
aecNieat.  Sonie  rockets  were  let  off,  one  of  which 
lighted  up4n  her  head,  an^  set  her  bonnet  on  fire. 
&M  neitner  screamed  nor  ran,  but  quietly  permitted 
Charles  Sharpe  to  extinguish  the  fire,  which  he  did 
with  great  coolneaa  and  dexterity.  All  who  aaw 
har,  especially  the  fnendly  Celta,  gave  her  merit  for 
her  ateadinesa,  and  said  ahe  came  of  good  blood. 
My  own  courage  waa  not  tried,  fbr  bemg  at  some 
distance  escorting  the  beautiful  and  lively  Countess 
of  Hopetouo,  1  did  not  hear  of  the  accident  till  it 
waaover. 

"  We  lunched  with  the  regiment  (73d)  now  in  the 
eaatle.  The  little  entertainment  gave  me  an  oppor- 
timity  of  observing  what  I  have  often  before  re- 
marked—the improvement  in  the  character  of  the 
young  and  anbaltem  oflBcers  in  the  army,  which  in 
the  course  of  a  long  and  bloody  war  had  been,  in 
point  of  rank  and  manners,  something  deteriorated. 
The  uamber  of  peraona  applying  fbr  commiaabna 
(%000  being  now  on  the  lists)  gives  an  opportunity 
of  selection ;  and  officers  should  certainly  be  geti' 
Uemen,  with  a  complete  opening  to  all  who  can  rise 
bv  merit  The  style  in  which  duty  and  the  knowl- 
•d||e  of  their  profession  are  now  enfbtced^  preventa 
fameanU  from  remaining  long  in  the  projfesaion. 

"  In  the  evening  I  presided  at  the  annual  festival 
of  the  Celtic  Club.  I  Uke  this  Society,  and  willingly 
give  myaelf  to  be  excited  by  the  sight  of  handsome 
young  men  with  plaids  and  claymores,  and  all  the 
alertnesa  and  ipirit  of  Highlandera  in  their  native 

^  TtH«  ffentlnntn  %rai  a  fiiTourite  with  Sir  Vahar— a  tpedal 

'  lofU*  Brittih  Dftma. 

in  lan,  and 
•- "  at  the 


541 

garb.  There  was  the  usual  degree  of  excitation- 
excellent  dancing,  capital  songs,  a  general  inclina- 
tion to  please  and  to  be  pleased.  A  severe  cold 
caught  on  the  batUements  of  the  Castle  prevented 
me  from  playing:  first  fiddle  so  well  as  on  former 
occasions,  but  what  I  could  do  was  received  with 
the  usual  oartiality  of  the  Celts.  I  got  home  fa- 
tigued and  vino  graratus 'about  eleven  o'cldck. 
We  had  many  guests,  some  of  whom,  English  offi- 
cers, seemed  both,  amused  and  surprised  at  our  wild 
ways,  especially  at  the  dancing  without  ladies,  and 
the  mode  of  dnnking  favourite  toasts,  by  springing 
up  with  one  foot  on  the  bench  and  one  on  the  table, 
and  the  peculiar  shriek  of  applause,  so  unlike  Eng- 
lish cheering. 

"AbboU/ord^  March  18.- 1  like  the  hermit  life 
indifferent  well,  nor  would^  I  sometimes  think,  break 
my  heart,  were  I  to,  be  m  that  magic  mountain 


thinking  like  a  fool.  Solitude  is  only  agreeable 
when  the  power  of  having  society  is  removed  to  a 
abort  space,  and  can  be  commanded  at  pleasure. 
' It  i»  not  good  for  man  to  be  alone.'*  It  blunts  ow  . 
faculties  and  freezea  our  active  viriuea.  And  now, 
my  watch  pointing  to  noon,  I  think  alter  foui 
hours'  work  I  may  indulge  myaelf  with  a.  walk. 
The  doga  see  me  about  to  shut  my  deek^  and  inti* 
mate  their  happiness  by  caresses  and  whming.  B« 
your  leave^  Messrs.  Genii  of  the  Mountain,  if  j 
cc^     "■  your  retreat  I'll  bring^my  doga  with  me. 

L  J  It  day  was  showery,  but  not  unpleaaant— eoft 
dropiiMii^raina,  attended  by  a  mild  atmosphere,  that 
B[<iTKii  of  flowers  in  then:  seaaona,  and  a  chirping  of 
biTi\s,  Thiat  bad  a  touch  of  airing  in  it  I  had  the 
puTiLMK  0  to  get  fully  wft,  and  the  grace  to  be  thank- 
fu!  Tor  11, 

"  Curria,  a  Uttle  flourish  on  the  trumpet  pet  u« 
rouse  the  Genius  of  this  same  red  mountain— so ' 
called,  because  it  ia  all  the  year  covered  with  roses. 
There  can  be  no  difficulty  in  finding  it.  for  it  Ues 
towarda  the  Caepian,  and  ia  quoted  m  the  Persian 
Tales.  WeU,  I  open  my  epnemerides,  form  my 
scheme'  under  the  suiuble  planet,  and  the  Geniua 
obeys  the  invitation  and  appears.  The  Gnome  is  a 
misshapen  dwarf,  with  a  huge  jolter-head  like  that 
of  Boerhaave  on  the  firidge,t  bis  limbs  and  body 
monatrously  shrunk  and  disproportioned.  '  Sir 
Dwarf,'  said  I,  undauntedly,  ^  thy  head  is  very  large, 
and  thy  feet  and  limbs  somewhat  small  in  propor- 
tion.* *I  have  crammed  my  head,  even  to  the  over- 
flowing,  with  knowledge;  and  I  have  starved  my 
hmba  by  disuse  of  exerciae  and  denial  of  sustenance  v 
'Can  I  acquire  wisdom  in  thy  solitaiv  library?' 
'Thoumayestl*  *  On  what  condition  1'  ^Renounce 
all  gross  and  fleshly  pleasures,  eat  pulse  and  drink 
water,  converse  with  none  but  the  wise  and  learned, 
alive  and  dead.'  *  Why,  this  were  to  die  in  the  cause 
of  wiadoml'  *If  you  desire  to  draw  from  our 
library  only  the  advantage  of  soemins  wis«,  you 
mny  nave  it  consistent  with  all  yourwvourite  en- 
jo  y  m t  n  t ?/  '  U ^wuiuch  sleep  V  *  A  Lapland  night 
— yjubt  iDonthfl  oui  of  the  twelve.'  ^EnouEh  fbr  n 
dorrtiou^.  moi^i  generous  Genins— a  bottle  of  wiine?' 
'Two.  if  you  pka^e;  Lmt  you  must  not  seem  to  care 
fcr  them— ci^arrt  ill  loads,  whiskeV in  lushings— only 
thcv  must  bf'  [Qktn  whh  an  air  of  contempt,  a/occi- 
j)r I  If  '■l-Tj  J  'i  tti'  p i h  frr-'i  t ion  of  all  that  can  gratify  the 
oui^urd  man.'  1  am  about  to  aak  you  a  serious 
question— when  one  haa  atuffed  hia  stomach,  drunk 
bia  bottle,  and  smoked  his  cigar,  how  is  he  to  keep 
himself  awake  V  *  Either  by  cephalic  snuff  or  cas- 
tle-building.' '  Do  yuu  approve  of  caetle-building 
as  a  frequent  exercise?'  Genius—*  Life  were  not 
life  without  it— 

*  Give  ui«  the  joy  that  sickens  not  the  heart. 
Give  me  the  wealth  that  has  no  wings  to  dy.' 

•  Geoeiii,  chap.  ii.  v.  is. 

t  This  head  mar  stiil  be  seen  over  a  laboratory  st  No.  lOO  el* 

&  South  Riidfe,  Edinburf  h.-N.  B.  There  is  s  traditioo  that 
venerable  bustoi         "  """'' 

Groer"  and  tomo  of 
a  wr  iaappro^riata  ii 


i,  Edmburf  h.— N.  B.  There  is  s  traditioo  that 
sto  in  question  was  ooce  dislodsed  by  "  CoIoDol 
»  of  his  tvimpanions,  and  waffffhlv  nlaat%d-da/> 
ata  position.    '  iitizecTBy  ViiOOVlV^ 


M 


LIFE  OP  SIR  WALTER  SCOTT. 


Author. ^*1  reckon  myself  one  of  the  best  aerial  arch- 
ftecls  now  living,  and  iVi7  me  pctniUt?  Genius. — 
*  Nee  est  cur  te  pamiteat.  Most  of  your  novels  had 
previously  been  subjects  for  airy  castles.'  Author.^ 
You  have  me — and  moreoyef  a  man  derives  ex- 
perience from  such  fanciful  visions.  There  are  few 
situations  I  have  not  in  fancy  fij^red,  and  there  are 
few,  of  course,  which  I  am  not  previously  prepared 
to  take  8om6  part  in.*  Genius.—^  True,  But  1  am 
afraid  your  having  fancied  yourself  victorious  in 
many  a  fight,  would  be  of  little  use  were  you  sud- 
denly called  tob-the  field,  and  your  personal  infinni- 
ties  and  nervous  ag'tations  both  rushing  upon  you 
and  incapacitating  you.*  Author.^' my  nervous 
agitations !  down  with  them  1— 

*  DoWii  down  to  Limbo  and  the  baminif  lake ! 
False  flend  avoid  !— 

So  thtfre  ends  the  tale,  with  a  hoy,  with  a  hoy, 

So  there  ends  the  tale  with  a  ho. 


There's  a  moral— if  you  fail 
To  seixc  it  bv  the  t 
riU  c 


-if  yon 
itail. 


Its  import  wiU  exhale,  you  must  know.' 

"  March  19.~The  above  was  written  yesterday 
before  dinner,  though  appearanoes  are  to  the  con- 
trary. I  only  meant  that  the  sttidious  sotitude  I 
have  sometimes  dreamed  oC  unless  practised  with 
rare  stoicism,  miicht  perehancedecenerate  ioto  secret 
indulgepces  of  cbarser  appetites,  which,  when  the 
cares  and  restraints  of  social  life  are  removed,  are 
apt  to  make  us  think,  with  Dr.  Johnson,  our  dinner 
the  most  important  event  of  the  dav.  So  muck  in 
the  way  of  ezplataation,  aibumonr  WbKh  I  love  not. 
Qo  to.  I  .ftnted  at  my  Review  on  Ancient  Scottish 
History,  both  before  and  after  breakfast  I  walked 
from  one  o'clock  till  near  three.  I  make  it  out  ra- 
ther better  than  of  late  I  have*  been  Mtt  to  do  in  the 
streets  of  Edinbmgh,  where  i«m  ashaoied  to  wnlk 
so  slow  as  would  suit  me.  indeed  nothing  but  a 
certain  suspicion^  that  once  drawn  iip  on  the  beach, 
I  would  soon  break  up,  prevents  my  renouncing 
psdestrian  exercises  altof^etker,  for  it  is  pocttive  suf' 
fsring;  and  of  an  acute  kind  too. 

"  Mei9  M.^Sent  off  ten  pages  of  the  Mid  of  the 
Mist  this  morning  with  a  murrarat— But  how  to 
get  my  catastrophe  packed  into  the  compass  allet- 
ted  for  it  7 

'  It  sticks  like  a  pistol  half  out  of  its  holster. 

Or  rather  indeed  like  an  obstinate  bolster. 

Which  I  think  I  have  seen  von  attempting,  my  dear, 

In  vain  to  cram  into  a  small  pillow* beer.' 

There  is  no  help  for  it— I  must  make  a  (our  ^eforccy 
and  annihilate  both  time  and  space. 

^*  March  29.— In  spite  of  the  temptation  of  a  fine 
morning,  1  toiled  manfuHy  at  the  Review  till  two 
o'clock,  commencing  at  seven.  I  ftar  it  wjM  bij  un- 
interesting, but  I  like  the  mudcJIiup  wgrk  of  anuqiii- 
ties*  and,  besideiL  wist  to  record  mv  ^entimenti^  wuh 
regard  to  the  uothic  question.  Xu  one  that  tias 
npt  laboured  as  I  have  done  on  iniaf^inary  to|ucs 
can  judge  of  the  comfort  afforded  by  walking  an  all 
fours.  a!nd  bling  grave  and  dull.  1  dare  sa^,  i/ihen 
the  clown  of  the  pnntomimeefi'nfiei  f^m  hi«  ni^ht- 
\y  task  of  vivacity,  it  is  his  e<[»'  <  mlly  \o  nmokt^  a 
pipe  and  be  prosy  with  some  ^iMirJ^nncurtd  feUtiw, 
the  dullest  of  his  acquaintance.  1  bavtr  Mtr^n  svicEr  a 
tendency  in  Sir  Adam  Fergosgn.  the  gni'tst  niftn  I 
ever  knew;  and  poorToraShc-riJnji  hzjiJ  Lvinpbined 
10  me  on  the  fatigue  of  supporting  the  character  of 
an  agreeable  companion. 

"  Aipril  a.— Both  Sn*  James  Mackintosh  and  Lord 
Haddmgton  have  spoken  very  handsomely  in  Par- 
liament of  my  accession  to  the  Catholic  petition, 
and  I  think  it  has  done  some  good ;  yet  I  am  not 
confident  that  the  measure  will  disarm  the  Catholic 
spleen— nor  am  I  entirely  easy  at  finding  myself 
allied  to  the  Whigs  even  in  the  instance  where  I 
agree  with  them.   This  is  witless  prejudice,  however. 

**AjfrU  8.— We  have  the*  news  of  the  Catholic 
queatxHi  being  carried  in  the  House  of  Lords,  by  a 
mejority  of  105  upon  thesecond  reading.  This  is  deci- 
sive, and  the  balsam  of  Fierabras  mustbe  swallowed. 

"  ArriX  9.yl  have  bad  news  of  James  llallantyne. 


Hypochondria,  I  am  afraid,  and  religioosly  distress- 
ed m  mind. 

'^  April  18.— Corrected  proofs.  I  find  J.  B.  has  . 
not  returned  to  his  business,  though  I  wrote  to  say 
how  necessary  it  was.  My  pity  begins  to  give  way 
to  anger.  Must  he  sit  there  and  squander  his 
thoughts  and  senses  upon  dowdy  metaphysics  and 
abstruse  theology,  till  he  addles  his  brains  entirely, 
and  ruins  his  business?— I  have  written  to  him 
again,  letter  third,  and,  1  am  determined,  last 

"  April  20.— Lord  Buchan  is  dead,  a  person  whose 
imnicnsj.  vaniiic,  bordering  M^a^n  iii^Hiniiv.  r-V^.  „r.  .j, 
or  ruthtT  ccljpjscd,  very  cori«iderflblt  ul^is.  ili^ 
icpa^inntiuii  waj>  m  fLTtilti,  thai  he  Memcd  InesHy  tu 
beUeve  nw  cjlinordinfiry  ficiionfi  which  he  delist- 
ed in  liJhug,  l\\%  economy,  niopt  laudalilo  ifi  the 
early  pari  of  hj^  lift,  whtu  it  cnabltd  hi«i,  from  a 
sniull  [sstunU',  to  tiay  bis  lather's  deLta,  htctmit  & 
misirnblii  hnblt^  luid  kti  hint  Ti>  do  mt-an  vhin^^ 
He  bad  a  tlt'Mrt'  tti  Uja  ^rtat  man  and  a  Mocrniss- 
a  bmi  marchi.  The  two  ci4tt*fiilfd  lawytn*,  kp 
brothtiH,  were  not  mort^  gtftod  hy  nattire  ihAn  I 
think  he  was,  bu(  tUtf  reslramtc  of  a  proJttS£.kj[ike|>t 
the  rcctnlnciiy  of  the  fiimily  m  o?der»  Henr;  Ere- 
kino  was  the  befii-natur^d  man  I  evtsr  kn^w,  tW- 
rouLghly  a  genilemaa.  and  v^ith  tut  one  faults  He 
cauld  not  aay  Tie,  and  thus  auinetimes  cniffled  tho« 
who  tniBitd  him.  Tom  Er&kiiit  was  patilivcly 
mud.  J  ha^e  heard  Jiim  tdUi:otjk-ind-a  bull  notf 
of  h living  ati^n  the  ghoal  of  hi*  fathtr's  ^ervadr. 
John  Bunictt  with  as  mueh  paviiv  as  if  b&  bt4i*r\W 
cv«;ry  word  he  was  guying,  iioth  Henry  &iid  TUam- 
as  were  saving  men>  yet  both  Jie<i  vtiy  [jooj-.  The 
latt<;r  at  owe  \xstw  pafl^*aed  .£:jOt%00Oi  ihe  otbw 
hod  a  ain^id«rBble  fartuue.    The  £«n  aton*:  hae 


aorr  thr^t  tvLf  cheered  ftocietjr ;  that  of  Lord  I&sitinfl 
was  mowJy  and  muddish.  But  I  never  aaw  him  ia 
his  best  days. 

"  April  2A.— Alter  wriiiM  «  heapof  letters,  it  wan 
time  to  set  out  ibr  Lord  Buekan^  flmtral  at  Dry- 
bdrgh  Abbey.  The  lecteis  were  signed  bf  Hr.  David 
Ernine,  bis  Lofdship's  nataral  son :  and  hia  ne^ 
phew,  the  young  Earl,  was  present :  bat  neither  of 
them  took  the  bead  of  the  coffin.  His  Lordship'e 
burial  took  plaos  in  a  cirapei  ainongst  the  luim. 
His  body  was  in  the  mve  with  its  ieet  pointing 
westwatti.  My  coBsiii,  Maxpopjpiai^  wms  for  taking 
notice  of  it,  but  I  assanid  tiim  iMit  a  matt  who  baa 
been  wrong  in  the  head  all  bia  life  woidd  aoarea  be- 
come right-headed  after  death.  1  felt  vometbing'  at 
parting  with  this  old  man,  thciagh  but  a  trumpery 
body.  He  gave  me  the  first  approbation  1  ever  ob- 
tained  from  ^  stranger.  His  caprice  had  led  imn  te 
examine  Drl  Adanrs  claes  when  1,  a  boy  of  twelve 
yean  old,  and  then  in  disgrace  foraome  aggravated 
case  of  negligence,  was  called  up  from  a  low  bendi, 
and  recited  my  lesson  with  some  spirit  and  appear*- 
ance  of  feeling  the  poetryMit  waa  the  apparition  of 

Sector's  ghost. in  the  JSneid)—wiiich  called  forth 
e  noble  EarHs  applause.  I  was  very  proud  of  tho^ 
at  the  .time.  1  was  sad  from  another  aceoont— it 
was  the  first  time  I  had  been  among  liioM  ruina 
smee  I  left  a  very  valued  pledss  there.  Mv  next 
visit  may  be  invelontary.  Even  Qod^  will  be  oone — 
at  leaat  I  have  not  the  mortification  of  thinking 
what  a  deai  'Of  patronage  and  fuse  Lord  Bvohan 
would  beetow  on  my  fuoeral.t  Maxpoppfe  dined 
and  slept  here  with  four  of  his  famiiy,  much  annised 
with  what  they  heaild  and  saw.  By  good  fortune, 
a  ventriloquist  and  parcel  juggler  cafne  in,  and  we 
had  him  in  the  library  after  dinner.  He  was  a  Italf- 
starved,  wretched*looking  cveatura,  who  seamed  to 
have  eat  more  fire  than  bread.    So  I  cansed  him  lo 


*  WIlliaiD  Soott.  E«q.— tho  prMMt  L«iidof  RaetetD-wu  o* 
mooljr  tbof  dccignated  from  a  mioor  po«ceakm,4urinc  Im  &iIim 
lifrtinte.  Wb&teter,  io  things  of  thi»  lort.  uaed  to  be  rxaeOM 
amooff  flie  Preocli  noblaue  tnifffat  be  tiaoed,  tiO  verr  lattlr.lBll 
auttomi  of  the  Scottish  proTwdaJ  fcntrr- 

i-Seeonft.p.  314. 


iirE  OP  SHI  WALTER  SCOTT. 


643 


be<w«n  flttttfed,  aild  gave  him  a  guinea— rather  to 
kin  poverty  than  to  hie  skilh— and  now  to  finish 
Anne  of  Gtoieratein." 

Anrie^f  Geierstein  was  finished  before  breakfast 
OD  the  29th  of  April;  and  hit*  Diary  mentions  that 
immediately  afKjf  breakfast  he  be^an  his  Compen> 
dium  of  Scottish  History  for  Dr.  Lordner's  Cyclo- 
^  piedia.  We  have  se«i  that  when  the  Proprietors 
'  of  ihat  work,  in  July  1628,  oifered  him  jB500  for  an 
abstract  of  Scottish  History  in  one  volume,  he  de- 
clined the  proposal.  They  subsequently  offered 
X700,  and  this  was  accepted;  but  thoush  he  bc^an 
the  task  under  the  impression  that  he  should  find  it 
a  heavy  oneir,  he  soon  warmed  Cb  the  subject,  and 
pursued  it  with  cordial  xeal  and  satisfaction.  One 
volume,  it  by  and  by  appeared,  would  never  do~in 
his  own  phrase  "  he  must  have  elbow  room"*— and 
I  believe  it  was  finally  settled  that  he  should  have 
SluOO  for  the  book  in  two  volumes ;  of  which  the 
first  was  published  before  the  end  of  this  year. 

Anne  ot  Graierstein  came  out  about  the  middle  of 
May;  and  this,  which  inay  be  almost  called  the 
lasi  work  of  hi^  imaginative  genius,  ivas  received  at 
least  as  well— (out  of  Scotland,  that  ts)— as  the  Fair 
Maid  of  Perth  had  been,  or  indeed  as  any  novel  of 
his  after  the  Crusaders.  I  partake  very  strongly,  I 
ana  awiir^  in  the  feeUnj^  which  mosr  of  n'  "  '>y- 
men  nave  tittle  ahflme  in  avowing,  that  i  J  df 

his,  where  neither  scenery  nor  character  i  iyh, 

belongs  to  the  Bane  ^na^^mJnent  class  'i,  uioBe 
in  which  he  paints  ana  neoplea  his  native  iuno.scai^ 
I  have  confessed  that  I  cannot  rank  evtii  hit  hi-6t 
English  romances  with  such  creations  a«  \S^vj:,il4y 
and  Old  Mortality  |  Car -less  can  1  believe  that  pos- 
terity will  attach  awiiilar  value  to  thia  Marid  of  rthe 
Mist.  Its  pages^  newetvor.  display  in  undiminishM 
'  perfection  all  the  skill  aM  grace  of  the  mere  artist, 
wiiAi  occaMMtiionibi^kflDf  the  old  poetic  spirri, 
more  than  sufficient  to  remove  the  work  to  an  im- 
measurable distaflce  from  any  of  its  order  produe^- 
in  this  country  inoyr  own  age^  Indeed,  toe  various 
play  of  fapoy  tn  the  4)ombinatioii  of  pors^ns  a  Ad 
events,  and  the  airy  Itvelindss  of  bmh  imtgery  and 
diction,  may  well  iustifrvisi^ applying  to  tne  author 
what  he  beautifully  riays  of  hi«  KmgRen<«^ 

*\A  Mirt^iM  IW  be  -fas ;  the  snows  of  site 
Fell,  but  they  did  not  chill  him.    Gaiety, 
Even  in  life's  closing,  tuuch'd  his  teeming  brain 
With  such  wild  visidrts  asthe  settmg  alw 
Raises  in  froilt  ofsdint^  Ixyar  elaCler, 
Painting  the  bleak  iee  with  a  thonsand  hues." 

It  is  a  common  saying,  that  there  is  nothing  Bo 
distinctive  of  geniua  as  %M  retention,  in  sdvaBeftd 
years,  oft!  v  i'  fbr^^ist  the  feeling*  of  you  Ih 

with  allih  nril  L>h»w  (ind  pitriry.    Boil  nt>- 

prehend  fli  ^d  dieiiTjct ion  belongs  to,  and  is 

the  ju9t  n  I'f,  viriurm    geiijus'only.    In,  the 

case  of  extt  i  i  il  .;  irv  Torrr  .i  imagination,  combined 

with  the  h.U il   [nduti^kjKftof  a  selfieh  mood;— 

not  combii  i.  ii  1^  [«t  ^u  with  the genisi  temprar 
of  mind  snu  i.i^^uBiit  wliu^h  Uod  and  Nature  desi^ 
to  be  kept  alive  in  man  by  those  domestic  charities, 
out  of  aoiioh  the  other  atxjial  virtues  so  en^ilv  spring, 
and  with  which  they  find  such  endless  Unks  of  in*- 
terdependence  ;-^in  this  unhappy  case,  which  none 
who  has  studied  tl^e  biography  of  genius  can  pro- 
nounce ^o  be  a  rare  one,  the.  very  power  which 
heaven  bestowed  seems  to  become^  as  old  ape  dark- 
ens, the  sternest  avenger  of  its  own  mienpplicalion. 
The  rtirospectdf  life  is  converted  by  its  cncrcy  into 
one  v.ide  Mli*k'ness  of  dcsiMafe  regret ;  and  whetht^ 
this  breaks  out  in  the  shape  of  a  rueful  contemp- 
tuousnesa,  oif  a  saricaatie  mockery  of  tomn  tnelQiist 
drop  of  tne  poison  is  eiiongh  to  patalyxe  all  attefnplB 
^at  awakening  sympathy  by  fanciful  delineations  of 
love  and  friendBhip.  Perhaps  Seoft  has  nowhere 
painted  such  feeltng«  thnre  deliciously  than  in  those 
very  scenes  of  Anne  of  Qeierstein.  which  offer  every 
nojvWid  tbihiJiti  Mtne  incidental  circumstance  or 
reflection,  the  beatfirideoee  that  they  aredri^wn  by 
a  gray- headed  roani  The  whole  of  hre  own  hie  was 
too  present  to  hie  womferftil  loemorv  to  permit  «f 
hie'  brooding  with  eiOlwihre  pMNlilitf,xwriietfier 
.    I 


painfully  or  pleasurabfy,  on  anyone  portion  orpha- 
sis  of  it;  and  besides,  he  was  always  living  over 
asain  in  his  children,  young  at  heart  whenever  he 
looked  on  them,  and  the  world  that  was  a|}eniDg 
on  them  and  their  friends.  But  above  all  he  had 
a  firm  belief  iif  the  future  re-union  of  those  whom 
death  has  parted. 

He,  lost  two  more  of  his  old  intimates  about  this 
time ;— Mr.  Terry  in  June,  and  Mr.  Shortreed  in  the 
beginning  of  July.  The  Dinry  says:— "  Ju/y9.— 
Heard  oJ  the  death  of  poor  Bob  Shortreed,  the  com- 
panion of  many  a  long  ride  among  the  hills  in  quest 
of  old  ballads.  He  was  a  merry  companion,  a  good 
singer  and  mimic,  and  full  of  Scottish  drollery.  In 
his  cottipany,  and  under  his  guidance,  I  was  able 
tu  see  much  of  rural  society  in  tne  mountains,  which 
I  could  not  otherwise  have  attained,  and  which  I 
have  made  my  ti«c  df  He  was  in  addition  a  man 
of  uorfTi  titid  rli^irartcr.  I  nlv^ays  butilent^d  bis 
hnffpnahty  whik^  at  Jedlhurgh  on  the  cireuit,  and 
hfiw  b^^en  Kflfffal  to  some  of  his  family.  Poor  fel- 
low !  So  djift^  ^>ur  friends  frum  us.*  Matiy  rL-col- 
ler'nons  dit  with  him  and  with  poor  Terr j /* 

Hifl  Diarv  has  few  mou  tntrits  for  tins  iweW*- 
mcinth.  I^tiT'idbS  the  volume*  of  History  for  Dr* 
Larffner^fl  collection^  he  had  rtiidy  ftir  publication 
by  Derember  ihe  last  of  the  Sct^tilnh  Sent's  of  Tale* 
of  ,1  GrandfisthEr;  and  hud  mndv  great  pmgrfr-HS  in 
thi^prcftirt^s  and  fioies  for  Cod^H'?;  Oims  ^yfu^nurru 
Hr- had  iilsm  overturn*?  various  difficulties  wbch  for 
a  lintr  inftrTnpt(]d  the  twin  scheme  of  an  illustratud 
eiiiiion  oFUi^  Poems:  and  one  of  these  In  a  manner 
so  nj^ftrnbla  lo  him,  and  honourable  to  the  other 
pitrty,  thiiT  I  must  make  room  for  the  two  foUowing; 

T\fJO.  JAekhalrty  Eiq.'  RegtnCr  Park, 

"  Bhaadwfck  Place,  4th  June,  18Q9l 
"Wy  t!«ir  Loc^hart, 

**  1  have  a  cornmisirion  tbr  you  to  execute  tor  me,  whfth 
l-rt^T  ^^Hvi'rm  a  few  words.  I  am  now  in  possession, 
o\  Mi-H  rights  of  every  kind,  eieeptine  a  ffeW 

tl  miLiin's  bands,  andwhictil  am  offered  on 

VI  ,11^    -ind  a  fourth  share  of  MarmIon,«^leHi«' 

jin  ...  t.'rc^t  r^ciiojj  of  our  friend  Mnrray.  Now,  I  siioidd 
C4M<  iJi  r  il  ft  j{r(?4(  favburif  Mr.  Muirhj  woald  part  with 
it  :*i  ^vhK  hv  mill-  consider  as  a  fiur  rate^  and  would  be' 
ml        '  ■■'".'■'■  "    ^^'Ow  my  sense  of  obligation  by  assiatlog- 

bi_    -^ 1-: :-,;.  mutations  as  far  as  lies  in  my  power,   t 

rrti^  you  could  learn  as  soon  as  you  can  Mr.  Murray's 
sentiments  on  this  subject,  as  they  would  weigh  wnh  m& 
io  MMt  I  am  about  to  arrange  ae  to  the  collected  edition. 
The  Waverley  Novels  are  dotojf  tery  well  Indeed. 

'*  I  pat  you  to  a  ahilHiiK's  ejcpeose,  as  I  wish  a  apaedy 
aniwer  to  tho  above  query.  I  am  always,  with  lave  ta 
Sophia,  affectionately  yours. 

Walter  8coiT.» 

,  To  Sit  Walter  SeoU^  Bart,  BdinhutgK 

^  Aibemarle  Street,  June  8, 18KK 
doar  Sir, 
LocMmrt  has  this  moment  communicated  your 
"  -      -.     .  .  ..  •  bt  ,of 


>'My 


Piter  respecting  my  fourth  share  of  the  copyrig] 
Mannian.  I  have  already  been  ap|Mied  to  by  Messrs. 
Constable,  and  by  Messrs.  Longman,  lo  know  what  aum 
Jl  would  sell  this  «haie  for— but  so  higlily  do  I  estimatf 
the  hrtnour  of  being  even  In  so  sinall  a  degree  the  pub- 
lislier  of  the  anlhor  of  the  ndem*-thalno  pecuniary  con- 
jBidii'tiatton  whatever  can  inmibo  irto  to  part  with  if. 

*^JBat  thr^re  is  a  ronsldoratloa  of  another  kind,  which 
uiMil  n(^  I  was  not  aware  of,  which  would  maloe  It  paiii« 
fill  to  me  a  I  were  to  retain  U  a  laoniciit  longer  I  mean 
the  knowledcp  of  Us  being  required  by  the  author,  into 
Whose  liandH  it  was  sponinncoiiBly  resigned  in  the  same 
infttint  thlC  1  r6ad  bis  request. 

"This  liharc  has  been  profitable  to  roc  fifty-fold  beyond 
whfcl  ♦sUlrer  publisher  or  author  could  have  anticipated, 
Biirt,  th««r^fore.  my  rt^tnrhing  it  on  such  an  occasion  rou 
nvill,  I  iroiMtdo  me  the  favour  to  consider  in  no  other 
light  titan  as  a  mero  act  of  gnitf  fol  acknbwledgoieiit  for 

*  Sonoe  little  Unie  ticfare  Iw  deatl).  the  worthy  &MffMibiiti<  • 
lute  of  JtHlbunb  received  a  complete  ict  of  liis  frieod's  wonik 
\n\h  this  inscrifition !— "To  Roiiert  Shortreed,  E^a,  the  friend 
of  thsaQtbar  from  footh  to  a«e,  and  bii  gnifw  and  companion 
Upcm  imnr  en  o^peditirMi  amrniK  ths  Bohl^rhilU,  in  quest  of  tlM 
rnatenttsof  legeiyiaqf  kxs  whicli  huctt  St  J«n{  '  ^'^ 
voT»>me«,  tj^s  e^n^t|qn  j^ftlH'  rewilts  of  ilirir|l 


,  Watttr  6tl>tltf 


UFE  OP.tol  WALTER  SCOTT. 


benefits  already  received  by,  iny  dear  Sir,  your  obliged 
and  Ibtthlta  servant,  «       » 

John  MtjRaAY." 

•  The  success  of  the  collective  novels  was  far  be- 
yond vniat  either  Sir  Walter  or  Mr.  Cadell  had  ven- 
tured to  anticipate.  Before  the  close  of  1829  eight 
volumes  had  been  issued ;  and  the  monthly  sale  had 
reached  as  high  as  35,000.  Should  this  go  on^  thelre 
was,  indeed,  every  reason  to  hope  thatj  coramg  in 
aid  of  undiminished  industry  in  the  preparation  of 
new  works,  it  would  wipe  off  all  his  load  of  debt  m 
the  course  of  a  very  few  years.  And  during  the  au- 
tumn (which  I  spent  near  him)  it  was  most  .agree- 
able to  observe  the  effects  of  the  prosperous  intelli- 
gence, which  every  succeeding  month  brought, 
upon  nis  spirits.  ,   ,    ^  ....       ,.. 

This  was  the  more  needed,  that  at  this  time  his 
eldest  son,  who  had  gone  to  the  south  of  Prance 
on  account  of  some  unpleasant  symptoms  m  his 
health,  did  not  at  first  seem  to  profit  rapidly  by  the 
change  of  cUmaia  He  feared  that  the  young  nian 
was  not  quite  so  attentive  to  the  advice  of  his  phy- 
sicians as  he  ought  to  have  been ;  and  in  one  of 
many  letters  on  tnis  subject,  after  mentioning  some 
of  Caddrs  good  news  as  to  the  great  affair,  he  savs 
— "  I  have  >vrought  hard,  and  so  far  guccessfiilly. 
But  I  tell  you  plainly,  my  dear  boy,  that  if  you  per- 
^  mit  your  health  to  decline  firom  want  of  altenuon,  I 
have  not  strength  of  mind  enough  to  exert  myself 
m  these  matters  as  I  have  hitherto  been  doing." 
Happily  Major  Scott  wa%  ere  long,  restored  to  his 
asualstateofhealth  and  activity. 

Sff  Walter  himseli;  too,  besides  the  usual  allow- 
ance of  rheumatism,  and  other  lesser  ailments,  had 
an  attack  that  season  of  a  nature  which  gave  his 
family  great  alarm,  and  which  for  some  days  he 
himself  regarded  witl>  the  darkest prognoeucations. 
After  some  weeks,  durini;  which  he  complained  of 
headache  and  nervous  urritation.  certam  haemor- 
rhages indicated  the  sort  of  reUet  required,  and  he 
obtained  it  firom  copious  cupping.  He  says  in  hia 
Ditry  for  June  3d :— "The  ugly  aympiom  still  con- 
tinuea.  Dr.  Ross  does  not  make  mucfi  of  it ;  and  I 
think  he  is  apt  to  look  grave.  Either  way  I  am 
firmly  resolved.  I  vrrote  m  the  mommg.  The 
Oourt  kept  me  till  near  two,  and  then  home  cornea 
L  Afternoon  and  evening  were  spent  as  usual.  In 
the  evening  Dr.  Ross  ordered  me  to  be  cupped,  an 
operation  which  I  only  knew  from  its  being  prac- 
tised by  those  eminent  medical  pracUtioners  the 
'  barbers  of  Bagdad.  It  is  not  painful ;  and,  I  think, 
resembles  a  raant  twisting  about  your  fiesh  between 
his  finger  and  thumb."  After  this  be  felt  better,  he 
said,  than  he  had  done  for  years  before ;  but  there 
can  be  Uttle  doubt  that  the  natural  evacuation  was 
a  very  serious  symptom.  It  was,  in  fact,  the  pre- 
cursor of  apoplexy.  In  telling  the  Major  of  his  re- 
covery, he  says—  The  sale  of  the  Novels  is  pro— 
di— gi— oua.  If  it  last  but  a  few  years,  it  will  clear 
my  feet  of  old  incumbrances,  naVj  perhaps,  enable 
me  to  talk  a  word  to  our  friend  Nicol  Blilne. 

*  But  old  Bbips  must  expect  to  get  out  of  commission, 
Mor  again  to  weigh  anchor  with  yo  heave  ho  P 

However  that  may  be,  I  should  be  happy  to  die  a 
free  man ;  and  I  am  sure  you  will  all  be  kind  to  poor 
Anne,  who  will  miss  me  most.  I  don't  intend  to 
(lie  a  minute  sooner  than  I  can  help^foT  all  this  5  but 

'  \\\\iin  n  mt\\\  irikes  t(/  Miiiktiij?  bloud  in&lenfl  of  iva- 
ter,  he  is  lompied  to  think  on  the  possibility  of  his 
eaoa  niflking  enrlh.'" 

One  of  ihc  laf  I  ciitriee  lo  this  year's  Diary  fiivea  a 
*ktlch  of  the  celeb rau^  Edward  Irvingj  wha  ^fi^ 
about  this  lime  deposed  from  the  miJUfliTy  of  ihe 
,  Cfaurth  of  Scotland  on  occpuniof  Iiis  wild  heresies. 
Sir  Walter*  describirjE  a  large  dinner  parly,  sa^ra  ;— 
**I  met  to-day  the  telelraieo  divine  and  sf}i*d\stant 
propheu  Irving.  He  is  n  fiQe-lookms  man  (bating 
a  diflholical  Bquini,)  with  talent  on  Ma  brow  ana 
madness  in  his  eye,  Hia  drcap,  and  the  arrnn^^^e- 
ment  of  his  liair,  indicatfll  that.  I  ceuld  hardty  k^sp 
mjr  ey*;s  off  him  wbilt'  we  were  a(  table.  Hi.^  put  me 
in  mmd  of  the  devil  dts^iiised  as  an  anji^el  of  li^ht, 

.    BQ  ill  did  that  hgrrihle  obliquity  of  virion  harmonize 


with  the  dark  tranquU  foatures  of  bis  Ikoe,  l 
bline  that  of  our  Saviour  in  Itahan  pioturai, 
the  nair  carefiilly  arranged  in  the  same  manner. 
There  was  much  real  or  affected  simphcitv  in  the 
manner  in  which  he  spoke.  He  rather  7noB«  jdav^ 
spoke  much,  and  seemed  to  be  good-humonred. 
But  he  spoke  with  that  kind  of  mction  which  is 
nearly  alhed  to  cajolerie.  He  boasted  much  of  the 
tens  of  thousands  that  attended  his  ministry  at  the 
town  of  Annan,  his  native  place,  till  he  well-nijch 
provoked  me  to  safy  he  was  a  distinguished  excep- 
tion to  the  rule  that  a  prophet  was  not  esteemed  m 
his  own  country.  But  time  and  place  were  not 
fitting.'* 

Among  a  few  other  friends  fiDm  a  distance.  Sir 
Walter  received  this  autumn  a  short  visit  from  Mr. 
Hallam,  and  made  itk  his  company  several  of  nie 
httle  excursions  which  had  in  former  days  been  of 
constant  recurrence.  Mr.  Hallam  had  with  hita 
his  son^  Arthur,  a  young  gentleman  of  extraordi- 
nary abilities,  and  as  modest  as  able,  woo  not  long 
afterwards  was  cut  off  in  the  very  bloom  of  opening 
life  and  genius.  In  a  little  volume  of  */  Remains/* 
which  his  fathar  has  nnce  printed  for  private  friends 
—with  this  motto— 

*♦  Vattene  In  pace  alma  beau  e  beUa,"— 

there  occurs  a  memorial  of  Abbotsford  and  Mehosei 
whifch  I  have  pleasure  in  being  allowed  to  quote. 

"8TANZA»-AUOU8T,  18». 

"  I  lived  an  Iwiir  ip  fair  Melrose, 

It  was  not  when  41ie  p&Ie  modnlight' 
Its  mafntfying  charm  bestows ; 

Yet  deem  I  that  I  'viewed  it  rl^ht' 
The  witod-twept  shadows  faM  careered, 
Like  living  th&gs  that  Joyed  or  feared, 
Adovm  the  sonny  Eildoo  HiU, 

And  the  sweet  winding  Tweed  the  dbrtaace  crowned 
well. 

'*  I  inly  laughed  to  see  that  scene 

Wear  such*  cotibtenance.  of -youth, 
Thoof  h  many  an  age  thoss  hills  were  green,  ' 

And  yoftder  fiver  glided  smooth, 
Ere  in  these  now  disjointed  walis 
The  Mother  Church  held  festivals, 
And  filll-voiced  anthemings  the  while 
Swelled  from  the  choir,  and  lingered  down  the  ecbotoc 
aisle. 

"I  coveted  that  Abbev's  doom ; 

For  if,  I  thought,  the  early  ilowers 
Of  oar  alfection  mat  not  bloom, 

LiJce  those  green  niUs,  through  countless  hotirs, 
Grant  me  at  least  a  tardy  waning, 
gome  pleaanre  still  in  age's  painhig; 
Thoogn  lines  and  fonns  must  ikde  sway. 
Still  may  eld  Beauty  share  the  empire  or  Decay  I 

"  But  looking  toward  the  grassv  mound 
Where  calm  the  Douglas  chlenains  Uei 

Who,  living,  quiet  never  found, 
1  straightway  learnt  a  lesson  high  : 

For  there  an  old  man  sat  serene, 

And  well  I  knew  that  thoughtilil  mien 

Of  him  whose  early  lyre  had  thrown 

Over  these  mouldering  walls  the  magle  of  ita  tone. 

"Then  ceased  I  from  my  envying  state. 

And  knew  that  aweless  intellect 

Hath  power  upon  the  ways  of  fkte^ 

Ana  works  throne h  time  and  spaee  aneheek'd. 
That  minstrel  of  old  chivalry, 
In  the  cold  grave  most  come  to  be, 
But  his  transmitted  thoughu  have  part 
In  the  coQ^tive  mind,  and  never  shall  depart 

"  It  was  a  comfort  too  to  see 

Those  dogs  that  from  him  ne'er  would  iove, 
And  always  eyed  him  reverently, 

With  glances  of  depending  k>ve. 
The  V  know  not  of  that  eminence 
Which  marks  him  to  my  reasoning  soise ; 
They  know  but  that  he  is  a  man, 
And  sun  to  them  is  kind,  and  gUds  them  all  be  c«k 

**  And,  hence,  their  quiet  looks  eonSdiiig, 
Hence  gnteiU  Insttaiets  seated  deep, 
By  whoser  strong  bond,  weire  iU  bettdnw, 
T^ey  fisk'd  S^  9WB  his  life  to  taMC 


Ifhitt  joy  to  wmteh  in  hmtt 
.  JflilLtiowhbe  nde  all  Udtm* 


, it)iii«t^b«r> 

!Di«f  look  10  it.4|itkM  miod  to/bo  Uioir  |«m  Wd.tUj  1'^ 


,       '  M<  ita  fl<*ipild  on  tl^(r  entr^or^tian-  cnsc  of  Mure  of 
f  AiJChindf tt ne.  A .  ft.  KlU ;    »<M) 1 1  *  t*  so  Inii eft  ifi fer- 


tile clooQof  the  autumn  was  embittered  by  a  sud- 

[•D  and  meet  unefzp^ctad  depnvaiioil.    Appcrsritly 

«A  the  fullest  enjoyment  of  healtb  tad  iriftoinr, 

^Thomae  Fmdie  leaned  bt»  head  one  eToning  on  the 


Ubie,  and  dromd  aaleep.  Tbia  waa  notliaia  nn- 
eommon  in  a  liard«workhig  man-;  and*  bia  mmily 
Went  and  camoabont  him  ibiveoveral  honrsr  without 
talking  any  notiee.  when  eup|>eroame  they  tried  to 
awaken  hire,  and  found  that  life  had  been  flweome 
tnne  extinct.  Far  differeat  froaa  other  year&  Sir 
Walter  aeemed  impatient  to  get  away  ftom  Abbotv- 
ford  to  EdinbttMh.  **  I  have  loat,*'  be  wxitea  Uth 
I^Qinember)  to  Cadell,— "  my  old  and  (aithfol  aer- 

f  ant— my  factotum— and  am  so  much  ahockfa  ihf  t 
really  wish  to  be  Quit  of  the  country  and  safe  in 
town.  I  have  thia  day  laid  him  in  the  grave.  Tl^is 
has  prevented  my  aasw^ring  y()ur  letters.*' 

The  grave»  close  to  the  Abbey  at  Melrdse,  is  tin'- 
mounted  hy  a  modest  monument,  having  on  two 
"^'i  ihiaae  mscriptio^s  :— 

nr  oaAtmpvi  BBanMBaAii cB 
or 

TH*  WMTHTVt 

Jam  attachbd  suvicva 


AKp  IK  eoaaow 

woa,  THP  wa«iOF  A  tmnBiM 

BfranroaBV  m»vDt 

THIS  STORX  WAS  EXMCTtD  * 

»T 

^Pt  IViM^TEE  SCOTT,  Ba«t.. 

ppAsapTi^rpap. 

naax  use  rna  aopf 

or 

TH:OHA^  VVUDIB, 

wpon-rpi^BCTiB, 

Aff  AiaoTsrOBO, 

WHO  t>in>  B9TH  ooToaaa, 

1829, 

AOSD  aiZTV-TWO  IXAJUL 

"Thoa  bMl  b««a  Mtbfbl 

over  a  few  things, 
twill  q;iake  thee  ruler 

over  many  tbinfs." 

Mattketo,  chap.  xzv.  v.  21it 

CHAPTER  LXXVIII. 

AVdUKDRANX,  Oa  TU^  AVB8HIBX  TBAOVDV—- ftBCOND 
VOI.VJU  or  THB  HlfiTORV  OP  SCOTLAND— PABALVTIC 
SEUDBX— LETTEB8  ON  DEMONOL0aT,>AND  TALKS  ON 
THB  HISTOBY  OP  PBAKCB  BBGUN— POBTB^k',  WITH 
PBKFACB8,  PUBLISHED— BBVISW A L  OF  SOUTHEy's 
LIFX  OP  BDNYAN— EXCCBSIONS  TO  CCLBOSS  AND 
PBB8T0NPANS— BB6IONATION  OP  TUB  CLERKSHIP 
OF  SESSION — COMMISSION  ON  THE  8TVABT  PAPERS 
— OFTEBS  OF  A  PENSION  AND  OP  THB  BANK  OF 
PBIVY  COUNSELLOR— DECLINED— ^EATH  OP  GEORGE 
rV.— OBKBRAL  ELECTION— SPEECH  AT  JEDSUBQH- 
BBCOND  PABALVTIC  ATTACK— DEMONOLOOY,  AND 
FBBNCH  HISTORY  PUBLISHED— ARRIVAL  OP  KINO 
■CHABLBS  X.  ATHOLYROOD-BOU6E— LETTEBTO  LADY 
LOUISA  STU A  BT—  1 630. 

Sib  Waltk^'s  revi^wal  of  the  earlv  parte  of  Mr. 
Pitcairn*8  Ancient  Criminal  Trials  had,  of  couree, 
much  gratifisd  the  editor,  who  sent  him.  on  hie  ar- 
rival in  Edinburgh,  the  proof^aheets  of  the  Number 
thfiLiD  MM  and  difec^gd  his  action  particularly 


efited  wuh  tWsft  doeum^tet  *W  he  resoivfed  jp 
fmind  s  dranialjc  &ktich  nn  ib<jtr  terrible*  utorri  «M 
thp  resiih  wsa  N  roiiipoaiuon  far  nwjierrot  to  any  of 
Win  previoti*  a  i  tern  pre  of  that  nature.  Indeefj  tnere 
ar*  sw.^vtrnl  psfSflu^s  in  In*  "  Affshire  TAHtdN*— 
eapecially  that  whsTp  the  muroered  ctyrpm  RMla 
upright  irt  ihc  wak^j  ufthe  {i?»iiftiiri>  bnrkt**(aii  in- 
cidofit  puggeatcd  i)y  ■  famfcriinble  chapter  in  Lord 
^ftfhon's  liLsiory)— whiflh  may  bear  compartAon 
wi[h  any  thinK  bm  Shek^p^are.  Yt-t  I  d^ttbt 
whether  the  prOBei  narr^itive  of  the  prefiice  Iw  not. 
on  (he  whole.  m«re  drs,mftlic  thm  Th«  v^reiM 
Mene*,  It  contains,  hy  ih*  way,  some  very  etrikififf 
aHuiifin*  to  the  recf^nt  ntroeiUi^s  of  fiill*3  Hill  an^ 
the  West  Port.  This  piPC^  wai  p^ibfiphed  in  a  ihio 
cctavb  eojrly  in  ihe  year;  and  the  btauiiful  E^senys 
^n  Ballad  Poetrjs  eanipneed  with  n  vi«\^  to  a  col^ 
lecti*e  ptlitjon  of  nil  hii  Paetjcal  Works  in  snmtl 
chi^ap  ¥olunio«,  wltc  about  th«:  namn  time  attached 
to  the  octavo  ediiion  ihaa  on  aele;  the  sute  qT 
Rtock  aot  as  yet  perniitting  th£  new  issue  to  be 
bei;un, 

Sir  WaUer  ^as  now  i9  pay  ihc  penithy  of  his  un- 
pftrBlleted  toils.  On  the  l&lJj  of  February,  ahoui 
two  o'clock  in  thfl  sfLeniDon,  he  returned  from  the 
PuliamcLnt  Uause,  ftpparenlly  in  hii  usttul  suite,  snd 
found  an  old  acquDUiunce,  lnii#TotiJi^  of  Hnwicki 
waiting  itf  show  him  somtf  MS.  memoir*  of  her 
father,  U  dieflcnung  minister  of  erotit  wonh  and 
tol^nif,)  which  he  had  undertaken  to  revise  and 
correct  for  th(?  pre**.  The  old  lady  eai  by  him  fo* 
half  ao  bouT  while  he  ^ec^m«d  m  ht^  occupied  with 
her  paper*;  fit  Icti^ih  \w  rosts  *(.  if  to  diamiea  her, 
hut  sunk  dijwnsEfun-si  ^hRht  cous^ufsitm  a^itatinw 
liif  fcatijres.  Alter  a  fuw  mi nu left  h4^  uol  up  and 
fitAmsered  to  the  draw in^j- room,  where  Anne  Si30U' 
una  my  »i&lci  Vmkl  Locklmn  were  ail  ting.  They 
ruihed  to  meet  hini>  but  he  fell  at  all  hie»  lenmh  on 
the  floor  cfc  itiey  could  reach  him.  He  remained 
speechless  fer  about  ten  ipiAUie«,  by  which  time  Ji 
sumeon  hrtd  arrived  and  bled  him.  He  was  cup- 
ped  again  m  the  evemne^  and  ^aclually  recovered 
po3fiei*Bioi»  uf  speech  and  of  all  hiii  facultfes  in  eo  far 
that,  the  occuffenqs  being  kept  quiet,  ivhtn  he  ap- 
peared abroad  again  «fter  a  ehun  interval,  people  m 
general  du  not  acrm  lo  have  obsi-rvM  any  eer  10144 
chiingc.  He  submitted  lo  the  uttnoai  acv^nty  of 
regimcn»  laEting  nothings  but  puho  and  ivaier  for 
flome  wcek»i  and  the  alarm  of  his  family  and  inti- 
male  frit ndn  aub94ded.  By  and  bv  he  afiain  min- 
gled in  aociety  much  ia  itttial,  and  fttcma  to  have 
i^Tfwut  persuaded  himself  that  the  nituck  bsd  pm* 
ceedcd  merely  from  the  stomach,  though  hifi  letters 
eontinued  ever  and  nnun  to  drop  hinta  that  the 
Byraptoma  resemlilcd  opopl4*3iy  of  pBraly^ia.  When 
we  recollfcl  ihflt  hotti  his  fathtr  and  his  elder 
brother  died  of  pnralyaiu,  Jind  consider  the  t<?mb!e 
violeneee  of  ai^itaiion  and  exertion  to  which  Sir 
Walter  had  been  eiihj^cted  dimng  the  four  precede 
ing  yenra,  thp  only  wonder  ra  that  this  Mow  Iwhieh 
hndi  I  PuapecT,  several  indiatinct  hnrbinf^era)  tree 
dt'ferrt'H  fHi  lon|f  j  there  c^en  be  none  that  it  waa 
sonii  followed  by  oihrn*of  the  aa:me  dear ription. 

Hfl  struffgled  mflnfttliy.  howevcr4  amnsi  hia  mal^ 
ad  y,  and  dtmnfi  Itcjo  covered  a  J  most  »i  rnanyphpota 
v4Lih  his  MS.  as  in  l&a*.  Abfjut  Mnfch  1  find,  from 
hi?  eornsp-jndencc  with  KalldntynH,  that  he  was 
wotkrnjT  re^ularlvui  hin  Ir tiers  en  Dif^mofnoloKy  and 
Witchcraft  for  Miirrav's  Knniily  [.ibrwrv,  and  alao 
oti  a  Ftnirth  B  ^riea  of  the  Taies^  of  a  Grandfather— 
tlie  ^uhji^ici  betna;  Frpnrh  history.  Both  of  ibese 
bih^k^  were  puldisihed  by  the  end  of  iher  year ;  and 
the  fiirmer  eonLaine  many  pavas^ea  worthy  of  hia 
biM  day— liule  strnKrhea  of  picture^pcujc  narrative 
and  the  hke — ^m  faet^  tranAcripts  oUiU  own  familiar 
fireside  aioriee^  The  shrewd  oe^^inffith  whn-h  evi- 
dence 19  silled  on  lei^nl  caacs  at  test  a,  mo,  that  the 
mam  rea^oniniE  faculty  rt^tnamed  unahakeD.  Bui 
on  till/  whole^  tlneae  workst  cun  hardly  Ik' uLibmilted 
til  a  6 1 net  ordeal  of  criticism.  Ther^'  is^  in  both  a 
cloudineaa  bath  of  words  and  firraoseiiiifnt.  Nor 
ean  1  apeak  diiRicnily  e^||||9^|e«ond  vohime  of  fai^ 


1^ 


lipiE  oip  ^tkWh/tiEL  ^o&irt 


Seottiih  HiaUwy  for  Lardnei'0  Cyclopadu,  wUiqli 
wai  publiflbed  in  May.  His  very  pretty  re vi«wal  of 
Mr.  Soulhe/a  Lifo  and  Edition  of  Bunyan  was 
done  in  August--about  which  time  his  recovery 
•eems  to  have  reached  its  acmi. 

In  the  course  of  the  Spring  Session,  oircum- 
•Unces  rendered  it  highly  probable  that  Sir  Walters 
resignation  of  his  place  as  Clerk  of  Session  might 
be  acceptable  to  the  Gro vera  men  t~and  it  is  not 
surprising  that  he  should  have,  on  the  whola,  been 
pleased  to  avail  himself  of  this  opportunity. 

His  Di^ry  was  resumed  in  May,  and  continued 
^t  irregular  intervals  for  the  re^t  of  the  year;  but 
Its  eontenis  are  comnaonbr  too  medical  for  quota- 
tion. Now  and  then^  however, occurentries which 
I  cannot  think  of  onuttiug.    For  example  :— 

*'^  AbbGU/6rd^  Maj^  2B^  ii?  30— About  h  ycur  srci  I 
took  tbtj  riot  at  my  Diary,  t^hm^y  bpijousp  I  rhoudit 
it  maJo  file  abnininnhly  ndf^^hi  and  thni  Uf  rt'K'^<\'d- 
in!?  rny  Klcurmi!^  fits,  I  (mcou raffed  Thiir  recTjrrnice, 
W Keren 9,  out  Jr"  ?!gfht,  out  of  mind,  ia  ihe  hi:^t  v-ny 
to  Kct  rid  of  rhem;  nnd  now  1  hnrdly  know  why  I 
takt  it  up  Qgnin,  but  harv  ^ot^^,  I  came  here  to  at- 
tend Rfluburn's  funfral.  I  om  nenr  of  hi*  kin,  tny 
greai*gi]tndfaiher,  Wnltcr  Scott,  beme  the  second 
SQXi  oT  fii^i  cndet  of  thii  small  fiimuy.  My  kte 
kJaBTnan  wtts  al$o  tniaiTipd  to  my  auni,  m  most 
araiablf  old  Tady^  He  wan  never  kiiirl  to  mc.  nnd 
Bt  lait  utterly  unRraeious.  Of  oourae  !  ntvt'r  Eiked 
fa i lOj  an d  wc  Kept  n 0  term 9.  H 0  h  a d  fo rRot,  t h ■? o ^b, 
an  mfunnneranse  of  tiunrrd,  which  1  always  re- 
*TOemberf?d.  When  I  was  four  or  five  yvat*  dd^  I 
was  stavinfj  BT  Lessud-kri  Placc^  sn  old  mnn^inn, 
the  abode  of  ibis  Raettgrn.  A  larpe  ni;»eofi- house 
was  almost  desirnyed  with  starling^  ihi^n  a  com- 
,  moti  bird^  though  ni>w  seldom  3een»  They  wore 
seized  in  their  neatp  and  mt  in  a  bag,  and  I  think 
drowned*  or  t^hmMhcd  to  dcnih,  or  put  to  sotnc  Buch 
end'  The  scrvanis  p:ave  one  to  me,  which  1  in  some 
dei^ree  lamed,  and  the  brute  of  a  loird  taxied  and 
wruHR  ita  neck.  1  flew  at  hia  throat  like  a  wild-rat, 
and  wns  torn  from  bmi  with  no  little:!  difficulty. 
LonH  afterwards  I  did  him  the  mortal  offence  to 
recan  same  Euperionly  which  my  father  had  lent  to 
thn  laird  to  mnkt  ntiii  fiuahfiealfonT  which  he  meant 
to  eiereieie  by  votins  f'lr  Lord  Minto^s  inttrtist 
Ugahist  the  Duke  af  Buccleuch's,  This  mode  n  total 
bn^rtth  bi'twt'on  two  ri^lutions  who  had  never  been 
friends;  and  though  1  was  afterwards  of  considera- 
ble si^Tviee  to  his  famiJv»  hr^  ksjtt  his  dt  hotuor,  *l- 
leffinij,  jur^tly  enouKh,  inftt  J  did  thcae  kind  orliiins 
for  the  ftakc  of  his  wife  and  nomci  not  for  his  beiie- 
fSt  T  now  paw  hi^n  at  the  nm  of  oiMbtyti^o  or 
thrt?c  dcpoj*itj(Hl  in  the  nrteflscrnl  Rraves  dined  with 
my  CDuajns,  and  ^Turntsd  to  Abbotsford  j*bom  ei^ht 
o'clock. 

"Edinburgfu  iMby  26.— Wrought  with  proofs,  &c 
at  the  Demonology,  which  is  a  cursed  business  to 
4o  neatly.  I  must  finish  it  though.  I  went  to  the 
Court,  from  that  came  home,  and  scrambled  on  with 
'half  writing,  half  reading,  half  idleness  till  evening. 
I  have  laid  aside  smoking  much  {  and  now,  unless 
tempted  by  company,  rarely  lake  a  cigar.  I  was 
IMtthtened  by  a  species  of  fit  which  I  had  in  March, 
(February,]  which  took  (rom  me  my  power  of  speak- 
ing. I  am  told  it  is  from  the  stomach.  It  looked 
woimdy  like  palsy  or  apoplety.  Well  be  what  it 
will,  I  can  stand  it. 

**  Maf  27.— Court  as  usual.  I  am  agitating  a  pro- 
jsed  retirement  from  the  Court.  As  they  are  only  to 
_  ave  four  instead  of  six  Clerks  of  Session  in  Scot- 
land, it  will  be  their  interest  to  let  me  retire  on  a 
superannuation.  Probably  I  shall  make  a  bad  bar- 
gain, and  get  only  two-thirds  of  the  salary,  instead 
of  three-founh^  This  would  be  hard,  but  I  could 
•ave  between  two  or  three  hundred  pounds  by  giv- 
in((  *]p  town  residence.  At  any  rate,  Jaeta  est  alea— 
Sir  Robert  Peel  and  the  Advocate  acquiesce  in  the 
arrangement,  and  Sir  Robert  Dundee  retires  akyngat 
^th  me.  I  tlunk  the  dififerenoe  will  be  infinite  in 
voint  of  health  and  happiness.  Yet  I  do  not  kno«v. 
It, is  perhaps  m  violeni  cbsngein  ihe  ond  of  life  to 
^t  the  walk  pne  has  f  rod  so  long,  and  the  cursed 


K' 


splenetio  temper  whidi  bst^  all  men  intkM  fiMi 
vatne  opportunities  and  eireumstsnces  when  okie%o- 
joys  them  no  longer.  Well—'  Tbiogs  most  be  as  tbey 
may,'  as  says  that  great  philosopher  Corporal  Nym. 

"•/ttneS.— I  finished  my  proofs,  and  sent  them 
.off  with  copy.  I  saw  Mr.  Dickinson*  on  Tuesday, 
a  right  plain  sensible  men.  He  is  so  confident  m 
my  matters,  that,  being  a  large  creditor  himeeU;  he 
oners  to  come  down,  with  toe  support  of  all  the 
London  creditors,  to  carry  through  aoy  measure 
that  can  be  deviaed  for  my  behoof.  Mr.  Cadell 
showed  him  that  we  were  four  years  forward  in 
matter  prepared  for  the  press.  Got  Heath's  lilu^ 
tratioQS,  which  I  dare  say  are  finely  engraved,  but 
eommonplace  enough  in  point  of  arL 

**June  17.— Went  last  night  to  Theatre,  and  saw 
Miss  Fanny  Kemble's  Isabella,  which  was  a  most 
creditable  performance.  It  has  much  of  the  genius 
of  Mrs.  Siddons,  her  aunt.  She  wonts  her  beauti- 
ful countenance,  her'  fine  form,  and  her  matchien 
dignity  of  step  and  manner.  On  the  other  hand, 
Mms  Fanny  Kemble  has  very  expressive,  though 
not  regular  features,  and  what  is  worth  it  all,  greet 
energy  mingled  with  and  chastised  by  correct  taste. 
I  sunered  by  the  heat,  lights,  and  exertion,  and  wilt 
not  go  back  to-ni^ht,  for  it  has  purchased  me  a  spre 
headache  this  thentrical  excursion.  Besides,  liie 
play  is  Mrs.  Beverley,  and  Lhate  to  be  made  miser- 
able about  domestic  distress,  so  I  keep  my  gradoas 
oresenceat  home  to-night,  tbough.1  love  and  respect 
Miss  Kemble  for  giving  her  active  support  to  her 
father  in  his  need,  and  preventing  Covent  Grarden 
from  comini  down  about  their  ears.  I  corrected 
proofs  before  break£Mt,  attended  Court,  but  was 
idle  in^the  forenoon,  the  headache  annoying  me 
much. 

"Blair-AcUm%  %^Mte  18r^or  meeting  cordiaU 
but  our  numbers  diminished ;  the  goooand  very 
clever  Lord  Chief  Baron  [Shepherd]  is  returned  to 
his  own  country  with  more  regrets  thsn  in  Scot- 
land usually  attend  a  stranger,  ^ill  Clerk  has  a 
bad  cold,  Tom  Thomson  is  detained,  but  the  Chief 
Commissbncj',  Admiral  Ad^am,  Sir  Adam,  John 
Thomson  and  I  ihake  an  exoeneth  concert 

**June  19.— Arose  and  expected  to  work  a  little, 
but  a  friend's  house  is  not  favoorable:  you  are  sure 
to  want  the  book  you  have  not  brougnt,  and  are,  in 
short,  out  of  sorts,  like  the  minister  who  could  not 
preach  out  of  his  own  pulpit  There  is  something 
fanciful  in  this,  and  something  real  toa  After 
breakfast  to  Culross,  where  the  veteran.  Sir  Robert 
Preston,  showed  us  his  cariosities.  Life  has  done 
as  much  for  him  as  most  people.  In  his  ninety- sec- 
ond yesr,  he  has  an  ample  fortune,  a  sound  under- 
standing, not  the  least  decay  of  eyes,  ears,  or  taster 
is  as  big  as  two  men,  and  eats  Hke  three.  Tet  he 
1--0  ejtpi^rienfifts  the  *^ Hngula  prtBdaniur"  and  has 
l.'M  j^omeEbiim  i-iiice  I  last  saw  him.  If  hia  appear- 
ance renders  old  age  tolerable,  it  does  not  make  it 
dei^irable.  Bnt  I  fear  when  death  comes  we  ahall 
be  unwillina  for  nil  that  to  part  with  our  bundle  of 
sficUsi,  8tr  Robf-r[  amuses  himself  with  repsiringtbe 
eld  HoiiPfs  of  CuIf-jss,  built  by  the  Lord  Bruce:  What 
it  IS  Ht'jitmed  fur  li  not  very  evident  It  is  too  near 
hi!^  own  manpr  in  of  Vnlicyfield  to  be  useful  as  a 
rcBiilcndc,  if  iaJci-'d  it  could  be  formed  into  a  com- 
fortable modern  house.  But  it  is  rather  like  a  ban- 
quoting-house.  Well,  he  follows  his  own  fancy.  We 
had  a  sumptuous  cold  dinner.  Sir  Adam  grieves  it 
was  not  hot,  so  little  can  war  and  want  break  a 
man  to  circumstances.  The  beauty  of  Culross 
consists  in  magnificent  tcrracea  rising  on  the  8e4 
bench,  and  commandinj;  the  opposite  snore  of  Lo- 
thian :  the  house  is  repairing  in  the  style  of  James 
VI.  There  are  some  nne  relics  of  the  Old  Monas- 
tery, with  large  Saxon  arches.  At  Anstmther  I 
saw  with  pleasure  the  painting,  by  Raebuiii,.of  my 
old  friend  Adam  RoUaikl,  Esq.,  who  was  in  the  ex- 
ternal circu|nstan(y'^  bu'  not  in  firoUc  or  fancy,  my 
prototype  b>r  Paul  Pleydell. 

Mr.  John  DiekiuoQ  of  N«UHiii]i.  H«t>.  the  « 


Lira  OP  BtR  waLtbr  scon. 


tt 


**  JbM  9.-'I>med  with  the  Bahnttyne,  when  we 
litd  a  lively  party.  Toaching  the  songs,  an  old 
raiU  must  own  an  improyement  in  the  times,  when 
all  pawpaw  words  are 'omitted; — and  yet,  when 
the  naoffhty  innuendoes  are  gazers,  one  is  apt  to 
aay- 

*  Swear  me,  Kate.  like  a  lady  aa  t^ou  i^ 

A  food  mouth-filUng  oath,  and  leaTe  Forsooth. 

And  such  protests  of  petty  gingerbread.' 

I  think  there  is  more  affectation  than  improvement 
in  the  new  mode." 

Not  knowing  how  poor  Maida  had  been  replaced, 
Miss  Edgeworth  at  this  time  offered  Sir  Walter  a 
fine  Irish  etsghound.    He  replies  thus :— 

To  MiM  Sdgeworthf  JEdgewortkatotou, 

"Edinburgh, 23d  Jane,  183a 
■*  My  Dear  SBss  Edceworth, 

**  Nothing  would  ro  so  valuable  to  me  as  the  mark  of 
kindness  vniich  you  offer,  and  yet  my  kennel  is  so  much 
changed  since  I  had  the  pleasure  of  seeing  you,  that  I 
must  not  accept  of  what  I  wished  so  sincerelT  to  possess. 
I  am  the  happy  owner  of  two  of  the  noble  breed,  each 
of  gigantic  size,  and  the  gift  of  that  sort  of  nighumder 
whom  wo  call  a  High  Chief,  so  I  would  hardly  be  justified 
fu  parting  with  them  even  to  make  room  for  your  kind 
present,  and  I  should  have  great  doubts  whether  the 
moontaineers  would  receive  the  Irish  stranger  with  due 
liosplCaUty .  One  of  them  1  had  (com  poor  Glengarry .  who, 
with  all  wild  and  iSeree  points  of  bis  character,  had  a 
kind,  honest,  and  warm  heart  The  other  from  a  young 
IHend,  whom  Highlanders  call  MacVourigh,  and  Low. 
landers  MacPherson  of  Cluny.  He  is  a  fine  spirited  boy, 
fond  of  his  people  and  kind  to  them,  and  the  best  dancer 
of  a  Hishland'  reel  now  living.  I  fear  I  must  not  add  a 
third  to  Nimrod  and  Bran,  having  little  use  for  them  ex* 
eept  being  pleasant  companions.  As  to  laboaring  in  their 
vocadon,  we  have  only  one  wolf  which  I  komw  of,  kept 
in  a  friend's  menagerie  near  me,  and  no  vrild  deer. 
Walter  has  some  roebucks  indeed,  but  Lochore  is  far 
ofr,and  I  begin  to  feel  myself  distressed  at  running  down 
these  innocent  and  beautiful  creatures,  perhaps  because 
I  cannot  gallop  so  fast  atler  them  as  to  drown  sense  of 
the  pain  w  are  bifllcting.  And  yet  I  saspect  I  am  like 
the  sick  fox ;  and  if  my  strength  and  twenty  years  could 
eome  baolt,  I  wculd  become  again  a  copy  of  my  naste* 
sake,  reipembered  by  the  sobriquet  of  Waker  H(  to 
hauld  (to  hold,  that  is.)  *  But  age  has  clawed  me  in  its 
clutch,'  and  there  is  no  remedy  ibr  Increasing  disability 
except  dying,  which  is  an  awkvrafd  score. 

**  There  is  some  chance  of  my  retiring  from  my  official 
8lti»tion  upon  the  changes  to  the  Court^of  Session.  They 
eaunoc  reduce  my  office,  though  they  do  not  wish  to  flU 
It  up  with  a  new  occupant  I  shall  be  therefore  d^frop; 
aad  in  these  days  of  economy  they  will  be  better  pleased 
to  let  me  retire  on  three  paru ormy  salary  fhan  tQ  keep 
me  a  Clerk  of  Session  on  the  whole ;  and  amall  grief  at 
our  parting,  as  the  old  horse  said  to  the  broken  cart. 
And  yet,  though  1  thought  such  a  proposal  when  first 
made  was  like  a  Pisgah  peep  of  Paradise,  I  cannot  help 
being  a  little  afraid  of  changiag  the  habits  of  a  long  HA 
an  of  a  sudden  and  for  ever.  Ton  ladies  have  amys 
your  work-basket  and  stockfaig-knitting  to  wreak  an  hour 
of  tediousness  upon.  The  routine  of  business  serves,  I 
suspect,  for  the  same  purpose  to  us  male  wretches :  it 
!s  seldom  a  burden  to  the  mind,  but  a  somothhig  which 
must  be  done,  and  is  done  almost  mechanically ;  and 
though  dull  judges  and  duller  clerks,  the  routine  of  law 
proceedings^  and  law  forms,  are  very  unlike  the  plomed 
troops  and  the  tug  of  war^^et  the  result  is  the  same. 
The  occupation's  gone.'  The  morning,  that  the  day's 
news  must  all  be  gathered  from  other  sources^that  the 
iokes  which  the  principal  Clerks  of  Session  have  laughed 
at  weekly  for  a  century,  and  which  would  not  move  a 
muscle  of  any  other  person's  face,  must  be  laid  up  to 
perish  Uke  those  of  Sancho  in  the  Sierra  Morena— I  don't 
above  half  like  forgetting  all  these  moderate  habits,  and 
yet 

*  Ah,  freedom  is  a  noble  thing  1' 
M  says  the  old  SeoiUsh  poett  So  I  will  cease  rty  re- 
grety,  or  lay  them  by  to  be  taken  up  and  used  as  argu<> 
ments  of  comfort,  in  case  I  do  not  slip  my  cable  after  all, 
which  is  highly  possible.  Lockhart  and  Sophia  have 
taken  up  their  old  residence  at  Chiefswood.  They  are 
very  fond  of  the  place;  and  I  am  glad  also  my<grand- 
ehildren  will  be  bred  near  the  heather,  for  certain  quali- 
ties which  I  think  are  best  taught  there. 
"Let  me  hiquire  about  all  my  friends,  BIrs.  Pox,  Mr. 
•CMAea0,AetIIl.,8e.8. 


•nd'Mrs.  BuOe^T  Wrs.  Ctl^ew^rth,  Che  hospHable  squire, 
tfiti  f<]iia  f.if  triiicaijiir,  aud  all  and  iLipdryof  iho  bDOSe* 
h^lil  11  ]  F.i~la'iW4inbF>ioi\n.    I  shall  kmg  nm^mbttf  our 

dclialiifiil  fiiUH -f:s[h  riaUf  thoce  luider  the  roof  ofPrfi- 

*'  Hbvc  yuu  rurnwum  mcrty  Enflsiidf  to  tsa.f  nuthing 
oT  nut  nonUfm  Tt!^i^ionti}  Tlii»  jncdiUiied  rttneat  wlB 
msJiLR  me  more  crrtjun  of  br:ine  &t  hhhoinfard  i^JQ  whole 
joar :  itii]  1  mn  now  wsJchion  U\f  riiii.'nbg  of  those  plans 
whirh  I  flrh'MTirct  fivf  yews,  t«fn  ye^itrn,  twi-iuy  yeara  a#:o. 
Anru*  ifi  -•Kii!  I  he  RtJjirrix  jtui  i«tw  her;  WbUcTh  imw  nm- 
iurt  pr«.cK>ii^Jrki)(iMit  wliH  his  htjs^&rs  at  MiHtl^i^i^ham  nnt\ 
BheOltilcl ;  bill  hEi|>pii^  Ihf^re  ha^  btirn  no  rail  to  irv  !;iir 
Toby^t  mptfiiucnl  tit  druiviiig  Uiret*  sciiilK.mji  of  th(  rH'dy 
of  one  wtaTcf-  hpland  SiefmJi  i^>  br  thii^inj^.  A  filoiid 
of  nriiiiff  lajfi  oiJtXlOi'MXlijr^SO,fiOO  on  an  c^wr  thore,,  fcur 
wh?th  h(?  EPia  7  pcf  c^n^  ,  so  you  aro  ]i.»f>Hifm  np  Oil 
Engl{U>4  |B  (i\3iTfimvii  ffinusih-wty  an^  wr)l  n^ocigh 
here— bill  we  nevftr  fe*?l  the  fltorm  trli  ti  ha*  ptsted  o^er 
our  nct^lLbouri.  !  nueht  Li>  f*A  a  rmult  far  iViifi,  biH  out 
Hif^mbeTimtA  all  up  mi?iiiiingthe  ifLDpaof  the  great  ^Lkilc. 
TbiQ  [ciuilnaiii^ii  of  ihu  Kiii^'ii  itliM^4S  is  t'onitcterrd  imi 
bio*^i[abli?T  "UHl  esp*?cted  with  jfrtsat  sipprchd'ii^lon  artd 
SnAkty.  litdiDva  uie  always  wlEli  ih'S  i^rciiv^t  Ttjgarti| 
yoTjrs,   ' 

WALrSR  fiflflTT," 

On  itie  ^\h  of  JuTip  Sir  Waller  heard  of  (he  tleaih 
of  Kiii«  George  IV.  wit  It  tiie  regrci  of  a  dt  voted  and 
obtiiliict]  9ijbJ4'ct,  Ue  ha(J  lEacdrnd  nEmoiii  iiDme- 
diLiiely  b^jforo  two  mtirks  of  Iur  Mfijt-siy'ji  kind  at- 
ttniioii.  I Jndersift riding  that  liia  rettrement  from 
the  Court  of  Sestiion  was  at  hm><Jj  Sir  Willittiji 
Kniglvturi  euegeiicd  (o  the  KiJij^  thi^t  Sir  Walter 
niifiKt  heawforth  be  more  frt^B^nily  in  Loodou, 
anu  that  he  nii^bt  very  fitly  he  jjtae^fd  ut  the  hetia 
of  a  new  comrui^bion  fer  examiumj^  aad  ^ditiiiie  the 
MSS.  colkctbnaof  thctixilfid  Princes  of  the  House 
of  Siuurt,  which  had  como  into  the  Xiu^'>$  hsuda 
ori  Ihe  dtaih  of  th©  Cardinal  af  York  This  Sir 
WaJset  gltidl]f  acofptedt  and  ccjuiiciTiplaled  with  plea- 
sure spending  the  ensuing  whiter  in  London.  But 
saother  pro^koaitioa,  that  of  clevatinn  bhn  10  the 
rank  of  Privy  Coutjsellor,  was  unhtsitatineiy  de^ 
(lined.  Ik  ftlt  that  nny  increase  i>f  mttk  una^r  the 
I'ifcumsiances  of  dinnnifihcd  fortuni^  and  failing 
heulEh  would  be  idle  and  unAuitnhk-,  and  desired  hta 
friend^  ih+^  Lord  Chkf  CommissionLTj  whom  the 
Kin/;  had  dt^ired  to  asctrtam  h\B  fvLlm^e  on  the 
euhjeei,  rn  convey  hi&  grateful  thanka,  with  his 
htmibk-  apology. 

