It cannot be too widely known that if Scott never derived any profits from the enormous sale of his works in America, it was not the fault of his brother author, who urged him repeatedly to try the plan here proposed.  Whether the attempt was made is unknown, but it is amusing to see one cause of Scott’s hesitation was the fear that the American public would not get his works at the low prices to which they had been accustomed.

[393] General Monthion.

[394] Fitz-James was great-grandson of James II., and Duras was related to Feversham, James’s general at Sedgemoor.  Both died in the same year, 1835.

[395] Madame Mirbel, who painted Scott at this time, continued to be a favourite artist with the French (Bonapartist, Bourbon, and Orleanist) for the next twenty years.  Among her latest sitters (1841) was Scott’s angry correspondent of four months later—­General Gourgaud.  Madame Mirbel died in 1849.  The portrait alluded to was probably a miniature which has been engraved at least once—­by J.T.Wedgwood.

[396] Two Gentlemen of Verona, Act II.  Sc. 3.—­J.G.L.

[397] The Marshal had visited Scotland in 1825—­and Scott saw a good deal of him under the roof of his kinsman, Mr. Macdonald Buchanan.—­J.G.L.

[398] Lauriston, the ancient seat of the Laws, so famous in French history, is very near Edinburgh, and the estate was in their possession at the time of the Revolution.  Two or three cadets of the family were of the first emigration, and one of them (M.  Louis Law) was a frequent guest of the Poet’s father, and afterwards corresponded during many years with himself.  I am not sure whether it was M. Louis Law whose French designation so much amused the people of Edinburgh.  One brother of the Marquis de Lauriston, however, was styled Le Chevalier de Mutton-hole, this being the name of a village on the Scotch property.—­J.G.L.

[399] The Madame de Boufflers best known to the world [Hippolyte de Saujon Comtesse de Boufflers], the correspondent not only of Walpole, but of David Hume, must have been nearer a hundred than eighty years of age at this date, if we are to believe the Biographie Universelle, which gives 1724 as the date of her birth.  It does not record her death.  It is known that she took refuge in England during the Revolution; but Count Paul de Remusat, who has been consulted on the subject, has kindly pointed out that the lady of whom Scott speaks must have been the widow of the Chevalier de Boufflers-Remencourt, known by his poems and stories.  Her maiden name was de Jean de Manville, and her first husband was a Comte de Sabran.  She died in 1827.—­See Correspondance inedite de la Comtesse de Sabran, Paris, 8vo, 1875.

[400] Readers who may wish to compare with the visit of 1826 Scott’s impressions of Paris in 1815 will find a brilliant record of the latter in Paul’s Letters, xii.-xvi.