“I am not asking nor desiring any loan from your
Grace, but merely the honour of your sanction to my credit as a good man for
L.4000; and the motive of your Grace’s interference would be sufficiently
obvious to the London Shylocks, as your constant kindness and protection is no
secret to the world. Will your Grace consider whether you can do what I
propose, in conscience and safety, and favour me with your answer?—I have a
very flattering offer from the Prince
Regent, of his own free motion, to make me poet-laureate; I am very
much embarrassed by it. I am, on the one hand, afraid of giving offence where
no one would willingly offend, and perhaps losing an opportunity of smoothing
the way to my youngsters through life; on the other hand, the office is a
ridiculous one, somehow or other they and I should be well quizzed,—yet that I
should not mind. My real feeling of reluctance lies deeper—it is, that favoured
as I have been by the public, I should be considered, with some justice, I
fear, as engrossing a petty emolument which
| 78 | LIFE OF SIR WALTER SCOTT. |
“P.S—I trust your Grace will not suppose me capable of making such a request as the enclosed, upon any idle or unnecessary speculation; but, as I stand situated, it is a matter of deep interest to me to prevent these copyrights from being disposed of either hastily or at under prices. I could have half the booksellers in London for my sureties, on a hint of a new poem; but bankers do not like people in trade, and my brains are not ready to spin another web. So your Grace must take me under your princely care, as in the days of lang syne; and I think I can say, upon the sincerity of an honest man, there is not the most distant chance of your having any trouble or expense through my means.”