He  heard  onhe  Kinci's  death,  on  what  wab  oiher- 
uise  a  pktiaant  day.  The  Diary  aoffi— "  June  27. — 
Yesteruay  mornini;;  T  worked  ti^ui^ual  al  pniof^and 
copy  of  my  infernal  DenionoIogV-  a.  taA  to  which 
my  poverty  and  not  m^  will  eotiaonta.  About  twelve 
o'clock  I  went  to  the  eountrj?  to  take  a  day's  relax- 
ation, Wc  {Li.  Mr.  Cadfil,  Jnoies  Bttllantyne  and 
})  went  to  Pre*[ot]paoi,  and  getciog  tberi;'  ahout 
title,  surveyed  the  little  viMai^e,  where  tny  auiil  and  I 
were  lodgtri*  fot  the  pake  of^ea-hathmg,  m  U7B,  I 
belie trtf.  I  knew  the  house  of  Mr.  Warroch,  vvhcrc 
we  livedo  a  pnor  cottage,  nf  whieh  the  ownera  and 
their  family  are  extinct*  I  recollected  my  juvenile 
ideas  of  difinity  attendant  on  the  lar^*"  gaie^  a  black 
arch  which  lets  out  upon  the  tea.  1  «aw  the  ehurcli 
whert]  I  yawntd  under  the  inflictions  of  a  Dr 
IvrCotmsrk,  a  nnme  in  which  dtilnesB  eeoma  to 
huve  bten  hereditary,  I  eniv  the  links  where  J  ar- 
iiitif^vii  my  shtlla  upon  the  lurf,  and  »wam  my  little 
nkiffin  iht^  pooU.  Many  comparisonj*  between  the 
mwn  and  ibe  boy— tUFmy  recollections  of  my  kind 
aont— uf  old  GeoTRe  Constable,  who,  I  think,  dan^ 
pled  nfterher-of  I>alg<itty,  a  virtuous  half  pay  lieti- 
tenint,  who  awaeeered  h\a  aobury  walk  on  the 
pa^adi,  as  be  calkd  a  lit  Ik  open  space  before  the 
i^fiToe  port.  We  went  to  Free  ton,  and  took  refuge 
from  a  thundrr-plump  in  Ibe  old  tower.  1  remem* 
hcfcd  the  little  K^rd^n  whem  I  was  crammed  with, 
poopeborncff,  and  the  fear  I  had  of  Blmd  Harry's 
spectre  of  Fa wdon  showing  his  beadles?  trunk  at 
fioc  of  the  windows.     I  re«iprnbcred  aL^o  n  very 

ffood-natiirerl  pretty  ^irl  {my  Mary  Dufl)  whom  I 
aoghed  and  fomi  ed  w)ib>  and  loved  na  children 
love.    She  wa»  ^  Miss  Dairympler<Jai*ehtEr  ^  Lord 

limn  WM  duiiagiiiilieiJ  bgr  thk  apEBlkUmi,  ^^ 


•# 


hUfB  OffWk  WAUTEBiBOMV. 


WoH^iall, «  Lord  of  Souioti ;  w«9  aft^rwardtt  ai«mad 
ia  AnicTBOii  of  ^"in^trfielii,  nnd  bcr  dauxhter  i§  rKiw 
tbe  spauAD  of  mv  coUeftgue'^  Robert  Hamilton.  Sa 
itrfmgrJy  are  ouf  eardi  ahiifflcfL  I  wiw  a  m^ro 
childiand  couid  feel  none  of  the  r^sesion  which  By- 
it»ii  AlJqg«3,  yci  ihe  reed J^ Hon  of  iliii*  i^ood- hu- 
moured companion  of  niy  tbiJdhood  ia  like  (hot  of  a 
morning  drcani.  nor  should  I  greatly  like  to  dispel 
it  b)r»eean;{  ihcadAinil,  who  must  now  bo  sufii' 
ciently  unm- honoured. 

"  Well,  we  walke^l  over  thi?  ixeld  of  be i tie  i  saw 
Ihff  Pfirice'5  Park,  Copp's  Road,  mafked  by  ^UugK- 
tbT  in  hie  diaa^irouE  feitcnt.  the  tbom-irec  which 
mtilu  the  eentftMif  thp  but  tie*  and  all  besides  that 
WIB  to  1ms  ipen  ur  fiuppo«ed.  We  saw  two  brofid- 
iw<»d«,  fouud  on  the  field  of  tattle^  une  a  Higb- 
Ivit^r'a,  an  Andrew  t'erTJim,  another  tha  dragoon 'a 
9iiN>rd  of  that  dif.*  La.«tly.  we  cime  to  Cook  en- 
?«,  whert  Mr.  Fmncis  UadeR  my  piibJi«har'ii  ht^ 
ther,  gnve  na  a  kmd  re^ntion.  I  wti«  esppciuHif 
f^ad  to  ae€  the  mot  bar  of  the  family^  a  &ne  old  lady, 
'ftho  was  civif  to  m^  aunt  und  mc,  and  1  reooUeci 
wdl,  aded  to  hftfe  us  tu  tea  at  Co<,4enxie^  Curious 
that  I  should  lonK  afterward  a  have  an  opportunity 
to  t?ay  back  thia  alien tion  to  her  «on  Robert.  Once 
mor^,  what  a  kind  of  flhufflinft  of  the  haod  dealt  na 
at  our  natwityp  Ther<*  wa*  Mrs.  F.  Cadi  I!  and  one 
or  I  wo  yoiin^  ladica,  and  £iotnti  fine  fat  chddren.  I 
»hould  be  a  "  Bastard  lo  the  Timv"  did  J  nol  fell 
our  faro;  wt?  had  p  Uled  whiting,  a  dish  unknowa 
et  BOW  here,  so  there  is  a  bono  for  ibe  prastronottiera 
to  mck  Honj^^t  John  Wood,  tiiy  oln  fncnd,  dmed 
with  uRj  looly  regret  1  cintiol  und^fniand  hifn,  as 
hfs  baa  a  Ycf  y  powerful  memory,  and  much  cunoui 
information  t  The  whole  day  of  plcaaure  was* 
dafTip«d  by  th^»  news  of  thti  Kjtig'a  deaih i  it  was 
fully  e3(J>e<:' ted,  iadeeii  a*  the  temiinatioTi  of  his  lone 
illneaiPt  but  ht  was  very  good  to  m^^  p^^rs^jtially,  and 
a  kind  aovernsn  The  com m on  peopk  and  fft^ntry 
join  in  their  aorrows.  Mneh  is  owing  to  kindly  re- 
colleftksna  of  bis  visit  to  this  country,  whjch.  ^airu 
alt  tt>*n  an  interest  in  him/' 

When  the  term  ended  in  Jnly  the  affair  of  Sir 
Walter* 9  reartjnrf  nl  was  all  but  «eit]ed  ■  ami  soon 
aflerwarda  be  was  informed  ihat  be  bad  ceased  to 
be  a  Clerk  of  Session,  and  should  tbeticeforth  havB, 
in  heu  of  his  salary,  dc  (£13U0)  an  aliowance  of 
£mippx  arm  urn.  This  was  aceotupanied  by  an  m- 
litnatioti  from  the  Home  Secretary  ihat  the  Minia- 
tera  were  quite  r?ady  lo  i^rani  him  a  pension  cover* 
ing  the  reduetion  in  bia  inconte.  Conaidering  bitn^ 
»elj  aa  the  bond -sta ire  of  his  creditora,  be  made 
known  to  them  this  propositkir;^  and  ^\HtGil  that  it 
would  be  eitremely  painful  lo  him  to  atrcet't  of  it  s 
ihd  with  tho  dcljoaty  aiid  gerier*>3iiy  which 
cjtroitjrhout  charncCt^rLzed  iLdr  conduct  towards 
hito,  they,  without  lieetjtatioti,  ctitT^aalf^J  him  on  no 
aceotuit  lo  do  i^uury  to  his  own  foehugs  in  inch  a 
matter  ta  this.  Few  things  gave  him  more  pleaaur^ 
than  this  handsome  comnioni cation. 

Just  after  he  had  taken  leave  of  Edinbgrifh,  a*  he 
s^ms  to  liavf!  thonaht  for  ever,  be  ttitjeivcd  a  cotn- 
municaUon  of  another  sort,  a  a  inopportune  as  any 
that  ever  renched  hint.  Hij  Diary  for  iht^  i:Uh  July 
saya  hriefly—"  I  havL  a  Iciter  from  a  ctifLain  youns 
Kentlemao*  announeini^  Uiai  his  iuater  had  so  far 
mitttakoti  the  iiiteniiofis  of  a  lame  barn  net  nigh 
aixiy  years  old,  as  lo  supposo  him  only  r'Tevnik^fl 
by  raodi^aty  from  eta  ling  certain  wishes  and  liopea, 
dte  The  party  is  a  wutnanof  rank  *o  Jiijr  vamty 
may  be  aaiiatityi.  Bui  I  cxcuaed  myaelf,  with  btlb* 
picking  ufii>n  the  terms.'* 

Dunng  the  rest  of  the  summer  and  autumn  bis 
daugTittr  and  I  were  at  Cliiefawood,  and  aaw  him 
of  cooriH'  daily.  Lj^idbw,  toi>,  had  h&f  n  rc»»on!ijl  lo 
the  coitnpt^  at  (Cisatde?  aud  ihou«h  Ton>  Piirditt 
made  a  dif<mai  blank,  old  iiuhits  went  on,  ^nd  ihp 


Ijtw.  of  LaufiftttHa    iir  UtM.    in  it»  jmSom  t»  th«  f^tainmil 


course  of  life  seemed  litik  altesred  from  what  k  ha4 
used  to  be.  He  lookod  jadeil  and  worn  before  et.^ 
ing  *et  in,  yet  very  seldoni  dcpaned  from  the  atnci 
reeimen^  cf  his  doctors,  and  uften  bn^hiened  Up  10 
alt  his  former  glj^e,  though  paa^ing  the  Witl^  and 
eippiDK  toa^t  and  water.  Hie  f; rand chitdfen  ea|h«- 
lially  saw  no  change.  However  ian^tiid»  bia  spirila 
revived  at  the  sight  ofihtni,  and  tbeiptalcfli  pleaa- 
uro  he  had  was  m  pacing  Doucii;  Da^na. through  the 
Srreen  lanes  among  bis  woods^  with  ibetw  cluftcfed 
about  him  on  uomea  and  doiiK«ya,  while  Laidtttw, 
the  ladies,  and  myself,  talked  hv  and  obeyed  his 
dir^tiona  about  prujimg  and  nmrking  trt-4««  After 
the  immediate  alarm  b  of  the  aynngt  rt  rmfcht  ^^fv  ' 
l>OiLn  tven  agreeable  to u'utiesa  this  placid  twiljijsi 
scene,  bul  for  our  knywhdce  that  noihmg  could 
keeii  him  from  loding  many  hoars  daily  aihisdeaki 
and  nlae!  that  he  was  no  longer  sustained  by  tha 
dad^conimeTidattonaofhi:*prinier.  hwaa obviMi^ 
as  the  season  advanced,  that  tbe  manner  in  wfalch 
Ballantyne  communicated  with  him   waa 

into  his  spirits,  and  Laidlaw  foresaw^  ae  ' 

myaelf,  that  sonfte  trying  <?fiai»  of  distrus*(or»  cotrM 
not  be  mueh  longer  dpft?rred.  A  nervous  iwitcbiog 
about  the  museJes  of  th*.'  motith  was  alwayN  mora 
or  less  discernible  from  the  date  of  thf  si  tack  ia 
Fel'Miary :  hut  we  ooutd  easily  tell,  by  the  ag|(ravft> 
tion  of  that  symptoin,  vchcn  he  had  feceiv«d  • 
packet  from  ih^i  CanonKato.  It  waa  dwltMMf 
mdeed  to  think  that  he  micht,  one  of  ibcw  ^J% 
sustain  a  a^cond  sei^ure^  ana  he  left  atili  more  km' 
le**,  yet  with  the  same  undijniniabed  appetite  Ibf 
bterary  labour.  And  ihfn  if  be  fell  his  prtQtaft  , 
complaints  m  keenly,  what  wa^  lo  be  expe«lcd  in 
the  case  of  a  plain  and  undeniable  mapifetalinft  of 
disappomtmeni  on  the  pari  of  the  publks^  aiMl  gqb* 
sequetitly  of  ih(*hookacller1 

Alt  this  was  for  the  inner  circle.  Country  rifm!^ 
boura  went  and  cattle  without,  I  believe,  oSscrruiig 
almost  any  thing  of  what  ghcred  thti  faniil^  Naj^ 
tbis  auuimu  be  was  far  more  irouhled  with  lb*  ia* 
vaaions  of  e(rangera>  than  lie  had  em  hm^mm 
bi«  calamiiieaof  1^.  The  astc^iflhiag  asc^aiv  «P 
the  new  editk^ns  was^  as  usual,  doubled  ar  tHMed 
by  rumour  The  notion  ihat  hv  had  already  all  btrt 
created  off  his  incumbrances  set' rna  to  have  be^ 
wiifely  prevalent  and  no  doubt  his  refusal  of  a  pen- 
sion landed  ro  confirm  it.  AbbotsCbrd  «bj^  for 
so  mi?:  w^^-eks  at  Icaet,  bcaiegocl  loudi  as  it  had  ^fed 
lo  be  in  the  golden  days  of  1^23  and  ;^)£N;  aoi  jl 
somttimcis  his  i^iests  broua^hi  animation  anil  pItiP 
ur«  with  thern,  even  then  ihe  result  was  a  tegiRl|^«f 
redoubled  la»sm*de.  The  Diar^,  among  a  vufr  tcM 
and  far  separated  entne«>,  has  tnts: 

"  ti^fptiitihcr  5.  to  apita  of  !le;}4oluttOTi,  l  hN«« 
loft  my  Dinry  for  aomeweeka,  1  canncl  wirll  tall 
whv^  We  have  had  abundance  of  travelbita  Counts 
andC'iiuntei^fies  Vankpeif,  male  and  female,  and  a 
Yankee-ri(iodk''f>fin€Jy  into  the  harfjam,  a  atnart 
yon  OR  Virgrnta-nran.  Birt  we  liave  hod  fnenda  of 
our  own  also,  the  Mi^s  Ardens,  yoaug  Mra.  Murnil 
and  Ann©  Morritt,  moat  agretable  visitiim.  Caddl 
came  oi4i  here  yesterday  wiili  Ins  bom  filkd  with 
good  nei^s.  He  cnlculatca  that  in  Oot^bar  tbe 
debt  Will  be  rfedured  tu  »he  aam  of  JCWMJflO,  b«)f 
of  lis  orii4inal  amount.  Thi?  makea  tne  car*  tasv 
about  lb 'J  terms  J  retire  iijion  The  dTom  bf  which 
we  have  advanced  thtia  far  nte  new  in  ht«flttifr, 
and  what  ia  gained  ia  aecurc." 

Mr,  Oadfiirs  great  b(^<  whan  h«  o|fcr«d  thti 
visit,  had  be«n  thai  ihe  gfwd  news  ^I  ihc  Mbmm 
might  induce  Sir  Walter  to  coriient  him:^lr  wiffi 
working  at  nol^  nod  prrfacea  for  its  Co  tiling  vol- 
time*,  wilhout  fitrainm^  at  mori^  *hJf]culi  lMk«k 
He  found  liia  friend.,  however,  by  no  means  dispoaaji 
to  adopt  such  viewnj  and  FUiigosted  vtry  kiOftlib 
«nd  in^uiou^ly  tou,  by  way  uf  mtrio-termin^  IW 
bdfE»r«  littering  upon  a  it  y  new  novel,,  he  ahoy  14  Mw 
up  a  wbn  at f^fafti^ite  muirtinit  of  ihe  mosl  CMBil 
articlea  in  hi*  library  and  nmacum.  Sir  Wiw 
grasped  at  thia»  and  be^an  nex^tpurttin^  tp  dlolat^^ 
Ew  I.aifll&w  what  he  deaign^  ti  piMph  m  IW  usual 


nov*d  sUapcF,  under  TlH^iliftfe^ 


UPS4)P  Sm  WALTER  i^OOTT. 


5# 


^ianii,  or  Km  ««Woii8  of  JoiHitlMii  OMBock." 
ifAMfaititt,  as  it  goemed  to  all  abool  )mn,  coura  bare 
«ail«i  the  time  bettar;  b«t  aft«r  a  (&»  davA'be  aaid 
-hetfovnd  fiia  vmm  not  aaffioient— that  he  should 
wociead  in  it  during  hora  9Ubeenv<Ct  but  must  bend 
nimaalf  to  the  eoniponiion  of  a  romance,  founded 
on  a  atorjr  which  he  had  more  than  once  told  curso- 
rily already^  and  for  which  he  had  been  revolving 
the  Yarfons  titles  of  Robert  of  the  Isle^Count  Rob- 
ert de  L'Isle— and  Count  Robert  of  Paris.  There 
waa  nothing  to  be  aaid  in  reply  to  the  decisive  an- 
nouncement of  this  ptiroose.  The  usual  agreements 
ware  drawn  out ;  and  the  Tale  was  begun. 

But  belSEVe  1  come  Ho  the  results  of  this  experi- 
ment,  I  must  relieve  the  reader  by  Mr.  Adolphus's 
account  of  some  more  agreeable  things.  The  death 
of  George  IV.  occasioned  a  general  election;  and 
the  Revolution  of  Prance  in  July,  with  its  rapid  im- 
itation in  tile  Netherlands,  bad  been  succeeded  by 
auoh  a  qoiokoning  of  hoj^  among  the  British  Lil>- 
erila,  as  to  render  this  m  general  a  acene  of  high 
atoitement  and  desperate  struggling  of  parties.  In 
Teviotdale,  however,  all  was  as  yet  quiescent.  Mr. 
Adplphus  saya : 

^One  day,  during  mv  visit  of  1830. 1  accompanied 
Sir  Walter  to  Jedburgh,  when  the  eldest  son  of  Mr. 
fleott  of  Harden  (now  Lord  Polwarib)  was  for  the 
third  time  elected  member  for  Roxburghshhu 
Thare  was  no  contest;  an  opposition  had  been 
talked  of,  but  waa  adjourned  to  some  ftiture  day. 
The  meeting  in  the  Ck^urt-house,  where  the  election 
took  place,  was  not  a  very  crowded  or  stirring 
fBone;  but  among  those  present,  as  electors  or 
ipactators.  were  many  gentlemen  of  the  most  an- 
aient  and  honourable  names  in  Roxburghshire  and 
Ifao  adjoining  counties.  Sir  Walter  seconded  the 
aominatien.  It  was  the  first  time  1  had  heard  him 
apoak  in  pObhc,  and  I  was  a  little  disappointed. 
His  manner  was  very  quiet  and  natural,  but  seemed 
to  me  too  humble,  and  wanting  m  animation.  His 
air  was  sagadons  and  reverend ;  his  posture  some- 
what stooping;  he  rested,  or  rather  pressed,  the 
palm  of  one  hand  on  the  head  of  his  stick,  and  used 
■  very  Httle  gesticulation  with  the  other.  As  he 
went  on,  his  delivery  acquired  warmth,  but  it  never 
became  glowing.    His  points,  however,  were  very 

3 all  chosen,  and  his  speech,  perhaps,  upon  the 
hole,  waa  such  as  a  sensible  country  gentleman 
should  have  made  to  an  assembly  of  his  neighbours 
upon  a  subject  on  which  they  were  all  well  agreed. 
Certainly  the  feeling  of  those  present  in  favour  of 
the  candidate  required  no  atimulua. 

"  The  new  member  was  to  giv^  a  dinner  to  the 
electors  at  three  o'clock.  In  the  mean-time  Sir 
Walter  strolled  round  the  ancient  Abbey,  ft  amused 
me  on  this  and  on  one  or  two  other  occasions,  when 
he  was  in  frequented  places,  to  see  the  curiosity  with 
which  some  zealous  stranger  would  hover  about 
his  line  of  walk  or  ride,  to  catch  a  view  of  hkn, 
though  a  distant  one— for  it  was  always  done  with 
eaAtion  and  respect;  and  he  was  not  disturbed— 
perhaps  not  displeased—by  it.  The  dinner  party 
was  in  number,  I  suppose,  eighty  or  ninety,  and  the 
festival  passed  off  with  sreat  soirit.  The  croupier, 
Mr.  Baillie  of  Jerviswood,  who  had  nominated  the 
candidate  in  the  mornmg,  proposed,  at  its  proper 
time,  in  a  few  energetic  worois,  the  health  of  Sir 
Walter  Scott.  All  hearts  were  '  thirsty  for  the  noble 
pledge;'  the  health  was  caught  up  with  enthusiasm; 
and  any  one  who  looked  round  must  have  seen  with 
pleasure  that  the  popularity  of  Sir  Walter  Scott- 
European,  and  rapre  than  European  as  it  was— had 
•  its  most  vigorous  roots  at  the  threshold  of  his  own 
home.  He  made  a  speech  in  acknowledgment,  and 
this  time  I  was  not  disappointed.  It  was  rich  in 
humour  and  feelinf?,  and  graced  by  that  en;;aging 
manner  of  which  be  had  so  peculiar  a  command. 
One  passage  I  remembered,  for  its  whimsical  home- 
liness, long  after  the  other,  and  perhaps  better  parts 
of  the  speech  had  passed  from  my  recollection.  Mr. 
Baillie  had  spoken  of  him  as  a  man  pre-eminent 
among  those  who  had  done  honour  and  aervioe  to 
Saotland.  He  replied  that,  in  what  he  had  done 
for  Scotland  aa  a  writer,  he  waa  no  more  entitled  to 


^e  met^  Which  had  been  ascribed  to  bim  thftn  t^ 
servant  who  scours  the  'brasses'  to  the  credit  of 
having  made  them;  that  he  had  perhaps  been  a 
good  housemaid  to  Scotland^  and  given  the  country 
a  *  rubbing  up  f  and  in  so  doing  might  have  deserv- 
ed some  praise  for  assiduity,  and  that  was  all. 
Afterwards,  changing  the  subject,  he  spoke  very 
beautiAillv  and  warmly  of  the  re-elected  candidate 
who  sat  by  him|  alluded  to  the  hints  which  had 
been  thrown  out  in  the  morning  of  a  future  opposi- 
tion and  Reform^  and  ended  with  some  verses  (I 
believe  they  were  Burns' s,  parct  dttorta^)  pr^girijg 
his  hand  upon  the  shoulder  of  Mr.  ScOtt  aa  he  utter- 
ed  the  concluding  lines, 

■  But  we  ha'  tried  this  Border  lad. 
And  we'U  try  hijn  yel  i^aiii." 

*^  He  sat  down  under  a  storm  of  applauses ;  afid 
there  were  many  preaent  whose  applause  ev«:n  ha 
might  excusably  take  some  pride  in.  His  eye,  as  he 
reposed  himself  after  thia  little  triumph,  glowed  with 
a  hearty  but  chaatened  exultation  on  the  scene  be- 
fore him ;  and  when  I  met  his  look  it  seemed  to  say, 
'  I  ,am  glad  you  ahould  see  how  these  things  pass 
aaoog  us.' 

**Hia  constitution  had  in  the  preceding  winter  suf- 
fered one  of  those  attacks  which  at  last  prematurely 
overthrew  it.  *  Such  a  shaking  hands  with  deatlr 
(I  am  told  he  aaid)  *  was  formidable;'  but  there  were 
few  vestiges  of  it  which  m^t  not  be  overlooked  by 
thoae  who  were  anxioua  not  to  aee  them ;  and  ho 
was  more  cheerful  than  I  had  sometimes  found  hhn 
in  former  years.  On  one  of  our  carriage  excursions, 
shortly  after  the  Jedburgh  dinner,  his  spirits  actu- 
ally roee  to  the  pitch  of  singing,  an  accomplishment 
I  bad  never  before  heard  him  exhibit  except  in 
chorus.  We  had  been  to  Selkirk  and  Howbilf,  and 
were  remmmg  homewards  in  one  of  those  days  so 
inspiriting  io  a  hill  country,  when,  after  heavyrains, 
the  summer  bursts  forth  again  in  itsftill  splendour. 
Sir  Walter  waa  in  his  best  congenial  humour.  As 
we  looked  up  to  Carterhaugh.  bis  conversation  ran 
naturally  upon  Tamlane  and  Fair  Janet,  and  tho 
ballad  recounting  their  adventures;  then  it  ran  upon 
the  Dii  a f rates,  ghosts  and  wizards.  Border  anec- 
dotes and  Mtory,  the  bar,  his  own  adventures  aa 
advocate  and  as  sneriiT:  and  then  returning  to  bal- 
lads, it  fell  upon  the  old  ditty  of  Tom  o'  the  Linn, 
or  Thomas  O'Linn,  which  is  popular  alike,  I  be- 
lieve, in  Scotland,  and  in  some  parts  of  England, 
and  of  which  I  as  well  as  he  had  boyish  recollec- 
tbns.  As  we  compared  versions  he  could  not  for- 
bear, in  the  gayety  of  his  heart,  giving  out  two  or 
three  of  the  stanxas  in  song.  I  cannot  say  that  X 
ever  heard  thia  famous  lyric  sung  to  a  very  regalar 
melody,  but  his  Hi  of  it  was  extraordinary. 

*'  Another  little  incident  in  this  morning's  drive  is 
worth  remembering.  We  crossed  several  fords, 
and  %fter  the  rain  they  were  wide  and  deep.  A 
little,  long,  wise- looking,  rough  terrier,  named  Spice^ 
wlu||i  ran  after  us,  had  a  cough,  and  as  often  as 
weWme  to  a  water.  Spice,  by  the  special  order  of 
her  maater,'  was  let  into  the  carnage  till  we  had 
crossed.  His  tenderness  to  his  brute  dependants 
was  a  striking  point  in  the  general  benignity  of  his 
character.  He  seemed  to  consult  not  only  their 
bodily  welfare,  but  their  feelings,  in  the  human 
sense.  He  was  a  gentleman  even  to  his  dogs. 
His  roughest  rebuke  to  little  Spice,  when  the  waa 
inclined  to  play  the  wag  with  a  sheep,  was,  *  Ha ! 
fie!  fie!'  It  must  be  owned  that  his  *tail'  (as  his 
retinue  of  dogs  was  called  at  Abbotsford,)  though 
very  docile  and  unobtrusive  animals  in  the  houee, 
were  sometimes  a  little  wild  in  their  frolics  out  of 
doors.  One  day  when  I  was  walking  with  Sir 
Walter  and  Miss  Scott,  we  passed  a  cottage,  at  the 
door  of  which  sat  on  one  side  n  child,  and  on  the 
other  a  slumbering  cat.  Nimrod  bounded  from  ua 
in  great  gayety,  and  the  unsuspectinR  cat  had  scarce- 
ly time  to  squall  before  she  was  demolished.  The 
poor  child  set  up  a  dismal  wail.  Miss  Scott  waa 
naturally  much  distressed,  and  Sir  Walter  a  good 
deal  out  of  countenance.  However,  be  put  an  end 
*  8ec  Bum's  bslkd  oiThe  Five  CmrUhee-Mn  olecUoo  aquib. 


680 


to  the  Mhject  by  Mying  with  an  assanifid  ttubboni- 
ness.  ■  Well !  the  cat  is  worried  ;*  but  his  purse  was 
m  his  hand;  Miss  Scott  was  deapatched  to  the 
house,  and  I  am  very  sure  it  was  not  his  fault  if  the 
cat  had  a  poor  funeral.  In  the  confusion  of  the  mo- 
ment I  am  afraid  the  culprit  went  ofiT  without  even  a 
reprimand. 

Except  in  this  trifling  instance  (and  it  could 
hardly  be  called  an  exception^)  I  cannot  recollect 
seeins  Sir  Walter  Scoit  surprised  Out  of  his  habit- 
ual ecjuanimity.  Never,  I  believe,  durlne  the  oppor- 
tunhies  I  had  of  observing  him,  did  I  hear  from 
him  an  acrimonious  lone,  or  see  a  shade  of  ill-hu- 
mour on  his  features.  In  a  phlegmatic  person  this 
serenity  mif;ht  have  been  less  remarkable,  but  it  was 
surprising  in  one  whose  mind  was  so  susceptible, 
and  whose  voice  and  countenance  were  so  full  of 
expression.  It  was  attributable,  1  think,  to  a  rare 
coml^inaiion  of  qualities ;— thoroughly  cultivated 
manners,  great  kindness  of  disposition,  great  pa- 
tience and  self-control,  an  excellent  flow  of  spirits, 
and  lastly^  that  steadfastness  of  nerve  which,  even 
in  the  inferior  animajs,  often  renders  the  most  pow- 
erful and  resolute  creature  the  most  placid  and  for- 
bearing. Once,  when  he  was  exhibiting  some 
weapons,  a  gentleman,  after  diflering  from  him  as  to 
the  comparative  merits  of  two  sword-blades,  inad- 
vertently flourished  one  of  them  almost  into  Sir 
Walter's  eye.  I  looked  quickly  towards  him,  but 
could  not  see  in  his  face  the  least  sign  of  shrinking, 
or  the  least  approach  to  a  frown.  No  one,  however, 
could  for  a  moment  infer  from  this  evenness  of 
manner  and  temper,  that  he  was  a  man  with  whom 
an  intentional  hberty  could  be  taken ;  and  1  sup- 
pose very  few  persons  during  his  life  ever  thought  of 
making  the  experiment.  If  it  happened  at  any 
time  that  some  trivial  eUmrderie  in  conversation  re- 

Suired  at  his  hand  a  slight  application  of  the  rein, 
is  gentle  txplaining  tone  was  an  app^l  to         ' 
taste 
stood 


LJEFB  OF  SIR  W^IiTEK  SOOTT. 


Wa 


taste  which  no  common  wilfulness  could  have  with< 

)od. 

'  Two  or  three  times  at  most  during  my  know- 
ledge of  him  do  I  recollect  hearing  him  utter  a 
downright  oath,  and  then  it  was  not  in  passion  or 
upon  personal  provocation,  nor  was  the  anathema 
levelled  at  any  individual.  It  was  rather  a  concise 
expression  of  sentiment  than  a  malediction.  In 
one  instance  it  was  launched  at  certain  improvers 
of  the  town  of  Edinburgh  ;  in  another  it  was  bestow- 
ed very  evenly  upon  all  political  parties  in  Prance, 
shortly  after  the  glorious  rfaysof  July,  1830." 

As  one  conarquonce  of  these  "glorious  davs,"  the 
unfortunate  Cnarles  X.  was  invited  by  the  iRnglieh 
Govern mont  to  resume  his  old  quarters  at  Holy- 
rood  ;  and  among  many  other  tnings  that  about 
this  time  vexed  and  mortified  Scott,  none  gave  him 
more  pain  than  to  hear  that  the  popular  tealing  in 
Edinburgh  had  been  so  much  exacerbated  a^^oinst 
the  fallen  monarch  (especially  by  an  ungenerous 
article  in  the  great  literary  orsan  of  the  place,)  that 
his  reception  there  was  liiiely  to  be  rou^h  and^n- 
suiting.  Sir  Walter  thought  that  on  such  an  <Xla- 
sion  hi^  voice  might,  perhaps,  be  listened  to.  He 
knew  ins  countrymen  well  in  their  strength,  as  well 
as  in  the  r  weakness,  and  put  for  h  this  touching 
appeal  to  their  better  feelings,  in  Ballantyne's  news- 
paper for  the  20th  of  October  :— 

"We  are  enabled  to  announce  from  authority, 
that  Charles  of  Bourbon,  the  ex-Kiag  of  France,  ift 
about  to  become  once  more  our  fellow-citizen, 
though  probably  for  only  a  limited  space,  and  is  pre- 
sently about  to  repair  to  Edinburgh,  in  order  again 
to  inhabit  the  apartments  which  he  long  ago  oecu- 
pied  in  Holyrood  House.  ,  This  temporary  arrange- 
ment, it  is  said,  has  been  made  in  compliance  with 
nis  own  reauest,  with  which  our  benevolent  Mon- 
arch immediately  complied,  willing  to  consult,  in 
every  respect  possible,  the  feelings  of  a  Prince  under 
the  pressure  of  misfortunes,  which  are  nerhaps  the 
more  severe,  if  incurred  through  bad  advice,  error, 
or  rashness.  The  attendants  of  the  late  sovereign 
will  be  nduced  to  the  least  possible  number,  and 
consist  chiefly  of  ladies  and  children,  and  his  style 
.  of  life  will  be  strictly  retired.    In  these  circumstan- 


ce!, it  would  be  unworthy  of  a»  n  SeotasieM,  or  at 
men.  if  this  moot  unfortunate  fomilf  should  Biesi  a 
word  or  look  from  the  meanest  individual  teadiof 
to  aggravate  feelings,  which  rooat  be  at  present  ao 
acute  as  to  receive  injury  froin  insults,  winch  m. 
other  times  could  be  passed  with  perfect  disregard. 

"  His  late  opponents  in  his  kingdom  have  gatoad 
the  applause  of  Europe  for  the  generosity  with  whick 
they  nave  used  their  victory,  and  the  respect  whick 
they  have  paid  to  themselves  in  moderation  towards 
an  enemy.  It  would  be  a  gross  contrast  to  that 
part  of  their  conduct  which  has  been  most  geotf- 
ally  applauded,  were  we,  who  are  strauKers  to  the 
stnfe,  to  aflect  a  de^er  resentment  than  those  it 
concerned  closely. 

"  Those  who  can  recollect  the  former  residcaoe 
of  this  unhappy  Prince  in  our  northern  capital,  can- 
not but  remember  the  unobtrusive  and  quiet  maaMr 
in  which  his  little  court  was  then  conducted ;  and 
now,  still  further  restricted  and  diminished^  he  may 
naturally  expect  to  be  received  with  dvilitv  and  le- 
spect  by  a  nation  whose  good  will  be  has  doas 
nothing  to  forfeit.  Whatever  may  have  been  bis 
errors  towards  his  own  subjects,  we  cannot  but  ff- 
member,  in  his  adversity,  that  he  did  not  in  his 

Erosperity  forget  that  Edinburgh  had  extended  bar 
ospitality  towards  him,  but,  at  the  period  when  the 
flres  consumed  so  much  of  the  city,  sent  a  prinodr 
benefaction  to  the  snflerers,  with  a  letter  wbica 
made  it  more  valuable^  by  stating  the  feelings  to- 
wards the  city  of  the  then  royal  donor.  We  alse 
slate,  without  hazard  o(  contradiction,  that  his  at- 
tention to  individuals  connected  with  this  city  was 
uniformly  and  handsomely  rendered  to  those  entitled 
to  claim  thenu  But  he  neyer  did  or  could  di^tlay  a 
more  flattering  confidence,  than  when  he  shows 
that  the  recollections  of  his  former  asylum  hcrehavv 
inclined  him  a  second  time  to  return  to  the  pUoe 
where  he  then  found  refese. 

"  If  there  can  be  any  wno  retain  angry  or  invkli- 
ous  recollections  of  late  events  in  France;  they 
ought  to  remark  that  the  ex-Monarch  has,  by  his 
abdication,  renounced  the  conflict  into  whidi,  per- 
haps, he  was  engaged  by  bad  advisers ;  that  he  can 
no  longer  be  the  obiect  of  resentment  to  the  braver 
but  remains  to  all  the  most  striking  emblem  of  the 
mutability  of  human  aflairs  which  our  mutable  times 
have  afforded.  He  may  say  with  our  own  deposed 
Richard— 

*  With  mine  own  tears  I  washed  tcwny  my  bahn, 
WUh  mine  own  hands  I  gave  away  my  crown. 
With  mine  own  tonf  ue  deoy  mine  sacred  state." 

He  brings  among  us  his  'gray  discrowned  head j* 
and  in  'a  nation  of  gentlemen,'  as  we  were  emphati- 
cally  termed  by  the  very  highest  auihority,t  it  is  im- 
possible, I  trust,  to  find  a  man  mean  enough  to  in- 
sult the  slightest  hair  of  it. 

*'it  is  impossible  to  omit  stating,  that  if  angry 
recollections  or  keen  party  feelings  should  make  any 
person  consider  the  exiled  and  deposed  Monarch  as 
a  subject  of  resentment,  no  token  of  such  feelings 
could  be  exhibited  without  the  greater  part  of  the 
pain  being  felt  by  the  helpless  females,  of  whom  the 
Duchess  of  Angouleme,  in  particular,  has  been  so 
long  distinguished  by  hi»r  courage  and  her  misfor- 
tune*'. 

"  The  person  who  writes  these  few  lines  is  leav- 
ing hi«»  native  city,  never  to  return  as  a  permanent 
resident.  He  has  some  reason  to  be  proud  of  dis- 
tinctions received  from  his  fellowcitbtens;  and  he 
has  not  the  slightest  doubt  that  the  taste  and  good 
ftelm:?  of  those  whom  he  will  still  term  so,  will  dic- 
tate to  them  the  quiet,  civil,  and  respectful  tone  of 
feeling,  which  will  do  honour  both  to  their  beads 
and  their  hearts,  which  have  seldom  been  appealed 
to  in  vain. 

"  The  Frenchman  Melinet,  in  mentioning  the  ref- 
uge afforded  by  Edinburgh  to  Henrv  VI.  in  his  dis- 
tress, records  it  as  the  most  hospitable  town  in  En- 
rope.    It  is  a  testimony  to  be  proud  of^  and  sinoerdy 

*Ktn9  Richard  n.    Act  IV.  Scene  L 

t  This  was  iho  exprnnion  of  Kiog  Q^otft  IV.,  St  Hw  doae  «f 
the  finlda,  be  .pent  in  Saiff^^y  ^^QQg le 


LIFE  OF  SIR  WALTER  SQOTT. 


m 


do  I  hope  there  iff  little  danger  of  forfeiting  it  upon 
4be  M«iOiM  ooe«siOn." 

The  effect  of  this  manly  admonition  was  even 
more  eoraplete  than  the  writer  had  anticipated. 
The  royal  exiles  were  reoetved  with  perfect  decorum, 
which  their  modeat  bearing  to  all  claaseai  and  unob- 
trusive^ though  magnificent  benevolence  to  the  poor, 
»  ere  long  converted  into  a  feeling  of  deep  andr affec- 
tionate reanectfulneaa.  During  their  stay  in  Scot- 
land, the  King  look  more  than  one  opportunity  of 
conveying  to  Sir  Walter  his  gratitude  for  this  aalu- 
tary  interference  on  his  behalf.  The  ladiea  of  the 
royal  family  had  a  curiosity  to  see  Abbotaford,  but 
bemg  aware  of  his  reduced  health  and  wealth,  took 
care  to  visit  the  place  when  be  was  known  to  be 
from  home.  Several  French  noblemen  of  the  train, 
however,  paid  him  their  respects  personally.  I  re- 
member with  particular  pleasure  a  Couple  of  daya 
that  the  Duke  of  Laval-Montmorency  spent  with 
him :  he  was  also  much  gratified  with  a  viait  from 
Marshall  Bourmont,  though  unfortunately  that  came 
after  his  ailments  had  much  advanced.  The  Mar- 
shal was  a'*companied  by  the  Baron  d'Haussez, 
one  of  the  Polignac  Ministry,  whose  published  ac- 
count of  his  residence  in  this  country  contains  no 
specimen  of  vain  imbecility  more  piliable  than  the 

Sage  he  gives  to  Abbot sford.  So  far  from  compre* 
ending  any  thing  of  hia  boat's  character  or  oonver* 
sation,  the  Baron  bad  not  even  ey^  to  observe  that 
he  was  in  a  sorely  dilapidated  condition  of  bodily 
health.  The  reader  wtli  perceive  by  and  by  that  be 
had  had  another  JU  only  a  few  days  before  he  re- 
ceived these  strangers;  and  that,  moreover,  be  was 
engaged  at  the  moment  in  a  most  paioful  corre- 
sponoeBce  with  his  printer  and  bookseller. 

I  conclude  this  chapter  with  a  letter  to  Lady 
Louisa  Stuart,  who  had,  it  aeems,  formed  some  er> 
loneous  guesses  about  the  purport  of  the  forthcom- 
ing Letters  on  Demonology  and  Witchcraft.  That 
volume  had  been  some  weeka  out  of  hand— but,  for 
bookaellers'  reasons,  it  was  not  published  until 
Christmas. 

T9  the  Right  Hon.  Lady  Louisa  £ftuarty  tare  of  Lord 
Montagu. 

"  Abbotsford,  October  31 ,  1830. 
'*  My  dear  Lady  Ix>oi8a, 

**  I  eome  beroro  your  ladyship  for  once,  in  the  char* 
acter  of  Not  Gailty.  I  am  a  wronged  mnn,  who  deny, 
with  Lady  Teaile,  tht  butler  and  the  coach  horse.  Posi- 
tively, lo  sending  a  Itlow  to  explodo  old  and  worn^oat 
follica,  I  could  not  think  I  was  aiding  and  abetting  those 
of  this— at  least  I  had  no  pucpuse  of  doing  so.  Your 
Ladyship  cannot  think  me  such  an  owl  aa  to  pay  more 
respect  to  animal  mafinetism,  or  s^.uUology,  I  forget  its 
learned  name,  or  'ny  other  ology  of  the  present  day. 
The  Bailors  have  an  uncouth  proverb  that  every  man 
most  eat  a  peck  of  din  in  the  course  of  his  life,  and  there- 
by reconcile  themselves  (o  swallow  unpalatable  mosses. 
Even  so  say  I,  every  age  must  swallow  a  certaia  deal  of 
superstitious nonscuHe ;  only,  observing  the  variety  vihich 
nature  seems  to  study  through  all  her  works,  each  gen- 
eration lakes  its  nonsense,  as  heralds  say,  toith  a  differ- 
ence. I  was  early  behind  the  acene.s,  having  been  in 
childhood  patient  of  no  less  a  man  than  the  celebrated  Dr. 
Graham,  the  great  quack  of  that  olden  day.  I  had,  bemg, 
as  81r  Hugh  Evans  says,  a  fine  sprag  boy,  a  shrewd  Idea 
tkat  his  maifnotism  was  all  humbug ;  but  Dr.  Oraham, 
theugh  be  nited  a  different  method,  was  aa  much  admired 
in  his  day  as  any  of  the  French  fops.  1  did  once  think  of 
turning  on  the  modem  mummers,  but  I  did  not  want  to  be 
engaged  in  so  senseless  a  controversy,  which  would,  nev- 
ennelcss,  have  occupied  some  Ume  and  trouble.  Tlie 
Inference  was  pretty  plain,  that  the  same  reasons  which 
explode  the  machinery  of  witches  and  ghosts  proper  to 
onr  ancestors,  must  be  destructive  of  the  supernatural 
nonsense  of  our  own  days. 

**  Your  acquaintance  with  Shakspeare  Is  intimate,  and 
you  renaevnbor  why,  a<Kl  when  it  is  said, 

•  He  words  me.  girl*  he  words  me.** 
Our  modem  men  of  the  day  have  done  this  to  the  coun- 
try. They  have  devised  a  new  phraseology  to  convert 
Sood  into  evil,  and  evil  hito  good,  and  the  ass's  ears  of 
obn  Bull  are  gulled  with  it  as  if  words  alone  made  crime 
or  virtue.  Have  they  a  mind  to  excuse  the  tyranny  of 
Buonaparte  1  why,  the  I^rd  love  you,  he  only  squeezed 
Into  his  government  agrain  too  much  of  civilization.   Ttie 

•  Aathony and Ckiopatrs.  AotV;6eenea. 


;  oi  liooespierre  was  too  acnre  uoenmsm ;  a  nooia 

r.    TUos  the  nest  bloodthirsty  asMcUr  tollssMd 

by  opening  the  accouot  under  a  new  name.    Toe 

iish  might  be  easily  scraped  oflT  all  this  trumpery  ;  and 


fault  of  Robespierre  was  too  actWe  nbemUsm ;  a  noblo 
error.    TUos  the  i 
over  I 

varnisHiL , .  _  ,  ,  __ 

I  think  ray  friends  the  brave  Beiges  are  like  to  lead  to  the 
conclusion  that  the  old  names  of  murder  and  fire-raisinf 
are  still  in  fashion.  Bat  what  is  worse,  the  natural  con* 
oexion  between  the  higher  and  lower  classes  is  broken. 
The  former  reside  abroad  and  become  fradnally,  bat 
ceruunly,  strangers  to  thdr  country's  taws,  habits,  snd 
character.  The  tenant  sees  noihing  of  them  bet  the  creil- 
itor  for  rent,  following  on  the  heels  of  the  creditor  ^r 
taxes.  Our  ministers  dissolve  the  yeomanry,  almost  the 
last  tie  which  held  the  laird  and  the  tenant  together.  The 
bert  and  worthiest  are  squabbling  together,  like  a  muU- 
n<»u8  crew  in  a  sinking  vesseK  who  make  the  question, 
not  how  they  arc  to  get  her  off  the  rocks,  but  by  whose 
fsitit  she  came  on  them.  In  short—but  1  will  not  pursue  . 
any  further  the  picture  more  frightful  than  any  spnarttlon 
in  my  J)emonology.  Would  to  God  I  coold  believe  it  ideal  I 
Hiave  confidence  still  in  theDake  of  Wellington,  but  eren 
he  has  sacriiiced  to  tlie  great  deity  of  humbug,  and  what 
shall  we  say  to  meaner  and  more  ordinary  minds  1  God 
avert  evil,  and,  what  is  next  best,  in  mercy  remove  those 
who  could  only  wluiess  without  preventing  it  Perhaps 
I  am  somewhat  deepondeni  in  all  this.  Put  totally  retired 
(Vom  the  world  «s  i  tiow  am,  depression  is  a  natural  con- 
sequence of  so  calamitous  a  prospect  as  politics  now  pre- 
sent. The  only  probable  course  ef  safety  would  be  n 
confederacy  between  the  good  sod  the  honest ;  and  thej 
are  so  much  divided  by  petty  feuils,  that  I  see  little  chanee 
of  it. 

"  I  will  send  this  under  Lord  Montagu's  frank,  for  It  la 
no  matter  how  long  such  a  roll  of  lamentation  may  be 
hi  reaching  your  l^adyshlp.  I  do  not  think  it  at  all  Iike|jr 
that  I  shall  be  in  lx>ndon  next  spring,  allhoueh  1  suffer 
Sfophia  to  tiihik  so.  I  remain,  in  all  mv  bad  humour,  ever 
your  Ladyship's  mo.<tt  obedient  and  fwthfal  humble  ser> 
▼ant,  Walta  Seon."   • 


CHAPTER  LXXIX. 

WIJrrBR  Af  ABBOTSPOBO— FARUAMXNTAB7  REFOUt 
IN  AGITATION— WJLUAM  LAIDLAW-^JOHN  2?ICO(.* 
SON— MBS.  STBEET— FIT  OP  APOPLEXY  XN  NOVBW- 
BBR— COUNT  BOBEBT  OP  PABIS— A  FOURTH  EPISTLB 
OP  MALAGROWTHEB  WRITTEN— AND  SUPPRESSED'— 
UNPLEASANT  DISQUSSJONS  WITH  BALLANTYNB  A^TD 
CADELL— SOYEL  RESUMED— SECOND  DIVIDEND  TO 
CREDITOBS,  AND  THEIR  GIFT  OF  THE  LUmARV,  ETC* 
AT  ABBOTSFORD — LAST  WILL  EXECUTED  IN  EDIN- 
BURGH—FQBTUNe's  MECHANISM— LETTER  ON  POLI- 
TICS TO  THE  HON.  H.  F.  600^7 — ADDRESS  FOR  THJl 
COUNTY  OF  SELKIRK  WRITTEN— AND  REJECTED  BY 
THE  FREEHOLDERS— COUNTY  MEETING  AT  JEDBUROBI 
— FPEECH  ON  REFORM— SCOTT  INSULTED— MB.  W* 
GRANTS  PORTRAIT — OCTOBER,  1830— APRIL,  183B,     , 

The  nead«ir  has  already  seen  that  Sir  Walter  had 
many  miegivinss  in  contemplating  his  final  retire- 
ment from  the  situation  he  had  occupied  for  six-and- 
twenty  years  in  the  Court  of  Session.  Such  a  breaeh 
in  old  habits  is  always  a  serious  experiment ;  but  ill 
his  case  it  was  very  particularly  so,  because  it  in-- 
volved  hia  losing,  during  the  winter  months,  when* 
men  most  neetTsociety,  the  intercourse  of  almost 
all  that  remained  to  him  of  dear  familiar  friends.  He 
had  besidea  a  love  for  the  very  stones  of  Edinburgh,, 
and  the  thought  that  he  was  never  a^in  to  tfeej^ 
under  n  roof  of  hia  own  in  his  native  qiiy  coat  him 
many  a  pang.  But  he  never  alludes  either  in  nitf . 
Diary  or  in  his  letters  (iiordol  remember  that  he 
ever  did  so  in  conversation)  to  the  circumstances 
which,  far  more  than  all  beside,  occasioned  care  ana 
regret  in  the  bosom  of  his  family.  However  be 
might  cling  to  the  notion  thaHiia  recent  ailmcntt-. 
sprung  merely  from  a  tjisordered  stomach,  they  bni 
dismi-^sed  that  dream,  and  the  heaviest  of  their 
thougbta  was  thst  he  was  fixing  himsHf  in. the 
country  ju9t  when  his  health,  perhaps  hia  life,  might 
depend  any  given  hour  on  the  immediate  presence 
of  a, surgical  hand.  They  reflected  that  the  onljr 
medical  practitioner  resident  within  three  miles  of 
him  might,  in  cose  of  another  seizure,  come  too  late^ 
even  although  the  messenger  should  find  him  ai 
home ;  hut  that  his  prnctice  extended  over  a  wide 
range  of  thinly  peopled  country,  and  that  at  the 
hour  of  need  be  might  as  probably  be  halta^v'e 


% 


LiPE  OF  SIR  WALTER  s6oTT. 


(imhiev oifM  At  M elro^  We  Wdotd  ftin  hare  r^r- 
Biiadeo  him  th&t  biiilib'rary,  catalogues,  and  DtJitrr  pa- 
per9  had  fallen  into  such  confusion  that  ha  oui^ht  lo 
lave  some  clever  young  student  in  the  inta*^  dniitsg 
the  winter  to  arrange  tnem ;  and  had  he  taken  ihe 
suggestion  in  good  part^  a  medical  student  woM  of 
course  have  been  selected.  But,  whether  or  not  he  , 
•lispected  our  real  moave,  he  would  listen  (u  no  auch  ' 
plan,  and  his  friendly  surgeon  (Mr.  James  Ch  rkson) 
then  did  the  best  he  could  for  us  by  instruciniK  a 
confidential  domestic,  privately,  in  the  ueo  ijf  the 
lancet.  This  was  John  Nicolson  ;  a  naiui  nevtr  uj 
be  mentioned  by  any  of  Scott's  family  ^liho^a  re- 
spect and  gratitude.  He  bad  been  in  tne  householJ 
from  bis  boyhood,  and  was  about  this  lime  <poor 
Dalgleiah  retiring  from  weak  health)  advauccd  ta 
'  the  chief  place  in  it.  Early  and  continued  kind  nc^s 
•bad  made  «  very  deep  impression  on  this  Tmc  hnnA- 
some  young  man's  wsrm  heart ;  he  posscscf^d  ititcl- 
'figence,  good  sense,  and  a  calm  temper  t  and  ihe 
!»>urage  and  dexterity  which  Sir  Walter  had  tleliKht^ 
sd  to  see  him  displa)r  in  sports  and  pastime,^,  pr^^  g<^ 
beneeforth  of  inestimable  service  to  tbc-  niatti  r, 
whom  he  regarded,  I  verily  believe,  with  iho  love 
«nd  reverence  of  a  son.  Smce  I  have  r^cb,  d  the 
period  at  which  human  beings  owe  so  much  to  min- 
wtnilions  of  this  class,  I  may  as  well  numtt  h}r  ihff 
side  of  Nicolson  Miss  Scott's  maid,  Mrs.  Cclia 
"Street :  ayoung  person  whose  unwearied  zcaI, 
bouplea  with  a  modest  tact  that  stamped  hi^r  une  of 
Nature's  gentlewomen,  contribut^d  hardly  less  io 
ihe  comfort  of  Sir  Walter  and  his  chddren  during 
ihe  brief  remainder  of  his  life.* 

Affliotion,  ash  happened,  lay  heavy  at  ilij^  time 
on  the  kind  house  of  Huntley-Bum  also.  Thu  vhlvBi 
9iiss  Ferguson  was  on  her  deathbed;  and  thu^,  ^vlun 
my  wife  and  I  were  obliged  to  move  eouihu  ardi^  at 
the  beginning  of  winter^  Sir  Walter  waskfc  nlmuBt 
Mitirefy  dependent  on  hts  daughter  Anne^  Wiltiarti 
Laidlaw,  and  the  worthy  domestics  whom  1  havu 
oeetrnamihg.  Mr.  Laidlaw  attended  him  occasion- 
ally as  amanuensis  when  his  fingers  were  ehilblam- 
ed,  and  often  dined  as  well  as  breakfasted  with  him  : 
Md  Miss  Scott  well  knew  that  in  all  circumstanced 
she  might  lean  to  Laidlaw  with  the  confidence  of  a 
niece  or  a  daughter. 

A  more  difficult  and  delicate  task  never  d*?voIvcd 
upon  any  man's  friend,  than  he  had  abdnt  thiA  time 
fo  encounter.  He  could  not  watch  Scott  from  hour 
to  hour— above  all.  he  could  not  write  to  bt?  diciB- 
tlon,  without  graduallv,  slowly,  most  nsluctajiHy 
taking  home  to  his  bosom  the  conviction  thai  the 
mighty  mind,  which  he  had  worshipped  through 

2 pre  than  thuty  years  of  intimacy,  had  lost  some- 
Ing,  and  was  daily  losing  something  moro  of  lEj^ 
energy.  The  facul ties  were  there,  and  each  of  i h em 
mtf  every  now  and  then  displaying  itself  in  itAfuW 
vigour;  but  the  sagacious  judgment,  the  hniliatit 
fancy^  the  unrivalled  memory,  were  all  subject  \v 
ooeasional  eclipse— 

*'  Alaog  the  chords  the  iinserB  stray'd, 
And  an  uncertain  warbling  made." 
R^er  and  anon  he  paused  and  looked  round  Lim, 
like  one  half  waking  from  a  dream,  mofkoci  with 
ahtdows.  The  sad  bewilderment  of  hi-*  isme 
showed  a  momentary  consciousness  thai^  like 
Samson  in  the  lap  of  the  Philistin^  **  hii  strtin^th 
was  passing  from  him,  and  he  was  Decomin;>  ^cnk 
like  unto  other  men."  Then  came  the  sjrons  cflbi t 
of  aroQsed  will— the  cloud  dispersed  as  if  ttcforc  an 
urresistible  current  of  purer  air— all  was  bright  and 
serene  as  of  old.  And  then  it  closed  a^ain  m  yet 
dea>er  darkness. 

During  the  earlr  part  of  this  winter  the  ^ituarinrt 
of  Gadeil  and  Ballantyne  was  hardly  less  painful. 
and  still  more  embarrassing.  What  (ioiablf  and 
trebly  perplexed  them  was  that,  while  the  yiH.  ^.tm 
for  press  seemed  woree  every  bud;?et,  Sir  VVaTt^r*i 
private  letters  to  them,  more  especially  on  fioini^  nf 
Dttsiness,  continued  as  clear  in  thought, >Bnd  almost 

•  On  Sir  Waltir'i  death  Nicolson  Dotted  into  the  «rvict  rjf  Mr. 
MOfntt  at  Roltpbr,  where  he  ii  now  bmJor.  Mrt.  ^'insp  t  rcmftiii- 
•djtfoit  iKHiae  till  1839,  whea  fheaiamcd  Mr.  OhffitlH.  a  rctrec- 
table  farawor  at  Wolworth. 


so  in  etprpjHeiorif  ti»  formerly  i  fuUof  the  M  slrrew^. 
n«s,  andlirmnc?«,  and  miLnl^  kindness,  and  ere n  of 
the  old  goad  h  u  iti  om  red  p  I  eu  ?ai*  i  ry .  A  htm  n  be  m .  e-s  * 
capi  tlio  fits  17^11  riUK  penmaaftbip,  and  he r^  and  tbrra 
oueword  pot  down  obviously  for  soot hi-f,  there  w»m 
ficarcply  any  thiuR  lo  mditaic  decayi^d  vigour.  It  Im 
not  auritrk^mf?  (bat  poor  Ballanlyn^  in  partietiJar, 
ishoulJ  have  shnink  from  the  notion  that  any  thmg 
was  ami^fi,^<:XCffpt  the  choice  of  in  uai^>riuttate 
subject,  and  ihft  in du luetic e  Of  more  than  tomraun 
carifl^seneaft  and  rnprdvty  tn  f^ompoaiiion.  He  iif^m» 
lo  have  dor»^  ^o  »s  ne  woulid  from  WJine  horrid  •ne- 
KL'tftion  of  ihe  Dtvil ;  and  aet'ofdinf^lv  obeyed  hitt  nn^ 
Itrral  senm*  of  duTf,  by  infirm  m^  Sir  WaiUT,  vn  pfam 
[crmp,  that  ho  confiidtred  the  of»emng  dtttpUTa  of 
C^Jlnlt  Robert  as  decided! r  mterior  lo  any  thms  tint 
had  ivf  r  before  come  Irom  thai  pen.  James  ap* 
penrs  to  havedwdt  dnelly  ort  l|]e  hopeleesness  of  J 
any  Rpantine  feble  ?  and  be  mwht  ceri«iDly  hmwn 
appraltd  lo  n  long  train  of  examplee  for  the  LtiaLty 
which  seems  to  hnnf?  u\er  evpry  atu^iiipt  to  awnkm 
any  ihmg  like  n  hveiy  inriTest  about  the  peT&oni* 
and  miniif  rs  of  the  ^cnerMKiti  m  qo*:fnon  s  tlks 
childish  forms  and  hii^utrit^e,  tbc  weak  pomps  and 
drivel]  mp  prtf  tensions,  the  mii3n?r«b!e  plots  a  Ad 
ireachent'Sk  ihfriniiic,  worn-out  civiliuatian  of  tbd#9 
Rimipen  n  <  J  hi  nif^v.  The  epoch  on  m  htch  S  coti  httA 
fixt'd  WAP,  however  one  thai  brtwi^ht  iltese  dooin«d 
frlavi^  of  vaiiiTy"  und  Buperstilion  into  confacl  wifhi 
ih«Tifiornua  bnrbajism  both  of  western  Lhn$rca- 
dom  atid  ihe  »dvatinn«  Oiiotnan.  Bve  Walter  h*iL 
yi^arfi  b{  fore,  bei^n  itru^k  wiih  im  cvpatnlibcsi  mnd 
who  dares  lo  6ay  th»ii,  had  he  ezecDt«d  the  w«)rk 
wh(  n  ho  fikdcbed  the  outhnt]  of  its  pUc,  he  MrIic 
not  hnvt!  achkved  as  m^nal  a  mutnph  t/v^  tit 
rritical  prejudiceH,  a*  hv  bad  don*?  when  he  riMCti«d 
Scottish  r^manee  from  ihf^  uiQwkbh  ik^^ndttanm^ 
wiiigb  Wavf  rky  fi>iind  h  1 

In  himi't'lf  srtd  bis  own  HfTuira  there  w«i  ^naunb 
IQ  aianu  and  perplex  him  and  alt  who  watched 
him;  but  the  a^^^cfrr  of  the  political  hcinton  al«q» 
pruned  more  ht^ariU  upoti  ni^  spirit  than  k  had 
tvcr  done  before.  All  th<^  evils  which  he  had  appre- 
hended from  the  tup  lure  among  the  Torii^  Itfaders  in 
the  hewitminR  of  1827  were  now,  m  bit  opinioOi 
ahijoUo  be  coneuiiipriatcti.  The  hieh  Protratani  pir- 
IV,  blindcfd  by  ibcnr  rcMnt  meni  nf  the  nl^itiion  «$f  the 
T*?Bt  Act  and  the  Riiman  Caihtilic  diaalnlili^f 


ed  witiint;  to  run  nny  n?k  for  the  pufpinseof  drti^inK 
the  Duke  of  Wellington  from  i  he  helm.  The  gen- 
eral elect ion>  occa«ion^d  by  the  detnise  of  thdcfoi^n.. 
waa  held  whiJe  the  aacce^Bful  rtivoUain  Prajrce  and 
Belgium  were  freeb  and  upptrmost  in  even' mind, 
ana  furnUhed  the  Lil»cral  candidAiea  with  caprivA- 
ling  topics,  *if  which  they  enj^dy  availed  theinidv*?e. 
The  result  had  considernblv  atrenf^ihened  tb«r  old 
opposition  in  the  How»e  of  Otimmoifs ;  and  s  mnjg^ 
vote^  iti  which  ihe  uiim-Tories  jomtd  the  Wh^ 
woB  conaidered  by  the  minirttrv  as  NJ  ominoiw,  tStt 
they  tTiimediol^ly  reined  from  offiee.  The  nerved- 
ing  cabinet  of  Earl  Grey  includetl  nsmcv  identified^ 
in  Seoti'a  view,  with  i he  wildest  ra^fi  of  mnoviiioo. 
Their  6r»i  tttep  wdn  lo  annunDce  a  btll  of  PajUainetit- 
■ry  Rtfonti  on  n  laT^c  arak%  for  which  it  wa»  sooa 
htiown  thej  had  aeeured  the  wuriii  perwnal  euppott 
of  King  WdUm  IV.  1  a  cireu  met  ante,  the  probabft- 
ity  of  whir:h  had.  «a  we  hiivc  (t^en,  been  eontem* 

tiRtud  by  Sir  Wilder  dnring  ihe  last  illness  of  the 
^ukL  of  York  fin  at  disco  n  rem  prtv^tled,  mean- 
wbili\  ibruiightmt  ihe  labouring  clasjea  of  many  dia- 
tricip,  both  commcreial  and  iiiraL  Every  new  apt* 
prrip<^med  with  deta;lp  at  not  and  ineendiAnMni 
tnd  the  pcUcliqh  of  meh  an  epr^ch  of  impAnenee 
and  ttirbuhricf  for  a  le^Mative  eiperimfini  <if  ibe 
exireincsi  diflicuUy  and  duUcacy-one,  in  ficl,  infi- 
nitely tuorc  importartt  than  had  er^f  beTore  b««a. 
a R] laud,  withiti  th«  forms  of  the  eonatiiittion — wap 
pt'tlmps  re^jrarded  by  mo*t  gravf^  and  retired  rtlvQ 
wiib  feeling-  near  akin  lo  thoae  of  the  anxioiis  ajid 
melancholy  invalid  at  AbbotefoH  To  annoy  him 
nddiiirrnallV,  he  foUfiH  niBn7  em  intent  persons,  whiff 
bad  biehi^rin  avowfTJ  pnliirci?  of  hia  own  rolour^  m- 
noom^int;  all  their  cild  tenettt,  sjMWjoininiE  lbs  CifDt 


lAtu  w  sm  *HKLtA  sccrrt*. 


1^  ai  the  keenest  of  those  who  had  been  throash 

Se  eoDiidered  apostles  of  Republicanism.  And  I 
iiirt  afso  obsertre  that,  as,  notwithstanding  his 
own  steady  Toryism,  he  had  never  allowed  pohtical 
differences  to  afleet  his  private  feeiings  towards 
friends  aad  companions,  so  it  now  happened  that 
among  the  few  with  whom  he  had  daily  mtercourse 
there  was  hardly  one  he  could  look  to  for  sympathy 
in  his  present  reflections  and  anticipations.  The 
atiectionate  Laidlaw  had  always  been  a  stout  Whig; 
he  now  hailed  the  coming  changes  as  the  beginning 
of  a  political  millennimn.  Ballantyne,  inmienced 
probably  by  his  new  ghostly  counsellors,  was  by 
degrees  leaning  to  a  similar  view  of  things.  Cadeli. 
his  bookseller,  and  now  the  prindpal  confidant  and 
assistant  from  week  to  week  in  all  his  plans  and 
speculations,  waa  a  cool,  inflexible  specimen  of  the 
national  character,  and  had  always,  I  presume, 
oonsiclered  the  Tory  creed  aa  a  piece  of  weakness,  to 
be  pardoned,  indeed,  in  a  poet  and  an  antiqinary,  but 
at  best  pitied  in  men  of  any  other  class. 

Towards  the  end  of  November  Sir  Walter  had 
another  irfight  touch  of  apoplexy.  He  recovered 
himself  without  assistance ;  but  again  consulted  his 
physicians  in  Edinburgh,  and  by  their  advice  AOopt- 
edja  stiU  greater  severity  bf  regmien. 

Tlie  reader  will  now  understand  what  his  frame- 
and  condition  of  health  and  spirits  were,  st  the  time 
when  he  received  from  Ballantyne  a  decided  protest 
against  the  novel  on  which  he  was  struggling  to  fix 
the  shattered  energies  of  his  memory  and  fancy. 
To  Mr.  Jamu  BuUanf^net  Printer^  Edinkurgh. 
*'  Abbotsford,  8Ui  Dec.,  1830. 
**ilr  dear  James, 

'Mf  I  were  like  other  anthers,  as  I  flatter  myself -I  am 
B6t,  I  thoald  send  you  an  order  on  my  treasurer  for  a 
hundred  ducats,  ^shloir  you  all  prosperity  and  a  little 
mere  taste  ;*  but  having  never  supposed  that  any  abilities 
I  ever  had  were  of  a  perpetual  texture,  I  am  f lad  when 
MeoAs  tell  me  wbat  I  roisht  be  long  in  finding  out  myself. 
Mr.  Gadoll  wiU  show  you  what  I  have  wriUen  to  him.  My 
present  idea  Is  to  go  abroad  for  a  few  months,  if  I  hold 
together  as  long.  So  ended  the  Fathers  of  the  novel— 
Fielding  and  SmoUett-and  it  would  be  no  unprofessional 
finish  for  yours, 

WAlTSa  8C0TT." 

To  R.  Cadeli,  E»q^  BeokotlUr,  Edinburgh. 

"  Abbotsford,  ah  Dee.,  i830. 
"My  dear  Sir, 

•*  Although  we  are  come  near  to  a  point  to  which  every 
man  IcnoWB  he  roust  cone,  yet  I  acknowledge  I  thought  I 
might  have  pni  it  off  for  two  or  three  years ;  for  it  is  hard 
to  lose  one's  flower  of  workhig  when  jrou  have  perfect 
leisure  for  it  I  do  not  view  James  Ballantyne^s  criti- 
cism, sdthoogh  his  kindness  may  not  make  him  sensible 
of  it,  so  much  as  aa  objection  to  the  particular  toplcf 
which  Is  merely  &«ttdivus,  as  to  mv  having  failed  to 

g lease  him,  an  anxious  and  favourable  judge,  and  ccr- 
linly  a  very  good  one.    It  wonid  be  losing  words  U>  say 
that  the  names  are  really  no  objection,  or  that  they  might 
befn  some  degree  smoothed  offuy  adopting  more  modem 
Oreci&n.    This  is  od<J.    I  have  seen  when  a  play  or  novel 
would  have  been  daimied  by  introduction  orMacgregors 
or  Hacgrouthers,  or  ochers,  which  ytpn  used  to  read  a^a 
preface  to  Faimtosb  whiskey,  wn  every  spirit  shop— yet 
these  have  been  wrought  into  heroes.    James  is,  with 
many  other  kindly  critics,  perhaps  in  the  predicament  of 
an  honest  drunluird  when  crop-sick  the  next  morning, 
who  does  not  ascribe  the  malady  to  the  wine  he  has  i 
drtmk,but  to  having  tasted  some  particular  dish  at  dinner  i 
wtiich  disajreed  with  his  stomach.    The  fact  Is, !  have  ! 
not  only  written  a  great  deal,  but,  as  Bobadil  teaches  his 
companions  to  fence,  I  hive  taught  a  hundred  gentlemen  ' 
to  write  neatly  a.s  well,  if  not  altogether  so,  ns  myself.       I 
"  Now,  such  being  my  belief,  I  have  lost,  It  is  plain,  the 
power  of  interesting  the  country,  and  ought,  m  justice  to 
ail  parties,  to  retire,  while  I  have  some  credit.  •  But  this  | 
is  an  Important  step,  and  I  will  not  be  obstinate  about  it, 
ir  necessary.    I  would  not  act  hastily,  and  still  think  it 
rl?ht  to  set  up  at  least  half  a  volume.    The  subject  is  , 
es«M*fin1Iy  an  excellent  one.    If  It  brings  to  my  friend  J. 
B.  certain  prejudices  nbt  unconnected,  perhap*?,  with  his 
old  preceptor  Mr,  Whale,  we  may  And  ways  of  obviating 
this;  but  franlcly,  I  cannot  think  of  tl>nfflng  aside  the  haff 
finished  voliraie.  as  if  it  were  a  oorkcd  boule  of  wine.    If 
there  is  a  decisive  repolnilon  foi;  laying  aside  Count  Hob» 
ert  (whicli  I  ahoost  wish  I  had  named  Anna  Comncna.)  I 
shall  not  easily  prevail  on  myself  to  begin  another. 
•  Archbiihop  of  Grenada  in  Gil  Bias. 
2W         70 


**I  mar  perhaps  t£kc  a  tr1pfotheC6iittlnentfbra  year 
or  two,  if  I  find  Othello's  occupation  goes,  or  ratter 
Othello's  reputation.  James  seems  to  have  taken  his 
bed  upon  it— yet  has  seen  Pharsalia.  I  hope  your  cold 
is  getting  better.  I  am  tempted  to  say  as  Hotspur  says  of 
his  father— 

*  Zounds  1  how  hath  he  the  leisure  to  be  sick  V* 
lliere  is  a  very  material  eopslderation  how  a  failure  of 
Count  Robert  might  vtfott  the  Magnum,  which  la  a  main 
object    So  this  Is  all  at  present  from,  dear  sir,  youra,^ 
very  faithfaUy, 

WALTia  Scott." 
7\>  the  Same. 

"Abbotsford,  9th  Dec,  1830. 
"MydearCadeU, 

"  I  send  you  sheet  B  of  the  unlucky  Count— it  will 
do  little  harm  to  correct  it,  whether  we  ultimately  use  it 
or  no ;  for  the  rest  we  must  do  as  we  <ioto,  as  my  mother 
used  to  say.  I  could  reduce  many  expenses  in  a  foreiga 
country,  especially  equipage  and  living,  which  in  t^ 
country  I  could  not  do  ao  well.  But  it  is  matter  of  serious 
consideration,  and  *we  have  time  before  us  to  think.  1 
write  to  you  rather  than  Ballantyne,  because  he  Is  not 
well,  and  1  look  on  you  aa  hardened  against  wind  and  wea» 
tber,  whereas 

'  Man  but  a  mab  against  OtbeDo*a  brssst. 
And  he  retiito.'t 

But  we  must  brave  bad  weather  as  well  as  bear  it, 

^  I  send  a  ^^(>hmra  of  the  interleaved  Magnum.  I  know 
not  whether  you  will  carry  on  that  actieme  or  net  at  praa- 
ent    I  am  yours  sincerely, 

Waltbr  Scott. 
**P.  8.— I  expect  Ifarshal  Bourmont  and  a  French 
Minister,  Baron  d'Hauasez,  here  to-day,  to  my  no  smalt 
discomfort,  aa  you  may  believe ;  for  I  would  rather  be 
alone." 

To  the  Same. 
^  ''Abbotsford,  12th  Dec,  1830. 

**#y  dear  Sir, 

**  I  am  much  obliged  for  your  kind  letter,  and  have 
taken  a  more  full  review  of  the  whole  affair  than  I  was 
able  to  do  at  first.  There  were  many  circumstances  hi 
the  matter  which  you  and  J.  B.  could  not  be  aware  of. 
and  whh;h,  if  you  were  aware  of,  micht  have  Influenced 
your  judgment,  which  had,  and  yet  nave  a  most  powers 
ful  enect  upon  mine.  The  deaths  of  both  my  fkther  and 
mother  have  been  preceded  by  a  paralytic  shock.  My 
lather  sarvived  it  for  naarly  two  years,  a  melancholy  re^ 

?)ite,  and  not  to  be  desired.  I  waa  alarmed  with  Misa 
ouns's  morning  visit,  when,  as  you  know,  I  lost  my 
speech.  The  medical  people  said  it  was  from  the  slo« 
mach,  which  might  be  ;  but  while  there  is  a  doubt  on  a 
point  so  alarming,  you  will  not  wonder  that  the  subject, 
or,  to  use  Hare's  /tn^o,  the  sAof,  should  be  a  tittle  anxrous. 
1  restricted  all  my  creature  comforts,  which  were  never 
excessive,  within  a  single  cigar  and  a  small  wlne-|Aass  of 
siiirtts  per  day.  But  one  night  laia  raontti,  when  I  had  a 
friend  with  me,  I  had  a  slight  vertigo  when  going  to  bed, 
and  fell  down  in  ray  dressing-room,  though  but  for  one 
instant  UpN)u  this  1  wrote  to  Dr.  Abercromby,  and  in 
consequence  of  his  advice,  Fhave  restricted  myself  yet 
farther,  and  have  cut  ofl'the  c\gar,  and  almost  half  of  the 
inoontain-dew.  Now.  hi  the  midst  of  all  this,  I  began  ray 
work  with  as  ranch  attention  as  I  could ;  and  having  taken 
pains  with  my  story.  I  find  it  is  not  relished,  nor  indeed 
tolerated  by  those  who  have  no  hiterest  In  condemning  it, 
I  but  a  strong  interest  in  putting  even  a  face  upon  their 
ronscienqea.  Was  not  this,  in  the  circumstances,  a 
damper  to  an  invalid,  already  afraid  that  the  sharp  edge 
might  be  taken  off  his  intellect,  though  he  was  not  himself 
sensible  of  that  1  and  did  It  not  seem,  of  course,  that  na- 
ture was  rather  calling  for  repo«>e  than  for  further  efforts 
in  a  very  exciting  and  feverish  style  of  composition  ?  It 
would  have  been  the  height  of  injustice  and  cruelty  to  im- 
pute want  of  friendship  or  sympathy  to  J.  B.'s  discharge 
of  a  doubtful,  and  I  am  sensible,  a  periloua  task.    Trno 

*  The  fint  bringer  of  laowclcome  news. 

Hath  bnt  a  kwing  office'— t  ^ 

and  It  is  a  falling  In  the  temper  Of  the  most  equal-minded 
men,  that  we  find  them  liable  to  be  less  pleased  with  the 
tidingsthattiiey  tmve  fallen  simrtoftlieir  aim  than  if  they 
had  been  told  ihry  had  hit  the  mark ;  but  I  never  hadthe 
least  thouglit  of  blaming  him,  Mnd  indeed  my  confidence 
in  his  judgment  is  the  most  forcible  part  of  the  whole 
oflliir.  It  is  the  con.'^rionsnesa  of  his  sincerity  which 
makes  me  doubt  whetlier  I  can  proceed  with  the  County 
Paris.    I  am  most  anxious  to  do  justice  to  ail  concemeu. 

•  I  Kfng  Henry  JV.  Act  IV.  Sc.  I. 

