[509] John Hugh Lockhart died December 15, 1831.

[510] Sir W. Gell relates that an old English manuscript of the Romance of Sir Bevis of Hampton, existing in Naples, had attracted Scott’s attention, and he resolved to make a copy of it.

The transcript is now in the Library at Abbotsford, under the title, Old English Romances, transcribed from MSS. in the Royal Library at Naples, by Sticchini, 2 vols. sm. 8vo.

[511] See Appendix v. for Mr. Andrew Lang’s letter on this subject.

[512] The forty-shilling gold piece coined by James V. of Scotland.

[513] Sword-blades of peculiar excellence bearing the name of this maker have been known in Scotland since the reign of James IV.

[514] Altered from Wordsworth.

[515] The editor of Reliquiae Antiquae (2 vols. 8vo, London, 1843), writing ten years after this visit, says, that “The Chevalier de Licteriis [Chief Librarian in the Royal Library] showed him the manuscript, and well remembered his drawing Sir Walter’s attention to it in 1832.”

[516] Sir W. Gell records that on the morning he received the good news he called upon him and said he felt quite relieved by his letters, and added, “I could never have slept straight in my coffin till I had satisfied every claim against me; and now,” turning to a favourite dog that was with them in the carriage he said, “My poor boy, I shall have my house and my estate round it free, and I may keep my dogs as big and as many as I choose without fear of reproach.”—­Life, vol.  X. p. 160.

[517] Viz, Faldonside, an estate adjacent to Abbotsford which Scott had long wished to possess.  As far back as November 1817 he wrote a friend:  “My neighbour, Nicol Milne, is mighty desirous I should buy, at a mighty high rate, some land between me and the lake which lies mighty convenient, but I am mighty determined to give nothing more than the value, so that it is likely to end like the old proverb, Ex Nichilo Nichil fit.”

FEBRUARY.

February 10.—­We went to Pompeii to-day:  a large party, all disposed to enjoy the sight in this fine weather.  We had Sir Frederick and Lady Adam, Sir William Gell, the coryphaeus of our party, who played his part very well.  Miss de la Ferronays,[518] daughter of Monsieur le Duc de la Ferronays, the head, I believe, of the constitutional Royalists, very popular in France, and likely to be called back to the ministry, with two or three other ladies, particularly Mrs. Ashley, born Miss Baillie,[519] very pretty indeed, and lives in the same house.  The Countess de la Ferronays has a great deal of talent both musical and dramatic.

February 16.—­Sir William Gell called and took me out to-night to a bookseller whose stock was worth looking over.