attack the English.  On the other hand, England, Austria, and France entered into a private agreement to resist, beyond a certain extent, Prussia’s demands of a barrier on the Rhine, etc., and, what is most singular of all, it was from Bonaparte that the Emperor Alexander first heard of this triple alliance.[58] But the circumstance of finding Napoleon interesting himself so far in the affairs of Europe alarmed the Emperor more than the news he sent him.  On the same authority, Gneisenau and most of Bluecher’s personal suite remained behind a house at the battle of Ligny, and sent out an officer from time to time, but did not remain even in sight of the battle, till Bluecher put himself at the head of the cavalry with the zeal of an old hussar.

October 8.—­Left Alnwick, where I have experienced a very kind reception, and took coach at Whittingham at eleven o’clock.  I find there is a new road to be made between Alnwick and Wooler, which will make the communication much easier, and avoid Remside Moor.

Saw some fine young plantations about Whittingham suffering from neglect, which is not the case under the Duke’s own eye.  He has made two neat cottages at Percy’s Cross, to preserve that ancient monument of the fatal battle of Hedgeley Moor.  The stones marking the adjacent spot called Percy’s Leap are thirty-three feet asunder.  To show the uncertainty of human testimony, I measured the distance (many years since, it is true), and would have said and almost sworn that it was but eighteen feet.  Dined at Wooler, and reached home about seven o’clock, having left Alnwick at half-past nine.  So it would be easy to go there to dinner from Abbotsford, starting at six in the morning, or seven would do very well.

October 9, [Abbotsford].—­No proofs here, which I think odd of Jas. B. But I am not sorry to have a day to write letters, and besides I have a box of books to arrange.  It is a bad mizzling day, and might have been a good day for work, yet it is not quite uselessly spent.

October 10.—­Breakfasted at Huntly Burn with the merry knight, Sir Adam Ferguson.  When we returned we found a whole parcel of proofs which had been forgot yesterday at the toll—­so here ends play and begins work.  Dr. Brewster and Mr. Thornhill.  The latter gave me a box, made of the real mulberry-tree.[59] Very kind of him.

October 11.—­Being a base melancholy weeping day I e’en made the best of it, and set in for work.  Wrote ten leaves this day, equivalent to forty pages.  But then the theme was so familiar, being Scottish history, that my pen never rested.  It is more than a triple task.

October 12.—­Sent off proofs and copy, a full task of three pages.  At one Anne drove me to Huntly Burn, and I examined the earthen fence intended for the new planting, and altered the line in some points.  This employed me till near four, the time of my walking home being included.