242 ANGLERS' EVENINGS. 



From Melrose, the distance to Abbotsford is only three 

 miles to the westward, and admission to view the house 

 may almost always be obtained. Perhaps the most in- 

 teresting of all the apartments is Sir Walter's study. In 

 it may be seen his writing-table with a few books on it, 

 and his simple arm-chair, apparently much as when he 

 last used them. The largest apartment is the Library, 

 which contains a collection of about 20,000 volumes, 

 many of them very rare and valuable. In the different 

 rooms to which the visitor is admitted there are many 

 relics deserving of inspection — ancient arms and armour, 

 and many other objects to which a deep historical 

 interest attaches. Last and certainly not least are the 

 body-clothes worn by the old man previous to the illness 

 which carried him off: these, as most nearly connecting 

 us with the honoured dead, all must love to see. 



Many other beautiful and romantic scenes are to be 

 met with in the neighbourhood of St. Boswells, which 

 the angler when in that quarter will do well to visit ; but 

 as they cannot readily be missed, I may safely leave him 

 to find them out at his leisure. 



