[236] King John, Act iv.  So. 2.

[237] Archibald, second Lord Douglas, who died in 1844.

[238] John Greenshields, self-taught sculptor.  See Life, vol. ix. p. 281-288.  He died at the age of forty in 1835.

[239] As You Like It, Act II.  Sc. 3.

[240] Sir Henry Seton Steuart’s work on Planting was reviewed by Scott in the Quarterly.—­See Misc.  Prose Works, vol. xxi.  Sir H. Steuart died in March 1836.

[241] See letter in Life, vol. ix. pp. 281-287.

[242] Originally published in London in 8vo, 1764.  This contemplated edition does not appear to have been printed.

[243] Ante, p. 118 n.

[244] As You Like It, Act II.  Sc. 3.

[245] See Beaumont and Fletcher, Knight of the Burning Pestle, Act I. Sc. 3.

[246]

Coelo supinas si tuleris manus Nascente luna, rustica Phidyle, etc.

Hor.  Lib. iii Od. 23.—­J.G.L.

[247] This letter, brimful of anecdote, is printed in Croker’s Correspondence, vol. ii. pp. 28-34.

[248] As You Like It, Act II.  Sc. 7.

FEBRUARY.

February 1.—­Domum mansi, lanam feci,—­stayed at home videlicet, and laboured without interruption except from intolerable drowsiness; finished eight leaves, however, the best day’s work I have made this long time.  No interruption, and I got pleased with my work, which ends the second volume of Anne of Geierstein.  After dinner had a letter from Lockhart, with happy tidings about the probability of the commission on the Stewart papers being dissolved.  The Duke of W. says commissions never either did or will do any good.  John will in that case be sole editor of these papers with an apartment at St. James’s cum plurimis aliis.  It will be a grand coup if it takes place.

February 2.—­Sent off yesterday’s work with proofs.  Could I do as toughly for a week—­and many a day I have done more—­I should be soon out of the scrape.  I wrote letters, and put over the day till one, when I went down with Sir James Stuart to see Stuart of Dunearn’s pictures now on sale.  I did not see much which my poor taste covets; a Hobbema much admired is, I think, as tame a piece of work as I ever saw.  I promised to try to get a good picture or two for the young Duke.

Dined with the old Club, instituted forty years ago.  There were present Lord Justice-Clerk, Lord Advocate, Sir Peter Murray, John Irving, William Clerk, and I. It was a party such as the meeting of fellow scholars and fellow students alone could occasion.  We told old stories; laughed and quaffed, and resolved, rashly perhaps, that we would hold the Club at least once a year, if possible twice.  We will see how this will fudge.  Our mirth was more unexpected as Sir Adam, our first fiddle, was wanting, owing to his family loss.