♦  OtbeUo.  Act  V.  Pc  a.       „,  I   --OOQ I P 
J  8  King  Henry  IV.  Act  L  8J^  V^  ^  ^-'^  l^ 


UFE  OF  SIB  WALTER,  scxnrr* 


vid  /et,  for  the  Mnl  of  mo,  I  cannot  see  what  Is  likely  to 
torn  oat  for  the  beet.  I  mlsht  fluempt  the  Perilous  Castle 
of  Douglas,  but  I  fear  the  subject  1b  too  muc}^  used,  and 
that  I  might  again  fail  in  it  Then  being  idle  wilt  never 
do,  for  a  thousand  reasons;  all  this  I  am  thinlcing  of  till  I 
am  half  sick.  I  wish  James,  who  gives  such  stout  a<lvice 
when  ho  thinlcs  we  are  wrong,  woulil  tell  us  how  to  put 
things  right  One  is  tempted  to  cry, '  Wo  worth  thee  1  is 
there  no  help  in  thee  V  Perhaps  it  may  be  better  to  take 
no  resolution  till  we  all  meetXogetlier. 

*'  I  certainly  am  quite  decided  to  fulfil  all  my  engage- 
ments, and,  so  far  as  1  can,  discharge  the  part  of  an  honest 
man,  and  if  any  thing  can  be  done  mean  Lime  for  the  Mag- 
num, I  shall  be  glad  to  do  it 

^'  1  trust  James  and  you  may  get  afloat  next  Saturday. 
You  will  think  me  like  Murray  in  the  farce—'  I  eat  well, 
drink  well,  and  sleep  well,  but  that's  all,  Tom,  that's  all.' 
We  will  wear  the  thing  thinugh  one  way  or  other  if  we 
were  once  afloat,  but  you  see  all  this  is  a  scrape. 

Yours  truly,  W.  Scott." 

This  letter.  Mr.  Cadell  says,  "  Btnick  both  James 
B.  and  myself  with  dismay.^'  They  resolved  to  go 
out  t(>  Abbotsford,  but  not  for  a  few  days,  because  a 
general  meeting  of  the  creditors  was  at  band,  and 
tnere  was  reason  to  hope  that  its  results  would  en- 
able them  to  appear  as  the  bearers  of  sundry  pieces 
of  good  news.  Mean- time,  Sir  Walter  hiroaelt  ralli- 
ed considerably,  and  resolved,  by  way  of  testinf;  his 
powers,  while  the  novel  hung  suspended,  to  wnte  a 
fourth  epistle  of  Malachi  Malagrowther  on  the  pub- 
lic affairs  of  the  period.  The  announcement  of  a 
political  dissertation,  at  such  a  moment  of  universal 
excitement,  and  from  a  hand  ah^ady  trembling  un- 
der the  misgivings  of  a  fatal  malady,  might  -well 
have  filled  Cadell  and  Ballantyne  with  new  "dis- 
may," even  had  they  both  been  prepared  to  adopt, 
in  the  fullest  extent,  such  views  of  the  dangers  of 
our  8tat&  and  the  remedies  for  them,  as  their  friend 
was  likely  to  dwell  upon.  They  agreed  that  whai- 
ever  they  could  safely  do  to  avert  this  experiment 
must  be  done.  Indeed  they  were  both  equally  anxious 
to  iind,  if  it.could  be  found,  the  means  of  withdraw- 
ing him  from  all  literary  labour,  save  only  that  of 
annotating  his  former  novels.  But  thqy  were  not 
the  only  persons  who  had  been,  and  then  were,  ex- 
erting all  their  art  for  that  same  purpose.  His  kind 
and  skilful  physicians,  Doctors  Abercromby  and 
Ross  of  Edinburgh,  had  over  and  over  preached  the 
same  doctrine,  and  assured  him,  that  if  he  persisted 
in  working  his  brain,  nothing  could  prevent  his  mal- 
ady from  recurring,  ere  long,  in  redoubled  severity. 
He  answered— "As  for  bidding  me  not  work,  Molly 
might  as  well  put  the  kettle  on  the  fire,  and  say, 
now,  don'/  boil."  To  myself,  when  I  ventured  to 
address  him  in  a  similar  strain,  he  replied,  "  I  under- 
stand yon,  and  I  thank  you  from  my  henrt,  but  I 
must  tell  you  at  once  how  it  is  with  me.  I  am  not 
sure  that  I  am  quite  myself  in  all  things ;  but  I  oni 
sure  that  in  one  point  there  is  no  chanj;c.  I 'mean 
that  I  foreseee  distinctly,  that  if  I  were  to  be  idle  I 
should  go  mad.  In  comparison  to  this,  death  is  no 
risk  to  shrink  from." 

The  meeting  of  trustees  and  creditors  took  place 
on  the  1 7th— Mr.  George  Forbes  (brother  to  the  late 
Sir  William)  in  the  chair.  There  was  then  announ- 
ced another  dividend  on  the  Ballantyne  estate  of 
three  shillings  in  the  pound— thus  reducing  the  ori- 
ginal amount  of  the  debt  to  about  L.54.000.  It  had 
been  not  unnaturally  apprehended  that  the  convulsed 
state  of  politics  might  nave  checked  the  sale  of  the 
Magnum  Opus ;  but  this  does  not  seem  to  have 
been  the  case  to  any  extent  worth  notice.  The 
meeting  was  numerous,  and  not  contented  with  a 
renewed  mte  of  thanks  to  their  debtor,  they  passed 
unanimoiliiy  the  following  r^wluiion,  whicn  was 
nii>ved  bv  Mr.  (now  Sir  James)  Gibson  Craig,  and 
seconded  by  the  laic  Mr.  Thomas  Allan— both,  by 
the  way,  leading  Whigs :  * 

"That  Sir  Walter  Scott  be  requested  to  accept  of  his 
fbmiture,  plate,  linens,  paintings,  iibrary,  and  curiosities 
of  every  dogcriiiUon,  as  iho  best  meant*  the  creditors  have 
of  expressing  their  very  hi|;h  sense  of  his  most  honour- 
able conduct,  and  in  grateful  acknowledgment  for  the  un- 

*8irMarkCliacointliofarotor"ARolaod(braa  Oliver." 


paralleled  and  most  succeMfhl  exertions  he  has  made,  ad . 
coDf  Imies  to  ourice  for  Ibem.** 

Sir  Walter's  letter,  in  answer  to  the  chainnin'0 
communication,  was  as  follows :— 

TV  George  ParbeB,  B»q.^  Edinburgh. 

**  Abbotsford,  December  18^  183a 

"My  dear  Sir, 

"I  xna  greatly  delighted  wWi  the  contents  of  your 
letter,  which  not  only  enables  me  to  eat  with  my  owa 
spoons,  and  study  my  own  books,  bat  0vea  me  tho  stiB 
higher  gratification  ol*  Icnoving  that  my  conduct  has  beea 
approved  by  those  who  were  concerned. 

^^Tbe  best  thanks  which  I  can  return  is  by  continuing 
my  eamett  and  unceasing  attention— which,  with  a  mod- 
erate degree  of  the  good  fortune  whif  h  has  liitherto  at- 
tended my  eflTorts,  may  enable  roe  to  bring  ihete  affairs 
to  8  formnate  conclusion.  This  will  be  the  best  vray  in 
which  I  can  nhoir  my  sente  of  the  kind  and  geotleinaa- 
like  manner  in  which  the  meeting  have  acted. 

^  To  yourself,  my  dear  sir,  I  can  only  aay,  that  good  news 
becoms  doubly  acceptable  when  traosmiuod  tbroagha 
friendly  channel ;  and  considering  my  long  and  intimata 
acuuaintance  with  your  excellent  brother  and  &iher.  as 
well  as  yourself  ani  other  meniberrfof  your  family,  your 
letter  must  be  valuable  In  reference  to  the  hand  from 
which  it  comes,  as  well  as  to  the  information  which  it 
contains. 

''  r  ain  sensible  of  yoor  uniform  kindness,  and  the  pre- 
sent Instance  of  it  Very  much,  my  dear  sir,  your  oUI- 
ged  humble  senraot, 

Walter  Soore.** 

On  the  18th,  Cadell  and  Ballantjme  proceeded  to 
Abbotsford,  and  found  Sir  Walter  m  a  placid  state — 
having  evidently  been  much  soothed  and  gratified 
with  the  tidings  from  Edinburgh.  His  whole  ap- 
pearance was  greatly  better  than  theybad  ventured ' 
to  anticipate ;  and  deferrinjgliterary  (questions  till  the 
morning,  he  made  this  giu  from  his  creditors  the 
chief  subject  of  his  conversation.  He  said  it  had  ta- 
ken  a  heavv  load  off  his  inind :  he  apprehended  that, 
even  if  his  future  works  should  produce  little  moiiey« 
the  profits  of  the  Magnum^  during  a  Ihnited  nnmber 
of  years,  with  the  sum  which  had  been  iotoned  on 
his  life,  would  be  sufficient  to  obliterate  the  reinain* 
ing  moiety  of  the  Ballantyn^  debt :  he  considered 
the  library  and  museum  now  conveyed  to  him  as 
worth  at  the  least  L.  10,000,  and  this  would  ^able 
him  to  moke  some  provision  for  his  younger  children. 
He  said  that  he  designed  to  execute  hie  last  will 
without  delay,  and  detailed  to  his  friends  all  the  par- 
ticulars* which  the  document  ultimately*embraced. 
He  mentioned  to  them  that  he  had  recently  received, 
through  the  Lord  Chief  Commissioner  Adam,  a  mes- 
sage from  the  new  King,  intimating  his  BIaje6ty*s 
disposition  to  keep  in  mind  his  late  brothers  kind 
iatentions  with  regard  to  Charles  Scott ;  and  al- 
together his  talk,  though  grave,  and  on  grave  topics, 
was  the  reverse  of  melancholy. 

Next  morning,  in  Sir  Walter's  studv,  Ballantyno 
read  aloud  the  political  essay— .which  nad  (after  the 
old  fashion)  grown  to  an  extent  far  beyond  what 
the  author  con uniplated  when  he  began  his  task. 
To  print  it  in  the  \yeekly  Journal,  as  originally  pro- 
posed, would  now  be  hardly  compatible  with  the 
hmits  of  that  paper :  Sir  Walter  had  resolved  on  a 
separate  publication. 

1  believe  no  one  ever  saw  this  performance  but  the 
bookseller,  the  printer,  and  William  Laidlaw ;  and 
I  cannot  pretend  to  have  gathered  any  clear'notion 
of  its  contents,  except  that  the  panacea  was  the  re- 
imposition  of  the  income-tax ;  and  that  after  much 
reasoning  in  support  of  this  measure.  Sir  Walter  at- 
tsckcd  the  principle  of  Parliameniarv  Reform  tn  leto. 
We  need  hardly  suppose  that  he  advanced  any  ob- 
jt  ctions  which  would  seem  new  to  the  students  of 
the  debates  in  both  House's  during  1631  and  1632; 
historic  carried  no  conviction  to  the  breast  of  his 
faithful  amanuensis ;  but  Mr.  Laidlaw  assures  me, 
nevertheless,  that  in  his  opinion  no  composition^ of 
Sir  Waltor'shappiest  day  contained  any  thing  roors 
admirable  than  the  bursts  of  indignant  and  pathetie 
eloquence  which  here  and  there  "  set  off  a  baiting 
argument.'* 

The  critical  arbiters,  however,  concurred  in  con- 
demning the  production.  .Cadell  spoke  out ;  he  as- 


UF«  OF  SIR  WALTER  SOOTT. 


nr«4  Sir  Waltei;|hat  from  not  being  in  the  habit  of 
ntuiing  the  newapapera  and  periodical  worke  of  the 
day,  he  had  fallen  behind  the  dbmmon  rate  of  infor- 
mation on  queationa  of  practical  policy ;  that  the 
▼iewa  he  waa  enforcing  had  been  already  expound- 
ed by  many  Toriee,  and  trtumphantlv  answered  by 
organs  of  the  Liberal  party ;  but  (hat,  be  the  intrinsic 
vaTup  and  merit  of  these  political  doctrines  what  thev 
might,  he  was  quiie  certain  that  to  put  them  forth 
at  that  season  would  be  a  measure  o/  extreme  dan- 
ger for  the  author's  personal  interest :  that  it  would 
throw  a  cloud  over  ois  j^eneral  popularity,  array  a 
hundred  active  pens  agamst  any  new  work  of  an- 
otherclass  that  might  soon  follow,  and  j^rhaps  even 
interrupt  the  hitherto  splendid  success  of  the  Col- 
lection on  which  so  much  depended.  On  all  these 
Soints  BallantyncL  though  with  hesitation  and  diffi- 
ence,  professed  niraself  to  be  of  Cadell*s  opinion. 
There  ensued  a  scene  of  a  very  unpleasant  sort ;  but 
by  and  by  a  kind  of  compromise  was  agreed  to — the 
plan  of  a  separate  pamphlet,  with  the  well-known 
nom  dt  guerr9x>f  Malachi,  waa  dropt;  and  Ba^llan- 
tyne  was  to  stretch  his  columns  so  as  to  find  room 
for  the  lucubration,  adopting  all  possible  means  to 
mystify  the  public  as  to  its  parentage.  This  was 
the  understanding  when  the  conference  broke  np ; 
but  the  unfortunate  manuscript  was  soon  afterwards 
committed  to  the  flames.  James  Ballantyne  ac- 
companied the  proof-sheet  with  man/  minute  criti- 
cistns  on  the  condnct  aa  well  as  expression  of  the 
argument :  the  author's  temper  gave  way— and  the 
commentary  shared  the  fate  of  the  text 

Mr.  Cadell  opens  a  very  brief  account  of  this  affair 
with  expressing  his  opinion,  that  **Sir  Walter  never 
recovered  it;"  and  he  enda  with  an  altogether  need- 
less apology  for  his  own  part  in  it.  He  did  only 
what  was  his  duty  by  his  venerated  friend ;  and  he 
did  it,  I  doubt  not,  as  kindly  in  manner  as  m  spirit. 
Even  if  the  fourth  Epistle  o/Malachi  had  been  more 
Kkeits  precursors  than  I  can  well  suppose  it  to  have 
been,  nothing  could  have  been  more  unfortunate  for 
Sir  Walter  than  to  come  forward  at  that  momept  as 
a  prominent  antagonist  of  Reform.  Such  an  ap' 
pearance  might  very  possibly  have  had  the  conse- 
quences to  which  the  bookseller  pointed  in  his  re- 
monetrance;  but  at  all  events  it  must  haveAvolved 
him  in  a  maze  of  replies  and  rejoinders :  and  I  think 
it  too  probable  that  some  of  the  fiery  disputants  of 
the  periodical  press,  if  not  of  St.  Stephen's  Chapel, 
might  have  been  ingenious  enough  to  connect  any 
real  or  fancied  flaws  in  his  argument  withthosecir- 
cumstance*!  in  his  personal  condition  which  had  for 
aome  time  been  darkening  his  own  reflections  with 
dim  auguries  of  the  fate  of  Swift  and  Marlborough. 
Hie  reception  of  Ballantyne's  affectionate  candour 
may  suggest  what  the  eflect  of  really  hostile  criticism 
would  have  been.  The  end  was,  that  seeing  how 
much  he  stood  in  need  of  some  comfort,  the  prin- 
ter and  bookseller  concurred  in  urging  him  not  to 
despair  of  Count  Robert.  They  assured  him  that 
he  had  attached  too  much  importance  to  what  had 
formerly  been  said  about  the  defects  of  its  opening 
chapters ;  and  he  agreud  to  resume  the  novel,  which 
neither  of  them  ever  expected  he  would  live  to  flnish. 
**  If  we  did  wrong,"  soys  Cadell,  "  we  did  it  for  the 
best :  we  felt  that  to  have  spoken  out  as  fairly  on 
this  as  we  had  done  on  the  other  subject,  would  have 
been  to  make  oursulves  the  beorers  of  a  death-war- 
rant." I  hope  there  are  not  many  mei^who  would 
have  acted  otherwise  in  their  painful  situation. 

On  the  20lh,  after  a  long  intt  rval,  Sir  Walter  once 
more  took  up  his  Journal :  but  the  entries  are  few 
and  short  :—e.g. 

^* .Dtcember  20,  1830.— Vacation  and  session  are 
now  the  same  to  me.  The  long  remove  must  then 
be  looked  to  for  the  flnal  signal  to  break  up,  and 
that  is  a  serious  thouf;ht. 

"A  circumstance  of  great  consequence  to  my 
habits  and  comforta  was  my  being  released  from 
the  Court  of  Session.    My  salary,  which  was  L.  1 300, 

was  reduced  to  L.800.  My  friends,  before  Imving 
•fi)ce,  were  desirous  to  patch  up  the  deficiency  with 
a  pension.    I  did  not  see  well  how  they  could  do 

thia  without  being  charged  with  obloquy,  which  they 


ahaUnotbeonroytceonit  Betidea,  thoo^LBOO 
a-year  is  a  round  aom,  yat  I  would  rather  be  inde- 
pendent than  I  would  have  it 

*'  I  had  also  a  kind  communication  about  inter- 
fering to  have  me  named  a  P.  Counsellor.  But  be- 
sides that,  when  one  is  old  and  poor,  one  should 
avoid  takmg  rank.  I  would  be  much  happier  if  I 
thought  any  act  of  kindnes»  was  done  to  help  for- 
ward Charles ;  and  havmg  said  so  much,  I  made 
my  bow,  and  declared  my  purpose  of  remaining 
satisfied  with  my  knighthood.  Ail  this  is  rather 
pleasing.  Vet  much  of  it  looks  like  winding  up  my 
bottom  for  the  rest  of  my  life.  But  there  is  a  worse 
symptom  of  settling  occomptSj^  of  which  I  havefel| 
some  signs.  Ever  since  my  fall  in  Februory,  it  ia 
very  certain  that  I  have  seemed  to  speak  wiih  an 
impediment.  To  add  to  thi:i,  I  have  the  consiant  in- 
crease of  my  lameness— the  (high-joint,  knee-joint, 
and  ankle-joint.  I  move  with  great  pain  in  the 
whole  hmb,  and  am  at  every  minute,  during  an 
hour's  walk,  reminded  of  my  mortality.  I  should 
not  care  for  oil  this,  if  1  were  sure  of  dying  hand- 
somely ;  and  Cadell's  calculations  mi^ht  be  suffi- 
ciently firm,  though  the  author  of  Waverley  had 
pnlleo  on  his  last  nightcap.  Nay,  they  might  be 
even  more  trust-worthy,  it  remaina  and  memoira, 
and  such  like,  were  to  give  a  zest  to  the  posthumous. 
But  the  fear  is,  lest  the  blow  be  not  sumcient  to  de- 
stroy life,  and  that  I  should  linger  on  *  a  driveller 
and  a  show.' 

"  December  24.— Thia  morning  died  my  old  ac- 
quaintance and  good  friend,  Miss  Bell  Ferguson,  a 
woman  of  the  most  excellent  conditions.  The  last 
two,  or  almost  three  years,  were  very  sickly.  A  bit- 
ter cold  day.  Anne  drove  me  over  to  Huntly-Burn. 
I  found  Colonel  Ferguson^  and  Captain  John,  R.  N., 
in  deep  aflSiction,  expecting  Sir  Adam  hourly.  I 
wrote  to  Walter  about  the  project  of  my  Will. 

"  December  29.— Attended  poor  Miss  Bell  Fergu- 
son's funeral.  1  eat  by  the  Reverend  Mr.  Thomson. 
Though  ten  years  younger  than  him,  I  found  the  bar- 
rier between  him  and  me  much  broken  down.  The 
diifierence  often  years  is  Utile  after  sixty  has  passed. 
In  a  cold  day  I  saw  poor  Bell  laid  in  her  cold  bed. 
Life  never  parted  with  a  leas  effort 

*^Janvary  1,  1831.— I  cannot  say  the  world  opens 
pleasantly  for  me  this  new  year.  There  are  many 
things  for  which  I  have  reason  to  be  thankful; 
especially  that  Cadell's  plans  seem  to  have  succeed- 
ed—and he  augurs  that  the  next  two  years  will  well- 
nigh  clear  me.  But  I  feel  myself  decidedly  wrecked 
in  point  of  health,  and  am  now  confirmed  1  have  had 
a  paralytic  touch,  I  speak  and  read  with  embarrasa- 
menr,  and  even  my  hand- writing  seems  to  stammer. 
This  general  failure 

'With  mortal  crisis  doth  portenH, 
My  days  to  appropinque  an  end." 

I  am  not  solicitous  about  this,  only  if  I  were  worthy 
I  would  pray  God  for  a  sudden  death,  and  no  inter- 
regnum between  I  cease  to  exercise  reason  and  I 
cease  to  exist. 

**  January  5.— Very  indiflferent,  with  more  awk- 
ward feelings  than  I  can  well  bear  up  ai;ainst.  My 
voice  sunk  and  my  head  strangely  confused.  When 
I  begin  to  form  my  ideas  for  conversation  expres- 
sions fail  me,  yet  in  solitude  they  are  snfficienily  ar- 
ranged. I  incline  to  hold  that  these  u&ly  symptoms 
are  the  work  of  imagination  ;  but,  as  Dr.  Adam  Fer- 
guson, a  firm  man,  if  ever  there  was  one  in  the  world, 
said  on  such  an  occasion,  what  is  worse  than  imagU 
nation  7  As  Anne  was  vexed  and  frightened,  1  al- 
lowed her  to  send  for  young  Clorkson.  Of  course 
he  could  tell  hut  Uttie  save  what  1  knew  before. 

''  January!.— \  fine  frosty  day,  and  my  spirits 
lighter.  I  nave  a  letter  of  great  comfort  from  Wal- 
ter, who,  in  a  manly,  handsome,  and  dutiful  manner, 
expresses  his  desire  to  possess  the  library  and  move- 
ables of  every  kind  at  Ahbotsford,  with  such  a  vahii- 
ntion  laid  upon  them  as  I  shall  choose  to  impoafw 
This  removes  the  only  delay  to  making  ray  WiU. 


itized  by  boogie 


LIRE  OP  Sife  tfrALTER  SC^rtT. 


"  Januarif  6.— Sjjcrtt  iptMh'  ^e  ht  wrftin  j?  ?trt  tnic- 
tlons  for  my  iMX  wil?  iiml  teeiuiroent  Huve  up  two 
boys  for  8hop-lifiing— remained  at  OnIashielB  till  four 
o'clock  ancf  returned  starved.  Could  work  none, 
and  was  idle  all  evening— try  to*moTrow.  Jan.  9.— 
Went  over  to  Galashiels,  and  was  busied  the  whole 
dme  till  three  o'clock  about  a  petty  thieving  affair, 
and  had  before  me  a  pair  of  Kalfows^-birds,  to  whom 
I  could  say  nothini?  for  total  want  of  proof,  except, 
like  the  sapient  Elbow,  'thou  shalt  continue  there, 
know  thou,  thou  shalt  continue.'  A  little  gallows- 
brood  they  were,  and  their  fate  will  catch  it.  Sleepy, 
idle,  and  exhausted  on  this.  Wrought  little  or  none 
in  tne  evening.  Jan.  10.— Wrote  a  long  letter  to 
Henry  Scott,  who  is  a  fine  fellow,  and  what  I  call  a 
Heart  of  Qola.  He  has  sound  parts,  good  sense,  and 
is  a  true  man.  O,  that  I  could  see  a  strong  parry 
banded  together  for  the  King  and  country,  and  if  I 
see  I  can  do  any  thing,  or  have  a  chance  of  it,  I  will 
not  fear  for  the  skin-cutting.  It  is  the  selfishness  of 
this  generation  that  drives  me  mad. 
*  A  hundred  pounds  1 
Ha!  thou  bast  touched  me  nearly.' 

The  letter  here  alkded  to  eootains  soine  strikiiig 
MQtences. 
To  Hemry  Francis  SeoU,  Esq.  Ywinger  of  HagrdBn^  M.  P. 

'' Abbobirord,  lOth  January,  1831. 
••My  dear  Henry, 

*'  *  •  *  Unassisted  by  any  intercourse  with  the  ex- 
istlni!  world,  but  tliinlcing  over  the  present  state  of  mat- 
ters wltk  aU  the  attention  in  my  power,  I  see  b«t  one  line 
which  can  be  taken  by  public  men.  that  is  really  open, 
mofftyf  and  conskitent  In  the  medical  people'K  pluase, 
Princtpiit  obata :  Oppose  any  thing  that  can  in  principle 
Innovate  on  the  Constitution,  which  has  placed  Great  Dri- 
tafai  at  the  head  of  the  world,  and  will  keep  her  there,  un- 
lets she  ctiooset  to  descend  of  her  own  accord  from  that 
Aninence.  There  may,  for  aught  I  know,  be  with  many 
people  reasons  Tor  deranginff  it ;  but  1  take  it  drt  the  broad 
DMiB  that  nothiufE  will  be  ulUmately  gained  by  any  one 
who  is  not  prepared  to  go  full  repubucan  leoKlhfi.  To 
place  elections  qn  a  more  popular  foot,  would  produce 
advantage  in  no  view  whatever.  Increasing  the  numbers 
of  the  electors  Would  not  distinguish  them  with  more 
judgment  for  selecting  a  candidate,  nor  render  them  lees 
v«Dal.  though  it  might  make  their  price  cheaper.  Bat  it 
would  expose  them  to  a  wnrse  species  of  oorrapUon  than 
that  of  money— the  some  that  has  beep  and  is  praotised 
more  or  less  in  all  republics— 1  mean  that  the  intellects  of 
the  people  will  be  liable  to  be  besotted  by  oratory  ad 
eaptanawn^  more  dangerous  than  the  worst  mtoxicating 
UquoTB.  As  for  the  chance  of  a  beneficial  alteration  in 
loe  representatives,  we  need  only  point  to  Preston,  and 


from  the  mire  and  Mood-^the^iniwiLiiiofa  Chousand  df 
feats-^a  proeperouiralaa^aM  to  t^dFimiler.  StHI,  hd^* 
ever,  this  Is  a  iboiaam  of  dateeas  iM  notvartsl  apalby, 
and  1  fear  that,  tiriau  an  Orlando  shoold  blew  cJm 
bom,  it  qoi^t  fail  to  awaken  the  steepera.  Bat  ibMifk 
we  canooi  do  all,  we  ahoiild  at  least  do  each«f  us  what- 
ever we  can. 

'•  I  would  lain  have  a  society  formed  for  extending  mu- 
tual understanding.  Place  yourself  es  at  the  bead,  and 
call  yourselves  sons  of  du  Andrew,  any  thing  or  nothioc 
—but  let  there  be  a  mutaal  understanding.  Unite  and 
combine.  You  will  be  eurprised  to  see  bow  aooa  joa 
will  become  iuMooable.  U  waa  by  something  of  cbU 
kind  that  tfaes^aad  was  made  in  1791-2;  vwrnnfa/Swlcsr. 
I  eameatly  recommend  to  Charles  BaUMe,  Johnstone  of 


Alva,  and  yourself,  to  k>Be  no  opportunity  to  gaiher  tu- 

'        »         ..         ^  .L,    ^  Tialfyc' 

only  among  the  younj 
ay,  tbat  energy  and  real  patriotinn  ai 
found.    If  it  shouM  be  thought  fit  to  admit  peprs,  wtiich 


geiher  the  opinions  of  your  fHeuds ;  e9,>eciairy  of  your 
companions,  for  it  is  only  amortg  the  young.  I  am  sorry 
to  say,  that  energy  and  real  patriotinn  are  novr  to  be 


other  such  like  placet,  for  examples  of  the  sense,  modes- 
ty*  and  merit  which  would  be  added  to  our  legialiUion  by 
a  democratic  extension  of  the  franchise.    To  answer  these 


doubts,  1  find  one  general  reply  among  those  not  actual- 
ly calling  themselves  Whigs— who  are  now  too  deeply 
pledged  to  acknowledge  their  own  rashness.  All  others 
reply  by  a  reference  to  the  gpirit  of  the  peop^— intima- 
ting a  passive,  though  apparently  unwilling  resignation  to 
the  will  of  the  multitude.  When  you  bring  Iheui  to  tlie 
point,  they  grant  all  the  dsngers  yon  ^ate,  and  then  comes 
their  melancholy—  What  can  toe  do  1  The  fact  ia.  these 
timid  men  see  they  are  likely  to  be  called  on  for  a  peon- 
niary  sacrifice,  in  the  way  of  income-tax  or  otherwise, 
perhaps  for  military  service  in  some  constitutional  fashion, 
certainly  to  exert  themselves  in  various  ways,  and  rather 
than  do  so  they  Will  let  the  public  take  a  risk.  An  able 
yOUng  man,  not  too  much  afraid  of  his  own  volee,  nor 
over-modest,  but  who  remembers  that  any  one  who  can 
speak  intelUitibly  is  always  taken  cnrrent  at  the  price  at 
which  he  estimates  himself,  might  at  this  crisis  do  moch 
by  tearing  off  the  liniments  with  which  they  are  daabing 
the  wounds  of  the  counti  y,  and  cry  irig  peace,  peace,  when 
we  are  steering  full  sail  towards  civil  war. 

**  I  am  old  enough  to  remember  well  a  similar  crisis. 
About  1702,  when  I  was  entering  life,  the  admiration  of 
the  godlike  system  of  the  French  Revolution  waa  so  rife, 
that  only  a  few  old-fashioned  Jacobites  and  the  hke  ven- 
tured tn  hint  a  preference  for  the  land  they  lived  In;  or 
f^rctended  to  doubt  that  the  new  principles  mu«t  be  in- 
used  Into  onr  worn-out  consiiluilon.  Rurke  appeared, 
and  all  the  gibberish  about  the  superior  lepislaion  of  the 
French  dissolved  like  an  enrhante^l  castle  when  the  des- 
tined knight  blows  his  horn  before  it.  The  talents,  the 
almost  prophetic  powers  of  Borke  are  not  needed  on  this 
occarion,  tWr  men  can  now  argue  from  the  past  We 
can  point  to  the  old  British  ensign  floating  from  the  Brit- 
ish citadel ;  while  the  tricoloar  has  been  to  gather  up 


wtU  depend  on  the  plats  ami  objects  adopted,  our  Chief 
ought  nataralty  to  be  at  the  head.  As  for  myselC,  bo 
persona]  interesis  shall  prevent  my  dotef  my  beat  im  tb« 
cause  which  \  have  always  coaceived<a  be  that  of  ny 
country.  Bat  I  suspect  there  is  little  of  me  left  to  nai^ 
my  servl<;e8  worth  the  having.  Wlgr  should  not  old 
Scotland  have  a  party  among  her  own  children  ? — Tours 
venr  irincerely,  my  dear  llenry, 

*  WaLTKB  Scott." 

DiAav,  January  11.— Wrote  and  sent  off  about 
thufee  of  my  own  pages  in  the  morning,  then  walk&d 
with  Swanston,  1  tried  to  write  before  dinner,  but 
with-  drowsiness  and  pain  in  my  bead,  made  little 
way.  A  man  carries  qo  scalea  about  him  to  ascer* 
tain  his  own  value.  1  always  remember  the  prayer 
orVirgil*s  sailor  in  extremity. 
'  Nun  jam  prima  peto  MnaStbeua,  nee  vincere  eerio, 
Quonquam  Q  I— Scd  supercnt  qulbus  hoc,  Neptone,  de 

dlsU! 
Extremes  pndeat  redUsse :  hoc  vincite,  elves, 
Et  prohibcte  nefas  !»* 

We  must  to  our  oar ;  but  I  thiuk  this  and  another 
are  all  that  even  success  would  tempt  me  to  write. 

^^  January  17.— I  had  written  two  hours,  when 
various  visiters  began  to  drop  in.  I  waa  sick  of 
theee  interruptions,  and  diamissed  Mr.  LaiNilaw, 
having  no  hope  of  resuming  mv  thene  with  spirit. 
God  eeim  me  more  leisure  aud  (ewer  fiienda  to  peck 
it  away  by  tea- spoonfuls.  Another  fool  aentfs  to 
entreat  an  autograph,  which  he  ahould  be  ashaned 
in  civility  to  aslC  as  I  am  to  deny.  I  got  notice  of 
po|or  Henry  Mackenzie's  death.  He  has  long  main- 
tained a  niche  in  Scottish  literature,  gayest  of  iba 
gay,  though  most  sensitive  of  the  aentjn»ental. 

January  la— Dictated  to  Laidlaw  till  about  ooe 
o*(Jock,  tniring  which  time  it  was  ratnv.  After- 
wards I  walked,  sliding  about  in  the  mud,  and  '^ 


uncomfortable.  In  fact,  there  ia  no  mistakisg  the 
three  sufficients,t  and  Pate  is  now  straitening  its 
circumvallations  around  me.  < 

'•  Oome  vrhat  cdme  may, 
Time  and  the  hoar  ran  thronffh  the  roughest  ^j.*X 

'*  January  19.— Mr.  Laidlaw  came  down  at  teti, 
and  we  wrote  till  one.  This  is  an  important  hdp 
to  me,  as  it  saves  both  my  eyesight  and  nerves, 
which  last  are  cruelly  afTected  by  finding  thrtse  vrho 
look  out  of  the  windows  grow,  graduslly  darker  and 
darker.  Rode  ont,  or,  more  properly,  wss  carried 
out  into  the  woods  to  see  the  course  of  a  new  road, 
which  may  serve  to  carry  off  the  thinnings  of  the 
trees,  and  fdr  rides.  It  is  very  well  lined,  and  will 
serve  both  for  bcsuty  and  convenience.  Mr.  Laid- 
law engages  to  come  hack  to  dinner,  end  finish  two 
or  three  more  pat;os.  Met  my  agreeable  and  ladv- 
like  neighbour,  Mrs.  Brewster,  on  my  pony,  ana  I 
was  sctually  ashamed  to  be  seen  bf  her. 

*  Sir  Denis  Brand,  and  on  so  poor  a  steed  \*S 

"  I  believe  detestable  folly  of  this  kind  is  the  very 
last  that  leaves  us.  One  would  have  thought  i 
ought  to  have  little  vanity  at  this  time  o*  ^^y;  but 
it  is  8 n  abiding  appurtenance  of  the  old  Adam,  and 

•  JE4id.V. 
t  airW.anadettoMrs.PkHBfsTritoftbeTkrM  1 

Waminift. 
:  MacbfJJi,  Act  I.  Sc.  8.  ,       ^  ^  ^ ,  ^ 

*  Orabbe's  floroM^  Utter  Kl^V^OOQlC 


UFE  OF  SIE  WALTER  SCOTT. 


I  write  for  pepaQOe  what,  like  a  fool,  I  tctaatly  felt. 
IthiM  diepeeps  real  or  imaginary,  at  the  gates  of 
imrth,  ehbuld  hare  Rivea  me  firmness  not  to  mind 
little  affliotionB.*' 

Od  the  3lBt  of  Januaiy^  Mi3S  Soott  being  too  un- 
well for  a  journey,  Sir  Walter  went  alone  to  Edin- 
burgh, for  the  purpose  of  executing  his  last  wiU. 
He  (fb^  the  first  lime  in  his  native  town)  took  up 
his  quarters  at  a  hotel ;  but  the  noise  of  the  street 
disturbed  him  during  the  night  (another  evidence 
how  much  his  nervous  system  had  been  shattered,) 
and  next  day  he  was  persuaded  to  remove  to  his 
bookseller's  house  in  Athol  Crescent.  In  the  apart- 
ment allotted  to  him  there  he  found  several  little 
pieces  of  furniture,  which  some,  kind  person  had 
purchased  for  him  at  the  sale  in  Castle  Street,  and 
which  he  presented  to  Mrs.  Cadell.  "  Here,"  says 
his  letter  to  Mrs.  Loekhart,  **  1  saw  various  things 
chat  belonged  to  poor  No.  39.  I  had  many  sad 
thoughts  on  seeing  and  handUng  them — but  they 
are  in  kind  keeping,  and  I  was  glad  they  had  pot 
gone  to  strangers." 

Therft-ciiinA  on  nojtl  day  a  storm  of  such  aevnrity 
that  he  had  to  remain  ntidpr  thisi  frienilly  rrxjf  nntil 
the  9th  of  February.  His  boat  pfTCpjv^d  Uiat  be 
was  unfit  for  liny  company  bm  ibe<)tiif:tcer,  and  had 
aomethne^  one  old  fhcnd.  Mr.  Thorn  boo,  Mr.  Ch  rk, 
or  Mr.  8k+ nn  to  dlnner—bwi  no  more.  Ht?  stetmea 
glad  to  SiL  iliem— tmt  thev  alt  <ib»erred  him  with 
pain.  He  nrvi-r  ti>ok  the  h.iid  in  con^craaiion^  a  ad 
often  remainciJ  nho^cthf^r  Pilent.  In  ihe  mornings 
he  wrote  uwnaHv  for  sovcml  houri  at  Count  Roburi ; 
and  Mr.  Cadell  r*^mi-mbcir8  in  particuliif,  thrit  i>n 
Ballantjmt' are  minding;  Kim  lUat  a  motto  was  vi  mint- 
ed for  ont^  II r  Thf  chspt^ra  already  Snialied,  bo  luok- 
fldoot  for  a  moraeni  at  tlit  gloomy  west hw,  tttkd 
ptoned  these  Unea— 

**  T\m  stena  tasreosea—'tit  no  miMy  rtvgfwer, 
Fbflter'd  in  the  molat  breast  of  Mareli  or  AprlK 
Or  BtMh  as  parched  Mimmer  cools  his  lips  with. 
HeeTen's  windows  are  Huiif  wids ;  ike  Idibosc  deeps 
Call  in  hoarse  sreetiaK  one  upoa  aoocfaer ; 
On  comes  the  flood  in  all  its  loaming  horrors. 
And  wTierR'8  the  diko  aoall  stop  U  P 

(TV  Detune:  a  Poem.) 
On  the  4th  of  February  the  will  was  signed,  and 
attested  by  Nicolson,  to  whom  Sir  Walter  explain- 
ed the  nature  o(  the  doeumeot,  addinfL  "I  deposite 
it  for  asfetv  in  Mr.  Cadall'a  hand%  and  I  still  hape 
\i  may  be  long  befve  he  baa  oeoasion  to  praduoe 
il"  Poor  Nicolson  was  muah  agOated,  but  atam- 
mered  out  a  deep  amen. 

Anotl^er  object  of  thia  journey  waa  to  consult,  on 
the  advice  of  Dr.  Bbenaser  Clarkaon*  «  ak^ui  me- 
chaniat,  by  name  Fifrhmet  about  a  oontrivanoe  for 
the  support  of  the  lama  limb,  which  had  of  late  si^- 
en  him  much  pain,  aa  wdU  aa  mcoivBPience.  Mr. 
Fortune  produeed  a  clever  pieee  of  haoiliwork,  and 
Sir  Walter  felt  at  firat  great  relief  from  the  use  of 
it :  insomuch  that  hia  spirits  rose  to  ^uite  the  old 
pitch,  and  his  letter  to  me  open  the  oceairion  over- 
flows with  merry  apphcations  of  sundry  maxims 
and  verses  about  f\friunc.  "  jFVrlet  F\jrtunm  ad- 
>upo/"— he  says—"  never  moreatng  I 

*  Portnae,  my  Foe,  why  dost  ibou  frown  on  me  t> 
And  will  niv  Portnne  nevsr  better  foe  1 

Will  thou.  I  say,  for  ever  breed  hiy  pata  t 
And  wilt  tlMtu  ne'or  return  my  joys  scate  1" 
No— let  my  ditty  be  henceforth— 

*  Fortune,  my  friend,  how  well  thou  firronrest  me  f 
A  kinder  Pbrtnne  man  did  never  see ! 

Thou  propn>st  ray  thlf^h,  thon  ridd'st  my  knee  of  pain, 
ru  walk,  ru  mount-^fU  be  a  man  again.* " 

This  expedient  was  undoubtedly  of  considerable 
■ervioe;  but  the  use  of  it  was  not,  after  a  short  in- 
terval, so  easy  as  at  first  .*  it  often  needed  some  lit- 
tle repair,  too,  and  then  in  its  absence  he  felt  him- 
self more  belplestf  than  before.  Even  then,  how- 
ever, the  name  was  sm'e  to  tempt  some  ludicrous 
twistinK  of  words.  A  little  after  this  timo  he  dicta- 
ted a  reriewat  (never  published)  of  a  book  called 

•lb«lia«etkMistheoni7«wsBortlieQUs4NM  isAen  mikldsd 
to  by^akipeurv  and  his  eootemporaries)  that  has  as  ret  bfeo 

2W* 


/?o6«on't  Briti0h  Herald  f  UM(in  mentiomogitto 
me,  he  says,  *'  I  have  eiveii  LaicUaw  along  spell  to- 
day at  the  saltires  and  fesses.  No  thanJLi  to  o»e, 
for  my  machine  is  away  to  be  tightened  m  -one  mt, 
and  loosened  in  another.  I  was  telling  Willie  Law- 
law  that  I  might  adopt,  with  a  slight  dmerence,  the 
motto  of  the  noble  Tullibardine .— *  Furlh  Fortune 
and^e  the  Fetters,'  "♦ 

Of  this  exoursion  to  Rdtnburgh,  the  Diary  ears : 
"  Abbot^(Brd^  Pebruarff  S.—The  anow  beeame  im- 
paaaable,  and  in  Edinburgh  I  remained  immovably 
fixed  for  ten  daya,  never  getting  out  of  doors,  save 
on  >r  twice  to  dinner,  whan  I  went  and  returned 
in  sd^u-chair.  Cadell  made  a  point  of  my  com- 
iiH'  !  his  excellent  house,  where  I  hkd  no  leaa ex- 
cel i>  nt  an  apartment  and  the  most  kind  treatment; 
thru  IS,  no  making  a  show  of  me,  for  which  I  waa 
in  but  bad  tune.  AbareroiBby  and  Roaa  had  me 
bkH  vvith  cQpping-gl8sae&  reduced  me  oonfouadad- 
ly,  i\>nd  reetncted me  of  au 
thit  ilul 


ereature  comforts.    But 
as  I  am  sure  they  sincerely  meant 


to  ih? ;  I  got  rid  of  a  giddy  feeling  wb^h  I  had  been 
pbjzued  with,  and  have  oertaiDly  returned  math 
be  [for.  I  did  not  neglect  my  teataMenurv  aMrs. 
I  c^!i«  imted  my  laat  wiU,  leaving  Waiter  bordeMd 
vrttb  L.1O00  to  Sophia,  L.9000  to  Annoi  and  the 
aauM  to  Cbarlea.  He  ia  to  advanoe  them  this  mo- 
uey  if  they  want  it j  if  not,  to  pay  diem  iBtewat 
A4Ithisis  nisown  cooiee,  otherwise  I  would  htve 
sold  the  hooka  and  rattletraps.  1  have  made  pro- 
visiona  for  clearing  my  eataie  bv  my  pubticatkHm, 
ahouM  it  be  poaeibie ;  anrd  should  that  ^ve  poaai- 
Me  from  the  time  or  such  clearance  being  efeoted, 
to  he  a  fmd  available  to  all  my  children  #ho  shall 
he  aUve  or  leave  representatives.  My  bequests 
must  maay  of  them  aeem  hypothetic^. 

'*  Diwing  this  uneipaeted  stay  in  town  I  dkied 
with  the  Lord  Chief  Commiasioner,  with  the  Skeues 
iwioe,  vrith  Lord  Medwyu,  and  waa  as  happyas 
aaxiety  about  my  daughter  would  penpit  ^.  The 
appearance  of  the  streets  was  most  d^solste ;  the 
hackne^coaches  strolling  about  like  ghosts  wHh 
four  horsea;  tho  foot  passengers  few,  except  the 
lowest  of  the  people.  I  wrote  a  good  deal  of  Count 
Robert,  yet,  1  csnnot  tell  why,  my  petf  stammers 
egregioosly,  and  I  write  horridly  incorrect.  I  long- 
ed to  have  friend  Lndlaw^  assistance. 

**  A  heavy  and  most  effective  thaw  coming  on,  I 
got  home  about  five  at  nighty  and  found  the  naugh 
covered  with  water ;  dogs,  mga.  cows,  to  say  noth- 
ing of  human  beings,  all  that  slept  at  the  offices  in 
danger  of  being  drowned.  They  eame  up  to  the 
mansion-house 'about  midnight,  with  such  an  infer- 
nal clamour,  that  Aune  thought  we  were  attacked 
by  Captahi  Swing  and  all  the  Radicals." 

After  this  the  Diarv  oflTers  but  a  few  unimportant 
entries  during  several  weeks.  He  continued  work- 
ing at  the  Novel,  and  when  discouraeed  about  it, 
gave  a  day  to  his  article  on  Heraldry :  but  he  nevei 
omitted  to  spend  many  hour&  either  in  writing  pr 
in  dictating  something;  and  Laidlaw,  when  he 
came  down  a  few  minutes  beyond  the  appointed 
time,  was  sure  to  be  rebuked.  At  the  begin nin(i  of 
March,  he  was  anew  roused  about  political  affiiirs ; 
and  bestowed  four  days  on  ((rawing  up  an  address 
against  the  Reform  Bill,  which  he  designed  to  be 
adopted  by  the  Freeholders  of  the  Forest.  They, 
however,  preferred  a  shorter  one  from  the  pen  of  a 
plain  country  gentlemen  (the  late  Mr.  Elliott  Lock- 
hart  of  Berth  wick  brae,)  who  had  often  represented 
them  in  Pariiament :  and  Sir  Walter,  it  is  probable, 
•felt  this  disappointment  more  acutely  than  he  has 
chosen  to  indicate  in  his  Journal. 

'*  Fthruary  10.— I  ^cl  to  work  with  Mr.  Laidlaw, 
and  had  after  that  a  capital  ride ;  my  ponv,  little 
used,  was  somewhat  frisky,  but  I  rode  on  to  Huntly- 
Bum.  Began  my  diet  on  my  iiew  regime,  and  like 
it  well,  especially  porridge  to  supper.  It  in  wonder- 
ful how  old  tastes  rise.— /'c6. 23, 24, 25.— These  three 
days  I  can  hardly  be  said  to  have  varied  from  my 

•**wm\\tg  retteri.*'  in  tfic  orifinal.  No  bad  motto  Ihr  the  Duke 
of  AUuIq'i  snee»U)n— emit  predaturr  cbieti  of  Ihs  Hifhland 
ftontier. 


'«8 


LiPB  OF  sm  Walter  soott. 


'  brdinarf.  Rose  at  aewn,  dressed  before  eight- 
wrote  letters,  or  did  any  little  buiinefs  till  a  quarter 
past  nine.  Then  breakfasted.  Mr.  Laidlaw  comes 
from  ten  till  one.  Then  take  the  pony,  and  nde— 
quantum mutatus-iwo  or  three  niil?e,  John  Swan- 
ston  walking  by  my  bridle-rein  lest  I  fall  off.  Come 
home  about  three  or  four.  Then  to  dinner  on  a 
single  plain  dish  and  half  a  tumhler,  or,  by  r  Lady, 

three  fourths  of  a  tumbler  of  whiskey  and  wafter.    -------  o-  --    -j u  «  j  .  r  -«    r«T., 

Then  ait  till  six  o'clock,  when  enter  Mr.  Laidlaw    holders,  where  he  would  find  rats  in  plenty. 


the  gentlemen  of  the  (Mresa,  whose  hvelihood  it  Ijrm 
were  to  get  bold  of  this  story,  what  would  they  rauLS 
of  it  1  It  gives  me  a  right  to  decline  future  interfer- 
ence, and  let  the  world  wag—  'Transeatcum  c«te- 
ris  erroribus.* — I  only  gave  way  to  one  jest.  A  rat- 
catcher Was  desirous  to  come  and  complete  his 
Ihbours  in  my  house,  and  I,  who  thought  he  only 
talked  and  laughed  with  the  servants,  recommended 
him  to  go  to  the  head-courts  and  meetings  of  free- 


"1  will  make  my  opinion  public  at  every  place 
where  1  shall  be  called  upon  or  expected  to  appear; 
but  I  will  not  thrust  myself  forward  again.  May 
the  Lord  have  mercy  upon  us,  and  incline  our  hearts 
to  keep  this  vow  r* 

He  kept  it  in  all  its  parts.  Though  urged  to  take 
up  his  pen  against  the  ministerial  Reform  Bill,  by 
several  persons  9f  high  consequence,  who^  of  course, 
little  knew  his  real  oondkioo  of  health,  he  resolutely 
refu-^'l  f"  Hsrsk**  rj''.^^  silfli  tixp' riinptlt  h^ttm.  But 
h«-  v\a^4.LJUitlly  ji'-,j\vc<j  U(  hr  riL-L-nt  IfOMk  rio  meet- 
inji  HI  w fi iciii  flfl  S h t ri IT  or  U ,. | m i y - Ltt:u  1/ ' > ii d t,  he 
mtehi  nnluf ally  be  ejiptticd  to  aypesM"  i#i  ht^  plac& 
ancl  rtccrrl  hie  uviiTftiou  to  ihti  BilL  'I*tr  Jifst  of 
thi  >■'  ii]t'ctEn|t;s  wns  ono  of  the  fjre*?hol(itri  orRox- 
biu^li,  ln?ld  at  Jetibiirglh  OQ  the  ilit  of  M{irc^Ji,and 
th<  T4.  Ill  Ihi^  dLcitr<::^fl  and  alarm  of  In?  duutthier,  he 
in^:  inl  oci  tieJTVR  prt^sfHtj  sjieJ  proptj*mj5  tnK'  ^'f  the 
Tji>  resolution*,— which  he  did  in  a  i^ptfecb  oi  some 
leiijfh,  but  ddivtjrixl  in  a  tone  so  low,  and  with 
surli  hejFiiatifm  in  uct^^rance,  tbbt  otilya^w  ifftach- 
ec  >  <'-srtt;r:<^  mltl;  ir>tt  Siidblc:  lu  thti  butk  uf  tbo  au- 
di   . 

'*  We  are  toki''  Caaid  he)  *'on  high  authority,  that 
France  if  tha  model  for  ua,— that  we  and  aU  the 
other  nauons  ought  to  put  ourselves  toaehool  tbcn^ 
and  endevMur  to  Uke  out  our  dtgiees  at  tk*  Uni- 
rcrti/y  qf  Partt.*— The  French  are  a  very  ingen- 
ious people ;  they  have  often  tried  to  borrow  from 
us,  and  now  we  ahould  repar  the  obligation  by  bor- 
rowing a  leaf  from  them.  But  I  fear  there  is  an  in- 
compaHbHity  between  the  tastes  and  habits  of  France 
and  Britain,  and  that  we  may  succeed  as  ill  in  copy- 
ing them  as  they  have  hitherto  done  in  copying  us. 
We  in  this  district  are  proud,  and  with  reason,  that 
the  first  chain-bridge  was  the  work  of  a  Scotchmair. 
It  still  hangs  where  he  erected  it,  a  pretty  long  time 
1^10.  The  French  heard  of  oar  invention,  and  de- 
termined to  introduce  h,  but  with  great  improve- 
ments and  embellishments.  A  friend  of  mv  own 
saw  the  thing  tried.  It  was  on  the  Seine  at  Marly. 
The  French  cbain-bridjse  looked  lifter  and  aiper 
than  the  prototype.  Bvery  Englishman  present 
was  disposed  to  confess  that  we  nad  been  beat  at 
our  own  trade.  But  by  and  by  th^  gates  were  opened, 
and  the  DMiltitude  were  to  paaa  over.  It  began  to 
swing  rather  formidably  beneath  the  pressure  of  the 

((ood  company;  and  by  the  time  the  architect,  who 
ed  the  proossaion  in  great  pomp  ano  glory,  reached 
the  middle,  the  whole  gave  way,  and  he,  worthy, 
patriotic  artist,  was  the  first  who  got  s  ducking. 
They  had  forgot  the  great  middle  bolt,— or  rather, 
this  ingenious  person  bad  conceived  that  to  be  a 
clumsy  looking  feature,  which  mighi  safely  be  dis- 
pensed with,  while  he  put  some  invisible  ^mcrack 

of  bis  own  to  supply  its  plarp.'\ Here  Sir  Walter 

was  interrupted  oy  violent  hissing  and  booting  from 
the  populace  of  the  town,  who  bad  flocked  in  and 
occupied  the  greater  part  of  the  Court-Hoose.  He 
stood  calmly  till  the  storm  subsided,  and  resumed ; 
but  the  friend  whose  notes  are  before  me,  could  not 
catch  what  ha  aaid,  until  his  voice  rose  with  another 
illustration  of  the  old  style.  '*  My  friends,"  he  sakl, 
"I  am  old  and  failing,  and  you  think  me  full  of  very 


again,  who  works  commonly  till  eight.  After  this, 
work  usually  alone  till  half-past  ten ;  aup  on  por- 
ridge and  milk,  and  ao  to  bed.  The  work  is  half  done, 
lif  any  one  asks  what  timel  take  to  think  on  the  coni- 
poaition,!  might  say,  in  one  point  of  view,  it  was  sel- 
dom five  minutes  out  of  my  hosd  the  whole  day— m 
soother  light,  it  was  never  the  serious  subiect  of  con- 
sideration at  all,  for  it  never  occupied  my  thoiightsfor 
five  minutes  together,  except  when  I  was  dictating. 
f*eb.  27.— Being  Saturday,  no  Mr.  Laidlaw  camo 
yesterday  evening,  nor  lo-aay,  betng  Sunday.— J^«6. 
28.— Past  ten,  and  Mr.  Laidlaw,  the  model  of  clerks 
in  other  respects,  is  not  oome  yet.  He  haa  never 
known  the  value  of  time,  ao  is  not  quite  accurate  in 
punctuality ;  bdi  that,  I  hope,  will  come,  if  I  can 
drill  him  into  it  without  hurting  him.  I  think  I  hear 
him  coming.  I  am  like  the  poor  wizard,  who  isiirst 
puzzled  how  to  raise  the  devil,  and  then  how  toem- 
j^qy  him.  Worked  till  one,  then  walked  with  great 
difficulty  and  pain.— Afarc^  5-— 1  have  a  letter  from 
our  member,  Whytebank,  adjuring  me  to  aaeist  the 
nintlemen  of  the  county  with  an  address  a/^st  the 
Reform  Bill,  which  menaces  them  with  being  blend- 
ed with  Peebles-shire,  and  losing,  of  consequence, 
one-haif  of  their  functions.  Sandie  Pringle  coniurea 
me  not  to  be  very  nioe  in  choosing  my  epithets. 
Torwoodle  comes  over  and  spesks  to  the  same  pur- 
pose, adding,  it  will  be  the  greateat  servioe  I  can  do 
the  country,  ^c  Tbia,  in  a  manner,  drives  me  out 
of  a  resolution  to  keep  myself  clear  of  politics,  and 
let  them  *  fight  dog,  fight  bear.'  But  I  am  too  easy 
to  be  persuaded  to  bear  a  hand.  The  young  Duke 
of  Buccleucb  comes  to  visit  me  also ;  so  I  promised 
to  shake  my  duds,  snd  give  them  a  cast  of  my  call- 
ing—fall Ipuck,  fall  edge. 

^^Marek  7,  8,  9,  10.— In  thf  «t*  four  day*  I  drew  up, 
with  much  anxiety,  an  addr  ;>»  in  ropmbaiion  or  me 
Bill,  both  with  remect  to  Ni:]kirkiiutr&,  and  in   its 

?eneral  purport.  Mr.  Laicilitw,  thoudi  by  i**  un 
other  side  on  the  subject,  ihn>kd  tnhi'  bftei  tUitk^  I 
ever  wrote;  and  I  myself  am  bsppy  in  ^nd  thm  jt 
cannot  be  said  to  smell  o(  thn  Hfiopleiy.  Bui  it 
wss  too  declamatory,  too,  miicU  hk^  ii  patupUlet, 
and  went  far  too  generallvinro  oppijsiiion,  \o  plrtise 
the  county  gentlemen,  who  nw  iiiEiidly  iiiC  Inityi  to 
dwell  orf  their  own  grievancrfr,  riilioi  than  lU -  ;.i:b- 
lic#rongs.  Mu^t  trv  to  gt-t  ^imething  fur  M  r.  Lmd- 
law,  for  I  am  afraid  t  am  tw  iJrJlini;  I  do  not  ihiok 
ray  head  is  weakened— y(  c  a  str^nKn  vadllrriDn 
makes  me  suspect.  Is  it  no:  ilma  that  m^ji)  b^ui  to 
fail,— becoming,  as  it  were,  infirm  of  purpose  7— 

'  TtuU  way  mndneaa  liea— let  me  shun  that, 

No  more  of  tnat* — 
Tet  why  be  a  child  about  it  1  What  must  be,  will  be. 
"AfarcA  n.— This  day  we  had  our  meeting  at  Sel- 
kirk. I  found  Berth wickbrae  (late  member)  had 
aent  the  frame  of  an  addreas,  which  was  tabled  by 
Mr.  Andrew  Lang.  It  was  the  reverse  of  mine  in 
every  respect.  It  was  short  and  to  the  point.  It 
only  contained  a  remonstrance  against  the  incorpo- 
rauon  with  Selkirkshire,  and  left  it  to  be  inferred 
that  they  opposed  the  bill  in  other  respects.  As  I 
saw  that  it  met  the  ideaaof  the  meeting  (six  in  nunn- 
ber)  better  by  far  than  mine,  I  instantly  put  that  in 
my  pocket.  But  I  endeavoured  to  add  to  their  wm- 
plaint  of  a  private  wrong  a  general  clause,  stntiog 
their  sense  of  the  hazard  of  passing  at  on'^e  a  bill  full 

of  such  violent  innovations.    But  though  Harden, 

Alva,  and  Torwoodlee  votrd  for  this  measure,  it  was  !  parcel  of  schoolboys  taking  to  pieces  a  watch  whkh 
refbsed  by  the  rest  of  the  meeting,  to  my  di!>appoint-  .  useil  to  go  tolerably  well  for  all  practical  purpooea, 
ment.  I  was  a  fool  to  *stir  such  a  dish  of  skimmed  in  the  conceit  that  they  can  put  it  together  again  far 
milk  with  so  honourable  an  action.'*  If  aoroe  of  I  better  than  the  old  watchmaker.  I  leer  they  will 
*  Bottfur  In  K'ngHtoty  TV.,  Aetn.,  Seme  i.  |     *        "  8m  Edinbunh  Review  far  October,  1S80,  pl  St. 


silly  prejudices ;  but  Ihave  seen  a  oood  deal  of  fob- 
lie  men,  and  thought  a  good  deal  of  ,      ' 
in  my  day,  and  I  can't  help  suspecnnc  that  the 
manufacturera  of  this  new  consututioo  are  like  a 


pii^iic  a£ir8 


LIFE  OF  Sm  WALTER  SCOTl*. 


m 


fkO  when  ihtj  come' to  tbe  re-coristraction,^  and  I 
•bould  not,  I  confess,  be  much  suiprised  if  It  were 
to  turn  GUI  that  their  first,  step  had  been  to  bre^ 
the  main-spring.'^-'Here  he  was  again  stoppea  by  a 
confused  Babel  of  contemptuous  sounds,  which 
aeemed  \Jke\y  to  render  further  attempts  ineflfectual. 
He.  abruptly  ana  unheard,  proposed  his  Resolution, 
and  then  tummg  to  the  riotous  artisans,  exclaimed, 
"I  regord  your  gabble  no  more  than  the  geese  on 
the  green."  His  countenance  glowed  with  indigna- 
tion, as  he  resumed  his  seat  on  the  brncK.  Bm 
when,  a  few  moments  afterwards,  the  business  being 
over,  he  rose  to  withdraw,  every  trace  of  passion 
was  gone.  He  turned  round  at  the  door,  and  bowed 
to  the  assembly.  Two  or  three,  not  more,*renewed 
their  hissing;  he  bowed  again,  and  took  leave  in 
the  words  of  the  doomed  gladiator,  which#I  hope 
none  who  had  joined  in  these  insults  understood— 
••MoRiTuaus  vos  baluto." 

Of  this  meeting  there  is  but  a  very  slight  notice  in 
one  of  ihft  next  extracts  from  his  Diary ;  another  of 
them  refers  to  that  remarkable  circumstance  in 
Bni^lish  history,  the  passing  of  the  first  Reform  Bill 
tn  the  Commons,  on  thc22d  of  March,  by  a  majority 
of  one ;  and  a  third  to  the  last  really  good  portrait 
that  was  pointed  of  himself  This  was  the  work  of 
Wr.  Francis  Gram  (brother  of  the  Laird  of  Kilgras- 
lon.)  whose  subs'jquent  career  has  justified  the  Dia- 
Tist'a  prognostications.  This  excellent  pictorf^  in 
which,  from  previotrt  familiarity  with  the  subject, 
he  was  able  to  avoid  the  painful  features  of  recent 
change,  was  done  for  his  and  Sir  Walter's  friend, 
Lady  Ruthven.  ^ 

"March  2a— Little  of  this  day,  but  that  it  was  so 
iincomnionly  windy  that  I  was  almost  blown  off 
my  pony,  and  was  glad  to  grasp  the  mane  to  prevent 
llH  aciually  happening.  1  began  the  third  volume 
of  Count  Robert  of  Paris,  which  has  been  on  the 
anvil  during  all  these  vexatious  circumstances  of 
piiliiics  and  health.  But  the  blue  heaven  bends  over 
all.  It  may  be  ended  in  a  fortnight,  if  I  keep  my 
Bcherne.  But  I  will  take  time  enough.  I  thought  I 
was  done  with  politics,  but  it  is  easy  getting  into  the 
mess,  but  difficult,  and  sometimes  disgraceful  to  f^et 
out.  I  have  a  letter  from  Sheriff  Oliver,  desiring 
me  to  go  to  Jedburgh  on  Monday,  and  show  counte- 
nance by  adhering  to  a  set  of  propositions.  Though 
not  well  drawn,  they  are  uncompromising  enough, 
to  I  will  Dot  part  company. 

** March  S3.— Went  yesterday  at  nine  o'clock  to 
the  meeting;  i  great  number  present,  with  a  mob 
of  Reformers,  who  showed  their  aenae  of  propriety 
by  hissing,  hooting,  and  making  all  aorta  of  noises. 
And  theae  unwashed  artificera  are  from  henceforth 
to  select  our  legislators.  What  can  be  expected 
from  them  except  such  a  thick* headed  plebeian  as 
will  be '  a  hair-brained  Hotspur,  guided  by  a  whim  7 ' 
There  was  some  speaking,  but  not  good.  I  said 
something,  for  I  could  not  sit  quiet.  I  did  not  get 
home  till  past  nine,  having  fasted  the  whole  time. 

*^March.  25.— The  measure  carried  by  a  tingle  vote. 
In  oiher  circumstances  one  would  hope  for  the  inter- 
ference of  the  House  of  Lords,  but  it  is  all  hab  nab 
at  a  venture,  as  Cervantes  nays.  The  worst  is,  that 
there  is  a  popular'party  who  want  personal  power, 
and  are  highly  unfitted  to  eiyoy  it.  It  has  fallen 
easily,  the  old  constitution ;  no  borlying  Mirabeau  to 
assail,  no  elo<}oent  Maorv'-  to  defend.  It  has  been 
thrown  away  like  a  child's  broken  toy.  Well— the 
good  sense  of  the  people  is  much  trusted  to ;  we 
■hall  see  what  it  will  do  for  us.  The  curse  of  Crom- 
well on  those  whose  conceit  brought  us  to  this  pass. 
Sed  transeaL  It  is  Tain  to  mourn  what  cannot  be 
mender). 

**  March  26.— Frank  Grant  and  his  lady  came 
here.*  Frank  will,  I  believe,  if  he  attends  to  his 
profession,  be  one  of  the  celebrated  men  of  the  a^i^e. 
He  has  long  been  well  known  to  me  as  the  com- 

E anion  of  my  sons  and  the  partner  of  my  daughters, 
n  youth,  that  is,  in  extreme  youth,  he  waa  pasaion- 
ately  fond  of  fox-huntiog  and  other  sports,  but  not 

«  Mr.  Fr&ncM  Oant  had  neeatly  mmed  Mki  KonnsBa  a  oieco 
eftba  Did»  of  fCutUiMrs. 


of  any  species  of  i^mhling.  He  had  also  a  atrong 
passion  for  patntmg,  and  made  a  little  coUectioa. 
As  he  had  sense  enough  to  feel  that  a  younger  bro- 
ther's fortune  woold  not  last  lon^ander  theexpenses 
of  a  fiood  stud  and  a  rare  collection  of  ehe/a  d^ceuvre^ 
he  used  to  avow  his  intention  to  spend  his  potci- 
mony,  about  jSlO,000,  and  then  again  to  make  his 
mrtune  by  the  law.  The  first  he  soon  accomplished. 
But  the  faw  is  not  a  profession  so  easily  acquired, 
nor  did  Frank's  talents  lie  in  that  direction.  His 
pasiioa  for  pMnting  turned  out  better.  Connois- 
seurs approved  of  his  sketches,  both  in  pencil  and 
oil,  but  not  without  the  sort  of  criticisms  made  on 
these  occasions— that  ihey  were  admirable  for  an 
amateur— but  it  could  not  be  expected  that  he  should 
submit  to  the  actual  drudgery  absolutely  necessary 
for  a  profession- -and  ail  that  species  of  criticism 
which  gives  way  before  natural  geniua  and  energy 
of  character.  In  the  mean-time  Frank  saw  the 
necessity  of  doine  something  to  keep  himself  inde- 
pendent, having,  1  think,  too  much  spirit  to  become 
a  Jock  the  LaircCa  briiher^  drinking  oat  the  last 
cli  i!     1  iiirl,,  riding  the  horses  which  the 

Fai  1  .  .1  ind  drawing  sketches  to  amuse 
tb«  ^n^     I  Idren.    He  was  above  all  this, 

anni'U-'i  >lved  to  cultivate  his  taste  for 

pa ii.   ^  tie  a  profesaional  artist.    I  am 

no  Ml  I:: <  but  I  am  conscious  that  Fran- 

cis Uidia  poe^b«w.»,  with  much  cleverness,  a  sense 
of  beauty  derived  from  the  best  source,  that  is,  the 
observation  of  really  good  society,  while,  in  many 
modern  artists,  the  want  of  that  Species  of  feeling  \ 
is  so  great  as  to  be  revolting.  His  former  acquain-  n 
tancen  render  his  immediate  entrance  into  business 
completely  secure,  and  it  will  rest  with  himself  to 
carry  on  bia  success.  He  has,  I  think,  that  degree 
of  force  of  character  whicl|  will  make  him  keep  and 
enlarge  any  reputation  which  he  may  acquire.  He 
has  confidence,  too,  in  his  own  power,  always  re- 
quisite for  a  young  gentleman  trying  things  of  this 
sort,  who^  aristocratic  pretensions  must  be  envied. 
March  29.— Frank  Grant  is  still  with  me,  and  is 
wen  pleased,  I  think  very  advisedly  so,  with  a  cabi- 
]i'  1  T'aHur«  of  mi'ffelf,  armour  and  so  forth,  together 
uiMi  my  two  Tiuhle  stag-hounds.  The  dogs  sat 
<:hurmingly,  but  ih<3  picture  took  up  some  time." 

I  umst  insert  a  couple  of  letters  written  about 
tftis  lime.  That  to  the  Secretavy  of  the  Literary 
Fund,  one  of  tlie  most  useful  and  best  managed 
clittndca  in  I-oikJoo,  requires  no  explanation.  The 
other  waa  addressed  to  the  Rev.  Alexander  Dyce, 
on  receivint?  a  copy  of  that  gentleman's  edition  of 
GFecnc^s  Pln)s«  with  a  handsome  dedication.  Sir 
Walter*  it  uppt-ni^  designed  to  make  Greene  and 
Wtibsttr  thfl  sylijt'Ct  of  an  article  in  the  Quarterly 
Reticw.  It  is  proper  to  observe  that  he  had  never 
met  ihetr  tJiior,  though  two  or  three  leltera  had 
furnurlv  pap«*cd  between  them.  The  little  volume 
which  he  ftini  in  return  to  Mr.  Dyce,  was  "  the  Tri- 
al of  DimcEin  Terig  and  Alexander  Macdonald,"— 
one  of  the  Baonntyne  Club  books. 

7b  B.  NkkoUf  E^.i  Registrar  qf  the  Literary  Fund, 
London, 


**STr, 


"  Abbotsford,  29th  March,  1831. 


**l9n\  honn^trriJ  with  your  Obliging  letter  of  the  23th 
ciirr4!iit,  llaui^rinir  rnn  with  the  fnform&tion  that  you  had 
pj^icorl  iLiy  aamrf  »ii  ihe  list  of  stewards  for  the  literary 
Fiiiiji.  at  wlikh,  I  Awi  sorry  to  Pay,  It  will  not  be  in  my 
prtwirt"  tr>  i;i!r^iiii,  u*  i  do  not  cgme  to  l<ondon  this  season. 
Vim,  ftir,  Mirl  (hi-  1.  I  ^cr  gentlemen  who  ere  making  such 
^nbfts  In  h<l(ftlf  n[  1  terature,  liave  a  right  to  know,  why 
n  jitrnon,  wiio  h\s  feen  much  favoured  by  the  public, 
MiiiuKI  il.'iliiif^  joining  on  institution  Whose  object  it  la  to 
r'  £i4  v^  rii^-^>i  wr<y  hive  been  leas  fortuoate  than  hioiself, 
ir,  Lii  |»]:iin  wtMilif,  lo  contribute  to  Ihe  support  of  the 
ptxjr  of  uiy  own  tmiUl  If  1  could  justly  accuse  myself 
of  iTir»  \i)>(-eAfim  nf  h>  Iflshness,  I  should  tnlnk  that  I  did  a 
vprr  WTttnti  tlkinj?.  But  the  wanU  of  those  whoso  dia- 
trfs"*e!»  !UTl  iTicrjff;  nre  known  to  roe,  are  of  such  a  na- 
inr*",  itwE  ^vhat  I  lutTt;  the  meana  of  aparing  (or  the  relief 
of  other*!  i-*  II"'  is^j^rly  eqtial  to  what  1  wish.  Any  thing 
wliii  Is  1  Till  12  i  lute  to  your  Ptind  woold,  of  coarse, 

i;it  Ui  thf  n-  >ei  objeoi8,afui  the  encouragemeut 

of  excellent  persona,  doubUesS;  to  whom  1  am  a  atranger 


w 


leiFE  of;  spt.  wAyf^^^cqrtr 


und  fro  in  hATfn;  Bijme  ac<}t^iaUnf^«  with  the  tpccLcs  of 
OlitreM  (<v  Ihi  ramflVMi,  l  beUerfi  t  ili^ll  «ld  oar  f«n«nl 
pvpoM  bflstt  bf  [fivtnfr  viich  urvicft  km  I  cm  to  Cbitfiy 

^I«U11U>{  QJipt«4«  I3*>ifr|f  flujficipcnly  lJ^wn  the  propo- 
BftI  wbkb  lUPfK^Kii  twi  wJllJji^  IP  4ki  fEOO'Ji  aiul  lii>f<t[i  out 

the  tnwtec*  wiJ  Qthtt  ^edil^meo  of  me  Fudd,  eif,  your 
Q bulged  humbk  ncrrftnt,  / 

WjltTlB  ScoTf" 

Tkt  the  Rep.  Atexattdtr  /^fff,  Londim^ 

"  Aljljolfffonl,  Mmtrh  31, 1^1. 

**l  IiaH  the  j>lfl*Hur«  of  nfceivifig  Grcvnis^ft  Pl*y#, 
WiHj  «1iJcht  u  works  nf  jrtiU  cuTli;h»iiy,  J  uii  highly  ^nn 
ifiM.    If  the  edtttjr  tjf  rfic  QtiarEt^rljr  roQ^eiits,  s»  Iid 

SrohAblj  Willi  *  "fif^I  f***  "iJ  erifiei'rour  to  b^  uspfiil, 
lOLT^h  f  Bm  noi  aur4°  irh^n  T  foJi  |et  ftdtnJAKlon  T  »i\m\i 
bn  inrUhfui  to  inrlnric  WtLtitfrf,  who.  1  thinjt,  !i  une  of 
tl*p  h**«t  of  «iir  atiiji*^ii|  Klfaniari«i9 :  If  ymi  will  Unre  (h^ 
kLndtien  lo  leil  ihe  l»oi>k»?llipr  u>  aend  li  tn  Wh*tt»kar, 
uoder  corer  to  rotf,  tare  of  Mr  Cftdi^ll,  EdUibur4|[)^,  ii  will 
«ome  4fe,  and  li^  lljAnk  fully  rf:'cel(Ti-il.  Mftrlowa  uid 
«itacrH  I  htfe,— oiid^omt  Ai^tiiiilnUitce  with  the  «ubj£rcl^ 
Ibauf h  not  luuc h- 

*U  hiTu  not  been  well;  (hri;at*?nijji  wtlh {ii>rcritiinB 
Uon  of  bSiwil  lo  the  beinJ  *  but  by  Ulnl  of  bte^iiUng  nnd 
ri>ftmM)f  1  liiTf  rucotertd  1  bavf  lont^  bowffver,  Hh^ 
tl«mlet,  bU  Imblt  of  tnv  vtEreiaf'i  nrif],  Chiicf'  Able  to  wallt 
tblrty  miltt  fe  ffey,  or  fitli?  a  bundroiili  I  can  bnrijljr  walk  « 
mtte,  6f  fido  *jKiny  ffiUf  or  fiv** 

*'l  will  v^naymi,  by  WJiUt^licr)  a  idll**  curhiua  inicl 
«r  miird«rt  in  whif  Li  a  ^ho^  i^  Ihs  priacLpal  evidence 
The  spirit  liitl  not  tirry  bl«  pi^Jint*  boweiier  j  fur  the  &p 
pirition^  thou|h  it  aliotild  Afejo  ilip  men  were  fulllj^ 
lbr<^*  #0  tnctch  rhlicule  on  tlic  whale  at^r^T  th»C  ibej 
were  iicqiiltHjd" 

"  1  ¥,t9Ji  you  had  iji^f  n  m  more  of  Clreffn<?'H  prntr 
«TOrk(i.    lattit  wild  T«jtirdf  d«ar  «ir,  jroursi  ndicerely, 

Waltsb  Scott  ' 

To  resume  the  Diajy— "  Marck  30.  -Byb  Dundagf 
mnd  hi4  wifu  (Miaa  Durham  thai  was)  came  to  apeid 
«  day  ot  two.  I  wa.?  heartily  j;;[ad  lu  m*c  hiiDt  bttttg 
my  earliest  ajjd  beat  friend  *  aun.  John  Swinioii, 
too,  camo  on  the  part  of  aa  An ti* Reform  mK^^tiag 
in  KdiijburgU^  who  exhoritd  me  to  take  up  the  pffo, 
but  I  d'^LUtned  and  pkadtd  htiahb,  nhich  God 
knows  I  have  u  rij^ht  to  urgr^.  I  mJLiht  h^\e  urgt^d 
ala>o  the  cbance  of  my  brcakini;  down,  but  thai 
would  be  a  cry  of  icW/;  whicli  niiMlit  very  well 
prove  r&al— ^jrri/2*— Btt.  Henrjr  Liddfll  ddt^st  twn 
of  Lord  Ra  irensworthi^  arnvta  litrre*  I  like  hitn  and 
hia  brother  Tom  very  iriDch.  ftlthoLJ|?h  ihey  aro  whst 
may  be  trailed  fine  men.  Henry  la  accompliahecj^ 
ia  an  arrJAt  and  muaiciarii  and  certctinly  Ka^  a  fihe 
Saate  for  poof ry,  thouRh  be  may  oevt?T  cultivate  it,^ 
Aprii  ?.— This  Joy  I  took  leave  of  j»oot  Majar  John 
Scoti^f  who,  bdn^  aJflict^d  with  adiatresaicu;asthtna< 
hm  resolved  upon  falling  hsa  house  of  lU  vena  wood, 
whir!i  bu  had  drcsspd  up  with  nmch  neatneaa,  an  J 
going  ftbrond.  ^Viihoui  havinf?  hem  intimate fnt^nde, 
W9  werf  alway?  nlTtciiotiaifi  rfJjiTinna.  and  now  we 
pan  probably  never  to  meet  in  this  world,  Hehte 
a  good  deal  of  the  character  iaid  to  hdonK  to  the 
-family*  Our  parting  wilh  mutual  ff^eling  may  be 
eaaily  euppoaed,'' 

The  ne^t  entry  relat«a  in  ihe  last  pubhe  appear- 
ance  that  the  writer  i^ver  made,  under  drcumBitance» 
at  all  pleapint,  ut  hisnaiiveeoiinnry.  Hv  had  taken 
ipat  initirt'si  aliooi  a  new  hoe  of  mail-rojid  between 
Belkif k  nud  Edtnburdh,  which  runs  in  view  of  Ab> 
hotaford  acroa^  the  Tweed ;  but  he  never  aaw  ji 
completed.   , 

*'  April  II.— ThU  day  I  went  with  Anne,  and  Misfl 
Jane  Erakitie,!  to  a#a  the  laying  of  the  ftonefi  cf 
foondaiian  for  two  bridges  in  my  noiibboarhood 
ov«r  Tweed  and  ihc  El  trick.  Theje  wer«  a  groat 
many  peoplt^  ajiFiombled.  The  day  was  beanii/nl, 
the  wcene  ^va*  romantic,  and  the  people  in  goo  J, 
apint^  and  good-hutnonr.    Mr.  Patetaon  of  Qala- 

■  ^4  Senlt^*  L#(ii^  Oft  ri«inoiiolcicr/ToJ  L 

♦  Mr,  Dtmdaf  fj<f  JLmiiUsii 

;  1  bi>  rc-ntlf^nmu,  a  kotlvr  to  ihc  Laifil  of  nvtiiaii.  had  node 
■oHiPi  fortync  m  i*w  E^Mt  Ibdl^ » and  l^etfuwrd  ihs  mtm  of  Ra- 
fBtwiTD^  ,ya.  a  viJk  chicle  bti  iMiih  mm  MckamiL.  He  divl 
In  mi 


tbiaU*  made  a  moat  exceUent  pitycr  r  Mr.  Sipuy^ 
gave  a  proper  repast  to  the  workm:CD^  And  we  ati& 
•cribed  sovereigns  a  piece  to  provide  for  any  caauat- 
ty*  I  latd  the  found  iiti  on -atone  of  the  bridge  over 
Tweed,  and  Mr.  G.  B.  Scott  of  Woll.t  ihe  fotjndi- 
tton-»tonc  of  thai  of  Ktirjck-  The  general  apirit  of 
good -hum  our  tnade  the.  scene,  though  without  p>a- 
tade,  extremely  intercating. 

