y aunt, Lady Raeburn, used to read the lamentable
catastrophe of the ship's departing without Captain
Falconer, in consequence of the whole party making free with
lime-punch on the eve of its being launched. This and
Captain Bingfield,[4] I much wished {p.009} to read once
more, and I owe the possession of both to your kindness.
Everybody that I see talks highly of your steady interest
with the public, wherewith, as I never doubted of it, I am
pleased but not surprised. We are just now leaving this for
the winter: the children went yesterday. Tom Purdie,
Finella, and the greyhounds, all in excellent health; the
latter have not been hunted this season!!! Can add nothing
more to excite your admiration. Mrs. Scott sends her kind
compliments.

W. SCOTT.

[Footnote 3: "_The Voyages, Dangerous Adventures, and
Imminent Escapes of Capt. Rich. Falconer._ Containing
the Laws, Customs, and Manners of the Indians in
America; his shipwrecks; his marrying an Indian wife;
his narrow escape from the Island of Dominico, etc.
Intermixed with the Voyages and Adventures of Thomas
Randal, of Cork, Pilot; with his Shipwreck in the
Baltick, being the only man that escap'd. His being
taken by the Indians of Virginia, etc. And an Account of
his Death. The Fourth Edition. London. Printed for J.
Marshall, at the Bible in Gracechurch Street. 1734."

On the fly-leaf is the following note, in Scott's
handwriting: "This book I read in early youth. I am
ignorant whether it is altogether fictitious and written
upon De Foe's plan, which it greatly resembles, or
whether it is only an exaggerated account of the
adventures of a real person. It is very scarce, for,
endeavoring to add it to the other favorites of my
infancy, I think I looked for it ten years to no
purpose, and at last owed it to the active kindness of
Mr. Terry. Yet Richard Falconer's adventures seem to
have passed through several editions."]

[Footnote 4: "_The Travels and Adventures of William
Bingfield, Esq._, containing, as surprizing a