UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA 
 AT LOS ANGELES
 
 m 
 
 : 
 
 p
 
 CHARLES KIRKPATRICK SHARPE, ESQ.
 
 V.Tll! 'I I! I 
 I'll 
 
 LETTEES FROM AND TO 
 
 CHARLES KffiKPATRICK SHARPE, ESQ. 
 
 EDITED BY 
 
 ALEXANDER ALLAEDYCE 
 
 AUTHOR OP 'MEMOIR OF ADMIRAL LORD KEITH, K.B.,' 
 EDITOR OF 'SCOTLAND AND SCOTSMEN IN THE EIGHTEENTH CENTURY,' ETC. 
 
 WITH A MEMOIR 
 
 BY THE 
 
 REV. W. K. R. BEDFORD 
 
 IN TWO VOLUMES 
 VOL. I. 
 
 WILLIAM BLACKWOOD AND SONS 
 
 EDINBURGH AND LONDON 
 
 MDCCCLXXXVIII
 
 S5AI 
 v.l 
 
 PREFACE. 
 
 THE correspondence contained in these two volumes 
 jj has been selected from a very large mass of papers, 
 now the property of the Eev. W. K. R. Bedford, Button 
 J Coldfield, the nephew and literary executor of Charles 
 v Kirkpatrick Sharpe. The materials of which the 
 \s present work is made up consist of autograph letters 
 of Mr Sharpe to his mother and other members of his 
 family ; of rough drafts of letters in his own hand- 
 \ writing ; of various fragmentary memoranda, also auto- 
 graph ; and of letters to Mr Sharpe, almost all in the 
 originals. In addition to these, a note-book of Mr 
 Y Sharpe, into which he had copied his more important 
 x correspondence from 1810 to 1815, with a few entries 
 of a later date, has furnished a number of the most 
 complete and interesting letters in both volumes. 
 
 Mr Sharpe's correspondence naturally divides itself 
 into two parts : the letters connected with his resi- 
 dence at Oxford, and with the friendships which he 
 had formed there ; and those belonging to his Edin- 
 burgh life, when he had in a great measure retired 
 from society and devoted himself to literary, artistic, 
 and antiquarian pursuits. The former collection is by 
 
 21C026
 
 VI PREFACE. 
 
 far the more bulky and important, and a larger space 
 has been assigned to the letters which represent it 
 than chronological symmetry would otherwise have 
 suggested. The letters addressed to Mr Sharpe by 
 his Oxford friends are also of more consequence than 
 those of the correspondents of his later years, which 
 are, in the majority of instances, briefer notes, thank- 
 ing him for antiquarian or artistic favours, or solicit- 
 ing the assistance of his experience or taste. Several 
 hundreds of letters, from David Laing, Robert Cham- 
 bers, Thomas Thomson, W. B. D. D. Turnbull, and other 
 gentlemen engaged in historical and antiquarian work, 
 have been examined and passed over with the excep- 
 tion of a few illustrative specimens. Without Mr 
 Sharpe's replies, which, however, generally found their 
 way to the public indirectly through the works on 
 which his correspondents were engaged, it would have 
 served no object to print these letters beyond show- 
 ing to how great an extent his attainments were 
 drawn upon, and how liberally his stores were opened 
 to his friends. 
 
 When the first volume had passed through the 
 press, and the second had been already arranged for 
 the printer, Mr Bedford was successful in obtaining, 
 through the kindness of some friends whose interest 
 had been excited in the work, a number of ad- 
 ditional letters, which now appear in the second 
 volume. This acquisition was of all the more im- 
 portance, because, in the correspondence originally 
 put into my hands, the later years of Mr Sharpe's life 
 were very inadequately represented by letters from 
 himself. The use to which Mr Sharpe's letters were
 
 PREFACE. Vll 
 
 put by Lady Charlotte Bury, as explained by Mr Bed- 
 ford in his Memoir, caused Mr Sharpe to be more 
 guarded in his general correspondence ; and it is for- 
 tunate that the most recently recovered letters were 
 addressed to friends to whom he could reveal himself 
 in his own playful and natural character. 
 
 In the selection and arrangement of the letters, 
 very considerable difficulties had to be encountered. 
 By far the greater number were undated, and many 
 presented no references by which the dates might be 
 accurately fixed. Not a few had found their way into 
 covers evidently belonging to other letters, thereby 
 increasing a confusion already chaotic. By exercising 
 considerable pains, it is believed that the exact dates, 
 or at least the closest approximation to them, have 
 been fixed upon. 
 
 It may be necessary to explain why so large a num- 
 ber of letters to Mr Sharpe has been included in the 
 present volumes. Not only did it seem that these 
 letters were of service as the best illustrations of Mr 
 Sharpe's own letters, but that they added not less than 
 those did to our knowledge of him. Living as he 
 did so much in isolation, Mr Sharpe's biography is 
 written in his correspondence, and the interest of 
 most of the letters addressed to him supersedes any 
 need of an apology. 
 
 A great deal has been said of the licence which 
 Charles Kirkpatrick Sharpe allowed himself in writ- 
 ing, of a weakness for scandal, and of a fondness for 
 employing expressions which refinement had rendered 
 obsolete even in his day. His own letters, written to 
 his intimates, and never intended for publication, will
 
 Vlll PREFACE. 
 
 show how far these allegations go. They are printed as 
 he wrote them ; in very few instances has it been 
 found necessary to omit passages ; and where suppres- 
 sion has been deemed expedient, it has been fully as 
 often in the letters of his correspondents as in his 
 own. When allowance is made for Mr Sharpe's affec- 
 tation of archaism, the correspondence is neither bet- 
 ter nor worse in tone than the epistolce familiares of 
 men of wit and of the world during his day. 
 
 The number of letters which it was desirable to 
 compress into two volumes has not admitted of very 
 full annotation, especially in the more recent letters, 
 but notes have been given where it seemed that the 
 interests of the reader required them. For many of 
 these notes I have been indebted to Mr Bedford, 
 who has also read the proof - sheets, and solved 
 many difficulties which must otherwise have been 
 insurmountable. 
 
 Throughout the progress of the work Mr Bedford 
 and I have met with most prompt and ready response 
 to all the applications we have made to those into 
 whose hands the fragments of Charles Sharpe's writ- 
 ings and sketches had found their way. From the 
 Abbotsford collection downwards, there has been a 
 general consensus on the part of possessors of his 
 works to assist, as far as possible, in placing his 
 reputation on a basis of such security as the present 
 publication can establish. 
 
 ALEXANDER ALLARDYCE. 
 
 EDINBURGH, Oct. 1888.
 
 CONTENTS OF THE FIRST VOLUME. 
 
 PAGE 
 
 PREFACE, . . . . ' ' . . . . v 
 
 MEMOIR, ........ 1 
 
 LETTERS FROM AND TO CHARLES KIRKPATRICK SHARPE : 
 To Mrs Sharpe, Hoddam. Ch. Ch., Oxon., Nov. 1798, . . 77 
 
 To the Same. Ch. Ch., Oxon., Nov. or Dec. 1798, . . . ' 80 
 
 To the Same. April 5, 1799, . '.' .' . . / ' 83 
 
 To Charles Sharpe, Esq. of Hoddam. April 27, 1799. . ; I' 1 '' 1 88 
 
 To Mrs Sharpe, Hoddam. June 21, 1800, . . . l .- : " 92 
 
 To Miss Isabella Sharpe, Hoddam. June 21, 1800, . . . "' 94 
 
 To Mrs Sharpe, Hoddam. June 5, 1800, . '. . '.' f 96 
 
 To the Same. Nov. 25, 1800, . . . . -' . T " 1 99 
 
 To the Same. Oxford, Jan. 12, 1801, . . . .101 
 
 To the Same. Oxford, April 11, 1801, . . . .106 
 
 To the Same. Ch. Ch., Nov. or Dec. 20, 1801, . . .111 
 
 From Rev. J. J. Conybeare. Bishopsgate Churchyard, April 1802, 118 
 To Mrs Sharpe, Hoddam. Oxford, May 1802, . . .119 
 
 To the Same. Ch. Ch., May 18, 1802 122 
 
 From L. [Lord Lewisham]. Ch. Ch., 1802, . . . .125 
 
 To Mrs Sharpe. Oxford, June 9, 1802, . . . .126 
 
 To Rev. Roger Levett. Ch. Ch., 1802, . . ..131
 
 CONTENTS. 
 
 From William Fitz-Gerald, Esq. Maritime, Aug. 5, 1802, . 133 
 
 To Walter Scott, Esq. Hoddam Castle, Aug. 5, 1802, . .135 
 
 From the Same. Lasswade, Aug. 13, 1802, 
 
 To the Same. Hoddam Castle, Aug. 27, 1802, 
 
 From William Fitz-Gerald, Esq. Dublin, Sept. 30, 1802, . . 140 
 
 To Walter Scott, Esq. Hoddam Castle, Oct. 12, 1802, . . 142 
 
 From the Same. Lasswade, Oct. 17, 1802, . . . .146 
 
 To Mrs Sharpe. Oxford, Nov. 1802, . 148 
 
 To the Same. Oxford, Dec. 12, 1802, . 152 
 
 From E. B. Impej', Esq. Paris, Jan. 1, 1803, . . . 155 
 
 From R. H. Inglis, Esq. Ch. Ch., Feb. 1803, . . .157 
 
 To Miss Isabella Sharpe. Oxford, Feb. 11, 1803, . . .157 
 
 To Mrs Sharpe. Oxford, April 3, 1803, . 163 
 
 From Rev. J. J. Conybeare. Bishopsgate Churchyd., 1803, . 166 
 From the Same. April 15, 1803, ..... 167 
 
 From E. B. Impey, Esq. Park House, April 16, 1803, . . 168 
 
 To Miss Isabella Sharpe, Hoddam. 1803, . . . .172 
 
 To Mrs Sharpe. Ch. Ch., July 23, 1803, . . . .175 
 
 To Miss Campbell of Monzie. Aug. or Sept. 1803, . . .179 
 
 To Miss Kirkpatrick, Clossburne. 1803, . . . .187 
 
 From R. Surtees, Esq. Mainsforth, Nov. 12, 1803, . . 188 
 
 To Lord Newton. Hoddam, Dec. 5, 1803, . . . .190 
 
 To Miss Isabella Sharpe. March 1804, . . . .192 
 
 To the Same. Oxford, May 15, 1804, . . . .199 
 
 From William Fitz-Gerald, Esq. Dublin, July 3, 1804, . . 205 
 
 From Miss Caroline Oliphant. Pyrton, July 6, 1804, . . 207 
 
 From the Same. Pyrton, July 8, 1804, . . . .208 
 
 From Rev. K. M. K. Tarpley. Wrottesley, Aug. 31, 1804, . 209 
 
 To William Fitz-Gerald, Esq. 1804, . . . .210 
 
 From the Same. 1804, ...... 211 
 
 From R. Surtees, Esq. Mainsforth, Oct. 20, 1804, . . .212 
 
 From Rev. K. M. K. Tarpley. Ch. Ch., Oct. 20, 1804, . 214 
 
 From the Same. Wrottesley, Jan. 23, 1805, . . . 215 
 
 From Earl Gower. Ch. Ch., Feb. 1, 1805, . . . .217 
 
 From Lord Lewisham. Ch. Ch.. Feb. 1, 1805, . . .219 
 
 From Earl Gower. Ch. Ch., Feb. 1805, . . . .221 
 
 From the Same. 1805, ...... 223 
 
 From William Fitz-Gerald, Esq. Temple, London, February 24, 
 
 1805, ........ 223 
 
 From Robert Harry Inglis, Esq. Ch. Ch., May 17, 1805, . . 226 
 From Earl Gower. June 9, 1805, ..... 229 
 
 From R. H. Inglis, Esq. Ch. Ch., June 14, 1805, . . .231 
 
 From Lord Lewisham. Sandwell, Sept. 21, 1805, . . . 233
 
 CONTENTS. Xi 
 
 From R. Surtees, Esq. Mainsforth, Oct. 23, 1805, . . .235 
 
 From Rev. John Marriott. Dalkeith House, Nov. 6, 1805, . . 235 
 
 From the Same. Dalkeith House, Nov. 18, 1805, . . . 237 
 
 From the Same. Cotesbatch, Dec. 31, 1805, . . . 240 
 
 To H. Wellesley, Esq. 1805, . . ^ i- ,v . f 242 
 
 From the Same. Ch. Ch., 1805, . . . *: . . 242 
 
 From R. Surtees, Esq. Mainsforth, Dec. 31, 1805, . i 243 
 
 To the Marchioness of Stafford, . . . .. . 246 
 
 To . Cheltenham, Jan. 1806, . ' . ' .- . 249 
 
 ToMrsSharpe. Jan. 21, 1806, "*-..' J> . < . 251 
 
 From Walter Scott, Esq. Feb. 1806, .. ' . . 253 
 
 ToMrsSharpe. March 1806, . ... '. . . 254 
 
 From William Fitz-Gerald, Esq. 1806, . _..-:' : . 259 
 
 From E. B. Impey, Esq. Ch. Ch., April 9, 1806, . . .260 
 
 To Mrs Sharpe. June 1806, ..... 262 
 
 From the Marchioness of Stafford. Cleveland House, July 14, 
 
 1806, . .. ., . ; ; .. . . 266 
 
 From Earl Gower. Lyme, July 17, 1806, . ... . 267 
 
 From Miss Eliza Robertson. July 31, 1806, '' . '. : . 268 
 
 From Miss Pitman. Haddington, August 8, 1806, . . . 270 
 
 From Earl Gower. Dunrobin, August 22, 1806, . . . 272 
 
 From the Same. Trentham, Sept. 7, 1806, . . . 275 
 
 From Hon. William Burrell. Sept. 26, 1806, . .- . . 276 
 
 From Earl Gower. Edinburgh, Oct. 1, 1806, . '. . . 278 
 From the Marchioness of Stafford. Castle Howard, October 8, 
 
 1806 281 
 
 From E. B. Impey, Esq. Ch. Ch., Oct. 24, 1806, . 283 
 
 From Rev. John Marriott. Leicester, Nov. 2, 1806, . . 284 
 
 FromE. B. Impey, Esq. Ch. Ch., Nov. 24, 1806, : . .286 
 
 From the Same. Ch. Ch., Dec. 11, 1806, . . . 291 
 
 From Beilby Lawley, Esq. Longtown, August 1806, . . . 295 
 
 From H. Wellesley, Esq. Camelford House, Dec. 14, 1806, . 296 
 
 From Rev. John Marriott. Dalkeith House, Dec. 28, 1806, . 297 
 
 From the Same. Dalkeith House, March 7, 1807, . . T *.. 302 
 
 From R. Surtees, Esq. Mainsforth, May 3, 1807, . . .309 
 
 From Earl Gower. Konigsberg, May 15, 1807, . 311 
 
 From F. T. H. Foster, Esq. London, June 10, 1807, . . 313 
 
 From E. B. Impey, Esq. Cheltenham, June 14, 1807, . ., 315 
 
 To Miss Isabella Sharpe. Oxford, June 23, 1807, . . .317 
 
 From the Marchioness of Stafford. July 7, 1807, . . .318 
 
 From the Same. Woolmers, July 31, 1807, . . 320 
 
 From Walter Scott, Esq. Edinburgh, Jan. 1808, . . . 321 
 
 From the Same. 1808, . . . 321
 
 Xll CONTENTS. 
 
 From Lady Douglas. Bothwell Castle, Jan. 26, 1808, . . 322 
 
 From Rev. J. J. Conybeare. Ch. Ch., Feb. 5, 1808, . . 323 
 
 From R. Surtees, Esq. March 14, 1808, . . . .327 
 
 From F. T. H. Foster, Esq. London, March 24, 1808, . . 329 
 
 From Earl Gower. Cleveland House, April 9, 1808, . . 330 
 
 From Hon. Mrs Drummond Burrell. Drummond Castle, April 13, 
 
 1808, ........ 332 
 
 To Miss Isabella Sharpe. Edinburgh, April 1808, . . .333 
 
 To Miss Campbell of Monzie. April 1808, . . . .338 
 
 To Mrs Sharpe. Edinburgh, June 14, 1808, . . .339 
 
 From Hon. Henry Erskine. Seaton Carew, June 28, 1808, . 343 
 
 From Earl Gower. Trentham, July 6, 1808, . . .344 
 
 From the Marchioness of Stafford. Dunrobin Castle, September 
 
 15, 1808, ....... 345 
 
 From Lady Douglas. Bothwell Castle, Nov. 18, 1808, . . 347 
 
 From Rev. John Marriott. Dalkeith House, Dec. 4, 1808, . 348 
 
 From Walter Scott, Esq. Edin., Dec. 30, 1808, . . .350 
 
 From the Same. Edin., Jan. 13, 1809, .... 352 
 
 From Sir William Cell. Jan. 22, 1809, . . . .354 
 
 From Walter Scott, Esq. Jan. 26, 1809, . . . .356 
 
 From Earl Gower. Cleveland House, Jan. 28, 1809, . . 357 
 
 To Miss Grace Sharpe. 1809, ..... 359 
 
 From Lady Douglas. Bothwell Castle, Feb. 3, 1809, . . 363 
 
 From Miss Eliza Robertson. Bothwell Castle, Feb. 1809, . . 364 
 
 From Walter Scott, Esq. Feb. 17, 1809, . . . .366 
 
 From A. Robertson, Esq. Edin., March 2, 1809, . . .367 
 
 From Walter Scott, Esq. Edin., March 3, 1809, . . .370 
 
 From Earl Gower. London, March 9, 1809, . . .371 
 
 From William Playfair, Esq. April 12, 1809, . . .372 
 
 From Earl Gower. London, May 9, 1809, .... 374 
 
 From E. B. Impey, Esq. London, May 29, 1809, . . . 376 
 
 From Rev. John Marriott. Penzance, June 22, 1809, . . 377 
 
 From Earl Gower. Dunrobin, June 28, 1809, . . . 378 
 
 From the Same. Dornoch, July 22, 1809, . . . .379 
 
 From the Same. Trentham, Oct. 5, 1809, .... 380 
 
 From Hon. Keppel Craven. Benham, Oct. 8, 1809, . . 381 
 
 From Hon. William Burrrell. Oct. 16, 1809, . . .385 
 
 From William Playfair, Esq. London, Oct. 27, 1809, . . 386 
 
 From the Marquess of Worcester. Ch. Ch., Oct. 1809, . . 387 
 
 To Sir George Warrender, Bart. Crazy Castle, Oct. 1809, . . 387 
 
 From the Same. Nov. 1809, ..... 390 
 
 To Miss Temple. Dec. 1, 1809, ..... 391 
 
 From William Playfair, Esq. Dec. 2, 1809, . . .393
 
 CONTENTS. xiii 
 
 From Hon. Keppel Craven. Benham, Dec. 2, 1809, . . 395 
 
 From E. B. Impey, Esq. Flushing, Dec. 8, 1809, . . k 399 
 
 From Hon. Keppel Craven. Benham, Dec. 10, 1809, . . 399 
 
 From the Margravine of Anspach. Dec. 11, 1809, * . 403 
 
 From the Marchioness of Stafford. Cleveland House, Dec. 21, 
 
 1809, . '. . . : . , . . 403 
 From Lumley St George Skeffington, Esq. Southampton, Jan. 
 
 10, 1810, . T- . . i '.| . .405 
 
 From Hon. Keppel Craven. Benham, Jan. 18, 1810, . . 406 
 
 From E. B. Impey, Esq. Flushing, Jan. 30, 1810, . . 409 
 
 From the Margravine of Anspach. Brandenburg House, Feb. 26, 
 
 1810, . . . ; .< -V ' . . .412 
 From Hon. Keppel Craven. Whiteford, Sept. 13, 1810, . . 413 
 From the Margravine of Anspach. Benham, Sept. 22, 1810, . 416 
 From Hon. Keppel Craven. Oct. 1, 1810, . . . .417 
 To the Countess of Dalkeith. Darsham House, Oct. 5, 1810, . 421 
 From Earl Gower. Castle Howard, Oct. 21, 1810, . . .422 
 From Hon. Keppel Craven. Lisbon, Nov. 1, 1810, . . 423 
 From E. B. Impey, Esq. Flushing, Jan. 7, 1811, . . .428 
 From the Margravine of Anspach. Brandenburg House, Jan. 16, 
 
 1811, . . . ;* f \ .XjVf . . .430 
 From E. B. Impey, Esq. Flushing, Jan. 17, 1811, . . 431 
 From the Same. Flushing, Feb. 4, 1811, . . . . 435 
 From Earl Gower. London, Feb. 14, 1811, . . .438 
 From the Same. London, F,eb. 22, 1811, . . . .439 
 From the Margravine of Anspach. Brandenburg House, March 13, 
 
 1811, . . . . t ;. H.4. . . . 440 
 
 To Lady Charlotte Campbell. Ch. Ch., March 15, 1811, . . 441 
 
 From the Same. London, March 17, 1811, . . . 443 
 
 From E. B. Impey, Esq. Flushing, March 18, 1811, . . 445 
 
 From the Margravine of Anspach. May 2, 1811, . . . 449 
 
 From Lady Charlotte Campbell. Worthing, July 15, 1811, . 450 
 
 From the Margravine of Anspach. Southampton, August 24, 
 
 1811, . . .-.'' ; . . .453 
 
 From the Marchioness of Stafford. Trentham, August 28, 
 
 1811, . ~; . V. . . 454 
 
 From the Margravine of Anspach. Benham, Sept. 4, 1811, . 457 
 
 From Earl Gower. Dunrobin, Sept. 9, 1811, . . .458 
 
 From Hon. Keppel Craven. Albany, Sept. 14, 1811, . v 459 
 
 From the Margravine of Anspach. Benham, Oct. 1, 1811, . 462 
 
 To Count de Gramont. Hoddam Castle, Oct. 9, 1811, . . 464 
 
 From Earl Gower. Trentham, Oct. 13, 1811, . . . 465 
 
 To the Same. Hoddam Castle, Oct. 15, 1811, . " = * ' . - 466
 
 XIV CONTENTS. 
 
 To the Marchioness of Queensberry. Hoddam Castle, Oct. 16, 
 
 1811, ........ 467 
 
 To Rev. K. M. K. Tarpley. Hoddam Castle, Oct. 18, 1811, . 468 
 
 To Hon. Thomas Stapleton. Oct. 19, 1811, . . . 470 
 
 To Walter Scott, Esq. Oct. 22, 1811, . . . .473 
 
 From the Same. Ashestiel, Oct. 27, 1811, . . . .475 
 
 To Earl Gower. Hoddam Castle, Oct. 31, 1811, . . .477 
 
 To Lady Charlotte Campbell. Ch. Ch., Oct. 181 1 ? . . 481 
 
 To the Same. London, Wednesday, .... 485 
 
 To the Same. London, Sunday, 1811. . . . .489 
 
 To the Same. 1811, 493 
 
 To the Marchioness of Queensberry, 1811, .... 497 
 
 To Mrs Balfour. 1811 497 
 
 From Earl Gower. Trentham, Nov. 4, 1811, . . . 498 
 
 From Count de Gramont. Nov. 12, 1811, . . . .499 
 
 To Walter Scott, Esq. Hoddam Castle, Nov. 25, 1811, . . 500 
 
 From the Same. Dec. 4, 1811, . . . .504 
 
 From Earl Gower. Trentham, Dec. 4, 1811, . . . 506 
 
 From the Same. Trentham, Dec. 18, 1811, . . . 508 
 
 To Walter Scott, Esq. Hoddam Castle, Dec. 18, 1811, . . 509 
 
 From Rev. K. M. K. Tarpley. Wychwood Park, December 20, 
 
 1811, ........ 513 
 
 From the Marchioness of Stafford. Trentham, Dec. 21, 1811, . 515 
 From Hon. Keppel Craven. Malta, Dec. 24, 1811, . . 517 
 
 From Earl Gower. Cleveland House, Jan. 8, 1812, . .522 
 
 From Rev. J. J. Conybeare. Ch. Ch., Jan. 1812, . . .525 
 
 From the Margravine of Anspach. Brandenburg House, Jan. 12, 
 
 1812, ........ 525 
 
 From Hon. Keppel Craven. Patras, Feb. 3, 1812, . . . 527 
 
 To Walter Scott, Esq. March 1812, . . . . .530 
 
 From Hon. Keppel Craven. Athens, March 26, 1812, . . 531 
 
 From the Same. Smyrna, May 9, 1812, .... 535 
 
 From Earl Gower. Cleveland House, May 29, 1812, . . 539 
 
 From the Margravine of Anspach. Brandenburg House, June 1, 
 
 1812, 540 
 
 To Hon. Keppel Craven. June 1812, . . .542 
 
 To Walter Scott, Esq. June 1812, ..... 544 
 To the Same. Hoddam Castle, June 10, 1812, . . . 545 
 
 From the Same. Edin., June 18, 1812, .... 547 
 To the Same. June 22, 1812, ..... 549 
 
 From the Same. Edin., June 26, 1812, . . . .555 
 
 To Matthew Lewis, Esq. Hoddam Castle, June 30, 1812, . . 558 
 
 From Earl Gower. Lethebol, July 1, 1812, . . . 560
 
 CONTENTS. 
 
 XV 
 
 From Walter Scott, Esq. Edin., July 10, 1812, . . .561 
 
 From Hon. Keppel Craven. Constantinople, July 11, 1812, . 561 
 
 From Granville Vernon, Esq. York, July 19, 1812, . . 564 
 
 To Walter Scott, Esq. Hoddam Castle, July 21, 1812, . . 567 
 
 NOTES ON LETTERS TO LADY CHARLOTTE BURY, . . . 574 
 
 ADDRESS TO THE PEOPLE OF DUMFRIESSHIRE, . . . 577 
 
 INDEX, . . . .' . '. ." 583
 
 ILLUSTRATIONS IN THE FIRST VOLUME. 
 
 CHARLES KIRKPATRICK SHAKPE AT OXFORD. From a 
 
 drawing by himself, ..... Frontispiece. 
 MURDER OF ARCHBISHOP SHARPE, . . Headpiece to Contents. 
 
 THE CANDLESTICK OF THE KIRK. From an old print, 
 
 by C. K. S. . . . . Tailpiece to Contents. 
 
 HODDAM CASTLE. From Pennant's ' Tour,' . Tailpiece to Memoir. 
 MRS SHARPE. From a drawing by C. K. S., . . To face p. 76 
 
 Miss CAMPBELL OF MONZIE. From a drawing by 
 
 C. K. S., 180 
 
 EARL GOWER. From a drawing by C. K. S., . . M 218 
 
 QUEEN ELIZABETH DANCING. From an original sketch, 350 
 
 THE HONOURABLE KEPPEL CRAVEN. From a drawing 
 
 by C. K. S., I. 382 
 
 MAR'S WORK, STIRLING. From an etching by C. K. S., n 522 
 
 OLD HODDAM CASTLE, ..... Tailpiece p. 573 
 LADY WITH CROCODILE'S TAIL. From an old print, by 
 
 C. K. S., 576 
 
 ARMS OF MAR AND LENNOX, . . . . n 582 
 
 HEAD IN ARMOUR. From an etching by C. K. S., . n 589 
 ALEXANDER, EARL OF EGLINTON. From an etching 
 
 by C. K. S., . . . . . . . 590 
 
 THE MONOGRAM, C. K. S., on the Cover, is from a sketch by Mr Sharpe.
 
 MEMO IE
 
 ME MO IK. 
 
 CHAELES KIKKPATEICK SHAEPE was the third son of Charles 
 Sharpe of Hoddam, by Eleanora, youngest daughter of John 
 Renton of Lammerton. 1 His father was the son of William 
 Kirkpatrick of Ailsland (brother to Sir Thomas Kirkpatrick 
 of Closeburne, second Baronet), to whom Matthew Sharpe of 
 Hoddam had bequeathed his estate. The Sharpes appear as 
 citizens of Dumfries in the closing years of the sixteenth 
 century ; and John Sharpe, Sheriff-clerk of Dumfries, bought 
 the estate of Hoddam in 1690 from Lord Southesk, whose 
 father purchased it of Lord Annandale in 1653. By his wife, 
 Susan Muir, John Sharpe had sixteen children, of whom 
 George, the eleventh child, succeeded his father ; he was ad- 
 mitted advocate 1712, and died unmarried 1740. He and his 
 brother Matthew joined in the insurrection of 1715. 2 Matthew 
 
 1 Charles Sharpe of Hoddam, and Eleanora Renton, youngest daughter of 
 John Renton of Lammerton, Esq., were married at Drummond Lodge near 
 Edinburgh, August 22, 1770. Susan, November 19, 1771 ; Jane, March 12, 
 1773 ; Matthew, March 30, 1774 ; Eleanora, December 19, 1775 ; Isabella, 
 August 30, 1777; William John, February 4, 1779; Charles, May 15, 1781; 
 Alexander, January 11, 1785 ; Isabella, June 10, 1786 ; Elizabeth Cecilia, May 
 23, 1789 ; Grace, May 31, 1791 ; John William, August 27, 1793. The eldest 
 daughter born at Edinburgh ; all the rest at Hoddom Castle. MS. Note- 
 book. 
 
 2 In a letter to Charles Kirkpatrick Sharpe, the Rev. George Greig, minister 
 of Tinwald, gives the following particulars regarding the Hoddam family : 
 
 "TiNWALD MANSE, June 13, 1827. 
 
 " MY DEAR SIR, When the two daughters Mary and Ann of the late James 
 the Second of England had each enjoyed the crown in succession, till their 
 VOL. I. A
 
 THE HODDAM FAMILY. 
 
 returned to Scotland in the disguise of a drover, after the 
 battle of Preston, and from thence went to France, where he 
 remained till the death of his brother. He died unmarried, 
 and left his estate to his kinsman, Charles Kirkpatrick, who 
 took the name of Sharpe. One of the elder sisters of Matthew 
 Sharpe, Catherine, had married, first, Grierson of Barjarg, by 
 
 Maker was pleased to remove them to another world, and the male offspring 
 of that unfortunate monarch began to make efforts to recover the throne on 
 which their ancestors had sat, it was a common piece of policy among the 
 Scotch lairds who had more sons than one, to make the oldest adhere to 
 the reigning family, and the next to join the standard of the Pretender. 
 Matthew Sharpe, being the second son of John Esquire of Hoddom, behooved, 
 according to the above policy which aimed to preserve the estate in the 
 family whatever the event of the rebellion might be to follow the interests 
 of Charles Stewart. What feats he performed in the service of his Royal 
 master, what hair-breadth escapes he made, or what rank he held among the 
 followers of that Prince, I have not learned. But when the master, after a 
 series of defeats, was hunted like a partridge upon the mountains, and at last 
 driven out of the kingdom, the agents of the reigning family soon abated in 
 their ardour to pursue and distress his followers. It was at this period 
 that the anecdote (indelibly engraven on my memory) respecting the late 
 Matthew Sharpe, afterwards Laird of Hoddom, occurred. It came to me from 
 the late Peter Norris, whose father was not only that gentleman's gardener, 
 but his factotum, and must have heard the anecdote from his own mouth. 
 Matthew^Sharpe, not thinking it safe to linger about Hoddom, wished to be out 
 of the kingdom, but not with a view to follow the Prince, like some more 
 eminent characters, who had perhaps stronger claims upon the gratitude of 
 his Highness. He therefore provided himself with a mean upper garment, 
 and was travelling through England behind a herd of swine ; but whether 
 through accident or design these unclean creatures occupied the road before 
 him, I did not learn, but it would seem to have been by accident for a heavy 
 fall of rain made him retire from the road into a smithy in order to dry himself. 
 While engaged in this act of necessary attention to his own health, a police 
 officer spied a fine ruffle peeping out from his wrist, under the coarse upper gar- 
 ment, and seized him without ceremony, as his prisoner. He was hurried with- 
 out loss of time to the nearest Justice of the Peace ; but luckily for the prisoner, 
 the Justice entertained very different sentiments from those of the police- 
 officer respecting the capture of a Jacobite, and reprimanded that officer very 
 sharply for daring to intermeddle with any gentleman upon the road without 
 sufficient authority to sanction such conduct. The officer then lowered his 
 tone a little when made sensible of his error, and said that if his Worship 
 would take charge of the prisoner, he would run with all haste and get a war- 
 rant. The Justice either made no answer or an evasive one to this charge ; 
 and when the officer retired upon his own errand, he directed Matthew Sharpe 
 upon a route quite different from that by which he could fall in with the officer 
 and his warrant. My information bears that Matthew Sharpe and this Justice 
 kept up an intercourse during life. Matthew Sharpe, after the above occur- 
 rence, found his way to the east coast of England, and from thence across to
 
 LAG. 3 
 
 whom she had a daughter, Grizzel, married to Charles Er- 
 skine, Lord Justice-Clerk; and secondly, James Grierson of 
 Capenoch, by whom she had Jean, married in 1741 to Andrew 
 Crosbie of Holm, Provost of Dumfries, and Susanna, to Sir 
 Thomas Kirkpatrick, third Baronet. Thus the Sharpes were 
 connected with the anti-Covenanting interest of the south- 
 west of Scotland, with the persecutor Lag, and the Jacobite 
 Provost of Dumfries who figures in ' Redgauntlet.' In 
 volumes of Lag's and Crosbie's letters preserved by Mr 
 Sharpe, there is a spirited sketch of John Sharpe's house in 
 Dumfries, and the following notes on Lag and his connec- 
 tions : 
 
 "Sir Eobert Grierson of Lag (so created 1685) made a great 
 figure in what has been called the persecution of the Whigs, during 
 the reigns of King Charles II. and his brother ; he is made honour- 
 able mention of by Wodrow and other historians, and hath been 
 of late reproduced to the public under the designation of old Red- 
 gauntlet. 
 
 " He married Lady Henrietta Douglas, sister to the first Duke 
 of Queensberry. The marriage-contract is dated at the Castle of 
 Sanquhar, September 21, 1676. William, Earl of Queensberry, 
 Robert Fergusson of Craigdarroch, Roger Grierson of Terrarane, and 
 John Grierson of Capenoch, were Lag's curators or guardians : 
 Lady Henrietta to have an annuity of 4000 merks Scots ; but in 
 the case of children procreat between the parties, and these sur- 
 viving their father, she to be restricted to the yearly sum of 3000 
 merks, and to pay all the public burdens. Witnesses to the con- 
 
 the Continent, and latterly to Leyden, where Mr Kirkpatrick (whose history 
 must be so well known to you) was then studying law, and who contrived to 
 make his remittances from home support his new guest as well as himself. 
 My informer added that a motive of gratitude as well as of relationship made 
 Matthew Sharpe, as soon as he had the power, look towards Mr Kirkpatrick' s 
 family for an heir to the Hoddom estate ; and let me add another motive, that 
 of personal attachment. There was a witchery (I cannot find a better name) 
 about your late grandfather Kirkpatrick's manners and conversation which is 
 hardly to be met with in an age. In confirmation of this, I must report to 
 you, upon the authority of the same informer, the strong expression of the late 
 Mr Muir of Capencarry, that though neither he nor your grandfather were 
 wine-bibbers, yet that he (Mr Muir) would at any time have readily sold the coat 
 from his back to enjoy the conversation of Mr Kirkpatrick, and that he was the 
 only man within the wide circle of his acquaintance for the charms of whose 
 conversation he would pay so dear."
 
 4 LAG S FUNERAL. 
 
 tract Robert Lord Maxwell, Thomas Kirkpatrick of Closeburn, 
 John Grierson of Capenoch, John Alisone of Glencorse, John 
 Douglas of Stainhous, and Mr John Eichardson, writer in Edin- 
 burgh. 
 
 " The common people in Annandale gravely assert that Lag, like 
 the other persecutors, had intimate dealings with the devil, and 
 that he was partly in hell before his death, as his saliva burnt holes 
 where it fell, and his feet put into cold water made it boil. I 
 believe he died of the gout in the year 1733. My grandaunt, 
 Mrs Campbell of Monzie, remembered having seen him when she 
 was a little girl. She was carried to pay a visit to Lady Henrietta, 
 who then resided with her husband in Matthew Sharp of Hoddam's 
 house in Dumfries (which she continued to rent after Lag's death ; 
 it is now pulled down). 'A grewsome-looking carle he was,' she 
 said, 'wrapped up in blankets, wearing a wig, and in an elbow- chair ; ' 
 it was during a fit of the gout. Lady Henrietta made her go up to 
 him, and he kissed her to her no small terror, both on account of 
 his appearance and the terrible tales she had heard of him. 
 
 " There are many circumstances respecting him detailed in ' Red- 
 gauntlet ' which are not true : exempli gratia, he never kept an 
 ape that I ever heard of; and the frown of the family of right 
 belongs to Mrs Jean Weir, the celebrated Major's sister, who was 
 hanged for a witch, &c., in the year 1679. But this I know 
 positively to be a fact : my granduncle, the late Sir Thomas Kirk- 
 patrick (who was Lag's nephew for Lady Henrietta Grierson's 
 sister, Lady Isobel, was the wife of Sir William Lockhart of Car- 
 stairs, and by him the mother of Isobel, Lady Kirkpatrick, wife of 
 the second Baronet of Closeburn, Sir Thomas's mother and my 
 great-grandmother), attended his funeral in his carriage, drawn by 
 four young stout black horses. About half-way to the place of 
 interment the hired horses could drag the herce no farther, and 
 stood stock-still, probably owing to the badness of the road, though 
 the vulgar reason assigned is that the devil had got into the vehicle, 
 which made it too heavy to be moved. Sir Thomas, who was then 
 a very young man, made his own horses to be put to the herce, and 
 drove his uncle's body to the churchyard ; and strange it is, but 
 true, his four young horses all died in the course of a feAv days ! 
 This disaster the old women of Annandale and Nithesdale still 
 ascribe to ' the dead-weight o' the deil and the Laird o' Lag.' 
 
 " I think that I never saw so rude a ruin as the tower of Lag, 
 in the glen of that name. The stones appear to have been taken 
 out of the burn and made walls of, without the help of pickaxe or 
 chisel, and the scenery around is as dreary as the castle is uncouth ; 
 not a tree, nor anything like one, to be seen nothing but huge 
 round stones, stunted whin-bushes, and a scanty rivulet flowing
 
 THE LAG FAMILY. 5 
 
 between the solitary Iraes. Things, however, may now be changed, 
 for it is more than twenty years since I visited the glen of Lag. 
 
 " Lady Henrietta (vulgarly called Lady Henny) Grierson rode 
 behind her son Gilbert to her niece Lady Kirkpatrick's marriage at 
 Carstairs. This I had from the present Sir Eobert Grierson of 
 Lag, Gilbert's son. 
 
 " She was a woman of short stature, and of an irreproachable 
 character. Her sisters, Lady Margaret Jardine and Lady Kather- 
 ine Douglas, were celebrated for their penurious dispositions. Lady 
 Margaret would, for a penny, carry people cross the river Annan 
 on her shoulders, and sit for days awaiting passengers, if there 
 was a fair or other publick meeting at Lockerby. This several of 
 her descendants have told me. As also, that she generally wore 
 nothing but rags. Yet when she went to Eockhall to pay a visit 
 to her sister, Lady Henrietta, she carried some articles of what she 
 deemed finery in a bundle, and used to inquire at a cottage near 
 the house if the Laird (Sir Robert) was at home. If answered in 
 the affirmative, she sat down under a tree and made her toilet. If 
 Lag chanced to be absent, she would say, ' My cockups'll no gae 
 on the day,' and repair to her sister in her usual costume. 
 
 " N.B. Cockups was a sort of high cap which at one period 
 gave much offence to the godly. 1 
 
 " When Lady Margaret's nephew James, second Duke of Queens- 
 berry, resided in Holyrood House, she paid him a visit in her 
 wonted dishabille. The centinel at the gate mistook her for a 
 beggar, and pushed her back very rudely ; but the Duke, who was 
 at a window, called to him to let his aunt pass, to the man's great 
 surprise, no doubt. This lady had always an ample fortune, and 
 after Sir Alexr. Jardine's death, married Sir David Thoits. She 
 could sometimes part with her money. In an account of the drink- 
 money (vails) given to the servants at Closeburn during the life of 
 her niece Lady Kirkpatrick, I find these items in the nurse's share : 
 ' 2 half-milncrowns from my Lady Lagg, 23 lib. pieces from Apple- 
 girth, 2 rix-dollars from his lady.' 
 
 " Her portrait is at Jardine Hall. There is none extant of Sir 
 Robert Grierson, nor, I believe, of Lady Henrietta. Her picture may 
 be at Drumlanrig, but now unknown, as very few of the portraits 
 there have the names affixed. 
 
 " Sir Robert possessed originally a large estate, which his extra- 
 vagance greatly diminished. He made one of his sons an apothe- 
 cary in Carlisle, and when he sent him thither to practice he, at 
 parting, gave him his blessing, saying, ' God speed ye ! ye'll revenge 
 the fecht at Flowden ! ' 2 
 
 1 " See Kirkton's History, and the works of Patrick Walker passim." 
 
 2 " From the late Mr Murray of Murraythwaite."
 
 6 LAG'S SONS. 
 
 "The elegy on Lag, once so popular among the vulgar, was 
 written, as I have heard, by one Irving, a schoolmaster, ancestor of 
 the author of 'Fair Helen of KirkconnelT and other poems, who, 
 some years ago, in a fit of insanity cut his own throat in Edinburgh. 
 
 " Of late times the children in Dumfries dared not to play at ball 
 in the close at Hoddam's house in the dusk, through dread of Lag's 
 ghost. 
 
 " Sir Robert's two eldest sons were forfeited in the year 1715. 
 Gilbert subsequently became chamberlain to the Duke of Buccleugh, 
 and resided in the town of Dalkeith, where he took boarders to 
 attend the school there. He assumed the title after the death of 
 his brother Sir William, who was long an idiot, the terror, it is 
 said, he felt at being shut up in the Tower having deprived him of 
 what judgement he originally possessed." l 
 
 Charles Kirkpatrick Sharpe's mother, herself a most beau- 
 
 1 The following note occurs in the MS. volume quoted above in reference 
 to " two letters " written by Sir Patrick Maxwell, first baronet of Springkell, 
 "* who, like Lag, was a persecutor, and, like him, accused of dealing with the foul 
 fiend. It is said that when his wife lay in of her first child, a son, Sir Patrick 
 carried the infant from the bedchamber to the landing-place of the stairs, and 
 there gave it to the devil. Of course, the poor victim was never seen any more." 
 
 " But on another occasion he tried to over-reach the devil. A dairymaid in 
 the house of Springkell had a sweetheart who used to meet her of an evening 
 on the back stairs. At one of their assignations it was settled between the 
 lovers that the woman was to go that night to the kirkyard of Kirkconnell 
 (where fair Helen lies buried), and there consent to her swain's wishes, what- 
 ever they might prove. The youth had scarcely retired when the dairymaid 
 met Sir Patrick, who asked her if she knew with whom she had been convers- 
 ing ? She answered, ' With the gardener.' He told her, ' With the devil, 
 who would certainly carry her off that very night if she ventured alone to the 
 kirkyard.' The finale of the conference was, that Sir Patrick promised her his 
 protection ; and at the appointed hour he, with a lantern, and followed by the 
 trembling dairymaid and a dog, set off for the place of meeting, where they had 
 scarcely arrived till the devil comes over the dyke and demands his prey, which 
 Sir Patrick, according to the usual tactics on such occasions, had hastily 
 fortified within a circle on the ground, &c., &c. A parley between Satan and 
 Sir Patrick ensued ; and it was at last concluded that the devil should not lay 
 claw on the poor dairymaid till the candle in the lantern was burnt out, on 
 which Sir Patrick thrust it down the dog's throat, and the fiend went off in a 
 pet at the trick. I think I have read this story in some book much older than 
 Sir Patrick's time ; and to do him, the dairymaid, and even the devil (who 
 makes so silly a figure in the affair) justice, the woman concerned, who resided 
 afterwards in the village of Ecclefechan, assured Betty Paterson, from whom 
 I had several of the circumstances, that the whole was as great a lie as ever 
 was told. 
 
 " Sir Patrick's portrait, a head in an oval, is at Springkell : armour, a large 
 black wig, and a face that hath very strongly the air of a wizard."
 
 MR RENTON. 7 
 
 tiful and admirable woman, for the charms of whose person 
 and mind her distinguished son had ever the most genuine 
 and sincere admiration, was the granddaughter of a still more 
 famous beauty Susanna, Countess of Eglintoun, the patron 
 and subject of poets, and the admiration of her contempo- 
 raries for grace and vivacity. His grandfather Eenton, as he 
 has recorded in his memoranda, 
 
 " Was educated at Christ Church in Oxford, and afterwards 
 travelled into France. While at College he was a contemporary 
 of the great Lord Mansfield ; Trevor, Bishop of Durham ; and 
 Stone, Primate of Ireland. When the Bishop of Durham, in a 
 progress through his diocese, came to Berwick, my grandfather 
 went to wait upon him there, and carried my two aunts, Lady 
 Murray and Mrs Smollett, with him. When the Bishop came 
 out of the church (having his train borne up according to the 
 fashion of that day), my aunts knelt down in the churchyard, and 
 he blessed them with an imposition of hands. My grandfather 
 said, pointing to Lady Murray, ' My lord, this young lady is my 
 daughter ; pray give her a double portion ; ' on which the Bishop 
 again touched her head. Trevor was a very handsome man, and 
 usually went by the name of the Beauty of Holiness ! 
 
 " My grandfather once dined in company with Swift at Lord 
 Halifax's table. He used to mention his surprise at the Dean's 
 freedom of behaviour, who recalled a dish, after the removal of 
 the first course, which had chanced to please his taste. 
 
 " My grandfather went to Ireland, purposely to pay a visit to 
 his friend Stone, after be became Primate, though he himself pre- 
 tended to be of the Presbyterian religion, and was certainly a Whig 
 in politicks." 
 
 Such associations with famous men and places were suffi- 
 cient of themselves to predispose the subject of this memoir 
 towards those studies and pursuits in which he afterwards 
 achieved such distinction. He was duly sensible of the con- 
 sequence to be derived from progenitors famous in history, 
 and never allowed the ancestral glories of the Kirkpatricks to 
 pass from his memory, delighting to celebrate, with pen and 
 pencil, Caerlaverock, Repentance, and other scenes of their 
 legendary history. He rigidly enforced in his own person the 
 use of his true patronymic, and averred that his stockings 
 wore out when his sister forgot to " sew that K on them " !
 
 REPENTANCE. 
 
 Hoddam Castle, where he was born, is not one of the very 
 old fortalices of the south of Scotland for the castle, burned 
 by the Earl of Sussex, August 1570, stood upon the other 
 or eastern bank of the river Annan but was a very good 
 specimen of the high double tower, with bartizan and steep 
 roof, common in the baronial era of Scottish history. The 
 engraving in Pennant's Tour gives an accurate representation 
 of the structure itself at the end of the last century, but fails 
 to convey the idea of the beauty of its situation, amidst fine 
 woods, on the bank of the most picturesque part of the Annan. 
 On one of the hills above is a singular square tower, in an old 
 burying-ground known by the name of Trailtrow or Repent- 
 ance ; the latter designation being given to it from the word 
 "Repentance" being carved over the door, between a serpent 
 and a bird (perhaps intended for the cock so intimately asso- 
 ciated with the repentance of Peter). 1 The legend connected 
 with this tower was made by Mr Sharpe the subject of a 
 ballad, one of those which he contributed to the Minstrelsy of 
 the Scottish Border. As even two centuries later a commu- 
 tation of penance was assigned to the repair of a church in 
 Cumberland, there is nothing impossible in the tradition that 
 it was built by the ancient possessor of Hoddam, Lord Herries, 
 by way of expiation of an act of barbarity upon English cap- 
 tives. If we are to credit Mr Sharpe's letters, he esteemed 
 his home as miserable an exile as Ovid did the Euxine ; but 
 this sort of humorous dispraise was his habitual way of ex- 
 pressing himself about persons as well as things for which he 
 had a liking. Hence his letters are full of outspoken sarcasm 
 and simulated contempt of people whom in other ways he 
 highly esteemed. Writing to be read by those who affected 
 the same style of discussing their friends, he did not think it 
 necessary to be reticent or even consistent. The keenest of 
 patriots, he was ever " flyting " at the manners, religious pre- 
 judices, and climate of his native country. The most gentle 
 and considerate of men in his intercourse with young people, 
 
 1 The bird is rather thought to be the dove the dove and the serpent stand- 
 ing for emblems of grace and remorse. See Border Minstrelsy, note, probably 
 contributed by C. K. S.
 
 RELATIONSHIP TO THE STEWARTS. 9 
 
 he wrote of them with the rancour of a Herod. One of his 
 favourite subjects of sarcastic criticism was his ancestress 
 Lady Marie Stewart (daughter of Esme, first Duke of Lennox, 
 and second wife of John, Earl of Mar, Treasurer of Scotland 
 in the reign of James VI.), whose great-granddaughter, Jean, 
 daughter of Charles Erskine of Alva, Lord Justice-Clerk, mar- 
 ried his grandfather, William Kirkpatrick. 
 
 In one of his note-books he has thus traced his Lennox 
 descent : 
 
 A NOTE OF OUR RELATIONSHIP TO THE STEWART FAMILY. 
 
 Matthew, Earl of Lennox brother to John, Lord d'Aubigny. 
 
 | I 
 
 Lord Damley. Esme, Duke of Lennox. 
 
 James VI. Mary, m. John, E. of Mar. 
 
 Charles I. Sir Charles Erskine of Alloa, m. (1) Mary Hope ; 
 
 (2) Helen Skene. 
 
 ilr Charles, 
 
 I I 
 
 Sir John, m. Katherine, d. of Sir Charles, m. Dame Christian Dtmdass of Arniston ; 
 Lord Sinclair. she was the "Bonny Christy " of ye 
 
 Poet, and grand-aunt to the Lord 
 Melville. 
 
 James VII. Sir Charles, Sir Harry. Charles Erskine, Lord Justice-Clerk, 
 
 died young. m. Miss Grierson of Barjarg. 
 
 James, P. of Wales. Lord Rosslyn. Jean, m. William Kirkpatrick, son of Sir Thomas 
 
 Kirkpatrick of Closeburn. 
 
 Charles, P. of Wales. Charles Sharpe of Hoddam, 7th. 
 
 Although he cherished with pride his descent through her 
 from the royal race of Stewart, 1 and diligently collected his- 
 torical particulars of the Mar and Lennox families, as will be 
 seen hereafter, he often mentions her in terms almost of dis- 
 gust and derision, in his letters and notes e.g., a letter to 
 Mr Gibson Craig in 1828, and many pungent notes and 
 references to John O'Snytes, as the Treasurer-Earl was 
 irreverently styled. A humorous petition from the distressed 
 lady, or rather from her painted semblance, addressed to Sir 
 Charles Douglas of Kelhead, will not be out of place, as show- 
 ing the grim humour with which he invested topics very near 
 his heart. 
 
 1 John Erskine, E. of Marr, married Lady Mary Stewart, anno Dom. 1592. 
 The king did pass his Christmas at Alloa that year with the new-wedded couple. 
 Spotiswood, p. 390.
 
 10 THE COUNTESS OF MAR'S PETITION. 
 
 "To the Right Worshipful and our well -beloved Cousin, Sir 
 
 Charles Douglas of Kelhead, Knight Baronet, the Petition 
 
 of the Lady Mary Stewart, Countess of Mar; Dame Helen 
 
 Skene ; Lady Alva ; John Earl of Mar, Regent ; John Earl 
 
 of Mar, Treasurer ; John Earl of Mar, commonly called Duke 
 
 of Mar ; and Sir Charles Erskine of Alva, Knight Baronet, 
 
 " Humbly showeth, That your worship's distressed petitioners 
 
 are all in a very dismal condition ; but as it hath been the custom, 
 
 time immemorial, for ladies to state, explain, show, and exhibit 
 
 their cases in the first place, it is but fitting that the Countess of 
 
 Mar and my Lady Alva should enjoy that precedence. 
 
 " Therefore I, Dame Marie Stewart, Countess of Mar, and 
 daughter to that high and potent prince, Esme, Duke of Lennox, 
 do commence the sad task of supplication, and beseech you to rue 
 upon my disconsolate estate once second to no woman who wore 
 a hoop and farthingale in Scotland, saving the Queen's Majesty, 
 the near cousin and favourite of that wise monarch King James 
 the Sixth, the ruler of mine antient husband, and the rejector of 
 fifty young fellows who wooed me in my widowhood. I am now 
 cast aside and confined to an old, crazy, leaky house (the very 
 epitome of my antique spouse), where I am rotted with damps, and 
 ready to be devoured by long-tailed vermin even more ravenous 
 than those lusty lovers who would formerly have eaten up my 
 jointure yea, had it not been for the gorgonical visage of my 
 daughter-in-law, the Lady Alva, I should have long since been 
 consumed outright; but, most fortunately, she possesseth such a 
 stern grimalkin mien that the rats and mice avoid her presence as 
 they would that of my Lady Marchioness of Carrabas, or Miss 
 Catskin in her everyday garment. Sir Charles Douglas, to a lady 
 of my delicacy, as well as dignity, you may divine how pro- 
 digiously it goeth against the grain (as the vulgar phrase it) to 
 prefer an humble request of any nature to a man of any kind ; 
 but ' necessitas non habet legem ' for if you quickly take not pity 
 upon me and remove me to dryer and sounder quarters, I shall 
 in a very little time dwindle down to a worm-eaten frame and a 
 handful of unseemly tatters." 
 
 " I, Dame Helen Skene, Lady Alva, have equal (yea more) cause 
 of complaint Avith my mother-in-law, the Countess of Mar mercy 
 upon us ! in this ungallant and degenerate age. Beauty is not 
 only neglected, but the very representation of it despised. My 
 personal charms were once so potent that, albeit Sir Charles 
 Erskine of Alva was a doting, purblind widower when first he 
 met with me, he could discern the outline of my nose at the dis- 
 tance of twenty yards, and find the highway to my mouth without 
 the aid of spectacles."
 
 CHRIST CHURCH. 11 
 
 But two persons were ever sacred from this mocking spirit 
 of make-believe sarcasm his father and his mother. Of the 
 elegant accomplishments and amiable qualities of the former 
 he was justifiably proud. Carefully preserved among his 
 papers are numerous testimonies to the worth of the laird of 
 Hoddam an offer of a baronetcy, an appointment as keeper of 
 the Eoyal harriers for Scotland, commissions, &c., &c., and, 
 more valuable than these, documents relating to his connection 
 with the poet Burns, several of whose songs are dedicated to 
 Mr Sharpe. One of the best of Burns's letters is also ad- 
 dressed to him, and the correspondence proves him to have 
 been a more sincere and discreet friend to the gifted plough- 
 man than most of the Scottish gentry. With his mother, 
 Charles Kirkpatrick Sharpe had a community of thought 
 and sympathy unusual even in the happiest filial relations, 
 and he recorded his admiration and affection for her in terms 
 equally strong and genuine. 
 
 He attended Dr Eobison's class in Edinburgh in 1796-97, 
 and in 1798 he matriculated at Christ Church, Oxford, where 
 he graduated B.A. June 17, 1802, and M.A. June 28, 1806, 
 having passed the necessary examination June 8, 1804. He 
 was not by any means an enthusiastic admirer of university 
 customs, especially of the tutors, whom he stigmatises as un- 
 mannerly and disgusting in their behaviour. The stately 
 head of Christ Church, Cyril Jackson himself, who was said 
 to have contemptuously tossed an offer of a bishopric to his 
 brother, was in his eyes an " inspired swine," who preached ex- 
 ceeding dry sermons with a prodigious degree of snuffling. In 
 fact, mere classical lore, as distinguished from elegant taste in 
 literature, he despised. One of his marginal notes in the 
 ' Diary Illustrative of the Times of George IV.,' referring to 
 Dr Parr, says : " What a companion for a princess ! I have 
 met him at Oxford, the very worst bred brute, composed of 
 insolence and tobacco, that I ever saw or heard of ; " and he 
 was just as sarcastic upon the smart young sportsmen, and 
 Irish anti-Unionites, who formed a considerable section of 
 the undergraduate world at Christ Church. 
 
 He meditated and partially carried out an idea of recording
 
 12 'NEW OXFORD GUIDE.' 
 
 his satirical views of Oxford society in poetical epistles, after 
 the model of the then famous ' New Bath Guide.' Two of these 
 are in existence, and are worth preserving from the contrast 
 they present to many of the accessories of modern university 
 life, while they record much of the spirit of flippancy and bad 
 taste which still disfigures certain circles in Oxford. But he 
 dismissed the idea after the second epistle, and in some severe 
 stanzas upon a rival rhymester gives it as his opinion that 
 
 " Of all ills by which mankind is curst, 
 Ill-nature joined to folly is the worst. 
 Ill-nature teaches curs at wheels to bite, 
 Ill-nature teaches viler fools to write." 
 
 And he seems wisely to have bridled his sarcastic Pegasus, lest 
 he should overstep the limits which his intrinsic good feeling 
 prescribed. One other lampoon alone comes to hand among 
 his papers a satire upon the famed Doctor Toe, that universal 
 laughing-stock of Oxford, who is the hero of Heber's " Whip- 
 piad," and is depicted at full length in Barham's novel, ' My 
 Cousin Nicholas.' 
 
 THE NEW OXFORD GUIDE. 
 
 LETTER I. 
 MR SIMKIN B D TO Miss JENNY B D. HALL, NORTH. 
 
 THE GRIEF OF A FIRST SEPARATION THE SPEECH OF AN OLD NURSE WHO HAD 
 HEARD THE STORY OF FRIAR BACON'S HEAD A DESCRIPTION OF COLLEGE 
 GARRETS A BED-MAKER A SCOUT. 
 
 Alas, what distresses the feelings o'ercome 
 
 Of a youth the first time that he ventures from home ! 
 
 Dear Jenny, no mortal the sorrow can tell 
 
 That I suffered in bidding you all a farewell. 
 
 My dearest mamma how I blubber'd and kiss'd her ! 
 
 And then fell a-hugging of thee, my sweet sister ; 
 
 And then to the monkey ; and then to the parrot 
 
 I wept till my nose was as red as a carrot. 
 
 In the hall stood my nurse, like a fountain of tears, 
 'Mid a crowd of old serving-men, scratching their ears :
 
 'NEW OXFORD GUIDE.' 13 
 
 Poor woman her sluices of tears so gush'd out 
 That they carried her spectacles quite off her snout. 
 She whined, " Well-a-day, this will break my old heart ! 
 Lackadaisy, at Oxford they teach the black art ! 
 Magicians dwell there, who work all sorts of evil, 
 Such as laying of spectres and raising the d 1. 
 They make brazen heads, with assistance from hell, 
 That wise as a gipsy's can everything tell ; 
 And 'tis said that you never set foot in the street, 
 But some such curs'd noddle you're certain to meet." 
 
 This utter'd, with many a rueful grimace 
 
 She squeez'd me up close in a parting embrace ; 
 
 And a chorus of serving-men join'd in the roar 
 
 Of her grief when the carriage drove off from the door. 
 
 Well safely arriv'd in the centre of knowledge, 
 
 I was lucky enough to get garrets in college ; 
 
 And up a long staircase with pain did I clamber 
 
 To reach the black door of my desolate chamber. 
 
 Imagine, dear Jenny, a garret so small, 
 
 That one feels like a nun in't, built up in a wall ; 
 
 With a chimney that smokes when the wind's in the south 
 
 Like Mynheer of Holland's tobaccofied mouth ; 
 
 With a window contriv'd, as were casements of old, 
 
 To keep out the light and to let in the cold ; 
 
 With a tatter'd settee, and a parcel of chairs 
 
 That grievously totter and creak for repairs 
 
 And a poor widow'd fire-screen, without its best half, 
 
 For Vulcan hath eaten it all but the staff. 
 
 I here sat me down, with my mind quite in gloom, 
 
 When a hideous appearance stalk'd into the room, 
 
 In her left hand a pail, in her right hand a broom ; 
 
 Like any fell Succubus, wrinkl'd and old, 
 
 With the lip of a shrew, and the nose of a scold, 
 
 And a ragged red cardinal, dire to behold. 
 
 I shriek'd (and my terror seem'd much to offend her), 
 
 For I thought her the ghost of the woman of Endor 
 
 To judge by your eyes and your nose, you had said, 
 
 Nay sworn, she was something just risen from the dead : 
 
 And as she remain'd between me and the stairs, 
 
 Quite hopeless of flying, I fell to my pray'rs ; 
 
 And she told me at last with a horrible mien, 
 
 "Sir, I makes your bed up, and keeps your rooms clean." 
 
 And, sister, this office is wisely contriv'd 
 
 To fall on sage dames who their charms have surviv'd ;
 
 14 ' NEW OXFORD GUIDE.' 
 
 For were it bestow'd on each careless young jade, 
 'Tis certain our beds would be seldom well made. 
 We read of a painter, on canvas who strove 
 To draw a full length of the goddess of Love, 
 While all the gay belles of high fashion in Greece 
 Display'd their chief beauties to forward the piece : 
 One furnished an eye, or a pair of red lips 
 Another a toe, or a couple of hips ; 
 While he cull'd with gusto, and consummate art, 
 Like a bee among flow'rs, ev'ry excellent part. 
 Now should some Apelles desire in our days 
 To paint a Medusa beyond any praise, 
 Or a likeness that Hecate's self might acknowledge 
 Of Hecate grim let him come to this college ; 
 Such a group I defy Pandemonium to show 
 As a bevy of bed-makers all in a row. 
 
 But I've got a man-servant, yclep'd here a scout, 
 
 And am counsell'd to look pretty sharply about, 
 
 And be sure that the locks of my strong box are stout : 
 
 For in this reservoir of Latin and Greek, 
 
 All follow as much as they can the antique 
 
 Our students, in truest Laconian style, 
 
 Are abstinent, secret, and patient of toil ; 
 
 And the scouts, whom no conscience or shame e'er disheartens, 
 
 Will pilfer and cheat like the craftiest Spartans. 
 
 You see that I write very sprightly and hearty 
 No wonder indeed, for I've been at a party ; 
 But oh ! it requires fifty muses like mine 
 To do justice, my dear, to this party of wine ; 
 'Twas so very delightful so vastly divine 
 'Twas given by a gentleman commoner gay, 
 Whom I met at my tutor's, at breakfast to-day,- 
 Master Growler, a person of high reputation, 
 Who dresses and struts in the pink of the fashion, 
 And ask'd me to wine in that elegant tone, 
 As if he had rather have let it alone. 
 But neither my paper nor patience can last 
 Now to give an account of this charming repast ; 
 So I think it, dear Jenny, a thousand times better, 
 To keep the affair for a following letter 
 Concluding abruptly with love to my mother 
 Your slave to command, and affectionate brother 
 
 SIMKIN 
 OXFORD, 1803.
 
 'NEW OXFORD GUIDE.' 15 
 
 LETTER TI. 
 MR SIMKIN B D TO Miss JENNY B D. HALL, NORTH. 
 
 A WINE-PAETY DESCRIPTION OF THE GUESTS A DISPUTE AN ACCIDENT. 
 
 As you write me, dear sister, how sorely you pine 
 
 For my promis'd account of the party of wine, 
 
 Though I've got heaven knows how much business to do, 
 
 It shall all be postpon'd to give pleasure to you ; 
 
 And so, with alacrity seizing my pen, ~\ 
 
 I'll iirst just describe Master Growler, and then > 
 
 Go on to his party and other fine men. ) 
 
 Young Solomon Growler's a person of breeding, 
 Of much understanding, and very great reading ; 
 Yet in one point perhaps he a little may fail, 
 Fundamental indeed and thereby hangs a tale. 
 
 His sire, Skinflint Growler, got riches by trade, 
 
 And long did he bargain a peer to be made ; 
 
 But his pristine economy never forsaking, 
 
 He offer'd a bribe that was not worth the taking : 
 
 Refused the old cit, fill'd with rage and disdain, 
 
 Gave dinners to Godwin and toasted Tom Paine ; 
 
 Made his wife the chaste works of Moll Wollstonecraft read, 
 
 Which sorely bewilder'd the good woman's head ; 
 
 Bought kindly th' uncastrated monk for his daughter, 
 
 Who'll ne'er be a nun from what Matthew 1 hath taught her ; 
 
 And whipp'd his young sons till they learnt to repeat, 
 
 That a king is a tyrant, a bishop a cheat. 
 
 But tho' Master Growler's by whiggery tainted, 
 With all the young noblemen here he's acquainted, 
 And fills them with liquor and crams them with supper, 
 Never mentioning Paine which is perfectly proper. 
 
 So I went to his rooms about four, where I found 
 A table, with chairs placed in order around, 
 And bottles, replete with the juice of the vine, 
 Which clumsier poets would style red port wine ; 
 A sumptuous dessert then enchanted my eyes, 
 Eipe oranges, perfect in colour and size 
 Grapes, peaches, and apples, as much as you please, 
 Cakes, ruskins, prunelloes, and sweet damson cheese 
 Dry biscuit, that chiefly to Bacchus belongs, 
 Delicious when toasted till brown in the tongs 
 And huge lumps of ice which exactly did look 
 Like the floating ice-hills in the drawings for Cook. 
 
 1 " Monk " Lewis.
 
 16 'NEW OXFORD GUIDE.' 
 
 The company had not assembled as yet, 
 And the president seem'd in a bit of a fret 
 Now biting his thumb-nail, now sipping his wine, 
 While he skimm'd a deep chapter of Gibbon's ' Decline ': 
 A work which doth many new secrets impart 
 For cleansing the reason and mending the heart, 
 And relates in such style the decline of old Rome, 
 That it proves we are sadly declining at home. 
 
 But a number of youths all at once huddl'd in, 
 Some chattering like jackdaws with ominous din, 
 Some roaring like huntsmen a whoop and a hollo. 
 Inspire me to mention the chiefs, great Apollo ! 
 
 Ye muses that sip from Castalian springs, 
 The poet invokes not your aid while he sings 
 And numbers the heroes in sweet sounding line 
 Who fuddl'd their noses with nauseous wine. 
 Ah ! well do our damsels in stockings of blue 
 The steps of their darlings the muses pursue ! 
 Coy nymphs who all liquors like black doses flee, 
 And drink nothing stronger than sober Bohea. 
 " O dear ! filthy sherry, no mortal can bear it ; 
 We faint at the fume of a bottle of claret 
 The hussey who tipples a horse-whip deserves : 
 To be sure gin is wholesome to settle the nerves." 
 
 Now first of a native of Wales will I speak, 
 Sir Griffith ap Shenkin ap Tudor ap Leek, 1 
 A baronet fam'd for his courage and strength, 
 And a pedigree, Jenny, of wonderful length ; 
 His arms are compos'd of three rampant goat-tails, 
 An ancient armorial bearing in Wales 
 And his crest is a cheese, which the baronet swore 
 Was the very same crest that Cadwallader wore. 
 
 This "Welshman is fiery, as Welshmen are wont, 
 And will not put up with the slightest affront ; 
 But ne'er contradicted, he's full of good-nature, 
 You cannot imagine a pleasanter creature. 
 
 Master Margin was there, most profound in his looks, 
 
 A very great buyer of very fine books, 
 
 Which he hoists in his study for boobies to stare at, 
 
 Bedight in the gold and morocco of Barratt. 
 
 But tho' he would fain make the vulgar believe 
 
 That he puzzles and construes from morning till eve ; 
 
 1 Nephew to the lady of that name mentioned in the ' Bath Guide.
 
 * NEW OXFORD GUIDE.' 17 
 
 Tho' he swears that the dunces would make e'en an ass sick, 
 
 And quotes too to prove it from some Latin classic ; 
 
 Tho' he talks of sage editors wiser than any, 
 
 One Bentley, and Bur-mann, and certain Stephani 
 
 Yet I think (but let this be a secret between us) 
 
 That old nurse at home knows as much of Quse Genus. 
 
 And I, luckless I, had the sorrow to sit 
 Next Billy Bamboozle, a quizzer and wit 
 
 At least so he thinks ; but he's d bly bit. 
 
 Alas poor Bamboozle ! beshrew his base heart 
 Who taught thee to hold thyself clever and smart ; 
 He was some cunning rogue, it most plainly appears, 
 Who laid a deep plot 'gainst thy nose and thy ears, 
 And instill'd such provocative powers in thy speaking, 
 That even Job's fingers would itch to be tweaking. 
 
 This Billy makes noise, and imagines it fun, 
 With frequent miscarriage of embryo pun ; 
 And still does he prate, oh unfortunate Billy, 
 Tho' pummell'd and cudgell'd and kick'd to a jelly. 
 I hear he derives from a glorious race, 
 That matchless assurance, that vile saucy face ; 
 From sources more noble his life never man drew, 
 A Billingsgate drab, and a quack's rnerry-andrew. 
 
 Now hark ! a small pit-a-pat step on the stair, 
 
 And voice softly trilling opera-house air ! 
 
 The door gently opens and bathed in perfume 
 
 Sweet Dicky Cosmetic trips into the room. 
 
 Like a rose-bud his cheek with a patch on his chin, , 
 
 His shirt-frill adorn'd by a diamond pin ; 
 
 Ye gods, what a shape, what an elegant air ! 
 
 Was ever a face, or a neckcloth so fair ? 
 
 " Gauls, never again can ye Albion dread ! 
 Our fortitude, strength, our proud honour is fled 
 On us Fame her laurels no more does bestow 
 Nor Fear shade with lilies the heads of the foe 
 No more from our troops our base enemies fly ; 
 "V^fhere now are our heroes that conquer or die ? 
 Long laid in the dust and this pitiful race 
 Exists but to cover their graves with disgrace. 
 
 " Poor wretches, so pithless, so nervously weak, 
 That sink on soft cushions, and languish, and squeak ! 
 Can chicken glov'd fists e'er be harden'd to wield 
 The glittering faulchion and ponderous shield 1 
 VOL. I. B
 
 18 'NEW OXFORD GUIDE.' 
 
 Or armour be borne on that cowardly breast 
 
 In summer by silk and thin muslin opprest ? " 
 
 So exclaim'd Master Caustic when Dicky appear'd, 
 
 A rogue who has got more ill-nature than beard ; 
 
 And with cross jaundic'd opticks sees every thing yellow 
 
 A very old-fashion'd and cynical fellow. 
 
 This Dicky, for so cruel fate had decreed, 
 Brought in a small lapdog of true Blenheim breed ; 
 A sweet pretty thing, with a collar of pink, 
 And over-nice feeding compell'd it to stink 
 Which bred in the sequel a woeful disaster, 
 As you'll find by-and-bye, to itself and it's master. 
 
 Then came my Lord Rubbish the son of an earl, 
 
 Who keeps d la mode both a stud and a girl ; 
 
 But Fortune and all his bad stars he may curse, 
 
 For his horses are lame, and his nymph something worse. 
 
 Yet himself s much in fault for that evening I heard one 
 
 Say Rubbish knew little of cattle of burden, 
 
 And so (but he begg'd it might not be repeated) 
 
 His lordship in horse-fiesh. was apt to be cheated. 
 
 A gay golden tuft on his cap he displays, 
 Which dazzles all eyes with its ravishing rays 
 True badge of nobility, awful and grand, 
 Confin'd to the essence and cream of the land. 
 
 tuft fraught with radiance, that still can't transmit 
 To folly good sense, to stupidity wit, 
 
 And tell like a label hung over the skull 
 With what notable stuff the utensil is full 
 How I love to adore thee with honours divine, 
 To court thy bright favour, and bask in thy shine ! 
 Last came Tommy Drivel, whose noddle's a thick one, 
 And a gentle tuft-worshipper, meek Master Pick-bone, 
 Who with pleasure will suffer his ears to be cufft 
 By any Scotch cousin of any Scotch tuft. 
 
 Now seated and settl'd, the bottle gone round, 
 
 The youngsters held forth with much sense and much sound 
 
 They were angry with rums, 1 they were troubl'd with bores, 
 
 And sporting of oaks they call shutting of doors. 
 
 " My tutor's a raff, and the son of a b h ; 
 
 1 rode out to-day and fell into a ditch ; 
 
 I twisted my ancle foment it with grease 
 By Jingo ! Bet Beesley's a dev'lish good piece." 
 
 1 " A rum customer," " a strange fellow," the substantive has gone out of use.
 
 ' NEW OXFORD GUIDE.' 1 9 
 
 At last a dispute between Growler and Leek, 
 Both bawling as loud as town-criers can speak, 
 Our pleasure and harmony managM to break. 
 Cosmetic was telling us much of a cape 
 Very lately invented, of exquisite shape, 
 And Billy was thrusting his tongue in his cheek 
 When the rumpus assail'd us from Growler and Leek : 
 They talk'd of the slave trade, which Growler abhors, 
 And Sir Griffith ap Shenkin of Tudor adores ; 
 For a Welchman who can at a couple of bites 
 Demolish a million of innocent mites, 
 May very well argue in favour of knaves 
 Who live by kidnapping and selling of slaves. 
 
 Sir Griffith used phrases extremely improper, 
 And swore, heaven bless us, far worse than a trooper ; 
 But he sputter'd so fiercely, and nodded his head, 
 That I could not make out the one half that he said ; 
 And I've heard 'tis a sign that an orator's good, 
 When he makes a great noise and is not understood. 
 
 Then Growler replied in a torrent of words, 
 
 The longest and hardest our language affords, 
 
 And where he imagin'd our idiom weak, 
 
 Still helpt it with patches of Latin and Greek. 
 
 He spoke of free will, which aristocrats tell us 
 
 Leads its votaries still to the block or the gallows ; 
 
 And energy high, that despises mean things, 
 
 Such as ribbons and stars and tyrannical kings ; 
 
 And taste picturesque, which wild nature adores 
 
 From far Otaheite to Gallia's shores ; 
 
 And much our degenerate system bewails, 
 
 That no longer we're born with Monboddo's long tails. 
 
 Then he talk'd of oppression, and deep double-dealing 
 Mankind's Magna Charta, and honour, and feeling : 
 " The treatment," quoth he, " of our horses and asses, 
 Stigmatises our nature our species disgraces ; 
 I can prove it " and then put his hand to his head 
 " They were born rightful heirs to the forest and mead, 
 Yet we gall them with stripes, and compel them to work 
 And," striking his breast, " I abominate pork 
 
 " My heart bleeds at sight of a collar of brawn ; 
 See that pig whipt to death for a despot in lawn, 
 How its lugub'rous outcries astonish our ears, 
 While the hog-stye dissolves in a torrent of tears,
 
 20 OXFORD FRIENDS. 
 
 And the mitred Apicius " 
 
 With that Dicky's dog, in good breeding no critic, 
 Emitted an odour exceeding mephitic, 
 Which all of a sudden assaulted our noses 
 With a fume much unlike to the essence of roses. 
 
 Every youth in the room clapp'd his hand to his snout, 
 Which stopp'd the harangue, putting Solomon out, 
 Whose rhetorical flow'rs, though so fragrant and sweet, 
 Were outdone in a trice by the small Blenheim pet ; 
 He roared like a cannon, surcharg'd with his ire, 
 Then caught up a poker that lay by the fire, 
 Fine feeling forgot and without more ado, 
 Alas ! broke the lap-dog's hind spindle in two. 
 
 Loud yell'd the poor spaniel, and louder scream'd Dick ; 
 He faints " bring us hartshorn and Grosvenor quick ! "- 
 Now he sprawls in convulsions and now he lies still 
 How disorder'd his neckcloth, how rumpl'd his frill ! 
 The scene was so moving I fled from the place, 
 And left all the others to settle the case 
 Who did what they could, with much riot and strife, 
 To set the dog's leg, and bring Dicky to life. 
 
 But, if its social life was unpleasing, no man more thoroughly 
 appreciated the advantages which Oxford affords to all kinds of 
 antiquarian and literary study. The libraries and the picture- 
 galleries were his constant resort ; and ere long his turn for 
 caustic comment, and his unrivalled talent with his pencil, won 
 him friends among the best society of the University. Fore- 
 most among these friends appear the names of Lord Gower 
 (Duke of Sutherland) ; Lord Newtown (Earl of Lanesborough) ; 
 Stapleton (son of Lord le Despencer, and father of the present 
 Baroness) ; Conybeare (Professor of Poetry from 1812 to 
 1821); Inglis (who subsequently represented the University 
 in Parliament for a quarter of a century) ; Tarpley ; and one 
 for whom he appears to have entertained a peculiar regard, 
 Elijah Barwell Impey, son of the famous coadjutor of Warren 
 Hastings, Sir Elijah Impey, Chief-Justice of Bengal. " This 
 amiable man dedicated many years of labour to the vindica- 
 tion of his father's memory, and eventually, indeed, sacrificed 
 his life, shortened by the emotions excited in his affectionate 
 mind by the renewal of oft-refuted calumny, and the irksome
 
 OXFORD FRIENDS. 21 
 
 task of a search through public documents by a man in im- 
 paired health." l 
 
 Other acquaintances known to fame are mentioned in his 
 letters either incidentally or by way of friendly remembrance : 
 as, in 1801, " Young Macdonald, the Chief Baron's son, who 
 played Thais with such eclat " (in Terence's " Eunuchus," at 
 Westminster), afterwards, as Sir James Macdonald, Lord High 
 Commissioner of the Ionian Islands ; Lygon, second Earl 
 Beauchamp; Granville Somerset, Daniel Finch, Gaisford, 
 Addington, St John, &c., &c. 
 
 Heads sketched in masterly style, and finished like minia- 
 tures, on the shoulders of figures attired as cavaliers, Eoman 
 heroes, knights in armour, or dignified ecclesiastics, commemo- 
 rate these and others of his acquaintance ; and it is not surpris- 
 ing that to possess such a portrait of a friend or relative was 
 an object of ambition with many. A highly finished sketch 
 of Dean Jackson himself underwent the ordeal of the " great 
 man's " approval ; and his head of " poor Walter Bagot, which 
 I hope his father will like " (a Westminster student drowned 
 in the Avon in 1800) still hangs in the family mansion. That 
 he thoroughly enjoyed the society of his friends is evidenced, 
 not only from his letters while at the University, but also 
 from the lifelong intimacies which in more than one case 
 resulted from the college friendship. Unluckily, at some 
 later period, probably after the publication of the ' Diary of 
 the Times of George IV.' in 1838, he seems to have destroyed 
 many of his own Oxford MS. diaries, so that a scattered page 
 or two only remain to show how he spent his time at college. 
 
 " Catalogue of the books I have read, and may chance to read, 
 this month of March 1804. Laus Deo. 
 
 " Burnet's ' Essay on Queen Mary,' a bad subject pretty well 
 handled. I believe Burnet, however, to have been a rogua 
 
 " Wodrow's ' Sufferings of the Church, of Scotland.' The author 
 a Whiggish rascal. 
 
 " ' La Vie de Philippe, Due D'Orleans,' a Cologne, 1793. Many 
 bad and foolish sentiments a fustian style ; the whole, however, 
 amusing. 
 
 1 Phillimore's Alumni Westmonasterienses.
 
 OXFORD MEMORANDA. 
 
 " 'The History of the Caliph Vathek,' 1786; entertaining, but 
 rather indecent in many parts. Mr Beckford of Founthill sup- 
 posed to have had a hand in the translation : 'tis likely, for there 
 aro warm descriptions of young men in the book. 
 
 "March 21. Aubrey's 'Miscellanies,' amusing beyond measure. 
 ' The Spanish Curate,' by Beaumont and Fletcher good things in 
 it, yet there is something so improbable in all B. and F/s plots, 
 that their plays are intolerable to a person of experience. N.B. 
 I have read Voiture's ' Letters ' now and then, which I borrowed 
 of George Eden, Lord Auckland's son. They please me more than 
 Sevigne'X though perhaps more laboured. A fig for nature if art is 
 more entertaining. 
 
 "March 22. Gave wine to Allen, Lord Allen's son, Inglis, and 
 Vernon, son to the Bishop of Carlisle. Allen is an Irishman, who 
 talks much of himself; Vernon, a deal of the maid who brought in 
 tea ; and Inglis is so polite that he will speak on any subject. 
 This term hath ended much to my satisfaction. I never spent 
 a pleasanter in Ch. Ch. I wrote to Magdalene Murray to-day, 
 directing to the Duke of Buccleuch. 
 
 "23. Eead the Duchess of Marlborough's 'Apology,' which 
 shows her to have been an imperious jade, however humbly she 
 may carry it. N.B. There are many of her MS. letters in the 
 possession of the Lygons, which came from old Mr Jenyns. 
 
 "Monday, 26. Finished ' Buscon,' by Don. F. Quevedo, which 
 is penned with much wit, but of a gross nature. Run over the 
 greatest part of Spottiswood's 'History' full of curious matter. 
 
 " Wednesday, 28. "Went to the Bodleian Library, and skimmed 
 Lord Orf ord's "Works. In his ' Reminiscences ' found some enter- 
 taining anecdotes of the Duchess of Marlborough, Buckingham, and 
 Lady Dorchester. 
 
 " April 8. Finished Wodrow two days since a tedious piece of 
 Whiggery. Read since a great part of Granger's ' Biographia,' of 
 which I am very fond. Barrow's 'Sermon on "Wit and Jesting,' 
 which is inconvenient, a good description in it of the different 
 kinds of wit. Reperused Johnson's ' Life of Savage ' excellent : 
 and several of that poet's verses, but cannot admire them as much 
 as the Dr did. Also read the second vol. of 'Letters from a 
 Nobleman to his Sister,' a work founded on the detestable amours 
 of Lord Grey and Lady Harriet Berkeley, and written in a debauched 
 and silly strain. 
 
 " Friday, June 8. Was examined for the degree of A.M. God 
 be thanked that it is over. 
 
 " Saturday. My dear friend, Newtown, went from this place ; 
 may Heaven prosper him wherever he goes ! his direction is Sans 
 Souci, Dublin. I lent Berens the first vols. of Sevigne and Moliere ;
 
 CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE ' ANTI- JACOBIN/ 23 
 
 Corne, 'Burnet on the Catechism;' Fiennes, the second vol. of Claren- 
 don ; Grey hath Homer, and Inglis my ' Julian of the Bower.' 
 
 "June 21. Finished my business in the schools. I have within 
 this time read ' Sir Tristrem,' Lord Chatham's ' Letter/ Archbishop 
 Laud's ' Troubles,' Lord Clarendon's 'Life,' Sir J. Eeresby's 'Me- 
 moirs,' &c., &c. Mem. I can put on my master's gown the term 
 after next Easter. Read Boswell's ' Journal of a Tour to the 
 Hebrides,' printed 1786 entertaining; also the ' Eomance of the 
 Forest ! ' ' 
 
 During his residence at Oxford, two outlets for his genius 
 were placed in his way. The first of these, through Canning 
 (" a bachelor of the House " (Edes Christi}, was his enlistment 
 in the band of Anti-Jacobin writers. His first contribution 
 was a poem entitled " The Vision of Liberty," written after 
 the manner of Spenser, which may be found in the ' Anti- 
 Jacobin Eeview,' vol. ix. p. 515. It commences with an intro- 
 ductory description of ravaged and deserted France, over the 
 wasted fields and ruined chateaux of which appears the tower- 
 ing brazen temple of the idol Liberty, supported by pillars of 
 the bleeding heads of the victims of the Reign of Terror 
 three stanzas being dedicated to the memory of the Queen, 
 the Dauphin, and Madame de Lamballe. Towards this shrine 
 approach in procession, after the manner of the Court of Queen 
 Lucifera (' Fairy Queen,' book i. canto iv.), the leaders of the 
 English Whigs, headed by Fox. Mrs Wollstonecraft Godwin 
 and her spouse are not forgotten, nor is Peter Pindar, nor his 
 special antipathy, the Irish devotees of liberty. The stanza 
 descriptive of Ireland is unhappily so true to the present 
 condition of affairs there, that it deserves reproduction : 
 
 " Oh Ireland, spot accursed ! tho' glorious fair 
 Shines there the sun, the flowers enamelled blow, 
 And scent, with fragrance sweet, the balmy air 
 Rippling the gliding pools that softly flow : 
 No noxious reptile there to man a foe 
 Abides but black revenge with cautious plan, 
 Cold-blooded cruelty with torments slow, 
 Springs rank ; with weeds the goodly soil's o'erran, 
 .And all the reptile's venom rankles in the man." 
 
 The " Ode to a Vagabond Savan," in the same publication
 
 24 THE ' ANTI-JACOBIN/ 
 
 for December 1801, bears marks of his turn of thought and 
 expression, though no allusion to it occurs in his MSS. The 
 Hibernian poet of love and liberty is the theme of sundry 
 unfinished pasquils of this date, piquant enough: 
 
 " Oh dear, pretty Tommy ! the thunder may roar, 
 
 And also in pailfuls the rain may down fall, 
 But you and your draggle-tailed sweetheart no more 
 Shall nestle like toads brooding under a wall. 
 
 The chill winds may blow till they blister their cheeks, 
 And shake the fresh myrtle of love to the root ; 
 
 My Tommy no longer melodiously squeaks 
 Alas ! Epicurus's pigstye is mute." 
 
 This next might refer to that 
 
 " Eventful day, 
 That ever-glorious, almost fatal fray," 
 
 between Moore and Jeffrey. In anticipation of the poet's 
 death by the " leadless pistol," the following fragment is very 
 appropriate : 
 
 " Following then poor Tommy's bier 
 
 Came all the nymphs of virtue brittle, 
 Whose names, with cadence soft, appear 
 In luscious strains of Master Little. 
 
 First, with solemn measured tread, 
 
 Came Julias, flocking on in dozens, 
 With nodding, dripping, drooping head 
 
 So like, the criticks swear they're cousins, 
 
 Or sisters, for in these fine times, 
 
 Thanks to our philosophic foxes, 
 Poets act incest in their rhymes, 
 
 Begetting tuneful paradoxes." 
 
 Perhaps the best estimate of his poetical politics may be 
 made from a poem of about a hundred and fifty lines on the 
 subject of the once notorious staymaker of Thetford, Thomas 
 Paine, author of 'The Age of Eeason.' It commences with 
 an apostrophe to its subject : 
 
 " Hail, sacred light of Reason, Paine-refined, 
 New blessing to the long-benighted mind !
 
 ADDRESS TO THOMAS PAINE. 25 
 
 thou who showest man he is a slave, 
 Wretched on earth, nor lives beyond the grave ; 
 That but a foolish joy, whate'er appears 
 A smile of sunshine in this vale of tears ; 
 That but a foolish hope, the hope to soar 
 To other worlds when time shall be no more ; 
 With thankful hearts we woo thy genial rays, 
 And bless Philosophy of modern days. 
 
 And thou, sage Paine, who with no sparing hand 
 Hath scattered knowledge o'er thy native land ! 
 Eager to prove that heaven and hell are jests, 
 Mankind deluded fools and soulless beasts ; 
 Dear to the world was that auspicious day, 
 When, grasped the quill, the needle cast away, 
 Ardent for liberty, agape for praise, 
 You fell to botching books from botching stays. 
 
 Can any worthy meed, great Thomas, say, 
 Be found thy generous labours to repay ] 
 Is there a meet reward beneath the sky, 
 Thou precious fish that cleansest Tobit's eye ? 
 Bring purple robes, the cap with bended knee, 
 A fool's cap ? no ; the cap of liberty, 
 And cut whole forests of dark laurel down 
 To build a gallows 1 no ; to form a crown. 
 
 Yea, lucky Paine, you wrote in happy times ; 
 Now blasphemy and treason are not crimes. 
 In days when men revered the kingly breed, 
 Thy neck or ears had paid th' audacious deed. 
 Then Williams, sweetest of Apollo's train, 
 Had sung thy rope in many a melting strain, 
 Melodious Coleridge mourned thy ravished ears, 
 And Southey's maudlin muse dissolved in tears." 
 
 He then proceeds to describe in vivid colours the effects 
 upon society of the spread of principles of irreligion and 
 anarchy. Take one example : 
 
 " Oft on his father's grave young Paul would think, 
 How long the old man lingered on the brink 
 Alack, ye heavenly powers, that it were sin 
 Gently to shove the tedious dotard in ! 
 Paul skimmed Voltaire the crime grew very small ; 
 Paul studied Paine the sin seemed none at all ; 
 Paul slew his sire, was hanged, and hung in chains, 
 A bright example to the tribe of Paines."
 
 26 SATIRE ON THE 'AGE OF REASON.' 
 
 The Liberal ladies, "loose in their principles as in their 
 dress," now come in for their share of condemnation, their 
 apostle, Mrs Mary Godwin, being, of course, specially exe- 
 crated ; and then, apropos of the influence of the hopes inspired 
 by religion in softening the severity of the pangs of parting 
 from friends or relatives, occur probably the best lines in the 
 poem, an apostrophe to a friend of his own, drowned in the 
 prime of life : 
 
 " How is thy playful mirth, thy fancy fled ! 
 Ah, Walter, mouldering on thy silent bed 
 Beneath the baneful yew's funereal shade, 
 How premature thy youth was doomed to fade ! 
 Alas ! the leafy grove and verdant field 
 At times to winter's powerful influence yield. 
 The painted flowers, dulled by his icy breath, 
 All disappear in temporary death. 
 But when the spring returns with genial showers, 
 Fresh grow again the forests, meads, and flowers, 
 Gay, green, and lovely as they were before ; 
 But man but man, once withered, springs no more." 
 
 And the poem concludes with a melancholy picture of the 
 triumph of Paine and Buonaparte, and of the future high-priest 
 of infamy, Peter Pindar. It will be seen at once that, with 
 much neatness of versification, and even occasional happi- 
 ness of expression, the poem is wanting in power. His satire 
 does not bite and rend ; it nibbles and tickles. He moves like 
 a stripling in unaccustomed panoply, and evidently would 
 be more at his ease in lighter harness. There is, nevertheless, 
 an evident vein of sincerity, which gives dignity and force to 
 passages not otherwise conspicuous for poetic merit. 
 
 At this time, also, he formed an acquaintance with one who 
 lived to become his most constant and valued friend, and to 
 be of infinite service to his pencil, by suggesting subjects for 
 its exercise and to his pen, by withdrawing it from the ignoble 
 service of political strife to the more worthy field of chivalric 
 poetry and historical research. In 1802 the two first volumes 
 of the ' Minstrelsy of the Scottish Border ' appeared, under the 
 editorship of Walter Scott. 
 
 A publication so congenial to his tastes induced him to ad-
 
 ACQUAINTANCE WITH SCOTT. 27 
 
 dress the editor, then personally unknown to him, with an 
 offer of assistance as a contributor of old ballads. 
 
 The sequel of this application was the contribution of two 
 original ballads from his pen to the third volume of the ' Min- 
 strelsy,' published in 1803. Though there exposed to a com- 
 parison not only with Scott himself, but with Leyden, Lewis, 
 Colin Mackenzie, Morritt, and others of no little poetical merit, 
 his contributions stood the test of public criticism as favour- 
 ably as the other contents of the collection. The verdict may 
 be given in the words of Anna Seward, in whose case, to 
 quote Lockhart's ' Life of Scott,' sound sense, as well as vig- 
 orous ability, had unfortunately condescended to an absurd 
 disguise of style. "How rich is Scotland at this period in 
 poets ! Mr Sharpe is a fine one ; witness his ' Tower of Re- 
 pentance.' The 2d and 3d stanzas are admirable ; so is the 
 whole of the ensuing poem, ' The Murder of Caerlaveroc.' 
 It contains an original poetic picture of the extremest beauty 
 a lady asleep : 
 
 " ' Unclosed her mouth of rosy hue, 
 
 Whence issued fragrant air, 
 That gently, in soft motion, blew 
 Stray ringlets of her hair.' 
 
 Then how natural is the ensuing dream (when wet, as she 
 slumbers, by the blood of her bridegroom), that the waters of 
 the Forth flowed over her ! The musical locality of the last 
 stanza but one is striking." Miss Seward to Walter Scott, 
 July 29, 1803. 
 
 The first interview between the future friends took place 
 in Oxford in April 1803, and his early impressions of Scott 
 were hardly so favourable as to presage the fast friendship 
 which ultimately united them. He thought the Border Min- 
 strel too high-flown, especially in his compliments, of which 
 Sharpe's fastidious nature always had a suspicion. Ere long 
 they understood one another better. Scott, writing to Surtees 
 in April 1808, takes occasion to say : " Charles Kirkpatrick 
 Sharpe is here at present ; he is, I find, an old college friend 
 and correspondent of yours. He is a very ingenious as well
 
 " ELVIRA." 
 
 as agreeable young man, and, I think, will be an excellent 
 poet when the luxuriance of his fancy is a little repressed by 
 severer taste. I never saw so excellent a drawer of comic 
 figures, for I will not debase his sketches by calling them 
 caricatures." The two friends, with these points of dis- 
 similarity, united to produce a combination of genius, taste, 
 and acute power of portraiture without which the history of 
 Britain, of North Britain especially, would have wanted half 
 its popular interest. 
 
 Sharpe did not, however, immediately give up political 
 writing ; on the contrary, during the critical years which suc- 
 ceeded the brief Peace of Amiens, he did his part towards the 
 propagation of national principles by the circulation of an 
 ironical address to the people of Dumfriesshire, in imitation 
 of the tracts circulated by the Friends of Liberty, which was 
 much appreciated at the time it was published. But his pen 
 from this time forward was rather employed upon poetry, 
 romance, or history, or all three combined. The next few 
 years were chiefly passed in Scotland, with but brief visits to 
 Oxford and London; and he did not publish anything till 
 1808, although he speaks of endeavours to get a play acted 
 (which had been submitted to and approved of by Scott and 
 Impey), of which he says that " worse plays have passed off 
 very well." 
 
 This play a tragedy in five acts, "begun 1807, finished 
 1808 " is a close imitation of his favourite, Dry den, and con- 
 tains about 1800 lines of blank verse, from the mouths of but 
 six characters the Duke and Duchess of Medina, their two 
 daughters, their son, and a fickle Marquess, whose betroth- 
 ment to the elder donna, while he loves the younger, is the 
 cause of all the catastrophes. The jealousy of his contracted 
 spouse Elvira involves her brother Carlos in a duel with 
 Pedro, in which the former is slain. The Duke poniards 
 Pedro in revenge, and Leonora, the younger sister, goes mad 
 and stabs herself with the fatal dagger, while Elvira an- 
 nounces her intention of repairing to a convent; but, as 
 Walter Scott to whom the play was submitted, and from 
 whom it received high encomium remarks pertinently
 
 CRITICISMS BY SCOTT AND IMPEY. 29 
 
 enough, in a note, " I doubt Elvira's penitence, though her 
 retirement to a convent may be announced. She should be 
 like Tirconnel, who became a Chartreux friar, 
 
 II y vecut sans jamais dire un mot, 
 Mais sans pouvir jamais etre devot ! ' " 
 
 The following extract may suffice as the specimen-stone of 
 the entire edifice, and at the same time exemplify the critical 
 remarks of Scott and Impey: 
 
 " LEONORA (sighing). And them wilt curse me too, whon Carlos dioa 
 
 when Carlos lies 
 Within his timeless grave. 
 . DUCHESS. That will I never [for I lovo thoo doarly. 
 
 Enfeebles the rest. W. S. 
 Long my supreme delight, thy infant charms, 
 Thine early sweetness stole those griefs away 
 Caused by a husband absent and unkind. 
 Carlos abroad the fierce Elvira ever 
 Her grandam's charge, my comfort was in thee ; 
 Still present I would feast my tearful eye 
 Upon thy gracious dawn, thy rising sunbeams, 
 That through those days of sorrow varied bright 
 With all the dyes refulgent of the morn ; 
 Then how I joyed, breathing a plaintive lay, 
 When first I marked thee softly lisp the close ! 
 As shepherd swain, piping at lonely eve, 
 Blesses the mimickry of Echo sweet, 
 
 Beautiful W. S. 
 
 Responsive sudden from a flow'ry hill. 
 LEO. days of innocence, fled past recalling ! 
 DUCH. When older grown, with transport still I hear thee 
 Chaunt heavenly clear the darlings of thy child- 
 
 hood, 
 
 Grenada's battles, where our mighty sires 
 Subdued the Crescent, and bedecked their loves 
 With Moorish gems and meed of many a fray. 
 LEO. Farewell to those for ever now no more 
 Such lays of triumph suit me ; I must sing 
 Sad requiems to the lute, of youths depressed 
 By cruel fate in life's delicious mornieg ; 
 
 morn. E. B. I 
 
 Of fair ambition narrowed by the grave, 
 And fervent friendship wrapped in chilly lead.
 
 30 VOLUME OF POEMS. 
 
 DUCH. Despair not so : thy brother yet may flourish ; 
 
 ?W. S. 
 Tho' his physicians shake their heads and sigh, 
 
 sage.E. B. I. 
 
 We know the Esculapian tricks of terror 
 To work a miracle from easy cures : 
 He demos now. slumbers. E. B. /." 
 
 The tragedy was never publicly performed, and it is ques- 
 tionable whether even the taste of that day would have 
 endured so much of stage dialogue with so little action and 
 so simple a plot. He published at this time, however, a 
 small volume of poems, some of which must be allowed to 
 possess considerable merit, and which as a whole were not un- 
 favourably criticised by the literati of the day. " Talking of 
 fair ladies and fables," writes Walter Scott to Lady Louisa 
 Stuart, 19th Jan. 1808, "reminds me of Mr Sharpe's ballads. 
 They exhibit, I think, a very considerable portion of imagina- 
 tion, and occasionally, though not uniformly, great flow of 
 versification. There is one verse, or rather the whole de- 
 scription of a musical ghost-lady sitting among the ruins of 
 her father's tower, that pleased me very much. But his 
 language is too flowery, and even tawdry, and I quarrelled 
 with a lady in the first poem who yielded up her affection 
 upon her lover showing his white teeth. White teeth ought 
 to be taken great care of, and set great store by, but I cannot 
 allow them to be an object of passionate admiration it is 
 too like subduing a lady's heart by grinning." The more 
 characteristic contents of the collection are, first, a very 
 successful imitation of an antique air, intended for music, 
 most pathetic in its simplicity, of which the refrain runs, 
 " man, condemned to die " ; and then a humorous remon- 
 strance, supposed to be addressed by a portrait of an old 
 Countess of Eoxburghe to Miss Drummond of Perth, upon 
 the indignity with which it had been treated by being con- 
 demned to the garret in Drummond Castle. In a copy of 
 the book, illustrated by the pencil of the author, this piece 
 affords an admirable specimen of his artistic skill : the stern 
 virago is depicted as carrying out her threat, in case of her 
 complaint being unheeded of descending bodily from her
 
 THE MARGRAVINE OF ANSPACH. 31 
 
 frame to draw the curtains of her inattentive mistress, whose 
 graceful form, starting from slumber, makes an admirable 
 foil to the stiff presence of Countess Jean in her farthingale 
 and stomacher. 1 
 
 At this period of his life, his residences at Oxford and Hod- 
 dam became varied by many visits to London, as well as to the 
 country houses of hosts of friends, who valued him for his 
 social qualities, and the store of varied information which he 
 was capable of contributing to the general stock. Gray's 
 Court, near Henley, was one of these, and so was Burghley 
 ("by Stamford Town"), of which he speaks in after-years 
 with great affection ; but his great resort for several years was 
 Benham, the residence of the Margravine of Anspach, with 
 whom, and with her son Keppel Craven, he had formed a 
 great intimacy. "Everybody knows," he writes on the fly- 
 leaf of a volume of her autograph letters, " that she was the 
 daughter of Lord Berkeley, and first married to Lord Craven. 
 When I was acquainted with her, she had the remains of 
 much beauty, which she disfigured with an immense quantity 
 of rouge and burnt cork, as I think, on her eyebrows. She 
 was very graceful, and could assume, when she pleased, the 
 manners of the best times ; she composed music prettily, but 
 spoilt her own songs with a cracked voice ; she danced well, 
 and was an excellent shot. I am told that she never was a 
 tolerable actress, though extremely fond of exhibiting herself 
 on the stage. She has written a great deal : what I know of 
 her works are these : ' The Baron Kinkvervanhotsdorsprakin- 
 gatchdern,' a tale which Miles Peter Andrews afterwards 
 made a play of, and got hissed for his pains ; a Poem to Dr 
 Jenner, published in the 'Foundling Hospital for Wit;' 'A 
 Crimea Tour;' 'The Soldier of Dierenstein, or Love and 
 Mercy,' an Austrian Story; 'A Funeral Panegyric on the 
 Margrave,' folio ; the song in this collection, the ' Address to 
 the Gauntlet,' and her own Memoirs in two octavo volumes. 
 Her beauty, her talents, her good fortune, and her bad temper, 
 created her numerous enemies. She makes a figure in many 
 scandalous works, such as 'The Female Jockey Club/ 'Me- 
 
 1 See Etchings by Charles Kirkpatrick Sharpe, p. 149.
 
 32 THE BENHAM CIRCLE. 
 
 moirs of the Due de Lauzun,' &c., &c. Her life, if faithfully- 
 written, would make a most extraordinary book. 1826. She 
 died at Bath in the month of Feb. 1828." 
 
 There was a congeniality of sentiment pervading the circle 
 at Benham, which must have made it a place of real enjoy- 
 ment to its inmates, among the most constant of whom were 
 Sir Lumley Skeffington, " topographical " Gell, and Mr Sharpe. 
 "When at Benham," the latter writes home in 1810, "one 
 night Keppel, Skeffington, and I acted the last scenes of 
 ' Alexander the Great.' Keppel was the king ; Skeff, Eoxana ; 
 and myself Statira. I wish you could have seen us, for the 
 exhibition was excellent. The audience, which consisted of 
 Her Highness, Gell, and his sister, were in raptures, especially 
 with Statira's death, who was stabbed with a faggot-stick, and 
 expired upon the lapdog's cushion." A marginal note to a 
 letter of the Margravine's gives the following portrait of the 
 Eoxana of the evening : " Sir St George Lumley Skeffington, 
 ci-devant the remarkable beau. He painted his cheeks, and 
 wore a black wig of horse-hair, and was the most frightful of all 
 the hideous dandies I ever beheld, but with an excellent heart, 
 and very good-natured." He died at the age of eighty-two in 
 November 1850. Keppel Craven was more attractive, as well 
 as more intellectual, and possessed no mean capacity for de- 
 scribing the scenes of foreign travel which had such fascina- 
 tion for him, if we may judge from his correspondence with 
 Mr Sharpe, and his ' Tour through the Southern Provinces of 
 the Kingdom of Naples.' 
 
 Those who are familiar with the memoirs and fashionable 
 novels of the last generation, will have no difficulty in pictur- 
 ing to themselves the circle with which we are now concerned 
 the wits and dandies, sometimes both in combination, of the 
 days of the Eegency ; but, from his powers of minute observa- 
 tion, as well as from his shrewd and incisive style of descrip- 
 tion, the sketches of these celebrities, scattered throughout 
 C. K. Sharpe's notes or correspondence, are always worth 
 recording. 
 
 From the margin of a copy of Lady Charlotte Bury's ' Times 
 of George IV.' we glean a notice of a well-known name :
 
 QUEEN CAROLINE. 33 
 
 "Lewis had numberless good qualities, of which she (Lady 
 Charlotte) could be no judge : he was once in love with her, and 
 she is the heroine of his ' Monk,' which made a great noise when 
 it came out. The story is borrowed from other books. I first met 
 him at her house in Cadogan Place at supper : he talked so much 
 that I thought he was intolerable. I afterwards knew better how 
 to value him." 
 
 Indeed he seems fully to have shared the feeling of affection 
 with which Lewis is reputed to have inspired all who came 
 into intimate contact with him, which Byron expresses in 
 the couplet, a parody of two lines in ' The Lay of the Last 
 Minstrel,' 
 
 " I would give many a sugar-cane 
 Matt. Lewis were alive again." 
 
 The Count de Grammont, afterwards Due de Guiche, is 
 another of the figures (always referred to as the handsomest 
 man of his day) which encounters us at this period in his 
 notes and correspondence. But undoubtedly the most strik- 
 ing and interesting acquaintance among his associates at this 
 period of his life was the luckless Caroline of Brunswick, the 
 ill-used wife of that " filthy piece of crustiness," as he terms 
 George IV. It is curious to find that a minute observer, 
 not given to indiscriminate good-nature in his estimate of 
 others, keenly prejudiced against the political advisers by 
 whom the Princess was surrounded, and by no means enam- 
 oured of either the personal or mental charms of her Eoyal 
 Highness, pronounces most strongly in her favour with regard 
 to the controverted question of her guilt or innocence as to 
 the serious charges brought against her by her husband. In 
 the fly-leaf of a copy of Lady Charlotte Bury's book, already 
 mentioned given by him to a friend whose kindness enables 
 this quotation to be made he thus records his deliberate 
 opinion : 
 
 " Before I had the honour of being acquainted with the Queen, 
 I had heard many reports of her unchastity. I never saw anything 
 to confirm them. She had much esprit, and talked as freely as 
 many clever and most virtuous women of the highest rank whom I 
 have known both in Scotland and England used to do. This is 
 
 VOL. i. C
 
 34 QUEEN CAROLINE. 
 
 no proof of incontinence. There is an old Scottish proverb, ' The 
 silent soo eats a' the draff.' 
 
 " I have watched her eyes, the tell-tales of the soul, when in the 
 company of the handsomest men of the day, the Duke de Guiche 
 and many more. There were no wanderings, twinklings, or gazings, 
 She generally paid most attention to people who were ugly and 
 had a reputation for anything like talent. 
 
 " That she was capable of inventing malicious lies, which this 
 bad woman asserts in her second volume, I no more believe than 
 that she was capable of raising devils. Devils enough she had 
 about her, and could not lay them ; but this I am very confident 
 of, that she is now in a place where few of her former companions 
 have ever reached her ; and consequently, where she enjoys that 
 ease and happiness to which she was here so much a stranger. I 
 bid her a grateful farewell." 
 
 This is a strong testimony from a stanch Jacobite and aris- 
 tocrat, while his estimate of her personal attractions dispels 
 the idea that he was the victim of her charms. 
 
 " Her eyes projected," he says, " like those of the royal family. 
 She made her head large by wearing an immense wig; she also 
 painted her eyebrows, which gave her face a strange fierce look. 
 Her skin and she showed a great deal was very red. She wore 
 very high-heeled shoes, so that she bent forward when she stood or 
 walked : her feet and ankles were dreadful." 
 
 This is not the language of an adorer ; nor do her mental 
 powers appear to have attracted his admiration, though one 
 anecdote he relates, by its tone of superstition, may have pro- 
 duced a sympathetic tinge in his own mind : 
 
 " I heard the Queen tell a story about her father's ghost. Sitting 
 alone in her chamber very soon after his death, a puff of wind blew 
 the smoke down the chimney, and in this cloud she perceived him 
 quite plainly. She seemed very serious in what she said." 
 
 The work to which these extracts were annotations is one the 
 publication of which occasioned Mr Sharpe exquisite pain, and 
 did much to produce that rigid, almost misanthropic, caution 
 as to intercourse with strangers which distinguished his latter 
 years. The author, Lady Charlotte Campbell, had been an old 
 friend of his, and he had entertained much regard for her 
 happiness as well as literary reputation. His letters to her,
 
 LADY CHARLOTTE BURY's BOOK. 35 
 
 written from Oxford in the days of his residence there, were 
 in the vein of cynic comment so natural to him and so enter- 
 taining to his correspondent. Few inheritors of human infir- 
 mity would wish to have their expressions of opinion lightly 
 uttered in bygone days, produced without revision to a public 
 for which they were not designed. But Mr Sharpe's case is 
 even worse ; for when at last he constrained himself to a 
 perusal of Lady Charlotte's volume, we find him indignantly 
 protesting against the process to which his own letters had 
 been subjected. In the first emotion of indignation he ex- 
 presses himself in strong terms : 
 
 " I confess I have felt a hydrophobia as to ink lately for 
 an impudent covetous woman hath printed some letters of mine 
 written nearly thirty years ago, which, expose my former imperti- 
 nence in that way fully enough ; but she exposes her own profligacy 
 more. Retired as I live, much she blazons cannot hurt me ; but 
 there are people here still who are mentioned in these scrawls, and I 
 find they take no notice. So this is exactly the fable of the old 
 grey-haired badger, who dug a hole to live and die in, and a fox 
 tried to stink him out, but could not." 
 
 A more serious protest is contained in a letter to a valued 
 friend, a connection of the offender : 
 
 " I cannot express my vexation about the book you mention. I 
 am too poor to buy new publications, and, living in the lonely way 
 that I now do, I seldom hear anything about them till they are 
 stale with everybody else ; but three days before you came hither, 
 a friend of mine called expressly to tell me about this work. The 
 intelligence came upon me like a thunderbolt : in all my reading 
 and experience I never knew anything of the kind. When I wrote 
 the silly, impertinent letters in question, between twenty and thirty 
 years ago, I knew that I was writing to the Duke of Argyle's 
 daughter, and thought myself safe by all the common rules of good- 
 breeding and morality. But I find I was extremely deceived. I 
 could say more on this head, but my gratitude gets the better of 
 my spleen, for I am eternally bound to remember that Lady Char- 
 lotte Bury is Lady Wemyss's sister-in-law and Mr Campbell's 
 mother. 
 
 " She has done me an irreparable injury not as to being deemed 
 a fool for writing such silly stuff, as I am now at an age far beyond 
 the consideration of vanity as to intellect ; but by this publication 
 I certainly must lose two sincere friends, who have been beyond
 
 36 LADY CHAELOTTE CAMPBELL'S BOOK. 
 
 measure kind to me for twenty years. Whatever regards them 
 was written before any intimacy took place, so I think I can 
 scarcely be blamed ; but it is impossible that I can ever see or cor- 
 respond with them more. 
 
 " Lady Charlotte was always writing to me about her novels, to 
 which I could only return dry answers, being unable either to con- 
 tribute to or read them : if I were of more importance than I am, 
 I should be tempted to think that she has played me this trick out 
 of revenge. 
 
 " I have not seen the book which has given me so much pain, 
 and am resolved not to read it; for I know she has altered my 
 letters, and I know my own temper and the embers of my decaying 
 spirit so well, that were I to peruse it I should never be able to 
 refrain from some sort of reprisal which would be most unbecoming 
 in me on very many accounts. I do not think it possible that any 
 of my now few friends can suspect that I should give my consent 
 to such a publication ; however, I have written to the Duchess of 
 Sutherland on that head, and have made up my mind to do nothing 
 more. 
 
 " It is lucky for me that I live entirely out of society how could 
 one show oneself in public after such an exposure 1 
 
 "Dear madam, here is far too much on a very unpleasant topic, 
 for which I sincerely beg your pardon ; and I know, too, that you 
 will forgive me. My reason for sending this by post is, that you 
 tell me L. E. is to be at . . . ; and I am anxious that she, who 
 has been so long kind to me, should know as soon as possible what 
 share I had in this odious book, which, unlucky as I have been in 
 many ways, I deem the greatest evil that ever befel me in my life." 
 
 The narrative anticipates itself in relating these particulars, 
 but not without a design of drawing from the mention of these 
 circumstances a moral which may justify the editor of Mr 
 Sharpe's remains in a determination not, indeed, to exercise a 
 fastidious or capricious censorship of his correspondence, but 
 to regard it as the proper province of this brief Memoir to 
 bring before the reading public the man of letters and critic, 
 rather than the mere dilettante correspondent of idle seekers 
 of ephemeral rumour. We are approaching a period of Mr 
 Sharpe's life when its daily routine becomes uneventful, and 
 its progress is only notable by the results of his pen or pencil. 
 The part he played in the revival of the purest forms of medi- 
 eval art, in the protection of disregarded fragments of anti- 
 quity, in the correction of false taste and careless historical
 
 OPINION OF SHELLEY. 37 
 
 writing, will be found quite sufficient to account for the high 
 esteem in which he was held by the best of his contempo- 
 raries, without any reference to the presumed satirical powers 
 upon which the imagination of the educated vulgar has 
 founded a superstructure of uncharitable conjecture. His 
 satire, in fact, was for the most part levelled at those who, 
 by their talent or eccentricity, or both, had made themselves 
 public property, and who had no right to complain of the 
 severity with which he undoubtedly was wont to treat them. 
 Shelley, for instance, who was one of the subjects of his pen 
 in the garbled letters of the publication above referred to, was 
 one of those characters for whom, while admitting the genius 
 of their writings, he had an intrinsic loathing. An undated 
 letter, apparently of this period, begins thus : 
 
 " I send you the ' Cenci,' written by that wicked wretch Shelley, 
 and well written. I remember him at Oxford, mad bad and 
 trying to persuade people that he lived on arsenic and aquafortis. 
 I also send three volumes of Lady Mary, not being able to find the 
 second ; but it is of little consequence, as the quintessence of her 
 esprit is in her letters to Lady Mar and to Lady Bute, in her old 
 age. I may study the latter carefully. All her criticisms are just, 
 her good sense and knowledge of the world most instructive, and 
 her style, a few old-fashioned expressions excepted, is inimitable 
 for its vivacity and gracefulness. I talk like papa, in the same 
 fatherly strain. I must hint my wishes for the restoration of your 
 health, which cannot, I think, "be improved by tea-parties, and 
 nymphs in wet drapery, and French flounces, just at present. 
 Even a mouthful of moonshine, mixed up with a ladeful of whale's 
 blubber and six tears of a caterwalling cat, must needs be per- 
 nicious. I cannot add any more at present, because I am more 
 than drowsy ; but take my prescription, or rather warning, with 
 your opium and camphor, and rely upon my probatum est. May 
 the spirit of Galen make thy nightcap sit easy ! A vous toujours 
 and good-night." 
 
 Lady Mary, of course, is the introducer of inoculation the 
 most illustrious bearer of the name of Montagu, for whose wit 
 he entertained a very high admiration. An extract from his 
 memoranda is appropriate to the mention of her name : 
 
 " 12th Feby. 1821. I went out to dinner at Niddrie with Count 
 Arthur Zamoyski in his carriage. After dinner, in the drawing- 
 
 210026
 
 38 LORD BYRON'S MOTHER. 
 
 room, Sir James Stewart of Coltness, \vho has printed some of Lady 
 M. W. Montagu's letters, told me that his father ordered him, being 
 quite a boy, to wait upon Lady Mary when she came last to London, 
 and was dying I think he said in the year 1763 or 64. When he 
 entered her chamber she exclaimed, ' Here comes my young gallant; 
 let everybody quit the room.' He had never seen her before. She 
 was seated in a large chair by her bedside a shrivelled old woman, 
 so wrapt up about the head and body that Sir James scarcely saw 
 her. In. the room were Lord Bute and a number of political char- 
 acters, which inspired the boy with much awe and dread. Sir 
 James told me that he had curtailed some of the letters at the de- 
 sire of Lord Bute, though Lady Louisa Stuart was against it. I 
 said I supposed that his father had been very handsome to interest 
 Lady Mary so much ; he answered that he was, but the lady was 
 too old for gallantry. He seemed to think that some amour of hers 
 occasioned her separation from her husband." 
 
 For Byron, like Shelley, Mr Sharpe entertained a distaste, 
 founded on his objection to the moral principles of his muse 
 which led him to speak too slightingly, perhaps, of talents 
 which in reality he could not but appreciate. 
 
 A memorandum of July 1815 bears reference to this topic : 
 
 Old Mrs Baron Mure told me that Lord Byron's mother was a 
 fool and his father a rascal. He poisoned his first wife, Lady Caer- 
 marthen, who was divorced for him, because her father, Lord Hol- 
 dernesse, left his money to her legitimate children, and he had 
 nothing more to expect. Miss Gordon, though she was told of 
 this, and had a fortune of 3000 a-year, married him. He spent 
 all her estate, saving about 30 a-year, on which she lived with 
 her son in a garret at Aberdeen, supported in a great measure by 
 her friends, who, when they killed a cow or sheep, would send her 
 part. She was always fat. When Mrs Siddons appeared first in 
 Edin., Miss Gordon took a hysterick fit in the playhouse, clung 
 round Mrs Mure's neck, kicked off her shoes, and was carried out 
 by Mr Dundas, now Chief Baron, and put into Lord Napier's 
 carriage, which conveyed her, screaming all the way, to George's 
 Square, where she then resided with Baron Clerk's mother. 1 
 
 1 This is probably the correct version of the story which Moore gives in his 
 ' Life of Byron. ' " Being at the Edinburgh theatre one night when the character 
 of Isabella was performed by Mrs Siddons, so affected was she by the powers 
 of this great actress, that towards the conclusion of the play she fell into violent 
 fits, and was carried out of the theatre screaming loudly, ' Oh, my Biron ! my 
 Biron ! ' " Moore's Life of Lord Byron, p. 3 : London, 1860.
 
 CONVERSATION WITH SCOTT. 39 
 
 Conversation with Walter Scott, January 1819, from Mr 
 Sharpe's memoranda : 
 
 " C. K. S. I think Lord Byron took the plot of ' Manfred ' 
 from the story of Major Weir and his sister. You know he was 
 in Scotland in his youth. 
 
 " Scott. I do not believe it. He appeared to me to know 
 nothing of Scotch literature. I showed (or repeated) some parts of 
 ' Hardyknute ' to him, which delighted him. 
 
 " I objected to his attempts at humour in ' Don Juan,' and men- 
 tioned ' Beppo ' as a vulgar poem. Scott seemed not to agree with 
 me. He did not seem aware that his prose was bad, and thought 
 the 'Adventures of a Greek' written by him; but I perceived 
 that his memory, which is bad, did not serve him on this subject. 
 Do you think we shall have any more of ' Don Juan ' ? 
 
 " Scott. Yes ; when Lord B. wants money. 
 
 " G. K. S. Did you ever read his first volume of poetry ? 
 
 " Scott. Yes, certainly, and there were some good things in it ; 
 but Jeffrey fell foul on it, and it cost him a great deal of flattery 
 afterwards to do away the affront ; but I should not wonder if Lord 
 B. were to give him a blow yet all of a sudden. 
 
 " Scott seemed to think Lord B. a better man than I did, but 
 then he gave him a silver vase. 
 
 "When I conversed with Scott about the story which Captain 
 Manby tells as to his belief in apparitions, he assured me that he 
 never either believed in them or pretended he did. He seemed to 
 think Lord Byron very capable of telling lies to make people stare." 
 
 Before we finally lose sight of the celebrities of the gay 
 world, a circumstance has to be recorded, important in itself, 
 as well as for the influence it had upon the future career of 
 the accomplished subject of our Memoir. We have seen that 
 he frequently obliged friends by the gift of drawings, either 
 portraits or fancy sketches of romance or caricature. But 
 these were not only strictly private gifts, and were pre- 
 cluded by their rarity from obtaining even that measure 
 of popularity which the existence of a few copies of a pic- 
 ture confers upon it, but were, moreover, only available for 
 the illustration of any printed book by the employment 
 of the services of a professional engraver, under whose 
 hands, in but too many instances, the point and delicacy 
 of a highly finished drawing is apt to disappear. As far 
 back as 1808, Mr Sharpe had executed for Walter Scott
 
 40 SKETCHES. 
 
 the drawing of Queen Elizabeth dancing in her private cham- 
 ber (from a passage in Weldon, and not, as some suppose, in 
 Melvil's ' Memoirs '),* in the letter of thanks for which inimit- 
 able limning is contained the highly flattering proposal that 
 the donor should join the staff of the infant ' Quarterly Ee- 
 view.' 2 Nor was his fancy restricted to any particular style 
 of art. One of his drawing-books, which we may take by way 
 of specimen, begins with a couple of serious sketches from 
 Scott's ballad of the " Eve of St John," followed by a favourite 
 subject of his, children with a cat in a blanket. A Moorish 
 lady singing to her guitar comes next, and then a portrait of 
 one of his father's gamekeepers with dogs. Then, exquisitely 
 finished, an Eastern procession of weeping females carrying a 
 human heart ; and on the following page a water-colour copy 
 of a picture by Murillo at Ch. Ch. The " Laird of Laminton," 
 one of his favourite Scottish ballads, then suggests a sketch, 
 the figures in which are most spirited, and Sir Hugh and the 
 Jew's daughter, from the legendary ballad, are depicted with 
 great force of expression. A little farther on, "Venus and 
 Cupid " are treated in the Dutch style, the goddess correcting 
 her son with the heel of her shoe for having audaciously 
 pinked her with one of his shafts. Portraits of several friends 
 come next, the faces finished with the minuteness of minia- 
 tures, the figures sketched in pencil in some fancy garb here 
 a cardinal, there a Roman warrior, &c. A sketch of con- 
 trasted figures from Crabbe's Poems, and some portraits in a 
 more caricatured style one of which, of a personage who 
 obtained an unenviable notoriety in the criminal annals of the 
 country during his residence in Oxford, he was constrained to 
 
 1 " In this his (Sir Roger Aston) employment I must not passe over one 
 pretty passage, I have heard himselfe relate : That he never did come to 
 deliver any letters from his master but ever he was placed in the lobby, the 
 hangings being turned him, where he might see the Queene dancing to a little 
 fiddle, which was to no other end than that he should tell his master, by her 
 youthfule disposition, how likely he was to come to the possession of the 
 crowne he so much thirsted after ; for you must understand the wisest in this 
 kingdome did beleeve the King should never enjoy this crowne as long as there 
 was an old wife in England, which they did beleeve we ever set up, as the 
 other was dead." The Court of King James, by Sir Anthony Weldon, 1650. 
 
 2 See Lockhart's Life of Scott, 30th December 1808.
 
 TASTE FOR PORTRAITS. 41 
 
 copy more than once at the request of some of his intimate 
 associates. It was probably the desire to avoid the tedium of 
 this process of repetition which induced Mr Sharpe to com- 
 mence etching on copper, and his first specimen of the art was 
 devoted to a well-known and most appropriate subject. In 
 1813 appeared a caricature of Madame de Stael, with the 
 motto 
 
 " Corinne se consume en efforts superflus, 
 La vertu n'en veut pas, le vice n'en veut plus." 
 
 No description, save his own, 1 could do justice to the fidelity 
 of the satire, which is said to have inflicted the keenest wound 
 that the incarnation of female vanity ever received. But the 
 great step had been taken ; the fertility of fancy and dexterity 
 of hand which he possessed were henceforth to be, in a cer- 
 tain sense, the property of the reading public, and not to be 
 restricted exclusively to the albums of a few intimate friends. 
 Valuable as his antiquarian labours undoubtedly were, they 
 derived at least half their importance from the fact that they 
 were generally accompanied by his own pictorial illustrations. 
 This allusion brings before us very forcibly the taste which 
 Mr Sharpe possessed for collecting all manner of curious and 
 antique relics connected with Scotland. His first acquisition 
 of paintings took place in Oxford, where purchases and pre- 
 sents made him master of one or two Lelys and Vandykes. 
 But it was when settled in Edinburgh in his later years that 
 he extended his collection to the large dimensions familiar 
 to his friends, and the visitors, " fit though few," to whom he 
 
 1 Madame de Stael (1813) was one of the most singular - looking foreign 
 monsters that I ever beheld. Her face was that of a blackamoor attempted 
 to be washed white. She wore a wig like a bunch of withered heather, and 
 over that a turban which looked as if it had been put on in the dark ; a short 
 neck, and shoulders rising so much behind that they almost amounted to a 
 hump. With this ugliness, all the airs of a beauty for ever tormenting her 
 shawl into new draperies, and distorting her fingers as you see them in the 
 ridiculous French portraits by Mignard and his followers. As to her conver- 
 sation to people who like long rhapsodies, scarcely intelligible, the theme 
 chosen by the speaker, I daresay it was charming ; for my own part, I had the 
 bad taste not to be able to endure either her writings or discourses. I believe 
 posterity will be of my mind as to the former ; of the latter it cannot judge. 
 MS. Note in ' Times of George IV.'
 
 42 PASSION FOR CHARTERS. 
 
 delighted to exhibit it. While he had a full appreciation of 
 the beauties of art, and selected his choicest morceaux with 
 fastidious care, he was omnivorous in his desire to possess 
 resemblances of personages in any way famous in Scottish 
 annals, or connected with the families in which he was in- 
 terested, so that any daub was admissible if a genuine like- 
 ness, and copies of well-known originals supplied the places 
 of the actual portraits. He was not, in fact, the connoisseur 
 to whom 
 
 " Some demon whispered, Visto, have a taste ; " 
 
 but his collections had a fund of association belonging to each 
 individual article, and were often more valuable from the sug- 
 gestions conveyed by their inspection, than from their own 
 intrinsic merit or beauty. 
 
 It must not be forgotten that the critical wit and the 
 favourite of gay society was all this while a diligent student 
 and careful searcher after the neglected remnants of early his- 
 torical lore. Every year of his life was marked by the ac- 
 cumulation of a collection of notes and memoranda relating 
 to Scottish pedigree, family anecdotes, or the annals of the 
 Stuart sovereigns. Scott himself, indefatigable as he was, 
 acknowledges over and over again his obligations to his friend 
 and correspondent for information bearing upon witchcraft 
 and ballad lore, or upon the wider field of historical research. 
 We have seen in the fragment of his Oxford diary how he 
 spent his days there ; and the library, or the muniment-room, 
 wherever he chanced to be staying, was infallibly made to 
 yield up its treasures to his scrutinising investigation. In 
 these researches he revelled ; and to quote his own words from 
 a letter written in his later days, 
 
 " Amid all the direful modern productions that one is obliged to 
 skim in order to keep up in the world, something like Dr Swift's 
 polite conversation, written by fine ladies and fine gentlemen not 
 to mention the debates in the two Houses of Parliament (alas ! I 
 am become a politician in my old age ; penury and politics go hand 
 in hand together, if one has any money in the Stocks), which are 
 so extraordinary as to the wit which makes everybody there laugh, 
 and the wonderful statements as to historical points. I once
 
 EXCERPTS FROM NOTE-BOOKS. 43 
 
 flattered myself I had read somewhat of history ; but now, alas ! 
 Lord Brougham and many others on both sides of the question 
 convince me of my error. In this case the perusal of a chartulary 
 is a great pleasure to me. There is no effort at fine writing, no 
 silly jests like those which delight the two Houses, no false rhymes, 
 no false statements, I charitably hope as I am no judge of old 
 charter Latin no sin against Magna Charta. In this case the 
 charter has given me great pleasure and I will allow your Grace 
 to deem me a liar when I declare I have read the greater part of 
 it with more pleasure than I have perused the ' Lady of Lyons,' 
 ' Love/ by Lady C. B., or the last speech and dying words of Sir 
 F. B. and Sir G. C. in some of the late newspapers." 
 
 But he did not confine his investigations to charters only. 
 The miscellaneous character of his extracts may be exempli- 
 fied from a page or two of one of these note-books : 
 
 " The Brahmans built hospitals for sick monkeys, and encouraged 
 child-murder. I have known many Brahmans nearer than Hindostan." 
 
 "In 1517, Sultan Selim drove the Circassians (the Colchi of the 
 ancients) out of Egypt after they had continued there 286 years. 
 Another author says they were expelled 1437. Buonaventure 
 Vulcanius, vide Vallancey's ' Collectanea de rebus Hibernicis/ vol. vi. 
 part 1st." 
 
 " Mr Sharpe, the late Laird of Hoddam's picture was painted by 
 Eamsay, 1749." 
 
 " Circumstances respecting the skeleton of Hugh of Lincoln, 
 murdered 1255. 'Lady's Magazine/ 1691, p. 501." 
 
 " One Eab Ker put the canting phrases of M'Millan and M'ETeil 
 (two non-con, hill preachers) in rhyme. ' Eamsay 's Poems/ 133." 
 
 " The testimony of Sir Thomas Bowes, Kt. which he spake upon 
 the bench concerning the aforesaid Anne West, shee being then at 
 the barre upon her tryall." 
 
 This is a long extract relating to a case of witchcraft at 
 Manningtree, the town which has the dishonour of being the 
 native place of Matthew Hopkins the witch-finder, and appears 
 to have been copied from ' A true and exact Eelation of the 
 severall Informations, Examinations, and Confessions of the 
 late Witches arraigned and executed in the County of Essex, 
 who were arraigned and condemned at the late Sessions holden 
 at Chelmsford before the Rt. Honble. Eobert Earl of Warwick, 
 and several of His Maj/s Justices of Peace, 29th July 1645.'
 
 44 OX JOHN KXOX. 
 
 " A monkey (a devil) beats a wizzard very sore. ' Theatre of 
 God's Judgments,' 121." 
 
 " A story like to that of Kirk and the woman, p. 366." 
 
 " Julius 3d, p. 504, vide Sleidanus." 
 
 "Mr John Lowe, schoolmaster at Birmingham, answers the 
 mathematical questions in the ' Town and Country Magazine,' 
 May, 1771." 
 
 " The source of female depravity is neither more nor less than 
 the abominable, shocking, barbarous, and indecent fashion of the 
 present scandalous head-dresses. The basis of this horrid super- 
 structure consists chiefly of goats' hair. Now the imagination is 
 not only heated thereby to an unnatural degree, but imbibes by 
 inspiration the most vicious ideas from the hair of that libidinous 
 animal, a goat, whereby the fancy is set in a violent perturbation, 
 and runs riot after every agreeable male object that presents itself. 
 Ditto." 
 
 " 0. Cromwell's principal she-favourites were Genl. Lambert's 
 wife and Major-Genl. Vernon's sister," &c. 
 
 He seems early in life to have meditated some historical 
 works. A lengthy fragment upon the character of Mary 
 Queen of Scots, in the shape of a letter to a student of her 
 apologists, is too long and too outspoken to be given here, 
 though worth preservation in another shape. A shorter frag- 
 ment on John Knox will better illustrate the line of argument 
 he was likely to take : 
 
 " John Knox, of stern and pitiless memory, may with propriety 
 be styled the father of the Eeformation in Scotland, and of all the 
 Presbyterian prejudices that unfortunately accompanied it. He was 
 a man of great courage, of a haughty and imperious spirit, and pos- 
 sessed talents which, though neither profound nor brilliant, were 
 admirably adapted to forward the great aims of his ambition. He 
 gloried in extorting tears from a young and disconsolate Queen, who 
 was giiilty of the heinous crime of adhering to the religion in which 
 she was bred; he instigated the mob to destroy those beautiful 
 structures erected by Popish devotees or deluding monks, imagining 
 that God is more properly worshipped in a cowhouse than in a 
 cathedral ; and he esteemed the lawless murder of the Archbishop 
 of St Andrews so excellent a jest, that he could not refrain from 
 being facetious on it even in the history which goes under his 
 name. 
 
 " A man of such dispositions conducted the Scottish Eeforma- 
 tion, and poured on the multitude those waters of bitterness which
 
 SETTLEMENT IN EDINBURGH. 45 
 
 imbued their minds with hatred to Popery then, afterwards to 
 Prelacy, and with it, to all order, civil as well as ecclesiastical; 
 and which led them, at the period we now treat of, to those 
 horrible excesses and enormities which bloated the fields and the 
 scaffolds with their blood. 
 
 " Knox had the satisfaction long before his death of seeing his 
 efforts crowned with success, and of being able to treat those whom 
 birth and fortune had made his superiors with that brutal rudeness 
 which low minds are fond of assuming. He chid the gentle Mary 
 in such harsh expressions that she was forced to forget her dignity, 
 and burst into tears ; and he thus addressed himself to her husband, 
 Darnley, while in the king's seat in the High Church of Edinburgh : 
 ' Have you, for the pleasure of that dainty dame, cast the Psalm- 
 book in the fire ? The Lord shall strike both head and tail.' He 
 ceased not to arraign with impunity the corruptions of the Court, 
 the skipping and dancing and dallying with dames ; while he could 
 wink at and overlook the heaviest part of his accusations in a hater 
 of Popery and the whore of Babylon. The Eegent Morton, by such 
 pretences, managed to retain his leman Janet Sharp and his friend 
 John Knox at the same time. Janet did not meddle with Kirk 
 matters, or get drunk with the blood of the saints and John Knox 
 was content." 
 
 His first publication of an historical character was the 
 ' Household Book of the Countess of Mar,' that same Lady 
 Marie Stewart whose name hath been already noted as one of 
 the illustrious points of his ancestry. The dedication of this 
 work speaks for itself : " To James Erskine, Esq. of Cambus, 
 this trifle is dedicated by his affectionate cousin and humble 
 servant, the Editor." It was adorned with a portrait of the 
 Lady Marie, a sketch of Mar's Work, Stirling, and a tail-piece 
 in the style of Hollar's etchings, entitled ' Mortalium Nobil- 
 itas,' all of which will be found in the volume of his etchings 
 published in 1869. 1 
 
 "We have said that his association with the fashionable 
 world of London was a brief one. The death of his father in 
 1813, and the settlement of his mother in Edinburgh, induced 
 him, after that date, to fix his permanent residence in that 
 city, which he scarcely left again, though he hinted at times a 
 
 1 Etchings by Charles Kirkpatrick Sharpe, with Photographs from Original 
 Drawings, Poetical and Prose Fragments, and a Prefatory Memoir. William 
 Black wood & Sons, Edinburgh and London.
 
 46 93 PRINCES STREET. 
 
 purpose of returning to Oxford to reside, and to the end of his 
 life retained his name on the books of Christ Church. His 
 health had never been robust, and now assumed that phase of 
 chronic infirmity which necessitates care and precaution in 
 living. Connections once near and dear were estranged ; and 
 his own temper was one adapted rather to a sedentary than 
 an active career. He might have visited scenes of beauty 
 and interest with one friend or another, to whom his conver- 
 sational talents had endeared him as a companion; but of 
 tours and travelling companions he entertained an amusing 
 horror. Long before this he had written : 
 
 "It is now, let nie see, good thirteen years since my mind was 
 made up concerning tours to Highlands or Lowlands by sea, or 
 through the air in a balloon that they are the most nauseous, 
 miserable, comfortless amusements in nature. What can people 
 cooped up in a cage or barrel, or straddling and jumbling together 
 on horseback, do but quarrel ? The very motion shakes up all the 
 sentiment of ill-nature or peevishness in the soul, and every jolt of 
 the carriage or stumble of the beast makes the cork of prudence fly 
 out of the bottle, and your vinegar spirt upon one another's faces. 
 Take Job, that Hebrew wonder, mount him upon a horse or ass, 
 and clap patient Grizzel on a pillion behind him ; or, if you please, 
 put them both into a gig or tandem, or any other carriage men- 
 tioned on those tiresome boards with which toll-gates are adorned, 
 and send them off on a jaunt to Melrose, Loch Catrine, St Andrews, 
 or the Falls of Clyde. You would find, perhaps, ere they had got 
 half-way, Job overturned, and sitting once more upon a dunghill 
 cursing himself, his wife, all the world, but particularly Grizzel ; 
 while she the jumbling having converted all her milk of human 
 kindness into butter-milk, or Corstorphine cream returns flash for 
 flash, and raves against ber evil stars for having coupled ber for 
 ever so brief a period with such a rude, awkward, ill-tongued, un- 
 governable, ridiculous, ugly, old, bloody-minded rascal ! " 
 
 We shall therefore find Mr Sharpe for full twenty years a 
 fixture at No. 93 Princes Street, adding to his collection of 
 portraits and relics, taking notes and making sketches for 
 books or engravings, continuing his correspondence with a 
 few and yearly decreasing number of old friends, and asso- 
 ciating with such members of the world of letters as Thomas 
 Thomson, David Laing, and Walter Scott, with whom his in-
 
 THE SCOTT TANKARD. 47 
 
 timacy increased as its duration lengthened. The gift of the 
 drawing of Queen Elizabeth had been speedily followed by 
 that of another subject from the family annals of the House 
 of Harden the characteristic anecdote of Muckle-mou'ed 
 Meg, for the legend of which see a letter from Walter Scott 
 to Miss Seward in 1802, printed in Lockhart's ' Life of Scott.' 
 He also executed for Scott the admirable drawing of the 
 " Feast of Spurs," which hangs with the former in the ante- 
 room of the library at Abbotsford, as does also another 
 humorous illustration of olden manners, known as the " Best 
 Foot Foremost," and the original sketch of the frontispiece to 
 Petrie's ' Rules of Good Deportment,' engraved for the repub- 
 lication of the volume by his friend ; and in 1823 an etching 
 of a lady holding a shield, with a pavilion behind her, and a 
 lion in front, " was executed (as Mr Sharpe writes in 1835) by 
 Lizars, from a drawing done, by Sir Walter Scott's desire, for 
 a volume of poems written by Lady Anne Barnard and her 
 relations, which he printed as his contribution to the Banna- 
 tyne Club. The shield bears the arms of Lindsay, and the lion 
 and canopy allude to the supporters and crest of Balcarres. 
 After the volume was printed Lady Anne and her friends 
 changed their minds, and would let nothing appear but " Auld 
 Robin Gray " and the continuation : so Sir Walter was forced 
 to destroy the whole impression, save the two ballads I men- 
 tion. Of course nobody could imagine what the frontispiece 
 had to do with them. Some people thought the female figure 
 was Jenny, the shield her wheel, and the lion Auld Robin. 
 When Lady Anne died she left Sir Walter fifty pounds." l 
 
 1 Lady Anne Barnard's face was pretty, and replete with vivacity, her figure 
 light and elegant, her conversation lively, and, like that of the rest of her 
 family, peculiarly agreeable. Though she had wit, she never said ill-natured 
 things to show it. She gave herself no airs, either as a woman of rank, or as 
 the authoress of " Auld Robin Gray." 
 
 She resided many years in London with her sister, Lady Margaret Fordyce, 
 whose beauty had been very uncommon. When Sir Walter Scott projected 
 his contribution of a book to the Bannatyne Club, he requested Lady Anne to 
 allow him to publish her celebrated song, to which she consented, and after- 
 wards sent him numerous other poems by herself and her family, which he 
 printed in a thick 4to vol., with the title of 'Lays of the Lindsays.' Un- 
 luckily, before the book was circulated, the lady and her friends changed their
 
 48 THE SELKIRK " BIRSE." 
 
 In the same memorandum of 1835, he also says that the ex- 
 cellent plate of a man selling Jacobite ballads to a lady whose 
 mother is a Whig, used in Mr Laing's second series of fugitive 
 Scottish poetry, " was done by Lizars, from my design, as a 
 book-plate for Sir Walter. The scene is the High Street of 
 Edinburgh, with the old Cross. This plate, alas ! was never of 
 any use to my dear friend." 
 
 When, in 1814, the magistrates of the city of Edinburgh 
 conferred the freedom of the city upon Walter Scott, they 
 at the same time presented him with a piece of plate, which 
 he chose in the shape of an old English tankard, designed by 
 Sharpe, and engraved with a Latin inscription by Professor 
 Gregory, as recorded in Lockhart's ' Life ' : a letter from Scott 
 to Mr Sharpe, with a sketch in pen and ink of the utensil 
 in question, is now in the Scott Museum. 
 
 In December 1815, again, when the Sutors o' Selkirk were 
 presented with a piece of plate by the Duke of Buccleuch, 
 Sharpe was called into conference as to the design, the 
 " birse " being, as Scott observes in one of his letters, a most 
 unmanageable decoration. The result of the committee of 
 taste is thus stated by Scott in a letter to the Duke of 
 Buccleuch : " After some conference with Charles Sharpe, 
 I have hit on a plan which I think will look well if toler- 
 ably executed namely, to have the lady seated in due 
 form on the top of the lid (which will look handsome, and 
 will be well taken), and to have a thistle wreathed around 
 the sarcophagus, and rising above her head and from the 
 top of the thistle shall proceed the birse." In Lockhart's 
 ' Life,' from which the above extract is taken, the mystery 
 of the birse or birss is thus explained in a note : " A 
 birse or bunch of hog's bristles forms the cognisance of the 
 sutors (Anglice, shoemakers). When a new burgess is ad- 
 mitted into their community, the birse passes round with the 
 
 minds, and all was suppressed save the song of " Robin Gray," and its continua- 
 tion. When Lady Anne died, she bequeathed to Sir Walter the sum of fifty 
 pounds, probably as a compensation for the expense he had incurred respecting 
 "the Lays." It is much to be regretted that this volume was buried in 
 oblivion. C. K. S.
 
 KIRKTON'S ' MEMOIRS.' 49 
 
 cup of welcome, and every elder brother dips it into the wine 
 and draws it through his mouth before it reaches the happy 
 neophyte, who of course pays it similar respect." l 
 
 On all occasions, indeed, the memory, the pencil, and the 
 collections of Sharpe were at the disposal of his eminent 
 friend, who constantly referred to him on such points. On 
 the fly-leaf of a fine copy of Terence (with Brandt's woodcuts, 
 dated 1499) is the following inscription in Scott's handwrit- 
 ing : " For the acceptance of Charles Kirkpatrick Sharpe, Esq. 
 This volume, of which the text so well suits his Attic humour, 
 and the grotesque decoration his talent for embodying the 
 costume and manners of former times, is destined by his 
 sincere friend, Walter Scott." Such was the opinion of the 
 man most competent to judge of such qualities. 
 
 Mr Sharpe's first historical publication was one in which 
 he found ample and ready assistance from his distinguished 
 ally. The nature of the work, indeed, would have com- 
 mended it to Scott's sympathies from any quarter. The 
 fanaticism of the Covenanters, painted by one of their 
 own party, was naturally acceptable to the author of 'Old 
 Mortality' and 'Bonnie Dundee'; and he must have re- 
 joiced when his friend proposed to become editor of 'The 
 Secret and True History of the Church of Scotland, from the 
 Eestoration to the Present Time,' by the Eev. Mr James 
 Kirkton. Mr Sharpe, in his preface, states that he owed the 
 possession of this curious MS. to his friendly 2 correspondent, 
 
 1 For an amusing account of the initiation of Prince Leopold, the late King 
 of the Belgians, to the freedom of the birse, see the same work. 
 
 2 Surtees to Sharpe, May 8, 1807 : "I send you also a MS. book, which fell 
 by accident into my hands lately, entitled Secret History of the Church of 
 Scotland, &c., by one John Kirkton. It seems written on the wrong side, and 
 complains bitterly of poor folk being forced to go to hear 'ane sinful and 
 ignorant curate.' So if it is of any import or curiosity, and not (which it 
 probably may) a mere transcript of some printed book already in your pos- 
 session, you must say Fas est ab hoste doceri." 
 
 The same to the same, July 1807 : " I am extremely vexed that you have 
 not received Kirkton, and fear, from the lapse of time, it is lost. " 
 
 The same to the same, January 1818 : " Your assistance to Master Constable 
 has obliged me to take in his magazine, that I may read your histories, marvel- 
 lous pleasant, of frail countesses, and fauns ' a' black, but very bonny. ' " 
 
 The same to the same, March 1819 : "I do trust you will go on from time 
 VOL. I. D
 
 50 RECEPTION OF ' KIRKTON/ 
 
 Mr Surtees of Mainsforth, well known as the historian of 
 Durham. He refers to two other copies ; one in the British 
 Museum, with this note at the beginning, "This book con- 
 tains Mr Kirkton's History of his own Times in the year 
 1679. He was a person of a good understanding, and of a 
 great deal of witt." The other, in the Advocates' Library, 
 Edinburgh, is among the MSS. of Wodrow, who made con- 
 siderable use of Kirkton's Memoirs in his own better known 
 work. " The reader," adds Mr Sharpe, " will find that Kirk- 
 ton's History is written with much spirit, and in spite of 
 the strong prejudices which he had imbibed, frequently with 
 a great degree of candour. And this fragment is valuable 
 not only as containing various anecdotes of the author's con- 
 temporaries, hitherto unpublished, but as the production of 
 a man once so highly reverenced by his own sect." On this 
 publication Mr Sharpe poured out, in the form of notes, as 
 much pungent wit and curious learning as might have made 
 a book of reputation had they been systematically used. He 
 likewise appended to it the narrative of the murder of Arch- 
 bishop Sharp, from the pen of James Russell, one of the 
 assassins, and adorned it with portraits of the unfortunate 
 prelate, of the Duke and Duchess of Lauderdale, and with a 
 very spirited though slight sketch of the battle of Bothwell 
 Brig, from a picture at Dalkeith House. 
 
 Walter Scott, however, warned his friend that he had 
 bestowed care and pains upon a subject which would be 
 caviare to the million ; and this opinion as to the want of 
 popularity of Kirkton was fully justified by the result. It 
 was published by Ballantyne, a handsome quarto, in 1817, 
 with a dedication to the editor's college friend, Earl Gower; 
 but though now grown somewhat scarce, it never became 
 popular. Its reception from the cognoscenti was on the whole 
 favourable, though in some cases Calvinistic prejudices carried 
 the day. There is a poor review of it in ' Constable's Edin- 
 burgh Magazine,' 1817, where it is most obvious that the 
 
 to time throwing out successive portions of recondite Scots history, and 
 specially diablerie of all sorts, in which, though I have none of your faith, my 
 imagination is horribly interested."
 
 LAW'S 'MEMORIALS.' 51 
 
 writer was struggling between a strong desire to vindicate 
 the heroes of the Covenant against the Tory sarcasms of the 
 editor, and an indisposition to fall foul of a valuable colla- 
 borateur. For in the same volume is a most spirited narra- 
 tive of the famous family scandal of the housfe of Cassilis, the 
 elopement of the first Countess with Johnnie Faa, the gipsy 
 chieftain, sufficiently marked as from the hand of C. K. 
 Sharpe, even were it not accompanied by an etching of the 
 frail Countess, in that easy charming style which few of his 
 contemporaries could equal. At this period Mr Sharpe was 
 an occasional contributor to 'Constable's Magazine,' and as 
 such had to suffer certain skittish impertinences from the 
 juvenile wits who were flinging up their heels in the then 
 youthful ' Maga.' We do not, however, notice anything from 
 his pen worth reviewing but the contribution above referred 
 to. Nor can the reviewer in the ' Edinburgh Magazine ' be 
 complimented on the airiness of his style; the critique of 
 ' Law's Memorials/ as well as of the prior work, being in the 
 severest order of heavy platitude. As will be seen anon, the 
 book was done ample justice to in the ' Quarterly ' ; while the 
 ' Edinburgh Eeview ' does not seem to have noticed it at all, 
 possibly from a wish not to offend by that tone of hostile 
 comment which consistency in politics would have necessi- 
 tated. Besides, Mr Sharpe had been a frequent contributor 
 to the avowed organ of opposition, the ' Edinburgh Annual 
 Eegister,' in which, over and above several selections from 
 family papers, such as letters from David Hume to Matthew 
 Sharpe of Hoddam, of which a facsimile is given, of Lord 
 Eglintoun to his son, Alexander Lord Montgomerie (after- 
 wards tenth Earl, and murdered by Mungo Campbell), &c. &c., 
 at least one original poem of Mr Sharpe's had appeared the 
 " Fragment composed by Moonlight," in the volume for 1810. 
 It was not, however, for want of the good offices of the Border 
 Minstrel that the republication of Kirkton did not meet with 
 its due meed of credit. His notice in the ' Quarterly ' was of 
 the most appreciative character of just and discriminating 
 approbation, and ended by a promise ultimately unfulfilled 
 of returning to the subject in a notice of ' Law's Memorials,'
 
 52 COLLECTION OF BALLADS. 
 
 the next republication of an obsolete author which Mr Sharpe 
 undertook ; although from fragments in his papers he had 
 evidently contemplated a memoir of the Duke of Monmouth, 
 whose tragical history had always a charm for him. It would 
 seem that a proposition from Sir Walter Scott for a joint book 
 on Witchcraft induced him to select the chronicler of satanic 
 exploits as a subject for a reprint, and Scott was again ready 
 to act as adviser and accoucheur to the work. 
 
 In 1818 was published in quarto by Ballantyne, ' Law's 
 Memorialls ; or, the memorable things that fell out in my 
 time within this Island of Brittain,' accompanied by a dedica- 
 tion to the Earl of Wemyss, and a prefatory notice containing 
 some particulars of Mr Eobert Law himself, and an introduc- 
 tion tracing the legends of wizardry and spectral appearances 
 to the earliest periods of Scottish history. By this admirable 
 essay and the notes with which the text was adorned, Mr 
 Sharpe obtained a high reputation for knowledge of strange 
 legendary traditions ; but it would seem that he did not 
 achieve sufficient success to tempt him to republish other 
 works of the same character, as he seems at one time to have 
 contemplated, or to carry out the suggestion of the Author of 
 Waverley for a joint or independent original publication deal- 
 ing with superstitious anecdotes. 
 
 Nevertheless his next production was identified with the 
 same topic, being an etching, beautifully imagined, for James 
 Hogg's poem, ' The Witch of Fife,' published in 1819. 1 
 
 We come now to a work which may strictly be described 
 as a labour of love to him. His indefatigable industry in 
 collecting fragments of ancient ballads had enabled him already 
 to be of great service to Scott in introducing him to such 
 ballads as the " Twa Corbies," and by improving the versions 
 of other and better known specimens of the primitive muse. 
 But Mr Sharpe had an omnivorous taste for anything in rhyme, 
 which had any pretensions either to antiquity or to eccentri- 
 city. Of these he appears to have contemplated a collection 
 as early as 1803, to judge from the sketch of a burlesque 
 essay prefixed to a copy of the singular canticle beginning, 
 
 1 See Etchings, &c., Plate VII.
 
 LITERARY WORK. 53 
 
 " 0, Errol is a bonny place," 
 
 which afterwards found a place in his ballad -book. He 
 entitles it, "A specimen of the fourth vol. of the 'Border 
 Minstrelsy,' shortly to be published. The following ballad 
 was written down from the recitation of a middle-aged woman 
 who resides in a small cottage or hovel near Hoddam (which 
 is spelled in old documents Hoddame) Castle, with no com- 
 panions to relieve the tedium of solitude but an illegitimate 
 indiscretion of her niece, and a lean tabby cat, whose ears 
 have been curtailed, to impede her from catching goldfinches 
 and other birds which are wont to render vocal the hedges of 
 Annandale," &c. &c. 
 
 At length he carried out his project in a small volume, 
 printed in 1823 for private circulation only, and adorned with 
 an exquisite etching in imitation of the German school, and a 
 little vignette after Hollar. 1 This year may be considered as 
 his most prolific and successful one with the graver ; since, in 
 addition to the picture just mentioned, he executed a frontis- 
 piece for Mr David Laing's ' Fugitive Scottish Poetry,' one for 
 the same gentleman's ' Book of the Howlet,' and one for the 
 reprint of Lady Anne Barnard's "Auld Eobin Gray." 
 
 We do not find him actively engaged in any literary work 
 during the two years following, though a memorandum of 
 agreement is in existence, dated 10th December 1825, by 
 which he undertook to edit the 'Memoirs of Grammont,' 
 engaging to furnish notes at least equal to the text in extent. 
 This intention, to the great loss of the students of the secret 
 history of courts, never was carried into effect. 
 
 In 1826, the Bannatyne Club volume of ' Letters of the 
 Viscount of Dundee,' presented by his friend and connection 
 Mr Smythe of Methven, was augmented not only by the re- 
 results of some of his investigations into the Queensberry 
 papers, but by a pair of exquisite portraits of Bonnie Dundee 
 and his spouse ; the former from the picture now in the pos- 
 session of Lady Elizabeth Cartwright, the latter from a portrait 
 in his own collection. In the same year he contributed to Mr 
 
 1 Since reprinted, with additional notes from Mr Sharpe's MS., and addi- 
 tional ballads from the Skene MS., 1879. William Blackwood & Sons.
 
 54 PORTRAIT OF THE MARCHIONESS OF HAMILTON. 
 
 Laing's edition of the ' Eomance of Sir Greysteel,' a charming 
 illustration of an incident in the story, as well as a curious 
 head of his own remote ancestor, the covenanting Earl of 
 Eglintoun, who derived his sobriquet from the hero of the 
 poem, taken from an indenture between Sir Hugh Montgomerie 
 and Alexander Earl of Eglintouu in 1630. It will be discov- 
 ered, however, upon inspection of the facsimile of the deed in 
 Mr Eraser's ' Memorials of the Earls of Eglintoun,' 1859, vol. 
 ii. p. 288, that Mr Sharpe's copy of the Earl's portrait is not 
 very accurate. The year following found him employed upon 
 a couple of quaint reprints, both of which were illustrated by 
 engravings supplied by him. The first of these, entitled ' A 
 Pairt of the Life of Lady Margaret Cuninghame, daughter of 
 the Earl of Glencairn, that she had with her first husband the 
 Master of Evandale : the just and true account thereof, as it 
 was first written with her own hand, including a letter to her 
 husband the Master of Evandale, and another to my Lady 
 Marquess of Hamilton, with her last Will sent to the said Lady 
 Marquess inclosed therein,' he states to have been printed from 
 two manuscripts, neither of which is in the handwriting of the 
 authoress : " One was long possessed by a family related to 
 Lady Margaret, and is now much torn and defaced ; the other 
 is the property of Sir Walter Scott, Bart., who, with his wonted 
 and well-known generosity, allowed it to be transcribed by 
 the editor. I know not whether the original documents be 
 still extant ; and the point is of very little importance." From 
 the same preface we cull a very characteristic passage : " At 
 Hamilton Palace is a portrait of the Marchioness, which has 
 been engraved in Pinkerton's ' Scottish Gallery,' a work com- 
 posed of caricatures, and calculated to make us believe that 
 our ancestors resembled the 
 
 " ' Anthropophagi, and men whose heads 
 Do grow beneath their shoulders.' 
 
 The villanous copyists for the engravers, not content with 
 distorting the features of the faces, frequently added pot- 
 bellies and bolster arms of their own invention, to fill up 
 the measure of the plates. I verily believe that the world
 
 ETCHINGS. 55 
 
 never saw such a foul assemblage of monsters ; and of these 
 the poor ladies have come off the worst, for, generally speak- 
 ing, they remind one of the lothely dame in the ballad of Sir 
 Gawaine : 
 
 " ' Her nose was crookt and turned outwarde, 
 
 Her chin stood all awrye ; 
 And where there sholde have been her mouthe, 
 
 Lo, there was set her eye. 
 Sir Kay beheld that Lady againe, 
 
 And looked upon her snout : 
 Whoever kisses that ladye, he sayes, 
 
 Of his kiss he stands in doubt.' " 
 
 Lady Margaret luckily escaped the posthumous martyrdom, 
 as no picture of her is known to be extant. In truth, por- 
 traits of the Glencairn family are now very rare. The race, 
 alas ! hath passed away, even on panel and on canvas : their 
 honours are extinct, and their forms are forgotten. 
 
 " What is this moving tower in which we trust ? 
 A little winde closed in a cloud of dust." 
 
 LORD STIRLING'S Julius Ocesar. 
 
 The vignette to this quaint volume (of thirty quarto pages) 
 is a very highly finished specimen in the well-known manner 
 of Hollar, representing a lady, in Charles I. costume, looking 
 into a mirror in which is reflected a death's-head, a fancy not 
 improbably suggested by a plate in a favourite book of his 
 Jeremy Taylor's 'Holy Dying' in which Lady Vaughan is 
 depicted as contemplating a skeleton in a mirror. In its 
 peculiar way, it is equal to the best efforts of his pencil. 
 The companion volume, an account of the repentance of a 
 beautiful murderess, Jean Livingstone, the wife of John 
 Kincaid of Warriston, is from a MS. in the handwriting of 
 the historian Wodrow, and is illustrated by a copperplate, 
 " which I picked up in the Cowgate," writes Mr Sharpe, of a 
 lady with a crocodile's tail, attended by a maid carrying a 
 parasol, while a cavalier, whose horse is held by a page, 
 salutes her with deep reverence. 1 
 
 1 Lady with a Crocodile Tail. From the trial of Lady Warristoun "I 
 picked up the plate in the Cowgate," says Mr Sharpe; "but the tail (fish's
 
 56 ANNOTATIONS TO DOUGLAS. 
 
 In the following year he edited the 'Letters of Lady 
 Margaret Burnet to John Duke of Lauderdale,' which by the 
 kindness of the Countess of Dysart were transcribed from the 
 originals preserved in a drawer at Ham House, Surrey. The 
 vignette to this volume, also a quarto, was a head of the Duke 
 from a picture at Drummond Castle, and he supplemented the 
 correspondence with numerous valuable biographical notes. 
 In the preface he takes occasion to compliment his old friend 
 Thomas Thomson, " to whose profound knowledge and ardent 
 zeal the literature and history of Scotland are so much in- 
 debted." A sentiment reciprocated over and over again, in 
 letters from the antiquary. 
 
 In 1828 the reprint for the Bannatyne Club of the ' His- 
 tory of the House of Seytoun,' by Sir Eichard Maitland of 
 Lethington, was also illustrated by two of his engravings : the 
 one representing Eobert first Earl of Wintoun, with his wife 
 and daughter, a most characteristic study of ancient costume ; 
 the other a view of the interior of the Seton Chapel, a beau- 
 tiful remnant of medieval art, in which, unfortunately, his 
 graver was less at home than in portraiture or character sub- 
 jects. No one would care to look at his etching of the Seton 
 Chapel twice ; while his next work, the frontispiece to a re- 
 print of a quaint book, entitled Petrie's ' Eules of Good De- 
 portment,' is a piece of inexhaustible fun. This appeared in 
 1835 ; but it must not be supposed that Mr Sharpe was idle 
 during the whole of the intervening period. We may instance 
 some of his employments. 
 
 His books were always copiously annotated by his own 
 hand, but at this period of his life he became more methodical 
 in his habit of comment or supplement to the treasures of his 
 library. One of these, the Scottish Peerage of Sir Eobert 
 Douglas, was a favourite receptacle of his out-of-the-way 
 accumulations, and would be a valuable foundation for a new 
 edition of the knightly genealogist. Some of the short notes 
 
 he calls it) may have been suggested by an incident in one of his removals, 
 when the housekeeper volunteered to carry the stuffed crocodile under her 
 cloak, and its tail, dangling on the pavement, became detached from the body. 
 ' Not only dishonour, but an infinite loss ! ' "
 
 LOVERS' LEAPS. 57 
 
 refer to forgotten tales of personal scandal. Such as (under 
 title Annandale) : " Lady Harriet Hope has the smallpox. 
 Annandale and Hopetoun are not on good terms ; he thinks 
 him a disobedient son because his wife took the smallpox 
 without asking her mother's liberty. Fragment of a letter, 
 once in Lady Loudon's possession." But by far the larger 
 number are of the character of the specimen which follows, 
 deriving their interest more from the manner of their relation 
 than from anything especially piquant in the anecdotes them- 
 selves : 
 
 " The anecdote alluded to is thus told by Pennant : 
 " ' A daughter of the first Earl of Gowrie was addressed by a 
 young gentleman in the neighbourhood, much her inferior in rank 
 and fortune. Her family, though they gave no countenance to the 
 match, permitted him to visit them, and lodged him in a tower 
 near another in which was the young lady's chamber, but up a 
 different staircase, and communicating with another part of the 
 house. The lady, before the communicating doors were shut, con- 
 veyed herself into her lover's apartment ; but some one having 
 discovered it, told it to ber motber, who, cutting off, as she 
 thought, all possibility of retreat, hastened to surprise them. But 
 the young lady, hearing the well-known footsteps of her mother 
 hobbling up-stairs, ran to the top of the leads, and taking a des- 
 perate leap of nine feet four inches over a chasm of sixty feet from 
 the ground, lighted on the battlements of the other tower, whence, 
 descending into her own chamber, she crept into her bed. Her 
 mother having in vain sought for her in her lover's cbamber, came 
 into her room, where, finding her seemingly asleep, she apologized 
 for her unjust suspicions. The young lady eloped the next night, 
 and was married. The top of the towers from and to which the 
 lady leaped are still shown under the appellation of " The Maiden's 
 Leap." ' 
 
 "This story was some time since differently told; fear of an 
 enraged father with a drawn sword in his hand being assigned as 
 the reason of the lady's leap. An anecdote of the same kind, but 
 still more wonderful, was formerly current in Annandale respecting 
 the old tower of Cumlongan. There, it was said, a rash young 
 lady being surprised in similar circumstances, as the old people 
 expressed it, coming 'rampagin up the turnpyke like onie wood 
 bear, wi' a nakit sword in his nieve,' she ran to the top of the 
 castle, and leaping down to the ground, got entrance at the front 
 door, and was in her bed before her sire could descend from the
 
 58 PROTEST AGAINST VANDALISM. 
 
 battlements. The feline Venus of the Egyptians certainly proved 
 propitious to those vaulting damsels. Alas that she was so cruel 
 to the chaster Maid of Orleans ! whose leap from the battlements of 
 Eeaurevoir was unbroken by the pinions of Cupid, and nearly cost 
 her life. C. K S." 
 
 His collection of antiquities also increased rapidly in bulk 
 and in value. Many presents were made him of greater or 
 less worth and rarity, and from tune to time he added many 
 rare and curious articles, selected with greater judgment than 
 the miscellaneous treasures questionable value often thrust 
 upon him. His habitual courtesy was frequently strained to 
 find civil terms in which to acknowledge (where it was im- 
 possible to decline) the well-meant largesse of would-be 
 virtuosos. 
 
 Recluse as he was, he appealed to the acquaintances of 
 former years, and dedicated the epigrammatic satire so ger- 
 mane to him in defence of public privilege and of threatened 
 antiquity. He had always a vast aversion to those whom he 
 was accustomed to designate as Athenian improvers, watch- 
 ing over the relics of Caledonian history with an eye ever 
 vigilant against the Vandalism of boards, committees, sur- 
 veyors, and all municipal meddlers of the same sort. 
 
 A public protest against various contemplated acts of 
 municipal barbarism is conveyed in the epistle which fol- 
 lows : 
 
 " PROJECTED IMPROVEMENTS. 
 
 "To the Editor of the ' Edinburgh Observer.' 
 
 " ' Delenda est Carthago.' 
 
 " SIR, I have perused, in your newspaper of the 10th, a very 
 instructive letter as to the city improvements at present in medita- 
 tion. ' Permit me to transmit to you a few additional observa- 
 tions which have occurred to me on this most interesting subject. 
 Though the committee seem extremely anxious to prove that their 
 intentions are far from hostile to the antique beauty of our metro- 
 polis, and somewhat rashly assert that ' if the question be limited 
 to picturesque effect, the plans are calculated to meet the difficul- 
 ties of the most fastidious ' (p. 9), yet I can assure them and the
 
 PROTEST AGAINST VANDALISM. 59 
 
 public that very many of their fellow-citizens are of a different 
 way of thinking, and that I have had the honour of knowing 
 several persons of distinguished genius, not connected with Edin- 
 burgh, who deem all such encroachments little short of downright 
 Vandalism. I need only mention the name of Mr Westmacott, 
 whose judgment in such matters few will venture to dispute. In 
 the new plan as to the Castle, there is, should it be carried through, 
 one thing particularly lamentable, that by much the most pictur- 
 esque side of the fortress must suffer in the common calamity. 
 The projected cut will make it appear considerably lower, and 
 destroy the whole grandeur of the southern part. To be sure, we 
 shall have coal-carts and dung-carts to enliven it, and the continual 
 smoke from the houses one storey above the road, which may con- 
 ceal much of the mischief. Yet still, Mr Editor, it is a circum- 
 stance to be deplored. ' In life's last scene what prodigies sur- 
 prise ! ' Though I have lived to see, in the course of forty years, 
 the old town lose much of its primitive features, from unavoidable 
 decay, from the rage for improvement, and the little less destructive 
 element of fire ; tho' I have beheld Salisbury Craigs irretrievably 
 injured, and the Calton Hill utterly destroyed, yet never did I 
 expect to witness such a bold attack as this upon the rock and 
 Castle of Edinburgh. Surely our city projectors have forgot the 
 adage of Drummond of Hawthornden, which should be remembered 
 for more reasons than one : ' Les murailles et les fortresses sont au 
 Eoy personne, ne peut abuser de son bien au prejudice de son 
 souveraine.' ' The Castle/ say the committee, ' is thrown open to 
 view in many points, and is improved in every point. In partic- 
 ular, it is thrown open to view throughout the whole line of the 
 High Street, from which for ages it has been concealed ; and if no 
 other good arose than this from the scheme, it would be entitled to 
 the regard of the city.' Now, Mr Editor, the committee seem to 
 have forgot that our castles were originally erected for defence; so 
 they became, as one may say, the nest-eggs of towns, and houses 
 were built as near to them as possible, forming by degrees streets 
 and closes. Consequently the buildings on the Castle Hill were 
 the commencement of the city ; and as it is not evident that they 
 ever stood much farther apart than they do at present, the High 
 Street never saw the Castle at all, which might have been a pity 
 formerly, but is of no great import now ; for, cut as the committee 
 advises, the High Street will only see a big-bellied bulwark, and 
 other buildings devoid both of interest and beauty. The com- 
 mittee profess that no house of any celebrity is to be demolished 
 for these alterations, forgetting, it would appear, that memorable 
 mansion on the north side of the Castle Hill, which belonged to 
 Queen Marie of Lorraine, mother to our unfortunate Marie, and in
 
 CO EDINBURGH "IMPROVEMENTS." 
 
 her minority Regent of Scotland, a building probably one of the 
 most ancient, certainly one of the most interesting, in Edinburgh. 
 In truth, it would be very eligible to purchase this curious house 
 by means of a public subscription, in which, I believe, there would 
 be little difficulty, and carefully preserve it as a relic of times gone 
 by. Mr Westmacott was decidedly of this opinion, and made an 
 admirable sketch of it when here. I must add, that the committee 
 seem strangely mistaken also as to the pecuniary value of the 
 buildings on the north side of the hill ; for I positively know that 
 two storeys of that old property were some time since sold for almost 
 as much as they affirm would purchase the whole. At p. 24 of 
 their report the committee tell us, ' An assessment, therefore, for 
 such purposes is just one of the penalties which the inhabitants pay 
 for their rugged and picturesque locality.' Their rugged and 
 picturesque locality ! Certainly, Mr Editor, the committee are 
 pleased to be facetious. After the havoc displayed on the Calton, 
 and the proposal as to the Castle Hill, to talk of preserving rugged 
 and picturesque localities ! At present I will only trouble you 
 with one remark more, and that is respecting the lowering of the 
 High Street. If this expensive measure be rendered necessary, 
 owing to the awkard position of the County Rooms, why should 
 not the Rooms themselves be pulled down, and thus Mahomet go to 
 the mountain 1 It is not very probable that the warmest admirers of 
 modern architecture will much regret the destruction of a fabric 
 which the Commissioners seem to have thrust down into a sort 
 of ftotato-hole, purposely for the sake of concealment ; and so odd 
 a figure does it cut there, that it must ever remind one of Dean 
 Swift's witty poem on the Parthenon near Castlenock : 
 
 " ' The doctor's family came by, 
 And little Miss began to cry, 
 Give me that house in my own hand ! 
 Then Madam bade the chariot stand, 
 Called to the clerk in manner mild, 
 Pray, reach that thing here to my child ; 
 That thing, I mean, among the kale ; 
 And here's to buy a pot of ale.' 
 
