Lockhart's Life of Scott (Volume 6) (Large Print Edition)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1871 edition. Excerpt: ... CHAPTER LVI. Repairs of Melrose Abbey--Letters to Lord Montagu and Miss Edgeworth--King George IV. visits Scotland--Celtic mania--Mr. Crabbe in Castle Street--Death of Lord Kinneddei--Departure of the King--Letters from Mr. Peel and Mr. Crdker. 1822. About this time Scott's thoughts were much occupied v/ith a plan for securing Melrose Abbey against the progress of decay, which had been making itself manifest to an alarming extent, and to which he had often before directed the attention of the Buccleuch family. Even in writing to persons who had never seen Melrose, he could not help touching on this business--for he wrote, as he spoke, out of the fulness of the heart. The young Duke readily concurred with his guardians in allowing the poet to direct such repairs as might seem to him adequate; and the result was extremely satisfactory to all the habitual worshippers of these classical ruins. I return to the copious and candid correspondence from which it has been throughout my object to extract and combine the scattered fragments of aD irtcfntairapliy. To Miss Edgeworth, Edgeworthstown. Abbotsford, 24th April 1822. My Dear Miss Edgeworth, --I am extremely sorry indeed that you cannot fulfil your kind intentions to be at Abbotsford this year. It is a great disappointment, and I am grieved to think it should have arisen from the loss of a valued relation. That is the worst part of life, when its earlier path is trod. If my limbs get stiff, my walks are made shorter and my rides slower--if my eyes fail me, I can use glasses and a large print--if I get a little deaf, I comfort myself that, except in a few instances, I shall be no great loser by missing one full half of what is spoken; but I feel the loneliness of age when my companions and...