l8l5 Letters 1 TO JAMES BALLANTYNE (4-1)DEAR JAMES,-I cannot I think make what you want (4-1)of a good tone or so as to harmonize well with what is (4-1)already written. I could easily I think please your (4-1)partiality but I cannot, please myself especially as I think (4-1)the sheet rounded off as it stands. If I alter my mind (4-1)I will let you know before the sheet can go to press but (4-1)I have already lost too much time about it. (4-1)I send you more Guy.1 It is time to think of mottoes. (4-1)The 1st. Chapter. (4-1)" He cannot deny that looking round upon the dreary (4-1)region & seeing nothing but bleak fields & naked trees (4-1)hills obscured by fogs & flats coverd with inundations he (4-1)did for some time suffer melancholy to prevail upon him (4-1)& wishd himself again safe at home." (4-1)Travels of Will Marvel. Idler No 49. (4-1)Second Chapt. (4-1)-- Comes me crankling 2 in, (4-1)And cuts me from the best of all my land (4-1)A huge half moon a monstrous cantle out- (4-1)Henry fourth p. I. (4-1)Third Chapter. (4-1)There is a good mottoe for this in Byroms poems which (4-1)are in the Chalmers collection of British poets. Will (4-1)you see to get me sight of thi[s] volume.3 W. S. (4-1)[1814-15] [Signet Library] 2 LETTERS OF 1815 TO JAMES BALLANTYNE (4-2)DEAR JAMES,-It is quite impossible to alter Bruces (4-2)speech & more than impossible to take away the letter.1 (4-2)The art of writing not universal was however perfectly (4-2)known among females of high rank. How could Isabel (4-2)recognize a ring she had never seen & how long conversations (4-2)& interviews would be necessary to clear the matter (4-2)up. It may not be. You blame me for introducing dialogue (4-2)but you [are] not aware that the incidents which must (4-2)be known would be still flatter in the mouth of the (4-2)author himself than in those of the actors. I mention (4-2)this only to show that when I am dull there is a design. (4-2)I wish to see John very much either tonight or tomorrow (4-2)morning. But it may be necessary to remind him that (4-2)I go abroad by 1/2 past 9. (4-2)[1814-15] [Signet Library] TO LORD BYRON 2 (4-2)[January? 1815] (4-2)MY LORD,-I have long owed you my best thanks for (4-2)the uncommon pleasure I had in perusing your high- (4-2)spirited Turkish fragment. But I should hardly have (4-2)ventured to offer them, well knowing how you must be 1815 SIR WALTER SCOTT 3 (4-3)overwhelmed by volunteer intrusions of approbation- (4-3)(which always look as if the writer valued his opinion at (4-3)fully more than it may be worth)-unless I had to-day (4-3)learned that I have an apology for entering upon the (4-3)subject, from your having so kindly sent me a copy of the (4-3)poem. I did not receive it sooner, owing to my absence (4-3)from Edinburgh, where it had been lying quietly at (4-3)my house in Castle Street; so that I must have seemed (4-3)ungrateful, when, in truth, I was only modest. The last (4-3)offence may be forgiven, as not common in a lawyer and (4-3)poet; the first is said to be equal to the crime of witchcraft,1 (4-3)but many an act of my life hath shown that I am (4-3)no conjurer. If I were, however, ten times more modest (4-3)than twenty years' attendance at the Bar renders probable, (4-3)your flattering inscription would cure me of so unfashionable (4-3)a malady. I might, indeed, lately have had a legal (4-3)title to as much supremacy on Parnassus as can be (4-3)conferred by a sign-manual, for I had a very flattering (4-3)offer of the laurel; but as I felt obliged, for a great (4-3)many reasons, to decline it, I am altogether unconscious (4-3)of any other title to sit high upon the forked hill. (4-3)To return to the Giaour ; I had lent my first edition, (4-3)but the whole being imprinted in my memory, I had no (4-3)difficulty in tracing the additions, which are great (4-3)improvements, as I should have conjectured aforehand (4-3)merely from their being additions. I hope your Lordship (4-3)intends to proceed with this fascinating style of composition. 