The poetical works of Sir Walter Scott ... Notes & life of the author.

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hceessful exertions he has made, and continues to make,
for them." This munificent gift of his creditors was worth
at least ~10,000, and it enabled. him (to use nearly his
own words) to eat with his own spoons, and to study with
his own books. In passing over this part of the author's
life, it should be observed that at the time of his death,
there was still remaining of his debts the sum of ~54,000,
but the trustees had a balance in hand, and they obtained
the large sum of ~30,000 on copyrights, and as Sir
Walter's life was insured for ~22,000, his debts were
finally settled. The lands of Abbotsford, however, were
yet left with a mortgage of ~10,000, a debt contracted by
Scott in 1825, the payment of which was not provided for
by any of the preceding arrangements.
In the winter of 1830, it became apparent to his friends
that the mighty mind had lost something, and was daily
losing something, of its wonted energy; his sagacious
judgment, memory, and fancy were occasionally subject
to eclipse. "I have lost (says Scott) the power of interesting the country, and ought, in justice to all parties, to retire while I have some credit." Before the close of the
year he was again attacked with apoplexy, and a more
severe system of regimen was prescribed. His kind and
skilful physicians assured him that if he persisted in working his brain nothing could prevent his malady from recurring with redoubled severity.* In a few months after
this attack, Scott submitted to the recommendation of his
medical advisers, and agreed to spend the ensuing winter
in a more genial climate. As soon as the poet's resolve
was made known to government, it was intimated by Sir
J. Graham, (then first lord of the Admiralty), that "it
afforded his majesty and himself the sincerest satisfaction
to comply with the hint, and that a vessel should be immediately prepared for the reception of Sir Walter." This
matter greatly gratified Scott, and he exclaimed: "Things
are yet in the hands of gentlemen!"
In October, 1831, Scott left London for Portsmouth, previous to his embarkation. When he arrived at that port,
he found that his vessel could not sail for a week; but in
the interval he received deputations from several societies,
* When the physicians told Scott he must refrain from
writing, the poet observed: "As for bidding me not work,
Molly might as well put the kettle on the fire and say,
N'ow, don't b:ill"