"  Aprit  I  a.  "We  break  fa*  ted  with  the  Perguaiina, 
af^r  whi«:h  Atine  and  Mim  Er^kina  walked  up  thf^ 
Rhymer'^  Olan.  I  rould  a»  easiJy  have  made  a  pil- 
i^qricuag^  to  Romt?  wiih  peai  i»  rny  ^hoea  unboifed. 
I  drove  home,  and  l>t««n  lo  work  about  ten  ti* clock. 
At  otie  0^ clock  I  rixK  and  a^^ntoiT  whfti  I  had  Ao)«h- 
ed^  Mr.  LaidUw  dined  with  mc  In  iJienftoriiociii 
we  wrolf^  five  or  ai  k  pnm^  itiore.  I  am,  I  fca#,  aink- 
ing  a  little  frot^i  having  too  much  apai:-a  to  fill,  and  a 
want  of  the  uatial  inapiration— which  rnak«4  me; 
like  the  chorioi- wheels  of  Pharaoh  in  th«  ^»a4»  of 
the  Rfid  Sea,  drive  heavdy^  li  t^  ihe  Icea  i 
if  this  prove,  as  I  an  spec  U  thi^  laat  of  thia  i 
family."  jpri/  n.— Uomcied  nroolk  in  the  ... 
ing.  At  ten  o'clock  bt^gan  wbare  I  htdjleft  «(f  at 
my  romance*  Laid  I  n  w  bef^ina  to  finite  iJUviek  for . 
not  giving  forth  the  water  IP  quantity  immicnt.  I' 
have  again  at  me  (he  dii^d  vantage  of  being  c^lWd 
the  iuai^  toid  every  oua  of  course  la  wilhng  to  woiry 
me.  But  they  have  been  long  at  it,  and  even  thos« 
worka  which  have  b«a  worat  jvoei'Pc4  at  rhdr  firai 
appearanee,  now  k<?«p  their  ground  fairly  rooiph. 
So  well  try  our  old  lock  another  voyagir.  Umm 
cloae  thick  rain,  and  J  cannot  ride^  add  1  am  tbo 
dead  lame  to  walk  in  the  house.  So  feding  realTy 
eihauatad.  I  will  try  to  aleep  a  little. —Jlv  nap  waa 
a  very  ahort  one,  and  was  agreeably  replaced  by 
Basil  Hall's  Fragmenia  of  Voyages,  Every  thing 
about  the  inside  of  a  vessel  is  intcreating.  and  my 
friend  B.  H.  \\nn  the  good  aenee  to  know  tnis  la  the 
ctJte.  I  remembur  v\-hen  my  eldest  brother  took  the 
humour  of  going  to  aea,  Jamea  "V^'ataon  uaed  to  be 
invited  to  George's  Square  to  tell  him  stich  tales  of 
hard  ship  a  aa  might  diaguGt  him  with  the  aervioe- 
Such  were  my  poor  mother's  inetruciiona.  But 
Captain  Watson  could  not  by  nil  tbia  render  a  sea 
life  disgusting  to  thu  young  midshipman,  or  to  b4>* 
brother,  who  looked  on  and  liatencd.  Hair*  ac- 
counts of  the  Asdiaiance  given  to  the  Spaniards  %t 
Cape  Finiiiierr«^^  and  the  absurd  hchavicKur  of  tho 
Junta,  are  highlv  inletesting  A  more  iiiefilcient, 
yet  a  more  reaofved  daw  of  men  than  the  Span- 
tarda,  were  never  eonfceived.  — JpHI  16.  — Lord 
Metdowbank  and  his  aon.  Skene  walka  with  me. 
Weather  enchanting-  About  one  hundred  leave* 
will  now  cMjmplete  Roh^t  of  PansL  Qi^ry.  if  the 
laat  ?  Anawer— Not  knowing,  can^t  aay.  I  tbmk  it 
will."^ 

The  Cnptain  Wat  iron,  R.  N.,  a  I  Med  to  in  one  of 
these  eitrnctR,  was  distantly  ri'lated  to  Sir  Walter*! 
mother.  His  aon,  Mr*  John  Waiaon  Gordon,  hai 
risen  to  creai  eminence  as  n  painter  ^  arid  his  por- 
traits of  Scott  and  Hogg  rank  atrtong  his  beat 
pieces.  Thai  of  the  Ettrick  Shepherd  is  mdeed  pef- 
fect  J  and  Sir  Walter's  has  oJily  the  djsad vantage  of 
having  been  done  a  little  too  !ate>  Thcae  maaierly 
pictures  are  both  in  Mr.  Cad  el  Pa  p«»-— i«- 


CHAPTER  LXXX. 
AFOPLSCTTC  PAB  ALVeje—  Hi^  rEKajia-^os.  M  ACimi- 

TOSH  SJArltAT— SCl£>f«B  AT  JlSlUVaOH  Airo  iiEtKlttlC 
--CABTLE  nASOEaopF— KiLUHStOKTO  E)0t70UhaD ALB, 

cfivacH  or  ft.  aaiDt^  jsTc.—rnaKKa'B  ^metCitn 

rOB  TWE  POB*niV~i,AGT  VlSlTfl  TO  ftM  A  J  LH  0  Uff— a*- 

MsaaiDE— aTTHicn,  rrc— viaiT  op  k^aptaiv  nyumm 
— *ta.  AOOLPHCa-^AKU  Hia.  wo»dswobth~-**ta»- 
aow  atvieiTEO,"  akd  soNKrr  ow  mi:  miLDOHa.— 
APBiL— OCToaEa,  1831. 

The  ncjtt  entry  in  the  Diar^r  ia  aa  foUowa  7— 
''  Front  Saturday,  I6th  ApnL,  to  Sunday,  fHth  of 
the  aartie  month,  unpleaaantly  occupied  bydl  health 

*  Tbe  R.eT.  K-  Patenon,  now  cne  of  lUt  MlnJaJC^n  of  Olo^qw. 
r  Mr.  John  Smiih  nf  I>jinikL  tiu  NiLder  of  A^ilxda^u^  aiiid 
ArrhitiH-i  of  thut^  briiJyri*«i. 
:  TIh  mtl^man  di«d  iti  KJinlHiiih  oq  4tli  fttrmta^  I99t. 


LWft.oF  am  wAttTi^  sqoii^ 


1^  it«TCk({«MQ|tt|iioe0.    A  diBODOt  stroke  of  pi 

•^  af^^otli^E  Potli  mv  nerves  and  speech,  thoiu, 

mnning  only  pn  Mondav  with  a  very  bad  cold. 


b«. 


ly  care  of  Cadell,  but  youns  ClarkBon  had  already 
done  the  needful,  that  is,  had  bled  and  blistered,  and 
placed  me  on  a  very  reduced  diet.  Whether  precau- 
tions have  been  taken  hi  time,  I  cannot  teU.  I  think 
they  ha^e,  though  severe  in  themselves,  beat  the 
disease ;  but  I  am  alike  prepared." 

The  preceding  jparafrapQ  has  been  deciphered 
with  difficulty.  The  blow  which  it  records  was 
greatly  more  severe  than  any  that  had  gone  before 
It.  Sir  Walter's  friend.  Lord  Meadowbank.  had 
come  to  Abbotsford,  as  usual  when  on  the  JedSurgh 
cireuit ;  and  hr  i^-n^lr;  T«t,v^  —  -«>—  *-  --rnxT'  the 
Jud^e  my..:'...  !  '  i  ■  .  '■■:.■■■■■  ^ .  '■»! 
he  co|Lecte«i  ^vtriiWr  lUu  nbi^hboufiiij!  ffeiitry  to 
dinner^  and  irii^d  to  boar  hi w  wonted  pari  in  the  eon- 
veraauon.  Feelmg  hia  airengtb  und  spirits  flng- 
ffin^,  he  was  t«Tm>tfHl  to  violate  his  phyeiiciDive^  di- 
rections, and  took  two  or  three  ^Enases  of  eh/jm- 
pagne,  not  hJivitig  tHited  wlnv  for  several  months 
Imot^kMpn  r(*tirin2  lo  hta  dre»Bmp-tocnn»  ho  had 
(hissMie  tihoek  of  apoplectic  neraly^f^  an\i  kiipt 
hia  be7 under  the  Burepon's  hands  for  g(?v(?ra|  da/s. 

Shortly  aft^Twariis  hk  eldest  son  and  liisdnutthter 
Sophin  ftrrivcd  ai  Abboinford.  It  may  be  « up  rosed 
that  Ihey  would  boih  havp  been  ncor  him  in*^'  lyi 
hod  thg t  been  possible ;  bu t,  n 0 1 1 cinien ti rj n  t Li '  ad 
of  aeemiriK  to  bt  alarmfid  about  hira^  Mnjor  >^  t*s 
regiment  waa  atationed  in  a  very  disturbed  i^  ct, 
and  hi*  eidt^r  was  stUI  in  a  disc li led  state  ff  ;  he 
relica  of  arhenmutjc  fev^M".  I  followed  hirr  i  ek 
Jiter*  when  we  esiabiishid  ourselves  at  Chit  5  od 
fbr  the  rest  of  the  season.  Cimrks  Scoti  hfii  :ne 
months  before  this  time  gone  to  Napi^  as  an  at- 
tach^ to  the  British  Erooassy  there.  During  the 
next  six  roontlis,  the  Major  was  at  Abbotsford  every 
trow  and  then— as  often  as  chrcitmstances  could  per- 
mit him  to  be  absent  from  his  Hussars. 

DiASY,— "ApriZ  27,  J  831.— They  have  cut  me  off 
from  animal  food  and  fermented  ii<iuorB  of  every 
kind ;  and,  thank  GK)d,  I  can  fast  with  anv  one.  I 
walked  out  and  found  the  day  delightfiil ;  the  woods 
too  looking  charming,  just  bursting  forth  to  the 
tune  of  the  birds.  I  nave  been  whistling  on  my 
wits  like  so  many  chickens,  and  cannot  miss  any 
of  them.  I  feel  on  the  whole  better  than  I  have 
yet  done.  I  believe  I  hnye  fined  and  recovered,  and 
so  may  be  thankful.— ilpri/  28,  29.— Walter  made 
his  appearance  here,  well  and  stout,  and  completely 
recovered  from  his  stomach  complaints  ^  absti- 
nence. He  has  youth  on  his  side ;  and  I  in  age 
must  submit  to  oe  a  Lazarus.  The  medical  men 
persist  in  recommending  a  seton.  I  am  no  friend 
to  these  remedies,  and  will  be  sure  of  the  necessity 
before  I  yield  consent.  The  dying  like  an  Indian 
under  tortures  is  no  joke;  and  as  Commodore 
Trunnion  says.  I  feel  heart-whole  as  a  biscuit.  April 
30— May  1.— Gro  on  >vith  Count  Itobert  half  a  dozen 
leaves  per  day.  I  am  not  much  behind  with  mV 
hand-work.  The  task  of  pumping  my  brains  be- 
comes inevitably  harder  when 

*  Both  chain  pumps  are  choked  below;' 
and  though  this  may  not  be  the  case  literally,  yet 
the  apprehension  is  well-nigh  as  bad.— Afoy  3.— So- 
phia arrives— with  all  the  children  looking  well  and 
beai^tifiil,  except  poor  Johnnie,  who  looks  pale. 
But  it  is  no  wonder,  poor  thing  X^May  4.— I  have  a 
letter  fh)m  Lockhart.  promising  to  be  down  by  next 
Wednesday-  I  shall  be  glad  to  see  and  consult 
with  Looknart.  My  pronunciation  is  a  sood  deal 
improved.  My  time  slides  away  ill  employed,  but 
I  am  afraid  of  the  palsy.  I  should  not  Uke  to  be 
pinned  to  my  chair.  I  believe  even  that  kind  of  life 
|s  more  endurable  than  we  could  suppose—yet  the 
idea  is  terrible  to  a  man  who  has  been  active.  Your 
wishes  are  limited  to  your  little  curele.  My  own  cir- 
cle in  bodily  matters  is  narrowing  daily;  not  so  in  in« 
tellectual  matters^bntof  that  I  am  perhnMa  worse 
jttdffe.  The  plough  is  neariog  the  endof  the  furrow. 

**May  6.— A  fleece  of  letters,  which  nntit  be  an- 
71 


swered  I  aoppoae,— aU  liom  persons  my  zealous  «d- 
mirers  of  course,  and  expecting  a^  dngree  of  geii9* 
rosity,  which  will  put  to  rights  all  their  maladies, 
physical  and  mehtal,  and  that  I  can  make  up  what- 
ever losses  have  been  their  lot,  raise  them  to  a  de- 
sirable rank,  and  will  stand  their  protector  and  pa- 
tron. I  must,  they  take  it  for  granted,  be  aatonisned 
at  having  an  address  from  a  atranger ;  on  the  con-, 
trary,  I  would  be  astonished  if  any  of  these  extrav- 
agant epistles  came  from  any  one  who  had  the  least 
title  to  enter  into  correspondence.  My  son  Walter 
takes  leave  of  me  to-day,  to  retuni  to  Sheffield. 
At  his  entreaty  I  have  agreed  to  put  in  a  seton,. 
which  they  seem  all  to  recommend.  My  own 
opinion  is,  this  addition  to  my  tortures  wiU  do  me 
no  good— but  I  cannot  hold  out  agamst  my  son. 

**  McBjf  ft,  7,  8.— Here  is  a  precious  job.  I  have  a 
formal  remonstrance  fh>m  these  eritical  people, 
Ballanfyne  and  Cadell,  a^inst  the  last  volume  oc 
Count  Robert,  which  is  within  a  sheet  of  being  fin« 
ished.  I  suspect  their  opinion  will  be  found  to  co- 
incide with  that  of  the  public ;  at  least  it  is  not  very 
different  from  my  own.  The  blow  is  a  stunning 
one,  I  suppose,  for  I  scarcely  feel  it  It  is  singular, 
bnt  it  comes  with  as  little  surprise  as  if  I  had  a  rem- 
edy ready,  yet,  God  knows,,  I  am  at  sea  in  the  dark, 
and  the  vessel  leaky,  I  thmk.  into  the  bargain.  I 
crnnot  conceive  that  I  ehouW  nave  tied  a  knot  with 
m ,  roriff^ie  which  my  t^eth  cannot  unties  Wc  shill 
-I  Imve  suftfefed  terribly,  ihot  ia  the  truth,  ra- 
r  in  bcHdy  than  in  mind,  and  ]  often  wish  I  could 
down  and  sleep  without  waking.  But  I  will 
a  ji  om  if  1  can.    " 


oui  if  1  can.    it  would  orpie  loo  peat  an 
nhmrniorcpnstjqucnco  to  rnyl'teniTy labours  to 


sc 

tb 

li< 

fk 

ai  , 

Bi  \\  uri'l(T  rriticid  cliimour.     Did  I  know  how  to 

bt^in,  I  would  begin  again  this  very  dny,  althnnfli 

I  knfiw^  I  should  umk  at  the  end.    After  all.  this  is 

bit  fear  and  fainlnCBfl  of  heart,  thoueh  of  another 

kinri  from  that  which  tremhlijth  at  a  loaded  pi  a  to  L 

My  bcidity  strength  is  terribly  gone;  perhaps  my 

mental  too." 

On  my  arrival,  (May  \M\)  I  found  Sir  Walter  to 
have  pill  ted  consiJeraHy  \  yet  his  Appearance,  aa  £ 
fir^i  dflw  hiiri.  >vas/hD  mo^t  painful  sight  I  had  ever 
then  B^on.  Itnowingiit  what  tinio  I  might  be  ex- 
pected, he  bad  been  kned  oti  hi?  tjony,  and  advanced 
about  half  a  mile  on  the  SelkJm  road  to  meet  me. 
Hu  moved  at  a  footpace,  with  Laidlaxv  at  orio  atit- 
rup,  and  hia  forcsur  Swanaion  U  fine  fe!low,  who 
did  nil  h«  cotdd  to  replace  Tom  Purdip)  o;  the  othej. 
^breast  was  oM  Peter  Msthkaon  on  horseback, 
wnh  ono  of  roy  ehildrea  aatridfi  before  him  on  a  pd* 
litj[u  Sir  Walter  had  had  lij:^  head  i^liaved,  and 
wore  a  black  ailk  ni^ht-cap  undir  his  liinf*  bonnt't. 
AM  his  K^rmcniii  buns  l^jose  about  hnn  \  hifl  euun- 
tenanee  waa  thin  ajid  liaKA^t-tL  and  tliere  Wda  an 
oil  V  Mi  t  IS  dis  tor  lion  in  the  m  u  acl  es  of  one  cheek.  His 
10'>k^  Ihiwivcr,  \\'j\&  pla^ic!— hi^  'V'-  -i^  ^.^i'/^v  T,«/^.v»-r 
— puihaii;f  hriuhur  tliuu  it  cvxi  ^.4^.11  ui^i4ii.;  he 
smiled  with  thf  same  affectionate  gentleness,  and 
though  at  first  it  was  not  easy  to  understand  every 
thing  he  said,  he  spoke  cheerfully  and  manfully. 

He  had  resumed,  and  was  trying  to  recast,  his 
novel.  All  the  medical  men  had  i;rgcd  him,  by 
every  argument,  to  abstain'from  any  such  attempts; 
but  Be  smUed  on  them  in  silence,  or  answered  with 
some  jocular  rhyme.  One  note  nas  this  postscript 
—a  parody  on  a  sweet  lyric  of  Burns's— 

**  Dour,  dour,  and  eident  was  be, 
Dour  and  eldent  but-and- ben- 
Dour  a<alost  their  barley-water, 
And  eldent  on  the  Bram&li  pen." 

He  told  me  that  in  the  winter  he  had  more  than 
once  tried  writing  with  his  own  hand,  because  he 
had  no  longer  the  same  "pith  and  buy*  that  former- 
ly rendered  dictatk>n  easy  to  him ;  bnt  that  the  ex- 
periment failed.    He  was  now  sensible.he  could  dp 


mOi"  And,  however  the  cool  cntic  may  now  esti- 
mate CcfuxU  Robert,  no  ono  who  then  saw  the  au- 
thor could  wonder  tbat  Laidlaw*f  prevalent  feelinic 


M 


uiB  6^  stt^  ifHklfriA  1^^ 


in  writing  thoao  Mgea  sbodd  hnve  beeji  inljuifu- 1 
liott.  Under  the  fuM  tonBdoiisncsfl  that  he  had  sus-  j 
tmotid  thrT?e  or  four  etrakeH  of  apopk'ijT  or  palflyj  or| 
batb  torobined,  and  lorturod  by  variouB  au^ndajit 
tSmenlJi,  craiiip,  rbeiuiiatEBm  in  Imlf  his  joint* 
daiir  incrtBiiUig  lamen^iia,  nnd  now  of  I  ale  ara/^  i 
(which  wftB,  though  last,  not  lease,)  he  retained  nil 
the  cncfKV  of  hid  will,  BiruEKled  msn fully  aeainst 
iliis  ikCfl  of  troubles,  nnd  mi^lil  well  have  a&id  sen* 
otitlyt  as  he  more  than  once  both  bjlIq  and  wrote 
ulaytullyf 

"  *TtJ  ntJt  m  EnurLaLf  to  connnatnl  sucwj^a. 
Bat  WB^H  do  uicre,  SempfoolUB,  wc'Jl  dwerve  it," 

To  aidsi^t  them  in  tmunnR  him  in  the  boura  whkh 
h^  spent  out  of  his  study,  and  espctially  thai  ho 
might  be  ic  nip  ltd  to  tr*uwt  those  bourii  nior^  fpc- 
oucnlt  his  daughtiiTfl  had  invited  hi*  frictid  the  aw- 
tkoresif  of  Man-iasc  l«  c<tmB  out  to  Ahhutsrurd  j 
&nd  ht^r  rominK  was  «>iviceahla  Fiir  sho  knew 
and  loved  liiRi  well,  find  she  had  Bi^n  enough  of  af- 
flictio(s  akin  to  his^  to  be  well  skilled  in  dtflhiiK 
•rith  it.  She  tuuld  not  bi?  nn  hour  m  his  ctimpany 
wiihoui  obsorvinff  what  filled  his  children  wiih  more 
aorrow  lb  an  all  the  teat  of  iho  casii.  Ht»  Wiiuld  l>e- 
giu  a  atoiy  as  i^nyly  as  evcr^  and  go  on,  in  spite  of 
the hetita lion  in  his  atHsech,  to  teU  it  with  hu^hly  pic- 
turmas  effect— but  before  he  reached  ibe  Lotnt.  it 
wouluseem  as  tf  somi^  internal  spring  bad  eivp 
way— he  paused,  and  paaed  rtiutid  bin;!  with  ihc 
blank  nn^iitly  of  iijok  thai  a  blind  man  has  when 
ho  has  dxopped  his  fitnfE  Unihinkm^^  friends  some- 
times  paint^  him  sadly  by  ^vinp  hi  to  ih<e  onicb- 
word  abruptly-  1  noticed  Loe  delicacy  of  Miss  Fer- 
rieroo  such  occoBions.  Her  si^hi  was  bad,  atvd  flhe 
took  care  not  to  us*  bKrelasse*  when  he  wasepyak- 
iDgi  and  she  afTectaJ  to  be  also  troubled  wiib  dedf- 
D^asi,  and  would  sav,  *'  Well,  I  am  *^ef  lina  as  dull  as 
a  post  i  I  have  not  beard  a  word  wince  you  said  so 
and  ao^'— Ucitm  sure  to  tnuniiQn  a  circumstance  be* 
bind  that  at  which  be  hnd  resillif  bnltcd.  He  then 
took  up  tiio  thrt^d  wiih  his  habitual  arnile  of  cour- 
tesy—as  if  forge  I  tine  his  case  enlirdy  in  the  con- 
aidcration  of  tie  100/ s  infirmity.  * 

He  had  also  a  visit  from  th*  Icaraod  and  pioua 
Dt.  M.  Mflckay^  thr^n  tniniaterof  LnijBau,  hot  nnw 
of  Dunoon— the  chirf  author  of  the  Gar  lie  Dienon-^ 
«ry,  then  recently  publiahtd  under  the  auspice?  of 
the  HiRhbnd  Societyj  and  this  ficntlemnn  also 
accommodated  him  self .  with  the  tact  of  KcnuiOe 
kindness,  to  ths  irircnmstanceB  of  the  lime* 

In  the  family  circli^  Sir  Walter  seldom  ?poke  of 
his  illness  Jit  all,  and  when  he  did  it  was  always  m 
the  hopeful  fliroin.  In  private  to  Laidlaw  and  my- 
■elf,  his  lan^iuftse  corrt»pontl<'ci  a  sadly  with  the 
tone  of  iht^  D(ary^-h[!  expressi^d  his  hdief  that  the 
chance*  of  recovery  were  few— very  few— but  al* 
waya  addrd^  thai  he  considereil  it  bis  duty  to  exert 
what  facuUiea  n^mttinrd  (o  him,  for  the  gake  of  his 
creditors,  to  the  very  laaL  "!  am  very  an^iousi/ 
h«  rt-peattdly  said  to  me.  *'  to  be  dotje^  one  way  or 
other,  with  this  Count  Eoberi.  and  n  little  mory 
about  the  Castle  Dangefou^t  which  al^o  I  had  Jonf? 
had  in  my  head— but  afiiT  (hat  1  will  aHeinpi  noth- 
in;t  mort'— lit  kast  ni»i  untd  I  have  finished  all  rhe , 
notes  for  the  Novel fl,  &c.  i  for,  in  case  of  my  going  ^ 
off  at  the  uext  slap,  you  would  natnrally  have  to  I 
take  up  thai  job,  siud  where  eould  you  get  at  all 
my  old  wive«i*  alorics'^'^ 

I  felt  ihe  sincerm-l  iJtiy  for  Cadell  and  Ballantyne 
at  this  umcT  and  advii^  him  to  hy  Uount  Robert 
aaide  for  a  fftw  wt^fks  at  nil  tvrnts,  until  t^ic  gnu- 
eral  eleciion  now  Koinp  on  sh(fuld  be  over.  Ho  cun- 
sefitod—but  immcdimely  began  another  eerioij  of 
Tales  on  Freuch  Hia lory— which  he  never  eom- 
tiluied-    The  Diary  says  i— 

"  Mtiy  12.— Really  pd  to  layby  Robert  of  Pans, 
vnd  take  it  up  ^\beu  T  cnrt  work*  ThitiUinp  on  it 
rr^ally  makes  my  bend  Kmm,  and  that  i*i  noi  safe 
Mi&b  Fcrricr  cornea  out  to  tin.  This  ^fted  person- 
acp.  be.iides  halting  KTeat  taletiti*,  haa  ctmvcrfafion 
the  lea  J  t  t^gtmtU  of  atiy  BUthof,  fetuale  at  least, 


vWioiii  I  l.jvij  iver  Been  among  llsJlil*ilMrllk  I  JllfV 
eticounter^d  withj  simple,  fullof  humoW*,  Wld:«*- 
ceedingly  ready  at  reparjee ;  and  all  ikOB  wKlMMif 
the  leaai  afhsciaiioo  offhe  blue  Btocking. 

"3/aif  13. -Mr,  or  more  properly,  Dr,  Maclntoeh 
Mack  ay  come  a  out  to  Bee  me,  a  simple  learned 
man,  and  a  Highlander  who  weigha  his  own  nation 
justly— a  Tuodtst  and  e^cimablc  person.  Report* 
nf  mobe  at  all  the  elcctionSi  which  I  fcsTwill  prove 
t  ru  e.  They  h  s  vt?  m  ueh  to  unsw  or  for  w  ho,  in  gBT^ly 
of  heart,  hiive  brought  a  peaceful  and  virtooaa  pop- 
ulation to  such  a  pasa, 

*'  Mqv  14,— Rode  with  Lockhart  and  Mr.Hackay 
through  the  plaiJtaiionsLRwd  spcui  a  pleaaanter  day 
than  of  laie  months.  Story  of  a  haunted  den  m 
LoBftan.  A  cbioftaia'a  daughter  or  cousin  loved  a 
man  of  low  degree*  Her  kindred  di3COvered  the 
intri^e,  and  punished  tho  lover's  pre«imption  by 
biudms?  iho  un nappy  man,  nud  laying  iiim  naked  in 
ouc  of  the  laiRe  owfe  ntsls  common  in  a  Highland 
ibr&su  He  eipirwi  in  auony  of  coifrs*,.  and  his  mis- 
tresa  became  dislr acted,  roamed  wildly  in  the  glen 
till  she  died,  and  her  p  ban  lorn,  fin  din +(  no  igpose, 
haunted  it  after  h«r  death  tci  such  a  dej^rec,  l^m  the 

Seople  shunned  the  road  by  day  as  wtdl  «i  "mght. 
Ire.  Grant  tell  a  thv  alory  with  ihe  addiuon,  that 
her  husband,  then  miniiter  of  Laggua,  formed  a 
religious  meeting  in  the  place,  and  by  the  ezeroise 
of  public  worship  there  overcame  the  popular  torror 
of  the  Red  Woman.  Dr*  Mack  ay  ace  ma  to  think 
that  fthe  waa  rather  bauiiht^  by  a  branch  of  the 
Parliamentary  road  lunning  up  the  glep.  than  b/ 
tho  prayfcrs  of  hie  predecessor.  Dr.  Mftckay^  it 
Ijting  Sunday,  favoured  ua  with  an  eicencnl  dia-* 
course  on  the  Socinian  eontrovcr»v\  which  I  wiui 
my  friend  Mr*  *  ♦  *  had  heard*— Afoy  Ih.— Df.  M. 
left  ufl  eiifly  Una  morning  ;  and  1  rode  and  stored 
as  usiial,  working  at  the  Taleft  of  my  Grandfather. 
Our  Bood  and  learoed  Doctor  wi&hee  to  go  dovm 
theTwt^^d  10  Berwick,  It  iB  a  laudable  cnnoatty, 
and  I  hope  will  be  agreeably  satisfied. 

On  the  leih,  I  witnesaed  a  scene  which  must 
dwell  painfully  upon  many  memoneE  liesides  mme. 
The  funiours  of  brick-bat  and  bludgeon  work  at  the 
hueiinpaof  this  month  were  to  prevalent,  thAt  Sur. 
Walter' e  family,  and  ntk  less  zealously  the  Tory 
c&twlidaie  for  Rtmburfibshire  bimaclf,  tried  every 
means  to  dissuade  him  from  attending  the  electtoa 
for  tb  » t  CO  u  nt  y.  We  thouftji  t  o  ver  nii;  h  L  that  we  had 
succeeded,  and,  indeed,  aa  the  reaull  of  the  tote  waa 
not  at  all  doubiJH  there  watt  rml  the  shadow  of  a 
reason  for  his  appearifig  on  this  u^^cision.  Abont 
seven  m  the  muruini?.  however,  when  I  came  down 
at  aire  intending  to  ride  oyer  to  JHlhurgh^  I  found  be 
ha  ^ 


BiairB  nucnumj^  lo  rme  uvtf  wj  .rruimif^u.  a  iwutiu  wj 
had  countermanded  mv  horae,  orderc^i  the  carnage 
lo  the  door,  und  was  already  lUipnlit^nt  tope  off  lor 
the  ftcene  of  ettioru  We  found  the  town  m  a  moat 
ternptfetuous  aiales  in  fact,  it  was  tilpost  wholly 
in  the  hands  of  a  disciplined  rabble,  chiefly  weavera 
from  Hawick,  who  marched  up  and  down  with 
druroij  and  banners,  and  then,  aft^r  fimng  the 
Court-halU  lined  the  streets,  grossly  insulting  every 
one  wlm  did  not  wenr  the  rcfortuine  colours.  Sir 
W ttl t e K s  c arri n R e^  a*  it  n d  V a n ced  to wa rd/  the  bouse 
of  ibc  Shortreed  family,  wns  pelied  with  stones; 
one  or  two  fell  into  it,  but  none  touched  him.;  H© 
brcakfnwted  wtih  the  widow  and  childiien  of  bis  old 
friend,  and  then  walked  to  the  Hall  between  roe 
a  nd  0  nc  of  i  he  youn  n  S  hor  iroi-d  s ,  1 1  ti  was  saluisd 
wilh  wroaneand  blaspbemjeB  oU  the  way — and  I 
blush  to  fldd  that  a  woman  spat  upon  liim  from  a 
window  ;  hot  this  la^t  con  tamely  J  think  he  did  not 
observe.  The  scentj  withm  wws  much  what  haa 
be^fi  deaieribed  under  the  dale  of  Mare  insist,  except 
that  ihoMf^h  he  attempted  lo  ir*3k  froaa  the  Bench, 
not  II  word  wasi  audible,  tui'h  was  the  frenay* 
Young  Harden  was  rammed  by  a  great  rosoority, 
40  to  i%  and  wr  thvn  with  difficulty  caiiied  the  ina 
where  the  corri.iiie  lind  bpt-nput  UJfc.  But  the  aspect 
of  tbe  street  was  bv  thai  tim«  auchtthat  several  of 
ihfl  gentlemen  on  the  Whip  wdecame  and  eniieated 
ut  not  to  aiu^mpi  atari  m^  from  the  front  of  our  liu*. 
One  of  tbeiii,  Liuutyn^i  IjL  £LhBt  of  die  Royal 
Digitized;  by  VjOOQ  Ic 


UFR  OF  Sm  WALTER  SCOTT. 


M 


Nav/,  Uv&d  in  ik&  towDt  or  rfttb^r  m  a  vtila  adjoiti- 
inR  It,  10  the  f€fir  0/  the  Sprend  Eagle.  Sir  Waker 
WH5  a  I  k3t  p^raujided  lo  accepc  thift  courteuus  ad- 
wr^nry^B  mvjiatioti,  and  nceompanitid  him  (hrouuh 
sflme  winding  Imn^*  tt>  his  reBid(?nc*i.  Pyitr  Ma- 
tbie&Oin  by  and  b^  broughi  the  cRidan^e  thuhi^rt  m 
the  saint!  d&iKle«tine  meihod,  and  we  escaped  from 
J^dbur^b— with  ont^  shower  moio  of  stcinea  itt  th^ 
BridRe,  i  believe  lb  ere  would  bavo  bt*ii  a  deitr- 
jnmed  00*^1  M  tbai  ipot,  btjt  fi>r  the  2«iil  of  lhre<j 
or  four  sturdy  Darnicker*  Uua^li  Sbilhaglawt 
parpen  ror,  bting  thtjsr  Cocyphs^u^^)  wbo  had^  unob- 
•ervEii  bv  UA,  cTusUtfred  tberoaelTea  be^idtr  ible  foot- 
mnn  111  tbe  rumble. 

The  Diary  eoniaine  thi»  brief  notice  :— '  M<iy  l^ 
— Went  to  Jedburtfh,  Riently  af^flinet  the  wishtis  of 
my  daughterB.  Tbti  mob  were  euueedinf^ty  V{)cir€r- 
ouft  and  bmtal,  u&  they  niasny  »re  nowadays.  The 
populacion  gaibercd  m  formidable  numbore — n  thou* 
fiond  from  Hnwick  also— sad  black guardB,  The 
day  pa^ifd  with  much  clamour  and  no  mischier. 
Hemy  iScolt  wan  re- dec  Led — for  the  Isnl  time,  I 
aupopie.  7  r(;ya  fuU.  I  left  thi>  tiorouKb  in  the 
Tnidalilf  abufit^,  and  tho  gentle  lunt  of  Burk  Sir 
WalUr*  Mucb  uldiged  to  the  brave  ladi  ot  J&i- 
dart/' 

Sir  VVflhf  r  fully  anticipated  a  scene  of  similar  ^io- 
Ifinco  at  ibe  Sallark  election,  which  occurred  a  few 
day 6  ^JWrwaidii  i  but  Ihougii  here  aleo^  by  help  of 
weavers  from  a  dist!inct>  there  was  a  aufficicnily 
form  id  a  bk'  dieplny  of  radicnt  power,  iheie  occurral 
hardly  any  tiiina  of  what  bad  been  &pc»rehended. 
Here  the  SbeiifT  was  at  home— known  intiiiiiitdi' 
to  ivery  body,  himtclf  probably  knowing;  almoj»t  ml 
of  man  s  estate  hv  head  majkn  tLcd  m  spite  of  poii(- 
ko]  fanatic  tarn,  ael  but  imivcrffaUy  belovEd  a  a  well 
aa  feared ►  Tho  only  person  who  ventured  actually 
to  hustle  a  Tory  elector  on  hia  way  to  the  poll^  al- 
tracted  Scou's  observation  at  the  moment  when 
be  WHS  f^eitinf?  out  of  bis  carria^^ej  he  matanity 
teiiwi  the  delinquent  with  his  own  hand— the  man's 
spirit  quailed,  and  no  one  coming  to  the  reacue,  he 
waa  aafitfly  committed  to  prison  untU  the  buataeaa 
af  the  day  was  over.  Sir  Walter  had  ex  a^cip  ig 
presitle  at  thia  election,  arid,  ihttreforei  bia  family 
wouHd  prohoblv  bavu  made  no  attempt  to  diaetiade 
him  from  atiendiuR  it,  even  had  he  siaid  away  from 
JtsdbofKh.  AmonK  the  e.^acae rated  rumours  of  the 
time,   waa  on«  that  Liird  Wjlliam    Graham,   the 


Tory  candidate  for  Dnnbaiionahire^  h 
ally  masaacred  by  the  rabUe  of  hia  coiinty  town. 
Ha  had  been  gnevoualy  maltfeated,  but  escaped 
murder,  thouah,  I  believe,  narrawLy.  But  I  cml 
never  forget  the  high  glow  which  aumiacd  Sir  Wai- 
ter's countanancfi  when  he  heani  the  overburdened 
itory,  and  «aid  calmly,  in  rather  a  ckar  voice,  the 
trace  of  hia  calami  tona  afHiciion  a]  most  di  9  apt*  a  ring 
for  the  moTOeni,— "  Well— Lord  William  died  at  his 
poet— 

^^  Noa  alitor  daerai  maada  jacaro  meda." ' 

I  anj  well  pleased  that  the  ancient  capital  of  ifm 
F^rtst  did  not  sEoin  ita  fair  name  upon  this  mi*er- 
able  occaeion  ;  nnd  I  am  sorry  for  Jedbui^b  and 
Hawick.  This  last  town  alanda  almost  within 
eight  of  Brankflome  Hall,  overhanflinR  also  s\rttt 
TiTloV&  sUrtr  tidi.  The  civilised  American  or 
Australian  will  ctirao  Ibeae  plftcea,  of  which  be 
would  never  hava  heard  but  for  Scott,  as  hp  passes 
throtif^h  them  in  some  distant  century,  when  per- 
bfipa  all  that  rernnina  of  our  naUonal  glories  may 
be  the  high  literature  adopted  and  extended  in  new 
lands  planted  from  our  blcwd. 

No  doubt  thtfe  disturbance*  of  the  general  elec- 
tion had  an  unfavourable  influence  on  the  Invalid. 
When  ibey  wiere  over,  he  prew  ealmer  and  more 
coliecled  ;  the  fiirgieaf  exptTtment  appeared  to  be 
benefiml?  his  apeech  became,  after  a  Utfle  time, 
much  clearer,  atid  Btich  were  the  symptoms  of  en- 
ergy atill  about  hira,  that  I  began  to  think  a  ra- 
atoratinn  tiot  hope  teas.  Some  puain^na  called  me 
10  London  about  the  middle  of  June,  and  when  I 
ratUTDed  at  the  end  of  three  weeka,  I  had  the 
*  Hartjil  i.  n. 


suii?<facuon  to  find  thai  he  bid  beta  firadtiallr 
amending. 

But,  alas,  ibe  flrat  tt^  be  made  of  thta  partial 
renovation^Jiad  been  to  ejipo*  bis  brain  once  more 
to  an  imagmative  task.  Hfi  be^an  hia  Castle  Dan<- 
Berotifi— ifie  luround-wark  bting  awain  an  old  tiory 
which  be  bad  told  in  pnnt,  many  yeara  beibrc^  in  % 
rapid  matiner  And  now,  for  the  first  timet,  he  lesft 
Uallnntyne  out  of  liia  aecrei.  He  thua  writes  to 
Cadell  on  ibe3d  of  July  :— "1  intend  to  tell  thia  liRle 
maitef  to  nobody  but  Lockbart.  ?t:rhap*  nut  tveti 
to  him  1  eortainly  not  to  J.  B.,  who  having?  turned 
hia  back  on  his  old  polit>cal  friends,  will  no  longer 
have  a  clami  10  be  a  secret tary  in  &ucb  matters, 
thoufib  I  shall  alwsya  heglad  to  befriend  hitm" 

Jameii'a  cruieiams  on  Count  R4>bef  t  bad  wounded 
hjxn^Thc  Diary ^  already  auoted,  ahowe  how  aevere* 
ly.  The  last  vi(?Lt  (his  old  atly  ever  puid  at  Abbote- 
ford,  occurred  a  week  or  two  after.  His  naws^iaper 
had  by  thi**  time  espoused  openly  the  cause  of  the 
Reform  Bill— and  some  unpleasant  convert^otion 
took  place  on  ftmt  aubioct,  which  mi^ht  well  be  & 
sore  one  for  both  parties,  and  not  least,  cotiaidenng 
the  whole  of  hia  personal  history,  for  Mr.  Sallan- 
ry  tif ,  ^'e  K  t  morn  i  ii  ^,  he  i  n  ^  S  0  nd  ay,  he  disa  p  pea  red 
aliniptly,  without  raying  farewell:  and  when  Scott 
understood  that  he  had  e<i£inified  nn  opmion  that  the 
readini?  of  the  church  sefvinj,  with  a  uermon  from 
South  or  Barrow,  would  be  a  pour  substitute  for  the 
mystieal  eloqut:nce  of  some  n^w  idol  down  thevale, 
he  expressed  considerable  divguil.  Tbey  tiever  met 
n^ain  in  thia  world.  In  truth,  Ballantyne^e  health 
also  waa  already  mucb  broken ;  and  if  Scott  had 
been  entirely  himself,  he  would  noi  have  failed  to 
connect  that  circum»innce  in  r  charitable  way  with 
t  h  is  never  b  iron  g-  min  d  ed  m  a  n '  «i  reoen  t  n  b  o  ndo  n  metit 
of  his  own  old  terra  Jlrmfy^  both  reliaious  and  poli- 
tic tl.  But  this  IB  a  sfubjeet  on  which  we  have  no 
lit  la  to  dwell.  Sir  Walter's  misgivings  about  him- 
9ts\U  if  I  read  him  aright,  now  rendered  him  deairQuA 
of  eitternaUupipoTi  ^  but  tbia  novel  inclination  hb 
apirit  would  fain  Ecuppresa  and  disguise  eiren  from 
itself. 

When  I  again  saw  him  on  (b^  I3tb  of  this  momh» 
he  showed  me  several  shetta  of  the  new  romance^ 
and  told  me  how  he  bad  designed  at  first  to  have  it 
printed  by  somebody  elM*  thnn  Ballantyne,  but  that 
on  reflection,  he  had  *hnmk  from  hurting  hia  f«U 
iO(?s  on  so  tender  a  point.  1  found,  however,  that 
he  bad  neither  invited  nor  received  any  opinion  from 
James  as  to  what  he  had  written,  luit  that  he  had 
taken  an  alarm  leat  he  should  fall  inti^  ^tne  blui^^ 
der  about  the  acen^ry  fijced  on  {which  he  bad  never 
seen  but  once  when  a  ecboolboy,)  and  baJ  keipi  the 
sheets  in  jfiroof  until  1  should  come  hack  and  ac- 
company bim  in  a  sbori  excuraion  to  Lanarkshire, 
He  was  antiods  in  particular  to  see  the  tombs  in 
the  ChorL'h  of  St.  Rnde,  ndjoinin;:  the  site  of  hia 
^"Castle  Dangerous.^*  ofwhicn  Mr.  Blorehad  shown 
him  dra^\  ing^t ;  and  ho  booed  to  pick  op  some  of 
the  minute  traditions,  in  wnieh  he  b*»d  always  de- 
lighted, among  the  inhabitatits  of  Dougla»dale> 

Weaet  out  early  on  the  1  St b,  and  ascended  tha 
Tweed,  passing  in  succeHsion  Yair,  Aabesliel,  In- 
nerieitbins,  Traquair,  and  mtrsy  tnore  scenes  dear 
to  his  ear fy  life,  and  celebrated  in  bia  writing.  Tha 
morning  waa  still,  hut  gloomy^  and  at  length  wo 
bad  aonu:  thunder  It  seemed  to  excite  him  vividly, 
and  on  coming  soon  afterwards  within  ^iew  of  that 
remarkable  edifice  (Dj-ochcl  Castle)  on  the  moor- 
land ridge  between  Tweed  and  Clyde,  which  was 
bepun,  but  never  finished,  by  the  Rr^gent  Morton— 
a  i^aantic  mm  typical  of  hia  ambition—Sir  Walter 
could  hardly  be  reetramed  from  making  some  effort 
to  reach  it,  Morton,  too,  ^n^a  a  Doug  I  a  a,  and  lb  a  I 
name  was  at  present  his  charm  of  charms.  We 
pnahed  on  to  Biggar.  however,  and  reaching  it  la* 
wards  sunset,  were  detained  there  for  some  time  by 
want  of  poat-horaes.  It  was  soon  discovered  who 
he  wa»;  the  population  of  ihe  little  lown  turned 
out  J  and  be  w  as  evidently  graiifirrd  wtth  iheir  re- 
a^ctfu]  curiosity.  It  was  the  first  time  I  observed 
him  otherwise  inan  annoyed  upotiauch  an oeeasion. 
Jedbufgh,  no  doubt,  fe^¥iige(9eyiiii@i@i^ll8  h« 


^' 


UFE  OF  SIR  WALTER  900TT. 


mh^shi  he  plaftaed  to  find  that  fiollucal  difference» 
M  not  mi«TfCTB  evttf  -where  with  his  rrception 
among  hm  countrymen.  Btii  I  fancy  the  cftuae  lay 
doeper. 

Another  symptom  tfiot  disti-eBBed  me  during  this 
journey  was,  ihai  he  tEwmod  c/iiistniuly  to  be  st'itinK 
tasks  to  hii  memory.  I(  was  not  as  of  olei>  when 
if  any  one  qnoted  a  vorsc^  he,  from  the  fulneea  of 
hi»  heart,  could  not  help  repeaiine  the  context. 
Hfi  waaobvioueiy  in  fear  that  this  prodigiotja  <?nj^ne 
ba^  loit,  or  was  losing  its  tcnatitv,  and  taking 
^tiy  ocpaston  to  rub  ana  hi  retch  it.  He  aomatinieB 
6fFed|  and  e are  it  np  with  mUcria  coffii^ndi  tn  hii 
i]U  At  otTier  times  he  sncceeded  to  admirmtvon, 
Scnrfrtnilcd  ns  he  closed  his  recital.  Abmtt  a  mila 
hf^yond  Biggar,  wo  ovi?rtook  a  parcel  of  carters  one 
of  whom  was  maltreating  his  horae,  atid  tSir  Walter 
eailed  to  hitn  fifom  the  carriage- window  in  fireat 
mdiRnntioij.  The  man  looked  and  spukp  in  oof  en  t- 
If  J  and  as  we  drove  on,  be  uacd  some  Htrong  15*- 
preearona  ahout  what  he  wodd  have  done  had  this 
happened  within  the  hiitmds  of  hia  pherifiship.  As 
he  coniinuc^d  moved  in  an  uncommon  degrc^i,  1 
mid  jokinj^ly.  that  1  wondered  hia  porridge  diet  had 
.  kft  his  blood  so  warm,  and  quoted  Priori 

''  WnB  ever  Taruur  fierco  or  cruel 

He  amiled  graciously,  and  extemporized  thia  raiia^ 
tion  of  ihe  neit  couplet— 

'^  Yet  who  fllialt  stand  the  Sheriff's  fatcc. 
If  SeikirU  carter  bcaia  hl«  horse  1"' 

ThiB  se«mcd  to  put  him  into  the  train  of  Prior,  and 
be  repeated  several  atrikiti;^  paaaaAes  both  of  the 
Alma  and  tbe  Solomon-  He  waa  sidl  at  this  when 
we  r^^ach^  a  lotieiah  hdl^  and  he  ftoi  out  to  wslk  a 
lutle.  As  we  cUmbed  the  aaeeot,  he  lean m^  heavily 
on  rtjy  iJihouldf.'r,  we  were  met  by  a  conple  of  bca- 
garaj  whowere^  or  professed  to  be,  old  soldiorn  both 
of  figyn  t.  and  ^the  Pe  nm  aula.  One  of  t  hem  wan  ted 
alqg,  wmch  curci^niBtaace  alone  would  have  operted 
Soott'a  purae^itfiogBk  though  for  c^  fade  &  sad  old 
blackguard :  but  ihe  fellow  had  recognised  hie  per- 
aon.  as  it  happeiiect,  and  in  askinf^  an  alms  bade 
God  bleaa  him  Cervenilf  by  his  name.  The  mendi- 
canta  went  on  their  way,  and  we  stood  breathing 
(Withe  knolL  Sir  Walter  foliowed  them  with  his 
eye^  and  planting  his  stick  flrmly  on  the  sod,  re^ 
peated  without  break  or  liesitaUon  Prior's  veracs  to 
the  historian  Meiujrsy.  That  he  applied  them  to 
Qimself  w^aa  touchingly  obvioaa,  and  therefore  J 
must  copy  tham^ 

*' Whiite*er  til r  ODumrfmen  hav*  done, 
Dy  imw  md  mt.  by  swon]  nad  pin, 

And  all  th9  h^km,  vrothi  thai  vtftw 
;  f         Thj  Wiirki,  give  ihoa  Uie  nrjU«i?  due— 
^  At  oncQ  xn»tfuolad  UHi  do%bitid. 

"  Vat  for  the  (iunc  of  ?i!i  Tlietc  deeds,     ■ 
;  ^        What  begcar  la  the  Inv4ltd«i, 

With  luueueis  brok^,  wiUi  t^Uadneas  Bmittan, 
Wiflied  ever  dccfffiiiTio  die, 
^         To  have  boea  cUher  QlttSeiay— > 
Or  any  mgniu-ch  he  has  vrntteti  T 

'*  'Tis  fttmnnflt  clear  auihor^/et  ft  tme  iu, 
.  Thai  down  imtn  Phar>niif>nd  ta  Loula 

'  Ad  Gii^ci  Hfp,  jat,  c&ll  it  i'HiJia., 

And  fee!  the  tU^  yqt  ab«o  the  dire. 

Oaii  seujie  tlui  Mrsniiiji  f^odure  I 
Reaolvc  me*  Conibfay,  <jt  FanUiae. 

"TlKj  cpaji  in  fmvar  irifie  ktiown, 
Thaiivh  his  best  part  Jotuf  since  was  don«t 

^Wil  cm  the  KM^v  deiireB  Ui  tarry. 
And  he  who  play'd  the  harlequin, 
Aflcf  tho  leut^  still  UiOfU  the  acone^ 

Un willing  to  retire,  though  weary." 

Wespent  th«  ttight  at  the  Inn  of  Douglaa  Mill, 
and  at  an  early  hour  next  morning  proceedec)  to  in- 
apect,  findct  the  care  of  one  of  Lord  Douglas's  (en- 
ajnta.  Mr.  Huddow^  the  Castlfi^  the  strange  old 

I  *  '* Jttt  wbfi  aLtJl  it4nd  Ki»  n«e  uid  (arm. 

[r&t:  hti  d<ie*i  ihoa  e^iM  bii  bam«r* 


bourijf,  the  Chcrch,  long  aiooe  deserted  aa  a  pke«  <if 
worship,  anti  the  vt:Ty  eitraordinary  nionumeni*  of 
the  most  heroic  and  powerful  family  in  iheannalaof 
S cotl an ti  Tti a i  wo rks  of  s c u Ipt ure  eq ual  to  any  of 
the  fourteenth  cei^tury  m  VVesiminsier  Abbey  *for 
ituch  thev  certainly  were,  though  much  mutdated  by 
Crum  well's  aoldiery)  fehonld  be  found  in  so  remote 
an  inland  place,  attests  strikingly  the  bound Ie*«  re- 
smufces  of  ihose  hanEhiy  lords  ^' whoae  coronet^" 
as  *Seott  says,  "so  often  coimterpoiaed  tie  crown*" 
The  otfigy  of  Lhe  best  friend  of  Bmc*  ti  tl!Mn«  the 

'  tyumber,  and  r«|iFescnts  him  crofss-legged,  us  having 
fallen  in  battle  frith  the  Saracen,  when  e^i  his  waf 
to  Jerusalem  with  the  heajrL  of  his  kine*  The  who  I  ft 
people  of  the  bttTonj^  Knthered  roimd  the  doora,  and 
two  persona  of  n^itreme  old  a^e,  one  so  o^d  that  he 
well  remembered  DuAt  MlfKe— that  is  to  say*  the 
CoHfjueror  of  Go  I  tod  en— were  introduced  to  lell  all 
their  loeal  legend^  while  Sir  Walter  eJta mined  hf 

<  torchlight  these  hi  lent  witnesaea  of  past  gT?atn«M. 
It  was  a  strange  and  a  melancholy  scene,  and  ii* 

'  recollection  prompted  some  passages  in  Castle  Dan- 
eerona,  which  might  almost  have?  been  wniien  at 
tn e  aame  time  wi  tit  L a mtTiertnoor  Th h  aj >pcitta ce 
of  the  village,  too,  is  most  tidily  transferred  f©  the 
novel  \  and  I  may  say  the  same  of  tlie  sarfoonding 
landftcape.  We  descended  into  a  aort  of  crypt  in 
which  the  Douglaaaes  were  buried  until  about  a^ 
century  ago,  when  there  was  room  for  notnore ;  the 
leaden  cotftn?  around  the  wall  bcin^  pded  on  each 
other,  until  the  lower  ones  had  been  pressed  as  flat 
aa  shetfta  of  pasteboard,,  while  the  floor  itself  was 
entirely  paved  wiih  others  of  cotnijarntively  modem 
date,  on  which  coronet!?  and  inacTiptionsmisht  still 
be  traced.  Hero  the  silver  case  that  once  held  the 
noble  heart  of  the  Good  Lord  James  htraselli  t»  alilf 
pointed  out-  It  is  m  the  form  of  a  heart,  wbieh«  in 
memory  of  his  glorious  mission  and  ^le,  occupies 
ever  since  the  cliief  place  in  the  blazon  of  hta  po«- 
terity  :^ 

"The  blootlj  bean  blamed  ta  the  van, 
Ahxiotmctng  Douglas'  Jreaded  nama/^ 


This  charneMiouee,  too,  will  be  reeognised  t„„,. 
Of  the  redoubted  Castle  itself;  there  remains  bof  4 
emal!  detached  frap^ment  cohered  wiih  ivv,  i  loii  tA 
the  present  mansion  ;  btu  he  hunc  over  it  long,  of 
rather  stit  beside  if,  drawing  outlines  on  the  ta«C 
and  arranging  in  hia  fancy  the  *?wecp  of  the  oldpre- 
cin  r  [  s.  Before  th  e  su  bj  a  con  t  a  nd  avirrou  ndi  ng  li  ke 
and  niorasri  were  drained,  ibc  position  mua*  indeed 
have  been  the  perfect  model  of  solitary  strength, 
Thu  crowd  had  foliowed  tis.  and  weivlirifjenagabriat 
to  see  him  on^  more  as  he  got  into  nis  carriage. 
They  attended  him  ro  the  spot  where  it  wa«  wait- 
ing, in  perrect  attence.  It  waa  not  like  a  mob,  bitt 
a  proeesition*  He  was  oaain  obyioua!^  grttifieiJ, 
and  ^niutpti  thi:tn  with  an  earnest  yet  plaeid  air,  aa 
he  took  his  leave  He  expmsstes  in  hia  irt1rodtictki«i 
much  tlLankfulness  for  the  aiiention  of  Mr,  Had- 
dow,  and  also  of  Lord  ENnig1aa*s  chamberlain,  Air. 
Ftnlay^  who  had  joined  us  at  tbe  Caatie. 

It  was  again  a  darkish  clondy  dayi  wiib  •ome^*. 
casienal  mMCtermi;a  of  distant  tlmndtir,  andberhijis 
the  state  of  the  atmosphere  told  upon  Bit  Walters 
nerves '  but  I  had  never  before  seen  him  so  sen^- 
live  as  he  waa  all  the  mortiing  after  thii^  iii^oecLion 
of  Douglas.  As  we  drove  over  the  high  table- laad 
of  LesrnahagOj,  he  repeated  1  know  not  how  matiy 
verst'S  from  Win  ton,  JJflrl>our,  and  Blind  Harry, 
with,  I  believe^  a  {must  every  stanza  of  Dunbaj^a. 
ek^  on  tbe  Deaths  of  the  Makiira  {pocn-i).  It  wan 
now  thai  I  saw  him,  such  as  he  patnta  mmiclf  ia 
one  or  two  pafisages  gf  Ida  Dianfi  but  tueh  ialiti 
companions  in  the  nteridion  vigour  of  bit  Iif«  nev«r 
saw  him—"  the  rushing  of  a  brook,  or  ihe  sighing 
of  the  summer  breeze  bringing  the  tears  int^  hiseyea 
not  unpleasantly."  Bodily  weakness  laid  the  d*sli- 
cacy  of  the  organiaaiion  bare,  over  which  he  had 
tmded  hiinaelf  m  wearing  a  sort  of  half  stoical  maak^ 
Hi^h  and  exalted  feelinga,  indeed,  he  had  nev^rbom 
able  to  ksep  concealed,  out  he  had  shrunk  fromsx> 
hibitlna  to  human  eye  the  softer  und  gentler  emc»- 
Uons  Avhich  now  trembled  to  iheixirfjMris.  >B&AtiioTe 


UFE  OP  SIR  WALTER  SCOTT. 


56S 


against  it  even  now,  and  presently  came  back  ^m 
toe  Lament  of  the  Makers  to  his  Douglasses,  and 
chanted,  rather  than  repeated,  in  a  sort  of  deep  and 
glowing,  though  not  distinct  recitative,  his  first  fa- 
vourite among  all  the  ballads,— 

"■  It  wu  about  the  Lammaa  tide, 
When  husbaodinen  do  win  their  hay, 

That  the  Doujrhty  Douglas  bownde  him  to  ride 
To  England  to  drive  a  prey." 

—down  to  the  closing  stanzas,  which  again  left  him 
a  tears. 

"Mv  wound  is  deep— I  fain  would  sleep— 

Tue  thou  the  vanguard  of  the  three, 
And  liideme  beneath  the  bracken  bush. 

That  grows  on  yond«r  lily  lee.  .  .  . 
This  deed  was  done  at  the  Ouerbume, 

About  the  dawning  of  tlie  day. 
Earl  Doujclas  was  buried  by  the  bracken-bush,         / 

An/1  the  Percy  led  captive  away.'* 

We  reached  Milton-Lockhart  some  time  before 
the  dinner-hour,  and  Sir  Wnter  appeared  among 
the  friends  who  received  him  there  with  much  of  his 
old  graceful  composure  of  courtesy.  He  walked 
about  a  little— was  pleased  with  the  progress  made 
in  the  new  house,  and  especially  commended  my 
brother  for  having  given  his  bridge  "ribs  like  Both- 
well."  Greenshielos  was  at  baud,  and  he  talked  to 
him  cheeVfully,  while  the  sculptor  devoured  his  fea- 
tures, as  under  a  solemn  sense  that  they  were  before 
his  eyes  for  the  last  time.  My  brother  had  taken 
care  to  have  no  company  at  dinner  except  two  or 
three  near  neighbours  with  whom  Sir  Walter  had 
been  /amiliar  through  life^  and  whose  entreaties  it 
had  been  impossible  to  resisL  One  of  these  was  the 
1^5e  Mr.  ElUott  Lockhart  of  Cleghorn  and  Borth- 
wickbrae— long  member  of  Parliament  for  Selkirk- 
shire—the same  whose  anti-reform  address  had  been 
preferred  to  the  SherifTs  bv  the  freeholders  of  that 
county  in  the  preceding  March.  But,  alas !  very 
soon  after  that  address  was  accepted,  Borthwick- 
brae  (so  Scott  always  called  him  from  his  estate  in 
the  Forest)  had  a  shock  of  paralysis  as  severe  as  any 
his  old  friend  had  as  yet  sustained.  He,  too,  had 
rallied  beyondexpectation,  and  his  familv  were  more 
hopeful,  perhaps,  than  the  other's  dared  to  be.  ,  Sir 
Walter  and  h^  had  not  met  for  a  few  yeara— not  since 
they  rode  side  by  side,  as  I  well  remember,  on  a  mer- 
ry day's  sport  at  Bowhill :  and  I  need  not  tell  any 
one  who  knew  Borthwickbrae,  that  a  finer  or  more 
gallant  specimen  of  the  Border  gentleman  than  he 
was  in  bis  prime,  never  cheered  a  hunting-field. 
When  they  now  met  {heu  guantum  mutaii)  each 
saw  his  own  case  glassed  in  the  other,  and  neither 
of  their  manly  hearts  could  well  contain  itself  as 
they  embraced.  Each  exerted  himself  to  the  ut- 
most— indeed  far  too  much,  and  they  were  both 
tempted  to  transgress  the  laws  of  their  physicians. 

At  night  Scott  promised  to  visit  Cleghorn  on  his 
way  home,  hut  next  morning,  at  breakfast,  came  a 
messenger  to  inform  us  that  Borthwickbrae,  on  re- 
turning to  his  own  house,  fell  down  in  another  fit, 
and  was  now  despaired  of.  Immediately,  although 
he  had  intended  to  remain  two  days,  Sir  Walter 
drew  my  brother  aside,  and  besought  him  to  lend 
him  horses  as  far  as  Lanark,  for  that  he  must  set  off 
with  the  least  possible  delay.  He  would  listen  to 
no  persuasions.  "  No,  William,"  he  said,  "this  is 
a  sad  warning.  I  must  home  to  work  while  it  is 
called  day ;  for  the  night  cometh  when  no  man  can 
work.  I  put  that  text,  many  a  year  ago,  on  my  dial- 
stone  ;  but  it  often  preached  in  vain."* 

We  started  accordingly,  and  making  rather  a 
forced  march,  reached  Abbotsford  the  same  nights 
Dunng  the  journey,  he  was  more  silent  than  I  ever 
before  found  him ;— he  seemed  to  be  wrapped  in 
thought,  and  was  but  seldom  roused  to  take  notice 
of  anv  object  we  passed.  The  httle  he  said  was 
mostly  about  Castle  Dancrerous,  which  he  now 
seemed  to  feel  sure  he  could  finish  in  a  fortnight, 
though  his  observation  of  the  locality  must  needs 

«  TUs  dial-stoM.  which  nsed  to  atand  in  frocit  of  the  old  cot^ 
tain,  and  is  now  in  the  centre  of  U»f  gmrdon.  is  inscribed,  NTE 
TAP  £PX£TAI. 

2X 


c/>^t  tlic  rt- writing  of  8<  v<^rd  piaasiifiB  in  the  cha^- 
Ilt*  altyadv  put  mtiK  type. 

For  1  wo  or  ibre*?  vi  t^ki*  he  twnt  hiiriH^lf  sedulous- 
ly to  his  tawk^  Olid  concluded  Castlo  Darii^^orous, 
iind  ihc  Ianm-eu3i^cndt^i|  Coutil  Robert,  By  this  time 
hE^  had  aLihinined  in  tho  rccommbtidauan  of  all  his 
mcrlicnl  fni^nds,  and  a^fteJ  to  spend  the  coming 
winttT  away  from  Abbatsfard,  aiiiong  new  fietne*, 
in  a  moro  genial  dim  ale,  and  above  all  (so  he  pro- 
miffed.}  in  conipluie  abBhrienf+^  from  nil  literary  la* 
boiir.  When  Cnptain  Bapil  Hall  understood  ilint 
he  hod  rfraolved  an  wintt-rm^  m  Naples  twh^nv  as 
hfts  bt?en  m^nmned,  hid  fion  Chijrtt-s  wae  aiiJicned 
to  the  BritiBh  LfRfliionJ  itot'curred  to  tho  zealous 
sailor  thst  on  such  an  occasion  as  thi»  all  (hough ts 
of  poliuial  dilT^renue  ou^ht  to  ha  chaiTiifiat^di,  aod  he, 
unknown  to  ScoLU  nddres^^d  a  It: tier  l%Sic  JamE« 
GFaham,  then  F^mi  Lord  of  the  Admiralty,  etatine 
the  conciiiiion  of  his  fnend's  health.  atiJ  his  proposed 
plan,  and  eftiggefitin^  ih  n  lit  would  be  a  tit  and  gftiGa- 
ful  tbins!  foT  the  Kiiig's  Govemmeni  to  pine?  a  fri* 
Haic  ni  hi!^  disposal  mr  his  voyaj^o  tvi  tli«  Mediterrft- 
nean.  Sir  Jame^  repiied*  honourahlv  for  all  con- 
cerntd,  that  it  alTordtd  bim^blf,  and  hiii  Royal  Mae- 
(«T,  the  smcerrrst  aatjjsifattion  to  comply  wjth  this 
hint  J  atid  that  whenever  Sir  Walter  found  it  conve- 
nkut  to  conie  iomhwnrde,  a  vessel  should  be  pN^ 
partKJ  for  his  recepLion.  NolluDfi  could  b«  hand- 
sonitr  than  the  viayin  which  all  tks  mauer  was 
airnn^ed,  aT)d  Scott,  deep lygrnlified.cxd aimed  ih^t 
thins:B  wero  yet  in  the  hands  of  Ken  tkitien ;  but  that 
hf  fiJired  they  had  ht^n  iindeimininK  iht  atats  of 
soeii^ty  wltich  required  atich  pi^aoris  as  LhetneeUes 
(o  ht^  at  the  ht'od, 

Hk  Imd  no  vri^hi  however,  to  lea*e  AhboUiford 
until  ilie  approach  of  winter  t  at^d  havmjir  dbniissed 
his  Tales,  seemed  to  buy  to  hitrjself  thai  he  won  Id 
*njov  hia  dear  valley  for  the  mterveoinR  w^ksi,  drawr 
friends  about  him.  revisit  all  the  familiar  flccnes  in 
hi  ft  neighbour  hood  once  mure;  nnd  if  he  were  never 
to  come  bitek^  it  ore  himself  with  the  most  H£tceab1e 
recoUsctiont  in  his  power,  and  so  cooducL  hiui^elT 
a^  to  bektiitaih  to  tis  who  surrounded  him  a  last 
s tuck  ii[  ii^M  tie  im p ression s.  He  eon ti nued  lo  wo rk 
a  litlle  at  his  rjolt«  and  prefaces,  the  /ieiiquimtif 
Ojdbuck,  und  lht>  iygivii  Abbotp/ordunsi4  i  but  did 
nof  Hitii^ue  bimecEf ;  and  when  onee  sll  plans  wen 
HrUlrd.  uml  all  care*  in  00  far  as  possible  aei  aeide^ 
hs?<htalTh  tind  apirits  certaioly  rallied  moat  wonder- 
fully. He  had  settled  that  my  wsfe  and  I  should 
dine  at  Abbotaford,  and  he  and  Anne  at  Chiefs  wood, 
,  dny  abotJi  i  and  thi«  rule  wasf>cldom  departed  from* 
FSoth  01  home  and  in  the  coils^e  he  was  willina  to 
huvii  a  few  gueets,  fo  ihey  were  not  strangers.  Mr. 
Jamtfs  (the  autlior  of  Hichelieu)  and  hi  if  lady,  who 
thi^  m^&t*im  \\v&l  at  M^xpolflc,  and  >Tr.  Archdeacon 
Wiiliurrjp,  wlio  was  iipenaing  hi?  vnentien  at  Mel* 
ro?ts  were  welcome  oqditioni^,  and  fru]i3Lnt(v  so,  to 
hjj^  a ^:c tie  10 mod  circle  of  the  ScuMf  of  Harden,  ihe 
Pringles  of  VVbyibank  and  Clifion,  the  Rufistlls  of 
AshesiieL  [he  llrewfltera*  and  the  Pergusonft*  Sir 
VYaJur  ijbstrved  the  prescribed  die t,  on  the  whol& 
laretly  tte4:iira!ely[  and  seemed,  whon  in  the  tnid?t  of 
h\^  fninily  and  friend*,  always  irnnquii,  aonjelimea 
chei-'rfid.  fJo  one  or  Iwo  occasions  he  was  even 
;;av  :  parlienlarly,  I  ihink,  when  tbij  weather  wa^  b» 
fine  a*  10  tennpt  na  to  dine  in  the  niarble-haU  at  Ab- 
hoiftford,  or  at  an  early  hour  undt-r  the  trees  at* 
rhifjfewood,  in  the  okl  jfiahion  of  liose^d  F^U  da 
17/^(1^^.  I  rather  think  Mr.  Adolphus  was  prewnt 
a(  oof  of  ihese^  for  the  tiitiCt  niirlhrul  doings;  but  if 
so,  he  has  not  recorded  it  in  his  oleBanl  paper  of 
re  mini  seen  cea— from  which  I  now  take  my  last  ex- 
tracl :— 

"  To  the  iiTiliLTiin  Df  TA^r*  in%fA  Mr.  Afkjlpbus)  **  the 
iirrw  Rhvck  vih\c\i  had  fiUlen  npmi  Str  Waljf^r's  conEfOii* 
lion  hmJ  loll  trin, m'St  noi  mdi*ed  vrrry  runspieuoii/ii,  bn; 
pniu fully  *th»ervahle ;  oud  he  wils  sjwbjeri  to  u  coUbtAm, 
ttiuiiKii  ajit>ttrpu<ly  not  a  vory  srverfv  rvj^utien  a«  nn  In. 
vatl  ^  L  A 1 1  nb  h; ,  If  ttt  any  j>  11  niuoi  w  p  re  j  1  r  F^vn  t^  he  if'oko 
hm  Un5*^,  I:  hdicYc  frcun  a  rJjffiLMilly  Ui  iii^J^liS!;  hSrueeir 
Ihcarnl,  nnt  so  Biuch  because  ^u^  artkularion  vtMs  ollfhtljf 
hupalTf  iJ,  aji  thiU  hi*  viL>k*'  w&s  wf^aHej^*iL  After  41  Mner, 
Uu>u£h  he  itLll  snt  Whh  jtua  tine*lt,^ijpA^p^jmkwti 
In  tuinplianiTti  wtvh  tbPi^ti^|HtWeVpfSit\44^^  hna, 


UFE  OF  SOL  WALTER  SCOTT. 


it  into  mj  nand,  he  could 
)  and  earnett,  that  It  might 
)ut  to  RMlst  the  police  in  a 
ir,  even  at  this  period,  was 


thoach  he  mi^  be  teen,  once  or  twice  in  the  coarse  of 
.A  aitlui|c,-to  steal  a  gteasL  a* if  fnadvMlenthr.  I  coidd  not 
perceive  that  his  ncuUtes  of  mUid  ware  in  any  respect 
obscured,  except  that  oeoaaionalljr  (but  not  Terr  often) 
he  Was  at  a  loss  for  some  obvious  word  This  fiulure  of 
recollection  had  begun  I  think  the  year  before.  The  re- 
mains of  his  old  cheerfulness  were  still  living  within  him, 
but  they  required  opportunity  and  the  presence  of  few 
persons  to  disclose  themselres.  He  spoke  of  his  ap- 
proaehing  voyage  with  resixnation  more  than  with  hope, 
and  I  could  not  find  that  he  looked  forward  with  much  in- 
terest  or  curiosity  to  the  new  scenes  hi  which  he  was 
about  to  travel. 

"  The  menacing  atate  of  aflUra  in  the  country  he  was 
leaving  oppressed  him  with  melancholy  anticipations.  In 
the  little  conversation  we  had  formerly  had  on  subjecu 
of  this  kind,  I  had  never  found  him  a  querulous  politician ; 
he  could  look  manfully  and  philosophically  at  those 
chiinir^^-  jn  "-  ,  t .  f  sotlif'tv  which  time,  and  the  pro- 

grr^^i,  wr/sL  .Ji  jii  .sjr.^rf'.!,  or  the  human  mind  were  un- 
eonifuEiabiy  wfirltin^  ont^  though  the  innovations  might 
tiuMu  siime  uf  lt^«ir  ifiuUi  accord  with  his  own  taste  and 
o|iiiikinA  Bui  the  r^^TDJuiK^jiB  now  beginning,  and  the 
TiHjlfiu^fl  of  wtirii  and  d*f^-il  ^^jth  which  they  were  urged 
on.  borj*  fee^fily  ujuju  htn  lii ushts,  and  gave  them,  when 
tnrtiF'iI  tn  ihia  ilir«tllGn.  t^  doomy  and  ominous  cast. 
W tit  II  t  ifift  hita  in  go  U}  Ldiidon,  he  eave  me,  as  a  kind 
of  [rm  trtur  tdkmi,  n  iriJrlc,  nf  rather  cTubi  of  formidable 
Bii+>  jo4  fijcurp^ttorl.  -    '^  -  "  ■ 

no4  help  SR^iniT,  hv ; 
prove  u*eful  if  1  vv 
jTKit.     Hgt  bis p rfvtxLlj i,m  y,- ■.■..■ 
^indlyr  gruial,  and  plpaauf^f .  i 

**  On  the  last  day  wlitr  Li  I  hid  the  hanpfnMS  to  pass  with 
l^im  lurionf  hln  own  hilU  Am  L  .-^^reamajhe  appointed  an  ex- 
eu rvKi n  to  Oakirtnal *  and  th *■  V. inns  ofEttrick.  Bliss  Scott, 
and  two  other  Ijidie^,  oni^  uf  whom  had  not  been  in  Scot- 
land beforie,"\T[?rE?  ofthe  pirry.  He  did  the  honours  of 
the  country  with  aa  much  ■if  and  gallantry,  in  spirit  at 
t«ut.  at  ho  ceiild  Iwv^  f^,.'.^  q  twenty  years  earlier.  I 
t^caVX^tu  ihoLf  ID  AfrUin^  uruE,  he  attempted  to  plead  his 
hArijy  li^hLU  aa  ui  olJ  rnaii' coach  traveller  for  keeping 
tht  [i^&st  cojif  ohlf  ne  plnciy  In  the  carriage.  When  we 
cuup  to  tli€  ]4nQa,  W4>  walk^il  some  way  up  the  stream, 
and  vj^wrd  ihi<  hokUnd  ntriuitic  little  torrent  from  the 
tdp  o  r  thn  bigh  hjiu  k .  t1 1'  ~  1 1 1  <  »d  contemplating  it  in  an  at- 
liiudo  of  Ttjst;  the  day  was  past  when  a  minute's  active 
exertion  would  have  carried  him  to  the  water's  brink. 
Perhaps  he  was  now  for  the  last  time  literally  fulfilling 
the  vrlsh  of  his  own  Blinstrel,  that  in  the  decay  of  life  he 
■light 

'Still  feel  the  faraeae  down  Bttriek  break.* 
80  much  was  his  great  strength  reduced,  that,  as  he  gased 
upon  the  water,  one  of  his  stag-hounds  leaping  forward  to 
careas  him  had  almost  thrown  him  down ;  but  for  such 
accidents  as  this  he  cared  very  little.  We  travelled  mer- 
rilv  homeward.  As  we  went  up  some  hiU,  a  couple  of 
cmldron  hung  on  the  back  of  the  carriage.  He  suspend- 
ed his  cndcel  over  them  with  a  protesqnc  face  of  awful- 
ness.  The  brats  understood  the  countenance,  and  onjv 
clung  the  faster.  *  They  do  not  much  mind  the  ShcritT;' 
said  he  to  us,  with  a  serio-comic  smile,  and  affectinar  to 
■p^ak  low.  We  came  home  late,  and  an  order  was  issued 
that  no  one  should  dress.  Though  1  believe  he  himself 
caused  the  edict  to  be  made,  he  transgressed  it  more  than 
any  of  the  parly." 

