Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1832-11-30
MISCELLANEOUS.
From the n. Y. American. I
VISIT IN AItRnI'sLnDn

VISIT 10 ABBOISFORD.
We cannot doubt that all readers will peruse a. i'm
deep interest the narrative publish to-day OF visit
by an accomplished American la,ny OF this CITY, TO Sir
Walter Scott. The taste the dclicacy AMI Tho ineIli
gence, which Pervade this narrative unpari AN addition
charm TO incidents, in themselves Of great and now
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS..
TO the Editor: At this period of sympathy for all II, 4,
relates to the of Sir Waller Scout The lllo,yiny re
collections of visit pail him in the summer of 1880
may not be altogether without interest Recorded AT The
"ne Tor the eye OF affection at hoe il bears the form of
personal narrative which bc my apology for the
prominency given to the feelings the wIiter as the
sympathy his loss which alone gives them value
be 10 his family, should their eve Tor the H.
befty involved iu their publication. M
kUsHY FORD, Durham--one days ride from Abbois
tord-DedT -: now resume my pen, which M IN.
botsford touched no-for i; seemed kind of trearher,
TO our Kind and noble host But YOU must not lose NV re-
collections On taking leave OF Soullry, at the foot OF
oklddaw, alter days nmble, lac said TO me, "Havc YOU
aetter for Sir Walter Scott 1 had not A letter To- his
daughter which your mother had received from Mrs He
Der was our only introduction. lie replied 'svou shall
DC Tue bearer OF one from mc; and reaching the
house the letter was written and handed me- IL was
sealed one, but Judging from the reception it brought us
was kindly perhaps warmly written Three DAYS after.
wards we stopped at ;he outer gate OF Abbotsfo looking
down with somewhat of well as interest on lis
refs as they above the intervening wood Unwil-
ng 10 lrespass where thought we had so little claim, the
letter was despatched by in envelope with \
card, and the unwelcomc answer returned, "Sir Walter
Scott not at home We had, however another chance
we drove on two miles further Chciswood the re scnce
OF his daughter, Mrs Lockhar whom our first letter
was addressed On driving up this lovely retired cot
Wno oy ms border PLAID aud and chieiian's feather,
suspected TO be Master Hugh Little John Sir Walters ia
VoHIe grandson; but in this, as afterwards found wa:
mistaken: the paI cOuntcnance OF the other ought te
nave betrayed TO the direction Of his deeper sympa
dies The same repelng answer mot at home" here
sent us away most unwingly-'The letters. however
Were lei! and we drove on pay visit where that e
buff at least could reach us-I mean the ruins Of
MeIrose Abbey. On approaching tIem we met an open
barouche returning, in which, with glance recognized
the great object OF search Sir Walter and his family
but feared To inrude by unceremonous an ntrofuc
uo ana we passed taking, as we feared, first and
last look oil The Shakespeare OF age An hour gde
quickly away amid the Wondering ruins. Among some
modern monuments at their feet, with erect
cd by Sir Walter TO the memory OF a faithful domestic;
but the ancient memorials the fullest of poetic asso-
Citations, aud we only regretted inability comply
with the poets injunction
Ifthou would Wow fair Mclroso Alright,
Go visit 1t by pale moonlight.
In the midst ofour revcries we disturbed by the
entrance OF gentleman, who advancing rapidly with an
air OF much courtesy announced himself Mr. ockart
saying that he had returned upon his steps to ovcrak
us being the bearer OF Sir Walter SCOTS comp nents and
Mrs Lockhats TO bring back dinner at which some
friends were momeniarily expected. The fatigue and
dsordered dress OF days drive through dusty roads was
bar TO the ladies' acceptance so that after some oubts
and many misgivings the invitation most un,yngIy
declined, to which Mr.. Lockhar acceded only ON cond
ton that would write to him from Edinburgh the day
alter our return, and take it through Melroe Upon this
we parted kept my promise and fortnight alterward
upon arriving at the inn Merose about half past
r. NJ note was handed me from Mr. Lockhart, saying
hat or Waller and family expected TO meet that day
at dinner at ChieswOod Here was another dilemma:
we were tired and dusty-and the dinner hour was
come! Yet we could not again baulk our good fortune
aud hasty toilet and fresh post horses soon trans
ierred US second time TO the lovely cottage. As
we approached we had glimpse OF Sir Walter at the door
but when we drove up he had retired and Mr. and Mrs
hocKhart alone remained to welcome On entering
me drawing room he standing with his daughter
MISS scout leaning somewhat as found his won't
upon MS cane Ills appearance shall not speak of
mat Tor have time it, All that saw was the
lace oil the "Grcat UnknOwn-ail thatI felt was the pres
sure OF that hand which had penned the An,iouarv and
tllfI hnarJ
accents OF that northern tongue which now with courtesy
OIL" A'huheSs, welcomed me TO Scotland. The company
was not large, but sufficiently so to afford plea for having
lo pe on the green, an arrangement which, however
agreeable 1t may have been Arcadia is but perious
experiment in the latitude of Scotland besides the outer
rlS no place Tor quiet tak-it is fitted for merrinent
but not for intellectual conversadon-so that o,verng
SKY became, by consent an apology for an early
return 70 the drawing room where music and the song
awaited us.
Sir Walters great delight in his daughters harp and
the ballards Of the Odcn time, which she signs with most
winning grace nus passed our evening; aud parting
Tor 'he night, we received and accepted invitation TO
AhbotsiOr; that, you may suppose with CAV hearts
we returned to our inn Now, If you me the impress.
sion Of this day. must confess m regard TO Sir alier II
partakes somewhat OF disappointment. lie was kind and
courteous, but did not say much when he did speak
missed somewhat Of that precision of thought and power
Of language, which had recently charmed me in Souhey
and Sir James Macintosh But further acquaintance has
enabled 10 that was then i'm the beresv of guo.
rance was bringing TO the measurement inapplca-
BILE standard IL like measuring iceighf iy Le10bf-
w.s requiring in boundess Of natural beauty the
polish aud proportions Of the Grccan temple
ne neXtda being Sunday we attended service at the
KIRK occupying Sir Walter SCOTS pew which was very
near .he pulpit How did you like the preacher" said
or t'ter, when ] again met him. &c confes4,D re-
Phed' " dih not hear single sentence" You must
not complain said he, you have heard ss much AZ apv
Of his hearers for ten years past" This vocees prcaIe
as afterwards iound, was the father Of the original Do
Imne oamP,on.-fiad deicacy permitted il tie father
WOMB himself have made no bad study"
On approaching Abbotsiori. a second time $50 sa,soJ
nov as DeioTe at The gates bat driving down through The
@cneu ana 'iretel gateway, found ourselves i'm noble
coIt ., quadrangle. On our left the mansion i'm is
cno'ce remain OF an earlier ci'el which Sir Waiter has
'O INC conliguonsruns, but generally tle result
OF native genius, working under his cycs and ns;, W
pdy' az he told from the models Of art H. H. ~
In front rich and lofty Gothic screen c,,r,tc
ne court from The gardens happily auaining yi, a.
w, S'n ne had almost dcspsired Of doing "dis,.ncir
''"o'' n'nng them while the right runs an arcade
@r cl"s'of' embfuking the rising ground behind h. ,
o sheltered walk nearly round two sides Of The
'ol,' -" hi' occasion Sir Walter met us N tl,e ,roor
's"" welcomed "s loSeotand and AbbosforI and taking