l to my
brothers, and especially to Anne, than I could in any other. On
the other hand, I shall certainly expect that my friends will
endeavor to show every attention in their power to a woman who
forsakes for me prospects much more splendid than what I can
offer, and who comes into Scotland without a single friend but
myself. I find I could write a great deal more upon this subject,
but as it is late, and as I must write to my father, I shall
restrain myself. I think (but you are best judge) that in the
circumstances in which I stand, you should write to her, Miss
Carpenter, under cover to me at Carlisle.

Write to me very fully upon this important subject--send me your
opinion, your advice, and, above all, your blessing; you will see
the necessity of not delaying a minute in doing so, and in
keeping this business _strictly private_, till you hear farther
from me, since you are not ignorant that even at this advanced
period an objection on the part of Lord Downshire, or many other
accidents, may intervene; in which case, I should little wish my
disappointment to be public.

Believe me, my dear Mother,
Ever your dutiful and affectionate son,
WALTER SCOTT.

Scott remained in Cumberland until the Jedburgh assizes recalled him
to his legal duties. On arriving in that town, he immediately sent for
his friend Shortreed, whose {p.251} _memorandum_ records that the
evening of the 30th September, 1797 was one of the most joyous he ever
spent. "Scott," he says, "was _sair_ beside himself about Miss
Carpenter;--we toasted her twenty times over--and sat together, he
raving about her, until it was one in the morning." He soon returned
to Cumberland; and the following letters will throw light on the
character and conduct of the parties, and on the nature of the
difficulties which were presented by the prudence and prejudices of
the young advocate's family connections. It appears, that at one stage
of the business, Scott had seriously contemplated leaving the Bar at
Edinburgh, and establishing himself with his bride (I know not in what
capacity) in one of the colonies.

TO WALTER SCOTT, ESQ., ADVOCATE, EDINBURGH.

CARLISLE, October 4, 1797.

It is only an hour since I received Lord Downshire's letter. You
will say, I