I have little to plead for myself, but the old and vile apologies of laziness and indisposition. I think I have been so unlucky of late as to have always the will to work when sitting at the desk hurts me, and the irresistible propensity to be lazy, when I might, like the man whom Hogarth introduces into Bridewell with his hands strapped up against the wall, "better work than stand thus." I laid Kirkton[96] aside half finished, from a desire {p.229} to get the original edition of the lives of Cameron, etc., by Patrick Walker, which I had not seen since a boy, and now I have got it, and find, as I suspected, that some curious _morceaux_ have been cut out by subsequent editors.[97] I will, without loss of time, finish the article, which I think you will like. Blackwood kidnapped an article for his Magazine on the Frankenstein story,[98] which I intended for you. A very old friend and school companion of mine, and a gallant soldier, if ever there was one, Sir Howard Douglas, has asked me to review his work on Military Bridges. I must get a friend's assistance for the scientific part, and add some balaam of mine own (as printers' devils say) to make up four or five pages. I have no objection to attempt Lord Orford if I have time, and find I can do it with ease. Though far from admiring his character, I have always had a high opinion of his talents, and am well acquainted with his works. The letters you have published are, I think, his very best--lively, entertaining, and unaffected.[99] I am greatly obliged to you for these and other literary treasures which I owe to your goodness from time to time. Although not thankfully acknowledged as they should be in course, these things are never thanklessly received. [Footnote 96: Scott's article on Kirkton's _History of the Church of Scotland_, edited by Mr. C. K. Sharpe, appeared in the 36th number of the _Quarterly Review_,--See _Miscellaneous Prose Works_, vol. xix. p. 213.] [Footnote 97: Scott expressed great satisfaction on seeing the _Lives of the Covenanters_--Cameron, Peden, Semple, Wellwood, Cargill, Smith, Renwick, etc.--reprinted without mutilation in the _Biographia Presbyteriana_. Edin. 1827. The publisher of this collection was the late Mr. John Stevenson, long chief clerk to John Ballantyne, and usually styled by Scott "True Jock," in opposition to one of his old master's many _aliases_--namely, "Leein' Johnnie."] [Footnote 98: See Scott's _Prose Miscellanies_, vol. xviii. p. 250.] [Footnote 99: The Letters of Horace Walpole to George Montagu.]