doing for the arts during his administration: the building of the new Academy, and the purchase of the Correggios for the National Gallery; which I said we gave his lordship the chief credit for. The party went off extremely well, and at 11 o'clock broke up,- the illustrious visitor taking leave to start

for Windsor Castle.

D. W.

CHAPTER IV.

WILKIE IN SCOTLAND. - LETTERS TO GEORGE JONES, R. A., LADY

66

BAIRD, AND SIR WILLIAM KNIGHTON.· "COLUMBUS" PAINTED.— ROYAL ACADEMY EXHIBITION OF 1835.—WILKIE IN IRELAND.— PAINTS THE PEEP O'DAY BOY" FOR MR. VERNON. - LETTERS TO W. COLLINS, R. A., AND ABRAHAM RAIMBACH. MR. O’CONNELL'S PORTRAIT.—WILKIE KNIGHTED.—DEATH OF SIR WILLIAM KNIGHTON.

IN the autumn of this year Wilkie visited Scotland, of which he gives an account to his sister: it was one for health and friendship rather than for study. The account of his interview with his accomplished friend and relative, now sinking towards the grave, is as interesting as it is touching. Wilkie writes from Fern Tower, the noble mansion of his friend, Lady Baird.

My dear Sister,

TO MISS WILKIE.

Fern Tower, Perthshire, 29th Aug. 1834.

On the 21st, I left London alone, and was four days in reaching Edinburgh. At York, Mr. Etty detained me a day, and did the honours of his native city with great kindness. At Newcastle I also stopped, and found out a Dr. Alexander, I had known at Genoa. From Edinburgh, where I had a letter from Lady Baird, I went with John Lister to see

Bell's Frescoes at Muirhouse Granton, which really pleased me greatly; and from thence round Corstor phine Hill, to make a call upon the venerated Sir Robert Liston.

He was out an airing at Liston Shiells; but pressing to see Mrs. Ramage, she gave a distressing account: "that I should not know a word he said; that it was truly melancholy to see his noble mind so changed; that she scarcely wished him to be seen, and was always distressed when he went to pay visits in Edinburgh; but what had given her, she said, the greatest uneasiness was his leaving home at one time for one entire fortnight, wandering, as she supposed, about the inns in the country, accompanied by his carriage and two servants.'

When Sir Robert returned I was at the door, and could see at once how his eye brightened when he saw me. Nothing could be more hearty than his reception, though with his usual finished manner. He led me. into the drawing-room, speaking all the while in reply to what I was saying to him. The beginning of his sentences were distinct enough; still, as he advanced, the articulation got confused; his words having then the sound of Latin terminations, giving people the mistaken idea that he was speaking in some foreign language. I observed on one occasion, when he tried to ask a question and failed, he tried the question in French, though still with difficulty. I tried to encourage him by replying in the same language. To all I said he showed the most acute intelligence: where I had come from, where I was staying, where I was going, and when I was to

be back, trying repeatedly to ask me whether I could not remain with him as I had done before; made the more affecting by his saying, "I am a poor-not able-but I am better-and would be glad to see you." I left him with assurances, that the moment I returned from Perthshire, I would see him again; and was gratified by a visit that really seemed to give him pleasure.

I started the next morning by coach to Perth, and in passing the Lomonds could see a prospective view of the hills on the south and north side of the Valley of Eden, taking in distinctly the Mount, Wemyss Hall, and the Walton Hills. From Perth I started in a chaise, and about 5 o'clock reached Fern Tower, where I was received with extreme kindness by Lady Baird and her sister. The mansion is extremely good; and the neighbourhood, comprehending Crieff, Strath Earn, the Ochills, and the Grampians, reminded me at every turn of Italy.

The day before I started I dined with Mr. Stirling, at Knightsbridge, to meet Lord Gosford, Mr. Barnes, Mr. Young (Lord Melbourne's secretary), and some military contributors to The Times. Mr. Barnes recognised me as an old acquaintance, and was very civil. So far as I could gather, they thought the throwing out of the Irish Tithe Bill would produce Rebellion, but that Mr. O'Connell had undertaken to keep Ireland quiet.

I am sorry that Sir Peter has been induced to give up the Italian part of your journey. However, we shall all be glad to see the whole party on your

return.

D. W.

TO THOMAS WILKIE.

Edinburgh, 11th Sept. 1834.

While at Lady Baird's I went for two days as far as Taymouth, where I had the honour of visiting the Marchioness of Breadalbane. The Marquis was out at the hunting. I was much pleased with seeing that portion of the Highlands.

From Fern Tower I came back on Monday last to Edinburgh, where the learned and the cognoscenti of the neighbouring nations were assembling for the Scientific Meeting. On becoming a member of the association, I was at once admitted to all its privileges. The most fashionable science is that of geology; and Dr. Buckland the most striking lecturer. His recent discoveries in geology have made a great impression. His manner of speaking most favourable for a numerous audience, with his power of description and illustration, and his vein of wit and good humour he filled up an hour and a half in the most interesting way.

D. W.

The picture to which the following letters refer was first commissioned by my friend Mr. Ritchie, of Edinburgh; a gentleman of taste both in art and literature. On a visit to the painter soon after his return from Spain, when he was speaking of his journey and showing us his sketches, I was struck with the historic truth and character of this composition, and advised Wilkie to expand the subject to