spect me of any motives but
those which arise from regard to your talents and person;
but I shall be glad to hear (whether you follow my advice or
no) that you are not angry with me for having volunteered to
offer it.

My health is, I think, greatly improved; I have had some
returns of my spasmodic affection, but tolerable in degree,
and yielding to medicine. I hope gentle exercise and the air
of my hills will set me up this summer. I trust you will
soon be out now. I have delayed reading the sheets in
progress after Vol. I., that I might enjoy them when
collected. Ever yours, etc.,

Walter SCOTT.

TO MR. LAIDLAW.

EDINBURGH, Wednesday. [March, 1818.]

DEAR WILLIE,--I am delighted to hear the plantings get on so
well. The weather here has been cruelly changeable--fresh
one day--frost the next--snow the third. This morning the
snow lay three inches thick, and before noon it was gone,
and blowing a tempest. Many of the better ranks are ill of
the typhus fever, and some deaths. How do your poor folks
come on? Let Tom advance you money when it is wanted. I do
not propose, like the heroine of a novel, to convert the
hovels of want into the abodes of elegant plenty, but we
have enough to spare to relieve actual distress, and do not
wish to economize where we can find out (which is difficult)
where the assistance is instantly useful.

Don't let Tom forget hedgerow trees, which he is very
{p.228} unwilling to remember; and also to plant birches,
oaks, elms, and such like round-headed trees along the
verges of the Kaeside plantations; they make a beautiful
outline, and also a sort of fence, and were not planted last
year because the earth at the sunk fences was too newly
travelled. This should be mixed with various bushes, as
hollies, thorns, so as to make a wild hedge, or thickety
obstruction to the inroads of cattle. A few sweetbriers,
alders, honeysuckles, laburnums, etc., should be thrown in.
A verdant screen may be made in this way, of the wildest and
most beautiful description, which should never be clipt,
only pruned, allowing the loose branches to drop over those
that are taken away. Tom is very costive about trees, and
talks only of 300 poplar