Memoirs of the Life of Sir Walter Scott, Bart.
Walter Scott to the Duke of Buccleuch, 11 December 1816
“Edinburgh, 11th Dec. 1816.
“My dear Lord Duke,
“Your Grace has been so much my constant and kind
friend and patron through the course of my life, that I trust I need no apology
for thrusting upon your consideration some ulterior views, which have been
suggested to me by my friends, and which I will either endeavour to prosecute,
time and place serving, or lay aside all thoughts of, as they appear to your
Grace feasible, and likely to be forwarded by your patronage. It has been
suggested to me, in a word, that there would be no impropriety in my being put
in nomination as a candidate for the situation of a Baron of Exchequer, when a
vacancy shall take place. The difference of the ![]()
| 48 | LIFE OF SIR WALTER SCOTT. | |
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emolument
between that situation and those which I now hold, is just L.400 a-year, so
that, in that point of view, it is not a very great object. But there is a
difference in the rank, and also in the leisure afforded by a Baron’s
situation; and a man may, without condemnation, endeavour, at my period of
life, to obtain as much honour and ease as he can handsomely come by. My
pretensions to such an honour (next to your Grace’s countenancing my
wishes) would rest very much on the circumstance that my nomination would
vacate two good offices (Clerk of Session and Sheriff of Selkirkshire) to the
amount of L.1000 and L.300 a-year; and, besides, would extinguish a pension of
L.300 which I have for life, over and above my salary as Clerk of Session, as
having been in office at the time when the Judicature Act deprived us of a part
of our vested fees and emoluments. The extinction of this pension would be just
so much saved to the public. I am pretty confident also that I should be
personally acceptable to our friend the Chief
Baron.* But whether all or any of these circumstances will weigh
much in my favour, must solely and entirely rest with your Grace, without whose
countenance it would be folly in me to give the matter a second thought. With
your patronage, both my situation and habits of society may place my hopes as
far as any who are likely to apply; and your interest would be strengthened by
the opportunity of placing some good friend in Selkirkshire, besides converting
the Minstrel of the Clan into a Baron, a transmutation worthy of so powerful
and kind a chief. But if your Grace thinks I ought to drop thoughts of this
preferment, I am bound to say, that I think myself as well provided for * The late Right Honourable Robert Dundas of Arniston, Chief Baron of
the Scotch Exchequer; one of Scott’s earliest and kindest friends
in that distinguished family. |
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| LETTER TO THE DUKE OF BUCCLEUCH. | 49 |
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by my friends and the
public as I have the least title to expect, and that I am perfectly contented
and grateful for what I have received. Ever your Grace’s faithful and
truly obliged servant,
Robert Dundas of Arniston (1758-1819)
The son of Robert Dundas (1713–1787), lord president of the court of session, and nephew
of Henry Dundas, viscount Melville; he was MP for Edinburghshire (1790-1801) and chief
baron of the exchequer in Scotland (1801).
