THE PROSCRIBED. 



427 



parted with my venerated and kind-hearted host. Mr. Ballantine 

 and I proceeded to Edinburgh together. 



How altered the circumstances under which I again saw Sir 

 Walter! It was in London, two days before his leaving it for Ports- 

 mouth, on his Italian voyage. He was then pale and emaciated. 

 His eyes were sunken, and his countenance had a peculiar air of me- 

 lancholy about it. He seemed as kind-hearted as ever, but evinced 

 an indisposition to general conversation. I saw this, and so did those 

 who were present ; and consequently we made no effort, but rather 

 the contrary, to draw him into conversation. It was in the evening, and 

 during the time we were together one of the newspapers came in. He 

 enquired the news ; and was answered that the paper was chiefly filled 

 with matter relative to the Reform Bill. His countenance, as the 

 last two words were uttered, instantly assumed a more animated as- 

 pect, and he energetically exclaimed, " That bill will yet be the ruin 

 of the country! " One of the gentlemen present expressed a hope 

 that the measure would not be so injurious to the national interests 

 as many well-meaning people apprehended. Whereupon Sir Walter, 

 waxing yet warmer than before, observed, '* Aye, it will, take my 

 word for it, more than realize our worst fears!" 



We at once saw that, in the then state of his health, it would 

 have been improper to make any new observations having a ten- 

 dency to keep up the excitement under which he laboured, and ac- 

 cordingly one of the gentlemen present contrived to introduce some 

 new topic. 



Sir Walter was the most sincerely and strongly attached to his po- 

 litical opinions of any man I ever saw in my life. He said himself more 

 than once, publicly as well as privately, that he was ready, if neces- 

 sary, to shed his blood for his opinions. I verily believe he would, 

 had the sacrifice been called for, submitted to martyrdom rather than 

 renounce them. The ascendancy of opposite principles in the coun- 

 cils of the nation since the expulsion of the Duke of Wellington from 

 office did, in the opinion of those who knew him best, so seriously 

 affect his mind as to accelerate, to say the least of it, his death. 



R. A. 



THE PROSCRIBED.— No. 4. 



Translated from the French of M. de Balzac, by Miss Margaret Patrickson. 



(Concluded from p. 322.) 



The splendour became distinct. It became greater. Soon I per- 

 ceived the glorious cloud in the midst of which go the angels. A 

 species of brilliant smoke, of luminous light emanated from their di- 

 vine substance, and which here and there sparkled in tongues of fire. 

 A noble head, of which it is impossible to support the splendour 

 without being invested with the mantle, the laurel, and the palm — 

 attributes of the Powers, rose above this cloud, as white, as pure as 



