Maria Riddki.i., rmc I-'kikm) ui- Birns. 4t> 



Some persons have preferred his prose to his poetry : 1 

 think the greater part of both excellent. But some letters 

 and some verses and " [here the top of p. 108 of the 

 original manuscript has been provokingly torn off J. 



As I have stated, the diary is much mutilated, and it is 

 from another source that we learn that Walter Riddell, 

 Maria's husband, died at Rendezvous Bay, Antigua, on May 

 jjnd, i8oj.^ In 1803 it was suggested by Thcjmas Erskine*' 

 that she should lake charge of the Princess Charlotte, ^^ and 

 she writes to him in November, " if my services in the 

 education of the young Princess can be rendered acceptible 

 thro' your testimony, to H.R.H., you may rest assured that 

 so tlatlering an election w ill excite my ambition to justify the 

 confidence reposed in me, by discharging to the utmost extent 

 of my abilities so honorable but anxious a duty, '^'ou are 

 now at liberty, therefore, to propose me to His R.H. and are 

 sufficiently acquainted with my family, my situation in life, 

 my conduct, and those acquirements I have cultivated (chiefly 

 with a view to my own daughter's education) to be able to 

 afford perhaps every information H.R.H. may require."^ 

 Erskine's suggestion, however, was not realised. 



In the spring of 1807 Maria Riddell met Sir Walter Scott, 

 and afterwards sent him some of Burns' election songs \\ ith 

 a complimentary letter to our " latest Minstrel."^ On 

 March 30th, 1808,^ she married Colonel Philipps Lloyd 



Biinis. edited by Dr. James Currie, 4 vols.. 1800; Maria l^iddell's 

 name is included among the list of subscribers. 



95 He was buried in St. Paul's Churchyard. Falmouth, Antigua 

 (MS. Pedigree accompanjang " Petition of Col. Daniel Corrie 

 Walker, for service as heir-in-general of Robert Riddell of Glen- 

 riddell," Sheriff Court, Dumfries. 1897.) 



94 Thomas Krskine ; b. 17-50 ; politician and lawyer ; created Lord 

 Chancellor. 1806; d. 1823. 



95 Princess Charlotte Augusta; b. 1796; only child of Geoige. 

 Prince of Wales (afterwards George IV.); wa,s brought up by Lady 

 Elgin. 1804-1815; the Princess m.. 1816. Prince Leopold Saxe- 

 Coburg, and d. November 19th. 1817. 



96 See footnote 1. 



97 Familiar Letters of Sir Walter Scott, vol. i. (1894), p. 113. 



98 The Scots Magazine (1808). p. 31.5. 



