Memoirs of the Life of Sir Walter Scott, Bart.
Walter Scott to William Clerk, 30 September 1792
‘Rosebank, 30th Sept., 1792.
‘I suppose this will find you flourishing like a green
bay-tree on the mountains of Perthshire, and in full enjoyment of all the
pleasures of the country. All that I envy you is the noctes
cenæque deum, which, I take it for granted, you three merry men
will be spending together, while I am poring over Bartholine in the long evenings, solitary enough; for, as for
the lobsters, as you call them, I am separated from them by the Tweed, which
precludes evening meetings, unless in fine weather and full moons. I have had
an expedition through Hexham and the higher parts of Northumberland, which
would have delighted the very cockles of your heart, not so much on account of
the beautiful romantic appearance of the country, though that would have
charmed you also, as because you would have seen more Roman inscriptions built
into gate-posts, barns, &c., than perhaps are to be found in any other part
of Britain. These have been all dug up from the neighbouring Roman wall, which
is still in many places very entire, and gives a stupendous idea of the
perseverance of its founders, who carried such an erection from sea to sea,
over rocks, mountains, rivers, and morasses. There are
* The companions of The Club. |
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| 192 | LIFE OF SIR WALTER SCOTT. | |
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several lakes among the mountains above Hexham, well worth
going many miles to see, though their fame is eclipsed by their neighbourhood
to those of Cumberland. They are surrounded by old towers and castles, in
situations the most savagely romantic; what would I have given to have been
able to take effect-pieces from some of them! Upon the Tyne, about Hexham, the
country has a different aspect, presenting much of the beautiful though less of
the sublime. I was particularly charmed with the situation of Beaufront, a
house belonging to a mad sort of genius whom, I am sure, I have told you some
stories about. He used to call himself the Noble
Errington, but of late has assumed the title of Duke
of Hexham. Hard by the town is the field of battle where the
forces of Queen Margaret were defeated by
those of the House of York, a blow which the Red Rose never recovered during
the civil wars. The spot where the Duke of
Somerset and the northern nobility of the Lancastrian faction
were executed after the battle is still called Dukesfield. The inhabitants of
this country speak an odd dialect of the Saxon, approaching nearly that of
Chaucer, and have retained some
customs peculiar to themselves. They are the descendants of the ancient Danes,
chased into the fastnesses of Northumberland by the severity of William the Conqueror. Their ignorance is
surprising to a Scotchman. It is common for the traders in cattle, which
business is carried on to a great extent, to carry all letters received in
course of trade to the parish church, where the clerk reads them aloud after
service, and answers them according to circumstances.
‘We intended to visit the lakes in Cumberland, but our
jaunt was cut short by the bad weather. I went to the circuit at Jedburgh, to
make my bow to Lord J. Clerk, and might have had
employment, but durst ![]()
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not
venture. Nine of the Dunse rioters were condemned to banishment, but the
ferment continues violent in the Merse. Kelso races afforded little
sport—Wishaw* lost a horse which cost
him L.500, and foundered irrecoverably on the course. At another time I should
quote George Buchanan’s adage of
‘a fool and his money,’ but at present labour under a similar
misfortune; my Galloway having yesterday thought proper (N. B., without a
rider) to leap over a gate, and being lamed for the present. This is not his
first faux-pas, for he jumped into a water with me on
his back when in Northumberland, to the imminent danger of my life. He is,
therefore, to be sold (when recovered), and another purchased. This accident
has occasioned you the trouble of reading so long an epistle, the day being
Sunday, and my uncle, the captain, busily engaged with your father’s
naval tactics, is too seriously employed to be an agreeable companion. Apropos
(des bottes)—I am sincerely sorry to hear that James is still unemployed, but have no doubt a
time will come round when his talents will have an opportunity of being
displayed to his advantage. I have no prospect of seeing my chère adorable
till winter, if then. As for you, I pity you not, seeing as how you have so
good a succedaneum in M. G.; and on the contrary, hope,
not only that Edmonstone may roast you,
but that Cupid may again (as erst) fry you on the gridiron of jealousy for your infidelity.
Compliments to our right trusty and well-beloved Linton and Jean Jacques.† If you
write, which, by the way, I hardly have the conscience to expect, direct to my
father’s care, who will forward your letter. I have quite given up
duck-shooting for ![]()
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the season, the birds being too old and the mosses too
deep and cold. I have no reason to boast of my experience or success in the
sport, and for my own part, should fire at any distance under eighty or even
ninety paces, though above forty-five I would reckon it a coup déséspére, and as the
bird is beyond measure shy, you may be sure I was not very bloody. Believe me,
deferring, as usual, our dispute till another opportunity, always sincerely
yours,
‘P. S. I believe if my pony does not soon recover,
that misfortune, with the bad weather, may send me soon to town.’
Thomas Bartholin the younger (1659-1690)
Danish antiquary; his
Antiquitatum danicarum de causis contemptae a
danis adhuc gentilibus mortis (1689) was consulted by Thomas Gray and Walter
Scott.
George Buchanan (1506-1582)
Scottish historian, scholar, and respected Latin poet; he was tutor to James VI. and
author of
Rerum Scoticarum historia (1582).
Geoffrey Chaucer (1340 c.-1400)
English Poet, the author of
The Canterbury Tales (1390 c.).
James Clerk (1773-1796)
The son of John Clerk of Eldin and the brother of Lord Eldin (1757-1832) and Scott's
friend William Clerk; he was a naval officer who died in Antiqua.
William Clerk (1771-1847)
Edinburgh lawyer, the son of John Clerk of Eldin and brother of Lord Eldin (1757-1832);
he was Clerk of the Jury Court (1815) and a friend of Sir Walter Scott. He is said to be
the model for Darsie Latimer in
Redgauntlet.
Sir Adam Ferguson (1771-1855)
Son of the philosopher and classmate and friend of Sir Walter Scott; he served in the
Peninsular Campaign under Wellington, afterwards living on his estate in
Dumfriesshire.
Margaret of Anjou (1430-1482)
Daughter of Rene, Duke of Anjou; she was the unpopular Queen Consort of King Henry VI of
England.
