se enterprises was so
profitable as the republication of his novels in a uniform series,
with his own notes and illustrations. It was not given to Sir Walter
Scott to see the complete restoration of his former position; his
exertions were too severe and pressed heavily on the springs of
health, already deprived by age of their elasticity and vigor. In the
short space of six years he had, by his sacrifices and exertions,
discharged more than two-thirds of the debt for which he was
responsible, and he had fair prospects of relieving himself from the
entire sum. But in 1831 he was seized with a terrible attack of
paralysis, to which his family had a constitutional tendency, and he
was advised to try the effect of a more genial climate in Southern
Europe. The British Government placed a ship at his disposal to convey
him to Italy; and when he came to London, men of every class and party
vied with each other in expressing sympathy for his sufferings and
hopes for his recovery.

[Illustration: Sir Walter Scott at Abbotsford.]

In Italy he was received with the greatest enthusiasm, and under the
influence of its sunny skies he seemed, for a while, to be recovering.
But his strength was gone, his heart was in his own home at
Abbotsford, and, almost an imbecile, he returned there. He died
September 20, 1832.

* * * * *

The following letter was written by him to his son Walter, in 1819,
soon after the young man had entered the army. It illustrates at once
his strong affections and his knowledge of the world.

"DEAR WALTER.

"... I shall be curious to know how you like your brother officers,
and how you dispose of your time. The drills and riding-school will,
of course, occupy much of your mornings for some time. I trust,
however, you will keep in view drawing, languages, etc. It is
astonishing how far even half an hour a day, regularly bestowed on one
object, will carry a man in making himself master of it. The habit of
dawdling away time is easily acquired, and so is that of putting every
moment either to use or to amusement.

"You will not be hasty in forming intimacies with any of your brother
officers, until you observe which of them are most generally respected
and likely to prove most creditable friends. It is seldom that the
people who put themselves hastily forward to please are those most
worthy of being known. At the same time you will take care to return
all civility which is o