I was much surprised to-day to learn from Lockhart by letter that some scruples were in
circulation among some of the respectable among the supporters of the Quarterly
Review concerning his capacity to undertake that highly
responsible task. In most cases I might not be considered as a disinterested
witness on behalf of so near a connection, but in the present instance I have
some claim to call myself so. The plan (I need not remind you) of calling
Lockhart to this distinguished situation, far from
being favoured by me, or in any respect advanced or furthered by such interest
as I might have urged, was not communicated to me until it was formed; and as
it involved the removal of my daughter and of her husband, who has always loved
and honoured me as a son, from their native country and from my vicinity, my
private wish and that of all the members of my family was that such a change
should not take place. But the advantages proposed were so considerable, that
it removed all title on my part to state my own strong desire that he should
remain in Scotland. Now I do assure you that if in these circumstances I had
seen anything in Lockhart’s habits, cast of mind, or
mode of thinking or composition which made him unfit for the duty he had to
undertake, I should have been the last man in the world to permit, without the
strongest expostulation not with him alone but with you, his exchanging an easy
and increasing income in his own country and amongst his own friends for a
larger income perhaps, but a highly responsible situation in London. I
considered this matter very attentively, and recalled to my recollection all I
had known of Mr. Lockhart both before and since his
connection with my family. I have no hesitation in saying that when he was
paying his addresses in my family I
| SCOTT’S OPINION OF LOCKHART. | 221 |
It seems extremely hard (though not perhaps to be wondered
at) that the follies of three- or four-and-twenty should be remembered against
a man of thirty, who has abstained during the interval from giving the least
cause of offence. There are few men of any rank in letters who have not at some
time or other been guilty of some abuse of their satirical powers, and very few
who have not seen reason to wish that they had restrained their vein of
pleasantry. Thinking over Lockhart’s offences with my own, and other men’s
whom either politics or literary controversy has led into such effusions, I
cannot help thinking that five years’ proscription ought to obtain a full
immunity on their account. There were none of them which could be ascribed to
any worse motive than a wicked wit, and many of the individuals against whom
they were directed were worthy of more severe chastisement. The blame was in
meddling with such men at all. Lockhart is reckoned an
excellent scholar, and Oxford has said so. He is born a gentleman, has always
kept the best society, and his personal character is without a shadow of blame.
In the most unfortunate affair of his life he did all that man could do, and
the unhappy tragedy was the result of the poor sufferer’s after-thought
to get out of a scrape. Of his general talents I will not presume to speak, but
they are
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Had any shadow of this want of confidence been expressed in the beginning of the business I for one would have advised Lockhart to have nothing to do with a concern for which his capacity was called in question. But now what can be done? A liberal offer, handsomely made, has been accepted with the same confidence with which it was offered. Lockhart has resigned his office in Edinburgh, given up his business, taken a house in London, and has let, or is on the eve of letting, his house here. The thing is so public, that about thirty of the most respectable gentlemen in Edinburgh have proposed to me that a dinner should be given in his honour. The ground is cut away behind him for a retreat, nor can such a thing be proposed as matters now stand.
Upon what grounds or by whom Lockhart was first recommended to you I have no right or wish
to inquire, having no access whatsoever to the negotiation, the result of which
must be in every wise painful enough to me. But as their advice must in
addition to your own judgment have had great weight with you, I conceive they
will join with me in the expectation that the other respectable friends of this
important work will not form any decision to
| SCOTT’S OPINION OF LOCKHART. | 223 |
It has been my lot twice before now to stand forward to the best of my power as the assistant of two individuals against whom a party run was made. The one case was that of Wilson, to whom a thousand idle pranks were imputed of a character very different and far more eccentric than anything that ever attached to Lockhart. We carried him through upon the fair principle that in the case of good morals and perfect talents for a situation, where vice or crimes are not alleged, the follies of youth should not obstruct the fair prospects of advanced manhood. God help us all if some such modification of censure is not extended to us, since most men have sown wild oats enough! Wilson was made a professor, as you know, has one of the fullest classes in the University, lectures most eloquently, and is much beloved by his pupils. The other was the case of John Williams, now Rector of our new Academy here, who was opposed most violently upon what on examination proved to be exaggerated rumours of old Winchester stories. He got the situation chiefly, I think, by my own standing firm and keeping others together. And the gentlemen who opposed him most violently have repeatedly told me that I did the utmost service to the Academy by bringing him in, for never was a man in such a situation so eminently qualified for the task of education.
I only mention these things to show that it is not in my son-in-law’s affairs alone that I would endeavour to remove that sort of prejudice which envy and party zeal are always ready to throw in the way of rising talent. Those who are interested in the matter may be well assured that with whatever prejudice they may receive Lockhart at first, all who have candour enough to wait till he can afford them the means of judging will be of opinion that they have got a person possibly as well situated for the duties of such an office as any man that England could afford them.
I would rather have written a letter of this kind
concern-
| 224 | MEMOIRS OF JOHN MURRAY |
