riendly and familiar footing, that it is utterly impossible for me to
leave them while there exists any chance of M.'s going to England. M.
has introduced me to most of the neighbouring gentry, and receives with
a loud laugh any mention of my return to Edinburgh. I dined with Dr.
Brewster the other day. He has a pretty place near Melrose. It is
impossible for me to give to you any written idea of the beauty and
unique character of Abbotsford. _Adio!_

B.D.

Mr. Murray continued to transmit the correspondence to Mr. Isaac
D'Israeli, whose delight may be conceived from the following:

_Mr. D'Israeli to John Murray_.

_October_ 9, 1825.

MY DEAR FRIEND,

Thanks! My warmest ones are poor returns for the ardent note you have so
affectionately conveyed to me by him on whom we now both alike rest our
hopes and our confidence. The more I think of this whole affair, from
its obscure beginnings, the more I am quite overcome by what he has
already achieved; never did the finest season of blossoms promise a
richer gathering. But he has not the sole merit, for you share it with
him, in the grand view you take of the capability of this new
intellectual steam engine.

In the following letter Lockhart definitely declined the editorship of
the _Representative_.

_Mr. Lockhart to John Murray_.

_October_ 7, 1825.

"I am afraid, that in spite of my earnest desire to be clear and
explicit, you have not after all fully understood the inexpressible
feeling I entertain in regard to the _impossibility_ of my ever entering
into the career of London in the capacity of a newspaper editor. I
confess that you, who have adorned and raised your own profession so
highly, may feel inclined, and justly perhaps, to smile at some of my
scruples; but it is enough to say that every hour that has elapsed since
the idea was first started has only served to deepen and confirm the
feeling with which I at the first moment regarded it; and, in short,
that if such a game _ought_ to be played, I am neither young nor poor
enough to be the man that takes the hazard."

Sir Walter Scott also expressed his views on the subject as follows:

_Sir W. Scott to John Murray_.

ABBOTSFORD, _Sunday_,

MY DEAR SIR,

Lockhart seems to wish that I would express my opinion of the plan which
you have had the kindness to submit to him, and I am myself glad of an
opportunity to express my sincere thanks for the great confidence you
are willing to repose in one