t his
sister's in Regent's Park. He had thus looked forward to a happy meeting
with all his family--but he encountered scenes of sickness and
distress.--_Life_, vol. ix. pp. 226-7.

[165] The book was published early in April under the following title:
_Chronicles of the Canongate_, Second Series, by the Author of
_Waverley_, etc., "SIC ITUR AD ASTRA" _Motto of Canongate Arms_, in
three volumes. (_St. Valentine's Day; or The Fair Maid of Perth_.)
Edinburgh: Printed for Cadell and Co., Edinburgh, and Simpkin and
Marshall, London, 1828; (at the end) Edinburgh: Printed by Ballantyne
and Co.

[166] Among the "objects that came and departed like shadows" in this
phantasmagoria of London life was a deeply interesting letter from
Thomas Carlyle, and but for the fact that it bears Sir Walter's London
address, and the post-mark of this day, one could not imagine he had
ever seen it, as it remained unacknowledged and unnoticed in either
Journal or Correspondence.

It is dated 13th April 1828; and one of the latest letters he indited
from "21 Comely Bank, Edinburgh." After advising Scott that "Goethe has
sent two medals which he is to deliver into his own hand," he gives an
extract from Goethe's letter containing a criticism on _Napoleon_, with
the apology that "it is seldom such a writer obtains such a critic," and
in conclusion he adds, "Being in this curious fashion appointed, as it
were, ambassador between two kings of poetry, I would willingly
discharge my mission with the solemnity that beseems such a business;
and naturally it must flatter my vanity and love of the marvellous to
think that by means of a foreigner whom I have never seen, I might soon
have access to my native sovereign, whom I have so often seen in public,
and so often wished that I had claim to see and know in private and near
at hand. ... Meanwhile, I abide your further orders in this matter, and
so with all the regard which belongs to one to whom I in common with
other millions owe so much, I have the honour to be, sir, most
respectfully, your servant.--T.C."

[167] William Jacob, author of _Travels in Spain_ in 1810-11, and
several works on Political Economy. Among others "some tracts concerning
the Poor Colonies instituted by the King of the Netherlands, which had
marked influence in promoting the scheme of granting small _allotments_
of land on easy terms to our cottagers; a scheme which, under the
superintendence of Lord Braybrooke and other noble