[408] This striking paper was afterwards printed in full under the title, “Memorandum on the War in Russia in 1812,” in the Despatches edited by his Son (Dec. 1823 to May 1827), Murray, 1868, vol. i. 8vo, pp. 1-53.  Sir Walter Scott’s letter to the Duke on the subject is given at p. 590 of the same volume, and see this Journal under Feb. 15, 1827.

[409] In returning from this dinner Sir Walter said, “I have seen some of these great men at the same table for the last time.”—­J.G.L.

[410] Mr. William Wright, Barrister, Lincoln’s Inn.—­See Life, vol. viii. p. 84.

[411] Milton’s L’Allegro.—­J.G.L.

[412] A murder committed in 1817.  The accused claimed the privilege of Wager of Battle, which was allowed by the Court for the last time, as the law was abolished in 1819.—­See Notes and Queries, 2d series, vol. xi. pp. 88, 259, 317, and p. 431 for a curious account of the bibliography of this very singular case.

[413] Othello,—­J.G.L.

[414] Sir Walter no doubt means that he regretted not having seen the Duke at an earlier period of his historical labours.—­J.G.L.

[415] See Weber’s Tales of the East, 3 vols. 8vo, Edin. 1812. History of Avicene, vol. ii. pp. 452-457.

[416] Dr. Richard Jenkyns, Master of Balliol College.—­J.G.L.

[417] Charles Douglas succeeded his brother, Baron Douglas of Douglas, in 1844.

[418]

  “But of all friends in field or town, Ever gramercy,” etc.

    Dame Juliana Berners.

[419] A furnished house in Walker Street which he had taken for the winter (No. 3).

DECEMBER

December 1[420].—­The Court again very long in its sitting, and I obliged to remain till the last.  This is the more troublesome, as in winter, with my worn-out eyes, I cannot write so well by candle-light.  Naboclish! when I am quite blind, good-night to you, as the one-eyed fellow said when a tennis ball knocked out his remaining luminary.  My short residue of time before dinner was much cut up by calls—­all old friends, too, and men whom I love; but this makes the loss of time more galling, that one cannot and dare not growl at those on whom it has been bestowed.  However, I made out two hours better than I expected.  I am now once more at my oar, and I will row hard.

December 2.—­Returned early from Court, but made some calls by the way.  Dined alone with Anne, and meant to have worked, but—­I don’t know how—­this horrid story stuck by me, so I e’en read Boutourlin’s account of the Moscow campaign to eschew the foul fiend.

December 3.—­Wrote five pages before dinner.  Sir Thomas Brisbane and Sir William Arbuthnot called, also John A. Murray.  William dined with us, all vivid with his Italian ideas, only Jane besides.  Made out five pages, I think, or nearly.