, for which there is really no specific
object. As for the Continental monarchs, there is no
guessing what the folly of Kings and Ministers may do; but
God knows! would any of them look at home, enough is to be
done which might strengthen and improve their dominions in a
different manner than by mere extension. I trust Ministers
will go out rather than be engaged in war again, upon any
account. If France is wise (I have no fear that any
superfluous feeling of humanity will stand in the way), she
will send 10,000 of her most refractory troops to fight with
Christophe and the yellow fever in the Island of St.
Domingo, and then I presume they may sit down in quiet at
home.

But my sheet grows to an end, and so does the pleading of
the learned counsel, who is thumping the poor bar as I
write. He hems twice. Forward, sweet Orator Higgins!--at
least till I sign myself, dear Morritt,

Yours most truly,

Walter SCOTT.

Guy Mannering was published on the 24th of February--that is, exactly
two months after The Lord of the Isles {p.016} was dismissed from the
author's desk; and--making but a narrow allowance for the operations
of the transcriber, printer, bookseller, etc., I think the dates I
have gathered together confirm the accuracy of what I have often heard
Scott say, that his second novel "was the work of six weeks at a
Christmas." Such was his recipe "for refreshing the machine."

I am sorry to have to add, that this severity of labor, like the
repetition of it which had such deplorable effects at a later period
of his life, was the result of his anxiety to acquit himself of
obligations arising out of his connection with the commercial
speculations of the Ballantynes. The approach of Christmas, 1814,
brought with it the prospect of such a recurrence of difficulties
about the discount of John's bills, as to render it absolutely
necessary that Scott should either apply again for assistance to his
private friends, or task his literary powers with some such
extravagant effort as has now been recorded. The great object, which
was still to get rid of the heavy stock that had been accumulated
before the storm of May, 1813, at length determined the chief partner
to break up, as soon as possible, the concern which his own sanguine
rashness, and the gross irregularities of his mercurial lieutenant,
had