I  am  not  sure  whether  the  Royal  Academician, 
Turner,  was  at  Abbotaford  at  the  time  of  Mr.  Adol- 
phus's  last  visit ;  but  several  little  excursions,  such 
aatheone  here  described,  were  made  in  the  company 
of  this  great  artist,  who  had  oome  to  Scotland  for 
the  purpose  of  making  drawings  to  illustrate  the 
■cenery  of  Sir  Walters  poems.  On  several  such 
occasions  I  was  of  the  partv— and  one  day  deserves 
io  be  specially  remembered.  Sir  Walter  took  Mr.- 
Turner  that  morning,  with  his  friend  Skene  and  my- 
■elil  to  Smailholm  Crags;  and  it  was  while  louns;- 
ing  about  them,  while  the  painter  did  \i\«  sketch, 
that  he  told  Mr.  Skene  how  the  habit  of  lying  on 
the  turf  there  among  the  sheep  and  Iambs,  when  a 
lame  infant,  had  ^iven  his  mind  a  peculiar  tender- 
ness for  those  animals  which  it  had  ever  since  re- 
tained.t  He  seemed  to  enjoy  the  scene  of  his  child- 
hood—yet there  was  many  a  touch  of  sadness  both 
g'  I  his  eye  and  his  voice.  He  then  carried  us  to  Dry- 
uri^h,  out  excused  himself  from  attending  Mr.  Tur- 
ner mto  the  enclosure.    Mr.  Skene  and  I  perceived 

•  Oakwood  is  arained  caatls  os  the  Harden  estate  in  the  vale 
ofEttrick. 
t  See  AnUt  p^  21. 


that  it  woold  be  heitar  ibriu  lo  latTe  him  alone, 
and  we  both  accompanied  Turaer.  Laadyt  we  maat 
not  omit  to  call  at  Bemeraidfr— for  of  that  aacHBt 
residence  of  the  moat  ancient  family  now  snbaist- 
ing  on  Tweedside,  he  waa  resolved  there  moit  be  a 
fit  memorial  by  this  ^acefiil  band.  The  good  laird 
and  lady  were  of  course  flattered  with  this  fotidnesa 
of  reBpect,  and  after  walking  about  a  little  while 
among  the  huge  old  trees  that  surround  the  tower, 
we  ascended  to,  I  think,  the  third  tier  of  its  vaulted 
apartments,  and  had  luncheon  in  a  stately  hall, 
arched  also  in  stone,  but  with  well-sized  windows 
(as  being  out  of  harm's  way)  dulv  blaxooed  with 
shields  and  crests,  and  the  time-honoured  motto, 
BxTiDB,  Betidx— being  the  first  wordb  of  a  prophetic 
couplet  ascribed  lo  Thomas  the  Rhymer : — 
"  Betide,  betide,  whate»er  betide. 
There  shall  be  Haigs  in  Bemerside." 

Mr.  Turner's  sketch  of  this  picturesque  PeeL  and 
its  */  brotherhood  of  venerable  trees,  is  prooably 
familiar  to  most  of  my  readers.* 

Mr.  Cadell  brought  the  artist  to  Abbotsford,  and 
waa  also  I  think  of  this  Bemerside  party.  I  must 
not  omit  to  record  how  gratefiilly  all  Sir  Walter's 
family  felt  at  the  time,  ana  still  remember,  the  deli- 
cate and  watchful  tenderness  of  Mr.  Cadeirs  con- 
duct on  this  occasion.  He  so  managed  that  the 
Novels  just  finished  should  remain  in  tjrpes,  but  not 
thrown  ofl*,  until  the  author  should  have  departed; 
80  as  tojrive  opportunity  for  revising  and  abridging 
them.  He  might  well  be  the  bearer  of  cheering 
news  as  to  their  greater  concerns,  for  the  sale  of  the 
D/^gnum  had,  in  spite  of  political  turbulences  and 
distractions,  ^one  on  successfully.  But  he  ^bably 
strained  a  pomt  to  make  things  appear  still  better 
than  they  really  were.  He  certainly  spoke  so  as  to 
satisfy  his  friend  that  he  need  ^ve  nimself  no  sort 
of  uneasiness  about  the  pecuniary  results  of  idle- 
ness and  travel.  It  was  about  this  time  that  we 
observed  Sir  Walter  beginning  to  entertain  the  na- 
tion that  his  debts  were  paid  off!  By  degrees, 
dwelling  on  this  fiincy,  he  betieved  in  it  fiilly  and 
implicitly.  It  was  a  f^ross  delusion-^but  neither 
Cadell  nor  any  one  else  had  the  heart  to  disturb  it 
by  any  formal  statement  of  figures.  It  contributed 
greatly  more  than  any  circumstance  besides  to 
sooth  Sir  Walter's  feelings,  when  it  became  at  last 
necessaf)'  that  he  should  tear  himself  from  his  land 
and  his  honsts  and  the  trees  which  he  had  nursed. 
And  wfih  all  mat  was  done  and  forborne,  the  hour 
when  it  (?ame  was  a  most  heavy  one. 

Very  near  the  end  there  came  some  unexpected 
thin'^"?  10  cs«T  a  sunset  brilliancjr  over  Abbotsford 
Hss  son,  th(  iMajor,  arrived  with  tidings  that  hehwl 
obiuiacd  lijave  of  absence  from  hin  regiment,  and 
should  be  in  readiness  to  sail  with  his  father.  This 
was  a  mighty  relief  to  us  all,  on  Mins  Scott's  ac- 
count as  well  as  his,  for  my  occupations  did  not  per- 
mit me  to  think  of  ^oing  with  him,  and  there  was  no 
other  near  connexion  at  hand.  But  Sir  Walter  was 
dehghted— indeed,  dearly  as  he  loved  all  his  child- 
ren, he  had  a  pride  in  the  Major  that  stood  quite  by 
itself,  and  the  hearty  approoation  which  looked 
through  his  eyes  whenever  turned  on  him,  sparkled 
brighter  than  ever  as  his  own  physical  strength  de- 
cayed. Young  Walter  had  on  this  occasion  sent 
down  a  horse  or  two  to  winter  at  Abbotsford.  One 
was  a  remarkablv  tall  and  handsome  animal,  jet 
black  all  over,  ana  when  the  Major  appeared  on  it 
one  morning,  eouipped  for  a  little  sport  with  the 
greyhounds,  Sir  Walter  insisted  upon  being  put  upon 
Douce  Davie,  and  conducted  as  far  as  the  Cauld- 
ehiels  loch  to  see  the  day's  work  begun.  He  halted 
on  the  high  bank  to  the.north  of  the  lake,  and  I  re- 
mained to  hold  his  bridle,  in  case  of  any  frisk  on  the 
pan  of  the  Covenanter  at  the  "  tumult  great  of  dogs 
and  men."  We  witnessed  a  very  pretty  chase  or  two 
on  the  opposite  side  of  the  water — but  his  eye  fol- 
lowed always  the  tall  black  steed  and  hia  rider. 
The  father  might  well  assure  Lady  Davy,  that  **  a 
handsomer  fellow  never  put  foot  into  stirrup.*'  But 
when  he  took  a  very  high  wall  df  loose  atones,  at 


«SeeSoott's 


^ig^^^y'^Stn^ie 


LIKE  OF  em  WlLTm^SCOTT. 


which  Mcnr  body  else  eranfd,  is  eaeUy  end  eleRtnt- 
lymeif  HMd  been  e  pndale  iir  hie  atnde,  the  old 
jnaa*e  raptire  wte  extreme.  **  Look  at  him,"  emid 
he,  "onlr  look  «t  him.— Now,  isn't  he  a  fine  fel- 
low*?"—-This  was  the  lest  time,  1  believe,  that  Sir 
Walter  moanted  on  horseback. 

He  does  not  seem  to  have  written  many  farewell 
letters ;  bat  here  is  one  to  a  very  old  finend,  Mr. 
Slirkpatrick  Sharpe.  He  had,  apparently,  sub- 
scribed for  Lodge's  splendid  book  of  British  Por- 
traitsL  and  then,  receiviag  a  copy  ex  dono  ouetoris^^ 
sent  his  own  numbers,  as  (hey  arrived,  to  this  gen- 
tleman—a payment  in  kind  for  many  courteous  sifts 
and  communications  of  antiqaarian  and  genealogi- 
csl  interest. 

To  Charlta  SSrkpatriek  S%ar/>e,  E»q.y  Prince't  Strtet, 
EdinUuTgh, 
"  Abbotaford,  September,  1831. 

•*  My  Dew  Cl^arles, 
"I praj  voii.to  honour  me  with  joor  acceptance  of 
the  laat  number  of  Mr.  Lodge's  Illustrioux  Penons.  My 
best  thanks  to  jou  for  the  genealof  j,  which  completes  a 
curious  subject  I  sm  just  setting  off  for  the  Mediter- 
ranean, a  singular  instance  of  a  change  of  luck,  for  I 
have  no  sooner  put  mr  damaged  fortune  into  as  good  a 
condition  as  I  could  desire,  than  my  health,  which  till 
now  has  been  excellent,  has  failed  so  utterly  in  point  of 
.strength,  that  wiiile  it  will  not  allow  me  to  amose  myself 
by  travelling,  neither  will  it  permit  me  to  stay  at  home. 

"  1  should  like  to  have  shaken  hands  with  you,  as 
there  are  few  I  regret  so  much  to  part  with.  ^  Bat  it  may 
not  be.    I  will  keep  my  eves  dry,  if  posdblot  and  Aere- 


fore  content  myeeif  with  bidding  you  a  long  (perhaps  an 
eternal)  farewell.  But  I  may  find  my  way  home  again, 
improved  as  a  Dutch  skipper  from  ft  wt     •  Viliing.    I  am 


Vi- 


ry  happy  that  I  am  like  to  see  Msk  '      Always  youra, 
(U  orUl—  >^Ai.T»  SooTft" 

The  same  deceptive  notion  of  his  pecimiary  af- 
fiiira  comes  out  in  another  little  nota  the  last  I  ever 
leceived  from  him  at  Chielswood.  1  had  meant  to 
make  a  run  into  Lanarkshire  for  a  day  or  two  to  see 
my  own  relations,  and  spoken  of  carrying  my  sec- 
ond boy,  his  namesake,  then  between  five  and  six 
years  of  age,  with  me  in  the  sta/re-coach.  When  I 
mentioned  this  over-night  at  Abbotaford,  he  said 
nothing— indeed  he  was  at  the  moment  a  little  cross 
vrith  me  for  having  spoken  against  some  slip  he 
had  made  on  the  score  of  his  regimen.  Shortly  af- 
ter I  got  home  came  this  billet. 

7*0  J.  O.  Lockhart^  Ea^.j  Chi^at»ood. 
**  Dear  Don  or  Doctor  Giovanni, 
"Can  vou  really  be  thinking  of  taking  Wa-Wa  by  the 
coach,  and  I  think  you  said  outside  1  Think  of  Johnny, 
and  be  careful  of  this  little  man.  Are  you,  par  haxard^ 
something  in  the  state  of  the  poor  Capitaine  des  Dragons 
that  comes  in  singing,— 

'  Comment  1   Parbleu !   Qu'en  penses  voast 
Bon  Gentilhomme,  et  pas  un  sons.'. 
"If  so,  remember  Richard's  himself  again,  and  make 
free  use  of  the  enclosed  cheque  on  Cadell  for  j550.    lie 
will  gi^o  you  the  ready  as  you  pa.«w  through,  and  you  can 
pay  when  I  ask.    Put  horses  to  your  carrijige,  and  go  hi- 
dalgo fiuhion.    We  shall  all  have  good  days  yet.- 
'  And  those  sad  days  you  deign  to  spend 
With  me,  I  shall  requite  them  all ; 
Sir  Eustace  for  his  tricnds  shall  send. 
And  thank  their  love  in  Grayling  BaU.' 

W.  S."t 

On  the  17th  of  September,  the  old  splendour  of 
Abbotsford  was,  after  a  Ions;  Interval,  and  for  the 
last  time,  revived.  Captain  James  Glencairn  Burni, 
son  of  the  poet,  had  come  home  on  furlough  from 
India,  and  Sir  Walter  invited  him  (with  his  wife, 
and  their  Cicerone,  Mr.  M'Diarmid  of  Dumfries)  to 
spend  a  day  under  his  roof  The  neighbouring  gen- 
try were  assembled,  and  having  his  son  to  nelp 
him,  Sir  Walter  did  most  gracefully  the  honours  of 
the  table.  As,  according  to  him,  a  medal  struck 
Bt  the  time,  however  poor,  is  in  one  respect  better 
than  any  done  afterwards,''  I  insert  some  verses 

*  Sir  Walter's  letter  to  Mr.  Lodf  e's  publisher  is  now  prefixed 
to  that  magmfieent  book ;  ths  circulation  of  which  has  been,  to 
yua  honour  of  the  public,  so  great,  tliat  I  need  not  introduce  the 
beavtinJ  eolotiuni  here. 

1 8es  Ciafabe's  Sir  Euttaee  Qrty. 


with  which  !)e  was  pkaaed,  and  wfiich,  1 1 
express  the  sincere  leelihgs  wi(h  which  every  guest 
witneeaed  this  hia  parting  feaat. 

lhws  waxTTaii  t»  TWaniaa. 
September  the  ISfA,  1831 . 
A  day  I've  seen  whose  brightness  pierced  the  clood 

Of  pain  and  sorrow,  both  for  great  and  small— 
A  nfght  of  flowing  cups,  and  pibrochs  loud. 
Once  more  within  the  Minstrel's  blazon'd  hsIL 

"Upon  this  frozen  hearth  pile  crackling  trees ; 

Let  eyery  silent  chirshach  find  Hs  strmgs ; 
Unfurl  once  more  the  banner  to  the  breeze ; 

No  warmer  welcome  for  the  blood  of  kings !" 

From  ear  to  ear,  from  eye  to  glistening  eve. 

Leap  the  glad  tidings,  and  the  glance  oi  glee ; 
Perish  the  hopeless  breast  that  beats  not  high 

At  thought  beneath  His  roof  that  guest  to  see  f 

What  princely  stranger  comes  T— What  exiled  iard 
From  the  far  East  to  Scotia's  strand  returns— 

To  stir  with  joy  the  towers  of  Abbotsford, 
And  **  wake  the  Minstrel's  soul?"— The  boy  of 

O^Bacred Genius  1  bleaaiog on  the  ehains. 

Wherein  thy  sympathy  can  minds  entwine  1 
Beyond  the  conscious  flow  of  kindred  veins, 

A  power,  a  spirit,  ana  a  charm  are  thhie. 

Thine  oflkpring  share  them.    Thou  hast  trod  the  IsMl^ 
It  breathes  of  thee— and  men,  through  rising  tsarS| 

Behold  the  image  of  thv  manhood  stand, 
More  noble  than  a  galaxy  of  Peers. 

And  He his  father's  bones  had  quaked,  I  weea, 

But  that  with  holierpride  his  heart-strings  bound, 

Than  if  his  host  had  King  or  Kaiser  been. 
And  star  and  cross  on  every  bosom  round. 

High  strains  were  poured  of  many  a  Border  spear, 
While  gentle  fingers  swept  a  throbbing  shell ; 

A  manly  voice,  in  manly  notes  and  clear. 
Of  lowly  love's  deep  bliss  re^Nmded  well 

The  children  sang  the  ballads  of  their  sires:— 
Serene  among  them  sat  the  hoary  Knight; 

And,  if  deaa  Bards  have  ears  for  earthly  lyres. 
The  Peasant's  shade  was  near,  and  drank  deiff  ht. 

As  through  the  woods  we  took  our  homeward  way, 
Fair  shone  the  moon  Ust  night  on  Eildon  HID  i 

Soft  rippled  Tweed's  broad  wave  beneath  her  ray, 
And  in  sweet  murmurs  g[ashed  the  Huntly  rilL 

Heaven  send  the  guardian  genius  of  the  vale 
Health  yet,  and  strength,  and  length  of  honour'd  days, 

Tb  eheer  the  world  with  roanv  a  gallant  tale. 
And  hear  his  children's  children  chant  his  lays,      a 

Through  seas  unrnfllcd  mav  the  vessel  glide. 
That  bears  her  Poet  far  from  Melrose  glen ; 

And  may  his  pulse  be  steadfiut  as  our  pride, 
When  happy  breezes  wall  him  back  again. 

v^ii  LI  I.     ;.(i-.  Lv.  ,^;...:i  -^i  .^i^i  Jof  London 

topr^pflft?  for  her  fn therms  rrception  th^re,  nrid  for 
1he  otitfit  of  hi?  vojnpe  t  ami  on  vUt-  folhtwrng  day 
Mr*  Wordswrtrth  sinl  his  dftughl'  r  arrived  from 
\\>fitoiiiR:Iiind  :o  tnke  fsrowfU  of  him.  This  was 
a  very  fnrinnntc  ctrcum si arno-^no thing  eoiild  have 
prntiticd  8iT  Wnltpf  nioret  or  ^ustmned  him  Ijetter* 
i!^  hf  nwdt^J  nnv  snip  port  from  wii:h*mi  On  the 
aad^  fill  Ll^  arrnni^^mtufB  being  complied,  and 
Ldifikw  hflving  rcmved  a  paper  of  inslnactioae, 
ibelnsi  srtide  i.>f  which  repeats  the  csQijon  to  bo 
**vL"fycatDftiIorthe  dogs"— these  two  ^reat  poets, 
who  had  throtj^b  life  Irtvcd  each  oibcr  wc-li,  mid  m 
tpiK"  4) f  very  diftbrent  ibeoriea  ais  tfi  art,  ap predated 
entrh  other's  (f^niua  more  Justly  than  inferior  spirit* 
ever  did  eitlit  rof  ihemt  »i>t?nt  tho  mornitig  toi;ether 
in  a  vitiit  to  rVewnrk.  Henre  ih*  Inai  of  the  three 
pot' mil  by  i**Kich  Wftrds worth  ha?i  connected  his 
ntijno  10  alt  time  m  ith  the  most  nmiantic  of  Scot- 
tish Hti-eema,  Btit  I  n^d  nut  transcribe  a  pkcc  so 
wel]  known  ns  ihv  '*  T arrow  Revisited." 

Silting  that  evening  m  rhe  Ubram  Sir  Walter 
said  t  ^inM  dtol  aboiit  ibe^  sinpulaHty  mat  Ficldirjg 
and  Smoll*^tr  had  both  bwri  driren  abroad  by  de- 
cjintnff  health,  and  never  peiurned— whirh  circutn- 
S^Kti^^  thf'Htttl  his  lann^jji^r  wa^  TRthtT  chtetful  it 
this  lime,  h^  harl  nfrpn  bf^furr  i^lludtd  to  in  a  dari>*r 
fsaWion  ?  »od  Mr  TVurd^wtirtli  ^*Rre?^ed  bi^  rtsgrct 
tUtit  neilKer  of  rhoi.^^^^^^^^^(r^{l^  ^ 


*^^te 


LIFE  OF  SIR  WALTER  SCOTT. 


tiMred  t«haT6  been  9aitoanded  with  any  due  marks 
df  reape^t  in  the  cloao  of  lifb.  1  happened  to  ob- 
serve that  Cenrantea,  on  his  last  joor  .  .  '  M  adrid*. 
met  with  an  incident  which  seemed  Ui  havo  siven 
him  no  common  satisfaction.  Sir  Waltc^r  did  not 
remember  the  passage,  and  desired  mi'  lu  fmdit  out 
in  the  life  by  Pellicer  which  was  at  h^nri  and  trans- 
late it.  I  did  so,  and  he  listened  wiiti  Eivoly  though 
pensive  interest.  Our  friend  Allan,  Un^  lu^iorical 
painter,  had  also  come  out  that  day  fr>>iii  Edin- 
burgh, and  he  lately  told  me  that  ho  rjuijinbers 
nothing  he  ever  saw  with  so  much  sadpleasure  as 
the  attitudes  and  aspect  of  Scott  and  Wordsworth 
as  the  story  went  on.  Mr.  Wordsworth  wasjat 
that  time,  I  should  notice— though  indeed  his  noole 
stanzas  tell  it— in  but  a  feeble  state  of  general 
health.  He  was  moreover  sufiering  so  much  from 
some  maladv  in  his  eves  that  he  wore  a  deep  green 
shade  over  them.  Thus  he  sat  between  Sir  Walter 
and  his  daughter :  ab»U  omen— but  it  is  no  wonder 
that  Allan  thought  as  much  of  Milton  as  of  Cer- 
vantes. The  anecdote  of  the  young  student's  rap- 
tures on  discovering  that  he  had  been  riding  all  day 
with  the  author  of  Don  Quixote,  is  introduced  in 
the  preface  for  Count  Robert  and  Castle  Danger- 
ous, which— (for  I  need  not  return  to  the  subject) 
CMne  out  at  the  doae  of  November  in  four  volumes, 
as  the  Fourth  Series  of  Tales  of  My  Landlord. 

The  following  Sonnet  was,  no  doubt,  composed 
bv  Mr.  Wordsworth  that  same  evening  of  the  22d 
September. 
"  A  trouble,  not  of  clouds  or  weening  nixxt 
Nor  of  the  setting  sun's  pathetic  llsht 
Engendered,  hangs  o'er  Eildon's  triple  height : 
Spirits  of  power  assembled  there  complain  , 

For  kindred  power  departing  from  their  sight; 
While  TSveed,  best  pleased  in  chanting  a  blithe  strain, 
Saddens  his  voice  again,  and  yet  again. 
Lilt  up  your  hearts,  ye  moumersT for  the  might 
Of  the  whole  worid's  good  wishes  with  him  goes , 
BlesslDgs  and  prayers  in  nobler  retinue 
Than  sceptred  King  or  laurelled  Conqueror  knows, 
Follow  this  wondrous  potentate.    Be  true, 
Yo  winds  of  ocean,  and  the  midlaad  sea, 
Wafting  your  charge  to  soft  Parthenopc." 


CHAPTER  LXXXI. 

BOKBBY—LOlfDON— EPITAPH  ON  HELEN  WALKBE— 
FOBTSBfOUTU- VOVAOB  IN  THE  BAEHAM— GRAHAM's 
JSLAMO— LETTER  TO  MB.  SKENE— MALTA— NOTES 
BTMR8.  JOHNnAVY— SEPTEMBEB— nECEMBEB,  1831. 

Eaelt  on  the  23d  of  September.  Sir  Walter  left 
Abbotsford.  attended  by  his  daughter  Anne,  and 
myself,  and  we  reached  London  by  easy  stages  on 
the  28th,  having  spent  one  day  at  Rokeby.  I  have 
nothmg  to  mention  of  this  journey  except  thai,  not- 
withstanding aU  his  infirmities,  he  would  not  pass 
any  object  to  which  he  had  ever  attached  special  in- 
terest without  getting  out  of  the  carriage  to  revisit 
it.  Hia  anxiety  (for  example)  about  the  gigantic 
British  or,  Danish  effisy  in  the  churchyard  at  Pen- 
nth,  which  we  had  all  seen  dozens  of  times  before, 
seemed  as  great  as  if  not  a  year  had  fled  since 
1797.  It  may  be  supposed  that  tys  parting  with  Mr. 
Morntt  was  a  grave  one.  Findmg  that  he  had  left 
the  ring  he  then  usually  wore  behmd  him  at  one  of 
the  inns  on  the  road,  he  wrote  to  his  friend  to  make 
inquiries  after  it,  as  it  h^d  been. dug  out  of  the  ruins 
of  Hermiuge  Castle,  and  probably  belonged  of 
yore  to  one  of  the  '*  Dark  Knights  of  Liddesdale," 
and  if  recovered,  to  keep  it  until  he  should  come 
back  to  reclaim  it,  but,  in  the  mean  time,  to  wear  it 
for  his  sake.  The  ring,  which  is  a  broad  belt  of 
ttlven  with  an  angel  holding  the  Heart  of  Douglas, 
was  found,  and  is  now  worn  by  Mr.  MorritL 

Sir  Walter  arrived  in  London  in  the  midst  of  the 
Lords'  debates  on  the  second  Reform  bill,  and  the 
ferocious  depionsirations  of  the  populace  on  its  rejec- 
tion were  inpart  witnessed  by  him.  He  saw  thehouaes 
of  SjBveral  of  the  chief  Tories,  and  above  all,  that  of  the 
Duke  of  WelHngton,  shattered  and  almost  sackSd. 
He  heard  of  violence  offered  to  the  persons  of  some 
of  his  own  noble  friends ;  and  having  been  invited 
.to  attend  the  christening  of  the  infant  heir  of  Buc- 


cleuch,  whose  god-father  the  Kin^  had  mropeoed  to 
be^  on  a  day  appointed  by  his  Majesty,  ae  oad  the 
pam  to  understand  that  the  ceramony  mnat  be  ad- 
journed, because  it  was  not  coosideted  wafe  for  his 
Majesty  to  visit,  for  such  a  purpoae,  the  palace  of 
one  of  his  most  amiable^  as  well  aa  iUuatnotis  peera. 
The  following  is  part  of  a  letter  which  I  lately 
received  from  Sir  Walter'a  dear  friend  and  kinaroan, 
Mr.  Scott  of  Gala:— 

**The  last  time  1  saw91r  W.  Scott  was  in  dosser  Place, 

the  -• ^,eT  he  arrived  from  Scotland,  on  his  way  to 

Ital  8  prepared  for  a  change  in  his  appearance, 

but  ;  struclc  with  so  great  a  one  as  1  Ind  expected 

He  y  had  lost  slren;^  since  I  saw  him  ai  Ab- 

bot :  ' .  .  1 1 1^>  previous  autamn,  but  his  eye  was  good.  In 
his  I  II.'  i:l  ition,  however,  there  was  too  manifest  an  im- 
per  We  conversed  shortly,  as  may  be  supposed, 

on  ...a  ijvuah.  *  Weakness,'  he  observed, '  %vas  his  prin- 
cipal complaint.'  I  said  that  I  supposed  he  had  been 
rather  too  fatigued  with  his  ioume  v  to  leave  the  house 
since  his  arrival.  *Oh  no,'  he  replied,  *I  felt  quite  able 
for  a  drive  to-day,  and  have  just  come  from  the  city.  I 
paid  a  visit  to  my  friend  Whituicer  to  ask  him  for  some 
book  of  travels  likely  to  be  of  use  to  me  on  my  expedition 
to  the  Mediterranean.  Here's  old  Brydonc  accordinglv. 
still  as  good  a  companion  as  any  he  could  recommend.' 

*  A  very  agreeable  ons,  certainly,'  I  replied.—*  Brydone' 
(said  he)  *was  sadly  failed  during  hia  latter  vears.  IMd 
you  ever  hear  of  his  remark  on  his  own  works  1'—^  Nev- 
er.'—* Why,  his  family  usually  read  a  little  for  his  arotiae- 
ment  of  an  evening,  and  on  one  occasion  he  was  asked 
if  he  would  like  to  hear  some  of  his  travels  to  Slcf^. 
He  assented,  and  seemed  to  listen  with  much  pleasure 
for  some  time,  but  he  was  too  far  gone  to  continue  his 
attention  long,  and  starting  up  from  a  do2e  exclaimed, 
**  that's  really  a  very  amiuring  book,  and  contains  many 
curious  anecdotes.— I  wonder  if  they  are  all  true." '  Sir 
Walter  then  spoke  of  as  strange  a  tale  as  any  traveller 
could  imagine,  a  new  volcanic  island,  viz.,  which  bed 
appeared  very  lately,  and  seemed  anxious  to  see  lu  *  If  it 
would  ttnit  for  him,'  he  said.  The  offer  of  a  King's  ship 
had  gratified  him,  and  be  ascribed  this  very  much  to  the 
exertions  of  Basil  Hail^'  that  cnrioos  fellow'  (said  be,) 

*  who  takes  charge  of  every  one's  business  without  neg- 
lecting hia  own,  lias  done  a  great  deal  for  me  in  this  Oat- 
ter.'  I  obseived  that  Malta  would  interest  him  match. 
The  history  of  the  knighta,  their  library.  ^Icc.,  he  imme* 
diately  entered  on  keenly.  *I  fear  I  shall  not  be  able  to 
appreciate  Italy  as  It  deserves,'  continued  he,  *  as  I  uo> 
deratand  little  of  painting,  and  nothing  of  music'  *Bat 
there  are  many  other  subjects  of  interest,'  I  repUetl, 
'and  to  you  particularly— Naples,  St.  Elmo,  Paestum,  La 
Montagna,  Pompeii— In  fact,  l  am  only  afraid  you  may 
have  too  much  excitement,  the  bad  eifbcts  of  which,  I 
as  an  invalid,  am  too  well  aware  of— I  had  before  this, 
from  my  own  experience,  ventured  several  hints  on  the 
necessity  of  cauUon  with  regard  to  over-exertion,  biu  Co 
these  he  always  lent  an  unwilling  ear. 

''Sir  Walter  oflen  digressed  during  our  conversation 
to  the  state  of  the  coimtry,  about  which  be  seemed  to 
have  much  anxiety.  I  said  we  had  no  Napoleon  to 
frighten  us  into  good  fellowship,  and  from  want  of  some- 
thing to  do,  began  fighting  with  each  othei^*  Ave'  (satd 
he,)  *  after  conquering  that  Jupiter  Scapin,  and  being  tt 
the  height  of  glory,  one  would  think  the  people  might  be 
content  to  ait  down  and  eat  the  pudding ;  but  no  such 
thing.'  *  When  we've  paid  more  of  the  cash  it  has  cost, 
they  will  be  more  content.'  *  I  doubt  it- They  are  so 
flattered  and  courted  by  Ooverimient  that  their  ^>petita 
for  power  (pampered  as  It  is)  won't  be  easily  satisfied 
now.'  When  talking  of  Italy,  by  the  way,  I  mentioned 
that  at  Naples  he  would  probably  find  a  sister  of  Bfat. 
Lewis's,  Ladv  Lnsbingmn,  wife  of  the  English  consul,  a 
pleasant  family,  to  whom  Lewis  introduced  mo  when 
there  in  1S17  rery  kindly ;— •  Ah,  poor  Bfat.  !*— said  he — 

*  he  never  wrote  any  thing  so  good  as  the  Monk— he  had 
certainly  ulents,  but  they  would  not  stand  much 
creamiTig.* 

*'The  Forest  and  our  new  road  (which  had  cost  both 
so  much  consultation)  were  of  course  touched  on.  The 
foundation  of  one  of  the  new  bridges  had  been  laid  bf 
him— and  this  should  be  commemorated  by  an  inscr^ 
Uon  on  it.  *  Well,'  said  he,  'how  1  should  like  to  have  s 
ride  with  yon  along  our  new  road,  just  opposite  Abbots* 
ford— I  will  hope  to  be  able  for  It  some  day.'  Most  hear- 
tily did  I  join  in  the  wish,  and  could  not  help  flattering 
myself  it  might  ye<  be  possible.  When  we  pwrted,  he 
shook  hands  with  me  for  some  time.  He  did  so  once 
more— but  ad<ied  firmly— 'Well,  we'll  have  a  ride  yet, 
some  day.'  I  pl<>ased  myflelf  with  the  hope  that  he  au- 
gured rightly.  But  on  leaving  him  many  misgivings  pt*e- 
sented  themselves ;  and  the  accounts  firom  the  continent 


UFB  OF  SIR  WAL!ISR  SOOTT. 


M 


HiXT«d  bnft  tM  turelj  to  Mvflnn  the«e  •ppreheailons— 
nerwr  mor«  diil  I  meet  with  my  lUuatrtons  mend  Tbere 
ie  reason  I  believe  to  be  ihanlLful  that  it  was  so— nothlitf 
could  have  been  more  painfU  than  to  witness  the  wreck 
ofamtnJUkehift." 

During  hia  atay,  which  was  till  the  23d  of  Octo- 
ber, Sir  Walter  called  on  many  of  his  old  friends; 
Irat  he  accepted  of  no  hospitalities  except  br^iJtfast- 
ing  once  with  Sir  Robert  Infflis,  on  Clapbam  Com- 
mon,  and  once  or  twice  with  Lady  Ginord  at  Roe- 
hampton.  Usually  he  worked  a  little  in  the  morn- 
ing at  notes  for  the  Magnum,  nnd  ho  drew  up.  as 
already  mentioned,  the  prefart^  !.jr  the  forEhe-tniing 
tales  of  Count  Robert  and  Casilc  Dan^erciiis. 

Dr.  Robert  Ferguson,  one  of  the  faintly  with 
which  Sir  Waher  had  lived  alt  his  dayja  in  auch 
brother- like  affection,  saw  him  cx^Tiatantfy  whih^  he 
remained  in  the  Regent's  Park  t  uud  ihou^^h  mriiher 
the  invalid  nor  his  children  cou I U  fancy  nny  father 
medical  advice  necessary,  it  wn^  "nly  Fer- 

guson that  some  of  his  seniors  Hlniiihi  in 

occasionally  with  him.    Sir  }  I  >  i  r  ^  f  T . .  im 

Scott  reverenced  as  the  fri'ei  Or. 

Holland  (an  esteemed  friend  n-  l  .,  _..l..,  ac- 
oordingly ;  and  all  the  three  concurred  in  recognising 
certain  evidence  that  there  was  incipient  disease  in 
the  brain.  There  were  still,  however,  such  symp- 
toms of  remaining  vigour,  that  they  flattered  them- 
selves, if  their  pauent  would  submit  to  a  total  inter- 
mission of  all  hterary  labour  during  some  considera- 
ble space  of  timsk  the  malady  might  yet  be  arrested. 
When  they  left  him  aAer  the  first  inspection,  they 
withdrew  into  an  adjoining  room,  ana  on  soon  re- 
iqiniiig  him  found,  that  in  the  interim  he  had  wheeled 
nis  chair  into  a  dark  comer,  so  thal^  he  might  see 
their  faces,  without  their  being  able  to  read  his. 
When  he  was  informed  of  the  comparatively  favour- 
able views  they  entertained,  he  expressed  great 
thankfulness;  promised  to  obey  .all  then:  directions 
as  to  diet  and  repose  most  scrupulously  (  and  he  did 
not  conceal  from  them,  that  "  ne  had  feared  insan- 
ity and  feared  themJ' 

The  following  are  extracts  from  his  Diary.— 
"London^  October  2,  1830.— I  have  been  very  ill, 
and  if  not  quite  unable  to  wrke,  I  have  been  unfit  to 
do  it.  I  have  wrought,  however,  at  two  Waverley 
things,  but  not  well.  A  total  prostration  of  bodily 
strength  is  my  chief  complaint.  I  cannot  walk 
half  a  mile.  Tnere  is,  besides,  some  mental  confu- 
sion, with  the  extent  of  which  I  am  not,  perhaps, 
fully  ae<]uainted.  I  am  perhaps  setting.  1  am  my- 
self inclined  to  think  80,  and  like  a  day  that  has  been 
admired  as  a  fine  one,  the  light  of  it  sets  down  amid 
mists  and  storms.    I  neither  regret  nor  fear  the  ap- 

}>roach  of  death^  if  it  is  coming.  I  would  compound 
or  ajittle  pain  instead  of  this  heartless  oiuddinese 
of  mind.  The  expense  of  this  journey,  &.c,  will  be 
considerable,  yet  these  heavy  burdens  could  be 
•  easily  borne  if  1  were  to  be  the  Walter  Scott  I  once 
was— but  the  change  is  great.  And  the  ruin  which 
I  fear  involves  that  of  my  country.  Well  says  Colin 
Mackenzie— 

*  Shall  this  Dofloiation  strike  thy  towers  alone  1 

No,  fair  EUandonan !  such  ruin  'twill  bring. 
That  the  whirl  shall  have  power  tu  unsettle  the  throne. 
And  thy  fate  shall  be  Unk'd  with  the  fate  of  thy  king." 

We  arrived  in  London  after  a  long  journey— the 
weakness  of  my  limbs  palpably  increasing,  and  the 
medicine  prescribed  making  me  weaker  every  day. 
Lockhart,  poor  fellow,  is  as  attentive  as  possible, 
and  I  have,  thank  God,  no  pain  whatever^  could 
the  decay  but  be  so  easy  at  last  it  would  be  too  I 
happy.  But  I  fancy  the  instances  of  Euthanasia 
are  not  in  very  serious  cases  very  common.  In-  { 
stances  there  certainly  are  among  the  learned  and  i 
the  unlearned— Dr.  Black,  Tom  Purdie.  I  should! 
like,  if  it  pleased  God,  to  slip  off  in  Euch  a  auiet  way,  { 
but  we  must  lake  whnt  fate  sends.  I  iiave  not  j 
warm  hopes  of  bein,?  myself  again.  | 

"  Ocl.  12.— lA)rd  Mabon,  a  very  amiable  as  well 
as  clever  young  man,  comes  to  dinner  with  Mr.  Cro- 

*  See  Ballad  of  Eaoodonaa  Castle  io  the  Mimtrelsir.   PoeHetU 


ker.  Lady  LoitiAi  Stuart,  and  Sfar  John  Malcolm. 
Sir  John  told  ns  a  story  about  Ganick  and  his  wife. 
The  lady  admired  her  husband  greatly,  but  blamed 
him  for  a  taste  for  low  life,  and  insisted  that  he  loved 
better  to  play  Scrub  to  a  low-lifed  audience  than 
one  of  his  superior  characters  before  an  audience 
of  taste.  On  one  parucular  occasion  she  was  at  her 
box  in  the  theatre.  Richard  III.  was  the  perform- 
ance, and  Garrick's  acting,  particularly  in  the  night- 
scene,  drew  down  universal  applause.  After  the 
play  was  over,  Mrs.  G.  proposed  going  home,  which 
Garrick  decUned,  alleging  ne  had  some  business  in 
the  green-room  which  must  detain  him.  In  short/ 
the  lady  was  obliged  to  acquiesce,  and  wait  the  be- 
ginning of  a  new  entertainment,  in  which  was  in- 
troduced a  farmer  giving  his  neighbours  an  account 
of  the  wonders  seen  in  a  visit  to  London.  This 
character  was  received  with  such  peals  of  applause 
that  Mrs.  Garrick  began  to  think  it  exceededthose 
which  had  been  so  lately  lavished  on  Riohard  the 
Third.  At  last  she  observed  her  little  spaniel  dog 
was  making  efforts  to  get  towards  the  balcony  which 
separated  mm  from  the  facetious  farmer— and  then 
she  became  aware  of  the  truth.  'How  strange,'  he 
said,  '  that  a  dog  should  know  his  master,  and  a 
woman,  in  the  same  circumstances,  should  not  re- 
cognise her  husband  V 

"  Oct,  4iS.— A  pleasant  breakfast  at  Roe-bampton, 
where  I  met  my  good  friend  Lord  Sidmouth.  On 
my  way  back,  I  called  to  see  the  repairs  at  Lhta- 
beth.  which  are  proceeding  under  fbe  able  direction 
of  Blore,  who  met  me  there.  They  are  in  the  best 
Gothic  taste,  and  exeented  at  the  expense  of  a  large 
sum,  to  be  secured  by  way  of  mortgage  payable  m 
fifty  yean,  each  incumbent  within  the  time  paying 
a  proportion  of  about  jC4,000  a- year.  I  was  pleased 
to  see  this  splendour  of  church  architecture  return- 
ing again. 

*'  0<!t.  18.— Sophia  had  a  small  but  lively  party 
last  night,  as  indeed  she  has  had  every  night  nnce 
we  were  here— Lady  Stafford,  Lady  Louisa  Stuart, 
Lady  Montagu,  Miss  MontagiL  Lady  Davy,  Mrs. 
M'Leod,  and  her  girls— Lord  Montagu,  Macleod^ 
Lord  Dudley,  Rogers,  Mackintosh.  A  good  deal  or 
singing." 

Sir  Walter  seemed  to  enjoy  having  one  or  two 
friends  to  meet  him  at  dinner— and  a  few  more  in 
the  evenings..  Those  named  in  the  last  eniriea 
came  all  of  them  frequently— and .  so  did  Lord 
Melville,  the  Bishop  of  Exeter,  Lord  Ashley,  Sir 
David  Wilkie.  Mr.  Thomas  Moore,  Mr.  Mflman, 
and  Mr.  Washington  Irving.  At  this  tiine  the  Re- 
form Bill  for  Scotland  was  in  discussion  in  the 
House  of  Commons.  Mr.  Croker  made  a  very  bril- 
liant speech  in  opposition  to  it,  and  was  not  sorry 
to  have  it  said,  that  he  had  owed  his  inspiration, 
in  no  small  degree,  to  having  risen  from  the  table 
at  which  Scott  sat  by  his  side.  But  the  most  reg- 
ular of  the  evening  visiters  was,  I  think.  Sir  James 
Mackintosh.  He  waa  himself  in  very  feeble  health, 
and  whatever  might  have  been  the  auguries  ot 
others,  it  struck  me  that  there  was  uppermost  with 
him  at^every  parting  the  anticipation  that  they  might 
never  meet  again.  Sir  James's  kind  assiduity  was 
the  more  welcome,  that  his  appearance  baniahed 
the  politics  of  the  hour,  on  which  his  old  friend's 
thoughts  were  too  apt  to  brdod.  Their  conversa- 
tion, wherever  it  might  begin,  was  sure  to  fasten 
ere  long  on  Loohaber. 

When  last  in  Edinburgh  Scott  had  given  hia 
friend  William  Burn,  architect,  directions  to  pre- 
pare at  his  expense  a  modest  monument,  for  the 
grave  of  Helen  Walker,  the  original  ot  Jeanie 
Deans,  in  the  churchyard  of  J.ongrey.  Mr.  Burn 
now  informed  him  that  the  li*  je  pillar  was  in  read- 
iness, and  on  the  I6th  Octol  jr  Sir  Walter  sent  hin» 
this  beautiful  inscription  for  it  ;— 

THIS  STONE  WAS  ERECTED 

BY  THE  AtTTHOR  OP  WAVXRLST 
TO  THE  STEMORT 


gfgitized  by  Google 


UFB  Off  flOL  WAtSBE  SCOTT. 


HELEN  WALCfiR, 

WHO  DIED  IN  THE  TXAB  OT  OOD,  1791. 

THIS  HUMBLX  IKDZVIDUAL 

PRACTISED  19  REAL  UFE 

THE  VIRTUES 

WITH  WHICH  FICTION   HAS  INVESTED 

THE  IMAGINARY  CHARACTER  OF 

JEANIE  DEANS; 

RBFVSINO  THE  SUOHTEST  DEPARTURE 

FROM  VSRACIT7, 

EVEN  TO  SAVE  THE  tIFE  OF  A  SISTER, 

SUE  NEVERTHELESS    SHOWED  HER 

KINDNESS  AND  FORTITUDE, 

UV  RESCUING  HER  FROM  THE  8EVERITV  bF  THE  LAW, 

AT  THE  EXPENSE    OF  PERSONAL   EXERTIONS 

WHICH  THE  TIME  RENDERED  AS  DIFFICULT 

AS.  THE  MOTIVE  WAS    LAUDABLE. 

RESPECT  THE  GRAVE  OF  POVERTY 

WHEN  COMBINED  WITH   LOVE   OF  TRUTH 

AND  DEAR  AFFECTION. 

Kelt  morning  the  Hon  our  a  bk  Captain  Henry 
Duncan,  R.  N.,  who  woa  at  tliiw  ume  store-keeper 
of  the  Ordnancet  and  wtro  had  tnkeo  a  {jfeat  deal 
of  irouble  iri  srrnnifinf^  me. titers  for  the  Voyage, 
etllad  on  Sir  Woli^r  to  introducL^  <o  him  Captain, 
now  Sij  Hugh  Pif^ott  the  ccimnianding-officer  or 
the  Bttrhani.  The  Diriry  my ^  :—*^  October  19.— 
Cnptoin  H.  Duncan  cttllcd  with  Captain  Pigot,  a 
em  ar  t  -  tookf  n&$  gen  i  k  ni  it  n  1 1  k  c  nin  n ,  who  aiinouncea 
bis  purpose  of  sailing  on  Muuday.  I  have  made  mv 
pmoaraiions  ioT  beiqj^  nn  buard  on  Sunday,  wbico 
u  the  day  appointed, 

^'Capmin  Demean  told  meJLicuLirlynever  to  take 
a  naval  oaptaiti'i  word  on  jhure,  and  guoted  Sir 
Williawi  Scott,  who  used  lo  ^s^y  waggishly,  that 
there  was  nothiiig  su  accnmmodanag  on  shore,  but 
when  on  bortrdT  bf  bct^anif:  a  jieremptory  lion. 
Henry  Dunvnn  hai  behaved  vi^ry  kindly,  and  says 
he  ftaly  discharge*  ibo  wishes'  .f  his  service  m 
inaking  me  as  eaa^  rs  pojsii^ibk'^  wliich  is  very  hand- 
ffome— too  high  n  eompiiment  for  ine.  No  danger 
offtud,  exempt  ftbout  polilicft.  ^hn  h  would  be  im- 
politic oti  my  part,  and  thotiEth  it  I  ira  out  one  great 
Btabjecl  of  oiscustsion,  il  leaves  unoogh  besides. 
Waller  arrive*  ready  ;o  saiJ.  So  h  tiat  little  remains 
must  be  done  wilhoui  lose  of  limc. 

*'  1  letiTc  this  cotmiry  unr^rTam  if  it  has  got  a 
total  pardon  or  only  a  reprieve.  I  won't  think  of 
il,  as  I  can  do  no  good.  It, seems  to  be  in  one  of 
those  crises  by  which  Pro^-idence  reduces  nations 
to  their  original  elements.  If  I  had  my  health,  I 
should  take  no  worldly  fee,  not  to  be  in  the  bustle : 
but  I  am  as  weak  as  water,  ajid  1  shall  be  glad 
.  when  1  have  put  the  Mediterranean  between  the 
island  and  me. 

"  October  23.— Misty  morning— looks  like  a  yellow 
fog,  which  is  the  curse  of  London.  I  would  hardly 
take  my  share  of  it  for  a  share  of  its  wealth  and  its 
curiosity- a  vile  double-distilled  fog,  of  the  most 
intoleraole  kind.  Children  scarce  stirring  yet,  but 
Baby  and  Macao  beginning  their  Macao  notes—" 

Dr.  Ferguson  found  Sir  Walter  with  this  page  of 
hia  Diary  before  him,  when  he  called  to  pay  his 
farewell  visit.  "  As  he  was  still-  working  at  his 
MSS.,"  says  the  Doctor,  ''I  offered  to  retire,  but 
was  not  permitted.  On  my  saying  I  had  conie  to 
take  leave  of  him  before  he  quitted  England,  he  ez- 
dairoed,  with  much  excitement — 'England  is  no 
longer  a  place  for  an  honest  ntan.  1  shall  not  hve 
to  nnd  it  so ;  you  may.'  He  then  broke  out  into  the 
details  of,  a. very  favourite  superstition  of  his,  that 
the  middle  of  every  century  had  always  been  marked 
byeome  great  convulsion  or  calamity  in  this  island. 
Already  the  state  of  politics  preyed  much  on  his 
rnind— and  indeed  that  continued  to  form  a  part  of 
the  delirious  dreams  of  his  last  illness.  On  the 
whole,  the  alterations  which  had  taken  place  in 
faifl  mmd  and  person  sin^e  I  had  seeii  him,  three 


yean  before^  were  very  tpimreqt    Th«    ^_ . 

of  the  coantenance  and  the  play/of  featnraa 

changed  by  alight  palsy  of  one  cheek.  His  utter- 
ance was  80  thick  and  indbtinct  as  to  make  it  very 
difficult  for  any  but  those  accustom^  to  bear  it,  to 
gather  his  meanmg.  His  gait  was  less  firm  and 
assured  than  ever ;  but  his  power  of  self-eonunaodi 
his  social  tact,  and  bis  benevolent  courtesy,  the 
habits  of  a  life,  remained  un touched  by  a  malady 
which  had  obscured  the  higher  ^wers  of  bis  ia- 
leUect" 

After  breakfast.  Sir  Walter,  accompanied  by  bis 
son  and  both  his  daughtersL  set  off  for  Portsmouth ; 
and  Captain  Basil  Hall  baa  the  kindness  to  precede 
them  by  an  early  coach,  and  prepare  every  thing  for 
their  reception  at  the  hotel.  Tb^  expected  that 
the  embarkation  would  take  place  next  day,  and 
the  Captain  had  considered  that  his  professional 
tact  and  expNerienoe  might  be  serviceable,  which 
they  wefe  eminently.  In  changing  horses  at  Ghiil- 
ford.  Sir  Walter  cot  out  of  bis  carriage,  and  very 
narrowly  escaped  being  run  over  by  a  stage-coacb. 
Of  all  "  the  habits  of  a  life.V  none  ctong  Tonaer  to 
him  than  his  extreme  repugnance  to  being  helped 
in  any  ihing.  It  was  late  before  be  came  to  lean, 
as  a  matter  of  course,  when  walking,  upon  any  one 
but  Tom  Purdie ;  and  the  reader  will  see,  in  the  se- 
quel, that  this  proud  feeling,  coupled  with  increasipg 
tendency  to  abstractk>n  or  mind,  often  exposed  him 
to  imminent  hazard. 

The  Barham  could  not  sail  for  a  week.  Dnrnijg 
this  interval  Sir  Walter  scarcely  stirred  from  bis 
hotel,  being  unwilling  to  display  his  infirmities  to 
the  crowd  ^gazers  who  besieged  him  whenever  be 
appeared.  Hi  received,  however,  deputations  of 
the  Uterary  and  scientific  societies  of  the  town,  and 
all  other  visiters,  with  his  usual  ease  and  courtesy : 
and  he  might  well  be  gratified  with  the  extraordina- 
ry marks  of  deference  paid  him  by  the  ofilcial  per- 
sons who  couki  m  any  way  contribute  to  his  ease 
and  comfort.  The  First  I^rd  of  the  Admiralty,  Sir 
James  Graham,  and  the  Secretary,  Sir  John  Bar- 
row, both  appeared  in  person,  to  ascertain  that  no- 
thing had  been  neglected  for  his  accommodation  on 
board  the  frij^te.  TNb  Admiral,  Sir  Thomas  Fo- 
ley, placed  his  barge  at  his  disposal ;  the  Governor. 
Sir  Colin  Campbell,  and  all  the  chief  officers,  naval 
and  military,  seemed  to  compete  with  each  other  in 
attention  to  him  and  his  companions.  In  Captain 
Hall's  Third  Series  of  Fragments  of  Voyages  and 
Travels  (vol.  iii.  p.  280,)  some  interesting  details 
have  long  since  been  made  public.  But  it  may  be 
sufficient  to  say  here,  that  had  Captain  Pigot  and 
his  gallant  shipmates  been  appointed  to  convey  a 
Pnnce  of  the  Blood  and  his  suite,  more  ceneroos, 
anxious,  and  delicate  exertions  could  not  have  been 
made,  cither  in  altering  the  interior  of  the  vessel  so 
as  to  meet  the  wants  of  the  passengers,  or  after- 
wards, throughout  the  voyage,  in  rendering  it  easy, 
comfortable,  and,  as  far  as  might  be,  interesting 
and  amusing. 

I  subjoin  an  extract  or  two  from  the  Diary  at 
Portsmouth,  which  show  how  justly  Dr.  Ferguson 
has  been  describing  Sir  Walter  as  in  complete  pos- 
session of  all  the  qualities  that  endeared  him  to  so- 
ciety :— 

"  October  24.— The  giris  break  loose— mad  with 
the  craze  of  seeing  sights^and  run  the  risk  of  de- 
ranging the  naval  officers,  who  offer  their  services 
with  their  natural  gallantry.  I  wish  they  would  be 
moderffte  in  their  demands  on  people's  complai- 
sance. They  little  know  how  inconvenient  are 
such  seizures.  A  sailor  in  particular  is  a  bad  ref^ 
ser,  and  before  he  can  turn  three  times  round,  he  is 
bound  by  a  triple  knot  to  all  sorts  of  nonsense. 

"  October  27.— The  girls,  I  regret  to  see,  have  got 
a  senseleas  custom  of  talking  poUtics  in  all  weath-  . 
ers,  and  in  all  sorts  of  company.  This  can  do  Ho 
good,  and  may  pive  much  offence.  Silence  can  of- 
fend no  one,  and  there  are  pleasanter  or  less  irrita- 
tiiig  subjects  to  talk  of.  I  gave  them  both  a  hint  ot 
this,  and  bid  them  remember  they  were  among  or- 
dinary strangers.  o^Md^i^^^^^*  people  rdect 


LIFE  OF  SIR  WALl^BR  SCOTT. 


m% 


what  they  JIU17  win  or  lose  by  a  siiurt  refleotion  im- 
pnidentiy  fired  off  %i  a  venture !" 

On  the  momins  of  the  89th  the  wind  at  last 
changed,  and  the  Barham  fl|Ot  under  weigii. 

After  a  few  davs.  when  they  had  p^saed  thp  Hay 
ef  Biscay,  Sir  Walter  ceased  to  be  tinnay^id  wuh 
aea-aickness,  and  sat  most  of  hie  timo  un  dt:ek.  an- 
joving  apparently  the  air«  the  acencr, ,  and  abuve 
all  the  snipitselL  the  beautiful  disci]  linc^  prticu»ed 
in  all  things,  ana  the  martial  ezerciai  ^  k*{  (hv  mtn. 
In  Captain  Pigot,  Lieutenant  Walker,  \\\s  ph^«ciin 
Dr.  Liddell,  and  I  believe  in  many  olhor^  of  the  of- 
ficers, he  had  highly  intelligent  as  wf^FJ  a»  poliBhed 
companions.  The  course  was  often  iiUtir^,  for  the 
express  purpose  of  giving  him  agUmr'^F-  *►[  ^^Ljinb'  fa- 
mous place ;  and  it  was  only  the  temptation  ol  a 
singularly  propitious  breese  that  prevented  a  halt  at 
Algiers. 

On  the  30th  November  they  came  upon  that  re- 
markable phenomenon,  the  sudden  creation  of  a 
aub-marine  volcano,  which  bore,  during  its  very 
brief  date,  the  name  of  Qraham*s  Island.  Four 
months  had  elapsed  since  it  "  arose  from  out  the 
azure  main"— and  in  a  few  days  more  it  disappear- 
ed. "Already,"  as  Dr.  Davy  says,  "its  crumbling 
masses  were  falling  to  pieeea  from  the  pressure  oi 
the  hand  or  foot."*  Yet  nothing  could  prevent  Sir 
Walter  from  landing  on  it^and  in  a  letter  of  the 
following  week  he  thus  describee  his  adventure;— 
the  Barham  had  reached  Malta  on  the  22d. 

TV  Jamm  Skene,  Ewq.  ^  RttbUlaWt  Edinburgh. 
Haha,  Not.  26, 1831. 
"  My  dear  Skene. 

"  Our  habits  oi  non-correspondence  are  so  Urmly  es- 
tablished, that  it  mast  be  a  matter  of  aome  importance 
that  seta  either  of  ua  a  writing  to  the  other.  As  it  has 
been  my  lot  to  see  the  new  Toicano,  called  Graham'a 
'  bland,  either  employed  in  establishing  itself,  or  more 
Ultely  in  decompoaing  itself— and  aa  it  must  be  an  object 
of  much  curloflity  to  many  of  our  brethren  of  the  Royal 
fik>ciety,  I  haye  taiien  it  into  my  head  that  even  the  very 
Imperfect  account  which  I  can  give  of  a  matter  of  this 
extraordinary  Itlnd  may  be  in  some  degree  valued.  Not 
being  able  to  borrow  your  fingers,  thnsi*  of  the  Captain's 
clerit  have  been  put  in  requisition  for  the  enclosed 
•iceteh,  and  the  notes  adjoined  are  as  accurate  as  can  be 
expected  from  a  hurried  viait  Tou  have  a  view  of  the 
iaiand,  very  much  as  it  shows  at  present,  but  nothing  is 
more  certain  than  that  it  is  on  the  eve  of  a  very  impor- 
tant chance,  thoush  in  what  respect  is  doubtful.  I  saw  a 
portion  of  about  nve  or  six  feet  in  height  give  way  under 
the  feet  of  one  of  our  companions  on  the  very  ridge  of 
the  southern  comer,  and  become  completelv  annihilated, 
giving  us  some  anxiety  for  the  (hte  of  our  friend,  till  the 
daat  and  confusion  of  the  dispersed  pinnacle  had  sub.si- 
ded.  You  Icnow  ray  old  talents  for  horsemanship.  Find- 
ing the  earth,  or  what  seemed  a  substitute  for  it,  sinlc  at 
every  step  up  to  the  linec,  so  as  to  malie  walking  for  an 
infirm  and  heavy  man  nnarly  imposaible,  I  mounted  the 
shoulders  of  an  able  and  willing  -r?—,-ri  ^^^  *^  ^'-'  of 
his  exertions  rode  nearljf  ut  the  >"[>  r,|  ntc  iMin.'  I 
would  hare  given  a  great  tkul  'or  yoTj,  my  frlpiid,  the  fre- 
quent and  willing  supplier  of  my  tlpftcfs  ;  hm  vu  this 
journey,  though  undertaken  late  in  li(*t,  I  Iii%ve  llmod, 
from  the  benevolence  of  my  rotnpiMiiotiH.  thtt  mhen  one 
man's  strcn<^h  was  insufT^cknt  to  jiupply  luv  ilffii^jn- 
cies,  I  had  the  willing  aid  uf  t*(^citT  If  it  rMnJtfhf  ^m^ful 
I  have  sent  you  onoof  ibi^  InT^r^ir  Mo-^k?  of  l^va  wtuch  I 
could  find  on  the  islet,  tlifmuh  smnil  rii^c*a  ara  jjinume- 
rable.  We  found  two  do !►■'■■  ■^  ^.i^J  .  .T,.>r.n.|ifv  h^  the 
hot  temperature,  and  the  ■    ^ch 

seemingly  had  come  ofTiiwu.  ^..^  ..^a..cE.i,  .a.id,  oiiu  owrv- 
ed  to  death  on  the  islet,  where  it  had  neither  found  food 
nor  water.  Such  had  been  the  fate  of  the  first  attempt 
to  stock  the  island  with  fish  and  fowl.  On  the  south  side 
the  volcanic  principle  was  still  apparently  active.  The 
perpetual  bubDllns  up  from  the  bottom  produces  a  quan- 
tity of  steam,  which'rises  all  around  the  base  of  the  isl.- 
and,  and  surrounds  it  as  vrith  a  cloak  when  seen  from  a 
distance.  Most  of  these  appearances  struck  the  other 
gentlemen,  1  believe,  as  well  as  myself;  but  a  gentleman 
who  haa  visited  tiie  rock  repeatedly,  is  of  opinion  that  it 
la  certainly  increasing  In  magnitude.  Its  decrease  in 
Height  may  be  consistent  with  the  increase  of  ita  more 
level  paru,  and  even  its  general  appearance  above  wa- 
fer; for  the  ruins  which  crumble  down  from  the  top,  are 
t  ke  to  remain  at  the  bottom  of  the  ridge  of  the  rock,  add 

*  PhikMophieal  TransaetioDs,  May,  1894,  p.  662. 


to  the  f  eaeral  sUe  of  the  Idet,  and  tend  to  give  the  (rouml 
firmness. 

**  The  galea  of  this  new-bom  Island  are  any  thing  bot 
odoriferous.  Brimstone,  and  sach  like,  are  the  prevailing 
savours,  to  a  degree  almost  suffocating.  Every  hole  dug 
in  the  sand  is  filled  with  boiling  water,  or  what  was  near- 
ly such.  I  cannot  help  thinking  that  the  great  ebullition 
in  the  bay  is  the  remaina  of  the  original  crater,  now  al- 
most filled  op,  yet  still  showing  that  some  extraordinary 
operationa  are  going  on  in  the  subterranean  regions. 

**  If  you  think,  my  dear  Skene,  that  any  of  these  trifling 
partkulara  concerning  thia  islet  can  interest  our  friends, 
you  are  free  to  communicate  them  either  to  the  Society 
or  to  the  Club,  aa  you  judge  most  proper.  I  have  just 
aeen  James*  in  full  health,  but  he  vanished  like  a  guilty 
thing,  when,  forgetting  that  I  was  a  contraband  copimod- 
ity,  f  went  to  shake  him  by  the  hand,  which  would  have 
coat  him  ten  days'  imprisonment,  I  being  at  present  in 
quarantine. 

**  We  saw  an  instance  of  the  strictness  with  which  this 
law  is  observed.  In  entering  the  harbour,  a  seaman  was 
pushed  from  our  vard-arm.  He  swam  strongly,  notwith- 
standing  the  fall,  but  the  Maltese  boats,  of  whom  there 
were  several,  tacked  from  him,  to  avoid  picking  him  up, 
and  an  English  boat,  which  did  take  the  poor  man  in,  was 
condemned  to  ten  davs'  imprisonment,  to  reward  the  be- 
nevolence of  the  action.  It  is  in  the  capacity  of  Quaran- 
tine prisoners  that  we  now  Inhabit  the  decayed 'cham- 
bers of  a  magnificent  old  Spanish  palace,  which  resem- 
bles the  pantaloons  of  the  Don  in  his  youth,  a  world  too 
wide  for  his  shnmk  shanks.  But  you  know  Malta,  where 
there  is  more  magnificence  than  comfort,  though  we  have 
met  already  many  friends,  and  much  kindness. 

"  My  beat  compUments  to  Mrs.  Skene,  to  whom  I  am 
bringing  a  6iiry  cup  made  out  of  a  Nautilus  shell— the 
only  one  which  I  found  entire  on  Graham's  Island ;  the 
original  ovmer  had  suffered  shipwreck.  I  beg  to  be  re- 
spectfullv  remembered  to  all  friends  of  the  Club.  Toon 
ever,  vritn  love  to  your  fireside, 

Walter  Scott." 

At  Malta  Sir  Walter  found  several  friends  of  for- 
mer days,  besides  youn^  Skene.  Mr.  John  Hook- 
ham  Frere  had  been  resident  there  for  several  years, 
as  he  still  continues,  the  captive  of  the  enchanting 
climate,  and  the  romantic  monuments  of  the  old 
chivalry .t  Sir  John  Stoddart,  the  Chief  Judge  of 
the  island,  had  known  the  Poet  ever  since  the  early 
days  of  Lasswade  and  Glenfinlas ;  and  the  Lieu- 
tenant-governor, Colonel  Seymour  Bathurst,  had 
often  met  him  under  the  roof  of  his  father,  the  late 
E^rl  Bathurst.  Mrs.  Bathurst's  distinguished  un- 
cle, Sir  William  Aleiander,  some  time  Lord  Chief- 
Baron  of  England,  happened  also  to  be  then  visiriiig 
her.  Captain  Dawson,  husband  to  Lord  Kinned- 
dePs  eldest  daughter,  was  of  the  garrison,  and  Sir 
Walter  ft  It  itff  if  ht'  were  nboiit  tp  mctT  a  dauehtcf 
ol  t.ip  Mwn  in  tl]c  Eupht?iiiia  Erskitit;  who  had  so 
otletj  i^ut  upon  his  knit'.  She  imnicdiatily  ioined 
him,  and  insi^li^d  on  bmn^  Qlldwcd  to  parlflK*^  bis 

gun r-in tint?.  Lastly.  Dr.  John  Uevy,  tb?  bro^hur  of 
i*  iJliistriou*  frifnil,  waff  ni  the  head  of  the  medi- 
cnlsuifii  anil  thi,N  cenlktnnti^p  prcw^nce  waa  wd- 
coFnt'  iftnc'td  to  ihp  MKJor  mid  Mi?b  Srott,  ns  well 
af<  Lo  th^'sr  rrl[tJ^.%  for  he  lind  alftifidj^  bc^tin  to  be 
trore  M- Mii^cnt  as  to  his  diot,  and  rlioy  dre^idi'd  Ills 
rcniJVJi!  from  iht  skilful  warcii  of  Dr.  Liddtjll.  Va- 
rious loUcrSt  nnd  Srr  WaJtMr'ss  Diary,  tibon|;h  Lord* 
if  li  *tibii',)  show  that  ho  mE^pecttd  with  caTioaity  the 
kniRbily  nnliquitic*  of  La  Vabrtai  the  chtifcb  and 
monuments  of  8 1.  John,  the  de»erted  unlaces  and 
lihrnrie^  of  Ih*?  heroic  brotherhood  j  and  the  raador 
will  find  that,  when  be  itnpTudfn^ly  rtisumt^d  the 
pen  of  romancf,  the  Bubjeci  he  aelfect^Fd  v-Vk»  from 
tilt  if  trnnnlB.  He  enjoyed  also  the  society  of  the 
acLiiniplished  persona  I  h«v*^  b^n  naininp*  and  the 
liiai  k?*  of  honutir  laifiphed  on  hien  by  the  inhabit* 
ajit4,  both  native  and  Kn^h^b, 

Here  h'i  saw  mtjch  of  a  Sroicli  lady*  wjib  many 
of  whose  fnenrifl  and  conn  ex  ion*  he  had  b<wn  intt- 
malc— Mt!*.  John  Dnvf,  ibr  daughter  of  a  brother 
advocate,  thw  bit'  Mr.  Art;hibald  Fletcher,  whoae 
reovdencp  in  Edinburch  ustd  to  be  in  North  Castle 
Slrt'et,  within  a  (qw  doors  of  *'  poor  as,"    Thi^  lady 

*  Jamet  Henry  Skene,  Eao.,  a  Mn  of  Sir  W.'s  ooneapoodanCt 


was  then  a  yoimg  officer  on  dotr  at  Malta. 

'  "      *     •        -^Jlnr^ 

^.^ okha 

wHh^meothclp^oe.  inlM6.j3.g.^.^^^  by  ^OOglC 


t  S«e  the  charm  inir "  Eptstlaln  Rhjrrae,  ftom  Williani  Stewart 

Rose  at  Brighttn,  to  John  Hookhain  Frcre  at  Malta,"  pubUabed 

..J  - 


hh 


UPE  OP  »IR  WALTER  SCOTT. 


hat  been  so  good  as  to  intrust  me  with  a  few  pases 
of  her  "  Pamily  Journal ;"  and  I  am  sure  the  reader 
will  value  a  copy  of  them  more  than  any  thinR  else 
I  could  produce  with  respect  to  Sir  Walter's  brief 
residence  at  Malta  :~ 

''Before  the  end  of  November."  says  Mrs.  Davy,  "a 
great  Bensation  was  produced  in  Maha,  aa  well  it  niight, 
by  ihe  arrival  of  Sir  Walter  Scott  He  came  here  in  the 
Barham,  a  frigate  considered  the  very  beauty  of  the  fleet, 
*a  perfect  ahip,'  as  Sir  Pulteney  Malcolm  used  to  aay, 
and  in  the  highest  digcipUne.  In  her  annala  it  may  now 
be  told  that  she  carried  the  most  gifted,  certainly  the 
must  popular  author  of  Europe  into  the  Mediterraneaa ; 
but  it.Avas  amusing  to  see  that  the  officers  o&  the  ship 
tliought  the  great  minatreland  romancer  mu^t  gain  more 
adflition  to  his  (ame  from  having  been  a  passenger  on 
board  the  Barham,  than  they  or  she  could  posaibly  re- 
ceive  even  from  having  taken  on  board  auch  a  guest. 
Our  Governor,  Sir  F.  Ponsonby,  had  not  returned  from 
a  visit  to  England  when  this  arrival  took  place,  but  orders 
)iad  been  received  that  all  manner  of  attention  should  be 
paid;  that  a  house,  carriage,  horsea.  4kc.,  should  be  pla- 
ced at  Sir  Walter**  disposal ;  and  all  who  thought  they 
had  the  smallest  right  to  come  forward  on  the  occasion, 
or  even  a  decent  pretence  for  doing  so,  were  eager  to  do 
him  honour  according  to  their  notions  and  means. 
"  On  account  of  cholera  then  prevailing  in  England,  a 

JluaranUne  was  at  tlys  time  enforced  here  on  all  who  came 
rom  thence ;  but  instead  of  driving  Sir  Walter  to  the  or- 
dinary lazaretto,  some  good  apartments  were  prepared  at 
Port  Manuel  for  him  and  his  family  to  occupy  for  the 
appointed  time,  I  beliwo  nine  days.  He  there  held  a 
dally  levee  to  receive  the  numerous  visiters  who  vraitcd 
on  him  ;  and  I  well  remember,  on  accompanying  Colonel 
and  Mrs.  Bathurst  and  Sir  William  Alexander  to  pay 
their  first  visit,  how  the  sombre  landing-place  of  the 
Bursa  Muscet  (the  quarantine  harbour,)  under  the  heavy 
bastion  that  shelters  it  on  the  Valetta  side,  gave  even 
then  token.s  of  an  illustrious  arrival,  in  the  unusual  num- 
t>er  of  boats  and  bustle  of  parlies  setting  forth  to  or  re- 
turning from  Fort  Manuel,  on  the  great  ousiness  of  the 
day.  But  even  in  the  case  of  one  whom  all '  delighted  to 
honour,'  a  quarantine  visit  i«  a  notably  uncoimbrtable 
thing ;  and  when  our  little  procession  nad  marched  up 
several  broad  flights  of  ateps,  and  we  found  oursclf  on  a 
landing-place  having  a  wid«  doorway  opposite  to  us,  in 
which  sat  Sir  Walter— his  daughter.  Major  Scott,  and  Mrs 
Dawsgn  standing  behind— and  a  stout  1)ar  placed  across 
some  feet  in  front  of  thein,  to  keep  us  at  the  legal  dis- 
tance—I  could  not  but  repent  having  gone  to  take  part  in 
S.*"X?°?°"^  ■**  formal  and  wearisome  to  all  concerned, 
air  Walter  rose,  but  seemed  to  do  it  with  difficulty,  and 
the  paralytic  fixed  look  of  hia  fcce  was  most  distressing. 
We  all  walked  up  to  the  bar,  but  there  stood  very  Uke 
culprits,  and  no  one  seemed  to  know  who  was  to  speak 
first.  Sir  W.  Alexander,  however,  accustomed  of  old  to 
discourse  from  the  bar,  or  charge  from  the  bench,  was 
Ijeyond  question  the  proper  person,— so,  after  a  very  Dt- 
Uo  hcsluuion,  he  began  nnd  made  a  neat  speech,  expres- 
■Ing  our  hopes  that  Sir  Walter  wonld  sojourn  at  Malta  as 
lonf  as  possible.  Sir  Walter  repUed  very  simply  and 
courteously  In  his  natural  manner,  but  hia  articulation 
was  manifestly  affected,  thoiuth  not,  I  think,  quite  so 
much  BO  a»  his  expression  of  face.  He  wore  trousers  of 
the  Lowland  amallchccked  plaid,  and  sitting  with  his 
hands  crossed  over  the  top  of  a  shepherd's-looking  suiff, 
he  was  very  like  the  picture  painted  by  Leslie,  and  en- 
graved for  one  of  the  Annuals,— but  when  he  spoke,  the 
varied  expression,  that  used  quite  to  redeem  all  heavl- 
ness  of  features,  was  no  longer  to  be  seen.  Our  visit 
waa  short,  and  we  left  Mr.  Frere  with  him  at  the  bar  on 
our  departure.  He  came  daily  to  see  his  friend,  and 
passed  more  of  his  quarantine  time  with  him  than  any 
one  else.  W  e  werr  told  that  between  Mr.  Frere's  habit- 
ual  absence  of  mind,  and  Sir  Walter's  natural  Scotch  de- 
sire to  shake  hands  with  him  at  every  meeting,  it  requir- 
ed all  th*»  vlgllancp  of  the  attendant  genii  of  the  place,  fo 
prevent  Mr.  F.  from  being  put  Into  quarantine  along  with 

'*Sir  Walter  did  not  accept  the  honse  provided  for  him 
oy  ttie  Governor's  order,  nor  any  of  the  various  private 
houses  which,  to  Mis«  Scott'a  great  amusement,  were 
iirgeiiUv  proflTered  for  his  use  by  their  owners— but  estab- 
lished  himself,  during;  i,ig  giay,  ^i  Bevei ley's  Hotel,  in 
^mdaPonpnte.  Our  house  was  immediately  opposite  to 
this  one,  divid'^d  by  a  very  narrow  street;  and  fwell  re- 
member,  when  watching  his  arrival  on  the  day  he  took 
UluX?,f'.^i2r'"^"^^f  sound  of  his  voice  as  he  chatted 
•oclably  to  Mr.  Oreig  (the  inspector  of  quaribUne,)  on 

Wrt^  /.**'*  M?*^^~**  ^^S™*''^  ^  »ne  that  I  had  hwdly 
beard  so  home-Uke  a  souaAin  this  Strang  land,  oronj 


that  so  took  me  back  to  Edinbureh  and  our  own  If^rrh 
Castle  Street,  where^  in  pusf ng  uhu  aa  he  v^ked  op  or 
down  with  a  friend,  I  bad  heard  it  before  «o  often.  Ko- 
body  was  Vu  hand  at  the  aMunent  for  me  to  show  faun  to  bm 
an  English  maid,  who  not  having  my  Scotch  imerestintte 
m;Ul«*r,  only  said,  when  t  tried  to  enlighten  her  as  to  ILe 
event  oflils  arrivaJ  — '  Poor  old  gentleman,  howlU  he  looks.' 
It  showed  how  sadly  a  little  while  must  have  chanted 
him,  for  when  I  had  seen  him  last  in  Edinbargh,  pert^apt 
five  or  rLx  years  before,  no  one  would  have  tbonfhi  of 
calling  him  '  an  old  gentleman.'  At  one  or  two  ^tmttj- 
parties,  at  which  we  aaw  him  within  the  week  of  hit  ar- 
rival, he  did  not  seem  at  all  auimatedin  conTerMtieai,nd 
retired  soon ;  for  he  aeemed  resolutely  prudent  as  i» 
korping  early  hours ;  though  he  was  tmfonoaai'^ly  care* 
le.^s  as  to  what  he  ate  or  drank,  especially  Ihekutr— ani, 
I  fear,  obstinate  when  his  daughter  auerapted  to  resruiaie 
his  diet.  * 

"  A  few  daya  after  hia  arrival  tn  Malta  be  accmed  n 
invitaUon  from  the  garrison  to  a  ball — an  odd  kiiMttf  hon- 
our to  bestow  on  a  man  of  leuera  mflerii>|t  from  panlytie 
ilhiess,  but  extremely  characteristic  of  thctaaieo(^K 
place.  It  was,  I  belie vr^  well  got  up,  under  the  directioa 
of  the  usual  master  of  Malta  ceremonies^  Mr.  Walker,  an 
oflirer  of  artillery;  andevery  thing  was  done  that  the  sstJ 
officer  and  his  colleagues  could  do  to  give  it  a  semimeobi, 
If  not  a  literary  cast.  The  decorations  were  laborioui^y 
appropriate.  Sir  Walter  entered  (havlof^  been  receivH 
at  the  door  by  a  deputation  of  the  dicnitariee  of  the  f^aw!) 
te  the  sound  of  Scotch  music ;  and  as  it  waa  held  in  tiw 
great  room  of  the  Aubnrge  de  Provence,  fonaerly  <aeol 
ilie  festal  halls  of  the  Knights  of  BlaUa,  it  was  wMabai 
scene — ^if  such  a  gaycty  was  to  be  indicted  at  ail. 

