June 28th 1830

Well - we walkd over the field of battle, saw the Prince's park, Cope's loan markd by slaughter in his disastrous retreat, the Thorn tree which marks the centre of the battle and all besides that was to be seen or supposed. We saw two broad swords found on the field of battle, one a highlander's, an Andr[e]w Ferrara, another the drag- oon's sword of that day. Lastly we came to Cockenzie where Mr. Francis Caddell my publisher's brother gave us a kind reception. I was especiall[y] glad to see the mother of the family, a fine old Lady who was civil to my aunt and me and I recollect well used to have us to tea at Cockenzie. Curious that I should long afterward have an opportunity to pay back this attention to her son Robert. Once more what a kind ofshufling of the hand dealt us at our nativity. There was [illegible] Mr. F. Cadell and one or two young ladies and some fine fat children. I should be a bastard to the Time1 did I not tell our fare. We had a Tiled whiting, 2 a dish unknown elsewhere so there is a bone for the gastronomes to pick. Honest John Wood my old friend dined with us. I only regret I cannot understand him 3 as he has a very powerful [memory] and much curious information. The whole day of pleasure was dampd by the news of [the] King's death. It was fully expected, however, and the termination of long illness. But he was very kind to me personally and a kind Sovereign. The common people and gentry join in their sorrows. Much is owing to Kindly reccollection of his visit to this country 4 which gave all men an interest in him.5

29 TUESDAY The business of the court was suspended so back I came without stop or stay and to work went I. As I had arisen early I was sadly drowsy. However I fought and faggd during [the] day. I am still in hope to send my whole Manuscript to Ballantyne before the 10 July. Well I must devote some thing to myself. I must do some thing better than these Dsemonological trash. It is nine o'clog and I am weary, yea my very spirit's tired.6 After ten o'clock Mr. Davis,7 an American bar[r]ister of eminence deputed to represent the American
  1. King John, i. i.
  2. A whiting dried in the sun. Only two days before Scott had told Cadell about 'the nice dinner of whitings' he remembered enjoying at Mrs. Warroch's house at Prestonpans in his youth. CadeU's Diary.
  3. Wood, the editor of Douglas's Peerage of Scotland, was deaf and dumb.
  4. The visit of 1822, which Scott had organized.
  5. See note 10, pp. 813-15, for CadeU's account of the day's events.
  6. Coriolanus, i. 9: 'Yea, my memory is rir'd.'
  7. Charles S. Daveis of Portland.
Back Next