l8l9 Letters 1 (October 1819 continued) TO THOMAS SCOTT, PAYMASTER 70TH REGIMENT, CANADA [EXTRACT] ABBOTSFORD, 16th Oct. 1819 (6-1)DEAR TOM,-I received yesterday your very acceptable (6-1)letter, containing the news of Jessie's approaching (6-1)marriage, in which, as a match agreeable to her mother and (6-1)you, and relieving your minds from some of the anxious (6-1)prospects which haunt those of parents, I take the most (6-1)sincere interest. Before this reaches you, the event will (6-1)probably have taken place.1 Meantime, I enclose a letter (6-1)to the bride or wife, as the case may happen to be. I (6-1)have sent a small token of good-will to ballast my good (6-1)wishes, which you will please to value for the young lady, (6-1)that she may employ it as most convenient or agreeable (6-1)to her. A little more fortune would perhaps have done (6-1)the young folks no harm ; but Captain Huxley, being (6-1)such as you describe him, will have every chance of (6-1)getting forward in his profession ; and the happiest (6-1)marriages are often those in which there is, at first, (6-1)occasion for prudence and economy. I do certainly feel (6-1)a little of the surprise which you hint at, for time flies 2 LETTERS OF 1819 (6-2)over our heads one scarce marks how, and children (6-2)become marriageable ere we consider them as out of the (6-2)nursery. My eldest son, Walter, has also wedded himself (6-2)-but it is to a regiment of hussars. He is at present a (6-2)cornet in the 18th, and quartered in Cork barracks.... He (6-2)is capital at most exercises, but particularly as a horseman. (6-2)I do not intend he shall remain in the cavalry, however, (6-2)but shall get him into the line when he is capable of (6-2)promotion. Since he has chosen-this profession, I shall (6-2)be desirous that he follows it out in good earnest, and that (6-2)can only be done by getting into the infantry. (6-2)My late severe illness has prevented my going up to (6-2)London to receive the honour which the Prince Regent (6-2)has announced his intention to inflict upon me. My (6-2)present intention is, if I continue as well as I have been, (6-2)to go up about Christmas to get this affair over. My (6-2)health was restored (I trust permanently) by the use of (6-2)calomel, a very severe and painful remedy, especially in (6-2)my exhausted state of body, but it has proved a radical (6-2)one. By the way. Radical is a word in very bad odour (6-2)here, being used to denote a set of blackguards a hundred (6-2)times more mischievous and absurd than our old friends (6-2)in 1794 and 1795. You will learn enough of the doings (6-2)of the Radical Reformers from the papers. In Scotland (6-2)we are quiet enough, excepting in the manufacturing (6-2)districts, and we are in very good hands, as Sir William (6-2)Rae, our old commander, is Lord Advocate. ... Rae has (6-2)been here two or three days, and left me yesterday-he is (6-2)the old man, sensible, cool-headed, and firm, always thinking (6-2)of his duty, never of himself. ... He inquired kindly (6-2)after you, and I think will be disposed to serve you, (6-2)should an opportunity offer. Poor William Erskine has (6-2)lost his excellent wife, after a long and wasting illness. (6-2)She died at Lowood on Windermere, he having been (6-2)recommended to take her upon a tour about three weeks (6-2)before her death. I own I should scarce forgive a (6-2)physician who should contrive to give me this addition to 1819 SIR WALTER SCOTT 3 (6-3)family distress. I went to town last week to see him, and (6-3)found him, upon the whole, much better than I expected. (6-3)I saw my mother on the same occasion, admirably well (6-3)indeed. She is greatly better than this time two years, when (6-3)she rather quacked herself a little too much.... I have (6-3)sent your letter to our mother, and will not fail to transmit (6-3)to our other friends the agreeable news of your daughter's (6-3)settlement. Our cousin. Sir Harry Macdougal, is marrying (6-3)his eldest daughter to Sir Thomas Brisbane, a very good (6-3)match on both sides. I have been paying a visit on the (6-3)occasion, which suspends my closing this letter. I hope (6-3)to hear very soon from you. Respecting our silence, I, (6-3)like a ghost, only waited to be spoken to, and you may (6-3)depend on me as a regular correspondent, when you find (6-3)time to be one yourself. Charlotte and the girls join in (6-3)kind love to Mrs. Scott and all the family. I should like (6-3)to know what you mean to do with young Walter, and (6-3)whether I can assist you in that matter. Believe me, dear (6-3)Tom, ever your affectionate brother, W. SCOTT [Lockhart]1 TO JOHN GIBSON LOCKHART, EDINBURGH (6-3)DEAR LOCKHART,-I agree with every word you write. (6-3)In fact I was applied to to hold some intercourse with (6-3)you last year on a similar topic 2 but feeling no confidence (6-3)that the matter would be creditably managed I declined (6-3)leading any of my friends into it. This is very different- (6-3)Mr. J Murray 3 being such as you describe him would be an (6-3)Editor out of a thousand and if disposed to embark with 4 LETTERS OF 1819 (6-4)us would be much the better of having been in the (6-4)enemy's camp. What government will do I know not (6-4)but they cannot expect to obtain weight in the conflict (6-4)if they set their soldiers to war on their own charges. (6-4)I anticipate no difficulty in assuring him of a Kirk and (6-4)a good one-I have made Rae acquainted with your (6-4)views coinciding exactly with my own and we shall meet (6-4)on friday I trust with some chance of arranging this (6-4)important matter. I should indeed have come to St. (6-4)Catherines at any rate for my womankind have settled (6-4)to see one day at least of the Festival.1 Believe me very (6-4)truly yours WALTER SCOTT (6-4)ABBOTSFORD 17 October 1819 [Law] TO JAMES BALLANTYNE (6-4)DEAR JAMES,-John leaves me tomorrow with a lot of (6-4)Ivanhoe, 1100 in cash and a scheme of [illegible] which (6-4)we think there will be no difficulty in realizing for the (6-4)next six weeks, wag the world as it may. My health (6-4)continues to improve & I shall take special care to keep it (6-4)in order, God willing. I observe your promise to write (6-4)every Monday which has not hitherto been kept. I am (6-4)little edified by general information of " presses going on (6-4)well " & so forth. I wish to know what workes are going (6-4)on, what are gotten out & how many presses employed. (6-4)I must entreat you that upon no account & to no person (6-4)whatsoever you either read or show any part of Ivanhoe. (6-4)I do not wish to have the point agitated in any literary (6-4)coterie whatsoever who is the author of that work until (6-4)it is before the public. If anything is apprehended to (6-4)go wrong let me have eight days notice & I will put it in l8l9 SIR WALTER SCOTT 5 (6-5)order but do not let matters run to extreme chances in (6-5)point of time. I own I am very desirous to see the (6-5)Newspaper accounts which I have asked for so often- (6-5)your man of trust must surely be returned by this time. (6-5)You will not find yourself burthened with much discount (6-5)& some the Banks must allow. Indeed the settlement (6-5)of the loan will immediately open their purses. They (6-5)live by lending money & must lend it to realize their (6-5)profits when the funds rise. Do not therefore suffer (6-5)yourself to take too gloomy a view of an inconvenience (6-5)which is temporary, & above all do not think dejection (6-5)an excuse for want of exertion. I wonder if Mr Hogarth (6-5)is like to succeed in the [illegible] matter, it would suit (6-5)me well for Walter's out fit. I suppose the last series (6-5)will go to press again almost instantly, pray how do (6-5)you intend to manage it ? Will you keep your day (6-5)with the ornamented edition etc. ? Every exertion must (6-5)be made & I task you no further than I task myself.