“My dearest Mrs Scott,—Your kind letter of 8th October, addressed to Malta, reached me only yesterday with a number of others which had been tarrying at Jericho till their beards grew. This was in one respect inconvenient, as I did not gain the benefit of your advice with regard to my travels, which would have had a great influence with me. Moreover, I did not learn the happy event in your own family till a newspaper told it me by accident long ago. But as my good wishes are most sincere, it is of less consequence when they reach the parties concerned, and I flatter myself I possess so much interest with my young friends as to give me credit for most warmly wishing them all the happiness which this auspicious event promises. The connexion must be in every respect agreeable to the feelings of both families, and not less so to those of a former generation, provided they are permitted, as I flatter myself, to take interest in the affairs of this life.
“I envied your management of the pencil when at
Malta, as frequently elsewhere; it is quite a place made to be illustrated; by
the way, I have got an esquisse of Old Smailholm Tower from the pencil of
Mr Turner. Besides the other
advantages of Malta, it possesses
| NAPLES. | 359 |
“Although I rather prefer Malta, I have no reason to complain of Naples. The society is very numerous and gay, and somewhat too frivolous for my time of life and infirmities; however, there are exceptions; especially poor Sir William Gell, a very accomplished scholar, who is lamer than I am, and never out of humour, though worried perpetually by the gout, which he bears with the greatest complaisance. He is engaged in vindicating, from the remains of the various public works in Italy, the truth, which Bryant and others have disputed, concerning the Roman History, as given by Livy and other authors, whom it has been of late fashionable to discredit. The Dilletante Society have, greatly to their credit, resolved to bring out this interesting book.
“It has been Carnival time, and the balls are without number, besides being pelted to death with sugar-plums, which is quite the rage. But now Lent is approaching to sober us after all our gaiety, and every one seems ashamed of being happy, and preparing to look grave with all his might.
“I should have said something of my health, but
have nothing to say, except that I am pretty well, and take exercise regularly,
though as Parson Adams says, it must be of
the vehicular kind. I think I shall never ride or walk again. But I must not
complain, for my plan of paying my debts, which you know gave me so much
trouble some years since, has been, thank God, completely successful; and, what
I think worth telling, I have paid very near L.120,000, without owing any one a
halfpenny—at least I am sure this will be the case by midsummer. I know the
laird will give me much joy on this occasion, which, considering the scale upon
| 360 | LIFE OF SIR WALTER SCOTT. |
‘’Twas meant for merit, though it fell on me.’
|
“My love to Henry, as well as to the young couple. He should go and do likewise. Your somewhat ancient, but very sincere friend,