"  A  day  or  two  afterwards,  we  gladly  accepted  an  iB»>- 
tation  brought  to  us  by  Miss  Scott,  to  dine  qtdtlf  nMh 
him  and  two  or  three  officers  of  the  Barham  at  his  hotel ; 
and  I  thought  the  day  of  this  dining  so  wAite  a  one  as  te 
mark  it  especially  in  a  little  note-book  the  same  erenhig. 
I  see  it  stands  dated  December  the  4th,  and  the  Mole  bixkk 
savs:— 'Dined  and  spent  the  evening  of  this  day  with  Sir 
Walter  Scott.  We  had  only  met  him  before  at  Isi^e  dia- 
ner-parUes.  At  home  he  was  very  much  more  hsM»y, 
and  more  inclined  to  talk.  Even  now  hu  coaversaiMa 
has  many  characteristics  of  his  writings.  There  is  th» 
same  rich  felicitous  quotation  from  (avourlte  writer»-th« 
!«amc  happy  introduction  of  old  traditionary  atones^— 
Scotch  ones  especially,— in  a  mamier  as  easy,  aad  m- 
dently  quite  unprepared.  The  coming  in  of  a  yooagiad- 
shipman,  cousin  or  his  (Scott  by  name,)  to  join  the  partr, 
gave  occa.sion  to  his  telling  the  story  of  'Muckle  Mouhsd 
Meg,"  and  to  his  describing  the  tragicomical  laccwe 
drawn  from  that  story  by  BIr.  C.  K.  Sharpe,  which  I  re- 
membered to  have  seen  at  Abbotsford.  At  dinoer  ht 
spoke  a  good  deal  of  Tom  Sheridan,'after  telltnf  a^onsKl 
of  hia  hi  illustration  of  something  that  was  said:  and  ae^o- 
ed  amused  at  a  saying  of  Mr.  Smyth  (of  Cambridfre^  re- 
specting  that  witty  and  volatile  pupO  of  his,  '  thai  it  «w 
impossible  to  put  knowledge  into  hiin,  try  it  as  you  uMhl. '  ' 
'  Just,'  said  Sir  Walter,  'like  a  trunk  that  yoa  are  oyiM 
to  ovcr-pack,  but  It  won't  do,  the  things  scan  out  in  yoar 
face.'  On  joining  us  in  the  drawing-room  after  dinaer  te 
Walter  was  very  animated,  spoke  much  of  Mr.  Frere,  ttd 
of  ills  remarkable  success,  when  quite  a  boy,  in  tbetrsM- 
latlonof  aSaxon  ballad.t  This  led  him  to  ballads  tn  gener- 
al, and  he  gravely  lamented  his  friend  Mr.  Frere's  heresy 
In  not  esteeming  highly  enough  that  of '  Hardyknote  '  He 
admitted  that  it  was  not  a  veritable  old  baUad.  but  MqmoM 
enough,'  and  a  noble  imitation  of  the  best  style,  in  speak- 
ing or  Mr.  Frere's  translations,  he  repeated  a  pretty  tew 
passage  from  his  version  of  one  of  the  Romancea  of  the 
Old  (published  in  the  Appendix  to  Souther's  qoana.)  nd 
seemed  to  enjoy  a  spirited  charge  of  tlte  knights  theieca 
described  as  much  as  he  could  have  done  in  hia  be«  cteys. 
placing  hi.s  walking-stick  in  rest  like  a  lance,  to  *  sutfttie 
action  to  the  word.'  Miss  Scott  says,  she  has  not  aeca 
him  so  animated,  so  like  himself,  since  he  came  to  M^ta, 
as  on  this  evening. 

* "  Sunday  Morning^  December  5,  (as  my  said  Utile  oois 
book  proceeds  to  record)— Sir  Walter  spent  chieAr  in  St 
John's  Church,  the  beautiful  temple  and  bnryinff-p«sce«r 
the  kntahra,  and  there  be  was  much  pleased  and  tnxefwi- 
ed.  On  Monday  the  Cth  he  dined  at  the  Chief-Jo«ke. 
Sir  John. Stoddart's,  when  I  believe  he  partook  too  frwty 
of  porter  and  charapaane  for  one  in  his  Uivalid  stata.  Ob 
Tuesday  morning  (the  7th,>  on  looking  from  one  ofaer 
windows  across  the  street.  I  observed  hhn  sicttng  ia« 
easy  chair  in  the  parlour  of  his  hotel,  a  book  In  his  haii4 
and  apparently  reading  attentively :— his  window  wn 
wide  open,  and  I  reincuiber  wishing  much  for  the  power 
of  making  a  picture  of  him  just  as  he  sat.  But  nhoiM^  11 
o'clock  Miss  Scott  came  over  to  me,  looking  uoch  fr^%^ 
•9« 


Digitil«»#Ogle 


UFE  OF  SIR  WALTEE  SCOTT. 


673 


Miedv  aad  Mgring  Uut  the  feared  he  wae  about  to  have 
itHother  paniTtte  attacJL  He  had,  she  aald,  been  rather 
confuaed  In  mind  the  dajr  before^  and  the  dtamer-party  had 
been  too  much  for  him.  She  had  obeenred  that  on  trj* 
Ing  to  answer  a  note  from  the  Admiral  that  morning,  he 
\iMd  not  been  able  to  form  a  loiter  on  the  pM>er,  and  ahe 
thou£ht  he  was  now  sitting  in  a  sort  of  stupor.  8he4)egged 
that  Dr.  Davjr  would  visit  him  as  soon  as  possible,  and 
that  I  would  acconipany  him,  so  that  he  might  not  suppose 
H  a  mediea/ visit,  for  to  all  such  he  had  an  utter  objection. 
I  sent  for  Dr.  D.  instantly,  and  the  moment  he  letumed  we 
went  t(^ether  to  the  hotel  We  found  Sir  Walter  fliting 
near  a  fire,  dressed,  as  I  had  seen  him  just  Irefore.  in  a 
large  silk  dressing-gown,  his  face  a  good  deal  flasheo,  and 
his  ejes  heavy.  He  rose,  however,  as  I  went  up  to  him, 
and.  addressing  m||by  my  mother's  name,  "Mrs.  Fletch* 
er,''  asked  kindly  whetlier  I  was  quite  recovered  from  a 
little  illness  I  had  complained  of  the  day  before,  and  then 
walked  to  a  table  on  the  other  side  of  the  room,  to  look 
at  some  views  of  the  new  Volcano  in  the  Mediterranean, 
which,  by  "way  of  apology  for  our  early  visit,  we  had  car- 
ried with  us.  With  these  he  seemed  pleased ;  but  there 
was  great  indistinctness  in  his  manner  of  apeaktaig.  He 
•oon  after  sat  down,  and  began,  of  his  own  accord,  lo  con- 
Terse  with  Dr.  Davy  on  the  work  he  waathen  engaged  in— 
the  Life  of  Sir  Humphrv—saying  that  he  waa  truly  glad 
he  was  thus  engaged,  as  ne  did  not  think  Justice  had  been 
done  to  the  character  of  his  friend  b  v  Dr.  Paris.  In  speak- 
ing of  the  scientific  distinction  attained  by  Sir  Humphnr, 
he  aaid,  '  I  hoi^e.  Dr.  Davy,  your  mother  lived  to  see  ft. 
There  must  have  been  such  great  pleasure  in  that  to  her.' 
We  both  remember  with  much  bitereat  this  kindly  Uttle 
observation ;  and  it  waa  but  one  of  many  that  droot  from 
him  as  naturally  at  the  different  tlmea  we  met,  snowing 
that,  '  fallen'  as  *  the  mighty'  was,  and  *  hia  weapons  of 
war  perished,'  the  springs  of  fancy  dried  up,  and  memory 
en  most  subjects  much  impaired,  his  sense  of  the  value 
of  home-bred  worth  and  affection  waa  In  full  force.  His 
way  of  mentioning  '  my  son  Oharlca,  poor  fellow,'  whom 
he  waa  longhig  to  meet  at  Naples— or  ^my  own  Tweed- 
aide,'  which  hi  truth  he  seemed  to  lament  ever  having 

auictcd,  waa  often  really  affecthig.  Our  viait  together  on 
lis  morning  waa  of  course  sliort,  but  Dr.  Davy  saw  him 
repeatedly  in  the  course  of  the  same  dar.  Leeches  were 
applied  to  his  head,  and  though  they  did  not  give  imme- 
diate relief  to  his  uncomlbrtable  aensations,  he  waa  evi- 
dently much  better  next  morning,  and  disposed  to  tnr  a 
drivo  into  the  country.  Some  lamenesa  having  beiallen 
ona  of  the  horaes  provided  for  his  use,  I,  at  his  request, 

?rdered  a  little  open  carriage  of  oura  to  the  door  about 
20* clock,  and  prepared  to  accompany  htmjto  St.  Antonio, 
a  garden  residence  of  the  Governor's,  about  two  milea 
from  Valctta,  then  occupied  by  Mr.  Frere,  whose  own 
house  at  the  Pieta  was  under  repair.  It  was  not  without 
fsar  and  trembling  I  undertook  this  Uttle  drive— not  on 
account  of  the  greamess  of  my  companion,  for  assuredly 
he  was  the  most  humane  of  lions,  but  I  feared  he  might 
hafe  some  new  seizure  ofillness,  and  that  I  should  hk  very 
Ibsipless  to  him  in  such  a  case.  I  proposed  that  Dr.  D. 
ahould  go  instead ;  but,  like  moat  men  when  they  are  ill 
or  unhappy,  he  preferred  having  wf/mankind  about  him, 
—said  he  would  '  like  Mr».  Pavy  better ;'  so  I  went  The 
notices  of  his  *  carriage  talk,'  I  give  exactly  as  I  find  them 
noted  down  the  day  after— omitting  only  the  story  of  Sir 
H.  Davy  and  the  Tyrolese  rifle,  which  1  put  on  record 
aenaratcly  for  my  husband,  for  Insertion  in  his  book.* 

"My  Uttle  note-bookof  December  9  saya— The  day  was 
very  beautiful— (Uke  a  good  English  day  about  the  end  of 
May)— and  the  whole  way  in  going  to  St  Antonio  he  waa 
cheerful  and  incUned  to  talk  on  any  matter  that  was  sug- 
gested. He  admired  the  streets  of  Valetta  much  as  we 
passed  through  them,  noticing  particularly  the  rich  effect 
of  the  carved  stone  balconies,  and  the  images  of  sainta  at 
every  comer,  saying  several  timea  •  this  jown  la  reaUy 
quite  like  a  dream.'  Sometiihig  (mgg^Btm  I  beUeve  by 
tue  appearances  of  Romish  superstition  on  all  aides  of  us) 
brought  him  to  speak  of  tlie  Irish— of  whose  native  char- 
acter be  expressed  a  high  opinion ;  and  spoke  most  feel- 
ingly of  the  evU  fate  that  seemed  constantly  to  attend  them. 
Some  Unk  from  this  subject— (I  do  not  exactly  know  what. 
for  the  rattliiig  progress  of  our  little  vehicle  over  lU-paved 
wnys,  and  his  hnperfect  utterance  together,  made  it  diffl- 
CQ.t  to  catch  aU  fajs  words>— brought  lo  his  recoUection  a 
few  fine  Unes  from  ^  O'Connor'a  child,'  in  the  paaaagc 
*And  ranged,  as  to  the  Judgment  seat. 
My  guUty,  tremblUig  brothers  round'«^ 

which  he  repeated  with  his  accustomed  energy,  and  then 
went  on  to  apeak  of  CampbeU,  whom,  aa  a  poet,  he  hon- 

•  See  Dr.  Davv's  Memoks  of  Us  bnther,  Vol  I.  9-  S«.-Hbr  ths 

acemmt of  Bpeckbacker's  rifle  now  ii tfaeAnnoury  at  AbboU* 
ford. 


ours.  On  my  saying  aomething  of  CUnpbdl'a  youth  at 
the  publication  of  hU  flrat  poem,  he  aafd,  *Ay,he  vraa 
very  yoimg— but  he  came  out  at  onee,  ye  may  say,  like 
the  Irish  rebels,  a  hundred  thouaand  strong.' 

**  There  waa  no  posaibUity  of  admiring  the  face  Of  the 
country  aa  we  drove  along  after  getting  clear  of  the  city 
gatea ;  but  I  waa  pleased  to  aee  how  refreshing  the  air 
aeemed  to  Sir  Walter— and  perhaps  this  made  him  go 
back,  as  he  did,  to  hia  daya  of  long  walks,  over  mosa  and 
moor,  which  h||k>ld  me  he  had  often  traveraed  at  the  rate 
of  five-and-tweHy  mUes  a-day,  with  a  gtm  on  his  shoulder. 
He  snuffed  with  great  delight  the  perfume  of  the  new 
oranges,  which  hung  thickly  on  each  aide  aa  we  drove  up 
the  long  avenue  to  the  conrt-yard,  or  stable-yard  rather, 
of  St  Antonio— and  waa  amused  at  the  Maltese  ontldineaa 
of  two  or  three  piga  running  at  large  under  tlie  treea. 
'  That's  just  like  my  friend  Frere,'  he  said,  ^  quite  content 
to  let  pics  run  about  in  his  orange  grovea.'  We  did 
not  find  Sir.  Frere  at  home,  and  therefore  drove  back 
without  waiting.  Among  some  other  talk,  in  returning, 
he  spoke  with  praise  of  Miss  Ferrier  aa  avnoveUst. 
and  then  vrith  stiU  higher  praise  of  Miss  Austen.  Or 
the  latter  he  said,  *  I  find  my aelf  every  now  and  then  with 
one  of  her  hooka  hi  my  hand.  There'a  a  finlahing  off  in 
aome  of  her  acenea  that  la  really  quite  above  every  body 
elae.    And  there'a  ttiat  Lriah  lady  too— but  I  forget  every 

body's  name  now ' *  Misa  Sdgeworth,'  I  said  —  *  Ay, 

Miss  Edgeworth.  she's  very  clever*  and  beat  In  the  Utue 
touches,  too.  Pm  sure,  to  that  children'a  story'— (he 
meant  *  Simple  Susan,')  —  *  where  the  Uttle  giil  parts  with 
her  lamb,  and  the  Uttle  boy  bringa  it  back  to  ner  agato. 
there'a  nottUng  for  It  but  Just  to  put  down  the  book,  sna 
cry.'  A  Uttle  aiterwarda,  he  aald,  ^  Do  you  lunow  Moore  1 — 
he's  a  charming  feUow— a  perfect  gentleman  in  society  ; 
to  use  aaportiog  phrase,  there'a  no  Idck  in  hia  gaUop.' 

"  As  we  drew  near  home,  I  thought  him  aomewhat  fa- 
tigued—he waa  more  confuaed  than  at  flrat  In  his  recoil 


lection  of  names— and  we  drove  on  without  saying  auT 
thing.  But  I  shaU  not  forget  the  kindly  good  hiunour  with 
which  he  aaid,  in  getting  out  at  his  hotel  door— 'Thank 


ye,  for  your  kindness— your  charity,  I  mav  say,  to  an  old 
lame  man— iareweU !'  He  did  not  aeem  the  worae  of  hia 
Uttle  exertion  tiiia  day ;  but  thencefomrard,  waa  prudent 
in  reihsing  aU  dinner  Invitationa. 

**  On  Friday  (December  10th,)  he  went,  to  company  with 
Mr.  Frere,  to  aee  Citta  Vecchia.  1  drove  over  with  a  lady 
friend  to  meet  them  at  the  church  there.  Sir  Walter 
seemed  pleased  vrith  what  xvas  shown  him,  but  was  not 
animated.  On  Saturday  the  ilth  he  drove  out  twice  to 
see  varioua  things  to  Valetta.  On  Monday  morning  the 
13th,  I  saw  him  lor  the  last  time,  when  I  caUed  to  take 
leave  of  Miaa  Scott  Dr.  Davy  accompanied  him,  in  the 
course  of  the  foUowing  morning,  to  see  Strada  Siretta— the 
part  of  the  city  in  which  he  had  been  told  the  young 
Knights  of  Malta  used  to  fight  their  duels,  when  such  af- 
fairs occurred.  In  quitting  the  street,  Sir  Walter  looked 
round  him  earnestly,  and  said,  *■  It  wUl  be  hard  if  I  cannot 
make  something  of  this.'  On  that  day,  Tuesday  momtog. 
December  i4th.  he  and  his  party  wont  agato  on  board 
the  Barham,  and  Bailed  for  Naplea." 


CHAPTER  LXXXIl. 

RBSIDKNCB  AT  NAP  LS8  —  KXCtTftS  IONS  TO  PJBSTtTM, 
POMPKII,  BTC. — LAST  ATT1MPT8  AT  BOMAKCB— SIR 
witUAii  gkll's  MCMOSANDA.— DECEMBBB,  1831— 
APBIL,    1832. 

0>E  the  iTLhof  Dficembcr  tUp  llarham  rejitbed  IVa- 
pks^  and  Sir  Waller  found  hia  soti  Charlea  ready  UJ 
receive  bim.  The  quarantine  waa  cut  eburt  by  tho 
douricsv  of  the  King  of  Naples,  and  ihe  trareller* 
cfllnlilishetl  iheTnetilvea  in  an  npaftoiefit  of  the  Pa- 
lazzo CaraninnicuH 

HtTi^  flgmn  the  Brjiish  Miiiiaier^Mr.  WiW  (now  Lord 
Et:rwiek.)  and  the  KuKlish  tiubiljiy  and  gentry  then 
residinK  in  Napk^  didvi?hatev(:rkirjdnKfefi.ind  respect 
coil  Id  suggest  for  Sir  Walter  t  nor  were  the  n  ft  live* 
and  ihcirviiiiants  from  fureign  countries  has  atten* 
tivi>.  Thfl  Marquift  *jf  Hertford,  llu'  Hon.  Ket^tiet 
Craven,  the  Hon.  VVjlliam  Ashley  and  h\s  Indy,  Sir 
Gcor^f  Tnlbot,  i]w  voncimbh^  jMnnhja^^  (aulhwf  of 
''  Tilt!  Pursuits  of  Literature/')  Mr.  Aijkiifi  (t^elcbraled 
for  bL-i  nscent  of  Mount  Blanc,)  and  Dr.  HogRj  n  med- 
ical gtiiilcmnn  wlm  Ims  miu^L'  pt^bEi«b«d  an  account 
of  hi3  trcvda  in  tbi'  Kiisi— ^ptn^ar  to  hov&t  in  lb  pit  va- , 
rious  ivayg,  contribuU^l  wnatcvcr  ihcy  could  io  hia 
coniron  and  atnusemciu.  But  the  pcTflun  nf  whom  he 
•aw  most  waa  tho  late  Sir  VVilham^Ji,  wha  hn^i 
Digitized  by  V^OOQIC 


m 


LIFE  OF  SIR  Walter  scott. 


Ibnft  bden  condemned  to  live  in  Italy  by  aflments 
and  infirmitiea  not  dissimilar  to  his  own.  Sir  Wil- 
liam,, shortly  after  Sir  Walter's  death,  draw  up  a  me- 
moir' of  their  intercourse,  which  will.  I  beheve,  be 
considered  as  sufficient  for  this  period. 

Before  I  introduce  it,  however,  I  may  notice  that 
Sir  Walter,  whenever  he  appeared  at  the  Neapolitan 
Court,  which  he  did  several  times,  wore  the  uniform 
of  a  brigadier-general  in  the  ancient  Vody  Guard  of 
Scotland ;  a  dress  of  light  green,  with  gold  em- 
broidery, assigned  to  those  Archtra  by  Gkorge  IV. 
at  the  termraation  of  his  northern  progress  in  1822. 
I  have  observed  this  circumstance  alluded  to  with  a 
sort  of  sneer.  The  truth  is,  Sir  Walter  had  order^ 
the  dress  for  the  christening  of  the  young  Buccleuch; 
but  at  any  rate,  the  machinery  now  attached  to  his 
lame  limb,  would  have  made  it  impossible  for  him 
to  appear  m  breeches  and  stockings,  as  was  then 
imperative  on  civilians. 

Further,  it  was  on  the  16th  of  January  that  Sir 
Walter  received  the  intelligence  of  his  grandson's 
deach.  His  Diary  of  that  date  has  simply  these 
words :—"  Poor  Johnny  Lockhart!  This  bov  is 
gone  whom  we  have  made  so  much  of.  I  coula  riot 
have  borne  it  better  than  I  now  do,  and  I  might 
have  borne  it  much  worse.  I  went  to  the  Opera  in 
the  evenmg  to  see  this  anmsement  in  its  birih-piace, 
Which  is  now  so  widely  received  over  Europe." 

At  first  Sir  Walter  busied  himself  chiefly  about 
forming  a  collection  of  Neapohtan  and  Sicilian 
ballads  and  In'oadsides ;  and  Mr.  Matthias  seems  to 
have  been  at  much  pains  in  helping  this.  But  alas. 
ere  he  had  been  long  in  Naples,  neoegan,  in  spite  or 
all  remonstrances,  to  give  several  hours  every  morn- 
ing to  the  composition  of  a  new  novel,  *'  The  Siege 
oiMAlta;"  and  during  his  stay  he  nearly  finished 
both  this  and  a  shorter  tale,  entitle  **  Biiarro.''  He 
also  relaxed  more  and  more  in  his  obedience  to  the 
regimen  of  his  physicians,  and  thna  appUed  a  two- 
fold stimulus  to  his  malady. 

Neither  of  these  novels  will  ever,  I  hop^  see  tha 
light ;  but  I  venture  to  give  the  foundation  of  the 
snorter  one,  as  nearly  asl  can  decipher  it  from  the 
author's  Diary,  of  which  it  occnpies  some  of  the  last 
page^ 

"dbatr  or  iL  BitAsao. 

"  This  man  was  called,  firom  his  wily  but  inexor- 
able temper,  II  Bizarro.  He  was  captam  of  a  gang 
of  banditti,  whom  he  governed  by  hia  own  authority, 
till  he  increased  them  to  1000  men,  both  on  foot  ana 
horseback,  whom  he  maintained  in  the  mountains 
of  Calabria,  between  the  French  and  Neapolitans, 
both  of  which  he  defied,  and  pillaged  the  country. 
High  rewards  were  set  upon  his  head,  to  very  little 
purpose,  as  he  took  care  to  guard  himself  against 
being  betrayed  by  his  own  gang,  the  common  fate 
of  those  banditti  who  become  great  in  their  vocation. 
At  length  a  French  colonel,  whose  name  I  have  for- 
got, occupied  the  country  of  Bizarro,  with  such  suc- 
cess, that  he  formed  a  cordon  around  him  and  his 
party,  and  included  him  between  the  folds  of  a  mili- 
tary column.  Well-nigh  driven  to  submit  himself; 
the  robber,  with  his  wife,  a  very  handsome  woman, 
and  a  child  of  a  few  months  old,  took  post  one  day 
beneath  an  old  bridge,  and  by  an  escspe  almost  mi- 
raculous, were  not  perceived  by  a  strong  party  whom 
the  French  maintained  on  the  top  of  ihe^  arch. 
Night  at  length  came  without  a  discovery,  which 
every  moment  might  hate  made.    When  it  bee 

Jimte  dark,  the  bngand,  enjoinmg  the  strictest  si- 
enoe  on  the  female  and  child,  resolved  to  start  from 
his  place  of  shelter,  and  as  he  issued  forth,  kept  his 
hand  on  the  child's  throat  Bm  as^  when  they  be- 
gan to  move,  the  child  naturally  cned,  its  father  in 
a  rag^  tightened  his  gripe  so  relentlessly,  that  the 
poor  infant  never  offended  more  in  the  same  manner. 
His  wtfe  had  never  been  Very  fond  of  him,  though 
he  trusted  her  more  than  any  who  approached 
him.  She  had  been  originally  the  wife  or  another 
man  murdered  by  her  second  husband,  which  sec- 
ond marriage  she  was  compelled  to  undergo,  and  to 
a^t  at  least  the  condac^  of  an  affectionate  wife. 
In  their  wanderings  she  Ane  knew  where  iie  slept. 


He  left  his  men  in  a  body  upon  the  top  of  a  UU^ 
round  which  they  set  watches.  He  then  went  apart 
into  the  woods,  with  m  wife,  and  having  cboaen  • 
lair  in  an  obscure  and  deep  thicket,  there  took  iqi 
his  residence  for  the  night.  A  large  Calabrian  dog, 
his  constant  attendant,  was  then  tied  to  a  tree  at  » 
some  distance  to  secure  his  slumbers,  and  having 
placed  his  carabine  within  reach  of  his  arm,  he  con- 
signed himself  to  such  sleep  as  belongs  to  his  esl> 
Un0»  By  such  precautions  he  had  aecured  hia  rest 
for  many  yeara. 

/'  But  after  the  death  of  the  child,  the  measure  of 
his  offence  towards  the  unhappy  mother  was  full  to 
the  brim,  and  her  thoughts  became  determined  on 
revenge.  One  evening  he  took  up  his  quarters  with 
the  usual  precautions,  but  without  the  usual  suceeso. 
He  had  laid  his  carabine  near  him,  and  betaken 
himself  to  Tpsr,  when  his  ^^larrnprnrnse  from  his akie^ 
aruL  -.rr.'  lu-  bcciimc  ftii^iblc  thm  [sbi'j  luid  done  so, 
shi  .-it-infd  his  csrflbioe,  and  ditjohirgin^  ^t  in  his 
bti''i*!T].  ended  afoiict  his  life  nnfi  hi*  crimes.  She 
fifiiHtiifi  her  wf>rk  Ky  catting  oflT  the  brifsand's  head, 
and  c Firry ing  it  to  thf»pfincipd  town  of  ihg^itoviooe, 
wberi'  she  dehvf'red  it  to  the  policy  and  claimed  the 
rewftrd  at  tack vd  tu  \\\a  Wm,  wliich  w«s  i»aid  a«» 
Cfintsngly.  This  £i?malc  still  1ivf«N,  a  ttfiftly,  dai^* 
fjtTHMA  h>ukit}g  womaji,  >ot  scarce  ill  ih^qght  oC 
consiidenn^  tht  prcvocRtion. 

''The  dog  Ptrug^led  eAtremely  to  ^e^  loose  on 
benring  the  ehoi*  Some  «ay  ihe  femjilt  shot  it: 
oihcra  that,  in  ii9  rsKe.  it  very  n^arty  gnawea 
thrcitjflh  The?  stout  young  ircti  to  which  it  was  tied. 
He  WB3  worthy  of  a  be  tternj  aster. 

'*  The?  dtsiani  encampment  of  the  band  #a8  dis- 
turbed by  tht:  firing  m  the  Braarro's  ^hiaInoo  ac 
midtri^bt.  They  ran  throLich  the  wotM^«  to  Jiaek  %h% 
cspTHm^  but  firidm^  him  lLl«ples»  and  headlrM,  ihef 
be<vinie  somuch  i!tjrjime<l  ihm  nionj  of  ihem  sur- 
reinlctMd  CO  \uv  .KovernniLMit  nnd  rc'^li.oquished  their 
triicb:.  Thus  r he  band  of  the  Btzsrro,  a«it  lived  by 
his  spirit,  was  broken  up  by  his  death. 

"Among  other  stories  respecting  the  cmeltv  of  this 
bandit,  I  heard  this.  A  French  ofiioer,  who  had 
been  active  in  thepursuitof  hiaa,  fell  into  his  handiu 
and  was  made  to  die  the  death  of  8l  Polycarn— thai 
is,  the  period  being  the  ndddle  of  summer,  ne  was 
ftayed  alive,  and  being  smeared  with  honey,  was 
exposed  to  all  the  intolerable  insects  of  a  southern 
sky.  The  corps  were  also  informed  where  they 
might  find  their  officer,  if  they  thought  proper  to 
send  for  him.  As  more  than  two  days  elapsed  hs> 
fo|-e  the  wretched  nan  was  found,  nothing  iaw 
miserable  reUcs  were  discovered.  I  do  not  warrant 
these  stoiies,  bat  sodi  are  told  currently." 

Here  is  another^takeii.  I  believe,  from  one  of  the 
rude  pamphlets  in  his  collection. 

"  There  was  a  fsmier  of  an  easy  fortune^  and  whe 
might  be  supposed  to  leave  to  his  daughter,  a  veiy 
pretty  girl,  and  an  only  child,  a  fortune  thought  in 
the  village  to  be  very  considerable.  She  was,  under 
the  hope  of  sharing  such  a  priie,  made  up  to  by  a 
young  man  in  the  neighbourhood,  handsome,  activ^i^ 
and  of  good  character.  He  was  of  that  sort  of  per- 
sons who  are  generally  successful  among  women, 
and  this  girl  was  supposed  to  have  encouraged  Im 
addresses ;  bdt  her  father,  on  being  applied  to,  gave 
him  a  direct  and  j|>ositive  refosal.  The  gallantresolv- 
ed  to  continue  his  sddresses  in  hopes  of  overcoming 
the  obstacle  by  his  perseverance,  but  t)^e  father's  o|>- 
position  seemed  only  to  increase  by  the  lovcar's  perti- 
nacity. At  length,  as  the  farmer  walked  one  even- 
ing, smoking  his  pipe,  upon  the  terrace  before  his 
door,  the  lover  unhappily  passed  by,  and,  etrOck  with 
the  inaunt  thought  that  the  obstacle  to  the  happi- 
ness of  his  life  was  now  entirely  in*  his  owu  power, 
he  rushed  upon  the  father,  pierced  him  with  three 
mortal  staba  of  his  knife,  and  made  his  escape  to 
the  mountains. 

"  What  was  most  remarkable  was,  that  he  was 
protected  against  the  police,  who  vrent,  as  wis  thdr 
duty,  in  ouest  of  him,  by  the  inhabnants  of  the 
neighbourhood,  who  atforaed  him  both  shelter  and    ' 
sucn  food  as  he  required,  looking  on  him  less  as  s 


LIFE  01^  SIR  WALtBE  SOOrt. 


M 


Wiilhl  crimihiit  than  an  uofortunate  man^  who  had 
bben  surprised  by  »  strong  iM  almoflt  irreaiHtibie 
temptation;  so  congenial  at  this  moment  la  the  love 
of  vengeance  lo  an  Iialiait  boacttn,  und^  ihuugh 
chastised  in  general  hy  acvere  punisbmertl,  bo  much 
ate  criminals  sympathised  with  by  the  commtinity, 

I  now  insert  tht  Neapolitan  pan  of  Sir  William 
Oeirs  Memoratida. 

"Every  record  of  the  Latter  lUya  of  thoio  whi?,  hy 
their  actiooa  or  ih<»ir  uiem*,  h!iv«  ex  cite  J  the  admirnr 
tion  and  occupied  the  nttcQtion  wf  their  C4>nteii3por»rio«, 
has  been  thougJit  wonhy  of  preservation^  »ini  I  fuel,  do 
that  account,  a  uiflanctioJv  plrtafiuri*  in  coirjiilficm  wWl 
the  request  tiiat  I  w«u[d  rurnish  such  anecdiXi'a  df  Sir 
Waiter  Scott  an  my  short  iiiUiJi*cy  with  thai  Ulustrtoun 
pensonage  may  have  (iffotiit-^tl.  The  reas,7n  aKHf^n«^ci  in 
the  letter,  which  I  lec^iiyiai  from  oiifi  of  tlie  family  on 
the  subject,  waa,  thai  I  was  hin  '  Ute^tL  friend^'  Bod  ihJs 
appeared  to  mr)  a^  enang  a  iiiollve  bh  if  I  couM  have 
been  called  hia  earliUHl  acnu;»la  lance. 

"  I  had  met  Sir  WaUer  al  aummote  Triniy  uintij-  ycati 
ago,  whea  on  a  viaii  to  tt»t  late  MarqaiH  af  Ab^rcorn^ 
where  he  read  iino  of  the  ( Eirlif*t  of  hie  political  produc^ 
tioQs ;  but  I  had  ni>  foTth<?T  rieriaotml  toinniunieatton  witb 
him  unUl  his  arrivjJ  at  Naples.  1  wm  induced  to  call  on 
him  at  the  Palas^o  (Jar&aiAnicg.  at  the  dt&irff  of  a  iniitiiar 
friend,  on  Ihe  5itt  >  r  Jaaufuy.  l^I.  *nd  it  is  probable  that 
our  mutual  infi)  Mirjoa,  wbich  male  u*  juitctble  compao* 
ioHH  iu  excursii'Li  ,  i  oninbuU'd  tn  a  ire  it  de|ri*i:  lo  the 
intimacy  which  luimiHlialeif  look  place  betwern  Uft.  On 
th<?  following  cyeums  I  prest- [iled  to  hkn  Mi.  Kffipel 
Craven,  whoso  Tn^ur  in  ilu*  South  of  Italy  he  hud  jUBt 
read  wilh  pleaaur  From  ihifl  ume  I  was  ct^nstantty  in 
the  h^bitof  rei  ■  i.iug,  fir  culluif  for  i^t  WjUiffr  in  tlio 
morning,  and  o  m  Lilvact'ompank-d  him  in  sue  any  of  the 
remarkable  ob;-  h  in  tlu?  ni?ij;]ibourb»Qd  ttf  KR^plns. 
The  Lago  d'A^n  no  wi*  utiouc  iht?  firil  plBceft  viHrtidL 
and  he  waa  evi  Ji  umv  tjuitc  il-ltahtpd  with^ih*;  trani|iiil 
beauty  of  the unn,  :,>s.i  ■inark  wrif:  iilarly  wjili(.h<?  j^ifflit 
of  the  leavea  yet  liiig^orinfr  ^n  the  irti*:^  ^l  i*u  aiivan^eii  a. 
period  of  the  wtisiar,  ati'lllic  appearance  of  aummpr  Tct 
maintained  by  the  meailowq  anri  copHes  iurro undine  tho 
lake.  It  quickly  wcalled  to  his  uiinda  lake  in  sfcoilsnd, 
which  he  Immt'diately  h^an  to  iJp scribe,  1  afttrwarda 
found  that  hit«fUy  pleaaur e?  in  seelnf;  new  places  aroie 
from  the  poetitval  bitna  they  in^ipiTed.  aa  epjilkfttile  tn 
other  sceaea  with  which  hia  minLi  was  more  finiUiar. 


"  Mr.  Gravep  acctkiitpuiiltrd  ua  no  horeebact  in  this  ei- 
cur8ion,andStr  Walter,  learninj?  that  hft  w^js  writinf  fl 
second  voltmie,  givinsr  an  account  of  a  journey  In  tha 
Abbrossi,  kindly  observed,  that  \i*y  thoupnE  he  could  be 
of  uae  to  him  in  iJie  pablicMion  of  it,  addinjt,  *1  tkbik  t 
may.  perhapa.  be  ablo  in  gi^o  his  pancakr;  a  toas.' 
^"Ob  the  Idthof  JiiiUiU-yH  I  accompanied  Nni  to  Pbi- 
suolj,  and  the  late  Mr.  Lain*;  Meason  wa»  of  lb*  party. 
Here  we  8«iccp(Kle*i  in  ieititii?  Sir  WoJier  placefl  upon 
ft  heap  of  mlna,  whence  he  iiiiffht  nee  rhc  romiilns 
of  the  Thermae,  commonly  called  the  Tompk  of  Stera- 
pie.  His  obacrvatjoa  was,  that  we  might  tell  htm  aay 
thing,  and  he  would  hcljevp  it  all,  fur  many  of  his  friends, 
and  partieukrly  Mr,  MorrHt,  had  frcq gently  tried  to  drtve 
cUsaical  aotiquiUoa)  as  they  wato  called,  into  hl«  head, 
but  they  had  always  found  hk  ^  ai^ull  too  iKLck^' 

"ItwaawKh  «reat  rlak  tltst  he  could  he  hroutfht  lo 
any  point  of  dl  flic  tilt  aceet*,  for  nhoueh  he  wan  so  lame 
end  aewhow  easiiily  [  arrived  by  »ub nil t ting  to  bo  asFi steel 
or  carried,  it  vism  ^^aerallj  ImpiiUibLe  to  p'^rtuadn  hlui 
to  ecmmit  DimseJf  to  th«  care  of  ihR  attendaiiti. 

«  When  Sir  Walter  waa  prraentPd  at  Courlt  the  Kinf 
received  him  with  marked  attiinliim,  ajid  ln»i<*tp^d  on  %H 
being  seated^  on  aflcomii  of  him  Infirintty.  Thej  b<Mh 
■poke,  and  the  hy  nandc-r*  otjB(*n»if,  that  His  Majesty 
mantioned  ths  plpaaure  he  had  received  from  reading 
the  worka  of  hi»  vial  tor.  Sir  Walter  auaweretl  In  French, 
but  not  id  a  ctiair  tone  of  voice  ;  Mul  he  nflorwju'ds  ob- 
served, that  he  «od  the  Rlfijt  parted  luulually  f>1e^e<J 
with  the  Interriew^  con  side  rinfr  that  neither  tiaa  hend 
one  word  of  wlia*  wiw  nttenni  bf  the  othvt 

"On  th«  I7th  of  Jamiarv  I  took  Sir  Waller  (n  dine 
with  the  yeni^rable  ArchbtBhop  of  Tar#?niTmn  n  prpJato 
in  WaSOth  year,  hut  yet  retmnlng  Imh  fnriiliii^B  imfmpair 
ed,  and  the  warnmr  fcelinis  of  Tontlit  wirh  well- known 
hospitaUty.  The  twi:j  elcJer*  upr'med  miUusHy  p leaned 
wilh  the  ietenriew,  btit  the  difflcultlua  of  lati^uage  were 
opposed  to  any  ver^  Ojp-ceAble  convprf^atiou. 

"On  the  2Hh  nf  Jfltiuarv  I  aUenrlfd  Sir  W*Iior  id  a 
boat,  with  several  friendi/to  the  nUAiiJ  of  a  Reman  villa, 
supposed  by  Mr.  H:iLntUon  and  oiiiera,  tc  have  been  rliat 
of  FoUio,  and  aituated  op^n  a  rork  in  the  pea  at  the  et- 
treraity  of  the  promontorf  of  Poniapo  It  waA  by  no 
means  the  retulleedim  ^f  Polllo  that  liidticod  ^Ir  Wal- 
ter to  make  tli^s  eicurtion.    \  »tory  cxltt^d  that  out 


of  an  opening  In  the  flow  of  one  of  the  rMins  In  Ihi* 
VLlla,  a  erpectre  robed  in  whiti?  opcaelciiiftUy  appeared, 
whence  the  plaJ^c  hati  acqtiifed  the  nune  of  LaC&aa  • 
d^gh  Splnti,  and  none  had  prcaomed  io  inhabit  it-  The 
(nrt  wa^^  that  a.  ililrd  eiory  had  bc.<jn  bsiill  upon  the  Ro- 
D^t^l  ruius,  and  tlila  heing  only  mhabiteLl  by  paiiliera^had 
fiti&n  Into  dccay^  do  &a  to  endatij|or  one  aui^lc  of  the 
fabric,  and  I  ho  police,  for  fear  of  a<!:[:ldenlt  liaif  orderod 
that  It  E^hoalil  remain  uoneniuderi  Tiie  house  ia  efliuated 
upun  a  rock  piojf  cting  into  tbc  sea,  but  atiadbcd  on  one 
ildf  to  iho  tiioMlaiid,  An  entrance  ioi  a  boat  hits  be  on 
left  It]  tht'  hajseinejtl  ^lory,and  U  ia  probahlc  Ihfti  a  sort 
oi  op^n  cuurt,  loto  wbklii  the  *ea  enter  a  at  the  backoJ 
the  honie,  ano  in  which  isllie  *tairca)*e,  wn?  coiuJirructeA 
for  ilic  purpoee  of  cooling  the  apanmeiita  in  vbii  heat  of 
summer^  by  means  of  the  perpctiial  heaiins  and  sEnkhif 
of  Ihe  oc pan,  which  taken  plac«  rreti  lu  Hki  calmeai 
wrattifr.  Tbt  Btaircaae  was  Um  umeh  ruiurd  k\r  iiil 
WaflcT  lo  a^eiid  with  safety,  but  h«  appeareil  iatisfied 
\*i[li  what  hu  ^aw,  Aikd  [oc^hk  sotim  ttdprPot  in  iliu  priKifi 
\^incU  lh«?  appears ro  of  the  opu4  rtHicutninnj,  high  uf 
hi  tt;e  external  walls,  af!brded  of  the  aiitiumty  of  the 

^'  On  il]<^  9th  of  F*'bniary  S/r  Waltpr  wi^nt  to  Pompc^ 
whi^i'fs  wilh  bevsrai  laUlea  and  gf?ntkuicn  at  tlvat  time 
i> -Ttd^'EU  iTi  Naples,  1  anctnapajiittl  litm  i  did  hot  go  In 
IIji'  ^uue  f  orris? c,  butMTlvii)«  ai  the  ulr^^Pt  of  iiieToinbfl| 
foLmil  Vdm  ahxutdy  almoui  tlroil  before  Un  bad  ndvaa^cd 
II KJ  yards.  Wilh  ificul  dilfik^uhy  I  forced  hi ui  la  atmept 
this  chuir  in  whjcb  1  was  -^atriod,  ifuppljing  its  place  wlib 
aiiotbpr  for  iii>Kplf,lb«d  toisvilier  with  corda  end  hand- 
k^rchirf*).  He  lUu  «u*  t-iaablod  to  p»5s  through  ibe 
city  wlihoiit  iimro  falijjue,  and  I  was  Ekmiollaie»i  euaolcft 
lo  r^dl  hii  lUichiion  to  #ach  ubjcctji  aa  weru  iho  "'OA 
wurthy  of  reuiurk,  Tii  thcstf  ob^ervaUoiia,  boweveti  he 
ttfOiued  KPncraUy  lu^arly  i!j«eiiitlblc,  viewing  the  whofei 
and  ntil  l}je  purtii,  wiili  the  -sye,  luit  of  an  SJiiSquary,  but 
a  \Kyi.t,  anii  ciclaUiiinE  frequently,  *The  oivy  i>f  the  Dead,' 
wmioyt  any  otht^T  ruinark.  An  ejica^atlon  had  heeuar* 
dpred  for  hi  my  but  it  produced  notbUirg^  inort'  th*ii  a  few 
btllft,  hinges  and  lithur  objecti  of  bmsa,  which  are 
found  f:v^Ty  tlay.  Sir  Waller  aeemed  lo  i^iew,  liowfteTj 
lti«  Epli^DLtii]  uiosaic,  reprpneiitln^  acombatof  iJie  (Greeks 
nMft  Ptiralaiis,  wilh  more  ititert>st,  and,  r^tatfcd  upon  a 
Table  whL'UCc  hu  c^mld  look  down  upon  ii,  tie  remained 
fiotne  tUae  to  eiimina  K.  We  dined  *i  a  larxe  fcaule 
Eprt  Ad  in  the  Forum,  and  fitr  Walter  wai  cbrerful  and 
pleased,  in  ttjB  evenmit  he  wa»  a  httle  lired,  but  feit  no  • 
had  eirtclB  from  ihe  eii:tir«iim  tu  tha  UHy  of  the  Uflwl. 

"  In  our  Uiomlng  drive  a.  Blr  Waiter  alvwiya  noticed  «. 
\\vtmntii  doff  of  mine,  winch  waa  msually  in  the  carriag*-., 
lUJd  gciic^rally  patted  the  animaVa  head  for  afttuft  tlmUt 
s.ivi[iff, '  poor  boy -poor  boy.'  *  I  iJAve  got  ai  home,'  said 
'        two  *  e  r»  S  ne  farou  r  lie  dogs,  bo  large  thai  I  am  a\  way  a 


afraid  Ihtj'  lljok  too  bafidst>me  and  too  feudal  for  my  dl- 
inlnUhcHTi  iuot^mft  1  am  very  fonfj  of  them^  but  ibey  ero 
so  large  it  wea  ImpiHiJilbk  to  take  them  wiih  me,'  My  d^g 
was  ia  the  habit  *f  howling  when  bmd  mustc  vraa  per- 
formhin,  and  Sir  Walter  laugtied  tiU  hia  ft¥f?a  were  full  of 
l^^erc.  at  the  idf^ft  of  the  dog  *iingin«  *  My  Mother  bida  me 
IhIIiJ  my  hair,'  by  I  ho  lune  of  wtd4:li  the  nniina)  acemf'd  ' 
ij.oit  excii'^dt  and  which  the  klndhearttad  Lai^/nct  *ome- 
timea  a-SkiHi  to  Iiave  n^pcaipd. 

*'  I  do  not  rfmimbertiii  what  day,  during  hla  fpffidenca 
at  Najite*,  U^  tniuc  one  morn  inn  rattitr  early  lo  tnf 
ho  use,  lo  U'll  me  he  was  sure  T  shtmld  he  uleaaed  al 
sioixir  jinnd  Itick  which  had  befaJlfin  lUm,  mid  of  which  be 
had  jiHl  r-cpived  notice.  Thiis  waa,  a^  hi?  aaid  an  ae- 
raucji  fr^nii  hiii  friciida  in  England,  that  hi  a  laj*t  works, 
ll(Jj<'rt  iif  Paris  and  Caade  Uangerotja,  had  feme  on  t o  e 
M-aJis.Uditiuii.  Ho  told  me  In  ttie  tarrlage  that  he  felt 
quite  f  RlioTed  by  hid  lelterii, '  for,'  said  he.  *  1  could  never 
Ijavc  sit  [tt  f«niij;ht  in  my  c«ffin  tlU  I  had  satijfied  pvery 
rJcum  ugaiiitil  me.'  *  And  now,'  added  he  lo  the  dog,  *  my 
poor  boy,  I  fthaU  haire  my  houae,  and  my  entale  r&und  It. 
frees  (md  I  may  ke^p  my  dogw  aa  big  atiti  a*  many  ea  I 
choob:^,  without  fwr  of  reproach' 

'M  do  noj  rocoUect  the  dale  df  a  certain  rnomlnf 'a 
drive,  on  which  he  arsl  c^otniiMmicuieti  to  me  thai  he  had 
itlr*^;n1y  wrliteii,  or  at  leart  advancefl  far  in  a  rmuanre, 
on  lUe  subject  of  MalM,  a  jwiri  of  which,  he  aald,  laugh* 
tiiffjy,  htf  hud  ifut  into  thp.  firw  by  jui^Uke  for  other  pa- 
p-rs,  btit  wlilch  he  ihouj;;ht  he  had  rewritten  better  than 
hr?|bTe.  He  aiskeil  mo  about  thf  island  of  Rhodes,  and 
liild  lOP,  that,  being  roHevtd  frmn  dcol,  and  no  longer 
forced  lo  write  for  iisonoy,  he  longed  to  turn  to  [meiry 
aaaln^  and  io  «4*e  whether  in  hit  old  h^o  he  wt!i  not  cap^ 
bte  of  efl nailing  «he  rhyme*  of  hia  J^'J^thh^  ^ay*.     I  en- 

ijuraf[«;d  r 


blm  in  Thti  prtijecE,  and  flaked  why  he  had  <»vcr 
relinqaiahed  pi>etry     *  Becaune  Hymn  trtt  mp,'  aoid  he, 

Rgntan  Vdls .  hf  Mr, 


•  There  i*  an  iiH,!rMiiflf  Eway  qa  iM* 
HamJlioo.  ia  tiic  l^ijiaetiqoiaf  U«  lioyi 
biK  fcf  itJJT.  Digitized  by  ^ 


ra. 


UFB  OF  SIR  WALTER  SCOTT, 


prooouncinf  the  word,  beat,  abort*  I  rejoined,  that  I 
Chotif  fat  I  eovld  remetnber  hf  heart  about  at  many  paa< 
■aget  of  hta  poetry  aa  of  Lord  Byron'a ;  and  to  thia  he 
'  replied,  '  that  may  be,  but  he  bet  me  out  of  the  field  in 
the  description  or  the  atrong  paaaionas  and  in  deep-aeated 
knowledge  of  the  human  heart ;  ao  i  gave  up  poetry  for 
the  time?  He  became  from  that  moment  enremely  cu> 
rioua  about  Rhodes,  and  havinff  chosen  for  his  poetical 
subject  the  chivalrous  story  of  the  slaying  of  the  dragon 
by  De  Ooson,  and  the  stratagems  and  valour  with  which 
he  conceived  and  executed  hia  purpose,  ha  vras  quite  de- 
lighted to  hear  that  I  had  seen  the  skeleton  of  this  real 
or  reported  dragon,  which  yet  remains  secured  by  large 
iron  ataplea  to  the  vaulted  roof  of  one  of  the  gat«a  of  the 
city. 

**Ilhodea  became  at  this  tbne  an  object  of  great  im- 
portance and  curiosity  to  him,  and  as  he  had  indnlged  in 
the  idea  of  visiting  it.  he  waa  somewhat  displeased  to 
learn  how  very  for  dlatant  it  lay  (Vom  Corfu,  where  he 
proposed  to  pass  some  time  with  Sir  Frederick  Adam, 
then  Lord  High  Commissioner  in  the  Ionian  lalanda. 

**  I  must  not  omit  stating  tliat  at  an  early  period  of  hia 
vt^t  to  Naples,  an  old  English  manuscript  of  the  Ro- 
mance of  Sir  Bevis  of  Hampton,  existing  in  the  Royal  li- 
brary, had  attracted  his  attentionL  and  he  had  resolved 
on  procuring  a  copy  of  H,  not,  I  think',  for  himaelf,  but 
for  a  friend  In  Scotland,  who  was  already  possessed  of 
another  ediUon.  When  Sir  Walter  vialted  the  library  at 
the  Museum«  the  literati  of  Naples  crowded  round  him 
to  catch  a  sigtit  of  so  celebrated  a  person,  and  they  show- 
ed him  every  mark  of  attention  in  their  power,  by  crea- 
ting him  Honorary  Member  of  their  learned  societies. 
Complimentary  speeches  were  addressed  to  him  in  Latin, 
of  which,  unfortunately,  he  did  not  comprehend  one 
word,  on  account  of  the  difference  of  pronunciation,  but 
from  the  confession  of  which  he  was  saved  by  the  inter- 
vention of  Mr.  Keppel  Craven,  who  attended  him.  The 
King  of  Naples,  learning  his  wish  to  copy  the  book,  or- 
dered it  to  be  sent  to  his  house,  and  he  employed  a  per- 
son of  the  name  of  Stiochini,  who.  without  understand- 
ing a  word  of  Enalish,  copied  the  whole  in  a  character  aa 
uMily  aa  possible  the  fac-aimile  of  the  original  Sdc- 
chini  was  surprised  and  charmed  with  Sir  Walter's  kind- 
ness and  urbanity,  for  he  generally  called  him  to  break- 
fast, and  somethnes  to  dinner,  and  treated  him  on  all  oc- 
casions  in  the  most  condescending  manner.  The  Secre- 
tary was  not  less  surprised  than  alarmed  on  seeing  his 
patton  not  unfrequently  trip  his  foot  against  a  chair  and 
fall  down  upon  the  floor,  for  he  waa  extremely  faicautious 
aa  to  where  or  how  he  walked.  On  ^ese  occasions, 
whUe  the  frightened  Sticchhil  ran  to  aaaist  him.  Sir  Wal- 
ter laughed  very  good-humouredly,  refused  all  help,  and 
only  expressed  his  anxiety  lest  nis  spectacles  should 
have  been  broken  by  the  accident,  t  Sir  Walter  wished, 
during  his  stay  at  Naplea,  to  procure  several  Italian 
books  in  his  particular  department  of  study.  Among 
other  curiosities,  he  thought  he  had  traced  Mother 
Goose«  if  not  to  her  origin  at  Naples,  at  leaat  to  a  remote 
period  of  antiquity  in  Italy.  He  succeeded  hi  purchaaing 
a  considerable  number  of  books  in  addition  to  nis  library, 
and  took  the  fancy  to  have  them  all  bound  In  vellum. 

**  Sir  Walter  had  heard  too  much  of  Psatum  to  quit 
Naples  without  seehig  it,  and  we  accordingly  formed  a 
party  in  two  carriages  to  go  there,  hitending  to  sleep 
at  La  Cava,  at  the  villa  ormy  much  respected  friend 
AOsa  Wbyte,  a  lady  not  leas  esteemed  for  every  good 
quality,  than  celebrated  for  the  extraordinary  exertions 
of  benevolence  on  the  occasion  of  the  murder  of  the 
Hunt  family  at  Pteatom.  Hearing  of  thia  fatal  aflair,  and 
being  nearer  than  any  ether  of  ner  compatriota  to  the 
scone,  this  lady  immediately  endeavotured  to  engage  a 
surgeon  at  La  Cava  to  accompany  her  to  the  apot.  No 
one,  however,  could  be  found  to  venture  into  the  den  of 
the  murderera,  so  that  ahe  resolved  to  go  alone,  well  pro- 
vhled  with  Unt,  medicines,  and  all  that  could  be  useful  to 
the  wounded  persons.  She  arrived,  however,  too  late  to 
be  of  use:  bat  Sir  Walter  expreased  the  greatest  desire 
to  make  the  acquaintance  of  ao  admirable  a  person,  and 
it  was  settled  that  her  hoapitable  villa  should  receive  and 
lodge  ua  on  our  way  to  Pnstum.  La  Cava  is  25  miles  from 
Nrales,  and  as  it  was  necessary  to  feed  the  horses,  I  was 
in  hopes  of  showing  Sir  Walter  the  amphitheatre  of  Pom- 
peU  whUe  they  ate  their  corn.  The  day,  however,  being 
rainy,  we  gave  up  the  amphitheatre,  and  halted  at  the  lit- 
tle tavern  immediately  below  Pompeii.  Here  being 
obliged  to  remain,  it  was  thought  advisable  to  eat,  and  I 
had  an  opportunity  of  witneasiiig  the  hospitality  which  I 
had  alwavs  heard  distinguished  Sir  Walter,  for.  alYer  we 
had  ihiisned,  not  only  the  servants  were  fed  with  the  pro- 

I  is  not  mlfte  whatSir 
1  as  the  lift  «f  a  tisod  sod  brother 


visions  he  had  brought,  but  Ihe  whola  reoiiBderwM 
dhrtributed  to  the  poor  people  wh6  had  beto  driven  lato 
the  tavern  by  the  rain.  Thia  liberality  unforttinately  oc- 
casioned  a  deficit  on  the  following  day,  when  the  party 
atarted^witbout  provision  for  the  solitudes  of  PKstum. 

"  Near  Nocera  I  pointed  out  a  tower  altuated  opoo  a 
high  mountain,  and  guarding  a  pass  by  which  a  very 
steep  and  zig-zaf  road  leads  towardaAmaUL  lobaerved 
that  It  waa  poaalDle  that  if  the  Saracena  were  ever  really 
aeated  at  Nocera  dai  Pagani.  thia  tower  ndght  have  been 
at  the  oonflnea  of  the  Amaliltan  Republic,  and  have  b«ea 
their  frontier  against  the  Mahometans.  It  was  surprirfttg 
how  quickly  he  csught  at  any  romantic  circumstance, 
and  I  found,  in  a  very  short  time,  he  had  converted  the 
Torre  dl  Ciunae,  or  Chiunse,  into  a  feudal  residence,  and 
already  peopled  li  with  aChristlan  host  He  called  it  t he 
Knight'a  Cakle,  as  long  as  it  remained  in  sight,  and  aoon 
after  tranaferred  its  interest  to  the  carious  little  towera. . 
used  for  pigeon-shooting,  which  abound  hi  the  neigh- 
boarhood,  tnoogh  they  were  on  the  other  aide  of  the 
road. 

*'  From  La  Cava,  the  pam  proceeded  the  next  day  to 
P«stum,  settingput  early  in  the  morning ;  but  I  did  not 
accompany  Sir  Walter  on  that  journey,  and  c<Hlseqaen^ 
ly  only  know  that,  by  good  luck,  he  found  egga  and  other 
rustic  hrm  near  the  Temple&  and  returned,  after  a  drive 
of  fifty-foiur  miles,  very  much  fotigued,  to  a  late  dinner. 
He  waa,  however,  completely  reatored  by  the  night'a  rest, 
and  we  vialted  on  the  following  day  the  splendid  Bene- 
dictine Blonaatery  of  La  Triniti  della  Cava,  aituated  about 
three  milea  from  the  great  road,  and  approached  through 
a  beautiful  forest  of  chestnuts,  spreadmg  over  most  pic- 
tareaque  mountains.  The  day  was  fine,  and  Sir  WiOter 
really  enjoyed  the  drive ;  and  the  scenery  reeaUed  to  his 
mind  something  of  the  kind  which  he  had  seen  in  Scot- 
land, on  which  he  repeated  the  whole  of  the  ballad  of 
Jook  of  &zledean  with  great  eraphasia,  and  hi  a  clettr 
voice.  At  the  Convent  we  had  taken  care  to  request, 
that  what  is  termed  a  Pontifical  Mass  shouU  be  siuur  In 
hispresence,  after  which  he  was  taken  with  ranch  dUA- 
culty,  and  twice  falUng,  through  the  long  and  slippery 
labyrhiths  of  that  vast  edifice,  and  up  several  very  te- 
dioua  staircases  to  the  apartmenta  contatailng  the  ar* 
chives.  Here  the  curious  MSS.  of  the  Convent  were 
placed  before  him,  and  he  seemed  delighted  with  an  an- 
cient document  in  widch  the  names  of  Saracens  as  well  as 
Christians  appear  either  ss  wttnesaes  or  prlncipalB ;  bat  he 
was  ohiefly  atruck  with  a  boek  containing  plctores  of  the 
Lombard  Kings,  of  which,  through  the  iundneas  of  Doc- 
tor Hogg,  he  anerwarda  poasesseo  copies  by  a  young 
Neapolitan  painter  who  had  chanced  to  be  on  the  spot. 
On  the  whole.  Sir  Waker  waa  more  pleased  with  the 
Monaatery  of  La  Cava  than  with  any  place  to  which  I 
had  the  honour  to  accompany  him  in  Italy ;  the  alte,  the 
wooda,  the  organ,  the  siae  of  the  Convent,  and,  above 
all,  the  Lombard  Klnga,  produced  a  poeMcal  feeling ;  and 
the  fUie  weather  so  raised  hia  spirits,  that  in  the  forest  he 
again  recited  Jock  of  Hazledean  by  my  desire,  sfter  a 
long  repetitton  from  his  iivourite  poem  of  Hardyknuta. 

'HOn  the  fiallowtng  day  we  returned  to  Naples,  but  Sir 
Walter  went  hi  his  own  carriage,  and  complained  to  me 
afterwarda  that  he  had  never  been  able  to  discover  the 
*  Knight's  Tower,'  it  being,  in  foot,  only  visible  by  turn- 
ing hack  to  a  person  travelMng  in  that  direction.  He  ex- 
pressed himself  at  all  times  much  delighted  wtth  oar 
amiable  hostess,  Miss  Whyte,  remarking  very  Justly  that 
she  had  nothing  cold  abobt  her  but  her  house,  wbieh 
being  in  the  raoontains,  is,  in  fact,  by  no  means  ehgibla 
at  that  season  of  the  year. 

"  In  one  of  our  drives,  the  subject  of  Sir  Walter's,  per- 
haps, most  popular  romsnce,  in  which  Lady  Mai^aret 
Beilenden  oeiends  the  Oaatle  of  Tillietudlem,  was  men- 
tioned as  having  been  translated  into  Italian  under  the  ti- 
tle of  *  The  Scotti8ta#Puritana7  of  which  he  highly  ap- 
proved.  I  told  him  how  strange  the  names  of  the  places 
and  the  personsges  appeared  In  their  Italian  garb,  and 
remarked  that  the  Cakle  waa  so  welt  described,  and 
seemed  so  true  a  pictnre,  that  I  had  always  imsfined  b« 
must  have  had  some  real  fortreas  ha  view.  He  said  it 
was  very  true ;  for  the  Castle  he  had  vlaHedL  and  had 
fallen  ao  much  In  love  with  it,  that  he  wanted  to  live  there. 
He  added  a  joke  with  regard  to  his  having  taken  his  hat 
off  when  he  visited  this  favourite  spot,  reonrklng,  that  aa 
the  Castle  had  been  uncovered  for  many  cencnries,  he 
himself  might  be  uncovered  for  an  hour.  It  had.  aaid 
Sir  Walter,  *  no  roof,  no  windows,  and  not  nnieh  wall.  I 
ahould  have  had  to  make  throe  miles  of  road,  ik>  befi»ra 
the  afiUr  was  settled  I  got  wfser.^' 

**0n  th«  third  of  April  I  accompanied  Sir  Walter  to 


•  SsethsaeeoyoterSoelt'a  eadyvirittoCvalgnedwB  Casda 
PK.?-  ^A  i^iSwar,  iha naoie  Titiiehidtam  kteyiitie^' 
lunji^  that  ofUw  rav^  imdcr  the  oki  oast^ 


fipm 

town  if  nsarCnirwthan.    _ . 

Digitized 


UFE  OF  SIR  WAL^'ICR  8C0TT. 


Posooli  and  to  Coma.  We  bad  a  partr  of  nine  or  ten 
lidlea  and  gentlemen,  and  agreed  to  dine  at  the  inn  at 
PozzuoH,  on  our  way  back.  I  explained  to  Sir  Walter 
the  eommon  history  of  all  the  objects  which  occurred  on 
tile  road ;  and  the  account  of  Monte  Nuoto,  which  rose 
In  one  night  to  its  present  elevation,  destroying  the  tU- 
lace  of  Tre  Pergole,  and  part  of  the  Lucrine  Lake,  seem- 
ea  particularly  to  strike  his  poetical  imagination.  There 
ia  a  point  in  going  toward  the  Arco  Felice,  whence,  at  a 
turn  of  tne  road,  a  very  extensive  and  comprehensive 
view  is  obtained  of  the  Lake  of  Avemus.  The  Teipple 
of  Apollo,  the  Lucrine  Lake,  the  Monte  Nuovo,  Balae,  Mi- 
senum.  and  the  sea,  are  all  seen  at  once ;  and  here  I  con- 
sidered it  my  duty,  in  quality  of  Cicerone,  to  enforce  the 
knowledge  of  the  localities.  He  attended  to  the  names  I 
repeated ;  and  when  I  asked  whether  he  thought  himself 
sure  of  remembering  the  spot,  he  replied  that  he  had  it 
perfectly  in  bis  mind.  I  found,  however,  that  something 
in  the  place  had  inspired  him  with  other  recollections  of 
his  own  beloved  country,  and  the  Stuaru,  for  on  pro< 
oeeding,  he  immediately  repeated  in  a  grave  tone,  and 
with  great  emphasis— 

*  Up  the  craggy  mountain,  and  down  the  mossy  glen. 
We  canna  gang  a  milking,  for  Charlie  and  his  men.' 

"I  could  not  help  smiling  at  this  strange  commentary 
oo  mj  diaaertation  upon  the  Lake  of  Avemiia." 

While  at  Naples,  Sir  Walter  wrote  freouently  to 
his  daughter  Sophia,  Mr.  Cadell,  Mr.  Laialaw,  and 
myself.  Some  of  theae  letters  were  of  a  very  mel- 
ancholy cast ;  for  the  dream  abont  hia  debts  being 
all  settled  was  occasionally  broken ;  and  probably 
it  was  when  that  left  him  that  he  worked  hardest 
at  bis  Novels— though  the  habit  of  working;  hadbe- 
flome  so  fixed  that  1  may  be  wrong  in  this  conjee- 
ttire.  In  general,  however,  these  last  letters  tell  the 
same  stonr  of  dHiT^irp  hopesi,  both  a»  to  health  and 
wealth,  otsat  li  i^i  the  rewuinwUon  of  his  ptin, 

of  eagerness  ti'  n  once  more  at  Abbots  ford,  and  of 
affectionate  anxiety  alwul  the  fnends  be  vms  iht^re 
to  jKJoiii,  Ev  N  t  y  liptf  f  J  f  th  0  St!  to  I H  a  id  I »  w  h  a  9  ^otiie- 
thing  about  tlie  ^loor  people  and  the  doge.  One  to 
myself  convey rd  liiu  dcsiri^  that  lie  mieht  bo  set 
down  for  "sorncihinR  aa  handsonKi  as  1  likod"  sua 
subscription  ihi  n  ihtiufibi  of  for  the  Ettrick  Sh*^- 
herd—who  that  t^t^Tinic  v wiled  LpndoR,  and  was  m 
no  respect  improiLd  by  his  viaii.  Another  <o  tny 
wife  bade  her  piirehast?  a  sTatid  piano forto  whiL  li  be 
wished  to  ur^  smE  co^jsk  Cadi-l!,  his  booksLMr Vs 
daughter.  Tlie  jiamn  prnrTous  spint  was  shuwti  in 
many  oAier  communications. 

I  must  transcribe  one  of  Si^Walter's  letters  from 
Naples.  It  was  addressed  to  Mrs.  Scott  of  Harden, 
on  the  marriage  of  her  dauf^hter  Anne  to  Charles 
BaiUie,  Esq.,  a  son  of  her  neighbour  in  the  country, 
Mr.  Baillie  of  Jerviswoode^ 

To  Mrt.  Scott  of  Harden. 
"  Naples.  Palazzo  Caramanico,  6th  March,  1832. 

"  My  dearest  Mrs.  Scott,- -Your  kind  letter  of  Sih  Oc- 
tober, addressed  to  Malta,  reached  me  only  yesterday, 
with  a  number  of  others  which  had  been  tarrying  at  Je- 
richo till  their  beards  grew.  This  was  in  one  respect 
inconvenient,  as  I  did  not  gain  the  benefit  of  your  advice 
with  regard  to  my  travels,  which  would  have  had  a  great 
influence  with  me.  Moreover,  I  did  not  learn  the  happy 
event  in  your  own  family  till  a  newspaner  told  it  me  by 
accident  long  ago.  But  as  my  good  wishes  are  most  sin- 
cere, it  is  01  less  conseauence  when  they  reach  the  par- 
ties concerned,  and  1  flatter  myself  I  possess  so  much 
interest  with  my  voung  friends  as  to  give  me  credit  for 
most  warmly  wishing  them  all  the  happbiess  which  this 
auspicious  event  promises.  The  connexion  must  be  in 
every  respect  agreeable  to  the  feelings  of  both  families, 
and  not  less  so  to  those  of  a  former  generation,  provided 
they  are  permitted,  as  I  flatter  myself,  to  take  interest  in 
the  affairs  of  this  life. 

*•  1  envied  your  management  of  the  pencil  when  at 
MaKa,  as  frequently  elsewhere ;  it  is  quite  a  place  made 
to  be  Illustrated ;  by  the  way,  1  have  got  an  esquisse  of 
Old  Smailholm  Tower  from  the  pencil  of  Mr.  Turner. 
Besides  the  other  advantages  of  Malta,  it  possesses  John 
Hookham  Frere,  who  is  one  of  iho  most  entertaining 
men  I  know,  and  with  whom  I  spent  much  of  my  time. 

"Although  I  rather  prefer  Malta,  1  have  no  reason  to 
complain  of  Naples.  The  society  Is  very  numerous  and 
gav,  and  somewhat  too  frivolous  for  ray  lime  of  life  and 
Inflrmities:  however,  there  are  exceptions;  especially 
noor  Sir  William  Cell,  a  very  accomplished  scholar,  who 
s  lamfsr  than  I  am,  and  never  out  of  himiour,  thoqsh 

^  73  2Y 


worried  perpetually  by  the  gont,  which  be  bears  with 
the  greatest  complaisance.  He  is  engaged  in  vindtcatilif  i 
from  the  renAuns  of  the  various  public  works  in  Italy, 
the  truth,  which  Bryant  and  others  have  disputed,  con- 
ceming  tne  Roman  History,  as  given  by  Livy  and  other 
authors,  whom  It  has  been  of  late  fashionable  to  discred- 
it. The  Dilletante  Society  have,  greatly  to  their  credit, 
resolved  to  bring  out  this  Interesting  book. 

"  It  has  been  Carnival  time,  and  the  balls  are  without 
niunber,  besides  behig  pelted  to  death  with  sugar-plums, 
which  is  quite  the  rage.  But  now  Lent  is  approaching 
to  sober  us  after  all  our  gayety,  and  every  one  seems 
ashamed  of  being  happy,  and  preparing  to  look  grave 
with  all  hie  might. 

"I  should  have  said  something  of  Yny  health,  but  have 
nothing  to  say,  except  that  I  am  preuy  well,  and  take 
exercise  regularly,  though,  as  Parson  Adams  says,  tt 
must  be  of  the  vehicukr  kind.  I  think  I  shall  never  ride 
or  walk  again-  But  I  must  not  complain,  lor  my  plan  of 
paying  my  debts,  which  you  know  cave  me  so  much  trou- 
ble some  years  since,  has  been,  thank  God,  completely 
successful ;  and.  what  I  think  worth  tellhig,  I  have  paid 
very  near  jCl20,000.  without  owing  any  one  a  halfpenny— 
at  least  I  am  sure  this  will  be  the  case  by  midsummer.  I 
know  the  laird  will  give  me  much  Joy  oo  this  occasion, 
which,  considering  the  scale  upon  which  I  have  acoom- 
plished  it,  is  a  great  feat.  I  wish  I  were  better  worthy 
the  kindness  of  the  public ;  but  I  am  at  least  entitled  to 
say- 

*  'Twas  meant  for  merit,  though  it  fell  on  me.' 
Also  some  industry  and  somo.steadinesa  were  neceasaxy, 
I  believe,  indeed,  I  made  too  great  an  exertion,  but  it  I 
get  better,  as  aeems  likely,  it  is  little  enough  for  so  hap- 
py a  result.  The  young  people  have  been  very  happy— 
which  makes  me  think  that  about  next  spring  I  will  ^ve 
yoar  younx  couple  a  neighbourly  dance.  It  will  be  about 
this  time  that  I  take  the  management  of  my  aflUrs  again. 
You  must  patronise  me. 

"  My  love  to  Henry,  as  well  as  to  the  young  oouple. 
He  should  go  and  do  ultewise.— Tour  somewhat  ancient, 
but  very  sincere  friend,  Waltkr  Scott." 

CHAPTER  LXXXIII. 

DEATH  or  GOKTHE— SOMS— MEMOBANDA  BY  SIB  W. 
OBLL  AND  MS.  EDWARD  CHENEY— JOUBKEY  TO 
PBAKKFOBT— THE  BHJME  STEAM -BOAT— FATAL  SBI- 
ZtTBB  AT  NIMEOUEN— ABBIVALIN  LONDOM-^JEBMItM 
STBEET  — BDINBtTBGH—ABBOTSFOBD  —  DEATH  A1Q> 
BURIAL.— APBIL—8EPTBMBEB,  1832. 

His  fViend  Sir  Frederick  Adam  bad  urgently  in- 
vited Sir  Walter  to  visit  the  Ionian  Islands,  and  he 
bad  consented  to  do  so.  But  Sir  Frederick  was 
suddenly  recalled  from  that  government,  and  ap- 
pointed to  one  in  India,  and  the -Greek  scheme 
dropped.  From  that  time  his  companions  ceased 
to  contend  against  his  wishes  for  returning  home. 
Since  he  would  again  work,  what  good  end  could 
it  serve  to  keep  him  fVom  working  at  his  own  4esk  1 
And  as  their  entreaties,  and  the  warnings  of  foreign 
doctors,  proved  alike  unavailing  as  to  the  regulation 
of  his  diet,  what  remaining  chance  could  there  be 
on  that  score,  unless  from  replacing  him  under  th* 
eye  of  the  friendly  physicians  whose  authority  had 
formerly  seemed  to  have  due  influence  on  his  mind  7 
He  had  wished  to  I'etum  by  the  route  of  the  Tyrol 
and  Germany,  partly  for  the  sake  of  the  remarkable 
chapel  and  monuments  of  the  old  Austrian  princes 
at  Inspruck,  and  the  feudal  ruins  upon  the  Rhine,, 
but  chiefly  that  he  might  have  an  interview  with 
Gk>ethe  at  Weimar.  Tnat  poet  died  on  the  22d  of 
March,  and  the  news  seemed  to  act  upon  Scott  ex- 
actly as  the  illness  of  Borthwickbrae  had  done  in 
the  August  before.  His  impatience  redoubled :  all 
his  fine  dreams  of  recovery  seemed  to  vanish  at 
once— "Alas  for  Ooethe!"  he  exclaimed,  "but  he 
at  least  died  at  home— Let  us  to  Abbotsford."  And 
he  quotes  more  than  once  in  his  letters  the  first 
hemistich  of  the  line  from  Politian  with  which  he 
had  closed  his  early  memoir  of  Leyden— "  Grata 
quits  Patrias" 

When  the  season  was  sufficiently  advanced,  then, 
the  party  set  out,  Mr.  Charles  Scott  having  obtain- 
ed leave  to  accompanv  his  father :  which  was  quite 
neeesFsry,  as  his  elder  brother  had 'already  been 
obliged  to  rejoin  his  regiment.  They  quitted  Na- 
ples on  the  16th  of  April,  in  an  open  barouchoi 
which  could  at  pleasure  be  ctonvertea  into  a  bed. 


L*B  OP*  SOL  WALTER  fiTcOrf. 


to  another  accomplished  coimtmnan,  who  exerted 
himself  no  less  than  did  Sh-  William,  to  render  his 
stay  aKrceable  to  him.  This  was  Mr.  Edward  Che- 
ney—whose family  had  long  been  on  terms  of  very 
strict  intimacy  with  the  Maclean  Clephanes  of  Tor- 
lotak,  so  that  Sir  Walter  was  ready  to  regard  him 
at  first  sisht  as  a  friend.  I  proceed  to  give  smm 
eitracts  from  these  gentlemen's  memoranda. 

*'At  Eome"  (says  GeU)  "Sir  Walter  found  aaaparV 
ment  provided  for  him  In  the  Casa  Bernini.  On  hift  ar- 
rival,  he  seemed  to  have  suflTered  bat  little  Arom  the  iour- 
ney :  though  I  believe  the  length  of  time  he  was  oblifed 
to  aiC  in  a  carriage  had  b^n  occasionally  the  cause  of 
trcmblesome  symptoms.  I  found  him,  however,  in  very 
good  spirits,  and  as  he  was  always  eager  to  see  any  spot 
remarkable  as  the  scene  of  particular  events  recorded  in 
history,  so  he  was  keenly  bent  on  vi'siUng  the  bouse 
where  Benvenuto  Cellini  writes  that  he  slew  the  Consta- 
ble of  Bourbon  with  a  bullet  fired  from  the  Castle  of  St, 
Angelo.  Tlie  Chevalier  Luigi  Chfaveri  took  him  to  the 
place,  of  which,  though  he  quickly  forgot  the  poslUon,  he 
yet  retained  the  history  firmly  fixed  in  bis  Dund,  ana  to 
which  be  very  frecjuentnr  recurred. 

"The  introduction  of^Mr.  Cheney  was  productive  of 
great  pleasure  to  9tr  Walter,  as  he  possessed  at  that  mo- 
ment the  Villa  tiulL  at  Prescati,  which  had  been  for  ma- 
ny years  the  fevourlte  residence  of  the  Cardinal  of  York, 
#Ko  was  bishop  6f  Tusculum. 

"  Sooti  arter  hhi  arrival  I  took  Sir  Walter  to  St.  Peter's, 
frtwh  he  had  resolved  to  visit,  that  he  might  seethe  tomb 
etfthe  km  of  the  Stuarts.  I  took  him  to  one  of  the  side 
doors,  in  order  to  shorten  the  walk,  and  by  great  good 
lortune  met  with  Colonel  Blair  and  Mr.  PhilUps,  under 
wt)ose  protectiou  he  accomplished  bis  purpose.  We 
contrived  to  tie  a  glove,  round  the  .point  of  his  stick,  to 
prevent  his  sUjiping  in  some  degree,  but  to  conduct  him 
was  really  a  sertice  of  danger  and  alarm,  owing  to  his  fn- 
ftrmUy  and  total  want  of  caution.  He  has  been  censured 
for  not  having  frequently  visited  the  treasures  of  the 
Vatican— but  by  those  only  who  were  unacquainted  with 
the  difficulty  with  whioh  he  moved.  Days  and  weeks 
must  have  been  passed  in  thia  immense  museum.  In  or- 
der to  have  given  hlra  any  idea  of  its  value  ;  nor  do  1 
know  that  it  would  have  been  possible  for  bim  to  have 
ascended  the  rugged  suirs,  or  to  have  traced  its  corrl- 
dors  and  interminable  galleries,  In  the  state  of  reduced 
siffentth  and  dislike  to  being  assisted  under  which  he 
thea  laboured. 

"  On  the  8lh  of  May  we  aU  dined  at  the  Palace  of  the 
Duchess  Torlonia,  with  a  very  large  company.  The  din- 
ner was  very  late  and  very  splendid,  and  from  the  known 
hospitality  of  the  family  it  vrte  probable  that  Sir  Walter, 
In  the  heat  of  conversfvjon,  and  with  servants  on  all  ndes 
pressing  him  to  eat  and  drink,  as  is  their  custom  at  Rome, 
might  be  Induced  to  eat  more  than  was  safe  for  hi.s  mal- 
ady. Colonel  Blair,  who  sat  next  biin,  was  requested  to 
take  care  that  this  should  not  happen.  Whenever  I  ob- 
served him,  however,  Sir  Walter  appeared  always  to  be 
eating;  while  the  Duchess,  who  had  discovered  the  na- 
ture of  the  office  imposed  oa  the  Colonel,  was  by  no 
mean^satisfied,  and  alter  dinner  observed  that  it  was  an 
odd  sort  of  friendship  which  consisted  in  starving  one's 
neighbour  to  death  when  he  had  a  good  appetite,  and 
there  Was  dinner  enough. 

