m they debauch,
and render only fit for the almshouse, in prosecution of
their own adventures, though it operated as a check on the
increase of manufactures, would be a measure just in itself,
and beneficial to the community. But it would never be
listened to;--the weaver's beam, and the sons of Zeruiah,
would be too many for the proposers.

This is the eleventh of August: Walter, happier than he will
ever be again, perhaps, is preparing for the moors. He has a
better dog than Trout, and rather less active. Mrs. Scott
and all our family send kind love.

Yours ever,

W. S.

Two or three days after this letter was written, Scott first saw
Washington Irving, who has recorded his visit in a delightful Essay,
which, however, having been penned nearly twenty years afterwards,
betrays a good many slips of memory as to names and dates. Mr. Irving
says he arrived at Abbotsford on the 27th of August, 1816; but he
describes the walls of the new house as already overtopping the old
cottage; and this is far from being the only circumstance he mentions
which {p.181} proves that he should have written 1817.[72] The
picture which my amiable friend has drawn of his reception shows to
all who remember the Scott and the Abbotsford of those days, how
consistent accuracy as to essentials may be with forgetfulness of
trifles.

[Footnote 72: I have before me two letters of Mr.
Irving's to Scott, both written in September, 1817, from
Edinburgh, and referring to his visit (which certainly
was his only one at Abbotsford) as immediately
preceding. There is also in my hands a letter from Scott
to his friend John Richardson, of Fludyer Street, dated
22d September, 1817, in which he says, "When you see Tom
Campbell, tell him, with my best love, that I have to
thank him for making me known to Mr. Washington Irving,
who is one of the best and pleasantest acquaintances I
have made this many a day."]

Scott had received The History of New York by Knickerbocker, shortly
after its appearance in 1812, from an accomplished American traveller,
Mr. Brevoort; and the admirable humor of this early work had led him
to anticipate the brilliant career which its author has since run. Mr.
Thomas Campbell, being n