 " I am, Sir, your most humble servant." 
 
 An admirable piece of caustic irony on municipal inter- 
 ference with the approaches to, and environs of, Edinburgh 
 Castle, may be quoted here : 
 
 " Eiks for a new Act for improving and embellishing the town 
 of Edinburgh the inhabitants to be cessed therefor according to
 
 EDINBURGH "IMPROVEMENTS." 61 
 
 the will and pleasure of the Magistrates. For painting pure white 
 the whole of the Castle rock, which will not only beautify the 
 same, but from the reflection of the sunbeams be of great advan- 
 tage to the oculists of the town, as it will occasion a decay of sight 
 in the inhabitants; item, it will be of infinite advantage to the 
 perfumers (this becomes of beautifying also), as it will give a 
 salutory hint to the older ladies of the city as to the use of Pearl 
 powder and other applications well known to be of advantage to a 
 weatherbeaten complexion. 
 
 "For making a tunnell through said rock, which will afford 
 easier communication than we at present possess between the Grass- 
 market and the New Town, and forward the sale of turnips and 
 cabbages from the garden in the North Loch. It will also, in case 
 of a siege of the Castle, which is extremely probable, facilitate the 
 access to water in the Well-house Tower; for the soldiers will 
 have nothing to do but to descend by a rope through the aperture 
 of the Castle well, as Don Quixotte entered into the cave of 
 Monterinos, and convey as many bucketfuls as they please into the 
 garrison this plan to be submitted, to the Board of Ordnance. 
 That here and there in the Castle rock niches are to be hewn 
 out, and in these colossal busts placed of all the Provosts and 
 Baillies who have contributed by their refined genius to the im- 
 provement of the town these to be executed by the best sculptors 
 in London as an encouragement to future Magistrates, and as 
 example of the excellent taste of the present dynasty of Edin- 
 burgh. 
 
 " That Messrs Montgomery, Weddell, and Davidson be employed 
 to draw up a plan of improvements for the High Church, being in- 
 structed that they are to contrive matters so that it should exactly 
 resemble an antient salt-cellar, the pride of the tables of our ances- 
 tors, surrounded with a wall of almond biscuits, spun sugar, and 
 whipt cream. They are to preserve the old form as little as pos- 
 sible, because the walls must recall unpleasing remembrances to 
 Catholics, Presbyterians, antiquaries, and all those whose ancestors 
 have frequented said church for these six hundred years bygone. 
 The sooner the arm of Saint Giles, the stool of Mrs Janet Geddes, 
 Haddo's Hole, and the tombs of Lords Murray and Montrose are 
 forgotten, so much the better. 
 
 " That, as it is a great point to direct the admiration of strangers 
 to our modern improvements, the said strangers being too apt to 
 inquire after objects of curiosity in the Old Town, and thus totally 
 neglect the extraordinary beauties of the new, the following places 
 are to be destroyed, and Grecian houses erected on their sites : 
 The oldest part of Holyrood House, containing Queen Marie's 
 apartments; the Eegent Murray's house in the Canongate, John
 
 62 EDINBURGH " IMPROVEMENTS. " 
 
 Knox's House at the Netherbow, the Mint and French Ambas- 
 sador's house in the Cowgate, Queensberrie House, Tweedale House, 
 &c., &c. : these to be demolished and rebuilt according to the 
 prevalent taste, the Act providentially including other houses which 
 are principally sought after, as the Queen Regent's house of the 
 Castle Hill, the West Bow, &c., &c. 
 
 " That the Mound, which has ever been considered as one of the 
 most striking beauties of this city, particularly by country virtuosos 
 who are critical in compost middens, be extended on both sides 
 on the east to the North Bridge, on the west to the Castle rock. 
 This, fairly filling up the uncouth valley between the Old and New 
 Town, will possess numberless conveniences : people, when drunk, 
 will not tumble into the North Loch ; and if a hat be blown off 
 on the North Bridge, it will be easily recovered without the aid of 
 the police. Besides, the town will have the advantage of the pens ; 
 and the smoke from so many low buildings to be erected will 
 enable the inhabitants of Princes Street to dry their neats' tongues 
 thoroughly by hanging them out of their windows, a convenience 
 of which they are very much in want, and such as the present plans 
 for the Mound give us reason to expect. 
 
 " ' Kirks, closes, kimmers, clatters, swythe, begone ! 
 Deil tak' expense, heeze up the Parthenon.' 
 
 "Writes Eobert Henryson; MS., p. 23." 
 
 He also drew up a petition from the inhabitants of the 
 west end of Princes Street to the committee on the sub- 
 ject of the encroachments of the Mound ; and a letter to his 
 relative, Sir John Muir Mackenzie of Delvine, on the antici- 
 pated destruction of Gowrie House at Perth, will be found in 
 its place. 
 
 To the very last he preserved his horror of wanton change ; 
 one of his latest notes being to the custodian of the gardens 
 in Drummond Place, threatening, if the lopping of trees there 
 were proceeded with, to appeal to a meeting of proprietors of 
 houses. 
 
 Another event which raised a flame of patriotic indignation 
 in his breast was the attempt in 1826 to alter the Scottish 
 banking system, in accordance with English views on the 
 currency, an interference which led to the publication by 
 Sir Walter Scott of two vigorous protests under the nom de 
 plume of Malachi Malagrowther (see Lockhart's ' Life '). Mr
 
 VIGNETTE OF THE EARL OF KELLIE. 63 
 
 Sharpe fully shared the indignant sentiments of his illustrious 
 friend, as will be seen in his correspondence. 
 
 Letters written after the year 1830 are somewhat scarce. 
 His practice of preserving copies of most of his own letters 
 gave way, after the publication of Lady Charlotte Bury's work 
 mentioned before, to the totally opposite custom of careful 
 destruction of most of the originals where he could regain 
 possession of them. He ceased also to write with the same 
 ready pen as of yore ; his letters and drawings exhibit tokens 
 of tremor of the physical powers ; and thus there is hardly 
 any correspondence available for the memoir of his later years. 
 The few brief notes, addressed to members of his own family 
 or to his junior friends, are, however, worth printing, if only 
 to show that the natural keenness of his intellect had not 
 abated. 
 
 In 1836 he published an elegant quarto volume of musical 
 compositions by one of his ancestors of the Erskine blood, 
 Thomas sixth Earl of Kellie, rated amongst the most distin- 
 guished amateurs by Dr Burney in his ' General History of 
 Music.' To this, besides a short preface, he added a beautiful 
 vignette, adapted from an old French print so as to represent 
 the Edinburgh Assembly of bygone days, with a minuet in 
 progress; 1 also an illustration to a song composed by Lord 
 Kellie, entitled ' The Lover's Message.' This book he dedicated 
 to his mother ; and it was the last token of his affectionate 
 regard which he had it in his power to bestow, as shortly 
 afterwards he had the misfortune to be separated from her 
 by death, an event, as we may well believe, productive of 
 the very keenest anguish to a son so earnest in his feelings of 
 filial regard. Her house in Princes Street was consequently 
 given up ; and Mr Sharpe, after a brief trial of a residence 
 on the south side of the Old Town, near Bristo Street, settled 
 for life at No. 28 Drummond Place. 
 
 During the year 1836, in addition to the drawings men- 
 
 1 This engraving drew from an old Scots lady the following eulogium : " It 
 brought old times to my mind when I used to be sometimes (though not very 
 often) in the old Assembly Room, where Mrs Nicky Murray used to sit in her 
 chair of state at the head of the room as lady directress, keeping us all in order 
 when we had to dance our minuets before the country-dance."
 
 64 LATER ETCHINGS. 
 
 tioned above, he executed frontispieces for the Abbotsford 
 Club publications of the ' Eomances of Otuel,' and of ' Eoland 
 and Vernagu,' and a very pretty vignette for a poem (by a 
 lady connected with his family) entitled 'Flora's Fete.' In 
 1837 he edited, from a folio MS. in the Advocates' Library, 
 a reprint (fifty copies quarto) of a curious poem, ' Surgundo, 
 or the Valiant Christian,' which he adorned with an etching 
 of the heads of the Marquis and Marchioness of Huntly, and 
 dedicated to his friend Mr James Gibson-Craig. In 1838 he 
 published the song of ' Absence,' " the words by Lady Grizzel 
 Baillie, the air composed by Mr Sharpe (his father) when only 
 seven years old." l The vignette on the title-page, though not 
 etched by him, was from one of his drawings after Lely. In 
 the same year he contributed a drawing to the Abbotsford 
 romance of ' Arthur and Merlin,' another to ' Sir Bevis of 
 Hampton,' and one to Mr Maidment's edition of Sir Thomas 
 Urquhart's 'Rabelais.' In 1840, 'The Romaunt of Guy of 
 Warwick,' reprinted by Mr Turnbull, received his aid, " whose 
 exquisite graphic abilities are their own panegyric," says the 
 editor's preface ; and his latest work in 1842 was for the same 
 gentleman's ' Visions of Tundale,' a weird assemblage of hor- 
 rible faces worthy of Breughel. His later years, indeed, were 
 uneventful to a degree. His reading was never suffered to 
 grow rusty, and his MS. annotations on books were continued 
 to the last ; but for several years before his death he scarcely 
 wrote a letter, and went but little abroad, except in search of 
 some stray relic of antiquity or object of interest. 
 
 In 1850 symptoms of decaying health manifested them- 
 selves unmistakably, and in March 1851 he died, after a 
 brief and not extremely painful illness. He was buried with 
 
 1 " The air," he writes, " I got from my aunt some time ago : people think the 
 history of it is a lie ; but I don't imagine my aunt ever told a lie in her life. 
 Burney mentions two boys in Charles the Second's reign, who composed two 
 full anthems for the choir, one twelve, the other thirteen, years old ; so this is 
 no such wonder. Lady G. B. 's Memoirs, published by Mr Thomson, perhaps 
 you have read ; she was a very interesting person. These verses were found in 
 a letter directed to her brother in Holland, but I think they were meant for 
 her lover Mr Baillie, in the same regiment with Lord Polwarth, whom she 
 afterwards married."
 
 DEATH. 65 
 
 his forefathers in the family mausoleum at Hoddam. More 
 than one eulogistic notice of his career appeared in the 
 periodicals of the day ; but we select for extraction a portion 
 of an article in the 'Scotsman/ evidently from the pen of 
 some one possessed of an intimate personal acquaintance with 
 Mr Sharpe : 
 
 " We had, from the time when we announced the death of this 
 gentleman, resolved that we would not let so remarkable a man 
 leave us without offering some homage to his memory beyond the 
 usual obituary notice. Though delayed from time to time, we were 
 yet resolved that the task should be fulfilled, and the more so from 
 a consciousness that his was not the kind of eminence likely to 
 secure any fuller commemoration than the columns of a newspaper 
 can afford. To the public, who, in his departure, only miss a 
 peculiar figure whom they have occasionally met in their daily 
 walks, Mr Sharpe was what is usually called a character. But to 
 those who really knew him, the outward peculiarities which invited 
 and justified such an appellation were a very thin covering on qual- 
 ities of a far more important and valuable kind. Even his external 
 peculiarities arose by no means from any desire to attract notice by 
 singularity. They were the fruit of that sort of unconsciousness, 
 and that reluctance to do anything provocative of attention and 
 remark, which sometimes makes one quietly abide by old customs, 
 until, while congratulating himself that he is still the same man 
 that he was of old, the world has a totally different opinion of him, 
 in as far as of old he was like other people, but now he is quite 
 peculiar in the rigid observance of the costume and manners of a 
 previous generation. So it was with Mr Sharpe's green umbrella, 
 its crosier-shaped horn handle, and its long brass point ; with his 
 thread-stockings, and his shoes of the kind which our fathers 
 called pumps tied with profuse ribbon; with his ever-faded frock- 
 coat, and his cravat of that downy bulging character which Brum- 
 mell repealed. The greater part of the whole costume was exactly 
 as he had worn it in his college days in the preceding century ; 
 and we had always the idea that Sharpe never thought he dressed 
 differently from other people. It was always a puzzling matter, 
 however, to divine how he got his tradesmen to connive with him, 
 and produce articles of dress which the tide of human fashions had 
 long rolled over and buried in oblivion. It is possible that some 
 profuse wardrobe of early days may have proved a sort of granary 
 to him ; but we have sometimes thought that an expert tradesman, 
 who had by some accident a reserve of ancestral stock, had found 
 him a useful duct for draining off the unsaleable merchandise. 
 
 VOL. I. E
 
 66 OBITUARY NOTICE. 
 
 " His manners partook of the same obsolete character not arti- 
 ficially or affectedly, but quite naturally. One may occasionally 
 meet with an octogenarian carrying a shade of the old-world cour- 
 tesy into this more brisk, unfettered generation ; but Sharpe bore 
 it in full bloom, as if it were not only his own natural manner, but 
 that of the people he spoke to. It was older still than his costume 
 Sir Charles Grandison all over. Its general tone on the mere 
 acquaintance was extremely pleasing and kind. Though it was 
 but a manner, yet one almost felt grateful to its owner, so much of 
 an old-fashioned, soothing pleasantness was there about it ; yet it 
 was sedately stately, and by no means encouraged familiarity. One 
 of his characteristic pursuits was a severe stretch on the capacity of 
 manner and address to carry out true dignity and ensure respect. 
 His matchless collection of antiquities and works of art was well 
 known and frequently visited. It was his great pride to be its 
 exhibitor, and illustrate it with a running commentary of anecdotes 
 and witticisms ; but under the covering of his courteous good-nature 
 and of his real pride in his collection, one might perceive two things 
 which he dreaded and took particular pains to avoid : the one was, 
 being considered a weak old man with a hobby with which he was 
 ready to saturate every one who would submit to it ; the other was, 
 being used by persons of rank or importance, who heard of his col- 
 lection, as a sort of showman to exhibit it. Hence there was an 
 air of caprice and wilfulness in his management of the entree to his 
 celebrated museum. Some people made continued efforts to obtain 
 access to it, and were always defeated ; while others were with 
 bland courtesy asked to come when they chose, and bring whom 
 they chose. His chief jealousy was about being considered the 
 civil fellow ready to do service to great people. He was ' come,' as 
 we say in Scotland, of the first families in the country, and he 
 knew and felt it to the full. He was a good deal imbued with the 
 kind of pride of old Sir Edward Seymour, who, when asked by 
 Charles II. if he was not a member of the Duke of Somerset's 
 family, answered, ' No, sire ; the Duke is a member of mine.' 
 Hence it was not the best way of getting the doors of the exhibi- 
 tion opened, to speak of the rank or importance of the person de- 
 siring to see it ; but when he was in good humour, such vaunting 
 might perhaps be met with a pleasant, good-natured nod, and, ' Oh, 
 
 any friend of yours, my dear Mr , is welcome.' 
 
 " That museum was a place which few who have ever seen it can 
 forget the fairy suits of armour, the graven images of all kinds in 
 mobs and processions, Sir Peter Lely's lay figure bedecked with a 
 heap of ancient finery, the jewelled shrines and inexhaustible quan- 
 tities of old silver-work, the trinkets by George Heriot, the enamels 
 and the miniatures, brought out of the endless recesses of a multi-
 
 OBITUARY NOTICE. 67 
 
 tude of ancient cabinets. Simply as a collection of beautiful and 
 curious things, it was worthy of a long visit ; but almost everything 
 had some little history attached to it. The horrible, it must be 
 admitted, but not the vulgar horrible, predominated. There were 
 no pieces of the rope which had hanged Burke, or pistol that had 
 penetrated into the slaughtered "Weare's brains ; but there were 
 portraits of celebrated murderesses, from Queen Joan of Naples 
 down to that picture by Hogarth for which Sarah Malcolm rouged 
 herself in Newgate. This, by the way, was bought at Horace 
 Walpole's sale. Hogarth remarked that no one would have taken 
 that woman for a cutter of throats. It may be so ; but his own 
 portrait of her has a savage harshness about it an appearance of 
 relentless ruffianism which is positively frightful. At this same 
 sale Sharpe missed, much to his mortification, Hogarth's picture of 
 Bainbridge, the governor of Newgate, under examination for cruelty 
 to his prisoners. It would have fitted admirably into the collec- 
 tion. The collector himself had much congeniality of taste with 
 Hogarth, and delighted in memorials of him. He had a portrait 
 of the notorious Colonel Charteris, whose figure is characteristically 
 conspicuous in the first plate of the 'Harlot's Progress,' and used 
 to make a half -serious half-jocular boast about absolutely possessing 
 a piece of the handwriting of the wretched accomplice who is peer- 
 ing over the Colonel's shoulder. It was of the perfumed and tin- 
 selled criminalities of Charles II. 's reign, however, that he preserved 
 the richest memorials, and it was his delight to comment on the 
 sweet simplicity of Lely's portrait of her who held the reins of her 
 paramour's horse while he shot her husband. 
 
 " The accumulation of this museum was a sad torment to the 
 class of men who cater to the taste of collectors. This one had not 
 only a peculiar taste running in a zigzag direction, which it was not 
 easy for the common trader in curiosities to anticipate, but he was 
 exquisitely fastidious. It was as impossible to pass a forged note 
 at a bank as to impose on him with a false picture. In fact, besides 
 artistic capacity, he had great natural acuteness, and he directed it 
 all to this one pursuit. He was unrelenting in his criticisms, and 
 was not, like many a collector, deceived by the charms of owner- 
 ship. We remember, on his having bought at a considerable price 
 a portrait which had long stood in a well-known collection as an 
 undoubted Kneller, with what zeal he set about proving for his 
 own satisfaction, that from certain small but distinct morsels of 
 artistic evidence, the picture could not be a genuine Kneller. His 
 contempt of anything in art beneath certain high standards was 
 indeed of the most withering kind, and was apt to extort from him 
 sarcasms which were rather a striking contrast to the courteous 
 blandness of his usual conversation. For instance, at a sale which
 
 68 SKETCH BY THE ' BOOK-HUNTER.' 
 
 occurred a few years ago, it had been a question whether a lot had 
 been purchased by Mr Sharpe, or by an artist who had no mean 
 opinion of himself. The picture had been sent home to the artist ; 
 but he had, he said, no excessive anxiety to possess it he was 
 ready to give it up only, he lightly observed, having seen some 
 little defects in the picture, he had ' touched it up.' This state- 
 ment, which the artist made with an honest purpose of enhancing 
 the value of his sacrifice, elicited the savage answer, ' Oh, you've 
 been touching it, have you 1 That's a pretty trick. It's just what 
 the nasty boys at charity schools do when they spit on the por- 
 ridge, to prevent the others from eating it. You may keep the 
 picture.' 
 
 "We have probably been paying more attention to the pecu- 
 liarities of Mr Sharpe than to those capacities which made him 
 a man deserving of commemoration. He had abilities of a very 
 high order both for literature and art; and had he required to 
 make his own bread, he would probably have been one of the 
 most distinguished men of his day. But he never settled himself 
 with seriousness and earnestness to a distinct pursuit ; and indeed 
 he had doubtless a little of the aristocratic leaven of Horace Wai- 
 pole, which looked on the systematic practice of art or literature 
 especially their practice with an eye to remuneration as an 
 abandonment of position. He thus scattered the produce of his 
 pen and pencil carelessly around, as the fruit of his amusement 
 and recreation after the manner in which the fisher or fowler 
 treats the fruit of his sport ; and even the towering greatness 
 of Scott was insufficient in his eyes to dignify professional 
 authorship." 
 
 And some years later, a friendly, if slightly caricatured, 
 portrait of lifelike fidelity appeared in that most readable of 
 works, the 'Book-hunter': 
 
 " Let us now summon the shade of another departed victim 
 Fitzpatrick Smart, Esq. He, too, through a long life, had been 
 a vigilant and enthusiastic collector, but after a totally different 
 fashion. He was far from omnivorous. He had a principle of 
 selection peculiar and separate from all others, as was his own 
 individuality from other men's. You could not classify his library 
 according to any of the accepted nomenclatures peculiar to the 
 initiated. He was not a black-letter man, or a tall-copyist, or an 
 uncut man, or a rough-edge man, or an early-English-dramatist, or 
 an Elzeverian, or a broadsider, or a pasquinader, or an old-brown- 
 calf man, or a Grangerite, or a tawny-moroccoite, or a gilt-topper, a 
 marbled-insider, or an editio princeps man; neither did he come
 
 SKETCH BY THE ' BOOK-HUNTER.' 69 
 
 under any of the more vulgar classifications of collectors whose 
 thoughts fun more upon the usefulness for study than ' upon the 
 external conditions of their library, such as those who affect 
 science, or the classics, or English poetic and historical literature. 
 There was no way of defining his peculiar walk save by his own 
 name it was the Fitzpatrick-Smart walk. In fact it wound itself 
 in infinite windings through isolated spots of literary scenery, if we 
 may so speak, in which he took a personal interest. There were 
 historical events, bits of family history, chiefly of a tragic or a 
 scandalous kind, efforts of art or of literary genius on which, 
 through some hidden intellectual law, his mind and memory loved 
 to dwell ; and it was in reference to these that he collected. If 
 the book were the one desired by him, no anxiety and toil, no 
 payable price, was to be grudged for its acquisition. If the book 
 were an inch out of his own line, it might be trampled in the mire 
 for aught he cared, be it as rare or costly as it could be. 
 
 " It Avas difficult, almost impossible, for others to predicate what 
 would please this wayward sort of taste ; and he was the torment 
 of the book-caterers, who were sure of a princely price for the right 
 article, but might have the wrong one thrown in their teeth with 
 contumely. It was a perilous, but, if successful, a gratifying thing 
 to present him with a book. If it happened to hit his fancy, he 
 felt the full force of the compliment, and overwhelmed the giver 
 with his courtly thanks. But great observation and tact were 
 required for such an adventure. The chances against an ordinary 
 thoughtless gift-maker were thousands to one ; and those who were 
 acquainted with his strange nervous temperament knew that the 
 existence within his dwelling-place of any book not of his own 
 special kind, would impart to him the sort of feeling of uneasy 
 horror which a bee is said to feel when an earwig comes into its 
 cell. Presentation copies by authors were among the chronic 
 torments of his existence. While the complacent author was 
 perhaps pluming himself on his liberality in making the judicious 
 gift, the recipient was pouring out all his sarcasm, which was not 
 feeble or slight, on the odious object, and wondering why an author 
 could have entertained against him so steady and enduring a malice 
 as to take the trouble of writing and printing all that rubbish with 
 no better object than disturbing the peace of mind of an inoffensive 
 old man. Every tribute from such dona ferentes cost him much 
 uneasiness and some want of sleep for what could he do with it 1 
 It was impossible to make merchandise of it, for he was every inch 
 a gentleman. He could not burn it, for under an acrid exterior he 
 had a kindly nature. It was believed, indeed, that he had estab- 
 lished some limbo of his own, in which such unwelcome commo- 
 dities were subject to a kind of burial or entombment, where they
 
 70 SKETCH BY THE 'BOOK-HUNTER. 
 
 remained in existence, yet were decidedly outside the circle of his 
 household gods. 
 
 " These gods were a Pantheon of a lively and grotesque aspect, 
 for he was a hunter after other things besides books. His acquisi- 
 tions included pictures, and the various commodities which, for 
 Avant of a distinctive name, auctioneers call ' miscellaneous articles 
 of vertu.' He started on his accumulating career with some old 
 family relics, and these, perhaps, gave the direction to his subse- 
 quent acquisitions; for they were all, like his books, brought 
 together after some self-willed and peculiar law of association that 
 pleased himself. A bad, even an inferior picture, he would not 
 have for his taste was exquisite unless, indeed, it had some 
 strange history about it, adapting it to his wayward fancies; and 
 then he would adopt the badness as a peculiar recommendation, 
 and point it out with some pungent and appropriate remark to his 
 friends. But though, with these peculiar exceptions, his works of 
 art were faultless, no dealer could ever calculate on his buying a 
 picture, however high in artistic merit or tempting as a bargain. 
 With his ever-accumulating collection, in which tiny sculpture and 
 brilliant colour predominated, he kept a sort of fairy world around 
 him. But each one of the mob of curious things he preserved had 
 some story linking it with others, or with his peculiar fancies ; and 
 each one had its precise place in a sort of epos, as certainly as each 
 of the persons in the confusion of a pantomime or a farce has his 
 own position and functions. 
 
 " After all, he was himself his own greatest curiosity. He had 
 come to manhood just after the period of gold-laced waistcoats, 
 small-clothes, and shoe-buckles, otherwise he would have been long 
 a living memorial of these now antique habits. It happened to be 
 his lot to preserve down to us the earliest phase of the pantaloon 
 dynasty. So, while the rest of the world were booted or heavy 
 shod, his silk-stockinged feet were thrust into pumps of early 
 Oxford cut ; and the predominant garment was the surtout, blue in 
 colour, and of the original make before it came to be called a frock. 
 Round his neck was wrapped an ante-Brummellite neckerchief (not 
 a tie), which projected in many wreaths like a great poultice ; and 
 so he took his walks abroad, a figure which he could himself have 
 turned into admirable ridicule. 
 
 " One of the mysteries about him was, that his clothes, though 
 unlike any other person's, were always old. This characteristic 
 could not even be accounted for by the supposition that he had 
 laid in a sixty years' stock in his youth, for they always appeared 
 to have been a good deal worn. The very umbrella was in keep- 
 ing it was of green silk, an obsolete colour ten years ago and 
 the handle was of a peculiar crosier-like formation in cast-horn,
 
 SKETCH BY THE 'BOOK-HUNTER.' 71 
 
 obviously not obtainable in the market. His face was ruddy, but 
 not with the ruddiness of youth ; and bearing on his head a Brutus 
 wig of the light-brown hair which had long ago legitimately shaded 
 his brow, when he stood still except for his linen, which was 
 snowy white one might suppose that he had been shot and stuffed 
 on his return home from college, and had been sprinkled with the 
 frousy mouldiness which time imparts to stuffed animals and other 
 things, in which a semblance to the freshness of living nature is 
 vainly attempted to be preserved. So if he were motionless ; but 
 let him speak, and the internal freshness was still there, an ever- 
 blooming garden of intellectual flowers. His antiquated costume 
 was no longer grotesque it harmonised with an antiquated courtesy 
 and high-bred gentleness of manner, which he had acquired from 
 the best sources, since he had seen the first company in his day, 
 whether for rank or genius. And conversation and manner were far 
 from exhausting his resources. He had a wonderful pencil it was 
 potent for the beautiful, the terrible, and the ridiculous; but it 
 took a wayward, wilful course, like everything else about him. He 
 had a brilliant pen, too, when he chose to wield it ; but the idea 
 that he should exercise any of these his gifts in common display 
 before the world, for any even of the higher motives that make 
 people desire fame and praise, would have sickened him. His 
 faculties were his own as much as his collection, and to be used 
 according to his caprice and pleasure. So fluttered through exist- 
 ence one who, had it been his fate to have his own bread to make, 
 might have been a great man. Alas for the end ! Some curious 
 annotations are all that remain of his literary powers ; some draw- 
 ings and etchings in private collections, all of his artistic. His 
 collection, with its long train of legends and associations, came to 
 what he himself must have counted as dispersal. He left it to his 
 housekeeper, who, like a wise woman, converted it into cash while 
 its mysterious reputation was fresh. Huddled in a great auction- 
 room, its several catalogued items lay in humiliating contrast with 
 the decorous order in which they were wont to be arranged. Sic 
 transit gloria mundi" 
 
 These sketches give an impression of Mr Sharpe's character 
 correct, no doubt, as far as they go ; but they fail to do justice 
 to the intrinsic chivalry and kindliness which were latent be- 
 neath the crust of his peculiarities. To young people in par- 
 ticular he was the kindest and best judging of friends ; and 
 many a subaltern at Piershill or the Castle had reason to re- 
 member with gratitude the introductions, the advice, and occa- 
 sionally even the more substantial assistance, afforded him by
 
 72 EXTRACTS FROM NOTE-BOOKS. 
 
 the recluse of Drummond Place. The mere cynic and scandal- 
 monger could not have inspired the sincere friendship with 
 which Mr Sharpe was regarded by some of the most estimable 
 individuals whose talent and virtue adorned British society 
 during the first half of the present century. His true dis- 
 position was indicated by his fondness for animals for all 
 things weak and poor ; his hatred of the tyranny of strength, 
 the ostentation of wealth, and the pretension of popular appro- 
 bation. His caustic side was all for the shams of a world 
 which had not treated him over-kindly ; and even the much- 
 reputed notes upon 'Douglas's Peerage' are not one-half so 
 personal in their scandal as general belief would have them. 
 Scandal with a purpose in it historic or genealogical, or con- 
 nected with celebrities of the day he certainly loved, but 
 with a very discriminating and far from vulgar palate. His 
 note-books supply some of his characteristic remarks, giving a 
 better idea of what was his idiomatic vein of humour than the 
 personal passages which less frequently accompany them : 
 
 " Fiat justitia currat lex. A good motto for an Irish hangman, 
 who always must run for his life after he has done his duty." 
 
 " Artists. Everybody artists now fiddlers, players. John 
 Ketch, Esq., artist." 
 
 " Tho' players are gone, Esquires have come up all the world 
 Esquires." 
 
 " A Whig, properly such, always shows a complete ignorance of 
 history as well as of human nature." 
 
 " For Swift, his apology is that he was always mad ; but as to 
 Pope, his conduct to Lord Hervey, Lady M. Wortley, the Duchess 
 of Buckingham, his friends Allan and Bolingbroke, not to mention 
 Charteris, concerning whose transactions with him I have heard 
 strange traditions, demonstrate him to have been a little monster. 
 I say nothing of Dryden, who was a hack and a brazen-faced rogue 
 in most senses. I remember among gens comme il faut a strange 
 predjudice against authors, derived, no doubt, from the conduct of 
 these and suchlike men." 
 
 " The dead Nabob's grave covered with black toadstools, as I 
 once saw a grave in the Grey friars churchyard." 
 
 " Anger improves the appearance of nothing but a cat's tail ; it 
 looks like that of a squirrel or fox." 
 
 " When the lower ranks read too much, and the higher too little, 
 what is to be hoped for in the State ? "
 
 EXTRACTS FROM NOTE-BOOKS. 73 
 
 " The oldest cheeses have the most mites ; so old families with 
 filthy relations." 
 
 " Bad people, my father said, might go to heaven and be cursed 
 by seeing the happiness of the good ; no spite, no scandal, no poison 
 or dagger could reach them, and these sons of the devil would be 
 miserable." 
 
 " Large drops of rain tears of the tempest before the ravage of 
 the furies." 
 
 " Many great travellers, or rather movers, whom I have seen are 
 like the oysters and other shell-fish that adhere to the bottom of a 
 ship, and come home from a voyage round the world as wise as 
 they went." 
 
 " Snowdrops I consider as the tears of winter shed on his 
 approaching dissolution." 
 
 " There is only one thing which everybody highly values, and 
 yet is most liberal of his own opinions and consequent advice." 
 
 " The ancients consulted fools as oracles in this way, ask a 
 fool's advice, take the other course, and it is safer than a wise 
 man's." 
 
 " Women crazed about religion are mental suicides they imagine 
 that, by canting and outward observance of trifles, they may do 
 whatever they please as to ill-temper, censure, scandal, lies, and 
 something more." 
 
 "To an exaggerating poet. You are like the fairy whose wand 
 transformed six mice into Flanders mares to draw a cinder-wench 
 in brocade to a ball." 
 
 " I think the fashion of painting ladies as Arcadian shepherdesses 
 in Charles XL's reign originated from the fashion of Astrea and 
 Arcadia : the Egyptians never, in idols of great dignity, showed 
 the feet." 
 
 "Every old maid, when she hears of marriage, purses up and 
 prims her mouth as if she had a couple of sloes in it." 
 
 " The piercing of a young girl's ears, this philosopher held, was 
 an early attack upon her virtue, and he expressed his thankfulness 
 that nose-jewels had gone out of fashion." 
 
 Such caustic or extravagant sayings, with notes of books, 
 MSS., portraits, music, and ancient legend or history, abound, 
 and give a good idea of his habitual vein of talk, though, from 
 the unfinished state in which they are left, they can do little for 
 his permanent reputation, which must rest mainly on those 
 exquisite drawings, the possession of one of which was highly 
 esteemed by the greatest and most talented of his compeers. 
 When the writer of this Memoir collected the best known of
 
 74 "THE SCOTTISH HORACE WALPOLE." 
 
 these into a volume fifteen years ago, he hardly ventured to 
 anticipate that the masses of correspondence in his possession 
 could ever be reduced within readable limits ; and had not 
 the task been undertaken by the present editor, it would pro- 
 bably have never been completed. It is to be hoped that it 
 will be a not unsatisfactory memorial of the Scottish Horace 
 Walpole in that especial department of his varied ability 
 in which he most closely resembled his English prototype. 
 
 HODDAM CASTLE.
 
 LETTERS 
 
 TO AND FROM 
 
 CHAELES KIEKPATEICK SHAEPE
 
 LET TEES. 
 
 CHARLES KIRKPATRICK SHARPE to Mrs SHARPE, Hoddam. 
 
 [On. CH., OXFORD,] Saturday [Nov. 1798]. 
 
 DEAR MOTHER, At length at my journey's end, tho' not 
 my labours, am I scribing to you ; and long hath my pilgrim- 
 age been, and great my tribulation at the conclusion of it, tho' 
 it is nearly over too, the Lord be thanked. We reached Car- 
 lisle in good time to dine, and see the ' Castle Spectre,' l which 
 would, like the music of Orpheus, have moved the very beasts 
 and trees, but with what sensation you may yourself guess ; 
 and the next morning set out early for Manchester. I forgot 
 to tell you that at Carlisle, before dinner, my father and I 
 went to the Cathedral during evening prayers, and the con- 
 gregation exhibited no good specimen of Carlisle devotion, for 
 not a soul was there but a handful of withered old men, that 
 looked as if they had started up from their graves in the 
 pavement to listen to the prebend, who read the service in a 
 cracked-chamber-pot tone, every now and then the singing- 
 boys setting forth a squall to the organ, which was enough of 
 itself to frighten any unclean spirit away. We entered the 
 dressing-room of the Bishop, where lay his cap, and it was 
 put upon my head by the verger: this I consider, as a good 
 omen. We arrived late at Manchester, and could get no one 
 1 The ' Castle Spectre,' by M. G. Lewis.
 
 78 OXFORD CYRIL JACKSON. 
 
 thing we wanted never was such a beastly house and pro- 
 ceeding thence in post-chaises, made out our journey without 
 anything remarkable. Coming through "Woodstock, I pryed 
 into every window to see the young gentlemen's conveniences, 
 but in vain ; and after passing the gate of Blenheim, we entred 
 this curious city. I say curious, for it is composed chiefly of 
 immense colledges, whose black stones and dreary magnifi- 
 cence much resemble Holyrood, though on a far greater scale. 
 They are all built in the Gothic fashion, with huge iron bars 
 on the under windows, or rather slits, many of them resem- 
 bling the slits in the staircase of Hoddam. "We went directly 
 almost to Christ Church, and after passing under a large 
 Gothic arched way, entered a square court, with a fountain in 
 the middle, of great size, all the building forming the square 
 being Gothic, and were shown the door of the Dean. 1 We were 
 admitted, and lo ! from behind a large folio Strabo issued this 
 august personage, with Herodotus in his hand. And now 
 figure my surprise, when, instead of an old, cold, wrinkled 
 creature (you know by what a stiff model of quality I had 
 formed him in my mind), I beheld a very handsome oldish 
 man, with a well-powdered wig and a black gown, resembling 
 much in face Lady Betty Cuningham, junior, 2 when she is 
 dressed in smiles. He received us with great civility, and 
 desired us to excuse him for a few minutes untill he dressed, 
 which being done, we fell to business incontinent. After 
 telling my father that my delay was of no great consequence, 
 and that I must only work a little harder at the mathematics, 
 which were begun, he addressed himself to me in an advice 
 of which you shall have the heads. He began by saying he 
 understood from Lord Binning 3 (who is here, tho' I have not 
 
 1 Cyril Jackson, D.D., Dean of Christ Church, born 1742, died 1819. 
 
 2 Daughter of John, thirteenth Earl of Glencairn ; died at Coates, near 
 Edinburgh, 1804. 
 
 3 Thomas, afterwards ninth Earl of Haddington, K.T., was Lord Lieu- 
 tenant of Ireland under Earl Grey's Government, 1833-34 ; died 1858.
 
 reJ^m] MR CAREY. 79 
 
 yet seen him), that he and I were aquainted, and that our 
 friendship wou'd probably continue here. He therefor cau- 
 tioned me against vying in expence with that nobleman ; say- 
 ing, that very properly the fortune of a title was larger than 
 that of none, for the most part, with several other expressions 
 of a like nature. He then advised me to pay every attention 
 to my tutor (a Mr Carey, 1 who he sent for, and introduced, a 
 good-looking young man) ; and said, that my own taste must 
 chuse my companions, and that I would find the young men 
 shy, but very civil, till they knew my principles (he did well 
 not to name what principles they liked, as they would not 
 redound much to the honour of his Colledge, I reckon) ; and 
 after ordering Mr Carey to provide my rooms, and instruct us 
 what was wanted, we were dismissed. He is very nervous, 
 his hand shaking prodigiously, and rather affected. My 
 rooms I saw to-day, but will leave the description of them 
 and my furniture to my father. I have got my gown and 
 cap, but the Lord preserve us, what a cap ! To know the 
 shape, look into Susan's old prayer-book, and the first print I 
 think is the one ; but I have scrawled the way of wearing 
 them here, how do you like it ? 2 The young men, you may 
 tell Ellen, with many loves, that I have yet seen, are all 
 ugly, conceited, and putting themselves in the posture like Mr 
 Don, and have the worst legs I ever beheld, crooked thirty 
 different ways, east, west, north, south, that it is a very 
 shame to be seen. Then their faces are scabby, like sheep, 
 and their cheeks like an unbraced tambourine, all nasty 
 with being played upon. In short, all that I have yet seen are 
 
 1 William Carey, fellow and tutor of Christ Church ; was appointed 
 Head-master of Westminster School, 1803. Unpopular at first on account 
 of the firmness with which he repressed insubordinations arising out of 
 Fifth of November celebrations, his mastership of Westminster was ulti- 
 mately successful, and Carey himself became Bishop of Exeter in 1820, 
 and was translated to the See of St Asaph in 1830, in which he died, 1846. 
 
 2 A pen-and-ink sketch of the head and shoulders of an undergraduate 
 in cap and gown is inserted in the MS. letter.
 
 80 CHRIST CHURCH, OXFORD. 
 
 a set of as scurvy -looking companions as eyes ever looked at. 
 I go to dine in the hall to-morrow, and then take up my abode 
 in the Colledge for good, and then the Lord knows what 
 next. I intend to write some more besides this sheet after 
 the beforesaid exhibitions. In the meantime give millions 
 of loves to all at Hoddam. Now since all is near over, I look 
 back with pleasure that they are so, upon the many qualms 
 the leaving Hoddam and its inhabitants, and chiefly you, cost 
 me. I have only now to look forward to May with patience. 
 When I left Hoddam, I know not how it was, but I was not 
 near so much grieved as both before and after ; indeed the day 
 I went away, I was in a sort of carried l state, that I could 
 reflect on nothing. Farewell at present, my dear mother. I 
 will tell you how the dining goes on, and the supper, for I am 
 told I will be envited by one of the young men introduced to 
 me. Again adieu, dear mother. 
 
 C. KIRKPATRICK SHARPE to Mrs SHARPE, Hoddam. 
 
 [Cn. CH., OXFORD, Nov. or Dec., 1798.] 
 
 Again I resume my pen to give you some small notion of 
 our dinner in the hall, which is an immense room with Gothic 
 windows on each side, and a very large one at the end, filled 
 with painted glass. Below it hangs a picture of Henry the 
 Eighth, in the same straddling attitude that he is represented 
 in the Analysis of Beauty ; 2 and round the room hangs many 
 a sour - looking, ill - painted ancient, frowning as if they 
 grudged one his dinner, and were scandalised at the smooth 
 chins and effeminate grimaces of their degenerated progeny. 
 Indeed the dinner is hardly worth the grudging, being served 
 up on pewter or silver, the Lord knoweth which, at the first 
 course : and a joint of meat is set down at the head of each 
 table, which descends gradually to the bottom, the students 
 
 1 Scotticism equivalent to tfte exaltee. - By Hogarth.
 
 BHAiJ98.] DINING IN HALL LORD BINNING. 81 
 
 cutting huge slices from it all the way down. Then comes 
 potatoes ; and your beer is put down to you in a stone mug. 
 Then if you choose pudden or a tart you must vociferate for 
 it with the voice of a fishwoman, and often not get it neither. 
 When done, you rise when convenient, waiting for nobody. 
 This is a brief sketch of the eating. I was invited after 
 dinner to take wine with a Mr Brownlow, 1 under whose pro- 
 tection I was put ; and after drinking several glasses hurried 
 to prayers, then went to sup with a Mr M'Donald, and about 
 half-past eleven to bed. This, you will think, is a mighty 
 useful way of passing the time ; but it is only for a little 
 while at first, I suppose, that it is necessary, whether or 
 not, I shall soon give it up, depend upon it. I am at least 
 agreeably surprised by the total absence of quizzing, a word 
 of which hath never yet reached my ears. Lord Binning 
 has been extremely polite to me indeed, which has won 
 me considerable, besides that he is a Scotchman is no small 
 addition. With my love, tell Susan that her friend Lee Al- 
 len is here, but in a condition which must efface from the 
 mind all idea of his ridiculousness (pardon the word), for 
 he has been this week past very ill of a fever, and for these 
 two last days quite delirious. It is bad enough to be sick 
 among friends, but far, far worse among strangers. I intend 
 to write to my aunt, Lady Murray, 2 very soon, but not till I 
 am a little more composed than at present ; for, what with 
 the agitation of this and tribulation of that, I vow I am 
 turned topsy-turvy. Tho' my trials could never have come 
 at a better season my worms being quite gone, and my hand 
 steady, yea, even the first day I dined in the hall but the 
 bustle of travelling, and the fear of many things, has made 
 
 1 Francis Brownlow, fourth son of the Right Hon. William Brownlow 
 of Lurgan ; married Catherine, sixth daughter of Anthony, eighth Earl 
 of Meath. 
 
 2 Susan, daughter of John Renton, Esq. of Lamerton and Lady Susan 
 Montgomery, daughter of the ninth Earl of Eglinton, married Sir 
 Robert Murray, sixth Baronet of Clermont, Fife. 
 
 VOL. I. F
 
 82 CATHEDRAL SERVICE WINDOWS. 8 HA*PV18. 
 
 the days since I left Hoddara appear to me an age; and many 
 a time do I sit wondering what you will be doing, and all of 
 you. One may say what one pleases, but home is home after 
 all. We have had constant rain here, and a good deal of 
 wind, speaking of which brings me in mind of a circumstance 
 which will give you some idea of the Oxfordian godliness. 
 This morning at the cathedral, while we were kneeling (now 
 you must know that there are benches in the middle of the 
 pavement on which most of the students sit, and when they 
 are to kneel, do it the one's head at the other's something else, 
 in the swine fashion), one of the gentlemen had a way of 
 rubbing his shoe against the marble floor that produced a 
 very equivocal or rather unequivocal sound; which talent, 
 while praying, he exercised with all his might, to the no 
 small annoyance of his friend behind, who gave a start every 
 now and then as if he had been shot, to the exceeding delight 
 of the youths around, who tittered as if it had been the 
 greatest wit in the world. The window over the altar in the 
 cathedral is painted, representing our Saviour in the manger, 
 with the Virgin, St Joseph, and some people (I do not think 
 they are the wise men, because they have no beards and are 
 young) bringing presents. One has a lamb, and another a large 
 greyhound in a string, which is an useful gift to a new-born 
 infant. The colouring is beautiful, but the drawing exe- 
 crable. The fine pictures in the library I have not yet seen, 
 but Lord Binning is to take me there to-morrow. You will 
 think it superfluous in me to write to you about painting, 
 which you care not one snuff for, but it is my hobby, and 
 there is no keeping him in. I hope Mosco's x children increase 
 in beauty and likeness to their father. Often have I thanked 
 my stars that I brought him not here, where he would have 
 strayed and been stolen every moment. You must, as an 
 extenuation of the errors of this letter, consider the perturbed 
 state of the writer and his affairs, and the rumbling and 
 1 A dog at Hoddam.
 
 8HAPE*799.] END OF VACATION KITCHEN BILLS. 83 
 
 jumbling of his brains, which, certes, if seen, are at this 
 moment as soft as butter, that being a serious concern to 
 him which to others would be matter of moonshine ; but be- 
 lieve this, that in whatever condition his head-gear is, his 
 heart will be still the same, and that he ever will be your 
 most sincerely affectionate son, C. SHARPE. 
 
 P.S. Best wishes to my friends among the servants. Good 
 night, dear mother. 
 
 C. KIRKPATEICK SHARPE to Mrs SHARPE, Hoddam. 
 
 Friday, April 5th, 1799. 
 
 DEAR MOTHER, Without thanking you for your long and 
 kind letter which is a treasure to me, as all your epistles are 
 I will proceed to other matters, and give an account of my- 
 self and all my transactions, public and private, in this most 
 curious way of life. On Monday all the fellows return, and 
 by my holidame I am half sorry for it this being a very 
 pleasant vacation to me, owing to good rooms and some com- 
 pany, all things quiet, no wine-drinking, but sober breakfast 
 and tea parties. Yet tho' I mention wine as an enemy to 
 sobriety, do not think that I myself ever am tempted to 
 exceed in that way ; and on the contrary, so dull and disagree- 
 able are such entertainments to me, that I am resolved, when- 
 ever my acquaintance in Colledge is thoroughly established, to 
 give them up entirely and go to none. At present, however, it 
 is necessary for my own comfort, or I should have no society. 
 I should like to be able to give you an account of my expences, 
 which I cannot do accurately, as no one can certainly guess the 
 amount of the kitchen bills; and not having received my 
 allowance, I have not called them in yet, with regard to 
 others, I have lived within compass I know. But this income- 
 tax is an horrid derangement of osconomy ; and a bill I got in
 
 84 BILLS 'THE A XTI- JACOBIN.' 
 
 from my tnylor the other day ruffled my nerves and spoilt my 
 sweet temper for a little exceedingly. No less than a swinging 
 account of seven pounds did this man produce for cloaths 
 which I got when I came first, myself thinking it paid long 
 ago, and that I had the receipt of it. My accounts were in- 
 spected, and lo! my gown and cap were only paid for, and the 
 remainder undischarged. So I gave the man satisfaction, bit 
 my nails for a while, and thought no more about it ; indeed 
 my spirits, I thank heaven, are always good, and the worms 
 quite gone ; yet I have now and then a nervous fit, and am 
 come of late to blush at every word I speak, from never being 
 in the world ; but you will be much amused with my English 
 when I return home a most villainous compound of the two 
 nations, on a key like the clashing of a cymbal. Great indeed 
 was my disappointment on learning the length of next term, 
 which is two together ; but Time, as some ancient sage long 
 since found out, flies swiftly away, and the vacation is three 
 months and more, so that I will have a good deal of time to 
 enjoy Hoddam, where I was always happy, but never so much 
 so as the last half-year I spent there. My studies I have been 
 busy with, and am almost wearied with reading so much ; and 
 my admiration of Sir Walter Kaleigh encreases the more I go 
 on, such charms hath his style in my eyes. I am glad you 
 like the ' Anti- Jacobin,' l which I was sure you would do : it is 
 one of the few witty books written on that side of the ques- 
 tion, as unfortunately the geniuses are mostly on the other. And 
 this is but reasonable ; for what can be more natural than for 
 a poet to build castles in the air, and take dreams and non- 
 sense for reality. But if you never read any of Southey or 
 Darwin's poetry, you will not be able to admire nor under- 
 stand the Drummer-boy, &c., &c., and the Loves of the Tri- 
 angles, which are inimitable satire upon the writings of these 
 gentry. The Loves of the Triangles especially, a most witty 
 
 1 'The Anti-Jacobin, or Weekly Examiner.' London 1799. Edited 
 by William Gifford.
 
 sHAR p*m9.] 'THE ANTI- JACOBIN ' MISS PITMAN. 85 
 
 burlesque on the Botanic Garden. When I recommended 
 this work to you at first, I confused it and the Magazine l to- 
 gether, which is, they say, carried on by the same people. One 
 of the secretarys, of the name of Canning, and bachelor of Ch. 
 Ch., wrote most of the poetry ; but the Loves of the Triangles 
 were composed by a student of Cambridge. And how do. you 
 like the last poem, with Eousseau, Madame Eoland, Madame 
 de Stael, and all the set of libertines, hes and shes ? For my 
 part I am sorry Canning did not put our own Mrs Mary Wol- 
 stoncraft Godwin among them, whose principles well entitule 
 her to a place among such worthies, as also in the Annals of 
 Newgate. I have had two long letters lately from Miss Pit- 
 man, 2 full of Edinburgh news ; but as you will know them all 
 from other quarters, I shall not descend to particulars. Writ- 
 ing has been my constant employment for a few days ; but this 
 being finished, all debts are paid to my own satisfaction. In 
 the first place, I did scribe unto Lady Murray according to her 
 own desire last vacation, and also unto her fair daughter, Miss 
 Magdalene, 3 who sent me a few lines to notify that she was 
 about to repair to London ; then did I indite an epistle to my 
 aunt, who wrote me with the seal, asking kindly after my 
 wellfare ; and last, tho' not least beloved, am I scribbling to 
 yourself. But I have Ellen still on hand I believe, to whom I 
 will write soon, giving her the sequel and conclusion of the 
 adventures of Mr Cow and the Miss Posts, which have ended 
 in a very tragicall manner. Alas ! our quality friends are 
 wearing away wonderous fast, and we will soon scarce have a 
 tituled relation. I would fain have had a black coat for Lady 
 
 1 ' Anti-Jacobin Review and Magazine, or Monthly Political and Liter- 
 ary Censor.' 1798-1821. 
 
 2 Miss Pitman was a cousin of General Campbell of Monzie. Her 
 father, who was Irish and had been in the army, was dead, and she 
 lived at Monzie for many years, and afterwards with Miss Jane Camp- 
 bell at Sunninghill. 
 
 3 Magdalene Murray, died May 1860 at the age of ninety. Daughter 
 of Sir R. Murray, sixth Bart, of Clermont.
 
 86 LADY BETTY CUNNINGHAM. BH^WW. 
 
 Frances 1 as well as Mr Smollet; 2 but on the whole it was no 
 matter. And poor Lady Betty is agoing too. 3 God help her ! 
 for she will do it with a very bad grace 1 doubt, and be full 
 loth to quit her earthly tabernacle. I should like to have her 
 picture, and wish I had done it myself ; but she is before my 
 eyes in whole, tho' I do not remember parts, and therefor am 
 unable to delineate her incomparable appearance. And so 
 the General is relenting, and about to take the lovely and 
 pleasant heiress at last. Well, poor old man ! he is beginning 
 to dote I fancy, tho' I am apt to account for this relenting in 
 another way from yours. In my opinion it proceeds not from 
 pity but from avarice ; a vice which grows stronger with years 
 and advanced age, and swallows up every other passion and 
 feeling, making the shafts of reproof or ridicule feeble and 
 pointless, and the man callous to everything but what feeds 
 his darling desire. We had prayers twice a-day during Easter, 
 and on Sunday all took the Sacrament. As I had made up 
 my mind to it beforehand, and try'd to prepare myself, it was 
 not very dissagreeable to me, tho' the custom of making us 
 partake is most scandalous ; and were I but able, I should 
 write a dissertation and print it, not only upon that abuse, but 
 also many others of the same kind practised here, which, in 
 my eyes, are downright prophaness, not to say blasphemy, and 
 enough to disgust a weak mind with religion and everything 
 pertaining to it. But all these topics, and many others of a 
 like nature, we shall talk over at meeting. And I wish you 
 would take a jaunt hither in the long vacation, as it would do 
 you good, and you would see many things here well worth 
 observation. I saw the Pomfret statues the other day in the 
 schools. It is a fine collection, and the statue of Cicero (of 
 
 1 Lady Frances Montgomery, daughter of Alexander, ninth Earl of 
 Eglinton, Mrs Sharpe's aunt ; died 1799. 
 
 2 Mr Smollett of Bonhill, Dumbartonshire, cousin to the historian, 
 married to Kirkpatrick Sharpe's aunt. 
 
 3 Lady Elizabeth Cuningham, see ante, p. 78.
 
 *] THE POMFRET CICERO. 87 
 
 which my father has a print, which does the face at least no 
 justice) the most noble thing of the kind I ever beheld. The 
 University has been offered immense sums for it, but in vain ; 
 and there it stands, huddled up in a dark room, without a 
 pedestal, and covered with dust. One of the hands happened 
 to be broke off, and the genteel fellows 0, how like the 
 clumsy imagination of a Colledge ! have mended it with a 
 huge bit of iron, enough to knock down a rhinoceros. Poor 
 Nanny fox, what a sad missfortune she hath had. I hope it 
 will teach her the danger of hunting after unlawful game a 
 very good lesson for men as well as foxes. And Mosco is 
 doing well, you say. Pray, how does Poll go on ? tho' I care 
 not for him, as he forgot me ; and if Mosco behaves in the 
 same manner at my return, I shall also discard him from his 
 
 place in my esteem. I am happy to hear that Miss I , of 
 
 G , is about to be made an honest woman, as the country 
 
 will be rid of one more nuisance since Mary B 's match. Yet, 
 
 alas ! so many remain, that it is but like killing one louse on 
 my Lady Bath's carcass, which is neither here nor there. And 
 Kate G is also going to cease burning, and take unto her- 
 self a spouse. Will no one come Hoddam- wards, I wonder, and 
 help off with a dead lift or two ? . . . I am much oblidged to 
 my father for having my favourite walk cleaned, and hope to 
 find both it and Dubster Hall in great beauty when I return. 
 Miss Pitman sent me a ballad written by Scott, 1 the scene of 
 which is upon the Border, and a beacon-hill the place of meet- 
 ing between the lady and her lover's ghost ; which brought 
 Eepentance into my head every time I read it, as the descrip- 
 tion suits exactly. What a serious misfortune it would be 
 was Eepentance to tumble down. Has the fragment of wall in 
 the old churchyard crumbled lately ? I remember some im- 
 pudent knave (whom the devil confound !) had thrown off the 
 highest stone before I left Hoddam last. When will Susan 
 return to Dumfriesshire ? Miss Pitman says she is afraid 
 i " Eve of St John."
 
 88 ALEXANDER AND MATTHEW SHARPE. 8 Jf799. 
 
 that old Erskine has not settled anything upon her; for my 
 part I never thought he would. I see Lyttleton 1 walking about 
 just now with his mother and sister, and am envying him much 
 indeed. How I should like to have you here to show you 
 everybody and everything! The Dean has not given any 
 dinners this vacation ; and if I had room, I would give you a 
 sketch of his character, after knowing more now from compar- 
 ing notes. But this shall be put off untill a better opportunity, 
 as also a description of his brother Will, 2 and an outline of the 
 tutors in general. In the meantime I beg you will give many 
 loves to all at Hoddam, and believe me to be your ever most 
 affectionate son, CHARLES SHARPE. 
 
 2\S. When does Sandy 3 go to sea. I intend to take the 
 office of parson upon me, and write him a letter of advice, 
 merely on a few points wherein I myself have had a little 
 experience, when he is about to go. 
 
 What has become of Sandy Kay ? 
 
 I have heard nothing about Matthew, 4 for my aunt does not 
 mention him. 
 
 C. KIRKPATRICK SHARPE to MATTHEW SHARPE, 
 Esq. of Hoddam. 
 
 27th [April 1799]. 
 
 MY DEAR FATHER, According to my threat in my 
 mother's letter, I am going to annoy you about money 
 
 1 William Henry, fourth Lord Lyttelton. His mother was daughter 
 of John Bristowe, Esq. of Quiddenharu, in Norfolk. His sister Caroline 
 married the Right Honourable Reginald Pole-Carew. 
 
 2 William Jackson, Bishop of Oxford, 1812-1815. 
 
 3 Alexander Renton Sharpe, Kirkpatrick Sharpe's next younger 
 brother, Vice- Admiral R.N., C.B., died s. p. 1860. 
 
 4 Matthew Sharpe, born 1774, served in 28th Dragoons, Lieutenant- 
 General in army, M.P. for Dumfries Burghs 1833-1841, died s. p. 12th 
 February 1845.
 
 s^Rp E 7i799.] EXPENDITURE COLLECTIONS. 89 
 
 matters ; and this I do with the more shame and compunc- 
 tion, the more I consider your great and unmerited generosity 
 to me when we last parted, and indeed on every other oc- 
 casion. You must know that I have been foolishly extrava- 
 gant of late, of which you shall have a full and true account, 
 both that you may know how the money was spent, and that 
 a full and true confession may in some sort be an extenua- 
 
 * > tion of my fault. I shall not put wine in the catalogue of 
 my sins", tho' that cost me fourteen pounds and upwards, nor 
 cloaths, of which I have only had what was absolutely 
 necessary; but I gave a music-party, which cost me three 
 guineas, and my lessons, which I paid, came to five. In 
 short, I bought some painted glass, and some prints, and have 
 plaid the fool. I sat down last night to calculate my debts, 
 and found that wine, books, shoes, and a long &c. which I 
 
 /; owe, came to near thirty pounds. This I shall easily pay in 
 time, if you will be so good as send me on advance a part of 
 my stated allowance. I shall give up my pianoforte and 
 music-master. I refused to-day to go on a curricle-party, 
 fairly telling my poverty ; and shall not go to Stapleton's in 
 vacation for the same reason. My bookseller and wine 
 merchant's bills are by far the largest ; I owe the bookseller 
 about nine pounds. I spoke to Carey the other day about 
 Corne's l salary and his own. He says you may either pay it 
 yearly or when I leave College, as it is perfectly the same. 
 And now to more pleasant matters. We are all in a sad fuss 
 here about Collections, which come on next week. Some sit 
 up the whole night skimming the heads of chapters instead 
 of the chapters themselves, while others scrawl compendiums 
 which not the devil himself, far less the Dean, could read for 
 his life. And all are quaking with the thoughts of the black 
 tribunal at which they are to appear. Whenever I consider 
 about it, my head shakes in the prettiest fashion imaginable, 
 
 1 Rev. William Come, B.D., Censor of Christ Church, Prebendary of 
 Lichfield.
 
 90 BROWN LOW IRISH AT OXFORD. 8 A 
 
 yet I cannot very well tell what I am frightened for. Brown- 
 low, 1 your acquaintance, is at St Mary's Hall this term : his 
 lady is about to make him a happy father incontinent ; what 
 an ugly child it will be if it is like its parents. They say 
 that my Lady Kathrine, besides having an exceeding strong 
 resemblance to an old dishclout, is as ancient as the hills, 
 and might be her husband's mother. All the Irish youth 
 here are giving themselves infinite concern about the Union. 
 We have one courageous hero who wishes to Jeesus he was 
 at the head of the rebels, tho' I am certain that is not the 
 part of his own body he would show to the enemy. And 
 another who declares he would not go to Court on any ac- 
 count whatever, wishing, I suppose, to mortify the King, and 
 break the heart of the tristful Queen. I doubt not that all 
 our Irish Christ-Churchians would join the FrincJi were they 
 to invade England ; and truly for that reason I rather wish 
 the Frinch to come, as our youths would all be hanged, and 
 Oxford have a happy riddance from a pack of abominable 
 knaves. We have the most delightful weather at present I 
 ever saw so warm, that all the windows are thrown open, 
 and under -waistcoats torn off; and, as the poet says, "the 
 breezes fan the treeses," as if it were the middle of summer. 
 I shall be solitary enough in the vacation, I fancy, and there- 
 fore need good weather to keep up my spirits. By the by, 
 I forgot to wish you joy on your son's marriage. 2 I would 
 give something to see the bride, tho', by all accounts, her 
 husband will never make much by showing her, for she is 
 none of the most lovely creatures ever seen. Be so good as 
 tell Ellen that I would be much obliged to her if she would 
 search in my cabinet for a little broach I got from you, and 
 let it be inclosed in the next letter I get from Hoddam. As 
 also that she would let my aunt know, when she writes, that 
 in the letter I got from her there was no direction where my 
 1 See ante, p. 81. 2 Marriage of Matthew Sharpe with Miss Hosea.
 
 s T H ARp A E?i H 799.] DUBSTER HALL WHORWOOD. 91 
 
 answer might find her. Dubster Hall will be flourishing 
 now, I daresay, since the heat is not at Bucky's disposal. 
 It is my firm opinion that the Duchess of Buccleugh was 
 over-heated in her infancy, and that is the reason she is so 
 withered in her maturer years. I quite forgot in my last 
 letter to thank William for his elegant cut paper, the figures 
 of which, however, I must needs confess, I could not at all 
 understand. They are neither like anything in heaven above, 
 the earth beneath, or the waters under the earth, and if they 
 are not patterns for the backs of chairs, I am at my wits' end. 
 I saw Whorwood a few days ago in the street. He is looking 
 ill, but seems to be as noisy and jockey ish as ever. My 
 beautiful watch which you gave me has never gone right since 
 I left Hoddam ; yet I cannot find in my heart to sell it and 
 get another, it is so very handsome and uncommon. Christ 
 Church was never so full as it is at present ; we are as thick 
 as three in a bed. And playing at cards, I am sorry to say, 
 has come much in fashion, but the Dean will sort their papers 
 about it soon when it grows a little more notorious. I am 
 sure, my dear father, you will think this letter intolerably 
 stupid, but I have written it in a very great hurry, owing to 
 Collections, with people in my room making riot enough to 
 stun a drummer ; and I have been so nervous some time past 
 that I can scarcely either write or read. Give my love to my 
 mother, and many thanks for her letter, and Jackey Ireland's 
 epistle to Dr Ching. 1 Mr Bliss, the beadle, was more enraged 
 than any of the others about it, and swore he would prosecute 
 any one who dared to say he ever had a worm in his life. 
 The wit was from Ch. Church, but I never could find out 
 who writ it. And now must I, from the multiplicity of my 
 
 1 "Whether the regular practitioner may sneer at Mr Ching," says 
 the historian of Cornwall, " I know not ; but the Patent Worm Lozenges 
 have gained our Launceston apothecary a large fortune, and secured to 
 him perpetual fame." Southey's Doctor.
 
 92 MR GREIG PROPOSED DEPARTURE. [saSJwoo. 
 
 business, conclude. With love to all at home (by the by, I 
 henr you have not got rid of Mr Greig 1 yet), and many ex- 
 cuses for so short and dull a pack of stuff I remain, dear 
 father, your ever affectionate son, CHAKLES SHAKPE. 
 
 I expect a sad scold for my extravagance in your next 
 letter, so pray do not keep me long in suspense. 
 
 C. KIRKPATRICK SHARPE to Mrs SHARPE, Hoddam. 
 
 [June 21, 1800.] 
 
 MY DEAR MOTHER, I thank you and my father a thousand 
 times for the letter and its contents, but I must be very con- 
 cise both in my rcmcrciments and everything else, owing to 
 Collections, in all the agonies of which I at present am. 
 Heaven knows whether I shall not reach you before this my 
 epistle does, for I put off writing for two days owing to that 
 beast Liggon, 2 who was to have gone down to Scotland with 
 me in a post-chaise ; he has given up the plan, and I must 
 e'en betake myself to my old friend the mail. I go up to 
 Collections to-morrow, and leave Oxford on Tuesday. If 
 nothing comes in the way, I take coach that Tuesday night 
 (for I cannot stop in town conveniently, and my friends there 
 need not know what road I take to Scotland), and on Thurs- 
 day night hope to be in Carlisle; I shall there stop, and 
 write to my father, if he will be so good as to fetch me home 
 in triumph in his carriage. What a purgatory I have to pass 
 through before I reach heaven ! You know as well as I do, 
 my dear mother, how happy I shall be to see all my friends at 
 
 1 The minister of Tinwald. 
 
 2 William Beatichamp Lygon, second Earl Beauchamp ; born 1782 ; 
 died, unmarried, 1823.
 
 8H APE?1800.] HOME MESSAGES MISS PITMAN. 93 
 
 Hoddam how fond I am even of the place, putting the inhab- 
 itants out of the question so I will say nothing on that head. 
 Tell Jane, with my love, that she need have no fears about my 
 fineness, as I intend, after playing it off in the mail, where it 
 is often of service, to lay it aside at Carlisle for the whole of 
 the long vacation ; and then resume it there on my return to 
 Oxford. Tell her also that I never was readier to laugh in 
 my life (though Collections quell me in some sort just at pres- 
 ent, and the hideous prospect of my journey), and that I have 
 abundance of nonsensical tittle-tattle in store for her and 
 Ellen, if the latter can lend an ear to such trifles. In sober 
 sadness I am grieved for Ellen, for I daresay she feels very 
 unhappy, though the foolish cause of it is enough to make one 
 laugh. I am sorry to hear that your new Brandina l is vulgar 
 and no musician. The first defect does not trouble me so 
 much, for, tho' I say it who should not say it, there is little 
 fear of any of the family's being vulgar : there is mauvaise honte 
 among us, but it is that of gentlemen and ladies, not of clowns. 
 The second fault vexes me much, as I should be happy to 
 have the rising generation good performers on the pianoforte. 
 Tell Isabella I have got some of Handel's concertos, which she 
 must learn to play from beginning to end. I shall plague you 
 once more to sit for your picture to me when I come home, 
 which I intend to do with a pen. My dear mother, how 
 happy I shall be to see you again ! I vow we are almost worn 
 out of acquaintance. Miss Pitman hath given me up. I 
 have heard nothing from her for a prodigious while. If she is 
 really serious, woe be unto her ; I shall play the deuce with 
 her. These old maids, with a murrain to them, imagine that 
 one has nothing to do but write to them from morning till 
 night. Farewell, my dear mother. Excuse haste, and believe 
 me your ever affectionate son, CHAS. SHAKPE. 
 
 1 Miss Brandon, a new governess at Hoddam. See post, p. 106, for a 
 more kindly notice of this lady.
 
 94 THE KIRKPATRtCKS OF CLOSEBURN. [sH^aSTisoo. 
 
 We had Mara 1 here the other night : I wish my father could 
 have heard her. 
 
 C. KIHKPATRICK SHARPS to Miss ISABELLA SHARPE, Hoddam. 
 
 [1800.] 
 
 My mother informs me, dear Isabell, that you wish to enter 
 into a correspondence with me, and that your modesty pre- 
 vented you from mentioning this when I was last at Hoddam. 
 I do not think that you needed to have stood on so much 
 ceremony, and can assure you that it will give me great pleas- 
 ure to hear from you whenever you may choose to take my 
 mother's pen, or to make use of your own. This is not spoken 
 in the fashionable sincerity of compliment. My mother also 
 tells me that you are as shy of playing as ever, from the idea 
 of incapacity to give any one pleasure by your performance. 
 Now this is very wrong. You certainly do play exceedingly 
 well, and at all events should sit down to the pianoforte when- 
 ever you are desired. So much for pipers' news and fiddlers' 
 tales. I hear that you paid a visit to the head of our family' 2 
 when in Nithsdale. Pray write me an account of it, and if 
 you saw any family reliques, and if my aunt asked Sir James 
 any questions, and many other ifs of a like nature. These 
 little rogues of the Closeburn mutiny should be well tickled 
 with the birch, whether their pedagogue was a tyrant or 
 not. I cannot abide such youthful energies. Did you ever 
 know such a sad story as this of the Lochmaben ring ? 
 
 1 Madame Mara, the famous prima donna, was born at Cassel, 1 750 ; 
 died 1833. She first obtained celebrity as a violinist, and made her 
 debut as a singer at Leipzig in 1771. She made her last appearance in 
 London in 1822 ; but a signal failure took the place of her former bril- 
 liant success, although her advanced age attracted much sympathy. 
 
 2 Sir James Kirkpatrick, fifth Baronet of Closeburne, Dumfries. His 
 eldest son, Sir Thomas, married Charles Kirkpatrick Sharpe's sister 
 Jane.
 
 TO MISS 
 SHARPJ 
 
 1800.] ARCHBISHOP SHARPE HIS MURDER. 95 
 
 I think the devil hath now got into the herd of swine 
 with a witness. The other day I chanced to stumble on a 
 print of Archbishop Sharpe in Oxford ; but the old knave to 
 whom it belongs would by no means be prevailed on to part 
 with it. I have been very unlucky in some respects lately. 
 By the bye, I hope you continue to read history (but I will 
 keep my lecture on that head for another letter), and refrain 
 as much as possible from novels. In the story of the afore- 
 said Archbishop there is something to me very interesting. 
 He was a man full of contradictions clever, imprudent, cun- 
 ning, passionate, merciless, and charitable and his tragical 
 end strikes one with its likeness to that of Cardinal Beton, 
 a wickeder and greater man. It is strange that two Arch- 
 bishops of St Andrews should have suffered a fate so very 
 similar. I read an old account of Sharpe's murder in the 
 Ch. Ch. library the other day, which relates that when he saw 
 the Whigs pursuing the coach, he said to his daughter, " God 
 help me, my dear daughter, for I am gone ! " and that, when 
 the villains pulled him out of the carriage, he dropt down on 
 his knees, and held up his hands to pray, they cutting them 
 with their swords to prevent him, and beating his hoary head 
 to pieces with the butt-ends of their pistols. This was done in 
 the true spirit of Whiggery. You will excuse this long story, 
 I hope, as it concerns a connection of your own ; and also for- 
 give me for mentioning that when Sharpe went from Scot- 
 land to treat with Cromwell concerning the Scotch Church, he 
 made so excellent a speech that the Protector said, " This gen- 
 tleman should be called, in the Scotch fashion, Sharpe of that 
 Ilk." I confound the wits with this story whenever they 
 attempt new puns on my name. Pray how doth the fair Beg- 
 bie do ? I hope she holds her own well. Tho' she is a beauty, 
 &c., &c., I fear that you will never again be able to meet with 
 such a paragon as Jeanie Eeid. Poor Jenie Lawrie's illness 
 grieved me sadly. The idea of Nanny Mac Who, scumming the 
 fleas off Jeanie's own grey beard after her death is enough to
 
 96 TOWN AND GOWN BATTLE. [ZJ?800. 
 
 make one weep. Tell me how Bet's hand is, and when you 
 intend to plant the wallflower seeds above the Long Walk door, 
 and on the wall of the gate. I hope that our new Adam is 
 a meek Christian, and doth not rim after forbidden fruit, to 
 engender the worm that never dies. Mr Hodge is taking his 
 dose of Ching in Dumfries jail, I hear. With loves to all, I am, 
 dear sister, your affectionate friend, CHAS. K. S. 
 
 Direct to me at Oxford, as usual. 
 
 C. KIRKPATRICK SHAKPE to Mrs SHARPE, Hoddam. 
 
 June 5th [1800]. 
 
 DEAR MOTHER, I am about to address you with more 
 pleasure than I have ever done since I came to Oxford, as 
 this will be my last epistle for a considerable time ; and tho' 
 we are in the heat of wars and tumults at present, I hope 
 soon to be at rest and peace in the retirements of Hoddom, 
 unmolested by tutors and squabbling companions. For these 
 four nights past there hath been regularly a battle between 
 the gownsmen and town-people, which last night came to such 
 a pitch that swords were produced, and the devil and all to 
 do, in spite of the Vice-Chancellor and Proctors, who were 
 called the most villainous epithets to their very beards. Had 
 our two Censors not come out to quell the Ch. Ch. men, the 
 consequences would have been serious ; and a like engagement 
 is expected again this evening. I am sorry to say that some 
 of my friends, whom I should never have thought capable of 
 such childish absurdity, were in the last battle, and fought 
 exceeding well in a bad cause. The evil originated in Mr 
 K - (a brother of Ld. K 's), who, though very well- 
 natured when sober, is a very fiend drunk ; and he quarrelling 
 with some men, by whom he was much abused, brought all 
 the students into the scrape but why, or wherefore, they
 
 S HARp" R i800.] PICTURE OF MRS SHARPE BLENHEIM. 97 
 
 themselves are entirely ignorant. Collections begin the 18th 
 of this month, and if possible I will get a turn the first day, 
 and set off the next for home ; I am quite ignorant what the 
 journey will cost me, and have just ten pounds in the world ; 
 but my father was so good as to promise to deffray that ex- 
 pence for me, and I would gladly pay some of my debts with 
 the cash I have. Could he be kind enough to supply me with 
 what will pay the journey before I set off ? My aunt, who 
 was here two days, advises me to carry my cloathes along 
 with me in the mail, so I will buy a smaller trunk, and leave 
 my large one here. Three days will be about the space of 
 time of my pilgrimage ; and tell me in your next how I shall 
 come from Carlisle in the mail, or posting. 
 
 You would, no doubt, be much surprised with my London 
 expedition, which was very far from having the effect you 
 imagine. Indeed, though I saw delights without number, and 
 novelties without end, yet all was in such a bustle, that I 
 scarcely knew whether my head or heels were uppermost the 
 whole time, and found the peaceful Oxford on my return not 
 at all a disagreeable contrast. 
 
 You disappointed me very much about your picture, which 
 would have been most acceptable in any dress or posture. 
 However, as it is, I will have my own way in it (if it is ever 
 painted), and A. Stewart will wish me in Abraham's bosom 
 before I am done with him. 
 
 Stapleton went with me two days ago to Blenheim (Mr 
 Brown was not at home), and we saw the park and the 
 pictures. In my opinion there are some of the paintings 
 much finer than any in the Orleans collection, but the house 
 itself is a hideous pile of brown stone, and furnished in a 
 bad taste. The rooms are none of them very large, and the 
 walls of many covered with fulsome tapestry, in which the 
 Duke of M. is crowned by naked children, and angels flying 
 upside-down. 
 
 Thursday. I was last night at the music- room to hear 
 VOL. i. G
 
 98 MADAME MARA COLLECTIONS. 
 
 Madame Mara, and we expected mischief coming home, which 
 did not take place. A great crowd of fellows assembled at 
 eight o'clock, armed with cudgels and stones, but on the Riot 
 Act being read dispersed. I am resolved not to go any more 
 out at night this term, for good people are scarce, and I neither 
 skilled in cudgel-playing or boxing. 
 
 Since I began this letter, they tell me that Collections are 
 the 21st instead of the 18th, and that the vacation continues 
 till the 10th of October; that the Dean is at present in Lon- 
 don, so I shall not be able to apply for a turn till he comes 
 back. Heavens ! how I long to see Hoddam, which I shall not 
 be so long of seeing again in a hurry, being resolved never to 
 stay a vacation more at Oxford if I can help it ! Give my 
 love to Ellen, and tell her that her drawing came safe (which 
 is exceedingly well done indeed), but that not having time to 
 answer her letter, I shall not enlarge upon that or any other 
 subject till we meet. I must also put off writing to Sandy till 
 I am at home, whose profession I shall never say anything 
 more about, having, I am very sensible, spoken more freely 
 against it at Hoddam than became me, from the sincere wish 
 I have for his prosperity and happiness. I am glad to hear 
 that Lady Murray received my letter, for I was beginning 
 to be afraid that it was lost and how mine to you happen to 
 be so long on the road I cannot guess. It is very unpleasant 
 but without remedy, I suppose. My aunt tells me that the 
 avenue is continuing to the bridge, which rejoices me much. 
 This is a capital place for plants, and if I could but carry 
 them, I would bring down a stock for Dubster Hall. Well, I 
 have seen Blenheim, which is so cried up for beauty, but in 
 my opinion a little more art at Hoddam would make it ten 
 times a more charming place. When I arrive, I intend to 
 begin the pianoforte again, which is quite the fashion here ; 
 and have many other plans of amusement, intending to do 
 nothing serious or useful the whole time I stay. I wish, my 
 dear mother, in your next you will tell me how we will ever
 
 BHA^WOO.] BABINGTON JOURNEY TO OXFORD. 99 
 
 get a living, for I have been considering very well, like the 
 piper's cow, 1 about it, and can think of no one handle to lay 
 hold of. There is another of my teeth quite rotted in the 
 middle, which I must have taken out, but will put it off till I 
 come to Scotland. Those accursed garrets ruined my mouth, 
 I do believe. 
 
 C. Babbington 2 called on me the other day, and among other 
 news, informed me that George Jonston of Cowhill is at pres- 
 ent with him in Balliol College, very ill of a consumption; and 
 that he himself is preaching here at some church a little way 
 out of town every Sunday. 
 
 But I am interrupted, and must make an end, that this may 
 go in time. So with love to all, I am, my dear mother, your 
 most affectionate son, CHARLES SHAEPE. 
 
 C. KIKKPATRICK SHARPE to Mrs SHARPE, Hoddam. 
 
 Saturday, 25 [Nov.] 1800. 
 
 MY DEAR MOTHER, You see I have not delaid a moment 
 to warn you of my safe arrival ; and this I am doing with a 
 trembling hand and aching head, so that my letter will be 
 written quite after the Laconic fashion. But you shall have 
 a brief account of my principal proceedings, leaving petty 
 episodes for another opportunity. Know, then, that after 
 passing a sleepless night at Carlisle (and what was the matter 
 with me I cannot guess, but I look back on that night 
 with more horror than any other event in my journey), I 
 was hurried away next morning without a morsel of break - 
 
 1 " There was a piper had a cow, 
 He kennt na how to guide her ; 
 He took his pipes an' played a tune 
 Said, ' Consider, cow, consider." " 
 
 Scotch Nursery Rhyme. 
 
 2 Charles Maitland Babington of Balliol, B.A. 1797, M.A. 1800, Pre- 
 bendary of Hereford Cathedral, 1814.
 
 100 STORMY NIGHT ON THE STAGE-COACH. [sHxTp^Tsoo. 
 
 fast, and grew so very sick and ill in a little while, that I had 
 almost fainted twice. When we stopt at Penrith and took 
 up an old gentleman, I then got a large dram of gin, which 
 did me much service ; and we proceeded through snow and 
 ice far and far, and farther than I can tell, till I fell asleep 
 and got a much better night's rest than at that accursed 
 Carlisle. During the night (but heaven knows where) we 
 picked up two men going to London ; and lo ! about daylight 
 another qualm siezed me. . . . This work continued the 
 whole day, with an untolerable sickness and aversion at the 
 very sight of food ; and yet I was not, nor indeed am I to this 
 hour, very much fatigued. And when we got to Stilton it 
 blew such a hideous storm, . . . with hail, snow, and wind, 
 that for an hour and twenty minutes the six horses would 
 not move forward, but attempted always to retreat to the 
 stables. Such kicking, such rearing of beasts, such curs- 
 ing and swearing of men (who had a stronger smack of the 
 true brute in them than even their cattle), I never met with 
 before; and after every cudgel in the house yea, even my 
 landlady's private stick wherewith she corrects her spouse 
 had been bent or broken over their backs, they got on so 
 slowly that we reached London at eight in the morning. 
 Here was no peace for the wicked. The Bull and Mouth, 
 which is the filthiest place you ever saw, gave me such an 
 aversion to remaining where I was, that I took a place in the 
 heavy coach which went at one that day, and lay down on a 
 bed till the time for departure. Here my head grew very bad 
 indeed, so that I slept not a wink. . . . But, to cut a long story 
 short, I arrived at Oxford at one this morning, and went to 
 bed with wonderful hurry and despatch. When I got up at 
 ten, forced thereto full sore against my will, ... I found my 
 room littered with furniture of all sorts, and on enquiry was 
 told that I was to have another set of rooms, and a freshman 
 mine. Inraged at this intelligence, sick as I was, I went to 
 Carey's rooms, but found him not at home ; and after sending
 
 sHAR^Tsoi.] LORD BINNING SIR G. WAREENDER. 101 
 
 to the Censor to say I was staying in, I got a summons 
 from the Dean, who told me that it was a mistake of his, and 
 that he thought I wanted a change, adding with the air of a 
 king, " You see how mindful I am of you." He likewise told 
 me that both Lord Binning and Sir G. Warrender l were ill, 
 which, I fancy, is more the sorrow sickness than any other. 
 I wonder how Jane and my father got home ? . . . I have not 
 seen a single friend, and only two acquaintances, since my 
 arrival. No one, almost, has come yet. How much warmer 
 it is here than in Scotland ! How do you direct to my aunt ? 
 J have changed my mind, and want her to procure my wine 
 for me. When the Dean sent for me to-day, I thought it had 
 been about the Studentship. Give my love to all at home, 
 and tell Ellen it was well for her she came not to London with 
 me : it would have dished her. I hope Jane 2 hath demeaned 
 herself properly since she had the honour of being in England. 
 I hope her toothache is better. Tell Ellen I am going to write 
 her a long letter by-and-by. Do excuse the shortness and 
 badness of this. The pleasure I have in taking my cat by 
 the tail has alone made me capable of writing, for all my 
 bones are sore. Write soon. Your ever aff. son, 
 
 C. SHARPE. 
 
 C. KIRKPATRICK SHARPE to Mrs SHARPE, Hoddam. 
 
 OXFORD, Monday, 12th Janry. 1801. 
 
 Day after day, my dear mother, for heaven knows how 
 long, have I been expecting a letter from you; and after 
 every disappointment figuring to myself Hoddam Castle 
 
 1 Sir George Warrender of Lochend, Haddington ; succeeded his 
 father as fourth baronet 1799 ; married Honble. Anne Boscawen, 
 daughter of George Evelyn, 3d Viscount Falmouth; died 1849. 
 
 2 Jane, daughter of Charles Sharpe of Hoddam, married her cousin 
 Sir Thomas Kirkpatrick.
 
 102 CHRISTMAS AT GREY'S COURT. 8H ^M01. 
 
 blown down, and the inhabitants buried in the ruins ; but a 
 thought struck me this morning that you might perhaps be 
 waiting untill I gave notice of my removal from Greys Court, 
 as, very likely, my father sending my allowance, would chuse 
 to be certain where it would find me. So I am about to 
 trouble you with a sheet of stuff in the old style ; but must 
 first of all wish many and happy new years to the family at 
 Hoddam. Good spouses to the shes, and none at all to the 
 hes. And now must some account be given of my Christmas 
 gambols, which began woe's me ! like most other gambols, 
 with laughter, and ended in tears. Yea, if you and my 
 sisters, not to mention Sandy, do not weep at the recital of 
 my misfortunes, you have hearts harder than whin-stones. 
 The Monday after Collections, I left Oxford with Stapleton 1 in 
 his mama's leathern conveniency, and we got to Greys in 
 all safety, saving that Stapleton lost his scent-bottle at Ben- 
 son. Her ladyship received me very kindly, as also the 
 young gentlewomen ; and I thanked my stars for my escape 
 from the dulness of the Oxford vacation. There was in the 
 house a maiden lady of the name of Harvey, who resides in 
 Bath (doth Ellen know anything about her ?) ; a very sage 
 person, as abundant in wisdom as in beard. And one day a 
 
 Mr and Mrs R (formerly Miss C. L ) dined with us. 
 
 The gentleman was mighty stiff and precise, being an honour- 
 able and formerly a gentleman Commoner of Ch. Ch. more- 
 over a fool, and not very well bred. The lady plaid off the 
 hoyden (which is at present the fashion), seeming quite at 
 home, and thoroughly convinced of her irresistable charms of 
 person and conversation. She sat at dinner with her arms 
 wrapped up in the table-napkin, taking loud fits of laughter 
 every now and then at nothing, and talking such nonsense, 
 that it was really distressing to hear her. I told her that I 
 had the pleasure of knowing her brother in Scotland. "0 
 
 1 James Henry Stapleton, third son of Sir Thomas Stapleton of 
 Rotherfield, Grey's Court, Oxon.
 
 sHAR^Tsoi.] COMPANY AT GREY'S COURT. 103 
 
 yes," quoth she. " He married a Miss Lord, I've forgot her 
 name ! Bushby. I shall remember the whole affair by-and- 
 by. He is quite lost in that horrid place shooting in the 
 
 Highlands " (Mrs E must have an accurate knowledge of 
 
 the geography of Scotland). " He was really once a good- 
 looking young man; but the last time I saw him he was 
 absolutely hideous; and I always thought he had a good 
 taste in beauty till I saw his wife poor thing, such a dowdy ! 
 But they say she's good, and goodness is better than being 
 pretty, you know." She finished this elegant and sisterly 
 harangue with a violent tee-hee, and several very becoming 
 grimaces. Her spouse is in the Church, and at present 
 curatizing in a house so near Greys, that the family is in 
 consternation from the frequency of visits, and the rude 
 familiarity of the wife, and saucy formality of the hus- 
 band. Miss Stapleton, her brother, and myself, repaired in 
 high feather to a ball at Henley, the night after Christmas, 
 and were much amused in many ways. The company con- 
 sisted of the town gentry, and the progeny of farmers in the 
 neighbourhood ; the clowns with lank rat-tail hair, and white 
 gloves drawn tight on hands which they knew not how to 
 dispose of ; the clownesses with long stiff feathers stuck 
 round their heads like those of a shittle-cock, and wealth of 
 paste beads and pinchbeck chains. They came all stealing 
 into the room as if they were doing some villainy, and joyful 
 was the meeting of the benches and their bums (I could not 
 resist the allitteration). But the dancing did them most ease ; 
 the nymphs imitating the kicking of their cows, the swains the 
 prancing of their cart-horses. But, joy of joys ! tea was 
 brought at twelve, and off came all the silken mittens and 
 pure white gloves in an instant, exposing lovely raw beef arms 
 and mutton fists, more inured to twirl mopsticks and grasp 
 pitchforks than to flutter fans or flourish bamboos. The shep- 
 herds cut swinging lumps of bread and butter, which their 
 fair ones devoured in a trice ; and one beautiful and delicate
 
 104 BALL AT HENLEY TOOTHACHE. 
 
 creature, dressed in muslin so transparent that it left no room 
 for conjecture, declared, after the tea was removed, that her 
 stomach felt quite hard from eating "as it were," suiting 
 the action to the word. We all returned from this ball in 
 high glee. But, alas ! the night after, my courage got a woeful 
 cooling. I was seized with such a violent fit of the toothache 
 (worse than any that ever afflicted me before), that I lay the 
 whole night groaning, squealing, rubbing my gums, and 
 spitting into every thing I could find. Well, " Aurora with 
 rosy fingers" came at last, and with her the poticary from 
 Henley. He clapt an old rusty instrument on my tooth, 
 which had been in many a foul mouth I'll warrant, and with 
 one tug delivered me of this scurvy production, which I 
 committed to the flames with infinite joy and exultation. 
 The toothache, however, was the beginning of my mis- 
 fortunes. (Ask Isabella who is Fortune's eldest daughter ? ) 
 Some time afterwards I thought of returning to Oxford, and 
 the night before the day I had fixed for my departure 
 brought so much snow, that my lady's lignum -vitse tree 
 before the door was broken, and I with difficulty got to 
 Benson, from whence I intended to proceed by coach to 
 Oxford. But here the information came upon me like a 
 thunder-clap, that the road was almost impassable with snow; 
 that no coach could come up ; and that I must post to Oxford. 
 Well, the distance was only twelve miles, and I was fain to 
 put the best face upon it I could. So I got into Oxford half 
 starved with cold, eaten up with spleen, and as poor as 
 Lazarus or Job on his dunghill. Thus ended my Christmas 
 gambols, full of sickness and sorrow. My father's present of 
 wine gave me some comfort, which is excellent, and for which 
 I beg you will again give him my most grateful thanks ; 
 moreover, tell him I have got the 'Hudibras' I promised, 
 which shall be forthcoming in the long vacation. Give my 
 love to Jane, and tell her that I have been sadly afflicted 
 ('tis no jest) with nervous disorders, since I came from Greys.
 
 MA^Tsoi.] DEAN JACKSON MACDONALD. 105 
 
 My head whirls round like a turnstile, and my hand shakes 
 worse than ever ; but I am not low-spirited, as I was on my 
 last attack, and that is a great happiness. However, if my 
 head goes on in this way, I must, tho' sore against my will, 
 have some advice about it, as it renders me incapable of any 
 exertion of body or mind. I called on the Dean and Will 
 Jackson the other day. The Dean told me that he heard 
 a very high character of my drawings, and that he wished 
 much to see some of them ; so I am to dine and exhibit at 
 his house this week, but what I shall do with my head I can- 
 not guess. I breakfasted with Carey yesterday; but the 
 more I see of that man, the more hateful he is to me. He is 
 learned without genius, and impertinent without wit. The 
 rudeness of his manner could only be excused by immense 
 erudition and great cleverness, or by total ignorance of books 
 and men. Now Carey hath not one of these pleas, so (the 
 Lord amend him !) he is utterly detested by everybody. On 
 Sunday next term begins, to my no small satisfaction ; and 
 we are to have a fresh cargo of youths from Westminster, 
 one of which is young Macdonald, the Chief Baron's son, 1 
 who plaid Thais with such 6dat in Terence's " Eunuch." By 
 the by, do you know anything about certain Mackenzies 2 
 who dwell in Eoss-shire, for there is a youth here from that 
 place whose distraction I would fain pry into ? I had a 
 letter yesterday from Magdalene Murray, enclosing a bit of 
 barley-sugar, which runs in the usual strain of that young 
 lady's epistles; and last night I dispatched my "Vision of 
 Liberty " to the ' Anti-Jacobin,' demanding its admittance with 
 all humility. Pray has my father erected the temple to 
 Cloacina he proposed last summer ? or has the grass begun 
 to grow yet about my dear tombstone ? Give my love to the 
 
 1 James Macdonald, born 1784, clerk of the Privy Seal; M.P. for 
 Hants ; Lord High Commissioner of the Ionian Islands ; died 1832. 
 
 2 Alexander Mackenzie, student of Christ Church, in holy orders; 
 died 1809, aged 28.
 
 106 MISS BRANDON RETURN FROM GREY'S. sawMOl. 
 
 three younger ladies, and tell them, that as they value a 
 bishop's favour and benediction, I desire them to take good 
 heed of Miss Brandon (to whom pray present from me all 
 kind wishes of the season) and to their music. I am sure 
 Isabella would play well with application, as no doubt would 
 the other two; and, for heaven's sake, let whips, and cats 
 with nine, nay, ninety tails, be used to obtain this applica- 
 tion. I would give a little advice also to Ellen about her 
 drawing, if I thought it would be of any avail; but being 
 doubtful on that head, I shall play the daughter of Pope 
 Urban no longer, but subscribe myself your ever affec. son, 
 
 CHAS. SHARPE. 
 
 I feel as Prince Henry and Falstaff with regard to Jenny. 
 I know not one good point about her, yet should be grieved 
 were she to die. I think one becomes fond of anything 
 whose affection one has gained, except, perhaps, a young 
 woman of an old lover, and vice versd. Present my kind 
 compts. to Jenny and Nanny, and once more farewell. 
 
 C. KIRKPATRICK SHARPE to Mrs SHARPE, Hoddam. 
 
 OXFORD, Saturday, llth April 1801. 
 
 MY DEAR MOTHER, I make haste to answer your last 
 letter, which I received the day after my return from Staple- 
 ton's, 1 where I have resided for these three weeks. The silence 
 of Hoddam was so unusually long, that I began to think that 
 you was about to return me a little of my own taciturnity; 
 and no imagination can figure the fine harrangues and high- 
 flown reproaches which I was composing to thunder out in an 
 epistle, when yours arrived. I am grieved at the misfortunes 
 in general, but very much so at my own in particular viz., 
 the missing your picture ; indeed I have given up all hopes of 
 1 Grey's Court, Oxfordshire.
 
 sHA T Rp E Ti80i.] FRANKLAND OF THIRKLEBY. 107 
 
 it, being " fobb'd off, and fobb'd off, that it is a very shame to 
 be thought on." 1 Tell my father, with all kind remembrances, 
 that I will send him a true statement of my debts before the 
 long vacation, but in the meantime will be much obliged to 
 him if he will send me immediately as much as will pay my 
 college bills (which must be paid the beginning of every 
 term). Twenty pounds, I am sure, will do ; and if you double 
 that sum you will be near the amount of my other debts. I 
 do not feel any shame at the avowal of my arrears, for in 
 truth I have lived as savingly as possible, and my father shall 
 find on inspecting my accounts that they are all for absolute 
 necessaries. I feel, however, not a whit the less grateful to 
 him for discharging them and, indeed, the supporting me 
 in my present way of life is an eternal obligation, a college 
 education being one of the greatest advantages which a young 
 person is capable of receiving. What a sad account you give 
 me of Mosco ! draggling through the mire all the night (oh, 
 the incontinence of youth !) after mavises and houries. Were 
 his master at home he should have many a sound whipping to 
 cool his courage, for one lash of a whip is worth a cart-load of 
 advice, to dogs as well as men. There is an acquaintance 
 of mine here so very ill ... that I am sadly afraid he 
 will yield the crow a pudden and die: 2 he is the only son 
 of Sir Thomas Frankland, of Yorkshire, very consumptive, 
 and exceeding kind-hearted. I went with Stapleton to his 
 mother's 3 directly after Collections (where the Dean paid 
 me the prettiest compliments imaginable, and which I will 
 tell you when we meet) ; but between friends, I was 
 ready to expire with weariness all the time I staid there, 
 the family is so excessive dull and silly, and my friend 
 
 1 Second Part of King Henry IV., act ii. scene 1. 
 
 2 Kirkpatrick Sharpe's misgivings were fortunately not realised. Mr 
 Frankland lived to succeed his father, Sir Thomas, as seventh Baronet of 
 Thirkleby, York, became the father of a family, and died at a ripe age. 
 
 3 Mary, daughter of Henry Fane, Esq. of Wormsley, Oxford, and niece 
 of the eighth Earl of Westmoreland.
 
 108 LORD AND LADY KILMOREY. 
 
 in it not over well natured I fear but the visit saved ex- 
 pence, and the trouble of prayers, and I saw a little of the 
 world. My Lord and Lady Kilmorey 1 were with us for a 
 day, as also a Miss Middleton, of Chirk Castle, an heiress. 
 His lordship is as full of fiddle-faddle as an ancient unmar- 
 ried gentlewoman, and wears yellow plush breeches, and 
 boots nearly approaching to jacks. He is no beauty, and 
 well stricken in years, being a huge deal older than his wife, 
 who is mighty like the fair and festive Miss Eliza Hamilton, 
 of Dumfries. Miss Middleton sets up for a wit, a very adven- 
 turous thing for any young lady to do, and a most saucy and 
 brazen-faced attempt in her case ; for the poor thing is so very 
 illiterate that she is continually abusing God's patience and 
 the King's English by uttering bad grammar, and the sense of 
 her discourse by no means makes up for the fault of expres- 
 sion. Stapleton and I went to Windsor for two days, and I 
 was delighted with the pictures in the Castle. The famous 
 cartons fell far below my expectation, not being learned enough 
 to understand the anatomy, &c., &c. ; but I was charmed with 
 King Charles's beauties, and many other paintings. We went 
 to a ball the first night, which was more elegant than that I 
 was present at in Henley, but not half so diverting. We went 
 with a Doctor Lochman, 2 one of the Canons of Windsor, a 
 peevish old soul, and a friend of Stapleton's. I danced with 
 an old acquaintance, a Miss Eook, who was once in Edin- 
 burgh ; but the English fiddlers fiddle so bad, and the English 
 dancers dance so much worse, that a Scotch person has no 
 
 pleasure in their merry-makings. There was a Miss E 
 
 there, the best figure I ever beheld in my life. She was 
 nearly quite naked, with cheeks so deeply rouged that they 
 made you sweat to look at them, and her hair dressed some- 
 thing like a horse's head with a pair of blinders on. She lies 
 
 1 Francis Jack, twelfth Viscount, subsequently first Earl of Kilmorey ; 
 married Anne, daughter of Thomas Fisher, Esq. of Acton, Middlesex. 
 
 2 John Lochman, M.A., appointed Canon of Windsor 1758.
 
 sHA T Rp E Ti80l.] ROBERT THE BRUCE SHILLING. 109 
 
 under an ill name, but nevertheless is going to be married to 
 some cuckoldy fool very shortly. I had not time to visit 
 Herne's oak, to my great sorrow, tho' some Windsorians will 
 tell you that the original tree is cut down. By the by, what 
 strange mortals we are ! I was always wailing about our 
 trees when I thought them felled, and now I am grieved that 
 they are still standing. Well, we are but a composition of 
 contradictions, as some sage, Lord knows who, once said. We 
 
 dined at Mr R 's one day, and there appeared another Miss 
 
 L , by name Jane, or rather, I think, they should call 
 
 her Jeanie. She is of that complexion that no Scotch person 
 would see her without exclaiming, " Hech, sirs, sic an ill- 
 skinn'd hizzie ! " and of this skin she is exceeding lavish, 
 showing ells of it both before and behind. Mrs R is breed- 
 ing, and told me that day that she was longing for fish, but 
 could get none in Henly for love or money. Her husband 
 and she are so new-fangled and fulsome upon each other that 
 I vow my stomach was ready to turn to behold their languish- 
 ments and pretty little caresses. I am quite sorry to learn 
 that Bucky is going to leave us he was such a civil creature, 
 tho' a Whig. Pray try your oratory once more, and make him 
 change his mind. And now, my dear mother, I have an affair 
 of great importance to employ you in, in the antiquarian stile, 
 remembering how much you aided me to procure Corri's tomb. 
 You must know that in an evil hour, and with a foolish gen- 
 erosity, I lately promised my Robert the Bruce shilling, at 
 present in my cabinet at Hoddam, to a friend here. Now, 
 tho' I heartily repent this promise, I pique myself on keeping 
 my word, and of course must deliver the coin (which you will 
 be so good as enclose in a letter), if I cannot fall upon a 
 device to procure another from the same source whence mine 
 
 came a filthy source, by my truly truly, for Mary B 
 
 gave it to me. Old John had a great quantity, she said, so 
 my father might get another from him. What do you think 
 of it ? Pray extricate me from this sad dilemma. I forget
 
 HO 'VISION OF LIBERTY.' [SHARPE^'ISOI. 
 
 whether I told you that my poem was to appear in the ' Anti- 
 Jacobin ' for this month. I have not procured the number yet, 
 but long to see myself in print and I shall see a thousand 
 things I should wish amended in my sorry production when I 
 know it is impossible to make any alterations, which will give 
 me infinite vexation. I am about to begin a drawing for 
 Carey, with ill-will, I'll assure you. He doubtless thought the 
 request for one a great honour ; but lo ! how great men can 
 throw their pearls before swine ! and I am doing a portrait 
 of poor Walter Bagot l for his father, which I hope will be like. 
 I wonder what hath become of our Irish friends, the Col 1 ., 
 his wife, Mrs Walker, &c. and if the former couple is still in 
 the Slough of Despond about the child. So Sandy 2 is once 
 more about to attempt the roaring ocean : I do not think he 
 is a salt-water fish by any means. We have still very cold 
 weather here and deluges of rain, and the cry of famine is as 
 loud as ever. We shall all go to pot very soon, I fear, and 
 Buonoparte, with twelve ships of the line, give us a taste of true 
 liberty. But now I have exhausted my store of tittle-tattle, 
 and put out my eyes; moreover, it is near the end of my 
 paper, and eleven o'clock at night; so I shall conclude with 
 love to all (I hope the girls are dutiful, and play four hours 
 every day on the pianoforte), being, my dear mother, your 
 most affectionate son, CHAKLES SHARPE. 
 
 Tell Ellen that Mence is to be here this term ; that Boyse 
 is well, and his mouth exactly the old shape. I am sure you 
 will never be able to read the half of this such villainous 
 pens and paper. 
 
 1 Walter Bagot, second son of the Rev. Walter Bagot, and brother to 
 Egerton Arden Bagot of Pype Hayes, Warwickshire, drowned in the 
 Avon, January 10, 1800. The picture above mentioned is now in the 
 possession of William Walter Bagot, Esq., nephew of Mr Walter Bagot. 
 
 2 Kirkpatrick Sharpe's brother.
 
 IRREGULAR EXAMINATION. Ill 
 
 C. KIRKPATRICK SHARPE to Mrs SHARPE, Hoddam. 
 
 CH. CH., 20 [Nov. or Dec.] 1801. 
 
 I fear, my dear mother, you at this moment think me very 
 unkind in not answering your last letter sooner especially as 
 that letter expressed so much of the fondness which is my 
 greatest pride; but when you have read the recital of the 
 perils I have undergone, and the tribulations I have suffered 
 for some time past, you will certainly acquit me of all charges 
 of neglect or ingratitude. You may remember the account I 
 gave you last vacation of the new Act concerning examination 
 for degrees, and of the trick I had plaid to escape undergoing 
 such a formidable scrutiny, by being examined with Stapleton 
 when he took his Master's degree ? Well, I discovered about 
 three weeks ago that this fetch would not do at least with- 
 out perjury, as the Bachelors must take an oath that they 
 have performed everything according to the Statute and 
 that I must submit to a new catechising. There is a room 
 in the schools fitted up for the purpose, with seats for the 
 Vice-Chancellor and Proctors at one end of it, and all round 
 benches for the other members of the University, so that you 
 make a public exhibition. Six sour Masters of Arts sit at a 
 large table in the middle of the chamber, and ask questions 
 concerning religion, mathematicks, logic, algebra, languages, and 
 heaven knows what, to which the trembling undergraduate 
 answers from the other side of the table. You may imagine 
 my agony. I put down my name for the second examina- 
 tion, and was completely wretched. In vain did Carey, the 
 Dean, and Will Jackson assure me that it was foolish to fear. 
 I knew that I should get through with it; but still the 
 Doctors, the Proctors with their horrid wigs and bands, tor- 
 mented my imagination, and for the whole time previous to 
 the dreadful day I could neither eat nor sleep, nor speak, nor 
 scarcely move. The day at last came, " big with the fate of
 
 112 THE SCHOOLS PHILPOTTS. 
 
 Cato and of Rome," and off set I for the schools in despair. 
 What a foolish creature a nervous person is ! I have not, as 
 you very well know, a jot less self-conceit than my neigh- 
 lx)urs n ay, much more than many. I knew that I would 
 get off; and yet you have no notion into what a pickle this 
 villainous nervousness threw me. I may well say pickle; 
 for I was in a cold sweat the whole morning, and I shook to 
 that degree that I could scarcely feed myself at breakfast. 
 The room was quite full of people when I went in, scrambling 
 like the beasts going into Noah's ark. I wished them all in 
 Pandemonium, and felt an inclination to roar to them : "What 
 came ye here for to see ? A reed shaken by the wind ? " 
 And most foul wind it was ; for the master's breath, who sat 
 near me, stunk so prodigiously when he opened his ugly mouth 
 to ask a question, that his smell confounded me much more 
 than his learning. There was a hideous fellow of the name 
 of Fillpot 1 (I should like to empty one on his noddle) there, 
 who was at great pains in his inquiries ; but I came off with 
 flying colours in spite of my fears, and feel at present in Para- 
 dise. I have had the honour of dining with the Dean and 
 eke with Will Jackson since I wrote to you : they were both 
 very gracious. Oh, my dear mother, that I could but get a 
 Studentship ! The nearer I come to the end of my sojourning 
 here, the more I long for't. Will Jackson hath Studentships 
 in his gift. Pray in your next give me Lady Alva's 2 direction. 
 I shall inquire of Carey if one can be made a student after 
 
 1 H. Philpotts, M.A., Magdalene College, afterwards Bishop of Exeter. 
 
 2 Lady Alva was second wife of Charles Erskine, Lord of Session by 
 the title of Lord Alva, and the last judge's wife who bore her husband's 
 title. She was the widow of a Dr Maxwell, and by him had two 
 daughters ; one married Lord Glenorchy, eldest son of Lord Breadalbane, 
 and the other the Earl of Sutherland, who with his wife died early, and 
 their only daughter was left to the care of her grandmother, Lady Alva. 
 It was in this way that the Duchess-Countess of Sutherland and her 
 son, the Duke, became the great friends of Charles Kirkpatrick Sharpe. 
 Lady Alva had no Erskine children, and died in 1806, aged 90.
 
 3HA E Tisoi.] LORD GOWER AGAR BOYSE. 113 
 
 taking a degree ; and if he says that it is possible, I will write 
 to Granny l myself about it. It gives one a home which is 
 certain, and a thousand other conveniences; and if Lady 
 Sutherland cannot procure me a Studentship, we need look 
 for no livings from that quarter. It is at present vacation 
 here, and we have only a handful of gownsmen. There are 
 three of my friends, however, still remaining, who make the 
 place abundantly pleasant to me Fitz-Gerald, 2 Agar, 3 and 
 Boyse. 4 You would be much surprised to see these cronies 
 of mine, and perhaps wonder at my taste in intimates : they 
 are all three Paddies. Fitz is proud, passionate, and over- 
 bearing ; but he is generous and warm-hearted, besides being 
 clever. Agar is a hunter, and taciturn; but he hath the 
 manners of a gentleman, and loves music. Boyse is shy and 
 reserved, which makes him appear stupid ; but he has good 
 talents for almost everything, which lack cultivation through 
 the laziness of their possessor, and is a fellow of infinite jest 
 among his intimates. I am glad that the case of Repentance 
 is to be taken into consideration. It is certainly an invalu- 
 able remain of antiquity in my eyes ; and for heaven's sake 
 let there be no parsimony of stone and lime among the masons 
 when they once set to ! Suffer not a hole to be left open as 
 large as a mouse may enter. Tell Ellen that I hope she hath 
 not been oblivious of the ivy in the Court (tho', I fancy, 'tis 
 rather too early yet to plant it), and that she must also re- 
 member to sow wallflower on the wall as we go to the Long 
 Walk; that I have sent her some verses in answer to Mrs 
 
 1 George Granville, Lord Gower, son of the second Marquess of Staf- 
 ford and of Elizabeth Countess of Sutherland, subsequently Duke and 
 Duchess of Sutherland. Lord Gower, with whom Kirkpatrick Sharpe 
 maintained a lifelong friendship, was born 1786. 
 
 2 William Vesey Fitzgerald, B.A., 1804 ; M.P. for Clare, until defeated 
 by Daniel O'Connell in 1828; succeeded his mother as second Baron 
 Fitzgerald and Vesey, 1832. 
 
 3 One of the three Agar brothers, see post. 
 
 4 Thomas Boyse, B.A., Christ Church, of Bannow, county Wexford. 
 
 VOL. I. H
 
 114 "VISION OF LIBERTY " -MUSIC. [ B HAr E *Tsoi. 
 
 Carr's poem (which is certainly pretty far too elegant for the 
 production of a carpet-maker's convenience) ; but I fear they 
 come too late for the Fair, and that Mrs Carr will be now bill- 
 ing and cooing with her faithful turtle at Leeds. My " Vision 
 of Liberty " I have seen in print at last, with many mistakes 
 of orthography. I shall procure the number, and bring it 
 to Hoddam when I have the happiness to see you. Tell my 
 father that I must humbly dun him for some cash against 
 next term, which comes in the space of four weeks. A small 
 sum will do, for I have still ten pounds of his last bene- 
 faction. We had a vast deal of music last term, and I wished 
 much for my father's presence when Pinto was here. There 
 are a great many gentleman performers in Ch. Ch., some of 
 which are esteemed good fiddlers ; but whether it is that I 
 have been accustomed to my father's playing, and become 
 nice or not, I cannot tell. They have no taste, without which 
 music is like good poetry ill read, and very little execution. 
 Since I began this epistle, I have been told that a Bachelor 
 cannot be made a Student. Send me Lady Alva's direction, 
 however. And Will Jackson hath envited me to dinner 
 to-day. I wish he would spare his meat, and use his in- 
 terest. I had a letter from Miss Pitman the other day, com- 
 plaining of the continued concourse of come-rogues at Monzie. 
 She says that the family is to be in Edinburgh soon. Pray, 
 have you any tJwughts of taking a trip thither this winter ? It 
 is quite the fashion here now to talk of going to Paris, and 
 Impey is at present there with his papa. 1 I should like 
 vastly to see the First Consul and the Apollo Belvidere. 
 We have had abominable cold weather, and one great fall of 
 snow. I tremble for our plants whenever I feel my nose begin- 
 ning to freeze of a night, and wish myself warm in my Hod- 
 
 1 Sir Elijah Impey, ex-Chief-Justice of the Supreme Court, Calcutta, 
 who, as one of the judges before whom Nandkumar was tried, became 
 exposed to a considerable share of the invective which Burke launched 
 against Warren Hastings.
 
 SHAR^TSOI.] PICTURES "ADDRESS TO A GLOVE." 115 
 
 dam bed ; for, to say truth, my couch here contains but cold 
 comfort. I have got the Countess of Eglintoun 1 put into 
 a frame for my bed-chamber at home, and she is at present 
 undergoing the inspection of Will Jackson, to whom I sent 
 my drawings this morning. Have you got your Queen Mab 
 from Dumfries yet ? I have pickt up nothing in the painting 
 or print way of late. And so the fair fish hath left our shores 
 and betaken herself to the happy Leith ? What a privation 
 of grace and beauty Hoddam must have suffered ! No longer 
 shall my eyes be delighted with her longitude of waist, or my 
 ear charmed with the rustling of her silk coat. No longer 
 shall I admire the tenderness of her feelings, when Ellen cuts 
 a hard cheese with a blunt knife ; or adore the primitive sim- 
 plicity of her manners, when she breaks wind in the middle 
 of dinner. Alas ! she hath vanished like one of her own 
 blasts tho' like it she hath left strong traces behind her. 
 Well, I must now conclude, leaving space for Ellen's poem, 
 and with abruptness. I am, my dr. mother, your most 
 affectionate son, CHAS. SHAKPE. 
 
 ADDRESS TO A GLOVE. 
 i. 
 
 Dear relic of a royal fist, 
 
 How often hugg'd, how often kisst, 
 
 Do I thy shape survey ! 
 And try to guess the very place 
 Which snowy fingers once did grace, 
 
 And thumb of Beaujolois. 2 
 
 1 His great - grandmother, the beautiful Susanna, daughter of Sir 
 Archibald Kennedy of the Cassilis family. 
 
 2 Louis Charles d'Orleans, Count de Beaujolois, brother of Louis 
 Philippe, King of the French ; died at Malta 1808, and buried in St 
 John's Church, Valetta, where a recumbent effigy by Pradier was 
 placed to his memory by his brother in 1843.
 
 110 "ADDRESS TO A GLOVE" BEAUJOLOIS. 
 
 2. 
 
 Here in the palm, as I suppose, 
 The finger lay that pick'd his nose 
 
 A nose which doth display 
 A pattern for all others, yet 
 Some reckon'd Liggon's better set 
 
 Thau that of Beaujolois. 
 
 3. 
 
 Lord ! how I scorn'd the Oxford lout ! 
 The fellow with the swinging snout, 
 
 And not a word to say ; 
 Give me a swain of pleasing prattle, 
 Still, vive 1'esprit, vive tittle-tattle ! 
 
 Ah ! vive le Beaujolois ! 
 
 4. 
 
 Great prince, how oft my thoughts recall 
 The pleasures of the sprightly ball ! 
 
 How oft my mind will stray 
 To that dear dinner, and that supper, 
 When on the rest I turn'd my crupper, 
 
 To flirt with Beaujolois. 
 
 5. 
 
 Then ! the triumph of that night ! 
 The other Misses swell'd with spite, 
 
 Till stays and jumps gave way ; 
 And one might hear at every back 
 The twisted lace resounding crack, 
 
 For thee dear Beaujolois. 
 
 6. 
 
 As nymphs with magic beauty blesst, 
 May be as foolish as they list, 
 
 And not their wants betray 
 To men, who think the silliest stuff 
 From pretty mouths good sense enough 
 
 We worshipp'd Beaujolois. 
 
 7. 
 
 We thought the prattle of a prince 
 Must wit and wisdom still evince 
 Plebeians, stand away :
 
 ioi.] "ADDRESS TO A GLOVE" BEAUJOLOIS. 117 
 
 She has no taste who doth not puke 
 At anything beneath a duke, 
 Seen after Beaujolois. 
 
 8. 
 
 Sweet cousin, kindest of the kind, 
 What precious treasure can I find 
 
 This present to repay ? 
 Take all I have of gold or gem, 
 I care not now a fig for them, 
 
 Leave me but Beaujolois. 
 
 9. 
 
 Of richest silk I'll form a shrine 
 To hold this cherish'd gift of thine. 
 
 My needle shall pourtray 
 Thereon a pair of bleeding hearts, 
 A pair of doves, a pair of darts ; 
 
 The motto " Beaujolois." 
 
 10. 
 
 And this embroider'd case I'll trim 
 With blond, an emblem true of him, 
 
 So costly, slight, and gay ; 
 And silver cords the case shall tie, 
 And it shall on my bosom lie 
 
 For thy sake, Beaujolois. 
 
 11. 
 
 When Death shall freeze my blood to snow, 
 And even my heart forget to glow, 
 
 My dearest friends, I pray, 
 Let me be buried with this glove 
 Laid on that heart condemned to love 
 
 For ever Beaujolois. 
 
 Pray how is Mosco and Mammy Jenny ? Tell Nanny that 
 I feel as if I was clapping a dish-clout upon me whenever I 
 put on a shirt now, after the famous washing at Hoddam. 
 Once more farewell ! 
 
 Pray tell my father that I would take it as a great favour 
 if he would write the treble notes of that quick Irish tune he 
 plays and send them to me. I will not trouble him for a 
 base.
 
 118 FABLIAUX AND ROMANCES. 
 
 Eev. J. J. CONYBEARE 1 to C. KlRKPATRICK SHARPE. 
 
 BISHOPSGATE CHURCHYARD, 
 Wednesday Evg. [April 1802.] 
 
 DEAR SHARPE, You will possibly be surprised to receive a 
 note from so bad a correspondent as I usually am ; but I think 
 I remember your mentioning that you wanted the " Hepta- 
 meron ou Contes cle La Eoyne de Navarre." Now, if my eyes 
 did not deceive me, I saw a copy of them the other day, in 2 
 vols. 12mo, at Da Conchy's French Library, in Bond Street 
 where I went to enquire after (and was so lucky as to get) Le 
 Geand's Fabliaux. I have been so lucky as to pick up also 
 a very scarce edition of several of the original "Contes & 
 Fabliaux " in " Vers Eomans," 3 duodecimo vols., for which I 
 was obliged to give thirty-six shillings. I have got also the 
 Cent Nouvelles Nouvelles ; the Heptameron (edition of 1572, 
 in one very thick octodecimo, which is scarce), a very fine 
 copy ; the Chronicle of Philip De Comines in French ; and 
 Comte de Caylus's translation of "Tirante the White," so 
 that I shall beat Gaisford in French Antiquity. I have man- 
 aged, with the assistance of the glossary, to make out three of 
 the Verse Fabliaux : here is the beginning of one, which ap- 
 pears to me very pretty : 
 
 Un joli Clerc qui s'estudie 
 
 A faire chose de conrie conterie 
 
 Vous veut dire chose nouvelle 
 
 Si il dit chose qui soit belle 
 
 Elle doit bien estre escoutee 
 
 Car par beaux diets est oubliee 
 
 Maintes fois ire & cuisanfons inquietudes 
 
 Ai abaisses grans tangons appaisis. querelles. 
 
 Car quant aucun diet les rise*es 
 
 Les forts tanc,ons sont oubliees. 
 
 1 John Josias Conybeare, Ch. Ch., Professor of Anglo-Saxon, 1808 ; 
 of Poetry, 1812. Died 1824.
 
 FABLIAUX GOLDSMID COLLECTIONS. 119 
 
 He then tells his story, and ends in the true spirit of all the 
 Jongleurs from Homer downwards 
 
 Donne moi boire, si tdgr^e. 
 
 I looked for you in vain at the Opera on Saturday ; but my 
 eyes were the only part of my body that I could employ in the 
 search, it being an axiom in physics that where there is no 
 space there can be no motion. I would try to pay you a 
 morning visit if I were to stay in town; but I am obliged 
 (I cannot say very much, a bon gr) to go to Bedfordshire 
 to-morrow. 
 
 I have seen my young friend, Louis Goldsmid, who first bit 
 me with the Romance mania ; and, indeed, it was the sight of 
 him that induced me to make the above-mentioned purchases. 
 He has himself spent near 200 in them within this last half- 
 year, and has most of the best of them nearly by heart. I 
 hope we shall meet again at Oxford next term. Till then 
 (with William's best remembrances), believe me very truly 
 yours, J. J. CONYBEARE. 
 
 C. KIRKPATRICK SHARPE to Mrs SHARPE, Hoddam. 
 
 [OXFORD], May 1802. 
 
 Having happily surmounted Collections (and that, alas ! for 
 the last time), I now epistolize you, my dear mother, with a 
 resolution to make no apology for my often reprimanded taci- 
 turnity. There is nothing in the world so dull as an apology, 
 even when it is a good one. Mine are always very bad, for 
 in spite of all the flowers of rhetoric which I can scatter over 
 it, my laziness will fume out and offend my friends. Marianne 
 Robertson is quite outrageous with me for my sloth, and I 
 can scarcely restrain Miss Pitman within tolerable bounds. 
 Stapleton complains that I never answer any of the questions 
 in his epistles, and you that I never reply to your letters at all. 
 Was ever poor indolent mortal so beset ? Well, I must take
 
 120 BROTHER'S VOYAGE TO INDIA. [sH^Jwoa. 
 
 thought and mend incontinently, else I shall not have a friend 
 left. I am really grieved to hear of Sandy's sudden expedi- 
 tion, which I would fain behold in a fairer light than you do. 
 But that accursed India must always strike one with horror, 
 as the sad grave of so much bravery and youth. There is a 
 beautiful speech of Nestor's to Telemachus in Homer, which 
 constantly occurs to me when I think of that fatal land. The 
 old man, being interrogated by Telemachus concerning the 
 wanderings of his father, exclaims : " Oh, my friend, you recall 
 to my mind all the evils which we, the invincible sons of 
 Greece, suffered round the city of Priam, where the chiefs of 
 the people were slain: there lies the warlike Ajax and 
 Achilles, and Patroclus of godlike wisdom slumbers there, and 
 there rests my beloved son Antilochus, blameless and brave 
 he was swift in the race, and bold in the conflict of spears." 
 One part of your last letter afforded me great amusement 
 namely, that which gave an account of the minister's propine 
 to his Eloisa. He is a sly seducer, with his " Death and the 
 Lady," and his China ware. If he doth not mend his manners, 
 I shall certainly give him the same sort of treatment which 
 Abelard suffered from the uncle of his mistress ; and then 
 Ellen will have nothing to do but to transcribe Eloisa's epistle 
 and send it to him as a return for former favours. Give her 
 my love, and tell her that I think she has great cause to 
 be proud of the force of her charms, for love, in its present 
 depraved state, hath ceased very much to excite generosity. 
 The system of dirty three-halfpence is woefully prevalent, 
 and there is no such thing as the repaying cups and saucers 
 with smiles, or the teapot with a slight kiss. Our amourous 
 Strephons of this age make much better bargains than the 
 swains of antiquity. . . . Nothing could have happened 
 more unluckily than Mrs Cook mistaking salmon for 
 woodcock when Lord Montgomery dined at Hoddam. I 
 can easily imagine your feelings, from my own sensations 
 when anything goes wrong at a wine-party. One becomes hot
 
 SHA T R pE'Tso2.] LEAVING COLLEGE LORD NEWTOWN. 121 
 
 and cold in an instant, with a great inclination to scold, or to 
 start up and leave the room. And now I talk of leaving 
 rooms, the Dean has allowed me to keep my apartments for 
 three weeks of the next term, which bounty, as I am not a 
 Westminster, is very flattering. I must trudge out of College 
 before Eogation Sunday, and I shall then begin to pack off 
 all my nick-knacks for Scotland. Heaven knows how I shall 
 ever be able to get all my pictures and trash conveyed. You 
 will be overwhelmed with swinging great boxes, and charmed 
 with my Nell Gwynn and Lady Aston, both of which are 
 excellently painted. I drew Lord Newtown's l picture lately, 
 and have been very happy in the likeness. He is very hand- 
 some, but hath " that within which surpasseth show," being in 
 every respect the most amiable and engaging creature I ever 
 knew. How fond you would be of him ! But with all his 
 good sense, I fear he will be spoilt here ; for 'tis scarcely in 
 human nature to resist the foolish forms of respect to nobility 
 which the College rules prescribe, or the crowd of flatterers 
 
 which infests a gold tossel and a silk gown. Lord M 
 
 is exactly the reverse of Newtown in every way : he seems to 
 be that link of the chain with which nature has connected the 
 man and the brute. Buffon makes the monkey this link, but 
 
 Buffon never saw Lord M . The poor thing is blind of 
 
 an eye, has one of his fore teeth amissing, and struts on legs 
 like a child's stilts, yet thinks himself absolutely charming. 
 I need not add that he is a fool, but he has that frequent ac- 
 companiment of folly, extreme ill-nature ; and a peevish way 
 of uttering abuse, with much wickedness and no wit. There 
 are a good many people here this vacation, but none of my 
 intimates. Stapleton is at his mother's, and I have some 
 thoughts of paying him a visit in a few days ; but my face 
 has become so very foul of late that it is absohitely not fit to be 
 seen. I never look in the glass without thinking of Bardolph 
 
 1 Brinsley Butler, Viscount Newtown, succeeded as fourth Earl of 
 Lanesborough 1806 ; died unmarried 1847.
 
 122 MUSIC 'BORDER MINSTRELSY.' [, 
 
 and James Porteus, and wishing that people were so formed 
 as to be able to walk on their hands on occasion, and to 
 reverse the whole order of their frames. To be sure we would 
 look stupid for want of expression of countenance, and be 
 rather short-necked, like the men " whose heads do grow be- 
 neath their shoulders ; " but it would be a mighty convenient 
 thing for all that. Give my love to all my sisters, and tell 
 the musicians that I look forward with great pleasure to our 
 summer concerts. Dr Crotch (with whom I am acquainted) 
 has convinced me that harpsichords are superior to pianofortes, 
 so I shall admire my Lady Dalhousie more than I have done. 
 I have got some famous solos of Correlli for my father's 
 violin, which solos Miss Isabel must also perform. They are 
 too hard for a person who has not time to practice much. I 
 had a letter from Miss Campbell l this morning, in which she 
 mentions a present she sent me, which I fear is lost the 
 ' Border Minstrelsy,' by Walter Scott. I have had a busy 
 questioning about it at all the coach-offices, but in vain. She 
 mentions Magdalene Murray, and Susan Smollett, and the 
 young parson, who is at present indisposed. Miss Campbell 
 has some thoughts of coming to Oxford, accompanied by the 
 fair Anne Preston and her sister Kate, but I do not think 
 that she will be able to visit us. Farewell, my dear mother, 
 I must now go to supper at Sir George Warrender's, that 
 comely haggiss. Pray write soon, and believe me your affec- 
 tionate son, CHAS. KIRKPATRICK SHARPE. 
 
 C. KIRKPATRICK SHARPE to Mrs SHARPE, Hoddam. 
 
 CH. CH., May 18th, 1802. 
 
 MY DEAR MOTHER, The hurry and confusion of room- 
 changing has prevented me from writing to you as soon as I 
 should have done, and still keeps me ill at ease and rather 
 1 Kirkpatrick Sharpe's cousin, Miss Campbell of Monzie.
 
 sHA T R p E 7i802.] LODGINGS IN OXFORD PROSPECTS. 123 
 
 melancholy. The Dean turned me out of College last week, 
 and I bade adieu to my ancient and well-beloved apartments, 
 where I had seen much mirth and happiness, with a full heavy 
 heart. My lodgings are very near Ch. Ch., and tolerably com- 
 fortable; but one feels quite detached from the University 
 when residing in the town, and my evening circle of visitors 
 is not near so extensive as formerly. However, all my friends 
 are with me constantly, and I am beginning to get accustomed 
 to my comparative solitude. You know, my dear mother, how 
 much I am always guided by your advice, and therefore need 
 not have doubted of my ready obedience with regard to the 
 London expedition. But Miss Campbell, with whom I have 
 corresponded lately, leaves town in a few days. How can I 
 get introduced to Lady Sutherland ? l and still more, how can I 
 ask her for a living when introduced ? I have considered and 
 reconsidered the affair ; but, alas ! can come to no satisfactory 
 conclusion. However, do not suppose that I despair of an 
 establishment in the Church. We have many powerful friends, 
 and much time to work in ; and hitherto I have been a very 
 lucky person in every period of my life. I have really been 
 and am so happy, that were the seasons now to change with 
 me, and misfortunes come on, I should have very little reason 
 to complain of my measure of good and evil in this world. 
 Tell my father that I am much obliged to him for the draft, 
 and that I now have the impudence to remind him of his pro- 
 mise of wine. A smaller quantity of which than that he was 
 so good as to give me the last time will do, as 'tis very uncer- 
 tain what abode I make in this place. We will have a full 
 divan to debate upon it at Hoddam. I have really drained my 
 last bottle of port, or I would not play the beggar ; and there 
 are some youths lately come, to whom I wish to be civil and 
 give wine among others, Lord Dupplin, 2 who seems a good- 
 
 1 Elizabeth, Countess of Sutherland and Marchioness of Stafford; 
 afterwards Duchess of Sutherland. 
 
 2 Thomas, afterwards tenth Earl of Kinnoul, and Lord Lyon King-
 
 124 GREY'S COURT THE WEDDERBURNS. [SHAR^V 
 
 nnturcd creature, and is acquainted with a number of my 
 Scotch friends. I made out my visit to Stapleton, and yawned 
 with him for a week. They are such good dull people at 
 Grey's Court! The sober primitive women do nothing the 
 whole day but fiddle-faddle with their greenhouse, like so 
 many Eves, and truly they are in little danger of a tempter, 
 for their faces would frighten the devil, not to mention men. 
 They will never be forced to clap on fig-leaf aprons, and might 
 walk about quite naked for all the harm that would happen 
 to them. I had a visit the other day from the Miss Wedder- 
 burns 1 and their brother, on their way to Scotland. They 
 raised great admiration in the youths here from their striking 
 figures, which are too tall indeed, but certainly very elegant. 
 
 Mrs Wedderburn 2 is not very well at present. Maria B , 
 
 Miss Campbell tells me, daubs her face so deep with rouge 
 that it requires green spectacles to behold her with tolerable 
 comfort. How old Dorothy and she will glare it together 
 when she gets back to Scotland ! I fear that poor George 
 
 B 's income will be spent on his wife and daughter's 
 
 cheeks, for paint was never known so dear, and they lay it 
 on with a trowel. Don't it bring the ballad of Butter May 
 into your head ? You complain of your eyes in your last, 
 and I beseech you not to think of writing to me if the effort 
 hurts them. Tho' nothing gives me greater pleasure than a 
 letter from you, yet I would sooner never hear from you at 
 all than have your eyes strained on my account ; so pray 
 make Ellen your emanuensis for the future, and I shall be 
 perfectly contented. I fear that this is a stupid letter for 
 
 at- Arms, was a great-grandson, by the mother's side, of Harley, Earl of 
 Oxford ; born 1785, died 1866. 
 
 1 Louisa Dorothea Wedderburn married in 1803, the Hon. Sir John 
 Hope, afterwards fourth Earl of Hopetoun ; Anne Wedderburn married 
 Sir John Hope of Craighall. 
 
 2 Alicia, daughter of James Dundas of Dundas. Her husband's 
 baronetcy was under attainder for his father's participation in the 
 Jacobite rising of 1745.
 
 sHAE p E "Ts02.] LORD NEWTON LORD LEWISHAM. 125 
 
 my head is very confused, and my spirits not so high as usual. 
 I am so childish ; but I shall take heart again in a day or two, 
 and in the meantime will dedicate the other side of my paper 
 to Ellen, whom I have not epistolized for an age. My wonder 
 of a lord is a son of Lord Lanesborough's ; x and he still con- 
 tinues to be as good as ever. I am sorry to hear of Jenny's 
 ill-health for, with all her faults, I have a sort of liking for 
 her. People are grieved to part with anything they have 
 known long. Your affectionate son, C. S. 
 
 L. [LORD LEWISHAM 2 ] to C. KIRKPATKICK SHARPE. 
 
 CH. CH., Saturday night, \ before 12 [1802]. 
 DEAR SHARPE, I am quite shocked at not having had an 
 earlier opportunity of answering yr flattering epistle, and 
 must now begin by informing you that I have not complied 
 with y r request as to burning the enclosed jeu d' esprit, as I 
 shall wish to give it another perusal, and think I may per- 
 suade you to suffer one or two intimates to partake with me 
 of the pleasure of reading it ; without y r permission, however, 
 not a hint shall escape me. At the same time I highly honor 
 the motive which enduces you to desire that y r essay may not 
 be published abroad, as, with the exception, I am afraid, of a 
 little of the " gall of bitterness," there is certainly no fault to 
 be found in it. What the grievous provocations which you say 
 you have received from a certain quarter are, I am quite igno- 
 rant. Whatever they may have been, you have surely taken 
 as ample revenge as it is lawful for one frail being to take 
 upon another, and as there appears to be no reluctance to 
 make peace on the part of that "certain quarter," I would 
 fain persuade you to " agree with your adversary while he is 
 in the way with you, lest at any time," &c., even tho' he 
 
 1 See ante, p. 121. 
 
 2 William Legge, afterwards fourth Earl of Dartmouth.
 
 r LORD LEWIHHAM 
 
 120 A.M. EXAMINATION. [TO SHABPE, 1802. 
 
 shall have offended you " seventy times seven times." You 
 seem fully aware of his faults ; and that he and all of us have 
 predominant faults, I will not deny ; but that he has like- 
 wise many very good qualities, I am very sure ; and that 
 he has not, of late at least, shewn any rancorous enmity 
 against you, I think you cannot deny. So much for the main 
 purport of your letter. With regard to the kind expressions 
 towards me which you are so good as to intersperse, and y r 
 calling to mind the deeds of my fathers, and " tales of former 
 years," I must again quote the motto of one of the peers of 
 this realm " degeneris paternum nomen dedecus " and de- 
 sire you to beware lest you inflict the curse justly mentioned 
 by Juvenal, and the greatest that can befall those who have 
 strayed from the path of rectitude 
 
 " Virtutem videant, intabescantque relicta." l 
 
 That you may be ever free from this and all other curses, may 
 live in peace with yourself and all men, and may excuse and 
 burn this sleepy scrawl, are the sincere wishes of y r very 
 affecte. friend, L. 
 
 C. KIRKPATRICK SHARPE to Mrs SHARPE. 
 
 OXFORD, June 9th, 1802. 
 
 MY DEAR MOTHER, I am sure that you will excuse me for 
 not answering your last kind letter sooner, when I inform you 
 that it found me on the eve of submitting to an examination 
 for the degree of A.M. ; that my mind was not then in a state 
 very well calculated for letter- writing ; and that I was only 
 yesterday relieved from this sore burden by obtaining the de- 
 sired certificate from the grand inquistors of the schools. 
 
 And I now have the pleasure of being able to tell you that 
 all the vile examinations here are at a period with me, and 
 that I have undergone them without casting any great slur on 
 1 Not Juvenal, but Persius 3, 38.
 
 os.] MISS HERRIES SISTER'S MARRIAGE. 127 
 
 my teachers or my own industry. In truth, they are plagues 
 well over ; and I shall have nothing now to disturb the hap- 
 piness which I expect to enjoy quickly at Hoddam (no sombre 
 anticipations of frowning clownish masters, asking impudent 
 questions, and strutting and stinking with all the dirt and dig- 
 nity imaginable), but taste all the pleasant things in that Par- 
 adise (it was ever such to me) with a double relish. 
 
 And my impatience to be with you is very great ; but I am 
 at a nonplus with regard to Ellen, who wrote me an epistle, 
 full of doubts and fears, a long while since. I answered it 
 directly, saying that I should be most happy to travel with 
 her northwards, and fixing the time of our pilgrimage as 
 nearly as I then could. But I have heard not a word from 
 her since, and know not how to direct to her. However, I 
 wrote to Miss Herries l this morning, who may be able to clear 
 up matters, and in the meantime wait with anxiety for my 
 father's remittance, as I wish now to discharge every farthing 
 that I owe in Oxford, and may perhaps be forced to trespass 
 on his goodness for something extra, which will detain me 
 here till it arrives. 
 
 Your last letter, my dear mother, gave me much pleasure in 
 many ways first, by the interest expressed concerning my 
 health, which, thank God, is now as usual. Tho' I know well 
 your affection for me, yet one never wearies of being told 
 what one loves to hear. Next, that matters went well on 
 at Dumfries, where I am glad that you went, tho' I wonder 
 at it too. And thirdly, that Jane's marriage 2 is declared at 
 last. . . May the Lord help them ! for of the help of man 
 they are destitute. . . . However, I cannot save my pride 
 from some mortification, when I consider that my family 
 doth not possess as much influence as to be able to obtain 
 
 1 Sister to Mr Herries the banker, Lord Derby's President of Board of 
 Control, 1852. 
 
 2 Kirkpatrick Sharpe's second sister, married to Thomas Kirkpatrick 
 of Closeburne.
 
 128 SIR JOHN STEWART THE NICHOLSONS. [SHAM "^802. 
 
 even this very paltry distinction. Alas ! it was not thus " in 
 the days of langsyne." 
 
 I expect to be delighted at Hoddam with wallflowers, and 
 new walks, and stools with red lions, and sundry other novel- 
 tiesand to find Isabel and Grace much improven in their 
 musick, and the Countess l more like a woman of quality than 
 ever ; but of all my pleasures, the sight of you must be the 
 n-eatest. You are my only treasure, my consolation in all 
 the changes and chances to which mortality is subject. I feel 
 for you in a manner that I do not for any one else in the 
 world; and when you are gone, my selfishness and apathy 
 must render me totally unworthy of remaining any longer 
 
 there. 
 
 There passed through this city lately Sir John and Lady 
 Stewart, 2 Mrs Alexander, 3 and Mr and Mrs Nicholson, 4 
 on their way to London. I heard of them by means of Sir 
 James Eiddel 5 (who has entered at Ch. Ch.), and waited 
 on Mrs Nicholson, as in propriety bound. . . . But I was 
 shocked by the appearance of Mr Nicholson, who is advancing 
 rapidly to the fatal bourne. He looks older than Sir William 
 Maxwell 6 did the last time I saw him, and has that dreary 
 glazedness of eye which proclaims the approach of the mortal 
 agony. He seemed almost insensible, and sat motionless as a 
 statue all the time I continued in the room. 
 
 Mrs Nicholson's manner is certainly very good, and slie 
 
 1 The eldest sister, who married the heir of the Earldom of Mar. 
 
 2 Sir John Shaw Stewart, M.P. for Renfrew ; married Frances, widow 
 of Sir James Maxwell of Pollok. 
 
 3 Mrs Alexander of Ballochmyle, Ayrshire, daughter of Sir William 
 Maxwell of Springkell. 
 
 4 Mr Nicholson, son of Houston Stewart Nicholson of Carnock, and 
 nephew of Sir John Shaw Stewart ; succeeded his uncle in the baron- 
 etcy ; married to Catherine, daughter of Sir William Maxwell of 
 Springkell. 
 
 6 Sir James Miller Biddell, second Baronet of Ardnamurchan and 
 Sunart, Argyle ; succeeded his grandfather in the baronetcy, 1797. 
 6 Of Springkell.
 
 8HARPE M T802.] LADY STEWART LYGON ST JOHN. 129 
 
 struck me as conversing like a woman of sense. She inquired 
 after the Campbells that was like a woman of the world 
 and lamented your dislike towards visiting, &c., &c. Mrs 
 Alexander seems good-natured, but hath not anything of her 
 sister's accomplishment. Lady Stewart afforded me much 
 consolation in one respect. She is certainly as like a dairy- 
 maid, and much uglier, than that blessed connection of ours, 
 my Lady K . 
 
 I forget whether I wrote to Isabel concerning M 's 
 
 marriage. His cara is a Miss S , an attorney alias 
 
 knave's daughter, with fifty thousand pounds. Impey dined 
 in company with her . . . the other day, and informs me 
 that she is vulgar, plain-looked, and covered with the filthy 
 finery incident to city heiresses. She talked incessantly, and 
 her subjects were window-curtains and Wilton carpets. 
 
 Gower has now lost his friend Lygon, who left this place 
 yesterday, after having passed an examination, which proved 
 that his learning and genius were much of a piece, and that 
 both entituled him to a sound whipping at the buttery-hatch of 
 Ch. Ch. ... If my Lady Stafford is in town when I go up, 
 I will certainly wait upon her, tho' no good is to be looked 
 for from that quarter in the thing you wot of. 
 
 Poor St John fell into a consumption, . . . and was 
 compelled to leave Ch. Ch. some time since. His sister died 
 about a fortnight ago ; and on the event of his decease, the 
 Bolingbroke title becomes extinct. 1 So we shall soon have 
 no representatives of the Patriot King, and cease to feel an 
 improper admiration for the degenerate offspring of that en- 
 chanting rascal, whose elegance and vivacity make us devour 
 his works, while we hate the man and scorn his principles. 
 
 I intend speedily to have all my books packed up and sent 
 off in the same way that my pictures were (I hope with better 
 fortune), and also a very pretty little cabinet, and the trunk 
 
 1 Mr St John succeeded his father in 1824 as fourth Viscount Boling- 
 broke, and died in 1851, leaving a successor, the present peer. 
 VOL. I. I
 
 130 SURTEES ISABELLA SHARPE. SH^MM. 
 
 with my sheets, &c. These I must woo Mr Herries to take 
 under his protection ; and I would fain be able to follow them 
 in a fortnight, if possible. But I fear Miss Nell will obstruct 
 that part of the plan. At all events, I should think that three 
 weeks longer might suffice. But there is no speaking with 
 certainty in these matters. I had a letter from Monzie lately, 
 where all are well, and in a sort of surprise about Jane's mar- 
 riage. And Miss Pitman says I am a sly hand, not having 
 let her know anything about it. But I should have been still 
 more cunning had I done that, as you know the newness of 
 my information on the subject. Your friend Surtees l is here 
 at present, and still seeking a wife. But his rejections hurt 
 not his health, as he is become very fat, I wish I could say 
 rosy, for then perhaps he might gain the Nightingale, which 
 he hath so long been sighing after. Men know not when they 
 are well. He desires me to present his best respects to you. 
 
 Tell Isabella that I hope she will not take it ill that I do 
 not respond to her last letter, which certainly deserved an 
 answer, for I am rather on the fidget about my thousand 
 foolish concerns packing of books and paying of bills but 
 that I expect to meet her at Hoddam, either in the passage or 
 on the stairs, with Sir Thomas's box in her hand of which I 
 am already in imagination admiring the venerable heraldic 
 beauties and that I intend to walk continually and live but 
 in the open air all this summer ; so she may prepare a bonnet 
 with a large snout to fence off' the sun, and a pair of walking 
 shoes, against my arrival. 
 
 I had a letter from London to-day, full of intelligence. The 
 King is still quite crazed, climbing the trees about Bucking- 
 ham House, and crying mackerel round his apartment. The 
 Duchess of York's character is destroyed an amour with a 
 
 1 Robert Surtees of Mainsforth, the well-known Durham antiquary, 
 was a contemporary of Kirkpatrick Sharpe at Christ Church ; graduated 
 B.A. in 1800, and settled on his paternal estate in 1802. See his letters 
 to Kirkpatrick Sharpe, post, and memoir by Dr Raine, Surtees Society.
 
 soa.] "OLD Q." ROGER LEVETT. 131 
 
 Mr Cullen Smith being proved without the least doubt. Cle- 
 mentina Drummond is to be married to the Duke of New- 
 castle; 1 and the Duke of Queensberry 2 sits in his balcony 
 every day to take the fresh air. N.B. He will not die so 
 soon as some people expect. 
 
 Adieu, my dear mother. With loves to all, I remain your 
 ever affectionate son, CH. KIRKPATRICK SHAEPE. 
 
 P.S. My letters from Hoddam are constantly charged 
 double. What can be the reason ? 
 
 C. KIRKPATRICK SHARPE to the Revd. ROGER LEVETT, Ch. Ch. 3 
 
 [1802.] 
 
 DEAR LEVETT, I trouble you with this on the chance of 
 dining in hall to-morrow, as such ceremonies now appear to 
 be necessary after your late bloody-minded and most Nero- 
 like treatment of our meek-conditioned manciple, Brazier. 
 
 I have been informed this evening that you sconced him 
 for adding a fowl to the mutton-chops of Saturday ; but, in 
 truth, he did not deserve such harsh treatment, saving for his 
 stupidity on which score, with reverence be it written, we may 
 all have a fellow-feeling yea, and as clergymen (tho' I am 
 none) a Xtian forgiveness. You must understand, august 
 mufti, that I, the greater my mishap as times go, have 
 heretofore been nourished after the fashion of Astyanax, tho* 
 now, like the prodigal son, I exist upon coarser fare con- 
 
 1 This marriage did not take place. Clementina Drummond, daugh- 
 ter of James, eleventh Earl of Perth, under the attainder first Baron Perth 
 of the United Kingdom, married Lord Gwydir, afterwards Lord Wil- 
 loughby de Eresby, to whom she brought the Perth estate. See the cor- 
 respondence, post. 
 
 2 William, third Duke of Queensberry, last Duke of the direct Douglas 
 line well known as " Old Q." lived until 1810, when the titles and 
 estates went to the Buccleuch family. 
 
 3 Printed from draft copy.
 
 132 BRAZIER'S MISTAKE. rlim. 
 
 sequently, at certain periods (as our sweet Sappho of Ch. Ch. 
 
 sings) 
 
 " My mind will rove 
 
 To the dear visions of the Spit and Stove ; 
 And a soft sigh will sometimes let me know 
 How ill is turtle soupe supplied by Petit-toe ! " 
 
 On Saturday I could not muster up philosophy sufficient to 
 dine upon mutton-chops, so I magnificently commanded your 
 martyr to procure me a fowl ! Never, I protest to you on 
 the gold-laced stomacher of my great-grandmother, intending 
 that this monstrous Phenix s d . be charged to the poverty of 
 the student masters a body of men whom I reverence for 
 their learning, admire for their genius, and would not be 
 obliged to for the world but that it s d . be set down to mine 
 
 O 
 
 own account ; for indeed, good sir, I should as little think of 
 such exorbitancy as if I messed with footmen on board wages, 
 as Elwes and other misers were wont to do ; but lo ! Brazier 
 made a mistake, and the table is wellnigh ruined. This, 
 I will confess, was aggravated by my own f orgetf ulness ; 
 because when you enquired how I liked my dinner, and 
 whether there was enough, I said very well, and yes, without 
 remembering that it might be decorous to say anything more ; 
 for which the only reparation in my power is, that I heartily 
 desire Mr Brazier's pardon, and shall certainly pay his sconce. 
 But before I conclude, I must request thee in Xtian charity, 
 a preacher of meekness and of mercy, to take heed lest 
 thou run thy course of catering in over-strictness, and smite 
 with a fury too severe. Remember what our great dramatist 
 
 saith of 
 
 " Man, weak man, 
 Deck'd with a little brief authority ; " 
 
 and how the memory of Bishop Bonner is scouted for haling 
 so many martyrs to the stake. Use, use, I beseech thee, the 
 wisdom of doves with the prudence of serpents. In proportion 
 as thou art exceeding stout, so be thou abundantly merciful. 
 Wishing thee all prosperity in thy worldly undertakings,
 
 LEv E n, V iso2.] OLD TOBY LA TOUCHE. 133 
 
 and that aid from the mother of the Muses which may enable 
 thee to note that when in future any addition is made to my 
 solitary meals in hall, that luxury is paid for from my purse, 
 I rest, your fellow-pilgrirn through life and fellow-pig at the 
 swill-tub, C. K. S. 
 
 WILLIAM FITZ-GERALD, Esq., to C. KIRKPATRICK SHARPE. 
 
 MARITIMO, NEAR DUBLIN, August 5th, 1802. 
 
 MY DEAR SHARPE, If few men are so prone to commit 
 faults as I am, even you will admit that few are so ready in 
 acknowledging them, none so anxious to repair them. I ad- 
 mit in the fullest extent that I ought to have answered your 
 kind letter long since, and perhaps I judge but wrongly when 
 I prefer passing it over without any further observations, 
 rather than to consume your time and my own, and occupy 
 my page with superfluous apologies. 
 
 To dash at it then, without further ceremony. Your journey, 
 as you describe it, I envy not. I envy you not the visitors 
 whom you expect at Hoddam. Old Toby will not be one of 
 them. I understood from him that he had given up his inten- 
 tion of a northern tour. As he was of age, he thought it right 
 to visit his estates, and gratify the longing wishes of his 
 tenantry. Such were his words to me. Old Toby was of age, 
 tho', long since. Since I have been in Ireland, my time has 
 been occupied entirely, and yet not pleasantly. The whole 
 country is convulsed by elections. My father has given up 
 the county he meant to contest. They did not deserve so good 
 a representative, and he has since been chosen for another 
 place. I was invited to stand, but my age was an excuse for 
 my not attempting what I should not have succeeded in. All 
 society is destroyed by the factionship and party spirit which 
 prevails everywhere. 
 
 I saw La Touche yesterday. He is very well, and not a
 
 134 FITZ-GERALD AT MARITIMO. [TO'C^I^SO?. 
 
 little happy at the success his family have everywhere met 
 with. Newtown we do not expect in Ireland this summer. 
 I regret it much, for I like him much. I have neither seen or 
 heard of Boyse. La T. heard from him. He was to have 
 gone abroad, he said; but he is, I doubt not, employed in 
 capering nimbly in some lady's chamber. I am for the pres- 
 ent at a bathing-place of my father's near Dublin, where I 
 shall be stationary for some time longer. I have at present 
 no particular plan for the year. Probably we shall meet at 
 Oxford in October or November. I shall be glad of anything 
 which will enable me to leave Ireland. I have but one 
 amusement here (for to me drinking, you know, is new), and 
 that one amusement I would not offend your chaste ears with 
 the mention of. But " I hate the idle pleasures of these days," 
 and not being of a very amorous complexion, not liking much 
 to follow a wanton ambling nymph (of which, by the by, La 
 Touche gave me enough yesterday, for he was pursuing one), 
 I care not how soon I leave it, and return we to the dull 
 and solemn shades on the bank of the Isis. Sooner, you will 
 
 say . But I have heard since of the author of the verses 
 
 which so severely lacerated you and myself and our friends. He 
 has been met by a friend of mine in London, of whom I have 
 heard of him. He is living in some small way, obscure and 
 unknown. He is, I believe, a dark and designing man, for I 
 begin to give you credit for penetration into his character. 
 He might be one time a man of distinction in the world if he 
 possessed talents, for he does possess an artful con [ ], he has 
 much versatility of deportment, [ ] singular dexterity in con- 
 cealing his sentiments. I cannot hope that a scrawl such as 
 this can of itself deserve any reply or notice. But if, urged 
 by the natural goodness of your disposition, if your own benev- 
 olence impels you to favour me with a few lines whenever 
 leisure and inclination may be coincident, you shall find me 
 in return a more worthy correspondent. At present I make 
 no great exertion to wipe off the stigma under which I la-
 
 TO t?w<B.]' BORDER MINSTRELSY' "LADY DYSMAL/'ISS 
 
 hour ; and tho' I know you to be unforgiving in most cases, 
 you shall always, and in all events, ever find me, my dear 
 Charles, your affectionate and faithful friend, 
 
 WILLIAM FITZ-GERALD. 
 
 Wherever I may be, a letter directed to Dublin, to my 
 father, will be sure to pursue and overtake me. 
 
 CHARLES K. SHAEPE to WALTER SCOTT, Esq. 
 
 HODDAM CASTLE, Au. 5th, 1802. 
 
 SIR, I hope that the enclosed ballads will plead my excuse 
 for thus addressing you without the pleasure of a personal 
 acquaintance. I received so much delight from the perusal of 
 your ' Border Minstrelsy' that I could not refrain from sending 
 you " The Twa Corbies " and " The Douglas Tragedy," hoping 
 that they may find a place in a third volume of your charm- 
 ing work, which report hath taught us to expect. From my 
 infancy I have been fond of old ballads, and have sat for days 
 listening to the " spinsters and the knitters in the sun " sing- 
 ing many of the songs published in your collection. Of course 
 I learnt to repeat a great number, and still retain in my 
 memory a few entire, with an immense hoard of scraps. " The 
 Douglas Tragedy " was taught me by a nursery -maid, and was 
 so great a favourite that I committed it to paper as soon as I 
 was able to write. I have this copy still, in beau spelling, 
 together with a song of " Mary Hamilton," whom I take to be 
 the Queen's Mary in the ' Minstrelsy,' and the ditty of " Lady 
 Dysmal," alias Ghismonda from Boccaccio, with a strange de- 
 basement of Guiscard into a kitchen-boy. 1 There is a varia- 
 tion from history in my edition of Mary Hamilton the king 
 himself is her gallant. He attempts to destroy her child before 
 
 1 " This stupid ballad, printed as it was sung in Annandale, is founded 
 on the well-known story of the Prince of Salerno's daughter ; but with
 
 136 DUMFRIESSHIRE BALLADS. 
 
 birth with the leaves of the " Abby Tree," and she finally 
 drowns it. I would have sent you this song, and also " Lady 
 Dysmal," had I not left the book containing them at Oxford. 
 I expect it, however, in a few days, and, should you wish it, 
 will transcribe them for you. The song of " The Twa Corbies " 
 was given to me by Miss Erskine of Alva l (now Mrs Kerr), 
 who I think said that she had written it down from the reci- 
 tation of an old woman at Alva. I am, sir, your obedient 
 sert, CHAS. KIRKPATRICK SHARPE. 
 
 I forgot to mention another ballad in my possession, begin- 
 ning " Fair Lady Ann sat in her bower," which, if you please, 
 I will also send you. My direction is Hoddam Castle, Eccle- 
 fechan. 
 
 WALTER SCOTT, Esq., to C. KIRKPATRICK SHARPE. 
 
 SIR, I beg your acceptance of my very best thanks for 
 your valuable and obliging communication, which I received 
 yesterday, and which will form an interesting addition to the 
 3d volume of Ballads which I intend shortly to publish. I 
 have been very anxious to open some literary communication 
 with your part of Dumfrieshire, and am truly happy in 
 embracing the opportunity which your politeness has offered 
 me. 
 
 what uncouth change ! Dysmal for Ghismonda, and Guiscardo trans- 
 formed into a greasy kitchen-boy. 
 
 ' An ounce of civet, good apothecary, 
 To sweeten my imagination.' 
 
 The reader will immediately remember Hogarth's picture and Church- 
 ill's exclamation, 
 
 ' Poor Sigismunda, what a fate was thine ! ' " 
 
 See ' A Ballad Book, by Charles Kirkpatrick Sharpe.' David Laing's 
 edition : Edin., 1880. 
 
 1 Jean, daughter of James Erskine of Barjarg, Lord Alva.
 
 .. " THE TWA CORBIES." 137 
 
 The wild and beautiful tale of the Corbies resembles in 
 the outline an old English poem published by Ritson, from 
 an ancient MS., with this important and remarkable difference, 
 that in the English verses the hawk, hound, and lady all 
 remain faithful to the slain warrior, and the moral of the tale 
 runs thus : 
 
 " God send every gentleman 
 Such hawks, such hounds, and such a lemman." 
 
 I had a very corrupted and inferior copy of the " Douglas 
 Tragedy," which is doubly acceptable to me, as I had been long 
 desirous of obtaining a good set. Popular tradition has 
 pointed out the scene of this fatal story, and assigned it to 
 Blackhouse in Selkirkshire, where there are ruins of a very 
 ancient castle, said to have belonged to a Lord William 
 Douglas, who sat in a parliament of Malcolm Canmore. The 
 scenery around it is savage and desolate : a stream called the 
 Douglas-Burn is said to have been that where the lovers 
 stoped to drink, and seven huge stones are averred to 
 have been erected in memory of the seven brothers. The 
 Douglas -craig is in the immediate vicinity, and takes its 
 name from the same family. All these circumstances seem 
 to argue that the uniform tradition of the country people 
 has some foundation in fact. I am just going to that part of 
 the country, and shall carry the "Douglas Tragedy" along 
 with me. 
 
 The ditty of " Mary Hamilton " will be most acceptable to 
 me. I have several fragments of it, but not a compleat copy. 
 I also am greatly indebted to you for your offer of "Lady 
 Dismal," which I think I have either seen or heard of. To 
 the ballad of " Lady Anne sate in her bower " I am a perfect 
 stranger, at least I do not remember any which begins with 
 that line. 
 
 I am to make some excursions through the Borders in the 
 course of this month. It is not impossible but I may have the 
 pleasure of meeting you ; but at any rate, when business or
 
 138 BORDER BALLADS REPENTANCE. % 
 
 pleasure calls you to Edin r . or its neighbourhood, I shall 
 claim the privilege of returning you my personal thanks for 
 the obligation you have conferred on me. My usual summer 
 residence is at this little retreat, where it would give the 
 greatest pleasure to receive a call from you. Should you 
 write to me in the course of a fortnight, direct to me Sheriff' 
 Clerk's Office, Selkirk, as your letter will probably find me 
 wandering in Ettrick fforest, after which I return here. I 
 remain, sir, your obliged and faithful [friend], 
 
 WALTEK SCOTT. 
 LASSWADE COTTAGE, 
 Near ED R ., 13 Augt. [1802.] 
 
 Nota Bene. Every scrap of legendary intelligence, prosaic 
 or poetical, will be most thankfully received. 
 
 C. KIRKPATEICK SHARPE to WALTER SCOTT, Esq. 
 
 HODDAM CASTLE, Friday 27th, 1802 
 (i.e., Aug. 27th, 1802). 
 
 DEAR SIR, I am quite happy to learn that the poems I 
 sent you will be of any use, and I hope that some of the en- 
 closed will find equal favour in your eyes. You would have 
 received them much sooner had they not been a most prodig- 
 ious time on the road between Oxford and Hoddain. Nothing 
 could give me greater satisfaction than a meeting with you in 
 this part of the world, as I cannot soon avail myself of your 
 invitation in Edinburgh. If you make out your intended 
 Border excursion, I hope you will do us the pleasure of a 
 visit. Hoddam, as a specimen of a Border fortress, is well 
 worth the observation of an antiquary ; and I am certain 
 that you would admire the mysterious Tower of Eepentance, 
 which stands on a hill near the castle. I am much obliged 
 to you for the information you give me with respect to the 
 " Douglas Tragedy," which I had always regarded as a fiction
 
 THE " CORBIES " " LADY ANN." 139 
 
 borrowed from the " Child of Elle." From my unacquaint- 
 ance with Eitson's publication, I did not know that the 
 " Corbies " had ever appeared in an English dress. I have no 
 doubt concerning the reception which " Mary Hamilton " will 
 receive from you ; but I fear greatly that poor " Lady Dysmal " 
 hath not beauty enough to save her from oblivion. I am sen- 
 sible that her age a thing at present much admired in ladies 
 is her only merit. The ballad of " Lady Ann " was tran- 
 scribed from an old magazine, and is perhaps a modern antique. 
 I must beg your excuse for giving you the trouble to read the 
 last poem, which was written in imitation of the ancient style, 
 after perusing your ' Border Minstrelsy.' It is founded on a 
 tradition respecting the Tower of Eepentance, and I fear will 
 inspire you with no great opinion of the author's modesty or 
 abilities 
 
 " Dum relego, scripsisse pudet, quia plurima cerno, 
 Me quoque, qui feci, judice, digna lini." 
 
 Pray, when you read it, do not clap on a pair of critical spec- 
 tacles, like those which the merciless Dr G used at the 
 
 dissection of poor Burns's " Wounded Hare." I heard yester- 
 day of a woman in the village of Ecclefechan, who can repeat 
 a number of auld sangs, as they call them, whom I will send 
 for as soon as possible to sing or say her collection. By the 
 by, the people here affirm that Fair Ellen's sirname was 
 certainly Irving. 1 I remember in my childhood being terrified 
 by stories of spectres at the Blacket-house, the residence of 
 her murderer; . . . and that an old woman, the last 
 descendant of the family of Bell, resided in Ecclefechan, who 
 was said to be a witch, the devil himself being her waiting- 
 maid, and assisting her to get out of bed when her infirmities 
 prevented her from moving. If I can pick up anything which 
 may appear worthy your notice, you may depend upon my 
 diligence, and I am, dr. sir, yours sincerely, 
 
 CHAS. KIEKPATKICK SHARPE. 
 
 1 The ballad heroine, Fair Ellen of Kirkconnel.
 
 140 FITZ-GERALD IN DUBLIN. 
 
 WILLIAM FITZ-GERALD, Esq., to C. KIRKPATRICK SHARPE. 
 
 DUBLIN, September 30, 1802. 
 
 MY DEAR SHARPE, I returned to Dublin last week, from 
 which I have been absent since the middle of August. And 
 I should not, were it not for some of the expressions which 
 fell from your pen, and the uncertainty of our meeting soon, 
 trouble you with an answer to your letter, which I found on 
 my arrival. You have already, I doubt not, in your good- 
 nature, imputed this apparent delay to the same motives 
 which you stated in your last. But even in this case I should 
 meet your reproaches intrepidly ; for I apprised you that, as 
 a correspondent, I was worthless and beneath y or - notice. I 
 have determined now to return to Oxford, and shall be there 
 at the commencement of the term. We have not any chance, 
 as I conjecture, of seeing you there. You will hardly volun- 
 teer a journey from Dumfriesshire for the mere glory of wear- 
 ing your baccalaurian sleeves. With my own determination 
 I acquainted our Great King 1 by letter yesterday. 
 
 As for myself, I have rather endured this vacation than 
 enjoyed it. Never was I more sick of my own country ; 
 never more indisposed to rush 
 
 " To tipsy dance and jollity." 
 
 And since I have returned to my father's house, for the last 
 week I have been wearied by politics, and by discussions, and 
 by arguments : even I, whom you have said, perhaps, could 
 never with such subjects be sated, have listened to them usque 
 ad nauseam. I did not think Rodger 2 quite so bad as you de- 
 scribe him. I did not suspect him of having defamed me in 
 prose. How weak was I, then, in imagining that his calumny 
 and his verse flowed together ! I did indeed think that his 
 rabies proprio armavit iambo. And yet, such is my goodness 
 
 1 Cyril Jackson, the Dean. 2 Levett.
 
 roo^t'woa.] LEVETT SIR TOBY TOM KENYON. 141 
 
 that I gave a very good character of him in company, some 
 time since. Some enquiries were made with respect to him 
 it being known that he and I were contemporary at Ch. Ch. 
 I gave him a character which he did not merit, thus heaping 
 the hot coals upon him. He has intimated that he ought to 
 have obtained the University prize at different occasions when 
 he was a candidate ; and it has been thrown out that his poem 
 was better than the last which obtained it. I said it was 
 all true. I was not destined for this world, you have often 
 said. 
 
 Certainly you would never be forgiven by those illustrious 
 persons whom you in your letter have mentioned with so 
 much honor, did they know the rank in which you have 
 placed them. Neither L d - Mountjoy nor Mr Jones are placa- 
 liles. I should indeed return to Peckwater were I certain 
 that I should encounter neither one or the other there. You 
 have had Sir Toby ere this at Hoddam ; at least I conjecture 
 so, for the newspaper paragraphs have announced his presence 
 at the Lakes. I suppose he made it his way northward. He 
 will have afforded you much amusement. To your sisters, if 
 they have any fun in them, it will be invaluable. Alas ! Tom 
 Kenyon was never so wounded by the desertion of those who 
 once liked him, or the derision of those who never did, as by 
 the successor Miss Harrison has given him in her affections. 
 . . . Alas, poor Kenyon ! 
 
 I was at La Touche's house for some days. ... I 
 shall be anxious until I see you in print. Your friend, Mr 
 Walter Scott, is unquestionably a man of genius. This morn- 
 ing I have been reading of him and his Minstrelsy in the 
 ' British Critic ' for June. It will give you pleasure to find 
 him spoken of so favourably. Have we any chance of seeing 
 you at Billing's before Christmas ? In the general loss of 
 friends which I have lately and peculiarly experienced, your 
 coming next term to Christ Church w d - be indeed a source 
 of pleasure. Wherever we may be, in whatever situation or
 
 142 CHILFREY HEWITT ' MINSTRELSY.' Re'. wo?. 
 
 whatever clime, I beg of you to believe me, my dear Charles, 
 [ ] true affection and with the most sincere, yrs. 
 
 WILLIAM FITZ-GERALD. 
 
 i shall probably travel with Chilfrey Hewitt. 1 Upon 
 my faith and credit you'll envy me ! W. C. F.-G. 
 
 If you have patience to sit such a mass and farrago of non- 
 sense as I find I have put together, you will indeed, and I 
 must say I believe you do, deserve a better correspondent than 
 I fear I shall ever prove. 
 
 C. KIRKPATRICK SHARPE to WALTER SCOTT, Esq. 
 
 HODDAM CASTLE, 12th Oct. 1802. 
 
