the nineteenth century at least, and for that purpose should admit of being executed progressively; then there should be no ornament other than that of strict architectural proportion, and the rooms should be accessible one through another, but divided with so many partitions, as to give ample room for shelves.  These small rooms would also facilitate the purposes of study.  Something of a lounging room would not be amiss, which might serve for meetings of Faculty occasionally.  I ought to take some interest in all this, and I do.  So I will attend the next meeting of committee.  Dined at Baron Hume’s, and met General Campbell of Lochnell, and his lady.

December 16.—­Worked hard to-day and only took a half hour’s walk with Hector Macdonald!  Colin Mackenzie unwell; his asthma seems rather to increase, notwithstanding his foreign trip!  Alas! long-seated complaints defy Italian climate.  We had a small party to dinner.  Captain and Mrs. Hamilton, Davidoff, Frank Scott, Harden, and his chum Charles Baillie, second son of Mellerstain, who seems a clever young man.[93] Two or three of the party stayed to take wine and water.

December 17.—­Sent off the beginning of the Chronicles to Ballantyne.  I hate cancels; they are a double labour.

Mr. Cowan, Trustee for Constable’s creditors, called in the morning by appointment, and we talked about the upset price of the copyrights of Waverley, etc.  I frankly told him that I was so much concerned that they should remain more or less under my control, that I was willing, with the advice of my trustees, to offer a larger upset than that of L4750, which had been fixed, and that I proposed the price set up should be L250 for the poetry, Paul’s letters, etc., and L5250 for the novels, in all L5500; but that I made this proposal under the condition, that in case no bidding should ensue, then the copyrights should be mine so soon as the sale was adjourned, without any one being permitted to bid after the sale.  It is to be hoped this high upset price will

    “Fright the fuds
    Of the pock-puds.”

This speculation may be for good or for evil, but it tends incalculably to increase the value of such copyrights as remain in my own person; and, if a handsome and cheap edition of the whole, with notes, can be instituted in conformity with Cadell’s plan, it must prove a mine of wealth, three-fourths of which will belong to me or my creditors.  It is possible, no doubt, that the works may lose their effect on the public mind; but this must be risked, and I think the chances are greatly in our favour.  Death (my own I mean) would improve the property, since an edition with a Life would sell like wildfire.  Perhaps those who read this prophecy may shake their heads and say, “Poor fellow, he little thought how he should see the public interest in him and his extinguished even during his natural existence.”  It may be so, but I will hope better.  This I know, that no literary speculation ever succeeded with me but where my own works were concerned; and that, on the other hand, these have rarely failed.  And so—­Vogue la galere!