than during any
King's birthday I can recollect. That very stillness, however,
shows that something is brewing among our friends the Democrats,
which they will take their own time of bringing forward. By the
wise precautions of the magistrates, or rather of the provost,
and {p.220} the spirited conduct of the gentlemen, I hope their
designs will be frustrated. Our association meets to-night, when
we are to be divided into districts according to the place of our
abode, places of rendezvous and captains named; so that, upon the
hoisting of a flag on the Tron-steeple, and ringing out all the
large bells, we can be on duty in less than five minutes. I am
sorry to say that the complexion of the town seems to justify all
precautions of this kind. I hope we shall demean ourselves as
_quiet_ and _peaceable_ magistrates; and intend, for the purpose
of learning the duties of my new office, to con diligently the
instructions delivered to the watch by our brother Dogberry, of
facetious memory. So much for information. By way of inquiry,
pray let me know--that is, when you find a very idle hour--how
you accomplished the perilous passage of her Majestie's Ferry
without the assistance and escort of your preux-chevalier, and
whether you will receive them on your return--how Miss R. and you
are spending your time, whether stationary or otherwise--above
all, whether you have been at [Invermay] and all the etcs.,
etcs., which the question involves. Having made out a pretty long
scratch, which, as Win Jenkins says, will take you some time to
decipher, I shall only inform you farther, that I shall tire
excessively till you return to your shop. I beg to be remembered
to Miss Kerr, and in particular to La Belle Jeanne. Best love to
Miss Rutherford; and believe me ever, my dear Miss Christy,
sincerely and affectionately your

WALTER SCOTT

During the autumn of 1796 he visited again his favorite haunts in
Perthshire and Forfarshire. It was in the course of this tour that he
spent a day or two at Montrose with his old tutor Mitchell, and
astonished and grieved that worthy Presbyterian by his zeal about
witches and fairies.[122] The only letter of his, written during this
{p.221} expedition, that I have recovered, was addressed to another
of his clerical friends-