making a blaze.  I sent the whole packet either to yourself or Cadell, with the request.  The copy, which I conclude is in your hands by the time this reaches you, might be set up as speedily and quietly as possible, taking some little care to draw the public attention to you, and consulting Lady Louisa about the proofs.  The fun is that our excellent friend had forgot the whole affair till I reminded her of her kindness, and was somewhat inclined, like Lady Teazle, to deny the butler and the coach-horse.  I have no doubt, however, she will be disposed to bring the matter to an end.  The mode of publication I fancy you will agree should rest with Cadell.  So, providing that the copy come to hand, which it usually does, though not very regularly, you will do me the kindness to get it out.  My story of Malta will be with you by the time you have finished the Letters, and if it succeeds it will in a great measure enable me to attain the long projected and very desirable object of clearing me from all old encumbrances and expiring as rich a man as I could desire in my own freehold.  And when you recollect that this has been wrought out in six years, the sum amounting to at least L120,000, it is somewhat of a novelty in literature.  I shall be as happy and rich as I please for the last days of my life, and play the good papa with my family without thinking on pounds, shillings, and pence.  Cadell, with so fair a prospect before him, is in high spirits, as you will suppose, but I had a most uneasy time from the interruption of our correspondence.  However, thank God, it is all as well as I could wish, and a great deal better than I ventured to hope.  After the Siege of Malta I intend to close the [series] of Waverley with a poem in the style of the Lay, or rather of the Lady of the Lake, to be a L’Envoy, or final postscript to these tales.  The subject is a curious tale of chivalry belonging to Rhodes.  Sir Frederick Adam will give me a cast of a steam-boat to visit Greece, and you will come and go with me.  We live in a Palazzo, which with a coach and the supporters thereof does not, table included, cost L120 or L130 a month.  So you will add nothing to our expenses, but give us the great pleasure of assisting you when I fear literary things have a bad time.  We will return to Europe through Germany, and see what peradventure we shall behold.  I have written repeatedly to you on this subject, for you would really like this country extremely.  You cannot tread on it but you set your foot upon some ancient history, and you cannot make scruple, as it is the same thing whether you or I are paymaster.  My health continues good, and bettering, as the Yankees say.  I have gotten a choice manuscript of old English Romances, left here by Richard, and for which I know I have got a lad can copy them at a shilling a day.  The King has granted me liberty to carry it home with me, which is very good-natured.  I expect to secure something for the Roxburghe Club.  Our posts begin to get more regular.  I hope dear baby is getting better of its accident, poor soul.—­Love to Sophia and Walter.

     Your affectionate Father,