impended at Abbotsford during my brief visit there, hung darkly on the gothic halls and beautiful grounds at Lee. At one and the same time, pecuniary embarrassments weighed heavily both on Sir Egerton Brydges and Sir Walter Scott, and dissimilar as the two cases were in many points, upon one they were alike, namely, that both had been wronged and calumniated, also that both cherished under adversity a noble courage and uniformity of purpose.
The points of difference were marked and obvious, for Sir Egerton's literary pursuits had never in any instance been carried on with the remotest view to pecuniary gain. Sir Walter Scott, on the contrary, avowed himself to be "born and bred a man of business." Sir Egerton, though educated for the bar, had never practiced; and I fear he held the character of a mere man of business in contempt. He had succeeded to old family estates; he claimed, with right, an ancient peerage; his property was extensive; for many years he represented Maidstone in Parliament, and his eldest son had inherited Mr. Barrett's beautiful estate of Lee. Sir Egerton had not suffered, like Scott, by the bankruptcy of a speculative and deceptive bookseller; but in the management of his estates he had been scandalously wronged by rapacious attorneys and dishonest receivers; and of the embarrassments gradually thence arising, there were not wanting individuals who ascribed the whole blame to himself alone, although the entire tenor of his life, being devoted to constant intellectual exertions, was the very antithesis of luxury or vanity.
After several years' residence abroad, Sir Egerton had returned to Lee Priory, intending, I believe, to remain there, to continue his literary employments, and perhaps to resume his station in Parliament. But in England, if the plague-spot of
a mortgage once exists on the family acres, it festers and spreads; with the help of "clever and respectable" men of business in the inns of court, one evil engenders another, till at last the very air seems empoisoned. The woods and fields appear tranquil, as of yore; but, alas! they are so, only for the disengaged mind of a casual spectator. Their owner is
forced to view them through a darkening medium. The subjects which demanded Sir Egerton's attention after his return from the Continent, were such as to render his wonted pursuits impracticable. His disposition remained unchanged, his will was unalterable, but to give up his attention to literature became imossible. I presume he felt too keenly his sense of wrong, and the difference of his situation then from what it formerly had been. He declared that he felt his literary powers quite suspended, and seemed without hope of their reanimation. I feel convinced that had he not been persuaded by the late amiable and exemplary Colonel Barrett to return to the Continent, there could have been no such hope.
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There has been no stage of these memoirs, at which I have more regretted being obliged to write in haste, than now. My recollections of Sir Egerton during a literary intercourse of twenty-five years, would require a separate volume, and I cannot at present write more than another page. But my remembrance is fresh and vivid of his kind and hospitable reception; how many times in the course of that short evening, when "hours were thought down to moments," he reverted to the question, "Do not leave us, - do not go to-morrow ;" and, when I urged dire necessity, added, "But, at all events, fix your day for coming again," and with what kind earnestness Lady Brydges proposed that my family would make Lee Priory their country quarters for next summer, "as at least there was room enough, and Sir Egerton would be so glad." These memoranda may seem too minute, too personal and particular, but, on the contrary, I think they should remain, not merely as feeble expressions of my own gratitude, but as evidence, to the honor of those deeply respected friends, that their kindness did not abate, though they well knew that, from being what is called "a man of substance," I had declined into dark, dreary Shadowism.
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Arbuthnot, Lord. Caricatures the part
of a miser, 266. Determined to liquidate
debts, 267. Excessive frugality, 267.
Question of his man Saunders, 268.
In his sanctum, 268. Boiling of the
sheriff, 268. Careful of coals, 269.
Succeeds in his object, 269.
"Blackwood's Magazine." Its first ed-
itors, 281. Gillies writes for it, 281.
Editors quarrel with Mr. Blackwood,
282. Mr. Blackwood's opinion of him-
self, 282. Who were his authors? 282.
Effect of the Chaldee manuscript, 282.
Wilson and Lockhart, 284. Wilson's
idea of time needed to write an entire
number, 284. The "skeletons" in the
ledger, 284. Gillies supplies a hypo-
thetical sonnet, 285. Rapidity of Wil-
son and Lockhart's writing power, 285.
