[185] The Omen, by Galt, had just been published.—­See Sir Walter’s review of this novel in the Miscellaneous Prose Works, vol. xviii. p. 333.  John Gait died at Greenock in April 1839.—­J.G.L.

[186] “A Letter from Malachi Malagrowther, Esq., to the Editor of the Edinburgh Weekly Journal, on the proposed Change of Currency, and other late alterations as they affect, or are intended to affect, the Kingdom of Scotland. 8 vo, Edin. 1826.”

The motto to the epistle was:—­

“When the pipes begin to play Tutti taittie to the drum, Out claymore and down wi’ gun, And to the rogues again.”

In the next edition it was suppressed, as some friends thought it might be misunderstood.  Mr. Croker in his reply had urged that if the author appealed to the edge of the claymore at Prestonpans, he might refer him to the point of the bayonet at Culloden.—­See Croker’s Correspondence, vol. i. pp. 317-320, and Scott’s Life, vol. viii. pp. 301-5.

[187] Lord Reston, who died at Gladsmuir in 1819.  He was one of Scott’s companions at the High School.—­See Life., vol. i. p. 40.

[188] See Gray’s Elegy.—­J.G.L.

[189] In Arthur Murphy’s farce of The Upholsterer, or What News?

[190] Lady Anna Maria Elliot, daughter of the first Earl of Minto.  She married Sir Rufane Donkin in 1832.

[191] Afterwards Lord Advocate, 1834 and 1835, and Judge under the title of Lord Murray from 1839; he died in 1859.

[192] The learned editor of the Acts of the Parliaments of Scotland, in 10 vols. folio, Edin. 1814-24; he succeeded Sir Walter as President of the Bannatyne Club in 1832, and died in 1852.

[193] Rose Court, where Mr. Clerk had a bachelor’s establishment, was situated immediately behind St. Andrew’s Church, George Street.  The name disappeared from our Street Directories shortly after Mr. Clerk’s death in 1847.

[194] Burns, in Johnson’s Musical Museum, No. 319.

[195] One of the nineteen original members of The Club.—­See Mr. Irving’s letter with names, Life, vol. i. pp. 207-8, and Scott’s joyous visit in 1793 to Meigle, pp. 292-4.

[196] Dalgleish was Sir Walter’s butler.  He said he cared not how much his wages were reduced—­but go he would not.—­J.G.L.

[197] Whin-cow—­Anglice, a bush of furze.—­J.G.L.

MARCH.

March 1.—­Malachi is in the Edinburgh Journal to-day, and reads like the work of an uncompromising right-forward Scot of the old school.  Some of the cautious and pluckless instigators will be afraid of their confederate; for if a man of some energy and openness of character happens to be on the same side with these truckling jobbers, they stand as much in awe of his vehemence as doth the inexperienced conjurer who invokes a fiend