LEAVES TttEY HAVE TOUCHED. 149 



s certain piece to him. He speaks of himself as " a professor of the 

 art of poetry," and he thinks it would be chiii'lish in him to withhold 

 such favours from an amateur of the sister art of nuisic. The letter 

 is dated from Ashestiel, in Stirlingshire, abnost as famous as Abbots- 

 ford, as the residence of Scott from 1804 to 1812, where he wrote his 

 " Lady of the Lake," the " Lord of the Isles," and many of the com- 

 positions now included in his miscellaneous works. " Sir, — I am 

 favoured with your letter, and make you most heartily welcome to 

 set and publish, (so far as I am concerned) any part of the poetry 1 

 have written, i am very sensible of your delicacy and politeness in 

 making the application, which I have made it a general rule never 

 to refuse, as I should hold it very chui'lish of a professor of the art 

 of poetry to withhold any contribution in his pov/er from an amateur 

 of music. Not knowing exactly how to address you, I begged Mr. 

 John Ballantyne to find some way of sending you a note, requesting 

 my name might be put down for three copies of your music. Wishing 

 you all the success your liberality merits, I am, sir, your obedient 

 servant, Walter Scott." Dated from "Ashestiel, 2nd September," 

 with this postcript added : " I need not add, I will consider myself 

 honoured by your intention of inscribing the music to me of the 

 Hymn, &c." Addressed on the outer cover, '' G. F. Graham, Esq., 

 care of Mr. Hamilton, Music Seller, North Bridge." The Hymn 

 was doubtless that of the " Hebi-ew Maid," besfinnins — 

 " When Israel, of the Lord beloved, 

 Out from the land of bondage came." 



G-eorge Farquhar Graham was the author of an Essay on Musical 

 Composition, Edin., 1838; Songs of Scotland, 1858; and Articles — 

 Music, Organ, &c., in eighth edition of Encyclopsedia Britannica, 

 besides other books on general literature. 



Ashestiel was situated at a considerable distance from a place of 

 worship, and it was Scott's practice, Lockhart tell us, chap, xvii., 

 on Sundays to read the church service, and then " he usually walked 

 with his whole family, dogs included, to some favourite spot at a 

 considerable distance from the house — most frequently the ruined 

 tower of Elibank — and there dined with them in the open air on a 

 basket of cold provisions, mixing his wine with the water of the 

 brook, beside which they all were grouped around him on the turf ; 

 and here," it is added, " or at home, if the weather kept them from 

 their ramble, his Sunday talk was just such a series of biblical lessons 