Bonnymune, Laird of. Anecdotes of,
delight the Prince Regent, 258. Gil-
lies's recollections of, 258. Ancestral
mansion, 259. Would not sleep away
from home, 259. Flush of provisions,
259. His cuisine, 260. Very convivial,
260. Very ignorant, 261. Very far
gone, 261. "The road's straight afore
ye," 261. "We're at hame," 262.
Wrathy at the trick played on him,
262. Sandy Hunter dines with him,
262. How to make a night of day, 263.
Hunter refuses to drink, 263. Con-
siders books rubbish, 263. In the
library, 264. "Them's Laytin buiks,"
264. That rubbish o' Greek," 264.
"English history buiks," 264. "Deev-
il's buiks," 264. The old folio, 264.
Gives it to Hunter, 265. What it was,
265. "D-n the law buiks, Sandy,"
265. A new way of fitting books on
shelves, 266.
Boothby, Sir Brooke. Habits in Edin-
burgh, 291. Gillies's first acquaintance
with, 292. Carelessness in regard to
his productions, 292. Writes a new
translation of Horace, 292. Acquaint-
ance with Rousseau, 293. At the Lich-
field club, 293. At Weimar, 293. Knows
some famous people, 293. Dines with
Scott at Gillies's, 294. His criticism
of Wordsworth, 295. "Second Child-
hood," 295. Extracts from his sonnets,
296.
Browne, Prof. Thomas. His versatility
of talents, 271. His lectures, 272. His
poetry, 272. Opinion of worldly diffi-
culties, 272. A steadfast friend, 273.
In convivial society, 273.
Brucks, Laird of. Determined to lead
the life of a common laborer, 270. The
labor he preferred, 270.
How many
miles of dykes he built, 270. Journeys
on foot, 271. Visits a friend, 271. A
good appetite for breakfast, 271. How
far it was home, 271.
Brydges, Sir Egerton. Pecuniary em-
barrassments, 329. At Lee Priory, 328.
Suspension of his literary powers, 329.
Urges Gillies to stay with him and to
revisit him, 329.
Buchan, Earl of. Possessed with friend-
liness, 154. Supposed influence, 155.
A specimen of his poetical powers, 155.
Leyden's ironical introduction to, 155.
Leyden's imitation of, 155. Impromptu,
155. Note to Constable, 157. Address
to Americans in Edinburgh, 159. Cor-
respondence with Washington and Jef
ferson, 159. Generosity to his brothers,
161. Letter from Benjamin West, 161.
Death, 162.
Campbell, Thomas. Note to Constable,
33. Proposes to travel on the Conti-
nent, 33. Estimate of expenses, 34
Terms stipulated for, 34. When he
proposed to go, 34. Bargain with Con-
stable and others, 35. What Dr. Beattie
knew of the project, 36. Authorship of
"The Exile of Erin" falsely claimed
for a Mr. Nugent, 36.
of some of it among Constable's pa-
pers, 37. Offer from Constable for a
collection of poetry, 37. His mother's
annuity, 38. Double literary engage-
ment, 38. Takes a new house, 39.
Buys furniture for it, 39. Asks Con-
stable to aid him, 39. Promises to
Constable, 40. Wishes Constable alone
to read his letters, 41. Asks Constable
to discount a bill, 42. Musa Britan-
nica, 42. Unfolds its plan to Longman
and others, 43. Consults with Consta-
ble about it, 43. Asks Constable to
pay his mother's annuity, 44. What
Lockhart thought of the preparation of
"Specimens of English Poetry," 44.
Proposal to Scott, 45. Scott declines
it, 46. Campbell nettled at Constable's
silence, 46. More about his mother's
annuity, 47. Asks Constable to assist
him to books, 48. More about the
Poetical Compilation, 49. At work
upon his "Selections," 50. Publication
delayed seven years, 50.
Chalmers, George. Good opinion of him-
self, 119. Early patron of Constable,
119. Sketch of his life, 120. Orders
rare volumes from Constable's cata-
logues, 120. Concerning Allan Ram-
say, 121. A lift to his "History of the
Poetry of Scotland," 121. Believes
that Hugh Boyd was Junius," 121.
