nd then, going to his usual
seat, he sat for some minutes grinning horribly, as if enjoying the
impression he had made, while not a word escaped from any of the party.
Mr Ferguson at length plucked up his spirits, and called to David to
open the door, as they must now be going. The dwarf slowly obeyed, and
when they had got out, Mr Ferguson observed that his friend was as pale
as ashes, while his person was agitated in every limb. Under such
striking circumstances was this extraordinary being first presented to
the _real_ magician, who was afterwards to give him such a deathless
celebrity."

Mr Chambers doubtless received the particulars of this visit from Sir
Adam Ferguson, Scott's friend and companion.

* * * * *

Robert Southey, like Jeremy Bentham, with whom the Quarterly Reviewer
would have grudged to have been classified, loved cats. His son, in his
"Life and Correspondence," vol. vi. p. 210, says--"My father's fondness
for cats has been occasionally shown by allusion in his letters,[132]
and in 'The Doctor' is inserted an amusing memorial of the various cats
which at different times were inmates of Greta Hall. He rejoiced in
bestowing upon them the strangest appellations, and it was not a little
amusing to see a kitten answer to the name of some Italian singer or
Indian chief, or hero of a German fairy tale, and often names and titles
were heaped one upon another, till the possessor, unconscious of the
honour conveyed, used to 'set up his eyes and look' in wonderment. Mr
Bedford had an equal liking for the feline race, and occasional notices
of their favourites therefore passed between them, of which the
following records the death of one of the greatest:--

"'_To Grosvenor C. Bedford, Esq._
"'KESWICK, _May 18, 1833_.

"'My Dear G---- ... --Alas! Grosvenor, this day poor old Rumpel was found
dead, after as long and happy a life as cat could wish for, if cats form
wishes on that subject. His full titles were:--"The Most Noble the
Archduke Rumpelstiltzchen, Marquis M'Bum, Earl Tomlemagne, Baron
Raticide, Waowhler, and Skaratch." There should be a court mourning in
Catland, and if the Dragon[133] wear a black ribbon round his neck, or a
band of crape _a la militaire_ round one of the fore paws, it will be
but a becoming mark of respect.

"'As we have no catacombs here, he is to be decently interred i