Among the move notable of the recent acquisitions movie by the Ad-Vocates' Library, Edinburgh, is the Tong series of letters addressed by'
it Walter Scott to Robert Saunders, Second Viscount Melville. These Sfty or so letters were included in the sale of the Melville Papers at Messrs. Sotherby's on June 2, and were purchased on behalf of a British Public Institution. At that time the ame of the Institution—wax not. known but the "Borning Post" state ed that "the letters, covering—the years 1803-1826, and dealing with' both political and personal affairs, would seem to suggest the Ad: vocates' Library, us a suitable destination."
The firet letter, dated June 24, 1803, refers to the Edinburgh Thea. tre, to the patent of which Scott ishes to add the name of the Duke lof Buccleuch instead of the Duke of Hamilton. Then comes a letter (June 28, 1806) referring to the acquittal of Henry Dundas, Ist Viscount Melville, on his impeachment. in 1806 for malversation as Treasurer of the Navy. In this Scott says: have deferred saying my Gratitude on the late glorious decision of the! House of Peers till I should be able to tell you at the same time how splendidly our great gaudeamus off yesterday which indeed I soon Found baled all description. 7 Thad the happiness to add something to the mirth, and I will say the thusiasm of the meeting... The political condition of Berwick shive in 1811 is referred to in a letter dated February 29, "Referring to the rumour of the retirement of Mr. George Baillie from the parliament ary representation of Berwiekshir Scott "suggests that his particular} friend and relative, "Br. Scott of Harden, might be selected as Government. Candidate "in preference to Robertson of Ladykirk." Berwick is again mentioned in a letter dated December 19, 1819, showing "the [grave feeling of insecurity ow in various places, Here Scott tells us of the alarm caused by the measures taken by the Government at Berwick, "where everything like
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.