Note from Constable, 122. Reply to
it, 122. Ossianic collection, 122. Opin-
ion of the Mackenzies, 123. Opinion
of Pinkerton, 123. Proposes a complete
edition of Sir David Lindsay, 124. De-
sires to see a particular edition, 124.
Letter from Constable, 126. About his
edition of Lindsay, 126. Whereabouts
of the MS. of Henry Constable's po-
etry, 127. Thanks Constable for the
"Journal of Ballendyne," 128. Anec-
dote of Todd and Beloe, 129. Will not
found, 129. Sale of his library, 129.
Constable, Archibald. Note from Thom-
as Campbell, 33. Campbell proposes a
tour on the Continent, 34. Note to
Campbell, 37. Letters from Campbell,
38-48. Letter from Dr. Wardrop about
Leyden, 55. Letters from Leyden, 56-
64. Letters from Godwin, 69-74. Let-
ter to Godwin, 74. Letters from God-
win, 74-77
Receives Charles Clair-
mont in his country-house, 78. Letters
from Godwin, 78-90, 92-94. Letter
from Mrs. Godwin, 95. Letters from
Godwin, 96-99. Letter to Godwin, 99.
Letter from Godwin, 100. Letter to
Godwin, 102. Notes from Godwin,
103-106. Relations with Jeffrey, 106.
Letter from Jeffrey, 107. Jeffrey takes
his residence at Craigcrook, 107. Notes
from the Duke of Roxburghe, 115-118.
Acquaintance with Chalmers,
Note from Chalmers, 121. Note to
Chalmers, 122. Notes from Chalmers,
122-127. Acquaintance with Forbes,
130. The earthly Providence of Forbes,
132. Reproached by Forbes, 133. De-
spoiled by Forbes, 133. Indignant
note from Forbes, 134. Sarcastic re-
mark to Forbes, 134. Offers to bury
Forbes, 137. Correspondence with
Ritson, 139. Notes from Ritson, 140.
Letter from Chalmers, 143. Letters
from Jamieson, 145-150, 151-153. Note
from Lord Buchan, 158. Letters from
Anna Seward, 164-168, 170-174. Note
from Grahame, 178, 180. Visited by
Mrs Opie, 184. Letter from Mrs. Opie,
185. Letter from M. Simond, 187.
Letter from Professor Playfair about
Lady Morgan, 189. Note from Lady
Morgan, 190. Lady Morgan makes a
précis of her intended book on France,
190. Letter from Sharpe, 192. Pub-
lishes two books for Hogg, 196. Notes
from Hogg, 196, 197-200. Employs
Cromek, 201. Letters from Cromek,
201, 203. Notes from Miller, 204, 205.
Proposes to Irving to write a
Washington," 206. Note from Irving.
206. Note from Knowles, 207. Kitch-
iner declines to prepare a medical
work, 211. Notes from Kitchiner, 211-
213. Notes from Captain Hall, 215-
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Forbes, Dr. Duncan. Not smiled upon
by fortune, 129. Two strings to his
bow, 129. A compound of Dominie
Sampson and Rev. Duncan M'Dow,
130. Contributes to the "Scots Mag-
azine," 130. Fruitlessly appointed to
the Chair of Logic, 131. Endeavors to
be sent to India, 131. Always ask
ing for benefices, 132. Constable his
earthly Providence, 132. Tries to in-
gratiate himself with Mrs. Constable,
137. Puffs Granny Constable, 132.
Startled when his appropriations were
stopped, 133. Demands desiderata,
134. If we all had our own," 134. A
man of ready acceptance, 135. Occupa
tion, 135. Annual pilgrimage to Kirk-
mahoe, 135. "Intellectual viaticum,"
135. Approves of Constable's "Mis-
cellany," 136. Dr. Abercrombie's opin-
ion of his health, 136. Death, 136.
Constable offers to bury him, 137.
Cuts up for £1500, 137.
