Memoirs of the Life of Sir Walter Scott, Bart.
Walter Scott to Mrs Anne Scott, [21? September 1797]
“My Dear Mother,
“I should very ill deserve the care and affection with
which you have ever regarded me, were I to neglect my duty so far as to omit
consulting my father and you in the most
important step which I can possibly take in life, and upon the success of which
my future happiness must depend. It is with pleasure, I think, that I can avail
myself of your advice and instructions in an affair of so great importance as
that which I have at present on my hands. You will probably guess from this
preamble, that I am engaged in a matrimonial plan, which is really the case.
Though my acquaintance with the young lady has not been of long standing, this
circumstance is in some degree counterbalanced by the intimacy in which we have
lived, and by the opportunities which that intimacy has afforded me of
remarking her conduct and sentiments on many different occasions, some of which
were rather of a delicate nature, so that in fact I ![]()
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have seen more of her during the few weeks we have
been together, than I could have done after a much longer acquaintance,
shackled by the common forms of ordinary life. You will not expect from me a
description of her person,—for which I refer you to my brother, as also for a fuller account of all
the circumstances attending the business than can be comprised in the compass
of a letter. Without flying into raptures, for I must assure you that my
judgment as well as my affections are consulted upon this occasion; without
flying into raptures then, I may safely assure you, that her temper is sweet
and cheerful, her understanding good, and what I know will give you pleasure,
her principles of religion very serious. I have been very explicit with her
upon the nature of my expectations, and she thinks she can accommodate herself
to the situation which I should wish her to hold in society as my wife, which,
you will easily comprehend, I mean should neither be extravagant nor degrading.
Her fortune, though partly dependent upon her brother, who is high in office at
Madras, is very considerable—at present L.500 a-year. This, however, we must,
in some degree, regard as precarious,—I mean to the full extent; and indeed
when you know her you will not be surprised that I regard this circumstance
chiefly because it removes those prudential considerations which would
otherwise render our union impossible for the present. Betwixt her income and
my own professional exertions, I have little doubt we will be enabled to hold
the rank in society which my family and situation entitle me to fill.
“My dear mother, I cannot express to you the anxiety I
have that you will not think me flighty nor inconsiderate in this business.
Believe me, that experience, in one instance—you cannot fail to know to what I
allude—is too recent to permit my being so hasty in ![]()
| 270 | LIFE OF SIR WALTER SCOTT. | |
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my
conclusions as the warmth of my temper might have otherwise prompted. I am also
most anxious that you should be prepared to show her kindness, which I know the
goodness of your own heart will prompt, more especially when I tell you that
she is an orphan, without relations, and almost without friends. Her guardian
is, I should say was, for she is of age, Lord
Downshire, to whom I must write for his consent, a piece of
respect to which he is entitled for his care of her, and there the matter rests
at present. I think I need not tell you that if I assume the new character
which I threaten, I shall be happy to find that in that capacity, I may make
myself more useful to my brothers, and especially to Anne, than I could in any other. On the other
hand, I shall certainly expect that my friends will endeavour to show every
attention in their power to a woman who forsakes for me, prospects much more
splendid than what I can offer, and who comes into Scotland without a single
friend but myself. I find I could write a great deal more upon this subject,
but as it is late, and as I must write to my father, I shall restrain myself. I
think (but you are best judge) that in the circumstances which I stand, you
should write to her, Miss Carpenter, under
cover to me at Carlisle.
“Write to me very fully upon this important
subject—send me your opinion, your advice, and above all, your blessing; you
will see the necessity of not delaying a minute in doing so, and in keeping
this business strictly private, till you hear farther
from me, since you are not ignorant that even at this advanced period, an
objection on the part of Lord Downshire, or
many other accidents, may intervene; in which case, I should little wish my
disappointment to be public.
“Believe me, my dear mother,
ever your dutiful and affectionate son,
Anne Scott (1772-1801)
Walter Scott's younger and only sister; an earlier sister of the same name had died in
childhood.
John Scott (1769-1816)
Walter Scott's elder brother who served in the 73rd Regiment before retiring to Edinburgh
in 1810.
Walter Scott (1729-1799)
Walter Scott's father, son of Robert Scott of Sandyknowe; he was Writer to the Signet in
Edinburgh.
