J. G. Lockhart: Life of Walter Scott

“Charlecote is in high preservation, and inhabited by Mr Lucy, descendant of the worshipful Sir Thomas. The Hall is about three hundred years old, a brick mansion with a gate-house in advance. It is surrounded by venerable oaks, realizing the imagery which Shakspeare loved to dwell upon; rich verdant pastures extend on every side, and numerous herds of deer were reposing in the shade. All showed that the Lucy family had retained their ‘land and beeves.’ While we were surveying the antlered old hall, with its painted glass and family pictures, Mr Lucy came to welcome us in person, and to show the house, with the collection of paintings, which seems valuable.

“He told me the park from which Shakspeare stole the buck was not that which surrounds Charlecote, but belonged to a mansion at some distance, where Sir Thomas Lucy resided at the time of the trespass. The tradition went that they hid the buck in a barn, part of which was standing a few years ago, but now totally decayed. This park no longer belongs to the Lucys. The house bears no marks of decay, but seems the abode of ease and opulence. There were some fine old books, and I was told of many more which were not in order. How odd if a folio Shakspeare should be found amongst them. Our early breakfast did not permit taking advantage of an excellent repast offered by the kindness of Mr and Mrs Lucy, the last a lively Welshwoman. This visit gave me great pleasure; it really brought Justice Shallow freshly before my eyes;—the luces ‘which do become an old coat well,’* were
* Henry IV., Act III., Scene 2.

124 LIFE OF SIR WALTER SCOTT.
not more plainly portrayed in his own armorials in the hall window, than was his person in my mind’s eye. There is a picture shown as that of the old Sir Thomas, but Mr Lucy conjectures it represents his son. There were three descents of the same name of Thomas. The portrait hath ‘the eye severe, and beard of formal cut,’ which fill up with judicial austerity the otherwise social physiognomy of the worshipful presence, with his ‘fair round belly, with good capon lined.’*

“Regent’s Park, April 17.—Made up my journal, which had fallen something behind. In this phantasmagorial place the objects of the day come and depart like shadows. Went to Murray’s, where I met Mr Jacob, the great economist. He is proposing a mode of supporting the poor, by compelling them to labour under a species of military discipline. I see no objection to it, only it will make a rebellion to a certainty; and the tribes of Jacob will cut Jacob’s throat.†

“Canning’s conversion from popular opinions was strangely brought round. While he was studying in the Temple, and rather entertaining revolutionary opinions, Godwin sent to say that he was coming to breakfast with him, to speak on a subject of the highest importance. Canning knew little of him, but received his visit, and learned to his astonishment, that in expectation of a new order of things, the English Jacobins designed to place him, Canning, at the head of their revolution. He was much struck, and asked time to think what course he should take—and having thought the matter over, he went to Mr Pitt, and made the Anti-Jacobin confession of faith, in which he persevered
* As You Like It, Act I., Scene 7.
† I believe Mr Jacob published at this time some tracts concerning the Poor Colonies instituted by the King of the Netherlands.

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until ——. Canning himself mentioned this to Sir W. Knighton upon occasion of giving a place in the Charter-house of some ten pounds a-year to Godwin’s brother. He could scarce do less for one who had offered him the dictator’s curule chair.

“Dined with Rogers with all my own family, and met Sharp, Lord John Russell, Jekyll, and others. The conversation flagged as usual, and jokes were fired like minute-guns, producing an effect not much less melancholy. A wit should always have an atmosphere congenial to him, otherwise he will not shine.

“April 18.—Breakfasted at Hampstead with Joanna Baillie, and found that gifted person extremely well, and in the display of all her native knowledge of character and benevolence. I would give as much to have a capital picture of her as for any portrait in the world. Dined with the Dean of Chester, Dr Philpotts—
‘Where all above us was a solemn row
Of priests and deacons—so were all below.’*
There were the amiable Bishop of London (Howley), Copplestone, whom I remember the first man at Oxford, now Bishop of Llandaff, and Dean of St Paul’s (strongly intelligent), and other dignitaries, of whom I knew less. It was a very pleasant day—the wigs against the wits for a guinea, in point of conversation. Anne looked queer, and much disposed to laugh, at finding herself placed betwixt two prelates in black petticoats.

“April 19.—Breakfasted with Sir George Phillips. Had his receipt against the blossoms being injured by frost. It consists in watering them plentifully before sunrise. This is like the mode of thawing beef. We
* Crabbe’s Tale of ‘the Dumb Orators.’

126 LIFE OF SIR WALTER SCOTT.
had a pleasant morning, much the better that Morritt was with us. Dined with Sir Robert Inglis, and met Sir Thomas Acland, my old and kind friend. I was happy to see him. He may be considered now as the head of the religious party in the House of Commons, a powerful body which Wilberforce long commanded. It is a difficult situation; for the adaptation of religious motives to earthly policy is apt among the infinite delusions of the human heart to be a snare. But I could confide much in Sir T. Acland’s honour and integrity. Bishop Bloomfield of Chester, one of the most learned prelates of the church, also dined.

