“Your letter, this day received, namely Wednesday, gave me the greatest pleasure on account of the prosperous intelligence which it gives me of your own advancing prospects....  I take it for granted that you have looked to the income of future years before thinking of disposing of the profits of a successful one in a manner which cannot be supposed to produce positive Or direct advantage, but may rather argue some additional degree of expense.

“But this being premeesed, I cannot help highly approving of your going into Parliament, especially as a member entirely unfettered and left to act according to the weal of the public, or what you conceive such.  It is the broad turnpike to importance and consequence which you, as a man of talents in the full vigour of your youth, ought naturally to be ambitious of.  The present times threaten to bring in many occasions when there will and must be opportunities of a man distinguishing himself and serving his country.

“To go into the House without speaking would be useless.  I will frankly tell you that when I heard you speak you seemed always sufficiently up to the occasion both in words and matter, but too indifferent in the manner in which you pressed your argument, and therefore far less likely to attract attention than if you had seemed more earnestly persuaded of the truth and importance of what you have been saying.  I think you may gain advantage from taking this hint.  No one is disposed to weigh any man’s arguments more favourably than he himself does, and if you are not considered as gravely interested in what you say, and conscious of its importance, your audience will not be so....

“EDINBURGH, 20th May 1830.”

JUNE.

June, 1.—­Proofs and Court, the inevitable employment of the day.  Louisa Kerr dined with us, and Williams looked in.  We talked a good deal on Celtic witchery and fairy lore.  I was glad to renew my acquaintance with this able and learned man.

June 2.—­The Lockharts left us again this morning, and although three masons are clanking at their work to clear a well, the noise is mitigated, now the poor babies’ clang of tongues is removed.  I set myself to write, determining to avoid reasoning, and to bring in as many stories as possible.  Being a Teind Wednesday, I may work undisturbed, and I will try to get so far ahead as may permit a journey to Abbotsford on Saturday.  At nine o’clock was as far ahead as page 57.  It runs out well, and 150 pages will do.

June 3.—­Finished my proofs, and sent them off with copy.  I saw Mr. Dickinson[365] on Tuesday:  a right plain sensible man.  He is so confident in my matters, that, being a large creditor himself, he offers to come down, with the support of all the London creditors, to carry through any measure that can be devised for my behoof.  Mr. Cadell showed him that we are four years forward in matter prepared for the press.  Got Heath’s illustrations, which, I dare say, are finely engraved, but commonplace enough in point of art.