Some months since I joined with other literary folks in subscribing a petition for a pension to Mrs. G. of L.,[49] which we thought was a tribute merited by her works as an authoress, and, in my opinion, much more by the firmness and elasticity of mind with which she had borne a succession of great domestic calamities.  Unhappily there was only about L100 open on the pension list, and this the minister assigned in equal portions to Mrs. G——­ and a distressed lady, grand-daughter of a forfeited Scottish nobleman.  Mrs. G——­, proud as a Highland-woman, vain as a poetess, and absurd as a bluestocking, has taken this partition in malam partem, and written to Lord Melville about her merits, and that her friends do not consider her claims as being fairly canvassed, with something like a demand that her petition be submitted to the King.  This is not the way to make her plack a bawbee, and Lord M., a little miffed in turn, sends the whole correspondence to me to know whether Mrs. G——­will accept the L50 or not.  Now, hating to deal with ladies when they are in an unreasonable humour, I have got the good-humoured “Man of Feeling” to find out the lady’s mind, and I take on myself the task of making her peace with Lord M. There is no great doubt how it will end, for your scornful dog will always eat your dirty pudding.[50] After all, the poor lady is greatly to be pitied;—­her sole remaining daughter, deep and far gone in a decline, has been seized with alienation of mind.

Dined with my cousin, R[obert] R[utherford], being the first invitation since my uncle’s death, and our cousin Lieutenant-Colonel Russell[51] of Ashestiel, with his sister Anne—­the former newly returned from India—­a fine gallant fellow, and distinguished as a cavalry officer.  He came overland from India and has observed a good deal.  General L——­ of L——­, in Logan’s orthography a fowl, Sir William Hamilton, Miss Peggie Swinton, William Keith, and others.  Knight Marischal not well, so unable to attend the convocation of kith and kin.

FOOTNOTES: 

[1] An Essay on Naval Tactics, Systematical and Historical, with explanatory plates.  In four parts.  By John Clerk. 4to.  Lond. 1790.

[2] William Clerk of Eldin, the prototype of Darsie Latimer in Redgauntlet, “admired through life for talents and learning of which he has left no monument,” died at Edinburgh in January 1847.

[3] Secret and True History of the Church of Scotland from the Restoration to the year 1678. 4to.  Edin. 1817.

[4] Anecdotes, Biographical Sketches, and Memoirs, collected by Laetitia Matilda Hawkins. 8vo.  Lond. 1822.

[5] Miss Macdonald Buchanan of Drummakill.—­J.G.L.

[6] Mr. Sharpe, whose Letters and Memoir were published in two volumes 8vo, Edin. 1888, survived Sir Walter till the year 1851.  In the Sir Mungo Malagrowther of The Fortunes of Nigel some of Sharpe’s peculiarities are not unfaithfully mirrored.