I only know that to live as I am just now is a gift little worth having.  I think I will be in the Secret next week unless I recruit greatly.

April 27.—­They have cut me off from animal food and fermented liquor of every kind, and would press upon me such trash as panada and the like, which affect my stomach.

This I will none of, but quietly wait till my ordinary diet is permitted, and thank God I can fast with any one.  I walked out and found the day delightful; the woods are looking charming, just bursting forth to the tune of the birds.  I have been whistling on my wits like so many chickens, and cannot miss any of them.  I feel, on the whole, better than I have yet done.  I believe I have fined and recovered, and so may be thankful.

April 28 and 29.—­Walter made his appearance, well and stout, and completely recovered of his stomach complaints by abstinence.  He has youth on his side, and I in age must submit to be a Lazarus.  The medical men persist in recommending a seton.  I am no friend to these risky remedies, and will be sure of the necessity before I yield consent.  The dying like an Indian under torture is no joke, and, as Commodore Trunnion says, I feel heart-whole as a biscuit.  My mind turns to politics.  I feel better just now, and so I am.  I will wait till Lockhart comes, but that may be too late.

FOOTNOTES: 

[445] Henry Liddell, second Baron Ravensworth, author of a translation of the Odes of Horace, a volume of Latin Poems, etc.

[446] In a letter from Sir Walter to his son-in-law, of April 11th, he says:—­

“When you can take an hour to think of this, I will be glad to hear from you....  I am in possession of five or six manuscripts, copies, or large extracts, taken under my own eyes.  Croker thinks, and I am of his opinion, that if there was room for a personal narrative of the character, it would answer admirably.”

[447] This gentleman, a brother to the Laird of Raeburn, had made some fortune in the East Indies, and bestowed the name of Ravenswood on a villa which he built near Melrose.  He died in 1831.—­J.G.L.

[448] The Manuscripts were sold by auction in London on August 19th, 1831, and the prices realised fell far short of what might have been expected, e.g. (1) Monastery, L18; (2) Guy Mannering, L27, 10s.; (3) Old Mortality, L33; (4) Antiquary, L42; (5) Rob Roy, L50; (6) Peveril of the Peak, L42; (7) Waverley, L18; (8) Abbot, L14; (9) Ivanhoe, L12; (10) Pirate, L12; (11) Nigel, L16, 16s.; (12) Kenilworth, L17; (13) Bride of Lammermoor, L14, 14s.—­Total L317.—­See David Laing’s Catalogue, pp. 99-108, for an account of the dispersion and sales of the original MSS., prose and poetry.

[449] Miss J. Erskine, a daughter of Lord Kinnedder’s.  She died in 1838.—­J.G.L.