 I fear, dear sir, that you must have thought me rather off 
 my duty in not answering your last obliging letter sooner ; but 
 I can assure you that tho' silent I have not been idle with re- 
 gard to the ' Minstrelsy.' Alas ! the best efforts of mice and 
 men are apt to prove abortive : and my strenuous endeavours 
 to procure the ballad of " Loudoun Hill " have not been 
 crowned with the success they merited. The people near 
 Hoddani can repeat " Lag's Elegy," which is the only piece of 
 Covenanting poetry in request here, the composer having 
 been schoolmaster at Lockerby, and the hero of his muse 
 much detested by the vulgar. 2 My nurse used to tell me 
 that Sir Eobert Griersone was in hell before his death, for 
 in his mortal agonies his feet made the water boil in which 
 they were bathed. Our oracles of ancient poetry in this part 
 of the world have been dumb since the decease of Burns and 
 
 1 Hon. James Hewitt, B.A., Christ Church, third Viscount Lifford ; 
 died 1855. 
 
 2 See that excellent monograph ' The Laird of Lag,' pp. 154-173. By 
 Lieut.-Col. A. Fergusson. Edinburgh, 1885.
 
 BO?lSS] DUMFRIES POETS "DUKE o' MILK." 143 
 
 Dr Clapperton of Lochmaben. The latter, however, was 
 wont to deceive in his responses, being apt to forge ; and I 
 have a poem ycleped the " Bedesman of Nithside," a very poor 
 production, which was supposed to be written by him in order 
 to cheat antiquarians. This he always denied, and threw the 
 fault on Mr Riddell of Carse, who was crazy in those matters, 
 and wished to retaliate a deceit which had been often put 
 upon himself. The son of Dr Clapperton has none of his 
 father's poetical remains ; and the only person I can hear of 
 who was able to sing the Covenanting ballads was a servant of 
 my uncle, Sir Thomas Kirkpatrick, who hath long passed the 
 bourne, and I trust is now in that region where Whigs are far 
 from being plenty. I paid a visit to the sibyl of Ecclefechan, 
 who strongly resembles the witch of Panzoust in Eabelais, 
 and found her memory and her poems equally bad : she could 
 repeat nothing but the common ballads which are to be met 
 with in every collection. I chanced to hear of a poem in the 
 possession of a Mr Bell, called the " Duke o' Milk," and pro- 
 cured a reading of it with some difficulty, as Mr Bell hath the 
 impudence to make a favour of showing it to any one ; but 
 the " Duke " is a foolish imitation of Hardyknute, with per- 
 haps some ancient lines here and there "rari nantes in gurgite 
 vasto " the whole only worthy the estimation of such a per- 
 son as its possessor. Well, after bearing all these disappoint- 
 ments with little patience for I cannot boast of a Job or 
 patient Countess among my ancestors I strove to comfort 
 myself with your approbation of " Lord Herries," l which you 
 express in such flattering terms. Your corrections are per- 
 fectly just, and I beg that you may make what others seem 
 good unto you without ceremony, as I must grant implicit 
 faith to the criticisms of the author of " Count Albert," " The 
 Baron of Smailholme," and "Glenfinlas." Tho' my sorry stuff 
 is not worthy your publication, yet it will gratify my vanity 
 
 1 "Lord Herries, his Complaint: a Fragment, by C. Kirkpatrick 
 Sliarpe." Minstrelsy of the Scottish Border, vol. iv.
 
 144 REPENTANCE. 
 
 much to see it there; and, according to your desire, I will 
 relate the tradition concerning Kepentance, and try to describe 
 its situation. The old people say that a certain Lord Herries, 
 but at what period he lived they cannot tell, was famous 
 amon the famed of those who were wont to rob and steal 
 (" convey, the wise it call "). That this lord returning from 
 England with many prisoners whom he had unlawfully en- 
 thralled, was overtaken by a storm while passing the Sol way 
 Firth, and that, to relieve his boat, he cut all their throats, 
 and threw them into the sea. Feeling great qualms of con- 
 science for his crime, he built a square tower on an eminence 
 near his castle of Hoddam, and carved over the door which 
 is almost half-way up the building, and formerly had no stair 
 to it the word Repentance, with the figures of a dove and 
 serpent. Remorse and Grace, says Mr Pennant. Now it 
 appears strange to me that Lord H. did not build a chapel 
 instead of this tower. There was indeed a kirk near it, of 
 which no vestiges now remain ; and many people say that the 
 story of the murder is without foundation. I never liked to 
 talk to Lady Winifred Constable 1 concerning the crimes of her 
 family. She might have known something of the affair, and 
 since her death we have had no intercourse with the inhabit- 
 ants of Terregles. The walls of the tower are eight feet thick, 
 the roof is arched, and on the top was a fire-pan to give notice 
 to the country of the inroads of the English (I think it is 
 called the watch-tower of Trailtrow in the Border laws). It 
 commands a very extensive view of the English side, the Sol- 
 way Firth, and Criffell. The ruins of Caerlaveroc Castle, and 
 the little hill of "Wardlaw, where was a standing gallows for 
 the benefit of the English, are very conspicuous objects in the 
 
 1 Lady Winifred Constable was granddaughter of the Earl of Niths- 
 dale, attainted and condemned for his share in the rising of 1715, and 
 of his brave Countess Winifred, who contrived his escape from the 
 Tower. Lady Winifred married William Haggerston Constable, and 
 was ancestress of the present Lord Herries.
 
 SCOT*.] REPENTANCE. 145 
 
 scene. The look to the Tower of Eepentance hath been much 
 hurt by the vanity of Mr Murray of Murraythwaite, who hath 
 built an ugly square mausoleum near, much against my will, 
 tho' my father gave him stones to perpetrate the crime. If 
 the nodding tower reserves its wall for Mr Murray's head, he 
 will but suffer as he deserves. For the story of Sir Richard 
 Steele, 1 I refer you to Pennant, who I think relates it in his 
 second vol. ; it is also told in a book called ' Scotland 
 Delineated,' published at Edinburgh. You will receive in a 
 few days another attempt of mine after the antique. 2 Being a 
 lazy transcriber, I sent it to my friends at Monzie, who were 
 desirous to peruse it, with an order to forward it to you ; if 
 you do not like it, pray tell me so plainly. I am never at all 
 vain of my poetical effusions. It is full of thefts, and has an 
 error at the very beginning, for Greyfriars should be Domini- 
 cans. You see that I taJc' the first word o' fly ting. As I go to 
 Oxford the end of this month, be so good as direct to me at 
 Ch. Ch., if you do not write till after that time ; indeed I look 
 with much regret to the period of your correspondence, as I 
 fear my ability of extorting a letter after my poetry is spent. 
 I am, in great haste, yours sincerely, 
 
 CHAS. KIRKPATRICK SHARPE. 
 
 P.S. Pray is the print at the beginning of your ' Minstrelsy' 
 a view of any particular place ? I wonder if Buchanan's 
 Mary Beton, in his ' Valentiniana,' was Miss Hamilton's 
 companion. 
 
 1 Sir. Richard Steele, while riding in Dumfriesshire, saw a shepherd 
 boy reading his Bible, and asked him what he learned from it. " The 
 way to heaven," answered the boy. "And can you show it to me 1 ?" 
 said Sir Richard, in banter. " You must go by that tower," replied the 
 shepherd ; and he pointed to the Tower of Repentance. 
 
 2 "The Murder of Caerlaveroc." See Minstrelsy of the Scottish 
 Border, vol. iv. 
 
 VOL. I. K
 
 146 "MURDER OF CAERLAVEROC. 
 
 WALTER SCOTT, Esq., to C. KIRKPATRICK SHARPE. 
 
 LASSWADE COTTAGE, 17th Oct. 1802. 
 
 I must not delay to express to you, my dear sir, how much 
 T am gratified by your permission to insert the " Complaynt " 
 in the 3d volume, more particularly as it is accompanied by 
 so beautiful a companion as the " Murder of Caerlaverock." I 
 perfectly remember the subject of that tragical tale, and tak- 
 ing your leave for granted, shall prefix it as it is narrated by 
 Fordun and the Prior of Lochleven. I beg pardon for men- 
 tioning on the same page the wretched "Duke of Milk," of 
 which I have no less than two if not three copies ; but it is 
 only to remark the difference betwixt a beautiful imitation 
 and an impudent forgery. The latter class (ex. gratia, the 
 said " D. of Milk " and the " Bedesman of Nidside ") abound 
 with an extravagant abuse of old words, and are, in fact, 
 usually composed chiefly from the glossary of some old author, 
 without the ingenious imitator being capable of discovering 
 the proportion which the words requiring explanation in old 
 compositions bear to those which are still in common use. 
 Something of this may be observed in Chatterton, and in fact, 
 such impositions are usually liable to detection from their out- 
 heroding Herod. You will find a splendid example of this in 
 some verses entitled the " Mort o' Lauch," if in your copy of 
 the " Bedesman," as in mine, they are subjoined to that ballad. 
 Bad as the " Bedesman " is, I think it must have been rather 
 beyond Glenriddell, at least if I can judge from some of his 
 prose compositions now in my hands, which are truly the 
 most extravagant compositions that ever a poor man, aban- 
 doned by Providence to the imaginations of his own heart, had 
 the misfortune to devise. To return to a more interesting 
 subject, I am greatly pleased with " Caerlaveroc," which is in 
 the very best ballad taste, and, unacknowledged by you, might 
 readily pass for a first-rate minstrel composition. It puts me
 
 ..,. COVENANTING BALLADS. 147 
 
 out of conceit with some things I have been attempting in the 
 same style, for in endeavouring to preserve the track of true 
 ballad simplicity, I feel it difficult to avoid slipping into the 
 morass of bald and childish doggrel, which you so happily 
 avoid. 
 
 I have recovered three Covenanting ballads " The Defeat 
 of Montrose at Philiphaugh," " The Battle of Bothwell Brigg," 
 and the preceding skirmish at Drumclog or Loudounhill. 
 They are all, as you will readily suppose, indifferent enough, 
 the genius of the sect turning them rather towards psalmody ; 
 but they will afford room for some curious notes. I have 
 Lagg's Elegy, and am acquainted with the traditions of the 
 period respecting most of the persecutors and persecuted 
 saints. These traditions in many cases have extinguished the 
 more early history of the Border feuds, tho' in themselves far 
 less valuable. The effects and dregs of Whiggery, to use a 
 word of those times, has left some of the worst impressions on 
 the character of the south-country peasantry. I must not 
 omit to answer the query of your postscript. The print in 
 the Minstrelsy is intended to represent the Castle of Hermit- 
 age in Liddesdale, famous in Border history and tradition. It- 
 is very poorly executed, which is not altogether the artist's 
 fault, for it was taken from a sketch of mine (copied by an 
 artist). Now I was famous, when I drew at all, for making 
 representations of houses and churches, which, if they were 
 not geese and turkies to the beholders, as the originals were to 
 the Dragon of Wantley, had at least a much greater resem- 
 blance to ihrawn hay-stacks than to anything else. I am 
 very grateful for the account of Lord Herries and the Tower 
 of Eepentance, which you have added to your other favours. 
 I have read somewhere a curious debate about the mode of 
 garrisoning that fortalice. The Queen's Maries are mentioned 
 both by Buchanan and Keith. They were four young ladies 
 of high family, sent to France along with their mistress. 
 Their names were Seton, Beton, Fleming, and Livingston.
 
 148 QUEEN'S MARYS ADIEU TO HODDAM. [TOc L K 
 
 The two last are in the ballad exchanged for Hamilton and 
 Carmichael. But the Mary Hamilton of the ballad is a cre- 
 ation of tradition; the real sufferer was a French waiting- 
 woman. 
 
 Permit me, while I return iny best thanks for your most 
 acceptable correspondence, earnestly to solicit its continuance, 
 and at the same time to regret that circumstances have not 
 permitted me to return those thanks in person. I hope to 
 hear of you from the banks of Isis, and ever am, dear friend, 
 yours most faithfully, W. SCOTT. 
 
 C. KIRKPATKICK SHAKPE to Mrs SHAEPE, Hoddam. 
 
 OXFORD, Sunday [Nov. 1802]. 
 
 As you have often flattered me, my dear mother, by saying 
 that my letters afforded you some amusement, I had resolved 
 never to write to you but when I felt the sacred flame of 
 inspiration, in order to support my character as a scribe ; but, 
 tho' I do not at present exactly perceive the spirit moving me, 
 I am about to epistolize you to-day, having full leisure, and 
 this being a day of doing duty 'tis a very lucky circumstance 
 when duty goes hand in hand with inclination, as in this 
 matter. I do not remember ever being so much grieved to 
 leave my friends as at the end of last vacation. When I first 
 went to Oxford, the fear of the mail, and the Dean, and a 
 thousand other villainous things, was before my eyes, so that 
 self had then a large share in my sorrow ; but now that the 
 terror of the mail is much diminished, and the Dean ceased to 
 be a scarecrow to me, the bidding adieu to my friends comes 
 with a heavier weight upon rne than I myself some little 
 time ago could have imagined. People may flourish and talk 
 fustian about friendship as they please, yet the slightest 
 affront will often destroy it. Now there is a something in 
 the tye of blood which cannot be broken but by the most
 
 sH/KPE^TsoJ STAGE-COACH ADVENTURES. 149 
 
 serious offences. On my way between Gretna-Green and 
 Carlisle I came up to a smart coach-and-four standing on the 
 roadside, out of the window of which appeared the painted 
 
 face of the chaste Mrs T . How could she consign such 
 
 blooming charms to the cold embraces of a withered Doctor ! 
 ... At Carlisle I did not find my friend Joseph, nor 
 the civility of former times. I got a bedroom full of 
 smoke, and a bed stuft with knotted ropes, to the no 
 small annoyance of my ribs. The publican himself seems 
 a mighty fine gentleman; and, in my opinion, the guts of 
 one of his own mattresses tied round his neck would vastly 
 become him. When we got the length of Ferrybridge, an 
 ancient gentlewoman ascended the coach, who amused me 
 exceedingly. She came out of the inn with an old man (who, 
 she told us afterwards, was aged eighty-two, herself being 
 seventy-four) and a young damsel. She kept up a constant 
 fire of screams and scolding for a quarter of an hour before 
 she got into the vehicle because her young woman could not 
 get an inside place. And after clapping her arm round the 
 old man's neck, and giving him a hearty kiss on the middle 
 of the mouth (every one laughing at such a conjunction of 
 mouldy beards), she scrambled up, treading on our toes with 
 a foot like the hoof of an elephant. The young lady tript up 
 the ladder into the rumble-tumble behind, where she sat with 
 the guard, who seemed to pay small respect to her beauty, 
 which, in truth, could not with justice demand much, for she 
 had a pale face and a rusty brown Joseph on, with a muff by 
 way of finery which had not as much hair upon it as the half 
 of her aunt's chin. The old lady had a visage like a man's, 
 with a black hat and blue habit, and was no sooner seated in 
 the coach than there arose a stench enough to smother an 
 Edinburgh scavenger. I could not at first imagine whence it 
 proceeded, being an effluvia quite unlike that of man or beast 
 which had ever assaulted my nose before, but at last dis- 
 covered that it issued from a black earthen vessel, like a
 
 150 IN THE LONDON STAGE-COACH. SHAR^"!^. 
 
 greybeard in embryo, which she held in her hand, and which 
 she told us contained some cordial for her neice, who had a 
 weak stomach, and was apt to be squeamish when she rode in 
 coaches. She informed us that the old man was not her hus- 
 band, but had been butler to Eobertson, the Primate of Ire- 
 land, when she was housekeeper. This gave us some sus- 
 picion that Mrs Neice was a nearer relation to her than she 
 professed. After a little time she put her head out of the 
 window and made the young lady drink a portion of the 
 liquid, in which she herself joined her. But here began her 
 troubles, for the men in the coach had the rudeness to hint 
 that there was a little gin in the composition of the cordial. 
 She flew into a violent rage, repeated every ingredient of the 
 medicine a thousand times over, and declared she never had 
 been accused of drinking in her life. This balsam of Fiera- 
 bras was soon exhausted ; but the flask was a source of endless 
 wit and mirth to the drivers and guards, and of great fury to 
 the old woman. " Aye," cries one, " that's for the rum-jam, I 
 warrants." " Noa, ye fool," says another, "it's but a little 
 water to cure the bellyache." " Water ! " cries a third ; " I'd 
 love to drink such water every day ; our water's not so 
 tastey hereabouts." The old woman lost all patience, and 
 after calling them impudent fellows and saucey rascals, threw 
 her flask into the dirt in a high pet. Near Lincoln we took 
 up a Ch. Ch. acquaintance of mine, by name Fynes, 1 who was 
 going to London, and from thence to Oxford. He was some 
 small consolation to me in my perils, but was more tired out 
 with his short journey than I was with my long one. After 
 being crammed in the stage for a day and half a night, we 
 both hailed the spires of Oxford with heartfelt satisfaction, 
 and my weariness prevented me from repining at the badness 
 of my bed such a contrast to my Hoddom accommodation. 
 Several of my friends have not come up this term, and I 
 
 1 Henry Fynes, afterwards Fynes Clinton, author of ' Fasti Hellenici,' 
 M.P. for Aldborough, 1806-26.
 
 sHApE*m)2.] BOYSE LORD MOUNTJOY THE DEAN. 151 
 
 am in despair about Boyse. He hath committed a crime (by 
 report), the greatest, the most foolish, that man can be guilty 
 of a crime which will imbitter the remainder of his life, and 
 render him odious and contemptible in my eyes for ever. 
 How can I write it that it may not strike you with horror ! 
 He hath done what is shameful for very young, or very old 
 men, and ridiculous for men of middle age to do he hath 
 married a wife. I shall never be able to abide him more, 
 with his dear rib, and filthy squalling devils of children. 
 There are two freshmen here this term, who administer great 
 comfort to me my Lord Mountjoy l and a Mr Jones. 2 They 
 are both older than myself, with voices fully as discordant as 
 mine. My Lord speaks as if he was playing on a comb, and 
 Jones squeels like Mosco at the sight of a whip. . . . Pray how 
 does the garret-room go on ? and how does Eepentance look ? 
 It is impressed on my mind that I shall hear of the sad catas- 
 trophe very soon. I hope that 
 
 " The old temple nodding to its fall, 
 For Murray's head reserves the hanging wall ; " 
 
 for richly doth he deserve a crush to his pride from that 
 quarter, and the genius of the pile may thus punish him for 
 his pitiful presumption. 8 The College is overflowing at present, 
 in spite of the absence of many of its members : two miserable 
 servitors are obliged to huddle up in one stye, a thing scarcely 
 ever known of before ; and the Dean would melt an heart of 
 stone by his lamentations for want of room. I think my 
 cousin hath got the better of his worms, for he looks as fresh 
 as a rose without catterpillars, and they say does not mine in 
 his nose now so much this term as usual. I never can look at 
 
 1 Charles John Gardner, Viscount Mountjoy, County Tyrone. Born 
 1782. 
 
 2 Love Parry Jones took the name of Parry. Lieut.-General in army, 
 and knight ; M.P. for Carnarvon Boroughs, 1835 ; and contested Shrews- 
 bury unsuccessfully with Mr Disraeli, 1841. 
 
 3 See ante, p. 145.
 
 152 LYGON MUSIC. 
 
 or speak to him without being ready to burst with laughter ; 
 and yet he is a mighty neat, pretty little, fiddling fellow, and 
 exceeding finely bred. We have still fine weather, tho' rather 
 cold, and the trees very green but this is such an ugly 
 country that the walks are not pleasant. Tell Ellen that 
 Liggon l has come back, but is very cautious with regard to 
 his travels, bating in the case of Mrs Carr, whose looks seem 
 to have made a deep and lasting impression on him. I have 
 got my Queen Mary seal again. I have hired a pianoforte, 
 but neither the tones nor touch please me. They tell me here 
 that I am improved in my playing, but I cannot swallow it. 
 
 We are to have Miss T at the music-room to-night, 
 
 who sings out of tune with a pretty mouth, which makes up 
 for all defects at Oxford. Is the lovely Eeid (apropos of 
 defects) with you still, or has she rustled back to Edinburgh ? 
 I wish the reign of duennas was over at Hoddam, for I under- 
 stand my Lord Perth's feelings perfectly with regard to them. 
 But now I will have some mercy on your feelings, and con- 
 clude this long and tedious epistle with love to all at 
 Hoddam Castle, being, my dearest mother, your most affec- 
 tionate son, CHAS. SHARPE. 
 
 P.S. I have been two days about this letter, for I was 
 interrupted yesterday. 
 
 C. KIRKPATRICK SHARPE to Mrs SHARPE, Hoddam. 
 
 OXFORD, Dec. 12, 1802. 
 
 Whither, my dear mother, can Virtue have fled ? The poets 
 tell us that she resides no longer in castles and palaces, and 
 this jade of Lochmaben hath convinced me that she is not to 
 be found in huts and pig-styes. Was there ever such deceit 
 heard of before ! She deserves to be drowned in the midden- 
 
 1 The Honble. William Beauchamp Lygon, afterwards second Earl 
 Beauchamp.
 
 sHApw<>2.] CAREY'S PREFERMENT IMPEY. 153 
 
 hole, and then thrown to feed her own stinking hogs. Alas, 
 this is a sad world ! I beg you a thousand pardons for fold- 
 ing my last letter so clumsily. The truth is, I had no 
 thought of cheating the post-office, because I imagined, in 
 the amiable simplicity of my heart, that a single sheet of 
 paper was still a single sheet (on the mathematical principle 
 of two halves being equal to a whole, which the postmasters 
 do not seem to understand) tho' cut and folded in any fash- 
 ion whatever. Now I see my error, and also perceive that 
 the said postmasters are "little better than arrant knaves." 
 Again, this is a sad world ! We are all busy here talking 
 about Carey's preferment. He is made head of Westminister 
 School, to which office is attached a salary of twelve hundred 
 a-year, and the certainty of a pair of lawn sleeves in the end, 
 bravo, Carey ! My friend Conybeare goes with him in the 
 capacity of usher, which is a grievous loss to me. Indeed I 
 am as lonely as a sparrow on the house-top, for Impey is 
 gone to France, Newtown to Bath, and Fitzgerald to the devil 
 at least he hath forsaken me for newer friends, after the 
 true Hibernian fashion. For the third and last time, alas, 
 this is a sad world ! My whole pleasure now consists in 
 reading I never play or draw at all. I amused myself last 
 night with the trial of Campbell for the murder of your 
 uncle, which, you know, I have been long wishing to see. 1 
 I think any one untainted by democracy must be convinced 
 that the murderer deserved punishment both by the laws of 
 God and man ; and there are some little circumstances which 
 give a high idea of Lord Eglintoun's sweetness of disposition, 
 and make one regret his melancholy fate. Mungo's defence 
 
 1 Alexander, tenth Earl of Eglinton, was murdered in 1769 by Mungo 
 Campbell, an exciseman, who had formerly been an officer in the army, 
 and whom the Earl had endeavoured to arrest in trespassing on his lands. 
 Campbell refused to give up his gun, and the Earl was shot in the 
 struggle which ensued. Campbell was convicted before the High Court 
 of Justiciary, and sentenced to death ; but anticipated his execution by 
 committing suicide.
 
 154 BURNET'S 'ROCHESTER.' [wuS^woa 
 
 is written in a bad style, but with great art, and seeming 
 knowledge of the law. Tell me in your next if you know 
 who was the author. The attempt to prove the miscreant a 
 (jcntlcman in this tract is highly ridiculous and contemptible, 
 as well as the frequent mention of an exciseman's honour: 
 'tis like talking of a Presbyterian minister's meekness, or a 
 Whig's honesty. I have also read lately a little book, which 
 Dr Johnson praises highly in his ' Lives of the Poets.' He says 
 that a philosopher should read it for its arguments, a Chris- 
 tian for its piety, and a critic for its elegance of style. This 
 book is called Bishop Burnet's account of some passages of 
 the life and death of Lord Rochester, and is certainly a most 
 charming little performance. It is very scarce ; and I want to 
 propose a new edition at the printing-press here, as it might 
 do infinite service to our juvenile debauchees and free- 
 thinkers. Collections are now wellnigh over, and I shall 
 take flight in a few days, first to Stapleton's, and then to 
 Hitcham. I have had one letter from Nell, which I have 
 not yet answered, full of her pleasant situation taste is 
 everything and I am glad that things have turned out 
 better than she at first expected. The neighbouring academy 
 will do her little good, however, seeing that the boys are too 
 young to think of anything but sugar -plums and hobby- 
 horses. I am sorry that my dear Repentance is not finished, 
 tho' it will endure " the winter's rages," with its new coat of 
 lime ; and I am also grieved to hear that Tom Kirkpatrick : 
 cannot stand the shocks of love with his old coat of woollen. 
 If his lady fair chooses another mate at Monzie, we shall 
 have him yield the Crow a Pudden, and his brother be- 
 come Sir Roger, Sir James surely cannot hold out much 
 longer. I know not what to say with regard to the cheese- 
 press: on the plea of rats and thieves, it should remain in 
 statu quo; on the head of eyesores and nose-nuisances, it 
 
 1 Eldest son of Sir James Kirkpatrick, afterwards fifth baronet of 
 Closeburne ; married Kirkpatrick Sharpe's second sister, Jane.
 
 BHAwJwoJ SURTEES THE FRENCH CONSULATE. 155 
 
 should certainly be removed. Stapleton writes me that 
 Brisco and his papa are the greatest friends imaginable ; but 
 that poor Surtees hath made love and sustained a refusal in 
 truth, 'tis not surprising. I have a notion that he must e'en 
 marry his inaid, if he cannot be content to burn. But I will 
 dedicate the other side of the sheet to Isabella, so must here 
 conclude with the old story of your affectionate son, 
 
 CHAS. KIRKPATRICK SHARPE. 
 
 E. B. IMPEY to C. KIRKPATRICK SHARPE. 
 
 PARIS, ce premier Janvier 1803. 
 
 Je ne puis mieux commencer cette anne\ mon bon ami, 
 qu'en vous en faisant les compliments ; je me flatte que vous 
 m'en saurez gre, puisque vous habitez dans un petit coin du 
 monde ou Ton fait encore plus grand cas de toutes les anciennes 
 coutumes qu'a Paris : mais cela reviendra peutetre, voici par 
 exemple ce Monsieur, qui va e"tablir tout-de-suite un ordre de 
 me'rite, dont les initie's se parerent de son e"toile. En attend- 
 ant au lieu d'une pauvre cour de St James, on en voit ici trois ; 
 chaque Consul a son jour de cercle prescrit, ou il etale toute 
 la splendeur royale ; mais c'est plus fort encore, car le premier 
 d'eux, comme le bon Grincalo de Shakespeare, se fait le roi 
 meme sur les autres deux. Ne vous deplaise mes bons Mes- 
 sieurs de la poste, tout cela ne dit pas en plaisanterie, mais an 
 contraire en part de louange, car j'aime bien la magnificence 
 soit par gout, soit par politique. J'assistai, il y peu de jours, 
 au cercle du Citoyen Consul le Brun, dans un habit de velours, 
 tenez, et une bourse a cheveux : ne voudriez vous bien, mon 
 ami, que vous m'eussiez vu dans cet harnois-la ? Apropos du 
 citoyen c'est un mot qui ne s'applique gueres qu'en terme de 
 cer^monie aux premieres personnes de 1'etat n'est il pas 
 plaisant ; que Ton a fait naitre aujourd'hui une espece de titre, 
 de 1'expression meme dont on s'etait servi d'abord pour egaliser
 
 TE. B. IMPEY TO 
 
 1 5 G IMPEY. L c. K. s., 1803. 
 
 tout le monde? Mais laissons la ce badinage. . . . Vous 
 in'avez fort bien plaisantd sur mille rapports. Je n'y ajouterai 
 point de peur de toucher a ce qui me paroit une piece acheve'e, 
 ainsi je ne me moquerai pas clu chapeau a trois cornes que Ton 
 vient d'accorder au me"rite du Docteur, ni de celui encore plus 
 "rand de nos trois heroes de Tonnere, ni des pleurs de notre 
 
 m 
 
 Alma mater sur la perte de son plus cher enfant, ni de votre 
 petite Marie, ni du trou, ni de 1'aiguille (quelque ce soit) qui 
 1'a racommocM. Mon dieu, que vous me faites rougir de ces 
 sottises-la ! Parlons d'autres affaires. Vous me demandez des 
 nouvelles de la Venus on 1'attend encore au Museum ; mais 
 des que la De"esse sera debalee, je lui reiidrai mes devoirs, je 
 ne reponds pas que j'aurai la hardiesse de vous en depeindre 
 les appas par ce que je me trouverais sans doute audessous de 
 mon sujet. En fin, je n'ai point d'autres nouvelles pour vous 
 divertir autant que vous m'avez-fait, mais que cela ne vous 
 empeche pas de me mander tout ce qui s'est passe* chez votre 
 frere et My Lady Stapleton pendant ces jours de fete : pour 
 moi, j'assiste aux bals, aux conversations, aux spectacles, je 
 n'y trouve pas pourtant assez d'agrement pour m'empecher de 
 vouloir rejoindre mes amis a Oxford. 
 
 " Virtutem incolumem odimus 
 Sublatam ex oculis quserimus invidi." 
 
 Je ne lis que les lettres de Madame Sevigne, ce sont vos 
 conseils qui m'ont conduit a ce choix, et je vous dois mille re- 
 mercimens pour le plaisir que j'en retire. Avec d'aussi bons 
 modeles que ces oauvres m'ont offert,et ceux que je trouve aupres 
 de vous combien ne dois-je pas esperer de me former prompte- 
 ment dans ce genre d'e'crire ? Mais serieusement je trouve 
 tant d'amabilite dans votre lettre, que je ne cesse pas d'en de- 
 sirer davantage. Puissiez-vous de votre cote* avoir du plaisir 
 a m'en accord er, et a me croire toujours a vous. Adieu. Vous 
 avez toujours mon addresse. 
 
 Votre fidele ami, E. B. IMPEY.
 
 FAIR JULIAN." 157 
 
 R. H. INGLIS, Esq., 1 to C. KIRKPATRICK SHARPE. 
 
 CH. CH., Wednesday Mong. [Feb. 1803.] 
 
 DEAR SHARPE, I am much obliged to you for allowing me 
 to copy "Fair Julian." 2 While I return the original, I can- 
 not but own myself flattered by the intimacy in which I have 
 lived with its author. "We shall meet in Lent. Believe me, 
 clear Sharpe, yours sincerely, 
 
 EOBT. HARRY INGLIS. 
 
 C. KIRKPATRICK SHARPE to Miss ISABELLA SHARPE, Hoddam. 
 
 OXFORD, Feb. 11, 1803. 
 
 I am afraid, my dear, that you have thought my delay in 
 the performance of my promise with regard to writing very 
 unkind. The truth is, I resolved to send you a long letter, 
 but have never till now found time (or rather made time) to 
 write such a thing, having my head and every other part 
 about me taken up entirely with the business of the schools. 
 
 But now, getting a little respite from such tedious occupa- 
 tions, I must thank you for your epistle, which really gave 
 me great satisfaction on many accounts ; but I perceived in 
 the Kirkpatrick article that my aunt had exactly done the 
 thing I feared that she had entirely forgotten the questions 
 she was desired to ask Sir James concerning the murder of 
 Caerlaveroc. Swift says that women are like sieves, and 
 truly I begin to fear that there is some justice in his simile. 
 My Xmas gambols were a great mixture of gay and grave : 
 
 1 Afterwards Sir R. H. Inglis, Bart. Born 1786; succeeded Sir 
 Kobert Peel in 1828 as Member for Oxford University, for which he 
 sat until 1853 ; died 1855. 
 
 2 "The Lord Clifford's song on Fair Julian." See Etchings by 
 Charles Kirkpatrick Sharpe, p. 68.
 
 158 GUESTS AT GKEY'S LORD THOMOND. ^7^1803. 
 
 on the whole, merrier than I expected, thanks to my Lord 
 
 Thomond 1 and Miss Sally H . The first day we dined at 
 
 Tnplow Court the company were exceedingly diverting, the 
 old lord, a foolish and troublesome compound of Ireland and 
 France, bawling and bustling about after a most melancholy 
 fashion ; a Sir George Shee 2 (who certainly should rather be 
 Sir Geore He), a vulgar-looking and most superlative dull 
 
 fellow ; a Dr G , but my respect for the cloth forbids 
 
 me to enlarge upon him ; Master G , his son, who speaks 
 
 like a cat with mustard on her tail; Mrs G , his wife, 
 
 and her daughter Mary tripe and cowheel; an antient 
 gentlewoman of the name of Crop; and a Mrs Stebbings 
 the two last with right worshipful long beards, in the style 
 of Jewish high priests ; a Mr Bruce ; and, ye Paphian cupids ! 
 a Miss Sally H but such a Sally ! My dear, you have 
 seen some superlative Sallies, such as Sally Douglas, &c., &c., 
 but I'll be sworn thou never didst behold a Sally like this. 
 She hath a face like a Banbury cheese in which the mice 
 have eaten three holes two as nostrils, and one as a mouth ; 
 then figure two bits of a broken bottle stuck into this said 
 cheese by way of eyes, and Willie Hennel's old wig clapped 
 on above them, and you may form some faint idea of the 
 
 visage of Miss Sally H , my Lady Thomond's 3 toad-eater. 
 
 Sally was wondrous fine, having flowers on her head and 
 flounces round her tail of all manner of colours ; and I really 
 think that Sally is the most disagreeable jade I ever met 
 with. Sally told us that she was surfeited with the gaiety 
 and dissipation of London doubtless the gaiety of Thread- 
 needle Street and the dissipation of Cheapside and that she 
 was going to retire to the country for a little repose. I'll 
 
 1 Murrough O'Bryen, fifth Earl of Inchiquin, was created Marquess of 
 Thomond, in the peerage of Ireland, 1800, and Lord Thomond of Taplow, 
 Bucks, 1801 ; died 1808. 
 
 Sir George Shee of Dunmore, Galway, afterwards Under Secretary 
 for Foreign Affairs and Minister at Stuttgart. 
 
 3 Mary Palmer, niece of Sir Joshua Reynolds.
 
 TO M 
 SHARPE 
 
 M803.] SALLY H BISHOP BARNARD. 159 
 
 warrant, to gather roses and tend sheep, and break the hearts 
 of a thousand rural Celadons. My dear, there is nothing more 
 ridiculous and debasing than affectation it can even lower 
 the little Miss Sally H , my Lady Thomond's toad- 
 eater ! ! ! 
 
 The Col. 1 and I dined again at Taplow a few days after our 
 first repast, and I then had a real feast in the conversation 
 of the Bishop of Limerick, Dr Barnard. He was the inti- 
 mate friend of Dr Johnson, Burke, Sir Joshua Eeynolds, and 
 all the bright geniuses of the last century, and tho' very old 
 and very deaf, you cannot be three minutes in his company 
 without saying to yourself, " This is a superior man." He had 
 an admirable foil in Lord Thomond (who doth not wear his 
 grey hairs with grace), and I thought now and then was 
 rather inclined to make game of his lordship. I believe you 
 will find a character of Dr Barnard in Goldsmith's poem called 
 " Eetaliation." 2 Your remark on Tasso's copying Homer is 
 a very just one ; indeed, every epic poem existing is con- 
 structed after the model of Homer's, and with what poor 
 success, human vanity is unwilling to acknowledge. It is a 
 sad mortification to think that a poor blind man, in an age 
 comparatively blind also, should invent a work so very excel- 
 lent in every way, that no poet since hath been able to come 
 nigh it. Virgil is nearest, but not near ; and Milton is next ; 
 but, alas ! how distant even from Virgil ! As to Voltaire, with 
 his frigid " Henriade," he is not worthy to be mentioned with 
 such respectable names. His good friend the devil seems 
 to have deserted him in this stupid work, as it could be of 
 
 1 Matthew Sharpe, his eldest brother. 
 
 2 " Here lies the good Dean reunited to earth, 
 
 Who mixed reason with pleasure and wisdom with mirth ; 
 If he had any faults, he has left us in doubt ; 
 At least in six weeks I could not find 3 em out. 
 Yet some have declared, and it can't be denied 'em, 
 That sly-boots was cursedly cunning to hide 'em." 
 Dr Barnard was then Dean of Deny.
 
 160 VOLTAIRE BALL AT MAIDENHEAD. s^R^ais. 
 
 little service towards the overthrow of the Christian religion. 
 Voltaire wished to conquer Christ, and I have often thought 
 how seemly it would be, could his plan succeed, to behold in 
 altar-pieces (instead of the beautiful and primitive figures of 
 our Saviour and His disciples) a representation of this rascal 
 and the other miscreants of the French Academy, with their 
 velvet coats, bag-wigs, and villanous baboon visages. After 
 you have read Homer, procure Dryden's Virgil I believe 
 they have it at Springkell and after getting through that, 
 repair to Milton. Thus you will have conquered the epics, 
 and laid a sound foundation for a good taste in poetry in 
 general; but above all tuneful productions of the English 
 muse, I would recommend Young's ' Night Thoughts ' to you. 
 The book is excellent in every way, yet 'tis mighty dull for 
 all that, quoth she. And now I will try to give you some 
 account of a ball the Stapletons carried me to at Maiden- 
 head, which, like many other pleasures in this life, I am 
 more pleased to remember than I was delighted with whilst 
 it lasted. We set off from Grey's Court, in a stormy night, 
 at eight o'clock, to travel twelve miles, stopping half-way to 
 sip tea at Mr West's, whose wife and family were also bound 
 for Maidenhead. Little Miss West, aged about seven years, 
 had been at the Queen's child ball at Windsor, and she enter- 
 tained us during tea with a long history of her flirtations. 
 She said that she had much the smartest partner in the room. 
 la ! what a charming fine partner ! that he had given her 
 a whole handful of sugar-plumbs, and told her that he could 
 live with her in a hog-stye. You see, my dear, how soon 
 " the young idea begins to shoot." 
 
 The ladies were terrified out of their wits for robbers, and 
 perhaps some of the gentlemen were not quite at their ease on 
 a like account ; but no robbers molested us, and we got safe 
 to the scene of action, tho' in fact, as the Irish Miss said of 
 the ball at Dumfries, there was more show than action. A 
 Miss Laura Vansittart was the belle of the room, and she fur-
 
 8^^1803.] MISS VANSITTART. 161 
 
 nished the show, a sad show it was, too, and had better have 
 been hidden. I longed to say, " Fye on the filthy tailor that 
 made thy stays, Van. ; " but durst not for fear of her partner, 
 who was a huge clownish fellow with a pair of great rubbishy 
 whiskers, and a long red nose like a pelican's. He seemed 
 exceedingly to admire Miss Laura's capers in her dancing, as 
 she contrived to exhibit a pair of legs (with, I must confess, 
 very neat-laced silk hose on them) as much as heart could 
 wish, and more than people of a weak stomach might desire. 
 The English are the most pitiful bad dancers you ever beheld. 
 
 The Honbl. Miss I s were there, girls with pale faces and 
 
 blue gowns exactly like the blue devils and with lugs 
 (according to Neil Gow) of the most obtuse formation, for 
 they could by no chance dance one step in time. In vain 
 did they hop, and trip, and swim ; in vain did their partners 
 cry " Faster ! " and they themselves " Slower ! " to the fiddlers : 
 it would not do; for, as the sublime poet says 
 
 "What is impossible can't be, 
 And never, never comes to pass." 
 
 I had to dance with Miss S (vide the monkey with 
 
 the knife in my bedroom), which went much against me 
 indeed: she hath such a very, very long beard. If a hair 
 ever stuck in your throat, you may imagine my feelings while 
 dancing with her; if you never met with such an accident, 
 think of castor-oil or a dose of Ching. How does the music go 
 on ? I expect to hear Handel in l I can assure you. 
 
 Pray pick out the prettiest of his overtures, and learn to play 
 them. Give my love to my mother, and tell her that I will 
 write soon ; and beg pardon for me from my father for my 
 delay in notifying the receipt of his draft. Have you sown 
 the wallflower seeds above the door of the Long Walk yet ? If 
 you have not, do it as soon as may be expedient. Impey 
 arrived from Paris lately, and is a great addition to my com- 
 1 Letter torn under the seal. 
 
 VOL. I. L
 
 162 PRINT OF ARCHBISHOP SHARPE. wSkSTlSW. 
 
 panions I will not say friends. But I am getting too old 
 in college to be very comfortable. Newtown's disease hath 
 become so inveterate that he will not go out anywhere ; and 
 tho' I preach to him from morning till night, 'tis of no avail. 
 Fitzgerald is now so fine a gentleman that he keeps a horse 
 (tho' he rides like the Brentford tailor, and this is well said 
 by me, you'll cry), and a footboy of his own, too, like Mr 
 Smith in ' Evelina.' Well, 'twas a lucky thing for him that 
 his father was not hanged ; behold the issue of college friend- 
 ship. Stapleton procured the print of Archbishop Sharpe for 
 me in town, and they tell me here that his face is very like 
 mine own ; but how that happens I cannot well guess, seeing 
 that the good man was but a far-away friend of ours. How- 
 ever, 'tis not a bad face, and I am well contented to resemble 
 an archbishop anyhow. Give my love to Cecilia and Grace, 
 and tell them that I suppose they can now dance their 
 minuets to any time, tho' as quick as Maggie Lauder. We 
 used to have but sober work of it, with one, two, three, in 
 a slow movement of Handel, and Peggy Begbie looking on. 
 Thank heaven, we shall have no more Begbies. Art not thou 
 much grieved ? Give my love to my aunt, and tell her that 
 I am very sorry I have not had the pleasure of meeting her at 
 Hocldam, or at least have lost so much of her society by not 
 being there this winter. Tell Nanny that my linnen is never 
 well washed here, and that I am never so well pleased with 
 it as when it is purified by her fair hands. And now, my 
 dear, having bestowed much of my tediousness upon thee, 
 I will conclude with wishing you good night (it is now near 
 the witching hour of twelve), being your affectionate brother, 
 
 CHAS. KIRKPATRICK SHARPE. 
 
 I shall be happy to hear from you whenever you have 
 time to spare. Tell my mother that if a letter she mentions in 
 her last is very diverting, I beg she may send it to me. Some 
 of my friends here are very fond of such entertainments.
 
 INFLUENZA JOHN BUSHBY. 163 
 
 C. KIRKPATEICK SHAEPE to Mrs SHARPE, Hoddam. 
 
 OXFORD, April 3d, 1803. 
 
 I fear, my dear mother, that you have thought me worse 
 than unkind in my long silence ; but from Isabella's letter I 
 find that you have all been at Hoddam exactly in my pre- 
 dicament, and on that account hope for a little indulgence 
 from you. The influenza has had hold of me for this month 
 past in so dreadful a manner, that I really at one time thought 
 I should never be able to wield pen again in this world ; and 
 tho' the violence of the disease is now much abated, I have 
 still no use of my ears and very little of my eyes. I am quite 
 wearied out with coughing, spitting, and blowing my nose. 
 My ears are so good for nothing, that you might as well speak 
 to a broomstick or the Cheese Press in the Long Walk as to me 
 for all the reply obtainable. And tho' I have washed my 
 eyes with every kind of healing liquid, from camomile-tea to 
 the Duchess of Marlborough's eye-water, yet nothing hath 
 done them much service. They weep so continually, that I 
 expect shortly to melt down like Lodona in Pope's " Windsor 
 Forest," and flow out of Billing's door to join the Isis and 
 Charwell nay, I have bespoken a cur and a string to lead 
 me from house to house, with a " date obolum Belisario," or 
 "Pity the poor blind." In the meantime I really condole 
 with you on the affair of Knockhill. Tho' the Annan flows 
 between the houses, yet to have such a nuisance so near 
 is dreadful; but never let the fellow cross the threshold of 
 Hoddam. Never allow even a remnant, a rag of that arch 
 miscreant John Bushby, 1 to pollute our reverend mansion. 
 
 1 John Bushby, Esq. of Tinwald Downs, celebrated by Burns in one of 
 his Dumfries election poems : 
 
 "An" there will be black-lippit Johnnie, 
 The tongue of the trump to them a' ; 
 Gin he gets na hell for his haddin, 
 The deil gets nae justice ava."
 
 164 DEATH OF MISS iMACDONALD. SHAW^^SOS. 
 
 We well know that Mr L - hath no virtues to redeem 
 his connection ; he is a low-lived, slanderous knave, and one 
 of the leading wasps in the hornet's nest of Dumfriesshire. 
 The spring is advancing fast in this place, tho' the weather 
 is very cold. I am longing a little for the beech-trees and 
 Corri's walk at Hoddam. And the dullness of vacation is at 
 present in full force. Not one of my cronies is left, and many 
 gone never to return. Fitzgerald (with whom I am now again 
 on almost as friendly terms as ever) hath taken up his abode 
 in town to be a learned Justicer and a member of Parliament. 
 You would have laughed at my long lecture of advice to him 
 the night before his departure being a sage admonishment 
 to stick to Ministerial maxims, and a philippic against Whig- 
 gery, with which he is not a little tainted. You would per- 
 ceive by the papers that our cousin Miss Susan Macdonald x 
 hath already passed the bourne paying dearly, as fame re- 
 ports, for her love of the fashionable mode of undressing. I 
 do not think that a young lady is much to be lamented in 
 such a case. A prostitute who expires from the disorders 
 incident to her trade is certainly more to be pitied than the 
 less delicate victims of such wanton exposures ; and were 
 more liberal young gentlewomen to feel such fatal effects of 
 their unsolicited exhibitions, our ladies might perhaps regain 
 in some sort that character of modesty for which their great- 
 great-great-great-grandmothers were formerly so celebrated. 
 Tis also said that she sung herself to death, tho' she had a 
 bad voice and no ear. But any poet who chooses to write her 
 elegy may compare her to a swan for all that. Miss Pitman 
 wrote me an epistle some time since, in which she mentioned 
 the General's 2 gratitude for the picture of Lord Mar, and the 
 present of an helmet consigned into the hands of Jane. Now 
 Isabella in her last letter takes no notice of this helmet, 
 
 1 Daughter of Sir Alexander Macdonald, the Chief Baron. 
 
 2 General Campbell of Monzie.
 
 SHA T R P "f 80 3.] MISSING HELMET MILITIA MUSIC. 165 
 
 which, I think, she would have done had not Jane forgotten 
 it at Monzie or in Edinburgh. If Jane hath done this fault, 
 woe be unto her ! This helmet shall cost her more grief than 
 ever Mambrino's headpiece did the barber. She need not ever 
 expect to wear a mutch in my presence again ; and I will have 
 her set in the stocks at Ecclefechan, with that thing on her 
 head which the chambermaid clapped on Mr Liddesdale's. 
 Pray is Eepentance roofed in yet, or decorated with a stair- 
 case ? I hear no talk now of the new greenhouse. No doubt 
 my hyacinths are already in full bloom ; we are overloaded with 
 them here. I intend going for a few days to Hitcham, having 
 a mind to see the pictures at Taplow Court again ; and also 
 think of paying my respects to Lady Stapleton, whose son 
 hath been sick of the nerves, but is now better. Our Dean of 
 Ch. Ch. is very much failed, as they say in Scotland. This 
 quiet town is turned topsy-turvy by the villanous militia ; and 
 you cannot imagine anything more entertaining than a body 
 of these Bullcalves and Peebles going through their exercise. 
 Such sweating and swearing, and wheeling all ways but the 
 right, with every now and then a swinging blow on some 
 peccant's rump from the cudgel of the serjeant ! Then they 
 get drunk at night, and keep the streets resounding with the 
 most unwonted uproars ; and after all, 'tis said that we are to 
 
 have no war. I suppose that Miss B (you may fill the 
 
 blank as your fancy leads you) is now gone, and that our 
 young ladies are at liberty to be idle. How I shall enjoy our 
 breakfasts and dinners with double relish in the absence of such 
 harpies ! Does Grace play as well as she did, and my pretty 
 Betty as ill ? As to Miss Isabel, I expect from her Handel's 
 Overtures from beginning to end when I see her in July. 
 But it will not vex me much if I find no new decorations 
 of Sparr on the drawing-room mantlepiece. I will dedicate 
 the remainder of my paper to the aforesaid young lady, and 
 conclude with a petition to you of writing soon. Pray give
 
 166 "LADY ERROL " CONYBEARE. [ B HAP?WOS. 
 
 my love to my Aunt Smollett and all at Hoddam. (Oh that 
 you could extract Lady Errol out of my Aunt Murray !) 
 And believe me your ever affectionate son, 
 
 CHAS. KIRKPATRICK SHARPE. 
 
 I have tried oil-painting lately, but do not come on well at 
 all ; my music I have almost given up. Good boys should do 
 nothing but read. 
 
 Whip Isabella for not giving me my Kirkpatrick on her 
 last letter. 
 
 Rev. J. J. CONYBEARE to C. KIRKPATRICK SHARPE. 
 
 BISHOPSGATE CHURCHYD., 
 Sunday Evg. [1803.] 
 
 DEAR SHARPE, Your letter having been directed to Black- 
 heath, arrived here too late to admit of any answer by last 
 night's post. This I am sorry for, because, having discovered 
 that yesterday (being a Saint's day) was necessarily unproduc- 
 tive of Rhetoric, I had determined on not returning untill 
 Friday next at the earliest possibly not till Saturday par 
 consequence you need not have hurried yourself out of my 
 castle. As it is, will you give Dell notice of my arrival on 
 Friday. My brother will remain here till the end of the 
 month. I am sorry to say he has been very unwell the 
 greater part of his vacation not, however, seriously so. Now 
 he engages his rooms at Green's for the whole of the term ; 
 therefore, if you are so inclined, he will be happy to lend 
 them to you untill his return, with the usufruct of his books, 
 &c., which may be a degree more comfortable for you than a 
 lodging entirely destitute of all intellectual furniture. 
 
 I have not as yet seen either Copleston's or Drummond's 
 pamphlets, but will get them to-morrow. Adieu. Yrs. ever, 
 
 J. CONYBEARE. 
 
 My remembrances to all friends.
 
 cos WAY'S ETCHINGS. 167 
 
 Kev. J. J. CONYBEARE to CHARLES K. SHARPE. 
 
 BISHOPSGATE CHURCHYARD, 
 Wednesday, 15th [April 1803]. 
 
 DEAR SHARPE, From one who is condemned to pass even 
 the summer in the heart of this great city, situated exactly 
 midway betwixt the silent sequestered retreats of the Ex- 
 change and the elegant environs of Tower Hill, you must 
 naturally expect an epistle savouring much of the dulness of 
 the atmosphere he breathes. Indeed I have so little news to 
 communicate, that (had not interested motives had some part 
 in it) I know not whether you would have heard from me at 
 all. A pretty candid confession of selfishness, you will say ; 
 but nevertheless I shall make bold to prefer my request viz., 
 that you would perform your promise of employing your pen- 
 cil in the delineation of some delectable subject (or, if you 
 please, subjects) for the adornment of my new rooms. Though 
 I was in doubt whether I should favor you with an epistle, I 
 certainly intended to favor you with a parcel, till I bethought 
 me that its carriage would cost more than its contents were 
 worth. I got in a compliment the first number of Mrs Cos- 
 way's etchings from the Louvre Gallery : this I immediately 
 resolved on sending to your worship, till the above-mentioned 
 motives deterred me. I will bring it with me to Oxon. for you. 
 It is in immense atlas folio, most superbly printed at the 
 press of Didot. The etchings are on a most ridiculously small 
 scale, though neatly done. The three plates contain near 
 forty pictures, some so diminutively copied that you can 
 scarcely see them with a magnifying-glass. To my great 
 sorrow I just missed of going to see the originals with a 
 uncle of mine who has spent many years abroad in his 
 younger days, and wished to make the tour of France once 
 more. By an unlucky accident I did not know of his going, 
 and he did not know that I was free from my academic ties,
 
 168 CONYBEARE 1MPEY. [ BE , J J. 'K.^I&OS^ 
 
 or we should both have been eager for each other's company. 
 He has returned, and talks of going again next summer, when 
 I shall accompany him. En attendant, I have amused myself 
 with the perusal of some French journals, almanacks, and 
 chansonnettes, and may possibly know as much of Paris as 
 some of our friends who spend the summer there. I have 
 employed myself much upon that filthy chemistry ; and in- 
 tend accompanying Kidd to Oxford some time next week, as I 
 am perfectly tired of London, and not much inclined to accept 
 three or four invitations I have had to the country. I have 
 not heard of or seen a single Ch. Ch. man, except Kidd and 
 Cholmeley. (I forgot that I met Bristow at the failure of 
 Mr Barret's balloon, which you have probably read of in the 
 news.) ... I remain quiet, happy, and, above all, I have 
 preached only once. Most sincerely yrs., 
 
 J. CONYBEARE. 
 
 Pray write soon, and direct to Christ Church. John. 
 
 E. B. IMPEY, Esq., to CHARLES K. SHARPE. 
 
 PARK HOUSE, April 16, 1803. 
 
 It is the most difficult thing in the world to set down with 
 a determination of being witty. I have already made five 
 unsuccessful attempts to answer your letter in that strain, 
 but find that humour, like Mahomet's mountain, will not 
 come for calling. I shall therefore forego all rivalship of 
 that nature with you, and repay by a very dull matter-of- 
 fact letter, the abundance of entertainment derived from 
 your - - epistle. By the by, during my country recess I 
 have discovered many very valuable rimes to recompense 
 that unfortunate one, which I fear will never cease to be a 
 source of raillery for you. You will not be contented un- 
 less I give you some detail of our expedition, during the
 
 o. K. sTiso!?] IMPEY SAPPHICS. 169 
 
 whole of which, as you very rightly divine, I omitted no 
 opportunity of fleecing my companion at every inn. But he 
 had his revenge in performing the same operation upon me 
 all the way in the gig in this, as well as in the manage- 
 ment of his reins, in which he showed great skill, and 
 brought us safe to the end of our pilgrimage, toward the 
 close of the day in which we set out. The scheme suc- 
 ceeded even beyond our expectation, for we found the place 
 very little altered since our residence there. The ground on 
 which we used to play, the mill where we fished, and the 
 orchard we had so often been whipped for plundering, bore 
 the same appearance as they did fifteen years ago ; and, what 
 surprised us more, the shops had neither changed their com- 
 modities nor their tenants many of whom remembered our 
 names, and reminded us of the events of our childhood. One 
 old dame, in particular, produced a little glass vessel which 
 Bentinck had sold her for threepence. They recollected me 
 chiefly by my stammering ; it was the first time that I ever 
 congratulated myself on that accomplishment. I should be 
 afraid of wearying you with this detail were there not some- 
 thing in contemplation of this kind peculiarly delightful to 
 minds of so romantic and visionary a mould as yours. We 
 were so deeply imprest with it ourselves, that it inspired the 
 following rhapsody, which, being a joint composition, I hold 
 myself not subject to above half your criticism : 
 
 Diva, quam matrem Aoniae fatentur 
 Virgines, Phoebi chorus, hue vagantes 
 Quo vocas te Mnemosyne per arva 
 
 Nota sequamur ; 
 
 Seu larem circa veterem, et juventse 
 Hospitas sedes, solitamque propter 
 Arborem cujus pueri sub umbra 
 
 Lusimus olim, 
 
 Sive per valles libeat supinas 
 Ire, qua nobis taciturna Chelmi 
 Lympha, vesanum toties Leonem 
 
 Frigore mulsit ;
 
 170 SAPPHICS WROTTESLEY. [c. B K '. ^so 
 
 Ssepe sub ripa minus otiose 
 Viclit incultse dare prima Musaa 
 Thura, vel vernos agitare molli in 
 
 Margine ludos 
 
 Heu breves ludos et amata frustra 
 Rura, vos circa puerile quicquam 
 Nunc, reor, spirat redoletque puram 
 Aura salutem. 
 
 At pari vi purpureum juventae 
 Lumen, et dulces rapit hora nugas, 
 Debet et fato sibi destinatam 
 
 Singula curam : 
 
 Interim vitae meminisse lapsse 
 Sublevat prsesens onus, et dolentem 
 Mulcet oblectans juvenem, quod olim 
 Luserit infans 
 
 Qualis ad matrem patriasque Thebas 
 /Edipi proles rediens, vetusta 
 Templa respexit, vitreamque Dirces 
 
 Flevit ad undam. 
 
 I am surprised that this happy expedient for patching up 
 a letter has never occurred to you : it is among one of my 
 most favourite artifices. I should have been well pleased 
 had you adopted it, in sending me some extracts from your 
 wine-party, which, no doubt, I should with justice treat with 
 more indulgence than you. You are an excellent angler. 
 You have diverted me so much with your complaints of 
 ennui, turnip-juice, and influenza, that it is but fair that you 
 should, in return, laugh at all my discontents, by which I am 
 so thoroughly beset that I can scarcely at this moment 
 refrain from tearing this letter to pieces in a fit of ill-temper. 
 I am so fatigued with this vacation that I even envy you the 
 society of Wrottesley 1 at Oxford. I have a brother here who 
 is enough to tire the patience of Job, or of Grizzel as the poet 
 
 1 Charles Wrottesley, son of Sir John Wrottesley, M.P. for County 
 Stafford ; afterwards Rector of East Knoyle, Wilts.
 
 c-K^isos ] WROTTESLEY THE AGAES. 171 
 
 says. He is lately arrived from shipboard, and where do you 
 think I found him lodged in town ? At the White Bear, in 
 Piccadilly. This trait is enough to delineate his character ; 
 and I leave you to draw the most obvious inference from the 
 captain's partiality to Bruin. I have seen Minheer in the 
 insignia of his office, and am in doubt whether the cocked- 
 hat or your cushion suits him best. The three Agars 1 are 
 constantly in Bond Street, where they personate the respec- 
 tive characters of Tag, Eag, and Bob-tail. I have had one 
 glimpse of Lawrence, whose addition to the commendations 
 you bestow [ 2 ] head has lately improved it by a 
 prof [ 3 ] of hair-powder which approaches it still nearer 
 than ever to a barber's block. Have you finished his por- 
 trait ? And what are your present speculations ? Your de- 
 sign of the prose essay delights me; but I hope you will 
 aspire to more originality than to consult so insipid an 
 author as Secundus, your partiality to whom is as unjust 
 as your prejudice against Terence and Plautus. The former 
 seldom aims at humour, but, in the more refined province 
 of wit and sententious morality, is unrival'd. The latter is 
 no doubt gross, but deserves some applause, at least, for 
 being the first among the Eoman comedians who aspired 
 to render his fable interesting, from a complication of plot, 
 which the French, and afterwards the English stage, has 
 brought to perfection, or perhaps extended too far. You are 
 right in depreciating the wit of Martial : he is never more 
 insipid than when he affects humour, which in a modern 
 epigrammatist wd. be insupportable. His fort has cer- 
 tainly been mistaken. It is in his most serious productions 
 that we must look for the best specimens of this writer, and 
 then we find him neither deficient in choice of expression or 
 
 1 Welbore Ellis Agar, afterwards Earl of Normanton ; George Charles 
 Agar, afterwards Lieut. 3d Kegiment of Guards ; James Agar, afterwards 
 Archdeacon of Kilmore. 
 
 2 Letter torn. * Ditto.
 
 172 SPEECHES IN HOMER. [ c. K. s 
 
 elegance of thought. So much for our wits of yore. To 
 return to the moderns, Coneybeare refuses to meddle with 
 Simkin ; my son is equally averse to the mysteries of Eleusis ; 
 but Will Clargis will recompense all by the appearance he 
 means to make in the rostrum. Pray write soon, and direct 
 to me after next week at Ibbitson's Hotel, in Vere Street, and 
 believe me, in the meantime, your most devoted, 
 
 E. B. IMPEY. 
 
 C. KIRKPATRICK SHARPE to Miss ISABELLA SHARPE, Hoddarn. 
 
 [1803.] 
 
 I am much obliged to you, dear Isabel, for your last long 
 letter, which found me recovering from this universal in- 
 fluenza, and was glad to learn from it that you are going 
 on so swimmingly in your studies. You were certainly in the 
 right with regard to the speeches in Homer the speeches, in 
 truth, being the most excellent parts in the poem ; and I 
 remember how much my admiration was excited by those of 
 Nestor, so naturally full of his own exploits and the vanity 
 and verbosity of old age. When I read the ' Iliad ' in Greek, 
 the first passage which much struck me was that where Helen 
 is telling the names of the Grecian chiefs to Priam on the 
 walls. She misses her two brothers, and supposes that the 
 shame of her misconduct had kept them from the war ; " but 
 she knew not," says Homer, " that already the funeral mound 
 was raised over them at a distance from their native land." 
 This passage has inexpressible beauties in the original, and is 
 very well translated by Pope. But the twenty-second book 
 is my chiefest darling. The speaches of Priam and Hecuba, 
 the death of Hector, everything in it, is divine ; and Pope 
 hath done most ample justice to the whole, even improving, 
 in my mind, several parts of it. Priam in the Greek is vastly 
 too minute with regard to parts of him which the dogs might 
 devour ; and Hecuba not only bares her breast, but holds out
 
 BH^Rrafisos.] PENELOPE CORRI'S WALK. 173 
 
 to Hector those articles of it from whence he drew his nourish- 
 ment when young. Now there is certainly something ludicrous 
 in the idea of an old woman doing such a thing over a town 
 wall. As to the labours of Master Ulysses, who was a crafty 
 old knave, they do not interest me so much as the battles of 
 the ' Iliad ' (but many people like them better, and they are 
 certainly replete with beauties) ; and one is diverted with 
 Homer's representation of the character of Mistress Penelope, 
 who was in fact an arrant trull, and decorated the head of 
 her husband after the fashion of the other Greek matrons. I 
 am sure that you will admire Dryden's ' Virgil/ as there 
 is something in the story of Queen Dido very captivating to 
 young ladies. She was fond of shewing her new frocks, and 
 did not let them become mouldy in the chest of drawers ; but 
 a sly fellow called .ZEneas cheated her sadly, and she was 
 quickly laid bye herself to moulder in a rusty urn, after 
 having made a huge hole in her bosom with her lover's sword, 
 and gotten her corpse well roasted on a pile of faggots. And 
 now, descending to more humble matters, pray is the wall- 
 flower affair settled ? I expect to smell the court half a mile 
 off when I come to Hoddam ; but you said not a word of the 
 matter in your last. And is the clover springing in Corri's l 
 walk in spite of those accursed black snails ? I have got a 
 great many greenhouse seeds from Stapleton, but fear that 
 they will never have a place in the new Dubster Hall, of 
 which we have about as good a prospect as the Whigs of the 
 New Jerusalem. Tell Jane, 2 with my love, that I am in great 
 quandaries about this Highland helmet, and condole with her 
 on her unfortunate couping o' the creels ; that I hope she hath 
 not given rise to any good story like the Miss and her man 
 John ; and that, if she managed matters as well as she once 
 
 1 Corri, a famous violin-player, was a frequent visitor at Hoddam, 
 where the laird was himself a performer of no mean degree. Corri's 
 rooms in Edinburgh occupied the site where the Theatre-Royal now 
 stands. 
 
 2 Lady Kirkpatrick.
 
 174 QUESTIONS ABOUT HODDAM. H 
 
 did, when descending rather precipitately from the back of 
 Lucy, I do not think that the coachman or the clowns could 
 be much edified, or become squeamish like Habbie of the 
 Shortrig ; finally, that I wish she would epistolize me when- 
 ever she finds it convenient. Your new music will doubtless 
 spur you on to diligence, at least for a little while. Pray 
 practice Handel as much as you can for me. I have got 
 some fine concertos of Correlli, very easy, which you will be 
 able almost to play at sight : there is no filthy thorough- 
 bass in them to puzzle and confuse you. I am happy to hear 
 that my Lady D. is to be so near us, for I have a great respect 
 both for herself and Fin. I cannot say that the news with 
 regard to Knockhill give me quite so much satisfaction ; but 
 I hope my father will take care that the gentleman resemble 
 old Hocldam's ghost, and never find his way over the river. 
 Who is the proprietor of Newfield now ? Neither you nor 
 my mother ever answer half my questions, which is vastly 
 tantalizing. Is Mosco in his usual lovliness at present, and 
 do you speak as much stuff to him as you was wont to do ? 
 Finally, how does Mr Greig's son and heir thrive ? Answer 
 me all these questions in your next. Ellen is going to town 
 to pay a visit to Miss Herries, 1 she writes me, and no doubt 
 will make many conquests over the susceptibles of Lon- 
 don. Yet I am in some fear that she will not get another 
 sett of China ware in a hurry. Is the offerer of that sacrifice 
 propitiated yet? This Love makes fools of us all. Mr 
 Scott's third volume of the ' Border Minstrelsy ' is wondrously 
 long of coming out. He is a very tedious fellow. There is a 
 new edition of Lady M. W. Montague's ' Letters,' with a great 
 number of new productions in it, advertised in the news- 
 papers, which I am very impatient to see. So much for new 
 news. Your affectionate brother, C. K. S. 
 
 Give my love to my aunt K. when you see her. 
 1 Daughter of Herries the banker.
 
 LADY MUKRAY HITCHAM. 175 
 
 CHARLES K. SHARPE to Mrs SHARPE, Hoddam. 
 
 CH. CH., 23d [July] 1803. 
 
 MY DEAR MOTHER, I was very glad to receive your last 
 letter, which I had been expecting for some time, and happy 
 to learn from it that this devil of an influenza had produced 
 no very fatal effects at Hoddam. People are still snuffling 
 and coughing here, the cold weather continuing with un- 
 abated severity ; and the ancient generation hath been well- 
 nigh entirely sweeped away from the face of the earth. There 
 is not a grandfather or grandmother to be had for love or 
 money in this part of the world. 
 
 I suppose you are at present enjoying the society of Lady 
 Murray, which will compensate in some sort for much tedium 
 from another quarter. I wish she had brought a certain 
 thing along with her that you wot of ; but you will receive a 
 fresh annoyance very soon in my presence, as the term con- 
 cludes at the end of four weeks. I intend to epistolize my 
 father in a day or two concerning the route of my pictures, 
 &c., &c., and to state reasons pro and con a longer residence 
 at Oxford. The idea of leaving Oxford for ever is really 
 exceeding grievous to me ; but there is no help for that. 
 
 I went to Hitcham in the stage, and met with a surprising 
 event between Henley and Maidenhead nothing less than 
 the sudden appearance of Margaret Brown, alias Mrs Wedder- 
 burn, 1 with her spouse, child, and sister Georgina, in a coach- 
 and-four. There was a deal of exclamation of, " Stop the 
 coach ! " and " Where are you going ? " and " When will you 
 be back ? " The passengers stared, the stage-coachman grum- 
 
 1 Margaret, daughter of George Brown, Esq. of Ellistoun, Roxburgh- 
 shire, married David Wedderburn of Ballindean, Co. Perth, who had 
 succeeded his father, Sir John Wedderburn, in the attainted Nova 
 Scotia baronetcy a month before this meeting, and a month after 
 was created a baronet of the United Kingdom.
 
 176 THE WEDDERBURNS MISS LLOYD. [sHAR^Tsos. 
 
 bled, and Margaret scolded. At last it was settled that I was 
 to meet them at Oxford at their return from Cheltenham, and 
 the conference ended. Mr Wedderburn hath got a prodigious 
 red nose. 
 
 I found the Col., 1 his lady, and Ellen (by the by, when does 
 Ellen return home ?) in the old style at Hitcham he not 
 happy, she not well, and Nell so-so. There was also a Miss Lloyd 
 there, an aunt of Mrs Sharpe's, an antiquated piece of affec- 
 tation, with a most inexhaustable fund of ugliness. The poor 
 woman dresses up an old death's-head with bonnets and rib- 
 bons of every colour in the rainbow, and torments and goggles 
 about with her poor jackdaw eyes, till you expect to see them 
 tumble from their sockets, and fall like shot stars on the 
 carpet ; but she is rich, and the Col. is very imprudent in the 
 rudeness of his behaviour to her. She is as fond of eating as 
 her niece, and sillier than any Scotchwoman unacquainted 
 with the fair sex of England can possibly imagine. 
 
 After abiding at Hitcham for a week, in the course of which 
 we had a visit from Mr Herries, who is, in truth, a well- 
 natured person, I returned to Oxford just in time to meet the 
 Wedderburns that is to say, the lady part of them, for the 
 gentleman had proceeded to Scotland. I find Margaret not at 
 all changed by her new situation, and enchanted with her 
 child, which will be a fine spoilt bargain by-and-by. 
 
 How do you like the new war ? Our friend Mr Cobbett 
 was in the right of it, after all, you see ; for my part, I never 
 expect to behold peace again. Bonaparte hath murdered her. 
 We shall have recruiting and volunteering and taxing to the 
 very end of the chapter, with a swinging errata. Our men 
 nowadays fight like young women in the field, and talk like 
 old ones in the Cabinet, nay, I verily believe that many of 
 our women could both fight and talk a great deal better. 
 
 And now I am on this subject, pray tell me in your next 
 whether the famous Miss Flora Macdonald is dead or alive. 
 A friend of mine wishes to know her history. I think I 
 1 Matthew Sharpe.
 
 SH A T KPE?1 S 803.] LADY MACKINTOSH. 177 
 
 have heard that she went to Jamaica and died there, but am 
 not quite certain. Dr Johnson says that her name will be 
 remembered as long as courage and fidelity are esteemed 
 virtues, and mentions his introduction to her at Kingsborough 
 with much seeming delight ; and she was an honour to her 
 country and to human nature, and one of the many striking 
 instances of how sadly the most exalted merit comes off in 
 this villanous world. 
 
 But the heroine among the Tory ladies who interests me 
 the most is Lady Mackintosh. The trick she played to Lord 
 Loudon and his rabble at Moy was very clever and diverting ; 
 and the description of her riding with Charles at the head of 
 the troops in a blue velvet habit and gold lace hath charmed 
 me from my youth upwards. Ask my aunt Murray, with my 
 love, if she can furnish me with any anecdotes or the extrac- 
 tion of this courageous dame. I know that she was seized at 
 Inverness by the Duke of Cumberland's miscreants after the 
 battle of Culloden, but can trace her no farther in any record. 
 
 I had a magnificent present made me the other day of a 
 portrait, down to the knees, of the Duchess of Portsmouth, 
 by Sir Peter Lely. 1 Ask Isabella who her Grace was, and 
 whip her if she cannot tell you. It was given me by a 
 Scotch surgeon here, a Mr Ireland, who hath made a com- 
 fortable fortune by his profession, and is a great collector of 
 paintings without knowing anything of the matter. She is 
 very slightly dressed, and seated on a rock with a crook in her 
 hand, according to the fashionable style of painting at that 
 time not so handsome as one would expect, but most beau- 
 tifully done. The Border Minstrel paid me a visit some time 
 since on his way to town, and I very courteously envited him 
 to breakfast. He is dreadfully lame, and much too poetical. 
 He spouts without mercy, and pays compliments so high- 
 flown that my self-conceit, tho' a tolerable good shot, could 
 
 1 Now at the Rectory, Button Coldfield, in the possession of the Rev. 
 W. K. R. Bedford, Kirkpatrick Sharpe's nephew. 
 
 VOL. I. M
 
 178 MACDONALD LORD NEWTOWN. sHAK^Tsoa. 
 
 not even wing one of them ; but he told me that he intended 
 to present me with the new edition of his book, and I found 
 some comfort in that. He also invited me to his cottage in 
 Scotland ; and I promised him a visit with the same sincer- 
 ity I practice in the affair of Mr Yorkston's dinners. 1 I do 
 think that a little fib of this kind is a very venial sin ; only, 
 when the ice is once broken, people very often sink with 
 a vengeance. 
 
 I have been painting my cousin Macdonald's picture, as he 
 hath gained my good graces all of a sudden by appearing at 
 a supper where I was, very drunk. You are surprised. The 
 way was this. He came in the company of several other 
 youths, all tipsey, and showed more goodness in his cups than 
 I had ever suspected him of. His friends were ill-natured, 
 and behaved like blackguard beasts: he did nothing but 
 laugh, cry, and shake hands with everybody. The others 
 quarrelled with each other, and abused the scouts ; he only 
 embraced a huge pock-fretten Welsh baronet, a Sir William 
 Pole, 2 and swore he was the ugliest good fellow he had ever 
 seen in his life. 
 
 Newtown has now quite shut himself up, and never goes 
 
 out to wine. Not so my Lord C , who will drink 
 
 with any one, and moreover keeps a trull at a turnpike gate 
 about half a mile from Oxford. I wish you could see this 
 lord. His face is of the strangest outlandish shape, and he 
 speaks as if he were articulating at the wrong end. 'Tis re- 
 ported that the Dean is about to tickle his catastrophe con- 
 cerning his turnpike lady and his other manifold disorderly 
 proceedings. I only admire how his lordship manages to live, 
 seeing that he hath not one farthing to rub on another. He 
 keeps horses and curricles, and dogs and dog-carts, and gives 
 dinners at the Blue Boar alehouse to all the rascallity of 
 Oxford. 
 
 1 A Dumfriesshire laird. 
 
 2 Sir Wm. Templer Pole of Shute House, Devon ; born 1782, died 1847.
 
 sHA^Tsos.] STORAGE AND BRAHAM. 179 
 
 We had Storace and Braham at the music-room the other 
 night, and I wished that Isabel's ears had been long enough 
 to reach from Dumfriesshire hither. If I could only give up 
 to her all the delicious and artful sounds that have pene- 
 trated my barren lugs, she would be able very speedily to 
 play with all the modern graces and fal-de-ralls requisite for 
 perfection. Is the sweet governess gone yet ? or shall I have 
 the pleasure of once more beholding her engaging counte- 
 nance when I return to Hoddam ? Oh the sad trouble of 
 children with their dominies and duennas ! Many a good 
 dinner and breakfast hath been robbed of comfort by their 
 harpy obstructions. Mister Grey, with his Presbyterian 
 visage and Covenanting spirit ; Miss Eeid, with her silk coat 
 and greasie golls ; Miss Begbie, with her everything in the 
 world : but to give her her due, she really is more tolerable 
 than Jeanie Eeid. That Jeanie Eeid was the very essence of 
 everything abominable. 
 
 And now, my dear mother, pray write soon. How glad I 
 shall be to see you, and to tell a thousand things that one 
 cannot scribble ! How happy it will make me to be able to 
 visit all my favourite trees, and Eepentance, and Corri's 
 Walk, and to show you my pictures and fiddle-faddles ! Do 
 not wait for my father's letter, but epistolize me when it may 
 be convenient. Give my love to Jane, and tell her that 'twas 
 lucky she did not forget the headpiece, else I should have 
 made a sad ado. I have not heard from Miss Pitman for an 
 age, I suppose because the General is out of the way, and 
 she cannot get a frank. Your ever aff. son, 
 
 C. K. SHARPE. 
 
 CHARLES K. SHARPS to Miss CAMPBELL of Monzia 
 
 HODDAM CASTLE [Aug. or Sept.], 1803. 
 
 A specimen of the fourth vol. of the ' B order Minstrelsy,' 
 speedily to be published :
 
 180 SPECIMEN OF 'BORDER MINSTRELSY.' 
 
 " The following ballad was written down from the recitation 
 of a middle-aged woman, by name Violet Eoddick, who resides 
 in a small cottage or hovel near Hoddam (which is spelled 
 in old documents Hoddame) Castle, with no companions to 
 relieve the tedium of solitude but an illegitimate indiscretion 
 of her niece, and a lean tabby cat whose ears have been cur- 
 tailed to impede her from catching goldfinches and other birds 
 which are wont to render vocal the hedges of Annandale. 
 
 " Hoddam Castle belonged for some time to the noble family 
 of Southesk, from which it devolved on John Sharpe of Dum- 
 fries, whose second son, Matthew Sharpe, bequeathed it to 
 Charles Kirkpatrick, nephew of Sir Thomas Kirkpatrick of 
 Closeburn, or, as old deeds have it, Clossbourne, Kilosburne, 
 &c., &c., &c. This accounts for the existence of the poem 
 in the vicinity of Hoddam the heroine being Lady Catharine 
 Carnegy, daughter to James Earl of Southesk, and sister to 
 that Lord, who makes such a distinguished figure in the 
 Memoirs of Grammont. She appears to have been a dame 
 of violent temper, tho' very few women, far less women of 
 quality, could have preserved their minds unruffled in such 
 trying circumstances ; and in this respect bore no resemblance 
 to her brother, who sustained his matrimonial afflictions with 
 greater meekness, tho' he craftily attempted to help his rival 
 to a certain French disease, than which there is nothing more 
 abominable, bating French metaphysics. This Lord Southesk 
 is said to have been a mighty fine gentleman, and spells his 
 name Southesque (vide MSS. at Hoddam Castle), perhaps to 
 please his fair spouse, who did not greatly admire her title, if 
 any credit is to be afforded to the testimony of a contemporary 
 historian. 
 
 " Might the editor hazard a conjecture concerning the author 
 of this poem, he would attribute it to Lady Catharine Car- 
 negy's waiting-maid. He is well aware that many profound 
 antiquaries give the honour of ye composition to ye barber's 
 daughter herself; and doubtless their opinion receives some
 
 MISS CAMPBELL OF MONZIE.
 
 S.] BALLAD OF "LADY ERROL." 181 
 
 colour of probability from the line in which the fair nymph, 
 Miss Peggy (we may suppose her sirname to have been Shaver), 
 is termed ' the top of a' the town.' But then, on the other 
 hand, allow him to urge, that when noblemen or others con- 
 descend to raise creatures of humble station to concubinage or 
 matrimony, these ladies quickly forget, or pretend to forget, 
 their lowly originals vide Nelly Guffoy of Springkell, Lady 
 K k, Lady C 1, &c., &c., &c. ; so that it is very un- 
 likely that her father's trade would be even slightly hinted at 
 in any poetical or prosaical effusion of the charming but frail 
 Miss Peggy Shaver. 
 
 "The editor's reasons for supposing a waiting -maid the 
 authoress are these the style of the versification, and the 
 elegance of ye double, entendre. Waiting -gentle women have a 
 certain peculiarity in the construction of their rhymes, which 
 is very apparent in the foregoing vols. They think nothing 
 of making ' man ' chime to ' horse,' and ' dog ' to ' cat.' 
 So, in this poem, 'glen' agrees with 'hame,' and 'room' 
 answers vastly well to ' een.' In the second place, waiting- 
 maids have a rare turn for double meanings, owing to the 
 perusal 1 of play -books, and the frequent drinking of tea. 
 And the admirable line in the chorus of this poem, 'Accord- 
 ing as ye ken,' could never have entered the imagination 
 of any one but a waiting-gentlewoman. "We need not point 
 out to our enlightened readers its beautiful similarity to ' The 
 thing you wot of,' in Shakespeare's 'Measure for Measure.' 
 Some critics pretend that this work cannot be the produc- 
 tion of Lady Catharine's waiting -maid, as the lady is men- 
 tioned in terms of little respect; but this can be proved a 
 poor cavil from the system of cast-gowns, and torn under- 
 coats, which oftentimes cause deadly feuds between mistress 
 and maid. Which subject I will enlarge upon at the end 
 of the poem, my preface having already exceeded the proper 
 bounds prescribed for such soups and hodge -podges at the 
 banquets of Parnassus.
 
 182 BALLAD OF " LADY ERROL." [ c 
 
 _CAMPBELL, 1803. 
 
 1. 
 
 ' Errol it's a bonny place, 
 
 It stands in yonder glen ! 
 The lady lost the rights of it 
 The first night she gaed hame. 
 A waly and a waly ! 
 
 According as ye ken 
 The thing we ca' the ranting o't, 
 Our lady lies her lane, ! 
 
 2. 
 
 ' What need I wash my apron, 
 
 Or hing it on yon door 1 
 What need I truce my petticoat ? 
 
 It hangs even down before ! ' 
 A waly and a waly, &c., &c. 
 
 3. 
 
 Errol's lip to Edinburgh gaen, 
 
 That bonny burrows town ; 
 He has chusit the barber's daughter, 
 
 The top of a' that town. 
 A waly, &c., &c. 
 
 4. 
 He has ta'en her by the milk-white hand, 
 
 He has led her through the room ; 
 And twenty times he's kisst her 
 Before his lady's een. 
 A waly, &c., &c. 
 
 5. 
 
 ' Look up, look up now, Peggy, 
 Look up and think nae shame ! 
 
 For I'll gie thee five hundred pound 
 To buy to thee a gown.' 
 A waly, &c., &c. 
 
 ' Look up, look up now, Peggy, 
 Look up and think nae shame ! 
 
 For I'll gie thee five hundred pound 
 To bear to me a son.' 
 A waly, &c., &c.
 
 TO MISS BALLAD OF "LADY ERROL." 183 
 
 CAMPBELL, 1803.. 
 
 7. 
 ' As thou was Kate Carnegie, 
 
 And I Sir Gilbert Hay, 
 I'll gar your father sell his lands 
 Your tocher gude to pay.' 
 A waly, &c., &c. 
 
 8. 
 ' Now he may take her back again, 
 
 Do wi' her what he can ; 
 For Errol canna please her, 
 Nor ane o' a' his men ! ' 
 A waly, &c., &c. 
 
 9. 
 ' Go fetch to me a pint of wine, 
 
 Go fill it to the brim ! 
 That I may drink my gude lord's health, 
 Tho' Errol be his name.' 
 A waly, &c., &c. 
 
 10. 
 
 She has ta'en the glass into her hand, 
 
 She has putten poison in 
 She has sign'd it to her dorty lips, 
 
 But ne'er a drop went in. 
 A waly, &c., &c. 
 
 11. 
 Up then spake a little page, 
 
 He was o' Errol's kin 
 ' Now fie upon ye, lady gay, 
 There's poison there within.' 
 A waly, &c., &c. 
 
 12. 
 
 'It's hold your hand now, Kate,' he says, 
 
 ' Hold it back again ; 
 For Errol winna drink on't, 
 
 Nor none o' a' his men ! ' 
 A waly, &c., &c. 
 
 13. 
 
 She has ta'en the sheets into her arms, 
 She has thrown them o'er the wa' ; 
 
 ' Since I maun gae maiden hame again, 
 Awa, Errol, awa ! ' 
 A waly, &c., &c.
 
 184 
 
 BALLAD OF " LADY ERROL. [CAMPLE 
 
 1803. 
 
 14. 
 She's down the back o' the garden, 
 
 And O, as she did murne, 
 ' How can a workman crave his wage, 
 When he never wrought a turn?' 
 A waly and a waly ! 
 
 According as ye ken 
 The thing we ca' the ranting o' 
 Our lady lies her lane, ! " 
 
 Very slow, with much expression. 
 
 O Errol it's a bon - ny place, It stands in yon der glen ! 
 
 The lady lost therights ofitThefirst nightshegaedhame.A wa-ly and a wa ly ! 
 
 igfeECEE^Ig^S^g 
 
 1 1 ' = mmmam mm* 1_^ 
 
 Ac-cording as ye ken The thing we ca' the ranting o't, Our lady lies her lane, O! 
 
 
 My dear Miss Campbell, this excellent song 1 hath left me 
 little room to return you thanks for your epistle, or to en- 
 large on the subjects which it contains. I have put it up 
 among my most valuable manuscripts, and I have no doubt 
 
 1 In Aberdeenshire, where, in consequence of the connection of the 
 Errol family with Buchan, the song was long popular, and continued to 
 be sung among the peasantry until the early years of the present century, 
 a different tune, sweeter and more plaintive than the music given above, 
 was in vogue. The editor, some years ago, succeeded in recovering the 
 notes of the Buchan " Lady Errol." The version, too, differs consider- 
 ably from the Hoddam one, but has no advantage in point of delicacy.
 
 "ADDRESS TO THE COMMON PEOPLE." 185 
 
 but that it will make its public appearance some day, when 
 the authoress and her spouse are in Arthur's bosom, and 
 entertain the world as much as it hath done me. 
 
 As to the poem on the young lady's slip, I cannot have 
 anything to do in it, as Miss Pitman will have informed you. 
 But this I must say, that if young women begin to cry out, 
 and bear children in the very public eating-rooms, they must 
 unavoidably carry off the palm of impudence from the men 
 (a sad reflection), as our sex can by no means perform any- 
 thing at all comparable to that. In which respect they have 
 good reasons to quarrel with Dame Nature. 
 
 You wronged " Peter and the Poneys " extremely by your 
 suspicions. I really know not which of their parts was per- 
 formed the best. Master Hay seemed to admire my trium- 
 phal car exceedingly ; and if he questions me about it when 
 I return to Ch. Ch., I intend to make a flourish and say " A 
 foul thing, sir, but mine own." 
 
 I am happy that my Address l entertained you, and hope 
 that this song will afford you some amusement. Tell Bessie 
 Mure, with my love, that I desire she may learn to sing it, 
 and she and Luckie Flude will make it an excellent duett. 
 I have got for you a letter of our cousin, the Duke of 
 Eothes, 2 which is curious enough, and am happy in the 
 power of being able to contribute my widow's mite to the 
 Museum at Monzie. 
 
 My Lady Perth is a strange person to suppose that any 
 one would take up quarters in her Castle without an invi- 
 tation. The " Venison " anecdote is admirable. By the by, if 
 you could procure me an extract of the Chancellor's letter 
 containing the account of the death of Lady Kilsyth, with 
 the date of the letter, and the name of the person episto- 
 
 1 ' A Friendly Address to the Common People of Dumfriesshire,' signed 
 Gracchus. R. Jackson, printer, Dumfries. See Appendix, vol. i. 
 
 2 Kirkpatrick Sharpe claims cousinship with the Duke of Rothes, as 
 a son of Anne, daughter of John, fifth Earl of Mar.
 
 186 TRIAL OF JOHN SHARPE. 
 
 lized, I would be still more deeply your debtor. I have vehe- 
 ment thoughts of writing and publishing the life of Lord 
 Dundee; and if I ever do make it out, the work shall be 
 dedicated, with permission, to you. 
 
 I am much obliged to you for your good intentions with 
 respect to the " General's Miniature " and " The Smoke Anti- 
 dote." As to my " Oxford Miniatures," I suppose that I may 
 find something like them in the originals when I go to the 
 other world ! but I never more expect to see Nell Gwynne or 
 the Duchess of Portsmouth in this. that vile jade Miss 
 
 ! Did you ever hear of such an insult on account of 
 
 a piece of trumpery that can only cock one ear ? And to 
 carry it so fair-fashionedly too ! She is a very crocodile of 
 Nilus. When a girl fails in fundamentals, as the old lady in 
 the " Chances " says, I have done with her. 
 
 Tell Miss Pitman that I have been reading the ' Scots 
 Worthies,' a work which I would advise her, and you also, to 
 peruse ; that I have found in the old chest some more curious 
 letters, and the trial of John Sharpe before the ministers of 
 Dumfries, for adultery with Mistress Barbara Grahame. The 
 lady confessed it herself, in a fit of sickness, tho' it is proved 
 that she declared she wished all the curses from the beginning 
 of Genesis to the end of the Eevelations might light on those 
 who called her poor creature ! 
 
 Put a little mustard, with my love, on Pickle's tail. I have 
 got the prettiest cat, to catch the mice in this old rat-warren, 
 that ever was seen, and have baptized her Clementina, after 
 my Lady Perth, 1 to whom she is esteemed to bear a strong 
 similarity more ways than one. With love to Miss Jane, I 
 conclude. Your affectionate spouse, 
 
 CHAS. KIKKPATEICK SHAEPE. 
 
 HODDAM CASTLE, l^th, 1803. 
 
 1 Clementina, fourth daughter of Charles, tenth Lord Elphinstone; 
 died 1822 ; mother of Lady Willoughby de Eresby.
 
 TO MISS 
 CAMPBELL, 
 
 ; ( S8 180 J CHANT BY DR CROTCH. 
 
 Here is a beautiful new Chant, by Dr Crotch. 1 
 
 J_ 
 
 187 
 
 7T 
 
 1 -J 
 
 
 1 , U. C3 - 
 
 
 5 
 
 
 
 
 
 ts 
 
 rr~ 
 
 \ JiS H 
 
 w^~ 
 
 5 & 
 
 
 4P- 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 1 
 
 
 
 
 
 i 
 
 ^^ 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 ^=\ 
 
 
 l ^ 1 
 
 N= 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 = ; 
 
 
 
 =\ 
 
 - n 
 
 ffi- g> 1 
 
 - 
 
 lp-^J- 
 
 ^ & 
 ^er-m 
 
 E 
 
 ^Hr- 
 
 P- 3 H^ 
 
 
 
 ^ : 
 
 s 
 
 s 
 
 = 
 
 
 
 
 \- =J 
 
 -<s>- 
 
 g n 
 
 
 r-\ f- 
 
 - 
 
 H = 
 
 =3 
 
 ^d 
 
 -7 
 
 
 
 -es> 
 
 
 5 H 
 
 I cannot find the fate of your friend the chapman in any 
 of the old papers, but it was bad enough, no doubt, as the 
 mercy of the one party was exactly proportioned to the 
 obstinacy of the other. My mother, with best love, wishes 
 to know how she can send a little present, for Mrs Campbell, 
 in the most convenient manner. 
 
 C. KIRKPATKICK SHAEPE to Miss KIRKPATRICK, Clossburne. 2 
 
 1803. 
 
 DEAR COUSIN, I send you the book I promised to furnish, 
 and also enclose a pair of scissors for the benefit of Oscar's ears. 
 
 These scissors I culled from amid the sweets of my antique 
 cabinet. The antiquaries have many different opinions con- 
 cerning them. Some hold them to be the identical sheers 
 wherewith that ornament of good wives, Delilah, cut off her 
 
 1 William Crotch, Doc. Mus. and Professor of Music at Oxford ; after- 
 wards Principal of the Eoyal Academy of Music ; died 1847. 
 
 2 On the back of this letter are noted the following memoranda : A 
 Sir P. Maxwell confined for riot at the trial of Sir Hugh Campbell of 
 Cessnock for treason, 1684. Cornelius a Tilbourne, a German mounte- 
 bank and poison-taker, 29th.
 
 188 HERALDIC NOTES. [S, "sSa." 
 
 spouse's locks previous to the operation of shaving. Others 
 assert (and, in my mind, with more reason) that they belonged 
 to Atropos, that wicked jade who spoils so much good thread, 
 and were cunningly niched from her by Eurydice, who gave 
 them to Orpheus before he sent her to hell again with a look. 
 By the by, 'tis lucky for the ladies that husbands have no 
 such power nowadays, I leave you to make a choice from 
 these two owners of the scissors. 
 
 But they will crop Oscar's ears as well as they cut Samp- 
 son's hairs or Clotho's threads ; and spare not those ears, I 
 beseech you the closer to the skull the better. Afterwards, 
 if you please, you may employ the scissors on the lugs of all 
 the other puppies of your acquaintance, and then lay them 
 up as some small return for the antique fork, which is really 
 an ornament to my rusty collection. 
 
 With best respects to all the family at Cessnock, and love 
 for the antique brooch, I remain. 
 
 E. SURTEES, Esq., to C. KlEKPATEICK SHARPE. 
 
 MAINSFORTH, Nov. 12, 1803. 
 
 DEAR SHARPE, I was only a few days in Ldon. after I 
 saw you, and my acquaintce. at the Heralds' Office was in the 
 country ; so I left him yr. papers, and only a few days ago 
 received the following account. Yr. coat of 4 quarters stands 
 thus : 
 
 Or, a cheveron betw. 3 leopards' heads or, 1 is the 
 ( J\\ bearing of Sir . . Wheler, Bart, of Lemington- 
 Hastings, Co. Warw., of whom the first baronet was Sir Wm. 
 Wheler of Westminster knt. in 1660, Aug. 11. 
 
 (The arms of Wentworth, E. of Strafford, reverse the above 
 
 coat being sable, a >y\ betn. 3 leop. heads or. Newport, 
 1 This should evidently be sable.
 
 a K U s?[fo3 TO ] HERALDIC NOTES. 189 
 
 Earl of Bradford, bore arg. a >y gules betw. 3 leopds. 
 heads sable.) 
 
 The 2d qter. is or, 4 A A fusils in fesse gules, and no 
 
 such bearing is registered. Arg. five fusils in fesse G. is 
 Bosvile of Yorkshire ; G. 4 fusils in fesse arg. is Lord Carteret ; 
 Arg. 3 fusils in fesse G. Montague ; and several others differ- 
 ing in colours, but none like yours. The third coat is not 
 entered ; nor can I tell what it can be called, as there are 
 two kinds of yellow on it, or rather one is orange, and in 
 heraldry only one kind called or is admitted. I believe 
 painters often disfigured arms by ignorance, and it is possible 
 some of these may be assumed arms never proved nor entered 
 
 by the heralds. 4th is or, a >y\ cheveron S., fretted or inter 
 
 3 Q delves or turves sable; and here, agn., the fretting is 
 orange-coloured and the ground yellow. This exact coat not 
 to be found. The one nearest it is arg., a cheveron G., fretty 
 or between 3 delves sable, borne by Sir Thos. Delves of Dod- 
 ington in Cheshire as Baronet 1621, qted. by Sir Thomas 
 Broughton of Staffordshire, Baronet, now living. This is all 
 the information I have got as to yr. first coat ; and either the 
 arms are not English, or else improperly blazoned or assumed 
 without authority. Yr. other is certainly the exact ancient 
 arms of Coleville of Northumberland and Yorkshire, a very 
 respectable family, formerly of whom Shakespeare makes one 
 prisoner to Sir John Falstaff in H. 4. The arms are difft. 
 from those of the Scotch Baron Colevile. An heiress of Jas. 
 Colvile of Whitehouse, Co. Pal. Durham, about the beginning 
 of the last century married an Earl of Tankerville, and had 
 several children. The quartering is Estriveis, a very old 
 baron long since extinct. He has not returned me the de- 
 scription or blazon of these last ; but if you wish for more 
 particulars let me know, or if you will agn. send me these 
 last arms should I meet with anything I'll send it to you.
 
 190 HERALDIC NOTES. 
 
 1803. 
 
 I should have seen you at Hoddam this year, but was 
 prevented by a great deal of trouble and nonsense of volun- 
 teering, &c. I direct to Oxford, as I suppose you are now 
 there. I hope Stapleton has got thro' some of his difficulties 
 tho', poor man, I fancy he will always have a tolerable 
 commodity of trouble of the same nature. I remain, yrs. 
 sincerely, R. SURTEES. 
 
 Slid, you be in London and make use of my name to Mr 
 Atkinson, Somerset Herald, Heralds' Office, he'll do anything 
 he can for you, and let you search any books you like ; or 
 Brisco 1 wd. go with you to him, and he is in No. 2 Stone 
 Buildings, Line. Inn. 
 
 C. KIRKPATRICK SHARPE to LORD NEWTON. 
 
 [HODDAM] Dec. 5, 1803. 
 
 Tho' I know your great abhorrence of all epistolary trouble, 
 yet I will not make the slightest apology for the appearance 
 of this and albeit I am well acquainted with your extreme 
 laziness, I scruple not to demand and expect an answer to 
 the letter in your hand, with all possible speed, tho' that 
 answer be as brief as the compliments of Mr Watts, or the 
 love speeches of my Lord Cranstoun. 
 
 Happening yesterday to look over some old Scots news- 
 papers of this summer, I perceived in the Dublin article the 
 name of a Eobert Latouche, Esq 1 ' 6 -, who had paid the debt to 
 nature in that city. Now, tho' I am almost confident that 
 this cannot be your uncle, and my acquaintance (for whom I 
 have a greater esteem and affection than he may imagine), 
 yet I beg that you will make me easy in that particular, by 
 a single line, directed to me, Hoddam Castle, Ecclefechan 
 by Carlisle; which will render me beyond measure obliged 
 to you. 
 
 1 Wastel Brisco, afterwards second baronet of Crofton Hall.
 
 TO 
 
 NEWTO: 
 
 ^1803.] IRISH REBELLION LORD MOIEA. 191 
 
 I would not have thus tormented you, had I intended to 
 be in Oxford before X mas ; but I have been so ill of an influ- 
 enza, which wellnigh carried me a longer journey without 
 leaving Hoddam Castle, that I do not propose stirring till the 
 beginning of next term ; and I have no friend now in Ch. Ch. 
 with whom I keep up a correspondence, whose tongue and 
 pen I could make use of on this occasion, besides, I love to 
 have so good a pretence of conversing with you a little, tho' to 
 the delay of your collections, and the wrathful indignation of 
 the profound Barnes. When the last rebellion broke out in 
 Ireland, and Lord Kilwarden was slain by the rascally mob, I 
 began to imagine that my prophecy concerning your head was 
 about to be fulfilled, and gave myself all the airs of a Delphian 
 priestess or Sybil of Panzoust on the occasion you must 
 know that I am treated rather & la Cassandra in my own 
 family but I really was not much displeased in a little while 
 to find myself fallible, tho' my interest in Hibernian heads 
 is but small, extending only to your uncle's and your own. 
 As to my other Irish friends, they exactly resemble the old 
 Duke of Cumberland, whose body philosophers supposed to 
 be enveloped in a poultice of brain, so that no want of reason 
 or acuteness could be discernible from the loss of their peri- 
 craniums. 
 
 We have got Lord Moira here to manage our military 
 matters, and all the ladies in Edinburgh are ready to break 
 their hearts for love of him already except my sister Jane, 
 who dined with him at his Grace of Buccleugh's the other 
 day, and came off unhurt ; owing, she thinks, to a huge piece 
 of roast beef, which in some sort protected her from the fury 
 of his lordship's artillery. For my own part, I wish the 
 French would come, and have done, for the people here keep 
 such a devil of a drilling, that a sober-minded Christian can 
 get no peace for them. Gentleman and clowns are at it from 
 morning till night: the butler drills the footman with a 
 cudgel in the servants' hall, and the cook-maid instructs the
 
 192 LORD LEWISHAM. 
 
 flea-catchers with a ladle in the kitchen ; nay, the very cows 
 and hogs at the approach of a hostile cur draw up in battle 
 array, in imitation of the two-legged bumpkins who are spoil- 
 ing the exercise under every hedge in Annandale. 
 
 If Lewisham is at Ch. Ch., pray present my respects to him 
 (I cannot condescend to remember the untufted youths we 
 have the misfortune to be acquainted with), and tell him I 
 intend to do his picture next term, whether he will or not, 
 indeed, after having taken the Peak of Teneriffe at Brazen- 
 nose with my invincible pencil, I can despair of nothing ; and 
 Lewisham hath such a good Sir Joshua visage, that it is well 
 worth an exertion of energies. 
 
 If this letter ever reaches its place of destination, I again 
 entreat, hasten to answer it ; and 
 
 " Hark, how I'll bribe you 
 Not with fond shekles of the tested gold, 
 Or stones whose rate are either rich or poor 
 As fancy values them but with true prayers." 
 
 And besides, when I am a bishop I will confirm all your 
 children, tho' they know not a word of their catechise. 
 With true esteem, I am, your sincere friend and ser*-, 
 
 CHAS. K. SHAKPE. 
 
 C. KIRKPATRICK SHAEPE to Miss ISABELLA SHARPE. 
 
 [March] 1804. 
 
 You may easily guess, my dear Isabella, that the pleasure 
 of receiving a letter from you was a little diminished by its 
 dreadful contents ; and that the Vice's sweet compliment, and 
 two or three other little douceurs you wot of, were but as 
 grains of sugar in the bitter potion : indeed, tho' I had long 
 dreaded such a piece of news, my philosophy was for some 
 tune totally annihilated. My rage prevented my tears as 
 well as speech. I sat upon my couch the very image of
 
 TO MISS 
 SHARPE, 
 
 804.] DAMAGED PICTURES NEWPORT. 193 
 
 despair. I could eat no more breakfast nay, I felt as if I 
 had already devoured hot coals, like the wife of Brutus, and 
 that there was a furnace in my stomach ; x but I quickly re- 
 solved to give vent to my heart-burnings, and I flew to the 
 rascal Williams, prepared to shower forth those fiery embers 
 on the head of him who enflamed them. 
 
 Alas ! of what avail is scolding and noise ? "A neck that is 
 broken can never be sett " a picture once defaced can never 
 be mended. If I could have believed that my din would 
 remove the scratch of Nell Gwinne or restore the tints of 
 Henrietta, as the savages imagine that thrumming on an old 
 kettle and pinching dogs' tails till they squall will free the 
 face of the sun from an eclipse, my lungs would have suffered 
 much more than they did; but I knew the vanity of such 
 transports, and was tolerably moderate with the villain. I 
 told him that he had behaved like a foolish knave all along, 
 that I would not pay him a farthing for package, and that he 
 might think himself happy that a prosecution did not teach 
 him more honesty in future. 
 
 After all, I cannot help blaming myself a little for not 
 seeing the thing done; yet my negligence is no excuse for 
 his rascallity and I have one glimpse of consolation in my 
 sorrow still, tho' derived from the stupidity of Williams. He 
 forgot to pack up the Duchess of Portsmouth and the portrait 
 of Newport, so they are entire and safe. The Duchess was 
 one of my best, and is so large that, had she travelled with 
 the rest, she must have been totally demolished; and the 
 likeness of Newport is precious to me, because it is twenty to 
 one that I ever see the original again in my life : for the same 
 reason I am in despair about the drawing of Newtown. By 
 the by, Nell had always a flaw on her breast, owing to a piece 
 of wood which had once gone across the back of the picture. 
 
 1 "With this she fell distract, 
 And her attendants absent, swallowed fire." 
 
 Julius Caesar, act iv. sc. 3. 
 VOL. I. N
 
 194 MISTRESS LEE. JEfi!i8M. 
 
 Let me know where the scratch is, and what places of Queen 
 Henrietta are rubbed. The latter was painted by Vandyke, 
 and I have been offered considerable sums of money for it ; it 
 was the very image of Jane Campbell. 
 
 And now tell my dear mother that I am ashamed of my 
 negligence in not answering her last letter sooner ; but when 
 I am sure that my friends are well, and believe that they feel 
 the same confidence with regard to myself, I delay with silly 
 ^//"-excuses of much ado, &c., &c., what I know is my duty. 
 This is worse than a weakness, and in truth a deadly sin in a 
 person sensible of his error ; but I am resolved to turn over a 
 new leaf, and that very speedily. In the meantime I must 
 tell you that we have had Oxford turned upside down on 
 account of Mistress Lee. 1 
 
 She lodged in the same house that I do, and I verily 
 thought that it would be pulled down about my ears such 
 crowding, and hissing, and shouting. It is a devil of a thing 
 that a parcel of jades and fellows cannot caterwaul without 
 annoying their neighbours. She is, to my mind, exceeding 
 evil-favoured, with a bad complexion and withered lips, that 
 look as if her breath stunk ; and she confessed such unheard- 
 of abominations as would make the most brazen-faced man 
 yea, Irishman blush, with a consummate ease and assurance. 
 She acknowledged herself a sceptick with regard to the Chris- 
 tian religion ; that she wore amulets to protect her from love, 
 &c., &c. The mob would have torn her in pieces had she 
 ventured to show her nose after this ; but she stole off by a 
 back door to a common hack-chaise, pursued by the curses, of 
 
 1 See ' Cox's Recollections of Oxford, 1804 : ' "At the spring assizes of 
 this year, half Oxford both Gown and Town struggled to get admis- 
 sion into the County Court, to witness the trial of the two Gordons (one 
 of them a clergyman) for carrying off the notorious Mrs Leigh. Luckily 
 for them, her own unblushing evidence soon acquitted them of a forcible 
 carrying off ; and so, to the great disappointment of itching ears, the 
 matter ended." De Quincey, then residing in Oxford, helped her to 
 escape in disguise to a carriage.
 
 TO MISS 
 8HARPE 
 
 * S 18 04.] SCOTCH SMOKE. 195 
 
 the rabble and the contempt of the whole kingdom bating 
 that poor thing Lygon, who affects to pity her, shakes his 
 head with a languishing air whenever her name is mentioned, 
 and vows that had she not confessed it herself he could never 
 have believed that Mrs Lee wore an omelet ! 1 1 
 
 . . . There came a youth here lately who, I am sure, 
 must interest my mother a son of Lord Bolingbroke, and a 
 descendant of the knave with whom she and I were so busy 
 last summer. . . . He is good-looking, like the print of 
 the first lord, and a freethinker with respect to religion, with- 
 out knowing anything about the matter. 
 
 I lament the continuance of the smoke and of the idea that 
 it is cureless: indeed such a thing is to me a serious mis- 
 fortune, and the filth of our mansion really embittered my 
 last hours at Hoddam, which stood not in need of any such 
 addition to the soot of sorrow with which the thoughts of 
 my departure blackened them. Apropos, I begged to know 
 what was the cause of the more than usual fume, and my 
 mother did not in her letter resolve me. But I will still 
 assert that a cure may be had, as no house belonging to a 
 gentleman of England smokes ; and I will not have instances 
 of Scots hogs urged against me, because they will live in a 
 stye and make their pride imagine it a palace. They can sjt 
 in a mist of suffocation and fancy themselves Jupiters amid 
 the pure clouds of Mount Olympus. Tho' my father and the 
 sage Presbyterian minister pronounced sentence before trial 
 on the Monzie receipt (which in a justice of the peace and a 
 spiritual judge was exceeding improper), yet I cannot be per- 
 suaded but what it might be of service. Is the vault, my 
 future dormitory, a-furbishing up yet ? 
 
 I also inquired in my last letter if Dr Clapperton had sent 
 a copy of the charter, but have heard no more of it ; he should 
 give the original, if he were not a beast. You need not give 
 yourself the trouble to make any search after the murder of 
 the minister at Carsphairn, seeing that I have found a long
 
 196 MISS CAMPBELL OF MONZIE. s^SflMi. 
 
 account of it in an old book here : he was shot at his own 
 door by a party of Whigs. But pray forget not Claverhouse, 
 concerning whom I collect intelligence daily : I must search 
 through the papers at Dumfries myself in summer, and try 
 interest in Galloway to get at the Wigton records. In the 
 meantime Gower hath promised to seek for letters from him 
 to his brother-in-law, Lord Strathnaver ; l and Miss Campbell 
 is busy collecting for me in Perthshire. I am resolved to go 
 through with the work now. Also be so kind as to exert 
 every nerve to procure Sir Thomas Kirkpatrick's box. Urge 
 on Sandy (for whom I have a much greater respect than for 
 many of his superiors in rank and fortune) to pursue the 
 tinker ! I would give the world to have it here, were it 
 only to affront Lygon. Pray get it for me, and depend upon 
 it that I will always assist you as much as possible in your 
 pursuit of tobacco-boxes, and in everything more essential 
 besides. 
 
 I am glad that Miss Campbell liked your work, and hope 
 that you may reap benefit from your present. She is a 
 staunch friend and the best monitor in the world ; and I am 
 happy to hear that Jane and you have made up your foolish 
 quarrels, of which doubtless you both now heartily repent. I 
 never sparred with a common acquaintance that I did not 
 regret it, and blame myself afterwards. There are large allow- 
 ances to be made (and to some much more than others) in this 
 peevish world, which we are often very unwilling to allow, 
 tho', God knows, we stand grievously in need of them our- 
 selves. And when these feuds arise between two people in 
 the same house, they always appear contemptible to the un- 
 concerned spectators, and feel irksome to themselves, however 
 they may carry it off with disdainful state and indifferent 
 airs, imported from the boarding-school and ' Bell's British 
 
 1 John, fifteenth Earl of Sutherland, married Helen, second daughter 
 of "William Cochrane, first Earl of Dundonald. Her next sister, Jane, 
 was married to Claverhouse.
 
 8^^1804.] NITHSDALE GOSSIP. 197 
 
 Theatre.' Alas ! we have acquaintances enough to squabble 
 with ; why need we contend with our own blood-relations ? 
 We have enemies in plenty to besiege us from without ; why 
 should we mutiny and skirmish within ? 
 
 As to Nithsdale's sustaining a great loss of beauty in the 
 absence of your friend Miss Emily, I really cannot say. 
 Certainly there are a good many diamonds of a like, if not 
 superior, water still remaining there our cousin, Miss Mary 
 Kirkpatrick, for instance, and sundry others. That Mary is 
 a very paragon. I can imagine her sitting in the moss- 
 house like a toad in a hole, you'll say no, a pretty wren 
 in her nest. I can fancy her swimming in the river like a 
 newt in a ditch, quoth you no, like a sweet young trout, or 
 a sportive duckling. There is one thing to be said concerning 
 Miss Emily, however, which may give her the palm above 
 Mary, and most others she contains a very hoard of fragrant 
 odours within her which issue from her lovely mouth to regale 
 the noses of all who approach her. Yea, I'll warrant you her 
 lovers compare her lips to rose-leaves, and the fume from 
 them to otto. 
 
 You were a good girl to plant the wallflowers and take 
 heed to the other things I desired: we shall smell quite 
 odorous in July. I am curious to behold the new avenue 
 to the garden, which doubtless is much better than the old 
 one it cannot be worse. You have reason to be affronted in 
 receiving no invitation to the balls you mention, as they 
 appear to have shone with all the luminaries of the country ; 
 but we, poor mean people, cannot presume to mix with such 
 exalted society. How can a family so contemptible that it 
 
 hath scarcely had a w e or a rogue in't (you know the 
 
 common saying), pretend to associate with those illustrious 
 descendants of the stews and the gibbet ? No, no ; we have 
 always known our distance, and kept it with that humility 
 which became us. 
 
 Tell my father, with my love, that I am wondrous great
 
 198 SOUTHEY'S ' AMADIS ' LORD NEWTOWN. 
 
 with young Addington, 1 and that I intend to epistolize him 
 shortly : add, that he need not dread a dunning letter. 
 
 So Sir William Maxwell 2 is gone at last, poor man. In 
 truth I wish him well, tho' I had a poor opinion of his prin- 
 ciples; and his heir is certainly one of those people whose 
 fortune is much above their deserts, however he may please a 
 set of jolly fellows bawling homespun toasts over a brimmer 
 of wine. I hope the worthy of Crookhill hath not conde- 
 scended to tread on our cabbage-garden lately, or hath got his 
 bones broken for his pains. How does Grace's stool go on 
 now ? I hope the lions' mouths are in the proper places. I 
 have never once written to Ellen since I came here, and can- 
 not but blush when I mention it ; but I intend to appease 
 her, if possible, to-morrow, and also to scribe a little to 
 Magdalene Murray, 3 from whom a letter arrived with that of 
 Lady Douglas. Have any books come from Edinburgh for 
 me ? I would advise you, if you can borrow or steal it, to 
 read Southey's translation of ' Amadis of Gaul ' it diverted 
 me exceedingly, and makes ' Don Quixote ' go down with 
 double relish. Give a thousand loves to all at Hoddam, and 
 believe me, my dear Isabella, your affec. brother, 
 
 CH. KIRKPATRICK SHARPE. 
 
 Say everything kind from me to Nanny. You will have 
 heard that Mrs E. is to leave Monzie. "What will become 
 of her now ? You may depend upon it the swain will draw 
 back. Miss C. wrote to me that she was on the eve of giving 
 her up, as she was much too fine a lady for their humble 
 habitation. Once more exert your energies about Sir Thomas's 4 
 box, and forget not Claverhouse. Newtown goes from Oxford 
 for ever this term, to my great grief. I have lived with him 
 in much intimacy these three years, and we never had dif- 
 
 1 Eldest son of Lord Sidmouth. 
 
 2 Of Springkell ; died 4th March 1804. 
 
 3 See ante, p. 85. * Sir Thomas Kirkpatrick of Closeburne.
 
 TO MISS 
 SHAKPE, 
 
 , 8 i804.] A BROKEN TOOTH. 199 
 
 ferent opinions on any subject, bating himself. I could not 
 persuade him to see himself in the same light that I, and 
 indeed the greatest part of the College, did. He is going to 
 moulder away with an old peevish father in the terrestrial 
 hell, Ireland. 
 OXFORD, March 18, 1804. 
 
 I found a letter from Surtees when I came here full of 
 heraldry. How do you like the little picture of Hebe from 
 Sir Joshua ? Is it spoilt at all ? Service to Mosco and the 
 cat. 
 
 C. KIEKPATEICK SHARPE to Miss ISABELLA SHAEPE, Hoddam. 
 
 OXFORD, May 15, 1804. 
 
 MY DEAE ISABELLA, As you remark, there really has been 
 a strain of ill news in your letters lately, owing to that 
 malignant star of mine which began to exhibit its influence 
 about last Xmas, when a devil broke my decayed tooth. I 
 may well say with Calista in your favourite ' Bell's British' 
 
 " I am all contagion, death, and ruin, 
 And Nature sickens at me." 
 
 But hang despair, 'tis of no use ; so I am resolved to weather 
 the storm, and set aching jaws, spoilt pictures, stray tobacco- 
 boxes, and lost livings as much at defiance as possible. 
 
 However, do not imagine, my dear, that I give up Sir 
 Thomas's box entirely. By no means. And I would recom- 
 mend it to thee to mount thy palfrey some fair morning, and 
 take Jack as thy dwarf for want of a better (he being too 
 tall, tho', like the tiny attendants in ' Amadis,' marvellously 
 evil-favoured), and go seek adventures in the High Tae and 
 Lochmaben. If the mountain will not come to Mahomet, 
 Mahomet must go to the mountain, so go to Master Ellick, 
 and demand what he means by this procrastination. Tell him
 
 200 THE DUCHESS OF DOUGLAS. ja%W*. 
 
 that he shall be hanged if he produces not the jewel of my 
 uncle ; but that if it be forthcoming, its appearance will be 
 of more value to him than the mending of fifty old justices 
 in the brew-house at Hoddam. In fine, leave no stone un- 
 turned to procure it for I must and will have it and do 
 you yourself learn to stirr, and be of use, " which is an ex- 
 cellent thing in woman" having always the examples of 
 Lady Mackintosh and the Duchess of Douglas * before your 
 eyes. 
 
 The rogue Williams did actually die a little while after my 
 last letter was written ; and his malady was of that grievous 
 
 1 No debate, perhaps, of a like nature hath interested the world so 
 much as the contest concerning the estates of the Duke of Douglas. The 
 following circumstances respecting his Grace, and others connected with 
 that affair, may one day be thought amusing. 
 
 Archibald, the first and last Duke of Douglas, was a person of the 
 most wretched intellects proud, ignorant, and silly ; passionate, spite- 
 ful, and unforgiving. He possessed a handsome form, and was much 
 about Court in the early part of his life, where Lady Jane, his sister, 
 made a conspicuous figure, being a creature of much beauty and sweet- 
 ness, and drew him into a duel with the Earl of Dalkeith, whom she 
 jilted on a romantic punctilio concerning one of his former amours. 
 This circumstance is alluded to in the papers of the Douglas cause. 
 
 Some years after this, Lady Jane commenced a flirtation with a cousin- 
 german of her own, a Captain Kerr, of the Lothian family ; and the 
 Duke, who was as jealous of his sister as if she had been his wife, or 
 perhaps thought that she was about to degrade her family (concerning 
 which they all made a ridiculous clamour on every occasion) by an 
 unequal match, resolved to get to the bottom of the affair. He watched 
 the young man the night before his departure from Douglas Castle so 
 narrowly that he saw him enter Lady Jane's dressing-room in order to 
 bid her farewell, and, fired with the most diabolical rage, repaired to his 
 own apartment, and seizing a pistol, waited untill Captain Kerr should 
 return to his chamber, and go to bed. The unhappy young man had , 
 scarcely done so, when this fiend entered the room, and pulling down 
 the bed-cloaths, shot him in the side with a deep and mortal wound. 
 
 A quarrel soon ensued between the Duke and his sister. Lady Jane 
 left the castle, where he shut himself up, a prey to remorse and tem- 
 porary delirium. 
 
 Her subsequent misfortunes are well known, and will not speedily 
 sink into oblivion ; but the enterprises and amazing success of her
 
 B^JSJiap*.] THE DUCHESS OF DOUGLAS. 201 
 
 nature that it turned his brain, causing him to rave and talk 
 much about my pictures. He hath left a widow and several 
 children in no very prosperous condition, as 'tis said, so I 
 have a mind to be charitable, and pay for the spoiling of my 
 goods, for " Scottish valour wars not with the dead " and 
 charity, like a winding-sheet, covereth a multitude of sins. 
 
 You give me small comfort with regard to Queen Henrietta, 
 who, I see by your account, is totally spoilt. Eubbing can 
 never be repaired. The frames, however, may be mended, 
 perhaps. Pray tell me in your next if a portfolio sealed up 
 with much care was amongst the paintings, for I begin to 
 fear that it may have been stolen or overlooked, as Williams 
 
 brother's wife may perhaps be forgotten, when the race of people 
 acquainted with them and with her has entirely passed away. 
 
 Margaret Douglas was a daughter of the Laird of Mains, and cousin to 
 the Duke ; she was good-looking, though not handsome, with an eccen- 
 trick and coarse manner (not devoid of wit), a manly courage, and most 
 enterprising temper. She resolved to marry his Grace, impelled by 
 ambition, and a wish to mortify the Hamilton family, which she hated 
 with all the cordiality imaginable ; and, repairing to a small inn near 
 Douglas Castle, by flattery and pretending to wish for his opinion con- 
 cerning some law affair, contrived to get access to the Duke, who first 
 sent her a love-token of an ancient piece of family plate, and finally 
 married her, to the surprise of all Scotland. 
 
 On being questioned by some of her friends how she dared to wed 
 a madman, she answered, that when she pleased she could be as mad 
 as he. 
 
 She went to Douglas Castle to be married, in a hack-chaise, with the 
 clergyman. When they arrived at Douglas Burn, it chanced to be in 
 spait, and the post-boy refused to drive through ; but the Dss. held a 
 pistol to his head, and he proceeded. She was wetted above the knees, 
 and in that pickle married. She related the story herself, saying she 
 fcwas a very draggled bride. 
 
 She burned down Douglas Castle, to make the Duke go to Edinburgh. 
 Lady Jane Douglas is mentioned in Mrs Hey wood's ' Utopia ' in no very 
 favourable terms. She was suspected of being prone to gallantry ; and 
 it was said that she had a child by Lord Mansfield, who afterwards 
 proved so favourable to the cause of her son. There is a picture of her 
 at Newbattle pale, slight-looking, with blue eyes, and not pretty. 
 MS. Note-book of C. Kirkpatrick Sharpe.
 
 202 DUNROBIN PAPERS POETASTERS. JSJSfiaM. 
 
 did forget several things of nearly equal consequence, and 
 let me know if the charge for carriage came to a great deal. 
 
 Give my love to my mother, and tell her that I am still as 
 much in love with the vault as ever. The noise of the wind, 
 which my aunt, who is not given to poetry, detests, sounds 
 charming in the ears of any one acquainted with the sub- 
 limities of verse. And the dampness of the walls, tho' not 
 to be cured by stoothing, is still liable to removal by means 
 of canvas, which I think dried the windows of the dining- 
 room. . . . 
 
 "When Gower went to town last vacation, I desired him to 
 ask Lady Stafford several questions with respect to some old 
 papers at Dunrobin, and received a mighty well-bred verbal 
 message of regrets that I had not been in town, and a polite 
 note to satisfy my curiosity. She tells me that an old 
 steward burnt a vast number of papers in her minority, 
 which he told her were trash, not fit for her to see; and 
 laments the present weakness of the feudal system, which 
 prevented her for hanging him up on the spot for his pains. 
 This note concludes with invitations to her dwelling, and the 
 whole is written with an affectation of wit that doth vastly 
 well in a woman of quality, tho' it would show poor enough 
 from the pen of a plebeian. 
 
 And now I talk of women of quality, you give me vast 
 pleasure by letting me know that my dear Lady Douglas is 
 well ; but I can by no means patronise Sir Robert Grierson's 
 verses, which are in my vulgar mind exceding pitiful. In 
 truth, his muse and that of our inspired Presbyterian minister 
 seem sisters, and were their productions collected and pub- 
 lished with those of the Duke of Dormont, who is out of sight 
 the best poet of the trio, I think they would compose a very 
 edifying and extraordinary miscellany. . . . 
 
 As to Mr L , I am in sad distress. He is that sort 
 
 of blackguard which is a very pestilence near any man's 
 premisses ; but I hope that some good fellow will knock him
 
 TO MISS 
 SHARPE. 
 
 "isoj A VIOLENT HICCUP. 203 
 
 o' the head in a drunken squabble, and then we shall have 
 done with him, or that he may swill whisky himself till he 
 goes fairly to the devil, after the fashion of his own and his 
 wife's noble family. 
 
 Tell my father, with my best loves and respects, that I am 
 a little nettled that he answered not my epistle ; that I was 
 ready to expire by the shock of some recent intelligence, from 
 which I have scarcely yet recovered, as 'twas remark'd to-day 
 at wine that I was inclined to bite off every one's nose in 
 company ; but that still one stroke, while the iron is yet hot 
 (and, alas ! how soon it may be cold !), might perhaps make 
 me easy. Tell him this verbatim, and at the same time 
 trouble not thy head to find out the meaning of it. 
 
 If you knew my daily misfortunes, my dear, you would 
 really pity me. Shortly after my last writing, I was seized 
 with the strangest disorder imaginable so violent a hiccup 
 that it wellnigh cast me into convulsions, and of such dura- 
 tion, that for four nights and three days I was ready to give 
 up the ghost. I devoured loads of devil's dung rounded into 
 pills, and swallowed hogsheads of musk draughts without any 
 relief. At last an emetic was tried, and that answered the 
 purpose. However, I did not recover my wonted health and 
 spirits for a week after. 
 
 Well, on the tail of this comes a pain in my face and jaw, 
 thanks to thine Ecclefechan miscreants, from which I am 
 not now entirely free ; and have the most agreeable cough in 
 the world to boot, which never fails to wake me twenty times 
 of a night, demanding liquorice and spitting-clouts in the 
 most arbitrary manner. Yet for all this, I really have the 
 presumption to encourage the hope of seeing Hoddam soon, a 
 sight which hath always been the most pleasing to me of any 
 prospect under the sun. 
 
 I think my mother was perfectly right in her interdict with 
 regard to Kirkhill; for, putting love out of the question, a 
 young lady who gets into a custom of sitting for days with a
 
 204 KIRKHILL COURTSHIP MRS SHARPE. 
 
 sweet swain on every side to tell her of her beauty, often 
 imbibes very extravagant ideas on that subject. Not that I 
 suppose you, my dear, silly enough to be ignorant that you 
 are handsome ; but there is a great deal in hearing constantly 
 even what one knows, and much more in listening to agree- 
 able stories which have some foundation in truth. One 
 quickly takes flatterers at their words, giving implicit credit 
 to the whole romance of roses and lillies fading at the ap- 
 proach of a cheek and a brow, and rubies, pearls, and 
 diamonds being eclipsed by lips, teeth, and eyeballs. Hence 
 all the simperings and sighings and starings of many young 
 ladies, who are resolved to show the gifts of nature to the 
 best advantage, and hence many a tolerable face is rendered 
 hideous by grimace and effrontery. It is to be observed, 
 however, that these pitiful fruits of flattery are more ap- 
 parent in the country than elsewhere, as young rustick god- 
 desses hear less of their attributes, and therefore are more 
 delighted with such incense when they receive it. 
 
 And apropos of this, I have often been surprised that my 
 mother, whose beauty was once so striking, should so totally 
 have escaped every flourish of affectation. Had she been as 
 homely as my Lady Douglas or Lady M. Grierson, 1 she'could 
 not have been more devoid of airs and languishments. This 
 is a grand cosmetick a setter-off to features beyond all the 
 Gowlands and Olympian dews in the world. Here hypocrisy 
 is lawful. And in this way a woman displays after the best 
 manner the charms of her mind as well as of her person ! 
 
 When you write to Jane, give her my love, and tell her 
 that I have refrained from epistolizing her, because I was 
 unwilling to make her pay such enormous postage, and 
 thought that Mr Veitch was not to be applied to but in cases 
 of necessity. If she hath any spare time, however, that I 
 hope she will bestow it on me, and let me hear from her. 
 
 1 Wife of Sir Robert Grierson, fourth baronet of Lag, eldest daughter 
 of the Honourable Alexander Dalzell of Glenae.
 
 MESSAGES TO HODDAM. 205 
 
 And tell me in your next (but neither my mother nor you 
 ever answer me a single question, which is strange) how Sir 
 James Kirkpatrick is, if my stool is coming on, and how 
 Mosco and the cat carry themselves. I am pleased to hear 
 that Mary M. (whom Wundy called Cloe, and my mother 
 would have had Cloacina) hath got her true love. As to Miss 
 Emily's nudity, it must be no cleanly sight to see. I would 
 rather hear of it than behold it ; and her aunt should be 
 duckt for an old jade, who wishes to spoil the sale of erne- 
 ticks in Edinburgh. Give my love to my aunt, and to Grace 
 and the Countess, and kind so-forths to Nanny and Jenny. 
 I heard from Nell the other day, who has had sore eyes, and 
 is in quandaries about our meeting in town. Adieu, my dear. 
 Pray write soon, and believe me, your aff. brother, 
 
 CH. KIRKPATRICK SHARPE. 
 
 I think the devil is got into that Annan doctor about the 
 charter, but I will have that too. Miss Herries gave me a 
 beautiful Eoman candlestick, and Fitzgerald broke it yester- 
 day. A touch of my usual good fortune. Let me hear in 
 your next that you have got the box and the charter. 
 
 WILLIAM FITZ-GERALD, Esq., 1 to C. KIRKPATRICK SHARPE. 
 
 DUBLIN, Tuesday, 5 o'clock, 3d July 1804. 
 
 MY D R FRIEND, I have this instant only alighted from a 
 post-chaise, by the upsetting of which I was nearer to a vio- 
 
 1 William Fitz-Gerald, son of the Right Honourable James Fitz- 
 Gerald, P.C., and Prime Serjeaut-at-Law of Ireland which dignity 
 he resigned in. consequence of the Union, and Catherine Vesey, co- 
 heiress of the Vesey estates, who was created Baroness Fitz-Gerald and 
 Vesey, 27th June 1826. William Fitz-Gerald became Chancellor of the 
 Irish Exchequer, Paymaster-General, President of the Board of Trade, 
 and President of the Board of Control. Succeeded his mother as Baron 
 Fitz-Gerald and Vesey 1832, and was advanced to a peerage of the United 
 Kingdom as Baron Fitz-Gerald of Desmond and Clan Gibbon, Co. Cork. 
 Died unmarried, llth May 1843.
 
 206 BEAU FIELDING. [ro 
 
 lent death than I ever have been before, and have this instant 
 only received your letter. It was forwarded from Cheltenham 
 hither, and here it has until this day awaited me. The last- 
 mentioned place I left ten days before y r letter was written. 
 I mean to sail to-night on my return to England, and tho' I 
 am very much fatigued, I sit down to thank you, well know- 
 ing that if I defer doing it on the spur of the moment, my 
 usual habits of procrastination will get the better of me, and I 
 shall forget entirely to reply to you. I shall write to you on 
 my arrival at Cheltenham, whither I am on the point of re- 
 turning, a detail of a singular occurrence which happened to 
 me since I saw you, and in which I wished much for your 
 counsel, knowing you to be sagacious and chaste two distinc- 
 tions which I know not to be possessed by any mortal man or 
 woman save yourself. I am to go on board the packet in 
 about two hours, but I shall take care to send you Beau 
 Fielding, if I can procure a Secretary's frank. I shall leave it 
 to be forwarded to you at all events ; and lest you should have 
 departed from Oxford, I shall desire it to be directed to Hod- 
 dam. Whether you receive this scrawl or not is of little im- 
 port. A man who has not passed two days since the 12th of 
 June in which he has not been travelling post or been at sea, 
 who is at this moment suffering from contusions in his head 
 and shoulder, would hardly sit down to write, were it not to 
 prove that he can sometimes, tho' rarely, do what is right, and 
 that he is not always quite as worthless as you imagine. I 
 have just got a letter from Wrottesley. Believe me, however, 
 my d r Sharpe, to be with true and sincere affection, y rs ever, 
 
 WILL. FITZ-GEKALD. 
 
 I also desire to be forwarded to you, what appears to me 
 a curious little volume, and which I picked up at Bath since 
 I saw you. Perhaps, however, you may have seen it often 
 before. You are better fortified in all scandalous history than 
 I am, or than any one I know. However, I send it.
 
 CAROLINE OLIPHANT OF GASK. 207 
 
 Miss CAROLINE OLIPHANT x to C. KIRKPATRICK SHARPE. 
 
 PYRTON, 6th July 1804. 
 
 SIR, Mr Buckle 2 has just informed me that you mean to 
 leave Oxford Tuesday or Wed?- at farthest, and wish to 
 know my determination with respect to my journey. I think 
 Mr Marriott said you talked of taking the Carlisle road at 
 Boroughbridge, and I must go on to Durham, as I mean to 
 make some stay in that county ; but as in yours to Mr B. 
 you did not hint anything of our being obliged to take differ- 
 ent routs, I somehow fancied that you might possibly be 
 still going by Durham, and relied on settling this point when 
 you came here, both Mr and Mrs Buckle having been averse to 
 my making any explanation that might have tended to prevent 
 your doing so. I am a stupid traveller, and must have some- 
 body more active than myself to manage for me with inn- 
 keepers, post-boys, &c., so that the point comes to be whether 
 I can have the pleasure of your company to Durham or not. 
 If by any chance that should now be your plan, be so good as 
 write by return of post, and I shall be ready, tho' a little 
 hurried, to set out for Ox d - Tuesday. Sh d - you, w h - 1 think 
 much the most probable, be going the west road, I can only 
 regret having given you so much trouble, and will avail my- 
 
 1 Caroline Oliphant was born at Gask, Perthshire, 16th August 1766. 
 Her father, a stout Jacobite, who had been "out" in the Forty-five, 
 and who carried his loyalty to the Stuarts so far as to expunge the 
 names of the Hanoverian royal family from all the Prayer-books put 
 into the hands of his children, trained Caroline up in the staunchest 
 principles of his party. She married, in 1806, her cousin William 
 Murray Nairne, great-grandson of the second Lord Nairne, attainted for 
 the rising of 1715, who afterwards had the family honours restored in 
 1824. Lady Nairne's delightful Scottish songs and poems are too well 
 known to require mention. She lived until 1845. 
 
 2 Kev. William Buckle, married to Grace, daughter of Sir John 
 Stewart of Grandtully, Perthshire, who made a great religious impres- 
 sion on Lady Nairne.
 
 r f\ o i <iTi / i rT7- ("CAROLINE OLIPHANT 
 
 208 CAROLINE OLIPHANT OF GASK. |_ T0 c. K. s., 1804. 
 
 self of an oppor ty - from London, which has been proposed to 
 me, tho' with secondary recommendations. Mr Buckle begs 
 I will present his com* 8 - and, as well as Mrs B., hopes you 
 will not be in this part of the country again without finding 
 your way to Pyrton. I am, sir, your most humble ser*-- 
 
 C. OLIPHANT. 
 
 Miss CAKOLINE OLIPHANT to C. KIRKPATEICK SHARPE. 
 
 PYRTON, 8th July 1804. 
 
 I had the pleasure of yours this morning, and am very much 
 disposed still to take advantage of your going so great a part 
 of the journey I mean to take, especially as you have on my 
 account lost an oppor y - of travelling as you like. Mr Buckle 
 desires me to present his com 8 - to you, and hopes you will 
 endeavour, by writing to your friends who expect you, so to 
 manage that you may still be able to spend a few days here ; 
 and he bids me add, the sooner the 'better, w h - will also have 
 the good effect of accommodating the Dean, with whose 
 humours Mr B. is well acquainted. 
 
 I am myself willing to hurry that you may not be detained, 
 and will, should you really wish it, be at Oxford Thursday : 
 but I own a few days later would suit me better, for many 
 reasons ; and one is, that the family whom I have promised to 
 visit, in the county of Durham, have been sea-bathing, and 
 write me they mean to be at home to meet me next week. 
 I don't mean this as a serious objection, as I could let them 
 know to expect me sooner ; but if no great inconvenience to 
 you, a few days later w d - certainly be a great convenience to 
 me, and gratify Mr and Mrs B. very much, as Mrs B. has 
 often told me since I have been here that she was formerly 
 acquainted with your family, and wished much to see you at 
 her house. I must again repeat that by hurrying I can be 
 ready on the day you name w h -, indeed, is more distant
 
 BE To K aK.s: > T i A 804 P . LEY ] REV. K. M. K. TARPLEY. 209 
 
 than I once bargained for. I hope I have made my meaning 
 clear, but have not a moment left to satisfy myself on that 
 head. I am, sir, fearing I have already missed the Post, yours, 
 
 C. OLIPHANT. 
 
 Eev. K. M. K. TAKPLEY 1 to C. KIRKPATEICK SHARPED 
 
 WROTTESLEY, August 3lst, 1804. 
 
 DEAR SHARPE, Your letter of th 19th followed me to this 
 place, enclosing a draft for 4, 9s., and I am sorry I happened 
 to have left Oxford before it arrived, else I should have paid 
 Hitchings immediately, and sent you his receipt. But as it 
 is fifty days after date, and I shall have some trouble in 
 sending it to him, and getting the receipt for you, I shall 
 defer it till my return to Oxford, when you shall hear from 
 me again. I am sorry to hear we shall not see you at Oxford 
 next term, especially as Lygon means to honor the place with 
 his presence, and distinguish himself again, not to say in what 
 way. "Wrottesley, to whom I have delivered your message, 
 
 1 The Rev. Kenneth MacKenzie Tarpley was the son of Thomas 
 Griffin Tarpley and Catherine, daughter of Kenneth, Lord Fortrose, 
 M.P., son of William Mackenzie, fifth Earl of Seaforth, who was 
 attainted for his share in the rising of 1715. The Rev. Mr Tarpley was 
 tutor to the Marquis of Worcester, with whose family he was connected 
 through the Seaforths. 
 
 2 This note had been opened at Hoddam, and sent on to Mr Kirk- 
 patrick Sharpe at Monzie, with the following note, in Mrs Sharpe's hand- 
 writing, on the envelope : 
 
 " Your father opened but read not a word of this last night. He had 
 
 a letter from Sandy. Most of three months he has been on a cruise, he 
 
 has been unable for duty by a billious fever. He is advised (he says) to 
 
 come home, and hopes to sail ten days after his letter. He hopes I have 
 
 been cherishing no My accounts yesterday of Sir Rob*- Laurie 
 
 is worse weaker and more breathless. We mean to see him 
 
 on Saturday. Much do we wish to hear of your safe arrival at Monzie. 
 
 Offer kindest wishes to that family. Many, many loves to you and 
 
 Isabella. The papers of Lillian did not come from Capenoch." 
 
 VOL. I.
 
 210 THE 'NEW ATALANTIS.' ["C.K. 
 
 desires to be remembered to you. He regrets with me your 
 absence from Oxford next term. I left Oxford on the 24th 
 The Dean was there and some few others, quos nunc jyrescril>- 
 ere lonyum est. I am not at all surprised at the reception 
 you met with from the fickle Eachel, 1 but very much at your 
 expression of fair daughter. I hope you will excuse a longer 
 letter at present, as I have only to add, that if I can be of 
 any service to you at any time, I shall be happy in so doing ; 
 and I remain, yours faithfully, K. M. K. TARPLEY. 
 
 Yours till death, till death does cum, 
 And shut us up in the cold turn ; 
 Hang this in your cabinet, 
 For you'll not see me as yet. 
 
 Yours, 
 
 BUTLER, alias WROTTESLEY. 
 
 C. KIEKPATRICK SHARPE to WILLIAM FITZGERALD, Esq. 
 
 MY DEAR FITZ, I remember that I once saw two or three 
 volumes of the ' New Atalantis ' in your study. 
 
 I feel at this moment a most vehement desire to inspect 
 them, owing to a story I heard at wine, and very humbly 
 request that you will be so good as send them by the bearer, 
 if at hand. I promise, by Gosh (which is the most elegant 
 and classical oath imaginable), that great care shall be taken 
 of them. most surprising prodigy ! you borrowed the New 
 Testament the other evening, and I am now seeking a loan of 
 the ' New Atalantis.' 
 
 I hope that your sickness has left you, as, with all the 
 apathy of a bachelor, a philosopher, a reader of Rochefoucauld, 
 a monkey who hath seen the world, and a friend who hath 
 
 1 Miss Burton. See post, p. 214 note.
 
 ,M.] THE 'NEW ATALANTIS.' 211 
 
 been cut, I cannot help feeling some concern in your wel- 
 fare. But alas ! what is this to the sympathy, the attach- 
 ment, of a Zachary Fungus, whose heart is as warm as the 
 dunghill from whence he sprung ? 
 
 " Sooner shall Sharpe, of manly voice and mind," &c. &c. 
 
 Pray send me the book. And pray like me with all my 
 faults, as I heartily love you with all your frailties, being, 
 &c. &c., C. K. S. 
 
 WILLIAM FITZGERALD, Esq., to C. KIRKPATRICK SHARPE. 
 
 [1804.] 
 
 MY DEAR FRIEND, I am very sorry that I am not in pos- 
 session of the ' New Atalantis,' having given it to La louche 
 on his departure from Oxford, and thinking it a bequest 
 suitable to him. 
 
 In whatever character it is that you feel interest about 
 me, I know the sentiment that excites it, and am equally 
 flattered. In health, I am still very ill : without any assevera- 
 tion very ill : no asseveration indeed occurs, except that which 
 you have quoted, and which I will not use at second-hand. 
 
 To cure myself (a good remedy, you will exclaim), I have 
 been to a lecture on Galvanism. I there saw nothing, 
 . . . and I now come home cussing myself for going to 
 see an experiment " not three dam's worth." I am very sorry 
 that I have not the ' New Atalantis,' altho' I dare say that 
 La Touche may (in his present situation), sitting on his sofa, 
 be amusing himself with Mrs Manley. I am, ever my dear 
 friend, most faithfully, and with great sincerity, yours, 
 
 WILL. FITZGERALD. 
 
 Was my counterpart agreeable? Did he resemble me in 
 that respect too ? I wish he had the headache with which I 
 am cursed.
 
 212 LORD DUNDEE. 
 
 R. SURTEES, Esq., to C. KlRKPATRICK SHARPE. 
 
 MAINSFORTH, 20th Oct. 1804. 
 
 DEAR SHARPE, I am afraid it will not be in my power to 
 leave home this autumn, as I am engaged in considerable 
 perplexity as a trustee for some of my friends whose circum- 
 stances have been embarrassed. I w d - have written sooner, 
 but hoped that the beginning of this month I sh d - have been 
 at liberty, and intended to have spent a few weeks in Cum- 
 berland and Scotland. Bruce has been here, and went to 
 Carlisle or Crof ton * last week, and I was sorry I c d - not ac- 
 company him. He said if he had a couple of days to spare 
 he w d - see you, so it is not improbable you may see a lean 
 Don Quixote figure, for he is thinner than ever, ride up to 
 the walls of y r - castle and demand admittance. I have not 
 been much in the way of obtaining any books, but have left 
 a commission with Todd at York to lay hands on ' Lord Dun- 
 dee,' sh d - he meet with it; it was in his catalogue 2 years 
 ago, bound up with an ace*- of some witchcraft at Glenluce, 
 and the dealings of a malignant spirit (I suppose a Presby- 
 terian one) in Ayrshire. Perhaps you have obt d - Dundee or 
 the other books by this time. I have lately renewed an ac- 
 quaintance with a curious kind of character whom I knew 
 many years ago, who is now resident in Ldon., and he occurs 
 to me as being a very probable person to delight in a search 
 for any out-of-the-way productions ; and if you have been still 
 unsuccessful, or wish to procure any other antique pamphlets, 
 &c., if you will name them I'll write to him as for myself, 
 and I think it may be a good channel, as he has, I know, 
 a great indefatigability, and a natural love for the occult 
 sciences, and being by profession an author, is of course in 
 the habit of frequenting booksellers' shops. 
 
 I have got by me a thin vol. in 4to containing the Laws 
 1 The seat of Sir John Brisco, Bart.
 
 ot] LORD CARRINGTON'S ACTS. 213 
 
 and Acts of the 1st Parl*- of Charles 2, held at Edinb., 1661. 
 1 Jan. Collected from the Rolls by Sir Arch d - Primrose. 1 
 Most of these Acts are merely things, of course, to restore 
 matters to the old channel. But some of them contain the 
 names of commissions for raising monies in difF*- counties. 
 I do not see y r - name in Dumfries, but there are those of 
 Grierson, Queensberry, Maxwell, &c. ; and there are some 
 notices of private Acts, ratifications, &c., w h - may give a 
 little light into the state of particular families, but nothing 
 very interesting ; and you may probably, such as it is, pos- 
 sess it, included in some larger collection : however, if you 
 choose, it is much at y r - service, and I'll either reserve it for 
 you, or send it, or as you chuse. Tog*- with it are bound up 
 some of Oliver Cr.'s English ordinances, 1654. I have never 
 met with anything else relative to Scotland since I saw you, 
 and have only to apologise for troubling you so long about 
 trifles. If you sh d - travel southwards, and can take this on 
 y r - way, you will find me here I think till towards the spring, 
 May and June, when I shall probably be in London, and hope 
 in the course o"f the summer we shall meet. If you have 
 ever any heraldic queries, I shall always be glad and able to 
 procure you as much inform 11 - as the English College of Arms 
 affords, or to be of use to y r - researches in any other way, 
 except in any design you may entertain of restoring the Pope 
 or the Pretender, w h - I shall always most certainly oppose ; 
 but you may write a[bout it] as much as you chuse, as I am 
 convinced that the more the matter is inquired into, even by 
 the most partial asserters of power divine, the more will the 
 beauty and holiness of the Whig cause be made manifest. 
 You perceive I have shewn my cloven foot at parting, but 
 believe me, usque ad sceptra et aras, yr 8 - sincerely, 
 
 E. SURTEES. 
 
 1 Lord Carrington, on the Scottish Bench, Lord Clerk-Register, and 
 grandfather of the first Earl of Rosebery.
 
 214 OXFORD NEWS. ["^a" 
 
 I have constructed a new room for my books, and have in 
 consequence brought down-stairs into the room in w h - the 
 books before were two couple of ancestors, both very ugly and 
 frightful. I don't think they yield to Lady Southesk one bit, 
 particularly the ladies. 
 
 Eev. K. M. K. TARPLEY to C. KIRKPATRICK SHARPE. 
 
 CH. CH., OXFORD, 20th Oct. 1804. 
 
 DEAR SHARPE, Inclosed I send you the receipt of 
 Hitchings for your bilL I returned to Oxford on Wednesday 
 last, with Wrottesley from Staffordshire. College is very 
 full this term, and there are many new-comers. Lygon was 
 in Oxford last night on his way to town : he intends shortly 
 taking up his abode here, for he and Miss Burton * cannot long 
 live without each other. The broivn Jack has not yet en- 
 livened the quadrangle with her shining countenance, but I 
 hear that she and the little Doctor 2 are coming soon. Lemon 
 has succeeded to Lygon's rooms, and become my neighbour. 
 I have not heard much yet from the Scotch tourists. They 
 did not pursue their journey so far as was proposed, but I 
 believe were much pleased with it upon the whole. Wrottesley 
 has deserted our neighbourhood by leaving the barn and going 
 to Macdonald's rooms, quite in the gay world. The vacation 
 has passed like a dream, for we are now returned to the old 
 routine of business : have just been to chapel, and some other 
 dismal bell is tolling, with which music Oxford is for ever 
 blessed or cursed, you well know. How you must enjoy the 
 
 1 Miss Rachel Burton. 
 
 2 Dr James Burton, chaplain in ordinary to the king, canon of Christ 
 Church, &c., died June 30, 1825, leaving two daughters and an unmar- 
 ried sister residing in Oxford, who is the Rachel Burton of the corre- 
 spondence, and is sometimes denominated " Jack." " She was a great 
 joke in Oxford."
 
 RE To K c.^.s.', T i A 805!' EY ] THE WROTTESLEYS. 215 
 
 idea of the taking up the Dean as a spy in the vacation ! 
 But what adds novelty to it is, that there is truth in the 
 account, which is always necessary to give the finishing to 
 a good thing, tho' sometimes neglected by the wags of Ch. Ch. 
 I have only to add Wrottesley's kind remembrances, and that 
 I shall be happy to hear from you if convenient, or to be 
 of any further service to you in this part of the world. 
 I remain, yours truly, K. M. K. TARPLEY. 
 
 Eev. K. M. K. TABPLEY to C. KIRKPATRICK SHAEPE, 
 
 WEOTTESLEY, 23<Z Jan. 1805. 
 
 DEAR SHARPE, I have been long without thanking you for 
 your entertaining letter, and not having so good an excuse to 
 offer in my defence as you had, unless the consciousness of 
 my own inability to pay you in your own coin has hitherto 
 deterred me from the undertaking. I was very sorry to find 
 that two such good reasons had prevented your writing 
 before, as the loss of a friend and indisposition : the one I 
 hope is entirely removed long ago, the other I fear will not 
 be so easily. I take the opportunity of being with Sir John 
 Wrottesley to write to you, that my letter not bearing the 
 heavy charge of postage may at least have that to recom- 
 mend it. You must not even expect any thing very enter- 
 taining or interesting in my correspondence : if the things I 
 relate, or my account of them, amuse you for a moment, I 
 shall be satisfied. I have been in this neighbourhood most 
 of the vacation, passing my time with my friends, than 
 which nothing can be more pleasant. The vacation ended on 
 Saturday last, on which day I meant to have attended the 
 summons, but Charles Wrottesley, 1 who was to have gone 
 with me, is confined to his room by a bad cold. I have 
 
 1 Charles Alexander Wrottesley, afterwards lieutenant-colonel of the 
 29th Regiment ; died 24th February 1861.
 
 216 OXFORD NEWS. ^ 
 
 therefore delayed my journey a few days in hopes that he 
 will be able to accompany me then. His name reminds me 
 to say that he desires to be most kindly remembered to you. 
 I am also desired to say that a perfect reconciliation has 
 taken place between him and the lovely Kachael : he is even 
 again admitted to the tea-table. At the explanation he took 
 the whole blame of the cause of the quarrel upon himself, 
 and did not throw the odium upon you. I was at Lewisham's 
 a few days in the vacation : my sentiments with regard to him 
 perfectly coincide with yours, for I believe there are few like 
 him. I was in town also a few days, to which place the 
 fame of the young Eoscius l called me. I think he may be 
 considered as the wonder of the age : my expectations, though 
 much raised, were quite answer'd, and I was highly gratified 
 at seeing him. I saw Macdonald in town: he has not yet 
 comforted the solitary Sparrow, 2 but I understand the marriage 
 is shortly to take place. I met Kinnoul's brother in town ; 
 he is gone into the Coldstream regiment : 3 he always was a 
 favourite of mine. Every thing went on much the same at 
 Christ Church last term ; Lygon enlivened it with his pres- 
 ence, arrayed in his long silken sleeves. But he did not 
 acquire that additional weight of consequence by adding the 
 B.A. to his name that he once expected. His failure at the 
 examination table upset all his hopes in that respect. That 
 circumstance calls to my mind always the fable of the ass 
 being discovered by his braying. Had Lygon never subjected 
 himself to such an exposure, he might still have been con- 
 sidered by many as deeply read in Aristotle and Pindar, his 
 favourite authors, though you, some others, and myself were 
 well aware that his acquaintance with those great men was 
 
 1 Master Betty, the "Infant Roscius," had recently made his 
 and was then one of the chief attractions of town. 
 
 2 Mr Macdonald was married to Miss Sparrow, 1st September 1805. 
 
 3 The Honourable Thomas Robert Drummond died a captain, October 
 28, 1810.
 
 E c. R K.sTi E 805 TO ] CHARTER-ROOM AT DUNROBIN. 217 
 
 very superficial. Smelt, G. Eden, S t- John, Bowles, Mr Lloyd, 
 and Mr Chambers were admitted into the number of students 
 this year. My paper only leaves me room to say that I 
 remain, yours very sincerely, K. M. K. TARPLEY. 
 
 Earl GOWER to C. KIRKPATRICK SHARPE. 
 
 [The collection of letters from Lord Gower bears the fol- 
 lowing docket : " Letters from my Lord Gower, eldest son of 
 the M s - of Stafford, to be preserved to prove to my nieces 
 and nephews that their uncle kept good company."] 
 
 CH. CH., Feb. 1, 1805. 
 
 MY DEAR SHARPE, I think you might ere this have found 
 some excuse for writing to me, for I hear almost every post 
 somebody or other saying " I have received a letter from 
 Sharpe this morning;" and, to tell the truth, for this last 
 week I have been daily expecting one ; so pray lose not a 
 single moment, but set about writing me a long, long letter 
 directly. I make no doubt this letter of mine will create no 
 little surprise in you, as I believe you may already have found 
 out that I am not particularly fond of letter- writing ; but 
 this very circumstance ought, if you have proper feelings, to 
 make you answer me the sooner. Perhaps you do not know 
 that I went over almost all Scotland last summer, and re- 
 gretted much not meeting you, especially in Perthshire, for 
 I left Blair only the week before the Perth Hunt. I hope 
 and trust that I shall have better luck next year. 
 
 You had better seriously come to Dunrobin; and then, 
 too, you may look in the charter-room if you can find any 
 papers about L d - Dundee. Is there any chance of your being 
 in town (London) at Easter ? What are you doing now ? 
 Pray send a sort of diary in your letter, that I may see how 
 you contrive to pass your time. As for news, you must never
 
 218 OXFORD NEWS. l^^w^ 
 
 expect any from me ; in fact I don't believe there is any, ex- 
 cept that, coming back from a Grand Compounder, the Dean 
 tumbled down in High Street ; and old Burton met with the 
 same misfortune in the old quadrangle, and was obliged to 
 Goodenough l for helping him up. 
 
 Poor Wrottesley has been ill (not of a broken shin), and 
 only returned t'other day. Tarpley staid some time to take 
 care of him, but I believe the Dean sent for him at last, and 
 he was obliged to return to his pupils. He is now the Eev nd - 
 I believe Mr Strong, Sir E. Brooke's tutor, 2 has your lodg- 
 ings. You know, I suppose, that Mrs Batson is bankrupt. 
 Lewisham's John is inconsolable. I have been buying some 
 old, rare, curious prints this niorng., French portraits. 
 
 Lygon will come here in a day or two. Shall I say any- 
 thing civil from you to him ? Have you read anything 
 entertaining lately ? I am momentarily expecting the ' Lay 
 of the Last Minstrel,' which I am very anxious to get, as I 
 saw the beginning of it when I was in Scotland, and liked it 
 exceedingly. Poor Inglis's shin is as bad as ever. I doubt 
 if he will ever recover. 
 
 Oh, I must tell you that Lady Alva 3 inquired a very great 
 deal indeed about you in the vacation, and is very sorry on my 
 account that you have left Oxford. Poor Murray, you will 
 be sorry to hear, is very unwell. He has had, and has still, 
 a bad cough I fear somewhat consumptive. He is now at 
 Weymouth, and does not come up till the end of this month. 
 
 Mind you write immediately. I am, ever truly, sincerely, 
 &c., yours, GOWER. 
 
 Pray do not criticise and find out bad spellings, as 1 
 am confined to chapel, and have no time to look over and 
 correct them. Adieu. 
 
 1 Son of the Bishop of Carlisle. 
 
 2 Sir Richard Brooke, Bart, of Norton Priory, Chester, died 1865. 
 
 3 See ante, p. 112.
 
 
 
 . 
 
 
 LORD GQWER.
 
 BISHOP SUBNET'S PAPERS. 219 
 
 Lord LEWiSHAM 1 to C. KIRKPATRICK SHARPE. 
 
 CH. CH., Feb. 1, 1805. 
 
 MY DEAR SHARPE, The virtue of economy, in which your 
 countrymen have sometimes been said, by their facetious 
 neighbours in the south, to excel, would have prevented 
 many of them from expending so many apologies and so 
 many kind speeches to obtain so very small a boon as that 
 you ask of me in your letter. I had begun an answer to it 
 on the day I received it (which, by the by, was long after 
 the date thereof), and was informing you that it would not 
 be in my power to refer to B p- Burnet before next summer, 
 his L d ship being locked up at Sandwell, and my father and 
 all y e family having quitted that place for the winter, I was, 
 I say, waiting all these circumstances, when it occurred to me 
 that I might as well exchange a letter with my father on the 
 subject before I sent you an answer, and I had this morning 
 advices from town stating that my uncles have examined 
 the notes you mention, and can find nothing about Lord 
 Dundee. I am sorry my forefather does not afford any 
 thing to assist you in your undertaking, which will, notwith- 
 standing, I make no doubt, merit that success which it is my 
 sincere wish it may obtain. I am sorry to find you have 
 not forgot your old grudge against a brother Batchelor of this 
 house, and that you indulge in a rancour which sometimes 
 leads you even into glaring inconsistencies for what can be a 
 more glaring one than the calling that person a Grandmother 
 at one time, whom at another you accuse of being a Vestal ! 
 
 With regard to the encomiums you are so good as to lavish 
 upon me, and the prospects you hold out to me, they do not, 
 alas ! give me the satisfaction I doubt not they were intended 
 to afford, as they only bring to my mind the ideas of what I 
 
 1 William Legge, Lord Lewisham, succeeded his father as fourth Earl 
 of Dartmouth, 1810.
 
 220 NEW BACHELORS GAISFORD. 
 
 ought to be, and, I believe, might have been, if I had always 
 seen things in the light I now do, and what, on the other 
 hand, I am likely to be. Nobody, I believe, had ever so 
 many advantages as I have had : nature gave me a sufficiently 
 good, if not a brilliant, understanding, and the benefits of the 
 best possible education, and the most excellent examples I 
 have always enjoyed. If I am not therefore right, it must 
 really be my own fault, and there do exist circumstances (I 
 do not say so from an affectation of modesty) which are 
 better concealed, but which oblige me to beg that you will 
 not be too sanguine in your hopes of my attaining to the 
 reputation of my ancestors. 
 
 I had a short letter from Newtown not long since, in which 
 he said not a word about himself or his occupations. I fear 
 he will pass y e remainder of his life in some obscure corner 
 of Ireland where he will neither be seen nor heard of. 
 Murray is not here at present, but remains by the sea for 
 the sake of his health, which I fear it will be necessary for 
 him to pay great attention to, as he has a tendency to con- 
 sumption. Gower is here, and is desirous of hearing from 
 you. We expect a good many Batchelors this term, among 
 them Hewitt and Lygon. I don't know whether it will be 
 news to you that the learned Mess re - Gaisford 1 and Conybeare 
 are now tutors here. Marsh, you know, is gone. I am under 
 the protection of Webber, who will probably present me in 
 the theatre at y e commemoration. Believe me, very sincerely 
 yours, LEWISHAM. 
 
 P.S. What obligation you can allude to which is not 
 mutual I cannot guess. 
 
 1 Thomas Gaisford, who succeeded Cyril Jackson as Dean of Christ 
 Church, was born 1779 ; died June 2, 1855. He is remembered by his 
 edition of Herodotus, published 1824-25.
 
 BUCHANAN'S 'DETECTIO.' 221 
 
 Earl GOWER to C. KIRKPATRICK SHARPE. 
 
 CH. CH., Feb. 1805. 
 
 MY DEAR SHARPE, Tho' it is impossible for me to write 
 my letter in time for this night's post, I shall at all events 
 have carried it so far on its way to catch to-morrow's by 
 taking the opportunity of two or three of our friends having 
 just left me to myself. A truce with all your forebodings 
 and presentiments of a sudden and melancholy conclusion to 
 our correspondence : I see no real foundation for any such. 
 
 Pray send me a copy of your poem on your Ch. Ch. ac- 
 quaintance, the sooner the better; and apropos of sending, 
 I have been thinking that a better opportunity may never 
 occur for your performance of a promise you made me when 
 you were here, and which to this time has not been accom- 
 plished viz., a drawing. Do you remember the one you 
 began for me, and found some idle, or rather, no excuse for 
 leaving in that state ? You seem now to have leisure, and 
 if you have that and the will, there can be no possible reason 
 why I should not in a short time be master of my wish. 
 Pray let me know your thoughts on the subject. 
 
 I have at last read Walter Scott's, and like some parts 
 exceedingly. I cannot at the same time but lament that 
 all his books are so extremely dear, and in this lamentation 
 I believe poor Inglis will join heartily, who buys them all 
 from a principle of duty. 
 
 I have just received as a present two rare Scotch books 
 viz., Buchanan's 'De Maria Scotorum Eegina, totaq. ejus 
 contra Eegem conjuratione, &c., &c., plena et tragica plane 
 Historia' (never published) ; l and the works of the famous and 
 
 1 This was evidently a copy of the famous 'Detectio' which, with 
 the 'Casket Letters' as an appendix, was circulated by Elizabeth's 
 ministers, and which was probably as much the work of Sir Thomas 
 "Wilson as of Buchanan. A translation was published in London in
 
 222 OXFORD GOSSIP. E c. R 
 
 worthy Knight, Sir D. Lindsay of y e Mount, printed 1709. 
 His " Dream " I think very good. 
 
 You cannot oblige me more than by sending me any verses, 
 if ever you amuse yourself that way, and you may rest 
 assured they never shall be laid hold of by profane hands. 
 
 There are a great many Bachelors up, and a great many 
 coming, such as Stewart, Lygon, Hewitt, FitzGerald, &c., &c. 
 My cousin Macdonald was here for two days at the beginning 
 of the term. I do not know when the marriage is to take 
 place. He appeared to us here to look out of spirits. He 
 spent the greater part of Xmas vacation at the house of the 
 future father-in-law, and has bought a house in town for 
 himself, which looks as if he thought the knot w d - soon be 
 tied that fatal indissoluble knot. But as Sir D. Lindsay 
 observes 
 
 " Full hard it is Chastity to observe 
 Without great grace and abstinence : 
 Into our flesh ay reigneth till we sterve 
 That first original sin, concupiscence. 
 
 Wherefore made God of marriage the band 
 In Paradise, as Scripture doth record ; 
 In Galilee, right so I understand, 
 Was marriage honoured by Christ our Lord : 
 Old law and new therefore they do concord. 
 I think, for me, better that they had sleeped, 
 Than to have made a law and never keeped." 
 
 I hear that you correspond with Drummond : it seems his 
 grandpapa has got into a monstrous scrape. 1 God knows how 
 he can get out again ; from all accounts 'twill go hard with 
 him. 
 
 Ch. Ch. is rather dullish. I could tell you, tho', anecdotes 
 of Wilmot hunting, &c., &c., but I do not think you w d - care 
 
 1571 ; and a version in Scots, entitled 'Ane Detectioun of the Doingis of 
 Marie Quene of Scottis,' &c., was printed by Lekprewick at St Andrews 
 in 1572, in black-letter. 
 
 1 This alludes to the charges which were accumulating against Lord 
 Melville, whose daughter Anne had married Henry Drummond the 
 banker, and was mother of Henry Drummond of Albury.
 
 . " OFF OF " LETTER FROM FITZGERALD. 223 
 
 much for them. Poor Lewisham went to town on the death 
 of one grandmother, and after staying a week on her account, 
 lost another, so there's another week for her ! 
 
 Do not forget your Diary in your next : I shall only say I 
 was happy to receive your last. I remain, ever yours most 
 sincerely, GOWER. 
 
 Earl GOWER to C. KIRKPATRICK SHARPE. 
 
 [1805.] 
 
 " We understand Tom don't' do much in the PRIGGING LINE now, 
 " being only a bungler, having got very lusty, and principally 
 " acts as a STALLER OFF OF THE SWAG, since the death of his PAL, 
 " SCOTCH MOGGY" l 
 
 ' SIR, After having, according to your request, waded thro' 
 many voluminous authors in order to find authority for your 
 favourite expression " off of " to no purpose, I by chance (for 
 I have not much belief in predestination) cast my twinklers 
 on the inclosed, in one of the daily vehicles of ephemeral in- 
 formation, which I take the liberty, without loss of time, of 
 sending to you for your perusal. I am, sir, your affectionate 
 and obedient humble servant, EOWEG. 
 
 My hand will set you at defiance ; you will never get thro'. 
 
 WILLIAM FITZGERALD, Esq., to C. KIRKPATRICK SHARPE. 
 
 KING'S BENCH WALK, INNER TEMPLE, 
 LONDON, Feb. 24, 1805. 
 
 MY DEAR SHARPE, So long a time has now elapsed since 
 last I heard any tidings of you (and as I cannot advance 
 a single pretension of my own, or claim the merit of hav- 
 1 A cutting from a newspaper.
 
 224 RENEWAL OF INTERCOURSE. [^^"^805.' 
 
 ing written during the whole of that interval, I cannot 
 complain) ; but it is, in fact, so long since either of us has 
 written to the other, that I feel somewhat awkward at 
 recommencing. 
 
 However, my principal object being thus half avowed 
 namely, the desire of renewing that intercourse which I take 
 all the blame to myself of having suffered to drop, and the 
 discontinuance of which I have frequently since regretted 
 I may as well confess some sort of interest which I really 
 feel and a desire to know where you have been for so many 
 months, how you have passed your winter, how and where 
 you are at present, and whether we are to have the happiness 
 of seeing you this year in our southern climes. 
 
 Come we now to my immediate pretence for writing to you. 
 I propose going in the latter part of the next week, or the 
 beginning of that following, to Oxford ; and if you have any 
 commands to Alma Mater, I offer myself to execute them. It 
 will be necessary for me, I understand, to keep one term after 
 this Lent previous to my taking my degree ; and if I thought 
 that you were to be at Oxford in the course of the ensuing 
 summer, I should determine to keep whatever term you mean 
 to reside there. Your grandmother is already gone there to 
 do her business. I have had a short note from her, which 
 fully equals any you ever preserved of her composition ; but 
 to prevent myself from a breach of confidence, and to guard 
 against temptation, I have destroyed it, else I should deem 
 myself a note of hers in your debt. I have been in town 
 since the beginning of January, and for the last three weeks 
 I have been fixed in chambers in the Inner Temple ; but I 
 am already tired of them, and I find it what, indeed, you 
 will say I might have had experience enough to discover 
 before a much easier thing to set myself down in the apart- 
 ments of a man of application and study, and to breathe the 
 atmosphere of business, than to acquire the industry of the 
 one or to assume the habits of either. I begin to think of
 
 T A orAto5.'] BOYSE LA TOUCHE NEWTOWN. 225 
 
 myself what I believe my friends, and all those who under- 
 stood my character, have long since thought that I am to be 
 altogether despaired of, and that there is little prospect, as 
 the vulgar say, of my ever coming to good. But I am not so 
 much to blame after all. The circumstances of the times, 
 and the political contingencies which have taken place since 
 I have been in the world, have all of them conspired, not only 
 to blast my sanguine prospects, but even to disappoint my 
 rational and well-founded expectations. Yet I bear it all 
 very well, whether the result of philosophy or apathy, I will 
 not take upon me to say of myself. 
 
 I am anxious to know whether you go on with your pro- 
 jected work, or with any other, poetical or otherwise. Your 
 first plan was certainly a good one, and I should be very 
 sorry you gave it up. Do not, I pray, contribute to any more 
 of Mr "W. Scott's compilations. He appears to me an im- 
 postor ; and his bard, Thomas of Ercildoune, is a most weari- 
 some bard. But you will say that this is owing to my 
 barbaric western taste, or absence of taste rather. Boyse is 
 in town. He is very well at present, tho' before Christmas 
 he tells me he had a most severe and dangerous attack of 
 illness. I believe, indeed, he was somewhat ill ; but as I am 
 aware that his worst malady has long been of a hypochondriac 
 nature, I do not indulge him by listening to his descriptions ; 
 but I have great pleasure in telling you that he is now as 
 well as any man even of his strength and muscles can be. 
 Of La Touche I have heard nothing for a long time ; and as 
 I understand he does not intend to come to London this 
 year, I shall not, I apprehend, see him for a great while 
 longer, as I have no present intention of returning this year 
 to Ireland. Cookson is here, applying as formerly with the 
 most unwearied industry to the study of law. Newtown is 
 in Ireland, I believe leading a life of seclusion, for he resides 
 with his father. These are all of whom I know anything 
 whom I think you care to hear about. If I can do anything 
 
 VOL. I. P
 
 226 EPITAPH ON LADY WENT WORTH. 
 
 for you at Oxford, I beg you will write to me and employ me. 
 I hope, at all events, that you will write to me. It would 
 give me very sincere and sensible satisfaction to hear that 
 you were well and happy. Does your brother-in-law, Sir 
 Roger, keep up the honour of his name ? Are you an uncle 
 yet ? Is your handsome sister yet married or not ? I sug- 
 gest some subjects for you to write upon, so the Devil's in it 
 if I have not an answer. If you are not at Hoddam, I take 
 for granted this will be forwarded to you. Wherever I may 
 be, if you write, direct to me under cover to my father at 
 Cumberland House, Pall Mall, London. Your letter will be 
 sure of coming to my hands. I have now piled up eight 
 pages with, I believe, more nonsense than ever filled up as 
 much before. But no matter ! What is worse, I fear, it is 
 illegible nonsense, or at least that you will have great diffi- 
 culty in deciphering it. Farewell, my dear Sharpe, and 
 believe me ever, with the most sincere regard, your faithful 
 and affectionate friend, WILLIAM FITZGEKALD. 
 
 EGBERT HARRY INGLIS, Esq., to C. KIRKPATRICK SHARPE. 
 
