at Abbotsford, about three miles from Melrose. The beautiful and extensive building stands on the banks of the Tweed. Abbotsford.In his study room there is still the chair as well as the table used by Scott when he wrote his novels. His library contains about 20,000 volumes, which have been preserved with great care. In the drawing-room we saw the likeness of Scott, as well as those of his eldest son and two daughters. Among the many curious things which we saw in this room was a collection of beautiful presents which Sir Walter had received from various quarters. In his armoury there were arms and weapons of warfare of different countries and different ages, including the Persian scimitar and the Indian sword, as well as a large number of arms connected with the border warfare of the Middle Ages—a subject in which Scott took such a deep interest, and which he has depicted so well.
From Abbotsford we went to Scott's tomb at Dryburgh about four miles from Melrose, and six or seven miles from Abbotsford. The Dryburgh Abbey is hardly second to any other building that I have yet seen in the degree of veneration which it inspires by its hoary antiquity and its aspect of desolated grandeur. It is said to have been built in the 12th century. Gloomy cypresses, and the yet more gloomy yew trees, some of them said to be as ancient as the Abbey itself, have overshaded these ivy-covered ruins, and seem befitting sentinels to guard this scene of hoary desolation. Only here and there a cracked vault, a venerable ivy-covered wall, or a mouldering aisle rears up its head among the surrounding ruins. Under
