The Life and Letters of John Gibson Lockhart
Chapter 13: 1826
John Gibson Lockhart to Lawrence Lockhart, 6 July 1826
“My dear Lawrence,—Here we are now settled for three months more,
certain—for the doctors all united that, as Johnnie was so much improved ![]()
| 410 | LIFE OF J. G. LOCKHART. | |
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by the air
and bathing, it would be madness to remove him from the coast before October.
We shall pass October and November in London, and the winter months in some of
the villages near it, for the doctors say that it would kill the poor boy to be
in town during the dark and foggy season. Our present plans are to be at
Chiefswood in the beginning of June, for the whole summer of 1827. But who can
speak boldly about so distant a period?
“We have met with many sore disappointments since I
saw you last. But there is no use in repining; we must e’en take the
world as we find it; and I would fain hope for better days hereafter, though I
have thoroughly ceased to have any very sanguine dreams. My wife’s even
and firm temper accommodates itself wonderfully to changes and chances, and if
Johnnie recovers, and the baby
continues to thrive as it is doing, we ought to be satisfied at home. . . .
“Violet will
soon be at home now.1 I fear my dearest mother has a poor dull life when she is away,
and I have felt for her extremely, leaving Germiston at the very bloom of the
season. . . .”2
Elizabeth Lockhart [née Gibson] (d. 1834)
The daughter of Rev. John Gibson, minister of St. Cuthbert’s in Edinburgh; in 1793 she
became of the second wife of John Lockhart (1761-1842).
John Hugh Lockhart (1821-1831)
The first child of John Gibson Lockhart and his wife Sophia, for whom Sir Walter Scott
wrote
Tales of a Grandfather (1828-1831).
Lawrence Lockhart (1795-1876)
The son of the Rev. John Lockhart and younger brother of John Gibson Lockhart; he was
minister of Inchinnan (1822-60) after which he resided on the family estate at Milton
Lockhart.
Violet Lockhart (1801-1849)
The second daughter of the Rev. John Lockhart and younger sister of John Gibson Lockhart;
she died unmarried.