“April 22.—Sophia left this to take down poor Johnnie to Brighton. I fear—I fear—but we must hope the best. Anne went with her sister.

“Lockhart and I dined with Sotheby, where we met a large party, the orator of which was that extraordinary man Coleridge. After eating a hearty dinner, during which he spoke not a word, he began a most learned harangue on the Samothracian Mysteries, which he regards as affording the germ of all tales about fairies past, present, and to come. He then diverged to Homer, whose Iliad he considered as a collection of poems by different authors, at different times, during a century. Morritt, a zealous worshipper of the old bard, was incensed at a system which would turn him into a polytheist, gave battle with keenness, and was joined by Sotheby. Mr Coleridge behaved with the utmost complaisance and temper, but relaxed not from his exertions. ‘Zounds, I was never so bethumped with words.’ Morritt’s impatience must have cost him an extra sixpence worth of snuff.

“April 23.—Dined at Lady Davy’s with Lord
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and Lady Lansdowne and several other fine folks—my keys were sent to Bramah’s with my desk, so I have not had the means of putting down matters regularly for several days. But who cares for the whipp’d cream of London society?

“April 24.—Spent the day in rectifying a road bill which drew a turnpike road through all the Darnickers’ cottages, and a good field of my own. I got it put to rights. I was in some apprehension of being obliged to address the Committee. I did not fear them, for I suppose they are no wiser or better in their capacity of legislators than I find them every day at dinner. But I feared for my reputation. They would have expected something better than the occasion demanded, or the individual could produce, and there would have been a failure. We had one or two persons at home in great wretchedness to dinner. I was not able to make any fight, and the evening went off as heavily as any I ever spent in the course of my life.

“April 26.—We dined at Richardson’s with the two Chief Barons of England* and Scotland,† odd enough, the one being a Scotsman and the other an Englishman—far the pleasantest day we have had. I suppose I am partial, but I think the lawyers beat the bishops, and the bishops beat the wits.

“April 26.—This morning I went to meet a remarkable man, Mr Boyd of the house of Boyd, Benfield, & Co., which broke for a very large sum at the beginning of the war. Benfield went to the devil I believe. Boyd, a man of very different stamp, went over to Paris to look after some large claims which his house had
* Sir William Alexander. † Sir Samuel Shepherd.

128 LIFE OF SIR WALTER SCOTT.
on the French Government. They were such as, it seems, they could not disavow, however they might be disposed to do so. But they used every effort, by foul means and fair, to induce Mr Boyd to depart. He was reduced to poverty; he was thrown into prison: and the most flattering prospects were, on the other hand, held out to him if he would compromise his claims. His answer was uniform. It was the property, he said, of his creditors, and he would die ere he resigned it. His distresses were so great, that a subscription was made amongst his Scottish friends, to which I was a contributor, through the request of poor Will Erskine. After the peace of Paris the money was restored, and, faithful to the last, Boyd laid the whole at his creditors’ disposal; stating, at the same time, that he was penniless unless they consented to allow him a moderate sum in name of per centage, in consideration of twenty years of exile, poverty, and danger, all of which evils he might have escaped by surrendering their rights. Will it be believed, that a muck-worm was base enough to refuse his consent to this deduction, alleging he had promised to his father, on his death-bed, never to compromise this debt? The wretch, however, was overpowered by the execrations of all around him, and concurred, with others, in setting apart for Mr Boyd a sum of L.40,000 or L.50,000 out of half a million. This is a man to whom statues should be erected, and pilgrims should go to see him. He is good looking, but old and infirm. Bright dark eyes and eyebrows contrast with his snowy hair, and all his features mark vigour of principle and resolution.

“April 30.—We have Mr Adolphus, and his father, the celebrated lawyer, to breakfast, and I was greatly delighted with the information of the latter. A barrister
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of extended practice, if he has any talents at all, is the best companion in the world. Dined with Lord Alvanley and met Lord Fitzroy Somerset, Marquis and Marchioness of Worcester, &c. Lord Alvanley’s wit made this party very pleasant, as well as the kind reception of my friends the Misses Arden.

“May 1.—Breakfasted with Lord and Lady Francis Gower, and enjoyed the splendid treat of hearing Mrs Arkwright sing her own music, which is of the highest order—no forced vagaries of the voice, no caprices of tone, but all telling upon and increasing the feeling the words require. This is ‘marrying music to immortal verse.’ Most people place them on separate maintenance.*

“May 2.—I breakfasted with a Mr ——, and narrowly escaped Mr Irving the celebrated preacher. The two ladies of his house seemed devoted to his opinions, and quoted him at every word. Mr —— himself made some apologies for the Millenium. He is a neat antiquary, who thinks he ought to have been a man of letters, and that his genius has been misdirected in
* Among other songs Mrs Arkwright (see ante, p. 77), delighted Sir Walter with her own set of—
“Farewell! Farewell!—the voice you hear
Has left its last soft tone with you,
Its next must join the seaward cheer,
And shout among the shouting crew,” &c.
He was sitting by me, at some distance from the lady, and whispered as she closed, “capital words whose are they? Byron’s I suppose, but I don’t remember them.” He was astonished when I told him that they were his own in the Pirate—he seemed pleased at the moment—but said next minute—“You have distressed me—if memory goes, all is up with me, for that was always my strong point.”

