, and says: "I intend to revise my
letters on Scottish History for you, but I will not get
to press till November, for the country affords no
facilities for consulting the necessary authorities. I
hope it may turn out a thing of some interest, though I
rather intend to keep to its original purpose as a book
of instruction to children." These references seem to
show that the work may have been further advanced than
Lockhart supposed. The announcement of the proposed book
by Constable and Longman naturally excited the
indignation of Blackwood and Murray, as is shown in a
vigorous letter from the Edinburgh to the London
publisher, blaming equally the Ballantynes and
Constable.--See _Memoirs of John Murray_, vol. i. pp.
245, 246, 462.]]

TO DANIEL TERRY, ESQ.

November 12, 1816.

MY DEAR TERRY,--I have been shockingly negligent in
acknowledging your repeated favors; but it so happened, that
I have had very little to _say_, with a great {p.121} deal
to _do_; so that I trusted to your kindness to forgive my
apparent want of kindness, and indisputable lack of
punctuality. You will readily suppose that I have heard with
great satisfaction of the prosperity of your household,
particularly of the good health of my little namesake and
his mother. Godmothers of yore used to be fairies; and
though only a godfather, I think of sending you, one day, a
_fairy_ gift--a little drama, namely, which, if the audience
be indulgent, may be of use to him. Of course, you will
stand godfather to it yourself: it is yet only in embryo--a
sort of poetical Hans in Kelder--nor am I sure when I can
bring him forth; not for this season, at any rate. You will
receive, in the course of a few days, my late _whereabouts_
in four volumes: there are two tales--the last of which I
really prefer to any fictitious narrative I have yet been
able to produce--the first is wish-washy enough. The subject
of the second tale lies among the old Scottish
Cameronians--nay, I'll tickle ye off a Covenanter as readily
as old Jack could do a young Prince; and a rare fellow he
is, when brought forth in his true colors. We