Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1875-03-17

Some Old Letters" in Scribner's fol
March, are accompanied by hitherto
unpublished life-sketch Of Sir Walter
Scott, by the celebrated artist, Gilbert
Stuart Newton. In this installment ol
"Old Letter" we find the following
anecdotes OF the author Of "Waverley:" !"
AT half-past six we went to dine with
the Fergussons. The doctor was quite
il with cold. Sir Adam FERGUSON
Sir Walter SCOTS intimate aud confiden'
tial friend, dined there ourselves. Mrs.
H., and one Of her daughters.
We had very charming dinner, for
Sir Adam has the most marvellous DOW.
ers of description. He made us laugh
heartily, and told. us. too, great many
interesting anecdotes about Sir Walter
Scott, lie is very remarkable person
himself, He is the original Of DugalJ
Dalgetty' This is all i find in the old
letters about the dinner, but | must tell
what | can recollect OF the account Mrs
x. gave me in later years Sir Adam,
she said, was a tall, gray.haired man
with q broad Scotch accent, He des
cribed how one early morning, in Sir
Walter Scotts library, when he and Sir
Walter tried to make the fire of peat
burn, and, after many efforts. succeeded
in some degree AT this moment one OF
the dogs, dripping from plunge in the
lake, scratched and whined at the win.
dow. AT last Sir Walter let the "puii
creature in, who, coming up before the
little FIRE, shook his shaggy hide, send,
ing perfect shower.bath over the fire
and over great table OF loose manu-
scripts. Sir Walter, eyeiug the scene
with his usual serenity, said, slowly
"Oh dear, you've done a great deal OIL
mischief" 1t reminds us OF the tale re-
lated Of Newton. On this same ocea
sion of the dinner, Sir Adam Ferguson
told of travelling with Sir Walter on the
continent and going to see the troops OF
donkeys, and he performed both doa
keys and riders with his fingers on the
table until his audience was in an agony
Of laughter.
Ferguson passed the evening with
us, and we had some music. asked
him, as he was 80 fond of listening, il
he didn't sing little himself. I'll tell
you an anecdote of Sir Walter Scott,
said he, that will answer your question
One night, when | was staying at Alb.
botsford, Annie Scott had been singing
to the accompaniment of her harp i
Scotch ballad with wall for the chorus
Sir Walter turned to me, saying 10 q
strong Scotch accent: moo, Ferguson,
gle US howl
:" During one of my visits there, con
tinued DR.. Ferguson, among other
guests vas Hogg, "Ettrick Shepherd
l heard a horrible noise in an adjoining
room, and, after listening some momen 3
to it, became alarmed, aud said to my
host: What is that noise2 '0h, sa d
he, its Hogg-just Aogg composing his
verses. He always sings them as he
writes them"
Though he liked some rude strains,
Scott could well attune his ear to softer
music, and was very fond Of Moore song
\. sings, that ends.
Short as the Persian prayer, his prayer at
close Of day.
Should be each vow of love- 5 repeating.
Quick lot him worship beauty's precious ray
Zen while he kneels that ray is Aeeting.
HE used to say, Come, X let me
have that Persian prayer and be would
listen with great delight to the singing
Of it.
"They recalled an amusing story Of
an old servant who had lived with Scott
for nearly lifetime, and became very
much spoiled. Sir Walter at last, out OF
patience with his sins OF omission. said:
Donald, | think we must part
Part why2 Where's yonr honor
goiAg2
"Of course peace was made, and
Donald remained.
They told sadly of the dear old man
returning from Italy (where he went for
his health) with his memory impaired.
Mrs. Arkwright, who had set his Pirate s
Farewell to Minna to music, sang It to
him. Those are very pretty verses,
said Sir Walters Who wrote them2
"Charles Scott Sir Walters second
son, is very clever. agreeable man. |
see good deal Of him at the Lockharts'
here and elsewhere. Sir Walter was
most proud of his eldest son, Walter, who
is rather dull fellow, but large aud fine
looking. His father used to say that II
was enough if boy knew how to ride
and speak the truth; those were the most
important things.
Charles Scott made me laugh about
the visitors at Sir Walters house and
Melrose Abbey. See the Abbey by
moonlight they must, because Of the
lines:
If thou would'st view fair Merose Alright,
Go visit II by the pale moonlight"
And many a time, said Charles
Scott, when the moon was not conve-
Dient, | took a lantern to produce the
q 0oot -