Memoirs of the Life of Sir Walter Scott, Bart.
Walter Scott to Thomas Scott, 15 May 1816
“Edinburgh, 15th May, 1816.
“This brings you the melancholy news of our brother
John’s concluding his long and
lingering illness by death, upon Thursday last. We had thought it impos-
6 | LIFE OF SIR WALTER SCOTT. | |
sible he should survive the winter, but, as the weather
became milder, he gathered strength, and went out several times. In the
beginning of the week he became worse, and on Wednesday kept his bed. On
Thursday, about two o’clock, they sent me an express to Abbotsford—the
man reached me at nine. I immediately set out, and travelled all night but had
not the satisfaction to see my brother alive. He had died about four
o’clock, without much pain, being completely exhausted. You will
naturally feel most anxious about my mother’s state of health and spirits. I am happy to say,
she has borne this severe shock with great firmness and resignation, is
perfectly well in her health, and as strong in her mind as ever you knew here.
She feels her loss, but is also sensible that protracted existence, with a
constitution so irretrievably broken up, could have been no blessing. Indeed I
must say, that, in many respects, her situation will be more comfortable on
account of this removal, when the first shock is over; for to watch an invalid,
and to undergo all the changes of a temper fretted by suffering, suited ill
with her age and habits. The funeral, which took place yesterday, was decent
and private, becoming our father’s eldest son, and the head of a quiet
family. After it, I asked Hay Donaldson
and Mr MacCulloch* to look over his
papers, in case there should be any testamentary provision, but none such was
found; nor do I think he had any intention of altering the destination which
divides his effects between his surviving brothers.
Your affectionate
W. S.”
Hay Donaldson (d. 1822)
Writer to the Signet; he was the third son of Hay Donaldson (d. 1802) and Walter Scott's
friend and confidential solicitor.
James Murray MacCulloch of Ardwall (1768-1857)
Scottish landowner, son of David MacCulloch (d. 1794); he succeeded his brother Edward in
1796; his sister married Walter Scott's brother Thomas.
Anne Scott [née Rutherford] (1739 c.-1819)
Walter Scott's mother, the daughter of Professor John Rutherford who married Walter Scott
senior in 1755.
John Scott (1769-1816)
Walter Scott's elder brother who served in the 73rd Regiment before retiring to Edinburgh
in 1810.
Thomas Scott (1774-1823)
The younger brother of Walter Scott rumored to have written
Waverley; after working in the family legal business he was an officer in the
Manx Fencibles (1806-10) and Paymaster of the 70th Foot (1812-14). He died in
Canada.