290 Statements concerning Sir Walter Scott. 



was occasionally about AsLiesteel. This situation is not 

 mentioned in the Life by his daughter, but he is known 

 to have been in many different ones, being too poetical to 

 be by any means a treasure to his employers. 



The time was probably before Sir Walter Scott was at 

 Ashiesteel; that he had been there with him is shown 

 by the letter quoted by Lockhart, in which he regrets his 

 leaving it. 



It should be mentioned, as tending to its identification, 

 that the stone with the inscription to Silvanus is not really 

 an altar, but an altar-tablet. There is no receptacle for 

 the sacrifice on the top, and it is not square in section ; in 

 fact it is like the front half of a low square pillar, and 

 there is no representation of the sacrificing implements on 

 it, which is usual on an altar. It is of the red sandstone 

 of the Melrose district. 



In connection with Lockhart's odd freak as to Lady 

 Forbes' name, it may be noticed that Zadi/ ScoWs name was 

 Margaret, if the entries in Sir Walter's family bible, as given 

 in the Life, are to be trusted ; though, as is well known, 

 she was always called by her second name, Charlotte. 



It throws no further light on poor Janet Dalrymple's 

 history; but it is a sufficiently interesting fact that the 

 linen of her outfit, which she must have brought with her 

 to Baldoon not long before her death, turned up not long 

 ago, apparently intact and unused. One can quite imagine 

 a strong feeling against using it. 



I observe Sir Walter does mention Traquair in one of his 

 letters, but the allusion rather emphasizes his want of any 

 sentiment a.bout it. It is in connection with a particular 

 breed of ducks ; and he speaks of it as a solitary old chateau, 

 while it is far from being solitary as places go in Scotland. 

 Lord Traquair and his family were probably absent when 

 the Scotts first came to Ashiesteel, for they lived long on 

 the continent; but they must apparently have been driven 

 home by the spread of the war into Spain, where they 

 were at one time. 



On the 8th of May 1897 a picture was sold by Christie 

 and Manson, in London, which was called a portrait of Sir 

 Walter Scott as a boy, in the Highland dress — by Sir 

 Henry Eaeburn. It seems odd that moi-e should not, be 