 CH. CH., May 17, 1805. 
 
 DEAR SHARPE, The accompanying paper contains a few 
 collections relating either directly or indirectly to your friend 
 the Lord Dundee, tho' I am afraid that I am guilty of some 
 presumption when I offer you any memoranda on a subject 
 with which you are better acquainted than any other person. 
 But as you expressed a wish to see the epitaph on Lady H. 
 Wentworth, and as, therefore, I had occasion to write, I 
 thought that perhaps you would excuse me if I ventured to 
 add a few circumstances which occurred to me as I lounged 
 thro' an old library, tho' probably they may be well known 
 to you. 
 
 The epitaph on Lady H. Wentworth (daur. of the E. of
 
 Vc/K s!%805:'] NOTES FROM AN OLD LIBRARY. 227 
 
 Strafford, and the friend of the Duke of Monmouth 1 ) in 
 Toddington Church, Co. Beds, was copied by order of Gough 
 the antiquary two years ago, and was (probably by him) 
 communicated to the ' Gentleman's Magazine,' of which he 
 is joint editor, and in which for June 1804 it appears. The 
 Eev d - John Dixon, rector of the parish, remembers the turret 
 in the old mansion, now demolished, where the Duke and 
 L y - Henrietta used to meet ; and the suite of apartments 
 which he occasionally occupied on temporary disagreements 
 with his father. 
 
 2. 'Life of Lord Dundee,' 1711. 
 
 3. Epitaph on Lord Dundee by D r - Pitcairn, translated by 
 Dryden in his Miscellaneous "Works. 
 
 4. In a small 4to pamphlet (title lost ; probably " Presby- 
 terian Inquisition as it was practised by the Visitors of the 
 College at Edinburgh in their proceedings ag st - some of the 
 Masters there in August and September 1690 ") one of the 
 charges brought ag st - D r - Alex r - Monro, 2 Principal of the 
 University, was, " his rejoycing the day that the news of 
 Claverhouse [Lord Dundie] his victory came to town." Monro's 
 answer is in p. 35. 
 
 5. In the trial of the Marquis of Argyle : " Graham of 
 Claverhouse, one of the Jurors." 
 
 6. In the Harl. Miscell., vol. viii. p. 26, is a republication 
 of the " Marquis of Argyle's last Will and Testament, with 
 his character." Quarto, containing sixteen pages. 
 
 7. In a small 4to pamphlet (entitled " Presbyterian Perse- 
 cution examined, with an Essay on the Nature and Neces- 
 sity of Toleration in Scotland. Edinburgh, printed in the 
 
 1 Henrietta Wentworth was not the daughter of Lord Strafford, but 
 of Thomas Lord Wentworth of Nettlecourt, colonel of the Guards, and 
 granddaughter of the Earl of Cleveland. 
 
 2 Dr Alexander Monro was deprived by the Visitors of the Principal- 
 ship of the University of Edinburgh. He was charged with having 
 become perverted to Rome while abroad, and with refusing to sign the 
 Confession of Faith.
 
 228 'LAY OF THE LAST MINSTREL.' ^ 
 
 year 1707 ; ") is a list of " Episcopal Ministers that possest 
 Presbyterian churches after the Kevolution, 1690, who have 
 not complyed with the present Church Government in Scot- 
 land." Pp. 23-25. 
 
 I searched for the name of the Lord Dundee in the British 
 Museum, but in that storehouse there are few notices of so late 
 a period. I also took an opportunity of asking the nephew 
 of the late L d - Hailes, Sir John P. Dalrymple, who is himself 
 a great antiquary, whether in his own family, which about 
 that time were gaining the ascendancy over all Scotland, 
 there were any MSS. which would throw any light on the 
 history of Lord Dundee ; but he is a vile Whig, and scouted 
 the idea. It is singular that in the journals of the Ho. of 
 Commons there is no mention made of the battle of Killi- 
 crankie. Do you know the present Lord Dundee ? 
 
 The Eev d - Mr Betham, who has compiled " Genealogical 
 Tables of the Sovereigns of the World," folio, 1 and "A History 
 of the English Baronets " in 5 vols. 4to, 2 intends a continuation 
 of the latter work, including Scotland and Ireland. Perhaps 
 you would not object to favour him with a history of your 
 own family. He would, I am sure, be much obliged for 
 that and any other communications, which you are eminently 
 qualified to furnish. 
 
 Are you not in raptures with 'The Lay of the Last 
 Minstrel ' ? I think, considering the poem in the light in 
 which the author wished it to be viewed, without reference 
 to any strict epic plan, its only fault, perhaps, is the elfin 
 page. I do not mean to defend it line by line, but the 
 beauties so far exceed the blemishes, that I wish to forget 
 that the latter exist. I hope to have a chance of seeing you 
 in the North about the end of June or the beginning of July, 
 as my long-projected tour is then to be carried into effect. 
 
 By the by, in the catalogue of a London bookseller of the 
 name of Scott appears " A Drawing of the Battle of Killi- 
 1 London, 1795. 2 I psw i c h and London, 1801-5.'
 
 Vc-Ts^ilos.''] "ALONZO B. D. DOGGREL." 229 
 
 crankie." Shall I inquire about it ? At that shop I bought 
 some very curious things : one, the " Votes of the Scotch 
 Parliament from 1700-1707." I call it curious perhaps from 
 ignorance. 
 
 Our friends here are all well, except "Wilmot and Murray, 
 both of whom, I am afraid, are in bad health. The former, 
 after a short sojourn with Gower in Scotland, goes to Naples 
 or Sicily with Calthorpe ; 1 and the latter will probably accom- 
 pany them. I am writing almost on my back a posture to 
 which I have been confined for nearly three weeks, tho' not 
 from juvenile indiscretions. Yours sincerely, 
 
 EGBERT HARKY INGLIS. 
 
 Earl GOWER to C. KIRKPATRICK SHARPE. 
 
 [On. CH.] SUNDAY, June 9, 1805. 
 
 MY DEAR SHARPE, I lately received a letter from Scot- 
 land, with the writer of which you must needs be acquainted, 
 as he is a brother poet, who inclosed in his aforesaid letter a 
 very good and poetical ballad with which I was much pleased ; 
 and I cannot help begging you, in case you have any influ- 
 ence over him, to exert it in persuading him to allow his 
 Pegasus to convey more such effusions from the Cowgate of 
 Edinburgh, whence the last was dated, to the classic seat of 
 the Muses at Oxford. The poet signs himself Alonzo Bheribow 
 Durandarte Doggrel. And now, having declared my wishes on 
 that subject, I must talk a little egotistically. 
 
 I have become heartily 'tired of this place, and am looking 
 forward with the greatest impatience to that happy period the 
 long vacation, between which and the present time are three 
 tedious weeks. At the first moment of its commencement I 
 shall fly off for those happy regions where 
 
 1 Charles, second Lord Calthorpe of Calthorpe, Norfolk, died un- 
 married 1807.
 
 230 CHANCELLORSHIP OF THE UNIVERSITY. 
 
 " None are swept by sudden fate away. 
 But all ... by age decay." 
 
 that is to say, three hundred miles north of you : but I am 
 not without hopes that we may have some chance of seeing 
 one another at Aimbro' l in which, I suppose, we shall pass a 
 day or two on our road, in order to see our friends there. I 
 say our and we, as my mother and I intend to accompany 
 each other to Dunrobin. Oxford has been dull enough this 
 term : no Bachelors to enliven it ; Commons Parties entirely 
 left off; oh temporal hardly anybody to give one a cup of 
 tea. Inglis, however, is as usual hospitable. I am just come 
 from breakfasting with him the joke after breakfast to put 
 eggs in each other's pockets ! There came down from town 
 two days ago a report of the D. of Portland's death, which, of 
 course, spread like wildfire everybody conjecturing about 
 who would probably succeed to the Chancellorship: 2 some 
 people said L d - Grenville, 3 some L d - Sidmouth 4 when it turned 
 out perfectly void of foundation. If I thought you had not 
 heard of it from Drummond, &c., I could tell you that we are 
 to have grand music in the theatre soon, and that Lewisham 
 has at last departed this college life, struggling against Fate 
 to the last. It is even thought that this is only a temporary 
 suspension of the vital spark, and that he may still, five 
 months hence, so far recover as to linger on during part of 
 November; but as he has been obliged to turn put of his 
 rooms from the unnatural haste and indecorous impatience 
 of his heir (I/- Stewart, as ugly as Lucifer ! 5 ), it will be but a 
 wretched, unsatisfactory existence. Murray is quite happy 
 
 1 Local pronunciation of " Edinburgh." 
 
 2 Of the University of Oxford ; William Henry, third Duke of Port- 
 land ; died however in 1809. 
 
 3 William Wyndham Grenville, Lord Grenville, succeeded the Duke 
 of Portland as Chancellor of the University. 
 
 4 Henry Addington, first Viscount Sidmouth. 
 
 5 Robert Stuart, Viscount Stuart, succeeded his father as second Earl 
 of Castle Stuart 1809.
 
 . LORD DYSART H. WELLESLEY. 231 
 
 this morning at the probability of the D. of Atholl succeeding 
 in his petition, 1 and begs to be remembered kindly. Eiddell 2 
 has just come into my room, having nothing to say to you 
 but kind remembrance, &c. He is to make a tour in Scotland 
 this summer with Inglis, who cannot ride for different reasons, 
 and neither of them knows how to drive a gig ; so a pretty 
 thing they are likely to make of it ! Eiddell is a great book- 
 buyer, without discrimination of any sort ; but he can afford 
 it, and that's enough. They say that the Dean has quarrelled 
 with all the tutors ; but they say strange things here. There 
 are one or two very good sort of freshmen come this term 
 L d - Dysart, 3 and L d - Wellesley's son, 4 who is really a very great 
 acquisition. I hear that there is some chance of your coming 
 up next term. Is there any truth in it ? Say yes. 
 
 I really pity you ; for by this time you must be heartily 
 tired of reading, if you can, for I cannot read, this scrawl. 
 
 Pray buy Todd's ' Spenser,' which will be published very 
 shortly; it will be worth buying. 
 
 Murray regrets extremely having so narrowly missed see- 
 ing you dance at the Perth Hunt last year. Believe me, ever 
 yours sincerely, GOWER. 
 
 E. H. INGLIS, Esq., to C. KIKKPATEICK SHAKPE. 
 
 CH. CH., June 14, 1805. 
 
 MY DEAR SHARPE, I am much obliged to you for your kind 
 and early attention to my letter. For some time I have been a 
 
 1 In 1805 the Duke of Atholl claimed the English Barony of Strange 
 in right of his mother. 
 
 2 Sir James M. Riddell of Ardnamurchan, Bart. See ante, p. 128. 
 
 3 Wilbraham, fifth Earl of Dysart, died s. p. 1821. 
 
 4 Henry Wellesley, son of the Marquis Wellesley, Governor-General 
 of India, by Hyacinthe-Gabrielle, only daughter of Pierre Eolland of the 
 Mauritius, born 1787, M.P. for Maryborough 1809, and for East Grin- 
 stead 1811, a Junior Lord of the Treasury; died 1832; founder of the 
 Grillon Club.
 
 232 FRESHMEN NEW BOOKS. 
 
 lounger you may remember the prevalence of the practice 
 while you were at Ch. Ch. ; but this weather, by restraining my 
 butterfly excursions and confining me at home, has occasioned 
 me at length to reflect on my debt to you. I am afraid that the 
 little news and small talk of Ch. Ch. can be scarcely interest- 
 ing to you, who would not perhaps recognise in the principal 
 speakers and actors in this farce many once known faces. 
 Some of the freshmen since your last visit are really men of 
 very pleasant manners and very fine talents : Fazakerley (a 
 grandson of Nicholas), L d - Dysart, and Wellesley, the ^x. son 
 of the Marquis. We lose Wilmot after this term. If it 
 should be necessary for him to go abroad, he will carry with 
 him the regrets of all who knew 'him. An old Ch. Ch. man 
 is, I am told, a coadjutor of the Edinburgh Eeviewers, Mr 
 Phillimore; 1 Brougham is returned to his duty. Did you ever 
 see an ironical tract of Sir Tho s - Urquhart, ' The Antiquity 
 of the Name of Urquhart in the House of Cromarty from the 
 Creation ' ? The title is in the Catalogue of the British 
 Museum, but the book is, unfortunately, not to be found. 
 Perhaps Boscoe's book may not have travelled yet as far as 
 Hoddam. 2 If you have any thoughts of buying it, I am told 
 that delay is dangerous, as Evans (the bookseller) alone had 
 orders before its publication for 400 copies, and as its general 
 sale is very extensive. Todd's ' Spenser ' is expected out every- 
 day. Perhaps he has not devoted sufficient time for the due 
 illustration of the subject : not that I think that there ever 
 exists a necessity for notes so overwhelming as those in the 
 ' Milton ' by T. Warton, " on whose own head " (however, says 
 Gifford) "the cause of sound learning has been fearfully 
 avenged " (Pref. to c Massinger ') in the inordinate Commen- 
 taries of Kant. This extract is from one of the dearest books 
 which I ever saw : it is just come out. The drawing of the 
 
 1 Joseph Phillimore, D.C.L., a staunch adherent of the Grenville 
 party, was M.P. for St Mawes 1817-26, and Yarmouth 1826-30. 
 
 2 Life and Pontificate of Leo X.
 
 R TO\Ts!*'ilo5:'] LORD NEWTOWN. 233 
 
 Battle of Killicrankie, I am sorry to say, is modern. I will 
 forward your notes on the subject of the baronetage to Mr 
 Betham. 
 
 I am now quite recovered. My complaint may fairly be 
 attributed to riding down from town when I was not quite 
 strong enough. Though we may not meet in Perthshire, I 
 shouldn't perhaps hesitate to sport a pace on you in Hod- 
 dam if, on our return from the North, we should travel on 
 that coast. Believe me, very sincerely yours, 
 
 E. H. INGLIS. 
 
 All our friends desire to be remembered to you. My father 
 lives in Soho Square, London ; but if the ' Town Eclogue ' can 
 be procured in London, I should be sorry to trouble you to 
 send it. 
 
 Lord LEWISHAM to C. KIEKPATEICK SHAEPE. 
 
 SANDWELL, NEAR BIRMINGHAM, Sept. 21, 1805. 
 
 MY DEAE SHAEPE, I fear you will have begun to suppose 
 that your letter may have met with the unmerited fate which 
 you with so little reason anticipated. The fact is, I was from 
 home when it arrived, and since my return have been too 
 much engaged to answer it till this moment. 
 
 I have been this summer making a tour in the country of 
 my forefathers Ireland in which I was accompanied by 
 Hewitt, and for about six weeks by Newtown, whom I left in 
 good health, and professing an intention, which I heartily 
 wish he may put in execution, of coming over to England 
 next spring. He is living a wretchedly secluded and indolent 
 life with his father (a more indolent man than himself) at 
 Sans Souci, near Dublin, and I fear there is no chance of his 
 ever exerting himself, and being as useful a man as he might 
 be. I had, upon the whole, a very pleasant excursion, and
 
 234 ELIZABETH LEQGE. 
 
 met with many very agreeable people. With regard to my 
 future plans, about which you are so good as to inquire, I am 
 going in the course of next month to join the Staffordshire 
 militia, in which I have got a majority ; and in my way to 
 Windsor I purpose taking a brother to Ch. Ch. on the 10th, 
 hiring lodgings, and remaining at Oxford perhaps a fortnight 
 or three weeks : it will give me great pleasure to revisit Alma 
 Mater, and to see those of my old friends who remain there, 
 and it will be a great accession to that pleasure to find you 
 taking up your residence there at the same time. If you should 
 not go up quite so soon, and will commission me to provide 
 you lodgings or anything else against your arrival, I shall be 
 happy to execute such commission, particularly if you will 
 save me the I0d. by enclosing your epistle in a [frank] directed 
 to my father at this place. I am very curious to see your 
 "Vale," and hope there is not so much "hatred and malice and 
 all uncharitaUencss " throughout, as in the stanzas you tran- 
 scribe in your letter. How you can have discovered Cha 8 - 
 Stuart to have been the author of the ' Sooners,' if so it was, 
 I cannot guess, and am sorry he is added to the number of 
 those against whom you feel sensations of animosity. Will 
 Jackson has just left us, and is in good health and spirits. 
 I thank you for 'Elizabeth Legge,' 1 of whom I never heard 
 before. In hopes of seeing you soon, and praying that your 
 good wishes to me may " fall upon your own head " (and in 
 good wishes I suppose a tu guoque is admissible), I am, 
 your obliged and faithful LEWISHAM. 
 
 1 Elizabeth Legge was the wife of William Legge, daughter of Sir 
 William Washington of Packington, Leicester, and by the mother's side 
 a near relation of the Duke of Buckingham. She contrived the escape 
 of her husband, a devoted Royalist, from Coventry jail into which he 
 had been cast, wounded, after the battle of Worcester by dressing him 
 in her own clothes.
 
 'DUNDEE'S LIFE.' 235 
 
 E. SURTEES, Esq., to C. KlRKPATKICK SHARPE. 
 
 MAINSFORTH, 23d Oct. 1805. 
 
 DEAR SHARPE, I have just procured you the book at a 
 bookseller's in the country, and by yesterday's post I heard 
 from a friend, whom I commissioned in London, that he 
 had got 'Dundee's Life,' and I have by this day's post 
 desired him to forward it to you by the Glasgow mail, 
 sending him y r - direction. In case you should already have 
 procured it or both of them, you may send them back to me, 
 as I shall be glad to have them myself ; but I shall be very 
 happy, if they are still desiderata, to be the means of supply- 
 ing you with them ; and if I can be of service to you in any 
 other researches, let me know. I am obliged (as we are not 
 on the direct road) to entrust this parcel to a kind of cross 
 carriage to reach Gretna Bridge, from whence I hope you'll 
 receive it safe, and also soon hear of Lord Dundee. I am, 
 sincerely, K. SURTEES. 
 
 Eev. JOHN MARRIOTT! to C. KIRKPATRICK SHARPE. 
 
 DALKEITH HOUSE, Nov. 6, 1805. 
 
 DEAR SHARPE, I have heard that you meditate a trip to 
 Oxford this winter. Is this report true ? And if so, when 
 
 1 John Marriott, born at Cotesbach, Leicestershire, and educated at 
 Kugby and Christ Church, was one of the first who took honours at 
 Oxford in May 1802. In 1804 he went to Dalkeith as tutor to 
 Lord Scott, the elder brother of the late Duke of Buccleuch, who died 
 young. In 1808 he became Eector of Church Lawford, Warwick- 
 shire, whence he removed into Devonshire on account of his wife's 
 health, and became curate of Broad Clyst. He died in London March 
 31, 1825. Besides much occasional verse, he wrote the hymns, "Thou 
 whose almighty word " and " Thou who madest earth and heaven." 
 Among his best known verses are "The Devonshire Lane" and the 
 poetic epistle to Southey from his cats, printed in 'The Doctor.' A 
 lively election ballad on the return of Sir William Hope as member for 
 Dumfriesshire is yet locally remembered.
 
 236 SIR GEORGE WARRENDER. [Tc. 
 
 do you think of going ? I must be there in the beginning of 
 December, and if we could contrive to travel southward to- 
 gether, I should be most happy. I have had it in contempla- 
 tion to write to you any time during the last fourteen months, 
 as Miss Eliza Robertson and Miss Murray can witness ; but 
 did you know the amount of my epistolary debts, you would 
 not wonder at my being an insolvent debtor. I now begin to 
 think myself half a Scotchman, and I can assure you that I 
 have gain'd considerable credit for the facility of naturalisa- 
 tion which I have shown. That lying she-dog Fame had led 
 me to hope once that I should have the pleasure of seeing 
 you in Edinburgh, a pleasure which I should have enjoyed 
 much, for more than one reason. We have before now, you 
 know, treated ourselves with a little private quizzing in a 
 quiet way ; and surely a finer field could not well be found 
 for sport of that kind than Princes Street and its vicinity. I 
 trust the day will yet come. I long also to talk over with 
 you some friends of yours with whom I have become ac- 
 quainted during my residence in this part of the world more 
 especially the Misses Robertson, with whom I am a little in 
 love, as might be expected. I cannot refrain from making 
 honourable mention of Sir George Warrender's military pig- 
 tail, which waves down his back with graceful curve, whilst 
 he deals the cards at a round table in the same room in which 
 I am writing. He is one of the most distinguish'd warriors 
 in this district ; and yet I should think that were the chance 
 of war to rob the king of his services, his Majesty might 
 possibly solace himself with the consideration that he has 
 within his realm " five hundred as good as he." I send you a 
 portrait of another Ch. Ch. acquaintance, the magnanimous 
 Earl of Kinnoul; 1 and lest you should be alarm'd for his 
 safety, from the perilous situation in which the painter has 
 plac'd him, I can assure [you] that neither Miss Eoss nor 
 
 1 Thomas, tenth Earl, afterwards Lord Lyon King-at-Arms ; died 
 1866.
 
 .. WEBBER'S UMBRELLA. 237 
 
 Miss Elliot (the two ladies who complete the group) has yet 
 swallow'd the noble peer. Now, prythee, if thou hast any 
 Christian feeling in thee, do contrive to be wanting to go to 
 Oxford in the beginning of December, and do me the favor 
 to take me into your party ; and then that you may have a 
 prosperous journey will pray, as in self-love bound Your 
 very sincere friend, JOHN MARRIOTT. 
 
 Excuse the want of a cover, as I am afraid of over-weight 
 from the size of the Earl's picture. 
 
 Eev. JOHN MARRIOTT to C. KIRKPATRICK SHARPE. 
 
 DALKEITH HOUSE, Nov. 18, 1805. 
 
 DEAR SHARPE, The seal of your letter gave rise to sundry 
 speculations and divers strange surmises in this family ; and 
 in spite of all my assertions to the contrary, I lie at present 
 under the suspicion of carrying on a correspondence with an 
 inhabitant of the Shades below. Some went so far as to de- 
 clare that the direction was " no mortal business, nor no hand 
 that the earth owns ; " and others held their noses, protesting 
 that they dislik'd the smell of sulphur exceedingly. It is 
 wonderful to see what lengths some people are carried by the 
 force of imagination, which bears them away irresistibly, just 
 as Webber's umbrella elevated him above the summit of Shot- 
 over Hill to the great astonishment of Dr Hornsby, 1 who 
 happen'd to be looking thro' his telescope at the time, and 
 took the Dean's satellite for a new planet. I am really in- 
 debted to you for having made honorable mention of that 
 same diminutive logician, whom the long lapse of fifteen 
 months had wiped clean from the tablets of my memory. 
 I wonder much that I should have reach'd my second page, 
 without having express'd my joy at finding that there is 
 1 Thomas Hornsby, D.D., 1785, Professor of Astronomy.
 
 238 WALTER SCOTT'S REPRINTS. [ 
 
 really a chance of our journeying together towards the 
 land where all things (which were learn'd at school) are 
 forgotten. Unless I hear to the contrary from Oxford, which 
 is not very probable, I can and will put off my journey till the 
 middle of next month. Beyond that time I cannot delay, as 
 I must be ordain'd priest on Sunday the 22d. I hope this 
 will not be too early for you, and then nothing can mar our 
 plan of co-operation, always excepting the D 1 and Buona- 
 parte. I cannot hear finally from my oracle, the Rev* 1 - William 
 Wood l (the polish'd ivory of whose forehead must be fresh 
 in your recollection), till about a week hence. In the interim 
 I will weigh maturely the ways and means of forming a junc- 
 tion on the right bank of one of your Dumfriesshire rivers, 
 previous to our invading England. If I find it consistent 
 with the establish'd system of tactics to begin by taking up a 
 position at Hoddain Castle, I shall be most happy to avail 
 myself of your kind invitation. I shall be much obliged to 
 you for speedy information on one point of essential conse- 
 quence in the arrangement of our plans namely, the number 
 of days in which it is possible to reach Oxford from Hod- 
 dam by forced marches. Favor me with this intelligence, 
 and with a sketch, however slight, of Carey's chin and 
 Lefroy's nose ; and my obligations to you will be as un- 
 limited as the two last articles mention'd. I have it in 
 contemplation to call on Walter Scott in a day or two, and 
 you may depend upon my attacking him on the subject of 
 wholesale dealing in other men's works, on which I perfectly 
 agree with you. The old adage which inculcates mercy 
 towards the characters of the dead, is in a much higher 
 degree applicable to their writings : for their sake, and for 
 our sake, let nil nisi bonum be republish'd after their demise. 
 I hear from Mr Dundas that Drummond has been in Sweden 
 lately, whence I hope he has brought back many natural 
 curiosities besides himself. I took a great liking to that 
 1 Of Cb. Ch., B.D., 1801.
 
 .. L RD MONTAGU. 239 
 
 youth, and have lamented much that an unfortunate acci- 
 dent, which I will touch upon when we meet, has prevent- 
 ed me from keeping up a communication with him. Down 
 on your marrow-bones, Defamer ! and beg pardon of the 
 pious u^Eneas for having vilely slander'd him, by insinuating 
 that, after saving his father from the flames of Troy, he had 
 suffer'd him to perish at Smeaton. I can assure you that 
 he brought the first intelligence of the fire to Dalkeith 
 House, and has been rewarded with a place in the steward's 
 room ever since, upon condition that Anchises should continue 
 to sit upon his shoulders for the remainder of his life. Of the 
 Duchess of Cleveland 1 1 can only learn that she is not here at 
 present. L d - Montagu 2 is not only a married man, but a father. 
 Lady M. was safely deliver'd of a daughter on Wednesday 
 morning, and I am happy to say that both she and the child 
 are remarkably well. From what I have seen of his lordship, 
 both as a bachelor and as a benedick, I should think that he 
 was very little alter'd by the change of state, remaining one 
 of the most amiable and agreeable men I ever cop'd withal. 
 Sure I am that the incorporation of the rib he has chosen 
 could only tend to heighten and improve the essential value 
 of his character. They are indeed both prime favorites of 
 mine. 
 
 Anxious to hear that you can accept my ultimatum, I 
 remain, dear Sharpe, yours very faithfully, 
 
 JOHN MARRIOTT. 
 
 Your warning against the Sirens shall not be forgotten. 
 Have you heard of Surtees lately ? 
 
 1 Lely's portrait. 
 
 2 Henry James Scott, second son of the third Duke of Buccleuch, 
 became Baron Montagu on the death of his maternal grandfather, 
 George, last Duke of Montagu ; died 1845, when the barony expired 
 with him. He was married to a daughter of Lord Douglas.
 
 240 MELROSE ABBEY BY MOONLIGHT. 
 
 Kev. JOHN MARRIOTT to C. KIRKPATRICK SHARPE. 
 
 COTESBATCH, 3Ist Dec. 1805. 
 
 DEAR SHARPE, Accept my grateful acknowledgments for 
 your gracious pardon, and be assured that it was really a 
 relief to me to receive it, for just before I left " the north 
 countrye " I was told by one of our common friends (don't 
 put a wrong meaning to this expression) in Edinburgh, that 
 you was harbouring wrathful thoughts against me, an idea 
 which I laid to heart woefully, tho' my conscience exculpated 
 me, and tho' I did not give full credit to the intelligence, in 
 spite of the respectable channel thro' which it was conveyed. 
 I trust the widow and her Abigail will afford such funda- 
 mental consolation to you, that I shall be spar'd the pain 
 of a nocturnal visitation from your wailing shade. Tho', I 
 confess, I have so long wish'd to see a ghost, that if some 
 acquaintance whom I could better spare in this world would 
 promise faithfully to pay me a visit from the next, I should 
 be half inclin'd to wish him a speedy journey thither. You 
 cannot imagine how much pains I have taken to bring about 
 an interview of this kind. Last August I spent three hours 
 in and about the Abbey of Melrose by moonlight, and heard 
 the midnight bell toll without fear, and, alas ! without effect. 
 Neither Michael Scott, nor any other civil gentleman from 
 the infernal regions, was polite enough to do the honors of 
 the Abbey to me. If you can send me a receipt for raising 
 ghosts, prythee let me have it without delay. You ask for 
 my receipt for travelling so expeditiously : I'll tell you how I 
 contrived it. I enter'd the mail at Edinburgh on Monday 
 afternoon, reach'd Newark on Wednesday morning, left the 
 mail for a post-chaise, arid travell'd the remaining 110 miles 
 by myself as fast as I could make the post-boys drive me, 
 reaching Oxford in rather more than sixty hours from the 
 time of my leaving Dalkeith. I leave you to judge whether
 
 . SCOTT'S DRYDEN MR FOSTER. 241 
 
 I should have preferred this mode of performing the journey 
 to my former plan, if I had been allow'd free option. To 
 Hoddam Castle I still look forward with hope; indeed the 
 temptations you have held out in your description thereof 
 are such as would enable a less courageous man than I 
 esteem myself to surmount every intervening difficulty. I 
 hope you do not mean to insinuate that I am the person 
 under sentence of condemnation to read "W. Scott's pro- 
 jected publication : no, by the nose of Pelly, I will sooner 
 renounce his acquaintance for ever ! Now you will be 
 wondering what in the world can have suggested Felly's 
 nose to my imagination. Why, then, to satisfy your doubts, 
 I must inform you that the illustrious Pelly is curate of a 
 living belonging to my father not many miles hence, and 
 (woe is me !) I expect the honor of his company here this very 
 day an honor so far beyond my ambition, that I cannot even 
 bring myself to wish for it. You wrong the Last Minstrel in 
 suspecting that M r - Foster l is a creature of his fancy : I heard 
 of him and his Dryden before Scott told me anything about 
 the matter. Believe me, dear Sharpe, I look forward to our 
 meeting on or about the 14th with great satisfaction. By 
 the by, I have now reason, like yourself, to be desirous of 
 humbling the pride of that little impertinent upstart the 
 reader in Logic, and if you can devise any convenient method 
 of playing him a scurvy trick, you will find me a most willing 
 aider and abettor in the business. Believe me, y rs ' most 
 truly, JOHN MARKIOTT. 
 
 1 Mr Foster was a literary man who was engaged in the preparation 
 of an edition of Dryden's complete works at the same time as Scott con- 
 ceived the idea of editing " glorious John." Through want of encour- 
 agement from the publishers and want of funds, Mr Foster ultimately 
 retired from the field. 
 
 VOL. I.
 
 242 MISS BURTON SKETCH OF WELLESLEY. 
 
 C. KIRKPATRICK SHARPE to H. WELLESLEY, Esq. 1 
 
 [1805.] 
 
 DEAR W. Do not imagine this to be a billet-doux from 
 Miss Burton, else your disappointment may defeat the pur- 
 pose of iny letter far less believe me apt, like that engaging 
 creature, to pester mine acquaintance with such trash. The 
 truth is, I have a favour to ask of you, and, being exceedingly 
 bashful, prefer this method of doing it to the vulgar mode of 
 speech, which in modest people is ever accompanied with 
 blushes, hesitation, ill-expressed meanings, and a long train 
 of other unhappy circumstances. 
 
 Our acquaintance has been so short, that I am very sensible 
 of the liberty which I take with you ; but the death-warrant 
 of the term is already fixed up in hall, and the Dean and 
 tutors have begun to wrinkle their visages into the frown of 
 collections. So there is no time to be lost, more especially as I 
 verily do think that you cannot long survive the perusal of 
 those dreadful folios which are always open in your study. 
 
 Briefly, my request is this that you would do me the 
 favour of sitting still on a chair, or couch, or any thing else 
 you please, for one short half -hour, while I might copy your 
 face on paper. I am an admirer of Lavater, and conse- 
 quently But I shall say no more on this head till I 
 
 know whether you are propitious or not. Even gypsies are 
 wiser than to tell fortunes and pay compliments for nothing. 
 Pray drink tea with me this evening, and believe me, 
 
 C. K. S. 
 
 H. WELLESLEY, Esq., to C. KIRKPATRICK SHARPE. 
 
 DEAR SHARPE, Although my folios are so long, and our 
 acquaintance so short, I shall be happy to accept the honour 
 1 From a draft in Kirkpatrick Sharpe's handwriting.
 
 JTi?''] LORD DUNDEE RALPH FELL. 243 
 
 which you offer me, and am only afraid that the subject 
 which you have chosen will not do honour to the skill and 
 trouble of the painter. I am sorry that I have an engage- 
 ment to tea. Ever yours, H. WELLESLEY. 
 Sunday, CH. CH. [1805.] 
 
 E. SURTEES, Esq., to C. KlRKPATRICK SHAKPE. 
 
 MANISPORTH, Deer. 31, 1805. 
 
 DEAR SHARPS, I never was so much concerned in my life 
 before for a Scotch nobleman as I am for Lord Dundee. To 
 save you a long story, I told you a short one (anglict, A LIE), 
 saying, if I recollect, that the book was procured by a book- 
 seller; whereas, in fact, it was a friend or acquaintance of 
 mine I don't know which to call him, who was my school- 
 fellow, and with whom I have since at times had an inter- 
 rupted degree of communication whom I desired to ferret it 
 out if possible. He is (but I am not very sure of anything I 
 say concerning him, not having seen him for twelve years), I 
 believe, an author for the booksellers, writes in newspapers 
 and magazines and historical compilations ; a man of some 
 ability and of good acquirements, but obliged by penury to a 
 scrambling literary life. Though we had no constant inter- 
 course, I have at times been of service to him, and he has 
 always been ready to return the obligation ; and him I em- 
 ployed. And he wrote to me as before stated. Yea, and I 
 desired him to send it to you, giving a proper direction nr. 
 Ecclefechan, Carlisle, by Carlisle mail. I have had no deal- 
 ing with him since, but have written on rect. of y rs - to en- 
 quire and expedite. But my reason for telling you all this is,, 
 that in case you shd. be in London, and Dundee not previously 
 arrive, you may, if you think proper, either send a message to 
 or see him: his direction is Ealph Fell, 1 23 Winchester 
 
 1 Ealph Fell was a very industrious journalist and reviewer. He is- 
 now remembered only by his ' Life of Fox,' 2 vols., Lond. 1808.
 
 244 LORD DUNDEE BENTHAM. 
 
 Street, Pentonville. I believe he is a Whig, and was once 
 a Democrat ; but in regard to Lord Dundee, I think he w d - 
 nevertheless be faithful, and not persecute paper nor calf- 
 skin; and as it has not arrived, I apprehend it is on some 
 acct. which I cannot discover still in his hands. He is a man 
 who can give you good information of booksellers likely to 
 hold curious articles, and is perfectly acquainted with all the 
 trade; and I seriously believe he w 4 - oblige any friend of 
 mine to the utmost of his power remembering on y r - part to 
 treat him quasi gentleman. I here take opp^- to observe that 
 your pecuniary obligations to me are as follows : Lord Balcar- 
 res, 1 3 s - 6 d - ; ' Lord Dundee/ nothing at all for Fell is just 
 that kind of man that, if I desire him to get me a thing of the 
 kind, he would be offended if I offered to accept it otherwise 
 than as a present ; and this is quite between him and me only. 
 So the above sum need not press on your mind ; but in regard 
 to other reasons which may induce you to wish to see me, I 
 shall hope you will give as much weight as possible to them. I 
 should have been at Hoddam last autumn, but was extremely ill 
 for a length of time, so as quite to confine me to home being 
 your whorson slow fever and ague. I shall not be from home, 
 I think, till towards April, when I speculate on a journey to 
 Oxford ; but if you can think it of consequence to deviate so 
 far out of your track, shall be most happy to see you here. 
 The roads, &c., you know and have travelled, so I need not 
 explain those circumstances. I will come for you, should the 
 weather be suitable for such conveyance, with gig and whiskey 
 to any part of the road you chuse. Betham, 2 whom you have 
 been supplying, took me by surprize with his first vol. Eng- 
 
 1 Account of the Affairs of Scotland relating to the Revolution in 
 1688, as sent to the late King James II. when in France by Colin, Earl 
 of Balcarras, Lond. 1714. 
 
 2 Tried at York Assizes, March 17, 1820, for forging pedigrees and 
 registers, and sentenced to pay a fine of 50, and be imprisoned for 
 three months.
 
 ro i:] HERALDS' OFFICE. 245 
 
 lish, or I could have illustrated and corrected some families in 
 that part of his work very materially. In the latter part, and 
 in Scotland, I am much at a loss, and should like to see a good 
 Scotch book, and all the Hodges and lans and Kirkpatricks 
 in goodly rows. I by no means want a fellow-feeling for 
 your registral researches. My own topographical labours for 
 this county require equally minute attention, and now and 
 then a curious, refreshing anecdote repays a world of trouble. 
 I think if I go to London in the spring, it will be chiefly almost 
 to search in the Heralds' Office and the Prerogative Court for 
 explanatory wills. While I think of it, if you are in L. and 
 wish to see the stores of the Heralds' Office (there is a I don't 
 know if a ring or not taken from James IV. by Lord Surrey 
 at Flodon), only use my name to "W" 1 - Eadclyff, Esq., Eouge- 
 croix Poursuivant, who has chambers near the gateway in the 
 H. Office (Bennet's Hill, just by S*- Paul's), and he'll show you 
 the whole con amore, both out of regard to me and to the 
 venerable study of antiquities. Should he be absent, John 
 Atkinson, Somerset Herald, will be equally attentive ; but I 
 mention Eadclyff as being more scientific. The other will 
 be just as willing to serve you, and you may have what ex- 
 tracts you will on the strength of my name. Should your 
 time permit, you might like a visit to this place ; you will 
 see the ancient court of honour and chivalry, the marshall's 
 staves, &c. Next door is a refiner of sugar, and it is ten to 
 one the whole office is some time consumed by fire from that 
 execrable cause. E. S. 
 
 The seed arrived very safe. Many thanks. 
 
 I believe I had your former letter, and remember search- 
 ing for Afra or Africa Lady of the Isle of Man but could 
 find nothing to the purpose.
 
 246 BURLESQUE PETITION. 
 
 C. KIRKPATRICK SHARPE to the MARCHIONESS OF STAFFORD, 
 Countess of Sutherland. 
 
 DEAR MADAM, Tho', owing to some expressions dropt by 
 Lord Gower, I have long been attempting to "screw my 
 courage to the sticking place," and thank you by letter for 
 the many honours done me, yet I verily believe that I should 
 never have gained boldness enough to address you at all had 
 not my energies lately received a most powerful stimulus 
 from the prospect of an impending calamity, the circum- 
 stances of which are stated in the following Petition, which 
 I beg leave to lay at your Ladyship's feet : 
 
 To the most Noble the M. of S., the Petition of 
 
 C. K. S., Magister in artib-us, 
 Humbly showeth, 
 
 That your Petitioner hath for some time past supposed 
 himself to be honored by the regard of a certain young noble- 
 man nearly connected with y r L. 1 
 
 That, in consequence of this supposition, he hath not de- 
 meaned himself to his other friends over meekly ; whereupon 
 they have much fallen away, for which till now he did not 
 greatly care. 
 
 But within these few days a report hath got into circulation 
 that a person, 2 whom the aforesaid young nobleman (bewitched, 
 as 'tis said, by this person's mother, her son never being called 
 a wizzard by his greatest enemies) did formerly favour, is 
 about to pay a visit to the University; and on this bruit 
 prevailing, the Peer did declare that he should be glad to 
 see him which implies that he should be much with him 
 which signifies, alas ! that your Petitioner must be degraded 
 
 1 Earl Gower. 
 
 2 The Honourable William Beauchamp Lygon, second Earl Beau- 
 champ, whose name is often mentioned in the correspondence.
 
 BURLESQUE PETITION. 247 
 
 from his present situation, and obliged to play second 
 cremona in his society, which, as Cato thought, is worse than 
 playing no fiddle at all. 
 
 Your disconsolate Petitioner conceives this to be a most 
 pitiful case, not only on his own account, but that of the 
 young nobleman ; for the sages of the writing schools, when 
 they come to the letter E, do always instruct their disciples 
 to note down that Evil communication corrupteth good man- 
 ners. And that this person in hand is of evil communication, 
 the following documents your Petitioner humbly hopeth will 
 most clearly and sufficiently prove ! 
 
 First, Nature herself did form him to be of evil com- 
 munication, for she wasted so much of her materials on his 
 nose, that the rest of his head was left in a very unfinished 
 condition, so that 'tis miraculous that the weight of it doth 
 not weigh his skull to the ground ; and philosophers hold him 
 as wonderful a specimen of the power of gravity in Nature 
 as the hanging tower of Pisa is in Art, while wags have com- 
 pared his head to a warming-pan, which hath a brazen face 
 with a long handle to it, and contains nothing but cinders. 
 
 Secondly, tho' time was that a person of quality, who was 
 certainly an ancestor of my Lord Strangford, sweetly sings 
 that " Nature must give way to Art," she hath scarcely yielded 
 an inch in this case, for he hath little acquired wisdom and 
 no literature at all. He keeps a lamentable pother with his 
 pedigree, when every one knoweth that he is descended from 
 a long line of silk-mercers and milliners ; and many did not 
 believe a certain great personage crazed till he made his father 
 a peer. He had the assurance to derive himself from Guy of 
 Warwick ; whereas, if his ancestor did slay wild cows, 'twas 
 with a much less noble weapon than a knight's sword ; and if 
 he then met with a cruel Phillis, 'tis more than any of his 
 descendants have since done! Indeed, Phillis's pantouffle, 
 now preserved at Warwick Castle, is a full confutation of the 
 whole story ; for there is no mark of a patten having been
 
 248 BURLESQUE PETITION. * 
 
 worn to preserve it, neither is there a hole at the toe made by 
 kicking of her henpecked husband. 
 
 Truly this person is as learned as his ancestor Guy may 
 have been. When examined for his degree, the Masters 
 craving the name of the Jewish Lawgiver, he replied Sir 
 Will. Blackstone, and asserted that good works could save 
 us without faith (which is an evil doctrine for himself, God 
 wot), a thing that proved him a follower of the rascally 
 Arminius. 
 
 He is like D r - Caius, not only an abuser of heaven's pa- 
 tience but of the King's English ; for when Mistress Eachel 
 Fanny Antonina Lee, 1 daughter unlawful to the late Lord le 
 Despencer, took a trip to Tetsworth (with her friends), and 
 then tryed to hang them for their pains, persuaded her friends 
 to, and when she did confess before my Lord the Judge and 
 Jury that she was wont to wear an amulet this person re- 
 marked, "Had not Mrs Lee said so herself, I should never 
 have believed that she wore an omelet." 
 
 He had once a mind to be sprightly, and wrote an epistle 
 in verse to one Eachel Burton, 2 whom he calls his Chloe. 
 He directed it to Kloe, and concluded it with 
 
 " Yours tel deth, tel deth does cum, 
 And shut mi upp in the cold turn." 3 
 
 FlLLANDER. 
 
 Such things being of verity, your Petitioner humbly hopes 
 that your LP- will take them into consideration, and so exert 
 your parental authority that no evil may accrue to any con- 
 cerned, saving to those deserving of tribulation and disgrace. 
 
 And your Petitioner shall ever pray ! 4 
 
 1 See ante, p. 194, note. 2 See ante, p. 214. 3 See ante, p. 210. 
 
 4 The above letter and petition are printed from a draft in Charles 
 Kirkpatrick Sharpe's handwriting. It seems improbable that they were 
 sent to Lady Stafford.
 
 DEATH OF MRS DUFF. 249 
 
 CHAKLES KIRKPATKICK SHAEPE to 
 
 [CHELTENHAM] 1 Jan. 1806. 
 
 [This, indeed, will give me considerable vexation ; but I am 
 so extremely unlucky, and so inured to such events, that my 
 mind hath become in a great measure callous. I now re- 
 semble those old witches we read of, who were so long pricked 
 and scratched with pins and needles, that. they could slumber 
 in the midst of their misfortunes, and in some sort set their 
 ill stars at defiance. 
 
 Poems. The talent of spinning out such long dismal ware 
 is certainly very amusing to one's self; but woe be to the 
 friends of the spinner they are caught and entangled, and 
 wearied out like flies among cobwebs; and if they venture 
 to show their feeling, by their buzzing, the enraged spider 
 issueth from her den, and falleth upon their devoted heads 
 without the smallest mercy.] 
 
 Our fine gentlemen and finer ladies of C. 2 received a dismal 
 shock lately in the death of Mrs D., 3 who was sister to the 
 Duchess of S., 4 wife to Lord F.'s heir, and one of the most 
 portentous signs in the zodiac of Ed. 5 She could laugh with- 
 out being diverted, eat and drink without being h. or th., and 
 live without sleep; yet a slight scratch on the tip of the 
 nose from the tooth of a lap-dog subdued this heroine, and 
 she hath left " that name at which the world," &c. Eight 
 months ago a mad cur bit three of Col. D.'s canine friends 
 and his wife's lap-dog. The husband's favourites were 
 
 1 Only a fragmentary draft of this letter in Charles Kirkpatrick 
 Sharpe's handwriting has been found among his papers. 
 
 2 Cheltenham. 
 
 3 Mrs Duff, Lady Mary Caroline, daughter of John Manners, Esq., and 
 Louisa, Countess of Dysart ; wife of Colonel James Duff, afterwards 
 fourth Earl of Fife. 
 
 4 Lady Louisa Grace Tollemache, married to Aubrey, sixth Duke of 
 St Albans. 
 
 5 Edinburgh.
 
 250 DEATH OF MRS DUFF. 
 
 1806. 
 
 quickly hanged, but Pompey, poor dear, had too sweet a 
 disposition to be dreaded, and was suffered to recline him- 
 self on his mistress's lap, till he took it into his head to 
 start up and bite her nose. The wound was slight, and, 
 tho' P. suffered death for his crime, no more thought of 
 till a few days previous to the lady's decease, when, being 
 however not exactly mad, she exhibited many symptoms of 
 hydrophobia, and expired in those shocking spasms incident 
 to it. Immediately all Ed. was in an uproar no nose was 
 so much talked of since the days of Tristram's Don Diego, 
 and a report prevailed that the ladies were all resolved to 
 sacrifice their lap-dogs to the manes of Mrs D., or, in other 
 words, to the consideration of their own safety. Not a 
 grain of rouge was left on a single cheek in E. with weeping ; 
 not one female tongue ceased talking of the catastrophe for a 
 week. " Oh, she was a sweet creature ! She had bought a 
 whole cargo of silk stockings the day before she fell ill, and 
 expected new liveries for the footmen every moment. In- 
 deed she had not one fault on the face of the earth. She 
 was to have been at a ball the very night she died." x 
 
 In such elegiac strains was she celebrated by the circle of 
 her friends which really rendered ludicrous an otherwise 
 melancholy story ; and her death hath buried in oblivion the 
 mar. of Mr T. Sh., 2 so wondered at by all the Scottish world. 
 This Thomas had gained the heart of every woman from 
 the C. 3 to the A., 4 and again from the Circus to Char. 
 Sq. 5 Those who escaped his beauty were slain by his wit, 
 and he reigned triumphant till a little while ago, that his 
 m. with Miss C. got wind. 6 When the Lord M. heard of 
 
 1 Mrs Duffs death certainly created a great sensation, all the more as 
 it was currently rumoured that the treatment resorted to was the same 
 as that applied to Mr Blackmore's Parson Chowne. 
 
 2 Sheridan. 3 Castle. 4 Holyrood Abbey. 5 Charlotte Square. 
 6 Thomas Sheridan, eldest son of Richard Brinsley Sheridan, married 
 
 November 1, 1805, Miss Callander, daughter of Sir John Callander, 
 Prestonhouse Hall.
 
 1806. 
 
 "] TOM SHERIDAN'S MARRIAGE. 251 
 
 it, he did not say with Lear, &c., but stared wild and 
 wide with his one eye, and his lady exclaimed "Oh good- 
 ness ! " which was a great deal from her. I will not tell 
 you a scan, story concerning "6 months gone," which is 
 very common ; but if it be true, I am glad of it, for it is a 
 pity when witty families decay for want of heirs, and if 
 Savage's pos. in a cert. poe. of his are just, this babe will 
 certainly have a double portion of the vis comica, the Sherri- 
 danian energy. 1 
 
 My aunt in a sad quandary driven out into the wide 
 world with a small helpless family of chiffoniers, writing- 
 tables, and footstools. 
 
 When shall we have done with Lord N.'s 2 latter will and 
 test., and " my dear friend Lady H. " ? 3 Surely in some 
 things great men are not to be envied. Here is a poor 
 nobleman who was of infinite service to his country, and 
 died a most glorious death, suffering in his memory under 
 cartloads of elegy, not one of which is tolerable; under 
 mountains of misplaced praise, alias prose ; and dissected by 
 anatomical biographers into a thousand ridiculous personal 
 anecdotes, which make us most irreverently laugh, when we 
 should melt into a flood of tears. 
 
 CHAELES K. SHARPE to Mrs SHARPE, Hoddam. 
 
 Wednesday, 21 Jan. 1806. 
 
 MY DEAR MOTHER, Here I am safe and very sound after 
 my tedious pilgrimage, which went off with tolerable mcon- 
 venience. I got a place in the mail with great ease, learning 
 from the waiter at the Bush that my two friends, the Ver- 
 nons, had gone up to town in a like vehicle only the day 
 
 1 "Feb. 1. In Great George Street, Hanover Square, the wife of 
 Thomas Sheridan, Esq. (son of E. B. S., Esq.), of a son." 'Annual 
 Eegister,' 1806. 
 
 2 Lord Nelson. 3 Lady Hamilton.
 
 252 AN UNPLEASANT JOURNEY. [SH^WW. 
 
 before. I had no fixed companions all the way ; and at night 
 suffered much from the cold, tho' it hath produced neither 
 colds in the head nor toothaches. The emptiness of the 
 coach was a great comfort to my legs, which got full play ; 
 but there came in every now and then some beastly creature 
 to travel a stage or so, and I was nearly smothered with 
 stink. To give you some little idea of the elegant manners 
 of my society, you must know that the first night a fellow 
 was admitted for a few miles, who, while I was half asleep, 
 sat down upon his knees in the bottom of the coach, I verily 
 believing that he was a pious person about to say his prayers. 
 Alas ! it was for a very mundane purpose, as a noisome 
 steam, and the wetness of the straw under my feet, quickly 
 proved to my enraged feelings. But there is no redress for 
 such injuries ; tho' I failed not to flyte a little, threatening 
 to have the rascal thrust forth into the middle of the mire by 
 the hands of our supreme master of ceremonies, the guard. 
 
 One of the horses fell on the summit of Stanmore, and there 
 was a sad swearing and pulling before it was got up again. 
 We got a clown to tug it by the tail whilst we drew at the 
 head, and I could not help laughing in the middle of our cold 
 dilemma at the crustiness of this Hobbinol. The people al- 
 ways shouted to him, " Pull harder, and be d d ! " At last 
 
 he retorted, very short, " If I pull any more, I'll pull it off." 
 Another horse broke its leg between Ferry Bridge and Don- 
 caster, but no serious harm ensued from either of these 
 accidents. I found all here well, tho' I think that Mrs S. is 
 looking wretchedly ill indeed. The cottage is delightful, but 
 so far from London that I shall never be able to go anywhere 
 in the spring. Matthew has got it a great bargain. To a 
 person who keeps a carriage it is invaluable, I think. The 
 lady who took it over Matthew's head died after her bargain, 
 and I hope hath gone to heaven, as one cannot help taking 
 some pleasure in her decease. You will wonder that I have 
 been so long of mentioning the Duke of Q . Matthew
 
 sHAR^TsoJ ARRIVAL AT OXFORD. 253 
 
 has heard nothing of his illness, but is going to London to- 
 day, and intends to call upon him. His physicians lately said 
 that he might well live six or seven years yet, and the report 
 concerning his decline of a month was quite false. I hope 
 the other is so too. Matthew desires me to say that he will 
 write to you soon. He seems to fear lest Sandy will not take 
 such good care of a certain paper as he should, but I think 
 there is little danger. Matthew never hears from him. I 
 shall go to Oxford on Monday, if possible. How to get at 
 stage-coaches in this out o' the way place I know not. Miss 
 Lloyd is here, and seems to be a fixture. I hope you all 
 made out your journey as well as I have accomplished mine. 
 No snow falling to impede it. Give many loves from me to 
 my sister and aunt. Excuse this hasty scrawl, performed 
 with an abominable pen, and believe me, dear mother, your 
 affectionate son, CH. KIRKPATRICK SHARPE. 
 
 P.S. My last letter did not arrive here in time, so I was 
 a sort of surprise to them. Pray do not mention my stoppage 
 near London to anybody, and also forbid Ellen to do it, as I 
 intend not to call on my friends this bout. Indeed I shall 
 not be able to cultivate them much afterwards. The Staffords 
 are not in town, I believe. 
 
 WALTER SCOTT, Esq., to C. KIRKPATRICK SHARPE. 
 
 [Feb.] 1806. 
 
 MY DEAR SIR, I enclose the ' Tale of the Bard of Caith- 
 ness/ which I like very much. Some parts are quite delight- 
 ful. Should you not say something of the effect produced on 
 the Earl by the wasting of the waxen figure and its removal ? 
 I might mention one or two criticisms to give value to my 
 general applause, but have not time at this moment. 
 
 I left my name at Cleveland House when I came to town,
 
 254 JOURNEY TO LONDON. 
 
 and shall do the same to-day when I am about to leave it. I 
 would have been very glad to have had an opportunity of 
 expressing to the Marchioness of Stafford my continued sense 
 of her civility the last time I was in town, but I must now 
 trust to you to do it for me, as I set out to-morrow. Believe 
 me, yours ever truly, W. SCOTT. 
 
 BURY STREET, Monday. 
 
 Do you go to the Tower with Lady Douglas, 1 &c., to-morrow ? 
 I wish you would. 
 
 C. KIEKPATEICK SHAEPE to Mrs SHAEPE. 
 
 OXFORD, Monday morning, but v;hat day of the 
 month I know not [probably March], 1806. 
 
 MY DEAR MOTHER, Pull forth your handkerchief and 
 prepare your eyes for weeping, for I am about to tell a tale 
 of griefs and miscarriages which must needs rouse all the 
 sympathies of your soul, and excite those tears which the 
 benevolent are wont to bestow on suffering humanity. 
 
 In an evil hour did I forsake the peaceful shades and calm 
 repose of Hoddam Castle, for the uneasy stages and torment- 
 ing labour of a mail-coach. It was during the influence of 
 an unlucky star, I say, 
 
 " When first, ambitious of the town, 
 I left my books and robes of country brown ; " 
 
 for my calamities commenced even at Carlisle, where I got 
 not one scruple of sleep the whole night, and consequently 
 began my journey with the sensation of having already 
 travelled an hundred or two of miles. It snowed terribly on 
 Stanmore, and, worse still, the greatest part of the following 
 day ; and I reached London with the toothache in that tooth 
 which began to moulder away lately, and with pains in every 
 
 1 Lady Frances Scott, sister of Henry, third Duke of Buccleuch, and 
 wife of Archibald, first Lord Douglas, of Douglas Castle.
 
 Tsoe.] ARRIVAL IN LONDON OXFORD COACH. 255 
 
 part of my body ; the blister marks on my bitten leg smarting 
 to such a degree, that I verily did believe that my old wounds 
 were about to open afresh. I went to bed for three hours, 
 then arose, and calling a coach, repaired to Gordon's hotel, 
 where no Stapleton was to be heard of. You may imagine 
 my indignation ; but there was no room to fume and flyte, so 
 I suddenly took the resolution to call upon Miss Lloyd, 1 and 
 see what could be done with her. To Brompton was I driven 
 (the whole length of the town from the Bull and Mouth, as 
 the map will show you), where, to my farther dismay, I 
 learnt that the fair mistress of the Hermitage had let her 
 house, and repaired to Bath. "Well, there was only one other 
 attempt to be made. I went to the British coffee-house and 
 inquired for General Campbell : he also was at Bath ; and I 
 jogged back to the Bull in my coach, which, from the many 
 impediments which such vehicles meet with, did not reach 
 the goal till after the first coach for Oxford (which goes at 
 one o'clock) had set off. I had to wait four hours in that 
 stinking noisy stye ; but time certainly flies fast at the slow- 
 est, and I found myself about five o'clock in a crowded stage, 
 with two lean men and one fat, who sat on my side, all mighty 
 disagreeable. We travelled slow, and about High Wickham 
 I fell asleep, when all of a sudden I felt a blow upon my 
 head, and waking, found the coach overturned completely 
 into the ditch. My fat companion lay under me, and the first 
 noise I heard, for there was a silence for about half a minute, 
 was a half -asleep soliloquy from him " What is this on the 
 top of me ? " The idea of the nightmare immediately struck 
 me, and tho' in a most disagreeable situation, I could not help 
 bursting into a fit of laughter, which seemed to rouse the 
 whole party. We got the glass down, and scrambled out of 
 the coach-window into the road, ankle-deep with mud, and 
 full of huge holes. Luckily the pot-house where the coach- 
 men stop to refresh themselves was not far distant, and 
 1 Aunt to Mrs Matthew Sharpe.
 
 256 ARRIVAL AT OXFORD. [n^Jiao*. 
 
 thither, guided by a faint ray of light, did we bend our steps. 
 There were, besides inside passengers, four outside pilgrims, 
 and the guard ; yet not one person was materially hurt. I, 
 however, had like to have been spilt before I got to the ale- 
 house ; for, feeling giddy and confused, I stept into the ditch, 
 and fell against the wall, damaging both my head and 
 hands. At last we reached the cottage, where was a good fire, 
 and an old woman warming pots of ale for a company of rus- 
 ticks carousing in her chalmer of daise, alias parlour. We 
 waited here for about an hour, till the wheel of the coach, 
 which came off, owing to the failure of the lynche-pin, was 
 put on again ; but I could have remained much longer, as the 
 tumble had made me forget my fatigue, and the collection 
 of clowns, who issued half-drunk from the adjoining room, 
 formed the most entertaining groupe which you can possibly 
 imagine. I reached Oxford about four in the morning, and 
 and so ends my melancholy story. 
 
 Did you ever hear anything like it? I did not write 
 yesterday, because no letters leave this on Sunday ; indeed I 
 was not over able to put pen to paper at any rate. I have got 
 rooms near Ch. Ch., and found more of my acquaintances here 
 than a person of my age in the University could reasonably 
 expect, and all very kind, which is pleasant. Gower said 
 tliricc that he was glad to see me, but he's the same man 
 still. "Upon my word, Jenny makes excellent soupe." 
 Impey, Coneybeare, Inglis, my cousin Tarpley, &c., &c., are 
 here ; but alas ! my dear mother, Lygon's father is actually 
 made a Peer, 1 and that brute is now the son of Lord Beau- 
 champ. I am sick whenever I think of it, and positively the 
 D. of Q. 2 must be applied to once more. 
 
 1 "William Lygon, Esq., represented Worcestershire in six successive 
 Parliaments, extending over a period of thirty years ; created Baron Beau- 
 champ of Powyke, Worcester, February 26, 1806 ; advanced to Earl 
 Beauchamp 1815. 
 
 2 Duke of Queensberry.
 
 MWU06.] FEVER AT OXFORD. 257 
 
 I found four letters awaiting me here one from Miss 
 Pitman, announcing the removal of her and her friends to 
 Bath ; one from Stapleton, whereby I perceive that he still 
 continues to make his wonted blunders ; one from the Colonel 
 (of an old date), who imagined that I was in Oxford when he 
 went to London, and wished me to go up and accompany him 
 to Ipswich. Here follows an extract from his epistle : " You 
 would see or hear that the great Baronet Mackenzie l had been 
 at Court; and the papers having neglected to announce so 
 very interesting a piece of intelligence, he was at the trouble 
 and expense of having it inserted in the news of the follow- 
 ing day." My fourth letter was from Miss Campbell, dated 
 " Bath," in which she mentions a rumour concerning an in- 
 fectious fever at Oxford, and presses me most kindly to repair 
 to Bath immediately. 
 
 There is no infectious fever here, but the report had a very 
 sad foundation. Two sons of the Bishop of Carlisle 2 travelled 
 up hither in a great haste, and were both seized with violent 
 fevers the day of their arrival. My acquaintance, George, 3 
 escaped, tho' he is still very ill ; but his brother 4 died, being a 
 youth of much promise, wise, and what is wonderful (tho' 'tis 
 the truest proof of wisdom), religious. He is gone, poor soul, 
 where he will surely find it so, and hath left his father in 
 very deep distress, who arrived too late to see him in life. I 
 was much shocked by the story at first, as I imagined George 
 to have been the victim; and have been still more struck 
 to-day by another piece of intelligence concerning young 
 Addington, 5 whom I did much esteem, in spite of those jeers 
 
 1 Sir Alexander Muir Mackenzie of Delvine, Perthshire, was created 
 a baronet 9th Nov. 1805. 
 
 2 Edward Venables Vernon, D.D., translated to York 1807. 
 
 3 George Venables Vernon. See post, 274. 
 
 4 Edward Venables Vernon, University prizeman (Latin verse, Natale 
 Solum) 1805 ; died of fever January 25, 1806. 
 
 5 Henry Addington, eldest son of Lord Sidmouth. He enjoyed the 
 sinecure of Clerk of the Pells. 
 
 VOL. I. E
 
 258 DEATH OF PITT. [SHA^^W. 
 
 which you have heard me cast upon his papa and himself. 
 He hath sunk into a state of the deepest despondence, and 
 actually made an attempt on his own life some time since, 
 by stabbing himself in the side with a pen-knife. Fortunately 
 the wound was not mortal ; but, alas ! it will certainly be re- 
 peated. This is a dismal case, humiliating to human nature ; 
 for the young man was quite free from every kind of fashion- 
 able vice, and of a very placid temper. Yet such a horrible 
 desire has seized him, as in general only torments those of a 
 profligate or devilish disposition. Miss Campbell says in her 
 letter " The General is now in London, busy doing the last 
 honours to poor Mr Pitt, 1 with whose measures, tho' I often 
 quarrelled during his life, I am by no means like Mr Fox, for 
 death has drawn a veil over all his failings, and left nothing 
 on my mind but his virtues ; and I pray night and day that 
 those who refused him funeral honours, more especially Fox 
 and "Wmdham, may themselves die in a ditch which, if the 
 administration falls into their hands (as it no doubt will), 
 seems to me very likely for they will certainly put their 
 country into the power of Buonaparte, and receive the reward 
 due to their deeds ; but what is to become of us ? " 
 
 My cousin Macdonald hath not got the fortune which he 
 expected with his well-born spouse, for mistress bride hath 
 only fifteen hundred a-year, and no expectations. My dear 
 mother, forgive this sad incoherent and scrawled composure, 
 seeing that my head is yet far from sound, and my hand very 
 unsteady. With love to the young ladies, I ever am, your 
 affec. son, CHAKLES KIRKP K - SHARPE. 
 
 Not a word in any letter but the Colonel's concerning Jane 
 
 C 's marriage. How do you like my Lord Ardrossan 
 
 the new English peer ? 2 
 
 1 Mr Pitt died 23d Jan. 1806. 
 
 2 Hugh Montgomery, twelfth Earl of Eglinton, was created a peer of 
 the United Kingdom by the title of Baron Ardrossan.
 
 LYTTELTON AND LYGON. 259 
 
 WILLIAM FITZGERALD, Esq., to C. KIRKPATRICK SHARPE. 
 
 No. 6 KING'S BENCH WALK, INNER TEMPLE, 
 Wednesday, 19th. 
 
 MY DEAR SHARPE, I promised to write to you, and day 
 after day I have determined to keep my promise, but still 
 have deferred it, hoping that something might occur worth 
 my writing about. But if I wait much longer, I fear that 
 you will have left Oxford, and then, ignorant of your address, 
 I shall lament that I suffered so much time to elapse. 
 
 Of myself I have nothing to say. The same uncertainty 
 with respect to some arrangements here continues, and of 
 course the incertitude hangs over that which interests me 
 also; and in the same doubt and suspense I shall be for 
 some time obliged to remain, so that it is more than prob- 
 able I shall pass part of the next term at Oxford. Have I 
 any chance of meeting you there ? That would determine 
 me. I have given up the plan of going to Ireland, so that 
 if you come to town you will certainly find me. 
 
 To tell you this, and to mention my address, are indeed my 
 only motives for writing now. I hope I have not deferred it 
 too long, and that my hasty or tardy rather communication 
 will reach you at Oxford. You will, I am sure, call on me 
 when you come here, and you will find no one anywhere 
 to whom it will give greater pleasure to meet you than it 
 will afford to yours most affectionately, 
 
 WILLIAM FITZGERALD. 
 
 For where to find me, look to the top of my letter. 
 
 P.S. Have you read Lyttleton's 1 advertisement, and 
 Lygon's reply ? I know not which to say the insolence and 
 grossness of the one, and the pusillanimity of the other shock 
 me. But I congratulate you and Miss Burton on Lygon's 
 
 1 The Hon. "William Beauchamp Lygon and Hon. William Henry 
 Lyttelton were elected Knights of the Shire for Worcestershire, 1806.
 
 260 THE NEWDIGATE OFFER. 
 
 success. I certainly wished him to beat the other, as much 
 from regard to him do not smile as from dislike of his 
 arrogant competitor. Farewell. 
 
 Make my comp* 8 - to the hospitable men of All Souls', and 
 to your frigid cousin the Earl Gower. 
 
 E. B. IMPEY, Esq., to C. KIRKPATRICK SHAEPE. 
 
 CH. CH., April 9, 1806. 
 
 MY DEAR SHARPE, This letter is predestined either to be 
 very fortunate or very unlucky there is no medium ; for if I 
 calculate aright from the data which you have supplied, it 
 will either reach you just as you are in the act of stepping 
 into the chaise to-morrow morning, or it will arrive the 
 morning after you have quitted Gray's. You do not give me 
 credit for half the suspense and anxiety which I have felt 
 during the interval of your departure and the completion of 
 your promise ; which, notwithstanding the event of my dear 
 son's arrival, the pleasing abstraction resulting from my daily 
 intercourse with Barnes and Wood, and the speculations 
 afforded by the perusal of Mr Wyndham's speech 1 and Mr 
 Patch's trial, 2 has been impatiently expected. Alas ! alas ! 
 how shall I answer your kind inquiries after the Caesars, and 
 their kinsmen the heroes of the Pomfret collection ? The 
 hard-hearted Hornsby, 3 who, if he has any bowels at all, is 
 endowed with such as might be supposed to enter into the 
 
 1 On the revision of the military establishments. 
 
 2 Patch was tried and convicted of the murder of his employer, Mr 
 Blight, to whom he was under pecuniary obligations. He was executed 
 on the 8th April, but refused to confess. 
 
 3 In December 1805, Sir Roger Newdigate, who was related to the 
 Countess of Pomfret, offered to transfer at his own expense the Pomfret 
 (and other) marbles to the Radcliffe Library, and place them properly, 
 restoring " any deficient parts or attributes of the statues." This was 
 opposed by Dr Hornsby, keeper of the Radcliffe Library, in papers 
 dated March 20th and 24th, 1806. 
 
 The idea of the Caesars (noseless statues) being part of the restoration
 
 To^Tl^foo.'] THE NEWDIGATE BEQUEST. 261 
 
 anatomy of any one of the said effigies, still holds out strenu- 
 ously against the intrigues of Sir Eoger. 1 Mrs Hornsby is 
 said to have taken umbrage at that mode of expression, ex- 
 claiming in the words of Mrs Winifred Jenkins, " Eoger this 
 and Eoger that, he never shall Eoger me, I can assure him." 
 Guard yourself against the baleful effects of envy, when you 
 are told that for two days successively I have eaten no mut- 
 ton-pyes but at the table of my good, dear, hospitable Will. 
 It is a fact ; and, what must in your judgment enhance the 
 honour, my Lady Peggie on one of the days was invited to 
 meet me. The conversation on that day turned chiefly upon 
 a certain placard, the name of whose author seems no longer 
 to be a mystery, tho' I vow, for my part, he might be as 
 anonymous as St James's correspondent himself. Professor 
 Eobertson, who boasts an acquaintance with the author, with 
 whom he had once travelled, as he says, to Carlisle, produced 
 a copy, much to the delight of Will, the consequence of 
 which was that Taliacotius usurp'd the conversation for the 
 rest of the evening, there was no getting rid of him it was 
 worse than the mutton-pyes. By the bye, it was proposed to 
 offer the place of cicerone, upon the removal of the Emperours, 
 to young Bleukinsop, in compensation for his losses in the 
 event of S r - E. Newdigate's scheme being adopted. . . . 
 I have engaged to meet my father in London on Monday 
 next: I'm disappointed in not knowing your lodgings. I 
 shall make no secret of mine, which will be at Ibbotson's 
 Hotel in Vere Street, to which place I will now transfer all 
 further communication, and meanwhile remain sincerely 
 yours, E. B. IMPEY. 
 
 My old coat is much surprised at the freedom of your new 
 pantaloons in venturing to address one who is entitled at 
 
 is clearly a humorous suggestion to ridicule the original proposal, and 
 would lead directly up to the mention of Taliacotius (Tagliacozzi), for 
 whom, see Hudibras. 
 
 1 Sir Eoger Newdigate, M.P. for Oxford University 1750-1786; died 
 November 23, 1806.
 
 262 EXPLANATORY AND COMFORTING. Vc.'^'isoe.' 
 
 least to as much veneration as might be bestowed by a 
 formal introduction. It begs leave to remind them that they 
 must first be considerably retrench'd in order to conform to 
 the present fashion before they claim acquaintance, with one 
 
 who has outlived a dozen. With regard to Mrs M m's 
 
 breeches, tho' they may be very fast company for such up- 
 start cockups as most of the family of the Pantaloons are 
 known to be, it begs leave to say that it has not yet come to 
 such desperate extremities as to be acquainted with them 
 otherwise than by report. 
 
 C. KIRKPATRICK SHARPE to Mrs SHARPE, Hocldam. 
 
 OXFORD, Thursday [about June 1806]. 
 
 MY DEAR MOTHER, At last the comedy is concluded, and 
 the curtain dropt. My London gaieties are at an end. But 
 before I say more concerning them, allow me to touch upon 
 a few of the more interesting topicks of your last letter, which 
 reached me amid all the fascinating dissipations of the 
 metropolis. 
 
 You call me a Job's comforter, because you mistake an 
 expression in my former epistle which was written in great 
 haste and confusion when I asserted that a young lady of 
 our acquaintance was little used to truth or sense. I talked 
 in a very general meaning. You know that I have always 
 accused you of carrying your admiration of truth too far ; and 
 as to sense, what can one or two feeble mortals do against the 
 irresistible influence of twenty volumes of ' Bell's British,' in 
 an old solitary castle, with many antient trees and few young 
 gentlemen ? However, I will now try to be somewhat more 
 comfortable, by assuring you that I firmly believe that things 
 will come round again, and that this scornful Nancy will at 
 last become the bride of her more scornful swain, into whose 
 concerns I've been lugged, sore against my will, by the incon- 
 tinent tongues, as I now am certain, of two persons, who, tho' 
 as selfish as their neighbours, have not discretion or know-
 
 8 *Tso6.] LONDON GAIETIES. 263 
 
 ledge of the world sufficient to make them speak well of their 
 relatives for their own sakes. 
 
 But enough of this. And now, my dear mother, I must 
 tell you that I have been about five weeks in London, at a 
 horrid expense, but with some success in court-paying. I will 
 not give you any account of the sights I saw or the parties 
 I was at, because you do not greatly care for such things, and 
 I intend to send a catalogue of them to the two young ladies ; 
 but you must know that the Staffords heaped kindnesses upon 
 me. I dined frequently at Cleveland House with dukes and 
 lords innumerable. Lady Stafford (who is a most captivat- 
 ing person) gave me a print of herself ; a general invitation ; 
 and desired me to correspond with her. I think my affairs 
 in a good posture, tho' in the meantime I am utterly ruined, 
 and making up my mind to set off for Scotland directly. 
 
 At least for Cheltenham, whither the General, who said that 
 he was to pass through this place in a few days, is to carry 
 me ; in truth somewhat unwillingly, as I would fain see as 
 much as possible of Gower, who is to be here but three weeks 
 longer, and hath gained my entire good graces ; yet my purse 
 will permit no stay, as of the late draft I have but sixteen 
 pounds remaining. This you need not tell my father; but 
 inform him, with my love, that he will, I'm persuaded, soon 
 receive a call for money from another quarter a call which, 
 I hope, he will consider well before he refuses. 1 In short, the 
 D. of Q., who at present really hath some interest, is to exert 
 himself in his favour, and I expect accounts of his success 
 daily. The people in power are attempting to cajole him 
 concerning the politicks of Dumfriesshire, but his Grace is 
 pretty cunning. He is looking quite beautiful (circulate this, 
 pray) and very well, saving deafness. If my father refuses 
 to avail himself of his efforts, he will certainly do his family 
 an injury. If he hath not the money ready, let him borrow 
 it ; and do you, my dear mother, submit to your dignity with 
 
 1 The offer of a baronetcy was made to Mr Sharpe of Hoddam, and 
 declined, in 1806.
 
 264 LORD MELVILLE'S TRIAL. [saS^ww. 
 
 patience, and take no notice of it in conversation to any of 
 your neighbours. 
 
 Mathew was a few days in town during my sojourn there, 
 and is to be up again soon. I felt at first much alarmed 
 about Ellen, but now hope that everything is in a fair way. 
 I did not see much of the Herries family, owing to their 
 villainous country house. Lady Laurie I visited frequently ; 
 Lady Alva 1 once, with Gower; but tho' Lady Stafford had 
 prepared her the day before to see me, I perceived that she 
 never clearly remembered who I was, and is so very deaf that 
 it was painful to talk to her. Lady S. told me that before 
 Gower came hither, Lady A. talked of me to him constantly ; 
 yet, when she heard that we really were become friends, she 
 said, " Aye, I always was sure that it would be so, so I took 
 care never to mention Charles Sharpe's name to him, that he 
 might find him out his self." I met a Mr and Mrs Crawford 
 at Cleveland House, the former of whom told me that he had 
 once the pleasure of being acquainted with you, and spoke of 
 Lady Dumfries as of a relation. 
 
 Susan wrote to me some days since on a subject which you 
 may guess. I am very well pleased, and she certainly shall 
 have my consent. She gives me an invitation to the Litchfield 
 races, where Gower and Lewisham are to be the stewards ; 
 but, alas ! what are invitations to me, now that the hotel 
 people have cheated me out of all my money ! 
 
 The Browns 2 behaved to me like sisters while I was in 
 London. Maria hath certainly married an old man, but she 
 possesses a good house, &c., &c., and there is nothing disgusting 
 about her January. I went three days to Lord Melville's trial. 
 The first was taken up, as the newspapers would tell you 
 by Whitbread's speech, who declaimed in a velvet coat, a bag, 
 and laced ruffles. You would have laughed had you seen the 
 sedulous care with which his friends gave him sips of wine- 
 and- water to wet his whistle, and clouts for his mouth and 
 nose. I thought his speech very clear, but in a miserable bad 
 1 See ante, p. 112. 2 g ee ante ^ p 175>
 
 DUCHESS OF GORDON. 265 
 
 taste; and so abusive that Lord Melville smiled very fre- 
 quently. That monster Fox was there, covered with a gray 
 cloak, in which, I suppose, Mrs Armstead formerly walked 
 the streets, his sallow cheeks hanging down to his paunch, 
 and his scowling eyes turned sometimes on Mr Whitbread, 
 sometimes on the rows of pretty peeresses, who sat eating 
 sandwiches from silk indispensables, and putting themselves 
 in proper attitudes to astonish the representatives of the 
 Commons of England occupying the opposite benches. Lord 
 Melville will certainly get clear, and be made quite a saint 
 of by his own party. 
 
 Magdalene Murray also was good to me, and I begin to 
 like Sir James very much. I dined at his house frequently, 
 yet never once set eyes on Lady Bath. 1 The idea of Sir John 
 Johnstone's canvassing amused me greatly, and I can guess 
 the answer my father gave him. I saw his wife often, deckt 
 in gorgeous array ; and from what I have heard, should sup- 
 pose that he must surely get a berth in jail, if he procureth 
 not one in Parliament. The same story almost is told of Sir 
 Hugh Hamilton, whose lady wife, the finest of all fine persons, 
 goes everywhere about like the Duchess of Gordon's waiting- 
 maid, and contrives to get herself laughed at by the whole 
 world. 
 
 I never could get myself introduced to the Duchess of 
 Gordon, for Lady Perth has quarelled with her ; and she was 
 not at Lady Stafford's grand party ; but you were perfectly 
 right respecting her features. j Sir Joshua's print and the bull- 
 hunt are not at all like her the bagpipe figure very much so. 
 The Duke is in Oxford, under the care of a man who cures 
 stiff joints, &c., &c. I saw the Selkirks in town, and was at 
 a rout of Lady Helen's. Lady Catharine is a sweet pretty 
 creature, and looks like something of superior clay ; my lord 
 much improved in appearance, and greatly admired by every- 
 body. I was introduced to him by Sir James Hall, who takes 
 
 1 Sir James Murray, seventh Baronet of Clermont, married Henri- 
 etta, Countess of Bath in her own right.
 
 266 MESSAGES TO HODDAM. [ra^?L80fll 
 
 his wife's violence as patiently as ever ; but now I must think 
 of my little concerns at home. In the first place, pray write 
 very soon, directing hither (for the General may not pass 
 through for several days, and the longer I am with a certain 
 friend the better), and giving me your opinion plainly on 
 everything; secondly, be so good as to let me know if the 
 Cymbelaria on the wall is growing, how the flower-garden 
 roses look, and if anything hath been done to the root of that 
 lovely Dutch elm which the river was undermining. I am. 
 curious to see the new lodge, which, I hope, will look very 
 well : pray, send me the plan of it. Present my love to the 
 two young ladies ; the one of whom, doubtless, comes on well in 
 her drawing, and the other in her music. I shall epistolize 
 them soon ; but in the meantime say that I did see several of 
 their favourite plays very well performed in London ; among 
 others, "Love for Love" Mrs Jordan in Miss Prue, and 
 Miss Pope in Mrs Frail. I wish that they had been with 
 me : it would have given them some disgust to Dumfries 
 theatricals. I shall conclude, my dear mother, by informing 
 you that you dress infinitely too old, and that I shall insist 
 upon your taking to another fashion when I return home. 
 No lady of twice your age thinks of wearing a cap in London ; 
 and some, much older and not near so handsome, are by that 
 means reckoned great beauties there. I am, your aff. son, 
 
 C. K. S. 
 Love to my aunt. 
 
 The MARCHIONESS or STAFFORD to C. KIRKPATRICK SHARPE. 
 
 CLEVELAND HOUSE, July 14, 1806. 
 
 A few days ago, a roll of paper arrived in this house, upon 
 which, seeing the direction to be in the handwriting of a 
 certain friend of mine, though directed to L d - G-., he being 
 the day before set out on a voyage to the South Sea, I 
 ventured to open this roll, and found a beautifull drawing
 
 . GOWER'S TRAVELS. 267 
 
 in it, which is at present, with its companion the D 88 - of 
 Cleveland, placed safely in my portfolio. I have not been 
 so indiscreet in my treatment of a letter directed by the 
 same hand to the same person; it shall be forwarded to 
 him whenever I can ascertain where he is to be found. 
 He has been in the Isle of Wight, and is going to the Land's 
 End in order to compare the two extremities of this island 
 together, and to see if he prefers the Stacks of Hemprigs to 
 St Michael's Mount, which I trust he will do de bonne foi. 
 After this voyage he returns to us at Trentham in August. 
 
 Being uncertain if this will still find you at Cheltenham, 
 or lye unclaimed in the window of the Post Office there to 
 be read every day (I mean the direction) by idle and curious 
 water-drinkers, I will only add two words to thank you very 
 much for a letter I had the pleasure to receive some time 
 ago, and to say how glad I shall be to receive a similar mark 
 of recollection. We leave London to-morrow, and are to be 
 at Trentham in about a week, where we shall be found for 
 the rest of the summer. Pray believe me, dear sir, very 
 truly and sincerely yours, E. S. S. 
 
 Earl GOWER to C. KIRKPATEICK SHARPE. 
 
 LYME, July 17, 1806. 
 
 DEAR SHARPE, I began a letter to you a few days ago, 
 but was interrupted when I had advanced about so far, and 
 afterwards had no opportunity of finishing it. I left London 
 about 10 days ago, and have since then been thro' the Isle of 
 Wight, &c. &c., and am now proceeding thro' Devonshire and 
 Cornwall to Trentham a very pleasant tour ; and as I am 
 quite alone, I have plenty of time for meditation, tho' not for 
 writing, as that does not so well agree with the jolting of a 
 chaise. I have about two hours ago had a furious quarrel 
 with a fellow who four times mounted the back of my chaise,
 
 268 A NOVEL RETALIATION. 
 
 and was as oft repulsed, in consequence of which he used much 
 abusive language ; so I am going to write him a great many 
 weighty letters from every place I stop at, in order to make 
 him pay postage, and should be much obliged to you if you 
 would send him an epistle too : it will not be thrown away 
 on him, much as he seems to partake of that animal's dis- 
 position. His direction is John Mills, Landlord of Dove 
 Public-house, Bridport. Pray write to him directly, and he 
 will think it must be the Devil in whose name, by the by, 
 you may as well write it ; but mind that you do not make 
 use of mine, as he is not acquainted with it. 
 
 I think you had better not write to me before the beginning 
 of August, as I shall be settled at Trentham at that time, and 
 till then shall be wandering about, God knows where, but 
 shall be happy to hear from you then. Believe me, y rs - very 
 sincerely, wc h - I'm sure you have never doubted, 
 
 GOWER. 
 
 Miss ELIZA PiOBERTSox 1 to C. KIRKPATEICK SHARPE. 
 
 July 31s<, 1806. 
 
 MY DEAR CHARLES, So you have left Cheltenham just 
 when I had sent you some very tender messages, and, what 
 was even better, an original letter of the Earl of Buchan's, 
 that I am sure would have amused you very much, and given 
 you a good idea of how you might contrive to lug into a letter 
 all your great cousins, from Mary Queen of Scots down to the 
 Laird of Abercairney ; but you shall have it some day. In the 
 meantime I cannot resist sending you a few lines I composed 
 
 1 Daughter of David Robertson, sometime of Loretto, Musselburgh, 
 and afterwards of George Street, Edinburgh. He married Marion 
 Forbes, daughter of Hugh Forbes, one of the Clerks of Session, a cadet 
 of the Culloden family, whose wife was Margaret Aikman, grand- 
 daughter of William Aikman the painter, last of the " gude Lairds of 
 Cairney" in Forfarshire. Eliza Robertson was one of six sisters, all 
 beauties and wits.
 
 MIS To E c. IZ K*8.?T80r N ] ODE ON C. K. S. 269 
 
 last night. I believe you never heard of my poetic talent 
 indeed I generally keep it modestly wrapped in a napkin, 
 which is, I confess, rather gauche in these days when modesty 
 and napkins are quite out of fashion. A letter from Miss 
 Pitman, yesterday, mention'd the good sport you had had 
 with the ample stock of quizzing at Cheltenham. I first 
 wished I had been with you, and then my thoughts arranged 
 themselves into the following ode, addressed to the company 
 at Cheltenham on occasion of your departure : 
 
 Rejoice and merry be as grigs, 
 
 Ye rum-ones, oddities, and gigs ; 
 
 Now try your tricks, and run your rigs, 
 
 For he's away 
 Who quizz'd your uncouth hats and wigs, 
 
 And spoil'd your play. 
 
 Sport all your length of pantaloon, 
 Enjoy the summer's short-liv'd boon ; 
 Ye Cockney gentlemen, whom soon 
 
 The toils of trade, 
 And counter serv'd from morn till noon, 
 
 Must low degrade. 
 
 Ye jackdaw men of ton presume 
 Boldly to spread the borrow'd plume, 
 In public walk and public room, 
 
 Nor fear the while 
 To read detection's awful doom 
 
 In Charlie's smile. 
 
 Ye dignitaries of the Church, 
 
 Ye men releas'd awhile from birch, 
 
 Let wisdom confidently perch 
 
 Upon your faces ; 
 He's gone who scann'd with prying search 
 
 Your sage grimaces. 
 
 Ye antiquated maidens, hug 
 Your lap-dog, poodle be't, or pug, 
 With dauntless tenderness, and snug 
 
 From saucy airs 
 Of him, who jeer'd with silent shrug 
 
 Your loving cares.
 
 f\r\T? r\Tsr r< v <a ["MISS ELIZA ROBERTSON 
 
 ODE ON C. K. b. |_ T0 c . K. a., 180. 
 
 Simper your fills, ye swains, and leer, 
 Grim damsels fair, from ear to ear ; 
 For he no longer now is near, 
 
 Wont to alloy, 
 With observation's cruel sneer, 
 
 Your simple joy. 
 
 Ye ruddy rustics, roughly prance 
 Ye gentles, step along the dance ; 
 With feign'd ennui and nonchalance, 
 
 Your awkward feet 
 Keen ridicule's sarcastic glance 
 
 No more shall meet. 
 
 He's gone, rejoice ye witling flock ; 
 'Twas his your vain attempts to smock, 
 And scorn your wit's collected shock, 
 
 For, sooth to say, 
 Ye could not master half the stock 
 
 He has ta'en away. 
 
 I must say adieu, or my frank will be too late for the post ; 
 but remember, I expect a letter to myself in return for this 
 volunteer. I have not yet been able to get a reading of your 
 last letter to Marianne, but I hope soon to have one of my 
 own, that she shall not see for love or money. Yours ever 
 affectionately, ELIZA ROBEKTSON. 
 
 Miss PITMAN to C. KIRKPATRICK SHARPE. 
 
 HADDINGTON, Aug. 8, 1806. 
 
 Oh, Caledonia, horrid bog, 
 Thou meet nurse only for a hog ! 
 Land of the midden and the peat ; 
 Land of bad drink, and far worse meat ; 
 Of all things stinking, nothing sweet. 
 Land of my sires ! Oh, can no fist 
 The filial, fatal bond iintwist 
 That drags me over Tweed's broad burn 
 (Tho' most unwilling to return) ; 
 Still, as I view each well-known muir 
 (A sight no Christian can endure),
 
 M aTsi8 N oT] WARWICK CASTLE. 271 
 
 Think of the sweet I leave behind, 
 Think of the dirt I'm sure to find, 
 What wonder I lament my lot, 
 And curse thy taste, good Walter Scott ! 
 
 Your sympathising wife composed these lines at the Bass, 
 and wrote them down here. My dear Charles, certain the 
 sentiments they contain coincide with yours. We are within 
 two hours and a half of Auld Reeky, and are lying bye 
 during the heat of the day, as well as to avoid the bustle of 
 the place, by coming in when all the beaus and belles are at 
 dinner. We left Yew-Tree on the day I wrote last to you, 
 and have made a tolerable journey. We spent two days at 
 Leeds for the sake of the clothier when we meet you shall 
 have a true and faithfull account of our proceedings with 
 your cousins there ; and we were one forenoon at Warwick 
 visiting the castle, which is the most beautiful outside I ever 
 beheld. I have dream'd of it almost every night since, and 
 see Caesar's Tower and Guy's Tower continually. The in- 
 side is very well and suitably fitted with all its contents ; 
 and your friend Lord Brooke's trustees, to save them from 
 Christie's hammer, gave 18,000 for them, 1 should suppose 
 not half their value. In one room there is a St Ignatius by 
 Rubens that cost 1000, and two cabinets from the late 
 King of France's rooms at Versailles that were 200 a- 
 piece. The family are quite ruined, and living in a small 
 house in Hampshire. In a bedroom fitted up for the present 
 spring, when he was expected there, the housekeeper told 
 us there was a picture, by Vandyke, of "The two Princes 
 murdered in the Tower." We all screamed out when we 
 saw the original of your print of the Duke of Buckingham 
 and Lord Francis ; l and a very good print yours is. The 
 duke is in scarlet satin, Lord Francis in orange sarsnet 
 most beautifully painted they are, and his Grace's resem- 
 
 1 Lord F. Villiers, posthumous son of first Duke of Buckingham, 
 killed in 1648 fighting ex parte regis at Kingston-on-Thames.
 
 272 WARWICK CASTLE. [^^1806. 
 
 blance as striking as in your print. The pictures would be 
 much to your taste, almost all portraits of distinguished 
 personages by the most distinguished painters Titian, Van- 
 dyke, and Rubens. We had luckily two Warwick ladies 
 with us who were well acquainted with everything, or we 
 would have had little information to be depended on from 
 the attendant, as you may guess from Vandyke's murdered 
 princes. Henrietta Maria was in every apartment; in one 
 she has all her children with her. The furniture is all Indian, 
 and tho' beautiful and costly, one is tired of the repetition 
 of the cabinets and tables. The place is most beautiful, 
 and laid out with the utmost taste ; and one does not 
 wonder, when the expense is considered, that Lord Warwick 
 is ruined. We were showed the place in the river poor Mr 
 Bagot was drowned. Adieu, dear Charles ; kindest love is 
 sent to you from all here. I am ever your most aff* 6 - friend, 
 
 J. PITMATST. 
 
 I hope you got some letters I forwarded from Cheltenham, 
 furnished by a Mr Cornwallis. 
 
 Earl GOWER to C. KIRKPATKICK SHARPE. 
 
 DUNROBIN, 22d August 1806. 
 
 MY DEAR SHARPE, The first things I should begin with 
 would be thanks for your letter, excuses for not having 
 answered it, and many suchlike sentences ; but so many 
 letters of mine and of others that I have read have begun 
 in that maner, that I am determined never again to do the 
 like, however pressing the temptation may be, or however 
 well founded ; for if one has not other things to fill a letter 
 with, one had better not write at all, or if one must write, any 
 thing else is preferable. Think you not so, sir ? A young
 
 .0 TO ] SIR ROBERT GORDON'S HISTORY. 273 
 
 M r - Cumyn 1 of Altyre, and his tutor, M r - Henville, were here 
 yesterday on their way to Orkney. After the introduction 
 had taken place, and we were eating breakfast, " Have you 
 heard from Charles Sharpe lately ? " was the question the 
 latter put to me of a sudden, without any preparation what- 
 ever. If you had heard all the answer I made such as 
 (among others) " Oh yes ; I was much disappointed at his 
 not being able to come here," " What a pleasant sort of per- 
 son he is," &c., &c., you would be in a better humour with 
 me than you perhaps are at present. All the pretty things 
 that were said on the occasion would make a most polite 
 dialogue ; but as this professes to be an answer to a letter of 
 yours, it might be right perhaps to answer some part of the 
 aforesaid letter of yours. You ask me if Sir Bob*- Gordon's 
 Hist, could be sent to you. It would have been most happy 
 so to do, and would have trusted itself in your hands with- 
 out any fears or apprehension ; but it is by this time on its 
 way here, to be compared with an old copy of it which I 
 have discovered in the library here in a most deplorable con- 
 dition, more than half decayed. We have some idea, in order 
 to preserve the book, to have it printed. If we do so, you 
 shall most certainly have a copy. If we do not, you shall 
 certainly (if you wish it) have a reading of the MS. But 
 at present, for the reason I have mentioned, 'tis impos- 
 sible. I have been very busy copying the one I have 
 found here, which is no easy thing, as y e wriotting is 
 verrie old and difficult to reade, especiallie as I am not 
 vsed verrie much to reade suche. There are four Oxford 
 youths here, who arrived to-day, two Vernons (one my 
 likeness), all touring together I should say five, as M r - Gun- 
 ner is with them ; and Macdonald has been here ever since 
 you saw him, except for ten days, during which he took a 
 trip, as they say, to Orkney, to see his estate there. I hear 
 
 1 Charles Lennox Gumming, afterwards Cumming-Bruce, M.P. for 
 the Inverness burghs 1831, for Elgin and Nairn 1840. 
 
 VOL. I. S
 
 274 G. VERNON LORD HUME LYGON. [^.^1806 
 
 that G. Vernon l is at Scarborough, where he means to pass 
 some time with one Montblanc. 2 Did you ever hear of such 
 an idea ? What instruction or amusement or profit of any 
 sort he can expect from Monte Bianco I cannot conceive. I 
 always regret your not having come. Do you know y r - friend 
 the Marplot, the man of business, &c., told us by accident, in 
 y e course of conversation, that in his house at Edin^-, there 
 is belonging to us one of the oldest charters extant, a thing we 
 had no idea of, and w ch - he seems to have had no idea could 
 be of the least interest in the world to us. However, he shan't 
 have it much longer in his possession. When I began this 
 I intended it sh d - have accompanied the letter concerning the 
 D. of Monmouth ; but as I find it all together would be over- 
 weight, I must send it separately some other time. We 
 expect our father here the day after to-morrow. He has come 
 in consequence of our persuasions and account of the im- 
 provements since he was here. There have been a great 
 many travellers, but none particularly interesting. I am sorry 
 Lord Hume 3 is so unentertaining, as he is a good-looking man 
 for a lord, and it is a pity that he is not perfect, as it is so 
 uncommon a thing to be. Have you heard of Lygon's in- 
 tended marriage with Miss Dashwood 4 at least so says Mac- 
 donald. Poor Jack ! 5 Macdonald desires me to give his love 
 to you. He is writing letters at the same table at which I am 
 writing, and with the appearance you describe. 
 
 My mother sends her compliments, and hopes Lord Dundee 
 goes on well. I am, dear Sharpe, ever truly and faithfully 
 v rs -. GOWER. 
 
 1 G. G. Venables Vernon, eldest son of the Archbishop of York, M.P. 
 for Lichfield 1806-30; took the name of Harcourt; M.P. for Oxford- 
 shire 1831 ; died 1861. 
 
 2 Augustus Lewis Montblanc of Aix; D.C.L. of Oxford 1816. 
 
 3 Alexander, tenth Earl of Home. 
 
 4 This marriage never took place. 
 
 5 Miss Rachel Burton, see ante, p. 214.
 
 THE PRINCE AT TRENTHAM. 275 
 
 Earl GOWER to C. KIRKPATRICK SHARPE. 
 
 TRENTHAM, Sept*"**- 7th, 1806. 
 
 MY DEAR SHARPE, When I look forward into futurity, I 
 see so little chance of my having a moment to myself for 
 some time that I cannot but think it seasonable to write this 
 very moment to you ; for to-morrow I set off for Lichfield 
 races, which begin the day after, and last 3 whole days; then we 
 expect the Prince, and consequently a house full ; then French 
 princes (I do not believe young Count Beujolais l will be of 
 the party), who are to shoot, &c., &c. So, as you may see, we 
 shall all have enough to do. Before all things else I ought to 
 tell you, that on my arrival in town from Ch. Ch. I made 
 diligent search and investigation about the money affair, and 
 
 am very glad to say that Cousin M is as innocent as 
 
 child unborn, and that the whole was a mistake, arising from 
 some money transac. of another bon cousin of mine, tho' to me 
 unknown, with his agent ; and he having the misfortune to 
 bear the same name, a confusion naturally enough arose in 
 
 the agent's brain, and so, in short, it was all a mistake. 
 
 Wood has been here a few days, and Sir R Newdigate's dona- 
 tion being, somehow or other, the topic of conversation, he 
 very innocently told about the twelve Caesars, and talked of 
 the noses as if it had been of any other features : I said I had 
 never heard anything of the story before. I like your draw- 
 ing very much ; not better, tho', than the one you gave me. 
 The expectation of the P. of Wales's arrival has set all this 
 part of the world in a ferment, as he never was hereabouts 
 before. I wonder he does not go on to Scotland. However, 
 he may have his reasons. Have you read the criticism of 
 Moore's poems in the ' Edin. Eeview ' ? 2 People in general 
 
 1 See ante, p. 115, note. 
 
 2 Jeffrey's review, which led to 
 
 " That ever-glorious almost fatal fray, 
 When Little's leadless pistol met his eye, 
 And Bow Street myrmidons stood laughing by."
 
 276 BURRELL'S CONVALESCENCE. 
 
 1806. 
 
 seem to think that he deserves it, and that he was a fool 
 for lighting. 
 
 Pray have you my valuable Latin Genealogical Manuscript 
 of the family of Sutherland ? Either Inglis, Eiddell, or you 
 have, and I think Kiddell. If you have it, take the first 
 opportunity of sending it me, as it may be of use at present. 
 Dick Bagot l is going to be married to Lady Villiers. Adieu. 
 Ever y rs - truly, GOWER. 
 
 The Hon. WILLIAM BURRELL 2 to C. KIRKPATRICK SHARPE. 
 
 I shall begin at the top of my paper, for though this would 
 be rash in the extreme if pretty turned phrases and little en- 
 dearing sentiments were to form the letter, still, in writing to 
 you, my dear Sharpe, who, I am well aware, are kind enough 
 to like to know all about me, and to whom I tell my every 
 secret without reserve, I think I need not have any fear as to 
 filling it with the most perfect ease. First, then, let me 
 thank you again and again for your two delightful letters. 
 God bless you for the interest and attention you profess for 
 me ! All I can say is, that I trust it will continue as long 
 as we both live, and that you have bestowed your friend- 
 ship on a person who will ever consider it as one of his 
 greatest treasures. I am happy to tell you that this place 
 has done wonders for me, and that I began to get better from 
 the moment of my arrival. But how could it be otherwise, you 
 will say, when you hear the inhabitants testified a joy su- 
 preme at it, and pulled the bells so long and so loud that the 
 steeple nearly fell a victim to my popularity. If suck sweet, 
 
 1 Kiehard Bagot, D.D., Bishop of Bath and Wells, third son of first 
 Lord Bagot ; married Harriet, daughter of fourth Earl of Jersey. 
 
 2 The Honourable William Burrell, born 1788, died 1852, third son of 
 Sir Peter Burrell, first Lord Gwydyr, and the Baroness Willoughby de 
 Eresby.
 
 BURRELL'S ILLNESS. 277 
 
 such loud attentions as these failed to revive, the case must in- 
 deed be desperate. But, seriously speaking, or rather writing, 
 I am growing quite frisky, and now, after having lost com- 
 pletely the talents of eating and sleeping, begin to do both in 
 the prettiest manner. Why, man, a month ago there was 
 neither shape nor make in me. I had vaisted avay all to 
 nothing, and my vaiting - voman nearly expired with fright 
 at being daily obliged to take my stays in. No guy ever 
 matched me. But, thank heaven ! my faded form reanimates 
 hourly, and from having long forgot to please, gives promise 
 of in time recovering its pristine loveliness, which has so often 
 
 destroyed the peace far be it from me to name of what, 
 
 who, or when. Only fancy, my nurse has left me, and here 
 am I all alone ~by myself. Do you not shudder at the gross 
 idea ? But that which grieves me more than all is the un- 
 kindness of the weather ; it is changed from everything most 
 beautiful to everything most forlorn and dismal. Such a 
 week as I have had of it. But nimport, as a neighbour of 
 mine said when mentioning I had not the breeding to call on 
 her. Whilst I continue to gain health and strength, I must not 
 be discontented. Oh, my dear, you don't think that my desire 
 for Miss Flummery has continued all this time ! No, I have 
 not such bad taste in my old age as that either. From the 
 moment I left, I own the little wish I had became completely 
 extinguished. I wondered, as you justly observed, that I 
 could ever think of being loose with such an old swine. You 
 do her justice. I am very fond of her because she has evinced 
 such wonderful kindness and attention ; but as to an intrigue 
 with her, an " ugly jade," the thought alone makes me sick. 
 What an inconsiderate mortal I am, to go tailing on about my 
 own concerns without giving you the intelligence which the 
 hope of obtaining has kept me day after day from writing ! 
 Yes, you may rejoice and be glad. It l of your own heart is 
 nearly recovered. Itself has written to me, and has flattered 
 1 The Count de Gramont, see post.
 
 278 BURRELL'S ILLNESS. [ 
 
 me not a little by saying its first attempt at scribbling is to 
 express its anxiety and gratitude to me. It mentions the band- 
 ages and sticks had been taken off the day before from the 
 arm, and that it goes about in a bugy, and gets better and 
 stronger in all limbs every day. I heard a good bit ago from 
 Lady M. No news the least interesting, except that she is 
 well; her letter so correct and so moral that Pope Pius 
 y e 5 th need not have blushed to have written it. I am quite 
 unhappy to think how devoid of antidotes and how dismal 
 my letter will be ; but what can I do ? The only thing I had 
 at all since we parted, to comfort me in my need, was two or 
 three days ago a bottle of the Cambridge beer I told you of ; and 
 as the person who procured it for me last time dines with me 
 to-day, perhaps I may have another. But soon I shall be near 
 things much more interesting to you, and, from being so 
 greatly better, be able to go in search of news. Sir Walter 
 Farquhar has ordered me to Tunbridge the beginning of 
 Oct r - for a fortnight ; afterwards to Brighton till the end of 
 Nov r -; so I leave this the 30 th . Pray write to me imme- 
 diately, for I love to hear from you better than almost anybody. 
 Take example by this letter and write a monstrous deal ; too 
 much is impossible. 
 
 Heaven bless you, my dear good Sharpe ! Believe me, with 
 the greatest sincerity, ever your affectionate and attached 
 friend, WILLIAM. 
 
 Sept. 26. 
 
 My best love to the dear Parrot. Oh Wookstur ! When 
 will you come back ? Answer in the middle of Oct r - to yours 
 at Brighton, and I will thank thee with my whole heart. 
 
 Earl GOWER to C. KIRKPATRICK SHARPE. 
 
 EDINBURGH, October 1, 1806. 
 
 MY DEAR SHARPE, Je viens de occasion under cover of a 
 letter to me, with its inclosed one to Lady Stafford, which I
 
 . THE SUTHERLAND MS. 279 
 
 shall faithfully deliver into her own hands the first opportu- 
 nity, which will happen in three days in Yorkshire. She and 
 my father left this town early this morning, and Charlotte 1 and 
 I are to follow them to-morrow. We are to pass 10 days 
 in Yorkshire and Castle Howard, and at the Archbishop of 
 York's, 2 and after that shall go to Trentham; so that most 
 unfortunately the Longtown route is out of the question for 
 this time. But I am not unblest by visionary thoughts that 
 stray to count the joys of fortune's better day, and hope to 
 have that satisfaction some other time, as I wish much to 
 traverse Dumfriesshire. 
 
 I had an epistle from Wood the other day, who seems to 
 have formed very odd and mistaken notions of Scotland. My 
 reason for not having communicated to you any tidings of 
 Church, is that I have not heard of him, wherefore I hope he 
 is doing well nor from him, which I wish much to do, and 
 when I do, I shall certainly acquaint you, since you really 
 seem to take an interest in him ; but I do not believe there is 
 any foundation for thinking him in such an alarming state as 
 you seem to fear. 
 
 We have determined on having our MS. printed : Constable 
 has undertaken the task with a most admirable and laudable 
 degree of zeal. Only 100 copies, as that will be amply suffi- 
 cient. I have promised you a copy of it, if, on perusing it, you 
 should desire to possess one. Miss Hairsten had by mistake 
 opened your letter, and her maid read 2 or 3 lines of it to her, 
 to their great astonishment, before they found out that it was 
 not intended for her. I must tell of an escape I have had 
 at least my carriage (w h - you know is y e same thing), for why, 
 might I not have been in it ? However, be that as it may, it 
 was following me two days distant, with some servants ; and 
 in crossing one of our ferries on a very windy day, the boat 
 
 1 Charlotte Sophia, eldest daughter of the second Marquess of Staf- 
 ford, married 1814 to Henry Charles, thirteenth Duke of Norfolk. 
 
 2 Archbishop Vernon.
 
 280 ALEX. LAING MISS M. ELPHINSTONE. [^T^oe 
 
 was carried out to sea, and as nearly lost as possible so much 
 so that the sailors wished to throw the carriage overboard, 
 because it caught the wind, and of course w d - have wished to 
 have thrown me over with it had I been there, and were only 
 prevented from so doing by reason of their not knowing how 
 to do so without overturning the boat when in the act. How- 
 ever, fortunately, after much tossing and fright, they contrived 
 to land somewhere. 
 
 I will certainly put the question concerning Lord Dundee 
 to Laing 1 the first opportunity, tho' I cannot conceive why you 
 wish it, as, if I remember right (for I have not your letter with 
 me to refer to), you told me in your last letter that his birth 
 took place 1640. I wish you much joy with your Dumfries 
 races, and your Lord H., and his toasts, and his squeezes, 
 and his excessive amiability. Our cousin afterwards contra- 
 dicted his reports of Lygon's marriage, but I sh d - think it not 
 improbable, tho' he seemed to pay much attention to Miss 
 Mercer Elphinstone 2 last winter ; but they say she is decided 
 in her likes and dislikes, and he may not have succeeded. 
 
 I had a long letter from G. Vernon lately, giving a long 
 account of his travels with that ill-favoured animal M. 
 Montblanc alias Montebianco, of Oxon. notoriety. I should 
 have preferred Bertie if I had been condemned for my sins to 
 choose one or the other ; but as for making a voluntary and 
 free selection, that seems to my narrow understanding most 
 unaccountable and monstrous. And now, my dear Sharpe, 
 you have read enough, ha'nt you ? Write to Trentham. 
 Ever yours, GOWEK. 
 
 1 Alexander Laing, a learned and enterprising Edinburgh bookseller. 
 For his son David's correspondence with Mr Kirkpatrick Sharpe, see 
 post 
 
 2 Elder daughter of George Keith Elphinstone, Viscount Keith, suc- 
 ceeded her father as Baroness Keith in 1823, and married the Count de 
 Flahault 1817. She claimed and obtained the Scotch barony of .Nairne; 
 died 1867.
 
 CASTLE HOWARD. 281 
 
 The MARCHIONESS OF STAFFORD to C. KIRKPATRICK SHARPE. 
 
 CASTLE HOWARD, Octr. 8th, 1806. 
 
 Your letter, dear Mr Sharpe, found us arrived here, where 
 we have staid a week, and where I have been reposing after 
 all the difficulties Gower and I found on our return from 
 Dunrobin. We were confined for two days by the magic 
 of finding we had missed our horses (coming to Nairn to 
 meet them by water) in Cawdor Castle. From thence we 
 traveled in wind and snow through the Highlands, and met 
 L d - Stafford at Edin r -, where he had come by the coast road 
 without difficulties, and highly pleased with his journey and 
 the improvements he saw in every part of Scotland ; for he 
 is seized as much as I am with the rage of improvement, and 
 we both turn our attention with the greatest energy to turnips, 
 but cannot settle whether they ought to be broadcast or 
 drilled. 
 
 We came here to a very different scene, the most magnifi- 
 cent and charming place in the world, with a very pleasant 
 society, the house full of everything that can please the eye 
 and divert the imagination beautiful and picturesque archi- 
 tecture, painting in its highest perfection antient and modern, 
 statues, interesting portraits, drawings by a contemporary of 
 Holbein of all the Court of Henry the 2 d - and the Valois, 
 besides several of the time of Charles the 1 st - (if the catalogue 
 will go in a letter I will send it you with this). In short, 
 en fait of living, ease, &c., &c., nothing can be more perfect. 
 Delightful music. It reminds me of 
 
 " Such the gay triumphs, the luxurious state 
 Of caliphs old, who on the Tygris shore, 
 In lofty Bagdat, populous and great, 
 Kept their gay court, where was of ladies store, 
 And art, wit, musick still the garland bore." 
 
 This is really a place worth seeing independent of the
 
 282 THE SUTHERLAND MS. [**% giw 
 
 society, as I think it a perfect model of beauty, as well in 
 the house itself as in the grounds belonging to it ; and as the 
 French people said, who were here last year, "Le plus bel 
 habitation de particulier qui existe." We quit this on Mon- 
 day to go to Bishopthorpe, to brush off anything too Calvin- 
 istic that we may have imbibed from the preaching at Golsby, 
 and hope to be at Trentham on Thursday. 
 
 The main purport of my letter is to tell you that at Edin r - 
 Gower and I put our old manuscript in the hands of M r - 
 Constable, who is to have it copied and 100 copies printed 
 in a handsome way, as a good specimen of the Scotch press 
 and fit for the sort of thing. We intend to give them to 
 those who may be worthy of possessing anything so old, and 
 one copy is destined for you. We think, as the work speaks 
 for itself, it may come into the world naked and unadorned 
 except by a few introductory words explaining whence it 
 comes and what it is ; but I should like to know what you 
 think on the subject, and if you w d - suggest any further addi- 
 tion by way of preface. The History begins at about 1100 
 and ends in 1650. It contains a variety of matter besides 
 the account of our am and nostro cappo vecchio ; historys of 
 families in the north that of Lennox, the Douglass ; digres- 
 sions respecting popes, &c., &c. In short, it promises to be 
 entertaining and curious, and will form a thick quarto volume, 
 and will be finished in about six months. I wish L d - Dundee 
 were in the same state of forwardness, and hope you continue 
 to fag at it, and remember that such doings are not to be 
 accomplished without a good deal of perseverance, unless, like 
 us, you can find histories ready prepared for the press. I 
 wish you c d - get me some particulars of the life of Sir 
 R 4 - Gordon of Gordonstone, Bart., the writer of this. I 
 believe he is well known to many Scottish antiquaries ; but, 
 though he is of our family, I never c d - meet with many par- 
 ticulars respecting him, and those I do know are only that 
 his grandson practised physick and wrote a great deal (of
 
 UNIVERSITY CONTEST. 283 
 
 nonsense, I suppose) on that subject, particularly di dolore 
 cass a subject better let alone, except when one has the 
 headache, to enforce an emetic. If you will tell me anything 
 more of him, I shall say to his ashes, 
 
 " Oh fortunate che si chiara tromba trovaste ! 
 E chi di te si ampio scrisse ! " 
 
 You have now had so much more of my conversation than 
 you may have time to read, that I will only desire you to 
 direct to me at Trentham, by Newcastle-under-Lyne, and beg 
 you to believe me very sincerely yours, &c., &c., 
 
 E. S. S. 
 
 E. B. IMPEY, Esq., to C. KIRKPATRICK SHARPE. 
 
 CH. CH. COMMON-ROOM, Octr. 24, 1806. 
 
 MY DEAR SHARPE, Your silence has been the occasion of 
 much animadversion in the chapter and common-room of 
 Christ Church. I am deputed by that learned body who 
 flatter me with supposing that I am one of the few among 
 them who can influence you to represent the absolute 
 necessity of your attendance in support of their candidate, 
 the E*- Hon ble - Charles Abbot, Speaker of the House of 
 Commons. 
 
 I am really in earnest when I state to you, that owing to 
 certain mismanagement in certain great men of our com- 
 mittee, we are very much behindhand with our antagonists, 
 which makes the personal attendance, of every individual voter 
 of our college absolutely requisite. 
 
 If I am not much mistaken, you will not be greatly dis- 
 pleas'd at this summons; and I am doubly interested in 
 pressing it, both as it may operate to the advantage of a 
 character for whom I have the highest reverence, and as it 
 may also afford me the satisfaction of conversing with an- 
 other for whom I have a still nearer attachment. Pardon, I
 
 284 UNIVERSITY ELECTION. R^a^'lSW.' 
 
 beseech thee, dear Charles, the incoherence of my style, the 
 errors in my orthography, and the griffonage of my pen all 
 which must necessarily result from the noise and distraction 
 which surround me. Fancy to yourself a long table situ- 
 ated in the centre of the common-room, and crowded on 
 every side with all the members thereof, together with many 
 an exotic from outer colleges, the Dean presiding at one 
 end, and our dear Will officiating with the most laughable 
 gravity at the bottom. A lively conversation is at this 
 moment carrying on across the table between Moysey, Web- 
 ber, Fynes, and Tarpley, which not a little interrupts the 
 tenor of my thoughts. Were I alone I might have drawn a 
 more lively description ; but what painter ever drew a battle 
 while he himself was actually engaged in the scene ? Your 
 lively imagination will draw this delightful confusion in such 
 fascinating colours as cannot fail of hurrying you into the 
 scene of action. 
 
 I do not give you time to answer this letter, as your reply 
 could not reach us in less than eight days, when all will be 
 over. Nil inihi rescribas attamen ipse veni. Therefore put 
 money in thy purse. Set out instantly, or despair ever of 
 dining again with Will : can I say more ? Adieu. Yours 
 affectionately, E. B. IMPEY. 
 
 Eev. JOHN MARRIOTT to C. KIRKPATRICK SHARPE. 
 
 LEICESTER, 2d Nov. 1806. 
 
 DEAR SHARPE, It is not probable that I shall have leisure 
 for some days to come to answer your letter properly, and I 
 cannot bear to leave you, in the meantime, under the impres- 
 sion that I am idle and negligent. It arrived when I was 
 overwhelmed with an abundance of calls from clerical friends 
 in Edinburgh for assistance in the pulpit, and when, con-
 
 T J oc N K MA s B , B J8oI] ON THE WAY T0 THE ELECTION. 285 
 
 sequently, most of my little spare time was necessarily 
 devoted to the composition of sermons. This is the reason 
 why it was not acknowledged immediately ; and the reason 
 why it is not properly answer'd now, you may partly trace in 
 the date of this letter. On Friday morning I was greeted 
 with so pressing a letter from Oxford, that here I am on my 
 way thither, intending to give my vote on Wednesday and 
 return immediately to Scotland. How gigantic a bore I 
 esteem this trip you will readily conceive. I am confident 
 that I could add a second volume to ' The Miseries of Human 
 Life' solely from this one subject. I am just in a proper 
 humour at this moment to feel it to the quick, having been 
 feasting all day on the anticipation of a comfortable bed at 
 home after spending two nights in the mail, and now being 
 obliged to stay at an inn at Leicester for want of post-horses 
 to carry me forward. But there is no necessity for adding 
 your martyrdom to my own, by the detail of calamities so 
 well calculated to work upon your sympathetic feelings, for 
 I know that you are quite alive to all and each of the evils 
 to which travellers are subjected. I will not now tell you 
 how much I was pleased with the poetry you was so kind as 
 to send to me, nor how much more I want, nor many other 
 things which require greater leisure and eyes less oppressed 
 with sleep than I can boast of at present. I will only add 
 that you do great injustice to yourself, to all around you, and 
 to me, in what you insinuate with respect to my visit to 
 Hoddam, which said compliment I shall be very desirous to 
 repeat when an opportunity offers. If nodding assent is a 
 proof of the sincerity and truth of an assertion, I can assure 
 you that Homer's Jupiter and Mrs Minerva never sealed 
 their fiats with stronger testimonies of this nature than are at 
 present apparent in your sleepy and affectionate friend, 
 
 JOHN MAKEIOTT.
 
 286 OXFORD ELECTION. 
 
 E. B. IMPEY, Esq., to C. KIRKPATRICK SHARPE. 
 
 CH. CH., OXFORD, November 24, 1806. 
 
 Your mutton-chop, my dear Sharpe, since you will have it 
 so, was really cooked up quite a la Maintenon, and, to preserve 
 your metaphor, was relished with the same gusto that Coney- 
 beare devours a liquorice allusion, or Gaisford when he smacks 
 his lips at a delicious Atticism. We will carry our figure no 
 further, for a certain good and savoury reason ; only I will ob- 
 serve that your mutton-chop, independent of the metaphor, is 
 apt to contract a haut gout when kept too long in the larder : 
 what will you say to my fish, which is so long in frying ? I 
 will not make you so rude an excuse as to allege that I have 
 had other fish to fry which, according to Will Jackson's 
 account, was a favourite mode of apology with M. de Niver- 
 nois, to say nothing of the blunder which his Excellency made. 
 To tell the truth, I have little to plead in my own behalf but 
 that my negligence has cost me many a pang of self-reproach, 
 and that all I can do is to throw myself upon your mercy. 
 
 To proceed, therefore, to business. I have not till this 
 morning been able to make myself fully master of your 
 business with Mr Archer, having danced attendance at his 
 shop from day to day, and constantly received for answer that 
 he was at the Town-hall, or been put off with a verbal answer 
 for you must know that this electioneering is at the bottom 
 of all. Well, I learn at last, par 6crit, " That a large case was 
 dispatched by Hunt's waggon on the 30th of Sept r - directed 
 to you, to be forwarded by Kob*- Herries, Esqr., 16 St James's 
 Street. 1 Next, respecting your commission to the Hon ble - 
 Eich d - Wellesley, you are to learn that your ingenious dona- 
 tion arriv'd safe, and has ever since furnished a subject of ad- 
 miration to all the dilettanti of Ch. Ch. . But how could you 
 find it in your heart to be witty on so serious a concern ? 
 1 The banker.
 
 E To B c.T^'ifo6.'] M K ABBOT'S SUCCESS. 287 
 
 You really have no bowels. Neither have I quite forgiven 
 your sneer about Hannibal : is it not cruel thus to discourage 
 a rising genius ? However, I flatter myself my rhimes are 
 beyond the reach of your censure. "What a noble opportunity 
 have you lost of displaying your talents in the latter art, by 
 being absent during the canvass ! and the rogues were so dull 
 that nothing could be done without you : not a single distich 
 was pen'd to the praise or dispraise of either party. You can 
 conceive nothing half so dull, except that the wiser sort 
 amus'd themselves not a little with the degree of acharnement 
 with which the rival parties contended. Never was the 
 jealousy against Ch. Ch. carried to so high a pitch, or so 
 gloriously baffled, as in the triumph which she gain'd over 
 her insolent opponents. You see how zealously I adopt the 
 language of competition ; but, to descend a little, you must 
 know that Mr Abbot was in fine elected by a majority of 74 
 votes. 1 For more detail'd particulars I shall refer you to a 
 printed state of the poll, which, when publish'd, I will send 
 you ; and, to conclude a topick which, you may conceive, has 
 been worn already threadbare, your grey pantaloons are a 
 joke to it, be it known unto you that the little Member 
 will appear in proprid persond at Oxon. in less than a week, 
 in order to make his bow to each respective society in this 
 
 1 From the following circular it would appear that Mr Kirkpatrick 
 Sharpe was a supporter of Mr Abbot : 
 
 "The day is not fixed; but we beg you will set off the moment you 
 have received this. You have not a moment to lose. 
 
 " ' SIR, We return you our sincere thanks for your kind promise of 
 support to the Right Hon. Charles Abbot, and beg to inform you that 
 the day of Election is fixed for the day of November, 
 
 when your presence is most earnestly requested. We remain, sir, your 
 obliged and faithful servants, 
 
 " 'FREDERIC BARNES, j CwMonj> 
 
 JAMES WEBBER, ; 
 " 'CHRIST CHURCH COMMON-ROOM, 
 Oct. 1806.' 
 
 " There is a powerful opposition on the part of Mr Richards and Mr 
 Heber."
 
 288 MARSHAM FYNES. 
 
 1806. 
 
 University ; after which it is rumour'd that he will be chair'd 
 round the great quadrangle upon a folio Aristotle, with the 
 same ceremonies observ'd as at the procession of the ancient 
 phallus. It is beyond conception how much Marsham 1 is 
 grown, so tall and so stout, that if he were strip'd, and all 
 his proportions by nice measurement found to be accurate, 
 one might compare him to the colossal statue of the oriental 
 Mahadeva, whom you will find describ'd with all his wonder- 
 ful attributes in Maurice's ' Indian Antiquities.' However, we 
 will handle this subject no further. But I cannot take leave 
 of election matters before I acquaint you that Finetta, 2 to the 
 wonder of all our politicians, is return'd for Aldborough thro' 
 the interest of his relation and patron the Duke of New- 
 castle : witness the cover of this epistle, which, indeed, was a 
 sufficient voucher without this detail. His engagement with 
 S r - James closes at Christmas, when he bids adieu to these 
 walls for ever, leaving me more a fixture than ever. How so ? 
 Have patience and you'll learn. Towards the end of last 
 vacation what should arrive, to my utter astonishment, but a 
 hasty summons in a well-known character, and a style as 
 equivocal and parenthetic as that which you describe, com- 
 manding my instant appearance at Ch. Ch., but without 
 further particulars. This I obey'd, and on my arrival was com- 
 plimented with the very acceptable offer of a Faculty Student- 
 ship, totally unsolicited on my part, and, as I've since learn'd, 
 the object of much competition among many of our friends. 
 I need not tell you how readily I clos'd with an offer which 
 ensures my studentship for ever, and which furnishes the best 
 excuse for a residence which I prefer. This is in some 
 measure a reply to your enquiries concerning my future plans ; 
 but, to be more explicit, I shall infallibly take up my abode 
 here after the Christmas vacation, and remain till Easter, could 
 I flatter myself with assurances from you that you intend to 
 
 1 Robert Bullock Marsham, Warden of Merton ; died 1881. 
 
 2 Mr Fynes, afterwards Fynes-Clinton.
 
 ] THE DEAN CONYBEARE. 289 
 
 embellish my society with your company during that interval. 
 I need not tell you that they will offer an additional reason 
 for my adhering to this resolution. 
 
 Great revolutions are projected in this part of the world. 
 The Dean talks so avowedly of his intention to relinquish his 
 situation here, that it is now generally believ'd that the period 
 of his abdication is fast approaching : so much so, that to my 
 knowledge D r - Hall is making all the interest he can to be 
 nominated as his successor, and, it is said, will effect it. The 
 present Bishop is on the point of being translated, as Bottom l 
 says. He goes to Bangor, and will be succeeded by D r - Moss, 
 Dean of Wells, by which change we shall gain the accession 
 of a very gentlemanly man, and lose a very learned one. Hall 
 will supply the place of Divinity Lecturer vacated by the 
 present Bishop, and Sam Smith will be prefer'd to the canonry. 
 The examination statute is newly modified, and is now in the 
 press ; the chief alteration is that there will be no examina- 
 tion for the Master's degree. Ch. Ch. has for some time been 
 depriv'd of Conybeare's hospitality, by his absence on a 
 melancholy occasion, the loss of his mother, who died of a 
 polypus in utero, a most painful disorder, from which, poor 
 woman, her sufferings were so intense that her death is 
 the less deplorable. Conybeare bears his loss like a philo- 
 sopher. He is highly delighted with settling his brother in a 
 set of rooms in his own staircase ; you know how he doats on 
 him. Among other alterations which he is projecting in his 
 rooms is that of constructing a bookcase aloft, with a balus- 
 trade, like the orrery: he gravely declares his intention of 
 applying this occasionally to the use of an orchestra. I dined 
 yesterday in company with both the brothers at D r - Kidd's, 
 where we met Eigaud. 2 I hardly knew him again, as the 
 
 1 As Bottom does not say ; but Quince exclaims, " Bless thee, Bottom ! 
 bless thee ! thou art translated." 
 
 2 Stephen Peter Rigaud, M.A., Savilian Professor of Geometry and 
 Reader in Experimental Philosophy. 
 
 VOL. I. T
 
 290 LYGON VERNON LORD BARNARD. Vc.Ts^V 
 
 severity of the weather had oblig'd him to doff his nankeen 
 fiedones for a p r - of mouse-colour'd leathers. 
 
 I have left myself very little room to communicate a 
 myriad of things that I had to say ; for as yet, tho' I have 
 written a sheet full, I have told you scarcely anything. 
 Among our most distinguish'd residents is the Hon. W. 
 Lygon, Member for Worcestershire. This renoun'd senator 
 comes for the purpose of being examin'd for a Master's 
 degree ; what w d - you give to have him pluck'd ? George 
 Vernon is return'd for Litchfield, and your cousin Mac- 
 donald for Newcastle-under-Line, at which Heathcote is in 
 a blaze : it appears that the former had indirectly promis'd 
 his interest with the Staffords in favour of mine ancient 
 for that very borough, which is close to his estate. This 
 dereliction, you may suppose, is highly resented by the 
 Cap tn -' who, when I saw him, breath'd nothing but pikes 
 and blunderbusses. Cela fait une scene. I have been very 
 inquisitive to learn all I could about Lord Barnard, which 
 was no easy matter. At last I pump'd out of Morpheus 
 & Priscian that his lordship is a mighty hunter, and much 
 given to all athletic exercises, in which he has the advan- 
 tage over most of his antagonists, from the vigour of his 
 constitution, which is as yet, as they say, unimpaired by 
 debauchery. 
 
 I have been scribbling prodigiously of late, and one short 
 poem I have publish'd, entitled " Daylesf ord." l I have also 
 translated Vernon's beautiful prize poem, which the Dean 2 
 has sent to the Bishop of Carlisle. The Sylphs I have also 
 fmish'd, which I believe I read you the beginning of. I am 
 now labouring a drama a la Greque, with a chorus, on the 
 subject of Alexander before Jerusalem, a story extracted 
 from Josephus, as quoted by S r - Walter Ealeigh : turn to it 
 
 1 The residence of Warren Hastings. 
 
 2 University prize Latin poem, subject " Natale Solum." The author 
 died at Christ Church of scarlet fever, 1806.
 
 oe.'] TH E JUNIOR CENSOR LYGON. 291 
 
 and tell me whether you like the subject. These things are all 
 a great deal too long to transcribe ; besides, you give me no 
 encouragement, by sending none of your own not even a 
 catalogue of your poems, as I have done. I have just dis- 
 cover'd that I have committed a very foolish blunder in writ- 
 ing on the outside of my letter, which obliges me to trouble 
 Fynes for another cover. He desires his remembrances, as 
 well as Conybeare. Adieu. Write soon. Yours ever, 
 
 E. B. IMPEY. 
 
 E. B. IMPEY, Esq., to C. KIRKPATRICK SHARPE. 
 
 CH. CH., Dec. 11, 1806. 
 
 A thousand thanks to you, my dear Sharpe, for your sheet 
 of " compress'd typography," which did not fail of conveying 
 the usual degree of pleasure arising from the receipt of all 
 your letters. My time will not allow me to comment upon 
 its contents as largely as they deserve, and in truth I am con- 
 scious of the little justice I am about to render you in return 
 for your diverting epistle by a reply which, alas ! will neither 
 boast wit to recompense its brevity nor incident to atone its 
 insipidity. The fact is that, being actually on the eve of my d6- 
 mAnagement, with trunks, bandboxes, and portmanteaus, books, 
 dressing-cases, and boot-jacks strew'd about my floor, my brain 
 is so distracted with this confusion, that it has not one grain 
 left of the facundia or the lucidus ordo of Horace to serve my 
 turn. You will gather from this, much more speedily than I 
 can tell you, that collections are just over ; that the junior 
 censor made his last dying speech and confession last night ; 
 and that the annual supper in the common-room to com- 
 memorate that ceremony was honour'd with a brilliant dis- 
 play of nobility among whom you may conceive that the 
 jj on bie. William Lygon perform'd one of the most conspicuous 
 parts ; and really, considering it was his first appearance upon
 
 292 A COMMON-ROOM SUPPER. Ro^TE'lSM? 
 
 those boards in that character it must be allow'd that it 
 was supported very creditably. I think you never were at 
 a censor's supper, and therefore can little imagine how much 
 you have lost by being absent last night. I must attempt a 
 sketch of the repast, and it shall be in the style of what's 
 his name who is so famous for representing a long table 
 crowded with guests, with two or three dogs who are busy in 
 licking the dishes that are brought away ? 0, Paul Veron- 
 ese! Well, first direct your view to the head of the table, 
 and behold a glaring portrait of Frederico Barnes, as large as 
 life, presiding in the character of Junior Censor. On either 
 hand are to be seen Mess rs - the Senior and Junior Orator the 
 former of whom is a striking likeness of II Signor Edmondo 
 fradre del Magnifico Signor Filippo, &c. &c. &c. ; the latter may 
 be distinguished, by the 'brilliancy of the complexion and the 
 enjouement of the attitude, to be no other than the celebrated 
 Hugolino himself, the painter's own son and an admirable 
 portrait it is. Turn your eyes next to the opposite end of 
 the picture, where you'll observe a little, sallow-fac'd, prim 
 figure, who appears to be the Zanni, or, in plain English, the 
 Webber of the party : his figure is finely contrasted on one 
 side by a corpulent priest, who seems eagerly employ'd in 
 carving a large boar's head with an orange in its mouth ; his 
 name I forget, but you'll recollect it when you are told that 
 he was more noted for a very celebrated pupil of his than in 
 his own person. On the other side, this whimsical painter 
 seems to have strain'd his skill in producing an ambiguous 
 animal whose shape and character appear to partake the char- 
 acteristics of both the sexes, and which, like the ladies in 
 "Macbeth," might be woman, but that its beard of which 
 there appears a large tuft upon a mole on its chin forbids us 
 to interpret that it is so ; add to which there's a disdainful 
 expression in the countenance, chiefly between the nose and 
 upper lip, which, together with the pompous display of silken 
 drapery, strongly delineates an affectation of nobility, and
 
 ..'] A COMMON-ROOM SUPPER. 293 
 
 serves to identify the portrait of one of the greatest members 
 of the Legislature. The centre of the picture is diversified 
 with a number of incoherent groups, among which are dis- 
 cover'd the likenesses of Claudina, Finetta, Bernard a youth 
 in the vigor of his age, with a countenance which requires 
 all the high colouring of the artist to pourtray. There are, 
 besides, other less prominent groups, to one of which I shall 
 just draw y r - attention, and then have done. It is compos'd of 
 a centre figure, flank'd on one side by a kind of Merry Andrew, 
 who is croun'd, as it were, with a cushion, and by his gesticu- 
 lation appears to be reciting a story ; and on the other by the 
 celebrated Pedro, a learned commentator, who, strange to tell, 
 is presenting that part of his body to the company which 
 seldom appears uppermost, as an object of salutation but 
 none of them seem dispos'd to accept the invitation. The 
 middle figure is suppos'd to be that of the artist himself. 
 He is drawn in a pensive attitude, as if not altogether content 
 with the company he is in, and less so with his own deline- 
 ation of them. He tramples under his feet a scroll represent- 
 ing a sketch of the Carthaginian hero, and seems to contem- 
 plate with envy several indistinct stanzas which are inscribed 
 on the fragments of a broken punch-bowl. And so much for 
 my picture. Thank heaven, for your sake and my own, that 
 it is finish'd ! And now let me give vent to my joy on hear- 
 ing that you resolve so soon to resume your residence at Ch. 
 Ch., where I hope ere long to receive you in a style better suited 
 to the dignity of my visitor than formerly, as I have serious 
 thoughts of migrating from the scurvy neighbourhood of Fell's 
 Buildings to the more fashionable purlieus of the great Quad. 
 If that is your serious intention, it may be useful to inform 
 you that the term after the Xmas vacation begins on the 18th 
 of January, on which day I shall positively have return'd, 
 and should be happy in executing any commission preparatory 
 to your sojourn in these parts, but much happier should I be 
 to find you here on my return. To-morrow I shall set out
 
 294 DECLINE OP THE DEAN'S AUTHORITY. [ 
 
 with the hon ble - gentleman who franks my letter 1 and the 
 gentle Tarpley in a post-chaise for London; appear at the 
 representation of "Terence" on Tuesday night at West- 
 minster; and on the following day journey into Sussex, 
 where, if you direct to me at Newick Park, near Uckfield, 
 your letters will reach me till I return hither. I began by 
 apologising for the brevity of my letter, which I have inad- 
 vertently run out to a preposterous length, and must now con- 
 tinue, to the violation of all propriety, and to the risk of 
 setting out to-morrow morning with only one half of my bag- 
 gage. I have, tho' few, yet very important events to acquaint 
 you with. First, that Barnes is forthwith to quit the sphere 
 in which he has so long outshone the lesser stars, to blaze in a 
 more conspicuous point in the zodiack. In few words, he has 
 accepted the post of chaplain to the House of Commons, and 
 Corne will supply his place as junior censor and curator of 
 the common-room. The important post of rhetoric reader, 
 or collector of themes, will, as it is whispered, devolve to 
 Conybeare. What you predict touching the Dean, I fear me, 
 doth already hasten to a completion. One instance will serve 
 to convince you of the rapid decline of his authority. Yester- 
 day night, to the surprise of all who were present, not one 
 nobleman, and not above six gentlemen commoners, appear'd 
 at censor's speech ; upon which, before the ceremony was half 
 concluded, the prick-bill 2 was desir'd to acquaint Webber and 
 Barnes that an embargo was to be laid upon all the delinquents, 
 and that not one of their epistles should be accepted a mea- 
 sure which the Dean also pursued in his own department, and 
 further enacted that the said truants should be retained in 
 durance till Saturday. It would have been well had he per- 
 sisted in this discipline ; but, proh pudor, universique mores ! 
 he is no longer that sturdy and inexorable magistrate that we 
 
 1 H. Fynes, afterwards Fynes-Clinton, M.P. for Aldborough. 
 
 2 A " servitor " who marked with a pin on the list the names of those 
 absent.
 
 uo.'] CABAL AGAINST THE DEAN. 295 
 
 remember him in those golden days when he could " outstave 
 the factious spirit of the times." Will you believe it that 
 a cabal was instantly set on foot, with Lord Ilchester l at their 
 head, who undertook to be spokesman, and manag'd his 
 expostulations with so little decorum of language, as to de- 
 clare that " he did not come to ask leave, but determined to 
 take it, and was contented to abide by the consequences." 
 All the rest expressed themselves to the same effect, and so 
 completely brow-beat the Mufti that he was fain to counter- 
 feit a gaiety which he was never less dispos'd to feel, and 
 dismiss the rebels with a " Well, I am exceedingly gracious ; 
 get ye gone, and let's hear no more of it ! " If these be not 
 symptoms of a rotten constitution, I shall begin to distrust 
 those which are so visible in the region of John Lygon's nose ; 
 nor shall I positively deny that Wrottesley may be as chaste 
 as an anchorite. "Lay this to thy heart, and farewell!" 
 Yours ever, E. B. IMPEY. 
 
 BEILBY LAWLEY, 2 Esq., to C. KIRKPATRICK SHARPE. 
 
 LONGTOWN, Sunday Night [Aug. 1806]. 
 
 MY DEAR SHARPE, I am passing very near your house on 
 my route thro' Scotland, and I assure you that nothing should 
 have prevented my taking the liberty of calling upon you, 
 but that we travel from this place so early in the morning, 
 that you would call me a most unseasonable guest. 
 
 I am accompanying my brother-in-law, Lord Middleton, 3 and 
 it is our present purpose to travel by the Lakes to Inverness, 
 and return into England by Edinburgh and Blair in Athole. 
 
 1 Henry Stephen, third Earl of Ilchester, born 1787, died 1858. 
 
 2 Paul Beilby Lawley, born 1784, was a younger son of Sir Robert 
 Lawley, and brother of the first Lord Wenlock, whose peerage became 
 extinct with his death in 1832. In 1839, Beilby Lawley was himself 
 created Baron Wenlock. 
 
 3 Henry, sixth Lord Middleton, married, in 1791, Jane, daughter of 
 Sir Robert Lawley, Bart.
 
 296 REQUEST FOR INTRODUCTIONS. 
 
 It occurs to me that you will perhaps be kind enough to 
 afford us (being total strangers) some little assistance (if 
 possible) by a letter of recommendation, which might procure 
 us the liberty of shooting, or seeing the country to advantage 
 on our road from Glasgow to Inverness, or from Inverness to 
 Perth, from any acquaintance of yours on our road. I am 
 fully aware how impertinent my request may properly be 
 considered by you ; but if you recollect our want of assistance, 
 and the great obligation you would confer upon me, I have a 
 small hope you will pardon it. I may add, also, that I trust 
 you will put it in my power to shew my sense of the obligation 
 when you visit your sister l in Warwickshire, who fortunately 
 lives within five miles of our house, and with whom I believe 
 my mother has had the pleasure of forming an acquaintance 
 before this time, as I know she intended paying the nuptial 
 visit on Monday last. 
 
 If, however, the request is at all disagreeable to you, I 
 sincerely hope and trust you will have as little difficulty, and 
 feel as little nonchalance, in rejecting it as you see I have 
 felt in making it. We go to Glasgow on Tuesday evs-> and 
 leave it on Wednesday. A letter written after that time 
 must be directed to the Post Office, Inverness, to be left 
 till called for. If convenient, pray let me hear from you at 
 Glasgow, by return of post, directing to me under cover to 
 Lord Middleton, at the Post Office, Glasgow. Believe me, 
 yours sincerely, BEILBY LAWLEY. 
 
 H. WELLESLEY, Esq., to C. KIRKPATRICK SHARPE. 
 
 CAMELFOBD HOUSE, Dec. 14, 1806. 
 
 DEAR SHARPE, I am much obliged to you for your poetical 
 offering, and would have sent to you responsive strains of 
 sorrow from Paul the younger, if the time had served my 
 inclination. But sooner shall a Chinese mandarin confess 
 
 1 Susan, daughter of Charles Sharpe, married, 1806, S. F. S. Perkins, 
 Esq. of Sutton Coldfield, her third husband.
 
 %TaTs E , Y im M ] OXFORD NEWS. 297 
 
 himself inferior to a baron of England, sooner shall the 
 lovely J. Burton possess the odour of a civet, than any in- 
 mate of Ch. Ch. shall dare to mount Pegasus when collec- 
 tions are in petto. The animal would undoubtedly throw his 
 rider, and complete ablution in the Mercury could alone be 
 an atonement for the rash attempt. You should have been 
 with us in the last term ; we have been more gay and more 
 noisy than ever. We have broken the iron sleep of canons 
 with the shrieks of the Catcall (vide Burney on Music), and 
 have immortalized ourselves by an expedition to Warwick 
 Castle, of which I leave the description to an abler pen. 
 Bachelors have given dinners, as numerous as those of our 
 present hospitable Ministry; and above all, we have heard 
 debates in convocation more eloquent than all the specimens 
 of ancient or modern eloquence. The battle of the wigs 
 was nearly realized ; wardens and censors, heads of halls, 
 and fellows graduated in folly, all clashed in hostile array. 
 Peace was restored by a threat of our Dean's, who vowed 
 that the first man who uttered a syllable of common-sense 
 (contrary to statute) should be created a tutor of Ch. Ch. 
 Non verbum amplius. With all good wishes, I am, ever 
 yours, H. WELLESLEY. 
 
 Eev. JOHN MAKEIOTT to C. KIBKPATEICK SHAEPE. 
 
 DALKEITH HOUSE, Dec. 28, 1806. 
 
 DEAE SHAEPE, I plead guilty to all the accusations which 
 you may justly bring against me on the score of ungrateful 
 silence; but, troth, did you know the complete misery of 
 being overloaded, as I am, with multifarious avocations, in 
 addition to one weighty charge which demands very nearly 
 all the time which is not necessarily employ'd in eating, 
 drinking, and sleeping, I think you would rather pity than 
 blame me. What with sermons, poetry, letters, and Latin 
 grammar, I have such a medley in my head, that I wonder 
 sometimes how I can sit down to any one of my duties with
 
 298 SHARPE'S 'LEGENDS.' RF T V 
 
 T < 
 
 ideas sufficiently clear to enable me to perform it properly. 
 It's well if I do not, one of these days, begin a letter with an 
 invocation, or divide it into distinct heads, or put a postscript 
 to a sermon, or anything else that can be conceiv'd most in- 
 congruous and unseemly. Under these circumstances I cast 
 myself on your considerate compassion, and trust that you 
 will not put on the black cap of condemnation. I might 
 indeed put in another plea for mercy namely, that my not 
 having written to you is a strong proof of self-denial and 
 philosophical patience on my side; for why, I have been 
 constantly tormented with grievous longings after " Sir Hugh," 
 and " The false I/- Carleil," l and " Man condemn'd to die " 2 
 particularly the last, because I have once had a transient 
 glimpse of it, with which I was gratified rather after the 
 manner of Tantalus. "Sir James," and "I/- Peter" (I beg 
 pardon of the two noble personages for this transfer of their 
 several titles : I w 3 - say, " L d - James " and " Sir Peter ") amus'd 
 me excessively. The two concluding stanzas of the latter 
 without any disparagement to their predecessors, are singu- 
 larly good. You may well say that you will not ask me to 
 repay you in the same coin ; it would be long enough ere I 
 could comply with such a demand. To entitle myself, how- 
 ever, to future favors, I will look out for something or other 
 to inclose with this ; begging that you will not forget that I 
 began these follies late in life, and am therefore to be regarded 
 something in the light of a grown gentleman learning to dance 
 a situation certainly deserving of pity. By the bye, this no- 
 tion brings Kitt to my mind, and with him throng a thousand 
 tender recollections, all of an academical cast. First and fore- 
 most amongst them stand E - d's 3 breeches, which nearly 
 threw me into convulsions. I really thought that accurate 
 mathematician had been gifted with a share of common-sense 
 which would have prevented him from being such a blockhead 
 
 1 See "Metrical Legends" and "Etchings," &c., p. 71. 
 
 2 Ibid., p. 70. 3 Rigaud.
 
 A NEW WALTER SCOTT. 299 
 
 as to betray so much anger against the author of the friendly 
 proposal with regard to the twelve Cresars. It must be own'd, 
 however, that the said proposal was admirably calculated to 
 make the gall'd asses wince, who had taken a violent part in 
 the marble dispute. I was amaz'd, during my late pleasing 
 excursion to Oxford, by hearing that, in spite of the determin- 
 ation in favor of accepting S r- E. N.'s donation, old Hornsby, 
 who is librarian of the Eadcliffe, stoutly declares that during 
 his life the statues shall never make good their entrance into 
 that building. 1 
 
 I have been tantalized of late by hearing one day, from the 
 best authority, that you was certainly coming to Edinburgh ; 
 and the next, from still better, that you was not, and then 
 again, beyond a doubt, that you was : and so on in an endless 
 rotation of contradictory assertions, half of which must be 
 false. I wish that half may belong to those who tell of a 
 projected journey to London and Oxford, which will keep 
 you away from this part of the world. I forgot to mention 
 amongst my other occupations, enumerated in apology for my 
 silence, the task of marrying and christening the different 
 members of this spreading family. On Thursday last I made 
 a new Walter Scott, 2 in the person of my little pupil's second 
 brother, whose appearance in this world of care has given 
 great joy to his relatives. He is a very fine little boy ; and as 
 he inherits the names both of " Good Earl Francis, dead and 
 gone," and of " Earl Walter," than whom " a braver ne'er to 
 battle rode," it is to be hop'd he will also inherit their virtues, 
 and be both good and brave. Tho', entre nous, the virtues of 
 some of the " old warriors of Buccleuch " were of such a ques- 
 tionable cast, that I would not insist vehemently upon their 
 being handed down to the present and the rising generations. 
 
 I don't know whether I mention'd to you, in the short scrap 
 I sent from Leicester, that Alex r< Scott 3 has got a small living 
 
 1 See ante, p. 260 note. 2 The late Duke of Buccleuch. 
 
 3 M.A., Christ Church, a cadet of the Harden branch of Scott.
 
 300 " THE BROKEN JESSAMINE." [ B 
 
 in Devonshire. I am asham'd to say that I have not yet 
 procur'd the intelligence you demand about Lady Cassilis, but 
 the next time I see Walter Scott I will pump him on the 
 subject. That said Walter has beguil'd me, rather after the 
 Border fashion, into a scrape, as you will perceive if you 
 happen to meet with the third edition of ' The Minstrelsy of 
 the Scottish Border,' at the tail of which my nakedness is 
 expos'd i.e., for the expression I have us'd is rather ambigu- 
 ous, I am put to open shame in the character of an inditer of 
 halfpenny ballads. 1 Do not be a severe critic, I intreat, tho', 
 like all other authors, I profess a philosophical indifference 
 to the opinion of the public. In good earnest, I think I care 
 as little about the matter as need be. I will send you two 
 articles of different complexions ; and, that you may know 
 how to behave, I warn you that you are to be very sentimen- 
 tal while you are reading the first, and to laugh during the 
 perusal of the second, altho' it is a humble imitation of the 
 stile of that justly celebrated dealer in ghostly and amatory 
 nonsense, M. G. Lewis. 
 
 THE BROKEN JESSAMINE. 
 
 Near the time of Dr Carlyle's 2 death, who died at the age of 84, a 
 beautiful jessamine tree fell down in his garden at Inveresk, to all 
 appearance spontaneously. 
 
 No wild-raving wind rock'd the grove in that hour 
 When the jessamine droop'd in the veteran's bow'r ; 
 It droop'd, tho' it felt not the North's biting breath, 
 It bow'd to the blast of the Spirit of Death. 
 
 No bird of dark omen with hoarse clamor cried, 
 The moment to mark when the veteran died ; 
 But the flow'r he had lov'd bent its elegant form, 
 Unscath'd by the lightning, unswept by the storm. 
 
 1 " The Feast of Spurs." 
 
 2 The Rev. Alexander Carlyle, minister of Inveresk, known as "Jupi- 
 ter Carlyle " from his fine appearance, and from having sat (traditionally) 
 to Gavin Hamilton as the ruler of Olympus. See his Autobiography, 
 edited by the late John Hill Burton, D.C.L.
 
 " KITTY-THE-HORSE." 301 
 
 And well might it droop, for it never could spread 
 Its delicate leaves o'er a seemlier head ; 
 Ne'er could witness a look so benignant and mild, 
 As the look that he wore, when the veteran smil'd. 
 
 From the fair starry blossoms that jessamine bore 
 The maidens of Esk wove the garlands they wore ; 
 And the eyes of the veteran brighten'd, to see 
 The fair made more fair by the bloom of his tree. 
 
 In many a bower the maidens may find 
 A garland of jasmine their tresses to bind ; 
 But where is the solace their grief to beguile, 
 Who bask'd in the beam of the veteran's smile ? 
 
 Oct. 15, 1805. 
 
 ANDREW GRAY AND KITTY-THE-HORSE. 
 
 The hero of the following pathetic ballad was a footman at Dalkeith 
 House, notorious for his bad horsemanship ; the heroine a housemaid at 
 Both well Castle, who acquired the agnomen of " the horse " from a striking 
 similarity between her features and those of that noble animal. Whether 
 she was related to the Rev d - Kitt, A.M., Fellow of Trinity College, I 
 have never been enabled to ascertain, but probabilities are in favor of 
 the supposition. 
 
 A housemaid so tall saw a footman so gay, 
 
 As he happen'd the stair-case to cross : 
 Neglected the duster and scrubbing-brnsh lay 
 While she gaz'd on him fondly, as much as to say, 
 How sad is the moment that tears Andrew Gray 
 
 From Bothwell, and Kitty-the-Horse ! 
 
 " And since," she exclaim'd, " I must linger behind 
 
 When to-morrow you go to Dalkeith ; 
 Too soon, gay deceiver, the truth I shall find 
 Of the proverb that says, ' Out of sight out of mind ; 
 No engagements will hold you, no promises bind ; 
 
 I shall lose you in spite of my teeth. 
 
 " The cobweb of love, which I've spun with such toil, 
 
 Will be swept from your heart clean away ; 
 And the foul stain of grief my complexion will soil, 
 That stain which e'en essence of lemon can foil, 
 That stain which the best damask cheek will soon spoil, 
 
 As we heard t'other night at the play. 
 
 " Some fat cook with sav'ry tit-bits will persuade 
 
 My lover to break his fond vow ; 
 Or perhaps at the feet of a proud lady's-maid, 
 In second-hand finery gaily array'd, 
 While Kitty-the-Horse is despis'd and betray'd 
 
 Her faithless admirer will bow."
 
 302 " KITTY-THE-HOKSE. 
 
 She spoke, and with dismal forebodings, of tears 
 
 Down her cheeks roll'd a plentiful tide ; 
 Whilst Andrew, quite proud of her love-whisper'd fears 
 Look'd wiser than ever, and shaking his ears, l 
 After sundry grimaces, and amorous leers, 
 Thus with tender emotion replied : 
 
 " ! cease, fairest Kitty, your Andrew to chide ; 
 
 Nor think this fond bosom untrue : 
 For back to its fountain shall roll the swift Clyde, 
 And ladies and gentlemen stand side by side 
 At the back of the carriage in which footmen ride, 
 
 Ere I prove inconstant to you. 
 
 But should I, forgetful of Kitty-the- Horse, 
 
 Ever wish any other to wed ; 
 ! ye powers of love, may I ne'er get across 
 The back of mule, donkey, mare, pony, or horse, 
 Without its beginning its heels up to toss, 
 
 And kicking me over its head ! " 
 
 He vow'd, and his vows they were heard but too well, 
 As the faithless one afterwards found ; 
 
 And the road between London and Richmond can tell 
 
 How often he mounted, how often he fell, 
 
 And utter'd full many a horrible yell, 
 As sprawling he lay on the ground. 
 June 1805. 
 
 1 Never having seen the said Andrew, you cannot be aware of the descriptive 
 merits of this line. 
 
 Now prythee set to work, and prove yourself a good Chris- 
 tian by sending me " Man condemn'd to die," &c. &c., without 
 delay. I had almost forgotten to scold you for your scan- 
 dalous insinuations with respect to my visit at Hoddam Castle, 
 which left, I can assure you, very different impressions on my 
 mind from those which you suggest. With a request that 
 you will present my grateful remembrances to its inhabitants, 
 I remain, dear Sharpe, y r - very faithful and affec 16 - friend, 
 
 JOHN MARRIOTT. 
 
 Eev. JOHN MARRIOTT to C. KIRKPATRICK SHARPE. 
 
 DEAR SHARPE, At length I have brought to a close two 
 long undertakings which have occasioned some delay in my 
 answer to your handsome packets namely, the transcription
 
 REV. JOHN MARRIOTT"] 
 TO c. K. s., 1806. J 
 
 PEARLIN JEAN. 
 
 303 
 
 of "False L*- Carlil" for myself, and of "Pearlin Jean" for 
 you. 1 The former I have done because I was very much 
 pleased with the ballad, but could not, in conscience, with- 
 
 i PEARLIN JEAN. 
 Omnibus umbra locis adero. 
 
 Ye fickle butterflies, still prone 
 To change your fav'rite flow'r, 
 
 Attend this woeful tale, and own 
 True love's avenging pow'r. 
 
 Each flirting beau, and gay gallant, 
 Who erst has learn'd to spell, 
 
 May read, and profit ; he that can't, 
 Must hear, and ponder well. 
 
 All in the Merse there dwelt a Knight 
 
 Of gentle blood and rank, 
 Yclep'd, as ancient authors write, 
 
 Sir John of Allanbank. 
 
 Not skill' d, like neighbor lairds, was he 
 The swift goss-hawk to tame, 
 
 Or chase the deer o'er moor and lea ; 
 He follow'd finer game. 
 
 Tho' Tweed, with springing salmon 
 bright, 
 
 Roll'd near, he ne'er would ply 
 The rod by day, or spear by night, 
 
 He'd other fish to fry. 
 
 More form'd to shine in courts than 
 haunt 
 
 The solitary shades, 
 'Twas his of conquer'd hearts to vaunt, 
 
 And captivated maids. 
 
 Still drest in courtly mode, and sweet 
 
 With many a rich perfume, 
 Costly the roses in his feet, 
 
 Costly his waving plume. 
 
 His beard was trimm'd with mickle care, 
 
 Down tap'ring to his chin ; 
 The bushy ringlets of his hair 
 
 A heart of flint might win. 
 
 Well vers'd in love's deceitful wiles, 
 And learn'd in amorous lore, 
 
 False were his tears, and false his smiles, 
 And false the oaths he swore. 
 
 To him the bliss was all unknown 
 
 That constant lovers share ; 
 Dear was each eye that brightly shone, 
 
 And dear each face, if fair. 
 
 To rub off British rust, and gain 
 
 Some skill in finer arts, 
 Sir John resolv'd to cross the main, 
 
 And visit foreign parts. 
 
 Right glad the Scottish mothers were 
 
 This joyful news to learn, 
 And maiden-aunts put up a pray'r 
 
 That he might ne'er return. 
 
 But many a lovely damsel sigh'd 
 
 To hear that he was going, 
 And turn'd aside the tear to hide 
 
 Adown her fair cheek flowing. 
 
 Himself he richly did equip, 
 That none might say him scorn, 
 
 And went on board a merchant-ship 
 Was bound for fair Leghorn. 
 
 He soon felt sickly qualms, and when 
 He reach'd the Bay of Biscay, 
 
 Wish'd himself safe at home again 
 In the land of cakes and whisky. 
 
 He clear'd the gut (excuse the word, 
 
 Fair ladies) of Gibraltar ; 
 And calmer seas his. heart restor'd, 
 
 Which had begun to falter. 
 
 At length with joy he hail'd the shore 
 Where Caesars once bore rule ; 
 
 Where Virgil liv'd, and many more, 
 For whom he had bled at school. 
 
 Why, when the stores of Classic lore 
 
 Came rushing on his mind, 
 Writh'd he, as tho' he felt him sore ? 
 
 Why rov'd his hand behind ? 
 
 At Florence first he stay'd some weeks, 
 Contracted debts, and paid 'em ; 
 
 And bought some genuine antiques 
 Of the very man that made 'em. 
 
 Of learning next great store at Rome 
 He gain'd, at least we hope so ; 
 
 For he mounted high St Peter's dome, 
 And stoop'd to kiss the Pope's toe.
 
 304 
 
 PEARLIN JEAN. 
 
 :REV. JOHN MARRIOTT 
 TO C. K. 8., 1806. 
 
 hold your only copy from you ; the latter, merely to convince 
 you that you was very unjust in supposing that I had the 
 
 At Naples he was asked to peep 
 
 Into the great volcano ; 
 But the hill was steep, and the hole was 
 deep, 
 
 So he thought it best to say, No. 
 
 Love hail'd S r - John on foreign shores, 
 
 And many a lady bright 
 Preferr'd before each gay Signor 
 
 The gallant Scottish Knight. 
 
 The Knight was grateful, when he found 
 
 They lov'd him one and all ; 
 And felt himself in honor bound 
 
 To love both great and small. 
 
 But one far longer than the rest 
 
 Her empire did maintain, 
 And near a fortnight o'er his breast 
 
 Held undivided reign. 
 
 Her features all the charms combin'd 
 
 Of all the pretty faces 
 Which, painted to the life, you'll find 
 
 In fifty thousand places. 
 
 With lace her veil was deckt, and deckt 
 
 With lace her flowing train, 
 Hence nam'd in Lowland dialect, 
 
 The bonie Pearlin Jean. 
 
 And how he lov'd, and how his pains 
 
 In colors bright he painted, 
 I need not tell to nymphs and swains 
 
 With love so well acquainted. 
 
 His love was long, his love was great ; 
 
 But when she talk'd of marriage, 
 He rang the bell, and order'd straight 
 
 The horses to his carriage. 
 
 And in they popp'd the trunks, and in 
 
 Sir John himself did pop ; 
 But the lady cried, with furious din, 
 
 " Stop, Coachy ! Coachy, stop ! " 
 
 " Drive on, drive on," said false S r - John, 
 
 " Nor heed yon lady's cry." 
 Oh sad was that lady, and woe-begone ; 
 
 And frenzy fir'd her eye. 
 
 " Look when in dust she kneels, to whom 
 
 You did not kneel in vain ; 
 Stay, nor to sure destruction doom 
 
 Your once-lov'd Pearlin Jean. 
 
 ' ' What sunbeams can with those compare 
 
 That warm Italian plains ; 
 And where, oh where, is the face so fair 
 
 To match with Pearlin Jean's ? " 
 
 "Not oft from skies of cloudless blue 
 Do Scottish sunbeams shine ; 
 
 But faces there I hope to view 
 As fair, proud dame, as thine." 
 
 " Yes, faces you may chance as fair, 
 
 Or fairer e'en, to find ; 
 But long, long shall you seek, or e'er 
 
 You meet a heart as kind. 
 
 " Tho' deaf to love's endearing claim, 
 
 Yet break not honor's tie : 
 For you I scorn'd the voice of fame, 
 
 The pride of lineage high. 
 
 " Give back my fair unspotted name, 
 
 My calm unruffl'd heart ; 
 Bear me from want, despair, and shame ; 
 
 Oh hear my death-groan part ! 
 
 " That groan, when I am dead and gone, 
 
 Shall never, never die." 
 "Drive on, drive on," said false S r - John, 
 
 Nor heed yon lady's cry." 
 
 The driver waves his thong, the steeds 
 Spring forward with a bound ; 
 
 Crush'd by the wheel, the lady bleeds, 
 And writhes upon the ground. 
 
 Drown'd not the rattling wheels her 
 groan, 
 
 Nor yet the tramping feet ; 
 He heard, in shrill unearthly tone, 
 
 "False Knight, again we meet ! " 
 
 Tho' with remorse and horror stung, 
 
 He fled on wings of fear, 
 That groan still chill'd his heart, and 
 rung 
 
 In his aflrighted ear. 
 
 Freedom's fair form he thought en- 
 thron'd 
 
 On Alpine heights to find, 
 But dragg'd his galling chain, and own'd 
 
 Her seat is in the mind. 
 
 He sped where soft and balmy gales 
 
 The glow of health impart, 
 But nought Montpelier's air avails 
 
 To heal a wounded heart.
 
 REV. JOHN MARRIOTT") 
 TO c. K. s., 1806. J 
 
 PEARLIN JEAN. 
 
 305 
 
 audacity to view with anything less than profound veneration 
 that important branch of history commonly called a ghost- 
 
 To Paris, o'er whose walls Delight 
 Spread wide her gay domain, 
 
 He went ; but sicken'd at the sight, 
 And joyless left the Seine. 
 
 With cheerful cry, and smiling face, 
 
 Each sailor leapt to land ; 
 But S r - John, with slow and solemn pace, 
 
 Regain'd his native strand. 
 
 He sought the town, his grief to drown 
 
 In gaiety and noise, 
 But with twofold horror seemed to frown 
 
 The scene of former joys. 
 
 He looked so ghastly pale and wan, 
 
 That all the ladies swore 
 It could not be the same Sir John 
 
 Whom they had known before. 
 
 "He, no ! " said one, " it is his ghost." 
 With that, more deadly pale 
 
 He grew, and homeward travell'd post, 
 Swift as the London Mail. 
 
 Ere Allanbank appear'd in sight, 
 
 Sunk had the orb of day, 
 And the star of night a paly light 
 
 Shed on its turrets grey. 
 
 And when he saw the dear abode, 
 
 The mansion of his sires, 
 His pulse beat high, and his bosom 
 glow'd 
 
 With long-forgotten fires : 
 
 And when the venerable pile 
 
 Threw wide its massy door, 
 His brow unbent, and a transient smile 
 
 Beam'd o'er his face once more. 
 
 " Is it my sister Janet this, 
 
 To meet me in the hall? 
 Or do the shades beguile mine eyes, 
 
 Dim-quivering on the wall ? 
 
 " 'Tis she ; I know her slender waist, 
 
 Her light and gliding feet : 
 She comes, sweet girl, with loving haste 
 
 My safe return to greet." 
 
 He grasp'd a hand 'twas all of bone ; 
 
 He clasp'd a winding-sheet ; 
 He heard in tones but too well known, 
 
 " False Knight, again we meet ! 
 
 VOL. I. 
 
 " The Ferry-man waits on the banks of 
 Styx, 
 
 We must not lose the tide ; 
 Because Old Nick's own coach-and-six 
 
 Is ready on t'other side. 
 
 "The rolling wheel of burning steel 
 Shall grind y r - bones to powder ; 
 
 Loud as I squeal'd you then will squeal, 
 Nay, perhaps a little louder. 
 
 " The flame-shod coursers' fiendish force 
 
 Shall whirl the rapid car ; 
 And the heavy axle, grating hoarse, 
 
 Reverberate afar. 
 
 " The demon-driver shall crack his whip 
 
 With energy infernal, 
 And tortur'd souls for once shall skip 
 
 And grin 'mid pangs eternal." 
 
 By this Sir John perceiv'd his brain 
 
 Grow dizzy with afright, 
 And he w* 1 - fain have fled amain, 
 
 But the spectre held him tight. 
 
 For ladies from the other world 
 Will oft the stoutest man take, 
 
 And twirl him, as by cook-maid twirl'd 
 You may have seen a pancake. 
 
 At length the ground asunder clave ; 
 
 Awhile the yawning gulph o'er 
 She pois'd, then plung'd him in a wave 
 
 Of ever-boiling sulphur. 
 
 Just then, 'tis said, that those who dwell 
 
 Hard by the Lake Avernus, 
 Perceiv'd its darksome waters swell, 
 
 And glow like any furnace : 
 
 They heard from below the din of wheels, 
 
 And crack of whip satanic, 
 And prudently took to their heels 
 
 In universal panic : 
 
 For they thought Old Nick was that way 
 
 bound, 
 
 On some unholy prank ; 
 But 'twas only the sound of the wheels 
 
 that ground 
 Sir John of Allanbank ! 
 
 U
 
 306 " PEARL1N JEAN.' 
 
 V. JOHN MARRIOTT 
 
 story. I heard the story from Marianne Robertson ; and the 
 present Sir John Stewart 1 of Allanbank, who has seen my 
 version thereof, bears witness to its authenticity in all im- 
 portant respects. I believe there is a picture of Pearlin Jean 
 still extant ; I know that her spirit alarmed two elderly ladies 
 in no moderate degree not many years previous to the close 
 of the last century. I hope you will handsomely recant your 
 scandalous aspersions on my ghostly character when you have 
 perus'd this copious detail, and own that I hold those sources 
 of terror to the nursery, amusement to the fireside, and profit 
 to Mat. Lewis, in due estimation. "Were I to follow your 
 example, I know not the bounds I could set to my praises of 
 the two poetical productions with which you favour'd me ; 
 for, by the rules of proportion, they would demand expres- 
 sions of oriental redundancy. However old the groundwork 
 of " L d Carlil " may be, you have contriv'd to give it an air 
 of novelty ; and the ballad contains some very fine touches 
 of sentiment and feeling. In the way of description, I like 
 particularly that of Sir Michael's manner of receiving and 
 reading the letter. "Man condemn'd to dye" is delightful. 
 I am continually crooning it over ; for I like the tune almost 
 as well as the words, and that is saying a great deal. Miss 
 Douglas, who plays with great taste, gives it due pathos. I 
 was cruelly betray 'd in respect to that same song written for 
 the Dumfriesshire election. 2 It was done under the strictest 
 promise of secrecy. By the bye, was it " The Baillie's Vote " 
 which fell into your hands, or the song begining with " Since 
 here we have met " 1 They were both written in a great 
 hurry, and at the earnest desire of that odd animal, Joseph 
 Gillon. 3 Now we are on the subject of songs, I will send you 
 
 1 Sir John James Stewart of Allanbank, co. Berwick, was the father of 
 Sir James Stewart, an excellent amateur artist, whose illustrations in 
 black and white to many of Sir "Walter Scott's poems and novels were 
 greatly admired. 
 
 2 See note, ante, p. 235. 
 
 3 Joseph Gillon was an Edinburgh solicitor noted for his humour and
 
 08!] ''EMIGRANT HIGHLANDER'S WIFE." 307 
 
 one in a different style, written at the request of a very dif- 
 ferent person. You see what you have brought upon yourself 
 by your encomiums. Lady Home J did not like the words to 
 a good old tune, " Since first I saw your face, I resolv'd," and 
 asked me to adapt some new ones to it, which led to the 
 following attempt: 
 
 THE EMIGRANT HIGHLANDER'S WIFE. 
 
 turn thee, Donald, turn and view 
 The valley we are leaving ; 
 
 Nor chide the sigh, which, tho' with you 
 
 She goes, thy love is heaving : 
 Say, couldst thou seek for constant truth 
 
 Within that bosom dwelling, 
 Could leave the scenes endear'd by youth 
 
 With no fond passion swelling ? 
 
 Behold yon curling wreaths of smoke 
 
 That mark the distant shieling ; 
 'Twas there that first my Donald spoke 
 
 His heart's impassion'd feeling : 
 Lo yonder burn, that breaks its way 
 
 'Mid banks of blooming heather ; 
 How short has seem'd the summer day 
 
 We there have spent together ! 
 
 1 go with thee, yet check not, love, 
 The tear of tender sorrow ; 
 
 Content his matchless force to prove 
 O'er vanquish'd fear to-morrow : 
 
 convivial habits. Having through the latter lost his business in Edin- 
 burgh, he was glad to accept a humble position in the House of Lords. 
 Lockhart relates that Sir Walter Scott once encountered Joseph in Lon- 
 don, and on expressing regret at the loss of his society in Edinburgh, 
 Gillon replied in a quotation from the Scotch version of the Psalms 
 
 ' ' Kather in 
 
 The Lord's house would I keep a door 
 Than dwell in tents of sin." 
 
 1 Elizabeth Scott, daughter of Henry, third Duke of Buccleuch.
 
 x/r ATJTVTTnxr " TREV. JOHN MABRIOTT 
 
 MARMION. [ TO c. K. s., 1806. 
 
