“31st Dec. 1819. In moving a bed from the fire-place to-day up stairs, I found an old memorandum-book, which enables me to trace the following recollections of this day, the last of the year.
“1801. A shopkeeper in Kelso; at this period my difficulties had not begun in business; was well, happy, and 27 years old; new then in a connexion which afterwards gave me great pain, but can never be forgotten.
“1802. 28 old: In Kelso as before—could scarcely be happier—hunted, shot, kept ********’s company, and neglected business, the fruits whereof I soon found.
“1803. 29: Still fortunate, and happy from same cause. James in Edinburgh thriving as a printer. When I was ennuied at home, visited him. Business neglected every way.
“1804. 30: Material change; getting into difficulties; all wrong, and changes in every way approaching.
“1805. 31: All consummated; health miserable all summer, and * * * designated in an erased mem., the scoundrel. I yet recollect the cause—can I ever forget it? My furniture, goods, &c. sold at Kelso, previous to my going to Edinburgh to become my brother’s clerk; whither I did go, for which God be praised eternally, on Friday, 3d January, 1806, on L.200 a-year. My effects at Kelso, with labour, paid my debts, and left me pennyless.
“From this period till 1808. 34: I continued in this situation—then the scheme of a bookselling concern in Hanover Street was adopted, which I was to manage; it was L.300 a-year, and one-fourth of the profits besides.
“1809. 35: Already the business in Hanover Street getting into difficulty, from our ignorance of its nature, and most extravagant and foolish advances from its funds to the printing concern. I ought to have resisted this, but I was thoughtless, although not young, or rather reckless, and lived on as long as I could make ends meet.
“1810. 36: Bills increasing—the destructive system of accommodations adopted.
| 78 | LIFE OF SIR WALTER SCOTT. |
“1811. 37: Bills increased to a most fearful degree. Sir Wm. Forbes and Co. shut their account. No bank would discount with us, and every thing leading to irretrievable failure.
“1812. 38: The first partner stepped in, at a crisis so tremendous, that it yet shakes my soul to think of it. By the most consummate wisdom, and resolution, and unheard-of exertions, he put things in a train that finally (so early as 1817) paid even himself (who ultimately became the sole creditor of the house) in full, with a balance of a thousand pounds.
“1813. 39: In business as a literary auctioneer in Prince’s Street; from which period to the present I have got gradually forward, both in that line and as third of a partner of the works of the Author of Waverley, so that I am now, at 45, worth about (I owe L.2000) L.5000, with, however, alas! many changes—my strong constitution much broken; my father and mother dead, and James estranged—the chief enjoyment and glory of my life being the possession of the friendship and confidence of the greatest of men.”
