M. THERESA LISTER.”

Lord Murray, the late Scotch Judge, writes to a mutual friend of his and Miss Ferrier’s (Miss Walker of Dalry):—­

“I received a copy of Inheritance in the name of the author, and as I do not know who the author is, and I suspect that you know more than I do, trust you will find some channel through which you will convey my thanks.  I read Inheritance with very great pleasure.  The characters are very well conceived, and delineated with great success.  I may add I have heard it highly commended by much better judges.  Jeffrey speaks very favourably.  He is particularly pleased with the Nabob (Major) and spouse, the letter from the Lakes, and the P.S. to it.  Lord Gwydyr, who lives entirely in fashionable circles, said to me much in its praise, in which I concurred.

“From many other symptoms I have no doubt of its complete success.”

Miss Hannah Mackenzie, daughter of the “Man of Feeling,” writes to her friend Miss Ferrier:—­

“Walter Scott dined here the other day, and both he and papa joined heartily in their admiration of uncle Adam, and their wish to know who he is.  Sir W. also admires Miss Becky Duguid, and said he thought her quite a new character.  I should like very much to see you, and talk all over at length, but fear to invite you to my own bower for fear of suspicion; but I trust you will soon come boldly, and face my whole family.  I do not think you need fear them much; of course, like other people, they have their thoughts, but by no means speak with certainty, and Margaret has this minute assured us that she does not think it Miss Ferrier’s.”

Uncle Adam, with “his seventy thousand pounds,” and as “cross as two sticks,” in some degree resembled old Mr. Ferrier, who was somewhat brusque and testy in his manner, and alarmed many people who were otherwise unacquainted with the true genuine worth and honesty of his character.  Miss Becky is a poor old maid, saddled with commissions from all her friends of a most miscellaneous description.

“She was expected to attend all accouchements, christenings, deaths, chestings, and burials, but she was seldom asked to a marriage, and never to any party of pleasure.”

She is an admirable pendant to the “Pratt,” who is inseparable, however, from her invisible nephew, Mr. Anthony Whyte.  Miss Pratt is a sort of female Paul Pry, always turning up at the most unexpected moment at Lord Rossville’s, and finally puts the finishing stroke to the pompous old peer by driving up to his castle door in the hearse of Mr. M’Vitie, the Radical distiller, being unable to procure any other mode of conveyance during a heavy snow-storm, and assured every one that she fancied she was the first person who thought herself in luck to have got into a hearse, but considered herself still luckier in having got well out of one.

Caroline, Duchess of Argyll, [1] expresses her appreciation of The Inheritance to the author, for whom she entertained a warm friendship:—­