312 RECOLLECTIONS OF STR WALTER SCOTT. 



fore he had seen " his kingdom of Scotland.'' Though Sir Walter 

 Scott did not choose to be very severe, in so far as words went, on 

 his royal patron for what he conceived to be a slight to Scotland, 

 yet it was clear to all present that he felt very sore on the subject. 

 There was something very peculiar and expressive in his tone and 

 manner when he observed, " He might as well have come to Scot- 

 land first ; his loving and loyal subjects on our side of the Tweed 

 will be grievously disappointed when they hear of his going to 

 Hanover before coming to them." 



Of the many brilliant things to which he gave expression on the 

 evening in question I unfortunately did not take any note on my re- 

 turn home, and consequently, though recollecting the general tenour 

 of his conversation, am unable to give any thing like his words, and 

 without these his sentiments would lose half their charms. It was two 

 years after this before I met him again. That was in Scotland, where 

 I had occasion to be for a short period at the time. He had exacted 

 from me a solemn promise, on the evening of our first meeting, that 

 if I ever crossed the Tweed I should make it one of the first things I 

 did to visit Abbotsford. 1 had seen too much of the world not to 

 know that invitations of this kind were often given, when the person 

 giving them never meant, or wished, they should be accepted ; but 

 there was the appearance of so much earnestness and sincerity in 

 Scott's invitation that I at once not only promised I would gladly 

 avail myself of it — which, in many instances, are only so many 

 words of course — but at once made up my mind that I would, when- 

 ever circumstances should admit of my enjoying the gratification. I 

 reached the modern Athens in the evening, and started next morning 

 for Abbotsford. On approaching the plantation, in front of the 

 mansion, I observed Sir Walter moving about at a slow pace among 

 the trees. He was very carelessly dressed, and had, altogether, what 

 is called a " countryfied" appearance. In his right-hand he had a 

 small hand-saw, with which he had evidently been lopping off the 

 branches, where they appeared too prominent, from the young trees. 

 I was within twenty yards of him when he first saw me. He re- 

 cognized me at once. " Ou, Mr. ! Fbo's a' wi' you ! I am 



truly glad to see ye at Abbotsford," was the salutation with 

 which he greeted me. As he gave utterance to these words he ad- 

 vanced hastily, and, placing his saw under his left arm, extended to 

 me his right hand. " I hae juttbeen amusing myself here with these 

 little sticks" (pointii.g to the young trees), said he, after making the 

 usual enquiries about my own health and about that of several of our 

 intimate acquaintances in the metropolis. I paid him some merited 

 compliments on the beauty of the plantations, with which he seemed 

 highly gratified. In fact he was always much more delighted with 

 the commendation of the taste he displayed in laying out his grounds 

 at Abbotsford than with the universal and unqualified admiration 

 which was expressed of his literary works. 



After being shown the grounds around Abbotsford I was con- 

 ducted to the house, where, as a matter of course, I was introduced 

 to Lady and Miss Scott. With the appearance of Lady Scott I was 

 much struck. Though diminutive in stature, her person possessed 



