[82] Daughter of Alexander, fourth Duke of Gordon.

[83] Lord Dudley, then Secretary of State for the Foreign Department, was an early friend of Scott’s.  He had been partly educated in Edinburgh, under Dugald Stewart’s care.

DECEMBER.

December 1.—­This morning again I was idle.  But I must work, and so I will to-morrow whether the missing sheets arrive, ay or no, by goles!  After Court I went with Lord Wriothesley Russell,[84] to Dalkeith House, to see the pictures; Charles K. Sharpe alongst with us.  We satisfied ourselves that they have actually frames, and that, I think, was all we could be sure of.  Lord Wriothesley, who is a very pleasant young man, well-informed, and with some turn for humour, dined with us, and Mr. Davidoff met him.  The Misses Kerr also dined and spent the evening with us in that sort of society which I like best.  Charles Sharpe came in and we laughed over oysters and sherry,

    “And a fig for your Sultan and Sophi.”

December 2.—­Laboured to make lee-way, and finished nearly seven pages to eke on to the end of the missing sheets when returned.  I have yoked Charles to Monsieur Surenne, an old soldier in Napoleon’s Italian army, and I think a clever little fellow, with good general ideas of etymology.  Signor Bugnie is a good Italian teacher; and for a German, why, I must look about.  It is not the least useful language of the leash.

December 3.—­A day of petty business, which killed a holiday.  Finished my tale of the Mirror;[85] went with Tom Allan to see his building at Lauriston, where he has displayed good taste—­supporting instead of tearing down or destroying the old chateau, which once belonged to the famous Mississippi Law.  The additions are in very good taste, and will make a most comfortable house.  Mr. Burn, architect, would fain have had the old house pulled down, which I wonder at in him,[86] though it would have been the practice of most of his brethren.  When I came up to town I was just in time for the Bannatyne Club, where things are going on reasonably well.  I hope we may get out some good historical documents in the course of the winter.  Dined at the Royal Society Club.  At the society had some essays upon the specific weight of the ore of manganese, which was caviare to the President, and I think most of the members.  But it seemed extremely accurate, and I have little doubt was intelligible to those who had the requisite key.  We supped at Mr. Russell’s, where the conversation was as gay as usual.  Lieut-Col.  Ferguson was my guest at the dinner.