but to study to keep her mind amused as much as possible. As for Walter, he is a shoot of an Aik,* and I have no fear of him; I hope he remembers Abbotsford and his soldier namesake.

"I send the MS.- I wish you had written for it earlier. My touching or even thinking of it was out of the question; my corrections would have smelled as cruelly of the cramp, as the Bishop of Grenada's homily did of the apoplexy. Indeed I hold myself inadequate to estimate those criticisms which rest on stage effect, having been of late very little of a playgoing person. Would to Heaven these sheets could do for you what Rob Roy has done for Murray; he has absolutely netted upwards of £3000: to be sure the man who played the Bailie made a piece of acting equal to whatever has been seen in the profession. For my own part, I 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, frightened for him at the same time, and yet extremely desirous to interfere with him as an adviser: The tone in which he seemed to give him up for a lost man after having provoked him into some burst of Highland violence -Ah Rab, Rab!' was quite inimitable. I do assure you I never saw a thing better played. It is like it may be his only part, for no doubt the Pa

tavinity and knowledge of the provincial character may have aided him much; but still he must be a wonderful fellow; and the houses he drew were tremendous.

"I am truly glad you are settled in London—a rolling stone' the proverb is something musty:'* it is always difficult to begin a new profession; I could have wished you quartered nearer us, but we shall always hear of you. The becoming stagemanager at the Haymarket, I look upon as a great step; well executed, it cannot but lead to something of the same kind elsewhere. You must be aware 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 dawdling. Your motto must be Hoc age. Do instantly whatever is to be done, and take the hours of reflection or recreation after business, 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 regularly despatched, other things accumulate behind till affairs begin to press all at once, and no human brain can stand the confusion; pray mind this-it 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 *Hamlet, Act III. Scene 2.

intellect and talent, especially when their time is not regularly filled up, but left at their own arrangement. But it is like 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 to hear you are become as regular as a Dutch clock-hours, quarters, minutes, 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 him for all his kindness. I 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 enclose a sheet with the size, the black lines being traced within the lead; and I add a rough drawing of the arms, which are those of my mother. I should like it replaced as soon as possible, for I will set the expense against the careless rascal's account.

"I have got a beautiful scarlet paper inlaid with gold (rather crimson than scarlet) in a present from India, which will hang the parlour to a T: But we shall want some articles from town to enable us to

take possession of the parlour-namely, a carpet— you mentioned a wainscot pattern, which would be delightful-item grates for said parlour and armoury -a plain and unexpensive pattern, resembling that in my room (which vents most admirably), and suited by half-dogs for burning wood. The sideboard and chairs you have mentioned. I see Mr Bullock (George's brother) advertises his museum for sale. I wonder if a good set of real tilting armour could be got cheap there. James Ballantyne got me one very handsome bright steel cuirassier of Queen Elizabeth's time, and two less perfect for £20-dog cheap; they make a great figure in the armoury. Hangings, curtains, &c. I believe we shall get as well in Edinburgh as in London; it is in your joiner and cabinet work that your infinite superiority lies.

"Write to me if I can do aught about the playthough I fear not: much will depend on Dumbiedykes, in whom Liston will be strong. Sophia has been chiefly my nurse, as an indisposition of little Charles called Charlotte to town. She returned yesterday with him. All beg kind compliments to you and Mrs Terry 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, I am afraid they will be liable to

VOL. VI.

E

injury, which is a pity, as they are so very beautiful."

99*

The accounts of Scott's condition circulated in Edinburgh in the course of this April were so alarming, that I should not have thought of accepting his invitation to revisit Abbotsford, unless John Ballantyne 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) was so much recovered as to have resumed his usual literary tasks, though with this difference, that he now, for the first time in his life, found it necessary to employ the hand of another. I have now before me a letter of the 8th April, in which Scott says to Constable," Yesterday I began to dictate, and did it easily and with comfort. This is a great point but I must proceed by little and little; last night I had a slight return of the enemy-but baffled him;" and he again writes to the bookseller on the 11th-" John Ballantyne is here, and returns with copy, which my increasing strength permits me to hope I may now furnish regularly."

The copy (as MS. for the press is technically called) which Scott was thus dictating, was that of the Bride of Lammermoor; and his amanuenses were

The Duke of Buccleuch gave Scott some old oak-roots from Drumlanrig, out of which a very beautiful set of dinner-tables were manufactured by Messrs Bullock.