elf no
farther trouble on the score. I should like to see my copy:
pray send it to the post-office, under cover to Mr.
Freeling, whose unlimited privilege is at my service on all
occasions.

Early in May appeared the novel of The Antiquary, which seems to have
been begun a little before the close of 1815. It came out at a moment
of domestic distress.

Throughout the year 1815, Major John Scott had been drooping. He died
on the 8th of May, 1816; and I extract the letter in which this event
was announced to Mr. Thomas Scott by his only surviving brother.

TO THOMAS SCOTT, ESQ., PAYMASTER OF THE 70TH REGIMENT, CANADA.

EDINBURGH, 15th May, 1816.

MY DEAR TOM,--This brings you the melancholy news of our
brother John's concluding his long and lingering illness by
death, upon Thursday last. We had {p.099} thought it
impossible he should survive the winter, but, as the weather
became milder, he gathered strength, and went out several
times. In the beginning of the week he became worse, and on
Wednesday kept his bed. On Thursday, about two o'clock, they
sent me an express to Abbotsford--the man reached me at
nine. I immediately set out, and travelled all night--but
had not the satisfaction to see my brother alive. He had
died about four o'clock, without much pain, being completely
exhausted. You will naturally feel most anxious about my
mother's state of health and spirits. I am happy to say she
has borne this severe shock with great firmness and
resignation, is perfectly well in her health, and as strong
in her mind as ever you knew her. She feels her loss, but is
also sensible that protracted existence, with a constitution
so irretrievably broken up, could have been no blessing.
Indeed I must say, that, in many respects, her situation
will be more comfortable on account of this removal, when
the first shock is over; for to watch an invalid, and to
undergo all the changes of a temper fretted by suffering,
suited ill with her age and habits. The funeral, which took
place yesterday, was decent and private, becoming our
father's eldest son, and the head of a quiet family. After
it, I asked Hay Donaldson and Mr. Macculloch[34] to look
over his papers, in case there should be any testamentary
provision, but none such was f