Galt, John. Popularity of his works,
318. Could have scribbled ad in-
finitum, 318 Self-educated as an au-
thor, 319. One of his maxims, 319.
Rapidity of writing, 319. "Where's
the harm?" 319. Confidence in his lit-
erary resources, 319. Property on the
sea-shore, 320. Versatile and obstinate,
320. In Downing Street, 320.
Canada, 320. Arrested for debt, 320.
Opinion of imprisonment, 321.
"Laurie Todd," 321. Repeated shocks
of paralysis, 321. Dictates to the end,
Gillies, Robert Pearse. Visits Hogg,
224. Conversation with Hogg, 224.
Invites Hogg to dinner, 225. Acquaint-
ance with Hogg, 226. Rallied by
Hogg on his books, 226. Pinkerton
and Hogg dispute at dinner, 227. Mrs.
Grant takes a hand in, 227. Opinion
of Hogg's influence, 228. Early friend-
ship of Scott, 235. Correctness of
"Recollections" indorsed by Lock-
hart, 235- Invited to dinner by Scott,
240. Frequently meets Scott, 240.
Letters from Scott, 241, 243, 244. Scott
offers him the use of Chiefswood, 254.
In legal troubles, 256. Letter from
Scott, 257. Acquaintance with Pro-
fessor Browne, 271. Visited by Mac-
kenzie, 273. Scott borrows his books,
276. Writes an epilogue for Pinker-
ton's tragedy, 276. Acquaintance with
"Pinkie Winkie," 277. Sharpe one of
his visitors, 279. Hogg talks about a
new magazine, 281. Reviews Hogg's
"Dramatic Tales," 281. Writes
hypothetical sonnet, 285. Acquaint-
ance with Sir Brooke Boothby, 292.
The Kembles dine with him, 302. Salu-
tations of "King John," 302. Visits
Goethe, 304. Conversation with Goe-
the, 305. A walk with Maginn, 322.
Visits Sir Egerton Brydges, 329.
Godwin, Mrs. M. J. Letter to Con-
stable, 95.
Godwin, William. His theory of morals,
67. Condemnation of his daughter's
connection with Shelley, 68. What
Mary Wollstonecraft brought him, 68.
Prepares for and abandons the clerical
profession, 68. Literary productions,
68. Established as a bookseller in
London, 68. Plans a dictionary, 69.
Is interfered with by Sir Richard
Phillips, 70. Endeavors to create a
provision for his family, 70.
"Essay
on Sepulchres," 71. Letter to Con-
stable, 71.
Sends Hazlitt's "Gram-
mar "to the "Edinburgh Review," 72.
"Baldwin's Fables, Ancient and Mod-
ern," 72. Writes Constable about
Mrs. Godwin's son, Charles Clairmont,
73. Character of the young man, 74.
Reply of Constable, 75. Letters to
Constable, 75. About his school-books,
78. Constable wishes Clairmont to re-
remain in Scotland, 79. Why his re-
turn is desired, 80. Unable to pay
money advanced, 82. Importuned to
write another novel, 83. Has at-
tempted and abandoned one, 83. How
his works were written, 84. Friendly
opinion of his talents, 85. Proposes to
write a new novel, 85. Constable de-
sires to see a portion in manuscript, 86.
Advantage of masquerade, 86. Pecuni-
ary necessities, 87. Visits Scotland, 87.
Goes with Scott to Melrose, 88. Dines
with Wordsworth, 88. Opinion of "Guy
Mannering" and the "Antiquary," 88.
Letter to Constable about Mrs. Inch-
bald, 90. Title of the new novel, 91.
Desires to have it set up in London, 93.
A purist on punctuation, 94. Satisfied
with his work, 97. Damnably slow,
Wants a bill renewed, 98. Em-
peror of his title-page, 99. Constable
proposes to engrave his portrait, 99.
Objects to it, 101. Letter from Con-
stable, 102. Progressing with third
volume, 103. Still in pecuniary diffi.
culties, 104. Opinion of "Tales of my
Landlord," 105. Profits of first edi
tion of "Mandeville," 106. Note to
Constable, 105. Death, 106.
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