e party
was a still smaller one than before, and the merriment, if possible,
still more free. That nothing might be wanting, the Prince sung
several capital songs in the course of that evening--as witness the
lines in Sultan Serendib:[16]--

"I love a Prince will bid the bottle pass,
Exchanging with his subjects glance and glass,
In fitting time can, gayest of the gay,
Keep up the jest and mingle in the lay.
Such Monarchs best our freeborn humor suit,
But despots must be stately, stern, and mute."[17]

[Footnote 16: [_The Search after Happiness._]]

[Footnote 17: Scott's _Poetical Works_, vol. xi. p. 353
[Cambridge Ed. p. 431].]

Before he returned to Edinburgh, on the 22d of May, the Regent sent
him a gold snuff-box, set in brilliants, with a medallion of his Royal
Highness's head on the lid, "as a testimony" (writes Mr. Adam, in
transmitting it) "of the high opinion his Royal Highness entertains of
your genius and merit."

I transcribe what follows from James Ballantyne's _Memoranda_:--

"After Mr. Scott's first interview with his Sovereign, one
or two intimate friends took the liberty of inquiring, what
judgment he had formed of the Regent's talents? He declined
{p.038} giving any definite answer--but repeated that 'he
was the first gentleman he had seen--certainly the first
_English_ gentleman of his day;--there was something about
him which, independently of the _prestige_, the "divinity,
which hedges a King," marked him as standing entirely by
himself; but as to his abilities, spoken of as distinct from
his charming manners, how could any one form a fair judgment
of that man who introduced whatever subject he chose,
discussed it just as long as he chose, and dismissed it when
he chose?'"

Ballantyne adds:--

"What I have now to say is more important, not only in
itself, but as it will enable you to give a final
contradiction to an injurious report which has been in
circulation; namely, that the Regent asked him as to the
authorship of Waverley, and received a distinct and solemn
denial. I took the bold freedom of requesting to know _from
him_ whether his Royal Highness had questioned him on that
subject, and what had been his answer. He glanced at me with
a look of mild surprise, and said, 'What answer I might have
made to such a ques