 The foot that quits its native glen 
 
 With half-unwilling motion, 
 Shall mount with dauntless courage then 
 
 The bark that braves the ocean. 
 
 Walter Scott makes fine promises with respect to enquiries 
 concerning " Lady Cassilis," 1 but I always find that he is just 
 going to do it the very next day. He is hard at work on a 
 new poem, the beginning of which promises, I think, very 
 well. It is to be called "Marmion, or a Tale of Flodden 
 Field." It will consist of six cantos, with a long introduction 
 to each, totally unconnected with the story. This, I think 
 is a bad contrivance. He may put what he likes before the 
 poem ; but when he has once introduc'd his heroes and 
 heroines, I cannot see why the interest of the story is to be 
 suspended while the reader is carried thro' two or three hun- 
 dred lines of extraneous matter, however good they may be. 
 It is very disinterested in me to attack the said introductions, 
 or, perhaps you will say, very ungrateful, considering that my 
 name stands a fair chance of riding down to posterity on the 
 back of one of them. Each of them is to be address'd to 
 some friend of the author, and the second has fallen to my 
 share. This is all the hand I have in the work. Scott is 
 going to London in a week's time, where you will perhaps 
 meet him, and break a lance with him yourself for his un- 
 seemly neglect of the Lady Cassilis, if you are not asham'd of 
 fighting for a lady who so demean'd herself. 
 
 I was very unfortunate last week, having engag'd myself 
 to dine at Newbattle the same day that M r - and M re - Sharpe 
 din'd here. However, I have had the pleasure of seeing them 
 in Edinburgh. I coincide with you entirely in admiring " The 
 Gentle Shepherd." Its new rival, " The Falls of the Clyde," I 
 have not yet seen ; but of course am very anxious to study 
 it thoroughly, in consequence of your account of it. Do send 
 me a little Oxford news, however ill I may seem to deserve 
 
 1 The abduction of Lady Cassilis by Johnnie Faa, the gipsy king.
 
 ALEXANDER SCOTT. 309 
 
 any favor from you. I ought to tell you, by the way, in my 
 own defence, that I have been really very unwell within the 
 last month, so much so, indeed, as to have been under the 
 hands of a physician, which is always a dernier ressort with 
 me. Alex r - Scott has had a very severe affliction lately in 
 the loss of his brother William, a fine lad of fifteen, in the 
 sea-service. This is the third brother he has lost within the 
 space of thirteen months. He is to set off in a few days for 
 his living in Devonshire. I am likely to be a Scotchman one 
 year longer. L d - and Lady Dalkeith are going to London for 
 a short time, but leave their children behind them, excepting 
 one daughter. Miss Murray l is residing here at present, to 
 the great enlivening of our table-talk, and the promotion of 
 social mirth. She enjoins me to tell you that she waits with 
 impatience for an answer to her last letter. Remember, my 
 dear Sharpe, the handsome allowances you have heretofore 
 made for me, and let me have the pleasure of hearing from 
 you soon. Believe me there are few whose letters are so 
 welcome to your sincere and affect* 6 - friend, 
 
 JOHN MAREIOTT. 
 
 I will restore " L d - Carlil " with my next packet. 
 DALK. HOUSE, March 7, 1807. 
 
 E. SURTEES, Esq., to C. KlRKPATRICK SHARPE. 
 
 MANISFORTH, May 3, 1807. 
 
 DEAR SHARPE, I have been tempted (on ye chance of 
 y r - being at Hoddam) to send you Brand's catalogue of books 
 now on sale (May 6 to June 17) in London. It contains 
 many articles w b - may seem of interest to you in y r - Scotch 
 researches. 
 
 4255, Dundee, &c. This book constitutes my chief reason 
 
 1 Magdalene Murray of Clermont.
 
 310 LIFE OF DUNDEE KIRKTON. [ roT' HOT.' 
 
 for troubling you with the catal., as I know not whether you 
 are already provided with it or not. There is, I believe, a 
 great mania amongst collectors at present, and an auction- 
 room is not the place to buy scarce tracts cheap ; but if you 
 chuse to go to any particular price for any article, and will 
 write a line to Benj. Uphill, bookseller, 2 May's Buildings, 
 St Martin's Lane, London, he will, I daresay, execute any 
 commission faithfully for you at the sale. This I mention, 
 least you sh d - be at a loss for an agent on the occasion. You 
 will, I think, be amused with some of the titles of old tracts. 
 I have reason to think most of Brand's books were very dirty, 
 and, in general, slovenly condition ; so if you are attached to 
 bindings, take that into consideration. I send you also a 
 MS. book w h - fell by accident into my hands lately, entitled 
 ' Secret Hist y - of ye Church of Scotland,' by one John Kirk- 
 ton. 1 It seems written on the wrong side, and complains 
 bitterly of poor folk being forced to go to hear ane sinful and 
 ignorant curate. So if it is of any import or curiosity, and 
 not (w b - it probably may) a mere transcript of some printed 
 book already in y r - possession, you must say, Fas est ab hoste 
 doceri. 
 
 I sent y r - parcel directed n r - Ecclefechan, Carlisle, to Greta 
 Bridge, when, I hope, it w d - go by ye Glasgow mail ; but lest 
 it sh d - not make its appearance, I thought it safest to send a 
 letter by the post to inform you of it. You sh d - have had 
 the catalogue sooner, but it arrived here when I was from 
 home, and I only got it two days ago. 
 
 This point dismissed what chance have I of ever seeing 
 you here this summer, or at what future time may I look for 
 you ? I have certainly as little claim as any one either to a 
 visit or a letter from you, as I am of all men both the worst 
 visitor and correspondent. Nor do I think it will be in my 
 power this spring or summer to leave home ; but should you 
 be travelling to or from the South, it w d - be a most sincere 
 1 Afterwards edited and published by Kirkpatrick Sharpe. See post.
 
 W.'] BEISCO SIR H. VANE. 311 
 
 gratification to me if I c d - induce you to take this road for 
 once, and I can promise you conveyance to any place or places 
 you chuse to see, in a safe gig and steady horse and careful 
 driver. I have never seen Brisco * since his marriage, which, 
 I think, you would hear of ; nor do I know whether he is in 
 London or in the country. I do not think he resides much 
 in Cumberland, otherwise you may perhaps see him crossing 
 the borders. 
 
 As for myself, I am quite rooted to this spot. Three 
 employments gardening, planting trees, and topographical 
 collections are my chief occupations, and I neither meddle 
 with volunteers nor elections. If you come here you will find 
 everything very quiet, even tho' it were in the middle of a 
 contest for county and city, which is just now on the point of 
 commencing, unless one of our candidates, S r - H. Vane, 2 be 
 swallowed up in the sea between P.patrick and Donaghadee. 
 When you feel perfectly at leisure to bestow a line on one 
 who, though you do not often hear of him, seldom forgets 
 you, I shall be glad to learn where you are and what 
 whether a Scottish squire or an English divine ; and particu- 
 larly, whether I may have any hope of seeing you here. I am, 
 yours very sincerely, E. SUKTEES. 
 
 Earl GOWER to C. KIRKPATRICK SHARPE. 
 
 KONIGSBERG, May 15, 1807. 
 
 MY DEAR SHARPE, I suppose that you have written more 
 than once to me, but I am sorry to tell you that neither of y r - 
 letters has reached me yet : perhaps you may have directed 
 them to Petersburg, as I believe I told you to do ; and if so, 
 
 1 Sir Wastel Brisco of Crofton Hall, Cumberland, married Miss 
 Lester, 18th November 1806. 
 
 2 Sir H. Vane-Tempest, whose daughter married (as his second wife) 
 the third Marquis of Londonderry.
 
 312 RUSSIAN HEADQUARTERS. [ 
 
 I suppose I shall receive them some time or other. I shall 
 probably go thither very soon now : it was my intention to 
 have done so long ago, but L d Hutchinson's l civility and other 
 different reasons have tempted me to stay loitering at Munich, 
 sometimes here, till now. In the meantime, however, I 
 have made two excursions to the Eussian h d -quarters, where 
 the Emperor and K. now are. 2 The Emperor is a good-looking, 
 good-humoured sort of person, talking English very well, but 
 by no means bright, however, very determined to do every- 
 thing possible against Bonaparte. He will probably go back 
 again in the event of a battle, w h - may happen at any time, as 
 the armies continue close to each other. The Queen 3 is here 
 at present, and gives tea every evening : she is a most charm- 
 ing person, talks very agreeably, and sometimes sings delight- 
 fully. In short, it is very pleasant to go there, without any 
 gSne or formality. I expect my uncle 4 here every day, as he 
 will go to the Emperor at h d - quarters, and I shall probably go 
 with him to Petersburg. 
 
 How I sh d - like to hear from you, what you are doing, and 
 how you go on ! How provoking this change in y r - ministry 
 is ! however, it cannot last long, 'tis to be hoped : as you are 
 no politician, I won't bore you on the subject. We are very 
 uneasy here about Danzic, as the siege has lately been carried 
 on very vigorously. Bonaparte is said to have been there in 
 person. 8000 Kussians marched thro' this a few days ago to 
 relieve it, but they ran a great danger of meeting a more 
 numerous force. Monseigneur Le Prince Murat is said to 
 make himself a most excellent figure at Warsaw. He goes to 
 
 1 General Sir John Hely-Hutchinson, who succeeded to the command 
 of the British troops in Egypt on the death of Sir Ralph Abercromby, 
 was created Baron Hutchinson of Alexandria in 1801. 
 
 2 The headquarters of the sovereigns was then at Bartenstein. 
 
 3 Queen Louise of Prussia, consort of Frederick William III. of 
 Mecklen. 
 
 4 Lord Granville Leveson-Gower, son of the first Marquis of Stafford, 
 afterwards created Viscount Granville, then Ambassador Extraordinary 
 at St Petersburg.
 
 EAKL OOWER TO 
 
 ] RUSSIAN HEADQUARTERS. 313 
 
 balls in a rose-coloured tunic, and wears turbans, feathers, and 
 God knows what ; and if you ask the French why he does all 
 this, the answer is, " Le Prince est un si bel homme." There 
 is still a great number of Russian officers here who were 
 wounded at Preuss Eylau. I went about a month after the 
 battle to see the field, on part of wc h - there were still many 
 dead bodies unburied. You can have no idea of the misery 
 of all the surrounding country villages without inhabitants, 
 and the houses stripped of their doors, shutters, &c. On 
 the whole, a most melancholy appearance, of we 11 - YOU, having 
 never been out of England and Scotland, can have no idea. 
 " Rien n'a tant que les voyages." I have passed my time 
 since I left England very agreeably, and my travelling ardour 
 has not at all abated. 
 
 Have you seen G. Vernon since his having been M.P. ? x 
 How did he bear his blushing honours ? I have not seen 
 Lygon's name yet among the speakers, after the example of 
 
 his friend Littleton. 
 
 May 19. 
 
 An expedition to relieve Danzic has proved not over suc- 
 cessful. I fear it must be taken in a day or two. 
 
 You can have no idea of the Grand Duke ; 2 I think him a 
 monster. He is never quiet one instant, and talks so fast that 
 he is always out of breath. L d - Hutchinson's cousin is just 
 going, so I have no time to write more. I am, my very dear 
 Sharpe, very sincerely and truly y rs -> GOWER. 
 
 F. T. H. FosTEE, 3 Esq., to C. KIRKPATRICK SHARPE. 
 
 LONDON, June 10, 1807. 
 
 I thank you a thousand times for your very entertaining 
 letter. In return I send you a piece of wonderful and 
 
 1 For Oxfordshire. 
 
 2 Constantine, brother of the Emperor Alexander. 
 
 3 Frederick Thomas Foster, M.P. for St Edmundbury, son of J. T. 
 Foster, M.P. for Dunleer, by Lady Elizabeth Hervey, daughter of the 
 fourth Earl of Bristol (Bishop of Derry).
 
 314 HENRY DRUMMOND'S MARRIAGE. P ; w 1 !?T l WP 
 
 surprizing intelligence ; but perhaps you know it already. 
 However, I will take my chance for that, and proceed. 
 Henry Drummond, the gallant, gay Lothario, the prince of 
 bankers, is going to be married to the cousin of the gen- 
 tlest of the name of Hay to the Lady Harriot Hay l ! ! ! ! ! 
 All London is in an uproar. As for me, " Obstupui, stete- 
 runtque comce, vox faucibus kcesit." Was ever anything half 
 so sweeping. I suppose the Very Reverend the Dean will 
 marry next ; and, in my mind's eye, I already see Gaisford 
 and Coneybeare looking out for a wife, some fair Brenkenia 
 or Lexiconia sweet. What a sad account you give me of 
 all the talents. What ! Wellesley too, a punster, now in love 
 a Recketts still weeping over the memory of Kelly. Well, 
 well, to what base purposes may we turn to ! I am much 
 flattered by Lord Charles's remembrance, but am afraid I 
 cannot, alas ! visit Oxford this term : it almost breaks my 
 heart, this cruel disappointment. I send you, however, my 
 Patrocles, yours and my Lygon, who intends honoring you 
 with a visit to-morrow, and tarrying a certain number of 
 days : il petitte d 'esprit, and has lately read Carr's ' Tour in 
 Holland' quite through. How I envy him the common- 
 room that feast of reason and that flow of soul ; and the 
 society, too, of the Burtons, the Pegges, arid the Halls, those 
 Corinthian pillars of the music-room. Pray remember me 
 to Mr Curator, and say something pretty for me to Gais- 
 ford and Coneybeare. I am afraid Massey will never forgive 
 me for that unlucky jest about Kelly: my imprudence on 
 the subject grieves me bitterly. However, I'll repent and re- 
 form, and that soon. I give you joy of your Marquis : 2 why 
 does he tack shire to his title ? He might as well style 
 himself Middlesexshire, or Kingston-upon-Hullshire, or Sligo- 
 shire, as indeed the ' Red Book ' Sir T. Burdett's ' Red Book ' 
 
 1 Henry Drummond, Esq. of Albury, married Lady Harriet Hay, 
 eldest daughter of the ninth Earl of Kinnoul. She died 1854. 
 
 2 Arthur B. S. T., third Marquis of Downshire.
 
 f 'aSW?"] MRS CAYLER HENRY DRUMMOND. 315 
 
 very ingeniously styles the latter. However, we will not 
 quarrell with him for it, as he is a tuft, a marquis, and your 
 friend. Mrs Cayler arrived in perfect health, without hap 
 or harm. Do not forget the drawing. I am quite impa- 
 tient for it, and cannot possibly wait untill you return from 
 Scotland. Adieu : ever yours most sincerely, 
 
 F. T. H. FOSTER. 
 
 Should you not write an admonitory letter to Henry Drum- 
 moiid, full of wise saws, and good and wholesome counsell ? 
 
 E. B. IMPEY, Esq., to C. KIKKPATRICK SHARPE. 
 
 CHELTENHAM, June 14, 1807. 
 
 MY DEAR SHARPE, It is an enterprise equal to the last 
 and greatest labour of Hercules to indite an epistle to so pro- 
 fess'd a wit and so profound a critic as yourself. But really 
 my desire of receiving one from you makes me bold to hazard 
 a leap over the barriers of reserve, tho' I am conscious how 
 much I shall flounder in the attempt. I have a second and a 
 third reason which instigate me further to this hardy defiance 
 of your criticism ; one is, that it may offer some inducement 
 to you to comply with a desire (which I have conceiv'd, under 
 the idea that you have friends besides myself at Cheltenham) 
 that you would visit it during my stay, which will amount to 
 about three weeks from this period. The other is if we are 
 not to meet to reap from our renewed correspondence the 
 advantage of your judgment upon a ballad which I have 
 lately written. I shall not, however, intrude it upon your 
 attention at present, lest you should suspect this to be the 
 only true motive of my present address to you. Add to 
 which, I have a mortal horror of you, particularly in matters 
 of antiquarian lore. Nor have I already quite forgotten our 
 wicked sneers at the poodle bete. Alas, poor Marriott ! I
 
 316 "LAY OF THE LAST MINSTREL." [. 
 
 was much shock'd at the account given of his health by those 
 who saw him pass through Oxford. I fear he will never re- 
 turn. I should be glad if you could contradict this apprehen- 
 sion. Poor Clargis, too ! I had latterly contracted a kind of 
 intimacy with him, and he mentioned me in one of his last 
 letters. Those who knew him best say that he possessed 
 many qualities of the heart which will make him long remem- 
 bered. I have lately reperused the " Lay of the Last Min- 
 strel " with greater attention than at first, which makes me 
 in a great measure reverse the judgment I had formed as to 
 the incoherence of the fable. The incidents are, I think, well 
 imagined, and necessarily conducive to the plot. What I 
 most object to is the forcible introduction of those specimens 
 of ancient lyrics which precede the close of his poem : not 
 that, as far as I can judge, they are ill done, but because they 
 are tedious and impertinent. His notes, too, may delight the 
 antiquarian, but the gravity with which he sifts impossibili- 
 ties is very ludicrous to an ordinary reader. You doubtless 
 expect some account of Cheltenham. I have been here only 
 a week, which I suppose is enough to render one competent 
 to answer most necessary inquiries, to tell you that the town 
 is very full of all descriptions of people ; that the balls are 
 tolerably attended by the best sort ; and that the walks chiefly 
 abound in the display of much vulgarity, as who cannot walk ? 
 The fashion is to make excursions in open carriages, and 
 happy is he who is possessed of a barouche or sociable and 
 four. "We remain here three weeks longer, and then pay a 
 week's visit to Lady Eeade at Shipton, then to Daylesford for 
 a week, and return to town and Oxford. I am thus large on 
 the subject of our arrangements, that the example may influ- 
 ence you to a like confidence, which may lead to a deduction of 
 how far our motions are compatible. The people of the great- 
 est distinction, next to ourselves, are Lord and Lady Petre, 1 
 
 1 Robert, tenth Lord Petre; died 1809. His wife was a daughter of 
 Henry Howard of Glossop.
 
 VaTl^'isor.'] HENRY DRUMMOND'S MARRIAGE. 317 
 
 Lady Fielding, 1 a Lady Charlotte Wood 2 I believe, a 
 sister of Lord Castlereagh's Michael Angelo Taylor, and S r - 
 Isaac Heard, who is an oddity, as you may suppose, being the 
 Garter King-at-Arms. No scandal whatever stirring, nor any- 
 thing whatever worth lengthening this letter to record. So 
 adieu for the present, and believe me ever yours, 
 
 E. B. IMPEY. 
 
 C. KIRKPATRICK SHAEPE to Miss ISABELLA SHAEPE. 
 
 OXFORD, June 23, 1807. 
 
 MY DEAR I., I am writing this despatch in such a haste, 
 in order to get a frank from Lord Claud 3 before he goes to 
 London, that I have epistolised Susan on a scrap of paper, 
 and have scarcely time to say three words to you. I am 
 much obliged to you for your last letter, which I will answer 
 fully by word of mouth by-and-by ; meanwhile I can tell you 
 no news, but that Henry Drummond is going to be married 
 to Lady Harriet Hay directly (a fine hook-in of it that jade 
 hath made, and you may guess my displeasure, as I think her 
 a disagreeable quean, and now ugly). Harry was mighty sly, 
 so that in town I had not the smallest inkling of the matter : 
 indeed his cunning overshot the mark a little, for directing 
 most attention to Lady Sarah Maria, 4 the poor child imagined 
 that she was the object of his flame, and returned the passion 
 in a vast haste so you may guess the quandary now. Ellen 
 and Lady Laurie are going to Monzie shortly, but they will 
 
 1 Anne Catherine, eldest daughter of Thomas Powis of Berwick 
 House, Shropshire, and Moreton Hall, Cheshire, widow of Major-General 
 Viscount Fielding, who died 1799. 
 
 2 Lady Caroline Stewart, second daughter of the first Marquis of 
 Londonderry, married, in 1801, Thomas "Wood, Esq. of Littleton, 
 Middlesex. 
 
 3 Lord Claud Hamilton, younger son of the first Marquis of Abercorn, 
 * Lady Sarah was Lady Harriet's younger sister. She married Bishop 
 
 Murray of Rochester, a nephew of the Duke of Athole.
 
 318 SIR THOMAS KIRKPATRICK. [wSJSJlwr. 
 
 not have the General to flirt with, as he must attend rougher 
 duty in Parliament. I never by any chance hear from home, 
 but that gives me very little concern : 'tis reported that Sir 
 Thomas Kirkpatrick l is to be made a Lord of Session, which I 
 shall believe when I see it : I do not yet despair of our dignity, 
 principally (I fear) because I am not of a despairing temper. 
 As to my Jobbish mode of comfort, in truth I have none 
 better ; but I really think that you are young enough yet to get 
 a husband, provided that the stars have not doomed you to a 
 state of celibacy. Poor Miss Mary Douglas ! Lord bless me, 
 my dear ! how came you never to hear of her sad legend ? how 
 her lover was shot in the Highlands, or in the moon rather, as 
 I think. I have not time at present to tell you a word more 
 about it, for here is Claud, booted and spurred, in haste to get 
 to his mother's masquerade to-morrow. So I rest your affec. 
 brother, C. K. S. 
 
 The MARCHIONESS OF STAFFORD 2 to C. KIRKPATRICK SHARPE. 
 
 CLEVELAND HOUSE, July 7, 1807. 
 
 I shall feel in some degree affronted, my dear sir, if you 
 are not out of humour with me, or at least surprized at a 
 letter I r d - some weeks ago from you having till now remained 
 unanswered ; but the real cause of my obstinate silence is that 
 I hoped to have been able to send the laborious and learned 
 work in question 3 with my letter long before this time. "We 
 went soon after out of town, and during three weeks my 
 labours were suspended in consequence of our journey ; then 
 
 1 Of Closeburne, Kirkpatrick Sharpe's brother-in-law. 
 
 2 Elizabeth, Countess of Sutherland, married Lord Gower, eldest son 
 of the Marquis of Stafford, in 1785. Lord Gower succeeded to the 
 Marquisate in 1803, and was created Duke of Sutherland in 1833. 
 
 3 Views in Orkney and on the North - Eastern Coast of Scotland, 
 taken in 1805 and etched in 1807. By the Marchioness of Stafford. 
 Privately printed.
 
 .r D ] VIEWS IN ORKNEY. 319 
 
 the hot weather made me idle; and now you are leaving 
 Oxford, and I must be told, when it is finished (which I trust 
 it will be in a fortnight), where to send it. 
 
 I trust you will find it an innocent performance ; it will 
 contain nothing contrary to the principles of the Established 
 Church ; and though there is a view of what once was a Popish 
 Cathedral, and one which has heard Mass celebrated, if it be 
 true that walls have ears (as it is universally supposed is the 
 case), yet I do not mean to set up my Cathedral as an oppon- 
 ent to the present establishment. I think it right to clear 
 myself of all suspicion on this head when I am writing to an 
 inhabitant of Oxford. 
 
 You will see that my work has another merit, that of 
 having proved that the Orkney Islands are after all the true 
 Atlantides which have puzzled so many curious antiquarians, 
 and I think I have some reason to be vain of having done 
 what Mr Baillie and so many others could not atchieve, in 
 being able to fix where that island or continent, or neither, 
 lay. In short, you may prepare yourself for something very 
 elaborate and very new. 
 
 The last accounts we had from Gower were of the 20th of 
 May; he was then at Koenigsberg, expecting L d - Granville 
 with impatience, and to proceed with him to Petersburgh, 
 where, I hope, he may have arrived before all these disasters, 
 which I fear we shall soon see too fully confirmed. 
 
 We cannot get to Trentham till the middle or end of 
 August on account of repairs and alterations there. If after 
 that time you sh d - take that road on your travels too or from 
 Oxford, pray remember we shall be happy to see you ; and 
 believe me, very sincerely your's, E. S. S.
 
 320 HATFIELD HOUSE. 
 
 The MARCHIONESS OF STAFFORD to C. KIRKPATRICK SHARPS. 
 
 WOOLMERS, July 31, 1807. 
 
 MY DEAR SIR, I write this merely to say that the little 
 book is, I believe, by this time forwarded to you, as you 
 directed, by the Carlisle coach. It was not yet put in boards, 
 though finished, when I left town ; I therefore left the care 
 of dispatching it to Mr Todd in my absence, which must 
 account for its being without the inscription you mentioned, 
 on the title-page, but which shall be supplied at some future 
 opportunity. It is really after all not worth sending to any- 
 body, being a most insignificant performance. We are here 
 for a few days on our way to Trentham. I have just been to 
 see L y - Salisbury x at Hatfield, where there are very curious 
 old things. The whole house has the perfume of the times of 
 James the 1st, and the stables are a valuable relict of Q. 
 Eliz. I like those old things that bring one back to where 
 indeed one never was, but which give an idea of old times. 
 Pray, when you chance to be enquiring after old books, see 
 if such a one as the ' Mem. or Hist, commique du Chev. 
 d'Assoussi ' still exists anywhere. I think from the description 
 of it in Bayle it must be a curious book, and I never heard of 
 it till this morning, when, for want of occupation, it being a 
 most rainy day, I happened to meet with the ' Life of the 
 Chev. d'Assoussie' in Bayle, and by his account this book 
 must be a very entertaining one. 
 
 We heard from Gower yesterday, still with L d - Granville 
 at Memel, but expecting every moment to set out for Peters- 
 burg. He is in a rage at the late events that have happened, 
 and his sentiment for the Queen of P[russia] revives in one's 
 mind that of L d - Craven and Sir Henry Wootton for the unfor- 
 
 1 Mary, daughter of the first Marquis of Downshire, and wife of the 
 first Marquis of Salisbury. Her ladyship perished in the fire at Hat- 
 field House in November 1835.
 
 'SPANISH VENGEANCE/ 321 
 
 tunate Queen of Bohemia, by whom such respectful adoration 
 was carried to its utmost extent. He must soon come here 
 to assist in defending us from the invasion, as his services 
 can be no longer required on the Continent, and he seems 
 disposed to exert himself with all the enthusiasm such an 
 occasion will demand, for Bonaparte declares he will be in 
 England in a year. 
 
 Mr Mildmay and Sir E. Wilson l ran some risk in going to 
 Tilsit from Memel disguised as Cossacks, where, after all, they 
 saw nothing, as B. 2 is careful not to let those he does not 
 know come near him. Adieu, dear sir, ever sincerely your's, 
 
 E. S. S. 
 
 WALTER SCOTT, Esq., to C. KIRKPATRICK SHARPE. 
 
 [Jan.] A.D. 1808. 
 
 DEAR SHARPE, Lady Louisa Stuart 3 is with us to-night ; 
 if you will look in any time after seven, I am anxious to 
 congratulate you upon your safe delivery. 4 The first literary 
 child always gives most trouble and anxiety. Believe me, 
 yours always, W. SCOTT. 
 
 CASTLE STREET, Thursday. 
 
 WALTER SCOTT, Esq., to C. KIRKPATRICK SHARPE. 
 
 1808. 
 
 DEAR SHARPE, I return you 5 ' Spanish Vengeance,' w*- best 
 thanks for the pleasure the perusal has afforded. It contains 
 
 1 These gentlemen were attached in the service of Great Britain to the 
 combined armies of Russia and Prussia. 
 
 2 Bernadotte. 
 
 3 Youngest daughter of the celebrated Earl of Bute. 
 
 * Of ' Metrical Legends.' See "Walter Scott, Esq., to Lady Louisa 
 Stuart, Lockhart's ' Life of Scott,' vol. iii. pp. 37, 38. 
 5 See ante, Memoir, p. 28. 
 
 VOL. I. X
 
 O O O T T\-r /-< r 4 irir-rn PWALTER SCOTT, E8Q . 
 
 ,122 LADY GLAMMIS. [ TO c. K. s., isos. 
 
 much fine poetry and many striking situations, but rather 
 belongs to the second school of the English drama to that 
 of Congreve and Eowe than to that of Shakespeare and 
 Massinger. Whether it would succeed on the stage I cannot 
 tell, but I am sure many many far inferior have been received 
 with good approbation. Should you ever think of this, a few 
 harshnesses in the language might be smoothed away with 
 advantage. I have marked one or two things for consider- 
 ation in pencil. Believe me, yours truly, W. S. 
 
 Friday. 
 
 LADY DOUGLAS l to C. KIRKPATRICK SHARPE. 
 
 B [OTHWELL] C [ASTLE], Jan. 26, 1808. 
 
 DEAR SIR, You must think it strange and unnatural that 
 I have not long since thank'd you for your two excellent 
 drawings, and therefore I am impatient to account for my 
 silence. A little visit to Dalkeith, in the first place, delay'd 
 my receiving them, and from the day of my return I have 
 had a violent cold, which has so much affected my eyes, that 
 this is literally the first time I have ventured to put pen to 
 paper, and I now feel that I must post them very soon. I 
 really believe you are partly in fault, or that the Lady 
 Glammis 2 has bewitched me; for in a very cold day I was 
 tempted to charm the dreary rough way over the Shott 
 Hills with certain metrical legends, which nearly blinded 
 me before I got home. /, and (what is much better) we, 
 are much pleased with them for L y - Louisa Stuart is here, 
 
 1 Frances, daughter of the Earl of Dalkeith, son of Francis, second 
 Duke of Buccleuch, was the second wife of Archibald, Lord Douglas, 
 the hero of the " Douglas Cause." 
 
 2 Lady Janet Douglas, sister of the Earl of Angus, and wife of John, 
 Lyon Lord Glamis, was executed in the time of James V. for witchcraft 
 and poisoning. See Law's ' Memorials.'
 
 QUEEN ELIZABETH. 323 
 
 she who sang of wide-mou'd Meg. Lorenzo and Isabella 1 
 she thinks very Drydenish. Will you think us officious 
 and saucy if I say that we both long to have two ex- 
 pressions therein changed "a deal of beauty" and "a 
 charming man " as unworthy the rest ? A deal is, in Eng- 
 land at least, not merely a familiar, but quite a vulgar 
 expression, and a charming man very missish. To return 
 to Q. Eliz th -'s portraits, I am delighted with them. When 
 you are again minded to celebrate her, I should think Sir J. 
 Harrington's ace*- of her wearing L^- M. Howard's too fine 
 and too short petticoat, with poor I/- Mary gazing on it 
 for the last time, might be a good subject. What Time is 
 poking out of the fire with his scythe, after much pondering 
 I must confess I am too stupid to discover. Pray tell me, 
 and believe me, y r much obliged, F. DOUGLAS. 
 
 I am in daily hope of seeing Miss Murray 2 here. 
 
 Eev. J. T. CONYBEARE to C. KlRKPATEICK SHARPE. 
 
 CHRIST CHURCH, Feby. 5th, 1808. 
 
 DEAR SHARPE, I have certainly some apologies to make 
 for my tardy acknowledgement of your last ; but now that I 
 have taken up my pen, am resolved (tho', by the way, it is 
 very problematical whether you may thank me much for that) 
 that what has been long in coming shall be long in reading. To 
 this place I was confined nearly the whole vacation; first, 
 by the serious illness of a pupil and secondly, by a violent 
 cold, &c., of my own. I had time, therefore, to enquire only 
 at one or two places after your commissions, and was unsuc- 
 cessful both as to the Putaine and the Poet. As to Ma dlle - 
 
 1 Characters in the ' Spanish Vengeance.' 
 
 2 Magdalene Murray of Clermont.
 
 \TTTWQ |~REV. j. T. CONYBEARE 
 
 JNI^VVS. [_ TO c. K. s., isos. 
 
 Clairon, 1 the Williams either have sold or are too idle to 
 search for her. I have read your Opuscula, and think they 
 would have been still more entertaining had you prefixed to 
 them your anticipation of the Oxford Critiques. Should you 
 feel inclined to pursue this idle trade, it would, in my humble 
 opinion, be better to search for a good London bookseller. I 
 do not apprehend that Parker has the art of circulating a new 
 book. From what you hinted at, however, in your last, I 
 sincerely trust that you will derive the solids of life from a 
 more certain source than the bounties of that deceitful charmer 
 who " finds men poor and keeps them so." Nothing will give 
 me more sincere pleasure than to see you comfortably settled, 
 especially in town, which must be of necessity a far more con- 
 venient and pleasant situation for one of your pursuits than 
 any other. But it will not, I hope, be long before we talk 
 over all these matters either at Mr Green's or in my own 
 palace here, which is now become a very decent-looking com- 
 fortable habitation (thanks to the ingenuity and industry of 
 Gee), and where I have several novelties for your inspection. 
 
 Now, as arrangement and order are the soul of all composi- 
 tions, especially such as are long and intricate, I will systema- 
 tise in due form. The subject then of the ensuing section is 
 " Oxford News ; " that of the next shall be " Myself." As 
 to Oxford, "'Ex Atos apx<apeo-6a," we will begin by Gol- 
 gotha. The late Vice-Chancellor 2 and the Head of Univer- 
 sity 3 being dead, the one of having eaten more, and the other of 
 having eaten longer, than most of their neighbours ; Cole has 
 already obtained the Headship of Exeter, and Mr Griffiths 
 (whose ingenuity as an artist you must have heard of, if not 
 
 1 Memoirs of Hyppolite Clairon, the celebrated French, actress, with 
 Reflections on the Dramatic Art. Written by herself. Translated from 
 the French. London : 1800. 
 
 - Henry Richards, D.D., Rector of Exeter College, Vice-Chancellor 
 1806. 
 
 3 Dr Nathan Wetherell, Dean of Hereford, died 1808.
 
 .. OXFORD NEWS. 325 
 
 witnessed) is to have that of Uniyy- The Head of Trinity 1 is 
 likely also to fall soon ; all I know of his successor is that it 
 will probably not be Kett. We have had the Comte de Lille, 
 alias Louis 18 th , on a visit, escorted by the BP- of St Asaph, 
 at the request of His Majesty's patrons, the Grenvilles. It 
 grieves me to see Koyalty degraded into the tool of a pitiful 
 and mean-spirited faction, and neglected by a Court which 
 once boasted its intention to re-establish the throne of the 
 Bourbons. Last term, as you have heard, we had Catalani here 
 singing in public ; this, we have Viotti playing in private. He 
 came hither with a family of the name of Chinnery, the eldest 
 son of which was brought to Ch. Ch. as a commoner. Miss 
 Chinnery, who is with them, is by far the finest female piano- 
 player I ever heard. They have remained here nearly a 
 fortnight, to the high gratification, as you may suppose, of 
 all the amateurs, and have almost every evening played at 
 Dr Walls, at the Maclows, or some other house. Young Mr 
 Chinnery himself is a curiosity of another kind, having been 
 educated on a new plan for political life. He understands 
 and speaks French, Italian, and German really more fluently 
 than he does English, which last, indeed (report says), he was 
 not allowed to talk till he was eleven or twelve years old. 
 Mr W m - Spencer, the poet, is also in their train. We have no 
 other prodigies this term. Young Hartopp is not my pupil. 
 There is a brother of Fazakerley's here, whom you probably 
 know. I have had some intercourse with him, and find him 
 very clever. Hare, Wellesley, Legge, and Douglas are flourish- 
 ing. Doctor Foster was here last term to take his Master's 
 degree. " Explicit Novella de Oxnaforde" " Cy cumence 
 Noveles de moy tres-beaus." Imprimis, the frost and snow 
 have kept me at a most respectful distance from the Bodleian, 
 and my short stay in town allowed me only one morning at 
 the British Museum. My collections I have therefore not 
 
 1 Joseph Chapman, President of Trinity, died 1808, and was suc- 
 ceeded by Thomas Lee.
 
 326 LADY MACKWORTH. [ RE T V C.K. 
 
 YBEARK 
 1808. 
 
 finished, but as soon as they are I propose showing them to 
 Mr Douce, to whom I am to be introduced the first oppor- 
 tunity, and from whom I have received a very civil message 
 and offer of assistance. You may not perhaps be aware that 
 Mr Douce is the best and most universal black-letter scholar 
 in England. He has just published two most lovely volumes, 
 entitled ' Illustrations of Shakspeare and Ancient Manners.' 
 These, with B p - Tanner's ' Notitia Scriptorum Anglicorum,' 
 the 'Notte piacevole' of Straparola, the 'Gage ToucheY the 
 ' Elite des Contes de Sieur Ouville,' the ' Nouveaux Contes a 
 rire,' and Strutt's ' Regal and Eccl 1 - Antiquities,' are the only 
 livres de de"lassement that I was able to pick up. I have sent 
 to Constable, at Edinburgh, for several articles from his cata- 
 logue, but have only heard in a general way that most of 
 them were about to be forwarded to me. William has bought 
 a very neat folio MS. on vellum of Lydgate's ' Fall of Princes,' 
 and added some more to his black-letter histories. I have pro- 
 cured also from Manchester a most admirable copy of the 
 ' Nuremburg Chronicle.' I have got a few new prints ; and 
 thus concludes my list of rareties, all which I long to exhibit 
 to you as earnestly as a young belle to display her birthday 
 suit, or yourself to promulgate the enchanting licentiousness of 
 Lady Mary M. You will not perhaps be sorry to hear that the 
 falling in of my prebendal estate has produced an accession of 
 two hundred p r - ann. to my income. In all other respects my 
 pleasures have suffered a diminution from one quarter only, 
 and that really a very painful and unexpected one, in the 
 death of poor Lady Mackworth 1 a loss sufficiently distressing 
 to her friends, but to Sir Digby and his eleven orphans almost 
 irreparable. It is perhaps selfish to consider one's own de- 
 privation when theirs is so infinitely greater; but still I 
 cannot help feeling that it has cut off almost the only means 
 of amusement and relaxation from the monotony and un- 
 
 1 Wife of Sir Digby Mackworth, Gnoll, Glamorganshire, and daughter 
 of the Rev. Matthew Deere, died January 1808.
 
 RE TOC. V2TSK"] NEILL < DUNDEE.' 327 
 
 sociability of this place which I enjoyed ; for the immediate 
 consequence of their loss will be that the family will quit 
 this part of the country for either Bath or London. I trust 
 that the approaching season will attract you to town (if 
 nothing better does), and know that you cannot help taking 
 Oxford in your way. In the full hopes, therefore, of speedily 
 seeing you, I remain, ever very truly yours, 
 
 J. T. CONYBEARE. 
 
 Let me at all events hear from you. I have purchased of 
 Neill, the artist here, a most exquisite pencil-drawing of the 
 inside of the Chapter House, and employed him on two or 
 three other sketches. 
 
 E. SlJRTEES, Esq., to C. KlRKPATRICK SHARPE. 
 
 March Uth, 1808. 
 
 DEAR SHARPE, I have for some time felt the pangs of con- 
 science on ace*- of y r - letter still unanswered. For the whole 
 time since its date, however, I have not to answer. It just 
 arrived after I had left home, and has pursued me to London 
 by a rather circuitous route. We have been here some time, 
 and shall be till the beginning or middle of May ; and if you 
 will give me any commissions for you, I will execute them to 
 the best of my ability, either as to books, prints, or extracts 
 from any of the MSS. repositories here. Have you got ' Dun- 
 dee ' ? I saw it in a catal. the other day, but on enquiry it 
 was sold ! I thank you for yr. Durham extract, wh. is new 
 to me, and most curiously absurd. I go on collecting and 
 collecting ; but as to publishing, I fear dealing with printers 
 and engravers worse than critics. If they mauled yr. vol. of 
 Poems, what will they do with a heavy vol. of topography 
 full of uncouth names, law Latin, and Old English ? a noble 
 field for errata. I got yr. poems, and have been most highly 
 gratified, not less by the poetry than notes. Yr. ace*- of the
 
 328 POEMS BUCKINGHAM. [ Vo-Tf ,' ilos! 
 
 overloading Holyrood House Chapel is the most satisfactory 
 solution of the problem that cd. be given. Julian of the 
 Bower is sweetly pretty; and the Countess of Roxburgh 
 most delightfully arch, and reminds me so much of Charles 
 Sharpe, that I long for Ch. Ch. again, notwithstanding the 
 appendages of Carey, and a long list of frightful spectres 
 that rise in review at the name. It strongly reminds me of 
 a lady whom you were determined to call Lady Southesk, 
 and who perhaps now enjoys the title. I was extremely 
 struck with the lines on Guise : amidst some strange conceits, 
 they possess, at least in yr. version, a romantic air of sor- 
 row that is not always found in attempts of the same kind 
 either of the temps pass6 or present. But the bas de soie incar- 
 nat in the note, wh. set the French son of a bitch a-crying. is 
 exquisite. 
 
 I wish you wd. give us a few more translations of the best 
 pieces of Boccace in the stile of yr. Lorenzo and Isabella. 
 They remind me of Dryden's tales and translations, wh. 
 were always peculiar favourites with me. These kind of 
 stories are, I think, much better in verse than in roundabout 
 half-poetic prose. You ask me about the Duke of Bucks, 
 and I will refer you for a very particular ace*- of his death 
 and other circumstances of interest to the 'Gent. Magazine' for 
 1786, vol i. for March, page 203 et seq., where there is an 
 original letter of Lord Arran's, who attended him on his death- 
 bed, and two other letters conc g - him ; one gives the reg 1 "- of 
 his burial at Kirby Moorside : 
 
 "George Viloas, Lord Dooke of Bookingam, buried Ap. 
 17th 1687." 
 
 This letter is signed W. C. I suppose "VVm. Comber, Rec- 
 tor of Kirby Moorside and a very aged man, grandson to 
 Dean Comber of Durham 100 years ago. 
 
 The ace 1 - referred to at p. 19 of the same volume is evi- 
 dently false. You know that the Duke's estate Helmsley (wh.
 
 TO,' ifoa] BUCKINGHAM ' DELPHINE.' 329 
 
 his father got by the Earl of Eutland's daughter), now Bun- 
 combe Park, was purchased by S r - Anthony Duneombe, Knt., 
 who is said to have embezzled K. Jas. 2 d>s - money, wh. he 
 held as private treasurer or cofferer at the Eevolution. And 
 Helm si ey, once, &c., slides to a scrivener or a city knight to 
 wit, Duncombe, whose descendants still hold it, and have be- 
 haved as much like gentlemen as any Norman among them 
 all. I cannot part with you without thanking you for yr. hit 
 at peerage-mongers ; and I assure you, in my department of 
 Durham, if ever it sees light, I shall cover no wine or oil casks 
 with fur or ermine. 
 
 Do write to tell me what I can do for you here. What 
 Scottish knight shall I hunt for ? quern virum aut heroa. I 
 have not yet seen ' Marmion.' There is a copy lying for me 
 at Mainsforth, but it is scarce out here yet. Cannot you 
 
 come and visit us at Mainsforth this summer ? You shall have 
 
 . 
 ease and quiet, and some of my father's best drawings at yr. 
 
 discretion. We shall be at home all the summer. Believe 
 me, with sincere regard for the Castellan of Hoddam and all 
 his liege subjects, yrs. &c. K. SUETEES. 
 
 F. T. H. FosTEK, 1 Esq., to C. KIKKPATKICK SHARPE. 
 
 LONDON, 24A March 1808. 
 
 MY DEAR SHARPE, A thousand thanks for your beautiful 
 drawing, 2 and for your very entertaining and witty letter. I 
 hope that you will remember your promise of another. So 
 you are hard at study at ' Delphine.' All the illustrations I 
 can discover of the aforesaid novel I give you as follows : Mde. 
 de Vernon, Talleyrand, Serbellane, Joseph Bonaparte, King of 
 Naples, Delphine, Mde. de Stael I don't know her new 
 name ; she has thought proper to enter a second time into the 
 
 1 See ante, p. 313. 2 Madame de Stael.
 
 330 COMMON-ROOM GOSSIP. [", 
 
 bands of wedlock Le"once, Monr. de Narbonne, Lebensei, 
 Berig, Constant, Mathilde, Madame Mat. Montmorenci, and 
 Mr. de Valorbe, Eibbing, a young Danish gentleman. I missed 
 you sadly at Oxford ; the Talents are diminished in numbers, 
 and those that remain have taken furiously to punning. G. 
 Berty Douglas is the first wit, Hall the chief entertainer, and 
 Wellesley is the grand promoter of fun and frolick. I hope 
 you like the lusty Pegge ; I thought him very amiable. 
 
 The common room was, as usual, the feast of reason and the 
 flow of soul. When I was there, it had the amazing advantage 
 of being enlivened by the brilliant talk of Major Barnes. 
 Corne slumbers in his stall, Coneybeare is as galant and Im- 
 pey as ireful on the subject of Kelly as ever. The Kellian 
 Eicketts was in high feather: he and the Vaux and little 
 Johnson were prodigiously genteel and witty. I met the 
 Dean the other day snuffling along Piccadilly with the elder 
 Goodenough, son of my Lord of Carlisle. I took them at a dis- 
 tance for two large brown bears. 
 
 I believe I bought the first copy that was sold of some very 
 beautiful poems by a certain ingenious young gentleman 
 of your acquaintance. 1 How pleased Mr Fynes must be 
 " laudari a laudato viro," &c. Pray come to London and 
 sing of Border chivalry. Adieu, yours very since 1 ^ 
 
 F. T. H. FOSTER. 
 
 Earl GOWER to C. KIRKPATRICK SHARPE. 
 
 CLEVELAND HOUSE, April 9, 1808. 
 
 DEAR SHARPE, You have not written to say that you have 
 left Hoddam, and that you are at Edin g -, as you ought to have 
 done a long time ago. As it is too late for you to do that 
 
 1 Metrical Legends, and other Poems. By Charles Kirkpatrick 
 Sharpe, Esq. Oxford and London : 1867.
 
 TT ( T808 TO ] LONDON SOCIETY ' MARMION.' 331 
 
 now, it remains for you to say what you have done since you 
 have been there. I suppose there is little or no chance of you 
 coming to London this year. I can assure you it seems par- 
 ticularly gay and agreeable, if that be any inducement to you. 
 I see y r - friend Lady Hampden about everywhere. She is a 
 great friend to the Argyle S*- institution, of w ch - you may have 
 heard, and w ch - is generally bad enough. Poor Lady Peell 
 makes her appearance but seldom, but the D ss - of G. 1 is as 
 much about as ever, tho' she complains of g*- blindness, &c. &c. 
 She cannot resist any ball or assembly. By the by, I dined 
 at a Scotch dinner the other day, when I heard of nothing else 
 but the excellence of some ball or something w ch - the young 
 gentlemen from Oxford, they said, had been giving at Edins- 
 Were you at it ? The merits of each of these young gentle- 
 men separately were then considered and talked over, to my 
 great entertainment, as I was not suspected of having any 
 acquaintance with any of them. I could not make out which 
 was the most popular, but L d - Desart 2 was declared to be an 
 extremely fine young man ; and, on the whole, I think he 
 seemed to receive the greatest praise in the conducting this 
 ball, and for his modesty in not claiming privilege of peerage, 
 but allowing his name to be put with the rest in a round 
 robin, which in London is thought to be quite a new idea for 
 such occasions. ' Marmion ' is not generally liked near so well 
 as the ' Lay.' I, for my part, think it wonderfully inferior, 
 and am quite content with reading it once over, which was far 
 from being the case with the other. I shall go in a few days 
 to Hertfordshire for the holidays, but you may direct as usual 
 to London. By the by, I hope soon to be in Parl*-, though I 
 know of little other advantage to be gained from it but that 
 of being able to frank letters, as I am not sufficiently in debt 
 to make it desirable on that account; and I can hear the 
 
 1 Jane Maxwell, wife of Alexander, fourth Duke of Gordon. 
 
 2 John Otway, fourth Earl.
 
 LONDON GOSSIP. [T^im 
 
 debates now whenever I wish. And as to speaking not 
 much chance of that. I hear the H. Drummonds cannot 
 come to town for want of money to pay post-horses. They 
 must be heartily tired of each other by this time. I am really 
 very sorry for her, that she sh d - have been so foolish as to 
 throw herself so completely away. Murray is in orders. The 
 DSS. o f Montrose x is dying. The east winds have been fatal to 
 many. I am surprised at L d - Hampden holding out so well : 
 he goes with her everywhere. You have heard, I suppose, all 
 about Catalani's cold, and the disappointment of Bath, and 
 the badness of the opera, &c. Such a crowd as I/- Loudoun - 
 collected the night of L d - Mauchline's christening never was 
 known horses squeezed to death, carriages broken, women 
 frightened, and numbers of little incidents and adventures. 
 C. Wrottesly will not come to town, though his brother has 
 offered him a room. G. Vernon has locked himself up for 
 some weeks and been invisible different reasons are assigned. 
 L d - Berwick came a few nights ago to Argyle S*- as dumb as 
 need be, and challenged, kicked, and bruised many people, 
 who at last succeeded in turning him out with much diffi- 
 culty. 
 
 Hon. Mrs DRUMMOXD BUKRELL to C. KIRKPATRICK SHARPE. 
 
 I delay'd answering your letter these last two days in the 
 hopes of saving you sevenpence, and at the same time of 
 adding another M.P. to the list of my correspondents. If 
 a fair Marchioness has any sense, I feel convinc'd that you 
 will soon repay me for the Will of Patrick by franking my 
 
 1 Caroline Maria, daughter of the fourth Duke of Manchester, and 
 wife of James, third Duke of Montrose, survived her husband, and died 
 in 1847. 
 
 2 Flora Muir Rawdon, Countess Loudoun, married the Earl of Moira, 
 1804. George Francis, Lord Mauchline, was born 1806. Why his 
 christening should have been so long postponed does not appear.
 
 ACCIDENT TO COL. SHARPE. 333 
 
 letters. I have unfortunately mislaid the original, but I 
 send you a copy (the only one we have), which I am sure 
 will be safe with you. As to my uncle, the Lord High 
 Chancellor, 1 I cannot send him by the stage-coach, and the 
 carrier went off without him ; so if you are not in a great 
 hurry, Burrell desires me to say that we can bring him 
 bodkin. He joins me in kind wishes to the Miss Campbells 
 and you, and believe me, ever yours faithfully, 
 
 C. S. D. B. 
 DRUMMOND CASTLE, 
 April IZth, 1808. 
 
 I am going to put in a claim after L- Mary Lindsay* in 
 virtue of the Lundins. Give us your opinion. The Vis- 
 countess Garnock ! It sounds well. 
 
 CHARLES KIRKPATRICK SHARPE to Miss ISABELLA SHARPE. 
 
 [EDINBURGH], April 1808. 
 
 MY DEAR ISABELLA, It was but this very instant that 
 from my aunt Kirk. I learnt the Colonel's most distressing 
 accident, and I cannot refrain from troubling you with these 
 few lines, to desire that when you are at leisure you will 
 let me know all the circumstances, and! especially how my 
 sister stands this most severe shock. It was the merciful 
 providence of God that the discharge did not prove fatal, and 
 much cause have we to be thankful for it ; but I shall not 
 be easy till I hear that all possibility of fever is at an end, 
 and also that Mrs Sharpe is delivered from those fearful 
 hysterical passions which shake and tear in pieces a frame 
 as delicate as hers. I hope that you behaved well on this 
 trying occasion, and gave way to none of those fooleries to 
 
 1 Portrait of the Earl (Duke) of Perth. 
 
 2 The Viscountcy of Garnock became extinct on the death of the 
 fifth Viscount, 1808.
 
 334 DEATH OF MRS CAMPBELL. [ SHARPE, 1808. 
 
 which the females of our family are so subject, and which 
 render them both useless and contemptible. Ellen wrote 
 to my aunt so confusedly that I cannot make out whether 
 all the fingers are gone or no. Be clear, I beseech you, on 
 that point, and tell me if the thumb be harmed. I would 
 fain hope that he may still be able to make use of his hand 
 should any part of the fingers remain and the thumb be 
 unhurt. It is now needless to repine, else I should descant 
 a little on the rash handling of such dangerous weapons 
 as double-barrelled guns. Again, we have cause to be thank- 
 ful that it is no worse, which, from my aunt's mode of 
 opening the matter to me, I did at first most grievously 
 apprehend. 
 
 Pray give him my best love and good wishes, and tell my 
 sister that at present I think it wrong to trouble her with 
 a letter (tho' on the eve of doing so), because my nonsense 
 cannot possibly divert her now: by-and-bye will do better. 
 I must confess, my dear, that I behaved ill to yourself with 
 respect to correspondence ; but my friends are so well accus- 
 tomed to my silences that they never take them amiss (even 
 when they are occasioned by more trifling causes than this 
 towards you), so I beg you to follow their example. The 
 ballad which you sent was excellent, tho' rather highly 
 seasoned in some places and the account of the quarter 
 sessions at the castle very diverting. heavens, that castle ! 
 How I quake and sicken at the very thought of it ! Ellen 
 writes that the younger ladies were abundantly disappointed 
 concerning some Dumfries ball or other to which they were 
 not bidden. Were you one of them ? I have been so occu- 
 'pied with all sorts of things here that I have lost my memory 
 respecting dates and chronology most completely. 
 
 Mrs Campbell's death was a very unpleasing interruption 
 to my pursuits and diversion. The Erskines (both of whom 
 I like much, but John the best), Colonel Tytler, and I escorted 
 the body to Loch Earne head (about thirty miles on the other
 
 MONZIE THE BURRELLS. 335 
 
 side of Stirling), where the burial-place is, by the margin of 
 a rivulet shaded with birch-trees and flowing over rocks into 
 a beautiful smooth lake. John Erskine and I walked on the 
 banks of this lake by moonlight, and you cannot imagine 
 anything more sad and sombre than the scene the still dead 
 water, the huge gray hills patched with snow, the clouds 
 coming slowly over the face of the moon, and the profound 
 silence of all nature, saving the murmur of the stream near 
 Mrs Campbell's grave, and the faint cry of the owl proceeding 
 from some mountain far away. It makes me cold to think 
 of it even now. We were four days from Edinburgh, travel- 
 ling with our own horses all that time. 
 
 Shortly after we all removed to Monzie, where we had ten 
 days (the sum total of our stay) of continual snow. However, 
 I contrived to dine once and sleep a night at Abercairney, 
 where were the Burrells, and my cronies the Stanmere 
 Drummonds. Mr Burrell is become as thin as a spectre ; 
 but he is a good-humoured, well-bred man, and speaks Eng- 
 lish. Mrs Burrell was just as usual. I think that Christy 
 Murray hath become a perfect beauty, for, by hook or crook, 
 she hath gained a high complexion. Margaret (of whom I 
 saw much in Edin., she residing with the Drummonds, in 
 whose house I almost lived) is very nearly what you re- 
 member her. When on our return to this town, we stopt 
 to examine the ruins of Dunblane and Linlithgow two 
 dismal spectacles, in truth. There was one little circum- 
 stance respecting Linlithgow which struck me much. Tho' 
 the sun was shining bright on the green fields, on the lake 
 by the castle, and on the ruin itself, yet in the roofless 
 chamber where Queen Marie was born lay a wreath of 
 snow ! How emblematic of her miserable fortunes ! Lin- 
 lithgow castle was burnt down by the Duke of Cumberland's 
 soldiers in the year 1746, after having slept a night in it, 
 because it belonged always to rebels, they said. I hope they 
 are burning in hell for their trouble.
 
 336 MARRIAGES MRS SIDDONS. ["ySS 
 
 It gave me great pleasure to learn that you were well enter- 
 tained with London. I was confident that the opera would 
 perfectly enchant you. After such refined fun, you may 
 well imagine that the frolicks here were not exceedingly 
 charming to me; nevertheless, I went out every night, be- 
 cause it did me good in sundry of my pursuits. The leading 
 ladies of the season were the Duchess of Gordon and Mrs 
 Drummond ; but as I have before frequently described them to 
 you, I shall not now meddle with them. We hear of nothing 
 but marriage ever since these frisks ceased, of which three are 
 certain : Augusta Murray of Ochtertyre to Gen. Campbell of 
 Lochnell an excellent match; George Ross (Sir Charles's 
 brother) to Miss Hunter of Barjarg (N.B. the said George 
 doth nothing now but pray, to cuddle his mother out of her 
 money); and Clemmy Blair to a Captain Birch, who hath 
 not one penny beyond his pay. Besides these certainties, 'tis 
 said that Drummond Home is about to favour one Miss Car- 
 negie of Pittarrow, and Sir George Clerk of Penny&eeA; (as 
 Coneybeare pronounced it) another. I hear not of Hartopp 
 cutting his cloth according to the fashion, or getting himself 
 a goose-board anywhere. I do not see much of him now, 
 as the evening parties are almost over, and we can give 
 nothing at home. I met Mrs Siddons at dinner one day, 
 just before the death of her spouse 'twas at Walter Scott's 
 and you cannot imagine how it annoyed me to behold 
 Belvidera guzzle boiled beef and mustard, swill streams of 
 porter, cram up her nose with handfulls of snuff, and laugh 
 till she made the whole room shake again. I verily think 
 that she is even fatter than when we last saw her, and really 
 now so broad in the pockets that she is a very shame to be 
 seen. 
 
 Apropos of pockets, my aunt Smollett is grown so fond 
 of me that she declares I am to have the miniature of Lady 
 Eglintone when she dies. Meanwhile, I have got it most 
 beautifully copied by Bessie Mure, who did it as the greatest
 
 MR SHARPE'S PLAY. 337 
 
 favour possible. Let me know in your letter if you have 
 any chance of becoming a countess shortly if you have 
 made any impression yet. I could tell you a good deal 
 about John, as that I think him cured of his passion, &c., 
 &c., but have neither time nor inclination; for the truth 
 is, that I am in very bad spirits f 1 ] of writing, but 
 
 was resolved when I sat down to this [ l ] any 
 
 little news I could think of, in some sort to [ l ] from 
 
 complaining of the postage. Again, pray write soon, and 
 be as particular as possible, directing to me, 5 Charlotte 
 Square. 
 
 Walter Scott has redd my play, and as both he and the 
 Campbells approve of it, I will certainly endeavour to get 
 it acted. But do not you whisper one word of it to any 
 mortal, for if it be damned, I must never confess myself to 
 be the author; and tho' my pride assures me that worse 
 plays have passed off very well, yet there is no depending 
 on the caprices of a London audience. Willie Tytler, the 
 colonel's son, is made a judge in India; so he hath caught 
 a better trout than even his father did when he fished so 
 successfully in the Moffat well. Margaret is become quite 
 melancholy, caring for nothing except a husband, I guess, 
 an article which she seems to have little or no chance of 
 acquiring just at present. Anne is certainly the beauty of 
 the family, and would really be very pretty did she use a 
 little rouge. Miss Grierson of Eockhall was here for some 
 time, but she had no sale, the people thinking her unpleasant ; 
 in which strange idea they differed much from the sentiments 
 of, dear Isabella, your ever affectionate brother, 
 
 CH. KIEKPATKICK SHAEPE. 
 
 1 Letter torn under the seal. 
 
 VOL. I.
 
 338 A TRAVELLING ADVENTURE. 
 
 CHARLES K. SHARPE to Miss CAMPBELL of Monzie. 
 
 [April 1808.] 
 
 MY DEAR WIFE, Having attained Glasgow in safety, I 
 write with sad qualms to inform you of the fate of the 
 antique stone. The confounded Town Council of Stirling 
 have resolved either to present it to the Duke of Athole or 
 reinstate it in its former place, so adieu all hopes of my Lady 
 Margaret's monument. You must console yourself with Lord 
 Melville's inscription, and I will make a shift to be contented 
 with the memento of Sir N. de Corri. 
 
 I have hitherto met with little worth mentioning in my 
 journey. At Airdoch I encountered an Oxford acquaintance, 
 by name Hay, and his papa, a strange old rogue, going to 
 Lord Kinnoul's ; and between Cumbernauld and Glasgow my 
 driver quarrelled with three fellows for getting on the back 
 of the carriage, and was wellnigh murdered by them, in spite 
 of my menaces and exclamations. One wielded a cudgel, 
 another a pair of mutton fists, and the third a reaping-hook, 
 wherewith I verily believed every moment that he would 
 shear off my Jehu's head; and they squabbled and shook 
 each other with such violence that the horses took fright 
 and began to kick and startle' which finally separated the 
 combat of the other animals, and allowed me and my suite to 
 get to Glasgow about eight o'clock this evening. I am not as 
 yet certain of a place in the mail, no half-ticket being sold 
 till just before it sets off. This is a bore, and I have a 
 megrim in my head which annoys me exceedingly. Give 
 my love to all, and tell Miss Pitman that I will write to her 
 incontinently. In the meantime, I remain your affection- 
 ate spouse, CHAS. KIRKPATRICK SHARPE. 
 
 P.S. Pray make some very ingenious excuse for me to my
 
 ] AN EDINBURGH AUCTION. 339 
 
 Lady Perth, and give my love to Pickle. I suppose he is at 
 this moment either stinking on the ottoman or making the 
 pretty little mouth on your knees. 
 
 C. KIRKPATEICK SHARPE to Mrs SHARPE. 
 
 EDIN., Tuesday, 14th June 1808. 
 
 MY DEAR MOTHER, I attended the sale three days ago, 
 and bought a large lamp for the drawing-room at the price 
 of ten pounds. It is such a one as sells for twenty-five, is 
 extremely elegant, and hath four burners, which will set a 
 larger room than yours in a perfect blaze. Everybody thinks 
 it a prodigious bargain, and I hope that my father and you 
 may be of the same opinion. Should you not, I think that I 
 can dispose of it again. In the meantime, it wants a brass 
 chain (a rope is cheaper, but not fashionable), which will 
 come to about three pounds more ; but I cannot bespeak it 
 till I know your mind, and also the height of the drawing- 
 room ceiling, in the measurement of which the greatest accu- 
 racy must be observed. Things are dearer at Cores than dur- 
 ing the first days, but still most wonderfully cheap; and 
 should you still wish for a dessert sett of china or a smaller 
 lamp for the dining-room, my father had best send me a draft 
 upon Mr Mackwhinnie for thirty pounds, which will certainly 
 cover all expenses. As to my own affairs, pray thank him for 
 his obliging offer, but say that at present I have no occasion. 
 Indeed I should have returned home quite rich, had it not 
 been for the clothes incident to Mrs Campbell's death (which 
 were very dear), and that deuced dictionary which Gower got 
 me to subscribe for under a conviction that it would never 
 be published. I have paid for the lamp, and the sooner my 
 father can conveniently let me have that ten pound again the 
 better that is, should he chuse to keep it. As to parrot- 
 cages, I enquired yesterday in two cage-shops, but could get
 
 340 SMOKE AT HODDAM FOX'S HISTORY. 
 
 none, and intended to hunt again to-day had not the heavy 
 rain prevented me. However, I will be sure to get the neces- 
 sary information before I leave Edin., which will be at the 
 end of this month or the beginning of the next. 
 
 I am sorry to hear that the drawing-room smokes so much, 
 as any paper or cotton article you put up must be ruined by 
 it ; but there surely are cures, if they could be hit upon, as 
 no gentleman's house, old or new, smokes but Hoddam Castle 
 nowadays. I have picked up several pictures since I have 
 been here, and painted one myself, which (tell Ellen, with my 
 love) will delight her 'tis a copy of young Harry Erskine's, 1 
 done by Watson, and in oils. Lord Buchan 2 lent it to ine, and 
 hath since introduced me to the original himself, with whom 
 he wishes me to be intimate. He is a very captivating young 
 man, with much of the family quickness, more of its singu- 
 larity, and (tho' not so handsome as his picture) of an appear- 
 ance wonderfully superior to the common run of rusticks in 
 this untitled lawyer-ridden and deserted city. 
 
 Also be so good as to tell Ellen that I have redd ' Mathilde,' 
 tho' I would not advise her to be as foolish. Tis certainly 
 the most affecting tiling that ever was written, and almost 
 slew me, albeit I am not, you know, exceedingly subject to 
 the melting mood at any time, and more especially when my 
 head is taken up with plans and parties, as was then the case. 
 Miss Jane Campbell yesterday made me a present of Fox's 
 historical work, and I have perused it with great attention. 
 His friends will compare him to Sallust, and his foes to Mal- 
 colm Laing. For my part, being neither friend nor foe, I 
 esteem his matter stale, but his style admirable, and cannot 
 help regretting that he spent that time in making forgotten 
 (or nearly forgotten) speeches in Parliament, which would 
 have been so much more usefully employed in perpetuating 
 the purest idioms of his native language. 
 
 1 Henry David, afterwards seventh Earl of Buchan. 
 
 2 David Stewart, sixth Earl.
 
 8HARp E 7i808.] FOX ' S HISTORY LADY EGLINTOUNE. 341 
 
 You will find his account of the Earl of Argyle's execution 
 peculiarly elegant and moving, and be greatly surprised to 
 perceive how much he admires the Duke of Monmouth, who 
 was a bad son, a worse husband, no father at all, and a fool. 
 Miss Hamilton's new novel is very just and very amusing; 
 but she hath written it in such bad grammar that I am 
 grieved to the heart about it, for she is an excellent woman, 
 and one whom, in all matters of taste, we are bound to defend ; 
 but there is no appeal from the Tribunal of Dilworth and 
 Johnson, and in this case she must be condemned and executed 
 without mercy. 
 
 I did not think of mentioning Jane, because she was and is 
 very well. It vexed me to learn her intentions respecting 
 Edin., tho' she may have her own reasons, for anything we 
 know. And Jenny is really gone at last ; after all her misery 
 and restlessness, she is at length quiet. She was certainly a 
 worthless creature ; but I would fain hope that much may be 
 allowed on the score of intellect. She scarcely had the capa- 
 city to be a good woman, and there are few of her rank much 
 better. Men kill not their asses, mules, or cats because they 
 are innately stupid or vicious ; neither, I am persuaded, will 
 the fountain of mercy pour forth the waters of eternal bitter- 
 ness on those wretches whose native vices He, in His wisdom, 
 hath neither corrected by the early instruction of friends or 
 the rarer gift of that good sense which is the mother of a 
 thousand virtues. 
 
 I have done much in my wonted pursuits since I have been 
 here, and attained to almost everything I desired 
 
 " Blest madman who could every hour employ 
 With something new to wish or to enjoy." 
 
 Everybody hath helped me on ; but your Scotchmen are sad, 
 vulgar fellows, after all. Bessy Mure hath made a most 
 beautiful copy of my aunt's picture of Lady Eglintoune, and 
 I have had it set in a snuff-box, with a huge golden coronet
 
 342 SALE OP THE DRUMMOND LANDS. [ 
 
 above. For my aunt herself, nothing could be kinder than 
 she has been ; and I am happy to say that she is now much 
 better in health than she was a little while ago, when I, and 
 all her other friends here, entertained very serious apprehen- 
 sions concerning her. 
 
 Tell Ellen that I beg she will go into my closet, and on the 
 upper shelf there she will find Anderson's edition of the Eng- 
 lish Poets. Let her look for the works of Dryden, and, with 
 the help of the index at the end of the volume, she will find 
 that a great many pages are wanting in one place. She must 
 send me the numbers of the page before the chasm and of that 
 after it, for Dr Anderson hath kindly promised to supply the 
 want whenever I can let him know the precise number of 
 leaves omitted ; and I must beseech her to perform this favour 
 with accuracy, as I would gladly have my copy of so valuable 
 a work perfectly complete. 
 
 The Duchess of Gordon is here on her way north. I called 
 upon her yesterday, and found her perfectly beautiful, covered 
 with lace veils and artificial roses, and surrounded by three 
 ugly yellow London babes of the D ss - of Manchester's. The 
 Burrells have again been in Edinburgh selling more land, 
 whereof Miss Preston hath bought a lot which cost thirteen 
 thousand guineas ; Sir P. Murray another of seven thousand 
 pounds ; and Abercairney one of two thousand. This money 
 only goes to pay the old debts ; the new come next, so that 
 in the end, I fear, very little will be left, and that poor 
 Clementina will be termed Countess Lackland in the family 
 tree. She is cutting down that and all her other trees, but 
 puts an excellent face on the whole matter, which I know not 
 whether to despise or admire her for. 
 
 Tell Grace I am much obliged to her for her P.S. Most of 
 the marriages which I mentioned are quite true. We were all 
 abundantly shocked with poor Pollen's fate, for tho' a worth- 
 less person, his exit was dreadful. He even at the end be- 
 haved ill. L d - Royston was dying of the plague at the time
 
 OS.] DEATH OF LORD ROYSTON. 343 
 
 he was drowned. He had lost his hearing, was blind of one 
 eye, and his head was swelled to twice its natural size. Harry 
 Drummond is soon to be in Scotland, and I shall endeavour 
 to catch him flying somewhere or other. He brings my lady 
 his wife with him. I am now afraid that Col. Balfour's mar- 
 riage to Miss Fordyce will miscarry, as he is going to Ireland 
 in a few days, and she is still in England. I had set my 
 heart upon it, and its destruction will not only give no small 
 vexation to the duchess, but also to your affectionate son, 
 
 CH S - KIRKPATRICK SHARPE. 
 
 If you wish for lamps or china, write directly. We wanted 
 much some breakfast china in former times. I wish you may 
 be able to read this, for my haste is great. 
 
 The Hon. HENRY ERSKiNE 1 to C. KIRKPATRICK SHARPE. 
 
 SHIP INN, SEATON CAEEW, near 
 STOCKTON, June 28, 1808. 
 
 MY DEAR SHARPE, I entreat your forgiveness for my 
 being so long in answering your kind note which accom- 
 panied your poems. You lament that we should be separ- 
 ated at the very moment of our first acquaintance. It was 
 unfortunate, but for me necessary, and when we meet again 
 (which God grant) I will explain to you the cause of my 
 abrupt departure. 
 
 I can assure I would be most happy to rank you among 
 my true friends (they are not many), altho' my heart is 
 by nature formed to love every one that I think is amiable 
 
 1 Henry Erskine, second son of Henry David, fifth Earl of Buchan, 
 born 1746, a distinguished advocate of the Scottish Bar ; Lord Advo- 
 cate, 1783 ; Dean of Faculty, 1786 ; Lord Advocate for the second 
 time, 1806. For Memoir see 'Henry Erskine and his Kinsfolk,' by 
 Lieutenant-Colonel Fergusson. Edinburgh : 1883.
 
 344 LORD GOWER'S TRAVELS. [ HO T N o I,T 8 s o K 8 NE 
 
 and honourable. I have been often cruelly disappointed 
 where I looked for pleasure and delight in reciprocity of 
 friendship, and found a vacuum in the heart that could 
 not be supplied. 
 
 I am now at a bathing quarter near Stockton with a 
 friend of mine from Newcastle, a very agreeable young man. 
 I shall remain here till the end of July, and then bend my 
 course towards Edina. 
 
 I trust we shall then meet, and, I hope, cement and 
 render more lasting the friendship between us, a continu- 
 ance of which will be truly acceptable to me. Believe me, 
 dear Sharpe, yours most sincerely, HENRY EESKINE. 
 
 Your effusions I admire much. 
 
 Earl GOWER to C. KIRKPATEICK SHARPE. 
 
 TKENTHAM, July 6, 1808. 
 
 MY DEAR SHARPE, On looking over my valuables here 
 this morns- I fell in with a bundle of your letters, which I 
 have just been perusing with great pleasure. I assure you, 
 they are extremely entertaining and good. Do not suppose 
 I am now setting about answering them all now, as I have 
 already performed that sufficiently at length for your satis- 
 faction, I should think, so don't be alarmed. No what I am 
 now moved to write to you, is the desire of seeing you this 
 summer at Dunrobin, whither we that is, Lady Stafford and 
 I are now going. We shall be at Edinburgh in a few days, 
 and thence mean to go to Dunrobin vid Staffa and lona and 
 the Caledonian Canal road, and shall continue at Dunrobin 
 during the better part of July and August. So pray come, if 
 you can ; and if you cannot, let me know the reasons by a 
 letter to Edinburgh. George Vernon has just given up a 
 scheme he has entertained for some time of paying a visit
 
 E c R K. G sTi E 808 TO ] GEORGE VERNON. 345 
 
 to Sicily this summer. He has what they call thought better 
 of it. I believe he is now at Oxford, enjoying, I suppose, 
 the society of your friend, Miss R. Burton, whom I saw 
 in London this year in high beauty and good condition. I 
 should like much to read your play. If you come, as I do 
 really heartily wish you would, bring it, and any other novel 
 productions of your pen or pencil. Remember I have not 
 seen you for more than two years, and I am sure you have 
 not been idle during that time, so I shall expect something. 
 Lady Stafford desires me to tell you that she shall be ex- 
 tremely happy to see you at Dunrobin to stay as long as 
 you like there, and that you may ransack all the old letters 
 possibly to be found, and do entirely what you choose, with- 
 out the least gSne or restraint whatever. Be of good courage, 
 and I feel sure you can make it out, if you have a mind. In 
 hopes of wc h - 1 shall not say more at present, in order to have 
 more to say then by word of mouth. Adieu. Ever y rs - truly, 
 
 GOWER. 
 We shall be at Edinburgh about the llth. 
 
 The MARCHIONESS OF STAFFORD to C. KIRKPATRICK SHARPE. 
 
 DUNROBIN CASTLE, Sept. 15, 1808. 
 
 To resume the subject of our last conversation, dear Mr 
 Sharpe, 1 begin by mentioning that L d - Arch d - Hamilton 1 gives 
 me full powers to have the picture of Queen Mary copied, 
 provided the painter does not remove it from the appartments 
 at Holyrood House. Therefore, will you have the goodness 
 to direct him, if he has time at present, to receive this per- 
 mission from Duke Hamilton's agent, Alexr. Young, Esqr., 
 Queen St., Edinr., and to set about it as soon as he can ; and 
 
 1 Second son of the ninth Duke of Hamilton. The Duke of Hamilton 
 is hereditary keeper of Holyrood House.
 
 O 4 C nrrmrri-i-n-r , -TT-V -rk i TT*T FMABCH. OF STAFFORD 
 
 346 SUTHERLAND PAPERS. [ TO c. K. s., 1808. 
 
 if he produces a good copy, I beg you to give him what you 
 think right for it. Having discust this dry subject, I must 
 tell you that I have been searching for some of L d - Dundee's 
 correspondence, but can only find that one letter written in 
 his own hand, and signed Dundie. There are various letters 
 here of about 1715-16 some from L d - Lovat but nothing, I 
 apprehend, worthy of your notice. I am to receive from your 
 friend and favourite, Mr Mackenzie, a large box of old family 
 letters at Edinburgh, and will examine them and report to 
 you. I am going to have Sir B.*- Gordon's Hist, of the 
 Sutherlands copied, finding it to be a very curious book, and 
 full of annecdotes of its time of other people besides those of 
 our race ; a good deal of scandal respecting the daughters of 
 the Earls of Caithness, against whom we have always enter- 
 tained a degree of spite; and some insinuations as if the Laird 
 of Balnagowan his daughter had some hand in the drowning 
 of a C ss - of Suth d who, you remember, perished in the little 
 ferry that is, was half drowned there, and after coming on 
 shore, put out of pain by Andrew Davy, a fugitive, who was 
 passing by. 
 
 We have had a most delightful expedition altogether, and 
 have been much occupied in plans for improvement. This 
 country is an object of curiosity at present, from being quite 
 a wild corner, inhabited by an infinite multitude roaming at 
 large in the old way, despising all barriers and all regulations, 
 and firmly believing in witchcraft, so much so that the porter 
 durst not send away two old women who were plaguing us 
 one day, believing them to be witches. You know that the 
 last witch burned in Scotland suffered at Dornoch, to our ever- 
 lasting shame, in 1722. Her daughter, a fishwife in a village 
 about eight miles from hence, happened to have burnt her 
 hands when a child, which contracted her fingers, and the 
 common people ascribed that misfortune to her mother's 
 witchcraft, and imagined that this creature could turn herself 
 into a poney, and that being shod by the Devil occasioned
 
 MA T R o c.' r s Tisos. RD ] LA ST WITCH QUEEN ELIZABETH. 347 
 
 this blemish. L d: Stafford to-day, in walking near their 
 village, met a man (a beggar) with his hands in that form, 
 the son of this fishwife and grandson of the witch ; and the 
 descendants of that family are still feared in the neighbour- 
 hood from that old liaison. Gower is gone an expedition to 
 Lord Reay's at Tongue, and means to explore that part of the 
 country. He .will be absent a few days longer, and will, on his 
 return here, find a letter directed by you, which is now wait- 
 ing for him. I shall probably be in Edin r - the end of the 
 month, and shall be glad to hear from you there. We go 
 from thence into Yorkshire, which will retard our return to 
 Trentham. I fear we have no chance of meeting you at 
 Edin r - at this season; indeed our stay there will be very 
 short only a day or two to see Miss Hairstens. I hope you 
 are very busy prosecuting your work. Gower has copied the 
 D. of Monmouth's letter, but I fear has not returned it. 
 Adieu. Believe me ever very sincerely yours, &c., &c., 
 
 E. S. S. 
 
 Lady DOUGLAS to C. KIIIKPATKICK SHARPE. 
 
 BOTHWELL CASTLE, Nov. 18th, 1808. 
 
 After suffering much anxiety for the fate of the drawings 
 whose departure you announced the 31 st - of Oct r - and when 
 I was on the point of effusing my sufferings in the form of a 
 letter, I had yesterday the satisfaction of receiving them in 
 perfect preservation, and return you a thousand thanks. I 
 flatter myself Miss Murray's Q. Eliz 111 - 1 cannot be a better 
 scold than mine; and the distant part of the congregation 
 are excellent, with only a few ptirpose-like touches. I could 
 almost shed tears with Madam 116 -, so well does she tell her 
 sad tale; and the full-bottom'd-wig'd Cupid, breaking his 
 
 1 The reference here is to an anecdote, not to the well-known etching 
 by C. K. S.
 
 348 LETTER FROM MARRIOTT. . 
 
 bow, is enough to break any elderly heart. Car ne - will with 
 pleasure brush up her g 1 -aunt's Jewells, &c. Shall I send 
 her by the same expeditious carrier to Hoddam Castle, or, 
 as we shall soon go to Dalkeith, are you likely to meet 
 her in Edin gh - ? I am, d r - sir, y r - much obliged, 
 
 F. DOUGLAS. 
 
 Kev. JOHN MAERIOTT to C. KIRKPATEICK SHARPE. 
 
 DALKEITH HOUSE, Dec. 4 [1808]. 
 
 DEAR SHARPE, I cannot find a whole sheet of paper in my 
 room, and, as it is past midnight, dare not for the life of me 
 explore the gallery in search of one, lest the Duke of Mon- 
 mouth's picture should ride out of its frame, or the Earl of 
 Morton's grim shade stalk by me in terrific majesty. You 
 must therefore excuse this scrap ; and would that I had no 
 other matter of apology to discuss ! Nothing but a very 
 clear conscience would give me assurance enough to tell you, 
 that I am under the very disagreeable necessity of giving up 
 the plan which I myself suggested, and to which you so 
 kindly acceded. I have just discover'd an unfortunate co- 
 incidence of obligations, which renders it absolutely impos- 
 sible for me to put this scheme, the prospect of which had 
 given me so much pleasure, in execution. I must be at Ch. 
 Ch. on the 19th, and I must be here on the 16th ; so that I 
 shall barely be able to perform the journey by taking the 
 shortest road, and travelling day and night. I will not say 
 how much I feel this disappointment. I trust that you have 
 faith enough in me to believe that it is very irksome : if you 
 had not, numerous professions would not supply its place. I 
 shall not, however, be quite at ease till I have your pardon 
 under your own sign and seal. I look forward to the journey
 
 REV. JOHN MARRIOTT"! 
 TO c. K. s., 1808. J 
 
 now with dismay, and have no hope of support but from the 
 resignation inculcated by the old adage relating to evils 
 which "can't be cur'd." I hope we shall meet in Oxford, 
 where I must make my appearance, a second time, in Jan- 
 uary. I hope and trust, also, that I shall have some other 
 opportunity of availing myself of your friendly and obliging 
 invitation to Hoddam Castle. If I let one slip that offers, 
 may I be constrained to read thro' every one of the intended 
 five-and-twenty volumes of Dryden, 1 or to hear all the plead- 
 ings in the Eoxburgh cause. 2 D r - Foster's verses amus'd me 
 exceedingly ; but not quite so much as did a sketch from 
 your hand, which I saw the other day in George's Square. 3 
 The D r -' s renown'd ancestor 4 handing the Duchesse de la Val- 
 liere is one of the most interesting and striking efforts of 
 your pencil, and gives a more complete idea of their recipro- 
 cal attachment than all that Mad. de Genlis has said upon 
 the subject. I told Walter Scott that you complain'd of the 
 injury likely to accrue both to Dryden's character and the 
 morals of the rising generation from his projected publica- 
 tion. He own'd that in some instances his conscience smote 
 him, but said he could not select. The fact is, that the work 
 was plann'd and begun, before his assistance was called in, 
 by an English clergyman of the name of Foster : name dear 
 to the Muses ! 
 
 Once more begging that you will pardon my unwilling 
 desertion I remain, my dear Sharpe, your very sincere 
 friend, JOHN MARRIOTT. 
 
 1 Walter Scott's edition, then in course of publication. 
 
 2 On the death of William, fourth Duke of Eoxburghe, in 1805, the 
 title and estates were contested by Major -General Walter Kerr, the 
 Right Honourable William Drummond, and Sir James Innes of Innes, 
 in whose favour the House of Lords decided in 1812. 
 
 3 At the Robertsons'. 4 Louis XIV.
 
 350 THE 'QUARTERLY' PROJECTED. 
 
 WALTER SCOTT, Esq., to C. KIRKPATRICK SHARPE, Esq., 
 Christ Church, Oxford. 
 
 EDINBURGH, 30th December 1808. 
 
 MY DEAR SHARPE, The inimitable virago l came safe, and 
 was welcomed by the inextinguishable laughter of all who 
 looked upon her caprioles. I was unfortunately out of town 
 for a few days, which prevented me from acknowledging in- 
 stantly what gave me so much pleasure, both on account of 
 its intrinsic value, and as a mark of your kind remembrance. 
 You have, I assure you, been upmost in my thoughts for some 
 time past, as I have a serious design on your literary talents, 
 which I am very anxious to engage in one or both of the two 
 following schemes. Imprimis, it has been long the decided 
 resolution of Mr Canning and some of his literary friends, 
 particularly Geo. Ellis, Malthus, Frere, W. Eose, &c., that 
 something of an independent Review ought to be started in 
 London. This plan is now on the point of being executed, 
 after much consultation. I have strongly advised that poli- 
 tics be avoided, unless in cases of great national import, and 
 that their tone be then moderate and manly ; but the general 
 tone of the publication is to be literary. William Gifford is 
 editor, and I have promised to endeavour to recruit for him a 
 few spirited young men able and willing to assist in such an 
 undertaking. I confess you were chiefly in my thoughts 
 when I made this promise ; but it is a subject which for a 
 thousand reasons I would rather have talked over than written 
 about among others more prominent, I may reckon my great 
 abhorrence of pen and ink, for writing has been so long a 
 matter of duty with me, that it is become as utterly abomin- 
 able to me as matters of duty usually are. Let me entreat 
 you, therefore, to lay hold of Macneill, 2 or any other new 
 
 1 Picture of " Queen Elizabeth dancing." 
 
 2 The Pastoral or Lyric Muse of Scotland ; in Three Cantos, 4to, by 
 Hector Macneill, appeared in Dec. 1808.
 
 QUEEN ELIZABETH DANCING.
 
 W ToTK 8C 8Ti8oI Q ''] THE 'QUARTERLY' PROJECTED. 351 
 
 book you like, and give us a good hacking review of it. 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 buy 
 an odd book now and then as good play for nothing, you 
 know, as work for nothing ; but besides this, your exertions in 
 this cause, if you shall choose to make any, will make you 
 more intimately acquainted with a very pleasant literary 
 coterie than introductions of a more formal kind ; and if you 
 happen to know George Ellis already, you must, I am sure, 
 be pleased to take any trouble likely to produce an intimacy 
 between you. The Hebers are also engaged, item Eogers, 
 Southey, Moore (Anacreon), and others whose reputations 
 Jeffrey has murdered, and who are rising to cry wo upon him, 
 like the ghosts in King Eichard ; for your acute and perspica- 
 cious judgment must ere this have led you to suspect that 
 this same new review, which by the way is to be called ' The 
 Quarterly,' is intended as a rival to the Edinburgh ; and if it 
 contains criticism not very inferior in point of talent, with the 
 same independence on booksellers' influence (which has ruined 
 all the English Eeviews), I do not see why it should not 
 divide with it the public favour. Observe carefully, this plan 
 is altogether distinct from one which has been proposed by 
 the veteran Cumberland, to which is annexed the extraordin- 
 ary proposal that each contributor shall place his name before 
 his article, a stipulation which must prove fatal 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 consider- 
 ation ; but you see I am engaged with no ' foot land-rakers, 
 no long-staff sixpenny strikers, but with nobility and tran- 
 quillity, burgomasters, and great oneyers ' and so forth. 1 
 
 The other plan refers to the enclosed prospectus, 2 and has 
 long been a favourite scheme of mine, of William Erskine's, 
 and some of my other cronies here. Mr Ballantyne, the 
 
 1 Gadshill 1st K. Henry IV., Act II. Scene i. 
 
 2 Of the ' Edinburgh Annual Register.'
 
 352 'EDINBURGH ANNUAL REGISTER.' 
 
 editor, only undertakes for the inferior departments of the 
 work, and for keeping the whole matter in train. We are 
 most anxious to have respectable contributors, and the small- 
 est donation in any department, poetry, antiquities, &c., &c., 
 will be most thankfully accepted and registered. But the 
 historical department is that in which I would chiefly wish to 
 see you engaged. A lively luminous picture of the events of 
 the last momentous year, is a task for the pen of a man of 
 genius ; as for materials, I could procure you access to many 
 of a valuable kind. The appointments of our historian are 
 300 a-year no deaf nuts. Another person l has been pro- 
 posed, and written to, but I cannot any longer delay sub- 
 mitting the thing to your consideration. Of course, you are 
 to rely 011 every assistance that can be afforded by your humble 
 comdumble, as Swift says. I hope the great man will give us 
 his answer shortly and if his be negative, pray let yours be 
 positive. Our politics we would wish to be constitutional, 
 but not party. You see, my good friend, what it is to show 
 your good parts before unquestionable judges. 
 
 I am forced to conclude abruptly. Thine entirely, 
 
 W. ScoTT. 2 
 
 WALTER SCOTT, Esq., to C. KIRKPATRICK SHARPE. 
 
 DEAR SHARPE, Your letter was everything that I could 
 wish, and I have little doubt that we will make out the his- 
 tory 3 very well between us. For if you are willing to under- 
 take the toilsome duty of arranging and methodizing and 
 collecting the materials, I thank God I can write ill enough 
 for the present taste, and will undertake to throw as much 
 pepper into the pottage as will make them of the right leaven 
 
 1 Mr Southey, who finally undertook the task proposed to him. 
 
 2 Printed in Lockhart's ' Life of Scott,' voL iii. p. 163. 
 
 3 The ' Edinburgh Annual Register.'
 
 Q ''] THOMAS THOMSON CRABBE. 353 
 
 for the taste of this generation. Observe, I altogether dis- 
 claim, deny, upgive, overgive, and deliver any claim, right, or 
 title to share in the 300. As I have a small interest in the 
 work, I shall be well paid by its success, in which I think it 
 cannot fail. The letters you mention will be most acceptable. 
 As our book will require some dispatch, it would be highly 
 desirable, so soon as weather and your health permit, that we 
 were to have some chat together over this and other projects. 
 If you will favour us so far when you come to town, I have a 
 chamber in the wall in which I could lodge you tolerably 
 well. It is very small, indeed, but the Cabbin is convenient, 
 and may suit you, in case the Miss Campbells are not in 
 town, better than an empty house. As for the Eeview, 1 perge, 
 perge I fear nothing ; you have yet to learn the magic virtue 
 of calling yourself we,. I never knew the emphatic force of 
 that pronoun till I became a reviewer, and then I no longer 
 wondered at its being a royal attribute. Seriously, I will be 
 most happy to transmit an article written with your usual 
 fun to Anti-Jacobin Giffbrd, and will be bail for its being 
 kindly received. I think also if you were here, my friend 
 Thomson, the Lord Eegister's Deputy, might be able to give 
 you material lights for your family history, as his acquaint- 
 ance with our records is very complete. Your choice of a 
 mottoe is daring for a border family : for my part, I never look 
 into the Justiciary records for the sixteenth and preceding 
 centuries without finding some unlucky " Gual. Scott intrat. 
 
 pro furt. unius equi pertinen. ad et pro crudeli interfec- 
 
 tione diet damnat. et susp. per coll." 
 
 I wish you would review Crabbe. He has, I think, great 
 vigour and force of painting ; but his choice of subjects is so 
 low, so coarse, and so disgusting, that he reminds me of the 
 dexterity of Pallet, 2 who painted that which is as good for a 
 
 1 The ' Quarterly,' for which Scott was then actively beating. 
 
 2 See Smollett's ' Peregrine Pickle.' 
 
 VOL. I. Z
 
 354 MOORE SIR WILLIAM GELL. [. 
 
 sow as a pancake, in such a lively manner as to set a whole 
 pigstye in an uproar. 
 
 Your opinion quite coincides with mine about Mr Moore. 
 He is not at all deeply concerned in the Eeview ; the book- 
 seller only mentioned his name to me en passant. 
 
 Do think of this historical affair. Be you the brisk light- 
 ning, the bold thunder I I'll give them flash for flash. Your 
 access to military men of skill employed in Spain will enable 
 us to form some judgment of that (I fear) ill-fated business. 
 I will have an excellent opportunity of getting at the diplo- 
 matic secrets. Let me hear from you soon, and believe me 
 ever, my dear Sharpe, yours faithfully, WALTER SCOTT. 
 
 EDINBURGH, 13i/i January 1809. 
 
 Sir WILLIAM GELL 1 to C. KIRKPATRICK SHARPE. 
 
 MY DEAR SHARPE, Thank you for your letter. You are 
 however, I believe, mistaken about the business, as the fail- 
 ing of your cousin is a bad tongue, 2 which fires away very fast 
 and is ashamed of it afterwards. As to my repellents, I 
 really used none, nor was my absence after dinner occasioned 
 by any other motive than a scheme of her own. You say 
 quite rightly that one ought to be grateful for affection. I 
 
 1 Sir William Gell, the well-known dilettante and antiquary, famous 
 for his investigations in the Troad and at Pompeii, was the younger son 
 of Philip Gell of Hopton, Derbyshire, born 1777. He was educated at 
 Cambridge, where he obtained a fellowship of Emmanuel College. He 
 was afterwards intrusted with a mission to the Ionian Islands, and he 
 received the honour of knighthood on his return in 1803. In 1820 he 
 was appointed by Queen Caroline, to whose party he had been long 
 attached, one of her chamberlains. After her Majesty's trial Sir William 
 took up his residence in Italy, where he died, at Naples, in 1836. 
 
 2 Lady Charlotte Campbell. The business was a coldness between 
 Gell and the Margravine of Anspach.
 
 i809. L ] THE MARGRAVINE. 355 
 
 think no one will venture to say I am not, for I have been 
 abused for gratitude for that same feeling by the person who 
 now blows me up for the contrary nay, more, that she-dog 
 sulphureous assisted in criminating me for that same vice of 
 gratitude. Don't imagine I pride myself on royal favours or 
 smiles. If the people are kind to me, and make their houses 
 agreeable to me, I naturally go to them, till the wind changes, 
 and a new noodle is found to supply the place. I am much 
 obliged by your letter, and have only availed myself of it so 
 far as to decline the visit to Windsor, in compliment to Lady 
 Honywood, 1 to-morrow, for that would have given fresh 
 offence. We shall see on whose side the ingratitude is, if you 
 or your cousin come to that. Marry, come up, as Shake- 
 speare says, you old harlot. There won't be any quarrel, so 
 you need not fear. The only chance is Keppel making a blow 
 up when she abuses me, but I have made him promise to say 
 nothing, and you must know that the lady is so whimsical 
 that it may be Miss T. 2 or Lady H. that she is blowing up 
 under my name, as I have heard her daughter blow up 
 Lady Salisbury when she had quarrelled with Lady Sefton. 
 Enfin, " Keppel, 3 I think Berkeley * looks very ilL You had 
 better take asses' milk," is a good specimen of this kind. The 
 new play of killing no murder is really too exquisite. I have 
 received two dreadful hacking wounds, and 36 pounds from 
 the plain of Troy to cure them. So, my dear Sharpe, as I 
 
 have walked a good deal to Street, then to Whitehall 
 
 Stairs, then to Mandry's to dine, which is infinitely better 
 than the place where we had silver plates, and only cost 14 
 shillings between Keppel and self; after which I went to 
 
 1 Mary Ann, daughter of Rev. Sir William Henry Cowper, Bart., 
 married Sir John Courtenay Honywood, Bart, of Evington, Kent, in 
 1808. 
 
 2 Miss Temple. 3 For Hon. Keppel Craven, see post, p. 381. 
 4 Honourable Henry Augustus Berkeley Craven, son of the Margra- 
 vine, and elder brother of Keppel Craven.
 
 356 LETTERS OF DAVID HUME. [ 8 asisoo. 
 
 - Street, drank tea with , and made a present of a 
 
 pound of Souchong which I bought in my way and carried 
 in my hand. Then walked about with my other friend half 
 an hour, then went to the play, and was afterwards carried in 
 the spirit and by the body to the other end of Holborn, from 
 which I am just returned at 12 o'clock. I must wish you 
 good night, hoping to see your excellency soon. Your faith- 
 ful ANACHARSIS. 
 
 [LONDON] 22d January 1809. 
 
 WALTER SCOTT, Esq., to C. KIRKPATRICK SHARPE. 
 
 MY DEAR SHARPE, You grieve my prcecordia by declining 
 to lend me the heavy lift I had promised myself ; but I still 
 claim all the subordinate assistance you are so good as to 
 offer me, and which I shall deem invaluable. I have received 
 your letters of David Hume, 1 which are quite delightful, and 
 will be a valuable addition to our first ' Eegister.' Pray 
 hasten your review. Do you remember what Cadwallader 
 says to a person whom he wishes to entertain his wife " Say 
 anything to Beck, no matter what nonsense. She's a damned 
 fool, and will not know the difference." The same say I unto 
 thee with respect to the public. It is inconceivable how 
 coarse and voracious their appetite is for anything that con- 
 tains spunk and dash; still they never mind, nor are they 
 solicitous about justice. Make them laugh (and who can do 
 that better than you) ; make them but laugh, and you have 
 them sure. Don't delay in this business Bis dat qui cito 
 dat. William Gifford is "casting many a northward look," 
 and I would bring as many blue bonnets to his assistance as 
 I can. I have already found him three or four very clever arti- 
 cles. Mend your pen therefore ; put gall in your ink ; we want 
 
 1 To Matthew Sharpe of Hoddam.
 
 _] Q -'] EIGHTH VOLUME OF ' CLARISSA.' 357 
 
 a light lively satire on any subject you like. The legend of 
 ' Jok and the Bean-stalk ' being very popular in my family, 
 I appretiate the full force of the application, but you need 
 have no fear that Gifford will cry, " Mother, mother, lend me 
 the cutty-axe!" I write in great haste; but just to thank 
 you, as the advertisements say, for favours past, and give a 
 gentle hint of my thirst for future. Ever yours, 
 
 W. SCOTT. 
 26 January 1809. 
 
 Earl GOWEK to C. KIRKPATRICK SHARPE. 
 
 CLEVELAND HOUSE, Jany. 28, 1809. 
 
 MY DEAR SHARPE, I assure you that I should have liked 
 extremely to have accepted your invitation, and to have paid 
 you a visit in the old castle, and have molested your solitary- 
 reign ; but as you well knew when you sent it, the thing was 
 impossible not from manque de wlonte de ma part, but from 
 its actual impracticability. I have not yet been able to obtain 
 the information you desire about Lord Dundee's age, Malcolm 
 Laing not having yet come to town ; and I fear that he is not 
 likely to come for some time, as I heard lately that he was 
 dangerously ill in Orkney. Pray, should I send you lA Mon- 
 mouth's letter, or shall I wait to deliver it into your hands 
 when you come to London ? 
 
 Your eighth volume of ' Clarissa ' is excellent. Tho' pretty 
 well accustomed to it now, I cannot help laughing every 
 time I look at it. The character of it altogether has some- 
 thing so natural; it is really very good. Don't forget the 
 poem you promised to send. I think our friend W. Jackson 
 would furnish an excellent subject for you for a drawing I 
 mean; his appearance may have something poetical too. 
 Your pen must be exercised upon him some way or other.
 
 358 PICTURE OF QUEEN MARY. [ TO E 
 
 I am glad to hear that Queen Marie will have justice done 
 her at last. It is certainly better for her to have remained 
 rather longer in your friend's hands, since she is likely to 
 come out in greater beauty, and more like herself, in conse- 
 quence of the delay. I have just been reading her life in 
 Brantome, which, by the by, is an excellent little book, and 
 very entertaining, particularly the memoires of the grandes et 
 nobles dames, des belles du monde. If you should ever take it 
 into your head to make me a present of a drawing, pray let 
 it be one of her, copied from some good picture. You see I 
 do not ask for one, so you cannot call me interested or greedy. 
 I don't think you ever did one of her, tho' you had a little 
 cast of her which, I think, Lady Perth gave you. You know 
 best whether it be good enough to copy from it the portrait 
 of " cette reine qui fut en beaute" non semblable ! " if not, you 
 can easily get some other. As you, of course, must be an 
 admirer of hers, you will take a pleasure in such a task ; 
 while poor I, from want of abilities for such an undertak- 
 ing, must content myself with procuring the best possible 
 print I can find of her in order to illustrate our history, 
 whenever that appears that is, in case you should, from 
 idleness or any other reason, not take my hint of giving me 
 a drawing for that purpose. 
 
 We were all called up between five and six o'clock some days 
 ago on account of the palace 1 being in flames, and at first it 
 did appear rather nearer to us than might be convenient ; 
 however, the wind set the other way, and it was the corner 
 of the palace the furthest from us where it began; and 
 after it had commenced that way, it was stopped by a party 
 wall very kind in me to tell you what you read over and 
 over in the newspapers ! We are to be enlivened in the H. 
 
 1 This was a fire which broke out in the Duke of Cambridge's apart- 
 ments at St James's Palace, but which, although it raged with great 
 fury, was happily got under. Part of the royal armoury was burnt, 
 and H.R.H. lost his collection of arms and cabinet of pictures.
 
 io E c AR K. G 8 ,T809.] THE ' EDINBURGH REVIEW.' 359 
 
 of Commons on Wednesday by an examination of Mrs Clarke, 
 formerly a friend of the D. of York's, but who has since been 
 making the most of herself at Dublin. If you ever read the 
 debates, you must have read about her in Col. "Wardel's 
 speech. It is not supposed he will be able to prove his facts, 
 and there seems to be a general disapprobation of his motion. 
 I hear that two hundred copies of the ' Edinburgh Eeview ' 
 have been countermanded in consequence of the democratical 
 principles of Mr Brougham in the last number. 1 He was cer- 
 tainly rather indiscreet in throwing off the mask so suddenly, 
 and 'tis just as well that he has let people see what sort of a 
 fellow he is. I hope you are not on the road to London at this 
 moment, as they say carriages and horses and everything are 
 carried away by the floods. If you find yourself floating away, 
 don't let your tragedy escape in the confusion which it must 
 naturally occasion, and perhaps the Muses will be kinder to 
 you than they were once to Lycidas. Believe me, dear Sharpe, 
 very faithfully yours, GOWEK. 
 
 This cannot go till Monday, as there is no post to-morrow, 
 a circumstance I had forgotten. 
 
 C. KIRKPATRICK SHAKPE to Miss GRACE SHARPE. 
 
 ... So, here is a letter at last, and from you too. I am 
 glad that you got all safe into the town, and that your house 
 is comfortable, though at the same time I am really concerned 
 for Ellen's illness. Tell her, with my love, that the bleeding 
 will eventually do her a great deal of good : nothing is better 
 for people of our constitution and humours than evacuation 
 
 1 < Edinburgh Review,' No. 26. The article entitled " Don Cevallos 
 on the Usurpation of Spain," brought a storm of indignation about 
 the ears of Jeffrey and his publishers.
 
 360 BROTHERLY COUNSELS LADY MORGAN. . 
 
 by the nostrils. It will perhaps console her to hear that I 
 have really been tormented with pains in my face, which are 
 still far from being well ; not to mention my stomach, which 
 is very uneasy. But I keep up a good heart, and write with- 
 out ceasing. Keep your Poll well from the Cats. As to Mr 
 Dick, I find he is at his old tricks, and I warrant you Ellen 
 will have abundance of trouble with him ; but tell her from 
 me to speak 
 
 " High, lofty, in a stalking strain, 
 Bigger than half the town again." 
 
 She talks to all sorts of those people so shy and meek, which 
 does very well in a woman of condition, for then it is con- 
 descension; but in such as she, makes people think them- 
 selves her equals, and grow impudent. But the proper method 
 is very far from bluster, which is as bad as too much humility. 
 Tell my mother, with my love, that I do not exactly compre- 
 hend what she means respecting the P. F. having imagined 
 that W. B. had got instructions about the packing. When 
 is it to be packed ? I wish that it had been fairly chested 
 before you went to Edin., for I have no time to take up 
 my head with such impertinencies. Tell my father I am 
 much obliged to him for his Almanack, which came in very 
 good season. Lady Marishall is now sent off, and I must beg 
 that, if possible, she may be forwarded per carrier immediately ; 
 as also, Miss Owenson's l new novel and " the Catalogue of the 
 Advocate's Library" the last you may not be able to pro- 
 cure, and I believe it is dear ; but get it for me if you can, 
 and I will repay you directly. Go to Constable the book- 
 seller after it, who, if he knows who you are, will be very 
 civil to you for my sake. Stirr in these matters, and do not 
 speak to people as if they were going to bite you. I wish, my 
 dear, with all my heart, that I could be of any service to you 
 
 1 Afterwards the well-known Lady Morgan. The novel was 'Woman, 
 or Ida of Athens.'
 
 m] DUCHESS OF GORDON GEN. ANSTRUTHER. 361 
 
 in the way of society. The Erskines, the Tytlers, and the 
 Carruthers's are lamentable. Had Mrs D d - been in Edin. I 
 could have done much, for she is a kind, friendly creature, 
 and would have been very civil to you ; but as things are, I 
 am powerless. Perhaps the Montgomeries may be useful. 
 As to the Duchess, 1 she is, whatever Sir A. M. 2 may say, the 
 leading card both in Edin. and London ; so neither he nor 
 I have any business with the tattle of the world, which is 
 called character. Such ideas smack of the Nithsdale notions. 
 But if she were kind to him, he'd quickly think her well 
 enough. I do not somehow imagine that she'l be civil to 
 my mother. If you had pursued your music as you ought to 
 have done, she'd have made up to you, for accomplishments 
 of every kind cause those civilities ; but situated as you are, 
 and with such uncouth accompaniments, I esteem the case 
 desperate. This is horridly rude and discouraging, but truth, 
 so you must excuse it. As to Miss A. T. and her English 
 youths, none of them troubled their heads about her, so she 
 only wished to show off before you, and have a salvo for 
 sitting unserved this winter, if such should be her fate. I 
 have had letters from W. Scott, Miss Campbell, and Bessie 
 Mure. Miss C.'s dear friend, Anstruther, 3 has been killed in 
 this shameful Spanish affair, the newspaper accounts of which 
 made my wig stand on end. Bessie says that J. Campbell is 
 better. Lord John, 4 who is now the dearest friend I have on 
 earth next to Cap*- Home, is gone to London. By the by, I 
 last night composed new words to my favourite, Neil Gow, 
 
 1 Of Gordon. 2 Sir Alexander Mackenzie of Delvine. 
 
 3 General Robert Anstruther, eldest son of Sir Robert Anstruther of 
 Balcaskie, served with great distinction under Sir Ralph Abercromby 
 and Sir John Moore, was not killed, but died of the fatigue which his 
 exertions in bringing up the rear-guard of the army to Corunna had 
 occasioned. Sir John Moore was by his own desire buried by the side 
 of General Anstruther, who was not less distinguished for his military 
 talents than for his learning and accomplishments. 
 
 4 Lord John Campbell, afterwards seventh Duke of Argyll.
 
 [TO MISS GRACE 
 
 LSHABPE, 1809. 
 
 which I esteem excellent. Here they are, but remember to 
 read down to the other fold : 
 
 1. 
 
 Now lasses, where's your sister Meg ? 
 
 I lang hae lo'ed her beauty, 
 And come right far to make a leg, 
 
 And pay my humble duty. 
 I've wail'd her for my wedded dear, 
 
 The winter nights wax eerie 
 Alas ! auld carl, we sadly fear 
 
 She canna be your dearie. 
 
 2. 
 
 I hae gude sax-and-thirty kye, 
 
 Worth ony common million ; 
 A slaitit house, and land forbye, 
 
 A poney and a pillion ; 
 A herd that plays the fiddle well, 
 
 At e'en, to mak' us cheerie 
 In truth, kind sir, we canna tell, 
 
 She'l aiblins be your dearie. 
 
 3. 
 
 I'm beld, I own, and then my lugs 
 
 Are something dull, an't please ye ; 
 I need an unco sight o' drugs 
 
 To keep my stomach easy ; 
 The doctor's bill for drench and pill 
 
 Grows vera lang and weary 
 Puir body, it is past our skill 
 
 To say she'l be your dearie. 
 
 But then my coffer's fou o' gowd 
 
 I'l never see the end o't ; 
 And she I wed shall be allow'd 
 
 As much as she can spend o't, 
 To buy her gowns, and ilka fine 
 
 New fashion'd whigmaleerie 
 Indeed, sweet sir, we much incline 
 
 To think she'l be your dearie.
 
 "BOTHWELL BRIDGE" PRINT. 363 
 
 5. 
 
 The teeth, ohone, are kittle geer, 
 
 And mine are ilka bone gane ; 
 Besides, I canna mount my meer 
 
 Without the loupin'-on stane ; 
 And when I try to dance a wee, 
 
 My legs gae tapsalteerie 
 Auld loon, she canna, winna be, 
 
 No, never be your dearie. 
 
 When is George Bell to be called in ? His leg seems little 
 better. But I have somewhat to send to W. Scott, and wish 
 to know his motions. Tell Cis the first advice I give her is 
 to cut the C.'s, the E.'s, and the T.'s. I wish you joy of your 
 neighbours. Bemeniber me to John when he calls. My love 
 and a kiss on the cheek to the Cap n - Love to Nanny. Good 
 night. 
 
 I don't like the Hopes neither. Such paper for gentle- 
 women ! 
 
 Lady DOUGLAS to C. KIRKPATRICK SHARPS. 
 
 BOTHWELL CASTLE, Feb. 3, 1809. 
 
 MY DEAR SIR, I am afraid you will long ago have thought 
 me very ungrateful, and my daughter very idle, though I do 
 not in the least deserve the imputation, and she really very 
 little. We staid at Dalkeith much longer than we at first 
 intended, and having no draws- materials there, she wish'd to 
 defer brushing up the old D ss - till our return home; and 
 since she has been finished I have heard such reports of the 
 stoppage of coaches and carriers, that I have not lik'd to let 
 her begin her journey, and I will now wait y r - advice on the 
 subject. With her Grace you will receive a very slight 
 sketch (but I think pretty correct as far as it goes) of 
 y e Battle of Bothwell Bridge. 1 This kind of drawing is quite 
 
 1 Copied from an old print ; afterwards etched by Mr Kirkpatrick 
 Sharpe see ' Etchings,' &c.
 
 364 "QUEEN ELIZABETH IN HER CUP." 
 
 out of Car ne 's. usual line, which she hopes you will consider 
 when you see how ill it is done. The Covenanters, in their 
 own party-col d - clothing, with the addition of belts, &c., are 
 those on the left : I think, however, it is pretty plain which 
 are the regulars. 
 
 A thousand thanks for Q n - Eliz th - in her cup ; her expression 
 of countenance allows not any suspicion of the plural. After 
 all your generosity, I cannot help still having a craving for 
 more ; and as I am told you have made an etching of Q. E. 
 dancing high and disposedly, I think it may not give you 
 much trouble to finish one of the outlines (as I am told it is) 
 for me; indeed, if you will send me anything to make me 
 laugh, written or drawn, you will do me an infinite favor in 
 these gloomy times ; and y r - draw s - not only produce the 
 desired effect on being first administer'd, but, as I find, the 
 same repeated are equally efficacious every time I have 
 recourse to them. I am, &c., &c., F. DOUGLAS. 
 
 Miss ELIZA KOBERTSON to C. KIRKPATRICK SHARPE. 
 
 BOTHWELL CASTLE, Saturday [Feb. 1809]. 
 
 How has it fared with you, my dear Charles, since that fine 
 summer's ev- when you and I parted ? Many have been the 
 chances and changes in this fluctuating world since then 
 nothing continuing the same except Buonaparte's success and 
 my attachment to you, and I sincerely hope the latter will 
 long survive the former. My inquiries after you have been 
 unremitting to all your friends that are in the way of hearing 
 from you ; but that you are alive is all I can learn, and I 
 should imagine only half alive, if you have been snow'd up in 
 your old castle all winter. Seeing Lady Douglas writing to 
 you, I could not resist having a finger in the pie, in hopes I 
 might induce you to say a little word in return ; and if you
 
 WINTER AT BOTHWELL. 365 
 
 knew how safe most men's pies are from my lazy finger, you 
 would be flatter'd. As to my history, I have been constantly 
 in the country since I saw you a good deal here, and the 
 rest of the time at Hallcraigs. Your gay friend Marianne 
 hasted to town for the birthday ball, where you know for 
 many years she has shone resplendent. Helen likewise hur- 
 ried off. They both pretended they should have liked to spend 
 the winter in the country, but it struck me they were passing 
 glad once more to inhale the delightful perfumes of Auld 
 Eeekie ; and there they are, writing such accounts of balls, 
 routs, dinners, suppers, as quite turns not only my head but 
 my stomach. Very different has been my passtimes. For 
 three weeks before I came here I was shut up in our castle 
 with snow and such cold as nail'd me to the fireside, where 
 I sat so close and so long, I at last began to fancy myself 
 a poker or pair of tongs, and expected every moment to be 
 poked into the ribs by a tidy chambermaid, who was ever and 
 anon coming to mend my fire. This, however, was a more 
 natural supposition than the man who fancied himself a 
 barley-corn, and never would go out for fear he should 
 be pecked up in the street and swallowed by a fowl. Is 
 there any chance of your going to Monzie ? I once heard you 
 were expected there ; and Lady Douglas has been just observ- 
 ing to me that to come this way is your best road, as you 
 would be saved crossing a ferry, which we cannot think of 
 your risking at this season. She is at this moment examining 
 the map of Scotland, and tracing your route to Bothwell, 
 where she bids me tell you how very happy she would be to 
 see you, and I believe I need not add I should be delighted. 
 I shall be here for some time yet, as my brother is gone 
 to town, where I make no doubt the gay doing will detain 
 him for a week or two. Think of this, my dear Sharpe. 
 At all events, write me a letter, and believe me your affec* 
 friend, ELIZA EOBERTSON.
 
 366 MISS OWENSON'S ' WILD IRISH GIRL.' 
 
 WALTER SCOTT, Esq., to C. KIRKPATRICK SHARPE. 
 
 MY DEAR SHARPE, Your critique came safe two days ago, 
 and I instantly forwarded it for London, after glancing it 
 over and laughing heartily. I cut off the upper part of your 
 letter, that Gifford (though unnecessary) may see how very 
 modest you are, and avail himself, should he think that 
 proper, of the privilege you allow him. When you have 
 been as often and as bitterly reviewed as I have been, you 
 will acquire all the indifference of eels that are used to be 
 flea'd, as the cook-wench says. In the meantime, the in- 
 jury you have yourself experienced ought in all reason and 
 morality to sharpen your quill against others, according to 
 the simile of the valorous Tom Thumb 
 
 " So when two dogs are quarrelling on the street, 
 With one of them another dog doth meet, 
 With angry tooth he bites him to the bone, 
 And this dog smarts for what that dog has done." 
 
 I would willingly embrace your offer of curry - combing 
 Miss Owenson, who, judging from her 'Wild Irish Girl,' 
 seems to deserve such discipline very heartily. But I 
 believe Gifford has taken the handling of her new novel 
 into his own hand. 
 
 The good folks in Dumfriesshire do me too much honour 
 to suppose that I am the manager of the ' Quarterly Eeview.' 
 I am a sincere well-wisher and humble contributor to the 
 work ; but the whole controul is in Mr Gifford, and eke the 
 responsibility. I heartily wish I had some part of the in- 
 fluence ascribed to me, as I would most certainly have 
 pushed the work much faster forward. But as to being the 
 conductor of a Keview upon many accounts it would be the 
 last literary duty I should chuse to undertake. 
 
 I will write to you the instant I hear from Gifford
 
 WALTER SCOTT, ESQ., 
 
 Toc.K.8.,i809 SQ "] DUNDEE'S GHOST. 367 
 
 which, however, may be long enough but, meo arbitrio, your 
 article will be deemed a capital one even under the caustic 
 regard of the Satirist of the Baviad. Ever, dear Sharpe, I 
 am, yours truly, WALTER SCOTT. 
 
 EDIN., nth Feby. 1809. 
 
 A. EOBERTSON, Esq., 1 to C. KlRKPATRICK SHARPE. 
 
 GEORGE SQR., March 2d, 1809. 
 
 I think I threatened, my dear Charles, to haunt you with 
 Dundee's ghost as soon as I could catch a glimpse of the 
 apparition myself. Miss Wauchope dined here yesterday; 
 and at the proper witching time of night, having drawn our 
 chairs closer round the -fire, I begged she w d - begin the nar- 
 ration, expecting to have my blood curdled and my hair set 
 on end. But none of these delicious sensations did I expe- 
 rience. I begin to fear I have now been too familiar with 
 spirits ever to feel the awe, mixed pain, or pleasure again. 
 However, I shall briefly relate the facts. I must only premise 
 that the story is prodigiously in want of a point ; so unless 
 you can sharpen it somehow with your own wit, it will never 
 cut a figure in your history, 
 
 It seems the Earl of Balcarras at the time you wot of was 
 a very peaceable man ; so he quietly passed over to Holland 
 to avoid all the broils and turmoils of the kingdom. And he 
 quietly went to bed on the eve of the battle of Killycrankie, 
 as he had quietly done on every other eve before. We are 
 told he was quietly sleeping in this quiet bed, when his cur- 
 tains were suddenly drawn aside. Upon looking up, he per- 
 ceived the Viscount Dundee sitting by his bedside. " Ha, 
 Dundee!" he exclaimed; " what news from Scotland?" "I come 
 not," said he, " to tell you news of Scotland. I come to tell you 
 of something more immediately concerning yourself." Here 
 1 See ante, p. 349.
 
 368 DUNDEE'S GHOST. 
 
 the Viscount had the malice to whisper something into the 
 Earl's ear, but so low that it has never yet reached the pub- 
 lic ear ; nor do I understand that the Earl ever divulged it to 
 any mortal, tho' he always averred that the secret was of 
 great importance to himself. Nevertheless he again repeated 
 his question, " What news from Scotland ? " And Dundee 
 again answered, " I come not to tell you of Scotland." " Then 
 go into the dining-room to breakfast. I shall get up and be 
 with you presently." When he (meaning Balcarras) went into 
 the dining-room, he found it dark and deserted. After ring- 
 ing the bell violently, his servant appeared, rubbing his eyes. 
 He asked him where Lord Dundee was, and why the break- 
 fast things were not set. The servant assured him nobody 
 had been there, and that it was only four in the morning. 
 Whereupon the Earl was much surprised, and he returned 
 to his bed, I should suppose not so perfectly quiet as usual, 
 pondering all these things in his mind. The first news he 
 received from Scotland was the account of the battle and the 
 fall of Lord Dundee at the Pass of Killycrankie, fought on 
 that very day. This is the story, my d r - Charles, and I think 
 it is both defective in point and date. You will recollect, 
 tho' I do not the fatal hour in which your hero fell I do 
 not think it was so early as four in the morning; and I 
 should suppose that immediately before his death his spirit 
 w d - be too much occupied to find time to travel over to Hol- 
 land with domestick intelligence to the Earl of Balcarras. 
 So, upon the whole, I think it is but a foolish story. At least 
 it has put you much in my debt for paper, pen, and ink. I 
 do not pretend I have yet repaid what I ow in subject- 
 matter. Your friend Sir James Kiddel has just been here, 
 proving to a demonstration the truth of the handwriting on 
 the inn wall at Henly. He was, in fact, not looking Ixm, 
 but as entertaining as ever. He is visiting his friend Sir 
 Thomas Ackland. Pray, did you know that young man at 
 Oxford ? Since the days of Sir Charles Grandison, I never
 
 A. ROBERTSON, ESQ.," 
 
 Toc. K . s .,i809 Q "] JACKY GORDON. 369 
 
 heard of such a baronet. I could tell you much of his good- 
 ness, only my paper is short, and I have to talk of Jacky 
 Gordon's badness, as I forgot to answer your questions about 
 her in my last. I suppose you will be happy to hear that 
 she has the greatest hopes of her cause, altho' it is to be 
 carried on in England, where, I believe, in general, they do 
 riot tolerate such irregular marriages. Perhaps the success 
 of a cause she was engaged in last summer may have ren- 
 dered her sanguine. The adversary was a peruke-maker or 
 barber, who engaged to make a periwig for Miss Jack that 
 was to be composed of a certain quantity of hair, for which 
 she was to pay a certain sum of money. It seems the peri- 
 wig happened to fit Jacky to a hair, and she wore it with 
 great satisfaction; but having a lynx eye, she discovered 
 there was a hair-breadth's difference in the stipulated quantity, 
 and refused to pay the full price. The barber was obstinate, 
 and Jacky determined ; so they both repaired to the small 
 debt, or as it is vulgarly called, the dirt court, where every 
 man's his own lawyer. Of course Jacky appeared to plead 
 her cause. The jury was put into one scale, and the agreed 
 quantity of hair in the other. Every eye pronounced in 
 favour of the barber, when Jacky exclaimed in an agony, 
 " Stop, maister judge ! there's a net must be put in with the 
 hair." Alas ! the net turned the balance entirely in her 
 favour, the poor barber was nonsuited, and Jacky returned 
 in triumph with her net, which doubtless she will spread on 
 some future occasion. So do you keep out of her way, and 
 never let her catch you at the golf-house. Helen is out of 
 all patience for her picture, and I am dying for my verses ; 
 so pray make haste. I am sure I have now expiated all 
 my offences towards you in the writing line, and perhaps 
 it may expiate some of your sins, the reading such long stu- 
 pid letters. So I fancy we are both the better for them. 
 Yours truly, A. KOBERTSON. 
 
 VOL. i. 2 A
 
 370 DEATH OF " CAMP.' 
 
 WALTER SCOTT, Esq., to C. KIRKPATRICK SHARPE. 
 
 MY DEAR SHARPE, I write in answer to yours in great 
 haste and some tribulation. The tribulation is occasioned by 
 the unexpected decease of my old four-footed friend Camp, 
 who, after near twelve years' faithful service, " life to the last 
 enjoy'd," stretched himself out in his basket and died after 
 a very short illness. The poor old fellow began the world 
 (as they say) along with my wife and I at our marriage, and 
 since that time has almost never been from the side of one 
 or other of us, so that his death awakens a number of former 
 recollections, and gives us a pointed hint how fast we are 
 jogging on in the same tract. So much for effusions, as some 
 coxcomb calls them, of friendship and sensibility. I wish to 
 heaven I had had a sketch of poor Camp from your pencil. 
 
 I have a letter from Gifford on the subject of your review, 
 in which, speaking of it very handsomely, he regrets his 
 number was printed off before he could avail himself of it. 
 He intended to shorten it and insert it by cancelling the last 
 page, but the hurry of the bookseller prevented his having an 
 opportunity to do so. Your critique will therefore appear 
 in the next number, to which, I am sure, it will give addi- 
 tional value : for mine own part I am particularly glad that 
 it has escaped the manager's scissors, for the only fault I had 
 to it was its being already too short. The Review reached 
 me yesterday morning. I will send it by the Ecclefechan 
 carrier, unless you can point out a speedier method. I am 
 a little disconcerted with the appearance of one or two of 
 my own articles, which I have had no opportunity to revise 
 in proof. Of the sentences I can only say they reminded me 
 of the " Mantle made Amiss "- 
 
 " One while it was too long, 
 Another while too short, 
 And wrinkled on her shoulders 
 In most unseemly sort."
 
 ___ _J Q "] CHARGES AGAINST DUKE OF YORK. 371 
 
 I shall say nothing of the handsome compliment you make 
 me at the expence of a very ingenious though somewhat 
 caustic poet because to disclaim it would be to invite you 
 to shew cause why it should be so so I shall pocket it 
 quietly, and place to account of your friendship any balance 
 which it may cause to be deduced from your taste. As to 
 the Review in general, I have hardly had time to glance it 
 over. But the article on " Spain," which heads the work, is 
 capitally written, both in manner and spirit. The whole 
 bears marks of precipitate and hurried composition, but I 
 think enables us to say, like the old Duke of Argyle after the 
 battle of Sheriffmoor 
 
 " If it be na weel bobbit 
 We'll bob it again." 
 
 Believe me, dear Sharpe, yours very faithfully, 
 
 W. SCOTT. 
 EDINR., 3d March 1809. 
 
 Earl GOWER to C. KIRKPATRICK SHARPE. 
 
 LONDON, March 9, 1809. 
 
 MY DEAR SHARPE, Having a few minutes' time before the 
 debate on the D. of Y. 1 begins, I cannot bestow it better than 
 in shewing you that I have not so entirely neglected your 
 orders as you seem to suppose. Hearne is not in my father's 
 library, but I have desired Mr Todd to search for one, and 
 have given him a note of what you wish to know ; and as 
 soon as I get information from him, I will lose no time in 
 informing you. The reason that I cannot at present do so 
 is owing to his having been extremely ill and not able to 
 prosecute his studies. As to Mary, or Marie, I am much 
 obliged to you for the readiness you have been so good as 
 to show in taking the trouble to oblige me, and I have 
 
 1 Colonel Wardle's charges against H.R.H. Duke of York.
 
 372 CHARGES AGAINST DUKE OF YORK. ["^^iST 
 
 sufficient reliance on y r - good taste to leave entirely to you 
 to choose. I think the one most like her, if at the same 
 time it is the handsomest, is preferable. So a good part of 
 Ch. Ch. is destroyed. 1 Wood wrote to me about it, and con- 
 cludes his letter with saying that the D. and Chapter bear it 
 with heroic fortitude. Here we are going to discuss the D. of 
 Y. a second day, and probably shall have a third to-morrow; 
 for every member that speaks thinks it indispensable to be 
 on his legs three hours and a half all which is of course 
 excessively tedious, but, at the same time, a debate to which 
 it is more necessary to attend than perhaps any other. 
 Perceval 2 intends to move resolutions that the D. is neither 
 personally corrupt nor has criminally connived at the same 
 time to express regret that he has entered into a crim. con., 
 and been guilty in that way of indiscretion, instead of tread- 
 ing in the chaste and unsullied steps of so virtuous a father, 
 whose example, it is hoped, he will for the future follow. I 
 will write again soon ; in the meantime, believe me, dear 
 Sharpe, ever faithfully y rs -> GOWER. 
 
 WILLIAM PLAYFAIR, Esq., 3 to C. KIRKPATRICK SHARPE. 
 
 April 12#i. 
 
 SIR, Having entered into a bargain with William Beetham 
 of Dublin, D.D., for his manuscript of the Baronets of Ire- 
 land, &c., he has sent over a variety of articles which you 
 sent to him. In consequence of that and of the letter you 
 
 1 By a fire which broke out on the night of the 2d March, and con- 
 suming the greater part of the south-west angle, was with difficulty 
 extinguished before reaching the hall. 
 
 2 The Right Honourable Spencer Perceval, afterwards shot by Bel- 
 lingham. 
 
 3 William Playfair was an antiquary, genealogist, and political writer, 
 best known for his ' British Family Antiquity,' in 9 vols., on which he 
 was then engaged.
 
 WILLIAM PLA' 
 ESQ., TO C. K. 8 
 
 3 !, F i809.] INDIFFERENCE TO GENEALOGIES. 373 
 
 did me the honour to write to me some time ago, I beg leave 
 to return you thanks for what you then communicated, and 
 for your offer of assistance. As Mr Beetham's work will 
 now be added to and form a part of mine, I hope you will have 
 the goodness to continue your excellent communications. 
 If there were only a few gentlemen of generous industry and 
 research that would aid a work of this sort as you do, then 
 indeed it would be possible to make it perfect ; but the 
 ignorance and indolence of the world are great beyond con- 
 ception. I attribute that to the state of society in which 
 men are brought up. As they find every enjoyment of life 
 ready prepared for them, and that they have nothing to do 
 but to pay, they no more expect to be called upon for aid 
 or assistance in writing a book than they do to aid the cook 
 in kitchen in dressing their dinner. If they were in general 
 men of reflection, there would be some remedy, because, as 
 the matter concerns themselves, I might say, if you will not 
 help, I can no more finish the account of your family than 
 a painter can take your likeness if you will not sit for it. 
 But the greater part look carelessly at the manuscript, make 
 a few alterations, and then if there are any mistakes they 
 complain after they see them in print. 
 
 Having so little aid from families in general, and setting 
 such a just value on yours, I therefore beg that you will 
 continue that aid, and now the work that has been so long 
 in hand will be completed in eighteen months at most. Two 
 volumes of the English Peerage are published ; that of the 
 Scotch and Irish Peers at press; and the Baronets follow 
 immediately. I am, sir, your much obliged and most obd 1 - 
 h ble - serv*-' WILLIAM PLAYFAIR. 
 
 P.S. As you very properly observe, there are anecdotes of 
 families, such as that of Lady Margaret Douglas, that would 
 not do to publish, tho' they may be both curious and true. 
 The baronet who married that lady must have been as strange
 
 374 LADY MARGARET DOUGLAS. [ES^^^C. 
 
 a character as herself ; for that the lady was aflicted with 
 mental derangement so as to forget her rank, sex, &c., for 
 love of very trifling gain is certain. It was that sort of 
 madness that consists in overvaluing one particular object 
 so as to forget right and propriety in obtaining it, and she 
 was to be pitied ; but I really know not what to think of 
 a gentleman who would marry such a deranged woman. 
 
 Earl GOWER to C. KIRKPATRICK SHARPE. 
 
 LONDON, May 9, 1809. 
 
 MY DEAR SHARPE, I was much obliged to you for your 
 last letter written on y r - arrival at Oxford. I thought that 
 an answer of mine to a question of Murray's viz., What you 
 thought of the present race of youths at C h - C h - ? would have 
 killed him, as it made him laugh till he choaked, and lost his 
 breath, and shewed divers such symptoms of approaching 
 dissolution (I am happy, however, to be able to acquaint 
 that at last he entirely recovered). All this was no effect of 
 any wit of mine, as might be supposed from the manner I 
 have begun my statement, as all that I said in answer was 
 taken from your pen viz., that they were a very ugly set. 
 I don't know whether you have lately acquired the agrdment 
 of Legge's society, which might afford you some consolation 
 in scarcity of which you complain ; but he expressed great 
 satisfaction at hearing of your having arrived at the learned 
 university, and hopes of finding you there. Have you made 
 any acquaintance with W m - Bathurst, 1 Apsley's brother ? If 
 not, let me recommend him to you, as, on the short acquaint- 
 ance I have with him, and from what I have heard of him, I 
 have reason to think you will like him. Many thanks for 
 the drawing you have been so good as to do for me. Don't 
 
 1 Afterwards fifth Earl Bathurst, died 1878.
 
 THE LONDON SEASON. 375 
 
 send it, but bring it that is, if you come to town soon 
 which you ought to do on every account. In the first place, 
 the month of May, which is delightful everywhere, is partic- 
 ularly so here, tho' as yet it has not given much reason to 
 praise it. And now the exhibition of pictures and drawings, 
 &c., &c., have opened, which will give you plenty of occupa- 
 tion all day long ; then y r> friend L y - Hampden has an assem- 
 bly on Thursday, and Ly- Stafford on Friday ; and there are 
 a thousand others to w h - you would be pressed to go. In 
 short, there is no end to the inducements which I could hold 
 out. Oh another W m - Jackson is preaching at Lincoln's 
 Inn Chapel every Sunday. I went with Wood on the last to 
 hear him an hour and ?. 
 
 My father bought 3 pictures lately at Lichfield, which you 
 will like to see one especially a S ir P. Lely's called Queen 
 Mary (William's) ; but we suppose it to be the D se - de Maza- 
 rine, to whose prints it has a very strong resemblance ; the 
 other two are a D r Johnson, by S ir J. Eeynolds ; and his 
 nephew, M r Porter, by Hogarth. Is Miss Burton at Oxford ? 
 I suppose so, as I have not seen or heard anything of her in 
 London. I believe our MS. is to be published. Constable 
 wishes to have leave to do so, and in that case, is to have a 
 certain number of large-paper copies printed off/or us, besides 
 giving us a number of the common sort. What lodgings have 
 you got ? the old ones ? I have given you a good deal to 
 answer, so lose no time. 
 
 You know that Hamilton has gone with his family to Ire- 
 land for a year; but you don't that I am going towards 
 the end of next month to my local militia in Sutherland, 
 to be in training for a month at our county town of Dor- 
 noch. How sh d - you like that? I am, dear Sharpe, ever 
 yours faithfully, GOWER. 
 
 I told L y - Stafford of the book you said you had for her, for
 
 376 MRS CLAYPOLE. 
 
 w b> she said she was much obliged to you ; but I rather be- 
 lieve she has written to you lately. They have been in 
 Staffordshire for a week, but are to return to town to-morrow. 
 I ought to apologise for writing on such bad paper ; but the 
 fact is, that I am writing at the H. of Commons, where I can 
 get no better. 
 
 E. B. IMPEY, Esq., to C. KIRKPATKICK SHAKPE. 
 
 DAVIES STREET, May 29, 1809. 
 
 MY DEAK SHAKPE, I am just on the wing, in the very 
 flutter of leaving town for Newick. But distracted as my 
 thoughts are between breakfast and bandboxes, rolls and 
 rumble-tumbles, I have not forgot my promise of introducing 
 you to Mrs Claypole. The Wests are out of town, but if you 
 use my name to the charwoman, Mrs Turner, No. 4 Queen 
 Ann St., West, she will admit you. I think the picture hangs 
 in the front room on the ground-floor, over the door leading 
 to the antechamber. 
 
 Let me request of you to call at Eundell & Bridge's 
 before you leave town, and show them this, which will 
 empower you to receive the snuff-box ; the blockheads had 
 omitted the date. Present it with ineffable compts. to the 
 common room. 
 
 Well, now for the experiment of green fields and fresh air. 
 I know you are one of those who prefer the fragrance of a 
 flambeau at the opera to all the aromatic odors of the most 
 luxuriant vegetation, or I w d - press you to take a sniff at the 
 hawthorns at Newick. If your olfactory nerves should at 
 any time undergo a revolution in this respect, just notify it 
 by a line, and you shall be welcome among us. Once more, 
 adieu. If I c d - but throw off this tedious inflammation in my 
 throat I w d - seriously set about the prologue :
 
 &'] LETTER FROM MARRIOTT. 377 
 
 Cupidum pater optime vires 
 Deficiunt. 
 
 Yours till Deih doth cum, and shut me up in the cold turn. 
 E.S.V.P. E. B. IMPEY. 
 
 Eev. JOHN MARRIOTT to C. KIRKPATRICK SHARPE. 
 
 DEAR SHARPE, Your letter has afforded me the comfort- 
 able assurance that my blood-vessels are all in good repair, 
 for had any of them been in a ticklish situation, they must 
 have yielded to the nearly hysterical laughter to which some 
 parts of it gave rise. I lament that the strict commands I 
 have received not to write much, which are but too well 
 seconded by my feelings, forbid my paying you so handsomely 
 as I fain would for the greatest treat I have enjoy 'd this long 
 time. Now is the time to manifest your disinterested gen- 
 erosity, and to bestow your charity where you cannot hope 
 for an adequate return. 
 
 It is indeed a satisfaction to me to hear of the kind terms 
 in which the Dalkeith family speak of me, for the necessity 
 of leaving them has taught me how strongly I was attach'd 
 to them ; and tho' perhaps a philosopher should be content 
 with the consciousness of having done his best to deserve 
 esteem, those who do not pretend to that title are apt to re- 
 joice at every additional proof of the success of their endeav- 
 ours. There are many topics in your letter I could descant 
 largely upon, but I must obey the mandates of higher powers. 
 One, however, I must notice. I do verily think your illus- 
 tration of the form, fashion, and relative situations of Lady E. 
 and her lover, the most apposite that ever enter'd into the 
 head of man. Could you not commit it to paper in another 
 way ? Do send me a sketch, at least, in your next letter, 
 which will come soon, I trust, to make up for the tardy pace 
 of the last. Do you know that Surtees is at length a success-
 
 378 SURTEES' MARRIAGE G. DRUMMOND. [^c 
 
 ful lover? Whether the fair Annie was literally tir'd of 
 saying " no," or whether she found there was no chance of my 
 relenting, I know not; but certain it is that he is going 
 shortly to commit matrimony. Well 
 
 " Tis a lawful calling, 
 And prettily esteern'd of ; but take heed then." 
 
 But I am getting out of bounds. I will therefore only add 
 that Penzance seems to agree with me, and that tho' it 
 has much to do in subduing my cough, and restoring my 
 rest, appetite, and strength, I hope it will in time accom- 
 plish all its task. Do help it with another letter. A lit- 
 tle poetry will be very acceptable if you have any to spare. 
 I am glad "Pearlin Jean" pleases you. Believe me, dear 
 Sharpe, your truly affec te - friend, JOHN MAKKIOTT. 
 
 PENZANCE, 22d June. 
 
 Earl GOWER TO C. KIRKPATRICK SHARPE. 
 
 DUNROBIN, June 28, 1809. 
 
 DEAR SHARPE, I am writing very imprudently, that is, 
 beginning a letter without knowing where you may be, and 
 how to be directed to ; but I think I shall take my chance 
 of finding you at London, w h - I can hardly think you can 
 have prevailed on y r self to leave yet. I was sorry to miss 
 you on Saturday, but the leave-taking might have been affect- 
 ing, so perhaps 'tis as well as it was. Whom did I pass on 
 the road at Durham, but your friend G. Drummond. He 
 arrived at Edinburgh an hour before I left it, and talked a 
 great deal about you ; but that is no great compliment, as we 
 could think of nothing else interesting to both in common. 
 I made my way hither with the least possible delay, and ar- 
 rived on the seventh day, which is here reckoned exceeding
 
 E c. R K.Ti E 809 TO ] SIR GODFREY WEBSTER'S SKULL. 379 
 
 expeditious, the distance being considerably more (by the 
 coast road) than 700 miles. 
 
 You may take it for granted that I feel quite happy to be 
 breathing the pure air of the Highlands, and that I was really 
 beginning to be tired of the endless dissipation of London, 
 which can amuse any sensible person, such as we are, only 
 for a very short time the same thing over and over and over, 
 without variety. Now is your time to shew the sincerity of y r - 
 friendship, by remaining steadily and firmly and unalterably 
 attached to Sir J. P. If you abandon him in his misfortunes 
 it will give me a bad opinion of human nature, of which I have 
 always had a very favourable one ; so don't dispel my illu- 
 sions on that subject. I am enjoying a few days to myself 
 here very much, previous to the local militia, which is, how- 
 ever, to commence to-morrow, and then I repair to Dornoch 
 for a month. Come and take some military instructions. 
 So Mrs Boehm is not to have her masquerade after all. What 
 a disappointment for you ! 
 
 I hear Sir G. Webster 1 has had a skull set as a cup at 
 Wingman's in St James's Street, with sundry curious devices, 
 which may be seen by the inquisitive at the said Mr Wing- 
 man's ; but that Sir G. is ashamed of it, and denies his having 
 anything to do with it, and that he will break Mr Wingman's 
 head for saying so. I suppose it is the same story with the 
 trumpeter's ear. Write soon. Ever y rs -' G. 
 
 Earl GOWER to C. KIRKPATRICK SHARPE. 
 
 DORNOCH, July 22, 1809. 
 
 DEAR SHARPE, I have just seen what you would give the 
 world to see, and I make no doubt will immediately set about 
 considering how you can undertake a journey which all my 
 
 1 Sir Godfrey Vassall Webster, Bart, of Battle Abbey, Sussex, born 
 1789, died 1836.
 
 380 DUNDEE'S ARMOUR. 
 
 entreaties and persuasion had not influence enough with you 
 to prevail on you to think of. I suppose I shall see you here 
 in a fortnight from the present moment, giving my letter a 
 week to reach you, and you a week for the journey. What 
 do you think I have seen, then ? I have seen Lord Dundee's 
 armour his breastplate and helmet. After his death, the 
 hostile Gen L Mackay became possessed of them; and they 
 are now the property of an old M rs Mackay of this town, who 
 is the widow of a descendant of his. They have been treated 
 with most insufferable disrespect, for, from having been kept 
 in some damp cellar, the effects of rust have been so powerful 
 as to have eaten away all the crown of the helmet. The 
 breastplate has not suffered. They are quite plain, cast-iron, 
 thick and heavy ; a mark of having been struck by a ball in 
 front, and another in the back ; but neither penetrated. 
 
 I was much entertained with y r - account of your Branden- 
 burgh H ue - dinner, and congratulate you on y r - new acquaint- 
 ance. My military duties will conclude on Thursday, very 
 soon after w 11 - I shall take flight to " fair fields and pastures 
 new ; " but shall first give a grand ball here to all the fash- 
 ionables and unfashionables of the county. If M r Sharpe has 
 no preferable engagement, he will accept of Lord Gower's 
 invitation to a ball and supper at Dornoch, on Thursday, 
 July 27, 1809. 
 
 Earl GOWER to C. KIRKPATRICK SHARPE. 
 
 MAHTNERT, 1 Oct. 5, 1809. 
 
 With a mind so well furnished, how can you complain 1 
 Sure the sight of such faces must drive away pain. 
 Instead of blue devils surrounding your bed, 
 Apes, monkeys, and cats have so filled up your head, 
 That moping and gaping such sad thoughts you hatch, 
 When you open your mouth you must fancy they scratch, 
 
 1 Trentham.
 
 ., PRESCRIPTION FOR TOOTHACHE. 381 
 
 Which gives you those feelings of cramp and of stitch, 
 Of headache, of earache, of toothache, and itch, 
 I'll answer for't that is where all your pains hitch. 
 But as to your friend you've confided your woe, 
 To soften your grief, what he can he will do 
 Restorative powder, by Butler prepar'd, 
 Cherry lotion, pearl powder, and essence mustard, 
 Mordaunt's drops, opodeldolk, and julep of camphire, 
 Herb Robert's sour juice, and a mixture of samphire, 
 Will alleviate your sufferings, nay, drive 'em away, 
 If applied, one and all, two or three times a-day. 
 
 What tho' Sir J s may have resign'd, 
 
 Have ye no comforts left behind 1 
 
 The loves and graces round their queen, 
 
 Attendant serve the Margravine. 
 
 DEAR SHARPE, I have not patience to write any more 
 nonsense. I have waited away in hopes of being able to 
 obtain a representation of a toothache to answer to yours, 
 which is inimitable, but have not been able to succeed. I 
 have been for two months cherishing the hope of going to 
 Spain, if I can make it out. My journey will take place in a 
 few days ; but I begin to have some fears of the practicability 
 of putting it into execution. I will write as soon as I have 
 finally determined, and in the meantime, am yours, 
 
 EOWEG. 1 
 
 The Hon. KEPPEL CRAVEN 2 to C. KIRKPATRICK SHARPE. 
 
 BENHAM, Sunday night, October 8, 1809. 
 
 I cannot imagine why you was so long in expectation of 
 my last letter, for if you look'd at the date you would see that 
 
 1 Gower. 
 
 2 Keppel Craven was the youngest son of the Margravine of Anspach. 
 When Lady Craven separated from her husband she took Keppel, then 
 three years of age, with her, and subsequently placed him at Harrow 
 under a fictitious name. He resided with the Margravine on her return
 
 382 MISS PORTER'S 'DON SEBASTIAN/ [^. 
 
 I was not remiss in answering, and that it was probably only 
 owing to the irregularity of the post between this and Ox- 
 ford that you was led into that unjustifiable error of accusing 
 me of cruelty. To obviate a similar recurrence, I shall take 
 care to put ty London on the outside, which, though undoubt- 
 edly not the shortest way as to distance, is nevertheless so as 
 to time, and I natter myself that this time you will have no 
 cause of complaint. 
 
 Henriette Marie 1 was much pleased with an epistle which 
 she received from you yesterday, and which she order'd me 
 to read aloud before she had perused it, as her Majesty had 
 not her spectacles about her. I began, but was obliged to 
 stop at the bottom of the first page, as when Miss Porter was 
 mention'd, my modesty would not allow me to proceed any 
 further, and the very amusing story of the suicide cuckold 
 would have considerably shocked her chaste ear. By the bye, 
 her novel 2 is so much superior in every respect to what I had 
 expected it to be, that I am strongly interested in the perusal 
 of it, though as yet having only got through the first volume. 
 I think the adventures of King Sebastian and his soldier 
 Gaspar form a most attaching episode, especially when the 
 imagination supplies what she never could have dreamt of, 
 but which presents itself most naturally to minds form'd in a 
 less aristocratic mould than Catherine of Braganza's. 3 I don't 
 
 to England, and became chamberlain to the Princess of Wales in 1814. 
 He published two works of Neapolitan travel, and afterwards became a 
 resident in Naples. Bom 1779 ; died 1851. 
 
 1 The Margravine of Anspach. 
 
 2 ' Don Sebastian.' 
 
 3 " When Miss Porter's ' Don Sebastian ' came out, I expected to find 
 the Margravine, Keppel Craven (with whom the fair authoress was in 
 love), and many of my other friends there, in place of which I found 
 nothing but such heroes and heroines as might have been fashionable 
 and common formerly." Memoirs of the Time of George IV., i. 115. 
 Lond. : 1838.
 
 i 

 
 " THE INFANT MONMOUTH." 383 
 
 know whether the Queen-dowager 1 has answer'd your letter ; 
 but I conclude she has, in which case she has probably in- 
 form'd you that she wishes Burrell would accompany you 
 hither. I now find by your letter that it is in his way to and 
 not from Chats worth that he visits you, in which case it would 
 be unreasonable to expect him to come ; but pray assure him, 
 with my kind regards, that if at any time between this and 
 Xmas he passes within reach of this spot, and does not show 
 his face at it, he is never to be forgiven. You may also re- 
 mind him that I wrote him a letter, and that unless he wishes 
 to disgust me considerably, he will give me some reply to it. 
 
 I go to London on Wednesday, and notwithstanding your 
 malicious inuendoes, think I shall not stay beyond the Mon- 
 day following ; but at any rate I wish you would not scruple 
 coming here the moment you are at leisure, as it will doubly 
 flatter the Queen-mother, who, though very fond of her son, 
 has not strength of mind sufficient to overcome certain qualms 
 of jealousy with regard to him that have sometimes got his 
 admirers into scrapes. The Infant Monmouth 2 returns from 
 London to-morrow, after more than a week's absence. I can- 
 not sufficiently thank you for your kind expressions relative 
 to him, but if it were possible, would yield to no living being 
 the satisfaction of undertaking his education. This, I fear, 
 will be unfeasible, and I frequently look forward with regret 
 to his advance in life. I must caution you not to allude to 
 any likeness, or any open allusion to his affinity to me, before 
 Henriette Marie, though in your private conversation with 
 her you may give way to such observations ; but it is neces- 
 sary, for political reasons, that I never to her avowedly confess 
 him as my composition, so be guarded in that particular. I 
 own, to my paternal eyes no likeness is visible, however 
 anxious I am to discern it ; but I suppose it exists, as even 
 Anacharsis found it out before he went away. This last 
 
 1 The Margravine. 2 A natural child of Keppel Craven.
 
 384 VISITORS AT BENHAM. [ H0 * 
 
 KEPPEL CRAVEN 
 
 1809. 
 
 writes from the Albany in good spirits, as the object of his 
 uneasiness is finally safe arrived in London, and now with him. 
 You will probably see them when you are here ; and I think 
 I can foretell your surprise at their cases having excited 
 such anxiety. We expect many visitors in the course of 
 the autumn: imprimis, Miss Gell, who is to make her 
 appearance on Tuesday ; Skeffy and Sir William also de- 
 cidedly mention their intention of accepting my mother's 
 invitation ; Mills, on his way to the Western Ind. ; Mercer, 
 perhaps; and last (and least in your eyes), Mr Matthews. 
 I promise you I will wear boots as seldom as the mud will 
 allow me, for I like them as little as you do. As to shaking 
 hands, you shall give me a lesson, since I am so indifferent 
 a performer. I sometimes think that the premature symtoms 
 of decrepitude with which you (rather harshly) reproach me, 
 may have some blame attached to them in this concern. 
 This perhaps is mental, but it is a loss I regret not, and if 
 my mind were not equally wither'd, I should not complain ; 
 but who is to restore the freshness of youthful feelings, or 
 who can wish to increase the " feeble pulse of a faded 
 heart " ? Your Scotch news was news to me. As to Miss 
 Stewart, 1 I only know her by reputation, and that paints 
 her as very ugly, so I care not much for her misfortune. 
 Her brother, Lord Blantyre, was once quarter'd at New- 
 bury, and in the habit of frequently coming here. I liked 
 him much, and whenever I see him, feel the pleasure and 
 regret naturally connected with those who were our com- 
 panions in the days of thoughtless happiness and tranquillity. 
 I am concerned to find you presage earthquake from the 
 weather we have experienced, for I think it most delightfull, 
 and particularly adapted to my constitution. 
 
 I hope you will write again soon, in which case you must 
 
 1 The Honourable Margaret Stewart, youngest child of Alexander, 
 tenth Lord Blantyre, was married the day after this letter was written to 
 the Rev. Andrew Stewart, minister of Bolton.
 
 H T N oc. E K P t C im EN ] LORD MALPAS'S ILLNESS. 385 
 
 direct to 16 Charles St., Berkeley Square, for there I shall 
 take up my abode for the present. Adieu. Pray when you 
 come bring every implement of drawing that you possess, 
 and if you will oblige me, present the Queen-mother with 
 some specimens of your talent. Believe me, your very sin- 
 cerely aff e - CAEOLUS REX. 1 
 
 The Hon. WILLIAM BURRELL 2 to C. KIRKPATRICK SHARPE. 
 
 MY DEAR SHARPE, The dreadful alarm we had about poor 
 Malpas last night prevented me (although everything was 
 settled and arranged for my being with you to-day) from 
 putting my plan into execution. Thank heavens, however, 
 on our arrival I say our, as Lady C. and myself set off for 
 this place at half-past twelve, and reached it only two hours 
 ago we found dear Malpas considerably better ; and I hope 
 now, if he goes on as well as we have every reason to expect 
 lie will do, to be with you on "Wednesday certainly by dinner. 
 I hear from everybody that Oxford is a considerable deal out 
 of my way to Chatsworth ; however, it would be too bad on 
 my part if I did not visit you after your staying so long to 
 see me. You may imagine, better than I can tell you, what 
 misery I have suffered on poor dear Malpas's account. I 
 pray, believe me ever yours most truly and sincerely, 
 
 WILLIAM BURRELL. 
 
 Monday morning (16th Oct. 1809). 
 
 You may see what haste I write in. 
 
 1 This letter will sufficiently explain the reason of the Honourable 
 Keppel Craven figuring as Charles II., as well as account for the allu- 
 sions to Henrietta Maria and the " Infant Monmouth." 
 
 2 See ante, p. 276. 
 
 VOL. I. 2 B
 
 386 'BRITISH FAMILY ANTIQUITY.' 
 
 WILLIAM PLAYFAIR, Esq., to C. KIRKPATRICK SHARPS. 
 
 SIR, I received your letter of the 21st with pleasure, and 
 answer it with many thanks. Whatever it may please you 
 to have the goodness to send in the way of communications 
 will be considered as a great favour, and will tend to in- 
 crease the value of the work. 1 Your remarks relative to that 
 sort of publication are highly just. Without aid from in- 
 dividuals, it is impossible to be correct. They are generally 
 too indolent to give that aid ; but the instant it appears in 
 print the indolence ceases, and the critic (or fault-finder) 
 starts up in all his energy and glory and points out, too 
 late in print, what he might have noticed with utility and 
 advantage in the manuscript. 
 
 I have endeavoured to give novelty to this study as far as 
 I can by the charts, and, where I have been able, modern- 
 ising the style and enlarging the biography; but the great 
 purpose of the work is to prove the utility of hereditary 
 peerage, of which I considder the baronets to form virtually, 
 if but honourably, a part. 
 
 I have sent with this the two first charts for your acceptance, 
 a prospectus, &c., and shall be glad of your free opinion, for I 
 do confess I have not had the honour of corresponding with 
 any gentleman on who's opinion I should set so much value. 
 
 At the Heralds' Office this study is made a mystery and a 
 trade to get money by. The world at large undervalues it, 
 and the individual families have encouraged fiction, thinking 
 to establish their antiquity of origin by that means, so that 
 the whole is in a strange state, and unlike any other study. 
 
 I beg leave again to solicit your aid, and I have the honour 
 to be, sir, your obliged and most obed 1 - humble serv 1 , 
 
 WILLIAM PLAYFAIR. 
 13 THAVIES INN, LONDON, 
 27th Oct. 1809. 
 
 1 ' British Family Antiquity.'
 
 CHLOE DOGGEREL. 387 
 
 MARQUESS OF WORCESTER 1 to C. KIRKPATRICK SHARPE. 
 
 CH. CH., Monday [Oct. 1809]. 
 
 MY DEAR MR SHARPE, I write two lines to solicit your 
 vote in favour of my father, who is put up for the Chancellor- 
 ship of the University. I hope you will pardon this liberty, 
 and indulge me with a favourable answer. 
 
 Win. Burrell is coming here on Saturday next, on which 
 day I shall be very happy if you will meet him at dinner 
 here. 
 
 Miss Burton is in full force canvassing everybody for 
 L d - Grenville, and taking farther peregrinations than ever. 
 Yours, WORCESTER. 
 
 Miss CHLOE DOGGEREL [C. K. S.] to Sir GEORGE 
 
 WARRENDER, 2 Bart. 
 
 [Oct. or Nov. 1809.] 
 
 From the Garret of CEAZY CASTLE, 
 
 near DUMFRIES. 
 
 SIR, Being a young woman in a very disconsolate condi- 
 tion, and well aware of your generosity, I take the great 
 liberty of troubling you with this scrawl. My father was a 
 Presbyterian clergyman of considerable eminence, for he made 
 a long sermon for every Sunday in the year, but he also con- 
 trived to manufacture a couple of children annually, and on 
 leap-year my mother never failed to have three, so that his 
 circumstances were ever very low in the world. He gave us 
 all a tolerable education, and died from an over-exertion in 
 resolving some scruples of conscience which afflicted the 
 lady of the patron of his parish. A certain duchess, to 
 
 1 Afterwards seventh Duke of Beaufort ; born 1792; died 1853. 
 
 2 See ante, p. 101.
 
 388 CHLOE DOGGEREL. 
 
 whom my mother had the honour of being twentieth cousin 
 thrice removed, took compassion upon me thus left helpless 
 by the decease of my papa, and placed me, most generously, 
 in her household, as humble companion to her favourite wait- 
 ing-woman. It is quite impossible, kind sir, to express my 
 misery in this situation. The duke was an old doting dog, 
 who must needs lift his leg at every bush, tho' he had no 
 natural occasion. His sons were chips of the antient block, 
 and far more dangerous nay, the very footmen of the house 
 were as impudent as their masters, and would be saucy to 
 me every minute, which offended my pride as much as the 
 freedom of their betters did my modesty. In this purgatory 
 I remained for six months, and then fairly ran away. 
 
 I then attempted to make my bread honestly, like Mistress 
 Quickley's damsels, by the prick of my needle, and I was 
 almost starved, besides being pestered out of my life by every 
 filthy fellow who brought me a shirt to make, with abundance 
 of nauseous kisses and stale double entendres apropos of the 
 garment in question. I could not very long endure this, so 
 I resolved to cultivate a little turn towards poetry, which I 
 had felt from my infancy, and, like Master Thomas Tucker 
 of renowned memory, to sing for my supper. By dint of 
 much labour (more, I am sure, than my mother sustained 
 in bringing myself and all my brothers and sisters into 
 the world) I have now produced as many effusions as will 
 fill a neat little volume of the proper size for a lady's toilet 
 or a gentleman's dressing-box ; and it is on the head of sub- 
 scriptions for this work, sweet sir, that I now address you. 
 It is to be beautifully hot-pressed, and adorned with head 
 and tail pieces in the gusto of Lady Di Beauclerk, and dedi- 
 cated to Dame Heron of Ford, a lady of the most shining 
 virtues, whose legs, instead of arms, are to decorate the title- 
 page. I have piqued myself through the whole work on 
 avoiding the warmth, the pepper and salt, the high seasoning 
 of the fashionable strain of poetry, so that no turtle-soupe
 
 im] CHLOE DOGGEREL. 389 
 
 will be found in this literary repast, and even Captain H 's 
 
 delicacy escape violation. To that gentleman, and also to 
 my Lord H., I intend shortly to apply for due benevolence ; 
 and in the meantime I beseech you, dear sir, to speak a little 
 word in my favour to them : tell them that the subscription 
 is only 10 guineas, and that I am but sixteen, with black eyes 
 and a very brilliant complexion. 
 
 I have no doubt but that you will permit your own name 
 to decorate my list, and I take the liberty of transmitting 
 to you a specimen of my performance, which I am vain 
 enough to think will please you. It was written on a report 
 of a separation about to take place between a friend of my 
 cousin the duchess, one Mrs Peter Campbell, and her spouse, 
 long before the affair with Tommy Sherridan actually realized 
 the rumour, and approved of by Mat Lewis, the said Tom, 
 and the whole blue Stocking club but it is right to mention 
 here that in the poem there are two allusions to certain 
 superstitious notions, which are now almost forgotten: the 
 one is, that if a cuckold stirs a black pudding while boiling, 
 it is sure not to burst ; the other, that when rain falls during 
 sunshine, the horned herd are ascending to heaven. I am 
 the more particular in this matter, because my father often 
 told us that the Stagy rite asserts a jest to be good for nothing 
 unless people are able to understand it. 
 
 Sir, I must request your pardon for having so long tres- 
 passed upon your leisure, which the care of the nation and 
 of your corps must render very scanty and precious. When 
 in Dumfries, I shall wait upon you to know your good 
 pleasure, hoping that you will offer no rudeness to a young 
 woman of honour, albeit she may venture sola to enter your 
 apartment. I must say that I feel quite confident of your 
 politeness ; but for worlds I would not venture in the same 
 manner into your friend's chambers, as I always judge of a 
 gentleman's civility in these matters from his nose (ex naso 
 noscitur, as my father was wont to say), and his, tho' very
 
 CHLOE DOGGEREL. [SIR o. WARBENDER, 1809. 
 
 well-shaped, is long enough to be of exceedingly evil omen 
 to any young girl, as well as to your afflicted humble servant, 
 
 CHLOE DOGGEREL. 
 
 Sir GEORGE WARRENDER, Bart., to C. KIRKPATRICK SHARPE. 
 
 Nov. 1809. 
 
 I can only envy the author of the interesting adventures 
 of Miss Chloe Doggerel the wit he displays and the amusing 
 talent he possesses, and must answer his pointed poetry in 
 dull prose. I am, however, confident (notwithstanding the 
 ill-natured Oxford verses on the said author) that he will be 
 pleased to hear that Chloe's history, as well as her verses, 
 have more than once helped to drive away the ennui of a 
 long evening in a country quarter, and have convulsed the 
 sides of an old acquaintance with laughing. A portrait of Miss 
 Chloe executed with that elegance and taste which the author 
 has (in delineating the features of some other fair females) 
 frequently displayed, would render the appeal of that young 
 beauty to the generosity of Lord N". and Cap*- N. quite irre- 
 sistible. Fired as they are with the idea of black eyes and a 
 brilliant complexion, the addition of a well-turned ancle and 
 neat foot would ensure her conquest, and lay them and their 
 fortunes at her feet. The proposed dedication of Miss Chloe's 
 verses to Dame Heron is very judicious, and the introduction 
 of that lady's legs into the title-page much to be commended, 
 as, altho' her arms are celebrated in verse, on the subject of 
 her legs we have no authentic information, and therefore a 
 fac-simile of them was a desideratum in the world of gal- 
 lantry. It is also, no doubt, a very pretty idea to give the 
 legs only of the said Dame, and thus, in the title-page of a 
 work of imagination, to leave a great deal to the imagination ; 
 but it is humbly suggested that it would be more suited to 
 the modern taste and dress were the Dame exhibited at full
 
 SIR O. WARR 
 TO C. K. 8, 
 
 * E i809 EB ] THE OXFORD CHANCELLORSHIP. 391 
 
 length in a thin gauze drapery with all her charms exposed 
 to view. It would, moreover, be desirable, were this hint 
 adopted, that the portrait should be placed in the centre of 
 the volume, as the author would thereby have the satisfaction 
 of knowing that he had caused many of even the most prof- 
 ligate of our young nobility to turn over a new leaf; a circum- 
 stance not otherwise to be expected, as the author professes 
 to abstain from that high seasoning and spicy flavour which 
 distinguish the poems of Mr Little and Lord Strangford, and 
 which is so essential to render even the best (as it is always 
 sure to make even the worst) compositions palatable to the 
 taste of our refined age. I hope to thank the author in 
 person on the 24th for the amusement he has afforded me. 
 Believe me, dear Sharpe, yours sincerely, 
 
 G-. WAEKENDER. 
 
 C. KIRKPATRICK SHARPE to Miss TEMPLE. 
 
 CH. CH., OXFORD, 1st Dec. 1809. 
 
 DEAR MADAM, I have been much longer of answering 
 your letter respecting an affair which is now throwing all 
 Oxford into great commotions than was proper, 1 and I am 
 afraid that you have set me down in your own mind as little 
 better than a beast from my silence. But the truth is, that 
 since the arrival of your letter, which followed me hither 
 from Benham, I have been so hurried by a thousand irksome 
 circumstances as to be unable to count upon one half-hour as 
 my own. That, and an unwillingness to communicate evil 
 news, has occasioned my taciturnity ; for your application 
 came so very late that I had already promised my vote to 
 the Duke of Beaufort, and that merely because he was my 
 
 i Miss Temple had written Mr Sharpe soliciting his vote for Lord 
 Grenville as Chancellor of the University. Miss Temple was a daughter 
 of Sir Grenville Temple, Bart, of Stowe.
 
 392 THE OXFORD CHANCELLORSHIP. [inSi'iaw. 
 
 first canvasser, for I have no bias and am of no party. But 
 had my feelings really been interested, you may depend upon 
 it that nothing would have made me happier than to con- 
 tribute my mite of interest to any one whom you might have 
 chosen to patronise. As things stand, I can only lament my 
 inability to comply with your commands, and wonder at the 
 remissness of Lord Grenville's friends in this place, through 
 which alone my vote wandered from its rightful possessor. 
 
 The portrait of Lady Honeywood has been finished for 
 some time, and I shall seize the earliest opportunity of trans- 
 mitting it to you. It is a sad daub; but as you know my 
 style, I will refrain from making any apologies. May I beg 
 of you to present my very best respects to her ladyship, and 
 say that it would make me extremely happy to be able to 
 wait upon her in Suffolk, had I any prospect of being in that 
 part of the world. My brother has a place called Darsham 
 Hall in Suffolk ; but he is an unsettled sort of person, whom 
 one can rarely catch at home. I have been on the eve of 
 visiting him all the autumn, and I am still here ! 
 
 Keppel Craven is at present in town, but is to return very 
 soon to Benham. "We have been all much alarmed with a 
 complaint in his chest that gave him constant uneasiness, and 
 threatened somewhat greatly worse ; but he is now almost 
 quite well again. Gell talks of going once more to foreign 
 climes for two years ; but I shrewdly suspect that he does so 
 to make us say, " Pray stay at home, or we shall break our 
 hearts with weeping." The Margravine is at present ttte-a- 
 Ute with Miss Porter at Benham, and enlivened with the 
 visits of Augustus, Keppel's son, who is really one of the 
 finest boys that I ever beheld. 
 
 There are so many contradictory reports circulated con- 
 cerning the Chancellorship that I am quite at a loss what 
 to believe. It appears to me, however, that the Duke of 
 Beaufort will certainly not be elected, and that Lord Eldon 
 has the best chance. All the old men (or rather old women)
 
 TEM T PLE,T809.] THE STUART FAMILY. 393 
 
 here labour under such a dread of Popery, that they esteem 
 
 Lord Grenville as the gateway through which the wicked 
 
 papishes will enter to roast them into a crown of martyrdom. 
 
 I am, my dear madam, your most faithful humble servant, 
 
 CHAS. KIRKPATEICK SHAEPE. 
 
 WILLIAM PLAYFAIE, Esq., to C. KIEKPATEICK SHAEPE. 
 
 13 THAVIES INN, 2 Dec. 1809. 
 
 SIE, I cannot delay answering your excellent letter, it 
 gave me so much real satisfaction, tho' I am under not a little 
 apprehension that you will think me very troublesome. 
 
 Your approbation of the charts gives me much pleasure, 
 but I derive infinitely more from your manner of expressing 
 yourself with respect to the spirit in which the work is 
 written as respecting the old opinions and the new lights. I 
 had the chance to know Condorcet, la Harpe, Morellet, and a 
 number more of the great modern luminaries when I was at 
 Paris, and I saw them near enough to hate and despise them, 
 and I continue to do so, notwithstanding their learning and 
 abilities. The greater those were, the more blameable were 
 their possessors for misapplying them. 
 
 With regard to the Stuart family, my own inclination is to do 
 as you wish, and when I have had occasion I have done it, and 
 I shall continue, for I know nothing so slavish and so vile as 
 for a writer to prostitute his pen to abuse. The most that I 
 think allowable in point of deviating from giving the truth 
 and all the truth, is to be sometimes silent where publicity 
 might give pain, and to lean on other occasions to the good- 
 natured side. Montesquieu, speaking of the Tarquins, says 
 he pitys the kings whose historians are their enemies (I do 
 not remember the express words), and our Stuarts were in 
 the same situation. The nation could only vindicate itself 
 by blackening their characters. Their immediate successors
 
 on A rA-VTE-C TT r WILLIAM PLAYFAIR, 
 
 JAMES II. [ESQ., TO c. K. s., 1809. 
 
 naturally encouraged the calumny, and thus interest, selfish- 
 ness, and lastly, fashion, all joined as incitements to those 
 who touched on the subject to abuse the exiled family. As 
 to the last of the kings (James II.), I consider him to have 
 been brave, humane, and a truly religious man, who in other 
 times would have been more tolerant; but, sir, those who 
 have not seen men in violent revolutions, where the passions 
 are worked up to the highest pitch, have no idea of the effect 
 it has on the conduct of the best of men. Oil and milk circu- 
 late in the veins of men in ordinary times, but fire and vitriol 
 when pushed to revolutionary extremes. When everything 
 valuable is at stake, when a man knows his opponents will 
 have no mercy, and have quitted the path of reason, it is not 
 to be wondered at that he tries to exert his power. 
 
 I speak thus, having seen the French Eevolution from the 
 beginning to the imprisonment of the royal family in the 
 Temple (when I thought it time to quit the country). As the 
 murder of his father was always before the eyes of James, 
 and the same set of people that had sold and then murdered 
 him were the principal enemies of the son, it could not fail to 
 give a character of a bitter cast to their contention, and I am 
 convinced he was pushed to extremes to make him abdicate 
 the throne. I do not advert at all to the consequences of the 
 Eevolution. I think they had, morally speaking, very little 
 connection with the cause of it. Through life, indeed, we see 
 bad actions produce good frequently, and the best endeavours 
 terminating in disaster and misfortune. TIME and CHANCE 
 play a great part in this world. 
 
 I have entirely forgot how much I trouble you with so long 
 a letter, but when people seem to agree in ideas, there is great 
 pleasure in their communication ; and I feel it on this occa- 
 sion, for I am, in point of religion and politics, a very old- 
 fashioned man, and consequently the Edinburgh Reviewers, 
 and those who follow the new fashions, have long declared 
 deadly war against me.
 
