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debt with everybody who would trust him。 When he stood for
Westminster； his unpopularity arose chiefly from his general
indebtedness。 〃Numbers of poor people；〃 says Lord Palmerston in
one of his letters； 〃crowded round the hustings； demanding payment
for the bills he owed them。〃 In the midst of all his
difficulties； Sheridan was as lighthearted as ever； and cracked
many a good joke at his creditors' expense。 Lord Palmerston was
actually present at the dinner given by him； at which the
sheriff's in possession were dressed up and officiated as waiters
Yet however loose Sheridan's morality may have been as regarded
his private creditors； he was honest（so far as the public money
was concerned。 Once； at dinner； at which Lord Byron happened to
be present； an observation happened to be made as to the
sturdiness of the Whigs in resisting office； and keeping to their
principleson which Sheridan turned sharply and said： 〃Sir； it
is easy for my Lord this； or Earl that； or the Marquis of t'other；
with thousands upon thousands a year； some of it either presently
derived or inherited in sinecure or acquisitions from the public
money； to boast of their patriotism； and keep aloof from
temptation； but they do not know from what temptation those have
kept aloof who had equal pride； at least equal talents； and not
unequal passions； and nevertheless knew not； in the course of
their lives； what it was to have a shilling of their own。〃 And
Lord Byron adds； that； in saying this； Sheridan wept。 （16）
The tone of public morality in money…matters was very low in those
days。 Political peculation was not thought discreditable； and
heads of parties did not hesitate to secure the adhesion of their
followers by a free use of the public money。 They were generous；
but at the expense of otherslike that great local magnate； who；
〃Out of his great bounty；
Built a bridge at the expense of the county。〃
When Lord Cornwallis was appointed Lord…Lieutenant of Ireland； he
pressed upon Colonel Napier； the father of THE Napiers； the
comptrollership of army accounts。 〃I want；〃 said his Lordship；
〃AN HONEST MAN； and this is the only thing I have been able to
wrest from the harpies around me。〃
It is said that Lord Chatham was the first to set the example of
disdaining to govern by petty larceny； and his great son was alike
honest in his administration。 While millions of money were
passing through Pitt's hands； he himself was never otherwise than
poor； and he died poor。 Of all his rancorous libellers； not one
ever ventured to call in question his honesty。
In former times； the profits of office were sometimes enormous。
When Audley； the famous annuity…monger of the sixteenth century；
was asked the value of an office which he had purchased in the
Court of Wards； he replied：… 〃Some thousands to any one who wishes
to get to heaven immediately； twice as much to him who does not
mind being in purgatory； and nobody knows what to him who is not
afraid of the devil。〃
Sir Walter Scott was a man who was honest to the core of his
nature and his strenuous and determined efforts to pay his debts；
or rather the debts of the firm with which he had become involved；
has always appeared to us one of the grandest things in biography。
When his publisher and printer broke down； ruin seemed to stare
him in the face。 There was no want of sympathy for him in his
great misfortune； and friends came forward who offered to raise
money enough to enable him to arrange with his creditors。 〃No！
〃said he； proudly； 〃this right hand shall work it all off！〃 〃If
we lose everything else；〃 he wrote to a friend； 〃we will at least
keep our honour unblemished。〃 （17） While his health was already
becoming undermined by overwork； he went on 〃writing like a
tiger；〃 as he himself expressed it； until no longer able to wield
a pen； and though he paid the penalty of his supreme efforts with
his life； he nevertheless saved his honour and his self…respect。
Everybody knows bow Scott threw off 'Woodstock；' the 'Life of
Napoleon' （which he thought would be his death （18））； articles for
the 'Quarterly；' 'Chronicles of the Canongate；' 'Prose
Miscellanies；' and 'Tales of a Grandfather'all written in the
midst of pain； sorrow； and ruin。 The proceeds of those various
works went to his creditors。 〃I could not have slept sound；〃 he
wrote； 〃as I now can； under the comfortable impression of
receiving the thanks of my creditors； and the conscious feeling of
discharging my duty as a man of honour and honesty。 I see before
me a long； tedious； and dark path； but it leads to stainless
reputation。 If I die in the harrows； as is very likely； I shall
die with honour。 If I achieve my task； I shall have the thanks of
all concerned； and the approbation of my own conscience。〃 （19）
And then followed more articles； memoirs； and even sermons'The
Fair Maid of Perth；' a completely revised edition of his novels；
'Anne of Geierstein；' and more 'Tales of a Grandfather'until he
was suddenly struck down by paralysis。 But he had no sooner
recovered sufficient strength to be able to hold a pen； than we
find him again at his desk writing the 'Letters on Demonology and
Witchcraft；' a volume of Scottish History for 'Lardner's
Cyclopaedia；' and a fourth series of 'Tales of a Grandfather' in
his French History。 In vain his doctors told him to give up work；
he would not be dissuaded。 〃As for bidding me not work；〃 he said
to Dr。 Abercrombie； 〃Molly might just as well put the kettle on
the fire and say； 'Now； kettle； don't boil；'〃 to which he added；
〃If I were to be idle I should go mad！〃
By means of the profits realised by these tremendous efforts；
Scott saw his debts in course of rapid diminution； and he trusted
that； after a few more years' work； he would again be a free man。
But it was not to be。 He went on turning out such works as his
'Count Robert of Paris' with greatly impaired skill； until he was
prostrated by another and severer attack of palsy。 He now felt
that the plough was nearing the end of the furrow； his physical
strength was gone； he was 〃not quite himself in all things；〃 and
yet his courage and perseverance never failed。 〃I have suffered
terribly；〃 he wrote in his Diary； 〃though rather in body than in
mind； and I often wish I could lie down and sleep without waking。
But I WILL FIGHT IT OUT IF I CAN。〃 He again recovered
sufficiently to be able to write 'Castle Dangerous；' though the
cunning of the workman's hand had departed。 And then there was
his last tour to Italy in search of rest and health； during which；
while at Naples； in spite of all remonstrances； he gave several
hours every morning to the composition of a new novel； which；
however； has not seen the light。
Scott returned to Abbotsford to die。 〃I have seen much；〃 he said
on his return； 〃but nothing like my own housegive me one turn
more。〃 One of the last things he uttered； in one of his