4 LETTERS OF 1815 (4-4)You have access to a stream of sentiments, imagery, (4-4)and manners, which are so little known to us as to convey (4-4)all the interest of novelty, yet so endeared to us by the (4-4)early perusal of Eastern tales, that we are not embarrassed (4-4)with utter ignorance upon the subject. Vathek, bating (4-4)some passages, would have made a charming subject for (4-4)a tale.1 The conclusion is truly grand. I would give a (4-4)great deal to know the originals from which it was drawn. (4-4)Excuse this hasty scrawl, and believe me, my Lord, your (4-4)Lordship's much obliged, very humble servant, [Lockhart] WALTER SCOTT TO MESSRS. CONSTABLE & CO. (4-4)January 1815 (4-4)DEAR SIR,-Respecting the insurance I may thus far (4-4)meet the gentlemens wishes (if insisted upon) though it (4-4)puts the bargain in an entire new shape & quite different (4-4)from their own offer. I intend to insure my own life (4-4)for about that sum (say 5000.) & if the annuity is to (4-4)be granted for my life I have no great objection to let (4-4)them have the benefit of that policy for the whole or (4-4)such part of the price of the annuity as may be (4-4)unredeemd at my death. But if the annuity is to depend (4-4)upon another persons life as in the present bond I cannot (4-4)do this. You will readily observe the difference is great (4-4)for supposing the annuity redeemd as I trust it will be in (4-4)a couple of years I have all the benefit of the policy in (4-4)my own life but of course am a loser by all I may have (4-4)paid upon that of another person. I think however they (4-4)should stick to their own precise & distinct offer of 8-per (4-4)Cent. Yours Very truly WALTER SCOTT (4-4)EDINR. friday (4-4)Private. [Stevenson] 1815 SIR WALTER SCOTT 5 TO LADY ABERCORN (4-5)EDINR., January 10th 1815 (4-5)MY DEAREST FRIEND,-I hope you have long since (4-5)received the Lord of the Isles one of the first Volumes out (4-5)of the press was sent to you under an office cover. I (4-5)could not superintend the sending away these copies as (4-5)usual because we were rather a complaining family as the (4-5)Scotch say. My eldest boy has contrived to have a (4-5)decided smallpox in defiance not only of Vaccination but (4-5)of inoculation thereafter. You may be assured we were (4-5)alarmed enough for the appearance of the Smallpox in (4-5)this generation is like one of the giants in Ariosto who (4-5)comes alive after he is killed. Nothing could be more easy (4-5)than the manner in which he had the disorder and he is (4-5)now quite well. I propose to exhibit him along with the (4-5)Indian Jugglers who are just arrived as the youngster that (4-5)has had the smallpox naturally after both vaccination (4-5)and inoculation. I trust this matter will be closely looked (4-5)into by medical men for it will be a very serious business (4-5)fifty years hence should the smallpox break out suddenly (4-5)as probably the lower class may neglect the vaccinating (4-5)operation or go through it superficially. (4-5)The world do me too much honour in giving me [blank (4-5)in original].1 What I know or rather guess about that (4-5)work I will tell your Ladyship when we meet which will (4-5)be soon as I expect to be in London in the month of (4-5)March. I think I shall bring Mrs. Scott and your (4-5)Ladyship's acquaintance Sophia with me and be about a (4-5)month in London. If it were not for the equinox gales (4-5)which may make it uncomfortable for my companions (4-5)I would come up by sea for if there is a route I am tired 6 LETTERS OF 1815 (4-6)of it is that vile North road which has less to interest one (4-6)than the same extent in any direction in Great Britain. (4-6)My plan for last spring was to have gone to the Continent (4-6)when I should have seen the great Entree into (4-6)Paris.