 Eo A P K A s A i809.] ANTI-NAPOLEON COBBETT. 395 
 
 I beg your acceptance of a small volume containing a copy 
 of a paper called Anti-Napoleon, which I published some 
 . time ago, with an intention to support Government, but scur- 
 rility and abuse are more saleable than such works. When 
 the now great Mr Cobbett wrote in favour of this Government 
 nobody would read his paper, and now that he lives to over- 
 turn it, he is making a fortune, which is scarcely credible if 
 we did not see it before us. 
 
 I shall trouble you with some questions relative to a few 
 individual families ; and with many thanks for your offers of 
 assistance, I remain, with esteem, dear sir, your most obedient 
 and obliged h blc - ser*- WILLIAM PLAYFAIR. 
 
 The Hon. KEPPEL CRAVEN to C. KIRKPATEICK SHARPE. 
 
 BENHAM, Saturday, Dec. 2d, 1809. 
 
 I believe I should begin with apologies for not sooner 
 answering your letter, and thanking you for having formed 
 no curtailment in your paper ; but I should lose much of mine 
 by so doing, and I shall merely say that I really wrote no 
 letters while in London, for the bulletins of my health- which 
 I daily address'd to the Queen-mother were very short, and 
 generally written under the agonizing expectation of the 
 immediate sound of the postman's bell, and interrupted by 
 Skeffington's questions and remarks : he made it a practice to 
 call upon me or Gell every day between four and five. I was 
 so well and so lively during the period of my stay in town, 
 that I found the days pass very rapidly, and only returned 
 here yesterday to dinner. Mercer had the day before solemnly 
 promised to accompany me, and of course broke his word 
 according to custom. I should not have minded it much, 
 had I been certain that he would have joined our party later ; 
 but that is out of the question, as even in his days of total
 
 396 MERCER SKEFFINGTON. ^ "T, WOT 
 
 idleness he never could muster energy enough to convey 
 himself even to the places he wished most to go to, and now 
 he has so many attractions to keep him in London, that it 
 would be a folly to suppose he will come. There never was 
 anything equal to his abandon'd and loose conduct it quite 
 terrifies me. I saw a great deal of him, and became the con- 
 fidant of all his adventures ; but that is a dignity which was 
 not very flattering, as he bestows it on any person who will 
 listen to him. We are, however, very good friends, and I think 
 him so agreeable and usef ull a member of society that I should 
 be very glad if he could join ours. Skeffington swears he 
 will, and Burrell assur'd Gell that the moment he came to 
 town he should set about getting the Count in order to pay 
 the long delay'd visit. He was expected last night at White- 
 hall, where I left kind messages for him. Matthews and Gell 
 come the tenth. As to you, I have only to say that I wish 
 you would do the same as soon as ever you can ; and as it 
 cannot be till the 13th, shall expect you the 14th. At present 
 there is no one here, and I have this morning had a long and 
 very interesting conversation with my mother, of which Miss 
 
 P formed the subject. It was not of a pleasant nature, 
 
 and I fear the result will be productive of bad blood between 
 the two ladies. But I cannot enter into the details of it till 
 we meet, or at least till my next letter. I can only assure you 
 of what I have been trying to convince the whole world, that 
 the animal call'd a Woman is not to be reckon'd as rational, 
 and should never be spoken to without one's having first 
 ponder'd over every sentence you mean to utter. I led a 
 very quiet life while in London, I can assure you full as 
 much so, though a gayer one, than during my residence here. 
 I took all the care of myself you can wish; and though I 
 did certainly yield to the imprudence which you so greatly 
 deprecate, it was only twice, as a welcome and farewell, and 
 neither times did I experience any afterthought that could 
 make me repent. I honour'd the theatre with my presence
 
 HON KEPPEL CRAVEN! 
 TO c. K. s., 1809. J 
 
 one night ; it was what is called very quiet 1 that is, there was 
 no concert of stones, bells, rattles, or trumpets, but actors' 
 voices you could hear none, and the whole pitt was as usual 
 mounted on the benches, along which they promenaded, talk- 
 ing quite loud with their hats on. I thought it very enter- 
 taining; and because I express'd this feeling to a friend of 
 mine, I have since been accus'd of being a democrat. What 
 do you say to that, noble Queen ? I have made a collection 
 of all the prints, pamphlets, medals, ballads, &c., published 
 on the occasion of this theatrical contention. Some of the 
 caricatures are not fit to be shown, or rather read, before 
 ladies, as there are allusions to the private boxes which pass 
 the bounds of common indecency ; nor can I imagine what has 
 
 given rise to them, unless it was your friend L d M and 
 
 his pelisse, who I understand frequently makes his appear- 
 ance there. I did not fail to go to Horsemonger Lane twice : 
 the first time in the shape of a deputy, the second on my own 
 account. This day the fatal captivity ceases, and you will not 
 wonder that Anacharsis stays a week longer in London. I 
 have read with much amusement all your Trench songs, and 
 shall with your permission transcribe a few. I had noticed 
 the one you have translated, as one of the prettiest, and think 
 you have done as much justice to it as it is possible for a 
 translation to do. I bought what I thought was a curious 
 collection of plays at a stall in the Borough ; and so it proves 
 to be a set of vile rhyming pieces, composed for the young 
 ladies of a certain Mrs Bellamy's school. I am now going 
 to attack your old Plays, though I have a quantity of other 
 reading materials brought from town Mme. du Deffand's 
 Letters, Mdlle. de 1'Espinasse's ditto (a long series of love 
 complaints), Alfieri's ' Memoirs,' the ' Edinburgh Eeview,' and 
 'Thalaba' by Southey, which, though old, I never read I 
 just begun it, and like it as much as I can that species of 
 poetry; moreover, Crabbe's Poems; but your Plays shall have 
 1 Covent Garden during the 0. P. riots.
 
 398 LORD WORCESTER. [ H0 *o c-TT, iSoT* 
 
 the first turn. I could not execute your commission with 
 Mrs Abington, as I believe she is not in London, and I don't 
 know who to apply to that can give me information. 
 
 I should be most happy to obey your commands with 
 regard to some poetry, were my Muse as docile as my pen ; 
 but she is never very fertile, and is sure to gib the moment 
 I spur her. I should, however, say that she made an effort 
 while I was in London to bring to light an infant in the shape 
 of a song, and you had a place in it ; still it was in such bad 
 company that I am sure you would have disgusted it, so I 
 never register'd the embryo, and it still floats in a shapeless 
 state, some of the limbs indeed distinct enough, but the tout 
 ensemble such an unform'd mass, that it was not even monstrous 
 enough to claim preservation in spirits. Should I be more 
 fortunate in my endeavours to make you the hero of my 
 theme, you may depend on my paying more attention to the 
 transmitting the effusion to posterity, or rather to you. I 
 have re-obtained possession, or obtained re-possession (which- 
 ever you prefer), of your Sketch of the Water-dog (not god), 
 which had so strangely wander'd into hands which it never 
 was meant to fill, and which I am sorry to say have left their 
 marks upon the said memento; it shall remain entomb'd 
 for ever in my arcanum henceforward. 
 
 I saw Sir Golgotha riding about in search of admiration, 
 and had he turn'd his head my way, I should have certainly 
 paid my tribute ; but his eyes disdained the pavement, and 
 wander'd to windows (or boxes) of coaches. My mother and 
 Miss Porter desire many kind things to you. I think you 
 were very unjust about poor Lord Worcester, though I own, 
 from your description, his taste must be bad to expresseur 
 I'orange. I hope, however, that you have relented. Sophy 
 Johnstone is in town, but I saw her not ; indeed I played off 
 the petit Saintd, and called on none of my friends, except a 
 chosen few. Adieu. Pray write soon. I have done and in- 
 form me what day I am to expect you ; moreover, believe me, 
 yours very affect 1 ?-' CAROLUS EEX.
 
 IMPEYS POEMS. 399 
 
 E. B. IMPEY, Esq., to C. KIRKPATRICK SHARPE. 
 
 \ 
 
 FLUSHING, 8^ Dec. 1809. 
 
 MY DEAR SHARPE, I write to you under such a depression 
 of spirits, that if I had nothing particularly to say, I think 
 must have given up writing at all. I refer you, like the 
 rest of my correspondents, to Atterbury for particulars of 
 my health, and reserve myself only the task of acknowledg- 
 ing your kindness in writing me, which I hope you will 
 occasionally continue. 
 
 You mentioned a little before we parted a design you had 
 of translating my ' Lycidas.' I have just completed my MS. 
 poems, and am going to publish them, if you have no objec- 
 tion to attach yours to so perishable a reputation of me, I 
 request to be allowed to print your translation with my 
 original. Adieu, my dear Sharpe, I am really unequal to 
 write to you. I know you will forgive this mere attempt 
 to return your goodness. Yours affectionately, 
 
 E. B. IMPEY. 
 
 The Hon. KEPPEL CRAVEN to C. KIRKPATRICK SHARPE. 
 
 BENHAM, Sunday, Dr. 10th, 1809. 
 
 I am much disappointed at finding your cursed election 
 will take up so many days, which is very unfair to all those 
 who have nothing to do with it, as well as those as have. At 
 any rate you must be here by next Sunday, which, being the 
 Queen-mother's birthday, will want all the splendours which 
 wit and liveliness can give it. I am very glad to find your 
 Majesty continues to that measure of paper which mine so 
 much approves, and that you have not adopted that plan of 
 curtailing which, out of mere womanish perverseness, you 
 maintain that I should like. I shall not retract my abuse of
 
 400 MISS PORTER. [ HO T N oc E K.T,ito A 9 V . EN 
 
 the fair sex, because even since I wrote it, I have experienced 
 fresh instances of its truth, which fortify my arguments, and 
 I should again develope them in the most masterly manner 
 were it not for that politeness inherent to my nature ; so for 
 the present I shall content myself with once more bestowing 
 the appellation which so severely stuck in Mrs Wild's 1 remem- 
 brance (excepting the present company), but allowing at the 
 same time that they have souls, which I rather think makes 
 matters worse. Pray let me see your book on the subject, 
 which I am sure must have been written by what Skeffington 
 calls an amiable person, and I can assure you that it can by 
 no means add to my prejudices against the said beings, whom, 
 however, I will allow to be pretty to look at and pleasant to 
 hear nay, I have found some whose nearer intercourse afford- 
 ed pleasureable sensations in a variety of ways ; but they 
 should only be admitted on particular occasions illness should 
 be one, for the said animals make excellent nurses ; indeed, 
 I think I would always have a collection of them in every 
 large house, to appear either separately or in a body when 
 occasion required, but there should be an overseer continually 
 with them while they are in their appartment, that the mis- 
 chievous things they say might injure no one but themselves ; 
 and to effect this last purpose they should have instruments 
 both moral and physical in abundance. But enough of these 
 creatures as a whole; I must extract Miss Porter to bring 
 her on the tapis, I like her, and think her an addition to our 
 society, therefore shall be sorry when she leaves it; but I 
 suppose this will not be till the Queen-mother removes to B. 
 House, and then I trust the separation will be effected without 
 any apparent quarrel. 
 
 Gell and Matthews come to-day. I am going bye-and-bye 
 
 to meet them in the carriage. Mercer was to have made a 
 
 third ; but a few lines from Gell, written yesterday, inform 
 
 me that he had not heard from him, so I conclude he will not 
 
 1 See Fielding's 'Jonathan Wild.'
 
 H T N oc E K.T,i809. EN ] MERCER THE 0. P. RIOTS. 401 
 
 t 
 
 come, and will act the same by each person coming here, of 
 which I know only two more Skeffington and Burrell. Of 
 the latter I have heard nothing, but expect our new-comers 
 may give me some information. What Mercer's pursuits are 
 he does not keep secret ; but the variety is extraordinary, and 
 makes me think myself quite a chaste person (I mean in the 
 days or nights of my strongest vivacity). I sometimes reflect 
 on the wonderful alteration which 18 months have wrought 
 on the said youth ; and when I consider that I have been very 
 instrumental in effecting this change, I don't know if I am 
 not to look forward for some punishment for so doing ; for if 
 you observe the accounts of the proceedings at Bow S t- you 
 will see that those who are in the boxes are frequently com- 
 mitted as the causes of disturbance in the pit. Are you not 
 delighted at Mr Clifford's triumph, 1 and still more delighted 
 at the man who came in a counsellor's wig ? I begin to think 
 I am really a democrat, for your assertions convince me of it, 
 added to a very excellent philipic I last night read in the 
 ' Edinburgh Eeview,' have given me a sort of hatred of Minis- 
 ter and Government which I never felt before, and which, 
 from the violence of the sensation, is very new and agreeable. 
 Perhaps, though it only proceeds from having slept well these 
 5 nights and other local circumstances, you must know, though 
 my chest is not all troublesome, I have been again so unwell 
 that I was going to give myself up for a nonentity. The truth 
 is, that notwithstanding my want of feeling, there are some 
 prospects which I cannot reconcile myself to, and Anacharsis's 2 
 absence is one of these. I had an alarm on that subject which, 
 though subsided for the present, is likely to be renewed fre- 
 quently, and I don't know that I shall ever fortify myself 
 properly against its attacks. 
 
 I have began Crabbe, and am properly delighted with him, 
 though he makes one both sick and unhappy ; but the scenes 
 he describes have a peculiar interest to my grovelling eyes. 
 1 In the trials relating to the 0. P. riots. * Gell. 
 
 VOL. I. 2 C
 
 402 R. ST JOHN LORD WORCESTER. [ H TI L , ilo 
 
 Oh dear ! if one could venture on a description of all the 
 scenes which a thorough study of human nature brings to 
 one's view, how much more interesting and amusing one 
 might read every branch of litterature ! By the bye, there are 
 some odd touches in your old plays. I have not finished 
 them, but am much diverted by those I have gone through 
 part of which was read aloud to my mother and Miss P. ; 
 but I was obliged in so doing to feel before me, as one does 
 in the dark, for fear of getting into a scrape, which I should 
 not have minded my mother's account, but which Miss P. 
 would have died of. I forgot in my last letter to answer your 
 enquiries about a certain Mr Beauclerk. I assure you I have 
 no friend nor even acquaintance of that name. As to Robert 
 S* John whom you mention, I disgust him ; but I must own 
 I have never seen him but in the presence of his father, who 
 does not use him well, and his mama-in-law, who (though my 
 sister, 1 and just brought to bed) hates him. I am glad you 
 have relented in favor of Lord Worcester, as I like him from 
 your account, and he is, besides, a sort of cousin of mine ; but 
 do your friends all tumble off their horses at once ? I would 
 advise you to make a pretty little drawing to present the 
 Queen-mother on her natal day ; it will be taken in good part. 
 Adieu. I am going to have a cold. Believe me, yours aff ly " 
 
 CAEOLUS E P 
 
 The Duke of Monmouth is here, and desires his love. He 
 admits your Majesty in the list of his favourites, which are 
 only 5. I hope you appreciate the honour. 
 
 Write again and tell me what day we are to expect you. 
 
 1 Arabella, daughter of sixth Lord Craven, married in 1793 to the Hon- 
 ourable Frederick St John, General in the army ; died 1819.
 
 HON. KEPPEL CRAVEN'S HEALTH. 403 
 
 H.S.H. THE MARGRAVINE OF BRANDENBURG- ANSPACH 
 
 to C. KlRKPATRICK SHARPE. 1 
 
 Keppel tells me you mean positively to come here, which 
 I am very glad of, for I cannot help auguring well of a 
 person who, in such times as these, could, de son propre chef, 
 chuse the time, and the people, and the manners in Louis 
 the Fourteenth's reign to make them his recreation ; for I am 
 quite of La Eochefoucault or La Bruyere's opinion q'une 
 bonne education est la vraie religion mondaine to believe in 
 which, and more, to practise, would prevent those eternal 
 dissentions in families and those quarrels in society which 
 renders it impossible to find society in this country and 
 Keppel tells me I shall delight you in telling you stories 
 about my great-aunt Albemarle, who saw the Duchess of 
 Portsmouth and other great aunts and uncles who have seen 
 those who were their models. I think Keppel much better, 
 and I hope in a little time that he will recover his strength. 
 I reserve all other topics of conversation to that time when, 
 de viva voce, I shall tell you how much I wish to be your 
 sincere friend, &c. ELIZABETH, M. B. A. 
 
 llth Dec. 1809. 
 
 The MARCHIONESS OF STAFFORD to C. KIRKPATRICK SHARPE. 
 
 C. H., Dec. 21st, 1809. 
 
 I intended, my dear Sir, before this time, to have exprest 
 to you how much I felt the kind manner in which you re- 
 ceived a late application of mine, even in refusing it, though 
 
 1 Elizabeth, daughter of Augustus, fourth Earl of Berkeley ; married, 
 first, William, sixth Earl Craven, 1767, from whom she subsequently 
 separated. After a sojourn at many European Courts, she married
 
 404 THE CHANCELLORSHIP. [To 
 
 I should have been very glad if circumstances would have 
 admitted of your attending to it ; yet it was impossible not to 
 approve in every respect of the line you took as a very hon- 
 orable one. 1 Indeed, the conduct of the party you joined has 
 been so liberal, that it afforded one the satisfaction of seeing 
 that adversaries may conduct themselves so as to avoid all 
 personal animosity, and conciliate the respect of those of 
 a different party, which has been the case in this instance 
 with the friends of the D. of Beaufort. I regret much that 
 circumstances were such as to have deprived many of his 
 connections of being able to assist him, which we were all 
 very sorry should have been the case on this occasion. 
 
 Gower forgot to say that I shall have great pleasure in 
 sending the etchings to Mr Conybeare, and am much flattered 
 that such a collector should think them worth wishing for ; 
 therefore, pray tell me where to send them. I feel sometimes 
 quite ashamed of the book, as being what may be called some- 
 what ridiculous ; so to see it treated with gravity, puts me in 
 a sort of good humour with regard to it. 
 
 I hope soon to send you the old Clashmaclaver, which Con- 
 stable promised should be finished before this time ; but I have 
 not heard anything of it for some months, though I see he has 
 advertised it. I hope it will turn out a sort of Froissart, 
 which I have been reading lately, much to my amusement ; 
 but do not hope to find anything in it equal to the history he 
 gives of the Comte de Foix, which, if you have not happened 
 to read, I beg you may immediately, and you will find him to 
 be a perfect model of a feudal grand seigneur dans son chateau, 
 in spite of the accident of killing his son, and the blemish of 
 being rather cross to his wife. The story of the Familiar 
 
 Christian Frederick, Margrave of Brandenburg- Anspach and Bayreuth, 
 in 1791, who, after his abdication, retired to England and took up his 
 residence at Brandenburg House. The Margravine died 1828. See her 
 Memoirs, written by herself ; see also ante, Memoir, p. 31. 
 1 In the contest for the Chancellorship.
 
 MARCH. 
 TO C. 
 
 SKEFFINGTON SOUTHAMPTON. 405 
 
 Spirit and the Bear also, I fear, exceed in interest anything 
 we shall find in Sir Eobt. Gordon ; but the description of the 
 manners of the Scotch may be more favourable. 
 
 When you have no better occupation, give me some account 
 of what you are doing ; and believe me, very sincerely yours, 
 &c., &c., E. S. S. 
 
 LUMLEY ST GEOEGE SKEFFINGTON/ Esq., to CHARLES 
 KIEKPATPJCK SHARPE. 
 
 ANSPACH PLACE, SOUTHAMPTON. 
 
 MY DEAR FRIEND, Wednesday Night, January the Wtk, 
 1810, finds that I am now a resident at Southampton. 
 Since we parted at the Attic Villa of Benham Valence, no 
 day of pleasure has been mine. The Margravine of An- 
 spach has had the kindness to give me one of her houses 
 for the time that I pass at this fresh and salt water place. 
 The use of the warm sea-bath has been already beneficial; 
 but I am apprehensive that I shall not, for a month to come, 
 get sufficient bathing to fix a re-establishment of health ; 
 consequently, all thoughts of attending the Queen's Birth- 
 day must be entirely relinquished. 
 
 horror ! rash that I am ! What have I been doing ? 
 I really forgot that I was writing to a wit ; and have been 
 absolutely stating matters of dull and positive fact. I would, 
 if possible, retrieve this innovation ; for I am aware that it 
 is as reprehensible as to neglect the contemplation of the 
 universe for the investigation of a grasshopper ! yet the task 
 will be most difficult ; with me, to attempt and to atchieve is 
 not the same. If you were endowed with the gift of changing 
 stupidity into illumination as easily as Midas transmuted the 
 baser metals into gold, I would write on without consideration 
 
 1 Afterwards Sir Lumley St George Skeffington of Skeffington, 
 Leicestershire.
 
 406 "THE LEGENDARY MUSE." 
 
 and without reserve ; but as that is not the case, and as you 
 bestow more brilliancy than you receive, a correspondent should 
 conduct himself with caution. Away with caution in a 
 friendly letter ! I dare say that you would be better pleased 
 to laugh at my absurdity, than to dose over my correctness. 
 Apropos of being correct : Philosophy now rushes on my 
 recollection. How do the platonic dialogues proceed ? have 
 you laboured to throw any new light on the topic for the 
 benefit of posterity? An attempt so daring would be well 
 worthy of " the Legendary Muse " (a name by which I shall 
 distinguish you in future), and certainly attract the notice of 
 the fashionable world. Or, are you inclined to relinquish 
 such a design, under the apprehension that, were you to 
 succeed in the full establishment of the doctrine, there would 
 be no posterity to reap the harvest of your information ? for 
 on the above subject the number of the proselytes would be the 
 death-blow of its POPULAKITY ! 
 
 Farewell ! when you enumerate the list of those who are 
 in admiration of your talents, forget not to include your very 
 sincere friend, LUMLEY ST GEORGE SKEFFINGTON. 
 
 The Hon. KEPPEL CRAVEN to C. KIRKPATRICK SHARPE. 
 
 BENHAM, . Thursday, 18 Jany. 1810. 
 
 I conclude that Stapleton has not fail'd to give you my 
 message, which bound me to write this day, even had I been 
 deprived of both time and inclination ; but this is not the 
 case, and I sit down well pleased to be in full possession of 
 both the one and the other, without which no one can episto- 
 lise comfortably. You see that I hope to see you on Mon- 
 day, and I trust our fair Countess will not think of staying 
 a day longer. Should that be the case, I must regulate my 
 motions by hers ; but as the lord wants to be in town by 
 the opening of Parliament, I don't imagine they can stay
 
 THE " KIND KEEPER." 407 
 
 beyond the day I mention. I have begun packing up already, 
 that I may play the agreeable without interruption. I shall 
 bring your books with me, as by that time or nearly I must 
 have finished them. I am now in the very middle of the 
 "Kind Keeper," 1 which, as you foretold, amuses me not a 
 little ; but how so indecent an exhibition could ever be dis- 
 play'd in a public theatre I am at loss to conceive, even 
 in the days of my revered ancestor. 
 
 I came from my sister's on Tuesday, after having shiver'd 
 the whole time I pass'd there, saving the hours of sleep. It 
 is at any season of the year the very coldest habitation I 
 know, and you may imagine what it must be in this Kus- 
 sian weather, or rather that we had for 4 days (for really 
 to-day it is pleasant). I had arm'd myself with flannel at 
 all points, and declaring myself in a state of convalescence, 
 was indulged with all the favors granted to invalids a 
 seat near the fire at dinner, the very warmest arm-chair, in 
 the drawing-room ; yet still I died the whole time, and felt 
 that sensation which Gell describes with such emphatic horror, 
 the terror of getting into a cold bed. This feeling was really 
 quite new to me, and justifies all his evening miseries which 
 I used to laugh at. 
 
 I meant to have gone in the gig ; but the azure state in 
 which poor Augustus made his appearance that same morn- 
 ing, alter'd my plans, and the more expensive chaise was 
 my conveyance. Notwithstanding all these terrible occur- 
 rences, I caught no cold ; and though my chest was a little 
 uneasy yesterday, I believe it was only from a little bilious 
 attack which due precaution has this day removed. 
 
 I was asked to dine at the Princess of Wales's to-day, 
 and the card sent after me here : is not this flattering ? Gell 
 has been staying at Brocket Hall, Lord Melbourne's, but 
 returns this day to London for the purpose above mentioned. 
 Castor is kindly provided with an establishment, which I 
 
 1 By Dryden.
 
 408 PETITIONS AGAINST MINISTERS. [ H0 *o c.TT, 
 
 L CRAVEN 
 1810. 
 
 really am glad of, as I hope he will do well, which with 
 common prudence must be the case ; but I dread his negli- 
 gent and careless disposition. I am much at a loss to under- 
 stand what schemes you have in contemplation, and which 
 you only allude to in so ambiguous and yet pointed a manner 
 as to create both curiosity and anxiety in me. I trust that 
 when we meet, you will make me acquainted with them ; 
 indeed you half promised so to do. 
 
 From your account of Frederic, it must be a matter of 
 perfect indifference to me whether I still find him at Grey's 
 Court or not indeed the latter, I should think, would be pre- 
 ferable of the two. Whence comes this mistaken choice ? I 
 suppose you will see by the paper that our county of Berks 
 has given the example as to petitions against Ministers ; and 
 I doubt that a more violent or decided document ever appear'd, 
 and I regret it is thus intemperate, for the sake of the feel- 
 ings which urg'd it, which I justify and can scarcely help 
 applauding, however that may shock your aristocracy : but 
 I was much amused with the account of Mr M. Montagu's 
 speech, and the reception it met with. He ought to be used 
 to such, from the fate of his speeches in the House of Com- 
 mons, which generally afford much mirth to everybody but 
 himself : it seems a county meeting has not shown more 
 indulgence to his eloquence. Augustus has quite recover'd 
 his beauty and healthfull appearance, and is now 7 more delight- 
 ful than ever. His present rage is waiting letters, and he 
 is so quick that I am sure in a fortnight he might be taught 
 the whole alphabet. Of course I expect no answer to this, 
 as there is not time. Should any thing prevent my coming 
 Tuesday, I will write on Sunday, which is as soon as I 
 can know of any change. 
 
 I sent Skeffington a few lines, but have got no answer. 
 They did not require any. The Queen-mother is well, and 
 sends her regards. Adieu. I remain, yours very affe"*'-- 
 
 CAROLUS E.
 
 IMPEYS POEMS. 409 
 
 E. B. IMPEY, Esq., to CHARLES KIEKPATRICK SHARPE. 
 
 FLUSHING, Jan. 30, 1810. 
 
 MY DEAR SHARPE, It is long since I formed the determin- 
 ation of compensating for the brevity and extreme dullness of 
 my last note by a longer and more consolatory address ; but 
 the same causes which operated to disable me in the first 
 instance from offering you any adequate return for your 
 affectionate and amusing letter, dated a hundred years ago ! 
 have hitherto, and do still continue their influence, to the utter 
 banishment of all that might render my correspondence at all 
 desirable. I am sensible that, under these circumstances, my 
 writing requires more apology than my silence, and that the 
 more I abstain from a detail of my present condition, the less 
 I am likely to add to the sombre complexion of my style. 
 
 It is my constant effort to abstract my mind from a con- 
 templation of my own situation, and it is chiefly by these 
 attempts at correspondence with those whom I think are 
 interested about me, that these efforts succeed. Our long and 
 intimate habits of intercourse will remove every suspicion of 
 insincerity when I assure you, my dear Sharpe, that I have 
 not a single friend who could more effectually contribute to 
 this end than yourself, and I trust that sentiment needs no 
 amplification. 
 
 Had I more objects to engage my attention than my present 
 desolate situation presents, I should never cease to be inter- 
 ested in your concerns; and tho' it is but a selfish feeling 
 which increases that interest at this moment, yet in hopes 
 you will excuse and gratify it, I must venture the avowal. 
 
 In adverting to the popular transactions at Oxford, you 
 hint at being occupied in more momentous speculations. 
 You leave rne to guess what they may be, and my fancy 
 suggests that you are either deep in the life of Dundee, or 
 preparing another edition of poems. The latter has been my
 
 410 "SPANISH VENGEANCE." [ B j, 
 
 occupation or rather succedaneum for occupation for some 
 time past. I hope soon, with the help of our friend the Pro- 
 fessor, to be speedily published. But whether my own im- 
 patience, or his inactivity, is to blame, I cannot help thinking 
 the whole business an affair only three or four thousand 
 lines might ere this have been completed. However, there 
 is one benefit resulting to me from this dilatory disposition in 
 my editor that it gives me this opportunity of reminding 
 you of your expected contribution. Seriously, if you have no 
 objection to occupying a corner in my little volume, I should 
 be proud to bind up your flower in my nosegay. At all events, 
 you need not fear its being transplanted to a soil where you 
 know certain weeds, with which it can never lose by com- 
 parison, have already sprung up. This is in truth but a very 
 negative compliment ; but to say more before I see your poem 
 would savour of insincerity, and tend rather to insult your 
 discernment than flatter your genius. 
 
 I am interested in knowing whether you have taken any 
 steps to introduce your play upon the stage. Now that 
 Covent Garden has risen like another phoenix from its ashes, 
 and escaped the perils of a worse conflagration from the 
 enflamed rabble, I begin to look forward with expectation to 
 the crisis of " Spanish Vengeance." Your Prologue, which I 
 do not yet despair of attempting, will lose nothing by being 
 defer'd, as its materials must obviously be drawn from scenes 
 which are yet acting, and will apply the better, as they 
 produce more novel allusions. I have lately been flatter'd 
 with an overture from the conductors of the ' Quarterly 
 Eeview,' which I have politely declined; tho' had I spoken 
 my mind freely as I may entre nous, I should have deprecated 
 the extreme illiberality of their political subservience to a 
 most despicable party. Their attempt to depreciate the 
 merits of General Moore is scandalous. Besides, like you, I 
 am for keeping all reviewers at arm's-length ; for tho' they 
 speak with the tongue of angels, what are they after all but
 
 o'.'] "REVIEWERS" IMPEY'S DOG. 411 
 
 the mere scavengers of literature ? Their office is merely to 
 cleanse its streets, which they do with far less success than 
 their brethren of the broom and shovel, for they leave behind 
 them more filth than they wheel away, and which, being filth 
 at second hand, is more offensive than the original trash. 
 You see I begin to bark before I am struck. However, I 
 make sure of being soon splash'd by their ordure, and indulge 
 in invective on the principle of the first blow being half the 
 battle. Adieu, my dear Sharpe. I have scarce room to charge 
 you with a commission to Atterbury, who is so good as to be 
 my factotum in Oxford. Tell him I wrote some days ago by 
 a private hand, apprizing him of the miscarriage of a certain 
 parcel containing, among other valuables, a copy of "Octavian" 
 (by the bye, what think you of said Octavian ?), and that I 
 expected to have heard from him in reply. I have, pour 
 comble des malheurs, just lost my dog, to which I had attached 
 myself with a tenderness only to be justified by circumstances. 
 I have deposited the poor faithful creature in a corner of the 
 garden, and shall fix a little tablet against a rock overhung 
 with ivy, which forms a recess just large enough to contain 
 her. This is the inscription : 
 
 Accept, poor honest friend, thy latest meed 
 
 All thou canst now partake, or I concede ; 
 
 A little earth thy relics to enclose, 
 
 A turf, a stone to mark where they repose ; 
 
 A sigh almost a tear ; a parting rhime 
 
 To snatch thy mem'ry from the wreck of time, 
 
 And bid men reverence at thy grave, poor Frow ! 
 
 The faith you practis'd and they falsely vow. 
 
 Once more adieu. Yours affectionately, 
 
 E. B. IMPEY.
 
 412 THE 'MORNING HERALD.' 
 
 The MARGRAVINE OF ANSPACH to C. KIRKPATRICK SHARPE. 
 
 B. HOUSE, 26th Feb. 1810. 
 
 Your letter of the 24th I receive with great pleasure, and I 
 have to lament that you cannot be here on Keppel's return 
 from the malaria of Warwickshire. What a fund of com- 
 fort your Tyburn Calendar would produce ! He returns next 
 Friday he has not been very well ; he has a way of packing 
 up even the pleasures he could bestow, and dealing them out 
 according to his ideas. I wonder what he will say to the 
 ' Morning Herald,' that has begun a series of impertinent 
 falsehoods against me, which, I trust, will amount at last to 
 give me an opportunity of punishing them. If I wrote like 
 my ancestors I should pass unnoticed, perhaps. I think the 
 liberty of the press very oppressing, and as everything in the 
 political world tends to put England out of Europe, I believe 
 I must go out of England to find civilisation. Mathews is 
 returned from a stfour in Sussex, and he and all who wish 
 me well are delighted at my having escaped from a Prussian 
 robbery, for such was Prince Ferdinand's claim to deprive me 
 of what the Margrave left me at Anspach. I long more than 
 you can to see Augustus l the dear sensible love. If I am 
 not to see much of him, I wish I had not seen him at all, for 
 I think he might grow up under my banners to wield armour 
 il riy a point d'eternels amours. I believe Lord Archibald 2 is 
 cur'd. You were perfectly right as to - ; the attacks 
 made on him may have seduced him, but has reduced the 
 seducer to an awkward situation. I am told London is very 
 dull ; everything is carried on in a dark lanthorn way ; every- 
 thing is a mystery, a secret ! You meet people, but they 
 turn the blind against your eyes. I have some idea that 
 
 1 "Augustus, a natural son of Keppel Craven, by a Madame d'Erville." 
 C. K. S. 
 
 - " Lord Archibald Hamilton was at one time a great admirer of Lady 
 Oxford." C. K. S.
 
 M T A o R c.' K F 8 A r S i8io. H ] GELL" ROMEO E GIULIETTA." 413 
 
 there will be a regency or a something. The affairs of the 
 nation must be in another track at least in some, for it is 
 bewildered at present. 
 
 Lizards do not meditate ; the word gobemouche in French 
 won't do for that Lizard, for with all the appearance of wool- 
 gathering, it is a great observer that aforesaid Lizard. Gell 1 
 is engraving all the morning, and going into parties every 
 night. I am told he wants to marry a fortune. Now, I 
 think, marrying merely for a fortune is a misfortune. Are 
 you really obliged to go into Siberia ? I wish you had the 
 opportunity of being more with Keppel, for with your de- 
 cided taste, you might prevent his from wandering. I have 
 seen the Free Knights and Covent Garden : I approve of them. 
 
 I have heard " Romeo e Giulietta." The music is fine, except 
 one finale, which is like a very vulgar English glee ; and the 
 female singers so detestably bad, that I really must wait for 
 Catalani, or some one that can sing, to go to the opera again. 
 As to fashions, the dress of your Duchesse de la Valiere in 
 my book is beauty in comparison to the dresses. 
 
 Pray believe that wherever I am I shall be glad to see you ; 
 and my writing so long a letter to you when I have nothing 
 to say, is a proof that I depend on your partiality to me for 
 liking to receive it. If I can do any commission for you, or 
 be of any use to you on the river Thames, pray command me. 
 Yours very truly, ELIZABETH. 
 
 The Hon. KEPPEL CRAVEN to C. KIRKPATRICK SHARPE. 
 
 WniTEFORD, 2 Friday, Sepr. 13, 1810. 
 
 MY DEAR SHARPE, As you justly observe that we are 
 pressed for time, I lose as little as I can in answering your 
 
 1 "William, afterwards Sir William Gell, has written a number of 
 books, and was a great favourite of some people : he set up for dry wit, 
 but I never could perceive that he had it either wet or dry." C. K. S. 
 
 2 The seat of Sir John Call, Bart.
 
 A 1 \TTQ PAT ntVVT T [HO*. KEFPEL CRAVEN 
 
 Mlfeib LAUD VV &LL. TO c. K.. s., 1810. 
 
 letter which I received yesterday, though it contains what I 
 should term a scolding ; but I won't complain, and submit 
 to the chastisement, only observing to you that I never said 
 you were a professed liar or that I detested you. I got a 
 very absurd letter from the person who reported these soi- 
 disant speeches of mine to you : this epistle is to explain 
 why he did not oftener come to visit me, and to account 
 for this want of attention, which he concludes I must have 
 thought very strange, though I confess I never thought of 
 it at all. He invites me to Grey's, and desires I will bring 
 my gig, though at the same time he concludes I am going 
 already, and begs I will let him know when. I shall certainly 
 write when our sailing is fixed, which at present I am unable 
 to say anything about, as there are no ships bound for 
 Lisbon at Plymouth just now ; but as there may be every 
 day, and as Admiral Buller, who commands there, has pro- 
 mised his interest to secure a passage by the very first, we 
 may be in daily expectation of being summoned there, and 
 hold ourselves accordingly in a proper state of readiness. In 
 the meanwhile, our time is past as agreeably as a state of 
 uncertainty will admit of. Here are a great assemblage of 
 women, most of them good-humour'd and lively; and as, with- 
 out vanity, we are the most ornamental as well as agreeable 
 of the masculine gender now here, we are courted and made 
 up to accordingly. Our evenings are spent in music, and 
 frequently dancing, also occasional little ballets composed on 
 the spot. To-morrow, however, we have a melodrama, which 
 will take more preparation, and I have been selecting the 
 music for it from the most elegant airs perform'd at Astley's, 
 the minor Vauxhall, and all those refined retreats. 
 
 Miss Caldwell, the Dowager Lady Belmour's sister, is our 
 heroine, and being what is called a Bath beauty that is, a 
 fine figure, and five-and-forty she shines most conspicu- 
 ously in all tender parts ; and seems very much inclined to 
 act them in private, if she found any one likely to rehearse
 
 ,] BRANDENBURG HOUSE. 415 
 
 them with her. The men here are not worth mentioning, 
 though very good sort of people. Your friend Colonel Cooke 
 is still in the neighbourhood, but not coming to this house 
 at present. Littleton has been amusing the whole county, 
 and is now gone to Portugal. 
 
 I have a letter from my mother, who seems so far settled 
 at Benham that she does not talk of leaving it till she goes 
 abroad. I wish you very much to go there, for many reasons, 
 and I beg you will cultivate the acquaintance of two friends 
 of mine whom you will find there, of the name of Hamilton : 
 they are odd people, but very worthy, and I flatter myself 
 truely attached to me, which may be a recommendation in 
 your eyes. The husband has heard me speak of you, and will, 
 I am sure, be most happy to be acquainted with your Majesty. 
 You are quite right about pastoral profession, but you should 
 recollect that it generally combines the mastery of two 
 elements diametrically opposed to each other, and that though 
 linen may suit the liquid and cooler one, velvets are fre- 
 quently employ'd in the service of the other. 
 
 As to a conquest, it can hardly be so named, as, though I 
 own I never saw anything approaching to the perfection of 
 feature, colour, and expression which is there to be found, 
 I very leisurely deferr'd any approaches which I might have 
 made untill my return, as they must have demanded some 
 time and difficulty, though probably attended with no danger. 
 You will own that, knowing my instability in matters of that 
 nature, the impression could not have been very potent. 
 
 I have much better accounts from sick friends, who are 
 both regaining strength, and, I trust, in fair way of complete 
 recovery. 
 
 I did not know that Brandenburg House 1 had ever be- 
 
 1 Brandenburg House, built by Sir Nicholas Crispe in Charles I.'s 
 reign, whose nephew sold it to Prince Kupert, who gave it to Margaret 
 Hughes, the actress, in 1683. Ten years later she sold it. It was after- 
 wards the property of Bubb Dodington, Lord Melcombe. The Mar-
 
 416 "THE VIRTUOUS ASS." [To c.Ts!; mo ** 
 
 longed to Madam Hughes, though I was aware her august 
 lover had bought it of Sir N. Crispe. I don't think it will 
 ever again fall into such hands. What say you ? 
 
 Saturday Morning. I have only time to finish this, and 
 say that I have now passed all the forenoon in a state of 
 insanity, for nothing but Bedlam can present such a scene as 
 the preparation for our performance affords. Pray answer 
 immediately, and direct to Post-Office, Plymouth Dock. I 
 shall not fail to write again, should I be called away suddenly ; 
 and, at any rate, your letter will neither be mislaid or lost. 
 
 Gell sends his love : he is preparing to act Chalcas, which 
 Miss Caldwell reads Chalk Ass! Believe me, yours most 
 
 CAROLUS EEX. 
 
 The MARGRAVINE OF ANSPACH to C. KIRKPATRICK SHARPE. 
 
 BEXHAM, 22cZ September 1810. 
 
 Darsham, but near what town, that your date don't tell, so 
 for fear this should miscarry, I send it to that seat of sapience, 
 Oxford, from whence, no doubt, it will be sent to you. How 
 can I thank you enough for your very entertaining letter and 
 historic of the Virtuous Ass ! If it could speak, like Balaam's, 
 it would tell a tale of hopes and fears, of protracted desires, 
 and show that Piramus and Thysby displayed less eloquence 
 through a wall ; and, moreover, had not the strong incentive 
 of gazing on beauteous objects to stimulate their feelings as 
 hers were, even to desperation. But to turn our eyes on asses 
 on two legs I am the first ; I am sick, a fever in my left leg, 
 and bilious, and convinced it is stifled anger. Your dotage 
 Keppel has been wonderfully amused at Whiteford by the 
 enacting of Mock Tragedies and Burlesqued Mythology by a 
 
 grave of Anspach bought it in 1792. Queen Caroline died in it in 1821 
 (7th August), and the next year it was pulled down. An account of 
 the house with its pictures, and a short biographical notice of the Mar- 
 gravine, appeared in the ' Gentleman's Magazine ' for October 1822.
 
 M\RO 
 TOO, 
 
 '.' K F 8*ri8io. H ] THEATRICALS MOUNT EDGCUMBE. 417 
 
 troop of wild Irish, one of the principal female performers 
 thus learning her part "queen aside "; and then " a cobbler 
 there was" or any other, Thunder never discriminating in 
 learning her what she was to say, or what was to be done. 
 Moreover, Keppel danced on the tight-rope, which was not 
 one of the accomplishments I gave him. 
 
 It is the fashion for Anacharsis l to accuse me of things I 
 never did : he wrote me word I had spread it abroad that he 
 is only gone out of the country to avoid hanging, on account 
 of certain reports concerning him and Der Princessen Hunch- 
 backengrossenessen. 
 
 This is the second accusation as false as improbable for I 
 am no gossip. 
 
 I have not deigned to answer him : as to his going, I am 
 convinced, by something he said to me just before he went, 
 that he is very sorry to go at all, and that if he can escape 
 and return before she does, he will. E. 
 
 The Hon. KEPPEL CRAVEN to C. KIRKPATRICK SHARPE. 
 
 CREMILL PASSAGE, PLYMOUTH DOCK, 
 Monday, Oct. 1st, 1810. 
 
 DEAR SHARPE, I only mean to send this when I know 
 for certain that I am on the point of sailing; but as that 
 moment is one of hurry and discomposure, I may as well 
 begin my letter now. Before I proceed to matters of state, 
 I may as well explain the meaning of the above date, which 
 may be ambiguous to you, who are not travell'd in the west. 
 This is a single inn almost at the gate of M> Edgcumbe, 
 facing Plymouth Dock, on the Cornish side of the river 
 Tamar, which in this place is call'd Hamaoze, being its out- 
 let into the sand, and from thence into the ocean. We chose 
 
 1 " By Anacharsis she means Sir W. Gell, who accused her of having 
 said something about his danger of being hanged for gallantries with 
 the Princess of Wales." Note by C. K. S. 
 
 VOL. I. 2 D
 
 418 MOUNT EDGCUMBE PLYMOUTH. [^oc. 
 
 it in preference to being in the town, which is dirty, noisy, 
 and expensive ; whereas here we have the whole house to 
 ourselves at a very cheap rate, have immediate access to 
 the country, which is beautiful, besides the permission of 
 wandering about the grounds of M 1 - Edgcumbe, 1 which you 
 have so frequently heard of, that I shall not attempt to 
 describe their beauties. Their master has been very civil 
 to us, and ask'd us repeatedly to dinner, which we have 
 generally declined, but pass'd one evening there. His daugh- 
 ters are what girls of fashion should be, perfectly free and 
 unaffected, and yet with not the least tincture of boldness 
 or boisterousness : the youngest, Lady Caroline, is very pretty, 
 and they both very accomplished. Now say after this that 
 I never praise women. 
 
 We have been here ever since Tuesday. Nixon accompanied 
 us from Whiteford, and only left us this morning to work 
 his way to town, through Benham, Southampton, Brighton, 
 and various other places. The gardens at M*- Edgcumbe 
 are very prettily laid out, and the gardeners very attentive. 
 We generally make the former our morning lounge, after pay- 
 ing our visit to Plymouth Dock to see for our letters and 
 learn the news of the day I mean that which relates to 
 our sailing. Various have been the disappointments we have 
 undergone in that respect, and perhaps many more await 
 us before we finally depart. Yet we have both the admirals 
 in our favour, and Sir E. Calder, the commander-in-chief, is 
 particularly kind to us. The weather has, indeed, been lovely 
 and certainly, would it continue so, I should never wish to 
 cross the Atlantic to seek for another climate ; but already 
 I feel the effects of the change which has taken place this 
 morning in consequence of some rain. 
 
 I must now scold you in good earnest for the barefaced 
 manner in which you make certain reproaches and describe 
 
 1 Richard Edgcumbe, Earl of Mount Edgcumbe. His daughter, Lady 
 Caroline, married Eeginald George Macdonald, Captain of Clanranald.
 
 . LADY BORINGDON. 419 
 
 certain things in your last. You should consider that when 
 words are employed which can admit but of one sense, it is 
 dangerous in the extreme to make choice of such ; and should 
 the letter have been open'd,"/ must have been the sufferer, as 
 Katherine the Queen might have remain'd unknown but the 
 direction was not equally ambiguous, so I must intreat for 
 the future you will be more metaphorical, which I am sure 
 is no difficult thing for your pen, now that it is used for 
 romance-writing, and I flatter myself I can easily make out 
 your meaning. For instance, the crown jewels do very well ; 
 and talking of that, I am glad to have such fair warning on 
 the subject, as it authorises me to be constantly alive to 
 my danger, and to employ all possible means of defence, such 
 as armour, &c., &c. I am happy to tell you that the said 
 jewels were never in brighter order than they are now ; and 
 I mean to keep them so, not by cleaning or rubbing, but by 
 hiding them from profane eyes, and securing them from the 
 touch of the vulgar. This resolution I am certain you will 
 approve. That reminds me of a passage in a letter which 
 I have just received from Hope, which relates to an adven- 
 ture with my cousin Betty, 1 altogether not unentertaining. 
 Lord and Lady Boringdon 2 have been at M>- Edgcumbe, 
 and very kindly invited us to Saltram, where there is to be 
 a grand ball on the 12th. She is not unpopular in the 
 county, but he is abhor'd, chiefly because he will sleep in 
 a separate bed from his wife, which is looked upon as so 
 heinous a crime in Cornwall that nothing else is talked of 
 in every house where they have been. The men are the 
 principal outcriers on this occasion, which appears to me 
 strange, and he is everywhere denominated a nasty "brute 
 and beastly fellow, and other equally complimentary epithets. 
 
 1 Lady Emily Elizabeth Berkeley, daughter of the fifth Earl of 
 Berkeley. 
 
 2 Son of the second Earl of Morley, married to Miss Talbot of Wy- 
 mondham, Norfolk.
 
 420 GELL'S TRAVELS. ["^oI 
 
 I had one or two unpleasant attacks on ray breathing while 
 at Whiteford, but have felt nothing of the kind since my 
 removal here. I have frequent communication with my 
 mother, who seems dying with impatience to have me out 
 of this island in which I participate most heartily, as my 
 present state of uncertainty is far from pleasant. I don't 
 know the verses you mention, never having read Vertot but 
 in the original language, so can throw no light on the subject. 
 I have been made to write some French verses on the sub- 
 ject of Hercules and M*- (Eta, to accompany a drawing 
 of the said Mount in a book of Louisa Call's ; l and I laid it 
 on so thick (as we may do in French without exciting nausea) 
 that her sister-in-law Lady Aylmer almost cried at reading 
 them, and was forced to go out of the room. I have been 
 to a fair fancy my discovering such a thing in this remote 
 part of the world and though it possess'd neither the superior 
 attractions of Greenwich, or the more refined amusements of 
 Brook Green, yet I found a tolerable share of entertainment, 
 enough to repay me for the length of the walk, which is 
 nearly three miles. Miss Smith's propensities I have heard 
 of, and am not therefore surprised at her speech to Lady 
 Dalkeith, who some years ago \vas, in my opinion, well cal- 
 culated to create such sensations in either sex. 
 
 Sunday Morning, October 7th. I am loath to keep this 
 letter any longer in my possession, though we don't seem a 
 bit more advanced as to going ; so I shall send it, and keep 
 you in the same state of uncertainty in which it leaves us. 
 I shall, however, take it for granted, that by the time you 
 get it we shall either have sailed or have determined not to 
 do so at all, at which you will triumph not a little. We have 
 dined at M'- Edgcumbe once, and are to do so again this day. 
 
 1 Mr Craven makes a mistake here ; Louisa Call was Lady Aylmer, 
 and by this time all her sisters were married. The Call family was 
 related to Keppel Craven, as Sir John Call had married a daughter of 
 the Earl of Granard, and grandchild of the fourth Earl of Berkeley.
 
 H Toc E K PE s L ) C i8io EN ] "LOUIS XIV. AND LA VALlfcRE." 421 
 
 The Earl is very gracious indeed to us. 
 
 Gell desires his regards to you. I have persuaded him at 
 once to write an account of all his travels through Greece, 
 which is a sure means of improving his fortune, as travels 
 always publish and sell well whether they be good or bad. 
 When you write, which I hope may be soon, direct to the 
 care of Mr George, Perfumer, Fore St., Plymouth Dock, 
 and it will be carefully forwarded. Believe me, yours most 
 
 E. K. C. 
 
 C. KIRKPATRICK SHARPE to the COUNTESS OF DALKEira. 1 
 
 DARSHAM HOUSE, 5th Octr. 1810. 
 
 DEAR MADAM, I am extremely happy that the former 
 patterns have been honoured with your approbation, which I 
 hope will be extended to these poor thistles, though the leaves 
 somewhat resemble currycombs, and the flowers bear a strong 
 likeness to the tossil of a bell-rope. I rely much on your 
 ladyship's goodness, more especially when you know that 
 after roaming through all the fields round this mansion, I 
 could not find anything to be called a thistle; and we ex- 
 patriated Scotch people pretend that we have quite forgotten 
 the shape of one. As my last resource, I had finished the en- 
 closed, I stept forth to take the opinion of my sister's donkies ; 
 but they displayed a total ignorance of French nay, of Hebrew 
 breeding : Balaam's ass was Lord Chesterfield to either of them 
 pas un mot. I returned to the house as wise as I went. 
 
 Will your ladyship have the goodness to request Lord 
 Dalkeith's acceptance of Louis the Fourteenth and Madame 
 de la Valiere ? I have attempted to stick to the other draw- 
 ing as much as possible, but it was done so long ago that I 
 have almost forgot it. 
 
 1 Harriet, daughter of the first Viscount Sidney, wife of Charles, Lord 
 Dalkeith, afterwards fourth Duke of Buccleuch. Her Grace died 1814.
 
 422 GORDON'S HISTORY. 
 
 Though Top's likeness to King Charles the Second always 
 filled me with love and reverence, I must confess that he 
 entirely slipt my memory when I had last the honour of 
 addressing you. We are all delighted to hear that he is so 
 popular, and hope that his reign may long continue undis- 
 turbed. For my part, I pray that none of the Whiggish curs 
 of Scotland may annoy him as they troubled his prototype 
 while he lives, and that after his decease no prejudiced Fox 
 may disturb his ashes by writing legends echoed from such 
 fools like Woodrow, and rogues like Malcolm Laing. My 
 brother and sister present their best wishes to your ladyship 
 and Lord Dalkeith, at the same time desiring me to express 
 their regrets that you are not to honour the ball: we are 
 going, I believe not much to my satisfaction, as, according 
 to fair Annet in the song, " srna' dancin' will serve me." 
 People talk of the difficulty of dancing in sacks, but such 
 persons never tried saltation in a wig ! I am, dear Madam, 
 
 C. K. S. 
 
 Earl GOWER to C. KIRKPATRICK SHARPE. 
 
 CASTLE HOWARD, Oct. 21, 1810. 
 
 DEAR SHARPE, To my infinite joy the clergyman here has, 
 after the example of his betters, got such a bad cold that he 
 cannot say his prayers, so we escape church ; and I can do 
 what you know I like so much better, have some conversa- 
 tion with you. Do you know that I thought a few days ago 
 to have written a letter to you from Ecclefechan, on the way 
 south. I had occasion to make an excursion to Lanark, and 
 thought to have come through Dumfriesshire ; but on second 
 thoughts I imagined that I sh d - find a better and much 
 shorter road by Peebles and Kelso, and accordingly with 
 some regret gave up the idea of Ecclefechan, Hoddam, &c., &c. 
 
 Have you seen M de - du Defand's letters ? They are not
 
 j VOYAGE TO LISBON. 423 
 
 in your way, so you need not give yourself the trouble of 
 getting them. 
 
 The book, 1 Constable says, will be ready by June. I saw 
 some of it printing ; it will be a very handsome book large 
 margin, &c. Constable is printing a copy, large paper, on 
 vellum, for a present to my father. There's a book I saw 
 at Constable's shop and a picture for sale, said to be of Q. 
 Mary an old one, not at all like her belonging to our friend 
 Mr Dick. 
 
 Here they come to ask me to ride with them. What a 
 bore ! I've not the slightest disposition to stir out and leave 
 a comfortable fireplace in the corner of the room; but for 
 the good of one's health, they say, one must. Shall I send 
 such a misery of a letter ? Yes, I will ; you may do what 
 you like with it. I am so ashamed of it that I will not tell 
 you that I am, G. 
 
 The Hon. KEPPEL CRAVEN to C. KIRKPATRICK SHARPE. 
 
 LISBON, Thursday, Nov. 1st, 1810. 
 
 MY DEAR SHARPE, Don't let your delicacy take the alarm 
 at the sight or even the smell of this paper, or imagine I 
 mean anything by using it but the greatest compliment to 
 you in employing an indigenous production of the country. 
 If you see things through a proper medium, and preserve 
 some attachment to your regal title, you should kiss the 
 letter, and hail it as a countryman. But tr&ve de complimens. 
 You are perhaps more anxious to know when I arrived here 
 than to read a dissertation on yellow paper : if so, I shall 
 forthwith proceed to inform you it was on Sunday morning 
 last that I set my foot on these temperate shores, after a 
 most prosperous but fatiguing voyage of only 4 days, 
 two of which reduced and shook me so that I thought a 
 1 Sir Robert Gordon's History.
 
 424 THE ARMY IN PORTUGAL. [ H TO c .T s!", l8io. EN 
 
 month at least would be requisite to restore my frame to 
 any degree of composure and comfort ; but 4 days have 
 done it completely, thanks to the delicious sunshine which 
 makes up for stinks, dirt, flies, bad pavement, and unfur- 
 nished houses. The very first person I saw of my acquaint- 
 ance on my way to my uncle's was Worcester, in one of the 
 carriages of the country, looking very pale, and that admirable 
 feature his nose cutting a more than usually conspicuous 
 appearance from under the fur border of a fancy cap, adorn'd 
 with stripes of gold, but of a very ungraceful and unbecom- 
 ing shape. He was very animated and amiable, as he always 
 is, and though I have met him but occasionally, and that 
 for a very few minutes at a time, he has kept up his situation 
 in my good graces by his affability and usual gentleness of 
 manner. He cuts a figure here as the marquis, and has 
 boxes at the theatre, and wears a dragoon uniform (of some 
 imaginary regiment, I suppose), which is very favorable to 
 some prominent parts of his figure ; but that cruel cap spoils 
 all the upper regions. I am sorry to add that he does not 
 look well, and am informed that there are reasons for it, 
 which I am sensibly alive to the unpleasantness of, though 
 I thank heaven only from recollection. The place is full 
 of English officers, who come over by turns from the army, 1 
 and indulge their taste in wearing the most extraordinary 
 habiliments you can possibly conceive. But Lord Welling- 
 ton is by no means particular on this subject, and the con- 
 sequence is very entertaining, and, I must add, picturesque. 
 I met little Churchill, 2 who is very amusing, and would be 
 more so if he did not aim at too much singularity. The 
 appearance of this town presents a curious spectacle to those 
 who reflect that the enemy is so very near ; for the uncon- 
 
 1 Wellington had then left the lines of Torres Vedras, and had taken 
 up a position before Santarem, into which Massena had retreated. 
 
 2 Lord Francis Spencer, second son of the third Duke of Marlborough, 
 created Baron Churchill of "Wychwood Forest, Oxon., 1815.
 
 . ENGLISH SOCIETY IN PORTUGAL. 425 
 
 cerned manner in which the inhabitants pursue their occu- 
 pations or amusements give one very little idea of danger. 
 I don't believe this letter can go for a day or two, so I will 
 not put any military news till the last moment, or perhaps 
 none at all. We say we are to go to the army, because it 
 is the fashion, and one is ashamed to say otherwise ; but to 
 you I confess I feel very indifferent about this excursion. 
 I am surrounded by relations here, so that I might think 
 myself a great personage, if I had not so exalted an opinion 
 of myself as to be fully satisfied with my own connection, 
 without borrowing any light from neighbouring constella- 
 tions. My uncle is G t- Admiral of Portugal, 1 as well as 
 commander of the English navy here ; one of my cousins 
 commands the gunboats which are keeping the French from 
 crossing the Tagus at Villa Franca ; another cousin is a major 
 in General Leith's division ; that general himself married my 
 first cousin ; I have had two cousins wounded in the affair 
 of Buzaco ; Lord March 2 is admired for his zeal in staying 
 with the army ; and George Grenville 3 made a great noise by 
 setting sail from this place with the key of an opera-box 
 in his pocket. Who would not be proud of such a kindred ? 
 By the by, I forgot to mention the two Miss Berkeleys, 4 who 
 are reckon'd beauties. 
 
 The weather is charming, and I like the mode of living 
 very well, though it is more expensive than I could wish, 
 especially from the absolute necessity of keeping a carriage, 
 first on account of the distance at which my lodgings (and 
 
 1 The Honble. Sir George Cranfield Berkeley, G.C.B., Admiral of the 
 White. 
 
 2 Charles Gordon Lennox, aide-de-camp to Lord "Wellington, after- 
 wards fifth Duke of Richmond. 
 
 3 George Grenville, second son of the Marquis of Buckingham, after- 
 wards Lord Nugent. 
 
 4 Daughters of Sir George Berkeley. Georgiana married in 1811 
 Captain Seymour, R.N., nephew of the Marquess of Hertford; Mary 
 married in 1812 the Earl of Euston, afterwards Duke of Grafton.
 
 426 LISBON THE THEATRES. 
 
 HO T N 
 
 all fashionable ones) are placed from the shops and theatres, 
 which, without exaggeration, must at least be three miles ; 
 and secondly, by reason of the abominable mud which ever- 
 lastingly pervades the streets in the lower town, and renders 
 walking in silk stockings quite out of the question, notwith- 
 standing the usual dryness of the climate : so I am provided 
 with a machine which is very laughable to look at, but by 
 no means uneasy or uncomfortable to go in. Our Envoy, 
 Mr Stuart, is as civil as I can wish, and between his house 
 and my uncle's I never want for a dinner. "We live very 
 near the castle, in a house which is half occupied by Sir 
 Thomas Hardy, 1 his son-in-law, and captain. He gave up 
 the other half to me ; and by putting in a mat and a few 
 tables and chairs, we contrive to make a very liveable habita- 
 tion of it, as the rooms are good, facing the south, the view 
 is beautifull, and there are fireplaces in case they should 
 be wanted. 
 
 I find the natural beauties of this place much greater than 
 I expected, both inanimate and living. The opposite shore of 
 the Tagus is higher and bolder than I imagined ; and though 
 there perhaps is a want of wood, the outline is fine, and the 
 shades so strong in this atmosphere that the view is always 
 picturesque and lively to a degree, as the river is full of 
 shipping ready to carry off the runaways in case of defeat. 
 There are three theatres viz., opera, a Portuguese play, and 
 a Spanish one. The first is magnificent in point of shape 
 and size, but deficient as to performers, yet quite good enough 
 to afford much satisfaction. The second is very amusing, as 
 the actors are good, and the language so like Spanish that 
 it will soon be familiar to me, as far as the understanding 
 it goes, though the speaking is not so easy. As to society, I 
 am not yet able to give you much account of it the only 
 
 1 Sir Thomas Masterman Hardy, Bart., K.C.B. Nelson's Hardy was 
 created a baronet after the battle of Trafalgar, and married the eldest 
 Miss Berkeley in 1807.
 
 r 11 ] SIR GODFREY WEBSTER. 427 
 
 opportunity I have ever had of mixing with any of the 
 natives being at a ball given last Monday by our Envoy, 
 where there were two or three pretty women ; and in general 
 they are more civilised and better educated than the Spaniards, 
 as they mostly talk French or Italian and now English. 
 I must now dress for dinner, and shall leave this unsealed 
 till the time for sending it is at hand ; but in the meantime 
 desire you will believe me, yours most aff 1 ?-' 
 
 CAEOLUS HEX. 
 
 Friday Night, 2d Now. I am just returned from the opera, 
 where who should I see but the original Sir Goddy, 1 in a 
 scarlet coat, which is by no means so becoming as his light 
 dragoon jacket. He was more amiable (that is my present 
 word) and animated than ever I saw him, and invited us 
 to his quarters. This morning I was present at the embarka- 
 tion of a regiment of Portuguese cavalry, in whose colonel 
 I recognised a very old friend and acquaintance of mine, of 
 the name of Campbell, who is one of the most amiable per- 
 sons I know. He has crossed the Tagus, and will be followed 
 by some of our troops, as it is supposed the French will 
 try to occupy that side in which case there will probably 
 be some action. I have written volumes of letters, and 
 beg you will follow my example, and tell me all the news 
 you can collect. I sat to-night in the pit, and only think 
 of "Worcester coming all the way out of his own box to 
 take me back there; but he is very amiable, and begins 
 to pick up his good looks again. To-morrow I am going to 
 the Monastery of Belem, where I am to see I don't know 
 how many Kings and Queens of Portugal as entire as if they 
 were alive. "With all this fine sunshine I have contrived to 
 catch a cold, probably owing to being in a violent perspira- 
 tion, and standing in the cold wind afterwards. Adieu. 
 When you write you must direct at Admiral Berkeley's. 
 1 Sir Godfrey Webster.
 
 428 IMPEY'S POEMS. 
 
 E. B. IMPEY, Esq., to C. KIRKPATRICK SHARPE. 
 
 FLUSHING, Jany. 7, 1811. 
 
 MY DEAR SHARPE, The following is extracted from a poem, 
 which I do not copy entirely that I may save myself trouble, 
 and reserve for you the pleasure of perusing it in toto when 
 published, which it will shortly be, unless you and several 
 others of our friends are delineated, should object. They are 
 all under borrowed names, assumed from Horace. You may 
 esteem yourself lucky that you are so honourably mentioned, 
 and this may perchance induce you to let me put your name 
 in a note ; but this I do not insist on. So without more pre- 
 face I proceed, for I know that you are dying to read ; but I 
 protest you shall not till you turn the page. Nay, no peep- 
 ing ! I owe you a grudge for not writing to me, and delight 
 in the torture I am now inflicting. I repeat, you shall not 
 volti subito till you are told that I am deplorably ill. But 
 what care I for that ? say you ; I want the verses. My mother 
 is at No. 23 Baker St., where she will be glad to see you 
 pooh ! the verses and will give you a dinner the verses ! 
 will take you to the play, to the opera, the verses ! Nay, 
 she will give you a bed. But will she give me the verses ? 
 No, no, no ; but you may now turn the leaf, and you shall 
 see what you shall see, from yours affectionately, 
 
 E. B. IMPEY. 
 
 But say, what news from Titius ? Him shall Fame 
 
 Erelong illustrate by a brighter name : 
 
 Doth he attune with more than Pindar's fire 
 
 To Runic rhymes the Caledonian lyre 1 
 
 Or arm his heroes with dramatic rage 
 
 To fret and strut their hour upon the stage ? 
 
 He, like the Theban, venturous as wise, 
 
 From foggy lakes to healthier rivers flies, 
 
 Isis and Charwell in the poet's creed 
 
 Beyond Alpheus or the banks of Tweed ;
 
 u.'] IMPEY'S POEMS. 429 
 
 Not as the thriftless Patriarch, he leaves 
 The land of porridge for the land of beeves ; 
 Cuts e'en his bonnet to the Trencher's shape, 
 Postpones his plaid to sleeves of sable crape, 
 And with well-button'd plush consoles his legs 
 For cold uncomfortable fillibegs. 1 
 
 Give me an answer by return of post, for the press is 
 stopped, and we are all at sixes and sevens. I know not 
 where you are, but direct to Oxford, in hopes of this being 
 forwarded. Atterbury comes here after Christmas. I have 
 nothing to induce Titius to accompany him except a hearty 
 welcome and plenty of clouted cream and red mullets. Do 
 you know where Coneybeare is ? Old Cumberland volun- 
 teer'd to introduce my " Burletta " upon the stage ; but he is 
 a crafty Judas Iscariot. You will be surprised to recognise 
 many of our acquaintance in my little vol. Fynes is correct- 
 ing the sheets, but they get on only at a snail's gallop ; for 
 the printer is figuring away every night at " Harlequin Asmo- 
 deus," and Fynes supporting Perceval, who, by the bye, seems 
 to need more support than either our friend or his pupil 
 Gower are dispos'd to give him. All this time I keep cry- 
 ing verses, verses, verses ! and yet, between friends, my dear 
 Titius, I greatly fear, after all, they will come too soon. I 
 repeat again, and now you are more at leisure to sympathise 
 with me, that I am still very ill, and shall not be in town 
 till June at soonest ; so if you wish to see or hear of me, you 
 must either come or write, for I positively swear this is the 
 last scratch of my pen you shall see if you do not one or the 
 other. 
 
 1 These lines were published in 1811 in a small collection of Impey's 
 Poems (pp. 275), but with some slight alterations, under the title of " To 
 Julius Florus, in allusion to the Third Epistle of Horace." The verses 
 are given in full in a subsequent letter from Mr Impey.
 
 430 HON. KEPPEL CEAVEN. 
 
 The MARGKAVINE or ANSPACH to C. KIRKPATRICK SHARPE. 
 
 . . . London streets are full of new French faces, and 
 everything doing now, or to be done, is envelloped in mys- 
 tery ; and the rising sun is as little to be approachd as the 
 Dalai Lama, except by a few worthies. Everybody in London 
 complains of the dullness and lack of society, while the streets 
 are crowded with coaches. I advise you and Stapleton to 
 come to me, and see all this. My house is very warm, and I 
 am got so much better than I was that I want some sons 
 about me. 
 
 Black Jack, alias Miss Temple, wanted to borrow 500 
 of me. Lord Courtney was obliged to depart. 
 
 Lord Yarmouth is to have a divorce, I'm told, and only 
 waited for the old Duke's legacy s to begin, which old Duke, 
 I'm told, has left her eldest child, by a M. de Belsance, 50 
 thousand pounds, and that one she had of Junot at Paris as 
 much. The day before he died he wanted some papers to 
 look over, and upon the attendant's saying, " Your Grace shall 
 have them to-morrow," he s d>> " To-morrow I shall be with 
 the dev before to-morrow." I could tell you of Brighton 
 just such moral histories. I come here to my music and my 
 manuscripts as if I returned to heaven and peace, when I go 
 into the world. If I could have a few angels to enjoy this 
 paradise, I sh d - be quite content. I am to see Skeffington's 
 Magic Bride ; I suppose what it is. 
 
 You don't at all know how to manage my Traveller. 1 He 
 was very sick, billious, and enchanted by a spell when you 
 first knew him. You must let him alone, and be very fond 
 of me and my society ; for when he is bullied out of his senses 
 by the lies of some, and bewitched by the comicality of others, 
 his sense and principles and his taste only sleep, and when 
 they wake he says his mother is the Queen of Charms and 
 1 Honourable Keppel Craven.
 
 MR ' H IMPEY'S VERSES. 431 
 
 TOC. 
 
 everything that is delightfull, and he finds her the Dea Con- 
 solatrice. God grant I may see his health permit him to 
 return to all my education of him gave him. I know him ; 
 no one else does. Adieu, good Sharpe. Let me see you 
 soon. Yrs., E. 
 
 BRAN. HOUSE, Jan. 16. 
 
 E. B. IMPEY, Esq., to C. KIKKPATKICK SHAEPE. 
 
 FLUSHING, Jan. 17, 1811. 
 
 Soho ! Master Titius,'have I laid salt upon your tail at last, my 
 dear Tom Tit ? Nothing like the poetical lime-twig after all. 
 I warrant you, had it not been for that little virga divinitoria 
 you would never have answered my letter at all, or put it off 
 sine die, feigning yourself in Suffolk during the Christmas 
 holidays, or at least pleading an alibi from Ch. Ch. Mean- 
 time, you may not be aware that the bonsbons with which I 
 baited my trap resembled those of Tantalus more than you 
 could have assumed at the time. The fact is, the poem 
 whereof your panegyric forms a part was addressed to one 
 Floras, who was too squeamish to suffer himself to be pre- 
 sented to the public, even in masquerade which has obliged 
 me entirely to new-model my style which, indeed, till I 
 received a stimulus from you, I had actually thrown aside 
 in disgust. Now this same Florus is a dear friend of yours, so 
 I beg you not to mention the circumstance anywhere, lest it 
 reach his ears, for like a true Machiavel, I have convinced him 
 that I am not the least displeased with his rejection. How- 
 ever, if half the civil things you say be true, which you know 
 is allowing a very ample proportion in the scale of probabilities, 
 you will account yourself no loser, being substituted in the 
 vacancy, and having changed your name for a poetical estate 
 from Titius to Florus, which for the sake of euphony is some- 
 thing, tho' I fear it will go no way to remedy your pathetic
 
 432 IMPEY'S VERSES. r E - B - IMPEV>E8Q 
 
 1811. 
 
 complaint of poverty. The devil take Old Q., there/ore. 
 This, by the bye, reminds me that you may yourself incur 
 some danger by the mode of incantation which you resolve to 
 pursue in order to raise the spirit of that old curmudgeon. 
 Let me advise you rather to have recourse, like Saul, to some 
 good old staid matron for the purpose, than to venture upon 
 the leg of any plump wench whatsoever, lest (for you must 
 allow her attitude to be precarious) she fall, and bring you 
 and your ward into jeopardy, and the only Eunic rhymes 
 which you will be able to trace turn out to be " Hie jacet," 
 inscribed by that compressure on the tale of your Hotentot 
 enchantress ! Nay, my dear Sharpe, I am very ill, notwith- 
 standing all these forced spirits ! but enough of that. I have 
 scarce given myself room to criticise the two little poems you 
 have sent. So to mount the throne of Aristarchus at once, I 
 must pronounce that I think they have both their merit, but 
 not exempt from inaccuracy, tho' for that screener you may 
 set me down for a hypercritic. The first has all the 
 characteristic spirit as well as faults of its author ; of the 
 latter I cannot but specify the imperfection of rhyme in the 
 triplet closing with fellows, vallies, and shallows. If you 
 admit the legitimacy of these, never quarrel with me for 
 epistle and Grizzel. Again, Jaffa and Taffa, tho' good ryhme, 
 is deficient in association, which makes the passage a burlesque. 
 Miss Campbell's elegy reflects great credit on her pathetic muse, 
 but the last line of the 2d stanza is defective. I should read, 
 and I think (but am bold in suggesting it) with increased 
 pathos, " I never, never reach'd thy shore." To return to my 
 own poem, you must thank me for abridging your suspense 
 this time : you will find the whole transcribed on the reverse 
 of this page. I have been forced to alter it to disadvantage, 
 but have no time now to file it down to perfection. Do not 
 show it to a living soul, but tell me what you think of it in- 
 continently, or expect never to be pardoned by your affection- 
 ate friend, E. B. IMPEY.
 
 n.'] EPISTLE TO FLORUS. 433 
 
 EPISTLE TO JULIUS FLORUS, 
 
 IN ALLUSION TO THE THIRD OF HORACE. 
 
 Floras, I long, might I so far presume, 
 
 To learn the topicks of your common room. 
 
 Whether you follow Massena's retreat 
 
 O'er Lusitania's geographic sheet, 
 
 And trace victorious Wellington's campaigne 
 
 Back from Oporto to the bounds of Spain ; 
 
 Or, sailing o'er the Western Chart, survey 
 
 The range of Britain's Transatlantic sway, 
 
 And touch at Bourbon's island in your way 
 
 Fain would I know what deeds awake to song 
 
 In Wolsey's learned bower the tuneful throng : 
 
 Which of your bards records in epic strain 
 
 Our reverend monarch's memorable reign, 
 
 A reign of jubilee ? Just Heav'n extend 
 
 The threaten'd term ! Our King, our sire defend ! 
 
 We kiss the sceptre, which our foes hath awed ; 
 
 At home an olive rod, a thunderbolt abroad. 
 
 But say what news of Celsus ? Him shall fame 
 
 Ere long illustrate by a brighter name, 
 
 A genius cast in nature's fairest mould, 
 
 Perception quick, imagination bold, 
 
 A tast correct, of wit a sparkling vein, 
 
 A memory deep, and constant to retain, 
 
 But ah ! a thankless recreant to the Nine, 
 
 He woos no muse, or casts his pearls to swine. 
 
 Yet greet him fair ; and warn him o'er and o'er, 
 
 As I have oft admonish'd him before, 
 
 From Bodley's dross and rubble l to refrain, 
 
 And coin to cash his own prolific brain, 
 
 Lest at some luckless hour there flock together 
 
 Birds of all flights of every note and feather, 
 
 Monk, minstrel, scald, provengals, troubadours, 
 
 Who, pecking out his borrow'd plumes by scores, 
 
 Shall leave him bare, and in as raw a state 
 
 As any fresh-pluck'd undergraduate. 
 
 Not least, though latest, let me next enquire 
 
 What themes thy pencil or thy pen aspire ? 
 
 For both, tho' rivals in the mimic art, 
 
 Content the helm of victory to part, 
 
 1 See post, p. 437. 
 VOL. I. 2 E
 
 434 EPISTLE TO FLORUS. [^o 
 
 Like sister bees around the Muses' bower 
 Together toil, and rifle every flower. 
 Say, dost thou tune with more than Pindar's fire 
 To Runic rhymes the Caledonian lyre ? 
 Or arm your heroes with dramatic rage, 
 To fret and strut their hour upon the stage ? 
 Bold as the Theban, but more wise, you spurn 
 The foggy lakes ; yet not fastidious turn 
 From healthier rivers, at whose social brink 
 Saxons and Northern Picts united drink. 
 Hail to the bard in whose poetic creed 
 Isis' and Cherwell's classic banks exceed 
 Pindar's Alpheus, Scot's enchanting Tweed. 
 Not like the thriftless patriarch, he leaves 
 The land of porridge for the land of beeves ; 
 Oatcakes for Commons, plaid for sable crape : 
 His very bonnet takes a trencher's shape ; 
 Well-breech'd and button'd close from hip to leg ; 
 " A fig," quoth he, " for pouch and fillibeg ! " 
 
 Enough, enough ! however prone to blend 
 
 Satyr with mirth, I mean not to offend : 
 You know my heart : if I have err'd in aught, 
 Forgive the trespass give it not a thought. 
 But come, for come you must, tho' plac'd as wide 
 As Thule's cliffs from Fal's deserted tide, 
 "Where now, alas ! no packets put to sea, 
 But howl like Tyrians at the tradeless quay. 
 Yes come you must : the fatted calf I'll kill 
 To feast my prodigal, come when you will. 
 
 Adieu ! I have writ till I am weary. In return do write 
 and say you are charmed : you can do no less in conscience. 
 Shall I send them as they are, or would you suggest any 
 alteration ? 
 
 I don't mean to insist upon it, but should you object to the 
 title running thus " To Charles Kirkpatrick Sharpe, Esq., 
 in allusion, &c., &c." ? 
 
 If you have heard any particulars of a certain Cateby lately 
 surprised in flagrante delicto, prythee impart.
 
 MONUMENTAL INSCRIPTION. 435 
 
 E. B. IMPEY, Esq., to C. KIRKPATRICK SHARPE. 
 
 FLUSHING, Febry. 4, 1811. 
 
 MY DEAR SHARPE, Though I cannot but admire your im- 
 pudence, after a silence of preposterous length, in desiring 
 an answer from me from return of post, yet that I may 
 evince a truly Christian spirit of forbearance, I do hereby 
 most steadfastly, purpose to comply with your injunction, in- 
 asmuch as I am competent to the task. And premising only 
 how much flattered I am by your preference of my Latinity 
 over that of many more able professors so much nearer at 
 hand, I shall proceed to put you in possession of the following 
 production, written as it ought to be engraved if engraved 
 it is to be in the capital Eoman character, with a period after 
 every word, and in detached paragraphs : 
 
 EPITAPHIA QU^EDAM 
 
 A TRIBUS VETUSTIS MARMORIBUS 
 
 DOMO OCHTERTYRIAN.E PERTINENTIBUS 
 
 AD FIDEM ARCHETYPORUM 
 
 ANNO MDCCIV FACTORUM 
 
 RECENSITA 
 
 NUNC TEMPORIS 
 
 SEPULCHRI HUIUSCE QUOD SPECTAS LATERI 
 
 AFFIXA 
 
 ANNO ' AUTEM MDCCCIV 
 
 A PARIETIBUS ECCLESLE MONZIEVAIRDIAN^E 
 
 QILE EODEM SITU STABAT 
 
 HUG ASPORTATA 
 
 A D MDCCCXI i 
 
 To save you the trouble of retranscribing the above, I will 
 leave a blank on the reverse, that you may cut it out like a 
 paragraph from the newspaper. To proceed meantime to 
 more interesting topicks, I have read your ode with the 
 
 1 The inscription, which was evidently intended for the monumental 
 aisle at Ochtertyre, near Crieff, does not appear to have been ever actu- 
 ally placed in situ; there are no traces of it now to be discovered there.
 
 436 CRITICISMS ATTERBURY. [ro*. 1 '^]!.' 
 
 greatest satisfaction, and pronounce your claim to the poetic 
 mantle of Pindar to be now substantiated beyond competition; 
 or, to speak less hyperbolically, I really think it a master- 
 piece in its kind, and the vehicle of genuine humour. I might 
 perhaps be better able to decide upon its characteristic merits 
 were I acquainted with the hero, whom, by a well-known 
 rhetorical figure taking the part for the whole, you have thus 
 immortalised. The plot and conduct of the poem are as in- 
 genious as they are strictly classical, and vie with the best 
 inventions of heathen mythology. Your Nose 1 is a perfect 
 male Pandora, and in its origin far surpasses the pedigree of 
 Orion. I wonder, however, as an Oxford poet, you refrain 
 from making honourable mention of " The well-hung emblem 
 of our Student's Parts " at Brazenose ; or as a musician and a 
 lover of Hogarth, of that never-dying proboscis, which, both 
 in his engravings and in the tradition of the playhouses, has so 
 long survived its musical proprietor. Should you ever re- 
 touch this inimitable portrait, perhaps you may be inclined to 
 substitute in the place of your nautical allusion to the Bow- 
 sprit, the Gib-boom, which I have heard my brother the sea- 
 man technically apply to more than one projecting feature 
 of human anatomy. Before I close, I shall give you your 
 revenge in poetry, but in the interim shall report in vulgar 
 prose the accident which befell my visitor Atterbury on the 
 night of his arrival here ; which was no less than a fall of 
 sixteen feet and you know he hath an alacrity in sinking 
 from the quay of Falmouth harbour, upon a rocky beach. 
 However, he received no greater injury than a bad sprain, 
 and some less considerable contusions, of which he is rapidly 
 recovering. He desires me to commission you to dispatch 
 hither, without loss of time, all the arrears of his Irish news- 
 papers, by application to Green, and to remonstrate with him 
 for not having sooner sent them. You are also charged by him 
 with a message to James, the student, to whom he wishes to 
 write a most circumstantial detail of the affair of Austin, who, 
 1 See post, p. 439.
 
 *T?l5t] VERSICLES. 437 
 
 forsooth, seems little to deserve so sanctified a name. You 
 must also remember me to James, and acquaint him of my 
 having enquired for him at Worcester some months ago. You 
 have been so tardy in reply to my last letter, that the poem 
 concerning which you say so many flattering things has been 
 long sent to press without having profited by your criticisms, 
 one of which -for the best reason, because it accords with 
 my own judgment I should have availed myself of as for 
 "rubble." I hold it to be "a word of exceeding good com- 
 mand, and I will maintain it with my sword " albeit it be 
 not to be found in Johnson. It is technically used in the 
 mines and smelting-houses to designate the dross and scorea 
 of metals ; and if you refer to my metaphor, you will find it 
 is used in that sense. But do you know who Celsus is ? 
 Eiddle me that. By the way, let me repair an omission in 
 my last : it slipt my memory to set you right in an error under 
 which you grievously labour, by imagining that I have ad- 
 dressed any panegyric to Boreas, unless you can so interpret 
 the following lines : 
 
 " Now I like any cricket sing ; 
 And you can dance like anything. 
 Bravo, dear Dick ! But should we spout, 
 Jack Fuller beats us out and out." 
 
 Time will show the rest. Meanwhile, if you do not incon- 
 tinently thank me nay, most egregiously flatter me for the 
 following travestie of the lines by Walter Scott which you 
 lately sent, I vow you shall be struck out of my correspond- 
 ence forthwith. So lay this to thy heart, and farewell! 
 Yours affectionately, E. B. IMPEY. 
 
 To CHARLES KIRK.PATRICK SHARPE, Esq. 
 
 Charly, sprung from old Kirkpatrick, 
 More renown'd than Bard of Etrick ; 
 Charly, King of Song and Sonnet, ^ 
 Fair betide thy Border bonnet, 
 Pouch, and plaid the Dee'l may don it J 
 Plaid and tartan, plume of feather 
 Flitting in the stormy weather
 
 438 VERSICLES INNUENDOES. Vo^C Su! 
 
 To and fro athwart they caxon, 
 Just as Doctor William Jackson 
 Lightly flits across the casement, 
 To Lord Stafford's great amazement. 
 May he hover still about thee, 
 Often feast thee, never flout thee ; 
 Wolsey's Canons banquet rarely, 
 Worthy such a guest as Charly. 
 
 P.S. On revising the first part of your epistle which I 
 had hastily laid aside sans aprofondir I discover much which 
 I cannot for the life of me comprehend. There are hints of 
 words uttered by drunkards, and certain cautions given, of 
 which I am desired to avail myself ; and Mithridates and coun- 
 ter-poisons, and enchanters, of which I am put upon my guard. 
 I do most earnestly beseech you, my dear Sharpe, to be more 
 explicit. If there is any secret w r ortli knowing, you may con- 
 fidently divulge it to me, who am unconscious of ever having 
 betrayed a friendship such as I have long seriously professed 
 for you both before your face and behind your back. Your 
 silence, and even inuendos, on this subject, do worse than 
 defeat the purposes of caution. I seriously entreat you to 
 let me know without any reserve what it is you would imply, 
 whether relating to myself or you, or both. As for Atterbury 
 for I suspect him to be the Mithridates we all know his 
 eccentricities, and think, act, and speak accordingly. But 
 he always has to me professed a great liking for you. In 
 short, I am puzzled to death. Write directly. 
 
 You must be convinced of my being the last person to 
 betray your confidence. 
 
 Earl GOWER to C. KIRKPATRICK SHARPE. 
 
 LONDON, Feby. 14, 1811. 
 
 DEAR SHARPE, It is so long since I have written to you or 
 heard from you, that I begin to believe you are determined
 
 E c AH K. s ( w iTii T . ] LORD POWERSCOURT'S NOSE. 439 
 
 not to write to me till you hear from me. If that be the case, 
 you may now write, as you have no longer the excuse of my 
 silence to plead. Is it true that you have it in contemplation 
 to go to the fair country ? 
 
 " Dove la selva Caledonia appace ; 
 Che spesso fra gli antichi ombrosi cerri, 
 G6de sonar di bellicosi ferri." 
 
 I do not believe it is, as Conybeare, whom I met at a book- 
 seller's, told me that he could accomodate you with a lodging 
 in Ch. Ch., an invitation which you will probably not be 
 able to refuse accepting. 
 
 Lord Powerscourt's nose l has been very fortunate in falling 
 into the hands of your muse, but will not do for the public, 
 whom you ought to favor with some composition either 
 original, or illustrated with notes and observations. 
 
 I have no scandal to recount to you. House of Commons 
 business you do not wish to hear. The news about the 
 Isle de France you have heard, so that I can be of no use. 
 
 G. 
 
 Earl GOWER to C. KIRKPATRICK SHARPE. 
 
 LONDON, Feby. 22, 1811. 
 
 DEAK SHARPE, Have you gone to Scotland, or fallen in 
 love with Miss Burton, or thrown yourself into the Thames or 
 into the fire, or been kidnapped, or transported, or pressed, or 
 what ? Have you met a headache, toothache, earache, rhu- 
 matism, &c., as to have made it impossible to write ? or is 
 there such a scarcity at Oxford of pen, or paper, or ink, that 
 you can obtain none of these articles ? or do you suppose 
 yourself so dry, so stupid, or what you please, that you have 
 nothing to say ? If none of these be the reason for your 
 silence, what is ? Yours truly, G. 
 
 1 See ante, p. 436.
 
 440 MRS DU DEFFAND'S LETTERS. 
 
 The MARGRAVINE OF ANSPACH to C. KIRKPATEICK SHARPE. 
 
 You see by the length of the paper I begin upon that I 
 mean to write a long answer to your very entertaining 
 epistle. The first subject I shall treat of is your injustice to 
 Keppel. Don't believe he forgets or neglects you. He has 
 taken up, like his friend Gell, to behave the same to everybody 
 that is, write to new acquaintances as well as old, which no 
 one has time to do. Interrupted there by two letters from 
 him. He returns the middle or end of this month, which 
 frightens me to death. It seems Lord Worcester came with 
 these letters. Jack and Lady Honeywood have taken a house 
 for five months in Hanover Street, Hanover Square, so I make 
 no doubt that there was much trouble there. Your account 
 of Stapleton agrees with the idea I had formed of him. I 
 remember his sitting mumchance one day here, when every- 
 body was so pleasant that the part of Dumby showed either 
 a want of head or heart. I think you'll hear instead of read 
 of another Irish rebellion if the Eegent does not do something 
 to quiet the Irish. Oh what a volume I have to tell you 
 about that and other things ! There is no such thing as 
 getting a box at the plays or opera without a fortnight's 
 notice. London is fuller than ever, and I'm told duller. 
 The Berrys' letters of Mrs du Deffand is a great catchpenny. 
 The notes which give information relative to the French 
 families and people are most of them false. Nothing can be 
 so absurd as an English preface, too, to a French book. I 
 shall give you when you come what I have written on it. 
 
 Pray what do you think of the Marquis of Buckingham ? 
 Lord Temple being quite angry that my niece will marry 
 Wardour Castle. In truth they say he is poor. I hear my 
 sister says it is a great honour for Mary ; so there is one per- 
 son in the family with common-sense. 1 
 
 1 Mary, daughter of first Marquis of Buckingham, married 1811 
 James Everard, tenth Lord Arundell of Wardour.
 
 ] "THE EDITED LETTERS." 441 
 
 Pray let me see you soon. Since I began this I have 
 letters from Keppel, at which I know not if I am to laugh or 
 cry. He returns the middle or end of this month. Will the 
 month of March not undo all the Lisbon climate has done ? 
 Adieu. Believe me yours sincerely, ELIZABTEH. 
 
 BRAND. HOUSE, Wednesday, 13 of March 1811. 
 
 C. KIRKPATRICK SHAKPE to Lady CHARLOTTE CAMPBELL.! 
 
 CHRIST CHURCH, OXFORD, 15th March 1811. 
 
 DEAR LORD , It vexes me extremely to think that I 
 
 must have appeared so ungrateful to your lordship (provided 
 that you did me the honour to remember that there was such 
 a person in existence) by not sooner performing my promise 
 respecting the drawing which you were so good as to desire, 
 
 and my gleanings which regard the family of ; but the 
 
 truth is, that what with bad eyes, indifferent health, and a 
 perpetual motion from one set of lodgings to another, I have 
 scarcely been able to wield a pen or open a book since I left 
 London. Even now, my eyes feel as those of Juno's cow-boy 
 must have done, when fixed upon her peacock's tail ; and my 
 eyelids resemble in comfort a couple of hedgehog-skins in- 
 verted. Your lordship must have seen a pair of dice in 
 red leather dice-boxes my optics exhibit exactly such a 
 spectacle : then my head aches as if I were with child of 
 Minerva every other day, though, alas I there is but little 
 of the goddess in that quarter. When I last arrived in 
 Oxford, I found that my rooms had been demolished in 
 my absence, and discovered all my articles of furniture and 
 
 1 From letters printed in ' Diary of the Times of George IV.' These 
 letters drew forth a serious remonstrance from Mr Sharpe, who asserted 
 that they had been tampered with, as is evident from the very first 
 words in this letter must have been the case ; but at the same time 
 they unquestionably contain so much actually written by him as to 
 make them of use in elucidating the genuine letters.
 
 T0 LADY C - 
 LCAMPBELL, 1811. 
 
 study in the most chaotic confusion: so I looked out for a 
 new abode, carrying, with much pain and labour, my debris 
 about with me. But here, the sitting-room was too small- 
 there, too large ; in this place, the chimney smoked in that, 
 the housemaid was slovenly and the cat in love. I could 
 settle with comfort nowhere. My luggage, however, like 
 ^sop's basket, became lighter by degrees, as I left half-a- 
 dozen things behind me at every lodging which I relin- 
 quished, and I never could hear tidings of them after. In 
 fine, I am at last fixed laid by for a while, like a poor slip- 
 per that hath been hunted through many unseemly places. I 
 now send you the first-fruits of my repose a representation 
 of Titania, with that little boy in her arms, concerning whom 
 she hath a feud with her spouse in the " Midsummer Night's 
 Dream." It is a wretched performance, but the best that my 
 slender capacity can furnish ; therefore I beseech you to cast 
 an eye of compassion on its beastliness. 
 
 Talking of books, we have lately had a literary Sun shine 
 forth upon us here, before whom our former luminaries must 
 hide their diminished heads a Mr Shelley, of University 
 College, who lives upon arsenic, aquafortis, half-an-hour's 
 sleep in the night, and is desperately in love with the 
 memory of Margaret Nicholson. He hath published what 
 he terms the Posthumous Poems, printed for the benefit 
 of Mr Peter Finnerty, which, I am grieved to say, though 
 stuffed full of treason, is extremely dull ; but the author is a 
 great genius, and if he be not clapped up in Bedlam or hanged, 
 will certainly prove one of the sweetest swans on the tuneful 
 margin of the Charwell. Our College of Christ Church is so 
 full of noblemen at present, that one's eyes require green 
 spectacles to preserve them from the glare of the golden tufts 
 among these peers. The Dukes of Leinster and Dorset are 
 pre-eminent, and both very good men, though the one will 
 never head an Irish rebellion, nor the other write a poem
 
 i.] DUKES OF LEINSTER AND DORSET. 443 
 
 quite so pretty as "To all you ladies now on land." The 
 Irish Duke is much cried up for his beauty, but he does not 
 strike me as being remarkably handsome, because his nose is 
 fashioned like a monkey, and he hath got what in Ireland is 
 called " clober heels." As to Dorset, he is exactly like a sick 
 canary bird in a hard frost; all the milliners in the place 
 admire Lord Herbert, while the wives of the Dean and 
 Canons affect to admire Lord Apsley, he is so monstrous 
 genteel and sickly. Shelley's style is much like that of 
 Moore burlesqued ; for Frank is a very foul-mouthed fellow, 
 and Charlotte, one of the most impudent brides that I ever 
 met with in a book. Our Apollo next came out with a prose 
 pamphlet in praise of atheism, which I have not as yet seen, 
 and there appeared a monstrous romance in one volume, called 
 St Ircoyne, or the Eosicrucian. Here is another pearl of 
 price ! all the heroes are confirmed robbers and causeless 
 murderers, while the heroines glide en chemise through the 
 streets of Geneva, tap at the palazzo doors of their sweet- 
 hearts, and on being denied admittance leave no cards, but 
 run home to their warm beds, and kill themselves. If your 
 lordship would like to see this treasure I will send it. 
 Shelley's last exhibition is a poem on the State of Public 
 Affairs. I fear, my dear lord, you will be quite disgusted 
 with all this stuff, so I shall discreetly make an end, re- 
 questing you to believe me your lordship's faithful servant, 
 
 C. E. 
 
 Lady CHARLOTTE MARIA CAMPBELL to C. KIRKPATRICK 
 SHARPE. 
 
 No. 2 LOWER CADOGAN PLACE, 
 Sunday, 17th March 1811. 
 
 Your letter, dear Mr Sharpe, has but one fault it is too 
 short ; and a fair damsel to whom I read it, exclaimed, " I
 
 444 DRAWINGS SOCIAL GRUMBLINGS. [" *' s in 
 
 wish it had been a mile longer ! " A mile ! pray think of the 
 force of the expression. I would not exchange it for any 
 other, however it might be more appropriate, because it could 
 not be half so flattering. 
 
 As to the " beastliness " of your drawing, I really cannot 
 discover it. It is true there are beasties in it, but your 
 leasties are all beauties, and I would not barter them for 
 Venus's. Then your beauties, tho' I confess them to be more 
 terrestrial than celestial goddess's, are still goddess's ; and so 
 how can I excuse a fault I cannot discover ? 
 
 Without further words, I admire your drawing, and value 
 it, and am much obliged to you for the trouble you have taken 
 in executing it for me. 
 
 The extracts, also, about my ancestors, not to mention the 
 compliment par bricole to myself, are all safely received, 
 duely valued, and, I hope, properly acknowledged. 
 
 I am glad you are at last, after all your comical distresses, 
 settled in a lodging you like, and that allows you time, space, 
 and inclination to employ your talents so much to the satis- 
 faction of your friends and acquaintance. Pray go on and 
 prosper, but do not grow so fond of your Accademick shades 
 as to forget entirely the sunshine of dissipation, and the 
 d ble delights of London. 
 
 I go about like other fools in quest of pleasure, and I 
 generally find ennui. When by any accident I stay at home, I 
 am sometimes agreeably surprised by a visit from pleasure. 
 One assembly is so like another, everybody so dress'd out in 
 their company face, so tired of themselves and of their 
 pursuits, so dully gay and so gaily dull, it would really 
 require somewhat of your genius to make any attempt at 
 describing them the least entertaining. 
 
 Your description of the rising generation does not hold out 
 any fairer prospect for some time to come. However, after all 
 this grumbling against men, women, and children, I think 
 there are a few elect who make the world very endurable, and
 
 LA TOc C :K: 8 C ti8 P n ELL ] SHELLEY" MITHRIDATES." 445 
 
 I have no wish to try another, tho' I have indulged my spleen 
 against the present one. You will gather from my wise com- 
 ments that I have not been much amused lately, and will 
 reasonably refer it to my want of being amusing, of which 
 THIS SAME, as we say, is no feeble proof. 
 
 As to your Satanic genius, vulgarly yclept Mr Shelley, as 
 all my sex, since the days of Eve, have had something to do 
 with the Evil Spirit, I confess your account of him inclines 
 me to accept your offer, and I shall like to have a peep into 
 the infernal regions of his imagination. In short, this letter 
 means to say : " Thank ye for my dinner, dawty ; what'll ye 
 gie me to my supper ? " 
 
 After this confession, I have nothing more to say than that 
 I am, with regard, your obliged and diverted 
 
 CHARLOTTE MARIA CAMPBELL. 
 
 E. B. IMPEY, Esq., to C. KIRKPATRICK SHARPE. 
 
 FLUSHING, Mar. 18, 1811. 
 
 MY DEAR SHARPE, A relapse of more than ordinary length 
 and severity has lately excited all the amiable aigreur of my 
 disposition, which, be assured, has been vented in no small 
 portions upon all my correspondents who, like yourself, have 
 neglected by well-timed preventatives to flee from the wrath 
 to come. This propensity has also been not a little aggra- 
 vated by my impatience at the long-protracted visit of 
 Mithridates, 1 whom I have long ago wished at Pontus, or 
 anywhere else. It requires all the charms of a well-regulated 
 conversation, and all the attractive sympathies of kindred 
 fellowship, to amuse, conciliate, and diversify the monotony 
 of a tte-a-t$te than which no purgatory can be more in- 
 sufferable when its chief characteristics are the very reverse 
 of these requisites. In short, you know, my dear Floras, 
 that to one whose taste has not been formed in the rhetorical 
 
 1 Atterbury.
 
 446 WILLIAM JACKSON MISS BURTON. [. 
 
 school of Billingsgate, and whose religious tenets are not 
 quite modell'd pace tua, dixerim upon the paradoxies of 
 Scottish philosophy, the jargon of either is apt to be attended 
 with nausea. " Somewhat too much of this ! " Your anecdote 
 of the late aquatic catastrophe was very diverting, but would 
 have sounded better in verse, and might have furnished a 
 vehicle for innumerable pleasantries quite in your own style ; 
 or had you deigned to make it the subject of your pencil, 
 how admirable a pendant would it have afforded to your 
 Ulysses and Nausicaa in the collection of the Rev. Dr William 
 Jackson ! By the by, was it not unlucky that this modern 
 navigator did not imitate the caution of his prototype by 
 stuffing cotton in his ears against the allurements of those 
 fatal Syrens ? At any rate, he needed not to have reversed the 
 expedient of the ancient hero by fastening, not himself, but 
 the ladies, to his Mast. It is well for Miss Hands 1 that she 
 has little to regret from the faillure of her patrimony, having 
 by a long apprenticeship secured the comfortable alternative 
 of becoming a Fisher of Men a most apostolic function 
 truly ! As for the literary meteor who is now performing 
 his perielion in your learned hemisphere, I have nothing to 
 do but hide my diminished beams, and congratulate myself 
 on being beyond the scope of his fiery tail, which he seems 
 to whisk about with such wonderful volubility that I would 
 have Miss Burton beware of the laws of gravitation, and 
 vigilantly guard her centre of attraction. All this naturally 
 leads me, alas ! by no force of analogy, to the consideration 
 of my own paltry scintillations. You are not, surely, to be 
 told for the first time that my Poems are in circulation. A 
 copy of them has been sent me and such a copy ! In the 
 first place, it comprises no more than two-thirds of the MS., 
 
 1 " Dolly Hands, an Oxford Thais, whose finest dress was a red cotton 
 gown. She once said to a friend of mine, speaking of another collegian, 
 now a bishop : ' He's a rude, ill-bred fellow, sir ; when he left he never 
 Baid good-bye, nor d your eyes, nor nothing.'" Note by C. K. S.
 
 E. B. IMPEY, ESQ.; 
 
 Toc.K.8.,mt'] IMPEY'S POEMS. 447 
 
 the publisher having freely taken advantage of my absence 
 to exclude all the Latin poems, and some of the English, a 
 circumstance at which I am the more mortified, as it debars 
 me from the satisfaction of offering many a friendly tribute, 
 exclusive of every motive of vanity in itself a powerful 
 stimulus, as you well know, to the poetic breast. Then there 
 is an abundance of typographical errors, many of them such 
 as will inevitably be referred to the author by all candid 
 critics, should they condescend to make me the object of 
 their strictures. It is some consolation to find that my 
 epistle to Florus is not, as I had apprehended, omitted ; for 
 you would never have credited my affidavit against its being 
 done contrary to my will, had that been the case. " I know 
 you, Mrs Dorothy." It is also tolerably printed; and I 
 seriously expect that, if ever you should 
 
 " New- trick your beams, and with fresh-spangled ore 
 Blaze in the forehead of the morning sky," 
 
 you will deign to cast a ray upon your humble satellite. 
 Meantime, tell me what you think, and what the world says, 
 be it however ill-natured, of my productions. It is now high 
 time to condole with you about your eyes, which in your 
 description you have turned into such basilisks that my own 
 were nearly extinguished by the mere force of sympathy. 
 What stuff do you talk about revisiting Scotland ! If you 
 seriously intend to bury yourself there, you shall not wait 
 until your natural decease for my epitaph, but die in metaphor 
 like Witling, and be celebrated as a felo-de-se. I am flattered 
 by Sir Peter Murray's 1 acceptance of my inscription, and could 
 wish that it better deserved your panegyric. This reminds 
 me to inquire whether our dear punctual friend Conybeare 
 has yet put up the tablet to poor Mackenzie ? I think I told 
 you that the epitaph is an unworthy tribute from my pen. 
 This letter, which has been resumed & plusieures reprises, I 
 
 1 Of Ochtertyre, see ante, p. 435.
 
 448 BURDETT AND HORNE TOOKE. RooStJiEt' 
 
 must now close, in consequence of a nervous irritability 
 which always attends my writing what Sir John Falstaff 
 would call " a whoreson tingling." To-morrow I shall tran- 
 scribe what you will see and admire on the opposite page. 
 Adieu. Pray write more frequently, and do not scruple to 
 revenge yourself heartily upon me for the metrical dose you 
 are about to swallow. Yours, E. B. IMPEY. 
 
 AN ODE ADDRESSED BY SIR F. BURDETT, BART., 
 TO JOHN HORNE TOOKE, ESQ* E - 
 
 Ille dies utramque, 
 Ducet ruinam : non ego perfidum 
 Dixi sacrameutum. Ibimus, ibimus, 
 Utcunque prsecedes, supremum 
 
 Carpere iter comites parati. HOR. Ode xvii. lib. 2. 
 
 I. V. 
 
 Ah ! why these plaints, that downcast Tho' Justice votes me to the Tower, 
 
 look ? At least I may dispute her power 
 For pity's sake forbear, dear Tooke, To snatch me from Perdition. 
 
 To rack my harrass'd mind : Oh ! 'twould our dearest plots defeat 
 
 The Gods themselves as well as I Were we to part no more to meet : 
 
 And my constituents cry " Fye ! " Better at once give up my seat ; 
 Take courage, man ! What ! would you Let Perceval petition 
 
 die 
 And leave your Friend behind ? 
 
 To issue out another Writ. 
 
 n - I rather would like Theseus sit, 
 
 Can I survive my better-half, Thau mute for want of cramming. 
 
 My Tutor, Prompter, Prop, and staff? Defer your Dissolution ; wait 
 
 No ! I have said and sworn Till Parliament dissolve : of late 
 
 We ne'er should part ; and since I'm loth I take the lead in no debate, 
 To violate my solemn oath, While you lie sick or shamming. 
 
 Let's each take hands and journey both 
 Together, dear John Home. 
 
 One planet ruled when we were born ; 
 
 ra - My Cancer and your Capricorn 
 Together to the shades we'll go, Just tally to a shaving : 
 
 And hold our Dialogues below, Jove's belt, at odds with Saturn's ring, 
 
 As we were wont at Purley. Strove which a certain neck should 
 In Pluto's press there needs no trick, string ; 
 
 Italick, blank, or asterick ; But you in neither chose to swing, 
 No Printer's Devil there shall kick, And set the Bench a-raving. 
 
 Nor Editor look surly. 
 
 VIII. 
 
 IV - From me alike my horoscope 
 
 Our bond of Union to unty (Allowance made for steel and rope, 
 Both men and demons I defy, Heroic nape and gullet) 
 
 Tho' leagued to haunt and bate us ; Arrests the threat'ning axe ; the ball 
 
 The Speaker's warrant, Serjeant's mace, Averted glances, lest I fall 
 
 The Sheriff's grim Gorgonian face, Inglorious by the hand of Paul, 
 
 And Posse comitatus. Tho' scored by his curst bullet.
 
 V5lSt] ODE TO HORNE TOOKE. 449 
 
 IX. X. 
 
 Some Faun, no doubt, a stickler warm And you, my friend, more quartos fill'd 
 
 For us the patrons of Reform, With ' ' wiuged words," shall live to build 
 
 Was lounging in the Park : New systems, and "Diversions." 
 
 But be that matter as it may, Victims by hecatombs shall hang, 
 
 I live to fight another day, While you invent, and I harrangue ; 
 
 With Canning or with Castlereagh, Like lambs to bleed I'll train the gang 
 
 As brisk as any lark. In my Tower-hill excursions. 
 
 I believe I forgot ever to tell you and what puts it into 
 my head now I can't imagine that in passing thro' Exeter 
 in the winter I called on an artist whose name is Leakey, and 
 who designed the miniature which you saw of me at my 
 mother's. Among his collection I was struck by a beautiful 
 portrait of poor Mrs Trevelyan, finished in his best and most 
 delicate style. Have you ever seen it ? I think it was for 
 Mrs Sharpe. In my mind it is a work that would put many 
 a London artist to the blush, and I call Hannibal to witness 
 for the solidity of my judgment. I have nought to add except 
 that I had a letter from King Cofetua a few days since. His 
 Majesty hath from his high imperial loins begotten an heir- 
 apparent, Eichard Greasley hight. Once more, Addio. 
 
 The MARGRAVINE OF ANSPACH to C. KIRKPATRICK SHARPE. 
 
 I thank you for your visit to Benhani, and I will still hope 
 to see you here. I wish you'd learn to keep my hours, and 
 then you would be as well able to bear storms and tempests 
 as I am. The Duke of Clarence wants to marry the gentle, 
 elegant, and truth -telling widow yclepd the Countess of 
 Berkeley. The whole world is gone mad ; and I have more 
 reason than ever in congratulating the Margravine of Anspach, 
 your friend and admirer, that she had a governess who formed 
 her mind of peacefull and humble materials, for I think vir- 
 tues are corks that make one swim while others sink. Now 
 I must intreat you to order Lord Worcester never to express 
 any admiration of her to any female. If he conceives that 
 
 VOL. i. 2 F
 
 450 CHICKEN-SOUP FROM RABBIT. [ 
 
 ", 
 
 idea of her which your partiality more than her merit may 
 encourage, let it lie, like a violet in the shade, to be of any 
 use to him in the future. 
 
 I send you a receipt to make chicken-soup with rabbit : 
 Take two rabbits, one old and one young, if you can contrive 
 it ; roast the young one, cut the old one in pieces, and take 
 out entrails, the tail, and rump-bone, and fling them away ; 
 and after washing the remainder in fresh water, cutting it in 
 pieces, put it into two quarts of water in an earthen or stone 
 jug, with a little salt, and place it near the fire, with a close 
 cover on, and let it boil till the liquor is reduced to one quart 
 or 3 pints, according to 4 or 5 people who are to feast on 
 it; take the roasted rabbit and fling away his entrails. 
 crupper, and tail, and pound the rest in a mortar, with the 
 yolk of one egg boil'd hard, the stale crumbs of half a roll, 
 a little pepper, 3 sprigs of parsley, one small onion, 2 sprigs 
 of common thyme, a carrot, and a spoonful of cream ; pound 
 and mix bones and all ; then strain off the boil'd liquor into 
 a saucepan, and put to that your pounded rabbit; put the 
 saucepan over the fire, and mix with a wooden spoon till it 
 has had one boil or 2 ; then strain that into the terrine. Two 
 rabbits do for 4 or 5 people, and four for 8 or 10. I need not 
 add that the cook must taste if 'tis salt enough, and great care 
 that not too much pepper is put to it. 
 
 Addio, Illustrissimo Doctoribus ! ELIZABETH. 
 
 Sunday, 2 May 1811. 
 
 Lady CHARLOTTE MARIA CAMPBELL 1 to C. KIRKPATRICK 
 
 SHARPE. 
 
 WORTHING, BEDFORD Row, \btfi July 1811. 
 DEAR SIR, I shall begin with true woman-like precision 
 to answer the last part of your letter first, and to tell you 
 
 1 Charlotte Maria Campbell, daughter of John, fifth Duke of Argyll, 
 wife of Colonel Campbell of Shawn eld, and afterwards of the Rev.
 
 THE TWO LADY CHARLOTTES. 451 
 
 that such a gazette extraordinary, as often as you chuse to 
 send one, will much recreate my solitude, and be thankfully 
 acknowledged. And now to whet your zeal, I must commend 
 the ready acquiescence with which you complied to my round- 
 about request ; for knight-errantry being swept off the face of 
 the land (and the more's the pity), it is but seemly in me, 
 when you wield a pen instead of a lance in my behalf, that 
 I should attempt rewarding you with a goose-quill. This is 
 a chttif return for your courtesy ; but to sink into plain sense, 
 you cannot have more of the cat than her skin. Having thus 
 wound up my sentence of apology according to the Complete 
 Letter- writer, I ought to try to be entertaining ; but, once for 
 all, good Mr Kirkpatrick Sharpe, I tell you that is out of the 
 question ; there is one witty Lady Charlotte 1 dwelleth at the 
 king's gate, that is all that can be expected in one century. 
 I am the matter-of-fact Lady Charlotte who cannot divert 
 you, but whom you must divert. Albeit this must may 
 sound rather regal in your ears, I feel that in virtue of 
 being a woman, and a country-woman, I will not abate one 
 iota of it. I must, however, make the amende honorable to 
 you for never having thank'd you for certain bundles of books 
 you sent me some months ago. The fact is, my whole house- 
 hold was dicing, and I was somewhat moved thereat, and 
 delay'd writing till I thought it best not to write at all. 
 Nevertheless, I actually had traced half an essay upon Flattery, 
 which began thus : " Of flattery it is said, Lay it on never 
 so thick, some of it will stick." Oh, Mr Kirkpatrick Sharpe ! 
 if amidst all your brain-stores you possess not this adage, 
 your learning availeth you nothing ; and as you do not seem 
 at all acquainted with that very curious and learned art 
 
 Edward Bury. An account will be found in the preceding Memoir of 
 the use which her ladyship made of Mr Sharpe's letters in her ' Diary 
 of the Times of George IV.' See p. 35. 
 
 1 Lady Charlotte Lindsay, daughter of the Earl of Guilford ; married 
 to Colonel Lindsay, son of the Earl of Crawford.
 
 452 ART OF FLATTERY WORTHING. 
 
 called Flattery, neither to have any notion how to apply the 
 same, I here give you the most approved method since it was 
 first address'd to our common mother, Mrs Eve ; and if you 
 will not tell anybody, I will tell you that I had it from the 
 fountainhead, &c., &c. So much for past nonsense. Now, 
 as to the present, I must begin upon a new, or rather an old 
 score. Your madman's novel had not the merit of being 
 mad ; heaven only knows what merit it had indeed, but cer- 
 tain it is I had the stupidity not to find it out. Some of the 
 verses I remember to have thought I admired, but confess my 
 head ran after other guess matters at the time, and I cannot 
 give you a fair account of them, tho' I swear I read them, 
 and when a lady swears, she will not certainly deceive you ; 
 but, pray tell me, in the name of impatience, what is become of 
 your own novel that is to be dedicated to me ? That is what 
 I want. Send it me forthwith (for I know 'tis written), and 
 if it is possible for me to receive it publicly, I shall be very vain 
 of it, I am sure. I have been living here in perfect retirement, 
 trying, for want of better amusement, to be romantic. But 
 the unbounded ocean, and the trackless plains, and the glaring 
 sun, and the braying of the asses (perhaps you don't know 
 that there are more here than in other places, and that they 
 are made more use of), and the squalling of the children, do 
 not at all forward my endeavours that way. People talk of 
 the sea's sublimity, but I declare it is sublimely hideous here, 
 rolling its monotonous waves upon a flat sand, and blighting 
 with its salt breeze all the foliage that comes within its reach. 
 Summer without her green robes and her garlands is not 
 summer ; for my part, I am in a pet about it, and would as 
 lieve it were winter. If you mean that I should pity you for 
 being broiled and basted in the hot crowded rooms we all 
 abuse and all frequent, you have miss'd your aim. They are 
 all mighty amusing in their way, and for a season. And 
 everything in life nay, life itself is but a season ; the good 
 things of the season are not to be despised. I should have
 
 ^Jc/^i] 'DON SEBASTIAN.' 453 
 
 liked to look at the women's faces reading the mysterious in- 
 scription at Burlington House. I like Lord Hartington, 1 and 
 think he is to be liked, setting aside his strawberry-leaves and 
 his gold dust. I hope the elle will think so too, which will be 
 somewhat more to the purpose. It is a fine trait of modern 
 character to give feasts to one's premier. You ought to make 
 a poem upon it, and Ly. M. L. Crawfurd to crown you with 
 laurels for so doing. Tell me about Ly. 0. and her K. of a 
 brother, as you call him. Tell it not at Kensington, mention 
 it not at the palace ; but I could say, if you would hear my 
 saying, set a thief to catch a thief. I shall, without loss of 
 time, get some of the books you recommend ; I have read ' Self- 
 Control ' without desiring one bit more to obtain the virtue. I 
 have read another novel which, I think, makes me wish to 
 attain many virtues 'tis ' Don Sebastian ; ' if you have read 
 thus far you must wish for nothing but a cessation of my pen's 
 gossip ; and in consideration of your patience, I hasten to say, 
 I remain your much amused humble servt., 
 
 CHARLOTTE MARIA CAMPBELL. 
 
 The MARGRAVINE OF ANSPACH to C. KIRKPATRICK SHARPE. 
 
 SOUTHAMPTON, 24 August 1811. 
 
 You don't deserve that I should write to you, because you 
 have not left me your direction ; you don't deserve that I 
 should think of you, because you never gave me 24 hours of 
 your society at B. House ; but I made you a promise, and as 
 all my promises are sacred, I got Keppel to write out pro- 
 perly my sonnet of " Colin met Sylvia on the Green." Nay, 
 I positively have compos'd music to it ; and take care that if 
 any of your Scotch nightingales sing it they don't hurry, for 
 the time that it is sung in will make or mar the air. I shall 
 prefix my great seal to it, that you may not imagine it is a 
 1 Afterwards sixth Duke of Devonshire.
 
 454 LADY CRAVEN'S 'TOUR.' [ M 
 
 T A R 
 
 compliment Keppel has paid to the effusions of a youthfull 
 mind, which in maturer age turns to philosophy (vide Bobert- 
 son), which has made him set it to musick. No ; I compos'd 
 the music last night, while he was gone to see Mrs Powel act 
 in ' Hamlet.' I know nobody will sing it as well as I can, 
 because nobody could ever sing any music I ever compos'd 
 to please my feelings. But that's no matter ; 'tis not the first 
 of my brats that have been murder'd after I produced them. 
 I have made up my mind to death and destruction. And now 
 I must inform you that I am going to restore to Lady Craven's 
 ' Tour to Constantinople ' all the fine things which were wisely 
 left out. A new preface and five letters are all ready writ- 
 ten out, and as soon as Keppel is gone I shall busy myself in 
 ink. If Scotland was south of England, I would hide myself 
 there for a time ; but your climate is too cold, and the Scotch 
 are so hospitable and civil in their own country, that they 
 would take up too much of my time. I have nothing more 
 to add, but that I exact of you, as a return for my present, 
 one or two drawings for my book. I would have the dedica- 
 tion to the Margrave's ashes in an urn, my figure (the face hid 
 in drapery) holding it, and standing on a cloud having left 
 the world, which might have the globe in the bottom of the 
 drawing, if you like to do it. Think about this. Answer 
 me soon, as you value your sincere friend and admirer, 
 
 ELIZABETH, M. A. B. Ps. BERKELEY. 
 
 The MARCHIONESS OF STAFFORD to C. KIRKPATRICK SHARPE. 
 
 TRENTHAM, August 28, 1811. 
 
 I shall have much satisfaction, my dear sir, in contributing 
 to your collections relative to L> Henrietta Berkeley, 1 and 
 
 1 Lady Henrietta Berkeley was daughter of the first Earl of Berkeley. 
 She died unmarried. Her connection with the Duke of Monmouth was 
 doubtless the reason of Mr Sharpe's queries.
 
 MARCH. OF STAFFORD! 
 
 TO a K 81 J EPIGRAM ON THE BERKELEYS. 455 
 
 hope to have the passages transcribed in time to accompany 
 this letter by to-morrow's post. I have some hopes from 
 these researches that I shall, some time or another, see a 
 thing of which I am in great want at present, an amusing 
 book ; for the sera of those events being the same, or not far 
 removed from that of L d - Dundee and the D. of Monmouth, 
 in a life of either of these persons the history of L d - Grey 
 must be a curious episode, and reviews of that sort are 
 very great entertainment to me, or anything that tells me 
 minutely how people went on in their private lives together 
 with their more public atchievements. Did you ever see a 
 very little life of the D. of Monmouth, in which is described 
 a visit he made here and his going to Walsal races ? It has 
 no other merit than being (we suppose) rare. L d - Granville 
 gave it to L d - Stafford, having bought it at a stall last year. 
 
 But to return to the Berkeley family. You probably have 
 seen some lines Mr Jekyll wrote on the late events in it. In 
 case you sh d - not, I will transcribe them : 
 
 " Though Berkeley's noble race, as Dryden sings, 
 Can boast a pedigree from Norman kings, 
 No spurious brood is his, who swells the roll 
 From royal Tudor down to old King Cole." 
 
 I think this is not quite correct, but it is very nearly so. 
 I cannot find the original at this moment. 
 
 You will be sorry to hear that D r - Jackson has suffered 
 much from a mortification in his hand, which made it neces- 
 sary for him to lose a finger. The Dean was sent for, as he 
 was thought to be in danger ; so Mr Wood informs us, who 
 was here for a few days last week, and who set me upon 
 reading Howell's Letters, which I dare say you have read 
 and found entertaining, and which have given me an inclina- 
 tion to go on learning Spanish, from the quotations in them. 
 I had already begun it from a sort of sympathy when I 
 thought Gower was going to Spain, but left it off when that 
 journey was abandoned, so all I have learnt as yet is que.
 
 456 "THE THREE MARIES." 
 
 " Abeya y oneja, y Piedra qne rabeia 
 Pondola tras oneja, y lugar en la Ygreia 
 Dissca a su Fligo la vieja." 
 
 The only part of this wish which I have realised for Gower 
 is Piedra que rabeia, as he has got a thrashing-machine and 
 miln on his farm, and a seat in the kirk which he may use 
 when he pleases. 
 
 Do you know anything of a correspondence of the Mar- 
 grave of Anspach, Grimm, &c., which I see advertised as 
 published by the permission of the Margravine ? If it be 
 the B n - de Grimm, he was a very clever man who I remember 
 at Paris, an old friend of the K. of Prussia, L d - Mare- 
 schal, &c. 
 
 I am quite disappointed in finding Constable so slow, as 
 from what I have seen of the beginning of the book it pro- 
 mises to be worth reading. Sir Bob*- Gordon lived much 
 with the Lennox family both in England and France, and I 
 sh d - suppose there might be curious memoirs relating to them ; 
 their portraits were at the D. of Eichmond's house at Aubigny. 
 As I suppose this book will soon appear, pray tell me where 
 Constable shall send the copy I intend for you with a large 
 margin. Can you tell me how the Queensberrys go on with 
 their lawsuit, and if L d - Yarmouth, &c., are to remain in un- 
 disturbed possession, or if anything will return to the right 
 owners ? Adieu, my dear sir. Believe me very truly 
 yours, E. S. S. 
 
 N.B. Mr Buckle of Newmarket the other day told a 
 person he met that he had just bought a print of the three 
 Maries for Mrs Buckle. " What Maries ? " said the person. 
 He replied, "The Virgin Mary, Mary Magdalen, and Mary 
 Queen of Scots." It is gratifying to us Scotch people to find 
 the latter supposed to be in such good company. 
 
 Here are the extracts from the old newspapers. I cannot 
 find anything further on the subject ; but if you wish at any
 
 THE MARGRAVE'S CORRESPONDENCE. 457 
 
 time to have them searched on any subject, pray let me know. 
 There are 20 vols. of them, beginning in 1649. 
 
 The MARGRAVINE OF ANSPACH to C. KIRKPATRICK SHARPE. 
 
 BENHAM, 4 Sept. 1811. 
 
 Your letter of the 20 of August reach'd me here, and I 
 sit down to answer it. I have dispatch'd one to Oxford to 
 inform you I shall send the words you want with an air of 
 my own composition to it. I am glad you have sent me a 
 right direction. Keppel and Gell go in about ten days from 
 the river. I am here for a few days only, to let this place 
 if I can, and then to retire to B. House, positively to publish, 
 that I may save my memory from the mischief done to Lady 
 M. "W. Montague's. Nobody shall write my travels and let- 
 ters after I am dead. Grimm and Meister were the literary 
 correspondents of the Margrave the Empress of Kussia, 
 and many other Northern princes. I have recueils of 25 
 volumes, in manuscript; it would be foolish to myself and 
 a wrong to posterity if I had them not published. 
 
 The very elegant compliment at the end of your letter is 
 more apropos than you think. Eoses were always my 
 passion my first plantation wherever I have planted; and 
 Mrs Greville d'heureuse mdmoire and I one day, some thirty 
 or forty years past, sat down and named all the women of our 
 acquaintance some flower, attaching smell to sense. Of course 
 she named me, and I named her. I was the variegated rose, 
 having a foolish tho' pretty trick of blushing at nothing or 
 something, and always, if stared at, per contra. The Dow r - 
 Lady Sefton was a hollyhock, very showy, smell-less, and not 
 to be alter'd by the fanning of the zephir or the pelting of 
 pityless storms. Now, in your vault, you may compose your 
 whole acquaintance and all the showy plants in London in 
 this way, and bring me back a volume of your composition,
 
 AK.Q <arTkT"a ATVRnin |MARO. OF ANSPACH 
 
 *Oo oLOlo ADKUA1>. |_ TO c. K. s., 1811. 
 
 a new discovery in the animal and vegetable systems, or any- 
 thing else you please to call it. It will recall to your mind 
 the pretty list I made here. The next letter shall be more 
 entertaining, and, indeed, I'll take pity on a forlorn knight 
 confin'd in an enchanted castle, if you, when you escape from 
 it, give me more of your society than you did last spring ; 
 but you Scots are like the Germans, when you meet abroad 
 you only associate among one another. When I get out of 
 this land of shooters, and parsons, and Bruntons, 1 1 shall have 
 some news to tell you, if one can learn any true, which is 
 difficult in times when thing is misrepresented in domestic or 
 political world. Adieu. Yours sincy-' 
 
 ELIZABETH, M. A. B. Ps. BERKELEY. 
 
 Earl GOWER to C. KIRKPATRICK SHARPE. 
 
 DUNROBIN, Sept. 9, 1811. 
 
 MY DEAR SHARPE, It is 12 o'clock, midnight, and I am in 
 the habit of keeping good hours, at least of going to bed early, 
 and my inkstand has been all day near the window, and a hot 
 sun has dried my ink (so much for the climate in passing) ; 
 but I will, in obedience to your commands, write a line in 
 return for your letter, which I was happy to receive. 
 
 I go this day week (the 16). Shall pay a visit or two on 
 the road. If you have a mind to write a petit mot to 
 Dumblech's Hotel, Edinburgh, I shall have pleasure in find- 
 ing it there. 
 
 I have had Apsley and Napier here for a fortnight, both 
 pleasant agreeable persons, and among other things we have 
 talked over poor Worcester at a great rate. Do you see the 
 comet ? I have it close at my elbow, making a portentous 
 figure. 
 
 1 Her son, Lord Craven, had married Miss Louisa Brunton, the actress, 
 and allowed the father, Mr Brunton, to live in a small house in Benham 
 Park, to the Margravine's great annoyance.
 
 . GELL'S PREPARATIONS. 459 
 
 I was and am very sorry for poor W. Jackson, of whom I 
 have not heard further since your letter. I should suppose 
 his habit of body must be such as to make such an attack 
 fatal. Past 12. Ya, ya. Good night. The post goes early 
 in the morning before I wake. No chance of seeing you at 
 Edinburgh about the 22d or 3d ? 
 
 Your letter was missent to Carlisle, which delayed it 3 
 days. 
 
 The Hon. KEPPEL CKAVEN to C. KIRKPATRICK SHARPE. 
 
 ALBANY, Saturday Night, Sept. 14, 1811. 
 
 MY DEAR SHARPE, You must by this time think me at 
 least half-way towards the end of my intended voyage and I 
 believe I ought to be as far advanced, had it not been for the 
 usual tardiness of our Government, which cannot even dispatch 
 a trifle with anything like common vivacity. However, all 
 is for the best, as poor Gell has for this fortnight past been 
 suffering from a very severe gouty attack, which the far-famed 
 eau mtdicinale does not seem to conquer, as I am sorry to say 
 that he is still very far from well, and has within these two 
 days experienced something resembling a relapse ; but I hope, 
 however, that it will not last much longer. Our captain tells 
 us he must sail on Thursday next; but unless Gell mends 
 very fast indeed, that cannot be. In the meantime, we have 
 got everything ready, which has cost me no small trouble and 
 exertion, even to the two young men who are to accompany us 
 by order of the Dilettanti who have appointed them to allevi- 
 ate Gell's labours in the drawing line. They are both archi- 
 tectural draughtsmen, by name Bedford^ and Gandy? The 
 
 1 F. Bedford, architect of several London churches of the reign of 
 George IV., criticisms on which may be found in the 'Gentleman's 
 Magazine ' and Hone's ' Every-Day Book.' 
 
 2 J. P. Gandy, born 1787, afterwards changed his name to Deering, 
 and was member for Aylesbury. He died at Lee, near Missenden, 
 Bucks, in 1850. He was joint editor with Sir Wm. Gell of ' Pompeiana.'
 
 460 PREPARING FOR THE EAST. [To c .^.T, isu EN 
 
 former seems a sensible lively person ; but the second has been 
 on and off, and has only decided to go within these two days. 
 As he consults his aunt on all occasions, and asks very 
 amusing questions such as whether he must not take second 
 mourning in case of his Majesty's death, if he had not better 
 wear an under waistcoat, and what kind of leathern pantaloons 
 are most conformable to the Asiatic taste you may easily con- 
 ceive that from these specimens it was impossible to resist 
 altering the last syllable of his name, which we have got into 
 such a habit of doing that I fear we shall call him so to his 
 face ; but I should add that he draws most beautifully. And 
 now I must tell you something that will terrify you, and that 
 is, that we are actually going to sail in a Turkish frigate, com- 
 manded by a real Turk ; but it has been refitted after the 
 English fashion by our Government, who send out dispatches 
 by her to the Pacha of Smyrna, whom we are to propitiate by 
 sending presents of telescopes, pistols, cut glass goblets, &c. 
 We shall probably embark in the river, so I need only fancy 
 myself going on one of my numerous excursions till I get to 
 the Nore, and then adieu to all fresh- water fish which re- 
 minds me that Tom is so much better that he set off on 
 Wednesday for Southampton, where he is to be under the 
 guidance of Dr Hackett, of whose ability I have the very 
 highest opinion ; so I really have every hope that he may be 
 saved, which (considering he has kept his bed a whole twelve- 
 month, and been given over the whole of that time) I consider 
 next to a miracle. Since I returned to London I have passed 
 my dining-time between Kensington and Marlborough Street, 
 and my other time in executing Gell's commissions and nurs- 
 ing him, which I am happy to find I succeed in better than 
 any one else. He is difficult to manage, because he cannot 
 bear that one should be attentive or appear to wish to relieve 
 him, and he labours under that kind of impatience and fret- 
 fulness I believe peculiar only to the gout ; but still he is 
 better temper'd than most other people in perfect health.
 
 HON, 
 TO C 
 
 oc. E K^, C i8ii. EN ] W. BUKRELL LADY C. CAMPBELL. 461 
 
 When he got rather better, I pass'd a day and half at Rich- 
 mond, and took Augustus there, who was more charming than 
 ever. He is grown fatter and taller, and nothing can exceed 
 his sense and amiability of manners, nor was I at all jealous 
 of his attentions to Hope, who thought I would ; but as they 
 are only called forth by the uniform and sword, I cannot say 
 my paternal feelings were at all mortified. My brother 
 Berkeley 1 was in town for a few days, and pass'd most of them 
 in my society, which he says he prizes much. He has now 
 joined Lord Craven 2 and other scatter'd limbs of the family 
 at Combe Abbey. 
 
 W. Burrell 3 was in London en passant, and I saw him twice. 
 I was really alarm'd and much grieved at seeing him look so 
 ill, and feel the greatest apprehensions for him, though he was 
 in very good spirits ; but I think he had much better be sent 
 at once to Lisbon than Sidmouth, where he now is, Sir M. 
 Montgomery, who wrote to Gell yesterday to ask to go in our 
 ship as far as Malta, having miss'd the opportunity with 
 Lambton 4 and the Orby Hunters. We cannot have him, as 
 there is barely room for ourselves and the two Daubs. He 
 says Burrell is much better, and I shall write to him in a day 
 or two. I am sorry my mother did not send you the sonnet, 
 as she calls it; but as to the music, (entre nous) it was not 
 worth the postage, and the old tune she used to play it to was 
 much preferable. She is at Benham, which is not yet let, but 
 talks of coming up previous to my departure. The two Lady 
 Charlottes have left this part of the world, both for Sussex, 
 though for different parts of it. I don't think Lady C. C. 
 bears you any malice, as she told me she intended to write to 
 
 1 Henry Augustus Berkeley, second son of the sixth Lord Craven, 
 born 1776 ; became major-general in army; died 1836. 
 
 2 William, seventh Lord Craven and first Earl, Keppel Craven's eldest 
 brother ; married to Louisa Brunton, the actress. 
 
 3 William Peregrine Peter Burrell, third son of Lord Gwydyr and 
 Lady Willoughby de Eresby, born 1788 ; died 1852. 
 
 * Lord Durham.
 
 462 ACCIDENT TO COUNT DE GRAMONT. [ H0 * 
 
 you ; and if she does, I charge you to answer as if nothing had 
 happen'd, for I cannot help liking her, and I think you are 
 too severe with your comparisons of roses on an old wall, 
 which is nevertheless a most excellent idea. You must not 
 answer this ; and if you remain a week after it without hear- 
 ing again from me, you may conclude me gone. I suppose I 
 may always direct as I do this, for / shall write, though it is 
 impossible I can receive any letters from anybody. As to 
 your advice about a journal, I shall take it as far as the 
 making one goes, but not the publishing. I understand poor 
 Gramont has had a very bad accident from his horse, but 
 I cannot learn the details from anybody; he seems very 
 unlucky. 
 
 I must now end, as my pen and candles are going out 
 together by sympathy. If I go on Thursday, I now take my 
 leave of you, and can assure you, with great sincerity, that 
 there is no chance of distance or absence altering my senti- 
 ments towards you. The few friends I have, I have had long, 
 and trust you will prove no exception to this rule. Gell 
 desires his kindest regards to you. Believe me yours most 
 aff ly -' CAEOLUS BEX. 
 
 The MARGE A VINE OF ANSPACH to C. KIEKPATEICK SHAEPE. 
 
 BENHAM, 1 of October 1811. 
 
 I am getting the Holiday 1 printed, for I was ashamed to send 
 you my scrawl in notes. I exercise your patience enough by 
 letters. Here am I, my spirits worn by waiting, and thinking 
 every day was the last I was to see my Dear K., who is not 
 yet sail'd and a contrary wind. As to Gell, he has been so 
 maul'd by the gout, that I question if his days are to be many ; 
 and certainly, unless the heathen deities he is to find renovate 
 
 1 The Holiday of Life. A song written and composed by H.S.H. 
 the Margravene of Anspach, Princess Berkeley. London : printed and
 
 M T A o R a K F 8 A .ri8U H ] " THE HOLIDAY OF LIFE." 463 
 
 his frame, he can never be the gallant, gay Lothario of Ken- 
 sington Bowers 1 again. I have been perusing your ' Metrical 
 Legends,' and you and Keppel puzzle me. At your age, my 
 muse sported in roses; fancie's gayest flowers compos'd my 
 wreaths ; it was the Graces the laughing loves that tun'd 
 
 my lyre : you and K murder, poison ; death in every 
 
 shape, horrors on horrors from northern climes, you seem 
 to make the groundwork of your chaunts ! 
 
 My spirits are of so tender a nature, that I should die of 
 real grief at the imaginary woe I related. You'll have my 
 song next week. Keppel is only at Gravesend now ; he has 
 staid a month beyond his time, and feels the damp, chilling 
 climate already. I think he will learn to his cost that my 
 advice for sailing is better than his resolves. I hope, if you 
 return near to me, you will try to cheer me in his absence. 
 "We are in a pretty scrape. Government send out orders for 
 sailing and counter- sailing, marching and counter-marching ; 
 and Jerseys, Guernseys, Ireland, Spain, Portugal, Sussex 
 coast, and Kentish marshes are all to be guarded together. 
 
 published for the author by J. Fentum at his music warehouse, 78 
 Strand, near the Adelphi. 
 
 " Colin met Sylvia on the green 
 
 Once, 'twas the charming first of May, 
 And shepherds ne'er tell false, I ween, 
 
 By chance they met, as shepherds say. 
 Colin he blush'd, and bow'd, then said, 
 
 ' Will you, sweet maid, this first of May, 
 Begin the dance, by Colin led, 
 
 To make this quite his holiday I ' 
 
 Sylvia replied, ' I ne'er from home 
 
 Yet ventured till this first of May ; 
 Say, is it fit for maids to roam, 
 
 And make a shepherd's holiday ? ' 
 
 ' It is most fit,' replied the youth, 
 
 ' That Sylvia shou'd, this first of May, 
 By me be taught that love and truth 
 
 Can make of life a holiday. ' " 
 
 1 " Kensington, where resided the Princess, afterwards Queen. Gell 
 never, in fact, had any gallantries with her." C. K. S.
 
 464 COUNT DE GRAMONT'S ACCIDENT. f^Sffa^ 
 
 I have no idea of a Government making itself so ridiculous. 
 How Buonaparte must laugh ! We want nothing to stamp 
 our eternal folly but to do as we did in the time of the Danes, 
 bribe them with our money to retire from our coast ; which 
 with that money they attack'd again with fresh vigour. You 
 must observe, when you get My Holiday, that the music must 
 be played slowly, and with much liaison and expression ; or 
 instead of a very affecting and tenere dolce affair, it will sound 
 like many common ditties. But I find no one can give the 
 sense of the sound but the person who composes it. Pray 
 heaven you be not melted away by the damps which enervate 
 me. Y rs - ever. 
 
 C. KIEKPATRICK SHAKPE to the COUNT DE GKAMONT. X 
 
 I should be unhappy, dear Count de Gramont, did I not 
 offer at the shrine of your leisure this congratulation on your 
 recovery from your late most dangerous accident. 2 Here was 
 a second Phaeton, after almost setting the world on fire, 
 you had nearly fallen into the lap of Proserpine, a fairer 
 flower than all her Sicilian roses. 
 
 How glad I am that your bandages are removed that you 
 can use your arm once more, and that your poor knee, which 
 is doomed to suffer so much, is better ! never having been so 
 bad as those abominable newspapers represented it. 
 
 Allow me to present you with every good wish, and a long 
 farewell. According to St Paul, " tutte le cose die son veraci, 
 tutte le cose che sono honeste, tutte le cose che son giuste, 
 
 1 Antoine-Genevieve Heraclius Agenor, Count de Gramont, afterwards 
 Duke de Guiche and Duke de Gramont, born 1789, came over with his 
 family in the emigration. He was a page in the Court of Louis XVIII. 
 at Holyrood. He married a daughter of the Count d'Orsay, and his 
 son, also well known in England, married a daughter of Mr Mackinnon, 
 M.P. 
 
 2 The Count had been thrown from a gig.
 
 U.] "TIKCIS" -FRENCH PRINCES. 465 
 
 tutte le cose che son pure, tutte le cose che sono amabili, tutte 
 le cose che son di buona fama ; se v'e* alcuna virtu, e se v'e" 
 alcuna laude" be these thine, Signer mio, in the amplest 
 measure of fruition. 
 
 this dreadful weather ! this tiresome comet's tail ! I am 
 drown'd, and frozen to death yet, after all, 'tis needless to 
 repine against tempests and change of season. I may say 
 with Messire Honore d'Urfe 
 
 " L'Este, c'est le transport, dont le sang me bouillonne, 
 Et 1'Hyver, c'est la peur, qui me gele en tout temps ; 
 Mais qui me vaut cela, si toujours mon Automne 
 Est sans fruicts, aussi bien que sans fleurs mon Printemps." 
 
 HODDAM CASTLE, 9th Oct. 1811. 
 
 Earl GOWER to C. KIKKPATRICK SHARPE. 
 
 TRENTHAM, Oct. 13, 1811. 
 
 MY DEAR SHARPE, Do not suppose that I have not re- 
 ceived your letter with the verses on Grammont, and the offei 
 of sending me some particulars regarding some families for 
 Wood's Peerage, and that I was not much entertained with 
 the verses, and much obliged to you for the prose. I am 
 sure that Wood will feel very thankful to you for the com- 
 munication you are so good as to promise. I showed part of 
 " Tircis " to Lady Ossulston, who I thought would have died of 
 laughing at them. I did not tell the name of the author, 
 from an unnecessary degree of discretion. 
 
 We have had a week's visit of French Princes, and are 
 heartily glad it is over ; and of George Vernon, who is dying 
 of love for Lady E. Bingham, 1 all to little purpose. You 
 would have been much amused with his attempts to introduce 
 
 1 Elizabeth, eldest daughter of the second Lord Lucan, was married 
 in 1815 to George Granville Harcourt, eldest son of the Archbishop of 
 York the " Granville Vernon " of the correspondence. 
 
 VOL. I. 2 G
 
 466 PEDIGREES CARLEILL ARMS. f^T^Si* 
 
 L *- h - ) i~Ji. 
 
 her name and to make her the subject of conversation in some 
 Ute-a-Ute walks I had with him, and with my ill-natured 
 determination not to indulge him, or at least but sparingly. 
 " Don't you think LY- E. B. very beautiful ? " Yes. " Are 
 you much acquainted with Ly- E. B ? " No. And so on, and 
 looking very sentimental and desponding. 
 
 I found the inn at Ecclefechan very good, and made out 
 my journey very well to Burton the first day, and to this 
 the second. I am going on a short excursion from hence to 
 Shropshire and Liverpool for a few days, but a letter directed 
 to this place will be sure to find me. Yours very truly, 
 
 G. 
 
 C. KIRKPATRICK SHARPE to Earl GOWEE. 
 
 HODDAM CASTLE, 15^ Oct. 1811. 
 
 MY DEAR LORD, I enclose the petty notices concerning 
 some peerage families for Mr Wood, things which are of no 
 great consequence, albeit accuracy in such matters is ever 
 very commendable and I should have sent more, had I not 
 discovered, after squeezing myself up, and making a sort of 
 apple-pye bed with the beginning of my sheet, that I had most 
 obtusely forgotten my pedigree of the Brus's, Lords of Annan- 
 dale, at Oxford. This is pitiful but there is no help for it 
 now. I have contributed my mite and you may vouch, 
 Signior mio, for the accuracy of my collections, which are 
 either variations from, or additions to, that far from wise, 
 and very slovenly peerage writer, Sir Robert Douglas of 
 Glenbervie, Bart. 
 
 Don't laugh at the painting of the Carleill arms at my 
 heraldic peacocks, with yellow tails, spotted gules ! I can 
 assure you that this is a faithful copy of the illumination in 
 the MS., and curious, as Douglas giveth not the arms of that 
 once powerful family which was related to you, mon prince, 
 as Sir Will. Carleill of Torthorwald married the sister of
 
 TOEA 
 OOWE 
 
 R, A i8ii.] TORTHORWALD LADY MARY COKE. 467 
 
 King Eobert Brus, and the Earl of Sutherland the daughter. 
 The relicks of the antient Castle of Torthorwald, exactly like 
 the hollow crust of a Stilton cheese, still stand between this 
 chateau and Dumfries ; but what is very surprising, of this 
 numerous clan, and opulent, not one person now remains 
 who possesses a foot of ground in Dumfriesshire ! 
 
 I heard from Henry Drummond yesterday, who is ill, poor 
 fellow, and discontented. For God's sake, my dear lord, don't 
 marry in a hurry ! All my friends are sick, and some sore 
 meanwhile, Lady Mary Coke l is dead at last, and hath left all 
 her money to the Buccleugh family and Lady Douglas. Not 
 a sous to the Argylls, which vexes me on poor Lady Char- 
 lotte's account. Lady Queensberry tells me that Lady Mary 
 died with a high-crown'd beaver hat upon her head, tho' in 
 bed like Cleopatra, crown'd, " Proud Egypt's prouder Queen." 
 As Lord Seafield said of the Scottish parliament at the 
 Union, "here's the end of an auld sang." She was the 
 daughter of a sad robust villain, and in character as like her 
 father as Christina of Sweden was to hers. Only think of 
 Lord Orford being in love with such a harpy ! 
 
 She was vulgar she said "this here," and "that there," 
 which was extraordinary, as she must always have been in 
 the best circles of society. 
 
 The post calls, so I have time for no more but that I am 
 ever yours. 
 
 C. KIRKPATRICK SHARPE to the MARCHIONESS OF QUEENSBERRY. 
 
 DEAR MADAM, Will you have the goodness to forgive the 
 liberty which I take in transmitting to you the only portrait 
 that I have done, without permission, for many years ? 
 Without permission did I deem it prudent to paint it; for 
 
 1 Lady Mary Campbell, daughter of John, Duke of Argyll and Green- 
 wich, married to Edward, Viscount Coke.
 
 468 PORTRAIT HARRIET WILSON. [ 
 
 had I prevailed upon Alexander to allow me a sitting of his 
 Carapaspe, I might have suffered all the pains of poor Apelles 
 without finding his remedy. Alas ! too many know to their 
 cost that the wounds from " beauty in a dishclout " are in- 
 curable as the gashes of a rusty chopping-knife ; and Simon 
 Brodie is so well aware of his good fortune, that I do not 
 think he would relinquish his treasure to the Vice-Lieutenant 
 of the county himself, far less to your humble servant. 
 
 Nobody here hath seen the portrait of my Laura, so that I 
 am not sure whether I have hit the likeness but the coifure 
 is certainly exact. How surprising it is that there have been 
 so many belles of the name of Mary, Marie Queen of Scots 
 The Flower of Yarrow Mary Grey Mary Magdalene 
 and Mary Macmurdoch ! I am, dear Madam, &c. &c. 
 
 HODDAM CASTLE, 16th Oct. 1811. 
 
 C. KIRKPATKICK SHARPE to the Eev. KENNETH MACKENZIE 
 
 TARPLEY. 
 
 HODDAM CASTLE, 18th Oct. 1811. 
 
 . . . You talk of the dulness of your letters ; now I 
 hold that the letters of one's friends can in no case be dull 
 and moreover, that yours are the farthest things in the world 
 from such a misfortune. Ah, my dear Tarpley, if you saw 
 some letters which I am condemned to receive and to answer, 
 you would not talk in this manner. I may say with the old 
 woman in Voltaire's ' Candide,' " Ah, Mademoiselle, si je vous 
 montrais mon derri&re, vous ne parlevies pas comme vous 
 faites." 
 
 "What you told me about Brighton I had heard before 
 heard with extremity of wonder; for I have seen this 
 Arinida of the common sewer (Miss Harriet Wilson), and 
 she's ugly and ill-dressed, and not very young, and as liberal 
 as the south wind of her favours. She was some time since
 
 8U.] HARRIET WILSON LORD WORCESTER. 469 
 
 the chere amie of Leinster ; and I know several of her friends, 
 who declare that she's very clever clever, forsooth ! just as 
 Miss Hands was, whose letters rival'd Sevigne's, according to 
 the assertion of one of her inamoratos, who cannot construe a 
 word of French, poor fellow ! John of Gaunt l and I had 
 many contests in London about this jade, but all in vain ; 
 and lo ! now he is with his water-wagtail at Brighton. There 
 he glitters, like a drop of wholesome May-dew in the hollow 
 of a wither'd leaf ! It is no marvel that you are provoked ; 
 for my part, as I have long made it a rule never to take 
 advice, so now I shall resolve, finding all my efforts nugatory, 
 on no account ever to give it. 
 
 My only comfort is that this Sybilla is safe, and that our 
 friend's health will not suffer in her embraces. That is a great 
 point. Again, as I believe that he makes this folat from a 
 mistaken idea of ton, and smartness, and of being talked of 
 by a parcel of miserables, who have everything of an ape 
 but his sagacity, he will never be induced to marry her. If 
 there were any tinge of what is commonly called love in this 
 gordian knot, I should be unhappy ; for Madame is old and 
 a wound from one of Cupid's rusty arrows is ever the longest 
 of healing but, depend upon it, there is no fatal circum- 
 stance of that kind ; and as Worcester is very young, he may 
 live to recover these indiscretions, and brush away the cob- 
 webs from his character. He does not gamble, nor drink 
 much, and his heart is excellent; that "true heart" must 
 ever secure him friends what a pity that he lavishes its 
 treasures upon such unworthy objects ! 
 
 I have also frequently lamented that, when a boy, he had 
 not been trained up to practise some accomplishments of 
 which he seems fond music, for instance as these pursuits, 
 however your fox-hunting gentry, who are peculiarly British, 
 may deem them feminine, certainly engage the minds of 
 young men from running constantly upon one amusement, 
 1 The Marquess of Worcester.
 
 470 THE MARQUESS OF WORCESTER. 
 
 which requires little genius in the acquisition, and of which 
 the practise is very far from producing perfection ; but, after 
 all, I trust that Worcester will do very well sure I am that 
 he is worth a million of the generality of his compeers. 
 When I remember his noble descent, I respect him ; when I 
 think of his true heart, I love him ; and for his passing in- 
 discretions, all natural philosophers hold that the inherent 
 spots in the orb of day are much more ominous than its 
 partial eclipses. 
 
 But it is now full time that I should come to the finale of 
 this scribble, which I shall inclose to the Duke of Beaufort, 
 tho' I suspect that you are now at Ch. Ch. Dear Tarpley, let 
 me hear from you soon, and believe me, &c. &c. 
 
 C. KIRKPATRICK SHARPS to the Hon ble - THOMAS STAPLETON. 
 
 19th Oct. 1811. 
 
 MY DEAR S., It is now such a tedious length of time since 
 I have had the pleasure of seeing, conversing with, or writing 
 to you, that I absolutely feel my modesty interested in a second 
 introduction. Do you recollect the existence of any such 
 person as C. K. S. ? Is it necessary that I should once more be 
 presented to you by that tiresome old person, your uncle ? I 
 would fain hope not so taking your remembrance for granted, 
 I shall go on; and first, I must state that I am dying to 
 know whereabouts your worship is just at this moment 
 whether you recline in the flowery lap of the Muses at Cam- 
 bridge, or lean on the less pure bosoms of the loose Hama- 
 dryades at Vauxhall. From my knowledge of Oxford terms, 
 I should guess the former in which case I envy you the sage 
 conversation of Kilworth, 1 and the airilier sallies of the brisk 
 Lord George Taylor ! 2 
 
 1 Stephen Moore, afterwards Earl of Mountcashell, born 1792. 
 
 2 Second son of the first Marquess of Headfort, who afterwards as- 
 sumed the name of Quin.
 
 LORD G. TAYLOR LORD KILWORTH. 471 
 
 Not that I don't, seriously, like Lord George for he is very 
 modest, and good-humoured, and like a gemman ; but he 
 does not speak enough, and that is a fault. For Kilworth, 
 since the days of Amadis and Orlando Furioso, I have heard, 
 Signior mio, of nothing to be compared with him. Alas ! to 
 regard his nose, and his demeanour under the jests of Powers- 
 court, 1 who would ever have guessed that 
 
 " He could foin, 
 And give the mortal touch ;" 
 
 but too true it is, that love will transmogrify a turtle into 
 an eagle, and a mouse into a lion. Tho' I was in Kilworth's 
 carriage going to Vauxhall one night, when Mr Pole and he 
 had such jostlings and jabberings that I thought I should 
 have had my neck demolished in the service, I never could 
 have believed that such things would really fight at last. 
 The Lord have mercy upon us ! think of the two Gorgons in 
 the field, staring and wrinkling at one another 
 
 " So frown'd the mighty combatants, that Hell 
 Grew darker at their frown so match'd they stood.' 
 
 What a pity that there was no winging after all the noise ! 
 Had Kilworth been slain, I should have comforted myself 
 with the reflection that Moore, who is one of my favourites, 
 was Kilworth the Second, and in a fair way of being Lord 
 Mountcashel ; and had Mr Pole been untimely cropt, surely 
 the pitying gods would have caused some fair flower to spring 
 from his blood, at least as sweet as its original. Ah, happy 
 flower ! think of Miss Long sticking it between the heavens 
 of her swelling bosom, and bedewing it with her crystal tears ! 
 You may perceive, Signior Don Thomaso, that I have been 
 perusing romances of late that, and being confined to an 
 old castle in the country, renders me quite flowery and fond 
 of fiction. I have read Miss Owenson's things, till I dream 
 
 1 Richard, fifth Viscount.
 
 472 "SELF-CONTROL "--MISS DEVISME. 
 
 of the moon beaming through a gauze curtain upon the im- 
 maculancy of a Circassian's back, and the balmy vapours 
 of night conglomerated around the blushing brow of the 
 Duchess of St Alban's fan. Do you remember what you said 
 of her one evening long since in Stratford Place ? " my Lady 
 Southesk, God prosper her for't"- but you were wrong, 
 depend upon it ; I could take my oath that you erred. "With 
 all my respect for your judgment, Mr S., depend upon it that 
 it greatly failed you in that solitary instance. 
 
 I have been reading a Scotch novel called ' Self-Control,' 
 which is greatly cried up by the Caledonian criticks, and 
 certainly hath some good things in it ; but the heroine, who 
 is self-control personified, is a sad jade, of course. She will 
 not eat when she's hungry, nor sleep when drowsy, nor suffer 
 her lover to give her a civil salute now and then ; but her 
 whole time is occupied in nursing a crusty old father, who 
 will not be amused, and saying long prayers that seem never 
 to be granted. Her portrait is drawn from a certain Miss 
 Devisme, a tall woman whom you may have seen at "White- 
 hall and Lady Heathcote's. She's a natural daughter of some- 
 body's, had forty thousand pounds, and married a brother of 
 Lord Mansfield's, a handsome giant with a swinging pair of 
 mustachios. 1 
 
 this tiresome comet ! it kills us all. Craven is sick 
 again. Poor William Burrell is trying to shun its baleful 
 influence at Tunbridge, and I am confident that nothing else 
 cast Gramont out of a gig, broke his arm, and bruised his 
 knee in a terrible manner. Then it nightly ruins my tem- 
 per, for all the people in this mansion have got nothing else 
 of an evening to do but to look at it ; so there's a talk about 
 it, too tedious with every ten minutes a casement cast up, 
 with a current of cold, damp, toothachy air, and a provoking 
 exclamation of " Dear, how very clear the tail is to-night ! 
 do come and look at it," which I never do by any chance. 
 1 Sir Henry Murray, K.C.B., Colonel of 14th Dnogoons.
 
 sTApT^oNrisii!] MISS SEWARDS LETTERS. 473 
 
 I see nothing interesting in a comet's tail it is the dullest 
 of all possible tails. I would not give one twinkle of my 
 parrot's, for all the comet tails in the universe \ 
 
 Apropos, have you perused Miss Seward's letters ? Some of 
 them are good; and as she praises my poetry in her sixth 
 vol., she must have been a very judicious person. All the 
 prudes cry Foh I at her, because she liked one Mr Saville, a 
 singing man of Lichfield; but these are venial flaws tho' 
 one is a little angry with her when one supposes that she 
 was actually the death of the poor man. I think she slew 
 him I think poor Saville died from over-exertion, attempting 
 to mend the hole of an old blue-stocking I 
 
 Did you laugh when you saw in the newspapers Miss 
 Laura Manners's degradation from the altar of Hymen ? * 
 Unfortunate Laura, I fear that she will now be reduced to 
 divert herself like her sister, the Duchess ; 2 but Miss Jacky 
 Gordon is certainly a heroine she carries everything with 
 flame and fury. In fact, a woman of her temper, after she 
 hath been debauched, swells forth a demon ; the spear of 
 Ithuriel is applied, and the toad starteth up a devil. 
 
 C. KIRKPATEICK SHARPE to WALTER SCOTT, Esq. 
 
 HODDAM CASTLE, 22 Oct. 1811. 
 
 DEAR SCOTT, As of late I have only had the pleasure of 
 meeting with you in the shape of quartos and octavos, I feel 
 somewhat modest in the commencement of this address, 
 penned for the purpose of laying at your feet some verses 
 
 1 Laura, daughter of the Countess of Dysart and her husband, John 
 Manners, Esq., Grantham Grange, was married in 1808 to Viscount 
 Dalrymple, son of the Earl of Stair, which marriage was dissolved in 
 consequence of a Scotch marriage previously contracted with Joanna, 
 daughter of Charles Gordon of Cluny and Braid the " Jacky Gordon " 
 mentioned elsewhere in the correspondence. 
 
 2 Of St Albans.
 
 474 'EDINBURGH ANNUAL REGISTER.' ["^""g; " 
 
 which you will find below, that may perhaps be deemed 
 worthy of a place in the next vol. of the ' Edinburgh Annual 
 Register.' If you should esteem them utter stuff, pray stand 
 not upon any ceremony for our friendship is now of such 
 antiquity, that no trifles I trust can affect it. If you think 
 that they may pass, print them de grace; 1 and prefix the 
 name of your humble servant, who loves to appear as an 
 author when under the shadow of your redoubted wings. 
 
 I shall not trouble you with any comments upon your 
 'Lady of the Lake,' which hath appeared since I last had 
 the pleasure of seeing you, as it is needless to repeat what 
 you must already have heard ten thousand times from far 
 superior judges. These echoes must be as tiresome to your 
 palled ear as my parrot's incessant cry of " pretty, pretty " ; 
 nor shall I bore you with my admiration of " Don Roderick," 
 which is totally unqualified, because I do not care for the 
 memory of Sir John Moore ; but allow me, soberly, to 
 express my delight in many portions of the ' Ann. Register,' 
 more particularly in that which giveth an account of the rise 
 and progress of the ' Edin. Review.' This is a most meritori- 
 ous work, and I am flattered to think that I have already 
 contributed my mite to it in those three epistles 2 printed in 
 the last volume. I have still an odd letter of advice, written 
 by my great-grandfather, Lord Eglintoune, to his son, which 
 may be of some use to you in stopping up a gap, and which 
 I will transcribe, and have sent, before I once more quit 
 Caledonia, stern and wild, for the softer regions of the south. 
 
 1 The " Ode on the Death of a Military Officer killed in Portugal" does 
 not seem to have been accounted of sufficient merit to appear in the 
 ' Register.' The closing stanza will suffice as a specimen : 
 
 " Hail ! and farewell, for ever gone, 
 May Britons fight as thou hast done, 
 
 May valour ring their knell. 
 Hail ! and farewell. Alas ! how vain 
 Our hopes, our wishes ! once again 
 
 Hail ! and a long farewell ! 
 
 2 See ante, Letters from David Hume to Matthew Sharpe of Hoddam.
 
 . MISS SEWARD SWIFT. 475 
 
 Apropos of epistles, I have just finished Miss Anna Seward's, 
 in six volumes ! Her poetical flowers remind one of a hortus 
 siccus flat, dry, and bookish, but still they are flowers, and 
 she has a great deal of sense now and then, so her posthumous 
 work should have been exceedingly compressed; she would 
 have appeared to much greater advantage had she come out 
 in the shape of the Lady Parvula, presenting her New Year's ' 
 gift to the Lord Minimus. 
 
 I never heard of the Mr Taylor whom she names as a Scot- 
 tish bard : there surely must be some error there. She has 
 let a wicked cat out of the bag to Gell respecting his mother, 
 who persuaded him that she was perfectly contented with her 
 cottage, while she was wailing to Miss Anna of unnatural 
 neglect, and helpless starvation; but the harm is the less 
 as Mrs Gell hath been dead for some time. I have not seen 
 your Swift yet, but shall soon. In Brand's Catalogue was 
 a book from which, it is said, the Dean stole the greater part 
 of his Gulliver; but these says are seldom true, and very 
 fashionable the slightest coincidence gives rise to them. 
 Can we not prove that the 'Tale of a Tub' was in some 
 measure filched from the ' Secchia Eapita ' ? 
 
 Adieu, my dear Scott, my scrawl shall no longer encroach 
 upon your valuable time. Believe me ever most faithfully 
 your's, CHS. KIRKPATRICK SHARPE. 
 
 WALTER SCOTT, Esq., to C. KIRKPATRICK SHARPE. 
 
 ASHESTIEL, 27 October 1811. 
 
 I was delighted, my dear Sharpe, to see your hand again, 
 after so long a cessation of our correspondence. The verses, 
 which were very pretty indeed, shall doubtless appear in the 
 next ' Eegister/ if I have any interest with the publisher. The 
 work is making a most respectable progress. Upwards of 
 2000 have been sold by the Scottish publishers alone. I hope
 
 476 ABBOTSFORD MISS SEWARD. [ 
 
 you do not intend to leave Scotland without a visit to Auld 
 Reekie, where I should rejoice much in a social chat with you. 
 We were singing your praises the other day at Bowhill, where 
 Lady Dalkeith bore a distinguished part in the chorus. But 
 I think you might have fought your way as far as the Forest 
 in quest of adventures during this last season. Next year I 
 can hardly offer you hospitality, as I am about to leave this 
 place, which has been for seven years my palace of indolence. 
 The situation to which I shall remove next season is much 
 less romantic ; but as Touchstone says of Audrey, it is a poor 
 thing, but mine own. It consists of a hauyh and brae of about 
 100 acres, stretching along the Tweed for three-quarters of a 
 mile, commanding a fine sweep of the river, and embosomed in 
 fancy's eye with wood; but to the visual orb presenting nothing 
 more lofty or more verdant than some special turnips. Mean- 
 while great part of my future groves, facturi nepotibus umbram, 
 are travelling quietly in the shape of acorns from Trentham to 
 London, by the benevolence of our kind Marchioness. Yet we 
 contrive to make a bustle with thinning and pruning about 
 ten acres of starved firs in esse, awaiting with hope and confi- 
 dence the planting and growth of our fair oaks in posse. So 
 runs the world away. I intend to build a little cottage on 
 this spot next season, and to inhabit a small farmhouse during 
 the time it is rising. 
 
 I have not yet read Miss Seward's letters. God knows I 
 had enough of them when she lived for she did not imitate 
 the ancient Eomans in brevity. If my curt and comical leb- 
 ters had been published (which heaven forfend !), our corre- 
 spondence would have been exactly the dialogue between 
 Aldiborontefoscofornio and Rigdumfunnidos. Yet she was an 
 uncommon woman ; and bating her conceit and pedantry, had 
 some excellent points about her. Had she mingled more in 
 general society, and been less the directress of a little circle, 
 we should have had less tracasserie and more good sense in 
 her letters.
 
 ' ANNUAL REGISTER 'THE LENOXES. 477 
 
 We shall be delighted to have your contribution to the 
 ' Kegister.' But I wish you would give us an original prose 
 article, choosing your own subject, and treating it in your 
 funny way : it would help us greatly. Scots are in general 
 too grave for humorous essays : you are a special exception, 
 and your friends should profit by it. Southey, who succeeded 
 to the historical department which you declined, is rather too 
 prolix and minute, though often vigorous and eloquent. 
 
 Pray let me hear from you soon ; and be it to say we are 
 soon to meet in Edinburgh, which would give me particular 
 pleasure. I must be there on the 12th Nov. Believe me 
 most truly yours, WALTER SCOTT. 
 
 What has become of your genealogical work ? 
 
 C. KIRKPATRICK SHARPE to Lord GOWER. 
 
 HODDAM CASTLE, last of Oct. 1811. 
 
 I send you, my dear Lord Gower, the promised portrait of 
 his Grace of Lenox, done on paper so very untoward that I 
 could not, with an infinity of pains, get the background and 
 drapery smooth enough ; however, the likeness is preserved, 
 and that is the chief point. I will send you shortly the 
 portrait of his daughter, Lady Marie. Her sister, the nun, is 
 in the possession of James Erskine of D., 1 and I have heard 
 that the other d r - of the Duke, Lady Henrietta, still shames 
 with her refined tho' faded charms, the portraits of the 
 present D ss - of Gordon at Gordon Castle. These were no small 
 dames in their time ! I think that our present Dukes of 
 Lenox and their madames are but wallidrags in comparison ; 
 but I am of an old school, that is now vastly out of date and 
 unfashionable. 
 
 King James VI. introduced his poem called the Phoenix 
 
 1 Dun.
 
 478 GRAMONTS CHANSON. [GOWEE? 1811. 
 
 (which alludes throughout to his poor mother) with an 
 acrostick on his favourite the Duke of Lenox. You will find 
 it either in the works of that high and most mighty Prince 
 (1616), or in Sibbald's Chron. of Scottish Poetry. There 
 certainly never was more villanous doggerel, excepting, per- 
 haps, Lygon's melodious epistle to Miss Burton, or Copple- 
 stone's Ode for the late Oxford Installation. 
 
 My dear lord, I am happy to hear that my former epistle 
 came to hand, and that my warblings of Gramont's Turtles 
 pleased you. I have always heard, and red, that Nature is 
 one of the chief beauties of poetry ; and lo ! behold an ex- 
 ample ! for I merely turned into rhyme the pitiful ravings 
 of two love-lorn maids, most tenderly sensible to the charms 
 of a pair of black moustachios relieved with deep gamboges. 
 To me these gentlewomen had no reserves nor I to you ; 
 but, de grace, spare all our fames by never whispering names, 
 even "amid the marshes of the reedy Lego." I am glad, 
 however, that you showed part of the verses to Lady Ossulston, 
 tho' I wonder how you could ; for I have been told that they 
 are tawdrys, what Gramont himself writes ~body ecco, the 
 proof an extract from a note to me "I hope you will 
 think yourself much flattered in my having such good 
 opinion of your secrecy, as to intrust you with a letter 
 containing the most body and dreadful picture of a Christian's 
 heart for Miss Cholmonly. Don't forget delivering it, but 
 you must not mention the explanation I gave you of the 
 contence." 
 
 Of course I held the contence between me and the candle, 
 and red the whole, which consisted of a chanson d'amour, 
 beginning in this sort of way 
 
 " Par un matin Lisette se leva, 
 Et dans un bois seulette s'en alia, 
 Elle cherchoit des nidi, de ca de la, &c. &c." 
 
 I wish I had copied it. He red me another effusion of the
 
 "TIRCIS" LADY OSSULSTON. 479 
 
 same nature, with a vast deal in't concerning the berger, 
 Tircis, which I thought admirable then, because I began to 
 like Tircis himself, who is, in fact, very amiable. He hath 
 little starts of feeling that are so very pretty in a Frenchman, 
 and he is so unfortunate, that agneau in loup's clothing, that 
 whenever I begin to repine at mine own sorry lot, I cure my 
 qualms by thinking of Tircis. What a pity that there is no 
 good picture of this prodigious infant, whose head is certainly 
 miraculous. Madame le Brun hath done a chalk-drawing, a 
 profile, but it is like all the other works of that filth which 
 I have seen, intolerable : it hangs in the Duchess de Coigny's 
 drawing-room in Spanish Place. Ye Lares of Lilliput, what a 
 drawing-room for Madame la Duchesse de Coigny ! ! 
 
 I wish, my good lord, that you had condescended upon the 
 names of the French princes who were at Trentham, for I 
 love French princes, and liking to know all about them, no- 
 body ever tells me a word of the matter. What sort of a 
 French princess is Lady Ossulston ? She is not pretty, and 
 doth not dress her hair well ; in that she should take a lesson 
 from Lady Stafford, who certainly orders her head better 
 than anybody's in the world. When I last had the honour 
 of seeing her at Cleveland House, sitting on a couch after 
 dinner, I could not help staring at her for a long time, as I 
 did think I had never seen any one before so belle and so 
 Hen pare"e. 
 