130 LIFE OF SIR WALTER SCOTT.
turning towards the law. I endeavoured to combat this idea, which his handsome house and fine family should have checked. Compare his dwelling, his comforts, with poor Tom Campbell’s.

“May 5.—Breakfasted with Haydon, and sat for my head. I hope this artist is on his legs again. The King has given him a lift, by buying his clever picture of the Mock Election in the King’s Bench prison, to which he is adding a second part, representing the chairing of the member at the moment it was interrupted by the entry of the guards. Haydon was once a great admirer and companion of the champions of the Cockney school, and is now disposed to renounce them and their opinions. To this kind of conversation I did not give much way. A painter should have nothing to do with politics. He is certainly a clever fellow, but too enthusiastic, which, however, distress seems to have cured in some degree. His wife, a pretty woman, looked happy to see me, and that is something. Yet it was very little I could do to help them.*

“May 8.—Dined with Mrs Alexander of Ballochmyle: Lord and Lady Meath, who were kind to us in Ireland, and a Scottish party, pleasant from having the broad accents and honest thoughts of my native land. A large circle in the evening. A gentleman came up to me and asked ‘If I had seen the Casket, a curious work, the most beautiful, the most highly ornamented,—and then the editor or editress—a female so interesting,—might he ask a very great favour?’ and
* Sir Walter had shortly before been one of the contributors to a subscription for Mr Haydon. The imprisonment from which this subscription relieved the artist produced, I need scarcely say, the picture mentioned in the Diary.

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out he pulled a piece of this pic-nic. I was really angry, and said for a subscription he might command me—for a contributor—No. This may be misrepresented, but I care not. Suppose this patron of the Muses gives five guineas to his distressed lady, he will think he does a great deal, yet he takes fifty from me with the calmest air in the world; for the communication is worth that if it be worth any thing. There is no equalizing in the proposal.

“May 9.—Grounds of Foote’s farce of the Cozeners. Lady —— A certain Mrs Phipps audaciously set up in a fashionable quarter of the town as a person through whose influence, properly propitiated, favours and situations of importance might certainly be obtained always for a consideration. She cheated many people, and maintained the trick for months. One trick was to get the equipages of Lord North, and other persons of importance, to halt before her door, as if their owners were within. With respect to most of them, this was effected by bribing the drivers. But a gentleman who watched her closely, observed that Charles J. Fox actually left his carriage and went into the house, and this more than once. He was then, it must be noticed, in the Ministry. When Mrs Phipps was blown up, this circumstance was recollected as deserving explanation, which Fox readily gave at Brookes’ and elsewhere. It seems Mrs Phipps had the art to persuade him that she had the disposal of what was then called a hyæna, that is, an heiress—an immense Jamaica heiress, in whom she was willing to give or sell her interest to Charles Fox. Without having perfect confidence in the obliging proposal, the great statesman thought the thing worth looking after, and became so earnest in it, that Mrs Phipps was desirous to back out for fear of discovery.
132 LIFE OF SIR WALTER SCOTT.
With this view she made confession one fine morning, with many professions of the deepest feelings, that the hyæna had proved a frail monster, and given birth to a girl or boy—no matter which. Even this did not make Charles quit chase of the hyæna. He intimated that if the cash was plenty and certain, the circumstance might be overlooked. Mrs Phipps had nothing for it but to double the disgusting dose. ‘The poor child,’ she said, ‘was unfortunately of a mixed colour, somewhat tinged with the blood of Africa; no doubt Mr Fox was himself very dark, and the circumstance might not draw attention,’ &c. &c. This singular anecdote was touched upon by Foote, and is the cause of introducing the negress into the Cozeners, though no express allusion to Charles Fox was admitted. Lady —— tells me that, in her youth, the laugh was universal so soon as the black woman appeared. It is one of the numerous hits that will be lost to posterity.

“This day, at the request of Sir William Knighton, I sat to Northcote, who is to introduce himself in the same piece in the act of painting me, like some pictures of the Venetian school. The artist is an old man, low in stature, and bent with years—fourscore at least. But the eye is quick and the countenance noble. A pleasant companion, familiar with recollections of Sir Joshua, Samuel Johnson, Burke, Goldsmith, &c. His account of the last confirms all that we have heard of his oddities.