**  It  was  at  this  entertainment  that  Sir  Waller  met  with 
tte  Duke  and  Duchess  of  Corchi^no,  who  were  both  well 
read  in  his  works,  and  delighted  to  have  been  in  company 
With  him.  This  acquaintance  might  have  led  to  some 
agreeable  conaequences  had  Sir  Walter's  life  been  spar- 
edt  for  the  Duke  told  him  be  was  possessed  of  a  vaist  col- 
lection of  papers,  giving  true  accounts  of  all  the  murders, 
poisonings,  intrigues,  and  curious  adventures  of  all  the 
great  Roman  families  during  many  centuries,  all  which 
were  at  bis  servire  lo  copy  and  publish  hi  his  own  way 
•a  hiilorical  romances,  only  disguising  the  names,  so  as 


Hot  to  compromise  the  cte<fit  of  (he  eiistini  ili  n  i  iiiTli 
of  the  fatimies  in  question.    Sir  Wslter  listened  lo  tbs 


It  win  be  teen  from  sdme  memoranda  aboat  to  be 

gnoted,  that  Sir  Walter  was  somewhat  interested  .-^  t.   r    .u  ,-j      ^  v  .  .         

By  a  few  of  the  objects  presented  to  him  in  the  earli-  tef.'^ifi;' i^^S'l^^^^  ZI'^Lm^  TJS!!"^ 

J  stages  of  his  rbute.    The  certainly  that  be  was    ^T^cd  with  aU  he  beard  from  that  amiable  and  accoia. 
OA  hie  way  home  for  a  time  soothed  and  oomposed 
him  {  and  amidst  the  agreeaUe  A>ciety  which  again 
surrounded  him  on  bis  arrirai  in  Rome,  he  seemed 

Krhaps  as  much  of  himself  as  he  had  ever  been  in 
alta  or  in  Naples.  For  a  moment  evetn  his  lite- 
ranr  hope  and  ardour  appear  to  have  revived.  But 
still  his  daughter  entertained  no  doubt,  that  his  con- 
senting to  pause  for  even  a  few  days  in  Rome,  was 
dictated  mainly  hf  consideration  of  her  natural  cu- 
riosity.. Sir  William  QeW  went  to  Rome  aboat  the 
aame  time ;  and  Sir  Walter  was  introdnced  there 


pUshed  personage,  that  at  one  moment  ho  thougbt  of  re- 
maining for  a  thne  at  Rome,  and  at  another  he  vowed  bs 
would  return  there  in  the  ensuing  winter.  Whoever  has 
read  any  of  these  memoirs  of  Italian  frmilies,  of  which 
many  are  published  and  very  many  exist  In  maniiacngc 
wiQ  acknowledge  how  they  abound  in  strange  events  aaa 
roowntic  stories,  and  may  form  some  idea  of  the  dellglt 
with  which  Sir  Walter  imag'med  himself  on  (he  point  of 
pouncing  upon  a  treasure  after  his  own  heart 

"The  eldest  son  of  the  Torlonia  family  is  the  posseasor 
of  the  castle  of  Bracctano,  of  which  be  is  drake.  Sir 
Walter  was  anxioua  to  see  it,  and  cited  some  Mory,  I 
think  of  the  Orsini,  who  once  were  lords  of  U»  pkca. 
We  had  permission  to  visit  the  castle,  and  the  suward 
had  orders  to  fuml.sh  us  with  whatever  wa«i  reqvisite. 
We  set  off  on  the  9th  of  May,  Sir  Walter  as  usual  cooi^ 
with  me,  and  two  ladles  and  two  gentlemen  occupy iii|;bis 
carriage.  One  of  these  last  was  tlic  son  of  the  Duke  «f 
Serraoneta,  Don  Michelangelo  Gaetani,  a  p<rr%on  of  tke 
most  amiable  disposition,  genHemanly  manners,  and  iiHHt 
refnnrkable  talents.  Sir  Watter,  to  witom-  he  bad  poM 
every  attentioa  during  his  stay  at  Rome,  had  ceoeeiveda 
high  opinion  of  him,  and,  added  to  his  agreeable  qualitiss, 
be  had  a  wonderftil  and  accurate  knowledge  of  the  Msttny 
df  his  own  country  during  the  darker  ages.  The  Oaetani 
figured  also  among  the  most  ancient  and  most  tnrb^eoi 
of  the  Roman  &milies  during  the  middle  agea,  and  tkeas 
historical  qnalitiea,  added  to  the  amenity  of  hka  manaer^ 
rendered  him  naturally  a  ikvourite  with  Sir  Wa^isr. 

'*  We  arrived  at  Bncciano,  twenty-ftve  Bailee  fromirasm, 
rather  fiuigued  with  the  rouighnesK  t>f  an  old  lUMnan  n&t^ 
the  pavement  of  which  bad  generally  been  half  deauof- 
ed,  and  the  stones  left  hi  disorder  on  the  spot    He  was 
pleased  with  the  general  appearance  of  that  stsie^  pQe, 
which  is  finely  seated  upon  a  rock,  commanding  oa  one 
sMe  the  view  of  the  beantiftil  lake  with  iu  wooded  abores, 
and  on  the  other  overlooking  the  town  of  BmccisM.    A. 
canlace  could  not  easily  aseead  to  Che  cotm,  so  thai  Si* 
Walter  iktigued  hlAeelf  stm  more,  aa  he  was  not  cootea* 
to  be  assisted,  by  walking  up  the  ateep  and  sonsewkss 
long  ascent  to  the  gateway.    He  was  struck  with  the  son- 
bre  ^pearance  of  the  Clothic  towers,  built  wUh  tha  Uack 
lava  wnich  bad  once  formed  the  pavement  of  the  Romaa 
road,  and  Which  adds  much  to  Its  frowning  magnificence. 
In  the  Interior  he  could  not  but  be  pleased  with  the  frui 
suite  of  state  ^mrtmenta,  all  yet  habluble.  and  eren  rr> 
tainiag  in  some  rooms  the  old  fianiture  ana  the  ricli  sMt 
hangings  of  the  Orsini  and  Odesoilohi.    These  ctasmbeia 
overlook  the  lake,  and  Sir  Walter  sat  in  a  windbv  Ibr  a 
long  time,  during  a  delightful  evening,  to  enjoy  the  pnsi- 
pect.    A  very  krge  dd|,  of  the  breed  called  Daalai^ 
coming  to  fawn  upon  him,  he  told  it  he  vols  glad  to  see  it, 
for  it  was  a  proper  accompaniment  to  such  a  castle,  bol 
that  he  had  a  lajrger  dog  at  home,  though  ntar  be  ooc  so 
good<natured  to  strangers.    This  notice  of  the  dof  secsed 
to  gain  the  heart  of  the  stewardy  and  he  accompanied  9ir 
Walter  in  a  second  tour  through  the  grand  suite  of  rooas, 
each,  as  Sir  Walter  observed,  highly  pleased  with  tW 
other's  conversation,  though  as  one  spoke  French,  aad 
the  other  Italian,  little  ofit  could  be  understood.    Toward 
the  town,  a  range  of  smaller  apartments  arc  more  con- 
venient, except  during  the  heati*  of  summer,  than  the 
5rreat  rooms  for  a  small  party,  and  In  these  we  dined  and 
bund  chambers  for  sleeping.    At  night  we  had  tea  aad 
a  large  fire,  and  Sir  Walter  conversed  cheerftally.    Some 
of  the  party  went  out  to  walk  round  the  battle  mmfs  of 
the  oastlo  by  moonlight,  and  a  ghost  was  talked  of  ajDOitf 
the  usual  accompaniments  of  such  situations.    He  told 
me  that  the  best  way  of  making  a  ghost  was  to  psint  R 
with  white  on  tin,  for  that  in  the  dusk,  after  K  bad  heeu 
SAen,  it  could  be  ln»tantly  maile  to  vanish,  by  tamii^  tbe 
edge  almost  without  thickness  towards  the  spectator. 

"  On  coming  down  next  morning  I  found  that  dir  Wai- 
ter, who  rose  early,  had  already  made  another  tour  ovex 
part  of  the  CaSUe  with  the  steward  and  the  dug.  After 
breakfast  we  set  out  on  our  return  to  Rome  ;  and  aU  the 
way  hts  conversation  was  more  delightful,  and  umto  r»* 
plete  with  anecdotes  than  I  bad  ever  known  it  He  talked 
a  great  deal  to  young  Gaetani,  who  sat  o»  the  box,  aadhs 
invited  him  to  Scotland.  He  asked  me  when  I  though*  ^ 
revisiting  England,  and  I  replied,  that  if  my  health  p•^ 
mirted  at  a  moment  when  I  could  afford  it,  I  mif  lit  pc^ 
haps  be  tempted  in  the  course  of  the  following  •oinaer. 
*  fr  the  money  be  the  difficulty,'  said  the  ktnd-bearted 
baronet,  *  don't  let  that  hinder  you ;  Fve  L.300  at  foot 
service,  and  I  have  a  perfect  right  to  give  it  you,  and  Be- 
body  can  complain  of  rae|  for  I  made  It  myscuf.' 
.  '*  Be  continued  to  press  my  acceptance  of  this  j 
un  I  requested  him  Is  drop  the  subject,  r"  " 


L9E  OP  81E  XTAUnSBL  SOOTT. 


,tiidmvieh  flatttredlrf  80 

eoBTJnelnf  a  proof  of  &•  dntre  to  see  ne  it  AbboCsmrd 

^  I  remeraber  pardeaterly  a  remu-k^  which  prored  the 
IdndneM  of  bia  heart  A  lady  requested  him  to  do  aoine- 
thing  wliich  Was  very  diM^aeable  to  him.  Hawaauked 
whether  he  had  cooseated.  He  repU^  *  Tea.'  He  waa 
then  qaeitionad  why  he  had  agreed  to  do  what  waa  ao  tn- 
«oiiren»ent  lo  him.  *  Why/  aaid  he,  *  aa  I  am  now  good 
for  nothing  else,  I  think  it  aa  well  to  be  good-natured.' 

**Itapkmy  leave  of  my  re^teeted  mend  oh  the  10th 
May,  1832.  I  knew  this  great  getiiue  and  eatimabla  roan 
bxkt  for  a  abort  period ;  bat  it  waa  at  an  interesting  mo- 
nent,  and  being  both  invalida,  and  impreaaed  eqoalty 
with  the  same  conviction  that  we  had  no  time  to  loae,  we 
seemed  to  betome  intimate  without  passing  through  the 
usual  gradationaoffHendship.  Iremembered  just  enough 
of  Scottish  topography  and  northern  antiqultiei  in  gener- 
al to  be  i^le  to  aak  queatlona  on  aabjects  on  which  hia 
knowledge  waa  aupereniinent,  and  to  be  delighted  and 
«dified  by  hia  inaznauatible  atock  of  anecdotes,  and  hia 
curioua  and  recondite  erudition ;  and  this  waa  perhapa  a 
reason  for  the  preference  he  seemed  to  give  me  in  hia 
morning  drivea,  during  which  I  saw  most  of  him  alone. 
It  isa' great  satis&ction  to  have  been  intimate  with  ao  cel- 
ebrated and  sor  benevolent  a  pcraonage ;  and  I  hope,  that 
theaerecoDsctibns  of  his  latter  daya  may  not  be  without 
their  value,  in  enabling  thoae  who  were  acquainted  with 
8ir  Walter  hi  his  most  brilliant  period,  to  compare  it  with 
his  decUnlBg  moments  during  his  residence  in  Italy." 

Though  some  of  the  same  thinsB  recur  in  the  notes 
with  which  I  am  favoured  bv  Mr.  Cheney,  yet  the 
reader  will  pardon  thifl— and  even  be  ^lad  to  com- 
pare the  impreseions  of  two  such  observers.  Mr. 
Cheney  says  t— 

**  Delighted  aa  I  was  to  see  Sir  Walter  Scott,  I  remarked 
with  pain  the  ravages  disease  had  made  upon  him.  He 
Waa  often  abatracted,  and  it  waa  only  when  wanned  with 
his  subject  that  the  light  blue  eye  ahot  from  under  the 

^mthouse  brow  with  the  fire  and  spirit  that  recalled  the 
mhor  of  Waverley. 

**  The  firal  of  May  was  appointed  for  a  visit  to  Prescati : 
and  it  gave  me  great  pleaaure  to  have  an  opportunity  of 
Showing  attention  to  sir  Walter  without  the  appearance 
Of  obtrusiveneaa 

**The  Villa  Mutl,  which  belonged  to  the  late  Cardinal 
of  York,  has,  since  his  death,  iallen  into  the  hands  of  aev* 
eral  proprietors ;  it  yet  retains,  however,  some  relics  of 
its  former  owner.    There  is  a  portrait  of  Charles  I.,  a  bust 

2f  the  Cardinal,  and  another  of  the  Chevalier  de  St  Oeorve. 
lut  above  all,  a  pictuHs  ofihejete  given  on  the  promotion 
of  the  Cardinal  in  the  Piazza  de  S.  S.  ApoatoU  (where  the 
palace  in  which  tlie  Stuarta  resided  atlll  boars  the  name 
^  the  Palazzo  del  Pretendente)  occupied  Sir  Walter's 
attention.  In  this  picture  he  discovered,  or  fancied  he 
4id  ao,  the  portnuta  of  several  of  the  ilistinguisbed  follow- 
ers of  the  exiled  family.  One  be  pointed  out  as  resembling 
a  picture  he  had  seen  of  Cameron  of  Lociiiel,  whom  he 
.  described  as  a  dark,  hardfeaturod  man.  He  apoke  with 
admiration  of  hie.  devoted  loyalty  to  the  Stuarta.  I  also 
rfbowed  him  an  ivory  head  of  CharUb  I.,  which  had  served 
m  the  top  of  Cardinal  York'a  walking  stick.  He  diil  not 
fail  to  look  at  it  with  a  lively  intereat. 

**  He  admired  the  house,  the  position  of  which  is  of  aur- 
paasing  beauty,  commanding  an  extensive  view  over  the 
Campagna  of  Rome  ;  but  be  deplored  the  fate  of  his  fa- 
vpunte  princes,  observing  that  this  was  a  poor  substitute 
for  all  the  splendid  palaces  to  which  they  were  heiis  in 
England  and  Scotland.  The  place  where  we  were  sug- 
gested the  topic  of  conversation.  lie  was  walking,  he 
told  me,  over  the  field  of  Preston,  and  musing  on  the  un- 
looked-for event  of  that  day.  when  he  was  su^enly 
startled  by  the  sound  of  the  ntinute-guns  proclaiming  the 
death  of  George  IV.  Lost  in  the  thouahta  of  ephemeral 
glory  suggested  by  the  scene,  he  had  forgotten,  in  the 
momentary  success  of  his  favourite  hero,  his  subsequent 
mjsfortuues  and  defeat  The  solemn  sound,  be  added, 
admonished  him  of  the  futility  of  all  earthly  triumphs ; 
ahd  reminded  him  that  the  whole  race  of  the  Stuarts  had 
passed  away,  and  was  now  followed  to  the  grave  by  the 
first  of  the  rival  house  of  Brunswick  who  htM  reigned  in 
the  line  of  legitimate  succession. 

"  Doringthla  visit  Sir  Walter  was  In  excellent  spirits ;  at 
diimer  he  talked  and  laoghed,  and  Miss  Scott  assured  me 
she  bad  not  seen  him  so  gay  aince  he  left  England.  He 
put  aalt  into  his  soup  before  tasting  it,  smilinc  as  he  did 
so.  One  of  the  «>mpany  said,  that  a  friend  of  bia  used  to 
declare  that  he  ahould  cat  salt  vrith  a  limb  of  Lot's  wife. 
Sir  Walter  laughed,  observlns  that  he  was  of  Mrs.  Sitldons' 
nrind,  who,  when  ftlning  with  the  Provost  of  Edinburgh, 
and  being  asked  by  her  host  if  the  beef  were  too  salt,  re- 
plied, in  her  emphatic  tones  of  deep  tragedy,  which  rfir 

"  flcr  mimicked  very  camicaUy, 


^Z 


J&ch 


'  Bsef  oMsot  |»  loo  salt  ftrne,  Biy  ted.* 
"Sir  Walter,  thouch  he  spoke  no  foreign  langusge  wtth 
fkcUity,  read  Spanish*  aa  well  as  Italian.  He  expressed 
the  most  unbounded  admiration  for  Cervantea,  and  aaid 
that  the  *  novelas'  of  that  author  had  first  thspired  him 
with  the  ambition  of  excelling  hi  fiction,  and  that,  until  , 
disabled  by  illness,  ho  had  been  a  constant  reader  of  them. 
He  added,  that  be  had  formerly  made  it  a  practice  to  read 
through  the  *  Orlando'  of  Boiardo,  and  the  *  Orlando'  of 
Ariosto,  once  every  year. 

"  Of  Dante  he  knew  little,  confessing  he  found  him  too 
obscure  and  difficult  I  waa  sitting  next  him  at  Qinner,  at 
Lady  Coventry's,  when  this  conversation  took  place.  He 
added,  with  a  smile,  Mt  is  mortifying  that  Dante  seemed 
to  think  nobody  worth  being  sent  to  belt  but  his  own 
Italians,  whereas  other  people  had  every  bit  aa  areat 
rogues  in  their  families,  whose  misdeeds  were  soared 
to  pass  with  impunitv.'  1  said  that  he,  of  all  men,  had 
least  right  to  make  this  complaint,  aa  his  own  ancestor, 
Michael  Scott,  was  consignea  to  a  very  tremendous  pnn- 
iahment  in  the  twentieth  canto  of  the  Inferno.  His  atten- 
tion was  roused,  and  I  quoted  the  passage — 

^neir  akro,  che  oei  iaocbi  t  oosi  poeo, 

icbele  Scotto  fti.  che  verajnente 

Delle  mafficbe  frode  leppe  il  giooo.' 
He  seemed  pleased,  and  alluded  to  the  subject  more  than 
once  in  the  course  of  the  evening. 

"One  evening  when  I  vraa  with  him,  a  person  called  to 
petition  him  in  iavour  of  the  auflerers  from  the  recent 
earthquake  at  Foligno.  Ho  instantly  gave  his  name  lo  th« 
list  with  a  very  handsome  subscription.  This  was  by  n* 
means  the  only  occasion  on  which  I  observed  him  ready 
and  eager  to  answer  the  calla  of  charity. 

"  1  accompanied  Sir  Walter  and  Mis«  Scott  one  roomiqg 
to  the  Protestant  burial-ground.  The  road  to  Uits  spot 
runs  by  the  side  of  the  Tyber,  at  the  foot  of  Mount  AvesF- 
tine,  and  in  our  drive  we  passed  several  of  thf  most  in* 
teresting  monuments  of  ancient  Rome.  The  houso  of  th« 
Tribune  Risnzi.  and  the  temple  of  Vesta,  arreated  htaat^ 
tention.  This  kttle  circular  temple,  he  satd,  struck  him 
more  than  many  of  the  finer  ruins.  Infirmity  had  check- 
ed his  curiosity.  'I  walk  with  pain,'  he  said,  'and  what 
we  see  whilst  suflTering  makes  little  impression  on  us ;  It 
is  for  this  reason  that  much  of  what  I  saw  at  l^iples,  and 
which  I  ahould  have  enjoyed  ten  years  ago,  I  have  already 
forgotten.'  The  Protestant  burying-ground  lies  hear  the 
Pona  S.  Paolo,  at  the  foot  of  the  noble  pvramid  of  Caius 
Cestius.  Miss  Scott  waa  anjdoua  to  see  the  grave  of  her 
friend.  Lady  Charlotte  Stopford.  Sir  Walter  was  unable 
to  walk,  and  while  my  brother  attended  Miss  Scott  to  the 
spot,  1  remained  in  the  carriage  with  him.  '1  regret,'  he 
said, '  that  I  cannot  go.  It  would  have  been  a  satisfaction 
to  me  to  have  seen  the  place  where  they  have  laid  her. 
She  is  the  .child  of  a  Buocleuch ;  he,  you  know,  is  my 
chief,  and  all  that  comea  from  that  house  is  dear  to  ma.' 
Hd  looked  on  the  ground  and  sighed,  and  for  a  moment 
there  was  a  alienee  between  us. 

"  We  spoke  of  politics,  and  of  the  reform  in  Parliament^ 
which  at  that  time  was  pending.  I  asked  his  opinion  of 
it ;  he  said  he  was  no  enemy  to  reform—*  If  the  machina 
does  not  work  well,  it  must  be  mended— but  it  should  be 
by  the  best  workmen  ye  have.' 

"  He  regretted  not  having  been  at  Holland  House  as  ha 
passed  through  London.  '  I^rd  Holland.'  he  said, » is  tba 
most  agreeable  man  I  ever  knew :  in  criticism,  in  poetrv, 
he  beats  those  whose  whole  .study  they  have  been.  No 
numin  England  has  a  more  thorough  knowledge  of  English 
authors,  and  he  expresses  himself  ao  well,  that  his 
language  illustrates  and  adorns  his  thoughts,  as  light 
streaming  through  coloured  glass  heightens  the  briUbin< 
cy  of  the  objects  it  talis  upon.' 

"  On  thje  <Uh  of  May  he  accepted  a  dinner  at  our  house, 
and  it  gave  my  brother  and  myself  nnfeigned  satisfoction 
to  have  again  the  pleasure  ef  entertaining  him.  We  col- 
lected a  party  to  meet  him,  and  amongst  others  I  invited 
Don  Luigi  Santa  Croce.  one  of  his  most  ardent  admirers^ 
who  had  long  desired  an  introduction.  He  is  a  man  of 
much  ability,  and  has  played  his  part  in  the  political 
changes  of  bis  country.  When  I  presented  him  to  Sir 
Walter,  he  bade  me  tell  him.  for  be  speaks  no  English, 
how  long  and  how  earnestly  he  had  desired  to  see  him, 
though  he  had  hardly  dared  to  hope  it.  *  Tell  him,*  ha 
added  with  warmth,  ^  that  in  dlaappointment,  hi  sorrow, 
and  In  sifckness,  Ills  works  hsve  been  my  chief  comfort; 
and  while  living  amongst  his  imaginary  personages,  1  have 
succeeded  for  a  moment  in  forgetting  the  vexations  of 
blighted  hopes,  and  have  found  relief  in  public  and  pri- 
vate distress.'  The  Marchess  Loughi,the  beautiful  sister 
of  Don  Michele  Gaetani,  whom  1  also  presented  to  him 
this  evening,  begg<|d  me  to  thank  him,  in  her  name,  for 
some  of  ttta  most  agreeable  moments  of  her  life.  *  Bht 
had  had.'  ahe  said,  *  though  young,  her  share  of  sorrows, 
and  in  hia  works  she  had  found  not  only  amusement,  but 


UFB  OP  Sm  WAUnR  800VF. 


l6Mons  of  9«cienee  and  rMlgiMtkmy  whtoh  «ke  hoped  had 
not  been  lost  upon  her.'  lb  all  those  llauering  compli- 
ments, as  well  as  to  tbo  thousand^thers  that  were  daily 
showered  upon  him,  Sir  Waller  replied  with  imfeifned 
humility,  expressing  himself  pleased  and  obliged  by  the 
good  opinion  entertained  of  him,  and  delighting  his  admi- 
rers With  the  ^od-humour  and  urbanity  with  which  he 
received  them.  Dun  Luiai  talked  of  the  plots  of  some 
of  the  novels,  and  earnest^  remonstrated  against  the  fate 
of  Clara  Mowbray,  in  St  Rouan'a  Well.  'I  am  much 
obliged  to  the  gentleman  for  the  interest  he  takes  in  her/ 
said  Sir  Walter,  *  but  I  could  not  save  her,  poor  thing- 
it  is  against  the  rules— she  had  the  bee  in  her  bonnet,' 
*  Don  Luigi  still  insisted.  Sir  Walter  replied,  *  No ;  but 
of  all  the  murders  that  I  have  dimmitted  in  that  way,  and 
few  men  have  been  guilty  of  more,  there  is  none  that  went 
so  much  to  my  heart  as  the  poor  Bride  of  Lanunermoor; 
but  It  could  not  be  helped— it  is  all  true.' 

''Sir  Walter  always  showed  much  curiosity  about  the 
Ck>nstable  Bourbon.  1  said  that  a  suit  of  armour  belong- 
mg  to  him  was  preserved  in  the  Vatican.  He  eagerly 
asked  after  the  form  and  construction,  and  inquired  if  he 
wore  it  on  the  dav  of  the  capture  of  Rome.  That  eveilt 
had  greatly  struck  his  imagination.  He  told  me  he  had 
always  had  an  idea  of  weavmg  it  into  the  story  of  a  ro- 
^  mance,  and  of  introducing  the  traitor  Constable  as  an 
■etor.  Cosar  Borgfa  was  also  a  character  whose  vices 
and  whole  career  appeared  to  him  singular Iv  romantic. 
'  Having  heard  him  say  this,  1  begged  Don  Michele  Gae- 
tani,  whose  ancestors  had  been  dispossessed  of  their 
rich  fiefs  by  that  ambitious  upstart,  to  show  Sir  Walter 
m  sword,  now  in  the  possession  of  his  family,  which  had 
once  belonged  to  Borgia.  The  blade,  \Vhich  is  very  long 
and  broad,  is  richly  ornamented,  and  the  arms  of  the 
Borgias  aie  inlaid  npon  it,  bearing  the  favourite  motto  of 
that  tremendous  personage.  *  Aut  Cnsar,  aut  nihil.'  Sir 
Walter  examinea  it  with  attention,  commenting  on  the 
character  of  Borgia,  and  congratulating  Don  Michele  on 
the  possesion  of  a  rehc  doubly  Interesting  in  his  hands. 

'*  1  continued  a  constant  visiter  at  his  house  whilst  he 
ronudned  in  Rome,  and  I  also  occasionally  dined  in  his 
company,  and  took  every  opportunity  of  conversing  with 
him.  I  observed  with  extreme  pleasure,  that  he  accepted 
wiUinglv  ^m  me  those  trifling  attentfons  which  his 
InflrmiueP  required,  and  which  all  would  have  been 
delighted  to  oflfer.  1  found  him  always  willing  to  con- 
verse on  any  topic.  He  spoke  of  his  own  works  and  of 
himself  without  reserve ;  never,  however,  introdncing 
the  subject  nor  dwelling  upon  it.  Hie  conversation  had 
neither  a^ctation  nor  restraint,  and  he  was  totally  flree 
from  the  morbid  egotism  of  some  men  of  genius.  What 
surprised  me  most,  and  in  onef  too  who  had  so  long  been 
the  object  of  universal  admiration,  was  the  unaffected 
humility  with  which  he  spoke  of  his  own  merits,  and  the 
sort  of  surprise  with  which  he  surveyed  hi»  own  success. 
That  this  vras  a  real  feeling  none  could  doubt.  The  natural 
simplicity  of  his  manner  must  have  convinced  the  mqfft 
incredulous.  Hu  was  courteous  and  obliging  to  all,  and 
towards  women  there  was  a  dignified  simplicitr  in  his 
manner  that  was  singularly  pleasing.  He  would  not  al- 
low even  his  infirmities  to  exempt  him  from  the  little 
courtesies  of  society.  He  always  endeavoured  to  rise  to 
address  those  who  approached  him,  and  once  when  my 
brother  and  myself  accompanied  him  in  his  drive,  it  was 
not  without  difficulty  that  we  cotUd  prevail  on  him  not  to 
seat  himself  with  his  back  to  the  horses. 

**  I  asked  him  if  he  meant  to  be  presented  at  the  Vati- 
can, as  1  knew  that  his  arrival  had  been  spoken  of,  and 
that  the  Pope  had  expressed  an  interest  about  him.  He 
said  he  respected  the  Pope  as  the  most  ancient  sovereign 
in  Europe,  and  should  have  great  pleasure  in  paying  his 
respects  to  him,  did  his  state  of  health  permit  It.  We 
talked  of  the  ceremonies  of  the  Church.  He  had  been 
much  struck  with  the  benediction  f^om  the  balcony  of 
St.  Pet<»r's.  1  advised  him  to  wait  to  see  the  procession 
of  the  Corpus  Domini,  and  to  hear  the  Pope 
•  Saying  the  high,  high  mass, 
All  on  St.  Peter's  day.' 

He  smiled,  and  said  those  things  were  moth  poetical  in 
description  than  in  reality,  and  that  it  was  all  the  better 
for  him  not  to  have  seen  it  before  he  wrote  about  it— that 
aoT  attempt  to  make  such  scenes  more  exact  injured  the 
effect  without  conveving  a  clearer  image  to  the  mind  of 
the  reader— as  the  Utopian  scenes  and  manners  of  Mrs. 
Radcliffe'B  Novels  captivated  the  imagination  more  than 
the  most  laboured  descriptions,  or  the  greatest  historical 
accuracy.     » 

**.Thc  morning  after  our  arrival  at  Bracciano,  when  I 
left  mv  room,  1  found  Sir  Walter  already  dressed,  and 
seated  in  the  deep  recess  of  a  window  which  commands 
an  extensive  view  over  the  lake  and  surrounding  coun- 
try. He  speculated  on  the  lives  of  the  turbulent  lords 
of  this  ancient  feitress,  and  listened  with  interest  to  such 


<detiils asl  eonld  cite  hkn ^ihcir  hlatory  He ilrav  a 
striking  picture  of  the  contrast  ketv^een  the  eahn  aod 
placid  scene  before  us,.and  the  hurry,  din,  and  tnmult  of 
other  days. 

^  InsensiblT  we  strayed  into  more  modem  times.  I 
never  saw  him  more  animated  and  agreeable.  He  was 
exactly  what  1  could  imagine  him  to  have  been  in  his  besc 
moments.  Indeed  I  have  several  times  heard  him  com^ 
plain  that  his  disease  sometimes  confused  and  bewikler> 
I  ed  his  scdaes,  while  at  others  he  was  left  wiili  little  re- 
I  mains  of  illness  except  a  consciousness  of  his  stnce  of  in- 
firmity. He  talked  of  his  Northern  journey,  of  Hanxoni, 
for  whom  he  expressed  a  great  admiration,  of  Lord  Byroo, 
and  lastly  of  himself.  Or  Lord  Byron  be  spoke  with  ad- 
miration and  regard,  calling  him  always  *peof  Byron.' 
He  considered  him,  he  .said,  the  only  poet  we  base  had 
since  Drydcn,  of  transcendent  talents,  and  possessing 
more  amiable  qualities  than  the  world  in  general  ga:re  him 
credit  for. 

"  In  reply  to  my  question  if  he  had  never  serioaaly 
thought  of  complying  with  the  advice  so  often  given  him 
to  write  a  tragedy,  he  answered  '  Often,  but  the  dificuhy 
deterred  me— my  turn  was  notdcamatic.'  Some  of  the  moc*^ 
toes,  1  urged,  prefixed  to  the  chapters  of  his  novels,-aiMl 
subscribed  '  obi  play,'  were  eminently  in  the  taste  of  the 
old  dramatistst  and  seemed  to  ensure  success.  *■  V<ahiag 
so  easy,'  he  replied,  *  when  you  are  full  of  an  author,  a« 
to  write  a  few  lines  in  his  taste  and  style ;  the  didlcuMjr 
is  te  keep  it  up— besides,'  be  added,  *  the  greatest  suc- 
cess would  be  but  a  spiritless  imitation,  or,  at  best,  what 
the  Italians  call  a  centone  from  Shakspeare-  No  author 
has  ever  had  so  much  cause  to  be  grateful  to  the  public 
as  I  have.  All  I  have  written  has  been  received  with  In^ 
dulgence.' 

'*  He  said  he  was  the  more  grateful  for  the  flatteriaf  re- 
ception he  had  met  with  in  Italy,  as  he  had  not  always 
treated  the  Catholic  religion  with  respect  I  obserred, 
that  though  he  had  exposed  the  hvpocrties  of  all  sects, 
no  religion  had  anv  cause  to  complain  of  him,  as  he  had 
rendered  them  all  interesHng  by  turns.  Jews,  Catholics, 
and  Purtuins  had  all  their  saints  and  martyrs  in  his  works. 
He  was  much  pleased  with  this. 

"He  spoke  of  Goethe  with  regret ;  he  had  been  In  cor- 
respondence withhim  before  his  death,  and  had  purposed 
viilUng  him  at  Weimar  in  returning  to  England.  I  told 
him  1  had  been  to  see  Goethe  the  year  before,  and  that 
1  had  fbund  him  well,  and  though  verv  old,  in  the  perfect 
possession  of  all  his  faculties.  *  Of  all  his  faculties !'  he 
replied ;  '  it  is  much  better  to  die  than  to  survive  them, 
and  better  still  to  die  than  live  in  the  apprehci^n  of  it; 
but  the  worst  of  all,'  ho  added  thoughtfully,  *  would  have 
been  to  have  survived  their  partial  loss,  and  yet  to  be  con- 
scious of  his  state.'— He  did  not  seem  to  be,  however,  a 
great  admirer  of  some  of  Goethe's  works.  Much  of  his 
popularity,  he  observed,  was  owing  to  pieces  which,  ia 
his  latter  moments,  he  might  have  wished  recalled.  He 
spoke  with  much  feeling.  I  an.swered  that  fu  must  derive 
great  consohuion  in  the  reflecdon  that  his  own  popularity 
was  owing  to  no  such  cause.  He  remained  nlent  for  a 
moment,  with  his  eyes  fixed  on  the  ground ;  when  he 
raised  them,  as  he  sl^k  me  by  the  hand,  I  perceived 
the  light  blue  eye  spanLled  with  unusual  moisture.  Re 
added,  '  I  am  drawing  near  to  the  close  of  my  career :  I 
am  fast  shuflling  off  the  stage.  I  have  been  perhaps  the 
most  voluminous  author  of  the  day  ;  and  it  t«  a  comfort  to 
me  to  think  that  I  have  tried  to  unsettle  no  man's  faith,  to 
corrupt  no  man's  principle,  and  that  I  have  written  noth- 
ing which,  on  my  death-bed,  I  should  wish  blotted.'  I 
made  no  reply ;  and  while  we  were  vet  silent,  Don  BCchele 
Gaetani  joined  us,  and  we  walked  through  the  vast  hall 
into  the  court  of  the  castle,  where  our  fncnds  were  ex- 
pecting us. 

"  After  bieakfast.  Sir  Walter  returned  to  Rome.  The 
following  day  he  purposed  setting  ont  on  his  northern 
journey.  It  was  Friday.  I  wai  anxious  that  he  should 
prolong  his  stav  in  Rome ;  and  reminding  him  of  his  su- 
perstition,  1  told  him  he  ought  not  to  set  out  on  the  uii> 
lucky  day.  He  answered,  laughins,  *  Superstition  is  very 
picturesque,  and  1  make  it  at  times  stand  me  in  great 
stead ;  but  1  never  allow  it  to  interfere  with  interest  6r 
convenience.* 

"  As  1  helped  him  down  the  steep  court  to  his  carriage, 
he  said,  as  he  stepped  with  pain  and  difficulty,  *  This  is  « 
sore  change  with  me.  Time  was  when  I  would  hunt  and 
shoot  with  the  best  of  them,  and  thought  it  but  a  poor 
day's  sport  when  I  was  not  on  foot  from  ten  to  twelve 
hours;  but  we  must  be  patient.' 

''  I  handed  him  into  his  carriage ;  and  in  takhig  leave 
of  me.  he  pressed  me.  with  eager  hospitality,  to  visit  Wm 
at  AbDotsiord.  The  door  closed  upon  him,  and  I  stood 
for  some  moments  watching  the  carriage  till  it  was  ont  of 
sight,  as  it  wound  through  the  porial  of  the  Castle  of  Brao* 
ciano. 

"  Next  day,  Friday,  May  U,  Sir  Walter  left  Rome. 


Li9*B  or  snt  WAi/nsR  scohrr. 


M 


"  IHffui^  his  stajr  there  be  had  reoei^ed  every  murk  of 
atteotton  and  reapect  from  the  Italians,  who  in  not  crowd- 
ing to  visit  him  were  deletved  only  by.  their  delicacy  and 
their  dread  of  intruding  on  an  invalid.  The  use  of  villas, 
libraries,  and  museums  was  pressed  upon  him.  This  en- 
thusiasm was  by  no  means  confined  to  the  higher  orders. 
His  fame,  and  even  his  worlcs.  are  familiar  to  all  classes — 
the  stalls  are  filled  with  tmnsiations  of  Ms  novels,  tn  the 
cheapest  forms ;  and  some  of  the  most  popular  plays  and 
operas  have  been  founded  upon  them.  Some  time  after 
he  left  Italy,  when  I  was  travelling  in  the  mountains  of 
Tuscany,  it  has  aiore  than  once  occurred  to  me  to  be 
stopped  in  little  villages,  hardly  accessible  to  carriages, 
by  an  eager  admirer. of  Sir  Walter,  to  inquire  after  the 
health  of  my  illustrious  countryman." 

The  last  jotting  of  Sip  Walter's  Diaiy— perhaps 
tfab  last  specimen  of  bis  handwritinR—records  his 
starting  from  Naples  on  the  16th  of  April.  After 
the  lltn  of  May  the  story  can  hardly  oe  told  too 
briefly. 

The  irritation  of  impatience,  which  had  for  a  mo- 
ment been  suspended  by  the  aspect  and  society  of 
Rome,  returned  the  moment  he  found  himself  on 
the  road,  and  seemed  to  increase  hourly.  His  com- 
panions could  with  difficulty  prevail  on  him  to  see 
even  the  Falls  of  Terni,  or  tne  Church  of  Santa 
Croce  at  Florence.  On  the  t7ih,  a  cold  and  dreary 
day,  I  they  passed  the  Apennhies,  and  dined  on  the 
too  of  the  mountains.  The  snow  and  the  pines  re- 
called Scotland,  and  he  expressed  pleasure  at  the 
sight  of  them.  That  night  they .  reached  Bologna, 
but  he  Wjopkl  see  none  of  the  interesting  objects 
there— andnext  day,  hurrying  in  like  manner  through 
Ferrara,  he  proceeded  as  far  as  Monselice.  On  the 
19th  be  arrived  at  Venice ;  and  he  remsined  there  till 
the!23d:  but  showed  no  curiosity  about  anything 
.  except  the  Bridge  of  Sighs  and  the  adjoining  dun- 
aeoos— down  into  which  he  would  scramble,  tnough 
the  exertion  was  exceedingly  painful  to  him.  On 
the  other  historical  features  of  that  place— one  so 
sure  in  other  days  to  have  inexhaustible  attractions 
for  him— be  would  not  even  look ;  and  it  was  the 
same  with  all  that  he  came  within  reach  of*-even 
with  the  fondiv  antidpatcxl  chapel  at  Inspmck— as 
they  proceeded  through  the  Tyrol,  and  so  onwards, 
by  Munich,  Ulm,  and  Heidelbergi  to  Frankfort. 
Here  (June  5)  he  entered  a  booksellers  shop ;  and  the 
people  seeing  an  English  party,  brought  out  among 
Uie  first  things  a  lithographed  print  of  Abbourford. 
He  said,  "  I  know  that  already,  sir,"  and  hastened 
back^to  the  inn  without  being  recognised.  Though 
in  some  parts  of  the  journey  they  had  very  severe 
weather,  be  repeatedly  wished  to  travel  all  the  night 
as  well  as  all  the  day ;  and  the  symptoms  of  an  ap- 
proaching fit  were  so  obvious,  that  he  was  more 
than  once  bled,  ere  they  reached  Mayence,  by  the 
hand  of  his  afiectionate  domeaiic. 

At  this  town  they  embarked  on  the  6th  June  in 
the  Rhine  steam-boat :  and  while  they  descended 
the  famous  river  through  its  most  picturesque  region, 
he  seemed  to  enjoy,  though  he  said  nothing^  the  per- 
haps unrivalled  scenery  it  presented  to  mm.  His 
eye  was  fixed  on  the  successive  crags  and  (Tastles, 
and  ruined  monasteries,  each  of  which  had  been 
celebrated  in  some  Oerman  ballad  familiar  to  his 
ear,  and  all  of  them  blended  ^  the  immortal  panora- 
ma of  Childe  Harold.  But  so  soon  as  he  resumed 
his  carriage  at  Cologne,  and  nothing  but  flat  shores, 
and  here  ^nd  there  a  grove  of  poplars  and  a  village 
spire  were  offered  to  the  vision,  the  weight  of  misery 
sunk  down  again  upon  him.  It  was  near  Nimeguen, 
on  the  evening  of  the  dth,  that  he  sustained  another 
serious  attack  of  apoplexy,  combined  with  paralysis. 
Nicolson'd  lancet  restored,  after  the  lapse  of  some 
minutes,  the  signs  of  animation  \  but  tnis  was  the 
crowning  blow.  Next  day  he  insisted  on  resuming 
bis  join'ttey,  ami  on  the  1  Itn  was  lifted  from  the  car- 
riage into  a  steam-boat  at  Rotterdam. 

He  reached  London  about  six  o'clock  on  the  eve- 
ning of  Wednesday  the  13th  of  June.  Owing  to  the 
unexpected  rapidity  of  the  iourney,  his  eldest  daugh- 
ter had  had  qo  notice  when  to  expect  him ;  and 
fearful  of  finding  her  either  out  of  town,  or  unpre- 
pared to  receive  him  and  his  attendants  under  her 
ropf,  Charles  Scott  drove  to  the  St.  James's  hotel 
2Y* 


in  Jehoyn  Street,  and  established  his  quaijIeTs  there 
before  he  set  out  in  quest  of  his  sister  and  myselt 
When  we  reached  the  hotel,  he  recognised  us  with 
many  marks  of  tenderness,  but  signified  that  he  was 
totally  exhausted ;  so  no  attempt  was  made  to  re- 
move him  further,  and  he  was  put  to  bed  immediate- 
ly. Dr.  Ferguson  saw  him  the  same  night,  and 
next  day  Sir  Henry  Halford  and  Dr.  Holland  saw 
him  also ;  and  during  the  next  three  weeks  the  two 
former  visited  him  dimy,  while  Ferguson  was  scarce- 
Iv  absent  from  his  pillow.  The  Major  was  soon  on 
the  spot.  To  his  children,  all  assembled  once  more« 
about  him,  he  repeatedly  gave  his  blessing;  in  a  vtery 
solemn  manner,  as  if  expecting  immediate  death, 
but  he  was  never  in  a  condition  for  conversation, 
and  sunk  either  into  sleep  or  delirious  stupor  upon 
the  sfightest  effort. 

Mrs.  Thomas  Scott  came  to  town  as  soon  as  she 
heard  of  his  arrival,  and  remained  to  help  us.  She 
was  more  than  once  recognised  and  thanked.  Mr. 
Cadell  too  arrived  from  Edinbunh,  to  render  any 
assistance  in  his  power.  I  think  Sir  Walter  saw  no 
other  of  his  friends  except  Mr.  John  Richardson, 
and  him  only  onre^  As  usual,  be  woke  wp  a*  ^h** 
so  un  d  0  f  li  fa  1 1  li  ]  J  a  r  vol  ce,  a  nd  m  ad  e  a  ii  ii  U  t  m  pt  i  o 
put  forth  bia  hand,  btu  n  d Topped  puwerltse,  and  ha 
said,  with  a  amiltf,  *'  E.tcuee  my  hand."  Richard- 
son tnade  a  stru^t^^Q  lo  suppress  hts  emotion,  tind, 
afitra  momonl,  tat  oui  eojmethitic  aboul  Abbota- 
ford  and  the  woods,  which  be  had  happened  to  see 
shortly  I w fore.  The  eye  brightenedj  and  he  eaidt 
"How  dofs  Kirkbnds  Ret  onT"  Mr  Richarvison 
had  lately  puTcliBstd  the  «>stnte  so  cnlkd  on  iheTe- 
vioi,  and  Sit  Wjiher  hurt  left  him  busiiiMi  with  plariis 
of  building,  His  fTiend  lo!d  him  thnt  his  nev.  hou«e 
w,iB  hftgun,  and  that  the  Marciui^  of  Luthian  had 
VfT/  kindly  lent  him  one  of  bis  own,  mcaniiiue,  in 
itp  vJE^initv.  "Ay*  Lord  Lothian  k  a  good  man/' 
said  Sir  Vvalier  ?  '  he  is  a  man  from  whom  oiwrnay 
receive  a  favour^  and  that's  Baying  a  good  deal  for 
any  mnn  in  these  day?i.*^  The  stupor  then  ennk 
back  upon  him.  and  Rich  a  nl  son  nevpr  henrd  bis 
voice  almoin.  This  etnte  of  thingi  cotitinued  till  the 
bednnmi;;  of  July. 

During  these  melancholy  wetks  ereai  int^rcHt  and 
ajrnpaihy  wore  manifest eri.  Allan  Cunmngham 
mentions  thai,  walking  home  lotc  one  niRtii,  he 
found  several  worttini^-men  stamlina  logetheT  ai  |he 
comer  of  Jcrmyn  StTeet,  and  one  of  them  asktn  him, 
as  if  thei^e  waa  but  one  deathbed  in  London,  "'  Do 
yon  knoWj  bit,  if  this  is  the  airecL  wbcTe  be  is  lying  T' 
The  irtfjtiiries  both  ftt  the  hotel  and  a  t  mv  hou&e  were 
int^f^ssatit  J  fttid  I  think  there  was  hardly  a  member 
of  1  h  *^  ro  ya  1  f  .im  il  y  w^ho  d  id  i  igt  ^c  n  d  every  d  ay  The 
nt  w?piipeT?  teemed  with  p^T^graj'ha  about  J<ir  Wal- 
ter r  art  J  one  of  these,  it  niipenrs,  threw  dot  a  sug- 
gf.^tiorj  that  hm  [ravels  had  exhousted  hi?peeuniafy 
rewoiifees,  and  that  if  he  wera  capable  of  reHeciion 
at  oil  en  res  nf  ihat  tort  mmht  probably  harass  his 
pillow.  This  para  ;JTnph  eame  from  a  very  i  li- inform - 
e<i  f ^i!t.  1  f Ifi  rrprry,  n  w>  1  l-nii  aninp^  *jnnrtf"T.  It  rnu^ht 
ih^  uaciiiton  01  i'jiue  members  of  the  thcti  Govern- 
ment; and,  in  consequence,  I  received  a  private  com- 
munication, to  the  effect  that,  if  the  case  were  as 
stated,  Sir  Walter's  family  bad  only  to  say  what 
sum  would  relieve  him  from  embarrassment,  and  it 
would  be  immediately  advanced  by  the  Treasury'. 
The  then  paymaster  of  the  Forces,  Lord  John  Rus- 
sell, had  the  delicacy  to  convey  this  message  through 
a  ladv  with  whose  friendship  ne  knew  us  to  be  hon- 
oured. We  expressed  our  grateful  sense  of  ftis  po- 
liteness, and  of  the  liberality  of  the  Government,  and 
I  now  beg  leave  to  do  so  once  more ;  but  bis  Lord- 
ship was  of  course  informed  that  Sir  Walter  Scott 
was  not  situated  as  the  journalist  had  represented. 

Dr.Terguson's  memorandum  on  Jermyn  Street 
will  be  acceptable  to  the  reader.    He  says  :— 

"  When  I  saw  Sir  Walter  he  was  lying  in  the  second 
floor  back  room  of  the  St  Jaiucs'a  Hotel,  in  Jenny  n  Street, 
in  a  slate  of  stupor,  from  which,  however,  be  could  be  roos^ 
cd  for  a  moment  by  being  addressed,  and  then  he  recog- 
nised those  about  him,  bat  unmedlately  relapsed.  1  think 
I  never  saw  any  thing  inorc  magnificent  than  the  symme 
try  of  his  eolossal  bust,  as  be  ray  on  the  pOlow  with  his 


m 


H^TB  OP, 9mw4i4w  neon. 


Slieit  «od  Deck  eacpofed  Daring  the  time  he  wee  in 
errnyn  flnrect  he  wa«  cahn  bat  never  collected,  and  in 
feneral  either  in  absolute  stupor  or  in  a  waldng  dream. 
I«  never  leemed  to  know  where  he  was,  but  imagined 
fatmself  to  be  atlll  in  the  ateam^boat.  The  rattling  oi  car- 
riegea  and  the  noises  of  the  street  aometiraea  disturbed 
this  Ulusion,'  and  then  he  tancled  himself  at  the  poUins 
booth  of  Jedburgh,  where  he  had  been  insulted  ana 
stoned. 

**  During  the  whole  of  this  period  of  apparent  helpless- 
ness, the  great  features  of  lUs  cliaracter  could  not  be  mis- 
taken. He  alwajs  exhibited  great  self-possession,  and 
acted  his  part  with  wonderful  power  whenever  visited, 
•  thouch  he  relapsed  the  next  moment  into  the  stupor  from 
which  strange  voices  had  reused  hhn.  A  genileman  stum- 
bled over  a  chair  in  his  dark  room  ;^he  immediately  start- 
ed up,  and  though  unconscious  that  it  was  a  friend,  ex- 
ercssod  as  much  concern  and  feeling  as  if  he  had  never 
cen  labouring  under  the'«rritability  of  disease.  It  was 
imposHiblo  even  for  those  who  most  constantly  saw  and 
waited  on  him  in  his  then  deplorable  condition,  to  relax 
from  the  habituAl  deference  which  he  had  always  inspired. 
He  expre.wed  his  will  as  determinedly  as  ever,  and  en- 
forced It  with  the  same  apt  and  good-natured  irony  as  he 
was  wont  to  use. 

"  At  length  .his  constant  yearning  to  return  to  Abbots- 
ford  induced  ^is  physicians  toconsent  to  his  removal,  and 
the  moment  this  was  notified  to  him  it  seemed  to  infuse 
new  vigour  into  his  frame.  It  was  on  a  calm,  clear  after- 
noon of  the  7th  July,  that  every  preparation  was  made 
for  his  embarkation  on  board  tne  steam-boat.  He  was 
placed  on  a  chair  by  his  faithful  servant  Nicolson,  half- 
dressed,  and  loosely  wrapt  in  a nuilted  dressing-gown.  He 
requested  Lockhart  and  myself  to  wheel  him  toward<4  the 
Uf  htof  theopen  window,  and  we  both  remaiked  tlie  tlgor- 
oas  lustre  ef  his  eye.  He  aat  there  silently  gaslng  on 
ripace  for  more  than  half  an  boor,  appftrenlly  whoUy  oc- 
cnpied  with  his  own  thoughts,  and  having  no  distinct  per- 
ception of  where  he  vraa  or  how  he  came  there.  He  suf- 
fered himself  to  be  lifted  Into  his  carriage,  which  was 
surromided  by  a  crowd,  among  whom  were  many  gon- 
tiemen  on  horseback,  who  bad  loitered  about  to  gaze  on 
the  scene. 

^  Hie  children  were  deeply  affected,  and  Mrs.  lA}ckhart 
trembled  from  head  to  foot  and  wept  bitterly.  ThuA  sur- 
rounded bv  those  nearest  to  him.  he  atone  wac  vncon- 
■cious  of  the  cause  or  the  depth  or  their  grief;  and  whtte 
yet  alive  seemed  to  be  carried  to  his  grave." 

On  this  his  last  journey  Sir  Walter  was  attended 
by  his  two  daufdxtars,  Mr.  Cadell;  and  myself— and 
also  b]!IDr.  James  Watson,  who  (it  being  impossible 
for  Dr.  Ferguson  to  leave  town  at  that  moment) 
kindlyiindertook  to  see  him  safe  at  Abbotsford.  We 
embarRed  in  the  James  Watt  steam-boat,  the  master 
of  which,  (Captain  John  Jamieson,)  as  well  as  the 
agent  of  the  proprietors,  made  every  anangement  in 
their  power  for  the  convenience  of  the  invalid.  The 
Cap,tain  gave  up  for  Sir  Walter's  use  his  own  private 
cabin,  which  was  a  seiArate  erection,  a  sort  of  cot- 
tage, on  the  deck :  and  he  seemed  unconscious,  after 
lata  in  bed  there,  that  any  new  removal  had  occurred. 
On  arriving  at  Newhaven,  late  on  the  9th,  we  found 
careful  preparations  made  for  bis  landing  by  the 
roanat^er  of  the  Shipping  ComiMiny  (Mr.  Hamilton) ; 
and  Sir  Walter,  prostrate  in  his  carriage,  was  slung 
on  shore,  and  conveyed  from  thence  to  Douglas's 
hotel,  in  St.  Andrew's  Square,  in  the  same  complete 
apparent  unconsciousness.  Mrs.  Dougliis  had  in 
former  days  been  the  Duke  of  Buccleiich's  house- 
keeper at  Bowhill,  and  she  and  her  husband  had 
also  made  the  most  suitable  provision.  At  a  very 
early  hour  on  the  morning  of  Wednesday  the  nth, 
we  again  placed  him  in  bis  carriage,  and  he  lay  in 
the  same  torpid  state  during  the  first  two  stages  on 
the  road  to  Tweedside.  But  as  we  descended  the 
vale  of  the  Gala  he  began  to  gaze  about  hirn,  ^nd  by 
degrees  it  was  obvious  that  he  was  recognising  the 
features  of  that  familiar  landscape.  Presently  he 
murmured  a  name  or  two — "  Gala  Water,  surely— 
Buckholm— Torwoodlee."  As  we  rounded  tfaR  nill 
at  Ladliope,  and  the  outline  of  the  Eildons  burst  on 
him,  he  became  greatly  excited,  and  when  turning 
himself  on  the  couch  his  eye  caught  at  length  his 
own  towers,  at  the  distance  of  a  mile,  he  sprang  up 
with  a  cry  of  d^ight  The  river  being  in  flood  we 
had  to  go  round  a  few  miles  by  Melrose  bridge,  and 
during  the  time  this  occupied,,  his  woods  and  house 
being  within  prospect,  it  required  occasionally  both 


Dr.  Watson's  stranglli  and  nniB,  in 
Nicolson'^  to  keep  hun  in  the  earriage.  Aflter  Mat- 
ing the  bridge  the  road  for  a  couple  of  miieBiosef 
sight  of  Abbotsford,  and  he  relapsed  into  his  stupor; 
but  on  gaining  the  bank  immediately  above  it,  his 
f-  ■■'  .,.,.,,r^   '  i me  again  ungovernable. 

J\lr-  L^idUw  was  waiting  at  the  porch,  and  as- 
ai^ii'd  U6  in  lifting  him  into  the  dining-room,  where 
hm  b^d  }ind  in*  q  prepared.  He  sat  bewildered  for 
u  i\  w  momrntjs,  and  then  resting  his  eye  on  Laid- 
law,  said,  "  Ha  I  Willie  Laidlaw !  O  man,  how  often 
have  I  thought  of  you !"  By  this  time  his  dogs  had 
assembled  about  his  chair— they  began  to  fawn  uoor 
him  and  lick  his  hands,  and  he  aftemately  sobbed 
and  smiled  over  them,  until  sleep  oppressai  kim.. 

Dr.  Watson  having  consulted  on  all  things  with 
Mr.  Clarkson  and  his  father,  resigned  the  patient  to 
them,  and  retwmod  to  London.  None  of  them  coM 
have  any  hope,  but  that  of  soothing  irritation.  Re- 
covery was  no  longer  to  be  thougnt  of;  but  there 
might  be  £uihana&ia. 

And  yet  something  like  a  ray  of  hope  did  break  in 
upon  us  next  morning.  Sir  Walter  awoke  perfectly 
conscious  where  he  was,  and  expressed  an  ardent 
wuh  to  be  carried  out  into  his  gardisn.  We  pvocnrsd 
a  Bath  cbfir  from  Huntly-Buni,  and  Laicflaw  and  X 
wheeled  bim  out  before  nis  door,-  and  up  and  down 
for  some  time  on  the  turf,  and  anong  the  rose-beds 
then  in  fiiU  bloom.  The  grand-children  admired  the 
new  vehtrlp,  and  would  dc  hrlpinp  in  their  way^te 
pij^rjj  ii  abuHi.  Ht' s-?ii  .Ti  -lifiiL-L,  ffiiiUqg  plscuny 
on  tht in  miii  I  lie  da&A  i\\ekr  cidnipatiuiTis,  and  now 
and  ihf'n  adminiig  ine  house,  the  screen  of  the  gsr« 
deB>  and  the  flowers  and  trec^.  By  ttTii  by  he  con- 
versed a  iiide,  vtfry  Cijttnpowdl^,  with  us— aakl  he 
wfi»  hfippy  to  be  at  home— that  bo  iAi  better  than 
he  iiad  cv^r  doiic  aincc  h^  left  iti  and  wonldpeihapA 
dif^HPlK^mt  [he  dof.-toffi  aflfi-T  all. 

Hr  then  di^sired  to  be  wHfelad  ibrou^  his  rooms, 
atjd  wa  movrd  bim  leisurely  for  an  hour  or  more  up 
and  down  *ht  hall  and  the  ^reathbrfiry:  "Ifaava 
s^i  n  miR-h, '  h('  ktfpl  ifiyinp*  "  bui  noihmg  like  my 
aui  house— give  rue  one  turn  ijiora  I"  He  wssp^m- 
tic  j^a  an  Infant,  and  allowed  LitmK'tf  to  be  put  to 
bcti  again,  the  moment  we  told  hira  that  wsthoQght 
be  had  had  rnough  for  one  day. 

Next  morning  lie  was  is  til  I  li^ttei;  after  again  sn- 
joyini;  thi'  Batb  cliatr  ior  perhaps  a  touple  of  hours 
ouLof  dooff,  he  desired  to  be  drawn  in  to  the  libranr» 
and  plactni  by  «b<?  cemral  window,  that  he  midit 
]ofrk  duwn  upon  the  Tweed.  Here  \w.  ezprsased  n 
wittli  (hnt  I  ffhoiild  read  to  bim,  and  when  I  asked 
from  what  bt>cjk,  he  sn id —"Need  you  iiski  There 
i  9  hut.  ana"  I  chowi  the  Hth  ch  npttr  <rf  Sl  John's 
Trih^ji^l ;  hi3  liaieni^  with  mild  df-vormn,  and  said 
Vn  }jon  I  had  done,  "  jVcll,  this  is  a  j?reat  comfort— I 
have  followed  you  djaiinctly,  and  1  kc\  as  if  I  were 
yet  to  be  xnysalf  again.*'  In  tliis  placid  frsmebo 
waa  again  put  to  bed,  and  had  many  hours  of  soft 
slumber. 

On  the  third  day  Mr.  Laidlaw  and  I  again  wheel- 
ed him  about  thesmidl  piece  of  lawn  and  shrubbery 
in  front  of  the  house  for  some  time,  and  the  weather 
being  delightful,  and  all  the  richness  of  summer 
around  him,  he  aeemed  to  taste  fully  the  balmy  in- 
fluences of  nature.  The  aim  getting  very  strong,  wa 
halted  the  chair  in  a  shady  corner,  just  within  the 
verge  of  his  verdant  arcade  around  the  court- wall ; 
and  breathing  the  coolneas  of  the  spot,  he  said. 
"  read  me  some  amusing  thing— read  me  a  bii  ot 
Crabbe."  I  brought  out  the  first  volume  of  his  old 
favourite  that  I  could  lay  hand  on,  and  turned  to 
what  I  remembered  as  one  of  his  most  favourite 
passage^  in  it— the  description  of  the  arrival  of  the 
Playera  m  the  Borough.  He  listened  with  great  in- 
terest, and  also,  as  I  soon  perceived,  with  mat  cu- 
riosity. Every  now  and  then  he  exclaimed,  "  Cap- 
ital—excellent— very  good— Crabbe  has  lost  noth- 
ings—and we  wers  too  well  satisfied  that  he  dbn- 
aidered  himaslf  as  hearing  a  new  production  when, 
chuckling  over  one  couplet,  he  said,.  *'  Better  and 
better— out  how  will  poor  Terry  endure  these  cnisT* 
I  went  on  with  the  poet's  terrible  sarcasms  upon 
the  theatrical  life,  ana  he  listened  esfsecly^  mattering^ 


:MflBr<>F  «*  WA|i|**«WSr. 


^  r-"Danwciii*t#e4^i8."  AtUoRth 
icb^  Wse  liaes, 

^  ^  iiapp7  nee  1  fooo  raised  and  sooi)  dapreiMd, 
Your  days  all  passed  in  jeopardy  and  jf at : 
Poor  wltnout  prudenccj  with  aAictioos  vain, 
J^oi  warned  by  misery  nor  enriched  by  gain" 
"Shut  the  book,"  said  Sir  Walter.— "I  can-'t 
stand  more  of  ihia—it  will  touch  Terry  to  the  very 
quick."  ,        ,  , 

On  the  iponiiog  of  Sunday  the  i5th  he  wbb  again 
taken  out  into  the  little  vlMsaunecy  and  ^ot  as  far  as 
his  favourite  terracerwalk  between  the  garden  and 
the  river,  from  which  he  seemed  ta  survey  the  valley 
and  the  hills  with  much  satisfaction.  On  re-enter- 
ing the  ^ouse,  he  desired  me  to  refli  to  him  from,  the 
New  Testament,  and  after  that  he  again  called  for 
a  little  of  Crabbe ;  but  whatever  I  selected  from  thai 
poet  seemed  to  be  listened  to  as  if  it  made  part  of 
some  new  volume  published  w^le  he  was  in  Italy. 
He  attended  with  this  sense  offiovelty  even  to  the 
tale  of  Phcebe  Dawson,  which  not  many  months  be- 
fore he  could  have  repeated  every  line  oi;  and  which 
I  chose  for  one  of  these  readings,  because,  as  is 
known  to  every  one,  it  had  formed  the  last  solace 
of  Mr.  Fox's  deathbed.  On  the  contrary,  his  recol- 
lection of  whatever  I  read  from  the  Hible  appeared 
to  be  lively ;  and  m  the  afternoon  when  we  made 
his  giand4on,  a  child  of  six  years,  repeat  some  of  Dr. 
Watts'  hymns  by  hischair,  beseemed  abo  to  remem- 
ber them  perfectly.  That  evening  he  heard  the 
Church  service,  and  when  I  was  aboia  to  ck>ae  the. 
book,  said.  "  why  do  you  omit  the  visitation  for  the 
sick?"— which  I  added  accordingly.. 

On  Monday  he  remained  in  bed  and  seemed  ez- 
txemely  feeble;  but  after  breakfast  on  Tuesday  the 
17  th  he  appeared  revived  somewhal.  and  was  again 
wheeled  about,  on  the  turf.  Preseiw  he  fell  asiesp 
in  his  chair,  and  ftfter  dozing  for  perhaps  half  an  hour, 
started  awake,  and  shaking  the  plaids  we  had  put 
about  him  from  on  his  shouTdereu  said.  **  Thiais  sad 
idleness.  I  shall  forget  what  I  have  been  thinking 
qf,  if  1  tlon't  set  it  aown  now.  Take  me  into  my 
own  room,  and  fetch  the  keys  of  my  desk."   .He -re- 

Eted  this  so  earoestlV  that  we  could  not  recuse; 
diiughters  went  i^to  nl»study,  opened  his  writing- 
k,  aind  laid  paper  and  pens  in  the  usual  order, 
aqd  I  then  moyed  him  through  the  hall  and  into  the 
spot  wherehenad  always  beeb  accustomed  to  work, 
when  the  chair  was  placed  at  the  desk,  and  he  found 
himself  in  the  old  position,  he  smiled  and  thanked 
um  and  said,  "  Now  mve  me  my  pen  and  leave  me 
fpr  a  little  to  my.»elf.  Sophia  put  the  pen  into  his 
h^ndt  and  he  eooeavoured  to  close  his  fingers  upon. 
if,  hut  they  refused  their  office— it  dropped  on  the 
paper.  He  sank  back  among  his  piuows,  sileiit 
tears  rolling  down  his  cheeks ;  but  composing  him- 
aelf  by  and  by^motiooed  to  me  to  wheel  him  o-iit  of 
doors  again.  Laidlaw  met  us  at  the  porch,  n n d  4  >  < ok 
his  turn  of  the  chair.  .Sir  Walter,  after  a  lit  1 1 o  w  1 1 1 le, 
again  dropt  mto  slumber.  When  he  was  u  wa  ki  ng, 
Laidlaw  said  to  me,  "^ir  Walter  has  had  B\\nk  re- 
pose." "iHo,  Willie,**  said  he— "norepo^^^  ji^r  Su- 
Walter  but  in  the  crave."  The  tears  apQin  TUi*h^ 
ed  from  his  eyes.  "Friends,"  said  he,  dnn't  let 
me  expose  myself— get  me  to  bed— that'll  liie  only 
pliice.'^ 

With  this  scene  ended  onrfi^impse  of  daylight.  Sir 
Wiilfir  r^  vtr,  I  ihiak,  Ipfl  his  room  afterwards,  and 
lirifdly  hie  bt;ti,  ti^tctpL  fur  jiu  ]iL-ur  or  two  in  the  mid- 
(I I f;  of  the  do y ;  and  aficr  anoHit-r  week  he  was  un- 
al)\e  uvEn  far  thi».  During  a  f*iw  days  he  was  in  a 
atslc  of  ndinfui  irritation— a  nd  I  i^w  realized  all  that 
he  had  bim.«5e]f  prtiligured  in  hid  description  of  the 
mectinsf  between  Cry*  ml  Croft  angry  and  his  para- 
lytic fritJid.  Dr.  Ross  came  out  from  Edinbiurgh, 
htui^ng  with  him  his  wife,  one.  nf  the  dearest  nteces 
of  the  ri<;rkV  Table.  Sir  Walter  .with  some  diffi- 
irtiUy  rt'TOKnUed  (h*;  Dtvctor— but,  on  hearing  Mrs. 
Eyas's  Tpice,  pjtcl aimed  at  cnici\  "Isn't  that  Kate 
"HrM'np?*'    T^^'^"  ti^^H  f^J^.p.^>l  riemained  foT  two  or 


«  As  thifl  is  the  last  time  I  name  Jit-  Laidlaw, 
•w.thatthto  roortexw"  "     ^^ 

eiUte  of  Sir  Charia  I 


mention,  that  thto  moat  excellent  and  amiaUei 
oo  the  eiUte  of  Sir  Chariea  Lockhait  ~ 
in  Rota-aMia. 


t  Real,  Ban.  o 


th^pe  4bj[8  ijofth  «&.  CHmm'a  jtnoel  irtt  wpr 
jounced  necessary,  and.  the  relief  it  amrded  wm,  I 
am  happy  to  say,  very  efiectual. 

After  this  he  declined  daily,  but  atill  there  vrm 
greats  strength  to  be  wasted,  and  the  process  wad 
long.  He  seemed,  however,  to  suffer  no  bodily  pain, 
anahis  mind,  though  hopelessly  obscured,  appearedi 
when  there  was  any  symptom  of  consciousness,  to  ' 
be  dwelling,  with  rare  exceptions,  on  senous  and 
solemn  things;  the  accent  of  the  voice  grave,  some- 
pmes  awful,  but  never  querulous,  and  very  seldom 
indicative  otany  angry  or  resentful  thoughts.  Now 
and  then  he  imagined  himself  to  be  administering 
iustice  as  Sherifi';  and  once  or  twice  he  seemed  to 
be  ordering  Tom  Purdie  about  trees.  A  few  times 
also,  I  am  sorry  to  say,  we  could  perceive  that  his 
fancy  was  At  Jedburgh— and  Burk  Sir  Walter 
escaped  him  in  a  melancholy  tone.  But  commonly 
whatever  we  could  follow  him  in  was  a  fragment  of 
the  Bible  (especially  the  Prophecies  of  Isaiah,  and 
the  Book  of  Job)— or  some  petition  in  the  litany— or 
a  verse  of  some  psalm  (in  the  old  Scotch  metrical 
version)— or  of  some  of  the  magni6cent  hymns  of 
the  Romish  ritual,  in  which  he  had  always  delight- 
ed, but  which  probably  hung  on^his  memory  now  in 
connexion  with  the  church  services  he  had  attended 
while  in  Italy.  We^-very  often  heard  distinctly  the 
cadence  of  the  Dies  Jra ;  and  I  think  the  very  last 
stanza  that  we  could  make  out,  was  the  first  of  a 
still  greater  favouriio  :— 

*^  Stabat  Mater  dolorosa, 
•  Juxta  crucem  lachrymoaa, 

Dum  pandebat  Filius.** 

All  this  lime  he  continued  to  r&cogoise.hisdaugh- 
t^r$,  L  aid  I  ft  w^  and  myaelf,  whc^ntviir  we  apoke  to 
him— and  received  i^very  attention  with  a  modt 
lOLiohing  thankfulness.  Mr.  ClErks^)n,  loo,  waa 
alwDv^  £.altj(cd  with  the  old  cjjurte^:'^,,  though  the 
cloud  crpcned  b tit  a  moment  fur  him  in  do  so.  Most 
truly  ciitfbt  it  be  said  thai  the  gen tk man  survived 
thcf^tiniui}^ 

Alter  two  Of  three  wr^ekB  had  passed  m  this  way, 
I  MTLS  oblif:^^!  TO  le^nve  Sir  Wallfx  for  a  single  day» 
aiul  go  mio  EJinburcrh  to  irun^act  hajsiness,  on  hla 
ac't'ouivt,  ^^itb  Mr.  H^^^nty  Cgckbuni,  (now  Lord 
Cock  burn,)  thiin  SolJoitur-Uen^ral  tor ,  Scotland. 
The  Scotch  B^rortn  Bill  tkrjfw  a  ^xoAt  burden  of 
new  dulKifl  a  nil  rtsponsibiluiea  upon  theSheriflfas 
and  Scott's  Sherii[-&ubiiiitut€;,  the  l«Bird  of  Rae- 
Iburn,  not  having  been  regularly  educated  for  the 
law,  fuund  liimjii^'r  incompetent  to  encounter  these 
novclfN^?,  rsp.'.-'i'^y  tt-  r^-/--"^-!  r^v  registration  of 
Voters,  auii  *jUii.>.  ^^w^-Liii  Lijiiu^^uiuil  with  the  reoent 
enlargement  of  the  electoral  franchise.  Under  such 
circumstancea,  as  no  one  hut  the  SherifiT  could  ap* 
point  another  substitute,  it  became  necessary  for  Sir 
Walter'a  family  to  communicate  the  state  he  was  in 
in  a  formal  manner  to  the  Law  Officers  of  the 
Crown ;  and  the  I«Qrd  Advocate,  (Mr.  Jeffrey^)  ia 
consequence,  introduced  and  carried  through  Par-' 
liament  a  short  \bill,  (2  and  3  WiUiam  IV.  cap.  101,) 
authorizing,  the  Government  ^o  appoint  a  new  She- 
riflfof  Selkirkshire,  "  during  the  incapacity  or  non- 
resignation  of  Sir  Walter  Scott."  It  was  on  this 
hill  that  the  Solicitor- Greneral  had  expressed  a  wish 
to  converse  with  me ;  but  there  was  little  to  be  said, 
as  the  temporary  nature  ci  the  new  appointment 
gave  no  occasion  for  any  jpecuniary  question ;  and, 
if  that  had  been  otherwise,  the  droumstances  or 
the  case  would  have  rendered  Sir  Walter's  family 
entirelv  indifiereqt  upon  such  a  subject.  There  can 
be  no  doubt,  that  if  he  had  recovered  in  so  far  as  to 
be  capable  of  executing  a  resignation,  the  Govern- 
ment would  have  considered  it  just  to  reward  thh"- 
ty-two  years'  faithful  eervices  by  a  retired  allowance 
equivalent  to  his  salary— and  as  Uttle  that  the  Gov- 
ernment would  have  had  sincere  satisfaction  m  set- 
tlrog  that  matter  in  the  shape  most  acceptable  to 
himself.  And  perhaps  (though  t  feel  that  it  it 
scarcely  worth  while)  I  may  as  well  here  express 
my  regret  that  a  statement  highly  unjust  and  inju- 
rious should  have  found  its  way  into  the  pajraa  of 
some  of  Sir  Walter's  preceding  biographers.  These 


unw  sm  Wii/r&R  scmt. 


writerf  have  thought  fit  to  innnuate  that  there  was 
a  want  of  courtesy  and  respect  on  the  part  of  the 
Lord  Adyocate^  and  the  other  official  persona  con- 
nected with  this  arraneement  On  the  contrary, 
nothinff  could  be  more  handsome  and  delicate  than 
the  whole  of  ihexr  conduct  in  it:  Mr.  Cockbam 
could  not  have  entered  into  the  case  with  greater 
feeling  and  tenderness,  had  it  concerned  a  brother 
of  his  0¥^;  and  when  Mr.  Jeffrey  introduced  his 
bill  in  the  House  of  Commons,  he  used  language 
•o  graceful  and  touching,  that  both  Sjr  Robert  Peel 
and  Mr.  Crokerwent  across  the  House  to  thank 
him  cordially  for  it. 

Perceiving,  towards  the  close  of  August,  that  the 
end  was  near,  and  thinking  it  very  likely  that  Ab- 
botsford  mixht  soon  undergo  many  changes,  and 
myself,  at  all  events,  never  see  it  again,  I  felt  a  de- 
sire to  have  some  image  preserved  of  the  interior 
apartments  as  occupied  oy  their  founder  and  invi- 
ted from  Edinburgh  for  that  purpose  Sir  Walter's 
dear  friend,  William  Allan— wnosc' presence,  I  well 
knew,  would,  even  under  the  circumstances  Of  that 
time,  be  nowise  troublesome  to  anv  of  the  family, 
but  the  contrary  in  all  respects.  Mr.  Allan  willing- 
ly complied,  and  executed  a  series  of  beautiful  draw- 
ings, which  may  probably  be  engraved  hereafter. 
He  also  shared  our  watchingaa  and  witnessed  all 
bnt  the  last  moments.  Sir  Walter's  cousins,  the 
ladies  of  Ashestiel,  came  down  frequently,  for  a  day 
or  two  at  a  time ;  and  did  whatever  sisterly  sffec- 
tions  could  prompt,  both  for  the  sufferer  and  his 
daughters.  Miss  Barbara  Scott  (daughter  of  Ms 
uncle  ThoiAas)  and  Mrs.  Scott  of  Harden  did  the 
like. 

At  I  was  dressing  on  the  morning  of  Monday,  the 
I7ih  of  September.  Nicolson  came  into  my  room, 
and  told  me  that  his  master  had  awoke  in  a  state 
of  composure  and  consciousness,  and  wished  to  see 
me  immediately.  I  found  him  entirely  himself, 
tnough  in  the  last  extreme  of  feebleness.  His  eye 
was  clear  and  calm— every  trace  of  the  wild  fire  of 
delirium  extinguished.  "  Lockhart,"  he  said,  **  I 
may  have  but  a  minute  to  speak  to  you.  My  dear, 
be  a  good  man— be  virtuous— be  religious— be  a  good 
man.  Nothing  else  will  give  you  any  comfort  when 
you  come  to  Tie  here."— He  paused,  and  I  said, 
*•  Shall  I  send  for  Sophia  and  Anne  ?"-"  No,'^ 
said  he,  "  don't  disturb  them.  Poor  souls !  I  know 
they  were  up  all  night— God  bless  you  all."— With 
this  he  sunk  into  a  very  tranquil  sleep,  and,  indeed, 
he  scarcely  afterwards  gave  any  sign  of  conscious- 
ness, except  for  an  instant  on  the  arrival  of  his  sons. 
•They,  on  learning  that  the  scene  was  about  to  close, 
obtained  anew  leave  of  absence  from  their  posts, 
and  both  reached  Abbotsford  on  the  1 9th.  About 
half  past  one  p.  m.,  on  the  21  st  of  September.  Sir 
Walter  breathed  his  last,  in  the  presence  of  nil  his 
,  children.  It  was  a  beautiful  day— so  warm  that 
every  window  was  wide  open— and  so  perfectly 
still,  that  the  sound  of  all  others  most  dehcious  to 
his  ear,  the  gentle  ripple  of  the  Tweed  over  its  peb- 
bles, was  distinctly  audible  as  we  knelt  around  the 
bed,  and  his  eldest  son  kiss^  and  cloeed  his  eyes. 

