[249] Sir Walter had written to Mr. Lockhart on October 26th, 1828, on
hearing of an impending article in the _Quarterly_, the following
letter:--
"I cannot repress the strong desire I have to express my regret at some
parts of your kind letter just received. I shall lament most truly a
_purple_ article at this moment, when a strong, plain, moderate
statement, not railing at Catholics and their religion, but reprobating
the conduct of the Irish Catholics, and pointing out the necessary
effects which that conduct must have on the Catholic Question, would
have a powerful effect, and might really serve king and country. Nothing
the agitators desire so much as to render the broil general, as a
quarrel between Catholic and Protestant; nothing so essential to the
Protestant cause as to confine it to its real causes. Southey, as much a
fanatic as e'er a Catholic of them all, will, I fear, pass this most
necessary landmark of debate. I like his person, admire his genius, and
respect his immense erudition, but--_non omnia_. In point of reasoning
and political judgment he is a perfect Harpado--nothing better than a
wild bull. The circumstances require the interference of _vir gravis
pietate et moribus_, and you bring it a Highland piper to blow a
Highland charge, the more mischievous that it possesses much wild power
of inflaming the passions.
"Your idea that you must give Southey his swing in this matter or he
will quit the _Review_,--this is just a pilot saying, If I do not give
the helm to such a passenger he will quit the ship. Let him quit and be
d--d.
"My own confidence is, you know, entirely in the D. As Bruce said to the
Lord of the Isles at Bannockburn, 'My faith is constant in thee.' Now a
hurly-burly charge may derange his line of battle, and therein be of the
most fatal consequence. For God's sake avail yourself of the
communication I opened while in town, and do not act without it. Send
this to the D. of W. If you will, he will appreciate the motives that
dictate it. If he approves of a calm, moderate, but firm statement,
stating the unreasonable course pursued by the Catholics as the great
impediment to their own wishes, write such an article _yourself_; no one
can make a more impressive appeal to common sense than you can.
"The circumstances of the times are--_must_ be--an apology for
disappointing Southey. But nothing can be an apology for indulging him
at the expense of aggravating public disturbance, which, for one, I see
with great apprehension.
"It has not yet come our length; those [to] whom you allude ought
certainly to be served, but the D. is best judge how they may be _best_
served. If the D. says nothing on the subject you can slip your
Derwentwater greyhound if you like. I write hastily, but most anxiously.
... I repeat that I think it possible to put the Catholic Question as it
now stands in a light which the most zealous of their supporters in this
country cannot but consider as fair, while the result would be that the
Question should not be granted at all under such guarantees; but I think
this is scarce to be done by inflaming the topic with all mutual
virulence of polemical discussion."
[250] _Henry VI_. Act I. Sc. 4.
[251] _John Gilpin._
[252] The _Picture of Scotland_ by Robert Chambers, author of
_Traditions of Edinburgh_, etc., 8vo, 1829.
[253] Mr. Skene remarks that at this time "Sir Walter was engaged in the
composition of the Novel of _Anne of Geierstein_, for which purpose he
wished to see a paper which I had some time before contributed to the
Memoirs of the Society of Antiquaries on the subject of the Secret
Tribunals of Germany, and upon which, accordingly, he grounded the scene
in the novel. Upon his describing to me the scheme which he had formed
for that work, I suggested to him that he might with advantage connect
the history of René, king of Provence, which would lead to many
interesting topographical details which my residence in that country
would enable me to supply, besides the opportunity of illustrating so
eccentric a character as '_le bon roi René_,' full of traits which were
admirably suited to Sir Walter's graphic style of illustration, and that
he could besides introduce the ceremonies of the _Fête Dieu_ with great
advantage, as I had fortunately seen its revival the first time it was
celebrated after the interruption of the revolution. He liked the idea
much, and, accordingly, a Journal which I had written during my
residence in Provence, with a volume of accompanying drawings and
Papon's History of Provence was forthwith sent for, and the whole
_dénouement_ of the story of _Anne o/Geierstein_ was changed, and the
Provence part woven into it, in the form in which it ultimately came
forth."--_Reminiscences_.
[254] This learned gentleman died in his house, 34 Moray Place,
Edinburgh, on the 30th August 1838, aged eighty-two. He had filled
various important situations with great ability during his long
life:--Sheriff of Berwick and West Lothian, Professor of Scots Law in
the University, and afterwards a Baron of Exchequer, which latter office
he held till the abolition of the court in 1830. He is best remembered
by his work on the Criminal Law of Scotland, published in 1797. He
bequeathed his uncle the historian's correspondence with Rousseau and
other distinguished foreigners to the Royal Society of Edinburgh.
[255] Published in four volumes, 8vo, 1829. Fauche-Borel, an agent of
the Bourbons, had just died. The book is still in the Abbotsford
library.
[256] _Ancient Metrical Tales_, edited by Rev. C.H. Hartshorne. 8vo
London, 1829.
[257] The Right Hon. William Dundas, born 1762, died 1845; appointed
Lord Clerk Register in 1821.
[258] Ben Jonson, _Every Man in his Humour,_ Act I. Sc. 4.
[259] For notices of this gigantic cannon see _ante_, vol. i. p. 43, and
_post_, pp. 247-8; also _Life_, vol. vii. pp. 86-87.
[260] Some of these fine drawings have been engraved for Colonel Tod's
_Travels in Western India_. Lond., 4to, 1839.--J.G.L.
[261] Molière, _L'Amour Médecin_, Act I. Sc. 1 (_joaillier_ for
_orfévre_).
[262] The following extract from a letter by Wilkie shows how willingly
he had responded to Scott's request:--