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On supposed Unpublished Verses hy Sir Walter Scott. By 

 James B. Kerr, Esq. 



In the midsummer of 1877, a powerfully-built man, near 

 seventy, yet active for his years, called upon me with a friend 

 and asked me to negotiate for him a bill on America. This was 

 at once agreed to, and, during the few minutes conversation that 

 ensued, I detected a strong New York accent, varied with that 

 of lowland Scotch, 



I was sufficiently interested to ask him in what part of Scot- 

 land he was born. With much good nature, he informed me 

 that for many years he had been a stable lad at the principal inn 

 at Melrose. A beam of pleasure lighted up his face, as he told 

 me that it was part of his duty to receive Sir Walter Scott when 

 at Melrose, and that in giving help to the good Baronet to mount 

 his pony on his return to Abbotsford, whilst many kind words 

 were said to him, they were always accompanied by the gift of a 

 shilling. 



His name was James Eiddle. In early life he had emigrated, 

 and by steady self-denial, and hard work, had reached a com- 

 petency. He was then on a visit to his native land. With 

 marked reverence he related that he drove the hearse with four 

 horses, which contained the body of Sir Walter Scott, to the 

 burial place of his ancestors amid the ruins of Dryburgh Abbey. 



By a somewhat curious coincidence, in the summer of the 

 following year, 1878, the niece of John Nicholson, who died at 

 Kelso in 1841, called upon me to ask my advice respecting three 

 documents, and some other articles connected with Sir Walter 

 Scott, and belonging to her uncle at the time of his decease. 

 Nicholson was well-known to have been in Sir Walter's house- 

 hold from his boyhood, became afterwards his faithful valet, and 

 Scott's family never mentioned his name without respect and 

 gratitude. There can, therefore, be no doubt as to the docu- 

 ments being authentic and genuine. They were : — 



1. Three supposed unpublished verses in Sir Walter Scott's 



handwriting, perhaps the last he ever wrote. The writing 

 is very feeble. 



2. Passport in favour of Sir Walter Scott, signed by Prince de 



Polignac, the French Ambassador in London, and dated 

 25th October, 1826, The passport bears Sir Walter's 



