December 31.—­My two young friends left this morning, but not without renewing our conversation of last night.  We carried on the little amusements of the day, and spent our Hogmanay pleasantly enough, in spite of very bad auguries.

FOOTNOTES: 

[405] See Life, vol. x. pp. 10-25.

[406]

“From Marlborough’s eyes the streams of dotage flow, And Swift expires a driveller and a show.”—­Johnson’s Vanity of Human Wishes.

[407] Mr. Cadell and Mr. Ballantyne had arrived at Abbotsford on the 18th, bringing with them the good news from Edinburgh of the payment of the second dividend, and of the handsome conduct of the creditors.  There had been a painful discussion between them and Sir Walter during the early part of the winter on Count Robert of Paris, particulars of which are given in the Life (vol. x. pp. 6, 10-17, 21-23), but they found their host much better than they had ventured to anticipate, and he made the gift of his library the chief subject of conversation during the evening.  Next morning Mr. Ballantyne was asked to read aloud a political essay on Reform—­intended to be a Fourth Epistle of Malachi.  After careful consideration, the critical arbiters concurred in condemning the production, but suggested a compromise.  His friends left him on the 21st, and the essay, though put in type, was never published.  Proof and MS. were finally consigned to the flames!—­Life, vol. x. pp. 21-25.

[408] An account of this incident is given by an eye-witness, Mr. Peter Rodger, Procurator-Fiscal, who says:  “The prisoner, thinking it a good chance of escaping, made a movement in direction of the door.  This Sir Walter detected in time to descend from the Bench and place himself in the desperate man’s path.  ‘Never!’ said he; ’if you do, it will be over the body of an old man.’  Whereupon the other officials of the Court came to the Sheriff’s assistance and the prisoner was secured.”—­Craig-Brown’s Selkirkshire, vol. ii. p. 141.

[409] Count Robert of Paris.

1831.

JANUARY.

January 1, 1831.—­I cannot say the world opens pleasantly with me this new year.  I will strike the balance.  There are many things for which I have reason to be thankful.

First.—­Cadell’s plans seem to have succeeded, and he augurs well as to the next two years, reckoning L30,000 on the stuff now on hand, and L20,000 on the insurance money, and L10,000 to be borrowed somehow.  This will bring us wonderfully home.

Second.—­Cadell is of opinion if I meddle in politics, and I am strongly tempted to do so, I shall break the milk-pail, and threatens me with the fate of Basil Hall, who, as he says, destroyed his reputation by writing impolitic politics.  Well, it would be my risk, and if I can do some good, which I rather think I can, is it right or manly to keep myself back?