[59] From Stratford-on-Avon.

[60] For the utilisation of this story, see Fair Maid of Perth, published in the following year.

[61] See M.G.  Lewis’s Journal of a West Indian Proprietor. 8vo, Lond., 1834, p. 47; and Introduction to Fair Maid of Perth, p. 16.

[62] On the 13th of October Sir Walter had received a letter from “one who had in former happy days been no stranger,” and on turning to the signature he found to his astonishment that it was from Lady Jane Stuart, with whom he had had no communication since the memorable visit he had made to Invermay in the autumn of 1796.  The letter was simply a formal request on behalf of a friend for permission to print some ballads in Scott’s handwriting which were in an album that had apparently belonged to her daughter, yet it stirred his nature to its depths.  The substance of his reply may be gathered from the second letter, which he had just read before making this sad entry in his Journal.—­Lady Jane tells him that she would convey to him the Manuscript Book

    —­,"as a secret and sacred Treasure, could I but know that you
    would take it as I give it without a drawback or misconstruction of
    my intentions;”

and she adds—­

“Were I to lay open my heart (of which you know little indeed) you would find how it has and ever shall be warm towards you.  My age [she was then seventy-four] encourages me, and I have longed to tell you.  Not the mother who bore you followed you more anxiously (though secretly) with her blessing than I!  Age has tales to tell and sorrows to unfold.”

As is seen by his Journal Sir Walter resumed his personal intercourse with his venerable friend on November 6th and continued it until her death, which took place in the winter of 1829.—­Ante, vol. i. p. 404, and Life, vol. i. pp. 329-336.

[63] Kirn, the feast at the end of the harvest in Scotland.

[64] The correspondence of Robert, second Marquis of Londonderry, was edited by his brother in 1850, but there was no memoir published until Alison wrote the Lives of Lord Castlereagh and Sir Charles Stewart, Second and Third Marquesses of Londonderry. 3 vols. 8vo, Edinburgh, 1861.

NOVEMBER

November 1.—­I waked in the night and lay two hours in feverish meditation.  This is a tribute to natural feeling.  But the air of a fine frosty morning gave me some elasticity of spirit.  It is strange that about a week ago I was more dispirited for nothing at all than I am now for perplexities which set at defiance my conjectures concerning their issue.  I suppose that I, the Chronicler of the Canongate, will have to take up my residence in the Sanctuary[65] for a week or so, unless I prefer the more airy residence of the Calton Jail, or a trip to the Isle of Man.  These furnish a pleasing choice