“May 11.—Another long sitting to the old Wizard Northcote. He really resembles an animated mummy. Dined with his Majesty in a very private party, five or six only being present. I was received most kindly, as usual. It is impossible to conceive a more friendly manner than that his Majesty used towards me. I spoke to Sir William Knighton about the dedication of the
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collected novels, and he says it will be highly well taken.*

“May 17.—A day of busy idleness. Richardson came and breakfasted with me, like a good fellow. Then I went to Mr Chantrey. Thereafter, about 12 o’clock, I went to breakfast the second at Lady Shelley’s, where there was a great morning party. A young lady begged a lock of my hair, which was not worth refusing. I stipulated for a kiss, which I was permitted to take. From this I went to the Duke of Wellington, who gave me some hints or rather details. Afterwards I drove out to Chiswick, where I had never been before. A numerous and gay party were assembled to walk and enjoy the beauties of that Palladian dome. The place and highly ornamented gardens belonging to it resemble a picture of Watteau. There is some affectation in the picture, but in the ensemble the original looked very well. The Duke of Devonshire received every one with the best possible manners. The scene was dignified by the presence of an immense elephant, who, under charge of a groom, wandered up and down, giving an air of Asiatic pageantry to the entertainment. I was never before sensible of the dignity which largeness of size and freedom of movement give to this otherwise very ugly animal. As I was to dine at Holland House, I did not partake in the magnificent repast which was offered to us, and took myself off about five o’clock. I contrived to make a demi-toilette at Holland House, rather than drive all the way to London. Rogers came to the dinner, which was very entertaining. Lady Holland pressed us to stay all night, which we did accordingly.

“May 18.—The freshness of the air, the singing of
* The Magnum Opus was dedicated to King George IV.

134 LIFE OF SIR WALTER SCOTT.
the birds, the beautiful aspect of nature, the size of the venerable trees, gave me altogether a delightful feeling this morning. It seemed there was pleasure even in living and breathing without any thing else. We (i. e. Rogers and I) wandered into a green lane, bordered with fine trees, which might have been twenty miles from a town. It will be a great pity when this ancient house must come down and give way to rows and crescents. It is not that Holland House is fine as a building,—on the contrary it has a tumble-down look; and although decorated with the bastard Gothic of James I.’s time, the front is heavy. But it resembles many respectable matrons, who having been absolutely ugly during youth, acquire by age an air of dignity. But one is chiefly affected by the air of deep seclusion which is spread around the domain.

“May 19.—Dined by command with the Duchess of Kent. I was very kindly recognised by Prince Leopold—and presented to the little Princess Victoria—I hope they will change her name—the heir-apparent to the crown as things now stand. How strange that so large and fine a family as that of his late Majesty should have died off, or decayed into old age, with so few descendants. Prince George of Cumberland is, they say, a fine boy about nine years old—a bit of a Pickle. This little lady is educating with much care, and watched so closely that no busy maid has a moment to whisper, ‘You are heir of England.’ I suspect if we could dissect the little heart, we should find that some pigeon or other bird of the air had carried the matter. She is fair, like the Royal family—the Duchess herself very pleasing and affable in her manners. I sat by Mr Spring Rice, a very agreeable man. There were also Charles Wynn and his lady—and the evening, for a court evening, went agreeably
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off. I am commanded for two days by Prince Leopold, but will send excuses.

“May 24.—This day dined at Richmond Park with Lord Sidmouth. Before dinner his Lordship showed me letters which passed between his father, Dr. Addington, and the great Lord Chatham. There was much of that familiar friendship which arises, and must arise, between an invalid, the head of an invalid family, and their medical adviser, supposing the last to be a wise and wellbred man. The character of Lord Chatham’s handwriting is strong and bold, and his expressions short and manly. There are intimations of his partiality for William, whose health seems to have been precarious during boyhood. He talks of William imitating him in all he did, and calling for ale because his father was recommended to drink it. ‘If I should smoke,’ he said, ‘William would instantly call for a pipe;’ and, he wisely infers, ‘I must take care what I do.’ The letters of the late William Pitt are of great curiosity; but as, like all real letters of business, they only allude to matters with which his correspondent is well acquainted, and do not enter into details, they would require an ample commentary. I hope Lord Sidmouth will supply this, and have urged it as much as I can. I think, though I hate letters, and abominate interference, I will write to him on this subject. Here I met my old and much esteemed friend, Lord Stowell, looking very frail and even comatose. Quantum mutatus. He was one of the pleasantest men I ever knew.

“Respecting the letters, I picked up from those of Pitt that he was always extremely desirous of peace with France, and even reckoned upon it at a moment when he ought to have despaired. I suspect this false view of the state of France (for such it was) which in-
136 LIFE OF SIR WALTER SCOTT.
duced the British Minister to look for peace when there was no chance of it, damped his ardour in maintaining the war. He wanted the lofty ideas of his father—you read it in his handwriting, great statesman as he was. I saw a letter or two of Burke’s, in which there is an epanchement de cœur not visible in those of Pitt, who writes like a Premier to his colleague. Burke was under the strange hallucination that his son, who predeceased him, was a man of greater talents than himself. On the contrary, he had little talent, and no nerve. On moving some resolutions in favour of the Catholics, which were ill-received by the House of Commons, young Burke actually ran away, which an Orangeman compared to a cross-reading in the newspapers. ‘Yesterday the Catholic resolutions were moved, &c. but the pistol missing fire, the villains ran off!!’”

