Memoirs of the Life of Sir Walter Scott, Bart.
Sir Walter Scott to Walter Scott, jun., 21 April 1821
“Abbotsford, April 21, 1821.
“. . . . A democrat in any situation is but a silly
sort of fellow, but a democratical soldier is worse than an ordinary traitor by
ten thousand degrees, as he forgets his military honour, and is faithless to
the master whose bread he eats. Three distinguished heroes of this class have
arisen in my time, Lord Edward
Fitzgerald, Colonel
Despard, and Captain
Thistlewood, and, with the contempt and abhorrence of all men,
they died
| LETTERS TO CORNET SCOTT. | 63 |
the death of infamy
and guilt. If a man of honour is unhappy enough to entertain opinions
inconsistent with the service in which he finds himself, it is his duty at once
to resign his commission; in acting otherwise he disgraces himself for ever. .
. . . . . . The reports are very strange, also, with respect to the private
conduct of certain officers. . . . . Gentlemen maintain their characters even
in following their most licentious pleasures, otherwise they resemble the very
scavengers in the streets. . . . . . . . I had written you a long letter on
other subjects, but these circumstances have altered my plans, as well as given
me great uneasiness on account of the effects which the society you have been
keeping may have had on your principles, both political and moral. Be very
frank with me on this subject. I have a title to expect perfect sincerity,
having always treated you with openness on my part.
“Pray write immediately, and at length.—I remain your
affectionate father,
Edward Marcus Despard (1751-1803)
Colonial official who upon being dismissed on frivolous charges, devised a plot against
the government; he was executed for high treason.
Lord Edward Fitzgerald (1763-1798)
After serving in the American war and becoming an Iroquois chieftain he became a leader
of the United Irishmen and was killed during the 1798 rebellion. His life was written by
Thomas Moore (1831).
Sir Walter Scott, second baronet (1801-1847)
The elder son and heir of Sir Walter Scott; he was cornet in the 18th Hussars (1816),
captain (1825), lieut.-col. (1839). In the words of Maria Edgeworth, he was
“excessively shy, very handsome, not at all literary.”
Arthur Thistlewood (1774-1820)
English radical and disciple of Thomas Spence; he was hanged after the exposure of an
assassination plot against the British cabinet.