for it. The following extract from Lockhart's _Life of Scott_ gives us
at least one very characteristic aspect of the Abbotsford world:

"It was a clear, bright September morning, with a sharpness in the
air that doubled the animating influence of the sunshine; and all
was in readiness for a grand coursing-match on Newark Hill. The
only guest who had chalked out other sport for himself was the
staunchest of anglers, Mr. Rose; but he, too, was there on his
_shelty_, armed with his salmon-rod and landing-net.... This little
group of Waltonians, bound for Lord Somerville's preserve, remained
lounging about, to witness the start of the main cavalcade. Sir
Walter, mounted on Sibyl, was marshalling the order of procession
with a huge hunting-whip; and among a dozen frolicsome youths and
maidens, who seemed disposed to laugh at all discipline, appeared,
each on horseback, each as eager as the youngest sportsman in the
troop, Sir Humphrey Davy, Dr. Wollaston, and the patriarch of
Scottish belles-lettres, Henry Mackenzie.... Laidlow (the steward
of Abbotsford) on a strong-tailed wiry Highlander, yclept Hoddin
Grey, which carried him nimbly and stoutly, although his feet
almost touched the ground, was the adjutant. But the most
picturesque figure was the illustrious inventor of the safety-lamp
(Sir Humphrey Davy) ... a brown hat with flexible brim, surrounded
with line upon line of catgut, and innumerable fly-hooks; jackboots
worthy of a Dutch smuggler, and a fustian surtout dabbled with the
blood of salmon, made a fine contrast with the smart jacket,
white-cord breeches, and well-polished jockey-boots of the less
distinguished cavaliers about him. Dr. Wollaston was in black; and
with his noble serene dignity of countenance might have passed for
a sporting archbishop. Mr. Mackenzie, at this time in the
seventy-sixth year of his age, with a hat turned up with green,
green spectacles, green jacket, and long brown leathern gaiters
buttoned upon his nether anatomy, wore a dog-whistle round his
neck.... Tom Purdie (one of Scott's servants) and his subalterns
had preceded us by a few hours with all the grey-hounds that could
be collected at Abbotsford, Darnick, and Melrose; but the giant
Maida had remained as his master's orderly, and now gamboled about
Sibyl Grey bar