he
Regalia of Scotland, Tom was very indignant, because he said, 'It would
take some of the shine out of us,' meaning Sir Walter. Tom was very fond
of salmon fishing, which from an accordance of taste contributed much to
elevate my merits in his eyes, and I believe I was his greatest
favourite of all Sir Walter's friends, which he used occasionally to
testify by imparting to me in confidence some secret about fishing,
which he concluded that no one knew but himself. He was remarkably
fastidious in his care of the Library, and it was exceedingly amusing to
see a clodhopper (for he was always in the garb of a ploughman) moving
about in the splendid apartment which had been fitted up for the
Library, scrutinising the state of the books, putting derangement to
rights, remonstrating when he observed anything that indicated
carelessness."

[358] Blank in original

[359] _Abbotsford Notanda_, p. 175.

[360] Eldest daughter of David, sixth Earl of Leven and fifth of
Melville, and widow of Sir John Wishart Belsches Stuart, Bart., of
Fettercairn. See _ante_, vol. i. p. 404; vol. ii. pp. 55, 62.

1830.

MAY.

_May_ 23, [_Abbotsford._]--About a year ago I took the pet at my Diary,
chiefly because I thought it made me abominably selfish; and that by
recording my gloomy fits I encouraged their recurrence, whereas out of
sight, out of mind, is the best way to get rid of them; and now I hardly
know why I take it up again; but here goes. I came here to attend
Raeburn's funeral. I am near of his kin, my great-grandfather, Walter
Scott, being the second son or first cadet of this small family. My late
kinsman was also married to my aunt, a most amiable old lady. He was
never kind to me, and at last utterly ungracious. Of course I never
liked him, and we kept no terms. He had forgot, though, an infantine
cause of quarrel, which I always remembered. When I was four or five
years old I was staying at Lessudden House, an old mansion, the abode of
this Raeburn. A large pigeon-house was almost destroyed with starlings,
then a common bird, though now seldom seen. They were seized in their
nests and put in a bag, and I think drowned, or threshed to death, or
put to some such end. The servants gave one to me, which I in some
degree tamed, and the brute of a laird seized and wrung its neck. I flew
at his throat like a wild cat, and was torn from him with no little
difficulty. Long afterwards I did him the mortal offence to rec