Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1832-11-30

v
Blu. OF that way mus, give little description
The entrance Is through oetagona urret, raised but
step iron the ground into hall occupying the central
ron OF the building: such hall transports you
into the regions of romance, aud the days OF baronia civ
airy. Its walls and ceiling are OF dark ok waiuscottn
Al either end, on raised pedestal stands forth mailed
knight, with visor down aud spear in rest, like senunels
To challenge all who enter-hese are formed of complete
suits OF ancient armour; OF sel indd with gold, the
same which borrow ed 10y the Champion of England
at the cOiUnaon OF George W. it cost Sir Walter 1000
Suineas. Along the walls hang shed, and spear, and
partisan nleiNed with the horns OF the bison and the
elk, and the skins ot beasts of prey IL mark its lord
equally ready Tor the Oray the chaSe. The windows
too throw "a rich and s;oried light, being OF stained
glass, bearing the armoas eseutceons of the whole elan
OF Scots, the lai vi Buccleugh thuk standing nj
their head. Around the circuit OF the walls the
ceiling, those again OF the Border families richly
carved in oak, and underneath them the following legend
ia the old Gothic letter ''Thcsc be the armour coats OF
hde who, IN times OF aud, stood up Tor the Marches of
Scotland; thae were men o might and hit souty and
God did defend ,heu. From this hail. YOU have access
TO the other parts OF the house, and pass suite through
the following Miss SCOTS bouoi; the breakfast
aud dining room; the armory; the Withdrawing room the
hbrdry and lastly, Sir Walter SCOTS study; which brings
you again to The front OF the house and eud OF the build
my.
o! these rooms, the most splendid is the library, the
most Interesting, need add, is the study, into which
last entered but under its masters guidance The
library, with its noble dimensions costly furniture
ITS bookcases and cabinets OF odorous cedar-its cell
ing OF The same, pannelled and carved after the model
OF Melroseits well filled slelves-s beautiful orie win
dow projecting and spreading out the Tweed--s
cul''iis OF crimson ama>k with heavy gold tngc-its
varied articles O use, curiosity and luXuryal combine
to make it most splendid OF these articles many
are presents Here, for instance, stands massive chair
once cardinals, the carving oil which ranks il among
the productions OF genius: this is from Rome There,
too, hangs antique lamp relic of the majesty OF We
NICE Here, III corner stands Dean Switts walking
cane and that splendid silver sarcophaus its low pc
desal is the gil OF the unfortunate Byron. How many
associations does even that awaken thin il are
the bones OF ancient heroes-or their tombs were
built the old walls Of the PIGus--yet who can name
tlicm! The lines Inscribed
'ESpcndc IIanubalcm, Sc"
icchngIy convey this IcsSon--whc the name OF Byron
which the donor would put but which Scott has added
brings touclugly mind the dangers and the misery of
earthly genius unsancicd 10y religion. The letter ac
companyng this gift has been purloned from its sacred
resting place When shall such theft dare be shown!
Sir alter deeply regrets its loss for of Byron he often
speaks-sometimes with high Observation-Disclosures with
tender feelings "Poor Byron" is his familiar appeaton
which words, uttered in his deep tones so the very
heart.
