tion towards any opinion as to the proposal Mr. W. mentions,
far less to commit my friend. In a word, I am perfectly in the dark as
to everything else, except that I am sure it will give Mrs. Lockhart and
myself very great pleasure to see Mr. Disraeli under this roof.... If
you had no other object in view, I flatter myself that this
neighbourhood has, in Melrose and Abbotsford, some attractions not
unworthy of your notice."

Mr. Disraeli paid his promised visit to Chiefswood. It appeared that Mr.
Lockhart expected to receive Mr. Isaac D'Israeli, the well-known author
of "The Curiosities of Literature"; instead of which, the person who
appeared before him was Mr. D'Israeli's then unknown son Benjamin.

_Mr. B, Disraeli to John Murray_.

CHIEFSWOOD, _September_ 25, 1825.

MY DEAR SIR,

I arrived at Chiefswood yesterday. M. [Lockhart] had conceived that it
was my father who was coming. He was led to believe this through
Wright's letter. In addition, therefore, to his natural reserve, there
was, of course, an evident disappointment at seeing me. Everything
looked as black as possible. I shall not detain you now by informing you
of fresh particulars. I leave them for when we meet. Suffice it to say
that in a few hours we completely understood each other, and were upon
the most intimate terms. M. enters into our views with a facility and
readiness which were capital. He thinks that nothing can be more
magnificent or excellent; but two points immediately occurred: First,
the difficulty of his leaving Edinburgh without any ostensible purpose;
and, secondly, the losing caste in society by so doing. He is fully
aware that he may end by making his situation as important as any in the
empire, but the primary difficulty is insurmountable.

As regards his interest, I mentioned that he should be guaranteed, for
three years, L1,000 per annum, and should take an eighth of every paper
which was established, without risk, his income ceasing on his so doing.
These are much better terms than we had imagined we could have made. The
agreement is thought extremely handsome, both by him and the Chevalier;
but the income is not imagined to be too large. However, I dropped that
point, as it should be arranged with you when we all meet.

The Chevalier breakfasted here to-day, and afterwards we were all three
closeted together. The Chevalier entered into it excellently. He
thought, however, that we could not depend upon Malcolm, Barrow, et