“May 25.—After a morning of letter-writing, leave-taking, papers destroying, and God knows what trumpery, Sophia and I set out for Hampton Court, carrying with us the following lions and lionesses—Samuel Rogers, Tom Moore, Wordsworth, with wife and daughter. “We were very kindly and properly received by Walter and his wife, and had a very pleasant day. At parting Rogers gave me a gold-mounted pair of glasses, which I will not part with in a hurry. I really like S. R., and have always found him most friendly.”

Sir Thomas Dyke Acland, tenth baronet (1787-1871) Tory politician and philanthropist, educated at Harrow and Christ Church, Oxford; he was MP for Devon (1812-18, 1820-31) and North Devon (1837-57). He was a founder of Grillion's Club and active in religious causes.

Anthony Addington (1713-1790) English physician educated at Winchester and Trinity College, Oxford; William Pitt was his patient and friend. He was the father of Henry Addington, the prime minister

Henry Addington, first viscount Sidmouth [The Doctor] (1757-1844) A political disciple of William Pitt, he was Speaker of the House of Commons, 1789-1801, and prime minister, 1801-1804.

John Adolphus (1768-1845) English barrister; he was author of History of England from the Accession of George III to the Conclusion of Peace in 1783 (1802). He was a political associate of Henry Addington and a writer for the British Critic.

John Leycester Adolphus (1794-1862) The son of the historian; educated at Merchant Taylors' School and St John's College, Oxford, he was a barrister of the Inner Temple. In Letters to Richard Heber (1821) he demonstrated that the Waverley Novels were written by Walter Scott.

Elizabeth Georgina Alexander [née Keatinge] (d. 1843) The daughter of Col. Keatinge and Martha Brabazon; in 1809 she became the second wife of Claud Alexander of Ballochmyle (d. 1845).

Sir William Alexander (1755-1842) Educated at the Middle Temple, he was King's Counsel (1800) and Lord Chief Baron of the Exchequer (1824-31).

William Arden, second baron Alvanley (1789-1849) The son of Sir Richard Pepper Arden, first Baron Alvanley; he was a friend of Beau Brummell with a reputation as a wit and a spendthrift.

Frances Crawford Arkwright [née Kemble] (1787-1849) The daughter of Elizabeth and Stephen Kemble; in 1805 she married Captain Robert Arkwright.

Joanna Baillie (1762-1851) Scottish poet and dramatist whose Plays on the Passions (1798-1812) were much admired, especially the gothic De Montfort, produced at Drury Lane in 1800.

Paul Benfield (1741-1810) Indian nabob who entered into an unfortunate banking partnership with Walter Boyd; he died a pauper interned in France during the war.

Charles James Blomfield, bishop of London (1786-1857) Classical scholar and Tory prelate; he was bishop of Chester (1824) and bishop of London (1828-57).

Walter Boyd (1753-1837) Scottish-born financier who operated out of Paris in partnership with Sir Robert Herries; he was MP for Shaftesbury (1796-1802) and Lymington (1823-30).

John Chambré Brabazon, tenth earl of Meath (1772-1851) The son of the eighth Earl of Meath (d. 1790); he succeeded his brother in 1797 and was Lord Lieutenant of County Dublin.

Melosina Adelaide Brabazon, countess of Meath [née Meade] (1781 c.-1866) The daughter of John Meade, first Earl of Clanwilliam; in 1801 she married John Chambré Brabazon, tenth Earl of Meath.

Edmund Burke (1729-1797) Irish politician and opposition leader in Parliament, author of On the Sublime and Beautiful (1757) and Reflections on the Revolution in France (1790).

Richard Burke (1758-1794) The son of Edmund Burke; he was educated at Westminster and was briefly MP for Malton (1794) before his early death.

George Gordon Byron, sixth Baron Byron (1788-1824) The author of Childe Harold and Don Juan.

Thomas Campbell (1777-1844) Scottish poet and man of letters; author of The Pleasures of Hope (1799), Gertrude of Wyoming (1808) and lyric odes. He edited the New Monthly Magazine (1821-30).

George Canning (1770-1827) Tory statesman; he was foreign minister (1807-1809) and prime minister (1827); a supporter of Greek independence and Catholic emancipation.

William George Spencer Cavendish, sixth duke of Devonshire (1790-1858) The only son of Georgiana, duchess of Devonshire; he was Byron's contemporary at Harrow and Trinity College, Cambridge. “Hart,” as he was known, succeeded to the dukedom in 1811.

Sir Francis Leggatt Chantrey (1781-1841) English sculptor who worked as a statuary from 1804; he employed the poet Allan Cunningham in his studio from 1814. He was knighted in 1835.

Samuel Taylor Coleridge (1772-1834) English poet and philosopher who projected Lyrical Ballads (1798) with William Wordsworth; author of Biographia Literaria (1817), On the Constitution of the Church and State (1829) and other works.

Edward Copleston, bishop of Llandaff (1776-1849) Educated at Corpus Christi College, Oxford, he was a fellow of Oriel, Oxford Professor of Poetry (1802-12), dean of St. Paul's (1827-1849), and bishop of Llandaff (1827-49); he published Three Replies to the Calumnies of the Edinburgh Review (1810-11).

