which signified that he dealt in odd articles, such as a single
shoe-buckle, one of a pair of skates, a teapot wanting a lid, or
perhaps, as often, a lid _minus_ a teapot; in short, any unpaired
article which was not to be got in the shops where only new things were
sold, and which, nevertheless, was now and then as indispensably wanted
by householders as anything else.
[180] The present article is almost wholly from original sources, a
fact probably unknown to a contemporary novelist, who has made it the
groundwork of a fiction without any acknowledgment. Some additional
particulars may be found in _Tales of the Century_, by John Sobieski
Stuart (Edinburgh, 1846). In the _Spalding Miscellany_, vol. iii., are
several letters of Lord Grange, containing allusions to his wife; and a
production of his, which has been printed under the title of _Diary of
a Senator of the College of Justice_ (Stevenson, Edinburgh, 1833), is
worthy of perusal.
[181] Here and elsewhere a paper in Lord Grange’s own hand is quoted.
[182] ‘Then, and some time before and after, there was a stage-coach
from hence to England.’ So says his lordship; implying that in 1751,
when he was writing, there was no such public conveniency! It had been
tried, and had failed.
[183] If we could believe Lord Lovat, however, he personally was
innocent, and regretted he was innocent, of any association with the
abduction of Lady Grange. ‘They said it was all my contrivance, and
that it was my servants that took her away; but I defyed them then, as
I do now, and do declare to you upon honour, that I do not know what
has become of that woman, where she is or who takes care of her, but if
I had contrived and assisted, and saved my Lord Grange from that devil,
who threatened every day to murder him and his children, I would not
think shame of it before God or man.’—Letter of Lord Lovat’s quoted in
_Genealogie of the Hayes of Tweeddale_.
[184] About four gallons.
[185] Named after John Cant, a pious citizen of the sixteenth century,
who, with his wife, Agnes Kerkettle, was a contributor to the
foundation of the Convent of St Catherine of Siena on the south side of
the Meadows. The district is now known as Sciennes—pronounced _Sheens_.
[186] Only fragments of the ancient buildings remain in Cant’s and
Dickson’s Closes.