 You were crueller and harder-hearted than the rocks of 
 Caucasus, to relate the confidences of hapless love in the 
 manner you describe, which made me almost expire with 
 laughing. The solemnity of Vernon's suffering (for he hath 
 a grave, archiepiscopal demeanour and fashion of dress which 
 are very amusing) I behold with my mind's eye, as he wan- 
 dered through the woods of Trentham, in vain languishing to 
 pour his woes into your obdurate bosom ; but as to his pur- 
 suit of the beauteous nymph, he may spare himself much 
 pain by incontinently hanging himself for Bet's ambitious,
 
 480 LADY E. BIXGHAM LORD APSLEY. [OOWER^ISII. 
 
 and tho' she get not the Duke of Devonshire (which I pray 
 God she may not), she'll scarcely wait till Vernon is my 
 Lord of Harcourt so lend him one of your fair oaks in 
 Staffordshire, to save time and trouble. Without a tolerable 
 title, and enough of money, he'll ne'er be able to make any 
 hand of the judicious Lady Betty Bingham. 
 
 I am glad that Ecclefechan could afford you tolerable re- 
 pose. " If Blowbladder S t- has its charms," according to the 
 Lady Pentweasle, I hope to see your lordship there again 
 before I die ; meanwhile, I am vexed that Chalmers's notice 
 cannot be inserted, particularly as I must think it still very 
 possible ; try again, I conjure you. As to Lady Stafford's 
 conversation, and yours, concerning the book, an interest in 
 such matters is so natural (what the D ss - of Beaufort would 
 style just, reasonable, and judicious), that I wonder Lord 
 Stafford can be astonished with it. Familys being one of the 
 very few things that cannot be bought, must always, in spite 
 of new lights, and levellings, and stuff, be considered very 
 valuable. How do we see people every day tormenting 
 themselves to beget their own grandfathers, after they have 
 obtained riches, and power, and titles ! vide, si placet, one half 
 of the English peerage. Oh ! talking of that, all the good 
 people of Edin. are in a commotion at present concerning 
 the new law promotions 'tis said that the Prince Eegent is 
 going to desert his old friends. Henry Erskine is furious 
 his whole party aghast. For me, I am no politician, but I 
 think it just possible that the prince may be lying by a little, 
 tho' I believe he's little to be depended upon in anything. 
 Am I writing treason ? 
 
 I dined at my Lord Queensberry's yesterday. My lady of 
 Q. hath been to the Hamilton races ; where were your lord- 
 ship's friends Apsley and Napier ? " The young ladies re- 
 gretted that Lord Apsley was not a dancer ; but the elegant 
 Mr Napier supplied all deficiencies." Lord Douglas gave a 
 ball ; but the Bothwell Castle family were not invited (how
 
 Gow E R*i8ii.] FROM THE 'DIARY OF GEORGE IV.' 481 
 
 diverting these feuds are !), tho' Lady Queensberry went. 
 "Everybody thought Lady Douglas very pretty," but for 
 Lady Queensberry's part, and Lady Bothwell Castle Douglas's 
 part, and Mrs Scott's part, and Lady Miller's part, and Miss 
 Wishart's part, they thought Lady Primrose much prettier. 
 I thought so too yesterday, but was of a very different 
 opinion both before and since. 
 
 C. KIRKPATRICK SHARPE to Lady CHARLOTTE CAMPBELL. T 
 
 CHRIST CHURCH, OXFORD, October, 1811. 
 
 DEAE - , What can I say to the generous return for 
 my abominable scribbles, which you have made me by your 
 delightful letter ! and I cannot for my life think of another 
 case than the bounty of the outlandish queen, who gave 
 a heap of diamonds for a wash-hand basin, which was a sin of 
 ignorance, as when Lady Strathmore married Bowes, or C[lem- 
 entin]a D[rummon]d, P[ete]r B[urrel]l. heavens ! I forget 
 
 myself ; do not tell . I wish that I had as many eyes as 
 
 Fame or Argus, or a spider, which I am told hath eight. Alas 
 that Lady D[ougla]s, who is the very reverse of a spider in 
 everything but her industry, hath but one ! Oh that I pos- 
 sessed as many hands as Briareus, or some of the Hindoo gods ! 
 that I might produce a weekly drawing, provided my humble 
 efforts were crowned with such a rich reward about once a 
 quarter, as your epistles are calculated to bestow ; but lack-a- 
 day ! my eyes, which scarcely can be called a pair, demand a 
 string like a doll's, in the simple operation of turning, and my 
 fingers are about as unwieldy as an Irishman's legs in the 
 gout ; nevertheless, I am resolved, in spite of nature and my 
 
 1 See ante, p. 441. This is the first of the letters from the ' Diary 
 Illustrative of the Times of George the Fourth,' to which reference has 
 been already made. As will be evident from the first letter, the whole 
 correspondence has been heavily tampered with. 
 
 VOL. I. 2 H
 
 482 FROM THE 'DIARY OF GEORGE iv.' [ 
 
 stars, to write that is, to yield a goose-quill in your Lordship's 
 service as long as I possess a little more vision than the mole, 
 and energies that may in any measure rival those of the un- 
 fortunate sloth. In truth, the honour of any command or 
 employment from you, is sufficient to transform a sloth into a 
 squirrel, for I must tell you, my dear fellow, that you are one 
 of the most extraordinary personages of the present time. 
 Perhaps you did not know it before, but only consider a 
 little. In the first place, nothing can be more honourable and 
 illustrious than your family, and your rank is suitable to it. 
 Your Lordship doth not resemble some very fine and lofty 
 gentlemen of my acquaintance, who, however high their place 
 may now be, had merchants and mechanics for their fathers ; 
 and middens, I guess, for their grandsires : then Nature seems 
 to have run hiddy-giddy in your formation, for she made you 
 noble too in mind, and, moreover, gave you a voice of un- 
 exampled power and sweetness, which, in my humble opinion, 
 is one of her greatest bestowments ; and here allow me just 
 to hint at your Lordship's scientific pursuits, and, in short, 
 whatever is praiseworthy, and fitting the true dignity of 
 human nature ; all of which is wonderful in anybody, but in 
 one so spoiled, so favoured, I should say perfectly prodigious ! 
 As to your more exalted merits, I shall not particularize them, 
 my rude pen being altogether unworthy ; only this I may 
 say, that if your Lordship, according to the chances of this 
 world, hath not always more than King Montezuma, who 
 reclined upon a bed of roses, yet your pious fortitude and 
 resignation have given a wholesome lesson to your inferiors, 
 and added graces to yourself. 
 
 From all that I have ever heard or seen, I am convinced 
 that you were intended to make as conspicuous a figure in 
 the next world as in this and that a sentence in the funeral 
 sermon of Mary, Duchess of Queensberry, who was a very 
 exalted character, might with great justice be applied to you. 
 The preacher says, "But dry up your tears, my brethren,
 
 T cAM?L C L H Lt R i8ir E ] FROM THE ' DIARY OF GEORGE IV.' 483 
 
 and weep no more ; for this most illustrious Princess, who, 
 though she was a great and good Duchess on earth, is now a 
 great and good Duchess in heaven." This is not very neat, 
 but it is all very true ; so that I may say with the clown, 
 in ' Measure for Measure,' " here be truths." 
 
 Alas ! your account of London I shall not for a great 
 while experience the truth of, as when I leave this place I 
 must repair to Scotland, where I am to remain for ages : 
 
 " To me the gods, severely kind, ordain 
 A cool suspense from pleasure and from pain." 
 
 However, as the dulness you mentioned must exist in the 
 mass of people (for it cannot possibly be in you), I must try 
 to extract a sour-grape comfort from the consideration that 
 London is not what it was. Meanwhile, be it known unto 
 you that the ingenious Mr Shelley hath been expelled from 
 the University on account of his atheistical pamphlet. Was 
 ever such bad taste and barbarity known ? He behaved like 
 a hero ; " he showed to Fortune's frowns a brow serene," and 
 declared his intention of emigrating to America. I send his 
 romance, which would have reached you sooner had not an 
 impudent person cribbed it from my rooms. I also transmit 
 Octavian, and a volume of poems written by a friend of mine. 
 He is, poor fellow ! in the last stage of a consumption ; so the 
 critics should be merciful, for he will never write better, 
 nor worse (which is of more consequence to brother authors), 
 and a deathbed repentance of such literary crimes is as 
 bitter as it is useless. Doubtless, after this cargo of Oxford 
 goods, your Lordship will exclaim, Enough, enough no more of 
 it, de grdce ! I am not wise in sending you such a dose at once, 
 for I fear that our poetical fervours will prove little better 
 than camomile, only not so wholesome, and that you will 
 never more endure the sight of such another bouquet. I 
 transmit my treasures of Parnassus by the coach, but this 
 shall move per post, as I am ever dubious concerning the
 
 484 FROM THE 'DIARY OF GEORGE iv.' [ TO C p __ 
 
 delivery of small parcels in London ; and though my books 
 and my letters be of little consequence, yet I would fain not 
 appear wanting in respect where so very much is due. I 
 have finished your portrait and it is not like, so I have 
 met the fate of all my painting predecessors. Yet to catch 
 your Lordship's likeness would not be quite impossible, if this 
 system of galvanism could be improved, and four painters of 
 ancient times rendered as lively by it, as a pig's tail is at 
 present. I would rouse from his dull repose, Titian, to paint 
 your head ; Sir Peter Lely, your neck ; Vandyke, your hands ; 
 and Rubens for the draperies and background of the picture ; 
 then, perchance, one might have something worth looking 
 at ; as matters stand, I confess I am in utter despair. 1 Will 
 you deign to read some Oxford gaiety ? I was at a rout 
 at the Deanery last night. The Deaneress, Mrs Hall, ci- 
 devant Miss Byng, and sister to the P e, a fine lady, 
 
 in white satin, telling us the price of everything in her 
 drawing-room, from the mantelpiece to her own dickey. We 
 had tea and cards, and, what, a Miss, whose name never 
 reached me, called music. After a long silence, " But where 
 are the sweet children ? " cried a parson present : on which, 
 after two tugs of the bell, the door flew open, and voila, toute 
 la singerie ! a thousand little things, with monstrous mouths, 
 hopped in, like the Egyptian plague of frogs, and surrounded 
 the poor clean, who resembled St Anthony in one of his 
 Dutch temptations, squalling aloud for cake and tea, and I 
 know not what. I was glad to escape, leaving the eldest boy 
 amusing himself with tickling the noses of all the company in 
 turns, with a handful of dirty hog-bristles, to the great delight 
 of his mother, who esteems him a decided wit. Apropos of 
 wits, Lady Westmoreland hath been at Lord Abingdon's, 
 near this town, astonishing the weak minds of sundry poor 
 youths with her vivacities. She talked to a friend of mine of 
 
 1 The remaining portion of the letter is most probably Lady Char- 
 lotte's own.
 
 FROM THE 'DIARY OF GEORGE IV.' 485 
 
 's account of the plague at Athens, which scared him 
 
 sadly ; he told me that he swore it was d d fine, though 
 
 he had never read a word of it : and she played on a Spanish 
 guitar, sitting on a cushion in the lobby by the light of the 
 lamps, to the admiration of sundry bores, who read Sir Charles 
 Grandison, and think a mad countess a fine thing. For my 
 part, I have been told that she is really not clever, and I 
 never could admire her looks she hath such a huge nose 
 that she resembles a hussar's sabre with the pouch and straps ; 
 she's principally nose, and all the rest of her seems to 
 belong to it. But it is time for me to have done, there being 
 scarcely any space on the paper left for the name of your 
 Lordship's faithful servant. 
 
 From the Same to the Same. 
 
 LONDON, Wednesday. 
 
 DEAR , Lady M. informs me that you desire I should 
 
 write ; so I hasten to obey your commands, though the 
 weather and my present mode of life are very far from 
 propitious to epistolary exertion. Nothing but smothering 
 heat, and parties that melt one into inanity. To go into 
 the streets is to endure the fiery ordeal (which none of us 
 here at present can well abide), and to venture into an 
 evening assembly is to tumble into a kettle of boiling sprats. 
 For my part, I have endured every culinary effect of fire 
 mentioned by Hannah Glasse, and all the newer processes of 
 steam besides. I am in the condition of that poor Princess 
 in the Arabian Nights, who fought so fatally with the genius 
 about the transformation of a monkey (my concerns are full 
 as apish), and I might most justly exclaim with Nourmahal, 
 
 " I burn I more than burn ; I'm all a fire ; 
 See how my mouth and nostrils flames expire ! " 
 
 Thank heaven, however, I am not in love ! That alone saves
 
 486 FROM THE 'DIARY OF GEORGE IV.' ["J 
 
 me from utter conflagration ; for indeed, dear , I cannot 
 "join the multitude to do evil," in finding Lady Elizabeth 
 
 B m, and Miss Rumbold, and twenty more, so very, very 
 
 charming. Perhaps my taste is bad, and these belles are 
 fairer than the houris ; but they do not strike me a cir- 
 cumstance which can give them no concern, and is, on the 
 whole, very lucky for the second son of a poor gentleman. 
 And now, I wonder if you will care to hear about routs 
 and such things. I shall talk a little on that subject at 
 a venture ; for you can burn this as soon as you please, 
 or give it to your hound to mumble, if there happeneth to 
 be no fire (as is most likely) in your chamber. But I am 
 firmly resolved not to say one word about the disasters at 
 Carlton House ; though I saw one miserable person brought 
 out upon a board, and many gentlewomen worse attired than 
 Eve in her primitive simplicity. You must have heard all 
 these horrors long ago ; so I shall begin with Lady Mary 
 L. Crawford's ball, most magnanimously given in the Argyll 
 Street rooms to all her friends, or rather her enemies as 
 even, by her own account of the matter, she is at deadly 
 feud with the whole world. I could admire nothing at 
 the entertainment not even herself. Eancy her attired in 
 draperies of muslin, covered with gold spots the size of a 
 sixpence ! When she reclined under that frippery canvass 
 bower at the end of the ball-room, she looked exactly like 
 an ill-favoured picture of Danae in the shower of gold. 
 
 To crown the whole, S , with rouge on his cheeks and 
 
 ultramarine on his nose, handed her to supper ! " Sure 
 such a pair ! " 
 
 I was one of the happy few at H 's ball given in 
 
 B m House a house I had been long anxious to see, 
 
 as it is rendered classical by the pen of Pope and the 
 pencil of Hogarth. It is in a woeful condition, and, as 
 I hear, to be pulled down. The company was very genteel 
 (I can't get a less vulgar word to express the sort of things)
 
 FROM THE ' DIARY OF GEORGE IV.' 487 
 
 and very dull ; but all the ladies were vastly refreshed with 
 an inscription chalked upon the floor, which each applied 
 to herself. Within a wreath of laurel, like burdock, fas- 
 tened with fifty crooked true-love knots, were the mysteri- 
 ous words "Pour elle." Indeed, my dear - , the words 
 written on the wall, which we read of in the Bible, could 
 not have produced a greater sensation. First, there was 
 such a flocking to the centre of the room such a whis- 
 pering such a " Dear, I should like to see it ! " " Pray, 
 Lady Louisa, let me see it ! " " Goodness ! whom can it 
 mean ? " and then a triumphant retreat ; smiles upon every 
 lip, exultation in every eye. It was quite amusing after- 
 wards to ask any lady who the " elle " could be ; the down- 
 cast look of affected humility, then the little sigh of half- 
 surfeited vanity, and then the stare of confident triumph, 
 crowned with " How should I know ? " were delightful. 
 
 After all, the true elle is said to be Lady E. B , for whom 
 
 a friend of mine is at present very sick, and carving her name 
 upon every tree he finds in the country. But I am not quite 
 
 sure that she will be Lady H , as I do not think that the 
 
 swain looks much in love. We had much waltzing and 
 quadrilling, the last of which is certainly very abominable. 
 I am not prude enough to be offended with waltzing, in 
 which I can see no other harm than that it disorders the 
 stomach, and sometimes makes people look very ridiculous ; 
 
 but after all, moralists, with the Duchess of G at their 
 
 head, who never had a moral in her life, exclaim dreadfully 
 against it. Nay, I am told that these magical wheelings have 
 already roused poor Lord Dartmouth from his grave to sup- 
 press them. Alas ! after all, people set about it as gravely 
 as a company of dervises, and seem to be paying adoration to 
 Pluto rather than to Cupid. But the quadrilles I can by no 
 means endure ; for till ladies and gentlemen have joints at 
 their ancles, which is impossible, it is worse than impudent 
 to make such exhibitions, more particularly in a place where
 
 488 FROM THE 'DIARY OF GEORGE IV.' [ 
 
 there are public ballets every Tuesday and Saturday. When 
 people dance to be looked at, they surely should dance to 
 perfection. Even the Duchess of Bedford, who is the Angiolini 
 of the group, would make an indifferent figurante at the 
 Opera ; and the principal male dancer, Mr North, reminds 
 one of a gibbeted malefactor, moved to and fro by the winds, 
 but from no personal exertion. Since I had the honour of 
 seeing you last, I have been introduced to the Princess of 
 Wales, and have dined several times at Kensington. Her 
 Royal Highness has been very good to me, which I in a great 
 measure attribute to the favourable manner in which you had 
 mentioned me to her. One night we went through all the 
 upper rooms in the palace, to examine the pictures, and many 
 seemed excellent in their way ; but one can see little by 
 candle-light ; and there was a sad want of names, which 
 takes away all the pleasure of portraits. The Scotch picture, 
 as an altar-piece, is very curious ; though from the style of 
 painting, I guess that it must have been done a long while 
 after the death of the persons represented. 
 
 Since I have been in London I have read nothing save 
 Miss Seward's letters and Miss Owenson's Missionary. Of 
 Miss Seward I am bound to speak well, as she doth so of me ; 
 and her monodies are beautiful ; but the letters are naught ; 
 they abound in false sentiment, and a great many other false 
 things. As to the Missionary, Ambrosio is his father and 
 Matilde his mother ; but, wanting the indelicacy of papa, and 
 the delicacy of mamma, he's a dull fellow. I could think of 
 nothing but poor Margaret Stewart of Blantyre, and her 
 Presbyterian minister, while I read this book. Miss Luxina 
 brought her hogs to a bad market, for Hilarion was little 
 better than a beast. Walter Scott's last poem I have also 
 seen, but so hastily that I can be no competent judge of its 
 merits. Talking of works, allow me to recommend to you 
 Ford's Plays, lately republished. Some of them are ex- 
 cellent; the first in the series (which hath an awkward
 
 THE 'DIARY OF GEORGE iv.' 489 
 
 name, I must confess), and the ' Broken Heart,' are par- 
 ticularly admirable. I am sure that you will be struck with 
 them ; for Ford is almost as moving as Otway or Lee, who 
 is the mad poet I adore, yet I can persuade nobody to read 
 him. The History of the Somerville family,, which I have 
 seen in MS., is soon to be printed, and that of Sutherland is 
 to be out shortly. So much for books saving that Sir John 
 Murray hath found the whole correspondence of the Earl of 
 Chesterfield, who flourished in King Charles the Second's 
 time, in Bath House, containing most curious letters of the 
 Duchess of Cleveland, Lady Southesk, and many other per- 
 sonages, whom Count Hamilton has rendered so interesting. 
 I shall try to get Sir John to publish them, for such things 
 should not run the risk of fire, not to mention rats and mice. 
 There is a sort of memoir of Lord Chesterfield at the begin- 
 ning of the volume, in which he says that his second wife 
 died of the spotted fever or plague ; but, in fact, he is said 
 to have poisoned her in the wine of the Sacrament, to be 
 revenged for her gallantries, which were notorious that old 
 villain, Sir John Denham, having shown him the way, by 
 getting rid of his wife after a fashion nearly similar. I have 
 written so much that I can find no room for Mrs Dawson's 
 masquerade, where it was said that the only good mask 
 was Mr Fitzharding in the character of Lord Berkeley ; nor 
 
 Deerhurst's marriage, nor Lady 's adventure with that 
 
 rogue her brother ; but if you will signify to me that a 
 second gazette extraordinary will be acceptable, I shall be 
 greatly flattered. Meanwhile I remain, dear - , your 
 faithful servant. 
 
 From the Same to the Same. 
 
 LONDON, Sunday 1811. 
 
 DEAR , You flatter me greatly by desiring a second 
 
 number of the gazette extraordinary, which I hasten to
 
 490 FROM THE 'DIARY OF GEORGE iv.' [ T C AML C L_, 
 
 transmit, albeit the adventures of Lady and her 
 
 brother are now what is termed in Scotland, Piper's news. 
 But before I touch seriously upon that legend, you must 
 permit me to disclaim all title to the knowledge of a cer- 
 tain art, the first rudiments of which may be gathered from 
 the ' Academy of Compliments ' and ' Walton's Complete 
 
 Angler'; indeed, my dear , I never was accused of 
 
 such a thing before; nay, I have been told by many per- 
 sons that I am too innocent of the sin, and that my fortunes 
 in life are impeded thereby ; and I verily do believe it. In 
 your especial case, however, it is scarcely possible to commit 
 this crime, except one were to give you wings at once, and 
 but I shall say no more on that subject for fear of fresh 
 accusations ; and return discreetly to my news, ancient and 
 modern, according to the tenor of the permission through 
 which I have the honour of corresponding with you. Lady 
 
 , poor Lady 0- ! knows the rules of prudence, I 
 
 fear me, as imperfectly as she doth those of the Greek and 
 Latin grammars; for she hath let her brother, who is a 
 sad swine, become master of her secrets, and then contrived 
 to quarrel with him. You would see the outline of the 
 melange in the newspapers, but not the report that Mr S 
 is about to publish a pamphlet as an addition to the Harleian 
 Tracts, setting forth the amatory adventures of his sister. 
 We shall break our necks in haste to buy it, of course crying 
 " shameful " all the while ; and it is said that Lady 
 is to be cut, which I cannot entirely believe. Let her tell 
 two or three old women about town that they are young and 
 handsome, and give some well-timed parties, and she may 
 still keep the society which she hath been used to. The 
 times are not so hard as they once were, when a woman 
 could not construe Magna Charta with anything like im- 
 punity. People were full as gallant many years ago, but 
 the days are gone by wherein my Lord Protector of the 
 Commonwealth of England was wont to go a - lovemaking
 
 E ] FROM THE 'DIARY OF GEORGE IV.' 491 
 
 to Mrs Fleetwood with the Bible under his arm. And so 
 Miss Jacky Gordon is really clothed with a husband at last, 
 and Miss Laura Manners left without a mate! She and 
 Lord Stair should marry and have children in mere revenge. 
 As to Miss Gordon, she's a Venus well suited to such a 
 Vulcan, whom nothing but money and a title could have 
 rendered tolerable, even to a kitchen - wench. It is said 
 that the matrimonial correspondence between this couple 
 is to be published full of sad and scandalous relations, 
 of which you may be sure scarcely one word is true. In 
 
 former times the Duchess of St A 's made use of these 
 
 elegant epistles in order to intimidate Lady Johnstone ; but 
 that ruse would not avail, so in spite they are to be printed. 
 What a cargo of amiable creatures ! Yet will some people 
 scarcely believe in the existence of Pandemonium ! 
 
 Tuesday morning. You are perfectly right respecting 
 the hot rooms here, which we all cry out against, and all 
 find very comfortable much more so than the cold sands 
 and bleak neighbourhood of the sea which looks vastly 
 well in one of Vander Velde's pictures hung upon crimson 
 
 damask, but hideous and shocking in reality. H and 
 
 his Elle (talking of parties) were last night at Cholmondeley 
 House, but seem not to ripen in their love. He is certainly 
 good-humoured, and, I believe, good-hearted, so deserves a 
 good wife ; but his cara seems a genuine London miss, made 
 up of many affectations. Will she form a comfortable help- 
 mate ? For me, I like not her origin, and deem many 
 strange things to run in blood, besides madness and the 
 Hanoverian evil. 1 
 
 Thursday. I verily do believe that I never shall get to 
 the end of this small sheet of paper, so many unheard-of 
 interruptions have I had ; and now I have been to Vaux- 
 
 1 The foregoing portion of this letter, as well as much of the remainder, 
 has evidently been subjected to much alteration at the hands of Lady 
 Charlotte.
 
 492 FROM THE 'DIARY OF GEORGE IV.' \ 
 
 hall and caught the toothache. I was of Lady E. B in 
 
 and H 's party, very dull ; the lady giving us all a 
 
 supper after our promenade 
 
 " Much ado was there, God wot ; 
 She would love, but he would not." 
 
 He ate a great deal of ice, though he did not seem to require 
 it ; and she " faisoit les yeux doux," enough not only to have 
 melted all the ice which he swallowed, but his own hard 
 heart into the bargain. The thing will not do. In the 
 meantime Miss Long hath become quite cruel to Wellesley 
 Pole, and divides her favour equally between Lords Killeen 
 and Kil worth, two as simple Irishmen as ever gave birth 
 to a bull. I wish to Hymen that she were fairly married, 
 for all this pother gives one a disgusting picture of human 
 nature. Avarice in children is shocking yet the united 
 schools of Eton and Westminster are gaping after this 
 girl, as if she were fairer than a myriad of Venuses. Apropos, 
 I have discovered a Venus a Mrs Owen ; she is beautiful, 
 but she looks vulgar, and is horridly affected. I think that 
 the Adonis of this year is Grarnmont. He is handsomer than 
 anybody, and I know three fat ladies who are expiring 
 through the love they bear him. Lady Barbara Ashley is 
 to marry him, it is said. And now admire, my dear - , 
 the strange change of opinion which takes place in families ! 
 Here is a person descended from a precise Puritan, and the 
 trumper-up of the Popish plot, herself a Papist, and about 
 to marry one. The Count descends prodigiously to wed 
 such an ill-born mushroom ; but she has money and he 
 hath not. Here is another change ; but he has much more 
 excuse for what he does than Miss Long's pack of truffle- 
 hunters. When Miss Porter's 'Don Sebastian' came out, I 
 expected to find the Margravine, Keppel Craven (with whom 
 the fair authoress was in love), and many of my other friends 
 there ; in place of which I found nothing but such heroes
 
 ] FROM THE ' DIARY OF GEORGE IV.' 493 
 
 and heroines as might have been fashionable and common 
 formerly, but who are wonderfully out of date and rare now ; 
 so that circumstances gave me a disgust to the book. As 
 to my own romance, which you have done me the honour of 
 accepting, I feel such prodigious qualms about its publication, 
 that I scarcely think it will ever see the light. When it 
 is quite finished you shall have it in your power as to a 
 perusal. The subject is certainly good, though my hero was a 
 sad fool, and my heroine (Lady H. W[entworth] ) little better 
 than a baggage ; but I have not done it justice, and people 
 persuade me that these melanges of truth and fiction are per- 
 nicious, or at least worthless. On the score of impropriety 
 you will find nothing offensive ; and the moral of the Duke 
 of M[onmouth]'s life is excellent, for his errors, poor soul ! 
 were venial, and his punishment most exemplary. Lady 
 H[arriet] never held up her head after the intelligence of his 
 death reached her ; and his Duchess, who was a very unfeel- 
 ing woman, that breakfasted on cold haggiss, married Lord 
 C[ornwallis], and concluded her career very comfortably. 
 And here it is time that I should conclude mine for the pres- 
 ent, as far as writing goes ; so, with ten thousand thanks for 
 your letter, which I dare not call amusing, lest you should 
 say I flatter, and living in hopes of being honoured with hear- 
 ing from you again, I am, dear , your faithful servant. 
 
 From the Same to the Same. 
 
 What you have the goodness to ask as a favour, my dear 
 , I need not say I look upon as an honour ; and I have 
 
 finished two daubs, which I shall take the earliest private 
 opportunity of sending to you. The one is Queen Elizabeth 
 dancing, the other Louis XIV. and the Duchesse de la Valliere. 
 Whichever of these unworthy performances you deem best, 
 pray retain for yourself ; for though the Princess Charlotte is
 
 494 FROM THE ' DIARY OF GEORGE IV.' [ 
 
 certainly a great personage, and a budding queen, and one 
 may give oneself great airs on having done a drawing for her, 
 yet I am a Jacobite and a Scotchman ; so I would rather have 
 the best of my poor efforts in the possession of yourself, than 
 in that of the Princess Charlotte of Wales. Ever since I have 
 possessed eyes and ears, I have known how to appreciate the 
 honours done me by the former. Things have gone on rather 
 stupidly, I think, since you left Edinburgh. There have been 
 some parties, where people pretended to waltz and imagined 
 they were singing. Indeed, not to be above one's trade, with 
 some exceptions, this city containeth few pretty, well-dressed 
 women, and a number of Anthropophagi, and men whose 
 heads 
 
 " Do grow beneath their shoulders." 
 
 I had the honour of being at Lady C 's one evening 
 
 lately, and saw some French country-dances. I wish that 
 
 you and Miss C had seen them also : there was every 
 
 step of a dancing duck, and the line of beauty formed the 
 
 wrong way. Pray tell Miss C that the principal Vestris 
 
 was her humble admirer Charles C , figuring with a new 
 
 French (I presume) head, his hair being peaked up like 
 Corporal Trim's Montero cap, or some of the foretops in 
 Captain Cook's Voyages. With this head-gear, and holding 
 his legs like a frog swimming, he was enough to kill one with 
 laughing ; and he never could have his fill of it for when 
 any poor Miss fell piping hot upon her chair, out of the ring, 
 he always handed her up again, with a kick-out of his heels 
 that beggars all description. 
 
 I saw Dr A. E there, in very good health, but still busy 
 
 with the measled children in George's Square. His brother, 
 an officer in the 92d, is a very descendant of Adonis, and all 
 the pelisses in Princes Street are in love with him. How- 
 ever, 'tis said he confines himself entirely to Miss G , 
 
 a lady rich in money and a hump, to which I fear Adolphus
 
 FROM THE 'DIARY OF GEORGE iv.' 495 
 
 will never find a discussing plaster for it appears to be a 
 mighty obstinate tumour. She does not care so very much 
 for good looks but she is extremely fond of laurels, and 
 
 E was at * * * : so she will wear his garlands upon her 
 
 shoulders * * * ; while he will find her money a much more 
 comfortable and substantial thing than a night-cap of green 
 leaves. 
 
 I saw Mr C here the other day. He is, I think, grown 
 
 fat, and has always more light in his face than anybody ; but 
 I wish he were away from this odious town I mean odious 
 with respect to young men of fortune, and indeed to young 
 men of any sort : for I am old-fashioned, I confess, in many 
 points, and deem this place a very poison to the youthful soul. 
 In London, young lads are dissipated enough, and thought- 
 less ; but I never found them set up, as they universally do 
 here, for atheistic professors of everything foolish and impious. 
 David Hume has left that legacy to his unfortunate country- 
 men. His ill-grounded reputation dazzles our College and our 
 Bar; and I actually believe that there is not one Christian, 
 I had almost said Theist, on the benches of our lecture-rooms, 
 or on the boards of our Parliament House. 
 
 Apropos, our ladies are greatly shocked with the free use 
 of Scriptural phrases in the * * * , and very angry with the 
 author on that account. For my part, as I have read a great 
 many of the old Presbyterian sermons, I do not see those 
 passages in so atrocious a light ; for they are nothing to the 
 wonderful things one meets with in the effusions of Peden 
 and Cargill, whose favourite Scriptural book appears to have 
 been the Song of Solomon which Song, by the way, I lately 
 found in MS. in the Advocates' Library, translated into rhyme 
 by Mistress Barbara Macky, and humbly dedicated to that 
 most noble lady the Countess of Caithness, daughter to that 
 thrice worthy marquess, my Lord Marquess of Argyll. And 
 a conscientious translator Mistress Barbara was, for she 
 leaves not out one word of her original ; but her fidelity is
 
 496 FROM THE 'DIARY OF GEORGE iv.' u 
 
 superior to her metre by many degrees. The Countess to 
 whom she dedicates was twice married ; first to Lord Caith- 
 ness, and then to Lord Breadalbane. Her picture, extremely 
 pretty, is at Holyrood House. 
 
 Talking of pictures, poor B. H. has got such a cold (I 
 suppose by sitting to T - as Venus) that she coughs the 
 Castle rocks into ten thousand echoes, and rouses the 92d 
 there every five minutes with the trumpet of her nose. I 
 
 never saw her in so sad a condition. Not so Lady C 1, 
 
 who is going to marry Mr B- s forthwith, and seems very 
 
 comfortable on the prospect. However, she will not have the 
 satisfaction of carrying on the S - family ; for it appears 
 that Mr B - hath a son an unlicked lad ; and I was told 
 
 that, the other evening, B 's old nurse (who always lives 
 
 with him) and his landlady, looking out of the back windows 
 by moonlight, beheld master salute the housemaid as they 
 met in the cabbage - garden ; 011 which the two indignant 
 Lucretias sallied down -stairs, and fell each upon her own 
 property, with blows as well as words and a dreadful scene 
 there was ! Nothing like the uproar hath been heard there- 
 abouts since the murder of David Kizzio. They had all been 
 very nearly seized by the police. What became of the nymph 
 
 I know not ; but Master B is transmitted to the birch of 
 
 the minister at Aberlady, there to mortify in sackcloth and 
 
 sea-coal ashes. If I did riot know your goodness, dear , 
 
 I should beg ten thousand pardons for all this stuff; but as it 
 is, offering my very best wishes and respect, I rest your ever 
 obliged, &C. 1 
 
 1 Considerable intervals must have elapsed between these letters ; 
 but as Lady Charlotte Campbell does not assign dates except to the first 
 two, I have thought it convenient to group them together.
 
 SHELLEY IN EDINBURGH. 497 
 
 I,*', hhlSrtBLKK i , loll. J 
 
 C. KIRKPATRICK SHARPE to the MARCHIONESS OF QUEENSBERRY. 
 
 1811. 
 
 I think that nothing very remarkable hath happened in 
 this part of the world since your ladyship left it, saving the 
 arrival of 200 French prisoners at Dumfries, which is thought 
 to be one of the portents of the comet, and cast the Pres- 
 bytery into such a consternation, that they drew up an ad- 
 vertisement for the Dumfries newspapers, stating that no 
 marriages with these ogres and bluebeards were valid. I 
 know not whether the maturer inhabitants of Dumfries 
 viewed the prisoners with smiles; but the junior citizens, with 
 that urbanity peculiar to provincial towns, paid them wonder- 
 ful attention from the very beginning, testifying the warmth 
 of their feelings by incessant shouts, and a liberal contribu- 
 tion of all they had to bestow, their own original and proto- 
 type namely, huge handfuls of dirt ; but my Lord Provost, 
 anxiously alive to the town's reputation for loyalty, as well 
 as to the decreasing glories of his own dunghill, very judici- 
 ously sent his herald through the city, who, by beat of drum 
 put an end to such unseasonable hospitality. 
 
 C. KIRKPATRICK SHARPE to Mrs BALFOUR. 
 
 MY DEAR MADAM, In case I should not find you at home 
 when I swim to Heriot Eow to-day, I impudently write this 
 to beg that you will permit me to bring to your party Mr 
 Shelley who is a son of Sir Timothy Shelley and his friend 
 Mr Hutchinson. They are both very gentlemanly persons, 
 and dance quadrilles eternally. 1 I will make no apologies for 
 
 1 The guarded language of this letter of introduction is worthy of 
 note. Mr Sharpe's real opinion of Shelley is elsewhere very forcibly 
 expressed. 
 
 VOL. I. 2 I
 
 498 LENNOX PICTURES SADLER'S PAPERS. 
 
 this intrusion, but rely upon your good-nature for an excuse ; 
 and so I rest, dear Madam, your ever faithful servant, 
 
 CHAS. KIRKPATRICK SHARPE. 
 
 93 PRINCES ST., Saturday. 
 
 Earl GOWER to C. KIRKPATRICK SHARPE. 
 
 TRENTHAM, Now. 4, 1811. 
 
 MY DEAR SHARPE, I have not yet thanked you for the 
 notices for ' Wood's Douglas's Peerage,' which Lady Stafford 
 forwarded to him, and which we think he will be very glad 
 to receive ; and now I have to thank you for your last letter 
 of the 31st Oct. with the portrait of Esme, Duke of Lenox, 
 for which I really cannot thank you so much as I should 
 wish, or tell you how very much I like it. I think it im- 
 possible to have little portraits of interesting persons done in 
 a more agreeable manner. I like it much too well to refuse 
 the portrait you are so good as to offer me of the Lady Marie. 1 
 If she be proportionally handsome, I shall like her still better 
 than the Duke, whose beauty I admire very much. I think 
 you must have had the beau Tircis in your head at the time 
 of copying it, as I see a great resemblance in feature. Pray 
 tell me, is the original at Hoddam, or where ? 
 
 Do you know, I do not much like trusting such drawings 
 to the Post, as the Duke has been near suffering from the 
 letter having been a little worn thro', as if it had had a piece 
 of packthread tied too tight round it, but not so as to have 
 suffered essentially. 
 
 Mr Clifford, the proprietor and editor of Sir Ealph Sadlers's 
 papers, has let his house of Tixall in this county to Lord 
 
 1 Lady Mary Stewart, second daughter of Esme, Duke of Lennox ; 
 wife of John, second Earl of Mar. For an etched portrait of this lady, 
 who was an ancestress of Kirkpatrick Sharpe, see ' Etchings by Charles 
 Kirkpatrick Sharpe,' Plate ii.
 
 . FAMILY PEIDE. 499 
 
 Granville, 1 and very strangely has left a great many curious 
 books and papers about, and among others Sir Balph Sadlers's 
 original papers. Yesterday I amused myself with taking a 
 facsimile of one of old Queen Elizabeth's signatures, and your 
 loving Soverain, in her own hand. There is no curiosity 
 in it, as several facsimiles of her handwriting have been pub- 
 lished, and some in the very book of Sir Ralph Sadler's. 
 However, such as it is, I send it you for want of anything 
 better. You may depend on its accuracy, as I put out my 
 eyes in tracing it thro' the paper. If it had been to Leicester, 
 I should perhaps not have resisted a temptation I felt to 
 tear out the page, which would, 10 to 1, never have been 
 missed; but perhaps you might not have cared for it. I 
 could not find any of Queen Marie's, at least not Marie 
 Stuart. Of Marie of Guise there were several, which are 
 given in the book. I was much amused with the account of 
 the Hamilton Palace ball, and the idea of Lady Primrose. 
 Apropos of family pride, which your letter has a tendency 
 to encourage, did you ever hear of the Grants thinking 
 that there was a misprint in some part of Genesis or Exodus 
 where it says, " And there were giants in those days," and of 
 their altering it to what they supposed must be the right 
 reading, " And there were Grants in those days " ? 
 
 When this is well told it makes a very good story per- 
 haps an old one. Yours very truly, G. 
 
 COUNT DE GRAMONT to C. KIRKPATRICK SHARPE. 
 
 Nov. 12. 
 
 A thousand thanks, my dear Sharpe, for your kind in- 
 quiries. After such an account as the newspapers gave of 
 
 1 Lord Granville Leveson Gower, youngest son of first Marquis of 
 Stafford, created Viscount Granville 1815, and Earl Granville 1833; 
 uncle of Earl Gower.
 
 500 GRAMONT'S ACCIDENT. 
 
 iny fall, you must have thought me dead, and of the most 
 ignominious death for a hussar. It was not from a horse 
 that I was thrown, but from one of those confounded til- 
 buries. All my limbs, except the most precious, had their 
 share of bruises and fracture. Little Fatty was here at the 
 time, and I again lost the opportunity of fulfilling my promise 
 to you. She often came to see me : every time I repented 
 to have hazarded myself behind a kicking horse. How her 
 eyes spoke ! They seemed to be swimming in delicious ideas. 
 I was ready to afford her civil entertainment ; but whether for 
 my sake, or whether she thought I was not in proper con- 
 dition, fai manqud mon coup. Mais reculer pour mieux sauter, 
 damned the trumpets ; they blow their guts out to let me 
 know I ought to be on parade, so I must dress for the purpose 
 of getting over, and must give up the pleasure of conversing 
 with you. Portez-vous bien, soyez heureux, 
 
 GRAMONT. 
 
 C. KIRKPATEICK SHARPE to WALTER SCOTT, Esq. 
 
 HODDAM CASTLE, 25th Nov. 1811. 
 
 MY DEAR SCOTT, A number of reasons, most touching in 
 themselves, but tedious to relate, like the woes of many a 
 Miss Montreville in a novel, have prevented me from sooner 
 transmitting to you my grandsire's sage advices, and (which 
 is of more import to me) my thanks for your late kind epistle. 
 In this cold season of Solway Firth showers, and winds 
 from every point of the compass, such a letter as your last 
 is doubly comfortable. It hath done my toothache a great 
 deal of good, and almost dispelled the main body of my 
 rheumatism which hath lately quartered itself in every habit- 
 able part of my frame ; but grieved am I not to have it in my 
 power to make you a better return than by this [ l ] 
 1 Letter torn under the seal.
 
 ] LA BELLE STEWART. 501 
 
 discourse of Lord Eglintoune's, which, on transcription, I find 
 abominable. In my infancy I was taught to admire it, and I 
 have taken its merits for granted ever since, don't, however, 
 believe, had it been ten times better than it is an original 
 from King Solomon himself to his son by the Queen of Sheba, 
 who was, if I remember right, sovereign of the genii it should 
 not have been at your service. To this admonition, which, in 
 addition to its other demerits, is not yet quite old enough to 
 be curious, I have subjoined a couple of billet-doux which 
 passed between my grandfather's aunt and her spouse pre- 
 vious to their marriage ; they may, perhaps, amuse you. Lord 
 Loudon discharging upon mine hostess in the manner of 
 Antient Pistol, while the Lady takes such a length of time to 
 respond, and then is so exceedingly laconic, that she furnishes 
 an admirable example of the amatory ladies of the Owenson- 
 ian school, who return flash for flash like the D. of Bucks's 
 Lightning, and powder their red-haired sentiments to an 
 amazing length and thickness. 
 
 Apropos, did I ever tell you that I at last obtained copies 
 of La Belle Stewart's letters to Lord Blantyre ? There is 
 not a word concerning Leyden in the whole mass, which, I 
 mean the mass, proves her to have been a much more sensible 
 woman than Hamilton pretends, a small lucky looking well 
 after her money matters, and entertaining as great a contempt 
 for Lord Blantyre's understanding as Count Anthony did for 
 her own. She complains sadly of the spleen, and mentions 
 the recent death of her old lover, King Charles, with all the 
 indifference imaginable. 
 
 You are very good, dear Scott, to express yourself so 
 kindly respecting our meeting, which I much fear cannot soon 
 take place. Meanwhile, I wish all success to the Trentham 
 oaks. May no rapacious pig or wily crow invade the buried 
 acorns ; may no spiteful arcolous or crabbed Duessa revenge 
 the cause of magic in your poems, by blighting the tender 
 shoots ; may the trees spring up as fair as the noble donor,
 
 502 LADY DALKEITH LADY HOOD. 
 
 and as durable as their possessor's fame ; and may you sur- 
 vive to sit under their spreading shade, as happy as the old 
 man of Verona, without his stupidity, instructing your deli- 
 cious muse to weave crowns from their branches for the brows 
 of our Caledonian worthies ! 
 
 I am quite happy that I have found favour in the eyes of 
 Lady Dalkeith, who is a most charming person. We shall 
 read again, by-and-bye, of " the witchcraft of the Lady Buck- 
 leugh," tho' not apropos of loose queens, and the blowing up 
 of sick princes into the air. Don't you think that Lady 
 Dalkeith is exactly what every woman of her station ought 
 to be ? She is sensible, and not dull; sweet, without insipidity. 
 Of all nauseous things on earth, beetroot without vinegar is 
 the most abominable. 
 
 When I was last in London, I met with a great friend of 
 yours there, Lady Hood, 1 and we became very well acquainted 
 more from a congeniality of sentiment concerning your good 
 worship, than owing to other circumstances. She is a very 
 singular personage, with a sort of head like a pigeon-house : 
 in this hole, a couple of eggs ready for hatching in that, a 
 dove; here, some dung and a rotten egg there, a cat that 
 whips out upon you unawares, and makes you start with its 
 long tail. The last time I had the pleasure of seeing her she 
 told me that she was going to Jamaica with Sir Samuel, which 
 I was very sorry to hear, because she had really been civil to 
 me, and is an excellent person to meet with at routs and 
 suppers in town. 
 
 You flatter me very much by desiring me to contribute to 
 
 1 Mary Elizabeth Frederica, eldest daughter of Frances Humberston 
 Mackenzie, Lord Seaforth, in the peerage of Great Britain, married 6th 
 Nov. 1804, to Vice-Admiral Sir Samuel Hood : and secondly, to James 
 Alexander Stewart, afterwards Stewart Mackenzie. It was to Lady 
 Hood that Sir Walter Scott, on her father's death, addressed the well- 
 known lines, " Farewell to Kintail."
 
 S co,lsQ*?8ii.] GRAHAME ' PERPLEXED PRINCE.' 503 
 
 the ' Register ' ; but my fun, however your kind partiality may 
 regard it, will scarcely stand the press, and till I have got a 
 better set of nerves (which I think I shall never do but in my 
 coffin), I must shrink from those " tirrets and frights " which 
 the rejections of editors and the roughness of reviewers 
 unavoidably occasion to a mind of my very confined and 
 cowardly calibre. 
 
 Talking of a coffin brings poor Grahame 1 into my head. 
 There is a very pretty poet and a good sincere man gone. 
 How I grieve that I once in your classical mansion shocked 
 his Presbyterian spirit with praises of Lord Dundee and the 
 other persecutors of the primitive Whigs. He thought me in 
 a state of utter reprobation. What you say of Miss Seward 
 is extremely amusing and just, I should think ; some of her 
 criticisms appear very good. She furnishes some admirable 
 irons for smoothing the rumpled ruffles of the Muses. But all 
 the world is flouting at her about this poor Mr Saville, this 
 simple singing-man of Lichfield, who studied botany, and fell 
 into the hysterica passio on the death of her favourite lap-dog. 
 For my part, I hold that the connection was harmless ; and if 
 it was really closer than the laws of chastity in strictness 
 warrant, still poetesses and queens are in some sort privileged 
 persons from Sappho to Aphra Behn, from Semiramis to 
 Katherine of Eussia, a cicibio hath been the mode. On the 
 Lyre and on the Crown Love perches " free as air." 
 
 Before I have done, permit me to ask you two questions 
 did you ever meet with a novel called the ' Perplexed Prince,' 
 which, I am told, contains a full account of the amours of 
 Charles the Second and Lucy Waters, the D. of Monmouth's 
 mother 1 secondly, did you ever fall in with an older poem 
 than that of Ramsay on Bessie Bell and Mary Gray, which 
 concludes with this stanza : 
 
 1 Grahame, the author of the " Sabbath," and other poems.
 
 504 'THE PERPLEXED PPJNCE.' 
 
 " They thought to lie in Methven kirk-yard 
 
 Amang their royal kin, 
 But they maun lie in Stronach Haugh 
 To beik forenent the sin " ? 
 
 My dear Scott, pray answer me these questions when per- 
 fectly convenient, and believe me, meanwhile, most faithfully 
 and ever vours, CHS. KIRKPATRICK SHARPE. 
 
 WALTER SCOTT, Esq., to C. KIRKPATRICK SHARPE. 
 
 MY DEAR SHARPE, Though I am very cross with you for 
 not coming to Edinburgh, I hasten to thank you for your 
 kind communications to my favourite ' Register,' l and to re- 
 quite you by a response to your two queries. Listen, then, 
 to the Brazen Head. 
 
 I have the ' Perplexed Prince.' It is a small 12mo, printed 
 for R. Allan, London, without printer's name or date of publi- 
 cation, dedicated to Lord Russell though, as the author 
 acknowledges, without permission or acquaintance to justify 
 the inscription. It is a stupid, bold attempt to throw the 
 history of Charles's amour with Lucy Waters (Dame Lucilious, 
 as the pamphleteer calls her) into a novel. Nothing like 
 private history or even delectable scandal can be gleaned out 
 of it except that Charles made his first addresses at the Court 
 of Dencsia, in a garden where the lady was plucking (not a 
 rose, but) a carnation. It avers stoutly that the king, by the 
 advice of his brother (who had his own ambitious ends to 
 serve), married Madam Lucilious, very probably without any 
 other witness than the said brother and the priest. The 
 book itself shall attend you if you will point out a safe 
 quomodo ; for I think it rather curious, though main 
 stupid. I have also the ' Fugitive Statesman ' in requital for 
 the ' Perplexed Prince ' a sort of Tory Rowland for the 
 1 Edinburgh Annual Register.
 
 . Q ''] BESSIE BELL AND MARY GRAY. 505 
 
 Whig Oliver, which turns on the expatriation of Shaftesbury. 
 Moreover, I possess a Grub Street of the same size and period, 
 ' The Life and Heroic Action of James Duke of Monmouth,' 
 which really contains some articles of minute information 
 concerning that unfortunate tool of a Protestant Duke. Now 
 if these can assist or entertain you, you shall have them for 
 any length of time you please, provide you will engage not 
 to revive the legend of the ' Black Box,' or to prove his Grace 
 the Duke of Buccleuch and Queensberry lawful heir to these 
 realms. It would grieve me to the heart to lose the privilege 
 of Lady Dalkeith's squire and minstrel, and of cuddling her 
 little boys. I do not think the matter would be softened by 
 the promotion of my little namesake to be Prince Walter of 
 Wales, or the prospect of being hanged for Border fealty to 
 my chief, which our rigid laws might term -high treason in 
 which case, as Shakespeare's clown says, I should have 
 brought up a neck to a fair end. So e'en let the House of 
 Hanover keep what they have got. 
 
 As to your second query, Mr Irving, a second son of the 
 Drum family, and an artist by profession, produced in the 
 Exhibition at Edinburgh this year a view of the graves of 
 Bessie Bell and Mary Gray in the dell of Lednoch, and added 
 the fragment of the ballad to the description in the catalogue. 
 I asked him about it, and he assured me of its authenticity, 
 but said he could recover no more of it. It is evident the 
 first verse of Allan Eamsay's song belonged to the old ballad, 
 for the " bower theeked with rushes " has no connection 
 with the stuff he has subjoined to it about Jove and Pallas. 
 You will find the story of the unfortunate damsels (though I 
 daresay you have heard it often) in the Statistical Account. 
 I have no doubt the concluding lines are genuine. On look- 
 ing at last spring catalogue, I do not find the lines ; they must 
 have been in that for 1810. I think it was Lednoch Haugh, 
 not Stronach, as you write. 
 
 Poor Graham is indeed one good man lost to the best of
 
 506 GEAHAME MISS SEWARD. [* 
 
 possible worlds. Indeed he had conscience and modesty 
 enough for a whole General Assembly or Convocation. Yet 
 his principles and prejudices and feelings made an odd 
 jumble. He was an admirer of Queen Mary, and somewhat 
 a Jacobite, yet a keen Whig in modern politicks ; a Church 
 of England clergyman from choice and conviction, yet an 
 advocate for Dissenters and Cameronians ; a Graham, and yet 
 a murmurer against Montrose and Dundee. As for your 
 amicable debate, there was nothing that I remember to regret 
 about it, especially as I am convinced poor Graham was quite 
 delighted with you. I daresay when he went to Arthur's 
 bosom he was surprized, at tuning his lute, to be attended 
 with a grand trumpet accompaniment from the noble leaders 
 of his name, to whom in his earthly blindness he had assigned 
 another mansion. Adieu, my dear Sharpe. Yours ever, 
 
 W. S. 
 EDINBURGH, 4 Dec. 
 
 Pray what is become of the family History ? I have got 
 a droll one of the Somervilles written about 1667, which I 
 think of publishing. 
 
 I have filled up my sheet without a word of my Patagonian 
 baby, Lady Hood, whom I like very much for all your raillery, 
 or of Miss Seward. As for the scandal between the latter 
 and the Vicar Saville, she herself told a female friend, who 
 told me, there was not a word of truth in it, and I believe 
 her ; for she added candidly, she did not know what might 
 have happened if Saville had not been more afraid of the 
 devil than she was ! 
 
 Earl GOWER to C. KIEKPATRICK SHARPE. 
 
 TRENTHAM, Deer. 4, 1811. 
 
 MY DEAR SHARPE, I am happy to be able to announce to 
 you the safe arrival of the Lady Marie, who, with her father,
 
 . LADY MARY STEWART. 507 
 
 will be great ornaments to my copy of the Sutherland His- 
 tory, which I intend to adorn and illustrate very handsomely. 
 She has a very French-looking face, which, independent of 
 her father's resemblance to Tircis, she has a good right to, I 
 find, from her mother, who was a Frenchwoman. 1 The book 
 must, I should think, soon come out, tho' we have not heard 
 from Constable for some time. 
 
 We are still here, and Lord Stafford does not intend to go 
 to town till the New Year. I am not sure yet whether I 
 shall remain so long. I am very sorry to hear such dismal 
 accounts of rheumatism, &c. ; the flannel and arm-chair and 
 fireside sounds more comfortable. I am very much entertained 
 with Voltaire and Frederic's correspondence, which, when one 
 gets over a little disgust at the extreme flattery with which 
 Voltaire bedaubs him, is extremely interesting as Voltaire's 
 works all are. I should have no objection to have rheuma- 
 tism with a good fireside and no sensation of necessity of 
 taking exercise with a good edition of Voltaire, of whom 
 one can never tire, at least in the way I read him, which 
 is taking the liberty of passing over all the metaphysicks, 
 of which I soon tire. 
 
 Deer. 6, 1811. 
 
 I had written so far the other day, when somebody or some- 
 thing interrupted me ; and perhaps it would have been as 
 well if I were not to continue it. However, dull as it may be, 
 it shall be now continued, et qui plus est in same style of dull- 
 ness. I have in store for you, as my dtrennes for the New 
 Year, a sixpennyworth of etchings, which are curious as the 
 production of the porter at Cleveland H. copies of pictures 
 in the gallery, with which he has amused himself during 
 the summer. You won't admire or care much for the etch- 
 ings ; but find another porter who can do better, and you 
 shall have them from me instead. 
 
 1 Catherine de Balzac.
 
 508 A CHAPTER OF ACCIDENTS. [T^,*! 
 
 I am amusing myself with studying a little botany ; but as 
 I think it one of the worst sorts of pedantry, and as common 
 as any other, I mean to keep it quite to myself. 
 
 I am not sufficiently versed in Ovid to pretend to give an 
 appropriate motto for the sonnet of the rival goddesses. If I 
 were to say for them to Tircis 
 
 " Arbiter es formse ; certamina siste Dearum, 
 Vincere quse forma digna sit una duas," 
 
 you would probably think it flat, and I am sure he would not 
 understand it. I believe you had better have pure English, 
 or perhaps rather French 
 
 " Nous vous avouons toutes, sans en faire la fine 
 Que nous vous trouvons beau, bien fait, de bonne mine, 
 Un trop friand morceau, pour cette chienne de Proserpine." 
 
 I shall hope to hear from you soon again. Continue to 
 direct to this place. Y rs - very truly, G. 
 
 If I were at Hoddam, I should talk to your brother on 
 farming as long as he chose as, in addition to my farm in 
 Sutherland, I am now going to have one in Shropshire, for 
 the management of which I have engaged a Scotch bailif. 
 
 Lady Stafford desires me to give her compliments to you, 
 and to say that she admires your drawings extremely. 
 
 Earl GOWER to C. KIEKPATRICK SHARPE. 
 
 TRENTHAM, Deer. 18th, 1811. 
 
 MY DEAR SHARPE, I begin to fear that the rheumatism 
 has taken possession of your right arm, wrist, and hand, which 
 would be the devil and all, as the vulgar would say. I would 
 compound with it by giving up the shoulder, but no farther on 
 any account. People in this part of the world think and talk 
 of nothing but the murders and robberies that now take place
 
 . ANTHONY A WOOD ' KOCH'S TABLES.' 509 
 
 everywhere in town and country. In this neighbourhood we 
 have had a farmer robbed a mile and half from home, on one 
 side ; and on the other, at about the same distance, a butcher 
 robb'd and almost butchered into the bargain. And last night, 
 not content with the horrid transactions going on abroad, death 
 took hold of a man in the park par le derriere not in the way 
 she did Louis 14th, but in a more unusual manner. The poor 
 man was returning home across the park, at about 8 o'clock, 
 and it would seem quil avoit le venire un peu trop charge, and 
 perhaps the head too, with ale. 
 
 We shall leave this place at the end of this month. I shall 
 make a short visit on the road, and be in town before the 
 meeting of Parliament. People are dying to know what the 
 Prince will do when the restrictions are taken off. Lady 
 Stafford has just begun reading Anthony a Wood, which we 
 say you have at your fingers' ends. Don't you think you could 
 entertain yourself with composing a continuation of his work ? 
 
 There is another work I wish somebody would undertake, 
 which you would think beneath you that is, the completing 
 and perfecting ' Koch's Tables genealogiques des Maisons 
 Souveraines de 1'Europe/ which is a most useful and excellent 
 book, but unfinished. As this will arrive at your apartment 
 a very little before Xrnas, I could wish that it were more 
 entertaining, that it might not appear contradictory to wish 
 you a merry Xmas. G. 
 
 C. KIKKPATEICK SHAKPE to WALTER SCOTT, Esq. 
 
 MY DEAR SCOTT, Ten thousand thanks for your excellent 
 letter, its kind offers, and most satisfactory communications. 
 
 Since I last had the pleasure of addressing you, my plans as 
 to this earthly pilgrimage are so far changed that I now travel 
 with my family into Edinburgh, a device which gives me 
 infinite satisfaction from the prospect it holds forth of meet-
 
 510 MONMOUTH PAMPHLETS. [wo5,^S75ll. 
 
 ing with you, else " to hear music the General doth not 
 greatly care," and Gow is the only irrational amusement in 
 Auld Keekie ; moreover, I have now few acquaintances there, 
 and these are ladies, who have become old maids in spite of 
 themselves and me. " Here," according to the late Dean of 
 Ch. Ch., with his cork'd wine, " here is a real calamity ; " but 
 I hope you will take pity upon me while I remain. " Good, 
 my lord, be good to me," and suffer me to enjoy as much of 
 your society as your numerous avocations will permit. 
 
 Your offers respecting the Monmouth pamphlets I will 
 thankfully accept when in Edinburgh, tho' I have given up a 
 plan I nourished for about a fortnight regarding memoirs of 
 that unfortunate Adonis, with an appendix of poetry. How- 
 ever, I still think that anybody who can write very sweet 
 English, with no morals, and a slight knowledge of leading 
 facts, may make a pretty book of it. The Duke was a bad 
 son, a bad husband, and an indifferent father, besides silly and 
 led by the nose ; but then that nose was beautiful, and the 
 feature of a prince of numerous accomplishments brave, 
 sincere to his friend, constant to his mistress, and wretchedly 
 unfortunate. Here is a real hero of a true romance ; but my 
 style will not " stalk on boards and barrel-heads to the sound 
 of a crackt trumpet," so I can do no justice to the merits of 
 the subject. 
 
 Ergo, there is no danger of rebellion ; that black box of 
 Pandora shall remain unopened, the Duke of Buccleugh un- 
 crowned, and the clan of Scott unhanged; but were Lord 
 Scott a prince to-morrow, I see not why that should preclude 
 a poet's caresses. We have so many princes and so few poets, 
 I have an idea that the very touch of a true poet is salubrious. 
 
 I have been reading Southey's Curse lately, and find it 
 much more dreadful than that of Ernulphus, yet there are 
 many beauties among much beastliness. To recover myself 
 from the latter, I was compelled to take a dose of ' Marmion,' 
 for you
 
 1 !*!!.] BESSIE BELL AND MARY GRAY. 511 
 
 " Have ambulate on Parnax the mountain 
 Inspyrt with Hermes frax his golden sphere, 
 And dulcely drunk of eloquence the fountain, 
 Quhen purifeet with frost, and flowand cleir ; 
 But Southey cam in March or Febraeir, 
 There till ane pule, and drunk the Padok Rude, 
 That gave him rhyme in terms of sense denude, 
 And blabber things that wyse men hate to heir." 
 
 The fragment of Bessie Bell and Mary Gray I shall try to 
 complete when in Perthshire, whither I bend my steps from 
 Edinburgh. I remember that Miss Anne Forbes aunt to 
 a beauty whom you may have met with at Dalkeith, Bess 
 Eobertson once showed me a necklace which had pertained 
 to Mary Gray, she said, who was an ancestress of her own 
 but she seemed to know nothing of any other song but that 
 stuff of Ramsay's. Pennant, in his account of these nymphs, 
 quotes ' Gabions of Perth,' a book which I never saw. He 
 and the Stat. 1 do not agree as to dates. I should like to see 
 Mr Irving's view of the Haugh, both on account of the scene 
 represented, and the artist ; for, as a cavalier, I have always 
 entertained a great respect for that family of Drum, which I 
 imagined to be extinct. It makes a great figure in Spalding, 2 
 and there is a letter from the Laird in Whitelock, which 
 appears to me extremely well written. 
 
 I finished my family History long ago, and now look at the 
 mass of writing as a catalogue of dull knights and forgotten 
 ladies, with a degree of horror which no language can describe, 
 as the produce of laborious idleness. The very sight of the 
 book sickens me, and I am daily tempted to make my pro- 
 genitors dree the fate of warlocks and witches by passing 
 them through the fire to Moloch. The Somerville History I 
 have seen, and must seriously beseech you to publish it, as it 
 
 1 " Statistical Account." 
 
 2 Commissary Clerk of Aberdeen, author of " The Troubles of Scot- 
 land," and eponym of the well-known Book Club.
 
 512 DIARY OF LADY ANNE CLIFFORD. [ 8 ooS,^u. 
 
 is replete with entertainment, full of lies, cert-es, but the 
 gossip of an old-wifish lord, which is excellent. 
 
 I recollect being struck with the hereditary love of cow- 
 feeding, &c., exhibited in the Hist., a turn which got the 
 name of Pudding Somerville to the race, and still shines (do 
 not think here of a barn-door in moonshine, I beseech thee) 
 in the present lord, who, as fame reports, knoweth passing 
 
 well 
 
 " The care of sheep, of oxen, and of kine, 
 And when to geld the lambs, and sheer the swine." 
 
 Lady Stafford, you will know, is printing her family chronicle, 
 some proof-sheets of which I saw in London, and they seemed 
 amusing ; but of all such things, I long most to behold put 
 forth the diary of Lady Anne Clifford, though I am now 
 beginning to despair. Lord Thanet has a copy, and Lord 
 Essex ; the Duke of Dorset none, which is wonderful enough. 
 When that Duke came to Oxford I saved no expense in tea 
 and toast to gain his good graces, in order that I might one 
 day come at the MS. treasures of Knowle ; and I have suc- 
 ceeded pretty well, this youth being a mighty amiable, modest 
 person, though without one single grain of the Sackville in 
 him. I have got promises which may be performed, especially 
 as he is not now to marry that Tibbie Fowler, Miss Long, 
 who would have broken his wind in a fortnight, and his heart 
 in a month. 
 
 My heart hath almost failed in the perusal of Mrs Tighe's 
 ' Psyche.' What is a buttered bun ? I perceive that she was 
 a Foxite, poor soul ! and a true Irish woman. She makes 
 veil rhyme to conceal " Consale yourself, honey, my hus- 
 band's coming " in a minor poem ; and tells us that when 
 Psyche brought in her candle, the eyes of Love were shedding 
 radiance on his form, so she might have seen him long before 
 by his own light a bull which may belong to Apuleius or 
 the French poets, but still 'tis a conceit of all the Whigs and 
 Edinburgh Eeviewers in the world.
 
 513 
 
 Poor Lady Hood ! don't suppose, dear Scott, that I do not 
 like her ; but there is somewhat in her genius to make one 
 laugh, she resembles nobody I ever met with ; but I must at 
 present spare you particulars, as I had a crucial incision made 
 upon my head yesterday (no Pallas issued forth !) and I find 
 that stooping pains me. The farming gentlemen of this 
 quarter are all so busy with Fiorin grass (respecting which 
 you will see some excellent epistles in the newspapers), and 
 extol it so hugely that I entertain serious thoughts of sowing 
 my ploughed pericranium with this newly discovered species, 
 Pantagruelion. 
 
 Trusting soon to have the pleasure, old-fashioned though it 
 be, of wishing you many happy returns of the new year, I am, 
 dear Scott, yours most faithfully, 
 
 CHS. KlRKPATEICK SHAEPE. 
 HODDAII CASTLE, 18th December 1811. 
 
 Eev. KENNETH M. K. TAEPLEY to C. KIEKPATEICK SHAEPE. 
 
 WYCHWOOD PARK, Deer. 20th, 1811. 
 
 MY DEAE SHAEPE, When I look at the date of your last 
 letter, I take great shame to myself for suffering so long a 
 time to elapse without returning my thanks for it. But you 
 are not unacquainted either with my dull, or my dilatory, 
 qualities as a correspondent. It is well, however, that our 
 mutual regard does not depend upon the frequency of our 
 correspondence, for then we should long ago have been dis- 
 ciples in the school of Plato. I can with great truth say, that if 
 thinking was writing, you would have no reason to complain of 
 my silence you would find me a very troublesome correspond- 
 ent. I am not often idle, and have of late been engaged more 
 than usual. But my labours are by no means about to termi- 
 nate, for with grief do I tell you, that we have lost that pillar 
 
 VOL. i. 2 K
 
 514 WEBBER DUCHESS OF BEAUFORT. ["^oVS.* *m BV 
 
 of Ch. Chian greatness, that jolly fellow, that good sincere 
 man, who never says one thing and means another, in short, 
 he who was the support of the mirth and good-humour of the 
 agreeable meetings in the Common Eoom, "Webber. He is 
 gone, and joy go with him, and I am to succeed to the import- 
 ant office of Censor next term. I by no means was anxious for 
 this honor, but will explain to you my reasons for accepting 
 when we meet. Webber is in great luck, for he is to be chaplain 
 to the House of Commons, a pretty specimen of what we are 
 at Ch. Ch. I was much disappointed at your not coming to Ox- 
 ford, but trust you will contrive it next term. All things go 
 on much the same ; the Dean gives good dinners, and Mrs Hall 
 whines as before ; Corne is as dictatorial, when awake, and 
 Goodenough as pleasant as ever. I suppose you heard of 
 the arrangement of the Classics, and of Dawson's success. 
 Every one was deservedly indignant at the decision with 
 respect to Bloomfield. You will hardly thank me for saying 
 so much without mentioning Worcester. He is still flourish- 
 ing at Brighton, and will flourish there. His ch&re amie is 
 with him, but, I believe, rather more behind the curtain. I 
 never hear from him, and seldom of him, for here it is a sore 
 subject and well it may be, for it is provoking to think that 
 he is neglecting the best society to waste his sweetness on the 
 desert air. His dear friends Lewis and Townshend walk'd 
 about quite disconsolate without his cheery smiles. I hope 
 he will come home before I return to Oxford on the llth of 
 Janry. I came to this place about ten days ago, and found 
 her Grace 1 in all her glory, for she is surrounded by many 
 young fellows, some of whom are admitted into the society of 
 the " exclusives." She reigns without a rival, and is all com- 
 plaisance and good-humour. The ass playing the lap-dog is an 
 imperfect emblem of her folly. It is disgusting, as well as 
 ridiculous, to see an old woman of forty, with a tribe of child- 
 
 1 The Duchess of Beaufort Charlotte Sophia, daughter of Granville, 
 first Marquess of Stafford.
 
 ., THE LENOX FAMILY. 515 
 
 ren at her heels, affecting the airs and gaiety of a young girl 
 of sixteen, and laying out for compliments and flattery. She 
 warbles most nights, surrounded by Mr Montagu, "W. Bathurst, 
 and such people. We remove to Badminton on the 24th. I 
 dare not ask you to write to me before I leave that place for 
 Oxford, but hope you will let me hear from you on my 
 return there, if you do not intend to favour us with your 
 company shortly after the beginning of term. Believe me, 
 yours truly, KENNETH M. K. TAEPLEY. 
 
 The MAECHIONESS OF STAFFOKD to C. KIRKPATKICK SHARPE. 
 
 TKENTHAM, Dec. 21 (St Thomas's Day), 1811. 
 
 I was in hopes before this time, my dear M r Sharpe, to 
 have sent you the book which you have already done so much 
 for in the portraits you have sent to Gower, and which will 
 make the copy in which they are inserted truly valuable ; 
 but I imagine Constable delays sending it out till the new 
 year, as I have not lately heard from him, and he promised 
 it before this time. I shall direct him to send you a copy by 
 the Carlisle coach, unless you w d - have it left for you any- 
 where at Edin r - 
 
 I cannot tell you how much I admire the D. of Lenox and 
 his sister, the Ladie Mar. Charlotte is now copying them. 
 I tried, but in vain, for the beauty of I/- Mar's mouth is 
 very difficult to be attained, as I made a portrait only re- 
 sembling my old friend, L y - Carnegie. I think this must be 
 the Lady Mar of whom I have heard L y - Alloa tell a curious 
 story that the Earl of Mar fell so violently in love with 
 her in his old age, that, to save his life, James the 6 th settled 
 the marriage, and threw her literally at his head. From that 
 I/- Mar were descended a number of Erskines, among whom 
 the Justice-Clerk was one. This subject being revived to my 
 mind by your portrait, gives me a curiosity to know some-
 
 516 GORDON'S 'HISTORY/ [ M ^a" 
 
 thing more of the present Erskines of Mar, who I never 
 happened to see, though L d - Stafford is related to them by the 
 Pierrpoints. I believe his great-aunt died out of her senses ; 
 in short, I wish you would give me some farther history re- 
 specting them. They ought to have large possessions, as the 
 estate appears not to have been forfeited from Alloa still 
 belonging to them, and they were a very great family for- 
 merly. Our book treats chiefly of the Lenox family and the 
 Huntly, besides the domestick history, of which it treats 
 elaborately; and one regrets that the Mackays take up so 
 much of it, as the part relating to them is merely a set of 
 skirmishes described minutely which have but little interest 
 except to our clan and that of Y, which is their proper name, 
 and which might amuse Monsieur D'O. (if there is now such 
 a person), but few other strangers to the country. Does the 
 E. of Mar's lodging at Stirling now belong to Mr Erskine ? 
 In short, I am at present quite coiffie with the Erskines, 
 just as I was, after seeing Eoslin some years ago, with the 
 St Glairs, and particularly with a Lord Murkle, 1 who the 
 woman who showed the chapel named with a particular 
 emphasis; and after many inquiries, I was brought out of 
 my romantick search after him by being told he was merely 
 an old L d - of Session who had been buried there forty years 
 ago, so the romance I had built upon him vanished when I 
 found he was no longer a chief " couch 'd in his iron pano- 
 ply," but that he was buried in a large wig. 
 
 I think there is much interest and amusement in those old 
 histories, and differ from Voltaire, who says : " Les vieilles 
 histoires ebranlissent 1'e'sprit et le rend banal et pesant." On 
 the contrary, they appear to me much better than the present 
 uninteresting jog-trot that is going on, and have gained rather 
 than lost in point of interest by the sort of uncertainty and 
 mystery that must hang about them. Perhaps you may 
 think that in the present great and important times there 
 1 Hon. John Sinclair; died 1733.
 
 OSSULSTON. 517 
 
 appears to be also a good deal of these two qualities to excite 
 our observation, and draw our attention to them ; and if that 
 is the case, I hope you will " leave the old illustrious dead " 
 to take care of themselves, and come to London this winter. 
 L d< Ossulston 1 was here soon after our search after L y - Henri- 
 etta Berkeley. He told me many curious things about Chil- 
 lingham (L d - Grey's place), and among others, that he found 
 in the church a plate over a tomb with the name of one of 
 L 4 - Grey's mediators mentioned in the trial I think Chan- 
 nock. L d - Ossulston has a large collection of portraits, but 
 none of L y - H. B. Is the marquise's sister, L y - Craven, alive ? 
 because the papers describe a lady living at Hounslow, and 
 about to be married to a corporal, who I take to be her from 
 the description. If you sh d - go to Edin., there is a curious 
 picture there in the possession of a man called Chancery 
 Gordon, of the divorced Css. of Bothwell, who married after- 
 wards a Sutherland. Constable knows about it ; it descended 
 to him from Sir E. Gordon, whose mother I think she was. 
 
 If I go on in this way you will think me the most tiresome 
 creature that ever existed ; but at this time of the year, when 
 the weather is bad, and everything looks dull, one must amuse 
 oneself agreeably if possible and what can one do better than 
 to plague one's friends with one's reveries ? I therefore hope 
 you will receive this letter when you are in a similar disposi- 
 tion at least, that it will not interrupt you when you have 
 anything better to do than to read it. Adieu. Believe me, 
 ever most truly yours, E. S. S. 
 
 The Hon. KEPPEL CRAVEN to C. KIKKPATRICK SHARPE. 
 
 MALTA, Tuesday, December 24, 1811. 
 
 MY DEAR SHARPE, I should have written to you immedi- 
 ately after my arrival here, which took place on the 16th, had 
 1 Afterwards the fifth Earl of Tankerville.
 
 518 GIBRALTAR BALLASTEROS' ARMY. [ HO T N <; ; E f CKAVEN 
 
 1811. 
 
 there been any opportunity of dispatching a letter ; but there 
 have been no departures, so I delay'd in hopes of having more 
 to say. I don't know that this will go for England for some 
 time ; but as there is an appearance of our setting out on the 
 continuation of our expedition soon, I may as well begin a 
 letter, that I may not be taken unawares. I shall now pro- 
 ceed to tell you that our voyage has been the most prosperous, 
 and nearly the most speedy, that ever was perform'd at this 
 season of the year. We sail'd, as you know, on the 20th of 
 last month ; and without tossing or jumbling of any kind, and 
 cheer'd the whole way by the most lovely weather, we landed 
 at Gibraltar on the 1st of this. There, the wind being con- 
 trary, we stopp'd 4 days, which I was not sorry for, as it is 
 a place I like, and where I met several old acquaintances, 
 and some new ones, who were all equally kind and hospitable. 
 Among the latter was General Campbell, 1 the governor. The 
 most interesting thing at Gibraltar was the Spanish army 
 under Ballasteros, encamp'd on the sand under the Eock, and 
 their general holding his headquarters in a lime-kiln. The 
 French were only 3 miles off, consequently to be seen very 
 distinctly. I was in hopes to have witnessed some battle, or 
 at least a skirmish, which, from the top of the Rock, that is 
 quite out of the reach of spent balls and foraging parties, 
 must be a pleasant spectacle for once in one's life ; but the 
 two hosts remain'd in perfect quietude, so I was disappointed. 
 The day before we quitted the place that is, the 4th I saw 
 the Duke of Leinster, 2 who was just arrived : he was with a 
 certain Mr Macnamara, 3 whom you may have seen in London, 
 where he generally is to be met in all streets and most par- 
 
 1 Lieutenant-General Colin Campbell, colonel of the 65th Regiment. 
 
 2 Augustus Frederick Fitzgerald, third Duke. 
 
 3 Query ? Was the Mr Macnamara mentioned above the opponent of 
 Lieutenant-Colonel Montgomery in the famous duel of 1803 1 Captain 
 Macnamara, R.N., and Colonel Montgomery met riding in Hyde Park, 
 each accompanied by a dog. A fight between the animals led to a bitter 
 altercation between their masters, and a meeting was arranged at Chalk
 
 HON. KEPPEL CR 
 TO C. 
 
 K, w] MR MACNAMARA SAN PIETRO. 519 
 
 ties. I have that degree of acquaintance with him which 
 an introduction from Skeffington, and a great forwardness on 
 his side, forced me to acknowledge. He came up with the 
 manner of an intimate friend, as which I am sure he had rep- 
 resented himself to the Duke, who also accompanied him evi- 
 dently for the purpose of an introduction ; but I defeated this 
 his sinister purpose by contriving to have both my hands so 
 taken up as not to admit of the possibility of a friendly shake, 
 and I immediately bow'd to the Duke and enter'd into conver- 
 sation with him, which seem'd by no means to displease him, 
 and much surprised and mortified the other. I hope you will 
 give me credit for presence of mind. But I must return to our 
 voyage, which was renew'd on the 5th, and on the llth we 
 anchor'd on the coast of Sardinia, close to a little island call'd 
 San Pietro, the existence of which I never had the least idea 
 of. We stay'd there two days, opposed by contrary winds, or 
 rather calm. We visited the little colony which inhabits this 
 place, whose Governor received us very kindly. There is but 
 one little town, surrounded by a fortified wall on three sides, 
 and bounded by the sea on the fourth. It is not rich, but 
 clean, and the people are good-looking, and seem perfectly 
 happy and contented. They originally came from an island 
 called Trabarca, on the coast of Africa, and about thirteen 
 years ago most of the families were carried off with all their 
 property by some Tunisian pirates, so the whole concern is in 
 a state of infancy. On the 13th, the wind coming fair, we 
 again set sail, and after rather a rough passage (as it blew 
 very hard, though in our favour), we came in here on the 
 loth. I am not at all sorry we have staid so long, as I like 
 the place of all things, and so would you, if it was only in 
 remembrance of the Knights, whose destruction I cannot help 
 
 Farm. Both, fell at the first fire, Captain Macnamara seriously, Colonel 
 Montgomery mortally wounded. Captain Macnamara was tried for 
 manslaughter ; but in spite of Mr Justice Heath's charge for a verdict 
 against him, the jiiry found him " not guilty."
 
 520 MALTA VALETTA SOCIETY. 
 
 lamenting, notwithstanding their vows of chastity and enmity 
 to the Turks. The palace is quite magnificent, as are indeed 
 most of the buildings many good pictures adorn it, especially 
 the portraits of the Grand-Masters, two of which, those of 
 Vignacourt and La Vedette, are beautiful : the latter is in the 
 dress of the Order, which I should like much to restore to 
 fashion. General Oakes, 1 the Governor, has been very civil, 
 given us a house to live, which is preferable to the inconveni- 
 ent and expensive hotel we first inhabited, and done every- 
 thing in his power to make our stay agreeable. There is a 
 very good Italian comic opera, which is the delight of my 
 evenings, as the tout ensemble of it is excellent, and the first 
 woman-singer, call'd Calderara, is charming in point of looks, 
 acting, and voice. There is, besides, a private English theatre, 
 establish'd and supported by the merchants ; but I cannot say 
 much for the performance, though everything else is good. 
 As to society, there is plenty ; but, alas ! not the kind which 
 can give one any satisfaction, for the females are all mer- 
 chants' or officers wives, and such a set you never beheld. 
 It seems to me a kind of fatality that every English woman 
 who resides out of her country from necessity, should be vul- 
 gar, and improve in that capacity the longer she remains 
 abroad. I dined with three ladies on Saturday, one a gen- 
 eral's wife, the second the consort of the commanding officer 
 of engineers, and the third a celebrated belle and the wit of 
 the garrison. Not one of them could speak three lines of de- 
 cent English I mean grammar. I bore it very patiently till 
 they abused Maltese and foreign women in general for being 
 ugly and vulgar, and then I ventur'd to say that I never saw 
 one who could not walk better, and that did not look more 
 like a gentlewoman, than any English lady I had yet met in 
 Malta. The beauty was near crying with rage, and vowed she 
 would tell all her Countrywomen in the island of this, and 
 
 1 Hildebrand Oakes, Colonel of the 52d Regiment, created a baronet 
 1813.
 
 ] MALPAS LADY HESTEK STANHOPE. 521 
 
 thence so I am never to be spoken to by any of them, which 
 will save me the mortification of hearing tenses and verbs 
 disfigur'd in the most barbarous manner, which I also told 
 her. But here I must stop, as I am called away to return 
 many tiresome visits and pay respects to the Governor. 
 
 Thursday, 26th. I must tell you in all haste that I was told, 
 as the general report from Palermo, that Malpas 1 is become a 
 Catholic, and so rigid a devotee that he sees no one, and is 
 constantly "taken up with the duties of his new faith. I re- 
 member your saying that he was that way inclined ; but at 
 the same time, the news struck me most forcibly, and has 
 made me laugh ever since I learnt it. Mercer is at Palermo : 
 let us hope that he will follow his example, and that we shall 
 see them both take the veil in the monastery of St Eosolia. 
 You can form no idea of the ugliness of the people here, and 
 for once the men surpass the women in that particular, being 
 one and all African monkies. 
 
 I can assure you that I have followed your advice, and taken 
 pen in hand, with which I daily pay a tribute to my journal, 
 although I don't mean to publish it. There is an account 
 just arrived of Lady Hester Stanhope having been wreck'd on 
 the island of Rhodes, but saved her life. She was going to 
 Egypt from Constantinople, but the ship encounter'd so violent 
 a storm that the mainmast was forced out of its socket, leaving 
 a hole for the water to come in, which soon made the ship 
 unmanageable, as she was nearly filled with water when they 
 came in sight of land when, to save their lives, they got into 
 the long-boat, which was so loaded, and the rowers so ex- 
 hausted, that they very soon were unable to make any way 
 against the waves, and their only resource was to land on a 
 barren rock some distance from Ehodes, where they were very 
 nearly starved, till the wind moderated and they gained the 
 
 1 George Horatio Cholmondeley, afterwards second Marquess of Chol- 
 mondeley. The Marquess afterwards recanted and became a pillar of 
 Exeter Hall.
 
 522 DRAWING OF LORD HUNTLY. ^T 
 
 land, after losing all their effects, but no lives. The ship sunk 
 very shortly after they quitted it. Her physician has just 
 written an account of it to General Oakes. And now, as the 
 Packet is going to sail, I shall close this, and begging you to 
 write under cover to Mr King, No. 4 Madox Street, I remain 
 your most aff 1 ^' CAROLUS BEX. 
 
 Gell desires his kind regards to you. 
 
 Earl GOWER to C. KIRKPATRICK SHARPE. 
 
 CLEVELAND HOUSE, Jany. 8, 1812. 
 
 MY DEAR SHARPE, As I know that you received a letter 
 from home two days ago, perhaps you would not have been 
 surprized not to hear from me so soon after. But I cannot 
 ' by owing owe not," as Milton says, any longer, and must 
 thank you for Lord Huntly, 1 who has arrived in perfect safety, 
 tho' I cannot help regretting the necessary folds he has been 
 obliged to undergo in putting himself into a letter. 
 
 I don't know why you undervalue your Mar's Work so 
 much as you do. I am delighted with it, and can assure you 
 it is much admired instead of being laughed at, as you 
 imagine. I cannot thank you as I should wish for these pro- 
 ductions. You must at once believe me that I am very 
 much obliged to you for them. 
 
 You can have no idea what a general alarm the murders 
 here have occasioned 2 alarms, rattles, bells, bolts, bars, in 
 every corner, besides dogs, blunderbusses, and pistols by every 
 bedside. 
 
 1 Drawing of George, first Marquess of Huntly, and his wife, Henrietta 
 Stewart, eldest daughter of Esme, Duke of Lennox, by C. Kirkpatrick 
 Sharpe. See Etchings, &c., by Charles Kirkpatrick Sharpe, Plate XXI. 
 
 2 Probably the murder of the Williamson family by Williams, who 
 afterwards committed suicide, and several other sensational tragedies 
 which occurred towards the close of the preceding year.
 
 524 COMTESSE DE LA SUZE. 
 
 Your friend Miss Cholmondeley's marriage l is not so certain 
 yet, as Lambton's guardians have refused to hear of it, and 
 he won't be of age for two years, before which, it is thought, 
 he will probably change his mind. 
 
 The Comtesse de la Suze 2 was once Lady Haddington, hav- 
 ing married a Lord H. for her first husband ; for her 2 nd the 
 Comte de la Suze, from whom she separated having turned 
 Catholic, the Q. of Sweden said, " pour ne voir son mari ni 
 en ce monde ni en 1'autre." She wrote many elegies on her 
 Tircis, from some of which, by the by, you might have taken 
 some very good mottoes for yours. Some of her poetry is, I 
 think, very good. 
 
 They say that Worcester has come on the Duke of Beau- 
 fort for large sums to pay the expenses of his establishment, 
 which I am sorry for. They say further that the lady has 
 refused to marry him, and has declared she will live with him 
 only till the return of the Duke of Leinster. Your friend 
 Lord William Fitzgerald 3 received a slight wound in the leg 
 when the Duke and he were with our army in Portugal, on 
 which he began to find he had no business there. They have, 
 I believe, gone on to Sicily. Clare and Delaval returned to 
 take their degrees, and were at Oxford a day too late. 
 
 I am glad to hear you have not suffered so much from 
 your head as you feared. Yours very truly, G. 
 
 1 The marriage had by this time actually taken place. Mr Lambton, 
 afterwards first Earl of Durham, had been married to Miss Harriet Chol- 
 mondeley, on 1st January of that year. Mr Lambton only wanted a 
 year of being of age. 
 
 2 Henrietta de Coligny, eldest daughter of Gaspard Comte de Coligny, 
 Marechal of France (by Anne de Polignac, daughter of Gabriel Sieur de 
 St Germain), sister of the Duke de Chatillon, and great-granddaughter 
 of the Admiral. She married, secondly, the Comte de la Suze, a Hugue- 
 not, and when divorced by him became a Roman Catholic. The Countess 
 was one of the celebrities of her day, not less for her wit and beauty 
 than for her adventures. She died in Paris, March 10, 1673. 
 
 3 Lord William Fitzgerald, second son of the first Duke of Leinster ; 
 died 1864.
 
 LOTTERY PRIZE. 525 
 
 Rev. J. J. CONYBEAEE to C. KlRKPATRICK SHARPE. 
 
 CH. CH., Jany. 1812. 
 
 DEAE SHARPE, I write to relieve you from the necessity 
 of journeying all the way from Scotland in this inclement 
 season. My only competitor, Ingram, 1 has declined the con- 
 test, and I shall probably walk over the course very undis- 
 turbedly. So much for official communication. News I have 
 no time to detail at present, but if you be anxious for any, 
 and will give me a line to say as much, you shall have all I 
 can gather next week, either from London, where nobody 
 goes to bed without a patent maul-proof nightcap and anti- 
 cut-throat collar, or from this place, where Eachel Burton has 
 just got a prize of 500 in the lottery. Maintenant ut 
 pictura poesis, you know. Do not forget a certain collection 
 of landscape engravings you promised me, and I will set 
 aside all hellish Breugels and other gentlemen professors of 
 the inverted sublime that I can find. Let me hear how you 
 are, and what you are doing. Impey is rather better. Ever 
 yours, J. J. CONYBEARE. 
 
 William's best remembrances. 
 
 The MARGRAVINE OF ANSPACH to 0. KIRKPATRICK SHARPS. 
 
 BRANDENBURG HOUSE, Jany. 12, 1812. 
 
 I have waited till my patience is exhausted, and my un- 
 easiness is begun, about my 6Uve, to write to you. I have 
 no news from him, so let us leave that subject to a farther 
 opportunity. My gallery is now painted, and all the good 
 pictures I had at Benham and here are put up in it, and 'tis 
 beautifull. 
 
 1 Afterwards President of Trinity College, Oxon.
 
 526 LAMBTON'S MARRIAGE. [*%%* 
 
 Benham is let for 21 years, and I believe to a good tenant. 
 Quimporte and all his foolish machinations thrown to the 
 winds, for I have not been driven nor worried to sell one 
 inch of land in Berks, which was the intention, and my firm 
 resolve not to do. London swarms with caricatures of cer- 
 tain personages, some too high, some too low to be named ; 
 and as everything is smothered till it bursts out, war at 
 home or peace abroad may stare you in the face before you 
 are aware of it. In the mean time, I like to tell you that my 
 bright star is at work ; and I wish you to let me know if 
 you would like to have in view a place which would be little 
 trouble 2 months in the year to yourself, and leisure to come 
 from London to this place as often as you like it ; and before 
 you are so situated, an excuse to take an excursion, suppose 
 you say to Paris, and all this, and cost you nothing but your 
 journey up ? The climate, as I feared, is getting worse and 
 worse, and beds and fires are the only means of existence. 
 Young Lambton, 19 years old only, marries Lord Cholmonde- 
 ley's natural daughter, 1 older than himself I hear. L d - Mai- 
 pas at Gibraltar is fallen in love with Miss Campbell, and 
 means to marry also. Miss Gell has taken up her abode with 
 the P s - of Wales at Blackheath. The stage has, in addition to 
 houses, an elephant, a cat, a rabbit. What refinement! I 
 am tolerably well, in spite of fogs and impiety ; a letter from 
 
 1 Miss Harriet Cholmondeley, Lord Cholmondeley's natural daughter, 
 by a Frenchwoman, was a charming person. I knew her well. She 
 was very handsome, and outshone Lady Charlotte, her father's legitimate 
 daughter, which made Lady Cholmondeley very glad to get rid of her. 
 She had always wretched health after she married Mr Lambton, and 
 after her death her husband took another wife not much like his first. 
 Lady Malpas, mentioned here, was rather pretty, and very silly, and 
 very consumptive. She died in good time. I saw much of her during 
 her life, and the more I saw the less I liked her. Her husband, with 
 many amiable qualities, was intended by nature for a monk, or a field 
 preacher ; he at one time became a Catholic, and then reformed but 
 I believe always very sincerely. C. K. S.
 
 M T A o R c: 2rww. H ] MALTA TO ZANTE. 527 
 
 you will do me much good, particularly if it tells me you 
 are well, and mean to persevere in liking me, en cUpit des 
 jaloux et des envieuses. Believe me, yours sincerely, 
 
 ELIZABETH. 
 
 The Hon. KEPPEL CKAVEN to C. KIRKPATEICK SHAEPE. 
 
 PATRAS, Monday, February 3d, 1812. 
 
 MY DEAR SHARPE, Having an opportunity of writing, or 
 rather sending, I will not let it go by, especially when I 
 reflect how very long it may be before you get this child of 
 my pen. I believe I ought by rights to take up my adven- 
 tures or journey from Malta, whence I last wrote to your 
 Majesty. I left it with regret, not owing to any intrinsic 
 charm of its own, but because, two days before my departure, 
 I chanced to meet a person whose merits (at least I fancied 
 such they might be) made me most anxious to cultivate an 
 intimacy which was begun by chance, and which neither time 
 or place allow'd to become as close as I would have wished. 
 But though measures were taken to procure a second inter- 
 view, they failed of success ; and our transport being ready, 
 and the wind fair, there was an end of all hopes. But such 
 was my weakness that, had I been alone, I should certainly 
 have defer'd my departure and to what further delay this 
 first might have led, heaven only knows. Since that time I 
 have rejoiced that things turned out as they did, and conclude 
 with Dr Pangloss that everything is for the best. And now 
 you may be curious to learn some further particulars respect- 
 ing the misterious object of my regret. I shall only say that 
 you must have patience till we meet, if it was only to give 
 you an opportunity of laughing viva voce at my folly. But to 
 proceed. We had a favourable passage from Malta to Zante, and 
 were there most hospitably received and housed by Mr Forrest, 
 who acts as British Minister, and whose name is celebrated
 
 528 ZANTE GULP OF COKINTH. [ H0 fo c.T^fs^ 
 
 in the troubles of the seven islands. General Airey, who 
 commands there, was also very kind ; and his wife is the only 
 Englishwoman that I have not felt ashamed of. We receiv'd 
 also many civilities from the officers of the 35th Eegiment, 
 among which we found one whose way of thinking on most 
 subjects corresponded so exactly with ours, that we became 
 very intimate ; and he was so overjoyed to find any congenial 
 souls, that we were inseparable, and we found him a very 
 entertaining companion. We staid a fortnight at Zante, 
 which is by far the most beautiful spot I ever beheld, and 
 well deserves the title of Fior di Levante, which the Italian 
 travellers give it. It is quite impossible to conceive anything 
 more lovely than the general aspect of the whole island ; and 
 I was never tired of wandering about it, and hope sincerely 
 I shall be able to go there on my way back. General Airey 
 gave us a gunboat to bring us here, and go on with to Corinth 
 if we pleased ; but it is so very clumsy a sailer, and in most 
 respects so inconvenient a conveyance, that after waiting 
 ten days in hopes of a favorable wind, we are going to send 
 it back, and shall take one of the country vessels to proceed 
 by short voyages up the Gulph. Our last expedition was by 
 no means so successful as our former ones, as we were caught 
 in a violent storm, very near lost, and jumbled to death a 
 whole night in such rain and lightning as I never felt or saw, 
 besides being very sick, and having nothing but a filthy hole 
 without air by way of a cabin. The next morning we were 
 enabled to creep into a little port on the ^Etolian side, where 
 we waited the end of the bad weather, and dried our cloathes 
 and mended our fractures. This harbour is formed by the 
 uninhabited island call'd Oxia, from whence, as you may 
 remember, some navigator in times of yore heard a terrific 
 voice order him to tell the Dryads of Corcyra that the great 
 Pan was no more. 1 We heard no such news, but were saluted 
 by an equally alarming voice and a still more alarming gun- 
 1 Plutarch, De defectu oraculorum, xvi.
 
 , 1 ] ALBANIA LORD MALPAS. 529 
 
 shot, both proceeding from an Albanian peasant or robber, 
 who would have it that we landed to steal his cattle. It was 
 in vain to assure him that we had no such intentions, but 
 only meant to climb the mountain to take angles and observe 
 the course of Achelous. He persisted in defending the pass ; 
 and as he call'd many of his companions to his assistance, we 
 were forced to retreat much more precipitately than we had 
 arrived, and never again attempted that inhospitable coast, 
 though the matter was afterwards explain'd. We remained 
 in this place for two days and a half, and then were enabled 
 to come on here. The mountains all about are very fine, and 
 cover'd with snow, which render every sort of wind cold and 
 fires a matter of necessity ; but the weather is very lovely, 
 and the orange-trees in the gardens the largest I ever beheld. 
 This is decidedly a Turkish town ; and we have baths, 
 janissaries, mosques, pachas, agas, minarets, khans, and 
 bezesteins in plenty. The former I very much approve of, 
 and think it one of the Prophet's wisest tenets. I have taken 
 three, and enjoy the operation extremely, though I don't quite 
 like to go through all the ceremonies of it, such as shaving 
 every part of one's body, &c. 
 
 Mrs Airey, who knew Malpas very well, and liked him 
 much, informs me that the report of his change of religion 
 gains ground, and is generally credited ; added to which he 
 has the character of being the most susceptible-hearted swain 
 in the universe, he was deeply enamour'd of Miss Campbell l 
 at Gibraltar, and has since been head over ears in love with 
 at least three other young military ladies. I believe his 
 present flame is a Sicilian, but am not quite sure. I stared 
 with astonishment at all this information, and dropt my head. 
 We saw at Zante the collection of statues found by Cockerell 2 
 and Co. in the island of Egina, and they are very fine, and 
 extremely curious from their antiquity, as it is an older stile 
 
 1 Daughter of the Governor. See ante, p. 518, note. 
 
 2 Mr Cockerell the architect. 
 
 VOL. I. 2 L
 
 530 SIR JOHN JOHNSTON. [ H TOC. m 
 
 than that of the Parthenon. We shall stay a week at Athens, 
 and then make the best of our way to Smyrna, where I long 
 to be to receive some tidings from England. 
 
 We are all well. Our artists go hunting for mutilated 
 columns and architraves with proper vigour. I go on draw- 
 ing with more zeal than success ; but my Journal nourishes 
 amazingly. Gell desires his best regards to you. I invite 
 you to answer this by the usual means, and beg you will 
 believe me yours most aff ly - CAKOLUS EEX. 
 
 I have let my mustachios grow to please you, and a beard 
 on my chin. 
 
 C. KIRKPATRICK SHARPE to WALTER SCOTT, Esq. 
 
 Thursday Evening, March 1812. 
 
 MY DR- SCOTT, If you are not yet free from winter's icy 
 thrall, will you send me the last speech of Sir [John] John- 
 stone, who was hanged for Miss Wharton. 1 I feel interested 
 in the story, and you were good enough to promise me the 
 loan of it. 
 
 To add to your collection of ballads, and as a rival to Mrs 
 Caroline Eudd, accept the enclosed ditty on the affair of Mrs 
 Lee. 2 I had it printed in Oxford, and circulated in the streets 
 previous to the trial, to insinuate the plot into the upper gal- 
 leries ; and, thank heaven, my endeavours were crowned with 
 
 1 Sir John Johnston of Caskieben was arrested for aiding his friend, 
 the Hon. Captain Campbell, in abducting Miss Wharton, a lady nearly 
 related to the notorious Lord Wharton, King William's favourite. Sir 
 John was condemned to death and executed 31st December 1690, at 
 London, while his more fortunate companion succeeded in marrying the 
 heiress and making his escape to Scotland. 
 
 2 See ante, p. 194. The ballad of twenty-six stanzas is entitled "Mrs 
 Lee's Garland, showing how a poor lady was carried away against her 
 own consent, to the tune of the ' Babes in the Wood,' or any other 
 lamentable melody in fashion."
 
 scow, ESQ1812.] MISTRESS LEE " BEAU DILLON." 531 
 
 success. As the Gordons were my cousins, this act was 
 meritorious, according to the reasoning of Justice Shallow, 
 particularly as of two ills Mrs Lee was certainly by much the 
 worst. 
 
 I never now have any shyness in sending you my trash, so 
 here's a song on Dillon which Miss Mure sung at the Mas- 
 querade, but, alas ! nobody heard it. It is a parody on Miss 
 Owenson's ' Kate Kearney ' : 
 
 Oh ! did you ne'er hear of Beau Dillon ? 
 
 His beauty is fit for to kill one. 
 
 The tip of his nose 
 
 A budding uaoss-rose 
 
 Oh ! dreadful's the nose of Beau Dillon. 
 
 His smile is bewitchingly simple, 
 
 There's hog's lard in every dimple ; 
 
 His eyes they do shine 
 
 Like oysters in brine, 
 
 So bright are the eyes of Beau Dillon. 
 
 Oh ! could we but catch this Beau Dillon, 
 
 With endless delight it would fill one ; 
 
 What damsel now cares 
 
 For capering bears 
 
 Who sees the pas seul of Beau Dillon ? 
 
 He kicks with the air of a donkey, 
 
 He frisks with the mien of a monkey ; 
 
 And who dares inhale 
 
 His lips spicy gale, 
 
 Must die by the breath of Beau Dillon. 
 
 Ever yours, 
 
 C. K. S. 
 
 The Hon. KEPPEL CRAVEN to C. KIRKPATEICK SHAEPE. 
 
 ATHENS, Thursday, March 26, 1812. 
 
 MY DEAR SHARPE, When I tell you that I have not the 
 most distant idea of the opportunity which may convey this 
 to England, you will perhaps not feel very gratefull for my
 
 532 ATHENS CRAVEN'S HEALTH. [^S 
 
 beginning it, and very likely think that it is because I have 
 nothing better to do in which you will not be very far from 
 the truth ; for you must know that I have been ill very ill, 
 though I believe not dangerously so, and confined to the 
 house for nearly three weeks. It began with a slight fever, 
 which was follow'd by all manner of aches, pains, weaknesses, 
 and other afflictions, but which ended in what I am tempted 
 to call a fit of the gout in my left leg, which brought it to the 
 shape of Lady Honywood's (without exaggeration), and which 
 still makes me so lame as only to hobble from my bed to the 
 breakfast-table. I have suffer'd much pain, and still more 
 from lowness and depression. But all these are gone ; and 
 though, as Skeffington says, the lily, or rather crocus, has 
 usurped the place of the rose in my cheek, and I am more 
 meagre and elongated even than usual, I feel that I am re- 
 covering, and shall not be the second Englishman who has 
 died in the city of Minerva. It was lucky that this took 
 place while we were in the utter impossibility of advancing 
 in our journey a situation which we have been in ever since 
 our arrival here, which took place six weeks ago. But per- 
 haps I have told you so already, for I have written twice to 
 England since we came ; and though I am not conscious of 
 having address'd you, as both times I was hurried and taken 
 by surprise, yet my memory has been so confused by the 
 violent headaches I have endured, that all this may be a stale 
 repetition to you, which, however, you will forgive. We ex- 
 pected to find our kinsman here, but were disappointed ; this 
 was one reason for waiting, but a stronger still succeeded, 
 which was the difficulty of traversing the Archipelago at the 
 present time, it being full of privateers and robbers, who 
 would put our property and virtue in the utmost danger. So 
 we have written to Smyrna, where we want to go, and have 
 received an answer; but it is not very consolatory. As I 
 don't see how we are to move from hence by sea, unless one 
 of the sea-cruisers we have in these seas chuse to take com-
 
 ] CELL'S RESEARCHES. 533 
 
 . 
 
 passion upon us which I cannot say I think very likely to 
 pass away the time, and employ it in some usefull way, Gell 
 set his artists to dig up the temples of Eleusis and endeavour 
 to ascertain their position, for which purpose we all went and 
 remained a fortnight there and, indeed, the architects are 
 still there at present. It is a curious place, and they were 
 successfull enough to find sufficient traces of the ancient edi- 
 fices to make very accurate plans and drawings of them. Gell 
 has made 3 very good maps of the place, and between them 
 all they have materials for a very good work on the subject, 
 if the dilettants think it worth publishing. For my part, I 
 used to ramble over the country, and thought our sojourn 
 there pleasanter than here. I am disappointed in my ex- 
 pectations of this place, though I cannot exactly tell why ; 
 for all the ruins have answer'd the idea I had form'd of them, 
 and I don't know what else I could look for. I am willing 
 to make allowances for my illness having prejudiced me 
 against the place. There are four German artists here, who 
 draw well, and are good kind of people enough, though they 
 never wash their hands ; these and the French Consul, who 
 is really a clever, entertaining man, form our society. As 
 to the inhabitants themselves, they are not to be mention'd 
 in the scale of human beings ; for the Greeks are the only 
 nation which, I own, have inspired me with an universal 
 aversion to them. It would be too long, and not very amus- 
 ing, to enter into a detail of their character and manners ; 
 but I am certain that you would think me justified in my 
 abhorrence and contempt of such people, who are only render'd 
 sufferable by their good temper and chearfullness. 
 
 I have just discovered that I have miss'd one page of this 
 letter, so that this is the second which I shall number as 
 such, and hope you will be able to make it out. The be- 
 ginning of this month was very stormy and disagreeable ; but 
 we have now decided spring, or rather summer weather, which 
 makes my confinement the more irksome.
 
 534 ATHENS A PRETTY EPITAPH. [" 
 
 I am very impatient to receive letters from England, and 
 conclude there is a tolerable provision waiting at Smyrna. 
 Should my mother positively desire me to come home, I shall 
 certainly do so; but if not, shall in all probability remain 
 away the ensuing winter, as now that I am in these distant 
 regions, it would be a pity not to see every part of them that 
 is interesting, and I have accordingly great plans for seeing 
 Constantinople, Sicily, &c., &c. But these are still in embryo. 
 In the midst of these, frequent and ardent wishes of revisit- 
 ing England occur, I ought rather to say, wishes of seeing 
 friends I have left there ; and when oppress'd by illness, these 
 yearnings were accompanied by most melancholy sensations. 
 Augustus is one of the objects that presents itself the often- 
 est, and in the most glowing colours, to my imagination, and 
 it is when absent that I feel how much I prize him. My 
 only amusement during my confinement has been reading. 
 I luckily found the French Encyclopedia here, which, though 
 very ill done in many respects, has been a great resource to 
 me. I found a very pretty epitaph in it, which I shall not 
 hesitate to transcribe, as it is so short. It is on a young 
 wife 
 
 " Immatura peri, sed tu felicior, annos 
 Vive tuos, conjux optime, vive meos." 
 
 I think your Muse could, without great effort, put them into 
 English verse with some effect. For the present, my dear 
 Sharpe, I shall quit you ; and when an opportunity occurs of 
 sending this, I shall finish and dispatch it. 
 
 Friday, April 3d. 
 
 There is a person going to Malta, but in such a hurry that 
 I have scarcely time to add that I have got the better of my 
 evils, and can walk about without crutches. Our boat is re- 
 turn'd from Smyrna, and brought on firmans ; but I don't 
 see any immediate chance of our going from hence, as all the 
 difficulties about ships, privateers, and robbers are the same.
 
 HON. KEPPKL CRAVEN-] 
 
 TO c. K. 8., 1812. J 
 
 QTUVRTSTA 
 
 bMXKJNA. 
 
 I receiv'd some letters from England, but none from my 
 mother. I find Benham is lett, which I am glad of in some 
 measure. 
 
 Gell sends his love. Believe me, yours most afftly., 
 
 CAROLUS BEX. 
 
 The Hon. KEPPEL CRAVEN to C. KIRKPATRICK SHARPE. 
 
 SMYRNA, Saturday, May 9, 1812. 
 
 MY DEAR SHARPE, Your letter of the 20th November 
 that is the very day we sailed from England greeted my 
 arrival here last Wednesday ; and though it bore so remote a 
 date, and I could trace no vestige of foolscap or crow-quill, I 
 felt nevertheless most sincerely thankful for it. It ought to 
 have reached me with the first budget of correspondence 
 which I received at Athens above five weeks since, but by 
 some mismanagement was sent to Constantinople, which 
 accounts for the delay. I believe the last I wrote was just 
 as I was recovering from my gout, and probably bore the 
 marks of debility and despondence which it had left both on 
 my mind and body. I trust this will not be the case in this 
 one, and that if you don't derive much amusement from it 
 your friendship for me will at least be gratified by observing 
 that I am entirely recover'd, and have even regain'd as much 
 of those solids which you now prize as essential requisites, as 
 my complexion and formation are susceptible of. I found an 
 immense packet of letters waiting my landing here, among 
 which were two from Henrietta Marie, the first I had yet 
 received from her. She was well, and writes in a strain 
 of good-humour, the more satisfactory from my not quite 
 expecting it. Among other pieces of intelligence which these 
 despatches brought was that of poor Tom's death, which took 
 place towards the end of January. I will frankly own to 
 you, without the fear of being reckon'd unfeeling, that I felt
 
 536 ATHENS TO SMYRNA. [ 
 
 H TO c. 
 
 but little affliction on the subject : from the month of August 
 I had given up all hopes of his recovery, and his sufferings 
 have been so continued and so severe that the cessation of 
 them I always looked forward to as a desirable event. But I 
 was considerably shocked at learning the death of his wife, 
 which took place a month before his : the details of it were 
 not made known to me, but I have no doubt that she fell 
 a victim to her unremitted attendance upon him, added to 
 the effect of that attendance on her mind. It is a melancholy 
 story, and I shall not dwell upon it any more. I was most 
 happy to quit Athens, which our protracted stay and my 
 illness had rendered very disagreeable to me; and for the 
 first time in my life I went on board a ship with something 
 like pleasure. Ours was a Hydriot vessel : these are reckon'd 
 the best in the Archipelago, and their mariners the most 
 experienced and courageous, but nothing in the shape of a 
 modern Greek can ever attain any step towards excellence of 
 any kind ; and well it was that no privateers attack'd us, to 
 put their courage to the test. We anchor'd for two days in 
 the island of Thermia, which is the least interesting of them, 
 and when the wind permitted came on here. We arrived off 
 the Castle in the evening, and as the breeze fail'd us, we an- 
 chor'd there; and were I at present inclined to be either 
 poetical or romantic, I could enlarge with some success on 
 the beauty of Asia, at least on this coast, which far sur- 
 pass'd my expectations, and perfectly answers the descrip- 
 tions which the ancient Greeks gave of this part of the world. 
 The air, too, fans our cheeks, " softly sweet in Lydian meas- 
 ure," and inclines one to be very indulgent or profligate ; but 
 the town in its present state destroys the whole of Ionian 
 illusions, though it is animated and amusing: but trade is 
 the great feature, and that, you know, annihilates everything 
 like classical sensations ; so I can only tell you of Khans, 
 Bazars, and Bezesteins or, if you will rise one degree higher, 
 of Agas, Cadis, Dragomans, and Bohek Bashis. They are
 
 .i2 EN ] THE SMYRNA TURKS VERSES. 537 
 
 raising troops here, and these are in such an undisciplined 
 state of unrulyness that the Turks themselves keep their 
 shops shut while they remain in the town ; and it is accounted 
 unsafe to stray at any distance from the city, or even go into 
 that quarter of it which they frequent. I, however, was im- 
 prudent enough to do the latter, accompanied by our inter- 
 preter, and am rather inclined to think their excesses are 
 exaggerated, as though they were noisy, they seem'd to take 
 no notice of me ; and some that I met by accident in one of 
 the numerous gardens that surround Smyrna were extremely 
 courteous. 
 
 " There, underneath the fragrant lilack shade, 
 
 They taste the freshness of the noonday breeze ; 
 There, in the garb of future war array'd, 
 They laugh away one hour of present ease. 
 
 There, shedding soft its innocent perfume, 
 
 The white rose droops upon the turban'd head, 
 
 While the pomegranate rears its scarlet bloom 
 'Midst weapons donn'd to blush with deeper red." 
 
 They always wear flowers on their turbans and in their 
 girdles. 
 
 " There, while on gaudy carpets they recline, 
 
 They swear to die for their religion's sake ; 
 And in delicious draughts of Chian wine 
 Vow to maintain the very laws they break." 
 
 You see I am bit by the Muses ; but in truth these comely 
 vagabonds, picturesquely scattered under beautiful trees, and 
 drest and occupied in the manner I have described, awoke 
 my slumbering lyre, which will now only sleep the sounder 
 for some time to come. By the bye, I see by the papers that 
 Lord Byron has published another poem. 1 I have heard 
 much of him since I am come to these regions, and could tell 
 you a secret which is not one wherever he has been, but 
 shall wait till we meet, and in the meantime shall only 
 
 1 Childe Harold's Pilgrimage.
 
 538 LOKD BYRON LORD SONDES. [^roSfl^wia** 
 
 observe that as he is not very popular among the Englishmen 
 that were here and in Greece at the same time with him, 
 I think it very lucky that he is such a good shot, as that 
 will keep their tongues in order. 
 
 I understand Lord Sondes l is coming here ; as to Mercer, I 
 have not a notion if he is still in Sicily, or flown to the arms 
 of his disconsolate family, but you will know that better than 
 I can. Pray give me some account of Mr Burrell, and what 
 is said of Malpas. Every one who comes from Malta asserts 
 that he is to marry Miss Campbell, which is much more 
 strange than his changing his faith. Can you conceive his 
 mother's mouth on the occasion ? only think of young Lamb- 
 ton's growing antlers ! What things all the folks have done 
 since we left England ! which makes me think, as an old Turk 
 did at Athens, that there must be some intrinsic virtue adhe- 
 rent to my person, since the absence of it sets a whole nation 
 into profligacy and disorder. This Turk express'd himself in 
 these terms, but on a very different occasion, as it was on 
 seeing three different persons pass in the market-place, to 
 each of which he had offer'd strange rudeness in their youth, 
 and as they all prosper 'd and got good places and fortunes, he 
 ascribed it to some innate virtue of his own, which he had 
 thus transfused as chymists do gold into copper ; but he said 
 it quite gravely to two or three Englishmen, which adds much 
 to the zest of the anecdote. I have another of the same 
 nature relative to the day of judgment, and a third about a 
 gold snuff-box, but have no space for inserting them, but they 
 will keep, and I shall not forget them. We set off next week 
 for Sardis, Philadelphia, Aphrodisias, &c. ; but I shall quit the 
 mission for a month or two to visit some of the islands and 
 Constantinople. Pray go on writing through Mrs King's 
 thimble until further notice. 
 
 I hope you will have been in town, and tell me all the 
 1 Lewis Richard, third Lord Sondes ; born 1792, died 1836.
 
 _ t _ LADY MARY COKE'S HOUSE. 539 
 
 scandal, for such a thing does not exist in Ionia. Gell has 
 had a cruel fit of gout previous to our quitting Athens, but is 
 much better, and desires his best regards. Adieu. Believe 
 me, yours most affectionately, CAROLUS EEX. 
 
 Do you know Lord Euston, and that he is to become my 
 cousin ? That ought to produce a real Charles's breed, as she 
 descends both by father and mother. 
 
 Earl GOWER to C. KIRKPATRICK SHARPE. 
 
 CLEVELAND HOUSE, May 29th, 1812. 
 
 MY DEAR SHARPE, To begin in due order, I have to thank 
 you for your letter of the 6th from Edinburgh, with the Lady 
 Gabrielle. I am glad that you have by your questions perhaps 
 stimulated Constable, tho' he has shewn no signs of life yet. 
 Apropos of the book I bought t'other day at Dr Dowdes- 
 well's sale one that I had never seen before or heard you 
 mention, tho' it seems curious, and often quotes S r R. Gordon 
 MS. History it is Gordon's (of Aberdeen) Hist?- of the 
 illustrious family of Gordon, in 2 vol. oct- I see it marked 
 in Blackwood's Cat. (of Edinburgh) at 2, 16s. I bought 
 mine for 1, 6s., consequently a great bargain. 
 
 I went yesterday to see a house at Chiswick, next door to 
 the D. of Devonshire, in which L y - Mary Coke died. 1 She had 
 purchased it 4 years ago. It was built by Sir S. Fox, 2 with 
 a handsome oak staircase and painted walls, and square sort 
 of gardens w h - high walls, and formerly laid out in the Dutch 
 stile. K. William was so much pleased with it as to say he 
 could pass 5 days in it with pleasure. It now presents a most 
 triste and dull appearance. U- Mary lived in two small 
 
 1 See ante, p. 467. 
 
 2 The founder of the Holland and Ilchester families, and originator 
 of Chelsea Hospital; died 1716.
 
 540 THE DUCHESS OF GORDON S BODY. [ E R . 8 i E 8*2 TO 
 
 rooms, in a wonderfully uncomfortable manner, and died in 
 a small tent-bed, half sunk in a recess, so as to make it as 
 difficult to get in and out of as those beds one sees in garrets 
 in imitation of chests of drawers. 
 
 Your story of the report of Perceval's assassination at 
 Bridekirk is very strange indeed, and I think unaccountable, 
 as there can be no doubt of Bellingham's having been alone 
 in the business. 
 
 I suppose you heard that the D ss - of Gordon's body l was 
 shown by the waiters at the hotel at a shilling a head. Lord 
 Huntly, they say, has paid the expence of her funeral, as the 
 D. could not, tho' he complains of the cost. 
 
 I have bought the Lord knows what of prints to illustrate 
 " the Book," so you must come to town next winter and assist. 
 I shall remain here till the end of the month. I am tired of 
 asking you to come to Dunrobin, and of being answered that 
 it is impossible; so unless you will beforehand say yes, I 
 will not do it, tho' very truly yours, G. 
 
 The MAEGBAVINE OF ANSPACH to C. KIKKPATEICK SHAEPE. 
 
 BRANDENBURG HOUSE, June I, 1812. 
 
 Indeed you are the most unjust of men ; I wrote to you 
 last, and received no answer to my letter imagin'd you was 
 departed this life or this country ; and never was any one 
 so greatly surpris'd as I was to receive your epistle dated 
 Hoddam, 25th of May. I do not wonder that people are dis- 
 contented. Patience more than human may be exhausted 
 waiting for amendments on which depends the salvation of 
 an almost ruined country, and any future comfort. I think 
 one might write a pleasant book call'd Arithmetic; it is want 
 of calculation that has been our bane, and the motto might 
 
 1 The Duchess had died April llth.
 
 ] LORD EUSTON'S MARRIAGE. 541 
 
 be, rien de trop. The weather is owing to the not having 
 calculated that as one cannot add one inch to the surface of 
 England, yclep'd an island, it was de trop to put half of it 
 under stagnate water by the multiplication of canals and 
 navigable cuts. And yclep'd an island, she cannot furnish 
 more inhabitants to spread over foreign possessions five or 
 ten times her own size, money and troops to guard them. 
 
 Your acquaintances here go on worse than ever. Skef 
 
 talks more, but then he admires you. People except him 
 and me quarrel about everything; even the cotillon parties 
 are at variance with one another. The operas and plays are 
 bad enough. The Pantheon rear'd its lofty head, and is now 
 laid by as unsafe. Miss Gell comes here once in five weeks. 
 The last letters I had from Keppel were dated Patras and 
 Zante. By the bye, we have a Zante Comte Foscardi, an 
 agreeable sort of a man, here. I don't think he'll stay long, 
 for I think he'll find out there is little or nothing to be done 
 here that can prevent the Corant grape from being extir- 
 pated for want of exports. I knew de Bathe's l father true 
 Irish. I had three Forbes's presented to me the other day, 
 which I like as well as I do all the Forbes's. My brother, 
 the Admiral, is coming home; his last and 3d daughter is to be 
 married to L d - Euston, 2 who is a good sort of young man, I am 
 told, which is better than being a Duke's son. I am mustering 
 up all the philosophy I am mistress of to support the idea of 
 not seeing Keppel till next year. I believe he will not come 
 home till next summer. The increased badness of this 
 climate, and the idea that he is so much better out of it, 
 and the hopes of a peace which I nurse in my bosom, and 
 that would give me leave to go and meet him, supports me. 
 
 1 Sir James de Bathe, mentioned in this letter, was a young Irish- 
 man, for some time in Edinburgh. Forbes was her own nephew, after- 
 wards killed at "Waterloo. C. K. S. 
 
 2 Afterwards fifth Duke of Grafton, married Miss Berkeley, daughter 
 of Admiral Sir George Berkeley, 20th June 1812.
 
 542 BYRON'S 'CHILDE HAROLD.' [^St^Twir 
 
 Alas ! one cannot cure or diminish love for him, and so I 
 forgive you your weakness for him. I think Malpas is not 
 wrong to take up the religion of his forefathers, as there is 
 none, at least I see signs of none, among Protestants of any 
 description. I except the D. of Devonshire, who, for the 
 last trait of generosity among a thousand, has just given 
 2000 a-year to a bastard of his father's ; who, haveing been 
 kept and educated by the bounty of his father, was forgot in 
 the will : his name is Macdonnel. Pray, pray write soon. I 
 have let Benham for 21 years. Pray, I beseech 1 you, Milord 
 Hodam, believe me your affec. and sincere ELIZABETH. 
 
 C. KIRKPATRICK SHARPE to the Hon ble KEPPEL CRAVEN. 
 
 June 1812. 
 
 All the English world is charmed with Lord Byron's 
 ' Childe Harold,' which (entre nous) doth not delight me in 
 an equal measure. It is a sort of production which you do 
 not care to look at twice containing no one stanza that, 
 coming upon the memory like an evening perfume, inspires a 
 wish to recur to the parent flower for more perfect enjoyment. 
 
 He imitates a Scottish ballad called Lord Maxwell's Good- 
 night, 1 as Skeffington doth Mrs Siddons ; and pours forth, at 
 the end of his first canto, a tender lamentation on the death 
 of a dear friend, which, from certain hints, I verily imagined 
 to be the funeral song of his departed bear but lo ! 'tis the 
 elegy of a military officer ; so my Lord Byron, tho' a com- 
 plete knight, in the piety of friendship doth not yet rival 
 his prototype Orsin, who, you know, when he lost his dear 
 
 armies 
 
 " Raged, and kept as heavy a coil as 
 Stout Hercules for loss of Hylas ; 
 Forcing the vallies to repeat 
 The accents of his sad regret, 
 
 See Minstrelsy of the Scottish Border.
 
 *^S8g L ] THE PRINCESS OF WALES. 543 
 
 He beat his breast, and tore his hair 
 For loss of his dear crony bear, 
 That echo, from the hollow ground 
 His doleful wailings did resound," &c. 
 
 'Tis now reported that a certain great lady (the P s - of Wales) 
 will get her just dues, which her loving husband can no 
 longer keep from her ; I do not mean due benevolence, which 
 nobody would covet from him, I think but her place and 
 precedence as his wife. On a selfish account, I am rather 
 sorry for it ; and I think one may justly enough feel a con- 
 cern for her too, considering her late comforts, and the filthy 
 piece of crustiness she will now have to deal with. He is 
 always out of temper ; but that is not wonderful, if he be as 
 much with Lady Hertford as is reported, for one may say of 
 him what Voltaire says of Jonah : " Mais quand on a e'te' trois 
 jours dans le corps d'une baleine, on n'est pas de si bonne 
 humeur que quand on a e"t^ a 1'opera, a la come'die, et qu'on a 
 soup^ en bonne compagnie." 
 
 Poor Worcester is once more shipped off to Portugal, 
 after occasioning both Duke and Duchess a great deal of 
 distress, not only by his ridiculous displays with that dish- 
 clout, Harriet Wilson, but by the immense demands for 
 money still coming upon his father. It is said that he actu- 
 ally offered to marry Miss Wilson, but she put him off with 
 an hypothetical answer, as the Duke of Leinster had given 
 her reason to hope for a like civility at his return from 
 foreign parts ; and she prefers him to the other, so Crom-a- 
 boo l and Worcester will fight about this drab, if they have 
 any spirit ! shame, where is thy blush ? that the progeny 
 of Plantagenet 
 
 " The offspring of the rose, in whom unite 
 The varied colours of the red and white " 
 
 1 The Duke of Leinster. Crom-a-boo, the war-cry of the Fitzgeralds, 
 is said to have been derived from a castle of Crom, one of their earliest 
 possessions.
 
 544 SWIFT'S LETTERS. 
 
 should be guilty of such base and ruinous proceedings ! As 
 to Crom-a-boo, an Irishman can be hurt by nothing ; and I 
 suppose he wishes to astonish and confound all the natural 
 philosophers of Ireland, by exhibiting, at his own expense, a 
 live toad there. 
 
 C. KIRKPATRICK SHARPS to WALTER SCOTT, Esq. 
 
 Friday morning, June 1812. 
 
 MY DEAR SCOTT, Will you be so good as to transmit to 
 me per bearer the ' Gabions of Perth,' and, if you possess such 
 a thing, ' Lady Culross's Dream ' ? I will not, on the honour 
 of a Borderer, detain them as long as the last book you 
 lent me. 
 
 I have written to Lord Worcester this morning about 
 Swift's and the Duchess of Ormond's Letters, and if they 
 really do remain in the Duke of Beaufort's hands, I can 
 answer for the success of my application. That Lady Castle- 
 reagh ! You should claw her off soundly in a note or in the 
 preface, were it only on account of the common cause of 
 Letters. 
 
 Since an illness I had about a year and a half ago, I have 
 (and it is a sad annoyance to me) perceived that my mem- 
 ory, which was very good, is much impaired, so I have 
 always forgot to mention that I possess a pamphlet pub- 
 lished, as I think, by Curll, containing forged letters of 
 Swift and Lady Betty Berkeley, which the lady mentions in 
 one of her genuine letters to the Dean ; it is at Hoddam 
 Castle, and when this family goes there you shall have it, if it 
 can be of service. The Margravine of Anspach told me that 
 she remembered her aunt, Lady Betty, 1 very well : she could 
 
 1 Second daughter of the second Earl Berkeley, to whom, when Lord 
 Lieutenant of Ireland, Swift was chaplain. Her ladyship is better re- 
 membered as Lady Betty Germain.
 
 LADY BETTY GERMAIN. 545 
 
 never have been pretty, and was little, with a surprising 
 portion of wit and vivacity the overstrained good-breeding 
 of the old Court ; was the soul of a society composed of 
 many distinguished persons. Her niece added (but this is a 
 secret) that she lived in the strictest intimacy with the Duke 
 of Dorset, and that with the connivance of the Duchess, who 
 actually pretended to be with child, and to be delivered of 
 that youth whom Lady Betty herself had by the Duke, and 
 to whom she left all her fortune. Her money she got from 
 her husband, Sir John Jermyn, originally a Dutch merchant 
 and a gambler, more beautiful than an angel, and sillier than 
 one of Fox's saints. The Duchess of Norfolk (Lady Mary 
 Mordaunt, I think) was divorced for him, 1 and left him all 
 the Peterborough jewels, plate, &c., &c. You know the 
 Strawberry Hill stories about Sir John's ignorance, so I need 
 not tattle them here. Pray don't take the trouble to answer 
 this (except with the 'Gabions'), and believe me ever, my 
 dear Scott, most sincerely yours. [No signature.] 
 
 I shall wait upon you soon to see the plan of Gowrie 
 House. 
 
 C. KIRKPATRICK SHARPE to WALTER SCOTT, Esq. 
 
 HODDAM CASTLE, June 10, 1812. 
 
 MY DEAR SCOTT, I yesterday despatched, by the Dumfries 
 carrier, a small box containing drawing of Meikle-mou'd Meg, 2 
 which you desired me to execute for you in winter, and a 
 little packet for John Hay, 3 Sir John's son of Haystoun, which 
 I should be ashamed to beg that you would have the good- 
 ness to send to his house in George's St., did I not rely 
 
 1 In 1699. 
 
 2 See Etchings, &c., by Charles Kirkpatrick Sharpe, Photograph II. 
 
 3 Afterwards sixth baronet of Haystoun ; died 1838. 
 
 VOL. I. 2 M
 
 546 PORTRAITS OF SWIFT. \ 
 
 upon your long -experienced indulgence, and hope that the 
 subject of the papers may in some sort propitiate, as they 
 concern no less poetical a personage than Lucy, Countess of 
 Carlisle. On the outside of the box I fastened the pamphlet 
 regarding Swift, in no small fears lest it should be rubbed 
 off amid the chaos of a carrier's waggon ; however, if you 
 have seen it I shall care the less for its evil fate. As to the 
 epistles which were said to be in the possession of the Duke 
 of Beaufort, I found a letter awaiting me here from Lord 
 Worcester, disclaiming all knowledge of any such MSS., but 
 his authority doth not entirely satisfy me, as he is an ex- 
 cellent young marquis in his way, but very ignorant and 
 incurious; moreover, of late so deeply implicated in follies 
 by that drab Harriet Wilson, that I should not wonder if he 
 could not ask his enraged papa any questions. I shall now 
 apply to Worcester's ci-devant tutor, 1 who is a great friend of 
 mine, and a relative of my Lady Duchess, who ruleth many 
 roasts by the help of her silly husband's spit, but I begin to 
 fear that the inquisition will come to nothing. Apropos, 
 when you were in Oxford, did you see the portrait of Swift 
 in the picture-gallery, painted by Jarvis ? It is better done 
 than most of Jarvis's daubs, and hath a lively, rather hand- 
 some countenance ; but in the possession of Dr Smith, sub- 
 Dean of Ch. Ch., there is another portrait of Dr Jonathan, 
 much more striking and expressive, it must have been done 
 when he was old, and exhibits a thunderstorm on the eye- 
 brows, and a sloe-ish sourness in the mouth, almost too 
 tremendous and unpleasing to behold. 
 
 As to my miserable performance transmitted yesterday, T 
 will make no apologies, because I am sure that you are con- 
 vinced the horror is as well executed as I possess the power 
 of doing it. Having used Bristol paper, I found it necessary 
 to have a small box in place of a roller, and now I can only 
 say, that nothing giveth me greater pleasure than to perform 
 1 Rev. K. M. K. Tarplej.
 
 . " MEIKLE-MOU'D MEG." 547 
 
 your commands in the drawing, or any other way, and that 
 my pencil, poor as it is, is always at your honour-conferring 
 service. 
 
 I discover from " The Staggering State " that Meg's mother 
 was a miller's daughter : such a lapsus in wedlock was surely 
 not common in Sir Gideon's age. 
 
 The last time I had the pleasure of listening to you at 
 dinner, you mentioned a book, at Ballantyne's, I think, with 
 prints in the French style, which you said were good. I was 
 carving at the moment, and very unhappy, so I lost the name 
 pray let me know it. The ' Histoires tragiques ' are at 
 Oxford, but I shall be sure to supply your hiatus. 
 
 Thus far I have proceeded labouring under a violent tooth- 
 ache, which kept me all alive and merry all last night, and is in 
 a fair way for amusing me for some days and nights to come, 
 so that I cannot connect my discourse after a rhetorical 
 fashion, or torment you with any more of my impertinence 
 just at present. Will you, my dear Scott, have the goodness 
 to present my very best respects to Mrs Scott, and believe 
 me ever your faithful and obliged 
 
 CHS. KIRKPATRICK SHAEPE. 
 
 P.S. What an extraordinary affair is that of the report 
 hereabouts respecting Perceval murder ! the very mode of 
 death, the very place named. I hear that the Duchess of 
 Gordon's body, after her decease, was shown at the hotel at a 
 shilling a-head ; that the nourish concerning her in the news- 
 papers was written by Professor Playfair. He styles her 
 "the fair Fidele"! "there are fairer things than Polecats, 
 sure." 
 
 WALTEK SCOTT, Esq., to C. KIRKPATRICK SHARPE. 
 
 MY DEAR SHARPE, The inimitable drawing of Mickle- 
 mouthed Meg has arrived safe. Ah eke cara cosa. I think it
 
 548 ETCHING OF " MEIKLE-MOU'D MEG." P 
 
 is quite perfect the rueful helpless resignation of the heroe, 
 the exhortations of the priest, who obviously feels the drollery 
 of the dilemma, the sly look of the mother, the glee of the poor 
 damsel, and the determined obstinate attitude of the baronial 
 papa, are all most exquisitely embodied. It is now in the 
 hands of Marnock, that it may go with me to Abbotsford, of 
 which it will be a principal ornament. I will not offer any 
 thanks, because it is better to acknowledge bankruptcy at once, 
 than to pay a debt of gratitude at the rate of a penny in the 
 pound. I forwarded the parcel to Mr Hay, and the book was 
 most welcome. I am sorry for the trouble you have had 
 about the Dean's letters, but much obliged by your persever- 
 ing kindness. Would to God I had shaken hands with the 
 Dean, which would end my labours of editorship, unless where 
 little antiquarian tit-bits were to be cooked up ! 
 
 The Duchess of Gordon's panegyrist is surely too absurd a 
 fellow to be identified with Playfair. If I could suppose he 
 had written the paragraph, I must conclude that the fickle- 
 ness of cousin Ap Reece, now Lady Davy, had turned his brain. 
 The fair Fidele with a pize to her ! 'twas as rampant a brim- 
 stone as ever came out of Billingsgate, whose sole claim to 
 wit rested upon her brazen impudence and disregard to the 
 feelings of all who were near her. I should suppose some 
 country minister, or the led surgeon of the family, had 
 squirted out the piece of absurdity you have noticed. 
 
 A very different specimen of our Scottish matronage, your 
 friend Lady Stafford, is in town just now, but I have not seen 
 her as yet. 
 
 I will overhaul Ballantyne's books, but I cannot immedi- 
 ately guess what one you mean with plates in the French style. 
 They have some neat little articles at present. 
 
 I have got from Tho s - Thomson a very old and curious 
 brief Chronicle of the reign of James II. It overturns many 
 facts in our received history, and throws much light upon that 
 obscure period. Thomson intends to throw off a few copies
 
 Q ' > ] BATTLE OF DRYFE SANDS. 549 
 
 for private friends, and I will endeavour to get you one, or 
 have mine copied for you. Are you aware that Lord Hailes 
 challenges the slayer of the Ked Cuming as not being the Chief 
 of Closeburn ? I think, however, upon very feeble grounds. 
 
 I have lately recovered a curious document, being the 
 King's declaration to Parliam*- after the fall of the Douglasses, 
 "Anent the coming of the Laird of Buccleuch to Melrose." 
 The object is to exculpate the Laird from having any treason- 
 able intentions, in token of which the King, with laudable 
 minuteness, informs us that he had "bot on aue ledderin 
 doublet, with ane black bonnet upon his head." When you 
 are hunting after Border anecdotes, perhaps you may pick up 
 something anent the battle of Dryfe Sands and the death of 
 Maxwell. I have heard it reported that the lady of Lockerby 
 knocked him on the head like a second Jael, and that the 
 weapon she used was the large key of the Castle, for, having 
 sent out all her servants, either to assist Johnstone or to pro- 
 cure intelligence, she at length sallied out herself, locked the 
 iron gate, and carried this unlucky key in her hand when 
 she encountered Maxwell, whose horse had thrown him in 
 the retreat, after he had lost a hand in the battle. I think it 
 is not altogether out of the dice that I may see you in Dum- 
 friesshire this year ; for as I intend to be in Cumberland, I 
 shall be at no great distance from you. I should like to see 
 Carlaverock and Lochmaben, but above all to see you in your 
 land. But all this is hypothetical. Believe me, ever most 
 gratefully yours, WALTER SCOTT. 
 
 EDINR., 18th June 1812. 
 
 C. KIRKPATRICK SHARPE to WALTER SCOTT, Esq. 
 
 HODDAM CASTLE, Sunday [June 22 or 23] 1812. 
 
 MY DEAR SCOTT, I make the greater haste to answer your 
 last, that I may express the extreme pleasure which a visit
 
 550 INVITATION TO SCOTT. [ 
 
 from you will give to all the inmates of this mansion, and 
 to beg, that if you really make out your pilgrimage to 
 Cumberland, you will by no means forget and pass us by. 
 I need say nothing particularly from myself, saving that I 
 shall be most happy to do the honours of Lochmaben and 
 Caerlaveroc, both of which are at no considerable distance 
 from our own chateau ; but this my mother desireth me to 
 add, that she begs you to present her best wishes to Mrs 
 Scott, who, she hopes, will accompany you in your excursion, 
 and do us the honour of coming hither, tho' to her our 
 variety of ruinous castles can be but slender attraction. 
 You will, I am sure, be much gratified by your examination 
 of Caerlaveroc, which is certainly, in spite of the Goths who 
 steal the materials to construct dykes, a most beautiful relic 
 of antiquity ; but Lochmaben is so totally ruined, both from 
 time and the peeling of its walls, all the hewn stone being 
 removed, that it is far from picturesque : however, come and 
 see. The situation must be dear to every Scottish anti- 
 quarian, tho' there were not a stone of the castle left. More- 
 over, to draw you by a still stronger tug to this den of 
 Cacus, know that we are only about four miles distant from 
 Fair Ellen's grave, 1 and that the scenery is beautiful. She 
 lies in a romantic holme, covered with broom, by the side 
 of the Kirtle ; there are birch-trees, too, and wild roses in 
 short, everything that the poet can desire. " then, draw 
 thou near to our dwellings, that the sun may appear in our 
 land!" 
 
 I am quite happy that Meg pleases you, and that she is 
 deemed worthy of a frame, but there is one anachronism in 
 the drawing concerning which I feel a qualm I mean the 
 priest's costume. This never struck me until I had gone 
 too far to amend matters, and my only consolation is that 
 very few persons saving yourself are in a capacity of finding 
 out so minute a flaw. You deserve a crown of crab-tree 
 1 Fair Ellen of Kirkconnel.
 
 THE SECOND DUKE OF GORDON. 551 
 
 blossom in place of laurels for your cares respecting that 
 spider of a Dean, whose letters to the Duchess of Ormond 
 I do not yet despair of, tho' poor Worcester is once more 
 shipped off to Portugal, after occasioning both Duke and 
 Duchess a great deal of distress. What you say of the 
 Duchess of Gordon is, I daresay, as just as it is amusing. I 
 had lately put into my hands a packet of letters written by 
 the wife of the second Duke to a Mrs Dunbar, which prove 
 that she had the turn of Sappho, and of many ladies men- 
 tioned by Brantome. How Mrs Dunbar came to preserve 
 such documents is wonderful. The Duchess, you know, was 
 a daughter of the famous Earl of Peterborough. " Mordanto 
 fills the trump of fame;" quere, do the daughters of great 
 soldiers partake too much of the father ? Here is one in- 
 stance ; Christina of Sweden was another ; and I think Mrs 
 Manley mentions some of the Duke of Marlborough's daugh- 
 ters as members of the Cabal. I do not talk of these epistles 
 in general, for eschewing the resurrection of too recent 
 scandals ; but with you I can have no literary secrets. 
 
 I am in some hopes of seeing the fair Marchioness's son in 
 his way to Dunrobin, as we lie on one of his lines of pil- 
 grimage ; and, talking of our mutual acquaintances who bear 
 honours on their brows, I am assured that a certain great 
 lady is at last to receive due benevolence, in all its pride, 
 pomp, and circumstance, from her reluctant spouse ! which, 
 on a selfish account, I am rather sorry for, and I think one 
 may justly enough feel a concern for her too, considering her 
 late comforts at K., and the dreadful paragon of peevishness 
 she will now have to deal with. He is always out of temper ; 
 but that is not wonderful, if he be as much with Lady H. as 
 is reported. 
 
 I shall be extremely obliged to you for a copy, in any shape, 
 of the Chronicle which Mr Thomson has picked up and in- 
 tends to print. The murders in the Douglas family render 
 K. James the Second's reign excessively interesting, par-
 
 552 THE KIEKPATEICKS OF CLOSEBURNE. [ TO ^^su? 1 
 
 ticularly the first crime. "Edinburgh Castle, town, and 
 tower, God grant ye sink for sin ! " What sad dogs, how- 
 ever, those Douglases in general were, even by the account of 
 their own friends ! Did you remark how much of their 
 noble origin Mr Chalmers docks off in his ' Caledonia ' ? He 
 seems much prejudiced against the race, and lavishes great 
 abuse upon them, but still it appears that he may say with 
 the clown, " Here be truths." 
 
 I remember Lord Hailes's note respecting the Kirkpatricks 
 rather imperfectly, tho' I'm sure it went on a date proving 
 one Roger to have been alive after he was dead, consequently 
 another Eoger did not kill the Regent. My lord was a 
 strange historian, tho' in this case he really may be right, 
 as the fixing of the stab upon Closeburne is merely through 
 tradition, authorized strongly by the crest and motto of the 
 family. We have no papers to prove anything decidedly in 
 the affair, or, indeed, much respecting the clan in any shape. 
 Our oldest charter, a confirmation of Closeburne to Yvone 
 Kirkp k - by Alex r - 2, is dated 1232; but in a charter of 
 Robert Bras, 1st Lord of Annandale, to the monks of Holm- 
 cultram, Yvone Kirkp k - appears as a witness ; and as this 
 Robert died 1141, we make this Yvone the other's papa. We 
 can go no further up on parchment : to come down, " Steph- 
 anus, Dominus villa de Closburn, filius et hseres Domini Ade 
 de Kirkp k - inibitis," makes an agreement with the Abbot of 
 Kelso concerning the Kirk of Closburne, 1278, so Stephen 
 must have been grandson to Yvone. Here a Dr Clapperton, 
 who resided at Lochmaben, was a virtuoso, and had access to 
 many charter-chests now impervious, particularly to that of 
 the Lords Carliel of Tortherwald, produces two sons to 
 Stephen, Roger, and Duncan, who married Isobel, d r - and 
 heiress of Sir David Torthorwald of that ilk. It is this 
 Duncan who is so frequently mentioned in the poem of 
 Wallace. Sir Roger, 'tis said, stuck Cummin, but we have 
 no charters to prove even his existence ; but unanimous
 
 T ( E m2. OTT '] THE KIRKPATRICKS OF CLOSEBURNE. 553 
 
 tradition gives him the honour of stabbing a half-dead 
 regent-killer. Here is his successor; but perhaps this 
 Thomas " did give the mortal touch." Hume calls the man- 
 queller Thomas ! The Kirkpatricks of Torthorwald quickly 
 ended in an heiress, who married the ancestor of the Lords 
 Carliel ; so there was no baronial family but that of Close- 
 burne of the name, till that [ l ] of Kirkmichael start- 
 ed up in James 3d's time, and quickly "conquest" a large 
 estate, afterwards possessed by the Dally ell's and Douglas's. 
 
 We were people [ l ] of good condition now and 
 then, but with sad falls, which occasioned letters of [ l ] 
 and growsome " Giftis off Escheet." The laird of Close- 
 burne's son was pledge for Oliver Sinclair after the rout of 
 Solway, and from Lodge it appears we were then rich. His 
 son, tho' he married a daughter of the reforming L d - Glen- 
 cairne, stuck to Queen Marie, and had Closeburne Castle blown 
 up with powder by the E. of Sussex for his pains. His son, 
 who was at Dryffe Sands, seems to have been tormented by 
 all the world, even his own children. His neighbours were 
 constantly herrying him, and tho' we have no less than three 
 writs of fire and sword granted against them, all seems to 
 have availed nothing. One of these writs, dated 13 April 
 1593, denounces Alexander Johnstone of Gallihill, and many 
 more of the name of Johnstone, " for the shaimfull and cru- 
 well slauchtir of umq 1 - William Kirkpatrick ; " but another 
 (2nd June) includes members of the name of Maxwell, so 
 Sir Thomas, perhaps, was not sorry to see his friends scamper 
 off at Dryffe, where, I have heard, Lord Maxwell was slain, 
 not by the gudewife of Lockerby, but of Kelton, which is 
 near the scene of battle. She went out, I have heard, to 
 strip the dead, and found Lord Maxwell in a ditch. The 
 beautiful good-night you printed in the ' Minstrelsy ' alludes 
 to Closeburne's coldness, not to say worse, in the cause ; yet 
 in the writ against the Johnstones, he himself inserts as his 
 1 Letter torn here.
 
 554 LADY NITHSD ALE'S PORTRAIT. [ T0 * 
 
 coadjutors Roger Grierson of Lag, Sir John Gordon of Loch- 
 invar, William Lord Herries, and John Lord Maxwell. To 
 conclude this verbiage properly, I must mention that Lord 
 Hailes wrote an elegy on my grandmother Kirkpatrick, 
 which I possess, and which is a sad specimen of his lordship's 
 poetical powers. One may quote Cotton about Dido : 
 
 " My lord, to make her death the sweeter, 
 A portion gave of Hopkins' metre." 
 
 I went the other day to the house of Terregles, near Dum- 
 fries, that I might take a sketch of Lady Nithsdaill's portrait 
 the lady who got her lord out of the Tower with so much 
 ingenuity in the year 1716. I had not been in the house 
 since poor Lady Winny's time, and found her grandmother's 
 picture in no good condition. It seems to have been painted 
 by Sir Godfrey, and is rather well done. She is not pretty ; 
 fair-complexioned, slender, sitting upon a rock, with one hand 
 round the neck of a [ l ] spaniel. Her husband, who is also 
 well painted, is a hideous black-faced fellow, in armour, with 
 so coarse a visage that I know not a countess of the present 
 day who would not cry fie upon Lady Nithsdaill for thinking 
 of " so shocking a fright's " rescue. 
 
 If I go on much longer, you, I fear me, will cry out, " Good 
 people, bring a rescue or two ; " so I have done, begging you 
 to let me know your motions, when at leisure, and to believe 
 me, ever most faithfully yours, 
 
 CHS. KIRKPATRICK SHARPK. 
 
 P.S. If ever I have an opportunity, I shall beg a sight of 
 King James's Declaration respecting the laird of Buccleugh. 
 In the Ashmolean Museum there is an account of Lord 
 Bedford's embassy to Scotland, after the birth of James 6th, 
 and as a particular relation of the dresses of several Scottish 
 peers, worn when Lord Bedford dined with Lord Murray. 
 I had lately sent me a catalogue of the books and MSS. 
 
 1 Letter torn.
 
 . JOHNSTON OF CASKIEBEN. 555 
 
 which Drummond of Hawthornden presented to the Ad.'s 
 Lib., printed 1627 (reprinted, I suppose, in the large cata- 
 logue), and there appear to be some curious things that one 
 never hears of, a relation of the Gowrie Conspiracy, by the 
 E. of Stirling (MS.) ; an answer to the Chameleon (MS.) ; Sir 
 Eobert Kerr's Psalms, in English verse (MS.) ; Tetrachista ou 
 Quatrains a son file ; Queen Marie (MS.) is this printed ? 
 By the bye, since I cannot get Sir John Johnstone's speech, 
 I wish you'd let me have the song upon him. After perus- 
 ing this letter, I was tempted to throw it into the fire, but on 
 second thoughts it shall go, as the most complete specimen of 
 gossip that ever was seen. 
 
 WALTER SCOTT, Esq., to C. KIRKPATRICK SHARPE. 
 
 MY DEAR SHARPE, It is with great pleasure that I send 
 you a copy both of the dying speech and song relative to the 
 hapless Knight of Caskieben, who died like a true knight- 
 errant but in an unusual manner though for the common 
 cause, a lady fair. 1 I have a copy of the Chronicle in hand for 
 you ; it is certainly the most ancient and authentic account 
 which we have of the reign of James II., and contradicts in 
 many points the common histories. I send a copy of the 
 declaration of the King in favour of my chief. By the way, 
 looking into the ' Staggering State,' I observe Sir Gideon Murray 
 was an ally of our clan, and carried Buccleuch's standard at 
 the affair of Dryffsands : such I fancy had been the conse- 
 quence of the marriage with Mickle-mou'd Meg. By the way, 
 I believe I did make a mistake about the gudewife of Kelton, 
 and now recollect it was to her, not to Lady Lockerby, that 
 the Sisera and Jael business of Lord Maxwell was attributed. 
 
 What you tell me of the D. of G. is very curious, and might 
 enlighten the intellects of some of our judges, who in a cause 
 1 See ante, p. 530.
 
 556 CHALMERS ON THE DOUGLASES. 
 
 cd&bre of our own day protested against the united testimony 
 of ancients and moderns, not to mention that of direct 
 witnesses in the case, that there were no such propensities as 
 the ancients ascribed to Sappho, and the Court of Charles II. 
 to Mad selle - Hobart. 
 
 The reunion of the Prince and Princess will be an astonish- 
 ing phenomenon ; but I fancy he has got a fright, and wishes 
 to secure the attachment of the decent classes of society, to 
 which this would be a great step. But, to be sure, it must be 
 a cat-and-dog life between them after all, unless they begin, 
 as they are to end, with keeping different corners of Carlton 
 House. 
 
 As to the Douglasses, Chalmers has fallen into a great 
 error. The whole theory rests on this Certain lands on 
 Duglas water, " Theobaldo Flammatico," who, as Chalmers 
 avers (but this, as Partridge says, is a gratis dictum), was the 
 father of William de Duglas, witness to some charters between 
 the years 1170 and 1190. Now, notwithstanding that he 
 disingenuously would have you to infer there is some stronger 
 evidence of the connection between Theobald than his own 
 say-so and the assumed identity of the lands possessed by 
 them, yet I understand there is no other support whatever ; 
 and the lands are so far from being the same estate, that it 
 has happened rather wonderfully that those granted to Theo- 
 bald Fleming, which are mentioned by their proper boundaries 
 in the Abbot's charter to him, are not now, and never were, 
 any part of the adjacent Barony of Douglas ; so down falls 
 Chalmers' whole system. Indeed, though a most indefatigable 
 bearer of w r ood and stone for antiquarian erections, I hold him 
 incapable of putting one stone on another or, in other words, 
 of drawing any sound or wholesome inference from the mass 
 of matter which he assembles together. 
 
 I think that tradition must be accurate in the matter of the 
 slaughter of the Eeid Cuming indeed the assumption of the 
 crest seems sufficiently to warrant our believing it, and an
 
 Q "] PROPOSED BOOK ON WITHCRAFT. 557 
 
 hundred reasons might occasion the circumstance which Hailes 
 stumbles at. 
 
 Now let me try to interest you in a sort of hobby-horsical 
 proposal of mine for amusement of a winter's or autumnal 
 evening. You know I have a fine collection of witch-books 
 and suchlike. Now, what think you of a selection of the 
 most striking and absurd stories of apparitions, witchcraft, 
 demonology, and so forth, tacked together with ironical dis- 
 quisitions, and occasionally ornamented with historical and 
 antiquarian anecdotes, and instead of a broomstick, to clap 
 three or four humourous drawings to the tails of our witches, 
 which we would take care to have beautifully etched, and 
 which would send the publication 
 
 " Up in the air on my bonnie gray mare, 
 And I see, and I see, and I see her yet " 1 
 
 The plan might admit a sprinkling of poetry, especially of 
 an humourous cast. We would carefully conceal names, and 
 I am certain might have a great deal of fun, and afford some 
 to the publick. We could divide the literary part of the task 
 as was most agreeable to you. I would not confine ourselves 
 to dry extracts, but would abridge and select and ornament 
 the narratives where that was judged more advisable. More- 
 over, I think we might put down in such a collection any of 
 those mystical tales of tradition which we may be able yet to 
 recover or may have stored in our memory. Pray let me in- 
 terest you in this matter, 
 
 " For if you deign not to assist, 
 You make all this an idle dream." 1 
 
 We for Mrs Scott is my travelling companion propose to 
 be in Dumfriesshire about the middle of August, as the Duke 
 
 1 The joint work was never undertaken, but it took shape with each 
 in a separate form Scott's treatise on ' Demouology and Witchcraft,' 
 and Sharpe's essay on Scottish witchcraft in the introduction to Law's 
 ' Memorials.'
 
 558 DOUGLAS OF DORNOCK. 
 
 and Duchess will then be at Drumlanrig. I trust you will go 
 there with us, and see what is left in the old library and what 
 pictures are in the halls. But before going thither, we will 
 visit Hoddam Castle, agreeable to your kind invitation. 
 
 "Ohejam satis !" quoth my fingers, and I fear your eyes will 
 re-echo the quotation, though barest of the threadbare. Ever 
 yours, WALTER SCOTT. 
 
 EDINR., 2Qth June. 
 
 My address will be Abbotsford, Melrose, after this week. 
 
 I enclose a few doggrel lines about Douglas of Dornock, 
 which I thought you might like to see, as the scene lies at 
 Ecclefechan. The poor poet, like many a country gentleman, 
 seems to have been eaten up by his men of business, who in 
 Scotland supply the place of hawks, hounds, the turf, and the 
 gaming-table in easing the landed men of their dirty acres. 
 
 C. KIRKPATRICK SHARPE to MATTHEW LEWIS, Esq. 
 
 H. CASTLE, 30th June 1812. 
 DANAE. 
 
 " Night on horror's wings suspended, 
 Veil'd in clouds the watery world, 
 Darkening storms, by death attended, 
 Through the air destruction hurl'd. 
 Loud was heard the whirlwind blowing, 
 High was borne the brazen chest, 
 When the fair, with eyes o'erflowing, 
 Clasp'd her infant to her breast. 
 
 " Babe, she said," &c. 
 
 Victoria ! After in vain trying to mollify your tenacious 
 rigour, I have squeezed this, and about seven stanzas more, 
 from a wonderful Scottish Echo, who, tho' condemned to the 
 mountains of Caledonia, hath entirely recovered from the 
 cold she caught sitting upon the damp grave of Narcissus !
 
 'DANAE' LADY CLAVERING. 559 
 
 Shall I send you a copy of Danae, Mr Lewis ? Don't be 
 modest on account of the trouble, as I never tire of transcrib- 
 ing such pretty verses, and in such a solitary, dismal, woe- 
 begone chateau as this " no other task these faded eyes 
 pursue." For I see nobody, read little, weep less, and never 
 draw at all. 
 
 Apropos 
 
 " Shepherds tell me, tell me have you seen 
 
 | -.*--<+:- en 
 Ha - ve you se - ~~j. ~P~ "^^^^ ' ^ e ^ l P 355 t ' 1 ' s wa v'" 
 
 When I say, however, that I never draw at all, I wish you 
 to understand that since I have gained my point concerning 
 Danae, I have composed myself a little, and finished a draw- 
 ing for you, very ill done, certes, yet as well as I could do 
 it with a crow-quill and a pair of very weak eyes ; but the 
 question is, how am I to transmit it to your worship ? seeing 
 that it is not worth mail-coach carriage and, alas! no 
 cheering footstep of London traveller e'er leaves the traces of 
 social joy amid the noxious dews of Annandale. 
 
 I passed the greater part of last winter in Edin., where 
 all the women and all the men are virtuous. There the chil- 
 dren dance waltzes, write love-letters, fight, flirt, copulate, 
 and conceive in leading-strings ! is not this strange ? I saw 
 Lady Augusta Clavering 2 there, who is looking better than 
 she hath done for a long while ; and, moreover, hath the 
 satisfaction of being the mother of an acknowledged flag and 
 flagstaff, a king's birthday beauty, on whose appearance all 
 the great guns in Edin. do not fail of making a monstrous 
 discharge. Miss C. 3 strikes me as being pretty, but nothing 
 more ; for she hath got tender eyes, and no flesh to cover her 
 
 1 De Gramont. 
 
 2 Daughter of John, fifth Duke of Argyll, married Brigadier-General 
 Henry Clavering, son of Sir John Clavering of Axwell. 
 
 3 Charlotte Catherine Clavering, married, 1817, to Miles Fletcher, Esq.
 
 560 MAR'S WORK. 
 
 nakedness. She's a sort of ghost of Lady Charlotte, 1 dead of a 
 consumption, and much compressed by whipping through the 
 keyhole. Adieu, my dear Lewis ; believe me ever faithfully 
 yours. 
 
 Earl GOWER to C. KIRKPATRICK SHARPE. 
 
 LETHEBOL, July 1, 1812. 
 
 MY DEAR SHARPE, I have fairly got out of the metropolis 
 and les douceurs de Londres, on the way to Dunrobin, and am 
 very sorry to be obliged to say " No, I cannot," to your kind in- 
 vitation ; but I must stay here a day to see my farm, and a day 
 at Trentham and that will leave me no day for the journey, 
 except what I must needs require in order to be in time for 
 the local militia. 
 
 So pleasure must give way to duty, you see. I am sorry for 
 it, as I sh d - have liked much to have been able to have seen 
 you and Hoddam. 
 
 I neither saw nor heard of Constable at London, further 
 than that at the Eoxburghe sale I heard several books knocked 
 down to his name ; but I did not observe his presence there. 
 Such prices never were heard of as some of the books sold for 
 as you may have seen by the newspapers, which are too apt 
 to anticipate me and my letters. 
 
 Pray write to me at Dunrobin, where I shall be in the 
 course of a week. Y rs - very truly, GOWER. 
 
 I have opened my letter to say that Lady Stafford saw 
 Stirling on her way to Dunrobin, and the Castle all turned 
 to barracks. She says, " Marr's Work is exactly like Sharpe's 
 drawing." 
 
 1 Lady Charlotte Campbell.
 
 JOHNSTON'S SPEECH. 561 
 
 WALTER SCOTT, Esq., to C. KIKKPATRICK SHARPE. 
 
 EDINBURGH, July 10th, 1812. 
 
 MY DEAR CHARLES SHARPE, The transcript I sent you of 
 Johnstone's speech l was from a copy belonging to my friend 
 Mr Gillies. But I have since found my own, which I enclose, 
 and which I think is rather more particular, though agreeing 
 in general with that which I sent you. As the minutice of 
 these matters are always the most interesting, therefore I 
 send you the enclosed " more last words of the worthy Knight," 
 whose fate it was to be sus. per coll. for serving his friend. 
 Yours truly, ~W. S. 
 
 The Hon. KEPPEL CRAVEN to C. KIRKPATRICK SHARPE. 
 
 CONSTANTINOPLE, Saturday night, July 11, 1812. 
 
 MY DEAR SHARPE, I don't know whether I am justified in 
 choosing a moment of pain, alarm, and uncertainty, as the 
 one most favourable to letter- writing ; but I cannot defer the 
 so doing any longer, for the time is come when I must put 
 my packet of letters into the hands that are to convey them 
 to England, which are no less than those of Mr Canning, 2 our 
 ex-Minister at this Court, who is returning by the same ship 
 which brought out Mr Liston ; but before I proceed further, 
 I should relieve your mind from the uneasiness which the 
 second line of this epistle may have raised in it, by telling 
 you that the alarm therein mentioned proceeds from reports 
 of the plague, which is said to have broke out in the neigh- 
 bourhood, and indeed in some parts of the Turkish town : the 
 uncertainty arises from the daily alterations which have 
 taken place in Mr Canning's plans relative to his departure, 
 and which affect me, as I am to accompany him as far as the 
 
 1 See ante, p. 555. 2 The late Lord Stratford de Redcliffe. 
 
 VOL. I. 2 N
 
 562 CONSTANTINOPLE. [ H0 , ^ PE T 8 
 
 Dardanelles ; and the pain is created by an abominable 
 visitation called a boil, which has made its appearance on the 
 back of my neck, and has confined me to my room for this 
 week past, and thereby disappointed me of playing the 
 pretty to her Excellency Mrs Listen, besides really prevent- 
 ing my sleeping every night. I am now trying to put an end 
 to its baneful influence by next Monday, the day fixed for our 
 departure, but doubt of success, which would be a most 
 severe disappointment, as we are to visit Brousa on our way, 
 and I long to know how one feels at the top of Mount 
 Olympus, which it is proposed we should climb. I have 
 teen here nearly a month, much more than is necessary to 
 see the soi-disant curiosities of the place, and quite enough to 
 be heartily tired of it as a residence, notwithstanding its 
 beauties, which certainly are quite beyond description, and 
 which are not confined to the town alone, but extend the 
 Avhole length of the banks of the Bosphorus as far as the 
 Black Sea. Though I am a great friend to the Turks, from 
 whom I have met with nothing but kindness and hospitality, 
 I must own that I wish that they were confined to their 
 possessions in Asia (which, after all, form the finest country 
 I have ever seen), and that some European I don't say 
 Christian power had the ruling of this city ; but I should 
 bargain for none of the mosques being pulled down, not a 
 cypress-tree touched, and that the fashion of the boats be not 
 alter'd. This last condition will make you smile, and betrays 
 the cloven foot; but I assure you that those three objects 
 form in my eyes the most prominent features of the picture, 
 and I don't think any others could be substituted with equal 
 grace and effect. I quitted Gell and his artists at Scio, or 
 rather they left me there for Samos, from which place I 
 have heard from him, and he is by this time at Rhodes. I 
 went from Scio to Lesbos, from thence on to the Asiatic 
 coast, and by land through the Troad to the Dardanelles, 
 whence I came here in a boat, and was soon follow'd by the
 
 uf ] BYRON'S 'CHILDE HAROLD.' 563 
 
 new embassy, which has afforded something in the shape of 
 conversation and society. There is a Mr Phose, lame, and 
 out of health, but gentlemanlike and well-inform'd ; if he 
 was good-looking, he might be consider'd as interesting, but 
 that is not the case, and his voice is so like Stapleton's that 
 the charms of his conversation are quite extinguish'd by the 
 sound. . . . The captain of the ship Argo, a very 
 good-natured person, though very different from Jason, - 
 and some of his officers, make up the party, among which 
 I am considered as a prodigy of learning and antiquarian- 
 ism; which I found out quite by chance, and have held 
 my head up ever since as high as my boil will let me. After 
 this Olympic expedition, I propose making another of an 
 equally sublime nature by visiting M> Athos ; and then, 
 to descend to gentler scenes, have some thoughts of look- 
 ing at Thessalian Tempe, and reanimating my drooping 
 patriotism by a view of Thermopylae. After this, I shall 
 return again to the orange-groves of Scio, where I hope to 
 find a clue to lead me to my lost companions, without whom, 
 I own, I feel very awkward, and sometimes unhappy. The 
 true way of possessing that equality of spirits which is 
 reckon'd so enviable, is to lose whatever forms the main 
 spring of one's existence, and I thereby have been most 
 apathetically amiable and chearfull for these six weeks past. 
 I am grown indifferent to everything but bodily pain, even to 
 the daily loss of the remainder of my white locks, which now 
 vie with the snow of Ida in brightness, but not in quantity. 
 I have left off that fatal toupee which excited your wrath, 
 and my head now shines in artless nudity and baldness. I 
 have been much pleased with Lord Byron's poem, or rather 
 parts of it ; but the prose is vile, his attempts at wit quite 
 melancholy, and his mention of the artists' squabbles at 
 Athens perfectly uninteresting to English readers, and only 
 calculated to wound the feelings of those mention'd. I am 
 also much concern'd that he should translate " Nostra Seiiora
 
 564 BYRON'S ' CHILDE HAROLD.' [". 
 
 de la Pena " (at Cintra), " Our Lady of woe or punishment," 
 for unluckily " pena " there only signifies a rock. It is also 
 wrong to accentuate Andalusia as he does, and not Andalusia, 
 which is the national mode of pronouncing it, and, moreover, 
 much more poetical and harmonious. This, and Buchan's 
 ' Domestic Medicine,' are the only books I have seen for some 
 months, save my own Journal, which, to follow your advice, 
 I pay great attention to, and which has already filled nearly 
 two small volumes. 
 
 But it is late, and I am in pain, so shall bid you farewell. 
 My next will probably announce my plans for the autumnal 
 and winter campaign. In the meantime, adieu. Write as 
 usual, and believe me thine affectionate CAROLUS EEX. 
 
 GRANVILLE VERNON/ Esq., to C. KIRKPATRICK SHARPE. 
 
 MY DEAR SHARPE, I do not know whether you end your 
 name with an e or not, but the Archbishop of St Andrews 
 did, and the Archbishop of York did, and therefore the 
 analogy is all for it, though it is possible that the Puritans 
 may hold in such holy Catholic hatred everything Episcopal, 
 that Sharp you must be whether you will or no, and that 
 you may prefer security without HONOR, to your namesake's 
 fate with as much of the LATTER as a well-stuffed E can con- 
 veniently carry. Nevertheless, as it would be inconceivably 
 vulgar to expose your name to all the vile ribaldry of puns to 
 which the adjective sharp, sharper, sharpest (I compare for 
 the benefit of country gentlemen), might render you liable, I 
 have resolved to write you Sharpe. 
 
 But here I must observe that this resolution is an insult to 
 
 1 George Granville Harcourt Vernon of Newnham Courtnay, M.P. for 
 Oxfordshire, son of the Archbishop of York; born 1785, died 1861. He 
 married first, Lady Elizabeth Bingham ; secondly, the Dowager Countess 
 Waldegrave, the daughter of Brahani the singer.
 
 ORAN 
 
 ESQ., TOO. K.s.;i8i2.J SIR THOMAS JONES. 565 
 
 the memory of the above-mentioned Archbishop of York, for 
 his arms are quartered, subquartered, and emblazoned with 
 every sharp instrument imaginable, which convicts him or 
 his ancestors either of a most unseemly pun, or of most 
 ignorant orthography. Daggers, pricks, spits, choose your 
 alternative. 
 
 If you have contrived to wade so far, your patience is well 
 entitled to an answer to the very natural difficulty which 
 you have found to understand this stuff. First, then, Aris- 
 totle informs me that all men are indignant with those who 
 forget or distort their names. An eventual apology seemed 
 my only resource. Next, it argues very plausibly the destruc- 
 tion of your letters to me, that I should have no means of 
 reference to satisfy me on this interesting question. The con- 
 clusion, however, is false, for they are all safe at Oxford. 
 Lastly, it must have been an age since my last letter to you, 
 or I should not have forgotten what I then knew. I confess 
 the dilemma, but there may be another reason more true and 
 more wise than these, that not knowing how to fill otherwise 
 so many pages as I thought would entitle me to a correspond- 
 ing answer from you, I was obliged to have recourse to my 
 friend Nonsense. I resemble therein the silk-worm making 
 a great puff with but little weight of matter : in this, how- 
 ever, I differ from the little beast, that as he who gathers its 
 labour receives all the fruit, so contrariwise all the fruit of 
 mine will, I trust, revert to me in a copious answer from you. 
 You know my opinion of your epistolary powers, and, know- 
 ing it, you paid me a bad compliment in supposing that I 
 should not perform my best endeavours to purchase a share 
 of their entertainment by answering your letter. You know, 
 I suppose, that Tyndall's brother is married, and I am afraid 
 that it will very much detract from their family comfort. 
 Oney should not have had a pupil, but the die being cast, 
 he has been fortunate enough. Sir T. Jones l is a very good- 
 1 Of Stanley Hall, Salop.
 
 566 LORD BELGRAVE SIR J. RIDDELL. [^^JM12. 
 
 humoured, rattling, pleasant Baronet, and nevertheless not 
 " a good fellow," nor " damn your eyes." l Bull has L d - Bel- 
 grave 2 for his pupil, and is to have 200 GUINEAS A-YEAR and 
 travel with him (into Scotland this vacation), and all his 
 expences paid. His good fortune is surprising. It has had, 
 moreover, a visible effect in his life at Ch. Ch., for you are well 
 aware of the advantage of having under the arm a very rich 
 Viscount in Oxford, and Scotland especially. It has likewise 
 been partly the means of introducing Tyndall to the favour of 
 the noblemen s set; and he at last, though reluctantly, has 
 joined them. His heart, you know, was always with them. 
 Ch. Ch. had no prizes this year, and but one first class man. 
 W. Bathurst is pining over his failure in the latter particular ; 
 he, Delawarr, 3 and Low were in the second class. The Staffords 
 had left town before our vacation commenced, but I saw 
 Gower, whom people are grown tired of making matches for. 
 We had a Scotchman resident at Oxford for a fortnight, Sir J. 
 Riddell,* whom I should think you must know well, both as a 
 countryman and an Oxonian. He seems very good and very 
 particular, and a most amusing specimen of a " one clock." Let 
 me not be misunderstood. I call the specimen amusing, not 
 the man. Your neighbour, Mr Brougham, has signalised him- 
 self much this spring in Parliament. I believe, however, that 
 you, as a partisan of Walter Scott, feel little interest in an 
 Edinburgh Reviewer. This reminds me to thank you for the 
 verses which you transcribed for me, and I give you great 
 credit for honesty in not giving them as your own. I under- 
 stand that there is in the press, and shortly will be published, 
 another cart-load of wealth to Scott and pleasure to his 
 readers. I forget what affected person (I think it is Miss 
 
 1 See note, ante, p. 446. 
 
 2 Richard Grosvenor, afterwards second Marquess of Westminster ; 
 bom 1795, died 1869. 
 
 3 John George Sackville West, born 1791 ; succeeded his father as fifth 
 Earl Delawarr, 1795; died 1869. 
 
 4 See ante, p. 128.
 
 GRANVILLE VERNON, 1 
 ESQ. , TO 0. K. 8., 1812. J 
 
 Seward) concludes her letter with, " Write me soon and write 
 me quickly." Yours most truly, GLLE. VERNOX. 
 
