associated with his history.  The soil was then a barren waste, but by extensive improvements the place speedily assumed the aspect of amenity and beauty.  The mansion, a curious amalgamation, in questionable taste, of every species of architecture, was partly built in 1811, and gradually extended with the increasing emoluments of the owner.  By successive purchases of adjacent lands, the Abbotsford property became likewise augmented, till the rental amounted to about L700 a-year—­a return sufficiently limited for an expenditure of upwards of L50,000 on this favourite spot.

At Abbotsford the poet maintained the character of a wealthy country gentleman.  He was visited by distinguished persons from the sister kingdom, from the Continent, and from America, all of whom he entertained in a style of sumptuous elegance.  Nor did his constant social intercourse with his visitors and friends interfere with the regular prosecution of his literary labours:  he rose at six, and engaged in study and composition till eleven o’clock.  During the period of his residence in the country, he devoted the remainder of the day to his favourite exercise on horseback, the superintendence of improvements on his property, and the entertainment of his guests.  In March 1820, George IV., to whom he was personally known, and who was a warm admirer of his genius, granted to him the honour of a baronetcy, being the first which was conferred by his Majesty after his accession.  Prior to this period, besides the works already enumerated, he had given to the world his romances of “The Black Dwarf,” “Old Mortality,” “Rob Roy,” “The Heart of Midlothian,” “The Bride of Lammermoor,” “A Legend of Montrose,” and “Ivanhoe.”  The attainment of the baronetcy appears to have stimulated him to still greater exertion.  In 1820 he produced, besides “Ivanhoe,” which appeared in the early part of that year, “The Monastery” and “The Abbot;” and in the beginning of 1821, the romance of “Kenilworth,” being twelve volumes published within the same number of months.  “The Pirate” and “The Fortunes of Nigel” appeared in 1822; “Peveril of the Peak” and “Quentin Durward,” in 1823; “St Ronan’s Well” and “Redgauntlet,” in 1824; and “The Tales of the Crusaders,” in 1825.

During the visit of George IV. to Scotland, in 1822, Sir Walter undertook the congenial duty of acting as Master of Ceremonies, which he did to the entire satisfaction of his sovereign and of the nation.  But while prosperity seemed to smile with increasing brilliancy, adversity was hovering near.  In 1826, Archibald Constable and Company, the famous publishers of his works, became insolvent, involving in their bankruptcy the printing firm of the Messrs Ballantyne, of which Sir Walter was a partner.  The liabilities amounted to the vast sum of L102,000, for which Sir Walter was individually responsible.  To a mind less balanced by native intrepidity and fortified by principle, the apparent wreck of his worldly hopes