volume called _The_ _Omen_[185]--very well written--deep and powerful

language. _Aut Erasmus aut Diabolus_, it is Lockhart or I am strangely

deceived. It is passed for Wilson's though, but Wilson has more of the

falsetto of assumed sentiment, less of the depth of gloomy and powerful

feeling.

_February_ 24.--Went down to printing-office after the Court, and

corrected _Malachi_. J.B.'s name is to be on the imprint, so he will

subscribe the book. He reproaches me with having taken much more pains

on this temporary pamphlet than on works which have a greater interest

on my fortunes. I have certainly bestowed enough of revision and

correction. But the cases are different. In a novel or poem, I run the

course alone--here I am taking up the cudgels, and may expect a drubbing

in return. Besides, I do feel that this is public matter in which the

country is deeply interested; and, therefore, is far more important than

anything referring to my fame or fortune alone. The pamphlet will soon

be out--meantime _Malachi_ prospers and excites much attention.[186] The

Banks have bespoke 500 copies. The country is taking the alarm; and I

think the Ministers will not dare to press the measure. I should rejoice

to see the old red lion ramp a little, and the thistle again claim its

_nemo me impune_. I do believe Scotsmen will show themselves unanimous

at least where their cash is concerned. They shall not want backing. I

incline to cry with Biron in _Love's Labour's Lost_,

"More Atés, more Atés! stir them on."

I suppose all imaginative people feel more or less of excitation from a

scene of insurrection or tumult, or of general expression of national

feeling. When I was a lad, poor Davie Douglas[187] used to accuse me of

being _cupidus novarum rerum_, and say that I loved the stimulus of a

broil. It might be so then, and even still--

"Even in our ashes glow their wonted fires."[188]

Whimsical enough that when I was trying to animate Scotland against the

currency bill, John Gibson brought me the deed of trust, assigning my

whole estate to be subscribed by me; so that I am turning patriot, and

taking charge of the affairs of the country, on the very day I was

proclaiming myself incapable of managing my own. What of that? The

eminent politician, _Quidnunc_,[189] was in the same condition. Who

would think of their own trumpery debts, when they are taking the

support of the whole system of Scottish banking on their shoulders? Odd

enough too--on this day, for the first time since the awful 17th

January, we entertain at dinner--Lady Anna Maria Elliot,[190] W. Clerk,

John A. Murray,[191] and Thomas Thomson,[192] as if we gave a dinner on

account of my _cessio fori_.

_February_ 25.--Our party yesterday went off very gaily; much laugh and

fun, and I think I enjoyed it more from the rarity of the event--I mean

from having seen society at home so seldom of late. My head aches

slightly though; yet we were but a bottle of Champagne, one of Port, one

of old Sherry, and two of Claret, among four gentlemen and three ladies.

I have been led from this incident to think of taking chambers near

Clerk, in Rose Court.[193] Methinks the retired situation should suit me

well. There a man and woman would be my whole establishment. My

superfluous furniture might serve, and I could ask a friend or two to

dinner, as I have been accustomed to do. I will look at the place

to-day.

I must set now to a second epistle of _Malachi_ to the Athenians. If I

can but get the sulky Scottish spirit set up, the devil won't turn them.

"Cock up your beaver, and cock it fu' sprush;

We'll over the Border, and give them a brush;

There's somebody there we'll teach better behaviour;

Hey, Johnnie lad, cock up your beaver."[194]

_February_ 26.--Spent the morning and till dinner on _Malachi's_ second

epistle to the Athenians. It is difficult to steer betwixt the natural

impulse of one's national feelings setting in one direction, and the

prudent regard to the interests of the empire and its internal peace and

quiet, recommending less vehement expression. I will endeavour to keep

sight of both. But were my own interests alone concerned, d--n me but I

would give it them hot! Had some valuable communications from Colin

Mackenzie and Lord Medwyn, which will supply my plentiful lack of facts.

Received an anonymous satire in doggrel, which, having read the first

verse and last, I committed to the flames. Peter Murray, son of the

clever Lord Elibank, called and sat half-an-hour--an old friend, and

who, from the peculiarity and originality of his genius, is one of the

most entertaining companions I have ever known.[195] But I must finish

_Malachi_.

_February_ 27.--_Malachi_ is getting on; I must finish him to-night. I

dare say some of my London friends will be displeased--Canning perhaps,

for he is _engoué_ of Huskisson. Can't help it.

The place I looked at won't do; but I really must get some lodging, for,

reason or none, Dalgleish[196] will not leave me, and cries and makes a

scene. Now if I stayed alone in a little set of chambers, he would serve

greatly for my accommodation. There are some nice places of the kind in

the. New Buildings, but they are distant from the Court, and I cannot

walk well on the pavement. It is odd enough that just when I had made a

resolution to use my coach frequently I ceased to keep one--in town at

least.

_February_ 28.--Completed _Malachi_ to-day. It is more serious than the

first, and in some places perhaps too peppery. Never mind, if you would

have a horse kick, make a crupper out of a whin-cow,[197] and I trust to

see Scotland kick and fling to some purpose. _Woodstock_ lies back for

this. But _quid non pro patria_?

