The Crayon Miscellany

This historic book may have numerous typos or missing text. Not indexed. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. 1882. Not illustrated. Excerpt: ... ABBOTSFORD. I Sit down to perform my promise of giving you an account of a visit made many years since to Abbotsford. I hope, however. that you do not expect much from me, for the travelling notea taken at the time are so scanty and vague, and my memory so extremely fallacious, that I fear I shall disappoint you with the meagreness and emdeuess of my details. Late in the evening of the 29th of August, 1817, I arrived at the ancient little border town of Selkirk, where I put'up for the night. I had come down from Edinburgh, partly to visit Melrose Abbey and its vicinity, but chiefly to get a sight of the "mighty minstrel of the north." I had a letter of introduction to him from Thomas Campbell the poet, and had reason to think, from the interest he had taken in some of my earlier scribblings, that a visit from me would not be deemed an intrusion. On the following morning, after an early breakfast, I set of! in a postchaise for the Abbey. On the way thither I stopped at iht gate of Abbotsford, and sent the postillion to'the house with the letter of introduction and. my card, on which I had written that I was on my way to the ruins of Melrose Abbey, and wished to know whether it would be agreeable to Mr Scott (he had not 9 yet been made a Baronet) to receive a visit from me in the courst of the mornmg. AVhile the postillion was on his errand, I had time to survey the mansion. It stood some short distance below the road, on the side of a hill sweeping down to the Tweed; and was as yet but a snug gentleman's cottage, with something ruwil and picturesque in its appearance. The whole front was overrun with evergreens, and immediately above the portal was a great pair of elk horns, branching out from beneath the foliage, and giving the cottage the look of a huntin...