George Crabbe (1754-1832) English poet renowned for his couplet verse and gloomy depictions of country persons and places; author of the The Village (1783), The Parish Register (1807), The Borough (1810), and Tales of the Hall (1819).

Lady Jane Davy [née Kerr] (1780-1855) Society hostess who in 1798 married Shuckburgh Ashby Apreece (d. 1807) and Humphry Davy in 1812.

Francis Egerton, first earl of Ellesmere (1800-1857) Poet, statesman, and Tory MP; a younger son the second marquess of Stafford, he was educated at Eton and Christ Church, Oxford, was chief secretary for Ireland (1828-30), and translated Goethe and Schiller and contributed articles to the Quarterly Review.

Harriet Catherine Egerton, countess of Ellesmere [née Greville] (1800-1866) The daughter of Charles Greville; in 1822 she married Francis Egerton, first earl of Ellesmere; she published several works, including Journal of a Tour to the Holy Land (1841).

William Erskine, Lord Kinneder (1768-1822) The son of an episcopal clergyman of the same name, he was a Scottish advocate and a close friend and literary advisor to Sir Walter Scott.

Henry Petty- Fitzmaurice, third marquess of Lansdowne (1780-1863) The son of Lord Shelburne (1737-1805); he was a Whig peer, chancellor of the exchequer (1806), and President of the Council (1830).

Louisa Emma Fox-Strangways Petty- Fitzmaurice, marchioness of Lansdowne [née Thomas] (1785-1851) The daughter of Henry Thomas, second earl of Ilchester; she married Henry Petty-Fitzmaurice in 1808.

Samuel Foote (1721-1777) English actor and playwright; author of The Nabob (1772).

Charles James Fox (1749-1806) Whig statesman and the leader of the Whig opposition in Parliament after his falling-out with Edmund Burke.

Elizabeth Fox, Lady Holland [née Vassall] (1771 c.-1845) In 1797 married Henry Richard Fox, Lord Holland, following her divorce from Sir Godfrey Webster; as mistress of Holland House she became a pillar of Whig society.

King George III of Great Britain (1738-1820) King of Great Britain (1760-1820).

King George IV of Great Britain (1762-1830) Prince Regent (1811-20) and King of Great Britain (1820-1830).

King George V of Hanover (1819-1878) The son of Ernest Augustus, duke of Cumberland; blinded in 1833, he succeeded his father in November 1851.

Nathaniel Godwin (1768-1846) The younger brother of William Godwin who in 1827 obtained a place for him as a poor brother of the Charterhouse. He had been employed as a sailor and as a servant.

William Godwin (1756-1836) English novelist and political philosopher; author of An Inquiry concerning the Principles of Political Justice (1793) and Caleb Williams (1794); in 1797 he married Mary Wollstonecraft.

Oliver Goldsmith (1728 c.-1774) Irish miscellaneous writer; his works include The Vicar of Wakefield (1766), The Deserted Village (1770), and She Stoops to Conquer (1773).

Benjamin Robert Haydon (1786-1846) English historical painter and diarist who recorded anecdotes of romantic writers and the physiognomy of several in his paintings.

Mary Cawse Haydon [née Hyman] (1796 c.-1841 fl.) The widow who in 1821 married the painter Benjamin Robert Haydon.

Homer (850 BC fl.) Poet of the Iliad and Odyssey.

William Howley, archbishop of Canterbury (1766-1848) Educated at Winchester and New College, Oxford, he was regius professor of Divinity (1809-13), bishop of London (1813-28), and archbishop of Canterbury (1828-48).

Sir Robert Harry Inglis, second baronet (1786-1855) The son of Sir Hugh Inglis, educated at Winchester, Christ Church, Oxford, and Lincoln's Inn; he was a Tory MP for Dundalk (1824-26), Ripon (1828-29), and Oxford University (1829-54), and president of the Literary Club.

Edward Irving (1792-1834) Popular Presbyterian preacher in London; he was a friend of Coleridge and author of The Oracles of God and the Judgement to Come (1823).

Washington Irving [Geoffrey Crayon] (1783-1859) American writer living in England in 1815, where he made his reputation with The Sketch Book of Geoffrey Crayon, Gent (1820).

William Jacob (1762 c.-1851) English traveler, politician, and economist; he was MP for Westbury (1806-07) and Rye (1808-12), contributed to the Quarterly Review, and was treasurer for the Royal Society of Literature (1832-38).

King James VI and I (1566-1625) King of Scotland (1567-1625) and England (1603-1625).

Joseph Jekyll (1754-1837) Wit, politician, and barrister; he was Whig MP for Calne (1787-1816) and wrote for the Morning Chronicle and Evening Statesman.

Samuel Johnson (1709-1784) English man of letters, among many other works he edited A Dictionary of the English Language (1755) and Shakespeare (1765), and wrote Lives of the Poets (1779-81).

Sir William Knighton, first baronet (1776-1836) Royal physician and secretary to George IV; in 1822 he succeeded Sir Benjamin Bloomfield as keeper of the privy purse.

