Abbotsford : the Personal Relics and Antiquarian Treasures of Sir
Walter Scott. Described by the Hon. Mary Monica Maxwell Scott. Illustrated by William Gibb. (A. and C. Black.)—Mrs. Scott tells in her introduction the story of Abbotsford from the day when Sir Walter bought the farm of Clarty Hole, with its small house and hundred acres of marshy land, and changed its name to Abbotsford. This was in 1813. Addition after addition was made, woods were planted, and the place grew to be some- thing not perfect indeed, but possessed of no little dignity and beauty. The owner continued to accumulate objects of anti- quarian historical interest. Some he bought; others were given to him. Still more interesting are sundry personal relics of him- self, as his chair and writing-table, his hat, coat, and stick, his pipes, paper-knife, pruning-knife, and other trifles connected with his daily habits of life. Among the historical articles are " Mon- trose's sword" (with a pedigree not beyond question, but fairly good), " Claverhouse's pistol" (without any pedigree at all, we regret to find), "Rob Roy's gun" (an undoubtedly genuine article), and some thumb-screws, which it is needless to question, as they are not things which any one would be likely to forge. There are various Napoleon relics, as his pistols, writing-case, &c.; sundry articles picked up on the Field of Waterloo; and miscellanea of many kinds. One undoubtedly authentic relic is the door of the "Heart of Midlothian," presented to Sir Walter Scott by the Magistrates of Edinburgh when the Tolbooth was pulled down in 1817. All these objects have been excellently pictured in colours by Mr. Gibb.
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