“I have been some time from home in the course of
the holidays, but immediately on my return set about
| 234 | LIFE OF SIR WALTER SCOTT. |
Dobrizzhoffer de Abiponibus, 3 vols.
A French translation of Gomella’s History of Oronoquo.
Ramuzio Navigazioni, &c. &c.
Of these I can only lay my hands immediately on Dobrizzhoffer, which I have sent off by the
Carlisle coach, addressed to the care of Jollie the bookseller for you. I do this at my own risk,
because we never grant license to send the books out of Scotland, and should I
be found to have done so I may be censured, and perhaps my use of the library
suspended. At the same time, I think it hard you should take a journey in this
deadly cold weather, and trust you will make early enquiry after the book. Keep
it out of sight while you use it, and return it as soon as you have finished. I
suppose these same Abipones were a nation to my own heart’s content,
being, as the titlepage informs me, bellicosi et
equestres, like our old Border lads. Should you think of
coming hither, which perhaps might be the means of procuring you more
information than I can make you aware of, I bespeak you for my guest. I can
give you a little chamber in the wall, and you shall go out and in as quietly
and freely as your heart can desire, without a human creature saying ‘why
doest thou so?’ Thalaba is in parturition too, and you should in decent curiosity
give an eye after him. Yet I will endeavour to recover the other books (now
lent out), and send them to you in the same way as Dob. travels, unless you recommend
another conveyance. But I expect this generosity on my part will rather stir
your gallantry to make us a visit when this abominable storm has passed away.
My present occupation is highly unpoetical—clouting, in short, and cobbling our
old Scottish
| LETTER TO MR SOUTHEY—JAN. 1809. | 235 |
“I have had a high quarrel with Constable and Co. The Edinburgh Review has driven them quite crazy, and its success led them to undervalue those who have been of most use to them—but they shall dearly abye it. The worst is that, being out of a publishing house, I have not interest to be of any service to Coleridge’s intended paper.* Ballantyne, the printer, intends to open shop here on the part of his brother, and I am sure will do all he can to favour the work. Does it positively go on?
“I have read Wordsworth’s lucubrations in the Courier,† and much agree with him. Alas! we want every thing but courage and virtue in this desperate contest. Skill, knowledge of mankind, ineffable unhesitating villany, combination of movement and combination of means, are with our adversary. We can only fight like mastiffs, boldly, blindly, and faithfully. I am almost driven to the pass of the Covenanters, when they told the Almighty in their prayers, he should no longer be their God; and I really believe, a few Gazettes more will make me turn Turk or Infidel. Believe me, in great grief of spirit, dear Southey, ever yours,
“Mrs Scott begs kind remembrance to Mrs Southey. The bed in the said chamber in the wall is a double one.”
