We dined at Gattonside with Mr. Bainbridge, who kindly presented me with six bottles of super-excellent Jamaica rum, and with a manuscript collection of poetry, said to be Swift’s handwriting, which it resembles.  It is, I think, poor Stella’s.  Nothing very new in it.

September 28.—­Another dropping and busy day.  I wrought hard at the Historical Tales, which get on fast.

September 29.—­I went on with the little history which now (i.e. vol. ii.) doth appropinque an end.  Received in the evening [Nos. 37 to 41?] of the Roxburghe publications.  They are very curious, and, generally speaking, well selected.  The following struck me:—­An Italian poem on the subject of Floddenfield; the legend of St. Robert of Knaresborough; two plays, printed from MS. by Mr. Haslewood.  It does not appear that Mr. H. fully appreciated the light which he was throwing on the theatrical history by this valuable communication.  It appears that the change of place, or of scene as we term it, was intimated in the following manner.

In the middle of the stage was placed Colchester, and the sign of Pigot’s tavern—­called the Tarlton—­intimated what part of the town was represented.  The name was painted above.  On one side of the stage was, in like manner, painted a town, which the name announced to be Maldon; on the other side a ranger’s lodge.  The scene lay through the piece in one or other of these three places, and the entrance of the characters determined where each scene lay.  If they came in from Colchester, then Colchester was for the time the scene of action.  When that scene was shifted to Maldon, it was intimated by the approach of the actors from the side where it was painted—­a clumsy contrivance, doubtless, compared to changeable scenery; yet sufficient to impress the audience with a sense of what was meant.

September 30.—­Wet, drizzling, dismal day.  I finished odds and ends, scarce stirring out of my room, yet doing little to the purpose.  Wrote to Sir Henry [Seton Steuart] about his queries concerning transplanted trees, and to Mr. Freeling concerning the Roxburghe Club books.  I have settled to print the manuscript concerning the murder of the two Shaws by the Master of Sinclair.  I dallied with the precious time rather than used it.  Read the two Roxburghe plays; they are by William Percy, a son of the eighth Earl of Northumberland; worthless and very gross, but abounding with matter concerning scenery, and so forth, highly interesting to the dramatic antiquary.

     NOTE on the “grenadier accomplishment” mentioned in p. 30.

     In a letter to the Duke of Buccleuch, of May 1818, Scott gives the
     following amusing account of an incident in the life of the Ettrick
     Shepherd:—­