Fluctuation of Circumstances, both by Sea and Land, as
ever befel one man. With an Accurate Account of the
Shape, Nature, and Properties of that most furious, and
amazing Animal, the Dog-Bird. Printed from his own
Manuscript. With a beautiful Frontispiece. 2 vols. 12mo.
London: Printed for E. Withers, at the Seven Stars, in
Fleet Street. 1753." On the fly-leaf of the first volume
Scott has written as follows: "I read this scarce little
_Voyage Imaginaire_ when I was about ten years old, and
long after sought for a copy without being able to find
a person who would so much as acknowledge having heard
of William Bingfield or his Dog-birds, until the
indefatigable kindness of my friend Mr. Terry, of the
Haymarket, made me master of this copy. I am therefore
induced to think the book is of very rare occurrence."
[In consequence of these Notes, both Falconer and
Bingfield have been recently reprinted in
London.--(1839.)]]

The following, dated a day after, refers to some lines which Mr.
Morritt had sent him from Worthing.

TO J. B. S. MORRITT, ESQ., M. P., WORTHING.

ABBOTSFORD, November 11, 1814.

MY DEAR MORRITT,--I had your kind letter with the beautiful
verses. May the Muse meet you often on the verge of the sea
or among your own woods of Rokeby! May you have spirits to
profit by her visits (and that implies all good wishes for
the continuance of Mrs. M.'s convalescence), and may I
often, by the fruits of your inspiration, have my share of
pleasure! My Muse is a Tyranness, and not a Christian queen,
and compels me to attend to longs and shorts, and I know not
what, when, God wot, I had rather be planting evergreens by
my new old fountain. You must know that, like the complaint
of a fine young boy who was complimented by a stranger on
his being a smart fellow, "I am sair halded down by _the
bubbly jock_." In other words, the turkey cock, at the head
of a family of some forty or fifty infidels, lays waste all
my shrubs. In vain I remonstrate with Charlotte upon these
occasions; she is in league with the hen-wife, the natural
protectress of these pirates;