256 



Some recent Statements and other Matter concerning 

 Sir Walter Scott. By Miss Russell of Ashiesteel. 

 (Plates I. and 11.) 



The large leather wheel- chair, now at Ashiesteel, is 

 undoubtedly an interesting relic of Sir Walter Scott, as 

 having been a costly present from him to a relation who 

 had been sorely stricken ; but it is rather difficult to account 

 for the statement which reappears, from time to time, that 

 it had been used by himself. Anyone who has examined 

 the chair, must see that the large wheel-guards would 

 prevent it ever being brought up to a table for writing or 

 any other purpose ; while Lockhart's statement that the 

 chair in which he and Laidlaw wheeled Sir Walter about, 

 during the remarkable revival of a few days which followed 

 his last return to Abbotsford, was a bath-chair borrowed 

 from Huntley Burn (the Fergusons') may certainly be taken 

 as trustworthy. (See Life, vol. 7th, chap. 11.) 



The large leather chair was by this time at Ashiesteel, 

 having been no doubt warehoused in Edinburgh with the 

 Ashiesteel furniture, when the house was empty ; and it was 

 undoubtedly sent to Abbotsford, at the time in question, for 

 Sir Walter's use. 



But even if it had been at all suited for an invalid, it 

 may be a question whether it was at Abbotsford during the 

 time when he was able to be moved about. It is certain 

 that, on the last day he left his room, when he insisted on 

 being wheeled up to his desk, and making an attempt to 

 write, it was not in this chair ; for, as said before, it could 

 not have been brought up to the table. 



And as he had been lying in what seemed a half-dead 

 state in London, it is not likely that anyone could have 

 anticipated his having any use for a wheel-chair. No doubt 

 it was dispatched, as soon as possible, on its being known 

 that he seemed wonderfully better, and was being wheeled 

 about out of doors. Distinct consciousness seemed to return 

 on his recognising the road between Edinburgh and Gala- 

 shiels. This was on Wednesday, 12th August 1832, and 

 it lasted for about a week, the attempt to write being on 

 Tuesday ; and he never left his room again. For about a 