FOOTNOTES:

[143] _Cause of Truth defended_, etc. Two Trials of the Rev. T. Hill,

Methodist Preacher, for defamation of the character of Miss Bell, etc.

etc. 8vo. Hull and London, 1827.

[144] Coleridge's _Christabel_, Part II.

[145] James Ferrier, one of the Clerks of Session,--the father of the

authoress of _Marriage, The Inheritance_, and _Destiny_. Mr. Ferrier was

born in 1744, and died in 1829.

[146] "Authentic Memoirs of the remarkable Life and surprising Exploits

of Mandrin, Captain-General of the French Smugglers, who for the space

of nine months resolutely stood in defiance of the whole army of

France," etc. 8vo, Lond. 1755. See _Waverley Novels_, vol. xxxvii. p.

434, Note.--J.G.L.

[147] See _Tranent Muir_ by Skirving.

[148] Addison, _Cato_, i. 4.

[149] See p. 83.

[150] Variation from 2 _Henry IV._, Act II. Sc. 4.

[151] _See_ "Glee for King Charles," _Waverley Novels_, vol. xl. p.

40.--J.G.L.

[152] Lady Louisa Stuart, youngest daughter of John, third Earl of Bute,

and grand-daughter of Lady Mary Wortley Montagu.

[153] The well-known Mathematician and Natural Philosopher. Professor

Playfair died in 1819 in his seventy-second year.

Have you seen the famed Bas bleu, the gentle dame Apreece,

Who at a glance shot through and through the Scots Review,

And changed its swans to geese?

Playfair forgot his mathematics, astronomy, and hydrostatics,

And in her presence often swore, he knew not two and two made four.

[Squib of 1811.]

[154] See _Midsummer Night's Dream_, Act II. Sc. 2.

[155] This journey was made in 1810.--_See Life_, Chapter xxi. vol. iii.

p. 271.

[156] Lady Davy survived her distinguished husband for more than a

quarter of a century; she died in London, May 1855.

[157] _Twelfth Night_, Act II. Sc. 3.

[158] Sir Patrick Murray of Ochtertyre, then a baron of the Court of

Exchequer in Scotland; he died in June 1837.

[159] This cherished and confidential friend had been living at Kaeside

from 1817, and acting as steward on the estate. Mr. Laidlaw died in

Ross-shire in 1845.

Mr. Lockhart says, "I have the best reason to believe that the kind and

manly character of Dandie [Dinmont in _Guy Mannering_], the gentle and

delicious one of his wife, and some at least of the most picturesque

peculiarities of the _ménage_ at Charlieshope were filled up from

Scott's observation, years after this period [1792], of a family, with

one of whose members he had, through the best part of his life, a close

and affectionate connection. To those who were familiar with him, I have

perhaps already sufficiently indicated the early home of his dear

friend, William Laidlaw." _Life_, vol. i. p. 268. See also vol. ii. p.

59; v. pp. 210-15, 251; vii. p. 168; viii. p. 68, etc.

[160] Flax on her distaff.

[161] _The English in Italy_, 3 vols., Lond. 1825, ascribed to the

Marquis of Normanby.

[162] "S.W.S." Scott, in writing of himself, often uses these three

letters in playful allusion to a freak of his trusty henchman Tom

Purdie, who, in his joy on hearing of the baronetcy, proceeded to mark

every sheep on the estate with a large letter "S" in addition to the

owner's initials, W.S., which, according to custom, had already been

stamped on their backs.

[163] Moore also felt that the morning was his happiest time for work,

but he preferred "composing" in bed! He says somewhere that he would

have passed half his days in bed for the purpose of composition had he

not found it too relaxing.

Macaulay, too, when engaged in his _History_, was in the habit of

writing three hours before breakfast daily.

[164] I am assured by Professor Butcher that there is no such passage in

the Odyssey, but he suggests "that what Scott had in his mind was merely

the Greek idea of a _waking vision_ being a true one. They spoke of it

as a ὕπαρ opposed to an ὄναρ, a mere dream. These waking visions are

usually said to be seen towards morning.

"In the Odyssey there are two such visions which turn out to be

realities:--that of Nausicaa, Bk. vi. 20, etc., and that of Penelope,

Bk. xix. 535, etc. In the former case we are told that the vision

occurred just before dawn; I. 48-49, αὐτίκα δ' Ἠὼςἦλθεν, 'straightway

came the Dawn,' etc. In the latter, there is no special mention of the

hour. The vision, however, is said to be not a dream, but a true vision

which shall be accomplished (547, οὐκ ὂναρ ἀλλ' ὕπαρ ἐσθλὸν, ὅ τοι

τετελεσμένον ἔσται).

"Such passages as these, which are frequent in Greek literature, might

easily have given rise to the notion of a 'matutinal inspiration,' of

which Scott speaks."

[165] General Sir James Steuart Denham of Coltness, Baronet, Colonel of

the Scots Greys. His father, the celebrated political economist, took