No  sculptor  ever  modelled  a  more  majestic  imago 
of  repose  :— 

KtiTO  fiiyaf  /icyoXeojt,  XeXatriitvos  lynroav^iuV 

Almost  evenr  newspaper  that  announced  this 
event  in  Scotland,  and  many  in  England,  had  the 
mgns  of  mourning  usual  on  the  demise  of  a  king. 
With  hardly  an  exception,  the  voice  was  that  of 
universal,  unmixed  gnef  and  veneration. 

It  was  considered  due  to  Sir  Walter's  physicians, 
and  to.  the  public,  that  the  nature  of  his  malady 
should  be  distinctly  ascertained.  The  result  was, 
that  there  appeared  the  traces  of  a  very  slight  mol- 
lificauon  in  one  part  of  the  substance  of  the  brain.* 

«^  I'i'S^'*^^^*  ®^'-  *2»i.«P-~'?*"  Ibrenoon,  in  piweooe  of 
Df.  AdolphiM  R«,  from  Edinbunrh, and  mj fttber, iproocoded 
to  raimioe  the  head  of  Sir  Walter  Scott 

"On  nmanag  the  upper  partrf  the  cmniam.  the  vtmt^  on  the 
rarTace  of  the  bnim.appeued  iUghtly  tivfid.  and  on  oHttinc  into 
the  lir^  the  dnerib'oiui  mibetanoe  wai  Jwiod  of  a  darkoHuftfaan 
naturaLand  a  creater  than  gsual  quantity  of  eefjini  in  the  ventri 
oJea.   Bxc6i)«inrth«|pappeonDoei,theriffiitherati|ih4 


H»  funeral  #ai  eonduetfld  m  tn  unoatentami 
manner,  but  the  attendance  was  very  great  FVnr 
of  his  old  friends  then  in  Scotland  were  absent,  and 
many,  both  fHenda  and  strangers,  came  from  a  great 
distance.  His  old  domestics  and  foresters  made  it 
their  petition  that  no  hireling  hand  might  assist  in 
carrying  his  remaina.  Th^r  themselves  bore  the 
coffin  to  the  hearse,  and  from  the  hearae  to  die 
srave.  The  pall-bearers  were  his  sonsi^  his  son-in- 
law,  and  his  little  grandson ;  his  cousins,  Charks 
Scott  of  Nesbitt,  James  Scott  of  Jedburrii,  (sons  to 
his  uncle  Thomas,)  William  Scott  of  Raebiun,  Rob- 
ert Rutherford,  Clerk  to  the  SignetjColooel  (now 
Sir  James)  RuMell  of  Ashestiel,  William  Keith, 
(brother  to  Sir  Alexander  Keith  of  Ravelstoac)  ana 
the  chief  of  his  family,  Hugh  Scott  of  Harden,  now 
Lord  Polwarth. 

When  the  company  were  assembled,  acoordiog  to 
the  usual  Scotch  fashion,  prayers  were  offered  19 
bv  the  very  ReverAd  Dr.  Baird,  Principal  of  tbs 
University  of  Edinburgh,  and  by  the  Reverend  Dr. 
David  Dickson,  minister  of  St  CuthbertiL  who  both: 
expatiated  in  a  very  striking  manner  on  the  virtuoos 
example  of  the  deceased. 

The  court-yard  and  all  the  precincts  of  Abbots- 
ford  were  crowded  with  uncovered  spectators  as  the 
procession-  was  arranged ;  and  as  it  advanced 
through  Damick  and  Melrose,  and  the  adjacem  vfl- 
lages,  the  whole  population  appeared  at  their  doors 
in  like  manner,  almost  all  in  black.  The  train  of 
carriages  extended,  I  underatand,  over  more  than  a 
mile— the  Yeomanry  follovred  in  great  numbers  on 
horseback— and  it  was  late  in  the  day  ere  we  reach- 
ed Drybturgh.  Some  accidetat,  it  was  obserred,  had 
caused  the  hearse  to  halt  for  several  minutes  on  the 
summit  of  the  hill  at  Bemerside— exactly  where  a 
pto^^rT'^^  (■>i  rtjmarkable  richness  opens,  and  wbera 
Sir  Wnlri^-r  hnd  always  been  accoatomed  to  rein  up 
his  liorse.  The  day  was  dark  and  lowering,  and 
the  winc]  hif^h. 

The  wide  oaclosnre  at  the  abbey  of  DrybuQdi  was 
thronged  viiili  old  and  young;  and  when  the  coffin 
wat  tnkL-n  from  the  hearse,  and  again  laid  on  the 
shouldersi  of  the  afflicted  serving-men.  one  deep  sob 
biirett  froiTi  d  thousand  lips.  Mr.  Archdeacon  W3- 
lii^ins  TVdi]  rhe  Burial  Service  of  the  Chmrdi  of 
EfiKlaiid;  and  thus,  about  half  past  five  o'clock  in 
the  evening  of  Wednesday,  the  26th  Septonber, 
1882,  the  remains  of  Sir  Walter  Scott  were  laid  l^ 
the  side  of  his  wife  in  the  sepulchre  of  his  ancestors 
— **  in  turt  and  certain  hone  of  the  resurrection  (9 
eternal  life,  through  our  iLord  Jeeuo  Christ:  v&e 
shall  change  our  nU  body  that  it  may  be  like  unto 
his  glorious  body,  according  to  the  mighty  tDorking. 
tohereby  he  is  able  to  subdue  all  things  to  himself^ 

CHAPTER  LXXXIT. 

CONCIVSIOK. 

Wx  read  in  Solomon,  "The  heart  knoweth  his 
own  bitterness,  and  a  stranger  doth  not  intermed- 
dle with  his  joy ;"  and  a  wise  poet  of  our  own  time 
thus  beautifully  expands  the  saying : 

"  Why  should  we  feint  and  fear  to  live  alone, 
Since  all  alone,  an  Heaven  has  willed,  we  die, 

Nor  even  the  tenderest  heart,  and  next  our  own. 
Knows  half  the  reasons  why  we  anile  «9d  aigh  T** 
Such  considerations  have  always  induced  me  to  re- 
gard with  small  respect,  any  attempt  to  ddineata 
fully  and  exactly  any  human  being's  character.  I 
distrust,  even  in  very  humble  cases,  our  capacity  for 
judging  our  neighbour  fairly ;  and  I  cannot  but  p«tT 
the  presumption  that  must  swell  in  the  heart  and 
brain  of  any  ordinary  brother  of  the  raca  when  he 
dares  to  pronoimoe,  ex  cathedra^  on  the  whole  struc- 
ture and  complexion  of  a  great  mind^  from  the  eora- 
paratively  narrow  and  scanty  matenala  which  can 

in  a  healthy  itate,  but  ih  the  left,  in  the  diorold  plena,  three  div 
tinct,  thoof h  naall  bjdatid*  were  found ;  and  on  rcackiM  Ifcs 
corpui  stfiatam  it  waa  iMuovered  diieaaed-«  coowdetahlb  po^ 
tioQ  of  it  beuiff  in  a  atate  of  nuooUwemaat,  The  blood^rawli 
weretnaheaftfaTftate.  Tbo  bmin  waa  not  1ai|»--aodlkea» 
nium  thinner  than  it  ii  luaaOr  found  Ut  be. 

J.  &  Cx. 
*  See  Keble*!  Cfariitian  Tear,  pi  2n. 


UPB  OF  ism  WALTEft  Bccm. 


ifity  h«To  he$a  placed  be&>r^  him.   No?  U 
jlty  to  my  new  lesiBiied,— pprhape  jut  i*» 

^^  inoreasedL  wUen  the  great  nui^  is  a  ^Test  trtUL 
li  u  true  tkat  many  of  the  Mings  uommon  la  our 
nature  can  only  be  eznreaeed  adequately,  and  ihat 
some  of  the  finest  of  them  can  only  be  exrr^ssf^d  at 
all,  io^the  language  of  artj  and  moro  cepccinlly  m 
the  language  of  poetry.  But  it  is  equally  inie,  that 
high  and  aane  art  never  attempts  to  express  that 
for  which  the  artist  does  not  dami  tind  cxp«ct  ffca* 
oral  nroMthy ;  and  however  much  of  what  wc  had 
thought  to  be  our  own  secrets  he  venlurfn  lo  ^ive 
shaoe  to,  it  becomes,  I  can  never  belp  bdievLHfft 
modest  nnderstandinffs  to  rest  convmced  that  ihere 
remained  a  world  of  deeper  mysteric:^,  ;o  whith  ihc 
dimiity  of  genius  would  refuse  any  u  it  era  nee. 

1  have  therefore  endeavoured  to  lay  before  the 
readerthose  parts  of  Sir  Walter's  chariLctf^r  to  whidi 
we  have  access,  as  they  were  indiciit'.HJ  in  his  say- 
ings and  doings  through  the  long  acnuB  of  bis  jcua 
—making  use,  whenever  it  was  pof  :^ible^  of  his  own 
letters  and  diaries  rather  than  of  any  other  miiteri- 
als;— but  refrained  from  obtruding  Gimosi  any  thijii; 
of  comment.  It  was  my  wish  to  K.t  the  charterer 
develop  itself  i  and  oonsciouB  that  I  h^v^e  wilfu|]y 
withheld  nothing  that  might  assist  i  hL>  infitur<?  read- 
er to  arrive  at  just  conclusions,  I  nm  by  no  uic^ajas 
desiroBS  of  drawing  out  e  detailed  e  uitemsn  t  of  my 
own.  I  am  not  gemg  to  "  peep  and  bcttnniz^'"  ution 
hts  grava  But  a  few  general  observations  will  bo 
fonhveo,  perhaps  expected. 

I  believe  that  if  the  history  of  an^  oae  family  m 
myier  or  middle  life  could  be  faithfully  written,  it 
might  ho  as  generally  interesting,  and  aa  t<?rnia- 
neotly  usefiil,  as  that  of  any  nationn  howov^r  gr«at 
and  renowned.  But  literature  has  r.E  vir  producad 
any  worthy  book  of  this  dass,  and  probably  n  never 
will.  The  only  lineages  in  which  ^vo  can  pretend 
to  read  personal  character  far  back,  w^tEi  any  dis- 
tinctness, are  those  of  kings  and  prnci«,  ^tid  a  r«w 
noble honsee  of  the  first  eminence;  und  it  hardly 
needed  Swift's  biting  satire  to  satisfy  ilic  student  of 
the  past,  that  the  very  highest  pedi^rens  Qr«  a^  un- 
certain as  the  very  lowest.  We  flatter  the  rei^iiinK 
monarch,  or  his  hauj^tier  satelntiLn  by  traatig  in 
the^  lineaments  the  mighty  oongueror  or  prcifound 
legislator  of  a  Ibrmer  oentmy .  But  r  al !  up  the  dt&d, 
according  to  the  Dean's  incantation,  an  J  wo  nusbt 
have  the  real  aneestor  in  some  chamberlain,  con- 
fessor,  or  musician. 

Scott  himself  delighted;  perhaps  nbove  ell  other 
booka^  in  such  aa  approxmiate  to  the  character  of 
zood  tamily  histories,— as,  for  example,  Gods  croft's 
House  of  Douglas  and  Angus^  and  cb^  Mcmarie  of 
the  Somerviiles,-~which  last  is,  as  <  i^^  ■'<  I  know, 
ihe  best  of  its  cltss  in  any  langua  ^  his  re- 

print of  the  trivial  "Memorials  of  th  airion^," 

:o  whose  dust  he  is  now  gathered,  \v  i:.  uiu  erne  of  a 
housand  indicati9n8  of  his  anxiety  t>]  realty  bis 
)wn  ancestry  to  his  imagination.  Kn  k^^tstjumtsn' 
leed,  instrument  of  contract,  or  emry  in  a  fjarish 
egieter,  seemed  valueless  to  him,  if  it  bort?  in  any 
nsnner,  however  obscure  or  distant,  on  ibe  r^ffoti- 
il  history  of  any  of  his  ascertainabk  predectssors- 
rhe  chronicles  of  the  race  furnish i^d  the  firp-skle 
alk  to  which  he  listened  in  infancv  at  ymadiiolm, 
ind  his  first  rhymes  were  those  of  Satchels.  Hb 
ihvsical  infirmity  was  reconciled  tc<  Jiim,  evan  dig- 
lined  perhaps,  by  tracing  it  back  to  jorefatli^ra  who 
icqiiired  famousness  in  their  own  way.  iii  «pjt©  of 
uch  disadvantages.  These  studies  Jed  hf  easy  and 
nevi table  links  to  those  of  the  histi^ry  of  his  prcv^ 
nee  generally,  and  then  of  his  niti^^'  kinsdom. 
["he  lamp  of  his  zeal  burnt  on  brighitr  and  brif^httir 
midst  the  dust  of  parchments;  nil-  love  and  pride 
ivified  whatever  he  himg  over  in  thtSf!!  dim  rerurdst 
nd  patient  antiquarianism,  long  brdaLJmg  and  nied^ 
lating.  beeame  gloriously  transiriuted  into  the 
nncnd  spirit  of  national  poetry. 

whatever  he  had  in  himself  he  w^uld  fain  have 
raade  out  an  hereditary  claim* for.  lie  often  spokfj 
oth  seriously  and  sportively  on  thei-  uNeet.  He  bad 
ssembled  about  him  in  his  "own  gr^at  parlour/'  as 
e  called  it— the  room  in  which  he  died— all  th^  pic- 
74 


tiuta  of  luR  aucestora  that  ha  could  tomQ  by  ^  omd  In 
hi4  most  gAniftl  evening;  mood  he  teemed  nevor  to 
weatY  of  pefuaioj^  them.  The  Cavatier  of  Killio* 
crankia  bmvei  laiihfuMeflmedt  and  romaiitit  old 
*'  Bcoidie,"  a  detj?rnuned  but  mdancholy  counte- 
naac&,waijn<>¥fcr  surveyed  without  a  repetition  of 
the  solitary  Ldiin  rbyrue  t^f  bis  Vuw*  He  bad,  of 
couiw,  ^0  purtraita  of  the  eld*?j  hcrcps  of  Harden 
to  loctufe  iipflo  t  but  a  ikilfni  hood  had  suDplied  the 
sam^'  wall  WLih  a  fanciful  <lt;lint;atioii  of  M  roujzh 
wootng  of  '' Mf  ikJe-mouthf^d  Mes^''  aiid  the  o^ 
biaioncal  picture^  properly  m  called,  that  he  ever 
bespoke,  was  to  be  tnksa  Qot  it  w  as  n4'vcr  ex«OUt)od) 
from  the  Raid  o'  the  Eedsi^'iie,  when 

^^The  L«lf4's  Wiu,  thai  worthy  min^ 

Brought  In  thMl  ■uraame  wfi«l  bcictii; 

The  Emberfgrds  with  irent  rtnown, 
CPDroyud  \,he  uiwa  o'  Jedhunb  ciuu'^ 

The  ardent  bni  sagacious  ^'  goodman  of  Saody- 
ktiow^^'  hangs  by  the  aide  of  hU  f Either;,  "  Bearded 
Wat }"  and  oflteQi  when  motalixinf^  in  his  latter  day 
ov^x  Lhedoubtfit]  mditionof  his  uUimate  fofttjn^s 
Sir  Waltar  w^d  pobit  to  "  Hgneat  Robin/'  and 
aay,  "  Blood  wiU  otit  j-^ny  bmldina  and  pbniing 
waa  but  bis  buying  the  huoter  before  be  stocked 
his  sheep-walk  over  again."  "And  >eL''  1  onea 
heard  him  aay^  fflencmg  to  the  bkeness  of  his  own 
staid  catcnlahh^  father,  "  it  was  a  wondw,  too-^r 
I  have  a  thread  of  the  aftomey  m  me.'*  And  sOt  D9 
dfjtibr,  be  had  ;  fiir  tho  '*  elements"  were  mingled  in 
biiti  curiously,  as  well  a*  "  Kontly." 

An  im agnation  cttch  as  his^  concentraiinp  its 
day-dreams  on  thi^Ks  of  thij^  order^  sonn  ahap«d 
out  a  world  of  its  own— to  which  it  would  fmn  ac- 
comnnodate  tbo  real  one*  Tltc  bve  of  his  country 
became  indeed!  a  passion  i  no  knif^ht  ever  idled  for 
his  mistrpss  more  wdlinRly  than  he  would  have  bled 
and  died,  to  preserve  eveti  the  aiiiest  sujiiving  no- 
( h  in  e  of  her  an  t  iq  qh  pre  t  enaio  ns  fo  r  Sco  U  a  nd  Bui 
the  Scotland  of  his  affections  bed  the  clan  Scott  for 
her  kernel.  Nejet  and  almost  ^|ual  to  the  throne 
was  Bticcieueh.  Fancy  rebuilt  and  ntosi  prodigally 
embeUished  The  whole  sy^fein  of  the  social  exist* 
ence  of  the  ntiddle  ngas,  in  whieh  the  cEan<tmnii 
(wherever  there  we^re  clans)  ecknowit^dged  practi- 
cally no  sovereign  but  his  chief.  The  author  of 
"  the  Lay"*  would  rather  have  »een  bis  h«r  carry 
the  Banner  of  Bellenden  gallantly  tit  a  f«jot»ba1 
match  on  Gnrterliaufcbt  tban  he  wuuld  b&re  heard 
that  the  boy  had  at  lamed  the  l%lieftt  honours  Of 
the  flrst  univeirtity  in  Europe.  Hm  orir^nal  pTidtf 
was  to  be  on  acknowlefl|?ed  member  oF  oue  of  the 
"  bonourobk  fi^TnilifV^  wbo*c  pixjpenjiors  had  been 
celebrated  by  Satchels  for  f<>llowinE  this  banner  in 
blind  obediene^j  to  the  pacriarcbel  leadt'i  i  hi*  first 
and  laat  worldly  ainbuion  wa»  u-»  be  himself  the 
founder  of  a  di^tmct  brar^b  j  bf  desire*!  to  plant  a 
lattinf;  root,  and  dreamt  not  of  personal  fsme^  but 
of  lonK  distant  generetioni  rejoicmc  in  the  name 
of ''  5coti  of  Abbfitsford."  By  this  iden  oM  bis  rcve- 
rJes^ali  hi*  ajpirations— all  his  plans  and  enbris, 
wore  ove^rshadowed  and  controlled.  ThegreslolK 
JE^t  and  end  outy  rose  mto  clevrei  dayllgiiT,  snd 
iiwollcjl  into  more  substantial  dtmenskms,  »s  pub- 
lic apiifaii^  sitren^tht^ned  bis  confideoee  in  fail  own 
powtirs  and  facilities ;  and  when  he  had  reached  the 
(iummit  of  ijrijv<?r8al  and  unrivalled  honour,  he  clun^ 
lobia  first  iova  with  the  faith  cif  a  Paladinp  It  is 
easy  i*no^i^h  to  ?mile  at  wH  this  i  many  wdJ  not  un- 
derstand It,  and  some  who  dr>  may  pitjr  it.  But  it 
was  at  least  a  different  thinfi  from  the  modern  vul- 
par  ambtiiati  of  amazing  a  fortune  and  in  vomiting 
irin  land.  The  lordliest  vision  of  ncrea  would  have 
irad  little  charro  for  him,  unless  tiiey  were  sttiiated 
on  El  trick  or  Yofrows  or  iti 

— ^  "  Pl«a«ant  Hvltible 

Fill  by  ttie  rlTtir  Tweed"  — 

somewhere  within  the  primeval  territory  of  **the 
Riiiifib  Clan." 

Hjs  worldly  ambitioti  was,  thus^ grsus^  ^n  \ 
ardent  feoling;^  for  blood  and  lu 
great  redecmmg  elemennni 


v{iff<j^m^^w^^^^- 


timat^  me  mm  adtantiiros  of  modem  exist  cdco 
morajuaily  than  be  did  when,  r&atrammg  his  fericy> 
be  ejcrci^txJ  hia  graver  fttCuHiea  on  ihe  c^ui^ arson 
—it  was  the  natural  effect  of  ihr  amdMiB  ho  devott^ 
himself  m  tmd  rose  b)^  to  indtsposo  bitn  f>r  ihvtiy 
itig  on  the  sober  resuttft  of  judgment  %na  reiison  in 


feiW>B  the  aaruD  of  hiiJ  Jat-obitism  j  And  vet  h»w 
esgcrty  does  he  sficm  to  hnvd  graaped  et  the  shad- 
ow, however  fttlsMj  and  futiK  under  wh;ch  lnjchfif^ 
to  &et^  the  metina  of  recntiLiHttj;  his  Jneobitism  with 
lovaUy  to  the  rm^nin^  man  arch  who  ^btineiided 
him?  Wo  find  him,  ovo«r  and  ov«r  atram,  alluding 
to  George  IV,  as  j5C(]UirmK  a  liik,  di  JuTi^  on  the 
death  of  the  poor  cardiiiai  of  York !  lei  wh'j 
could  boTc  known  hetier,  thai  wbar^Ter  nj,4itg  the 
rtUedmali^Hof  ihw  Siuan  hnti  ever  passeaaed,  mufti 
b&ve  ramaUitid  trntlt^  with  iheir  frraak  deai^end- 

The  same  fuaoluirion  to  give  im^,gmati<*n  Im 
ieope,  and  always  m  favour  of  amnjuay,  i*  ih« 
niUne  pnnc/pl<>  and  charm  af  all  his  host  wntings  i 
^d  Eo  indulged  and  embodied  U  «o  lar^toly  in  his 
bQildinss  at  Abhoisford,  ihai  lo  have  curtailed  tlio 
CTcposilion  uf  his  fond  uiiurinK  enlhnsiiaam  on  that 
score,  would  hxive  been  like  omiliing  tha  Pnpw  m 
a  cast  of  Hiindet.  So  uUo  wiih  all  lb*i  detftda  of 
hb  buspitabb!  oxiatunce,  whon  he  had  fairly  com- 
pleted his  "rornancts  in  sione  and  bmi5j— every 
oatliM  copied  from  sonje  <*ld  baronial  edifice  jn 
Scotland— every  roof  and  wifidQw  blai!>aed  wlh 
cbn  bentinga,  m  Ibe  liiin  Ta^mpunt  gtilea,  or  ibe 
hgadsof  the  nnciem  «tuirt  kinRs.  He  wi abed  lo 
nmye  the  iiiieriaT  liicof  vlie  caatl*iabo  had  ernulaied 
— dboir  wide-open,  >oyoua  reuefpuoii  of  all  comcre, 
bat  up«ckliy  of  kinsmen,  alh&s,  and  nei^bbaurs— 
Mlftdi  and  iJihroohs  to  ^nkyen  flyawififf  bowla  and 
quaighf^iQny  htinting  fifdde  in  whith  yeoman  and 
gentleman  mifiht  ride  aido  by  &lde— nnd  mirLhful 
dJUir-^s>  where  no  Sir  Piercy  Shafton  need  bluiih  to 
lead  out  thi^  miller's  dfiu^bter.  In  th*;  brifihit'it 
meridmn  of  bia  gonms  and  famt^  thi^  wa^  hi  a  biau 
ideal.  All  the  r*iit|  however  agree abk'  and  flaiter- 
'  ing*  was  but  "  leather  and  prune  IK'  to  ^his.  Tbcr^i 
wa9  nmcb  It  Jndneaa  surely  in  *u«;b  imbition ;— m 
apito  of  the  apparent  e^n traduction  id  lerrai,  was 
ibero  not  r^nWy  much  humility  about  it  J 

To  thia  ambition  we  owe  lb e  gif^aivtie  riionumenla 
'  ©f  Scott's  guuius  J  and  to  the  kiudJy  ft^i^bjis^a  out  of 
whie.h  his  nmbiuon  grew,  j^rtjw  also  hia  far aJ  con- 
twmion  wuh  merchandise.  The  Balhuuynes  were 
hi*  old  «chrjol^felliJw&;— and  the  reader  ha*  boo 
means  to  judge  whether,  wlien  once  embarked  iii 
tbcir  concerijB,  he  ever  eouhl  have  pi  out  of  llu?m 
again,  uniil  rude  ealaraiiy,  at  one  blow,  broke  ibo 
inoehtHuf  his  entangltmenr,  I  need  not  fetur  to 
that  flud  and  eomplicalod  chapter*  Nof,  perhaps, 
need  ]  offer  any  nior^  specula  lion  »i  by  way  of  ex- 
pbtuin*^,  and  r^onciling  to  his  previous  and  Bubst'- 
quent  hiatory  and  d^m^anour,  either  the  mystery  in 
fvbich  htt  had  chosen  to  wrap  Uh  commercial  eoa- 
Rflxiona  from  hi^  moat  Intimate  friend s^  or  the  por- 
tentoua  carekssnest  witb  which  he  abandoni^ 
ihee&  matifira  to  tbe  direction  of  nagl^nt  and  incf- 
Jident  ealleaguL'^'  And  yet  I  uURhi,  1  rather  think, 
to  have  suRgeated  to  Certain  cfassea  of  my  readers, 
at  a  much  Jiirhisr  BlaEe,  thac  no  mim  can  he  called 
eiiber  m  the  EntjliFh  or  ibc  ScptlLsb  Bar,  who  i» 
known  to  have  any  ibreci  interest  in  any  commercial 
und€ftakinitofany&ort;tindthutihebodyoffe£linf?» 
or  prejudices  in  which  this  regulation  orisiniited— 
(for  thoujih  there  tnlght  be  Bonod  reason  for  it  he- 
Bid**'*,  ^ueli  tmdoubijedly  wiis  thti  main  sou  ret)— pre- 
vailed in  SemlanJ  m  Sir  Waller'?  youth,  to  an  ax- 
ten  I  of  whirl  I  the  present  Rejairation  may  not  easily 
form  an  sdeautile  nolian.  In  the  minds  of  the 
"  northern  nomrw*c  de  la  tohe"  as  thty  arf  siykd 
in  Rofiii^^unLlrt,  eurh  feehnpH  had  wide  and  piiteni 
authorit^^l  inftfimtjch  thai  I  can  understand  ptrftct' 
\^  bow  Scott,  even  ttfter  he  cea?^d  to  practise  at  ihe 


bar,  beiTm  still  a  ShuioS,  n^d  i  member  of  tlieFaCr 
ultf  of  Advocates,  should  hfi^e  shrunk  r^ry  a^nei* 
lively  from  the  idea  of  having  bis  alliance  w)ib  ■ 
Uading  firm  reveiled  amang  htJi  comrades  of  th'*i 
gown.  And^  morseover,  the  practice  of  mystery  ii^ 
perhaps  of  all  practices,  the  one  mo?t  hkety  to  fir&w 
mio  a  habili  aecrei  breeds  ^crot^  and  I  a^icriliC^ 
after  all  the  long  silence  about  WaverJey  to  tb^  ma- 
tirrcd  influence  of  this  hnbii,  a  I  least  as  tniiisfa  ae  la 
any  of  tho  motives  which  the  author  hta  tbotiglh 
Bt  to  assign  m  bis  late  confeaaiong. 

Btit  was  thcTt^  not,  in  fact,  «omGthm|!  thai  lay  for 
deeper  than  a  mere  professional  pri'jiidioe 't 

Anion??  many  thing?  in  S colt's  Diaries,  which 
cast  atronj*  beht  upan  the  nrevioUe  par*  of  hi*  bia- 
iqr>\  the  reluctance  which  n«  confea»«?«  liiiti*^  to* 
bnve  always  felt  toward*  ihe  rtsiinrapiion  of  tb« 
proper  appointed  task,  however  willing,  nay,  eagjer, 
to  labour  sednlnusly  on  ®omething  elw:,  can  hardlf 
have  eacaped  the  reader's  notice*  We  know  horw 
gallantly  He  coinbHtpd  it  in  ihfl*  generil— but  th««a 
precifjus  Djanee  iham selves  nrp  not  the  leatt  pr^p-- 
noni  proofo  of  the  esieni  to  which  it  very  often  pr^^ 
vnilea— for  an  hour  or  two  at  least,  if  hot  for  the 

I  think  this,  if  we  were  to  go  no  farther,  tDu;hl 
help  U3  somewhat  in  understanding  the  negJecf 
about  superintending  the  Mesera.  BallaniynflsTedir* 
ers  and  bill  books  j  and^  contw^^nently^  tha  rajhtie«9 
about  buying  land,  building,  and  the  hkf. 

But  to  whet  are  we  fo  ascribe  ibe  ori^a  of  tJua 
reluctance  towards  accurate  nnd  minute  tnv^fig*^ 
(ion  and  transaction  of  business  of  vttxrus  iort«, 
BO  important  to  himself,  in  a  man  poaaaraLiog  aaeh 
extraofdinnry  sagacity,  and  cxorciaing  it  ettiy  day 
with  such  adTTiirable  reft^jlnrily  and  precision,  in  tbo 
various  cjipo cities  of  ih^  head  of  a  famity—tbis  frietid 
—the  magistrate— lb e  moat  distinguished  dtixen  Of 
Edinbur*?n— beyond  all  comparison  the  roost  di*- 
ttngutsh^l  member  of  society  that  figured  m  bia 
time  in  hie  naliva  kinfldom  7  ,       .     , 

The  whole  sysiemof  contJepdaaaindai^u^aDona, 
of  which  hia  early  active  lifi*  waa  the  oipononi,  re- 
solves ii3*df  into  a  fomanlicideali^alioo  of  SootttMi 
aristocracy*  He  desired  to  sec^tre  to  his  de««6tw* 
ante  (for  him  self  ho  bad  v^ry  soon  ao^uired  w&we^ 
thing  infinitely  more  nattennK  to  self-love  and  vab- 
iry)  a  decent  and  h<mourablfl  middle  atanon— iil  ^ 
sfrheme  of  hfe  so  consiituted  on^nally,  and  whidi 
his  fancy  pictnrt^  as  capable  of  bring  so  reared*  aa 
to  ndrtiit  of  the  kindliest  personal  contact  between 
(almost)  the  peasant  at  theplmigbt  and  the  mai^ate 
whh  revenues  rivallinf  th*j  monart^h's.  It  igaa  (b* 
patri^trchnl— the  dan  system  that  he  thoughts;  ouer 
that  never  prevailed  even  in  Scotlarnl,  \virtiin  the 
historical  penod  th^t  ia  to  snv,  except  in  the  Hish- 
lands,  and  in  his  own  dear  Borderland.  This  sy»- 
icm  knew  nolhing  fif  commerci— aa  hi  tie  cenamly 
K>f  literature,  beyond  the  raid- ball  ad  of  ihc  wander- 
ing harper,— 

''  High  plac  cd  in  baO-Hi  welcoro*  jaett*'* 

His  fihal  reverence  of  imagination  shrank  fiom 
ni  arh  n  K  t  he  a  n  tique^  if  bar b  arouSt  si  tnnl  icity «  J  mt^ 
p£ct  that  at  the  highest  elevation  of  faia  ht«raiy  f«- 
no wn— when  print^a  boweJ  to  bis  name,  and  na- 
tions ibrdled  ai  it— be  would  have  considered  loatnj$ 
all  that  at  a  change  of  the  wind  as  notbii^^,  conn- 
P^red  10  partrng  wiib  bis  place  as  the  Cadet  of 
Harden  and  Clansman  of  Buccleuch,  who  bad^  n* 
matter  by  what  means,  reached  sucU  a  positjcin, 
that  wh<m  a  notion  arose  oftfjinhodymg  **  a  Boc- 
cipuch  leiinon,"  not  a  Scoit  in  the  Koreet  would  haver 
thought  it  oiherwise  than  n^itural  for  Ahhoitferd 
In  he  one  of  the  field-officcra.  1  can,  tbarafoTfi,  tm^ 
derstand  ihai  he  may  have,  from  the  very  flT«lt  iBl- 
erteci  the  dispen#inK  poww  of  imaKJnation  ▼m 
hherally,  in  virtually  abtiolving  bimteif  from  d well- 
ins  on  the  wood  of  which  hie  ladder  was  to  be  oon- 
acructed.  Enough  was  said  in  a  preceding  uhaptOT' 
of  the  obvioua  fact,  thai  (he  author  of  euih  a  «nes 
of  fotnances  as  bis  must  havCj  to  all  intent*  and 
pnriiosep,  lived  more  than  half  his  life  in  world* 
purely  f^nta^li^.  in  one  of  ih«  laay^fwgirt  w^A 
•         Digitized  by  VjOO^ 


U0B  OB  saa,  wiLTBR  acorr. 


rj 


faltering  pi£«B  of  KU  Dlanr,  he  nays,  iheL  if  nn^r  one 
a&k^d  faim  h*yjf  much  oT  he?  thought  wa^  or^c  upied 
by  iho  n\iycl  then  iii  handp  the  answer  would  have 
been,  th&t  in  oae  laensti  ii  aever  occupied  him  cxcc-pit 
when  th«  ainanuensiB  dat  before  htm,  bi;i  ihat  m 
Hnother  it  whh  never  five  minuiea  imi^pf  hia  hoaiJ, 
Such,  I  have  no  doubt*  tha  ease  had  sTways  bo*n- 
Eui  1  muil  be  cursed  001x1  i^iouhuop^  whi^thers  wh^rt 
the  Buh&tantivo  fiction  actually  in  pmcesa  of  manu- 
facture WAR  absent  from  his  mindt  the  iipace  wjib 
ofien  or  voEuntAriLy  oocupiud  (no  ixiejiiviif^  txttYnnl 
duly  intcrp(>$ingj  upon  rhe  i^a\  [jractical  worldly 
pojimoti  Qnd  buBineaa  of  the  Cterk  of  Ke^^iou.  of 
the  Sherifii— lefts t  of  all  of  the  printer  or  the  book- 
selkr. 

The  sum  is,  if  I  read  hiin  bright*  that  he  wa»  il- 
waya  willing,  in  his  ruminative  moodi.  to  veil,  if 

EOBsibie^  from  his  owti  op  tie?  the  kind  of  machinery 
y  which  alono  he  hiid  found  the  mcani  of  iittflintn^ 
}ii5  darhnn  ohjecis.  Having  acquired  a  perhaps  im- 
pnraheled  po wernver  the  drrectiun  of  acartely  parri  i- 
Jeled  facuUicst  be  chose  10  exert  his  power  in  ihis 
manner  On  no  other  supposition  eon  I  find  bit 
iiistory  intelli|;ibloj—I  mean,  of  t^oiirse,  the  s;n'nt 
<»bviriu«  amt  jnf^rkinff  fa  cm  of  liia  history ;  for  1  hope 
I  have  anfficiently  diHciamied  all  pre  tension  to  a 
thorough- ;;oitia  Aoalyj^ia  He  Appf^ari^  10  have  «lu- 
diouily  escaped  from  whatever  eoulH  have  intf  rfers^ 
With  hi»  own  eryciyrnenl— to  have  re  veiled  in  the 
fair  retidta,  and  waved  the  wand  of  obliterating 
ma^c  over  flH- bcaidfcB  i  aod  ptmiiitted  so  Ions,  fhat 
(likh  the  aorc^rf.t  he  ceit^bratesi  he  bet^tno  the  dupe 
of  hia  own  detusionei. 

It  ia  thus  that  (not  forfrettins  the  nubsiriiary  influ- 
ence orproffHSSional  FklinbarKh  prejvidEces)  I  am  in- 
ehned,  on  the  whole,  tu  a  ceo  u  tit  for  his  initial  ion  in 
the  practice  of  myatery— 11  thinp,  at  firat  sight,  so 
alien  from  the  frank,  open^  generous  nature  of  a 
man,  than  whom  none  ever  had  or  deserved  to  hav« 
mort*  real  friemk. 

The  indulgence  coat  him  very  dear.  It  mined  hw 
Ibrtuues— but  I  can  have  no  douht  that  it  did  wofM 
than  that.  1  cannot  suppose  iJhat  a  nature  like  hia 
was  fettered  and  ahut  up  tn  ihia  way  wiihout  Huiler- 
iiu;  very  atverely  from  the  **  cold  obairuction/* 
There  ronat  have  been  a  eontmual  **  insurreelion" 
in  hJ5  ^*  state  of  mati ;"  and,  libove  all,  I  doubt  not 
that  what  j*ave  him  the  bitterest  pain  in  the  b<xur 
of  hill  cab  rallies,  waa  the  fee  I  me  of  conipunciioB 
wilh  wliich  he  then  found  him  self  obhsed  to  £fnnu 
bafaw  those  iviih  whom  he  had*  tbrouitn  life,  ciilti- 
jatod  bisptb4^r-hke  friendthip,  conrte ted  of  having 
kav^t  hM  heart  closed  lo  them  on  what  th^-y  ccum 
not  but  euppoae  to  have  been  the  ehief  su  bice  Is  of 
his  thoyflht  af>d  aniiety,  in  times  when  they  with- 
held nothinR  from  him.  The^e^  perhnpi,  were  the 
"  written  troublQa'^  that  had  been  eut  deepest  into 
hiH  braiiL  1  think  they  were,  and  believe  it  toe  niorCj 
beoause  it  was  never  acknowledged. 

If  he  hnd  erred  in  the  primary  indulptenco  out  of 
which  thia  aprang,  he  at  leait  made  nohk  a  ton  ti- 
me nt. 

Durine  the  tnost  energetic  years  of  manhood  he 
laboured  with  one  prise  in  vii-w;  and  he  had  jui^t 
irraaped  it,  an  he  fancied.  »eciirely,  when  all  at  onre 
the  %iHion  was  disiaipati.^  ;  he  found  hnn*c^tf  naki  d 
and  desolate  an  Job.  Mow  he  nerve<3  himsolf 
aRninat  the  atorm^how  he  felt  and  how  he  resisted 
it— bow  soberly,  steadily,  and  resolvedly  he  con- 
templated the  possibility  of  yet,  by  rexioubled  exiT- 
tions,  in  bo  far  retrieving  his  fortunes,  as  that  no 
man  should  lose  by  hsving  truaiod  those  fer  whom 
be  had  been  pledged— how  well  be  kept  his  vow,  and 
whai  tmoe  it  coat  him  to  do  so,— allthia  the  read- 
*T^  I  doubt  not,  apprecjatea  ftilly.  It  i^eems  to  me 
that  sirertRih  of  character  was  never  put  to  a  se- 
verer test  than  when,  for  labours  of  love,  mieh  as  hia 
bad  hitherto  almost  alwaya  be^ifo— theplearant  nx- 
ertion  of  pnnis  for  the  aMainment  of  ends  th^t 
owed  all  their  di>?nuy  nnd  boouty  lo  a  poetical  fsn- 
cy-'there  cametobeaubfitituted  the  iron  fjeriioftcity 
of  daily  and  nii^hily  toil  in  the  disehnrReor  a  duty* 
which  tbi^re  waa  nothing  but  a  sense  of  chivalrous 
bono^r  to  mak«  atring^nt. 


It  ntbe  fond  indulgenci  of  jcay  tiumy  in  ifl  tht 
previous  itory  that  ghres  its  true  vldue  and  < 
to  the  vbluntary  ttony  of  the  seqpel,  -when, 
he  appears  ^ 

^  Sapiens,  siMque  imperiostis ; 

Quem  Deque  pauperiea,  neque  zdots,  neqoe  vincnla  ter^ 

rent ; 
Responaare  cupidlnibus,  oontemnere  honores, 
Fortis ;  el  in  seipso  lotua,  teres  atque  tQtimdus, 
Extemi  ne  quid  valeat  per  IsDve  morsri ; 
In  quem  loyanca  ruit  sender  Portuna." 

The  attentive  reader  will  not  deny  that  every  sylla- 
ble of  this  proud  ideal  has  been  justified  to  the  let- 
ter. But  though  he  boasted  of  stoicism,  hisliero- 
ism  IMS  something  far  better  tfaah  the  stoic's :  for 
it  was  not  foundea  on  a  haughty  trampling  down  df 
all  delicate  and  tender  thoughts  and  feehngs.  He 
lays  bis  heart  bare  in  his  Diary ;  and  we  there  read, 
in  characters  that  will  never  die,  how  Ike  sternest 
resoludon  of  a  philosopher  will  be  at  once  quicken- 
ed and  adorned  by  tne  gentlest  impulses  of  that 
spirit  of  love,  which  alone  makes  poetry  the  an^el 
of  life.  This  is  the  moment  in  which  posterity  will 
desire  to  fix  his  portraiture.    It  is  then,  truly,  that 

"  He  sits,  'moDgst  men,  like  a  descended  god; 
Be  hath  a  kind  of  honour  sets  him  off    ' 
More  than  a  mortal  seeming." 

But  the  noble  exhibition  was  not  a  fleeting  one ;  k 
was  not  that  a  robust  mind  elevated  itself  by  a  fierce 
efTont  for  the  crisis  of  an  hour.  The  martyrdom 
lasted  with  his  days ;  and  if  it  shortened  them,  let 
us  remember  his  own  immortal  words,— 

"  Sound,  sound  the  clarion^  fill  the  fife, 
To  all  the  8ensu||srorid  proclaim— 

One  crowded  Iwimf  glorious  life 
Is  worth  an  age  without  a  same." 

For  the  rest,  I  propume^  it  will  be  allowed  that  no 
hftiman  charaetcr,  which  we  have  the  opportunity 
of  studying  wjih  equal  minuteness,  bad  fewer  faults 
mixed  up  in  its  texture.  The  grand  virtue  <tf  foril- 
tlide,  the  ba^ra  of  all  others,  was  never  displayed  in 
bii^her  perfection  than  in  him  r  and  it  was,  as  per^ 
bap?  true  eotirnge  alwayn  is,  combined  with  as 
eeually  judmirahle  fipirit  of  kindness  and  humanity. 
His  T»ride,  if  we  imist  call  it  so,  nndebased  by  tnt 
least  tincture  of  mere  vans ty.  was- intertwined  with 
a  most  ej^qui^^ite  charity,  and  was  not  inoohsisteni 
with  true  humility.  If  ever  the  principle  of  kindli- 
nese  wai^  incarnated  in  a  mere  maT|,  it  was  in  himi 
and  renl  kindliness  can  never  be  but  modesK  I# 
the  socid  rdtttions  of  life*  where  n;ien  are  modtef^ 
i^irtally  ErifMJ,  no  spot  can  be  dptecrtctdin  him.  Hf 
waa  a  patient,  dutiful,  reverent  SOnV  a  gejierou^ 
compa^nionateH  tender  husband;  An  hontst,  cara- 
ftil,  and  most  afFectionnte  fethcr,  Nsi^et  was  a  nmn 
virtuous  or  a  happier  fifcskle  than  hist!  The  inflo^ 
efiee  *)f  hh  mi^hiv  i:>^niu!^  j^IiqjIo wed  it  impercepti- 
bly; iiie  c[ilmgLMid-'jnE«e,  RTui  ii>s  angelic  sweetness 
of  heart  and  temper,  regulated  and  softened  a  stnct 
but  paternal  discipline.  His  children^  as  they  grew 
up,  nndef  stood  by  degrees  ihe  high  privilege  of  their 
birth ;  but  the  profoundest  sense  of  his  greatness 
never  disturbed  their  confidence  in  his  goodness. 
T^ie  buoyant  play  of  his  spirits  made  him  sit  young 
among  the  young ;  parent  and  son  seemed  to  livo 
in  brotherhood  together ;  and  the  chivalry  of  his 
imagination  threw  a  certain  air  of  courteous  gjkl- 
lantry  into  his  relations  with  his  daughters,  which 
^ave  a  vefy  pecuNar  grace  .to*  the  fondness  of  their 
intercourse.  Though  Uiere  could  not  be  a  gentler 
mother  than  Lady  Scott,  on  those  delicate  occa- 
sions most  interesting  to  young  ladies,  tl^ey  always 
made  their  father  the  first  confidant. 

To  the  depth  of  his  fraternal  afieotion  I  «scribfl^ 
mainly,  the  only  eiample  of  departure  from  the  de- 
corum of  polished  manners  which  a  keen  observer 
of  him  through  life  ever  witnessed  in  him,  or  mj 
own  experience  snd  information  afibrd  any  trace  ot 
Injuries  done  to  himself  no  man  forgave  more  easi- 
ly—more willingly  repaid  by  benefits.  But  it  was 
not  so  when  he  first  and  unexpectedly  saw  before 
him  the  noble  pehon  who,  as  he  considered  things 
at  the  time,  had  avaUed  himself  of  bis  parliament*- 


rUfS  OF^JEtH  WILTRR  SCOTT/ 


or  piivilMe  to  cast  a  Bha4i  of  ipault  imon  the  char- 
aeter  of  Iub  next  jand  be8t4>elo%ed  biother. 

But  perhaps  the  most  touching  eiddenca  of  the 
Iaatin/<  tendernestf  of  his  early  domestic  feelings  waa 
exhibited  to  his  executors,  wheik  they  opened  his 

Xaitories  in  search  of  his  teatament,  the  evening 
'  his  burial.  On  lifting  up  his  desk,  we  found 
arranged  in  careful  order  a  series uof  little  objects, 
which  had  obviously  been  so  placed  there  that  his 
eye  might  rest  On  them  every  morning  before  he  be- 
gan his  tasks.  These  were  the  old-fashioned  boxes 
that  had  garnished  his  mother's  toilette,  when  he,  a 
sickly  child,  slept  in  her  dressing-room—the  silver 
taper-stand  which  the  young  advocate  had  bought 
for  her  with  bis  first  five-guinea  fee— a  row  oCamall 
packets  inscribed  with  her  hand,  and  containing 
the  hair  of  those  of  her  oflTspring  that  had  died  he- 
fore  her— his  father's  snuiT-box  and  etui-case— and 
more  thinoi  of  the  like  sort,  recalUng 
^'  Tbe  oM  familiar  ftcaa." 

The  same  feeling  was  apparent  in  all  the  arrange- 
ment of  his  private  apartment.  -Pictures  of  his  ra- 
ther and  mother  were  the  only  ones  in  his  dressing- 
room.  The  clumsy  antique  cabinets  that  stood 
there,  things  of  a  very  different  class  from  the  beau- 
tiful and  costly  productions  in  the  public  rooms  be- 
low, had  all  belonged  to  the  furniture  of  Gorge's 
ISguare.  Even  his  father's  rickety  washing-stand, 
with  «11  its  cramped  appurtenances,  though  exceed- 
ingly unUke  what  a  man  of  his  very  scrupulous  hab- 
its would  have  selected  in  these  dayeu  kent  its 
ground.  The  whole  place  seemed  fitted  up  like  a 
Ettle  chapel  of  the  lares. 

Such  a  son  and  parent  cejtfd  hardly  fail  in  any  of 
the  other  social  relations,  ra  man  was  a  firmer  or 
more  indefatigable  fiiend.  I  know  not  that  he  ever 
lost  one  1  ana  a  few.  with  whom,  during  the  enar- 
getic  middle  stage  or  lifiB^  from  pohtioaldifiereQCM 
or  other  accidental  circumstancesi  he  lived  less  fa- 

Siliarly,  had  all  gathered  round  him,  and  renewed 
e  full  warmth  of  early  auction  in  his  later  days. 
There  was  enough  to  dignify  the  connexion  in  their 
eyes  {  but  nothing  to  chill  it  on  either  side.  Thd 
imaranation  that  so  completely  mastered  hiin  when 
he  chose  to  give  her  the  rein,  was  kept  under  most 
deteimined  control  when  any  of  the  positive  obUga- 
tions  of  active  life  came  into  question.  A  higl\  and 
pure  sense  of  duty  presided  over  whatever  henad  to 
*  do  as  a  citizen  and  a  magistrate  1  and  as  a  landlord, 
he  considered  his  estate  as  an  extension  of  Jbis 
hearth.  '^ 

Of  his  politieal  creed,  the  many  who  hold  a  difi^- 

St  one  will  of  course  say  that  it  was  the  natural 
tit  of  his  poetical  devotion  to  the  mere  prejudiosk 
of  antiquity  I  and  I  am  quite  willinj;  to  aUowthat 
this  must  have  had  a  great  share  in  the  matter— 
and  that  he  himself  yromd  have  been  as  little  asha- 
med of  the  word  prejvdice  as  of  the  word  arUiquiH. 
Whenever  Scotland  could  be  considered  as  stand- 
ing separate  on  any  question  from  the  rest  of  the 
Sipire,  he  was  not  only  apt,  but  eager  to  embrace 
e  opportunity  of  again  rehoisting,  as  it  were,  ^e 
old  signal  of  national  independence ;  and  I  sincere- 
ly believe  that  no  circumstance  in  his  literary  ca- 
reer gave  him  so  much  personal  satisfaction  as  the 
success  of  Malachi  Maiagrowther's  Epistles.  He 
confesses,  however,  in  his  Diary,  that  he  was  aware 
how  much  it  became  him  to  summon  calm  reason 
to  battle  imaginative  pBepossessioas  on  this  score ; 
and  I  am  not  aware  that  thev  ever  led  him  into  any 
serious  practicaherror.  He  aeiighted  in  letting  his 
fancy  run  wild  about  ghosts,  and  witches,  and  ho- 
roscopes— but  I  venture  to  say,  had  he  sat  on  the 
judicial  bench  a  hundred  years  before  he  was  botn, 
no  man  would  have  been  more  c§rtain  to  give  juries 
sound  direction  in  estimating  the  pretended  evidence 
of  supernatural  occurrences  of  any  sort ;  and  I  be- 
heve,  in  like  manner,  that  had  any  anti-English 
faction,  civil  or  religious,  sprung  up  in  his  own  time 
m  Scotland,  he  would  have  done  more  than  any 
Qthit  hving  man  could  have  hoped  to  do,  for  put- 
ung  it  down.  He  was  on  all  practical  points  a  stea- 
dy .conscientious  Torv  of  the  school  of  William 


I'ltu  wtm,  TMuijL^ri  All  atili-MfVoliilloil 
tamly  ony  {bi^n  hv.i  an  anC^efbrmer. 
tbe  innovations,  in  ihe  inidil  of  whieh  L  „__  __  _ 
revivat)  under  nUrniinglf  suthoritJitivij  suvpirvs,  of 
the  docthnoa  which  hnd  endonn:<:red  Bniwn  m  hw 
youth,  and  d^^li^^t^  Europe  titroui^imut  his  p^rirac^ 
of  moEihood.  May  ihf  gl^ramy  anuciparbn^  which 
hjme  ovisr  hi»  closing  years  be*  iinftiMiJed  I  But 
ihoyld  thL^  be  so,  let  posterity  rejuember  that  ihe 
warninga  and  the  resistance  of  his  and  oUier  pow- 
eriiil  inieHi^cfJi,  w*:re  probably  in  fhui  event  Uie  ap- 
poinieiJ  inaonp  for  averung  a  caiastropbe  m  wiiiciii 
ha^i  Rrifilainf  fnllen,  the  whole  civiliMd  world  mtmt 
htn  0  hcvQ  involved. 

Sir  Walter  received  a  strictly  religbtis  educatioii, 
under  the  eye  of  psrents  whose  virtuous  oondqct 
was  in  unison  with  the  principles  they  desired  to  in- 
stil into  their  children.  Prom  the  grsat  doctrinss 
thus  recommended  he  appears  never  to  have  swerv- 
ed ;  but  he  must  be  numbered  among  the  many 
who  have  incurred  considerable  riak  of  doing  sO|  in 
consequence  of  the  rigiditv  with  which  Pkesbytenan 
heads  of  fatnihes,  in  Scotland,  were  used  to  enforce 
compUance  with  various  relics  of  the  puritanical  ob- 
servance. He  took  up,  early  in  life^  a  repugnance 
to  the  mode  in  which  pubUc  worship  is  coinhxcted 
in  the  Scottish  Estabhshment ;  and  adhered  to  the 
sister  Church,  whose  system  of  government  and 
discipline  he  beUeved  to  be  the  fnrest  copv  of  the 
primitive  polity,  and  whose  Utanies  and  collects  he 
xeverenced  aa  havmg  been  transmitted  to  us  from 
the  age  immediately  succeeding  that  oi  the  inos- 
ties.  The  few  passagesiin  his  Diarite,  in  which  he 
alludes  to  his  own  religious  feehngs  and  practices, 
show  clearly  the  sober,  serene,  and  elevated  frame 
of  mind  in  which  he  habitually  contemplated  man's 
relations  with  his  Maker;  the  modesty  vrith  which 
he  shrunk  from  indulging  either  the  presumption  of 
reason  or  the  extravagance  of  iqiagmation  in  the 
province  of  Faith ;  his  humble 4rehance  on  the  wis- 
dom and  mercy  of  God ;  and  his  finn  belief  that  we 
are  placed  in  this  state  of  existence,  not  to  speculate 
about  another,  but  to  prepare  ourselves  for  it  bv  ac- 
tive exertion  of  our  intellectual  fiicultiea,  and  the 
constant  cultivation  of  kindness  and  benevolence 
towards  our  feUow-men. 

But  his  moral,  poUtical,  and  religious  character 
has  sufficiently  impressed  itself  upon  the  great  bo- 
dy oi  his  writings.  He  is  indeed  one  of  the  few 
great  authors  of  modem  Europe  who  stand  acqint- 
t^of  having  written  a  line  thnt  ought  to  have  em- 
bittered the  bed  of  death.  His  works  teach  tha 
practical  lessons  of  morality  and  Christianity  in 
the  most  captivating  form^unobtrusively  and  unaf- 
fectedly. And  I  think  it  is  not  refining  too  far  to 
say,  that  in  these  works,  as  well  as  his  whole  de- 
meanour as  a  man  of  letters,  we  may  trace  the  hap- 
py effects— (enough  has  already  been  said  as  to  some 
less  fortunate  and  agreeable  ones)— of  his  having 
written  throughout  with  a  view  to  something  be- 
yond the  acquisition  of  personal  fame.  Perhaos  no 
great  poet/ever  made  his  literature  so completelv  an- 
cillary to  the  objects  and  purposes  of  practical  lifis. 
However  bis  imagination  might  expatiate,  it  was 
sure  to  rest  over  his  home.  The  sanctities  of  do> 
mestic  love  and  social  duty  were  never  forgotten : 
and  the  same  ch-cumstance  that  most  ennohles  all 
his  triumphs,  nfTords  also  the  best  apology  for  his 
errors. 

I  have  interwoven  in  these  pages  some  record  of 
whatever  struck  myself  as  pre-eminently  acute  in 
the  critical  essays  bestowed  on  Scott's  works  by 
his  contemporaries ;  but  I  have  little  doubt  that  the 
best  of  these  essays  will  in  due  time  be  collected  to- 
gether, and  accoinpany,  in  exteruo^  a  general  edition 
of  his  writings.  From  the  first,  his  possession  of  a 
strong  and  brilliant  genius  was  acknowledged ;  and 
the  extent  of  it  seems  to  have  been  guesaed  by  oth- 
ers, before  he  was  able  to  persuade  himself  that  he 
had  claim  to  a  place  among  the  masters  of  litera- 
ture. Tbe  ease  with  which  be  did  every  thing  de- 
ceived him ;  and  he  probably  would  never  q«t« 


LIFE  OP  SIR'l'^'^TER  SCOW, 


jdone  lumaiif  any  measure  of  jiatir^  «^en  as  opm- 
pared  witli%08«j>f  hia  ^^n  ime^  but  for  the  fact, 
whiVJa  no  ufotfeaty  couM  lonff  reil,  that  whatever 
he  did  became  kn  media  teljr  *^  the  fashion  "  the  ob- 
ject of  allbut  universal  imitation.  Even  as  to  this, 
he  was  often  ready  to  surmise  that  the  priorit;r  of 
his  own  movement  might  have  been  matter  of  ac- 
cident ;  and  certainly  nothing  can  mark  the  humH- 
ity  of  his  mind  more  strikingly  than  the  style  m 
wtiich  he  discusses,  in  his  Diary,  the  pretensions  of 
the  pigmi^  that  swarmed  and  fretted  in  the  deep 
wake  of  his  mighty  vessel.  To  the  reallv  original 
writers  among  his  contemporaries  he  did  full  jus- 
tice ;  no  differences  of  theory  or  taste  had  the  least 
power  to  disturb  his  candour.  In  some  cases  he 
rejoiced  in  feeling  and  ex^^ressing  a  cordial  admira- 
tion, where  he  was  met  by,  at  best,  a  cold  and 
grudging  reciprocity:  and  in  others,  his  generosity 
was  proof  against  not  only  the  private  belief  but 
the  public  exposure  of  envious  malignity.  Lord 
Byron  might  well  say  that  Scott  could  be  jealous  of 
no  one ;  but  the  immeasurable  distance  did  not  pre- 
ven  t  many  from  being  jealous  of  him. 

His  propensity  to  think  too  well  of  other  men's 
works  sprung,  of  course,  mainly  from  his  modesty 
and  good-nature ;  but  the  brilliancy  of  his  imagina- 
tion greatly  sustained  the  delusion.  It  unconscious- 
ly gave  precision  to  the  trembling  outline^  and  life 
and  warmth  to  the  vapid  colours  before  him.  This 
was  especially  the  case  as  to  romances  and  novels : 
the  scenes  and  characters  in  them  were  invested 
with  so  much  of  the  "  hght  within,''  that  he  would 
close  with  regret  volumes  which,  perhaps,  no  other 
person,  except  the  diseased  glutton  of  the  circulating 
library,  ever  could  get  half  through.  Where  colder 
cntics  saw  only  a  schoolboy's  hollowed  turnip  with 
Its  mch  of  tallow,  he  looked  through  the  dazzling 
spray  of  his  own  fancv,  and  sometimes  the  clumsy 
toy  seems  to  have  swelled  almost  into  "  the  majesty 
ofbuned  Denmark." 

These  servile  imitators  are  already  forgotten,  or 
will  soon  be  so ;  but  it  is  to  be  hoped  that  the  spirit 
which  breathes  through  his  works  may  continue  to 
act  on  our  literature,  and  consequently  on  the  char- 
acter and  manners  of  men.  The  race  that  grew  up 
under  the  influence  of  that  intellect  can  hardly  be 
expected  to  appreciate  fully  their  oy9n  obligatieas  to 
It :  and  jret  if  we  consider  what  were  the  tendencies 
,  of  the  minds  and  works  that,  but  for  his,  must  have 
been  unnvalled  in  the  power  and  opportunity  to 
mould  young  ideas,  we  may  picture  to  ourselves  in 
some  measure  the  magnitude  of  the  debt  we  owe  to 
a  perpetual  succession  through  thirty  years,  of  pub- 
lications unapproached  in  charm,  and  all  instilling 
a  high  and  healthy  code;  a  bracing,  invigorating 
spirit ;  a  contempt  of  mean  passions,  whether  vin- 
dictive or  voluptuous;  humane  charily,  as  distinct 
from  moral  laxity  as  from  unaympathizing  austeri- 
ty; sagacity  too  deep  for  cynicism,  and  tenderness 
never  degeneraung  into  sentimentsUty ;  animated 
throughout  in  thought,  opinion,  feeling,  and  Style, 
by  one  and  the  nume  pur*  energetic  prindpl*^a 
pith  and  SfivQur  of  mnnhaoJ  i  appi^nhim  lovthni^v- 
er  IS  good  rind  Uyya]  in  otir  naiurtiB,  and  rohuktng 
whatever  i^  low  ond  iwlfjyb. 

Had  Sir  VValrer  nevtr  roktm  r  dtrtct  p^H  in  i<(ili- 
tics,  as  a  wriicr,  the  visible  bms  of  hm  miniJ  on  Huch 
subjects  ronsi  have  had  a  Kn^tit  mfluf-nct';  noj.*  the 
mere  fact  i2iii  mch  a  man  boIonRed  lom  particular 
side  would  hnve  btyjn  a  very  iin  port  ant  weigh  i  in  the 
balance.  Hia  pt-rvi^^cs,  dinci  and  indirecu  town  ids 
repressing  the  revoluuon»ry  propenBitie^  of  his  iige 
^®T®  ^."^st— far  beyond  ihe  comprelieiision  of  vulgar 
politicians. 

On  the  whole  I  have  no  doubt  that,  the  tjiotc  the 
details  of  his  personal  history  are  revoaled  and 
jtudied,  the  more  powerfully  will  that  hr  found  to 
inculcate  the  same  great  lessons  with  hi*  works. 
Where  else  shall  we  be  taught  better  how  prniiperity 
may  be  extended  hy  munificence,  and  advrt?r)iity 
,  confronted  by  exertion?    Where  can  ue  vw  the 

follies  of  the  wise"  more  strikingly  rcbiiked,  and  a 

character  more  beautifully  purified  nod  enaheA  in 

the  passage  through  affliction  to  drath  1    1  hsve 

2Z 


Ungered  so  long  over  the  "detaiis  that  I  have,  per* 
haps,  bttome,  evan  from  that  circumstance  alone^ 
iess  qualified  than  more  rapid  surveyors  may  be  to 
seize  the  effect  in  the  mass.  But  who  does  not  feel 
that  there  is  something  very  invigorating  as  well  as 
elevating  in  the  contemplation  7  His  character 
seems  to  belong  4o  some  elder  and  stronger  period 
than  ours;  and^  indeed,  I  cannot  help  likening  it  to 
the  architectural  fabrics  of  other  ages,  which  he 
most  delighted  in,  where  there  is  such  a  congrega- 
tion of  imagery  and  tracery,  such  endless  indulgence 
of  whim  and  fancy,  the  sublime  blending  here  witit 
the  beautiful,  and  there  contrasted  with  the  gro- 
tesquc—half;  perhaps,  seen  in  the  clear  daylight, 
and  half  by  rays  tinged  with  the  blazoned  forms 
of  the  past— that  one  may  be  apt  to  get  bewildered 
among  the  variety  of  particular  impressions,  and 
not  feel  either  the  unitv  of  the  grand  design,  or  iha 
height  and  solidness  of  the  structure,  until  the  door 
has  been  closed  upon  the  labyrinth  of  aisles  and 
shrines,  and  you  survey  it  from  a  distance,  but  stiU 
within  Its  shadow. 

And  yet,  as,  withwhatever  admiration  his  friends 
could  not  but  r^ard  him  constantly  when  among 
them,  the  prevailing  feeling  was  still  love  and  affec- 
tion, so  is  it  now,  and  so  must  ever  it  be,  as  to  his 
memory.  It  is  i}qf,  the  privilege  of  every  reader  to 
have  partaken  m  the  friendship  of  a  qbxat  aivp 
QOQD  MAK ;  but  thoso  who  have  not  m^  be  assured, 
that  the  sentiment,  which  the  near  homely  contem- 
plation of  such  a  being  inspires,  is  a  thing  entirely 
,  by  itself,— 

' "  Not  another  comfort  like  to  thla* 

Succeeds  in  unknown  fate." 

And  now  ro  conclQd<f.— In  the  year  IS32,  France 
and  Ot!  mi  any,  as  wbU  as  Britam,  had  to  mourn 
ovtT  their  brtght^st  ifitellecta.  tioeEhc  abortly  pre- 
ceded Seoit,  and  Cuvier  followed  him:  and  wjih 
ihe^v  mighty  lights  were  exiin^isbcd  many  others 
of  no  L'ommoD  order— ami) og  the  rest  Crabbe  and 
Mflikintoah. 

lHany  of  those  who  hfld  been  in  !ima  !eW  connected 
wiib  Scon  m  various  way»  soon  also  folio wofl  him. 
Jameti  Bafliyntvne  was  already  on  his  deathbed 
when  liti  beard  of  lu8  icrtai  friend  and  pairon*fl 
diriiith.  The  foreman  of  the  pHniing-ltouse^  a  decent 
and  fflkhfiil  man,  who  badfcnowTi  all  tbeir  secrets,  . 
and  dene  hia  best  for  ih<ir  service,  both  in  DToeper- 
Qua  and  jjdver&c  tiniee,  by  name  Jf  Gorki ndale, 
bv'^nn  Ui  droop  and  pine,  and  diwl  loo  in  a  few 
ir*iriths>  Jbuwa  HoRg,  tho  Enrick  Shtpherd,  mtial 
a  i  r.j  be  ni  i  n  r  f on  ed .  He  dit^d  o  n  t  he  2*  ^  t  of  N  ov  em* 
ber^  iR'Ab  i  bui  it  hnd  been  beiiitr  for  his  fame  had 
his  end  been  of  eflrlier  date,  for  he  did  no  I  follow 
his  b^^Slt  beni^factor  uniil  he  htij  iii^ultijd  hia  dust, 
La^rly^  I  observe,  a?  this  shei^i  ia  pas^mg  ihroiiyh 
the  press,  I  be  dt-aih  of  the  Rev.  Heorg*;  Thorn  B<>n—  \ 
the  bnpp^^  "DomTnie  Tbom&oji"  of  ihe  happy  dny« 
of  Abboi^ford.  He  died  at  Edinburgh  on  the  Slh 
of  JrtrM!an\  !^«, 

M.  .'  -.;:...  .-..It  tt... .:.;  ir  rjsri^!3iTUH,  i-'t--i  a 

grant  of  jC200  per  annum  from  the  privy  purse  of 
:ing  William  IV.  But  her  name  did  not  long  bur- 
den the  pension  list.  Her  constitution  had  been 
miserably  shattered  in  the  course  of  her  long  and 
painful  attendance,  first  on  her  mother's  illness, 
and  then  on  her  father's;  and  nerhaps  reverse  or 
fortune,  snd  disappointments  of  various  sorts  con- 
nected with  that,  had  also  heavy  effect.  From  the 
day  of  Sir  Walter's  death,  the  strong  stimulus  of 
duty  being  lost,  she  too  often  looked  and  spoke  like 
one 

"  Taking  Uie  measure  of  an  unoiade  grave." 

After  a  brief  interval  of  disordered  health,  she 
contracted  a  brain  fever  which  carried  her  on  ab- 
ruptly. She  died  in  my  house  in  the  Regent's  Park 
on  the  26th  June,  1833,  and  her  remains  are  placed 
in  the  New  Cemetery  m  the  Harrow  Road. 

The  adjoining  grave  holds  those  of  her  nephew 
John  Hugh  Lockhart,  who  died  IStfa  Dec.  183r| 
and  also  those  of  my  wife  Sophia^  who  expired 
after  a  long  illness,  which  she  bore  with  all  possible 
meekness  and  fortitude,  on  the  17th  of  May,  1837. 


EsiPSOF  SIB  Walter  scott.' 


llie  clergrman  who  nad  the  funeral  senrioo  orer 
her  was  her  fotber's  mend,  uid  here,  and  i^ine^  the 
Rey.  Henry  Hart  MUman,  one  of  the  Prebendaries 
of  Westnunster;  and  a  little  incident  which  he 
happened  to  observe  during  ibe^prayera  stiggested 
to  him  some  verses,  which  he  transmitted  to  me 
the  morning  after,  and  whioh  the  I'eader  will  not,  I 
believej.  consider  altogether  misplaced  in  the  last 
^age  of  these  memoirs  of  her  father.. 

"  SkfAMSAS— Jlfajf  22, 1837. 

*  Ov«r  that  solemn  pageant  mute  and  dark, 
Where  in  the  grave  we  laid  to  rest 
Heaven's  late^  not  leaat  welcome  gueat. 

What  dldtt  thoa  on  the  wins,  thoo  jocund  lark  I 
Hoveripf  in  unrebuked  glee, 

And  carolBng  above  that  OMrarnful  company  1 

*0  thou  light-loving  and  melodiona  bird, 

At  every  sad  and  solemn  fall 

Of  miiie  own  voice,  each  interval 
la  the  soul-elevating  prayer.  I  beard 

Thy  Quivering  descant  full  and  clear •«• 
Discord  not  inharmonious  to  the  east 

**  We  laid  her  there,  the  Minstrel's  darling  chUd. 

Seem'd  it  then  meet  that,  borne  away 

From  the  elbse  city's  dubious  day. 
Her  dirge  should  be  thy  native  woodtlote  wild ; 

Nursed  upon  nature's  lap,  her  sleep 
Bboold  be  where  birds  may  tfng  and  dewy  0oWerefs 
weepY 

^'AMsendest  thou,  alr-wanderihg  messenger* 

Above  us  slowly  lingering  yet, 

To  bearoor  deep,  our  mate  regfet; 
To  wall  upon  thy  laichAil  wing  t»  her 

The  husband's  fondest  last  farewell, 
Love's  final  parting  pang,  the  ntispbke,  the  Unspeakable  1 

''Or  didit  thou  rather  chide  with  thy  blithe  voiee 

Out  seWsh  grief  that  would  delay 

Her  passage  to  a  brighter  day ;  • 
Bidding  us  mourn  no  lunger,  but  rejoice 

That  it  hath  heavenward  flown  like  thee, 
Hist  spirit  from  this  cold  world  of  sia  and  sorrow  iree  1 

**  I  watched  thee,  lessening,  lessening  to  the  sight, 

Sdll  faint  and  fainter  winnowlnff 

The  sunshine  with  thy  dwindling  wing, 
A  speck,  a  movement  in  the  rulBed  light, 

liii  thou  wert  mcltod  in  the  sky, 
An  undistinguished  part  of  the  bright  infinity. 

**Mect  emblem  of  that  lightsome  spirit  thou  I 

That  siiU  wherever  it  might  come, 

8hed*sunshine  o'er  that  happy  home. 
Her  task  of  iUndfincss  and  gladness  now 

Absolved,  with  the  element  above 
Hath  mingled,'  and  become  pure  light,  pure  Joy,  pure 
love." 

There  remain,  tliercforc,  of  Sir  Walter*e  race 
only  his  twa  sons^— Walter,  his  successor  in  the 
baronetcy,  Major  in  the  15th  Regiment  of  Hussars 
—and  Charles,  a  clerk  in  the  office  of  her  Majesty's 
Secretary  of  State  for  Foreign  Afiairs ;  with  two 
children  left  by  their  sister  Sophia,  a  boy  and  a 
girl. 

Shortly  after  Sir  Walter's  death,  his  sons  and 
myself  as  his  executors,  endeavoured  to  make  such 
arrangements  as  were  Within  our  P9wer  for  com- 
pleting the  great  object  of  his  own  wished  and  fatal 
exertions.  We  found  the  remaining  principal  sum 
of  the  Ballanlyne  debt  to  be  about  X64,0OO.  i:22,000 
had  been  insured  upon  his  life;  there  were  some 
moneys  in  the  hands  of  the  Trustees,  and  Mr.  Cadell 
very  hand^mely  offered  to  advance  to  us  the  balance, 
about  JCaOjOOO,  that  we  might  without  further  delay 
settle  with  the  body  of  creditors.  This  was  effected 
accordingly  on  the  2d  of  February.  1833;  Mr.  Ca- 
dell accepting  as  his  only  security  the  ri;^ht  to  the 
profits  accruing  from  Sir  Walters  copyright  prop- 
erty and  literary  remains,  until  such  time  as  this 
new  and  consolidated  obligation  should  be  dis- 
charged. I  am  afraid,  however,  notwithstanding 
th»undiminished  sale  of  his  woras,  especially  of  his 
Novels,  his  executors  can  hardly  hope  to  witness 


that  ooommMiation.  nnl6«,  Meed,  it  iftbtOd  iflMk 
the  Le^slature  to  gw^  —me  eottenaion  to  the  pe^M 
for  which  literary  pronerty  haa  BpDerta  tieen  pt«. 
tacted ;  a  biU  for  wnidi  parpose  lUis  recentlr  beeii . 
laid  on  the  table  of  the  House  of  Commons  by  Mr. 
Sergeant  Talfourd. 

Besides  his  commercial  <^t,  Sir  Walter  left  al06 
one  of  iS10,000,  contracted  by  himself  as  an  individ- 
ual, when  straggling  to  support  Constable  in  D^ 
cember,  182&,  and  secured  by  mortga|(e  on  the 
landa  of  Abbotaford.  And,  lastly,  the  library  and 
museum,  presented  to  him  m  free  gift  by  his  credit- 
ors in  Deoember.  1830,  were  bequeathed  to  his  eldevt 
aon,  with  a  burden  to  the  extent  of  i£5,000,  which 
aHm  he  designed  to  be  divided  between  his  younger 
children,  as  already  expltined  in  an  extract  from 
his  Diary.  His  will  provided  that  the  produce  of 
hia  literary  property,  in  caae  of  its  proving  sufficbnt 
to  wipe  out  the  remaining  debt  or  Measra.  Ballan- 
tvne,  ahonld  then  he  applied  to  the  extinction  of 
these  mortgages ;  and  thereafter,  should  this  alab 
be  accomplished,  divided  equally  among  his  aurvir- 
ing  family. 

Varions  meetings  were  held  soon  after  his  death 
with  a  view  to  the  erection  of  monuments  to  hia 
memory,  and  the  records  of  these  meetings,  and 
their  reaulta,  are  adorned  by  many  of  the  nobkat 
and  most  distinguished  names  both  of  England  and 
of  Scotland.  In  London,  the  Lord  Bishop  of  Exe- 
ter, Snr  Robert  Peel,  and  Sur  John  Majcolm  took  a 
prominent  part  aa  speakers;  in  Edinbnr^gh,  the 
Duke  of  Boccleuch,  the  Marquis  of  Lothian,  tha 
Earl  of  Dalhouflde.  the  Earl  of  Roaeberry,  Lord 
Jeffrey  (then  Lord-Advocate  for  Scotland,)  and 
Profeaaor  Wilaon. 

In  Glasgow  the  snbsoription  amounted  to  about 
£1,200— and  a  pillar  ia  now  rising  in  the  chief  square 
of  that  dty,  which  had  been  preriouaty  adorned 
with  statues  of  ita  own  most  illustrioos  citizens.  Sir 
John  Moore,  and  James  Watt. 

The  aubscription  for  a  monument  at  Edinburgh, 
reached  the  aum  of  £6,000 :— but  the  committee 
have  not  as  yet  made  their  selection  from  the  plana 
submitted  to  them.   ^ 

The  English  subscription  amounted  to  some- 
where about  £10,000 ;  but  a  considerable  part  of 
thia  sraa  embeicled  by  a  young  person  rashly  ap- 
pointed to  the  poat  of  secretary,  who  carried  it  with, 
him  to  Amerios,  where  he  soon  afterwards  died. 

The  noblemen  and  gentlemen  who  subscribed  to 
this  English  fund  had  adopted  a  su^stion— (which 
originated,  I  believe,  with  Lord  Francis  Egerton 
and  the  Honourable  John  Stuart  Wortley)— that, 
in  place  of  erecting  a  cenotaph  in  Westminster  Ab- 
bey, or  a  atatue  or  pillar  elsewhere,  the  most  suita- 
ble and  respectful  tribute  that  could  be  paid  to  Sir 
Walter's  memory  would  be  to  discharge  all  the  in- 
cumbrances upon  Abbotaford,  and  entail  the  House, 
with  its  library  and  other  articles  of  curiosity  col- 
lected by  him,  together  with  the  lands  which  he 
had  planted  and  embellished,  upon  the  heirs  of  his 
name  for  ever.  The  sum  produced  by  the  subscrip- 
tion, however,  proved  inadequate  to  the  realization 
of  such  a  scheme;  nor  has  it  as  yet  been  definitely 
fixer)  in  what  manner  the  actual  fund  shall  be 
applied. 

il  understand,  -however,  the  most  probable  ar- 
rangement will  be,  that  the  money  in  the  hands  of 
the  committee  (between  £7,000  and  £d,000)  shall 
be  employed  to  liouidate  the  debt  tiporr  the  library 
and  museum,  and  whatever  is  over,  towards  the 
mortgage  on  the  lands:  which  would  enable  the 
preHent  Sir  Walter ^Scott  to  secure,  in  the  shape 
onginally  desired,  the  permanent  preservation*  at 
least  of  the  house  and  its  immediate  appurtenancea, 
as  a  memorial  of  the  tastes  ond  habits  of  the 
founder.  The  poet's  ^mbition  to  endow  a  family 
i^leeps  with  him.  But  I  still  hope  his  successors 
may  be,  as  lon^  as  any  of  his  blood  remains,  the 
honoured  guardians  of  that  monument  The  resolt 
of  what  was  at  least  a  generous  and  graceful  deaiga 
/or$i  altro  eantera. 


END  OF  THE  UPB  OF  9C0TT. 


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