SCOTT, Sir Walter (1771-1832). Novelist & poet.
Autograph Letter Signed to an unnamed correspondent ('My dear Sir'), 1 page 8vo (oblong), Abbotsford, 22 August ['1830' in another hand in pencil]. Relating to a painting by John Thomson of Duddingston that Scott had recommended the Duke of Buccleuch to buy in January 1830.

I have received the inclosed letter from my friend Mr Thomson of Duddingston he is in the act of marrying ?her so I suppose he must look after his crumbs which accounts for his applying to me as her Grace kept the picture at my request and indeed highly approved of it. The Duke is just now in Eskdale so I cannot act as personal flapper.'

Scott was an old friend of the painter Thomson and had been responsible for his being preferred to Duddingston by the marquis of Abercorn over twenty years before this letter. Scott also recommended the duke to order another picture from Thomson in May 1831 and there is a rather testy entry in Scott's Journal for 22 May 1831 recording that Thomson has demurred at going one in the large size the duke has requested and prefers doing one of regular size (Journal, ed. Anderson, page 657).
We are grateful to Jane Millgate for assistance in cataloguing this letter.
[No: 25249]