Leopold I King of Belgium (1790-1865) The son of Prince Francis Ferdinand of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld; after serving in the Russian army he married Princess Charlotte in May 1816; in 1831 he was inaugurated as the first king of the Belgians.

John Gibson Lockhart (1794-1854) Editor of the Quarterly Review (1825-1853); son-in-law of Walter Scott and author of the Life of Scott 5 vols (1838).

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).

Sophia Lockhart [née Scott] (1799-1837) Walter Scott's eldest daughter, who married John Gibson Lockhart in 1820.

George Lucy (1798-1845) Of Charlecote Park, educated at Harrow and Oxford, he was a Tory MP for Fowey (1818-19, 1820-30) and high sheriff of Warwickshire (1831).

Mary Elizabeth Lucy (1803-1889) The daughter of Sir John Williams, baronet; in 1823 she married George Lucy; she published Biography of the Lucy family, of Charlecote Park (1862). Sir Walter Scott described her as “a lively Welshwoman.”

Thomas Lucy (1532 c.-1600) The Warwickshire gentleman who supposedly accused Shakespeare of deer-stealing and was pilloried as Justice Shallow.

Thomas Moore (1779-1852) Irish poet and biographer, author of the Irish Melodies (1807-34), The Fudge Family in Paris (1818), and Lalla Rookh (1817); he was Byron's close friend and designated biographer.

John Bacon Sawrey Morritt of Rokeby (1771-1843) Of Rokeby, classical scholar, close friend of Sir Walter Scott, and member of the Society of Dilettanti.

John Murray II (1778-1843) The second John Murray began the Quarterly Review in 1809 and published works by Scott, Byron, Austen, Crabbe, and other literary notables.

Frederick North, second earl of Guilford (1732-1792) English statesman who was prime minister 1770-82 and George III's political ally.

James Northcote (1746-1831) English portrait-painter and writer who exhibited at the Royal Academy; he wrote a Life of Titian (1830).

Sir George Philips, first baronet (1766-1847) Textile magnate and Whig MP; in addition to his mills in Staffordshire and Lancashire he was a trading partner with Richard “Conversation” Sharp. He was created baronet in 1828.

Henry Phillpotts, bishop of Exeter (1778-1869) High-church Tory clergyman and controversialist opposed to Catholic emancipation; he was dean of Chester (1828) and bishop of Exeter (1830).

William Pitt the elder, first earl of Chatham (1708-1778) English statesman whose prudent management was often politically unpopular.

William Pitt the younger (1759-1806) The second son of William Pitt, earl of Chatham (1708-1778); he was Tory prime minister 1783-1801.

Dora Quillinan [née Wordsworth] (1804-1847) The daughter of William Wordsworth who in 1841 married the poet Edward Quillinan despite her father's concerns about his debts.

Thomas Spring Rice, first Baron Monteagle (1790-1866) The son of Stephen Edward of Limerick; he was educated at Trinity College, Cambridge and was MP for Limerick City (1820-32) and Cambridge borough (1832-39). He was chancellor of the exchequer (1835-39) and contributed to the Edinburgh Review.

John Richardson of Kirklands (1780-1864) Scottish lawyer and parliamentary solicitor in London from 1806; he was Thomas Campbell's legal advisor and a friend of Sir Walter Scott.

Samuel Rogers (1763-1855) English poet, banker, and aesthete, author of the ever-popular Pleasures of Memory (1792), Columbus (1810), Jaqueline (1814), and Italy (1822-28).

John Russell, first earl Russell (1792-1878) English statesman, son of John Russell sixth duke of Bedford (1766-1839); he was author of Essay on the English Constitution (1821) and Memoirs of the Affairs of Europe (1824) and was Prime Minister (1865-66).

Anne Scott (1803-1833) Walter Scott's younger daughter who cared for him in his old age and died unmarried.

Lady Jane Scott [née Jobson] (1801 c.-1877) The daughter of William Jobson of Lochore; in 1825 she married Sir Walter Scott's eldest son, Walter.

Sir Walter Scott, baronet (1771-1832) Scottish poet, novelist, antiquary, biographer, editor, and sheriff.

Sir Walter Scott, second baronet (1801-1847) The elder son and heir of Sir Walter Scott; he was cornet in the 18th Hussars (1816), captain (1825), lieut.-col. (1839). In the words of Maria Edgeworth, he was “excessively shy, very handsome, not at all literary.”

William Scott, first baron Stowell (1745-1836) English lawyer and friend of Dr. Johnson; he was MP for Oxford University (1801-21) and judge of the high court of Admiralty (1798-1828). He was the elder brother of Lord Eldon.

William Shakespeare (1564-1616) The Bard of Avon.

Richard Sharp [Conversation Sharp] (1759-1835) English merchant, Whig MP, and member of the Holland House set; he published Letters and Essays in Poetry and Prose (1834).

Lady Frances Shelley [née Winckley] (1787-1873) The daughter of Thomas Winckley; in 1807 she married Sir John Shelley, sixth baronet. Sir Walter Scott admired her skills as a harpist and a huntress; her Diary was published in 1912.

