Volume 1 - Electric Scotland

THE TIGER. 239
so-called gay watering -place to the happy company
and communion of Chiefswood, with Edinburgh and
all the brethren so close at hand ! The Tiger was a
certain Dr Dunlop,^ a great hunter and traveller, whose
literary manners and morals the society of Maginn
and his wild band did not improve.
During the autumn Mr Blackwood was able to send
to the exile news of his beloved home and friends :
W. Blackwood to J. G. Lockhart.
—
Edin., 23 Augt. 1826.
About three weeks ago I spent a few days at Chiefswood
with our excellent friend Capt. Hamilton. It is a delightful
spot, and I wonder how you could leave it. I was a good deal
with Sir Walter, who is really in excellent health and spirits.
That old tiresome pedant Dr J. had been staying some days
with Sir Walter, to the great annoyance of poor Terry, and
every one who happened to be there. When you see Terry he
will give you some droll sketches of the Doctor. At last, to
the relief of every one, he took his departure in Sir Walter's
carriage, and when stepping in he made a great many fawning
speeches as to his regret if he took away the carriage when Sir
Walter might be wanting it, to which the Baronet replied in
his good-humoured way that "his horses could not be better
employed than in carrying Dr J. on his journey." This Peter
Poundtext swallowed of course as a great compliment, while
Terry and the ladies could with the greatest difficulty contain
themselves.
The following letters will show how difficult Lock-
hart found it to cut himself free from his old habits
of work and his first love :
J. G. Lockhart to W. Blackwood.
—
28 March '26, 25 Pall Mall.
Having a private hand [this was in the days of heavy
1 Dr Dunlop was a surgeon in the East India Company's service, and
was of great renown as a shooter of what is now called big game.