[220] The Attorneys of Aberdeen are styled advocates.  This valuable privilege is said to have been bestowed at an early period by some (sportive) monarch.—­J.G.L.

[221] This clever book was published in 1814:  at the same time as Waverley.  Had it contained nothing else than the sketch of Bran, the great Irish wolf-hound, it would have commended itself to Scott.  The authoress died in 1859.

[222] It is worth noting that a quarter of a century after Sir Walter had written these lines, we find Macaulay stating that, in his opinion, “there are in the world no compositions which approach nearer perfection.”  Scott had already criticised Miss Austen in the 27th No. of the Quarterly.  She died in 1817.

[223] “I return no more,”—­see Mackrimmon’s Lament by Scott.—­Poetical Works, vol. xi. p. 332.

[224] Published as far back as 1792.  An appreciative criticism on Mrs. Smith’s works will be found in Scott’s Miscellaneous Prose Works, vol. iv. pp. 58-70.

[225] See this Journal, 2 December last.

[226] The letters of Malachi were treated by some members of the House of Commons as incentives to rebellion, and senators gravely averred that not many years ago they would have subjected the author to condign punishment.

The Chancellor of the Exchequer, however, declared that he did not dread “the flashing of that Highland claymore though evoked from its scabbard by the incantations of the mightiest magician of the age.”—­Speech of Rt.  Hon. F.J.  Robinson.

[227] Both letters are quoted in Lockhart’s Life, vol. viii. pp. 299-305.  See also Croker’s Correspondence and Diaries, edited by Louis J. Jennings, 3 vols. 8vo, Lond. 1884, vol. i. pp. 315-319.

[228] W. Scott, Esq., afterwards of Raeburn, Sir Walter’s Sheriff-substitute.

[229] Hudibras.—­J.G.L.

[230] One of Sir Walter’s kindly “weird sisters” and neighbours, daughters of Professor Ferguson.  They had occupied the house at Toftfield (on which Scott at the ladies’ request bestowed the name of Huntly Burn) from the spring of 1818.  Miss Margaret has been described as extremely like her brother Sir Adam in the turn of thought and of humour.—­See Life, vol. vi. p. 322.

[231] Fortune in her Wits, and the Hour of all Men, Quevedo’s Works, Edin. 1798, vol. iii. p. 107.

[232] Don Quixote, Pt.  II. cap. 47.

[233] Granby was written by a young man, Thos.  H. Lister, some years afterwards known as the author of The Life and Administration of the First Earl of Clarendon, 3 vols. 8vo, 1837-38.  Mr. Lister died in his 41st year in 1842.

APRIL.