Sir Samuel Shepherd (1760-1840) English barrister educated at Merchant Taylors' School and the Inner Temple; he was king's serjeant (1796), solicitor-general (1813), attorney-general (1817) and a friend of Sir Walter Scott.

Emily Frances Somerset, duchess of Beaufort [née Smith] (1800-1889) The daughter of Charles Culling Smith and Lady Anne Wellesley; in 1822 she became the second wife of Henry Somerset, afterwards seventh Duke of Beaufort.

FitzRoy James Henry Somerset, first Baron Raglan (1788-1855) The son of Henry Somerset, fifth duke of Beaufort; a military officer, he lost an arm at Waterloo and was field marshal in the Crimean War.

Henry Somerset, seventh duke of Beaufort (1792-1853) The son of the sixth duke of Beaufort (d. 1835); he was educated at Westminster and Christ Church, Oxford; an affair with Harriette Wilson was interrupted by service in the Peninsular War; he was Tory MP for Monmouth Boroughs (1813-32) and an avid sportsman.

William Sotheby (1757-1833) English man of letters; after Harrow he joined the dragoons, married well, and published Poems (1790) and became a prolific poet and translator, prominent in literary society.

Edward Stanley, first Baron Monteagle (1460 c.-1523) The son of Thomas Stanley, first earl of Derby; fighting under Thomas Howard, earl of Surrey, he was instrumental in the English victory at Flodden Field.

Lady Louisa Stuart (1757-1851) The youngest child of John Stuart, third earl of Bute; she corresponded with Sir Walter Scott. Several volumes of her writings and memoirs were published after her death.

Victoria Mary Louise, duchess of Kent (1786-1861) The daughter of Francis, duke of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld, in 1803 she married Emich Charles, prince of Leiningen, and in 1818 the Duke of Kent. She was the mother of Queen Victoria

Queen Victoria (1819-1901) Queen of England, 1837-1901.

Antoine Watteau (1684-1721) French Rococo painter renowned for his bucolic scenes.

Arthur Wellesley, first duke of Wellington (1769-1852) Soldier and statesman; commander in the Peninsular Campaign (1809-1813), he defeated Napoleon at Waterloo and was prime minister (1828-1830).

William Wilberforce (1759-1833) British statesman, evangelical Christian, and humanitarian who worked for the abolition of slavery. He was an MP for Yorkshire aligned with Fox and Sheridan.

Mary Wordsworth [née Hutchinson] (1770-1859) The sister of Sarah Hutchinson and wife of William Wordsworth, whom she married in 1802.

William Wordsworth (1770-1850) With Coleridge, author of Lyrical Ballads (1798), Wordsworth survived his early unpopularity to succeed Robert Southey as poet laureate in 1843.

Charles Watkin Williams Wynn (1775-1850) The son of Sir Watkin Williams Wynn, fourth baronet; educated at Westminster and Christ Church, Oxford, Robert Southey's friend and benefactor was a Whig MP for Old Sarum (1797) and Montgomeryshire (1799-1850). He was president of the Board of Control (1822-28).

Mary Wynn [née Cunliffe] (1785 c.-1838) The daughter of Sir Foster Cunliffe, third baronet; in 1806 she married Charles Watkin Williams-Wynn.

George Crabbe (1754-1832) “The Dumb Orators; or the Benefit of Society” in Tales. 2 vols (London: J. Hatchard, 1812).

Samuel Foote (1721-1777) The Cozeners, a Comedy, in 3 Acts. (London: T. Cadell, 1778).

Francis Hodgson (1781-1852) The Casket, a Miscellany, consisting of Unpublished Poems. (London: J. Murray, 1829). A poetical miscellany assembled by Francis Hodgson and edited by (or for?) his friend Mrs. Blencowe.

Homer (850 BC fl.) The Iliad. (800 BC c.). The tale of Troy, generally read in the translation by Alexander Pope.

Washington Irving [Geoffrey Crayon] (1783-1859) “Stratford-upon-Avon” in The Sketch Book of Geoffrey Crayon, Gent. (New York: C. S. Van Winkle, 1819-1820).

Sir Walter Scott, baronet (1771-1832) The Pirate. 3 vols (Edinburgh: A. Constable and Co., 1822).

William Shakespeare (1564-1616) As You Like It. (London: 1623). A comedy first performed about 1600 and first published in the first folio.

William Shakespeare (1564-1616) The Merry Wives of Windsor. (London: 1602). Shakespeare's comedy was first printed in quarto.

INFORMATION FROM TEI HEADER

Source Description:

Author: Lockhart, J. G. (John Gibson), 1794-1854

Title: Memoirs of the Life of Sir Walter Scott, Bart. 7 vols (Edinburgh: Robert Cadell, 1837).

Electronic Edition:

Series: Lord Byron and his Times: http://lordbyron.org

Encoding Description: Any dashes occurring in line breaks have been removed. Obvious and unambiguous compositors’ errors have been silently corrected.

Markup and editing by: David Hill Radcliffe

Completed January 2011

Publication Statement:

Publisher: Center for Applied Technologies in the Humanities, Virginia Tech

Availability: Published under Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 3.0 Unported License