the point is to make it _take_ if we can; the
rest is all leather and prunella. A great many things must
occur to you technically better, in the way of alteration
and improvement, and you know well that, though too indolent
to amend things on my own conviction, I am always ready to
make them meet my friends' wishes if possible. We shall both
wish it better than I can make it, but there is no reason
why we should not do for it all that we can. I advise you to
take some sapient friend into your counsels, and let me know
the result, returning the MS. at the same time.

I am now anxious to complete Abbotsford. I think I told you
I mean to do nothing whatever to the present house, but to
take it away altogether at some future time, so that I
finish the upper story without any communication with Mrs.
Redford's _ci-devant_ mansion, and shall place the opening
in the lower story, wherever it will be most suitable for
the new house, without regard to defacing the temporary
drawing-room. I am quite feverish about the armory. I have
two pretty complete suits of armor--one Indian one, and a
cuirassier's, with {p.216} boots, casque, etc.; many
helmets, corselets, and steel caps, swords and poniards
without end, and about a dozen of guns, ancient and modern.
I have besides two or three battle-axes and maces, pikes and
targets, a Highlander's accoutrement complete, a great
variety of branches of horns, pikes, bows and arrows, and
the clubs and creases of Indian tribes. Mr. Bullock promised
to give some hint about the fashion of disposing all these
matters; and now our spring is approaching, and I want but
my plans to get on. I have reason to be proud of the
finishing of my castle, for even of the tower, for which I
trembled, not a stone has been shaken by the late terrific
gale, which blew a roof clear off in the neighborhood. It
was lying in the road like a saddle, as Tom Purdie expressed
it. Neither has a slate been lifted, though about two yards
of slating were stripped from the stables in the haugh,
which you know were comparatively less exposed.

I am glad to hear of Mrs. Terry's improved health and good
prospects. As for young Master Mumblecrust, I have no doubt
he will be a credit to us all.

Yours ever truly,