But with all lis spenor the library Yields in interest to
the room hcyondhis private study; for there stand his
table aud his chair calling up the visions his past ahos
and there lie his pen and papers the evidence Of his
present ohesand there, too, his uncorrectcd but hasty
manuscripts, which show from what a rapid fountain his
thoughts must have poured forth. That which lies
upon The table dare not read; but from what he
says conclude 1t Is upon the superstitions OF the
Highlands. Around this room, the height of about
ten eet-or the ceiling is high one-runs a light
gallery which gives by a private door 10 his
bed room-so that he can at all times command privacy
In addition TO made from wood that once formed the
Heart of Midlothian filled with books of more freouep,
terence the walls OF his study covered with portraits
and scenes OF Scottish and Border story. Among them
those OF Claverhouse and the unfortunate Mary seem his
especial hvoritcs This first day we had company at din
ner and until near bedtime. His style of living is with
considerable state. The buildings are very extensive and
lighted throughout with gas, prepared in oil tile remo
est parts Two servants in livery, and his gentle
i*an IN black, are in regular attendance. OF the embar
EASEMENTS arising from the failure his publishers with
whom the law aduiged him TO be partner here learn
but little The Impression given by Mr. Jeffrey and
others i'll Edinburgh, was that these engage1ents
amounting originally TO GI00 600, were in great
measure lquiated-partIy by heavy policy on his own
life OF understood) 4i0 900 and partly by the sale of
/ his subsequent works But proceed with nv story
Monday, 10Th july shall be marked by us hence forth
win white stone, as having been spent with Sir Wal
ter Scott alone Then, indeed Tor the first time was I
made fully OF being in the presence of the s'mehtv
master;" for with other magican the smell
as the circle narrowed The truth is Sir alter Scott il
mott be Judged OF III general society he never argues
never doSnatZes, and never talks carnedly-hs head
aud heart seemed filed with better thoughts and things
an oveowihg benevolence sympathy for all breathing
things, an Imagination that teens with all images of na
raj Io'ehc'", ieCinSs that tremblc with every touch of
aluai decuoha memory That so lives in the records of
the romantic past that metaphysical might well doubt
To when century IT'S possessOr in truth belonged and
sweet simplicity and unassumingness of manner that os
the aracVeness oil childhood TO the words and thoughts
OF genius-hese the elements of his STRENGTH and
when seen IN private they overpowering in their in
huence-then book portrait or chance word unIocks
As !! were by magic, some hidden ountain-then comes
forth at once the splendid train OF thought and FEELING and
imagery, the Border story, the touching ballad and the
hcart-IehdnS lnciden-in tie mean time his eye ghtens
up often suiused with tears, and his voice deepens TO
tone that thrills through the nerves like the deep not
the organ. In this lken him 10 nothing but his own
picture OF the awakened mnsrel-when
The present scene, his future lot
HIS tolls iiis wants, all forgot,
But in all this his true-hearted modesty never rs,kes
him. In all his poetic recOecions which on such occa
slons came swelling like tide into his mind never
once heard him repeat line OF his OWN and whenever
the subject OF his poems alluded TO- e avoided il with
simplicity which always left me in doubt whether he
understood the alluson. The old adage of genus rrita
be applies not TO him as foreign TO his nature
as 1t Is 10 the expression his counenance; and as far as
words and manners 60 he certainly knows not what envy
Is Oi The race OF his contemporaries, there is scarce one
oil whom we did not speak; aud of whom he spok
otherwise than with respect aud kindness and what AT
any time was wanting in praise sure TO be made I'M
in kindness OF manner. On his repeating one evenn,
sheet and flowing sea-" &C. which he did with great
power expressed my surprise at lis beauty and said
docs Cunningham often write such?' He repicd
MY friend Allan IS like boy lat shoots many arrows d
mark-somc OF them must hit OF Coleridge Words
worth and Southey he spoke often; and his all-noerf
memory was ever prompt TO bring forth their choices pas
sages. On mentioning 10 him Southeys desnonding
views Of political a1ars-"Ahp' said he little AVA,
how much the past had blinded his own ewes
"SOuhey is retired aud bookish man - On o.
pressing my agreeable disappointment in JefIrevs cha
Tacter, WhOn, before personal acquaintance had re-
garded as cold andcynca critic, he replied with warmth
you never did man more Injustice, his heart is ali ten.
dernes Ana oil his own family affections you NAV Judge
by his warm exclamation, when the conversation turned
such Gbcmes-"I bless God said be 0Ib,, bc L
given me good and afIectionaie children" may here
mention HAT these four in NUMBER Walter i'm The ar
my, Charles, IN the Foreign Department Mrs Iockharf
ana Miss scott AS we sat alone after dinner ventured
to Introduce the subject of his long ncoeno" He en-
tered INTO 1t kindly, not freely His friends he said