ill-looking man, mounted on a beautiful horse, passed us. He went to both sides of the hill, came back, returned and came back again, after looking on the road to see if it was clear. On coming close to us, he demanded our names. I spoke to him strongly at first, and threatened to call for assistance. He half dismounted-but hearing me holla to some workmen in the neighbourhood, he took his seat again, and after some incoherent expostulations with me, rode off-I got Mrs. Campbell with difficulty home in strong fits. The gentleman on horseback was instantly pursued, and caught after a hot pursuit. He was brought before Justice B the pamphleteer. In his struggle to escape, I had the satisfaction to have a fair excuse for giving him some hearty kicks, and twisting his handkerchief almost to the well-earned point of strangulation. His intention was clear; but Justice B-, finding he had not asked for money-chose to fine him in a trifle, and set him at large. I mean, however, not to rest on the decision of Justice Bowles-for we have got his name and address. This accident has nearly occasioned a very serious misfortune.-Mrs. Campbell is still feverish and ill, and will no doubt feel the consequences of this affair. I should have reckoned the transaction ten times pleasanter, if he had asked our money at once; but it is a trick of these gentlemen to extort money by indirect means. His pistols he had probably thrown away before discovery; there were strings about his belt which looked like what might be supporters of fire-arms. Justice Btainly not a second Daniel.

is cer

With compliments to Mrs. Scott, I remain, my dear

friend,

Yours very sincerely,

T. CAMPBELL.

ET. 27.] LETTER TO HIS SISTER-FRIENDS AND PATRONS. 37

To his sister, who was anxious to improve her situation. by removing to London or its vicinity, and had requested her brother's advice and "influence with the great," he thus writes:-

MY DEAR MARY,

TO MISS CAMPBELL.

SYDENHAM COMMON, 25th Feb., 1805.

I am happy that this guest is at last gone. . I wish the concerns of those nearer to my heart were as well arranged as those of this unhappy man.* I have been much obliged to Grahame in this affair. I shall be as ingenuous as possible in speaking of the subject you propose to me. I cannot pretend to much interest among the great. I would not be right in saying I have none. How near to much, or none, my interest is, I cannot exactly say. One has no exact measure or standard of a thing so dependant on accident, or the feelings of others. I shall tell you how many people of the above sort I know in London. I know Lord Minto, the Marquis of Buckingham, Lord Webb Seymour, Lord Henry Petty, and some others of that rank. I lived with the first, and still make friendly calls on him. The Marquis of Buckingham has also said he would be glad to see me at Stowe. Lord Webb Seymour once interested himself to get me a small employment, and failed. Lord Henry Petty has lately failed in another. These men speak highly of my literary character, and have been often heard to lament that I was not provided for. I have been introduced to others of the nobility, but acquaintance with them I never could keep up. It requires a life of idleness, dressing, and attendance on their parties. I exhausted a good deal of time and money in one London campaign; I got no object attained

* A relation, in whose affairs he had taken a warm interest.

that I desired; I acquired, certainly, a very genteel circle of acquaintance; but having now my bread to make by industry, I could not possibly occupy my hours in forenoon. calls and nightly levees. I have still retained acquaintance with one or two respectable families, but not in the highest rank. I think they are better hearted than the high gentry, and enter into one's affairs more in earnest. Lord Minto is a very worthy man.. To the B. family

I would not apply for anything .. whether they will do anything for me, without application, is another question. I am sure, however, that they are not likely to be roused in the present instance. . . This is a relation of what I cannot do. I shall now state a short list of my can-does, and their several chances. I can write to Lady Charlotte Campbell, or rather cause my friend Scott to write; I can speak to the Lords Seymour and Petty to interest their female relatives; I can speak to a son of Lord Dudley Ward, who knows many fashionable ladies. As to the chances of success, I must trust and hope for the best; but the great are indifferent creatures. . . I have some hopes from two intimate friends, a Mr. Weston, of the City, and Sydney Smith, the preacher. I wish to God you had a situation here. If it can facilitate the plan, I shall have a snug apartment for you at Sydenham, and there you are close by the great City. I meant to have applied to the Stuarts-but am knocked out of that quarter by a late event. It may seem a fault in my character that, having so many great and good friends, I can get nothing done, either for my own advantage or the benefit of those I love. It was a remark of your worthy aunt, in depreciating my character to the Sinclairs, that "I made friends, but never kept them." I am not surprised that a person so unlike myself should think exactly so of me. I feel, however, the injustice of the observation in the value I attach to friendship. I have

T. 27.] ATTACHED FRIENDS-LETTER TO MR. RICHARDSON. 39

all my early and equal friends still attached to me, and I have reason to think very truly. The great and the rich have been kind to me, and have said such things as would have made you believe I was to be amply provided for. As to intimacy, I never could even wish it with them; it is got by sacrificing independent feelings. I have never parted with the best part of my character. The things I have mentioned you may rely on my doing eagerly. I shall write to-morrow to Walter Scott. . I shall wait with impatience to hear from you if anything occurs. I remain your affectionately attached, T. C.

.

Faithful to his promise, Campbell made every effort to carry out the plan submitted to him by his sister, and with ultimate success. In the meantime he writes to his "old crony" in a strain of various and characteristic humour.

TO JOHN RICHARDSON, ESQ.

MY DEAR FRIEND,

SYDENHAM, March 7th, 1805.

Our intercourse, if ever suspended by indulgence of laziness on either side, ought not to be resumed with apologies. I have felt-after an absence that divides you from my eyes, but not my affection, that I have too good a remembrance of you to need written memorandums. I see so very few new friends, that I cannot well forget my ancients; and I have only one person, always at my elbow, who has any right to my thoughts and conversation. amusement, in general, is to tell over old stories each to the other; and my worthy partner is as intimate with Jemmy Grahame, John Richardson and Co., as an old student with Homer and Virgil.

Our

In spite of this power of remembrance, however, I think it would be pleasanter on both sides, if we were to write

oftener. Our letters ought to be frequent, if they should even be short. I should like just I should like just a hit at me every decade, with a watchman's cry of "All's well!-a fine smiling business-a cold frosty mistress"-or any such occurrence in life. If these notices, however, have been scarce of late, we shall have the more to talk of when you come to Sydenham, You come to Sydenham!" I hear the paper echoing this again and again to the pen! It is a sweet and pleasant echo! I will give your back a dunt that will make it ring when I push you pell-mell over the threshold of my cottage. In with you! See, that's my wife-kiss her (only once); and that's my boy, as impudent a dog as ever looked you in the face. And look at my garden, in which the kail is growing that is to be your pot-luck! The Dorking cock is strutting in the yard, whose spurs are to be sawed off, when he is to be presented for a fine young Turkey to you! When Dorky has sated your stomach, then we shall have his gizzard bedevilled to relish the happy. Oh

"I will drink wine with you,

Robin Adair!" &c.

Alas! John, my heart is getting up the hill again, and growing light enough to be a fit receptacle for these happy anticipations. But of late I have been grist to the mill of adversity! If you have seen Jemmy Grahame lately, his mention of my name might introduce an explanation of what I mean. If not, away with even the memory of sorrow. In the "Star," perhaps, you will see a public complaint of the unfit punishment that was passed on the ruffian."

*

*

*

*

*

*

*

*

*

* Here follows the alarming adventure in the forest, already quoted in his letter to Walter Scott; and of which an account appeared in the "Star," complaining of the lenity with which the ruffian, a highwayman, had been treated by the magistrate.