 BISHOPTHORPE, YORK, [July 19, 1812.] 
 
 C. KIRKPATRICK SHARPE to WALTER SCOTT, Esq. 
 
 HODDAM CASTLE, July 21, 1812. 
 
 MY DEAR SCOTT, I have got so much to thank you for 
 that I scarcely know how to begin, yet my inclination 
 prompts me first of all to make my acknowledgments for 
 the favour you intend us in a visit, which will be most wel- 
 come whenever you find it convenient either to wander to- 
 wards the Cumberland lakes, or seek the hospitable halls 
 of your chief in the chateau of Drumlanrig. 
 
 And now I must profess my shame on account of the 
 trouble you have taken respecting that knight of an evil 
 star, who suffered base suspension one would think from 
 these documents, somewhat unjustly, tho' I have no doubt 
 but that he was a sad, bloody-minded tyrant, and guilty 
 (for I am no disciple of Queen Elizabeth in such things) of 
 the first act of violence laid to his charge. It is striking 
 enough that two of the godly Earl of Argyll's sons (the Earl, 
 that shining light of the new ' Fox's Martyrs ' l ) should have 
 been such graceless dogs as the first Duke, who was slain in 
 a baudy-house squabble, and this Campbell of Mammore, to 
 whom his father wrote a pious epistle the morning of his 
 execution, which, as it is brief, and was never printed, I 
 here subjoin : " For Mr Johne Campbell. Deare Johne, we 
 parted sudenly, but I hope shall meete hapily in heaven. 
 I pray God bless you, and if you seeke Him, He will be 
 found of you. My wife will say all to you, pray love and 
 respect her. I am your loving father, Argyll. Edin. Castle, 
 
 1 Lord Holland's Memoirs of James II.
 
 568 JOHNSTON OF CASKIEBEN. [s.. 
 
 30 June 85." The original of this is in Lord Frederick's 1 pos- 
 session, who may one day make a figure in story somewhat 
 like that of his progenitors, for I have seen a MS. narrative, 
 written by poor Miss Campbell of Carrick, who died of a 
 cancer in the Duke of Argyll's rooms in the Abbey, ex- 
 tremely well done, in which she makes out Lord Frederick 
 to have been a very sad deceiver. All these documents 
 respecting Sir John Johnstone I shall guard like the fruit 
 of Hesperia until I can restore them safely into your own 
 hands. And the same care shall be used towards Dor- 
 nock's 'Distress/ which amused me much, and of which a 
 copy is a great addition to a pretty extensive collection 
 of papers respecting the Queensberry family that is in the 
 possession of your humble servant. The unfortunate Laird 
 who sets his sorrows forth in such a moving strain was 
 g t- -grandson of Archibald Douglas of Dornock, second son 
 of the first E. of Queensberry ; and son of the last Laird of 
 Dornock (for it's a groundless title which he assumeth in 
 his tragedy) by a d r - of Sir James Johnstone of Westerhall. 
 His grandfather was the confident of the first Duke of 
 Queensberry, and of his whole family, who wrote to him on 
 all their squabbles, even the waiting -maid of Lady Anne 
 informing him by letter that her mistress had kept her room 
 for three days in a pet, and that she, as an excuse to the 
 house, had said that her Ladyship's gown was a-washing. 
 His father sold the estate of Dornock to the Duke of Queens- 
 berry, but bought the estate of Castlemilk contiguous to 
 this, which was all that his son had to dispose of. He was 
 a madman, and dangerous in his cups. I have heard that he 
 once caught his wife, a d r - of Sir Patrick Maxwell of Spring- 
 kell, in an uneqm vocal situation with the ploughman, one of 
 whose ears he immediately whipt off with a gullie which he 
 happened to hold in his hand. His son, I remember, was the 
 
 1 Lord Frederick Campbell, son of John, fourth Duke of Argyll, and 
 Lord Clerk Register of Scotland ; died June 1816.
 
 T ,T8i2.] DOUGLAS OF DORNOCK. 569 
 
 horror of my youth, a truculent-faced, squinting fellow, who 
 was perpetually drunk, and armed with pistols, which he 
 made very little ceremony of discharging. His cousin, Sir 
 Will. Maxwell, never dared to pass the door of his house, 
 lest he should meet with a stray bullet, as he would take no 
 notice of the Captain after he was turned out of the army 
 for wounding a man behind his back with whom he had 
 picked a quarrel. At last he actually shot one Little, a 
 farmer of his own, and was tried for the murder at Dumfries ; 
 but by the help of money (for we were all in a fear about 
 having a cousin hanged, the Border notions are now so 
 refined), and abundance of perjury, he was brought in insane, 
 and confined at Dumfries till his death, which happened 
 lately. When drunk he was certainly mad, but not other- 
 wise. I believe his family is now represented by his cousin- 
 german in Jamaica, who, should the Kelhead branch by any 
 chance fail, will be Marquis of Queensberry. So much for 
 Dornock and his tragical dialogue ; in which, however, I 
 must add the initials of G. M. stand for George Muir, Sir 
 Alex r - Muir Mackenzie's father, who, if all be true which 
 one hears, is a very becoming third to Scoundrel Grant and 
 Pastoris Filius. 
 
 Ten thousand thanks for the Chronicle of King James 
 the Second, which must be a most valuable discovery ; and for 
 the extract concerning the good Laird of Buccleugh, whom I 
 see in my mind's eye galloping forth in his buff coat and 
 black bonnet, having, I dare swear, good stout armour under 
 both. These worthies were always on the right side in 
 politics, if I remember clearly, which is vast praise to a 
 Scottish family of importance. The Duke of Monmouth, to 
 be sure, went astray ; but he only married in, and had great 
 temptations of every kind to ensnare him. I bear a woman- 
 ish affection towards his memory, which is very ridiculous. 
 What you tell me respecting the origin of the Douglases is 
 quite satisfactory, and enrageth one's spirit against Chalmers,
 
 570 DEMONOLOGY. 
 
 whom I could perceive to be ignorant in his notes to Sir 
 D[avid] L[indsay], but had not skill enough to detect in ' Cale- 
 donia.' Since I wrote last I have read Lord Hailes once more, 
 after a lapse of some years, and find that he'd fain made out 
 Archibald the Grim to have been illegitimate, that gruesome 
 carle's expulsion of the nuns of Lincluden on account of their 
 incontinency would make an amusing drawing; but Lord 
 Hailes seems to have been fond of making discoveries, and 
 it requireth no great talent that way to perceive that there 
 is a great deal of stuff and ill taste in his own ' Annals of 
 Scotland.' 
 
 Your plan respecting a collection of spectre relations and 
 diabolic agency strikes me as delicious, and whatever is in 
 my limited power to execute shall be done with alacrity ; 
 but I see in the plenitude of my wisdom one dreary obstacle 
 to the perfection of the work, the tiresome shackles of 
 modesty, as it is called, under which we must ply the literary 
 oar; for, under favour, we cannot enter into those curious 
 minutiae of courtship which passed between the devil and the 
 witches, the most amusing article in the whole routine of 
 sorcery ; neither enlarge upon particular malefi-ces which the 
 hags wrought against young fellows, concerning which there 
 is such an excellent story in the ' Discovery of Witchcraft.' 
 Our frontispiece, of course, must be portraits of the P. and 
 Lady Hertford as Satan and one of the sisterhood ; but what 
 do you think of embellishing with likenesses of people who 
 have shown themselves, after death, sorcerers, &c., &c., and 
 views of houses remarkably haunted ? There is a portrait of 
 Sir George Villers at Strawberry Hill, of Pearlin Jean at 
 Allan Bank, 1 of Lady Anne Douglas at Drumlanrig, and of 
 Lady Isabella Thynne (who, like her sister, Lady Di, saw her 
 own shade) in Lord Breadalbane's apartments in the Abbey. 
 Then for witches : I fear we have no representations to be 
 relied upon of Mother Shipton or the woman of Endor, nor 
 1 For Pearlin Jean, see Marriott's ballad, ante, p. 303.
 
 TSlJ DEMONOLOGY. 571 
 
 portraits of Lady Glammis (who is not, by the way, found 
 guilty of witchcraft in the ' Criminal Eecord '), or Lady 
 Buccleugh; or Lady Athole, who cast the pains of King 
 James the Sixth's birth upon Lady Eivers ; or Lady Ancrum, 
 who figures in the ' Staggering State ' ; or Lady Huntley, who, 
 if she did not ride herself, was a great upholder of the besom. 
 But there may be a picture of the first Lord Stair's mother, 
 and there are certainly genuine prints of the Marechale 
 d'Ancre, La Voisin, and Madame de Soissons. I never could 
 detect a portrait of Mother Jennings at Blenheim. There, 
 dear Scott, we have wealth of warlocks ! There are prints of 
 Dr Fiane (I never saw the curious book of his pranks; it 
 was in Brand's collection) and of John Knox, of Napier of 
 Merchiston (who was habit and repute), Oliver Cromwell, 
 Prince Eupert, and Lord Dundee. Nay, in this quarter of 
 the world we possess the effigies of two most notable war- 
 locks, painted by Sir Godfrey Kneller: the first Duke of 
 Queensberry, whose history you know ; and Sir Patrick Max- 
 well of Springkell, who gave his eldest son to the devil the 
 moment he was born, and had nightly meetings with that 
 foul thief in the lonely churchyard of Kirkconnel. 
 
 For new wonders in the way of narrative, we may collect 
 many. The Margravine of Anspach hath a long MS. account 
 of the spectre which haunted Mademoiselle Clairon the 
 actress, who was kept by the Margrave, written, I believe, in 
 the lady's own hand. This I could procure secretly. Then 
 Pearlin Jean, and many other true stories, you know have 
 never been printed ; nay, this family could yet add a dismal 
 relation to the rest, seeing that we all heard a ghost at Dum- 
 fries many years ago, with some surprising circumstances 
 which are too tedious here to be recorded. 
 
 But I shall never forgive myself for a crime I once com- 
 mitted in destroying some letters written by the Laird of 
 Cool, the ghost, 1 to the late Mr Sharpe. I was burning a 
 
 1 Cool's ghost created a great sensation in Dumfriesshire about the
 
 572 DEMONOLOGY. [scow.^Tsis. 
 
 vast quantity of rubbish at my father's desire, and not aware 
 of the story, so they were all consumed. I shall regret them 
 all my life, as one might have compared his colloquial with 
 his epistolary style, and drawn sage inferences. Bitson, in 
 his preface to ' Scottish Ballads,' quotes a very curious tract 
 which may be useful in our compilation, ' News from Scot- 
 land, 1591,' where are given the words which the witches 
 sung at North Berwick Kirk, " Commer, goe ye before," &c. 
 There's a book called ' Pandemonium,' too, which I never met 
 with [ l ] that hath some curious tales, and which 
 I daresay you possess. When I was last in Edinburgh, I 
 copied some extracts from the ' Criminal Record,' principally 
 concerning witches. There is one odd affair, the trial of Lady 
 Fowlis, wife of Munro of Fowlis, for witchcraft, 1590. She 
 and her commers made clay figures of Kobert Munro of 
 Fowlis and Margorie Campbell, spouse to Eoss, younger of 
 Balnagowan, which they shot at with elf arrows. There is 
 another curious story of Sir John Colquhoun of Luss bewitch- 
 ing Lady Margaret Grahame, his wife's sister, with a jewel 
 which he procured from one Chiiiips, a necromancer. But 
 enough of these. The only printed book I have (and it may 
 be common, nevertheless) is ' Gruels effets de la vengeance 
 du Cardinal de Kichelieu, ou Histoire des Diables de Loudon,' 
 1716, in which there are many strange passages, and an 
 account of the execution of Grandier enough to move a very 
 stout mind to compassion. 
 
 What an extraordinary apparition that was which a woman 
 swore to before the coroner some years ago, when so many 
 people were killed at Sadlers Wells ! Nobody ever enquired 
 into the affair, but I preserved the newspaper in which it is 
 recorded. There were no less than three witnesses, which 
 would have convinced Dr Johnson, and certainly appears 
 
 middle of the last century by appearing to various people, seeking to 
 make restitution for injustices done in the flesh. 
 1 Tom out.
 
 TO WALTER 
 SCOTT, ESQ., 1812._ 
 
 DEMONOLOGY. 
 
 573 
 
 very extraordinary to persons of a less superstitious turn of 
 mind. 
 
 Whatever I can do in this matter tell me, and I will 
 attempt it. Meanwhile we are all happy in the prospect of 
 seeing you and Mrs Scott here; and I remain, dear Scott, 
 with many thanks for all the trouble you have taken on my 
 account, Your obliged and faithful 
 
 CHS. KlEKPATEICK SHARPE. 
 
 HODDAM CASTLE.
 
 574 
 
 NOTES BY C. K. SHAEPE ON LETTEES TO LADY 
 CHAELOTTE BUEY 
 
 IN MR GIBSON-CRAIG'S COPY OF 'LIFE AND TIMES 
 OF GEORGE IV.' 
 
 (The first references are to Mr Gibson-Craig's copy ; the second, to the pages 
 of the present volume.) 
 
 LETTER I. 
 
 Gleanings which regard the family of (p. 57). 
 
 "Argyll "(p. 441). 
 
 Mr Shelley (p. 58). "Mr S. was a strange tatterdemallion- 
 looking figure, dressed like a scarecrow : he had no credit for 
 talents at Oxford, where he was thought to be insane" (p. 
 442). 
 
 TJie Posthumous Poems (p. 58). " Her Posthumous 
 Poems" (#.) 
 
 Extremely dull (p. 59). " A 4to pamphlet. I still have 
 a copy. One poem is a dialogue between Eavaillac and Char- 
 lotte Corde", all sad dull stuff" (ib.) 
 
 Dukes of Leinster and Dorset (p. 59). "Two excellent 
 men in their way. I blush at this impertinence. I was 
 afterwards very intimate with the D. of D., born, poor lad, 
 under a most unlucky star. At Oxford one of his eyes was 
 so injured by a tennis-ball, that he rarely after had the right
 
 LETTERS TO LADY CHARLOTTE BURY. 575 
 
 use of it : his deplorable end I can never think of without 
 tears. ' He was ravished from us, lest the wickedness of the 
 age should alter his heart, and flattery beguile his soul.'- 
 (Wisdom of Solomon, iv. 11)" (ib.) 
 
 LETTER II. 
 
 Bounty of the outlandish queen (p. 95). "I cannot re- 
 member the story, and am inclined to think that this is 
 foisted in ; but not being able to swear it, I hold my tongue " 
 (p. 481). 
 
 Power and sweetness (p. 97). " A horrible lie of mine 
 God forgive me ! Cava ab ilice comix. Virgil " (p. 482). 
 
 King Montezuma (p. 97). " This is downright nonsense. 
 I wonder if I ever wrote it " (ib.) 
 
 Fervours (p. 99)." Flowers " (p. 483). 
 
 Titian (p. 100). " This might have been applicable enough 
 ten years before I wrote it " (p. 484). 
 
 Deaneress (p. 100). " I never wrote the word " (ib.) 
 
 P e (p. 100)." Poodle " (ib.) 
 
 Bores (p. 101). "Beaux, I guess" (p. 485). 
 
 LETTER III. 
 
 B m (p. 112)." Bingham" (p. 486). 
 
 S. (p. 113). "Skeffington" (ib.) 
 H. (p. 113). "Hartington" (ib.) 
 
 B m (p. 113). "Burlington" (ib.) 
 
 Duchess of G (p. 115)." Gordon" (p. 487). 
 
 Lady 0. (p. 118)." Oxford" (p. 489). 
 Lady 0. (p. 119). "Oxford" (p. 490.) 
 Swine (p. 119). "Swain" (ib.) (In the edition quoted in 
 the text the initial merely is given.) 
 S. (p. 119). "Scott " (ib.) 
 Duchess of St A. (p. 120)." St Albans " (p. 491).
 
 576 
 
 LETTERS TO LADY CHARLOTTE BURY. 
 
 LETTER IV. 
 
 Adolphus (p. 150). " I remember nothing of this stuff" (p. 
 494). 
 
 Mr C. (p. 151). "Mr Campbell" (p. 495). 
 Phrases in the * * * (p. 151)." Old Mortality" 
 
 Note. The letters in the text are printed from the edition of 1839, 
 and are printed verbatim, mistakes and all. Mr Gibson-Craig's copy did 
 not fall into the hands of the Editor until after the first volume had 
 passed through the press.
 
 APPENDIX. 
 
 A 
 
 FEIENDLY ADDEESS 
 
 To the COMMON PEOPLE of DUMFRIESSHIRE. 
 Delenda est Carthago! (See p. 185.) 
 
 GOOD FOLKS, 
 
 THE great and very unnecessary fuss which is at present made 
 about the French INVASION, hath at last got the better of my 
 philosophic patience, and occasioned me to take pen in hand, with 
 the intention of giving you my serious thoughts on the subject 
 thoughts which I will strive to express, ungarnished with the 
 flowers of rhetoric, in order that they may be attainable and plain 
 to the homeliest and most clownish capacity. 
 
 My Brethren, it would be retailing Piper's news, according to 
 the proverbial phrase, to tell you that you have been long griev- 
 ously oppressed by the Princes and Eulers of the land ; by despots 
 who fabricate tyrannical laws, to effect the destruction of an honest 
 fellow convicted of a little murder, robbery or theft, (the slightest 
 and most natural piccadilloes in the eye of a philosopher !) and 
 who, at the same time, compel you to be happy contrary to your 
 inclination, which is a very abominable trespass against the liberty 
 of a free-born subject : neither need I hold up to the execration of 
 the multitude our tribe of ignorant Priests, who preach tedious 
 discourses on those thread-bare texts that are intirely out of fashion, 
 and the laughing-stock of every person pretending to true wit and 
 a contempt of superstition. Indeed, these have been causes of 
 infinite grief and vexation to an enlightened and tender-hearted set 
 of people, commonly styled Democrats, who most sedulously strove 
 
 VOL. I. 2
 
 578 APPENDIX. 
 
 to clap their magnifying spectacles on your noses, whereby you 
 might the more clearly perceive the manifold oppressions and abuses 
 under which you have laboured. They attempt, with exceeding 
 condescension, to dispel the mists of ignorance from your cloudy 
 understandings, being themselves gifted with such a peculiar clearness 
 of brain, that their pericraniums are said to shine in the dark, like 
 the heads of stinking salmon, in so much that projectors and others, 
 whom the heavens prosper, are anxious to try the experiment of 
 substituting them in the place of lamps, after the fashion of those 
 which old people may remember to have seen on the gates of 
 Carlisle. Nay, these Democrats have actually composed a medic- 
 ament from their own galls, similar to that of Tobit's fish, (which 
 commentators hold to have been a shark,) wherewith they laudably 
 endeavour to remove the scales from such optics as may chance to 
 be obscured by the dull sparrow-dung of contentment. 
 
 And their own Deity hath blessed their efforts with unbounded 
 success, in spite of the vain attempts of insignificant opponents, 
 who confidently assert that a Democrat must be either a fool or a 
 knave : " for (say they) he is a contemptible ass if he believes what 
 " he professes and a factious knave if he professes without believ- 
 " ing." But this is one of the silliest propositions that ever was 
 advanced by man ; its absurdity being apparent to every Whig 
 preacher in Scotland Yes, my good friends, these Democrats are 
 shining lights, rays and emanations from the great Will o' the Wisp, 
 who loves to lead travellers through the obscurity of night, and to 
 glimmer amid the bogs of Ireland : they are prodigious creatures, 
 abundant in wisdom and learning, and overflowing like wet nurses 
 with the milk of human kindness, however their malicious foes term 
 it venom, and the essence of hemlock. 
 
 Now, as people are at present busily employed in raising a Mil- 
 itia, to oppose the very best friend Democracy ever had, bating, 
 perhaps, a certain old acquaintance, whom I shall more fully 
 mention by-and-bye ; and as the drift of this Address is to quash 
 all attempts towards the preservation of what prejudiced enthusiasts 
 (to give them no worse name) call, forsooth, Religion and Liberty, 
 but which we have thought fit to baptize with the more fashionable 
 epithets of Slavery and Deceit ; I will touch upon a few of the 
 benefits which must shower around us from the subjection of this 
 Kingdom to Bonaparte I say a few, as it would require a folio to 
 enumerate one -half of the good things which Ave have the most 
 assured reason to expect from it. 
 
 Fellow-Citizens Let me ask you, "What may we not look for 
 on the event of Bonaparte's prosperous arrival here? He will 
 certainly slay all our Ministers, and lay our Churches level with the 
 ground, so that no more rebukes for fornication will be heard, nor
 
 ADDRESS TO THE PEOPLE OF DUMFRIESSHIRE. 579 
 
 dismal repenting-stools rear their heads to chill the natural pro- 
 pensities of youth ; no extorted fines will then make our ardent 
 Strephons curse the dearness of their fruitful bargains; and you 
 may make what use you please of your neighbour's wife or daughter, 
 as your neighbour will have an ample title to return you the same 
 compliment. Our bountiful delivere)' will destroy the whole fabric 
 of the Law, so you will be able to steal whatever you have a fancy 
 for, and kill those that offend you. Moreover, though all are to 
 be equal, all Kings, yet Bonaparte will be King paramount, (which 
 is no contradiction in the logic of philosophy,) and the meanest 
 clown among you will have the comfort of knowing that he is 
 better born than his Majesty on the Throne. 
 
 Consider the happiness which you will enjoy in an emancipation 
 from all the burthensome and ridiculous solemnities of marriage. 
 Eeflect that when you become tired of your wives for the time, 
 you will have nothing to do but to kick them out of doors, or drown 
 them in the nearest ditch, which last I would recommend as an 
 excellent preventive against that irksome female clamour, which is 
 apt to derange the ideas of the coolest Philosopher. Imagine the 
 delight of beholding the young Kings, your sons, falling on their 
 knees before a Gallic Viceroy, (who may have been a hangman in 
 his own country ;) and the Queens, your daughters, honoured by 
 licking the dust under the feet of the common trulls of France. 
 And, lastly, figure to yourselves the pleasure of enduring no more 
 apprehensions concerning a frightful place called Hell, which the 
 French divines have struck intirely out from all their maps of 
 Theology, though our opponents pretend to find it still in their 
 other charts, under its waggish nickname of IRELAND. 
 
 But here, however, my candour obligeth me to take notice of 
 one important inconvenience, which may perhaps accrue from our 
 fraternization with (that is, subjection to) the enlightened French, 
 which seemeth not to have struck our dull adversaries of the 
 Aristocratic faction I mean the total abolition of the Whig 
 religion, as well as the Presbyterian. As King Bonaparte hath a 
 rooted aversion even to the caracature or burlesque resemblance of 
 certain things, he will, most probably, by no means permit that 
 ugly likeness to divine worship which our Whig meetings exhibit, 
 tho' in truth the Preacher never holds up to his hearers the precepts 
 of charity and meekness, but, from an old barrel-head, rouses them 
 with the voice of a crack'd trumpet to sedition, and the most 
 scandalous impiety We shall, perhaps, have the mortification of 
 feeling the godly Mr Haldane's canting house in Dumfries demol- 
 ished, and his conventicles in the fields dispersed, with the loss of 
 an old maid, and a cat or two, by the shot of the soldiery. But, 
 however, should the great Corsican really abolish these assemblies,
 
 580 APPENDIX. 
 
 he will, no doubt, institute some other civil recreation to supply 
 their place; and if he allows us a weekly festival, with plenty 
 of whisky, and a mountebank, we shall have very little reason 
 to complain. 
 
 Nay, he may perhaps go somewhat farther, and, from his huge 
 funds of tenderness and condescension, permit the open dedication 
 of a few meeting-houses to that Idol of all Republicans, whom I 
 mentioned in a former part of this Address as one of our greatest 
 friends. In truth, Bonaparte hath always lived on the best terms 
 with him, from a sincere admiration of his nature and attributes, 
 never being known, by any thing he uttered, to put him to shame 
 (according to the proverb) during the whole course of his life ; 
 yet I fear a slight taint of envy for that great Man is quite free 
 from petty blemishes ! may, perchance, check his generosity a 
 little. We well know the late shameful ingratitude of Democrats 
 towards this staunch old friend of theirs, as many have had the 
 impudence to deny his very existence, though they were worshipping 
 him in their hearts all the while ; but, for my own part, I can see 
 mighty little foundation whereon to erect this opinion, my reason 
 being daily, yea hourly, struck with proofs to the contrary, even 
 from those very persons who support the chimerical proposition 
 with the warmth and solidity of modern Philosophers. The antients 
 indeed affirm, that at an epoch once memorable, but now forgotten, 
 the decease of our tutelar Deity was proclaimed with lamentable 
 shrieks and howlings, and that his oracles forthwith become silent. 
 But I am persuaded that if he ever did expire, he is now again alive 
 and merry, seeing that the most vehement assertors of his anni- 
 hilation are, in fact, themselves the very oracles of the God they 
 deny : Yea, I am firmly convinced, that their wonderful energies 
 and exertions proceed from the strong and immediate inspiration of 
 the devil, and not from their own innate material powers, how- 
 ever the case of tigers, carrion crows, serpents and toads, may be 
 urged against me. 
 
 Besides spiritual lessons, Frenchmen will instruct you in many 
 things with respect to good living, of which you are at present 
 miserably ignorant; so that when your bellies are well crammed 
 with delicious viands, we shall hear no more grumbling about oat- 
 meal and potatoes. The Mounseers will teach you the newest style 
 of fricasseeing frogs, dainties to be caught in any stagnate piece of 
 water, by clapping your little children into the frying-pan, and 
 doing you the honour of eating them before your faces. This will 
 not only put you on a method of living cheaply and wholesomely, 
 as no food is more nourishing than the hind-leg of a young frog, 
 but will also help to ease you of the intolerable load of a numerous 
 family, and place the means within your reach of gratifying your
 
 ADDRESS TO THE PEOPLE OF DUMFRIESSHIRE. 581 
 
 generous instructors, who are a little inclined to the taste of canni- 
 bals with regard to human flesh, and may besides prefer the novelty 
 of your porridge and potatoes, to their own excellent but accustomed 
 fricassee. And here by the way allow me to observe, that you need 
 not be startled through a vain fear which our enemies are anxious 
 to inspire concerning French rapes on your daughters, whereby the 
 household may be re-incumbered with children. To my certain 
 knowledge, the Mounseers have no great nicety in their amours ; 
 neither any particular admiration for blooming youth and beauty. 
 Nay, I hear from the unquestionable authority of Mr Fox, who 
 hath been lately in France, that the present fashion at Paris runs 
 intirely on Cows and old Women ! 
 
 Finally ; from the merciful Bonaparte, after he is fairly settled 
 on the throne of Scotland, we may always expect a sudden and 
 just redress of the grievances under his own government, which we 
 choose to complain of ; as well as a wondrous quick decision in 
 those disputes which may arise concerning meum and tuum, (the 
 scorn of Philosophers,) when the plan of organizing commences : 
 He hath fallen on an effectual mode of curing these evils in the 
 country where -he at present domineers, with just as much title as 
 he will have to rule over this. Solomon himself was a mere 
 Country Justice to the wise Bonaparte ! No Lawyer, tho' bred to 
 his profession from infancy, was ever known to put a stop to 
 litigation and higgle-haggle with such celerity! No orator, with 
 all the magic flourishes of eloquence, could ever soothe men's minds 
 into such an unrepining calmness, after disputes of a like nature ! 
 But as I wish to have you agreeably surprised, so I will not explain 
 and lay open this device of his : Suffice it to say, that a model of 
 his convincing argument existed long in an apartment under the 
 Parliament-house of Edinburgh, though our rascally Lawyers were 
 never philanthropic enough to make use of it. 
 
 From what I have already stated, I trust a conviction of the 
 manifold blessings you are likely to enjoy under the yoke of the 
 French, hath reached your minds : But I will still further proceed 
 to mention, briefly, a few of the dreadful evils that will certainly 
 take place, should the kind visit of our loving friends really meet 
 with a repulse. 
 
 In the first place, you will all remain in statu quo ; and every- 
 body says that variety is charming that is, a change for the worse 
 is better than no change at all. 
 
 Secondly, You will be obliged to talk politics, and settle the 
 affairs of the Church, over a glass of whisky; instead of freely 
 drinking the good health of Bonaparte in the dunghill puddle, 
 with a gag between your jaws. 
 
 Thirdly, You will be required to maintain children of your own
 
 582 
 
 APPENDIX. 
 
 begetting, in place of enjoying the sentimental pleasure of support- 
 ing bastards, wherewith your help-mate might furnish you by the 
 assistance of a friend. 
 
 Fourthly, Your grandmothers will stand no chance of having 
 sweethearts, which truly is a lamentable case. 
 
 And Fifthly, If you happen to pass a church on Sunday, your 
 ears will be stunned with the noise of psalm-singing ; whereas, 
 under the dominion of Bonaparte you would hear nothing but 
 blasphemous and baudy songs, and those as many and rank as 
 heart could desire. 
 
 Take my advice, then, and receive this illustrious Jiero with open 
 arms ! If his attempts meet with success, you will obtain the rich 
 rewards I have already enumerated : If they do not, and the pres- 
 ent sad train of things continueth, you can only be served up, as 
 dishes prepared by French cookery, to the Devil's glorious dining- 
 table, the scaffold; and from thence your independent souls (if 
 Democrats have souls) will swing to enjoy the bless they merit in 
 the genial climate of Pandemonium. 
 
 GRACCHUS. 
 
 R. JACKSOX, Printer, 
 Dumfries. 
 
 ifat 
 
 I3C5
 
 INDEX TO THE FIRST VOLUME. 
 
 Abbot, Right Hon. C., 283, 287. 
 Abingdon, Lord, 484. 
 
 Barnard, Lord, 290. 
 
 Barnes, Rev. F., 260, 292, 330, 408. 
 
 E K R ATA. 
 
 i 
 
 Page 1, line 5, for " second Baronet," read " third Baronet." 
 244, 28. The footnote does not apply to " Betham," but to 
 "W- Radclyff," mentioned on the next page 
 line 14. 
 
 Atkinson, Mr somerset run, iu. 
 Atterbury, Mr, 399, 411, 429, 436, 
 
 438. 
 Aylmer, Lady, 420. 
 
 Babington, C. M., 99. 
 Bagot, Bishop Richard, 276. 
 Bagot, Walter, 21, 110, 272. 
 Balcarras, Earl of, 367. 
 Balfour, Colonel, 343. 
 Ballantyne, James, 351. 
 Barnard, Bishop, of Limerick, 159. 
 Barnard, Lady Anne, 47. 
 
 men of, 176. 
 Boringdon, Lord, 419. 
 " Bothwell Bridge," 363. 
 Boyse, Thomas, 113, 134, 151. 
 Braham, 179. 
 Brandon, Miss, 93, 106. 
 Brisco, Sir Wastel, 190, 311. 
 " Broken Jessamine, The," 300. 
 Brook, Sir Richard, 218. 
 Brooke, Lord, 271. 
 Brougham, Mr (Lord), 232, 359, 566. 
 Brownlow, Francis, 81, 90.
 
 584 
 
 IXDEX. 
 
 Brownlow, Lady Catherine, 90. 
 
 Brunton, Miss Louisa, 458. 
 
 Buccleuch, Duke of, 299. 
 
 Buchan, Earl of, 340. 
 
 Buchanan's " Detectio," 221. 
 
 Buckingham, Marquis of, 440. 
 
 Buckle, Rev. William, 207. 
 
 Buller, Admiral, 414. 
 
 Burnet, Bishop, 219. 
 
 " Burnet, Letters of Lady Margaret," 
 
 56. 
 Burrell, Hon. William, 276, 335, 385, 
 
 387, 396, 401, 461, 472, 538. 
 Burton, Dr James, 214, 218, 314. 
 Burton, Miss Rachel, 210, 214, 216, 
 
 242, 259, 274, 297, 345, 375, 387, 
 
 439, 446, 525. 
 Bushby, John, 163. 
 Byron, Lord, 38 et seq., 537, 542, 563. 
 
 " Caerlaveroc, the Murder of," 27, 146. 
 Calder, Sir R., 418. 
 Caldwell, Miss, 414. 
 Calthorpe, Lord, 229. 
 Campbell, General, of Lochnell, 336. 
 Campbell, General, 255, 263. 
 Campbell, General C., 518. 
 Campbell, Lady Charlotte, 34 et seq., 
 
 354, 441 et seq., 450, 461, 481. 
 Campbell, Lord Frederick, 568. 
 Campbell, Lord John, 361. 
 Campbell, Miss, of Monzie, 122, 123, 
 
 124, 196, 257, 258, 338. 
 Campbell, Mungo, trial of, 153. 
 Campbell, Mrs, 334. 
 Canning, Mr, 350. 
 Canning, Mr (Lord Stratford de Red- 
 
 cliffeX 561. 
 Carey, William, 79, 89, 100, 105, 111, 
 
 153, 238. 
 
 Carlisle, Lucy, Countess of, 546. 
 Carlyle, of Inveresk, 300. 
 Carnegie, Miss, Pittarrow, 336. 
 Caroline, Princess of Wales, 33. 
 " Carolus, Rex." See Keppel Craven. 
 Carr, Mrs, 152. 
 Carrington, Lord, 213. 
 " Castle Spectre, The," 77. 
 Catalini, Mme., 325, 332. 
 Cayler, Mrs, 315. 
 " Cenci, The," 37. 
 Chapman, Dr Joseph, 325. 
 Chinnery, Miss, 325. 
 Cholmondeley, Miss, 524, 526. 
 Cholomley, Mr, of Ch. Ch., 168. 
 Christ Church, Oxford, 11, 78 et seq. 
 Churchill, Lord Francis, 424. 
 Clairon, Mdlle., 324. 
 Clapperton, Dr, 143, 195. 
 Clarence, Duke of, 449. 
 
 Clargis, W., 172, 316. 
 
 Clarke, Mrs, 359. 
 
 Claverhouse (Lord Dundee), 196, 212, 
 
 226, 235, 243 et seq., 280, 309, 327, 
 
 346, 367 et seq., 380. 
 Clavering, Lady Augusta, 559. 
 Clavering, Miss, 559. 
 Clerk, Sir George, 336. 
 Cleveland, Duchess of, 239. 
 Clifford, Mr, 401. 
 Clifford, Mr, of Tixall, 498. 
 Cobbett, William, 176. 
 Cockerell, Mr, 529. 
 Coigny, Duchesse de, 479. 
 Coke, Lady Mary, 467, 539. 
 Cole, Mr, 324. 
 
 Colquhoun, Sir John, of Luss, 572. 
 Constable, Archibald, 282, 360, 423, 
 
 456. 
 
 Constable, Lady Winifred, 144. 
 Conybeare, Rev. J. J., 20, 118, 153, 
 
 220, 256, 286, 289, 291, 294, 314, 
 
 323, 330, 404, 429, 439. 
 Cooke, Colonel, 415. 
 Cool's ghost, the Laird of, 571. 
 Corne, Rev. William, 89, 294, 330, 
 
 514. 
 
 Corri's walk, 173, 179. 
 Cosway's etchings, 167. 
 Courtney, Lord, 430. 
 Covenanting ballads, 147. 
 Crabbe, Rev. G., 353, 401. 
 Cranston, Lord, 190. 
 Craven, Augustus, 383, 392, 407, 412, 
 
 461. 
 
 Craven, Hon. H. A. B., 355, 461. 
 Craven, Hon. Keppel, 31 et seq., 355, 
 
 381, 392, 395, 399, 406, 412, 413, 
 
 417, 423, 440, 454, 457, 459, 463, 
 
 472, 492, 517, 527, 531, 535, 561. 
 Craven, Lord, 461. 
 Crawfurd, Lady M. L., 453, 486. 
 Crosbie, Andrew, of Holm, 3. 
 Crotch, Dr, 122, 187. 
 Cumberland, R., 351, 429. 
 Gumming (afterwards Cumming- 
 
 Bruce), C. L., 273. 
 Cunningham, Lady Betty, 78, 86. 
 Cunninghame, Lady Margaret, 54. 
 
 Dalhousie, Lady, 122. 
 Dalkeith, Countess of, 421. 
 Dalkeith, Lady, 476, 502. 
 Dalkeith, Lord, 309. 
 Dalrymple, Sir J. P., 228. 
 Dartmouth, Lord, 487. 
 Dashwood, Miss, 274. 
 Davy, Lady, 548. 
 Delawarr, Lord, 566. 
 " Delphine," 329.
 
 INDEX. 
 
 585 
 
 Desart, Lord, 331. 
 
 Devisme, Miss, 472. 
 
 Devonshire, Duke of, 542. 
 
 " Dillou, Beau," 531. 
 
 Dorset, Duke of, 442, 512, 545. 
 
 Douce, Mr, 326. 
 
 Douglas, Duchess of, 200. 
 
 Douglas, G. B., 330. 
 
 Douglas, Lady, 198, 254, 322, 347, 
 
 363, 364, 365. 
 
 Douglas, Lady Catherine, 265. 
 Douglas, Lady Henrietta, 3 et seq. 
 Douglas, Lady Margaret, 373. 
 Douglas, Miss Mary, 318. 
 Douglas of Dornock, 568. 
 Douglasses, the, 556. 
 Downshire, Marquis of, 314. 
 Drummond, Burrell, Mrs (see Lady 
 
 Gwydyr and Lady Willoughby de 
 
 Eresby, vol. ii.), 332. 
 Drummond G., 378. 
 Drummond, Henry, of Albury, 222, 
 
 238, 314, 317, 332, 343, 467. 
 Drummond, Hon. T. R., 216. 
 Dubster Hall, 173. 
 Duff, Mrs, 249. 
 Dumfries, Lady, 264. 
 Dumfriesshire, Friendly Address to 
 
 the common people of, 185, and 
 
 Appendix. 
 
 Dundee's Letters, 53. 
 Dupplin, Lord, 123. 
 Durham, Lord, 461, 524, 526. 
 Dysart, Lord, 231, 232. 
 
 Edgcumbe, Lady Caroline, 418. 
 Edinburgh Annual Register, 352. 
 Eglinton, Earl of, 258. 
 Eglintoun, Alexander, Earl of, 153. 
 Eglintoun, Susanna, Countess of, 7, 
 
 115. 
 
 Eldon, Lord, 392. 
 Elliot, Miss, 237. 
 Ellis, George, 350. 
 Elphinstone, Miss Mercer (Lady 
 
 Keith), 280. 
 " Elvira," 28 et seq, 
 "Emigrant Highlander's Wife, The," 
 
 307. 
 
 Errol, Lady, Ballad of, 182. 
 Erskine, Charles, Lord Justice-Clerk, 
 
 3. 
 
 Erskine, Hon. H. D., 340. 
 Erskine, Hon. Henry, 343, 480. 
 Erskine, John, 334. 
 Erskiue, Miss, of Alva, 136. 
 Erskine, William, 351. 
 Erville, Mme. d', 412. 
 Euston, Lord, 539, 541. 
 "Eve of St John," 87. 
 
 " Fair Julian, Lord Clifford's song on 
 
 the," 157. 
 
 Farquhar, Sir Walter, 278. 
 Fazakerley, Mr, 230, 325. 
 Fell, Ralph, 243. 
 Fielding, Lady, 317. 
 Finch, Hon. Daniel, 21. 
 Fitzgerald, Lord William, 524. 
 Fitzgerald, W. Vesey, 113, 153, 162, 
 
 164, 205, 210, 211, 222, 223, 259. 
 Foscardi, Count, 541. 
 Foster, Dr, 325, 349. 
 Foster, F. T. H., 241, 313, 329, 527. 
 Fox, Mr, 265. 
 Fox, Sir S., 539. 
 
 Frankland, Mr, of Thirkleby, 105. 
 Frere, J. H., 350. 
 Fynes (afterwards Fynes - Clinton), 
 
 150, 284, 288, 291, 294, 330, 429. 
 
 Gaisford, Dr Thomas, 286, 314. 
 
 Gaisford, Mr, 21, 220. 
 
 Gandy (afterwards Deering), J. P., 
 
 459. 
 
 Gell, Miss, 384, 541. 
 Gell, Sir William, 354, 384, 395, 396, 
 
 400, 407, 413, 417, 421, 440, 457, 459, 
 
 462, 533, 562. 
 Gibson-Craig, James T., 64. 
 Gitford, William, 350, 356, 370. 
 Gillon, Joseph, 306. 
 Glainmis, Lady, 322. 
 Goldsmid, Louis, 119. 
 Goodenough, Mr, 218, 330, 514. 
 Gordon, Duchess of, 265, 331, 336, 342, 
 
 361, 477, 487, 540, 547, 548, 551. 
 Gordon, Jacky, 369, 473, 491. 
 Gower. Earl, 20, 57, 113, 129, 202, 
 
 217, 221, 223, 246, 263, 267, 272, 
 
 275, 278, 311, 319, 330, 344, 346, 
 
 357, 374, 378, 379, 380, 422, 438, 
 
 439, 455, 456, 458, 465, 477, 498, 
 
 506, 539, 551, 560. 
 Grahame, James, 503, 506. 
 Gramont, Count de, 33, 462, 464, 
 
 499, 559. 
 
 Granville, Lord, 319, 320, 499. 
 Greig, Rev. George, 1, 92, 174. 
 Grenville, Lord, 230, 387, 392, 393. 
 Grenville, Lord George, 425. 
 Grenville, Mrs, 457. 
 Grey's Court, Oxon., 102. 
 Grierson, James, of Capenoch, 3. 
 Grierson of Barjarg, 2. 
 Grierson, Lady Margaret, 204. 
 Grierson, Miss, of Rockhall, 337. 
 Grierson, Sir Robert, of Lag, 3 et seq., 
 
 142, 202. 
 
 Griffiths, Mr, 324. 
 Grimm, Baron de, 456.
 
 586 
 
 INDEX. 
 
 G wynne, Nell, portrait of, 121. 
 
 Hackett, Dr, 460. 
 
 Hall, Dr, 289, 314, 484, 514. 
 
 Hall, Mr, 330. 
 
 Hall, Mrs, 484, 514. 
 
 Hall, Sir James, 265. 
 
 Hamilton, Lady, 251. 
 
 Hamilton, Lord A., 345, 412. 
 
 Hamilton, Lord Claud, 317, 318. 
 
 Hamilton, Miss, 341. 
 
 Hamilton, Sir Hugh, 265. 
 
 Hampden, Lady, 331, 375. 
 
 Hampden, Lord, 332. 
 
 Hands, Dolly, 446. 
 
 Hardy, Sir T. M., 426. 
 
 Hare, Mr, 325. 
 
 Hartington, Lord, 453. 
 
 Hartopp, Mr, 325. 
 
 Hay, John, 545, 548. 
 
 Hay, Lady Harriet, 314, 317. 
 
 Hay, Lady Sarah, 317. 
 
 Heard, Sir Isaac, 317. 
 
 Heathcote, Lady, 472. 
 
 Herbert, Lord, 443. 
 
 " Herries, Lord, his Complaint," 143. 
 
 Herries, Miss, 127, 174, 205. 
 
 Herries, Mr, 130, 176. 
 
 Hewitt, Hon. James, 142, 233. 
 
 Hoddam Castle, 1 et seq., 8, 138, 180. 
 
 Home, Earl of, 274. 
 
 Home, Lady, 307. 
 
 Honywood, Lady, 355, 392, 440, 532. 
 
 Hood, Lady, 502, 506, 513. 
 
 Hornsby, Dr Thomas, 237, 260, 299. 
 
 Hunter, Miss, Barjarg, 336. 
 
 Hutchinson, Lord, 312. 
 
 Hutchinson, Mr, 497. 
 
 Ilchester, Earl of, 295. 
 
 Impey, E. B., 20, 153, 168, 256, 260, 
 
 283, 286, 291, 315, 376, 399, 409, 428, 
 
 431, 435, 445. 
 Impey, Sir Elijah, 114. 
 Inglis, Sir R. H., 20, 22, 157, 226, 231, 
 
 256. 
 
 Ingram, Mr, 525. 
 Irish Rebellion, 191. 
 Irishmen at Oxford, 90. 
 Irving, Mr, 505. 
 
 Jackson, Dr Cyril, 11, 78, 91, 101, 105. 
 
 Ill, 112, 123, 140, 284, 289, 297, 314, 
 
 330, 455. 
 Jackson, Dr William, 88, 105, 111, 112, 
 
 114, 234, 284, 286, 357, 375, 455, 
 
 459. 
 
 Jeffrey, Francis, 351. 
 Jermyn, Sir John, 545. 
 Johnston, George, of Cowhill, 99. 
 
 Johnstone, Miss Sophy, 398. 
 Johnstone, Sir John, 530. 
 Jones, Love Parry, 151. 
 Jones, Sir T., 565. 
 Jordan, Mr, 266. 
 
 Kellie, Earl of, 63. 
 
 Kenyon, Hon. T., 141. 
 
 Kerr, Mrs, 136. 
 
 Kidd, Mr, of Ch. Ch., 168. 
 
 Kidd, Dr, 289. 
 
 Killeen, Lord, 492. 
 
 Kilmorey, Earl of, 108. 
 
 Kilworth, Lord, 470, 471, 492. 
 
 Kinnoul, Earl of, 236. 
 
 Kirkpatrick, Lady, 101, 127. 
 
 Kirkpatrick, Miss Mary, 197. 
 
 Kirkpatrick, Sir James, 94, 205. 
 
 Kirkpatrick, Sir Thomas, 1, 143, 154, 
 
 318. 
 
 Kirkpatrick, William, of Ailsland, 1. 
 Kirkpatricks of Closeburne, 552 et seq. 
 Kirkton's History, 49, 310. 
 Knox, John, 44. 
 
 La Touch, R., 190, 225. 
 
 La Touche, Mr, 133. 
 
 Laing, Alexander, 280. 
 
 Laing, David, 46. 
 
 Laurie, Lady, 264, 317. 
 
 Lawley, P. Beilby (Lord Wenlock), 295. 
 
 ' Law's Memorialls,' 52. 
 
 ' Lay of the Last Ministrel,' 228. 
 
 Le Brun, Consul, 155. 
 
 Lee, Mrs, 194, 248, 530. 
 
 Legge, Elizabeth, 234. 
 
 Leinster, Duke of, 442, 469, 518, 543. 
 
 Leveson-Gower, Lady C., 279. 
 
 Leveson-Gower (Lord Granville), 312. 
 
 Levett, Rev. Roger, 131, 140. 
 
 Lewis, M. (Monk), 33, 558. 
 
 Lewisham, Lord, 192, 216, 219, 233. 
 
 " Liberty, Vision of," 105, 114. 
 
 Lindsay, Lady Charlotte, 451, 461. 
 
 Listen, Mr, 561. 
 
 Lloyd, Miss, 176, 255. 
 
 Lochman, Rev. Dr, 108. 
 
 Long, Miss, 492. 
 
 Loudoun, Lady, 332. 
 
 Louis XVIII., 325. 
 
 Louise, Queen of Prussia, 312. 
 
 Lygon, Hon. W. B., 21, 92, 129, 152, 
 
 195, 214, 216, 220, 222, 246, 259, 274, 
 
 280, 290, 291, 313, 314. 
 Lyttleton, Hon. W. H , 259. 
 Lyttleton, Lord, 88. 
 
 Macdonald, Flora, 176. 
 Macdonald, James, 21, 105, 178, 162, 
 222.
 
 INDEX. 
 
 587 
 
 Macdonald, Miss Susan, 164. 
 
 Macdonnel, Mr, 542. 
 
 Mackenzie, Alexander, 105. 
 
 Mackenzie, Mr, 346. 
 
 Mackenzie, Sir A. M., 257, 361. 
 
 Mackintosh, Lady, 177, 200. 
 
 Mackworth, Lady, 326. 
 
 Macuamara, Mr, 518. 
 
 Macneil, Hector, 350. 
 
 Malpas, Lord, 385, 521, 526, 538, 542. 
 
 Malthus, Mr, 350. 
 
 Manchester, Duchess of, 342. 
 
 Manners, Lady Laura, 473, 491. 
 
 "Mar, Household Book of the Count- 
 ess of." 45. 
 
 Mara, Madame, 94, 98. 
 
 March, Earl of, 425. 
 
 'Marmion,' 308, 329. 
 
 Marriott, Rev. John, 235, 237, 240, 
 284, 297, 302, 348, 377. 
 
 Mar's Work, 522. 
 
 Marsham, Rev. R. B., 288. 
 
 Matthews, Mr, 384, 396, 400. 
 
 Mauchline, Lord, 332. 
 
 Maxwell, Sir Patrick, of Springkell, 6, 
 568. 
 
 Maxwell, Sir William, of Springkell, 
 128, 198, 569. 
 
 Melbourne, Lord, 407. 
 
 Melville, Viscount, 222, 264. 
 
 Mercer, Mr, 384, 395, 400, 401, 521, 
 538. 
 
 ' Metrical Legends,' 298, 321. 
 
 Middleton, Lord, 295, 296. 
 
 Middleton, Miss, of Chirk Castle, 108. 
 
 Mildmay, Mr, 321. 
 
 Mills, Mr, 384. 
 
 ' Minstrelsy of the Scottish Border,' 27. 
 
 Moira, Lord, 191. 
 
 Monro, Dr Alexander, 227. 
 
 Montagu, Lord, 239. 
 
 Montagu, Mr, 515. 
 
 Montagu, MrM., 408. 
 
 Montblanc, A. L., 274, 280. 
 
 Montgomery, Lady Frances, 86. 
 
 Montgomery, Lord, 120. 
 
 Montgomery, Sir M., 461. 
 
 Montrose, Duchess of, 332. 
 
 Moore, Sir John, 410. 
 
 Moore, Thomas, 275, 351, 354. 
 
 Moss, Dean, 289. 
 
 Mountjoy, Lord, 141, 151. 
 
 Moysey, Mr, 284. 
 
 Mure, Miss Bessy, 336, 341. 
 
 Murray, Col. Sir H., 472. 
 
 Murray, Lady, of Clermont, 81, 98. 
 
 Murray, Miss Augusta, 336. 
 
 Murray, Miss Magdalene, 85, 105, 122, 
 198, 265, 309, 323. 
 
 Murray, Mr, of Murraythwaite, 144. 
 
 Murray, Sir James, 265. 
 Murray, Sir P., 342, 447. 
 
 Nelson, Lord, 251. 
 Newcastle, Duke of, 131. 
 Newdigate Bequest, the, 261, 299. 
 Newtown, Lord, 20, 121, 125, 134, 153, 
 
 220, 225, 233. 
 
 Nicholson, Mr, of Carnock, 128. 
 North, Mr, 488. 
 
 Oakes, General. 520, 522. 
 
 Oliphant, Caroline (Lady Nairne), 207. 
 
 0. P. Riots, 397. 
 
 Ossulston, Lady, 465, 478. 
 
 Ossulston, Lord, 517. 
 
 Owenson, Miss (Lady Morgan), 360, 
 
 366. 
 
 Owenson, Miss, 488. 
 ' Oxford Guide, the New,' 12. 
 
 Parr, Dr, 11. 
 
 Patch, the murderer, 260. 
 
 "Pearlin Jean," 303 et aeq. 
 
 Peel, Lady, 331. 
 
 Pelly, Mr, 241. 
 
 Perceval, Right Hon. S., 372, 540, 547. 
 
 Perkins, Mrs, 296. 
 
 Perth, Lady, 186, 339. 
 
 Petre, Lord, 316. 
 
 Phillimore, Joseph, 232. 
 
 Philpotts, Rev. H. (Bishop of Exeter), 
 
 112. 
 
 Phose, Mr, 563. 
 Pitman, Miss, 85, 87, 93, 114, 119, 130, 
 
 164, 257, 269, 270. 
 Pitt, Mr, 258. 
 
 Playfair, William, 372, 386, 393. 
 Pole, Sir William, 178. 
 Pole, Wellesley, 492. 
 Pomfret statues, the, 86. 
 Porter, Miss, 382, 392, 398, 400, 401. 
 Portland, Duke of, 230. 
 Portsmouth, Duchess of, 177. 
 Powerscourt, Lord, 439. 
 Preston, Miss, 342. 
 Primrose, Lady, 481, 499. 
 Prince Regent, the, 556. 
 
 ' Quarterly Review,' the, 351, 366. 
 " Queen Elizabeth dancing," 40. 
 Queensberry, Duke of, 131, 256, 263. 
 Queensberry, Marchioness of, 467, 497. 
 Queensberry, Marquis of, 480. 
 Queensberry, Mary, Duchess of, 482. 
 
 Radclyff, William, Rouge-croix, 245. 
 Reade, Lady, 316. 
 Renton, John, of Lammerton, 1, 7. 
 "Repentance," 8, 138, 144, 179.
 
 588 
 
 INDEX. 
 
 Richards. Dr Henry, 324. 
 
 Riddell, Sir J. M., 128, 231, 368, 566. 
 
 Rigaud, S. P., 289. 
 
 Robertson, A., 367. 
 
 Robertson, Marianne, 119, 306, 365. 
 
 Robertson, Miss Eliza, 236, 268, 364. 
 
 Rogers, Samuel, 351. 
 
 Rook, Miss, 108. 
 
 "Roscius, the Infant," 216. 
 
 Ross, George, 336. 
 
 Ross, Miss, 236. 
 
 Roxburghe, Countess of, 30. 
 
 Royston, Lord, 342. 
 
 Rudd, Caroline, 530. 
 
 Salisbury, Lady, 320, 355. 
 
 Scott, Rev. Alexander, 299, 309. 
 
 Scott, Walter, 26 et seq., 141, 174, 177, 
 241, 299, 320, 349, 350, 352, 356, 
 366, 370, 473, 475, 500, 530, 544, 
 545, 547, 549, 555, 561, 567. 
 
 Scott, William, 309. 
 
 Sefton, Lady, 355, 457. 
 
 Sevigne", Madame de, 156. 
 
 Seward, Miss, 473, 475, 476, 488, 506. 
 
 ' Seytoun, History of the House of,' 
 56. 
 
 Sharpe, Alexander, 88, 110, 120. 
 
 Sharpe, Archbishop, 95, 162. 
 
 Sharpe, Charles K., 1. 
 
 Sharpe, Colonel Matthew, 88, 159, 176, 
 264. 
 
 Sharpe, John, 1, 3, 186. 
 
 Sharpe, Matthew, 1 et seq., 11. 
 
 Sharpe, Mrs, 6, 11. 
 
 Shee, Sir George, 158. 
 
 Shelley, 37, 442, 443, 445, 483, 497. 
 
 Sheridan, Thomas, 250, 389. 
 
 Siddons, Mrs, 336. 
 
 Sidmouth, Lord, 230. 
 
 Skeffington, Sir L. St G., 32, 384, 395 
 396, 401, 405, 408, 430, 519, 532. 
 
 Smith, Cullen, Mr, 131. 
 
 Smith, Rev. Samuel, 289. 
 
 Smollett of Bonhill, Mr, 86. 
 
 Smollett, Mrs, 336. 
 
 Somerset, Lord Granville, 21. 
 
 Sondes, Lord, 538. 
 
 Southey, 351. 
 
 "Spanish Vengeance," 321, 410. 
 
 Sparrow, Miss, 216. 
 
 Spencer, William, 325. 
 
 St Alban's, Duchess of, 249, 472, 491. 
 
 St Asaph, Bishop of, 325. 
 
 St John, Hon. Mr, 21, 129, 195. 
 
 St John, Hon. R., 402. 
 
 Stael, Madame de, 41. 
 
 Stafford, Marchioness of (Countess of 
 Sutherland), 123, 129, 202, 246, 263, 
 264, 266, 281, 318, 320, 344, 345, 
 
 375, 403, 454, 508. 509. 512, 515, 
 
 548, 560. 
 
 Stafford, Marquis of, 507. 
 Stanhope, Lady Hester, 521. 
 Stapleton, the Hon. J. H. , 20, 89, 97, 
 
 102, 106 et seq., 107, 108, 111 119, 
 
 121, 124, 154, 162, 255, 257, 430 440. 
 Stapleton, Hon. Thomas, 470. 
 Stapleton, Lady, 156, 165. 
 Stapleton, Miss, 103. 
 Stebbings, Mrs, 158. 
 Stewart, Hon. Margaret, 384, 488. 
 Stewart, Lady Marie, 9 et seq. 
 Stewart, Sir John, 128. 
 Stewart, Sir John, of Allanbank, 306. 
 Stone, Primate of Ireland, 7. 
 Storace, 179. 
 
 Strangford, Lord, 247, 391. 
 Strathmore, Lady, 481. 
 Strathnaver, Lord, 196. 
 Stuart, Lady Louisa, 321, 322. 
 Stuart, Viscount, 230. 
 "Surgundo," 64. 
 Surtees, R., of Mainsforth, 130, 155, 
 
 212, 235, 243, 309, 327, 377. 
 Suze, Countess de la, 524. 
 
 Taplow Court, 165. 
 
 Tarpley, Rev. K. M. K., 20, 209, 214, 
 
 215, 256, 284, 294, 468, 513. 
 Taylor, Lord George, 470, 471. 
 Taylor, M. A., 317. 
 Temple, Lord, 440. 
 Temple, Miss, 355, 391, 430. 
 Thomond, Marquis of, 158. 
 Thomson, Thomas, 46, 353, 548, 551. 
 Tighe, Mrs, 512. 
 "Tircis," 465, 479. 
 Todd, Mr, 320, 371. 
 Tooke, J. H., Ode to, 448. 
 Trevelyan, Mrs, 449. 
 Trevor, Bishop of Durham, 7. 
 Tytler, Colonel, 334. 
 Tytler, William, 337. 
 
 Vane, Sir H., 311. 
 
 Vansittart, Miss Laura, 160 et seq. 
 
 Vernon, Archbishop, 279. 
 
 Veruon, E. V., 257. 
 
 Vernon, G. G. V., 257, 274, 280, 290, 
 
 313, 332, 344, 465, 479, 564. 
 Vernon, Mr, 22. 
 
 Vernon, Bishop of Carlisle, 257. 
 Villiers, Lady Harriet, 276. 
 Viotti, 325. 
 " Vision of Liberty," 105, 114. 
 
 Walls, Dr, 325. 
 
 War-render, Sir George, 101, 122, 236, 
 387, 390.
 
 INDEX. 
 
 589 
 
 Warwick, Lord, 272. 
 
 Webber, Rev. Mr, 237, 284, 292, 294, 
 
 514. 
 
 Webster, Sir Godfrey, 379, 427. 
 Wedderburn, Misses, 124. 
 Wedderburn, Mrs, 175. 
 Wellesley, Henry, 231, 232, 242, 296. 
 Wellesley, R., 286, 325, 330. 
 Wellington, Lord, 424. 
 Wentworth, Earl of Strafford, 188. 
 Wentworth, Lady H., 226. 
 West, Mr, 160. 
 Westmoreland, Lady, 484. 
 Wetherell, Dr Nathan, 324. 
 Wharton, Miss, 530. 
 Wheeler, Sir William, 188. 
 Whitbread, Mr, 265. 
 
 Whorwood, Mr, 91. 
 
 Wilson, Harriet, 468, 543, 546. 
 
 Wilson, Sir R., 321. 
 
 Wood, Lady C., 317. 
 
 Wood, Rev. William, 238, 260, 372, 
 
 455. 
 Worcester, Marquis of, 387, 398, 402, 
 
 424, 440, 458, 469, 514, 524, 543, 
 
 544, 546, 551. 
 Wrottesley, Rev. Charles, 170, 206, 
 
 214, 218, 332. 
 Wrottesly, C. A., 215. 
 
 Yarmouth, Lord, 430. 
 York, Duchess of, 130. 
 York, Duke of, 359, 371, 372. 
 Yorkstone, Mr, 178. 
 
 PRINTED BY WILLIAM BLACKWOOD AND SONS.
 
 PHILOSOPHICAL CLASSICS FOR ENGLISH READERS 
 
 EDITED BY WILLIAM KNIGHT, LL.D., 
 
 Professor of Moral Philosophy in the University of St Andrews. 
 In crown 8vo Volumes, with Portraits, price 33. 6d. 
 
 Now ready 
 
 1. Descartes. By Professor MAHAFFY, Dublin. 
 
 2. Butler. By Rev. W. LUCAS COLLINS, M.A. 
 
 3. Berkeley. By Professor CAMPBELL FKASER, Edinburgh. 
 
 4. Fiehte. By Professor ADAMSON, Owens College, Manchester. 
 
 5. Kant. By Professor WALLACE, Oxford. 
 
 6. Hamilton. By Professor VEITCH, Glasgow. 
 
 7. Hegel. By Professor EDWARD CAIRO, Glasgow. 
 
 8. Leibniz. By J. THEODORE MERZ. 
 
 9- ViCO. By Professor FLINT, Edinburgh. 
 
 10. Hobbes. By Professor CROOM ROBERTSON, London. 
 
 11. Hume. By the Editor. 
 
 12. Spinoza. By the Very Rev. Principal CAIRO, Glasgow. 
 
 In preparation 
 BACON. By Professor Nichol, Glasgow. 
 
 FOREIGN CLASSICS FOR ENGLISH READERS, 
 
 EDITED BY MRS OLIPHANT. 
 
 In crown 8vo, 28. 6d. 
 
 CONTENTS. 
 
 DANTE. By the Editor. 
 
 VOLTAIRE. By Lieut. -General Sir E. B. 
 
 Hamley, K.C.B. 
 PASCAL. By Principal Tulloch. 
 PETRARCH. By Henry Reeve, C. B. 
 GOETHE. By A. Hay ward, Q.C. 
 MOLIERE. By the Editor and F. Tarver, 
 
 M.A. 
 
 MONTAIGNE. By Rev. W. L. Collins, M.A. 
 RABELAIS. By Walter Besant, M.A. 
 CALDERON. By E. J. Hasell. 
 
 SAINT SIMON. By Clifton W. Collins, M. A. 
 
 CERVANTES. By the Editor. 
 
 CORNEILLE AND RACINE. By Henry M. 
 Trollope. 
 
 MADAME DE SE'VIGNE'. By Miss Thackeray. 
 
 LA FONTAINE, AND OTHER FRENCH FABU- 
 LISTS. By Rev. W. Lucas Collins, M.A. 
 
 SCHILLER By James Sime, M. A., Author 
 of ' Lessing : his Life and Writings.' 
 
 TASSO. By E. J. Hasell. 
 
 ROUSSEAU. By Henry Grey Graham. 
 
 Now COMPLETE. 
 
 ANCIENT CLASSICS FOR ENGLISH READERS. 
 
 EDITED BY THE REV. W. LUCAS COLLINS, M.A. 
 
 Complete in 28 Vols. crown 8vo, cloth, price as. 6d. each. And may also be had in 
 14 Volumes, strongly and neatly bound, with calf or vellum back, 3, IDS. 
 
 Saturday Review. "It is difficult to estimate too highly the value of such a series 
 as this in giving ' English readers ' an insight, exact as far as it goes, into those 
 olden times which are so remote and yet to many of us so close."
 
 CATALOGUE 
 
 OF 
 
 MESSRS BLACKWOOD & SONS' 
 P UBLICA T IONS. 
 
 ALISON. History of Europe. By Sir ARCHIBALD ALISON, Bart., 
 D.C.L. 
 
 1. From the Commencement of the French Revolution to the 
 
 Battle of Waterloo. 
 
 LIBRARY EDITION, 14 vols., with Portraits. Demy 8vo, 10, IDS. 
 ANOTHER EDITION, in 20 vols. crown 8vo, 6. 
 PEOPLE'S EDITION, 13 vols. crown 8vo, 2, us. 
 
 2. Continuation to the Accession of Louis Napoleon. 
 
 LIBRARY EDITION, 8 vols. 8vo, 6, 73. 6d- 
 PEOPLE'S EDITION, 8 vols. crown 8vo, 348. 
 
 3. Epitome of Alison's History of Europe. Twenty-ninth 
 
 Thousand, 73. 6d. 
 
 4. Atlas to Alison's History of Europe. By A. Keith Johnston. 
 
 LIBRARY EDITION, demy 4to, 3, 38. 
 PEOPLE'S EDITION, 313. 6d. 
 
 Life of John Duke of Marlborough. With some Account 
 
 of his Contemporaries, and of the War of the Succession. Third Edition, 
 2 vols. 8vo. Portraits and Maps, 308. 
 
 Essays : Historical, Political, and Miscellaneous. 3 vols. 
 
 demy 8vo, 453. 
 
 AIRD. Poetical Works of Thomas Aird. Fifth Edition, with 
 Memoir of the Author by the Rev. JARDINE WALLACE, and Portrait, 
 Crown 8vo, 73. 6d. 
 
 ALLARDYCE. The City of Sunshine. By ALEXANDER ALLAR- 
 
 DYCE. Three vols. post 8vo, i, 58. 6d. 
 
 Memoir of the Honourable George Keith Elphinstone, 
 
 K.B., Viscount Keith of Stonehaven Marischal, Admiral of the Red. 8vo, 
 with Portrait, Illustrations, and Maps, 213. 
 
 ALMOND. Sermons by a Lay Head-master. By HELY HUTCHIX- 
 
 SON ALMOND, M.A. Oxon. , Head-master of Loretto School. Crown 8vo, 53.
 
 LIST OF BOOKS PUBLISHED BY 
 
 ANCIENT CLASSICS FOR ENGLISH READERS. Edited by 
 
 Rev. W. LUCAS COLLINS, M.A. Complete in 28 vols., cloth, 23. 6d. each ; or in 
 14 vols., tastefully bound, with calf or vellum back, 3, ios. 
 
 Contents of the Series. 
 
 HOMER: THE ILIAD, by the Editor. HOMER: THE ODYSSEY, by the Editor. HER- 
 ODOTUS, by George C. Swayne, M.A. XENOPHON, by Sir Alexander Grant, Bart , LL.D. 
 EURIPIDES, by W. B. Donne ARISTOPHANES, by the Editor. PLATO, by Clifton W. 
 Collins, M.A. LUCIAN, by the Editor. AESCHYLUS, by the Right Rev. the Bishop of 
 Colombo. SOPHOCLES, by Clifton W. Collins, M.A. HESIOD AND THEOONIS, by the 
 Rev. J. Davies, M.A. GREEK ANTHOLOGY, by Lord Neaves. VIRGIL, by the Editor. 
 HORACE, by Sir Theodore Martin, K.C.B. JUVENAL, by Edward Walford, M.A. 
 PLAUTUS AND TERENCE, by the Editor. THE COMMENTARIES OF C^SAR, by Anthony 
 Trollope. TACITUS, by W. B. Donne. CICERO, by the Editor. PLINY'S LETTERS, by 
 the Rev. Alfred Church, M.A., and the Rev. W. J. Brodribb, M.A. LIVY, by the 
 Editor. OVID, by the Rev. A. Church, M.A. CATULLUS, TIBULLTJS, AND PROPERTIUS, 
 by the Rev. Jas. Davies, M.A. DEMOSTHENES, by the Rev. W. J. Brodribb, M.A. 
 ARISTOTLE, by Sir Alexander Grant, Bart., LL.D. THUCYDIDES, by the Editor. 
 LUCRETIUS, by W. H. Mallock, M.A. PINDAR, by the Rev. P. D. Morice. M.A. 
 
 AYLWARD. The Transvaal of To - day : War, Witchcraft, 
 
 Sports, and Spoils in South Africa. By ALFRED AYLWARD, Commandant, 
 Transvaal Republic. Second Edition. Crown 8vo, 6s. 
 
 AYTOUN. Lays of the Scottish Cavaliers, and other Poems. By 
 
 W. EDMONDSTOUNE AYTOUN, D.C.L., Professor of Rhetoric and Belles-Lettres 
 in the University of Edinburgh. Cheap Edition, printed from a new type, 
 and tastefully bound. Pcap. 8vo, 33. 6d. 
 Another Edition, being the Thirtieth. Fcap. 8vo, cloth extra, js. 6d. 
 
 An Illustrated Edition of the Lays of the Scottish Cavaliers. 
 
 From designs by Sir NOEL PATON. Small 4to, 213. , in gilt cloth. 
 
 Bothwell : a Poem. Third Edition. Fcap., 73. 6d. 
 
 Poems and Ballads of Goethe. Translated by Professor 
 
 AYTOUN and Sir THEODORE MARTIN, K.C.B. Third Edition. Fcap., 6s. 
 
 Bon Gaultier's Book of Ballads. By the SAME. Fourteenth 
 
 and Cheaper Edition. With Illustrations by Doyle, Leech, and CrowquilL 
 Fcap. 8vo, 53. 
 
 The Ballads of Scotland. Edited by Professor AYTOUN. 
 
 Fourth Edition. 2 vols. fcap. 8vo, 128. 
 
 Memoir of William E. Aytoun, D.C.L. By Sir THEODORE 
 
 MARTIN, K.C.B. With Portrait. Post 8vo, 123. 
 
 BACH. On Musical Education and Vocal Culture. By ALBERT 
 
 B. BACH. Fourth Edition. 8vo, 73. 6d. 
 
 The Principles of Singing. A Practical Guide for Vocalists 
 
 and Teachers. With Course of Vocal Exercises. Crown 8yo, 6s. 
 
 The Art of Singing. With Musical Exercises for Young 
 
 People. Crown Svo, 33. 
 
 BALCH. Zorah : A Love-Tale of Modern Egypt. By ELISABETH 
 
 BALCH (D.T.S.) Post Svo, js. 6d. 
 
 ALLADS AND POEMS. By MEMBERS OF THE GLASGOW 
 
 BALLAD CLUB. Crown Svo, 73. 6d. 
 
 BANNATYNE. Handbook of Republican Institutions in the 
 
 United States of America. Based upon Federal and State Laws, and other 
 reliable sources of information. By DUOALD J. BANNATYNE, Scotch Solicitor, 
 New York ; Member of the Faculty of Procurators, Glasgow. Crown Svo, 
 73. 6d. 
 
 BEDFORD. The Regulations of the Old Hospital of the Knights 
 
 of St John at Valetta. From a Copy Printed at Rome, and preserved in the 
 Archives of Malta ; with a Translation, Introduction, and Notes Explanatory 
 of the Hospital Work of the Order. By the Rev. W. K. R. BEDFORD, one of 
 the Chaplains of the Order of St John in England. Royal Svo, with Frontis- 
 piece, Plans, &c., 73. 6d.
 
 WILLIAM BLACKWOOD AND SONS. 
 
 BELLAIRS. The Transvaal War, 1880-81. Edited by Lady BEL- 
 LAIRS. With a Frontispiece and Map. 8vo, 153. 
 
 Gossips with Girls and Maidens, Betrothed and Free. 
 
 Crown 8vo, 58. 
 
 BESANT. The Revolt of Man. By WALTER BESANT, M.A. 
 
 Eighth Edition. Crown 8vo, 33. 6d. 
 
 Readings in Rabelais. Crown 8vo, 73. 6d. 
 
 BEVERIDGE. Culross and Tulliallan; or Perthshire on Forth. Its 
 
 History and Antiquities. With Elucidations of Scottish Life and Character 
 from the Burgh and Kirk-Session Records of that District. By DAVID 
 BEVERIDGE. 2 vols. 8vo, with Illustrations, 428. 
 
 BLACKIE. Lays and Legends" of Ancient Greece. By JOHN 
 
 STUART BLACKIE, Emeritus Professor of Greek in the University of Edin- 
 burgh. Second Edition. Fcap. 8vo. 5s. 
 
 The Wisdom of Goethe. Fcap. 8vo. Cloth, extra gilt, 6s. 
 
 BLACKWOOD'S MAGAZINE, from Commencement in 1817 to 
 
 December 1887. Nos. i to 866, forming 141 Volumes. 
 
 Index to Blackwood's Magazine. Vols. i to 50. 8vo, 158. 
 
 Tales from Blackwood. Forming Twelve Volumes of 
 
 Interesting and Amusing Railway Reading. Price One Shilling each, in Paper 
 Cover. Sold separately at all Railway Bookstalls. 
 
 They may also be had bound in cloth, i8s., and in half calf, richly gilt, 308. 
 Or 12 volumes in 6, Roxburghe, 218., and half red morocco, 288. 
 
 Tales from Blackwood. New Series. Complete in Twenty - 
 
 four Shilling Parts. Handsomely bound in 12 vols., cloth, 308. In leather 
 back, Roxburghe style, 378. 6d. In half calf, gilt, 528. 6d. In half morocco, 558. 
 
 Standard Novels. Uniform in size and legibly Printed. 
 
 Each Novel complete in one volume. 
 
 FLORIN SERIES, Illustrated Boards. Or in Cloth Boards, 28. 6d. 
 TOM CRINGLE'S Loo. By Michael Scott. PEN OWEN. By Dean Hook. 
 THE CRUISE OF THE MIDGE. By the Same. ADAM BLAIR. By J. G. Lockhart. 
 CYRIL THORNTON. By Captain Hamilton. ! LADY LEE'S WIDOWHOOD. By General 
 ANNALS OF THE PARISH. By John Gait. | Sir E. B. Hamley. 
 
 THE PROVOST, &c. By John Gait. 
 SIR ANDREW WYLIE. By John Gait. 
 THE ENTAIL. By John Gait. 
 Miss MOLLY. By Beatrice May Butt. 
 REGINALD DALTON. By J. G. Lockhart. 
 
 SALEM CHAPEL. By Mrs Oliphant. 
 THE PERPETUAL CURATE. By Mrs Oli- 
 phant. 
 
 Miss MARJORIBANKS. By Mrs Oliphant. 
 JOHN : A Love Story. By Mrs Oliphant. 
 
 SHILLING SERIES, Illustrated Cover. Or in Cloth Boards, is. 6d. 
 THE RECTOR, and THE DOCTOR'S FAMILY. SIR FRIZZLE PUMPKIN, NIGHTS AT MESS, 
 
 By Mrs Oliphant. 
 THE LIFE OF MANSIE WAUCH. By D. M. 
 Moir. 
 
 &c. 
 
 THE SUBALTERN. 
 LIFE IN THE FAR WEST. By G. F. Ruxton. 
 
 PENINSULAR SCENES AND SKETCHES. By i VALERIUS : A Roman Story. By J. G. 
 F. Hardman. Loekhart. 
 
 BLACKMORE. The Maid of Sker. By R. D. BLACKMORE, Author 
 
 of ' Lorna Doone,' &c. New Edition. Crown 8vo, 6s. 
 
 BLAIR. History of the Catholic Church of Scotland. From the 
 
 Introduction of Christianity to the Present Day. By ALPHONS BELLESHEIM, 
 D.D., Canon of Aix-la-Chapelle. Translated, with Notes and Additions, by 
 D. OSWALD HUNTER BLAIR, O.S.B., Monk of Fort Augustus. To be com- 
 pleted in 4_vols. 8vo. Vols. I. and II. 25s. 
 
 BOSCOBEL TRACTS. Relating to the Escape of Charles the 
 
 Second after the Battle of Worcester, and his subsequent Adventures. Edited 
 by J. HUGHES, Esq., A.M. A New Edition, with additional Notes and Illus- 
 trations, including Communications from the Rev. R. H. BARHAM, Author of 
 the ' Ingoldsby Legends.' 8vo, with Engravings, i6s. 
 
 BROOKE, Life of Sir James, Rajah of Sarawak. From his Personal 
 
 Papers and Correspondence. By SPENSER ST JOHN, H.M.'s Minister-Resident 
 and Consul-General Peruvian Republic ; formerly Secretary to the Rajah. 
 With Portrait and a Map. Post 8vo, 128. 6d.
 
 LIST OF BOOKS PUBLISHED BY 
 
 BROUGHAM. Memoirs of the Life and Times of Henry Lord 
 
 Brougham. Written by HIMSELF. 3 vols. 8vo, y, 8s. The Volumes are sold 
 separately, price i6s. each. 
 
 BROWN. The Forester : A Practical Treatise on the Planting, 
 
 Rearing, and General Management of Forest-trees. By JAMES BROWN, LL.D., 
 Inspector of and Reporter on Woods and Forests, Benmore House, Port Elgin, 
 Ontario. Fifth Edition, revised and enlarged. Royal 8vo, with Engravings. 
 363. 
 
 BROWN. The Ethics of George Eliot's Works. By JOHN CROMBIE 
 
 BROWN. Fourth Edition. Crown 8vo, as. 6d. 
 
 BROWN. A Manual of Botany, Anatomical and Physiological. 
 For the Use of Students. By ROBERT BROWN, M.A., Ph.D. Crown 8vo, with 
 numerous Illustrations, 128. 6d. 
 
 BUCHAN. Introductory Text-Book of Meteorology. By ALEX- 
 ANDER BUCHAN, M.A., F.R.S.E., Secretary of the Scottish Meteorological 
 Society, &c. Crown 8vo, with 8 Coloured Charts and other Engravings, 
 pp. 218. 43. 6d. 
 
 BUCHANAN. The Shire Highlands (East Central Africa). By 
 
 JOHN BUCHANAN, Planter at Zomba. Crown 8vo, 58. 
 
 BURBIDGE. Domestic Floriculture, Window Gardening, and 
 
 Floral Decorations. Being practical directions for the Propagation, Culture, 
 and Arrangement of Plants and Flowers as Domestic Ornaments. By F. W. 
 BURBIDGE. Second Edition. Crown 8vo, with numerous Illustrations, 
 78. 6d. 
 
 Cultivated Plants : Their Propagation and Improvement. 
 
 Including Natural and Artificial Hybridisation, Raising from Seed, Cuttings, 
 and Layers, Grafting and Budding, as applied to the Families and Genera in 
 Cultivation. Crown 8vo, with numerous Illustrations, 123. 6d. 
 
 BURTON. The History of Scotland : From Agricola's Invasion to 
 
 the Extinction of the last Jacobite Insurrection. By JOHN HILL BUBTON, 
 D.C.L., Historiographer-Royal for Scotland. New and Enlarged Edition, 
 8 vols., and Index. Crown 8vo, 3, 35. 
 
 History of the British Empire during the Reign of Queen 
 
 Anne. In 3 vols. 8vo. 368. 
 
 The Scot Abroad. Third Edition. Crown Svo, IDS. 6d. 
 
 The Book-Hunter. New Edition. Crown Svo, 73. 6d. 
 
 BUTE. The Roman Breviary : Reformed by Order of the Holy 
 
 CEcumenical Council of Trent ; Published by Order of Pope St Pins V. ; and 
 Revised by Clement VIII. and Urban VIII.; together with the Offices since 
 granted. Translated out of Latin into English by JOHN, Marquess of Bute, 
 K.T. In 2 vols. crown 8vo, cloth boards, edges uncut. 2, 28. 
 
 The Altus of St Columba. With a Prose Paraphrase and 
 
 Notes. In paper cover, 28. 6d. 
 
 BUTLER. Pompeii : Descriptive and Picturesque. By W. 
 
 BUTLER. Post Svo, 58. 
 
 BUTT. Miss Molly. By BEATRICE MAT BUTT. Cheap Edition, 2s. 
 
 Alison. 3 vols. crown Svo, 253. 6d. 
 
 Lesterre Durant. 2 vols. crown Svo, 173. 
 
 Eugenie. Crown Svo, 6s. 6d. 
 
 CAIRO. Sermons. By JOHN CAIRD, D.D., Principal of the Uni- 
 versity of Glasgow. Sixteenth Thousand. Fcap. Svo, 58. 
 
 Religion in Common Life. A Sermon preached in Crathie 
 
 Chnrch, October 14, 1855, before Her Majesty the Queen and Prince Albert. 
 Published by Her Majesty's Command. Cheap Edition, 3d.
 
 WILLIAM BLACKWOOD AND SONS. 
 
 CAMPBELL. Sermons Preached before the Queen at Balmoral. 
 
 By the Rev. A. A. CAMPBELL, Minister of Crathie. Published by Command 
 of Her Majesty. Crown 8vo, 48. 6d. 
 
 CAMPBELL. Records of Argyll. Legends, Traditions, and Re- 
 collections of Argyllshire Highlanders, collected chiefly from the Gaelic. 
 With Notes on the Antiquity of the Dress, Clan Colours or Tartans of the 
 Highlanders. By LORD ARCHIBALD CAMPBELL. Illustrated with Nineteen 
 full-page Etchings. 4to, printed on hand-made paper, ^3, 33. 
 
 CANTON. A Lost Epic, and other Poems. By WILLIAM CANTON. 
 
 Crown 8vo, 53. 
 
 CAPPON. Victor Hugo. A Memoir and a Study. By JAMES 
 
 CAPPON, M.A. Post 8vo, IDS. 6d. 
 
 CARRICK. Koumiss ; or, Fermented Mare's Milk : and its Uses 
 
 in the Treatment and Cure of Pulmonary Consumption, and other Wasting 
 Diseases. With an Appendix on the best Methods of Fermenting Cow's Milk. 
 By GEORGE L. CARRICK, M.D., L.R.C.8.E. and L.R.C.P.E., Physician to the 
 British Embassy, St Petersburg, &c. Crown 8vo, IDS. 6d. 
 
 CAUVIN. A Treasury of the English and German Languages. 
 
 Compiled from the best Authors and Lexicographers in both Languages. 
 Adapted to the Use of Schools, Students, Travellers, and Men of Business ; 
 and forming a Companion to all German-English Dictionaries. By JOSEPH 
 CAUVIN, LL.D. &Ph.D., of the University of Gottingen, &c. Crown 8vo,7S.6d. 
 
 CAVE-BROWN. Lambeth Palace and its Associations. By J. 
 
 CAVE-BROWN, M. A., Vicar of Detling, Kent, and for many years Curate of Lam- 
 beth Parish Church. With an Introduction by the Archbishop of Canterbury. 
 Second Edition, containing an additional Chapter on Medieval Life in the 
 Old Palaces. 8vo, with Illustrations, 213. 
 
 CHARTERIS. Canonicity ; or, Early Testimonies to the Existence 
 
 and Use of the Books of the New Testament. Based on Kirchhoffer's ' Quel- 
 lensammlung. ' Edited by A. H. CHARTERIS, D.D., Professor of Biblical 
 Criticism in the University of Edinburgh. 8vo, i8s. 
 
 CHRISTISON. Life of Sir Robert Christison, Bart., M.D., D.C.L. 
 
 Oxon., Professor of Medical Jurisprudence in the University of Edinburgh. 
 Edited by his SONS. In two vols. 8vo. Vol.1. Autobiography. i6s. Vol.11. 
 Memoirs. i6s. 
 
 CHURCH SERVICE SOCIETY. A Book of Common Order : 
 
 Being Forms of Worship issued by the Church Service Society. Fifth Edi- 
 tion, 6s. 
 
 CLOUSTON. Popular Tales and Fictions : their Migrations and 
 
 Transformations. By W. A. CLOUSTON, Editor of ' Arabian Poetry for Eng- 
 lish Readers,' ' The Book of Sindibad,' &e. 2 vols. post 8vo, roxburghe bind- 
 ing, 253. 
 
 COCHRAN. A Handy Text-Book of Military Law. Compiled 
 
 chiefly to assist Officers preparing for Examination ; also for all Officers of 
 the Regular and Auxiliary Forces. Specially arranged according to the Syl- 
 labus of Subjects of Examination for Promotion, Queen's Regulations, 1883. 
 Comprising also a Synopsis of part of the Army Act. By MAJOR F. COCHRAN, 
 Hampshire Regiment, Garrison Instructor, North British District. Crown 
 8vo, 73. 6d. 
 
 COLLIER. Babel. By the Hon. MARGARET COLLIER (Madame 
 
 GALLETTI DI CADILHAC). Author of ' Our Home by the Adriatic.' 2 vols. 
 post 8vo, 173. 
 
 COLQUHOUN. The Moor and the Loch. Containing Minute 
 
 Instructions in all Highland Sports, with Wanderings over Crag and Corrie, 
 Flood and Fell. By JOHN COLQUHOUN. Seventh Edition. With Illustra- 
 tions. [In preparation. 
 
 CONGREVE. Tales of Country Life in La Gruyere. From the 
 
 French of Pierre Scioberet. By L. DORA CONOREVE. Crown 8vo, 73. 6d. 
 
 COTTERILL. Suggested Reforms in Public Schools. By C. C. 
 
 COTTERILL, M.A., Assistant Master at Fettes College, Edin. Crown 8vo, 38. 6d.
 
 LIST OF BOOKS PUBLISHED BY 
 
 COX. The Opening of the Line : A Strange Story of Dogs and their 
 Doings. By PONSONBY Cox. Profusely Illustrated by J. H. O. BROWN. 
 4to, is. 
 
 COUNTESS IRENE. By the Author of ' Lauterdale and Caterina.' 
 
 3 vols. post 8vo. 258. 6d. 
 
 CRANSTOUN. The Elegies of Albius Tibullus. Translated into 
 
 English Verse, with Life of the Poet, and Illustrative Notes. By JAMES CRAN- 
 STOUN, LL.D., Author of a Translation of ' Catullus.' Crown 8vo, 6s. 6d. 
 
 The Elegies of Sextus Propertius. Translated into English 
 
 Verse, with Life of the Poet, and Illustrative Notes. Crown 8vo, 78. 6d. 
 
 CRAWFORD. Saracinesca. By F. MARION CRAWFORD, Author of 
 
 ' Mr Isaacs,' ' Dr Claudius,' ' Zoroaster,' &c. &c. Third Edition. Crown 8vo, 6s. 
 
 CRAWFORD. The Doctrine of Holy Scripture respecting the 
 
 Atonement. By the late THOMAS J. CRAWFORD, D.D., Professor of Divinity in 
 the University of Edinburgh. Fourth Edition. 8vo, 128. 
 
 The Fatherhood of God, Considered in its General and 
 
 Special Aspects, and particularly in relation to the Atonement, with a 
 Review of Recent Speculations on the Subject Third Edition, Revised and 
 Enlarged. 8vo, 98. 
 
 The Preaching of the Cross, and other Sermons. 8vo, 
 
 78. 6d. 
 
 The Mysteries of Christianity. Crown 8vo, 73. 6d. 
 
 DA VIES. Norfolk Broads and Rivers ; or, The Waterways, Lagoons, 
 
 and Decoys of East Anglia. By G. CHRISTOPHER DAVIES, Author of ' The 
 Swan and her Crew.' Illustrated with Seven full-page Plates. New and 
 Cheaper Edition. Crown 8vo, 6s. 
 
 DAYNE. In the Name of the Tzar. A Novel. By J. BELFORD 
 
 DAYNE. Crown 8vo, 6s. 
 
 DESCARTES. The Method, Meditations, and Principles of Philo- 
 sophy of Descartes. Translated from the Original French and Latin. With a 
 New Introductory Essay, Historical and Critical, on the Cartesian Philosophy. 
 By JOHN VEITCH, LL.D., Professor of Logic and Rhetoric in the University of 
 Glasgow. A New Edition, being the Ninth. Price 6s. 6d. 
 
 DOBSON. History of the Bassandyne Bible. The First Printed 
 
 in Scotland. With Notices of the Early Printers of Edinburgh. By WILLIAM T. 
 DOBSON, Author of 'Literary Frivolities,' ' Poetical Ingenuities, ' Royal Charac- 
 ters of Scott,' &c. Post Svo, with Facsimiles and other Illustrations. 73. 6d. 
 DOGS, OUR DOMESTICATED : Their Treatment in reference 
 to Food, Diseases, Habits, Punishment, Accomplishments. By ' MAGENTA.' 
 Crown Svo, 28. 6d. 
 
 DU CANE. The Odyssey of Homer, Books I. -XII. Translated into 
 
 English Verse. By Sir CHARLES Du CANE, K.C.M.G. Svo, IDS. 6d. 
 
 DUDGEON. History of the Edinburgh or Queen's Regiment 
 
 Light Infantry Militia, now 3rd Battalion The Royal Scots ; with an 
 Account of the Origin and Progress of the Militia, and a Brief Sketch of the 
 old Royal Scots. By Major R. C. DUDGEON, Adjutant 3rd Battalion The Royal 
 Scots. Post Svo, with Illustrations. ios. 6d. 
 
 DUNCAN. Manual of the General Acts of Parliament relating to 
 
 the Salmon Fisheries of Scotland from 1828 to 1882. By J. BARKER DUNCAN. 
 Crown Svo, 58. 
 
 DUNSMORE. Manual of the Law of Scotland, as to the Relations 
 
 between Agricultural Tenants and their Landlords, Servants, Merchants, and 
 Bowers. By W. DUNSMORE. Svo, 78. 6d. 
 
 DUPRE. Thoughts on Art, and Autobiographical Memoirs of 
 
 Giovanni Dupre. Translated from the Italian by E. M. PERCZZI, with the 
 permission of the Author. New Edition. With an Introduction by W. W. 
 Story. Crown Svo, ios. 6d. 
 
 ELIOT. George Eliot's Life, Related in her Letters and Journals. 
 
 Arranged and Edited by her husband, J. W. CROSS. With Portrait and other 
 Illustrations. Third Edition. 3 vols. post Svo, 428.
 
 WILLIAM BLACKWOOD AND SONS. 
 
 ELIOT. Works of George Eliot (Cabinet Edition). Handsomely 
 
 printed in a new type, 21 volumes, crown 8vo, price 5, 58. The Volumes 
 
 are also sold separately, price 58. each, viz. : 
 
 Bomola. 2 vols. Silas Marner, The Lifted Veil, Brother Jacob, i vol. 
 Adam Bede. 2 vols. Scenes of Clerical Life. 2 vols. The Mill on 
 the Floss. 2 vols. Felix Holt 2 vols. Middlemarch. 3 vols. 
 Daniel Deronda. 3 vols. The Spanish Gypsy, i vol. Jubal, and 
 other Poems, Old and New. i vol. Theophrastus Such, i vol. 
 Essays, i vol. 
 
 George Eliot's Life. (Cabinet Edition.) With Portrait and 
 
 other Illustrations. 3 vols. crown Svo, iss. 
 
 George Eliot's Life. (Cheap Edition.) With Portrait and 
 
 other Illustrations. Crown Svo, 78. 6d. 
 
 Novels by GEORGE ELIOT. Cheap Edition. Adam Bede. Il- 
 lustrated. 33. 6d., cloth. The Mill on the Floss. Illus- 
 trated. 33. 6d., cloth. Scenes of Clerical Life. Illustrated. 
 33., cloth. Silas Marner: The Weaver of Raveloe. Illus- 
 trated. 2s. 6d., cloth. Felix Holt, the Radical. Illustrated. 
 33. 6d., cloth. Romola. With Vignette. 33. 6d., cloth. 
 
 Middlemarch. Crown Svo, 73. 6d. 
 
 Daniel Deronda. Crown Svo, 73. 6d. 
 
 Essays. By GEORGE ELIOT. New Edition. Crown Svo, 53. 
 
 Impressions of Theophrastus Such. New Edition. Crown 
 
 8vo, 58. 
 
 The Spanish Gypsy. Crown Svo, 53. 
 
 The Legend of Jubal, and other Poems, Old and New. 
 
 New Edition. Crown Svo, 53., cloth. 
 
 Wise, Witty, and Tender Sayings, in Prose and Verse. 
 
 Selected from the Works of GEORGE ELIOT. Seventh Edition. Fcap. Svo, 6s. 
 The George Eliot Birthday Book. Printed on fine paper, 
 
 with red border, and handsomely bound in cloth, gilt. Fcap. Svo, cloth, 33. 6d. 
 And in French morocco or Russia, 58. 
 
 ESSAYS ON SOCIAL SUBJECTS. OriginaUy published in 
 
 the ' Saturday Review.' A New Edition. First and Second Series. 2 vols. 
 crown Svo, 6s. each. 
 
 EWALD. The Crown and its Advisers ; or, Queen, Ministers, 
 
 Lords, and Commons. By ALEXANDER CHAKLES EWALD, F.S. A. Crown Svo, 53. 
 
 FAITHS OF THE WORLD, The. A Concise History of the 
 
 Great Religious Systems of the World. By various Authors. Being the St 
 Giles' Lectures Second Series. Crown Svo, 58. 
 
 FARRER. A Tour in Greece in 1880. By RICHARD RIDLEY 
 FARRER. With Twenty -seven full -page Illustrations by LORD WINDSOR. 
 Royal Svo, with a Map, 218. 
 
 FERRIER. Philosophical Works of the late James F. Ferrier, 
 
 B. A. Oxon. , Professor of Moral Philosophy and Political Economy, St Andrews. 
 New Edition. Edited by Sir ALEX. GRANT, Bart., D.C.L., and Professor 
 LCSHINOTON. 3 vols. crown Svo, 348. 6d. 
 
 Institutes of Metaphysic. Third Edition. IDS. 6d. 
 
 Lectures on the Early Greek Philosophy. Third Edition, 
 
 ioS. 6d. 
 
 Philosophical Remains, including the Lectures on Early 
 
 Greek Philosophy. 2 vols., 243. 
 
 FLETCHER. Lectures on the Opening Clauses of the Litany, 
 
 delivered in St Paul's Church, Edinburgh. By JOHN B. FLETCHER, M.A. 
 Crown Svo, 4s. 
 
 FLINT. The Philosophy of History in Europe. By ROBERT 
 
 FLINT, D.D., LL.D., Professor of Divinity, University of Edinburgh. VoL I. 
 Svo. [New Edition in preparation.
 
 10 
 
 LIST OF BOOKS PUBLISHED BY 
 
 FLINT. Theism. Being the Baird Lecture for 1876. By ROBERT 
 FLINT, D.D., LL.D., Professor of Divinity, University of Edinburgh. Fifth 
 Edition. Crown 8vo, 78. 6d. 
 
 Anti-Theistic Theories. Being the Baird Lecture for 1877. 
 
 Third Edition. Crown 8vo, ios. 6d. 
 
 FORBES. Insulinde : Experiences of a Naturalist's Wife in the 
 Eastern Archipelago. By Mrs H. O. FORBES. Post 8vo, with a Map. 8s. 6d. 
 
 FOREIGN CLASSICS FOR ENGLISH READERS. Edited 
 
 by Mrs OLIPHANT. Price as. 6d. For List of Volumes published, see page 2. 
 
 GALT. Annals of the Parish. By JOHN GALT. Fcap. 8vo, 2s. 
 
 The Provost. Fcap. 8vo, 2s. 
 
 Sir Andrew Wylie. Fcap. 8vo, 2s. 
 
 The Entail ; or, The Laird of Grippy. Fcap. 8vo, 28. 
 
 GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE CHURCH OF SCOTLAND. 
 
 Family Prayers. Authorised by the General Assembly of 
 
 the Church of Scotland. A New Edition, crown 8vo, in large type, 43. 6d. 
 Another Edition, crown 8vo, 28. 
 
 Prayers for Social and Family Worship. For the Use of 
 
 Soldiers, Sailors, Colonists, and Sojourners in India, and other Persons, at 
 home and abroad, who are deprived of the ordinary services of a Christian 
 Ministry. Cheap Edition, is. 6d. 
 
 The Scottish Hymnal. Hymns for Public Worship. Pub- 
 lished for Use in Churches by Authority of the General Assembly. Various 
 sizes viz. : i. Large type, for Pulpit use, cloth, 33. 6d. 2. Longprimer type, 
 cloth, red edges, is. 6d. ; French morocco, zs. 6d. ; calf, 6s. 3. Bourgeois 
 type, cloth, red edges, is. ; French morocco, 23. 4. Minion type, French mo- 
 rocco, is. 6d. 5. School Edition, in paper cover, 2d. 6. Children's Hymnal, 
 paper cover, id. No. 2, bound with the Psalms and Paraphrases, cloth, 
 33. ; French morocco, 43. 6d. ; calf, 78. 6d. No. 3, bound with the Psalms and 
 Paraphrases, cloth, 2S. ; French morocco, 33. 
 
 The Scottish Hymnal, with Music. Selected by the Com- 
 mittees on Hymns and on Psalmody. The harmonies arranged by W. H. Monk. 
 Cloth, is. 6d. ; French morocco, 38. 6d. The same in the Tonic Sol-fa Notation, 
 is. 6d. and 33. 6d. 
 
 The Scottish Hymnal, with Fixed Tune for each Hymn. 
 
 Longprimer type, 38. 6d. 
 
 The Scottish Hymnal Appendix, i. Longprimer type, is. 
 
 2. Nonpareil type, cloth limp, 4d. ; paper cover, 2d. 
 
 Scottish Hymnal with Appendix Incorporated. Bourgeois 
 
 type, limp cloth, is. Large type, cloth, red edges, 28. 6d. Nonpareil type, 
 paper covers, 3d. ; cloth, red edges, 6d. 
 
 GERARD. Reata: What's in a Name. By E. D. GERARD. 
 
 New Edition. Crown 8vo, 6s. 
 
 Beggar my Neighbour. New Edition. Crown 8vo, 6s. 
 
 The Waters of Hercules. New Edition. Crown 8vo, 6s. 
 
 The Land beyond the Forest. Facts, Figures, and 
 
 Fancies from Transylvania. By E. GERARD, Author of ' Beata,' <fec. In Two 
 Volumes. With Maps and Illustrations. [In the press. 
 
 GERARD. Stonyhurst Latin Grammar. By Rev. JOHN GERARD. 
 
 Fcap. 8vo, 38. 
 
 GILL. Free Trade : an Inquiry into the Nature of its Operation. 
 
 By RICHARD GILL. Crown 8vo, 78. 6d. 
 
 GOETHE'S FAUST. Part I. Translated into English Verse by 
 
 Sir THEODORE MARTIN, K.C.B. Second Edition, post 8vo, 6s. Ninth Edi- 
 tion, fcap., 33. 6d. 
 
 Part II. Translated into English Verse by the SAME. 
 
 Second Edition, revised. Fcap. 8vo, 6s. 
 
 GOETHE. Poems and Ballads of Goethe. Translated by Professor 
 
 ATTOUN and Sir THEODORE MARTIN, K.C.B. Third Edition, fcap. 8vo, 6s.
 
 WILLIAM BLACKWOOD AND SONS. 11 
 
 GORDON GUMMING. At Home in Fiji. By C. F. GORDON 
 
 GUMMING, Author of ' From the Hebrides to the Himalayas. ' Fourth Edition, 
 post 8vo. With Illustrations and Map. 73. 6d. 
 
 A Lady's Cruise in a French Man-of-War. New and 
 
 Cheaper Edition. 8vo. With Illustrations and Map. 128. 6d. 
 
 Fire-Fountains. The Kingdom of Hawaii : Its Volcanoes, 
 
 and the History of its Missions. With Map and numerous Illustrations. 2 
 vols. 8vo, 253. 
 
 Granite Crags : The Y5-semite Region of California. Illus- 
 trated with 8 Engravings. New and Cheaper Edition. 8vo, 8s. 6d. 
 
 Wanderings in China. New Edition. 2 vols. 8vo, with 
 
 Illustrations, 253. 
 
 GRAHAM. The Life and Work of Syed Ahmed Khan, C.S.I. 
 
 By Lieut. -Colonel G. F. I. GRAHAM, B.S.C. 8vo, 143. 
 
 GRANT. Bush-Life in Queensland. By A. C. GRANT. New 
 
 Edition. Crown 8vo, 6s. 
 
 GRIFFITHS. Locked Up. By Major ARTHUR GRIFFITHS. 
 
 Author of ' Chronicles of Newgate,' ' Fast and Loose,' <fec. With Illustrations 
 by C. J. STAXILAND, R.I. Crown 8vo, 28. 6d. 
 
 The Wrong Road ; by Hook or Crook. 3 vols. post 8vo, 
 
 253. 6d. 
 
 HALDANE. Subtropical Cultivations and Climates. A Handy 
 Book for Planters, Colonists, and Settlers. By R. C. HALDANE. PostSvo, 93. 
 
 HAMERTON. Wenderholme : A Story of Lancashire and York- 
 shire Life. By PHILIP GILBERT HAMERTON, Author of 'A Painter's Camp.' A 
 New Edition. Crown 8vo, 6s. 
 
 HAMILTON. Lectures on Metaphysics. By Sir WILLIAM HAMIL- 
 TON, Bart, Professor of Logic and Metaphysics in the University of Edinburgh. 
 Edited by the Rev. H. L. MANSEL, B.D., LL.D., Dean of St Paul's ; and JOHN 
 VEITCH, M.A., Professor of Logic and Rhetoric, Glasgow. Seventh Edition. 
 2 vols. 8vo, 248. 
 
 Lectures on Logic. Edited by the SAME. Third Edition. 
 
 2 VOlS., 248. 
 
 Discussions on Philosophy and Literature, Education and 
 
 University Reform. Third Edition, 8vo, 213. 
 
 Memoir of Sir William Hamilton, Bart., Professor of Logic 
 
 and Metaphysics in the University of Edinburgh. By Professor VEITCH of the 
 University of Glasgow. 8vo, with Portrait, i8s. 
 
 Sir William Hamilton : The Man and his Philosophy. 
 
 Two Lectures Delivered before the Edinburgh Philosophical Institution, 
 January and February 1883. By the SAME. Crown 8vo, 28. 
 HAMLEY. The Operations of War Explained and Illustrated. By 
 Lieut.-General Sir EDWARD BRUCE HAMLEY, K.C.B. Fourth Edition, re- 
 vised throughout. 4to, with numerous Illustrations, 308. 
 
 Thomas Carlyle : An Essay. Second Edition. Crown 
 
 8vo. 28. 6d. 
 
 The Story of the Campaign of Sebastopol. Written in the 
 
 Camp. With Illustrations drawn in Camp by the Author. 8vo, 218. 
 
 On Outposts. Second Edition. 8vo, 23. 
 
 Wellington's Career ; A Military and Political Summary. 
 
 Crown 8vo, 28. 
 
 Lady Lee's Widowhood. Crown 8vo, 2S. 6d. 
 
 Our Poor Relations. A Philozoic Essav. With Illus- 
 
 trations, chiefly by Ernest Griset. Crown 8vo, cloth gilt, 33. 6d. 
 HAMLEY. Guilty, or Not Guilty ? A Tale. By Major-General 
 
 W. G. HAMLEY, late of the Royal Engineers. New Edition. Crown 8vo, 33. 6d. 
 
 Traseaden Hall. "When George the Third was King." 
 
 New and Cheaper Edition. Crown 8vo, 6s.
 
 12 LIST OF BOOKS PUBLISHED BY 
 
 HARBOKD. Definitions and Diagrams in Astronomy and Navi- 
 gation. By the Rev. J. B. HARBOBD, M.A., Assistant Director of Education, 
 Admiralty, is. 
 
 HASELL. Bible Partings. By E. J. HASELL. Crown 8vo, 6s. 
 
 Short Family Prayers. By Miss HASELL. Cloth, is. 
 
 HAY. The Works of the Right Rev. Dr George Hay, Bishop of 
 
 Edinburgh. Edited under the Supervision of the Right Rev. Bishop STRAIN. 
 
 With Memoir and Portrait of the Author. 5 vols. crown 8vo, bound in extra 
 
 cloth, i, is. Or, sold separately viz. : 
 
 The Sincere Christian Instructed in the Faith of Christ from the Written Word. 
 2 vols., 8s. The Devout Christian Instructed in the Law of Christ from the Written 
 Word. 2 vols , 8s. The Pious Christian Instructed in the Nature and Practice of the 
 Principal Exercises of Piety, i vol., 43. 
 
 HEATLEY. The Horse-Owner's Safeguard. A Handy Medical 
 
 Guide for every Man who owns a Horse. By G. S. HEATLEY, M.R.C.V.S. 
 Crown 8vo, 58. 
 
 The Stock-Owner's Guide. A Handy Medical Treatise for 
 
 every Man who owns an Ox or a Cow. Crown 8vo, 48. 6d. 
 
 HEMANS. The Poetical Works of Mrs Hemans. Copyright Edi- 
 tions. One Volume, royal 8vo, 58. The Same, with Illustrations engraved on 
 Steel, bound in cloth, gilt edges, 78. 6d. Six Volumes in Three, fcap., 128. 6d. 
 SELECT POEMS OF MRS HEMANS. Fcap., cloth, gilt edges, 38. 
 
 HOLE. A Book about Roses : How to Grow and Show Them. By 
 
 the Rev. Canon HOLE. Tenth Edition, revised. Crown 8vo, 38. 6d. 
 
 HOME PRAYERS. By Ministers of the Church of Scotland and 
 
 Members of the Church Service Society. Second Edition. Fcap. 8vo, 33. 
 
 HOMER. The Odyssey. Translated into English Verse in the 
 
 Spenserian Stanza. By PHILIP STANHOPE WORSLEY. Third Edition, a vols. 
 fcap., 128. 
 
 The Iliad. Translated by P. S. WORSLEY and Professor 
 
 CONINGTON. 2 vols. crown 8vo, 2is. 
 
 HOSACK. Mary Queen of Scots and Her Accusers. Containing a 
 
 Variety of Documents never before published. By JOHN HOSACK, Barrister- 
 at-Law. A New and Enlarged Edition, with a Photograph from the Bust on 
 the Tomb in Westminster Abbey. 2 vols. 8vo, i, is. 
 
 HUTCHINSON. Hints on the Game of Golf. By HORACE G. 
 
 HUTCHINSON. Third Edition. Fcap. 8vo, cloth, is. 6d. 
 
 HYDE. The Royal Mail ; its Curiosities and Romance. By JAMES 
 
 WILSON HYDE, Superintendent in the General Post Office, Edinburgh. Second 
 Edition, enlarged. Crown 8vo, with Illustrations, 6s. 
 
 IDDESLEIGH. Lectures and Essays. By the late EARL OP 
 
 IDDESLEIGH, G.C.B., D.C.L., &c. 8vo, i6s. 
 
 INDEX GEOGRAPHICUS : Being a List, alphabetically arranged, 
 
 of the Principal Places on the Globe, with the Countries and Subdivisions of 
 the Countries in which they are situated, and their Latitudes and Longitudes. 
 Applicable to all Modern Atlases and Maps. Imperial 8vo, pp. 676, 218. 
 
 JAMIESON. Discussions on the Atonement : Is it Vicarious ? 
 
 By the Rev. GEORGE JAMIESON, A.M., B.D., D.D., Author of 'Profound Pro- 
 blems in Philosophy and Theology.' 8vo, i6s. 
 
 JEAN JAMBON. Our Trip to Blunderland ; or, Grand Excursion 
 
 to Bluudertown and Back. By JEAN JAMBON. With Sixty Illustrations 
 designed by CHARLES DOYLE, engraved by DALZIEL. Fourth Thousand. 
 Handsomely bound in cloth, gilt edges, 6s. 6d. Cheap Edition, cloth, 33. 6d. 
 In boards, 28. 6d. 
 
 JENNINGS. Mr Gladstone : A Study. By Louis J. JENNINGS, 
 
 M.P., Author of ' Republican Government in the United States,' "The Croker 
 Memoirs,' &c. Popular Edition. Crown 8vo, is. 
 
 JERNINGHAM. Reminiscences of an Attache. By HUBERT 
 
 E. H. JERNINGHAM. Second Edition. Crown 8vo, 58. 
 
 Diane de Breteuille. A Love Story. Crown 8vo, 2s. 6d.
 
 WILLIAM BLACK WOOD AND SONS. 13 
 
 JOHNSTON. The Chemistry of Common Life. By Professor 
 
 J. P. W. JOHNSTON. New Edition, Revised, and brought down to date. By 
 ARTHUR HERBERT CHURCH, M.A. Oxon. ; Author of 'Food: its Sources, 
 Constituents, and Uses ; ' ' The Laboratory Guide for Agricultural Students ; ' 
 'Plain Words about Water,' &c. Illustrated with Maps and 102 Engravings 
 on Wood. Complete in one volume, crown 8vo, pp. 618, 73. 6d. 
 
 Elements of Agricultural Chemistry and Geology. Four- 
 teenth Edition, Revised, and brought down to date. By Sir CHARLES A. 
 CAMERON, M.D., P.R.C.S.I., &c. Fcap. 8vo, 6s. 6d. 
 
 Catechism of Agricultural Chemistry and Geology. An 
 entirely New Edition, revised and enlarged, by Sir CHARLES A. CAMERON, 
 M. D., F.R.C.S. I. ,&c. Eighty-sixth Thousand, with numerous Illustrations is. 
 
 JOHNSTON. Patrick Hamilton : a Tragedy of the Reformation 
 
 in Scotland, 1528. By T. P. JOHNSTON. Crown 8vo, with Two Etchings by 
 the Author, 58. 
 
 KENNEDY. Sport, Travel, and Adventures in Newfoundland 
 
 and the West Indies. By Captain W. R. KENNEDY, R.N. With Illustrations 
 by the Author. Post 8vo, 143. 
 
 KING. The Metamorphoses of Ovid. Translated in English Blank 
 
 Verse. By HENRY KINO, M.A. , Fellow of Wadham College, Oxford, and of 
 the Inner Temple, Barrister-at-Law. Crown 8vo, los. 6d. 
 
 KINGLAKE. History of the Invasion of the Crimea. By A. W. 
 KINOLAKE. Cabinet Edition. Seven Volumes, illustrated with maps and 
 plans, crown 8vo, at 6s. each. The Volumes respectively contain : 
 
 I. THE ORIGIN OF THE WAR between the Czar and the Sultan. II. RUSSIA 
 MET AND INVADED. III. THE BATTLE OF THE ALMA. IV. SEBASTOPOL 
 AT BAY. V. THE BATTLE OF BALACLAVA. VI. THE BATTLE OF IN- 
 KERMAN. VII. WINTER TROUBLES. 
 
 History of the Invasion of the Crimea. Vol. VI. Winter 
 
 Troubles. Demy 8vo, with a Map, i6s. 
 
 History of the Invasion of the Crimea. Vol. VII. From 
 
 the Morrow of Inkerman to the Fall of Canrobert. Demy 8vo, with Maps and 
 Plans, 143. 
 
 History of the Invasion of the Crimea. Vol. VIII. From 
 
 the Opening of Pellissier's Command to the Death of Lord Raglan. With an 
 Index to the Whole Work. With Maps and Plans. Demy 8vo, 148. 
 
 Eothen. A New Edition, uniform with the Cabinet Edition 
 
 of the ' History of the Invasion of the Crimea,' price 6s. 
 
 KNOLLYS. The Elements of Field- Artillery. Designed for the 
 Use of Infantry and Cavalry Officers. By HENRY KNOLLYS, Captain Royal 
 Artillery; Author of 'From Sedan to Saarbrlick,' Editor of 'Incidents in the 
 Sepoy War,' &c. With Engravings. Crown 8vo, ys. 6d. 
 
 LAING. Select Remains of the Ancient Popular and Romance 
 Poetry of Scotland. Originally Collected and Edited by DAVID LAING, LL.D. 
 Re-edited, with Memorial-Introduction, by JOHN SMALL, M.A. With a Por- 
 trait of Dr Laing. 4to, 253. 
 
 LAVERGNE. The Rural Economy of England, Scotland, and Ire- 
 land. By LEONCE DE LAVERGNE. Translated from the French. With Notes 
 by a Scottish Farmer. 8vo, 128. 
 
 LAWLESS. Hurrish : a Study. By the Hon. EMILY LAWLESS, 
 
 Author of 'A Chelsea Householder," 'A Millionaire's Cousin.' Third 
 and cheaper Edition, crown 8vo, 6s. 
 
 LEE. A Phantom Lover : A Fantastic Story. By VERNON LEE. 
 
 Crown 8vo, is. 
 
 LEE. Glimpses in the Twilight. Being various Notes, Records, 
 and Examples of the Supernatural. By the Rev. GEORGE F. LEE, D.C.L. 
 Crown 8vo. 8s. 6d. 
 
 LEES. A Handbook of Sheriff Court Styles. By J. M. LEES, 
 
 M.A., LL.B., Advocate, Sheriff-Substitute of Lanarkshire. New Ed., 8vo, 218. 
 
 A Handbook of the Sheriff and Justice of Peace Small 
 
 Debt Courts . 8vo, 73. 6d.
 
 H LIST OF BOOKS PUBLISHED BY 
 
 LETTERS FROM THE HIGHLANDS. Reprinted from 'The 
 
 Times.' Fcap. 8vo, 43. 6d. 
 
 LIGHTFOOT. Studies in Philosophy. By the Rev. J. LIGHTFOOT, 
 
 M.A., D.Sc., Vicar of Cross Stone, Todmorden. Crown 8vo, 48. 6d. 
 LINDAU. The Philosopher's Pendulum, and other Stories. By 
 RUDOLPH LINDAU. Crown 8vo, 73. 6d. 
 
 LITTLE. Madagascar: Its History and People. By the Rev. 
 
 HENRY W. LITTLE, some years Missionary in East Madagascar. Post 8vo, 
 ios. 6d. 
 
 LOCKHART. Doubles and Quits. By LAURENCE W. M. LOCK- 
 HART. With Twelve Illustrations. Fourth Edition. Crown 8vo, 6s. 
 
 Fair to See : a Novel. Eighth Edition. Crown 8vo, 6s. 
 
 Mine is Thine : a Novel. Eighth Edition. Crown 8vo, 6s. 
 
 LORIMER. The Institutes of Law : A Treatise of the Principles 
 
 of Jurisprudence as determined by Nature. By JAMES LORIMER, Regius 
 Professor of Public Law and of the Law of Nature and Nations in the Uni- 
 versity of Edinburgh. New Edition, revised throughout, and much enlarged. 
 8vo, i8s. 
 
 The Institutes of the Law of Nations. A Treatise of the 
 
 Jural Relation of Separate Political Communities. In 2 vols. 8vo. Volume I., 
 price i6s. Volume II., price 208. 
 
 M'COMBIE. Cattle and Cattle-Breeders. By WILLIAM M'COMBIE, 
 
 Tillyfour. New Edition, enlarged, with Memoir of the Author. By JAMES 
 MACDONALD, Editor of the ' Live-Stock Journal.' Crown 8vo, 33. 6d. 
 
 MACRAE. A Handbook of Deer - Stalking. By ALEXANDER 
 
 MACRAE, late Forester to Lord Henry Bentinck. With Introduction by 
 HORATIO Ross, Esq. Fcap. 8vo, with two Photographs from Life. 33. 6d. 
 
 M'CRIE. Works of the Rev. Thomas M'Crie, D.D. Uniform Edi- 
 tion. Four vols. crown 8vo, 248. 
 
 Life of John Knox. Containing Illustrations of the His- 
 tory of the Reformation in Scotland. Crown 8vo, 6s. Another Edition, 33. 6d. 
 
 Life of Andrew Melville. Containing Illustrations of the 
 
 Ecclesiastical and Literary History of Scotland in the Sixteenth and Seven- 
 teenth Centuries. Crown 8vo, 6s. 
 
 History of the Progress and Suppression of the Reforma- 
 tion in Italy in the Sixteenth Century. Crown 8vo, 43. 
 
 History of the Progress and Suppression of the Reforma- 
 
 tion in Spain in the Sixteenth Century. Crown 8vo, 33. 6d. 
 Lectures on the Book of Esther. Fcap. 8vo, 53. 
 
 MACDONALD. A Manual of the Criminal Law (Scotland) Pro- 
 cedure Act, 1887. By NORMAN 'DOBAN MACDONALD. Revised by the LORD 
 ADVOCATE. 8vo, cloth, ios. 6d. 
 
 M'INTOSH. The Book of the Garden. By CHARLES M'!NTOSH, 
 
 formerly Curator of the Royal Gardens of his Majesty the King of the Belgians, 
 and lately of those of his Grace the Duke of Buccleuch, K.G., at Dalkeith Pal- 
 ace. Two large vols. royal 8vo, embellished with 1350 Engravings. 4, 73. 6d. 
 Vol. I. On the Formation of Gardens and Construction of Garden Edifices. 776 
 
 pages, and 1073 Engravings, 2, ios. 
 Vol. II. Practical Gardening. 868 pages, and 279 Engravings, .1, 173. 6d. 
 
 MACKAY. A Manual of Modern Geography ; Mathematical, Phys- 
 ical, and Political. By the Rev. ALEXANDER MACKAY, LL.D., F.R.G.S. nth 
 Thousand, revised to the present time. Crown 8vo, pp. 688. 73. 6d. 
 
 Elements of Modern Geography. 5301 Thousand, revised 
 
 to the present time. Crown 8vo, pp. 300, 33. 
 
 The Intermediate Geography. Intended as an Interme- 
 diate Book between the Author's ' Outlines of Geography' and ' Elements of 
 Geography.' Twelfth Edition, revised. Crown 8vo, pp. 238, 23. 
 
 Outlines of Modern Geography. I76th Thousand, re- 
 
 vised to the present time. i8mo pp. 118, is.
 
 WILLIAM BLACKWOOD AND SONS. 15 
 
 MACKAY. First Steps in Geography. 86th Thousand. i8mo, pp. 
 
 56. Sewed, 4d. ; cloth, 6d. 
 
 Elements of Physiography and Physical Geography. 
 
 With Express Reference to the Instructions recently issued by the Science and 
 Art Department. By the Rev. ALEXANDER MACKAY, LL.D., F.R.G.S. soth 
 Thousand, revised. Crown 8vo, is. 6d. 
 
 Facts and Dates ; or, the Leading Events in Sacred and 
 
 Profane History, and the Principal Facts in the various Physical Sciences. 
 The Memory being aided throughout by a Simple and Natural Method. For 
 Schools and Private Reference. New Edition. Crown 8vo, 38. 6d. 
 
 MACKAY. An Old Scots Brigade. Being the History of Mackay's 
 
 Regiment, now incorporated with the Royal Scots. With an Appendix con- 
 taining many Original Documents connected with the History of the Regi- 
 ment. By JOHN MACKAV (late) OF HERRIESDALE. Crown 8vo, 58. 
 MACKAY. The Founders of the American Republic. A History 
 of Washington, Adams, Jefferson, Franklin, and Madison. With a Supple- 
 mentary Chapter on the Inherent Causes of the Ultimate Failure of American 
 Democracy. By CHARLES MACKAY, LL.D. Post 8vo, IDS. 6d. 
 
 MACKELLAR. More Leaves from the Journal of a Life in the 
 
 Highlands, from 1862 to 1882. Translated into Gaelic by Mrs MAEY MACKEL- 
 LAR. By command of Her Majesty the Queen. Crown 8vo, with Illustrations. 
 IDS. 6d. 
 
 MACKENZIE. Studies in Roman Law. With Comparative Views 
 
 of the Laws of France, England, and Scotland. By LORD MACKENZIE, one of 
 the Judges of the Court of Session in Scotland. Sixth Edition, Edited by 
 JOHN KIRKPATRICK, Esq., M.A. Cantab.; Dr Jur. Heidelb. ; LL.B. Edin. ; 
 Advocate. 8vo, izs. 
 
 MAIN. Three Hundred English Sonnets. Chosen and Edited by 
 
 DAVID M. MAIN. Fcap. 8va, 6s. 
 
 MAIR. A Digest of Laws and Decisions, Ecclesiastical and Civil, 
 
 relating to the Constitution, Practice, and Affairs of the Church of Scotland 
 With Notes and Forms of Procedure. By the Rev. WILLIAM MAIR, D.D., 
 Minister of the Parish of Earlston. Crown 8vo, js. 6d. 
 
 MAITLAND. Parva. By E. FULLER MAITLAND (E. F. M.) Fcap. 
 
 8vo. 53. 
 
 MANNERS. Notes of an Irish Tour in 1846. By Lord JOHN 
 
 MANNERS, M.P., G.C.B. New Edition. Crown 8vo, 28. 6d. 
 
 MANNERS. Gems of German Poetry. Translated by Lady JOHN 
 
 MANNERS. Small quarto, 33. 6d. 
 
 Impressions of Bad-Homburg. Comprising a Short Ac- 
 count of the Women's Associations of Germany under the Red Cross. By 
 Lady JOHN MANNERS. Crown 8vo, is. 6d. 
 
 Some Personal Recollections of the Later Years of the Earl 
 
 of Beaconsfield, K.G. Sixth Edition, 6d. 
 
 Employment of Women in the Public Service. 6d. 
 
 Some of the Advantages of Easily Accessible Reading and 
 
 Recreation Rooms, and Free Libraries. With Remarks on Starting and 
 Maintaining Them. Second Edition, crown 8vo, is. 
 
 A Sequel to Rich Men's Dwellings, and other Occasional 
 
 Papers. Crown 8vo, 28. 6d. 
 
 Encouraging Experiences of Reading and Recreation Rooms. 
 
 Aims of Guilds, Nottingham Social Guild, Existing Institutions, &c., &c. 
 Crown 8vo, is. 
 
 MARMORNE. The Story is told by ADOLPHUS SEGRAVE, the 
 
 youngest of three Brothers. Third Edition. Crown 8vo, 6s. 
 
 MARSHALL. French Home Life. By FREDERIC MARSHALL. 
 
 Second Edition. 53. 
 
 MARSHMAN. History of India. From the Earliest Period to the 
 Close of the India Company's Government ; with an Epitome of Subsequent 
 Events. By JOHN CLARK MARSHMAN, C.S.I. Abridged from the Author's 
 larger work. Second Edition, revised. Crown 8vo, with Map, 6s. 6d.
 
 16 LIST OF BOOKS PUBLISHED BY 
 
 MARTIN. Goethe's Faust. Part I. Translated by Sir THEODORE 
 
 MARTIN, K.C.B. Second Edition, crown 8vo, 6s. Ninth Edition, fcap. 
 8vo, 38. 6d. 
 
 Goethe's Faust. Part II. Translated into English Verse. 
 
 Second Edition, revised. Fcap. 8vo, 6s. 
 
 The Works of Horace. Translated into English Verse, 
 
 with Life and Notes. In 2 vols. crown 8vo, printed on hand -made 
 paper, 218. 
 
 Poems and Ballads of Heinrich Heine. Done into Eng- 
 lish Verse. Second Edition. Printed on papier vergt, crown 8vo, 8s. 
 
 Catullus. With Life and Notes. Second Ed., post 8vo, ys. 6d. 
 
 The Vita Nuova of Dante. With an Introduction and 
 
 Notes. Second Edition, crown 8vo, 53. 
 
 Aladdin : A Dramatic Poem. By ADAM OEHLENSCHLAE- 
 
 GER. Fcap. 8vo, 53. 
 
 Correggio : A Tragedy. By OEHLENSCHLAEGER. With 
 
 Notes. Fcap. 8vo, 33. 
 
 King Rene's Daughter : A Danish Lyrical Drama. By 
 
 HENRIK HERTZ. Second Edition, fcap., 23. 6d. 
 
 MARTIN. On some of Shakespeare's Female Characters. In a 
 
 Series of Letters. By HELENA FAUCIT, LADY MARTIN. Dedicated by per- 
 mission to Her Most Gracious Majesty the Queen. New Edition. Royal 8vo, 
 with Portrait. 93. 
 
 MATHESON. Can the Old Faith Live with the New? or the 
 
 Problem of Evolution and Revelation. By the Rev. GEORGE MATHESON, D.D. 
 Second Edition. Crown 8vo, 78. 6d. 
 
 The Psalmist and the Scientist ; or, Modern Value of the 
 
 Religious Sentiment. Crown 8vo, 73. 6d. 
 
 MEIKLEJOHN. An Old Educational Reformer Dr Bell. By 
 
 J. M. D. MEIKLEJOHN, M.A., Professor of the Theory, History, and Practice 
 of Education in the. University of St Andrews. Crown 8vo, 33. 6d. 
 
 . The Golden Primer. With Coloured Illustrations by Wal- 
 ter Crane. Small 4to, boards, 58. 
 
 The English Language : Its Grammar, History, and Litera- 
 ture. With Chapters on Versification, Paraphrasing, and Punctuation. 
 Second Edition. Crown 8vo, 43. 6d. 
 
 MICHEL. A Critical Inquiry into the Scottish Language. With 
 the view of Illustrating the Rise and Progress of Civilisation in Scotland. By 
 FRANCISQUE-MICHEL, F.S.A. Lond. and Scot., Correspondant de 1'Institut de 
 France, &c. In One handsome Quarto Volume, printed on hand-made paper, 
 and appropriately bound in Roxburghe style. Price 66s. 
 
 MICHIE. The Larch : Being a Practical Treatise on its Culture 
 and General Management. By CHRISTOPHER Y. MICHIE, Forester, Cullen House. 
 Crown 8vo, with Illustrations. New and Cheaper Edition, enlarged, 53. 
 
 MILNE. The Problem of the Churchless and Poor in our Large 
 Towns. With special reference to the Home Mission Work of the Church 
 of Scotland. By the Rev. ROBT. MiLNE,M.A.,D.D., Ardler. Crown 8vo, 53. 
 
 MINTO. A Manual of English Prose Literature, Biographical 
 and Critical : designed mainly to show Characteristics of Style. By W. MINTO, 
 M.A., Professor of Logic in the University of Aberdeen. Third Edition, 
 revised. Crown 8vo, 73. 6d. 
 
 Characteristics of English Poets, from Chaucer to Shirley. 
 
 New Edition, revised. Crown 8vo, 73. 6d. 
 
 The Crack of Doom. 3 vols. post 8vo, 253. 6d. 
 
 MITCHELL. Biographies of Eminent Soldiers of the last Four 
 
 Centuries. By Major-General JOHN MITCHELL, Author of 'Life of Wallenstein.' 
 With a Memoir of the Author. 8vo, ps. 
 
 MOIR. Life of Mansie Wauch, Tailor in Dalkeith. With 8 
 
 Illustrations on Steel, by the late GEORGE CRUIKSHANK. Crown 8vo, 33. 6d. 
 Another Edition, fcap. 8vo, is. 6d.
 
 WILLIAM BLACK WOOD AND SONS. 17 
 
 MOMERIE. Defects of Modern Christianity, and other Sermons. 
 
 By the Rev. A. W. MOMERIE, M.A., D.Sc. Professor of Logic and Metaphysics 
 in King's College, London. Third Edition. Crown 8vo, 58. 
 
 The Basis of Religion. Being an Examination of Natural 
 
 Religion. Second Edition. Crown 8vo, 28. 6d. 
 
 The Origin of Evil, and other Sermons. Fifth Edition, 
 
 enlarged. Crown 8vo, 58. 
 
 Personality. The Beginning and End of Metaphysics, and 
 
 a Necessary Assumption in all Positive Philosophy. Third Edition. Crown 
 8vo, 33. 
 
 Agnosticism. Second Edition, Revised. Crown 8vo, 53. 
 
 Preaching and Hearing ; and Other Sermons. Second 
 
 Edition. Crown 8vo, 48. 6d. 
 
 Belief in God. Crown 8vo, 33. 
 
 MONTAGUE. Campaigning in South Africa. Reminiscences of 
 
 an Officer in 1879. By Captain W. E. MONTAGUE, g4th Regiment, Author of 
 ' Claude Meadowleigh,' &c. 8vo, IDS. 6d. 
 
 MONTALEMBERT. Memoir of Count de Montalembert. A 
 
 Chapter of Recent French History. By Mrs OLIPHANT, Author of the 'Life 
 of Edward Irving,' &c. 2 vols. crown 8vo, 1, 43. 
 
 MURDOCH. Manual of the Law of Insolvency and Bankruptcy : 
 
 Comprehending a Summary of the Law of Insolvency, Notour Bankruptcy, 
 Composition - contracts, Trust-deeds, Cessios, and Sequestrations; and the 
 Winding-up of Joint-Stock Companies in Scotland ; with Annotations on the 
 various Insolvency and Bankruptcy Statutes ; and with Forms of Procedure 
 applicable to these Subjects. By JAMES MURDOCH, Member of the Faculty of 
 Procurators in Glasgow. Fifth Edition, Revised and Enlarged, 8vo, 1, ios. 
 
 MY TRIVIAL LIFE AND MISFORTUNE : A Gossip with 
 
 no Plot in Particular. By A PLAIN WOMAN. New Edition, crown 8vo, 6s. 
 
 By the SAME AUTHOR. 
 
 POOR NELLIE. New and Cheaper Edition. Complete in one 
 volume, crown 8vo. [Immediately. 
 
 NEAVES. Songs and Verses, Social and Scientific. By an Old 
 
 Contributor to ' Maga.' By the Hon. Lord NEAVES. Fifth Ed., fcap. 8vo, 48. 
 
 The Greek Anthology. Being Vol. XX. of ' Ancient Clas- 
 sics for English Readers.' Crown 8vo, 23. 6d. 
 
 NICHOLSON. A Manual of Zoology, for the Use of Students. 
 
 With a General Introduction on the Principles of Zoology. By HENRY AL- 
 LEYNE NICHOLSON, M.D., D.Sc., F.L.S., F.G.S., Regius Professor of Natural 
 History in the University of Aberdeen. Seventh Edition, rewritten and 
 enlarged. Post 8vo, pp. 956, with 555 Engravings on Wood, i8s. 
 
 Text-Book of Zoology, for the Use of Schools. Fourth Edi- 
 tion, enlarged. Crown 8vo, with 188 Engravings on Wood, 73. 6d. 
 
 Introductory Text-Book of Zoology, for the Use of Junior 
 
 Classes. Sixth Edition, revised and enlarged, with 166 Engravings, 38. 
 
 Outlines of Natural History, for Beginners ; being Descrip- 
 tions of a Progressive Series of Zoological Types. Third Edition, with 
 Engravings, is. 6d. 
 
 A Manual of Palaeontology, for the Use of Students. 
 
 With a General Introduction on the Principles of Palaeontology. Second Edi- 
 tion. Revised and greatly enlarged, a vols. 8vo, with 722 Engravings, 3, as. 
 
 The Ancient Life-History of the Earth. An Outline of 
 
 the Principles and Leading Facts of Palaeontological Science. Crown 8vo, 
 with 276 Engravings, ios. 6d. 
 
 On the " Tabulate Corals " of the Palaeozoic Period, 
 
 with Critical Descriptions of Illustrative Species. Illustrated with 15 
 Lithograph Plates and numerous Engravings. Super-royal 8vo, ais. 
 
 Synopsis of the Classification of the Animal King- 
 
 dom. 8vo, with 106 Illustrations, 6s.
 
 18 LIST OF BOOKS PUBLISHED BY 
 
 NICHOLSON. On the Structure and Affinities of the Genus Mon- 
 
 ticulipora and its Sub-Genera, with Critical Descriptions of Illustrative 
 Species. By HENRY ALLEYNE NICHOLSON, M.D., D.Sc., F.L.8., F.G.8., 
 Regius Professor of Natural History in the University of Aberdeen. Illus- 
 trated with numerous Engravings on wood and lithographed Plates. Super- 
 royal 8vo, i8s. 
 
 NICHOLSON. Communion with Heaven, and other Sermons. 
 
 By the late MAXWELL NICHOLSON, D.D., Minister of 8t Stephen's, Edinburgh. 
 Crown 8vo, 53. 6d. 
 
 Rest in Jesus. Sixth Edition. Fcap. 8vo, 43. 6d. 
 
 NICHOLSON. A Treatise on Money, and Essays on Present 
 
 Monetary Problems. By JOSEPH SHIELD NICHOLSON, M.A. , D.Sc., Professor 
 of Commercial and Political Economy and Mercantile Law in the University 
 of Edinburgh. In one volume, 8vo. [Immediately. 
 
 OLIPHANT. Masollam : a Problem of the Period. A Novel. 
 By LAURENCE OLIPHANT. 3 vols. post 8vo, 258. 6d. 
 
 Altiora Peto. Eighth Edition, Illustrated. Crown 8vo, 6s. 
 
 - Piccadilly : A Fragment of Contemporary Biography. With 
 Eight Illustrations by Richard Doyle. Eighth Edition, 48. 6d. Cheap Edition, 
 in paper cover, 28. 6d. 
 
 Traits and Travesties ; Social andPolitical. PostSvo, ios.6d. 
 
 The Land of Gilead. With Excursions in the Lebanon. 
 
 With Illustrations and Maps. Demy 8vo, 218. 
 The Land of Khemi. Post 8vo, with Illustrations, IDS. 6d. 
 
 Haifa : Life in Modern Palestine. 2d Edition. 8vo, ys. 6d. 
 
 Episodes in a Life of Adventure ; or, Moss from a Rolling 
 
 Stone. Fourth Edition. Post 8vo, 6s. 
 
 Fashionable Philosophy, and other Sketches. In paper 
 
 cover, is. 
 
 Sympneumata : or, Evolutionary Functions now Active in 
 
 Man. Edited by LAURENCE OLIPHANT. Post 8vo, ios. 6d. 
 
 OLIPHANT. The Story of Valentine j and his Brother. By Mrs 
 
 OLIPHANT. 53., cloth." 
 
 Katie Stewart. 2s. 6d. 
 
 A House Divided against Itself. 3 vols. post 8vo, 253. 6d. 
 
 OSBORN. Narratives of Voyage and Adventure. By Admiral 
 
 SHERARD OSBORN, C.B. 3 vols. crown 8vo, 128. 
 
 OSSIAN. The Poems of Ossian in the Original Gaelic. With a 
 
 Literal Translation into English, and a Dissertation on the Authenticity of the 
 Poems. By the Rev. ARCHIBALD CLERK. 2 vols. imperial 8vo, i, us. 6d. 
 
 OSWALD. By Fell and Fjord ; or, Scenes and Studies in Iceland. 
 
 By E. J. OSWALD.- Post 8vo, with Illustrations. 78. 6d. 
 
 OUR OWN POMPEII. A Romance of To-morrow. 2 vols. crown 
 
 8vo, 178. 
 
 OUTRAM. Lyrics : Legal and Miscellaneous. By the late GEORGE 
 
 OUTRAM, Esq., Advocate. New Edition, with Explanatory Notes. Edited 
 by J. H. Stoddart, LL.D. ; and Illustrated by William Ralston and A. 8. 
 Boyd. Fcap. 8vo, 53. 
 
 PAGE. Introductory Text-Book of Geology. By DAVID PAGE, 
 
 LL.D. , Professor of Geology in the Durham University of Physical Science, 
 Newcastle. With Engravings & Glossarial Index. Twelfth Edition. Revised 
 by Professor LAPWORTH of Mason Science College, Birmingham. [Immediately. 
 
 Advanced Text-Book of Geology, Descriptive and Indus- 
 trial. With Engravings, and Glossary of Scientific Terms. Sixth Edition, re- 
 vised and enlarged, 73. 6d. 
 
 Introductory Text -Book of Physical Geography. With 
 
 Sketch-Maps and Illustrations. Edited by CHARLES LAPWORTH, LL.D., F.G.S., 
 &c., Professor of Geology and Mineralogy in the Mason Science College, Bir- 
 mingham, isth Edition, as. 6d.
 
 WILLIAM BLACKWOOD AND SONS. 19 
 
 PAGE. Advanced Text -Book of Physical Geography. Third 
 
 Edition, Revised and Enlarged by Prof. LAPWORTH. With Engravings, js. 
 
 PATON. Spindrift. By Sir J. tfoEL PATON. Fcap., cloth, 53. 
 
 Poems by a Painter. By Sir J. NOEL PATON. Fcap., cl. 5s. 
 
 PATTERSON. Essays in History and Art. By B. HOGARTH 
 
 PATTERSON. 8vo, ias. 
 
 The New Golden Age, and Influence of the Precious 
 
 Metals upon the World. 2 vols. 8vo, 318. 6d. 
 
 PAUL. History of the Royal Company of Archers, the Queen's 
 
 Body-Guard for Scotland. By JAMES BALFOUR PAUL, Advocate of the Scottish 
 Bar. Crown 4to, with Portraits and other Illustrations. 2, aa. 
 
 PEILE. Lawn Tennis as a Game of Skill. With latest revised 
 
 Laws as played by the Best Clubs. By Captain S. C. V. PEILE, B.S.C. Third 
 Edition, fcap. cloth, is. 6d. 
 
 PETTIGREW. The Handy Book of Bees, and their Profitable 
 
 Management. By A. PETTIGREW. Fourth Edition, Enlarged, with Engrar- 
 ings. Crown 8vo, 38. 6d. 
 
 PHILOSOPHICAL CLASSICS FOR ENGLISH READERS. 
 
 Companion Series to Ancient and Foreign Classics for English Readers. 
 Edited by WILLIAM KKIGHT, LL.D., Professor of Moral Philosophy, Uni- 
 versity of St Andrews. In crown 8vo volumes, with portraits, price 38. 6d. 
 
 [For list of Volumes published, see page 2. 
 
 POLLOK. The Course of Time : A Poem. By ROBERT POLLOK, 
 
 A.M. Small fcap. 8vo, cloth gilt, 28. 6d. The Cottage Edition, 32:010, sewed, 
 8d. The Same, cloth, gilt edges, is. 6d. Another Edition, with Illustrations 
 by Birket Foster and others, fcap., gilt cloth, 38. 6d., or with edges gilt, 43. 
 
 PORT ROYAL LOGIC. Translated from the French with Intro- 
 
 duction, Notes, and Appendix. By THOMAS SPENCER BAYNES, LL.D. , Pro- 
 fessor in the University of St Andrews. Eighth Edition, i2mo, <s. 
 
 POTTS AND DARNELL. Aditus Faciliores : An easy Latin Con- 
 struing Book, with Complete Vocabulary. By A. W. POTTS, M.A., LL.D., 
 Head-Master of the Fettes College, Edinburgh, and sometime Fellow of St 
 John's College, Cambridge; and the Rev. C. DARNELL, M.A., Head-Master of 
 Cargilfield Preparatory School, Edinburgh, and late Scholar of Pembroke and 
 Downing Colleges, Cambridge. Ninth Edition, fcap. 8vo, 33. 6d. 
 
 Aditus Faciliores Graeci. An easy Greek Construing Book, 
 
 with Complete Vocabulary. Fourth Edition, fcap. 8vo, 38. 
 
 PRINGLE. The Live-Stock of the Farm. By ROBERT 0. PRINGLE. 
 
 Third Edition. Revised and Edited by JAMES MACDONALD, Editor of the 
 ' Live-Stock Journal,' &c. Crown 8vo, ys. 6d. 
 
 PUBLIC GENERAL STATUTES AFFECTING SCOTLAND 
 
 from 1707 to 1847, with Chronological Table and Index. 3 vols. large 8vo, -3, 35. 
 
 PUBLIC GENERAL STATUTES AFFECTING SCOTLAND, 
 
 COLLECTION OF. Published Annually with General Index. 
 RAMSAY. Rough Recollections of Military Service and Society. 
 By Lieut.-Col. BALCARKES D. WARDLAW RAMSAY. Two vols. post 8vo, 218. 
 
 RAMSAY. Scotland and Scotsmen in the Eighteenth Century. 
 
 Edited from the MSS. of JOHN RAMSAY, Esq. of Ochtertyre, by ALEXANDER 
 ALLARDYCE, Author of 'Memoir of Admiral Lord Keith, K.B.,' &c. 2 vols. 
 8vo, 31s. 6d. 
 
 RANKINE. A Treatise on the Rights and Burdens incident to 
 
 the Ownership of Lands and other Heritages in Scotland. By JOHN RANKINE 
 M.A., Advocate, Professor of Scots Law in the University of Edinburgh. 
 Second Edition, Revised and Enlarged. 8vo, 458. 
 
 RECORDS OF THE TERCENTENARY FESTIVAL OF THE 
 
 UNIVERSITY OF EDINBURGH. Celebrated in April 1884. Published 
 under the Sanction of the Senatus Academieus. Large 4to, 2, 128. 6d. 
 RICE. Reminiscences of Abraham Lincoln. By Distinguished 
 Men of his Time. Collected and Edited by ALLEN THORNDIKE RICE, Editor 
 of the ' North American Review.' Large 8vo, with Portraits, 218.
 
 20 
 
 LIST OF BOOKS PUBLISHED BY 
 
 RIMMER. The Early Homes of Prince Albert. By ALFRED 
 
 RIMMER, Author of ' Our Old Country Towns,' &c. Beautifully Illustrated 
 with Tinted Plates and numerous Engravings on Wood. 8vo, ios. 6d. 
 
 ROBERTSON. Orellana, and other Poems. By J. LOGIE ROBERT- 
 SON, M. A. Fcap. 8vo. Printed on hand-made paper. 6s. 
 
 The White Angel of the Polly Ann, and other Stories. 
 
 A Book of Fables and Fancies. Fcap. 8vo, 33. 6d. 
 
 Our Holiday Among the Hills. By JAMES and JANET 
 
 LOGIE ROBERTSON. Fcap. 8vo, 33. 6d. 
 
 ROSCOE. Rambles with a Fishing-rod. By E. S. ROSCOE. Crown 
 
 8vo, 48. 6d. 
 
 ROSS. Old Scottish Regimental Colours. By ANDREW Boss, 
 
 8.8.C., Hon. Secretary Old Scottish Regimental Colours Committee. Dedi- 
 cated by Special Permission to Her Majesty the Queen. Folio, handsomely 
 bound in cloth, 2, 128. 6d. 
 
 ROSSLYN. Love that Lasts for Ever. A Jubilee Lyric. By the 
 Earl of Rosslyn. Dedicated by Permission to the Queen, on the Fiftieth 
 Anniversary of her Accession, and published by Her Majesty's Command. 
 Printed on hand-made paper, with vellum cover, is. 
 
 RUSSELL. The Haigs of Bemersyde. A Family History. By 
 
 JOHN RUSSELL. Large 8vo, with Illustrations. 218. 
 
 RUSTOW. The War for the Rhine Frontier, 1870 : Its Political 
 
 and Military History. By Col. W. RUSTOW. Translated from the German, 
 by JOHN LAYLAND NEEDHAM, Lieutenant R.M. Artillery. 3 vols. 8vo, with 
 Maps and Plans, i, us. 6d. 
 
 SCHILLER. Wallenstein. A Dramatic Poem. By FREDERICK 
 
 VON SCHILLER. Translated by C. G. A. LOCKHART. Fcap. 8vo, 78. 6d. 
 
 SCOTCH LOCH FISHING. By "Black Palmer." Crown 8vo, 
 
 interleaved with blank pages, 48. 
 
 SCOTTISH METAPHYSICS. Reconstructed in accordance with 
 
 the Principles of Physical Science. By the Writer of ' Free Notes on Herbert 
 Spencer's First Principles.' Crown 8vo, 53. 
 
 SELLAR. Manual of the Education Acts for Scotland. By 
 ALEXANDER CRAIG SELLAR, M.P. Eighth Edition. Revised and in great 
 part rewritten by J. EDWARD GRAHAM, B.A. Oxon., Advocate. Containing 
 the Technical Schools Act, 1887, and all Acts bearing on Education in Scot- 
 land. With Kules for the conduct of Elections, with Notes and Cases. 
 
 [Immediately. 
 
 SELLER AND STEPHENS. Physiology at the Farm ; in Aid of 
 
 Rearing and Feeding the Live Stock. By WILLIAM SELLER, M.D., F.R.S.E., 
 Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians, Edinburgh, formerly Lecturer on 
 Materia Medica and Dietetics ; and HENRY STEPHENS, F.R.S.B., Author of ' The 
 Book of the Farm,' &c. Post 8vo, with Engravings, i6s. 
 
 SETH. Scottish Philosophy. A Comparison of the Scottish and 
 German Answers to Hume. Balfour Philosophical Lectures, University of 
 Edinbirgh. By ANDREW SETH, M.A. , Professor of Logic, Rhetoric, and 
 Metaphysics in the University of St Andrews. Crown 8vp, 5s. 
 
 Hegelianism and Personality. Balfour Philosophical Lec- 
 tures. Second Series. Crowu 8vo, 58. 
 
 SETON. A Budget of Anecdotes. Chiefly relating to the Current 
 Century. Compiled and Arranged by GEORGE SETON, Advocate, M.A. Oxon. 
 New and Cheaper Edition, fcap. 8vo. Boards, is. 6d. 
 
 SHADWELL. The Life of Colin Campbell, Lord Clyde. Illus- 
 
 trated by Extracts from his Diary and Correspondence. By Lieutenant- 
 General SHADWELL, C.B. 2 vols. 8vo. With Portrait, Maps, and Plans. 368. 
 
 SHAND. Fortune's Wheel. By ALEX. INNES SHAND, Author of 
 
 'Against Time,' &c. 3 vols. post 8vo, 258. 6d. 
 
 Half a Century ; or, Changes in Men and Manners. Second 
 
 Edition, 8vo, 123. 6d. 
 
 - Letters from the West of Ireland. 
 
 'Times.' Crown 8vo, 5*. 
 
 Reprinted from the
 
 WILLIAM BLACKWOOD AND SONS. 21 
 
 SHARPE. Letters from and to Charles Kirkpatrick Sharpe. 
 
 Edited by ALEXANDER ALLARDYCE, Author of 'Memoir of Admiral Lord 
 Keith, K.B.,' &c. With a Memoir by the Rev. W. K. R. BEDFORD. In two 
 vols. 8vo. Illustrated with Etchings and other Engravings. 
 
 SIM. Margaret Sim's Cookery. With an Introduction by L. B. 
 
 WALFORD, Author of ' Mr Smith : A Part of His Life,' &c. Crown 8vo, 58. 
 
 SIMPSON. Dogs of other Days: Nelson and Puck. By EVE 
 
 BLANTYRE SIMPSON. Fcap. 8vo, with Illustrations, 28. 6d. 
 
 SKELTON. Maitland of Lethington ; and the Scotland of Mary 
 Stuart. A History. By JOHN SKELTON, C.B., LL.D. Author of ' The Essays 
 of Shirley.' Demy 8vo, 123. 6d. 
 
 SMITH. Italian Irrigation : A Report on the Agricultural Canals 
 of Piedmont and Lombardy, addressed to the Hon. the Directors of the East 
 India Company ; with an Appendix, containing a Sketch of the Irrigation Sys- 
 tem of Northern and Central India. By Lieut. -Col. R. BAIRD SMITH, F.G.8., 
 Bengal Engineers. Second Edition. 2 voJs. 8vo, with Atlas, 308. 
 
 SMITH. Thorndale ; or, The Conflict of Opinions. By WILLIAM 
 
 SMITH, Author of 'A Discourse on Ethics, '&c. New Edition. Cr. 8vo, 108. 6d. 
 
 Gravenhurst ; or, Thoughts on Good and Evil. Second 
 
 Edition, with Memoir of the Author. Crown 8vo, 8s. 
 
 SMITH. Greek Testament Lessons for Colleges, Schools, and 
 Private Students, consisting chiefly of the Sermon on the Mount and the 
 Parables of our Lord. With Notes and Essays. By the Rev. J. HUNTER 
 SMITH, M. A., King Edward's School, Birmingham. Crown 8vo, 6s. 
 
 SMITH. Writings by the Way. By JOHN CAMPBELL SMITH, 
 
 M. A. , Sheriff-Substitute. Crown 8 vo, 93. 
 
 SMITH. The Secretary for Scotland. Being a Statement of the 
 
 Powers and Duties of the new Scottish Office. With a Short Historical 
 Introduction and numerous references to important Administrative Docu- 
 ments. By W. C. SMITH, LL.B., Advocate. 8vo, 6s. 
 
 SOLTERA. A Lady's Ride Across Spanish Honduras. By MARIA 
 
 SOLTERA. With Illustrations. Post 8vo, 128. 6d. 
 
 SORLEY. The Ethics of Naturalism. Being the Shaw Fellowship 
 
 Lectures, 1884. By W. R. Sorley, M.A., Fellow of Trinity College, Cambridge, 
 and Examiner in Philosophy in the University of Edinburgh. Crown 8vo, 6s. 
 
 SPEEDY. Sport in the Highlands and Lowlands of Scotland with 
 Rod and Gun. By TOM SPEEDY. Second Edition, Revised and Enlarged. With 
 Illustrations by Lieut.-Gen. Hope Crealocke,C.B.,C.M.G., and others. Svo.iss. 
 
 SPROTT. The Worship and Offices of the Church of Scotland ; 
 or, the Celebration of Public Worship, the Administration of the Sacraments, 
 and other Divine Offices, according to the Order of the Church of Scotland. 
 By GEORGE W. SPROTT, D.D., Minister of North Berwick. Crown 8vo. 6s. 
 
 STARFORTH. Villa Residences and Farm Architecture : A Series 
 
 of Designs. By JOHN STARFORTH, Architect. 102 Engravings. Second Edi- 
 tion, medium 4to, 2, 178. 6d. 
 
 STATISTICAL ACCOUNT OF SCOTLAND. Complete, with 
 
 Index, 15 vols. 8vo, 16, i6s. 
 
 Each County sold separately, with Title, Index, and Map, neatly bound in cloth , 
 forming a very valuable Manual to the Landowner, the Tenant, the Manufac- 
 turer, the Naturalist, the Tourist, &c. 
 
 STEPHENS. The Book of the Farm ; detailing the Labours of the 
 
 Farmer, Farm-Steward, Ploughman, Shepherd, Hedger, Farm-Labourer, Field- 
 Worker, and Cattleman. By HENRY STEPHENS, F.R.S.E. Illustrated with 
 Portraits of Animals and Fngravings. New Edition. Revised and in great 
 part rewritten by JAMES MACDONALD. 
 
 The Book of Farm Buildings ; their Arrangement and 
 
 Construction. By HENRY STEPHENS, F.R.S.E., Author of 'The Book of the 
 Farm ; ' and ROBERT SCOTT BURN. Illustrated with 1045 Plates and En- 
 gravings. Large 8vo, uniform with ' The Book of the Farm,' &c. i, us. 6d. 
 
 The Book of Farm Implements and Machines. By J. 
 
 SLIGHT and R. SCOTT BURN, Engineers. Edited by HENRY STEPHENS. Large 
 8vo, uniform with ' The Book of the Farm.' 2, 28.
 
 22 
 
 LIST OF BOOKS PUBLISHED BY 
 
 STEPHENS. Catechism of Practical Agriculture. With Engrav- 
 
 STEVENSON. British Fungi. (Hymenomycetes.) By Rev. JOHN 
 STEVENSON, Author of Mycologia Scotia,' Hon. See. Cryptogamic Society of 
 Scotland. 2 vols. post 8vo, with Illustrations, price 128. 6d. each. 
 
 Vol. I. AOARICUS BOLBITIUS. Vol. II. CORTINABIUS DACRYMYCES. 
 
 STEWART. Advice to Purchasers of Horses. By JOHN STEWART, 
 
 V.S., Author of ' Stable Economy.' New Edition, as. 6d. 
 
 Stable Economy. A Treatise on the Management of 
 
 Horses in relation to Stabling, Grooming, Feeding, Watering, and Working. 
 By JOHN STEWART, V.S. Seventh Edition, fcap. 8vo, 6s. 6d. 
 
 STORMONTH. Etymological and Pronouncing Dictionary of the 
 
 English Language. Including a very Copious Selection of Scientists Terms. 
 For Use in Schools and Colleges, and as a Book of General Reference. By the 
 Rev. JAMES STORMONTH. The Pronunciation carefully Revised by the Rev. 
 P. H. PHELP, M.A. Cantab. Ninth Edition, Revised throughout. Crown 
 8vo, pp. 800. 78. 6d. 
 
 Dictionary of the English Language, Pronouncing, 
 
 Etymological, and Explanatory. Revised by the Rev. P; H. PHELP. Library 
 Edition. Imperial 8vo, handsomely bound in half morocco, 318. 6d. 
 
 The School Etymological Dictionary and Word-Book. 
 
 Combining the advantages of an ordinary pronouncing School Dictionary 
 and an Etymological Spelling-book. Fcap. 8vo, pp. 254. 28. 
 
 STORY. Nero ; A Historical Play. By W. W. STORY, Author of 
 
 ' Roba di Roma.' Fcap. 8vo, 6s. 
 Vallombrosa. Post 8vo, 53. 
 
 He and She ; or, A Poet's Portfolio. Fcap. 8vo, in parch- 
 ment, 33. 6d. 
 
 Poems. 2 vols. fcap., 73. 6d. 
 
 Fiammetta. A Summer Idyl. Crown 8vo, 73. 6d. 
 
 STRICKLAND. Life of Agnes Strickland. By her SISTER. 
 
 Post 8vo, with Portrait engraved on Steel, 128. 6d. 
 
 STURGIS. John - a - Dreams. A Tale. By JULIAN STURGIS. 
 
 New Edition, crown 8vo, 38. 6d. 
 
 Little Comedies, Old and New. Crown 8vo, 75. 6d. 
 
 SUTHERLAND. Handbook of Hardy Herbaceous and Alpine 
 
 Flowers, for general Garden Decoration. Containing Descriptions, in Plain 
 Language, of upwards of 1000 Species of Ornamental Hardy Perennial and 
 Alpine Plants, adapted to all classes of Flower-Gardens, Rockwork, and 
 Waters ; along with Concise and Plain Instructions for their Propagation and 
 Culture. By WILLIAM SUTHERLAND, Gardener to the Earl of Minto ; formerly 
 Manager of the Herbaceous Department at K.ew. Crown 8vo, 78. 6d. 
 
 TAYLOR. The Story of My Life. By the late Colonel MEADOWS 
 
 TAYLOR, Author of 'The Confessions of a Thug,' &c. &c. Edited by his 
 Daughter. New and cheaper Edition, being the Fourth. Crown 8vo, 6s. 
 
 TAYLOR. The City of Sarras. By U. ASHWORTH TAYLOR. 
 
 Crown 8vo, 78. 6d. 
 
 TEMPLE. Lancelot Ward, M.P. A Love-Story. By GEORGE 
 
 TEMPLE. Crown 8vo. 78. 6d. 
 
 THOLUCK. Hours of Christian Devotion. Translated from the 
 
 German of A. Tholuck, D. D. , Professor of Theology in the University of Halle. 
 By the Rev. ROBERT MENZIES, D. D. With a Preface written for this Transla- 
 tion by the Author. Second Edition, crown 8vo, 73. 6d. 
 
 THOMSON. Handy Book of the Flower-Garden : being Practical 
 Directions for the Propagation, Culture, and Arrangement of Plants in Flower- 
 Gardens all the year round. Embracing all classes of Gardens, from the largest 
 to the smallest. With Engraved Plans, illustrative of the various systems of 
 Grouping in Beds and Borders. By DAVID THOMSON, Gardener to his Grace 
 the Duke of Buccleuch, K.G., at Drumlanrig. Fourth and Cheaper Edition, 
 crown 8vo, 58.
 
 WILLIAM BLACKWOOD AND SONS. 23 
 
 THOMSON. The Handy Book of Fruit-Culture under Glass : 
 
 being a series of Elaborate Practical Treatises on the Cultivation and Forcing 
 of Pines, Vines, Peaches, Figs, Melons, Strawberries, and Cucumbers. With 
 Engravings of Hothouses, &c., most suitable for the Cultivation and Forcing 
 of these Fruits. By DAVID THOMSON, Gardener to his Grace the Duke of 
 Buccleuch, K.G., at Drumlanrig. Second Edition. Crown 8vo, with Engrav- 
 ings, 78. 6d. 
 
 THOMSON. A Practical Treatise on the Cultivation of the Grape- 
 vine. By WILLIAM THOMSON, Tweed Vineyards. Ninth Edition, 8vo, s. 
 
 THOMSON. Cookery for the Sick and Convalescent. With 
 Directions for the Preparation of Poultices, Fomentations, &c. By BARBARA 
 THOMSON. Fcap. 8vo, is. 6d. 
 
 TOM CRINGLE'S LOG. A New Edition, with Illustrations. 
 
 Crown 8vo. cloth gilt, 53. Cheap Edition, 28. 
 
 TRANSACTIONS OF THE HIGHLAND AND AGRICUL- 
 TURAL SOCIETY OF SCOTLAND. Published annually, price s s. 
 
 TULLOCH. Rational Theology and Christian Philosophy in Eng- 
 land in the Seventeenth Century. By JOHN TULLOCH, D.D., Principal of 8t 
 Mary's College in the University of St Andrews ; and one of her Majesty's 
 Chaplains in Ordinary in Scotland. Second Edition, a vols. 8vo, ids. 
 
 Modern Theories in Philosophy and Religion. 8vo, 153. 
 
 Theism. The Witness of Reason and Nature to an All- 
 Wise and Beneficent Creator. 8vo, ios. 6d . 
 
 Luther, and other Leaders of the Reformation. Third 
 
 Edition, enlarged. Crown 8vo, 38. 6d. 
 
 TWO STORIES OF THE SEEN AND THE UNSEEN. < THE 
 
 OPEN DOOR,' ' OLD LADY MARY.' Crown 8vo, cloth, 28. 6d. 
 
 VEITCH. Institutes of Logic. By JOHN VEITCH, LL.D., Pro- 
 fessor of Logic and Rhetoric in the University of Glasgow. Post 8vo, 128. 6d. 
 
 The Feeling for Nature in Scottish Poetry. From the 
 
 Earliest Times to the Present Day. 2 vols. fcap. 8vo, in Roxburghe bind- 
 
 VIRGIL.' The ^Ineid of Virgil. Translated in English Blank 
 
 Verse by G. K. RICKARDS, M.A., and Lord RAVENSWORTH. a vols. fcap. 8vo, 
 
 WALFORD. The Novels of L. B. WALFORD. New and Uniform 
 
 Edition. Crown 8vo, each 53. 
 
 MR SMITH : A PART OF HIS LIFE. 
 
 COUSINS. 
 
 PAULINE. 
 
 TROUBLESOME DAUGHTERS. 
 
 DICK NETHERBY. 
 
 THE BABY'S GRANDMOTHER. 
 
 HISTORY OF A WEEK. 
 
 WARDEN. Poems. By FRANCIS HEYWOOD WARDEN. With a 
 
 Notice by Dr Vanroth. Crown 8vo, SB. 
 
 WARREN'S (SAMUEL) WORKS. People's Edition, 4 vols. crown 
 
 8vo, cloth, 153. 6d. Or separately : 
 
 Diary of a Late Physician. Cloth, 28. 6d. ; boards, 2s. 
 Ten Thousand A- Year. Cloth, 33. 6d. ; boards, 2s. 6d. 
 Now and Then. The Lily and the Bee. Intellectual and Moral 
 
 Development of the Present Age. 45. 6d. 
 Essays : Critical, Imaginative, and Juridical. 58. 
 WARREN. The Five Books of the Psalms. With Marginal 
 
 Notes. By Rev. SAMUEL L. WARREN, Rector of Esher, Surrey ; late Fellow, 
 Dean, and Divinity Lecturer, Wadham College, Oxford. Crown 8vo, 5s. 
 
 WATSON. Christ's Authority ; and other Sermons. By the late 
 
 ARCHIBALD WATSON, D.D., Minister of the Parish of Dundee, and one of 
 Her Majesty's Chaplains for Scotland. With Introduction by the Very 
 Rev. PRINCIPAL CAIRD, Glasgow. Crown 8vo, 78. 6d. 
 
 WEBSTER. The Angler and the Loop-Rod. By DAVID WEBSTER. 
 
 Crown 8vo, with Illustrations, 78. 6d.
 
 24 
 
 LIST OF BOOKS, ETC. 
 
 WELLINGTON. Wellington Prize Essays on "the System of Field 
 
 Manoeuvres best adapted for enabling our Troops to meet a Continental Army." 
 Edited by Lieut-General Sir EDWARD BRUCE HAMLEV, K.C. B. 8vo, 128. 6d. 
 
 WESTMINSTER ASSEMBLY. Minutes of the Westminster As- 
 sembly, while engaged in preparing their Directory for Church Government, 
 Confession of Faith, and Catechisms (November 1644 to March 1649). Edited 
 by the Rev. Professor ALEX. T. MITCHELL, of 8t Andrews, and the Rev. JOHN 
 STRUTHERS, LL.D. With a Historical and Critical Introduction by Professor 
 Mitchell. 8vo, 158. 
 
 WHITE. The Eighteen Christian Centuries. By the Rev. JAMES 
 
 WHITE. Seventh Edition, post 8vo, with Index, 6s. 
 
 History of France, from the Earliest Times. Sixth Thou- 
 sand, post 8vo, with Index, 6s. 
 
 WHITE. Archaeological Sketches in Scotland Kintyre and Knap- 
 dale. By Colonel T. P. WHITE, R.E., of the Ordnance Survey. With numer- 
 ous Illustrations. 2 vols. folio, 4, 48. Vol. I., Kintyre, sold separately, 
 2, 28. 
 
 The Ordnance Survey of the United Kingdom. A Popular 
 
 Account. Crown 8vo, 53. 
 
 WILLS AND GREENE. Drawing-room Dramas for Children. By 
 
 W. G. WILLS and the Hon. Mrs GREENE. Crown 8vo, 6s. 
 
 WILSON. Works of Professor Wilson. Edited by his Son-in-Law, 
 
 Professor FERRIER. 12 vols. crown 8vo, 2, Ss. 
 
 Christopher in his Sporting-Jacket. 2 vols., 8s. 
 
 Isle of Palms, City of the Plague, and other Poems. 43. 
 
 Lights and Shadows of Scottish Life, and other Tales. 48. 
 
 Essays, Critical and Imaginative. 4 vols., i6s. 
 
 The Noctes Ambrosianse. 4 vols., i6s. 
 
 The Comedy of the Noctes Ambrosianae. By CHRISTOPHER 
 
 NORTH. Edited by JOHN SKELTON, Advocate. With a Portrait of Professor 
 Wilson and of the Ettrick Shepherd, engraved on Steel. Crown 8vo, 73. 6d. 
 
 Homer and his Translators, and the Greek Drama. Crown 
 
 8vo, 48. 
 
 WILSON. From Korti to Khartum : A Journal of the Desert 
 
 March from Korti to Gubat, and of the Ascent of the Nile in General Gordon's 
 Steamers. By Colonel Sir CHARLES W. WILSON, K.C.B., K.C.M.G., R.E. 
 Seventh Edition. Crown 8vo, 28. 6d. 
 
 WINGATE. Annie Weir, and other Poems. By DAVID WINGATE. 
 
 Fcap. 8vo, 5s. 
 
 Lily Neil. A Poem. Crown 8vo, 43. 6d. 
 
 WORDSWORTH. The Historical Plays of Shakspeare. With 
 
 Introductions and Notes. By CHARLES WORDSWORTH, D.C.L., Bishop of S. 
 Andrews. 3 vols. post 8vo, each price 73. 6d. 
 
 WORSLEY. Poems and Translations. By PHILIP STANHOPE 
 
 WORSLEY, M.A. Edited by EDWARD WORSLEY. Second Edition, enlarged. 
 Fcap. 8vo, 6s. 
 
 YATE. England and Russia Face to Face in Asia. A Record of 
 
 Travel with the Afghan Boundary Commission. By Lieutenant A. C. YATE, 
 Bombay Staff Corps, Special Correspondent of the 'Pioneer,' 'Daily Tele- 
 graph,' &c., &c., with the Afghan Boundary Commission. 8vo, with Maps 
 and Illustrations, 218. 
 
 YOUNG. Songs of Beranger done into English Verse. By WILLIAM 
 
 YOUNO. New Edition, revised. Fcap. 8vo, 43. 6d. 
 
 YULE. Fortification : for the Use of Officers in the Army, and 
 
 Readers of Military History. By Col. YULE, Bengal Engineers. 8vo, with 
 numerous Illustrations, IDS. 6d. 
 
 ZIT AND XOE : Their Early Experiences. Reprinted from 
 
 ' Blackwood's Magazine.' Crown 8vo, paper cover, is. 
 
 1/88.
 
 UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA AT LOS ANGELES 
 THE UNIVERSITY LIBRARY 
 
 ' This book is DUE on the last date stamped below 
 
 - I 
 
 Form L-9-15t-3.'34
 
 771 Sharpe - 
 S5A1 Letters from 
 v.l and to 
 
 Charles 
 
 [Kirkpa trick Sharpe. 
 
 out 
 
 771 
 
 VI 
 
 A 000 993 483 7