March 11.—­This day we had our meeting at Selkirk.  I found Borthwickbrae (late member) had sent the form of an address, which was finished by Mr. Andrew Lang.[432] It was the reverse of mine in every respect.  It was short, and to the point.  It only contained a remonstrance against the incorporation with [Peebles]shire, and left it to be inferred that they approved the Bill in other respects.[433] As I saw that it met the ideas of the meeting (six in number) better by far than such an address as mine, I instantly put it in my pocket.  But I endeavoured to add to their complaint of a private wrong a general clause, stating their sense of the hazard of passing a Bill full of such violent innovations at once on the public.  But though Harden, Alva, and Torwoodlee voted for this measure, it was refused by the rest of the meeting, to my disappointment; since in its present state it will not be attended to, and is in fact too milk-and-water to attract notice.  I am, however, personally out of the scrape; I was a fool to stir such a mess of skimmed milk with so honourable an action.[434] If some of the gentlemen of the press get hold of this story, what would they make of it, and how little would I care!  One thing is clear:  it gives me a right to decline future interference, and let the world wag, Sessa.[435]

March 12.—­Wrote the history of my four days’ labour in vain to Sandy Pringle, Whytbank, and so transeat with caeteris erroribus.  I only gave way to one jest.  A ratcatcher was desirous to come and complete his labours in my house, and I, who thought he only talked and laughed with the servants, recommended him to go to the head courts and meetings of freeholders, where he would find rats in plenty.

March 13.—­I have finally arranged a thorny transaction.  Mr. Cadell has an interest in some of the Novels, amounting to one-half; but the following are entirely my own, viz.:—­

St. Ronan’s Well, 3 vols. 
Tales of Crusaders, 4 "
First Chronicles, 2 "
Anne of Geierstein, 3 "
Redgauntlet, 3 "
Woodstock, 3 "
Second Chronicles, 3 "
Count Robert, 3 "

In all, twenty-four volumes, which will begin printing after Quentin Durward, and concludes the year 1831.  For half the property he proposes to pay 6000 guineas on 2d February 1831 [1832?].  I think that with this sum, and others coming in, I may reduce the debt to L45,000.

But I do not see clearly enough through this affair to accept this offer. First, I cannot see that there is wisdom in engaging Mr. Cadell in deep speculations, unless they served him very much.  I am, in this respect, a burnt child:  I have not forgotten the fire, or rather the furnace. Second, I think the property worth more, if publicly sold. Third, I cannot see any reasons which should render it advantageous for me to sell one half of this property, it being admittedly at the same [time] highly judicious to keep the other half.  This does not fadge. Fourth, As to the immediate command of the money, I am not pressed for it, not having any advantage by paying it a year or two sooner or later.  The actual proceeds of the sales will come in about 1834, and I daresay will not be far behind in amount the sum of L6000.