418 Ifcinss of tbe 1Rofc, IRifle, anfc (Bun 



productions of his friends, whether literary or artistic. 

 It was a pleasing and human trait in the character of 

 the " Wizard of the North," but it renders most of his 

 criticisms of contemporary art and literature absolutely 

 valueless. And I think few judges of art nowadays 

 will agree with him as to Scrope's merits as an artist. 

 Certainly the illustrations to his two great works, " The 

 Art of Deer-stalking " and " Days and Nights of Salmon- 

 fishing," in which he is responsible for the landscapes, 

 though Charles and Edwin Landseer put in the figures, 

 do not strike me as in any way remarkable. The one 

 which I have given here is entirely his own work, and 

 the reader can judge for himself. 



I have said that Scrope was a friend of Sir Walter 

 Scott's. Lockhart says that "he lived on terms of 

 affectionate intimacy " with Sir Walter. The friendship 

 began when Scrope became tenant of Lord Somerville's 

 " Pavilion," opposite to Melrose, in order to enjoy 

 salmon-fishing in the Tweed. There are several re- 

 ferences to Scrope in Scott's Diary. One of them runs 

 thus: 



" Saw Cadell as I returned from the Court. He 

 seemed dejected and gloomy about the extent of stock 

 of novels, etc., on hand. He infected me with his want 

 of spirits, and I almost wish my wife had not asked Mr. 

 Scrope and Charles K. Sharpe for this day. But the 

 former sent such loads of game that Lady Scott's 

 gratitude became ungovernable." 



But I have no doubt that before dinner was over Sir 

 Walter had ceased to regret that his guests had been 

 invited, for if there were any two men in the world whose 



